Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with receipt of breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy in a diverse population-based sample.

PURPOSE Disparities in receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy may contribute to higher breast cancer fatality rates among black and Hispanic women compared with non-Hispanic whites. We investigated factors associated with receipt of chemotherapy in a diverse population-based sample. PATIENTS AND METHODS Women diagnosed with breast cancer between August 2005 and May 2007 (N = 3,252) and reported to the Detroit, Michigan, or Los Angeles County Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry were recruited to complete a survey. Multivariable analyses examined factors associated with chemotherapy receipt. RESULTS The survey was sent to 3,133 patients; 2,290 completed a survey (73.1%), and 1,403 of these patients were included in the analytic sample. In multivariable models, disease characteristics were significantly associated with the likelihood of receiving chemotherapy. Low-acculturated Hispanics were more likely to receive chemotherapy than non-Hispanic whites (odds ratio [OR], 2.00; 95% CI, 1.31 to 3.04), as were high-acculturated Hispanics (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.98). Black women were less likely to receive chemotherapy than non-Hispanic whites, but the difference was not significant (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.08). Increasing age (even in women age < 50 years) and Medicaid insurance were associated with lower rates of chemotherapy receipt. CONCLUSION In this population-based sample, disease characteristics were strongly associated with receipt of chemotherapy, indicating that clinical benefit guides most treatment decisions. We found no compelling evidence that black women and Hispanics receive chemotherapy at lower rates. Interventions that address chemotherapy use rates according to age and insurance status may improve quality of systemic treatment.
Oligopoly in International Commodity Markets : The Case of Co ee and Its Unintended Crisis

Exploiting the historical variations in the structure of the international co ee bean market, I separately identify the e ects of an international cartel agreement and the emergence of a fringe exporting country on the market power and the commodity's price. The results suggest that, of the 75-percent drop in the real co ee price between 1988 and 2001, the cartel's breakdown explains 49 points and the emergence of Vietnam as a major exporter explains another 9 points. I discuss lessons of unintended consequences as well as opportunities for harmonization in public policies concerning trade, competition, development aid, and foreign direct investment. JEL Classi cation: D43, F12, F13, F14, F35, F51, F53, G13, L11, L13, L41, O13, O16, O19, Q17. ∗Anderson School of Management, UCLA. E-mail: mitsuru.igami. 2012@anderson.ucla. edu. For valuable suggestions, I thank Daniel Ackerberg, Andrew Ainslie, Bruce Carlin, Harold Demsetz, Je rey Dubin, Sebastian Edwards, Eric Fisher, Paola Giuliano, Jinyong Hahn, Hugo Hopenhayn, Ari Kang, Lawrence Karp, Edward Leamer, Rosa Matzkin, Ayako Obashi, Je rey Perlo , John Riley, Connan Snider, Raphael Thomadsen, Aaron Tornell, So a Berto Villas-Boas, Romain Wacziarg, and Mark Wright, as well as the seminar participants at the 4th Empirical Investigations in Trade and Investment Conference organized by FREIT, the 10th Annual Trans-Atlantic Doctoral Conference at London Business School, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. Financial support from the ITO Foundation, the Nozawa Fellowship, and the UCLA CIBER are gratefully acknowledged.
Do communication disorders extend to musical messages? An answer from children with hearing loss or autism spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND Effective musical communication requires conveyance of the intended message in a manner perceptible to the receiver. Communication disorders that impair transmitting or decoding of structural features of music (e.g., pitch, timbre) and/or symbolic representation may result in atypical musical communication, which can have a negative impact on music therapy interventions. OBJECTIVE This study compared recognition of symbolic representation of emotions or movements in music by two groups of children with different communicative characteristics: severe to profound hearing loss (using cochlear implants [CI]) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Their responses were compared to those of children with typical-development and normal hearing (TD-NH). Accuracy was examined as a function of communicative status, emotional or movement category, and individual characteristics. METHODS Participants listened to recorded musical excerpts conveying emotions or movements and matched them with labels. Measures relevant to auditory and/or language function were also gathered. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the ASD and TD-NH groups in identification of musical emotions or movements. However, the CI group was significantly less accurate than the other two groups in identification of both emotions and movements. Mixed effects logistic regression revealed different patterns of accuracy for specific emotions as a function of group. CONCLUSION Conveyance of emotions or movements through music may be decoded differently by persons with different types of communication disorders. Because music is the primary therapeutic tool in music therapy sessions, clinicians should consider these differential abilities when selecting music for clinical interventions focusing on emotions or movement.
Effects of Movement Music Therapy with the Naruko Clapper on Psychological, Physical and Physiological Indices among Elderly Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Recent interventional studies have indicated that some exercise programs have beneficial physical and immunological effects for older people. Some evidence suggests that exercise programs involving music and/or a rhythmic movement component may be particularly beneficial. Objective: To assess the effects of a new type of movement music therapy (MMT) on physical, immunological, hormonal and psychosocial health parameters among older adults. Methods: 112 elderly female subjects (average age 73.62 ± 5.50 years) who performed little habitual exercise participated in this randomized, controlled, single-blinded intervention trial. The subjects were divided into two groups which participated in different exercise programs (experimental group: MMT; control group: simple exercise program). We assessed a comprehensive range of indices before and after the interventions, which lasted a total of 8 weeks. These indices included (1) the Philadelphia Geriatric Center morale scale, (2) self-rated health status, (3) physical function tests (e.g. blood pressure, pulmonary function, body balance, gait ability, muscle endurance, muscle-strength, and functional mobility), and (4) saliva analysis for physiological function indices (e.g. secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), chromogranin A, cortisol, and total protein). Results: In comparisons between the MMT and control interventions in younger elderly subjects (≤74 years old), systolic blood pressure decreased (p = 0.02), pulmonary function improved (p = 0.05) and body balance improved (p = 0.04) in the MMT group, but not in the control group. The SIgA secretion rate of the experimental group remained significantly elevated (p = 0.02) 15 min after exercise compared with before exercise. There were no significant differences between interventions in psychosocial indices. In contrast, no significant differences were detected between interventions in any measures in the older elderly group (≥75 years old). Conclusion: These results indicate that the MMT, even with a short (8-week) intervention period, improves physical and physiological functions to a significantly greater extent in younger elderly individuals compared with a control intervention without music.
Repeated psychological stress-induced alterations of visceral sensitivity and colonic motor functions in mice: Influence of surgery and postoperative single housing on visceromotor responses

Visceral pain modulation by chronic stress in mice has been little studied. Electromyography (EMG) recording of abdominal muscle contractions, as a proxy to the visceromotor response (VMR), requires electrode implantation and post-surgical single housing (SH) which could affect the VMR to stress. To test this hypothesis, male mice had electrode implantation surgery (S) plus SH, or no surgery and were group housed (NS-GH) or single housed (NS-SH) and exposed to either water avoidance stress (WAS, 1 h/day) or left undisturbed in their home cages for 10 days. The VMR to phasic ascending colorectal distension (CRD) was assessed before (basal) and 24 h after 10 days of WAS or no stress using a surgery-free method of intraluminal colonic pressure (ICP) recording (solid-state manometry). WAS heightened significantly the VMR to CRD at 30, 45, and 60 mmHg in S-SH vs. NS-GH, but not compared to NS-SH conscious mice. Compared to basal CRD, WAS increased VMR at 60 mmHg in the S-SH group and decreased it at 30–60 mmHg in NS-GH mice, while having no effect in NS-SH mice. The average defecation during the hour of repeated WAS over 10 days was 1.9 and 2.4 fold greater in S-SH vs. NS-GH and NS-SH mice, respectively. These data indicate that the combination of S-SH required for VMR monitoring with EMG is an important component of repeated WAS-induced post-stress visceral hypersensitivity and defecation in mice.
Financing Innovation

We review the recent literature on the financing of innovation, inclusive of large companies and new startups. This research strand has been very active over the past five years, generating important new findings, questioning some long-held beliefs, and creating its own puzzles. Our review outlines the growing body of work that documents a role for debt financing related to innovation. We highlight the new literature on learning and experimentation across multi-stage innovation projects and how this impacts optimal financing design. We further highlight the strong interaction between financing choices for innovation and changing external conditions, especially reduced experimentation costs.
Chemical Characteristic and Sensory Evaluation of Biscuit Enriched with Wheat Germ and the Effect of Storage Time on the Sensory Properties for this Product

This work aimed at determining the maximum acceptable level of wheat germ that can be added to one of homemade biscuits in Jordan, studying some chemical and sensory properties of this product, moreover, studying the effect of storage time after two months at room temperature on the sensory parameters of this product. The results showed that the addition of wheat germ in biscuit making at level of 20% (w/w) enhanced the nutritional value by increasing protein and total mineral content, as well as decreasing fat, total carbohydrates and total calories. The acceptability of sensory characteristics was improved by this fortification immediately after preparation and during storage.
The Appropriate Management of Rural Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction When Delays are Expected Due to Long-Distance Transfers

Background: Current guidelines recommend primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STsegment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as long as it can be performed quickly by an experienced provider. Unfortunately as time from the onset of symptoms increases, so does the incidence of adverse cardiac events. For patients in rural areas who face inevitable delays due to long-distance transfers, primary PCI is a less than perfect option. Other options include full-dose fibrinolytic therapy with routine transfer to a PCI capable hospital and a relatively new reperfusion strategy called pharmaco-invasive PCI. With multiple treatment options available, what is the most appropriate management of rural patients with STEMIs when delays are expected due to long-distance transfers? Methods: An exhaustive search of available medical literature was conducted using Medline-OVID, CINAHL, and Web of Science using the keywords: myocardial infarction, fibrinolytic agents, myocardial reperfusion, and patient transfer. Articles evaluating the efficacy and safety of treatment options for STEMI patients in rural locations were included. Relevant articles were assessed for quality using GRADE. Results: Two studies met inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. A retrospective observational study with 259 rural STEMI patients found that in-hospital mortality was higher in patients with primary PCI (9.3%) compared with fibrinolysis patients (1.9%; P=0.03). A prospective observational study with 2634 patients found that there was no significant difference in 30-day mortality (5.5 vs 5.6%; P= 0.94), stroke (1.1 vs 1.3%; P= 0.66) or major bleeding (1.5 vs 1.8%; P= 0.65), or re-infarction/ischemia (1.2 vs 2.5%; P= 0.088) in rural patients receiving a pharmaco-invasive therapy compared with patients presenting directly to the PCI center. Conclusion: In rural patients with STEMIs, as delays in transfer time increase due to long-distance travel, the use of fibrinolytic or pharmaco-invasive therapy may be more effective and beneficial than primary PCI reperfusion therapy.
Financial signal processing: applications to asset-market dynamics and healthcare finance

The seemingly random fluctuations of price and value produced by information flow and complex interactions across a diverse population of stakeholders has motivated the extensive use of stochastic processes to analyze both capital markets and the regulatory approval process in healthcare. This thesis approaches the statistical analysis of such processes through the lens of signal processing, with a particular emphasis on studying how dynamics evolve over time. We begin with a brief introduction to financial signal processing in Part I, before turning to specific applications in the main body of the thesis. In Part II, we apply spectral analysis to understand and quantify the relationship between asset-market dynamics across multiple time horizons, and show how this framework can be used to improve portfolio and risk management. Using the Fourier transform, we decompose asset-return alphas, betas and covariances into distinct frequency components, allowing us to identify the relative importance of specific time horizons in determining each of these quantities. Our approach can be applied to any portfolio, and is particularly useful for comparing the forecast power of multiple investment strategies. Part III addresses the growing interest from the healthcare industry, regulators and patients to include Bayesian adaptive methods in the regulatory approval process of new therapies. By applying sequential likelihood ratio tests to a Bayesian decision analysis framework that assigns asymmetric weights to false approvals and false rejections, we are able to design adaptive clinical trials that maximize the value to current and future patients and consequently, public health. We also consider the possibility that as the process unfolds, drug sponsors might stop a trial early if new information suggests market prospects are not as favorable as originally forecasted. We show that clinical trials that can be modified as data are observed are more valuable than trials without this flexibility.
Thai legal practitioners’ knowledge management: Communications skills, professionalism, and competency as the antecedents for success

The purpose of this research was to examine the variables contributing to Thai legal practitioners’ knowledge management abilities. By means of simple random-sampling, the sample of 332 individuals was surveyed using the 72item, 7-level, Likert type agreement scale questionnaire on the study’s four constructs. Confirmatory factor analysis was run prior to the structural equation model, with the analysis undertaken in LISREL 9.1. All causal factors in the model were shown to have a positive influence on knowledge management, with 92% variance of the factor affecting knowledge management (KM) (R2). Ranked in importance were communications skills (CSK), competency (COMP), and professionalism (PRO), with the total mean score of 0.96, 0.43, and 0.34, respectively.
Assessment of functional vision performance: a new test for low vision patients.

Measures of functional vision are needed to assess elderly low vision patients, their success in using devices, and their ability to manage outside the treatment setting. A new test devised to measure functional ability through the performance of everyday tasks was administered to 94 patients who had acuities of 20/100 or worse in their better eye. Consisting of three versions and four subtests: spot reading, short-term text reading, identifying paper currency and clock reading, the test used standardized items and was timed. In a multiple regression model predicting test performance higher scores were associated with better near acuity (P = .002), higher education (P = .022) and higher levels of self-reported visual skills (P = .072). These predictors plus distance acuity, age and sex only accounted for 35 percent of the variance in test scores. Repeated administration of the test to a different group of 21 patients showed the test to be reliable (intraclass correlation = .85, P < .01) and to have no practice or version effects or differences between raters. This new test may be useful for natural history studies and clinical trials involving low vision patients but further evaluation of its sensitivity to change over time is required.
Clostridium difficile Strains from Community-Associated Infections

ABSTRACT Clostridium difficile isolates from presumed community-associated infections (n = 92) were characterized by toxinotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, tcdC and cdtB PCR, and antimicrobial susceptibility. Nine toxinotypes (TOX) and 31 PFGE patterns were identified. TOX 0 (48, 52%), TOX III (18, 20%), and TOX V (9, 10%) were the most common; three isolates were nontoxigenic.
Executive Compensation and Real Earnings Management: Perspective of Managerial Power

From the perspective of managerial power, this paper uses the A-share listed companies from Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange as samples, during 2011 to 2015, and establishes the multiple regression model to test the relationship between executive compensation and real earnings management. The results show that there is a significant negative correlation between the monetary compensation and real earnings management; while the equity incentive for executives is positively correlated with the real earnings management, generally shows the opportunistic tendencies of executives; after introducing the variable of managerial power, the management power will weaken the negative correlation between monetary compensation and real earnings management, but it will not change the positive correlation between equity incentive and real earnings management. Keywords: Real earnings management, Monetary compensation, Equity incentive, Managerial power.
Sex, love and money along the Namibian-Angolan border

Abstract In sub-Saharan Africa, young women engaged in relationships with multiple partners in order to gain material benefits play a key role in local HIV dynamics. This paper is based upon field observations and interviews with 38 young women who live along the Angolan-Namibian border. In the last 10 years, rapid urbanisation has attracted migrants in search of opportunities to do business in the region. Our findings show that sexual-affective economic networks reflect these socioeconomic changes. Women, particularly those from particular ethnic groups and/or from Namibia, with low levels of formal education and social support are often excluded from the labour market and turn to emotional-sexual male-centred networks for material and financial benefits. Men in these networks tend to be older, have higher socioeconomic status and greater geographic mobility. This ‘capitalisation’ of intimate relationships is material and symbolic; it enables women to acquire goods and access to services identified with an urban and globalised lifestyle. It is also emotional because relationships include affection and pleasure. Engaging in these relationships involves some social risks (bad reputation, family rejection, discrimination and violence), but maintaining ties often takes priority over safer sex and social sanctions.
The Effects of Social Media Marketing On Churches: A Case Study of PCEA Evergreen Church, Nairobi

V ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . VII DEDICATION. VIII LIST OF TABLES . XII LIST OF FIGURES . XIV LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . XV CHAPTER ONE . 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION. 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem . 6 1.3 Purpose of the Study . 7 1.4 Research Questions . 8 1.5 Importance of the Study . 8 1.6 Scope of the Study . 9 1.7 Definition of Terms. 10 1.8 Chapter Summary . 11 CHAPTER TWO . 12 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW . 12 2.
CUSTOMER SEGMENTATION BY USING RFM MODEL AND CLUSTERING METHODS: A CASE STUDY IN RETAIL INDUSTRY

In today’s business environment companies should need better understanding on customers’ data. Detecting similarities and differences among customers, predicting their behaviors, proposing better options and opportunities to customers, etc. became very important for customer-company engagement. Segmenting customers according to their data became vital in this context. RFM (recency, frequency and monetary) values have been used for many years to identify which customers valuable for the company, which customers need promotional activities, etc. Data-mining tools and techniques commonly have been used by organizations and individuals to analysis their stored data. Clustering, which one of the tasks of data mining has been used to group people, objects, etc. In this paper we propose two different clustering models to segment 700032 customers by considering their RFM values. We suggest that the current customer segmentation which built by just considering customers’ expense is not sufficient. Hence, one of the models that recommended in this research is expected to provide better customer understanding, well-designed strategies, and more efficient decisions.