Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Neuropsychological dysfunction after cardiac surgery: Cerebral saturation and bispectral index: A longitudinal study].

BACKGROUND Neuropsychological dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. AIM To evaluate if intraoperative cerebral desaturation and depth of anesthesia measured by bispectral index are related to postoperative cognitive dysfunction in cardiac surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS Prospective study in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment was applied preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. Postoperative dysfunction was defined as a decrease of at least one standard deviation in two or more neuropsychological tests. Cerebral oxygenation and bispectral index were continuously recorded and corrected throughout surgery. Cerebral oxygenation data were analyzed by the mean value and at three thresholds: 50%, 40% and < 25% of the basal value. Bispectral index was analyzed at threshold of 45. RESULTS Fifty-six patients were initially enrolled and 48 completed the study. Nine of these (18.8 %) presented postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Mean cerebral saturation and bispectral index data were not different among the patients with or without cognitive dysfunction. There was no association between cerebral desaturation and bispectral index with changes in neurocognitive tests or with length of stay in the intensive care unit. A significant but weak correlation was found between baseline Ray-neurocognitive score and intensive care unit stay (rho = -0.46; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We did not find a significant association between cerebral desaturation and depth of anesthesia with postoperative cognitive decline in this population of patients.
Modeling and Solving the Two-Facility Capacitated Network Loading Problem

This paper studies a topical and economically significant capacitated network design problem that arises in the telecommunications industry. In this problem, given point-to-point communication demand in a network must be met by installing loading capacitated facilities on the arcs: Loading a facility incurs an arc specific and facility dependent cost. This paper develops modeling and solution approaches for loading facilities to satisfy the given demand at minimum cost. We consider two approaches for solving the underlying mixed integer program: a Lagrangian relaxation strategy, and a cutting plane approach that uses three classes of valid inequalities that we identify for the problem. We show that a linear programming formulation that includes these inequalities always approximates the value of the mixed integer program at least as well as the Lagrangian relaxation bound. Our computational results on a set of prototypical telecommunication data show that including these inequalities considerably improves the gap between the integer programming formulation and its linear programming relaxation: from an average of 25% to an average of 8%. These results show that strong cutting planes can be an effective modeling and algorithmic tool for solving problems of the size that arise in the telecommunications industry.
Structural and Pharmacological Characterization of Novel Potent and Selective Monoclonal Antibody Antagonists of Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Receptor

Background: GIPr mediates insulin secretion upon GIP stimulation. Results: Gipg013 is a highly specific and potent antagonist of GIPr with a fully characterized mode of action. Conclusion: Gipg013 antagonizes GIPr in vivo, as exemplified by inhibition of GIP-induced insulin secretion. Significance: This antagonizing antibody to the GIPr will be useful as a tool to further understand the biological roles of GIP. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is an endogenous hormonal factor (incretin) that, upon binding to its receptor (GIPr; a class B G-protein-coupled receptor), stimulates insulin secretion by beta cells in the pancreas. There has been a lack of potent inhibitors of the GIPr with prolonged in vivo exposure to support studies on GIP biology. Here we describe the generation of an antagonizing antibody to the GIPr, using phage and ribosome display libraries. Gipg013 is a specific competitive antagonist with equally high potencies to mouse, rat, dog, and human GIP receptors with a Ki of 7 nm for the human GIPr. Gipg013 antagonizes the GIP receptor and inhibits GIP-induced insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo. A crystal structure of Gipg013 Fab in complex with the human GIPr extracellular domain (ECD) shows that the antibody binds through a series of hydrogen bonds from the complementarity-determining regions of Gipg013 Fab to the N-terminal α-helix of GIPr ECD as well as to residues around its highly conserved glucagon receptor subfamily recognition fold. The antibody epitope overlaps with the GIP binding site on the GIPr ECD, ensuring competitive antagonism of the receptor. This well characterized antagonizing antibody to the GIPr will be useful as a tool to further understand the biological roles of GIP.
Entering the dragon’s nest: exploring Chinese upper-class consumers’ perception of luxury

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the perception of luxury from the perspectives of Chinese upper-class consumers. Design/methodology/approach – Four focus groups, each consisting of six upper-class and experienced luxury consumers, are formed in four cities, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, which are among the most affluent, populated and developed in the luxury market. Findings – The findings suggest that Chinese upper-class luxury consumers, indeed, hold different perceptions for luxury in several aspects: price premium is a prestige in contrast to general Chinese consumers’ “value-consciousness”; exclusivity is more valued by the upper-class and experienced consumers; more attention of the upper-class consumers has shifted to individual values from social values; brand value is of high importance; and there exist differences among consumers in different regions. Practical implications – The study suggests that luxury brands should recognize the differences between the upper-.
The MEN1 Gene and Pituitary Tumours

Sporadic multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is defined as the occurrence of tumours in two of three main endocrine tissue types: parathyroid, pituitary and pancreaticoduodenal. A prolactinoma variant or Burin variant of MEN1 was found to occur in three large kindreds, with more prolactinomas and fewer gastrinomas than typical MEN1. MEN1 tumours differ from common tumours by showing features from the MEN1 gene (e.g. larger pituitary tumours). They also show various expressions of tumour multiplicity; however, pituitary tumour in MEN1 is usually solitary. Diagnosis in MEN1 carriers during childhood is not directed at cancers but at benign morbid tumours. Morbid prolactinoma occurred at the age of 5 years in one MEN1 individual; hence, this is the earliest age at which to recommend tumour surveillance in carriers. The MEN1 gene shows biallelic inactivation in 30% of some types of common variety endocrine tumours (e.g. parathyroid adenoma, gastrinoma, insulinoma and bronchial carcinoid), but in only 1–5% of common pituitary tumours. Heterozygous knockout of MEN1 in mice provides a robust model of MEN1 and has been found to support further research on anti-angiogenesis therapy for pituitary tumours. The rarity of MEN1 mutations in some MEN1-like states aids the identification of other mutated genes, such as AIP, HRPT2 and p27Kip1. We present recent clinical and basic findings about the MEN1 gene, particularly concerning hereditary vs. common variety pituitary tumours.
Pairs Trading in the Land Down Under

Pairs trading is a market neutral investment strategy that attracts attention of academics and practitioners. Despite that, very little testing on the real market data has been published. This research considers three the most cited methods of pairs trading, two of them had never been tested on the real market data. Clear trading rules have been defined for all methods and their performance has been empirically assessed using the daily data covering 12 years history of the Australian stock exchange.All three methods demonstrate statistically significant excess returns from 5% to 12% per year. However, after accounting for the transaction costs, two methods became unprofitable, and one earned minimal profit. These results demonstrate limited practical value of these strategies on the Australian stock market in their current form, suggesting the need for substantial improvements.
FIRMS' FINANCIAL AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATION WITH EARNING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: A META-ANALYSIS APPROACH

This paper aims to investigate the association between firm’s corporate governance and financial attributes (namely, board of directors’ size, board of directors’ independence, chief executive officer (CEO) duality, ownership structure, audit type, firm’s size, firm’s return and leverage) with earnings management practices. The study applies a comprehensive meta-analysis of the findings of 25 journal articles published between 2003 and 2013. The analysis permits this research to accumulate and assimilate the results of previous literature, and their generalization to a wider range of settings. The results showed that all corporate governance and financial characteristics variables have a significant association with earnings management practices.
Brain Natriuretic Peptide and the Risk of Cardiovascular Events and Death in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone that is secreted by the heart, especially from the ventricle (Sudoh et al., 1988; Yasue et al., 1994). The plasma BNP concentrations (BNP levels) are correlated positively with the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and negatively with the left ventricular ejection fraction (Yoshimura et al., 1993; Maeda et al., 1998), so BNP levels should be measured to evaluate left ventricular function. BNP levels have proved to be good markers of congestive heart failure. In addition, BNP levels are useful in screening test for left ventricular dysfunction and also heart disease. Some studies have shown that BNP levels have a prognostic value of mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic heart failure (Maeda et al., 2000; Anand et al., 2003), in general populations (Wang et al., 2004) and in clinical practice (Tsuchida & Tanabe, 2008). However, the prognostic value of BNP levels in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well known. This study investigated the relations of BNP levels to cardiovascular events and death in patients with AF. Hohnloser et al. suggested that warfarin therapy was needed in patients with paroxysmal AF similarly as in those with sustained AF (Hohnloser et al., 2007). Another report showed that, if sinus rhythm was maintained with antiarrhythmic therapy, the prognosis of the patients with paroxsmal AF for ischemic stroke was better than those with permanent AF (Komatsu et al., 2004). We examined the necessity of warfarin therapy in patients with paroxysmal AF as in those with chronic AF. Furthermore, CHADS2 score is known to be very useful to decide the indication of warfarin therapy in patients with AF (Gage et al., 2001). The patients with CHADS2 score of 2 or more are recommended to take warfarin therapy, those with CHADS2 score of 1 to take Warfarin or antiplatelet drugs, and those with CHADS2 score of 0 need not any take warfarin. We investigated the usefulness of BNP as an aid in CHADS2 score to decide the indication of warfarin therapy in patients with CHADS2 score of 0 or 1.
How yield relates to ash content, Delta 13C and Delta 18O in maize grown under different water regimes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Stable isotopes have proved a valuable phenotyping tool when breeding for yield potential and drought adaptation; however, the cost and technical skills involved in isotope analysis limit its large-scale application in breeding programmes. This is particularly so for Delta(18)O despite the potential relevance of this trait in C(4) crops. The accumulation of minerals (measured as ash content) has been proposed as an inexpensive way to evaluate drought adaptation and yield in C(3) cereals, but little is known of the usefulness of this measure in C(4) cereals such as maize (Zea mays). The present study investigates how yield relates to ash content, Delta(13)C and Delta(18)O, and evaluates the use of ash content as an alternative or complementary criterion to stable isotopes in assessing yield potential and drought resistance in maize. METHODS A set of tropical maize hybrids developed by CIMMYT were subjected to different water availabilities, in order to induce water stress during the reproductive stages under field conditions. Ash content and Delta(13)C were determined in leaves and kernels. In addition, Delta(18)O was measured in kernels. KEY RESULTS Water regime significantly affected yield, ash content and stable isotopes. The results revealed a close relationship between ash content in leaves and the traits informing about plant water status. Ash content in kernels appeared to reflect differences in sink-source balance. Genotypic variation in grain yield was mainly explained by the combination of ash content and Delta(18)O, whilst Delta(13)C did not explain a significant percentage of such variation. CONCLUSIONS Ash content in leaves and kernels proved a useful alternative or complementary criterion to Delta(18)O in kernels for assessing yield performance in maize grown under drought conditions.
Service Failure in Online Retailing

Organized service recovery policies and programs are important tools to firms in their efforts to maintain satisfied, loyal customers. Although service failure and recovery issues have received considerable attention in the literature, these topics have received only limited attention in the context of online retailing. Specifically, we lack an understanding of the types of online service failures occurring, the success with which firms are recovering from these failures, and consumer reactions to the service failure/recovery encounters they are experiencing. Therefore, this research involves two studies employing both qualitative and quantitative methods with samples of online shoppers to provide an initial examination of the service recovery management of online retailers. The results provide a typology of online service failures and demonstrate a number of areas in which online retailers are failing to effectively manage their service recoveries. The discussion includes implications for online retailers as well as directions for future research.
Seismoelectric coupling in unsaturated porous media: theory, petrophysics, and saturation front localization using an electroacoustic approach

The seismoelectric method is based on the interpretation of the electrical ﬁeld associated with the conversion of mechanical to electromagnetic energy during the propagation of seismic waves in heterogeneous porous media. We propose an extension of a poroacoustic model that takes into account ﬂuid ﬂow and the effect of saturation. This model is coupled with an electrokinetic model accounting for the effect of saturation and in agreement with available experimental data in sands and carbonate rocks. We also developed new scaling laws for the permeability, the streaming potential coupling coefﬁcient and the capillary entry pressure of porous media. The theory is developed for frequencies much below the critical frequency at which inertial effects starts to dominate in the Navier–Stokes equation ( > 10 kHz). The equations used to compute the propagation of the P waves and the seismoelectric effect in unsaturated condition are solved with ﬁnite elements using triangular meshing. We demonstrate the usefulness of a recently developed technique, seismoelectric beamforming, to localize saturation fronts by focusing seismic waves and looking at the resulting seismoelectric conversions. This method is applied to a cross-hole problem showing how a saturation front characterized by a drop in the electrical conductivity and compressibility is responsible for seismoelectric conversions. These conversions can be used, in turn, to determine the position of the front over time.
Is the quantity-quality trade-off in call centres a false dichotomy?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the existing conceptualisation of quantity and quality in call centres as conflicting or contradictory, and through qualitative analysis, demonstrate that quantity and quality may not necessarily operate as a trade-off. Design/methodology/approach – Existing literature is reviewed to show how quantity-quality has been conceptualised to date, followed by an analysis of quantity-quality manifestations based upon an in-depth field study of work and service in a large and complex call centre operation. Advisors’ work practices were observed during their interactions with customers, which provided rich insights into the nature of live calls and service provision in 13 different teams, supplemented with informal semi-structured interviews with team managers, coaches, and centre managers. Findings – The paper demonstrates that quantity and quality operate as a trade-off when the unit of analysis is the individual advisor or individual call fragment. However, if t.
Substitutes or Complements? A Configurational Examination of Corporate Governance Mechanisms

We conduct an exploratory qualitative comparative case analysis of the S&P 1500 firms with the aim of elaborating theory on how corporate governance mechanisms work together effectively. To do so, we integrate extant theory and research to specify the bundle of mechanisms that operate to mitigate the agency problem among publicly traded corporations and review what previous research has said about how these mechanisms combine. We then use the fuzzy-set approach to qualitative comparitive analysis (QCA) to explore the combinations of governance mechanisms that exist among the S&P 1500 firms that achieve high (and not-high) profitability. Our findings suggest that high profits result when CEO incentive alignment and monitoring mechanisms work together as complements rather than as substitutes. Furthermore, they show that high profits are obtained when both internal and external monitoring mechanisms are present. At the same time, however, monitoring mechanisms evidently combine in complex ways such that the.
Impact of micro credit and training on efficiency of small-scale entrepreneurs: Evidence from National Directorate of Employment (NDE) loan/training programmes in Nigeria

This study analyses the impact of micro-credit and training on efficiency of small-scale entrepreneurs, using the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) programme as a case study. National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has been found to be functioning effectively in its training services. However, in the area of credit provision and utilization, there is no empirical evidence to support its efficiency. In order to evaluate the link between the loan/training programmes of the Directorate and the level of efficiency of micro-entrepreneurs in the state, we estimate technical efficiencies and identify significant policy variables influencing efficiency of selected micro enterprises, using the stochastic frontier production function. Results indicate that there are intra and inter group variations in the efficiency of bakers, furniture makers and burnt-brick makers, showing that there is possibility of improving the level efficiency of these entrepreneurs. The most significant determinants of technical efficiencies of bakers, furniture makers and burnt-brick makers are the level of education, business experience, age of operators, credit access, training experience and level of working capital and initial capital outlay.
Power Moves Beyond Complementarity: A Staring Look Elicits Avoidance in Low Power Perceivers and Approach in High Power Perceivers

Sustained, direct eye-gaze—staring—is a powerful cue that elicits strong responses in many primate and nonprimate species. The present research examined whether fleeting experiences of high and low power alter individuals’ spontaneous responses to the staring gaze of an onlooker. We report two experimental studies showing that sustained, direct gaze elicits spontaneous avoidance tendencies in low power perceivers and spontaneous approach tendencies in high power perceivers. These effects emerged during interactions with different targets and when power was manipulated between-individuals (Study 1) and within-individuals (Study 2), thus attesting to a high degree of flexibility in perceivers’ reactions to gaze cues. Together, the present findings indicate that power can break the cycle of complementarity in individuals’ spontaneous responding: Low power perceivers complement and move away from, and high power perceivers reciprocate and move toward, staring onlookers.
Extreme summer convection in South America.

Abstract Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) and National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) reanalysis data are used to indicate mechanisms responsible for extreme summer convection over South America. The three-dimensional reflectivity field is analyzed to define three types of extreme echo, deep convective cores, wide convective cores, and broad stratiform regions. The location and timing of these echoes are sensitive to midlatitude synoptic disturbances crossing the Andes. At the leading edges of these disturbances the nocturnal South American low-level jet (SALLJ) transports moisture along the eastern edge of the Andes from the tropical to the subtropical part of the continent. Where the SALLJ rises over lower but steep mountains on the east side of the southern central Andes, deep and wide convective cores are triggered in the evening. When the SALLJ withdraws to the north as the disturbance passes, nocturnal trig.
Financial Management and Analysis

Part 1 Introduction: introduction to financial management and analysis. Part 2 Fundamentals of financial analysis: securities and markets accounting, taxation and cash flows financial analysis. Part 3 Fundamentals of valuation: mathematics of finance asset valuation and returns expected return of risk. Part 4 Financial management of investments: capital investment decisions evaluation techniques for capital projects capital budgeting and risk. Part 5 Financial management of investments: common and preferred stock long-term debt capital structure. Part 6 Financial management of financing: short-term assets short-term financing. Part 7 Financial management of working capital: strategy and financial planning. Part 8 Appendices: keeping up with securities' prices financial mathematics tables calculator applications statistical primer glossary brief solutions to end-of-chapter problems.