Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of D-penicillamine on liver fibrosis and inflammation in Wilson disease.

BACKGROUND Wilson disease is a disorder of copper metabolism characterized by copper overload. A mutation in the ATP7B gene causes dysfunction of ATP7B protein and a reduction in copper excretion into the bile in hepatocytes. Excess copper accumulation leads to liver injury. D-penicillamine primarily can inhibit fibrogenesis and prevent the appearance of scar lesions in the liver. We studied this phenomenon in our patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pathology slides from the explanted livers of 26 patients diagnosed as having Wilson disease with hepatoneurologic manifestations between 2000 and 2008 who had undergone a liver transplant were investigated retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their history of D-penicillamine use before transplant. The degree of fibrosis and inflammation were classified as mild (1), moderate (2), and severe (3), and were reviewed by an impartial hepatopathologist. RESULTS Of 26 patients (20 male, 6 female) who had Wilson disease with a mean age of 17.6 -/+ 8.6 years, 69% (18/26) had a history of D-penicillamine use before liver transplant from 6 months to 9 years (mean, 3.4 -/+ 2.7 years). In the D-penicillamine group, 14 patients (77%) had grade 1 fibrosis. Grade 2 and 3 fibrosis was seen in 5.6% and 16% of patients, respectively. In the D-penicillamine group, inflammation was grade 3 in 44% (8/18), grade 2 in 44% (8/18), and grade 1 in 11% of the patients (2/18). In the non- D-penicillamine group (8 patients), grades of fibrosis were grade 3 (62%), grade 2 (25%), and grade 1 (12%); 87% of the patients had grade 2 and 3 inflammation. The degree of fibrosis was significantly lower in the D-penicillamine group than it was in the non-D-penicillamine group (P < .05). CONCLUSION D-penicillamine may reduce the rate of liver fibrogenesis in patients with Wilson disease.
Functional Benefits of Peripheral Vascular Bypass Surgery for Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Many patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) undergo peripheral bypass surgery to relieve the symptom of intermittent claudication. However, measurement of graft patency alone, assessed by change in ankle blood pressure, may not adequately reflect the improvement in functional status following the operation. Fourteen patients with moderately severe intermittent claudication were evaluated before and after bypass surgery to assess changes in hemodynamics (by resting ankle-brachial indices-ABIs), exercise performance (by a graded treadmill protocol), and community-based walking ability (by a questionnaire that characterizes self-reported walking speed and distance). Six weeks after surgery, resting ABIs improved in surgical patients (from 0.56 ± 0.09 to 0.93 ± 0.16, P < 0.05). Peak treadmill walking time improved from 6.2 ± 5.9 to 11.8 ± 7.1 min (90%), peak oxygen consumption from 15.5 ± 6.5 to 19.1 ± 8.5 mL/kg/min (23%), and pain-free walking time from 1.5 ± 0.4 to 6.0 5.5 min (290%). Questionnaire scores for walking distance improved by 203% and for walking speed by 130% (all P < 0.05). After twelve weeks, improvements other than pain-free walking time were maintained. Changes in peak treadmill performance or questionnaire scores were not correlated with the initial ABI, changes in ABI six or twelve weeks after surgery, or the type or extent of bypass surgery. The results demonstrate that surgical treatment of PAD, indicated for the relief of intermittent claudication, improves exercise performance and self-reported community-based walking ability. The change in functional status of the patient is an important outcome of surgery that cannot be predicted from routine noninvasive testing alone and should be measured directly.
PITFALLS IN THE APPLICATION OF DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS IN BUSINESS, FINANCE, AND ECONOMICS

OF THE APPLIED DISCRIMINANT analysis papers that have appeared in the business, finance, and economics literature to date, most have suffered from methodological or statistical problems that have limited the practical usefulness of their results. While it is not true that the statistical problems are unique to economics or finance, it does seem that the nature of the subject matter and data are such that one can expect to encounter statistical difficulties more frequently than in many other application areas. The problems are of several different types, among which are difficulties with (1) the distributions of the variables, (2) the group dispersions, (3) the interpretation of the significance of individual variables, (4) the reduction of dimensionality, (5) the definitions of the groups, (6) the choice of the appropriate a priori probabilities and/or costs of misclassification, and (7) the estimation of classification error rates. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these problems of application of discriminant analysis techniques. Ample references are made to the literature for examples to illustrate the pitfalls. Finally, a brief discussion of future problems and prospects for statistical research on the application of the techniques is provided.
Identifying abdominal organs using robust fuzzy inference model

The paper proposes to identify abdominal organs from CT image series, by using the shape descriptors, fuzzy rules, and fuzzy-inference-based radial basis function (RBF) neural network. A number of descriptors are applied to ascertain the segmented regions and to form fuzzy rules in our inference system. It has been demonstrated that the RBF neural network and the fuzzy inference are functional equivalent. The traditional RBF network takes Gaussian functions as its basis junctions and adopts the least squares criterion as the objective function. However, it suffers from two major problems. First, it is difficult to approximate constant values. Second, when the training patterns incur a large error, the network will interpolate these training patterns incorrectly. In order to cope with these problems, a robust RBF network is proposed in this paper to recognize the organ of interest.
Evaluating Nutrition Risk Factors and Other Determinants of Use of an Urban Congregate Meal Program by Older African Americans

Rapid growth in both the number of older U.S. adults and diversity in the population suggests increased and disparate demands for nutrition services. Funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA), the primary purpose of congregate meal services is to keep older Americans nutritionally secure and living independently in the community. Understanding characteristics that influence older African Americans’ use of congregate meal services is important for development of culturally sensitive networks and program policies. With a sample of 151 community-dwelling older African Americans, a descriptive exploratory design was used to explore predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics that influence use of a congregate meal service and to examine the relationship between nutritional risk and service use. Provider-oriented structural enablers (awareness and transportation) that promote or impinge on elderly persons’ use of a congregate meal service were also examined. Multivariate analysis indicated that among program participants, nutrition risk and living arrangement had significant influence on service use. Additionally, nutrition risk was higher among respondents who did not participate in congregate meal service compared to their participant counterparts. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of the Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics for the following free supplemental resource: A Health and Lifestyle Survey of Older African Americans Use of Congregate Meals Services. ]
Equity home bias in Australian superannuation funds

Equity home bias for Australia superannuation funds is examined under a model that reflects observed decision processes. The mix of Australian and international equities is evaluated as a two-asset choice under the influence of legacy, an objective function that trades off expected returns against portfolio risk and peer risk, and under expectations that are formed adaptively and allow for taxation differences. The model closely replicates the observed equity mix, particularly relative to more traditional mean-variance formulations. The main implication is that home bias may be better explained under models that reflect industry practices and allow for various commingled influences. JEL classifications G11, G23
The mediating role of organizational justice on the relationship between administrative performance appraisal practices and organizational commitment

This study investigates the relationships among administrative performance appraisal (PA) practices, perception of organizational justice and organizational commitment. The results obtained from 395 employees who work in manufacturing companies in Taiwan show that the implementation of administrative PA activities is highly associated with employee perception of organizational justice and that the level of perceived organizational justice is highly associated with the level of organizational commitment. The results also demonstrate that perceived organizational justice has a partial mediating effect on the relationship between administrative PA practices and organizational commitment. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
Ontogenesis of female‐to‐male sex‐reversal in XX polled goats

The association of polledness and intersexuality in domestic goats (PIS mutation) made them a practical genetic model for studying mammalian female‐to‐male sex reversal. In this study, gonads from XX sex‐reversed goats (PIS‐/‐) were thoroughly characterized at the molecular and histologic level from the first steps of gonadal differentiation (36 days post coitum [dpc]) to birth. The first histologic signs of gonadal sex reversal were detectable between 36 and 40 dpc (4–5 days later than the XY male) and were mainly characterized by the reduction of the ovarian cortex and the organization of seminiferous cords. As early as 36 dpc, aromatase (CYP19) gene expression was decreased in XX (PIS‐/‐) gonads, whereas genes normally up‐regulated in males, such as SOX9 and AMH, showed an increased expression level from 40 dpc. Thereafter, steroidogenic cell precursors were affected, and at 56 dpc, WNT4 and 3β‐HSD were expressed in a male‐specific manner in sex‐reversed gonads. Another noticeable feature was a progressive disappearance of germ cells, clearly visible in testicular cords around 70 dpc where 50–75% of germ cells were absent in XX (PIS‐/‐) gonads. These observations indicated that the causal mutation of PIS acts very early in the sex‐determining cascade and affects primarily the supporting cells of the gonad. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Art of Asking Questions

Managers spend most of their time asking questions. It is therefore of interest to them to be acquainted with some of the research conducted by survey methodologists, on asking questions. It appears at first sight that this is not an area that should give rise to any particular problems, but the research evidence suggests that there are many pitfalls for the unwary. Discusses some basic problems of question setting and response and provides some helpful solutions to problems that may arise. Aims to help managers to be more conscious of the questioning style they adopt and the impact it may make.
A gustatory second-order neuron that connects sucrose-sensitive primary neurons and a distinct region of the gnathal ganglion in the Drosophila brain

Although the gustatory system provides animals with sensory cues important for food choice and other critical behaviors, little is known about neural circuitry immediately following gustatory sensory neurons (GSNs). Here, we identify and characterize a bilateral pair of gustatory second-order neurons (G2Ns) in Drosophila. Previous studies identified GSNs that relay taste information to distinct subregions of the primary gustatory center (PGC) in the gnathal ganglia (GNG). To identify candidate G2Ns, we screened ∼5,000 GAL4 driver strains for lines that label neural fibers innervating the PGC. We then combined GRASP (GFP reconstitution across synaptic partners) with presynaptic labeling to visualize potential synaptic contacts between the dendrites of the candidate G2Ns and the axonal terminals of Gr5a-expressing GSNs, which are known to respond to sucrose. Results of the GRASP analysis, followed by a single-cell analysis by FLP-out recombination, revealed a pair of neurons that contact Gr5a axon terminals in both brain hemispheres and send axonal arborizations to a distinct region outside the PGC but within the GNG. To characterize the input and output branches, respectively, we expressed fluorescence-tagged acetylcholine receptor subunit (Dα7) and active-zone marker (Brp) in the G2Ns. We found that G2N input sites overlaid GRASP-labeled synaptic contacts to Gr5a neurons, while presynaptic sites were broadly distributed throughout the neurons’ arborizations. GRASP analysis and further tests with the Syb–GRASP method suggested that the identified G2Ns receive synaptic inputs from Gr5a-expressing GSNs, but not Gr66a-expressing GSNs, which respond to caffeine. The identified G2Ns relay information from Gr5a-expressing GSNs to distinct regions in the GNG, and are distinct from other, recently identified gustatory projection neurons, which relay information about sugars to a brain region called the antennal mechanosensory and motor center (AMMC). Our findings suggest unexpected complexity for taste information processing in the first relay of the gustatory system.
Employee Share Ownership: Safeguarding Investments in Human Capital

Valuable investments in human capital, it has been argued, may be at risk in much the same way as shareholder equity capital. In this paper, we develop and test the hypothesis that employee share ownership (ESO) may be used to encourage and safeguard investments in human capital. Using the Workplace Employee Relations Survey 1998, we examine the empirical link between the likelihood of ESO and the presence of valuable human capital. Adjusted for possible structural influences, empirical evidence suggests considerable support for our hypothesis.
The human ecosystem Part II: Social indicators in ecosystem management

The human ecosystem model presented in an accompanying article in this issue (Machlis et al. 1997) has several applications. One such application is as an organizing concept in selecting social indicators for ecosystem management. This article describes a contemporary example of such an application using the Upper Columbia River Basin (UCRB). Social indicators are statistics that can be collected over time and used for policy and management. The human ecosystem model provides a rationale for selecting specific social indicators to assess socioeconomic conditions. In the UCRB example, data ‐were collected from 1990 U.S. Census documents and other secondary data sources for 39 indicators. In this article, two indicators are presented as examples for all 57 counties in the study area. Applications of social indicators for ecosystem management are discussed, such as (1) monitoring social conditions; (2) doing comparative studies within a region, between regions, and overtime; (3) evaluating human ecosystem re.
The Threat Effect of Active Labor Market Programs: A Systematic Review

This paper is a systematic review of the threat effect of active labor market programs for unemployed individuals. The threat effect is the induced change in the hazard rate of leaving unemployment prior to program participation. Studies included in the review all estimated a threat effect, with the participants in all cases being unemployed individuals in receipt of benefit of some kind during their tenure of unemployment. Eight of these studies have been included in a meta‐analysis: The meta‐analysis, which has been carried out using a random effects model to account for heterogeneity, indicated a hazard ratio of 1.25 for the pooled estimate. We conclude that active labor market programs constitute a statistically significant threat effect, although it is modest.
The Effect of Reversibility on a Manager's Decision to Record Asset Impairments

Over time, accounting standards have moved towards presenting more items at fair value on the balance sheet. Consistent with this trend, IAS 36 permits an impairment loss on a long-lived asset to be reversed if the economic value of the asset recovers. This paper explores the implication of allowing impairment reversals on a manager’s decision to record the loss. An expected utility model is developed to explore factors that affect his choice of action. The model is then calibrated with empirical data from an experiment conducted with 118 managers. The results suggest that permitting reversals significantly increases the likelihood that a manager will record the impairment, especially if the manager has a bonus plan. The bonus plan effect is not caused by the manager’s intention to smooth income through impairment reversals, but by his disutility from a bonus forgone if the value of the asset recovers but accounting rules prohibit him from reversing the loss. The participants’ demographics played a role in their judgment. Women and professional accountants were less likely to expect managers to truthfully report a loss, and accountants were least convinced that permitting reversals would improve reporting.
Event-triggered H∞ controller design for networked control systems with nonlinear perturbations

This paper is concerned with the problem of event-triggered H∞ control for a class of networked control systems with nonlinear perturbations. The nonlinear perturbations appear in both the system dynamic equation and the controlled output signals. An event-triggered transmission scheme is introduced to select `necessary' sampled-data packets to be transmitted through a communication network. Under the event-triggered transmission scheme, the closed-loop system is modeled as a system with an interval time-varying delay. Employing the matrix-based quadratic convex approach recently reported in the literature, a novel sufficient condition on the existence of desired event-triggered H∞ controllers is derived in terms of solutions to a set of linear matrix inequalities. No parameters need to be tuned when controllers are designed. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Deriving Lessons Relating to Marine Spatial Planning from Canada's Eastern Scotian Shelf Integrated Management Initiative

Stakeholder participation is viewed as a key element of ecosystem-based marine spatial planning (MSP). There is much debate over the effectiveness of stakeholder participation in ecosystem-based management (EBM) in general and over the form it should take. Particular challenges relating to participation in the marine environment are highlighted. A study of the Eastern Scotian Shelf Integrated Management initiative, which uses a collaborative planning model to implement EBM, is presented in order to explore these issues further. Criteria derived from a review of collaborative planning literature are employed to evaluate the effectiveness of this model, which is found to be a useful consensus-building tool. Although a strategic-level plan has been adopted, the initiative has encountered difficulties transitioning from plan development to plan implementation. These are attributable in large measure to deficiencies in the design of the collaborative model. Useful lessons relating mainly to stakeholder engagement, the role of the lead agency, and implementation strategies are advanced for those engaging in MSP processes.
Cortical Auditory Evoked Potential: evaluation of speech detection in adult hearing aid users.

PURPOSE To analyze the presence of auditory cortical potential and its correlation with psychoacoustic detection of speech sounds as well as the latency of the P1, N1 e P2 components presented in free field in hearing impaired adults with and without amplification. METHODS We evaluated 22 adults with moderate to severe symmetrical bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, regular users of bilateral hearing aids. Speech sounds of low (/m/), medium (/g/) and high (/t/) frequencies were presented in sound field in decreasing intensities of 75, 65 and of 55 dBSPL in free field with and without hearing aids. The used equipment performs automatic statistical detection of the presence of response; forthermore, the latencies of waves P1, N1 e P2 were labeled and the psychoacoustic perception was registered. RESULTS The results demonstrated the increased presence of cortical response with hearing aids. We observed the correlation between psychoacoustic perception and automatic detection of 91% for the sounds /g/ and /t/ and ranged from 73 to 86% for the sound /m/. The averages of latencies P1-P2-N1 decreased with both increasing intensity and the use of hearing aids for the three sounds. The differences were significant for the sounds /g/ and /t/ in comparison with and without hearing aids. CONCLUSION There was increase in the presence of cortical auditory evoked potential with hearing aids. Automatic detection of cortical response provided with hearing aids showed 91% agreement with the psychoacoustic perception of the speech signal. In the analysis of latency measures of the P1, N1 and P2 components, it was observed a decrease with the increase of the signal intensity and the use of amplification for the three speech stimuli /m/, /g/ and /t/.
INTRAPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOR: A STUDY OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Corporate entrepreneurship brings to organizations a new working philosophy, in which the individual ability of each employee can be more effectively developed. Corporations that adopt an intrapreneurial culture will be effective in their market, with intrapreneurs generating innovations and competitive advantages. In this context, this study seeks to characterize intrapreneurial behavior among employees of two universities of Santa Catarina, Brazil, linking it to five organizational factors: managerial support, freedom in the workplace, available time, uncertainty in tasks, and rewards. It also seeks to measure organizational identity to determine if this variable is a mediator in the relationship between the factors and intrapreneurial behavior. Analysis of the data involved the use of Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equations Modeling (SEM), seeking to evaluate the relationships proposed between the organizational factors. The results shown that the factors are positively related with intrapreneurial behavior. In regard to the relationship between the factors and organizational identity, the strongest relationship was found with managerial support, followed by freedom in the workplace. The other factors showed a poorer relationship in the coefficients. Finally, the hypothesis that organizational identity is a mediator between organizational factors and intrapreneurial behavior was not supported. The theme in question is very important for providing information and support that can help managers in the strategic decision-making process, as well as increasing knowledge of practices of corporate entrepreneurialism.