Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Puberty and pubertal growth dynamics in children with idiopathic short stature

Abstract Objective: As the prognosis for final height is unfavorable for children with idiopathic short stature (ISS), we studied the pubertal growth dynamics in these children, which is a determinant factor in final height. Subjects/methods: In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the pubertal period, age of puberty and peripubertal growth in 50 children with ISS. Results: The onset of puberty occurred later. Growth rate tended to become increasingly subnormal in the prepubertal period and height was –2.45 SD at puberty onset. Growth reaccelerated at this point, which tended to correct the deviation from the mean height, but it was insufficient to obtain a normal final height. Conclusions: The dynamics of growth in children with ISS showed a distinct pattern in the prepubertal and pubertal periods and puberty is significantly delayed in this population. These patterns could explain the unfavorable prognosis for children with ISS.
Scotopic and Photopic Microperimetry in Patients With Reticular Drusen and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

IMPORTANCE Clinical observations suggest that patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have vision problems, particularly in dim light conditions. Previous studies on structural-functional analysis in patients with AMD with reticular drusen (RDR) have focused on photopic sensitivity testing but have not specifically assessed scotopic function. OBJECTIVE To evaluate retinal function by scotopic and photopic microperimetry in patients with AMD and a well-demarcated area of RDR. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective case series in a referral center of 22 eyes from 18 patients (mean age, 74.7 years; range, 62-87 years). The study was conducted from June 1, 2014, to October 31, 2014. INTERVENTIONS With the use of combined confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging, retinal areas with RDR (category 1) and no visible pathologic alterations (category 2) were identified in each eye. Scotopic and photopic microperimetry (MP-1S; Nidek Technologies) was performed using a grid with 56 stimulus points. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Comparison of mean threshold sensitivities for each category for scotopic and photopic microperimetry. RESULTS In all eyes, areas of category 1 showed a relative and sharply demarcated reduction of scotopic threshold values compared with areas of category 2, but only less-pronounced differences were seen for photopic testing. Statistical analysis in the 18 eyes in which the 1.0-log unit neutral density filter was applied revealed a difference of scotopic threshold values in areas of category 1 (mean, 13.5 dB [95% CI, 12.1-15.0]) vs category 2 (mean, 18.3 dB; [95% CI, 17.4-19.3] (P ≤ .001). For photopic testing, the mean threshold values were 16.8 dB (95% CI, 15.5-18.2) in category 1 and 18.4 dB (95% CI, 17.1-19.6) in category 2 (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The results of this study suggest that rod function is more severely affected than cone function in retinal areas with RDR. This differential structural-functional correlation underscores the functional relevance of RDR in patients with AMD.
Southeast Asian Stock Market Linkages: Evidence from Pre- and Post-October 1997

This article investigates both the static and dynamic interdependence of the stock markets of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the advanced stock markets of Australia, Germany, and the United States. Using data from 1990 to 2001, the paper employs both correlation and co-integration analysis to describe the behaviour of the above markets, both before and after the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Examination of stock market returns, using correlation analysis, reveals an increase in the interdependencies (increased correlation) across the Southeast Asian stock markets in the aftermath of the crisis. Both multivariate and pairwise co-integration tests are carried out for all the above stock markets. Although there is evidence of integration between the Southeast Asian stock markets, overall the results suggest that there has been no significant increase in the integration between the Southeast Asian stock markets during the post-crisis period. With a few exceptions, there is little evidence to indicate the existence of any co-integrating vectors in either the multivariate or pairwise co-integration tests.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CULTURE OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES IN HIGH AND LOW DENSITY AREAS: A CASE FOR MASVINGO URBAN IN ZIMBABWE

The purpose of the study was to do a follow-up of the study done by the researchers on a skilled nursing facility in a high density area. In this study, the researchers made a comparison of two skilled nursing facilities, one in the low density and the other in the high density urban areas of the Masvingo city in Zimbabwe. Data was collected using indepth interviews with both residents and administrators at the two facilities. The study has established that there are vast differences between the two skilled nursing facilities with regard to infrastructure, funding, food and services, reasons for staying at the facilities and generally, life at the facilities. The differences are necessitated mainly by the funding patterns at the facilities. Where there is adequate funding, residents live a comfortable life and are emotionally at ease. Where there is inadequate funding, as in the case of the high density facility, it is mere survival for the residents. Generally, the study showed that the culture of sending the elderly to skilled nursing facilities is alien to black Zimbabweans, while it is acceptable to whites. This was quite evident to the residents’ different emotional states, where most whites appeared to be at ease while blacks seemed to be in a traumatic state. If it were possible for the government to provide a grant for the elderly, then the blacks would take care of their parents in
Cancer Information Needs in Rural Areas

ABSTRACT Although cancer presents obstacles for all who experience it, persons in rural communities must negotiate additional challenges. This study determined the cancer information (CI) needs and the CI-seeking behavior and preferences among rural-dwelling persons. Patients (N = 801) ≥ 50 years of age seen in 36 rural Kansas primary care practices completed a Cancer Care Information Needs Survey (CCINS); physicians completed a cancer resource knowledge and preference survey. Of the 801 patients, 184 (23%) reported a CI need. Of these 184 patients, 45% reported either not discussing cancer or having insufficient discussion time with their physicians; 44% needed more information after consulting their physician. Patients more likely to report a CI need were young, female, Internet users, persons with a prior cancer diagnosis, and persons seeing male physicians or physicians in group/multispecialty practices. Patients and physicians were unfamiliar with services provided by national cancer organizations. Physicians are a primary CI source; however, patients who need CI report insufficient cancer discussion time with their physician and need more CI after consulting their physician. Promoting access to national CI sources could bridge the CI needs gap that exists in rural areas currently.
Relationships among residents' image, evaluation of the stay and post-purchase behaviour

Scholars have approached the analysis of the host community from a supply perspective rather than a demand one. This paper focuses on the study of residents when acting as tourists in their own region. In this sense, the present work aims to fill the gap existing in the literature about residents' tourist behaviour, analysing the influence of the image of their province on their evaluation of their travel experience and their future behaviour intentions. To accomplish this objective, a path analysis is carried out to test jointly the set of relationships among image, perceived quality, satisfaction, intention to return and willingness to recommend.
Orgasmic dysfunction after open radical prostatectomy: clinical correlates and prognostic factors.

INTRODUCTION Erectile function after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) is extensively discussed in literature. However, less is known about orgasm after RRP. AIM To analyze sexual function, in particularly orgasmic function, in men before and after RRP. METHODS Between 1977 and 2007 a RRP was performed in 1,021 men. All men were interviewed by their follow-up physician using a standardized interview about sexual function before and after RRP at regular intervals during a 2-year follow-up. The questions were related to sexual interest, sexual activity, spontaneous erections, and orgasmic function. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sexual function, in particularly orgasmic function, before and after RRP. Factors potentially influencing orgasmic function, such as patients age, type of operation, pathological stage and continence status were analyzed for their predictive value. Results. Information about preoperative and postoperative sexual activity and spontaneous erection was available in 596 and 698 men, respectively. Additional questions were asked on sexual interest (N = 425) and orgasmic function (N = 458). Pre-operatively, sexual interest, sexual activity, spontaneous erections and orgasmic function were normal in 99%, 82.1%, 90.0% and 90% of men, respectively. After operation these values decreased to 97.2%, 67.3%, 29.4% and 66.8%, respectively. Orgasmic function was preserved in 141 of 192 men (73.4%) after a bilateral nerve sparing procedure, in 90 out of 127 men (70.9%) after a unilateral nerve-sparing procedure and in 75 of 139 men (54.0%) after non-nerve sparing technique. Postoperatively, orgasm was present in 123 (77.4%) men below the age of 60 years and in 183 (61.2%) men of 60 years and older (P < 0.0001). Orgasmic function was significantly affected by age >or=60 years, non-nerve sparing procedure and severe incontinence (more than two pads/day). CONCLUSIONS After RRP, orgasmic function is still present in the majority of men. A non-nerve sparing operation, age, and severe urinary incontinence are risk factors for orgasmic dysfunction after RRP.
FURTHER EDUCATION OR RE‐ENLISTMENT DECISION IN TURKISH ARMED FORCES: A SEEMINGLY UNRELATED PROBIT ANALYSIS

Previous empirical studies examining the determinants of re‐enlistment probabilities have generally employed a univariate approach and have suggested that expected further education increases the likelihood of joining the army. However, the re‐enlistment and further education decisions can be interdependent. Accordingly, this study employs a seemingly unrelated bivariate probit model to jointly estimate the factors that influence both further education and re‐enlistment decisions. Empirical analysis indicates that there is a correlation between the re‐enlistment and further education decisions, revealing that previous single equation models might be misspecified. Moreover the geographical background, education level of the conscript, intention of further education and previous unemployment duration are influential in the re‐enlistment decision. Additionally, the further education decision appears to be determined by family and sibship characteristics, education level and age.
Asset Pricing with Investor Sentiment: Evidence from Chinese Stock Markets

We study the impact of investor sentiment on stock returns in China, using as a benchmark the three‐factor Fama–French model, and distinguishing between normal and positive sentiment. Sentiment helps explain the mis‐pricing component of returns in the Fama–French model and the time variation in the factors themselves. Factor loading patterns noted by Fama‐French are evident in China, but they can be equally well modelled by sentimental factors. Fama–French factors are less significant if factors are conditioned by sentiment, suggesting that in China sentiment affects both the way investors judge risks as well as portfolio returns directly.
Post-Earnings-Announcement Drift in Global Markets: Evidence from an Information Shock

We investigate whether and how an exogenous and unprecedented improvement in non-U.S. firms’ financial reporting quality affects post-earnings-announcement drift (PEAD). We find that PEAD declines after the information shock, and this decrease is more pronounced for firms with fewer concurrent earnings announcements, greater institutional holdings, and lower limits to arbitrage. In addition, the decrease in PEAD is driven by firms with greater changes in financial reporting, an increase in analyst forecast accuracy and institutional ownership, and a decrease in limits to arbitrage. These findings support the mispricing explanation of PEAD, in particular the limited attention hypothesis, in an international setting.
Lithium carbonate in emotionally unstable character disorder.

Emotionally unstable character disorder (EUCD) is the diagnosis applied to those patients with chronic maladaptive behavior patterns, such as poor acceptance of reasonable authority, truancy, poor work history, manipulativeness, but with a core psychopathological disturbance of depressive and hypomanic mood swings that last hours to days. Their lability is not usually reactive to environmental or interpersonal events. We examined 21 such patients in a six-week, double-blind random assignment cross-over study comparing lithium carbonate to placebo. Using a global measure of mood swings, lithium carbonate was statistically significantly superior to placebo. This was also true for a week's rating of the mean of the daily range of mood swings. We interpret these findings to mean that EUCD is closely related to affective illness and that lithium carbonate joins chlorpromazine as a valuable, and perhaps a superior, therapy for EUCD.
Learning about and understanding fractions and their role in the high school curriculum

Many learners, even at high school level, have difficulty with fractions and computations involving fractions. A report from the Department of Basic Education (DBE, 2012c: 15) has highlighted that the lack in basic fraction sense was one of the areas of concern that contributed to the low achievement in matriculation mathematics examinations in 2012. Fractions play an important role in our ever-advancing technological society. Many occupations today rely heavily on the ability to compute accurately, proficiently, and insightfully with fractions. High school learners’ understanding or the lack thereof is carried over to their tertiary studies and workplaces. It is for that reason that in this dissertation, the learning and understanding of fractions and their role in the high school curriculum are studied through a critical literature review. Fractions are compound constructs and can therefore be interpreted in many different ways, depending on the area of study within mathematics. The concept of fractions consists of five sub-constructs, namely, part-whole, ratio, operator, quotient, and measure (Behr, Lesh, Post, & Silver, 1983; Kieren, 1980). This thesis starts with discussion of the background of the study and its importance. Thereafter the elements that assist in the understanding of the fraction concept is discussed. Then, the five different sub-constructs are elaborated on, and how these different sub-constructs are used in the high school curriculum is demonstrated. The conclusion offers some implications for classroom teaching and mathematics teachers’ professional development. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
The Acceptance of Earnings Losses after Voluntary Mobility

Abstract Because rational individuals know that they cannot always get what they want, they are assumed to make appropriate adjustments. However, little is known about trade-off reasoning in labor market mobility decision making. The objective of this paper is to analyze the effect of job-specific amenities on the decision to voluntarily accept wage cuts. Application of German household data reveals that voluntarily mobile workers are more likely to accept lower wages when strain can be improved. In other words, the considered mobile workers trade off amenities and monetary rewards when changing employers.
Do Sophisticated Investors Interpret Earnings Conference Call Tone Differently than Investors at Large? Evidence from Short Sales

Recent research finds that investors, broadly defined, react to the linguistic tone of quarterly earnings conference calls; there is a positive relation between firms' stock returns and call tone (a measure of “sentiment” related word tabulations). However, this type of soft information can be subtle, context-specific, and difficult to interpret. Moreover, the literature suggests cross-sectional variation in information processing skills among investors. Thus, we test whether sophisticated investors interpret earnings conference call tone differently than investors at large by examining short selling activity and its relation to earnings conference call tone. We find that short sellers target firms with simultaneous high earnings surprise and abnormally high management tone. The combination of positive earnings surprise and unusually positive tone strengthens short sellers' return predictability. This result indicates that short sellers interpret revealed “inflated” call language by managers more completely than naive investors. The incomplete stock price reaction by naive investors due to the lack of reliability that they place on this soft information results in overpricing of the stock. However, it also suggests that managers are unable to maintain prolonged overvaluation of their stock by striking an overly optimistic posture in the interactive conference call disclosure forum since short sellers' trades provide additional price discovery.
Two Stage Decision Model of Soy Food Consumption Behavior

Our study examined the role of soy health benefits in consumers' soy consumption decision. Given the large number of respondents who reported no consumption of soy products per month, it was important to model the decision of whether or not to participate in soy market separately from the consumption intensity decision. Estimation results demonstrate that knowledge of health benefits affects both the likelihood of participation and consumption intensity. That is, consumers with higher soy health knowledge are more likely to enter soy food market and consume soy products more often when compared to those with less soy knowledge. Yet, perceived taste and convenience had considerably greater impact on soy behavior when compared to soy health knowledge.
Paid employment and unpaid caring work in Spain

The objective of this paper is to investigate the determinants of unpaid time in caring activities, with a special emphasis on the gender dimension. Data from the Household Panel Survey for Spain is used to estimate an ordered probit model for the hours interval in care of children and adult people in need of care. The results show that gender is one of the key determinants of the distribution of time in caring. Being in paid employment is also an important factor in the time devoted to caring. Demographic variables like age, marital status and education are also relevant, particularly in the case of women. Finally, cultural habits and customs are also important.
Inflation Persistence, Monetary Policy, and the Great Moderation

There is growing evidence that the empirical Phillips curve within the United States has changed significantly since the early 1980s. In particular, inflation persistence has declined sharply. This paper demonstrates that this decline is consistent with a standard dynamic New Keynesian (DNK) model in which: (i) the variability of technology shocks has declined and (ii) the central bank more aggressively responds to inflation. Copyright (c) 2009 The Ohio State University.
CEO Turnover and Bondholder Wealth

We examine the impact of CEO turnover announcements on bondholder wealth, stockholder wealth, and overall firm value. Using publicly traded data for the period from 1973 to 2000, we find evidence consistent with both the wealth transfer and signaling hypotheses. Specifically, we find that CEO turnover events are associated with lower bondholder values, higher stockholder values, and that net changes in firm value are a function of turnover type (forced vs voluntary and outside vs inside firm replacements) and the riskiness of the firm's debt (investment vs non-investment grade). Overall, the results contribute to the understanding of the effects of corporate governance mechanisms, of which CEO turnover is an extreme form, on bondholders.
A KAP1 phosphorylation switch controls MyoD function during skeletal muscle differentiation

The transcriptional activator MyoD serves as a master controller of myogenesis. Singh et al. identify KAP1/TRIM28 as a key regulator of MyoD function. In myoblasts, KAP1 is present with MyoD and Mef2 at many muscle genes, where it acts as a scaffold to recruit not only coactivators such as p300 and LSD1 but also corepressors such as G9a and HDAC1, with promoter silencing as the net outcome. Upon differentiation, MSK1-mediated phosphorylation of KAP1 releases the corepressors from the scaffold, unleashing transcriptional activation by MyoD/Mef2 and their positive cofactors.
EXPERIMENTAL REVERSAL OF SEX IN THE GON ADS OF THE OPOSSUM DIDELPHIS VIRGINIANA.

coefficients of self-diffusion and viscosity, whereby his efforts on these problems, covering 231 pages of his Collected Works, would have borne fruit. 1 L. Boltzmann, Collected Works (1872), 1, 361. 2 D. Hilbert, Grundzge einer allgemeinen Theorie der linearen Integralgleichungen (New York: Chelsea Publishing Co., 1953), p. 267. I S. Chapman and T. G. Cowling, The Mathemptical Theory of Non-uniform Gases (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1952). 4S. Boguslawski, Math. Ann., 76, 431, 1915. 5 F. B. Pidduck, Proc. London Math. Soc. , 15, 89, 1916. 6 S. Chapman, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. , A216, 279, 1916; A217, 115, 1917. 7D. Enskog, dissertation, Uppsala, 1917. 8 Chapman and Cowling, op. cit., pp. 85 and 139. 9 Ibid., p. 198. 10 Pidduck, op. cit., p. 99.
Sharp IV bounds on average treatment effects under endogeneity and noncompliance

In the presence of an endogenous treatment and a valid instrument, causal effects are (nonparametrically) point identified only for the subpopulation of compliers, given that the treatment is monotone in the instrument. Further populations of likely policy interest have been widely ignored in econometrics. Therefore, we use treatment monotonicity and/or stochastic dominance assumptions to derive sharp bounds on the average treatment effects of the treated population, the entire population, the compliers, the always takers, and the never takers. We also provide an application to labor market data and briefly discuss testable implications of the instrumental exclusion restriction and stochastic dominance.