Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Transactions Demand for Credit Cards

Abstract I argue that the measure of credit card debt used by researchers has grown rapidly in part because it captures debt arising from transactions in which a credit card is used because of its advantages over other payment instruments. Increases in debt stemming from such use may not signal greater household financial vulnerability if households are willing and able to repay this short-term debt. However, it may suggest that the cost of using credit cards to pay for purchases has declined relative to other payment instruments. I conclude that had transactions demand remained at its real 1992 levels, rather than growing almost 15 percent per year, measured credit card debt would have grown a bit less than 1 percentage point slower per year between 1992 and 2001. Moreover, I show that removing transactions demand from aggregate consumer credit can alter conclusions about the relationship between credit and consumption.
The impact of traumatic stress on Pavlovian biases

Background Disturbances in Pavlovian valuation systems are reported to follow traumatic stress exposure. However, motivated decisions are also guided by instrumental mechanisms, but to date the effect of traumatic stress on these instrumental systems remain poorly investigated. Here, we examine whether a single episode of severe traumatic stress influences flexible instrumental decisions through an impact on a Pavlovian system. Methods Twenty-six survivors of the 2011 Norwegian terror attack and 30 matched control subjects performed an instrumental learning task in which Pavlovian and instrumental associations promoted congruent or conflicting responses. We used reinforcement learning models to infer how traumatic stress affected learning and decision-making. Based on the importance of dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) for cognitive control, we also investigated if individual concentrations of Glx (=glutamate + glutamine) in dACC predicted the Pavlovian bias of choice. Results Survivors of traumatic stress expressed a greater Pavlovian interference with instrumental action selection and had significantly lower levels of Glx in the dACC. Across subjects, the degree of Pavlovian interference was negatively associated with dACC Glx concentrations. Conclusions Experiencing traumatic stress appears to render instrumental decisions less flexible by increasing the susceptibility to Pavlovian influences. An observed association between prefrontal glutamatergic levels and this Pavlovian bias provides novel insight into the neurochemical basis of decision-making, and suggests a mechanism by which traumatic stress can impair flexible instrumental behaviours.
Association of microbial translocation biomarkers with clinical outcome in controllers HIV-infected patients

Background:A proportion of patients who spontaneously control viral load (controllers) experienced clinical progression. We hypothesized that microbial translocation would independently determine the rate of disease progression in controllers. Methods:sCD14, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and EndoCab levels were assessed in 114 antiretroviral-naive patients with CD4+ T cells above 500 cells/&mgr;l (including 63 controllers and 51 noncontrollers). The independent predictive value of these markers on time to progression to the combined endpoint of AIDS, non-AIDS event, initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) or CD4+ cell count less than 500 cells/&mgr;l was assessed using a Cox regression model. Results:Most of the patients progressed to a combined endpoint (60%). Clinical progression in controllers was significantly lower than in noncontrollers (P = 0.02). Controllers with lower than the median baseline CD4+ T-cell count and higher than the median baseline viral load, sCD14 and EndoCab levels had a worse prognosis (P < 0.0001, P = 0.007, P = 0.05 and P = 0.012), while noncontrollers with higher than the median baseline LBP level also had a worse prognosis (P = 0.019). sCD14 and LBP increased and EndoCab decreased over time [from baseline (median values: 1486, 17604 ng/ml and 68 MMU/ml, respectively, to the date of event or the last determination (median values: 1663, 20230 ng/ml and 49 MMU/ml), respectively] in controllers (P = 0.04, 0.08 and 0.0006, respectively). Conclusion:Microbial translocation seems to be an important determinant of clinical progression in HIV-infected controllers independently of viremia. Measures to improve the intestinal mucosa damage or decrease translocation could influence the outcome in these patients.
Supporting Strategic Innovativeness: Scenario Planning for Driving Organizational Knowledge Sharing

Knowledge and knowledge sharing are an important facet of innovative activities. This paper aims to investigate knowledge creation in innovation context and presents the construct of using the supported scenario process as a venue of facilitating knowledge creation in innovation related activities. The process is outlined and tested empirically to investigate whether scenarios offer help in facilitating innovation through knowledge sharing and creation. The testing suggests that the supported scenario process has properties which support knowledge sharing.
Ossification sequence polymorphism and sexual dimorphism in skeletal development.

Ossification sequence polymorphism and sexual dimorphism are prevalent in the postnatal skeletal development of the hand, foot, elbow, knee, shoulder and pelvis. For some ossification polymorphisms the sex-discriminatory efficiency is greater than 70%. Current evidence, including population comparisons, and children with kwashiorkor and marasmus, favors a genetical explanation for common sequence polymorphisms. However, ossification sequence polymorphism is more clearly defined in later-developing children, where the appearance of ossification centers is distributed among a larger number of radiographic class intervals. This observation may explain the apparent relationship between ossification sequence polymophism and developmental delay or retardation.
REFORMING PUBLIC SERVICE PROVISION: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

The essay discusses some key features of the wawe of public sector reforms that has swept through the OECD area during the last three decades under the heading of New Public Management. I review what economic theory and the empirical evidence can say about the effects of introducing pay for performance, performance measurement and various forms of competition in the public sector. I also review some evidence on the growing bureaucratization of the public sector and discuss the drivers behind this trend. The final part of the essay draws some implications for the design of public sector reforms.
Inflation illusion and the dividend yield: evidence from the UK

We report evidence that the UK dividend yield and expected inflation are positively correlated from 1962 to 1997, but negatively correlated subsequently. Using a commonly used VAR (vector auto-regression)-based procedure we find strong evidence that the positive correlation is caused both by inflation illusion and the effect of inflation on required rates of return. We also find some evidence that it is caused by inflation rationally reducing expected real dividend growth. We find that Chen and Zhao's (2009. “Return Decomposition.” Review of Financial Studies 22 (12): 5213–5249) criticism of the VAR-based procedure has little empirical relevance but that the procedure can be highly sensitive to the choice of data period.
Efficacy of a Health-Promotion Intervention for College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background:Diabetes is a leading cause of death in Mexico. Research has shown that encouraging healthy behaviors, especially among younger people, is an effective way to reduce chronic illnesses such as diabetes and the related morbidity and mortality from these diseases. Objectives:The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a brief health-promotion intervention in encouraging a health-promoting lifestyle in university students. Methods:A 2-group randomized controlled experimental design was used. Seventy-three freshman Mexican students (31 in the experimental group and 42 in the control group) participated in the study. The experimental group attended a7-session program, with a duration of 2 hours per session. Lifestyle was measured using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile–II questionnaire. Repeated-measures and factorial analysis of variance were computed. Results:There was a significant main effect of the intervention in all dependent health profile variables, F(2, 138) = 3.46–14.45, p < . 03. In addition, we found a significant interaction between group and time for the overall health profile score, F(2, 138) = 8.73, p < . 0001, physical activity, F(2, 138) = 4.68, p = . 01, nutrition, F(2, 138) = 3.57, p = . 03, health responsibility, F(2, 138) = 5.31, p = . 006, and stress management, F(2, 138) = 8.71, p < . 0001. Discussion:This interaction indicated that lifestyle differed in the intervention and control groups across the measurements at different times. Students attending the intervention presented a healthier lifestyle than did students in the control group. These results offer interesting experimental evidence to establish guidelines for the design of healthier universities.
New drug-targeting strategy from beneath the shell of egg

Importance of the field: Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem that continues to challenge the healthcare sectors and has become increasingly alarming in the past few years. To face this emerging global crisis, there is a need to find a new class of antibiotics that act on new microbial targets and/or harness existing antibiotics by developing new drug-targeting strategies. Areas covered in this review: This review: explores an innovative drug-delivery strategy of using hen egg lysozyme as a carrier to enable water solubilization and to allow specific targeting to the microbial cells of a water-insoluble antimicrobial agent with a powerful killing action; addresses potentials for lysozyme in antibiotics drug targeting; and provides insight for the future direction of this highly prospective technology. What the reader will gain: The unique features and advantages of lysozyme-based drug delivery system are highlighted. The efficiency of lysozyme in solubilization and delivery of lipophilic antibiotics, to reformulate drugs that may fail clinical trials owing to low solubility, is emphasized. Take home message: Fewer pharmaceutical companies are inventing new antibiotics because of long development times and high failure rates. Combining lysozyme with a powerful old antibiotic may open doors to revolutionizing medicine, particularly in the treatment of deadly infections.
Protective effect of curcumin against experimentally induced aflatoxicosis on the renal cortex of adult male albino rats: a histological and immunohisochemical study.

BACKGROUND Aflatoxin contamination of foods is a worldwide problem. Chronic aflatoxin exposure is associated with kidney damage. Curcumin is a herbal agent, used in medicine with a wide range of beneficial therapeutic effects. OBJECTIVE to evaluate the effect of curcumin against experimentally induced aflatoxicosis on the renal cortex of adult male albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty adult male rats were included and they were divided equally into 4 groups (10 rats each): Group I (control group), group II (Curcumin group): The rats received curcumin (200 mg/kg b.w.) orally by gastric tube for 5 days/week, group III (Aflatoxin B1 group): The rats received aflatoxin B1 (250 μg/kg b.w./day) orally by gastric tube 5 days/week for 4 weeks, group IV (Aflatoxin B1 and Curcumin group): The rats received aflatoxin and curcumin orally by gastric tube 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Kidney specimens were prepared and sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, Periodic acid Schiff, immunohistochemical detection of desmin and Bcl2. RESULTS The tubules of group III showed degenerative and necrotic changes with disruption of basal lamina. There was a significant decrease Bcl2 expression in the tubules, but the glomeruli showed an enlargement with dilation of their capillaries lumina in some areas, while the other areas showed glomerular atrophy with obliteration of their capillaries lumina. There was a significant increase in desmin expression in the glomerular cells. The interstitium showed hemorrhage and cellular infiltration. Group IV showed improvement of the histological and immunohistochemical changes described before. CONCLUSION Aflatoxin B1 has deleterious effects of on the histological structure of the rat's renal cortex and curcumin minimized these effects as it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activities. We advise eating nutritious diets that contain sufficient amounts of curcumin and regulation must implement to avoid the presence of aflatoxins in high concentrations in human food.
Computer Attitude, Ownership and Use as Predictors of Computer Literacy of Science Teachers in Nigeria.

This study investigated the effect of computer attitude, ownership and use on the computer literacy of science teachers in Nigeria. One hundred and twenty (120) science teachers drawn from the four political divisions of Ogun State, Nigeria were used for the study. Two valid and reliable instruments namely Computer Attitude, Ownership and Use Scale (CAOUS) and Computer Literacy Self Assessment Scale (CLSAS) were used to collect the needed data. Percentages, standard deviation and multiple regression statistics were employed for data analyses. The findings revealed that the science teachers have positive attitude towards computer. Also, a little above half of the science teachers had personal computers and not all the teachers used computers frequently. Finally, computer attitude, ownership and frequency of use jointly predicted the science teachers' computer literacy with the influence of computer ownership being the highest when considered individually. Suggestions based on these outcomes were presented in this paper.
Recombinant factor VII for severe bleeding during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation following open heart surgery

Objectives: Severe bleeding is a recognized complication during mechanical cardiopulmonary support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We present the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) for severe, refractory bleeding during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support after open-heart surgery for congenital heart disease. Design: Retrospective review of all patients receiving rFVIIa on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Setting: A pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center located within the cardiac intensive care unit of a tertiary care children’s hospital. Patients: Four patients treated with rFVIIa for refractory bleeding on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Interventions: The patients received rFVIIa for severe, refractory blood loss despite applying clotting products and aprotinin infusion and excluding surgical reasons. Measurements and Main Results: rFVIIa was given 4–7 hrs after commencing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; a second identical dose was administered 4 hrs later. Bleeding decreased significantly in all patients within 30 mins after the first dose of rFVIIa; no side effects were observed. Conclusions: rFVIIa is effective to achieve control of refractory hemorrhage in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Now a randomized controlled trial to evaluate risks and benefits of rFVIIa on patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is required.
The clinico‐radiological paradox in multiple sclerosis revisited

&NA; The use of magnetic resonance imaging as a surrogate outcome measure in clinical trials, or even as a prognosticator in the assessment of the natural evolution, assumes a close relationship between extent and rate of development of magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities with the clinical status and rate of development of disability. While it may seem obvious that patients who develop new lesions are worse off than those without new lesions, the association between clinical findings and radiological extent of involvement is generally poor. In this review, various confounders are discussed, including inappropriate clinical rating, lack of histopathological specificity (especially for axonal loss), neglect of spinal cord involvement, underestimation of damage to the normal appearing brain tissue (both white and gray matter), and masking effects of cortical adaptation. It is concluded that much progression has been made in magnetic resonance techniques so that the clinico‐radiological dissociation has indeed proved to be a paradox. Thus, the relevance of normal appearing brain tissue damage, residual brain volume, spinal cord damage and cerebral plasticity had to be reiterated. The increased awareness of the subtle interplay between these dimensions should be kept in mind when magnetic resonance is used as a surrogate outcome measure. This corroborates with conventional wisdom that one should not rely on a single magnetic resonance measure, but take full advantage of the fact that magnetic resonance is able to provide multidimensional information. Curr Opin Neurol 15:239‐245. © 2002 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Detection, distribution, and pathologic significance of BK virus strains isolated from patients with kidney transplants, with and without polyomavirus-associated nephropathy.

CONTEXT BK virus strains or regulatory region sequence variations may play a role in the pathogenesis of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), although no definite relationship has yet been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE To investigate the pathologic significance of BK virus strains and regulatory region sequence variations. DESIGN Eight (3.5%) of 226 patients with renal transplants developed PVAN; the remaining 218 cases were used as controls. From the patients who developed PVAN, 70 urine samples, 63 blood samples, and 17 renal biopsy samples were taken, and 682 urine samples, 677 blood samples, and 101 renal biopsy samples were taken from the control cases. Amplification and sequence analyses of regulatory region were obtained, and the sequences were analyzed using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool program. RESULTS The WWT strain was more frequently detected in PVAN cases than in the control cases (urine: 88.5% vs 22.1%; blood: 85.2% vs 40%; renal biopsies: 77.8% vs 0%), and the AS and WW strains were only isolated from controls. Strain 128-1 was frequently associated with JC virus coinfection in both groups (PVAN: 78.3%; controls: 98%). Major WWT rearrangements were detected in 29.6% of the urine samples, 30.4% of the blood samples, and one renal biopsy from the PVAN cases, but in only one urine sample from the controls. Insertion of 8 base pairs (P block) was found in all 128-1 strains; WW and AS were archetypal in 78.9% and 57.7% of the samples, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Although the study included only 8 PVAN cases, regulatory region sequence variations seem to be frequent and independent of the development of the disease, and the WWT strain seems more frequently related to the development of nephropathy than other strains.
Economic impact of a potential free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and South Korea

We analyze the effects of potential measures to liberalize trade between the European Union (EU25) and South Korea. Using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of world trade that incorporates the GTAP database, we evaluate two scenarios for an EU-Korea free trade agreement (FTA) and compare it to the maximum potential given by a full free trade agreement. We show that a realistic FTA scenario (called OPartial 1O) yields a total gain for the two economies of 26 percent of the potential in a full FTA. If liberalization of trade in services is taken a step further, as in our more ambitious scenario (called OPartial 2O), total gains increase to 46 percent of the total potential from a full FTA between EU and Korea. Our results show that both economies stand to gain economically from all analyzed levels of trade liberalization, but the gains are unevenly distributed. Korea will obtain two-thirds of the total gains from an EU-Korea FTA in all scenarios, basically because the Korean economy initially is more protected from international competition than the EU economy, and therefore will benefit more from increased competition.
Reported response rates to mailed physician questionnaires.

OBJECTIVE To examine response rate information from mailed physician questionnaires reported in published articles. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Citations for articles published between 1985 and 1995 were obtained using a key word search of the Medline, PsychLit, and Sociofile databases. STUDY DESIGN A 5 percent random sample of relevant citations was selected from each year. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS Citations found to be other than physician surveys were discarded and replaced with the next randomly assigned article. Selected articles were abstracted using a standardized variable list. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The average response rate for mailed physician questionnaires was 61 percent. The average response rate for large sample surveys (> 1,000 observations) was 52 percent. In addition, only 44 percent of the abstracted articles reported a discussion of response bias, and only 54 percent reported any type of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS (1) Response rates have remained somewhat constant over time, and (2) researchers need to document the efforts used to increase response rates to mailed physician questionnaires.
Dynamic Agricultural Supply Response Under Economic Transformation: A Case Study of Henan, China

During the dramatic economic transformation in the last few decades, food demand in China has expanded due to rapid urbanization, dietary change, and steady population growth. At the same time, a decline in available land for agriculture has made grain selfsufficiency,a major goal of Chinese agriculture policy, a considerable challenge. The governmenthasimplementedcomprehensivepolicies to encourage domestic agricultural production, including eliminating agricultural taxes and providing direct subsidies to farmers. It remains unclear whether these policies are effective in stimulating food production.There isanurgentneedforknowledgeonagricultural supply response to changes in prices, policies and rural infrastructure in China, which can guide policy formulation in the process of economic transformation. If agriculture is highly responsive,policy-induced changes in farmers’ behavior can be effective in increasing production and ensuring long-term food security in the country.