Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Nationalisation of Retirement Savings Accounts in Argentina

"In October 2008, the government of Argentina announced that the citizens' privately owned retirement savings accounts (RSAs) would be nationalised. This article shows that contrary to the Kirchner government's assertions, the private savings system had great potential. Its performance may not have fully lived up to its initial expectations, but that was largely due to the adverse effects of underdeveloped securities markets, large informal sectors impeding widespread participation, intrusive investment regulation and poor implementation. Within its tight constraints, the private system worked better than the public PAYGO system. " Copyright (c) 2009 The Author. Journal compilation (c) Institute of Economic Affairs 2009.
Knowledge of results precision and learning: a review

The quality of the information given to the subject after performance, particulary the Knowledge of Results (KR) precision, seems to have a positive influence on the learning process. In this article, we review the investigation produced in KR precision and emphasize the influence of some variables, like the task characteristics, the development level of subjects and their capacity to process KR information.
Organizational culture as determinant of product innovation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study empirically the relationships among organizational culture and product innovation.Design/methodology/approach – The paper formulates some hypotheses from the literature review. These hypotheses are tested using structural equations modelling with data collected from 420 firms.Findings – Organizational culture is considered to be one of the key elements in both enhancing and inhibiting innovation. The findings provide evidence about this proposition. While ad hocratic cultures could enhance the development of new products or services, hierarchical cultures inhibit product innovation.Research limitations/implications – First, the data in the study were collected from one source. A second limitation is the cross‐sectional design of this research. Finally, only four of the six features of the competing value model have been evaluated. Apart from overcoming these limitations, suggestions for future research are: use longitudinal studies and multiple informants; s.
Epidemiology of dog bites.

Dr. Parrish is assistant professor of preventive medicine, University of Vermont College of Medi¬ cine, Burlington. Dr. Clack, the senior author of "Characteristics of Biting Dogs," the second section of this paper, is chief public health veterinarian, and Dr. Mock, public health veterinarian, of the Al¬ legheny County Health Department, Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Brobst is a research assistant in the department of veterinary science, University of Wisconsin, Madison. during 1957. Domestic animal losses cost about $1 million per year, and medical and public health expenses cost about $5 million per year (#). Dogs bite people more often than do any other domestic animals in this country, and they are the most common source of human rabies (3). Although dog bites occur fre¬ quently, produce human injury, pain, and anxiety, and are costly, as yet there has been
Endothelial protective effect of stobadine on ischaemia/reperfusion-induced injury.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the antioxidant stobadine on changes in the reactivity of the rat abdominal aorta induced by ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R). In anaesthetized male rats, in vivo ischaemia was elicited by occlusion of the abdominal aorta for 18 hours; reperfusion lasted 30 minutes. The aortal rings were taken from the reperfused portion. Decreased relaxant response to acetylcholine, as a consequence of endothelial injury, was seen after I/R. We also demonstrated I/R-induced reversible ultrastructural changes both in endothelial and smooth muscle cells, predominantly in the mitochondria. Lipid peroxidation was increased in homogenates of I/R aortae; the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) increased from a control value of 0.97 +/- 0.03 to 2.57 +/- 0.06 nmol/l/mg protein. Stobadine (2 mg/kg i.v., 5 minutes before starting reperfusion) protected the abdominal aorta against I/R-induced decrease of acetylcholine relaxation, and prevented changes in mitochondria and an increase of TBARS concentration. The protective effect of stobadine seems to be due to its antioxidant properties.
How prepared are academic administrators? Leadership and job satisfaction within US research universities

A national sample of 1515 university administrators (academic deans, directors, associate deans, and department chairs) completed a survey of leadership skills, preparedness for administrative role, and job satisfaction. Overall, participants felt least well prepared in the areas of developing entrepreneurial revenue, developing metrics to document progress, and handling grievances and appeals. Leaders who had taken courses in business administration, human resources/leadership, industrial-organisational psychology, and behavioural psychology reported feeling more prepared for their administrative role than those who had not. Indications of role strain were evident. The majority of participants had become less interested and less enthusiastic about their work since beginning their administrative appointment. Approximately half reported that duties of the administrative role regularly interfered with well-being and quality of life. Only 20.5 per cent of participants reported feeling good at their job every day. Women reported feeling more overwhelmed and less well compensated than men – yet also more skilled in inspiring others and addressing poor performance. Our findings highlight the need for continued leadership development and management training, as well as mechanisms to support leaders in maintaining wellness behaviours. This study provides baseline measures on how academic administrators experience their roles and is part of an ongoing longitudinal investigation of leadership in higher education.
Can channel pattern trading be profitably automated?

Financial markets, such as the global foreign exchange (FX) market, often exhibit trending behaviour. Within such trends, the market level oscillates with changes in market consensus. Continued oscillations of this type result in the formation of wave patterns within the underlying trend known as channels, which are used by technical analysts as trade entry signals. A sample space of such channels has been constructed from a set of US dollar/British pound Spot FX tick data from 1989–1997 using pattern recognition algorithms and the profitability of trading using such patterns has been estimated. A number of attributes of the resulting collection of channels has been subjected to statistical analysis with the aim of classifying patterns that can be traded profitably using a number of simple trading rules. Results of this analysis show that there exist statistically significant links between the channels' attributes and profitability.
Understanding Latin America and the Caribbean’s income gap

Even nearly ten years of solid growth cannot guarantee long-term income convergence. The countries of the Latin America and Caribbean region (LAC), like other emerging economies, have benefited from a decade of remarkable growth and some income per capita convergence towards the United States and other industrialized countries. Yet, despite this recent progress, LAC still faces a significant per capita income gap with the developed world. The studies in this volume contribute to the ongoing debate on the reasons for this persistent income gap and the potential drivers of convergence, and propose some broad avenues for reform.
The cost of carry model and regime shifts in stock index futures markets: An empirical investigation

This article examines empirically the dynamic relationship between spot and futures prices in stock index futures markets employing a class of nonlinear, regime‐switching‐vector‐equilibrium‐correction models, which is novel in this context. Using data for the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 over the post‐1987 crash period, it is shown that a long‐run relationship between spot and futures prices exists, which implies mean reversion of the basis. After providing strong evidence against the hypothesis of linear dynamics in the relationship under investigation, regime‐switching‐vector‐equilibrium‐correction models for spot and futures price movements are developed and shown to capture well the time‐series properties of our data, consistent with a large theoretical and empirical literature. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 20:603–624, 2000.
Correlates of Physical Activity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BackgroundPhysical activity is a key dimension of functional status in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the central target of interventions in this group. ObjectivesTo determine the relationships among functional performance measured as physical activity, functional capacity, symptom experiences, and health-related quality of life in people with COPD. MethodCross-sectional, descriptive study. Convenience sample of 63 outpatients with COPD studied prior to entry into a pulmonary rehabilitation program. ResultsDaily physical activity, as measured by an accelerometer, was strongly associated with maximal distance walked during a 6-minute walk test (r = .60, p < .00), level of airway obstruction (r = .37, p < .01), walking self-efficacy (r = .27, p < .05), and physical health status (r = .40, p < .01). Physical activity was not correlated with self-report of functional status. The only predictor of physical activity was the 6-minute walk test. ConclusionsAccelerometer measurement of functional performance was most significantly related to walking abilities. This methodology represents a novel approach to measuring an important dimension of functional status not previously well quantified.
Association of GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism with risk of esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis of 21 case-control studies.

BACKGROUND The association of glutathione s-transferase P1 (GSTP1) Ile105Val polymorphism with risk of esophageal cancer (EC) has been evaluated in many studies; however, the results from these studies are controversial. Thus, further analysis on association between GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism and risk of EC is needed among a larger study population. METHOD We searched the relevant electronic databases and performed a meta-analysis based on 21 published case-control studies. The Chi-square based I(2)-statistic test was performed to evaluate possible heterogeneity across the studies. Additionally, random-effects models were used to calculate crude pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Overall, this meta-analysis did support a significant association between GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism and risk of EC (pooled OR 1.25, 95% CI, 1.05-1.49). Furthermore, the stratified analysis showed that, in comparison to GSTP1 Ile105Val Ile/Ile genotype, the Val/Val genotype was significantly associated with risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (pooled OR 1.45, 95% CI, 1.07-1.96), particularly in the Caucasian population (pooled OR 1.41, 95% CI, 1.01-1.95). Such a significant association was not observed for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients or subjects of an Asian ethnicity. Moreover, substantial evidence of heterogeneity among the studies was not observed. CONCLUSION The results from this meta-analysis support a significant association between the GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism and risk of EC, particularly in a subgroup with ESCC and in the Caucasian population. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate our findings.
Birth–death skyline plot reveals temporal changes of epidemic spread in HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Phylogenetic trees can be used to infer the processes that generated them. Here, we introduce a model, the Bayesian birth–death skyline plot, which explicitly estimates the rate of transmission, recovery, and sampling and thus allows inference of the effective reproductive number directly from genetic data. Our method allows these parameters to vary through time in a piecewise fashion and is implemented within the BEAST2 software framework. The method is a powerful alternative to the existing coalescent skyline plot, providing insight into the differing roles of incidence and prevalence in an epidemic. We apply this method to data from the United Kingdom HIV-1 epidemic and Egyptian hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic. The analysis reveals temporal changes of the effective reproductive number that highlight the effect of past public health interventions.
Chronic kidney disease after heart transplantation: a single‐centre retrospective study at Skåne University Hospital in Lund 1988–2010

We aimed to study the incidence, predictors and outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD) after heart transplantation (HT). All our HT patients 1988–2010 were considered for inclusion. Of these, 134 came for annual follow‐ups including evaluation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using iohexol clearance measurements, and the CKD‐EPI (adults) or Schwartz (children) formulae. Median GFR (Q1–Q3) (ml/min/1.73 m2) declined from 67.0 (50.0–82.0) during transplant assessment (TA) to 56.0 (45.0–69.0) at year 1, 53.0 (41.0–68.0) at year 5 and 44.5 (25.0–57.3) at year 10. The cumulative incidence of CKD ≥ stage 4 was 25% at 5 years and 41% at 10 years after transplantation. Proteinuria the first year post‐HT was the only predictor related (P < 0.05) to a higher rate of GFR decline (HR 5.15, 95% CI 1.23–21.55). GFR ≥60 as compared to <60 before HT, or a first‐year GFR decline <30% as compared to >30%, was moreover associated (P < 0.05) with a lower risk of death (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12–0.76 and HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.13–0.90, respectively). Notably, the CKD‐EPI and Schwartz formulae overestimated GFR by 28 ± 29% and 26 ± 33%, respectively. In conclusion, CKD in HT patients is common and associated with worse outcome. To avoid diagnostic delay, GFR estimating equations' validity in HT patients needs further study.
Timing of Entry and the Foreign Subsidiary Performance of Japanese Firms

Delios and Makino adopt a contingency approach to analyze the relationship between timing of entry and a subsidiary's relative size and its survival. Using a sample of 6955 foreign entries of 703 Japanese firms, the authors develop and test hypotheses about asset-based competitive advantage moderators of timing of entry's influence on a subsidiary's relative size and survival. The results show that early entrants not only have a larger relative size but also have greater exit likelihood than do late entrants. The magnitude of these effects depends on the type of asset advantages a foreign investing firm possesses.
Development, Physicochemical Characterization and In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Solid Dispersions of α,β Amyrin Isolated from Protium Oilresin

α,β Amyrin (ABAM) is a natural mixture of pentacyclic triterpenes that has shown a variety of pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory effect. ABAM is isolated from Burseraceae oilresins, especially from the Protium species, which is commonly found in the Brazilian Amazon. This work aimed to develop solid dispersions (SD) of ABAM with the following hydrophilic polymers: polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-K30), polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC). The SDs were prepared by physical mixture (PM), kneading (KND) and rotary evaporation (RE) methods. In order to verify any interaction between ABAM and the hydrophilic polymers, physicochemical characterization was performed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. Furthermore, an in vitro anti-inflammatory assay was performed with ABAM alone and as SDs with the hydrophilic polymers. The results from the characterization analysis show that the SDs were able to induce changes in the physicochemical properties of ABAM, which suggests interaction with the polymer matrix. In vitro anti-inflammatory assay showed that the SDs improved the anti-inflammatory activity of ABAM and showed no cytotoxicity. In conclusion, this study showed the potential use of SDs as an efficient tool for improving the stability and anti-inflammatory activity of ABAM without cytotoxicity.
Altered bile acid metabolism during treatment with phenobarbitone.

1. The effects of phenobarbitone on cholesterol and bile acid metabolism have been examined in healthy humans. 2. In three of four subjects the faecal excretion of bile acids was increased by phenobarbitone. This was associated with an increased pool size and turnover of cholic acid. Cholesterol excretion was not clearly affected. The fourth subject who did not respond was also exceptional in not showing an increase in the plasma clearance of antipyrine. 3. The three responsive subjects also developed significant increases in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. These findings were associated with an early rise in very-low-density lipoprotein and a fall in plasma cholesterol specific radioactivity in one patient, changes compatible with increased cholesterol synthesis.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Rationalised panics : The consequences of strategic uncertainty during financial crises

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Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-4 does not protect melanoma cells during inhibition of PI3K and mTOR pathways.

BACKGROUND Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-4 (CSPG4) is commonly expressed in melanoma cells and induces melanoma cell proliferation and migration by enhancement of activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1, 2 (ERK1,2) pathway. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) -protein kinase B (AKT) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways are also frequently de-regulated in melanoma. We hypothesized that CSPG4, by sustained activation of PI3K, may reduce the effect of the dual inhibition of PI3K-AKT and mTOR pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS CSPG4-negative melanoma cell line WM1552C was transfected with CSPG4 and CSPG4 lacking cytoplasmic domain (melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (MCSP)ΔCD). To assess the effect of CSPG4 on the mTOR pathway, PF-5212384, a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor was used. Cell proliferation and downstream signaling from mTOR was assayed in the presence of CSPG4. RESULTS Forced CSPG4 expression did not provide any protection to melanoma cells from the pharmacological inhibition of mTOR pathway in vitro. In addition, we demonstrated that inhibition of signaling molecules downstream of AKT and mTOR was not diminished in the presence of CSPG4 when the cells were treated with the PI3K/mTOR inhibitor. CONCLUSION CSPG4 expression does not have any impact on survival and signaling activity of melanoma cells during PI3K/mTOR inhibition.
A Controlled, Prospective Screening Study of Celiac Disease Presenting as Iron Deficiency Anemia

Background Anemia is the most frequent presenting feature of celiac disease in adults using endomysial antibody (EmA) screening. Endomysial antibody screening of anemia may allow detection of celiac disease at an earlier stage of investigation and after a shorter duration of symptoms. The characteristics of celiac patients identified by screening require further study. Goals A goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of celiac disease in adult patients with iron deficiency anemia compared with a nonanemic control population using immunoglobulin A (IgA) EmA screening. We also studied the positive predictive value (PPV) of the EmA assay and correlated the severity of histologic abnormalities in distal duodenal biopsy samples with EmA and tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody titer. Study Four hundred eighty-four patients with microcytic, hypochromic anemia underwent IgA EmA assay. Four hundred ninety-eight nonanemic age- and sex-matched patients from the same source comprised the control group. Patients with positive serology results were invited for endoscopic duodenal biopsies. Results One in 44 anemic patients was diagnosed with histologically confirmed celiac disease compared with one in 498 nonanemic patients (p < 0.01). Fifty percent of women were premenopausal, and 25% of patients were older than 65 years. The PPV for EmA assay varied between 73% and 93% for anemic patients and improved at higher antibody titer, with all false-positive results occurring at the lowest titers. Conclusions Screening for celiac disease using IgA EmA assay is effective in anemic patients, including premenopausal women and patients older than 65 years, and it can be recommended in clinical practice.
Transitioning Our Shelters: Making Homeless Shelters Safe for Transgender People

ABSTRACT Most homeless shelters in the United States are segregated by sex, with placement based on assumptions about a person's gender. As a result, transgender youth and adults, who identify as or express a gender different from their birth sex, can experience extreme difficulties in obtaining adequate and safe shelter. Many shelters are physically unsafe for transgender people, fail to provide adequate protections for their privacy, or do not respect their autonomy to define their own gender identity. This article provides information about transgender people, their experiences with poverty and homelessness, and how shelters can be made safe and welcoming for them.
Cross-Country Causes and Consequences of the 2008 Crisis: International Linkages and American Exposure

This paper models the causes of the 2008 financial crisis together with its manifestations, using a Multiple Indicator Multiple Cause (MIMIC) model. Our analysis is conducted on a cross-section of 85 countries; we focus on international linkages that may have allowed the crisis to spread across countries. Our model of the cross-country incidence of the crisis combines 2008 changes in real GDP, the stock market, country credit ratings, and the exchange rate. We explore the linkages between these manifestations of the crisis and a number of its possible causes from 2006 and earlier. The causes we consider are both national (such as equity market run-ups that preceded the crisis) and, critically, international financial and real linkages between countries and the epicenter of the crisis. We consider the United States to be the most natural origin of the 2008 crisis, though we also consider six alternative sources of the crisis. A country holding American securities that deteriorate in value is exposed to an American crisis through a financial channel. Similarly, a country which exports to the United States is exposed to an American downturn through a real channel. Despite the fact that we use a wide number of possible causes in a flexible statistical framework, we are unable to find strong evidence that international linkages can be clearly associated with the incidence of the crisis. In particular, countries heavily exposed to either American assets or trade seem to behave little differently than other countries; if anything, countries seem to have benefited slightly from American exposure.