Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids May Impair Blood Glucose Control in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Fifteen patients with Type 2 diabetes were given two diets rich in either saturated fat or polyunsaturated fat in alternate order over two consecutive 3‐week periods on a metabolic ward. Both diets contained the same amount of fat, protein, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, and cholesterol. The proportions of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the saturated fat diet were 16, 10, and 5%‐energy and in the polyunsaturated fat diet (PUFA) 9, 10, and 12%‐energy. The PUFA diet contained a high proportion of n‐3 fatty acids. Metabolic control improved significantly in both dietary periods, due to both qualitative dietary changes and a negative energy balance. The serum lipoprotein concentrations decreased on both diets but the serum lipids were significantly lower after the PUFA diet (serum triglycerides −20%, p=0.001; serum cholesterol −5%, p=0.03; VLDL‐triglycerides −29%, p < 0.001; and VLDL‐cholesterol −31%, p=0.001) than after the saturated fat diet. Average blood glucose concentrations during the third week were significantly higher fasting (+ 15%, p < 0.01), and during the day at 1100 h (+18%, p < 0.001) and 1500 h (+ 17%, p=0.002) on PUFA than on the saturated fat diet. Significantly higher blood glucose levels were also recorded with a standard breakfast, while the sum of the insulin values was lower (‐19%, p=0.01). HbA1c did not differ significantly between the two dietary periods. The present study suggests that an increased content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially long‐chain n‐3 fatty acids, in a low fat diet may have beneficial as well as adverse effects in the management of Type 2 diabetes.
Using economic and financial information for stock selection

A major inconvenience of the traditional approach in portfolio choice, based upon historical information, is its inability to anticipate sudden changes of price tendencies. Introducing information about future behavior of the assets fundamentals may help to make more appropriate choices. However, the specification and parameterization of a model linking this exogenous information to the asset prices is not straightforward. Classification trees can be used to construct partitions of assets of forecasted similar behavior. We analyze the performance of this approach and apply it to different sectors of the S&P 500.
Does Doing Badly Encourage Management Innovation

In this paper we have undertaken an empirical analysis of the notion that firms introduce managerial innovations as a consequence of bad times, as in the "pit-stop" view of recessions. We first analyze a dynamic model of the firm and conclude that a competitive firm operating in a perfect capital market may well devote more of its employees' time to reorganization and other productivity improving activities during periods where the real output price or productivity is declining (e.g. recessions). We then investigate the hypothesis that a worsening of the firm's situation will lead to the introduction of productivity improving innovations of various kinds. Our individual company data tend to confirm this hypothesis with the single exception that firms tend to become more centralized when their real or financial position declines, despite the general view that it is decentralization which tends to improve the operation of a company in the long run. Copyright 2001 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
FDTD Study of the Focusing Properties of a Hybrid Hyperthermia and Radiometry Imaging System using a Realistic Human Head Model

Aim of this study is twofold; on one hand, the investigation of the focusing attributes of a microwave radiometry tomography system with the use of a realistic human head model and on the other hand, the system's ability to perform a hyperthermia treatment. The operation principle of the device is based on an ellipsoidal conductive wall cavity, which provides the required beamforming and focusing. The biological tissue under treatment and/or measurement is placed on one of the two focal points whereas on the other one, a radiating or receiving antenna, which measures the black body type radiation emitted from the head's tissue, is placed. In previous studies simple spherical head models were used, comprising one or two layers for simulating the head tissues, along with a commercial FEM tool. In this work, a realistic adult head model developed from MRI scans of a human head is used. The realistic model with detailed structural and electromagnetic tissue characteristics enables more in depth theoretical investigation of the system capabilities. Extensive simulations using a commercial FDTD tool are performed in a wide range of operating frequencies. In order to explore the feasibility of heating and monitoring specific brain areas, the capability of focusing the electric field in specific areas inside the human head is investigated and further discussed. The results show that simple spherical head models, used in previous studies, provide similar results with the realistic one used herein for the given geometry; that is, the electric field focuses on the head's center, assuming the head as a homogeneous sphere. However, the deposition of the electromagnetic energy on the head tissues depends on the operating frequency and position of the head in the given geometry, so is therefore calculated, revealing the ability of the system to operate as a hyperthermia clinical tool, not as a stand alone device but in conjunction with other already validated devices/methods.
Neurosurgical management of extraaxial central nervous system infections in children.

OBJECT Extraaxial infections of the CNS, including subdural empyema and epidural abscess, are rare but potentially life-threatening conditions. Symptoms are usually progressive, and early diagnosis is therefore important. Early intervention with appropriate treatment offers the best opportunity for eradicating the infection and promoting maximal neurological recovery. METHODS The medical records of children with extraaxial CNS infection over the last 24 years at the Hospital for Sick Children were analyzed. Only those patients with radiological and/or operative confirmation of the diagnosis of subdural empyema or epidural abscess were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data were collected to determine the outcomes after such infections and factors that predict for such outcomes. RESULTS The authors identified 70 children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Sinusitis was the most common etiology and was seen in 38 patients. All of these patients were older than 7 years of age at diagnosis. Subdural empyemas were diagnosed in 13 patients following bacterial meningitis, and they were found primarily in infants within the 1st year of life. Other etiological factors included otogenic infection (4 cases), postneurosurgical infection (7 cases), and hematogenous spread of infection (7 cases including 6 cases of spinal epidural abscess). Streptococcus anginosus and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common pathogens identified. Sixty-four patients (91.4%) underwent at least 1 neurosurgical procedure. Seizures and cerebral edema from cortical vein thrombosis were the most common complications. CONCLUSIONS Due to variable etiology, identification of the responsible microorganism through neurosurgical drainage followed by long-term intravenous antibiotics remains the mainstay in treating extraaxial CNS infections. Optimal outcome is achieved with early diagnosis and therapy.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Self-efficacy as Predictors of Preparedness for Oncology Clinical Trials

Objective. This study used the Ottawa Decision Support Framework to evaluate a model examining associations between clinical trial knowledge, attitudinal barriers to participating in clinical trials, clinical trial self-efficacy, and clinical trial preparedness among 1256 cancer patients seen for their first outpatient consultation at a cancer center. As an exploratory aim, moderator effects for gender, race/ethnicity, education, and metastatic status on associations in the model were evaluated. Methods . Patients completed measures of cancer clinical trial knowledge, attitudinal barriers, self-efficacy, and preparedness. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to evaluate whether self-efficacy mediated the association between knowledge and barriers with preparedness. Results . The SEM explained 26% of the variance in cancer clinical trial preparedness. Self-efficacy mediated the associations between attitudinal barriers and preparedness, but self-efficacy did not mediate the knowledge-preparedness relationship. Conclusions . Findings partially support the Ottawa Decision Support Framework and suggest that assessing patients’ level of self-efficacy may be just as important as evaluating their knowledge and attitudes about cancer clinical trials.
Opening the capital account of developing countries: Some policy issues

In the late eighties, many developing countries followed the example of the most advanced countries and opened their capital account (K.A.) in an attempt to reap new gains from increased integration with the world economy. Currently, after the wave of financial and currency crises that hurt the global economy over the last decade, enthusiasm about K.A. liberalization has greatly faded. First, the relationship between development and capital account liberalization did not come out to be as solid as initially expected; second, the greater capital mobility has brought about new forms of financial instability. This paper points to some risks that might be associated with undifferentiated deregulation of international movements of capital in connection with developing economies. It argues in favor of proper sequencing: liberalization should proceed in parallel with progress when it comes to macroeconomic stability, building market competition and the creation of a sound, internal financial system. A separate section analyzes this issue in the special context of transition economies.
The impact of risk on technical and scale efficiency: empirical evidence from the China banking sector

By employing the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method, this paper examines the impact of risks on China banks' technical and scale efficiency estimates. To do so, we follow the procedures set out by Drake and Hall (2003) to include risk factor as a non-discretionary input variable. The results indicate that scale inefficiency outweighs pure technical inefficiency in determining the China banking sector's technical efficiency during the earlier years, while the opposite is true during the latter years. The empirical findings suggest that potential economies of scale to be overestimated in the range of 10% to 22.5% when risk factor is excluded. The inclusion of risk factor has benefited the city commercial banks the most, while the joint stock commercial banks the least. The findings from the multivariate regression analysis indicate that technically efficient banks are larger, relatively better capitalised, have smaller market share and on average have lower amount non-performing loans.
Location, location, location: exploring the complex relationship between creative industries and place

ABSTRACT This special issue is concerned with developing a better understanding of the dynamics that affect the relationship between creative industries and their geographical context. A wide literature has attempted to explain the general characteristics of ‘creative places’; nevertheless, there is still little knowledge of the micro-interactions that creative practitioners and businesses establish within specific local contexts. The papers included in this special issue aim to address this question from a range of perspectives; earlier versions were presented at the seminar series organized by the Regional Studies Association Research Network on ‘Creative Industries and the Regions’ (www.creative-regions.org.uk).
SAT-Based Equivalence Checking Based on Circuit Partitioning and Special Approaches for Conflict Clause Reuse

This paper presents a new SAT-based CEC methodology for the verification of circuits with structural dependence. This methodology is based on circuit partitioning and special approaches for conflict clauses reuse, reducing highly the CEC problem complexity. Using this methodology it is possible to improve the overall verification time of similar and dissimilar circuits. For instance, for similar multiplier circuits it was possible to check equivalence up to 37 times 37 bit without any circuit topological information in nearly 40 minutes. For dissimilar circuits, the proposed methodology is able to check equivalence up to 24 times 24 bit in one hour overcoming the BDD-based approaches that using cutpoints cannot check beyond a 12 times 12 bit multiplier with reasonable time limit.
Human Herpesvirus 8 K14 Protein Mimics CD200 in Down-Regulating Macrophage Activation through CD200 Receptor

ABSTRACT Many viral proteins limit host immune defenses, and their genes often originate from their hosts. CD200 (OX2) is a broadly distributed cell surface glycoprotein that interacts with a receptor on myeloid cells (CD200R) that is implicated in locally preventing macrophage activation. Distant, but recognizable, homologues of CD200 have been identified in many herpesviruses and poxviruses. Here, we show that the product of the K14 open reading frame from human herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) interacts with human CD200R and is expressed at the surfaces of infected cells solely during the lytic cycle. Despite sharing only 40% primary sequence identity, K14 and CD200 interacted with CD200R with an almost identical and low affinity (KD = 0.5 μM), in contrast to other characterized viral homologue interactions. Cells expressing CD200 or K14 on the cell surface were able to inhibit secretion by activated macrophages of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, an effect that could be specifically relieved by addition of monoclonal antibodies and soluble monomeric CD200 protein. We conclude that CD200 delivers local down-modulatory signals to myeloid cells through direct cell-cell contact and that the K14 viral homologue closely mimics this.
Long‐Run Trends in Workers' Beliefs about Their Own Job Security: Evidence from the General Social Survey

In recent years, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, and many journalists have argued that workers are more anxious about losing their jobs than they were in the past. I use the 1977‐96 General Social Survey to document trends in workers' beliefs about their own job security. During the 1990s, workers have been more pessimistic about losing their jobs in the next 12 months than workers were during the 1980s. Workers have also been more concerned about suffering future job loss that would have resulted in a decline in earnings or a spell of unemployment.
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN CORPORATE CHARACTERISTICS AND DISCLOSURE LEVELS IN ANNUAL REPORTS: A META-ANALYSIS

Abstract Accounting researchers have investigated associations between corporate characteristics and disclosures in corporate annual reports since 1961. Findings have consistently shown corporate size and listing status to be significantly associated with disclosure levels, while mixed results have been reported for leverage, profitability, and audit firm size. The purpose of the present paper is to integrate prior disclosure studies and to identify the underlying factors that moderate the apparent variation in results. A meta-analysis of 29 studies confirms significant and positive relationships between disclosure levels and corporate size, listing status and leverage. No significant association is found between corporate profitability or size of audit firm, with aggregate disclosure levels. This study also found that in addition to sampling error, the results are moderated by differences in disclosure index construction, differences in definition of the explanatory variables, and differences in research settings.
The dynamics of alliances. A game theoretical approach

In this dissertation, Annelies de Ridder presents a game theoretical approach to strategic alliances. More specifically, the dynamics of and within alliances have been studied. To do so, four new models have been developed in the game theoretical tradition. Both coalition theory and strategic game theory have been used. Two main conclusions can be drawn. First, based on the models, several results can be presented. Model one defines conditions under which firms can reach stable (groups of) alliances; e.g. take preferences of all firms into account and agree on which combination of firms is best. Model two shows the importance of procedure in reaching an alliance agreement in multi-partner alliances. From model three, it can be concluded that pre-alliance interactions between alliance members can play a role in the behavior of partner during an alliance. Model four analyzes how dominance by one alliance member can distort the commitment-opportunism balance in an alliance. Second, since a game theoretical approach to alliances has been lacking in the literature so far, the other main results of this study is to illustrate that and how game theory can be used to explain alliance dynamics. On the one hand, it has been studied which parts and elements of alliance practice and alliance literature match with game theory. This defines in which cases we can use the theory. On the other hand, several incompatible elements between theory and field of application have been repaired.
Endogenous Networks in Investment Syndication

As an effective investment strategy, investors often invest jointly in a company by forming a syndicate. The unique feature of this paper is that it endogenizes the formation of an investment syndicate. We provide a theory on the endogenous formation of networks in investment syndication and analyze how several key factors such as risk aversion, productivity, risk and cost affect incentive and syndicated investment. We also apply the theory to venture capital investment and identify empirical evidence in support of it.
Involvement of Tn4430 in transfer of Bacillus anthracis plasmids mediated by Bacillus thuringiensis plasmid pXO12

The self-transmissible plasmid pXO12 (112.5 kilobases [kb]), originally isolated from strain 4042A of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis, codes for production of the insecticidal crystal protein (Cry+). The mechanism of pXO12-mediated plasmid transfer was investigated by monitoring the cotransfer of the tetracycline resistance plasmid pBC16 (4.2 kb) and the Bacillus anthracis toxin and capsule plasmids, pXO1 (168 kb) and pXO2 (85.6 kb), respectively. In matings of B. anthracis donors with B. anthracis and Bacillus cereus recipients, the number of Tcr transcipients ranged from 4.8 x 10(4) to 3.9 x 10(6)/ml (frequencies ranged from 1.6 x 10(-4) to 7.1 x 10(-2), and 0.3 to 0.4% of them simultaneously inherited pXO1 or pXO2. Physical analysis of the transferred plasmids suggested that pBC16 was transferred by the process of donation and that the large B. anthracis plasmids were transferred by the process of conduction. The transfer of pXO1 and pXO2 involved the transposition of Tn4430 from pXO12 onto these plasmids. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments demonstrated that Tn4430 was located on a 16.0-kb AvaI fragment of pXO12. Examination of Tra- and Cry- derivatives of pXO12 showed that this fragment also harbored information involved in crystal formation and was adjacent to a restriction fragment containing DNA sequences carrying information required for conjugal transfer.
Factors influencing the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions in companies world‐wide

– The purpose of this study is to analyse different factors behind the disclosure of corporate information on issues related to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change world‐wide. , – The empirical analysis carried out was performed in two stages: analysis of the data obtained through content analysis and analysis of the factors that influence the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change using a dependency model, a multiple linear regression. Several variables were introduced to represent the size of the companies, leverage, return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and Market‐to‐Book ratio. Also, other dummy variables have been incorporated: Kyoto Protocol, activity sector in which the company operates and inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. , – The results obtained show a direct relationship between corporate size, its market capitalization and the disclosure of information in addition to proposed Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators on greenhouse gas emissions. Conversely, an inverse relationship between ROE and disclosure is detected. , – The findings emphasize that the main quoted companies operating in industries related to greenhouse gas emissions typically reveal information on almost all the GRI core indicators as well as the additional items specifically proposed for this issue. Moreover, the results suggest a trend for companies to utilize information on greenhouse gas emissions as a mechanism that enables them to legitimise themselves with those groups that can be of benefit to them. , – The paper has analysed the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and other information of importance to climate change in companies from different countries, some of which have ratified, approved, adhered to or accepted the Kyoto Protocol, and some of which have still not accepted it.
The impact of capital‐structure choice on firm performance: empirical evidence from Egypt

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the impact of capital structure choice on firm performance in Egypt as one of emerging or transition economies. Design/methodology/approach - Multiple regression analysis is used in the study in estimating the relationship between the leverage level and firm's performance. Findings - Using three of accounting-based measures of financial performance (i.e. return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA), and gross profit margin), and based on a sample of non-financial Egyptian listed firms from 1997 to 2005 the results reveal that capital structure choice decision, in general terms, has a weak-to-no impact on firm's performance. Originality/value - This is the first study that examines the relationship between leverage level and firm performance in Egypt.