Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The use of chicory for parasite control in organic ewes and their lambs

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential benefits of grazing lactating ewes and their lambs on chicory (Cichorium intybus). Fifty-six certified organic twin-rearing ewes were either drenched with an anthelmintic or not, within 2 days after parturition and were grazed upon either grass/clover or chicory pastures. Around 12 weeks after parturition a subset of 12 lambs per treatment was slaughtered for worm number and parasite species determination. The faecal egg counts of lambs from undrenched ewes grazing on chicory were significantly lower than those of lambs from undrenched ewes grazing on grass. Lambs grazing on chicory had similar abomasal worm counts as those grazing on grass at 12 weeks of age; the predominant species was Teladorsagia circumcincta. There was no difference between the intestinal worm counts in lambs grazing on grass or chicory, with Trichostrongylus vitrinus being the predominant species. Liveweight gains over the 126-day experimental period were significantly higher in lambs from drenched than those from undrenched ewes. Lambs from undrenched ewes grazing on chicory had higher liveweight gains compared to those from undrenched ewes grazing on grass. Although chicory grazing did not affect ewe nematode egg excretion, it resulted in lower egg counts in lambs and improved their liveweight gains to the same level as those deriving from drenched ewes.
Does Distributional Skewness Lead to Redistribution? Evidence from the United States

This paper presents time-series, cross-section, and historical evidence from the United States to test whether distributional skewness leads to the adoption of redistributive policies. On all accounts the theory performs poorly: we fail to find evidence either of a long-run stable relationship or of short-run causation between distributional skewness and redistribution in the time-series data; the cross-section data uncover no correlation between skewness and welfare spending or support of the Democratic Party; and analysis of the historical evidence shows that key changes in redistributive institutions in the United States were not preceded by increases in distributional skewness. Copyright 1999 Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
Education and democratic citizenship in America

Figures and Tables 1: Education and Democratic Citizenship in America: Enlightened Political Engagement 2: Enlightened Political Engagement: Characteristics of Democratic Citizenship and Their Relationship to Education 3: What Links Education to Enlightened Political Engagement? Cognitive and Positional Pathways 4: Integrating and Testing the Model 5: Confirming the Enlightenment and Political Engagement Dimensions 6: Reconceptualizing Educational Effects 7: Education and Democratic Citizenship from the 1970's to the 1990's: Defining and Operationalizing the Measures 8: Testing Educational Effects Over Time 9: Absolute and Relative Education in Synchronic Studies: Application to Cross-Sectional Surveys 10: Education and Democratic Citizenship in Other Nations: An Exploratory Comparative Analysis 11: The Future of Education and Democratic Citizenship: Some Implications of Our Findings App. A: 1990 Citizen Participation Study Questions App. B: Weighting Procedures for the 1990 Citizen Participation Study Data Martin Frankel App. C: Basic Model by Race and Gender App. D: Creating the Political Engagement and Enlightenment Scales App. E: Nonrecursive Specifications App. F: Educational Environment and Relative Education Measures Jean G. Jenkins App. G: Documentation of the Over Time Data App. H: Documentation of Unreported Coefficients Bibliography Index
The Wage and Employment Effects of Leveraged Buyouts in the UK

Abstract Using a unique hand‐collected dataset, this study determines and quantifies the effects of LBOs (leveraged buyouts) on wages and employment in 1,350 LBOs. Based on an unbalanced panel 5,369 firms observed over the period 1999–2004, we find that all LBOs taken together have an insignificant effect on employment growth but have significantly lower wage growth than non‐LBOs. Disaggregating LBOs we find: (1) wage growth is 0.31 of a percentage point lower for MBOs (management buyouts) and 0.97 of a percentage point lower for MBIs (management buy‐ins); and (2) employment growth is 0.51 of a percentage point higher for MBOs and 0.81 of a percentage point lower for MBIs. The results indicate that MBOs and MBIs have a differing impact on firms' wage and employment behaviour and should not be treated as homogenous. The results are consistent with: (1) MBIs and MBOs involving the adjustment of wages to a more sustainable basis; (2) MBOs exploiting growth opportunities that lead to greater employment growth; and (3) MBIs not creating new employment opportunities.
Racial Disparity in the Relationship Between Hospital Volume and Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Objective:To examine whether the volume-mortality relationship in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) differs by race and operative risk. Summary Background Data:In-hospital mortality after CABG is inversely associated with hospital volume. Racial disparities exist in the outcomes of CABG, possibly due to blacks’ high operative risk. Methods:We analyzed 71,949 CABG procedures performed between 2002 and 2005 at 93 academic medical centers participating in the University HealthSystem Consortium. In-hospital mortality was examined across hospital volume categories (very low, <100/yr; low, 100–299/yr; medium, 300–499/yr; and high, ≥500/yr) via logistic regression. Results:In-hospital mortality was 2.0% in whites and 2.8% in blacks. Controlling for patient risk, geographic region, and proportion of African American patients treated at the hospital, the benefit of higher volume was substantial for blacks but only modest for whites (race-by-volume interaction; P = 0.033). Odds ratios of mortality for increasing volume categories (compared with very low volume) were 0.46, 0.37, and 0.47 among blacks but only 0.85, 0.77, and 0.75 among whites. Racial disparities in mortality existed mostly in very low-volume hospitals. The differential volume effect across the 2 racial groups seemed to be primarily driven by regional patterns, as the volume effect was much more pronounced in the South and the Midwest (region by volume interaction; P = 0.033). Conclusions:Blacks have greater reduction in mortality than whites by undergoing CABG at higher-volume hospitals, regardless of operative risk. Because of limited generalizability, these findings should be confirmed using more representative database.
Strategic challenges and issues for Chinese managers and management in the global economy: conclusions

The contributions to this symposium on ‘Demystifying Chinese Management’ have attempted to tackle new strategic issues and challenges vis-à-vis the newly diversified ownership and management system which has occurred since Deng's economic reforms. It is clear that when we try to ‘make sense’ of management in the People's Republic of China, we must take into account the degree to which Chinese management has become distinctive, with an adaptation of exogenous knowledge to local circumstances and a relative degree of ‘convergence’ involving a synthesis of ‘local’, ‘glocal’ and ‘global’ forms.
Early acquisition of typical metabolic features upon differentiation of mouse neural stem cells into astrocytes

Specific metabolic features, such as glutamate reuptake, have been associated with normal functions of mature astrocytes. In this study, we examined whether these characteristics are acquired together with classical phenotypic markers of differentiated astrocytes. Differentiation of E14 mouse neurospheres into astrocytes was induced by the addition of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Degree of differentiation was assessed by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and immunofluorescence for both GFAP and nestin. Neural stem cells expressed nestin but not GFAP, while differentiated astrocytes were immunopositive for GFAP but displayed low levels of nestin expression. A strong increase in the expression of the glutamate transporter GLAST and the monocarboxylate transporter MCT1 accompanied phenotypic changes. In addition, active glutamate transport appeared in differentiated astrocytes, as well as their capacity to increase aerobic glycolysis in response to glutamate. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor, but not interleukin‐6, triggered the expression of phenotypic and morphological characteristics of astrocytes. In addition, exposure to LIF led to the appearance of metabolic features typically associated with astrocytes. Altogether, our results show that acquisition of some specific metabolic features by astrocytes occurs early in their differentiation process and that LIF represents a candidate signal to induce their expression. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Growth‐inhibiting effects of concentrations of fusaric acid on the growth of Bacillus mojavensis and other biocontrol Bacillus species

Aims: To determine the effects of concentrations of fusaric acid on the growth of several strains of the biocontrol bacterial endophyte Bacillus mojavensis and other species within the Bacillus subtilis group, as well as the genetic relationships within this small group of Gram‐positive bacteria, and their antagonisms to Fusarium verticillioides, which produce fusaric acid.
DETERMINANTS OF CHILD NUTRITION IN MALAWI

This paper investigates factors that determine child malnutrition in Malawi. Measuring child nutrition using anthropometric measures, the study finds that child malnutrition worsens with age until a certain critical age beyond which it starts to improve and that boys are more at risk than girls. We also find evidence that child malnutrition is more prevalent in children that fall sick regularly and in households that draw water from a well, protected or not. In addition, children who come from households that have mother/female household heads who are economically empowered, in terms of being in salaried employment or working in a family business, tend to be better nourished.
Alterations of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Human Glomerular Endothelial Cells in Response to Nephritis-Associated Plasminogen Receptor

Background: Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) is induced by glomerular deposition of nephritogenic streptococcal antigen-antibody complexes. Recently, a streptococcal antigen, nephritis-associated plasminogen receptor (NAPlr) was purified from ruptured streptococcal cell supernatants (RCS). However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of NAPlr action on the glomerular vas culature are still unknown. Methods: Expression of cell adhesion molecules were measured by cellular ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), immunofluorescence microscopy and Western blot analysis. Results: RCS and NAPlr significantly decreased the PECAM-1 expression in human glomerular endothelial cells (HGECs) as compared to that in the control cells. Plasminogen treatment reversed the RCS or NAPlr-induced decrease of PECAM-1 expression and increase of MCP-1 expression. Immunofluorescent microscopy and Western blot analysis also showed that PECAM-1 expression in HGECs was downregulated upon treatment with RCS or NAPlr and this effect was reversed by plasminogen treatment. Furthermore, we found that tumor necrosis factor-α production in culture medium of HGECs was increased at the lower level when the culture system was treated with RCS. Conclusion: RCS and NAPlr modulated PECAM-1 expression and MCP-1 production in HGECs, indicating the involvement of NAPlr in inflammatory cell accumulation in glomerular tufts and functional abnormality of glomerular microvasculature such as hyperpermeability.
Pediatric Robotic Surgery: Early Assessment

OBJECTIVES: This article reviews the evidence regarding the feasibility, safety, benefits, limitations, and costs of robotically assisted surgery in children, evaluates how the technology compares with other pediatric surgical techniques, and provides insights about the near and more-distant future of the technology. METHODS: The peer-reviewed medical pediatric literature was searched for studies that provided evidence of the feasibility and safety of robotic surgery in children and for studies that compared pediatric robotic surgery with conventional laparoscopic surgery or open surgery. RESULTS: A total of 8 case series and 5 studies comparing robotic surgery with open or conventional laparoscopic surgery met the selection criteria for review. A few small studies that focused on rare complex surgical procedures also were reviewed. All studies were designed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of robotic surgery in children. None of the studies was randomized, and some studies had a retrospective design. These studies demonstrated that a number of routine, robotically assisted, laparoscopic and thoracic procedures were feasible and safe when performed by surgeons experienced in the technique, although robotic surgery did not provide superior outcomes, compared with traditional laparoscopic and open surgery. The advantages of the robotic system were best seen in complex procedures that involved areas that were difficult to access and in procedures in which dissection of delicate, anatomic structures was required. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery is feasible and safe for a number of pediatric surgical procedures, but evidence that it offers better clinical outcomes than conventional open or laparoscopic techniques is lacking.
Social capital and loan repayment performance in Northern Vietnam

This study analyses the effects of social capital on the loan repayment behavior of borrowers in Vietnam. In the context of agricultural economics, an innovative data collection approach is used that originates from the field of sociology. A personal network survey is carried out to measure the individual social capital of borrowers. Social capital variables are defined according to tie strength (bonding/bridging) and social distance (linking) between the respondent and his/her network member. Social capital has a significant and positive influence on the rescheduling of loans. However, we find no significant evidence for an effect of social capital on late payment of principal or interest.
The decline in average family size and its implications for the average benefits of within "household sharing"

Economic policies rely on demographic projections. Yet in making these projections, researchers often ignore the aspect of household formation—despite sustained trends in many industrialized countries towards smaller household units with fewer members. Over the long term, this trend is likely to reduce the benefits of sharing goods/services within households (household economies of scale) at the micro-level, thereby increasing household-sector demand at the macro level. We propose a framework to (a) quantify the level of household economies of scale for different household types and (b) assess how the decline in average household size impacts aggregate household-sector demand. We apply the framework to energy consumption in Japan. The application indicates that household economies of scale in energy use are substantial and that the 5% decline in average household size in Japan between 2005 and 2010 led to an economy-wide loss in household economies of scale amounting to almost 4%.
Livelihood adaptation to risk: Constraints and opportunities for pastoral development in Ethiopia's Afar region

Abstract Development policies in the pastoral areas of Africa assume that pastoralists are poor. Using the Afar pastoralists of Ethiopia as the focus of research this article challenges this depiction of pastoralism by exploring pastoral livelihood goals and traditional strategies for managing risk. Investment in social institutions to minimise the risk of outright destitution, sometimes at the cost of increased poverty, and significant manipulation of local markets enable the Afar to exploit a highly uncertain and marginal environment. Improved development assistance and enhanced targeting of the truly vulnerable within pastoral societies demands an acceptance that pastoral poverty is neither uniform nor universal.
Barriers to utilisation of cervical cancer screening in Sub Sahara Africa: a systematic review

BACKGROUND Cervical cancer is the commonest cause of cancer-related death in Sub Sahara Africa (SSA). Both primary and secondary preventive services are available but utilisation remain low. This systematic review aims to summarise reported barriers preventing women from utilising cervical cancer screening services in SSA. METHOD Electronic searches on MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, BIOSIS preview, Global Health, PubMed, Cochrane library, CINAHL, ISI Web of Knowledge and Google scholar and quality assessment of the included studies were performed. A meta-analysis was applied to identify major themes. RESULTS Eight studies exploring reasons women did not utilise cervical cancer screening were included. Women in SSA reported similar barriers despite cultural and language diversity in the region. Women reported fear of screening procedure and negative outcome, low level of awareness of services, embarrassment and possible violation of privacy, lack of spousal support, societal stigmatisation, cost of accessing services and health service factors like proximity to facility, facility navigation, waiting time and health care personnel attitude. CONCLUSION Strategies for improving uptake and utilisation of cervical screening in SSA should focus on improving cervical health education, addressing cultural beliefs and practices and improving spousal support and empowering women, as well as addressing physical access problem, costs and improving staff attitude.
Financial Analysts' Performance: Sector Versus Country Specialization

Brokerage houses normally structure their research activities along either country or sector lines. I investigate whether organizational structure affects the quality of financial analysts' earnings forecasts. Specifically, I compare the performance of country-specialized financial analysts with that of sector-specialized financial analysts. The former issue forecasts considerably more accurately than the latter. Country specialists benefit from an informational advantage over sector specialists. A superior knowledge of country-specific factors, as well as geographical proximity between analysts and the firms they cover, are significant determinants of this advantage.
Therapeutic hypothermia in patients following traumatic brain injury: a systematic review

BACKGROUND The efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia in adult patients with traumatic brain injury is not fully understood. The historical use of therapeutic hypothermia at extreme temperatures was associated with severe complications and led to it being discredited. Positive results from animal studies using milder temperatures led to renewed interest. However, recent studies have not convincingly demonstrated the beneficial effects of therapeutic hypothermia in practice. AIM This review aims to answer the question: in adults with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), does the use of therapeutic hypothermia compared with normothermia affect neurological outcome? DESIGN Systematic review. METHOD Four major electronic databases were searched, and a hand search was undertaken using selected key search terms. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The studies were appraised using a systematic approach, and four themes addressing the research question were identified and critically evaluated. RESULTS A total of eight peer-reviewed studies were found, and the results show there is some evidence that therapeutic hypothermia may be effective in improving neurological outcome in adult patients with traumatic brain injury. However, the majority of the trials report conflicting results. Therapeutic hypothermia is reported to be effective at lowering intracranial pressure; however, its efficacy in improving neurological outcome is not fully demonstrated. This review suggests that therapeutic hypothermia had increased benefits in patients with haematoma-type injuries as opposed to those with diffuse injury and contusions. It also suggests that cooling should recommence if rebound intracranial hypertension is observed. CONCLUSION Although the data indicates a trend towards better neurological outcome and reduced mortality rates, higher quality multi-centred randomized controlled trials are required before therapeutic hypothermia is implemented as a standard adjuvant therapy for treating traumatic brain injury. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Therapeutic hypothermia can have a positive impact on patient outcome, but more research is required.
Radium-226 and Radium-228 in Scale and Sludge Generated in the Petroleum Industry

Technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) can accumulate at elevated concentrations in by-product waste as a result of oil and gas exploration and production activities (E&P). The sources of this contamination are the radionuclides from the 238U and 232Th series, which are present in the geological formations that contain oil, gas and water. When water is brought to the surface along with oil and gas, radium, which is dissolved in the produced water, co-precipitates with barium, strontium, or calcium sulfates thus forming scale and sludge. The main radionuclides of concern from the radiological point of view are 226Ra and 228Ra. Scales and sludge can contain high quantities of radium and other decay products that can cause exposure of maintenance and other personnel to hazardous radionuclides concentrations. This work presents the results of measurements of the radionuclide content of both scale and sludge samples taken from PETROBRAS units in the State of Sergipe, in Northeastern Brazil. Samples were collected directly from the inner surface of water pipes or from containers stored in the waste storage area of the maintenance unit. The radionuclide contents of scales and sludge were determined through gamma spectrometry analysis by using an HPGe gamma spectrometric system (CanberraTM). Values as high as 1,399.1 kBq·kg for 226Ra and 742.6 kBq·kg for 228Ra were determined for sludge samples taken from two different containers. One of the scale samples, taken from the inner surface of a produced water pipeline, had radium concentrations of 629.7 kBq·kg for 226Ra and 403.1 kBq·kg for 228Ra. The results indicate that special care must be taken during cleaning operations in order to reduce the exposure to maintenance personnel as well as to avoid contamination of the environment.