Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loss of DCC gene expression is of prognostic importance in acute myelogenous leukemia.

PURPOSE Expression of the deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) gene has been found to be lost in some patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Although this finding is critical to leukemogenesis, its prognostic significance remains uncertain. To evaluate this, loss of DCC gene expression in AML patients and their prognostic significance were investigated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A group of 170 patients with AML was analyzed. DCC gene expression in AML cells was determined by a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. Simultaneous mutation analyses of the p53, N-ras, and FLT3 genes were performed in all of the AML cells by single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing subsequent to PCR. The importance of loss of DCC expression was evaluated by Cox proportional analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Loss of DCC expression was detected in 47 patients (27.6%). The p53, N-ras, and FLT3 mutations were detected in 20 (11.7%), 42 (24.7%), and 26 (15.2%) patients, respectively. The durations of overall survival (OS) and complete remission (CR) of the 47 DCC-negative AML patients were significantly shorter than that of the 123 DCC-positive patients (P < 0.0045 and <0.0060, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that loss of DCC expression was an unfavorable prognostic factor for both OS (P < 0.0053 and <0.0084, respectively) and CR duration (P < 0.0146 and <0.0371, respectively). The 64 DCC-positive patients with wild p53, N-ras, and FLT3 had statistically better CR attainment compared with the other 106 patients (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Loss of DCC gene expression was shown to be an independent prognostic factor in AML patients. Thus, loss of DCC gene expression might serve as an important molecular marker for predicting the CR duration and OS of patients with AML.
Beat-to-beat heart rate detection by smartphone's accelerometers: Validation with ECG

Mobile phones offer the possibility to monitor and track health parameters. Our aim was to test the feasibility and accuracy of measuring beat-to-beat heart rate using smartphone accelerometers by recording the vibrations generated by the heart during its function and transmitted to the chest wall, i.e. the so-called seismocardiographic signal (SCG). Methods: 9 healthy male volunteers were studied in supine (SUP) and in standing (ST) posture. A smartphone (iPhone6, Apple) was positioned on the thorax (POS1) to acquire SCG signal. While supine, a second smartphone was positioned on the navel (POS2). The SCG signal was recorded for 3 minutes during spontaneous respiration, synchronous with 3-leads ECG. Using a fully automated algorithm based on amplitude thresholding after rectification, the characteristic peak of the SCG signal (IVC) was detected and used to compute beat-to-beat heart duration, to be compared with the corresponding RR intervals extracted from the ECG. Results: A 100% feasibility of the approach resulted for POS1 in SUP, while 89% in POS2, and 78% for POS1 in ST. In supine, for each smartphones' position, the automated algorithm correctly identified the cardiac beats with >98% accuracy. Linear correlation (r2) with RR was very high (>0.98) in each posture and position, with no bias and narrow limits of agreement. Conclusions: The obtained results proved the feasibility of the proposed approach and the robustness of the applied algorithm in measuring the beat-to-beat heart rate from smartphone-derived SCG, with high accuracy compared to conventional ECG-derived measure.
Work conditions and mental health among prison staff in France.

OBJECTIVES A cross-sectional epidemiologic survey was conducted among prison staff in France to investigate the relationships between work conditions and mental health. METHODS The sample included men and women 20 to 64 years of age belonging to all categories of prison personnel (prison guards, administrative staff, socioeducational workers, technicians, health care workers, and managers). A postal self-administered questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic factors, work conditions, and physical and mental disorders. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the effects of work conditions and social relationships on the mental health of prison staff. RESULTS The results presented in this report only concern depressive symptomatology (measured by the French version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), anxiety (measured by the state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and sleep disorders. The percentage of mental disorders was higher among prison staff than that determined for other occupational samples. Guards comprised the prison staff least affected by these symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The results show that, in our sample, the factors concerning the subjective evaluation of work conditions and social support were more closely related to mental disorders than work conditions. In addition, seniority was associated with depressive symptoms and anxiety among the men.
Improved H∞ filtering for continuous-time singular systems with time-varying delay

This paper presents an improved H∞ filter design for continuous-time singular systems with time-varying delay. A delay-dependent H∞ performance analysis result is first established for error systems via a novel estimation method. By combining a well known inequality with a delay partition technique, the upper bound of the derivative of the Lyapunov functional is estimated more tightly and expressed as a convex combination with respect to the reciprocal of the delay rather than the delay. Based on the derived H∞ performance analysis results, the H∞ filter is designed in terms of linear matrix in-equalities (LMIs). A numerical example is given to demonstrate the merits of the proposed method.
The deviation of production prices from labour values: some methodology and empirical evidence

Contrary to what is expected from indirect evidence and two-commodity hypothetical examples, the evdie nce provided in this paper supports David Ricardo's empirical proposi tion that relative prices of production are mainly determined by labo r-value ratios. The results obtained indicate that a 1 percent change in profit rate will cause relative prices to change up to 2 percent, and as the profit rate on gross capital is approximately 5 percent o ne ends up with a "90 percent labor theory of value. " The empirical evidence refers to the Yugoslav economy, but the factors that determ ine the deviations considered turn out to be of the same order of mag nitude as in other economies. Copyright 1987 by Oxford University Press.
Is there too much certainty when measuring uncertainty

This paper criticises the econometric inflation uncertainty proxies found in the literature, which show an overly optimistic picture about our real ability to forecast, and highlights the sharp contrast between the evidence portrayed by that literature and the evidence conveyed by the literature on surveys of inflation expectations. While the latter shows that actual forecasts are usually biased and systematic forecast errors are pervasive the former shows a much more optimistic picture, in accordance with the rational expectations paradigm. Also, both literatures have historically shown conflicting evidence on the inflation level – inflation uncertainty link. Next, the performance of inflation forecasts from both the Central Bank of Brazil Inflation Report and the Focus Survey are analysed. The paper then pinpoints some simple measures that could be taken to improve the reliability of econometric inflation uncertainty proxies, and carries out a (pseudo) real-time forecasting simulation exercise to derive a set of such proxies for Brazil. The features of those forecasts are shown to be very similar to those found in surveys.
Migration as Trade Facilitation: Assessing the Links between International Trade and Migration

Abstract The cost of international trade matters. As traditional barriers to trade continue to diminish in importance, additional ways to lower trade costs become increasingly important to promoting international trade. Migrants can help lower trade costs between their country of birth and their country of residence by providing an information channel that reduces friction and facilitates trade relations. This paper applies a gravity model to a large set of data about developed and developing countries to estimate the extent of the relationship between migrants and trade. The results suggest that both immigrants and emigrants are significantly related to higher trade volumes. Immigrants seem to be especially good at facilitating trade in differentiated goods, for which information costs are particularly important.
Is ICT the panacea to sub-Saharan Africa’s development problems? Rethinking Africa’s contentious engagement with the global information society

The explosion in mobile phone subscription notwithstanding, benefits from ICT deployment are far from being realized in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A clash between the rationality for development and local systems of reasoning, and the failure to cultivate behaviours that support technological innovation provide little hope for sustained information and communication technology (ICT) adoption in the region. The article discusses failures in technological innovation and then explores ways that SSA countries can manage ICT deployment to stimulate sustained adoption.
A Long-term Cohort Study of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use and Disease Activity in Outpatients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background and Aims:We examined whether use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease was associated with increased severity of disease activity. Methods:Outpatients with Crohn’s disease (CD; n = 426) and with ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 203) were seen between November 1997 and April 2002. Patients were questioned at each visit regarding use of prescription or over-the counter NSAIDs and a clinical disease activity index (modified Harvey Bradshaw [MHB] or Lichtiger score) was obtained. Results:For the Crohn’s patients, for 1315 visits no NSAIDs were used, on 215 visits low-dose NSAIDs were used, and for 139 visits high-dose NSAIDs were taken. For UC patient visits, 495 used no NSAIDs, 112 low-dose NSAIDs, and 49 high-dose NSAIDs. Average MHB score was 4.07 for the no-NSAID group, 4.24 for low-dose NSAIDs (P = 0.46), and 4.78 for high-dose (P = 0.0072 versus no NSAIDs). For the ulcerative colitis patients corresponding scores were 5.64, 5.46, and 6.20, respectively (P = not significant). The probability of moderately active disease as defined by crossing a threshold MHB or Lichtiger score, however, was not significantly affected by NSAID use. Subgroup analysis indicated the increase in disease activity among CD patients taking high-dose NSAIDs was limited to patients with colonic involvement. Conclusions:Use of low-dose NSAIDs was not associated with an increase in disease activity for these outpatients with either CD or UC. Use of high-doses of NSAIDs was associated with a higher numerical disease activity index score among CD patients with colonic involvement, but this was not reflected by an increase in significant disease flares.
Comparative Mixed Risk Aversion: Definition and Application to Self-Protection and Willingness to Pay

We analyze the optimal choices of agents with utility functions whose derivatives alternate in sign, an important class that includes most of the functions commonly used in economics and finance (Mixed Risk Aversion, MRA, Caballé and Pomansky, 1996). We propose a comparative mixed risk aversion definition for this class of utility functions, namely, “More Risk Averse MRA”, and provide a sufficient condition to compare individuals. We apply the model to optimal prevention and willingness to pay. More risk averse MRA agents spend less to reduce accident probabilities that are above 1/2. They spend more only when accident probabilities are below 1/2. Explanations in terms of risk premiums are provided. The results presented also allow for the presence of background risk.
Intellectual capital reporting: a longitudinal study of New Zealand companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine intellectual capital reporting patterns of New Zealand companies over a longitudinal period, comparing knowledge intensive companies with traditional product-based companies. Design/methodology/approach – Content analysis was used to examine the intellectual capital reporting of five knowledge intensive companies and five traditional product-based companies listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange during 2004-2010. Findings – The longitudinal study found that although there was an increase in intellectual capital reporting from 2004 to 2010, there was no strong pattern reflecting a marked increase in reporting over the time period. The findings also show that the level of intellectual capital reporting cannot be determined by the type of organisation. Further, the majority of intellectual capital reporting was found to be in discursive form and only a small percentage of reporting conveyed negative news. Research limitations/implications – The results of t.
Effect of glimepiride on insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis in cultured human skeletal muscle cells: a comparison to glibenclamide.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of glimepiride on insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis in cultured human skeletal muscle cells in comparison with glibenclamide. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Myotubes derived from glucose-tolerant subjects were incubated with glimepiride or glibenclamide (0-100 micro mol/l) for 4 h and with or without insulin (100 nmol/l) for 2 h, and subsequently glycogen synthesis was determined. RESULTS Glimepiride had no significant effect on basal glycogen synthesis; in contrast, glimepiride caused a dose-dependent increase of insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis, with a maximal effect of 39.97 +/- 8.4% (mean +/- SEM, n = 4, P < 0,02). The time course of this glimepiride effect on insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis showed a peak after 12 h incubation with a half maximal effect after 4 h. Preincubation of the myotubes with wortmannin (100 nmol/l), an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol (PI)- 3 kinase, caused an inhibition of this glimepiride effect on insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis. In contrast to glimepiride, incubation of myotubes with glibenclamide (0-100nmol/l), a second generation sulfonylurea, had no significant effect on basal or insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis. CONCLUSIONS Incubation of cultured human skeletal muscle cells derived from glucose-tolerant subjects with glimepiride caused a dose-dependent increase of insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis using therapeutic glimepiride concentrations. This glimepiride effect seems to be mediated via the PI3 kinase pathway. In contrast to glimepiride, glibenclamide had no significant effect on basal or insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis. These results suggest that glimepiride, beside its well-known effect to stimulate insulin secretion, possess an insulin-sensitizing action in cultured human skeletal muscle cells in support of the concept of an extrapancreatic action of glimepiride.
Effects of Reducing Gender Gaps in Education and Labour Force Participation on Economic Growth in the OECD

This paper assesses the extent to which the increase in women’s human capital, as measured by educational attainment, has contributed to economic growth in OECD countries over the past five decades. Using cross-country/time series data covering 30 countries from 1960 to 2008 on education (the Barro-Lee dataset) and growth (update of OECD data), our results point out a positive and significant impact of the increase in women’s educational attainment relative to men on output per capita growth – as measured by GDP per capita. This increase in female educational attainment implies that the comparative advantage of men relative to women regarding educational attainment has weakened over time, and has even reversed in many countries. We find that the increase in the years of education of the total population has a positive influence on output per capita growth (around 10% of GDP per capita increase per additional year of education on average), and that a more equal ratio of education by gender boosts economic growth. Our results are robust to the use of estimation procedures that do not impose homogeneity restrictions on the speed of adjustment and short-run parameters, to control for endogenetiy due to possible reverse causality and to several other robustness tests. Last, but not least, we look at the potential effect of increased female labour force participation on economic growth. The size of the effect is dependent on the rate at which male and female labour force participation will converge, with a potential gain of 12% to the size of the total economy by 2030, on average across OECD countries, if complete convergence occurs in the next 20 years.
Droperidol Treatment of Status Migrainosus and Refractory Migraine

We conducted a pilot study of intravenous droperidol in 35 patients (32 women and 3 men; mean age 43 years) with status migrainosus (n=25) or refractory migraine (n=10) in an ambulatory infusion center. Headache was graded as severe in 21 patients and moderate in 14. An intravenous line was started and kept open. Droperidol (2.5 mg) was given intravenously every 30 minutes until either three doses were given or the patient was completely or almost headache‐free prior to the next dose.
Understanding Variation in the Practice of Employee Discipline

First-line supervisors' responses to employee-related problems can vary widely from one supervisor to another. Assuming fair and consistent disciplinary activity is valued by organizations, then discovery of the factors causing supervisors to respond differently to similar situations is a valuable activity. Using a case study approach for four organizations in Puerto Rico, this article explores how factors such as sector, union presence, and managerial and human resource department support influence the choice of a discipline strategy. When present, some of these factors were found to encourage supervisors to comply with formal disciplinary policy. Organizations can use these findings to assess the degree to which there is consistency in these factors and take strategic action to assure that first-line supervisors receive clear and consistent signals regarding appropriate disciplinary strategies.
Legal Form, Growth and Exit of West German Firms - Empirical Results for Manufacturing, Construction, Trade and Service Industries

Using a sample of approximately 11,000 West German firms from all major sectors of the economy, the authors test predictions on the relationship between legal form, firm survival, and employment growth. In their tests, the authors distinguish between voluntary liquidation without losses to creditors and bankruptcy, that is forced liquidation. They demonstrate that, in all sectors, firms under limited liability have higher growth and higher insolvency rates than comparable firms under full liability. Firms whose owners are approaching retirement age are characterized by relatively high hazards of voluntary liquidation, while the propensity to declare insolvency is not affected by the owner's age. Copyright 1998 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
The effectiveness of culinary curricula: a case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine and compare current culinary student, graduated culinary student, and industry responses to educational skills attained.Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses a survey methodology to examine perceptions of what and how institutions might best prepare culinary students for success in the workplace.Findings – Students enter culinary education institutions with expectations of the experience they will gain and the skills/knowledge they will master. After graduation, they discover how prepared they are for a culinary career. Similarly, employers expect students to enter the work place with specific skills and abilities. Findings provide both similarities and differences among the respondent groups.Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted in only one country using graduates from one culinary school and industry needs of Eastern Canada. Based on an analysis of the findings, educators and industry should address key skills of the culinar.
[Estimation and prediction of incidence, mortality and prevalence on liver cancer, in 2008, China].

OBJECTIVE To estimate the incidence, mortality and 5-year prevalence rates of liver cancer in 2008, China. METHODS Data from both 36 cancer registries and the Third National Death Survey in China (2004 - 2005) were used to estimate the incidence, mortality and 5-year prevalence of liver cancer in 2008 in the country by using the mathematical models to predict the liver cancer incidence and mortality in the next 20 years. RESULTS In 2008, the incident cases of liver cancer was 402 208 (14.3% of the total cancers) and the number of deaths from liver cancer was 372 079 (19.0% of the total cancers). The incidence rate was 25.7/100 000, ranking the third among all cancers. The mortality rate was 23.7/100 000, ranking the second among all the cancers. The 5-year prevalence of liver cancer was 296 082 (6.4% of the total cancers) with the proportion as 27.7/ 100 000, ranking the sixth among all the cancers. 72.8% of the liver cancer cases appeared in men and the sex ratio of male to female was 2.7:1. In terms of deaths due to liver cancer, 74.3% of them occurred in men, with sex ratio of male to female as 2.9:1. At any age group, the incidence and mortality of liver cancer among males were higher than those of females. Liver cancer happened more frequently among people older than 40 years of age, particularly among males. Data under our prediction showed that the incidence and mortality of liver cancer in China would gradually increase in the next 20 years. CONCLUSION Liver cancer is one of the most important public health issues in China. Both incidence and mortality of liver cancer have been increasing in China. The key populations for liver cancer prevention and control programs should be those who were older than 40-year-old, particularly on men.
Outsourcing and Offshoring: Implications for Productivity of Business Services

This paper reviews the implications of outsourcing and offshoring for the productivity of business services in the UK. Official statistics indicate that business-service productivity has grown by over 20 per cent in the last 7 years at the same time as employment grew by 20 per cent. The paper considers possible factors that account for the simultaneous growth of employment and productivity. First, we discuss outsourcing and offshoring, and their role in enhancing productivity through greater specialization, standardization, and consolidation of business processes, and a shift to higher value-added services. Outsourcing of business services is interpreted as part of corporate restructuring, namely as the unbundling of corporate functions as well as vertical disintegration. Second, as some services become more like products, both low-skilled and high-skilled jobs are subjected to productivity growth through standardization and digitization. It is argued, however, that the future of business-service productivity is on a knife-edge, depending on the mix of two sources of productivity enhancement--namely greater standardization and capturing value from customized solutions. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.