Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Country Governance and International Equity Returns

Monthly equity returns in countries with strong governance lead monthly equity returns in countries with weak governance. This predictability is robust to alternative ways of measuring country governance, and holds in and out-of-sample at both the group and individual country levels. Strong governance country equities react more quickly to global innovations, which contain value-relevant information for all countries. Information gradually diffuses from strong to weak governance countries, with the predictability being stronger when there is higher information asymmetry and opacity in weak governance countries. Other factors such as market segmentation, short-selling constraints, and trade linkages do not explain the predictability.
Community-level institutions in the management of palm-forest resources in Southeastern Nigeria

The study examined the role of community-level institutions in the management of palm-forest resources in Southeastern Nigeria. Southeastern Nigeria is undoubtedly the palm-forest and palm oil belt of Nigeria where these resources have been managed for at least the last 100 years on an on individual and a community basis. Using a survey research approach, this study focused on three large communities in three states in the Southeastern region and discovered widespread usage of community-level institutions in the management of palm-forest resources as well as a set of socio-cultural norms and practices regarding access to and exploitation of palm-forest resources. However, while we discovered that these community-level institutions were both effective and conducive to sustainable exploitation of these resources, we also found that these institutions are not particularly bothered with either promoting or encouraging new investments in palm-forest resources. Therefore, there is need to harness these institutions for optimal and sustainable exploitation of palm-forest resources while calling their attention to the need for new investments in palm-forest resources in their communities.
Performance-Chasing in Venture Capital Investments

This paper examines how venture capital firms (VCs) in the U.S. respond to recent successful exits. We find that more money is allocated towards sectors that have experienced large exits within the last two months. This is achieved by increasing the amount invested per deal rather than investing in more companies. The additional investment appears to follow similar patterns in terms of the investment stage of portfolio companies. Furthermore, we document that such performance chasing behavior is most aggressively carried out by high-quality VCs rather than low-quality ones. We test the effectiveness of such a strategy and find that ‘hot sector’ companies are more likely to undertake a successful exit as opposed to their counterparts.
Arthroscopic Synovectomy of the Elbow in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the results of arthroscopic synovectomy for the treatment of elbows affected by rheumatoid arthritis.Methods: Arthroscopic synovectomy was performed on twenty-nine elbows (twenty-seven patients) between 1984 and 1996. Twenty-one elbows (twenty patients), followed for a minimum of forty-two months, were evaluated clinically with use of the Mayo elbow performance score and radiographic findings. The mean duration of follow-up was ninety-seven months. With use of the system of Larsen et al., we classified all elbows into three groupsæGrades 1 and 2, Grade 3, and Grade 4æaccording to the preoperative radiographic findings. These groups were then compared.Results: The mean Mayo elbow performance score improved from 48.3 points preoperatively to 77.5 points (an excellent result in two elbows, a good result in thirteen, a fair result in six, and a poor result in none) at two years after the operation and 69.8 points (an excellent result in two elbows, a good result in seven, a fair result in seven, and a poor result in five) at the final follow-up evaluation. The mean score for pain improved from 9.3 points preoperatively to 31.4 points at two years after the operation and 27.9 points at the final follow-up evaluation. Clinically apparent synovitis recurred in five of the twenty-one elbows, and two of the five required total elbow arthroplasty. Among the three groups, only elbows with Larsen Grade-1 or 2 arthritis had a favorable long-term result with regard to total function. The postoperative results were unsatisfactory for Larsen Grade-4 elbows.Conclusions: Arthroscopic synovectomy in an elbow affected by rheumatoid arthritis is a reliable procedure that can alleviate pain. Our results suggest that one of the most favorable indications for arthroscopic synovectomy is a preoperative radiographic rating of Grade 1 or 2.
Relationships among labour productivity, real wages and inflation in Turkey

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the interrelationships among productivity, real wages and inflation in the Turkish manufacturing industry for the period of 1988:1 to 2012:2. To that end, this paper employs both cointegration analysis and a Granger causality test. This paper finds that inflation has a greater effect on labour productivity than do real wages. Furthermore, the Granger causality test shows that there is a strong feedback between labour productivity and inflation, suggesting policy makers targeting inflation should follow labour productivity. This test suggests that there is no causal link running from productivity to real wages in the Turkish manufacturing industry. This absence of a link is largely due to lower bargaining power and structural problems, including high unemployment, a huge tax burden on wages and the large share of the informal sector.
Maternal prepregnancy obesity and cause-speciﬁc stillbirth 1–3

Background: In high-income countries, maternal obesity is one of the most important modiﬁable causes of stillbirth, yet the pathways underpinning this association remain unclear. Objective: We estimated the association between maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and the risk of stillbirth deﬁned by pathophysiologic contributors or causes. Design: Using a case-cohort design, we randomly sampled 1829 singleton deliveries from a cohort of 68,437 eligible deliveries at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2003–2010), and augmented it with all remaining cases of stillbirth for a total of 658 cases. Stillbirths were classiﬁed based on probable cause(s) of death (maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications, fetal abnormalities, placental diseases, and infection). A panel of clinical experts reviewed medical records, placental tissue slides and pathology reports, and fetal postmortem reports of all stillbirths. Causes of fetal death were assigned by using the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network Initial Causes of Fetal Death protocol from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Proportional hazards models were used to estimate the BMI-stillbirth association after adjustment for confounders. Results: The rate of stillbirth among lean, overweight, obese, and severely obese women was 7.7, 10.6, 13.9, and 17.3 per 1000 live-born and stillborn infants, respectively. Adjusted stillbirth HRs (95% CIs) were 1.4 (1.1, 1.8) for overweight, 1.8 (1.3, 2.4) for obese, and 2.0 (1.5, 2.8) for severely obese women, respectively, compared with lean women; associations strengthened when limited to antepartum stillbirths. Obesity and severe obesity were associated with stillbirth resulting from placental diseases, hypertension, fetal anomalies, and umbilical cord abnormalities. BMI was not related to stillbirth caused by placental abruption, obstetric conditions, or infection. Conclusions: Multiple mechanisms appear to link obesity to stillbirth. Interventions to reduce stillbirth among obese mothers should consider targeting stillbirth due to hypertension and placental diseases—the most common causes of fetal death in this at-risk group.
Immune Responses in 4-1BB (CD137)-Deficient Mice1

The 4-1BB (a TNFR superfamily member) is an inducible costimulatory molecule that can exert regulatory effects on T cells independently of CD28 stimulation. The in vitro expression of 4-1BB (CD137) is induced following activation of T cells with various stimuli, including anti-TCR mAbs, lectins, and a combination of PMA and ionomycin. To delineate further the physiological role of 4-1BB in immunity, mice deficient in this receptor were generated. These mutant mice developed normally, and were viable and fertile. Humoral responses to vesicular stomatitis virus were comparable with those seen in wild-type mice, whereas the IgG2a and IgG3 isotype responses to keyhole limpet hemocyanin were somewhat reduced in the mutant mice. The 4-1BB-deficient mice demonstrated enhanced T cell proliferation in response to mitogens or anti-CD3 even in the environment of reduced ability to secrete growth-supporting cytokines (IL-2 and IL-4). Although T cells from 4-1BB-deficient mice showed enhanced proliferation, the T cell immune responses of these animals, such as cytokine production and CTL activity, were diminished. In addition, 4-1BB deletion appears to play a role in the regulation of myeloid progenitor cell growth, leading to an increase in these precursor cells in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen.
Reprimanding Sanction,Manage ment Demography and Turnover: Evidence from a Transitional Economy

The literature shows the importance of top management and board characteristics on firm performance. We extend this literature by examining top management turnover for financially distressed firms. China has a unique sanction rule,which publicly labels financially distressed listed firms to provide the market with a warning signal. Controlling for board characteristics and governance, we evaluate how relational management demography affects turnover of financially distressed firms in China.Our results first show that the demographic characteristics of top management for distressed firms differ from those of normal firms. Second, management turnover is positively related to financial distress. Finally, we show that the departure of either the chairperson or CEO depends on their demographic differences. We conjecture that our findings provide support to the upper echelons theory and scapegoat argument.
Avascular necrosis as a complication in the management of developmental dysplasia of the hip

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the proximal femoral epiphysis is an iatrogenic complication of treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), and does not occur during the natural history of the untreated hip. The objective is to produce a congruous concentric joint and minimize premature degenerative disease and disability during young adult life, by achieving early reduction of the hip with acetabular augmentation or femoral realignment when necessary. AVN causes a spectrum of damage to the epiphysis and physis and the classi¢cation by Kalamchi and MacEwen is in wide usage. The signi¢cant late sequellae of AVN are abnormal contour of the femoral head and neck which contribute to subluxation of the hip, a short femoral neck causing abductor insu⁄ciency and leg length inequality. It may be a devastating complicationwhich can result in a poorer outcome than the original pathology of DDH, and is particularly disastrous if the previously normal contralateral hip is a¡ected.
Placental p,p′‐dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene and cord blood immune markers

Placental p,p′‐dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′‐DDE) concentration and cord blood atopic markers were determined in 19 neonates. Increased placental p,p′‐DDE was associated with a statistically significant increase in cord plasma interleukin (IL)‐13. Furthermore, both cord plasma IL‐4/interferon (IFN)‐γ and IL‐13/IFN‐γ ratios were significantly positively associated with placental p,p′‐DDE concentration.
Health-Related Quality of Life of the General German Population in 2015: Results from the EQ-5D-5L

The EQ-5D-5L is a widely used generic instrument to measure health-related quality of life. This study evaluates health perception in a representative sample of the general German population from 2015. To compare results over time, a component analysis technique was used that separates changes in the description and valuation of health states. The whole sample and also subgroups, stratified by sociodemographic parameters as well as disease affliction, were analyzed. In total, 2040 questionnaires (48.4% male, mean age 47.3 year) were included. The dimension with the lowest number of reported problems was self-care (93.0% without problems), and the dimension with the highest proportion of impairment was pain/discomfort (71.2% without problems). Some 64.3% of the study population were identified as problem-free. The visual analog scale (VAS) mean for all participants was 85.1. Low education was connected with significantly lower VAS scores, but the effect was small. Depression, heart disease, and diabetes had a strong significant negative effect on reported VAS means. Results were slightly better than those in a similar 2012 survey; the most important driver was the increase in the share of the study population that reported to be problem-free. In international comparisons, health perception of the general German population is relatively high and, compared with previous German studies, fairly stable over recent years. Elderly and sick people continue to report significant reductions in perceived health states.
Reliability, Discriminant and Predictive Validity of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale

The present study was to assess the potential usefulness of the Zung Self-rating Scale with 173 family escorts, 218 nondepressed, and 369 depressed clients. Findings for reliability and for discriminant and predictive validity parallel data reported by others. It was concluded that the scale, combined with a corroborative clinical interview, may be useful for diagnostic purposes.
Factors Affecting Variability in Time between Addition of Nutrient Germinants and Rapid Dipicolinic Acid Release during Germination of Spores of Bacillus Species

ABSTRACT The simultaneous nutrient germination of hundreds of individual wild-type spores of three Bacillus species and a number of Bacillus subtilis strains has been measured by two new methods, and rates of release of the great majority of the large pool of dipicolinic acid (DPA) from individual spores of B. subtilis strains has been measured by Raman spectroscopy with laser tweezers. The results from these analyses and published data have allowed a number of significant conclusions about the germination of spores of Bacillus species as follows. (i) The time needed for release of the great majority of a Bacillus spore's DPA once rapid DPA release had begun (ΔT release) during nutrient germination was independent of the concentration of nutrient germinant used, the level of the germinant receptors (GRs) that recognize nutrient germinants used and heat activation prior to germination. Values for ΔT release were generally 0.5 to 3 min at 25 to 37°C for individual wild-type spores. (ii) Despite the conclusion above, germination of individual spores in populations was very heterogeneous, with some spores in wild-type populations completing germination ≥15-fold slower than others. (iii) The major factor in the heterogeneity in germination of individual spores in populations was the highly variable lag time, T lag, between mixing spores with nutrient germinants and the beginning of ΔT release. (iv) A number of factors decrease spores' T lag values including heat activation, increased levels of GRs/spore, and higher levels of nutrient germinants. These latter factors appear to affect the level of activated GRs/spore during nutrient germination. (v) The conclusions above lead to the simple prediction that a major factor causing heterogeneity in Bacillus spore germination is the number of functional GRs in individual spores, a number that presumably varies significantly between spores in populations.
Assessment of SAR in the tissues near a cochlear implant exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields

Cochlear implants (CI) are electronic devices used to restore partial hearing to people with severe hearing impairment. This paper aims to investigate if the introduction of a CI has an effect on SAR distribution in a head model exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) at mobile communication frequencies. The head model was obtained by image segmentation, the implant was modelled as a geometric structure and the exposure source was modelled as a uniform plane wave at 900 MHz, 1750 MHz and 1950 MHz, incident on the side of the head with the CI. Vertical and horizontal polarizations were simulated. Results show that the presence of a CI inside the cochlea produces negligible variations in the averaged SAR values, both in the head and in the cochlear tissues, although very localized differences in point SAR were found in the cochlea. Globally, these results suggest that finding harmful effects in the cochlear tissues will be unlikely.
Deaths attributed to heat, cold, and other weather events in the United States, 2006-2010.

OBJECTIVES This report examines heat-related mortality, cold-related mortality, and other weather-related mortality during 2006-2010 among subgroups of U.S. residents. METHODS Weather-related death rates for demographic and area-based subgroups were computed using death certificate information. Adjusted odds ratios for weather-related deaths among subgroups were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS During 2006-2010, about 2,000 U.S. residents died each year from weather-related causes of death. About 31% of these deaths were attributed to exposure to excessive natural heat, heat stroke, sun stroke, or all; 63% were attributed to exposure to excessive natural cold, hypothermia, or both; and the remaining 6% were attributed to floods, storms, or lightning. Weather-related death rates varied by age, race and ethnicity, sex, and characteristics of decedent's county of residence (median income, region, and urbanization level). Adjustment for region and urbanization decreased the risk of heat-related mortality among Hispanic persons and increased the risk of cold-related mortality among non-Hispanic black persons, compared with non-Hispanic white persons. Adjustment also increased the risk of heat-related mortality and attenuated the risk of cold-related mortality for counties in the lower three income quartiles. The differentials in weather-related mortality observed among demographic subgroups during 2006-2010 in the United States were consistent with those observed in previous national studies. This study demonstrated that a better understanding of subpopulations at risk from weather-related mortality can be obtained by considering area-based variables (county median household income, region, and urbanization level) when examining weather-related mortality patterns.
Mechanism of positive-bias temperature instability in sub-1-nm TaN/HfN/HfO/sub 2/ gate stack with low preexisting traps

In this letter, the positive-bias temperature instability (PBTI) characteristics of a TaN/HfN/HfO/sub 2/ gate stack with an equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of 0.95 nm and low preexisting traps are studied. The negligible PBTI at room temperature, the so-called "turn-around" phenomenon, and the negative shifts of the threshold voltage (V/sub t/) are observed. A modified reaction-diffusion (R-D) model, which is based on the electric stress induced defect generation (ESIDG) mechanism, is proposed to explain the above-mentioned PBTI characteristics. In this modified R-D model, PBTI is attributed to the electron-induced breaking of Si-O bonds at interfacial layer (IL) between HfO/sub 2/ and Si substrate and the diffusion/drift of oxygen ions (O/sup -/) from Si-O bonds into HfO/sub 2/ layer under positive-bias temperature stressing. The ESIDG mechanism is responsible for the breaking of Si-O bonds. The measured activation energy (E/sub a/) is consistent with the one predicted by the ESIDG mechanism.
HIV-associated multicentric Castleman disease

Purpose of review HIV-associated multicentric Castleman disease (HIV MCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder, the incidence of which appears to be increasing in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era. Current knowledge of the disease is limited and this review will discuss what is known about the pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of HIV MCD. Recent findings HIV MCD has been shown to be associated with infection with human herpesvirus-8. Vascular endothelial growth factor and the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) are also thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of MCD. Currently, rituximab is often used alone or in combination with chemotherapy for treatment of MCD. Novel monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-6 and the IL-6 receptor are also being studied for the management of this disease. Summary Because HIV MCD is an uncommon diagnosis, comprehensive clinical studies have not been done, and understanding of the disease is incomplete. Further studies are needed to make definitive conclusions regarding optimal treatment of HIV MCD.
Study of Comparative Effect of Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis on Lipid Profile of Patients of Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) like coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease and heart failure. Strong association is present between renal disease progression & dyslipidemia. The present study was undertaken to study the comparative effect of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis on lipid profile in these patients. 100 diagnosed CKD patients i.e. cases (50 undergoing hemodialysis HD and 50 undergoing peritoneal dialysis PD) were enrolled for the study after institutional ethical committee’s clearance was obtained. In this study, we measured serum levels of lipid profile comprising of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and atherogenic ratios (LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C). In our study, we found that the mean values of TC, LDL-C and atherogenic ratios (LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C) were significantly higher and HDL-C was significantly lower in cases of peritoneal dialysis group as compared to cases of hemodialysis group. Out of both dialysis modalities, peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients develop a somewhat different and probably more atherogenic lipoprotein profile than do hemodialysis (HD) patients. So, among patients with cardiovascular disease, the risk for death was higher in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients than in hemodialysis (HD) patients.