Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of porcine maternal aerobic exercise training during pregnancy on endothelial cell function of offspring at birth

The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that maternal exercise training during pregnancy enhances endothelial function in offspring at birth. Six-month-old gilts (n = 8) were artificially inseminated and randomized into exercise-trained (n = 4) and sedentary groups (n = 4). Exercise training consisted of 15 weeks of treadmill exercise. The thoracic aorta of offspring were harvested within 48 h after birth and vascular responsiveness to cumulative doses of endothelium-dependent (bradykinin: 10−11–10−6 M) and independent (sodium nitroprusside: 10−10–10−4 M) vasodilators were assessed using in vitro wire myography. Female offspring from the exercised-trained gilts had a significantly greater endothelium-dependent relaxation response in the thoracic aorta when compared with the male offspring and female offspring from the sedentary gilts. The results of this investigation demonstrate for the first time that maternal exercise during pregnancy produces an enhanced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation response in the thoracic aortas of female offspring at birth.
Management by objectives – an effective tool for teamwork?

In recent years many companies have introduced self-regulatory teamwork requiring changes in leadership behaviour and systems as well. Consequently a renewed interest has arisen in management by objectives (MBO) as a means for leading self-regulating teams. But how do MBO systems work and how effective are they? The MBO system of a company in the construction supply industry was analysed. This company had implemented MBO at team level five years ago. In order to explore the mechanisms and effects of MBO at team level a model for group goal setting was tested. One hundred and seventy-six employees in twenty-six teams participated in the study, but only twenty-one groups having objective productivity data were included in the analyses at team level. Group goal commitment and group goals moderated by task interdependence are supposed to influence group processes as a mediating variable for group effectiveness. Results do not consistently support this model. Group goals and goal commitment predict group productivity and job satisfaction but group processes mediate only the relationship to job satisfaction. The moderating effect of task interdependence could not be supported. The consequences for developing a model for MBO at team level and implementing effective MBO systems are discussed.
Going Wider: Recurrent Neural Network With Parallel Cells

Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) has been widely applied for sequence modeling. In RNN, the hidden states at current step are full connected to those at previous step, thus the influence from less related features at previous step may potentially decrease model's learning ability. We propose a simple technique called parallel cells (PCs) to enhance the learning ability of Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). In each layer, we run multiple small RNN cells rather than one single large cell. In this paper, we evaluate PCs on 2 tasks. On language modeling task on PTB (Penn Tree Bank), our model outperforms state of art models by decreasing perplexity from 78.6 to 75.3. On Chinese-English translation task, our model increases BLEU score for 0.39 points than baseline model.
Optimal Corporate Taxation Under Financial Frictions

This paper studies the optimal design of corporate taxes when firms have private information about future investment opportunities and face financial constraints. A government whose goal is to efficiently raise a given amount of revenue from its corporate sector should attempt to tax unconstrained firms, which value resources inside the firm less than financially constrained firms. We show that a corporate payout tax (a tax on dividends and share repurchases) can both separate constrained and unconstrained firms and raise revenue, and is therefore optimal. Our quantitative analysis implies that a revenue-neutral switch from profit taxation to payout taxation would increase the overall value of existing firms and new entrants by 7%. This switch could be implemented in the current U.S. tax system by making retained earnings fully deductible.
Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Reputation, Customer Emotions and Behavioral Intentions: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

This study investigated structural relationships among customers’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate reputation, customer emotions, and behavioral intentions in the hospitality service context. Based on the stakeholder theory and signaling theory, the study postulates that customer’s perceptions of CSR, as a cognitive evaluation, influence their evaluation of the service provider’s corporate reputation; both CSR and corporate reputation influence customer emotions as affective states of mind, and customer behavioral intentions (i.e., loyalty intentions, word-of-mouth) as conative behavioral constructs. 451 valid surveys were collected from hotel guests staying in three resort hotels in Hunan Province, China, and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results show that CSR has a significant effect on corporate reputation, and customer emotions (positive and negative) partially mediate the effects of CSR and corporate reputation on loyalty intentions and word-of-mouth. The study provides empirical evidence to support the link between CSR and customer affective and conative experiences in the modern service context of China. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Are Subsidies Capitalized into Land Values? Some Time Series Evidence from Saskatchewan

A simple capitalization formula model is used to determine whether subsidies are capitalized into land values. Using Saskatchewan annual data, it is found that while income by itself cannot support the secular growth in land values, income plus subsidies may. The results of this study indicate that income plus subsidies are mildly cointegrated with land values and the series are not too volatile. The evidence suggests that there is some support for the hypothesis that short-term subsidies are capitalized into land values; however, the evidence is not strong Un modele a formule de capitalisation simple est utilise pour etablir si les subventions sont capitalisees dans les valeurs foncieres. A partir de donnees annuelles recueillies en Saskatchewan, on constate que si le revenu a lui seul ne suffit pas a soutenir la croissance a long terme des valeurs foncieres, il le peut lorsqu'il est complete par des subventions. Le resultat de l'etude montre que le revenu complete par les subventions est moderement coinegre avec la valeur de la terre et que les series obtenues ne fluctuent pas outre mesure. Il semble que les subventions a court tenne soient Capitalisees dans la valeur des terres, encore que les preuves a l'appui ne soient pas des plus convaincantes
Chronic HIV-2 infection protects against total CD4+ cell depletion and rapid disease progression induced by SHIV89.6p challenge

Objective: To better understand HIV-1 sexual transmission risk, we have studied the susceptibility of HIV-2-exposed, uninfected (EU) female pig-tailed macaques to intravaginal (IVAG) re-challenge with the homologous HIV-2 strain, followed by heterologous SHIV89.6p. Methods: Nine female macaques, previously protected by a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimen, along with one mock-treated EU animal, were re-exposed to HIV-2 by the IVAG route approximately 1.5 years later. A single follow-up challenge was performed approximately 1 year later with SHIV89.6p to assess susceptibility of chronic HIV-2-infected animals to further re-infection and pathogenic effects with a heterologous virus, somewhat mimicking HIV-1. Results: Eight of ten macaques (80%) became infected systemically with HIV-2, and plasma or cervicovaginal vRNA levels did not appreciably differ from prior historic non-PEP control macaques. Interestingly, all eight HIV-2-infected females were susceptible to SHIV89.6p infection by either intravenous (n = 4) or IVAG exposure (n = 4) after one inoculation. Plasma vRNA levels in these groups were controlled by week 8 and there were no decrease in CD4+ T cells > 50%. The remaining two HIV-2 EU macaques, inoculated intrarectally with SHIV89.6p, were unable to control virus replication and succumbed to disease by week 25 or week 61. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that successful PEP regimens to prevent an initial infection do not have any lasting protective effects. The observed lack of cross-protection against SHIV89.6p transmission among chronic HIV-2-infected macaques provides modeling support for limited epidemiologic data indicating that human HIV-2 infection does not protect against HIV-1 infection, but may serve to alter overt clinical outcome.
Surgical Pathology of the Ascending Aorta: A Clinicopathologic Study of 513 Cases

Only 2 comprehensive surgical series, published in 1977 and 1983, have evaluated clinicopathologic features of the ascending aorta. Retrospective review of medical records and microscopic slides was performed on 513 consecutive patients with surgical resection of ascending aortic tissue (1985 to 1999). Patients were 2 to 89 years old (mean 59 y), and 303 (59%) were men. Aneurysm or dissection was the indication for surgery in 479. Aortic valves were also excised in 360. Systemic hypertension was present in 279, inherited connective tissue disease (ICTD) in 67, arteritis in 33, and acquired connective tissue disease in 16. Microscopy showed cystic medial degeneration (CMD) in 209, aortic dissection (AD) in 109 (with CMD in 56), normal media in 90, aortitis in 57 (with CMD in 14), and other findings in 48. The most significant, independent risk factor of CMD and AD was ICTD (confidence interval=7.61 and 2.26, respectively). Systemic hypertension was more common in patients with AD than without (P=0.0202). Normal media was the most common histologic finding associated with bicuspid aortic valve (P<0.0001). Among 57 patients with aortitis (giant cell in 39), ages ranged from 16 to 85 years (mean 64 y), and 42 (74%) were women; only 8 had Takayasu arteritis, and 11 had temporal or systemic arteritis. In surgically resected ascending aorta, the 3 most common histologic findings were CMD, AD, and normal media. ICTD, systemic hypertension, and bicuspid aortic valve were common comorbid findings. Giant cell aortitis occured predominantly in women, usually without systemic disease.
Real Options Logic Revisited: The Performance Effects of Alternative Resource Allocation Regimes

We delineate three dimensions of resource allocation behavior that allow us to distinguish between real options logic and alternative resource allocation regimes: sequencing, low initial commitment, and reallocation. We then measure these in a product innovation context to test for the performance effect of real options logic vis-a-vis its alternatives. Sequencing, which distinguishes dynamic allocation regimes more generally, is associated with higher new product sales. Low initial commitment and reallocation do not show individual direct effects on new product sales. However, when assessed as a match, we find that the fit between low initial commitment and reallocation (yes-yes; no-no) increases performance significantly. After controlling for such fit as well as sequencing, we find no significant performance difference between real options logic and other regimes. Our findings imply that insufficient identification of real options logic picks up confounding effects, which may provide an explanation for the inconclusive results in prior studies of real options and performance. In addition to bounding the concept more precisely, we contribute to theory by situating real options logic within the broader set of allocation regimes conducive to innovation performance in uncertain, competitive markets
Cumulative Causation, Coethnic Settlement Maturity and Mexican Immigration to U.S. Metropolitan Areas, 1995–2000

This article applies the tenets of Massey’s (1999) cumulative causation theory of migration to explain variation in aggregate patterns of Mexican migration to U.S. metropolitan destinations during the late 1990s. Analogous to sending contexts, results suggest that the dynamics of migration vary substantially with the maturity of the Mexican settlement community within destinations (approximated here using characteristics of the resident Mexican-origin population and distance from the Mexican border). The rate of immigration between 1995 and 2000 was determined overwhelmingly by the rate a decade earlier, but the extent to which this was the case depended significantly on the level of destination settlement maturity. The immigration rate into newly emerging destinations was governed to a greater extent by pull factors in the local labor and housing market (e.g., unemployment and cost of living) than in more established destinations where the rate of immigration varied largely independently of such factors. Settlement maturity played a more direct role in explaining variation in the demographic composition of new immigration flows, and was inversely related to the percentage of adult inflows comprising unaccompanied males. The results are consistent with the hypothesis recently advanced by Light (2006), asserting that migratory shifts away from traditional destinations beginning in the late 1990s were driven, at least in part, by saturation of labor and housing markets resulting from network-driven migration. Implications of the findings for related avenues of research are discussed.
Does mammographic density reflect the expression of breast cancer markers?

Abstract Mammographic density reflects variation in breast tissue composition as detected on mammogram. It is associated with a number of well-known breast cancer risk factors and itself is considered one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. If the expression of several proteins and genes within the breast tissue influences mammographic density in the same way as it influences breast cancer risk, then mammographic density might serve as an intermediate biomarker in future epidemiological studies on breast cancer. This has the potential to provide a quick means for predicting the effect of changes in the breast microenvironment on breast cancer risk without having to wait for an eventual development of breast cancer. In this review, the expression of several proteins and genes (growth factors, enzymes, proteoglycans and pro-inflammatory markers) within the breast tissue is shown to be associated with mammographic density. These proteins and genes are suspected to play a role in breast carcinogenesis. More studies assessing differential expression of proteins and genes in mammary epithelium and stroma and their association with mammographic density among premenopausal and postmenopausal women are required. Identification of proteins and genes influencing mammographic density may provide further insight on the molecular causes of breast cancer.
Robotic stiffness control and calibration as applied to human grasping tasks

In this paper, we study stiffness analysis as applied to human grasping. Grasp stiffness has been demonstrated to be useful for modeling and controlling robotic manipulators. The computation of general linear R/sup 3/spl times/3/ stiffness matrices for grasping, which can be decomposed into symmetric (conservative) and asymmetric (nonconservative) components, offers physical insights for stiffness control in robotics as well as human grasping. Methods of stiffness calibration, using least-squares best fits with and without symmetry constraints, are presented and applied to the force and displacement data obtained from grasping tasks to study human grasping behaviors. The results of this study show that a linear relationship between force and displacement is capable of capturing the characteristics of the experimental data of human grasps for which displacements are small (on the order of one to seven mm). Different measures, proposed and developed in the robotics literature, are employed to predict the behavior of human grasps in reacting to externally applied loads.
The Role of Underwriter Peer Networks in IPOs

This study examines how various aspects of underwriter peer network affect IPOs. We use different network measures to capture underwriter centrality in the global network, cohesion and diversity within network, and prior industry experience of network partners. Our results show that IPOs underwritten by book managers with more central and cohesive networks and partners with previous industry experience are associated with a higher likelihood of an offer price revision and larger price revisions. We also find book managers with more central networks and partners with previous industry experience are associated with higher short-run stock returns, while book managers that maintain more reciprocated peer relationships tend to underprice more. These results indicate that underwriters use peer networks to produce information and place securities, and network structure and characteristics have implications for the quantity and quality of information and the level of cooperative efforts shared among underwriters.
Primary Payer Status Is Associated With the Use of Nerve Block Placement for Ambulatory Orthopedic Surgery

Introduction Although more than 30 million patients in the United States undergo ambulatory surgery each year, it remains unclear what percentage of these patients receive a perioperative nerve block. We reviewed data from the 2006 National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery to determine the demographic, socioeconomic, geographic, and clinical factors associated with the likelihood of nerve block placement for ambulatory orthopedic surgery. The primary outcome of interest was the association between primary method of payment and likelihood of nerve block placement. In addition, we examined the association between type of surgical procedures, patient demographics, and hospital characteristics with the likelihood of receiving a nerve block. Methods This cross-sectional study reviewed 6000 orthopedic anesthetics from the 2006 National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery data set, which accounted for more than 3.9 million orthopedic anesthetics when weighted. The primary outcome of this study addressed the likelihood of receiving a nerve block for orthopedic ambulatory surgery according to the patient’s primary method of payment. Secondary end points included differences in demographics, surgical procedures, adverse effects, complications, recovery profile, anesthesia staffing model, and total perioperative charges in those with and without nerve block. Results Overall, 14.9% of anesthetics in this sample involved a peripheral nerve block. Length of time in postoperative recovery, total perioperative time, and total charges were less for those receiving nerve blocks. Patients were more likely to receive a nerve block if their procedures were performed in metropolitan service areas (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19–2.91; P = 0.007) or in freestanding surgical facilities (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.74–2.96; P < 0.0001) and if payment for their surgery was supported by government programs (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.01–6.21; P = 0.048) or private insurance (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.12–6.13; P = 0.03) versus self-pay or charity care. Conclusions For patients receiving ambulatory orthopedic surgery in the United States, our results suggest that geographic and socioeconomic factors are associated with different likelihoods of perioperative peripheral nerve block placement.
Limits of rickettsial infectivity

Seven species of pathogenic rickettsiae were compared in five assay systems for group, species, strain, and phase differences in infectivity. The species examined include Rickettsia prowazekii (Breinl and Cairo 3 strains), R. typhi, R. canada, R. rickettsii (Sheila Smith and R strains), R. conorii, R. sibirica, and Coxiella burnetii in phases I and II. Pathogenicity was charcterized in terms of fever in guinea pigs. All comparisons of infectivity and pathogenicity were described in terms of numbers of rickettsiae in the inocula, as determined by direct rickettsial count. The data characterize the various species and strains of rickettsiae in quantitative terms, which are also estimates of the sensitivity of the assay systems used. Phase I C. burnetii was found to be the most, and R. canada the least, infective of the species examined. In general the primary chicken embryo cell culture system proved to be the most, and that of the mouse the least, sensitive assay system.
East African running dominance: what is behind it?

Take home message The periodic domination of middle and long distance running by different regions of the world is not a new phenomenon. Researchers are yet to confirm a genetic or physiological advantage in being a middle or long distance runner of East African origin, and it is most likely that the reasons for their success are many. The belief that East African success is due to uncontrollable stable factors will perpetuate the current level of domination. East African middle and long distance runners are currently the dominant force in athletics. As well as dominating the track events at the last several Olympic Games, they are also dominant on the American and European road racing circuit and world cross country events. Although many physiological and anatomical factors have been proposed to explain East African dominance, research into these variables has not yet revealed any definitive advantage for the African. Traditional social and cultural factors have often been described as “advantageous”, and, although these factors may be to a greater or lesser extent involved in the East African dominance, it is probable that both the African and caucasian psychology or “mindset” are now additional important factors in maintaining that dominance. Like Scandinavian distance runners in the early 20th century, who won 28 of 36 possible Olympic medals over 5000 and 10 000 m, the East Africans have developed an aura of invincibility, both in their own minds and the minds of their caucasian opponents. Caucasians world wide are searching for proof of the physical advantage of the East Africans while handing them on a platter a psychological advantage which, until removed, will perpetuate the current state. Many factors have been described to explain both the dominance of East African middle and long distance runners and West African sprinters. Many of these …
Volatility spillovers and macroeconomic announcements: evidence from crude oil markets

The paper applies an event study methodologyaims to investigate the macroeconomic announcements effects on Standard&Poor’s500 and oil prices. Our results provide evidence for a significant impact of the US macroeconomic news on oil prices. This impact is split into two components, namely the direct effect (common response) and indirect effect (volatility transmission). Altogether our results show that the volatility transmission is bidirectional. Not only a significant volatility transmission from the oil market to the US stock market is revealed, but also a high volatility transmission is recorded from the oil market to the stock market especially after the release of consumption indicators.