Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrition in primary care: current practices, attitudes, and barriers.

OBJECTIVE To investigate what role family physicians currently play in the management of patients with nutrition-related issues and whether implementation of current nutrition counseling guidelines is feasible in primary care practices. DESIGN Mailed survey. SETTING Family practice offices in British Columbia. PARTICIPANTS A total of 451 Canadian-trained family physicians practising in British Columbia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Respondents' demographic characteristics; respondents' attitudes about and perceived barriers to nutrition counseling, as well as their current practices and training in this area. RESULTS Among the 757 physicians surveyed, the response rate was 59.6%. Overall, respondents had positive attitudes about the role of nutrition in patient health, and most physicians (58.1%) believed that more than 60% of their patients would benefit from nutrition counseling. However, there was a considerable gap between the proportion of patients who respondents thought would benefit from nutrition counseling and the proportion of patients who received such counseling either in the family physicians' offices or through referral to dietitians. Rural physicians referred patients to dietitian services more frequently than urban physicians did (41.7% vs 21.7% made more than 20 referrals to dietitians each year). Nearly all physicians identified lack of time and compensation as the strongest barriers to providing nutrition guidance. Training was not considered to be as strong a barrier to counseling, even though 82.3% of family physicians reported their formal nutrition training in medical school to be inadequate, and only 30% of family physicians reported currently using any nutrition-related resources. CONCLUSION For family physicians, successful implementation of the 2006 Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management and Prevention of Obesity requires access to adequate training, compensation, and evidence-based interventions related to nutrition. This study highlights current nutrition counseling practices in family medicine and identifies several obstacles to integrating the current guidelines in primary care settings.
Absolute and relative rewards for individuals in team production

This paper examines the use of prizes as an incentive device in team production environments. We reward team members in two different ways. First, heterogeneously endowed individuals are given a monetary prize for high absolute levels of contributions. Secondly, a prize is given for high levels of contributions relative to endowment-token endowments represent abilities to contribute to the team. We find that both prize treatments significantly increase group contributions, but rewarding individuals based on absolute contributions also widens the dispersion between the high-contributor and the remainder of the group. Contributions are highest when the prize is for high relative contributions, and the dispersion in contributions is lower than with a prize for absolute contributions. Furthermore, these prizes could be self-funded since giving prizes creates more system-wide wealth than what the prize costs. These results have implications for work team environments in which prizes given for individual effort towards the group goal could raise overall effort levels. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investment Banks in Dual Roles: Acquirer M&A Advisors as Underwriters

We analyze the dual role of investment banks that provide advice to acquiring firms and act as underwriters on the securities issued to finance the acquisition. We find that a significant fraction (56 percent) of acquirers that issue public securities to finance their acquisitions also use their advisor as the underwriter on the acquisition related security issue. We find that this dual role of the acquirer advisor is associated with lower acquirer announcement returns, higher target announcement returns, and higher acquisition premiums. These results are consistent with the existence of conflict of interest between the acquiring firm shareholders and their dual role advisor. We also find that, for larger transactions, which have the most potential for conflict of interest because of the larger fees involved, the relation between acquirer announcement returns and the dual advisor-underwriter role played by the acquirer’s investment bank is more negative. Acquisitions that are advised by dual role investment banks are more likely to be eventually divested. For larger transactions, the relation between the likelihood of divestiture and the dual advisor-underwriter role played by the acquirer’s investment bank is more positive. However, such a dual role of the acquirer advisor does not lead to lower underwriting fees or issue costs. Acquisitions involving dual role investment banks are completed faster, suggesting a potential motivation for using investment banks in such dual advisor-underwriter roles. Our results are robust to controlling for the selection of firms that finance their acquisitions with a security issue and the endogeneity of underwriter selection.
Age matters: how demographics influence aggregate entrepreneurship

The age distribution of a population may influence aggregate entrepreneurship and economic growth. Because of rigidities in the mobility of resources and the substitutability of employment across age groups, countries whose populations are excessively skewed toward old or young cohorts may experience low levels of entrepreneurial activity. We develop a model characterizing the conditions sufficient for aggregate entrepreneurship to decrease as a population ages or becomes younger. At a time when poorer countries confront unprecedented increases in population and developed ones see their populations aging, we provide important insights on the relationship between demographic structure, aggregate entrepreneurship, and growth. Copyright © 2011 Strategic Management Society.
Cross-border VC investment in Canadian firms: implications for exit patterns

Abstract Over the last few years, growth in the flow of venture capital (VC) in Canada has been driven primarily by increased reliance on foreign, primarily US, investors This is a situation that is not unique to Canada. Other countries (for example, Ireland and several EU nations) have small domestic VC stocks but are geographically situated near countries with relatively large stocks of VC. This paper reports research that shows this to be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, foreign investors make relatively large investments, thereby addressing the downward-skewed size distribution of VC funds in the Canadian VC market. Moreover, compared with domestic investors, foreign VCs’ participation is associated with higher propensities of successful exits through IPOs, greater capital availability, and shorter time to exit. On the other hand, this research also documents a relationship between foreign VCs’ participation and lower payments at exit per dollar of VC investment, raising concerns about the monetary returns to Canadian founders and early-stage, higher risk, Canadian syndicate VCs. The link between cross-border VC investment and higher likelihood of VC exit through cross-border M&As is also noteworthy. These empirical findings address the role of foreign VCs in financing Canadian growth firms, and help provide a yet more comprehensive understanding of the Canadian VC market.
Expression of a 28-Kilodalton Glutathione S-Transferase Antigen of Schistosoma mansoni on the Surface of Filamentous Phages and Evaluation of Its Vaccine Potential

ABSTRACT A cloning and expression system that allows display of proteins on the surface of filamentous phages was exploited to display a 28-kDa glutathione S-transferase (Sm28GST) antigen of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. The phage-displayed Sm28GST (pdGST) was immunoreactive and was recognized by immune sera, suggesting that the Sm28GST protein displayed on the surface of phages potentially maintains native conformation. Subsequent immunization studies showed that mice can develop high titers of antibodies against pdGST and do not require any additional adjuvant for immunization. Isotype analysis suggested that the pdGST immunization predominantly induced immunoglobulin G2b (IgG2b), IgG3, and IgM anti-GST antibodies in mice. Furthermore, the pdGST immunization was found to confer about 30% protection after a challenge infection with 100 cercariae of S. mansoni in BALB/c mice. These findings suggest that phage display is a simple, efficient, and promising tool to express candidate vaccine antigens for immunization against infectious agents.
What is expected of higher education graduates in the 21st century

In this paper, we reflect on the skills higher education graduates are expected to have in todays economy and the role of higher education in equipping graduates with these skills. First, we identify 6 trends which form the basis of the changing role of graduates in economic life. These trends are the knowledge society, increasing uncertainty, the ICT revolution, high performance workplaces, globalization, and the change of the economic structure. By changing the nature and range of tasks graduates are expected to fulfil in todays economy, we argue that these trends generate new and intensify traditional skill demands, which we summarize as professional expertise, flexibility, innovation and knowledge management, mobilization of human resources, international orientation, andentrepreneurship. Second, we draw out some key issues concerning the role of higher education institutions in equipping graduates with these skills.
Postmenopausal weight change and incidence of fracture: post hoc findings from Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study and Clinical Trials

Objectives To determine associations between postmenopausal change in body weight and incidence of fracture and associations between voluntary and involuntary weight loss and risk of fracture. Design Post hoc analysis of data from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study and Clinical Trials. Setting 40 clinical centers in the United States. Participants 120 566 postmenopausal women, aged 50-79 at baseline (1993-98), followed through 2013 (mean fracture follow-up duration 11 years from baseline). Exposures Annualized percentage change in measured body weight from baseline to year 3, classified as stable (<5% change), weight loss (≥5%), or weight gain (≥5%). Self assessment of whether weight loss was intentional or unintentional. Cox proportional hazards regression models were adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, baseline body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol intake, level of physical activity, energy expenditure, calcium and vitamin D intake, physical function score, oophorectomy, hysterectomy, previous fracture, comorbidity score, and drug use. Main outcomes Incident self reported fractures of the upper limbs, lower limbs, and central body; hip fractures confirmed by medical records. Results Mean participant age was 63.3. Mean annualized percent weight change was 0.30% (95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.32). Overall, 79 279 (65.6%) had stable weight; 18 266 (15.2%) lost weight; and 23 021 (19.0%) gained weight. Compared with stable weight, weight loss was associated with a 65% higher incidence rates of fracture in hip (adjusted hazard ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.49 to 1.82), upper limb (1.09, 1.03 to 1.16), and central body (1.30, 1.20 to 1.39); weight gain was associated with higher incidence rates of fracture in upper limb (1.10, 1.05 to 1.18) and lower limb (1.18, 1.12 to 1.25). Compared with stable weight, unintentional weight loss was associated with a 33% higher incidence rates of hip fracture (1.33, 1.19 to 1.47) and increased incidence rates of vertebral fracture (1.16, 1.06 to 1.26); intentional weight loss was associated with increased incidence rates of lower limb fracture (1.11, 1.05 to 1.17) and decreased incidence of hip fracture (0.85, 0.76 to 0.95). Conclusions Weight gain, weight loss, and intentional weight loss are associated with increased incidence of fracture, but associations differ by fracture location. Clinicians should be aware of fracture patterns after weight gain and weight loss.
Enzyme Histochemistry of Hepatocellular Neoplasms

We examined a series of hepatocellular neoplasms, including 4 adenomas, 7 hepatoblastomas, and 18 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) with enzyme histochemistry in plastic-embedded sections. Our most striking observation was that there was a distinct difference in the staining pattern for alkaline phosphatase (AlkΘ) in benign and malignant tumors. Non-neoplastic controls (normal liver, reactive lesions) and benign neoplasms showed a distinctive canalicular pattern of staining with AlkΘ. Malignant neoplasms, however, showed a virtual absence of AlkΘ staining; 6 of 7 hepatoblastomas and 17 of 18 HCCs were practically devoid of staining, while the two positive cases showed a pattern easily discernible from normal. The sensitivity of the observed AlkΘ staining pattern in detecting malignant hepatocellular neoplasms was 92% and the specificity was 100%. Cytoplasmic γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) was present in a minority of HCCs, but faint staining was also seen in normal liver or in adenomas. It appears that these nonmorphologic techniques may aid the surgical pathologist in the differential diagnosis of primary hepatocellular neoplasms.
Did the Profitability of Momentum and Reversal Strategies Decline with Arbitrage Costs After the Turn of the Millennium?

This article investigates the issue of whether major developments in U.S. stock markets around the turn of the millennium reduced arbitrage costs, and consequently the profitability of momentum, long-term reversal, and short-term reversal strategies. Evidence for the years 1990 to 2013 is generally consistent with these predictions, though effects of the financial crisis of 2008 to 2009 are also evident.
Macroeconomic Determinants of Interest rate Spread in Ghana: Evidence from ARDL Modelling Approach

The Ghanaian economy appears to be in a certain cycle of high lending and low borrowing rates culminating in wide interest rate spreads. A number of studies point to the fact that the spread between the lending rates and borrowing rates is too wide to promote efficient financial intermediation between savers and borrowers but failed to look at macroeconomics effect on the interest rate spread in Ghana. This study contributes to the discussion by evaluating the macroeconomic variables (factors) that affect the interest rate spread with a view to determining their shortterm and long-term relationships for policy recommendations that will serve the interest of all stake holders in the financial services' sector and the general Ghanaian economy. Using autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration and Vector Error Correction analysis, we observed both short-run and long run relationship between identified macroeconomics variables and interest rate spread in Ghana. The study recommends that, government borrowing, interest and inflation rate are kept low while pursuing policies that maximise savings.
Defense Expenditures and Allied Cooperation

This article investigates the implications of cooperative and noncooperative defense spending of allied countries in conflicting blocs using static and leader-follower game models. It is well known that in the three-country world with two allies and an adversary, all countries may be worse off when the allies cooperate than when they do not. This article shows that when the number of countries in each separate bloc is large, the countries in one bloc may be better off by cooperating than not, even if the negative spillover from the adversarial bloc is large. Furthermore, cooperative behavior in a leader-follower game by the leader bloc can attain a better outcome than noncooperation.
Evaluation of Water Supply Systems in Phnom Penh City: A Review of the Present Status and Future Prospects

Phnom Penh City, the capital of Cambodia, is facing the problem of inadequate quantity and poor quality of water. The continuous increase in urban population and the need for repair and maintenance of old and outdated structures and distribution networks will increase the city's water demand almost 2.5 times by the year 2025. Owing to lack of technical and financial resources, achieving this target is doubtful by government effort alone. This study explores the present situation and possible improvements based on existing facilities of the Phnom Penh water supply system.
National culture and human resource management: assumptions and evidence

It is generally understood that human resource practices and strategies differ according to contextual factors such as size, industry and so forth. However, the globalization of business means that country differences in the environment for organizations have received increasing attention. Although countries can differ in many important ways (e.g. institutional and regulatory environments, labour-force characteristics such as education), a dominant focus of the international management literature is on national differences in culture, especially cultural values (Hofstede, 1980). We examine the assumptions that underlie this emphasis on the importance of national culture differences in international management and re-analyse findings from previous research, such as Hofstede's, to test these assumptions. We find, contrary to the interpretations of the original authors, that these assumptions receive only weak support when country effects are evaluated using variance explained estimates, rather than relying solely on statistical significance tests. We conclude that, while national culture differences can be important and must be understood, their role needs to be put in the context of other important contextual factors, including organizational culture.
Meta-analysis of the return of schooling: comparing French and US results to introduce short term vs long term returns

In this paper, we provide an analytical review of previous estimates of the rate of return on schooling investments in France and measure how these estimates vary over time, with the nature of data and by estimation methods. Improving the Ashenfelter Harmon and Oosterbeek (1999) approach (denoted below AHO), we do not find evidence of reporting bias in the estimates. Furthermore, introducing possible “within study correlations” does not significantly affect the estimations. Nevertheless, we find that differences in returns by estimation methods still exist. Differences of specification in earning functions have also to be taken into account as well as the composition of sample (male/female, public/private sector). We also find that estimated returns have been decreasing in France since the end of the 60’ and suggest a “meta Phillips curve” effect as an explanation for the contrasted evolution of the return between France and the US.
Voice Function and Voice-Related Quality of Life in the Elderly

Background: Many studies have referred to the effects of age on voice and the consequences of these changes. However, only little is known about the adverse effects of voice changes on quality of life in the elderly. Objective: This study focuses on self-perception of voice in seniors as assessed by the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) questionnaire, on voice quality as measured by the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) and on the correlation between these parameters. Methods: V-RQOL and DSI were measured as previously described in 107 non-treatment-seeking test persons without voice complaints (76 women and 31 men; mean age 78.7 ± 6.8 years, range 66–94 years). Results: The mean V-RQOL value was 94.4 ± 9.8%. The mean value of the DSI in all participants was 1.2 ± 2.4. There was no significant correlation between the V-RQOL and DSI, either in women (p = 0.11), men (p = 0.58) or the whole study group (p = 0.26). Conclusion: Both the V-RQOL questionnaire and the DSI may be applied to seniors. As self-perception of voice and voice function do not correlate, both parameters have to be measured for voice assessment.
Caudal dexmedetomidine decreases the required concentration of levobupivacaine for caudal block in pediatric patients: a randomized trial

Dexmedetomidine (D) can prolong the duration of local anesthetics, but the effect of caudal dexmedetomidine on the potency of levobupivacaine (L) for caudal block has not been investigated. This study was designed to determine the effect of caudal dexmedetomidine on levobupivacaine for caudal block in pediatric patients.
Market Town Regeneration; Challenges for Policy and Implementation

Many challenges face local authorities and communities as they engage in the Government's Market Towns Initiative, launched in 2001. This article first considers vertical relationships and the conflicts which emerged when national and regional agencies attempted to roll out a top-down programme that is intended to be essentially bottom-up and community driven. Horizontal relationships and issues are then examined such as integrating across sectors, engaging rural hinterlands and working with neighbouring towns. The article uses examples from the West Midlands and identifies key issues that could improve policy guidance and assist future implementation of the Market Towns Initiative.
Sequential Compressed Sensing With Progressive Signal Reconstruction in Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper considers sequential compressed acquisition and progressive reconstruction of spatially and temporally correlated sensor data streams in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) via compressed sensing (CS). We develop a sequential framework based on sliding window processing, in which the sink can efficiently reconstruct the current sensors' readings from a sequence of periodically delivered CS measurements by exploiting the joint compressibility via Kronecker sparsifying bases. Specifically, we derive a recursive CS recovery method which utilizes the estimates from the preceding decoding instants via a regularization and reweighted ℓ1-minimization to improve the reconstruction accuracy of sensor data streams while reducing the necessary communications. As beneficial features, the method produces estimates for the current sensors' readings without additional decoding delay, and, via adjusting the window size, it can dynamically trade-off between the CS recovery performance and decoding complexity. Numerical results show that our proposed method achieves higher reconstruction accuracy with a smaller number of required transmissions, and with lower decoding delay and complexity as compared to those of the state of the art CS methods.
Increased susceptibility of cells treated with interferon to the toxicity of polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid.

Concentrations of the synthetic polymer polyriboinosinic.polyribocytidylic acid that produced no detectable toxicity in normal L cells produced marked cytotoxicity in L cells treated with interferon. This increase in the susceptibility of cells to the toxicity of the polymer was also observed in human cells and secondary mouse embryo cells treated with homologous interferons before exposure to the polynucleotides. The degree of enhancement of toxicity was dependent on the concentration of interferon to which the cells were exposed. The ratio of antiviral activity induced by interferon to enhancement of toxicity by interferon remained constant through about 1000-fold purification. Various interferon preparations induced by viruses or by polyriboinosinic.polyribocytidylic acid in vivo or in vitro, and international reference standard interferons all exhibited enhancement of toxicity. Both enhancement of toxicity and antiviral activity were destroyed by trypsin and by incubation at 56 degrees for 1 hr, did not act on heterologous cells, were not sedimented by ultracentrifugation, and were not inactivated by ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, irradiation with ultraviolet light, or exposure to a pH of 2.