Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) as a Tool to Improve the Assessment of Digital Government: The Case of the Mexican State Portals Ranking

There are different measurements and rankings in the literature that evaluate critical factors for a successful adoption of digital government. Each of these frameworks applies diverse variables and approaches to assessing digital government success. However, the nature of digital government success is complex and implies multiple dimensions that make it difficult to evaluate in practice. There is the need to build more robust approaches to improve these assessments to explore the multiple dimensions of digital government success. Some authors have proposed factor analysis techniques as a useful tool for this task. Using a well-known ranking of state government portals in Mexico during the period 2009-2015, this study conducted a confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the dimensions of this instrument, which includes 132 items. This ranking could be considered a typical tool for measuring and assessing digital government, similar to the ones used in many countries and by some international organizations. The purpose of this study is to extend our understanding of the multiple dimensions of digital government success and to provide guidance for improving and refining existing techniques for measuring and assessing digital government. The results ratify most of the original dimensions, but allows reducing the number of questions and obtain more robust estimations. Based on the analysis, we provide a set of practical recommendations for improving measurement methodologies and for the assessment of digital government.
The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope Discovers the Pulsar in the Young Galactic Supernova Remnant CTA 1

Energetic young pulsars and expanding blast waves [supernova remnants (SNRs)] are the most visible remains after massive stars, ending their lives, explode in core-collapse supernovae. The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope has unveiled a radio quiet pulsar located near the center of the compact synchrotron nebula inside the supernova remnant CTA 1. The pulsar, discovered through its gamma-ray pulsations, has a period of 316.86 milliseconds and a period derivative of 3.614 × 10–13 seconds per second. Its characteristic age of 104 years is comparable to that estimated for the SNR. We speculate that most unidentified Galactic gamma-ray sources associated with star-forming regions and SNRs are such young pulsars.
Rent Seeking by Low-Latency Traders: Evidence from Trading on Macroeconomic Announcements

Prices of the highly liquid S&P500 exchange traded fund (SPY) and the E-mini future (ES) respond to macroeconomic announcement surprises within five milliseconds, with trading intensity increasing over a hundred-fold following the news release. However, profits from trading quickly are relatively small, roughly $19,000 ($50,000) per event for SPY (ES). Although the speed of information incorporation has increased in recent years, profits have not. Order flow has become less informative, consistent with prices responding directly to news rather than indirectly through trading. The increasingly faster quote updates mitigates concerns that low latency liquidity demanders possess short-term monopolistic access to information.
Learning Through Participation in Joint Management Committees for Reservoir-Level Irrigation Governance in Thailand

The UN indicates that water for irrigation and food production constitutes one of the greatest pressures on freshwater resources, especially within the Asian region. Recent developments in water management relate to participatory governance, where civil society is included in the political, social, economic, and administrative systems that develop and manage water resources. In Thailand, the Royal Irrigation Department has adopted Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM), which involves multiple sectors of water users in decision-making at all levels of irrigation system management. This research identified learning outcomes associated with participation in Joint Management Committees for Irrigation (JMC), the top PIM governance tier, particularly related to governance and sustainable water management. Our research was qualitative following a case study approach, utilising 51 semi-structured interviews at two sites, participant observation, and document reviews. Results showed that participating in PIM activities facilitated both instrumental (e.g. technical knowledge, skills and information, and task-based learning) and communicative (e.g. insights into the interests of others, communication strategies, and comparative reflection) learning among JMC participants. Findings also showed that action outcomes based on learning were mainly related to adopting new governance systems and conserving water for future irrigation use.
HOW DOES THE MACROECONOMY RESPOND TO STOCK MARKET FLUCTUATIONS? THE ROLE OF SENTIMENT

This study estimates the response of macroeconomic variables to stock market fluctuations in Japan and the United States. It emphasizes the economy's reaction to stock market bubbles and crashes. To do this, I propose a new way to identify bubbles and crashes by testing price-to-fundamental ratios using the newly developed trend-filtering approach. Regardless of the measures used, both countries' macroeconomy tends to respond positively to the positive shock of stock price. Asymmetric effects of the stock market are observed. Japan's macroeconomic variables, especially investment and industrial production, are more sensitive to market crashes, while those of the United States are more sensitive to stock bubbles. Finally, I provide evidence that market sentiment can affect the economy either directly or indirectly through the stock market.
The effect of the 2007 ethanol mandate on downside risk in agriculture: evidence from Kansas farmers

ABSTRACT The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 increased the amount of corn ethanol that must be blended into motor vehicle and other fuels as part of the renewable fuel standard. The purpose of this article is to look at how the increase in demand for corn influenced the profitability and downside risk of farms. We conducted this investigation using annual data for more than 300 farms in Kansas from 1997 through 2014. We find that the probability of a farmer’s experiencing a negative return on equity (i.e. the ‘downside risk’ of farming) decreased by 25 percentage points after 2007.
Prevalence and Incidence Studies of Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Objective: To present the results of a systematic review of literature published between 1980 and 2004 reporting findings of the prevalence and incidence of anxiety disorders in the general population. Method: A literature search of epidemiologic studies of anxiety disorders was conducted, using MEDLINE and HealthSTAR databases, canvassing English-language publications. Eligible publications were restricted to studies that examined age ranges covering the adult population. A set of predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to identify relevant studies. Prevalence and incidence data were extracted and analyzed for heterogeneity. Results: A total of 41 prevalence and 5 incidence studies met eligibility criteria. We found heterogeneity across 1-year and lifetime prevalence rates of all anxiety disorder categories. Pooled 1-year and lifetime prevalence rates for total anxiety disorders were 10.6% and 16.6%. Pooled rates for individual disorders varied widely. Women had generally higher prevalence rates across all anxiety disorder categories, compared with men, but the magnitude of this difference varied. Conclusion: The international prevalence of anxiety disorders varies greatly between published epidemiologic reports. The variability associated with all anxiety disorders is considerably smaller than the variability associated with individual disorders. Women report higher rates of anxiety disorders than men. Several factors were found to be associated with heterogeneity among rates, including diagnostic criteria, diagnostic instrument, sample size, country studied, and response rate.
Individual, household and administrative area levels of social capital and their associations with mental health: A multi-level analysis of cross-sectional evidence

Background: Research has seldom considered social capital at the individual, household and administrative area level simultaneously and examined its association with mental health. Aim: The main purpose of this study was to examine the association between social capital and mental health while controlling for various confounders at multiple levels using multi-level analysis and operationalizing social capital at the individual, household and administrative area level. Methods: This study used cross-sectional data from the 2010 Seoul Welfare Panel Study conducted by the Seoul Welfare Foundation (participation rates for the household and household members were 87.6% and 87.5%, respectively). Results and conclusions: The main finding of this study was that organizational participation (B = 0.132, p < .001) and perceived helpfulness (B = 0.129, p < .001) were positively associated with mental health. This study also found that perceived helpfulness was positively associated with mental health (B = 0.070, p < .001). However, it did not find a significant association between the contextual level of social capital and mental health. The results indicate that the different dimensions of social capital may act differently to mental health depending on the level.
Concentration and Liquidity Costs in Emerging Commodity Exchanges

We analyze the relationships among liquidity costs, volume, and volatility in the Brazilian agricultural futures market, along with the role of market concentration. We estimate a structural three-equation IV–GMM model using data from Bolsa, Brasil, Balcao corn and live cattle contracts from March 2014 to February 2016. Results show a negative association between liquidity costs and volume and a positive association between liquidity costs and volatility. Market concentration impacts corn and live cattle differently. Concentration contributes to volume reduction for live cattle and to liquidity costs reduction for corn. Our findings shed light on the microstructure of emerging markets.
Histological Evaluation of the Temporomandibular Joint after Producing Artificial Traumatic Occlusion in Dogs

Statement of Problem: Traumatic occlusion can have an adverse effect on the temporomandibular joint tissue. Purpose: This study aims to determine the histological alteration in dog-s’ temporomandibular joints due to production of artificial traumatic oc­clusion. Materials and Methods: Twenty dogs were divided into a control gro­up of four and two equal experimental groups. Unilateral occlusal interf­erences were created on the mandibular right first molars in the experim­ental groups. We established two experimental periods: one week and 45 days. After vital perfusion, the TMJs were separated for preparation, pig­mentation, and examination by a pathologist. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze the data. P.value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The findings showed no inflammatory changes in the TMJ. Increased fibrosis was found in 56.30% and vascularization in 28.12% of the disks. Fibrotic changes were detected in 46.87% and vascularization in 28.12% of the condyles. The glenoid fossas suffered from fibrosis in 15.62% of the cases. Conclusion: Traumatic occlusion leads to histopathological alterations including an increase in the fibrosis tissue and vascularization in the condyle and disk. KEY WORDS: Dental occlusion; Traumatic; Histology; Temporomandibular joint
Retinoic acid response element in the human alcohol dehydrogenase gene ADH3: implications for regulation of retinoic acid synthesis

Retinoic acid regulation of one member of the human class I alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) gene family was demonstrated, suggesting that the retinol dehydrogenase function of ADH may play a regulatory role in the biosynthetic pathway for retinoic acid. Promoter activity of human ADH3, but not ADH1 or ADH2, was shown to be activated by retinoic acid in transient transfection assays of Hep3B human hepatoma cells. Deletion mapping experiments identified a region in the ADH3 promoter located between -328 and -272 bp which confers retinoic acid activation. This region was also demonstrated to confer retinoic acid responsiveness on the ADH1 and ADH2 genes in heterologous promoter fusions. Within a 34-bp stretch, the ADH3 retinoic acid response element (RARE) contains two TGACC motifs and one TGAAC motif, both of which exist in RAREs controlling other genes. A block mutation of the TGACC sequence located at -289 to -285 bp eliminated the retinoic acid response. As assayed by gel shift DNA binding studies, the RARE region (-328 to -272 bp) of ADH3 bound the human retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR beta) and was competed for by DNA containing a RARE present in the gene encoding RAR beta. Since ADH catalyzes the conversion of retinol to retinal, which can be further converted to retinoic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase, these results suggest that retinoic acid activation of ADH3 constitutes a positive feedback loop regulating retinoic acid synthesis.
Cervical cancer screening and subsequent procedures in women under the age of 25 years between 2007 and 2013 in France: a nationwide French healthcare database study

Cervical cancer screening in young women may lead to the detection of lesions with a high potential for spontaneous regression and no benefit of surgery. French guidelines recommend initiating cervical cancer screening by the Pap test from the age of 25 years. To date, no French nationwide study has assessed cervical cancer screening in young women and the related subsequent work-up and surgical procedures among screen-positive women. Using data from the French national healthcare databases (around 50 million beneficiaries), annual and 3-year Pap test screening rates were calculated among women aged 15–24 years between 2007 and 2013. Cervical excisional procedures were assessed during the 15-month period following a first Pap test in women aged 20–24 years in 2007 and 2012. About 10% of the almost six million women aged 15–65 years with at least one annual Pap test were under the age of 25, mainly women aged 20–24 years, in whom the 3-year screening coverage was 35.5% in 2013. In screened women aged 20–24 years, human papillomavirus testing rates increased markedly over the study period (+105%) and surgical management became less conservative with an increased rate of both conization (+16.5%) and other excisional treatments (+74.5%). Nevertheless, because of the overall decrease in screening coverage, the absolute yearly number of women who underwent conization decreased from 1974 to 1766 between 2007 and 2012. Higher adherence to guidelines is needed to reduce the burden of surgical treatment that is potentially associated with adverse obstetric outcomes among women under the age of 25 years.
Differential effects of prenatal exposure to dexamethasone or cortisol on circulatory control mechanisms mediated by angiotensin II in the central nervous system of adult sheep

Prenatal exposure to elevated maternal glucocorticoids (dexamethasone (DEX) or cortisol (CORT)) for 2 days early in pregnancy can ‘programme’ alterations in adult offspring of sheep, including elevated arterial pressure. DEX treatment also results in greater angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor expression in the medulla oblongata in late gestation fetuses than in saline (SAL)‐ or CORT‐exposed animals. We hypothesized that this would result in functional changes in brainstem angiotensinergic control of cardiovascular function in DEX‐ but not CORT‐exposed animals. To test this hypothesis, cardiovascular responses to intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) angiotensin II were examined in adult male offspring exposed to DEX (0.48 mg h−1; n= 7), CORT (5 mg h−1, n= 6) or SAL (n= 9) from 26 to 28 days of gestation. Increases in mean arterial pressure during i.c. v. infusion of angiotensin II (1 or 10 μg h−1) were significantly greater in the DEX group (10 ± 1 mmHg at 1 μg h−1) compared with SAL (6 ± 1 mmHg) or CORT (6 ± 1 mmHg) animals (P < 0.05). i.c. v. infusion of the AT1 antagonist losartan significantly decreased cardiac output and heart rate in DEX animals, but not in SAL or CORT animals. Thus, increased expression of brainstem AT1 receptor mRNA after prenatal DEX is associated with increased responsiveness of cardiovascular control to activation of brain AT receptors by exogenous and endogenous angiotensin II. The altered role of the brain RAS in sheep exposed prenatally to DEX was not observed in sheep exposed prenatally to cortisol, suggesting these two glucocorticoids have distinct programming actions.
Risk factors for pressure ulcers among elderly hip fracture patients

The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers among elderly patients hospitalized for hip fracture surgery and to identify extrinsic factors that are associated with increased risk. We conducted a secondary analysis of data abstracted from medical records at 20 hospitals in Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, and Virginia. Participants were patients aged 60 years and older admitted with hip fracture to the study hospitals between 1983 and 1993. The incidence of hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers was 8.8% (95% confidence interval 8.2%−9.4%). After adjusting for confounding variables, longer wait before surgery, intensive care unit stay, longer surgical procedure, and general anesthesia were significantly associated with higher pressure ulcer risk. Extrinsic factors may be important markers for high pressure ulcer risk in hospitalized hip fracture patients. Although it is not possible to eliminate factors such as requiring an intensive care unit stay or having a long surgical procedure, it may be possible to develop interventions that minimize pressure ulcer risk in patients who experience these factors. (WOUND REP REG 2003;11:96–103)
Inhibition of Amyloid-β (Aβ) Peptide-Binding Alcohol Dehydrogenase-Aβ Interaction Reduces Aβ Accumulation and Improves Mitochondrial Function in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide-binding alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD), an enzyme present in neuronal mitochondria, exacerbates Aβ-induced cell stress. The interaction of ABAD with Aβ exacerbates Aβ-induced mitochondrial and neuronal dysfunction. Here, we show that inhibition of the ABAD-Aβ interaction, using a decoy peptide (DP) in vitro and in vivo, protects against aberrant mitochondrial and neuronal function and improves spatial learning/memory. Intraperitoneal administration of ABAD-DP [fused to the transduction of human immunodeficiency virus 1-transactivator (Tat) protein and linked to the mitochondrial targeting sequence (Mito) (TAT-mito-DP) to transgenic APP mice (Tg mAPP)] blocked formation of ABAD-Aβ complex in mitochondria, increased oxygen consumption and enzyme activity associated with the mitochondrial respiratory chain, attenuated mitochondrial oxidative stress, and improved spatial memory. Similar protective effects were observed in Tg mAPP mice overexpressing neuronal ABAD decoy peptide (Tg mAPP/mito-ABAD). Notably, inhibition of the ABAD-Aβ interaction significantly reduced mitochondrial Aβ accumulation. In parallel, the activity of mitochondrial Aβ-degrading enzyme PreP (presequence peptidase) was enhanced in Tg mAPP mitochondria expressing the ABAD decoy peptide. These data indicate that segregating ABAD from Aβ protects mitochondria/neurons from Aβ toxicity; thus, ABAD-Aβ interaction is an important mechanism underlying Aβ-mediated mitochondrial and neuronal perturbation. Inhibitors of ABAD-Aβ interaction may hold promise as targets for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Predictors of HIV-related stigmas among African American and Latino religious congregants.

OBJECTIVES To inform church-based stigma interventions by exploring dimensions of HIV stigma among African American and Latino religious congregants and determining how these are related to drug addiction and homosexuality stigmas and knowing someone HIV-positive. METHOD In-person, self-administered surveys of congregants 18+ years old across 2 African American and 3 Latino churches (n = 1,235, response rate 73%) in a western U.S. city with high HIV prevalence. Measures included 12 items that captured dimensions of HIV stigma, a 5-item scale that assessed attitudes toward people who are addicted to drugs, a 7-item scale assessing attitudes toward homosexuality, and questions regarding sociodemographics and previous communication about HIV. RESULTS Of the survey participants, 63.8% were women, mean age was 40.2 years, and 34.4% were African American, 16.8% were U.S.-born Latinos, 16.0% were foreign-born, English-speaking Latinos, and 32.9% were foreign-born, Spanish-speaking Latinos. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified 4 dimensions of HIV stigma: discomfort interacting with people with HIV (4 items, α = .86), feelings of shame "if you had HIV" (3 items, α = .78), fears of rejection "if you had HIV" (3 items, α = .71), and feelings of blame toward people with HIV (2 items, α = .65). Across all dimensions, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and previous communication about HIV, knowing someone with HIV was associated with lower HIV stigma, and greater stigma concerning drug addiction and homosexuality were associated with higher HIV stigma. CONCLUSIONS Congregation-based HIV stigma reduction interventions should consider incorporating contact with HIV-affected people. It may also be helpful to address attitudes toward drug addiction and sexual orientation. (PsycINFO Database Record
Genetic variation in a haplotype block spanning IDE influences Alzheimer disease

Linkage studies have identified a large (>60‐Mb) region on chromosome 10q that segregates with Alzheimer Disease (AD). Within the region, the gene for insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) represents a notable biological candidate given that it degrades amyloid β‐protein (one of the major constituents of senile plaques) and the intracellular amyloid precursor protein (APP) domain released by γ‐secretase processing. We have used a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic association strategy to investigate AD in relation to a 480‐kb region encompassing IDE. A 276‐kb linkage disequilibrium block was revealed that spans three genes (IDE, KNSL1, and HHEX). Assessing this block in several independent sets of case‐control materials (early‐ and late‐onset AD) and focusing also upon quantitative measures that are pertinent to AD diagnosis and severity (MMSE scores, microtubule‐associated protein Tau [MAPT] levels in CSF, degree of brain pathology, and age‐at‐onset) produced extensive evidence for significant AD association. Signals (p‐values ranging from 0.05 to <1×10−9) were generally stronger when examining haplotypes rather than individual SNPs, and quantitative trait tests most uniformly revealed the detected associations. Consistent risk alleles and haplotypes were apparent across the study, with effects in some cases as large as that of the ϵ4 allele of APOE. A subsequent mutation screen of exons in all three suspect genes provided no evidence for common causative mutations. These results provide substantial evidence that genetic variation within or extremely close to IDE impacts both disease risk and traits related to the severity of AD. Hum Mutat 22:363–371, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.