Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathological gambling in Parkinson's disease: Risk factors and differences from dopamine dysregulation. An analysis of published case series

Pathological gambling (PG) has been reported as a complication of the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). We examined all published cases of PG for prevalence and risk factors of this complication, the relationship of PG and use of dopamine agonists (DA), and the relationship of PG to the dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS). The prevalence of PG in prospective studies of PD patients using DA has been reported between 2.3 and 8%, compared to approximately 1% in the general population. As in the general population, PD patients with this complication are often young, male and have psychiatric co‐morbidity. The vast majority are on DA, often at maximum dose or above. Differences between oral DA failed to reach significance. PG associated with levodopa monotherapy is uncommon, but in the majority of cases levodopa is co‐prescribed, suggesting possible cross‐sensitization of brain systems mediating reward. PG can occur with DDS but often occurs in isolation. In contrast to DDS, escalation and self regulation of anti‐parkinsonian medication are not usually seen. PG in patients with PD using DA is higher than PG reported in the general population, but shares similar characteristics and risk factors. PG is predominantly associated with oral DA. It often occurs in isolation and may not be associated with DDS, which typically occurs on treatment with levodopa or subcutaneous apomorphine. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
A Ripple Control Dual-Mode Single-Inductor Dual-Output Buck Converter With Fast Transient Response

A novel integrated single-inductor dual-output buck converter based on the ripple control technique is presented, which can provide two independent output voltages (1.2 and 1.8 V) only using one inductor. The peak current common-mode and ripples compare differential-mode are adopted to improve the system transient response. The converter can automatically switch between pulsewidth modulation and pulse-skip modulation to improve the light load conversion efficiency. The proposed converter has been fabricated in a 0.18 μm 1P6M CMOS process. The experimental results show the transient response time is about 10 μs and the cross-regulation is less than 0.05 mV/mA while the load current suddenly changes 200 mA. In general, the conversion efficiency at light load is above 86% and the peak efficiency at the full load can achieve 93.5%.
Competitive strategies used by commercial banks in kenya to attract corporate customers

x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.1.1 Competitive Strategies . 3 1.1.2 Corporate Customers . 4 1.1.3 The Banking Industry in Kenya . 4 1.2 Research Problem . 7 1.3 Research Objective. 10 1.4 Value of the Study. 10 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 11 2.
Finite-size scaling of the magnetization probability density for the critical Ising model in slab geometry

The magnetization probability density in d = 2 and 3 dimensional Ising models in slab geometry of volume L∥d−1×L⊥ ? > is computed through Monte-Carlo simulation at the critical temperature and zero magnetic field. The finite-size scaling of this distribution and its dependence on the system aspect-ratio ρ=L⊥L∥ ? > and boundary conditions are discussed. In the limiting case ρ→0 ? > of a macroscopically large slab (L∥≫L⊥ ? >) the distribution is found to scale as a Gaussian function for all tested system sizes and boundary conditions.
The impact of financial service type on consumer relationship engagement motives : an empirical investigation of retail banking consumers

This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge on relationship marketing, specifically consumer relationship behaviour in the early stage of relationship engagement among financial services consumers. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the motives for consumers to engage in a relationship with financial institutions (e.g. traditional banks, building societies, insurance companies, or other non-traditional financial services providers) in the acquisition of four fundamental retail financial products: current account, savings account, mortgage and car
Variation in the Selenoenzyme Genes and Risk of Advanced Distal Colorectal Adenoma

Background: Epidemiologic and animal studies provide evidence for a chemopreventive effect of selenium on colorectal cancer, which may be mediated by the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of selenoenzymes. We therefore investigated whether genetic variants in selenoenzymes abundantly expressed in the colon are associated with advanced colorectal adenoma, a cancer precursor. Methods: Cases with a left-sided advanced adenoma (n = 772) and matched controls (n = 777) screen negative for polyps based on sigmoidoscopy examination were randomly selected from participants in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. The underlying genetic variation was determined by resequencing. We genotyped 44 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in six genes [glutathione peroxidase 1-4 (GPX1, GPX2, GPX3, and GPX4), selenoprotein P (SEPP1), and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1)] to efficiently predict common variation across these genes. Results: Four variants in SEPP1 were significantly associated with advanced adenoma risk. A rare variant in the 5′ region of SEPP1 (-4166C>G) was present in nine cases but in none of the controls (exact P = 0.002). Three SNPs located in the 3′ region of SEPP1, which is overlapping with the promoter region of an antisense transcript, were significantly associated with adenoma risk: homozygotes at two SEPP1 loci (31,174 bp 3′ of STP A>G and 43,881 bp 3′ of STP G>A) were associated with increased adenoma risk [odds ratio (OR), 1.48; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.00-2.19 and OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.05-2.22, respectively] and the variant SEPP1 44,321 bp 3′ of STP C>T was associated with a reduced adenoma risk (CT versus CC OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.63-1.15). Furthermore, we observed a significant 80% reduction for advanced colorectal adenoma risk for carriers of the variant allele at TXNRD1 IVS1-181C>G (OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.07-0.55; Ptrend = 0.004). Consistent with the individual SNP results, we observed a significant overall association with adenoma risk for SEPP1 and TXNRD1 (global P = 0.02 and 0.008, respectively) but not for the four GPX genes. Conclusion: Our study suggests that genetic variants at or near the SEPP1 and TXNRD1 loci may be associated with advanced colorectal adenoma. As this is the first study to comprehensively investigate this hypothesis, confirmation in independent study populations is needed. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(5):1144–54)
Determinants of Investment Decision Making: An Empirical Study

India as a developing country is becoming economically more powerful and requires huge capital for various developmental activities. In order to boost the investment among individual investors, it is necessary to study the investment behaviour of individuals and identify the factors that motivate them to invest, so that idle savings can be channelised into investment. Investment decisions are influenced by many reasons. It is a tolerable fact that the financiers are the central position in the financial market. Behaviour of investors is not fixed. It changes from position to position and from security to security. Hence, it is necessary to identify the factors which influence the investment decisions. In order to increase investment and formulate appropriate theories and policies, it is necessary to understand how individuals invest in the securities and other financial options available.
A Pseudouridine Synthase Homologue Is Critical to Cellular Differentiation in Toxoplasma gondii

ABSTRACT Toxoplasma gondii is a haploid protozoan parasite infecting about one in seven people in the United States. Key to the worldwide prevalence of T. gondii is its ability to establish a lifelong, chronic infection by evading the immune system, and central to this is the developmental switch between the two asexual forms, tachyzoites and bradyzoites. A library of mutants defective in tachyzoite-to-bradyzoite differentiation (Tbd−) was created through insertional mutagenesis. This library contains mutants that, compared to the wild type, are between 20% and 74% as efficient at stage conversion. Two mutants, TBD5 and TBD8, with disruptions in a gene encoding a putative pseudouridine synthase, PUS1, were identified. The disruption in TBD8 is in the 5′ end of the PUS1 gene and appears to produce a null allele with a 50% defect in differentiation. This is about the same switch efficiency as obtained with an engineered pus1 deletion mutant (Δpus1). The insertion in TBD5 is within the PUS1 coding region, and this appears to result in a more extreme phenotype of only ∼10% switch efficiency. Complementation of TBD8 with the genomic PUS1 allele restored wild-type differentiation efficiency. Infection of mice with pus1 mutant strains results in increased mortality during the acute phase and higher cyst burdens during the chronic infection, demonstrating an aberrant differentiation phenotype in vivo due to PUS1 disruption. Our results suggest a surprising and important role for RNA modification in this biological process.
Calcification of aortic valve detected incidentally on CT scans: prevalence and clinical significance.

OBJECTIVE Aortic valve calcification that is visualized on chest radiographs is considered a marker for clinically significant aortic stenosis, but the clinical importance of this finding on CT is unknown. Accordingly, we studied the prevalence and clinical relevance of aortic valve calcification found incidentally on CT scans of the chest. MATERIALS AND METHODS After comparing computer records of chest CTs and echocardiograms, we identified 109 patients who underwent both studies during a 2-year period. Two thoracic radiologists reviewed the CT scans to identify and quantify aortic valve calcification. The quantity of aortic valve calcification was graded on a scale of 1 to 3, with grade 3 indicating the most severe calcification. The prevalence of calcification was correlated with patient age and sex. The findings on CT were correlated with hemodynamic data from echocardiography. At echocardiography, a peak aortic valve gradient of greater than 25 mm Hg was defined as abnormal. RESULTS Aortic valve calcification was noted on CT scans in 33 (30%) of the 109 patients. Aortic valve calcification shown by CT was significantly more common in patients more than 65 years old (p < .01). Five (15%) of 33 patients with aortic valve calcification shown by CT had abnormal aortic valve gradients at echocardiography. In contrast, none of 76 patients without aortic valve calcification shown by CT had abnormal aortic valve gradients (p < .01). All five patients with abnormal aortic valve gradients had moderate quantities of aortic valve calcification seen on CT scans. Two of the five were younger than 55 years old. CONCLUSION Aortic valve calcification is a common finding on CT scans and is usually clinically insignificant. Nevertheless, some patients with aortic valve calcification on CT have aortic stenosis, particularly those younger than 55 years old and those with moderately dense aortic valve calcification shown by CT. These patients may benefit from hemodynamic assessment of the aortic valve by echocardiography.
PENGARUH FAKTOR INTERNAL DAN EKSTERNAL PADA RETURN SAHAM (Studi Pada Perusahaan Property dan Real Estate Yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh faktor internal dan eksternal pada return saham. Faktor internal diproksikan dengan Return on Assets (ROA), Debt to Equity Ratio (DER), Earnings per Share (EPS), Operating Cash Flow (OCF) sedangkan faktor eksternal diproksikan dengan inflasi dan tingkat suku bunga melalui laporan keuangan tahunan yang telah disusun oleh perusahaan property dan real estate yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia serta laporan bulanan dari Bank Indonesia. Sampel dalam penelitian ini pada perusahaan property dan real estate yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) dengan menggunakan metode purposive sampling. Periode pengamatan dalam penelitian adalah tahun 2011-2015. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis regresi linear berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa: (a) ROA tidak berpengaruh terhadap return saham, artinya kemampuan perusahaan dalam mengelola asetnya untuk menghasilkan laba tidak menarik minat investor untuk menanamkan sahamnya, (b) DER tidak berpengaruh terhadap return saham, artinya DER tidak dapat dijadikan sebagai acuan investor untuk melakukan investasi karena semakin tinggi DER menunjukkan permodalan usaha lebih banyak memanfaatkan hutang, (c) EPS berpengaruh positif terhadap return saham, artinya semakin tinggi earnings per share menunjukkan semakin besar jumlah rupiah yang disediakan untuk setiap lembar saham, (d) OCF tidak berpengaruh terhadap return saham, artinya investor tidak melihat pelaporan arus kas operasi sebagai dasar dalam pengambilan keputusan investasi, (e) Inflasi berpengaruh positif terhadap return saham, artinya semakin tinggi inflasi maka investor menahan konsumsinya sehingga mengalihkan modalnya pada saham, (f) Tingkat suku bunga berpengaruh negatif terhadap return saham, artinya semakin tinggi tingkat suku bunga mempengaruhi minat investor untuk berinvestasi karena investor lebih memilih menanamkan modalnya dalam bentuk deposito yang memiliki resiko lebih kecil.
Duodenum‐Preserving Resection of the Head of the Pancreas in Chronic Pancreatitis A Prospective, Randomized Trial

ObjectiveTwo techniques of duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas were compared in a prospective, randomized trial. The technical feasibility and effects on quality of life were assessed. Summary Background DataDrainage and resection are the principles of surgery in chronic pancreatitis. The techniques of duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas as described by Beger and Frey combine both to different degrees. The efficacy of both procedures has not been compared thus far. MethodsForty-two patients were allocated randomly to either Beger's (n = 20) or Frey's (n = 22) group. In addition to routine pancreatic diagnostic work-up, a multidimensional psychometric quality-of-life questionnaire and and a pain score were used. Assessment of endocrine and exocrine function included oral glucose tolerance test, serum concentrations of insulin, C-peptide, and HbA1c, as well as fecal chymotrypsin and pancreolauryl test. The interval between symptoms and surgery ranged from 12 months to 12 years, with a mean of 5.7 years. The mean follow-up was 1.5 years. ResultsThere was no mortality. Overall morbidity was 14% (20% Beger, 9% Frey). Complications from adjacent organs were resolved definitively in 94% (90% Beger, 100% Frey). A decrease of 95% and 94% of the pain score after Beger's and Frey's procedure, respectively, and an increase of 67% of the overall quality-of-life index in both groups were observed. Endocrine and exocrine function did not differ between both groups. ConclusionsBoth techniques of duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas are equally safe and effective with regard to pain relief, improvement of quality of life, and definitive control of complications affecting adjacent organs. Neither procedure leads to further deterioration of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function.
High Emigration Propensity and Low Mortality on Transfer Drives Female-Biased Dispersal of Pyriglena leucoptera in Fragmented Landscapes

Dispersal is a biological process performed in three stages: emigration, transfer and immigration. Intra-specific variation on dispersal behavior, such as sex-bias, is very common in nature, particularly in birds and mammals. However, dispersal is difficult to measure in the field and many hypotheses concerning the causes of sex-biased dispersal remain without empirical confirmation. An important limitation of most empirical studies is that inferences about sex-biased dispersal are based only on emigration proneness or immigration success data. Thus, we still do not know whether sex-biased immigration in fragmented landscapes occurs during emigration, transfer or in both stages. We conducted translocation and radiotracking experiments to assess i) whether inter-patch dispersal movements of a rainforest bird (Pyriglena leucoptera) is sex-biased and ii) how dispersal stages and the perceptual range of the individuals are integrated to generate dispersal patterns. Our results showed that inter-patch dispersal is sex-biased at all stages for P. leucoptera, as females not only exhibit a higher emigration propensity but are subjected to a lower risk of predation when moving through the matrix. Moreover, our data support a perceptual range of 80 m and our results showed that dispersal success decreases considerably when inter-patch distances exceeds this perceptual range. In this case, birds have a higher probability of travelling over longer routes and, as a consequence, the risk of predation increases, specially for males. Overall, results supported that assuming dispersal as a single-stage process to describe dispersal behavior may be misleading. In this way, our study advanced our understanding of processes and patterns related to inter-patch dispersal of neotropical forest birds, shedding light on potential implications for population dynamics and for the management of fragmented landscapes.
The determinants of corporate voluntary disclosure policy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors affecting firm voluntary disclosure policy adopted by a sample of 25 UAE companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) for the period 2010-2014. Design/methodology/approach The author computes a weighted disclosure index (Botosan, 1997) for three-factor voluntary disclosure items and uses a multivariate regression analysis between disclosure index and a set of explanatory variables identified by previous research. The author also controls for endogeneity problem and uses panel data estimation. Findings It has been found that listing history, governmental sector, firm profitability and foreign listing positively affect the level of voluntary disclosure adopted by ADX listed companies. By contrast, the percentage of shares owned by block holders and industrial sector negatively affect the level of voluntary disclosure by ADX listed companies. Finally, the board and firm size, managers’ stock options and the leverage ratio do not have any impact on the level of voluntary disclosure adopted by ADX firms. The results remain unchanged to additional sensitivity checks. Research limitations/implications The research presents some limitations: first, the author does not take into account all voluntary disclosure items such as human resources and environmental data disclosed by ADX listed firms. Second, other voluntary disclosure determinants remain unexplored for UAE firms such as culture and tax incentives in the light of the new tax rules including corporate tax and value-added tax. Practical implications The study has many implications: first, it can help investors in their decision making and lead to fair allocation of resources. Second, it gives helpful directives to UAE accounting authorities to enhance the quality of financial reporting in the light of the New Commercial Company Law 2015 for mandatory adoption of IFRS by all listed companies. The paper also presents helpful directives for tax authorities planning for both company and value-added taxes. It also sheds light on factors driving corporate social responsibility disclosures as a crucial component of voluntary disclosure policy Originality/value The paper explores the new determinants of voluntary disclosure such as foreign listing, governmental status and block holding for an emerging relatively unexplored stock market: ADX.
Outcome of Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Extended Spectrum &bgr;-Lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Children

The outcome of patients with urinary tract infections caused by extended spectrum &bgr;-lactamases (ESBL)-producing bacteria (cases) was compared with that of matched controls with urinary tract infections caused by non-extended spectrum &bgr;-lactamases-producing isolates. Significantly, more case patients received inappropriate empiric therapy than controls. Nevertheless, clinical and microbiologic outcomes as well as formation of renal scars did not differ between the 2 groups.
Effect of acute physical and psychological stress on gut autonomic innervation in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Stress is an important causative factor in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It remains unknown whether stress-related changes in gut function are mediated by altered autonomic efferent gut-specific innervation. We studied the effect of acute physical and psychological stress on autonomic innervation and visceral sensitivity in healthy volunteers and patients with IBS. METHODS Twenty-four patients (20 women) with constipation-predominant IBS and 12 healthy volunteers (8 women) underwent either physical (cold water hand immersion) or psychological (dichotomous listening) stress on separate occasions. Assessments included stress perception (visual analogue scale), gut-specific autonomic innervation (rectal mucosal blood flow [RMBF] by laser Doppler flowmetry), and viscerosomatic sensitivity (anal and rectal electrosensitivity). RESULTS Patients with IBS had a heightened baseline perception of stress (P < .01). RMBF decreased during physical stress (29.6% +/- 2.8% and 28.7% +/- 3.9%) and psychological stress (24.4% +/- 2.1% and 23.5% +/- 4.3%) in patients with IBS and controls, respectively (mean +/- SEM). During physical stress, rectal perception (23.2% +/- 6% vs .6% +/- 3% [IBS vs control group, P < .05]) and rectal pain thresholds (27.0% +/- 4% vs 1.3% +/- 5%, P < .001) decreased in patients with IBS only. Psychological stress reduced thresholds for rectal perception (19.4% +/- 6% vs 8% +/- 6%, P < .01) and rectal pain (28.4% +/- 4% vs 3.4% +/- 3.8%, P < .001) in patients with IBS only. Acute stress elevated anal perception thresholds in patients with IBS but not controls (physical stress: 14.7% +/- 14% vs -9.3% +/- 11%, P < .05; psychological stress: 24.7% +/- 9% vs 11% +/- 11%, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Acute stress alters gut-specific efferent autonomic innervation in both controls and patients with IBS, although normalization is delayed in IBS. By contrast, only patients with IBS show heightened visceral sensation, suggesting involvement of a different regulatory mechanism, either central or peripheral.