Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute spontaneous tumor lysis presenting with hyperuricemic acute renal failure: clinical features and therapeutic approach.

BACKGROUND Acute spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome (STLS) presenting with hyperuricemic acute renal failure (ARF) is a rare disease which can be overlooked in patients with neoplasic disorders, requiring prompt recognition and aggressive management. This study examined the incidence, clinical characteristics and prognosis of this condition. METHODS A retrospective study was performed, reviewing the records of all patients who developed ARF at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 1st July 1999 and 30th October 2002. Acute STLS was diagnosed based on pretreatment hyperuricemic ARF, ratio of urinary uric acid to creatinine (Cr) >1.0, and significantly elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (>500 units/L), together with a pathologically proven malignancy. Clinical course, metabolic parameters, response to therapeutics and outcome were assessed in all patients. RESULTS STLS-induced acute uric acid nephropathy was identified in 10 out of 926 ARF patients (1.08%) studied. Most presentations were non-specific or related to malignancy symptoms. All patients had advanced tumors with large tumor burden, and abdominal organ involvement in 80% of patients. The 10 hyperuricemic patients became oliguric despite conservative therapy, and remained hyperuricemic (mean +/- SD: 20.7 +/- 5.0 mg/dL) until dialysis initiation. Seven patients (70%) developed diuresis, with an associated resolution of hyperuricemia, azotemia and metabolic derangements following dialysis initiation. The patients who developed diuresis had mean serum uric acid levels 9.3 +/- 3.1 mg/dL and median levels 9.8 mg/dL. Three patients (30%) survived, with two patients suffering residual renal function impairment. CONCLUSIONS Acute STLS presenting with hyperuricemic ARF is a rare cause of acute uric acid nephropathy in patients with bulky or occult neoplastic disorders. The tumors that developed STLS had advanced stage or large tumor burden. Frequent abdominal organ involvement and non-specific initial presentations can obscure the nature of the disease and delay diagnosis. Unlike hyperuricemia and oliguria, which are constant findings, azotemia or impaired renal function is not always manifest on initial presentation. Poor outcomes in patients with STLS developing acute uric acid nephropathy make early recognition, aggressive management and prompt dialysis mandatory.
A HABITAT BASED MODEL FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOREST INTERIOR NESTING BIRDS IN A FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE

ABSTRACT. Increased awareness of the plight of many forest dwelling species has made necessary the development of methods for projecting the spatial distribution of these populations. This is particularly important for populations that currently occupy forest fragments and that are likely to be exposed to further disruption of their natural habitat. In this paper we develop a model for predicting the distribution of a bird population that evolved as forest interior dwellers. This model uses as its basis knowledge of the relationship between demographic characteristics of the population and the qualities of the habitat where individuals reside. We make the assumption that individuals will be naturally drawn to areas where they might expect greater reproductive success and repelled from areas where there is a high degree of intraspecific competition (high density). We apply the model to the ovenbird population in a large region of the Midwest. We use the model to examine the relative extent to which the surplus production from two major source areas supports extensive sink populations. The basic diffusion model parameterized by county forest cover data projects a population distribution which compares favorably with the results from the breeding bird count.
Venture Capital Backing and Overvaluation: Evidence from the High‐Tech Bubble

We investigate the association between venture capital (VC) backing and the likelihood of firm overvaluation in the high‐tech bubble period. We find strong evidence that a VC‐backed firm is more likely than a non‐VC‐backed firm to be overvalued during the bubble period. A further investigation suggests that such an association exists only for VC‐backed firms that have gone public recently and VC‐backed firms over which venture capitalists (VCs) have high ownership or control. But outside the bubble period, all the differences in overvaluation between VC‐backed and non‐VC‐backed firms disappear. Our findings provide additional evidence supporting VC opportunism in boom periods.
THE EFFECTS OF FISCAL POLICY IN AN ESTIMATED DSGE MODEL—THE CASE OF THE GERMAN STIMULUS PACKAGES DURING THE GREAT RECESSION

In this paper, we analyze the effects of the stimulus packages adopted by the German government during the Great Recession. We employ a standard medium-scale dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model extended by non-optimizing households and a detailed fiscal sector. In particular, the dynamics of spending and revenue variables are modeled as feedback rules with respect to the cyclical components of output, hours worked and private investment. Based on the estimated rules, fiscal shocks are identified. According to the results, fiscal policy, in particular public consumption, investment, and transfers prevented a sharper and prolonged decline of German output at the beginning of the Great Recession, suggesting a timely response of fiscal policy. The overall effects, however, are small when compared to other domestic and international shocks that contributed to the economic downturn. Our overall findings are not sensitive to considering fiscal foresight.
A Process-Oriented Perspective on the Alignment of Information Technology and Business Strategy

Even after a decade of research and discussion, strategic alignment, denoting the fit between information technology (IT) and business strategy, remains an enduring challenge for firms worldwide. In this paper, we go beyond the dominant firm-level alignment paradigm by utilizing a value disciplines perspective on strategic foci to conceptualize alignment at the process level. Theory would then suggest that alignment should be tightest in processes that are considered critical to each firm's strategic focus. Using data from matched surveys of IT and business executives at 241 firms, we detect support for this locus of alignment argument when alignment is identified using profile deviation or moderation. We also find a positive link between alignment and perceived IT business value in each of five primary processes in the value chain. By bringing a process-level view to the study of alignment and its impacts, we go beyond a discussion on the extent of fit—a cornerstone of the literature—to whether firms are pursuing the right type of fit for the particular mix of processes underlying their strategy. In this way, a process-level perspective can foster a deeper and more meaningful understanding of how alignment affects firm performance. Our results also show a need for managers to reconsider the steps taken to align IT and business strategy by looking more closely at how IT can support individual processes rather than at how IT can support an entire strategy.
Health care utilization in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury: the importance of multimorbidity and the impact on patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in the community have high health care utilization (HCU). To date, the interrelationships among multiple secondary health conditions (multimorbidity due to comorbidities and complications) that drive HCU and their impact on patient outcomes are unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the association among multimorbidity, HCU, health status, and quality of life. METHODS Community-dwelling persons with traumatic SCI participated in an online/phone SCI Community Survey. Participants were grouped using the 7-item HCU questionnaire (group 1 did not receive needed care and/or rehospitalized; group 2 received needed care but rehospitalized; group 3 received needed care and not rehospitalized). Personal, injury, and environmental factors; multimorbidity (presence/absence of 30 comorbidities/ complications); health status (Short Form-12); and quality of life measures (Life Satisfaction-11 first question and single-item quality of life measure) were collected. Associations among these variables were assessed using multivariate analysis. RESULTS The 1,137 survey participants were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (n = 292), group 2 (n = 194), and group 3 (n = 650). Group 1 had the greatest number of secondary health conditions (15.14 ± 3.86) followed by group 2 (13.60 ± 4.00) and group 3 (12.00 ± 4.16) (P < .05). Multimorbidity and HCU were significant risk factors for having a lower SF-12 Mental (P < .001) and Physical Component Score (P < .001). They in turn were associated with participants reporting a lower quality of life (P < .001, for both questions). CONCLUSIONS Multimorbidity and HCU are interrelated and associated with lower health status, which in turn is associated with lower quality of life. Future work will include the development of a screening tool to identify persons with SCI at risk of inappropriate HCU (eg, rehospitalization, not able to access care), which should lead to better patient outcomes and cost savings.
Excitatory neuronal responses to dopamine in the cerebral cortex: involvement of D2 but not D1 dopamine receptors

1 The technique of microelectrophoresis was used to evaluate the relative contribution of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors towards the mediation of the excitatory response of single neurones to dopamine in the somatosensory cortex of the rat. 2 The selective D1 dopamine receptor agonist, SKF 38393, failed to excite any of the cells to which it was applied. In contrast, the selective D2 dopamine receptor agonist, LY 171555, excited the majority of cells tested. The apparent potency of LY 171555 was significantly lower than that of dopamine. 3 When the mobilities of SKF 38393 and LY 171555 were assessed by an in vitro method, they were found to be at least as great as those of dopamine and phenylephrine, suggesting that the lack of effect of SKF 38393 and the lower apparent potency of LY 171555 compared to dopamine reflect genuine biological phenomena. 4 The α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin, discriminated between excitatory responses to the α1‐adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine, and LY 171555: responses to phenylephrine were more susceptible to antagonism than were those to LY 171555. The dopamine receptor antagonist, haloperidol, produced the reverse discrimination: responses to LY 171555 were more affected than were those to phenylephrine. Neither antagonist reduced the response to the control agonist, acetylcholine. 5 When applied continuously with low ejecting currents, LY 171555 antagonized the excitatory response to dopamine while the response to phenylephrine was relatively preserved. The response to acetylcholine was unaffected. When similarly applied, SKF 38393 had no selective action on the response to dopamine. 6 These results suggest that D2 dopamine receptors are involved in mediating the excitatory neuronal response to dopamine in the cerebral cortex, whereas D1 dopamine receptors are unlikely to be involved. LY 171555 appears to act as a partial agonist at D2 dopamine receptors in this test system.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF COURTROOM TESTIMONY *

As jurors in a criminal or civil trial listen to testimony, they construct in their minds an "image" of an incident that was never witnessed by them. Many psychological factors influence this mental construction and, consequently, the verdict. Research with experimental jurors has revealed: 1. The images that jurors construct are influenced by the particular words and phrases that are used in the testimony they hear. 2. Jurors tend to be overbelieving of certain types of evidence, such as eyewitness testimony. Jurors are particularly responsive to the confidence with which eyewitnesses relate their testimony, rather than to the likelihood that the testimony is accurate. 3. Expert testimony, particularly on the subject of the reliability of eyewitness accounts, can cause jurors to better scrutinize the evidence they hear.
Do for-profit microfinance institutions achieve better financial efficiency and social impact? A generalised estimating equations panel data approach

This article contributes to the literature by investigating the potential benefits of the commercialisation of microfinance. Two types of possible improvements of pursuing profitability are investigated using a comprehensive longitudinal data set spanning 15 periods and covering 456 microfinance institutions (MFIs). The analyses are done using a generalised estimating equations framework in order to correct for the correlations within each cluster. The results show that we cannot support the hypothesis that operating more financially efficient is associated with being registered as for-profit MFIs. With respect to social impact, a lower depth of outreach and less outreach to women are associated with for-profit registration.
Wafer-grown heat flux sensor arrays for plasma etch processes

This work treats the design, fabrication, and testing of a wafer-grown thermal flux sensor for use in plasma etch processes. This sensor is capable of separately resolving the heating due to ion flux from that due to surface chemical reactions. The sensor is constructed using a modified Gardon gauge structure with an added antenna structure. This addition allows the exposed portion of the gauge to be formed from any plasma etchable material while still retaining the high sensitivity inherent in a Gargon-type heat flux sensor. The fabrication process for the sensor uses standard MEMS process steps, with an XeF/sub 2/ postprocess structure release. Bench-top experimental results showing the sensitivity (0.25 /spl mu/V/W/m/sup 2/) and repeatibility (8.3 W/m/sup 2/) are presented and discussed, and preliminary efforts at in situ etch monitoring are discussed.
An integrated approach to innovative product development using Kano’s model and QFD

Under rapidly changing and highly competitive circumstances, the timely design, development and marketing of new products or services with creative and innovative features are essential for a company’s survival. In order to capture and retain market share, customer requirements and expectations should be met and exceeded through product innovation. For effective new‐product‐development project management, a systematic approach to understanding customer requirements and further embedding them into the future product is desirable. This paper analyses the notion of customer satisfaction based on the Kano model and points to the importance of product innovation in exceeding customer satisfaction. It further proposes an integrated process model for innovative product development by incorporating Kano’s model and the quality function deployment (QFD) technique. Analyses suggest that the proposed approach would contribute to the creation of attractive product attributes and product innovation.
Institutions and European Trade: Merchant guilds, efficiency and social capital

Merchant guilds – privileged, corporate associations of wholesale traders – were important institutions in the European economy from the eleventh to the nineteenth century, and scholars are still arguing about them now. Historians debate their economic, social and political roles. Economists draw lessons from merchant guilds to support their theories about the institutions that support economic development. Social scientists view merchant guilds as prime historical examples of ‘social capital’, with important lessons for the present day. But why did merchant guilds exist? Does their wide prevalence and long survival mean they were efficient institutions that benefited the entire economy? Or did they simply offer an effective way for rich and powerful men to grab a bigger slice of the pie, at the expense of outsiders, customers and society as a whole? These questions are controversial. This book shows that the answers to them can help us understand how economies grow, why institutions exist and what are the real effects of social capital. Privileged associations of merchants have been widespread since ancient times. They existed not just in Europe but also in North Africa, the Near East, Central and South America, India and China. Merchant associations were active in Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquity, and survived in European and Mediterranean trading centres during the five centuries after the fall of Rome.
Super-Drained Distally Based Neurofasciocutaneous Sural Flap: A Case Series and Review of Literature

Objective: The distally based neurofasciocutaneous sural flap is central to the armamentarium for the reconstruction of leg's distal third, ankle, and hindfoot. Despite the use of adapted techniques aimed at increasing the flap's reliability, venous congestion remains a frequently encountered problem. We present a venous super-drainage technique used by the senior author to reduce venous congestion and improve flap reliability when harvesting larger flaps. Methods: A retrospective chart review, from January 2002 to October 2008, at 2 tertiary care centers, was conducted on all cases of inferior limb reconstruction with reverse sural flaps on defects greater than 10 × 5 cm. In addition, a literature review was carried out to examine the average sural flap surface area and reported complications published from 1992 to 2012. We then compared our results with those published in the literature. Results: A total of 15 flaps were identified. Mean flap dimensions were 14 × 8.5 cm (mean area = 115.27 cm2; 95% confidence interval, 99.28–131.26). None of the flaps developed complications (arterial or venous insufficiency, partial/complete necrosis). The average flap surface area in the literature is 55.08 cm2, with a 22% rate of total complications. We harvested significantly larger flaps (P < .001) with a significantly lower total complication rate (P < .05) when compared with that reported in the literature. Conclusion: Anastomosing the proximal end of the lesser saphenous vein with a vein at the defect site improves venous outflow, effectively reducing the incidence of venous congestion, increases the potential flap size, and improves reliability.
What Makes Workers Happy? Anticipated Rewards and Job Satisfaction

Using data collected from over 9,400 employees in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Serbia, across a wide variety of workplaces and sectors, we identify the extrinsic and intrinsic rewards that workers desire, and the desirability of rewards they expect to receive. We use regression analysis to evaluate the association between anticipated rewards and job satisfaction, hypothesizing that the desirability of the reward matters more for extrinsic than intrinsic rewards. We find that anticipated extrinsic rewards tend to have a greater influence on job satisfaction if these rewards are important to that particular worker. Anticipated intrinsic rewards appear to be equally beneficial to all workers, regardless of their desirability. Anticipated rewards which have the largest effect on job satisfaction include additional pay, respect of co-workers, and more freedom on the job.
The successful transposition of European provisions by member states: application to the Framework Equality Directive

The present study aims to explain variation between member states in compliance with provisions of a European Union (EU) law. Predictions are derived about the effects of technical fit, discretion, Commission warnings, and conflict in the Council on the probability of member-state transposition of separate EU policy requirements. Hypotheses are tested on the level of compliance of 15 member states with 27 major provisions laid down in the Framework Equality Directive (2000/78/EC). Extensive analysis of documents and reports from key informants provided information on member-state transposition progress at the end of 2004 and 2006. Results show that the domestic adaptation costs to a provision play an important role for member-state transposition success: high levels of fit and provisions granting discretion improve member-state transposition success. Formal warnings by the Commission lead to a better compliance record, while conflict in the Council does not affect the successful transposition of provisions.
Reminiscence Bump in Autobiographical Memory: Unexplained by Novelty, Emotionality, Valence, or Importance of Personal Events

People tend to recall a disproportionately large number of personal events from their adolescence and early adulthood. This “reminiscence bump” has been examined extensively, but its causes remain unclear. In this Internet-based experiment, nearly 3,500 participants were given 10 cue words and were asked to describe the personal events that came to mind. Furthermore, they were asked to date each event and to indicate whether it was a first-time experience. Finally, the participants were asked to rate the strength of the emotional reaction to the event or the valence or the importance of the event. Surprisingly, the reminiscence bump consisted of relatively fewer novel, emotional, important positive or negative events. This result increases the likelihood of an alternative explanation—namely, that memory is generally enhanced in adolescence and early adulthood. However, this account has not been tested directly.
Japan’s Growing Hard Hedge Against China

Abstract As China accumulates more power, Japan is often overlooked as being capable of affecting China’s continued trajectory because of material differences and narratives of Japan being a reactive state. Yet, Beijing’s strategic planning cannot ignore Tokyo because Japan has the ability to affect the region’s security environment. Feeling its presence and influence becoming relatively smaller, Tokyo has been increasingly proactive in its effort to expand its strategic space and shape the regional environment in ways conducive to its interests. A review of Japan’s approach to China since 1972 reveals that it has shifted away from its traditional engagement policy toward first a soft hedge, followed by a harder hedge that continues to this day. Today’s mix of partnerships and capabilities enable Japan to complicate China’s freedom of action and frustrate its continued rise.
Price Adjustment in German Manufacturing: Evidence from Two Merged Survey

This paper presents new evidence on the formation of producer prices. The database combines a one-time survey that was conducted in June 2004 on a sample of 1200 firms in manufacturing and time series information on price adjustment of the same firms. Twenty percent of firms set prices as time-dependent but neither Taylor nor Calvo-type price setting describes them aptly. Few firms are forward-looking. According to the one-time survey, fixed contracts and coordination failure are the main reason for postponing price adjustment. However, the hazard rates for price changes from the time series information do not support this. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The game theoretic p-Laplacian and semi-supervised learning with few labels

We study the game theoretic p-Laplacian for semi-supervised learning on graphs, and show that it is well-posed in the limit of finite labeled data and infinite unlabeled data. In particular, we show that the continuum limit of graph-based semi-supervised learning with the game theoretic p-Laplacian is a weighted version of the continuous p-Laplace equation. We also prove that solutions to the graph p-Laplace equation are approximately Hölder continuous with high probability. Our proof uses the viscosity solution machinery and the maximum principle on a graph.