Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AN INVESTIGATION OF CLINICAL TRIAL SUPPLY CHAINS

OF THE DISSERTATION An Investigation of Clinical Trial Supply Chains by Adam Fleischhacker Dissertation Director: Dr. Yao Zhao This dissertation investigates production and inventory decisions made within clinical trial supply chains in order to reduce drug supply costs. By investigating the SEC filings of public companies, we find that drug supply costs frequently account for a significant portion of pharmaceutical companies’ R&D spending. To unlock value tied up in clinical trial supply chains, three unique aspects of clinical trial supply chains are explored and associated supply chain decisions are optimized. The first unique factor that differentiates the supply chains for clinical trials is the risk of failure, meaning that the investigational drug is proven unsafe or ineffective during human testing. Upon failure, any unused inventory is essentially wasted and needs to be destroyed. We explore the effect of this failure on production planning decisions and find the planner’s decision to be a balancing act between waste and destruction costs versus production inefficiency. To optimally achieve this balance, we generalize the Wagner-Whitin model (W-W model) to incorporate the risk of failure. A second unique aspect of clinical trials is that demand can go from being quite unpredictable to fully predictable during the course of a trial. To take advantage of this demand learning, intra-trial batches can be produced, but at the expense of scale economies. Using various learning curves, we
Behavioral Food Subsidies

We conduct a field experiment with low-income shoppers to study how behavioral interventions can improve the effectiveness of healthy food subsidies. Our unique design enables us to deliver subsidies both before and during grocery shopping. We examine the effects of two non-restrictive changes to the choice environment: giving shoppers agency over the subsidy they receive and introducing a waiting period before a subsidized shopping trip to prompt deliberation about upcoming purchases. These interventions increase healthy food spending by 61% more than a healthy food subsidy alone, resulting in 199% greater healthy spending than in our unsubsidized control group.
Cell-mediated immune response to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Various vaccine adjuvant candidates were assessed with the modified-live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (MLV PRRSV) (Ingelvac® PRRS MLV) vaccine. Their influence on humoral-mediated immune (HMI) and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses as well as protection from virulent PRRSV challenge (MN-184) was evaluated. Ninety seronegative pigs were randomly divided into 9 groups of 10 pigs. One group received MLV vaccine alone. Five groups received MLV vaccine with either bacterial endotoxin-derived adjuvant (ET), mixed open reading frame 5 (ORF5) peptides derived from various PRRSV isolates, porcine interferon alpha (IFNa), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stabilized with polylysine and carboxymethylcellulose (poly-ICLC), or porcine interleukin12 (IL-12). One group did not receive MLV vaccine but was immunized with ORF5 peptides conjugated with cholera toxin (ORF5 * Reprinted from volume 109, pages 99-115, © 2006, with permission from Elsevier. peptide/CT). Two groups served as challenged and unchallenged non-vaccinated controls. Four-color flow cytometry was utilized to simultaneously identify 3 major porcine T-cell surface markers (CD4, CDS, and yo TCR) and detect activation marker CD25 (a chain of IL2 receptor) or intracellular IFNy. The MLV PRRSV vaccine alone successfully primed CD4" CD8+yo~ T cells as demonstrated by a significant increase in %IFNy+ cells when live PRRSV was used as a recall antigen. Booster immunizations of mixed ORF5 peptides and co­ administration of IL-12 with MLV PRRSV vaccine significantly enhanced IFNy expression by some T cell subsets (CD4~CD8+yo+ and CD4"CD8"y8+ for mixed ORF5 peptides and CD4+CD8+y5" and CD4"CD8+y§+ for IL-12). All groups receiving MLV-vaccine with or without adjuvants had reduced lung lesions after challenge. The group immunized with only ORF5 peptide/CT did not have significant T cell recall responses and was not protected from challenge. Expression of IFNy by several T cell subsets correlated with reduced lung lesions and viremia, whereas expression of CD25 did not. Expression of surface CD25 did not correlate with IFNy production. PRRSV ELISA s/p ratio prior to challenge also correlated with reduced lung lesions and viremia. In conclusion, booster immunizations of the mixed ORF5 peptides and co-administration of IL-12 effectively enhanced the CMI response to MLV vaccine. However, neither adjuvant significantly contributed to reducing clinical effects when compared to MLV alone.
Deep Transfer Learning for Meteor Detection

In this paper, a pre-trained deep Convolutional Neural Network is applied to the problem of detecting meteors. Trained with limited data, the best model achieved an error rate of 0.04 and an F1 score of 0.94. Different approaches to perform transfer learning are tested, revealing that the choice of a proper pre-training dataset can provide better off-the-shelf features and lead to better results, and that the use of very deep representations for transfer learning does not worsen performance for Deep Residual Networks.
Influencing infection control practice: assessing the impact of a supportive intervention for nurses

The aim of this research was to examine nurses' and health care assistants' perspectives ofinfection control practice on one hospital ward and use this as the basis for the development,implementation and evaluation of an education and support programme for improvingpractice on the ward.In Phase I of the study, nurses and health care assistants were interviewed using a semistructured interview schedule to explore their views and anxieties about infection controlpractice and identify their priorities for practice development. Qualitative and quantitativeanalysis of these data revealed that respondents' concerns related primarily to the use ofContact Precautions for patients with Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea (CDAD) andMethicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRS A). Structured observations of practicewere employed to confirm the prevalence of the issues raised in relation to this and providean understanding of their context. The findings of Phase I informed the design of anintervention to improve practice. This involved the development of a practice guideline onContact Precautions and the availability of practical instruction and support during itsimplementation.In Phase II of the study, participant observations of practice were conducted to gain anunderstanding of nurses' and health care assistants' behaviour and in particular, theirresponses to the supportive intervention. Their perceptions of its impact on their practicewere ascertained in Phase III using semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis of thesedata revealed that participants experienced great difficulty understanding and implementinginfection control recommendations. Factors that may help explain this include nurses' andhealth care assistants' knowledge and skills in infection control, their personal belief systemsand self-preservation instincts. In addition, the recommendation to use Contact Precautionsfor patients with infectious conditions such as CDAD and MRS A may itself counteractattempts to promote the routine use of infection control precautions in clinical practice.It is suggested that in relation to infection control, there may be a need to radically re-thinkthe ways in which health care workers are educated and supported in practice. Moreover, it isargued that until the ambivalent evidence base relating to the use of Contact Precautions isresolved, messages about infection control are likely to generate confusion amongst healthcare workers.
Work Life Balance of Women Employees in the Information Technology Industry

In this research paper, an attempt has been made to find the professional and personal challenges and enhancers for work life balance amongst working women through a survey of 186 women working in the IT sector in India. The main challenges in professional life were found to be extended/odd working hours, travel time between home and workplace and participation in additional jobs and assignments. In personal life, the main stresses were guilty of not being able to take care of self and elders at home. Social media interaction was found to be stress busters for most women. Most women would prefer flexible timing, and supportive spouse, family and friends as well as an environment conducive for work at the office.
The Impact of Top Executive Gender on Asset Prices: Evidence from Stock Price Crash Risk

We examine the implication of executive gender on asset prices. Using a large sample of US public firms during 2006–2015, we find a negative association between female CFOs and future stock price crash risk. However, the impact of female CEOs on crash risk is not statistically significant. The results support the notion that CFOs play a stronger role than CEOs in curbing bad news hoarding activities because CFOs' primary duties are financial reporting and planning. Our findings are robust to several econometric specifications controlling for potential endogeneity and to alternative measures of crash risk. At last, we show that the negative relation between female CFOs and future stock price crash risk is more pronounced among firms with weaker corporate governance, less market competition, lower analyst coverage, and higher financial leverage. Collectively, our evidence highlights the importance of CFO gender for firm financial decision making and stock return tail risk.
Framing Homelessness as Crisis: A Comparative Content Analysis of Local Media Reports on Portland's Tent Cities

i DEDICATION. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. iii LIST OF TABLES. v LIST OF FIGURES. vi CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION. 1 CHAPTER II: METHODOLOGY. 29 CHAPTER III: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND. 45 CHAPTER IV: HOMELESS TENT CITIES IN CONTEXT. 90 CHAPTER V: FINDINGS. 108 CHAPTER VI: DISCUSSION.120 CHAPTER VII: CONCLUSIONS. 140 REFERENCES.146
The Effect of Sour Milk on Blood Pressure in Untreated Hypertensive and Normotensive Subjects

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a sour milk, fermented with a starter containing Lactobacillus helveticus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on the blood pressure in untreated hypertensive and normotensive subjects. Randomized, double-blind , placebo-controlled sampling was used in this study. Eighteen subjects with hypertension, who were not taking antihypertentive medication, and twenty six subjects with normotension participated in this study. The subjects ingested daily 95ml of either sour milk or artificially acidified milk as a placebo for 8 weeks. In normotensive subjects, both treatments did not affect any indexes measured, including blood pressure, heart rate, and blood serum indexes. In untreated hypertensive subjects, at 2,4, and 8 weeks after the beginning of ingestion of the sour milk, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased significantly by 7.5±3.2 mmHg (p=0.05), 9.3±3.4 mmHg (p<0.05), and 12.1±4.7 mmHg (p<0.05), respectively, from the intial value. This decline was, however, not significantly different when compared to that in the placebo group. The decrease in SBP in sour milk group tended to be greater than in the placebo group. The differences in SBP changes from initial value between soue milk and placebo group were 2.5, 2.8, 5.6, and 7.6 mmHg at 2,4,6, and 8 weeks after ingestion of test drinks (y=-0.904×-0.112, r 2 =0.9318, p<0.05). This differences showed a trend toward greater lowering with ingestion of sour milk. The decreased blood pressure returned to initial value at 4 weeks after secession of the ingestion of sour milk. In both the sour milk and placebo group, no marked changes were observed in other indexes, including the heart rate and blood serum indexes.
ENHANCING THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE THROUGH AHP MODELING OF EARLY CAREER DECISION-MAKING

The paper presents the results of ranking of the significance of quality of life determinants by University students that are starting professional activities. Research methodology: literature review; elaboration of an AHP decision-making model; two-stage expert selection; significance rankings by experts and a graphical and descriptive presentation of obtained results. Research sample: 14 experts out of almost 200 University students. Research outcome: a decision-making model that aims at maximizing the life satisfaction of future employees as a function of their individual assessments of significance of particular determinants of quality of life. Research implications: a more accurate adaptation to trends on the labor market and creation of new business models. Research limitation: narrowing the group of experts to University students. Value added of the research: better-motivated employees with a satisfactory level of work-life balance will contribute to an increase of societal satisfaction level.
Fool's Gold or Value for Money? The Link between Abnormal Audit Fees, Audit Firm Type, Fair‐Value Disclosures, and Market Valuation

We analyze whether the type of the audit firm (Big 4 and industry specialist) and the abnormal audit fees are associated with the market valuation of a bank’s fair value assets. Our results indicate that different auditor types use different strategies when auditing fair value portfolios: First, we show that the Big 4 audit firms restrict the Level 3 valuations to the most illiquid assets. Thus, the banks audited by a Big 4 have a lower proportion of Level 3 assets than the banks audited by a non-Big 4. Second, the discount on the Level 3 assets is higher for the banks audited by a Big 4 than for the banks audited by a non-Big 4. Third, the discount on the Level 3 portfolios of banks with non-Big 4 auditors is higher if the unexpected audit fees are high. Because the non-Big 4 allow the usage of the Level 3 valuations for larger portions of assets, the abnormal fees seem to reflect the auditor’s perception regarding the portfolio’s valuation risk. In contrast, for the banks audited by a Big 4, the abnormal fees are not associated with the bank’s market value. We find similar effects for industry specialist auditors.
The Relationship Between Economic Value Added, Market Value Added And Return On Cost Of Capital In Measuring Corporate Performance

The aim of the paper is to assess the relationship between Economic Value Added (EVA), Market Value Added (MVA) and the traditional financial ratio in measuring investment performance by a holding company. The sample is PT. Astra International, Tbk in Indonesia. Astra is one of the largest conglomerate in Indonesia with diversify business from automotive, financial service, agro, infrastructure and technology. All of the investments are consolidated under single company, which is PT. Astra International, Tbk. The research assessed the financial performance from 2009 – 2016. The research will use Economic Value Added (EVA), Market Value Added (MVA) and Return on Weighted Average Cost of Capital (ROC) as financial measurement tools. The research found that there was a direct relationship between ROC and EVA. Negative EVA and negative ROC did not reflect the MVA on company performance. Negative EVA and ROC, could have positive Market Value Added (MVA). However negative MVA value will also reflect on negative EVA and ROC.
WHAT KEEPS CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE FROM SUCCEEDING IN SCHOOL

Finally, we would like to thank all of the students and staff from the four Bronx middle schools who participated in the study, as well as the foster parents and caseworkers. Their insights and words give life to this report. A large portion of the half million children in foster care nationwide perform poorly in school. They lag behind their non-foster peers academically and are more likely to have behavior and discipline problems. This study draws on interviews with foster children and adults to better understand how being in foster care affects a child's education on a day-today basis, and how the adults around these children can help them perform more successfully in school. Vera researchers studied the educational experiences of 25 children in foster care who were participating in an experimental program designed to improve their achievement. We recorded extensive narratives from each child about the educational obstacles they face at the four Bronx middle schools they attend, and we interviewed 54 key adults in their lives (school staff, foster parents, and caseworkers) to learn what they regard as obstacles to the children's educational success. We found that foster children face roadblocks that other economically disadvantaged children do not face, roadblocks that can affect their academic performance. The children had concerns about maintaining ties with their biological parents and caring for siblings that often distracted them from schoolwork. Mandated court appearances and doctors' appointments caused them to miss school frequently. Behavior problems—both aggression and withdrawing—which may be rooted in pre-placement trauma, kept them from focusing on school. And they often avoided social interactions with peers in order to keep their foster status hidden. Yet they blamed themselves—not foster care or the schools—for their poor academic achievement. The adults in these foster children's lives often lacked a full picture of their educational needs. Foster parents were most concerned with the children's behavior; they rarely expressed concern with their foster children's poor grades, and most did not regularly help with homework. Caseworkers often were not aware of their academic progress, focusing instead on the frequent crises that characterize foster care. School staff usually had little knowledge of a child's foster care background and how bureaucratic demands of the system might explain missed tests or assignments. No one acknowledged primary responsibility for the educational progress of these children. We conclude that establishing primary responsibility for educational matters in each case would be …
Psychiatric Reform in Spain

The year 1985 was a key year in the process of reform of mental health services in Spain: that year saw the appearance of the major document that served as the basis for the changes that took place in subsequent years. It was the year when the Ministry of Health and Consumer Services published the report of the Ministerial Committee for Psychiatric Reform [1], a committee, created in 1983, composed of academic and practicing psychiatrists representing certain territories. Its report presented an analysis of the state of mental health care, established general guidelines for reform, and proposed some recommendations on how the reform might proceed. The previous situation was complex and fraught with obstacles. Both the public and the private administrative bodies that managed the care resources were varied, uncoordinated, and unintegrated. The provincial administrative bodies (provincial councils) had actually borne the responsibility for psychiatric hospitalization since the old law of 1887 [2]. In 1975, before the reform got under way, 49.5 percent of psychiatric beds were under the jurisdiction of the provincial councils [3]. The social security
Perceptions of social workers regarding life story work with children in child and youth care centres

The aim of this article was to explore how social workers perceived life story work. Narrative therapy was used as the theoretical framework of this study, which followed a qualitative descriptive design. Six registered social workers from registered child and youth care centres in the Northern and Southern suburbs of Cape Town were purposefully selected for this study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, and analysed thematically. The findings revealed that social workers perceived life story work as essential for children in alternative care in South Africa. The findings support the theoretical framework of this study, which is the ability of narrative therapy to assist children in care to form identities and a sense of belonging. Therefore, social workers are encouraged to utilise life story work with children in care centres. Training would enable social workers to effectively implement life story work activities in social services in the African context.
A systematic review of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of liver tumours

CRD summary This well-conducted review compared the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation with other techniques for the treatment of liver tumours. The authors were unable to draw firm conclusions about the relative merits of the procedures and advised that further research should be undertaken. Such advice is appropriate given the methodological limitations of the studies included in the review.
Do Formal Mentoring Programs Matter?: A Longitudinal Randomized Experimental Study of Women Healthcare Workers.

We report results from a pretest-posttest randomized experimental study comparing the impact of high versus low facilitation of formal mentoring programs on female healthcare workers’ performance and attitudes. Results indicated increases in job performance, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment for mentoring program participants from both groups with larger gains made by the high facilitated group. These results suggest that facilitated HRD interventions have positive effects on the outcomes of mentoring programs for women employees.
First year students' perceptions of inclusion: links with teaching and retention.

This study is the first report of first year students' perceptions of inclusion in teaching practices and campus interactions in an Australian university using a six-item set of questions as a scale to measure inclusion. There were no significant effects of age, gender, program of study or campus on perceptions of inclusion. Perceptions of inclusion correlated with perceptions of quality of teaching (0.41), perceived benefit of university study (0.45), paid employment (0.36) and intention to continue university studies (0.23). Generally speaking, Australian born students had higher perceptions of inclusion than Asian-born students, but some Australian born students aged 18-21 perceived the lowest levels of inclusion. Whilst Asian-born students had overall lower perceptions of inclusion, they were less likely to discontinue university study. Further studies of inclusion are warranted if universities wish to compete effectively in a marketplace characterised by greater accountability, internationalisation and increasing student diversity.