Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum osteoprotegerin level, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and cardiovascular survival in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a marker and regulator of arterial calcification, and it is related to cardiovascular survival in haemodialysis patients. The link between OPG and aortic stiffening--a consequence of arterial calcification--has not been previously evaluated in this population, and it is not known whether OPG-related mortality risk is mediated by arterial stiffening. METHODS At baseline, OPG and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured in 98 chronic haemodialysis patients who were followed for a median of 24 months. The relationship between OPG and PWV was assessed by multivariate linear regression. The role of PWV in mediating OPG related cardiovascular mortality was evaluated by including both OPG and PWV in the same survival model. RESULTS At baseline mean (standard deviation) PWV was 11.2 (3.3) m/s and median OPG (interquartile range) was 11.1 (7.5-15.9) pmol/L. There was a strong, positive, linear relationship between PWV and lnOPG (P = 0.009, model R(2) = 0.540) independent of covariates. During follow-up 23 patients died of cardiovascular causes. In separate univariate survival models both PWV and lnOPG were related to cardiovascular mortality [hazard ratios 1.31 (1.14-1.50) and 8.96 (3.07-26.16), respectively]. When both PWV and lnOPG were entered into the same model, only lnOPG remained significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality [hazard ratio 1.11 (0.93-1.33) and 7.18 (1.89-27.25), respectively). CONCLUSION In haemodialysis patients OPG is strongly related to PWV and OPG related cardiovascular mortality risk is, in part, mediated by increased PWV.
Physician-based diet counseling for cholesterol reduction: current practices, determinants, and strategies for improvement.

BACKGROUND Physicians face increasing pressure to counsel their hypercholesterolemic patients about diet. To design effective physician-based treatment programs, a better understanding of current dietary counseling practice and its determinants is needed. METHODS Using a survey previously tested for reliability and validity, we examined the relationship of dietary knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, organizational barriers, and treatment practices for cholesterol management among 60 resident and attending physicians practicing in the general medicine clinic of a university medical center that serves primarily rural and disadvantaged patients. The survey was administered in October of 1988 prior to the release of the National Cholesterol Education Program Guidelines. RESULTS The response rate was 100%. Ninety-two percent of physicians surveyed believe that dietary treatment effectively lowers cholesterol and 68% feel responsible for providing such therapy. However, most (72%) feel ill-prepared to give diet counseling, lack confidence in their ability to help patients make meaningful dietary changes (95%), and cite organizational barriers, such as limited time (72%) or inadequate educational materials (47%). Physicians were more likely to report behaviorally focused diet counseling practices if they felt prepared to counsel (r = 0.42, P < 0.001), were confident in their counseling skills (r = 0.39, P < 0.01), or reported personally following a prudent diet (r = 0.36, P < 0.01). We discuss the implications of these findings and how they should guide the design of physician-based dietary interventions for cholesterol reduction.
Post-Migratory Employment Prospects: Evidence from Finland

This paper analyses the role which migration plays in improving post-migratory employment prospects of migrants (long-distance) within Finland, by examining the employment status of migrants and non-migrants at the end of the migration interval. The analysis is based on micro data from the period 1985-90. The results from multivariate analyses suggest that migration by itself has not augmented the likelihood of getting a job, even though tabular comparisons of re-employment rates between migrants and non-migrants suggest this to be the case. Migration, however, has an indirect role in enhancing job search outcomes as it moves workers to labour markets characterized by more favourable employment opportunities. Copyright Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini and Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2000.
A study of interdisciplinary research collaboration

This study used the organizational affiliations of authors of published research to investigate interdisciplinary collaboration, a topic of increasing interest for both researchers and science policy-makers. It found that the amount of interdisciplinary collaboration research has steadily increased over a 20-year period. A journal's quality is positively correlated with the proportion of interdisciplinary papers it contains. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the belief that this type of research is, in general, of higher quality. The study also determined disciplines that collaborate most with the library and information science field. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
The Urban Experience

1. Urbanization of Capital 2. The Urban Process Under Capitalism 3. Land Rent 4. Theory of Residential Differentiation 5. The Place of Urban Politics in the Geography of Uneven Development 6. Money, Time, Space and The City 7. Monument and Myth 8. Flexible Accumulation 9. The Urban Experience Index
The Relationship Between Destination Performance, Overall Satisfaction, and Behavioral Intention for Distinct Segments

SUMMARY Destination performance, visitor satisfaction, and favorable future behavior of visitors are key determinants of destination competitiveness. Most empirical work, assuming that overall tourist population is homogenous, investigates the relationships among product performance, satisfaction, and/or behavioral intentions in an aggregated manner. This study investigates these linkages for different segments of Canadian visitors of Las Vegas. The findings confirmed the mediating role of overall satisfaction for both segments and aggregated sample, and revealed variations in linkages and explanatory power of the models. The study concludes that the segment-based approach is more pragmatic because it provides segment-specific implications for destination management and marketing.
PRICING OBJECTIVES IN BRITISH MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

THIS paper is concerned with the pricing and profit objectives of 728 British manufacturing firms.1 It reports findings about the incidence of their principal and subordinate goals, the multiplicity of pricing aims, flexibility in pricing priorities, the relative importance of different time horizons in profit-making and the prevalence of motivation for profit maximization.2 A general finding is that pricing and profit objectives vary to a greater extent and more systematically with firm size than with numbers of competitors.
Expression of oncogenic Kras from its endogenous promoter leads to a partial block of erythroid differentiation and hyperactivation of cytokine-dependent signaling pathways

When overexpressed in primary erythroid progenitors, oncogenic Ras leads to the constitutive activation of its downstream signaling pathways, severe block of terminal erythroid differentiation, and cytokine-independent growth of primary erythroid progenitors. However, whether high-level expression of oncogenic Ras is required for these phenotypes is unknown. To address this issue, we expressed oncogenic K-ras (Kras ) from its endogenous promoter using a tetracycline-inducible system. We show that endogenous K-ras leads to a partial block of terminal erythroid differentiation in vivo. In contrast to results obtained when oncogenic Ras was overexpressed from retroviral vectors, endogenous levels of K-ras fail to constitutively activate but rather hyperactivates cytokine-dependent signaling pathways, including Stat5, Akt, and p44/42 MAPK, in primary erythroid progenitors. This explains previous observations that hematopoietic progenitors expressing endogenous K-ras display hypersensitivity to cytokine stimulation in various colony assays. Our results support efforts to modulate Ras signaling for treating hematopoietic malignancies. For personal use only. on November 16, 2017. by guest www.bloodjournal. org From
Labour Productivity in an Aging Society

How to deliver adequate pension benefits at reasonable costs is a huge challenge confronting our ageing societies. This book delivers a comprehensive overview of the latest insights into pension finance, pension system design, pension governance and risk based supervision. It combines state-of-the-art analyses with innovative policy proposals to increase the efficiency and resilience of pension systems and to advance these systems’ contribution to global financial stability. Renowned pension experts offer cutting-edge guidance for future decision making and the development of best practices. This exciting exploration of the frontiers in pension finance highlights key aspects of securing long term retirement provisions.
Investigating effect of environmental controls on dynamics of CO2 budget in a subtropical estuarial marsh wetland ecosystem

In this study, we quantified the ecosystem-scale CO2 exchange of two different but typical low-latitude vegetation types, para grass and reed, in a subtropical wetland ecosystem by integrating flux observation with the parameterization of environmental variables. In addition, we explored how seasonal dynamics of environmental factors affected variations in CO2 budget. The results suggest that gross primary production (GPP, in the order of 1700 gC m−2 yr−1) of CO2 was higher in this site than in previous studies of northern peatlands and estuarial wetlands because of the direct effect of environmental factors. Temperature and radiation had a larger effect than water status (soil moisture content and vapor pressure deficit) on GPP for the two low-latitude ecosystems, which differ from the results for high-latitude regions. Environmental variables had a strong but different impact on the CO2 budget for para grass and reed areas. This diversity led to different potential shifts and trends of biomass accumulation and distribution of these two typical low-latitude vegetation types under different scenarios of environmental change. The findings from this study can sufficiently provide quantitative understanding of CO2 budgets in low-latitude wetlands.
Malaria and Hookworm Co-Infection among Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women in a Semi-Urban Area in Anambra State, Nigeria

3 Abstract: Malaria and helminth infections are widespread in the tropics particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where their co-infections are common. Recent studies suggest that helminth infections may increase susceptibility to malaria infection particularly during pregnancy-induced immunosuppression. A cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of malaria and hookworm co- infection was carried out in a sample of 100 pregnant and 100 non-pregnant women attending the General Hospital, Enugwu-Ukwu a semi-urban community in Anambra State, Nigeria. Result showed an overall co-infection rate of 13% and 6% respectively for pregnant and non- pregnant women. The infection rate among the pregnant women was 81% for malaria and 17% for hookworm while the rate among non-pregnant women was 52% and 9% for malaria and hookworm respectively. A packed cell volume (PCV) value below 30% was observed among 83% and 66% of the pregnant and non-pregnant women respectively. The study suggests an association between malaria, hookworm and anaemia.
The four fallacies of contemporary austerity policies: the lost Keynesian legacy

The contemporary wide-scale austerity measures are likely to fail in most countries. The first fallacy derives from the false diagnosis that the present crisis is the outcome of lax public spending policy, when it is actually the outcome of a private credit-led speculative boom. The second fallacy assumes the possibility or even the generality of the so-called 'expansionary fiscal contractions': this neglects the short-term negative effects on domestic demand and overestimates the generality of Ricardian equivalence, the importance of 'crowd in' effects related to lower interest rates and the positive impact on trade balances. The third fallacy 'one size fits all' is problematic since Greece and Portugal cannot replicate the hard-won German success. Their productive, institutional and political configurations differ drastically and, thus, they require different policies. The fourth fallacy states that the spill over from one country to another may resuscitate the inefficient and politically risky 'beggar my neighbour' policies from the interwar period. Copyright The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Cambridge Political Economy Society. All rights reserved. , Oxford University Press.
Is balanced salt solution really superior to ringer lactate for phacoemulsification?

1. It does not seem reasonable to attribute a cause-effect relationship following only 1 day of use of the xylometazoline nasal drop in an adult with a mature system to deal with a drug. The authors also did not mention why the xylometazoline nasal drop was started on the fi rst postoperative day when it is customary to start it 7 days before operation and continue for another 7 days aft er operation. 2. CSCR was not known to occur aft er millions of routine DCR operations that took place in this world where similar stress and drugs were operant. 3. Resolving of the CSCR aft er 1 month cannot be att ributed to the cessation of the drug as CSCR can naturally resolve aft er 1 month. [3]
Are Female CEOs and Chairwomen More Conservative and Risk Averse? Evidence from the Banking Industry During the Financial Crisis

This paper examines whether bank capital ratios and default risk are associated with the gender of the bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairperson of the board. Given the documented gender-based differences in conservatism and risk tolerance, we postulate that female CEOs and board Chairs should assess risks more conservatively, and thereby hold higher levels of equity capital and reduce the likelihood of bank failure during periods of market stress. Using a large panel of U.S. commercial banks, we document that banks with female CEOs hold more conservative levels of capital after controlling for the bank’s asset risk and other attributes. Furthermore, while neither CEO nor Chair gender is related to bank failure in general, we find strong evidence that smaller banks with female CEOs and board Chairs were less likely to fail during the financial crisis. Overall, our findings are consistent with the view that gender-based behavioral differences may affect corporate decisions.
Optimal strategies for manufacturer with strategic customer behavior under carbon emissions-sensitive random demand

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the manufacturer’s production, pricing and green technology investment decision problem when strategic customer behavior and carbon emissions-sensitive random demand is taken into consideration and discuss the impact of carbon emissions-sensitive demand on the manufacturer’s operation strategies, total carbon emissions and maximum expected profit. , – The authors formulate a model to introduce carbon emissions-sensitive demand into the newsvendor framework with strategic customer behavior. The authors characterize the rational expectations equilibrium to derive the optimal solutions to the manufacturer. The authors analyze the effects of carbon emissions-sensitive demand on the manufacturer’s optimal strategies, total carbon emissions and maximum expected profit by comparative analysis. , – The authors obtain the manufacturer’s optimal production, pricing and green technology investment strategies under rational expectations equilibrium in scenario of price-sensitive demand and that of carbon emissions-sensitive demand, respectively. The authors find that as customer demand changes from price-sensitive demand to carbon emissions-sensitive demand, the manufacturer’s optimal prices are the same but optimal production quantity, optimal unit carbon emissions and maximum expected profit go down. Though the total emissions decrease, the carbon emissions reduction would not increase as the demand is more carbon emissions-sensitive. Whether it increases or decreases depends on the model parameters. , – Carbon emissions-sensitive demand and strategic customer behavior are considered simultaneously in an integrated model. The result can guide the manufacturer decision-making. The proposed model are hoped to shed light to the future works in the field of sustainable supply chain management.
Ochratoxin A producing Penicillium verrucosum isolates from cereals reveal large AFLP fingerprinting variability

Aims: To examine if molecular amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting of the only ochratoxin A‐producing species in European cereals, Penicillium verrucosum, can be used as a method in hazard analysis using critical control points (HACCP).
THE INFLUENCE OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY SET AND DIVIDEND POLICY ON CORPORATE VALUE : EVIDENCE FROM INDONESIA STOCK EXCHANGE

The purpose of this paper is to investigate influences the proxy of investment opportunity set and dividend policy on corporate value. This study is tested in Indonesia Stock Exchange as one of emerging market which is contained 201 companies covering a 3-years period from 2009 to 2011. Structural equation modelling with Partial Least Square (PLS) is used in this study. This paper found a significantly positive influence between the proxies of investment opportunity set on dividend policy. In addition, there is a significantly positive influence between the proxies of dividend policy on corporate value. The result had consistently with informational content of dividend that explained that dividend paid was considered to be companies prospect in the future. This result also supported signaling theory that emphasize dividend paid is a signal on the market. The result also revealed a significantly positive influence between the proxies of investment opportunity set on corporate value. This result has supporting and consistently with research result by Fama (1978). Direct effect from investment decision on corporate value is results obtained of investment activity itself.
Suppressive role of endogenous regucalcin in the enhancement of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis activity in the nucleus of regenerating rat liver

The role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis activity in the nuclei of regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy was investigated. The addition of regucalcin (0.25 and 0.5 μM) in the reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in the nuclear DNA synthesis activity of normal rat liver. This decrease was also seen in the presence of Ca2+‐chelator EGTA (0.4 mM), indicating that the effect of regucalcin is not related to nuclear Ca2+. Nuclear DNA activity was significantly increased in the presence of anti‐regucalcin monoclonal antibody (10–50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture. The effect was completely abolished by the addition of regucalcin (0.5 μM). Nuclear DNA synthesis activity was significantly increased at 24, 48, and 72 h after partial heptectomy. The effect of anti‐regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 ng/ml) in increasing nuclear DNA synthesis activity was significantly enhanced at 24 and 48 h after partial hepatectomy. The presence of staurospone (10−6 M), trifluoperazine (2 × 10−5 M), or PD98059 (10−5 M) in the reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in DNA synthesis activity in the nuclei obtained at 24 after partial hepateactomy. The effect of these inhibitors in the presence of anti‐regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 ng/ml) was greater than that in the absence of the antibody. The present study suggests that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the enhancement of nuclear DNA synthesis activity in regenerating liver with cell proliferation after partial hepatectomy in rats. J. Cell. Biochem. 85: 516–522, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Local Economic Impacts of Popular Music Concerts

This study examines the local economic impacts of popular music concerts held between 2010 and 2012 in Bangor, Maine. A regression analysis of the relationship between monthly taxable retail sales—e.g., restaurant and lodging sales—in the Bangor region and the number of attendees is used to estimate local spending per concertgoer on meals and accommodations. Results suggest that an estimated 29 to 31 percent of attendees spend the night in the local area, which is very similar to the share of concertgoers who travel more than two hours to attend shows. The local economic impacts of 41 popular music concerts—featuring artists such as Bob Dylan, Barenaked Ladies, Def Leppard, Jason Aldean, and Godsmack—between 2010 and 2012 is an estimated $30.7 million in output, a yearly average of 156 full-time and part-time jobs, and a combined $9.7 million in labor income.
Idiosyncratic Coskewness and Equity Return Anomalies

In this paper, we show that in a model where investors have heterogeneous preferences, the expected return of risky assets depends on the idiosyncratic coskewness beta, which measures the co-movement of the individual stock variance and the market return. We find that there is a negative (positive) relation between idiosyncratic coskewness and equity returns when idiosyncratic coskewness betas are positive (negative). Standard risk factors, such as the market, size, book-to-market, and momentum cannot explain the findings. We construct two idiosyncratic coskewness factors to capture the market-wide effect of idiosyncratic coskewness. The two idiosyncratic coskewness factors can also explain the negative and significant relation between the maximum daily return over the past one month (MAX) and expected stock returns documented in Bali, Cakici, and Whitelaw (2009). In addition, when we control for these two idiosyncratic coskewness factors, the return difference for distress-sorted portfolios found in Campbell, Hilscher, and Szilagyi (2008) becomes insignificant. Furthermore, the two idiosyncratic coskewness factors help us understand the idiosyncratic volatility puzzle found in Ang, Hodrick, Xing, and Zhang (2006). They reduce the return difference between portfolios with the smallest and largest idiosyncratic volatility by more than 60%, although the difference is still statistically significant.
Did Australian Firms Choose to Switch to Reporting Operating Cash Flows Using the Indirect Method

In 2007 Australian accounting standards were amended to allow a choice of presenting operating cash flows using either the direct or indirect method. This study investigates the number of ASX-listed entities that switched to the indirect format. Our results indicate that between 2007 and 2009 nine companies changed their reporting format. The firms adopting the indirect method have similar leverage, liquidity and performance to industry and size-matched controls. Given that previous research indicates that the direct method provides superior information for predicting cash flows and performance, our results will be welcomed by financial statement users and the Australian Accounting Standards Board.
A Note on the Measurement of the Holding Cost of International Reserves

tive demand for forward exchange. Estimation of the MT equation is reasonable only under the maintained hypothesis that at least one of the parameters (a<, /3) is finite. In conclusion, let us turn to the other case mentioned by Kohlhagen, namely, estimation of (1) when (a) prevails but real rates are not equalized. In this case one can use the middle expression of (3) to eliminate St+3e from (1), obtaining