Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contingent Negative Variation and Efficacy of Beta-Blocking Agents in Migraine

Thirty-three patients with common migraine underwent contingent negative variation (CNV) recordings before receiving prophylactic beta-blocker treatment with either metoprolol (27 patients) or propranolol (6 patients) at mean daily dosages of 110 mg and 122 mg, respectively. After 3 months the therapeutic efficacy of the beta-blocker was assessed in each patient by means of a global severity score and compared with the initial CNV recordings. The mean clinical improvement was 62%. A significant positive correlation was found between CNV amplitude before prophylaxis and the clinical response to beta-blockers: patients with higher CNV tended to respond better to therapy. Eight of 10 patients with a CNV amplitude higher than -25 V had a more than 50% reduction of the severity score—that is, a good or excellent response to the beta-blocking agent—whereas only 2 of 9 patients with an amplitude lower than -20 V had a good response.
Interventions to increase breast screening uptake: do they make any difference?

Background Breast screening has an important role in improving survival from breast cancer through early detection and treatment. Increasing uptake of screening in areas of low uptake is important in improving the effectiveness of the national screening programme. This review looks at which initiatives to boost uptake have been successful. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the different interventions to increase breast screening uptake. Method A systematic review of interventions to promote breast screening uptake was undertaken. Studies were included if uptake was used as an outcome measure of the intervention and if relevant to the UK screening programme. Results Twenty eight studies were found among 25 citations. Interventions were grouped into “person directed”, “system directed”, “social network directed”, and “multistrategy” categories. Most were person directed. These interventions were more likely to be effective in boosting uptake, be simple in design, and to have been evaluated by a randomised trial design. Evidence of effectiveness in the other groups is limited both by the number of studies and the study designs. A summary of the interventions reviewed is presented. Conclusions Simple, brief, and effective interventions exist to boost breast screening uptake. More complicated approaches are not necessarily any more effective. These findings also have implications for other population based screening programmes of the future. In inner city areas the best approach to raising uptake rates is likely to be multistrategy.
The Effects of Exports and Imported Intermediates on Productivity and the Demand for Skilled Labour: A Firm Level Analysis for Uruguay

This work analyses the impact of the use of imported intermediate inputs and exports on productivity, and the demand of skilled workers of the Uruguayan Manufacturing firms for the period 1988-2005. We use conventional Ordinary Least Squares, quantile regressions to take into account firm heterogeneity and treatment effects techniques for analyzing causality. Our results seem to indicate that increased levels of exports and imported intermediates are associated with higher productivity and an increased demand for skill labour. Thus, promoting these activities and training of workers would lead to increases in productivity and better opportunities for skilled workers while other social policies could help to mitigate wage inequality effects.
Sino-nasal Cancer in Denmark 1982 ± 1991

From the Departments of Oncology and Otorhinolaryngology at Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus (C. Grau, G. Harbo), Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen (M.H. Jakobsen, S.K. Larsen), Odense University Hospital, Odense (V. Svane-Knudsen) , Copenhagen County Hospital, Herlev (K. Wedervang), Aalborg Sygehus, Aalborg (C. Rytter) and the Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus (C. Grau), Denmark
Ethanol Modulates the Growth of Human Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro

The role of ethanol or its metabolites on breast neoplasm has not been characterized. We hypothesized that ethanol may alter the growth rate of human breast tumor epithelial cells by modulating putative growth-promoting signaling pathways such as p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). The MCF-7 cell line, considered a suitable model, was used in these studies to investigate the effects of ethanol on [3H]thymidine incorporation, cell number, and p44/42 MAPK activities in the presence or absence of a MAPK or extracellular signal-regulated kinase ERK-1, and (MEK1) inhibitor (PD098059). Treatment of MCF-7 cells with a physiologically relevant concentration of ethanol (0.3% or 65 mM) increased p44/42 activities by an average of 400% (P < 0.02), and subsequent cell growth by 200% (P < 0.05) in a MEK1 inhibitor (PD098059)-sensitive fashion, thus suggesting that the Ras/MEK/MAPK signaling pathways are crucial for ethanol-induced MCF-7 cell growth.
Comparison of luteal phase profile in gonadotrophin stimulated cycles with or without a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist.

BACKGROUND The aim of our study was to explore luteal phase hormone profiles in gonadotrophin-stimulated cycles with or without gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist therapy during intrauterine insemination (IUI). Forty-one infertile couples were recruited in this randomized clinical study. METHODS The 19 patients included in group A were treated for 21 cycles with recombinant FSH 150 IU/day starting from day 3 of the cycle and with the GnRH antagonist cetrorelix at the dose of 0.25 mg/day starting from the day in which a follicle with a mean diameter of > or =14 mm was seen at ultrasound scan. Cetrorelix was administered until human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration. The 22 patients included in group B were administered recombinant FSH alone at the same dosage for 27 cycles. RESULTS The two treatment groups showed a similar increase in progesterone concentration during the luteal phase. In the mid-luteal phase (day 6 after HCG), oestradiol concentrations in group B were significantly higher compared with group A (P < 0.05) but the oestradiol:progesterone ratio was similar in the two groups. Serum LH was completely suppressed during the follicular phase only in group A, concomitantly with GnRH antagonist administration. A total of six pregnancies, all ongoing, were achieved (14.3% per patient and 12.2% per cycle), equally distributed in group A and in group B. CONCLUSION GnRH antagonists can be safely administered in gonadotrophin-stimulated IUI cycles without luteal phase supplementation because no deleterious effects of GnRH antagonist administration were noted on luteal progesterone concentration or on the duration of the luteal phase.
Traversing the cultural and pedagogical divide: Understanding complexities for international students completing school based professional experience.

This research project grew out of an identified need within teacher education programs at the Institute of Early Childhood (IEC), Macquarie University. The researchers are lecturers and coordinate Professional Experience units across the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) degree. They identified a continuing pattern of international students receiving low grades or failing professional experience units; particularly when they were placed in the school environment. Bourdieu� theorised� the� importance� of� ‘capital’� as� a� ‘power’� resource� for� individuals� (1989). He identified the role of the school system in reproducing and reinforcing the dominant cultural group within society (Bourdieu, 1973). International students have usually attended school outside of Australia and do not possess the cultural capital of the school setting they are being placed into for professional experience. Whilst they are learning to be an effective teacher they are, in parallel, learning to understand the culture of schooling within Australia. A pilot study was conducted which aimed to identify supports and constraints for international students completing their first professional experience school placement. The research employed a social constructivist approach (Lincoln & Guba, 1985) to explore the factors which impact on professional experience placements in school settings for international students. Social constructivism is driven by lived experiences and defines patterns of experience. The pilot study involved four phases; interviewing key stakeholders; identifying appropriate support strategies for students; applying strategies prior to and during professional experience placements; and follow up interviews to identify changes to practice. In this paper the researchers will outline the current literature and report on the first two phases of the pilot study. Findings from key stakeholders (international students and cooperating teachers) will outline their various perspectives and identify key issues of concern. Supports required for these international students on their first school setting placement will also be discussed.
The properties and host range of male-specific bacteriophages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Summary: Three Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages specific for bacteria harbouring the P-group plasmid RP1 have been isolated, and their properties compared with those of a previously described sex-specific phage, PRR1 (Olsen & Shipley, 1973). These phages are distinguishable from each other by various criteria, although in terms of host range to FP+ and RP+ lines of P. aeruginosa pao they comprise broadly two groups. Thus all the phages infect bacteria harbouring any of a group of plasmids with similar properties to those of RP1, but whereas the filamentous phage Pf3 is specific for this group, the host ranges of PRR1, PR3 and PR4 are considerably wider. Nevertheless, with one exception, this does not extend to plasmids isolated outside the United Kingdom, which suggests that all these plasmids share a common ancestry even though by other criteria they constitute three fairly discrete subgroups. Of the plasmids that fail to allow phage propagation, three, when present in the same cell as RP1, reduce its susceptibility to phage infection. This inhibition may reflect a relationship between these elements, similar to that found among plasmids of Enterobacteria. A correlation is observed between the susceptibility of bacteria to phage infection and their ability to mediate plasmid transfer, such that these phages can conveniently be used to isolate both derepressed or transfer-defective mutants of various R factors.
Ownership structure, corporate governance and corporate performance in Malaysia

Purpose – Following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the Malaysian Government introduced new regulations on corporate governance, recognizing the importance of restoring market confidence. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of the implementation of these new regulations on corporate performance.Design/methodology/approach – Regression analysis was performed to examine factors influencing corporate performance. Ownership structure was represented by director ownership, foreign ownership and government ownership, and corporate governance was proxied by board size and independence. Corporate performance was measured by Tobin's Q.Findings – Using data from the year 2001 annual reports of 87 non‐financial listed companies included in the composite index, the results showed that none of the corporate governance variables was statistically significant in explaining corporate performance. Nonetheless, two ownership variables, namely the government as a substantial shareholder and foreign ownershi.
Bayesian Dynamic Factor Analysis of a Simple Monetary DSGE Model

When estimating DSGE models, the number of observable economic variables is usually kept small, and it is conveniently assumed that DSGE model variables are perfectly measured by a single data series. Building upon Boivin and Giannoni (2006), we relax these two assumptions and estimate a fairly simple monetary DSGE model on a richer data set. Using post-1983 U.S.data on real output, inflation, nominal interest rates, measures of inverse money velocity, and a large panel of informational series, we compare the data-rich DSGE model with the regular - few observables, perfect measurement - DSGE model in terms of deep parameter estimates, propagation of monetary policy and technology shocks and sources of business cycle fluctuations. We document that the data-rich DSGE model generates a higher implied duration of Calvo price contracts and a lower slope of the New Keynesian Phillips curve. To reduce the computational costs of the likelihood-based estimation, we employed a novel speedup as in Jungbacker and Koopman (2008) and achieved the time savings of 60 percent.
Genetic impact on uric acid concentration and hyperuricemia in the Japanese population.

AIM Using general Japanese populations, we performed a replication study of genetic loci previously identified in European-descent populations as being associated with uric acid and gout. The relative contribution of non-genetic and genetic factors to the variances in serum uric acid concentration was then evaluated. METHODS Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped from 7 candidate loci robustly confirmed in Europeans. Genotyping was performed in up to 17,226 individuals, from which 237 hyperuricemia cases and 3,218 controls were chosen for a case-control study. For 6 SNPs showing a replication of uric acid association in 17,076 general population samples, we further tested the associations with other metabolic traits (n≤5,745) and with type 2 diabetes (931 cases and 1404 controls) and coronary artery disease (806 cases and 1337 controls). RESULTS Significant uric acid associations (one-tailed p<0.05) were replicated for 6 loci in Japanese. The strongest association was detected at SLC22A12 rs505802 for uric acid (p=2.4×10(-50)) and ABCG2 rs2231142 for hyperuricemia (p3.6×10(-10)). The combined genetic effect could explain some proportion of inter-individual variation in uric acid (R(2)=0.03) and was more or less comparable to the effect of well-recognized risk factors -BMI (R(2)=0.04) and alcohol intake (R(2)=0.01). The tested SNPs were not significantly associated with cardiovascular risk traits except for GCKR rs780094. CONCLUSION Our results confirm that 6 common uric acid variant loci are reproducible in Japanese. Further investigation is warranted to efficiently use the knowledge about genetic factors in combination with modifiable risk factors when we decide an individual's treatment strategy for hyperuricemia.
Evaluating Asset�?Market Effects of Unconventional Monetary Policy: A Multi�?Country Review

This paper examines the effects of unconventional monetary policy by the Federal Reserve, Bank of England, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan on bond yields, stock prices and exchange rates. We use common methodologies for the four central banks, with daily and intradaily asset price data. We emphasize the use of intradaily data to identify the causal effect of monetary policy surprises. We find that these policies are effective in easing financial conditions when policy rates are stuck at the zero lower bound, apparently largely by reducing term premia. — John H. Rogers, Chiara Scotti and Jonathan H. Wright
EFFECT OF β-ARTEETHER TREATMENT ON ERYTHROCYTIC METHEMOGLOBIN REDUCTASE SYSTEM IN PLASMODIUM YOELII NIGERIENSIS INFECTED MICE

Background: The methemoglobin reductase system plays a vital role in maintaining the equilibrium between hemoglobin (Hb) and methemoglobin (MetHb) in blood. Exposure of red blood cells to an oxidative stress (pathological/physiological) may cause impairment in this equilibrium. Objective: The status of MetHb and the related reductase system was studied during Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis (P. y. nigeriensis) infection and β-arteether treatment in mice. Methods: Mice were divided into four groups. Normal group, normal mice treated withβ-arteether, P. y. nigeriensis infected mice and P. y. nigeriensis infected mice treated with β-arteether. Results: The present investigation revealed a marked decrease in the activity of MetHb reductase, with concomitant rise in MetHb levels during P. y. nigeriensis infection in mice erythrocytes (P<0.001) as compared to normal mice. However, the activities of the associated enzymes viz., lactate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase were found to be increased with progressive rise in parasitemia. β-Arteether treatment (12.5 mg/kg body weight) of infected mice (parasitemia 20–25%) from day 5 of post infection resulted in complete clearance of parasitemia on day 7 of post infection, which was accompanied by restoration of all the altered above mentioned indices to near normal levels as compared to infected mice (P<0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that there is a marked impairment of methemoglobin and methemoglobin reductase system during P. y. nigeriensis infection in mice. β-Arteether treatment of infected mice resulted in complete clearance of parasitemia which also caused the restoration of methemoglobin and methemoglobin reductase system to near normal levels.
Urbanization, Suburbanization, and Counterurbanization in Estonia

A team of European geographers compares trends in urbanization, suburbanization, and counterurbanization in post-Soviet Estonia with those in other transition countries in the former Soviet Union and Eastern and Central Europe. The study employs data from the first post-Soviet Estonian census to analyze urban and rural population movements during 1989-2000, and contrasts trends in the national settlement system (increasing population concentration in largest metropolitan areas) with those apparent at the intra-metropolitan area scale (suburbanization). Differences in trends prevailing in Estonia vis-à-vis other transition countries are investigated from the perspective of their divergent migration histories. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J60, O15, O18. 5 figures, 3 tables, 68 references.
New challenges in professional cleaning: hygiene quality and monitoring of surfaces in private domestic homes

In many countries, changes in the pattern of working lives and ageing of the population increases the need for professional cleaning in private domestic homes. The objective of this study was to obtain basic knowledge concerning professional home cleaning. The study consisted of two parts. First, cleanability of surfaces contaminated with microbiological and organic soils was examined in the laboratory using cleaning cloths, detergents and rapid detection methods with potential for use in conjunction with professional cleaning in private homes. Second, hygienic conditions in three households were screened using the same rapid detection methods as in the laboratory experiments. According to the laboratory study, the cleaning efficiency of the non-woven cloth was clearly poorer than that of the cleaning cloths containing microfibers. There were differences between the efficacy of the cleaning agents in removal of protein and microbiological soils. Despite the differences between surface topography observed with scanning electron microscopy, differences between the cleanability of the three examined surface materials (steel and two plastic surfaces) were small. In hygiene monitoring, the highest levels of total aerobic bacterial counts were detected in the plughole of the sink, on the eating table in kitchens and along the edge of the toilet washbowl and the cover of toilet seats. Low amounts of Enterobacteriaceae indicating faecal contamination were detected in the toilet and bathroom after cleaning. Moulds were not detected in any of the three households, and the amounts of yeasts were low. Detection methods, microbiological dipslides and the protein test, were well suited to the laboratory study. Furthermore, they complemented each other in the hygiene monitoring. The information obtained will be used for development of better practices in professional home cleaning. Good quality management in professional home cleaning and the cleanliness of surfaces in homes are important factors affecting comfort and safety.
Impact of the Perceived Image of Celebrity Endorsers on Tourists’ Intentions to Visit

The purpose of this study is to empirically assess the mediating effects of the impact of the perceived image of celebrity endorsers on tourists’ intentions to visit, using celebrity-endorsed print advertisements for travel destinations. The results indicate that celebrity endorsers have a significant impact on people’s attitudes and visit intentions, thus verifying the mediating effects of this variable. The study also provides clues to what extent celebrity-endorsed advertisements differ from nonendorsed advertisements and explores such differences in terms of destination match-up between native and nonnative celebrity-endorsed advertisements.
Related cord blood banking for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The aims of this single centre study were to assess the feasibility of related cord blood collecting, the appropriateness of storage and the final suitability for transplantation. Since September 1994, 63 families were enrolled in this study. Families were eligible if they were caring for a patient with a disorder treatable by haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and were experiencing a pregnancy. A total of 72 cord blood units were collected and stored for 64 patients (both siblings and parents). We focussed on human leucocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility and cell content as critical requirements to unit's suitability for transplantation. HLA‐typing was carried out for 34 donor–recipient couples and most units (72%) mismatched with the related patients. About 60% of collections had a minimum cell dose considered acceptable for transplantation. Only 21% of units had both compatibility degree and cell content suitable for transplantation. When applicable, information on the compatibility degree between the foetus and the patient should be obtained during pregnancy. Appropriateness of related cord blood banking for parents should be further investigated and cost‐effective guidelines policies should be provided. Finally, as banking of related cord blood units is an important resource then, this public service should be supported and enhanced.
Inflation Illusion and the (Mis) Pricing of Assets and Liabilities

Inflation, crucial to people's economic and financial decisions, is often handled improperly in conventional valuation frameworks. Forecasts of future nominal cash flows are not always based on the same expected rate of inflation that is in the nominal interest rate used to discount those cash flows. This can lead to mispricing of assets and liabilities, especially when nominal interest rates and expected inflation move outside recent norms.