Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diverticular bleeding: are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs risk factors for hemorrhage and can colonoscopy predict outcome for patients?

OBJECTIVE This retrospective study was performed to determine if certain endoscopic features of a bleeding diverticulum predict outcome for patients and to assess the role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) as a risk factor for hemorrhage. METHODS Over a 28-month period, colonoscopy was performed on 13 patients (mean, age 74 yr) in whom a specific diverticulum was unequivocally identified as a cause for bleeding. Endoscopic features of the affected diverticulum were recorded and correlated with outcome for patients. Drug histories were reviewed to document use of NSAID before bleeding. RESULTS Three patients had a visible vessel located inside a diverticulum, and one subject had an adherent clot with active bleeding. These colonoscopic findings were classified as stigmata of significant hemorrhage (SSH). In the remaining nine patients the diverticula were ulcerated. This endoscopic finding was classified as stigmata of insignificant hemorrhage (SIH). Compared with patients with SIH, individuals with SSH experienced a greater number of bleeding episodes (3.5 vs 1.3, p = 0.006), had a lower initial hemoglobin concentration (8.2 vs 12.5 gm%, p = 0.009), and required more transfusions (3.3 vs 0, p = 0.04) and invasive treatments (75% with SSH were managed by endoscopy or surgery vs 0% for those with SIH, p = 0.01). Ninety-two percent of the patients were taking NSAID (100% with SSH and 89% with SIH). Seventy-five percent of subjects with SSH compared with 0% of patients with SIH had a combined exposure to NSAID and ASA (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Presence of a visible vessel or an adherent clot with active bleeding is a reliable marker for significant hemorrhage. Ulcerated diverticula are the cause of trivial bleeding, and presence of this endoscopic finding accurately predicts a benign clinical course. NSAID may be an important risk factor for diverticular bleeding. It is possible that combined exposure to NSAID and ASA results in more severe bleeding compared with use of NSAID alone.
Developing Self-Employment Among African Americans: The Impact of Household Social Resources on African American Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship has historically been a vital contributor to the dynamism of American economic activity and has functioned as an important institution for marginalized races and communities. Logistic regression models based on data from the 1993 through 2000 Current Population Surveys from the U.S. Bureau of the Census are used to investigate differences in the probability of self-employment for African Americans and Whites. The investigation of racial differences in entrepreneurship offers both a fundamental view of economic development and of the salience of race in contemporary American economic activity. The results of this study show that household resources have both expected and unexpected effects on entrepreneurship. For example, as expected, being married and having other sources of household income positively affect the likelihood of entrepreneurship for both African Americans and Whites. Unexpectedly, having other working-age adults in the household reduces the likelihood of entrepreneurship for both groups.
The institutional construction of a policy field: a discursive institutional perspective on change within the common agricultural policy

ABSTRACT This paper explores the dynamics giving momentum to the institutional construction of a policy field. This objective is pursued through the study of a case: the articulation and institutionalization of a policy field concerned with organic farming within the auspices of the common agricultural policy (CAP) of the European Union (EU) from 1980 to 2003. Applying a discursive institutional analytical framework focusing on the dynamics of institutional change it is concluded that – when it comes to the study of ideas – perhaps: (1) the CAP is not as sectorized a policy field as it is commonly considered to be, and (2) the European Parliament also has a role to play as an agent of change within the CAP.
Investigating Customer Satisfaction in a Health Club Context by an Application of the Tetraclasse Model

Abstract Although customer satisfaction is recognised as a key driver for positive organisational outcomes, the nature and the role of the service attributes contributing to satisfaction are still misunderstood, and are most often evaluated by service quality dimensions. This study attempts to explore these attributes and their contribution to satisfaction in a sport service context using Llosa's Tetraclasse model which hypothesises that some service attribute weights are performance related whereas others are not. This application on a sample composed of 184 customers from five French health clubs indicated four satisfaction contribution types. The results suggest that the quality of human factors, such as staff behaviour, and non-tangible factors, such as image, are determinant in the formation of the participant's satisfaction.
The Incidence of Cleft Lip and Palate in Northern Ireland from 1980–1990

This study reports the incidence of the various types of cleft lip and/or palate drawn from a regional database of all affected children born in Northern Ireland during the period 1980–1990. The incidence of these anomalies was 1·28 per 1000 live births (1:781). Fifty-three per cent of clefts involved the secondary palate only, 16 per cent the primary palate only, 26 per cent involved both primary and secondary palate, and 5 per cent were unconnected. Overall, more males than females were affected and there were more males than females in the group having complete clefts. Separate clefts of lip and palate occurred exclusively in males with only one exception. Unilateral clefts were more common on the left side. Within the group showing complete unilateral cleft of the primary and secondary palate, left-sided clefts were more commonly male, right-sided clefts were more commonly female. There were no statistically significant sex differences between sides in the unilateral primary palate cleft group.
Micro Factors Influencing the Attitudes toward and the Use of a Mobile Technology: A Model of Cell-Phone Use in Guinea

Previous studies have often highlighted macro factors as explaining the adoption and use of cell phones in developing economies. However, micro factors, which directly affect the end user's motivations, have been underinvestigated. We examine the influence of micro factors on both individuals' attitude toward and their use of cell phones. Data were collected through a survey of 463 cell-phone users in Guinea. Results show that mobility, familiarity, social influence, and resources possession influence the attitude toward and the use of cellular telephones. In contrast, the hypothesis that subscription conditions are the main influence on cell-phone use is not verified.
Finite-time stability of switched linear systems with subsystems which are not finite-time stable

Up to now, the potential assumption of most existing results for finite-time stability of switched linear systems is that each subsystem should be finite-time stable. If one subsystem of the switched systems is not finite-time stable, the previous results may fail. In this paper, finite-time stability of switched linear systems with subsystems that are not finite-time stable is discussed. Sufficient conditions are given under which switched linear systems with subsystems that are not finite-time stable are guaranteed to be finite-time stable. The results also show the effect of the switching signals on finite-time stability of switched linear systems. An numerical example is employed to verify the efficiency of the proposed method.
Food Preference, Poverty, and the Nutrition Gap

In recent decades, widespread poverty has been observed in the developing economies. Studies probing the relationship of development to income distribution or poverty suggest either no development effect on the extent of poverty' or a widening of inequality of incomes during the initial stages of development.2 A recent study by Dandekar and Rath of poverty in India showed the prevalence of poverty in both rural and urban areas after nearly three five-year plans, although these plans enabled India to achieve a sustained high rate of growth.3 Other studies just preceding and following confirmed and extended the major conclusion of Dandekar and Rath's study.4 While income distribution studies relate to the extent of relative poverty, studies similar to Dandekar and Rath's relate to absolute poverty. In the latter the measurement of poverty is related to calorie intake levels. In at least one study, it is related to a collection of basic goods . Recent studies at the international level give evidence of poverty in the past decade and project a further spread in the next. They too have used the calorie-based poverty line.6 In this paper I maintain that calories (or other nutrients taken singly or together) measure only one attribute of food; another is its taste. The demand for food is a joint demand for these attributes (and others like bulk, which gives a sense of fullness). I maintain that to concentrate on nutrition or calories alone leads to inaccuracy in measuring the extent of poverty. We must ask, therefore, what role food preferences play in food consumption and nutrition intake. My attempt is to understand food habits, especially at low income levels. Although measurements are given regarding food preferences,
Caloric restriction attenuates β‐amyloid neuropathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

This study was designed to explore the possibility that caloric restriction (CR) may benefit Alzheimer's disease (AD) by preventing β‐amyloid (Aβ) neuropathology pivotal to the initiation and progression of the disease. We report that a CR dietary regimen prevents Aβ peptides generation and neuritic plaque deposition in the brain of a mouse model of AD neuropathology through mechanisms associated with promotion of anti‐amyloidogenic α‐secretase activity. Study findings support existing epidemiological evidence indicating that caloric intake may influence risk for AD and raises the possibility that CR may be used in preventative measures aimed at delaying the onset of AD amyloid neuropathology.
Agile Product Development: Managing Development Flexibility in Uncertain Environments

As product complexity and the rate of market change have dramatically increased over the last years, firms find it increasingly difficult to forecast product requirements in their development processes. This article redefines the problem from one of improving forecasting to one of increasing product development agility and thus reducing the need for accurate long-term forecasts. It introduces the notion of development flexibility, shows how it can be measured, and presents results from a large empirical study on integrated systems development, which found that projects using flexible technologies outperformed projects using inflexible technologies by a factor of 2.2 (in person-months). Finally, the article proposes three major strategies for introducing flexibility into organizations. These strategies can help firms increase their agility and position themselves to succeed in accelerating and more turbulent markets.
African American Fathers: A Decade Review of the Literature

Research on African American fathers has changed dramatically during the past decade. The author seeks to understand the parental experience of African American fathers as they are portrayed in the literature. A computer search was conducted to identify articles on African American fathers published between 1986 and 1996. The author discusses theories used in research on African American fathers as well as limitations and gaps in the literature. Although significant changes have been made in the literature on African American fathers, more comprehensive research on the parenting experiences of these men is needed. Implications for research, policy, and practice are provided.
Volatility and trading activity in Short Sterling futures

The objective of the present study is to examine the interplay between information, trading volume and volatility in Short Sterling futures. More specifically, the paper concentrates on the role of liquidity variables as conduits of information arrival and whether such variables could be an exclusive platform of the market's information set. The analytical framework employed to examine the interaction among those factors is based on the conditional volatility family of techniques. The approach is well suited as it naturally leads to examine the interaction among volatility and sources of information. In an attempt to identify proxies of information and their role in determining volatility, four main conclusions have emerged. First, the empirical findings suggest that both volume and open interest exhibit a positive correlation with volatility. Second, based on the current methodology, one can observe the persistence and importance of GARCH effects after accounting for liquidity. Third, the liquidity variables remain significantly exogenous compared with other studies. Finally, although both liquidity variables are found significant, their role as vehicles of transmitting information is proved to be weak with respect to the information itself.
Differential Subcellular Distribution of Tubulin Epitopes in Boar Spermatozoa: Recognition of Class III β-Tubulin Epitope in Sperm Tail1

Abstract The exposure of tubulin epitopes was studied in ejaculated boar spermatozoa using a panel of four monoclonal antibodies specific to the N-terminal or C-terminal structural domains of tubulin and three monoclonal antibodies against class III β-tubulin. The specificity of the antibodies was confirmed by immunoblotting. Immunocytochemical staining showed that antibodies discriminated between various parts of a spermatozoon, and that epitopes of class III β-tubulin were present in the flagellum. A tubulin epitope from the C-terminal domain of β-tubulin was detected in the triangular segment of the postacrosomal part of the sperm head. Its distribution changed after an A23187 ionophore-induced acrosome reaction, indicating that tubulin participates in the early stages of fertilization. Three monoclonal antibodies, TU-20, SDL.3D10, and TUJ1 directed against epitopes on the C-terminal end of neuron-specific class III β-tubulin that is widely used as a neuronal marker, stained the flagella. The reactivity of TU-20 was further confirmed by absorbing the antibody with the immunizing peptide and by immunoelectron microscopy. Immunoblotting after two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed that the corresponding epitope was not present on all β-tubulin isoforms. These results suggest that various tubulins are involved in the functional organization of the mammalian sperm flagellum and head.
Acquisitions from emerging countries: what factors influence the performance of target firms in advanced countries?

This study investigates the way in which acquisitions from emerging economies impact on the performance of target firms in advanced countries. The study makes a number of contributions to the international business literature. Firstly, it extends the resource-based view of the firm by explaining that both the resources of the target firm and the resources of the acquiring company play an important role in determining performance outcomes. Secondly, our theoretical analysis indicates that the performance of the target firm is influenced not only by its own network, but also by the national and international network of the acquiring company. Thirdly, this study sheds light on the strategic fit of the acquisition. According to our analysis, the performance of the target firm is likely to be maximised when there is a moderate level of relatedness between the target and the acquiring company.
Economic growth in Latin America

This paper studies growth determinants in 12 Latin American countries during the period 1950-85. In a simple growth accounting framework, the share of labor in income is found to be lower in the sample group than in developed countries, while factor productivity growth accounts for a larger proportion of growth in the fastest growing countries in the sample. Using panel data, macroeconomic stability is found to play, in addition to investment (physical and human), a crucial role in growth. To a lesser extent, growth is negatively correlated with government consumption and political instability. The terms of trade appear to have no significant effect on growth.
Predictive Ability and Descriptive Validity of Earnings Forecasting Models

VALIDATION OF SECURITY VALUATION models critically depends on obtaining reliable proxies for investors' expectations of future earnings. It is obvious that different values of these proxies in a given case are likely to lead to different, if not conflicting, results. In spite of significance of properly formulated proxies, they have not been paid requisite attention in the valuation studies. Nor, for that matter, have financial theories offered proper guidelines for selecting and processing relevant information for devising proxies for future earnings. This situation is not due to any oversight or neglect, but has arisen because of substantial problems involved, for instance, in identifying and measuring relevant factors for developing forecasts. Even when these forecasts are strictly based on earnings history, selection of an appropriate extrapolation method still remains a controversial and somewhat uncomfortable issue, as evidenced by inconsistent conclusions from studies conducted by Ball and Watts [3], Brooks and Buckmaster [6], and Foster [9]. The purpose of this study is to examine effectiveness of different extrapolation methods previously advanced in the literature. In Section II, extrapolation models previously advanced in the literature are classified into four major hypotheses on earnings time-series. Section III deals with relevant data and specification of forecasting horizons for conducting empirical investigation. Section IV develops the criteria for the selection process. In Section V, empirical evidence on the performance of alternative processes is presented, and different evaluation measures are employed in order to establish whether a clearcut dominance of a specific process emerges. The final section concludes with major findings of this study.
An Empirical Study of the Risk-Return Hypothesis Using Common Stock Portfolios of Life Insurance Companies

The relationship between return on assets and their riskiness is one of the liveliest topics in financial literature. In his 1952 landmark article, Markowitz developed a mathematical model that captured this key financial concept. defined risk as the variance of the rate of return of a portfolio. Later, Sharpe hypothesized a positive linear relationship between expected rate of return on an asset and the risk premium associated with that asset. Subsequently, Sharpe tested this hypothesis empirically and found support for his theory. Although portfolio theory specifies the two parameters of this model as ex ante return and risk, Sharpe used ex post data for testing the risk-return relationship. designated the ex post mean rate of return obtained on an an asset as a proxy for expected return and the standard deviation of ex post annual rates of return as a surrogate for risk.
Considering coopetition strategies in sport tourism networks: a look at the nonprofit nautical sports clubs on the northern coast of France

Research question: Value co-creations from business to business are rarely studied. However, this type of value co-creation is essential to better understand sport tourism networks. With this article, we propose to study coopetition strategies, i.e., a mix of competition and cooperation among organizations. Previous research in sport management has revealed that nonprofits rely greatly on interorganizational relationships to subsist and to grow. However, there is a need to better understand the parameters of coopetition strategies among nonprofits, or with for-profit and/or public corporations in the sport tourism industry, in order to comprehend how value is created at the network level. Our review of the literature led us to organize these parameters by nature and complexity of coopetition. Research method: an in-depth qualitative approach of seven nonprofits, three public corporations, and one for-profit organization from the northern coast of France was used for the study. Results and findings: the authors propose a taxonomy of six coopetition strategies used by the nonprofits (event-related coopetition, vertical integration with cooptation by a public corporation, vertical integration without cooptation by a public corporation, vertical integration without cooptation by a for-profit, horizontal multisport integration among nonprofits, and horizontal multilocation integration among nonprofits). Value co-creations and risks of value destruction displayed by the strategies observed are discussed. Implications: the paper extends findings in coopetition from the goods industry to the service industry. It also discusses cross-sector relationships and value destruction, topics which are rarely studied.
Post-Takeover Effects on Thai Bidding Firms: Are Takeovers in the Bidder's Interests?

This paper analyses takeover effects on the Thai stock market in terms of their impact on the bidding firms' shareholders. We apply a comprehensive analysis of shareholder wealth effects using multiple methods. Our results conform with prior studies: see Jensen and Ruback (1983), Agrawal and Jaffe (1999), Bruner (2002) and Campa and Hernando (2004). Thai takeovers result in significant negative abnormal returns over the sixteen months after the takeover. The abnormal returns, variously defined, vary from -4% to -6%, and -0.20% (monthly) for the bidding firm's shareholders. Thai takeovers do not appear to add to bidding firms' shareholder wealth.
Comparative analysis of transplanted and dibbled method of redgram cultivation in Bidar district of Karnataka

Redgram is an important pulse crop in India. New cropping technology increases the yield in the production of redgram. In order to examine variation in yield due to introduction of new technology, a study was carried out in Bidar district of North Karnataka during the year 2011-12. It was found that cost of cultivation under transplanted redgram (` 37139/ha) was higher than that of dibbled (` 34007/ha) method. Although the farmers of transplanted method spent more compared to dibbled method, the net return obtained in transplanted method was much higher (` 67523/ha) as against dibbled (` 58052/ha) method. The Cobb-Douglas production function was used to estimate the contribution of inputs towards the return, the output elasticity of seeds, human labour and irrigation in both methods like transplanted (0.25 , 0.80 and 0.05) and dibbled method (0.11, 0.44 and 0.18) were positive and significant. Thus the use of seeds, human labour and irrigation will positively and significantly influence the gross returns in redgram production under both transplanted and dibbled methods. The ratios of MVP to MFC were greater than one for all the factors used in both the methods except manures and fertilizers in transplanted method and manures and fertilizers and plant protection chemicals in dibbled method. The decomposition analysis indicated that the difference in total output between transplanted and dibbled method of redgram cultivation was 16.04 per cent that is in transplanted method 16.40 per cent higher than that of dibbled method. The transplanting technology alone has contributed to the extent of 19.08 per cent while the contribution of increased use of inputs was found to be negative.