Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endovascular versus “Fast-Track” Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Recent studies have shown that endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has decreased costs, as well as decreased intensive care unit and total hospital length of stays when compared to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair using a retroperitoneal exposure. The authors hypothesized that the fast-track AAA repair, which combines a retroperitoneal exposure with a patient care pathway that includes a gastric promotility agent and patient-controlled analgesia, would have no differences when compared to EVAR. Records of 58 patients who underwent AAA repair between April 14, 2000, and July 12, 2002, were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic information, length of stay, intraoperative and postoperative complications, mortality, and costs were evaluated. Fifty-eight AAA repairs were performed with the EVAR (n=28) and fast-track (n=30) techniques. The EVAR group was slightly older (72 vs 68 years, p=0.04), had slightly smaller average aneurysm size (5.5 ±0.13 vs 6.1 ±0.17 cm, p=0.008), and had more patients designated American Society of Anesthesia class 4 (p<0.0001). Both groups were predominantly male. Otherwise there were no statistically significant differences in risk factors. Patients who underwent fast-track repair tended to have a longer operation (216 ±7.4 vs 158 ±6.8 minutes, p<0.0001), with a greater volume of blood (1.8 ±0.29 vs 0.32 ±0.24 units, p=0.0005), colloid (565 ±89 vs 32 ±22 cc, p<0.0001), and crystalloid transfusions (4,625 ±252 vs 2,627 ±170 cc, p<0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences in the number of intraoperative or postoperative complications between the 2 groups. EVAR patients resumed a regular diet earlier (0.21 ±0.08 vs 1.8 ±0.11 days, p<0.0001). Intensive care unit stay was shorter for EVAR (0.50 ±0.10 vs 0.87 ±0.10 days, p=0.01), but floor (2.1 ±0.23 vs 2.6 ±0.21 days, p=0.17), and total hospital lengths of stay (2.8 ±0.32 vs 3.4 ±0.18 days, p=0.07) were similar between the 2 groups. Total hospital cost was lower in the fast-track ($10,205 ±$736 vs $20,640 ±$1,206, p<0.0001) leading to greater overall hospital earnings ($6,141 ±$1,280 vs $107 ±$1,940, p=0.01). Fast-track AAA repair is a viable alternative for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Compared to endovascular repair, the fast-track method had increased transfusions of blood and intravenous fluids and increased operating room times, but equivalent lengths of floor and total hospital stay and increased total hospital earnings.
Low levels of citrin (SLC25A13) expression in adult mouse brain restricted to neuronal clusters

The mitochondrial aspartate‐glutamate carriers (AGC) aralar (SLC25A12) and citrin (SLC25A13) are components of the malate aspartate shuttle (MAS), a major intracellular pathway to transfer reducing equivalents from NADH to the mitochondrial matrix. Aralar is the main AGC isoform present in the adult brain, and it is expressed mainly in neurons. To search for the other AGC isoform, citrin, in brain glial cells, we used a citrin knockout mouse in which the lacZ gene was inserted into the citrin locus as reporter gene. In agreement with the low citrin levels known to be present in the adult mouse brain, β‐galactosidase expression was very low. Surprisingly, unlike the case with astroglial cultures that express citrin, no β‐galactosidase was found in brain glial cells. It was confined to neuronal cells within discrete neuronal clusters. Double‐immunolabelling experiments showed that β‐galactosidase colocalized not with glial cell markers but with the pan‐neuronal marker NeuN. The deep cerebellar nuclei and a few midbrain nuclei (reticular tegmental pontine nuclei; magnocellular red nuclei) were the regions where β‐galactosidase expression was highest, and it was up‐regulated in fasted mice, as was also the case for liver β‐galactosidase. The results support the notion that glial cells have much lower AGC levels and MAS activity than neurons. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
miR‐375 negatively regulates porcine preadipocyte differentiation by targeting BMPR2

The differentiation of preadipocytes into adipose tissues is tightly regulated by various factors including miRNAs and cytokines. In this study, taking advantage of isolated porcine primary preadipocytes, we showed that ectopic expression of miR‐375 could change preadipocyte differentiation. In addition, bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) was identified as a direct target of miR‐375. Silencing BMPR2 had the same inhibition effects as overexpressing miR‐375 on the preadipocyte differentiation. Together, we demonstrated that miR‐375 is a negative regulator of adipogenic differentiation using porcine primary preadipocytes. These results clarified the role of miR‐375 in ex vivo adipogenic differentiation.
How moving to world prices affects the terms of trade in 15 countries of the former Soviet Union

The author presents the first documented estimates of how moving to international trade prices effects the terms of trade in 15 countries of the former Soviet Union. First, he decomposes the total impact of a change in the inter-republic and extra-republic terms of trade. The broad pattern, he estimates, is that exporters of raw material and energy (notably Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan) gain, whereas countries that concentrate in food and machinery exports (notably the Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and especially Moldova) are the biggest losers. The results support the customs union theory of pricing within the CMEA. The author also estimates the initial impact of terms of trade on the GDP for all 15 countries. This, as well as the commodity composition of trade and estimated changes in relative prices by commodity at the 105-sector and 15-sector levels for each of the 15 independent states, is available in the appendix.
IL‐15 ex vivo overcomes CD4+ T cell deficiency for the induction of human antigen‐specific CD8+ T cell responses

CD4+ Th cells are important for the induction and maintenance of antigen‐specific CD8+ T cell function, so their loss or dysfunction in HIV‐infected or cancer patients could reduce the patientsˈ ability to control viral infection. Previous work in murine systems indicated that IL‐15 codelivered with vaccines could overcome CD4+ Th cell deficiency for induction of functionally efficient CD8+ T cells and maintenance of viral‐specific CTLs, but its efficacy in helping primary human CD8+ T cell responses is unknown. In the present study, a peptide‐pulsed, DC‐based human coculture ex vivo system was used to study the role of IL‐15 in overcoming CD4+ Th deficiency to elicit CD8+ T cell responses in CD4‐depleted PBMCs from healthy individuals and PBMCs from HIV‐1‐infected patients. We found that IL‐15 could overcome CD4+ Th deficiency to induce primary and recall memory CD8+ T cell responses in healthy individuals. Moreover, in CD4‐deficient, HIV‐1‐infected patients with diminished CD8+ T cell responses, IL‐15 greatly enhanced CD8+ T cell responses to alloantigen. These results suggest that IL‐15 may be useful in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and viral infections in patients defective in CD4+ Th cell.
CEO Compensation: Does Performance Matter?

This paper analyzes CEO compensation in years around and including exceptionally good and poor performance. Using compensation data from 1993 through 2003, the results suggest CEOs are able to increase their compensation before exceptionally bad performance through the timing of option exercises. We also find as the percentage of compensation from exercised options increases, the probability of exceptionally poor performance the following year almost doubles. These results complement those of Yermack (1997), Chauvin and Shenoy (2001), and Lie (2005). These papers provide evidence that CEOs manipulate either timing or reporting of option grants to increase gains from options. By disentangling the components of compensation and conditioning on performance, we also test Bolton, Scheinkman, and Xiong’s (2005) hypothesis that excess compensation is the result of short term opportunism in speculative markets. Contrary to Bolton, et al., we find CEOs had lower gains from exercised options in the bubble (speculative market) years than in non-bubble years. We also examine Bebchuk and Fried’s (2003) CEO power hypothesis. CEOs of poorly performing firms are able to gain such large amounts from option exercise prior to poor performance that even after two years; their cumulative pay is as high as those who performed in the highest stock return decile. Finally, except for the option component of compensation, our results from tests of other compensation components are consistent with optimal contracting theory.
Co-movements in international dollar price levels

This paper studies the relation between movements in the U.S. price level and the dollar price levels of nineteen other countries. Using the band pass filter developed by Christiano and Fitzgerald (2003), we examine correlations between dollar prices when decomposed into their high, medium, and low frequency cycles. The low frequency cycle in the U.S. price series is highly correlated with low frequency cycles in dollar price levels of the majority of countries in our sample. The high correlation between low frequency cycles persists over a variety of historical sub-periods, including the eras of fixed and flexible nominal exchange rates. This result, suggesting the existence of a common long-run price cycle, is consistent with long-run purchasing power parity. In contrast, both high and medium frequency cycles are more highly correlated prior to the Great Depression. This result is consistent with studies finding greater stability of real exchange rates during the era of the gold standard. Also, it appears that the increased volatility of U.S. real exchange rates after the 1973 move to flexible exchange rates was largely due to declines in the co-movement of short-run dollar price cycles.
Performance analysis for NOMA energy harvesting relaying networks with transmit antenna selection and maximal-ratio combining over Nakagami-m fading

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), which is an effective solution to improve spectral efficiency, has been considered as an emerging candidate for the fifth generation multiple access. In addition, simultaneous wireless information and power transfer, which aims to maximise energy efficiency, has received significant attention. In this study, the authors design NOMA for downlink energy harvesting (EH) multiple-antenna relaying networks. The base station communicates with multiple mobile users simultaneously via an EH relay node. In the first slot, the relay node harvests energy from the received signals; and in the second slot, the relay node uses the harvested energy to broadcast the received signals to all mobile users. Antenna selection is adopted at the base station while maximal-ratio combining is applied at the mobile users. The outage performance for the NOMA-EH relaying networks is studied over Nakagami- m fading and closed-form expressions for the outage probability are obtained. In addition, the presented simulation results demonstrate the correctness of the authors' analysis and the advantage of NOMA over conventional orthogonal multiple access.
DIFFERENCE IN THE EXPRESSION OF HORMONE RECEPTORS AND FIBROTIC MARKERS IN THE HUMAN PERITONEUM—IMPLICATIONS FOR THERAPEUTIC TARGETS TO PREVENT ENCAPSULATING PERITONEAL SCLEROSIS

♦ Objective: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare but life-threatening complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The optimal management of patients with EPS is uncertain. In the present study, we investigated differences in the expression of nuclear receptors [progesterone (PR), androgen (AR), vitamin D (VDR), and glucocorticoid (GCR)] in the human peritoneum. We also investigated estrogen receptor (ER), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in the context of their potential role in tamoxifen therapy. ♦ Methods: We analyzed clinical and histologic characteristics of 72 peritoneal biopsy specimens (22 from EPS patients, 11 from PD patients, 15 from uremic patients, and 24 from control subjects undergoing hernia repair). For immunophenotyping, we used antibodies against VDR, GCR, ER, PR, AR, MMP9, and TGFβ1. ♦ Results: In human peritoneum, VDR and GCR are highly expressed (98.6% and 87.3% respectively). Except in the case of VDR (p = 0.0012), we observed no significant difference in receptor expression between the groups. Expression of ER and PR was sparse (11.4% and 31% respectively), with higher expression in women, and AR was absent. Minimal MMP9 expression and moderate TGFβ1 expression were observed in all groups. The differences between the groups were nonsignificant. ♦ Conclusions: Nuclear receptors are present in human peritoneum. Except in the case of VDR, the pattern for any one group is nonspecific. Glucocorticoids, vitamin D, and angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (via the vitamin D/angiotensin II pathway) might be suitable interventions for preservation of the integrity of the peritoneal membrane. The mechanism of action of tamoxifen is still not elucidated, ER expression in the peritoneum is sparse, and data about the studied pathways (MMP9, TGFβ) are inconsistent.
Internationalization as Interaction: A Process Perspective on Internationalization from a Small Developing Country

Despite their heavy dependence on international markets, small developing countries or small states have been underrepresented in the internationalization literature. Unlike developed or large developing countries, small states face dual constraints of relatively weak institutions and a narrow resource base along with an open market environment. A changing domestic environment in small states requires firms to adapt and a process approach was employed in order to examine sustained internationalization firms from Trinidad and Tobago (TT). Analysis of the findings indicates that changing economic circumstances result in varying domestic production and market resource availability. In response, firms from small states may engage in phased rather than staged patterns of activity that include accelerated, reverse, and inward internationalization. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Molecular dynamics Simulation for analysis of surface morphology of lubricant films with functional end Groups

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were applied to reproduce the surface morphology of lubricant films with functional end groups on solid surfaces. By introducing a molecular-probe scanning method analogous to scanning probe microscopy, we quantitatively studied the effects of end-group functionality and polymer length on the surface morphology at a molecular scale resolution. We clarified that the lubricant film surface became rougher for stronger interactions between end groups and for shorter polymer lengths, and the morphology was correlated with the end-group distribution inside the films.
Pre‐IPO Acquirers’ Issuance Cost and Long‐Run Performance: Do Their M&A Disclosures Matter?

Abstract: This paper investigates whether the activities and disclosures of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) preceding initial public offerings (IPOs) are associated with issuers’ (1) issuance cost and (2) long-run performance. The results show that pre-IPO acquirers have higher opportunity costs of issuance (OCI) than their matching companies (without pre-IPO M&As) but their underpricing does not differ significantly, indicating that they tend to raise more funds by issuing a greater number of shares. This action can be due to issuers’ intention to undertake more M&As or fear of their inability to successfully issue equity in the future. We also find that pre-IPO acquirers underperform their matching companies in the long run, with those undisclosing M&A information in the prospectus performing worse than those who did. These results reveal that investors’ valuation of disclosing pre-IPO acquirers is lower, but not low enough, because they underestimate the difficulty of M&A integration. Further, investors overvalue undisclosing acquirers more seriously because they know little about their pre-IPO M&A activities. These phenomena suggest that information disclosure in the prospectus does affect investors’ valuation.
Popular Education, Work Training, and the Path to Women's Empowerment in Chile

The program 'Educacion y Trabajo' (Education and Work) in Chile was designed to help train unskilled workers and to facilitate their entrance into the labor market. Employing a participatory educational approach, the program provided personal and vocational training for men and women aged 15-30 years. Both technical and personal development training, which are embedded in Popular Education methodology, emphasize interaction among students and between students and teachers using games, videos, slides, manuals, cartoons, and worksheets. Interviews with female participants confirmed the program's empowering effects on the personal, as well as economic situation of women. The study further demonstrates how Popular Education is applied and adapted to promote self-esteem and self-reliance among female participants. Process-oriented, participatory learning, and horizontal relationships between the learner and teacher, allowed for the development of interactive structures in the classroom. This approach has especially benefited married women. Central to this empowerment process is awareness raising. By emphasizing the sociocultural origin of social structures, Popular Education helps demystify the social sphere and shows the importance of each individual in contributing to its improvement. However, while this program helps enhance women's self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-promotion, it only represents an initial step. To continue the path to full empowerment, negotiating powers must go beyond the household level and into the formal economy.
R&D proposal screening system based on text-mining approach

With the enormous accumulation of RD thus, the screening process of R&D proposals must rest on intelligent systems, rather than on intuitive criteria. This is particularly obvious for large-scale, multi-product firms that deal with multi-technology R&D projects. However, previous research on R&D knowledge management has focused on the ex post facto project evaluation/selection stage, instead of the preliminary screening stage. In this research, we propose an intelligent and systematic R&D proposal screening system that may be employed to identify and filter out duplications of previous or ongoing projects. The screening algorithm is based on the coherence of contents and substance, not on the coincidence of titles, between a new R&D proposal and the pool of completed and existing R&D projects. The text-mining methodology is employed to this end. An illustrative set of real data is applied to elucidate the detailed procedure of the system.
Development and preliminary validation of an indirect screener for drug use in the perinatal period.

AIMS This study sought to develop and begin validation of an indirect screener for identification of drug use during pregnancy, without reliance on direct disclosure. DESIGN Women were recruited from their hospital rooms after giving birth. Participation involved (i) completing a computerized assessment battery containing three types of items: direct (asking directly about drug use), semi-indirect (asking only about drug use prior to pregnancy) and indirect (with no mention of drug use), and (ii) providing urine and hair samples. An optimal subset of indirect items was developed and cross-validated based on ability to predict urine/hair test results. SETTING Obstetric unit of a university-affiliated hospital in Detroit. PARTICIPANTS Four hundred low-income, African American, post-partum women (300 in the developmental sample and 100 in the cross-validation sample); all available women were recruited without consideration of substance abuse risk or other characteristics. MEASUREMENTS Women first completed the series of direct and indirect items using a Tablet PC; they were then asked for separate consent to obtain urine and hair samples that were tested for evidence of illicit drug use. FINDINGS In the cross-validation sample, the brief screener consisting of six indirect items predicted toxicology results more accurately than direct questions about drug use (area under the ROC curve = 0.74, P < 0.001). Traditional direct screening questions were highly specific, but identified only a small minority of women who used drugs during the last trimester of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Indirect screening may increase the accuracy of mothers' self-reports of prenatal drug use.
Tobacco Smoking Affects Bacterial Acquisition and Colonization in Oral Biofilms

ABSTRACT Recent evidence suggests that smoking affects the composition of the disease-associated subgingival biofilm, yet little is known about its effects during the formation of this biofilm. The present investigation was undertaken to examine the contributions of smoking to the composition and proinflammatory characteristics of the biofilm during de novo plaque formation. Marginal and subgingival plaque and gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected from 15 current smokers and from 15 individuals who had never smoked (nonsmokers) following 1, 2, 4, and 7 days of undisturbed plaque formation. 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing were used for bacterial identification, and multiplex bead-based flow cytometry was used to quantify the levels of 27 immune mediators. Smokers demonstrated a highly diverse, relatively unstable initial colonization of both marginal and subgingival biofilms, with lower niche saturation than that seen in nonsmokers. Periodontal pathogens belonging to the genera Fusobacterium, Cardiobacterium, Synergistes, and Selenomonas, as well as respiratory pathogens belonging to the genera Haemophilus and Pseudomonas, colonized the early biofilms of smokers and continued to persist over the observation period, suggesting that smoking favors early acquisition and colonization of pathogens in oral biofilms. Smokers also demonstrated an early proinflammatory response to this colonization, which persisted over 7 days. Further, a positive correlation between proinflammatory cytokine levels and commensal bacteria was observed in smokers but not in nonsmokers. Taken together, the data suggest that smoking influences both the composition of the nascent biofilm and the host response to this colonization.
The Impact of Credit Market Imperfections on Farm Investment in Poland

The objective of this article is to confirm the presence of imperfections on the rural credit market in Poland in the second half of the transition period, and to identify farms that were the most affected by these imperfections. For this, an investment accelerator model augmented with a cash flow variable was used on panel data for individual farms during 1996–2000. The cash flow coefficient was found to be significant and positive, indicating a poorly functioning rural credit market, in the sense that for some farms internal funds were the only source of funds (for farms facing credit rationing) or a less expensive source (for farms facing high borrowing costs) than debt. Farms facing more severe credit constraints were then identified by splitting the sample into two groups according to a single criterion but also by creating classes with a multiple component analysis. Farms less collateralisable were found to have experienced the most severe constraints. This finding is in line with other existing studies on Polish farms and is in contradiction with Polish government intervention that favoured subsidised loans rather than guaranteed credit during the period studied.