Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the effect of occupational exposure to formaldehyde on the risk of lung cancer in two Canadian population-based case-control studies.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the possible association between formaldehyde exposure and lung cancer risk. METHODS Data were collected in two population-based case-control studies conducted in Montreal, Canada. Cases were individuals diagnosed with incident, histologically-confirmed lung cancer. Controls were randomly selected from electoral lists and frequency-matched to cases by age, sex, and electoral district of residence. Interviews for the two studies were conducted in 1979-1986 and 1996-2002, using a virtually identical questionnaire to obtain lifetime occupational and smoking history and several lifestyle covariates. Experts reviewed the detailed work history for each participant to assess exposure to several occupational agents, including formaldehyde. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the associations between several metrics of formaldehyde exposure and lung cancer, adjusting for smoking and occupational and sociodemographic factors. RESULTS In all, 2060 lung cancer cases and 2046 population controls were interviewed and assessed for exposure. About 25% of subjects had ever been occupationally exposed to formaldehyde. The adjusted OR for lung cancer was 1.06 (95% CI 0.89-1.27) comparing ever versus never exposure to formaldehyde. Analyses for age at first exposure, average, and peak intensity of exposure also suggested an absence of association between formaldehyde exposure and lung cancer risk. Results did not vary by sex, lifetime smoking intensity, or histological subtype. CONCLUSIONS No marked increases in lung cancer risk related to workplace formaldehyde exposure were observed. Study participants were mainly exposed at low concentration levels, which should be considered in the interpretation of our findings.
Successful dietary treatment of recurrent intussusception

Bilingualism is an asset in modern society and any recommendations to parents about language use during the preschool years must be supported by convincing evidence. Hence we write to refute the conclusions of Howell et al that speaking two languages during the preschool years increases the chances of a child starting to stutter and decreases the likelihood of recovery from stuttering.1 The problem, as we see it, is that the authors have drawn conclusions about the general population of bilingual children …
The Prevalence and Antibiogram of Salmonella and Shigella Isolated from abattoir, Jimma town, South West Ethiopia.

A disease due to Contamination of food by Salmonella and Shigella are among the major challenges worldwide. Evaluation of the existing safety status of foods, including meat and meat products, is a pro-active measure to reduce the possible risk due to associated foodborne pathogens. To this effect, the study was done over a 5month period between December 2009 and May 2010. In total 180 animal samples composed from cattle, goat, and sheep, meat and feces were analyzed for microbial load determination using conventional culture method. The aerobic mesophilic counts varied from 3.0 to 9.0 log10 CFU/g. Coliforms were encountered in most samples. Enterobacteriacea were present at 2-4 log10 CFU/g in 19 %( 45) meat, and 21% (22) faeces samples. Salmonella species were present in 4.4 % (8.0) of all the samples. Among the samples only Goat faeces sample was not contaminated with Salmonella whereas Shigella was not isolated from any samples. The prevalent Salmonella species were further characterized using API 20E kit. Isolated Salmonella strain was displayed multidrug resistance to several antibiotics including ampicillin, Naldixic Acid, Streptomycin; Tetracycline, and Chloramphenicol. The present study revealed that despite low contamination rate, foodstuffs particularly beef, chevon and mutton parts could be a potential vehicle for foodborne infections and implementation of preventive measures and consumer food safety education efforts are needed.
The Active World of Passive Investing

We investigate the new reality of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). We show that most ETFs are active investments in form (designed to generate alpha) or function (serve as building blocks of active portfolios). We define a new activeness index to capture these dimensions, finding that the cross-section of ETFs is now increasingly characterized by highly active investment vehicles. Active-in-form ETFs have positive flow-performance sensitivity, charge the highest fees among ETFs, and have high within-portfolio turnover. Active-in-function ETFs have more concentrated holdings, less within-portfolio turnover, but higher turnover in the secondary market. We show how more active ETFs are gaining market share over less active ETFs, leading to competitive fee pressure both within the ETF space and across the investment management industry. We suggest that the growing activeness of ETFs may assuage concerns about ETFs harming price discovery.
Urgent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention as a part of postresuscitation management

Because an acute coronary thrombotic event may be viewed as the main trigger of sudden cardiac arrest, urgent coronary angiography followed by percutaneous coronary intervention appeared as a promising tool in the early postresuscitation phase. Unfortunately, large randomized trials, which have unequivocally demonstrated benefits of urgent percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndromes, systematically excluded patients with preceding cardiac arrest followed by successful reestablishment of spontaneous circulation. There are several nonrandomized trials in patients with electrocardiographic signs of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after reestablishment of spontaneous circulation which together accumulated 478 patients. After urgent coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 98%. Patency of infarct-related artery was reestablished in 89%. Success of primary percutaneous coronary intervention and hospital survival in patients regaining consciousness soon after reestablishment of spontaneous circulation appeared to be comparable with ST-elevation myocardial infarction population without preceding cardiac arrest. This is in contrast with comatose survivors of cardiac arrest in whom survival to hospital discharge was, despite somewhat smaller patency of infarct-related artery after percutaneous coronary intervention (94% vs. 82%; p = .12), disproportionably decreased to 57% with good neurologic outcome in only 38%. There is evidence that in these patients, urgent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention can be safely combined with mild induced hypothermia to facilitate neurologic recovery.
The FBN1 (R2726W) mutation is not fully penetrant

The R2726W mutation in the fibrillin 1 (FBN1, Marfan syndrome) gene segregates with isolated skeletal features of Marfan syndrome and/or high stature. Here we report a family in which two out of four individuals, an 18‐year‐old son and his mother, a 41‐year‐old woman, had the R2726W mutation of FBN1. Both family members carrying the mutation were of average height. The son had a Marfan‐like phenotype, but his mother did not. The FBN1 R2776W mutation, which is associated with skeletal features of Marfan syndrome, appears incompletely penetrant. Consequently, genetic counselling in the presence of this mutation is difficult.
Operations Modernization Strategies And Service Delivery Among Non-Commercial State Owned Ent Ities In Kenya

: Purpose: Modern and robust operations modernization strategies are required to turn around or improve the efficiency of such non-commercial state owned entities. The study therefore aims to fill the gap by establishing the modernization strategies commonly used by non-commercial state owned entities in Kenya. Design/Research method: In conducting this study, descriptive design was adopted. The study relied on both primary and secondary data. Data analysis used both inferential and descriptive statistics. Finding: In order to achieve excellence in service delivery, the firms need to adopt strategies on operations modernization. From the research findings in this study, there is a positive relationship between the operations modernization strategies and the service delivery. Limitation: The study was able to establish the impact of such studies on the service delivery but there could be other factors such as legislation, political interference and funding constraints that would impact service delivery which need to be studied together with the identified operations modernization strategies. Implication: Improved service delivery measured by the customer satisfaction and the reduced number of customer complaints show could among other factors be influenced by modernization of operations.
Regular menstrual cycles do not rule out ovarian damage in adult women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate ovarian reserve markers in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and regular menstrual cycles, and explore the relationship of such markers with clinical and treatment features. This was a case–control study including 27 women with SLE and 27 controls. All participants were aged 18–40 years, were eumenorrheic and had not used hormone therapy or hormone contraceptives in the past six months. Clinical manifestations of SLE, past and current use of immunosuppressive therapy and organ damage index were assessed at a regular follow-up visit, while antral follicle count (AFC), serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were assessed at early follicular phase of menstrual cycle. AFC was significantly reduced in SLE women [median (interquartile interval) 7 (5–11) versus 11 (7–12), p = 0.029]. AMH levels were more heterogeneous in SLE patients compared to the control group [1.23 (0.24–4.63) ng/ml versus 1.52 (1.33–1.88) ng/ml]. The SLE and control groups had similar serum FSH levels [6.44 (4.19–7.69) versus 7.5 (6.03–8.09) IU/L, p = 0.135]. AFC was inversely correlated with organ damage index (p = 0.046) and cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide (p = 0.028), while AMH levels were negatively correlated with the maximal dose of corticosteroid ever used (p = 0.003). These findings suggest that ovarian reserve may be decreased in women with SLE despite regular menstrual cycles. Chinese abstract 本研究的目的为评估患有系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）女性卵巢储备标志物和探究这些标志物与临床及治疗特征之间的相互联系。 研究为包括27名患SLE女性和27名对照的病例对照研究。 所有受试者均为18-40岁，月经正常，且在过去的六个月中未受过激素治疗或未使用过口服避孕药。 SLE临床表现，过去和目前所使用的免疫抑制疗法及器官损伤指数均会在规律的随访中评估，而窦卵泡数（AFC），血清抗苗勒氏管激素和卵泡刺激素水平在月经周期中的早期卵泡期进行评估。 SLE妇女AFC水平显著降低[中位 (四分位间隔)7 (5–11) 与 11 (7–12), p=0.029]。 SLE患者AMH水平与对照组相比更为异常[1.23 (0.24–4.63) ng/ml 与 1.52 (1.33–1.88) ng/ml]。 SLE组和对照组FSH水平相类似[6.44 (4.19–7.69) 与 7.5 (6.03–8.09) IU/L, p=0.135]。 AFC与器官损伤指数(p=0.046) 和环磷酰胺累积剂量呈反相关(p=0.028), 而AMH水平与曾用过最大剂量皮质类固醇呈负相关(p=0.003)。 这些发现说明即使月经周期规律的SLE患者卵巢储备也有可能降低。
Intellectual Capital Disclosure and Corporate Governance Structure: Evidence in Malaysia

The objectives of this paper are to investigate the extent of the intellectual capital disclosure and the relationship between intellectual capital disclosure and corporate governance variables in Malaysian public listed companies. The independent variables tested in this study comprise various forms of corporate governance structure: (1) board composition, (2) role duality, (3) size of audit committee and (4) frequency of audit committee meetings. A sample of 150 companies listed in Bursa Malaysia was selected consisting of five industries which are Information Technology, Consumer Product, Industrial Product, Trading/Services and Finance. The descriptive statistics, content analysis and linear regression model were performed to analyze the data. Out of 4 variables tested, only the frequency of audit committee meeting has significant positive relationship in influencing the level of intellectual capital disclosure in Malaysia. The result also found 72.6 percent of the selected companies disclosed intellectual capital in their annual reports. However the extent of the intellectual capital disclosure among Malaysian companies is still relatively low about 3.45 percent. This result revealed that most of Malaysian companies are aware about the intellectual capital disclosure, however, they are not aware on how to measure, report and disclose this information in their annual report.
Automation, skills use and training

This study focuses on the risk of automation and its interaction with training and the use of skills at work. Building on the expert assessment carried out by Carl Frey and Michael Osborne in 2013, the paper estimates the risk of automation for individual jobs based on the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC). The analysis improves on other international estimates of the individual risk of automation by using a more disaggregated occupational classification and identifying the same automation bottlenecks emerging from the experts’ discussion. Hence, it more closely aligns to the initial assessment of the potential automation deriving from the development of Machine Learning. Furthermore, this study investigates the same methodology using national data from Germany and United Kingdom, providing insights into the robustness of the results.The risk of automation is estimated for the 32 OECD countries that have participated in the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) so far. Beyond the share of jobs likely to be significantly disrupted by automation of production and services, the accent is put on characteristics of these jobs and the characteristics of the workers who hold them. The risk is also assessed against the use of ICT at work and the role of training in helping workers transit to new career opportunities.
Cellular osmolytes reduce lens epithelial cell death and alleviate cataract formation in galactosemic rats.

PURPOSE Many cataractogenic stresses also induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in lens epithelial cells (LECs), which appears to be one of the universal inducers of cell death. In galactosemic rats, activation of ER stress results in the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR)-dependent death pathway, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cell death. All are induced and precede cataract formation. Cellular osmolytes such as 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA), trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and tauroursodeoxychoric acid (TUDCA) are known to suppress the induction of ER stress. We investigated whether these small molecules prevent cataract formation in galactose-fed rat lenses. METHODS Cultured LECs were treated with galactose and each cellular osmolyte. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 50% galactose chow for 15 days with or without cellular osmolyte treatment. Similarly, selenite was injected subcutaneously into rats with or without cellular osmolytes. Calcein AM and ethidium homodimer-1 (EthD) were used to detect live and dead cells, respectively. The cellular osmolytes, PBA, TMAO, and TUDCA were tested for their ability to suppress LEC death and cataract formation. RESULTS Cellular osmolytes rescued cultured human LECs which were treated with the ER stressors. We administered these osmolytes either orally or by injection into galactosemic Sprague-Dawley rats. These rats had significantly reduced LEC death and partially delayed hypermature cataract formation. Since the UPR was not activated in cultured LECs treated with selenite, we used the selenite nuclear cataract as a UPR-independent death pathway control. In selenite-induced nuclear cataract in rats, cellular osmolytes did not prevent LEC death and did not alleviate cataract formation. CONCLUSIONS These results further establish that ER stress and LEC death play a vital role in certain types of cataract formation. In addition, cellular osmolytes may be potential prophylactic drugs for some types of cataracts.
A Space Vector PWM Technique for a Three-Level Symmetrical Six-Phase Drive

A space vector pulse-width modulation (SVPWM) algorithm for a three-level symmetrical six-phase drive, based on a vector space decomposition approach, is, for the first time, presented and experimentally proven in this paper. The process how to correctly select the optimal switching sequences, based on several starting requirements and conditions for the analyzed topology, such that the output phase voltage waveforms do not contain any low-order harmonics, is explained in detail. The developed SVPWM algorithm is verified experimentally using a three-level neutral-point-clamped converter and a symmetrical six-phase induction machine. Obtained results prove the validity of the developed SVPWM algorithm. The performance of the SVPWM algorithm is compared with the corresponding carrier-based modulation strategy, and it is shown that the two techniques yield identical performance. Finally, both simulation and experimental analysis of the voltage and current total harmonic distortion (THD) are reported.
Protective Effects of Alpha-lipoic Acid and Melatonin Against Cadmium-induced Oxidative Stress in Erythrocytes of Rats

Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known human carcinogen and a potent nephrotoxin. The protective effects of alpha-lipoic acid and melatonin against cadmium (Cd) induced oxidative stress to erythrocytes in rats were evaluated. One hundred male albino rats were divided into five groups containing 20 rats each. Group I: (control) administered distilled water. Group II :( Cadmium exposed group) received cadmium chloride (4.4 mg/kg body weight of 1/20th of LD50 / day) orally for 10 weeks. Group III :( Cadmium +alpha-lipoic acid) received cadmium chloride (4.4 mg/kg body weight) and treated daily with alphalipoic acid (54 mg/kg body weight/ i.p). Group IV :( Cadmium +Melatonin) received cadmium chloride (4.4 mg/kg body weight) and treated daily with melatonin (10 mg/kg body weight/orally). Group V :( Cadmium +alpha-lipoic acid and melatonin). Urea and creatinine concentrations were determined in plasma. However, erythrocyte hemolysate were processed for the determination of L-Malondialdhyde (LMDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), GlutathioneS-transferase (GST) and reduced Glutathione (GSH) in addition to erythrocytes Glucose -6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) activity. Also, kidney specimens were used for cadmium residues determination. The obtained results revealed that, a significant increase in plasma urea, creatinine concentrations and erythrocyte L-MDA level, SOD activity in addition to kidney cadmium residue concentrations were observed in cadmium intoxicated rats. However, administration of alpha-lipoic acid, melatonin and their combination exhibited a significant decreased in all mentioned parameters. On the other hand, a significant decreased in erythrocyte CAT, GST and G-6-PDH activities, GSH concentration were observed in cadmium intoxicated rats. Meanwhile, treatment with alpha-lipoic acid and melatonin resulted in significant increase in all mentioned parameters. It could be concluded that, the potential protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid and melatonin as a powerful agents and may be useful as an antioxidants in combating free radical-induced oxidative stress and tissue injury that is a result of cadmium toxicity.
Resistant pure red cell aplasia after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with major ABO mismatch treated by escalating dose donor leukocyte infusion

Abstract: We report a case of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) with major ABO mismatch which proved resistant to all standard treatment options such as change in immunosuppressive treatment, high‐dose erythropoietin (EPO) or plasma exchange. We therefore proceeded to administer five cycles of Rituximab therapy, without success. Finally, escalating doses of donor‐derived leukocyte infusion (DLI) resolved the PRCA of our patient 415 d after bone‐marrow transplantation (BMT) and 140 d after the first infusion of donor leukocytes. A review of the literature shows the efficacy of various treatments; the role of DLI and other treatment options are discussed. Furthermore, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms especially with regard to the role of NK cells in alloreactivity after allogeneic SCT are explained.
The Analysis of Factors Affecting Dividend Payout Ratio in Manufacturing Companies Listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange

This study aims to conduct a fundamental study of factors affecting the dividend policy of manufacturing companies listed in the Stock Exchange. The sample of this study was 21 manufacturing companies listed in the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX). The type of data used was secondary data in the form of financial statements contained in the directory of Indonesian Stock Exchange in the book Indonesian Capital Market Directory (ICMD). The statistical method used to test the research hypotheses was multiple regression with six independent variables, namely, debt to total assets, cash ratio, firm size, return on assets, and growth, and dependent variable of dividend payout ratio. It can be concluded that debt to total assets (DTA), firm size, and return on assests (ROA) have influence on dividend payout ratio at manufacturing companies listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange.
The Evolving Importance of Banks and Securities Markets

This paper examines the evolving importance of banks and securities markets during the process of economic development. As economies develop, they increase their demand for the services provided by securities markets relative to those provided by banks, such that securities markets become increasingly important for future economic development. Some exploratory evidence further suggests that deviations of a countrys actual financial structure -- the mixture of banks and markets operating in an economy -- from the estimated optimal structure are associated with lower levels of economic activity.
Impact of social media apps on producer–member relations in China’s community supported agriculture

ABSTRACT This study explores the usage and impact of a social media app (SMA), WeChat, on producer–member relations in a community supported agriculture (CSA). Our analysis of WeChat usage on the Jiamei Farm shows that the SMA helped to foster a better producer–member relationship by connecting the two groups across space and time more efficiently. These findings contribute to existing research on CSAs and suggest that farms can utilise SMAs for the benefit of all. For example, they can use members’ feedback to enhance their services and create stronger social ties with clients.