Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early Dexamethasone Therapy and Blood Cell Count in Preterm Infants

Objective. To assess the effects of early postnatal dexamethasone therapy on hematologic values in preterm infants. Materials and Methods. We reviewed the hematologic data of 179 preterm infants who participated in a double-blind clinical trial of early postnatal dexamethasone therapy (<12 hours after birth) for the prevention of chronic lung disease. One group (86 infants) received saline and the other group (93 infants) received dexamethasone. Dexamethasone was given intravenously every 12 hours in tapering doses: 0.25 mg/kg on days 1 to 7, 0.12 mg/kg on days 8 to 14, 0.05 mg/kg on days 15 to 21, and 0.02 mg/kg on days 21 to 28. Blood samples were obtained on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28. None of the infants received prenatal steroid therapy. Results. Multiple regression analysis revealed significant differences in the values versus time curves of the white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, basophil, and eosinophil counts between the two groups. The white blood cell count was significantly higher in the dexamethasone group on days 7 through 14, and this was associated with significantly higher numbers of segmented neutrophils and band forms and significantly lower numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils. The hematocrit and platelet counts were similar in the two groups throughout most of the trial. Except for platelet count, steroid therapy did not alter the hematologic values for infants with bacteremia. Conclusion. Dexamethasone affects white blood cell, segmented neutrophil, lymphocyte, basophil, and eosinophil counts in neonates. This should be taken into consideration when evaluating preterm infants who are receiving dexamethasone. early dexamethasone therapy; neonatal blood count; preterm infant; respiratory distress syndrome.
Can export performance be explained by attitudinal differences

There are striking differences in the performances of the UK and West German mechanical engineering industries. This paper suggests that attitudes of senior management of both countries can explain a large proportion of these differences. Focusing primarily on export performance, 81 variables collected from 210 companies are analysed. In seven major areas the attitudes of both groups of executives are significantly apart. Based on these results, it is possible to correctly classify 89 of the companies as belonging to the UK or West German mechanical engineering industries.
Migration as Investment: Empirical Tests of the Human Investment Approach to Geographical Mobility

T HE hypothesis that geographical mobility of workers is primarily a response to economic incentives arising from disequilibria across spacially separated labor markets has received considerable attention in the theoretical literature on investment in human beings. ' In this paper I outline a simple model of migration as an economic process, and provide an empirical test of the model using data on net migration out of the United States South.2 To preview the main results, the model of migration as a response to economic incentive is supported. Specifically, the results suggest that the present value of the expected income gain from moving out of the South is positively related to the probability of moving and provides a better explanation of migration than the more conventional income measure based on regional differences in current incomes. Further, the level of schooling appears to increase the effect of income gain on the probability of moving, and age appears to reduce it. Significant racial differences in the main determinants of net migration are apparent.3
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

OBJECTIVE To identify the frequency of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and to explore the different characteristics between subgroup and severity of dementia. MATERIAL AND METHOD Sixty-seven patients with Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia were recruited to our cross-sectional study. Neuropsychiatric batteries including the Mini Mental Status Examination-Thai 2002, Thai Geriatric Depression Scale, 23 items from Alzheimer's Disease co-operative Study activities of daily living inventory, Behavioralpathology in Alzheimer's disease rating scale, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index were tested. RESULTS The most common behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) were sleep problems (100%), paranoid/delusion (59.7%), diurnal disturbance (49.2%) and aggressiveness (46.3%). Hallucination and affective problems were more severe in AD than in VaD/mixed dementia. Sleep problems were identified more severe in mild dementia than moderate-to-severe dementia. With longer duration of having dementia, exceptfor affective problem, there was no diffemence in behavioral and psychological symptoms observed compared to the shorter dementia group. CONCLUSION Behavioral and psychological symptoms were very common in Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia. Since these symptoms cause cognitive and functional decline, institutionalization, caregiver distress and increase direct costs ofcare, the problem must be identified and addressed.
Prevalence and disease burden of primary restless legs syndrome: Results of a general population survey in the United States

To assess prevalence, disease burden, and costs of primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in the US. In 2007, 61,792 (20%) of 313,000 subjects from a representative US panel completed an online “global opinions” survey identifying respondents reporting all four diagnostic features of RLS. 4,484 met all criteria. 1,400 were randomly selected to complete a questionnaire to exclude those with diagnoses indicating possible secondary RLS. Those that did not have diagnoses associated with secondary RLS were asked to complete the Cambridge‐Hopkins RLS questionnaire to exclude RLS mimics. Prevalence was estimated for the following groups: (1) RLS symptomatic, (2) primary RLS, and (3) primary RLS sufferers (symptoms ≥2/wk with moderate‐to‐severe distress). The primary RLS completed a larger online survey including the IRLS, EuroQol, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire, and questions about healthcare resource use. The validated diagnostic tools and exclusion of medical conditions likely to cause RLS provide a very conservative estimate of US census‐weighted prevalence of 2.4% for primary RLS and 1.5% for primary RLS sufferers. About 33% of respondents had a physician diagnosis of RLS. Primary RLS sufferers had a mean productivity loss of 1 day/wk. All RLS‐related costs increased with RLS symptom severity, with increasingly significant decrements in health status, sleep disturbance, and work productivity. Even this very conservative approach finds RLS in this cohort to be common, under‐diagnosed, and carried a significant personal and social burden. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Approximate Gradient Coding via Sparse Random Graphs

Distributed algorithms are often beset by the straggler effect, where the slowest compute nodes in the system dictate the overall running time. Coding-theoretic techniques have been recently proposed to mitigate stragglers via algorithmic redundancy. Prior work in coded computation and gradient coding has mainly focused on exact recovery of the desired output. However, slightly inexact solutions can be acceptable in applications that are robust to noise, such as model training via gradient-based algorithms. In this work, we present computationally simple gradient codes based on sparse graphs that guarantee fast and approximately accurate distributed computation. We demonstrate that sacrificing a small amount of accuracy can significantly increase algorithmic robustness to stragglers.
SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS DECEMBER 1990 A HEDONIC ANALYSIS OF PRIVATE HUNTING LAND ATTRIBUTES USING AN ALTERNATIVE FUNCTIONAL FORM

A hedonic framework is used to analyze selected attributes of Louisiana deer hunting leases that are hypothesized to be significant contributors to lease value. The flexible Box-Cox functional form is used in contrast to the often utilized linear regression specification. Additionally, the hypothesis of regional differences in slope coefficients of lease attributes is addressed. Results indicate that hunters in the two analyzed regions value lease attributes and services differently.
Towards a new model of success and performance in SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop an academic theoretical framework relating success and performance in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) so that future research could be carried out to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) for SMEs.Design/methodology/approach – The research used a literature review, in‐depth interviews with owner‐managers of SMEs and a knowledge elicitation exercise was carried out based on the experience of the researchers and on the interviews with owner‐managers.Findings – A new academic conceptual model was developed linking CSFs, definitions of success and performance to the characteristics of the business environment, the characteristics of the owner‐manager and the characteristics of the business. The relatively new idea that feedback on performance in the model could modify the strategic/tactical behaviour of the SME owner‐managers was introduced.Research limitations/implications – The many research problems posed by performance studies aimed at est.
Deletion mapping on the long arm of chromosome 7 in splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes

Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL) is a low‐grade lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by splenomegaly and circulating villous lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. It is considered to be the leukemic form of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL). The genetic basis of this lymphoma type remains unknown. Conventional cytogenetic studies have identified frequent structural abnormalities of chromosome 7, in the form of translocations, mainly unbalanced, and 7q deletions. In this current study, we undertook deletion mapping of the long arm of chromosome 7 in a series of cases with SLVL. Metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used in the first instance, followed by a study of loss of heterozygosity (LOH). The common area of deletion identified by FISH spanned from the YAC clone HSC7E1289 (mapping to 7q32.1) to in between YACs HSC7E195 and HSC7E648 (7q32–3). By application of 50 microsatellite markers mapping to the FISH‐CDR and to areas of deletion reported in other studies, four distinct hotspot loci were identified, with abnormalities present in 29–55% cases. In three of them, both LOH and biallelic deletions were found. The LOH in the majority of patients was noncontiguous. The presence of a high incidence of abnormalities in the established hotspot areas and in particular the finding of biallelic deletions is indicative of the existence of genes important for the pathogenesis of SLVL in these areas. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evidence on the issuer effect in warrant overpricing

Prior literature offers evidence that warrant prices tend to be higher than the prices of matched options. Explanations for warrant overpricing include a liquidity premium, hedging costs, market power and investor perceptions. Each of these explanations suggest that overpricing is likely to be related to the identity of the issuer. Any such issuer effect may also be affected by differences in credit risk. This study reconfirms the existence of a large excess warrant premium and provides evidence that it is significantly related to the identity of the warrant issuer, even after taking into account important liquidity and hedging factors.
EGPA symposium on public service motivation and performance: Introduction

Performance has been at the heart of public management in recent decades (Bouckaert and Halligan, 2008). The diagnosis made at the end of the 1970s was that the public sector was not performing well and that it should learn from private sector management in order to enhance productivity. A focus on input and process should be replaced by a focus on output and outcome. Traditional public administration values such as security, fairness and equality were to be replaced by values such as economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Clear performance objectives should be defined in order to direct the management of public organizations. A lot has happened in the last three decades. In the academic world, thousands of books or articles have been published on performance, performance measurement and performance management. When we enter these words into Google Scholar, more than 1,860,000 hits appear. If we restrict it to the public sector, we still obtain more than 300,000 results. This is illustrative of the academic productivity in this field. Within the scholarly research on performance, we see important changes over time. The first change is that performance has been defined in increasingly broader ways. At the beginning of the new public management movement, performance of government was more or less reduced to narrow, efficiency-related measures of performance. We now see that a broader perspective is taken into account. Performance can be looked upon from an internal and external view dependent on whether the focus is on the internal organization or the customer or citizen. Good performance includes attention to different administrative values: efficiency, but also effectiveness and fairness. Performance is thus considered as a multi-dimensional concept that
Influence of hypo- or hyperthyroidism on ovarian function in Brahman cows.

Multiparous Brahman cows (n = 21) were randomly assigned during late fall within BW and body condition score (BCS) to receive either 3.0 mL of corn oil (C; n = 7), 3.0 mg/(cow x d) triiodothyronine (T3) s.c. in 3.0 mL of corn oil (HYPER; n = 7), or 4.0 mg/(kg x d) 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU; fed with concentrate) plus 3.0 mL/d corn oil (HYPO; n = 7). Water, minerals, and Coastal bermudagrass hay were available free choice, and all cows received 3.2 kg x cow(-1) x d(-1) of 5:1 corn:soybean meal concentrate. The feeding period extended through three normal estrous cycles. Blood samples were collected weekly during the first and second estrous cycle, or until d 42 for anestrous cows, and daily throughout the third cycle. Also, between d 9 and 14 of the third cycle, or after d 35 in anestrous cows, intensive samples were collected at 2-h intervals for 24 h. Serum T3, thyroxine (T4), and progesterone (P4) were measured in weekly and intensive samples, and cortisol, insulin, GH, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured in intensive samples. The altered thyroid status of HYPER and HYPO cows was evident (P < .001) during the third estrous cycle in mean daily T3, T4, and intensive TSH (P < .001) concentrations. Changes in BW and BCS were influenced by treatment (P < .001). A greater (P < .001) proportion of HYPER cows exhibited abnormal cycle length, and three of seven cows became anestrous. For cows that continued normal cycles, treatment did not affect (P > .05) the number of follicular waves, diameter of the dominant follicle, diameter of the ovulatory follicle, or P4 profiles during the third cycle. Insulin and GH concentrations did not differ (P > .05) among treatments in intensive samples, but, mean cortisol was greatest (P < .02) in HYPER cows. For Brahman cows that maintained normal estrous cycles, induced hyper-or hypothyroid status did not influence ovarian function.
Teaching leadership in UAE business and education programmes: a habermasian analysis within an islamic context

The study uses Habermas’ account of critical theory to investigate leadership curriculum in selected UAE business and education programmes and examine the extent to which the curriculum is derived from and linked to students’ cultural and Islamic values. The study is conducted in response to scholars’ call for developing leadership models and practices that integrate both traditional and international knowledge to mitigate the dominance of Western theories and values over the curriculum, which threatens the Islamic and cultural identity. It aims to start a dialogue between different sources of knowledge and to select the practices that work best in a certain society given its unique cultural and religious values. This research employs a mixed methods approach that takes classical pragmatism as its philosophical foundation. The purpose for mixing methods is complementarity, development and triangulation (Greene, 2007). Research methods include critical discourse analysis of course materials, class observat.
Influence of management accounting change on performance of small entrepreneurial reorganising firms

This paper analyses the moderating effects of different contextual variables on the influence of management accounting change (MAC) on the long-term financial performance of small entrepreneurial reorganising Finnish firms. Empirical data are based on a survey responded by 85 entrepreneurial firms. The findings show that the influence of MAC on financial performance is weak. They also show that the sign of influence is sensitive for control variables. For univariate analysis without any controlling variables the relationship is weak but positive. When controlling for management control system change (MCSC), organisational change (OC) and contextual variables the relationship is still weak but negative. Twelve contextual variables were used to moderate the relationship between MAC and performance influence. For both the low and high levels of each variable the effect was found negative. The general conclusion is that for very small reorganising firms the influence of MAC is negative irrespective of the context.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors as a therapeutic option for hypercholesterolaemia

The development of cholesterol-lowering drugs (including a variety of statins, bile acid-binding resins and recently discovered inhibitors of cholesterol absorption) has expanded the options for cardiovascular prevention. Recent treatment guidelines emphasise that individuals at substantial risk for atherosclerotic coronary heart disease should meet defined targets for LDL cholesterol concentrations. Combination therapy with drugs that have different or complementary mechanisms of action is often needed to achieve lipid goals. Existing approaches to the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia are still ineffective in halting the progression of coronary artery disease in some patients despite combination therapies. Other patients are resistant to conventional drug treatment and remain at high risk for the development and progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and alternative approaches are needed. The discovery and development of ezetimibe (a novel, selective and potent cholesterol absorption inhibitor) has advanced the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. New agents including the phytostanol preparation FM-VP4 and inhibitors of acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase, the apical Na+-dependent bile acid transporter and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein may also play a future role in combination therapy. This review focuses on the recent progress in the molecular mechanisms of intestinal cholesterol absorption and transport, and novel therapeutic approaches to inhibit the cholesterol absorption process.
Monitoring the Monitor

Many public pension funds engage in institutional activism. These funds use the power of their spooled ownership of publicly traded stocks to effect changes in the corporations they own. This article reviews the theory and empirical evidence underlying the motivation for institutional activism. In theory, the merits of institutional activism hinge critically on two agency costs: 1) the conflicts of interest between corporate managers and shareholders, and 2) the conflicts of interest between portfolio managers and investors. This leads to two types of institutional activism: shareholder activism and social activism. While portfolio managers can use their position to monitor conflicts that might arise between managers and shareholders (shareholder activism), they can also abuse their position by pursuing actions that advance their own moral values or political interests at the expense of investors (social activism). Which of these effects dominates the actions of portfolio managers will determine the value of activism and is an empirical issue. Perhaps the most high-profile activism has been pursued by CalPERS with their annual focus list. The article documents that CalPERS has pursued reforms at focus list firms that would increase shareholder rights and (imprecisely) estimate the total wealth creation from this shareholder activism to be $3.1 billion between 1992 and 2005. Unrelated to the focus list program, CalPERS has also pursued social activism (e.g., the divestment of tobacco stocks). In general, I argue that institutional activism should be limited shareholder activism where there is strong theoretical and empirical evidence indicating the proposed reforms will increase shareholder value. At times, institutions will be forced to engage in social activism and take positions on sensitive issues. In these situations, portfolio managers should pursue the moral values or political interests of their investors rather than themselves.
A comparative study of sexual dysfunction involving risperidone, quetiapine, and olanzapine

Background: With the advent of newer antipsychotic drugs, side effects such as sexual dysfunction have been a major contributor toward treatment compliance. There are only a few studies that have compared different atypical antipsychotic agents regarding sexual dysfunction. We have not come across any data in this area on Indian population. Aims: To determine and compare the frequency of sexual dysfunction associated with risperidone, olanzapine, and quetiapine, among patients with clinically stable schizophrenia. Settings and Design: It is a cross-sectional hospital-based study. The subjects were recruited for the study by the purposive sampling technique. Materials and Methods: The total sample size was 102, consisting of 25 each in the quetiapine and risperidone groups, 22 in the olanzapine group, and 30 healthy volunteers. A Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ) were administered. The Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the variables in the demographic data and the mean chlorpromazine equivalent doses of the study groups. To analyze the sexual dysfunction, the mean scores on all the domains of sexual functioning in SFQ were compared across the study groups using the Chi square test, for proportions. Results and Conclusion: Twenty-three percent of the healthy volunteers had some impairment in one or more domains of sexual functioning. For the medication groups this was 96, 88, and 90%, respectively for risperidone, quetiapine, and olanzapine. However, there was statistically no significant difference across the study groups although it was relatively less with quetiapine.