Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The epidemiology of trauma-related mortality in the United States from 2002 to 2010

BACKGROUND Epidemiologic trends in trauma-related mortality in the United States require updating and characterization. We hypothesized that during the past decade, there have been changing trends in mortality that are associated with multiple public health and health care–related factors. METHODS Multiple sources were queried for the period of 2002 to 2010: the National Trauma Data Bank, the National Centers for Disease Control, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, and the US Census Bureau. The incidence of injury and mortality for motor vehicle traffic (MVT) collisions, firearms, and falls were determined using National Centers for Disease Control data. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data were used to determine motor vehicle collision information. Injury severity data were derived from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample and National Trauma Data Bank. Analysis of mortality trends by year was performed using the Cochran-Armitage test for trend. Time-trend multivariable Poisson regression was used to determine risk-adjusted mortality over time. RESULTS From 2002 to 2010, the total trauma-related mortality decreased by 6% (p < 0.01). However, mortality trends differed by mechanism. There was a 27% decrease in the MVT death rate associated with a 20% decrease in motor vehicle collisions, 19% decrease in the number of occupant injuries per collision, lower injury severity, and improved outcomes at trauma centers. While firearm-related mortality remained relatively unchanged, mortality caused by firearm suicides increased, whereas homicide-associated mortality decreased (p < 0.001 for both). In contrast, fall-related mortality increased by 46% (5.95–8.70, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION MVT mortality rates have decreased during the last decade, owing in part to decreases in the number and severity of injuries. Conversely, fall-related mortality is increasing and is projected to exceed both MVT and firearm mortality rates should current trends continue. Trauma systems and injury prevention programs will need to take into account these changing trends to best accommodate the needs of the injured population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.
Parallel Reduction of Pancreas Insulin Content and Insulin Secretion in 48-h Tolbutamide-Infused Normoglycemic Rats

The overworked–β-cell hypothesis proposes that lowered glucose-potentiated insulin secretory responses in diabetes are secondary to hyperstimulated insulin secretion and depletion of the β-cell insulin stores. We tested this hypothesis in normal rats using a 48-h infusion of 200 mg · kg−1 · day−1 tolbutamide in 20% glucose. Insulin secretion was measured by in vitro pancreas perfusion. Twice daily blood glucose values were equal in the tolbutamide-infused and control rats. Pancreas insulin content was 47 ± 7% that of the controls (P < 0.004). Insulin responses to 16.7 mmol/l glucose, 16.7 mmol/l glucose/10 mmol/l arginine, and 5.5 mmol/l glucose/ 10 mmol/l arginine were reduced in parallel, except for the first phase response to 16.7 mmol/l glucose/arginine. Pancreas amylin content was unchanged in the tolbutamide-infused rats as was amylin secretion, resulting in higher than normal stored and secreted amylin-to-insulin molar ratios. Importantly, a raised amylin-to-insulin ratio and a relatively unimpaired first versus second phase insulin response for high glucose/arginine both occur in diabetic rats. Thus, our results support the overworked–β-cell hypothesis by showing chronic β-cell stimulation without hyperglycemia replicates part of the β-cell dysfunction found with diabetes.
The creation, market deployment and performance relevance of market-focused flexibility

The thesis provides a market-focused representation of the flexibility concept. It portrays flexibility as a promising capability for firms that operate under uncertainty. It gives resource reallocation recommendations and offers a value-driven legitimation for the creation and use of flexibility. The underlying resource-and-capabilities-theory-based model consists of rapid resource reallocation processes, market deployment and performance to evaluate the effectiveness of the reallocation and deployment processes. Study I examines how firms become and remain flexible by creating flexibility via outsourcing decisions. It shows that firms can draw on the resources of their service providers to create flexibility at their intra-organizational boundary. Managers don’t need to sacrifice market-focused performance when drawing on this additional flexibility potential from external providers because prudent outsourcing in market-support and market-facing functions can enhance flexibility and performance. Study II deals with the creation of flexibility by using slack resources. It relates reallocation decisions about excess resource to the novelty of firms’ market activity and the customer equity-based value of their customer base. It provides evidence that firms with reasonable human resource slack levels in customer value creating functions can use resources in excess of the current demands as a source of reactive flexibility. Managers should avoid slack in customer value supporting functions. They should invest in resource reallocation capabilities to enhance their proactive flexibility. Study III integrates intra- and inter-organizational flexibility and links flexibility to the customer equity-based value of firms’ customer base. Findings show that both internal and external flexibility types can enhance performance - under different circumstances, however.
Are Independent Directors Effective Corporate Monitors? – An Analysis of the Empirical Evidence in the USA and Canada

This thesis explores whether independent directors in the USA and Canada are effective in holding management accountable by: (1) analyzing how the policy of relying on independent directors developed and operates; (2) introducing the main theoretical critiques of independent directors’ monitoring effect; and (3) examining whether empirical studies in the field of management science and financial economics support the policy in both countries of relying on independent directors as corporate monitors. Empirical evidence shows that boards with a majority of independent directors, in some circumstances, were associated with better firm performance (in the post-SOX period) and fulfilled certain board tasks effectively in the United States. Canadian studies, however, have not shown a positive association with improved firm performance. Audit committees composed entirely of independent directors have been effective in ensuring the quality of financial reporting in the United States, but this effect has not been found in Canada. Compensation committees composed fully of independent directors neither constrained the level of executive compensation nor tied CEO pay to firm performance in either country. US firms with an audit committee member who had accounting expertise, rather than financial analysis or supervisory expertise, were associated with a higher quality of financial reporting, while Canadian firms with an audit committee member who has financial expertise, instead of financial literacy, were associated with a similar effect. Studies also showed that independent directors perform better in certain circumstances. Based on empirical evidence, US regulators should consider: (1) changing the current mandatory requirements for an independent board and a completely independent compensation committee to a comply-or-explain requirement; (2) narrowing the qualification of a financial expert to an individual who has accounting expertise; and (3) recruiting independent directors who have two or fewer outside directorships, hold more of the corporation’s shares, have lower cost of acquiring corporate information, and have no social connections with the CEO. In Canada, weak evidence of the monitoring effectiveness of independent directors supports the existing comply-or-explain approach. Canadian regulators may only need to require or recommend that at least one audit committee member has financial expertise, instead of only financial literacy.
Effect of Incubation Temperature on the Detection of Thermophilic Campylobacter Species from Freshwater Beaches, Nearby Wastewater Effluents, and Bird Fecal Droppings

ABSTRACT This large-scale study compared incubation temperatures (37°C versus 42°C) to study the detection of thermophilic Campylobacter species, including Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari, in various surface water samples and bird fecal droppings around Hamilton Harbor, Lake Ontario. The putative culture isolates obtained from incubation temperatures of 37 and 42°C were confirmed by Campylobacter genus- and species-specific triplex PCR assays targeting the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. A total of 759 water, wastewater, and bird fecal dropping samples were tested. Positive amplification reactions for the genus Campylobacter were found for 454 (60%) samples incubated at 37°C, compared to 258 (34%) samples incubated at 42°C. C. jejuni (16%) and C. lari (12%) were detected significantly more frequently at the 42°C incubation temperature than at 37°C (8% and 5%, respectively). In contrast, significantly higher rates of C. coli (14%) and other Campylobacter spp. (36%) were detected at the 37°C incubation temperature than at 42°C (8% and 7%, respectively). These results were consistent across surface water, wastewater, and bird fecal dropping samples. At times, Campylobacter spp. were recovered and detected at 37°C (3% for C. jejuni, 10% for C. coli, and 3% for C. lari) when the same samples incubated at 42°C were negative. A significantly higher rate of other Campylobacter spp. was detected only at 37°C (32%) than only at 42°C (3%). These results indicate that incubation temperature can significantly influence the culturability and detection of thermophilic and other fastidious Campylobacter spp. and that a comprehensive characterization of the Campylobacter spp. in surface water, wastewaters, or bird fecal droppings will require incubation at both 37 and 42°C.
Estimation of non-catastrophic weather impacts for retail industry

Purpose – Weather is often referred as an uncontrollable factor, which influences customer’s buying decisions and causes the demand to move in any direction. Such a risk usually leads to loss to industries. However, only few research studies about weather and retail shopping are available in literature. The purpose of this paper is to develop a model and to analyze the relationship between weather and retail shopping behavior (i.e. store traffic and sales). Design/methodology/approach – The data set for this research study is obtained from two food retail stores and a fashion retail store located in Lower Bavaria, Germany. All these three retail stores are in same geographical location. The weather data set was provided by a German weather service agency and is from a weather station nearer to the retail stores under study. The analysis for the study was drawn using multiple linear regression with autoregressive elements (MLR-AR). The estimated coefficients of weather variables using MLR-AR model represen.
Neonatal Jaundice: Knowledge, Attitude and practices of mothers in Mosan-Okunola community, Lagos, Nigeria

Background: A community-based survey was conducted amongst mothers aged 15–49 years living in Mosan-Okunola, Lagos, Nigeria to determine the knowledge of, attitudes to, preventive and treatment practices towards neonatal jaundice (NNJ). Materials and Methods: The mothers were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to obtain data. The knowledge of the mothers was scored and scores lower than 50% were graded as poor, 50–74% as fair and ≥75% as good. The practice was also categorised as appropriate if one correct option was identified and was categorised as inappropriate where an incorrect option(s) was identified singly or in combination with a correct option. Results: Three hundred and fifty-eight mothers were recruited. The mean age was 34.8 ± 9.05 years. Two hundred and seventy (75.4%) mothers had ever heard about the condition. Two hundred and forty-seven (91.4%) mothers correctly identified the condition and infection was the only most common known cause (47%). Only 34% of the mothers knew that NNJ could cause brain damage, and 40% identified refusal of feeds as a danger sign. Up to 64% of the mothers believed attending antenatal care could prevent the condition, and 58% were of the opinion that exposing babies to sunlight could prevent the condition. Sixty-eight percent (68.9%) of the mothers had a poor level of knowledge. Age and educational qualification did not show any statistically significant relationship with knowledge about NNJ (P < 0.05) but increasing maternal age had a significant association with an appropriate treatment practice (P < 0.05), the association was negative (r = −0.32). Conclusion: Knowledge about NNJ was low in this community and ineffective preventive practices were utilised. Efforts should be made to increase it, and health workers should play a leading role.
The impact of unemployment on women with physical disabilities in Tamale, Ghana

Unemployment rates among persons with disabilities are high, with women being at greater risk due to the interaction of gender and disability. Although studies portray the inequality, oppression, and exclusion women with disabilities encounter, little research is available on the impact of unemployment on women with physical disabilities. This qualitative study explores the daily experiences of unemployed women with physical disabilities in Tamale, Ghana. Phenomenology and focus group research approaches guided this study, since so little is known about how unemployment impacts the lives of women with physical disabilities. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit 10 women with physical disabilities for in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling was also used to recruit 14 representatives from the government and civil society organizations for two multiorganizational focus groups. Study findings are classified under two broad findings: poverty and inadequate social participation. Poverty stems from inadequate income due to unemployment and disability. Poverty impacts on the family and social relations of unemployed women with physical disabilities, their mobility, and recreational activities. Poverty also affects their ability to provide for basic necessities of life, and in the absence of welfare programs to lessen the effects of poverty, the majority are compelled to engage in begging and other menial jobs for survival. Inadequate social participation, on the other hand, results from the unemployment of women with physical disabilities and their nonparticipation in social support groups, as they cannot afford to pay approved membership dues and transport fare to and from meetings. Inadequate social participation has a bearing on the information unemployed women with physical disabilities receive, which further excludes them from mainstream society. Policy recommendations include awareness creation about the capabilities of women with physical disabilities; effective collaboration with other stakeholders to facilitate the advancement of women with physical disabilities; educating employers about tax benefits for employing persons with disabilities in general; training women with physical disabilities for new and challenging employment opportunities such as managerial roles; and affirmative action policies to ensure the education and employment of women with disabilities in general, as well as microfinance for their small scale
The dramatic rise in neuroleptic use in children: why do we do it and what does it buy us? Theories from inpatient data 1988-2010.

In recent years, the increasingly greater use of atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) in children, especially compared with the rates of use of conventional antipsychotics two decades ago, has been the focus of research and public scrutiny. The most recent study by Olfson et al. (2012) uses data from office-based treatments to highlight that between 1993 and 1998 and between 2005 and 2009 there was a ninefold increase in antipsychotic use in children (2.4/1000–18.3/1000). Similar observations have been made in a variety of settings (Olfson et al. 2006), and whereas there is some regional variation (Patel et al. 2005), and international variation (Rani et al. 2008; Alessi-Severini et al. 2012), the trend has always been in the same direction: higher. Picked up by the lay press in sensationalized terms, the takehome message is that these drugs are ‘‘powerful,’’ used to ‘‘control’’ little children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are used off-label, and that this is nothing short of reprehensible (Reinberg, 2012). Little time is spent examining rates of other healthcare changes over the same time period. We learn nothing of the circumstances of the children being treated. For example, rates are higher in foster care children than in children in their own families (Longhofer et al. 2011), higher in Medicaid samples than in managed care samples (Patel et al. 2005), and higher in children in group homes than in those in therapeutic foster homes (Breland-Nobel et al. 2004). This suggests that the populations being treated have a more severe condition than the comparison samples. Although the weight-gain propensity of these medications is well known, no time is spent on whether at least some of the children being treated are being maintained in a setting that otherwise would not tolerate them. The common clinical features of the samples studied are that the children are prepubertal, male, white, being treated for ADHD and conduct disorder, and, where other treatments are examined, concomitant medications, usually stimulant medications, are common (Longhofer et al. 2011; Olfson et al. 2012). Olfson et al. (2012) speculate that reasons for the increase include availability of AAPs because of clinical trials, practice guidelines supporting use in children, ease of use of the medications, proliferation of managed care limiting psychotherapy reimbursement, pharmaceutical marketing associated with off-label use, and, last but not least, ‘‘some patients may respond but not remit to evidence based treatments’’ leading to the use of AAPs as adjunctive treatment. This commentary elaborates on several rationales suggested by Olfson et al. (2012), and adds information on comparable changes in other treatments over the same time frame, as well as examining the severity of the samples given medication.
‘Take the stairs instead of the escalator’: effect of environmental prompts on community stair use and implications for a national ‘Small Steps’ campaign

The US government initiated a national health campaign targeting 100 ‘small step’ lifestyle changes to combat obesity. Small Step ♯67 advocates stair instead of escalator usage in public settings. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of motivational signs prompting stair use over escalator use on pedestrians’ stair usage in commuter settings. Eight studies, testing the effects of motivational prompts on stair vs. escalator usage in public settings, were reviewed. Participant and study attributes were descriptively coded. Effect size was calculated as the change in percent units of stair users during the intervention phases vs. the baseline phase. The average study included ∼45 000 observations that were recorded across an average of 15 weeks of intervention. The mean ± SD change in percent units of stair users was 2.8% ± 2.4% (P < 0.001), and effects were twice as large in females (4.8%) as in males (2.4%). The number of stairs/building, baseline stair use, and total intervention weeks predicted change in stair use, although the effects were clinically miniscule. In a hypothetical city intervention, we projected that a 2.8% increase in stair usage would result in a weight loss and/or weight gain prevention of 300 g/person/year among new stair users. In sum, point‐of‐decision motivational signs may help communities attain Small Step ♯67. However, the singular impact of this community intervention on correcting energy imbalance may be minimal, having slight impact itself on reducing the national obesity prevalence.
Protective effect of dopamine D2 agonists in cortical neurons via the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase cascade

Glutamate, one of the excitatory neurotransmitters, contributes to the neuronal death associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and with ischemia. In Alzheimer's disease brains, there is a decreased number of dopamine D2 receptors, which might cause neuronal dysfunction or death. In the present study, bromocriptine exerted a protective effect against glutamate‐induced cytotoxicity in rat cortical neurons. This neuroprotective effect was mediated via D2 receptors, because it was attenuated by domperidone, a D2 dopaminergic receptor antagonist. Another dopamine D2 agonist, quinpirole, also protected cells against glutamate toxicity. D2 agonists protected cells from calcium influx, nitric oxide, and peroxynitrite toxicity, which are thought to be the mediators of glutamate toxicity. The phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002) inhibited this neuroprotective effect of bromocriptine, in contrast to the mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) inhibitor (PD98059), which did not counter the protective effect. Furthermore, Akt protein kinase, which is an effector of PI3K, was activated by bromocriptine, and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2 was up‐regulated by bromocriptine treatment. These results suggest that D2 dopaminergic receptor activation plays an important role in neuroprotection against glutamate cytotoxicity and that the up‐regulation of Bcl‐2 expression via the PI3K cascade is, at least partially, involved in this effect. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Banking, Liquidity and In∞ation

This paper develops a search-theoretic model to study the interaction between banking and monetary policy and how this interaction afiects the allocation and welfare. In decentralized monetary economies, uncertainty regarding opportunities to trade typically implies an ine‐ciency in allocation due to liquidity constraints. This paper studies how banking arises endogenously in a monetary economy to improve the allocation by reallocating liquidities across agents. We show that banking can always improve allocation in the decentralized market, but the existence and welfare implication of banking depend on the monetary policy. For low money growth rates, banking does not exist. For high money growth rates, banking exists and is welfare-improving. In particular, banking is needed to support a monetary equilibrium. For moderate money growth rates, banking exists and is welfare-reducing. Owing to general equilibrium feedback, banking can be supported in equilibrium even though welfare is higher without banking. One implication is that, due to the non-linear efiect of in∞ation on the welfare, measuring the welfare cost of in∞ation by extrapolating historical data may underestimate the actual cost.