Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased density of sympathetic nerve fibers in metabolically activated fat tissue surrounding human synovium and mouse lymph nodes in arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the density of sympathetic nerve fibers in and the metabolic activation of fat tissue surrounding human synovium in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)/osteoarthritis (OA) and in the draining lymph nodes of arthritic and normal mice. METHODS Using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, the density of sympathetic nerve fibers and the presence of nerve repellent factors were investigated. The metabolic activation of fat tissue was estimated by the occurrence of small-vacuole adipocytes, expression of β3-adrenoceptors, and adipose tissue weight. RESULTS The density of sympathetic nerve fibers was markedly increased in fat tissue surrounding RA synovium compared with that in fat tissue surrounding OA synovium. In adipose tissue adjacent to draining lymph nodes, the density of sympathetic nerve fibers was higher in arthritic mice compared with normal mice. In human synovium and mouse draining lymph nodes, the 2 sympathetic nerve repellent factors, semaphorin 3C and semaphorin 3F, were highly expressed. In arthritic compared with normal mice, the fat tissue around lymph nodes was markedly lighter, adipocytes had more fragmented lipid droplets, and fat tissue demonstrated high expression of β3-adrenoceptors. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated an increased density of sympathetic nerve fibers in metabolically activated fat tissue surrounding human RA synovium and the draining lymph nodes of arthritic mice. Because sympathetic neurotransmitters stimulate lipolysis, the repulsion of sympathetic nerve fibers from inflamed regions and their increased occurrence in fat tissue probably represent an adaptive program to support the proinflammatory process by releasing energy-rich substrates.
Is Recovery Risk Priced?

The finance literature looks at a number of factors to explain risk premia in corporate debt, such as liquidity effects, jump-to-default risk, and contagion risk. Stochastic re-covery rates as a source of systematic risk have not received much attention so far, most likely due to the difficulties around decomposing the expected loss. In this paper, we exploit the fact that differently-ranking debt instruments of the same issuer face identical default risk but different default-conditional recovery rates. This allows us to isolate implied recovery without any of the rigid assumptions employed by priors. Our results suggest that there is a pronounced systematic component in recovery rates for which investors should receive a premium. By relating our estimates to physical realizations, we make this premium explicit and find it to be quite time-stable and similar for different debt seniorities.
Measuring expected interactivity: Scale development and validation

An implicit assumption underlying previous interactivity studies is that every time people use a communication medium (e.g., website) or device (e.g., smartphone), they perceive its interactivity through analyzing it from scratch trait-by-trait. As psychologists have long shown, however, we quite often skip such an intensive analysis, and rely on our expectations or schematic knowledge to perceive/evaluate an object. This study is designed to develop a measure of individuals’ expectation of interactivity toward a medium, called expected interactivity (EI). After specifying three conceptual dimensions underlying EI – sensory, semantic, and behavioral dimensions – scales for capturing them are developed, refined, and validated through multiple studies. Implications for future interactivity research are discussed.
Quadriceps and Hamstring Strength Recovery During Early Neuromuscular Rehabilitation After ACL Hamstring-Tendon Autograft Reconstruction.

CONTEXT There is lack of information related to quadriceps and hamstring strength recovery during the early period of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using hamstring-tendon graft (HTG). OBJECTIVE To investigate quadriceps and hamstring isometric strength at 4-, 8-, and 12-wk time points after ACLR and to document the strength changes of these muscles over time. DESIGN Longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS 24 patients (age 28.1 ± 8.1 y) who underwent unilateral single-bundle anatomic ACLR with 4-strand semitendinosus and gracilis tendon graft. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The isometric strength of quadriceps and hamstring muscles was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer at a 60° knee-flexion angle 4, 8, and 12 wk after surgery. RESULTS Quadriceps and hamstring strength significantly increased over time for both the involved limb (quadriceps F2,46 = 58.3, P < .001; hamstring F2,46 = 35.7, P < .001) and uninvolved limb (quadriceps F2,46 = 17.9, P < .001; hamstring F2,46 =56.9, P = .001). Quadriceps and hamstring indexes significantly changed from 4 wk (QI 57.9, HI 54.4) to 8 wk (QI 78.8, HI 69.9) and from 8 wk to 12 wk (QI 82, HI 75.7) (P < .001); however, there was no difference between indexes at the 12-wk time point (P = .17). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study serve as a reference for clinicians while directing a rehabilitation protocol for HTG ACLR patients to better appreciate expected strength changes of the muscles in the early phase of recovery.
Alexithymia and temperament and character model of personality in alcohol‐dependent Turkish men

Aims: Alexithymia, a personality trait characterized as having problems identifying, describing, and working with one's own feelings, often marked by a lack of understanding of the feelings of others, is only partly described within the context of personality. The aim of the present study was therefore to study the prevalence of alexithymia among male alcohol‐dependent inpatients and investigate the relationship between alexithymia and the dimensions of Cloninger's psychobiological model of personality.
Effects of Phytase Supplementation on the Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Maize and Wheat Based Diets with Different Levels of Non-Phytate Phosphorus

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of phytase supplementation on the growth performance, nutrients utilization and bone mineralization in broiler chickens. Day-old broiler chicks (n=480) were equally devided into eight treatment groups and fed maize or wheat based isocaloric, isonitrogenous and isocalcium diets having two non phytate phosphorus (NPP) concentrations (0.50% and 0.30%) and two phytase levels (0 and 500 phytase units/kg diet) in a 42 days growth trial. Maize based dietary treatments were MC (NPP 0.50%, MN (NPP 0.30%), MNP (MN+500 units of phytase) and MCP (MC+500 units of phytase), whereas wheat based experimental diets were WC (NPP 0.50%), WN (NPP 0.30%), WNP (WN+500 units of phytase) and WCP (WC+500 units of phytase). The NPP levels were maintained by dicalcium phosphate. Reduction in dietary NPP depressed live weight gain and feed intake and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR). Phytase supplementation to low NPP (0.30%) diets significantly (p 0.05) differences in carcass quality among dietary treatments. The response of phytase was greater in low NPP and maize based diets as compared with high NPP and wheat based diets, respectively. The results show that phytase supplementation to low NPP (0.30%) diets improved the growth performance, relative retention of nutrients (N, Ca and P) and minerals (Ca, P) status of blood and bone in broiler chickens, with a better efficacy in maize based diets. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 11 : 1642-1649)
Agency Problems, Information Asymmetries, and Convertible Debt Security Design

This paper proposes and implements a security design framework to assess why corporate managers issue convertible debt. We examine three theories that make predictions about the design of convertible debt. Our results suggest that some issuers design convertible debt to mitigate asset substitution problems, while others design it to reduce adverse selection problems. We also find that issuers vary convertible debt security design over the business cycle in response to time-variation in asset substitution and adverse selection problems. Overall, the results indicate that corporate managers actively alter convertible debt security design to mitigate costly external finance problems.
Pattern of distant extrahepatic metastases in primary liver cancer: a SEER based study

Background and Aims: Primary liver cancer remains still the common cause of cancer-related deaths globally and the prognosis for patients with extrahepatic metastasis is poor. The aim of our study was to assess extrahepatic metastatic pattern of different histological subtypes and evaluate prognostic effects of extrahepatic metastasis in patients with advanced disease. Methods: Based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, eligible patients diagnosed with primary liver cancer was identified between 2010 to 2012. We adopted Chi-square test to compared metastasis distribution among different histological types. We compared survival difference of patients with different extrahepatic metastasises by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazard models were performed to identify other prognostic factors of overall survival. Results: We finally identified 8677 patients who were diagnosed with primary liver cancer from 2010 to 2012 and 1775 patients were in distant metastasis stages. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was more invasive and had a higher percentage of metastasis compared with hepatocellular carcinoma. Lung was the most common metastasis and brain was the least common site for both hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Extrahepatic metastasis could consider as an independent prognostic factor for patients with liver cancer. Patients with brain metastasis had the worst prognosis, compared with other metastasis in overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) analysis. Conclusions: Different histological subtypes of liver cancer had different metastasis patterns. There were profound differences in risk of mortality among distant extrahepatic metastatic sites. Results from our studies would provide some information for follow-up strategies and future studies.
Trade Creation and Diversion Effects of Preferential Trade Associations on Agricultural and Food Trade

"Agricultural market distortions remain a major focus of contention in world trade negotiations. Estimates of the effects of liberalising current agricultural trade restrictions indicate an approximately $385 billion increase in global welfare, with the disproportionate share of the benefit being enjoyed by developing countries. In response to difficulties in adopting agricultural trade reforms, individual groups of countries have formed multiple bilateral and regional preferential trade agreements (PTA) to enhance trade among members. Few sectoral analyses exist of the effects on agricultural and food product trade of PTAs. This research uses a gravity model to isolate the effects of various PTAs on both intra- and extra-bloc agricultural and food product trade for three time periods: 1995, 2000 and 2004. Findings strongly support PTA benefits in terms of increased intra-bloc trade in both sectors. The findings also generally support trade creation in agricultural products. PTA membership was also associated with food trade creation in most cases, although diversion was observed for several associations composed primarily of developing countries. " Copyright (c) 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation (c) 2008 The Agricultural Economics Society.
The Carboxyl-Terminus of BACE Contains a Sorting Signal That Regulates BACE Trafficking but Not the Formation of Total Aβ

BACE (beta-site APP cleaving enzyme) has been recently proposed as the major aspartyl protease displaying beta secretase activity in neurons. The C-terminal domain of BACE contains a dileucine motif (LL499/500) that can potentially regulate its trafficking and endocytosis, and an adjacent serine, which is a potential phosphorylation site (S498) that could modulate the activity of the LL motif. In this paper we show that S498 is phosphorylated by casein kinase 1 (CKI). Mutating the LL to dialanine (AA) caused an increase in the levels of mature BACE. The LL to AA mutation increased levels of BACE on the cell surface and decreased the internalization of BACE. Mutating the S498 to alanine did not alter levels of cell surface BACE. Mutating either the leucines or the serine did not alter the secretion of A(beta). Our data are consistent with a role for the cytoplasmic domain in regulating BACE trafficking and localization.
Assessment of Households Food Access and Food Insecurity in Urban Nigeria: A Case Study of Lagos Metropolis

The study was carried out to assess the prevalence of food insecurity and the level of household food access, as household transit from major harvest period to hunger/lean period in Lagos metropolis. Panel data set was gathered from a total of 180 households in three income settlements of Lagos metropolis using questionnaire. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages; Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Household Dietary Diversity Scale (HDDS) were used to assess food insecurity and access, while a probit regression model was specified to determine the variables responsible for increasing the probability of household’s being food insecure during the hunger period. The result of the study showed that for the metropolis combined, during the harvest period, households in the metropolis had adequate food access with HFIAS score of 6.45±0.41 which worsened significantly (p <0.01) to an average food access of 12.44± 0.45 during the hunger period. The mean HDDS score also showed that households’ dietary diversity was lower during the hunger period with an average score of 2.54 ± 0.09 from 3.25 ± 0.10 during the harvest period. Households with older heads (p < 0.01), larger sizes (p <0.1) and with experiences of job loss among employed members (p < 0.1) had the propensity of being food insecure, while households with more adult male members (p < 0.05) had the propensity of being food secure.
Selection of patients for intra-arterial treatment for acute ischaemic stroke: development and validation of a clinical decision tool in two randomised trials

Objective To improve the selection of patients with acute ischaemic stroke for intra-arterial treatment using a clinical decision tool to predict individual treatment benefit. Design Multivariable regression modelling with data from two randomised controlled clinical trials. Setting 16 hospitals in the Netherlands (derivation cohort) and 58 hospitals in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe (validation cohort). Participants 500 patients from the Multicenter Randomised Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischaemic Stroke in the Netherlands trial (derivation cohort) and 260 patients with intracranial occlusion from the Interventional Management of Stroke III trial (validation cohort). Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days after stroke. We constructed an ordinal logistic regression model to predict outcome and treatment benefit, defined as the difference between the predicted probability of good functional outcome (mRS score 0-2) with and without intra-arterial treatment. Results 11 baseline clinical and radiological characteristics were included in the model. The externally validated C statistic was 0.69 (95% confidence interval 0.64 to 0.73) for the ordinal model and 0.73 (0.67 to 0.79) for the prediction of good functional outcome, indicating moderate discriminative ability. The mean predicted treatment benefit varied between patients in the combined derivation and validation cohort from −2.3% to 24.3%. There was benefit of intra-arterial treatment predicted for some individual patients from groups in which no treatment effect was found in previous subgroup analyses, such as those with no or poor collaterals. Conclusion The proposed clinical decision tool combines multiple baseline clinical and radiological characteristics and shows large variations in treatment benefit between patients. The tool is clinically useful as it aids in distinguishing between individual patients who may experience benefit from intra-arterial treatment for acute ischaemic stroke and those who will not. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT00359424 (IMS III) and isrctn.com ISRCTN10888758 (MR CLEAN).
Accounting Standard-Setting Organizations and Earnings Relevance: Longitudinal Evidence from NYSE Common Stocks, 1927-93

We provide evidence on the relevance of earnings for valuation of NYSE common stocks from 1927-93. Based on a time series analysis of the explanatory power of yearly earnings-returns regressions, we investigate whether earnings relevance has increased following: (1) the empowerment of the Committee on Accounting Procedure (CAP) in 1939 as the first U.S. standard-setting body, and (2) subsequent reorganizations of the standard-setting process which led to the establishment of the Accounting Principles Board (APB, 1959-73) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB, 1973-Present). Income measurement and disclosure has been a central focus of accounting policymakers throughout the period covered by our study. In the early 1930's, the American Institute of Accountants (forerunner of the AICPA) emphasized the "cardinal importance" of income as "explained by the fact that the value of a business is dependent mainly on its earning capacity" (see AIA [1934]). Over 40 years later, the FASB in Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts #1 adopted a similar view when it concluded that the primary focus of financial reporting is on earnings and its components. Our analyses provide little evidence suggesting that the mean and median explanatory power (i.e., adjusted R2) of yearly returns-earnings regressions are significantly higher following empowerment of the CAP in 1939 and subsequent reorganizations leading to creation of the APB and FASB. We find weak evidence of a higher median during the CAP? s tenure (1939-59) compared to the Pre-CAP era (1927-38), but this result is not robust under alternate specifications of our primary tests where either yearly rank regressions are used, losses are excluded from the sample, or operating income is used in lieu of net income in the yearly regressions. We also estimate yearly models where stock price is regressed against earnings and book value similar to other recent longitudinal studies (e.g., Collins, Maydew, and Weiss [1997] and Francis and Schipper [1997]). Results of tests examining incremental earnings relevance in price regressions are consistent with results based on earnings-returns regressions: we find no evidence indicating that the valuation relevance of earnings has significantly increased since the initiation of U.S. standard-setting in 1939. Consistent with evidence in these other studies, we document a highly significant increase in the combined relevance of earnings and book value during the FASB? s tenure compared to the APB era. However, this result is largely the artifact of abnormally low relevance in the APB era. For instance, the combined relevance of earnings and book value is lowest during the APB? s tenure (1960-73), but the combined relevance of earnings and book value in the FASB era is similar to that observed during the Pre-CAP and CAP periods.
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Research Department Stock Market Volatility and Learning

Consumption-based asset pricing models with time-separable preferences can generate realistic amounts of stock price volatility if one allows for small deviations from rational expectations. We consider rational investors who entertain subjective prior beliefs about price behavior that are not equal but close to rational expectations. Optimal behavior then dictates that investors learn about price behavior from past price observations. We show that this imparts momentum and mean reversion into the equilibrium behavior of the price-dividend ratio, similar to what can be observed in the data. When estimating the model on U.S. stock price data using the method of simulated moments, we find that it can quantitatively account for the observed volatility of returns, the volatility and persistence of the price-dividend ratio, and the predictability of long-horizon returns. For reasonable degrees of risk aversion, the model generates up to one-half of the equity premium observed in the data. It also passes a formal statistical test for the overall goodness of fit, provided one excludes the equity premium from the set of moments to be matched.
Workout management of non‐performing loans: A formal model based on transaction cost economics

Purpose – The German banking sector has recently been facing high real estate loan default rates resulting in the accumulation of a high volume of distressed real estate debt in the banks' balance sheets. As a consequence, German banks are confronted with the workout of their non‐ and sub‐performing real estate loans to proactively solve the problem. When doing so, banks have to decide whether they want to conduct the loan workout in their own workout departments (integrative approach) or whether they prefer to outsource the workout to a third party servicer or even sell their bad loan exposure to an external investor (disintegrative approach). This paper aims to investigate this issue.Design/methodology/approach – A bank's decision to employ an integrative or a disintegrative approach can be transferred into a make‐or buy‐decision as described by the transaction cost economics. The transaction between the bank and the workout manager is analysed by the transaction characteristics of the transaction cost .
Bayesian modelling of football outcomes: using the Skellam's distribution for the goal difference

Modelling football match outcomes is becoming increasingly popular nowadays for both team managers and betting funs. Most of the existing literature deals with modelling the number of goals scored by each team. In this paper, we work in a different direction. Instead of modelling the number of goals directly, we focus on the difference of the number of goals, i.e. the margin of victory. Modelling the differences instead of the scores themselves has some major advantages. Firstly, we eliminate correlation imposed by the fact that the two opponent teams compete each other, and secondly, we do not assume that the scored goals by each team are marginally Poisson distributed. Application of the Bayesian methodology for the Skellam’s distribution using covariates is discussed. Illustrations using real data from the English Premiership for the season 2006–2007 are provided. The advantages of the proposed approach are also discussed.
Motivation for Service Sector Foreign Direct Investments in Emerging Economies: Insights from the Tourism Industry in Jamaica

Abstract The level of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the hotel sector of the tourism industry in Jamaica is unprecedented. This study seeks to understand the motivation for such investments using the extant theories of FDI as the conceptual framework. To achieve this aim, the study draws on the qualitative analysis of data gathered through face-to-face interviews with hotel managers, government policy makers and ambassadors from the investing countries to shed light on the issue. The conclusions reveal that intense competition in the home market has forced the multinational enterprise to seek markets abroad. Jamaica was chosen as a location because of its proximity to the US market and also the level of infrastructure development in the economy. However, because of the service-oriented nature of these multinational enterprises, the investors opted for FDI instead of other entry modes. These FDIs have changed the structure of the tourism industry in Jamaica and have led to increased levels of competition in the industry which, this study argues; is healthy for improved competitiveness in the industry.