Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The e ¡ ects of regular inhaled formoterol and budesonide on preformed Th2 cytokines inmild asthmatics

In a recent placebo-controlled study inmild atopic asthmatics, we observed a significant decrease in eosinophilsinthebronchial submucosa, after 2monthsoftreatmentwithinhaled formoterolandbudesonide.Biopsymaterial from each treatment group; formoterol (24 mg bid), budesonide (400 mg b.i.d.) and placebo has been further assessed toinvestigatetherole of Th-2 cytokinesbyimmunohistochemistryusingMabs to eosinophils as anindexof inflammation, IL-4 and IL-5.Treatment with formoterol significantly reduced the number of eosinophils (EG2+) in the submucosa and epithelium, butthiswas not paralleled bychanges in cytokine immunoreactivity.In contrast, treatmentwith budesonide significantly reduced both the number of eosinophils (EG2+) and immunoreactivity for IL-4 and IL-5 in the submucosa. Thus, whilebudesonidehas effects oncytokinesinvolvedineosinophilrecruitmentthis explanationdoesnot apply tothe eosinopaenia observed with the long-acting b2 adrenoreceptor agonist formoterol. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
Corporate Management Lobbying on FAS No. 8: Some Further Evidence

On December 31, 1974, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an exposure draft for Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 8, Accounting for the Translation of Foreign Currency Transactions and Foreign Currency Financial Statements. The intent of the standard was to bring uniformity to accounting for the translation of foreign currency transactions and foreign subsidiaries. Firms were required to use the temporal method of translation and to include unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses in income. Most managements expected this latter provision to increase the volatility of their reported earnings. The study reported in this paper examined the extent to which firms' debt contracts and managements' degrees of ownership in their firms were associated with managements' decisions to lobby the FASB in the form of comment letters regarding the proposed standard. Managements' lobbying activities provide a basis for predicting the consequences of a proposed accounting policy change on firms. That is, lobbying positions can assist the FASB in assessing potential opposition to a standard, as well as subsequent attempts to circumvent reporting requirements, subvert the standard, and/or discredit the policymaker. The issue studied
SilkRoad: Making Stateful Layer-4 Load Balancing Fast and Cheap Using Switching ASICs

In this paper, we show that up to hundreds of software load balancer (SLB) servers can be replaced by a single modern switching ASIC, potentially reducing the cost of load balancing by over two orders of magnitude. Today, large data centers typically employ hundreds or thousands of servers to load-balance incoming traffic over application servers. These software load balancers (SLBs) map packets destined to a service (with a virtual IP address, or VIP), to a pool of servers tasked with providing the service (with multiple direct IP addresses, or DIPs). An SLB is stateful, it must always map a connection to the same server, even if the pool of servers changes and/or if the load is spread differently across the pool. This property is called per-connection consistency or PCC. The challenge is that the load balancer must keep track of millions of connections simultaneously. Until recently, it was not possible to implement a load balancer with PCC in a merchant switching ASIC, because high-performance switching ASICs typically can not maintain per-connection states with PCC. Newer switching ASICs provide resources and primitives to enable PCC at a large scale. In this paper, we explore how to use switching ASICs to build much faster load balancers than have been built before. Our system, called SilkRoad, is defined in a 400 line P4 program and when compiled to a state-of-the-art switching ASIC, we show it can load-balance ten million connections simultaneously at line rate.
Estimating Quarterly Different Price and Wage Rigidity and Its Implication for Monetary Policy

In New Keynesian economics, price and wage rigidity is a key factor in determining effects of monetary policy. As rigidity becomes stronger, the monetary policy becomes more effective. If this rigidity has seasonality, the effects of monetary policy may also have seasonality. Olivei and Tenreyo (2007) found that the effects of monetary policy in the US are quarterly different via quarter-dependent VAR and showed that these different effects of monetary policy is caused by the seasonality of wage rigidity by setting up the DSGE model with quarterly different wage rigidity which has different effects of monetary policy according to when monetary policy shocks occur. I extend the model of Olivei and Tenreyo (2007) by adding quarterly different price rigidity and compare which rigidity is more influential in determining the quarterly different effects of monetary policy. I also estimate the quarterly price and wage rigidity via Minimum Distance Approach. The results of this paper can be summarized as follows. Firstly, the impulse responses to monetary policy in the DSGE model change very much across quarters when we assume quarterly different wage rigidity. Impulse responses are strong(weak) if the monetary policy shocks occur in the quarter when the wage rigidity is strong(weak). However, these differences of impulse responses across quarters become weaker when we assume quarterly different price rigidity. This result is consistent to that of Christiano et al. (2005) who show that impulse responses do not change very much as values of price rigidity. Based on these impulse response results, we may that quarterly different impulse responses according to timing of monetary shocks depend mainly on quarterly varying wage rigidity. Secondly, the price puzzle occurs if monetary policy is implemented in the period when wage rigidity is strong. This result supports Rabanal (2007) and Henzel et al. (2009) who mphasize the role of wage rigidity in price puzzle. This results is Lastly, estimation results show that wage rigidity is quarterly different while price rigidity is not. Estimates of wage rigidity are high in the 2nd quarter and low in the 3rd quarter.However, estimates of price rigidity do not have particular patterns across quarters.
An Empirical Analysis of Financial Performance of Higher Education Students’ Loan Scheme (HESLS) in Tanzania

Higher education in Tanzania has become increasingly important on national agendas and has undergone profound mutations and reforms over the past decades. There has been growing diversity of higher education institutions and increasing the student’s demand that exceed the budget allocated by the government. This trend called for one organ to coordinate and supervise all issues related to students’ financing in higher education. In a view of that, the government established higher education students’ loans board (HESLB) to manage that activities, which started to operate in 2005. This study uses the regression model to examine financial indicators drawn from the CAMEL model to analyze the financial performance of HESLB operating in Tanzania. Findings show that the financial performance correlate significantly with all set of indicator variables (Government subvention, Current ratio, Cost ratio, Repayment rate, and Operating self-sufficiency). In addition, it was found in this research that ROE model approach is a better model for assessing financial performance of HESLB operating in the country than ROA. In the end, the study suggests that the HESLB should improve loan collections, control costs of operations, and reduce handling of non-earning current assets. Finally, the present results will be a useful tool for policymakers and education stakeholders in improving students’ financing environment.
Comparison of Mulligan Mannual Therapy Techniques with Kaltenborn Mannual Therapy Techniques in Patients with Nonspecific Neck Pain in Improvement on Neck Disability Index

Nonspecific neck pain (NSNP) the most discomforting pain all over the world mostly include age group of 20-55 because of nature of occupation like office-workers, computer-users, students, tailors, dentists, surgeons, writers even every second person has been becoming a victim of NSNP due to stress, strain and work overload. The purpose of this study was to compare the change on neck disability index (NDI) by comparing Mulligan manual therapy techniques with keltenborn manual therapy technique for the better treatment of NSNP. Qausi experimental study was conducted at Haq orthopedic hospital Lahore, Pakistan . 60 subjects of NSNP were selected using purposive sampling and then devidid into two equal groups of 30 participants in each group. Group A was provided with conventional treatment and kaltern born technique while group B was with conventional and Mulligan technique. NDI was measure before and after two week of treatment. In this study the mean age of patients was 34.50 ± 9.78 years with minimum and maximum ages 21 years and 55 years. There was no statistical difference in both treatment group on pre evaluation, p-value > 0.05. Using Wilcoxen sign rank test and Mann whitney U test it was analyse that Mulligan and Keltenborn technique gave significant reduction in disability score but Mulligan’s treatment was more effective, p-value < 0.001.
What Hinders Guidance and Counselling Effectiveness in Enhancing Discipline in High Schools in Murang ’ a County , Kenya

The main purpose of this study was to assess the factors hindering the efficiency of guidance and counselling services in addressing school discipline in high schools in Kenya with specific focus on secondary schools in Murang’a County. The study mainly focused on the teachers in charge of guidance and counselling in secondary schools. A descriptive survey research method and purposive sampling were used. Data was collected using questionnaires to probe the issues under the study. The research data was thematically analysed. The study revealed that guidance and counselling departments are ineffective in enhancing school discipline, guidance and counselling teachers are inadequately trained, motivated and faced with many challenges such as lack of facilities and financial support by school administration, conflict with school discipline policy and lack of clear government policies to guide guidance and counselling services in secondary schools. The respondents felt a great need to undergo in-service training on counselling and school discipline to make them effective.
Outcomes of LASIK for Myopia or Myopic Astigmatism Correction with the FS200 Femtosecond Laser and EX500 Excimer Laser Platform

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, stability and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using the FS200 femtosecond laser and EX500 excimer laser platform. Methods: The outcomes of 254 eyes of 129 consecutive patients with myopia or myopic astigmatism who underwent full correction femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK at CMU LASIK Center were assessed. Pre-operative and post-operative parameters including manifest refraction, Uncorrected Distance Visual Acuity (UDVA), Best Corrected Distance Visual Acuity (BDVA), corneal topography and tomography were analyzed. The results between low to moderate myopia and high myopia were compared up to 12 months. Results: Mean pre-operative Spherical Equivalent (SE) was -5.15±2.41 Diopters (D) (range -0.50 to -11.50 D) and -0.13±0.28 D, -0.13±0.27 D, -0.13±0.28 D and -0.14±0.30 D at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, post-operatively. At 12 months, the propor¬tion of eyes achieving UDVA ≥ 20/20 was 90.0% and ≥20/40 was 98.8%. The proportion of eyes achieving post-operative mean SE ±0.5 D, and ±1 D was 91.3%, and 98.5%. No eyes lost more than two lines of BDVA. The low to moderate myopic group had a statistically significant better UDVA at one (p=0.017) and three months (p=0.014) but no difference at six (p=0.061) and 12 months (p=0.091). The mean post-operative SE was better in low to moderate myopic group at every follow-up visit (p=0.001, 0.007, <0.001 and <0.001). Conclusion: One-year clinical results of LASIK with the FS200 femtosecond laser and EX500 excimer laser showed high efficacy, predictability, stability and safety.
International Journal of Management Sciences and Business Research, 2014 ISSN (2226-8235) Vol-3, Issue 5

This study was set out to investigate the influence of dividend payments on stock prices in an inflationary environment. The study also aimed at establishing the rational for and against dividend payments during periods of marked inflation rates, the forms of dividends and the dividend policies pursued by firms in inflationary environments. Dividend paying firms listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange were the primary focus of this study. Random sampling was employed to pick the 20 companies under study. Data was collected using documentary review and questionnaires. A total of 88 company executives from these sampled firms participated in this study. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to analyze the findings. The findings of this paper show that the number of dividend paying firms that paid cash dividends reduced to 40%; about 60% of the firms pursued the residual policy; and the majority of firms distributed value using bonus issues. The statistical analysis employed proved that dividend payouts have an effect on share prices in a hyper-inflationary economy. However, it was also proved that share price increases were due to other factors other than dividend payments. The currency was valueless for inflation rates were far too high for planning purposes and firms were struggling to survive. The few companies that paid dividends were fulfilling their long established obligations to investors and some didn’t have good investment projects. The paper recommends that corporate management should carefully examine the inflationary environment when formulating an optimal dividend policy for their firms during periods of marked inflation as survival must be the overriding goal of the organisation. This study has some additional implications for further research. Efforts to analyze the exact extent of price movements triggered by other factors other than dividends in a hyper-inflationary economy would be of great interest.
REPORTS : CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND RISK FACTORS EPIDEMIOLOGIC PROFILE OF PERIPARTUM CARDIOMYOPATHY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Results: Incidence rate was one case per 102 deliveries. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) constituted 2.4% of total medical admissions, 32.5% of overall admissions for heart failure, and 60% of admissions for heart failure in females. Patients were predominantly (84.6%) of Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups; and 20 (30.8%) were primiparous and 45 (69.2%) were multiparous women aged 28.2 6 8.1 years (range 15–45 years). Literacy rate was 6.2%. Sixty-one (93.8%) patients belonged to the low socioeconomic class. All patients presented during the postpartum period; the interval between delivery and presentation was 6.7 6 10.3 weeks (range .25–40 weeks, median 4 weeks). Customary puerperal practices were observed in 53 (81.5%). Hospital admission peaked during the peaks of cold harmattan and rainy seasons. Transient hypertension occurred in 18 (27.7%) patients. Complications included pericardial effusion (13.5%), intracardiac thrombosis (12.3%), and atrial fibrillation (3.1%). Stroke, pulmonary embolism, and acute lower extremity arterial occlusion each occurred in one (1.5%) patient. Mortality rate was 12.3%. Compared to the survivors, the deceased had significantly lower diastolic pressure (67.5 6 10.4 mm Hg vs 83.4 6 19.4 mm Hg; P5.04) and higher cardiothoracic index (70.2% 6 14.4% vs 60.9% 6 5.5%; P5.007). The outcome of PPCM correlated with cardiothoracic index (r5.7; P5.007), ejection fraction (r5.5; P5.03), and diastolic blood pressure (r5.4; P5.04). Conclusions: The epidemiologic profile of PPCM has not changed among the ethnic Hausa and Fulani groups of northwest Nigeria. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in this population. (Ethn Dis. 2007;17:228–233)
Nonuremic Indication for Peritoneal Dialysis for Refractory Heart Failure in Cardiorenal Syndrome Type II: Review and Perspective

Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) type II is a serious condition in which chronic cardiac abnormalities cause worsening kidney function, leading to permanent chronic kidney damage. Management of CRS type II coupled with diuretic-resistant congestive heart failure (CHF) has been an issue of dispute. However, since the early 1990s, reports indicating the clinical usefulness of peritoneal dialysis (PD) as maintenance therapy for intractable CHF in this population have been accumulating. The present manuscript reviews the mechanisms by which kidney dysfunction develops within CHF, and then examines recent experiences of PD as chronic supportive therapy for intractable CRS type II, reviews the contributing mechanisms, and discusses the rationale for using PD as a new therapeutic approach in the nonuremic setting of CHF.
New Bounds on Wide-Gap Frequency-Hopping Sequences

In a frequency-hopping (FH) system, to avoid that the received signal would be prone to be interfered, the equipped FH sequence of each user should have wide FH gap, i.e., the adjacent two frequencies should have some gap. In this letter, we extend the Lempel–Greenberger bound and Peng-Fan bounds for wide-gap frequency-hopping sequences (WGFHSs). The proposed bounds are tight in the sense that they can be achieved by the parameters of some WGFHSs.
Difficult Sibling, Easy Sibling: Temperament and the Within-Family Environment.

SCHACHTER, FRANCES FUCHS, and STONE, RICHARD K. Difficult Sibling, Easy Sibling: Temperament and the Within-Family Environment. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1985, 56, 1335-1344. Do mothers' temperament ratings of their children as easy or difficult follow the pattern of occurrence of sibling deidentification as determined by generalized alike-different judgments? This study examines this question using maternal temperament ratings from 111 middle-class mothers, 80 with 2 children and 31 with 3, and from 93 inner-city mothers, 62 with 2 children and 31 with 3, with the youngest child averaging 3.0 years. For each child, global maternal ratings, ranging from very easy to very difficult, were elicited. For both samples, contrast in temperament occurred mainly in the first sibling pair as was found for generalized sibling deidentification. There was also some consistency with previous findings on deidentification favoring same-sex pairs.
Foreign Direct Investment in Anglophone and Francophone African Countries

Foreign Direct Investment plays a very significant role both in the economic and social development of a country. Its potential benefits to developing countries has increased in recent years. The main objective of this paper is to examine the determinants which can attract or deter Foreign Direct investment in Anglophone and Francophone African countries. We used Panel Data from 37 countries covering the period 2004-2012. Results from a Hausman test indicated that the Random effect model is appropriate in performing the estimation. The regression results show the strength to protect investors, the time required to start business, human resources, domestic credit to private sector have significant influence on FDI. We also employ interactive variables, allowing for interaction effect between time required to start a business and strength to protect investors. Further, interaction effect is allowed between electricity production and economic growth. The results indicate that the interactive variables have a great influence on FDI inflows to these countries. Electricity production is still a big challenge for most Anglophone and francophone countries. We suggest that African governments should direct their efforts towards production of power in order to maintain the long- run sustainability of FDI in Anglophone and Francophone African countries.
Sub-pathway analysis for severe burns injury patients: Identification of potential key lncRNAs by analyzing lncRNA-mRNA profile

The aim of the study was to identify key long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) and related subpathways following severe burn injuries and research their functions. The miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA interactions were downloaded from starBase v2.0 database. In addition, mRNA-miRNA interactions were obtained from TarBase, mirTarBase, mir2Disease, miRecords (V4.0) databases. The relationships of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA were constructed. Genes of expression profiling were intersected with mRNA and lncRNA in lncRNA-mRNA interaction. Screened mRNAs were enriched into various pathways and screened lncRNAs were embedded into candidate pathways. Wallenius approximation methods were used to calculate the false discovery rate value of each sub-pathway. Based on the results of significant sub-pathways, the related lncRNA-mRNA network was constructed. A total of 18,081 genes were obtained. The lncRNA-mRNA intersections including 835 lncRNAs, 1,749 mRNAs and 7,693 interacting pairs were constructed. The enriched mRNAs were further enriched into various candidate pathways such as ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes. Several sub-pathways were screened, including ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes and MAPK signaling pathway. The network of pathway-lncRNA-mRNA was constructed. Hub-genes were identified, including C14orf169 and YLPM1. Several hub-lncRNAs were obtained, including PRKAG2 antisense RNA 1 and LEF1 antisense RNA 1. Several hub-lncRNAs including C14orf169, YLPM1, TTTY15, and PCBP1-AS1 were screened. The sub-pathways regulated by these lncRNAs were identified, and functions were predicted.
Investigating Antecedents and Consequences of Job Engagement

This study aimed to examine the antecedents and consequences of job engagement among the employees of state universities in Tabriz. Statistical population included all 3168 employees of the state universities of Tabriz. Using stratified random sampling, 450 employees were selected as the sample. To gather data, seven standard questionnaires were used. To analyze data and test the relationships of the variables for a structural model, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling methods were used. Results showed that there was a positive and causal correlation between job fit, reward and recognition, and job engagement (r=0.53, r=0.48, p<0.01). Based on the results, a positive and causal correlation was found between the consequences of discretionary efforts (r =0.28), ethics (r =0.25), job performance (r =0.18), and job engagement; while, job engagement had a negative and causal correlation with intention to quit (r = -0.32).