Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal evaluation of fine and coarse culturable bacterial aerosols from residences within a rural and an urban city in Egypt

Non-complaint Egyptian homes were examined to determine the residential culturable airborne bacterial concentrations so that these could be used as comparisons in indoor air quality investigations. Concentrations of airborne bacteria were investigated in 26 urban flats across Cairo and 17 rural flats in the Dakahlia governorate. Air samples were collected using a two-stage viable cascade impactor sampler, dividing particles into coarse (>8 μm) and fine (<8 μm) sizes. For urban flats, the year's median indoor and comparison site concentrations were 9133 CFU/m3 and 9423 CFU/m3, respectively. For rural flats, the year's median indoor and comparison site concentrations were 15,915 CFU/m3 and 10,859 CFU/m3, respectively. The median indoor bacterial concentrations increased in winter and spring compared to autumn and summer. Winter months had the greatest median concentration for coarse indoor organisms, whereas spring had the largest for the fine indoor organisms. Fine bacterial concentration composed more than 60% of the indoor bacterial fraction.
Discordance analysis and the Gordian Knot of LDL and non-HDL cholesterol versus apoB

Purpose of review Conventional methods, comparing the concentration of cholesterol to particle number as indices of cardiovascular risk, have not produced consistent results, in large part, because they treat these variables as independent and unrelated. However, although highly correlated, apolipoprotein B particles may contain a normal mass of cholesterol or may be cholesterol-depleted or cholesterol-enriched. Discordance analysis compares the predictive power of LDL-C and non-HDL-C to apolipoprotein B and LDL particle numbers in patients in whom they differ, that is, in whom they are discordant. The advantage of discordance analysis is that the results are not diluted by concordant data in which risk predictions cannot differ. Recent findings The evidence, to date, consistently demonstrates that apolipoprotein B and LDL particle numbers are more accurate indices of cardiovascular risk than LDL-C or non-HDL-C. Summary Discordance analysis is a methodological advance that allows the clinical value of closely correlated variables to be determined and demonstrates that cardiovascular risk is more closely related to the number of atherogenic particles than to the total mass of cholesterol within them.
The impact of malpractice liability claims on obstetrical practice patterns.

OBJECTIVES This paper examines whether malpractice claims have any impact on obstetrical practice patterns (C-section rates) and physician delivery volume. DATA SOURCES Secondary data from the 1992-2000 Florida Hospital Inpatient Discharge File, the Florida Medical Professional Liability Insurance Claims File, and the American Medical Association's Master File on physician characteristics. STUDY DESIGN The effects of malpractice claims on C-section rates and physician delivery volume were estimated using panel data and a fixed-effects multivariate model. DATA COLLECTION Variables were constructed from each data source and merged into a single panel dataset using consistent physician identifiers. Principal Findings. I did not find evidence that physicians changed their practice patterns by increasing C-section rates in response to malpractice claims. However, physicians performed six fewer inpatient deliveries 3 years after the closing of a malpractice claim, after controlling for individual- and market-level characteristics. Physicians with high malpractice awards of U.S.$250,000 or more performed 14 fewer deliveries on average. CONCLUSIONS Malpractice claims led to a small reduction in physician delivery volume, but they did not have a significant impact on C-section rates.
Stock Market Investors’ Guide to Corporate Dividend Policy: Evidence from Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Industries in Bangladesh

Dividend policy has been an important component in the arena of financial literature and providing evidence that dividend payout decisions are affected by various factors. Numerous studies have been conducted so far on corporate dividend policy in Bangladesh. The pharmaceuticals and chemicals industries of Bangladesh offer a lot of investment panorama for the retail investors. This research has been an endeavor to determine the factors affecting the dividend policy of these promising industries, and guide the investment decisions of the equity investors. In this attempt, this study is also a unique one to incorporate the chemicals industry along with the pharmaceuticals industry as both the industries constitute the 'pharmaceuticals and chemicals sector' listed in the stock market of Bangladesh. The study is a quantitative one based on secondary data. It comprises of different statistical analyses such as descriptive statistics, correlation matrix and multiple linear regression analysis, etc. Firm size, growth, liquidity, profitability, last year's dividend and P/E ratio are used as dependent variables. Besides, ownership structure, firm age, market share, and risk are used as control variables. The study explores that firm size has significant negative and last year’s dividend has significant positive relationship with dividend payout. However, dividend payout does not depend on firm growth, liquidity, profitability and P/E ratio of a firm. The research outcome may have important implications for the improvement of investors' perceptions, which may assist them in their investment decisions in the researched industries. Certainly more work lies ahead to add to explanations for why some of the factors affect the dividend policy of the industries, while others have no significant impact thereon.
US incidence of breast cancer subtypes defined by joint hormone receptor and HER2 status.

BACKGROUND In 2010, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries began collecting human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) receptor status for breast cancer cases. METHODS Breast cancer subtypes defined by joint hormone receptor (HR; estrogen receptor [ER] and progesterone receptor [PR]) and HER2 status were assessed across the 28% of the US population that is covered by SEER registries. Age-specific incidence rates by subtype were calculated for non-Hispanic (NH) white, NH black, NH Asian Pacific Islander (API), and Hispanic women. Joint HR/HER2 status distributions by age, race/ethnicity, county-level poverty, registry, stage, Bloom-Richardson grade, tumor size, and nodal status were evaluated using multivariable adjusted polytomous logistic regression. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Among case patients with known HR/HER2 status, 36810 (72.7%) were found to be HR(+)/HER2(-), 6193 (12.2%) were triple-negative (HR(-)/HER2(-)), 5240 (10.3%) were HR(+)/HER2(+), and 2328 (4.6%) were HR(-)/HER2(+); 6912 (12%) had unknown HR/HER2 status. NH white women had the highest incidence rate of the HR(+)/HER2(-) subtype, and NH black women had the highest rate of the triple-negative subtype. Compared with women with the HR(+)/HER2(-) subtype, triple-negative patients were more likely to be NH black and Hispanic; HR(+)/HER2(+) patients were more likely to be NH API; and HR(-)/HER2(+) patients were more likely to be NH black, NH API, and Hispanic. Patients with triple-negative, HR(+)/HER2(+), and HR(-)/HER2(+) breast cancer were 10% to 30% less likely to be diagnosed at older ages compared with HR(+)/HER2(-) patients and 6.4-fold to 20.0-fold more likely to present with high-grade disease. CONCLUSIONS In the future, SEER data can be used to monitor clinical outcomes in women diagnosed with different molecular subtypes of breast cancer for a large portion (approximately 28%) of the US population.
Health and Independence of Young Adults With Disabilities Two Years Later

PURPOSE American culture expects young people to complete school, find satisfying work, develop social networks, stay healthy, contribute to the maintenance and support of households, and participate as citizens in their communities. We know little about the life trajectories of young adults with disabilities during emerging adulthood. METHODS Four-page surveys were mailed to the 650 respondents of a 10-page survey sent to graduates of a state Children with Special Healthcare Needs program and a children's orthopaedic hospital 2 years earlier to determine changes in healthcare access and use, insurance status, health perceptions, education, work, and markers of independent living over those 2 years of maturation. SAMPLE The study sample was 300 young people who completed both surveys. Respondents were 20–25 years of age, 95% White, 64% female, and 28% who reported that they were independent in all activities of daily living (ADL). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Compared with the initial survey, results for this group of young people who reported needing assistance in ADL showed that, 2 years later, fewer were living with their parents and even more were married. More of these young adults had children, although at only about half the rate of typical young adults. General health perceptions remained stable, with twice the percentage of respondents reporting fair or poor health compared with typical young adults. Only 17% of respondents reported not having a usual source of care compared with 27% of Kentuckians ages 18–24, but they continued to use the emergency room much more than did typical young adults. Twenty-five percent of survey respondents reported having no health insurance compared with 39% of Kentuckians ages 18–24 and 29% of young adults in the United States. More had completed high school, and 32% had college experience. Two years later, 51% were working compared with 45% initially; 63% of those not working would have liked to have been working, and 53% of those were looking for work. Of great concern is the increase from 23% to 29% of young adults not in school, not working, and not home with children. In general, the study shows that young people with disabilities show progress in markers of adulthood as they move through their 20s just as much as do typical young adults. Nurses can support healthy transitions through assistance in finding adult medical homes, doing preventive screening, teaching knowledge and skills for healthcare planning and management, and planning for continuous insurance.
Migration Stories: Experiences of Recently Arrived Latino Youth in the Canadian Public School System

The purpose of this study is to investigate, through narrative analysis, the arrival stories of Latino/a immigrants into the Canadian school system, and to examine how their migration experience influences their identification process. The data to be analysed was collected during interviews conducted for the Proyecto Latin@ project; a research that looks into the perspectives of Latino/a youth towards school desertion and their experiences as Latino/a students in Canada. Interviews analysed included students with recent arrival dates into Canada ( < 3 years at the time of interviews). Their narratives displayed a shift in ideology as students internalized the dominant discourse and present a conundrum for students struggling in school. This analysis attempts to add to the growing body of knowledge on the specific difficulties faced by the Latino/a youth upon their arrival into Canada, as well as how their identities develop and shift during this process.
Chinese Soft Power Promotion in the United States: 2005-2014

iii List of Abbreviations . vi List of Figures . ix Chapter One: Introduction . 1 Chinese New Year, New Thesis Focus . 1 Chinese Soft Power and the Economic Crisis . 4 Research Questions . 8 Premises . 9 Operationalization of Terms . 10 Economic Crisis . 10 Soft Power . 13 Methodology . 17 Chapter Outline . 21 Chapter Two: Hu Jintao 2005-2007 . 23 Hu Jintao and Soft Power . 23 Economic Relations . 27 Confucius Institutes . 43 Cultural Performances and Museum Exchanges . 50 Chapter Three: Hu Jintao 2008-2011 . 63 Hu Jintao and Inconsistent Signals . 63 Economic Relations . 67 Confucius Institutes and the High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchanges . 84 Cultural Performances and Museum Exchanges . 95 Chapter Four: Xi Jinping 2012-2014 . 109 A New Leader . 109 Economic Relations . 112
Puerto Rico, the 51st state: the implications of statehood on culture and language

ABSTRACT The issue of statehood has been a controversial topic for many decades in Puerto Rico. This has resulted in a total of four referendums for statehood taking place on the island. What is unique about the last referendum, which occurred in 2012, is that the majority of residents on the island voted in favor of statehood. Although the implications of statehood are currently unknown, one problem that could arise is a change in the native language (Spanish) and culture of the island. Therefore, this qualitative study investigated Puerto Ricans residing in different geographic regions (i.e. Puerto Rico and Florida) to determine if they have differing views regarding statehood, commonwealth, and independence. Differences were found among participants in that they had diverse opinions as to how statehood could impact the island in terms of the language spoken (Spanish or English), the culture of the island, the educational system, and the economy.
Clinical significance of serum cortisol levels following surgery for congenital heart disease

Abstract Objective Use of hydrocortisone to treat refractory haemodynamic instability in patients recovering from surgery for congenital heart disease is common practice at many centres. We aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between total serum cortisol concentrations and haemodynamic response to this therapy. Material and methods We retrospectively reviewed patients <21 years who underwent cardiac surgery from 2011 to 2013, received hydrocortisone within 72 hours postoperatively, and had total serum cortisol measurements contemporaneous with its administration. Favourable responders were defined as patients in whom, at 24 hours after hydrocortisone initiation, either (1) systolic blood pressure was increased or unchanged and vasoactive-inotrope score was decreased or (2) systolic blood pressure increased by ⩾10% of baseline and vasoactive-inotrope score was unchanged. Variables were compared using t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests as appropriate. Results In total, 24 patients were reviewed, with a median age of 1.4 months and range of 0.1–232 months. Among them, 14 (58%) patients responded favourably to hydrocortisone. At 24 hours, the median change in vasoactive-inotrope score was −18% in favourable responders and +31% in those who did not respond favourably, p=0.001. The mean pre-hydrocortisone total serum cortisol in favourable responders was 17.4±10.9 µg/dl compared with 46.1±44.7 µg/dl in those who did not respond favourably, p=0.03. Conclusion Total serum cortisol obtained before initiation of hydrocortisone was significantly lower in patients who responded favourably to this therapy. Total serum cortisol may therefore be helpful in identifying children recovering from cardiac surgery who may or may not haemodynamically improve with hydrocortisone.
Gemcitabine Combined with Docetaxel for the Treatment of Unresectable Pancreatic Carcinoma

Purpose. To assess the efficacy and toxicity of combination therapy with gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma. Patients and Methods. Thirty-four patients with unresectable stage III, IVA, and IVB pancreatic carcinoma were eligible for this study. The first 18 patients received gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on days 1, 8, and 15 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 IV on day 1, repeated every 28 days. Due to a high incidence of myelosuppression in this first group, the treatment schedule was modified in the remaining patients to gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 IV and docetaxel 40 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day schedule. The primary study endpoints were objective response rate and duration of survival. Results. Ten of 33 evaluable patients achieved a partial response, for an overall response rate of 30.3% (95% CI, 16.21%–48.87%). Partial responses noted in the pancreas and a variety of metastatic sites were maintained for 4 to 12 months (median 6 months). Twelve additional patients (36%) experienced stable disease. The median time to progression was 6 months, and median survival was 10.5 months. The toxicity profile of the modified gemcitabine/docetaxel schedule was more favorable than that associated with the initial regimen, particularly with respect to hematologic toxicity. Conclusion. The response and survival data reported here for combination therapy with gemcitabine and docetaxel are encouraging given the poor prognosis associated with unresectable pancreatic cancer. These data suggest that gemcitabine plus docetaxel may be more effective than either agent alone in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and warrants further study.
Response of families to two preventive intervention strategies: long-term differences in behavior and attitude change.

OBJECTIVE To explore the long-term impact of two forms of preventive intervention designed to diminish risk to children in families in which one or both parents suffered from affective disorder. METHOD Fifty-four parents in 18 families were initially assessed and randomly assigned to one of two interventions--a clinician-facilitated, manual-based, psychoeducational preventive intervention or a standardized lecture-group discussion in which similar educational information was presented. Assessments included standard diagnostic interviews, child behavior scales, and semistructured interviews with parents about the effects of the intervention. Follow-up assessments were conducted three times over the 3-year follow-up interval. RESULTS No harmful effects were reported for either intervention, and ratings of degree of upset about reported concerns declined across time for both conditions. Families receiving the clinician-facilitated intervention reported more behavior and attitude changes than did lecture-group families when assessed after intervention. The difference between the two groups was sustained at further follow-up assessments. CONCLUSION Although both preventive interventions produced changes in behaviors and attitudes, parents in the clinician-facilitated intervention reported more benefit. These data support the hypothesis that linking cognitive information to the family's life experience produces long-term changes.
Predictive control strategies for an indirect matrix converter operating at fixed switching frequency

The classic model predictive control presents a variable switching frequency which could produce high ripple in the controlled waveforms or resonances in the input filter of the matrix converter, affecting the performance of the system. This paper presents two model predictive control strategies with fixed switching frequency operation which allow a better performance of the system. The operation at fixed switching frequency is accomplished by emulating space vector modulation using predictive control. Simulated results confirm the feasibility of the proposal demonstrating that the performance of the system is improved ensuring sinusoidal source and load currents with a reduced harmonic distortion of the controlled variables.
Baton Rouge Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Program (BR-HELP): A Pilot Health Promotion Program

Preventing weight gain rather than treating recognized obesity is an important economic and public health response to the growing levels of obesity nationwide. Community centers offer potential sites for community health promotion programs targeting African Americans. In this article, results from a pilot health promotion program at a community center are reported. The purpose of this 12-month pilot program was to improve diet and increase physical activity to prevent weight gain in African-American adults by delivering a lifestyle intervention. Fifty-one African-American adults were randomized into two groups: lifestyle intervention or financial counseling, and 73% completed the program. At the end of 12 months, weight for all participants was maintained from baseline to completion with no significant differences between the groups. Both lifestyle intervention and financial counseling groups were approximately 87% food secure with improvements observed in self-esteem and total quality of life scores.
Deep Vein Thrombosis and Fibrinolysis

Summary In the present study 57 consecutive patients with a first episode of venographically proven deep vein thrombosis were investigated to evaluate the release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) in response to DDAVP stimulation as well as the resting plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) concentration, comparing this to the results obtained in 66 similar patients with a clinical suspicion of thrombosis but with a normal venogram. All assays were performed without knowledge of the patient's status. Four patients in the deep vein thrombosis-group (7%) had an absent u-PA antigen response upon DDAVP infusion, while a normal response was observed in all control subjects. Patients and controls showed similar increases in t-PA antigen level upon DDAVP. High resting PAI antigen levels were encountered in 5 patients in the deep vein thrombosis-group (9%) and in 6 subjects in the control group (9%). The results from this controlled study indicate that a defective release of u-PA may occur in patients with deep vein thrombosis and may have pathogenetic significance. Furthermore it is concluded that elevation of PAI levels cannot be considered as a specific risk factor for venous thrombosis.
Male and female sexual and urinary function after total mesorectal excision with autonomic nerve preservation for carcinoma of the rectum.

BACKGROUND We performed a study to assess sexual and urinary function after total mesorectal excision with autonomic nerve preservation for primary carcinoma of the rectum. STUDY DESIGN We studied retrospectively postoperative sexual and urinary function in 136 (78 percent) of 175 eligible patients (82 males and 54 females) who responded to a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS The ability to engage in intercourse was maintained by 86 percent of the patients younger than 60 years of age, and by 67 percent of patients 60 years and older. Eighty-seven percent of male patients maintained their ability to achieve orgasm. The type of surgery (abdominoperineal resection compared to low anterior resection), and age equal to or greater than 60 years were significantly associated with male sexual dysfunction. Of the female patients, 85 percent were able to experience arousal with vaginal lubrication and 91 percent could achieve orgasm. The majority of patients had few or no complaints related to urinary function. Serious urinary dysfunction such as neurogenic bladder was not encountered. CONCLUSIONS Autonomic nerve preservation in association with total mesorectal excision reduces the operative morbidity rate and is successful in minimizing sexual and urinary dysfunction in the operative treatment of patients with carcinoma of the rectum.
Actuarial Independence and Managerial Discretion

Appointed actuaries are responsible for estimating the largest liability on property-casualty insurance companies’ balance sheet. Actuarial independence is crucial in safeguarding accurate estimates, where this independence is self-regulated by actuarial professional institutions. However, professional conflicts of interest arise when appointed actuaries also hold an officer position within the same firm, as officer actuaries also face managerial incentives. Using a sample of US insurers that employ in-house appointed actuaries from 2007 to 2014, we find evidence that officer actuaries have different reserving practices than non-officer actuaries. This difference in reserving is associated with tax shielding and earnings management incentives. Results are consistent with managerial discretion dominating actuarial independence, they are economically significant and should be of concern to regulators and professional institutions.