Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of papillary renal cell tumours is associated with loss of Y‐chromosome‐specific DNA sequences

Twenty‐two papillary renal cell tumours were analysed by Southern hybridization using eight DNA probes from homologous regions of the X and Y chromosomes and two Y‐chromosome‐specific DNA probes. Sixteen of the 19 papillary renal cell tumours of male patients showed the loss of Y‐chromosome‐specific sequences. No loss of heterozygosity was detected in three tumours that developed in females. The frequency of loss of the Y chromosome was established in 50 non‐papillary renal cell carcinomas as well. Only seven of the 31 non‐papillary renal cell carcinomas obtained from male patients had lost the Y‐chromosome‐specific sequences, whereas no allelic loss was found in 19 non‐papillary tumours obtained from female patients. Papillary renal cell tumours show a strong male preponderance (6:1) and loss of Y chromosome in 84 per cent of the cases, whereas non‐papillary renal cell carcinomas show only a slight male preponderance (1:5:1) and the Y chromosome is lost in only 22 per cent of the cases. These data suggest that a tumour suppressor gene is localized at one of the homologous regions of the X and Y chromosomes, the homozygous inactivation of which is associated with the development of papillary renal cell tumours.
FROM DONORSHIP TO OWNERSHIP? BUDGET SUPPORT AND DONOR INFLUENCE IN RWANDA AND TANZANIA

SUMMARY In this article, I analyze the relationship between budget support and ownership, or recipient‐country control over policy outcomes, by exploring how budget support donors in Rwanda and Tanzania attempt to exert influence over domestic policy processes. In contrast to the conventional rhetoric about budget support, my empirical analysis finds little evidence that budget support decreases the influence that donors try to exert over recipient‐country governments. Instead, semi‐structured interviews with donor and government representatives in each country suggest that the aid modality is often used as a tool by which donors attempt to increase their leverage over domestic decision‐making. In particular, I identify three mechanisms frequently used by budget support donors to influence domestic policy processes: voice amplification, a seat at the table, and a license to ask questions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Validation and translation of the Dutch tinnitus functional index.

OBJECTIVES Several questionnaires are used to survey how tinnitus affects quality of life, making comparisons across studies difficult. The questionnaires also are used to measure treatment outcome but were not designed for this purpose. To address these issues, a new questionnaire has been suggested, the tinnitus functional index (TFI), which is highly responsive to treatment-related change. The current study aim was to translate and validate the TFI for a Dutch-speaking population. Factor analysis was performed to characterize the TFI profile in a large tinnitus population. METHODS The questionnaire was translated using a translation-back translation procedure, and 263 patients in the ENT department of Antwerp University Hospital with tinnitus-related complaints completed it. Factor structure was assessed using exploratory analysis with oblique rotation and compared with the original questionnaire. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Spearman correlations with the percentage of time aware of the tinnitus and the visual analogue scales (VAS) for maximum tinnitus loudness and mean tinnitus loudness were calculated to investigate convergent validity. RESULTS The original eight-factor structure could be confirmed in the Dutch version of the TFI. Internal consistency (a=0.96) and convergent validity showed good results. Statistically significant correlations were found with the VAS for maximum loudness (r=0.59; p<0.001), VAS for mean loudness (r=0.66; p<0.001), and percentage of time aware of tinnitus (r=0.58; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The Dutch version of the TFI is suitable for measuring in clinical and research settings how tinnitus affects daily life, with psychometric properties in line with the original version.
An Empirical Investigation of E-mail Use versus Face-to-Face Meetings: Integrating the Napoleon Effect Perspective

As the range of ICT applications in business organizations grows ever larger and takes up an increasing amount of time, the question arises as to whether this could have an impact on meetings. This paper explores the extent to which the use of ICTs replaces face-to-face interactions. The data was gathered by telephone interviews from a sample population of 2,500 company managers questioned over a five-year period between 2001 and 2005. The results indicate that substitution of face-to-face interactions by e-mail only occurs in a few organizations (
Cooperative Effect of Gag Proteins p12 and Capsid during Early Events of Murine Leukemia Virus Replication

ABSTRACT The Gag polyprotein of murine leukemia virus (MLV) is processed into matrix (MA), p12, capsid (CA), and nucleocapsid (NC) proteins. p12 affects early events of virus replication and contains a PPPY motif important for virus release. To probe the functions of p12 in the early steps of MLV replication, we tested whether p12 can be replaced by spleen necrosis virus (SNV) p18, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 p6, or Rous sarcoma virus p2b. Analyses revealed that all chimeras generated virions at levels similar to that of MLV gag-pol; however, none of them could support MLV vector replication, and all of them exhibited severely reduced DNA synthesis upon virus infection. Because a previously reported SNV gag-MLV pol chimera, but not the MLV hybrid with SNV p18, can support replication of an MLV vector, we hypothesized that other Gag proteins act cooperatively with p12 during the early phase of virus replication. To test this hypothesis, we generated three more MLV-based chimeras containing SNV CA, p18-CA, or p18-CA-NC. We found that the MLV chimera containing SNV p18-CA or p18-CA-NC could support MLV vector replication, but the chimera containing SNV CA could not. Furthermore, viruses derived from the MLV chimera with SNV CA could synthesize viral DNA upon infection but were blocked at a post-reverse-transcription step and generated very little two long terminal repeat circle DNA, thereby producing a phenotype similar to that of the provirus formation-defective p12 mutants. Taken together, our data indicate that when p12/p18 or CA was from different viruses, despite abundant virus production and proper Gag processing, the resulting viruses were not infectious. However, when p12/p18 and CA were from the same virus, even though they were from SNV and not MLV, the resulting viruses were infectious. Therefore, these results suggest a cooperative effect of p12 and CA during the early events of MLV replication.
HMO plans, self-selection and utilization of health care services

This study examines the effect of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) on the use of health care services among the privately insured, nonelderly population. To consider jointly the possible self-selection bias and high frequency of zero observations in the applied utilization measures, we accommodate the endogeneity of health plan choice decisions in the censored regression model. Using data from the 2000 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we find strong evidence for favourable self-selection into HMO plans. Health maintenance organization enrollment is found to encourage greater use of office-based and hospital outpatient services. Overall satisfaction with the quality of care among HMO members is relatively low compared to that among nonHMO members. These findings suggest that more effort is needed to develop management strategies in HMOs in order to contain the moral hazard in utilization and assure the quality of service provided within the network of HMO providers.
Stochastic, Distributed and Federated Optimization for Machine Learning

We study optimization algorithms for the finite sum problems frequently arising in machine learning applications. First, we propose novel variants of stochastic gradient descent with a variance reduction property that enables linear convergence for strongly convex objectives. Second, we study distributed setting, in which the data describing the optimization problem does not fit into a single computing node. In this case, traditional methods are inefficient, as the communication costs inherent in distributed optimization become the bottleneck. We propose a communication-efficient framework which iteratively forms local subproblems that can be solved with arbitrary local optimization algorithms. Finally, we introduce the concept of Federated Optimization/Learning, where we try to solve the machine learning problems without having data stored in any centralized manner. The main motivation comes from industry when handling user-generated data. The current prevalent practice is that companies collect vast amounts of user data and store them in datacenters. An alternative we propose is not to collect the data in first place, and instead occasionally use the computational power of users' devices to solve the very same optimization problems, while alleviating privacy concerns at the same time. In such setting, minimization of communication rounds is the primary goal, and we demonstrate that solving the optimization problems in such circumstances is conceptually tractable.
INVESTOR RELATIONS, LIQUIDITY, AND STOCK PRICES

Although the first investor relations department was established by General Electric as long ago as 1952, the role of investor relations (IR) is one that has largely escaped scientific analysis and academic scrutiny. This article attempts to demonstrate the importance of a company's IR activities for its stock price by establishing a clear chain of causation between the following: 1 corporate IR activities and the number of stock analysts who follow the firm; 2 the number of analysts who follow the firm and the liquidity of trading in the firm's shares; 3 the liquidity of the firm's shares and its required rate of return, or cost of capital. The authors begin by presenting evidence that corporate IR activities, in the form of high levels of disclosure and presentations to investment analysts, increase the number of analysts who follow the firm by reducing their cost of acquiring information. Studies have also shown that more effective IR tends to improve the accuracy of analyst forecasts and the degree of agreement among analysts. Second, the authors summarize their own research showing that the number of analysts who follow a firm has a positive effect on the liquidity of the firm's shares. More specifically, their findings can be interpreted as saying that, for the average company, coverage by six additional analysts reduces “market‐impact costs” (using a measure known as Kyle's lambda) by 28%, holding volume constant. And when the indirect effect of increased analyst coverage through expanded volume is taken into account, the reduction in trading costs is estimated to be as high as 85%. The final link in the chain of analysis is the growing evidence (much of it reviewed in the preceding article) that increased liquidity leads to a lower cost of capital and thus higher stock prices. In sum, a firm can reduce its cost of capital and increase its stock price through more effective investor relations activities, which reduce the cost of information to the market and to investment analysts in particular.
Prediction of Tablet Hardness and Porosity Using Near‐Infrared Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy as a Nondestructive Method

The main objective of this research is to use the near‐infrared diffuse reflectance method to evaluate and quantify the effects of hardness and porosity on the near‐infrared spectras of tablets. To develop a model equation, validate the model and test the model predictive ability. Seven theophylline tablet formulations of the same composition but with seven different hardness values (3 kp, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 17 kp) were prepared. Another seven theophylline tablets formulation with seven different porosity values (57.4, 50.3, 41.9, 40.3, 39.9, 37.3, and 35.1%) were prepared. Five placebo tablets formulation with different hardness and porosity values were also prepared. Laboratory hardness and porosity values were compared to near‐infrared diffuse reflectance data. Linear regression, quadratic, cubic and partial least square techniques were used to determine the relationship between hardness, porosity and the near‐infrared spectras. The results demonstrated that an increase in tablet hardness and a decrease in tablets porosity produced an increase in near‐infrared absorbance. Series of model equations depending on the mathematical technique used for regression were developed from the calibration of hardness and porosity data using laboratory equipment vs. the near‐infrared diffuse reflectance for each formulations. The results of near‐infrared hardness and porosity predictions were very similar to laboratory hardness and porosity tests. The near‐infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy method is an alternative nondestructive method for measurement of hardness and porosity of tablets.
Viscoelastic-augmented trabeculectomy: A newer concept

Purpose: Comparison of conventional trabeculectomy (CT) and viscoelastic-augmented trabeculectomy (VAT) in primary open-angle glaucoma. Methods: A total of 65 primary open-angle glaucoma cases were taken for each of the two groups, i.e., CT and VAT. Viscoelastic-augmented trabeculectomy constituted lamellar scleral flap, deep scleral flap, penetrating trabeculectomy, peripheral iridectomy, filling of the anterior chamber with viscoelastic (sodium hyaluronate) and balanced salt solution, movement of visco in bleb, and tight flap closure. Success criteria included intraocular pressure (IOP) <14 mmHg with no devastating complications. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean IOP was significantly lower after VAT compared to CT at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months postoperatively. Target IOP was achieved in 60% cases in VAT group compared to 36.92% in CT group. Conclusion: VAT is effective in reducing IOP to the target level for advanced glaucoma with lower postoperative complications.
Association Between More Intensive vs Less Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering and Risk of Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3 to 5: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance Trials in patients with hypertension have demonstrated that intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality but may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) incidence and progression. Whether intensive BP lowering is associated with a mortality benefit in patients with prevalent CKD remains unknown. Objectives To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to investigate if more intensive compared with less intensive BP control is associated with reduced mortality risk in persons with CKD stages 3 to 5. Data Sources Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, Science Citation Index, Google Scholar, and clinicaltrials.gov electronic databases. Study Selection All RCTs were included that compared 2 defined BP targets (either active BP treatment vs placebo or no treatment, or intensive vs less intensive BP control) and enrolled adults (≥18 years) with CKD stages 3 to 5 (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) exclusively or that included a CKD subgroup between January 1, 1950, and June 1, 2016. Data Extraction and Synthesis Two of us independently evaluated study quality and extracted characteristics and mortality events among persons with CKD within the intervention phase for each trial. When outcomes within the CKD group had not previously been published, trial investigators were contacted to request data within the CKD subset of their original trials. Main Outcome and Measure All-cause mortality during the active treatment phase of each trial. Results This study identified 30 RCTs that potentially met the inclusion criteria. The CKD subset mortality data were extracted in 18 trials, among which there were 1293 deaths in 15 924 participants with CKD. The mean (SD) baseline systolic BP (SBP) was 148 (16) mm Hg in both the more intensive and less intensive arms. The mean SBP dropped by 16 mm Hg to 132 mm Hg in the more intensive arm and by 8 mm Hg to 140 mm Hg in the less intensive arm. More intensive vs less intensive BP control resulted in 14.0% lower risk of all-cause mortality (odds ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.97; P = .01), a finding that was without significant heterogeneity and appeared consistent across multiple subgroups. Conclusions and Relevance Randomization to more intensive BP control is associated with lower mortality risk among trial participants with hypertension and CKD. Further studies are required to define absolute BP targets for maximal benefit and minimal harm.
The Non-Trivial Choice between Innovation Indicators

We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of five alternative innovation indicators: R&D, patent applications, total innovation expenditure and shares in sales taken by imitative and by innovative products as they were measured in the 1992 Community Innovation Survey (CIS) in the Netherlands. We conclude that the two most commonly used indicators (R&D and patent applications) have more (and more severe) weaknesses than is often assumed. Moreover, our factor analysis suggests that there is little correlation between the various indicators. This underlines the empirical relevance of various sources of bias of innovation indicators as discussed in this paper.
Association of leptin and insulin resistance in PCOS: A case-controlled study

Background: Endocrine abnormalities related to polycystic ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are important problems. Objective: To compare serum leptin levels between infertile women with and without PCOS. To rank sensitivity of six indirect methods for detection of insulin resistance (IR) and to evaluate the association between leptin and IR in PCOS group. Materials and methods: This Case-controlled study performed on 189 infertile women referred to Shiraz Mother and Child Hospital during 2012-2015. Ninety-nine PCOS cases according to Rotterdam criteria were compared to 90 cases without PCOS. Serum leptin, body mass index (BMI), several hormones, and their correlation coefficients with leptin were compared. IR in PCOS women was measured by indirect methods, including fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI), glucose/insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), and MacAuley index. Association between IR and leptin was evaluated. Independent sample t-test and Pearson’s test were used. Results: Infertile women with PCOS had higher BMI (26.47±3.62 vs. 24.82±5.18 kg/m2) and serum leptin levels (41.79±187.89 vs. 19.38±12.57 ng/mL). Leptin showed significant association with weight and BMI in both groups (p<0.001) and to age in non-PCOS group. HOMA-IR showed the highest rate of IR followed by FI and QUICKI methods. The mean leptin levels had positive association with IR assessed by HOMA-IR (p<0.001), QUICKI (p<0.001), FI (p=.002), and FBS (p=0.02). Conclusion: BMI and IR have positive association with serum leptin in PCOS infertile women. HOMA-IR followed by FI and QUICKI is the most sensitive test for detection of IR.
Do interest-rate forecasters herd? International evidence

Results of earlier empirical research on whether survey data on forecasts of interest rates exhibit signs of forecaster herding are mixed. We reconsider the question of forecaster herding using a large international data set of interest-rate forecasts. We do not find much evidence of forecaster herding. Rather, forecasters seem to anti-herd, that is, they seem to intentionally scatter their interest-rate forecasts around the consensus forecast.
Accrual Accounting & Financial Reporting in the Public Sector: Reframing the Debate

Over the past decade, the governments of a growing number of jurisdictions throughout the world have elected to implement accrual accounting and financial reporting as the basis for their reformed financial management architectures. This phenomenon has been widely debated in public management circles, and within the academic literature. Many of these debates however, have been arid and narrowly technically focused. A growing quantity of empirical evidence drawn from jurisdictions where accrual accounting and financial reporting has already been implemented within the public sector is providing a new avenue for research in this area. This paper reviews both the previous debates surrounding the adoption of accrual accounting and reporting in the public sector, argues for a reframed approach to debates about the impact of this type of reform, and reports evidence that far from having an exclusively positive impact on the quality of financial decision making in a public sector context, the adoption of accrual accounting and financial reporting may in fact be undermining the quality of certain key decisions, including those related to outsourcing and competitive tendering.
Institutional framing for entrepreneurship in sub‐Saharan Africa: a case of Uganda

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine institutional framing for entrepreneurship in a sub-Saharan context and provide policy input required in solving the daunting problem of the existing low levels and high failure rate of business start-ups in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a sample of 659 SMEs from two districts of Uganda in Jinja and Mukono which were scientifically selected for this study. Appropriate analytical data techniques were applied. Findings – Results reveal the presence of implicit regulative, explicit regulative, constitutive cognitive and normative institutions which affect entrepreneurial activities in Uganda. These findings and their policy implications are fully discussed in the paper. Originality/value – This research parallels the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2004 study that reports high total entrepreneurship activity (TEA) from Uganda and presents the importance of understanding the institutional framing for entrepreneurship. There is a paucity of research addressing institutional framing for entrepreneurship from a sub-Saharan context, creating a need to study and systematically document the prevailing supporting institutions as a framework for promoting entrepreneurship in Uganda.
The Birth of the Old Federalism: Financing the New Deal, 1932–1940

The relative importance of federal and local government was reversed between 1932 and 1940. This changing composition of government expenditures by level of government accounts for the rise of “big” government during the Depression. State governments expanded their fiscal activity, maintaining their share of total government expenditures. Utilizing data on federal grants and state and local expenditures, I find that the relative decline of local governments and sustained growth of state governments can be explained by the financial and administrative provisions of the federal New Deal programs.
The degradation of work and the end of the skilled emotion worker at Aer Lingus: is it all trolley dollies now?

The article focuses on emotional labour and self-identity at the Irish-owned Aer Lingus airline from 1998 to 2008. It has been suggested that emotional labour is likely to be an increasingly important feature of frontline service jobs. However, in this case management has reduced the level of emotional labour requirement while work organization, recruitment policy and training have changed to focus on sales and lower labour costs, intensifying workloads and reducing cabin crew autonomy. Although some may suggest that a reduction in emotional labour requirement would be a positive outcome for employees, this is not how it has been perceived by some cabin crew. Long-serving cabin crew in particular see these changes as an attack on their professionalism and a challenge to their identity as skilled emotion workers.