Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of medical and surgical treatment on subsequent sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary artery disease: a report from the Coronary Artery Surgery Study.

The effect of medical and surgical treatment on subsequent sudden cardiac death was assessed in 13,476 patients in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study registry who had significant coronary artery disease, operable vessels, and no significant valvular disease. (Patients were assigned to medical or surgical therapy on the basis of clinical judgment and not according to a randomization scheme; therefore, biases associated with unknown variables could not be evaluated.) Sudden cardiac death occurred in 452 patients (3.4%) during a mean follow-up of 4.6 years. Five year survival free of sudden death for medically treated patients was 94 +/- 0.3%, and that for surgically treated patients was 98 +/- 0.2% (p less than .0001). Twelve baseline clinical, electrocardiographic, and angiographic variables were significantly different between patients alive at the last follow-up and those suffering sudden death. Data on these variables were available for 11,508 patients. Sudden death occurred in 257 (4.9%) of 5258 medically treated and 101 (1.6%) of 6250 surgically treated patients. In a high-risk patient subset with three-vessel disease and history of congestive heart failure, 91% of surgically treated patients had not suffered sudden death compared with 69% of medically treated patients. After Cox survival analysis was used to correct for baseline variables, surgical treatment had an independent effect on sudden death (p less than .0001). This reduction was most pronounced in high-risk patients.
The Impact Of Price Changes On Demand Among Poor Households In A South African Township

The study reported in this article used household level data to analyse the impact of recent price changes on the demand for food and non-food items among households of different poverty statuses in a township of Bophelong, Gauteng Province, South Africa. The unprecedented rises in prices prompt households to make adjustments on their consumption patterns as real income declines. In this paper, the poor are separated from the non-poor by means of an income poverty line and their responsiveness to price changes compared. Of the sampled population, 56% were found to be poor of which 26% of the participants were categorised as moderately poor, with 30% extremely poor. Changes in demand patterns of households are estimated by computing the demand elasticities that explain the level of demand by a household given the structure of relative prices faced and household income. The study reports that households respond differently to rising prices depending on their poverty levels.
Gendered trends in poverty in the post-apartheid period, 1997–2006

This study investigates whether trends in the extent and depth of poverty in South Africa over the past decade have been gendered. We examine whether females are more likely to live in poor households than males and whether this has changed over time, and how poverty has changed for female-headed and male-headed households. We use data from the 1997 and 1999 October Household Surveys and the 2004 and 2006 General Household Surveys, which have the advantage of collecting information on the individual receipt of social grant income. We find that although poverty rates have fallen for both males and females, and for male-headed and female-headed households, the decline has been larger for males and for male-headed households. Gender differences in poverty rates have therefore widened over the period. We show that these findings are robust to the possible underestimation of household income and to adjustments for household composition.
It Takes More Than Timing: Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor: We have with great interest read your editorial on the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in children, in which you conclude that there is evidence to support that they should have surgery early. You base your statement on 2 recent papers by Anderson et al and Newman et al, with alleged support from Ramski et al from the 2014 November issue of AJSM. However, these studies have not included documentation from 3 new publications from our group, 1 of which was published in your own journal. Two of these papers are based on the only prospective cohort on truly immature children (all 12 years or younger at the time of injury) with 2-year follow-up of a primary nonoperative treatment algorithm. These studies concluded that the vast majority of children continue sports and physical activity without a high rate of secondary meniscus or cartilage injuries. Furthermore, Funahashi et al showed that the number of significant encounters with complaint of new pain or swelling, and not time from injury to surgery, was positively associated with secondary meniscus and/or cartilage injury. They also reported that one-third of the included children with ACL injury pursued nonoperative treatment without significant symptoms that required orthopaedic consultations. Additionally, we have published a systematic review that highlights the low methodology scores in papers evaluating the treatment outcomes of pediatric ACL injuries. The conclusion in Ramski et al seems to be drawn from 2 older papers and 1 new paper with very low methodology scores (Figure 1). In addition, a recent paper in AJSM by Demange et al on the long-term outcome of early surgical treatment in children showed a high failure rate (25%) in adulthood. We believe that your conclusion that ACL-injured children should undergo early surgical treatment is biased because several papers with results opposing this conclusion are not considered. When all the available evidence is considered, we think that there is no evidence to support either surgical or nonoperative treatment as superior for the treatment of ACL injuries in children. Pediatric ACL injuries should be thoroughly assessed on an individual basis, and both treatment algorithms should be presented in a balanced fashion to the child and parents. Either way, the literature tells us that the child should be followed closely until maturity.
Globalland30 Mapping Capacity of Land Surface Water in Thessaly, Greece

The National Geomatics Center of China (NGCC) produced Global Land Cover (GlobalLand30) maps with 30 m spatial resolution for the years 2000 and 2009–2010, responding to the need for harmonized, accurate, and high-resolution global land cover data. This study aims to assess the mapping accuracy of the land surface water layer of GlobalLand30 for 2009–2010. A representative Mediterranean region, situated in Greece, is considered as the case study area, with 2009 as the reference year. The assessment is realized through an object-based comparison of the GlobalLand30 water layer with the ground truth and visually interpreted data from the Hellenic Cadastre fine spatial resolution (0.5 m) orthophoto map layer. GlobCover 2009, GlobCorine 2009, and GLCNMO 2008 corresponding thematic layers are utilized to show and quantify the progress brought along with the increment of the spatial resolution, from 500 m to 300 m and finally to 30 m with the newly produced GlobalLand30 maps. GlobalLand30 detected land surface water areas show a 91.9% overlap with the reference data, while the coarser resolution products are restricted to lower accuracies. Validation is extended to the drainage network elements, i.e., rivers and streams, where GlobalLand30 outperforms the other global map products, as well.
Measurement of the Earth Radiation Budget at the Top of the Atmosphere - A Review

The Earth Radiation Budget at the top of the atmosphere quantifies how the Earth gains energy from the Sun and loses energy to space. It is of fundamental importance for climate and climate change. In this paper, the current state-of-the-art of the satellite measurements of the Earth Radiation Budget is reviewed. Combining all available measurements, the most likely value of the Total Solar Irradiance at a solar minimum is 1362 W/m 2, the most likely Earth albedo is 29.8%, and the most likely annual mean Outgoing Longwave Radiation is 238 W/m 2. We highlight the link between long-term changes of the Outgoing Longwave Radiation, the strengthening of El Nino in the period 1985–1997 and the strengthening of La Nina in the period 2000–2009.
Essays on the Empirics of Finance and Growth in Transition Economies

The role of finance in explaining economic growth is a pervasive topic in both theoretical and empirical literature. The increased pace of financial liberalization towards the end of the 20 th century has stimulated a large body of research that still contains many unresolved issues and controversial empirical findings on the existence of a positive causal link of financial development to growth. In addition, the process of financial development raises several issues regarding financial stability, which — as demonstrated by the global financial crisis that started in 2007 — is closely linked to the issues of overall macroeconomic stability and welfare. This thesis is a collection of three essays that each contribute to the literature on the role of financial development on growth, the corresponding role of international financial integration and risk assessment in the financial industry. The nature of the essays is empirical with a significant focus on transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe. The first paper is an empirical analysis of the subject, emphasizing the non-linearity of the relationship between financial development and economic growth. The second paper shifts the focus from the effect of financial development on growth to a study of the effects of financial integration on growth. While remaining in the field of empirical finance, the third paper of the thesis represents a larger departure from the first two, both in terms of a narrower research focus and the econometric methodology employed. The paper addresses the issue of financial stability and the use of appropriate methods of credit risk assessment at the firm level.
The effects of emotional labor on frontline employee creativity

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to empirically test and extend knowledge of the effects of emotional labor of frontline service employee. Design/methodology/approach – The authors examined the effects of emotional labor (surface acting and deep acting) on frontline employee creativity, as well as the mediating effects of different kinds of job stress (hindrance stress and challenge stress) on the relationship between emotional labor and creativity. The research hypotheses were tested using data collected from 416 service employee–supervisor dyads in 82 Chinese local restaurants. Findings – Results show that surface acting is negatively related to and deep acting is positively related to frontline employee creativity; surface acting is positively related to hindrance stress, while deep acting is positively related to challenge stress; and hindrance stress mediates the relationship between surface acting and creativity. Originality/value – This study extends the consequences of emotional labor to fro.
Factors That Affect Consumers’ Trust and Continuous Adoption of Online Financial Services

Trust is relatively influential factor of customer behavior in online financial services. The purpose of this study is to propose a framework of intention to continuously adopt online financial services. To test the model, partial least squares is employed to analyze data collected from 126 respondents in Taiwan. The research findings showed that: 1. website trust influences on the intention to continuous adoption of online financial services; 2. cognitive trust of online customers influences on affective trust; 3. factors of transaction security, website and company awareness, prior Internet experience, and navigation functions directly influence on cognitive trust of online customers, and; 4. transaction security is the only factor that influences on affective trust of online customers. This research provides a theoretical foundation for academics and also practical guidelines for service providers in dealing with the trust aspects of online financial service.
Investor Sentiment from Internet Message Postings and Predictability of Stock Returns

By using an extensive dataset of more than 32 million messages on 91 firms posted on the Yahoo! Finance message board over the period January 2005 to December 2010, we examine whether investor sentiment as expressed in posted messages has predictive power for stock returns, volatility, and trading volume. In intertemporal and cross-sectional regression analyses, we find no evidence that investor sentiment forecasts future stock returns either at the aggregate or at the individual firm level. Rather, we find evidence that investor sentiment is positively affected by prior stock price performance. We also find no significant evidence that investor sentiment from Internet postings has predictive power for volatility and trading volume. A distinctive feature of our study is the use of sentiment information explicitly revealed by retail investors as well as classified by a machine learning classification algorithm and a much longer sample period relative to prior studies.
Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord in a patient abusing nitrous oxide and self-medicating with cyanocobalamin.

PURPOSE A case of subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord manifesting as severe ataxia and urinary retention in a patient with a history of heavy nitrous oxide abuse and self-supplementation with cyanocobalamin is reported. SUMMARY A 27-year-old woman was treated in the emergency department for complaints of abdominal pain and inability to urinate for about 12 hours. The patient also complained of worsening lower-extremity weakness for 10 days and a "pins and needles" sensation in the lower extremities for approximately 1 year. She reported nitrous oxide abuse over 3 years (an average of 100-200 "whippit" cartridges daily on 3 or 4 days per week), as well as long-term self-medication with oral and i.m. cyanocobalamin for the purpose of preventing nitrous oxide-induced neurologic symptoms. Results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were highly suggestive of SCD, which is typically seen in primary vitamin B12 deficiency but has been reported in the context of chronic nitrous oxide exposure. Treatment was initiated with cyanocobalamin 1000 μg i.m. daily, to be continued for 5 days and followed by a four-week regimen of 1000 μg i.m. weekly. The patient was discharged after 3 days, despite continued symptoms, with instructions to obtain ongoing care but was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION A patient who abused nitrous oxide chronically developed ataxia, paresthesia, and urinary retention while self-medicating with cyanocobalamin. A diagnosis of SCD was supported by MRI findings, symptoms, and the known relationship between nitrous oxide exposure and vitamin B12 deficiency.
Comparative Study of CAPM, Fama and French Model and Reward Beta Approach in the Brazilian Market

This article tests and compares three alternative models for the prediction of the expected returns in the Brazilian stock market: 1) the Sharpe-Litner-Mossin version of the CAPM; 2) the Fama and French Three-Factor model; 3) and the Reward Beta Model, presented by Bornholt (2007). The two-step test methodology for general balance models was used as empirical procedure: the first step consists of determining the models parameters based on time series regressions, and in the second step the estimated parameters are used as explanatory variables in cross section regressions. The tests were conducted on portfolios, in accordance with the Fama and French's (1993) and Bornholt's (2007) methodology, and applied in two sub-samples of stocks with available data in the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA): the ex-ante sample comprises the period from July 1995 to June 2001 and the ex-post sample the period from July 2001 to June 2006. As well as other evidences found in the Brazilian market, the results tend to support the Fama and French Three-Factor model to explain future returns, much tough the factor that captures the book-to-market effect has not revealed itself to be significant. Thus, it is indicated for prediction of expected returns in the Brazilian stock market, a Two-Factor model: 1) one that captures the market excess of return; and 2) another one that captures the size effect of the firm.
Association between the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and cervical cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Numerous epidemiological studies have been conducted to evaluate the association between variants of the DNA repair gene XRCC3 and cancer risk. Here we focused on one XRCC3 polymorphism and development of cervical cancer, performing a meta-analysis. METHODS The pooled association between the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and cervical cancer risk was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). RESULTS A total of 5 case-control studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled ORs for the total included studies showed no association among homozygotes TT vs. CC: OR=1.93, 95%CI=0.68- 5.49, P=0.22; dominant model TT<TC vs. CC: OR=1.37, 95%CI=0.90-2.06, P=0.14; and recessive model TT vs. TC<CC: OR=1.76, 95%CI=0.68-4.55, P=0.25, but might be a slight risk factor for cervical cancer in heterozygote contrast TT vs. CT: OR= 1.33, 95%CI=1.04-1.71, P=0.02. In subgroup analysis, significant associations were found for Asians under all genetic models. CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis suggested the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism might not act as a cervical cancer risk factor overall. However, in subgroup analysis, a significant association was found in Asians under all genetic models. The association should be studied with a larger, stratified population, especially for Asians.
Credit spreads on government bonds

The paper considers the estimation of credit spreads for government bonds relative to supranational bonds. Two approaches are used for the estimation, namely, the hedonic regression method and the yield curve estimation method. The results reveal that there exists a substantial yield spread associated with Italian government bonds relative to bond yields of some supranational organizations. For bonds issued by the governments of Germany, France and the UK, the credit spreads are virtually zero relative to supranational bonds.
How Much Can Marketability Affect Security Values

How marketability affects security prices is one of the most important issues in finance. The authors derive a simple analytical upper bound on the value of marketability using option-pricing theory. They show that discounts for lack of marketability can potentially be large even when the illiquidity period is very short. This analysis also provides a benchmark for assessing the potential costs of exchange rules and regulatory requirements restricting the ability of investors to trade when desired. Furthermore, these results provide new insights into the relation between discounts for lack of marketability and the length of the marketability restriction. Copyright 1995 by American Finance Association.
SPECIES DIFFERENCES IN EARLY PATTERNING OF THE AVIAN BRAIN

The telencephalon is proportionately larger in parrots than in galliformes (chicken‐like birds), whereas the midbrain tectum is proportionately smaller. We here test the hypothesis that the adult species difference in midbrain proportion is due to an evolutionary change in early brain patterning. In particular, we compare the size of the early embryonic midbrain between parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus) and bobwhite quail (Colinus virgianus) by examining the expression domains of transcription factors Pax6 and Gbx2, which are expressed in the forebrain and hindbrain, respectively. Because these expression domains form rostral and caudal borders with the presumptive midbrain when this region is specified (Hamburger‐Hamilton stages 9–11), they allow us to measure and compare the sizes of a molecularly defined presumptive midbrain in the two species. Based on published data from older embryos, we predicted that the molecularly defined midbrain territory is significantly larger in quail than parakeets. Indeed, our data show that normalized midbrain length is 33% greater in quail and that the midbrain to forebrain ratio is 28% greater. This is strong evidence of a significant species difference in early brain patterning.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Craniomaxillofacial Malformations: A Characterization of Phenotypes in Trisomies 13, 18, and 21 by Ultrasound and Pathology

Objective To determine the relationship between trisomies 13,18, and 21 and craniofacial malformations detected by prenatal sonography. Design During a 29-year period (1976 through 2004), prenatal sonographic findings of 69 fetuses with trisomy 13; 171 fetuses with trisomy 18; 302 fetuses with trisomy 21; and 17 fetuses with other trisomies were evaluated retrospectively, after fetal karyotype identification. Sonographic findings were compared with autopsy results in 209 patients (trisomy 13, n = 39; trisomy 18, n = 64; and trisomy 21, n = 106). Results For trisomy 13, cleft deformities were detected prenatally in 65.2%, and of the 39 cases with pathological information, 76.9% were found to have a cleft deformity. Ocular and orbital abnormalities were found in 28%. Malformations of the jaws and abnormal profiles were more frequently diagnosed postnatally than prenatally. For trisomy 18, abnormal profiles (41.5%) and ear abnormalities (5.3%) were the most noticeable ultrasound markers, next to abnormalities of the neurocranium (36.8%) and cranial bone configuration (21.6%). Dysmorphisms of the eye, ear, or nose were detected more frequently in autopsy cases. For trisomy 21, ultrasound showed an aberrant shape of the skull in 14.2% of fetuses. In general, the ocular-orbital and nasal abnormalities in fetuses with trisomy 18 or 21 were more evident in pathological examination than in prenatal ultrasound imaging. Conclusions Facial anomalies are common in the major trisomies, and their prenatal sonographic identification should be improved. The above-mentioned facial anomalies provide sufficient reason to consider performing cytogenic evaluation.
Ground Delay Program Planning Using Markov Decision Processes

This paper compares three approaches for selecting planned airport acceptance rates in the single-airport ground-holding problem: the Ball et al. model, the Richetta–Odoni dynamic model, and an approach based on approximate dynamic programming. Selecting planned airport acceptance rates is motivated by current practice of ground delay program planning under collaborative decision making. The approaches were evaluated using real flight schedules and landing capacity data from Newark Liberty International and San Francisco International Airports. It is shown that planned airport acceptance rates can be determined from the decision variables of the Richetta–Odoni dynamic model. The approximate dynamic programming solution, introduced by the authors, is found by posing a model that evaluates planned airport acceptance as a Markov decision process. The dynamic Richetta–Odoni and approximate dynamic programming approaches were found to produce similar solutions, and both dominated the Ball et al. model. The Ric.