Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Long‐Term ECG Recording on the Detection of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Patients After an Acute Ischemic Stroke

An ECG recording time of 24 hours has a low yield to detect atrial arrhythmias in patients after an acute ischemic stroke. The present study investigated whether a recording time of 72 instead of 24 hours detects paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in more patients. The study prospectively included 82 consecutive patients 2–3 weeks after an acute ischemic stroke. All patients had sinus rhythm in the resting ECGs and no history of atrial fibrillation or flutter. The frequency of atrial fibrillation was assessed after 24, 48, and 72 hours of ambulatory ECG monitoring. An ECG monitoring time of 72 hours documented paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in five (6%) patients. The episode of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation occurred in only one patient within 24 hours. The other patients had their first episode of atrial fibrillation between 24 and 48 hours (n = 2) and between 48 and 72 hours (n = 2). These five patients were older (age = 70 ± 5 years), whereas the mean age of the remaining patients was 59 ± 13 years. All five patients had cardiovascular disease in comparison to 36 of 77 patients and reported palpitations in comparison to 6 of 77 of the remaining patients. In conclusion, ambulatory ECG monitoring over 72 hours detected after the first recording day four of five patients in whom paroxysmal atrial fibrillation could be documented for the first time. The 72‐hour recording time improved, compared to the 24‐hour period, the detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients after an ischemic stroke. It seems to be more efficient to perform prolonged ECG recording mainly in older patients with a cardiovascular disease and/or a history of palpitations.
Argentina: The Persistence of Peronism

Despite a rocky first term, Peronist President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner saw her popularity rebound, leading to a huge reelection victory in 2011. The election served as a reminder of the remarkable durability and ideologically flexible appeal of the Peronist "brand" in Argentine politics. It also showed the ability of what we might call the Kirchnerist center-left sub-brand of Peronism to dominate at the polls given a divided set of rivals, a national economy buoyed by a commodities boom, and a wave of personal sympathy for a recently widowed incumbent.
C1q inhibits immune complex-induced interferon-alpha production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells: a novel link between C1q deficiency and systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE C1q deficiency is the strongest risk factor known for the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), since almost all humans with a genetic deficiency of C1q develop this disease. Low C1q serum concentration is also a typical finding in SLE during flares, emphasizing the involvement of C1q in SLE pathogenesis. Recent studies have revealed that C1q has a regulatory effect on Toll-like receptor-induced cytokine production. Therefore, we undertook this study to investigate whether C1q could regulate production of interferon-alpha (IFNalpha). METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) were stimulated with 3 known interferogenic stimuli and cultured with physiologic concentrations of C1q. IFNalpha production was determined by an immunoassay. RESULTS C1q significantly inhibited PBMC IFNalpha production induced by RNA-containing immune complexes (ICs), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and CpG DNA. C1q also inhibited PDC IFNalpha production induced by ICs and CpG DNA but increased PDC IFNalpha production induced by HSV. The regulatory role of C1q was not specific for IFNalpha but was also seen for interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. We demonstrated binding of C1q to PDCs both by surface plasmon resonance interaction analysis and by flow cytometry, and we also demonstrated intracellular detection of 2 C1q binding proteins. CONCLUSION Our findings contribute to the understanding of why C1q deficiency is such a strong risk factor for SLE and suggest an explanation for the up-regulation of the type I IFN system seen in SLE patients.
Genetic variants in the inflammation pathway as predictors of recurrence and progression in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin

Inflammation plays a critical role in the etiology of several cancers and may affect their clinical outcome. Our objective was to assess the association of genetic variants within the inflammation pathway with recurrence and progression among non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients with or without Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) treatment. We genotyped 372 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 27 selected genes within the inflammation pathway in 349 patients diagnosed with NMIBC, followed by internal validation in 322 additional patients. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analyses to identify SNPs as predictors for recurrence and progression. In the discovery phase, we identified 20 variants that were significantly associated with recurrence outcomes and 15 SNPs significantly associated with progression in patients treated with BCG but not in the transurethral resection (TUR)-only group. In BCG treated patients, rs7089861 was the only SNP significantly associated with risk of progression in both the discovery phase (Hazard Ratio [HR]=3.15, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.38-7.22, P<0.01) and validation phase (HR=3.84, 95% CI: 1.64-9.0, P=0.002; meta-analysis HR=3.47, 95% CI: 1.92-6.28, P<0.001). Two variants, rs1800686 and rs2071081, had probable association with HRs of the same trend in the discovery and validation groups (meta-analysis P=0.002). These findings supported the notion that genetic variation of inflammation pathway may impact clinical outcome of NMIBC patients treated with BCG immunotherapy. Further validation of these results in order to improve risk stratification to identify patients most likely to benefit from BCG treatment versus upfront radical cystectomy and future development of potential targeted therapies are warranted. Significance Statement In a two-stage study, we identified several genetic variants in the inflammation pathway associated with recurrence and progression in early-stage bladder cancer. In particular, variant rs7089861 was validated for progression among patients who underwent BCG immunotherapy. Several other variants showed marginal association with recurrence or progression. These findings suggest that inflammatory pathway genetic variants may influence clinical outcome of bladder cancer patients and help to select patients most appropriate for BCG treatment.
Evaluating the Profitability of Product Bundling in the Context of Negotiations

I develop a model to evaluate the profitability of product bundling in the context of negotiations between a monopolist and intermediaries that sell its products to consumers. I investigate whether the monopolist finds it feasible and advantageous to utilize product bundling to block negotiations between the intermediaries and a rival firm, which competes against the monopolist in a complementary market. My model demonstrates that bundling can be affected by intermediate bargaining power. Specifically, while the example I consider supports the profitability of product bundling when the monopolist sells its product directly to consumers, the existence of negotiations with intermediaries may reverse this result.
Life at the Frontier: The Third Annual John W. Severinghaus Lecture on Translational Science

F OR someone beginning a career in anesthesiology in 1970, there was no lack of problems to tackle. While the newly developed field of intensive care had proven capable of resolving simpler, easily reversed clinical conditions (e.g., temporary postoperative ventilatory insufficiency, atelectasis, transient coma), tougher problems—such as hypoxia in the newborn and adult due to acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, and sepsis—lay at the frontier of our specialty, posing significant challenges. Early on, I determined that, to make headway in these areas, it would be essential to build a multidisciplinary team that could explore the problem, develop and test solutions in the laboratory, and then, if warranted, at the bedside. My introduction to research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1967 provided ample evidence to me that medical advances were being crafted by groups of scientists— often from widely separated fields, working in teams on tough problems. The days of the solo, Pasteurlike investigator, working in relative isolation to make major advances or shift paradigms, were over. I learned this key lesson from great mentors at their own scientific frontiers working in teams, and I applied it many times throughout my life. NIH Pioneers
Dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the liver

Among the rare occurrences of primary malignant mesenchymal tumors of the liver, the development of liposarcoma has been only theoretically listed—there is no proven example in the literature. This article documents a case of primary liposarcoma of the liver in a 30‐year‐old woman who presented with a huge intrahepatic tumor in the left lobe measuring 14 × 10 × 6 cm. It was composed of two distinct macroscopic and histologic features—the well‐differentiated liposarcoma and the cellular, nonlipogenic pleomorphic sarcoma. The former was a mature, lipomatous tumor with various stages of lipoblasts. The latter was much more cellular, made up of pleomorphic cells admixed with a few areas of spindle cells with many mitotic figures, resembling a pleomorphic variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Oil red O stain revealed multifocal, but a scanty amount, of fat‐storing tumor cells in both compartments aside from large fat globules in the differentiated area. This is the first reported case of primary liposarcoma of the liver.
Detectability conditions for interconnection open defects

The detectability of interconnection opens by logic and I/sub DDQ/ testing is investigated. Opens in interconnection paths disconnect the driven gate(s) from the driving gate. An electrical model for interconnection opens is used to predict the detectability of this type of open. Using the proposed model, explicit analytical expressions have been obtained to determine the conditions for reliable detection of this defect by logic and I/sub DDQ/ testing. The cases of full controllability and non-full controllability of the signals at the coupling lines have been analysed. The effect of the trapped charge during fabrication has also been investigated. In addition, it has been found that the detectability of interconnection opens depends on the metal level where the signals are laid-out. The detectability dependency of interconnection opens on the test generation process has been analyzed.
‘Vanguard’ Subsidiaries and the Diffusion of New Practices: A Case Study of German Multinationals

German companies, used to operating in their distinctive domestic business environment, have had to learn new 'rules of the game' as they have internationalized. There are signs that they are adopting some of the characteristics of more mature international companies, particularly those from an 'Anglo-Saxon' tradition. This 'Anglo-Saxonization' is seen in international HR policy, in areas such as training and development and performance management. Drawing on research into German multinationals, this paper explores the role of 'vanguard' subsidiaries in spreading 'Anglo-Saxon' practices to German companies. It also analyses the impact of such innovations on pre-existing patterns of behaviour. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd/London School of Economics 2000.
The long-run uncovered interest rate parity in view of a trading strategy

Uncovered Interest Rate Parity (UIP) states that bonds in different denomination should produce the same returns if the maturities of the bonds are the same. Given this, if a foreign bond produces a lower holding period return than a home bond of the same maturity, for their remaining lives the same foreign bond ought to produce a return higher than the home bond. A test is designed according to this relationship. With 1 to 6 year interest rate data of U.S., Britain and Germany from 1979 to 2005, our test shows that this relationship is more reliable for 6-year interest rates than the shorter rates in general. This result lends support to the long-run UIP. A trading strategy is developed by utilizing this idea. We show that positive returns can be achieved by the strategy for bonds of longer horizons. This result also serves as indirect evidence of the long-run UIP.
Positional circulatory control in the sleeping infant and toddler: role of the inner ear and arterial pulse pressure

• Fast‐acting reflexes fine‐tune heart rate and blood pressure as the push and pull of gravity changes from moment to moment. • Circulatory failure may occur if these mechanisms fail to develop normally. • Reactions to routine movements such as head‐up and sideways tilt show how two key reflexes involved develop during sleep, in early infancy. • Sensors that detect motion and arterial pulsations, located in the inner ear and arteries, respectively, produce carefully coordinated changes in heart rate and blood pressure as body position and the force/direction of gravity alters. • Both mechanisms are intact in infants exposed to tobacco, but a mild pulse pressure anomaly reflexively slows their heart and lowers their blood pressure on tilt to upright. • Circulatory dysfunction need not necessarily reflect abnormal development of key reflexes per se, but other factors that inappropriately trigger or inhibit them.
When Is the Pen Truly Mighty? Regime Type and the Efficacy of Naming and Shaming in Curbing Human Rights Abuses

Does naming and shaming states affect respect for human rights in those states? This article argues that incentives to change repressive behaviour when facing international condemnation vary across regime types. In democracies and hybrid regimes – which combine democratic and authoritarian elements – opposition parties and relatively free presses paradoxically make rulers less likely to change behaviour when facing international criticism. In contrast, autocracies, which lack these domestic sources of information on abuses, are more sensitive to international shaming. Using data on naming and shaming taken from Western press reports and Amnesty International, the authors demonstrate that naming and shaming is associated with improved human rights outcomes in autocracies, but with either no effect or a worsening of outcomes in democracies and hybrid regimes.
Product Replacement Bias in Inflation and Its Consequences for Monetary Policy

The paper examines a New Keynesian model with product entry and exit and with two types of households. Households consume different product baskets, and therefore, face different inflation rates. The statistical bureau used in the model measures aggregate inflation, but observes product entry with a probabilistic delay. Consequently, measured inflation suffers from product replacement bias with respect to aggregate inflation. Measured inflation is less volatile but more persistent than aggregate inflation, and the correlation between aggregate inflation and aggregate output is lower than the correlation between measured inflation and measured output. When monetary policy responds to measured variables, it stabilizes aggregate inflation insufficiently. Nevertheless, under discretionary monetary policy, responding to measured variables improves welfare.
From Few to Many: Ten Years of Health Insurance Expansion in Colombia

From Few to Many is the first comprehensive look at Colombia's 1993 health system reforms. It describes the implementation of universal health insurance, including a subsidized system for the poor, and examines the impact of this and other reforms during a time when Colombia experienced crushing recession and internal conflict that displaced half a million people. Prior to the reforms, a quarter of the Colombian population had health insurance. Subsidies failed to reach the poor, who were vulnerable to catastrophic financial consequences of illness. Yet by 2008, 85 percent of the population benefited from health insurance. From Few to Many describes the challenges and benefits of implementing social health reforms in a developing country, exploring health care financing, institutional reform, the effects of political will on health care, and more. The reforms have provided important lessons not only for continued reform in Colombia, but also for other nations facing similar challenges.
Who Pays the Bar Tab? Beer Consumption and Economic Growth in the United States

Few studies explore the linkages between health behaviors and macroeconomic outcomes. This study uses 1971–2007 state‐level data from the United States to estimate the impact of beer consumption on economic growth. We document that beer consumption has negative effects on economic growth measures once the endogeneity of beer consumption is addressed. Our estimates are robust to a range of specification checks. These findings run parallel to a large body of literature documenting substantial social and economic costs stemming from alcohol use.
Metropolitan Maquiladora Econometric Forecast Accuracy

Maquiladora in-bond manufacturing activities occupy positions of collective importance within many regional economies across Mexico. To date, empirical evidence regarding the predictability of maquiladora activities in Mexico has not been attempted. To partially fill that gap in the literature, two sets of in-bond industry econometric forecasts for metropolitan economies in Northern Mexico are analyzed. Empirical results indicate that accurate forecasts of metropolitan maquiladora variables may prove elusive.
The Location Choice of Foreign Direct Investment Within Turkey: An Empirical Analysis

This paper investigates the location choice of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Turkey over the period 1996–2003. Using FDI data at the provincial level and negative binomial model, the empirical evidence confirms that agglomeration economies and information costs are the most important determinants of FDI location in Turkey. Specifically, both foreign and domestic agglomerations and in particular urbanization economies strongly affect the location decision of foreign investors. The results also suggest that foreign investors are attracted to provinces with fast growing market, more educated labour force, high density of road network, greater public investment, milder climate, larger area and better quality of life. On the other hand, the empirical findings show that wage, productivity, labour availability, unionization, sea and air transportation, free zones and instability have no significant impacts on the location decision.
Does a Smoking Ban Reduce Smoking? Evidence from Germany

In 2007 and 2008 the 16 German federal states introduced public smoking bans. The prime objective of the smoking bans was to reduce passive smoking. However, a welcomed side-effect of the smoking bans might have been to reduce active smoking. In this paper we investigate whether such a side-effect occurred. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), we investigate with fixed-effects models whether the introduction of smoking bans in the German states reduced the prevalence and the intensity of smoking. Our findings show no effects of public smoking bans on smoking behaviour.
Entrepreneurs Use a Balanced Scorecard to Translate Strategy into Performance Measures

Although 50 percent of Fortune 1000 companies currently use a balanced scorecard (BSC), few small businesses are using a BSC. A review of the literature finds no BSC papers in leading small business/entrepreneurship journals. This article begins with a discussion of the BSC and why a small business should use it. Three small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) case studies are presented, with a copy of their BSC, to illustrate how Hyde Park Electronics, Futura Industries, and Southern Gardens Citrus use a BSC to set strategy and align operations to achieve breakthrough results. Implications are, that like large businesses, SMEs can also benefit from using a BSC. Entrepreneurs of SMEs can use the case studies to develop their own BSC to improve performance. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Advances in genetic findings on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

ABSTRACT Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder with adverse consequences during adult life. Family, twin and adoption studies show that genetic factors contribute to the aetiology of ADHD and that environmental factors also play a role. Family and twin studies have shown the importance of genetic influences on continuity in ADHD over time and in accounting for the co-occurrence of ADHD and conduct disorder problems. In meta-analyses of molecular genetic studies, the 48-bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) variant in the dopamine D4 gene and the CA(n) microsatellite marker in the D5 receptor gene have been found to be repeatedly associated with ADHD. Results from meta-analyses of the 480-bp VNTR in the dopamine transporter gene are mixed. Several genetic studies have also identified genetic variants that are related to specific clinical and developmental features of ADHD. In the next few years, a new generation of much larger-scale genetic studies should lead to the identification of further ADHD susceptibility genes. Such studies will also need to be integrated with other areas of neuroscience, clinical and epidemiological research to investigate how specific gene variants exert risk effects, interact with environmental factors and enable identification of the underlying causal mechanisms that lead to ADHD.
Convergence of Inflationary Shocks: Evidence from the Caribbean

In this paper, we aim to shed some light on the inflation dynamics in the Caribbean. We analyse the inflation rates for twelve countries using various time series methods. The results show that the inflation rates are mean reverting processes and that there is evidence of a convergence club in inflation rates within the area, which contradicts previous studies. Our contribution implies a high degree of similarity in the dynamics of our target countries' inflation rates.
Partisanship and the Path to Financial Openness

The effect of traditional left-right economic preferences on countries’ international financial openness is more subtle than existing studies have recognized. The authors investigate the role that partisan politics played in the liberalization of international financial markets within 12 Western European democracies from 1960 to 1986. The authors find that right governments tended to be active liberalizers of the capital account. They were more likely than left governments to enact liberalizations, and liberalizations were especially likely when new right governments entered office. Left governments typically acquiesced to these changes. Although less likely to enact liberalizations, they were no more likely to impose new restrictions. The authors’ findings are consistent with studies that show how financial integration does not undermine welfare states but is still subject to partisan contention.