Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect on Rendement Napole genotype on metabolic markers in Ossabaw pigs fed different levels of fat

We investigated effects of Rendement Napole (RN) genotype on metabolic markers in Ossabaw pigs fed diets with different levels of dietary fat. Thirty-two pigs, belonging to either the wild-type (WT, rn+ /rn+ ) or carrier (CAR, RN- /rn+ ) genotypes (n = 16/genotype), were divided into two dietary groups, (high fat [HF] or low fat [LF]) diets, for 12 weeks (n = 8 pigs/genotype/diet) after which pigs were killed for gene expression analysis by RT-PCR. Feeding HF diet caused increased daily gain (ADG, p < .05) and final body weight (BW) (p < .05) in comparison with the LF diet (p < .05). Feed efficiency (gain:feed) was higher (p < .05) in pigs on the HF and was higher (p < .05) in CAR pigs compared to WT. There was genotype × diet interaction (p = .05) on final BW such that CAR animals on LF diet had the same final BW as animals of both genotypes on HF diet. Carrier pigs on LF diet had higher (p < .05) average daily gain and gain:feed than WT pigs. There was a trend (p < .08) for a higher feed consumption in pigs on the LF diet. Backfat thickness was higher (p < .01) in pigs on the HF diet. Serum triglyceride was higher (0.62 vs. 0.33 mg/dl, p < .01) in pigs on HF diet. Serum insulin was higher (p < .05) in CAR versus WT pigs (0.40 vs. 0.015 μg/ml). Pigs on the HF diet had a higher (p < .05) serum insulin compared to those on the LF diet (0.032 vs. 0.023 μg/ml). Carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1-alpha was higher (p < .05) in the longissimus dorsi and semitendinosus muscles of pigs on HF diet. Acyl-CoA oxidase I was elevated (p < .05) in the liver of pigs on HF diet. Fatty acid synthase was lower in the longissimus dorsi muscle, liver and mesenteric fat (p < .05) of carrier pigs. The RN gene regulates specific metabolic markers in the Ossabaw pigs.
Comment: Public Housing Demolition and the Benefits to Low-Income Families

Liebman, J., & Kling, J. (). Moving to Opportunity: Interim impacts evaluation. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. Popkin, S. , Levy, D. K. , Harris, L. E. , Comey, J., Cunningham, M. K. , & Buron, L. (). HOPE VI panel study: Baseline report. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. Popkin, S. , Katz, B. , Cunningham, M. , Brown, K. , Gustafson, J., & Turner, M. A. (). A decade of HOPE: Research findings and policy challenges. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. Rosenbaum, J. E. (). Closing the gap: Does residential integration improve the employment and education of low-income blacks? In L. B. Joseph (Ed.), Affordable housing and public policy. Chicago: University of Chicago, Center for Urban Research and Policy Studies. Rosenbaum, J. E. , & Popkin, S. (). Employment and earnings of lowincome blacks who move to middle-class suburbs. Paper presented at a Northwestern University conference on The Truly Disadvantaged, Evanston, IL. Rubinowitz, L. S. , & Rosenbaum, J. E. (). Crossing the class and color lines: From public housing to white suburbia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Audit, Region IV. (, March ). Audit report: Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta public housing management operations. Washington, DC: Author. Vale, L. J. (). Reclaiming public housing: A half a century of struggle in three public neighborhoods. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Wilson, W. J. (). The truly disadvantaged: The inner-city, the underclass, and public policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Wilson, W. J. (). Studying the inner-city social dislocations: The challenge of public agenda research. American Sociological Review,  (), –. Wilson, W. J. (). When work disappears. New York: Vintage.
Creating Simulations for Political Science Education

ABSTRACT Simulations, particularly human-to-human interactions, offer social science students the opportunity to learn from firsthand experience, and can be an important and useful addition to an educator's teaching repertoire. However, it can be difficult for an instructor to know how to structure a simulation environment to meet specific educational goals. In this article, we suggest a pedagogical framework, focusing on the choice between educating students about process or content, for developing a social science simulation environment that promotes the desired learning objectives. We discuss time and technology limitations, and outline a number of structural considerations to help simulation designers as they develop their own simulations. Finally, we present a web-based tool to facilitate the creation of simulations (face-to-face or computer-mediated) based on the framework. We believe that the pedagogical structure and the virtual infrastructure will help those educators who would like to use simulations in their classrooms, but have not found any that suit their particular needs.
Establishment of serum protein pattern for screening colorectal cancer using SELDI-TOF-MS.

AIM The purpose of this study is to develop a proteomic pattern for distinguishing individuals with colorectal cancer from healthy controls and monitoring micrometastasis using SELDI-TOF-MS. METHODS A training set consisting of 63 patients with colorectal cancer, 20 patients with benign colorectal diseases and 26 healthy volunteers was used to develop a proteomic model that discriminated colorectal cancer effectively. The sensitivity and specificity of this model was validated by an independent test set. To explore serum proteins changed after operation, the protein profiles of 31 postoperative patients were compared with those of preoperative patients. We also analyzed protein profiles of patients with and without metastasis to monitor micrometastasis. RESULTS Our study yielded a four-peak model (m/z: 3191.5, 3262.9, 3396.3 and 5334.4) that discriminated cancer from non-cancer samples with sensitivity of 90.3% and specificity of 95.7%. This model was validated in the test set with sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 93.8% which was significantly better than the combination use of CEA, CA199 and CA242 (sensitivity 62.4%) for early detection of colorectal cancer. Two peaks (m/z: 2753.8 and 4172.4) were found down-regulated in postoperative samples comparing with preoperative samples. We also detected two proteins (m/z: 9184.4 and 9340.9) that can discriminate patients with primary colorectal cancer from metastatic colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS The four-peak model and two peaks (m/z: 2753.8 and 4172.4) detected in this study have the potential for assistance in diagnostics and therapeutic strategies in colorectal cancer and the two proteins (m/z: 9184.4 and 9340.9) were effective biomarkers for monitoring micrometastasis.
Structural Shifts in Credit Rating Standards

I examine the time-series variation in corporate credit rating standards from 1985 to 2007. A divergent pattern exists between investment-grade and speculative-grade rating standards from 1985 to 2002 as investment-grade standards tighten and speculative-grade loosen. In 2002, a structural shift occurs toward more stringent ratings. Holding characteristics constant, firms experience a drop of 1.5 notches in ratings due to tightened standards from 2002 to 2007. Credit spread tests suggest that the variation in standards is not completely due to changes in the economic climate. Rating standards affect credit spreads. Loose ratings are associated with higher default rates.
Evaluation of medial and lateral meniscus thicknesses in early osteoarthritis of the knee with magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate early changes occurring in both medial and lateral meniscus thickness from the knees of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS We conducted this study in the Department of Anatomy and Division of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey during the period 2004 to 2005. In this study, we measured the thickness of the medial and lateral meniscus in a group of 36 (50 knees) consecutive patients with chronic knee pain, and clinical findings of early OA, and 10 (20 knees) control subjects using MRI. RESULTS The thickness of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and anterior horn of the lateral meniscus were significantly higher in the OA patients compared with the control subjects. CONCLUSION This study showed that meniscal degeneration in early stage OA is not evenly distributed in the knee. Thickening of the menisci in some areas may occur due to their own localization and biomechanics.
Managing Uncertainty in Creative Industries: Lessons from Jerry Springer the Opera

This article considers the impact of uncertainty on entrepreneurial performance in the UK theatre industry. The article identifies and evaluates the major determinants of demand uncertainty audience composition, critical acclaim and media coverage whose management is key to entrepreneurial success. An in-depth historical case study of the controversial production, Jerry Springer the Opera, analyses the evolution of these three distinct sources of uncertainty and illustrates that they should not be treated in isolation since they interact in complex ways which change with time. The case study shows how the entrepreneurs involved used a multi-staged production process as a strategy to market test their product and to distribute their risks across agents and over time. The article therefore considers what contributed to both the successes and failures of these entrepreneurs as well as highlighting important strategic lessons for managing uncertainty in creative industries.
In vivo control of NF‐kappa B activation by I kappa B alpha.

The transcription factor NF‐kappa B is stored in the cytoplasm in complexes with the inhibitor protein I kappa B alpha. It has been shown in vitro that dissociation of I kappa B alpha from these complexes results in active NF‐kappa B. In this report we show that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced activation of B or pre‐B cells results in loss of I kappa B alpha from NF‐kappa B complexes in vivo. Many liberated NF‐kappa B dimers reached the nucleus, where increased c‐rel, p65 and p50 were detected by immunoblotting and by DNA binding assays. Some liberated dimers were retained in the cytoplasm, however, through binding to newly synthesized I kappa B alpha, a finding which strongly suggests (i) that the LPS‐induced signal causes dissociation of complexes rather than preventing their association and (ii) that dissociation results from modification of I kappa B alpha and not of c‐rel or p65. No effect of LPS treatment was detected on p105 or p100, which also retain rel family members in the cytoplasm. Quite unexpectedly, we also found that in unstimulated cells there is a constant ongoing process of degradation and replacement of complexed I kappa B alpha. We propose that this turnover results in the low level of active NF‐kappa B presumably necessary even in the unstimulated cell, and that the high rate of synthesis of I kappa B alpha provides the ability to turn off NF‐kappa B activity rapidly as soon as the activating signal ceases.
The U.S. Equity Return Premium: Past, Present, and Future

For more than a century, diversified long-horizon investments in America's stock market have consistently received much higher returns than investors in bonds: a return gap averaging 6 percent per year. An enormous amount of creative and ingenious work by a great many economists has gone into seeking explanations for the so-called “equity premium return puzzle,” but so far without a fully satisfactory answer. We first review the facts about the equity premium and then discuss a range of explanations that have been proposed. We conclude that the equity premium puzzle has not been solved: it remains a puzzle. And we anticipate that the equity return premium will continue, albeit at a smaller level than in the past—perhaps four percent per year. (The final draft of this paper was written before the recent stock market crash. As of October 2008, we can say that the crash does not fundamentally alter our conclusions and actually strengthens the case for a substantial future equity premium.)
Lessons learned from early clinical experience and results of 300 ASR® hip resurfacing implantations

Abstract Between August 2003 and April 2005, 300 ASR® metal-on-metal resurfacing hip endoprostheses were implanted by the first author and a fellow surgeon. The mean age at surgery was 56.8 years (18-75.9 years) and mean body mass index was 27.6 kg/m2 (range, 19-41 kg/m2). The mean follow-up time was 202 days. The mean Harris hip score improved from 44 pre-operatively to 89 at 3 months post-operatively. In total, eight (2.7 per cent) cases [five neck fractures (1.66 per cent) and three cup revisions (1 per cent)] were revised. Two neck fractures occurred within a group of seven cases of femoral neck notching detected postoperatively; one neck fracture occurred out of two cases of incomplete seating of the femoral implant. A significantly higher (p < 0.001) failure rate was observed for patients who had undergone a previous osteosynthesis of the proximal femur (three revisions in a group of 15 patients). Revision cases had a significantly greater body mass index (p = 0.031). A learning curve was evident from the reduction in revisions from 5 in the first 100 surgical procedures to 2 in the next 100 and 1 in the last 100. These results show the importance of accurate surgical technique and careful patient selection for fourth-generation hip resurfacing implants.
An Evidential Reasoning‐Based CREAM to Human Reliability Analysis in Maritime Accident Process

This article proposes a modified cognitive reliability and error analysis method (CREAM) for estimating the human error probability in the maritime accident process on the basis of an evidential reasoning approach. This modified CREAM is developed to precisely quantify the linguistic variables of the common performance conditions and to overcome the problem of ignoring the uncertainty caused by incomplete information in the existing CREAM models. Moreover, this article views maritime accident development from the sequential perspective, where a scenario‐ and barrier‐based framework is proposed to describe the maritime accident process. This evidential reasoning‐based CREAM approach together with the proposed accident development framework are applied to human reliability analysis of a ship capsizing accident. It will facilitate subjective human reliability analysis in different engineering systems where uncertainty exists in practice.
Reading the Rains: Local Knowledge and Rainfall Forecasting in Burkina Faso

This article describes how farmers of Burkina Faso predict seasonal rainfall and examines how their forecasts relate to those produced by meteorological science. Farmers' forecasting knowledge encompasses shared and selective repertoires. Most farmers formulate expectations from observation of natural phenomena. Cultural and ritual spiritualists also predict rainfall from divination, visions, and dreams. Rather than positing local and scientific knowledge as self-exclusive, our research shows that farmers operate in multiple cognitive frameworks. Moreover, they are interested in receiving scientific information because they perceive local forecasts as becoming less reliable as a result of increasing climate variability. Some aspects of local forecasting knowledge, such as those stressing the relationship between temperatures, wind, and rainfall, can help explain meteorology-based forecasts. But significant discordance remains between scientific and local forecasts. The former predict total rainfall quantity at a regional scale, whereas the latter stress rainfall duration and distribution and are more attuned to crop-weather interactions. Local systems of thought stress the relationship between knowledge and social responsibility. This emphasizes the need for scientists to integrate information dissemination projects with efforts to improve farmers' capacity to respond to forecasts and to cope with suboptimal climate impacts.
Estimating the optimal hedge ratio in the presence of potential unknown structural breaks

We propose a new approach in the estimation of the optimal hedge ratio that allows the hedge ratio to vary over time but without the necessity of frequently rebalancing the portfolio. We apply this in the context of the US and UK equity markets using weekly spot share prices and future share prices during the period 5 January 1999 to 29 September 2009. Our method is to test for cointegration in the presence of two potentially unknown structural breaks by determining the timing of each via the underlying data. The empirical findings reveal that the spot and future prices are strongly cointegrated in each market. The estimated parameters disclose that the optimal hedge ratio is not constant in case of the US and the UK. We find one negative and one positive shift in the optimal hedge ratio in the US. However, we find only one significant and positive shift in the optimal hedge ratio in the UK. The implication of these findings from the perspective of both investors as well as policy-makers is elaborated on in the main text.
Stock market regulation and news dissemination: evidence from an emerging market

Stock market efficiency is associated with news being spread immediately in the market. The literature, however, offers two competing theories to explain this phenomenon. One theory, the mixture of distributions hypothesis (MDH) claims immediate dissemination, while the other, the sequential information arrival hypothesis (SIAH) argues for sequential dissemination, or effectively market inefficiency. The present paper provides a critical test of the two theories using emerging market data, specifically from Egypt, and finds evidence to validate both hypotheses, conditional on the regulatory regime (price limit versus circuit breaker). Using generalized method of moments estimation on 10 years of daily data on the EXG 30 market index, our results show that within the price limit window, news proxied by trading volume, spreads instantaneously to all market participants, consistently with the MDH. Within subsequent circuit breaker window, however, new information leaks out to all market participants only over a period of several days, consistently with the SIAH. We find this switch is moreover associated with an increase in price volatility. Thus, not only is the market less-efficient after the switch, it is also more volatile.
Asthma and COPD among aboriginals in Alberta, Canada.

BACKGROUND Aboriginals in Canada bear a disproportionately higher burden of some chronic illnesses than nonaboriginals. Although there is a greater prevalence of smoking, poor housing, and overcrowding in aboriginal than nonaboriginal communities, the rates of office and emergency visits for asthma and COPD among aboriginals are not well known. STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine whether aboriginals require higher rates of asthma and COPD emergency and office visits than nonaboriginals. SETTING Population-based cohort of people residing in Alberta, Canada (population 2.8 million) between April 1, 1996, and March 31, 1997. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. RESULTS We observed that aboriginals were 2.1 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0 to 2.2) and 1.6 times (95% CI, 1.6 to 1.6) more likely to have an emergency and office visit for asthma or COPD, respectively, when compared to age-matched and sex-matched nonaboriginals. However, they were 55% (95% CI, 52 to 58%) less likely to see a specialist and 66% (95% CI, 63 to 70%) less likely to undergo spirometry than nonaboriginals. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that aboriginals bear a disproportionately higher burden of asthma and COPD than nonaboriginals. However, lower use of spirometry and specialist services suggests that there might be access barriers to quality health care for aboriginals in Canada.
Segmenting the College Educated Generation Y Health and Wellness Traveler

ABSTRACT Generation Y is considered to be the next largest cohort group to significantly impact the health and wellness travel industry. This study sought to create a profile of the Gen Y health and wellness traveler using push and pull motivations and perceived wellness. K-means clustering revealed five distinct traveler segments. Wellness was found to be a motivating factor as well as the other internal and external motivators used in this study. Men were found to travel more for escape and women for the nightlife. Opportunities to both seek and avoid contact with others were revealed. Suggestions for future marketing messages for the Gen Y wellness traveler are offered.
Diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder perforation.

AIM To present our clinical experience with gallbladder perforation cases. METHODS Records of 332 patients who received medical and/or surgical treatment with the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in our clinic between 1997 and 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. Sixteen (4.8%) of those patients had gallbladder perforation. The parameters including age, gender, time from the onset of symptoms to the time of surgery, diagnostic procedures, surgical treatment, morbidity, and mortality were evaluated. RESULTS Seven patients had type I gallbladder perforation, 7 type II gallbladder perforation, and 2 type III gallbladder perforation according to Niemeier's classification. The patients underwent surgery after administration of intravenous electrolyte solutions, and were treated with analgesics and antibiotics within the first 36 h (mean 9 h) after admission. Two patients died of sepsis and multiple organ failure in the early postoperative period. Subhepatic abscess, pelvic abscess, pneumonia, pancreatitis, and acute renal failure were found in 6 patients. CONCLUSION Early diagnosis and emergency surgical treatment of gallbladder perforation are of crucial importance. Upper abdominal computerized tomography for acute cholecystitis patients may contribute to the preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder perforation.
Investment Spikes and Uncertainty in the Petroleum Refining Industry

This paper investigates the effect of uncertainty on the investment decisions of petroleum refineries in the US. We construct uncertainty measures from commodity futures market and use data on actual capacity changes to measure investment episodes. Capacity changes in US refineries occur infrequently and a small number of investment spikes account for a large fraction of the change in industry capacity. Given the lumpy nature of investment adjustment in this industry, we empirically model the investment process using hazard models. An increase in uncertainty decreases the probability a refinery adjusts its capacity. The results are robust to various investment thresholds. Our findings lend support to theories that emphasize the role of irreversibility in investment decisions.
Durability and Asymmetry in UK Consumers' Expenditure

Cook et al. (1998) have recently proposed the hypothesis of a positive relationship between the durability of consumers' expenditure and the asymmetric behaviour it exhibits. Some support was found for this hypothesis via the application of Sichel's (1993) univariate tests of business cycle asymmetry to quarterly data on the components of UK consumers' expenditure. In this paper this hypothesis is revisited, with the original analysis extended in a number of ways. First, the hypothesis is examined using annual data over a longer span than the original study, potentially allowing more business cycles to be captured. Secondly the effects of alternative means of detrending, a prerequisite for the analysis, are considered. Using durable, non-durable and total consumption data for the UK, the 'durability-asymmetry' hypothesis is found to hold. It is also found that a previously noted aggregation paradox disappears, but a new temporal aggregation paradox is uncovered. Significantly, the manner in which the data are detrended is also seen to influence results.