Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apparent accommodation and corneal wavefront aberration in pseudophakic eyes.

PURPOSE To assess the relationship between apparent accommodation in pseudophakic eyes, multifocal corneal effects, and wavefront aberrations of the cornea. METHODS In 102 eyes of 86 patients who had undergone phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation, the amount of apparent accommodation was measured with an accommodometer. The degree of corneal multifocality was determined on the corneal topography by measuring the maximum and minimum corneal refractive powers within the pupillary area. Wavefront aberrations of the cornea were calculated by expanding the height data of the corneal topography into Zernike polynomials for individual pupil size. The influence of higher-order aberration on the retinal image quality was simulated by computing the point-spread function (PSF) and modulation-transfer function (MTF) from the aberration function. RESULTS There was a significant positive correlation between the amount of apparent accommodation and corneal multifocality (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = 0.451, P < 0.001). The coma-like aberration showed a significant positive correlation with the amount of apparent accommodation (r = 0.440, P < 0.001), but the spherical-like aberration did not (r = 0.001, P = 0.993). Among the coma-like aberrations, the component representing vertically asymmetrical distribution of corneal refractive power with greater refraction located in the lower part of the eye was most relevant to apparent accommodation. Computer simulation of PSF and MTF indicated that a focus shift of 0.5 D deteriorated the retinal image significantly more in eyes without higher-order aberrations than in eyes with a moderate amount of coma-like aberrations. CONCLUSIONS Coma-like aberration of the cornea, along with corneal multifocality, contributes to apparent accommodation in pseudophakic eyes.
Do Bank Capital Regulations Concentrate Systematic Risk?

As a result of the Enron scandal, new regulations were enacted that increased the capital charge for holding assets in off-balance sheet vehicles. I utilize a triple difference specification to identify the effect of this exogenous regulatory shock on bank systematic risk exposure. I find that after the regulation, banks' exposure to off-balance sheet assets at vehicles with high systematic risk increases relative to vehicles with low systematic risk and relative to non-U.S. banks which are not affected by the regulation. These results suggest that capital regulation might have the perverse effect of concentrating systematic risk, potentially increasing the systemic risk of the financial system.
MIGRATION TO NOVO MERCADO: DOES IT REALLY MEAN IMPROVEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES?

One of the most significant changes regarding the adoption of better corporate governance was the creation of special trading segments, which impose tighter disclosure rules and listing requirements. Most literature on the special trading segments focused on the European markets. Not much is known, however, about the Brazilian “Novo Mercado” (NM). While most European new markets have failed to attract IPOs and investors, NM has grown fast and reached 35% of the total number of listed companies and 57% of the market capitalization of the Sao Paulo stock exchange. Despite its success, no research has examined whether firms that list on NM really improve their corporate governance practices. Further, there is no empirical evidence whether there is a reward for companies that list on NM without improving governance practices. This paper addresses this question by investigating the stock market reaction to the listing on NM without improving governance practices. We provide evidence that firms that list on NM and improve governance practices earn positive abnormal returns, have higher liquidity and lower volatility. On the other hand, firms that list on NM without improving governance practices do not earn positive returns, but are rewarded with higher liquidity and lower volatility.
Carcinoma of the trachea. Clinicopathologic study of 41 cases

During a period of 33 years, 41 patients with primary carcinoma of the trachea were treated at Memorial and James Ewing Hospitals. Thirty of these patients had epidermoid carcinoma, 7 had adenoid cystic carcinoma, and 4 had mucus‐secreting adenocarcinoma. In view of the cryptic symptomatology, tracheal carcinoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with chronic cough, hemoptysis, and negative chest roentgenogram. The prognosis of tracheal carcinoma appears to depend mainly upon size and histologic type of the primary tumor. The prognosis of epidermoid and mucus‐secreting adenocarcinoma appears to be grave. Less than 25 percent of the patients with epidermoid carcinoma survived one year or longer. Adenoid cystic carcinoma carried a much better prognosis, however. These tumors have a slow and insidious course, usually recur, and metastasize several years after initial treatment. Small tracheal tumors can be treated either by endoscopic excision or partial resection of the trachea. In the case of extensive localized disease, the combination of surgery and irradiation is the treatment of choice.
Leveraging Diversity and Building Power

The experience of Interaction Institute for Social Change (IISC) in building the collaborative capacity of leaders, organizations, schools and coalitions is consistent with the growing literature on diversity in workplaces and communities [1]. Unacknowledged, unappreciated, and untapped, cultural and other human differences can create substantial challenges to harmonious relationships and operational effectiveness. And, when differences are acknowledged, appreciated and engaged productively, the resulting relationships and enriched thinking can lead to better outcomes than would be possible in the context of homogenous groups. A central feature of our work, then, is to build the capacity and deepen the cultural competency of individuals and groups so that they experience the benefits of diversity and harness these benefits in service of social change.
Evaluating the predictability of distance race performance in NCAA cross country and track and field from high school race times in the United States

ABSTRACT Successful recruiting for collegiate track & field athletes has become a more competitive and essential component of coaching. This study aims to determine the relationship between race performances of distance runners at the United States high school and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) levels. Conditional inference classification tree models were built and analysed to predict the probability that runners would qualify for the NCAA Division I National Cross Country Meet and/or the East or West NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Preliminary Round based on their high school race times in the 800 m, 1600 m, and 3200 m. Prediction accuracies of the classification trees ranged from 60.0 to 76.6 percent. The models produced the most reliable estimates for predicting qualifiers in cross country, the 1500 m, and the 800 m for females and cross country, the 5000 m, and the 800 m for males. NCAA track & field coaches can use the results from this study as a guideline for recruiting decisions. Additionally, future studies can apply the methodological foundations of this research to predicting race performances set at different metrics, such as national meets in other countries or Olympic qualifications, from previous race data.
An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Contract Frame and Discretion in Performance Evaluation on Effort

OF DISSERTATION AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF CONTRACT FRAME AND DISCRETION IN PERFORMANCE EVALUATION ON EFFORT The design of incentive compensation plans is critical to a company’s success. This study develops and validates a theoretical model to examine how incentive contract framing affects effort. This study uses an experiment to observe the effect of the manipulation of incentive contract frame and the presence or absence of principal discretion in performance evaluation on effort. The results of the experiment show that when principal discretion in performance evaluation is absent, penalty contracts induce greater effort than bonus contracts. The results of the experiment also demonstrate that the interaction of principal discretion in performance evaluation and contract frame influences how agents view the perceived fairness of their incentive contract. Specifically, principal discretion in performance evaluation increases perceived fairness under a penalty contract but not under a bonus contract. This study also extends prior research by documenting that perceived fairness explains how incentive contract frame affects trust and effort.
Factors Affecting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) Development in Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors affecting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development in Pakistan. The data for this study was obtained from face to face interviews with 124 respondents using structured questionnaire. The study used descriptive statistics and regression technique to determine the important factors affecting the SMEs in Pakistan. The regression results show that financial access, managerial skills and government support are the most important factors contributing to SMEs development in Pakistan. The results indicate that the SMEs in Pakistan are not technology oriented. The findings of the study might help the businessmen to understand the important factors that play significant role to develop their businesses. The study suggests that policy makers can consider the findings in formulating policy which may create an environment that is feasible for the development of SMEs in Pakistan.
High parity and adverse birth outcomes: exploring the maze.

BACKGROUND Despite extensive literature on the topic, it is uncertain if grand (para > or = 5) and great grand (para > or = 10) multiparity are associated with adverse birth outcomes. We critically evaluate the evidence for and against the existence of adverse maternal and/or fetal outcomes in high parity women. METHODS An electronic search of MEDLINE and other bibliographic databases (Current Contents, EMBASE, and CAB) was conducted, and all relevant articles in English language were retrieved. RESULTS Findings on the association between high parity and maternal-fetal birth outcomes are not consistent. Although the older literature tends to suggest that multiparity is a risk factor for negative birth outcomes, more recent reports are not supportive. Comparison across studies was further complicated by confounding factors like maternal age, socioeconomic status, and levels of prenatal care, as well as by variations in study designs and in the definition of parity itself. Furthermore, most studies that examined women of extreme parity (para > or = 10) were handicapped by inadequate power. CONCLUSIONS After accounting for quality, culture, and degrees of associations, the preponderance of evidence seems to point to possible existence of heightened risk for certain medical complications and placental pathologies among women of extreme parity. The literature also provides reasonable evidence for a higher-than-expected likelihood for occurrence of fetal macrosomia with advanced parity.
Marketing Collaboration and SME Strategy Implementation in Blora, Indonesia

Normal 0 false false false EN-ID JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Cambria;} T he collaboration between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises (LEs) have been widely researched . Previous research on collaborative marketing strategy has been developed, but the contribution of these strategies for SMEs is still unclear . T his research focuses on “marketing collaboration ” t o clarify the role of collaboration, based on the discussion of the findings that emerged from the qualitative study of SMEs. This is related to the characteristics of creative industries which mostly consist of SMEs with limited knowledge and skills to enter in the field of marketing . To expand the business SMEs is very difficult if done alone . To accelerate the development of its business , SMEs need to collaborate with a n LEs which has a marketing network . Marketing collaboration between SMEs and LEs to be one effective way to develop business , as both sides can increase profit ability . While LEs can improve technological innovation other hand , SMEs receive various benefits such as access to technology and access to new markets.
Adoption of Medication Management Technologies by U.S. Acute Care Hospitals after the HITECH Act

Medication errors and adverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant public health concern in the United States as they pose a threat to patient safety. The medication management process is a complicated process in U.S. acute care hospitals, consisting of a series of steps such as ordering, transcribing, dispensing and administration and each step is prone to medication errors. The use of technology is considered to be an important intervention in improving the medication management process and thereby reducing medication errors and ADEs and further improve patient safety. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, implemented in the year 2011, is the most important regulation in recent years focused on enhancing the use of IT in the health care system. This study examined the organizational and environmental correlates of the adoption of Medication Management Technologies (MMTs) by U.S. acute care hospitals after the HITECH Act. The rational adaptation perspective of the resource dependence theory is utilized in this study, using panel data from 2009 to 2013 with a one-year lag for independent variables and mixed-effects regression models for analyses. The study operationalized adoption of MMTs through seven measures: global adoption of MMTs, adoption of closed loop medication management, adoption of meaningful use MMTs and adoption-levels for the four steps of the medication management process: ordering, transcribing, dispensing and administration. Hospitals were more likely to adopt MMTs in the time after the implementation of the HITECH Act (2012, 2013) and were less likely to adopt MMTs before the implementation of the HITECH Act (2009, 2010) as compared to the HITECH Act implementation period (2011). The study further found that the resource dependence construct of munificence, operationalized through organizational size, and the construct of interdependence, operationalized through private payer mix was significantly associated with the adoption of MMTs.
CsrA Modulates Levels of Lipoproteins and Key Regulators of Gene Expression Critical for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Borrelia burgdorferi

ABSTRACT Carbon storage regulator A (CsrA) is an RNA binding protein that has been characterized in many bacterial species to play a central regulatory role by modulating several metabolic processes. We recently showed that a homolog of CsrA in Borrelia burgdorferi (CsrABb, BB0184) was upregulated in response to propagation of B. burgdorferi under mammalian host-specific conditions. In order to further delineate the role of CsrABb, we generated a deletion mutant designated ES10 in a linear plasmid 25-negative isolate of B. burgdorferi strain B31 (ML23). The deletion mutant was screened by PCR and Southern blot hybridization, and a lack of synthesis of CsrABb in ES10 was confirmed by immunoblot analysis. Analysis of ES10 propagated at pH 6.8/37°C revealed a significant reduction in the levels of OspC, DbpA, BBK32, and BBA64 compared to those for the parental wild-type strain propagated under these conditions, while there were no significant changes in the levels of either OspA or P66. Moreover, the levels of two regulatory proteins, RpoS and BosR, were also found to be lower in ES10 than in the control strain. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis of total RNA extracted from the parental strain and csrABb mutant revealed significant differences in gene expression consistent with the changes at the protein level. Neither the csrABb mutant nor the trans-complemented strain was capable of infection following intradermal needle inoculation in C3H/HeN mice at either 103 or 105 spirochetes per mouse. The further characterization of molecular basis of regulation mediated by CsrABb will provide significant insights into the pathophysiology of B. burgdorferi.
Influence of type of muscle on volatile compounds throughout the manufacture of Celta dry-cured ham

The effect of muscle type on volatile compounds throughout the manufacture of Celta dry-cured ham was studied. Thirty Celta ham were taken from the fresh pieces, after the end of the salting stage, after 120 days of post-salting, after the end of drying-ripening stage, and after 165 and 330 days of “bodega” step. The volatile compounds from semimembranosus (SM) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were extracted by using headspace-solid phase microextraction (SPME) and analysed by gas chromatographic/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Fifty-five volatile compounds were identified and quantified. The number of volatile compounds increased during the different steps of the process, reaching at 550 days of process 39 and 40 volatile compounds in SM and BF muscles, respectively. Results indicated that the most abundant chemical family in flavour at the end of the manufacturing process were esters in the two muscles studied, followed by aliphatic hydrocarbons and aldehydes. During the manufacturing process, an increase in the total amount of volatile compounds was observed, being this increase more marked in samples from BF muscle (from 550.7 to 1118.9 × 106 area units) than in samples from SM muscle (from 459.3 to 760.4 × 106 area units). Finally, muscle type displayed significant (P < 0.05) differences for four esters, two alcohols, one aldehyde, one ketone and four aliphatic hydrocarbons.
Effects of Venting on Wind Noise Levels Measured at the Eardrum

Objectives: Wind noise can be a nuisance to hearing aid users. With the advent of sophisticated feedback reduction algorithms, people with higher degrees of hearing loss are fit with larger vents than previously allowed, and more people with lesser degrees of hearing loss are fit with open hearing aids. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of venting on wind noise levels in the ear canal for hearing aids with omnidirectional and directional microphones. Design: Two behind-the-ear hearing aids were programmed when they were worn on a Knowles Electronics Manikin for Acoustic Research. The hearing aid worn on the right ear was programmed to the omnidirectional microphone mode and the one on the left to the directional microphone mode. The hearing aids were adjusted to linear amplification with flat frequency response in an anechoic chamber. Gains below 10 dB were used to avoid output limiting of wind noise levels at low input levels. Wind noise samples were recorded at the eardrum location in a wind tunnel at wind velocities ranging from a gentle to a strong breeze. The hearing aids were coupled to #13 tubings (i.e., open vent), or conventional skeleton earmolds with no vent, pressure vents, or 3mm vents. Polar and spectral characteristics of wind noise were analyzed off-line using MatLab programs. Results: Wind noise levels in the ear canals were mostly predicted by vent-induced frequency response changes in the conventional earmold conditions for both omnidirectional and directional hearing aids. The open vent condition, however, yielded the lowest levels, which could not be entirely predicted by the frequency response changes of the hearing aids. This indicated that a wind-related vent effect permitted an additional amount of sound reduction in the ear canal, which could not be explained by known vent effects. Conclusion: For the microphone location, form factor, and gain settings tested, open fit hearing aids yielded lower noise levels at the eardrum location than conventional behind-the-ear hearing aids.
Tumor necrosis factor-α suppresses adipocyte-specific genes and activates expression of preadipocyte genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes: Nuclear factor-κB activation by TNF-α is obligatory

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a contributing cause of the insulin resistance seen in obesity and obesity-linked type 2 diabetes, but the mechanism(s) by which TNF-alpha induces insulin resistance is not understood. By using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and oligonucleotide microarrays, we identified 142 known genes reproducibly upregulated by at least threefold after 4 h and/or 24 h of TNF-alpha treatment, and 78 known genes downregulated by at least twofold after 24 h of TNF-alpha incubation. TNF-alpha-induced genes include transcription factors implicated in preadipocyte gene expression or NF-kappaB activation, cytokines and cytokine-induced proteins, growth factors, enzymes, and signaling molecules. Importantly, a number of adipocyte-abundant genes, including GLUT4, hormone sensitive lipase, long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthase, adipocyte complement-related protein of 30 kDa, and transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha, receptor retinoid X receptor-alpha, and peroxisome profilerator-activated receptor gamma were significantly downregulated by TNF-alpha treatment. Correspondingly, 24-h exposure of 3T3-L1 adipocytes to TNF-alpha resulted in reduced protein levels of GLUT4 and several insulin signaling proteins, including the insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), and protein kinase B (AKT). Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was activated within 15 min of TNF-alpha addition. 3T3-L1 adipocytes expressing IkappaBalpha-DN, a nondegradable NF-kappaB inhibitor, exhibited normal morphology, global gene expression, and insulin responses. However, absence of NF-kappaB activation abolished suppression of >98% of the genes normally suppressed by TNF-alpha and induction of 60-70% of the genes normally induced by TNF-alpha. Moreover, extensive cell death occurred in IkappaBalpha-DN-expressing adipocytes after 2 h of TNF-alpha treatment. Thus the changes in adipocyte gene expression induced by TNF-alpha could lead to insulin resistance. Further, NF-kappaB is an obligatory mediator of most of these TNF-alpha responses.
The Experimental Approach To Trust In Socially Responsible Investment Funds

Financial scholars have paid great attention to the performance of SRI funds relative to conventional investments (Bauer, Derwall, & Otten, 2007; Cortez, Silva, & Areal, 2009a, 2009b; Derwall, 2007; Goldreyer & Diltz, 1999; Gregory & Whittaker, 2007; Hamilton, Jo, & Statman, 1993; Hoepner & Zeume, 2009; Luther & Matatko, 1994; Luther, Matatko, & Corner, 1992; Mallin, Saadouni, & Briston, 1995; Renneboog, Ter Horst, & Zhang, 2008b; Schroeder, 2007; Statman & Fisher, 2002). In parallel, empirical and experimental studies have been conducted that investigate the importance of financial performance to SRI investors, as compared to conventional investors.