Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Growth Hormone in the Development of Diabetic Retinopathy

OBJECTIVE To determine the role of growth hormone (GH) in the development of diabetic retinopathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Medical records of 1,423 patients who had undergone insulin tolerance tests (1976–1991) at the Mayo Clinic were examined, and diabetic subjects were identified as either GH-deficient (GH increment after hypoglycemia <5 μg/L and peak <10 μg/L) or GH-suificient. Prevalence of retinopathy was determined in these cases and in a cohort group of diabetic subjects selected to match the GH-deficient cases. These control patients (32 cases) were selected from medical records of individuals who had received medical care at Mayo during the same interval but who had not undergone insulin tolerance testing. RESULTS Twenty-four patients with diabetes were identified, of whom 16 were GH-deficient and 8 GH-sufficient. Despite comparable age, duration of diabetes, and metabolic control, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the GH-deficient group (2 of 16; 12.5%) was less (P < 0.05) than that observed in the GH-sufficient group (5 of 8; 62.5%). Prevalence in the GH-deficient group also was lower than that observed in the cohort control group (15 of 32, 47%). CONCLUSIONS These data strongly suggest that GH contributes to the development of diabetic retinopathy in humans.
Influence of Jail Incarceration and Homelessness Patterns on Engagement in HIV Care and HIV Viral Suppression among New York City Adults Living with HIV/AIDS

Objectives Both homelessness and incarceration are associated with housing instability, which in turn can disrupt continuity of HIV medical care. Yet, their impacts have not been systematically assessed among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Methods We studied a retrospective cohort of 1,698 New York City PLWHA with both jail incarceration and homelessness during 2001–05 to evaluate whether frequent transitions between jail incarceration and homelessness were associated with a lower likelihood of continuity of HIV care during a subsequent one-year follow-up period. Using matched jail, single-adult homeless shelter, and HIV registry data, we performed sequence analysis to identify trajectories of these events and assessed their influence on engagement in HIV care and HIV viral suppression via marginal structural modeling. Results Sequence analysis identified four trajectories; 72% of the cohort had sporadic experiences of both brief incarceration and homelessness, whereas others experienced more consistent incarceration or homelessness during early or late months. Trajectories were not associated with differential engagement in HIV care during follow-up. However, compared with PLWHA experiencing early bouts of homelessness and later minimal incarceration/homelessness events, we observed a lower prevalence of viral suppression among PLWHA with two other trajectories: those with sporadic, brief occurrences of incarceration/homelessness (0.67, 95% CI = 0.50,0.90) and those with extensive incarceration experiences (0.62, 95% CI = 0.43,0.88). Conclusions Housing instability due to frequent jail incarceration and homelessness or extensive incarceration may exert negative influences on viral suppression. Policies and services that support housing stability should be strengthened among incarcerated and sheltered PLWHA to reduce risk of adverse health conditions.
The importance of decision-making processes of a client and the early development phases in a construction project.

In construction projects supplements by modified or additional construction works are not uncommon. The client has to meet especially in the early phases of the project decision that may substantially affect the project progresses. These decisions are often taken under conditions of uncertainty and time pressure, or even not taken only. This lack of decision situation often results in a change in the decisions as the project continues. This leads to changed or additional services. Supplements, construction delays and construction cost increases then are no longer avoidable.The paper shows the importance of decision-making processes of a client. Therefore the importance of early development phases is set out, which include most of the major decisions of a construction project. Here, a study is presented that shows that the initial costs exceed the follow-up costs and not, as is often pointed out, vice versa. Furthermore, the difficulties of decisions that have to be taken in the context of a construction project are explained.
Flour yield QTLs in three Australian doubled haploid wheat populations

Flour yield quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified in 3 Australian doubled haploid populations, Sunco × Tasman, CD87 × Katepwa, and Cranbrook × Halberd. Trial data from 3 to 4 sites or years were available for each population. QTLs were identified on chromosomes 2BS, 4B, 5AL, and 6BL in the Sunco × Tasman population, on chromosomes 4B, 5AS, and 6DL in the CD87 × Katepwa population, and on chromosomes 4DS, 5DS, and 7AS in the Cranbrook × Halberd population. In the Sunco × Tasman cross the highest genetic variance was detected with the QTL on chromosome 2B (31.3%), in the CD87 × Katepwa cross with the QTL on chromosome 4B (23.8%), and in the Cranbrook × Halberd cross with the QTL on chromosome 5D (18%). Only one QTL occurred in a similar location in more than one population, indicating the complexity of the flour yield character across different backgrounds.
The effect of recession on the operational performance of luxury goods companies - Empirical evidence from the global luxury market between 2007 and 2010

The purpose of the study was to examine the operational performance of luxury goods companies during the financial crisis of 2008 and the following recession. In addition, the study aims to provide insights on the relatively unstudied industry of luxury goods. The operational performance of luxury goods companies is further evaluated by comparing their key financial performance indicators against a benchmark group consisting of premium goods companies in order to find whether the luxury goods companies show outperformance during the recession. A regression analysis is conducted to gain further insight on the factors that potentially affect the results. The sample consists of a hand­collected data set of 20 publicly traded global luxury goods companies and a peer group of 20 public premium goods companies also operating globally. For the purposes of this study, the luxury goods industry is limited to the so­ called personal luxury goods or luxury consumer goods. The financial data is gathered from Thomson One Banker and the companies financial statements, covering a time period from year­end 2007 to year­end 2010, covering the full economic down cycle: slowdown, recession and rebound. The main findings of this study support the set hypotheses regarding luxury goods companies’ performance during the financial crisis and the following economic downturn. While luxury goods companies were not found to be immune to the recession, their performance was on aggregate positive despite the hostile operating environment. In addition, the positive performance was significantly better when compared to the peer group, which suggests that luxury goods companies indeed outperform their premium peers. Finally, the variables contributing to this performance were measured with sales growth, financial flexibility and initial profitability and were controlled for size. The findings of the multivariate analysis suggest that initial profitability and size are negatively associated with the performance while other variables suggest a positive association with the outperformance.
Personal organization in children's free recall.

LANGE, GARRETT, and JACKSON, PATRICIA. Personal Organization in Children's Free Recall. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1974, 45, 1060-1067. A sorting-recall procedure was used to explore agerelated characteristics of children's personal categorizing schemes and relationships between free recall clustering, measured in reference to these schemes, and the number of items recalled. 60 Ss, 12 from each of 5 grade levels (1, 4, 7, 10, and college), attained stable free sorting categories prior to free recall. A modification of Robinson's Item Clustering Index (1966) was employed to measure recall clustering. The recall data showed that children at all grade levels made substantial reference to their sorting schemes in free recall, and that relationships between personal clustering and amount of free recall were significant at each grade level. Procedures using E-defined categories as the basis for clustering were discussed as being insensitive to children's categorizing preferences, and therefore inappropriate for the measurement of recall organization in children.
Local Labor Markets in Canada and the United States

We examine US and Canadian local labor markets from 1990 to 2011 using comparable household and business data. Wage levels and inequality rise with city population in both countries, albeit less in Canada. Neither country saw wage levels converge despite contrasting migration patterns from/to high-wage areas. Local labor demand shifts raise nominal wages similarly, although in Canada they attract immigrant and highly skilled workers more while raising housing costs less. Chinese import competition had a weaker negative impact on manufacturing employment in Canada. These results are consistent with Canada’s more redistributive transfer system and larger, more educated immigrant workforce.
Respectable Banking: The Search for Stability in London's Money and Credit Markets since 1695

The financial collapse of 2007–8 has questioned our assumptions about the underlying basis for stability in the financial system, and Anthony Hotson here offers an important reassessment of the development of London's money and credit markets since the great currency crisis of 1695. He shows how this period has seen a series of intermittent financial crises interspersed with successive attempts to find ways and means of stabilizing the system. He emphasises, in particular, the importance of various principles of sound banking practice, developed in the late nineteenth century, that helped to stabilize London's money and credit markets. He shows how these principles informed a range of market practices that limited aggressive forms of funding, and discouraged speculative lending. A tendency to downplay the importance of these regulatory practices encouraged a degree of complacency about their removal, with consequences right through to the present day.
Housing Markets and Planning Policy

Housing systems in many countries are now more market-oriented than ever before. This is particularly true of the UK, where there is heightened interest in the ability of the market to deliver new housing, as well as considerable debate among housing academics and policy makers over the extent to which policy instruments can be used to steer market processes. This increased market orientation means a greater understanding of market economics is needed.
Pressure-induced amorphization of CuFeS2 studied by Fe-57 nuclear resonant inelastic scattering

Static and dynamic structural properties of CuFeS2 under high pressure were investigated by x-ray diffraction and Fe-57 nuclear resonant inelastic scattering. Using x-ray diffraction, we obtained evidence that a pressure-induced amorphization occurs at about 6.3 GPa, which represents a metal-insulator transition. Although partial phonon densities of states extracted from Fe-57 nuclear resonant inelastic scattering spectra are similar in the two phases, the derived thermodynamical parameters show anomaly at the transition. The results of extracted partial phonon densities of states and ab initio phonon calculations indicate that this pressure-induced amorphization is caused by anomalous pressure dependences of the lower optical phonon branches and the initial slopes of the transverse acoustic phonon branches.
Two-dimensional modulation technique for multilevel cascaded H-bridge converters

Modulation of multilevel converters is the focus of researchers looking for high quality of the output waveforms with low losses. This paper shows that multiple switching sequences can be used in order to generate the desired phase voltage. A simple two-dimensional modulation technique for two-cell multilevel cascaded converters is introduced in this paper. Using a two-dimensional control region, all the possible switching sequences of the power converter are taken into account. The final switching sequence can be chosen improving some power converter features. Simulation results are shown in order validate the proposed technique.
Are all types of capital flows driven by the same factors? Evidence from Mexico

In this paper, we analyse the impact and persistence of shocks to global (push) and domestic (pull) factors on each component of the financial account for the Mexican Balance of Payments, at the highest degree of disaggregation, including investment by foreign residents in Mexican public and private sector securities, as well as investment by domestic residents in foreign securities. To this end, we estimate impulse response functions from vector autoregressive models for the period 1995–2015. We find that an increase in the foreign interest rate leads to lower portfolio investment. An increase in global risk generates lower portfolio investment, particularly in private sector securities. Foreign investors respond to a higher extent to foreign interest rate and liquidity shocks compared to domestic investors.
Radar Signal Penetration and Horizons Detection on Europa Through Numerical Simulations

We propose a strategy to evaluate the performance of a radar sounder for the subsurface exploration of the Europa icy crust and, in particular, the possibility to detect liquid water at the base of the ice shell. The approach integrates the information coming from experimental measurements of the dielectric properties of icy materials, thermal models related to different crustal scenarios, and numerical simulations of radar signal propagation. The radar response has been evaluated in terms of cumulative attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and reflectivity. Our simulations indicate that a subsurface radar operating at 9 MHz can identify shallow-buried targets and to detect the ice/water interface in various thermal scenarios. Under our assumptions the ice/water interface can be detected almost down to a depth of 15 km under a conductive ice shell, whereas for a convective ice shell, the maximum depth is about 12 km (in the cold downwelling plume). We also discuss the possibility to detect shallow targets associated with interfaces between pure water ice and MgSO4 · 11H2O ice mixtures at various salt contents, using the data of laboratory dielectric measurements.
Uncertainty Appraisal in First Career Employment Information Seeking

ii List of Figures . ix List of Tables . x Chapters Introduction . 1 Uncertainty Management in Job Seeking . 6 Job Seekers’ Appraisals of Uncertainty . 11 Personal Traits and Job Searching Behaviors . 13 Assessment of P-O fit . 15 Job Search Stress and Information Seeking . 19 Antecedents of job search stress . 19 Outcomes of job search stress . 22 Rationale and Hypotheses . 23 Preliminary Test . 27 Participants . 28 Manipulations . 28 Job advertisements . 28 News headlines . 30 Procedure and Measurements . 30 Results . 31 Job advertisements . 31 News headlines . 31 Summary . 32 Method . 33 Participants . 33
Shared clonal cytogenetic abnormalities in aberrant mast cells and leukemic myeloid blasts detected by single nucleotide polymorphism microarray‐based whole‐genome scanning

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is characterized by a clonal proliferation of aberrant mast cells within extracutaneous sites. In a subset of SM cases, a second associated hematologic non‐mast cell disease (AHNMD) is also present, usually of myeloid origin. Polymerase chain reaction and targeted fluorescence in situ hybridization studies have provided evidence that, in at least some cases, the aberrant mast cells are related clonally to the neoplastic cells of the AHNMD. In this work, a single nucleotide polymorphism microarray (SNP‐A) was used to characterize the cytogenetics of the aberrant mast cells from a patient with acute myeloid leukemia and concomitant mast cell leukemia associated with a KIT D816A mutation. The results demonstrate the presence of shared cytogenetic abnormalities between the mast cells and myeloid blasts, as well as additional abnormalities within mast cells (copy‐neutral loss of heterozygosity) not detectable by routine karyotypic analysis. To our knowledge, this work represents the first application of SNP‐A whole‐genome scanning to the detection of shared cytogenetic abnormalities between the two components of a case of SM‐AHNMD. The findings provide additional evidence of a frequent clonal link between aberrant mast cells and cells of myeloid AHNMDs, and also highlight the importance of direct sequencing for identifying uncommon activating KIT mutations. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Post offering performance of IPOs from the banking industry

This paper concentrates on IPOs from the banking sector. The recommendations of the expert committees on the banking sector reform encouraged Indian banks to raise funds from the capital market through IPOs. In a developing country, the role of the banking sector for economic development is undisputed. In view of its importance in economic resource allocation and empirical evidences of IPO underperformance in the developing countries in the background, this paper analyses the banking sector IPOs in detail. The performance evaluations on the basis of stock returns didn’t find significant evidences of underperformance for the IPOs from the banking sector. Moreover, the study based on key accounting parameters showed improvement in the performance of the banks in the post listing period. There were no significant differences across ownership groups (public sector banks vis-à-vis their private counterpart) in the IPO pricing and performance.
The role of the therapeutic alliance on pain relief in musculoskeletal rehabilitation: A systematic review

ABSTRACT The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the role of therapeutic alliance in pain relief in patients with musculoskeletal disorders treated by physiotherapy. Manual and database searches (Medline, Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, PEDro, Lilacs, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO) were performed with no restrictions of language and publication date. We included prospective studies with samples of patients undergoing physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions, with one measure of therapeutic alliance and the outcome pain. Methodological quality was assessed by the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies and the Cochrane tool for risk of bias. Six articles from four studies were included out of the 936 manuscripts identified. All studies used samples composed of patients with chronic low back pain. Two studies applied therapeutic alliance incentive measures during treatment and reported significant improvement in pain. The remaining studies, without alliance incentives, showed divergence regarding the relationship between the therapeutic alliance and pain. Methodological quality analysis determined low risk of bias of the studies. A lack of studies on the therapeutic alliance regarding musculoskeletal physiotherapy was verified. Existing studies fail to provide evidence of a strong relationship between the therapeutic alliance and pain relief.
Comparison of the orientation effect of SiO2- and Si3N4-encapsulated GaAs MESFET's

This letter compares the influence of stressed-SiO<inf>2</inf>and Si<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf>films on threshold voltage of WSi<inf>x</inf>-gate self-aligned GaAs MESFET's oriented along [011]- and [011]-directions. The experimental results showed that the orientation effect originates, mainly from piezoelectric effect due to strain in the n-layers, induced by the dielectric overlayer. Furthermore, the disagreement among workers regarding the preferable orientation turned out to be due to the difference of the stress-sign in dielectric overlayers employed; it was confirmed that SiO<inf>2</inf>film is in compressive stress and Si<inf>3</inf>n<inf>4</inf>film in tensile stress on GaAs.
A mechanism for hydrogen-related transient effects in carbon-doped AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure bipolar transistors

The transient phenomenon in carbon-doped AlGaAs/GaAs HBT's has been found to reoccur after a brief thermal annealing under no bias. The temperature and the current dependencies have been studied with HBT's made with MOCVD grown wafers. The experimental data ran be explained by a model based on thermal decomposition of C-H complexes during annealing and electron captures by hydrogen ions under minority-carrier injection.
Synthesis of group A streptococcal virulence factors is controlled by a regulatory RNA molecule

The capacity of pathogens to cause disease depends strictly on the regulated expression of their virulence factors. In this study, we demonstrate that the untranslated mRNA of the recently described streptococcal pleiotropic effect locus (pel), which incidentally contains sagA, the structural gene for streptolysin S, is an effector of virulence factor expression in group A beta‐haemolytic streptococci (GAS). Our data suggest that the regulation by pel RNA occurs at both transcriptional (e.g. emm, sic, nga) and post‐transcriptional (e.g. SpeB) levels. We could exclude the possibility that the pel phenotype was linked to a polar effect on downstream genes (sagB‐I). Remarkably, the RNA effector is regulated in a growth phase‐dependent fashion and we provide evidence that pel RNA expression is induced by conditioned media.
Household preferences on provision of solid waste management services in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Privatization of solid waste management services has not achieved the anticipated results of improving solid waste management in the country. In most urban areas, the provided solid waste management services are not appreciated and supported by service receivers. This may be due to non-inclusion of household preferences and willingness to pay for solid waste management services in designing these services. A Choice Experiment Method was used in this study to assess household preferences and their willingness to pay for solid waste management services in Kinondoni municipality. Choice cards, questionnaire and checklists were used to collect data from 240 households. The solid waste management services were decomposed into 3 attributes, namely use of vehicles in transporting solid waste, frequency of solid waste collection and provision of polythene bags for storage of solid waste. Results showed that households mostly prefer use of vehicles in transportation of solid waste and frequency of solid waste collection attributes and they are willing to pay for these attributes. Provision of polythene bags attribute was not preferred by households. The estimated implicit prices per month for vehicles, polythene bags and frequency of solid waste collection were TZS 1056.022, TZS 148.128, TZS 4104.562 respectively for low income households and TZS 2713.439, TZS 1301.25, TZS 9245.522 respectively for high income households. On average, the estimated compensating surplus also known as willingness to pay per month were TZS 7192.944 and TZS 16 313.682 for low and high income households respectively. The findings also show that there are high variations in household preferences for solid waste management services. In order to improve solid waste management services in Kinondoni municipality, policy makers and solid waste management service providers should incorporate household preferences and their willingness to pay for solid waste management services when designing these services.