Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa in anaemic patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study

Summary. This phase 3, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa in anaemic patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies. Patients (n = 344) with lymphoma or myeloma received darbepoetin alfa 2·25 μg/kg or placebo s.c. , once weekly for 12 weeks. The percentage of patients achieving a haemoglobin response was significantly higher in the darbepoetin alfa group (60%) than in the placebo group (18%) (P < 0·001), regardless of baseline endogenous erythropoietin level. However, increased responsiveness was observed in patients with lower baseline erythropoietin levels. Darbepoetin alfa also resulted in higher mean changes in haemoglobin than placebo from baseline to the last value during the treatment phase (1·80 g/dl vs 0·19 g/dl) and after 12 weeks of treatment (2·66 g/dl vs 0·69 g/dl). A significantly lower percentage of patients in the darbepoetin alfa group received red blood cell transfusions than in the placebo group (P < 0·001). The efficacy of darbepoetin alfa was consistent for patients with lymphoma or myeloma. Improvements in quality of life were also observed with darbepoetin alfa. The overall safety profile of darbepoetin alfa was consistent with that expected for this patient population. Darbepoetin alfa significantly increased haemoglobin and reduced red blood cell transfusions in patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies receiving chemotherapy.
Integrating Direct Metering and Conditional Demand Analysis for Estimating End-Use Loads

Conditional demand analysis (CDA) is a statistical method for allocating the total household electricity load, during a period, into its constituent components, each associated with a particular electricity-using appliance or end-use. This is an indirect approach to the estimation of end-use demand and, quite naturally, it often generates imprecise estimates. One of the possible methods for improving these estimates involves the incorporation of data obtained by directly metering specific appliances. It is argued that an extremely natural approach to the use of this extra information follows directly from a reformulation of the standard CDA model into a random coefficient framework. Some new results on the possible efficiency gains from such an approach are developed. Illustrations based on an empirical study of New South Wales (NSW) households are also provided.
Inequality, poverty and prospects for redistribution

This paper demonstrates that poverty and inequality trends can diverge. It then discusses inequality trends and shows that, despite measurement issues, there is consensus that inequality is very high and has been rising over much of the post-transition period. Due to rising inequality within all groups, and particularly the black population, and lower inequality between race groups, within-group inequality has become the dominant form of inequality. That does not, however, detract from the fact that inequality between groups is still very large. High income inequality largely stems from inequality in access to wage income, due more to wage inequality than to unemployment. A Gini coefficient for wage income amongst the employed of above 0.60 effectively sets a floor to overall income inequality. The high wage premium to educated workers derives from a combination of a skills shortage at the top end of the educational spectrum, driving up their wages, and a surfeit of poorly-educated workers competing for scarce unskilled jobs dampening unskilled wages; if the unemployed were to find jobs, it would be in this bottom part of the wage distribution, and consequently this would not much reduce wage inequality. A continuation of the historical pattern whereby only a small segment of the population obtained good schooling would leave the structures underlying the large wage premium unaltered. The time frame for substantial inequality reduction is thus necessarily a long one, while poverty reduction efforts should not wait for this to occur.
Markov Switching and Exchange Rate Predictability

We first show that the recent success of modern macroeconomic models in forecasting nominal exchange rates, evaluated using the Clark and West (2006) inference procedure, is partly due to the presence of the constant term (drift), in addition to the economic fundamentals. We then model the drift term using the two-state Markov switching stochastic segmented trend model and present evidence of both short-run (one month) and long-run (up to one year) predictability for monthly exchange rates over the post-Bretton Woods period. This is an important result, as the recent literature has typically failed to find evidence of consistent multi-horizon predictability. The model strongly outperforms the random walk for 9 out of 12 exchange rate series at short horizons; for 7 of the 12 exchange rates, we find evidence of a long-run predictability that declines as the forecast horizon increases. Our results remain robust to alternative test statistics and forecast windows.
Validated Assessment Scales for the Mid Face

Background The improvement of aesthetic treatment options for age‐related mid face changes, such as volume loss, and the increase in patient expectations necessitates the development of more‐complex and globally accepted assessment tools. Objective To develop three grading scales for objective assessment of the infraorbital hollow and upper and lower cheek fullness and to establish the reliability of these scales for clinical research and practice. Methods and Materials Three 5‐point rating scales were developed to assess infraorbital hollow and upper and lower cheek fullness objectively. Twelve experts rated identical mid face photographs of 50 subjects in two separate rating cycles using the mid face scales. Test responses of raters were analyzed to assess intra‐ and interrater reliability. Results Interrater reliability was substantial for the infraorbital hollow, upper cheek fullness, and lower cheek fullness scales. Intrarater reliability was high for all three scales. Both of the cheek fullness scales yielded higher reliabilities when three rather than two views were used to assess the volume changes of the cheek. Conclusion The mid face scales are reliable tools for valid and reproducible assessment of age‐related mid face changes.
Can't Buy Me Green? A Review of Consumer Perceptions of and Behavior toward the Price of Organic Food

Support for organic farming is a promising policy for improving sustainability in the food sector. Further consumer demand, however, is hindered by high prices. We review research from 2000 to 2014 on the role of perceived price, income, price knowledge, willingness to pay, and reactions to price changes on organic food. We find that price is the major perceived barrier to purchase. Income is only a partial explanatory factor and is superseded by psychographic variables. Willingness to pay a premium is around 30% (ranging from 0% to 105%) and depends on consumer segments and product category. Price knowledge is vague, and organic consumers' price sensitivity is relatively lower than that of occasional or nonorganic consumers. The results suggest that further market differentiation in terms of organic consumer segments and food categories is necessary. Furthermore, we discuss detailed implications for public policy and practice and present a future research agenda.
Japanese management at a crossroads? The changing role of China in the transformation of corporate Japan

This introduction to the special issue, ‘Cross-cultural management practices in East Asia: lessons for Japanese MNEs’, argues that better understanding is needed of how the economic rise of China is influencing the transformation of corporate Japan. After examining key trends in the evolution of Sino-Japanese business relations, we consider potential triggers of corporate transformation under the headings of marketing and distribution, inter-corporate networks and human resources management. Each of these areas is discussed in the context of increasing engagement of Japanese firms with the Chinese economy and the ability of Japanese firms to transfer sources of competitive advantage to this emerging market.
Role of tumour molecular and pathology features to estimate colorectal cancer risk for first-degree relatives

Objective To estimate risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) for first-degree relatives of CRC cases based on CRC molecular subtypes and tumour pathology features. Design We studied a cohort of 33 496 first-degree relatives of 4853 incident invasive CRC cases (probands) who were recruited to the Colon Cancer Family Registry through population cancer registries in the USA, Canada and Australia. We categorised the first-degree relatives into four groups: 28 156 of 4095 mismatch repair (MMR)-proficient probands, 2302 of 301 MMR-deficient non-Lynch syndrome probands, 1799 of 271 suspected Lynch syndrome probands and 1239 of 186 Lynch syndrome probands. We compared CRC risk for first-degree relatives stratified by the absence or presence of specific tumour molecular pathology features in probands across each of these four groups and for all groups combined. Results Compared with first-degree relatives of MMR-proficient CRC cases, a higher risk of CRC was estimated for first-degree relatives of CRC cases with suspected Lynch syndrome (HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.59 to 2.67) and with Lynch syndrome (HR 5.37, 95% CI 4.16 to 6.94), but not with MMR-deficient non-Lynch syndrome (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.31). A greater risk of CRC was estimated for first-degree relatives if CRC cases were diagnosed before age 50 years, had proximal colon cancer or if their tumours had any of the following: expanding tumour margin, peritumoral lymphocytes, tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes or synchronous CRC. Conclusions Molecular pathology features are potentially useful to refine screening recommendations for first-degree relatives of CRC cases and to identify which cases are more likely to be caused by genetic or other familial factors.
The Role of Target Leverage in Security Issues and Repurchases

The paper examines whether security issues and repurchases adjust the capital structure toward the target. The time-series patterns of debt ratios imply that only debt reductions are initiated to offset the accumulated deviation from target leverage. The importance of target leverage in earlier debt-equity choice studies is driven by the subsample of equity issues accompanied by debt reductions. Unlike debt issues and reductions, equity issues and repurchases have no significant lasting effect on capital structure. Therefore, even firms that have target debt ratios can engage in timing the equity market.
Financial Systems in Europe, the USA, and ASIA

Financial structure is an important determinant of the efficiency and stability of financial systems and the channels through which monetary policy is transmitted. We document the substantial differences in the financial systems of the euro area, the UK, the USA, Japan, and non-Japan Asia. The traditional classification of bank-based and market-based systems is shown to be too simplistic. We focus on two particular aspects of financial structure: financial institutions and the housing and mortgage markets. It is shown that institutional investors differ in important ways across the regions considered. One recent change is that Central Banks, particularly those in Asia, have become significant institutional investors. Housing and mortgage markets differ even more. We are still a long way from understanding which kind of financial structure is best. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Kefir improves lactose digestion and tolerance in adults with lactose maldigestion.

OBJECTIVE Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that contains different cultures than yogurt. The objective of this study was to determine whether kefir improves lactose digestion and tolerance in adults with lactose maldigestion. DESIGN Randomized block design. SUBJECTS Fifteen healthy, free-living adults with lactose maldigestion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Breath hydrogen excretion and lactose intolerance symptoms were monitored hourly for 8 hours after each test meal. INTERVENTION Subjects were fed test meals consisting of 20 g lactose portions of milk (2% reduced fat), plain and raspberry flavored kefir, and plain and raspberry flavored yogurt, each following an overnight (12 hour) fast. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Mixed model ANOVA was performed on raw or transformed data, followed by Tukey HSD post hoc tests (when appropriate). Significance was defined as P<. 05. RESULTS The breath hydrogen area under the curve (AUC) for milk (224+/-39 ppm x h) was significantly greater than for the plain yogurt (76+/-14 ppm x h, P<.001), the plain kefir (87+/-37 ppm x h, P<.001), and the flavored yogurt (76+/-14 ppm x h, P=.005). The flavored kefir had an intermediate response (156+/-26 ppm x h). The yogurts and kefirs all similarly reduced the perceived severity of flatulence by 54% to 71% relative to milk. Abdominal pain and diarrhea symptoms were negligible among the five treatments. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSION Because kefir improved lactose digestion and tolerance in this study, its use may be another potential strategy for overcoming lactose intolerance. Further studies of other types of kefir for improving lactose digestion are warranted.
Increased Nerve Growth Factor Serum Levels in Top Athletes

Objective:The nerve growth factor (NGF) is the main neurotrophin, which, besides being an important growth factor for nerves, plays an important role as a mediator of inflammation. Nerve growth factor has been shown to increase in relation to stress stimuli and in allergic diseases in humans as well as after physical exercise in animal models. This study aims at evaluating NGF serum levels in top athletes, a population sample in which allergic and neuro–immune diseases are reported with a significantly increased prevalence. Design:Observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study. Setting:Institutional, tertiary care. Participants:Ninety-six Italian pre-Olympic athletes (44 allergic and 52 nonallergic) and 49 matched controls selected within the Italian National Olympic delegation (n = 435). Independent Variables:Nerve growth factor serum levels determined through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Main Outcome Measures:Parametric or nonparametric tests were used for comparing NGF serum levels among different study groups depending on value distributions. Results:Nerve growth factor serum levels were significantly higher in athletes than in controls independently from the presence of allergy. Nerve growth factor mean values were 368.3 ± 776.3 pg/mL in the sample of athletes and 174.1 ± 483.7 pg/mL in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions:This is the first study showing that intense and prolonged physical exercise is associated with an increase of NGF serum levels in athletes. Whether the increased NGF production might be linked to the prevalent Th2 response observed in allergic diseases and after physical exercise and whether it might be related to the patophysiology of neuro–immune disorders as such amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, reported with a higher prevalence in athletes, should deserve further investigations.
Permanent and Temporary Components of Stock Prices

A slowly mean-reverting component of stock prices tends to induce negative autocorrelation in returns. The autocorrelation is weak for the daily and weekly holding periods common in market efficiency tests but stronger for long-horizon returns. In tests for the 1926-85 period, large negative autocorrelations for return horizons beyond a year suggest that predictable price variation due to mean reversion accounts for large fractions of 3-5-year return variances. Predictable variation is estimated to be about 40 percent of 3-5-year return variances for portfolios of small firms. The percentage falls to around 25 percent for portfolios of large firms.
Changes in treatment strategies for acute otitis media after full implementation of the pneumococcal seven valent conjugate vaccine

Background. Administration of the pneumococcal seven valent conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) results in significant reductions in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease and nasopharyngeal colonization rates; however, the reduction in the overall incidence of acute otitis media (AOM) is minimal. Despite an ongoing shortage of PCV-7 in the United States, during which children are receiving fewer doses at longer intervals than the recommended dosing schedule, the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in young children has continued to decrease. Purpose. The purpose of this article is to review why the reported effect of PCV-7 on AOM infection rates does not match the reduction in invasive pneumococcal disease or the reduction in nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Methods. The potential effect of a fully implemented PCV-7 schedule on AOM infections is calculated based on serotype-specific AOM reduction rates observed in clinical studies. Clinical success rates of various antimicrobials used in the treatment of AOM in children fully immunized with PCV-7 also are calculated based on projected PCV-7-induced changes in pathogen profiles and documented antimicrobial resistance rates. Questions regarding potential serotype substitution in children with AOM but not invasive pneumococcal disease, the increased incidence of infection with Haemophilus influenzae in children immunized with PCV-7 and the possibility of herd immunity also will be addressed. Results. Although the majority of penicillin-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae are included in PCV-7, AOM caused by these strains will not completely disappear, especially in children 24 months of age and younger. Conclusions. Consequently, clinicians must continue to consider penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci when prescribing antimicrobials for AOM.
Microcredit and power: examining how and why women encounter domination in Bangladesh

Using data from a recent ethnographic research project on microcredit, power, and poverty in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, this article demonstrates that the relationship of women with both NGOs and male relatives is one of dependency and subordination. Gendered power relations, embedded in NGO practices and socio-cultural gender norms, influence the female borrowers to accept the domination of the fieldworkers and their male relatives. This article examines how and why NGOs create power inequalities between fieldworkers and female borrowers, why the fieldworkers dominate a group of women, and why these women continue to participate in microcredit programmes.
Nucleotide sequence of a gene coding for a saliva-binding protein (SsaB) from Streptococcus sanguis 12 and possible role of the protein in coaggregation with actinomyces

The nucleotide sequence of a 2.9-kb streptococcal DNA fragment which codes for two proteins with MrS of 36,000 (Streptococcus sanguis adhesin B [SsaB]) and 20,000 has been determined. The ssaB gene is 927 bp and codes for a 34,684-Da protein. The open reading frame coding for the 20-kDa protein is 489 bp and codes for a protein of 17,885 Da. The SsaB protein has a putative hydrophobic 19-amino-acid signal sequence resulting in a 32,620-Mr secreted protein, whereas the 20-kDa protein has no signal sequence. Both proteins are hydrophilic, and neither appears to have a hydrophobic membrane anchor sequence in the carboxy-terminal region. A DNA sequence homology of 73% exists between the cloned fragment containing the ssaB gene from S. sanguis 12 and the cloned fragment containing the type 1 fimbrial gene of S. sanguis FW213 (J.C. Fenno, D.J. LeBlanc, and P. Fives-Taylor, Infect. Immun. 57:3527-3533, 1989). Amino acid comparisons of the SsaB and type 1 fimbrial proteins show 87% homology, indicating a close similarity of the two proteins. Antiserum raised against the cloned SsaB protein cross-reacts with a 38-kDa protein identified from Streptococcus gordonii (S. sanguis) PK488 which was proposed to mediate coaggregation with Actinomyces naeslundii PK606 (P.E. Kolenbrander and R.N. Andersen, Infect. Immun. 58:3064-3072, 1990). The SsaB adhesion may play a role in oral colonization by binding either to a receptor on saliva or to a receptor on actinomyces.
Sexually transmitted diseases and other risk factors for cervical dysplasia among southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women.

OBJECTIVE To assess risk factors for high-grade cervical dysplasia among southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. DESIGN Clinic-based case-control study. SETTING University-affiliated gynecology clinics. SUBJECTS Cases were Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women with biopsy-proven high-grade cervical dysplasia (n = 201). Controls were Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women from the same clinics with normal cervical epithelium (n = 337). METHODS Study design included interviews focused on histories of sexually transmitted diseases, sexual behavior, reproductive histories, hygienic practices, contraceptive use, cigarette smoking, and diet. Laboratory studies included bacterial and protozoal cultures of the cervix; hybridization tests to identify human papillomavirus (HPV) genome with commercial (ViraPap and ViraType) and polymerase chain reaction-based assays; and serum antibody tests for herpes simplex virus, Chlamydia trachomatis, syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. RESULTS For both ethnic groups combined, after adjustment for ethnicity, age, and sexual behavior, the strongest risks for cervical dysplasia were associated with cervical HPV infection as identified by ViraPap (odds ratio [OR], 12.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.2 to 20.0) or with polymerase chain reaction (OR, 20.8; 95% CI, 10.8 to 40.2). Other factors associated with dysplasia included cigarette smoking at the time of diagnosis (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.8); low income (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.0); low educational level (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 3.4 to 11.1); history of any sexually transmitted disease (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.7); and seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.9 to 3.5). For Hispanic women, HPV 16/18 identified by ViraType was strongly associated with cervical dysplasia (OR, 171.0; 95% CI, 22.8 to 1280.5). Antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 were not associated with dysplasia in Hispanic women but were significantly associated with dysplasia among non-Hispanic whites. Risks associated with cigarette smoking also varied by ethnic group. CONCLUSIONS The strongest risk factor associated with high-grade cervical dysplasia among clinic attendees was HPV infection. Although most of the risk factors we examined showed similar associations for dysplasia for both ethnic groups, our data suggest that several different risk factors may be relevant to the development of cervical dysplasia in Hispanics compared with non-Hispanic whites who attend the same clinics.
Pose-Aware Person Recognition

Person recognition methods that use multiple body regions have shown significant improvements over traditional face-based recognition. One of the primary challenges in full-body person recognition is the extreme variation in pose and view point. In this work, (i) we present an approach that tackles pose variations utilizing multiple models that are trained on specific poses, and combined using pose-aware weights during testing. (ii) For learning a person representation, we propose a network that jointly optimizes a single loss over multiple body regions. (iii) Finally, we introduce new benchmarks to evaluate person recognition in diverse scenarios and show significant improvements over previously proposed approaches on all the benchmarks including the photo album setting of PIPA.