Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased risk of lower-extremity amputation among Caucasian diabetic patients on dialysis.

In two recent issues of Diabetes Care , high amputation rates among Maori people from New Zealand (1) and Native Americans (2) with diabetes on dialysis were reported. We would like to add some information concerning Caucasians with diabetic foot syndrome and advanced renal disease from a prospective sample of 400 consecutive patients treated at our diabetic foot clinic. Similar to chronic renal insufficiency (defined by serum creatinine concentration 1.5–3.0 mg/dl), chronic renal failure and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) should be regarded as a continuum (3). We analyzed the frequency of these conditions among the entire study population and compared presentation features and outcomes among the concerned patients and among diabetic foot patients without obvious renal impairment. At the time of presentation for the index foot lesion, 14 patients (4%, group …
Intravenous Ethanol for the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in Critically Ill Patients

Critically ill patients with alcoholism are at greater risk of morbidity and mortality from alcohol withdrawal syndrome than are patients without alcoholism. Benzodiazepines are considered the drugs of choice for the prevention and treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, but some studies have suggested that intravenous ethanol may be as effective as those agents, as well as being less sedating. We evaluated the evidence regarding the use of intravenous ethanol for the prevention and treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in critically ill patients in order to determine its role in this patient population. Because of the paucity of well‐designed clinical trials, and because of intravenous ethanol's questionable efficacy, inconsistent pharmacokinetic profile, and relatively narrow therapeutic index, routine use of this drug is not recommended in critically ill patients who have alcohol withdrawal syndrome or are at risk for it.
Resistance steps in underdamped Josephson-junction arrays.

The response of N×N underdamped Josephson-junction arrays to dc-current bias and dc-voltage bias is studied numerically. The current-voltage (I-(V)) relation reveals a substantial hysteresis. If a dc-current bias is applied to inhomogeneous underdamped arrays (i.e., arrays with a random distribution of junction critical currents), the I-(V) curve exhibits many (but no more than N) steplike increases of resistance, in agreement with experiments of Tighe, Johnson, and Tinkham
Exporting Services: A Developing Country Perspective

The book builds on previous research, including that by the World Bank, on trade in services. Such research includes analyses of the effect of liberalizing services in developing countries and sectoral studies on financial, transportation, telecommunication, and professional services, as well as on international negotiations. The conceptual framework for this book is based on the existing literature on the service sector (Francois and Hoekman 2010; Hoekman and Mattoo 2008). Recognizing the heterogeneity in both, economic structure of developing countries and their service exports, this book takes an eclectic approach to identifying successful strategies. Chapter two surveys the literature on determinants of service exports and presents an illustrative empirical model that synthesizes the available models on trade in services. Because trade data on services are scarce and have a number of weaknesses, rigorous econometric analysis has serious limits. The subsequent chapters of the book examine the determinants of trade in services through case studies of the experiences of countries with varying degrees of success. The book analyzes service export performance for the following countries: Brazil, Chile, the Arab Republic of Egypt, India, Kenya, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The countries were selected on the basis of their performance in global trade (especially trade in services), their regional role, and the availability of data and because they have consciously pursued policies to promote service exports.
Labor Issues within the Hospitality and Tourism Industry: A Study of Louisiana's Attempted Solutions

The purpose of this study was to illustrate short-term and long-term methods which have been identified for dealing with labor issues. The hospitality and tourism industry is plagued with high turnover, which has both direct costs (e.g., recruitment, hiring, and training) and indirect costs (e.g., overtime, reduced customer satisfaction). This article identifies possible benefits realized from Incumbent Worker Training Programs (e.g., reduced training costs, reduced payroll taxes, higher employee retention, and engagement) which should encourage hospitality and tourism entities to become committed to a long-term strategy in human resource management.
A New Species of Orobdella (Hirudinida: Arhynchobdellida: Orobdellidae) from Japan Reveals the Function of the Orobdella Gastroporal Duct

A quadrannulate species of Orobdella, O. kanaekoikeae sp. nov., from the mountainous region of Shikoku, Japan is described. This new species is small with a body length of mature individuals reaching only ca. 5 cm. Phylogenetic analyses using nuclear 18S, histone H3, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, tRNACys, tRNAMet, 12S rRNA, tRNAVal, 16S rRNA, tRNALeu, and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 markers showed that O. kanaekoikeae is a sister species of the quadrannulate small O. brachyepididymis. Phylogenetic relationships among populations of this new species were also estimated using mitochondrial DNA markers. Additionally, transmission electron micrographs of a capsule-like structure obtained from a post-copulatory individual revealed that the capsule contained spermatozoa, and was thus defined as the spermatophore. The gastroporal duct of Orobdella leeches is an accessory copulatory organ that receives a spermatophore during copulation.
Extragroup Copulation among Wild Red Howler Monkeys in Venezuela

Female mate choice has been documented in several species of non-human primates. Females appear to choose males on the basis of several characters such as age, size, familiarity, parental care, resources and novelty [1–3]. Females leaving their social groups to copulate with extragroup males have been reported in both polygynous primates [4 –11] and monogamous primates [12, 13]. Among the six extant howler species, extra-group copulation has been reported only among the black howlers, Alouatta pigra, of Belize [14]. This study provides the first report of adult red howler, A. seniculus, females copulating with males from neighbouring groups.
Characterization of the Expression and Activity of Carboxylesterases 1 and 2 from the Beagle Dog, Cynomolgus Monkey, and Human

The carboxylesterases (CESs) are a family of serine hydrolases that hydrolyze compounds containing an ester, amide, or thioester. In humans, two dominant forms, CES1 and CES2, are highly expressed in organs of first-pass metabolism and play an important role in xenobiotic metabolism. The current study was conducted to better understand species-related differences in substrate selectivity and tissue expression of these enzymes. To elucidate potential similarities and differences among these enzymes, a series of 4-nitrophenyl esters and a series of gemcitabine prodrugs were evaluated using enzyme kinetics as substrates of expressed and purified CESs from beagle dog, cynomolgus monkey, and human genes. For the substrates examined, human and monkey CES2 more efficiently catalyzed hydrolysis compared with CES1, whereas CES1 was the more efficient enzyme in dog. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses indicate that the pattern of CES tissue expression in monkey is similar to that of human, but the CES expression in dog is unique, with no detectable expression of CES in the intestine. Loperamide, a selective human CES2 inhibitor, was also found to be a CES2-selective inhibitor in both dog and monkey. This is the first study to examine substrate specificity among dog, human, and monkey CESs.
Estimates of the Marginal Rate of Time Preference and Average Risk Aversion of Investors in Electric Utility Shares: 1960-66

This paper develops an econometric model of the valuation of electric utility shares. This model, based upon the Sharpe-Lintner capital market theory, yields indirect estimates of the marginal rate of time preference and average risk aversion of investors in electric utility shares during the period 1960-66. In general, the empirical findings are consistent with the Sharpe-Lintner positive theory of the valuation of risk assets. Investors are found to be risk averse, and the relationship between required return and standard deviation is found to be approximately linear within the range of the sample. From a normative perspective, these estimates of the marginal rate of time preference and risk aversion are shown to yield individual firm cost of capital estimates. In a prior study of the cost of capital to the electric utility industry, Miller and Modigliani assumed that electric utilities were homogeneous with respect to operating risk. The approach employed in the present study takes explicit cognizance of intra-industry differences in operating risk. That is, each firm is considered to be in a unique "risk class," and hence to have a unique marginal cost of equity capital.
Comparing First, Second and Third Generation Commodity Indices

The rising interest of institutional investors for commodities since the early 2000s prompted remarkable financial engineering in the commodity index space which is now in its third generation. The purpose of this article is to review this evolution and to give an assessment of index performance. Long-only second generation indices, which attempt to minimize the harmful impact of contango on performance and use active long-only signals based on momentum or roll-yields, are found to outperform their first generation counterparts. Third generation indices fare even better as they accurately buy backwardated assets and short contangoed ones, thereby reducing overall volatility. We see these indices as serious contenders to commodity trading advisors that merely replicate strategies based on momentum or term structure.
A Russian Factory Enters the Market Economy

1. Introduction 2. The Struggle for Access: Exposing the Centrality of Personal Relationships 3. Transition and the Soviet Legacy: Western Ideology and Soviet Reality 4. A World of Textiles: The Market, the Industry and the Enterprise 5. Structures and Strategies in Transition 6. The Consequences of Outsider's Control 7. Controlling Workers: The Policy of Productivity in Transition 8. Labour and Technological Discipline 9. Conclusions
Dual Labor Markets And Strategic Efficiency Wage

We consider a dual labor markets model in which the primary sector requires the presence of eMiciency wage, while the secondary sector is competitive. We show that the Solow condition does not hold in a Stackelberg equilibrium where the primary sector acts as a leader and the secondary one as a follower. [J41]
Entropy of EEG during anaesthetic induction: a comparative study with propofol or nitrous oxide as sole agent.

BACKGROUND The search continues for an anaesthetic monitor that can define the level of anaesthesia in an individual patient irrespective of anaesthetic agent(s) used. Studies of available monitors based on bispectral analysis or evoked auditory potentials show the complexity of the problem. We assessed a new monitor, based on the entropy of the EEG, during induction of anaesthesia with either propofol or nitrous oxide. METHODS In an open, randomized study (two groups; n=10) of day surgical patients, we induced loss of response with incremental boluses of propofol. The other group was given propofol 30 mg and then increasing concentrations of nitrous oxide until loss of response. We measured entropy with the M-Entropy Module S/5 (Datex-Ohmeda) using forehead electrodes and recorded response entropy (RE; including frontal electromyogram) and state entropy (SE; only the cortical EEG). Values are median (range). RESULTS Baseline values were RE 98 (96-100), SE 89 (87-91) and RE 98 (96-99), SE 89 (87-91) for the propofol and nitrous oxide patients, respectively. During propofol induction, both entropy indices decreased with increasing sedation, with RE 40 (23-76) and SE 34 (17-70) at loss of response. Neither RE nor SE decreased during nitrous oxide inhalation, and at loss of response using nitrous oxide, RE and SE were unchanged at 98 (96-100) and 88 (85-91) respectively. CONCLUSIONS The entropy monitor of anaesthetic depth shows a successive decrease with propofol but loss of consciousness with nitrous oxide is not associated with change in entropy indices.
INTERDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF LEVERAGE, DIVIDEND, AND MANAGERIAL OWNERSHIP POLICIES: Agencies Perspectives

This paper attempts to investigate interdependent mechanism among leverage, dividend, and managerial ownership policies. This paper considers firm size and economic conditions to control their effect on the relationship among the three policies. The interrelationship between leverage, dividend, and managerial ownership policies will be tested using two-stage least squares. Five exogenous variables are employed in simultaneous equation: current assets and structure of assets as leverage determinants, book to market and return on investment as dividend determinants, and relative return to risk as managerial ownership determinant. The research employs year 1994-2004 data, with 1717 firm years. The research findings can be summarised as follows. First, there is a negative relationship between managerial ownership and leverage policies as suggested by agency theory. Second, there is a relationship between managerial ownership and dividend policies, but the relationship between leverage and dividend is insignificant. Third, the relationship between leverage and dividend is insensitive to economic condition and firm size. Fourth, all exogenous variables have significant effect on endogenous variables, except relative return. Fifth, the effects of exogenous variables are not sensitive to control variables. Sixth, we find that managers show self-interest behaviours by reducing managerial ownership when the economic condition worsens.
Landcare: Approaching the Limits of Voluntary Action

Landcare is essentially a system of volunteer organisations that is loosely coordinated at state and regional levels. The apparent success of Landcare has seen groups become an important delivery mechanism for the Natural Heritage Trust and other initiatives. In this article the author draws upon research in Victoria to argue that we are approaching the limits of what can realistically be expected of Landcare groups. Data were derived from state-wide surveys of Victorian groups between 1991 and 1998 and three 1999 regional case-studies in Corangamite, Glenelg and Goulburn/Broken. Survey data highlighted the extent most groups were operating at historically high activity levels and established a significant positive relationship between activity and government funding. Landcare work takes time and energy, particularly for group leaders, and given existing commitments to work, family and other volunteer organisations, it seems unlikely that current activity levels are sustainable. Survey data highlighted important program management issues that must be addressed as part of a more coherent and determined approach to supporting Landcare.
The overlooked variable in managing human resources of Iranian organizations: workforce diversity – some evidence

The primary aim of this paper is to examine the nature and extent of equality of opportunities and diversity policies in employment in the novel context of the Middle East – with a particular focus on Iran. HRM and diversity management specialists argue that equal opportunity practices help organizations capitalize on the benefits of a diverse workforce in terms of reducing turnover and absenteeism, attracting the best workers, increasing sales and marketing efforts, enhancing creativity and innovation, and improving decision making. While such benefits might be true in the context of developed countries, we are critical of their existence in the context of less developed nations. The findings, based on a qualitative study of six cases across two industries, indicate that, in contrast to existing theories, economic evaluations such as cost-minimization of the diverse work groups are the major driving forces behind adopting equal opportunity and diversity practices in employment. Specifically, mutuality of matching the needs of the worker with the needs of the manager is seen to be a major factor influencing the workers' impression towards equality of opportunities and diversity policies.
Anticoagulation after liver transplantation: a retrospective audit and case–control study

Anticoagulation may in the future become a therapeutic option for the prevention of liver fibrosis, such as due to recurrent hepatitis C virus infection after liver transplantation. Currently, there are other indications for anticoagulation after liver transplantation but no data regarding its safety. The objective of the study was to audit the safety of anticoagulation after liver transplantation. Liver transplant recipients receiving anticoagulation postoperatively were compared with a matched control group with respect to bleeding complications and postoperative course. Anticoagulation did not increase the risk of bleeding complications after liver transplantation. On the basis of safety, it appears feasible to use anticoagulation in trials to assess prevention of liver fibrosis.
Xist recruits the X chromosome to the nuclear lamina to enable chromosome-wide silencing

Plunging into a domain of silence Female mammals have two X chromosomes. One must be silenced to “balance” gene dosage with male XY cells. The Xist long noncoding RNA coats the inactive X chromosome in female mammalian cells. Chen et al. show that the Xist RNA helps recruit the X chromosome to the internal rim of the cell nucleus, a region where gene expression is silenced. Xist is recruited to the domain through an interaction with the Lamin B receptor. This recruitment allows the Xist RNA to spread across the future inactive X chromosome, shutting down gene expression. Science, this issue p. 468 A noncoding RNA recruits the X chromosome to the nuclear periphery, spreading across the chromosome and silencing gene expression. The Xist long noncoding RNA orchestrates X chromosome inactivation, a process that entails chromosome-wide silencing and remodeling of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the X chromosome. Yet, it remains unclear whether these changes in nuclear structure are mediated by Xist and whether they are required for silencing. Here, we show that Xist directly interacts with the Lamin B receptor, an integral component of the nuclear lamina, and that this interaction is required for Xist-mediated silencing by recruiting the inactive X to the nuclear lamina and by doing so enables Xist to spread to actively transcribed genes across the X. Our results demonstrate that lamina recruitment changes the 3D structure of DNA, enabling Xist and its silencing proteins to spread across the X to silence transcription.
Collagen fibrils forming in developing tendon show an early and abrupt limitation in diameter at the growing tips.

The formation of very long and near-uniform diameter collagen fibrils is fundamental to the assembly of the extracellular matrix of animals. However, how growth in length and diameter is regulated, and how fibrils increase in diameter during development, are poorly understood. The approach in this study was to examine the tips and central shaft regions of fibrils from 12 and 18-day embryonic chick metatarsal tendon using quantitative mass mapping electron microscopy. We found that the fibrils had smoothly tapered C and N-terminal tips, which had linear axial mass distributions and were consequently parabolic in shape. An invariant feature of all tips (N and C) was an abrupt stop in lateral growth leading to a local plateau in diameter. The distance from the end of the fibril to the abrupt stop occurred at multiples of five D-periods (where D=67 nm). This implies that D-periods at the ends of fibrils are not equivalent sites for accretion, and that diameter regulation relies on surface structural features, which repeat every 5D. Mass mapping of entire fibrils at day 12 showed that, on average, the coarseness of the fibril tips was independent of fibril length, consistent with individual fibrils growing at constant tip shape. Comparison of diameters in the plateau (close to the tips) and shaft regions of the fibril showed that fibrils in day 12 tendons grow in length at constant diameter. Analysis of tendons from day 18 embryos showed that the increase in diameter at this stage of development was the result of both increases in the coarseness of the tips and continued lateral accretion of mass onto the central shafts at distances away from the growing tips. Regulated tip growth provides an attractive explanation for how cells are able to synthesise very long fibrils during the organisation of the extracellular matrix.
The HindIII and PvuII polymorphisms of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene reduce the risk of ischemic stroke (IS)

Background: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) polymorphisms were suggested to be the risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS). However, controversial results were obtained. Our objective was to investigate the association of LPL polymorphisms at Ser447Ter, HindIII (+/−), and PvuII (+/−) with IS risk. Methods: Literatures search were carried out on databases: PubMed, Web of science, the Cochrane database of system reviews, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Embase. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to detect the relationship between LPL polymorphisms and the risk of IS. Results: No significant association was detected between LPL Ser447Ter and IS in allelic, dominant, or recessive models (P > .05). Significant lower frequencies of allelic and dominant models of LPL HindIII (+/−) and PvuII (+/−) in cases were detected (HindIII (+/−): allelic model: P = . 0002, OR[95%CI] = 0.80 [0.71, 0.90]; dominant model: P = 0.003, OR[95%CI] = 0.80 [0.69, 0.92]; PvuII (+/−): allelic model: P < 0.0001, OR[95%CI] = 0.75[0.65–0.86]; dominant model: P = 0.02, OR[95%CI] = 0.67[0.48–0.93]). And the recessive model of PvuII (+/−) was significantly associated with the IS risk (P = .01, OR[95%CI] = .71[0.55–0.93]). Subgroup analysis stratified by ethnicity showed that the frequencies of allelic, dominant, and recessive models of HindIII (+/−), as well as dominant model of PvuII (+/−) were significant lower in Asian cases (HindIII (+/−): allelic model: P < . 00001, OR[95%CI] = 0.69 [0.59, 0.79]; dominant model: P < . 0001, OR[95%CI] = 0.69 [0.58, 0.83]; recessive model: P = . 005, OR[95%CI] = 0.66 [0.50, 0.89]; PvuII (+/−): dominant model: P = . 0008, OR[95%CI] = 0.66 [0.51–0.84]), but not in Caucasian cases (P > .05). In addition, the frequencies of allelic and recessive models of PvuII (+/−) significantly decreased in Caucasian cases (P < .05). Conclusion: the HindIII (+/−) and PvuII (+/−), but not the Ser447Ter might be the protective factors for IS.
Exploring the determination of student performance in university modules and streams

The role of various characteristics in explaining marks achieved by university students in specific modules and streams is assessed. Building on a hedonic analytical framework, this performance-related study aims at being useful for lecturers in their design of learning and teaching policy. Following the presentation of variables and some descriptive statistics, the econometric exercise indicates that the statistically significant factors are those primarily related to semester student performance, i.e. an overall good (mediocre) student performs well (bad) in the modules under consideration. Despite its superficial triviality, this result might have important implications for university administrators and their budgeting strategy.