Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers for 24‐Hour Blood Pressure Control: Meta‐Analysis of a Clinical Database

Angiotensin II receptor blockers are well tolerated and improve compliance in hypertensive patients. The need for 24‐hour blood pressure control has focused attention on whether all agents in this class maintain smooth antihypertensive effects over a 24‐hour period. Insight into this issue emerged from a meta‐analysis of five large, multicenter trials in which ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was used to compare the antihypertensive effects of three angiotensin II receptor blockers: telmisartan, losartan, and valsartan. These trials used either a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled or a prospective, randomized, open‐label, blinded‐end point design. Initial analysis established the validity of combining ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data from the double‐blind, placebo‐controlled and prospective, randomized, open‐label, blinded‐end point designs. Subsequent analyses revealed that telmisartan 80 mg was significantly more effective than losartan 50 mg and valsartan 80 mg for reducing 24‐hour mean blood pressure. Furthermore, telmisartan 80 mg was comparable to amlodipine 5 mg for controlling the early morning surge in blood pressure.
The service smile chain: linking leader emotions to customer outcomes

ABSTRACT This study examines the emotional mechanisms that link leadership and customer outcomes. Data were collected from 359 matched supervisor-subordinate-customer triads in a chain restaurant in China. Results show that leader positive emotions are transmitted to customers via service employee positive emotions, which then increase customer re-patronage intentions. However, although leader negative emotions are positively associated with employee negative emotions, employee negative emotions are not transmitted to customers. Moreover, employees’ negative affectivity (NA) moderates the relationship between leaders’ and employees’ negative emotions, such that the relationship is stronger among high NAs. The study extends prior literature by identifying a service smile chain that links leadership and customer outcomes and by investigating the moderating role of NA in such chains. Study findings highlight the important connection between intra-organizational emotional mechanisms and customer outcomes and point to the importance of an emotionally healthy workplace to better customer service.
Glycine betaine improves survival of fresh bovine spermatozoa.

Fresh spermatozoa from bulls established as 'good freezers' and 'poor freezers' (consistently > or = 50% or < 20% motile spermatozoa after cryopreservation, respectively) were incubated for 96 h in Tes/Tris-egg yolk or TALP-egg yolk media at 37 degrees, 20 degrees , 5 degrees or 0 degrees C. The TALP extender contained 0, 100 or 200 mM glycine betaine (GB) to test the hypothesis that GB would efficiently maintain spermatozoa function during long-term incubation. The percentage of motile spermatozoa declined over time in a temperature- and medium-dependent fashion. No spermatozoa were motile by 24 h incubation at 37 degrees C or by 72 h incubation at 0 degrees C, and there were no significant differences in the percentage of motile spermatozoa from either category of bull when spermatozoa were incubated in any media for less than 24 h. Spermatozoa from poor freezers were significantly more motile than spermatozoa from good freezers after 96 h at 20 degrees or 5 degrees C in TALP alone; however, GB at both 100 and 200 mM increased the percentage of motile spermatozoa in poor and good freezers and eliminated these differences. Overall, the presence of GB at either 100 or 200 mM significantly improved the percentage of motile spermatozoa at 20 degrees, 5 degrees and 0 degrees C, but not at 37 degrees C.
Ethosuximide, valproic acid, and lamotrigine in childhood absence epilepsy.

BACKGROUND Childhood absence epilepsy, the most common pediatric epilepsy syndrome, is usually treated with ethosuximide, valproic acid, or lamotrigine. The most efficacious and tolerable initial empirical treatment has not been defined. METHODS In a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial, we compared the efficacy, tolerability, and neuropsychological effects of ethosuximide, valproic acid, and lamotrigine in children with newly diagnosed childhood absence epilepsy. Drug doses were incrementally increased until the child was free of seizures, the maximal allowable or highest tolerable dose was reached, or a criterion indicating treatment failure was met. The primary outcome was freedom from treatment failure after 16 weeks of therapy; the secondary outcome was attentional dysfunction. Differential drug effects were determined by means of pairwise comparisons. RESULTS The 453 children who were randomly assigned to treatment with ethosuximide (156), lamotrigine (149), or valproic acid (148) were similar with respect to their demographic characteristics. After 16 weeks of therapy, the freedom-from-failure rates for ethosuximide and valproic acid were similar (53% and 58%, respectively; odds ratio with valproic acid vs. ethosuximide, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.98; P=0.35) and were higher than the rate for lamotrigine (29%; odds ratio with ethosuximide vs. lamotrigine, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.65 to 4.28; odds ratio with valproic acid vs. lamotrigine, 3.34; 95% CI, 2.06 to 5.42; P<0.001 for both comparisons). There were no significant differences among the three drugs with regard to discontinuation because of adverse events. Attentional dysfunction was more common with valproic acid than with ethosuximide (in 49% of the children vs. 33%; odds ratio, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.12 to 3.41; P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS Ethosuximide and valproic acid are more effective than lamotrigine in the treatment of childhood absence epilepsy. Ethosuximide is associated with fewer adverse attentional effects. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00088452.)
Impaired pneumococcal antibody response in bronchiectasis of unknown aetiology

As a defective anti-polysaccharide response can exist in the absence of an immunoglobulin deficiency, a series of 26 patients with bronchiectasis of unknown aetiology was vaccinated with a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. All patients suffered from recurrent respiratory tract infections. When measuring total antibody levels to pneumococcal serotypes 3, 4 and 9, a normal polysaccharide antibody response was found in 22 patients. However, only 11 of these subjects showed a normal pneumococcal antibody response within the IgA and/or IgG2 subclass, and thus could be classified as true responders, while 15 patients did not respond in either the IgA class or in the IgG2 subclass. When analysing differences between the responder (n = 11) and nonresponder (n = 15) groups, the latter demonstrated higher frequencies of respiratory tract infections and more severe lung pathology, as revealed by the presence of more bronchi visualised in the peripheral third of the lung by high-resolution computed tomography scanning. Moreover, nonresponders needed extensive lung surgery more often in order to control their disease (number of resected segments eight versus five). In conclusion, an important fraction of patients presenting with idiopathic bronchiectasis is associated with a selective anti-polysaccharide response deficiency and this subgroup appears to represent a more severe clinical phenotype. Therefore, it can be regarded as a separate clinical entity with possible therapeutic targets. In order to identify IgA and IgG2 anti-polysaccharide nonresponders, all patients presenting with bronchiectasis of unkown aetiology should be immunised with a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, and IgA and IgG2 isotype responses should be evaluated as well as the total antibody response.
Alcohol use and crime: findings from a longitudinal sample of U.S. adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND A positive relationship between alcohol use and criminal activity has been well documented among adults, but fewer studies explore this relationship among adolescents. METHODS Using data from 4 waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we examine alcohol use patterns and criminal activity from adolescence to young adulthood. Fixed-effects models partially address the potential endogeneity of alcohol use, and, because numerous studies indicate that males are more likely than females to engage in drinking and criminal activity, the analyses are segmented by gender. RESULTS We find a strong positive relationship between alcohol consumption, the commission of crimes, and criminal victimization for both genders. Various sensitivity analyses and robustness checks support this core finding. CONCLUSIONS Our results have important policy implications, as public policy tools that aim to reduce drinking among adolescents could also reduce criminal activity. Moreover, effective alcohol abuse treatment may indirectly reduce delinquency and thus have greater long-term economic benefits than previously estimated.
Prospective randomized trial of talc slurry vs bleomycin in pleurodesis for symptomatic malignant pleural effusions.

OBJECTIVE Symptomatic malignant pleural effusions are common sequelae in patients with certain malignancies. Pleurodesis via bedside thoracostomy is the current treatment option most commonly used. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective randomized trial to examine which agent, bleomycin or talc slurry, is superior in terms of effectiveness, safety, and cost. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between July 1992 and March 1995, 35 patients presenting to our medical center with symptomatic malignant pleural effusions were prospectively randomized to undergo chemical pleurodesis with either bleomycin or talc slurry via bedside thoracostomy. The conditions of patients were assessed and graded before and after treatment concerning pain, dyspnea, and chest radiographs. RESULTS Twenty-nine patients who underwent 33 treatments (14 with bleomycin and 19 with talc) were available for follow-up. Follow-up ranged from 2 weeks to 8 months (mean, 1.7 months). Both groups demonstrated notable improvement in both pain and dyspnea following treatment, but there were no statistically significant differences between groups in the amount of improvement (two-tailed Student's t test). Permanent control of effusions, defined objectively on chest radiograph, was achieved with 11 bleomycin treatments (79%) and 17 talc treatments (90%) (p=0.388). The procedures were well tolerated and no significant adverse effects were observed. Talc is a much less costly agent than bleomycin ($12.36 cost to our medical center per treatment for talc vs $955.83 for bleomycin). CONCLUSION Given the similar efficacy and significant cost advantage, we conclude that talc is the agent of choice when utilizing pleurodesis for control of symptomatic malignant pleural effusions.
Consumer surplus for random regret minimisation models

ABSTRACT This paper is the first to develop a measure of consumer surplus for the Random Regret Minimisation (RRM) model. Following a not so well-known approach proposed two decades ago, we measure (changes in) consumer surplus by studying (changes in) observed behaviour, i.e. the choice probability, in response to price (changes). We interpret the choice probability as a well-behaved approximation of the probabilistic demand curve and accordingly measure the consumer surplus as the area underneath this demand curve. The developed welfare measure enables researchers to assign a measure of consumer surplus to specific alternatives in the context of a given choice set. Moreover, we are able to value changes in the non-price attributes of a specific alternative. We illustrate how differences in consumer surplus between random regret and random utility models follow directly from the differences in their behavioural premises.
Bundles of HRM practices in family and non-family firms: the impact on enhancing performance

Abstract This paper analyzes how ability, motivation and opportunity bundles of HRM practices affect enhanced manufacturing performance in family firms (FFs) and non-family firms (NFFs). Five hypotheses were proposed and tested using data from a unique survey of 301 manufacturing plants located in Uruguay and Argentina. Estimations indicate that coherent bundles comprising HRM practices aimed at enhancing abilities (A) and giving workers the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process (O), individually and interactively, have a positive effect on manufacturing performance in FFs. A motivational bundle of HRM practices (M) has a positive effect on enhanced performance in NFFs. The study therefore establishes the existence of hierarchies among bundles, which vary with company ownership.
Do corporate directors ‘heap’ dividends? Evidence on dividend rounding and information uncertainty in Australian firms

In this study, we examine the extent of dividend heaping in Australian firms between 1976 and 2015. Our findings show that 27.39% of dividends greater than or equal to 2.5-cents are heaped in 2.5-cent intervals, while 70.90% of dividends less than 2.5-cents are heaped in 0.25-cent intervals. We find that the heaping phenomenon decreases over time and average dividend size increases. We also show that when establishing the likelihood of dividend heaping, stock return volatility and firm size are consistent with the information uncertainty hypothesis. Dividend heaping also appears to be influenced by firm-level characteristics that are inconsistent with the hypothesis. For instance, the likelihood of heaping increases with dividend size and firm age.
The incidence of adverse reactions following 4% septocaine (articaine) in children.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to report the incidence of adverse events following the use of 4% Septocaine in children. METHODS A prospective study was carried out on children attending university-based pediatric dental clinics for restorative core under local anesthesia. Data collection included patient demographics, medical history, amount and site of injection, and treatment complexity. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with the parents at 3, 5, 24, and 48 hours regarding prolonged paresthesia, soft tissue injury, and pain. RESULTS Two hundred sixty-four 2 to 14 year-olds were recruited for the study. Complete interview information was obtained from 204 patients. Prolonged paresthesia at 3 hours postinjection was reported for 40% of the population and at 5 hours for 11%. Soft tissue injury occurred in 14% of the patients at 3 hours and was found to be highest among children younger than 7 years old. The lip was the most commonly affected site for accidental injury and it was not related to injection site. Twenty percent reported postprocedural pain at 3 and 5 hours post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS Since prolonged numbness appears to be the most frequent adverse event and occurred primarily in children younger than 7 years old, parents need to be informed and reassured accordingly.
Green Human Resource Management as a Tool for the Sustainable Development of Enterprises: Polish Young Company Experience

The growing role of sustainable development and, above all, its ecological aspect, in the development of modern company competitive edge leads to the popularization of the question of incorporating environmental practices into the area of human resource policy, referred to as Green HRM. The objective of the research was to identify pro-environmental HR practices embraced by young Polish enterprises and to prioritize them in accordance with their effect on company sustainable development. To attain these goals, a survey was conducted among a random, representative population of 150 young enterprises. The study revealed that the Green HRM concept in the Polish reality is relatively. However, there is a strong positive correlation between the evaluation of the impact of individual activities within Green HRM on sustainable company development and their practical implementation. Research demonstrated that the higher the evaluation of the impact of a given activity, the more frequent its implementation in the studied companies. This allowed the formulation of the following conclusion: in order to increase the scope of the implementation of the Green HRM concept in Polish young enterprises, it is necessary to raise awareness and disseminate knowledge concerning the impact Green HRM can have on sustainable development in organizations.
Is Foreign Aid Panacea for Economic Growth? Case of Ethiopia: A Time Series Data Approach

The effect of foreign aid on economic growth has been widely examined, yielding a contradictory and ambiguous results for developing economy like Ethiopia as it has long been an integral part of their annual budget. Thus, the main aim of this study is to identify aspects of the determinants of growth in Ethiopia in particular with the role of aid played in affecting economic growth. The study used modern econometric analysis/estimation techniques to investigate the above relationship by employing data set ranging from 1980 to 2013. The study found that a positive but insignificant impact of foreign aid on economic growth of Ethiopia. Accordingly, the government of Ethiopia is advised to base its economy on domestic resource mobilization rather than debt financing. Keywords: Foreign Aid, Economic Growth, Cointegration, ECM, Ethiopia
Cognitive function in Nigerian children with newly diagnosed epilepsy: a preliminary report

Introduction Epilepsy has long been associated with cognitive dysfunction and educational underachievement. The purpose of the study was to describe the baseline findings from a larger prospective study. Methods New cases of epilepsy aged 6-16 years seen at a paediatric neurology clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria were evaluated for any evidence of cognitive impairment. Intelligence quotient (IQ) of the participants was measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). Scores on cognitive subtests and Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) were computed and association between the subsets scores and seizure variables were calculated. Results 40 children, 24 males and 16 females were studied and their ages ranged from 6 to 16 years with a mean of 10.8 (SD=3.0) years. Global intellectual functioning as measured by the WISC-IV was in the normal range (FSIQ scores <85) for 52.5% (n = 21) of the participants and the remaining participants (47.5%) scored between the borderline and severe category for intellectual disability. The strongest correlation was between ‘caregiver's assessment of school performance’ and FSIQ, (r = 0.70; p< 0.001). Age at onset of epilepsy and seizure type had no significant association with scores on the WISC-IV composite scores. Conclusion There is a high prevalence of significant cognitive dysfunction in Nigerian children with epilepsy, even in the absence of any known brain insult. All children with epilepsy should have routine IQ assessment following diagnosis, in order to allow for early intervention when indicated, and thus, improved outcomes.
Effects of Soil Moisture and Temperature on Reproduction and Development of Twospotted Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Strawberries

Abstract The effects of soil moisture and temperature on the reproduction of twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), were examined in laboratory and field tests in strawberries, Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne, in Florida. Different soil moisture levels (low, moderate, and high) were compared to determine how soil moisture affects the reproduction and development of twospotted spider mite. In addition to soil moisture, different irrigation techniques (drip versus drip/overhead) were compared to determine their effects on twospotted spider mite reproduction as well as the incidence of angular leaf spot, Xanthomonas fragaria Kennedy & King disease. Similar studies were conducted to determine how different temperatures (18, 27, and 35°C) affect the reproduction and development of twospotted spider mites. In the laboratory, low soil moisture as well as temperatures >27°C promoted twospotted spider mite development. A similar trend was observed in a field study with low soil moisture promoting twospotted spider mite reproduction during the early season (11 November–8 December). Irrespective of moisture levels, a significantly higher incidence of X. fragaria was recorded in treatments with drip/overhead irrigation systems compared with drip irrigation. Implications for management of soil moisture levels are discussed with respect to the abundance of twospotted spider mite and X. fragaria in strawberries.
Comparative effects of activation of soluble and particulate guanylyl cyclase on cyclic GMP elevation and relaxation of bovine tracheal smooth muscle

1 The effects of nitric oxide‐donating compounds and atrial natriuretic peptide on cyclic GMP accumulation and mechanical tone were compared with the effects of isoprenaline in bovine tracheal smooth muscle. 2 Sodium nitroprusside, glyceryl trinitrate, S‐nitroso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), atrial natriuretic peptide and isoprenaline each caused concentration‐dependent inhibitions of histamine‐maintained tone (EC50 values 320 ±80, 150 ±45, 14,000 ±4,000, 2.8 ±0.8 and 6.6 ±4.3 nM respectively). 3 When compared with their effects on histamine‐induced tone, sodium nitroprusside was equally potent and effective in causing relaxation of methacholine‐supported tone (EC50 290 ± 90 nM) while isoprenaline was as effective, but less potent (EC50 30 ± 7 nM). SNAP was more potent and equi‐effective as a relaxant of methacholine‐supported tone (EC50 340 ± 140 nM). At the maximum concentrations of glyceryl trinitrate and atrial natriuretic peptide tested against methacholine‐supported tone, relaxations of 52% and 14% of the isoprenaline maximum were seen. 4 Sodium nitroprusside, glyceryl trinitrate and atrial natriuretic peptide each induced concentration‐dependent increases in cyclic GMP accumulation. The time‐courses of accumulation correlated closely with the relaxant actions of these compounds. 5 Pretreatment of tracheal smooth muscle with sodium nitroprusside or SNAP caused a rightward shift of the concentration‐effect curve for histamine while reducing the maximum response. 6 LY 83583, a putative guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, caused a concentration‐dependent reduction in basal cyclic GMP accumulation in tracheal smooth muscle and inhibited the effects of sodium nitroprusside on cyclic GMP accumulation. 7 LY 83583 also inhibited the relaxation of histamine‐supported tone by glyceryl trinitrate, sodium nitroprusside, SNAP and atrial natriuretic peptide, and also sodium nitroprusside‐ and SNAP‐induced relaxation of methacholine‐supported tone. However, it had no significant effect on glyceryl trinitrate‐induced relaxation of methacholine‐supported tone. 8 It is concluded that the relaxant actions of sodium nitroprusside, glyceryl trinitrate, SNAP and atrial natriuretic peptide follow as a result of their ability to activate either soluble or particulate guanylyl cyclase leading to cyclic GMP accumulation. Although there does not seem to be any functional difference in the relaxant response to cyclic GMP generated by the particulate as opposed to soluble form(s) of guanylyl cyclase, atrial natriuretic peptide receptor/guanylyl cyclase activation was much less effective in causing relaxation of methacholine‐supported tone when compared to activators of soluble guanylyl cyclase.