Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is health equity considered in systematic reviews of the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group?

OBJECTIVE To determine whether Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group (CMSG) systematic reviews and corresponding primary studies of rheumatoid arthritis interventions report and analyze the data needed to assess the effectiveness of interventions in reducing socioeconomic differences in health and/or improving the health of the poor. METHODS We selected all CMSG reviews on rheumatoid arthritis published since issue 1, 2003. Fourteen reviews were identified; 147 of the 156 primary studies included in these reviews were obtained and assessed. We extracted data on whether the dimensions place of residence, race/ethnicity/culture, occupation, gender, religion, education, socioeconomic status, and social capital and networks (PROGRESS) were reported or analyzed, and whether any interventions were aimed at disadvantaged or low- and middle-income country populations. RESULTS Among the dimensions of PROGRESS reported at baseline in 147 primary studies, gender (89%) was the most commonly reported, followed by education (25%) and race/ethnicity (18%). Less than 50% of the systematic reviews reported dimensions of PROGRESS even when they had been reported in the primary study. Of 147 primary studies, 6 (5%) were aimed specifically at disadvantaged populations; another 6 reported on effectiveness by at least 1 dimension of PROGRESS. CONCLUSION Primary studies of interventions for rheumatoid arthritis generally reported few variables necessary to answer questions about health inequalities. Most CMSG systematic reviews failed to assess those variables even when described in the primary studies. The Cochrane Health Equity Field welcomes the opportunity to provide guidance to systematic review authors on incorporating equity considerations into their reviews.
Complainer Characteristics When Exit is Closed

Purpose – The paper seeks to investigate whether the demographic and socio‐economic characteristics of complainers in a monopolistic market are different from those in a competitive market.Design/methodology/approach – A literature review is undertaken, with particular emphasis on the socio‐economic characteristics of complainers. An empirical study is then presented. The empirical study consists of a large survey of satisfaction among consumers of the Norwegian Office for Social Insurance – a monopolistic governmental service provider.Findings – The study reveals that complainers in this monopolistic market belong to lower socio‐economic groups. They typically have low incomes, are outside the labour market, have a modest standard of accommodation, and live alone.Research limitations/implications – The study analyses only one type of monopolistic institution in only one country. The generalisability of the findings might, therefore, be limited. The study demonstrates that consumer complaint behaviour in .
The 52-Week High as a Reference Point in Trading Behaviour

Using Oslo Stock Exchange market data from 1991 to 2010, a portfolio based on the current price's nearness to the 52-week high price yields returns comparable to and partly independent of a past performance based momentum portfolio. This suggests that the 52week high may contribute to an explanation of price momentum, more specifically by being used as an arbitrary reference point or anchor in trading decisions. Empirically, increased nearness to the 52-week high is associated with lower share turnover and demand, possibly causing a temporary underreaction in stock prices and price momentum as this underreaction is corrected over time.
News-Enhanced Market Risk Management

We develop a news-enhanced risk model, which utilizes news sentiments to optimize the valuation of market risk. In particular, our model takes into account news sentiment scores, which value news of various sources according to their relevance for particular companies. A GJR-GARCHX model is built for the calculation of the Value at Risk for different assets. We further develop an interactive GUI, where the results are demonstrated.
The Effect of Accounting Aggregation on the Value-Relevance of Financial Disclosures: The Case of SFAS No. 106

This study uses SFAS No. 106 disclosures to investigate the abilities of post-retirement benefit (PRB) liability components, and annual PRB cost components to explain cross-sectional variation in market-to-book ratios. SFAS No. 106 requires disclosure of the sensitivity of the PRB liability and cost to the health care cost trend rate. This study also examines the value-relevance of this new disclosure and its effect on reducing the measurement error variance in the estimation of the PRB liability and cost. Results indicate that information on PRB liability is value-relevant conditioned on earnings and pension information. When both cost and liability components are included in the model, information on cost components is value-relevant, while information on liability components has only marginal explanatory power. When the measurement error in the PRB liability is reduced using the standard's sensitivity disclosures, the explanatory power of the liability components increases significantly.
Do Foreign Entrepreneurs Benefit Their Firms as Managers?

The entrepreneurship literature has extensively studied an individual’s decision to found a new venture, but it has little to say about the individual’s choice to operate this venture personally or hire an agent. This decision is particularly challenging for foreign entrepreneurs, who, in addition to traditional factors, such as agency costs and personal preferences, need to take into consideration the benefits and liabilities of foreignness. Using novel data on foreign entrepreneurial firms and instrumenting for the owner-manager choice with a visa policy change, we find that managing foreign entrepreneurs significantly improve firm performance. Our results further suggest that foreign owner-managers reduce operating costs but have no effect on the firm’s productivity and growth.
Neurosyphilis: a reality again

Editor The diagnosis of NS relies on epidemiological, clinical and biological measures. Diagnosis is difficult for many reasons: the disease is rare, it can mimic several others, incidental partial treatment with antibiotics given for other disorders may complicate the clinical picture, it may be difficult to obtain a reliable history, and new clinical pictures (‘formes frustes’) may occur. Our study describes 11 cases of NS diagnosed in the State Hospital for Skin and Venereal Diseases in Thessaloniki, North Greece between 1983 and 2003. Four cases of NS from a total of 758 cases of syphilis were registered during the period 1983–1993, and seven were registered from a total of 532 during the period 1993–2003. They were diagnosed during routine screening for syphilis (hospital admission, blood donation). Epidemiological and clinical features, positive serology (VDRL, TPHA) in serum and CSF, and neuroimaging findings and outcome were retrospectively analysed. All patients were hospitalized and treated by intravenous injection of aqueous crystalline benzathine penicillin G, 24 million IU administrated daily in doses of 4 million IU every 4 h, and probenecid 500 mg orally, 4 times daily, both for 14 days. This was followed by intramuscular injections of aqueous procaine benzathine penicillin G, 2.4 million IU, once a week for 9 weeks. Low-dose corticosteroids (methylprednisolone 4 mg per day) along with intravenous and intramuscular penicillin were prescribed in patients with advanced neurological and psychiatric symptomatology. Estimation of treatment effectiveness was performed every 6 months for 2 years. It comprised clinical examination (neurological, psychiatric) and serum and CSF changes. Re-treatment was performed if clinical signs, symptoms or CSF pleocytosis persisted or recurred, and was required in four patients (Table 1). There was a clear predominance of male subjects, the male–female ratio being 2.6 : 1. Patients ranged in age from 27 to 68 years, with an average age of 40.2 years (Table 1). All patients were heterosexual, HIV-negative, immunocompetent, and had an average socio-economic status. A history of syphilis was not found in any of the cases. Five patients presented asymptomatic NS, whereas six presented notable neurological and psychiatric syndromes (one, meningovascular, one, tabes dorsalis and four, general paresis). Two years after therapy, the CSF VDRL titres decreased from 1/2 to 1/16 in two cases, and from 1/2 to 1/8 in three cases, were stable (1/8) in one case, and became negative only in one (Table 1). Neuroimaging findings were nonspecific. The gadolinium test for stroke was not performed. The incidence and clinical spectrum of NS have changed over time. The classic descriptions of NS from the pre-antibiotic era, such as general paresis of the insane and tabetic NS are now considered to be only rarely encountered. Factors that determine the development and progression of tertiary disease are not known. In several studies 10–70% of patients with early syphilis were found to have CSF pleocytosis, elevated CSF protein or positive CSF VDRL.
Protein glutathionylation in erythrocytes.

Analysis of antioxidant molecules is potentially important to understanding the role of oxidative stress (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) in disease, as oxidative damage is accompanied or preceded by their depletion. Reduced glutathione (GSH) is ubiquitous and abundant; it can be oxidized to its disulfide form (GSSG) in response to an oxidative perturbation. Usually, however, this species is rapidly reduced by the action of glutathione reductase (7). If GSSG accumulates within the cell, it can create protein-glutathione adducts via thiol-disulfide exchange reactions. Thus, in addition to the ratio of GSH to GSSG, the content of glutathionylated proteins (GSSPs) can indicate oxidative stress. The analysis of GSSPs has potential advantages over measurements of GSH and GSSG because GSSPs are more stable than GSSG, being less prone to enzymatic reduction by glutathione reductases (8). Because blood can be studied as an indicator of the overall body oxidative status, GSSPs and, particularly, glutathionyl hemoglobin (Hb-SSG) could represent useful markers of oxidative stress. The use of Hb-SSG as a clinical marker has been proposed (9)(10). Significant increases in GSSP concentrations have been found in diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, Friedreich ataxia, and chronic renal failure (10)(11)(12)(13). The technology commonly used for the assays of GSSPs, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), is not widely available. In addition, we have recently reported (14) that oxygenated Hb is able to artificially produce large amounts of GSSG and GSSP if not adequately manipulated. We have therefore developed a rapid and sensitive HPLC method to measure GSSPs that could avoid possible pitfalls and artifacts. Monoclonal anti-GSH antibody was obtained from Virogen. Sheep anti-mouse IgG, horseradish peroxidase conjugate, was obtained from Amersham Pharmacia Biotech. All others chemicals were from Sigma. Human blood was obtained by venipuncture, …
The informational role of algorithmic traders in the option market

This paper investigates the information role of algorithmic traders (AT) in the Nifty index option market. I analyse a unique dataset to test for information-based trading by looking at the effect of net buying pressure options on implied volatilities. According to the direction-learning hypothesis, (directional) informed investors' net buying pressure of calls (puts) raises the implied volatilities of calls (puts) and lowers the implied volatilities of puts (calls). In addition, their net buying pressure can also predict future index returns. According to the volatility-learning hypothesis, (volatility) informed investors' net buying pressure is always positively related to implied volatilities. I find that these relations do not hold for AT and, therefore, infer absense of information-based trading by AT. On the contrary, I find the direction-learning hypothesis to hold for non-AT who, in this market, are primarily individual investors.
Invasive aspergillosis in a Putty‐nosed monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans) with adrenocortical Cushing’s syndrome

Background An 18‐year‐old captive female putty‐nosed‐monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans) with a history of long‐term infertility and hyperglucocorticism was euthanized because of perforating thoracic trauma induced by group members and subsequent development of neurological signs.
Effects of gestational administration of nickel on postnatal development in Swiss albino mice

Effects on postnatal development of Swiss albino mice exposed to nickel (Ni2+) ions as nickel chloride haxahydrate (NiCl2·6H2O) during the gestation periods were evaluated in this study. Administration of Ni to pregnant females by gavage (46.125, 92.25, and 184.5 mg Ni/kg body weight (b.w.)) at doses below median lethal dose during 0–5 (preimplantation period), 6–13 (organogenetic period), and 14–18 days (fetal period) postconception. The dams were allowed to deliver and raise their pups. Significant (p < 0.05) decrease in litter size was observed after 184.5 mg Ni/kg b.w. during the three gestation periods particularly from preimplantation period as compared to organogenetic and fetal periods in comparison with the control group. Exposure to 184.5 mg Ni/kg b.w. during fetal period revealed higher mortality as compared to organogenetic period. Exposure to 184.5 mg Ni/kg b.w. increased the eye, limb, and tail anomalies during organogenetic period. Gestation index from preimplantation period was low at all the doses. Live birth index decreased during preimplantation and organogenetic periods after 184.5 mg Ni/kg b.w. The viability and weanling of pups decreased during all periods after 92.25 and 184.5 mg Ni/kg b.w. doses. A dose-dependent highly significant (p < 0.01) decrease in the body weight of offspring from day 0 to 6 weeks of age at all the doses during different gestation periods were observed. Maximum body weight decrease was observed in offspring from organogenetic period. This study concludes that young ones are vulnerable during different gestational and lactation period which indicates that Ni ingested by mothers constitutes a great threat to the progeny.
Are the temptations of online reverse auctions appropriate for your business

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to explore the benefits of online reverse auctions for both buyers and suppliers in contrast to the negative implications for procurement process. This paper also aims to provide a framework for managers determining if participation in online reverse auctions is appropriate for their business.Design/methodology/approach – Information was gathered from numerous sources including surveys from both buyers and suppliers in a multitude of industries in order to create a comprehensive analysis of benefits and shortcomings of online reverse auctions. Additional research could be pursued by conducting a detailed cost analysis of buyers who have adopted online reverse auctions. A thorough analysis of unit cost and total cost changes amongst various industries could provide benchmark data for companies contemplating entering the reverse auction arena.Findings – The research analysis finds a strong temptation for buyers to participate in online reverse auctions: price reductions.
Foresight: Recommending Visual Insights

Current tools for exploratory data analysis (EDA) require users to manually select data attributes, statistical computations and visual encodings. This can be daunting for large-scale, complex data. We introduce Foresight, a system that helps the user rapidly discover visual insights from large high-dimensional datasets. Formally, an "insight" is a strong manifestation of a statistical property of the data, e.g., high correlation between two attributes, high skewness or concentration about the mean of a single attribute, a strong clustering of values, and so on. For each insight type, Foresight initially presents visualizations of the top k instances in the data, based on an appropriate ranking metric. The user can then look at "nearby" insights by issuing "insight queries" containing constraints on insight strengths and data attributes. Thus the user can directly explore the space of insights, rather than the space of data dimensions and visual encodings as in other visual recommender systems. Foresight also provides "global" views of insight space to help orient the user and ensure a thorough exploration process. Furthermore, Foresight facilitates interactive exploration of large datasets through fast, approximate sketching.
Investigation on rescoring using minimum verification error (MVE) detectors

Discriminative training, especially Minimum Veriﬁcation Error(MVE)methodplaysanimportantroleinthedetection-basedASR.Recently,discriminativetrainingalsohasbeen shown to be effective in large vocabulary continuous speech recognition [1]. In this paper, we propose a rescoring framework to show the improvement by fusing MVE-trained detectors with a conventional recognizer. The recognizer performs regular Viterbi decoding, generating possible recognition candidates with corresponding likelihood in a fashion of either N-best lists or word graphs. Detectors trained under MVE criterion form and conduct hypothesis testing for all test tokens to accomplish additional scores. A number of linear or non-linear rescoring methods are then presented to combine these two groups of scores. The experiments were conducted on the TIMIT database, and the results indicates that combining based on word graphs outperforms the one on N-best lists in the ﬁnal accuracy. This rescoring framework explores possible ways to combine other independent knowledge sources with a conventional recognizer. Further more, it can guide the future research of the pure detection-based ASR techniques.
Apnea Training Effects on Swimming Coordination

Lemaître, F, Seifert, L, Polin, D, Juge, J, Tourny-Chollet, C, and Chollet, D. Apnea training effects on swimming coordination. J Strength Cond Res 23(6): 1909-1914, 2009-Triathletes and elite breath-hold divers show an adaptive response to hypoxia induced by repeated epochs of breath holding. We hypothesized that hypoxic training could also improve swimming coordination. Before and after a 3-month breath-hold training program, 4 male swimmers performed a maximal incremental test on bicycle and a 50-m front crawl race at maximal speed without breathing so that interarm coordination could be assessed. Swim velocity, stroke rate (SR), stroke length (SL), and the arm stroke phases were calculated from video analysis. Arm coordination was quantified in terms of an index of coordination (IdC) based on the time gap between the propulsive phases of each arm. After apnea training, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second was higher (4.85 ± 0.78 vs. 4.94 ± 0.81 L, p < 0.05), with concomitant increases in &OV0312;o2peak, minimal arterial oxygen saturation, and respiratory compensation point values (W and W·kg−1) during the incremental test. Swimming performance was not improved (clean velocity and time on 50 m); however, SR was decreased and SL and IdC were increased. These results indicate that apnea training improves effectiveness at both peak exercise and submaximal exercise and can also improve swimming technique by promoting greater propulsive continuity.
Shelf life as requirement for quality of milk products

In the complete assessment of the quality of milk and milk products, one of the important elements influencing the quality of the products is its storage stability e.g. shelf life. The quality is not a matter of choice, but imperative for survival on the market due to economical reasons as well as international regulations. Durability of a product is the consequence of the collection of milk, processing, distribution and storage in retail stores. The quality should be seen in connection with the highest satisfaction of consumers requests and improvements of manufacturing procedures. Modern concepts of managemen, control (TQM, QSA, GMP, LISA, HACCP) and observation of regulations of the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO:9000, 9001 etc) are of great importance in reaching the adequate shelf life for each product.
The relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty: a study on the management consulting industry

Based on literature review and experimental results, the study employed questionnaire survey to investigate the relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty. The present study used factor analysis and regression analysis, and obtains the following results: (1) Perspectives of service quality in the management consulting industry includes: empathy, reliability, competence, responsiveness, and tangibles. (2) A significantly positive effect of perspectives of service quality on customer satisfaction is verified through regression analysis. (3) A significantly positive effect of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty is verified as well.
Wake of two side-by-side square cylinders at low Reynolds numbers

Wake of two side-by-side square cylinders was investigated through direct numerical simulation at low Reynolds numbers (16–200). The gap between the two cylinders varied from 0 to 10D, where D is the dimension of the square cylinder (edge length). 9 different wake patterns and their dependency on both the Reynolds number and gap spacing were identified and analysed. A system classification map, demarcated by the Reynolds number and gap ratio g* (g/D, where g is the gap spacing between 2 cylinders), was derived for these 9 wake modes. Steady-state wake (mode I) was observed when the Reynolds number is lower than the critical Reynolds number, which depends on g*. For the gap ratio less than 0.7, only single vortex street was observed. The single vortex street wake can be either symmetric and periodic (mode II), or asymmetric and periodic (mode III), or irregular (mode IV). In this gap ratio range (less than 0.7), shedding frequency decreases with the gap ratio due to the damping role of the gap flow. For th.
Product Elimination: The Nigerian Insurance Industry Experience

There is a growing interest in the way products are eliminated in order to prevent purchase discontinuity. The authors present an empirical study on the ways products are eliminated in the Nigerian insurance industry. Specifically, the papers examined the factors normally considered before elimination decisions are taken, and the key problems encountered during elimination stages. The data obtained from thirty-four insurance companies through a structured questionnaire were analyzed and a ranking of the variables relevant to the elimination process was provided. The kolmogorov-smirnov test was used to test the formulated hypotheses. Government policies and regulations as well as operational problems are the most important factors leading to elimination process. The paper also reports that the most difficult problem encountered during the elimination process is maintaining customer’s goodwill.