Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MEASURING CENTRAL BANK INDEPENDENCE IN MALAWI: THE NEW INDEX OF INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY APPROACH

This study applied the Index of Institutional Quality (IQ) methodology to measure the level of independence of the Reserve Bank of Malawi (central bank) and examine its impact on inflation. The IQ methodology assesses independence of central banks based on their actual practices. The methodology is suitable for developing countries whose practices do not fully conform to the laws of Banks that are in place. The study finds that the average independence index of the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) is 15.1, which is more than half below the total index value of 36. This clearly shows that the RBM is not convincingly independent. Although the results show an above-average value for index of monetary policy independence, indications are that the RBM is not free from political pressures as evidenced by below-average values for indices of political and fiscal independence. Using Ordinary Least Square (OLS), the results further show that the low degree of independence by the RBM has contributed to high inflation in Malawi. JEL: E01, E42, G38 Article visualizations:
Long-Term Inhibition of Angiotensin Prevents Reduction of Periarterial Innervation of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP)-Containing Nerves in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate age-related changes in the density of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-containing nerve fibers in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and the effects of long-term inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system on these changes. The density of immunocytochemically stained nerve fibers in the mesenteric artery was quantified by computer-assisted image processing. An age-related decrease in the density of CGRP-like immunoreactive (LI)-containing nerve fivers but not neuropeptide Y (NPY)-LI-containing sympathetic nerve fibers was found in the mesenteric artery of SHR but not Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). The density of NPY-LI-containing sympathetic nerve fibers was significantly greater in SHR than in WKY. SHR were treated for 7 weeks with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (0.005% temocapril), angiotensin II type-1 (AT1) receptor antagonist (0.025% losartan) or vasodilator (0.01% hydralazine) in their drinking water. Each drug treatment significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure measured by tail-cuff method. Long-term treatment of SHR with temocapril and losartan significantly increased the density of CGRP-LI-containing nerve fibers in mesenteric arteries. However, the density after hydralazine treatment was similar to the level in non-treated SHR. The density of NPY-LI-containing nerve fibers was not increased by any of the drug treatments. These results suggest that long-term inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system in SHR prevents remodeling of CGRPergic nerve fibers and prevents the reduction of CGRPergic nerve function.
Comparison of risk factors for preeclampsia and gestational hypertension in a population-based cohort study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare risk factor patterns in association with preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. The data were collected from The Swedish Medical Birth Register and include all nulliparas aged 34 years or less who gave birth at the University Hospital of Uppsala, Sweden, during 1987-1993. Of these 10,666 women, 4.4% developed gestational hypertension, and 5.2% developed preeclampsia. The following risk factors were significantly associated with increased risk of preeclampsia: type 1 diabetes (odds ratio = 5.58, 95% confidence interval 2.72-11.43), gestational diabetes (odds ratio = 3.11, 95% confidence interval 1.61-6.00), and twin birth (odds ratio = 4.17, 95% confidence interval 2.30-7.55). The positive associations between these variables and the risk of gestational hypertension were weaker and nonsignificant. Compared with underweight women (body mass index < 19.8), obese women (body mass index > 29) had increased risks of both gestational hypertension (odds ratio = 4.85, 95% confidence interval 1.97-11.92) and preeclampsia (odds ratio = 5.19, 95% confidence interval 2.35-11.48). Significantly lower risks of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension were observed for women born outside Nordic countries and in association with maternal smoking and summer birth. The similarities in risk factor patterns may indicate similarities in the biologic mechanisms underlying the two conditions.
Malposition of unerupted mandibular second premolar in children with palatally displaced canines.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypotheses that (1) the distal angulation of unerupted mandibular premolar (MnP2) is significantly greater in children with palatally displaced canines (PDC) than in those in a control sample; and (2) delayed tooth formation is significantly more frequent in children with both malposed MnP2 and PDC than in children with PDC only. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined retrospectively panoramic radiographs from 43 patients with PDC who had no previous orthodontics. A control sample consisted of age- and sex-matched patients. The distal angle formed between the long axis of MnP2 and the tangent to the inferior border was measured. Dental age was evaluated using the Koch classification. RESULTS A significant difference was observed between the mean inclination of the right side MnP2 in the PDC group (75.4 degrees) and that of the control group (85.8 degrees). This difference was highly statistically significant (P < .0001). The same evaluation was carried out for the left side, with similar results. The average dental age was found to be delayed in patients who showed both abnormalities (malposed MnP2 and PDC) compared with patients who showed the PDC anomaly only. CONCLUSION Both hypotheses are retained. Statistically, PDC and MnP2 malposition are significantly associated suggesting a common genetic etiology, despite taking place on opposite jaws. While the presence of PDC or MnP2 anomaly has been associated with a delay in tooth formation, we find the presence of both anomalies to show a more profound delay. Our findings suggest a delay in tooth formation as a possible common genetic mechanism for these 2 malposition anomalies.
Isoflurane Preconditioning Induces Neuroprotection That Is Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase–dependent in Neonatal Rats

Background: Perinatal stroke is a common human disease. Neonatal brains are immature and engaged in active synaptogenesis. Preconditioning adult rats with the volatile anesthetic isoflurane induces neuroprotection. Whether isoflurane preconditioning induces neuroprotection in neonates is not known. Methods: Seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats had left common carotid arterial ligation followed by hypoxia with 8% oxygen for 1, 2, or 2.5 h at 37°C. Isoflurane preconditioning with 1 or 1.5% isoflurane for 30 min was performed at 24 h before the brain hypoxia/ischemia. The inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor aminoguanidine (200 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was administered 30 min before the isoflurane pretreatment. The weight ratio of left to right cerebral hemispheres at 7 days after the brain hypoxia/ischemia was calculated. The mortality during the period from cerebral hypoxia/ischemia to 7 days afterwards was monitored. In another experiment, 6-day-old rats were exposed to 1.5% isoflurane for 30 min. The cerebral hemispheres were removed at various time points for Western analysis of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Results: The mortality was about 40% in neonates with brain hypoxia/ischemia for 2 h or 2.5 h and was not altered by isoflurane preconditioning. The weight ratio of left/right cerebral hemispheres in the survivors was 0.99 ± 0.02, 0.65 ± 0.19, and 0.86 ± 0.15 (n = 7–18) for the rats in control, brain hypoxia/ischemia for 2.5 h, and isoflurane preconditioning plus brain hypoxia/ischemia for 2.5 h groups, respectively (P < 0.05 for the comparisons between control versus brain hypoxia/ischemia and brain hypoxia/ischemia versus isoflurane preconditioning plus brain hypoxia/ischemia). This isoflurane preconditioning-induced neuroprotection was abolished by aminoguanidine (the weight ratio was 0.61 ± 0.18, n = 12). Isoflurane induced a time-dependent increase in the inducible nitric oxide synthase proteins. Conclusions: Isoflurane preconditioning induces neuroprotection in neonatal rats. This neuroprotection is inducible nitric oxide synthase-dependent.
Environmental alteration and phenotypic regulation of Candida albicans adhesion to plastic

The adhesion of Candida albicans to plastic was examined after growth in two chemically defined media, Lee-Buckley-Campbell (LBC) and yeast nitrogen base (YNB), by binding isotherms, Langmuir isotherms, and Scatchard plots, and the number of binding sites (N) and the affinity constants (K) were calculated. K and N were twofold and fourfold higher, respectively, after growth in LBC compared with that in YNB. A comparison of adhesion in different assay solutions gave similar results, with the solution given to dehydrated patients (5% glucose in 0.45% NaCl [D5.45]) allowing for the highest K and the largest N. Scatchard curves for both LBC- and YNB-grown cells had negative slopes, which is supportive evidence for the view that negative cooperativity is involved in the binding process. Additional experiments to examine the role of cell surface hydrophobicity in adhesion to plastic were conducted with the white and opaque phenotypes of C. albicans. There was no significant difference in the adhesion of these phenotypes to plastic, although the opaque phenotype was significantly more hydrophobic. Adhesion, but not cell surface hydrophobicity, of both phenotypes was significantly greater in D5.45. Moreover, relatively hydrophilic mycelial forms of C. albicans were found to attach only when D5.45 was used as the assay medium and, in contrast to yeast-phase cells, were insensitive to reduced adhesion by nonionic detergents. These results suggest that the adhesion of C. albicans to plastic is regulated by environmental circumstances and the phenotypic state of the organism.
Human Capital Reporting and Its Determinants by Polish and German Publicly Listed Companies

Objective: The importance of human capital in the contemporary business environment is rising. Therefore, the aim of the study is to determine what the quality, extent and determinants of human capital disclosure in Polish and German companies are. Research Design & Methods: The research was conducted with the use of human capital disclosure index which was built with three main categories: employee information, internal communication and employee development policy. The sample consisted of WIG-30 and DAX entities. Findings: The Polish firms reported worse than the German ones in terms of all studied items. The worst reporting was found in the case of participation initiatives, the best in the case of employment structure. Implications & Recommendations: As human capital disclosure index was insufficient in the case of both Polish and German entities, enterprises shall report more on human capital. Contribution & Value Added: The study compares human capital disclosure practices in the two countries with a different level of economic development.
Attenuation of amiodarone-induced lung fibrosis and phospholipidosis in hamsters by taurine and/or niacin treatment.

Therapeutic use of amiodarone (AD), an effective antiarrhythmic drug, is associated with serious pulmonary toxicity (e.g., fibrosis and phospholipidosis). In the present study, we tested if taurine and/or niacin, which prevent bleomycin-induced lung toxicity, could prevent AD-induced lung toxicity in hamsters. AD alone significantly increased lung hydroxyproline (an index of fibrosis) and lung phospholipid (an index of phospholipidosis) levels to 154 and 133% of their control counterparts at 21 days, respectively. However, treatment of hamsters with taurine, niacin or taurine + niacin for 6 days before AD, and daily thereafter, significantly decreased subsequent AD-induced collagen accumulation. Similarly, phospholipid levels in niacin + AD and taurine + niacin + AD groups were decreased significantly compared to AD alone. We conclude that taurine and niacin administered p.o. either singly or in combination can significantly decrease AD-induced increases in lung collagen deposition and phospholipidosis and may, therefore, be potentially useful in reducing AD-induced pulmonary toxicity.
Safety and completion rate of short-course therapy for treatment of latent tuberculosis infection.

BACKGROUND Nine months of isoniazid therapy is the recommended regimen for treatment of latent tuberculosis infection, but low completion rates are a serious problem. The search for shorter regimens, compared with the standard isoniazid regimen, is of vital importance. We describe our experience using short-course regimens for the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection. METHODS We conducted a nonrandomized, observational study of 459 patients in a county health department from June 2000 to January 2006. Short-course therapy was defined as pyrazinamide and rifampin taken daily or twice weekly for 2 months or rifampin taken daily for 4-6 months. Conventional therapy consisted of a 9-month regimen of isoniazid. Liver function testing was performed for both groups in accordance with clinical guidelines. Treatment completion and hepatotoxicity (according to the World Health Organization classification) were determined for the short-course and conventional therapy groups. RESULTS Treatment was completed by 241 (77.7%) of 310 patients in the short-course group and by 98 (65.8%) of 149 patients in the isoniazid group (P = .009). Moderate to severe hepatotoxicity (grades 3 and 4) occurred in 6.1% of patients receiving short-course therapy and in 2.0% of patients receiving isoniazid (P=.09). The hepatotoxicity observed in the short-course group was confined to patients receiving pyrazinamide and rifampin daily and was self limited in all cases after the medications were discontinued. CONCLUSIONS The rate of treatment completion was significantly higher with short-course regimens, compared with the isoniazid regimen. Although the overall risk of hepatotoxicity in patients receiving pyrazinamide and rifampin daily for the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection was higher, liver functions returned to normal after the medications were discontinued.
Mammographic and Clinical Predictors of Drainage Patterns in Breast Lymphoscintigrams Obtained During Sentinel Node Procedures

Purpose: The authors' purpose was to explore the association between mammographic findings and drainage patterns on lymphoscintigrams obtained during sentinel node procedures for breast carcinoma. Materials and Methods: From July 1997 to March 2000, 132 patients with breast cancer who were included in a prospective mammography‐pathology correlation and staging database were imaged 2 hours after perilesional injection of 1 mCi filtered (0. 22 μm) Tc‐99m sulfur colloid (4 ml volume) before sentinel node procedures. Results: Sixty‐four percent of the scans showed axillary drainage only, 9% showed axillary and internal mammary drainage, and 4% revealed internal mammary drainage only. Twenty‐three percent of scans showed no drainage. Of the patients who showed drainage, 17% showed drainage to the internal mammary basin, and 5% showed this exclusively. Internal mammary drainage was seen in 18% (10 of 57) of lateral, 21% (6 of 29) of medial, and 14% (1 of 7) of subareolar lesions (P = NS). No drainage was seen in 22% of patients with predominantly fatty mammographic parenchymal density (>50%) compared with only 8% of patients with predominantly dense (>50%) parenchyma (P < 0.05). Failure to show drainage was more common in women older than 50 years (P < 0.05). Axillary sentinel nodes were identified surgically in 73% of patients with negative scan findings. There was no significant association between scintigraphic drainage and mammographic soft tissue tumor size and appearance, histologic findings, or axillary node status. Conclusions: Dense mammographic parenchyma and age less than 50 years are associated with identification of lymphatic drainage on lymphoscintigrams performed before sentinel node procedures in 91% to 92% of patients. Internal mammary drainage, present in 18% of lateral and 21% of medial lesions, may direct therapy to include internal mammary lymph nodes.
High prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Fiji detected by echocardiography screening

Aim: Rheumatic heart disease poses a huge burden for developing countries, with Pacific Island nations having among the highest prevalence reported in the world. It is recognised that echocardiography is much more sensitive than clinical examination for detection of rheumatic heart disease, but resource and cost limitations are delaying implementation of screening programmes in developing nations. Rapid echocardiography using low‐cost portable machines and a non‐expert operator may be a useful compromise, allowing widespread screening and control of rheumatic heart disease in developing countries.
The Evolution of Local Endemism in Madagascar: Watershed Versus Climatic Gradient Hypotheses Evaluated by Null Biogeographic Models

Substantial insular speciation has resulted in exceptionally high levels of endemism in Madagascar, creating locally restricted species' ranges that remain poorly understood. The contributions of alternative processes that could influence patterns of local endemism—including speciation by geographic isolation or adaptation to environmental gradients—are widely debated, both for Madagascar and elsewhere. A recently proposed hypothesis (the “watershed hypothesis”) suggests that allopatric speciation driven by isolation in watersheds during Quaternary climate shifts provides a general explanation for patterns of local endemism across taxa in Madagascar. Here we tested coincidence between species' distributions and areas of endemism predicted by two contrasting biogeographic hypotheses: (1) the watershed hypothesis, and (2) an alternative hypothesis driven by climatic gradients (the “current climate hypothesis”). Statistical significance of coincidence was assessed by comparing against a null model. Surprisingly, we found that extant distributions of lemurs, geckos, and chameleons reveal species patterns that are significantly coincident with the watershed and current climate hypotheses. These results strongly support local endemism developing from multiple processes, even among closely related species. Our findings thus indicate that pluralistic approaches will offer the best option both for understanding processes that generate local endemism, and for incorporating endemism within conservation priority setting.
Hedging Futures Options with Stochastic Interest Rates

This paper presents a simulation study of hedging long-dated futures options, in the Rabinovitch (1989) model which assumes correlated dynamics between spot asset prices and interest rates. Under this model and when the maturity of the hedging instruments match the maturity of the option, forward contracts and futures contracts can hedge both the market risk and the interest rate risk of the options positions. When the hedge is rolled forward with shorter maturity hedging instruments, then bond contracts are additionally required to hedge the interest rate risk. This requirement becomes more pronounced for longer maturity contracts and amplifies as the interest rate volatility increases. Factor hedging ratios are also considered, which are suited for multi-dimensional models, and their numerical efficiency is validated.
Nerve injury‐induced calcium channel alpha‐2‐delta‐1 protein dysregulation leads to increased pre‐synaptic excitatory input into deep dorsal horn neurons and neuropathic allodynia

Up‐regulation of voltage‐gated calcium channel α2δ1 subunit post spinal nerve ligation (SNL) injury or in α2δ1‐overexpressing transgenic (Tg) mice correlates with tactile allodynia, a pain state mediated mainly by Aβ sensory fibres forming synaptic connections with deep dorsal horn (DDH) neurons. It is not clear, however, whether dysregulated α2δ1 alters DDH synaptic neurotransmission that underlies tactile allodynia development post nerve injury.
Internal Consistency, Retest Reliability, and Their Implications for Personality Scale Validity

The authors examined data (N = 34,108) on the differential reliability and validity of facet scales from the NEO Inventories. They evaluated the extent to which (a) psychometric properties of facet scales are generalizable across ages, cultures, and methods of measurement, and, (b) validity criteria are associated with different forms of reliability. Composite estimates of facet scale stability, heritability, and cross-observer validity were broadly generalizable. Two estimates of retest reliability were independent predictors of the three validity criteria; none of three estimates of internal consistency was. Available evidence suggests the same pattern of results for other personality inventories. Internal consistency of scales can be useful as a check on data quality but appears to be of limited utility for evaluating the potential validity of developed scales, and it should not be used as a substitute for retest reliability. Further research on the nature and determinants of retest reliability is needed.
Xenon-Enhanced Cerebral Blood Flow at 28% Xenon Provides Uniquely Safe Access to Quantitative, Clinically Useful Cerebral Blood Flow Information: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Xe-CT measures CBF and can be used to make clinical treatment decisions. Availability has been limited, in part due to safety concerns. Due to improvements in CT technology, the concentration of inhaled xenon gas has been decreased from 32% to 28%. To our knowledge, no data exist regarding the safety profile of this concentration. We sought to better determine the safety profile of this lower concentration through a multicenter evaluation of adverse events reported by all centers currently performing xenon/CT studies in the US. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were prospectively recruited at 7 centers to obtain safety and efficacy information. All studies were performed to answer a clinical question. All centers used the same xenon delivery system. CT imaging was used during a 4.3-minute inhalation of 28% xenon gas. Vital signs were monitored on all patients throughout each procedure. Occurrence and severity of adverse events were recorded by the principal investigator at each site. RESULTS: At 7 centers, 2003 studies were performed, 1486 (74.2%) in nonventilated patients. The most common indications were occlusive vascular disease and ischemic stroke; 93% of studies were considered clinically useful. Thirty-nine studies (1.9%) caused respiratory suppression of >20 seconds, all of which resolved spontaneously. Shorter respiratory pauses occurred in 119 (5.9%), and hyperventilation, in 34 (1.7%). There were 53 additional adverse events (2.9%), 7 of which were classified as severe. No adverse event resulted in any persistent neurologic change or other sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Xe-CT CBF can be performed safely, with a very low risk of adverse events and, to date, no risk of permanent morbidity or sequelae. On the basis of the importance of the clinical information gained, Xe-CT should be made widely available.