Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Industry-specific determinants of shareholder value creation

Purpose Prior studies on determinants of shareholder value creation have reported conflicting and sometimes confusing results. In this study, to obtain more refined and industry-specific results regarding variables determining shareholder value creation, an analysis was performed focusing on different categories of firms or industries. Design/methodology/approach Two dependent and 11 independent variables were applied to five different industries to obtain the best set of significant value drivers of shareholder value creation for a particular industry. Findings Market value added (MVA) is a better indicator of shareholder value created compared to a market adjusted return. Accounting-based variables (EPS, ROA and NOPAT) are superior to economic-based variables (EVA and ROCE) in explaining shareholder value creation, but results differ, depending on the dependent variable chosen as shareholder value creation measure. For each industry, there is a unique set of variables that determine shareholder value creation; the industrial goods industry has seven significant value drivers, namely, EPS, NOPAT, ROCE, the Spread, EVA, EBEI and REVA, whilst for the food and beverages industry, there were only two significant value drivers (EPS and ROA). Originality/value These findings imply that management, analysts and shareholders should, depending on the specific industry in which their firm operates, take into account a more specific set of variables when making their financial decisions, including compensation or reward structuring.
Efficacy of Warfarin Reversal in Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Patients

Objectives: We determine the efficacy of active reversal of warfarin anticoagulation with intravenous vitamin K compared to withholding warfarin in patients requiring urgent orthopedic trauma surgery. Design: This was a prospective cohort with immediate prehypothesis consecutive retrospective comparative case series conducted at a level 1 university hospital trauma unit. Patients: Forty-eight consecutive patients between 1998 and 2004 in a study composed of a prospective cohort were compared with a retrospective consecutive case series of warfarinized orthopedic trauma patients requiring urgent surgery. The prospective arm directly followed the historic case series from which the hypothesis was generated. Intervention: Vitamin K administration. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome was time to surgery. Secondary outcomes were problems with active reversal, length of time for warfarin stabilization after surgery, and complications. Results: The mean time to surgery in warfarinized patients not given vitamin K was 111.9 hours; in the intervention group, it was 67.4 hours, giving a mean difference of 44.5 hours (P = 0.01). Vitamin K reduced the international normalized ratio (INR) to less than 2.0 in 74% of patients within 24 hours. There were no complications of vitamin K administration. A dose of vitamin K costs approximately 1/1000 of a hospital bed day cost. A loading dose of warfarin on the second postoperative day took approximately 1 day longer to reach an INR of greater than 2.0 in the intervention patients than in those who had not been given vitamin K. Conclusions: Warfarin reversal with vitamin K was successful and facilitated earlier surgery in all patients; the first dose was effective in approximately three quarters of patients. It is cost-effective, with no side effects caused in this study.
Chemical Composition and Carcinogenicity of Smokeless Tobacco

In the United States, smokeless tobacco (ST) is marketed as chewing tobacco and as oral snuff. During the past 15 years, consumption of chewing tobacco has declined by 30.6%, whereas snuff use has significantly increased, namely, by 51.8%. This increase is primarily due to the growing popularity of oral snuff use among teenage and young adolescent males. Chewing of tobacco is associated with an increased risk for oral cancer. Snuff dipping is causally and specifically associated with cancer of the cheek, gum, and pharynx. In laboratory animals, snuff induces cancer of the mouth. Several carcinogens have been identified in ST, the tobacco-specific N-nitrosamine (TSNA), N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), and 4(methylnitrosamino)-l-(3-pyridyl)-l-butanone (NNK) being the most important. NNN and NNK are formed from nicotine during curing, aging, and especially during fermentation of tobacco. Oral swabbing of a low concentration of a mixture of NNN plus NNK in water induces oral tumors in rats. The concentration of the strongly carcinogenic TSNA is higher in snuff than in other ST products. According to our analytical studies, the three leading snuff brands in the US (92% of the market) contain far higher concentrations of nicotine, unprotonated nicotine, and TSNA than the less popular brands. Thus, the leading US snuff brands are the strongest inducers of nicotine dependence and also have the highest carcinogenic potential.
Association between body mass index and salivary uric acid among Mexican‐origin infants, youth and adults: Gender and developmental differences

Uric acid (UA) is the end product of the metabolic breakdown of purine nucleotides. Recent studies have measured UA in saliva in relation to obesity and chronic disease risk. Given the increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Latino youth, we examined gender and age differences in salivary uric acid (sUA) and weight in a sample of Mexican-origin children (n = 65, 2 months to 18 years, 49% female) and adults (n = 46, 19-58 years, 72% female). We measured weight, height, waist, and hip circumference and collected saliva samples (later assayed for sUA). Structural equation models estimated the relationship between age, developmental stage, and weight outcomes in relation to sUA levels between genders, while controlling for race. Results demonstrate that increased sUA levels were related to higher BMI percentiles in females of all ages (β = 0.43, p < .001). There were significant differences in sUA levels between developmental stages for girls, with female toddlers having the highest sUA levels (β = .28, p = .02). In an interaction between BMI z-score and gender between youth and adults, BMI has a larger effect on increasing sUA levels among younger girls (β = 0.27, p < .03) and adult women (β = 0.33, p = .02). Levels of sUA may be gender-specific in relation to BMI and developmental stage.
Citalopram augmentation for subsyndromal symptoms of depression in middle-aged and older outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Subsyndromal symptoms of depression (SSD) in older outpatients with schizophrenia are common and clinically important. While many physicians prescribe antidepressants to patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder who have SSD, evidence for their effectiveness and safety has been meager. We describe a randomized placebo-controlled trial of citalopram in 198 patients. METHOD Participants in this 2-site study, conducted from September 1, 2001, to August 31, 2007, were men and women with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were 40 years of age or older and who met study criteria for SSD. Patients were randomly assigned to flexible-dose treatment with citalopram or placebo augmentation of their current antipsychotic medication. Analysis of covariance was used to compare improvement in scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Calgary Depression Rating Scale between treatment groups; secondary efficacy analyses compared improvement in several other dimensions of schizophrenia. RESULTS Augmentation with citalopram was significantly more effective than with placebo in improving depressive (p = .002) and negative (p = .049) symptoms, mental functioning (p = .000), and quality of life (p = .046). There were no significant differences between citalopram and placebo in suicidal ideation, positive symptoms, cognition, general medical health, physical functioning, or symptoms of movement disorders. No adverse events were more frequent in participants receiving citalopram than in those receiving placebo, and only 4 participants from each treatment group terminated early because of side effects. CONCLUSIONS Subsyndromal symptoms of depression in middle aged and older patients with schizophrenia responded to treatment with citalopram with lessening of depressive symptoms and improved functioning and quality of life. It may be important for clinicians to identify and treat SSD in middle-aged and older patients with chronic schizophrenia. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00047450.
Granulysin in human serum as a marker of cell‐mediated immunity

Granulysin is a cytolytic granule protein of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with a broad range of antimicrobial and tumoricidal activities. Two molecular forms of granulysin, the 15‐kDa precursor and 9‐kDa mature form, are produced in these cells. In this study, we developed monoclonal antibodies against granulysin and found that the 15‐kDa granulysin is spontaneously secreted by peripheral blood NK and T cells via a non‐granule exocytotic pathway. When NK cells killed the target cells, the released granulysin levels in culture supernatants significantly increased through the granule exocytosis. The granulysin protein was found in the sera of healthy individuals at an average concentration of 3.7±3.2 ng/ml (age 0–99 years, n=244). The serum levels of granulysin were transiently highly elevated among patients with acute viral infections. In addition, the serum granulysin levels in patients with severe immunodeficiency treated bycell therapy fluctuated proportionately to the improvement of other immunological parameters. Our results suggest that granulysin is well associated with diverse activities of NK cells and CTL in physiological and pathological settings and could be a useful novel serum marker to evaluate the overall status of host cellular immunity.
[A study of stress, learned resourcefulness and caregiver burden among primary caregivers of schizophrenic adolescents].

The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effects of learned resourcefulness on the relationships between stressful life events, psychiatric care activities, and the burden faced by primary caregivers of schizophrenic adolescents. A total of 81 primary caregivers (M = 47.9 years) were interviewed and completed questionnaires at a certain point in time. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine the moderating effects of learned resourcefulness. Results showed that 24.5% of the variance (F((5,75)) = 6.20, p < . 001) in primary caregivers' burden was explained by the variable of psychiatric care activities and the interaction between the stressful life events and learned resourcefulness. The learned resourcefulness moderated the adverse effects of stressful life events on primary caregivers' burden. The variable of psychiatric care activities, moreover, still had a direct negative effect on caregivers' burden. The results of this study suggest that nursing interventions which focus on teaching and reinforcing the skills of resourcefulness, may help caregivers to cope with stressful life experiences and buffer the caregivers' burden.
In vitro and in vivo cytokeratin patterns of expression in bioengineered human periodontal mucosa.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Development of human oral mucosa substitutes by tissue engineering may provide new therapeutic tools for the management of periodontal diseases. In this study we evaluated a fibrin-agarose human oral mucosa substitute both in vitro and in vivo. MATERIAL AND METHODS In vitro bioengineered oral mucosa substitutes were developed from irrelevant biopsy samples of human oral gingiva. In vivo evaluation of the constructed tissues was performed by implantation into athymic nude mice. The expression of several epithelial markers was assessed by microarray analysis and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Bioengineered oral mucosa samples kept in vitro developed a multilayered epithelium that expressed several cytokeratins, including some markers of simple epithelia (cytokeratins 7, 8 and 18), along with markers of stratified epithelia (cytokeratins 5 and 13) and of cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen). Bioengineered tissues grafted in vivo onto nude mice exhibited very good biointegration with the host, showing a cytokeratin expression pattern that was very similar to that of normal native oral mucosa controls. Histological analysis of the artificial tissues demonstrated that oral mucosa substitutes evaluated in vivo were structurally mature, showing some typical structures of human native oral mucosa such as rete ridges and chorial papillae, along with numerous blood vessels at the fibrin-agarose stromal substitute. These structures were absent in samples evaluated in vitro. CONCLUSION The results indicate that this model of human oral mucosa, constructed using fibrin-agarose scaffolds, shows similarities to native oral mucosa controls and imply that bioengineered oral mucosa substitutes could eventually be used clinically.
A randomized controlled trial of an early-intervention, computer-based literacy program to boost phonological skills in 4- to 6-year-old children.

BACKGROUND Many school-based interventions are being delivered in the absence of evidence of effectiveness (Snowling & Hulme, 2011, Br. J. Educ. Psychol., 81, 1). AIMS This study sought to address this oversight by evaluating the effectiveness of the commonly used the Lexia Reading Core5 intervention, with 4- to 6-year-old pupils in Northern Ireland. SAMPLE A total of 126 primary school pupils in year 1 and year 2 were screened on the Phonological Assessment Battery 2nd Edition (PhAB-2). Children were recruited from the equivalent year groups to Reception and Year 1 in England and Wales, and Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten in North America. METHODS A total of 98 below-average pupils were randomized (T0) to either an 8-week block (x¯ = 647.51 min, SD = 158.21) of daily access to Lexia Reading Core5 (n = 49) or a waiting-list control group (n = 49). Assessment of phonological skills was completed at post-intervention (T1) and at 2-month follow-up (T2) for the intervention group only. RESULTS Analysis of covariance which controlled for baseline scores found that the Lexia Reading Core5 intervention group made significantly greater gains in blending, F(1, 95) = 6.50, p = . 012, partial η2 = . 064 (small effect size) and non-word reading, F(1, 95) = 7.20, p = . 009, partial η2 = . 070 (small effect size). Analysis of the 2-month follow-up of the intervention group found that all group treatment gains were maintained. However, improvements were not uniform among the intervention group with 35% failing to make progress despite access to support. Post-hoc analysis revealed that higher T0 phonological working memory scores predicted improvements made in phonological skills. CONCLUSIONS An early-intervention, computer-based literacy program can be effective in boosting the phonological skills of 4- to 6-year-olds, particularly if these literacy difficulties are not linked to phonological working memory deficits.
Arcobacter anaerophilus sp. nov., isolated from an estuarine sediment and emended description of the genus Arcobacter.

Two strains (JC83, JC84(T)) of obligately anaerobic, H2S-producing bacteria were isolated from estuarine sediment samples collected from Gangasagar, West Bengal, India. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile rods. Both strains were positive for oxidase, negative for catalase, hydrolysed casein, reduced nitrate and utilized citrate. Both strains grew chemoorganoheterotrophically with optimal pH of 7-8 (range 7-10) and at 30 °C (range 25-37 °C). C16 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C12 : 0 were the major fatty acids of both strains with minor amounts of C14 : 0, C12 : 0 3-OH and C18 : 0. Polar lipids of both strains included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, an unidentified aminolipid (AL2), an unidentified phospholipid (PL2) and an unidentified lipid (L3). MK-6 was the major respiratory quinone. The DNA G+C content of strains JC83 and JC84(T) was 25.0 and 24.6 mol%, respectively. The strains showed DNA reassociation >85 % (86.0±0.5 %) (based on DNA-DNA hybridization). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, both strains were identified as belonging to the family Campylobacteraceae of the class Epsilonproteobacteria with Arcobacter marinus CL-S1(T) (95.4 % sequence similarity) as their closest phylogenetic neighbour. On the basis of morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics as well as phylogenetic analysis, strains JC83 and JC84(T) are considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Arcobacter anaerophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC84(T) ( = KCTC 15071(T) = MTCC 10956(T) = DSM 24636(T)). An emended description of the genus Arcobacter is provided.
Remote Hemodynamics and Renal Function in Formerly Preeclamptic Women

OBJECTIVE: Women with a history of preeclampsia have an increased risk of developing chronic hypertension and cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the mechanism responsible for vascular disease in formerly preeclamptic women. The aim of our study was to test whether preeclampsia predisposes to central hemodynamic and renal impairments 20 years after pregnancy. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 22 formerly preeclamptic women and 29 parous controls participated, matched for body mass index, age, and date of birth. All women delivered in the period of 1979–1987. Measures included automated blood pressure, Doppler echocardiography, microalbuminuria, paraaminohippurate, and creatinine clearances. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure at or above 140/90 mm Hg, using antihypertensive drugs, or both. RESULTS: Hypertension was present in 55% of the formerly preeclamptic women and 7% of the women in the control group (P<.01). Mean arterial pressure was higher in the formerly preeclamptic women compared with those in the control group (100 and 88 mm Hg, respectively, P<.01). Peripheral vascular resistance was about 20% higher, renal vascular resistance about 30% higher, and renal blood flow about 15% lower in the formerly preeclamptic women compared with those in the control group (P<.05). Similar results were observed after stratification for hypertension in both groups. CONCLUSION: Both normotensive and hypertensive middle-aged, formerly preeclamptic women showed impaired central hemodynamic and renal function compared with parous controls. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Simultaneous Inhibition of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 and Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 Completely Protects Against Acute Inflammation and Sepsis

Objectives: Sepsis causes very high mortality and morbidity rates and remains one of the biggest medical challenges. This study investigates whether plasma levels of both matrix metalloproteinase 8 and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 are associated with sepsis severity and also investigates the therapeutic applicability of simultaneous inhibition of the two molecules in sepsis. Design: Observational human pilot study—prospective controlled animal study. Setting: University hospital and research laboratory. Subjects: Sepsis patients and C57BL/6 mice deficient for matrix metalloproteinase 8 and/or tumor necrosis factor receptor 1. Intervention: Plasma and whole blood RNA were collected from 13 sepsis patients for 7 consecutive days and within 24 hours of admission to ICU. Matrix metalloproteinase 8 and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 plasma and expression levels were determined in these patients. Mice deficient for both matrix metalloproteinase 8 and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 were generated and subjected to endotoxemia and cecal ligation and puncture. Additionally, a bispecific Nanobody that simultaneously blocks matrix metalloproteinase 8 and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 was created. Measurements and Main Results: Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase 8 and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 were positively correlated with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (r, 0.51 and 0.58) and interleukin 6 levels (r, 0.59 and 0.52) in 13 sepsis patients. Combined elimination of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and matrix metalloproteinase 8 in double knockout mice resulted in superior survival in endotoxemia and CLP compared with single knockouts and wild-type mice. Cotreatment with our bispecific Nanobody in CLP resulted in improved survival rates (28% vs 19%) compared with untreated mice. Conclusions: Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 8 and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 might have therapeutic potential to treat sepsis and proof-of-principle was provided as therapeutics that inhibit both tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and matrix metalloproteinase 8 are effective in CLP.
Regional inequalities, fiscal decentralization and government quality

ABSTRACT Regional inequalities, fiscal decentralization and government quality. Regional Studies. There are theoretical arguments supporting the view that regional income inequalities, the degree of fiscal decentralization and the quality of government are simultaneously determined. This article argues that existing empirical work has failed to deal adequately with this possibility. In light of this, it applies a simultaneous equation model, which accounts for the joint determination of these three variables, to a panel of 23 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. The empirical evidence that emerges from the analysis suggests that a process of fiscal decentralization, accompanied by measures to improve the quality of government, would be an effective strategy for reducing regional inequalities.
Strength training effects on bone mineral content and density in premenopausal women.

PURPOSE Mechanical loading, such as that seen with physical activity, is thought to be the primary factor influencing bone strength. Previous randomized studies that assessed the effect of strength training on bone in premenopausal women report inconsistent results. The analysis herein examines the effect of a strength training program following published guidelines (US Department of Health and Human Services) on bone mineral content (BMC) and areal bone mineral content (aBMD) in the proximal femur and lumbar spine in premenopausal women. METHODS One hundred and forty-eight overweight, sedentary, premenopausal women aged 25-44 were randomized to progressive strength training (ST, n = 72) or standard care (CO, n = 76) for 2 yr. Measurements occurred at baseline, 1 yr, and 2 yr. Proximal femur and lumbar spine BMC and aBMD were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Intention-to-treat analyses were completed, and repeated-measures ANCOVA adjusted for baseline height and weight was used to assess the effect of strength training on bone. RESULTS aBMD showed little change and did not differ between groups at any site. Femoral neck BMC showed a significant difference in the slopes between ST and CO (P = 0.04) with no change in the ST group and a 1.5% decrease in the CO. There were no significant between-group differences at any other measurement site. CONCLUSION Strength training had no effect on aBMD after 2 yr of strength training. Femoral neck BMC decreased in CO and had no change in ST. Because there was no change in aBMD, strength training may have influenced bone size. Research to better understand changes in bone dimensions and geometry with strength training in premenopausal women is warranted.