Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ventricular Ectopic Activity, Left Ventricular Mass, Hyperinsulinemia, and Intracellular Magnesium in Normotensive Patients with Obesity

Insulin resistance, a well-known feature of obesity, is associated with several pathological changes, which are potentially arrhythmogenic. Ventricular ectopic activity in normoten sive obese patients has not been studied in detail. Therefore the authors designed a study to investigate potential relationships among ventricular ectopic activity, left ventricular mass, hyperinsulinemia, and intracellular magnesium concentration in obese patients. Thirty-two obese patients and 32 nonobese control subjects, who were referred to outpa tient department because of ventricular ectopy, participated in the study. The groups were matched for age and gender. All had normal glucose tolerance. All subjects underwent a 75-g glucose tolerance test, and blood samples were obtained at 30, 60, and 120 minutes thereafter for determination of glucose and insulin concentrations. Echocardiography was performed and left ventricular mass index was calculated. The number of ventricular ectopic beats per hour (VEB/hour) was recorded by 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring. Plasma and erythrocyte magnesium concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Obese patients had higher body weight, body mass index, heart rate, and left ventricular mass index. Obese subjects had higher fasting insulin as well as insulin/glucose ratio and broader area under the curve of insulin (AUC-I) compared to nonobese subjects. Insulin sensitivity appeared to be lower in the obese group. Holter monitoring showed more VEB/hour in the obese group. Magnesium concentration in serum and in erythrocytes was lower in obese persons. In the obese group a positive correlation was found between left ventricular mass index and fasting insulin (r=0.345, p=0.027), insulin/glucose index (r=0.351, p=0.049), and AUC-I (r=0.405, p=0.011). The number of VEB/hour in obese patients was in positive corre lation with age (r=0.681, p<0.001), left ventricular mass index (r=0.542, p=0.001), fasting insulin (r=0.380, p=0.016), and AUC-I (r=0.493, p=0.002) and in negative correlation with magnesium concentration in erythrocytes (r=-0.457, p=0.004). Multiple regression analysis showed that age and AUC-I are the only determinants of VEB/hour and together explained 56% of the variability in the obese subjects. It appears that in obese normotensive subjects, ventricular ectopic beats are related to age, insulin resistance, left ventricular mass index, and decreased intracellular magnesium content.
Rethinking the Dissemination of Management Fashion

In research on management knowledge, a tension often exists between perspectives that stress the effects of structural and institutional forces on the spread of new knowledge within managerial communities versus a more action-focused and organizationally embedded perspective on dissemination. This article contributes to the critique of dissemination theory by exploring the fashion for Intellectual Capital Accounting. ICA is a set of accounting models for managing knowledge-based assets and represents a poorly institutionalized variable type of fashion. The findings from case studies of ICA in six UK firms are at variance with the image of packages of knowledge being transferred into organizations. They confirm a process of dissemination that was much more a function of operational constraints and the level to which internal controls had developed; firms seemed to come to ideas via distinctive processes internally constructed around current problems and agendas, technical constraints, and the actions of a range of sponsoring groups.
Measuring and Testing Economic Laws of Production

We search for the regularities observed in the production of goods. Despite the heterogeneity in sectoral growth rates, second order time polynomial seems to explain accurately enough the accumulation of production at every sector on dierent levels of aggregation. This is our rst observation from Finnish economy with annual data, and we call it an economic law of production. Our second observation is that the measured acceleration at every sector deviates from zero statistically signicantly. This is inconsistent with the assumption in neoclassical economics, that is, rms produce at their equilibrium ows of production. A dierent framework is thus needed for modeling rms’ behavior. We test a Newtonian model for production against the neo-classical one, and our observation is that the former one works better with annual data at every tested industry in Finland.
Taking the professionalism out of the profession: a study of procurement and Africa

Because of their role, position and assumed power in the financial process, procurement practitioners have been linked with corruption in the workplace. While there is research evidence to suggest the incidence of corruption in public procurement in Africa, the article identifies deeper root causes. The study investigates some traditional drivers of corruption in public procurement in Africa. The constant comparative analytic approach is used to analyse interview data. Our findings reveal that most procurement decisions are driven by political rather than managerial processes thereby diminishing the levels of authority and responsibility provided to practitioners. To surmount this challenge, practitioners must increase their level of education and expertise as this will offer them extended involvement in the decision making process. Regarding social pressures from families, this is in response to the complex cultural settings and perceptions, where the profession is linked with the ability to provide socio-economic needs of extended families.
Characterization of the pharmacology and regional distribution of (S)‐[3H]‐5‐fluorowillardiine binding in rat brain

1 This study examined the binding of the new radioligand (S)‐[3H]‐5‐fluorowillardiine to rat brain synaptic membranes. Specific binding represented greater than 80% of the total binding and was increased by 10% in the presence of 100 mM potassium thiocyanate (KSCN). 2 In the absence of KSCN, (S)‐[3H]‐5‐fluorowillardiine identified two binding sites with KD1 = 22.5nM, Bmax1= 1.4 pmol mg‐1 protein and KD2=1.5 μM, Bmax2= 10.8 pmol mg−1 protein. In the presence of 100 mM KSCN the affinities of both the binding sites were increased, yielding values of KD1 = 6.9nM and KD2 = 0.4 μm KSCN was without effect on the Bmax values. 3 (S)‐[3H]‐5‐fluorowillardiine binding was displaced by non‐NMDA receptor ligands with the rank order of potency: 2,3‐dihydroxy‐6‐nitro‐7‐sulphamoyl‐benzo(F)quinoxaline (NBQX) > domoate > (S)‐α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) ≅ L‐glutamate > 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX) > kainate >> (R)‐5‐fluorowillardiine. In contrast, both N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) and the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, (lS,3R)‐l‐aminocyclopentane‐l,3‐dicarboxylic acid (ACPD) were inactive. 4 By use of quantitative autoradiography the regional distribution of (S)‐[3H]‐5‐fluorowillardiine binding in rat brain was assessed. The highest levels of binding were in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Lower levels of binding were detected in the cerebral cortex, olfactory system, lateral septum, caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens. 5 We conclude that the pharmacological profile and regional distribution of (S)‐[3H]‐5‐fluorowillardiine binding is consistent with its specific interaction with AMPA receptors. The advantages of high percentage specific binding and recognition of the two binding sites, in the absence of KSCN, suggest that (S)‐[3H]‐5‐fluorowillardiine may be the ligand of choice for the future study of AMPA receptors.
Changing incidence trends of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

IMPORTANCE Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) incidence and survival have been increasing steadily for over 25 years. OBJECTIVE We sought to measure changes in CTCL incidence trends and survival rates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Population-based study. The CTCL incidence and survival data were obtained from the 9 original registries (1973-2009) and the 4 additional registries (1992-2009) of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Trend analysis was performed using the Joinpoint Regression Program provided by the NCI. Survival analysis was performed using the SeerSTAT statistical software of the NCI. The total number of cases of CTCL from 1973 to 2009 was 6230. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Diagnoses of CTCL. RESULTS Overall CTCL incidence has stabilized since 1998 (95% CI, 1994-2002), with an annual percent change (APC) of 5.7% from 1973 to 1998 (95% CI, 4.9%-6.5%) and an APC of 0.1% from 1998 to 2009 (95% CI, -1.4% to 1.5%). Similar incidence stabilization patterns were found in subgroup analyses of race, sex, age, diagnosis, and registry. Five-year CTCL survival rates increased until 2004. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The incidence of CTCL is no longer increasing. Causes for this trend change may include real incidence stabilization, stabilization of physician detection, or artifact.
Guanxi Networks, Buyer-Seller Relationships, and Farmers' Participation in Modern Vegetable Markets in China

The aim of this study is to investigate the joint effects of small-scale farmers’ guanxi networks and buyer-seller relationships on their marketing behavior in China. A survey of 167 vegetable farmers shows that farmers' guanxi networks have significant effect on trusting relationship building with buyers and on their investment behavior for transactional specific assets. Guanxi networks also help to improve farmers’ participation in modern high-value markets (e.g., supermarkets and international markets) and encourage relational transactions. Farmers’ modern market participation will be further enhanced by trusting buyer-seller relationships with buyers and complying with buyers' quality requirements. The application of formal contracts, on the other hand, is closely related to farmers’ trusting relationships with buyers and transactional specific assets for vegetable transactions. Some policy implications are discussed.
The impact of perceived service provider empathy on customer loyalty: some observations from the health and fitness sector

The leisure product is often dependent on the person delivering the service. The research presented here sought to better understand how important the empathy component is in that personal delivery of a service. Health and fitness clubs, faced by high rates of customer attrition, traditionally promote themselves on the basis of either price or facilities, but are these two tools the only ones that the marketing of the clubs should be limited to? For this study, the impact of service provider empathy, as perceived by health and fitness club members, was examined in an attempt to better understand the impact of the concept on customer loyalty. The findings indicate that for those with a low level of self-responsibility for getting the most out of the service experience, those without previous experience of gyms and those with heightened self-consciousness, empathy is an important factor impacting upon their anxiety levels as well as on their loyalty to a club.
History as a laboratory to better understand the formation of institutions

A main instrument for better understanding the formation of institutions, and explaining the differences in their long-run development between periods and societies, would be to use history as a laboratory, allowing us to test the hypotheses developed in the social sciences. This paper discusses the study by Douglas Allen, The Institutional Revolution, in that context, in order to identify some of the pitfalls in the current attempts by economists to use historical analysis. Next, the paper places his English case into a comparative perspective, helped by the recent insights gained by economic and social history, to see how these pitfalls can be avoided. Based on this, I argue for comparisons at the regional, national and global levels, and for a multidimensional view which includes social contextualization, combined with an open eye for discontinuity in long-run patterns, in order to avoid one-dimensional and teleological approaches to institutional change.
Satisfaction in the wholesaler-retailer relationship: The experience of red meat retailers in Western Australia

This article examines the wholesaler-retailer relationship within the red meat marketing channel in Western Australia. In particular, it identifies five factors which contribute to high levels of satisfaction being experienced by retailers in their dealings with their major supplier. These factors include aspects of the physical distribution service provided by the wholesalers, the quality of service provided by their staff in interchanges with the retailers, the absence of past conflict in the relationship, and the extent to which retailers are free to substitute a new supply source at times of high prices. The article concludes with recommendations that wholesalers take a long-term view and work towards harmonious channel relationships. To this end, they will need to develop systems to enhance the reliability of their physical distribution processes and train staff to deliver high quality service. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Interaction between compulsory and voluntary disclosure in Saudi Arabian corporate annual reports

This study investigates the interaction between the compulsory and voluntary disclosures in the annual reports of Saudi Arabian companies. The sample comprises both listed and non‐listed companies. The data were analyzed by constructing three separate disclosure indices relating to mandatory disclosure, voluntary disclosure that closely relates to mandatory disclosure and voluntary disclosure that is not closely related to mandatory disclosure. The results reveal that there is a significant, positive correlation between mandatory disclosure and voluntary disclosure related to the mandatory disclosure index. The study also reports a correlation between voluntary disclosure and the other two indices is found to be weak and insignificant. These weak relationships suggest an absence of effective co‐ordination between the parties involved in preparing the annual report. The analysis also reveals no clear pattern of relationships to exist between mandatory disclosure and the types of disclosure in the different industrial sectors examined in this study. The non‐correlation between these groups of disclosure may suggest low co‐ordination between the board of directors and the management in writing parts of the annual report.
Revisiting smoking bans in restaurants: Canadian employees perspectives

The issue of smoking in restaurants and other food service outlets continues to be hotly debated, especially with the bourgeoning interest in, and use of electronic cigarettes. While hospitality research has focused on restaurateurs’ and consumers’ attitude toward smoking bans in restaurants, employees’ views have been virtually ignored. This study examines restaurant employees’ attitudes toward smoking bans in two restaurant segments—the coffee and doughnut segment and the family style-dining segment. Findings suggest that employees’ attitudes toward smoking bans are largely related to their smoking status. Nonsmokers are generally in favor of smoking bans while smokers are generally in opposition. Overall, it was found that participants from both segments prefer a nonsmoking work environment.
Techniques for the insemination of low doses of stallion sperm.

CONTENTS In the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the quality and commercial use of frozen equine semen. The emergence of new reproductive technologies, coupled with the high prices for an insemination dose from some stallions, the increasing costs of import and export and the marketing policies of stallion agents or owners in the sport horse industry has stimulated the fractionation of doses for insemination. Consequently, the sperm number and the volume of an insemination dose are significantly reduced. To deliver lower doses of sperm in lower volumes compared to the standard dose, two techniques are used in clinical practice. Semen can be delivered hysteroscopically (HI) or by rectally guiding a flexible pipette to the tip of the desired uterine horn (RI). Both techniques have been described with good success and have triggered an incentive to further reduce the number of spermatozoa without having a negative effect on fertility. This article will review the expected success of both techniques in clinical settings and will highlight their advantages and disadvantages both for the mare and stallion. In addition, some of the implications of reducing sperm numbers on the industry will be discussed. From the available information, it is evident that lower sperm numbers deposited by RI or HI to deliver the inseminate can result in acceptable pregnancy rates with fresh or frozen semen in commercial settings. These methods of insemination could have major implications in the implementation and commercialization of new and emerging technologies in the equine industry.
Mobilization, Participation, and Solidaridad

This article tests multiple hypotheses regarding participation in the 2006 immigration rallies in American cities. Specifically, the authors test whether the movement was widespread among Latinos or limited to Mexican immigrants, as speculated by the media, or whether group solidarity can be credited with mobilizing participation and support of Latino citizens for a largely immigrant cause. The consistent findings using both qualitative and quantitative approaches provide robust support for the conclusion that Latino support for the protests was strong across the population as a strong sense of solidarity unified the population around the immigration issue.
A proteomic analysis of 14‐3‐3 binding proteins from developing barley grains

14‐3‐3 proteins are important eukaryotic regulatory proteins. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) 14‐3‐3A was over‐expressed, immobilised and used to affinity purify 14‐3‐3 binding proteins from developing barley grains. Binding was shown to be phosphorylation‐dependent. These proteins were fractionated by PAGE and identified by MALDI‐TOF MS. In total, 54 14‐3‐3 binding proteins were identified, 49 of these interactions are novel to plants. These proteins fell into a number of functional categories. The largest category was for carbohydrate metabolism, including plastidic enzymes for starch synthesis and modification. 14‐3‐3 was shown to be present in isolated plastids. Four of five enzymes involved in sucrose biosynthesis from triose phosphates were identified, suggesting co‐ordinated regulation of this pathway. Invertase and sucrose synthase, which break down sucrose to hexoses, were found. Sucrose synthase activity was shown to be inhibited by exogenous 14‐3‐3 in a dosage‐dependent manner. The second‐largest functional group was for proteins involved in stress and defence responses; for example, RGH2A, closely related to the MLA powdery mildew resistance protein, was found. This work illustrates the broad range of processes in which 14‐3‐3 may be involved, and augments previous data demonstrating key roles in carbohydrate metabolism and plant defence.
Evidence for 5′AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Mediation of the Effect of Muscle Contraction on Glucose Transport

The intracellular signaling proteins that lead to exercise-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle have not been identified, although it is clear that there are separate signaling mechanisms for exercise- and insulinstimulated glucose transport. We have hypothesized that the 5′AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a signaling intermediary in exercise-stimulated glucose uptake. This hypothesis was based on recent studies showing the following: 1) muscle contraction increases AMPK activity and 2) perfusion of rat hindlimb skeletal muscles with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR), a compound that results in increased AMPK activity, increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. In the current study, isolated rat epitrochlearis muscles were treated to contract in vitro (via electrical stimulation for 10 min) and/or incubated in the absence or presence of AICAR (2 mmol/l), insulin (1 μmol/1), or wortmannin (100 nmolA). Both contraction and AICAR significantly increased AMPK activity, while the enzyme was not activated by insulin. AICAR, contraction, and insulin all increased 3-O-methylglucose (3MG) transport by threefold to fivefold above basal. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor wortmannin completely blocked insulin-stimulated transport, but did not inhibit AICAR- or contraction-stimulated transport. The increase in glucose transport with the combination of maximal AICAR plus maximal insulin treatments was partially additive, suggesting that these stimuli increase glucose transport by different mechanisms. In contrast, there was no additive effect on glucose transport with the combination of AICAR plus contraction. These data suggest that AICAR and contraction stimulate glucose transport by a similar insulin-independent signaling mechanism and are consistent with the hypothesis that AMPK is involved in exercise-stimulated glucose uptake.
Using Residential Electric Loads for Fast Demand Response: The Potential Resource and Revenues, the Costs, and Policy Recommendations

Energy storage devices, such as batteries, have been proposed as a solution to the need for additional power systems services caused by variability and uncertainty in system demand and renewable energy production. However, in many respects, buildings and appliances with thermal mass are equivalent or even superior to batteries for these purposes. In this paper, we examine the potential for residential thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs), such as air conditioners, electric water heaters, and refrigerators, to deliver power systems services and participate in short timescale energy markets. These loads operate within a hysteretic ON/OFF dead-band and therefore act much like energy storage devices, modulating power use around their baseline consumptions. Carefully designed demand response (DR) schemes allow us to both control aggregations of TCLs to track market or automatic generation control signals and ensure that they provide the service requested by the consumer. This paper estimates the size of the potential resource; potential revenue from participation in markets; and break-even costs associated with deploying DR-enabling technologies. We find that current residential TCL energy storage capacity in California is 8–11 GWh, with refrigerators contributing the most. Annual revenues from participation in regulation vary from $10 to $220 per appliance per year depending upon the type of appliance and climate zone, while load following and arbitrage revenues are more modest. We conclude with a number of policy recommendations including the design of new markets and communications/appliance standards that will make it easier to engage residential loads in fast timescale DR.