Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of electrophysiologic testing with Holter monitoring to predict antiarrhythmic-drug efficacy for ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Electrophysiologic Study versus Electrocardiographic Monitoring Investigators.

BACKGROUND Invasive electrophysiologic study and noninvasive Holter monitoring (in conjunction with exercise testing) have both been used to evaluate the efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia and in survivors of cardiac arrest. We directly compared these two approaches to the prediction of drug efficacy. METHODS A total of 486 patients who had documented ventricular tachyarrhythmias that were inducible during electrophysiologic study and 10 or more premature ventricular complexes per hour during Holter monitoring were randomly assigned to undergo serial testing of antiarrhythmic-drug efficacy by electrophysiologic study or Holter monitoring. The patients received up to six drugs in random order until one was predicted to be effective either in suppressing inducible arrhythmia (in the electrophysiologic-study group) or in suppressing premature ventricular complexes (in the Holter-monitoring group). The patients were then followed for recurrences of arrhythmia or death. RESULTS In the electrophysiologic-study group, 108 of 242 patients (45 percent) received a prediction of efficacy, as compared with 188 of 244 patients (77 percent) in the Holter-monitoring group (P < 0.001). Over a six-year follow-up period, there were 150 recurrences of arrhythmia and 46 deaths among the 296 patients receiving drugs predicted to be effective. Thirty-four of the deaths were from arrhythmic causes, and eight were from cardiac causes. There was no significant difference between the two study groups in the actuarial probabilities of these events. The risk of a recurrence of arrhythmia was significantly lower in patients who received sotalol than in those who received other antiarrhythmic drugs, and the risk was lower in those who had not previously failed to respond to antiarrhythmic drugs than in those who had. CONCLUSIONS Although Holter monitoring led to predictions of antiarrhythmic-drug efficacy more often than did electrophysiologic study in patients with sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias, there was no significant difference in the success of drug therapy as selected by the two methods.
A comparison of dexmedetomidine and propofol in Patients undergoing electrophysiology study.

BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine provides profound levels of sedation without affecting cardiovascular and respiratory stability based on its pharmacological profile. It may be a valuable sedative for procedures with minimal to mild pain. Electrophysiology study (EP study) is a mildly painful procedure that requires conscious sedation. The authors hypothesized that dexmedetomidine would cause lower respiratory and cardiovascular depression than propofol during equal sedation level in an electrophysiology study. MATERIAL AND METHOD The present study protocol was approved by the clinical research ethics committee at Ramathibodi Hospital. Thirty-four patients were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either dexmedetomidine or propofol for an electrophysiology study. Patients in the dexmedetomidine group received a loading dose of dexmedetomidine (0.5 mcg/kg) infused over 10 minutes followed by 0.4 mcg/kg/h. Each patient in the propofol group received propofol 1 mg/kg over 10 minutes followed by 3 mg/kg/h. All patients received pethidine (0.5 mg/kg) before the initiation of EP study. Sedation was determined using the Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S). The Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scores, hemodynamic and respiratory variables were recorded regularly during the EP study. RESULTS Thirty-four patients were enrolled in the present study. The Modified Observer's Assessment Alertness/Sedation values were similar in both groups. Respiratory rate values with dexmedetomidine were significantly higher than those in the propofol group (p = 0.048) and the oxygen supplement in the dexmedetomidine group were significantly lower than those in the propofol group (p < 0.001). Moreover mean arterial blood pressure values of dexmedetomidine at the five and 15-minute were significantly higher than those of the propofol group (p = 0.024). No incidence of severe bradycardia or hypotension was found in both groups. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that comparable sedation could be achieved by a combination of pethidine with either dexmedetomidine or propofol during EP study. Dexmedetomidine group provided more hemodynamic and respiratory stability than propofol group.
The Effects of Firm-Initiated Clawback Provisions on Earnings Quality and Auditor Behavior

While firm-initiated compensation recovery (or clawback) provisions are gaining popularity and the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Act seeks to make the clawback of erroneously awarded compensation mandatory for all listed companies, little is known about their effectiveness. We find that the incidence of accounting restatements declines after firms initiate such provisions. In addition, we show that investors and auditors view such provisions as associated with increased accounting quality and lower audit risk. Specifically, we find that firms' earnings response coefficients increase after the adoption of clawback provisions. Further, for firms that adopt clawbacks, auditors are less likely to report material internal control weaknesses, charge lower audit fees, and issue audit reports with a shorter lag.
Stale in the Saddle: CEO Tenure and the Match Between Organization and Environment

It has often been argued that an organization's strategy and structure must be tailored or matched to the challenges posed by its environment. Our research shows that this match is less likely to be achieved by long-tenured CEO's than by their counterparts with less tenure. It also suggests that the failure to match strategy and environment hurts financial performance. More specifically, CEO tenure related inversely to the prescribed match between organization and environment, especially in uncertain settings and where ownership was concentrated. The match between environment and strategy was in turn positively related to financial performance.
Event Study Concerning International Bond Price Effects of Credit Rating Actions

The influence of credit ratings on eurobond prices has been neglected for a long time. It is questionable whether non-US investors relate their investment decisions on US ratings and whether ratings from US agencies are relevant information sources for international capital markets. This paper examines daily excess eurobond returns associated with announcements of watchlistings and rating changes by Standard & Poor's and Moody's. Significant bond price reactions are observed for announcements of downgradings and negative watchlistings while upgradings and positive watchlistings do not cause announcement effects. Distinct from the results on national capital markets the international evidence shows that besides actual yield level and issuer type the issuer nationality is a key factor that determines the intensity of price reactions after downgrades. The price reaction is also significantly stronger for downgrades into speculative grade. This indicates, that the announcement effects can in part be explained by price pressure effects due to regulatory constraints rather than original information content of rating changes. Copyright @ 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. All rights reserved.
The effect of colesevelam hydrochloride on insulin sensitivity and secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND This study evaluated the effect of colesevelam hydrochloride on insulin sensitivity, potential binding to glucose, and chronic effect(s) on fasting and postprandial glucose and insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS Patients meeting inclusion criteria were withdrawn from all antidiabetes agents for 2 weeks and randomized to colesevelam 3.75 grams/day (n = 17) or placebo (n = 18) for 8 weeks. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies were performed at baseline (week -1) and weeks 2 and 8. A meal tolerance test was conducted at weeks -1, 0, 2, and 8. The meal tolerance test and study drug were coadministered at week 0 to assess the direct effect of colesevelam on glucose absorption. RESULTS Insulin sensitivity as measured by the insulin clamp method did not change, but the Matsuda Index, a measure of whole-body insulin sensitivity calculated from postmeal tolerance test glucose and insulin levels, increased significantly within the colesevelam group from baseline to week 8 with last observation carried forward (P = 0.020). The postprandial area under the curve for glucose decreased with colesevelam versus placebo at weeks 2 and 8 with last observation carried forward (P = 0.012 and P = 0.061, respectively); the area under the curve for insulin did not decrease in concert with the decrease in area under the curve for glucose at week 2 (P = 0.585). Colesevelam had no effect on postmeal tolerance test glucose levels at week 0. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that colesevelam has no effect on peripheral insulin sensitivity or glucose absorption, but may improve glucose control by improving whole-body insulin sensitivity, although not by an acute effect on glucose absorption. CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFIER: NCT00361153.
Impact of FDG-PET-Induced Treatment Choices on Long-Term Outcome in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background: The TNM staging reflects the anatomic extent of lung cancer and estimates the survival expectation. Addition of FDG-PET to conventional staging (CS) improves accuracy, but few data have described the impact of this on long-term survival in relation to treatment. Objectives: To study the influence of FDG-PET on long-term outcome. Methods: Long-term outcome data of patients were retrieved out of previously published PET studies of the Leuven Lung Cancer Group. All patients had a potential for radical treatment, and at least 5-year follow-up data. Patients were dichotomized in early (I–IIIA) versus late (IIIB–IV) stages. Results: A first analysis – comparison of the 2 staging algorithms, CS alone versus CS+PET – confirmed the better staging capabilities of the latter. A second analysis, focusing on discordant findings and interaction of both staging algorithms, demonstrated that patients with early stage on PET did well, while those with late stage on PET did poorly, irrespective of findings on CS. The third analysis focused on the relation between treatment choices at the multidisciplinary board and outcome, which is especially relevant in patients with discordant finding on CS and CS+PET. From all radically treated patients, only those with early stage on CS+PET had a good outcome, but not those with early stage on CS and an unexplained late stage finding on PET. Conclusion: This long-term follow-up analysis confirms that addition of PET to CS results in better stage designation and prognosis. Additionally, discordant findings between CS and CS+PET should be considered relevant, with need for cytological/histological examination.
GH deficiency in patients irradiated for acromegaly: significance of GH stimulatory tests in relation to the 24 h GH secretion.

BACKGROUND Radiotherapy for pituitary adenomas frequently leads to GH deficiency (GHD). The characteristics of GH secretion in GHD induced by postoperative radiotherapy for acromegaly are not known. HYPOTHESIS In the long term, stimulated and spontaneous GH release is not different between patients with GHD treated by postoperative radiotherapy for acromegaly or for other pituitary adenomas. DESIGN/SUBJECTS We compared the characteristics of basal and stimulated GH secretion in patients with GHD, who had previously received adjunct radiotherapy after surgery for GH-producing adenomas (n=10) vs for other pituitary adenomas (n=10). All patients had a maximal GH concentration by insulin tolerance test (ITT) of 3 microg/l or less, compatible with severe GHD. Mean time after radiation was 17 and 18.7 years, respectively. Stimulated GH release was also evaluated by infusion of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), GHRH-arginine and arginine, and spontaneous GH by 10 min blood sampling for 24 h. Pulse analyses were performed by Cluster and approximate entropy. OUTCOMES There were no differences between both patient groups in stimulated GH concentrations in any test. Spontaneous GH secretion was not different between both patient groups, including basal GH release, pulsatility and regularity. Pulsatile secretion was lost in two acromegalic and three non-acromegalic patients. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was below -2 s.d. score in nine patients in each group. CONCLUSION Acromegalic patients treated by surgery and postoperative radiotherapy with an impaired response to the ITT do not differ, in the long term, in GH secretory characteristics from patients treated similarly for other pituitary tumors with an impaired response to the ITT. The ITT (or the GHRH-arginine test) is therefore reliable in establishing the diagnosis of GHD in patients treated for acromegaly by surgery and radiotherapy.
The Decline of Inflation and the Bull Market of 1982–1999

Abstract If stocks were severely undervalued in the late 1970s and early 1980s, then the bull market starting in 1982 was partly just a correction to more normal valuation levels. This paper tests the hypothesis that investors suffer from inflation illusion, resulting in the undervaluation of equities in the presence of inflation, with levered firms being undervalued the most. Using firm level data and a residual income/EVA model, we find evidence that errors in the valuation of levered firms during inflationary times result in depressed stock prices. Our misvaluation measure can be used with expected inflation to make statistically reliable predictions for real returns on the Dow during the subsequent year. Our model suggests that stocks were overvalued at the end of the 1990s.
Comparison of Effectiveness of Different Learning Technologies

E-learning has become one of the powerful supporting tools that expand traditional teaching in higher education. Designers of learning objects (LOs) for blended learning higher education face number of challenges; one of them is choosing the right technology to develop learning objects. This study adopts the Bloom-Redeker-Guerra (B-R-G) mapping model which guides designers to transform the contents and objectives of a traditional course into a number of suggested LOs for a blended course. The study attempts to empirically validate the first dimension of its evaluation scale which measures the effectiveness of learning objects that targets achieving lower order thinking skills (i.e. Knowledge and Comprehension) according to Bloom's Taxonomy. This paper presents the results of the empirical study that validates the students' learning achievement and students' perceived satisfaction differ for receptive learning objects that have been developed with different learning technologies. The empirical study has been implemented using pretest-posttest experiments, in addition to a questionnaire that measures students' satisfaction. Participants were about 100 Information Technology (IT) students enrolled in different courses. Results show that students' learning achievement and students' perceived satisfaction improve with learning objects designed with advanced learning technologies (according to Guerra scale), hence better achieve the targeted learning objectives.
The concept of housing affordability: Six contemporary uses of the housing expenditure‐to‐income ratio

Abstract In recent years ‘housing affordability’ has become a commonly used term for summarising the nature of the housing difficulty in many nations. But what is the ‘housing affordability’ problem? This paper questions ‘affordability’ as a concept for analysing housing problems and as a definition of housing need. With a focus on the North American usage, this paper identifies six distinct ways in which the housing expenditure‐to‐income ratio is being used as an assumed measure of affordability: (1) description of household expenditures; (2) analysis of trends; (3) administration of public housing by defining eligibility criteria and subsidy levels; (4) definition of housing need for public policy purposes; (5) prediction of the ability of a household to pay the rent or the mortgage; and (6) as part of the selection criteria in the decision to rent or provide a mortgage. Each of the six uses is assessed based on the extent to which it is a valid and reliable measure of what it purports to measure.
Functional MRI neuroanatomic correlates of the Hooper Visual Organization Test

The Hooper Visual Organization Test (VOT), a commonly applied neuropsychological test of visual spatial ability, is used for assessing patients with suspected right hemisphere, or parietal lobe involvement. A controversy has developed over whether the inferences of this test metric can be assumed to involve global, lateralized, or regional functionality. In this study, the characteristic visual organization and object naming aspects of the VOT task presentation were adapted to a functional MR imaging (fMRI) paradigm to probe the neuroanatomic correlates of this neuropsychological test. Whole brain fMRI mapping results are reported on a cohort of normal subjects. Bilateral fMRI responses were found predominantly in the posterior brain, in regions of superior parietal lobules, ventral temporal-occipital cortex, and posterior visual association areas, and to a lesser extent, the frontal eye fields bilaterally, and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The results indicate a general brain region or network in which VOT impairment, due to its visuospatial and object identification demands, is possible to be detected. Discussion is made of interpretive limitations when adapting neuropsychological tests to fMRI analysis. (JINS, 2004, 10, 939–947.)
Bosco: Boosting Corrections for Genome-Wide Association Studies With Imbalanced Samples

In genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the acquired sequential data may exhibit imbalance structure: abundant control vs. limited case samples. Such sample imbalance issue is particularly serious when investigating rare diseases or common diseases on rare populations. Conventional GWAS methods may suffer from severe statistic biases to the major group, leading to power losses in uncovering true suspicious loci. We introduce a boosting correction method termed as Bosco to deal with such imbalanced problem. Bosco is motivated by the boost learning theory in machine learning and is implemented in a coarse-to-fine learning framework: the coarse step assigns importance scores for all samples in the major group and the fine step calculates ${P}$ -values by a weighted logistic regression. On simulated data sets, we demonstrate the proposed methods can dramatically improve the discovery power even on extremely imbalanced datasets, with well controlling the false positives. The Bosco is also applied to a genome-scale gastric cancer data set to conduct genome-wide analysis. Our method replicates existing reported findings (from the likelihood ratio test) with high statistical significance and shows the ability to identify new suspicious SNPs.
Investigating the Role of Trust and Gender in Online Tourism Shopping in South Korea

This study identifies factors that affect trust in online tourism shopping, including transaction security, navigation functionality, and cost-effectiveness. It examines the effects of these factors on trust and the relationship between this trust and repurchasing intentions. Furthermore, this study investigates the moderating effect of gender in the context of the aforementioned constructs in a proposed research model. To this end, an online survey of Internet users who had shopped online for a tourism-related product or service within the past year was conducted. The results of this study indicate that transaction security, navigation functionality, and cost-effectiveness affect trust, which in turn influences repurchasing intentions. Gender was observed to have a significant moderating effect in that the thought processes of males strongly affected the influence of cost-effectiveness on trust and the impact of trust on repurchase intention in comparison with females. The thought processes of female online shoppers had a stronger impact on navigation functionality in comparison with those of the males. The results of this study may aid in the development of trust prediction methodologies and repurchasing intention of the tested constructs by directing the design of websites that effectively appeal to different genders.
Data Loss from Pretest to Posttest as a Sample Selection Problem

When estimating regression models of educational achievement with pre- and posttest data, researchers have overlooked a sample selection bias that may occur even where initial assignment to the control and experimental groups is random. The bias arises because students who take the pretest but do not take the posttest are excluded from the regression analysis. Using data from a nationally normed test of high school student knowledge of economics, adjustment for this bias is shown to influence the estimated effectiveness of programs aimed at increasing student learning of economics. Copyright 1990 by MIT Press.
Partial Replacement of Protective Tariffs by Production Subsidies and Welfare

type="main" xml:id="ecor12192-abs-0001"> Using a two-country framework, this paper examines the welfare effect of partially replacing a tariff with a production subsidy. It considers some plausible situations for industry protection, including where the initial tariff is higher than the optimal tariff, where a certain output of the protected commodity must be maintained, and where domestic production of the sector yields some externalities. In these cases it is shown that the partial replacement benefits the country. Properties of the optimal replacement are also explored.