Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipid Tolerance Testing in Pregnancy

Objective— Macrosomia in the infant of the well-controlled diabetic mother suggests that a substrate other than glucose may influence fetal growth. We hypothesized that GDM alters lipid homeostasis during pregnancy. Our objective was to determine if an LTT could assist in identification of lipid abnormalities in the GDM individual. Research Designs and Methods— The LTT consisted of bolus infusion of 1.0 mg/kg 10% Intralipid (Cutter Vitrum, Berkeley, CA) followed by measurements of plasma glucose, insulin, glycerol, total triglycerides, and triglyceride fatty acids (18:1 and 18:2), total FFAs, and total phospholipids for 30 min before and 90 min after the bolus. The study groups were composed of 8 nonpregnant, nondiabetic subjects, 8 pregnant, nondiabetic subjects, 8 GDM patients receiving insulin, and 8 GDM patients who were diet controlled. Results— Plasma glucose and plasma insulin concentrations did not change significantly after the bolus. No significant difference was noted in the K2 for glycerol of the nonpregnant, nondiabetic group compared with the pregnant groups. The K2 for total triglycerides, plasma triglyceride 18:1, and plasma triglyceride 18:2 indicated increased rates of disappearance of these substrates for the nonpregnant nondiabetic group compared with all pregnant groups. No significant differences were observed among the pregnant groups for any of these parameters. Conclusions— Pregnancy may be associated with a decreased rate of triglyceride lipolysis compared with nonpregnancy. No differences in lipid metabolism were noted among normal pregnant and relatively well-controlled GDM patients.
Conditional and syllogistic deductive tasks dissociate functionally during premise integration

Deduction allows us to draw consequences from previous knowledge. Deductive reasoning can be applied to several types of problem, for example, conditional, syllogistic, and relational. It has been assumed that the same cognitive operations underlie solutions to them all; however, this hypothesis remains to be tested empirically. We used event‐related fMRI, in the same group of subjects, to compare reasoning‐related activity associated with conditional and syllogistic deductive problems. Furthermore, we assessed reasoning‐related activity for the two main stages of deduction, namely encoding of premises and their integration. Encoding syllogistic premises for reasoning was associated with activation of BA 44/45 more than encoding them for literal recall. During integration, left fronto‐lateral cortex (BA 44/45, 6) and basal ganglia activated with both conditional and syllogistic reasoning. Besides that, integration of syllogistic problems additionally was associated with activation of left parietal (BA 7) and left ventro‐lateral frontal cortex (BA 47). This difference suggests a dissociation between conditional and syllogistic reasoning at the integration stage. Our finding indicates that the integration of conditional and syllogistic reasoning is carried out by means of different, but partly overlapping, sets of anatomical regions and by inference, cognitive processes. The involvement of BA 44/45 during both encoding (syllogisms) and premise integration (syllogisms and conditionals) suggests a central role in deductive reasoning for syntactic manipulations and formal/linguistic representations. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rural-to-Urban Migration and Conjugal Separation: An Indian Case Study

The incidence of conjugal separation among migrants in India is examined using data from a sample survey of over 10000 heads of households. The survey was carried out by the author in Delhi in 1975. The relationship between conjugal separation and selected socioeconomic variables is explored and a linear probability function for conjugal separation is estimated. (ANNOTATION)
Building Technological-Innovation-Based Strategic Capabilities at Firm Level in China: A Dynamic Resource-Based-View Case Study

This paper focuses on the 10-year-long practice of mobilizing key resources to build strategic capabilities based on technological innovation in a textile company in China. We propose an analytical framework on the basis of RBV theory and value chain analysis and adopt a dynamic perspective to determine the pattern and process of how different bundles of the key resources contributed to the strategic capabilities in our case company. We found that the firm's technological-innovation-based strategic capabilities were broadly influenced by neither technological resources, nor innovation resources, but organizational culture, human resources and organizational structure, among which human resources is the most dynamic one. For firms with ambition to maintain a high level of strategic capabilities it is imperative they develop and enhance their organizational culture in a flexible organizational environment. For firms with the objective of transforming or transplanting their existing capabilities, it is likely to be effective if they change or transfer the human resources, respectively.
Payout Policy Through the Financial Crisis: The Growth of Repurchases and the Resilience of Dividends

We compare the payout policies of US industrials and banks over the past 30 years to better understand dividends, especially for banks. For industrials, dividends grow strongly after 2002, when the declining propensity to pay reverses. Banks have a higher and more stable propensity to pay dividends and resist cutting dividends as the 2007–2008 financial crisis begins. Before the crisis, increases in repurchases push payouts to historic levels. These findings are broadly consistent with the idea that banks use dividends to signal financial strength while agency costs of free cash flow better explain industrial payouts.
The rate of viral rebound after attainment of an HIV load <50 copies/mL according to specific antiretroviral drugs in use: results from a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND Relatively few data are available on the association between the use of specific antiretroviral drugs and the rate of viral rebound in those attaining a viral load (VL) <50 copies/mL while receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). METHODS Patients achieving a VL <50 copies/mL for the first time while receiving HAART were followed until viral rebound (2 consecutive VLs >500 copies/mL). Pre-HAART antiretroviral-naive patients were analyzed separately from those with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) experience. RESULTS Of 3565 suppressed antiretroviral-naive patients, 381 experienced viral rebound (rate, 6.26 events/100 person-years of follow-up [pyrs] [95% confidence interval {CI}, 5.63-6.89 events/100 pyrs]). For those receiving efavirenz, the rate was 4.08 (95% CI, 3.16-5.01) events/pyrs. Compared with this, the rebound rate for those receiving indinavir was 1.52 times higher (rate ratio [RR], 1.52 [95% CI, 0.82-2.84]). RRs (95% CIs) for other drugs were: soft-gel saquinavir, 0.54 (0.07-3.97); nelfinavir, 2.44 (1.68-3.54); indinavir/ritonavir, 1.96 (1.02-3.77); saquinavir/ritonavir, 1.12 (0.48-2.61); lopinavir/ritonavir, 1.23 (0.58-2.59); nevirapine, 1.53 (1.11-2.10); and abacavir, 2.03 (1.26-3.25). Of 810 NRTI-exposed patients, 145 experienced viral rebound (rate, 8.29 [95% CI, 6.94-9.64] events/pyrs). For those receiving efavirenz, the rate was 5.25 (95% CI, 3.11-8.30) events/pyrs. Compared with this, the RRs (95% CIs) were: indinavir, 1.75 (0.82-3.73); hard-gel saquinavir, 3.48 (0.36-33.37); nelfinavir, 2.64 (1.37-5.08); indinavir/ritonavir, 0.32 (0.04-2.49); saquinavir/ritonavir, 0.64 (0.23-1.80); nevirapine, 1.65 (0.90-3.02); and abacavir, 1.82 (0.73-4.52). CONCLUSIONS We must make comparisons of antiretroviral outcomes in observational data with caution; however, our results suggest that, in those with VLs <50 copies/mL, certain drugs may be associated with higher rebound rates than others.
Expectations of Unemployment Insurance and Unemployment Duration

Over the years there have been frequent changes in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Such changes could influence spells in progress as well as future spells. If individuals anticipate changes, they are likely to adjust their behavior. The effect of changes in benefits on unemployment duration, therefore, will be difficult to predict accurately without accounting for individual expectations. This article investigates the extent to which individuals anticipate changes in UI entitlement. The results suggest that individuals have significant, although not perfect, foresight about changes in UI provisions. Assuming perfect foresight might represent actual expectations more closely than assuming no foresight.
Telomerase Accelerates Osteogenesis of Bone Marrow Stromal Stem Cells by Upregulation of CBFA1, Osterix, and Osteocalcin

Telomerase activity can prevent telomere shortening and replicative senescence in human somatic cells. We and others have previously demonstrated that forced expression of telomerase in human bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSSCs) was able to extend their life‐span and enhance their bone‐forming capability, without inducing malignant transformation. In this study, we determined that telomerase was able to accelerate calcium accumulation of human BMSSCs under osteogenic inductive conditions. Similarly, xenogeneic transplantation of telomerase‐expressing BMSSCs (BMSSC‐Ts) yielded ectopic bone formation at 2 weeks post‐transplantation, 2–4 weeks earlier than typically seen with BMSSCs transfected with empty vector (BMSSC‐Cs). Low‐density DNA array analysis revealed that telomerase activity increases the expression of G1 regulating genes including cyclin D3, cyclin E1, E2F‐4, and DP2, associated with hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma (pRb), leading to the extended proliferative capacity of BMSSC‐Ts. Importantly, BMSSC‐T transplants showed a higher number of human osteogenic cells at 8 weeks post transplantation compared with the BMSSC‐C transplants, coupled with a significantly increased osteogenic capacity. One possible mechanism leading to accelerated osteogenesis by BMSSC‐Ts may be attributed, at least in part, to the upregulation of the important osteogenic genes such as CBFA1, osterix, and osteocalcin in vitro. Taken together, these findings show that telomerase can accelerate cell cycle progression from G1‐to‐S phase and enhance osteogenic differentiation of BMSSCs, because of the upregulation of CBFA1, osterix, and osteocalcin.
Chronic multisymptom illness affecting Air Force veterans of the Gulf War.

CONTEXT Gulf War (GW) veterans report nonspecific symptoms significantly more often than their nondeployed peers. However, no specific disorder has been identified, and the etiologic basis and clinical significance of their symptoms remain unclear. OBJECTIVES To organize symptoms reported by US Air Force GW veterans into a case definition, to characterize clinical features, and to evaluate risk factors. DESIGN Cross-sectional population survey of individual characteristics and symptoms and clinical evaluation (including a structured interview, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36, psychiatric screening, physical examination, clinical laboratory tests, and serologic assays for antibodies against viruses, rickettsia, parasites, and bacteria) conducted in 1995. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING The cross-sectional questionnaire survey included 3723 currently active volunteers, irrespective of health status or GW participation, from 4 air force populations. The cross-sectional clinical evaluation included 158 GW veterans from one unit, irrespective of health status. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Symptom-based case definition; case prevalence rate for GW veterans and nondeployed personnel; clinical and laboratory findings among veterans who met the case definition. RESULTS We defined a case as having 1 or more chronic symptoms from at least 2 of 3 categories (fatigue, mood-cognition, and musculoskeletal). The prevalence of mild-to-moderate and severe cases was 39% and 6%, respectively, among 1155 GW veterans compared with 14% and 0.7% among 2520 nondeployed personnel. Illness was not associated with time or place of deployment or with duties during the war. Fifty-nine clinically evaluated GW veterans (37%) were noncases, 86 (54%) mild-to-moderate cases, and 13 (8%) severe cases. Although no physical examination, laboratory, or serologic findings identified cases, veterans who met the case definition had significantly diminished functioning and well-being. CONCLUSIONS Among currently active members of 4 Air Force populations, a chronic multisymptom condition was significantly associated with deployment to the GW. The condition was not associated with specific GW exposures and also affected nondeployed personnel.
The performance of socially responsible mutual funds: a volatility‐match approach

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the performance of a sample of socially responsible mutual funds (SRMFs) and a matched sample of conventional funds during the 1997-2005 time period. Design/methodology/approach - Risk-adjusted performance is examined using several methodologies, including a measure that compares the performance of a fund with that of an efficient and volatility-match benchmark portfolio. Findings - On the basis of the raw returns, socially responsible funds performed better than some market indexes but this evidence of outperformance disappears once risk is incorporated into the analysis. Consistent with previous studies, no evidence was found of out performance by socially responsible funds. Also, the difference between the performance of SRMFs and conventional mutual funds is not statistically significant. This result is robust to the use of two additional measures of risk-adjusted performance. Originality/value - To measure risk-adjusted performance, a measure first introduced by Graham and Harvey was employed. Similar to the Jensen's alpha of a single factor model, the Graham and Harvey measure evaluates fund performance relative to a volatility-match benchmark but does not depend on a linear model specification and thus is free from the potential biases presented by linear models.
Dynamic capabilities of institutional entrepreneurship

Purpose - Although the concept of institutional entrepreneurship has been developed in the institutional theory literature to explain change in the normative context of organizations, little attention has been given to understanding what institutional entrepreneurs actually do to create change. The purpose of this paper is to begin to address this gap in the literature by drawing on the process, challenges, successes and lessons learned when a large multilateral organization (the United Nations Development Program) launched a new international multi-stakeholder initiative to facilitate inclusive business development. Design/methodology/approach - This case study gathered qualitative data through key informant interviews, participant observation and a review of project documents and e-mail correspondence. Findings - Drawing on institutional theory and the literature on dynamic capabilities, the research found that highly institutionalized organizations acting as institutional entrepreneurs need to manage two key tensions – legitimacy management and change process management – in order to influence change in their institutional fields. Originality/value - This paper is the first to combine institutional theory and the dynamic capabilities literatures to understand the question What capabilities are required by organizations to succeed in changing their institutional fields?
Raised plasma adrenomedullin level in Behçet's disease patients

Abstract To investigate the role of plasma adrenomedullin (AM) in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease (BD) patients with inactive ocular complications or ocular attack, 18 consecutive BD patients with ocular complications, including 1 BD patient with ocular attack, another group of 6 BD patients with ocular attack, and 10 normal volunteers were evaluated. All BD patients were regularly followed at ophthalmic outpatient clinics. Levels of both total and mature AM in plasma were measured by immunoradiometric assay. Plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) were also measured by radioimmunoassay. We also measured the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in plasma. Levels of total AM in plasma (mean ± SD, 19.6 ± 6.9 fmol/l) were significantly higher in BD patients than in normal volunteers (14.5 ± 3.6 fmol/l) (P = 0.01). The levels of mature AM were also higher in BD patients (1.6 ± 0.4 fmol/l) than in normal volunteers (0.3 ± 0.6 fmol/l) (P = 0.002). The levels of AM in patients with ocular attack were higher than those in normal volunteers, although there was no significant difference compared to levels of AM in BD patients without ocular attack. AM may play an important role as an antiinflammation factor or may reflect endothelial damage as a marker of disease activity in BD patients.
The level of organizational justice in schools according to school types

Justice is a concept that began to be dealed related with the distribution of the resources of payment, reward, encouragement etc. The organizational justice concept began to be searched especially according to school type recently, and it began to be claimed that there are significant differences. The aim of this research is to put forward the situation of the organizational justice level from the point of school type and province variables. This research conducted with survey method. The sample of this research is composed of 1016 school empleyees. “Perceptions of Fair Interpersonal Treatment Scale”, which was translated and adapted to Turkish by Wasti (2001), was used in this research. The sub-aims of the research were analysed with arithmetic mean, standard deviation and MANOVA. It has been determined that organizational justice level is perceived positively upto a point from the dimensions of relationships both with managers and employees, school type is an efficient variable and primary schools have more positive organizational justice perception than general high schools and general high schools have more positive organizational justice perception than vocational high schools. Additionally, it has been determined that the organizational justice perception of schools in high populated cities and west regions, where the city variable is efficient, is more positive than that of schools in east regions.
U.S. Intervention: Assessing the Probability of Success

This paper estimates the unconditional and conditional probabilities that U.S. interventions successfully smooth short-term mark-dollar and yen-dollar exchange rates. The sample period extends from February 1987 to February 1990. Assuming a binomial distribution, the number of observed successes usually is greater than one would expect to see randomly. Results from a logit model suggest that coordinated intervention has a higher probability of success than unilateral intervention. The probability of success also increases with the dollar amount of an intervention. Other conditioning variables are not significant. The paper presents a reaction function, with adjustments for the incidentally truncated nature of intervention data. Predicted values serve as instruments for intervention in the logit models.
Love, money, or flexibility: what motivates people to work in consumer-directed home care?

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of wages and benefits (relative to other jobs available to workers), controlling for personal characteristics, on the recruitment and retention of providers working in a consumer-directed home care program. DESIGN AND METHODS I used the results of focus groups to design a survey that was administered to 2,260 workers stratified by ethnicity and working in eight California counties that represented the range of wage and benefit packages available. I used logistic regression to measure the effect of wage and benefit levels, controlling for covariates, on home care workers' stated reason for entering and remaining in the job. RESULTS Two thirds of respondents reported that commitment to their consumer was the most important reason why they took the job and flexibility was the second most important reason, regardless of wages and benefits and personal characteristics. However, in the county in which very part-time workers were eligible, health insurance was the most important reason for retention. Wage levels above $9 an hour mattered somewhat, especially where the increase was recent. Family providers responded to wage and benefit incentives similarly to non-family providers. IMPLICATIONS To improve recruitment and retention of consumer-directed home care workers, jobs should be flexible and provide affordable health insurance for part-time workers. The effect of wages suggests that recruitment might be improved with higher wages, but only when they reach the $9 to $10 range (in 2004 dollars). Finally, policy must recognize that family caregivers have financial needs similar to non-family caregivers.
Malawian Midwives’ Perceptions of Occupational Risk for HIV Infection

In this study, Malawian midwives’ perceptions of occupational risk of human immunodefiency virus (HIV) infection are described. Knowledge of perceptions of HIV risk in developing countries and consequences on patient care is limited. A qualitative approach using purposive sampling was undertaken with 7 midwives. Participants considered their occupational risk to be high, encompassing these four themes: exposure to body fluids, availability of resources, hand washing practices, and support from management. Additional themes related to the impact of high risk on clinical practice: working in a climate of fear, refraining from touch, loss of interest in midwifery, and improvising care practices.
Access regulation and the adoption of VoIP

The introduction of packet-switched telephony in the form of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) raises concerns about current regulatory practice. Access regulation has been designed for traditional telephony on public networks (PSTN). In this paper we analyze the effect of access regulation and retail price regulation of PSTN networks on the adoption of a new technology in the form of VoIP. In particular, we show that with endogenous consumer choice between PSTN and VoIP telephony, higher prices for terminating access to the PSTN network make VoIP less likely to succeed and lead to lower profits of operators that offer exclusively VoIP telephony.