Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Violent Behavior in Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Facilities: A National Survey in Italy

Violence committed by acute psychiatric inpatients represents an important and challenging problem in clinical practice. Sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment information were collected for 1324 patients (677 men and 647 women) admitted to Italian public and private acute psychiatric inpatient facilities during an index period in 2004, and the sample divided into 3 groups: nonhostile patients (no episodes of violent behavior during hospitalization), hostile patients (verbal aggression or violent acts against objects), and violent patients (authors of physical assault). Ten percent (N = 129) of patients showed hostile behavior during hospitalization and 3% (N = 37) physically assaulted other patients or staff members. Variables associated with violent behavior were: male gender, <24 years of age, unmarried status, receiving a disability pension, having a secondary school degree, compulsory admission, hostile attitude at admission, and a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, mental retardation, organic brain disorder or substance/alcohol abuse. Violent behavior during hospitalization was a predictive factor for higher Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores and for lower Personal and Social Performance scale scores at discharge. Despite the low percentage of violent and hostile behavior observed in Italian acute inpatient units, this study shed light on a need for the careful assessment of clinical and treatment variables, and greater effort aimed at improving specific prevention and treatment programs of violent behavior.
Polymorphism in the Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 (TCF7L2) Gene Is Associated With Reduced Insulin Secretion in Nondiabetic Women

Recently, the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene on chromosome 10q25.2 has been linked with type 2 diabetes among Caucasians, with disease associations noted for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs12255372 and rs7903146. To investigate mechanisms by which TCF7L2 could contribute to type 2 diabetes, we examined the effects of these SNPs on clinical and metabolic traits affecting glucose homeostasis in 256 nondiabetic female subjects (138 European Americans and 118 African Americans) aged 7–57 years. Outcomes included BMI, percent body fat, insulin sensitivity (Si), acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg), and the disposition index (DI). Homozygosity for the minor allele (TT) of SNP rs12255372 occurred in 9% of individuals and was associated with a 31% reduction in DI values in a recessive model. The at-risk allele TT was also associated with lower AIRg adjusted for Si in both ethnic groups, whereas rs12255372 genotype was not associated with measures of adiposity or with Si. The T allele of rs12255372 was also associated with increased prevalence of impaired fasting glucose. Genotypes at rs7903146 were not associated with any metabolic trait. Lower Si and higher AIRg observed in the African-American compared with the European-American subgroup could not be explained by the TCF7L2 genotype. Our data suggest that the TCF7L2 gene is an important factor regulating insulin secretion, which could explain its association with type 2 diabetes.
Towards an alternative tourism for Jamaica

This paper examines some of the trends, issues and challenges associated with tourism development in Jamaica. It argues that for the tourism product to be more competitive, there is a need to rethink the kind of tourism product currently on offer to the world. It is being suggested that Jamaican tourism planners, drawing on the experiences of a number of countries, should concentrate more on the culture and history of Jamaica, making sure they involve different segments of civil society in the development process. Only then will tourism reach its full potential and become a sustainable industry in the country.
Learning by Knowledge-Intensive Firms

Knowledge-intensive firms (KIFs) specialize in expertise, especially esoteric knowledge that few other firms possess. KIFs must keep their knowledge up-to-date, so they need to learn continually. However, their ability to satisfy clients depends on the close relations that some of KIFs' personnel develop with specific clients.
Is informed consent to clinical trials an "upside selective" process in acute coronary syndromes?

METHODS Patient understanding of clinical trial details was assessed on 2 occasions (10 +/- 4 and 24 +/- 3 hours after randomization) in 20 patients enrolled for randomized investigation of pharmacotherapy for unstable angina pectoris or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction in the Platelet IIb/IIIa Antagonist for the Reduction of Acute Coronary Syndrome Events in a Global Organized Network (PARAGON B) and Organization to Assess Strategies in Ischemic Syndromes (OASIS-2) trials. RESULTS Initial total score for understanding of 52.0% (+/-15.7%) of maximal values improved to 67.7% (+/-18.3%) at repeat interview (P <.001). The mean initial score for knowledge of potential benefit was 85.0% (+/-33.3%) with no significant improvement at repeat interview. Scores for knowledge of risk improved from 35.0% (+/-36.6%) to 68.2% (+/-41.2%) at repeat interview (P <.005). Significant determinants of poor initial score were female sex, limited education, and presence of pain during the consent process; young age was the only determinant of improvement on repeat assessment. CONCLUSION Thus initial understanding of the research protocols for patients with unstable angina pectoris or non-Q-wave acute myocardial infarction was imperfect, with far greater impairment of knowledge of risk than of benefit.
Engaging Hong Kong businesses in environmental change: drivers and barriers

Hong Kong's businesses have been slow to embrace environmental management principles, particularly in the SME sector. This article analyses key barriers and incentives to engaging Hong Kong businesses with voluntary environmental initiatives and compares their relevance for companies of different sizes. As in other countries, SMEs show a much lower uptake of such activities than larger companies. Their approach towards environmental management is predominantly reactive, and legislation remains the key driver for engaging them with environmental change. Inadequate government policy and support, societal attitudes and corporate culture all contribute significantly to the comparatively poor development of corporate environmental management among Hong Kong companies. As long as most SMEs regard voluntary environmental activities as costly and unnecessary ‘extras’ that endanger their competitiveness and detract resources from their core business without offering any tangible benefits, fundamental improvements in their environmental performance will be difficult to achieve. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Testis and ovary express the gene for the ketogenic mitochondrial 3- hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase.

Ketogenesis has been thought to occur exclusively in the mitochondrial compartment of liver cells. After analysis of five different rat tissues, it was shown that the gene for mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase, one of the major control points in the pathway (1992. Casals et al. Biochem. J. 283: 261-264) was expressed only in liver (1990. Ayte et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 87: 3874-3878). However, exhaustive analysis of organs and tissues has shown that, in addition to liver cells, testis and ovary express this committed gene in levels similar to those of liver, not only as mRNAs but also as immunodetectable mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase protein. Immunocytochemical studies locate the mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase protein in Leydig cells, theca interna cells of ovarian follicle, corpus luteum cells of ruptured ovarian follicle, and epidermal cells of the oviduct. The development of gonadal function appears to be accompanied by mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase gene expression, as hypophysectomy reduces the expression pattern in gonads. Changes induced in mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase levels after the depletion of lipoprotein levels in blood closely mimic those of the cholesterogenic cytosolic HMG-CoA synthase and HMG-CoA reductase. These results suggest that mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase could perform a function similar to that of cytosolic HMG-CoA synthase in de novo cholesterogenesis in gonads, at variance with its ketogenic role in liver.
A Comment on Zoning, Returns to Scale, and the Value of Undeveloped Land

This paper revisits the relationship between land value and parcel size. The authors demonstrate that, using a simple arbitrage equilibrium argument, the value-size relationship is convex (concave) whenever land assembly (subdivision) is possible. They also explore further the impact of zoning on market outcomes. Copyright 1993 by MIT Press.
Use of Participatory Notes in Indian Equity Markets and Recent Regulatory Changes

This paper focuses on the use of participatory notes (PNs) by foreign investors, as a conduit for portfolio flows into Indian equity markets for more than a decade. The broadening of India's foreign investor base, in recent years, has a bias towards hedge funds/unregistered foreign investors who invest primarily via PNs. While tax arbitrage via capital gains tax has almost disappeared since July 2004, it is intriguing to note that since then the demand for PNs has actually increased. The paper suggests some reasons for the continuation of a buoyant market in PNs, and explains the possible impact from the recent regulatory changes.
Estrogen and the risk of breast cancer.

The connection between breast cancer and estrogen has been recognized for more than 100 years, since George Beatson demonstrated that bilateral oophorectomy resulted in the remission of breast cancer in premenopausal women.1 Subsequent evidence has implicated both endogenous and exogenous estrogen in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. In this article, we review the relation between estrogen and the risk of breast cancer. Estrogen and Breast Carcinogenesis Experimental data strongly suggest that estrogens have a role in the development and growth of breast cancer.2 Although the exact mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated, the alkylation of cellular molecules and the generation .
Milk Cows, Migrants, and Land Markets: Unraveling the Complexities of Forest‐to‐Pasture Conversion in Northern Honduras

Introduction Over the past 4 decades, forest clearing has occurred rapidly in Central America. Some estimates put forest loss as high as 431,000 hectares per year. According to a recent estimate, this figure has probably declined to around 300,000 hectares, reflecting the virtual disappearance of forestry resources in some countries, such as in Costa Rica and El Salvador, that are located outside the protected areas. Nevertheless, the remaining forests are still undergoing rapid conversion to alternative uses, especially in the Atlantic regions of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama and in the Peten in Guatemala. Most of the land that is cleared of forest ends up as grassland. In this article I will examine the process of forest-to-pasture conversion in the Atlantic region of northern Honduras. This article presents evidence that contradicts the commonly held assumption that tropical forests are being converted to pasture because they are unsuitable for alternative uses. In northern Honduras, small, mostly migrant, farmers from other parts of the country have been relatively successful at producing grains on cleared hillsides. Indeed, these farmers have achieved a certain fame within the literature on low-input sustainable agriculture. However, their relative success has not stopped land sales to wealthier dairy farmers. Furthermore, as older frontiers are converted to pasture, small farmers are converting forest lands to alternative uses elsewhere. The trend is eastward, toward La Mosquitia, as well as higher up into fragile montane forest areas of northern Honduras, continuing a trend from west to east that is predominant throughout Central America.
An Effective Educational Strategy for Improving Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Risk Communication Among Colorectal Adenoma Patients

Background We have previously shown that most adenoma patients are unaware of the personal and familial implications of their diagnosis. Our goal was to determine whether a brief, computer-based educational program (CBEP) administered alone after polypectomy, or in combination with a personalized letter (PL), was more effective than standard care (SC) for heightening awareness and improving risk communication. Methods Using a quasi-randomized design, adenoma-bearing subjects were assigned to the CBEP +PL (n=99), CBEP (n=96), or SC (n=120) arms. The CBEP was administered before discharge from the endoscopy unit. All subjects completed a phone survey 3 months postpolypectomy assessing knowledge, risk perception, and notification of first-degree relatives. Results Composite knowledge scores were higher (P<0.05) for the CBEP+PL group than CBEP and SC groups. Subjects in the CBEP+PL group were more likely (P<0.05) than those in the SC group to know that adenomas but not hyperplastic polyps were precancerous, that patients with adenomas were at increased risk of future adenomas, and that the siblings and children of adenoma patients may be at increased colorectal cancer risk. Subjects in the CBEP+PL group were also more likely (P<0.05) to know their polyp's histology, perceive themselves and their siblings/children to be at increased risk of colorectal neoplasia, and notify a first-degree relative. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and endoscopist. No differences were observed between the CBEP and SC groups. Conclusions The CBEP+PL intervention is an effective strategy for improving knowledge, risk perception, and risk communication among adenoma patients.
Crowding-in and crowding-out effects of public investments in the Portuguese economy

This study analyses the effects of public and private investment on Portuguese GDP in the period 1960–2013. After a review of the literature based on works developed in the context of VAR analyses, an alternative econometric strategy is proposed. We opt for ADL models using the methodology of Krolzig-Hendry-Doornik. We estimate direct effects of public and private investments on themselves and also a system of simultaneous equations and calculate the multipliers of the exogenous variables, represented by the current external transfers, the short-run nominal interest rate and public debt ratio. Additionally, we tested a model with the first three equations of the system, using beyond those variables the real exchange rate as an exogenous variable. The results point to the existence of a complementarity between private investment and public investment rather than any idea of substitutability. We find that public debt has important negative effects on public and private investments and consequently on output. Public investment has positive effects on output and on private investment. The appreciation of the real exchange rate has an important and long-lasting negative effect upon output, confirming the presence of a mechanism associated with a Dutch-disease phenomenon in the Portuguese economy.
ElecPrivacy: Evaluating the Privacy Protection of Electricity Management Algorithms

The data collected by a home smart meter can potentially reveal sensitive private information about the home resident(s). In this paper, we study how home energy resources can be used to protect the privacy of the collected data. In particular we: a) introduce a power mixing algorithm to selectively protect a set of consumption events; b) develop a range of different privacy protection metrics; c) analyze real smart metering data sampled twice a minute over a period of 13 days; and d) evaluate the protection offered by different power mixing algorithms. Major factors which determine the efficiency of the proposed power mixing algorithms are identified, such as battery capacity and power, and user preferences for privacy-based allocations of battery energy quotas.
On Flexible Design and Implementation of Structured LDPC Codes

In this paper we address the problem of flexibility of LDPC decoders in terms of coding rates. The paper introduces a code construction based on structured LDPC codes. The design of the code is performed in close relation with a targeted architecture in order to facilitate implementation at later stage. The proposed solution is based on the transformation of the parity check matrix resulting in a generic representation. This new representation can be used for different codes with distinct coding rates. This concept is illustrated through an example: a multiple-rate decoder is implemented on an hardware prototype and performance results are provided.
Banques et transmission monétaire dans l'UEMOA : effets des bilans bancaires, de la concentration bancaire et de l'excès de liquidité bancaire sur l'efficacité de la politique monétaire de la BCEAO

Les reformes de liberalisation financiere, en cours dans l’UEMOA depuis deux decennies, ont enregistre des resultats insuffisants sur le plan de l’intermediation bancaire et de l’efficacite des instruments de marche de la politique monetaire de la BCEAO. En effet, en 2009 le rapport credit bancaire/PIB est inferieur aux niveaux atteints a la fin de la decennie 1970 ; pendant que les etudes empiriques soulignent une liaison distendue entre les taux directeurs de la BCEAO et les variables d’inflation et de croissance economique.En vue d’expliquer cette faiblesse de l’intermediation bancaire ainsi que l’efficacite limitee de la politique monetaire, cette these a entrepris d’etudier les determinants du credit bancaire, et d’evaluer, en particulier, la sensibilite du credit aux impulsions monetaires. Elle s’appuie sur les imperfections des marches de credit pour rendre compte des performances des secteurs bancaires de l’UEMOA. Les theories du canal du credit permettent d’envisager le role de la resilience des banques dans la transmission monetaire.La these apporte les principaux resultats suivants : i) les bilans bancaires alterent la transmission monetaire, les firmes bancaires les moins capitalisees, les moins liquides et les plus petites, transmettent plus amplement les chocs monetaires ; ii) la concentration bancaire contraint le financement bancaire de l’economie et affaiblit, de facon importante, la transmission monetaire ; iii) la surliquidite bancaire limite le financement des economies de l’UEMOA et reduit l’efficacite des instruments monetaires de la BCEAO ; iv) la surliquidite bancaire est liee a la concentration des industries bancaires, et le recours a la politique de titrisation peut servir a mobiliser les excedents de reserves ; v) toutefois, un effet d’eviction peut se realiser, mais les donnees montrent, au contraire, un recul du financement de l’Etat au profit du credit aux acteurs prives.Ces resultats ont une portee pratique pour la politique economique dans l’UEMOA. La these recommande : i) la prise en compte des liens entre la politique de regulation bancaire et la politique monetaire ; ii) la promotion d’une architecture bancaire fondee sur plusieurs echelons de banques ; iii) un pilotage de la structure des marches bancaires en vue d’accroitre le financement de l’economie et de renforcer l’efficacite de la politique monetaire ; iv) la mobilisation des excedents de liquidite pour financer le developpement ; v) une priorite accordee, en general, a la definition d’une strategie de developpement financier au service du developpement endogene.
Body weight support treadmill and overground ambulation training for two patients with chronic disability secondary to stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Body weight support (BWS) treadmill training has recently been shown to be effective for gait training following stroke, but few researchers have measured the usefulness of this intervention in enhancing function, and there are no reports in which BWS overground ambulation was studied. The purposes of this case report were (1) to report the feasibility and patient tolerance for using a BWS system for overground ambulation, (2) to measure the function of patients with chronic stroke (2 years post-stroke) prior to and following BWS treadmill and overground ambulation training, and (3) to describe a protocol used for patient treatment progression using BWS treadmill training. CASE DESCRIPTIONS The participants were 2 women, aged 87 and 93 years, who had strokes more than 2 years before data collection. A 10-m timed walk test, the Berg Balance Scale, the gait portion of the Tinetti Gait and Balance Assessment, and a measure of step length were administered. Intervention consisted of BWS ambulation training 3 times a week for 6 to 7 weeks. Each day there was BWS treadmill and overground training. OUTCOMES Participant A improved most in 10-m walking time and Berg Balance Scale score. Participant B exhibited improvements in step length and 10-m walking time. DISCUSSION The outcomes suggest that very old patients with chronic functional deficits secondary to cerebrovascular accident tolerated BWS treadmill and overground ambulation training and made improvements following this intervention.
Premature Ovarian Failure After Uterine Artery Embolization

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is popular in some countries for management of postpartum hemorrhage, uterine myoma, and adenomyosis. However, avoidance of complications is important to preserve the uterus. The most serious complication is premature ovarian failure. UAE is advantageous for preserving the uterus for fertility; however, premature ovarian failure negates this advantage by causing infertility. We report two cases of premature ovarian failure after UAE. Our cases provide guidance for gynecologists who perform UAE. The first patient, aged 42 years, was para 1-0-0-1 and did not have a significant family history. She complained of metromenorrhagia, but she wanted to preserve her uterus for fertility. We performed a bilateral UAE. After 4 months, she complained of amenorrhea. She was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure by checking follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The second patient, aged 40 years, had infertility from uterine myoma, endometriosis, and adenomyosis. She had undergone UAE and in vitro fertilization (IVF) 6 years earlier. After IVF, she became pregnant and was admitted from 26 weeks to 29 weeks for preeclampsia and preterm labor. After delivery, she had postpartum hemorrhage, and repeat UAE was performed. Two years later, she complained of hot flashes and amenorrhea. She was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure.
Ul ’ yanov and Nikol ’ skii-type inequalities

Ul’yanov-type inequalities are extended to include many measures of smoothness. Many of the results are valid forLp, p>0. Observations and extensions for needed Nikolskii-type inequalities are given. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. MSC:41A25; 41A63; 42B15
Effects of parking and cordon charge policies on tourist's modal shift in central business district of Mashhad city, Iran

The second largest holy city of the world, Mashhad, attracts high volumes of tourists and pilgrims every year. Most visitors travel by private car and are a source of considerable funds for the local economy. Among road users, tourists as one of the major traveller categories in Mashhad city behave differently due to the particular trip purpose. The aim of this research is to model tourist's shifting modes of travel behaviour when policy measures, such as the parking and cordon fares, are implemented. The tourists’ preferences were examined using binary logit analysis when different options of travel cost and time scenarios were provided. Results indicate that travel time, parking cost, cordon cost, education level and vehicle price influence tourist's modal choice. In addition, the finding shows that congestion pricing will be more effective than a parking pricing strategy in encouraging switching of modes.