Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of hyaluronan binding assay scores of spermatozoa using swim-up techniques and density gradient centrifugation.

OBJECTIVE To compare the hyaluronan binding assay (HBA) scores of sperm preparation using two different methods, the swim-up technique and density gradient centrifugation (DGC). MATERIALS AND METHOD This experimental study used semen specimens from 54 volunteer subjects with normal semen analysis according to the 2010 World Health Organization criteria. Each semen specimen was split into two portions: one was prepared using the swim-up method and the other the DGC method. The prepared sperm were counted in the sperm-HBA slide to determine bound and unbound motile sperm. The HBA scores between the two methods were compared using matched analysis. RESULTS The HBA scores by either preparation method were >80%. There was no statistically significant difference in HBA scores between the swim-up preparation [median 97%, interquartile range (IQR) 94, 98] and density gradient centrifugation [median 96%, IQR 95, 98] (p = 0.96). Ten ofthe 54 specimens received the same HBA scores following the two methods and none differed by more than +/- 7%. CONCLUSION Both preparation methods gave high HBA scores with no apparent difference in the proportions between methods.
The impact of prostate biopsy on patient well-being: a prospective study of pain, anxiety and erectile dysfunction.

PURPOSE We prospectively studied the impact of transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy on patient well-being. MATERIALS AND METHODS We enrolled 211 consecutive men who underwent a total of 218 biopsy events in a questionnaire based survey focusing on pain, anxiety and erectile dysfunction risk factors. Surveys were administered before, and immediately, 1 week and 1 month after biopsy. Quantitative information on the intensity of symptoms and signs was obtained using a uniform grading system. RESULTS Intraoperative pain considered severe in 20% of the biopsy events was associated with pain in the first 24 hours postoperatively, leading to analgesic use in 10%. Inflammatory infiltrate in the biopsy core and younger patient age correlated with persistent pain on days 2 and 7 after biopsy, respectively. Preoperative anxiety was reported in 64% of biopsy events and predictive of intraoperative pain. Anxiety peaked before result disclosure. Erectile dysfunction attributed to anxiety in anticipation of biopsy was reported in 7% of cases. At days 7 and 30, 15% of previously potent patients reported erectile dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS The impact of prostate biopsy on patient well-being begins while waiting for the scheduled procedure. Shortening the anticipation period before results are disclosed and administering pre-biopsy anxiety decreasing measures may benefit patients. Analgesic therapy is recommended in younger patients, those reporting moderate to severe intraoperative pain and those with known prostatic inflammatory infiltrate. The risk of acute erectile dysfunction should be discussed cautiously with patients who are potent before biopsy.
The Impact of Bond Rating Changes on Common Stocks and Bonds: Tests of the Wealth Redistribution Hypothesis

Past studies on the impact of bond rating changes have focused on bonds or stocks and the information content of rating change announcements. This paper examines both bonds and stocks, and investigates the wealth redistribution effect as well as the existence of information content. The results imply that information content of "bad" news dominates firm downgradings, while the wealth redistribution effect dominates firm upgradings. Furthermore, this study attributes the lack of information content for bond upgradings to the offsetting effects of wealth redistribution and information content. Copyright 1988 by MIT Press.
Workplace Relations and Agreement Making in the Australian Public Service

The Howard government has introduced major change to APS employment relations. The long-established centralised system has been replaced by a new employer agenda. Negotiations now occur at agency level and are regulated, as in the private sector, by the Workplace Relations Act 1996. Freedom of association is emphasised, as is the right for individuals to settle contracts with their employer. While the transformation is not yet complete, government policy is pushing toward a new paradigm for bargaining in the public sector.
Habit Formation and Dynamic Demand Functions

Most economists would agree that past consumption patterns are an important determinant of present consumption patterns, and that one ought to distinguish between long-run and short-run demand functions. But although the distinction between long-run and short-run behavior is traditional in the theory of the firm, it is seldom made in the theory of consumer behavior. If we regard demand theory as a theory of how a given amount of money (expenditure, called income) is allocated among goods, then-in a world without consumer durables-there are three reasons why longand shortrun demand functions might differ. (i) The consumer may have contractually fixed commitments which prevent him from adjusting some portion of his consumption (for example, housing) in response to changes in prices or income. When these fixed commitments lapse, he is able to adjust to his long-run equilibrium. (ii) The consumer may be ignorant of consumption possibilities or of his own tastes outside the range of his past consumption experience. In this case his adjustment to a new price-income situation will involve a time-consuming learning process. (iii) Finally, goods may be "habit forming" so that an individual's current preferences depend on his past consumption patterns. In this case a change in prices or income will cause a change-in consumption which will induce a change in tastes, which will cause a further change in consumption. In this paper I formulate a model of consumer behavior based on habit formation, beginning with a specific class of demand functions derived from the "modified Bergson family" of utility functions. The properties of these utility functions and the corresponding demand functions are briefly summarized in Section 1. I then postulate that the parameters
The prevalence of crowding, attrition, midline discrepancies and premature tooth loss in the primary dentition of children in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the prevalence of crowding, attrition, midline discrepancies and premature loss of primary molars in primary dentition of children resident in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Five hundred and two (502) children aged 4-6 years old residing in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia provide the data for the analysis. Crowding was found in 14.7% of the subjects crowding in the maxilla occurred in 27 (5.4%) of the children, and 67 (13.4%) in the mandible. Simultaneous crowding in maxilla and mandible was present in 20 (3.98%) of the subject. The prevalence of crowding was significantly higher in the mandible than the maxilla (P > 0.01) and higher in male (P < 0.05). Midline shift was present in 10% of the children with females showing a significantly higher prevalence than the males (P < 0.001). Attrition was present in 167 (33.3%) of the children. One hundred and sixty children (31.9%) had attrition in enamel, and only 7(1.4%) had attrition, which exposed the dentin. Thirty-one (6.2%) out of 502 children had 51 (0.5%) missing teeth out of total number of 10,040 teeth. Tooth #84 was most commonly lost tooth (P < .025). Overall premature loss of 1st primary molars was found to be significantly higher than 2nd primary molars (P < .001).
Entrepreneurial potential: The role of human and cultural capitals

Empirical evidence for links between human capital and entrepreneurship potential is equivocal despite a wide range of studies. This research draws on prospective longitudinal data from the National Child Development Study (NCDS) to offer new theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence on the human capital predictors that drive entrepreneurship. The results suggest that start-up is more likely for those who demonstrate higher levels of analytical and creative abilities in childhood, benefit from a supportive family background, invest in their human capital through diverse and longer work experience and have accrued a solid basic education, albeit not strongly credentialed. This article contributes to a better understanding of human capital acquisition during the unfolding entrepreneurial life-course. Mediators and moderators of the relationship between education, human capital and entrepreneurship are also identified by accentuating the importance of family processes. In doing so, this study bridges the human capital and cultural capital literatures that have tended to evolve on separate tracks.
Evidence on the Incidence of Wage Posting, Wage Bargaining, and On-the-Job Search

Some workers bargain with prospective employers before accepting a job. Others face a posted wage as a take-it-or-leave-it opportunity. Both modes of wage determination have generated large bodies of research. We surveyed a representative sample of US workers to inquire about the wage determination process at the time they were hired into their current or most recent jobs. A third of the respondents reported bargaining over pay before accepting their current jobs. Almost a third of workers had precise information about pay when they first met with their employers, a sign of wage posting. About 40 percent of workers were on-the-job searchers-they could have remained at their earlier jobs at the time they accepted their current jobs, indicating a more favorable bargaining position than is held by unemployed job-seekers. About half of all workers reported that their employers had learned their pay in their earlier jobs before making the offer that led to the current job. (JEL C83, J31, J52, J64)
Shock resistant and thermally reliable low Ag SAC solder doped with Mn

98.5Sn0. 5Ag1Cu0.05Mn (SAC0510M) exhibits a melting behavior similar to SAC105. It is two times better than SAC105 in the dynamic bending test; more than 8 times better in the modified JEDEC drop test; and more than 40-60% better in the -55°C/125°C thermal cycling test. The reduced hardness and much thinner and stable IMC layer on Ni are responsible for the superior non-fragility, while the stabilized IMC and microstructure are responsible for the thermal cycling performance. A thinner IMC layer on Ni is more important than reduced hardness in improving non-fragility. The thermal cycling performance of SAC0510M may override SAC305. A high Tg brittle board causes poor drop test results due to pad cratering.
Pode a incerteza jurisdctional e os controles de capitais explicarem as altas taxas reais de juros no Brasil

This paper tests the assertion, popularized by Arida, Bacha, and Lara-Resende (2005), that risks associated with the jurisdiction and currency inconvertibility are relevant determinants of the high level of short-term real interest rates in Brazil. The results are by and large unfavorable not only to their conjecture, but also to variants of their argument. The results further indicate that traditional monetary and fiscal factors are far more relevant to explain the level of short-term real interest rates than the binomial jurisdictional uncertainty/ currency inconvertibility is.
The Immigrant Wage Gap in Canada: Quebec and the Rest of Canada

Dans cet article, nous analysons la nature des différences que l’on observe dans les écarts de salaires entre les hommes immigrants et les Canadiens de naissance, au Québec et dans le reste du Canada (ROC), au cours de la période 1980–2000. Comparativement aux Canadiens de naissance, la performance des immigrants du ROC sur le plan salarial a toujours été supérieure à celle des immigrants du Québec, et s’est constamment améliorée vis-à-vis de celle-ci. Nous montrons que le phénomène n’est pas dû au fait que les politiques d’immigration du Québec sont différentes de celles du ROC, puisque l’écart serait encore plus important si le Québec accueillait les mêmes types d’immigrants que le ROC; l’on ne peut pas non plus expliquer le phénomène par le fait que les immigrants subiraient plus de discrimination au Québec. En fait, nous observons que la différence grandissante entre l’écart salarial immigrants-Canadiens de naissance au Québec et celui dans le ROC reflète surtout l’évolution de la prime salariale dont profitent les immigrants qui obtiennent la citoyenneté canadienne (et dont ne profitent pas ceux qui ne sont que canadiens permanents); cette prime a considérablement diminué au Québec, alors qu’elle est restée stable dans le ROC au cours de la période étudiée.
Testing the Pecking Order Theory: The Importance of Methodology

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to show that different methodologies may lead to different implications about the validity of the pecking order theory. Design/methodology/approach - Using data from Greek firms as a starting-point, the paper first investigates whether they follow the financing pattern implied by the pecking order theory and then illustrates that conclusions concerning the pecking order should be carefully shaped by researchers, as the methodology used can be misleading. Two different information sources are used; the first is data derived from the financial statements of the Greek firms listed in the Athens Exchange, while the second comprises the answers to a detailed questionnaire. Findings - It is shown that a negative relationship between leverage and profitability does not necessarily mean that the pecking order financing hierarchy holds. Analysis should not rely solely on the mean-oriented regression quantitative analysis to test the pecking order theory, as it refers to a distinct hierarchy. Research limitations/implications - Further research should focus on investigating the reasons that underlie actual firm financing. Practical implications - The fact that the pecking order is actually a hierarchy makes research in this field more complex. Analysts should consider this special feature of the pecking order approach when analyzing the existence of the pecking order financing pattern. The methodology followed is of crucial importance in the analysis of the existence of the pecking order financing pattern. Originality/value - To the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper to test the pecking order pattern of financing using simultaneously quantitative and qualitative data, and to compare results and conclusions drawn from these two different types of methodology.
Heterogeneous smooth muscle cell population derived from small and larger arteries.

Vascular lesion formations in such disease states as hypertension and atherosclerosis occur in a district-specific manner. Large conduit and small resistance arteries play district-specific roles in the regulation of organ perfusion. Using a culture method, we studied the morphology and growth of smooth muscle cells derived from small arteries (S-SMCs, less than 90 microm in internal diameter) and from larger arteries (L-SMCs, ranging from 800 to 900 microm) of the rat mesenteric arterial bed. S-SMCs showed a hill-and-valley pattern, whereas L-SMCs showed sheet or whorl formation. The majority of S-SMCs were smaller, bipolar-shaped; in contrast, the majority of L-SMCs were larger, polygonal-shaped. Actin fibers within S-SMCs were oriented in a bipolar manner from the nuclei, whereas those within L-SMCs had a radial appearance. [3H]Thymidine incorporation induced by serum, platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF), or mechanical stretch was greater in S- vs L-SMCs. The population doubling time measured after the addition of serum or PDGF was shorter in S- vs L-SMCs. Thus, distinct morphological and growth phenotypes of SMCs exist in small and larger arteries of the same vascular bed.
Causes and patterns of readmissions in patients with common comorbidities: retrospective cohort study

Objective To evaluate the primary diagnoses and patterns of 30 day readmissions and potentially avoidable readmissions in medical patients with each of the most common comorbidities. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic tertiary medical centre in Boston, 2009-10. Participants 10 731 consecutive adult discharges from a medical department. Main outcome measures Primary readmission diagnoses of readmissions within 30 days of discharge and potentially avoidable 30 day readmissions to the index hospital or two other hospitals in its network. Results Among 10 731 discharges, 2398 (22.3%) were followed by a 30 day readmission, of which 858 (8.0%) were identified as potentially avoidable. Overall, infection, neoplasm, heart failure, gastrointestinal disorder, and liver disorder were the most frequent primary diagnoses of potentially avoidable readmissions. Almost all of the top five diagnoses of potentially avoidable readmissions for each comorbidity were possible direct or indirect complications of that comorbidity. In patients with a comorbidity of heart failure, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, or chronic kidney disease, the most common diagnosis of potentially avoidable readmission was acute heart failure. Patients with neoplasm, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease had a higher risk of potentially avoidable readmissions than did those without those comorbidities. Conclusions The five most common primary diagnoses of potentially avoidable readmissions were usually possible complications of an underlying comorbidity. Post-discharge care should focus attention not just on the primary index admission diagnosis but also on the comorbidities patients have.
Top Executive Rewards and Firm Performance: A Comparison of Japan and the United States

This paper studies top executive turnover and compensation, and their relation to firm performance in the largest Japanese and U.S. companies. Japanese executive turnover and compensation are related to earnings, stock returns, and, to a lesser extent, sales performance measures. The fortunes of Japanese top executives, therefore, are positively correlated with stock performance and current cash flows (or with factors contributing to such performance). The relations for the Japanese executives are generally economically and statistically similar to those for their U.S. counterparts. There is some evidence, however, that the fortunes of Japanese executives are more sensitive to low income but less sensitive to stock returns than those of U.S. executives.
Sophisticated Monetary Policies * 1. a Simple Model with One-period Price Stickiness

The Ramsey approach to policy analysis finds the best competitive equilibrium given a set of available instruments. This approach is silent about unique implementation, namely designing policies so that the associated competitive equilibrium is unique. This silence is particularly problematic in monetary policy environments where many ways of specifying policy lead to indeterminacy. We show that sophisticated policies which depend on the history of private actions and which can differ on and off the equilibrium path can uniquely implement any desired competitive equilibrium. A large literature has argued that monetary policy should adhere to the Taylor principle to eliminate indeterminacy. Our findings say that adherence to the Taylor principle on these grounds is unnecessary. Finally, we show that sophisticated policies are robust to imperfect information.cial support and Kathleen Rolfe for excellent editorial assistance. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis or the Federal Reserve System. Frank Ramsey proposed a now classic approach to policy analysis under commitment. This approach speci…es the set of instruments available to policymakers. The Ramsey problem is to …nd the competitive equilibrium that maximizes social welfare with the given set of instruments. Barro (1979), Lucas and Stokey (1983) among many others have extended this approach to situations with uncertainty by specifying the instruments as functions of exogenous events. This extension has made the approach very useful in addressing policy questions in macroeconomics 1. While the Ramsey approach has been very useful in characterizing the best competitive outcomes, by itself it is not an operational guide to policy in the sense that it does not tell policy-makers how to conduct policy for all possible histories. An approach that is an operational guide would specify policies for every history and would describe what the corresponding outcomes will be for every history. Here we extend the language of Chari and Kehoe (1993) to an environment in which the policymaker has commitment in order to specify policies after every history and to describe continuation outcomes after every history. In our approach, we allow policies to depend on the history of past actions by private agents and allow them to di¤er on and o¤ the equilibrium path. We label such policies sophisticated policies and label the resulting equilibrium a sophisticated equilibrium. In many macroeconomic models, especially monetary models, many ways of specifying policies lead to indeterminacy and therefore …
A Model for Regulation of the Mg2+-Stimulated Acto-Myosin-ATPase Activity: Inhibition of the Formation of Actin-Myosin Complex and the Mg2+-Stimulated Acto-Myosin-ATPase Activity by IMP and AMP

Previously, we showed that the decrease in force output during continuous isometric contractions in rat skeletal muscle was related to an increase in the concentration of IMP. In this paper we report on additional experiments in which the effect of IMP on the Mg 2+ -stimulated acto-myosin-ATPase activity of isolated actin and myosin is measured at 35°C. The results show that 1) the binding of actin to myosin is co-operative (Hill coefficient = 3.82); 2) in the presence of IMP or AMP the Mg 2+ -stimulated acto-myosin-ATPase activity is inhibited up to 60% at 10 mM; 3) in the presence of IMP or AMP not only the Mg 2+ -stimulated acto-myosin-ATPase activity decreases, but also K 50. From these results we conclude that IMP and AMP may be considered as uncompetitive inhibitors. Our results suggest that IMP and AMP can prevent an ‘energy crisis’ during exhaustive exercise of short duration by down-regulating the contractile machinery.
Using volume to forecast stock market volatility around the time of the 1929 crash

This article explores the role of trading volume in making out-of-sample forecasts of stock market volatility around the time of the 24 October 1929 crash. Following the recent literature on volatility forecasting, we compare the performance of symmetric and asymmetric GARCH-class models. Moreover, as the volume–volatility relationship is now well established for modern day markets, we also consider the performance of these models when volume is allowed to enter the conditional variance equation. Given the institutional evidence that trading volume was beginning to take on an increasingly important role in the eyes of investors and market regulators during the last part of the 1920s, this is a particularly insightful endeavour. Generally speaking, the volatility models with trading volume provided the best volatility forecasts after ‘Black Thursday’.