Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment preferences for resuscitation and critical care among homeless persons.

CONTEXT Homeless people are at increased risk of critical illness and are less likely to have surrogate decision makers when critically ill. Consequently, clinicians must make decisions independently or with input from others such as ethics committees or guardians. No prior studies have examined treatment preferences of homeless to guide such decision makers. DESIGN Interviewer-administered, cross-sectional survey of homeless persons. SETTING Homeless shelters in Seattle, WA. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred twenty-nine homeless individuals with two comparison groups: 236 physicians practicing in settings where they are likely to provide care for homeless persons and 111 patients with oxygen-dependent COPD. MEASUREMENTS Participants were asked whether they would want intubation with mechanical ventilation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation in their current health, if they were in a permanent coma, if they had severe dementia, or if they were confined to bed and dependent on others for all care. RESULTS Homeless men were more likely to want resuscitation than homeless women (p < 0.002) in coma and dementia scenarios. Homeless men and women were both more likely to want resuscitation in these scenarios than physicians (p < 0.001). Nonwhite homeless were more likely to want resuscitation than white homeless people (p < 0.033), and both were more likely to want resuscitation than physicians (p < 0.001). Homeless are also more likely to want resuscitation than patients with COPD. The majority (80%) of homeless who reported not having family or not wanting family to make medical decisions prefer a physician make decisions rather than a court-appointed guardian. CONCLUSIONS Homeless persons are more likely to prefer resuscitation than physicians and patients with severe COPD. Since physicians may be in the position of making medical decisions for homeless patients and since physicians are influenced by their own preferences when making decisions for others, physicians should be aware that, on average, homeless persons prefer more aggressive care than physicians. Hospitals serving homeless individuals should consider developing policies to address this issue.
Short-term effects of angiotensin II receptor blockade in patients with primary glomerulonephritis: pilot study.

OBJECTIVE There is evidence that angiotensin II, the main effector of renin-angiotensin system, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic renal injury. Angiotensin II type 1 (AT-1) receptor blockers reduce renin-angiotensin system activity by blocking the receptor, the activation of which is responsible for the majority of deleterious angiotensin II effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate renal and metabolic effects of specific AT-1 receptor blocker-losartan in patients with primary glomerulonephritis. DESIGN Pilot clinical study. SETTING Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland. PARTICIPANTS Fifteen patients aged 43.3 +/- 11.3 years with primary glomerulonephritis confirmed by renal biopsy were studied. INTERVENTION Creatinine clearance, urinary excretion of protein and uric acid, urinary activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, and serum concentrations of lipids, protein, and uric acid were evaluated before and after 3 months of losartan (Cozaar; Merck Sharp & Dohme, Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom) treatment at a dose of 25 mg daily. RESULTS We found a significant reduction of urinary excretion of protein (P <.008; average, 32%). Results also revealed a decrease of serum uric acid level (P <.01), probably as a consequence of elevated uric acid urinary excretion (P <.09). No significant changes in creatinine clearance, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity, protein, or lipid levels were observed. CONCLUSION We concluded that losartan treatment at a small dose of 25 mg daily produces antiproteinuric effect without adverse effects, notably with no decrease of glomerular filtration, and simultaneously induces beneficial changes in purine metabolism.
Slit2–Robo4 Pathway Modulates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Endothelial Inflammation and Its Expression Is Dysregulated during Endotoxemia

The secretory protein Slit2 and its receptors Robo1 and Robo4 are considered to regulate mobility and permeability of endothelial cells and other cell types. However, the roles of Slit2 and its two receptors in endothelial inflammatory responses remain to be clarified. In this study, we show that, in primary HUVECs, Slit2 represses LPS-induced secretion of certain inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, cell adhesion molecule ICAM-1 upregulation, and monocyte adhesion. Slit2’s anti-inflammatory effect is mediated by its dominant endothelial-specific receptor Robo4. However, the minor receptor Robo1 has proinflammatory properties and is downregulated by Slit2 via targeting of miR-218. Elucidation of molecular mechanism reveals that Slit2 represses inflammatory responses by inhibiting the Pyk2–NF-κB pathway downstream of LPS–TLR4. Further studies reveal that LPS enhances endothelial inflammation by downregulating the anti-inflammatory Slit2 and Robo4 in HUVECs in vitro, as well as in arterial endothelial cells and liver in vivo during endotoxemia. These results suggest that Slit2–Robo4 signaling is important in regulating LPS-induced endothelial inflammation, and LPS, in turn, enhances inflammation by interfering with the expression of the anti-inflammatory Slit2–Robo4 during the disease state. This implies that Slit2–Robo4 is a key regulator of endothelial inflammation, and its dysregulation during endotoxemia is a novel mechanism for LPS-induced vascular pathogenesis.
Foreign Direct Investment and Governments: Catalysts for economic restructuring

1. The Investment Development Path Revisited: Some Emerging Issues John H. Dunning and Rajneesh Narula 2. The United Kingdom: a Par Excellence Two-way Direct Investor Jeremy Clegg 3. The United States: Some Musings on its Investment Development Path Edward M. Graham 4. Sweden: a Latecomer to Industrialization Ivo Zander and Udo Zander 5. Japan: the Macro-IDP, Meso-IDPs and the Technology Development Path (TDP) Terutomo Ozawa 6. New Zealand: the Development of a Resource-rich Economy Mich'ele Akoorie 7. Spain: a Boom from Economic Integration Jos'e Manuel Campa and Mauro F. Guill'en 8. Mexico: Foreign Investment as a Source of International Competitiveness Alvaro Calder'on, Michael Mortimore and Wilson Peres 9. Taiwan: Foreign Direct Investment and the Transformation of the Economy Roger van Hoesel 10. Indonesia: the Critical Role of Government Donald J. Lecraw 11. India: Industrialization, Liberalization and Inward and Outward Foreign Direct Investment Nagesh Kumar 12. China: Rapid Changes in the Investment Development Path Hai-Yan Zhang and Danny Van Den Bulcke 13. The Investment Development Path: Some Conclusions Sanjaya Lall
Mulberry anthocyanin extracts inhibit LDL oxidation and macrophage-derived foam cell formation induced by oxidative LDL.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation plays a role in atherosclerosis; therefore the lower the formation of oxidative LDL (oxLDL), the lower the occurrence of coronary heart diseases (CHD). Mulberry, the fruit of Morus alba L. , is used effectively in Chinese medicines for prevention of CHD. However, the mechanism of this action is unclear. Two extracts, MWEs (mulberry water extracts) and MACs (mulberry anthocyanin-rich extracts), which exhibit antioxidative and anti-atherosclerogensis abilities in vitro. Data showed that MWEs and MACs were able to inhibit (P<0.05) the relative electrophoretic mobility (REM), ApoB fragmentation, and thiobarbituric acid reaction substances (TBARS) formation in Cu2+ -mediated oxidation LDL. MWEs and MACs also had the ability of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging for reducing the formation of free radicals mediated by copper ions. Furthermore, we observed that MWEs and MACs could decrease (P<0.05) macrophage death induced by oxLDL. In addition, the MWEs and MACs also could inhibit (P<0.05) the formation of foam cells. Both MWEs and MACs showed a great ability of scavenging radicals, inhibition of LDL oxidation, and decrease in atherogenic stimuli in macrophages, while the efficacy of MACs is 10-fold greater than that of MWEs. It also demonstrated that anthocyanin components in mulberry extracts were regarded as the prevention of atherosclerosis.
Population and Community Ecology Necrophilous Insect Dynamics at Small Vertebrate Carrion in a Temperate Eucalypt Woodland

Insects associated with carrion are critical to the decomposition process and nutrient cycling in ecosystems. Yet the communities of insects associated with carrion vary between locations, and detailed case studies are necessary for identifying differences and similarities among contrasting habitats. In this study, we examined temporal changes in the crawling insect community collected from rabbit carcasses placed in contrasting grassland and tree habitats in southeastern Australia. We collected 18,400 adult insects, including 22 species of fly, 57 species of beetle, and 37 species of ant. We found significant effects of habitat type and time, but not their interaction, on the composition of the entire insect community. Several ant species showed early and rapid colonization and highest abundances during early stages of decay, including Iridomyrmex purpureus (Smith, 1858) under trees, and Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Lowne, 1865) and Rhytidoponera metallica (Smith, 1858) in grassland. We found that most fly species showed highest abundance during active decay, but Chrysomya varipes (Macquart 1851) was more abundant under trees than in grassland during this time. Beetles peaked during active or advanced decay stages, with Saprinus and Omorgus the most abundant genera. Our study demonstrates that strong replication of contrasting environmental treatments can reveal new information on habitat preferences of important carrion insect species. The numerical dominance of ants early in decomposition has implications for insect community structure via potential competitive interactions with flies, and should be more rigorously examined in future carrion studies.
Use of restriction fragment length polymorphisms resolved by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for subspecies identification of mycobacteria in the Mycobacterium avium complex and for isolation of DNA probes

Mycobacterial strains from the Mycobacterium avium complex were compared with each other and with Mycobacterium phlei isolates by restriction endonuclease digestion of chromosomal DNA with SspI and analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Characteristic profiles were observed for known typed strains, and five groups were identified. Primary bovine isolates identified as Mycobacterium paratuberculosis by classical methods were shown to fall into both the M. paratuberculosis- and M. avium-like groups. M. paratuberculosis 18 was in the latter category. Two Mycobacterium intracellulare strains of different Schaefer serotypes had different digestion profiles. In addition, this system was exploited for the preparation of DNA probes by the isolation, digestion, and subcloning of DNA fragments separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Probe JC12 hybridized only to M. avium complex strains, but not to M. phlei, showing characteristic hybridization profiles for each of the groups previously identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The approach taken in the study lends itself to the comparative analysis of members of the M. avium complex and to the isolation and characterization of DNA probes with specificity for these mycobacteria.
Pressure-temperature phase diagram of solid hydrogen sulfide determined by Raman spectroscopy.

With Raman spectroscopy, the pressure-temperature (P-T) phase diagram for solid hydrogen sulfide has been determined at high pressures up to about 20 GPa and at low temperatures down to 30 K. The triple point between the II, III, and IV phases of solid ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$S exists at about 3.1 GPa and 153 K. Phase IV is stable in the wide P-T region, and the phase diagram of solid ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$S is simple in comparison with that of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O ice, which has many high-pressure phases.
Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Dogs With Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a dysfunction in tear production associated with clinical signs, which include conjunctival hyperemia, ocular discharge, discomfort, pain, and, eventually, corneal vascularization and pigmentation. Immunosuppressive drugs are routinely administrated for long periods to treat KCS but with side effects and limited results. Evaluation of the clinical benefits of intralacrimal transplantation of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in dogs with mild-moderate and severe KCS was done. A total of 24 eyes with KCS from 15 dogs of different breeds were enrolled in the present study. A single transplantation of MSCs (1 × 106) directly into lacrimal glands (dorsal and third eyelid) was performed. The Schirmer tear tests (STTs) and ocular surface improvements were used to assess short- and long-term effects of these cells. The STTs were carried out on day 0 (before MSCs transplantation) and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28, as well as 6 and 12 months after MSC transplantation. Our data demonstrate that allogeneic MSC transplantation in KCS dogs is safe since no adverse effects were observed immediately after transplantation and in short- and long-term follow-ups. A statistically significant increase in the STT and ocular surface improvements was found in all eyes studied. In all the eyes with mild-moderate KCS, STT values reverted to those of healthy eyes, while in eyes with severe KCS, although complete reversion was not found, there was improvement in tear production and in other clinical signs. Our study shows that a single dose of a low number of MSCs can be used to treat KCS in dogs. In contrast to immunosuppressive drug use, MSC transplantation has an effect over a long period (up to 12 months), even after a single administration, and does not require daily drug administration.
Investment Horizon and the Market for Corporate Control: The Defensive Role of Long-Term Investments

The relationship between managers' investment choice and takeover pressure has triggered intense debate since the mid 80's, yet the issue remains unresolved. In this article, we view investment horizon choice as a strategic move that puts target management in a better position in an anticipated future takeover contest. Our insight is that managers interested in retaining control may prefer long-term investments because the high uncertainties associated with these investments increase the expected takeover price, thereby reducing the takeover probabilities. This finding is in a sharp contrast to the result of most existing theories and to the common wisdom that takeover pressure induces myopic behavior. Nevertheless, it is consistent with empirical evidence. Our analyses generate testable predictions that can be used to further clarify the issue.
Private Information and Spin-Off Performance

Following pro rata spin-offs, shareholders, including insiders, trade their stock holdings in public subsidiaries independently of trades in parent firms. This article examines the predictive ability of informed trading with respect to post-spin-off stock performance and corporate control transactions. I find that subsequent to spin-offs, insiders are substantial purchasers of stock in public subsidiaries and sellers in parent firms. The trades of insiders are significantly related to post-spin-off stock returns, takeovers, and delistings of spun-off firms. The results are highly significant for senior managers of public subsidiaries, but they do not generally hold for outside directors or large blockholders. Copyright 2001 by University of Chicago Press.
Informal Institutions, Institutional Change, and Gender Equality

This paper makes two claims: insights from gender research improve understandings of informal institutions and institutional change, and studying informal institutions helps scholars understand the gap between formal institutional change and outcomes. Informed by institutional analysis and feminist institutionalist scholarship, it explores the relationship between informal institutions, institutional change, and gender equality, using gender equality to scrutinize issues central to institutional change, demonstrating that institutional analyses improve when gender dynamics are incorporated. Showing the gendering of power relations highlights power in institutional change in new ways, improving understandings of why institutional change rarely happens as intended by institutional designers.
Political Determinants of Public Health Investment in China and India

This article examines long-term political determinants of divergent levels of public health investment in China and India. Addressing the welfare-state literature hypothesis that democracies tend to invest more than non-democracies in social services including public health, we hypothesize that in low-income countries the development ideologies held by political leaders and the degree to which lower classes pressure the state for public services may impact public health investment more strongly than regime type. We offer a test of this hypothesis through comparative historical analysis of democratic India and non-democratic China. Controlling for economic growth rates and including analysis of the outlying Indian state of Kerala, we find support for our hypothesis that development ideology and systematic pressure from the lower classes have a major impact on government investment in public health.
Corporate Earnings and Financings: An Empirical Analysis

This article examines the long-term behavior of corporate earnings around three corporate financing events: sales of common stock, convertible bonds, and straight bonds. The article shows that earnings declined for all issuers and that more capital is raised the larger the earnings decline. These findings indicate that external financings are motivated by earnings declines. No evidence is found of a relationship between the size of the subsequent earnings downturn or the amount of capital raised and stock price reactions to the financing announcements. These findings suggest that security sales did not systematically provide new information about either the magnitude of subsequent earnings downturn or the amount of financing. Copyright 1990 by the University of Chicago.
The empowerment of Latina university students: a phenomenological study of ethnic identity development through involvement in a Latina-based sorority

s International, 60, 1477. Patton, M. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods, (3 rd ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage. Portes, A. , & Rumbaut, R. G. (2001). Legacies: The story of the immigrant second generation. Los Angeles: University of California Press.
DISCRIMINATION, BAYESIAN UPDATING OF EMPLOYER BELIEFS, AND HUMAN CAPITAL ACCUMULATION

This article proposes a dynamic labor market discrimination model based on Bayesian updating of beliefs by the employer. The employer forms initial beliefs of worker ability conditional on group and updates his beliefs each period based on observed output. Inaccurate initial priors lead to diminished human capital investment among members of the undervalued group and may generate inequities lasting many periods or even permanently. Statistical discrimination models in which differing variances drive the inequity are special cases of the model. Copyright 1996 by Oxford University Press.
IQ in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders : Data from the SNAP Project

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was once considered to be highly associated with intellectual disability and to show a characteristic IQ profile; with strengths in Performance over Verbal abilities and a distinctive pattern of ‘peaks’ and ‘troughs’ at the subtest level. However, there is little data from epidemiological studies. Method: Comprehensive clinical assessments were conducted with 156 ten-to-fourteen-yearold children (mean (SD)=11.7 (0.9)) seen as part of an epidemiological study (81 childhood autism, 75 other ASD). A sample weighting procedure enabled us to estimate characteristics of the total ASD population. Results: 55% of children with ASD had an intellectual disability (IQ<70) but only 16% had moderate to severe intellectual disability (IQ<50). 28% of children with ASD had average intelligence (115>IQ>85) but only a minority (3%) were of above average intelligence (IQ>115). There was some evidence for a clinically significant PIQ/VIQ discrepancy but discrepant verbal versus performance skills were not associated with a particular pattern of symptoms, as has been previously reported. There was mixed evidence of a characteristic subtest profile: Whilst some previously reported patterns were supported (e.g. poor Comprehension); others were not (e.g. no ‘peak’ in Block Design). Adaptive skills were significantly lower than IQ and were associated with severity of early social impairment as well as IQ. Conclusions: In this epidemiological sample, ASD was less strongly associated with intellectual disability than traditionally held and there was only limited evidence of a distinctive IQ profile. Adaptive outcome was significantly impaired even for those children of average intelligence.
Customer Type And Bank Efficiency In Poland: Implications For Emerging Market Banking

Bank efficiency studies on emerging markets tend to show that foreign banks are more cost-, profit-, and operationally efficient than statE-owned or domestic private banks. They also show that large banks are more efficient than small banks. Using a parametric approach to measuring efficiency, this article finds that foreign banks servicing foreign and business customers are more cost-efficient and less profit-efficient than other banks in Poland. Additionally, evidence of cost economies and profit diseconomies of scale are found. These results have implications for regulatory policies focused on promoting efficiency in the banking systems of emerging markets. Copyright 2002 Western Economic Association International.
Changing Perspectives of Stress Gastritis Prophylaxis

OBJECTIVE: To present recent advances in stress gastritis prophylaxis in the critically ill and review considerations in selection of a prophylactic agent. DATA SOURCES: Information was obtained from MEDLINE search, reference lists from articles identified in search, and from review articles. STUDY SELECTION: Emphasis was placed on controlled trials conducted within the last 5 years. DATA EXTRACTION: All literature was assessed for methodology, results, and conclusions. Results of prospective, randomized trials, and meta-analyses are summarized. DATA SYNTHESIS: Histamine2-receptor antagonists, antacids, and sucralfate appear equally effective in preventing stress gastritis in the critically ill. A definitive cause–effect relationship between histamine2-receptor antagonists and increased incidence of nosocomial pneumonia has not yet been established. The indications for using a prophylactic agent and consideration in selecting an agent should include an evaluation of the following: Risk factors for gastritis including the type of intensive care patient, comparative efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions, cost, and ease of administration. The least expensive, safest agent requiring minimal monitoring is sucralfate. Prevention of stress gastritis has never been shown to reduce morbidity or mortality significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Controversies still exist regarding the need to provide prophylaxis, the choice of an agent, and the relative importance of previously identified risk factors. Further well-designed studies are needed before consensus can be reached.