Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Socio-Economic and Demographic Determinants of Health Insurance Consumption

This study analyzed factors affecting health insurance consumption in Akwa Ibom State. Primary data were collected from a total of 60 national Health Insurance Scheme patrons and non patron. Data were collected on consumer’s education, income, age; religion, sex, marital status, access to health insurance information, occupation and family size. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The socio-economic and demographic profile of the people revealed that most of the sampled NHIS patrons and non patrons were literate, engaged in meaningful employment, mostly married with average income, and were still in their active ages, and demonstrated meaningful exposure to insurance health information, which enable them to be or not to be active participants of the scheme. From the regression analysis, it was evident that all the variables except religion influenced insurance consumption positively whereas religion affects health insurance consumption negatively. Based on this, we recommended among other things, a re-alignment of health insurance marketing strategies with consumers socio-economic and demographic characteristics, as a measure to boost patronage. Key words: Socio-Economic; Demographic; Health insurance; Consumption
Protective role of bovine neutrophils in Pasteurella haemolytica-mediated endothelial cell damage

The purpose of this study was to determine if Pasteurella haemolytica can directly injure bovine pulmonary endothelial cells (EC) and if neutrophils have a beneficial or detrimental role in bacterium-EC interaction. Various combinations of live P. haemolytica, heat-killed P. haemolytica, anti-P. haemolytica immune serum, polymyxin B, and bovine neutrophils were added to confluent monolayers of bovine EC. Monitoring included determination of 51Cr release from EC, phase microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Although toxic changes were not evident at 5 h postinoculation, both live and heat-killed P. haemolytica produced extensive EC damage by 22 h postinoculation. Damage by live P. haemolytica was prevented only when both neutrophils and immune serum were used. Polymyxin B effectively prevented the toxic effect of heat-killed P. haemolytica, suggesting that lipopolysaccharide was the major toxic factor. Morphological studies showed close apposition of P. haemolytica to EC membranes, neutrophil activation, and adherence to EC but no evidence of neutrophil-associated EC membrane damage. These studies demonstrate that neutrophils and immune serum in combination are effective in preventing EC damage mediated by live P. haemolytica.
"De novo" formation of synapses by experimentally induced presynaptic dendrites in adult mammalian brain.

The paper presents morphological evidence that upon deafferentation small Golgi cells and granule cells of the cerebellar cortex as well as geniculo-cortical relay cells of the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus develop presynaptic sites on their otherwise exclusively postsynaptic dendrites. The new synapses are, therefore, mostly dendro-dendritic, a logical consequence of the fact that in the absence of axonal sprouting in the two regions, the reactive synaptogenesis in the cerebellar cortex and LGN is accomplished by the participation of the (newly formed) presynaptic dendrites.
Evidence for a glutamate receptor of the AMPA subtype which mediates insulin release from rat perfused pancreas

1 The effect of l‐glutamate has been studied on insulin secretion by the isolated perfused pancreas of the rat. The glutamate receptor subtype involved has been characterized. 2 In the presence of a slightly stimulating glucose concentration (8.3 mm), l‐glutamate (5 × 10−5−4 × 10−3 m) induced an immediate, transient and concentration‐dependent insulin response. On the other hand, in the presence of a non stimulating glucose concentration (2.8 mm), l‐glutamate (10−3 m) did not modify the basal insulin secretion. 3 The three non‐NMDA receptor agonists, kainate (10−4−10−3 m), α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA, 5 × 10−5−10−4 m) and quisqualate (5 × 10−6−5 × 10−5 m) all provoked a transient and concentration‐dependent insulin response from pancreas perfused with 8.3 mm glucose. Compared with glutamate, kainate exhibited a similar efficacy, whereas AMPA and quisqualate elicited only a 3 fold lower maximal insulin response. In contrast, NMDA (10−4−10−3 m) was ineffective. 4 An antagonist of non‐NMDA receptors, 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX; 5 × 10−5 m) totally prevented the stimulatory effect of l‐glutamate (4 × 10−4 m) and kainate (2 × 10−4 m). In contrast, the NMDA receptor antagonist, (+)‐5‐methyl‐10,11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten‐5,10‐imine ((+) MK801) was without effect. 5 The insulin secretory effect of glutamate (4 × 10−4 m) was not affected by atropine (3 × 10−7 m) or tetrodotoxin (3 × 10−6 m). 6 Quisqualate at a high maximally effective concentration (4 × 10−4 m) inhibited glutamate (10−3 m) or kainate (4 × 10−4 m)‐induced insulin release. 7 This study shows that l‐glutamate stimulates insulin secretion in rat pancreas, by acting on an excitatory amino acid receptor of the AMPA subtype.
Accounting restatements and the cost of debt capital

This is the first study that examines the bond market reactions to accounting restatement announcements and the impact of the announcements on the cost of restating firms’ new bond issues. We document that the bonds of restating firms on average react negatively to the restatement news. Cross­sectional analysis of bond market reactions indicates that the magnitude of negative excess bond returns is significantly greater for the restating firms that experience more severe accounting restatements in terms of dollar amounts and the fraudulent nature of restatements, or whose restatements are prompted by the firms themselves, or whose bonds have shorter maturities. Moreover, we find that the restating firms pay higher risk premiums for new bonds issued subsequent to the restatements relative to new bonds issued prior to the restatement events. The findings of this study fill a void in the existing restatement literature that has focused exclusively on the stock market reactions by examining the economic consequences of accounting quality changes in the bond market.
A Complementary Approach to the Financial and Strategy Views of Capital Structure: Theory and Evidence from the Ownership Structure

This paper provides a complementary approach to the financial and strategy views of capital structure. According to our ownership view, capital structure is partly determined by the incentives and the goals of those who are in control of the firm. Our results strongly support this view. As a consequence of managerial entrenchment and rent expropriation phenomena, self-interested agents (entrenched managers and controlling owners) choose the capital structure according to the debt ratios more appropriate for their own best interest. Additionally, we find evidence of an interaction effect between insider ownership and ownership concentration; particularly, the debt increments promoted by outside owners are larger when managers are entrenched. Finally, further findings are found according to firm-specific characteristics. The most relevant characteristic is the free cash flow, which totally dominates the effects of ownership over debt. We also find that when the level of intangible assets is high, more debt is used to control for the managerial discretion associated with these assets. Regarding investment opportunities, our findings confirm that debt is an effective mechanism to prevent firms from overinvesting, since when firms do not have valuable investment opportunities the increment in leverage is larger.
Physical quantities in nearly antiferromagnetic and superconducting states of the two-dimensional Hubbard model and comparison with cuprate superconductors.

We have calculated within the fluctuation exchange approximation the full momentum and real-frequency dependence of the quasiparticle self-energy, the gap function, and the dynamic spin susceptibility for the two-dimensional Hubbard model near half filling. The spin-density-wave (SDW) instability is reached only asymptotically in the limit of infinite U or zero temperature. Near the SDW instability we find approximately marginal Fermi-liquid behavior, a pseudogap in the density of states, and a singlet ${\mathit{d}}_{\mathit{x}}^{2}$-${\mathit{y}}^{2}$ pairing instability. Below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$, gaps open rapidly in the frequency spectra of the gap function, the quasiparticle scattering rate, and the density of states. The spectral density of the dynamic spin susceptibility agrees qualitatively with the neutron-scattering data on ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$. The quasiparticle scattering rate and spin-lattice relaxation rate ${\mathit{T}}_{1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ decrease rapidly below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$. The photoemission intensities along the antinode and node of the gap are in good agreement with the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy data on Bi 2212. Including next-nearest-neighbor hopping we obtain for sufficiently large coupling (U/t\ensuremath{\gtrsim}7) a broad commensurate neutron-scattering peak like the observed one in ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{6+\mathit{x}}$.
Impact of Microcredit on Agricultural Development in District Mastung Balochistan: A Case Study of Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP)

Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP) is a non-governmental organization working in rural areas of Balochistan province since 1983. Its head office is situated in Quetta, Baluchistan, Pakistan, sub-office is located in Islamabad, and a number of district offices are located in various districts of Balochistan. It is clear that majority of the respondents 90 percent of the sample were male and 10 percent were females in district Mastung Balochistan. The respondents 86.66 percent had availed the loan facility only for once and that too for the first time. 11.66 percent had availed this facility twice and only 11.66 percent of them took loan three times. The respondents 40.00% were 25000, 16.66% were 40000.00, 20.00% were 50000.00, 13.33% were 60000.00 and 10.00% were above 80000.00 rupees amount loans. 30.00% were get for seed, 23.33% were Pesticide, 26.66% were Fertilizer and 16.66% were Others purposes. 93.33% respondents believe that micro-credit is the reason for increased agriculture production. 6.66% respondents think that micro-credit has no effect on the agricultural production. 76.66% said that micro-credit plays a positive role in agricultural development. The 81.66% respondents have improvement in their household living standards due to the microcredit facility and 18.33% respondents said that micro-credit has no improvement in HH living standard.81.66% of the respondents and 18.33% respondents said that micro-credit has no improvement in food/diet standard.83. 33 % of the respondents and 16.66% respondents said that micro-credit has no change health status. 26.66% respondents said that the BRSP staff behavior was satisfactory to some extent and 6.66% say not at all.100% received lump sum amount for agricultural purpose.70. 00% respondents were returning the credit amount biannually and 30.00% respondents were returning the credit amount monthly . 61.66% of the respondents repaying of microcredit was easy and they were repaying the microcredit easily. For 38.33% respondents the repayment of microcredit was not easy.100. 00% respondent’s perception regarding loan amount was that it should be increased for the betterment of farmers and for more productive results in agricultural development. Keywords: BRSP, Impact of microcredit, agricultural development.
Determinants of Dividend Payments

This paper explores the contribution of various financial measures in explaining the variability in a firm’s dividend payments. Ordinary least squares analysis of data from 2003 to 2007 shows that approximately 71% of the variability in dividend payments is explained by the firm’s expected growth rate of revenues, earnings before interest and tax, market debt to capital ratio, and effective tax rate. The findings support theories in the literature that dividends paid by a firm decrease with higher expected growth in revenues, lower earnings before interest and tax, higher debt service requirements, and higher effective tax rates.
Ras‐dependent and Ras‐independent effects of PI3K in Drosophila motor neurons

The lipid kinase PI3K plays key roles in cellular responses to activation of receptor tyrosine kinases or G protein coupled receptors such as the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). Activation of the PI3K catalytic subunit p110 occurs when the PI3K regulatory subunit p85 binds to phosphotyrosine residues present in upstream activating proteins. In addition, Ras is uniquely capable of activating PI3K in a p85‐independent manner by binding to p110 at amino acids distinct from those recognized by p85. Because Ras, like p85, is activated by phosphotyrosines in upstream activators, it can be difficult to determine if particular PI3K‐dependent processes require p85 or Ras. Here, we ask if PI3K requires Ras activity for either of two different PI3K‐regulated processes within Drosophila larval motor neurons. To address this question, we determined the effects on each process of transgenes and chromosomal mutations that decrease Ras activity, or mutations that eliminate the ability of PI3K to respond to activated Ras. We found that PI3K requires Ras activity to decrease motor neuron excitability, an effect mediated by ligand activation of the single Drosophila mGluR DmGluRA. In contrast, the ability of PI3K to increase nerve terminal growth is Ras‐independent. These results suggest that distinct regulatory mechanisms underlie the effects of PI3K on distinct phenotypic outputs.
Color stability and fluorescence of different orthodontic esthetic archwires.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the color stability of six esthetic archwires at different time periods and their fluorescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS Samples were evaluated after 7, 14, and 21 days of immersion in staining solution. Color measurements were performed by means of a spectrophotometer according to the Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage L*a*b* system, and color changes (ΔE*) and National Bureau of Standards units were computed. The fluorescence of as-received samples was evaluated by two observers and compared with that of a bovine central incisor. Statistical differences were investigated using analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS All brands showed statistically significant color change after 21 days (ΔE* from 1.88 to 12.06). The Optis archwire (fiber-reinforced composite) presented the highest color alteration, although staining was observed only near its ends. The Trianeiro archwire (coated nickel-titanium) and the Ortho Organizers archwire (coated stainless steel) presented with less color change. The Optis archwire was the only one that presented with fluorescence similar to that of bovine teeth. CONCLUSIONS All esthetic archwires assessed showed clinically noticeable color change after 21 days in staining solution. The optical properties of currently available esthetic archwires may not yet be ideal.
Disrupting the Management Supply Chain: An Organizational Learning Model of IT Offshore Outsourcing

Information technology (IT) offshoring is an increasingly important strategic tool for firms. Although offshoring activities have led to significant cost savings in many cases, a critical concern is that as IT work moves offshore the deep, experiential knowledge will also move offshore. This knowledge loss may leave the domestic firm with a smaller pool of candidates vying for upper-level management jobs, leading to a future disruption in the management supply chain. In this dissertation three models are developed to investigate how the offshoring of IT activities may affect the domestic firm’s knowledge level and as a result the costs of IT work. In the first model the impact of critical model parameters on the offshoring costs is investigated under the assumption that the offshoring rate is fixed. Although short-lived offshoring projects may generate substantial cost savings, long-lived offshoring projects may cause a disruption in the management supply chain, resulting in substantial cost increases. Under some conditions the domestic firm may be locked into an agreement where the backshoring decision becomes economically infeasible. In the second model, the domestic firm is allowed to make the offshoring rate decision. In this case the domestic firm may “steal” learning-by-doing knowledge from the foreign firm with a very low offshoring rate when the knowledge transfer rate is assumed to be constant. This “discontinuity” in knowledge transfer results in a “bangbang” solution for the offshoring rate. Depending on the level of the disruption in the management supply chain the domestic firm should choose either very small offshoring or full offshoring. In response, it may be in the foreign firm’s interest to contract a
Advances in radionuclide imaging of cardiac sarcoidosis.

INTRODUCTION Radionuclide imaging for the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis has advanced significantly in recent years. SOURCES OF DATA This article is based on published clinical guidelines, literature review and our collective clinical experience. AREAS OF AGREEMENT Gallium-67 scintigraphy is among the diagnostic criteria for cardiac involvement in systemic sarcoidosis, and it is strongly associated with response to treatment. However, fluorine-18, 2-fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is now preferred both for diagnosis and for assessing prognosis. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY Most data are from small observational studies that are potentially biased. GROWING POINTS Quantitative imaging to assess changes in disease activity in response to treatment may lead to FDG-PET having an important routine role in managing cardiac sarcoidosis. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH Larger prospective studies are required, particularly to assess the effectiveness of radionuclide imaging in improving clinical management and outcome.
PROBABILISTIC CATALOGS FOR CROWDED STELLAR FIELDS

We present and implement a probabilistic (Bayesian) method for producing catalogs from images of stellar fields. The method is capable of inferring the number of sources N in the image and can also handle the challenges introduced by noise, overlapping sources, and an unknown point-spread function. The luminosity function of the stars can also be inferred, even when the precise luminosity of each star is uncertain, via the use of a hierarchical Bayesian model. The computational feasibility of the method is demonstrated on two simulated images with different numbers of stars. We find that our method successfully recovers the input parameter values along with principled uncertainties even when the field is crowded. We also compare our results with those obtained from the SExtractor software. While the two approaches largely agree about the fluxes of the bright stars, the Bayesian approach provides more accurate inferences about the faint stars and the number of stars, particularly in the crowded case.
The management of nonprofit organizations

THE MANAGEMENT TASK IN NONPROFITS: The Nature of Nonprofit Organizations A Management Point-of-View THEORIES FOR UNDERSTANDING NONPROFITS: The Behavioral Theory of Nonprofits Economic Theory of the Nonprofit Firm The Nature of Services Delivery STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING FOR NONPROFITS: Strategic Decision Making for Nonprofits Marketing to External Constituencies Working with Key Internal Groups Organizational Design and the Motivation of Professional and Support Employees MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL SYSTEMS: Accounting and Control Financial Management Operations Design Human-Resources Management LOOKING AHEAD: The Future: Entrepreneurship or Constraint Index.
Clinical and biochemical features and therapy responses in primary biliary cirrhosis and primary biliary cirrhosis-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis are two main immune-mediated liver diseases. Some patients display characteristics of both diseases, so called overlap syndrome. The aims of this study were to investigate and to compare the clinical and laboratory features and responses to therapy in primary biliary cirrhosis and overlap syndrome. METHODOLOGY Twenty-three patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (21 females, 2 males; median age: 50 years) and 20 with primary biliary cirrhosis-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome (18 females, 2 males; median age: 44 years) were included in the study. All patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. Of patients with overlap syndrome, 16 were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and 4 with ursodeoxycholic acid plus prednisolone. Histological findings laboratory and clinical data were compared at the baseline and at the 2nd year of treatment. RESULTS Fatigue and pruritus were the most frequent and comparable symptoms in each group. Serum ALT, AST, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, total protein, globulin and gammaglobulin levels were higher in patients with overlap syndrome than those in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. At the end of the 2nd year of the treatment, ALT normalization was achieved in 12 (52%), alkaline phosphatase in 7 (30%) patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. One of the non-responders to ursodeoxycholic acid therapy had the histological findings of overlap syndrome in her control biopsy. Fibrosis score deteriorated in 50% of the patients. Of ursodeoxycholic acid-treated overlap syndrome patients, 11 completed 2 years of treatment. Three patients were biochemically non-responsive and prednisolone was added to their regimen. Of the remaining 8 patients, 7 (64% of total patients) had normal ALT. Three patients had worse fibrosis score comparing the onset of the treatment. Six of 7 (86%) patients who were given ursodeoxycholic acid plus prednisolone including ursodeoxycholic acid-non-responsives had normal ALT and 2 of 6 biopsy-controlled patients display deterioration of their fibrosis score. CONCLUSIONS Biochemical tests tended to be higher in patients with overlap syndrome comparing to those with primary biliary cirrhosis. Response to ursodeoxycholic acid treatment in patients with overlap syndrome was comparable with that obtained in primary biliary cirrhosis. Therefore it should be the first-line treatment. Non-responsive patients may benefit from the use of ursodeoxycholic acid plus prednisolone combination.
The Movements Of The Stomach Studied By Means Of The Röntgen Rays...

Introductory literature . The method . The anatomy of the stomach and its relations to the shadow . The normal movements of the stomach. I. Movements of the pyloric part . 2. Movements of the pyloric sphincter . 3. Activity of the cardiac portion . The movements of the stomach in vomiting . The effect of the movements of the stomach on the food . Salivary digestion in the stomach. The inhibition of stomach movements during emotion . Page