Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinantes del riesgo de fracaso escolar en España: una aproximación a través de un análisis logístico multinivel aplicado a PISA-2006 Determinants of the school failure risk in Spain: a multilevel logistic model approach to PISA-2006

The school failure, understood as the rate of individuals who do not succeed on finishing the compulsory studies, is a major problem in the Spanish educational system. In a competitive and changing ambiance, the consequences of the school failure are terrible since it is considered that one of the main objectives of the levels of the compulsory education is to provide the basic competences required in the labour market. Thus, to find out the causes of the school failure appears to be a desired objective for the application of educational policies. In this paper we aim at identifying the determinants to belong to the school failure risk group in Spain. In this process we use a definition of school failure risk which relates to the probability of scoring below level 2 in the PISA evaluation of competences. In the analysis we apply a multilevel logistic regression, which is an innovative technique called for by the hierarchic structure of PISA data and, also, by the fact that the dependent variable is dichotomous. A two-level model is applied, level 1 corresponding to student variables and level 2 to school variables. Variables included in the model belong to several areas, such as personal characteristics, family characteristics (related to the sociocultural and socio-economic background, household resources and their use); and school characteristics (related to its users, its physical and human resources and the educational processes taking place in it). The estimation of the model shows a range of significant associations between the explanatory variables and the school failure risk. The educational policy implications of the research findings are discussed in the results section.
Perceived loss of memory ability and cerebral metabolic decline in persons with the apolipoprotein E-IV genetic risk for Alzheimer disease.

CONTEXT Concerns about age-related memory loss are greater in persons who have the apolipoprotein E-IV (APOE4) genetic risk for Alzheimer disease, but the correlation between the degree of concerns and future cerebral metabolic decline is unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the degree of self-perceived memory loss is associated with regional cerebral metabolic decline. DESIGN Longitudinal study. SETTING Aging and Memory Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles. PARTICIPANTS Thirty right-handed, cognitively intact, middle-aged and older adults (age range, 50-82 years) with age-associated memory complaints, 14 of whom were carriers of the apolipoprotein E-IV allele, were recruited for longitudinal study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES At baseline, we administered a standardized neuropsychological battery and assessed self-appraisal of memory functioning using the Memory Functioning Questionnaire, which yields 4 factor scores indicating frequency of forgetting, seriousness of forgetting, retrospective functioning, and mnemonics use. Regional cerebral glucose metabolism was determined using fluorodeoxyglucose F18-positron emission tomography at baseline and after 2 years. RESULTS At baseline, APOE4 carriers and noncarriers did not differ significantly on objective memory measures or on Memory Functioning Questionnaire factor scores. However, the factor score for frequency of forgetting significantly correlated with global cerebral metabolic decline in all subjects regardless of APOE4 genetic risk (P = .01). By contrast, the factor score for mnemonics use significantly correlated with metabolic decline in the temporal regions in APOE4 carriers but not in noncarriers (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS The degree of perceived memory loss correlates with subsequent global cerebral metabolic decline for APOE4 carriers and noncarriers; hence, memory complaints may reflect underlying cerebral metabolic changes. Compensatory strategies, as reflected by more frequent mnemonics use in APOE4 carriers, may reflect underlying metabolic changes in the brain regions associated with prodromal Alzheimer disease. Self-reported mnemonics use may be helpful in identifying persons for clinical monitoring.
Guiding Occlusal Development with Functional Appliances

Abstract Functional appliances have been used in Orthodontics since their introduction by Pierre Robin almost one hundred years ago, however, our uderstanding of how they bring about orthodontic correction is still limited. This article is a brief overview of their history, mode of action, advantages and disadvantages, and includes the results of a study of attempts to control and minimise their side-effects using a recent devleopment in functional appliances: the ‘Teuscher Appliance’. This appliance combines a high-pull headgear witb the activator, and is designed to reduce the often reported side-effects of functional appliances. The skeletal and dentoalveolar effects of treatment with the Teuscher Appliance on 40 consecutivelv-treated patients are reported and illustrated with four individual case reports. The results showed that the skeletal effect on the maxilla was a retardation of the normal forward and downard growth in 80 per cent of the cases, and that mandibular growth in 70 per cent of cases was forward. In patients whose mandibular growth was primarily in a vertical direction, such growth could be ascribed mainly to posterior rotation of the maxilla and/or the fact that the acrylic covering the lower posterior teeth to correct a deep bite was removed, promoting the eruption of these teeth and increasing the anterior vertical development. The dentoalveolar changes were characterised by retroclination of the maxillary incisors in 90 per cent of the patients, and were due to insufficient torque control bv the built-in torque springs, which need further development. The mandibnlar incisors were well controlled by capping. The statistical analysis showed an inverse correlation between the initial incisor inclination and the change during treatment. This suggests that proclination of the lower incisors, as previously reported, is not a contraindication to functional appliance treatment. provided the appliance is correctly designed. Overall, this study showed considerable individual response to treatment, and that the occlusal correction occurred through a combination of skeletal and dentoalveolar changes.
The peripheral hypoechoic rim of the fetal heart.

The purpose of this study is to determine the origin of the hypoechoic rim around the fetal heart; this rim has been noted previously but there is disagreement as to its origin. Of 314 fetuses scanned, a four‐chamber view was obtained in 290; a hypoechoic rim was present in 94% of these. In all cases in which a short‐axis view could be obtained, the rim continued circumferentially through the ventricular septum. Because the rim continues through the septum, it cannot be pericardial fluid but is instead part of the myocardium. The presence as well as the origin of this normal hypoechoic rim around the fetal cardiac ventricles should be considered before diagnosing small pericardial effusions.
Biophilic Cities Are Sustainable, Resilient Cities

There is a growing recognition of the need for daily contact with nature, to live happy, productive, meaningful lives. Recent attention to biophilic design among architects and designers acknowledges this power of nature. However, in an increasingly urban planet, more attention needs to be aimed at the urban scales, at planning for and moving towards what the authors call “biophilic cities”. Biophilic cities are cities that provide close and daily contact with nature, nearby nature, but also seek to foster an awareness of and caring for this nature. Biophilic cities, it is argued here, are also sustainable and resilient cities. Achieving the conditions of a biophilic city will go far in helping to foster social and landscape resilience, in the face of climate change, natural disasters and economic uncertainty and various other shocks that cities will face in the future. The paper identifies key pathways by which biophilic urbanism enhances resilience, and while some are well-established relationships, others are more tentative and suggest future research and testing.
Do Coworkers Make the Service Customer? A Field Study in the Public Sector

This article examines whether relationships among colleagues are related to commitment to the customer and intention to leave the employer. Using a sample (N = 228) of public employees in contact with citizens (customers), the data showed that exchange process among colleagues enhances commitment to the customer and diminishes intention to leave through intention to help colleagues. Results are discussed.
Financial constraints and dividend policy

Using a sample of US listed firms over the 1989–2012 period, we find that financially constrained dividend-increasing firms experience superior short-run abnormal stock returns, but suffer worse operating performance compared to similar unconstrained firms. More specifically, constrained firms in more competitive industries realize poorer long-run and operating performance. Likewise, constrained firms that increase dividends during the financial crisis also deliver inferior post-dividend-increase long-run return than do unconstrained firms. We also find evidence that constrained firms show worse stock market reaction to new equity issue announcements following dividend increase, but display a positive market response if they potentially have high investment growth opportunities. Our results are robust to alternative financial constraint proxies and abnormal return measures.
A Theory of Fed Watching in a Macroeconomic Policy Game

This paper examines the phenomenon of "Fed watching" within the context of a macroeconomic policy game. Following A. Cukierman and A. H. Meltzer's 1986 article, the policymaker's preferences are private information and noisy monetary control causes past observations of money growth to be a noisy signal of the monetary authority's future intentions. Individuals are allowed to acquire additional information about the monetary authority's preferences. Thus, both past observations of money growth and costly information about the policymaker's preferences are used by agents in forming expectations about policy. The public's acquisition of information alters the monetary authority's strategic calculus, making noisy monetary control less desirable. Copyright 1992 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.
International Trade and Domestic Legal Systems: Examining the Impact of Islamic Law

What factors determine countries' international trade relations? Recent theories point to the potential importance of domestic legal traditions. Countries' legal systems influence the enforcement of contracts. This has been shown to affect trade flows in common law and civil law countries. However, these two legal systems do not constitute the universe of legal traditions. Islamic law is an important and fundamentally distinct legal system that has been largely overlooked. In this article, we offer the first direct test of the effect of Islamic law on countries' trade relations. We find that, on average, levels of bilateral trade are lowest among Islamic law states, holding all else constant. This finding suggests that, contrary to conventional wisdom, shared institutions alone are insufficient to enhance trade flows. Instead, levels of bilateral trade depend critically on the quality of shared institutions. The importance of countries' legal systems for trade declines over time, possibly due to the increased role of international arbitration bodies and/or the standardization of international sales contracts.
Preliminary evidence on the relationship between corporate governance attributes and audit committee functionality in Egypt: beyond checking the box

Purpose – This exploratory study aims to provide preliminary evidence regarding the non-audit committee corporate governance determinants of audit committee functionality. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on archival accounting, corporate governance data, and interviews of subjects of the top 100 companies listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX100). A logistic regression is used to identify the non-audit committee governance attributes that affect the likelihood of of having a functional audit committee. Findings – Board size and board independence, (CEO-chairman duality) are positively (negatively) related to audit committee functionality, suggesting complementary governance relations. On the other hand, the authors document a negative relation between auditor type (Big4) and audit committee functionality indicating a substitutive governance effect. Originality/value – To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that explores the actual functioning of audit committe.
Cytokines and progenitor cells of granulocytopoiesis in peripheral blood of patients with bacterial infections

To investigate the physiological role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the adaptation mechanisms of myelopoiesis to enhanced demand, we studied both cytokines and their myeloid target cells in hematologically healthy patients suffering from acute bacterial infections. Endogenous serum levels of G-CSF and GM-CSF, granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cell (GM-CFC) concentrations, and differential counts were determined for the peripheral blood of 57 patients with clinically apparent bacterial infections (26 males and 31 females aged 16 to 89 years) and 18 healthy controls (8 males and 10 females aged 23 to 84 years). Patients were selected for acute-phase protein and at least two additional clinical signs reflecting a bacterial infection. Patients showed significantly higher numbers of myeloid progenitor cells than controls (median, 68 versus 26 GM-CFC/ml; P < or = 0.01). G-CSF but not GM-CSF levels were found to be elevated (> or = 50 to 863 pg/ml). In the acute stage of infection, progenitor and cytokine levels were not influenced by gender, differences in therapy, or localization of the infection. Progenitor and G-CSF levels were not associated with absolute neutrophil counts or C-reactive protein. However, a negative correlation between number of GM-CFC per milliliter and age (R = -0.47; P < or = 0.001) and an inverse relationship between the incidence of high GM-CFC concentrations and elevated G-CSF levels (phi = -0.34; P < or = 0.01) were found. Combining both parameters into a cytokine-progenitor pattern, we observed a highly significant age-dependent response of myelopoiesis to inflammation (P < or = 0.001). Younger patients had high progenitor counts (> 75 GM-CFC/ml) associated with G-CSF levels below 50 pg/ml, whereas for the older patients, the reverse pattern was predominant. The results indicate that the age-dependent myelopoietic response to acute bacterial infections is characterized by an inverse relationship between progenitor cells and G-CSF. The observed cytokine-progenitor patterns could have implications for therapy with G-CSF and the prognosis of infectious diseases.
Surgical correction of Haglund's triad using complete detachment and reattachment of the Achilles tendon.

UNLABELLED Haglund's triad consists of the simultaneous presentation of the following clinical entities: Achilles tendinosis, Haglund's deformity, and retrocalcaneal bursitis. In this retrospective study, we review outcomes following the surgical treatment of Haglund's triad by means of complete detachment and reattachment of the Achilles tendon, removal of the retrocalcaneal exostosis, and excision of the retrocalcaneal bursa through a medial J-shaped approach. Patients were identified via chart review, and sent consent forms and a questionnaire consisting of a visual analog scale (VAS), a satisfaction survey, and the Maryland Foot Score. Seventeen patients (22 feet) met the inclusion criteria and returned the consent and questionnaires. Their mean age was 51.6 +/- 11.6 years, and the mean duration of postoperative follow-up was 40.1 +/- 27.0 months. The mean preoperative VAS was 7.9 +/- 2.3, and the postoperative VAS was 1.6 +/- 1.3 (P < .001). The mean postoperative Maryland Foot Score was 91.5 +/- 9.1, with 16 good to excellent results. Of the 17 patients, 16 were satisfied and only 1 was somewhat unsatisfied. Four complications were observed, and 1 of these required further surgical intervention. The outcome of this study demonstrated that surgical correction of Haglund's triad using a medial "J" approach, complete detachment and reattachment of the Achilles tendon, exostectomy, and retrocalcaneal bursectomy provided patient satisfaction with limited complications. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE 4.
Specialist Accommodation and Ecologically-Sustainable Tourism

An important area of concern for tourism research is that of the assessment of alternative forms of tourism operations to determine whether or not they are more sustainable than the existing or traditional operations. This article takes the principles of ecologically-sustainable tourism (EST) development and uses these to develop a research agenda for the assessment of the sustainability of a particular alternative form of tourism - specialist accommodation. In developing this research agenda, data from several sources are used to demonstrate the problems with, and potentials for, research in this area. Some suggest that specialist accommodation establishments can and do encourage EST. Many specialist accommodation establishments already seem to play a role in promoting the EST concept, such as nature and wilderness lodges. While the initial evidence that specialist accommodation is in accord with EST may be described as encouraging, it is argued that diverse forms of additional data and information will .
Voluntary Environmental Programs: A Canadian Perspective

In light of the increasing number of environmental problems necessitating government's attention and the limited scope and budget for addressing these issues, environmental protection has, and continues to evolve as more flexible approaches to regulation are being sought and embraced by governments throughout the world. Voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) are a pragmatic response by both governments and business to find a more flexible way to protect the environment. We discuss the theoretical motivations for firms to adopt VEPs in general and examine Canada's experience with three types of VEPs, public, negotiated, and unilateral agreements, to assess whether the motivating factors are present. We then argue that the institutional, political, and regulatory framework governing environmental policy in Canada does not provide the conditions necessary to effectively promote superior corporate environmental protection across jurisdictions. Despite the lack of government-directed VEPs, there has been considerable interest by both the private sector and civil society who have taken the lead by developing unilateral agreements. Using existing literature and our current research, we examine the factors that motivate firms in Canada to participate in unilateral agreements and the characteristics of firms with the higher environmental performance and suggest some policy implications.
The Logic of Pro-Poor Policymaking: Political Entrepreneurship and Mass Education

This article argues against the scholarly consensus that governments make pro-poor policies when they are democratic. In democracies and autocracies, a government's strongest incentive is to serve citizens who are organized, and poor citizens face collective-action disadvantages. But a ‘political entrepreneur’ can help poor citizens organize and attain power with their support; to stay in power, the political entrepreneur's incentive is to maintain poor citizens’ support with pro-poor policies. Politics and education are analyzed over half-a-century in countries with little in common – Ghana, Taiwan, and Brazil. Governments that expanded education for the poor were more often autocratic than democratic, but were always clearly associated with political entrepreneurs. The results suggest an alternative understanding of government incentives to serve poor citizens.
The Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) is a subcutaneous alternative to conventional transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) systems, which have previously been shown to treat life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias in cardiac disease patients. A review of the literature reveals that S-ICDs have similar shock efficacy rates for both induced and spontaneous ventricular tachyarrhythmias when compared with TV-ICDs. Furthermore, S-ICDs seem to have a higher specificity for withholding therapy when supraventricular tachycardia is present compared with TV-ICDs. The advantages of the S-ICD system are numerous: fewer vascular complications including thrombosis and hemothorax, avoidance of fluoroscopy, and an easier means of lead replacement. These advantages make the S-ICD system most suitable for younger patients who may require replacements in later life, those with abnormal venous anatomy, and individuals prone to infection and/or central vein thrombosis. However, S-ICDs are not without their complications and are associated with a higher incidence of inappropriate shocks secondary to T wave oversensing. S-ICDs also lack antitachycardia pacing, making them a suboptimal device in patients with recurrent monomorphic ventricular tachycardia who would otherwise benefit from the antitachycardia pacing offered in TV-ICDs. Lastly, the limited number of long-term randomized, head-to-head studies involving direct comparison with TV-ICDs poses a challenge in the implementation of the S-ICD.
Diesel Particles Are Taken Up by Alveolar Type II Tumor Cells and Alter Cytokines Secretion

Abstract Diesel exhaust particles can reach the alveolar space and interact with alveolar type II cells. The authors investigated whether diesel exhaust particles lead to an internalization process and alter the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-8 and granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor by human alveolar type II cells. Cells from the human lung epithelial cell line A-549 were incubated with diesel exhaust particles or with inert particles for different periods of time. Phagocytosis was studied with electron microscopic analysis and flow cytometry. Cytokines were quantified in super-natants with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both diesel exhaust particles and inert particles were similarly engulfed by alveolar type II cells. Diesel exhaust particles induced a dose- and a time-dependent increase in granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor release and a transient inhibition of interleukin-8 release, but inert particles did not. Diesel exhaust particles were taken up by alveolar type II cells, and they altered cytokine production. Alveolar type II cells, therefore, may represent a target site for the deleterious effects of diesel exhaust particles.