Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comorbidity of Alcohol Use Disorder and Depression Among Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The study aims to ascertain the co-morbidity of Alcohol and Depression among patients attending the general outpatient clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Via a system sampling method; 470 consenting subjects were enlisted in the study. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Inventory (AUDIT) and the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to each. Only one hundred and eighty five subjects met the criteria for the second stage of the study, (a score of 18 and above on the BDI and/or a score of 5 and above on AUDIT). Results showed that there was a significantly higher prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorders among those with higher depressive symptoms. Furthermore, about (45.8%) half of these with Alcohol Use Disorders were diagnosed with depression in comparison to 26.0% of those without Alcohol Use Disorder. In agreement with other studies, there was a greater likelihood of depression among the subjects who were diagnosed with AUD. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism underlying this co-morbidity is yet to be elucidated.
The Role of Advertising in Word of Mouth

ABSTRACT Word of mouth (WOM) is now widely believed to help drive consumer decision making. What has not been as widely discussed is the relationship between advertising and WOM. New empirical data collected by the authors over a three-year period show that 20 percent of WOM discussions refer to paid advertising in media. Further, the research finds that conversations that are “advertising influenced” in this way are significantly more likely to involve recommendations to buy or try a brand when compared with other WOM discussions about brands. These findings hold across a wide range of product categories.
The Role of Endobronchial Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the additional diagnostic value of endobronchial biopsy (EBB) in the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective cross-sectional study included 59 patients with a preliminary diagnosis of sarcoidosis who were admitted to the Pulmonary Diseases Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary healthcare center between January 2005 and October 2012. The socio-demographic characteristics of the patients as well as clinical and radiological findings were recorded. All patients, irrespective of the presence of an endobronchial lesion (EBL), underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB); two to four specimens were taken using EBB from the carina of the right middle lobe in the patients with EBL. RESULTS Of the patients, 39 (66.1%) had normal bronchoscopic findings, while 5 had EBL. Diagnosis was based on EBB in 11 patients (18.6%). Six patients (15.3%) with normal bronchial mucosae were pathologically diagnosed by EBB. There was no statistically significant relationship between the diagnostic ratio of EBB and disease stage, extrapulmonary involvement, FOB findings, elevated lymphocyte rate in bronchoalveolar lavage (≥ 13%), a CD4/CD8 ratio of ≥ 3.5, and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) level (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION EBB not only offers the advantage of a high diagnostic ratio in patients with mucosal abnormalities but also contributes to pathological diagnosis in patients with normal mucosa. We recommend using EBB to support diagnosis with a low complication rate for patients undergoing FOB with a preliminary diagnosis of sarcoidosis in healthcare centers, where endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is unavailable.
The Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Salvia officinalis on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in Rats.

Salvia officinalis, which has a high phenolic acid and flavonoid content, is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herb. Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of many diseases and could cause damage by means of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of S. officinalis formed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced experimental inflammation model. Four- to five-month-old 42 female Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups. Three groups were administered intraperitoneally 1 mg/kg LPS. Twenty-four hours after injection of LPS, 10 and 30 mg/kg S. officinalis extract were given orally to treatment groups. Pulmonary and hepatic 18F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) uptake was calculated to determine the status of inflammation by 18F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) scan. Antioxidant enzyme activities and nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were also detected in serum. As a result, lung and liver 18F-FDG uptake was found to be higher in the inflammation group than control group. MDA levels in erythrocyte and all tissue samples (liver, lung, and kidney) were found to be significantly higher compared to treatment groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase activities of the inflammation group in the liver, lung, kidney tissues, and erythrocyte SOD and CAT activities were determined to significantly lower than groups treated with S. officinalis. Increased NO, NF-κB, and TNF-α levels were found in the inflammation group. S. officinalis has been observed to have useful effects on LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in rats.
Willingness-To-Pay for Parallel Private Health Insurance: Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment (Volonté De Payer Pour Des Services Parallèles D’Assurance Santé: Résultats D’Une Expérience De Laboratoire)

Debate over the effects of public versus private health care finance persists in both academic and policy circles. This paper presents the results of a revealed preference laboratory experiment that tests how characteristics of the public health system affect a subject's willingness-to-pay (WTP) for parallel private health insurance. Consistent with the theoretical predictions of Cuff et al. (2010), subjects’ average WTP is lower and the size of the private insurance sector smaller when the public system allocates health care based on need rather than randomly and when the probability of receiving health care from the public system is high. (Les debats continuent quant aux effets compares du financement prive et public des soins de santea la fois dans le monde academique et le monde des definisseurs de politiques. Ce memoire presente les resultats d’une experience de laboratoire destinee a reveler les preferences et a montrer comment des caracteristiques du systeme public de soins de sante affectent la volonte de payer pour des services paralleles d’assurance sante privee. En ligne avec les predictions theoriques de Cuff et al. (2010), la volonte moyenne de payer est plus faible et la taille du secteur de l’assurance privee plus petite quand le regime public est fonde sur les besoins plutot qu’aleatoire, et quand la probabilite de recevoir les soins du regime public est elevee. )
Evaluation of immuno diagnostic assay for the exposure of stage specific filarial infection

Lymphatic filariasis is a debilitating diseases caused by filarial parasitic nematodes. The infection may be acquired in childhood but the symptoms become apparent only in later life. To evaluate the success of any intervention, sensitive diagnostics were used to identify infection among endemic normals that are likely to develop microfilaremia in due course of time. Capture assay was standardized using the recombinant protein Brugia malayi Abundant Larval Transcript-2(ALT-2) specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and evaluated with serum samples of clinical groups from high and low filarial infection area individuals (HIA/LIA), Endemic Normal (EN, n = 478), microfilaeremics (MF, n = 77), chronic pathology (CP, n = 57) and non endemic normal (NEN, n = 20). In order to assess stage-specific infection, ALT-2 capture assay was compared with the early reported Venom allergen homologue (VAH) and microfilariae specific SXP-1 capture assays. Of the 632 serum samples tested, ALT-2 and VAH capture assays detected circulating filarial antigen (CFA) in 57% and 52% of HIA-EN individuals, respectively. As expected, the VAH and SXP-1 capture assays were positive for 100 % of MF individuals. The described capture assays can be useful for the detection of early and stage-specific filarial infections in endemic regions of developing countries.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial for evaluating the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser compared with topical estriol in the treatment of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy of fractional CO2 vaginal laser treatment (Laser, L) and compare it to local estrogen therapy (Estriol, E) and the combination of both treatments (Laser + Estriol, LE) in the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). Methods: A total of 45 postmenopausal women meeting inclusion criteria were randomized in L, E, or LE groups. Assessments at baseline, 8 and 20 weeks, were conducted using Vaginal Health Index (VHI), Visual Analog Scale for VVA symptoms (dyspareunia, dryness, and burning), Female Sexual Function Index, and maturation value (MV) of Meisels. Results: Forty-five women were included and 3 women were lost to follow-up. VHI average score was significantly higher at weeks 8 and 20 in all study arms. At week 20, the LE arm also showed incremental improvement of VHI score (P = 0.01). L and LE groups showed a significant improvement of dyspareunia, burning, and dryness, and the E arm only of dryness (P < 0.001). LE group presented significant improvement of total Female Sex Function Index (FSFI) score (P = 0.02) and individual domains of pain, desire, and lubrication. In contrast, the L group showed significant worsening of pain domain in FSFI (P = 0.04), but FSFI total scores were comparable in all treatment arms at week 20. Conclusions: CO2 vaginal laser alone or in combination with topical estriol is a good treatment option for VVA symptoms. Sexual-related pain with vaginal laser treatment might be of concern.
Adsorption of tetracycline on La‐impregnated MCM‐41 materials

We prepared La‐impregnated mesoporous silicates to investigate the adsorption of tetracycline in aqueous solution. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm tests confirmed the mesoporosity of the prepared materials, resulting in a decline in surface area and pore volume along with La loading amount. In adsorption tests, however, La impregnation improved the adsorption capacity of materials for tetracycline even though the surface area and the pore volumes were lower after La impregnation. Adsorption capacities for tetracycline showed a maximum value with La loading amounts. The highest adsorption capacity for tetracycline was 303.3 mg g−1, which was acquired from the fitting of isotherm data of 10 wt% La‐impregnated mesoporous silicates to the Langmuir model. Changes in FTIR patterns of tetracycline adsorbed on La‐impregnated mesoporous silicates implied that the negatively charged oxygen of the tricarbonylamide group of tetracycline chemically interacted with La hydroxide species in materials in the neutral condition.
Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology Single Copies of Mutant KRAS and Mutant PIK 3 CA Cooperate in Immortalized Human Epithelial Cells to Induce Tumor Formation

The selective pressures leading to cancers withmutations in bothKRAS and PIK3CA are unclear. Here, we show that somatic cell knockin of both KRAS G12V and oncogenic PIK3CAmutations in human breast epithelial cells results in cooperative activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in vitro, and leads to tumor formation in immunocompromisedmice. Xenografts from doubleknockin cells retain single copies of mutant KRAS and PIK3CA, suggesting that tumor formation does not require increased copy number of either oncogene, and these results were also observed in human colorectal cancer specimens. Mechanistically, the cooperativity between mutant KRAS and PIK3CA is mediated in part by Ras/ p110a binding, as inactivating point mutations within the Ras-binding domain of PIK3CA significantly abates pathway signaling. In addition, Pdk1 activation of the downstream effector p90RSK is also increased by the combined presence of mutant KRAS and PIK3CA. These results provide new insights into mutant KRAS function and its role in carcinogenesis. Cancer Res; 73(11); 1–14. 2013 AACR.
Acoustical Properties of Speech Produced in Noise Presented Through Supra‐Aural Earphones

Abstract This study determined the acoustical properties of speech known as Lombard Speech produced in background noise. Tape recordings were made for ten normally hearing adults (5 women, 5 men) reading connected speech (131 word passage “My Grandfather”] at their most comfortable level in quiet and in wideband, traffic, and multitalker noise delivered through earphones at 70 and 90 dB SPL. Spectral analysis of the recordings revealed that, compared with speech in quiet, Lombard speech was characterized by: (I] an increase in overall SPL; (2) smaller vocal pitch shifts for female than male subjects; [3] shifts in spectral distributions of speech energy; and (41 the same spectral slope above 630 Hz regardless of subject gender, noise level, or noise type. Overall, the results of this study do not provide support for the theory that acoustical properties of Lombard speech are identical with loud speech produced in quiet.
Finding the best estimates of metabolic rates in a coral reef fish

SUMMARY Metabolic rates of aquatic organisms are estimated from measurements of oxygen consumption rates () through swimming and resting respirometry. These distinct approaches are increasingly used in ecophysiology and conservation physiology studies; however, few studies have tested whether they yield comparable results. We examined whether two fundamental measures, standard metabolic rate (SMR) and maximum metabolic rate (MMR), vary based on the method employed. Ten bridled monocle bream (Scolopsis bilineata) were exercised using (1) a critical swimming speed (Ucrit) protocol, (2) a 15 min exhaustive chase protocol and (3) a 3 min exhaustive chase protocol followed by brief (1 min) air exposure. Protocol 1 was performed in a swimming respirometer whereas protocols 2 and 3 were followed by resting respirometry. SMR estimates in swimming respirometry were similar to those in resting respirometry when a three-parameter exponential or power function was used to extrapolate the swimming speed– relationship to zero swimming speed. In contrast, MMR using the Ucrit protocol was 36% higher than MMR derived from the 15 min chase protocol and 23% higher than MMR using the 3 min chase/1 min air exposure protocol. For strong steady (endurance) swimmers, such as S. bilineata, swimming respirometry can produce more accurate MMR estimates than exhaustive chase protocols because oxygen consumption is measured during exertion. However, when swimming respirometry is impractical, exhaustive chase protocols should be supplemented with brief air exposure to improve measurement accuracy. Caution is warranted when comparing MMR estimates obtained with different respirometry methods unless they are cross-validated on a species-specific basis.
Insider Trading, Earnings Management and Information Asymmetry

Insider trading is highly tied to earnings management in an asymmetric information environment. Using US data during 2004-2012 and different discretionary accrual measures, we reveal that insiders net purchase ratio dominated by sales, insider purchase ratio and cumulative abnormal return are positively associated with absolute value of earnings management (earnings quality). We also document high earnings management practice in growth firms (low book-to market) than value firms (high book-to market) as well as active involvement of major insiders (e.g. CEO) in such practice for personal benefits. A leading role of information asymmetry and its moderation effect is prevalent. Further evidence also suggests manipulation of earnings for insiders’ opportunistic trading over routine trading. Overseeing the earnings management and insider trading behavior simultaneously by the regulators is identified as an important policy issue in this research.
Avian Influenza Virus Antibodies in Pacific Coast Red Knots (Calidris canutus roselaari)

Abstract Prevalence of avian influenza virus (AIV) antibodies in the western Atlantic subspecies of Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) is among the highest for any shorebird. To assess whether the frequency of detection of AIV antibodies is high for the species in general or restricted only to C. c. rufa, we sampled the northeastern Pacific Coast subspecies of Red Knot (Calidris canutus roselaari) breeding in northwestern Alaska. Antibodies were detected in 90% of adults and none of the chicks sampled. Viral shedding was not detected in adults or chicks. These results suggest a predisposition of Red Knots to AIV infection. High antibody titers to subtypes H3 and H4 were detected, whereas low to intermediate antibody levels were found for subtypes H10 and H11. These four subtypes have previously been detected in shorebirds at Delaware Bay (at the border of New Jersey and Delaware) and in waterfowl along the Pacific Coast of North America.
The effect of work climate on critical employee and customer outcomes

This paper examines several work climate variables and their impact on service quality. While there exists a variety of work climates relevant to contact employees during service encounters, this study investigates two components for successful implementation of internal marketing, service climate and supportive management. Both climate variables are proposed to affect the attitudes and behaviors of employees, and consequently affect customers’ perceptions of employees’ service performance. This study, which combines perceptions from customers and their contact employees, shows that both climate variables contribute directly to job satisfaction and work effort, and indirectly impact on customers’ perceptions of employee service quality. Also, the empirical results indicate that in addition to job satisfaction, employees’ work effort also plays a strong, central role in determining customers’ perceptions of employee service quality.
Patterns of Corticosteroid and Pepsinogen Change Related to Emotional Stress in the Monkey

In association with conditioned avoidance sessions of 72 hours' duration, monkeys showed a response pattern characterized by increased levels of 17-hydroxy-corticosteroids and decreased levels of pepsinogen during the stress period, with a marked and prolonged elevation of pepsinogen levels occurring during the recovery period.
Are Stock Options the Managers' Blessing? Stock Option Compensation and Institutional Controls

Stock option grants to top managers have largely contributed to the dramatic increase in US executive pay in recent years. In this paper it is argued that stock options, compared to other forms of compensation, have created strong incentives for managers to engage in lobbying activities for higher compensation. The empirical results presented for the S&P 500 firms and the years from 1992 to 1997 show that the relative success of such skimming activities is shaped by institutional controls. Stock option grants are substantially lower when control by the board of directors and the shareholders is higher, and competition on the product market of a firm is stronger.
Franchise Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Relationship Between Levels of Success in a National Logistics Franchise System and Its Dominant Leadership Style

Entrepreneurs within the United States are plagued with high incidences of failure in the early years of business. What seems to be lacking in these organizations is leadership and the type of leadership style that leads to greater levels of success. This quantitative study answered the following research question: Is there a significant relationship between the various degrees of success of selected national franchises and the assessed leadership styles of their leaders? The leadership styles assessed were transformational and transactional. A random sample of 50 franchise leaders throughout the United States was selected and the data was collected from a Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Mind Garden, Inc.) to determine if there was a significant difference between the two leadership styles. The relationship between the two leadership styles was tested using a T-test analysis at a . 05 alpha level. The findings showed that there was a significant difference in styles, indicating that transformational leadership delivers greater levels of success at the franchisee level. The study validates the literature on the importance of leadership in large and small organizations and adds franchise entrepreneur leadership to the base of the research knowledge—data that is limited and has not been extensively researched to date. The dissertation study was structured to show that some franchising organizations have the latitude for entrepreneurship, and they are plagued with the same problems all small businesses face in the wake of competition and troubled economies. Understanding leadership at the franchisee level has its merit, and like many small and large companies, franchises need effective leadership at every level for success to exist and perpetuate. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Education (EdD) Department Executive Leadership First Supervisor Michael Robinson Second Supervisor Frank Auriemma Subject Categories Education This dissertation is available at Fisher Digital Publications: http://fisherpub.sjfc. edu/education_etd/141 Franchise Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Relationship Between Levels of Success in a National Logistics Franchise System and Its Dominant Leadership Style
Earnings management and debt

Like others before, we find that in our sample of Belgian non-listed firms earnings management (EM) is positively related to leverage. In light of the virtual absence of debt covenants, this regressor cannot just act as a proxy for the risk of violating restrictive covenants in loan or bond contracts (the stock explanation in the US/UK literature); rather, leverage must be proxying for general costs of financial distress. Our main empirical finding is that debt is heterogeneous in this respect: judging by the amount of EM it triggers, in our sample bank debt seems to be perceived as more alarming than trade credit. There are two implications about the relative costs and benefits of bank debt. First, rent extraction by banks is not of the order of magnitude to make the banker as lenient as a regular supplier, in case of financial stress. Second, the quality signal the firm obtains via the bank loan does not make EM redundant; in fact, the signal even fails to reduce the need for EM to the level judged necessary in the case of trade debt.
1 Peer Effects in Risk Aversion *

Using data on Uruguayan adolescents, we estimate peer effects in risk attitudes. Relative risk aversion is elicited in an experimental setting. Identification is based on parents not being able to choose the class within the school of their choice. After controlling for school-grade fixed effect and addressing endogeneity due to simultaneity, we find a significant and quantitative large impact of peers on individuals risk aversion. An increase in one standard deviation of the group risk aversion produces an increase in 44-64% on an individual risk aversion. These findings enhance the importance of multiplicative effects related to risk behavior. JEL classification: I12; D1.