Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blood lead concentrations in United Kingdom have fallen substantially since 1984

EDITOR,—Shilu Tong and colleagues show that the effects of low level environmental exposure to lead, especially on the longer term cognitive development of children, are still of concern.1 We have carried out the first major study for eight years to monitor lead concentrations in Britain. We report here our early results, which show a large fall in blood lead concentrations. As part of the 1995 health survey of England, blood samples were collected for lead analysis from 6868 subjects from eight regions throughout England; the subjects were considered to be a geographically representative sample of the whole population. Most of the subjects (95%) were adults aged >/=16, of whom 3139 (45.7%) …
Impact of the IFRS Adoption on Financial Assets and Liabilities. Empirical Evidence from Bucharest Stock Exchange

Abstract The aim of this paper is to study the impact of the transition to IFRS on financial assets and liabilities reported by non-financial companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. It uses data from the individual financial statements for the comparative year 2011, prepared under both Romanian accounting standards (RAS) and IFRS. Through a set of financial ratios involving information from balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement, we study how the IFRS adoption affected financial assets and liabilities. We also test the empirical correlation between profitability (measured by ROE) and financial assets/ liabilities before and after the transition to IFRS. We find that financial instruments are very little affected by the change in the accounting system. However, the association between ROE and financial assets/ liabilities is of greater intensity for the IFRS data.
The Evolution of Primitive Reflexes in Extremely Premature Infants

ABSTRACT. A longitudinal study describes the pattern of appearance of eight primitive reflexes in a population of 47 viable extremely premature infants, beginning as early as 25 wk postconceptional age (PCA). Infants were examined weekly, from 1 wk of age until discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Primitive reflexes were graded as to completeness and intensity of response. Three patterns emerged: 1) the upper and lower extremity grasp reflexes were present in all premature infants, from 25 wk and beyond, 2) the Moro, asymmetric tonic neck reflex and Galant (lateral trunk incurvature reflex) were present in some premature infants as early as 25 wk PCA, and in the majority by 30 wk PCA, and 3) the lower extremity placing, positive support, and stepping were occasionally present prior to 30 wk PCA, yet were not uniformly present and/or complete even at term. In each case, the primitive reflex became stronger, more complete, more consistently elicited and more prevalent with increasing postconceptional age. The pattern of primitive reflexes in the premature infant at term (40 wk PCA) is similar to that of fullterm newborns. Sequential assessment of the primitive reflexes may be a useful method of evaluating extremely premature infants prior to term.
Effects of Brand Awareness on Choice for a Common, Repeat-Purchase Product

Results of a controlled experiment on the role of brand awareness in the consumer choice process showed that brand awareness was a dominant choice heuristic among awareness-group subjects. Subjects with no brand awareness tended to sample more brands and selected the high-quality brand on the final choice significantly more often than those with brand awareness. Thus, when quality differences exist among competing brands, consumers may "pay a price" for employing simple choice heuristics such as brand awareness in the interest of economizing time and effort. However, building brand awareness is a viable strategy for advertising aimed at increasing brand-choice probabilities. Copyright 1990 by the University of Chicago.
Making New Franchise Systems Work

While controlling for firm age and size, the effect of franchisor policies on the survival of new franchise systems over time is examined, the effects of franchisor policies to manage moral hazard, adverse selection, and holdup are compared, and it is shown that the survival of new franchise systems is explained by agency cost economizing and that scholars need not invoke resource constraint theory to explain new franchisors' behavior. Nine testable hypotheses are presented about franchise system survival that provide an empirical test to overcome the problems of previous cross-sectional research and demonstrates the validity of agency theory. The hypotheses are: (1) new franchise systems which permit passive ownership of franchised outlets are more likely to fail than are other new franchise systems; (2) new franchise systems which require higher levels of franchisee cash involvement are less likely to fail than are other franchise systems; (3) new franchise systems which require franchisees to have experience are less likely to fail than are other new franchise systems; (4) new franchise systems which have higher royalty rates are less likely to fail than are other new franchise systems; (5) new franchise systems which are geographically concentrated are less likely to fail than are other new franchise systems; (6) new franchise systems which are more complex are more likely to fail than are other new franchise systems; (7) new franchise systems which employ master franchising are more likely to fail than are other new franchise systems; and (9) new franchise systems which have higher levels of total investment are more likely to fail than are other new franchise systems. Data regarding 157 new franchisors established in the United State between 1981 and 1983 were taken from the Sourcebook of Franchise Opportunities. Six of the nine hypotheses receive support from the results: Failure is less likely for higher levels of franchisee cash investment, requiring that franchisees have experience, and geographic concentration. Failure is more likely when passive ownership is permitted, the franchise system is more complex, and when master franchising is used. Overall, results indicate that franchise systems structured to economize on agency costs are more likely to survive. (SFL)
Transcriptomic Profiling of Tumor Aggressiveness in Sporadic Nonfunctioning Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Objectives The aim of the study was to compare RNA sequencing data of sporadic nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs) to identify gene expression patterns that may be important for molecular differentiation of tumor aggressiveness. Methods RNA sequencing was performed on samples of sporadic nonfunctioning PNENs, grouped as tumors with mild behavior (nonmetastatic and Ki67 < 5%) or aggressive behavior (metastatic and Ki67 ≥ 5%), on an Illumina Genome Analyzer II platform. Bioinformatic analyses were performed on the resulting data. Results Of 22,810 identified transcripts from protein-coding genes, a set of 309 genes were significantly differentially expressed between the 2 groups, of which 166 were upregulated and 143 downregulated in the aggressive disease group. Among the top protein-coding upregulated genes, we found genes encoding proteins involved in DNA packaging, ability to taste, chromosome structuring, cytoskeleton structuring, and cell-cell signaling. Among the top protein-coding downregulated genes, we found genes encoding proteins involved in neuronal differentiation, cytoskeleton structuring, cell-cell signaling, and immunological processes. Conclusions A higher degree of tumor aggressiveness in sporadic nonfunctioning PNENs seems to be associated with upregulation of genes involved in regulation of the cell cycle and cell division. Small sample size and lack of a replication set are limitations of this study.
Modeling and Performance of MEMS-Based Storage Devices (CMU-CS-00-100)

MEMS-based storage devices are seen by many as promising alternatives to disk drives. Fabricated using conventional CMOS processes, MEMS-based storage consists of thousands of small, mechanical probe tips that access gigabytes of high-density, nonvolatile magnetic storage. This paper takes a rst step towards understanding the performance characteristics of these devices by mapping them onto a disk-like metaphor. Using simulation models based on the mechanics equations governing the devices' operation, this work explores how di erent physical characteristics (e.g., actuator forces and per-tip data rates) impact the design trade-o s and performance of MEMS-based storage. Overall results indicate that average access times for MEMS-based storage are 6.5 times faster than for a modern disk (1.5 ms vs. 9.7 ms). Results from lesystem and database benchmarks show that this improvement reduces application I/O stall times up to 70%, resulting in overall performance improvements of 3X.
A concordance-based study to assess doctors’ and nurses’ mental models in Internal Medicine

Interprofessional collaboration between doctors and nurses is based on team mental models, in particular for each professional’s roles. Our objective was to identify factors influencing concordance on the expectations of doctors’ and nurses’ roles and responsibilities in an Internal Medicine ward. Using a dataset of 196 doctor-nurse pairs (14x14 = 196), we analyzed choices and prioritized management actions of 14 doctors and 14 nurses in six clinical nurse role scenarios, and in five doctor role scenarios (6 options per scenario). In logistic regression models with a non-nested correlation structure, we evaluated concordance among doctors and nurses, and adjusted for potential confounders (including prior experience in Internal Medicine, acuteness of case and gender). Concordance was associated with number of female professionals (adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.73), for acute situations (adjusted OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.13 to 3.62), and in doctor role scenarios (adjusted OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.32 to 3.65). Prior experience and country of training were not significant predictors of concordance. In conclusion, our concordance-based approach helped us identify areas of lower concordance in expected doctor-nurse roles and responsibilities, particularly in non-acute situations, which can be targeted by future interprofessional, educational interventions.
Framework for Detecting Risk of Financial Statement Fraud: Mapping the Fraudulent Environment

The theme of financial statement fraud is still incipient in the Brazilian academic literature. This work seeks to contribute in this area by constructing a framework of red flags to detect such fraud. To establish this framework, we consulted various sources of information, including academic journals, dissertations, books and pronouncements from regulatory bodies. Based on this analysis, we selected six works to form the framework proposed: the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2002), Conselho Federal de Contabilidade (1999), Albrecht and Romney (1986), Eining, Jones and Loebbecke, (1997), Bell and Carcello (2000) and Wells (2005). Together, these works present a total of 266 red flags. As a criterion, we only selected the red flags mentioned by at least two sources, leaving 45 red flags, which we divided into six clusters: internal structure or environment, sector/industry, management, financial situation, accounting reports and auditing services. In general, the formulation of this framework permitted the identification of risk factors found in fraudulent environments.
Online Shopping In The UK

This paper will contribute to current academic literature in the area of online retailing and consumer behaviour. Our research outlines a survey conducted with respondents from the UK to ascertain their attitudes to grocery shopping both off and online. The findings indicate that, whilst the vast majority of our sample has experience of online shopping, few actively engage in online grocery shopping. Some of the reasons for this are highlighted and the key issues relate to consumer trust and confidence in both online and offline aspects of the service. If these issues are addressed, it is proposed that more people would be encouraged to shop for groceries online.
Analgesic and Chondroprotective Effects of Risedronate in Osteoarthritis Assessed by Electroalgometry and Measurement of Collagen Type II Fragments in Urine

We evaluated the effect of the bisphosphonate, risedronate, on pain and cartilage metabolism in 33 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, randomized into two groups. Group RC was treated with risedronate (2.5 mg/day) and calcium (900 mg/day); group C received calcium (900 mg/day) alone. Pain on exercise was estimated using a subjective visual rating scale (VRS) and an electroalgometric method of measuring decrease in skin impedance, previously shown to be indicative of pain. We measured urinary excretion of cartilage-specific collagen type II fragments as a marker of cartilage degradation. Multiple regression analysis revealed that pain alleviation as measured by skin impedance, but not VRS, was associated with a decrease in collagen fragment excretion. This suggests that, for pain evaluation, reduction in skin impedance may have a greater physiological basis compared with VRS-based evaluation. We consider that the chondroprotective and analgesic effects of risedronate may be related.
What Problem Banks Reveal About Future Financial Distress: Evidence from the Late 2000s Financial Crisis

In this paper, we contribute to a better understanding of the factors related to the operation of the banking system that led to the late 2000s crisis through the development of an early warning model of bank distress. Contrary to all other relevant studies which exclusively focus on bank failures, the current study assumes that bank fragility can result either in a bankruptcy or in a bailout. We employ the dynamic hazard model of Shumway (2001) to develop such an early warning system. Special attention is paid on the relevance of modern financial activities like asset securitisation and derivatives trading in the probability of bank failure and that of bailout. Our empirical findings provide strong evidence that banking firms with illiquid and risky assets, inadequate equity capital, poor management, and low level of earnings have higher probability of failure. However, not all the aforementioned factors are related to the probability of a bank to receive financial assistance in case of a financial debacle. Importantly, we show that banking institutions which rely more on off-balance-sheet activities to finance their operations are more likely to go bankrupt. However, it is easier for these institutions to receive financial aid from authorities. We also provide evidence for the ‘Too-Big-To-Fail’ strategy of banks, as it is found to be less likely for a larger bank to go bankrupt but more likely to obtain financial support from authorities. Overall, our application of the Shumway model is found to be capable of providing bank regulators and supervisors with some of the necessary tools to distinguish healthy from distressed institutions and to work as an effective mechanism for preventing future crises, since its out-of-sample prediction accuracy is found to be very high.
Spiking neural network for control chart pattern recognition

Temporal coding spiking neural networks are receiving wider attention due to their computational power. The coincidence detection property of a spiking neuron, which has no counterpart in a sigmoidal neuron, is one of the reasons for that power. This feature can be utilised to store input information in a network's connection delays and to detect input patterns accurately and efficiently.
Does Role Clarity Explain Employee-Perceived Service Quality? A Study of Antecedents and Consequences in Call Centres

Purpose – Role clarity of frontline staff is critical to their perceptions of service quality in call centres. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of role clarity and its antecedents and consequences on employee-perceived service quality. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model, based on the job characteristics model and cognitive theories, is proposed. Key antecedents of role clarity considered here are feedback, autonomy, participation, supervisory consideration, and team support; while key consequences are organizational commitment, job satisfaction and service quality. An internal marketing approach is adopted and all variables are measured from the frontline employee's perspective. A structural equation model is developed and tested on a sample of 342 call centre representatives of a major commercial bank in the UK. Findings – The research reveals that role clarity plays a critical role in explaining employee perceptions of service quality. Further, the research findings indicate that feedback, participation and team support significantly influence role clarity, which in turn influences job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Research limitations/implications – The research suggests that boundary personnel in service firms should strive for more clarity in perceived role for delivering better service quality. The limitations are in sample availability from in-house transaction call centres of a single bank. Originality/value – The contributions of this study are untangling the confusing research evidence on the effect of role clarity on service quality, using service quality as a performance variable as opposed to productivity estimates, adopting an internal marketing approach to understanding the phenomenon, and introducing teamwork along with job-design and supervisory factors as antecedent to role clarity.
Impact of Burkholderia dolosa on lung function and survival in cystic fibrosis.

RATIONALE Chronic infection with Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria in cystic fibrosis is associated with accelerated decline in pulmonary function and increased mortality. Clinical implications of the recently characterized genomovar VI, B. dolosa, are unknown. OBJECTIVES Characterization of impact of B. dolosa on pulmonary function and mortality in cystic fibrosis. METHODS We compared patients chronically infected with B. dolosa (n = 31) with unmatched patients with B. multivorans (n = 24) and with age- and sex-matched control subjects without Burkholderia species (n = 58). We analyzed rates of pulmonary function decline (% predicted FEV(1)) using a random effects model assuming segmented linear trends. All available FEV(1) measurements from 5 yr (median, 4.8) before until 2.5 yr (median, 1.5) after the first positive culture for Burkholderia (reference date) were analyzed. Survival was compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and proportional hazards model. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Baseline FEV(1) and rate of decline were similar in the cohorts. Decline in FEV(1) after the reference date accelerated in patients with B. dolosa (-2.3 percentage points/yr pre vs. -7.1 post, p = 0.002), but was unchanged in the B. multivorans and control patients (-2.3 vs. -0.8 post, p = 0.38, and -2.1 pre vs. -0.5 post, p = 0.20, respectively). The probability of dying within 18 mo of the reference date was 13, 7, and 3% for B. dolosa, B. multivorans, and control patients, respectively (B. dolosa vs. control hazard ratio, 10.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-92.8; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS B. dolosa chronic infection in cystic fibrosis is associated with accelerated loss of lung function and decreased survival.
How do dental and prenatal care practitioners perceive dental care during pregnancy? Current evidence and implications.

BACKGROUND Poor maternal oral health may be associated with adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes. However, women seldom seek dental care during pregnancy, and misconceptions by prenatal care practitioners about oral health care during pregnancy may contribute to the problem. The aim of this study was to review current knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of dental and prenatal care practitioners about oral health care during pregnancy. METHODS This review examined all studies published in English that explored the knowledge, attitude, behavior, and barriers faced by dentists, general practitioners, midwives, and obstetricians/gynecologists with respect to oral health care during pregnancy. RESULTS Despite acknowledging the importance of maternal oral health, many dentists are uncertain about the safety of dental procedures and are hesitant in treating pregnant women. General practitioners and midwives are poorly informed about the impact of poor maternal oral health and rarely initiate this topic during prenatal care. Many general practitioners also believe that dental procedures are unsafe during pregnancy. Obstetricians/gynecologists are well informed about perinatal oral health and are supportive of dental procedures, but because of lack of training in this area and competing health demands they seldom focus on oral health care during their prenatal care. CONCLUSION No real consensus exists among dentists and prenatal care practitioners with respect to oral health care during pregnancy. This issue poses a significant deterrent for pregnant women seeking dental care. Practice guidelines in perinatal oral health are needed for health professionals to emphasize this important aspect of prenatal care.
Asynchronous Monetary Policies and International Dollar Credit

This paper presents a theoretical model in which the supply of international dollar credit by a global bank is responsive to unconventional monetary policies (UMPs) both in the US and its home country, the functioning of the FX swap market and the bank's default risk. The theoretical model is tested using two unique confidential datasets. The results suggest that the contractionary effect of US monetary normalisation on global liquidity would be partly offset by the expansionary effect of UMPs in Japan and the euro-area. However, a stress testing exercise shows that global liquidity would be seriously disrupted if normalisation of monetary policy in the US leads to financial market dislocation, in particular in the FX swap market. Finally, this study finds that global banks' risk-taking attitude, credit risk exposure, and the business model of their overseas offices are important factors affecting how dollar credit supplied by international banks would respond to UMPs.
Comparison of Transperitoneal versus Retroperitoneal Approach in Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Center Experience of 63 Cases

Background: We report our experience with the retroperitoneal (RP) and transperitoneal (TP) approaches for laparoscopic nephrectomy for clinically localized renal cell carcinoma. Methods: Sixty-three patients with renal cell carcinoma were treated with laparoscopic nephrectomy, 34 by TP and 29 by RP approach between June 1999 and June 2003. Average age, ASA score, tumor stage and tumor size were similar in both groups. Early complications within 30 days and surgical time were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Surgical time was with a mean of 183 and 190 minutes equal for the TP and RP approach. Intraoperative complications occurred in 4 patients and were vascular, requiring blood transfusion in 2 patients each per group. Postoperative complications were thromboembolism in 1 patient and subcutaneous seroma in 1 patient, both in the TP group. Conclusions: Although the sample size is small, it appears that the tumor control and surgical time in laparoscopic nephrectomy are not significantly influenced by the approach.