Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of artificial ascites in assisting percutaneous microwave ablation of hepatic tumours adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract Purpose: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of artificial ascites in assisting ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave (MW) ablation of hepatic tumours adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. Materials and methods: In total, 36 patients with 36 hepatic malignancies who underwent the introduction of artificial ascites before ultrasound-guided percutaneous MW ablation were included in this retrospective study. The separation success rate of the artificial ascites, the technique effectiveness of the MW ablation, local tumour progression and complications were assessed. Results: The separation success rate of the artificial ascites for 36 hepatic tumours adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract was 88.9% (32/36). The technical effectiveness of MW ablation in 32 cases with successful separation was 96.9% (31/32). During follow-up (mean, 12.1 ± 7.2 months), local tumour progression was found in five of 31 patients (16.1%). One patient experienced a major complication (infection of the hepatic ablation zone). Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous MW ablation assisted by artificial ascites is a safe and effective method for the treatment of primary and metastatic hepatic tumours adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract and can achieve good local control of such tumours.
Effect of finasteride on serum concentrations of dihydrotestosterone and testosterone in three clinically normal sexually intact adult male dogs.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of finasteride at dosages of 0, 10, 0.25, and 0.50 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 24 h, for 7 days) in a Latin square design with repeated measures. Blood was obtained before and on days 1, 2, 4, and 7 of treatment; 3 blood samples were obtained at 20 minute intervals to detect pulsatile secretion of DHT and T. Dogs were untreated at least 2 weeks between treatments. RESULTS Finasteride at all doses was associated with a mean decrease in concentration of DHT of 55% (range, 155 +/- 32.3 pg/ml to 70 +/- 15 pg/ml), but had no effect on concentration of T (before treatment, 2.6 +/- 0.38 ng/ml; after treatment, 2.2 +/- 0.63 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS Finasteride at these doses significantly decreased serum concentration of DHT in sexually intact adult male dogs. Concentrations of DHT and T before and 7 days after treatment did not differ by dosage of finasteride administered. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Finasteride (5 mg; 1 tablet) may be a drug of choice for treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy in 10- to 50-kg dogs.
Identifying Structural Shocks Behind Loan Supply Fluctuations in Russia

We examine the drivers behind loan supply fluctuations in Russia using Bayesian vector autoregressive model with sign restrictions on impulse response functions. We identify two types of structural innovations: loan supply shock and monetary stance shock. We find that contractionary shocks of both types contributed significantly and in the roughly equal measure to the decrease of bank lending after the Lehman Brothers collapse.
The effects of demonopolization on economic growth

In this paper the long-run effects of the change in the degree of monopoly on the welfare of a society is examined, considering an economy producing two goods, an investment good and a consumption good, under the assumption that the changes in the relative price due to the changes in the degree of monopoly can affect the long-run aggregate stock of capital. Our main result is that the decrease in the degree of monopoly in the consumption-good sector is likely to cause negative economic growth and, therefore, decrease the per capita consumption as well as the aggregate stock of capital in the long run.
The impact of female business leaders on the performance of listed companies in South Africa

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of female business leaders in JSE-listed companies on the financial performance of those companies. This is as result of the proposition that women, over and above men, bring unique skills to the workplace. However, it is hypothesized in this study that JSE-listed companies led by a high percentage of women do not outperform similar companies led by a low percentage of women. The Lean Modigliani and France Modigliani measure (M2) was used to test this hypothesis. Results of this study indicate that companies led by women do not outperform similar companies led by men. As a result, the null hypothesis is not rejected. Implications of these results are discussed.
Pediatric wound infections: a prospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE Surgical wound infections remain a significant source of postoperative morbidity. This study was undertaken to determine prospectively the incidence of postoperative wound infections in children in a multi-institutional fashion and to identify the risk factors associated with the development of a wound infection in this population. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Despite a large body of literature in adults, there have been only two reports from North America concerning postoperative wound infections in children. METHODS All infants and children undergoing operation on the pediatric surgical services of three institutions during a 17-month period were prospectively followed for 30 days after surgery for the development of a wound infection. RESULTS A total of 846 of 1021 patients were followed for 30 days. The overall incidence of wound infection was 4.4%. Factors found to be significantly associated with a postoperative wound infection were the amount of contamination at operation (p = 0.006) and the duration of the operation (p = 0.03). Comparing children who developed a wound infection with those who did not, there were no significant differences in age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) preoperative assessment score, length of preoperative hospitalization, location of operation (intensive care unit vs. operating room), presence of a coexisting disease or remote infection, or the use of perioperative antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that wound infections in children are related more to the factors at operation than to the overall physiologic status. Procedures can be performed in the intensive care unit without any increase in the incidence of wound infection.
Potential contributions of remote sensing to ecosystem service assessments

Ecological and conservation research has provided a strong scientific underpinning to the modeling of ecosystem services (ESs) over space and time, by identifying the ecological processes and components of biodiversity (ecosystem service providers, functional traits) that drive ES supply. Despite this knowledge, efforts to map the distribution of ESs often rely on simple spatial surrogates that provide incomplete and non-mechanistic representations of the biophysical variables they are intended to proxy. However, alternative data sets are available that allow for more direct, spatially nuanced inputs to ES mapping efforts. Many spatially explicit, quantitative estimates of biophysical parameters are currently supported by remote sensing, with great relevance to ES mapping. Additional parameters that are not amenable to direct detection by remote sensing may be indirectly modeled with spatial environmental data layers. We review the capabilities of modern remote sensing for describing biodiversity, plant traits, vegetation condition, ecological processes, soil properties, and hydrological variables and highlight how these products may contribute to ES assessments. Because these products often provide more direct estimates of the ecological properties controlling ESs than the spatial proxies currently in use, they can support greater mechanistic realism in models of ESs. By drawing on the increasing range of remote sensing instruments and measurements, data sets appropriate to the estimation of a given ES can be selected or developed. In so doing, we anticipate rapid progress to the spatial characterization of ecosystem services, in turn supporting ecological conservation, management, and integrated land use planning.
Dynamic COQ Model for Different Quality Levels

A COQ model plays an important role in the total quality cost survey. Based on the methodology of continuous quality improvement, a dynamic COQ model for different quality level is developed in this paper. A quality level is defined by Six Sigma level that can be measured by two indicators. The relationships among the four major quality costs are analyzed. Finally, the curves of total quality costs for different quality level are presented.
The liberalization of public services: Company reactions and consequences for employment and working conditions

This article analyses how companies that provide public services respond to liberalization, privatization and marketization. The empirical research is based on 23 company case studies from four sectors and six countries. The case studies involved 185 interviews with managers, trade union and works council representatives and workers. Company reactions include mergers and acquisitions, internationalization and the diversification of supply; the diversification of customer relations, including new pricing policies; a reduction of production costs through concentration, outsourcing and the introduction of new technology; and the reduction of employment and the payment of lower wages (through lower wages for new employees, the creation of independent subsidiaries and outsourcing). Overall, the case studies show that the main goal, the reduction of production costs, has been achieved at the cost of workers, many of whom have experienced liberalization and privatization as the deterioration of employment and working conditions. The impact on productivity and quality were mixed.
Assessing quality of domestic scientific journals in geographically oriented disciplines: scientists' judgements versus citations

Spanish scientific journals on geology were analysed, none of them covered as a source by the Science Citation Index (SCI). We searched the SCI, through the Web-of-Science, for citations received by articles published in these journals in 1995 and 1996. The term-impact of journals has been calculated, within two- and three-year citation windows. The effect of including citations from the domestic journals was considered, and a sample of 189 Spanish geologists was surveyed about the journals they consider of highest quality. A notable correspondence among experts' assessment and citation analysis has been found. Results here reported, together with those obtained in previous studies, provide data for improving knowledge about the quality of Spanish geology journals. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
A Regional Perspective on Multinational Expansion Strategies: Reconsidering the Three‐Stage Paradigm

Empirical studies on international expansion have shown only limited support for the three‐stage (S‐curve) hypothesis. Whilst the basic concept is intuitively acceptable, the very generality of the paradigm is its weakness in empirical studies. This paper takes a more fine‐grained theoretical and empirical approach by distinguishing between the regions covered by different multinational companies. The regional scope covered by a multinational firm makes a substantial difference with regard to its performance. We find that most firms can enhance their performance by focusing on their home region, whilst only a subset of firms operating in both the home and foreign regions show the overall S‐curve relationship between multinationality and performance. Certain combinations of product diversification and regional coverage also enhance performance.
Molecular Cloning of Dmrt1 and Its Expression in the Gonad of Xenopus

Abstract Sex is determined by various transcription factors in vertebrates. SRY on the Y chromosome in mammals has been isolated as the sex-determining gene. In birds, Dmrt1 on the Z chromosome of chickens is expressed in the indifferent gonad before sex determination. In amphibians, the sex-determining gene is not known yet. To examine whether Dmrt1 is expressed during sex determination in Xenopus laevis, we first isolated the cDNA, and examined its expression in gonadal development by RT-PCR analysis. The expression of Xenopus Dmrt1 (xDmrt1) was observed exclusively in the testis amosis. The expression was much higher in the testis than in the ovary. This was a pattern different from that in human, mouse, and fish such as tilapia and rainbow trout. In addition, the Dmrt1 mRNA was first detected in the gonad/mesonephros complex of tadpoles at stage 53, at which time the gonads were still indifferent. Taken together, the results suggest that Dmrt1 may be involved in gonadal differentiation of Xenopus.
Panel Data Estimates of the Demand for Money in the Pacific Island Countries

The Pedroni (2000) panel cointegration method is used to estimate the cointegrating equations for the demand for narrow money for a panel of five Pacific Island Countries (Fiji, Samoa, Solomons, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea) for the period 1975-2007. The effects of financial reforms are analyzed with estimates from sub-sample periods. Our results suggest that there is a unique cointegrated long run relationship between real narrow money, real income and nominal rate of interest. The major finding is that the money demand function has been stable and financial reforms are yet to have any significant effects in the Pacific Island Countries.
Association of XPC gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to prostate cancer: evidence from 3,936 subjects.

AIM Polymorphisms of xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) are thought to have significant effects on prostate cancer (PCa) risk. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of XPC gene polymorphisms on PCa risk by using a meta-analysis. METHODS Data were collected from the following electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Elsevier Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and CNKI, with the last report up to April 30, 2013. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the strength of the association. RESULTS A total of five separate case-control studies (1966 cases and 1970 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis was performed for the rs2228001 and PAT+/-polymorphisms. We did not detect a significant association between rs2228001 polymorphism and PCa (p>0.05). Similar results were found in stratification analyses by ethnicity and tumor stage. We detected a significant association of PAT+/-polymorphism with PCa (p<0.05). In stratification analysis, we did not detect a significant association of PAT+/-polymorphism with risk of bone metastasis in PCa patients (p>0.05). CONCLUSION These analyses suggest that XPC gene PAT+/-polymorphism, but not rs2228001, likely contributes to susceptibility to PCa.
The Chiapas Rebellion: The Struggle for Land and Democracy

In 1994 the Zapatista rebellion brought international attention to the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. Neil Harvey combines ten years of field work in Chiapas with extensive historical and political research to provide a comprehensive history of conflict in this region and a nuanced analysis of this rural uprising against federal bureaucracy and landed elites. Beginning with an exploration of the history of ethnic and class conflict in Chiapas since the Conquest, Harvey moves specifically to trace the development of peasant and indigenous organizations in Chiapas since the early 1970s. He compares the struggles for agrarian rights of three grassroots movements facing hostility from both local elites and federal bureaucrats. His examination of the complexities of political change in Chiapas includes the impact of neoliberal economic policies, the origins of the Zapatista army of National Liberation (EZLN), and the political impact of the rebellion itself. Engaging with current theoretical debates on the role and significance of social movements in Mexico and Latin America, Harvey focuses on the primacy of political struggle and on the importance of these movements in the construction and meaning of citizenship. While suggesting that the Zapatista revolution has heightened awareness among the people of Chiapas of such democratic issues as ethnicity, gender, and land distribution, he concludes with an analysis of the obstacles to peace in the region today. This unprecedented study of the Zapatista rebellion will provoke discussion among students and scholars of contemporary Mexico, political science, Latin American studies, history, sociology, and anthropology.
Information environment, behavioural biases, and home bias in analysts' recommendations: pre- and post-crisis evidence from Asian emerging markets

Can information environment of a firm explain home bias in analysts’ recommendations? Can the extent of agency problems explain optimism difference between foreign and local analysts? This paper answers these questions by documenting the effect of information environment on home bias in analysts’ recommendations. Using a large data of analysts’ recommendations from Asian emerging markets, we show that local analysts issue more optimistic recommendations than their foreign counterparts. However, optimism difference between the two groups is greater for firms with poor information environment. Our results show that optimism difference between the two groups is more than twice as much in firms with poor information environment than in firms with better information environment. We argue that poor information environment pose greater information asymmetries to foreign analysts regarding local firms relative to local analysts. As a result, we expect them to be less optimistic in their recommendations relative to local analysts. However, for firms with better information environment, foreign analysts face less information asymmetries. As a result, they are relatively more optimistic (less pessimistic) in their recommendations, thereby causing convergence in optimism level between foreign and local analysts.
Presence of an APOE4 allele results in significantly earlier onset of Parkinson's disease and a higher risk with dementia

The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE4) has been consistently associated with a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as an earlier onset of AD. It is possible that APOE4 may also play a role in the etiology of other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). APOE genotype, age of onset, disease duration, smoking history, and dementia status were collected for families with PD, yielding 324 Caucasian families with complete information. Logistic regression employing one individual per family and including age of onset and disease duration as covariates demonstrated a significantly increased risk of dementia for those individuals having inherited at least one ε4 allele (OR = 3.37; P = 0.002). Survival analyses also demonstrated a significantly earlier age of onset for those subjects with at least one ε4 allele (59.7 years) as compared with those homozygous for the more common ε3 allele (62.4 years; P = 0.009). Thus, consistent with previous studies, we find evidence that the presence of an ε4 allele results in significantly earlier onset of PD and a greater likelihood of dementia. It appears the similarities between PD and AD may be due to an overlap in the diseases' genetic etiology. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Comparison of the Meat Quality of Turopolje, German Landrace x Turopolje and German Landrace x Pietrain Pigs

Summary Aim of the study was to evaluate, if the mixed breed German Landrace x Turopolje (L x T) was suitable for conventional fattening and the production of high quality palatable meat. Hence, we chose to study the carcass characteristics of three diff erent breeds: true bred Turopolje (T x T) (n=15), an autochthonous Croatian breed, German Landrace x Pietrain (L x P) (n=19), a typical German pig hybrid and German Landrace x Turopolje (L x T) (n=23) as mixed breed. All three breeds were kept in a conventional fattening indoor system. Th e data consisted of the chemical and physical values of the carcass and the diff erence between breeds during breeding and fattening. All pigs were fattened with a conventional ad libidum feeding system. Th e feed consisted of an optimal mixture for the fattening of L x P. Th e daily feed intake and the weight from birth until the end of the fattening was recorded every 14 days. Th e quality of the carcass was evaluated at the age of 20 and 25 weeks. Th e measurement of the carcass was based on the “Richtlinie fur die Stationsprufung auf Mastleistung, Schlachtkorperwert und Fleischbeschaff enheit beim Schwein” published by the national German control offi ce. L x T showed the lowest feed intake per kg carcass compared to the other breeds. Th e quality of meat was characterized by pH, conductance, intramuscular fat and water holding capacity. L x T showed a trend for a lower conductance in week 25. Th e value of pH and water holding capacity was not signifi cant between the breeds. Surprisingly, the intramuscular fat of L x T was by trend higher compared to L x P and signifi cantly lower than T x T (p < 0.05). L x T had by trend a higher carcass weight and a larger carcass length compared to L x P, which was signifi cantly higher than T x T (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the new breed L x T seems to be suitable for an indoor fattening system and produces a high quality palatable meat. Th e energy and protein intake should be slightly reduced, which would reduce the cost of meat production.
Shareholder engagement: prospects for improving corporate social responsibility

This paper is based on research into four case studies of shareholder engagement on issues of socially responsible investment. The background to the wider study of which it forms a part is explained before the main contours of the debate on shareholder activism, in theory and practice, are outlined. The point of departure of this paper from the earlier study is the illustration of how the framework, derived from the case studies, could be applied to resolve future conflicts of interest. The focus of the analysis is on the dynamics of shareholder engagement involving the complex interplay between the balance of reason and the balance of power on issues of corporate social responsibility. The thesis is postulated that, contrary to appearances in situations of conflict, the decisive long-term factor for sustainable business performance is the rationality of the proposal in question rather than the power of shareholders to enforce it.
The lens in hereditary hyperferritinaemia cataract syndrome contains crystalline deposits of L-ferritin

BACKGROUND/AIM Hereditary hyperferritinaemia cataract syndrome (HHCS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by elevated serum L-ferritin and bilateral cataracts. The ocular manifestations of this disorder are poorly studied. This study therefore sought to determine the origin of cataracts in HHCS. METHODS L-ferritin ELISA, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis of a lens nucleus from an HHCS individual. RESULTS The HHCS lens L-ferritin content was 147 μg/g dry weight of lens compared with <16 μg/g for a non-HHCS control cataract lens. The cataract comprised discrete crystalline inclusions with positive staining with anti-L-ferritin but not anti-H-ferritin. CONCLUSIONS This unusual finding of crystalline opacities in the lens may be unique to HHCS and is likely to result from disturbed metabolism of L-ferritin within the lens or an abnormal interaction between L-ferritin and lens proteins.