Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the third millennium

Purpose of reviewHematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has evolved into an accepted therapy for many congenital or acquired disorders of the hematopoietic system. It has seen major changes in indications and use of transplant techniques. HSCT is a high cost procedure and requires investments; information on trends is essential for patient counselling and healthcare planning. Recent findingsHSCT rates have increased worldwide. Increase is constant and predictable; the reasons therefore are manifold. Introduction of reduced intensity conditioning regimens has opened access to patients at older age and with comorbidities. Higher numbers of unrelated volunteer donors and cord blood products give access to HSCT for patients without family donors. For some well defined indications, HSCT has become the most cost efficient therapy in countries with limited resources. Use of HSCT is under discussion for nonhematopoietic indications, as is the use of nonhematopoietic stem cells for organ repair. SummaryHSCT is likely to continue to increase for currently established indications. Indications and technologies will vary between countries with limited or nonrestricted resources. The most cost effective approach might not be the same everywhere. Novel indications will emerge but time will be needed to confirm their benefit. Close observation of global trends will become an essential tool for healthcare agencies in order to provide the necessary infrastructure in time.
A first step towards inferring levels of long‐distance dispersal during past expansions

Improving the realism of spatially explicit demographic models is important for better inferring the history of past populations and for understanding the genetic bases of adaptation and speciation. One particular type of demographic event to take into account is long‐distance dispersal (LDD). The goals of this study are to explore the impact of various levels of LDD on genetic diversity and to show to what extent LDD levels can be correctly inferred from multilocus data sets using an approximate Bayesian computation approach. We therefore incorporated LDD into a 2D stepping stone forward simulation framework coupled to a coalescent backward simulation step to generate genetic diversity at 100 microsatellite markers under various demographic conditions relevant to recent human evolution. Our results confirm that LDD considerably increases genetic diversity within demes and decreases levels of diversity between demes. By controlling the spatial occurrence of LDD, it appears that LDD events occurring during a phase of range expansion into new territories are more important in maintaining genetic diversity than those occurring in the wake of the expansion or when colonization is over. We also show that it is possible to infer whether LDD has occurred during a range expansion, but our results suggest that one can only approximately estimate the extent of LDD based on genetic summary statistics.
Promoting a greater financial stability after the 1997 and subprime crisis: exploring the opportunity of a regional monetary unit in East Asia

After the first Asian currency crisis, a financial turmoil has recently dragged the global economy along for the ride. We propose a roadmap for strengthening financial architecture in East Asia in confirming a scope for deeper monetary integration on the basis of their symmetry in macroeconomic disturbances. Specifically, we verify empirically via the Bayoumi and Eichengreen vector autoregression (VAR) approach the incidences of transitory and permanent shocks as a way of identifying plausible candidates to form an optimum currency area. A regional monetary integration would be to start with smaller sub-groupings that could culminate in a single currency area.
Hard Questions, Hard Solutions: Proceduralisation through Impact Assessment in the EU

An important proposition in public policy analysis is that the design and selection of policy instruments is a manifestation of power relations; in other words, ‘politics determines instruments’. However, except where it degenerates into tick-the-box routines, instrumentation can also generate its own political effects at the implementation stage – the ‘instruments determine politics’ argument. Examining the impact assessment (IA) element of the EU's Better Regulation agenda of the European Union, this article argues that procedures and meta-instruments are chosen by policy-makers when there is disagreement on fundamental issues of power. Policy-makers activate meta-instruments that do not address fundamental issues directly, but change procedures of policy formulation. In so doing, however, they create a new structure of opportunity, which produces its own effects on politics. Our findings point to unintended effects of IA, such as administrative coordination and organisational learning, as well as strengthening of the Commission Secretariat General.
An Experimental Investigation of the Influence of Audit Fee Structure and Auditor Selection Rights on Auditor Independence and Client Investment Decisions

SUMMARY: This study uses experimental markets to gain insights into the effect of audit fee structure and auditor selection rights on auditor independence and client investment decisions. I find that firm managers are more willing to make a high cost/return investment under a lowballing setting than when auditors are paid a flat rate. Auditor behavior is primarily summarized as a response to past manager choices; when managers are especially willing to invest and honest, auditors perform fewer tests of manager disclosures. I also show that under manager selection, when lowballing exists, auditors initially attribute a higher accuracy to investigations indicating high manager investment than tests that suggest low investment, but the difference in accuracy assessments dissipates with time. Under investor selection, accuracy assessments of test results do not differ according to their outcome. Further analysis indicates that auditor retention under manager selection is negatively impacted by both unreliable.
The reporting of randomized controlled trials in prosthodontics.

PURPOSE This article evaluates the reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCT) in prosthodontics, excluding endosseous implant-based prosthetics. MATERIALS AND METHODS Reports of RCTs published to the end of 2000 in any language were identified using a multilayered search strategy. The Cochrane Oral Health Group specialized register, Medline, and personal libraries were searched. Three researchers appraised the articles independently using guidelines following Jadad and CONSORT, complemented with an evaluation of the appropriateness of the reported statistics. RESULTS Ninety-two reports of RCTs were evaluated, covering a wide spectrum of study hypotheses, topics, and issues within various prosthodontic domains. The interrater agreements on appraisal criteria were relatively high, with median kappa values ranging between 0.65 and 0.79. The reports were in general of poor methodologic quality. Randomization and procedures for concealment allocation were not described in 70% of the articles. The methods used to generate the random allocation sequence were not mentioned in 82%. The methods used to implement the random allocation sequence, clarifying whether it was concealed until all interventions were assigned, was not mentioned in 94%. Reporting who generated allocation sequence, who enrolled patients, and who assigned participants to groups was not reported in 7%. Reasons for withdrawals were not given in 23% of the reports. No attempt at blinding was reported in 72%. Statistical analysis was not described in 6% of the papers, while these analyses were assessed as appropriate for 75%, unclear in 12%, and inappropriate in 7%. CONCLUSION Few RCTs in prosthodontics are reported in accordance with contemporary guidelines for adequate reporting of trials.
Asymmetric CCC Modelling in Multivariate-GARCH with Illustrations of Multivariate Financial Data

It has been relatively incomplete in the field of financial time series to adapt asymmetric features to multivar ate GARCH processes (McAleer et al., 2009). Retaining constant conditional correlation(CCC) structure, this article pursues to introduce asymmetric GARCH modelling in analysing multivariate volatilities in time series in a practical point of view. Multivariate Korean financial time series are analyzed in detail to compar our theory with conventional methodologies including GARCH and EGARCH.
Government, Parties and Public Sector Employees: Canada, United States, Britain and France André Blais, Donald Blake and Stéphane Dion Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1997, pp. ix, 189

Management, 1998). A proper testing of this hypothesis would require an analytical and research project of the type alluded to above. It has implications for our understanding of Ontario's current and future government organization, economy, federal-provincial relations and, perhaps, its social relations and its party system. Such an investigation would also have to grapple with the interconnections among these various institutional orders. This inquiry, or some other with similarly broad potential, could provide us with a literature on Ontario politics that equals or surpasses in stimulation and insight what is now available for several other provinces. In the meantime, these two volumes will provide a very adequate foundation for students commencing their study of Ontario politics.
Whole body vibration therapy in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy--a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES To study the tolerability of whole body vibration (WBV) exercise in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and its effects on muscle and bone. METHODS WBV was performed two to three times a week for three months. Motor function, muscle strength, bone mass and biochemical markers of bone and mineral metabolism were analyzed before and after the WBV period at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS Six ambulatory patients with DMD aged 5.7-12.5 years completed the study. No changes in creatine kinase activity were found, indicating that the WBV exercise did not further damage the skeletal muscle. No significant changes in bone mass, muscle strength or bone markers were found. However, there was a non-significant trend for the bone formation marker, bone-specific alkaline phosphate, to increase from a mean of 59 U/L to 73 U/L after three months of WBV. The bone formation marker levels returned to baseline three months after discontinuing WBV and were still at that level after nine months. CONCLUSIONS WBV therapy appears to be safe and well tolerated among ambulatory DMD patients. The potential benefits of WBV on bone and muscle in DMD remain to be elucidated.
Individual scientific collaborations and firm-level innovation

Our article focuses on the role of interorganizational collaborations by biotechnology scientists (as captured by co-authorship of research papers) and their impact on the patented innovations of firms. Our results show that even after controlling for factors that have been previously suggested to impact the patent output of a firm, including the firm's strategic alliances, star and nonstar scientists, individual-level scientific ability, and R&D investment, the extent to which a firm's scientists collaborate externally on scientific articles positively influences the firm's innovation. We also find that individual collaborations between firm and university researchers are particularly useful and that regional spillovers enhance the impact of individual collaborations. Our research thus isolates and highlights the role of individual-level (and often informal) collaborative activity in enhancing firm innovation. Copyright 2011 The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Associazione ICC. All rights reserved. , Oxford University Press.
Different Faces, Different Priorities: Agenda-Setting Behavior in the Mississippi, Maryland, and Georgia State Legislatures.

This work explores the agenda-setting behavior of African American state legislators, female state legislators, and African American female state legislators and examine the degree to which these lawmakers have been able to translate election to office into substantive representation. Using the records of legislation sponsored in the lower houses of the Mississippi, Maryland and Georgia state legislatures in the 2001 sessions, I categorize the legislation sponsored by each legislator according to its content. I find that female legislators and African American legislators behave cohesively and demonstrate different agenda-setting behavior than do their white male colleagues. Female legislators are as likely as male legislators to achieve passage of their legislation. African American legislators generally, and African American female legislators in particular, are less likely to achieve passage of their legislation, giving support to both the double disadvantage and social distance theories.
Multivariate Patterns in the Human Object-Processing Pathway Reveal a Shift from Retinotopic to Shape Curvature Representations in Lateral Occipital Areas, LO-1 and LO-2

Representations in early visual areas are organized on the basis of retinotopy, but this organizational principle appears to lose prominence in the extrastriate cortex. Nevertheless, an extrastriate region, such as the shape-selective lateral occipital cortex (LO), must still base its activation on the responses from earlier retinotopic visual areas, implying that a transition from retinotopic to “functional” organizations should exist. We hypothesized that such a transition may lie in LO-1 or LO-2, two visual areas lying between retinotopically defined V3d and functionally defined LO. Using a rapid event-related fMRI paradigm, we measured neural similarity in 12 human participants between pairs of stimuli differing along dimensions of shape exemplar and shape complexity within both retinotopically and functionally defined visual areas. These neural similarity measures were then compared with low-level and more abstract (curvature-based) measures of stimulus similarity. We found that low-level, but not abstract, stimulus measures predicted V1–V3 responses, whereas the converse was true for LO, a double dissociation. Critically, abstract stimulus measures were most predictive of responses within LO-2, akin to LO, whereas both low-level and abstract measures were predictive for responses within LO-1, perhaps indicating a transitional point between those two organizational principles. Similar transitions to abstract representations were not observed in the more ventral stream passing through V4 and VO-1/2. The transition we observed in LO-1 and LO-2 demonstrates that a more “abstracted” representation, typically considered the preserve of “category-selective” extrastriate cortex, can nevertheless emerge in retinotopic regions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Visual areas are typically identified either through retinotopy (e.g., V1–V3) or from functional selectivity [e.g., shape-selective lateral occipital complex (LOC)]. We combined these approaches to explore the nature of shape representations through the visual hierarchy. Two different representations emerged: the first reflected low-level shape properties (dependent on the spatial layout of the shape outline), whereas the second captured more abstract curvature-related shape features. Critically, early visual cortex represented low-level information but this diminished in the extrastriate cortex (LO-1/LO-2/LOC), in which the abstract representation emerged. Therefore, this work further elucidates the nature of shape representations in the LOC, provides insight into how those representations emerge from early retinotopic cortex, and crucially demonstrates that retinotopically tuned regions (LO-1/LO-2) are not necessarily constrained to retinotopic representations.
Profit Maximization, Returns to Scale, and Measurement Error

A nonparametric analysis of agricultural production behavior was conducted for each of the contiguous forty-eight states for the period 1956-82 under the joint hypothesis of profit maximization, convex technology, and nonregressive technical change. Tests were conducted in each state for profit maximization and for constant returns to scale. Although considerable variability was observed among states, measurement errors of magnitudes common in secondary data yielded test results fully consistent with the profit-maximization hypothesis in all states with complete output and input data. Copyright 1992 by MIT Press.
Going international? Important factors executives should consider!

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to explore the likely main driving forces behind the internationalization process for publicly traded restaurant firms in the USA, and to offer restaurant executives insights for successful expansions into the international arena.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses data from publicly‐traded restaurant firms in the USA that have made the decision to expand internationally. The data spans both sides of the decision, i.e. before the international expansion and right after.Findings – This paper finds that firms that are growing rapidly, have lots of debt, or are in an economy that is growing rapidly prefer to expand in the domestic market. In contrast, firms that have achieved a high level of market penetration tend to expand in the international markets.Practical implications – The paper recommends the following key factors to be considered before a decision is made to expand internationally: size, leverage, penetration, and annual market excess return.Originali.
The Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in the CEECs New Evidence from Sectoral Patterns

This paper analyses European Union FDI flows into the CEECs at a sector level, which is currently the less studied aspect of this issue. The aim is to understand whether and to what extent FDI in different sectors reacts to the same characteristics of the host countries. The paper first presents data that summarise the trend of FDI in the CEECs and, then, regression evidence that seeks to account for differences among sectors. A statistically significant positive association has been found between FDI and market size, wage differential, the stage of the transition process and the degree of openness of the economy as well. However, a statistically significant negative relation has been found for proximity to Europe and the degree of industrial concentration. This last effect suggests that strategic motivations completely offset the benefits generated by agglomeration economies. Controlling for sector specific effects, some differences emerge. Progress towards a market economy is relevant only in scale intensive and science based sectors, while labour cost is a potential attractiveness for foreign investors in traditional labour intensive sector and in science based ones. Also market considerations, proxied by the traditional gravity approach variables, affect FDI differently, depending on the industrial sector.
"Akinetic depression" in schizophrenia.

It is possible that some "postpsychotic depressions" may be a toxic effect of antipsychotic drugs. Out of a total of 94 schizophrenic patients, 28 developed a mild akinesia and 32 never developed extrapyramidal symptoms. Those who developed akinesia became less psychotic, but they also experienced a significant, although modest, increase in depression ratings. Successful treatment of the akinesia resulted in significant improvements in depression, somatic concern, anxiety, emotional withdrawal, blunted affect, and motor retardation on both physicians' and nurses' ratings. A high association between akinesia and both objectively rated and subjectively experienced sedative effect indicates that an 'akinetic depression' is not likely if the patient does not look or feel drowsy. The 32 nonakinetic patients also became less psychotic, but not more depressed.
Hong Kong and the knowledge‐based economy: developments and prospects

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine Hong Kong's future economic diversification prospects to become a high value‐added knowledge‐based economy.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a view of the knowledge‐based economic development of Hong Kong and its potential future prospects since its re‐unification with China. It is important to have a good understanding of the past before trying to predict the future.Findings – The key message is that Hong Kong now needs a “horizontal” support structure, a good understanding of how things work in a globalized knowledge economy, continuation of the “free market” structure and a lightweight facilitation system that supports all high‐value added economic activities in Hong Kong.Originality/value – The papers provides an original viewpoint on the potential for Hong Kong's knowledge‐based economic development, in line with the rise of China as a global economic power.
Development and Use of Fowlpox Vectored Vaccines for Avian Influenza

Abstract: The avian influenza (AI) vaccine designated TROVAC™‐AIV H5 (TROVAC‐H5) contains a live recombinant fowlpox rec. (FP) recombinant (recFP), expressing the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of an AI H5 subtype isolate. This recombinant vaccine was granted a license in the United States for emergency use in 1998 and full registration in Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador where over 2 billion doses have been administered. One injection of TROVAC‐H5 protects chickens against AI‐induced mortality and morbidity for at least 20 weeks, and significantly decreases shedding after challenge with a wide panel of H5‐subtype AI strains, regardless of neuraminidase subtype. Recently, excellent protection was demonstrated against 2003 and 2004 Asian highly pathogenic H5N1 isolates. Whereas TROVAC‐H5 AI H5 efficacy was not inhibited by anti‐AI or anti‐fowlpox maternal antibodies (passive immunity), protection to AI was significantly decreased in chickens previously vaccinated or infected with FP (active immunity). Advantages of the TROVAC‐H5 vaccine over inactivated AI vaccines are: (a) single administration at 1 day of age and early onset (1 week) of protection, (b) easy monitoring of AI infection in vaccinated flocks with agar gel precipitation (AGP) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) used as tests to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA tests), and (c) no residue problem due to adjuvant. These features make TROVAC‐H5 an ideal AI vaccine for routine administration of day‐of‐age chicks in hatcheries. RecFP expressing HA from three lineages of H7 subtype (Eurasian, American, and Australian) were also tested for efficacy against a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) Eurasian HPAI H7N1. Only the recFP expressing the Eurasian H7 gene provided sufficient protection indicating that the breadth of protection induced by recFP is apparently restricted for H7 isolates. The fowlpox vector technology can also be used for the production of an emergency vaccine: once the HA sequence of an emerging AI virus is known, recFP can be rapidly generated. TROVAC‐H5 has recently been shown to be immunogenic in cats and could therefore also be considered for use in mammals.
The Community Teacher: A New Framework for Effective Urban Teaching

This volume provides readers with a blueprint for the professional development of urban teachers (K -- 12) that fosters new communities of learning, embraces diversity, and prepares teachers through community and collaborative partnerships. Peter Murrell offers nothing less than a new system of practice for urban teacher preparation. His model of a "community teacher" encompasses more than just the subject matter taught -- it also embraces the communities where urban youth live. Case studies illustrate Murrell's framework in action.