Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erythropoietin, GDF15, IL6, hepcidin and testosterone levels in a large cohort of elderly individuals with anaemia of known and unknown cause

Epidemiologic studies have documented an increasing frequency of anaemia in individuals 65 yrs and older. Elderly individuals with anaemia have been categorised into the following: those with chronic disease, those with iron, B12 or folate deficiency and those with anaemia of unknown aetiology (AUE). There is considerable interest and debate as to whether AUE has an inflammatory component, is caused by cytokine dysregulation affecting production or response to erythropoietin (EPO) or iron availability or represents a novel pathologic process. Here, we compare a large cohort of AUE cases with a matched, non‐anaemic control group and with individuals who have anaemia of defined cause. IL‐6, hepcidin, GDF15, EPO and testosterone levels were compared. IL6 and hepcidin levels did not differ significantly between AUE and control groups, indicating that inflammation or iron restriction is not central feature of anaemia in this group. GDF15 levels were significantly elevated when comparing AUE with controls and were markedly elevated in patients with renal disease. Testosterone levels were lower in men from the AUE group compared with non‐anaemic controls. EPO levels in the AUE group were increased relative to controls but were inappropriately low for the degree of anaemia. Our data indicate that an impaired EPO response, in the absence of evidence for iron restriction or inflammation, is characteristic of AUE.
Is Country Diversification Better than Industry Diversification?

"In this paper, we develop a framework in which one can examine the source of industry and country diversification by examining their underlying return components. We find that the global cash flow factor explains on average 39% of the variation of country cash flows and global discount rates explain 55% of the variation of country discount rates. These are much less than the explanatory power of the two factors over industry cash flow and discount rate variations, which are 72% and 78% respectively. This suggests that global factors are much less important for return components at country level than at the industry level. As a result, both better diversification of expected returns and cash flows across countries determine the larger benefits of country diversification versus industry diversification. Moreover, emerging markets tend to have much smaller co-movements of both dividends and expected returns with those of the world, suggesting a lower degree of integration with the world goods and financial markets. Our results cast doubt on the prevailing wisdom that country diversification should be replaced by industry diversification". Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 2006.
Análise do Gerenciamento de Resultados e o Rodízio de Firmas de Auditoria nas Empresas de Capital Aberto

The job of Independent auditors is to certify the financial statements in order to demonstrate the real of financial and economic situation of the company. Thus it is believed that the change of accounting firm contributes to the independence increase of the relationship between the audit and the client that can be worn out during the time. It is expected that the new auditor be severe in the practice of earnings management and, consequently, a lower level of earnings management occur. In this sense, the objective of this research is to verify if the rotation of audit influences the earnings management of companies traded in all Bovespa´s economic sector, using the model of Kang and Sivaramakrishnan (1995). The work presents the hypothesis that in the year of change of Independent auditors the earnings management tends to fall and in subsequent years it tends to increase. The survey was conducted using the data of three companies with great asset of each economic sector which have traded at Bovespa in fiscal year of 2008, excluding the financial sector. Thus, the research is characterized as descriptive, documentary with a quantitative approach. The results show that the change of audit firm is not directly related to the decrease in earnings management. Some sectors have a tendency to do so, however, the assumptions cannot be accepted entirely. Key words: Earnings management. Turnover of audit. Kang and Sivaramakrishnan model.
From Closed to Open: Job Role Changes, Individual Predispositions, and the Adoption of Commercial Open Source Software Development

When trying to attain the benefits of open source software (OSS), proprietary closed source software (PCSS) firms are struggling to adopt this radically different practice of software development. We approach these adoption challenges as a problem of gaining support for organizational innovation. Through a mixed-method research design consisting of qualitative interviews and a survey of employees of a large telecommunications firm, we find that the organizational innovation to commercially engage in OSS has different impacts on technical and administrative dimensions of different job roles. Accordingly, individuals enacting different job roles are—on average—more or less well aligned with the OSS practice and OSS processes per se. We find that individual-level attributes can counterbalance the job role changes that weaken support for adopting OSS, while perceived organizational commitment has no effect. Suggestions for PCSS firms are presented and implications for innovation literature are discussed.
First branchial cleft anomalies in children: Experience with 30 cases

First branchial cleft anomalies (FBCA) are rare in the clinical setting, as they account for 1 to 8% of all branchial abnormalities. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the fistula tract and facial nerve and the surgical method of FBCA. This retrospective study included 30 cases of FBCA in children managed from 2009 to 2016. All patients underwent surgery to remove the tract of the FBCA. We reviewed the clinical data of the patients to obtain their demographics and management. Thirty patients (11 male and 19 female) with anomalies of FBCA were diagnosed. The ages ranged from 1 to 13 years (median, 3 years). Twenty cases had a close relationship with the parotid gland. The facial nerve was identified in 20 of the 30 patients. The tract ran deep to the facial nerve in 3 cases, superficial to it in 21 cases, and passed between the branches of the nerve in 6 cases. The facial nerve was not identified in ten patients, as the tract was superficial to it. There were 2 cases of postoperative temporary facial paralysis (2/30, 6.7%). The symptoms gradually improved after one month, 1 case had permanent facial paralysis (1/30, 3.3%), and 1 case had postoperative recurrence. Complete excision of the tract is the only way to manage FBCA, and the course of the tracts vary and have different relationships with the facial nerve. There are 3 types: Superficial, deep to the facial nerve, and between the branches of the nerve. Therefore, surgical approaches differ among the various types, and careful preoperative planning and protecting the facial nerve during resection of the tract are essential.
A simple optimization method based on Backtrack and GA for delivery schedule

A delivery route optimization system greatly improves the real time delivery efficiency. To realize such an optimization, its distribution network requires solving several tens to hundreds (max. 1500–2000) cities Traveling Salesman Problems (TSP) within interactive response time (around 3 seconds) with expert-level accuracy (below 3% level of error rate). Moreover, as for the algorithms, understandability and flexibility are necessary because field experts and field engineers can understand and adjust it to satisfy the field conditions. To meet these requirements, a Backtrack and Restart Genetic Algorithm (Br-GA) is proposed. This method combines Backtracking and GA having simple heuristics such as 2-opt and NI (Nearest Insertion) so that, in case of stagflation, GA can restarts with the state of populations going back to the state in the generation before stagflation. Including these heuristics, field experts and field engineers can easily understand the way and use it. Using the tool applying their method, they can easily create/modify the solutions or conditions interactively depending on their field needs. Experimental results proved that the method meets the above-mentioned delivery scheduling requirements more than other methods from the viewpoint of optimality as well as simplicity.
Globalization and construction industry development: research opportunities

Raftery, J., Pasadilla, B. , Chiang, Y. H. , Hui, E. C. M. and Tang, B. S. (1998) Construction Management and Economics, 16, 729–37 review recent developments in the construction industries in Asia. They discuss the main causes and effects of key trends in globalization and their impact on the industries. This paper considers some of the points raised by Raftery et al. It starts with an overall review of their paper. It then considers construction industry development in general, technology transfer and joint ventures, and the impact of policy reform on the industries. It suggests additional relevant issues, and highlights some areas where further research would be appropriate.
Obesity and employment as predictors of diabetes in Mexican Americans: findings from a longitudinal study

This article examines changes in weight loss and employment on the incidence and management of diabetes over an eight-year period. Using data from three panel waves of the Border Epidemiologic Study on Aging, collected between 1995 and 2003, estimation results from a set of logit regression models reveal that obese individuals, who lose weight over an eight-year period, are less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those who remain obese in waves two and three. Moreover, employment, an important covariate in all three waves, is associated with the lower likelihood of being diagnosed with diabetes. In all, results confirm findings from cross-sectional data that point to overweight and obesity as important predictors of diabetes and further support public policy efforts that aim at controlling the rising incidence of diabetes through tailored interventions.
Evidence of nonlinear mean reversion in the real interest rate

This article utilizes tests for a unit root that have power against nonlinear alternatives to provide empirical evidence on the time series properties of the ex-post real interest rate in the G7 countries. We find that the unit root hypothesis can be rejected in the presence of a nonlinear alternative motivated by theoretical literature on optimal monetary policy rules. This represents a reversal of the results obtained using standard linear unit-root and cointegration tests. Tests for linearity reject this hypothesis for Canada, France, Italy and Japan for which we estimate nonlinear models capturing the dynamics of the interest rate. For these countries, ex-post real interest rates follow a nonlinear model characterized by mean reversion and provide statistical evidence for the Fisher effect.
Institutionalising XBRL for financial reporting: resorting to regulation

By integrating and streamlining financial information within and among various organisations, eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) has been developed with a view to enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of corporate accounting information. Taking an inter-organisational focus, this paper investigates the process of how XBRL was institutionalised. It explains and offers insights on how institutional arrangements emerge and become relevant as heterogeneous organisations consider adopting accounting innovations while evidence concerning their benefits is unavailable. The original and overall contribution of this study is that it improves current understanding of coal-face actors' perceptions, behaviours, and strategies as they interact in the organisational field and become engaged in developing accounting innovations to produce the macro-level observations documented in existing institutional theory studies.
Safety and efficacy of multiple, overlapping polymer-based paclitaxel-eluting stents.

AIMS To provide insight on the patients with long lesions that received multiple, overlapping stents by reporting clinical outcomes, together with a detailed angiographic and intravascular ultrasound analysis of the overlap zone. METHODS AND RESULTS TAXUS VI is a prospective, multicentre, double-blind, trial, specifically designed to assess outcomes of paclitaxel-eluting stents in longer lesions by randomising 446 patients (1:1) between a drug-eluting TAXUS Express2 Moderate Release (MR) and an uncoated Express2 control stent. Multiple overlapping stents were implanted in 124 patients (27.8%) and are the subject of this report. Clinical, angiographic and IVUS outcomes at nine months were compared in the overlap group for patients receiving the TAXUS Express2 MR stent and the uncoated Express2 stent. In the overlap group, mean lesion length was 25.1 mm with a mean stent length of 43.6 mm. At nine months, TVR was reduced by 94% from 25.0% to 1.6% in the TAXUS patients compared with control (p=<0.0001); TLR was reduced by 93% from 23.3% to 1.6% (p=0.0002). Binary restenosis in the stented area was reduced by 89% from 45.5% in the control patients to 4.8% in the TAXUS patients (p<0.0001). There was a trend towards a higher 30-day myocardial infarction rate in the TAXUS group (7.9% vs. 1.6%; p=0.21), but by nine months, MACE was significantly reduced by 62.0%, from 25.0% to 9.5% in favour of the TAXUS patients (p=0.0305). Late acquired incomplete apposition on IVUS was infrequent in either group and was not located in the overlap zone, nor was the finding associated with late MACE. No stent thrombosis occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS The use of multiple overlapping TAXUS MR stents appears safe and effective in the treatment of long complex coronary artery lesions.
Strengthening post-conflict peacebuilding through community water-resource management: case studies from Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Liberia

This article highlights the importance of water-resource management and its contribution to peacebuilding. It presents learning from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Liberia. The article showcases the positive contribution empowered communities can make to public-health improvement, good water governance, economic revitalization, and restoration of peace. It lays emphasis on how equitable and sustainable management of water resources can contribute towards peacebuilding in post-conflict environments by supporting basic human needs, livelihoods, economic revitalization, public health improvement and restoration of cooperation at all levels of society.
The Effects of Differential Extraction Conditions on the Premature Lysis of Spermatozoa ,

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect Proteinase K, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), incubation times, and temperatures had on differential extraction efficiencies and the premature lysis of spermatozoa. The effect was measured using Quantifiler® Duo and Identifiler™ PCR Amplification kits, where the resultant male and female DNA concentrations and their ratios within the nonsperm‐ and sperm fractions (SFs) were determined. Comparisons between expected and observed ratios illustrate the quantity of female DNA in the SF increased when Proteinase K was absent during the initial incubation. Additionally, there is no indication of simultaneous sperm and epithelial cell lysis in the absence of DTT at Proteinase K concentrations ranging from 10 to 300 μg/mL. All other conditions exhibited minimal variation in DNA concentration. Therefore, despite the various protocols used for the differential lysis of cell mixtures encountered in casework, the method is robust and successful at most conditions.
An assessment of four popular auction mechanisms in the siting of NIMBY facilities: some experimental evidence

The issue of locating locally unfriendly but socially beneficial facilities such as landfills and power stations is an important public policy concern in many countries. Local residents in the area where such facilities are to be located tend to exhibit strong opposition, no doubt due to the asymmetric distribution of the costs and benefits of such not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) facilities. A potentially useful mechanism for the siting of such facilities is by compensation auctions, which attempt to incorporate the market mechanism into the decision making process. In such auctions, communities name the compensation they require to host such facilities, and the community demanding the least amount of compensation gets to host the facility. This research attempts to evaluate the performance of such compensation auctions using laboratory exepriments. Four popular auction formats are evaluated: first- and second-price and all-pay first-and second-price sealed-bid auctions. The latter two formats correspond to the compensation auctions with penalty payments proposed by Kunreuther and Kleindorfer (1986) and Quah and Tan (1998), who claim that these auctions are more efficient as they restrains strategic (or over) bidding. Our results, however, contradict this claim. We show that the first-and second-price auctions without penalty payments are in fact more efficient, in that they tend to minimize social costs, and truthful bidding is more likely.
After the scandals: A German-speaking perspective on management accounting research and education

Abstract As a reaction to recent corporate scandals, corporate law and accounting regulations have recently been modified in German-speaking countries. Despite changing corporate contexts and agendas, accounting research in these countries has been comparatively silent on issues of corporate governance. In this paper, we discuss this limited response, focusing particularly on the field of management accounting. In German-speaking countries, management accounting is conceived of in a specific way (usually referred to as Controlling). The traditions of such a practice and the associated academic school of thought have made it difficult for researchers to consider issues of corporate governance and internal control in more empirical depth. Pointing to the importance of investigating the actual use of accounting systems and, thus, the social and institutional context of accounting, we propose a strategy for research and education that would allow for more comprehensive insights into the role that (management) accounting might play in corporate scandals.
Fault Tolerant Job Scheduling in Computational Grid

In large-scale grids, the probability of a failure is much greater than in traditional parallel systems [I]. Therefore, fault tolerance has become a crucial area in grid computing. In this paper, we address the problem of fault tolerance in term of resource failure. We devise a strategy for fault tolerant job scheduling in computational grid. Proposed strategy maintains history of the fault occurrence of resource in grid information service (GIS). Whenever a resource broker has job to schedule it uses the resource fault occurrence history information from GIS and depending on this information use different intensity of check pointing and replication while scheduling the job on resources which have different tendency towards fault. Using check pointing proposed scheme can make grid scheduling more reliable and efficient. Further, it increases the percentage of jobs executed within specified deadline and allotted budget, hence helping in making grid trustworthy. Through simulation we have evaluated the performance of the proposed strategy. The experimental results demonstrate that proposed strategy effectively schedule the grid jobs in fault tolerant way in spite of highly dynamic nature of grid
Association of Alzheimer Disease Pathology with Abnormal Lipid Metabolism: The Hisayama Study

A recent case report in the Ears, Nose and Throat Journal describes a patient with unilateral epistaxis caused by a blood-sucking leech. While I do not always follow the ENT or parasitology literature, I was inspired to do so by this week's Writ e Click post, which features the intersection between neurology and endocrinology, cardiology, and nutrition. The current paradigm of medical education often means that the acquisition of new knowledge outside of our own specialties ends …
Identifying the evidence-base for art-based practices and their potential benefit for mental health recovery: A critical review

Purpose: Art-based practices show promise as a beneficial solution for mental health services because they are in line with the whole person recovery framework currently being adopted, and have high acceptability with consumers. Nevertheless, incorporation of art-based approaches into mental health services has been impeded by claims of an insufficient evidence-base and ongoing debates about the most suitable research practices. This article addresses this gap in the literature by critically reviewing current research on the benefits of art-based practices in mental health rehabilitation settings. Method: A critical review of previous research was conducted identifying all quantitative, qualitative and mixed method studies that addressed art making and adult mental illness. Then a deductive/theoretical thematic analysis was conducted using Lal’s framework for conceptualising mental health recovery. Results: The identified areas where art-based practices were of key benefit included psychological and social recovery, particularly in the areas of self-discovery, self-expression, relationships and social identity. These findings in conjunction with the identified benefits to clinical, occupational and contextual recovery indicate that art-based practices play a substantial role in mental health recovery. To add weight to these claims, future research endeavours need to integrate the suggested recommendations detailed in this review. Conclusion: Recommendations are made to improve the quality of future research, including the need for well-designed mixed-method studies that integrate qualitative and quantitative research, whilst keeping in mind the values of mental heath recovery, would further validate this current evidence-base. Implications for Rehabilitation The review indicated that art-based practices are of high benefit to psychological and social recovery particularly in the areas of self-discovery, self-expression, relationships and social identity. These findings in conjunction with the identified benefits to clinical, occupational and contextual recovery indicate that art-based practices play a substantial role to mental health recovery. Mixed-method studies that integrate qualitative and quantitative research, whilst keeping in mind the values of mental heath recovery, would further validate this current evidence-base.