Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meta-Analysis of Enteral Nutrition versus Total Parenteral Nutrition in Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Objective: To compare the safety of enteral nutrition and total parenteral nutrition in nutrition support of patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Methods: Data sources: Medline, Embase, and manual search. Study selection: 295 articles were screened for randomized controlled studies (RCTs) that compared enteral nutrition with total parenteral nutrition in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Finally, six RCTs were identified and included in the meta-analysis. Data extraction: six RCTs with 224 participants were analyzed. The main outcome were infections, artificial nutrition-related complications, pancreatitis-related complications, non-pancreatitis-related complications, organ failure and mortality. The meta-analysis was performed with the fixed effects model or random effects model. Results: Compared with total parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition was associated with a significantly lower risk of infections [odds ratio (OR) 0.236; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.120–0.464, p < 0.001], pancreatitis-related complications (0.456; 0.234–0.888, p = 0.021), organ failure (0.334; 0.167–0.670, p = 0.002), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (0.306; 0.128–0.736, p = 0.008), and mortality (0.251; 0.095–0.666, p = 0.005). There were no significant differences in artificial nutrition-related complications (0.642; 0.354–1.162, p = 0.143), and non-pancreatitis-related complications (0.716; 0.325–1.576, p = 0.406) between the two groups. Conclusions: Enteral nutrition appears safer than total parenteral nutrition in nutrition support of patients with severe acute pancreatitis.
The Effects of Financial Support Policies on Corporate Decisions by SMEs

This paper investigates the effectiveness of public credit guarantee programs and interest-support programs for SMEs (small and medium enterprises). First, assuming that there is an imperfect information structure in the SME loan market, we analyze how SME support financial programs affect the corporate decisions made by SMEs with regard to default or loan sizes. In addition, this paper theoretically computes the optimal levels of credit guarantee amounts and the interest-support spread under equilibrium with imperfect information in a competitive loan market. Second, the paper mpirically analyzes the continuous policy-treatment effect with the GPS (generalized propensity score) method. In particular, we consider the ratio of guaranteed debt to the total debt as a continuous policy treatment. The empirical results show that marginal effects of a credit guarantee on SMEs’ productivity, rofitability, and growth potential decrease with the ratio of guaranteed debt to the total debt. In addition, the average effect of a credit guarantee is maximized when this ratio is at 50% to 60%.
Effects of Privatization on Price and Labor Efficiency: The Swedish Electricity Distribution Sector

I examine the effects of privatization, in the form of acquisitions, in the Swedish electricity distribution sector. As the majority of the distribution networks have remained publicly owned, I use a synthetic control method to identify the effects on price and labor efficiency. In comparison to their synthetic counterparts, I find that the acquired networks increased labor efficiency by 8-18 percent depending on model specification, while no effect is found on price. Thus, the evidence suggests economically meaningful efficiency gains but that these are not fed through to consumer prices. Robustness results using a conventional difference-in-differences estimator largely confirms the results, although the estimated efficiency gains are either comparable to or less pronounced than their synthetic control counterparts.
PSYCHOLOGICAL BIASES IN INVESTMENT DECISIONS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF MYOPIC BEHAVIOR IN DEVELOPING CAPITAL MARKETS

This paper attempts to analyze the psychological biases that affect investors in making risky investment decisions based on the theory of Myopic Loss Aversion (MLA). The data were obtained from two sources (students and stock investors) which in turn were manipulated by two types of treatment (frequent and infrequent), using a mixed design of betweenwithin subjects with a 2 x 2 factorial. The experimental result showed the consistency of the two groups of participants to the theory of the MLA. Analysis of the gender showed that the boldness levels of the male participants and female participants in the group of investors were the same, while in the student group, gender showed a significant influence. Other findings included a "shock-effect" experienced by the participants during the experiment. Keywords: behavioral finance, myopic loss aversion, frequent-infrequent, gender, and shock-effect
Recurrent EWSR1-CREB3L1 Gene Fusions in Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma

Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) and low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) are 2 distinct types of sarcoma, with a subset of cases showing overlapping morphologic and immunohistochemical features. LGFMS is characterized by expression of the MUC4 protein, and about 90% of cases display a distinctive FUS-CREB3L2 gene fusion. In addition, SEF is often MUC4 positive, but is genetically less well studied. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies have shown involvement of the FUS gene in the majority of so-called hybrid LGFMS/SEF and in 10% to 25% of sarcomas with pure SEF morphology. In this study, we investigated a series of 10 primary tumors showing pure SEF morphology, 4 cases of LGFMS that at local or distant relapse showed predominant SEF morphology, and 1 primary hybrid LGFMS/SEF. All but 1 case showed diffuse expression for MUC4. Using FISH, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and/or mRNA sequencing in selected cases, we found recurrent EWSR1-CREB3L1 fusion transcripts by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 3/10 pure SEF cases and splits and deletions of the EWSR1 and/or CREB3L1 genes by FISH in 6 additional cases. All 5 cases of LGFMS with progression to SEF morphology or hybrid features had FUS-CREB3L2 fusion transcripts. Our results indicate that EWSR1 and CREB3L1 rearrangements are predominant over FUS and CREB3L2 rearrangements in pure SEF, highlighting that SEF and LGFMS are different tumor types, with different impacts on patient outcome.
Detecting and managing drug-related problems in the neurology ward of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Iran: A clinical pharmacist's intervention

Objective: Nowadays, the role of clinical pharmacists has become more prominent by more clinical pharmacists joining the health-care teams. This study was aimed to assess the role of a clinical pharmacist specialist in detecting and managing drug-related problems (DRPs) in the neurology ward of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Iran. Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted on 123 hospitalized patients admitted to the neurology ward of a teaching hospital. The clinical pharmacist visited the patients and filled out the designed pharmacotherapy sheet for each patient. Then, the general pharmacist checked the patients' files and pharmacotherapy sheets and categorized DRPs using modified method of “The Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe classification, Version 5.01. ” Findings: A total of 168 errors were found and 346 interventions were done by the clinical pharmacist during the study period. The most common form of errors in our study was “drug choice problems” (57.76%). The acceptance rate of interventions was 41.91% among physicians. Conclusion: The large number of interventions reported in several studies, as well as this study, revealed that clinical pharmacy services could contribute to a rationalization of drug therapy and may eventually lead to more medication safety.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Performance of MRI for Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE A meta-analysis was performed to determine the accuracy of MRI in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the general population and in subsets of pregnant patients and children. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic search of the PubMed and EMBASE databases for articles published through the end of October 2014 was performed to identify studies that used MRI to evaluate patients suspected of having acute appendicitis. Pooled data for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS A total of 30 studies that comprised 2665 patients were reviewed. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis are 96% (95% CI, 95-97%) and 96% (95% CI, 95-97%), respectively. In a subgroup of studies that focused solely on pregnant patients, the sensitivity and specificity of MRI were 94% (95% CI, 87-98%) and 97% (95% CI, 96-98%), respectively, whereas in studies that focused on children, sensitivity and specificity were found to be 96% (95% CI, 95-97%) and 96% (95% CI, 94-98%), respectively. CONCLUSION MRI has a high accuracy for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, for a wide range of patients, and may be acceptable for use as a first-line diagnostic test.
Ownership structure and tax aggressiveness of Chinese listed companies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of state shareholding and control versus institutional investors on tax aggressiveness of Chinese listed firms. Design/methodology/approach By exploring recently available tax reconciliation data required under 2006 Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises on a sample of Chinese A-share listed firms, the authors calculate a direct measure of tax aggressiveness and investigate the influence of firm ownership structure on their tax aggressiveness. Findings The authors find that state ownership and control are positively associated with corporate tax aggressiveness. A positive link between the collective shareholding by the top ten shareholders and firm tax aggressiveness is also found. In contrast, institutional share ownership is negatively associated with corporate tax aggressiveness. Research limitations/implications The results indicate that political connections and ownership concentration empower firms to pursue aggressive tax planning, whereas institutional investors partially mitigate such influences. Originality/value This paper complements recent studies on tax aggressiveness in the USA by analyzing tax planning activities of Chinese listed firms. The authors highlight firm ownership and control factors that encourage aggressive tax planning in China. This paper has important implications for both public policy and corporate governance in emerging markets similar to China.
IDENTIFICATION OF FASCIOLA HEPATICA RECOMBINANT 15-KDA FATTY ACID–BINDING PROTEIN T-CELL EPITOPES THAT PROTECT AGAINST EXPERIMENTAL FASCIOLIASIS IN RABBITS AND MICE

Vaccination with fatty acid–binding proteins (FABPs) from Fasciola hepatica has been shown to confer significant levels of protection against challenge infection in mice, rabbits, and sheep. A recombinant 15-kDa FABP (rFh15) has been purified and also shown to be an immunoprotective molecule. From the rFh15 molecule sequence 2, 12- and 10-mer putative T-cell epitopes were identified, the first an Fh15Ta of amino acid sequence IKMVSSLKTKIT, and the second an Fh15Tb of amino acid sequence VKAVTTLLKA. The synthesized oligonucleotides were cloned individually into a pGEX-2TK expression vector. The overexpressed fusion protein was affinity purified using glutathione S-transferase (GST) by competitive elution with excess reduced glutathione. These GST fusion proteins were emulsified in Freund adjuvant for rabbit immunizations or further purified as peptides after digestion with thrombin. The purified 12- and 10-mer peptides were either emulsified in Freund adjuvant for immunizations in rabbits or used in an adjuvant-adaptation (ADAD) system, followed by challenge infection with F. hepatica metacercariae in mice and rabbits. In vaccinated-challenged rabbits, the highest levels of protection were found in those treated with GST-epitopes (Fh15Ta 48.2% and Fh15Tb 59.1% reduction, respectively), as compared to GST-immunized controls. Moreover, those immunized with Fh15Ta had higher (84%) numbers of immature flukes as compared with Fh15Tb (41%) or GST alone (64%). The rabbits immunized with the putative T-cell epitopes in adjuvant had a 13% reduction in flukes in those with Fh15Ta and also were highest with immature flukes (46%). In vaccinated mice challenged with a lethal number of metacercariae, both CD-1 and BALB/c mice treated with complete ADAD-GST-Ta had the highest (40%) survival rates of all groups by 47 days postinfection. Thus the Fh15Ta and Fh15Tb polypeptide epitopes warrant further study as a potential vaccine against F. hepatica. Antibody isotype studies in mice revealed a mixed Th1/Th2 response to vaccination.
Evaluation of Serial Cervical Cytology in the Assessment of Preinvasive Cervical Neoplasia

Summary: Examination was made of the cervical cytology in 107 patients who underwent cone biopsy with a subsequent diagnosis of severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ (105) or microinvasive carcinoma (2). Multiple smears had been performed for each patient over a period of time. From the total number of smears a “false‐negative‘ cervical cytology rate of 10.3 per cent was found. The time interval from the initial abnormal smear until definitive surgical treatment was carried out was calculated. The cervical smear prior to cone biopsy was found to correlate with the histological diagnosis in only 46.7 per cent. The implications of performing repeated cervical cytology are discussed and a firm recommendation is made that patients with abnormal cervical smear be promptly referred to definitive treatment.
Judicial Indicators and Business Cycles in Brazil

This paper presents an innovative data set of judicial indicators in Brazil, based on the contents of court digital diaries (Diario da Justica Eletronico) for the state of Sao Paulo. These daily, well-structured text records allow computing aggregate, highfrequency court data for new cases, resolved cases and case-activity in general, as well as case type-level data, for a broad range of legal subjects including eviction, foreclosures, debt instruments, bankruptcy, dissolution of partnership, tax, indemnities, alimony, among others. The dataset also includes business starts, extracted from the commercial registry diary. Text records also allow monitoring litigation activity of the financial sector, which is related to credit market conditions. Ease of computation and timeliness makes this dataset attractive as potential leading or coincident indicators of economic activity and therefore, suitable for nowcasting. The first part of the paper presents the methodology of this novel panel dataset. The second part presents, based on standard time-series methods, an assessment of the predictive power of proposed judicial indicators in anticipating the path of a vector of business cycle variables. Results suggest that the novel set of judicial indicators improves forecasting in the short-run up to three months, relatively to benchmark models as well as relatively to “market” forecasts of the “present”. Relationships between judicial and economic indicators are discussed, particularly in the case of the credit market-related indicators. Results are in line with Fama and French (1989), Stock and Watson (1989), Chen (1991) and Gilchrist and Zakrajˇsek (2011), which suggest that delinquency rates and market risk premium are important predictors of business conditions.
Mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors – a population‐based study from Northern Norway

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. This tumor typically expresses KIT, and has KIT or PDGFRA activating mutation. In this study we evaluated 89 GISTs diagnosed in Northern Norway during a 30‐year period. KIT exons 8, 9, 11, 13, and 17 were analyzed by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Subsequently PDGRA exons 12, 14, and 18 were evaluated in KIT wild‐type cases. KIT mutations were found in 66 cases (75%), and PDGFRA mutations in 9 cases (10%). Most common were KIT exon 11 mutations, with 58 cases. Tumors with Kit exon 11 point mutations had a significantly better prognosis than those with deletions. There were five KIT exon 9 duplications, three exon 13 point mutations, and one point mutation in exon 17. There were nine PDGFGRA mutations: seven in exon 18 and two in exon 12. All but one PDGFRA mutant GISTs were gastric tumors with epithelioid morphology, and these tumors were on average smaller than those with KIT mutations. KIT and PDGFRA wild type was found in 15% of cases. Analysis of KIT and PDGFRA mutations is of significance for treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and may also have value when assessing the biological potential of GIST.
NAT2 Genotypes in Moroccan Patients with Hepatotoxicity Due to Antituberculosis Drugs.

AIM Isoniazid (INH) is the most effective drug used as a first-line tuberculosis (TB) treatment besides rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. It is also the most commonly associated with hepatotoxicity. Differences of toxicity induced by INH have been attributed to genetic variability of the N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) gene which encodes a drug-metabolizing enzyme. The aim of this study was to characterize the acetylation profile of patients who developed hepatotoxicity after TB treatment by genotyping NAT2 polymorphisms. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study included 42 Moroccan patients who developed hepatotoxicity after TB treatment and 163 Moroccan controls without TB. We genotyped four selected variants of the NAT2 gene (NAT2*5, NAT2*6, NAT2*7, and NAT2*14) by Sanger sequencing for patients and real-time polymerase chain reaction for controls. RESULTS The majority of patients had NAT2 genotypes previously described as slow acetylators including NAT2*5/*5, NAT2*5/*6, NAT2*6/*6, and NAT2*6/*14 (78%) and none were genotyped as rapid acetylators. Controls were slow, intermediate, and rapid acetylators with frequencies of 72.39%, 21.48%, and 6.13%, respectively. CONCLUSION There were no fast acetylator genotypes found among the patients having INH-hepatotoxicity. This finding suggests that the slow acetylator phenotype may contribute to the development of TB treatment hepatotoxicity.
Generation of fecal and total coliform surges by stream flow manipulation in the absence of normal hydrometeorological stimuli

The response of Escherichia coli and total coliform concentration to increases in river discharge was investigated. Artificial hydrographs were generated on eight occasions between 21 October 1979 and 3 March 1981 by releasing water from Thruscross Reservoir in North Yorkshire into Fewston Reservoir. The majority of the releases were made after rainless periods to isolate the effects of stream channel entrainment from those induced by rainfall on the land surface. In the absence of rainfall, bacterial concentrations are shown to increase more than 10-fold in response to stage increases. It is suggested that two stores of bacteria must exist on the catchment, the first being a land store and the second a channel or near-channel store. Movement from the land to the channel store must relate to hill slope hydrological processes, whereas movement between stores in the channel fluvial system may be closely allied to sedimentary processes. Some consideration is given to bacterial levels in relation to European Economic Communities guidelines for contact recreation.
Effect of liraglutide on atrial natriuretic peptide, adrenomedullin, and copeptin in PCOS

Context Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and biomarkers can be used to detect early subclinical CVD. Midregional-pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), midregional-pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) and copeptin are all associated with CVD and part of the delicate system controlling fluid and hemodynamic homeostasis through vascular tonus and diuresis. The GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide, developed for treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), improves cardiovascular outcomes in patients with T2D including a decrease in particular MR-proANP. Objective To investigate if treatment with liraglutide in women with PCOS reduces levels of the cardiovascular biomarkers MR-proADM, MR-proANP and copeptin. Methods Seventy-two overweight women with PCOS were treated with 1.8 mg/day liraglutide or placebo for 26 weeks in a placebo-controlled RCT. Biomarkers, anthropometrics, insulin resistance, body composition (DXA) and visceral fat (MRI) were examined. Results Baseline median (IQR) levels were as follows: MR-proADM 0.52 (0.45–0.56) nmol/L, MR-proANP 44.8 (34.6–56.7) pmol/L and copeptin 4.95 (3.50–6.50) pmol/L. Mean percentage differences (95% CI) between liraglutide and placebo group after treatment were as follows: MR-proADM −6% (−11 to 2, P = 0.058), MR-proANP −25% (−37 to −11, P = 0.001) and copeptin +4% (−13 to 25, P = 0.64). Reduction in MR-proANP concentration correlated with both increased heart rate and diastolic blood pressure in the liraglutide group. Multiple regression analyses with adjustment for BMI, free testosterone, insulin resistance, visceral fat, heart rate and eGFR showed reductions in MR-proANP to be independently correlated with an increase in the heart rate. Conclusion In an RCT, liraglutide treatment in women with PCOS reduced levels of the cardiovascular risk biomarkers MR-proANP with 25% and MR-proADM with 6% (borderline significance) compared with placebo. The decrease in MR-proANP was independently associated with an increase in the heart rate.
The Implementation Strategies of Good Corporate Governance for Zakat Institutions in Indonesia

Zakat institutions are aimed to contribute to poverty alleviation in a country. In order to ensure that the Zakat institutions can perform well, it is urgently needed to have professional good governance. This research is aimed to find the best strategies to improve the management quality of the Zakat institutions in Indonesia. The research method used in this study comprises both qualitative and quantitative approach using Analytic Network Process. The research results show that to enhance the quality of good governance in Zakat institutions, following are the key elements. The top three main priorities in transparency principles are financial report standardization, followed by Zakat distributions transparency, and the knowledge about decision making. The top three main priorities in responsibilities principles are working compliance with SOPs, followed by prudential principles, and Shari'ah compliance. The top three main priorities in accountability principles are the effectiveness of internal control, followed by performance measurement, and competencies compliance with job descriptions. The top three main priorities in fairness principles are giving priority to the common interest, followed by equal treatment for all stakeholders, and prudential principles in asset management. To achieve all these priorities, the main strategy which should be prioritized is independent human management system, followed by having Shari’ah board and audit committee and the computerized Zakat system. Keywords: Zakat institutions, Good Governance, Analytic Network Process JEL Classification: L31, G34