Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Net Buybacks and the Seven Dwarfs

During the last two decades, the relationship between economic growth and equity returns has been weak across global stock markets. Economic growth has not been a good proxy for dividend-per-share growth. In the majority of the stock markets, issuance has exceeded buybacks and has resulted in a dilution effect. In several markets, however, buybacks have exceeded issuance, resulting in an accretion effect. The main finding of our study is that, whether investors use a dividend model or a total payout model to decompose equity returns, net buybacks explain more than 80% of the cross-sectional dispersion of stock market returns. A practitioner's perspective on this article is provided in the In Practice piece "Economic Growth = High Returns? Don't Bet on It" by Phil Davis. Disclosure: The views expressed in this article are those of the authors in their personal capacity and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). Although the authors have taken care to ensure that the information herein is accurate at the time of publication, neither the authors nor ADIA make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy of this article. Editor’s Note This article was externally reviewed using our double-blind peer-review process. When the article was accepted for publication, the authors thanked the reviewers in their acknowledgments. Roger Ibbotson was one of the reviewers for this article. Submitted 11 September 2017 Accepted 21 June 2018 by Stephen J. Brown
Study of antennas in reverberation chamber using method of moments with cavity Green's function calculated by Ewald summation

A numerical model of wires in rectangular metal cavities is introduced for computing antennas in a simplified theoretical reverberation chamber. The code is based on the method of moments, and it uses the Ewald summation for efficient calculation of the cavity Green's function. The Q-value of the chamber is accounted for in the model by a homogeneous material filling the chamber. The S-parameters of two dipoles placed in many random positions in the cavity are computed and averaged to provide the average transfer function of the chamber. This represents mode stirring by moving the antennas, referred to as position stirring. The computed results are compared with theoretical statistical values as well as experimental results. The discrepancies are discussed.
The effect of the CYP1A2 *1F mutation on CYP1A2 inducibility in pregnant women.

AIMS To investigate the influence of the CYP1A2*1F mutation on CYP1A2 activity in smoking and nonsmoking pregnant women. METHODS Pregnant women (n = 904) who served as control subjects in a case-control study of early fetal loss were investigated. They were phenotyped for CYP1A2 using dietary caffeine and the urinary ratio AFMU + 1X + 1 U/1,7 U. An assay for CYP1A2*1F using 5'-nuclease assay (Taqman) was developed to genotype the population. RESULTS The frequencies of *1 A and *1F alleles among Swedish women were 0.29 and 0.71, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in CYP1A2 activity between the genotypes, although a trend towards enhanced activity was observed in *1F/*1F (log MRc 0.77) and *1F/*1 A (log MRc 0.82) genotypes compared with the *1 A/*1 A genotype (log MRc 0.71) (anovaP = 0.07). The mean difference between the *1 A homozygotes and the heterozygotes was 0.11 [95% confidence interval of the difference: (-0.21, -0.01)] and that between the *1 A and *1F homozygotes was 0.05 [95% confidence interval of the difference: (-0.13, 0.03)]. No significant effect (P = 0.22) of the *1F on CYP1A2 activity was observed in smokers, tested using an interaction term (smoking * genotype) in the anova model (*1F/*1F log MRc 0.79, *1F/*1 A log MRc 0.86, and *1 A/*1 A log MRc 0.73). In smokers, there was no difference in ratio between homozygotes for the *1 A and *1F alleles [mean difference -0.06; 95% confidence interval of the difference: -0.22, 0.11] or between *1 A/*1 A and *1 A/*1F genotypes [mean difference -0.13; 95% confidence interval of the difference: -0.29, 0.04]. CONCLUSIONS The effect of the CYP1A2*1F mutation on CYP1A2 activity in smoking pregnant women could not be confirmed.
Mechanisms of Hypertension Induced by Nitric Oxide (NO) Deficiency: Focus on Venous Function

Loss of endothelial cell-derived nitric oxide (NO) in hypertension is a hallmark of arterial dysfunction. Experimental hypertension created by the removal of NO, however, involves mechanisms in addition to decreased arterial vasodilator activity. These include augmented endothelin-1 (ET-1) release, increased sympathetic nervous system activity, and elevated tissue oxidative stress. We hypothesized that increased venous smooth muscle (venomotor) tone plays a role in Nω-nitro-L-arginine (LNNA) hypertension through these mechanisms. Rats were treated with the NO synthase inhibitor LNNA (0.5 g/L in drinking water) for 2 weeks. Mean arterial pressure of conscious rats was 119±2 mm Hg in control and 194±5 mm Hg in LNNA rats (P<0.05). Carotid arteries and vena cava were removed for measurement of isometric contraction. Maximal contraction to norepinephrine was modestly reduced in arteries from LNNA compared with control rats whereas the maximum contraction to ET-1 was significantly reduced (54% control). Maximum contraction of vena cava to norepinephrine (37% control) also was reduced but no change in response to ET-1 was observed. Mean circulatory filling pressure, an in vivo measure of venomotor tone, was not elevated in LNNA hypertension at 1 or 2 weeks after LNNA. The superoxide scavenger tempol (30, 100, and 300 μmol kg−1, IV) did not change arterial pressure in control rats but caused a dose-dependent decrease in LNNA rats (−18±8, −26±15, and –54±11 mm Hg). Similarly, ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium caused a significantly greater fall in LNNA hypertensive rats (76±9 mm Hg) compared with control rats (35±10 mm Hg). Carotid arteries, vena cava, and sympathetic ganglia from LNNA rats had higher basal levels of superoxide compared with those from control rats. These data suggest that while NO deficiency increases oxidative stress and sympathetic activity in both arterial and venous vessels, the impact on veins does not make a major contribution to this form of hypertension.
Distribution regimes and redistribution effects during retrenchment and crisis: A cui bono analysis of unemployment replacement rates of various income categories in 31 welfare states

This article analyses redistribution effects during retrenchment and crisis in 31 welfare states using a new data set from a refined analysis of unemployment replacement rates of low-, middle- and high-income levels (Comparative Welfare Entitlements Dataset 2 (CWED2)). Starting by identifying four distribution regimes before the economic crisis, the analysis shows that these regimes determine the redistribution of unemployment benefits during the period of retrenchment. As expected, equality-oriented capitalism redistributes in favour of the low-income levels and status-oriented and competitiveness-oriented capitalism have no redistribution effects. More interesting is the redistribution effect of a fourth regime type which favours high-income groups and which is present in both Western (Mediterranean) and Central and Eastern European countries. Another intriguing finding is that – with some notable exceptions – the period of retrenchment has been characterized by sparing the low-income groups from severe cuts. This has changed in the current economic crisis where this group has experienced severe cuts in their benefits. The reaction to the crisis is also more strongly determined by immediate needs and is not as well explained by the distribution regimes.
Parent concerns and professional responses: the case of specific language impairment.

BACKGROUND GPs and health visitors are usually the first to be approached by parents concerned about their child's speech and language development in the early years. The role health professionals play in early detection of speech and language difficulties is therefore crucial to ensure timely referral for speech and language therapy. AIM To examine parental accounts of health visitor and GP involvement in the assessment and diagnosis of their children's speech and language impairment. DESIGN OF STUDY Qualitative retrospective interviews. SETTING Two Local Education Authorities in Merseyside. METHOD In-depth interviews were conducted with 40 parents. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Twenty per cent of interviews were analysed by an independent researcher and consensus reached on thematic content. RESULTS In many cases, parents were the first to realise that there was something wrong with the speech and language development of their child. Parents reported that health professionals tended to underestimate speech and language problems, and failed to take parental views into account. In some cases, parents found that attending a specialist unit or hospital resulted in the children reaching school age before referral to speech and language therapy was made. In other cases, health professionals appeared to rely on the possibility of spontaneous recovery, and gave inappropriate advice to parents, which resulted in delayed referral to speech and language therapists. CONCLUSIONS Health professionals failed to use systematic, evidence-based approaches in responding to early parental concerns. For this group of parents, such an approach resulted in long delays in referral for specialist intervention.
Estimation of Rodrigues parameters from vector observations

A recursive minimum variance algorithm for attitude determination is presented. The attitude is expressed by the Rodrigues vector, where only three parameters are needed to describe orientation. The advantage of using the Rodrigues parameters is computational. Attitude calculations involve only relatively simple algebraic expressions, which is advantageous especially in real-time applications. The efficiency of the derived algorithm is demonstrated using Monte-Carlo computer simulation results and in an initial alignment aerospace application.
Bacterial DnaB helicase interacts with the excluded strand to regulate unwinding

Replicative hexameric helicases are thought to unwind duplex DNA by steric exclusion (SE) where one DNA strand is encircled by the hexamer and the other is excluded from the central channel. However, interactions with the excluded strand on the exterior surface of hexameric helicases have also been shown to be important for DNA unwinding, giving rise to the steric exclusion and wrapping (SEW) model. For example, the archaeal Sulfolobus solfataricus minichromosome maintenance (SsoMCM) helicase has been shown to unwind DNA via a SEW mode to enhance unwinding efficiency. Using single-molecule FRET, we now show that the analogous Escherichia coli (Ec) DnaB helicase also interacts specifically with the excluded DNA strand during unwinding. Mutation of several conserved and positively charged residues on the exterior surface of EcDnaB resulted in increased interaction dynamics and states compared with wild type. Surprisingly, these mutations also increased the DNA unwinding rate, suggesting that electrostatic contacts with the excluded strand act as a regulator for unwinding activity. In support of this, experiments neutralizing the charge of the excluded strand with a morpholino substrate instead of DNA also dramatically increased the unwinding rate. Of note, although the stability of the excluded strand was nearly identical for EcDnaB and SsoMCM, these enzymes are from different superfamilies and unwind DNA with opposite polarities. These results support the SEW model of unwinding for EcDnaB that expands on the existing SE model of hexameric helicase unwinding to include contributions from the excluded strand to regulate the DNA unwinding rate.
Need for education on footcare in diabetic patients in India.

OBJECTIVES The patient himself plays the crucial role in the prevention of diabetic foot disease and therefore education on foot care is important. In this study, we have evaluated the knowledge of the diabetic subjects regarding the foot problems and the care of feet in order to identify areas that require stress in the education programme. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred and fifty, consecutive cases of Type 2 diabetes (M:F, 176:74, age 57.2 +/- 9.7 yrs, duration 12.9 +/- 7.9 yrs) were selected for this study from the out-patient department of our hospital. A questionnaire was filled up for each patient by personal interview. The total score was 100 and a score of < 50 was considered as a low score for foot care knowledge. RESULTS A score of < 50 was obtained in 67.2%. Low score was more common in women (78.5%) than in men (62.5%) (chi 2 = 5.26, P = 0.022). Low scores (< 50) were more common among those with lower level of formal education (chi 2 = 70.0, P < 0.0001), there were more women with low educational status. Significant foot problems like gangrene, foot ulcers were present in 27.2% and low scores were more common among those with these complications (82% vs 62%) (chi 2 = 8.3, P = 0.004). In general the scores on awareness of general foot care principles and basic facts about the foot complications were poor. Most of them (72%) had good knowledge about the right usage of foot wear. There was a trend to have lower scores with poor formal education (chi 2 = 51.1, P < 0.0001) and also with increasing age. There was no correlation between the scores and the number of hospital visits. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that 31.2% of the variations in the scores were explained by the level of education. CONCLUSIONS This study underscores the importance of patient education on foot care principles, especially so, considering the magnitude of the problem of diabetes and the lower levels of literacy and poor socio economic status of many patients in this country.
Cost Justification of the BioFire FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel Versus Standard of Care for Diagnosing Meningitis in a Community Hospital

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Gram stain and culture along with CSF viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are the current standard of care (SOC) to diagnose meningitis. Unfortunately, these tests take up to 72 hours to provide results and are not always sensitive to detect a pathogen. BioFire FilmArray (FA) meningitis/encephalitis (ME) panel uses PCR to provide quick, accurate identification of the causative organism. For community hospitals, the cost of this technology may be prohibitive. Objective: To compare the institution cost of current SOC versus the anticipated cost of the FA ME panel to diagnose and treat suspected meningitis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted evaluating adult patients with a lumbar puncture performed and empiric antimicrobials administered for a diagnosis of meningitis. The time to receive CSF culture results and cost associated with empiric antimicrobials were assessed and compared to the theoretical time to results and cost of treatment using the FA ME panel. Results: Thirty-three patients were included in the analysis. The cost of antimicrobials using SOC was $63.43 versus $24.70 per treatment course if using the FA ME panel (P < .001). When the cost of diagnostic testing supplies per patient was included, the median cost of SOC was $239.63 versus $239.14 per treatment course when using the FA ME panel (P = .15). Conclusion: There is potential for significant cost savings in direct antibiotic utilization if FA ME is used versus SOC to diagnose meningitis in a community hospital. Antimicrobial cost savings were able to offset the increased cost of testing.
Emerging Proteomic Technologies Provide Enormous and Underutilized Potential for Brain Cancer Research

High-throughput technologies present immense opportunities to characterize brain cancer biology at a systems level. However, proteomic studies of brain cancers are still relatively scarce. Here we discuss the latest proteomic technologies, their application to profiling and quantitation of brain proteomes and how we expect these technologies will be applied to study brain cancer proteomes in the future. Mass spectrometry based proteomics with increased specificity, coverage and throughput will be pervasive in proteomics investigations of brain. Generated data needs to be captured by the curation of databases, and application of creative data analysis strategies is needed to provide meaningful insights into brain functions and associated pathologies. Overall, proteomics applications to brain cancers are in the earliest stages and the expanded use of these technologies holds enormous potential to improve our understanding of brain functions and pathologies.
Routine and nonroutine performance information: an assessment about substitution and complementarity

ABSTRACT This article investigates the substitution and complementarity effect that organizational social capital generates between two different types of performance information: nonroutine and routine performance information. The study of this topic is important since it offers a better understanding of how public managers inform their decision-making. Using department level data from 57 counties in Florida, this article finds that departments with higher levels of organizational social capital are more likely to complement the use of both routine and nonroutine performance information. Thus, the article reinforces the role and importance that organizational social capital plays into well-established and consolidated managerial practices.
The need for health promotion in oral cancer prevention and early detection.

OBJECTIVES This review paper provides a rationale for using health promotion to help reduce morbidity and mortality due to oral cancers by identifying barriers to prevention and early detection of these cancers and discussing strategies for change. METHODS A literature review of the following areas was conducted: epidemiology of and risk factors for oral cancers; knowledge, opinions, and practices of health care providers and the public regarding prevention, early detection, and control of oral cancers; and policies and regulations that either enhance or act as barriers to the prevention and early detection of oral cancers. RESULTS Overall, the public is ill-informed about risk factors for and signs and symptoms of oral cancers and relatively few US adults have had an oral cancer examination. Further, health care providers are remiss in providing oral cancer examinations and detecting early oral cancers. CONCLUSIONS To achieve the 13 oral cancer objectives contained in "Healthy People 2000," health care providers and the public must know the risk factors for these cancers as well as their signs and symptoms. Further, health care providers need to provide oral cancer examinations routinely and competently. Equally important, the public needs to know that an examination for oral cancer is available and that they can request one routinely. Thus, a vigorous agenda that includes education, policy, and research initiatives is needed to enhance oral cancer prevention and early detection.
Ca-dependent Interaction of Recoverin with Rhodopsin Kinase (*)

Recoverin (Rv) is a myristoylated Ca-binding protein present primarily in bovine photoreceptors. It represents a newly identified family of neuronal specific Ca-binding proteins that includes neurocalcin, hippocalcin, and guanylyl cyclase-activating protein. To investigate the function of Rv in photoreceptors, we identified proteins that bind immobilized Rv in a Ca-dependent manner. Rhodopsin kinase (RK), interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein, and tubulin interact with Rv in the presence of Ca. The importance of the Rv/RK interaction was further characterized. RK, purified using immobilized Rv as an affinity matrix, catalyzed the light-dependent and Ca-independent incorporation of phosphates into rhodopsin when reconstituted with urea-stripped rod outer segment membranes. When only a small fraction (0.04%) of rhodopsin was photolyzed, as many as 700 phosphates were incorporated per photolyzed rhodopsin, a phenomenon known as “high gain” phosphorylation. When recoverin was added, the activity of RK became sensitive to free Ca, with EC = 3 μM. The N-terminal myristoyl residue of Rv enhances the inhibitory effect of Rv and introduces cooperativity to the Ca-dependent inhibition of rhodopsin phosphorylation. Rv neither interacts with other members of the G-protein-coupled receptor kinase family such as β-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 nor inhibits β-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 activity. The specific and Ca-dependent Rv/RK interaction is necessary for the inhibitory effect of Rv on rhodopsin phosphorylation and may play an important role in photoreceptor light adaptation.
Divergent regulation by p44/p42 MAP kinase and p38 MAP kinase of bone morphogenetic protein‐4‐stimulated osteocalcin synthesis in osteoblasts

In the present study, we investigated whether the mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase superfamily is involved in the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐4‐stimulated synthesis of osteocalcin in osteoblast‐like MC3T3‐E1 cells. BMP‐4 dose‐dependently stimulated osteocalcin synthesis. BMP‐4 markedly induced the phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase and p38 MAP kinase, while having little effect on SAPK (stress‐activated protein kinase)/JNK (c‐Jun N terminal kinase) phosphorylation. SB203580 and PD169316, specific inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase, significantly reduced the osteocalcin synthesis stimulated by BMP‐4. In contrast, PD98059 and U0126, inhibitors of upstream kinase of p44/p42 MAP kinase, markedly enhanced the BMP‐4‐stimulated osteocalcin synthesis. The BMP‐4‐induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase was suppressed by PD98059, which did not, however, affect the BMP‐4‐induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that p38 MAP kinase takes part in BMP‐4‐stimulated osteocalcin synthesis as a positive regulator in osteoblasts, whereas p44/p42 MAP kinase acts as a negative regulator in the synthesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 84: 583–589, 2002. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Posterior Sub-Tenon Triamcinolone for Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Purpose To evaluate the effect of posterior sub-tenon triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection on clinical, angiographic, and optical coherence tomographic (OCT) parameters in refractory diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods In a double-masked placebo-controlled clinical trial, 64 eyes were randomly assigned to two groups. The treatment group (32 eyes) received 40 mg posterior sub-tenon injection of TA and the placebo group (32 eyes) received subconjunctival injection of a placebo. The injections were repeated after 2 months in both groups. Complete ophthalmologic examination, fluorescein angiography, and OCT were performed before intervention and after 4 months. Quantitative measurement of angiographic variables such as the amount of hard exudates (HE), size of foveal avascular zone (FAZ), and leakage severity was performed by computer, using Photoshop software. Results Initial best-corrected visual acuity (VA) was 0.93±0.39 logMAR in the placebo group and 0.75±0.38 logMAR in the treatment group. At 4 months, corrected VA was 0.88±0.48 logMAR in the controls versus 0.71±0.42 logMAR in the cases. Mean central macular thickness measured by OCT before and 4 months after injection was 392 and 377 microns in the treatment group and 388 and 357 microns in the placebo group, respectively. No statistically significant difference was detected between the two groups. The difference was also not significant in HE, FAZ, and leakage in the angiograms. Conclusions Two injections of posterior sub-tenon TA had no therapeutic effect on refractory DME.