Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of percutaneous coronary interventions in silent ischemia after myocardial infarction: the SWISSI II randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT The effect of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the long-term prognosis of patients with silent ischemia after a myocardial infarction (MI) is not known. OBJECTIVE To determine whether PCI compared with drug therapy improves long-term outcome of asymptomatic patients with silent ischemia after an MI. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Randomized, unblinded, controlled trial (Swiss Interventional Study on Silent Ischemia Type II [SWISSI II]) conducted from May 2, 1991, to February 25, 1997, at 3 public hospitals in Switzerland of 201 patients with a recent MI, silent myocardial ischemia verified by stress imaging, and 1- or 2-vessel coronary artery disease. Follow-up ended on May 23, 2006. INTERVENTIONS Percutaneous coronary intervention aimed at full revascularization (n = 96) or intensive anti-ischemic drug therapy (n = 105). All patients received 100 mg/d of aspirin and a statin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Survival free of major adverse cardiac events defined as cardiac death, nonfatal MI, and/or symptom-driven revascularization. Secondary measures included exercise-induced ischemia and resting left ventricular ejection fraction during follow-up. RESULTS During a mean (SD) follow-up of 10.2 (2.6) years, 27 major adverse cardiac events occurred in the PCI group and 67 events occurred in the anti-ischemic drug therapy group (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.55; P<.001), which corresponds to an absolute event reduction of 6.3% per year (95% confidence interval, 3.7%-8.9%; P<.001). Patients in the PCI group had lower rates of ischemia (11.6% vs 28.9% in patients in the drug therapy group at final follow-up; P = .03) despite fewer drugs. Left ventricular ejection fraction remained preserved in PCI patients (mean [SD] of 53.9% [9.9%] at baseline to 55.6% [8.1%] at final follow-up) and decreased significantly (P<.001) in drug therapy patients (mean [SD] of 59.7% [11.8%] at baseline to 48.8% [7.9%] at final follow-up). CONCLUSION Among patients with recent MI, silent myocardial ischemia verified by stress imaging, and 1- or 2-vessel coronary artery disease, PCI compared with anti-ischemic drug therapy reduced the long-term risk of major cardiac events. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00387231.
The effect of website interface features on e-commerce: an empirical investigation using the use and gratification theory

Based on uses and gratifications theory, this study explores influences of informativeness, entertainment and irritation on website interface features and then attitude toward the website. This study tests a wide range of design elements to determine those that provide human elements and computer elements. These elements are linked through intermediaries using the uses and gratifications theory and attitude toward the website. This nomological model was tested with a structural equation modelling SEM approach. SEM results indicated that website interface features and the uses and gratifications theory explains well consumers' attitude toward the website. The possible implications, limitations and future work of this study are also discussed in the end.
What you know or who you know? The role of intellectual and social capital in opportunity recognition

The recognition of business opportunities is the first stage in the entrepreneurial process. This article analyses the effects of individuals’ possession of and access to knowledge on the probability of recognizing good business opportunities in their area of residence. The authors use an eclectic theoretical framework, consisting of intellectual and social capital concepts. In particular, they analyse the role of individuals’ educational level, their perception that they have the right knowledge and skills to start a business, whether they own and manage a firm, their contacts with other entrepreneurs, and whether they have been business angels. The hypotheses proposed here are tested using data collected for the GEM project in Spain in 2007. The results show that individuals’ access to external knowledge through the social networks in which they participate, is fundamental for developing the capacity to recognize new business opportunities.
Do low step count goals inhibit walking behavior: a randomized controlled study

Objective: Confirmation and quantification of observed differences in goal-directed walking behavior. Design: Single-blind, split-half randomized trial. Setting: Small rural university, Pennsylvania, United States. Subjects: A total of 94 able-bodied subjects (self-selected volunteer students, faculty and staff of a small university) were randomly assigned walking goals, and 53 completed the study. Interventions: Incentivized pedometer-monitored program requiring recording the step-count for 56-days into a custom-made website providing daily feedback. Main outcome measures: Steps logged per day. Results: During the first half of the study, the 5000 and 10,000 step group logged significantly different steps 7500 and 9000, respectively (P > 0.05). During the second half of the study, the 5000 and 10,000 step groups logged 7000 and 8600 steps, respectively (significance P > 0.05). The group switched from 5000 to →10,000 steps logged, 7900 steps for the first half and 9500 steps for the second half (significance P > 0.05). The group switched from 10,000 to 5000 steps logged 9700 steps for the first half and 9000 steps for the second half, which was significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Levels of walking behavior are influenced by the goals assigned. Subjects with high goals walk more than those with low goals, even if they do not meet the assigned goal. Reducing goals from a high to low level can reduce walking behavior.
A review of the role of estrogen in dermal aging and facial attractiveness in women

Estrogens are known to have protective and favorable influences on skin health; conversely, androgens oppose the actions of estrogens. Estrogen's chemical messages are transmitted via the classical nuclear hormone estrogen receptors (ER) alpha and beta and the rapid‐acting G‐coupled membrane estrogen receptor. Androgens [both testosterone and 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (5α‐DHT)] bind the same androgen receptor. Estrogen levels peak in the mid‐ to late 20s in women and then decline by 50% by 50 years of age and dramatically decrease further after menopause. The loss of estrogens with aging contributes to diminished dermal health, whereas estrogen hormone therapy [eg, oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE)] restores skin health. Several reports suggest positive correlations between the levels of circulating estrogens and: (1) perceived age, (2) attractiveness, (3) enhanced skin health, and (4) facial coloration in women. Based upon a psychological dermato‐endocrine perspective, the positive correspondence of high estrogens levels with perceived age and facial attractiveness in women especially with aging demonstrates the importance of hormonal influences on observed dermal health and youthful appearance.
The Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 rho gene: expression and genetic analysis of structure and function

The gene which encodes transcription termination factor Rho from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4. 1, the gram-negative facultative photosynthetic bacterium, has been cloned and sequenced. The deduced protein shows a high level of sequence similarity to other bacterial Rho factors, especially those from proteobacteria. However, several amino acid substitutions in the conserved ATP-binding site have been identified. When expressed in Escherichia coli, the R. sphaeroides rho gene relieves Rho-dependent polarity of the trp operon, indicating interference with the transcription termination machinery of E. coli. A truncated version of R. sphaeroides Rho (Rho') is toxic to a bacterium related to R. sphaeroides, Paracoccus denitrificans, and is lethal to R. sphaeroides. We suggest that toxicity is due to the ability of Rho' to form inactive heteromers with the chromosomally encoded intact Rho. We localized a minimal amino acid sequence within Rho which appears to be critical for its toxic effect and which we believe may be involved in protein-protein interactions. This region was previously reported to be highly conserved and unique among various Rho proteins. The lethality of rho' in R. sphaeroides together with our inability to obtain a null mutation in rho suggests that Rho-dependent transcription termination is essential in R. sphaeroides. This is analogous to what is observed for gram-negative E. coli and contrasts with what is observed for gram-positive Bacillus subtilis. The genetic region surrounding the R. sphaeroides rho gene has been determined and found to be different compared with those of other bacterial species. rho is preceded by orf1, which encodes a putative integral membrane protein possibly involved in cytochrome formation or functioning. The gene downstream of rho is homologous to thdF, whose product is involved in thiophene and furan oxidation.
Latex based, rapid and easy assay for human leptospirosis in a single test format

Leptospirosis is an often severe disease which requires prompt treatment. Laboratory testing is required to reach a valid diagnosis. An agglutination assay for the detection of Leptospira‐specific antibodies consisting of individually wrapped agglutination cards containing a stable, dried detection reagent is evaluated. The assay is simply performed by suspending the dried reagent with a drop of serum. The result is obtained within 30 s. The sensitivity of the assay varied with the stage of the disease and was 72.3% for samples collected during the first 10 days of the illness and 88.2% for samples collected at a later stage. The specificity was 93.9% and 89.8%, respectively. These characteristics make the test ideal for use in areas where the disease is common and where laboratory support is not routinely available.
Free radicals, antioxidants and human spermatozoa: clinical implications.

Griveau, J.F. and Le Lannou, D. (1994) Effects of antioxidants on human sperm preparation tecniques. Int. J. Androl. , 17, 225–231. Griveau, J. F. , Renard, P. and Le Lannou, D. (1994) An in vitro promoting role for hydrogen peroxide in human sperm capacitation. Int. J. Androl. , 17, 300–307. Hall, J.C. , Hadley, J. and Doman, T. (1991) Correlation between changes in rat sperm membrane lipids, protein, and the membrane physical state during epididymal maturation. J. Androl. , 12, 76–87. Israelachvili, J.N. , Marcelja, S. and Horn, R.G. (1980) Physical principles of membrane organization. Q. Rev. Biophys. , 13, 121–200. Kessopoulou, E. , Powers, H.J., Sharma, K.K. et al. (1995) A double-blind randomized placebo cross-over trial using the antioxidant vitamin E to treat reactive oxygen species associated male infertility. Fertil. Steril. , 64, 825–831. Kodama, H. , Kuribayashi, Y. and Gagnon, C. (1996) Effect of sperm lipid peroxidation on fertilization. J. Androl. , 17, 151–157. Lenzi, A. , Lombardo, F. , Gandini, L. et al. (1992) Glutathione therapy for male infertility. Arch. Androl. , 29, 65–68. Lenzi, A. , Culasso, F. , Gandini, L. et al. (1993) Placebo controlled, double blind, cross-over trial of glutathione therapy in male infertility. Hum. Reprod. , 8, 1657–1662. Lenzi, A. , Picardo, M. , Gandini, L.et al. (1994) Glutathione treatment of dyspermia: effect on the lipoperoxidation process. Hum. Reprod. , 9, 2044–2050. Lenzi, A. , Picardo, M. , Gandini, L. and Dondero, F. (1996) Lipids of the sperm plasma membrane: from polyunsaturated fatty acids considered as markers of sperm function to possible scavenger therapy. Hum. Reprod. Update, 2, 246–256. Meizel, S. and Turner, K.O. (1983) Stimulation of an exocytotic event, the hamster sperm acrosome reaction by cis-unsaturated fatty acids. FEBS Letts. , 161,315–318. Mortimer, D. (1991) Sperm preparation techniques and iatrogenic failures of in-vitro fertilization. Hum. Reprod. , 2, 173–176. Myles, D.G. and Primakoff, P. (1984) Localized surface antigens of guinea pig sperm migrate to new regions prior to fertilization. J. Cell Biol., 99, 1634–1641. Parinaud, J., Le Lannou, D. , Viertez, G. et al. (1997) Enhancement of motility by treating spermatozoa with an antioxidant solution (Sperm-Fit ®) following ejaculation.Hum. Reprod. , 12, 2434–2436. Sanoka, D. , Miesel, R. , Jedrzejczak, P. and Kurpisz, M. (1996) Oxidative stress and male fertility. J. Androl. , 17, 449–454. Tèrond, P., Auger, J., Legrand, A. and Jouannet, P. (1996) α-tocopherol in human spermatozoa and seminal plasma: relationship with motility, antioxidant enzymes and leukocytes. Hum. Reprod. Update , 2, 739–744. Wolf, D.E. , Hagopian, S.S. , Lewis, R.G. et al. (1986) Lateral regionalization and diffusion of a maturation-dependent antigen in the ram sperm plasma membrane.J. Cell. Biol., 102,1826–1831.
Physical and mechanical properties of particleboard laminated with thermally compressed veneer

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of thermally compressed veneer laminating on some of the physical and mechanical properties of particleboard. Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky)veneers were compressed under various press conditions. Commercially produced particleboard samples were laminated with such compressed veneer sheets. The density, 2-h and 24-h water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS), bending strength (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) in the parallel and perpendicular directions to grain orientation were measured. The results showed that all of the particleboards laminated with compressed veneer had higher MOR and MOE values compared to unlaminated particleboard and particleboard laminated with non-compressed veneer. In the sandwiched panels, particleboards laminated with veneer sheets and compressed at a pressure of 4 MPa and a temperature of 150 oC had the highest MOR and MOE values. The MOR and MOE values decreased with increasing temperatures higher than 150 oC. The TS value for 2-h and 24-h immersion times decreased with increasing press temperature. The findings of this work could provide some insight in producing sandwich-type panels with improved properties. It appears that compressed veneer using different press temperatures and pressures could be considered as an alternative way of developing sandwich-type products with satisfactory structural properties.
A Bafri, un Pafri

Bilinguals perceptually accommodate speech variation across languages, but to what extent this flexibility depends on bilingual experience is uncertain. One account suggests that bilingual experience promotes language-specific processing modes, implying that bilinguals can switch as appropriate between the different phonetic systems of the languages they speak. Another account suggests that bilinguals rapidly recalibrate to the unique acoustic properties of each language following language-general processes common to monolinguals. Challenging this latter account, the present results show that Spanish-English bilinguals with exposure to both languages from early childhood, but not English monolinguals, shift perception as appropriate across acoustically controlled English and Spanish contexts. Early bilingual experience appears to promote language-specific phonetic systems.
[A comparison of the results of treatment in young and elderly patients with chronic subdural hematoma depending on the method of surgery].

INTRODUCTION Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) generally occurs in patients past the age of 50 years but may develop at any age, also in young persons. The aim of this study was to compare the results of treatment in young and elderly patients with CSDH depending on the method of surgery: burr hole (group A) or craniotomy (group B). MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study was based on medical histories and computed tomography findings in patients with CSDH operated at the Department of Neurotraumatology, Jagiellonian University, in 1983-2003. Altogether, 114 patients were analyzed including 35 (30.7%) patients under the age of 40 years and 79 (69.3%) patients over the age of 75 years. RESULTS A significant correlation between the result of treatment and age of patients with CSDH was demonstrated. The best result (Glasgow Outcome Scale = 5) was achieved in 73.9% of young patients in the trepanation group and in 66.7% in the craniotomy group as opposed to just 15.5% of elderly patients in the trepanation group and 4.8% in the craniotomy group. The difference between young and elderly patients was significant (p = 0.00001 for burr hole surgery, p = 0.0006 for craniotomy). Burr hole evacuation offered better results than craniotomy. CONCLUSIONS (1) The results of treatment were much better in young than in elderly patients. (2) Comparison of the results of treatment of chronic subdural hematoma shows that burr hole surgery is the preferable procedure.
Seignorage and Capital Taxation: Tax Competition Revisited

We re-examine the standard view that capital taxes are too low when capital is mobile across tax jurisdictions. We do so by emphasising a previously neglected implication of non-cooperative capital tax setting in a world with national currencies. Namely, capital taxes also affect foreign seignorage. This horizontal externality may lead, ceteris paribus, to too high national capital taxes, and may more than o set the usual effects of tax competition. In this case, and contrary to conventional wisdom, national capital taxes will be too high. Conditions under which the latter is indeed the case are derived and discussed.
Management Reform: Some Practitioner Perspectives on the Past Ten Years

This article is an analysis and description of public sector management changes in developed economies over the past 10 years as seen from the perspective of two practitioners who regard themselves as general supporters of the new “managerialism” and are strong believers in the need for, and possibility of, well-performing public institutions and organizations. We aim to describe what we think the changes are, or should have been about, and to suggest where the successes and failures have occurred. In doing so, we draw on the analysis and description of these changes by a number of prominent academics. Not surprisingly, we differ from them in a number of respects. In some of the detail, we have more to say about Australia than other countries. This reflects our involvement in the reform program of that county as well as our view that Australian reform efforts, despite their flaws, are of particular interest because of the attention they paid to the linkages between policymaking at the center, the systems, processes and structures that support strategic policymaking and the translation of strategic policy into efficient and effective implementation, including effective provision of goods and services to the community.
Is Bitcoin business income or speculative bubble? Unconditional vs. conditional frequency domain analysis

The present study addresses one of the most problematic phenomena: Bitcoin price. We explore the Granger causality for two relationships (Bitcoin price and transactions; Bitcoin price and investors’ attractiveness) from a frequency domain perspective using Breitung and Candelon’s (2006) approach. Intuitively, this research gauges empirically the causal links between these variables unconditionally on the one hand and conditionally to the Chinese stock market and the processing power of Bitcoin network on the other hand. The observed outcomes reveal some differences with respect to the frequencies involved, highlighting the complexity of assessing what Bitcoin looks like and the difficulty to gain clearer insights into this nascent crypto-currency. Beyond the nuances of short-, medium- and long-run frequencies, this paper confirms the extremely speculative nature of Bitcoin without neglecting its usefulness in economic reasons (trade transactions). The consideration of the Chinese market index and the hash rate has led to solid and unambiguous findings connecting further Bitcoin to speculation.
Exploring Factor Model Parameters across Continuous Variables with Local Structural Equation Models

ABSTRACT Using an empirical data set, we investigated variation in factor model parameters across a continuous moderator variable and demonstrated three modeling approaches: multiple-group mean and covariance structure (MGMCS) analyses, local structural equation modeling (LSEM), and moderated factor analysis (MFA). We focused on how to study variation in factor model parameters as a function of continuous variables such as age, socioeconomic status, ability levels, acculturation, and so forth. Specifically, we formalized the LSEM approach in detail as compared with previous work and investigated its statistical properties with an analytical derivation and a simulation study. We also provide code for the easy implementation of LSEM. The illustration of methods was based on cross-sectional cognitive ability data from individuals ranging in age from 4 to 23 years. Variations in factor loadings across age were examined with regard to the age differentiation hypothesis. LSEM and MFA converged with respect to the conclusions. When there was a broad age range within groups and varying relations between the indicator variables and the common factor across age, MGMCS produced distorted parameter estimates. We discuss the pros of LSEM compared with MFA and recommend using the two tools as complementary approaches for investigating moderation in factor model parameters.
Observations of the ionospheric response to the 15 December 2006 geomagnetic storm: Long‐duration positive storm effect

[1] The long-duration positive ionospheric storm effect that occurred on 15 December 2006 is investigated using a combination of ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) total electron content (TEC), TOPEX and Jason-1 TEC, and topside ionosphere/plasmasphere TEC, GPS radio occultation, and tiny ionospheric photometer (TIP) observations from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) satellites. This multi-instrument approach provides a unique view of the ionospheric positive storm effect by revealing the storm time response in different altitude regions. The ground-based GPS TEC, TOPEX/Jason-1 TEC, and topside ionosphere/plasmasphere TEC all reveal significant enhancements at low latitudes to midlatitudes over the Pacific Ocean region during the initial portions of the storm main phase from 0000–0400 universal time (UT) on 15 December. At low latitudes, the topside ionosphere/plasmasphere TEC increase represents greater than 50% of the TEC enhancement that is observed by ground-based GPS receivers. Moreover, electron density profiles obtained using the technique of GPS radio occultation demonstrate that the F layer peak height increased by greater than 100 km during this time period. The effects of soft particle precipitation are also apparent in the COSMIC observations of topside ionosphere/plasmasphere TEC. The positive storm effects over the Pacific Ocean region remain present in the equatorial ionization anomaly crest regions beyond 1200 UT on 15 December. This long-lasting positive storm effect is most apparent in ground-based GPS TEC and COSMIC TIP observations, while only a small increase in the topside ionosphere/plasmasphere TEC after 0400 UT is observed. This indicates that the long-lasting positive storm effect occurs predominantly at F region altitudes and, furthermore, that refilling of the topside ionosphere and plasmasphere is not the primary mechanism for producing the long-lasting positive storm phase during this event. The observations suggest that the enhanced eastward electric field and equatorward neutral wind are likely to play a significant role in the generation of long-lasting positive storm effects.