Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of bank social responsibility: case of Croatia

Recently fi nancial sector and its responsibilities have come under great scrutiny. This has led to putting more emphasis on social responsibility of fi nancial institutions, primarily banks, due to their powerful and influential position. Banks have an impact not only on financial and economic system, but on a wider community as well. Their socially responsible practices in particular may have important social implications, what is even more emphasized within bank-centric financial systems, typical of CEE countries. Due to a lack of existing research, the aim of the paper is to assess social responsibility of banks at individual and industry level in a specific CEE context. At bank individual level, focus is put on factors of bank size, ownership status and financial performance, while at the bank industry level the structure of granted loans is included in the analysis. The framework for assessing bank social responsibility is derived and adapted from previous research conducted by Cuesta-Gonzalez, et al. [23] and Scholtens [81]. It is applied to Croatian banking sector, while the level of social responsibility is empirically related to factors at bank individual and industry level. Research findings offer an overview of social responsibility of Croatian banks. The results demonstrate that bank social responsibility is related to factors of bank size and ownership status at the individual level, and to the structure of granted loans at the industry level. However, the nature of the link between bank social and financial performance did not prove significant. Such findings offer a wider lesson of what factors are associated with social performance of financial sector. Additionally, they may serve as a useful reference point for further investigation of socially responsible practices in Croatia and other CEE countries.
Prospective study of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for staging of muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma.

PURPOSE Novel imaging modalities are needed to detect occult metastatic disease in bladder carcinoma. Patients with regional lymphatic spread could be targeted for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and patients with distant metastatic disease could be spared the unnecessary morbidity of radical cystectomy. Herein, we report a prospective study of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for cT2-3N0M0 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. METHODS Forty-three chemotherapy-naïve patients underwent FDG-PET/CT before planned cystectomy. All had negative conventional CT and bone scintigraphy before enrollment. Positive FDG-PET/CT was confirmed by percutaneous biopsy or open surgical exploration, whereas negative FDG-PET/CT was confirmed by complete lymphadenectomy. Recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were described using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank test. RESULTS Median follow-up was 14.9 months (range, 0.4 to 46.1 months). One patient who did not undergo lymphadenectomy was excluded from the pathology data analysis (n = 42), whereas another patient who failed to return for follow-up was excluded from survival analysis (n = 42). FDG-PET/CT demonstrated a positive predictive value of 78% (seven of nine), a negative predictive value of 91% (30 of 33), sensitivity of 70% (seven of 10), and specificity of 94% (30 of 32). RFS, DSS, and OS were all significantly poorer in the patients with positive FDG-PET/CT than in those with negative FDG-PET/CT. CONCLUSION FDG-PET/CT detected occult metastatic disease in seven of 42 patients with negative conventional preoperative evaluations. PET findings were strongly correlated with survival. As such, FDG-PET/CT may help in making treatment decisions before radical cystectomy.
Non-normal Distributions Commonly Used in Health, Education, and Social Sciences: A Systematic Review

Statistical analysis is crucial for research and the choice of analytical technique should take into account the specific distribution of data. Although the data obtained from health, educational, and social sciences research are often not normally distributed, there are very few studies detailing which distributions are most likely to represent data in these disciplines. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the frequency of appearance of the most common non-normal distributions in the health, educational, and social sciences. The search was carried out in the Web of Science database, from which we retrieved the abstracts of papers published between 2010 and 2015. The selection was made on the basis of the title and the abstract, and was performed independently by two reviewers. The inter-rater reliability for article selection was high (Cohen’s kappa = 0.84), and agreement regarding the type of distribution reached 96.5%. A total of 262 abstracts were included in the final review. The distribution of the response variable was reported in 231 of these abstracts, while in the remaining 31 it was merely stated that the distribution was non-normal. In terms of their frequency of appearance, the most-common non-normal distributions can be ranked in descending order as follows: gamma, negative binomial, multinomial, binomial, lognormal, and exponential. In addition to identifying the distributions most commonly used in empirical studies these results will help researchers to decide which distributions should be included in simulation studies examining statistical procedures.
Induction of MRSA Biofilm by Low-Dose β-Lactam Antibiotics: Specificity, Prevalence and Dose-Response Effects

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading cause of hospital- and community-associated infections. The formation of adherent clusters of cells known as biofilms is an important virulence factor in MRSA pathogenesis. Previous studies showed that subminimal inhibitory (sub-MIC) concentrations of methicillin induce biofilm formation in the community-associated MRSA strain LAC. In this study we measured the ability sub-MIC concentrations of eight other β-lactam antibiotics and six non-β-lactam antibiotics to induce LAC biofilm. All eight β-lactam antibiotics, but none of the non-β-lactam antibiotics, induced LAC biofilm. The dose-response effects of the eight β-lactam antibiotics on LAC biofilm varied from biphasic and bimodal to near-linear. We also found that sub-MIC methicillin induced biofilm in 33 out of 39 additional MRSA clinical isolates, which also exhibited biphasic, bimodal and linear dose-response curves. The amount of biofilm formation induced by sub-MIC methicillin was inversely proportional to the susceptibility of each strain to methicillin. Our results demonstrate that induction of biofilm by sub-MIC antibiotics is a common phenotype among MRSA clinical strains and is specific for β-lactam antibiotics. These findings may have relevance to the use of β-lactam antibiotics in clinical and agricultural settings.
Modeling of movement-induced and flow-induced fluid forces in fast switching valves

Fast switching fluid power valves set strict requirements on performance, size and energy efficiency and simulation models are therefore needed to obtain good designs of such components. The valve moving member is subject to fluid forces depending on the valve flow rate and movement of the valve member itself. These fluid forces may be accurately simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, but such models suffer from being computationally expensive and is not suited for optimization routines. In this paper, a computationally inexpensive method for modeling the fluid forces is proposed, which includes both the flow-induced fluid forces and the movement-induced fluid forces resulting from movement of the valve moving member. The movement-induced fluid force model is based on a known solution to the linearized Navier-Stokes equations. A method for accurately simulating the flow-pressure relationship of a switching valve based on CFD results is presented along with the fluid force model, to constitute a complete valve fluid model. The parameters needed for the proposed model are determined based on CFD analyses, and the process of finding these parameters are described based on a reference valve design. Simulated results of the total fluid force are presented showing the movement-induced fluid force to be significant for a reference application. The model form established is useful for valve designers during development and for accurate operation simulation.
Identifying Decision Useful Information with the Matrix Format Income Statement

We conduct an experiment to investigate the potential benefits of an alternative format for the income statement, the matrix format, initially developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and UK Accounting Standards Board in their joint project on performance reporting. Sophisticated financial statement users (financial analysts and professional accountants) and less sophisticated financial statement users (MBA students) were asked to extract information from a set of financial statements that included an income statement either in the IAS 1 format or in the matrix format. We find that the matrix format improves the accuracy with which users extract financial information. This result is driven by greater accuracy, for all user groups, on “below-the-line” items. Furthermore, despite lack of familiarity with the matrix format, its use did not appear to affect the time taken, the ease of extracting financial information, or users' task completion confidence; further experience with the matrix format could lead to benefits along these lines as well. Our findings may assist the FASB and IASB in their joint project on financial statement presentation.
Alcohol Consumption and Colorectal Cancer Risk: Findings from the JACC Study

BACKGROUND: Because alcohol drinking is a potential risk factor for colorectal cancer, the trend in alcohol consumption in Japan may partly explain the increase in incidence and mortality rates of this malignancy until 1990-1995. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. From 1988 to 1990, 23,708 men and 34,028 women, aged 40-79 years, completed a questionnaire on lifestyle factors including drinking habits. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated by using proportional hazards models. RESULTS: During the mean follow-up of 7.6 years through December 1997, we documented 418 incidents of colon cancer and 211 of rectal cancer. Male ex- or current drinkers demonstrated a twofold risk for colon cancer compared with nondrinkers: the multivariate-adjusted IRR was 2.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-3.68) for ex-drinkers and 1.97 (95% CI: 1.28-3.03) for current drinkers. The dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk, however, was not clear. Female ex-drinkers were at an increased risk without statistical significance. For rectal cancer, we found a slightly lower risk in light current drinkers who consumed less than 22 g ethanol per day: the multivariate IRR was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.33-1.13) for men and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.27-1.74) for women. Although the IRR for all current drinkers was almost unity in men, an increasing trend in risk was detected with increasing alcohol consumption in current drinkers (trend p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Taking the findings from our study and other prospective investigations into consideration, more attention should be paid to alcohol consumption in the prevention of colon cancer in Japan.
Suicidality in people surviving a traumatic brain injury: Prevalence, risk factors and implications for clinical management

Background: A systematic search was conducted of the literature addressing suicidality after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Results from population-based studies found that people with TBI have an increased risk of death by suicide (3–4 times greater than for the general population), as well as significantly higher levels of suicide attempts and suicide ideation. Clinical studies have also reported high levels of suicide attempts (18%) and clinically significant suicide ideation (21–22%) in TBI samples. Methods and Results: In reviewing risk factors, two prognostic studies using multivariate analysis were identified. Adjusted risk statistics from these studies found an elevated risk of suicide for people with severe TBI in comparison to concussion (hazard ratio 1.4, 95% CI 1.15–1.75) and an elevated risk of suicide attempts among people displaying post-injury suicide ideation (adjusted odds ratio 4.9, 95% CI 1.79–13.17) and psychiatric/emotional distress (adjusted odds ratio 7.8, 95% CI 2.11–29.04). Conclusions: To date, little evidence exists for the role of pre-morbid psychopathology, neuropathology, neuropsychological impairments or post-injury psychosocial factors as major risk factors for post-injury suicidality. Finally, there has been little empirical examination of approaches to suicide prevention. Therefore, current best practice is based on clinical judgement and the untested extrapolation of prevention approaches from other clinical populations.
Involuntary migration, context of reception, and social mobility: the case of Vietnamese refugee resettlement in the United States

ABSTRACT In this study, we examine the Vietnamese population of the United States as a case study in the integration of a refugee group. We first offer a brief review of Vietnamese refugee resettlement in the US and the making of a new ethnic community. We then provide a quantitative analysis of socioeconomic mobility among Vietnamese refugees using American Community Survey data from 1980 to 2015 and other national-level data. We examine how this ethnic population has changed over time by focusing on key socioeconomic indicators, such as levels of education, occupation, and income, as well as poverty rates. Third, we seek to explain what enables Vietnamese refugees and their children to overcome initial disadvantage and move up in society based on our own work over the span of 20 years with qualitative data. We consider how policies, institutions (government, civil society, and ethnic), and patterns of social relations in the Vietnamese American community have interacted with individual agency to shape mobility.
Membranectomy and autologous serum for the retreatment of full-thickness macular holes.

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of reoperation with rigorous epiretinal membrane dissection and autologous serum for full-thickness macular holes remaining open after initial surgery. METHODS Forty-six consecutive eyes that had previously undergone unsuccessful macular hole surgery were re-treated with epiretinal membrane dissection, adjunctive autologous serum, and 16% perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas tamponade. Anatomical closure and improvement of best-corrected Snellen visual acuity were used as outcome measures, and nuclear sclerosis was graded clinically before and after reoperation. RESULTS Epiretinal membrane was identified and dissected in 29 (63%) of the 46 eyes and anatomical closure was achieved in 37 (80%) of the 46 eyes. Of these, 23 (62%) of 37 improved by at least 2 Snellen lines, 12 (35%) of 37 by at least 3 Snellen lines, and 6 (16%) of 37 by at least 4 Snellen lines. Increase in nuclear sclerosis occurred in 30 (65%) of the 46 eyes postoperatively, leading to cataract extraction in 12 (26%) of the eyes at last follow-up (mean, 10.3 months). A longer total duration (P<.001) and a worse preoperative visual acuity (P=.001), prior to reoperation, were associated with a worse final visual acuity after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Retreatment with rigorous membranectomy and autologous serum seems to be beneficial in most eyes in which initial macular hole surgery has failed. Although the anatomical closure rate is similar to that reported after primary surgery, final visual acuity improvement seems to be less than after successful primary closure, owing to the longer mean duration of holes in which initial surgery has failed.
Memory trace in prefrontal cortex: theory for the cognitive switch

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in human and non‐human primates functions as the highest‐order executor for the perception‐action cycle. According to this view, when perceptual stimuli from the environment are novel or complex, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex serves to set consciously a goal‐directed scheme which broadly determines an action repertory to meet the particular demand from the environment. In this respect, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is a short‐term activation device with the properties of a ‘cognitive switch’, because it couples a particular set of perceptual stimuli to a particular set of actions. Here, I suggest that, in order for the organism to react systematically to the environment, neural traces for the switch function must be stored in the brain. Thus, the highest‐order, perception‐action interface function of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex per se depends on permanently stored neural traces in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and related structures. Such a memory system may be located functionally between two of the well‐documented memory systems in the brain: the declarative memory system and the procedural memory system. Finally, based on available neurophysiological data, the possible mechanisms underlying the formation of cognitive switch traces are proposed.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials on topical treatments for vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of currently available topical drugs for vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) through a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs). Methods: Twenty-seven RCTs (n = 2184 eyes) that had evaluated the efficacy of topical drugs for the treatment of VKC were selected according to the set criteria; 10 of these trials were suitable for statistical analysis and were enrolled in the meta-analysis. Articles published up to December 2005 were identified from the following data sources: Medline, Embase, Lilacs, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and references from relevant articles. Articles in any language published with an English abstract, were screened, and those selected for inclusion were written in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish. The quality of the trials was assessed by the Delphi list. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA® software. Results: A significant improvement in all signs and symptoms, except photophobia, was observed after topical treatment for active VKC, independent of the type of treatment. Comparison of the efficacy of different drugs was not possible due to a lack of standardised criteria among studies. Conclusion: The currently available topical drugs are effective in treating acute phases of VKC. However, there is a lack of evidence to support the recommendation of one specific type of medication for treating this disorder. There is a need for standard criteria to assess diagnosis and therapy based on severity. There is also a need for RCTs assessing long-term effects of single drugs to control the disease and to prevent complications.
Review: Breastfeeding Peer Counseling: From Efficacy Through Scale-Up

An increasing number of publications have evaluated various breastfeeding peer counseling models. This article describes a systematic review of (a) the randomized trials assessing the effectiveness of breastfeeding peer counseling in improving rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration, exclusivity, and maternal and child health outcomes and (b) scientific literature describing the scale-up of breastfeeding peer counseling programs. Twenty-six peer-reviewed publications were included in this review. The overwhelming majority of evidence from randomized controlled trials evaluating breastfeeding peer counseling indicates that peer counselors effectively improve rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity. Peer counseling interventions were also shown to significantly decrease the incidence of infant diarrhea and significantly increase the duration of lactational amenorrhea. Breastfeeding peer counseling initiatives are effective and can be scaled up in both developed and developing countries as part of well-coordinated national breastfeeding promotion or maternal-child health programs. J Hum Lact. 26(3):314-326.
Automatic vigilance: the attention-grabbing power of approach- and avoidance-related social information.

The automatic processing of information was investigated, varying valence (positive vs. negative) and relevance (other-relevant traits [ORT] vs. possessor-relevant traits [PRT]; G. Peeters, 1983) of stimuli. ORTs denote unconditionally positive or negative consequences for persons in the social environment of the holder of the trait (e.g., honest, brutal) whereas PRTs denote unconditionally positive or negative consequences for the trait holder (e.g., happy, depressive). In 2 experiments using the Stroop paradigm, larger interference effects were found for ORTs than PRTs. This is due to the behavior-relatedness of ORTs. In a go/no-go lexical decision task (Experiment 3), participants either had to withdraw their finger from a pressed key (i.e., "avoid") or had to press a key (i.e., "approach") if a word was presented. Responses to negative ORTs were relatively faster in the withdraw condition, whereas positive ORTs were relatively faster in the press condition.
Atrial natriuretic peptide property on the ischemic myocardium inducing HSP72

Background the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of atrial natriuretic peptide on ischemic myocardium through the induction of heat-shock protein 72. Methods 30 isolated rabbit hearts perfused on isolated heart apparatus were randomly assigned to receive either warm Krebs-Henseleit solution with 1 µmol L−1 atrial natriuretic peptide (n = 15) or warm Krebs-Henseleit solution without atrial natriuretic peptide (n = 15) in preischemic, ischemic, and postischemic conditions. In all rabbit hearts, global ischemia was produced by clamping the aortic and atrial inflow lines. Concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide were measured in hearts with left ventricular dysfunction following ischemia, and correlated with the hypertrophic growth sustained by overexpression of heat-shock protein 72 microRNA-133. Results the levels of atrial natriuretic peptide were markedly higher in the group that received atrial natriuretic peptide, and strongly correlated with both band lengths of heat-shock protein 72 and overexpression of microRNA-133 in the hypertrophic myocyte. Conclusions perfusion levels of atrial natriuretic peptide induce increased expression of heat-shock protein 72 microRNA-133 in dysfunctional left ventricle.