Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Folate, homocysteine and selected vitamins and minerals status in infertile women

Abstract Objectives: Diet has been recognised as a crucial factor influencing fetal and maternal health. Adequate levels of substances such as homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 have been associated with a higher rate of success in infertility treatments. Few data, however, are available on the average levels of micronutrients in the blood of reproductive-aged women, and specific values for adequate levels are not available. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to measure levels of folate, homocysteine and selected vitamins and minerals in women attending the infertility unit of an academic hospital for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Methods: Fasting venous blood samples were taken in the morning during routine screening before IVF in order to measure: serum folate, red blood cell (RBC) folate, total plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin E, serum iron and serum ferritin. Results: Among 269 women aged 37 ± 4 years, only 69% and 44% showed adequate levels of homocysteine and vitamin B12, respectively. Serum folate was appropriate in 78% of the study participants, but only a minority (12%) had a concentration of RBC folate regarded as optimal for the prevention of fetal neural tube defects. Serum levels of vitamin A, vitamin E, iron and ferritin were, however, appropriate in the vast majority of participants (>80%). Conclusion: Folate levels were largely inadequate among women attending an infertility clinic for IVF. Vitamin B12 levels were also found to be inadequate.
Multiscale Socioeconomic Assessment Across Large Ecosystems: Lessons from Practice

Implementation of ecosystem management projects has created a demand for socioeconomic assessments to predict or evaluate the impacts of ecosystem policies. Social scientists for these assessments face challenges that, while not unique to such projects, are more likely to arise than in smaller scale ones. This article summarizes lessons from our experiences with five socioeconomic assessments associated with ecosystem management projects in the western United States. Progress has been made toward developing appropriate methods to assess socioeconomic conditions at the community level and integrating those data into regional analyses. However, we still lack robust theoretical constructs that link socioeconomic conditions to changes in management policies. Engaging community members, land managers, and policymakers facilitates research and improves the quality of findings. However, inadequate funding and the lack of long-term commitment on the part of natural resource agencies remain key obstacles to integrating socioeconomic assessments into adaptive management efforts.
A Dynamic Analysis of Takeover Deals with Competition and Imperfect Information

This article develops an equilibrium framework for the joint determination of the timing and the terms of takeovers in the presence of competition and imperfect information. The model analyzes takeovers as exchange options and derives equilibrium restructuring strategies by solving option exercise games between bidding and target shareholders. In the model, outside investors have incomplete information and can update their beliefs by observing the behavior of participating firms. In equilibrium part of the uncertainty remains unresolved until the takeover anouncement, thereby inducing abnormal announcement returns. The returns resulting from the equilibrium strategies derived in the paper are consistent with the available empirical evidence. In addition, the model generates new predictions relating these returns to the drift, volatility and correlation coefficient of the bidder and the target stock returns.
Physical functioning in multiple sclerosis: a population-based study in central Finland.

OBJECTIVE To describe multiple sclerosis and its impact on individuals' perceived problems in functioning, particularly in the domains of self-care, mobility and domestic life. DESIGN A population-based study in a prevalence cohort of multiple sclerosis subjects in Central Finland region carried out in the year 2000. SUBJECTS A total of 240 subjects with multiple sclerosis. METHODS A postal questionnaire for assessing physical functioning was developed. RESULTS Ninety percent of the study population completed the study. Subjects' average age was 48.2 years (range 20-76 years) and time since symptom onset was 15.8 years (range 0-56 years). Of the subjects, 82% were fully independent in self-care activities and 53% in domestic life, 50% were able to walk without any perceived problems and 38% had a permanent need for a walking aid. Fatigue was the most frequent complaint having an impact on subjects' daily life. Ninety-five subjects out of 240 (40%) were engaged in working life. CONCLUSION These data give a clear indication of favourable functioning in mobility, self-care and domestic life. However, the fact remains that multiple sclerosis is a disabling and costly disease. These results provide information for use by local and national authorities in planning and co-ordinating rehabilitation interventions and social services.
Volunteering predicts happiness among older Māori and non-Māori in the New Zealand health, work, and retirement longitudinal study

Objectives: This study sought to understand the relationship between volunteer activity and happiness among a sample of older adult New Zealanders. It specifically sought to determine if ethnicity (Māori vs. non-Māori) and economic living standards (ELS) functioned as moderators of the relationship between volunteering and happiness. Method: Data were garnered from the 2008 administration of the New Zealand Health, Work, and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Correlational and multiple regression procedures were employed to examine study hypotheses. Results: Results from multiple regression analyses showed that the amount of volunteering per week was a unique predictor of the overall level of happiness. Moderation analyses indicated that ethnicity did not function as a moderator of the relationship between volunteering and happiness, but ELS did. Those with low ELS evidenced a stronger relationship between volunteering and happiness than those with high ELS. Results also indicated that Māori and those with low ELS volunteered more frequently than non-Māori and those with high ELS. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that volunteering is related to increased happiness, irrespective of ethnicity. It also provides further evidence that the relationship between volunteering and happiness is moderated by economic resources. Older individuals at the low end of the economic spectrum are likely to benefit more from volunteering than those at the high end.
The Measurement of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-1) Concentration in Random Urine Samples

Abstract The aim of the present study was to assess a suitable expression of the urinary concentration of a protein/peptide hormone such as insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), measured in the urine of healthy individuals when the specimen collection is executed randomly. One hundred and twenty male subjects were divided by age into four groups, namely healthy sedentary young (SYA) and older (SOA) adults, older (OC) and young (YC) children. In a single urine specimen, randomly collected during the morning from each individual, total urinary IGF-I was measured by immunoradiometric method, and urinary creatinine (uCr) and total proteins (utPr) were measured by capillary electrophoresis and spectrophotometric methods, respectively. The urinary IGF-I concentrations were not significantly different in all groups investigated and they were (mean±SD): 82.7±82.8 ng/l, 103.5±83.3 ng/l, 80.4±64.4 ng/l in OC, SYA and SOA, respectively; only in the YC group there was a tendency to higher values (125.2±93.2 ng/l) compared with the other groups. utPr ranged from 26 to 40 mg/l and did not demonstrate significant differences between groups. The urinary IGF-I correlated with uCr and utPr, and statistical significance was observed in all measurements. The measurement of urinary IGF-I in random urine and its ratio to utPr is an innovative, useful way of investigation of urinary protein/peptide hormones.
Determination of the Diversity of Rhodopirellula Isolates from European Seas by Multilocus Sequence Analysis

ABSTRACT In the biogeography of microorganisms, the habitat size of an attached-living bacterium has never been investigated. We approached this theme with a multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) study of new strains of Rhodopirellula sp. , an attached-living planctomycete. The development of an MLSA for Rhodopirellula baltica enabled the characterization of the genetic diversity at the species level, beyond the resolution of the 16S rRNA gene. The alleles of the nine housekeeping genes acsA, guaA, trpE, purH, glpF, fumC, icd, glyA, and mdh indicated the presence of 13 genetically defined operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in our culture collection. The MLSA-based OTUs coincided with the taxonomic units defined by DNA-DNA hybridization experiments. BOX-PCR supported the MLSA-based differentiation of two closely related OTUs. This study established a taxon-area relationship of cultivable Rhodopirellula species. In European seas, three closely related species covered the Baltic Sea and the eastern North Sea, the North Atlantic region, and the southern North Sea to the Mediterranean. The last had regional genotypes, as revealed by BOX-PCR. This suggests a limited habitat size of attached-living Rhodopirellula species.
Financial Reporting Transparency

This discussion raises issues concerning financial reporting transparency. We first observe that transparency is not well-defined in a financial reporting context. Extrapolating from the ways transparency is used in other contexts, we define financial reporting transparency as the extent to which financial reports reveal an entity's underlying economics in a way that is readily understandable by those using the financial reports. We discuss limitations of this definition relating to its two components, but observe that the conceptual frameworks of the IASB and FASB provide a standard setter perspective on them. We next point out that theoretical research suggests that increased reporting transparency can reduce the cost of capital provided that transparency reduces information risk, and empirical research using a variety of measures of financial reporting transparency provides evidence of an association between transparency and cost of capital. Thus, research supports the notion that transparency is a desirable characteristic of financial reports. Given this potential benefit, we then identify characteristics of financial reporting that foster transparency - either by better reflecting the firm's underlying economics or by enhancing the understandability of information in financial reports. Finally, we describe the challenges to achieving financial reporting transparency globally and discuss how the IASB is attempting to address them. Our discussion implies several standard setting actions that might increase financial reporting transparency.
Understanding resident subjectivities toward tourism using Q method: Orchid Island, Taiwan

The pursuit of sustainable destination tourism should begin with an understanding of resident subjectivities. Residents are concerned with good governance and cultural integrity, and they are aware of their role as stakeholders in tourism in their communities. In this study, residents of Orchid Island, Taiwan, were interviewed using Q method in order to evaluate their subjectivities toward tourism. Forty-two statements regarding a theoretically and historically defined discourse of tourism were sorted by 34 respondents. This forced-choice method revealed four types of subjectivities, which are distinguished as Culture Broker, Cultural Conservative, Cultural Purist and Pragmatic Governance. The results show how the respondents perceived tourism in their destination. They agreed upon certain core issues regarding destination tourism, while contesting other issues. Respondents held strong views concerning how government policy affects their community and how tourism and culture shape each other. It is concluded that many issues in tourism research are highly relevant to residents of small tourism destination communities. This implies that tourism research should focus on understanding and coordinating resident subjectivities so as to inform government planning and decision-making, especially in indigenous communities or small islands.
) Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Breed characteristics, Farmer Objectives and Preferences in Kenya: A correspondence analysis

Rabbit production is becoming important in Kenya as an economic undertaking. This may be due to decreasing per capita landholdings as a result of increasing human population density. This study was done to describe the Rabbit breed characteristics, farmer objectives and preferences in Kenya to allow identification of constraints and opportunities along this particular value chain, information that is currently lacking. Respondents in the survey were purposively selected from four regions of the country with significant rabbit farming. These included: Rift Valley, Central, Eastern and Coastal regions. Structured questions were asked, several rabbit breeds and their crosses were identified and the study coupled farmer stated objectives with these breeds. The coupling of breeds to the stated farmer assessment of their traits and benefits was also attempted. This was implemented through the application of correspondence analysis on these frequency data. Results showed that there was considerable rhyme between farmer stated objectives and the rabbit breeds that they kept while this rhyme also stretched to breed and the farmer stated qualities of the breeds. These results therefore showed that stated inherent qualities of the breed also might direct farmer choices. Whereas slightly over half (52.3%) of the farmers kept rabbits with a commercial intention, the findings indicated that some heavy breeds such as French Lop and the Flemish Giant score highly for their carcass weight. In a commercial enterprise, these results show that farmers may require more capacity to appreciate the inherent breed characteristics rather than just the overtly recognizable breed characters.
State Transfers, Taxes and Income Inequality in Brazil

Using a factor decomposition of the Gini coefficient, we measure the contribution to inequality of direct monetary income flows to and from the Brazilian State. The income flows from the State include public sector workers' earnings, Social Security pensions, unemployment benefits, and Social Assistance transfers. The income flows to the State comprise direct taxes and employees' social security contributions. Data come from the Brazilian POF 2008–09. We do not measure indirect contributions to inequality of subsidies granted to and taxation of companies, nor the in-kind provision of goods and services. The results indicate that the State contributes to a large share of family per capita income inequality. Incomes associated with work in the public sector—wages and pensions—are concentrated and regressive. Components related to the private sector are also concentrated, but progressive. Contrary to what has been found in European countries, public spending associated with work and social policies is concentrated in an elite group of workers and, taken as a whole, tends to increase income inequality. Redistributive mechanisms that could reverse this inequality, such as taxes and social assistance, are very progressive but proportionally small. Consequently, their effect is completely offset by the regressive income flows from the State.
ERP in the minds of supervisors: Joint roles of task interdependence and cultural norms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the existence of direct and moderating effects of task interdependence and culture on supervisory views of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.Design/methodology/approach – To analyze these effects, an experiment was conducted in the USA and The People's Republic of China. A total of 304 management supervisors participated. Participants were exposed to an interdependence manipulation and then rated the importance of ERP in the case contexts described by experimental treatments.Findings – Results support the moderating effects of culture on the extent to which task interdependence impacts managerial views of the communicative capabilities of ERP systems. Task interdependence effects are much less severe among the views of Chinese managers.Research limitations/implications – Main limitations potentially stem from our specific operationalizations of the factors studied as well as selectivity of the subject pool. As with many empirical comparisons of cultu.
Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: Pharmacologic Update

For nearly half a century, the therapeutic options for the risk reduction of stroke in atrial fibrillation have been stagnant with vitamin K antagonists, such as warfarin, being the primary therapy. Although antiplatelet agents have been investigated over this time, they were never shown to reduce the risk of stroke at the level warfarin has. Considering the limited therapeutic options, the main decision facing clinicians was not determining which agent to use, but whether a patient was at high enough risk of stroke to benefit from anticoagulation. The CHADS2 and, more recently, the CHADSVASC risk assessment schemes have been shown to be a simple and predicable tool in determining an individual's risk for stroke. Now, after nearly 50 years with limited alternatives, there has been a surge in therapies in the form of dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban, which have been shown to be non-inferior and in some cases, superior to warfarin in their respective randomized controlled trials. This increase in available options is exciting but at the same time adds another layer of confusion to the process of selecting the appropriate agent for individual patients.
Deforestation: Population or Market Driven? Different Approaches in Modelling Agricultural Expansion

Summary: The debate on causes of and remedies for tropical deforestation is often confused because the underlying assumptions of the arguments are not made explicit. This paper compares four different modelling approaches to agricultural expansion and deforestation, and explore the implications of different assumptions about the household objectives, the labour market, and the property rights regime. A major distinction is made between population and market driven approaches, and the labour market assumption is critical in this respect. Many of the popular policy prescriptions are based on the population approach. The paper shows that within a more realistic -- particularly for the long term effects -- market approach, well intentioned policies such as intensification prograrnes may boost deforestation. Many frontier agricultural systems are also characterized by open access where forest clearing giv es farmers land rights. Deforestation therefore becomes an investment to the farmer and a title establishment strategy. In this situation, land titling and credit programmes may increase deforestation.
The impact of minimising specifications and management at the University of Hawaii

The University of Hawaii was searching for modifications to their construction delivery process that would increase the value and performance of construction and the efficiency of their project management group. The university had been plagued by poor construction performance (not on time, not on budget, and not meeting quality expectations). Their goal was to do more construction (with fewer project managers) and minimise the risk of construction non‐performance. The university wanted to study the impact of specifications, construction management, inspections and the existing low‐bid process on construction performance. The Performance Information Procurement System (PIPS) was selected due to its documented results in delivering high performance. There were two objectives for implementing the PIPS process. The first objective was to determine whether the university could procure higher quality construction projects by minimising management, regulations, qualifications, user specifications and inspections. The second objective of the test would be to document the impact of the PIPS process and satisfaction level of the different parties (contractors, designers, procurement personnel, lawyers, facilities engineers and university leaders) involved in this process.
Mixtures of tense and relaxed state polymerized human hemoglobin regulate oxygen affinity and tissue construct oxygenation

Pure tense (T) and relaxed (R) quaternary state polymerized human hemoglobins (PolyhHbs) were synthesized and their biophysical properties characterized, along with mixtures of T- and R-state PolyhHbs. It was observed that the oxygen affinity of PolyhHb mixtures varied linearly with T-state mole fraction. Computational analysis of PolyhHb facilitated oxygenation of a single fiber in a hepatic hollow fiber (HF) bioreactor was performed to evaluate the oxygenation potential of T- and R-state PolyhHb mixtures. PolyhHb mixtures with T-state mole fractions greater than 50% resulted in hypoxic and hyperoxic zones occupying less than 5% of the total extra capillary space (ECS). Under these conditions, the ratio of the pericentral volume to the perivenous volume in the ECS doubled as the T-state mole fraction increased from 50 to 100%. These results show the effect of varying the T/R-state PolyhHb mole fraction on oxygenation of tissue-engineered constructs and their potential to oxygenate tissues.
Agraphia for Kanji Resulting From a Left Posterior Middle Temporal Gyrus Lesion

Objective: To clarify whether agraphia or alexia occurs in lesions of the left posterior middle temporal gyrus. Methods: We assessed the reading and writing abilities of two patients with this lesion using kanji (Japanese morphograms) and kana (Japanese syllabograms). Results: Patient 1 first presented with pure alexia more impaired for kana after an infarction in the left middle and inferior occipital gyri and right basal occipital cortex, and after a second infarction in the left posterior middle temporal gyrus adjoining the first lesion he showed alexia with agraphia for kanji and worsened alexia for kana; kanji alexia recovered over the following six to 10 months. Patient 2 presented with alexia with agraphia for kanji following a hemorrhage in the left posterior middle and inferior temporal gyri, which resolved to agraphia for kanji at two months after onset. Kana nonword reading was also slightly impaired, but became normal by six months post-onset. In both patients, kanji agraphia was mostly due to impaired character recall. Conclusion: The present patients demonstrate that damage to the left posterior middle temporal gyrus alone can cause agraphia for kanji. If the adjacent mid fusiform/inferior temporal gyri (Area 37) are spared, the kanji alexia is transient.