Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of multiple preterm births on the family

Multiple births are important contributors to the preterm and low birthweight population and the numbers of twin births have been steadily rising since the early 1980s in all developed countries. This is largely due to the increased use of ovulation induction and multi‐embryo transfer in the treatment of subfertility. Parents of preterm twins have been shown to be less responsive to their infants than those with singletons. Parental stress with twins has also been demonstrated by the higher incidence of maternal depression and of child abuse in multiple birth families. Furthermore, siblings of twins are more likely to have behaviour problems. Mortality and long‐term morbidity rates are greatly increased amongst multiple birth children. The problems of the single surviving twin and the unaffected co‐twin of a disabled child are often underestimated as is the complexity of the bereavement of parents who still have surviving multiples. Addressing the cause of the epidemic of iatrogenic multiple births is likely to be the single most effective way to reduce the number of preterm infants and the long‐term problems to which they are prone.
Firm size and growth in Sweden's life insurance market between 1855 and 1947: A test of Gibrat's law

Using data for the period from 1855 to 1947 and the two sub-periods, 1855–1902 and 1903–47, the article examines whether the organic growth rates of 38 Swedish life insurance firms are independent of size, as predicted by Gibrat's (1931) Law of Proportionate Effects. Using panel unit root tests and panel Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) regression, the article finds a significant difference between the growth rates of small and large Swedish life insurance firms (with smaller firms tending to grow faster than larger firms), a result that clearly contradicts Gibrat's Law as a long-run tendency in the Swedish life insurance sector. significant influences were also found on firm growth from profitability, organisational form, reinsurance, the real rate of interest and the Swedish regulatory environment.
Leukocyte subset-derived genomewide expression profiles in pediatric septic shock*

Objective: To directly assess whether genomewide expression profiles derived from leukocyte subsets are comparable to that of whole blood as measured by enrichment for genes corresponding to metabolic and signaling pathways. Design: Prospective observational study involving microarray-based bioinformatics based on RNA individually derived from whole blood, neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, respectively. Setting: Three pediatric intensive care units in the United States. Patients: Children ≤10 yrs of age: five normal control subjects and 13 meeting criteria for septic shock on day 1 of presentation to the pediatric intensive care unit. Interventions: None other than standard care. Measurements and Main Results: Baseline analyses using whole blood-derived RNA demonstrated increased expression of genes corresponding to signaling pathways involving innate immunity, redox balance, and protein ubiquitination and decreased expression of genes corresponding to the adaptive immune system. Subsequent analyses using leukocyte-specific RNA were congruent with the gene expression profiles demonstrated using whole blood-derived RNA as measured by enrichment for genes corresponding to metabolic and signaling pathways. Gene network analysis, derived from a composite gene list involving the individual gene expression profiles of neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, respectively, revealed a gene network corresponding to antigen presentation, cell-mediated immunity, and humoral-mediated immunity. Finally, a subanalysis focused on network gene nodes localized to the nuclear compartment revealed functional annotations related to transcriptional repression and epigenetic regulation. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that genome-level repression of adaptive immunity gene programs early in the course of pediatric septic shock remained evident when analyses were conducted using leukocyte subset-specific RNA.
Cell Communication, Calcium Ion, and Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate

The hypothesis advanced in this article requires further validation. Undoubtedly it will require modification as our knowledge of biochemical control increases. Nevertheless, it should prove useful in focusing attention on the apparent similarity in the response of a large number of specific cell types to particular stimuli. Emphasis has been placed on a few common and apparently key elements in these responses. It is recognized that other factors are undoubtedly involved. Specifically, the changes in membrane potentials indicate the likelihood of widespread changes in the properties of the cell membrane, for example, changes in Na+ and K+ transport and distribution. These aspects of cellular responses may eventually prove to be of equal or greater importance than those common aspects of the system already identified.
Disclosure on Corporate Governance in the European Union

Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: In this paper, we examine the determinants of the level of disclosure on corporate governance practices among European listed companies in the time period preceding the adoption of the European Union recommendations and Action Plan. Research Findings/Results: Using ratings on corporate governance disclosure issued by an independent rating agency we find that – ceteris paribus – the level of disclosure: (1) is lower for companies with higher ownership concentration; (2) is higher for companies from common-law countries; and (3) increases with the level of working capital accruals. Theoretical Implications: The results of the study support theoretical arguments that companies disclose corporate governance information in order to reduce information asymmetry and agency costs stemming from the separation between ownership and control, and to improve investor confidence in the reported accounting information. The study suggests various avenues for future research on corporate governance. Practical Implications: To policy makers and practitioners, the results suggest that a mandatory corporate governance disclosure requirement is abundant, and perhaps could even be inefficient. The results also indicate which types of companies can be expected to be least willing to comply with recent corporate governance disclosure requirements, and thus will need extra monitoring.
Analysing the forward premium anomaly using a Logistic Smooth Transition Regression model

Several researchers have suggested that exchange rates may be characterized by nonlinear behaviour. This paper examines these nonlinearities and asymetries and estimates a Logistic Transition Regression (LSTR) of Fama Regression with the Risk Adjusted Forward Premia as transition variable. Results confirm the existence of nonlinear dynamics in the relationship between spot exchange rate differential and the forward premium for all the currencies of the sample and for all maturities (three and six-month maturities). Results confirm the insight into the presence of speculation barriers and transaction costs in the foreign exchange rate market that would explain, at least partially, the forward premium anomaly.
Classical biased technical change approach and its relevance to reality

The purpose of this article is to evaluate empirically the classical viability condition for East Asia, Latin America, Sub‐Saharan Africa 1980–1995, and advanced countries 1950–1992. The viability condition is proposed by Foley and Michl (1999), and is used for judging empirically which approach is more valid, the classical biased technical change approach or neoclassical production function approach. Our results acknowledge the predominance of the former, which is Foley‐Michl’s contention. However, there remains a disputable interpretation as to the case of a declining labour productivity, which is broadly seen in Latin America and Sub‐Saharan Africa during the period considered.
The Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) Trial: A Review

Objective: The Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial is the largest open-label, pragmatic trial that has been undertaken to examine the treatment of major depressive disorder. At a cost of US$35 million over 6 years, STAR*D sought to test the effectiveness both of pharmacotherapy and of cognitive therapy, and to ascertain whether certain treatments are more optimal after one or more failed trials. Method: Patients (n = 2876) who presented to either a psychiatry or family practice setting seeking treatment for depression were included in the STAR*D analysis. In the 4 levels of STAR*D, patients were randomized to various treatment monotherapies, combinations, or augmentation strategies. The primary outcome was remission, based on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes were response, as measured by clinician and patient self-report as well as various measures of patients' level of function and (or) quality of life. Results: Remission rates for treatment levels 1 to 2 and 3 to 4 were 18% to 30% and 7% to 25%, respectively. There was no difference in effectiveness between any treatments at any treatment level. Patients with longer index episodes, more concurrent psychiatric or general medical disorders, and (or) lower measures of baseline function were less likely to achieve remission. There were no major differences between outcomes in patients treated in primary, compared with specialist care, nor were there significant differences between depression rating scores obtained through clinician ratings, compared with self-report. Conclusion: Results of the STAR*D trial have shed important light on the effectiveness of current treatment strategies for patients with depression.
W E KNOW : AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF LOCAL NETWORK EFFECTS IN MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

: This paper aims at investigating the importance that consumers assign to local network effects (i.e. the extent to which they take into account their contacts’ operators in determining their choices) and at identifying which individual characteristics affect consumers’ preferences in relation to local network effects. Based on a sample of 193 Italian students, we find that consumers are highly heterogeneous with respect to the evaluation of the importance of their friend/family’s operator when choosing their own provider, and that such heterogeneity is associated to specific characteristics related to individual innovativeness and patterns of mobile phone usage. In particular, consumers who are more interested in local network effects are typically sophisticated users, who use intensively voice services and who are early adopters. Interestingly, consumers who pay attention to local network effects end up spending relatively little in proportion to their intensity of use.
Production Competence and Business Strategy: Do They Affect Business Performance?

The purpose of this article is threefold. First, a comprehensive measure of production competence that assesses the level of support that manufacturing provides for the strategic objectives of a firm is developed. Second, hypotheses relating production competence to several financial measures of business performance are tested using data from a large sample of firms (n=65) in the furniture industry. Third, the impact of business strategy both directly on performance and as a moderating variable in relation to production competence is analyzed. The results of the study suggest that production competence may have more of an effect on business performance for certain strategies than for others.
Management Discretion and Political Interference in Municipal Enterprises. Evidence from Italian Utilities

Abstract The attention of scholars and policy-makers is shifting from full privatisation to alternative measures as a means to improve the efficiency of public services. This article focuses on three restructuring measures adopted by local governments: partial privatisation (without transfer of control rights), inter-municipal joint ventures, and the presence of outside directors on the Board. Divergent hypotheses on these measures have emerged from two economic theories, namely public choice and the agency perspective. An empirical analysis investigates the effects of restructuring processes on a sample of Italian municipal utilities. Partial privatisation has been shown to play a significant and positive role, while Board independence from management has a less significant influence. Multi-government utilities have been found to suffer from severe coordination costs, which are not outweighed by scale benefits. Our findings reveal that management discretion is a significant source of inefficiency in municipal enterprises.
Accounting and Accountability of Eastern Highlands Indigenous Cooperative Reporting

Using historical, geographical and financial material, coupled with observation, narrative and textual analyses, this case-based paper considers the reporting milieu of three forms of Indigenous Eastern Highlands cooperative in Papua New Guinea: a business development cooperative, a financial cooperative and a women's cooperative. This paper seeks to identify ways in which Western and Traditional reporting are used in extant reporting practices of Eastern Highlands cooperatives. It appears that both the business development cooperative and the financial cooperative steered their reporting towards the Western reporting model with mixed success in its links with the localism of their membership base. The women's cooperative, which is registered but yet to start operations, has significant challenges ahead particularly in the areas of reporting, accountability and establishing itself as a going concern. A remarkable implication from this study is to discover the movement of Traditional ways of understanding to more Western ways by linking managerial accountability with socialising forms of accountability. Although the cooperative entity model has generally not fared well in the Eastern Highlands, it is still warmly supported by government officials and locals as an entity which will empower low-income workers in rural communities.
Structure-function comparisons of the proapoptotic protein Bax in yeast and mammalian cells

Expression of the proapoptotic protein Bax under the control of a GAL10 promoter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in galactose-inducible cell death. Immunofluorescence studies suggested that Bax is principally associated with mitochondria in yeast cells. Removal of the carboxyl-terminal transmembrane (TM) domain from Bax [creating Bax (deltaTM)] prevented targeting to mitochondrial and completely abolished cytotoxic function in yeast cells, suggesting that membrane targeting is crucial for Bax-mediated lethality. Fusing a TM domain from Mas70p, a yeast mitochondrial outer membrane protein, to Bax (deltaTM) restored targeting to mitochondria and cytotoxic function in yeast cells. Deletion of four well-conserved amino acids (IGDE) from the BH3 domain of Bax ablated its ability to homodimerize and completely abrogated lethality in yeast cells. In contrast, several Bax mutants which retained ability to homodimerize (deltaBH1, deltaBH2, and delta1-58) also retained at least partial lethal function in yeast cells. In coimmunoprecipitation experiments, expression of the wild-type Bax protein in Rat-1 fibroblasts and 293 epithelial cells induced apoptosis, whereas the Bax (deltaIGDE) mutant failed to induce apoptosis and did not associate with endogenous wild-type Bax protein. In contrast to yeast cells, Bax (deltaTM) protein retained cytotoxic function in Rat-1 and 293 cells, was targeted largely to mitochondria, and dimerized with endogenous Bax in mammalian cells. Thus, the dimerization-mediating BH3 domain and targeting to mitochondrial membranes appear to be essential for the cytotoxic function of Bax in both yeast and mammalian cells.
Association of genetic dependences between lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

INTRODUCTION Recent studies have shown an increased risk of lung cancer in patients with bronchial obstructive changes, including patients with COPD. It seems that there are common factors of pathogenesis of both diseases associated with oxidative stress. In the present paper the genes linked to the repair of oxidative damage of DNA, associated with cancer, of iron metabolism and coding proteolytic enzymes were assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted in two groups of patients: 53 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 54 patients only with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The polymorphisms of the single nucleotide were determined in the case of the majority of genes using the PCR-RFLP method. The statistical analysis of quantitative variables was executed using the Mann-Withney U-test and the test of medians; the analysis of genetic variables was executed using the chi² test. RESULTS Regarding the polymorphisms of genes involved in iron metabolism, statistically significant differences between the two groups have been demonstrated only in the case of haptoglobin gene HP1/2. A higher incidence of form 1/1 was found in patients with COPD and a higher incidence of form 1/2 in patients with lung cancer and COPD. Analysis of gene polymorphisms of proteolytic enzymes and inhibitors of the enzyme gene showed statistically significant differences between the two groups only for the MMP3 gene 6A/5A. In the case of the MMP12 gene polymorphism (A-82G) a tendency toward differences in the occurrence of specific alleles was identified. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that patients with coincidence of COPD and lung cancer have disorders of the genes involved in iron metabolism, and they have different genetic polymorphisms of proteolytic enzymes comparing to COPD patients.
Impact of the 2007–09 global economic crisis on human resource management among Chinese export-oriented enterprises

This research study examines the impact of the 2007–09 global economic crisis on human resource management (HRM) practices among export-oriented enterprises in China's coastal regions. Data were obtained from 184 firms in the first phase of the study, using a structured questionnaire. In the second phase, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 firms. The findings of our study indicate that ‘retrenchment’ was the most common HRM strategy adopted. The global economic crisis affected all major HRM functions, but had the weakest impact on performance management. While retrenchment played an important role in cost reduction, organizational downsizing and workforce casualization are likely to have had a negative impact on long-term competitiveness and sustainability. We discuss here some effective HR strategies, such as talent acquisition, employee involvement and maintenance of employee compensation, which organizations can adopt to tide over an economic recession.
Beclin 1 Gene Transfer Activates Autophagy and Ameliorates the Neurodegenerative Pathology in α-Synuclein Models of Parkinson's and Lewy Body Diseases

Accumulation of the synaptic protein α-synuclein (α-syn) is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy body disease (LBD), a heterogeneous group of disorders with dementia and parkinsonism, where Alzheimer's disease and PD interact. Accumulation of α-syn in these patients might be associated with alterations in the autophagy pathway. Therefore, we postulate that delivery of beclin 1, a regulator of the autophagy pathway, might constitute a strategy toward developing a therapy for LBD/PD. Overexpression of α-syn from lentivirus transduction in a neuronal cell line resulted in lysosomal accumulation and alterations in autophagy. Coexpression of beclin 1 activated autophagy, reduced accumulation of α-syn, and ameliorated associated neuritic alterations. The effects of beclin 1 overexpression on LC3 and α-syn accumulation were partially blocked by 3-MA and completely blocked by bafilomycin A1. In contrast, rapamycin enhanced the effects of beclin 1. To evaluate the potential effects of activating autophagy in vivo, a lentivirus expressing beclin 1 was delivered to the brain of a α-syn transgenic mouse. Neuropathological analysis demonstrated that beclin 1 injections ameliorated the synaptic and dendritic pathology in the tg mice and reduced the accumulation of α-syn in the limbic system without any significant deleterious effects. This was accompanied by enhanced lysosomal activation and reduced alterations in the autophagy pathway. Thus, beclin 1 plays an important role in the intracellular degradation of α-syn either directly or indirectly through the autophagy pathway and may present a novel therapeutic target for LBD/PD.
Determinants of Analysts’ Target P/E Multiples

Prior literature suggests that earnings multiple–based valuation methods play a dominant role in practical equity valuation. This study examines how sell-side analysts select the price–earnings multiples for the firms they follow. The authors analyze a sample of P/E multiples applied by analysts of some leading brokerage firms. The results suggest that analysts tend to assign higher P/E multiples to firms with superior earnings growth prospects in the near term and in the longer run, whereas those with high levels of risk measured by financial leverage, earnings volatility, book-to-market, and stock price volatility receive lower P/E multiples.
Joint Ventures in Russia: The View from the Russians

This article, detailing research on Russian joint ventures with foreign partners far to the south east of the capital, focuses on Russian business people who are not playing the GKO market or trying to stash money away in Swiss bank accounts. The findings of this research suggest that some Russians may be growing as disenchanted with the experience of doing business with foreigners as some foreigners have become at doing business with Russians.
Factors related to falls, weight-loss and pressure ulcers--more insight in risk assessment among nursing home residents.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To describe how the included items in three different scales, Downton Fall Risk Index, the short form of Mini Nutritional Assessment and the Modified Norton Scale are associated to severe outcomes as falls, weight loss and pressure ulcers. BACKGROUND Falls, malnutrition and pressure ulcers are common adverse events among nursing home residents and risk scoring are common preventive activities, mainly focusing on single risks. In Sweden the three scales are routinely used together with the purpose to improve the quality of prevention. DESIGN Longitudinal quantitative study. METHODS Descriptive analyses and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS Only 4% scored no risk for any of these serious events. Longitudinal risk scoring showed significant impaired mean scores indicating increased risks. This confirms the complexity of this population's status of general condition. There were no statistical significant differences between residents categorised at risk or not regarding events. Physical activity increased falls, but decreased pressure ulcers. For weight loss, cognitive decline and the status of general health were most important. CONCLUSIONS Risk tendencies for falls, malnutrition and pressure ulcers are high in nursing homes, and when measure them at the same time the majority will have several of these risks. Items assessing mobility or items affecting mobility were of most importance. Care processes can always be improved and this study can add to the topic. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE A more comprehensive view is needed and prevention can not only be based on total scores. Mobility is an important factor for falls and pressure ulcers, both as a risk factor and a protective factor. This involves a challenge for care--to keep the inmates physical active and at the same time prevent falls.