Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rethinking the Creative City

This article engages with the current research and debate about the creative city and the importance of cultural infrastructure in contemporary cities. It argues that much of the focus has been around the investment of cities in specific regeneration projects or flagship developments rather than addressing the nature of the infrastructure, networks and agents engaging in the city’s cultural development. The complexity theory and its associated principles can provide a new understanding of the connection between the urban space and the systems of local cultural production and consumption. Drawing on interviews with creative practitioners in the North East region of England, the paper argues that the cultural development of a city is a complex adaptive system. This finding has implications for both policy-makers and academic research. It emphasises the importance of micro interactions and networks between creative practitioners, the publicly supported cultural sector and the cultural infrastructure of the city.
Low expression of microRNA-21 contributes to LPS-induced osteoblast cell apoptosis through up-regulation of OAS1.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a critical component of the outer membrane of Gram—negative bacteria. Many cellular signals that are activated by Gram—negative bacteria are initiated by LPS. LPS triggers not only inflammatory responses, but also activates pro—apoptotic signals in a series of human cell types. However, there is relatively minimal data on the microRNA—dependent mechanism(s) of LPS—induced functional activity in osteoblast cells. CCK—8 assay and flow cytometry were used to measure cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. RT—PCR and western blot were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression in osteoblast cells. In this study, we found that LPS triggered apoptosis in osteoblastic hFOB1.19 cells and induced a low expression of the miRNA—21. Furthermore, through the gene microarray technique, OAS1 was screened and later confirmed to be the target gene which was up—regulated in response to the low expression of miRNA—21. Knockdown of OAS1 by specific siRNAs significantly rescued the LPS—induced hFOB1.19 cell apoptosis. Our data suggest that LPS induces low expression of miRNA—21which consequently causes the up—regulation of the downstream gene OAS1 and eventually triggers apoptosis in hFOB1.19 cells. Knockdown of OAS1 rescues LPS—induced cell death and thus may be a promising therapeutic strategy for orthopedic diseases.
Alar Contour Grafts in Rhinoplasty: A Safe and Reproducible Way to Refine Alar Contour Aesthetics

Background: Alar rim deformities such as retraction, notching, collapse, and asymmetry are common problems in rhinoplasty patients. Although alar rim deformities may be improved through rhinoplasty, this area is prone to late changes because of scarring of the soft triangles and a paucity of native structural support. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of alar contour grafts on primary rhinoplasty. Methods: Fifty consecutive primary rhinoplasty patients with preoperative and postoperative photographs who received alar contour grafts were evaluated for alar aesthetics; 50 consecutive primary rhinoplasty patients without such grafts served as controls. Differences among alar retraction, notching, collapse, and asymmetry from anterior, lateral, and basal views were evaluated. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 4 years and was graded on a four-point scale. Results: The average difference between the two groups’ aggregate preoperative scores was 0.21 (p = 0.24). The average preoperative and postoperative scores in the nongraft group were significant for worsening retraction, notching, and collapse but insignificant for asymmetry. The preoperative and postoperative scores for the graft group were insignificant for retraction but improved significantly for notching, collapse, and asymmetry. Postoperatively, the aggregate average of the scores in the nongroup was 0.32 points worse (p < 0.01), whereas the graft group had a 0.33-point improvement (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Alar contour grafts have a clear and important impact on cosmetic results of primary rhinoplasty. Use of alar contour grafts has been shown to improve aesthetics, whereas there is a worsening of the measured parameters postoperatively without use of these grafts. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.
Predicting the Response of Advanced Cervical and Ovarian Tumors to Therapy

The management of advanced cervical and ovarian cancers remains a significant challenge as many women fail to respond to recommended therapy, resulting in disease progression and ultimately patient death. Because of tumor heterogeneity, it is rare for all cancers of a particular type to respond to a specific therapy; and, as a result, many patients receive treatment from which they derive little or no benefit, leading to increased morbidity and undue costs. A marker that could rapidly predict or forecast disease outcome would clearly be beneficial in allowing the administration of a tailored regime for each patient while reducing toxicity and cost. Traditional prognostic factors of tumor size, grade, and stage are not ideal for predicting patient outcome, whereas the use of in vitro assays to detect chemosensitivity or resistance has not yet translated into routine clinical practice. Similarly, biomarkers and tumor markers vary in their predictive ability. DNA array technology offers great promise in predicting the response to therapy based on gene expression profiles, and can allow for targeted therapies against specific molecular alterations that cause disease. Imaging techniques, particularly those with the ability to characterize biological tissues and provide functional, structural, and molecular information, have the potential to noninvasively integrate physical and metabolic information. These include F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging, all techniques that attempt to evaluate and predict therapy response and so influence clinical outcome. This review examines different methods of predicting the response to treatment in advanced cervical and ovarian tumors. Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Learning Objectives: After completion of this article, the reader should be able to describe why prediction of response to therapy for cervical and ovarian cancers is important, describe obstacles to use of in vitro assays to predict outcomes for therapy for ovarian and cervical cancers, and explain potentially new predictive markers.
Accounting for derivatives: An evaluation of reporting practice by UK banks

In 1998 the Accounting Standards Board (ASB) published FRS 13, ‘Derivatives and other Financial Instruments: Disclosures’. This laid down the requirements for disclosures of an entity's policies, objectives and strategies in using financial instruments, their impact on its risk, performance and financial condition, and details of how risks are managed. FRS 13 became effective in March 1999, and this paper uses the 1999 annual reports of UK banks to evaluate the usefulness of disclosures from a user's perspective. Usefulness is measured in terms of the criteria of materiality, relevance, reliability, comparability and understandability as defined in the ASB's Statement of Principles (ASB, 1999). Our findings suggest that the narrative disclosures are generic in nature, the numerical data incomplete and not always comparable, and that it is difficult for the user to combine both narrative and numerical information in order to assess the banks' risk profile. Our overall conclusion is therefore that current UK financial reporting practices are of limited help to users wishing to assess the scale of an institution's financial risk exposure.
The effect of tariff reductions on firm size and firm turnover in canadian manufacturing

Using panel data on 81 Canadian manufacturing industries over the 1983–1996 period, the authors show that the estimated impact of recent tariff cuts was a positive and significant increase in the exit rate of firms. Supplementing this finding with recent research showing, that exiting firms tend to be less productive than those that survive, this provides support for recent trade models asserting that increased exposure to international trade induces the exit of least efficient firms, thereby contributing to productivity growth. JEL no. F1, L6
Laparoscopic Versus Open Subtotal Gastrectomy for Distal Gastric Cancer: Five-Year Results of a Randomized Prospective Trial

Objective:The aim of this study was to compare technical feasibility and both early and 5-year clinical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted and open radical subtotal gastrectomy for distal gastric cancer. Summary Background Data:The role of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of gastric cancer has not yet been defined, and many doubts remain about the ability to satisfy all the oncologic criteria met during conventional, open surgery. Methods:This study was designed as a prospective, randomized clinical trial with a total of 59 patients. Twenty-nine (49.1%) patients were randomized to undergo open subtotal gastrectomy (OG), while 30 (50.9%) patients were randomized to the laparoscopic group (LG). Demographics, ASA status, pTNM stage, histologic type of the tumor, number of resected lymph nodes, postoperative complications, and 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were studied to assess outcome differences between the groups. Results:The demographics, preoperative data, and characteristics of the tumor were similar. The mean number of resected lymph nodes was 33.4 ± 17.4 in the OG group and 30.0 ± 14.9 in the LG (P = not significant). Operative mortality rates were 6.7% (2 patients) in the OG and 3.3% (1 patient) in the LG (P = not significant); morbidity rates were 27.6% and 26.7%, respectively (P = not significant). Five-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 55.7% and 54.8% and 58.9% and 57.3% in the OG and the LG, respectively (P = not significant). Conclusions:Laparoscopic radical subtotal gastrectomy for distal gastric cancer is a feasible and safe oncologic procedure with short- and long-term results similar to those obtained with an open approach. Additional benefits for the LG were reduced blood loss, shorter time to resumption of oral intake, and earlier discharge from hospital.
Rao-blackwellised particle filter for battery state-of-charge and parameters estimation

State-of-charge and parameters online estimation is one of the key features of battery management systems for hybrid-electric vehicles applications. Using model-based approaches, simultaneous sequential Bayesian estimation of battery state and parameters has been shown to be a very powerful tool for the tracking, even in the presence of non-perfectly known models. Monte Carlo implementations are very suited to strongly nonlinear and unreliable dynamics, such those of batteries. In this framework, current paper proposes the use of a Rao-Blackwellized Particle Filter (RBPF) for the joint estimation of battery state and parameters. The results are compared with the existing approaches, highlighting the appealing features of RBPF, both in terms of performances and robustness.
An Empirical Analysis of the Effect of Financial Distress on Trade Credit

This paper studies the use of supplier's trade credit by firms in financial distress. Trade credit represents a large portion of firms’ short-term financing and plays an important role in financial distress. We find that firms in financial distress use a significantly larger amount of trade credit to substitute for alternative sources of financing. Firms that are smaller, with less market power, and with more unique products tend to use more trade credit financing when in distress. We also find that firms that significantly increase their trade payables when in financial distress, experience an additional drop of at least 11% in sales and profitability growth over the previously documented 21% average drop for financially troubled firms.
Examining changes in fresh fruit and vegetable consumption over time and across regions in urban China

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to fill a knowledge gap by examining the changes in fruit and vegetable consumption of Chinese households. Design/methodology/approach - Using 1993 and 2001 household survey data from three selected provinces in China, the authors estimated a quantile regression (QR) model to demonstrate how changes of fresh fruit and vegetable consumption over time may differ across regions, and additionally, how these changes may differ over the entire distribution. Findings - Results show significant increases in fresh fruit consumption for all provinces; in addition, the pattern of changes over time differs across the entire distribution. In contrast, significant decreases of fresh vegetable consumption are evident, and results are robust across regions; however, the disparities of fresh vegetable consumption across regions are not significant. Research limitations/implications - The results may shed some light on the national food policy. First, any food policy that may affect prices of fresh fruits and vegetables will likely affect households in lower percentiles more than those in upper percentiles. In addition, based on the findings, households in Guangdong may have a higher risk of inadequate fruit consumption. Lower level consumption of fruits in Guangdong may be caused by its relatively high prices of fruits and perhaps the shifting consumption pattern to a more meat-based diet as income increases. Originality/value - There has been considerable interest in estimating food demand structure in China due to its huge market for food products. However, little is known about the fruits and vegetables products. In addition, most of the previous studies used the linear regression-type model for analysis, which fails to capture the effects of the exogenous factors on the entire distribution. To fill the knowledge gap, this paper uses a QR model with the different-in-difference method to examine the changes in fruit and vegetable consumption of Chinese households.
Frequency and Reasons for Return to Acute Care in Patients with Leukemia Undergoing Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Preliminary Report

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the frequency and reasons for return to the primary acute care service among patients with leukemia undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. DesignThis is a retrospective study of all patients with leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, aplastic anemia, or myelofibrosis admitted to inpatient rehabilitation at a tertiary referral-based cancer center between January 1, 2005, and April 10, 2012. Items analyzed from patient records included return to the primary acute care service with demographic information, leukemia characteristics, medications, hospital admission characteristics, and laboratory values. ResultsTwo hundred twenty-five patients were admitted a total of 255 times. Ninety-three (37%) of the 255 leukemia inpatient rehabilitation admissions returned to the primary acute care service. Eighteen (19%) and 42 (45%) of the 93 patients died in the hospital and were discharged home, respectively. Statistically significant factors (P < 0.05) associated with return to the primary acute care service include peripheral blast percentage and the presence of an antifungal agent on the day of the inpatient rehabilitation transfer. Using additional two factors (platelet count and the presence of an antiviral agent, both P < 0.11), the Return to Primary–Leukemia Index was formulated. ConclusionsPatients with leukemia with the presence of circulating peripheral blasts and/or an antifungal agent may be at increased risk for return to the primary acute care service. The Return to Primary–Leukemia Index should be tested in prospective studies to determine its usefulness.
THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRECOLLEGE PREPARATION FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS

THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRECOLLEGE PREPARATION FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS Bernadette Brunhuber Tiernan Fordham University, New York, 2015 Mentor: Carolyn A. Brown, Ph.D. Low-income students who are the first in their family to attend college face extraordinary challenges, forcing many to drop out. This study examined research about the impact of income inequality on precollege youth, and the effects of poverty on their academic and economic success. Current higher education intervention programs, including College Access Challenge Grants (CACG) and summer bridge programs, were reviewed. The study analyzed the impact of the New Jersey CACG program Aim High Academy on college enrollment and persistence. Results indicated that college enrollment rates were higher for students who attended Aim High Academy than the average college enrollment rates for students from all high schools that participated in the Aim High Academy program. Results also indicated that college persistence rates for Aim High Academy students were higher than the average rates of college persistence for the New Jersey colleges who participated in Aim High Academy. This analysis indicated that opportunities for underrepresented youth to achieve success in college can be improved with summer interventions in junior year, before these students graduate from high school.
Effects of Election Results on Stock Price Performance: Evidence from 1980 to 2008

Purpose - The authors aim to analyze whether the results of the 1980 to 2008 US presidential elections influence the stock market performance of eight industries and they seek to examine factors that are expected to affect firms' stock returns around these elections. Their empirical analysis reflects firms' exposure to government policies in two ways. Design/methodology/approach - First, to determine whether investors presume any Democratic or Republican favoritism towards or biases against certain industries, the authors perform an event study for each of the eight industries around the eight elections. Second, the authors include the firms' marginal tax rate as proxy for the firms' exposure to uncertainty about fiscal policy in a regression analysis. Findings - The authors do not find a consistent pattern in industry returns when comparing the effect of Democratic vs Republican victories. However, the extent of the reaction differs among industries. The victory of a Democratic candidate rather negatively influences overall stock returns, while the results are rather mixed for Republican victories. A change in presidency from either a Democratic to a Republican candidate or vice versa causes stronger stock market effects than re-election or the election of a president from the same party. The authors also find that the firms' marginal tax rate is positively correlated with abnormal stock price returns around the election day. Originality/value - The results are relevant for academics, investors and policy makers alike because they provide insight on the question whether stock market participants respond to expected changes in policy making as a result of presidential elections.
Editorial: Transport and Tourism: a Weak Symbiosis. An Introduction to the Special Issue

“Tourism’s very existence depends on transport. Still, researchers in transportation and logistics do not show much interest in tourism whereas travel and tourism researchers pay more attention to accessibility than to transport. ” These were the opening sentences of the call for papers for the TTRA European Chapter Conference “Transport and Tourism: Challenges, Issues and Conflicts” held in Rotterdam and Breda, The Netherlands from 22 to 24 April 2009.
Differential reflection characteristics for optical probing of nanoscale anisotropic layered system

The reflection of linearly polarized light from an N-layer system of nanometer-size anisotropic insulating films is investigated. The approximate expressions for reflection characteristics are derived. All analytical results are supported by computer-aided analysis made on the basis of general wave propagation theory for anisotropic layered media. It is show that the accuracy of the long-wavelength approximation for nanoscopic anisotropic layered systems is quite satisfactory: if the thickness of a multilayer divided by the wavelength comprises only a few hundredths, then the error of approximate expressions will be of the order of several percent. The most useful feature of obtained formulas is that they are simply invertible, allowing a direct calculation of the parameters of nanoscale layers.
Client Socio-Demographic and Service Receipt Inventory – European Version: development of an instrument for international research

Background Cross-cultural comparison of mental health service utilisation and costs is complicated by the heterogeneity of service systems. For data to be locally meaningful yet internationally comparable, a carefully constructed approach to its collection is required. Aims To develop a research method and instrument for the collection of data on the service utilisation and related characteristics of people with mental disorders, as the basis for calculating the costs of care. Method Various approaches to the collection of service use data and key stages of instrument development were identified in order to select the most appropriate methods. Results Based on previous work, and following translation and cross-cultural validation, an instrument was developed: the Client Socio-Demographic and Service Receipt Inventory – European Version (CSSRI–EU). This was subsequently administered to 404 people with schizophrenia across five countries. Conclusion The CSSRI – EU provides a standardised yet adaptable method for collating service receipt and associated data alongside assessment of patient outcomes.
The inflationary effects of stochastic resource revenues in resource-rich economies with less well-developed financial markets

This article develops a simple Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model to illustrate how economies that face restrictions in their ability to alter both government spending and taxation in the short run and cannot borrow easily (perhaps because of incomplete internal capital markets) can find external fluctuations in resource revenues producing unexpected variations in their internal money supply and ultimately in their inflation rate. The main channels for these effects run through the government budget and through the country's balance of payments position. The model is calibrated to illustrate the case of Iran.