Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monetary value of lost productivity over a five year follow up in early rheumatoid arthritis estimated on the basis of official register data on patients’ sickness absence and gross income: experience from the FIN-RACo trial

Objective: To explore the monetary value of rheumatoid arthritis related loss of productivity in patients with early active disease. Methods: In a prospective cohort substudy of the FIN-RACo Trial, 162 patients with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis, aged 18 to 65 years and available to the workforce, were followed up for five years. Loss of work productivity in euros 2002 was estimated by data on absence for sickness and on income (human capital approach) from official databases. Treatment responses were evaluated by area under the curve (AUC) of the ACR-N measure and by increase in number of erosions in radiographs of hands and feet. The health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) at six months was linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Results: In all, 120 (75%) patients, women more often (82%) than men (61%) (p = 0.002), lost work days. The mean lost productivity per patient-year was €7217 (95% confidence interval (CI), 5561 to 9148): for women, €6477 (4858 to 8536) and for men, €8443 (5389 to 12 898). There was an inverse correlation with improvement: €1101 (323 to 2156) and €14 952 (10 662 to 19 852) for the highest and lowest quartiles of AUC of ARC-N, respectively. Lost productivity was associated with increase in the number of erosions and with disability in “changing and maintaining body position” subcategory of the ICF. Conclusions: Despite remission targeted treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, early rheumatoid arthritis results in substantial loss of productivity. A good improvement in the disease reduces the loss markedly.
An Effective Dynamic Current Phasor Estimator for Synchrophasor Measurements

Accurate voltage and current phasor measurements are required to be provided by phasor measurement units placed at various buses in the system. This paper presents an effective method for estimation of alternating current signal fundamental phasor under dynamic conditions. The model-order estimation of the current signal has been carried out to separate the signal space and the noise space in the signal correlation matrix. The Vandermonde matrix of the total least square estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques method is extended to second-order Taylor's series approximation to estimate the dynamic phasor of the current signal. The suggested technique for the phasor estimation has been tested on simultaneous multimode amplitude and phase oscillations with decaying dc offset and noninteger harmonics, in the presence of noise and also for a fault scenario in New England 39-bus system. This paper also provides a few suggestions for a few possible amendments in the IEEE synchrophasor standard.
Some asymmetries in the weight, area and linear dimensions of the mandible of rats.

Mandibles of 54 rats consisting of males and females of the same number (weighing around 200 to 260 gr.) were measured in 16 dimensions (weight, area and linear dimensions). In area and linear dimensions we used projective measurements with a certain constant enlargement of soft X-ray photographs and pictures of both right and left mandibles which were taken under the same conditions.Therefore we compared the mandible on the right and left sides in each measurement, for the presence or absence of asymmetry and one-sided dominance.As a result, mainly the following two findings were obtained.1) The mean values of the dominant and non-dominant sides in each dimension showed significant difference (p <0.01 or <0.001). 2) Significant difference between the mean values of the right and left sides was not necessarily found in all dimensions but found in only a few dimensions, i.e., the height of angular process was significantly greater on the left side in both male (p <0.05) and female (p <0.001), and the area of the ramus and the length of the condyloid process and the length of the masseter muscle (the masseteric ridge to the posterior end of the angular process) showed significant difference (p<0.05) in only male, they were all greater on the left side.From these observation it was suggested that the phenomenon of asymmetry and one-sided dominance found in the height of the angular process and in some other dimensions was caused by the difference of the roughening or hyperostosis of bony area where masticatory muscles were given attachement.
Sexual Orientation Disparities in History of Intimate Partner Violence

Few studies have examined history of intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexual minorities. We assessed prevalence and predictors of IPV using a probability sample of California residents ages 18 to 70. Lifetime and 1-year IPV prevalence was higher in sexual minorities compared with heterosexuals but this was significant only for bisexual women and gay men. IPV of bisexual women, but not gay men, occurred in a heterosexual relationship. We tested whether the higher prevalence of IPV in gay men and bisexual women was explained by two mental health indicators—psychological distress and binge drinking—but this hypothesis was not supported.
AGF1, an AT-Hook Protein, Is Necessary for the Negative Feedback of AtGA3ox1 Encoding GA 3-Oxidase1[W]

Negative feedback is a fundamental mechanism of organisms to maintain the internal environment within tolerable limits. Gibberellins (GAs) are essential regulators of many aspects of plant development, including seed germination, stem elongation, and flowering. GA biosynthesis is regulated by the feedback mechanism in plants. GA 3-oxidase (GA3ox) catalyzes the final step of the biosynthetic pathway to produce the physiologically active GAs. Here, we found that only the AtGA3ox1 among the AtGA3ox family of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is under the regulation of GA-negative feedback. We have identified a cis-acting sequence responsible for the GA-negative feedback of AtGA3ox1 using transgenic plants. Furthermore, we have identified an AT-hook protein, AGF1 (for the AT-hook protein of GA feedback regulation), as a DNA-binding protein for the cis-acting sequence of GA-negative feedback. The mutation in the cis-acting sequence abolished both GA-negative feedback and AGF1 binding. In addition, constitutive expression of AGF1 affected GA-negative feedback in Arabidopsis. Our results suggest that AGF1 plays a role in the homeostasis of GAs through binding to the cis-acting sequence of the GA-negative feedback of AtGA3ox1.
Stochastic Reformulations of Linear Systems: Algorithms and Convergence Theory

We develop a family of reformulations of an arbitrary consistent linear system into a stochastic problem. The reformulations are governed by two user-defined parameters: a positive definite matrix defining a norm, and an arbitrary discrete or continuous distribution over random matrices. Our reformulation has several equivalent interpretations, allowing for researchers from various communities to leverage their domain specific insights. In particular, our reformulation can be equivalently seen as a stochastic optimization problem, stochastic linear system, stochastic fixed point problem and a probabilistic intersection problem. We prove sufficient, and necessary and sufficient conditions for the reformulation to be exact. Further, we propose and analyze three stochastic algorithms for solving the reformulated problem---basic, parallel and accelerated methods---with global linear convergence rates. The rates can be interpreted as condition numbers of a matrix which depends on the system matrix and on the reformulation parameters. This gives rise to a new phenomenon which we call stochastic preconditioning, and which refers to the problem of finding parameters (matrix and distribution) leading to a sufficiently small condition number. Our basic method can be equivalently interpreted as stochastic gradient descent, stochastic Newton method, stochastic proximal point method, stochastic fixed point method, and stochastic projection method, with fixed stepsize (relaxation parameter), applied to the reformulations.
Orbital Symmetry in QSAR: Some Schiff's Base Inhibitors of Carbonic Anhydrase

Abstract In a reexamination of some data on the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozymes I and II by some phenyl and pyridyl substituted sulfanilamide Schif's bases we have found that activity can better be explained by considering the directions of the nodes in π-like near frontier orbitals in the molecules. The near-frontier orbitals involved are those that are analogous to the degenerate pairs of HOMO and LUMO orbitals of benzene. This effect seems common in compounds which contain variously substituted benzene rings and is probably critical to understanding the activity of any aromatic molecule which is bound to its receptor by π–π charge transfer interactions.
Arterial Mechanics in Ischemic versus Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: Clinical and Diagnostic Impact

Background: Differential diagnosis between ischemic (IDCM) and the nonischemic type (NIDCM) of cardiomyopathy constitutes a challenge in the daily medical practice. Carotid and aortic elastic properties deteriorate in patients with coronary artery disease. However, their predictive role in differentiating IDCM from NIDCM has not been addressed so far. Aim of the work: To examine carotid and aortic mechanical functions using conventional and Doppler tissue echocardiography in the distinction between IDCM and NIDCM in patients with clinically undetermined etiology. Methods: 70 patients with dilatation and diffuse impairment of the left ventricular (LV) contraction were studied. All patients underwent carotid duplex for measuring intima‐media (IMT) thickness, peak systolic velocity (PSV), and luminal diameters (LD). Aortic distensibility, strain, and aortic wall velocities (systolic (Sa), early diastolic (Ea), late diastolic (Aa) velocities, Sat, and Eat) were measured. According to coronary angiographic results, patients were categorized into IDCM (n = 36) (age 57.9 ± 9.2 years) and NIDCM groups (n = 34) (age 56.0 ± 8.3 years); they were compared to 30 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy individuals as a control group. Results: The aortic pulsatile change, aortic strain, and distensibility were significantly reduced in both patient groups in comparison to control (P < 0.001). These parameters were much impaired in patients with IDCM compared with NIDCM (P < 0.001). IDCM have more deterioration of Sa, Ea, and Aa compared with NIDCM group (7.6 ± 2.4 vs. 8.9 ± 1.58, 7.5 ± 2.8 vs. 10.6 ± 1.5, 9.0 ± 1.4 vs. 6.9 ± 2.4 cm/sec; P < 0.001), respectively. In IDCM, the variables of aortic elastic properties were correlated only to age, while in NIDCM they were correlated to hemodynamics, LV volumes, wall thickness, and mass. Both carotid diameter and IMT were significantly increased in IDCM in comparison to NIDCM and control (P < 0.001). Carotid distensibility was significantly reduced in IDCM compared with NIDCM and control (P < 0.001). However, the carotid properties strongly correlated to risk factors in IDCM and to hemodynamics and LV function in NIDCM. Using ROC curve, a cutoff value ≤4.7 (cm2/dyne/103) for aortic distensibility, value <8 cm/sec for Sa and IMT >0.8 mm predicted IDCM with 94.4%, 72.7%, and 97.2% sensitivity and 88.2%, 85.3%, and 97.1% specificity, respectively. Conclusion: Both carotid and aortic mechanical functions are more deteriorated in ischemic compared with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Different functional and structural mechanisms might be responsible for the deterioration of arterial elastic properties in each category.
Antidromic activation of Renshaw cells and their axonal projections.

Antidromic invasion of Renshaw cells following stimulation of their axons was found always to produce only a single spike in contrast to repetitive synaptic discharges. A systematic exploration of the spinal cord in a search for sites from which single Renshaw cells could be activated antidromically revealed that their axons: 1) can project to distances over 12 mm, 2) run in the ventral funiculus. 3) are likely to terminate both within motor nuclei (mainly at short distances) and in an area dorso-medial and medial to them, and 4) have a maximal conduction velocity of about 30 mls.
Small and medium-sized enterprises in Thailand: government policy and economic development

This article examines the role of the Thai government in economic development through the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It explores the interaction between the government and the private sector, with the challenges facing SMEs and the effectiveness of the SME promotion policy being considered in terms of implications for future policy. The government has played an important role in supporting the development of SMEs as a means of achieving sustained and healthy economic growth. A committed SME promotion policy from the government and closer cooperation between the state and the private sector are needed for the further development of SMEs. The integration of the government agencies related to SME promotion should be enhanced in order to have a whole-of-government approach. More focus on the quality of SMEs is necessary for their sustained development.
A Diagnosis of the Determinants of Dividend Payout Policy in India: A Factor Analytical Approach

Dividend decision involves the portion of a firm’s net earnings that are paid out to the shareholders, and the remaining is ploughed back in the company for its growth purpose. Despite comprehensive theoretical and empirical explanations, dividend policy and its determinants are a puzzle to be fixed in corporate finance. This chapter is an attempt to assess the dynamics and determinants of dividend-payout policy using a factor analytical tool and a multiple regression analysis as a supportive tool. The authors take into account the sample of ten automobile companies based on Market Capitalization listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) for a period of 10 years from 2002-2003 to 2012-2013. The results of the factor analysis show that six factors, current ratio, cash flow, retained earnings per share, earnings per share, equity dividend, and corporate dividend tax, are identified as the most critical factors determining dividend payout in Indian automobile companies. However, regression results depict only three factors (i.e. cash flow, equity dividend, and corporate dividend tax) have been found statistically significant in determining dividend payout policy.
Leading for Quality in Healthcare: Development and Validation of a Competency Model

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Increased attention to healthcare quality and impending changes due to health reform are calling for healthcare leaders at all levels to strengthen their skills in leading quality improvement initiatives. To address this need, the National Association for Healthcare Quality spearheaded the development and validation of a competency model to support healthcare leaders in assessing their strengths and planning appropriate steps for development. Initial development took place over the course of several days of meetings by an advisory panel of quality professionals. The draft model was then validated via electronic survey of a national sample of 883 quality professionals. Follow‐up analyses indicated that the model was content valid for each of the target samples and also distinguished differing levels of job scope and experience. The resulting model contains six domains spanning three organizational levels.
Chief marketing officers and firm performance: A multinational perspective on the value relevance of the chief marketer

ABSTRACT The authors examine the effect of the presence of a chief marketing officer (CMO) in the top management team on firm performance and explore the performance implications of the CMO function worldwide by using a data set of publicly traded companies from 93 countries from all continents. The article draws on upper echelons theory and the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) literature and focuses on the differences in performance across public companies contingent on corporate organizational structure complexity, uncertainty avoidance, and the degree of firm globalization. The findings show evidence of a positive effect of CMO presence in the worldwide sample, as well as nuanced pathways of impact, mainly through the effects of organizational structure complexity and country level uncertainty avoidance on the value relevance of the CMO in the corporation.
Differential effects of ret and TRKB on axonal branching and survival of parasympathetic neurons

Interactions between neurons and their targets of innervation influence many aspects of neural development. To examine how synaptic activity interacts with neurotrophic signaling, we determined the effects of blocking neuromuscular transmission on survival and axonal outgrowth of ciliary neurons from the embryonic chicken ciliary ganglion. Ciliary neurons undergo a period of cell loss due to programmed cell death between embryonic Days (E) 8 and 14 and they innervate the striated muscle of the iris. The nicotinic antagonist d‐tubocurarine (dTC) induces an increase in branching measured by counting neurofilament‐positive voxels (NF‐VU) in the iris between E14‐17 while reducing ciliary neuron survival. Blocking ganglionic transmission with dihyro‐β‐erythroidin and α‐methyllycacontine does not mimic dTC. At E8, many trophic factors stimulate neurite outgrowth and branching of neurons placed in cell culture; however, at E13, only GDNF stimulates branching selectively in cultured ciliary neurons. The GDNF‐induced branching at E13 could be inhibited by BDNF. Blocking ret signaling in vivo with a dominant negative (dn)ret decreases survival of ciliary and choroid neurons at E14 and prevents dTC induced increases in NF‐VU in the iris at E17. Blocking TRKB signaling with dn TRKB increases NF‐VU in the iris at E17 and decreases neuronal survival at E17, but not at E14. Thus, RET promotes survival during programmed cell death in the ciliary ganglion and contributes to promoting branching when synaptic transmission is blocked while TRKB inhibits branching and promotes maintenance of neuronal survival. These studies highlight the multifunctional nature of trophic molecule function during neuronal development. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2013
The Estimation of the Fat Free Mass Index in Athletes

Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to compare a practical measurement of fat free mass index (FFMI) from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) value in collegiate athletes. Methods Thirty-three male baseball players and 16 female gymnasts volunteered to participate in this study during their respective pre-season. Subjects visited the laboratory once and had their measurements taken in the following order: weight, height, DEXA, and Omron HBF-500. Results The BIA device investigated was not a valid estimate of FFMI when compared to the DEXA. The TE was 0.93 kg/ m2 for males and 0.78 kg/ m2 for females. There were also significant mean differences between the BIA prediction and the DEXA value for males (BIA=20.6 kg/m2 vs. DEXA=21.1 kg/m2, P=0.007) and females (BIA=16.2 kg/m2 vs. DEXA=17.5 kg/m2, P=0.001). Conclusions The BIA device investigated in this study did not provide a valid estimate of FFMI in male and female collegiate athletes. Although there was a general tendency for the BIA to underestimate FFMI compared to DEXA, 98% of the estimates were within plus or minus 2 kg/ m2. Therefore, while slightly biased, BIA may provide a reasonable (± 2 kg/ m2) estimate of nutritional status for practitioners who are unable able to afford more expensive equipment.
Impact of Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction in Public Sector and Private Sector Banks

Service Quality in banking sector is the most important criteria and asset for evaluating and satisfying customers and thereby increases the customer loyalty and average retention rate of customers. Among the service quality determinants, reliability, assurance and empathy have always played a pivotal role. Prior research suggests that customer perceptions and expectations are more likely to be different across service sectors. Hence, this paper examines the effect of service quality determinants on the degree of customer satisfaction in public and private banks in India. By realizing the gap between the perceived and actual service quality, customer satisfaction can be extremely improved .
Diagnosed Tuberculosis During the Follow-up of a Cohort of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: ANRS 1278 Study

Introduction: Most data on tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children in Africa come from hospital-based and cross-sectional studies. Objectives: To estimate the incidence of tuberculosis in HIV-infected children participating in an observational cohort. Methods: HIV-infected children in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, are followed in a prospective cohort. At enrollment, all children had a physical examination, CD4 lymphocyte counts, chest radiograph and a tuberculin test. Quarterly follow-up visits are organized. All patients with suspected tuberculosis undergo specific investigations including gastric aspiration and culture. All isolates are tested for susceptibility. Results: From October 2000 to December 2003, 129 girls and 153 boys were recruited. Of children without a current or previous diagnosis of tuberculosis, 6.5% (13 of 199) had a tuberculin test result of >5 mm, compared with 17.5% of children (10 of 57) with current or previous tuberculosis (P < 0.02). Forty-eight children (17%) had a history of treated tuberculosis, and 27 children were being treated for tuberculosis at enrollment or during the first month of follow-up. Eleven children were diagnosed with tuberculosis after the first month of follow-up, and the diagnosis of mycobacterial infection was confirmed in 7 cases. Of 5 tested isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 3 were resistant to at least 1 antitubercular drug. Cumulative incidence of tuberculosis was 2060/100,000 at 12 months, 3390/100,000 at 2 years and 5930/100,000 at 3 years. The 3-year risk was 12,400/100,000 in immunocompromised children (CD4 <15%) and 3300/100,000 in other children (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The risk of tuberculosis among HIV-infected children in Côte d'Ivoire is strongly associated with the degree of immunodeficiency in HIV infection.
Electromagnetic power flow between opposite sides of a lossy dielectric sphere using spherical vector wave expansion

This article addresses the problem of communication in near field region. The proposed example is the communication between two small antennas, which are modelled as an electric dipole antenna (transmitter) and a small box (receiver), near a sphere that models a head. Spherical vector wave expansion SVWE is used to calculate the response of the model and to investigate propagation of power. Influence of the orientation of the antennas on the propagation is studied. The effect of location of the receiving antenna on the amount of the received power is investigated too.