Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association between inhaled beta-agonists and the risk of unstable angina and myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND beta-Adrenoceptor agonists (beta-agonists) are commonly used to treat obstructive lung diseases, and preliminary studies have suggested they are associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We further examined the association between acute coronary syndromes and inhaled beta-agonist therapy. METHODS We performed a nested, case-control study using data that were collected as part of a larger, ongoing, prospective study of quality improvement in the primary care clinics of seven Veterans Administration Medical Centers. We identified 630 patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction hospitalized between 1996 and 1999. We frequency matched these case patients to 10,486 control subjects according to clinic location, and randomly assigned each an "index date. " The computerized pharmacy database at each center was used to ascertain beta-agonist use. Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed from mailed questionnaires and electronic medical records, which included inpatient and outpatient diagnoses, medications, and laboratory results. RESULTS In comparison with patients who had not filled a beta-agonist prescription during the 90 days prior to their index date, patients who had filled a beta-agonist prescription had an increased risk of experiencing an acute coronary syndrome. The increased risk of an acute coronary syndrome persisted after adjusting for age and cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, and smoking history. Moreover, there was a dose-response relationship with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.38 for one to two metered-dose inhaler (MDI) canisters (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 2.23), an OR of 1.57 for three to five MDI canisters (95% CI, 1.01 to 2.46), and an OR of 1.93 for six or more MDI canisters (95% CI, 1.23 to 3.03). After stratifying for receipt of a beta-blocker prescription, the adjusted OR in subjects who did not receive a beta-blocker was 1.55 for one to two MDI canisters (95% CI, 0.60 to 3.99), an OR of 4.07 for three to five canisters (95% CI, 2.17 to 7.64), and an OR of 3.83 for six or more canisters (95% CI, 2.02 to 7.29). Subjects who had received both beta-blockers and beta-agonists had no increase in risk in acute coronary syndromes unless they had filled six or more beta-agonist MDI canisters. CONCLUSIONS A prescription for inhaled beta-agonists may increase the risk of myocardial infarction and unstable angina in patients with COPD.
Dimensions of European direct investment activity in Turkey: patterns and prospects

Purpose – This paper delineates some basic trends and patterns of European foreign equity venture formations in Turkey over the 1996‐2003 period.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on a Turkish Government database, key statistics on European equity venture formations in Turkey are examined across several dimensions: trends in FDI over time, country of origin of investment, sector of investment, size of investment, geographical location and foreign equity shareholding.Findings – A structured analysis of the dataset and government statistical publications makes it possible to ascertain patterns with respect to FDI dimensions. FDI operations in Turkey are dominated mainly by European and US MNEs. The analyses also revealed that new FDI operations have changed the structural composition of overall FDI activity in Turkey. Another finding is that European equity venture formations tend to be located in the concentrated industries and also in the relatively fast growing industries. It is shown that there exist.
Brand Analyses of U.S. Global and Local Brands in India: The Case of Levi's

ABSTRACT This study investigates differences between U.S. global and local brands in the Indian market. Attitudes toward American products and the brand equity of U.S. global and local casual apparel brand in the Indian market are examined. It is postulated that global and local brand influence brand equity, which is composed of brand image, brand awareness, emotional value, perceived quality, brand loyalty, and purchase intention. A total of 411 college students in India participated in the survey. Using repeated measures ANOVA, this study finds that Indian consumers perceive global and local brands differently based on brand equity.
Aging effects on functional connectivity within and between resting-state networks

It is well known that aging is related to cognitive decline. Recently, imaging studies of resting-state have reported that some brain networks, which reflect synchronization of spontaneous activities, are disrupted by aging. However, most studies have focused on the default mode network consisting of medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and inferior parietal lobe, and ignored other resting-state networks. In this study, we measured the resting-state activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and explored whether cognitive decline with aging is related to disrupted resting-state networks. We applied independent component analysis for evaluation of the functional connectivity. Degree of gray matter atrophy was controlled as nuisance covariate. As a result, the connectivity of the salience network consisting of bilateral insula and anterior cingulated cortex was notably decreased with aging, and the decreased functional connectivity was correlated with the measures of individual cognitive ability. Furthermore, some internetwork connectivities were also decreased with aging. These results suggest that aging affects not only the default mode network but also other networks, specifically the salience network and inter-network connectivity, and that disruption of the salience network is related to cognitive decline in elderly people.
Sensation Seeking, Message Sensation Value, and Destinations

This study investigated whether advertisements with different (high or low) message sensation value (MSV) had different impacts on consumers with different (high or low) sensation-seeking (SS) trait with regard to their destination image perceptions and behavioral intentions through a cross-cultural comparison. The results indicated that for U.S. samples, matched MSV and SS trait (low–low) had stronger influence on consumers’ destination image perceptions than mismatched MSV and SS trait (low–high); while for Chinese samples, matched MSV and SS trait (high–high) had stronger influence on consumers’ behavioral intentions and destination image perceptions than mismatched MSV and SS trait (high–low). In addition, culture was found to moderate the effect of MSV and SS trait on consumers’ destination image and behavioral intentions. Finally, destination image was found to be a significant predictor of behavioral intentions.
Seasonal distribution and abundance of tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) in the Faro and Deo Division of the Adamaoua Plateau in Cameroon

Abstract. Ten years after the large‐scale tsetse control campaigns in the important cattle rearing areas of the Faro and Deo Division of the Adamaoua Plateau in Cameroon, the seasonal distribution and abundance of tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) were determined. During a period of 12 consecutive months (January–December 2005), the tsetse population was monitored along four trap transects consisting of a total of 32 traps and two flyround transects traversing the study area, which comprised the tsetse‐infested valley, a buffer zone and the supposedly tsetse‐free plateau. Throughout the study period, a total of 2195 Glossina morsitans submorsitans and 23 Glossina tachinoides were captured in the traps and 1007 G. m. submorsitans (78.8% male flies) were captured along the flyround transects. All G. tachinoides and almost all G. m. submorsitans were captured in the valley. Five G. m. submorsitans were captured in traps located in the buffer zone, whereas no flies were captured in traps located on the plateau. The index of apparent abundance (IAA) of G. m. submorsitans was substantially higher in the areas close to game reserves. In the remaining part of the valley, where wildlife is scarce and cattle are present during transhumance (dry season), the IAA of tsetse was substantially lower. In this part of the valley, the abundance of tsetse seemed to be associated with the presence of cattle, with the highest IAA during transhumance when cattle are present and the lowest apparent abundance during the rainy season when cattle have moved to the plateau. It is concluded that the distribution of tsetse in a large part of the valley undergoes substantial seasonal changes depending on the presence or absence of cattle. The repercussions of those findings for the control of tsetse in the valley and the probability of reinvasion of the plateau are discussed.
Prenatal exposure to the Dutch famine and glucose tolerance and obesity at age 50

Introduction Breast feeding is generally considered as the best nourishment for young infants, but only few studies addressed its effects on later health. We studied the association between the method of infant feeding in the first weeks after birth and glucose tolerance, plasma lipid profile, body mass and blood pressure in people who were between 48 and 53 years old. Methods We included persons born at term between 1 November 1943 and 28 February 1947 in the Wilhelmina Gasthuis in Amsterdam around the time of a severe famine (late November 1944 to early May 1945). The method of infant feeding was obtained from the medical records. 741 participants attended a special research unit of a clinic. For 625 of these people, we had complete information about infant feeding and a blood sample after an overnight fast. We compared people who were at least partially bottlefed with those who were exclusively breastfed, always allowing for maternal and infant characteristics. Results People who were bottle-fed had a higher mean 120-minute plasma concentration after a standard oral glucose tolerance test than those exclusively breastfed (6.47 versus 5.87 mmol/1, p= 0.007). They had a higher prevalence of new diagnosed non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (9.7% vs. 2.7%, p=004). Bottle-fed people had increased fasting insulin and 32-33 split proinsulin concentrations, which indicates insulin resistance. They also had a lower HDL cholesterol concentration (1.27 vs. 1.34 mmol/1, p=0.03) and a higher LDL/HDL ratio (3.14 vs. 2.86, p=0.01). Body mass index and blood pressure were not affected by the method of infant feeding. The results were not affected appreciably by further adjustment for potentially confounding variables. Conclusions People aged about 50 who were at least partly bottle-fed during the first weeks of their life had a decreased glucose tolerance and a more atherogenic lipid profile than those who were exclusively breastfed. The odds of having NIDDM to not having it was about 50% lower in those who were exclusively breastfed compared to those who were partially bottle-fed. Exclusive breast feeding in the group born around the famine period seems to have a protective effect against cardiovascular risk in later life.
University of Southern Denmark Increasing Prevalence of Myopia in Europe and the Impact of Education

Williams, Katie M; Bertelsen, Geir; Cumberland, Phillippa; Wolfram, Christian; Verhoeven, Virginie J M; Anastasopoulos, Eleftherios; Buitendijk, Gabriëlle H S; Cougnard-Grégoire, Audrey; Creuzot-Garcher, Catherine; Erke, Maja Gran; Hogg, Ruth; Höhn, René; Hysi, Pirro; Khawaja, Anthony P; Korobelnik, Jean-François; Ried, Janina; Vingerling, Johannes R; Bron, Alain; Dartigues, Jean-François; Fletcher, Astrid; Hofman, Albert; Kuijpers, Robert W A M; Luben, Robert N; Oxele, Konrad; Topouzis, Fotis; von Hanno, Therese; Mirshahi, Alireza; Foster, Paul J; van Duijn, Cornelia M; Pfeiffer, Norbert; Delcourt, Cécile; Klaver, Caroline C W; Rahi, Jugnoo; Hammond, Christopher J; European Eye Epidemiology (E(3)) Consortium; Grauslund, Jakob
PRICE ARBITRAGE BETWEEN QUEENSLAND CATTLE AUCTIONS

In a competitive market with free information flows, spatial arbitrage will ensure that average prices at geographically separate markets will move in unison. The speed of adjustment is related to information flows between markets; if adjustment lags exist, there may be opportunities for arbitragers to gain. The transmission of price information is modelled using Johansen's procedure and the existence of long-run arbitrage opportunities is investigated. An innovation analysis is used to examine the varying responses to changes in prices at spatially separate markets.
The effect of performance feedback and client importance on auditors' self‐ and public‐focused ethical judgments

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of performance feedback and client importance on auditors' self- and public-focused ethical judgments. Design/methodology/approach - An experiment is conducted in which 71 auditors are assigned to one of four conditions created by fully crossing performance feedback (positive and negative) and client importance (high and low). Findings - Consistent with expectations, auditors who receive positive (negative) feedback make more (less) ethical judgments in a self-focused task (a judgment that produces consequences that are relevant for the auditor). Auditors also make more (less) ethical judgments in a public-focused task (a judgment that has consequences for both the auditor and the public) when auditing a less (more) important client. Finally, auditors who receive positive feedback and audit a less important client make more ethical judgments in both tasks than all other auditors. Practical implications - These findings suggest that auditors are susceptible to pressures from negative feedback and client importance, even in situations where their decisions will have public consequences, despite regulatory changes intended to enhance audit quality. Originality/value - This is the first paper that provides evidence that different sources of pressure (performance feedback and client importance) differentially affect ethical tasks differing in decision consequences (self- and public-focused). Such evidence suggests the importance of matching pressure source to ethical task type.
Protozoan Grazing and Bacterial Production in Stratified Lake Vechten Estimated with Fluorescently Labeled Bacteria and by Thymidine Incorporation

In stratified Lake Vechten, The Netherlands, protozoan grazing was estimated on the basis of uptake of fluorescently labeled bacteria and compared with bacterial production estimated on the basis of thymidine incorporation. By using a grazer-free mixed bacterial population from the lake in continuous culture, an empirical relationship between cell production and thymidine incorporation was established. Thymidine incorporation into total cold-trichloroacetic-acid-insoluble macromolecules yielded a relatively constant empirical conversion factor of ca. 1018 (range, 0.38 × 1018 to 1.42 × 1018) bacteria mol of thymidine−1 at specific growth rates (μ) ranging from 0.007 to 0.116 h−1. Although thymidine incorporation has been assumed to measure DNA synthesis thymidine incorporation appeared to underestimate the independently measured bacterial DNA synthesis by at least 1.5- to 13-fold, even if all incorporated label was assumed to be in DNA. However, incorporation into DNA was found to be insignificant as measured by conventional acid-base hydrolysis. Methodological problems of the thymidine technique are discussed. Like the cultures, Lake Vechten bacteria showed considerable thymidine incorporation into total macromolecules, but no significant incorporation into DNA was found by acid-base hydrolysis. This applied not only to the low-oxygen hypo- and metalimnion but also to the aerobic epilimnion. Thus, the established empirical conversion factor for thymidine incorporation into total macromolecules was used to estimate bacterial production. Maximum production rates (141 × 106 bacteria liter−1 h−1; μ, 0.012 h−1) were found in the metalimnion and were 1 order of magnitude higher than in the epi- and hypolimnion. In all three strata, the estimated bacterial production was roughly balanced by the estimated protozoan grazing. Heterotrophic nanoflagellates were the major consumers of the bacterial production and showed maximum numbers (up to 40 × 106 heterotrophic nanoflagellates liter−1) in the microaerobic metalimnion.
Lack of association between 3′ UTR 1188 A/C polymorphism in the IL‐12p40 gene and lepromatous leprosy in Sinaloa, Mexico

therapies in vitiligo. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2009; 22: 42–65. 6 Anbar TS, Westerhof W, Abdel-Rahman AT, El-Khayyat MA. Evaluation of the effects of NB-UVB in both segmental and non-segmental vitiligo affecting different body sites. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2006; 22: 157–163. 7 Tallab T, Joharji H, Bahamdan K, et al. Response of vitiligo to PUVA therapy in Saudi patients. Int J Dermatol 2005; 44: 556–558. 8 Arrunátegui A, Arroyo C, Garcia L, et al. Melanocyte reservoir in vitiligo. Int J Dermatol 1994; 33: 484–487. 9 Nishimura EK, Jordan SA, Oshima H, et al. Dominant role of the niche in melanocyte stem-cell fate determination. Nature 2002; 416: 854–860.
Current Practical Applications of Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry in Breast Pathology

In recent years, immunohistochemistry has assumed an increasingly prominent role in diagnostic breast pathology. Immunohistochemistry is now frequently used in the evaluation of many epithelial proliferations of the breast. Common applications include the use of myoepithelial markers to evaluate for stromal invasion, E-cadherin to distinguish between ductal and lobular neoplasia, high molecular weight cytokeratins to differentiate usual ductal hyperplasia from ductal carcinoma in situ, immunohistochemical profiles to characterize site of origin of metastatic carcinomas, and cytokeratin stains to detect metastases in sentinel lymph nodes. Recent advances, practical considerations, and potential pitfalls in the use of immunohistochemistry in these five diagnostic categories are discussed herein.
Acylation of the Type 3 Secretion System Translocon Using a Dedicated Acyl Carrier Protein

Bacterial pathogens often deliver effectors into host cells using type 3 secretion systems (T3SS), the extremity of which forms a translocon that perforates the host plasma membrane. The T3SS encoded by Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) is genetically associated with an acyl carrier protein, IacP, whose role has remained enigmatic. In this study, using tandem affinity purification, we identify a direct protein-protein interaction between IacP and the translocon protein SipB. We show, by mass spectrometry and radiolabelling, that SipB is acylated, which provides evidence for a modification of the translocon that has not been described before. A unique and conserved cysteine residue of SipB is identified as crucial for this modification. Although acylation of SipB was not essential to virulence, we show that this posttranslational modification promoted SipB insertion into host-cell membranes and pore-forming activity linked to the SPI-1 T3SS. Cooccurrence of acyl carrier and translocon proteins in several γ- and β-proteobacteria suggests that acylation of the translocon is conserved in these other pathogenic bacteria. These results also indicate that acyl carrier proteins, known for their involvement in metabolic pathways, have also evolved as cofactors of new bacterial protein lipidation pathways.
Risk of Ischemic Stroke Among Users of the Oral Contraceptive Pill: The Melbourne Risk Factor Study (MERFS) Group

Background and Purpose— Use of oral contraceptives has increased, and there is uncertainty about the stroke risk associated with their use. Our aim was to investigate this issue. Methods— Using case-control techniques, we identified consecutive women with ischemic stroke from 4 Melbourne hospitals. All patients were between 15 and 55 years of age and had no prior stroke. Neighborhood-based control subjects were individually age-matched (±5 years) and geographically matched to subject cases. A questionnaire administered to participants elicited information about prior exposure to various potential risk factors, including the oral contraceptive pill (OCP). Results— We included 234 cases and 234 controls (mean age, 42 years). Compared with noncurrent use, current use of the OCP, in doses of ≤50 &mgr;g estrogen, was not associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke (odds ratio [OR] 1.76; 95% CI, 0.86 to 3.61; P =0.124). Factors associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke were a history of hypertension (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.22 to 3.91), transient ischemic attack (OR, 8.17; 95% CI, 1.69 to 39.6), previous myocardial infarction (OR, 5.64; 95% CI, 1.04 to 30.61), and diabetes mellitus (OR, 5.42; 95% CI, 1.42 to 20.75); family history of stroke (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.12 to 4.43); and smoking >20 cigarettes per day (OR, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.22 to 11.09). Conclusions— There was no evidence for an association between ischemic stroke and use of the OCP in low doses (≤50 &mgr;g estrogen) in young Australian women. Other modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking are important.
Precarious lives: Transnational biographies of migrant oil palm workers

Based on ongoing biographical research of Indonesian migrant workers in the oil palm plantations of Malaysia, this paper explores their different strategies of survival in a sector charac- terised by an ongoing precarity of livelihoods. The life stories of six workers from Sulawesi, Flores, Java and Sumatra are used to illustrate a tentative typology of migration experiences. As the workers set out from their own specific context of â€˜surplus populationâ€™, they are confronted with a migration labour regime that is based on the social and political precarisation of the workers. However, in order to achieve their development aspirations, the workers find different ways of adapting to or circum- venting the precarious labour regime. In particular, flight or absconding (lari) is used to change employers, to find better working conditions and to increase wages. Another key strategy is to increase the permanence of their stay, either by choosing illegality or by negotiating retrospective documentation. These strategies lead to the emergence of long-term transnational networks that change the social reality of the migration regime in the oil palm industry.
International Risk Sharing in the Short and in the long run under Country Heterogeneity

Empirical tests of international risk sharing usually focus on the short run and impose homogeneity across countries. We extend the existing literature by analysing both the short run and the long run aspects of risk sharing and by using novel econometric tools that properly account for heterogeneity across a large set of countries. The results confirm that international risk sharing is only partial and quite variable across economies. However, there appears to be no trade-off between the short run and long run: countries better insured in the long run also tend to perform better in the short run, with the strength of domestic credit markets being crucial in shaping this relationship. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.