Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frequency Judgments In An Auditing-Related Task

The topic of frequency judgments is important to auditors because practically all auditing judgments use frequency data as one of the inputs in the decision-making process. For example, frequency judgments based on actual audit experience with a given company become part of audit planning on repeat engagements. In addition to the actual audit hours used in an area, the frequency of errors discovered in past audits may serve as a guide in allocating hours in the current audit plan. This possibility is supported by Kinney's [1979] results that adjustments made in prior years' audits were relatively accurate predictors of the current year's errors. Similarly, in evaluating internal controls, the auditor's judgments of the frequency with which different accounting processes generate errors should affect evaluations of the importance of control weaknesses discovered in the system. Libby, Artman, and Willingham [1985] found that the frequency with which subprocesses generate errors had a major impact on control risk assessments. The importance of frequency judgments was also demonstrated by Libby [1985], who showed that auditors rely on their judgments of frequency of occurrence of financial statement errors when generating hypotheses in an analytical review task.
A Family-Based Diabetes Intervention for Hispanic Adults and Their Family Members

Aims The purpose of this quasi-experimental, 1-group longitudinal study is to examine the effects of a family-based intervention program on diabetes self-management behaviors, A1C, other biomarkers, psychosocial factors, and health-related quality of life in Hispanics with diabetes. Methods Adult patients with diabetes (n = 36) and family members (n = 37) were recruited from a community clinic in rural central North Carolina. Patients and family members attended an 8-week culturally tailored diabetes educational program taught in Spanish. Data were collected pre- and post-intervention for both patients and family members, with an additional data collection for patients 1 month post-intervention. Results Most patients and family members were female, and almost all were immigrants. A1C decreased by 4.9% on average among patients from pre-intervention to 1 month post-intervention. Patients showed significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, diabetes self-efficacy, diabetes knowledge, and physical and mental components of health-related quality of life. Higher levels of intake of healthy foods and performance of blood glucose tests and foot inspections were reported. Family members significantly lowered body mass index and improved diabetes knowledge from pre-intervention to immediately post-intervention. No significant changes in levels of physical activity were found among patients with diabetes or family members. Conclusions Findings suggest that including family members in educational interventions may provide emotional and psychological support to patients with diabetes, help to develop healthy family behaviors, and promote diabetes self-management.
Protocol-driven remote monitoring of cardiac resynchronization therapy as part of a heart failure disease management strategy

Abstract Background: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is an established treatment for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. CRT devices are equipped with remote monitoring functions, which are pivotal in the detection of device problems, but may also facilitate disease management. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical interventions taken based on remote monitoring. Methods: This is a single centre observational study of consecutive CRT patients (n = 192) participating in protocol-driven remote follow-up. Incoming technical- and disease-related alerts were analysed together with subsequently triggered interventions. Results: During 34 ± 13 months of follow-up, 1372 alert-containing notifications were received (2.53 per patient-year of follow-up), comprising 1696 unique alerts (3.12 per patient-year of follow-up). In 60%, notifications resulted in a phone contact. Technical alerts constituted 8% of incoming alerts (0.23 per patient-year of follow-up). Rhythm (1.43 per patient-year of follow-up) and bioimpedance alerts (0.98 per patient-year of follow-up) were the most frequent disease-related alerts. Notifications included a rhythm alert in 39%, which triggered referral to the emergency room (4%), outpatient cardiology clinic (36%) or general practitioner (7%), or resulted in medication changes (13%). Sole bioimpedance notifications resulted in a telephone contact in 91%, which triggered outpatient evaluation in 8% versus medication changes in 10%. Clinical outcome was excellent with 97% 1-year survival. Conclusions: Remote CRT follow-up resulted in 0.23 technical- versus 2.64 disease-related alerts annually. Rhythm and bioimpedance notifications constituted the majority of incoming notifications which triggered an actual intervention in 22% and 15% of cases, respectively.
Pricing Derivatives with Optimized Gaussian Mixture

One of the major empirical characteristics of financial markets is known to be non-Gaussian. Mandelbrot (1963) presented and tested the stable Paretian model to replace the Gaussian distributions. Fama (1965) showed asset returns are leptokurtic and skewed. He examined the model suggested by Mandelbrot (1963) and concluded the past history of stock prices could not well support the normality assumption. The research examines stock market data to discuss the normality assumption of Black-Sholes (1973) model. The paper proposes the Gaussian mixture model as an alternative to other non-Gaussian distributions for pricing derivatives. The study develops and simulates a new kernel density, derived from optimized Gaussian mixture, to ameliorate the performance of the classic option pricing theory. The paper tests and suggests optimized Gaussian mixture model by varying period length of basis asset data. The research compares the suggested model with other non-Gaussian distributions. The study elaborates a new kernel density, derived from the Gaussian mixture, to augment the classic option pricing theory.The research analyzes the implied volatility of the mixture model to explain how the volatility smile effect of the Black-Scholes is improved by the Gaussian mixture model. The paper suggests the Gaussian mixture model to price plain vanilla and exotic options such as barrier options.In recent years, it has become increasingly important to describe the financial markets with non-Gaussian distributions or stochastic volatility. The thesis proposes the optimized Gaussian mixture model to the practitioners and investors as a preference for modeling financial markets.
The imperative of culture: a quantitative analysis of the impact of culture on workforce engagement, patient experience, physician engagement, value-based purchasing, and turnover

Current uncertainty for the future of the health care landscape is placing an increasing amount of pressure on leadership teams to be prepared to steer their organization forward in a number of potential directions. It is commonly recognized among health care leaders that culture will either enable or disable organizational success. However, very few studies empirically link culture to health care-specific performance outcomes. Nearly every health care organization in the US specifies its cultural aspirations through mission and vision statements and values. Ambitions of patient-centeredness, care for the community, workplace of choice, and world-class quality are frequently cited; yet, little definitive research exists to quantify the importance of building high-performing cultures. Our study examined the impact of cultural attributes defined by a culture index (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88) on corresponding performance with key health care measures. We mapped results of the culture index across data sets, compared results, and evaluated variations in performance among key indicators for leaders. Organizations that perform in the top quartile for our culture index statistically significantly outperformed those in the bottom quartile on all but one key performance indicator tested. The culture top quartile organizations outperformed every domain for employee engagement, physician engagement, patient experience, and overall value-based purchasing performance with statistical significance. Culture index top quartile performers also had a 3.4% lower turnover rate than the bottom quartile performers. Finally, culture index top quartile performers earned an additional 1% on value-based purchasing. Our findings demonstrate a meaningful connection between performance in the culture index and organizational performance. To best impact these key performance outcomes, health care leaders should pay attention to culture and actively steer workforce engagement in attributes that represent the culture index, such as treating patients as valued customers, having congruency between employee and organizational values, promoting employee pride, and encouraging the feeling that being a member of the organization is rewarding, in order to leverage culture as a competitive advantage.
Muscarinic Cholinergic and β-Adrenergic Contribution to Hindquarters Vasodilation and Cardiac Responses to Cocaine

Cocaine produces a pressor response associated with an initial hindquarters vasoconstriction followed by a prolonged vasodilation in conscious rats. Propranolol pretreatment prevented the vasodilation and enhanced the pressor response, whereas atropine methylbromide pretreatment reduced the increase in systemic vascular resistance. We studied the role of selective muscarinic and β-adrenoceptor antagonists on responses to cocaine in rats with an increase in systemic vascular resistance to cocaine (vascular responders). Arterial blood pressure and ascending aortic and distal descending aortic blood flow using pulsed Doppler flowmetry were measured. In conscious rats, cocaine (5 mg/kg i.v.) elicited consistent pressor responses but variable systemic and hindquarters vascular resistance responses that were directly correlated, suggesting that skeletal muscle resistance responses comprise an important component of systemic vascular resistance. ICI 118,551 [(±)-1-[2,3-(dihydro-7-methyl-1H-inden-4-yl)oxy]-3-[(1-methylethyl)-amino]-2-butanol] (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) pretreatment prevented the hindquarters vasodilation, enhancing the increase in systemic vascular resistance and the pressor response while further depressing the cardiac output response, similar to the effects of propranolol. Atenolol (1 mg/kg) pretreatment attenuated the stroke volume and cardiac output responses while enhancing the increase in systemic vascular resistance without affecting the hindquarters responses. In contrast, M2 antagonist methoctramine (0.3 mg/kg) pretreatment had similar effects as atropine in reducing the decrease in cardiac output by reducing the increase in systemic vascular resistance, whereas the M1 antagonist pirenzipine (0.02 mg/kg) did not alter responses. Therefore, the cocaine-induced pressor response is ameliorated by β2-adrenoceptor mediated skeletal muscle vasodilation, whereas the decrease in cardiac output and the increase in systemic vascular resistance are dependent on M2-cholinoceptor activation.
Cost-effectiveness of the 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Children in Portugal

Background: Pneumococcal infections are the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in children. In June 2015, the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was introduced in the Portuguese Immunization Program. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of children vaccinated with PCV13 versus no vaccination for preventing pneumococcal diseases. Methods: A cohort simulation model for 2014 Portuguese newborns was used, considering a lifetime horizon and existence of herd effect on adults. Model outcomes measured life years gained, direct and indirect healthcare costs and net benefits considering &OV0556;20,000 per life years gained. PCV13 clinical effectiveness rate by serotype covered was assumed similar to PCV7. Patients’ resource use was based on 2014 diagnostic-related group database and experts’ opinion, while national legislation and official drug cost database were the main sources for unitary costs. Univariate sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess results’ effectiveness. Results: In base case scenario, PCV13 was a dominant strategy, being associated with better health outcomes and lower costs. In a lifetime, a total of 6238 infections (excluding acute otitis media) and 130 deaths were averted, with a total saving of &OV0556;397,217 ($432,966). Net benefits were estimated above &OV0556;28 million ($30 million). Results were robust in all sensitivity analyses, with positive net benefits, except when herd effect was excluded. Conclusions: Vaccination of children with PCV13 starting in their first year of life is a cost-effective intervention with the potential to save costs to the Portuguese health system and to provide health gains by reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease in the vaccines and through the herd effect of this vaccine.
Entamoeba histolytica Induces Host Cell Death in Amebic Liver Abscess by a Non-Fas-Dependent, Non-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-Dependent Pathway of Apoptosis

ABSTRACT Amebic liver abscess is characterized by extensive areas of dead hepatocytes that form cavities surrounded by a thin rim of inflammatory cells and few Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. E. histolytica produces pore-forming proteins and proteinases, but how trophozoites actually kill host cells has been unclear. Here, we report that E. histolytica induces apoptosis in both inflammatory cells and hepatocytes in a severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model of amebic liver abscess. By studying infection in C57/BL6.lpr and C57/BL6.gld mice, we found that E. histolytica-induced apoptosis does not require the Fas/Fas ligand pathway of apoptosis, and by using mice with a targeted deletion of the tumor necrosis factor receptor I gene, we have shown that E. histolytica-induced apoptosis is not mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha. Our data indicate that apoptosis plays a prominent role in the host cell death seen in amebic liver abscess in a mouse model of disease and suggest that E. histolytica induces cell death without using two common pathways for apoptosis.
A Model for the Transfer of Perceptual-Motor Skill Learning in Human Behaviors

This paper presents a preliminary model that outlines the mechanisms underlying the transfer of perceptual-motor skill learning in sport and everyday tasks. Perceptual-motor behavior is motivated by performance demands and evolves over time to increase the probability of success through adaptation. Performance demands at the time of an event create a unique transfer domain that specifies a range of potentially successful actions. Transfer comprises anticipatory subconscious and conscious mechanisms. The model also outlines how transfer occurs across a continuum, which depends on the individual's expertise and contextual variables occurring at the incidence of transfer.
Toward an effective absorber for damping resonances in shielded enclosures

A procedure for the design of compact and lightweight absorbing material for damping resonances inside shielded enclosure is presented. The proposed absorber is based on the concept of the Jaumann layers and the circuit analog absorbers, since it employs four layers of lossy (artificial) dielectrics separated by two high/low impedance frequency selective surfaces and one resistive sheet. The constitutive parameters of the absorber are optimized by means of the Particle Swarm Optimization in order to maximize its bandwidth and absorption rate in the frequency range centered around 1 GHz, where the first resonances of small commercial enclosures take place.
Simulation of a small sized antipodal Vivaldi antenna for UWB applications

A simulation of a small sized antipodal Vivaldi antenna for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications is presented in this paper. By using commercial electromagnetic simulation software-Ansoft HFSS, both the simulated and optimized results have been shown for the Vivaldi antenna printed on the substrate of FR4. The results regarding standing wave ratio (VSWR), far field pattern, group delay and antenna gain are illustrated. Good results of radiation patterns, VSWR and gain of Vivaldi antenna are obtained over the UWB frequency band, which made them valuable for short-range, low-power mobile electronics in UWB communication.
Refresh frequency reduction of data stored in SSDs based on A-timer and timestamps

Increasing the number of bits per cell and technology scaling are ways to reduce the cost per gigabyte of flash memories and solid-state drives (SSDs). Unfortunately, this trend has a negative impact on data retention capability and cycling endurance. Periodic data refresh allows dealing with a reduced retention time and, indirectly, may be used to improve cycling endurance. A worst case data refresh frequency is not optimal in the presence of important temperature variations as it may become unnecessarily pessimistic and alter the SSD response latency and energy consumption. Here, a flexible data refresh methodology is proposed based on approximations of the Arrhenius-curves employed to describe the temperature impact on the retention capability of flash memories. These approximations may be implemented with the help of a small module called A-timer. For an asymmetric temperature distribution between 30°C and 70°C, it is estimated that the refresh frequency can be reduced by more than 63× and almost 3× for respectively charge detrapping and SILC failure mechanisms.
Taxing the ‘Family’ in the Individual Income Tax

In this paper we examine international practices in the ways in which the individual income tax is applied to families, focusing upon country practices in OECD countries. We find that countries differ significantly in their taxation of the family, but that the dominant practice is the choice of the individual rather than the family as the unit of taxation. We also calculate the income tax consequences for “representative” taxpayers across these countries, and find that the differences in taxes between singles and married couples can often be quite large. We conclude that choosing the individual as the tax unit is likely to represent the most equitable approach to income taxation, especially given the increasing complexity of family units in modern societies.
Endobronchial inoculation with Apx toxins of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae leads to pleuropneumonia in pigs

To establish the role of the Apx toxins in the pathogenesis of porcine pleuropneumonia, specific-pathogen-free pigs were inoculated deeply endobronchially with either culture filtrates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 8 or 9, culture filtrates depleted of the Apx toxins by affinity chromatography, depleted culture filtrate supplemented with purified recombinant Apx toxins (rApx), or purified rApx toxins alone. Results of these experiments indicate that ApxI, ApxIII, and, to a lesser extent, ApxII are the bacterial factors that trigger the development of clinical symptoms and lung lesions typical for porcine pleuropneumonia.
Repeated injections of botulinum toxin into the masseter muscle induce bony changes in human adults: A longitudinal study

Objective To evaluate soft- and hard-tissue changes in the mandibular angle area after the administration of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection to patients with masseteric hypertrophy by using three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography (3D-CBCT). Methods Twenty volunteers were randomly divided into two groups of 10 patients. Patients in group I received a single BoNT-A injection in both masseter muscles, while those in group II received two BoNT-A injections in each masseter muscle, with the second injection being administered 4 months after the first one. In both groups, 3D-CBCT was performed before the first injection and 6 months after the first injection. Results Masseter muscle thicknesses and cross-sectional areas were significantly reduced in both groups, but the reductions were significantly more substantial in group II than in group I. The intergonial width of the mandibular angle area did not change significantly in either group. However, the bone volume of the mandibular gonial angle area was more significantly reduced in group II than in group I. Conclusions The repeated administration of BoNT-A injections may induce bone volume changes in the mandibular angle area.
Cytoskeletal disruption accelerates caspase-3 activation and alters the intracellular membrane reorganization in DNA damage-induced apoptosis.

In actinomycin D (AD)-induced apoptosis, caspase-3 activation and DNA cleavage in human megakaryoblastic leukemia CMK-7 cells were greatly accelerated by tubulin and actin polymerization inhibitors [e.g., colcemid (CL) and cytochalasin D (CD), respectively], but the acceleration was not found with Taxol or phalloidin. A decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, and cleavage of procaspase-9 to its active form preceded the activation of caspase-3 and, moreover, all of these events began earlier and/or proceeded faster in cells treated with AD plus CL or CD than in cells treated with AD only. These results suggest that cytoskeletal disruption in the apoptotic cells promotes damage of the mitochondrial membrane, resulting in the enhanced release of cytochrome c necessary for the activation of caspase-9 that initiates the caspase cascade. On the other hand, apoptotic bodies were rapidly formed from cells treated with AD and CL, but were suppressed when treated with AD and CD. Intracellular membranes and the actin system were reorganized to surround the nuclear fragments in the AD- and CL-treated cells, but such a membrane system was not formed in the presence of CD, implying that the apoptotic bodies are formed via reorganization of intracellular membranes under regulation by actin polymerization. Thus, the cytoskeletal change in CMK-7 cells has a strong effect on the early biochemical process as well as on the later morphologic process in AD-induced apoptosis.
Signaling the credibility of private actors as public agents: transparency, independence, and expertise in environmental evaluations of products and companies

Private firms are increasingly being regarded as moral agents of their stakeholders and the broader public. Stakeholders can use different types of evaluation organizations to monitor this division of moral labor, but must also monitor the credibility of this second layer of moral agents. This paper uses agency, signaling, and legitimacy theory to develop a novel conceptual framework showing how both firms and evaluation organizations send signals of their credibility as moral agents to earn grants of legitimacy from their moral stakeholders. The paper also describes how three specific characteristics of ratings and certifications – transparency, expertise, and independence – may signal different forms of credibility, appeal to particular stakeholder groups, and elicit different forms of legitimacy. A content analysis of the websites of 245 eco-labels, sustainability ratings and other forms of environmental evaluations reveals the multi-dimensional nature of these three characteristics, and finds that transparency is the most commonly-sent signal of credibility, followed by independence and then expertise. These results highlight the complexity of existing signals of credibility, and suggest several strategies – including voluntary credibility standards and a virtual information marketplace – that both private and public actors can pursue to improve the quality and accessibility of these signals of credibility.