Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Women as Policy Makers: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

This paper uses political reservations for women in India to study the impact of womenâ€™s leadership on policy decisions. In 1998, one third of all leadership positions of Village Councils in West Bengal were randomly selected to be reserved for a woman: in these councils only women could be elected to the position of head. Village Councils are responsible for the provision of many local public goods in rural areas. Using a data set we collected on 165 Village Councils, we compare the type of public goods provided in reserved and unreserved Villages Councils. We show that women invest more in infrastructure that is directly relevant to the needs of rural women (water, fuel, and roads), while men invest more in education. Women are more likely to participate in the policy-making process if the leader of their village council is a woman. [Working Paper No. 001]
A functional protein pore with a “retro” transmembrane domain

Extended retro (reversed) peptide sequences have not previously been accommodated within functional proteins. Here, we show that the entire transmembrane portion of the β‐barrel of the pore‐forming protein α‐hemolysin can be formed by retrosequences comprising a total of 175 amino acid residues, 25 contributed by the central sequence of each subunit of the heptameric pore. The properties of wild‐type and retro heptamers in planar bilayers are similar. The single‐channel conductance of the retro pore is 15% less than that of the wild‐type heptamer and its current‐voltage relationship denotes close to ohmic behavior, while the wild‐type pore is weakly rectifying. Both wild‐type and retro pores are very weakly anion selective. These results and the examination of molecular models suggest that β‐barrels may be especially accepting of retro sequences compared to other protein folds. Indeed, the ability to form a retro domain could be diagnostic of a β‐barrel, explaining, for example, the activity of the retro forms of many membrane‐permeabilizing peptides. By contrast with the wild‐type subunits, monomeric retro subunits undergo premature assembly in the absence of membranes, most likely because the altered central sequence fails to interact with the remainder of the subunit, thereby initiating assembly. Despite this difficulty, a technique was devised for obtaining heteromeric pores containing both wild‐type and retro subunits. Most probably as a consequence of unfavorable interstrand side‐chain interactions, the heteromeric pores are less stable than either the wild‐type or retro homoheptamers, as judged by the presence of subconductance states in single‐channel recordings. Knowledge about the extraordinary plasticity of the transmembrane β‐barrel of α‐hemolysin will be very useful in the de novo design of functional membrane proteins based on the β‐barrel motif.
Hematuria in patients with Beta-thalassemia major.

INTRODUCTION Our information about renal involvement in beta-thalassemia major is limited. Recently, few studies have reported proteinuria, hypercalcuria, phosphaturia, and oversecretion of tubular damage markers; however, hematuria has not yet been meticulously studied in these patients. We investigated hematuria in patients with beta-thalassemia major. MATERIALS AND METHODS Urinalysis was performed in 500 patients with beta-thalassemia major under a regular blood transfusion program. In those with hematuria (at least 3 to 5 erythrocytes per high-power field) a second urinalysis was done at the next transfusion time. RESULTS The patients ranged in age from 6 months to 32 years. The male-female ratio was 1.05:1. Hematuria was detected in 55 (10.6%), including 9.8% of those younger than 20 years and 20.0% of those older than 20 years. Hematuria was persistent in 79.2% of the second urinalyses. Sixty-four percent of the patients with hematuria were females. A blood transfusion program had been started during the first year of life in 81% percent of the patients with hematuria. Sterile pyuria was detected in 4% and proteinuria in 16% of the patients with hematuria, while these figures in patients without hematuria were 2.1% (P = .56) and 1.4% (P = .002), respectively. CONCLUSIONS We found that in patients with beta-thalassemia major, the risk of hematuria rises with age. Moreover, proteinuria seems to be more common in those with hematuria. Further studies are needed to ascertain the importance of these findings.
Regime-Switching Stock Returns And Mean Reversion

We estimate a well-specified two-state regime-switching model for Danish stock returns. The model identifies two regimes which have low return-low volatility and high return-high volatility, respectively. The low return-low volatility regime dominated, except in a few, short episodes, until the beginning of the 70s whereas the 80s and 90s have been characterized by high return and high volatility. We propose an alternative test of mean reversion which allows for multiple regimes with potentially different constant and autoregressive terms and different volatility. Using this test procedure we find mean reversion at 10% but not at 5% significance level which is weaker evidence than produced by estimating a standard autoregressive model for returns. Furthermore, when analyzing contributions of the two regimes we find that the indication of mean reversion is due to the recent high return-high volatility regime only.
Adaptation Level and Retroactive Interference in Motor Short-Term Memory

5 groups of 10 subjects were required to make and recall a linear self-generated arm-positioning movement. 4 of the groups made and recalled 4 interpolated self-generated positioning movements before the recall of the criterion was attempted. The lengths of the interpolated movements relative to the criterion varied from group to group. For one group all interpolated movements were longer, for another they were all shorter, and two groups produced alternating shorter and longer movements. Results indicated a significant difference in percentage algebraic error at recall of the criterion movement between the groups experiencing longer and experiencing shorter interpolated movements. The evidence is suggestive of two components in retroactive design studies, interference and adaptation level.
The Impact of Bispectral Index Versus End-Tidal Anesthetic Concentration-Guided Anesthesia on Time to Tracheal Extubation in Fast-Track Cardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND:Bispectral Index (BIS)-guided anesthesia administration has been reported to reduce the time to tracheal extubation. However, no trials have compared the ability of BIS guidance to promote earlier tracheal extubation relative to guidance by end-tidal anesthetic concentration (ETAC). We hypothesized that BIS-guided anesthesia would result in earlier tracheal extubation compared with ETAC-guided anesthesia in fast-track cardiac surgery patients. METHODS:This study consisted of patients at a single institution who were enrolled in the larger, multicenter BIS or Anesthesia Gas to Reduce Explicit Recall (BAG-RECALL) clinical trial that compared rates of postoperative awareness for patient whose anesthetic was guided by BIS versus ETAC. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery were randomized to BIS (n = 361) or ETAC (n = 362) guided anesthesia. Volatile anesthetic was titrated either to maintain a BIS value of 40 to 60 (BIS group), or an age-adjusted minimum alveolar concentration of 0.7 to 1.3 (ETAC group). In the ETAC group, anesthesiologists were blinded to the BIS values. In this substudy, time to tracheal extubation was compared between groups. Cox regression identified predictors affecting the instantaneous probability of tracheal extubation. RESULTS:Time to tracheal extubation was not significantly different between groups (odds ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval, 0.88–1.23, P = 0.643). In addition, group assignment did not influence the instantaneous probability of tracheal extubation (P = 0.433). Predictors decreasing the instantaneous probability of tracheal extubation included higher body mass index (P = 0.001), higher logistic EuroSCORE (P = 0.015), complex surgery type (P = 0.034), and surgery completion in the evening (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS:Compared with management based on ETAC, anesthetic management based on BIS guidance does not strongly increase the probability of earlier tracheal extubation in patients undergoing fast-track cardiac surgery. The decision to extubate the trachea is more influenced by patient characteristics and perioperative course than the assignment to BIS or ETAC monitoring.
Alcohol and Expectations of Attack

10 intoxicated and 10 nonintoxicated subjects expressed their expectations regarding the level of shock they anticipated receiving from their opponent in a competitive reaction time situation. Prior to receiving any knowledge concerning their opponents' aggressive intent, subjects who consumed alcohol indicated that they expected their opponent to set higher intensities of shock than did the nonintoxicated subjects. This finding supports the hypothesis that alcohol may disturb a person's ability to judge the degree to which he is being threatened.
Effects of network quality attributes on customer adoption intentions of Internet Banking

Abstract With the liberalization and internationalization of the financial market and the entrance of Taiwan into the World Trade Organization (WTO), banks in Taiwan face a dual competitive pressure in the areas of service quality and administrative efficiency. This study replicated and expanded the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to probe the attitude and subjective norm factors that would influence the adoption intention of Internet Banking (IB). Moreover, network quality attributes were also used to enhance the understanding of consumer attitude towards Internet banking based on TRA (named ‘extended TRA’). Data were gathered from 425 potential users of Internet banking. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the responses. The analytical results generally supported TRA and extended TRA to provide a good fit to the data. Extended TRA explains more of the variance in consumer attitude (66%) and behavioural intentions (54%) than those in TRA in the context of Internet banking. Additionally, attitude is significantly related to the intention to adopt internet banking, while subjective norm is not; network quality attributes including information quality, transaction speed, and security play significant roles in influencing attitude.
On the accuracy of a bootstrap estimate of the classification error

Analytical and simulation studies show that a variance of the bootstrap estimator discussed is lower than that of the commonly used leave-one-out estimator only when sample size is extremely small or when the classification error is large. An essential feature of the bootstrap method is that observations of the training sample (TS) play the role of a general population and are used to determine the optimistic bias of the resubstitution estimate. A bootstrap training sample (BTS) is formed from the TS in a random way. A classification rule is designed using a BTS and is tested twice. <<ETX>>
Talent management in Russian companies: domestic challenges and international experience

The study investigates talent management practices in Russian and foreign companies and their influence on a company's performance. In our work, foreign companies are foreign-owned companies (multinational or global) that operate in the Russian market and their headquarters are located outside the Russian Federation. Attention is paid to the analysis of the factors that support talent management implementation. As the results of the research are based on a comparative analysis of differences and peculiarities in talent practices in Russian and foreign companies, the paper explores and provides a number of ideas and conclusions about talent management elaboration, realization and talent practices improvement in the Russian context. Our data show that talent management practices are influenced by a number of factors that are different, in parts, in Russian and foreign companies. Supplementary analysis also suggests that the positive connection between talent management efforts and a company's performance can be found.
Estimation of a Surface Water Quality Valuation Index for the Appalachian Region

A surface water quality valuation index is developed and used to compare counties across the Appalachian Region. This index was based on a meta-analysis of non-market water quality valuation studies along with an application of benefit transfer. The results reveal that Pennsylvania, Georgia, and New York had the highest percentages of counties with high index values within the Appalachian Region. As this research was part of an inter-disciplinary team assembled by the Appalachian Regional Commission, results of this index can be compared to other indices computed for water resources in the region.
Biomechanics of Calcaneal Fractures: A Model for the Motor Vehicle

Changes in legislation, availability of passive or active restraint systems, or both, together with increased public awareness for safety and the need for use of restraint, have shifted the spectrum of trauma in motor vehicle crashes from the head and torso to other regions. Lower extremity trauma in motor vehicle crashes continues to be a significant problem. The objective of this study was to investigate the biomechanics of the human foot and ankle complex under impact loading and replicate calcaneal fractures routinely seen in motor vehicle crashes. Twenty-two unembalmed cadaver lower extremity specimens were subjected to dynamic loads using a minisled pendulum device. Input and output forces and results of pathologic analysis were obtained using load cell data, radiographs obtained before and after testing, and gross dissection. The intraarticular fracture patterns produced were similar to those seen clinically and described in the literature. Maximum forces ranged from 3.6 to 11.4 kN for the fracture, and 0.5 to 7.3 kN for the nonfracture groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed a 50% probability of calcaneal fracture at 5.5 kN and a 25% probability at 4.0 kN. These studies will lead to an understanding of the tolerance of the lower extremity in sustaining calcaneal fractures under impact. Implications of the work are in the design of crash test dummies, data acquisition, and modifications in motor vehicle design and safety.
Extra‐pancreatic effects of incretin‐based therapies: potential benefit for cardiovascular‐risk management in type 2 diabetes

Development of cardiovascular disease is one of the major complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The chronic hyperglycaemic state is often accompanied by dyslipidaemia, hypertension, low‐grade systemic inflammation and oxidative stress which collectively result in a high risk of micro‐ and macrovascular complications. Current glucose‐lowering agents do not sufficiently address fore‐mentioned macrovascular‐risk factors. Recently, new therapeutic agents were introduced, based on the incretin hormone glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), that is, the GLP‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RA) and dipeptidyl‐peptidase 4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors. Beside its effect on pancreatic insulin secretion, GLP‐1 exerts several extra‐pancreatic effects such as slowing down gastric emptying, promoting satiety and reducing food intake and weight loss. Also, GLP‐1 and GLP‐1RA were shown to improve cardiovascular‐risk profiles, by reducing body fat content, blood pressure, circulating lipids and inflammatory markers in patients with T2DM. This review summarizes the presently known evidence with regard to extra‐pancreatic effects of the incretin‐based agents, focusing on the actions that improve the cardiovascular‐risk profile. We present available data from clinical trials of at least 24 week duration, but also findings from small‐sized clinical ‘proof of principle’ studies. We conclude that GLP‐1 RA and to a lesser extent DPP‐4 inhibitors are promising agents with regard to their effects on body weight, blood pressure and lipids, which collectively ameliorate the cardiovascular‐risk profile and as such may have added value in the treatment of T2DM. However, large‐sized long‐term outcome studies are warranted to show the true added value of these agents in the treatment of patients with T2DM.
Esotropia Surgery Considering the Angle under General Anesthesia

ABSTRACT Purpose: To compare the amount of esotropia corrected by surgery under general anesthesia and in a conscious state in esotropia surgery. Methods: The charts of 42 patients who underwent surgery under general anesthesia for correction of esotropia were reviewed. Angle of deviation was measured by the alternate prism cover test in awakened state one day before and after surgery. Under general anesthesia, angle of deviation was measured by Hirschberg or Krimsky test in 5 prism diopters (PD) scale 30 minutes after induction and at the end of the surgery. The amount of the angle of esodeviation corrected by surgery measured in awakened state (A-correction) and under general anesthesia (G-correction) was compared and analyzed to identify significant differences. Results: The median age was 4.0 years and the median preoperative esodeviation angle was 30.0 PD. The median amount of G-correction of 30.0 PD was significantly different compared with that of A-correction at postoperative day one (p=0.003). However, differences between A-correction and G-correction were not evident at postoperative one week, one month, and final follow-up examination (p= 0.191, 0.215, and 0.396, respectively). Conclusions: Esotropia in A-correction was comparable to that in G-correction only at postoperative day one. These results suggest that it is desirable to perform esotropia surgery according to the initial surgical plan of awakened state regardless of the divergence of eye position. When in doubt, it could be useful to confirm whether the actual amount of surgical correction under general anesthesia is consistent with the plan and modifying the surgical dose nomogram.
Potential increasing dominance of heterotrophy in the global ocean

Autotrophy is largely resource-limited in the modern ocean. Paleo evidence indicates this was not necessarily the case in warmer climates, and modern observations as well as standard metabolic theory suggest continued ocean warming could shift global ecology towards heterotrophy, thereby reducing autotrophic nutrient limitation. Such a shift would entail strong nutrient recycling in the upper ocean and high rates of net primary production (NPP), yet low carbon export to the deep ocean and sediments. We demonstrate transition towards such a state in the early 22nd century as a response to business-as-usual representative concentration pathway forcing (RCP8.5) in an intermediate complexity Earth system model in three configurations; with and without an explicit calcifier phytoplankton class and calcite ballast model. In all models nutrient regeneration in the near-surface becomes an increasingly important driver of primary production. The near-linear relationship between changes in NPP and global sea surface temperature (SST) found over the 21st century becomes exponential above a 2–4 ◦ C ? > global mean SST change. This transition to a more heterotrophic ocean agrees roughly with metabolic theory.
A Review of the Neuropsychological Dimensions of Tourette Syndrome

Neurocognitive functioning in Tourette syndrome (TS) has been the subject of intensive research in the past 30 years. A variety of impairments, presumably related to frontal and frontostriatal dysfunctions, have been observed. These impairments were found in various domains, such as attention, memory, executive functions, language, motor and visuomotor functions, among others. In line with contemporary research, other neurocognitive domains have recently been explored in TS, bringing evidence of altered social reasoning, for instance. Therefore, the aims of this review are to give an overview of the neuropsychological dimensions of TS, to report how neuropsychological functions evolve from childhood to adulthood, and to explain how various confounding factors can affect TS patients’ performance in neuropsychological tasks. Finally, an important contribution of this review is to show how recent research has confirmed or changed our beliefs about neuropsychological functioning in TS.
The significance of medial temporal lobe atrophy

Background: Medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) is a sensitive radiologic marker for Alzheimer disease (AD) and associated with cognitive impairment. The value of MTA in the oldest old (>85 years old) is largely unknown. Methods: A total of 132 formalin-fixed brains from the Vantaa 85+ community-based study were subjected to postmortem MRI. Visual ratings of MTA were determined in a blinded fashion and compared with neuropathologic findings and clinical assessment (dementia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-R). Results: A strong relationship was found between MTA scores and Alzheimer pathology (p < 0.001). The previously proposed cutoff MTA score >2 correctly excluded subjects with no or borderline Alzheimer-type pathology (45/48), but was not very sensitive for AD (modified National Institute on Aging-Reagan Institute criteria). MTA scores >2 were also found in subjects with other primary neurodegenerative hippocampal pathology including hippocampal sclerosis, Lewy-related pathology, and argyrophilic grain disease, either alone or in combination with Alzheimer-type pathology. High MTA scores were associated with clinical dementia—in this subgroup, sensitivity was 63% and specificity 69% for AD. Conclusion: Medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) on postmortem MRI is sensitive to primary degenerative hippocampal pathology in the very old, but not specific for Alzheimer-type pathology. MTA scores of 2 or less are not frequently associated with dementia. GLOSSARY: AD = Alzheimer disease; AgD = argyrophilic grain disease; CERAD = Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease; DLB = dementia with Lewy bodies; HS = hippocampal sclerosis; L-rP = Lewy-related pathology; MCI = mild cognitive impairment; MTA = medial temporal lobe atrophy.
Ownership structure, corporate governance and capital structure decisions of firms: Empirical evidence from Ghana

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of ownership structure and corporate governance on capital structure decisions of firms on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). Design/methodology/approach - To analyze the impact of ownership structure and corporate governance on firms' financing decisions, unbalanced panel data covering a period from 2002 to 2007 is employed using the seemingly unrelated regression approach to mitigate the effects of multicollinearity among the regressors. Findings - The regression results reveal that managerial shareholding significantly positively influences the choice of long-term debt over equity. Among the corporate governance variables, board size is found to be positively and statistically significantly related to capital structure choices. Firm level factors such as volatility in earnings, asset tangibility, dividend payout ratio and profitability are significant determinants of corporate capital structure decisions on the GSE. The findings are largely consistent with theories of capital structure decisions observed in the literature. Originality/value - The main value of this paper is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of forms of ownership and other governance practices on capital structure decisions of firms from an emerging market perspective.