Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Old-for-Old Age Matching in Living Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience

The impact of donor age, especially from older donors (≥ 60 years), on recipient outcomes in living donor kidney transplantation were retrospectively evaluated in 181 consecutive primary kidney transplant recipients. Patients were categorized according to donor age: age ≤ 39 (n=15), 40A¢Â€Â’49 (n=28), 50A¢Â€Â’59 (n=71), and ≥ 60 years (n=67). Cox proportional hazard multivariate analysis was used to calculate the relative risk of patient and graft survival. Cox analysis showed that donor age, as a continuous variable, was not a risk factor for patient or graft survival. Deathuncensored (65.4%) and censored (73.1%) graft survival rates in the oldest donor group were lowest, although the differences did not reach statistical significance (p=0.086 and 0.127, respectively). Mean estimated glomerular filtration rates one year after transplantation in these 4 groups were 63.1 ± 13.9, 60.4 ± 18.5, 49.2 ± 15.4 and 42.6 ± 11.4 ml/ min/1.73 m2, respectively (p < 0.001). Subdivision by age of recipients of kidney donors ≥ 60 years into those aged, ≤ 39, (n=31), 40-59, (n=25) and ≥ 60 (n=11) years, showed optimal results in old for old combination transplants. The death-uncensored graft survival rates in the 3 subgroups were 64.5%, 76.0% and 90.9%, respectively (p=0.869), whereas their mean estimated glomerular filtration rates 1 year after transplantation were 40.7 ± 7.4, 41.0 ± 10.7 and 51.4 ± 14.3 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively (p=0.025). Age-matching may be beneficial when performing living donor kidney transplantation from older donors.
Medical Assessment and Preparation of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is an important option for patients with extreme obesity and comorbidities. Bariatric surgery, however, has risks and complications involved. Obesity is associated with many health related complications such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnoea (Avenell, Broom et al. 2004; Tsigos, Hainer et al. 2008; Mechanick, Kushner et al. 2009; Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines and Scotland 2010). It is important to prepare patients to be at their best medical status prior to surgery to prevent adverse outcomes (Mechanick, Kushner et al. 2009). Detailed medical, nutritional and psychological assessments are crucial to improve patients’ outcomes post surgery. This usually involves a multidisciplinary team working hand in hand with individual patients guiding them through the whole process as well as continuing lifelong follow up care. A multidisciplinary team usually includes a physician with interest in metabolism, nutrition and bariatric medicine, dietitian with special interest in obesity, a bariatric surgeon, a bariatric specialist nurse and psychologist, and finally a bariatric coordinator (Mechanick, Kushner et al. 2009). Additional expertise includes a psychiatrist, endocrinologist, sleep medicine specialist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, physician nutrition specialist and certified nutrition support clinician (Mechanick, Kushner et al. 2009). However, the most important factor in the entire process is the individual patient and therefore it is important to individualise each patient’s care. Good medical assessment with appropriate information provided for patients will help ease progress through bariatric surgery.
How Loyal Are Your Users? Loyalty and Loyalty Outcome Behaviors: An Empirical Study in the Free/Libre Open Source Software Context

The contemporary IS industry faces a challenge that is similar to brand proliferation in consumer products, that of identifying and nurturing loyal IS users. Also, there has been a growing interest in potential benefits that can be derived from loyal users’ contributions to IS, such as word of mouth (WOM) marketing, non-verbal endorsement, resistance to counter-persuasion, and brand extension behaviors. To address the increasing competition and the growing interest in user contributions in the IS industry, this study proposes a conceptual model to examine the relationships between loyalty and habit and their antecedents (satisfaction and investment), and the relationships between loyalty and habit and their outcome behaviors (WOM, nonverbal endorsement, resistance to counter-persuasion, and brand extension) in the presence of a moderating factor (s). The proposed model will be empirically tested in the Free/Libre Open Source Software context as it is one of the driving forces for the increasing competition in the consumer software market and as Free/Libre Open Source Software ideology may potentially moderate the relationship between loyalty and its outcome behaviors.
Prevalence and pattern of early childhood caries among 3-5 year olds in Kiambaa, Kenya.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and pattern of early childhood caries among three to five year olds. DESIGN This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS A total of 336 children aged 3-5 years. SETTING Pre-schools in Kiambaa division, Kiambu District, Kenya. RESULTS Slightly over a half, 201 (59.5%) had dental caries. The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) was 2.46 +/- 2:3.2 with the greatest component (95%) being decayed teeth. The mandibular deciduous molars and the maxillary incisors were the most frequently carious teeth. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of early childhood tumours in Kiambaa was 59.5%. The mandibular deciduous molars and maxillary incisors had the highest caries frequency.
Methodological aspects of determining soil particle-size distribution using the laser diffraction method.

This paper presents the influence of selected methodological aspects on the results of particlesize distribution (PSD) as measured by the laser diffraction method (LDM). The investigations were carried out using the Mastersizer 2000 with Hydro MU attachment (Malvern Ltd., UK). It was found that for the investigated soils: (1) optimal speed of pump and stirrer was 2500 rpm, (2) optimal measurement time was ≈ 1 min, (3) there are two, practically equivalent methods for soil-sample dispersion: chemical (with the use of a solution of sodium hexametaphosphate) or physical (by means of ultrasound application for 4 min at a maximum power of 35W), (4) one must not use the chemical and physical dispersing methods simultaneously, because this can lead to aggregation (not dispersion) of soil particles, (5) the Fraunhofer theory (physical models) can be used to convert scattered-light data to PSD. In the case of the Mie theory, the best results were obtained for a refractive index (RI) in the range of 1.5–1.6 and an absorption index (AI) of 1.0. It was also found that most of the discussed parameters depend on design of the measuring device and on the type and volume of the investigated suspensions. It is necessary, therefore, to explain how the data was obtained every time and to specify the details in the methodological part of the paper.
Characterization of morphological and meristic traits and their variationsbetween two different populations (wild and cultured) of Cichlasomafestae , a species native to tropical Ecuadorian rivers

Abstract. This study was carried out to determine morphometric and meristic characteristics of two populations (wild and cultured) of Cichlasoma festae and to establish whether populations could be discriminated based on morphometric variability. Twenty-two morphometric and four meristic characters were used to test the hypothesis differentiation. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) from 100 adult specimens showed significant differences (p 80 % success rate) by linear discriminant functions that included only four morphometric measures.
3‐hydroxykynurenine and other Parkinson's disease biomarkers discovered by metabolomic analysis

Parkinson's disease (PD) biomarkers are needed to enhance therapeutics research and to understand PD pathogenesis. Methods that simultaneously measure hundreds of small molecular‐weight compounds—metabolomic analysis–“fingerprint” disease‐specific alterations in individual compounds or metabolic pathways. Beyond a nontargeted search for PD biomarkers, we hypothesized that PD cerebrospinal fluid would show increased formation of the excitotoxin 3‐hydroxykynurenine and diminished concentration of the antioxidant glutathione. Cerebrospinal fluid was collected at <4 hours postmortem from 48 pathologically‐verified PD subjects and 57 comparably‐aged controls. Assays involved ultra‐high‐performance liquid and gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry. We used univariate techniques to determine fold‐changes in concentrations of biochemicals; false‐discovery rates were calculated to exclude spurious findings. Data was modeled using a Support Vector Machine for analyzing compounds selected by Welch's t test. Classification accuracy was determined by cross‐validation. Of 243 structurally‐identified biochemicals,19 compounds differentiated PD from controls at a 20% false‐discovery level. In PD, mean 3‐hydroxykynurenine concentration was increased by one‐third, and mean oxidized glutathione was decreased by 40% (for each, P < .01). Four of the 19 compounds differentiating PD from controls were N‐acetylated amino acids, suggesting a generalized alteration in N‐acetylation activity. The Support Vector Machine classification model distinguished between groups at 83% sensitivity and 91% specificity for the learning data, and at 65% and 79% from cross‐validation. In this study, the first for metabolomic profiling of PD cerebrospinal fluid, we found several novel biomarkers and offer new directions for recognizing disease‐specific biochemical indicators. The findings support involvement of excitotoxicity and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of PD. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
The Inflation Bias Under Calvo and Rotemberg Pricing

New Keynesian analysis relies heavily on two workhorse models of nominal inertia – due to Calvo (1983) and Rotemberg (1982), respectively – to generate a meaningful role for monetary policy. These are often used interchangeably since they imply an isomorphic linearized Phillips curve and, if the steady-state is efficient, the same policy conclusions. In this paper we compute time-consistent optimal monetary policy in the benchmark New Keynesian model containing each form of price stickiness using global solution techniques. We find that, due to an offsetting endogenous impact on average markups, the inflation bias problem under Calvo contracts is often significantly greater than under Rotemberg pricing, despite the fact that the former typically exhibits far greater welfare costs of inflation. The nonlinearities inherent in the New Keynesian model are significant and the form of nominal inertia adopted is not innocuous.
THE IMPACT OF CLIENT ATTITUDES ON THE SELECTION OF CONTRACTORS

This research is concerned with identifying prequalification criteria that both clients and contractors believe are good indicators of future construction performance. Criteria used in the past have been developed by clients in a largely idiosyncratic manner with little or no consultation with the contractors affected. The methodology chosen for the research was a survey which probed stakeholder attitudes to commonly used prequalification criteria. This was carried out via a postal questionnaire involving contractors and clients across Australia. The data was analysed using Discriminant Analysis, which is a multivariate statistical approach that determines the differences between groups. The research is structured around 39 criteria that were developed as part of a whole-of-government task force into best practice in procurement. The findings identified the most important criteria from both a client’s perspective, and a contractor’s perspective. The purpose was to discover if those differences reduce the effectiveness of the procurement process. This paper contributes to a more clarified understanding of the impact or contrasting views between the stakeholders involved in the prequalification process. This work is innovative because it is one of a few pieces of research that showed that clients and contractors do actually have divergent opinions on the importance of some criteria currently relied upon in the decision making process. The most important prequalification criteria are identified and possible reasons for these differences are discussed.
Mandibular growth rotation effects on postretention stability of mandibular incisor alignment.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypotheses that pronounced forward and backward mandibular growth rotation may be risk factors for postretention relapse of mandibular incisor alignment, and that morphologic parameters at adolescence may be predictive of the remaining type of mandibular growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cephalograms and study models were made before (T1) and after (T2) active treatment and at a minimum of 10 years postretention (T3) of three groups of orthodontic patients with acceptable occlusion at the time of appliance removal. The groups were short facial height (n = 46), angle between the sella-nasion line and the mandibular plane (SN/MP) <or= 28 degrees; normal facial height (n = 42), SN/MP 29 degrees through 37 degrees ; and long facial height (n = 35), SN/MP >or= 38 degrees at T2. RESULTS The groups were similar regarding age at T2, gender ratio, incisor irregularity (IRI), intercanine (3-3) width at T1, change of 3-3 width from T1 to T2, and time from T2 to T3 (P > .05). IRI increased in all groups from T2 to T3 (P < .05), but there were not any intergroup differences in this increase (P > .05). Minor differences were detected among the groups in mandibular growth rotation from T2 to T3. Males experienced more forward rotation than females (P < .001) and more increase in IRI from T2 to T3 (P < .01). Male gender, T1-T2 increase in 3-3 width, and T2-T3 reduction in 3-3 width were included in the model explaining T2-T3 increase in IRI. CONCLUSION High-angled and low-angled facial patterns at time of appliance removal are not associated with increased risk of postretention relapse of mandibular incisor malalignment, and in adolescent orthodontic patients are poor predictors of type of posttreatment growth.
Investor Protection and the Demand for Equity

Anecdotal evidence suggests that investor protection affects the demand for equity, but existing theories emphasize only the effect of investor protection on the supply of equity. We build a model showing that the demand for equity is important in explaining financial development. If the level of investor protection is low, wealthy investors have an incentive to become controlling shareholders and pay a high price for their stocks, because they can earn additional benefits by expropriating outside shareholders. As a consequence of lower expected returns both domestic and foreign portfolio investors have a disincentive to hold stocks. The model implies that differences in stock market participation rates across countries and the pervasiveness of home equity bias depend on the degree of investor protection. Additionally, we uncover a good country bias in investment decisions as portfolio investors from countries with low level of investor protection hold relatively more foreign equity. We provide novel international evidence on stock market participation rates, and on holdings of domestic and foreign stocks consistent with the predictions of the model.
The response regulator Rrp2 is essential for the expression of major membrane lipoproteins in Borrelia burgdorferi

Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the agent of Lyme disease, exists in nature through a complex enzootic life cycle that involves both ticks and mammals. As Bb transitions between its two diverse niches, profound adaptive changes occur that are reflected in differential patterns of gene expression, particularly involving lipoprotein genes. Using a mutagenesis approach, we show that Rrp2 (gene BB0763), one of the proteins predicted by the Bb genome (www.tigr.org) to be a response regulator of a two-component sensory transduction system, is a pivotal regulator governing the expression of major membrane lipoproteins such as OspC, DbpA, and Mlp8, as well as many other mammalian infection-associated immunogens of Bb. Sequence analysis additionally suggested that Rrp2 is a bacterial enhancer-binding protein, essential for σ54-dependent gene activation. Mutagenesis of a key amino acid residue within a putative activation domain revealed that Rrp2 controlled lipoprotein expression by governing the expression of the alternative σ-factor σs in a σ54-dependent manner. We therefore propose a signal transduction pathway involving Rrp2, σ54, and σs, which in concert control the expression of key lipoproteins and other infection-associated immunogens in Bb.
Serological detection of type C viruses found in bovine cultures.

The immunofluorescence antibody technique has been applied to the serological detection of type C viruses found in cell lines derived from leukemic cows [New Bolton Center (NBC) cell lines] and in short-term buffy-coat cultures of a cow (BF-044) with persistent lymphocytosis from a family with a high incidence of leukemia. When tested by the indirect or direct immunofluorescence method with serum from a cow (27-125) in which leukemia had regressed spontaneously, a proportion of the cells from these cultures showed brilliant cytoplasmic fluorescence. Sera from leukemic cows, but not from normal cows, blocked the fluorescent reaction, thus demonstrating its immunological nature. In both the NBC and BF-044 buffy coat cultures the proportion of fluorescent cells correlated closely with the proportion of type C viruscontaining cells found in previous electron microscopic studies of the cultures. These findings strongly suggested that a viral antigen is responsible for the fluorescent reaction. This view was supported further by the observation that the budding and free type C particles of the NBC cultures were coated by γ-globulin 27-125 (regression case) but not by γ-globulin from a normal cow. Cells from BF-044 buffy coat cultures removed the fluorescent activity of Serum 27-125 for NBC cells, thus indicating that the type C viruses seen in the buffy-coat and NBC cell cultures are identical or at least closely related. In a preliminary survey it was found that sera from 16 out of 17 leukemic cows reacted in immunofluorescence tests with virus-containing NBC cultures. In contrast, no reactions were detected with sera from 12 normal cows in a leukemia-free herd.
MNCs’ Strategy in R&D: The Effect of the Decentralization on the Performance and on the Earnings Management

This paper studies the relationship between R&D decentralization and financial performance. It examines also the impact of this decentralization on earnings management. To specify what does matter in the decentralization of the R&D we try to examine the relationship between centralization or decentralization of the R&D and the firm’s performance on one hand and the earnings management as measured by discretionary accruals on the other hand. We use two internal finance indexes (internal cash flows, internal market capital) and two mechanism of governance (stock-options, institutional investors) to explain the determinants of the R&D’s strategy.Using a sample of 160 U.S. Multinational companies (MNCs) between 2001 and 2006 our results show that MNCs decentralize their R&D for dual goal to improve firm’s profitability or performance and to help manager to manage earnings in their own interest. Moreover, despite the fact that R&D decentralization has a positive impact on performance, institutional shareholders and performance-based compensation encourage managers to decentralize their R&D in order to spur their opportunistic behavior.
Auction mechanisms in supply chain optimization

• A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers. Link to publication
Analysts' Response to Earnings Management

Previous literature studies analysts' earnings forecasts without considering firms' response to analysts' forecasts. This study improves upon previous research by considering firms' earnings management with respect to analysts' forecasts. I hypothesize that analysts understand these earnings management practices, and incorporate firms' expected behavior into their forecasts. I demonstrate that for firms with high tendencies and flexibilities to manage earnings downwards, and/or firms with negatively skewed earnings, analysts account for earnings management practices by lowering the otherwise optimal forecasts. Comparing analysts' consensus forecasts with proxy for non-strategic forecasts (otherwise optimal forecasts), I find that analysts' forecasts are systematically below the non-strategic forecasts for firm-quarters that have: high accounting reserves available to manage earnings downwards, high unmanaged earnings, low debt to equity ratios, negative forecasted earnings, and negatively skewed unmanaged earnings. These results suggest that analysts forecast below the non-strategic level in order to avoid the large optimistic forecast errors that occur when firms who cannot meet forecasts manage earnings downward. The test results also suggest that analysts forecast above the non-strategic forecasts when earnings are positively skewed, and/or when firms have high tendencies and flexibilities to manage earnings upwards.
Post-natal psychopathology and bonding with the infant among first-time mothers undergoing a caesarian section and vaginal delivery: Sense of coherence and social support as moderators

Objective: To investigate the protective role of sense of coherence (SOC) and perceived social support in the effect of emergency/elective caesarian section on post-natal psychological symptoms and impairment in mother–infant bonding. Design: Thirty-seven women delivering via an emergency C-section, 21 via elective C-section and 38 through a vaginal delivery were assessed six weeks post-partum (Time 1) as to their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms, impairment in bonding and SOC and social support. Symptoms and bonding difficulties were assessed again six weeks later (Time 2). Main and interactive effects of mode of delivery and the protective factors were examined. Main Outcome Measures: Post-natal depressive and PTSD symptoms and mother–infant bonding. Results: An emergency C-section mode of delivery predicted an increase in PTSD symptoms in Time 2, but only among women with low levels of Time-1 social support. Time-1 SOC predicted a decrease in post-natal PTSD and depression. Conclusions: Social support might buffer against the potentially traumatic effect of an emergency C-section. SOC appears to constitute a powerful dimension of post-natal resilience.