Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electronic Cigarette Use among Irish Youth: A Cross Sectional Study of Prevalence and Associated Factors

Purpose To examine prevalence of, and factors associated with, e-cigarette use among young people aged 16-17 in Ireland. Methods In 2014, a representative sample of 821 young people aged 16-17 recruited from secondary schools completed a pen and paper survey on e-cigarette use, tobacco use, and socio-demographic items. Findings A total of 23.8% of respondents had used e-cigarettes at least once. Dual trial of tobacco and e-cigarettes was common with 69.5% of regular smokers and 30.4% of ‘ever’ smokers having tried e-cigarettes and 10.6% of current smokers using e-cigarettes regularly. 4.2% of never smokers have tried e-cigarettes. Overall, current e-cigarette use (once a month or more) was low (3.2%). Binary logistic regression conducted through generalized estimating equations (GEE) determined that controlling for other variables, current tobacco use and ‘ever’ tobacco use predicted ever e-cigarette use. Gender and school-level socioeconomic status were also independent predictors of ever e-cigarette use. Gender stood as the only predictor of on-going e-cigarette use, with males being more likely to regularly use e-cigarettes at least once a month. Conclusions E-cigarette use among 16-17 year olds in Ireland is of note, with nearly a quarter of students having tried them. Concurrent or experimental use of e-cigarettes and tobacco is more common than sole use, while a small number have tried e-cigarettes without having tried tobacco.
Corruption, Public Spending, and Education Outcomes: Evidence from Indonesia

This paper takes advantage of a new corruption measure across regions within a country to measure the influence of corruption on public spending efficacy in the education sector in Indonesia, one of the most corrupt countries in the world. I find that public spending has a negligible effect on education outcomes in highly corrupt regions, while it has a statistically significant, positive, and relatively large effect in less corrupt regions. I do not find any direct effect of corruption on education outcomes, hence implying that one channel through which corruption adversely affects the education system is through reducing the effectiveness of public spending.
Citrate anticoagulation abolishes degranulation of polymorphonuclear cells and platelets and reduces oxidative stress during haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND During haemodialysis (HD), polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and platelets are activated and release various granule products, including myeloperoxidase (MPO) and platelet factor 4 (PF4). MPO triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species, leading to irreversible protein, carbohydrate and lipid modification. PF4 probably also contributes to oxidative stress. As previously shown, HD-induced PMN degranulation is almost completely abolished during citrate anticoagulation, most probably due to its calcium chelation ability. METHODS In the present study, apart from HD-induced PMN and platelet degranulation, oxidative stress was analysed during three modes of anticoagulation. Heparin, dalteparin and citrate (HDhep, HDdal and HDcit) were compared in a randomized, crossover fashion in eight chronic HD patients. Multiple blood samples were taken during the third HD session of each modality, from both the afferent and efferent line. Besides the degranulation markers MPO and PF4, various markers of oxidative stress were measured, including oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and carboxymethyllysine (CML). RESULTS During HDhep and HDdal, marked degranulation was observed shortly after the start of HD. In contrast, during HDcit, PF4 and MPO levels remained unaltered, suggesting no release at all. After 1 week of HDcit, ox-LDL levels were markedly reduced [median 26% (3-65%), P=0.01], if compared with HDhep and HDdal. As regards MDA and CML, no differences were found. CONCLUSIONS This study shows first, that HD-induced PMN and platelet degranulation are early, most probably calcium-dependent processes and, secondly, that the formation of ox-LDL is clearly dependent on the type of anticoagulant applied.
Preoperative Risk Score Predicting 90-Day Mortality After Liver Resection in a Population-Based Study

AbstractThe impact of important preexisting comorbidities, such as liver and renal disease, on the outcome of liver resection remains unclear. Identification of patients at risk of mortality will aid in improving preoperative preparations. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a population-based score based on available preoperative and predictable parameters predicting 90-day mortality after liver resection using data from a hepatitis endemic country.We identified 13,159 patients who underwent liver resection between 2002 and 2006 in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. In a randomly selected half of the total patients, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to develop a prediction score for estimating the risk of 90-day mortality by patient demographics, preoperative liver disease and comorbidities, indication for surgery, and procedure type. The score was validated with the remaining half of the patients.Overall 90-day mortality was 3.9%. Predictive characteristics included in the model were age, preexisting cirrhosis-related complications, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, renal disease, malignancy, and procedure type. Four risk groups were stratified by mortality scores of 1.1%, 2.2%, 7.7%, and 15%. Preexisting renal disease and cirrhosis-related complications were the strongest predictors. The score discriminated well in both the derivation and validation sets with c-statistics of 0.75 and 0.75, respectively.This population-based score could identify patients at risk of 90-day mortality before liver resection. Preexisting renal disease and cirrhosis-related complications had the strongest influence on mortality. This score enables preoperative risk stratification, decision-making, quality assessment, and counseling for individual patients.
The relationship between the full range of leadership styles and employees' creative performance in Civil Service organizations : a field study of Omani Civil Service managers

The study? s primary research interest is in the area of leadership and creativity. Investigating the literature indicates that there is a gap in knowledge regarding the effect of the Full Range of Leadership styles, especially the influence of transformational leadership on employees? creative performance. Examining this relationship in different sectors (for example: public government sector); in different cultures (for example: Arab Islamic culture); and from multi-perspectives (for example: leaders and employees) is strongly encouraged by research. The Omani civil service sector was used as a case study, thus the aim of the study was to investigate the degree to which Omani civil service managers practised the Full Range of Leadership styles to influence employees? creative performance. The study set six objectives which provided the foundation for the structure of the study and the way its research questions were formulated. Accordingly, the study methodology was designed in a way that points towards the achievement of the study objectives. The study adopted a mixed-methods research approach by combining survey questionnaires with semi-structured interviews. This triangulation technique was utilized to enable more accurate investigation and allow in-depth coverage of the issues examined. The probability sampling method as represented by the random sampling technique was adopted for this study and applied to the two groups of managers and employees. The total size of the managers? sample was 269 participants, while the employees? sample was 371 participants. In addition, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted to supplement the quantitative results. The results of this study show that the Omani managers are performing both transformational and transactional leadership styles. Examining the relationship, the study confirms that there is an overall statistically significant relationship between managers? use of transformational and transactional leadership styles and employees? creative performance from both managers? and employees? perspectives. The results also reveal that Omani managers are infrequently practicing passive/avoidant leadership style and that this style does not contribute to the employees? creative performance. Further, the study demonstrate that Omani managers? personal characteristics have a slight effect on managers? perceptions towards transformational leadership styles and do not have any impact on their perceptions toward employees? creative performance. Finally, this study contributed to knowledge in several areas where scholars who are interested in investigating the relationship between leadership and creativity will find it valuable.
The Prevalence of S. aureus Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Patients with Pemphigus

Pemphigus vulgaris are autoimmune blistering diseases that may result in significant morbidity and death. Immunosuppressive therapy of pemphigus vulgaris would predispose the patients to infections. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of S. aureus infection and PVL gene in patients with pemphigus admitted to dermatology clinic. Materials and Methods. This descriptive study was conducted on 196 pemphigus vulgaris patients (119 males, 77 females) admitted to dermatology clinic between 2014 and 2015. In this study, the diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris was made by histology, immunofluorescence pattern of perilesional skin, and indirect immunofluorescence testing of serum. Data were collected through a questionnaire. Results. 59.1% of pemphigus vulgaris patients had S. aureus infection. 49 out of 116 were methicillin-resistant. PVL gene was detected in 25 out of 116 S. aureus positive patients. Conclusion. This is the first report of S. aureus infection in pemphigus patients in Iran. More than forty percent of isolates were methicillin-resistant S. aureus. PVL gene carried by methicillin-resistant S. aureus was high in this study.
FAST OPTIMAL H2 MODEL REDUCTION ALGORITHMS BASED ON GRASSMANN MANIFOLD OPTIMIZATION

The optimal H2 model reduction is an important tool in studying dynamical systems of a large order and their numerical simulation. We formulate the reduction problem as a minimization problem over the Grassmann manifold. This allows us to develop a fast gradient flow algorithm suitable for large-scale optimal H2 model reduction problems. The proposed algorithm converges globally and the resulting reduced system preserves stability of the original system. Furthermore, based on the fast gradient flow algorithm, we propose a sequentially quadratic approximation algorithm which converges faster and guarantees the global convergence. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the approximation accuracy and the computational efficiency of the proposed algorithms.
Resource Rents, Democracy and Corruption: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

We examine the effect of the interaction between resource rents and democracy on corruption for a panel of 29 Sub-Saharan countries during the period from 1985 to 2007. We find that higher resource rents lead to more corruption and that the effect is significantly stronger in less democratic countries. Surprisingly, we also find that higher resource rents lead to fewer internal conflicts and that less democratic countries face not a higher but a lower likelihood of conflicts following an increase in resource rents. We argue that these findings can be explained by the ability of the political elites in less democratic countries to more effectively quell the masses through redistribution of rents to the public. We support our argument by documenting that higher resource rents lead to more (less) government spending in less (more) democratic countries. Our findings suggest that the mechanisms through which resource rents affect corruption cannot be separated from political systems.
Oscillations in a simple climate-vegetation model

Abstract. We formulate and analyze a simple dynamical systems model for climate–vegetation interaction. The planet we consider consists of a large ocean and a land surface on which vegetation can grow. The temperature affects vegetation growth on land and the amount of sea ice on the ocean. Conversely, vegetation and sea ice change the albedo of the planet, which in turn changes its energy balance and hence the temperature evolution. Our highly idealized, conceptual model is governed by two nonlinear, coupled ordinary differential equations, one for global temperature, the other for vegetation cover. The model exhibits either bistability between a vegetated and a desert state or oscillatory behavior. The oscillations arise through a Hopf bifurcation off the vegetated state, when the death rate of vegetation is low enough. These oscillations are anharmonic and exhibit a sawtooth shape that is characteristic of relaxation oscillations, as well as suggestive of the sharp deglaciations of the Quaternary. Our model's behavior can be compared, on the one hand, with the bistability of even simpler, Daisyworld-style climate–vegetation models. On the other hand, it can be integrated into the hierarchy of models trying to simulate and explain oscillatory behavior in the climate system. Rigorous mathematical results are obtained that link the nature of the feedbacks with the nature and the stability of the solutions. The relevance of model results to climate variability on various timescales is discussed.
Balancing Decision-making Errors when Testing Hypotheses with the Binomial Test May 10 , 2004

Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to establish a list of water bodies that do not meet water quality standards. State Water Resources Control Board staff recently proposed the binomial hypothesis test when deciding to list or delist a water body. The traditional binomial test effectively controls the alpha error rate (i.e., the chance of incorrectly rejecting a true null hypothesis) at or below the proposed nominal significance level of 10%. Several authors, however, have suggested that the beta error rate (i.e., the chance of incorrectly failing to reject a false null hypothesis) should be considered when listing or delisting and that alpha and beta rates should be equally balanced, if possible. The methodology and probability equations used to derive sampling plans based on observed exceedances is reviewed, both for the proposed traditional binomial test and a binomial test based on a balanced error approach. Approximate error balancing provides an equitable way to decide whether a water body should be listed or delisted, as long as a sufficient number of samples are collected to keep the error rates below a moderate level.
Contrast enhanced ultrasonography of kidney in conscious and anesthetized beagle dogs

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is useful to evaluate tissue perfusion in the kidney. In veterinary medicine, sedation or anesthesia may be required in uncooperative or panting patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the normal kidney perfusion patterns in conscious and anesthetized dogs using CEUS. Eight healthy beagles were used in this study. Scanning was performed in conscious dogs using manual restraint (conscious group), or under general anesthesia using tiletamine-zolazepam and medetomidine (TZM group) or medetomidine (M group). The contrast agent (Sonovue®) was administered as an IV bolus. The peak intensity (PI), time to peak enhancement from injection (TTP0) and the time to peak enhancement from the initial rise (TTPup), upslope, downslope and area under the curve (AUC) were analyzed. Compared to the cortical values in the conscious group, TTP0 was significantly delayed in the TZM group, and upslope, TTP0 and TTPup were significantly different in the M group. The AUCs in the TZM and M groups were not different from those in the conscious group. The upslope of renal medullary perfusion was significantly decreased in the TZM and M groups. TTP0 and TTPup were also significantly delayed in these groups. The AUC of the medulla was significantly decreased in the M group. Therefore, TZM is useful as an anesthetic protocol when performing CEUS, and the obtained data may serve as reference values in the evaluation of renal perfusion using CEUS in dogs under anesthesia.
Wage Flexibility and Employment

One of the central messages of Keynes's General Theory [3] was that wage flexibility cannot be counted on to cure unemployment. One part of Keynes's argument was that wages were not in fact very flexible. But he did not rest his case on the assumption of sticky wages. In Chapter 19 he argued that if wages were more flexible, matters would be even worse. Greater wage-flexibility would be detrimental to social justice, would lead to greater labour unrest, and would destabilize the value of money. More to the point it would probably also make unemployment even worse because wage reductions would cause the level of aggregate demand to fall. Keynes pointed to several channels through which a wage-reduction might reduce aggregate demand. The one he seemed to rely on most was an expectation effect:
GIGO or not GIGO: The Accuracy of Multi-Criteria Satisficing Decisions

The relationship between data accuracy and the resulting information accuracy is of great interest in numerous problem domains. An understanding of this relationship can improve the efficiency of data management and increase the accuracy and utility of information in problem-solving settings. Nonetheless, our understanding of that relationship is still partial. In fact, even the sign of the relationship is not well understood. Nearly all researchers have embraced the popular belief in GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out), which indicates a strong positive link between input accuracy and output accuracy. However, there is evidence that hints to a more complex association. This article addresses the relationship between input accuracy and output accuracy, particularly the sign of that relationship, in satisficing decisions that apply a conjunctive or disjunctive rule for combining selected criteria. Analysis of a simple scenario shows a surprising result: the sign of that relationship varies; higher input accuracy can lead to lower output accuracy. This article derives criteria that determine the sign of the relationship and explains and illustrates conditions in which the sign is negative. The findings of this research imply certain rules for guiding data quality management resource allocation and design decisions in similar scenarios.
Maternal Chronic HBV Infection Would Not Increase the Risk of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension – Results from Pregnancy Cohort in Liuyang Rural China

The relationship between maternal HBV (hepatitis B virus) infection and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is inconclusive. Few studies have been conducted in rural areas of China. In order to examine the association between maternal chronic HBV infection and risk of PIH in Liuyang rural area China, we enrolled 6,195 eligible pregnant women in 2010–2011 in selected 14 towns of Liuyang on their first prenatal visit to local maternity care unit. A total of 461 subjects (7.44% (95%CI: 6.79%, 8.10%)) were identified with positive HBsAg status (exposed group) and 5734 were non-HBV carriers (unexposed group). Multivariate log-binomial regression models were used to estimate the risk of PIH, gestational hypertension (GH), and preeclampsia (PE) in relation to maternal chronic HBV infection. There are total of 455 subjects diagnosed with PIH (7.34% (95%CI: 6.70%, 7.99%)), including 371 GH (5.99% (95%CI: 5.40%, 6.58%)) and 81 PE (1.31% (95%CI: 1.07%, 1.64%)). The crude risk ratio between PIH, GH, PE and maternal HBV infection were 1.20 (95%CI: 0.88, 1.64), 1.30(95%CI: 0.93, 1.81) and 0.79 (95%CI: 0.32, 1.93), respectively. After adjustment for gravidity history, abortion history, family history of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and family history of hypertension, positive HBsAg status was still not significantly associated with PIH (RR = 1.18, 95%CI: 0.87, 1.62), GH (RR = 1.27, 95%CI: 0.91, 1.78) or PE (RR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.32, 1.95). Additional adjustment for maternal age, marital status, parity history, family history of DM, Body Mass Index at first antenatal visit, folic acid supplementation, smoking status during pregnancy and economic status of living area, multivariate analysis provided similar results. In conclusion, our study found that maternal chronic HBV infection prevalence rate is 7.4% among Liuyang rural area and there is no significant association between maternal HBV infection and the risk of PIH, GH or PE.
Comparative Democracy: The Economic Development Thesis

In comparative politics, an established finding—that economic development fosters democratic performance—has recently come under challenge. We counter this challenge with a dynamic pooled time series analysis of a major, but neglected data set from 131 nations. The final generalized least squares-autoregressive moving averages estimates (N = 2,096) appear robust and indicate strong economic development effects, dependent in part on the nation's position in the world system. For the first time, rather hard evidence is offered on the causal relationship between economics and democracy. According to Granger tests, economic development “causes” democracy, but democracy does not “cause” economic development. Overall, the various tests would seem to advance sharply the modeling of democratic performance.
Rank-biased precision for measurement of retrieval effectiveness

A range of methods for measuring the effectiveness of information retrieval systems has been proposed. These are typically intended to provide a quantitative single-value summary of a document ranking relative to a query. However, many of these measures have failings. For example, recall is not well founded as a measure of satisfaction, since the user of an actual system cannot judge recall. Average precision is derived from recall, and suffers from the same problem. In addition, average precision lacks key stability properties that are needed for robust experiments. In this article, we introduce a new effectiveness metric, rank-biased precision, that avoids these problems. Rank-biased pre-cision is derived from a simple model of user behavior, is robust if answer rankings are extended to greater depths, and allows accurate quantification of experimental uncertainty, even when only partial relevance judgments are available.