Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clean indoor air laws, addiction and cigarette smoking

Cigarette demand equations, derived from the Becker and Murphy (1988) model of relational addiction are estimated which include alternative measures of state level clean indoor air laws. The laws have been the most widely used tool in the recent years of the anti-smoking campaign. Survey data taken from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, augmented with county level cigarette prices and excise taxes and state level measures of restrictions on smoking, are used to estimate the demand equations. Clean indoor air laws are found to have a significant negative impact in average cigartte consumption.Increased restrictiveness of these laws, beyond some basic level, however, is not found to further reduce smoking. The effects of these restriction are found to differ across sexes. Average consumption among men is significantly reduced by the passage of the laws, whereas smoking among women is unaffected. Finally, cigarette prices are found of have a significant negative impact on consumpti.
The Two Faces of Cervical Adenocarcinoma In Situ

In order of frequency, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), combined adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS)/CIN lesions, and solitary AIS are the most prevalent premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix. As the morphologic distinction of these subtypes is not always straightforward, we performed an immunophenotyping analysis to establish distinguishing profiles for each of these squamous and glandular progenitor lesions of cervical carcinoma. A series of 26 premalignant cervical lesions, comprising 13 cases of AIS, of which 7 represented solitary AIS and 6 were combined with CIN (combined AIS/CIN), as well as 13 solitary high-grade CIN lesions, were immunophenotypically analyzed using antibodies directed against p16, p63, bcl-2, and cytokeratins (CK) 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, and 19. Adjacent normal epithelia were also investigated. CIN lesions expressed the full panel of antibodies. Combined AIS/CIN lesions also expressed the full complement of markers in both the AIS and CIN compartments. However, the expression of p63, bcl-2, CK5, and CK17 was lower in AIS compared with CIN. The solitary AIS lesions could be subdivided into 2 subgroups, 1 expressing the full complement of markers and a second group in which no expression of p63, bcl-2, CK5, and a sporadically CK17 expression was observed. We conclude that 2 phenotypically distinct types of AIS can be identified, that is, AIS with a reserve cell marker phenotype and AIS with an endocervical glandular phenotype. These observations support the view that reserve cells are capable of bidirectional premalignant transformation, that is, into CIN and reserve cell-type AIS, as well as combined AIS/CIN. The endocervical type of AIS is probably a result of the unidirectional transformation of progenitor cells within the glandular cell compartment.
Tumor matrix stiffness promotes metastatic cancer cell interaction with the endothelium

Tumor progression alters the composition and physical properties of the extracellular matrix. Particularly, increased matrix stiffness has profound effects on tumor growth and metastasis. While endothelial cells are key players in cancer progression, the influence of tumor stiffness on the endothelium and the impact on metastasis is unknown. Through quantitative mass spectrometry, we find that the matricellular protein CCN1/CYR61 is highly regulated by stiffness in endothelial cells. We show that stiffness‐induced CCN1 activates β‐catenin nuclear translocation and signaling and that this contributes to upregulate N‐cadherin levels on the surface of the endothelium, in vitro. This facilitates N‐cadherin‐dependent cancer cell–endothelium interaction. Using intravital imaging, we show that knockout of Ccn1 in endothelial cells inhibits melanoma cancer cell binding to the blood vessels, a critical step in cancer cell transit through the vasculature to metastasize. Targeting stiffness‐induced changes in the vasculature, such as CCN1, is therefore a potential yet unappreciated mechanism to impair metastasis.
Monitoring the 'Monitor': A Critique of Krashen's Five Hypotheses

This article discusses Krashen's Monitor Model and the attendant five hypotheses. Since its 1977 publication, Krashen, through a series of revisions, have tried to explain the way learners acquire a second language. This article closely looks at his basic premises and the criticism they have generated to better understand both the Monitor Model and its various lacunae and biases. Key words: Affective Filter; Krashen; Language Acquisition Device (LAD); Monitor Model; Second Language Acquisition (SLA). DOI: 10.3329/dujl.v2i4. 6903 Dhaka University Journal of Linguistics Vol.2(4) August 2009 pp.139-146
RATIONAL BUBBLES IN THE STOCK MARKET: ACCOUNTING FOR THE U.S. STOCK‐PRICE VOLATILITY

Can rational stochastic asset bubbles help explain the excess volatility of stock prices? The bubble considered here is treated as an unobserved state vector in the state-space model and is easily estimated using the Kalman filter. The author finds that the bubble components estimated account for a substantial portion of U.S. stock prices, and the model does a credible job in fitting the data, especially during several bull and bear markets in this century. Much of the deviation of stock prices from the present-value model are captured by the bubble. Copyright 1997 by Oxford University Press.
Characteristics of deaths occurring in hospitalised children: changing trends

Background: Despite a gradual shift in the focus of medical care among terminally ill patients to a palliative model, studies suggest that many children with life-limiting chronic illnesses continue to die in hospital after prolonged periods of inpatient admission and mechanical ventilation. Objectives: To (1) examine the characteristics and location of death among hospitalised children, (2) investigate yearwise trends in these characteristics and (3) test the hypothesis that professional ethical guidance from the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (1997) would lead to significant changes in the characteristics of death among hospitalised children. Methods: Routine administrative data from one large tertiary-level UK children’s hospital was examined over a 7-year period (1997–2004) for children aged 0–18 years. Demographic details, location of deaths, source of admission (within hospital vs external), length of stay and final diagnoses (International Classification of Diseases-10 codes) were studied. Statistical significance was tested by the Kruskal–Wallis analysis of ranks and median test (non-parametric variables), χ2 test (proportions) and Cochran–Armitage test (linear trends). Results: Of the 1127 deaths occurring in hospital over the 7-year period, the majority (57.7%) were among infants. The main diagnoses at death included congenital malformations (22.2%), perinatal diseases (18.1%), cardiovascular disorders (14.9%) and neoplasms (12.4%). Most deaths occurred in an intensive care unit (ICU) environment (85.7%), with a significant increase over the years (80.1% in 1997 to 90.6% in 2004). There was a clear increase in the proportion of admissions from in-hospital among the ICU cohort (14.8% in 1998 to 24.8% in 2004). Infants with congenital malformations and perinatal conditions were more likely to die in an ICU (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.65 to 3.55), and older children with malignancy outside the ICU (OR 6.5, 95% CI 4.4 to 9.6). Children stayed for a median of 13 days (interquartile range 4.0–23.25 days) on a hospital ward before being admitted to an ICU where they died. Conclusions: A greater proportion of hospitalised children are dying in an ICU environment. Our experience indicates that professional ethical guidance by itself may be inadequate in reversing the trends observed in this study.
A survey on the awareness and attitude of pharmacists and doctors towards the application of pharmacogenomics and its challenges in Qatar.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Pharmacists are expected to play an important role in applying pharmacogenomics discoveries to patient care. Despite the increased attention to genetic research in Qatar, clinicians' attitudes towards the application of pharmacogenomics are not yet explored. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and attitude of pharmacists compared with doctors towards pharmacogenomics and its implications by submitting an electronic-based survey to all pharmacists and doctors currently working in a large medical corporation in Qatar. METHODS A cross-sectional survey instrument was developed based on literature review. Eligible participants were pharmacists and doctors currently practicing in Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals in Qatar. The survey comprised questions on demographic and professional characteristics. It also evaluated the awareness, attitudes and challenges towards pharmacogenomics and its application. RESULTS We collected 202 surveys, 108 (53.2%) of which were pharmacists and the remaining 94 (46.5%) were doctors. The overall participants' mean total awareness score percentage was low (39% ± 22) and there were no difference between the mean score achieved by pharmacists and doctors. Pharmacists had significantly more positive attitudes than doctors towards: (i) taking the responsibility of applying pharmacogenomics to drug therapy selection, dosing and monitoring; (ii) perceiving a positive role of pharmacogenomics testing on the control of drug expenditure; and (iii) their willingness to participate in pharmacogenomics-related training sessions. Both pharmacists and doctors perceived lack of knowledge and guidelines as major challenges towards the application of pharmacogenomics in Qatar. CONCLUSION Despite doctors' and pharmacists' low level of awareness towards pharmacogenomics, they both have positive attitudes towards the clinical implications of pharmacogenomics. Pharmacists are more motivated to learn about pharmacogenomics and are more willing to take initiatives in its clinical application and patient education.
Nature's ‘Free Gifts' and the Ecological Significance of Value

This article argues that far from containing an anti-ecological bias, Marx's ‘free appropriation’ category clarifies the contradictions between the true sources of wealth (the combination of nature and social labor) and capitalism's monetary representation of wealth as abstract labor time. On this basis, it is shown that some of the most popular ecological criticisms of Marx's value analysis fail to grasp Marx's basic demarcation of value, exchange value, and use value. Properly understood, Marx's analysis provides much keener insights into capitalism's environmental problems than do the essentially ahistorical approaches of those who would uncritically ascribe ‘value’ to nature.
Clinical Assessment of a Nasal Decongestion Test by Visual Analog Scale in Allergic Rhinitis

Background Nasal airflow, as measured by rhinomanometry, is frequently impaired in allergic rhinitis (AR). The decongestion test evaluates whether the application of an intranasal vasoconstrictor drug increases nasal airflow. That allergy is characterized by inflammation and that the response to the decongestion test correlates with the grade of inflammatory reaction has previously been shown. The aim of this study was to verify the suitability of the use of the visual analog scales (VASs) as a surrogate for rhinomanometry in the decongestion test assessment in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis. Methods One hundred three patients (mean age, 23 years [2.24 SD]) were studied. Nasal symptoms, VAS, rhinomanometry, and nasal decongestion test were assessed in all patients. Results A significant association was observed between VAS and nasal airflow after the decongestion test (Spearman R = -33.3%; p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant inverse association between changes in decongestion measures was detected, with a Spearman R = -64.7% (p < 0.001). The associated sensitivity was of 92.5%, and the specificity for this test was 60.0%. The corresponding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.81. Conclusion The use of VAS for assessing the decongestion test appears clinically relevant in that it allows, with a fair degree of reliability, such a test to be performed in the absence of rhinomanometry.
FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM THE CARIBBEAN

This paper uses a VAR and VECM framework to examine whether financial development causes growth or vice-versa employing aggregate annual time-series data on Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. The results indicate that a long-run equilibrium relationship between financial development and economic growth exists only in Trinidad and Tobago and the response is bi-directional, lending support to both the denand-following and supply-leading hypothesis. Second, where there is only evidence of a short-run relationship, the results are mixed. Sometimes the causal link is from economic growth to financial development and on other occasions from financial development to economic growth. Third, our findings show that results are country specific and tend to vary with the kind of proxies used to measure financial development.
Exchange rate volatility and trade flows: a review article

Purpose – Since the last review article by McKenzie, the literature has experienced a surge in the number of empirical articles. These new contributions, coupled with those that were overlooked by McKenzie, set the stage for this review. Many of the recent studies have been empirical in nature and these deserve specific attention. Thus, this paper aims to survey and review all of the studies by paying attention to the attributes outlined in the text.Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines the vast empirical literature, up to 2005, to assess the main trends in modeling and estimating these trade flows at the aggregate, bilateral, and sectoral levels.Findings – The increase in exchange‐rate volatility since 1973 has had indeterminate effects on international export and import flows. Although it can be assumed that an increase in risk may lead to a reduction in economic activity, the theoretical literature provides justifications for positive or insignificant effects as well. Similar results have b.
The Use of Antiepileptic Drugs in Bipolar Disorders: A Review Based on Evidence From Controlled Trials

ABSTRACT Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have diverse psychotropic profiles. Some AEDs have proven to be efficacious in the treatment of mood disorders, especially bipolar disorder. Others are ineffective as primary treatments but may be useful adjuncts for mood disorders or comorbid conditions. Valproate (acute mania and mixed episodes), carbamazepine (acute mania and mixed episodes), and lamotrigine (maintenance to delay recurrence) have United States Food and Drug Administration indications for the treatment of bipolar disorder. This article provides an overview of data on the use of AEDs in bipolar disorder, including acute mania and depression, prophylaxis, and rapid cycling.
Do South African medical students of rural origin return to rural practice?

OBJECTIVES To investigate the career choices of medical graduates of rural origin in the South African context, and to determine what proportion of rural-origin graduates are currently practising in a rural area. DESIGN This is a retrospective descriptive study. Doctors' addresses at the time of graduation were compared with their current addresses in terms of rural/urban classification, and a questionnaire survey was done. SUBJECTS Sample A consisted of a cohort of doctors who graduated in 1991 and 1992. Sample B consisted of the 1994-1996 graduates of two medical schools. OUTCOME MEASURES Percentage of rural-origin graduates in rural practice. RESULTS In sample A 14.4% were rural-origin students. When comparing addresses, it was found that 38.4% of rural-origin graduates are currently practising in rural areas, compared with 12.4% of urban-origin graduates (p < 0.001). The questionnaire data showed that 45.9% of the rural-origin respondents are in rural practice, compared with 13.3% of the urban-origin respondents (p = 0.001). In sample B, 41.61% of the rural-origin graduates are in rural practice compared with 5.08% of urban-origin graduates (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The findings suggest that the South African situation is similar to that in other countries, with rural-origin medical students more likely to choose rural careers than urban-origin students. Rural-origin graduates are also more likely to choose general practice. It is recommended that the selection criteria of the medical faculties be reviewed with regard to rural origin, and that the career aspirations of applicants to medical school be taken into account in selection, particularly with regard to primary care or general practice.
The Bank of Thailand Structural Model for Policy Analysis

This paper presents the Bank of Thailand’s new model based on the dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) paradigm. The paper details the model structure of a small open economy, model parameterization, and model properties. The purpose of this DSGE model is to provide a coherent economic interpretation of the workings of the Thai economy consistent with microeconomic foundation.
Risk and a changing environment for Antarctic tourism

This research note explores the issues of perceptions of risk and a changing environment for Antarctic tourism. A pilot study was undertaken aboard an Antarctic cruise ship in February 2008 with the purpose of examining the views of passengers about risk and environmental change in light of the recent sinking of the Explorer and the growing awareness of climate change effects in polar regions.
Prices and Asymptotics for Discrete Variance Swaps

Abstract We study the fair strike of a discrete variance swap for a general time-homogeneous stochastic volatility model. In the special cases of Heston, Hull–White and Schöbel–Zhu stochastic volatility models, we give simple explicit expressions (improving Broadie and Jain (2008a). The effect of jumps and discrete sampling on volatility and variance swaps. International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance, 11(8), 761–797) in the case of the Heston model). We give conditions on parameters under which the fair strike of a discrete variance swap is higher or lower than that of the continuous variance swap. The interest rate and the correlation between the underlying price and its volatility are key elements in this analysis. We derive asymptotics for the discrete variance swaps and compare our results with those of Broadie and Jain (2008a. The effect of jumps and discrete sampling on volatility and variance swaps. International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance, 11(8), 761–797), Jarrow et al. (2013. Discretely sampled variance and volatility swaps versus their continuous approximations. Finance and Stochastics, 17(2), 305–324) and Keller-Ressel and Griessler (2012. Convex order of discrete, continuous and predictable quadratic variation and applications to options on variance. Working paper. Retrieved from http://arxiv.org/abs/1103.2310).
Confident texture-based laryngeal tissue classification for early stage diagnosis support

Abstract. Early stage diagnosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is of primary importance for lowering patient mortality or after treatment morbidity. Despite the challenges in diagnosis reported in the clinical literature, few efforts have been invested in computer-assisted diagnosis. The objective of this paper is to investigate the use of texture-based machine-learning algorithms for early stage cancerous laryngeal tissue classification. To estimate the classification reliability, a measure of confidence is also exploited. From the endoscopic videos of 33 patients affected by SCC, a well-balanced dataset of 1320 patches, relative to four laryngeal tissue classes, was extracted. With the best performing feature, the achieved median classification recall was 93% [interquartile range (IQR)=6%]. When excluding low-confidence patches, the achieved median recall was increased to 98% (IQR=5%), proving the high reliability of the proposed approach. This research represents an important advancement in the state-of-the-art computer-assisted laryngeal diagnosis, and the results are a promising step toward a helpful endoscope-integrated processing system to support early stage diagnosis.
Cascaded Fully Convolutional Networks for automatic prenatal ultrasound image segmentation

Computerized prenatal ultrasound (US) image segmentation methods can greatly improve the efficiency and objectiveness of the biometry interpretation. However, the boundary incompleteness and ambiguity in US images hinder the automatic solutions severely. In this paper, we propose a cascaded framework for fully automatic US image segmentation. A customized Fully Convolutional Network (FCN) was utilized to exploit feature extractions from multiple visual scales and distinguish the anatomy with a dense prediction map. To enhance the local spatial consistency of the prediction map, we further implant the FCN core into an Auto-Context scheme. By modifying the join operator in traditional Auto-Context scheme from parallelization to summation, our framework gains extra considerable improvement. We demonstrate the efficacy of our method on two challenging datasets: fetal head and abdomen US images. Extensive experimental results show that our method can bridge severe boundary incompleteness and achieves the best segmentation accuracy when compared with state-of-the-art methods.
Prediction of patient responses to antihypertensive drugs using genetic polymorphisms: investigation of renin-angiotensin system genes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the M235T polymorphism of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene and the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE) gene predict blood pressure response to different antihypertensive agents. DESIGN Sixty-three patients with untreated essential hypertension were randomly assigned in a placebo-controlled crossover comparison to atenolol 50 mg once daily, lisinopril 10 mg once daily and nifedipine SR 20 mg twice daily, and the effect on blood pressure was assessed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). In a further 44 patients, placebo-controlled ABPM data were available after treatment with a single agent (atenolol 50 mg once daily in 16 cases and lisinopril 10mg once daily in 28 cases). The change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure achieved by each agent was analysed for association with genotypes at the AGT and ACE gene loci. METHODS Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genomic DNA from each individual was used to identify the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene. The M235T polymorphism of the AGT gene was detected by Tth111I digestion of PCR product. RESULTS There was no significant association between response to any drug and either the AGT M235T or ACE I/D polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS The large variability between individuals in the observed blood pressure response to these agents cannot be attributed to the polymorphisms analysed at the ACE and AGT loci.