Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring variation in pressure ulcer prevalence in Sweden and the USA: benchmarking in action.

AIM To compare overall unit-level pressure ulcer (PU) prevalence, hospital-acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) prevalence and prevention strategies, as well as nurse staffing and workload in two hospitals in Sweden with data from the USA. METHODS Medical and surgical units in a university hospital and a general hospital in Sweden were compared with 207 hospitals in the USA participating in the Collaborative Alliance for Nursing Outcomes (CALNOC) benchmarking registry. All adult inpatients in university hospital (n = 630), general hospital (n = 253) and CALNOC hospitals (n = 3506) were included in the study. Outcome indicators were pressure ulcer prevalence for all types (PU) and HAPU prevalence, specifically. Process indicators were risk assessment and PU prevention strategies. Structure indicators were nurse staffing (hours of care, and skill mix) and workload (admissions, discharges and transfers). RESULTS The prevalence of PU (categories 1-4) was 17.6% (university hospital) and 9.5% (general hospital) compared with 6.3-6.7% in the CALNOC sample. The prevalence of full thickness HAPU (categories 3 and 4) was 2.7% (university hospital) and 2.0% (general hospital) compared with 0-0.5% in the CALNOC sample. Risk and skin assessment varied between 6% and 60% in the Swedish hospitals compared with 100% in the CALNOC sample. Total hours per patient day were 8.4 in both Swedish hospitals and 9.5 to 9.8 in the CALNOC hospitals CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest a link between processes of care and outcomes that is exciting to observe internationally and suggest the opportunity to expedite performance improvement through global benchmarking. Using HAPU as a complement to point prevalence of PU in Sweden has revealed this indicator as a more valid measure for patient care quality.
Changing incidence of non‐Hodgkin lymphomas in the United States

The incidence of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) has been rising in many regions and populations during the last few decades. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program show that age‐adjusted rates of NHL increased through the 1980s but leveled off in the 1990s.
A Note on Alternative Regressions

IN THE JANUARY issue of this journal Mr. Elliott B. Woolley presented a method of determining a straight-line regression by minimizing the summed absolute values of the areas of rectangles formed by the projections of each observation upon the regression line. ' The resulting line possesses the usual property of passing through the point of means, and its slope is a simple average of the elementary regression slopes derived by minimizing in each direction; it is the geometric mean of the elementary regression coefficients, each referred to the same axis, and has their algebraic sign. It should be pointed out that this is nothing other than Frisch's "diagonal" regression (cf. Statistical Confluence Analysis . . .), and a statistical parameter which has long appeared in the literature. In terms of a correlation surface it represents the major axis of the concentric ellipses of equal frequency. While Mr. Woolley has made an interesting contribution in proving this "minimizing" property of the diagonal regression,2 his further argument that it is to be preferred in any sense as a method of determining regression lines seems to require brief comment. (a) The lack of consistency between the elementary regressions is a necessary property of a linear multivariate frequency surface. It is expressed in the purely formal statistical law of regression towards the average. The elementary regressions are not thereby "illogical. " (b) If the aim of the investigation is not simply a characterization of the properties of the multivariate distribution, but rather the search for a hypothetical "true" (in some sense) linear relationship, upon which has been superimposed a distribution of errors, then no definite method of determining the regression equation can be specified until some assumptions have been made concerning the nature of the disturbing causes. These assumptions must be in the nature of postulates; by no possible method can they be determined inductively from an examination of the data, even in an infinitely large sample. This last statement must be emphasized since some of the recent literature seems at first sight to suggest otherwise. This is because seemingly innocent, but in fact highly restrictive and often arbitrary, assumptions of "noncorrela-
Do Nonexecutive Employees Have Valuable Information? Evidence from Employee Stock Purchase Plans

Using novel data on employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs), we show that aggregate purchases of company stock by lower-level employees predict future stock returns. Firms in the top quartile of ESPP purchases outperform those in the bottom quartile by 10% in the year after purchase. The relation between ESPP purchases and future stock returns is stronger for firms with high information asymmetry. Furthermore, we find that high ESPP purchases are associated with a lower likelihood of breaks in strings of consecutive earnings increases, as well as higher future sales growth and more innovation. These findings support the hypothesis that lower-level employees have information about future firm performance. We examine and reject a number of alternative explanations. Our results have implications for firms using employees as a source of capital, accounting issues related to expensing of equity-based compensation, and disclosure policy.Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi. org/10.1287/mnsc.2015. 2226 . This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance .
Pancreatic changes in TNBS-induced colitis in mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Recent clinical data suggest that pancreatitis could be an extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease. However, no experimental data support such a clinical relationship. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of pancreatic damages in mice with TNBS-induced colitis. METHODS Colitis was induced in Balb/C mice by intrarectal instillation of TNBS. Control mice received either intrarectal instillation of NaCl saline solution or 50% ethanol. Presence of colitis was assessed by macroscopic and microscopic examination, extent of mucosal damage being evaluated by the scoring systems of Wallace and Ameho in 8 mice with TNBS-induced colitis and in 4 controls. Pancreatic samples from the same mice underwent morphological examination after standard coloration. Intrapancreatic expression of the pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP), a marker of pancreatic inflammation, was monitored by automated immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies. In addition, quantification of TNFalpha mRNA by competitive PCR and semi-quantification of PAP, IL-10 and IL-1B mRNAs were performed on pancreas in 10 mice with TNBS-induced colitis and in 10 control mice. RESULTS All mice treated with TNBS and none of the controls had colitis. Macroscopic and microscopic examination of the pancreas of the 4 control mice was normal, whereas in 5 out of the 8 TNBS-treated mice histological changes were observed, with inflammatory infiltrate and fibrin aggregates at the periphery of the gland. PAP immunohistochemistry was negative in all control mice and positive in all mice with TNBS-induced colitis, with a patchy distribution of staining. PAP immunolocalized to the cytoplasm of acinar cells, duct cells and islets of Langherans being negative. PAP and IL-1B mRNA levels in the pancreas were significantly increased but the increase in TNFalpha mRNA level did not reach statistical significance (P=0.06). IL-10 mRNA levels did not show any significant modification. CONCLUSION PAP overexpression in pancreas demonstrates that inflammatory stress early occurs in the mouse pancreas during the course of TNBS-induced colitis. The concomitant pancreatic overexpression of IL-1B and, to a lesser extent, of TNFalpha, two proinflammatory cytokines also associated with the intestinal lesions of colitis, supported a pancreatic inflammatory mechanism mediated by cytokines.
Long-term outcomes and cardiac surgery in critically ill patients with infective endocarditis.

AIMS To assess long-term outcomes and the management of critical left-sided infective endocarditis (IE) and evaluate the impact of surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS Among the 198 patients included prospectively for IE across 33 adult intensive care units (ICU) in France from 1 April 2007 to 1 October 2008, 137 (69%) were dead at a median follow-up time of 59.5 months. Characteristics significantly associated with mortality were: Sepsis-related Organ-Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at ICU admission [Hazard ratio (HR), 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of 1.43 (0.79-2.59) for SOFA 5-9; 2.01 (1.05-3.85) for SOFA 10-14; 3.53 (1.75-7.11) for SOFA 15-20; reference category SOFA 0-4; P = 0.003]; prosthetic mechanical valve IE [HR 2.01; 95% CI 1.09-3.69, P = 0.025]; vegetation size ≥15 mm [HR 1.64; 95% CI 1.03-2.63, P = 0.038]; and cardiac surgery [HR (95%CI), 0.33 (0.16-0.67) for surgery ≤1 day after IE diagnosis; 0.61 (0.29-1.26) for surgery 2-7 days after IE diagnosis; 0.42 (0.21-0.83) for surgery >7 days after IE diagnosis; reference category no surgery; P = 0.005]. One hundred and three (52%) patients underwent cardiac surgery after a median time of 6 (16) days. Independent predictors of surgical intervention on multivariate analysis were: age ≤60 years [Odds ratio (OR) 5.30; 95% CI (2.46-11.41), P < 0.01], heart failure [OR 3.27; 95% CI (1.03-10.35), P = 0.04], cardiogenic shock [OR 3.31; 95% CI (1.47-7.46), P = 0.004], septic shock [OR 0.25; 95% CI (0.11-0.59), P = 0.002], immunosuppression [OR 0.15; 95% CI (0.04-0.55), P = 0.004], and diagnosis before or within 24 h of ICU admission [OR 2.81; 95% CI (1.14-6.95), P = 0.025]. SOFA score calculated the day of surgery was the only independently associated factor with long-term mortality [HR (95% CI) 1.59 (0.77-3.28) for SOFA 5-9; 3.56 (1.71-7.38) for SOFA 10-14; 11.58 (4.02-33.35) for SOFA 15-20; reference category SOFA 0-4; P < 0.0001]. Surgical timing was not associated with post-operative outcomes. Of the 158 patients with a theoretical indication for surgery, the 58 deemed not fit had a 95% mortality rate. CONCLUSION Mortality in patients with critical IE remains unacceptably high. Factors associated with long-term outcomes are the severity of multiorgan failure, prosthetic mechanical valve IE, vegetation size ≥15 mm, and surgical treatment. Up to one-third of potential candidates do not undergo surgery and these patients experience extremely high mortality rates. The strongest independent predictor of post-operative mortality is the pre-operative multiorgan failure score while surgical timing does not seem to impact on outcomes.
OS 09-05 THE INTERANKLE SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE DIFFERENCE IS AN INDEPENDENT RISK INDICATOR OF PREVALENT STROKE IN CHINESE ADULTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

OBJECTIVE The interankle systolic blood pressure (SBP) difference has been found to predict the risk for overall and cardiocerebrovascular events; however, few studies have evaluated the association between the interankle SBP difference and stroke. Our study aimed to determine whether the interankle SBP difference is associated with prevalent stroke in a Chinese adult population. DESIGN AND METHOD This cross-sectional study included 1485 participants aged ≥35 years in the framework of the China Hypertension Survey. We performed simultaneous 4-limb BP measurements using oscillometric devices and calculated the SBP difference between the 2 lower limbs. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between the interankle SBP difference and history of stroke. The contribution of the interankle SBP difference for predicting stroke risk was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis and net reclassification improvement (NRI). RESULTS In univariate analyses, participants with an interankle SBP difference ≥ 7 mmHg had a higher prevalence of stroke than those without (p < 0.0001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, the interankle SBP difference was independently associated with prior stroke after adjusting for conventional risk factors of stroke (p = 0.0123). The addition of the interankle SBP difference marginally increased 1.4% (p = 0.0073), but significantly improved the predictive ability for stroke risk by 18.45% by using the NRI approach (p = 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS An interankle SBP difference ≥ 7 mmHg is an independent risk indicator for prevalent stroke in Chinese adults; it could offer an extra benefit in identifying individuals with risk of prevelant stroke beyond conventional clinical features (age, family history of stroke, and SBP).
Human capital investment and population growth: An overlapping generations analysis for Malawi

Recent work on human capital accumulation has tended to abstract from population change. This is a reasonable simplification when analysing economies with relatively static populations, such as high income countries. However, many low income countries are undergoing rapid population change, which significantly influences the impact of human capital policies. This is acerbated as the rate of expansions of education systems is limited due to funding constraints and ability to train skilled teaching staff. To analyse this issue we construct an overlapping generations (OLG) numerical simulation model to simulate the simultaneous impact of human capital accumulation and population change. We calibrate this for Malawi, a small sub-Saharan country, which has made significant progress in expanding its education system, but is also projected to experience rapid population growth. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that demographics are not invariant of education policies. We explore how expansion of education (in particular secondary education of women) could influence population growth and how this modifies the impact of human capital policies. In aggregate we expect expanding education to have a positive economic impact. However, ex ante it is more difficult to predict impact of population growth due to influence of fixed factors such as land. On a per capita basis we expect education to have a positive impact, but population growth to dilute the per capita human capital accumulation. We are interested in exploring where the pivotal point lies w.r. t. to the growth of GDP per capita how this compares to current projections for population and education growth in Malawi.
Does Ownership Matter? Public Service Motivation Among Physiotherapists in the Private and Public Sectors in Denmark

Is public service motivation (PSM) higher in the public sector than in the private sector? Or does the level of PSM depend on the task rather than on the sector in which the employee works? It is often difficult to investigate sector differences, as private and public employees typically perform different tasks. Here, we investigate the differences in the PSM levels for a single occupational group performing the same tasks in the private and public sectors: Danish physiotherapists. The article also aims to investigate whether public and private sector employment is related to different types of PSM. The most important findings are that there is no difference in the general level of PSM between employees performing the same tasks in public and private organizations, but whereas private sector physiotherapists seem to be more narrowly oriented toward the user, public sector physiotherapists have a broader orientation toward the public interest.
Modeling Single-Event Transient Propagation in a SiGe BiCMOS Direct-Conversion Receiver

The propagation of single-event transient (SET) signals in a silicon–germanium direct-conversion receiver carrying modulated data is explored. A theoretical analysis of transient propagation, verified by simulation, is presented. A new methodology to characterize and quantify the impact of SETs in communication systems carrying modulated data is proposed. The proposed methodology uses a pulsed radiation source to induce distortions in the signal constellation. The error vector magnitude due to SETs can then be calculated to quantify errors. Two different modulation schemes were simulated: QPSK and 16-QAM. The distortions in the constellation diagram agree with the presented circuit theory. Furthermore, the proposed methodology was applied to evaluate the improvements in the SET response due to a known radiation-hardening-by-design (RHBD) technique, where the common-base device of the low-noise amplifier was operated in inverse mode. The proposed methodology can be a valid technique to determine the most sensitive parts of a system carrying modulated data.
How do economic, cultural, and global-connectedness distances moderate the effect of customers’ experiences on their intention to revisit non-indigenous restaurants? Evidence from Korean restaurants

Abstract In this study, we evaluate how the effect of customers' experiences on revisit intention for non-indigenous restaurants can be moderated by economic distance (ED), cultural distance (CD) and global-connectedness distance (GD) between the country of origin for a given non-indigenous restaurant and the customer’s resident country. Surveys were conducted in seven countries across three continents, and the levels of ED, CD and GD between Korea and the seven countries were used as moderators. The findings suggest that the types of food and staff are two elements that should be emphasized in countries that are relatively close to Korea. Conversely, elements like the atmosphere of the restaurant and word of mouth should be emphasized in countries that have greater distances from Korea. Of the three distances considered in the study, GD had the strongest moderating effect on the relationship between customers’ experiences and their intentions to return to the restaurant. As a whole, the results imply that ED, CD and GD are important points of reference when considering prior experience while selecting a target country based on the strength of the restaurant’s experience management.
Characterisation of Hoxa gene expression in the chick limb bud in response to FGF

We tested a diffusion gradient model for setting up overlapping domains of Hoxa gene expression in the chick limb bud. The model is based on morphogen production at the limb bud tip where the apical ridge is located and assumes that cells respond to a series of concentration thresholds. Consistent with the model, Hoxa13 gene expression rapidly switches off when the ridge is removed from stage 21/22 buds, while Hoxa11 and Hoxa10 expression is stable; Hoxa13 expression can be initiated and maintained in absence of the ridge by FGF soaked beads; the Hoxa13 domain first expands quickly and then slows up and the size is related to the dose of FGF4. Contrary to the model, addition of FGF4 to early limb buds does not activate Hoxa13 prematurely nor extend the Hoxa13 expression domain proximally. Therefore FGF4 signalling is necessary but not sufficient for Hoxa gene expression in the limb bud. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Loss of deeply conserved C-class floral homeotic gene function and C- and E-class protein interaction in a double-flowered ranunculid mutant

In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, a core eudicot, the floral homeotic C-class gene AGAMOUS (AG) has a dual role specifying reproductive organ identity and floral meristem determinacy. We conduct a functional analysis of the putative AG ortholog ThtAG1 from the ranunculid Thalictrum thalictroides, a representative of the sister lineage to all other eudicots. Down-regulation of ThtAG1 by virus-induced gene silencing resulted in homeotic conversion of stamens and carpels into sepaloid organs and loss of flower determinacy. Moreover, flowers exhibiting strong silencing of ThtAG1 phenocopied the double-flower ornamental cultivar T. thalictroides ‘Double White. ’ Molecular analysis of ‘Double White’ ThtAG1 alleles revealed the insertion of a retrotransposon causing either nonsense-mediated decay of transcripts or alternative splicing that results in mutant proteins with K-domain deletions. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that the mutation abolishes protein–protein interactions with the putative E-class protein ThtSEP3. C- and E-class protein heterodimerization is predicted by the floral quartet model, but evidence for the functional importance of this interaction is scarce outside the core eudicots. Our findings therefore corroborate the importance and conservation of the interactions between C- and E-class proteins. This study provides a functional description of a full C-class mutant in a noncore (“basal”) eudicot, an ornamental double flower, affecting both organ identity and meristem determinacy. Using complementary forward and reverse genetic approaches, this study demonstrates deep conservation of the dual C-class gene function and of the interactions between C- and E-class proteins predicted by the floral quartet model.
Breed related odds ratio and anatomic distribution of canine mast cell tumours in Austria

Summary Objective: An increased risk of mast cell tumours (MCT) in certain breeds has been described repeatedly in the literature. The incidence of MCTs for registered breeds in Austria, an estimate of the risk by means of the odds ratios based on breed as well as the anatomic localisation of MCTs were examined. Material and methods: In the first part of the study, the ranking of breeds in Austria based on 147,802 dogs with known breed (including mixed breed) was determined, based on those dogs included in the laboratory data base from 2000 to 2010. In the second part of the study, 476 dogs were identified with MCTs and analysed by age, sex, Patnaik grade of MCT and breed distribution. The odds ratios with confidence intervals were calculated for all breeds with skin tumours. Results: The age distribution showed a peak in the age group from 6.1 to 8.0 years; 70% of MCTs were localised to the head and trunk. No significant difference was found based on gender. The evaluation of the odds ratios showed that only four of the 20 of the most popular in Austria breeds (Boxer, Bernese Mountain Dog, Golden Retriever, Spaniel) had an increased risk; on the other hand, some breeds which have not been previously identified in the literature were indicated to have a significantly increased risk for MCT (e.g., Dogo Argentino, Tibetan Spaniel, Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Beauceron, and Austrian Smooth-haired Hound). Conclusion and clinical relevance: Because disease risk may influence the popularity of some currently rare breeds, consultation with breeders and owners regarding the identification of the breeds newly identified in this study as an increased risk for development of mast cell tumours is indicated.