Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of dietary, medical and lifestyle risk factors for incident kidney cancer in postmenopausal women

Kidney cancer incidence rates in the United States have been increasing and are not fully accounted for by better diagnostic techniques. Risk factors in women are incompletely described. A total of 34,637 Iowan women initially free of cancer completed a mailed questionnaire in 1986. Kidney cancer incidence was identified over 15 years of follow‐up (n = 124) through linkage to a statewide cancer registry. Adjusted for age and other risk factors, kidney cancer was associated positively with maximum adult weight (p for trend = 0.02) and current waist‐to‐hip ratio (p for trend = 0.002). Compared to nondrinkers, consumers of alcohol of 3.0 or more grams per day had a relative risk (RR) of 0.52 (95% CI = 0.29–0.92). Total vitamin C intake was associated positively with risk of kidney cancer (p for trend = 0.04), whereas total vitamin E intake was associated negatively with risk (p for trend = 0.002). The few women who used copper supplements had a 6.52‐fold increase in risk of kidney cancer (95% CI = 1.95–21.8). Compared to never users, women who were former users of estrogen had an increased risk of kidney cancer (RR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.11–2.36), but current users of estrogen were not at a higher risk. Women who were nulliparous or had more than 2 live births were also at increased risk of kidney cancer compared with women who had 1 or 2 live births. In conclusion, in these postmenopausal women, overweight, particularly central adiposity, was an important risk factor for kidney cancer. Potential risk factors that warrant further exploration were low intake of alcohol and vitamin E, higher intake of vitamin C, nulli‐ or multiparity and use of copper supplements. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cytokine profile in elderly patients with sepsis

Context: Sepsis is a serious health problem in the elderly with a high degree of mortality. There is very limited data available in elderly subjects regarding the markers for sepsis. Development of good markers will help in overall management and prediction of sepsis. Objectives: Serial estimation of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) and their correlation with mortality in sepsis in elderly patients and to determine the influence of gender on cytokine production and mortality in elderly patients with sepsis. Settings and Design: The prospective study was conducted at our tertiary care center from April 2007 to September 2008. Elderly Patients satisfying the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria were included. Methods and Material: TNF-α and IL-6 were estimated in 30 elderly patients admitted to our intensive care unit with SIRS and sepsis. The estimations were done on day 1, 3 and 7 of admission. Statistical Analysis Used: Student and paired ‘t’ tests, and ANOVA, which were further followed up by post-hoc ‘t’ tests with Bonferroni correction using SPSS. Results: Reducing levels of IL-6 levels from day 1 to 7 was found in the survivor group. TNF-α level was significantly low on day 1 in the nonsurvivor female group. Conclusions: Serial estimation of cytokines in elderly patients with sepsis will help in prediction of mortality. Female gender was an independent predictor of increased morality in critically ill patients with sepsis.
Currency of Invoicing in Merchandise Trade

Almost all trade among industrial countries is now invoiced in the currency of one of the trading partners, normally that of the exporter. Use of a ‘third country currency’ (normally the dollar) is important only in trade with developing countries. Except for the decline in sterling's use as an international currency, there is no evidence that exchange rate expectations are a strong influence on traders' choice of currency.
Association between Intraoperative Hypotension and Hypertension and 30-day Postoperative Mortality in Noncardiac Surgery

Background:Although deviations in intraoperative blood pressure are assumed to be associated with postoperative mortality, critical blood pressure thresholds remain undefined. Therefore, the authors estimated the intraoperative thresholds of systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean blood pressure (MAP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) associated with increased risk-adjusted 30-day mortality. Methods:This retrospective cohort study combined intraoperative blood pressure data from six Veterans Affairs medical centers with 30-day outcomes to determine the risk-adjusted associations between intraoperative blood pressure and 30-day mortality. Deviations in blood pressure were assessed using three methods: (1) population thresholds (individual patient sum of area under threshold [AUT] or area over threshold 2 SDs from the mean of the population intraoperative blood pressure values), (2). absolute thresholds, and (3) percent change from baseline blood pressure. Results:Thirty-day mortality was associated with (1) population threshold: systolic AUT (odds ratio, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.2 to 4.8), mean AUT (2.8; 1.9 to 4.3), and diastolic AUT (2.4; 1.6 to 3.8). Approximate conversions of AUT into its separate components of pressure and time were SBP < 67 mmHg for more than 8.2 min, MAP < 49 mmHg for more than 3.9 min, DBP < 33 mmHg for more than 4.4 min. (2) Absolute threshold: SBP < 70 mmHg for more than or equal to 5 min (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.7 to 4.9), MAP < 49 mmHg for more than or equal to 5 min (2.4; 1.3 to 4.6), and DBP < 30 mmHg for more than or equal to 5 min (3.2; 1.8 to 5.5). (3) Percent change: MAP decreases to more than 50% from baseline for more than or equal to 5 min (2.7; 1.5 to 5.0). Intraoperative hypertension was not associated with 30-day mortality with any of these techniques. Conclusion:Intraoperative hypotension, but not hypertension, is associated with increased 30-day operative mortality.
Influence of age and body size on intestinal permeability and absorption in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate effects of age and body size of dogs on intestinal permeability (unmediated diffusion) as measured by the ratio of urinary lactulose to L-rhamnose (L:R) and absorption (carrier-mediated transport) as measured by the ratio of urinary D-xylose to 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (X:MG) and to determine whether these variables correlated with fecal quality. ANIMALS 6 Miniature Poodles, 6 Standard Schnauzers, 6 Giant Schnauzers, and 6 Great Danes. PROCEDURE A solution that contained lactulose and rhamnose or xylose and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose was administered orally to dogs that were 12, 22, 36, and 60 weeks old. Urine was collected 6 hours later, and urinary L:R and X:MG were calculated. Fecal moisture and scoring were recorded during the same periods. RESULTS Age and breed did not affect intestinal absorption, and we did not detect a relationship between X:MG and fecal variables. In contrast, we detected significant effects of age and body size on intestinal permeability. Puppies (12 weeks old) and large dogs had higher intestinal permeability than adult (60 weeks old) and small dogs. The increased intestinal permeability in large dogs was associated with lower fecal quality as indicated by the significant positive correlations between L:R and fecal moisture (r, 0.61) and L:R and fecal scores (r, 0.86) in adult dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE These results indicate that age and body size should be considered when assessing intestinal permeability by use of the L:R urinary excretion test in dogs. High intestinal permeability could be a possible cause of poor fecal quality in large dogs.
The Value of Supplier Information to Improve Management of a Retailer's Inventory

The distribution of lead time demand is essential for determining reorder points in inventory systems. Usually, the distribution of lead time demand is approximated directly. However, in some cases it may be worthwhile to take the demand per unit time and lead time into account, particularly when specific information is available. This paper deals with the situation where a supplier, who produces on order in fixed production cycles, provides information on the status of the coming production run. The retailer can use this information to gain insight into the lead-time process. A fixed order (svQ) strategy is presented, with a set of reorder points sv depending on the time t until the first possible delivery, which is determined by the information of the supplier. A Markov model that analyzes a given (svQ) strategy is used to quantify the value of the information provided by the supplier. Some numerical examples show that the approach may lead to considerable cost savings compared to the traditional approach that uses only one single reorder point, based on a two-moments approximation. Using this numerical insight, the pros and cons of a more frequent exchange of information between retailers and suppliers can be balanced.
Foreign Exchange Option and Returns Based Correlation Forecasts: Evaluation and Two Applications

We compare option-implied correlation forecasts from a dataset consisting of over 10 years of daily data on over-the-counter (OTC) currency option prices to a set of return-based correlation measures and assess the relative quality of the correlation forecasts. We find that while the predictive power of implied correlation is not always superior to that of returns based correlations measures, it tends to provide the most consistent results across currencies. Predictions that use both implied and returns-based correlations generate the highest adjusted R2s, explaining up to 42 per cent of the realised correlations. We then apply the correlation forecasts to two policyrelevant topics, to produce scenario analyses for the euro effective exchange rate index, and to analyse the impact on cross-currency co-movement of interventions on the JPY/USD exchange rate. JEL Classification: F31, F37, G15
The Macroeconomic Record of the Coalition Government

This paper examines the outcomes for changes introduced by the UK Coalition government in 2010. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is generally regarded as a success, and should become a permanent part of fiscal policymaking. The form of the primary fiscal mandate, involving a five-year rolling target, appears to be a sensible way to shape fiscal decisions when monetary policy is able to stabilise the economy. Unfortunately it was introduced, along with a five-year programme of severe fiscal consolidation (austerity), while the economy was in a liquidity trap. The OBR estimates austerity reduced GDP growth by 1 per cent in both 2010–11 and 2011–12, and monetary policy was unable to offset this. For the Liberal Democrats a misreading of the Eurozone crisis may have been responsible for this mistake, but for the Conservatives this mistake appears to derive from an unconventional view that the liquidity trap is unimportant.
Endogenous Timing in Quality Investments and Price Competition

We modify the price-setting version of the vertically differentiated duopoly model by Aoki (2003) by introducing an extended game in which firms noncooperatively choose the timing of moves at the quality stage. Our results show that there are multiple equilibria in pure strategies, in which firms always select sequential play at the quality stage. We also investigate the mixed-strategy equilibrium, revealing that the probability of generating outcomes out of equilibrium is higher than its complement to one. In the alternative of full market coverage, we show that the quality stage is solved in dominant strategies and therefore the choice of roles becomes irrelevant as the Nash and Stackelberg solutions coincide.
Comparison of Intramuscular and Epidural Morphine for Postoperative Analgesia in the Grossly Obese: Influence on Postoperative Ambulation and Pulmonary Function

In a randomized double-blind study of thirty grossly obese patients undergoing gastroplasty for weight reduction, the effects of intramuscular and epidural morphine were compared as regards analgesia, ambulation, gastrointestinal motility, early and late pulmonary function, duration of hospitalization, and occurrence of deep vein thrombosis in the postoperative period. The patients were operated on under thoracic epidural block combined with light endotracheal anesthesia. A six-grade scale was devised to quantify postoperative mobilization. A radioactive isotope method using 99mTc-plasmin was employed to detect postoperative deep vein thrombosis. For 14 hr after the first analgesic injection, respiratory frequency was noted every 15 min and arterial blood gases were measured hourly. Peak expiratory flow was recorded daily until the patient was discharged from hospital. Spirometry was performed the day before and the day after surgery. Plasma concentrations of morphine were measured after both intramuscular and epidural administration. Both intramuscular and epidural morphine gave effective analgesia, but the average dose of intramuscular morphine was up to seven times greater than that required by the epidural route. A larger number of patients receiving epidural morphine postoperatively were able to sit, stand, or walk unassisted within 6, 12, and 24 hr, respectively. Being alert and more mobile as a result of superior postoperative analgesia from epidural morphine, patients in this group benefited more from vigorous physiotherapy routine, which resulted in fewer pulmonary complications. Furthermore, earlier postoperative recovery of peak expiratory flow and bowel function presumably contributed to a significantly shorter hospitalization in patients receiving epidural morphine. There was no evidence of prolonged respiratory depression in this high-risk category of patients. The 99mTc-plasmin tests revealed no significant difference between the two groups.
Absenteeism, Efficiency Wages and Shirking

We investigate the absence behaviour of workers when there is asymmetric information regarding worker health. An individual's health is assumed to be private information to that individual and only observable to a third party at cost. Our aim is to complement the existing, largely empirical, studies of absence behaviour, which have tended to treat the phenomenon exclusively as a labour supply decision on the part of workers; cf. Allen (1981), Barmby and Treble (1991), Barmby, Orme and Treble (1991) and Dunn and Youngblood (1986). Our approach is to draw out the interactive aspects of the employment relationship. We assume that workers are ex ante uncertain as to their state of health and supply labour on the basis of an "all or nothing" utility maximising decision taken once a realisation of this state has been received. Utility is a function of income, leisure and health, and workers value leisure more the "sicker" they are. Firms are able to exert some control over individual behaviour by monitoring workers and threatening to fire "shirkers", that is, workers absenting themselves with "unacceptable" sickness. Our model highlights an efficiency wage effect through which wages may be used as a method of absence control. In particular, the optimal response of the firm to an increase in the cost of monitoring is to discourage shirking by raising wages. Furthermore, to the extent that
Gate-Side and Substrate-Side Oxide Trap and Interface State Generation in Conventional and Nitrided Tunnel Oxides of Floating Gate Cells

We present the investigation of the generation of oxide traps near the gate, near the substrate, and at the oxide/substrate interface (interface states) in conventional furnace and nitrided tunnel oxides of floating gate (FG) memory cells. The trap densities at these three locations, together with information about fixed oxide charges, were obtained by a measurement technique combining transient stress-induced leakage current and transient capacitance measurements, and by capacitance-voltage methods. The degradation behavior of 8.5-nm state-of-the-art tunnel oxides under Fowler-Nordheim current stress was investigated for both stress polarities and correlated to the endurance characteristics of FG electrically erasable programmable read-only memory cells with identical tunnel oxides. Because of this, it is possible for the first time to localize the oxide region of nitrided tunnel oxides responsible for the well-known endurance improvement compared to conventional furnace tunnel oxides. Furthermore, possible degradation mechanisms resulting in the observed local trap densities are discussed.
The Agrarian Question in Mozambique's Transition and Reconstruction

The economic policies of transition and reconstruction in Mozambique, like the policies of central planning beforehand, were based on an inappropriate model of the inherited rural economy. Under central planning, the peasantry was looked upon as a mass of subsistence producers; with the economic reforms came the vision of the peasantry as a mass of smallholder producers. Both these views ignored the extent to which peasant livelihoods depended on the complex and varied linkages between wage labour and household production.
A macro‐prudential perspective of financial regulation

Purpose - In the recent financial crisis, many observers have assigned monetary policy a central role in the crisis. Specifically, they claim that excessively easy monetary policy by the Federal Reserve in the first half of the decade helped to cause a bubble in housing prices in the USA. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of monetary policy within the regulatory frameworks of financial markets. Design/methodology/approach - The authors show within a macroeconomic framework a possible trade-off between price stability and financial stability by differentiating between a technology-driven bubble and an animal spirit bubble. In their conclusion: if there is a trade-off between price stability and financial stability, the central bank will have to make a choice between the two objectives. In that case, the question arises of which of the two objectives should take precedence: price stability or financial stability? Findings - From this analysis, the authors conclude that a central bank which uses a lexicographic ordering favoring price stability over other objectives is likely to fuel the boom inadvertently (in the case of a technology-driven bubble) or will decide to do nothing (in the case of an animal spirit bubble) allowing a process of excessive credit creation. The latter seems to be what happened between 2003 and 2008. Practical implications - If one wants to reduce the likelihood of future major financial busts, it must be accepted that the central banks (especially the Fed and the ECB) cannot only be responsible for price stability. Maintaining financial stability by preventing excesses in financial markets should be an equally important objective. Originality/value - The paper gives a new perspective on the role of monetary policy within the regulatory framework. With this macroeconomic framework, the authors are able to show possible trade-offs between price stability and financial stability. The micro- and macro-prudential approach of this paper is a useful contribution to the discussion about regulatory reforms of financial markets.
Quality: where have we come from and what can we expect?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the major themes of the quality movement in the past 25 years along with some of the lessons learnt from this. The future direction of quality is then explored by identifying a number of issues which are likely to impact on quality in organisations. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is a review of trends in the academic, professional and business world around quality. Findings –The main outcomes from the past 25 years of quality are presented and discussed along with the lessons from this experience. A number of current and future trends on the quality movement are identified and discussed. Research limitations/implications – Emerging trends are identified which could provide the stimulus for future research. Originality/value – Lessons for managers and leaders on the mistakes of the past and matters which they will need to deal with in the future are presented.
The Failure of Training in Britain: Analysis and Prescription

In the last decade, education and training (ET) reform has become a major issue in many of the world's industrial powers. One theme which runs throughout these reform initiatives is the need to adapt ET systems to the changing economic environment. These changes include: the increasing integration of world markets, the shift in mass manufacturing towards newly developed nations and the rapid development of new technologies, most notably information technologies. Education and training are seen to play a crucial role in restoring or maintaining international competitiveness, both on the macro-level by easing the transition of the workforce into new industries, and at the micro-level, where firms producing high quality, specialized goods and services require a well-qualified workforce capable of rapid adjustment in the work process and continual product innovation. This paper will highlight the need for policy-makers and academics to take account of the two-way nature of the relationship between ET and the economy.
Plant Age and Technology Use in US. Manufacturing Industries

In this article, I use a new dataset on advanced technology usage in U.S. manufacturing plants to describe how technology use varies by plant age and size. The data come from the 1988 Survey of Manufacturing Technology (SMT) and cover a wide range of technologies and a large group of fabrication and assembly industries. Both old and young plants appear to use advanced manufacturing technology at similar frequencies. As in previous studies, I find that larger plants are more likely to employ newer technologies than are smaller plants.