Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Financial Risk Contagion in Stock Markets: Causality and Measurement Aspects

As global financial markets become highly dependent on each other, risk contagion among stock markets is a primary feature of progressing globalization, which poses uncertainties for government agencies. The deficiency of previous studies is that it is difficult to accurately grasp the direction of risk diffusion in different time periods, and to depict the intensity of risk contagion constantly. Research on causality and measurement of financial risk contagion based on nonlinear causality tests and dynamic Copula methods will help governments to allocate financial resources reasonably and effectively, thus promoting the sustainable development of the social economy and financial markets. Taking the Chinese stock market as an example, this paper evaluated the risk contagion effect between the Chinese stock market and six other stock markets including developed and emerging markets from January 2006 to December 2018. From the aspect of causality, the nonlinear Granger causality test was applied to the entire time period and the phased time periods involving specific events like the subprime mortgage crisis and the Chinese stock market crash. From the aspect of measurement, the dynamic Markov state transition Copula model was used to describe the asymmetrically dependent structure of markets, from which was derived the time-varying lower tail dependence coefficients. The results have been summarized as follows. Firstly, after the outbreak of the subprime mortgage crisis, the stock markets in developed and emerging markets unilaterally affected the Chinese stock market, indicating that China was the recipient at this stage. Then, after the outbreak of the Chinese stock market crash, the Chinese stock market had a risk contagion effect on both Japanese and Russian stock markets, indicating that China became a source of financial risk contagion within a limited area at this stage. Lastly, in terms of the degree of risk contagion, the lower tail dependence coefficients of the Chinese stock market and other markets were significantly increased after the occurrence of specific risk events, while the risk contagion degree of developed markets was higher than that of emerging markets. Policymakers can recognize and apply the characteristics of risk contagion at different stages to refrain from unreasonable institutional arrangements, thus improving the sustainability of economic development.
CO2 Laser endoscopic posterior partial transverse cordotomy for bilateral paralysis of the vocal fold

Objective/Hypothesis: A clinical evaluation of CO2 laser endoscopic posterior partial transverse cordotomy (EPPTC) in patients with severely compromised airway due to bilateral paralysis of the vocal fold. Study Design: An inception cohort of 25 patients over a 10‐year period. Methods: The CO2 laser EPPTC was unilateral in 15 patients and bilateral in 10. Variables were tested for potential statistical relation to successful rehabilitation of the airway. Results: The use of the CO2 laser never resulted in adverse side effects. Complications were not encountered. A one‐step, successful restoration of the airway was achieved in 68% (17/25) of patients. In univariate analysis, the CO2 laser EPPTC was statistically more likely to be successful if bilateral EPPTC was performed (P = .018). None of the following variables—age, sex, cause of bilateral paralysis, prior treatment, laser parameters, and duration of postoperative antibiotherapy and oral steroids—was statistically related to a successful restoration of the airway. Revision CO2 laser EPPTC, performed in six patients, resulted in an overall 92% (23/25) rate for a successful restoration of the airway. The overall tracheotomy rate was 8% (2/25). Conclusion: The authors' data confirm the safety, ease of performance, and efficiency of the CO2 laser EPPTC in patients with bilateral vocal fold paralysis. This report also suggests that the completion of bilateral CO2 laser EPPTC statistically increases the likelihood of restoring the airway in a one‐step surgical procedure.
IFN-α Exerts Opposing Effects on Activation-Induced and IL-7–Induced Proliferation of T Cells That May Impair Homeostatic Maintenance of CD4+ T Cell Numbers in Treated HIV Infection

To determine whether IFN-α is a cause of the T cell hyperactivation and IL-7 signaling pathway defects that are observed in some HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy, we have investigated the effect of IFN-α on the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from healthy donors (n = 30) and treated HIV+ donors (n = 20). PBMC were cultured for 7 d with staphylococcal enterotoxin B or IL-7 in the absence or presence of 100 U/ml IFN-α8. Total and naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were assessed for proliferation (via Ki67 expression), CD127 expression, and phosphorylated STAT5 levels using flow cytometry. IFN-α significantly enhanced activation-induced proliferation (via staphylococcal enterotoxin B stimulation) but inhibited homeostatic proliferation (IL-7 induced) of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Both of these effects may adversely affect CD4+ T cell homeostasis in HIV patients. CD127 expression was increased in both healthy and HIV+ donors following culture with IFN-α8, and levels of IL-7–induced phosphorylated STAT5 were increased by IFN-α8 in healthy donors only. Hence, the inhibitory effects of IFN-α on IL-7–induced proliferation of CD4+ T cells are unlikely to be mediated by downregulation of CD127 expression or inhibition of STAT5 phosphorylation. These data suggest that increased IFN-α activity may promote the loss of T cells by accelerating cell turnover and activation-induced cell death while decreasing the renewal of T cells by inhibiting the proliferative effect of IL-7.
Do clinical manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Pakistan correlate with rest of Asia?

OBJECTIVE Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is known to be different among people with different racial, geographical and socio-economic back grounds. Asia has diverse ethnic groups broadly, Orientals in the East and Southeast Asia, Indians in South Asia and Arabs in the Middle East. These regions differ significantly from the Caucasians with reference to SLE. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to delineate the clinical pattern and disease course in Pakistani patients with SLE and compare it with Asian data. METHODS Patients with SLE fulfilling the clinical and laboratory criteria of the American Rheumatism Association admitted at the Aga Khan University Hospital between 1986 and 2001 were studied by means of a retrospective review of their records. The results were compared with various studies in different regions of Asia. RESULTS Demographically, it was seen that SLE is a disease predominantly of females in their third decade, which is generally consistent with Asian data. There was less cutaneous manifestations, arthritis, serositis, haematological and renal involvement compared to various regions in Asia. The neurological manifestations of SLE, however, place Pakistani patients in the middle of a spectrum between South Asians and other Asian races. CONCLUSION This study has shown that the clinical characteristics of SLE patients in our country may be different to those of other Asian races. Although our population is similar to South Asians, but clinical manifestations of our SLE patients are considerably different, suggesting some unknown etiology. Further studies are required to confirm the above results and to find statistically sounder associations.
Mathematical Model of Metabolism and Electrophysiology of Amino Acid and Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion: In Vitro Validation Using a β-Cell Line

We integrated biological experimental data with mathematical modelling to gain insights into the role played by L-alanine in amino acid-stimulated insulin secretion (AASIS) and in D-glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), details important to the understanding of complex β-cell metabolic coupling relationships. We present an ordinary differential equations (ODEs) based simplified kinetic model of core metabolic processes leading to ATP production (glycolysis, TCA cycle, L-alanine-specific reactions, respiratory chain, ATPase and proton leak) and Ca2+ handling (essential channels and pumps in the plasma membrane) in pancreatic β-cells and relate these to insulin secretion. Experimental work was performed using a clonal rat insulin-secreting cell line (BRIN-BD11) to measure the consumption or production of a range of important biochemical parameters (D-glucose, L-alanine, ATP, insulin secretion) and Ca2+ levels. These measurements were then used to validate the theoretical model and fine-tune the parameters. Mathematical modelling was used to predict L-lactate and L-glutamate concentrations following D-glucose and/or L-alanine challenge and Ca2+ levels upon stimulation with a non metabolizable L-alanine analogue. Experimental data and mathematical model simulations combined suggest that L-alanine produces a potent insulinotropic effect via both a stimulatory impact on β-cell metabolism and as a direct result of the membrane depolarization due to Ca2+ influx triggered by L-alanine/Na+ co-transport. Our simulations indicate that both high intracellular ATP and Ca2+ concentrations are required in order to develop full insulin secretory responses. The model confirmed that K+ ATP channel independent mechanisms of stimulation of intracellular Ca2+ levels, via generation of mitochondrial coupling messengers, are essential for promotion of the full and sustained insulin secretion response in β-cells.
Multiproduct Firms and the Business Cycle

Multiproduct firms account for a large fraction of economic activity and are actively engaged in changing their product mix. In this paper, I investigate changes in product scope, the number of products that a firm offers, over the business cycle and decompose the impact of such changes on aggregate output. I use the Nielsen Retail Scanner data of U.S. consumer goods purchases for 2007-2014. I find that firm product scope is an important margin of adjustment. The changes at the new margin are procyclical on average and heterogeneous across firms. Such product scope changes affect aggregate consumption and output by changing the total number of products available in the market and by affecting firms' markups. This decomposition is shown in a model featuring heterogeneous multiproduct firms, oligopolistic competition and free firm entry. Firm and aggregate outcomes vary in different states of economic activity. In a recession state, lower average product scope implies a lower number of product varieties, which disincentivizes consumption. Additionally, since the most productive firms have higher market shares, as the data suggests, they charge higher markups as oligopolistic competitors. The implied average markup goes up and further decreases consumption.
Silent cardiac dysfunction and exercise intolerance in HIV+ men receiving combined antiretroviral therapies

Resting and exercise cardiac function, skeletal muscle oxygenation and whole-body aerobic exercise capacities were evaluated prospectively in cardiac symptom-free HIV+ men receiving antiretroviral therapies and in healthy controls matched for age, physical activity, smoking and body surface area. HIV+ patients showed resting cardiac dysfunction, altered cardiac responses to exercise and depressed exercise tolerance. Exercise stroke volume kinetics and muscle oxygenation were impaired in HIV+ patients, especially in those with resting diastolic dysfunction.
Splenic blood flow and fluid efflux from the intravascular space in the rat.

1. Previous evidence has suggested that fluid is extracted from the blood during its passage through the splenic circulation. In order to further investigate this phenomenon, flow probes were placed around the splenic artery and vein of rats. Splenic blood flow and mean arterial blood pressure were measured immediately after surgery, while the rats were still anaesthetized. Five days later, the measurements were repeated first in conscious rats, and then after administering sodium pentobarbitone. Final measurements were made in the conscious animals at day 10 post surgery. 2. Splenic arterial blood flow was lowest at the time of surgery. It had doubled by day 5, and remained stable thereafter at about 8 ml min‐1. Splenic venous blood flow also increased after surgery, but less so than the arterial flow, so that the arteriovenous difference had increased to 2.0 +/‐ 0.4 ml min‐1 by day 5. 3. In response to sodium pentobarbitone (20 mg I.V.), there was a transient fall in splenic arterial blood flow from 6.7 +/‐ 0.9 to 4.9 +/‐ 0.7 ml min‐1. There was no significant change in the arteriovenous difference of blood flow. 4. In conclusion, we have shown that splenic blood flow is considerably higher than previously reported. We have also revealed a significant new path for fluid efflux from the intravascular space; at least 25% of fluid volume flowing into the splen is removed from the circulating blood. 5. Although anaesthesia modulates splenic blood flow, the changes are not as pronounced as those observed in the acute surgically prepared animal.
The impact of 4‐chloro‐m‐cresol in heparin formulas on malignant hyperthermia: in vitro and in vivo

Background: The preservative 4‐chloro‐m‐cresol (4CmC) is a specific activator of sarcoplasmic Ca2+ release and induces contractures in skeletal muscles of malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) patients in vitro. Clinical formulas of heparin contain 4CmC. We studied whether (a) these heparin formulas induce contractures in isolated MHS and normal (MHN) human skeletal muscles and whether (b) significant serum levels of 4CmC are reached after heparinization in cardiopulmonary bypass patients.
Anatomical consideration of pterion and its related references in Thai dry skulls for pterional surgical approach.

OBJECTIVE Pterion is a crucial surgical landmark for surgical approaches to the middle meningeal artery particular lesions, and tumors in the brain. The present study aimed to analyze the types of the pterion and its location related with nearby landmarks in dry skulls. In addition, variations of pterion in sex, age, and skull side were compared. MATERIAL AND METHOD Bilateral sides of 268 adult human Thai dry skulls were investigated Pterion types were classified as sphenoparietal, frontotemporal, epipteric, or stellate. To localize the pterion, linear distances were measured from the center of the pterion to neighboring landmarks. RESULTS The results showed the two most common types of the pterion, the sphenoparietal (81.2%), and the epiteric (17.4%). Externally, the pterion was commonly located 38.48 +/- 4.38 mm superior to the zygomatic arch and 31.12 +/- 4.89 mm posterior to the frontozygomatic suture. Internally, it was located 38.94 +/- 3.76 mm lateral to the optic canal and 11.70 +/- 4.83 mm from the sphenoid ridge. Sex influenced the occurrence of thepterion type, while sex, skull side, and age affected its location. Mean skull thickness at the pterion was 5.13 +/- 1.67 mm. CONCLUSION The pterion is predominantly sphenoparietal type and is typically located 39 mm superior to the zygomatic arch, 31 mm posterior to the frontozygomatic suture, 39 mm lateral to the optic canal and 12 mm from the sphenoid ridge. The data obtainedfrom the present study should be clinically useful for localizing the position of pterion.
Cesarean delivery in relation to birth weight and gestational glucose tolerance: pathophysiology or practice style? Toronto Trihospital Gestational Diabetes Investigators.

OBJECTIVES To examine the relationship between birth weight and mode of delivery among women with untreated borderline gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), treated overt GDM, and normoglycemia. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Three Toronto, Ontario teaching hospitals. PATIENTS A total of 3778 volunteers aged 24 years or older. INTERVENTIONS Subjects underwent a 3-hour long, 100-g oral glucose tolerance test at 28 weeks' gestation, regardless of screening test results. Usual care was provided to 143 women who met the National Diabetes Data Group criteria for GDM. Physicians were blinded to glucose tolerance test results for all others, including 115 untreated women with borderline GDM by the broader criteria of Carpenter and Coustan. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Crude and adjusted rates of cesarean delivery and neonatal macrosomia (birth weight >4000 g). RESULTS Compared with normoglycemic controls, the untreated borderline GDM group had increased rates of macrosomia (28.7% vs 13.7%, P<.001) and cesarean delivery (29.6% vs 20.2%, P=.02). Cesarean delivery in this subgroup was associated with macrosomia (45.5% vs 23.5%, P=.03). Usual care of known GDM normalized birth weights, but the cesarean delivery rate was about 33% whether macrosomia was present or absent. A clearly increased risk of cesarean delivery among treated patients compared with normoglycemic controls persisted after adjustment for multiple maternal risk factors (adjusted odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 3.6). CONCLUSIONS Infant macrosomia was a mediating factor in high cesarean delivery rates for women with untreated borderline GDM. While detection and treatment of GDM normalized birth weights, rates of cesarean delivery remained inexplicably high. Recognition of GDM may lead to a lower threshold for surgical delivery that mitigates the potential benefits of treatment.
Antipanic Drug Modulation Of 35% CO2 Hyperreactivity and Short-Term Treatment Outcome

Carbon dioxide (CO2) inhalation induces acute anxiety and panic attacks in patients with Panic Disorder (PD). Anti-panic drugs decrease CO2 reactivity after the first days of treatment; however, the clinical meaning of this finding has not yet been established. This study investigated the effects of treatment with tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on CO2 reactivity and compared the relationships between 35% CO2 hyperreactivity modulation and short-term clinical outcome. One hundred twenty-three patients with PD with or without agoraphobia who were hyperreactive to CO2 were randomly assigned to treatment groups with imipramine, clomipramine, paroxetine, sertraline, or fluvoxamine. A double-blind, randomized design was applied. Each patient received the 35% CO2 challenge on days 0, 7, and 30. The severity of clinical symptomatology was measured on days 0 and 30. Decreased hyperreactivity to 35% CO2 in all five treatment groups was already evident after the first week. The decrease in CO2 reactivity at the end of treatment was proportional to the degree of clinical improvement. Multiple regression analyses showed that the decrease in CO2 reactivity after the first week was a significant predictor for good clinical outcome after one month. The results of this study confirm evidence that psychoactive drugs effective in the treatment of PD decrease CO2 hyperreactivity. They also suggest that precocious modulation of CO2 reactivity might fairly reliably predict short-term clinical outcome in patients with “respiratory” PD.
Performance Evaluation of Selected Private Commercial Banks in Bangladesh

In a developing country like Bangladesh the banking system as a whole play a vital role in the progress of economic development. In this paper we have tried to analyze the development and growth of Selected Private Commercial Banks of Bangladesh. It is observed that all the selected private commercial banks are able to achieve a stable growth of branches, employees, deposits, loans and advances, net income, earnings per share during the period of 2002-2006. Seven trend equations have been tested for different activities of the private commercial banks. Among them the trend value of branches, employees, deposits and net income are positive incase of all the selected banks. Square of correlation coefficient (r2) has also been tested for all trend equations. The r2 of branches, deposits and net income is more than 0.5. It indicates the prospect of private commercial banks in Bangladesh is very bright.
The performance of equity unit investment trusts

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the risk adjusted performance of unit investment trusts (UITs). These UITs are a unique investment vehicle in that the trusts invest in a fixed portfolio of stocks for a predetermined period of time and hold limited cash positions. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 1,487 UITs from January 2004 to December 2013, the authors estimate the risk adjusted performance of the UITs. The authors use daily return data and four different returns based models to measure the alphas of the UITs. Findings The authors find that before fees and expenses the UITs generate significant negative alphas. The authors also find that observable trust characteristics are unable to explain the poor risk adjusted performance of the trusts. Originality/value Despite $85bn being invested in these unique buy and hold vehicles, the academic literature has not examined the risk adjusted performance of the trusts. The poor performance of these trusts indicates that restricting flexibility and maintaining full investment for a fixed period of time may not be beneficial to investors.
Clusters of water governance problems and their effects on policy delivery

ABSTRACT Public policy problems are increasingly being characterised as wicked or tame problems, assuming that this classification is also meaningful for attempts to effective problem-solving. But do distinct ‘wicked’ or ‘tame’ problems empirically exist? We investigate 37 water-related problems in Germany, based on interview-based data on problem wickedness and official data on policy delivery. Our analysis clearly reveals four clusters of water governance problems (system complexity, uncertainty, tame and wicked problems), based on variations of three factors of wickedness (goals, uncertainty and system complexity). These clusters of problems vary in their effects on different dimensions of policy delivery (goal formulation, stages and degrees of implementation of measures), with significant effects on goal formulation and the number of measures ‘in construction’. These empirical insights may contribute to a more systematic design of governance strategies for addressing water governance problems in practice.
Quality-of-Life Measurement in Surgical Randomized Controlled Trials

Quality-of-life measurement in controlled clinical trials assessing medical treatment has increased drammatically over the past decades. Although the experience with quality-of-life measurement in surgical clinical trials has been more recent, it has demonstrated the important role of these measures in determining the best treatment options as well as in clinical decisions. Two types of instruments are available to measure quality of life: generic instruments, and specific instruments. Both follow a rigorous scientific methodology that includes both a development and a validation phase. In the validation phase, instruments are assessed for their reproducibility, responsiveness, and validity. Ad hoc instruments, on the other hand, follow no such methodology and results can be open to interpretation. This review demonstrates that quality-of-life measurement in surgical clinical trials is both possible and clinically important. More study investigators will consider measuring quality of life using well-validated instruments when designing future surgical randomized controlled trials.