Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of standard (0.02%) and low dose (0.002%) mitomycin C in the prevention of corneal haze following surface ablation for myopia.

PURPOSE To retrospectively compare the safety and efficacy of lower dose mitomycin C (MMC) (0.002%) to that of the standard dose (0.02%) in eyes treated with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. METHODS The clinical efficacy of 95 eyes receiving myopic PRK with a standard concentration of MMC (0.02%) is sequentially compared to 126 eyes receiving low dose MMC (0.002%). The topical exposure times for MMC varied between 30 seconds and 2 minutes in both groups, and direct contralateral eye comparison of these two exposure times was analyzed in a prospective subset of 39 patients from among the low dose group. Patients were examined preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3, 6-9, and 9-12 months. Haze, visual acuity, and efficacy ratio outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS The preoperative findings were overall statistically similar, except for higher spherical equivalent refractive error (P = .007) and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (P = .007) in the standard MMC group. Postoperatively, haze levels ranged from 0 to 4+. With multivariable analysis, significantly less haze was noted among the standard dose MMC eyes for high myopia and higher ablation depth at all postoperative time points. In contrast, the haze levels were statistically similar for moderate myopia and lower ablation depths at the latter postoperative time points. The subset of contralateral eyes randomly receiving low dose MMC (0.002%) at either 30 seconds or 2 minutes exposure showed no significant difference in haze between these exposure times. CONCLUSIONS The standard concentration of topical MMC (0.02%) is more effective than low dose MMC (0.002%) in preventing postoperative haze following surface ablation for myopia > or = -6.00 D and deeper ablation depth > or = 75 microm. However, for moderate myopia and shallow depth, low dosing appears to be equally effective. The duration of MMC exposure appears to be less important than its concentration.
Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment: A Review of Empirical Research

在过去的十年，中国向外外国的直接投资(OFDI ) 成为了全球大写的流动的一个主要元素。 作为后果，最近的年在集中于变全球的中国公司的论文的数字见证增加的生长。 这篇论文考察集中于在在 2002 和 2014 之间的主要学术杂志被出版的中国 OFDI 的 112 篇实验论文。 我们在使用的单个、机构的贡献，引证，理论和方法和研究话题上报导。 我们也识别研究差距并且为未来理论造讨论我们的文学评论的含意。
On the possible use of geoengineering to moderate specific climate change impacts

With significant reductions in emissions likely to require decades and the impacts of projected climate change likely to become more and more severe, proposals for taking deliberate action to counterbalance global warming have been proposed as an important complement to reducing emissions. While a number of geoengineering approaches have been proposed, each introduces uncertainties, complications and unintended consequences that have only begun to be explored. For limiting and reversing global climate change over periods of years to decades, solar radiation management, particularly injection of sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere, has emerged as the leading approach, with mesospheric reflectors and satellite deflectors also receiving attention. For a number of reasons, tropospheric approaches to solar radiation management present greater challenges if the objective is to reduce the increase in global average temperature. However, such approaches have a number of advantages if the objective is to alleviate specific consequences of climate change expected to cause significant impacts for the environment and society. Among the most damaging aspects of the climate that might be countered are: the warming of low-latitude oceans that observations suggest contribute to more intense tropical cyclones and coral bleaching; the amplified warming of high latitudes and the associated melting of ice that has been accelerating sea level rise and altering mid-latitude weather; and the projected reduction in the loading and cooling influence of sulfate aerosols, which has the potential to augment warming sufficient to trigger methane and carbon feedbacks. For each of these impacts, suitable scientific, technological, socioeconomic, and governance research has the potential to lead to tropospheric geoengineering approaches that, with a well-funded research program, could begin playing a moderating role for some aspects of climate change within a decade.
Financial Investment Opportunities and the Macroeconomy

This paper studies the relation between changes in financial investment opportunities and changes in the macroeconomy. States variables, such as the lagged production growth rate, the default premium, the term premium, the short-term interest rate, and the market dividend-price ratio, are shown to be indicators of recent and future economic growth and positively correlated with expected future economic growth. These results offer straightforward interpretations of recent evidence on the forecasts of the market excess return by state variable via their forecasts on the macroeconomy. Copyright 1991 by American Finance Association.
The Farm-Retail Price Spread in a Competitive Food Industry

Consistency with market equilibrium places constraints on the pricing policies of food marketing firms in a competitive industry. This paper examines the implications of simultaneous equilibrium in three related markets: retail food, farm output, and marketing services. From equations representing the demand and supply sides of each market, elasticities are generated which show how the farm-retail price spread changes when retail food demand, farm product supply, or the supply function of marketing services shifts. Implications for the viability of simple markup pricing rules and the determinants of the farmer's share of the food dollar are discussed.
Speciation via introgressive hybridization in East African cichlids?

Speciation caused by introgressive hybridization occurs frequently in plants but its importance remains controversial in animal evolution. Here we report a case of introgressive hybridization between two ancient and genetically distinct species of Lake Tanganyika cichlids that led to the formation of a new species. Neolamprologus marunguensis contains mtDNA haplotypes from both parental species varying on average by 12.4% in the first section of the control region and by 5.2% in a segment of the cytochrome b gene. All individuals have almost identical DNA sequences in the flanking regions of the single‐copy nuclear DNA locus TmoM27, and show a mosaic of alleles derived from both parental lineages in six microsatellite loci. Hence, our finding displays another mode of speciation in cichlid fishes. The increase of genetic and phenotypic diversity due to hybridization may contribute to the uniquely rapid pace of speciation in cichlids.
The strategy formation process in the EFQM Excellence Model: a critical review and new perspectives

The adoption of an integrative strategy formation process becomes a way of developing a strategic capability that contributes to generating positive results and sustainable competitive advantages. In today's environments, many companies are also using the EFQM Excellence Model (EEM) to try to develop such a strategic capability. This paper presents an exhaustive review of the literature on the strategic process debate and on the strategic capability of the EEM. As a result, we offer to practitioners a conceptual framework which shows the EEM as a useful driver to facilitate the development of an integrative strategy formation process, and we propose a set of dimensions and variables (the levers) through which such a development may take place. In addition, we present to academicians a detailed research agenda by establishing some exploratory questions, theoretical implications and new challenges to go into the knowledge of this area in greater depth.
Reversible watermarking using channel coding and lifting for cultural heritage and medical image

Reversible data embedding has drawn lots of interest recently, specially in the field of protection for cultural heritage and medical image. Being reversible, the original digital content can be completely restored. This paper uses Tian's algorithm of difference expansion as reversible watermarking scheme for the protection of cultural heritage and medical image. Lifting together with channel coding is used to increase the detection performance of extracted watermark bits. Experimental results and performance comparison with other reversible data hiding schemes are presented to demonstrate the validity of the proposed algorithm.
The spatial dimension in environmental and resource economics

ABSTRACT Mechanisms generating patterns in spatial domains have been extensively studied in biology, but also in economics in the context of new economic geography. The Turing mechanism or Turing diffusion-induced instability has been central to the understanding of forces which endogenously generate spatial patterns, but in a context where agents do not explicitly optimize an objective. The present paper reviews tools to study, in the spirit of Turing's analysis, a mechanism generating optimal diffusion-induced instability where optimizing agents generate optimal agglomerations. By extending the maximum principle to the optimal control of partial differential equations, it is shown how under certain conditions it will be optimal to design controls so that the price-quantity system implied by the costate–state functions of the optimal control of distributed parameter systems induces optimal spatial patterns. These methods might be useful in studying pattern formation both in problems of resource management and of economic development.
DISCUSSION OF Judgment and Decision Making Research in Auditing: A Task, Person, and Interpersonal Interaction Perspective

INTRODUCTION Nelson and Tan (2005) (hereafter, NT) have provided a detailed and thought provoking description of audit judgment and decision making (JDM) research over the last 25 years. They used a task, person, and interaction categorization to reflect upon the major audit JDM contributions across this period, focusing on areas where they believe current research is heading and identifying knowledge gaps and opportunities for further research. My objective in this paper is to adapt the NT framework and attempt to provide additional insights into where future research will be productive. The last 25 years has been an exciting and very productive period for audit JDM research. However, with hindsight there are things that could have been done differently—in turn research progress may have been enhanced. By discussing these issues, it is hoped that future research will benefit. Appropriately, NT cover the period 1980 to 2004. I will begin with some prior history of JDM audit research, which sets the scene for much of the research throughout the 1980s.
A bicistronic vector with destabilized mRNA secondary structure yields scalable higher titer expression of human neurturin in E. coli

Human neurturin (NTN) is a cystine knot growth factor with potential therapeutic use in diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes. Scalable high titer production of native NTN is particularly challenging because of the cystine knot structure which consists of an embedded ring comprised of at least three disulfide bonds. We sought to pursue enhanced scalable production of NTN in Escherichia coli. Our initial efforts focused on codon optimization of the first two codons following AUG, but these studies resulted in only a marginal increase in NTN expression. Therefore, we pursued an alternative strategy of using a bicistronic vector for NTN expression designed to reduce mRNA secondary structure to achieve increased ribosome binding and re‐initiation. The first cistron was designed to prevent sequestration of the translation initiation region in a secondary conformation. The second cistron, which contained the NTN coding sequence itself, was engineered to disrupt double bonded base pairs and destabilize the secondary structure for ribosome re‐initiation. The ensemble approach of reducing NTN's mRNA secondary structure and using the bicistronic vector had an additive effect resulting in significantly increased NTN expression. Our strain selection studies were conducted in a miniaturized bioreactor. An optimized strain was selected and scaled up to a 100 L fermentor, which yielded an inclusion body titer of 2 g/L. The inclusion bodies were refolded to yield active NTN. We believe that our strategy is applicable to other candidate proteins that are difficult‐to‐express due to stable mRNA secondary structures. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1753–1761. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Indie to an Extent? Why Music Gets Added to College Radio Playlists

Surveys were distributed via e-mail to student-run college radio stations across the country to determine what influences college radio programmers to add music to their playlists. Inquiry was structured in two ways, a quantitative, aggregate data analysis, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and a case-by-case, qualitative analysis. A regression analysis provides some evidence that if promotional material was received concerning music which was new or unique then the music was more likely to be added. Through qualitative data analysis it was revealed that programmers cited the quality of the music as an influential reason to add a specific song as well as other emergent themes including, “assistance from the label” and “well reviewed music. ” Overall, this study suggests that, despite student-run college radio's reputation of independence, the record industry still plays a role in college radio programming and has influence when it comes to getting music aired.
Motivating the Private vs. Public Sector Managers

This study investigates the differences in the motivation of private versus public sector managers. Five categories of intrinsic and seven categories of extrinsic rewards based on the Herzberg motivation-hygiene theory were included and managers perceptions of the importance and te relative dissatisfaction were obtained. The results of the study indicate that pay has a significantly greater motivating potential (MP) for private than public sector managers. Accourding to the study, managers in the private sector are also substantially more security oriented than their counterparts employed by the public sector. The intrinsic reward factor of recognition had higher motivating potential for public than private sector managers. The remainder of the reward factors and their motivating potentials are discussed.
Testicular Germ-Cell Apoptosis in Stressed Rats Following Combined Exposure to Pyridostigmine Bromide, N , N -Diethyl m -Toluamide (Deet), and Permethrin

This study reports and characterizes the testicular apoptosis following daily exposure of male Sprague-Dawley rats to subchronic combined doses of pyridostigmine bromide (PB, 1.3 mg/kg/d in water, oral), a drug used for treatment of myasthenia gravis and prophylactic treatment against nerve agents during the Persian Gulf War; the insect repellent N,N-diethyl m-toluamide (DEET, 40 mg/kg/d in ethanol, dermal); and the insecticide permethrin (0.13 mg/kg in ethanol, dermal), with and without stress for 28 d. Combined exposure to these chemicals was implicated in the development of illnesses including genitourinary disorders among many veterans of the Persian Gulf War. Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that exposure to combination of these chemicals produced greater toxicity compared to single components. Exposure to stress alone did not cause any significant histopathological alterations in the testes. Administration of combination of these chemicals induced apoptosis in rat testicular germ cells, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, as well as in the endothelial lining of the blood vessels. Testicular damage was significantly augmented when the animals were further exposed to a combination of chemicals and stress. Histopathological examination of testicular tissue sections showed that apoptosis was confined to the basal germ cells and spermatocytes, indicating suppression of spermatogenesis. Increased apoptosis of testicular cells coincided, in timing and localization, with increased expression of the apoptosis-promoting proteins Bax and p53. Furthermore, significant increase of 3-nitrotyrosine immunostaining in the testis revealed oxidative and/or nitrosation induction of cell death. In conclusion, combined exposure to real-life doses of test compounds caused germ-cell apoptosis that was significantly enhanced by stress.
A DIGE approach for the assessment of differential expression of the CHO proteome under sodium butyrate addition: Effect of Bcl‐xL overexpression

Bcl‐xL, a member of the Bcl‐2 family, is known to inhibit apoptosis of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells induced by the addition of sodium butyrate (NaBu), which is used for the elevated expression of recombinant protein. In order to understand the intracellular effects of Bcl‐xL overexpression on CHO cells treated with NaBu, changes to the proteome caused by controlled Bcl‐xL expression in rCHO cells producing erythropoietin (EPO) in the presence of 3 mM NaBu were evaluated using two‐dimensional differential in‐gel electrophoresis (2D‐DIGE) and MS analysis. The consequences of Bcl‐xL overexpression were not limited to the apoptotic signaling pathway. Out of eight proteins regulated significantly by Bcl‐xL overexpression in 3 mM NaBu addition culture, four proteins were related to cell survival (Iq motif‐containing GTPase‐activating protein 1), cell proliferation (dihydrolipoamide‐S‐acetyltransferase, guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha interacting 2), and repair of DNA damage (BRCA and CDKN1A interacting protein). Taken together, a DIGE approach reveals that overexpression of Bcl‐xL not only inhibits apoptosis in the presence of NaBu but also affects cell proliferation and survival in various aspects. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 105: 358–367. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Expression of Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor, Its Receptor, c-met, and Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator during Development of the Murine Olfactory System

The expression of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and its receptor, the c-met proto-oncogene product, was examined by in situ hybridization in the developing and adult murine olfactory system and compared with the expression of a known activator of HGF/SF, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). In the developing olfactory canal, expression of both c-metand tPA was observed in the olfactory neuroepithelium, whereas HGF/SF expression appeared to be confined to the mucosa adjacent to the neuroepithelium. During development of the olfactory bulb, HGF/SF and tPA were expressed within the rostral migratory pathway leading to the olfactory bulb, whereas c-met expression was observed in the mitral cell layer (MCL) of the olfactory bulb and in the anterior olfactory nucleus. In the adult olfactory bulb, expression of HGF/SF was restricted to the periglomerular region of the glomerular layer, whereas c-met was expressed in the MCL and olfactory nerve fiber layers (ONL). tPA expression in the adult olfactory bulb was observed in the ONL, MCL, and granule cell layers. Therefore, tPA expression was relatively coincident with the expression of HGF/SF and/or c-met in the appropriate projection patterns of the developing and adult olfactory system. In addition, antibodies against tPA inhibited the olfactory bulb extract-mediated cleavage of single-chain HGF/SF. These results suggest that tPA may play a regulatory role in the development and maintenance of the olfactory system by activating HGF/SF in the immediate vicinity of its receptor.
What Determines Alumni Generosity? Evidence for the UK

This paper examines the scale and determinants of alumni giving, using datasets from two public-sector, doctoral-granting universities in the UK. The importance of alumni generosity-both as revenue and as a performance measure-is considered, comparing new UK evidence with extant findings on US donor behaviour. Evidence is presented on systematic differences in alumni generosity, based on personal characteristics, solicitation efficiency, and the characteristics and quality of the Higher Education received by graduates. Distinguishing the propensity to give from the scale of giving, there are evident differences by gender, income, by type of campaign and by subject studied.
How to spot and use the “new” internal auditors

Corporate boards, senior executives, and others are scrambling to respond to demanding Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. CEOs need to look for new skills from their internal audit staff. But how can you spot these “new” internal auditors, and what's the best way to use them? The author has some answers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Customer trading and information in foreign exchange markets

Recent research point to the possible existence of private information in foreign exchange markets. Dealers claim that customer orders are their most important source of private information, and that banks with a large customer base have a competitive advantage. In this paper we test hypotheses on effects of private information using observations on customer trades, and the identity of the counterparties the dealers trade with. We find that customer trades influence the trading decision. Neither customer trades nor counterparty identity affect pricing decisions. Dealers do not price discriminate between dealers, but they do price discriminate customers.
The Random Walk Hypothesis in the Emerging Indian Stock Market

This paper examines the random walk hypothesis in the emerging Indian stock market using daily data on individual stocks. The statistical evidence in this paper rejects the random walk hypothesis. The results suggest that daily returns earned by individual stocks and by an equally weighted portfolio show significant non-linear dependence and persistent volatility effects. The non-linear dependence takes the form of ARCH-type conditional heteroskedasticity and does not appear to be caused by nonstationarity of underlying economic variables. Though conditional volatility is time varying, it does not explain expected returns. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2002.
The Manufacturer's Trade-Off between Raw Material Quality and Total Cost - With Hog Supply Chains' Feed Quality Selection Strategy for Example

Product quality of ascension that often leads to cost rise. In a two-stage supply chain, the downstream enterprises should to weigh the costs and product quality, in choosing upstream suppliers product quality. With pig in a supply chain pig- producing enterprise selecting feed quality for example, research on the downstream firms' raw materials quality selection strategy. By using numerical simulation method, get some very significant conclusions. From the principle of minimum total cost, Pig farms will not only choose the feed on lowest price, but choose the best cost- effective feed. For nutrition suppliers, except to reduce manufacture cost feed besides, still should intensify R&D investment. To raise the scientific and technological content of products, improve the feed efficiency and the feed conversion ratio¿Cto shorten the breeding cycle , so as to reduce the total cost of supply chain, and share the profit.
Direct Tests of Index Arbitrage Models

Abstract Previous tests of stock index arbitrage models have rejected the no-arbitrage constraint imposed by these models. This paper provides a detailed analysis of actual S&P 500 arbitrage trades and directly relates these trades to the predictions of index arbitrage models. An analysis of arbitrage trades suggests that i) short-sale rules are unlikely to affect the cash-futures mispricing, ii) the opportunity cost of arbitrage funds exceeds the Treasury bill rate, and iii) the average price discrepancy captured by arbitrage trades is small. Tests of the models provide some support for a version of the arbitrage model that incorporates an early liquidation option. The ability of these models to explain arbitrage trades, however, is surprisingly low.