Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Association of Reproductive Hormone Levels and All-Cause, Cancer, and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Men.

CONTEXT Testosterone (T) levels have been associated with mortality, but controversy exists. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to investigate associations between serum levels of total T, SHBG, free T, estradiol, LH and FSH, and subsequent mortality with up to 30 years of follow-up. DESIGN This was a prospective cohort study consisting of men participating in four independent population-based surveys (MONICA I-III and Inter99) from 1982 to 2001 and followed until December 2012 with complete registry follow-up. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 5350 randomly selected men from the general population aged 30, 40, 50, 60, or 70 years at baseline participated. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES All-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, and cancer mortality were the main outcomes. RESULTS A total of 1533 men died during the follow-up period; 428 from CVD and 480 from cancer. Cox proportional hazard models revealed that men in highest LH quartile had an increased all-cause mortality compared to lowest quartile (hazard ratio [HR], 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.53). Likewise, increased quartiles of LH/T and estradiol increased the risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.06-1.43; HR, 1.23; 95% CI 1.06-1.43). No association to T levels was found. Higher LH levels were associated with increased cancer mortality (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.10-1.84) independently of smoking status. Lower CVD mortality was seen for men with T in the highest quartile compared to lowest (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53-0.98). Furthermore, negative trends were seen for SHBG and free T in relation to CVD mortality, however insignificant. CONCLUSION The observed positive association of LH and LH/T, but not T, with all-cause mortality suggests that a compensated impaired Leydig cell function may be a risk factor for death by all causes in men. Our findings underpin the clinical importance of including LH measurement in the diagnostic work-up of male patients seeking help for possible androgen insufficiency.
Board size and corporate performance: evidence from European countries

This paper examines the effects of board size on corporate performance across a number of European economies. Agency models suggest that large boards may destroy corporate value. Our fixed effects econometric evidence demonstrates that the effect of board size on corporate performance is generally negative. A negative effect is isolated for all five European countries in question when performance is measured as return on equity; this inverse relationship is more difficult to isolate using market-based measures of performance.
Bank Runs in Emerging-Market Economies: Evidence from Turkey's Special Finance Houses

Recent banking crises in emerging-market countries have renewed debates about deposit insurance. Because insurance erodes banks’ incentives to manage risks prudently, some argue that its elimination would improve bank stability. Yet eliminating insurance could be destabilizing if it recreates risks of self-fulfilling runs. This paper examines dynamics of depositor behavior during a set of runs on Turkey’s Special Finance Houses, an uninsured sub-sector of Islamic banks. Detailed data on withdrawals are analyzed in a vector-autoregressive framework that enables us to distinguish between informational and self-fulfilling elements of runs. We find that both types of dynamics were at work during the runs, suggesting a role for deposit insurance, judiciously used, in ruling out expectational problems that fuel tendencies to run.
Immigration, Globalisation and House Prices in Canada's Gateway Cities

This paper begins by examining house price movements in eight metropolitan areas in Canada between 1971 and 1996. At the start of this period there was considerable conformity in price levels among the eight centres, but by the mid-1990s wide disparity in the price structure had emerged, with Vancouver and Toronto (and their satellites) having broken away from the rest as a result of rapid price inflation after 1985. At the same time, the cities showing the most marked gains also suffered the heaviest losses during economic downturns. The geography and timing of rapid price inflation coincided with the onset of heavy and concentrated immigration in Toronto and Vancouver after 1985, and the remainder of the paper considers the relations in these cities between price change and globalisation in general, immigration in particular. In both cities, and especially Vancouver, aside from growth in the provincial GDP, conventional regional and national factors seem to have declining significance in accounting for price movements, while indicators of globalisation, including immigration, exert stronger effects. These effects are consistent not only with globalisation but also with economic polarisation in post-industrial cities.
Cerebral fractional anisotropy score in trauma patients: a new indicator of white matter injury after trauma.

OBJECTIVE Previous studies evaluating quantitative cerebral white matter diffusion anisotropy indexes have shown alteration in patients after trauma. To date, no clinically applicable scale exists by which to gauge and test the relevance of these findings. We propose the cerebral fractional anisotropy score in trauma (C-FAST) as an index of white matter injury, and we correlate C-FAST with several predictor and outcome variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen patients were randomly selected from the trauma surgery service. Thirty control patients were randomly selected from the emergency department. All patients were subjected to MRI evaluation, including a diffusion-weighted sequence. Data extracted from the record of each subject included Glasgow Coma Scale, revised trauma score, Abbreviated Injury Scale, initial head CT results, patient disposition, length of hospital stay, and length of stay in intensive care unit. Region of interest measurements were made in fractional anisotropy maps in each of 12 white matter regions. Univariate statistics and a two-tailed t test were performed on the raw fractional anisotropy data. Data were then dichotomized using thresholds from univariate statistics. A C-FAST score was devised from the dichotomized data. Logistic regression analyses were performed among the C-FAST, outcome, and predictor data. RESULTS Good correlation was noted between the C-FAST and death, hospital stay greater than 10 days, and intensive care unit stay greater than 5 days. Correlation with discharge to rehabilitation facility was good when adjusted for age and sex. Glasgow Coma Scale, revised trauma score, and Abbreviated Injury Scale show good correlation as predictors of a critical C-FAST. CONCLUSION The C-FAST is a promising index derived from MRI diffusion fractional anisotropy measurements that shows successful correlation with outcome and predictor variables. A larger investigation is needed to verify the validity and stability of the correlations.
Perceived service quality for South Korean domestic airlines

Perceived service quality (PSQ) has been shown to influence satisfaction, loyalty, and other important outcomes, specifically in a competitive environment and is also one of the foremost reasons for choosing an airline. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the difference in PSQ between full service carriers (FSCs) and low cost carriers (LCCs) in the South Korean domestic airline market, which has become more competitive due to the emergence of multiple LCCs. The results showed that PSQ of LCCs is lower than FSCs in terms of the rank of dimension although the trend was surprisingly similar. Moreover, the relationships between service quality dimensions and demographic factors were significantly different between the two types of carriers. These results suggest that new entrants in South Korea should have their own distinguishable service strategy from the FSC.
Combined use of Kappa Free Light Chain Index and Isoelectrofocusing of Cerebro-Spinal Fluid in Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis: Performances and Costs.

BACKGROUND Isoelectrofocusing (IEF) to detect oligoclonal bands (OBCs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the gold standard approach for evaluating intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis in multiple sclerosis (MS) but the kappa free light chain index (KFLCi) is emerging as an alternative marker, and the combined/sequential uses of IEF and KFLCi have never been challenged. METHODS CSF and serum albumin, IgG, kFLC and lFLC were measured by nephelometry; albumin, IgG and kFLC quotients as well as Link and kFLC indexes were calculated; OCBs were evaluated by immunofixation. A total of 150 consecutive patients: 48 with MS, 32 with other neurological inflammatory diseases (NID), 62 with neurological non-inflammatory diseases (NNID), and 8 without any detectable neurological disease (NND) were investigated. RESULTS Both IEF and KFLCi showed a similar accuracy as diagnostic tests for multiple sclerosis. The high sensitivity and specificity associated with the lower cost of KFLCi suggested to use this test first, followed by IEF as a confirmative procedure. The sequential use of IEF and KFLCi showed high diagnostic efficiency with cost reduction of 43 and 21%, if compared to the contemporary use of both tests, or the unique use of IEF in all patients. CONCLUSIONS The "sequential testing" using KFLCi followed by IEF in MS represents an optimal procedure with accurate performance and lower costs.
A Rational Expectations Model of Agricultural Supply

This work suggests a dynamic linear rational expectations modeling strategy for using time-series observations to study the impact of product prices on agricultural production and land allocation. The farmer's decision consists of specifying each period the portion of his land to be devoted to the growing of alternative crops. The dynamic element in the farmer's problem comes from the technology. A quadratic production technology is used. The farmer's optimal land allocation decision rules are derived as linear functions of past land allocations, expectations of future product prices, and other exogenous variables; and they can be interpreted as an optimal crop rotation. Assuming rational expectations and the exogeneity of prices for a small open economy, one obtains closed-form linear regression equations representing decision rules and stochastic processes. These are then estimated and tested using maximum likelihood methods and aggregate data from the Egyptian agriculture.
Pharmacologic and therapeutic applications of alpha 2-adrenoceptor subtypes.

There has been a rapid accumulation of new experimental data relating to the pharmacology of ! X2-adrenoceptors, including the identification of multiple receptor subtypes and new therapeutic applications for ! X2-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists. In view of the diverse pharmacology of receptors or binding sites defined as "! X2", one must redefine exactly what this designation now includes. For this review, an ! X2-adrenoceptor is defined as one that is sensitive to both the physiological catecholamine agonists, norepinephrine and epinephrine, as well as selective agonists, such as B-HT 933 and UK-14,304, and is antagonized by agents such as rauwolscine, yohimbine, and idazoxan. Some ! Xz-adrenoceptor subtypes also have a high affinity for prazosin, previously thought to interact only with ! Xl-ad­ renoceptors, and others have a relatively low affinity for yohimbine and rauwolscine, compared to other ! X2-adrenoceptor antagonists. The three ! Xz-adrenoceptor subclassification schemes based on: (a) receptor cloning and expression, (b) correlation of radioligand binding affinity, and (c) antagonist potency in functional assays arc described, as well as discrep­ ancies between the subtypes identified using these schemes. In addition to their long-known efficacy in hypertension, iX2-adrenoceptor agonists are now being utilized clinically for several new indications. The many functions
Alpha-(1-3)- and alpha-(1-6)-D-mannose-specific plant lectins are markedly inhibitory to human immunodeficiency virus and cytomegalovirus infections in vitro

The alpha-(1-3)-D-mannose- and alpha-(1-6)-D-mannose-specific agglutinins (lectins) from Galanthus nivalis, Hippeastrum hybrid, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, and Listera ovata inhibited infection of MT-4 cells by human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency virus at concentrations comparable to the concentrations at which dextran sulfate (molecular weight, 5,000 [DS-5000]) inhibits these viruses (50% effective concentration, 0.2 to 0.6 microgram/ml). Unlike DS-5000, however, the plant lectins did not inhibit the replication of other enveloped viruses, except for human cytomegalovirus (50% effective concentration, 0.9 to 1.6 microgram/ml). The plant lectins suppressed syncytium formation between persistently HIV-1- or HIV-2-infected HUT-78 cells and uninfected MOLT-4 (clone 8) cells at concentrations that were 5- to 10-fold lower than that required for DS-5000. Unlike DS-5000, however, the plant lectins did not inhibit HIV-1 binding to CD4+ cells. Combination of the plant lectins with DS-5000 led to a potent synergistic inhibition of HIV-1-induced cytopathogenicity in MT-4 cells and syncytium formation between HIV-infected HUT-78 cells and MOLT-4 cells. Our data suggest that alpha-(1-3)-D- and alpha-(1-6)-D-mannose-specific plant lectins interfere with an event in the HIV replicative cycle that is subsequent to the attachment of the virions to the cells (i.e., the fusion process).
Usefulness of Statement of Cash Flows: Evidence from Malaysian Analysts

This study examines the perceptions of Malaysian investment analysts on the usefulness of statement of cash flows compared with other sections in the annual report. Namely, the Chairperson's Statement, Director's Report, Profit & Loss Account, Balance Sheet, Auditor's Report, and the Notes to the Financial Statements. The inference of this study, drawn from a mail survey, suggests that investment analysts perceive the statement of cash flows to be as useful as the balance sheet and less useful than the profit and loss account but more useful than the other sections forming the basis of the study. It is read less thoroughly than the balance sheet and profit and loss account and poses greater difficulty in understanding, however, surprisingly, requires less explanation. A comparison with a prior New Zealand study indicates differences between the two studies. Plausible reasons are proffered for these differences.
Characterizing Pneumocystis in the Lungs of Bats: Understanding Pneumocystis Evolution and the Spread of Pneumocystis Organisms in Mammal Populations

ABSTRACT Bats belong to a wide variety of species and occupy diversified habitats, from cities to the countryside. Their different diets (i.e., nectarivore, frugivore, insectivore, hematophage) lead Chiroptera to colonize a range of ecological niches. These flying mammals exert an undisputable impact on both ecosystems and circulation of pathogens that they harbor. Pneumocystis species are recognized as major opportunistic fungal pathogens which cause life-threatening pneumonia in severely immunocompromised or weakened mammals. Pneumocystis consists of a heterogeneous group of highly adapted host-specific fungal parasites that colonize a wide range of mammalian hosts. In the present study, 216 lungs of 19 bat species, sampled from diverse biotopes in the New and Old Worlds, were examined. Each bat species may be harboring a specific Pneumocystis species. We report 32.9% of Pneumocystis carriage in wild bats (41.9% in Microchiroptera). Ecological and behavioral factors (elevation, crowding, migration) seemed to influence the Pneumocystis carriage. This study suggests that Pneumocystis-host association may yield much information on Pneumocystis transmission, phylogeny, and biology in mammals. Moreover, the link between genetic variability of Pneumocystis isolated from populations of the same bat species and their geographic area could be exploited in terms of phylogeography.
Organized Futures Markets: Costs and Benefits

A futures contract is to a forward contract as payment in currency is to payment by check. An organized market facilitates trade among strangers. Such a market trades a standardized contract under appropriate rules. The equilibrium distribution of market clearing prices is asymptotically normal with a standard deviation that varies inversely with the volume of trade, given underlying supply and demand conditions. Empirical relations giving the commission and margin per contract as a function of the volume of trade and outstanding commitments for 23 commodities support the theory. Also, comparisons of pertinent aspects of 51 commodities divided into active, less active, and dormant groups are consistent with the theory.
Sensitivity analysis of a land surface scheme using multicriteria methods

Attempts to model surface-atmosphere interactions with greater physical realism have resulted in complex land surface schemes (LSS) with large numbers of parameters. A companion paper describes a multicriteria calibration procedure for extracting plot-scale estimates of the preferred ranges of these parameters from the various observational data sets that are now available. A complementary procedure is presented in this paper that provides an objective determination of the multicriteria sensitivity of the modeled variables to the parameters, thereby allowing the number of calibration parameters and hence the computational effort to be reduced. Two case studies are reported for the BATS model using data sets of typical quality but very different location and climatological regime (ARM-CART and Tucson). The sensitivity results were found to be consistent with the physical properties of the different environments, thereby supporting the reasonableness of the model formulation. Further, when the insensitive parameters are omitted from the calibration process, there is little degradation in the quality of the model description and little change in the preferred range of the remaining parameters.
Deregulation of D-type cyclins in uterine cancers. Cyclin D1/D3 is differentially expressed in cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND We have previously found cyclin D1 to be overexpressed in 45% of corpus cancers, but in only 3% of cervical cancers. To see whether and how D-type cyclins contribute to the neoplastic phenotype in uterine cancers, aberrant expression and association between cyclins D1 and D3 proteins were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS Expression of cyclin D3 was investigated by immunohistochemistry in 51 patients with primary cancer of the corpus and 73 cases of primary cervical carcinomas. Amplification of the cyclin D1 and D3 genes was investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). RESULTS We found high/moderate levels of cyclin D3 in 53.5% of cervical cancers and 55% of corpus cancers. High/moderate expression of cyclin D1 and D3 was associated in the corpus cancers, but not in cervical cancers. The accumulation of cyclin D3 but not D1 protein could, in some cases, be explained by increased gene dosage since extra copies of chromosome 6 were found. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that in cervical cancers cyclin D3 may compensate for low levels of cyclin D1, whereas in corpus cancers both isoforms may contribute to the neoplastic phenotype.
A novel human gene encoding HECT domain and RCC1-like repeats interacts with cyclins and is potentially regulated by the tumor suppressor proteins.

Cyclin E-Cdk2 is an evolutionary conserved cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complex that drives the G1 to S phase transition of the cell cycle. A novel cDNA encoding a HECT family protein also containing RCC1-like repeats was isolated by a yeast two-hybrid screening using both cyclin E and its inhibitor p21. The protein product of this cDNA, Ceb1, interacts with various cyclin subunits of CDKs in mammalian cells. Expression of Ceb1 is specifically detected in testis and ovary and is highly elevated when the functions of the tumor suppressor proteins, p53 and RB, are compromised by mutations or viral oncoproteins. The present results suggest that Ceb1 may play a critical role when its expression and the CDK activity are upregulated by inactivation of p53 and RB.
Racial and ethnic differences in asthma and mental health among US adults: results from the national survey on drug use and health

Abstract Objective: Evaluate the racial and ethnic differences in asthma and mental health comorbidity. Methods: A secondary analysis of 2008–2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted, resulting in a total of 206 993 civilian adult respondents to evaluate the association between asthma and mental health (past year serious psychological distress [SPD] and doctor diagnosis of depression). Both survey weighted bivariate (chi-square) and multivariable (binary logistic) regression analyses, after accounting for control variables, were conducted to evaluate the asthma/mental health nexus. A p value of less than 0.05 was used to denote significance. Results: Current asthma was significantly associated with past year SPD for non-Hispanic Whites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.45), Hispanics (aOR = 1.68), and Black/African Americans (aOR = 1.47). A similar association was noted for current asthma and past year doctor diagnosis of depression (non-Hispanic White aOR = 1.74; Hispanics aOR = 1.77; Black/African American aOR = 1.62). Among those with lifetime asthma, higher odds of SPD were reported for non-Hispanic Whites (aOR = 1.42), Hispanics (aOR = 1.64), and Black/African Americans (aOR = 1.50). Lifetime asthma also significantly associated with past year doctor diagnosis of depression for non-Hispanic Whites (aOR = 1.42), Hispanics (aOR = 1.41), and Black/African Americans (aOR = 1.46). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the significant burden of asthma and mental health comorbidity among diverse racial and ethnic groups. Improved public health efforts through promotion of integrated care for early screening and preventive measures are needed to alleviate the burden for at-risk groups.
Pre-deployment stress briefing: does it have an effect?

BACKGROUND The role of giving information about stress and stress reactions to people about to be exposed to hazardous situations remains unclear. Such information might improve coping and hence resilience. Alternatively, it might increase the expectancy of experiencing adverse psychological consequences following exposure to a hazard. AIM To determine the effect of a pre-operational stress briefing on health and occupational indices among Naval and Marine personnel who were subsequently deployed to the 2003 Iraq War. METHOD Controlled, non-randomized, parallel group study. Mental health outcomes post-deployment were compared between those who received a pre-operational stress briefing and those who did not receive such a briefing. RESULTS Stress briefing attendees were slightly younger, more likely to be marines and to have been exposed to traumatic events than non-attendees. There were no significant differences between the two groups for the health outcomes of common mental health disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder or alcohol misuse. Attendees reported higher morale/cohesion but these differences disappeared following adjustment for demographic and military factors. No differences between the two groups were apparent for experiencing problems during or post-deployment or for marital satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence that a pre-deployment stress briefing reduced subsequent medium-term psychological distress. On the other hand, we found no evidence of harm either. While only a randomized trial can give genuinely unbiased results, at present stress debriefing must be regarded as an unproven intervention, and it remains a matter of judgement as to whether or not it is indicated.