Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Level of Satisfaction and Unmet Data Needs for Specialty Drug Formulary Decisions in the United States

BACKGROUND: Formulary management within a limited budget is critical, especially for specialty drugs, which are used for serious medical conditions and are very expensive. Despite attempts to summarize the pertinent evidence, it is uncertain whether data needs of formulary decision makers for specialty drugs are satisfied. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of satisfaction of specialty drug formulary decision makers with regards to the strength of current available data sources and unmet needs regarding clinical, economic, and unpublished evidence. METHODS: This study targeted pharmacists and physicians involved with formulary decision making at health plans or pharmacy benefit management companies at the national, large regional, and local levels. 95 individuals were invited to participate (without compensation) in a 21-item, web-based survey (Qualtrics), which was open from June 14 to July 31, 2014. The responses were coded for descriptive and statistical analysis. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Wallis test, analysis of variance, and the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Of 95 pharmacists or physicians, 40 respondents initiated the survey, and 33 respondents completed the survey (response rate = 34.7%). Drug formulary decision makers infrequently rated data evidence strength (17.1% “always”). Clinical data evidence strength was rated highest with published randomized controlled trials (RCTs; mean [SD] = 4.06 [0.87] of 5.0), while participant organizations’ internal data were rated highest for economic data evidence strength (mean [SD] = 3.91 [1.07] of 5.0). Decision makers rated the highest unmet need as more data generated from head-to-head RCTs (mean [SD] = 2.94 [0.25] of 3.0) and cost-effectiveness analyses (mean [SD] = 2.53 [0.67] of 3.0). The participants believed manufacturers might be in the best position to satisfy their desire for head-to-head RCTs (mean [SD] = 4.31 [1.09] of 5.0). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a variety of data sources, drug formulary decision makers continue to rely on published RCTs or internal economic analyses as having the strongest evidence strength. The study respondents believed that pharmaceutical manufacturers would be best able to satisfy the greatest clinical data unmet need, that is, head-to-head RCTs in specialty drug formulary decisions.
Access vs. Ownership: Understanding Consumers’ Consumption Mode Preference

Accessing products instead of owning them is becoming increasingly popular. In case of both types of consumption modes being available, consumers face the choice between traditional ownership and access. A better understanding of consumption mode choice is not only an important step towards a theoretical basis, but also highly relevant for businesses and policy makers. This paper describes (a) the development of a formative measurement tool of consumers’ perceptions and the resulting attitude towards access and ownership and (b) the results of its application to four different product categories and to consumers with and without access consumption experience. Based on literature review and qualitative interviews, a second-order formative model is conceptualized and validated in a mixed-methods approach. It is found that functional and monetary perceptions are generally most important, followed by experiential and symbolic perceptions. On a more granular level, access offerings in different categories are perceived differently, highlighting the importance of multi-category studies. Managers, policy makers and science benefit from the provided measurement tool, the description of various applications and the implications of its utilization in this study.
Integrins Influence the Size and Dynamics of Signaling Microclusters in a Pyk2-dependent Manner*

Background: The mechanism by which integrin signaling regulates lymphocyte cytolytic activity is poorly understood. Results: The extent of integrin ligation influences the size and dynamics of signaling microclusters. Conclusion: Integrins regulate the magnitude and duration of proximal signaling that affect lymphocyte degranulation kinetics and the rate of target cell lysis. Significance: Integrin engagement ensures more rapid cytolytic granule release and faster target cell destruction. Integrin engagement on lymphocytes initiates “outside-in” signaling that is required for cytoskeleton remodeling and the formation of the synaptic interface. However, the mechanism by which the “outside-in” signal contributes to receptor-mediated intracellular signaling that regulates the kinetics of granule delivery and efficiency of cytolytic activity is not well understood. We have found that variations in ICAM-1 expression on tumor cells influence killing kinetics of these cells by CD16.NK-92 cytolytic effectors suggesting that changes in integrin ligation on the effector cells regulate the kinetics of cytolytic activity by the effector cells. To understand how variations of the integrin receptor ligation may alter cytolytic activity of CD16.NK-92 cells, we analyzed molecular events at the contact area of these cells exposed to planar lipid bilayers that display integrin ligands at different densities and activating CD16-specific antibodies. Changes in the extent of integrin ligation on CD16.NK-92 cells at the cell/bilayer interface revealed that the integrin signal influences the size and the dynamics of activating receptor microclusters in a Pyk2-dependent manner. Integrin-mediated changes of the intracellular signaling significantly affected the kinetics of degranulation of CD16.NK-92 cells providing evidence that integrins regulate the rate of target cell destruction in antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC).
The origin of efferent pathways from the primary visual cortex, area 17, of the macaque monkey as shown by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase

The retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase has been used to identify efferent cells in area 17 of the macaque. Cells projecting to the lateral geniculate nucleus are small to medium sized pyramidal neurons with somata in lamina 6 and the adjacent white matter. The projection to the parvocellular division arises preferentially from the upper half of lamina 6, while that to the magnocellular division arises preferentially from the lower part of the lamina. The projection to both superior colliculus and inferior pulvinar arises from all sizes of pyramidal neurons lying in lamina 5B (Lund and Boothe, '75); at least the largest pyramidal neurons of lamina 5B send collateral axon branches to both destinations. Injections with extensive spread of horseradish peroxidase show that many cells of lamina 4B and the large pyramidal neurons of upper lamina 6 also project extrinsically but their terminal sites have not been identified.
Substrate Bias Effect Linked to Parasitic Series Resistance in Multiple-Gate SOI MOSFETs

It is generally recognized that very narrow silicon-on-insulator (SOI) fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs) are insensitive to substrate bias due to the strong electrostatic gate control. In this letter, we demonstrate, for the first time, that, in short-channel narrow FinFETs, substrate bias can dramatically change the on-current without change in the threshold voltage, subthreshold slope, and drain-induced barrier lowering, due to the modulation of the parasitic series resistance. Therefrom, contrary to general belief, very narrow short-channel multiple-gate field-effect transistors can be sensitive to substrate-related effects (buried oxide formation, irradiation, etc). Another important implication of the described effect is related to the diagnostics of the series resistance in SOI FinFETs and better prediction of their full intrinsic performance potential.
Productivity of Nations: A Stochastic Frontier Approach to TFP Decomposition

This paper tackles the problem of aggregate TFP measurement using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Data from Penn World Table 6.1 are used to estimate a world production frontier for a sample of 75 countries over a long period (1950-2000) taking advantage of the model offered by Battese & Coelli (1992). We also apply the decomposition of TFP suggested by Bauer (1990) and Kumbhakar (2000) to a smaller sample of 36 countries over the period 1970-2000 in order to evaluate the effects of changes in efficiency (technical and allocative), scale effects and technical change. This allows us to analyze the role of productivity and its components in economic growth of developed and developing nations in addition to the importance of factor accumulation. Although not much explored in the study of economic growth, frontier techniques seem to be of particular interest for that purpose since the separation of efficiency effects and technical change has a direct interpretation in terms of the catch-up debate. The estimated technical efficiency scores reveal the efficiency of nations in the production of non tradable goods since the GDP series used is PPP-adjusted. We also provide a second set of efficiency scores corrected in order to reveal efficiency in the production of tradable goods and rank them. When compared to the rankings of productivity indexes offered by non-frontier studies of Hall & Jones (1996) and Islam (1995) our ranking shows a somewhat more intuitive order of countries. Rankings of the technical change and scale effects components of TFP change are also very intuitive. We also show that productivity is responsible for virtually all the differences of performance between developed and developing countries in terms of rates of growth of income per worker. More important, we find that changes in allocative efficiency play an important role in explaining differences in the productivity of developed and developing nations, even larger than the one played by the technology gap.
An open-label trial of abatacept (CTLA4-IG) in non-severe relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's)

Objectives To determine the safety and efficacy of abatacept in non-severe relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's)(GPA). Methods An open-label trial of intravenous abatacept was conducted in 20 patients with non-severe relapsing GPA. Prednisone up to 30 mg daily was permitted within the first 2 months, and patients on methotrexate, azathioprine, or mycophenolate mofetil continued these agents. Patients remained on study until common closing or early termination. Results Of the 20 patients, 18 (90%) had disease improvement, 16 (80%) achieved remission (BVAS/WG=0) at a median of 1.9 months, and 14 (70%) reached common closing. Six patients (30%) met criteria for early termination due to increased disease activity; 3 of 6 achieved remission and relapsed at a median of 8.6 months. The median duration of remission before common closing was 14.4 months, with the median duration of time on study for all patients being 12.3 months (range 2–35 months). Eleven of the 15 (73%) patients on prednisone reached 0 mg. Nine severe adverse events occurred in 7 patients, including 7 infections that were successfully treated. Conclusions In this study of patients with non-severe relapsing GPA, abatacept was well tolerated and was associated with a high frequency of disease remission and prednisone discontinuation.
Handling Stolen Goods: A Market Reduction Approach

Sentencers and probation officers alike have long assumed that without handlers of stolen goods there would be far lower levels of acquisitive crime, hence the harsher penalties meted out to handlers. This fascinating study lends strong support to this approach, finding that the existence of a thriving market in stolen goods strongly influences the decision to begin and then to continue stealing. The results
Targeted metabolomics in colorectal cancer: a strategic approach using standardized laboratory tests of the blood and urine

Background Glycolytic markers have been detected in colorectal cancer (CRC) using advanced analytical methods. Methods Using commercially available assays, by-products of anaerobic metabolism were prospectively measured in the blood and urine of 20 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and 20 patients with local disease. Twenty-four-hour urine citrate, plasma lactate, ketones, venous blood gas, anion gap, and osmolar gap were investigated. Results of patients with metastatic and local CRC were compared using two-sample t-tests or equivalent nonparametric tests. In addition, plasma total CO2 concentrations in our local hospital (5,931 inpatients and 1,783 outpatients) were compared retrospectively with those in our dedicated cancer center (1,825 outpatients) over 1 year. Results The average venous pCO2 was higher in patients with mCRC (50.2 mmHg; standard deviation [SD]=9.36) compared with those with local disease (42.8 mmHg; SD=8.98), p=0.045. Calculated serum osmolarity was higher in mCRC and attributed to concomitant sodium and urea elevations. In our retrospective analysis, plasma total CO2 concentrations (median=27 mmol/L) were higher in cancer patients compared to both hospital inpatients (median=23 mmol/L) and outpatients (median=24 mmol/L), p<0.0001. Conclusion Patients with mCRC had higher venous pCO2 levels than those with local disease. Although causation cannot be established, we hypothesize that pCO2 elevation may stem from a perturbed metabolism in mCRC.
Customer Concentration, Corporate Social Responsibility and Idiosyncratic Risk

This paper investigates the effect of customer concentration on corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures for a large sample of US firms. Using both corporate and government customer concentration, we find that firms with concentrated corporate customer are associated with significantly higher CSR scores, while firms with concentrated government customer are associated with significantly lower CSR scores. Our findings also suggest that corporate customer concentration is associated with significantly less CSR concern, whereas government customer concentration is associated not only with significantly less CSR strength, but also with significantly more CSR concern. Finally, we find that CSR activities mitigate the idiosyncratic risk for firms with corporate customer concentration, lending support to the arguments that firms with socially responsible practices have lower risk.
Changes in auditing : a three part investigation

Changes in Auditing: A Three Part Investigation Denise R. Hanes Chairs of the Supervisory Committee: Timothy B. Harbert Professor, Jean C. Bedard, Ph.D., CPA Accountancy Department and Professor of Accountancy, Jay C. Thibodeau, Ph.D., CPA Accountancy Department This dissertation consists of three studies investigating changes in auditing. This abstract summarizes each study, including purpose, methodology, and findings. The first study synthesizes the extant literature examining geographically distributed work arrangements in other disciplines such as management and social psychology. Focusing on communication and coordination, knowledge sharing, work design, and social identity in geographically distributed teams, I identify opportunities for future research to expand our understanding of how geographically distributing audit work impacts auditors, the audit process, and audit quality. My second paper explores a key contributor to the success of geographically distributed work highlighted in my literature review: the design of the work. Due to the global distribution of audit work, staff auditors are likely to possess limited experience with tasks performed abroad. Specifically, staff auditors are likely to gain experience with such tasks primarily through review and follow up responsibilities. I investigate this issue using an experiment in which task identity (the degree to which an auditor performs a whole task from beginning to end) and perceived task significance vary between participants. Results show that auditors who complete tasks that they did not start perform at a significantly lower level when they perceive the work to be of lower significance. I also find that auditors perform at consistently higher levels when they either complete a task from start to finish or perceive the task to be of greater significance. The situation above, in which direct experience with a task is limited, is comparable to audit professionals’ lack of direct experience with actual material statement fraud. Given that knowledge is a fundamental contributor to performance, the lack of experiential knowledge may make it difficult for auditors to make high quality judgments in areas where experience is limited. My third study investigates the usefulness of a knowledge tool, consisting of an industry-specific fraud scenario, in improving auditors’ risk assessments and planning judgments related to fraud. The findings of this experiment suggest that auditors who are supplied with a fraud story assess overall engagement and fraud risk more conservatively, in line with experts, relative to the two other competing interventions and control conditions.
The Case for Financial Sector Liberalization in Ethiopia

Volume 1, Making the Rules, covers: trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS); the multilateral agreement on investment (MAI); fast track/trade promotion authority; the 1999 US-China bilateral agreement and the battle for permanent normal trade relations (PNTR); and the US-EU Mutual Recognition Agreements. The dispute settlement cases in Volume 2, Resolving Disputes, include: US-EU trade in hormonetreated beef; the EU banana regime; Kodak v. Fuji; US steel actions; Brazil’s WTO cotton case; and the US-EU GMO dispute on agricultural biotechnology. The material in the two volumes is organized in the form of case studies developed at the Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government (KSG) and used for instructional purposes.
Illnesses and injuries reported by Latino poultry workers in western North Carolina.

BACKGROUND Poultry processing is the largest sector of the meat products industry. Many workers are immigrants; few data exist on their illness and injury rates and the impact of workplace safety environment. METHODS Survey interviews were conducted with a representative sample of 200 Latino poultry workers employed by three different companies in western North Carolina; topics included symptoms, work-related illnesses and injuries, and plant safety climate. RESULTS Most respondents were <35 years of age and had been in the US <10 years. Frequency of self-reported symptoms was high, particularly for musculoskeletal symptoms. Despite symptoms, workers reported not missing work or seeking medical care. Occupational injuries and illnesses and symptoms varied by company. Between-company differences in injury and illness rates were consistent with perceived safety and company provision of personal protective equipment. CONCLUSIONS Symptoms reported exceeded rates reported by other community, clinical, and occupational samples. Findings suggest policy changes and research are needed to reduce the high rates of occupational illnesses and injuries in this vulnerable population.
Berberine suppresses amyloid‐beta‐induced inflammatory response in microglia by inhibiting nuclear factor‐kappaB and mitogen‐activated protein kinase signalling pathways

Objectives The neuroinflammation induced by amyloid‐beta peptide (Aβ) is one of the key events in Alzheimer's disease (AD) progress in which microglia are the main cells involved. Berberine, one of the major constituents of Chinese herb Rhizoma coptidis, is known for its anti‐inflammatory, anti‐oxidative and anti‐microbial activity. In this study, we examined the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of berberine in Aβ‐induced neuroinflammation using murine primary microglia cells and cultured BV2 microglia cells.
Specification of e-Health system using Z: A motivation to formal methods

Formal Method (FM) is an emergent feature that uses mathematical notations to mark accurate and explicit specifications that error and discrepancies are identified during early phases of the software development process. By using the Z specification, system specification, design and verification can improve the quality effectively. In this paper, we present the formal specification for the e-Health system by using Z schema. This paper will be motivation to Formal Methods that FM not only beneficial for mission critical systems but also in the commercial and business oriented applications, because the development time, verification and maintenance cost will drastically reduce.
EVALUATING A HYPOTHESIS ABOUT HETEROCHRONY: LARVAL LIFE‐HISTORY TRAITS AND JUVENILE HIND‐LIMB MORPHOLOGY IN HYLA CRUCIFER

This paper reports the results of an investigation into whether selection on genetically based differences in the timing or rate of development (heterochrony) can give rise to nonadaptive morphological differences among individual frogs. We used a quantitative‐genetics approach to examine the relationships among the life‐history characters time to metamorphosis and larval‐growth rate and a functionally significant morphological features, relative hind‐limb length, in the spring peeper, Hyla crucifer. Time to metamorphosis and growth rate had low heritabilities in our population. Morphological traits had moderate heritabilities. There were positive genetic correlations between the life‐history traits and the components of relative hind‐limb length but no significant correlations with the shape variable itself.
Focused Exposures to Airborne Traffic Particles and Heart Rate Variability in the Elderly

Background: Exposure to airborne particles may increase cardiac risk by altering autonomic balance. Because these risks may be particularly great for traffic-related particles, we examined associations between particles and heart rate variability as 44 subjects participated in 4 repeated trips aboard a diesel bus. Methods: Twenty-four hour electrocardiograms were correlated with continuous particle concentrations using generalized additive models controlling for subject, weekday, time, apparent temperature, trip type, activity, medications, and autoregressive terms. Associations were assessed for short- and medium-term moving averages of measured concentrations. Results: Heart rate variability was negatively associated with fine particulate matter. Positive associations were demonstrated with heart rate and the low-to-high frequency power ratio. Associations were strongest with 24-hour mean concentrations, although strong short-term associations also were found during bus periods, independent of daily exposures. Overall, associations were greatest for high-frequency power with the following effects per interquartile change in the 24-hour mean concentrations: –15% (95% confidence interval = –17% to –14%) for PM2.5 (4.6 &mgr;g/m3); –19% (–21% to –17%) for black carbon (459 ng/m3); and –14% (–15% to –12%) for fine particle counts (39 pt/cm3). For each interquartile change in the 5-minute PM2.5 concentration (10 &mgr;g/m3) aboard the bus, an 11% (95% confidence interval = –14% to –8%) decrease in high-frequency power was observed. Conclusions: This investigation indicates that fine particles are negatively associated with heart rate variability, with an overall trend towards reduced parasympathetic tone. Although daily associations were evident for all particles, short-term associations were predominantly limited to traffic-related particles.