Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bank Ownership, Regulation and Efficiency: Perspectives from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

Abstract This paper examines the effects of bank regulation and ownership on the efficiency of banks in the emerging MENA region. The public and private view of bank regulation is tested along with the interaction of bank regulation and ownership. Results support the public view of bank regulation and suggest that both ownership concentration and supervisory power individually and interactively exert a positive influence on cost efficiency. Moreover, government ownership, capital stringency and market power have positive effects on cost efficiency, whereas activity restrictions and deposit insurance have opposite effects. Capital regulation and supervisory power improvements occurred since Basel II.
WASP is involved in proliferation and differentiation of human haemopoietic progenitors in vitro

The Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X‐linked recessive disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia, immunodeficiency and eczema. X‐linked thrombocytopenia (XLT) is a mild form of WAS with isolated thrombocytopenia. Both phenotypes are caused by mutation of the Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) gene. In this study we investigated the role of WASP in the differentiation of CD34‐positive (CD34+) cells isolated from the bone marrow of patients with WAS (n = 5) or with XLT (n = 4). Megakaryocyte colony formation was significantly decreased in patients with WAS when compared with normal controls. The formation of granulocyte‐macrophage colonies and erythroid bursts were also decreased in WAS patinets. In contrast, in XLT patients, formation of all these colonies was normal. However, in vitro proplatelet formation of megakaryocytes induced by thrombopoietin was markedly decreased in both XLT and WAS. Electron microscopic examination revealed that megakaryocytes obtained from WAS or XLT patients grown in vitro had abnormal morphologic features, which seemed to be caused by defective actin cytoskeletal organization, including labyrinth‐like structures of the demarcation membrane system and deviated distribution of the α‐granules and demarcation membrane system. These observations indicate that WASP is involved in the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ haemopoietic progenitor cells probably by its participation in signal transduction and in the regulation of the cytoskeleton.
The Membrane Topology of GAT-1, a (Na+ + Cl−)-coupled γ-Aminobutyric Acid Transporter from Rat Brain*

The membrane topology of GAT-1, a sodium- and chloride-coupled γ-aminobutyric acid transporter from rat brain, has been probed using N-glycosylation scanning mutagenesis. Overall, the results support the theoretical 12-transmembrane segment model. This model (based on hydropathy analysis) was originally proposed for GAT-1 and adopted for all other members of the sodium- and chloride-dependent neurotransmitter transporter superfamily. However, our data indicate that the loop connecting putative transmembrane domains 2 and 3, which was predicted to be located intracellularly, can be glycosylated in vivo. Furthermore, studies with permeant and impermeant methanesulfonate reagents suggest that cysteine 74, located in the hydrophilic loop connecting transmembrane domains 1 and 2, is intracellular rather than extracellular. We present a model in which the topology deviates from the theoretical one in the amino-terminal third of the transporter. It also contains 12 transmembrane segments, but the highly conserved domain 1 does not form a conventional transmembrane α-helix.
The prescribing of lipid lowering drugs during a 1‐year period: analysis of 7490 health insurance files

A study of prescription patterns by office‐based physicians was conducted to analyse the use of lipid lowering drugs (LLD) in a Germany area of 1,768,874 inhabitants during a 1‐year period. The prescription database consisted of health insurance files from a random sampling of persons (n=7490) belonging to a large statutory health insurance organization during 1993–1994. During the study period LLD were prescribed to about 2.8% of the study population. Fibrates (43.7%) were the most frequently prescribed drugs followed by HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors (29.5%) and nicotinic acid with derivatives (21.7%). The prevalence of treatment rose with increasing age peaking among 60‐ to 69‐year‐olds (7.5%). More than two‐thirds of the patients were not treated continuously, receiving LLD for less than 6 months. Thus, in patients being treated with LLD, the therapy seems to be ineffective due to the short episodes of drug administration. The presence of hyperlipidaemia plus additional risk factors such as hypertension led to a higher rate of LLD prescriptions than that for hyperlipidaemia alone. Only half of the patients with a history of previous myocardial infarction and hyperlipidaemia received LLD. Furthermore, patients with hyperlipidaemia and additional risk factors such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease (CHD), in whom administration of LLD has often been shown to be effective, were by far too infrequently treated with these drugs. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Membrane-bound Trafficking Regulates Nuclear Transport of Integral Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and ErbB-2*

Background: EGFR is translocated to the inner nuclear membrane through the INTERNET (integral trafficking from the ER to the nuclear envelope transport) pathway. Results: INTERNET regulates EGFR and ErbB-2 but not FGFR-1. Conclusion: At least two different pathways of nuclear transport exist for cell surface receptors. Significance: This provides a new direction for investigating the trafficking mechanisms of various nuclear RTKs. Nuclear localization of multiple receptor-tyrosine kinases (RTKs), such as EGF receptor (EGFR), ErbB-2, FGF receptor (FGFR), and many others, has been reported by several groups. We previously showed that cell surface EGFR is trafficked to the nucleus through a retrograde pathway from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and that EGFR is then translocated to the inner nuclear membrane (INM) through the INTERNET (integral trafficking from the ER to the nuclear envelope transport) pathway. However, the nuclear trafficking mechanisms of other membrane RTKs, apart from EGFR, remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the nuclear transport of EGFR family proteins with that of FGFR-1. Interestingly, we found that digitonin permeabilization, which selectively releases soluble nuclear transporters from the cytoplasm and has been shown to inhibit nuclear transport of FGFR-1, had no effects on EGFR nuclear transport, raising the possibility that EGFR and FGFR-1 use different pathways to be translocated into the nucleus. Using the subnuclear fractionation assay, we further demonstrated that biotinylated cell surface ErbB-2, but not FGFR-1, is targeted to the INM, associating with Sec61β in the INM, similar to the nuclear trafficking of EGFR. Thus, ErbB-2, but not FGFR-1, shows a similar trafficking pathway to EGFR for translocation to the nucleus, indicating that at least two different pathways of nuclear transport exist for cell surface receptors. This finding provides a new direction for investigating the trafficking mechanisms of various nuclear RTKs.
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk in California

Abstract: Numerous studies have documented increased breast cancer risks with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but these do not give a woman her specific absolute risk for the remainder of her life. This article estimates the magnitude of the effect of HRT on breast cancer incidence in California and calculates a woman's cumulative risk of breast cancer with different formulations and durations of HRT use. The effects of HRT on the underlying breast cancer incidence were estimated using the attributable fraction method, applying HRT prevalence data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey and published rates of higher relative risk (RR) from HRT use from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study and Million Women's Survey (MWS). The annual number of breast cancers potentially attributable to HRT in California was estimated, along with individual cumulative risk of breast cancer for various ages to 79 years according to HRT use, duration, and formulation. Using the WHI data, 829 of 19,000 breast cancers (4.3%) in California may be attributable to HRT. This figure increases to 3401 (17.4%) when the MWS RRs are applied. Use of estrogen‐only HRT or short‐term (approximately 5 years) use of combined HRT has a minimal effect on the cumulative risk calculated to the age of 79 years; application of the MWS data to a Californian woman commencing HRT at the age of 50 years (no HRT, 8.5%; estrogen only, 8.6%; combined, 9.1%). Prolonged (approximately 10 years) use of combined HRT increases the cumulative risk to 10.3%. This article demonstrates that HRT will generate a small additional risk of breast cancer in an individual. The reduction in perimenopausal symptoms may be considered sufficient to warrant this extra risk. However, this view needs to be balanced because the small increases in individual risk will be magnified, producing a noticeable change in population cancer caseload where HRT use is high.
Maximizing Stakeholders’ Interests

This article makes two related contributions to stakeholder theory and corporate governance theory. First, the authors seek to advance firm-level characterization of the emerging stakeholder model of corporate governance by analyzing two relevant dimensions of this model: the corporate social responsibility (CSR) function at the board level and stakeholder engagement. Second, the authors intend to examine the relationship between conformance to the stakeholder model of corporate governance and firm financial performance, taking into account the differences between countries, by using an international sample of large companies. The findings suggest that the traditional distinction between shareholder-centered and stakeholder-centered corporate governance systems also has importance for the CSR strategy.
Prospective Multicenter Study of Bronchiolitis: Predicting Safe Discharges From the Emergency Department

OBJECTIVE. Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants. Our objective was to identify factors associated with safe discharge to home from the emergency department. METHODS. We conducted a prospective cohort study during 2 consecutive bronchiolitis seasons, from 2004 to 2006. Thirty US emergency departments contributed data. All patients were <2 years of age and had a final emergency department attending physician diagnosis of bronchiolitis. Using multivariate logistic regression, a low-risk model was developed with a random half of the data and then validated with the other half. RESULTS. Of 1456 enrolled patients, 837 (57%) were discharged home from the emergency department. The following factors predicted safe discharge to home: age of ≥2 months, no history of intubation, a history of eczema, age-specific respiratory rates (<45 breaths per minute for 0–1.9 months, <43 breaths per minute for 2–5.9 months, and <40 breaths per minute for 6–23.9 months), no/mild retractions, initial oxygen saturation of ≥94%, fewer albuterol or epinephrine treatments in the first hour, and adequate oral intake. The importance of each factor varied slightly according to age, but the comprehensive model (developed and validated for all children <2 years of age) yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.81, with a good fit of the data. CONCLUSIONS. This large multicenter study of children presenting to the emergency department with bronchiolitis identified several factors associated with safe discharge, including cut points for respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. Although the low-risk model requires further study, we believe that it will assist clinicians evaluating children with bronchiolitis and may help reduce some unnecessary hospitalizations.
Tolterodine for the treatment of overactive bladder: a review

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a prevalent condition. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of immediate release tolterodine in the treatment of OAB in different patient populations. This review details the characteristics, clinical efficacy and safety of extended release (ER) tolterodine. This formulation yields a flatter serum concentration profile and provides clinically meaningful symptom improvement as early as week 1 of treatment. Tolterodine ER is effective in diverse patient populations with varying levels of symptom severity, and efficacy is maintained with long-term treatment. Tolterodine is an effective, safe, and convenient treatment option for long-term relief of OAB symptoms.
The associations between emotional eating and consumption of energy-dense snack foods are modified by sex and depressive symptomatology.

In recent years, emotional eating (EmE) has incited substantial research interest as an important psychologic determinant of food intake and overweight. However, little is known about factors that might modulate its relations with dietary habits. The objective of this study was to examine the association between EmE and consumption of energy-dense snack food and assess the 2-way interaction of EmE with sex and depressive symptoms. A total of 7378 men and 22,862 women from the NutriNet-Santé cohort (France, 2009-2013) who completed ≥6 self-reported 24-h food records were included in this cross-sectional analysis. EmE was evaluated via the revised 21-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. The associations between EmE and energy-dense food consumption were assessed by multivariable logistic and linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Higher EmE was associated with higher consumption of energy-dense snacks and, in particular, with consumption of sweet-and-fatty foods across most categories studied. However, these associations were stronger in women with depressive symptoms (e.g., high consumption of chocolate, OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.20; cakes/biscuits/pastries, OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.45, 2.26) compared with those without depressive symptoms (e.g., high consumption of chocolate, OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.36, 1.69; cakes/biscuits/pastries, OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.29, 1.61). In contrast, the significant positive associations observed in men without depressive symptoms (e.g., high consumption of chocolate, OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.52; cakes/biscuits/pastries, OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.48) were not found in men with depressive symptoms. In conclusion, in women, EmE was positively associated with consumption of energy-dense snack food, particularly in those with depressive symptoms. For men, the relation between EmE and energy-dense snack foods was found only in those without depressive symptoms. These findings call for consideration of the psychologic state when targeting unhealthy dietary habits, especially in women. This trial was registered at eudract.ema. europa.eu as 2013-000929-31.
Influence of isotretinoin on nasal mucociliary clearance and lung function in patients with acne vulgaris

Retinoids are widely used to treat acne in patients with underlying systemic diseases. We evaluated the effect of 13‐cis‐retinoic acid (isotretinoin) on nasal mucociliary clearance and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with severe acne vulgaris. Each side effect was scored using a 4‐point scale. Mucociliary clearance was evaluated by the saccharin test (ST). ST and PFTs were performed on all patients before and during the third month of treatment. A total of 40 acne patients (88% female, mean age 25 ± 7 years) were included. The most common side effects were dryness, chapped lips, and xerosis. Mild epistaxis occurred in 13 patients; only two patients reported bleeding more than 10cc. There was no difference before and during the third month of treatment in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF25–75), and their predicted percentage ratios. Mean nasal mucociliary clearance time was 12.6 ± 4.1 min before and 15.9 ± 5.7 after treatment (P < 0.001). We found that nasal clearance was significantly prolonged with treatment, and there was significant correlation between drug dose and mucociliary clearance time. Isotretinoin caused signs and symptoms of dry nose and disturbed mucociliary clearance without affecting PFTs. Nasal complications generally are not serious, especially when isotretinoin is taken in low doses.
Agonist‐Independent Internalization and Activity of a C‐Terminally Truncated Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 2(δ349)

Abstract : The rat somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) is rapidly internalized and phosphorylated in the presence of somatostatin 14 (SST14). Several C‐terminal deletion constructs of SSTR2 have been investigated for their ability to undergo agonist‐dependent internalization by using biochemical ligand binding assays and confocal microscopic analysis. Whereas mutant receptors lacking either 10 (δ359), 30 (δ339), or 44 (δ325) amino acid residues at the C terminus required SST14 for internalization, a construct lacking the last 20 amino acids (δ349) was detected mostly intracellularly and independently of the presence of the agonist. When internalization was blocked by sucrose, the δ349 receptor remained at the cell surface, strongly indicating that this mutant is internalized in an agonist‐independent fashion. An increased affinity for agonists as measured in membrane binding assays and a reduced level of forskolin‐stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in human embryonic kidney cells expressing δ349 are properties that are characteristic of agonist‐independent receptor activity. δ349 is not phosphorylated detectably in the absence of agonist, demonstrating that phosphorylation per se is not a prerequisite for internalization of SSTR2. This observation is in line with data obtained for the δ325 mutant, which was internalized in an agonist‐dependent manner, but not phosphorylated in either the presence or absence of SST14. We conclude that truncation of the SSTR2 C terminus at position 349 leads to agonist‐independent, constitutive activity and internalization.
Propagation of electrical spiking activity along the small intestine: intrinsic versus extrinsic neural influences.

1. The electrical activity of the small intestine of conscious dog, recorded by means of chronically implanted electrodes, was related to the transit time estimated by phenol red infusion and its propagation observed after a single or double transection and following either isolation or removal of a 50 cm jejunal loop. 2. In the fasted dog, the activity was characterized by the propagation of myoelectric complexes at a velocity of 4 cm/min during which the mean transit time averaged 13 min/m. About 2/3 of these complexes were seen to pass beyond a single section and anastomosis of the jejunum with a delay of 15 min. This number was reduced to 1/3 and the delay doubled when a second section was performed 50 cm distally. 3. In dog with an isolated jejunal loop, most of the myo‐electric complexes were seen to pass from the proximal intestine to the loop and then to the intestine beyond the sit of anastomosis within 37 min. Some complexes however passed directly through the anastomosis within 30‐32 min, affecting or not the loop. Others started on the loop and/or on the intestine beyond the anastomosis. Finally, the total number of complexes recorded on the distal jejunum was greater than on the duodenum, an effect which disappeared after removal of the isolated loop. 4. The propagation of the complexes occurred at a lower velocity after denervation of a jejunal segment in situ but was arrested in the case of an isolated‐denervated jejunal loop. 5. It is concluded that continuity of structures in the bowel is essential for the propagation of a myo‐electric complex which is stopped and replaced by another complex at the level of an anastomosis, the number os complexes reorganized beyond an anastomosis and their velocity of propagation depending upon both intrinsic and extrinsic neural influences.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Exercise, and Older Adults' Quality of Life

This study examined health-related quality of life (HRQL) at baseline and 6, 9, and 12 months after initiating exercise training in three groups of older adults. The conditions were cognitive-behavioral therapy, attention-control health promotion education, and a control group. Participants (N = 332) were mainly women (n = 252, 75.9%) with a mean age of 71.8 (SD = 5.1) years. Therapy participants were trained to modify their negative interpretations of exercise. Participants in the education group received information unrelated to exercise. After controlling for exercise behavior over time, the therapy group reported lower general health, more role limitations because of emotional problems, and somewhat less vitality than the control group did. The education group also reported lower general health and vitality than the control group did. Social interaction and discussion may heighten participants' awareness of these health aspects and influence their appraisal of HRQL. Findings demonstrate the complexities of HRQL and the challenge in developing effective methods for helping older adults adopt and maintain an active lifestyle.
Risk Factors for NIDDM in White Population: Paris Prospective Study

Risk factors for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were assessed in a population of 5042 middle-aged white men, initially nondiabetic, who were followed 3 yr. The subjects were participants in the Paris Prospective Study I. Sixty-three subjects developed diabetes during the follow-up. Plasma glucose concentration in the years before the occurrence of the disease was a major risk factor. Subjects with normal glucose tolerance but elevated fasting plasma glucose exhibited a similar risk of developing NIDDM as did subjects classified as having impaired glucose tolerance on the basis of 2-h postload glucose. In a multiple logistic regression, a high fasting plasma insulin concentration and a low 2-h plasma insulin concentration after a glucose load in association with a high body mass index were independent predictors of conversion to NIDDM from impaired glucose tolerance. Previously, this result had been found only in Nauruans, Pima Indians, and Japanese. This demonstrates for the first time in a white population that a high fasting and low 2-h insulin concentration is predictive of conversion to NIDDM from impaired glucose tolerance.
A green economy indicator framework for tourism destinations

ABSTRACT This paper presents a green economy indicator framework for tourism destinations which has been developed in the case study destination of Bali, Indonesia. Whilst the term “green economy” can have many interpretations, here it refers to the global strategy framework surrounding Rio+20, as well as the policies and strategies being developed by tourism destinations as a response. Many uncertainties remain about the effectiveness of these efforts and how they may be measured. For lesser developed countries in particular, reliable data is often difficult to obtain and this study uses a case study approach to identify the relevant, and measurable, indicators in this context. First, a nominal group technique was applied to identify the green economy issues for local tourism stakeholders. The indicators were then selected based on the green economy literature and a review of the available secondary data for the destination. Data on greenhouse gas emissions from tourism was identified as one of the critical gaps and an estimate is provided to show how this could be obtained and monitored. While this indicator framework was developed specifically for Bali, the case study may be relevant for many other island destinations in the lesser developed world that are experiencing rapid tourism growth.