Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Options Do We Have for Induction Therapy for Crohn’s Disease?

The first goal of Crohn’s disease treatment is to induce a response. The choice of induction therapy depends on a number of factors. First, disease severity will dictate the level of intensity of treatment. Moderate to severely active Crohn’s disease needs to be treated more aggressively than mild disease. Second, it is important to consider the disease distribution, since some medications (e.g. 5-aminosalicylates, budesonide, antibiotics) are more effectively delivered to the small bowel or the colon. Third, prior medications need to be considered. A patient naïve to immunomodulators and anti-TNF agents will be managed very differently from a patient who has already failed two anti-TNF drugs. A fourth critical factor is considering the individual patient. The balance of benefits and risks will depend upon the patient’s expected disease course, and how much risk they are at personally for serious adverse events related to treatment. In addition, patients’ preferences for treatment need to be addressed since they will choose therapies differently based on their personal experience with symptoms, thresholds for risk taking, and fears about their disease and treatment. The basic armamentarium for induction therapy for Crohn’s disease includes: 5-aminosalicylates, antibiotics, budesonide, systemic corticosteroids, thiopurines, methotrexate, and anti-TNF agents. These drugs can be used alone or combined in difference treatment algorithms to optimize therapy. The art of treating the IBD patient is in understanding the options and being able to apply an individualized regimen based upon unique patient and disease factors.
Prometheus Bound: Polarization is Possible in the Neoclassical Growth Model

The paper demonstrates that the standard neoclassical model of stochastic growth in the absence of any other modifications is consistent with club convergence contrary to the analysis in Cetorelli (2002, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 27, pp. 29-50). In that sense, it is not necessary to augment the model with a probability of adverse shocks that is inversely related to aggregate capital stock or provide other modifications. Copyright © 2008 The Authors.
Effect of co-ingestion of amino acids with rice on glycaemic and insulinaemic response

Abstract Consumption of high glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic response (GR) food such as white rice has been implicated in the development of type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have reported the ability of individual amino acids to reduce GR of carbohydrate-rich foods. Because of the bitter flavour of amino acids, they have rarely been used to reduce GR. We now report the use of a palatable, preformed amino acid mixture in the form of essence of chicken. In all, sixteen healthy male Chinese were served 68 or 136 ml amino acid mixture together with rice, or 15 or 30 min before consumption of white rice. Postprandial blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations were measured at fasting and every 15 min after consumption of the meal until 60 min after the consumption of the white rice. Subsequent blood samples were taken at 30-min intervals until 210 min. The co-ingestion of 68 ml of amino acid mixture with white rice produced the best results in reducing the peak blood glucose and GR of white rice without increasing the insulinaemic response. It is postulated that amino acid mixtures prime β-cell insulin secretion and peripheral tissue uptake of glucose. The use of ready-to-drink amino acid mixtures may be a useful strategy for lowering the high-GI rice diets consumed in Asia.
Differences between Politically Connected and Non-Connected Firms: A Cross Country Analysis

Evidence from firms in 47 countries shows that companies with political connections have higher leverage and higher market shares, but they underperform compared to non-connected companies on an accounting basis. Differences between connected and unconnected firms are more pronounced when political links are stronger. Differences also vary depending on the level of corruption and the degree of economic development in individual countries.
PRELIMINARY DRAFT: PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE State dependence, duration dependence and unobserved heterogeneity in the employment transitions of the over-50s

This paper examines transitions into and out of employment among men and women in the UK aged between 50 and the state pension age. Using nationally representative longitudinal survey data on 26,000 individuals, we begin by using standard duration models in order to examine the issue of duration dependence in transitions, allowing for unobserved heterogeneity. We then use a fourth order Markov model to estimate quarterly transitions allowing for potential endogeneity of initial conditions. The results support the hypothesis of endogenous initial conditions and allow various estimates of state dependence to be retrieved. Both types of dependence are shown to be important, which implies there is the potential for any individual to become trapped in non-employment and, ideally, policy should intervene as soon as an individual begins a period of non-employment
Sacrificing a Latina/o Presence in the Professoriate: An Analysis of Affirmative Action as Racial Remedy and Silent Covenant

This article focuses on the extent to which affirmative action policies and practices as remedies for racial injustice in higher education reflect a silent covenant that sacrifices the cultivation and presence of Latina/o faculty. Drawing upon the lived experiences of 22 Mexican American faculty and post-doctoral fellows, the author argues that, by invoking affirmative action policies and practices, institutions of higher education can promote the value of racial/ethnic diversity while still limiting the presence of Latina/o faculty. Meanwhile, the few Latina/o faculty who manage to gain access to research-intensive universities are commodified and sacrificed within hostile department cultures and through oppressive institutional practices.
Local Infiltration Analgesia Versus Regional Blockade for Postoperative Analgesia in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most commonly performed procedures while postoperative analgesia still remains challenging. The efficacy and safety of local infiltration analgesia (LIA) versus regional blockade (RB; epidural analgesia and/or peripheral nerve block) for pain management after TKA are controversial. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine whether LIA compared with RB would provide better postoperative pain control, consume less morphine, facilitate early functional recovery, entail a differential risk of side effects and complications, and allow a shorter length of stay. STUDY DESIGN This meta-analysis pooled all data published in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the efficacy and safety of LIA versus RB following TKA. SETTING The work was performed at Affiliated Cixi Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University. METHODS Literature in English was searched using EMBASE, Medline, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus from inception to April 2015. RCTs that compared LIA and RB for postoperative analgesia following TKA were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Back Review Group checklist, and a sensitivity analysis was performed. Sixteen RCTs with a total of 1,206 patients were finally included in our study. RESULTS The results of our meta-analysis indicate that patients managed by LIA showed significantly lower numeric rating scale (NRS) score at rest (WMD: -0.40 [-0.72, -0.07]; P = 0.02) when compared with those managed by RB. Difference of morphine consumption was not significant (WMD: -1.39 [-7.21, 4.44]; P = 0.64) between the 2 groups. In terms of early functional recovery, the LIA group showed more straight leg raise (RR: 2.90 [2.15, 3.93]; P < 0.00001) on the first postoperative day; better range of motion within one week (WMD: 4.33 [2.61, 6.05]; P < 0.00001), but not at 3 months (WMD: 1.98 [-0.02, 3.98]; P = 0.05); and comparable knee society score (WMD: -8.79 [-27.05, 9.48]; P = 0.35). Length of hospital stay of the LIA group was marginally shorter (WMD: -0.25 [-0.49, -0.01]; P = 0.05) than that of the RB group. Risk of side effects and complications were comparable between groups. LIMITATIONS The lack of a standard criterion regarding the technique details of LIA and heterogeneity resulting from the various analgesic components, dosages, and different administration methods might have posed a bias on the results. CONCLUSION Our results have indicated that LIA provided better analgesia than RB at rest and preserved quadriceps function in the immediate postoperative period, which may be beneficial to early functional recovery. And its safety profile is reliable. With the biases in our meta-analysis, a rigorous and adequately powered RCT is needed to validate our results. KEY WORDS Local infiltration analgesia, regional block, peripheral nerve block, epidural analgesia, postoperative analgesia, total knee arthroplasty, meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial.
Large-Scale Copy Number Polymorphism in the Human Genome

The extent to which large duplications and deletions contribute to human genetic variation and diversity is unknown. Here, we show that large-scale copy number polymorphisms (CNPs) (about 100 kilobases and greater) contribute substantially to genomic variation between normal humans. Representational oligonucleotide microarray analysis of 20 individuals revealed a total of 221 copy number differences representing 76 unique CNPs. On average, individuals differed by 11 CNPs, and the average length of a CNP interval was 465 kilobases. We observed copy number variation of 70 different genes within CNP intervals, including genes involved in neurological function, regulation of cell growth, regulation of metabolism, and several genes known to be associated with disease.
High speed digital ELD compensation with hybrid thermometer coding in CT ΔΣ modulators

In this paper, a high speed digital excess loop delay (ELD) compensation scheme with hybrid thermometer coding is proposed. In this high speed compensation, the time constraint of the DAC feedback route is shifted to the one clock compensation path. Also, the method to deal with the signal overflows the quantizer's range is analyzed. Compared to other digital ELD compensations, this scheme features an efficient compensation with a low hardware cost and a high operation frequency. The digital ELD compensation scheme and the algorithm were verified in a design of 3-0 MASH delta-sigma modulator in TSMC 65nm LP CMOS process.
Biomechanical Comparison of Expansive Pedicle Screw and Polymethylmethacrylate-augmented Pedicle Screw in Osteoporotic Synthetic Bone in Primary Implantation: An Experimental Study

Study Design:Expansive pedicle screws (EPS) and polymethylmethacrylate-augmented pedicle screws (PMMA-PS) were inserted into osteoporotic synthetic bones, which were then tested by radiographic and biomechanical examinations. Objective:To compare the stability of EPS and PMMA-PS with that of a conventional pedicle screw (CPS) in an osteoporotic synthetic bone. Summary of Background Data:It is a significant challenge for orthopedic surgeons performing transpedicular fixation in the osteoporotic spine. Prior studies have suggested that both EPS and PMMA-PS can increase the screw stability effectively. However, there are no biomechanical comparisons of EPS and PMMA-PS, especially in primary spinal surgery in osteoporosis. Methods:Thirty osteoporotic synthetic bone blocks were divided into 3 groups randomly. A pilot hole was prepared in advance in all samples by the same method. Then, the CPS was inserted directly into the pilot hole in the CPS group; the hole in the PMMA-PS group was first filled with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA; 2.5 mL) and then inserted with CPS, and the EPS was inserted directly into the blocks in the EPS group. Twenty-four hours later, x-ray and computed tomography examination and axial pullout tests were performed on all samples; the block destructions were then recorded, and the hole diameters were measured. Results:In the CPS group, the screw was surrounded directly by the synthetic bone without any other materials, whereas in the PMMA-PS group, the screw was totally wrapped up by PMMA, and the PMMA was evenly distributed in the synthetic bone around the screw, indicating obvious improvement of the local density around the track. In the EPS group, the anterior part of the EPS presented an obvious expansion in synthetic bone and formed an unguiform structure pressing the surrounding synthetic bone. Screw stabilities in both the PMMA-PS and the EPS groups were significantly enhanced compared with those in the CPS group, and the screw stability in the PMMA-PS group was significantly higher than that in the EPS group. After the pullout tests, the block destructions were the most severe in the PMMA-PS group and the lightest in the CPS group. Hole diameters in the PMMA-PS and the EPS groups were significantly larger than that in the CPS group, whereas the diameter of the hole in the PMMA-PS group was significantly greater than that in the EPS group. Conclusions:EPS can significantly increase the strength of screw fixation compared with CPS in osteoporotic synthetic bone. Although EPS shows a weaker fixation strength compared with PMMA-PS in the osteoporotic synthetic bone, it may still provide an alternative option to prevent screw loosening in the clinical treatment of osteoporosis.
Molecular beacons illuminate subcellular events.

Building on decades of technological advances and imaging experience, during which noninvasive imaging of cardiac structure and function, myocardial perfusion and viability, and noncoronary vascular pathology have become intimately entwined in routine clinical practice, advanced imaging techniques are now poised to deliver noninvasive coronary arteriograms and to delineate the coronary artery wall in exquisite detail. At the same time that these highly promising methods for anatomic imaging at the macroscopic level are creating great excitement among physicians, their patients, and the public, a quieter imaging revolution is underway with steady progress in detecting and tracking fundamental biological processes at the cellular and subcellular levels. In the era of genomic research, molecular biology, and stem cell therapies, these methods have great potential to accelerate understanding of basic pathophysiological processes in animals and humans and to develop new tools for early diagnosis and drug development. Cardiovascular molecular imaging is taking hold. See p 1800 Molecular imaging is the science of visually representing, characterizing, and quantifying cellular/subcellular biological processes in intact organisms. These processes include gene expression, protein–protein interaction, signal transduction, cellular metabolism, and both intracellular and intercellular trafficking. Molecular imaging has the potential to quantify these events, to monitor multiple events simultaneously, to localize these events in 3 dimensions, and to monitor these events serially. Thus, biological processes can be identified and studied in time and space, providing “4-dimensional” information. The emergence of molecular imaging has coincided with and has been made possible by the enormous progress in molecular biology, cell biology, and transgenic animal models, as well as the development of imaging probes that are specific, reproducible, and quantifiable.1 Molecular imaging was once the sole domain of nuclear medicine, with tracers developed for both positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Examples include antimyosin antibodies for …
European integration and the end of an imperial consciousness in Britain

This article examines the impact of European integration between 1961 and 1975 on national and imperial consciousness in Britain. It suggests that the end of imperial sentiment that was brought about by greater involvement in Europe did not produce a strong or deep attachment to the idea of European integration. Arguments about the need for European integration to transcend war in Europe tended to reinforce a sense of Commonwealth commonality for the British rather than a sense of European commonality. Although the Empire and Commonwealth had become a mere source of nostalgia in British consciousness by 1975, the weak support for European integration continues to condition British attitudes to European integration to this day. Indeed, in the current Eurosceptic climate, the Dominions are making a return to British political consciousness.
Step Double Barrier Options

Barrier options are common in the market and a variety of procedures exist for efficient valuation of the plain vanilla varieties. But simple structures do not fit all investors’ preferences and needs, so more complex barrier options are also regularly traded. An important class is step double barrier contracts, which have barriers both above and below the current market price (the “double” part) that widen or narrow at a predetermined future date (the “step” part). Naturally, the tradition of exotic names for exotic options is applied here, resulting in “hot dogs,” “towers,” “wedding cakes,” “onions” and more. Guillaume takes on the challenge of developing closed-form valuation equations that can be applied to a great variety of such contracts. The results are inherently messy, but worth it, because execution speed is greatly increased.
Indications for enteric conversion after pancreas transplantation with bladder drainage.

BACKGROUND Bladder drainage has become the procedure of choice for 94% of transplant centers in North America. Bladder drainage is superior to other techniques as far as graft survival and technical success are concerned; however, the procedure is associated with significant urologic problems that might necessitate conversion to enteric drainage. This review summarizes the indications and results for enteric conversion at this institution. METHODS Between June 1982 and January 1992 a total of 240 pancreas transplantations were performed at our center. In 229 cases exocrine secretions were drained into the bladder. These cases were reviewed, and those with enteric conversions were further analyzed to delineate indications, complications, and results. RESULTS Sixteen (7%) were converted to enteric drainage (side-to-side duodenojejunostomy). The reasons for conversion were urethral disruption (six), recurrent urine leaks (five), bleeding (four), and chronic urinary tract infection (one). Enteric conversions were performed between 1 1/2 and 32 months after the initial transplantation. With the exception of one anastomotic leak resulting in an intraabdominal abscess, no complications occurred. All patients undergoing enteric conversions had resolution of their problems and, in addition, were able to discontinue use of oral bicarbonate. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that enteric conversion after pancreas transplantation with bladder drainage is safe and effective in the correction of urologic problems. Based on our experience, we recommend early enteric conversion if urologic problems do not resolve after an appropriate period of conservative therapy.
Stability of the Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement using rigid fixation and porous block hydroxyapatite grafting.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of maxillary advancement using bone plates for skeletal stabilization and porous block hydroxyapatite (PBHA) as a bone graft substitute for interpositional grafting. PATIENTS AND METHODS The records of 78 patients (55 female, 23 male) with a diagnosis of anteroposterior maxillary hypoplasia were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent greater than 5 mm Le Fort I maxillary advancement with rigid fixation and PBHA interpositional grafting. The study sample was divided into 3 groups on the basis of the concurrent superior or inferior positioning of the maxillary incisors. Presurgery (T1), immediately postsurgery (T2), and longest follow-up (T3) lateral cephalometric tracings were superimposed to analyze for horizontal and vertical changes at the following landmarks: (1) point A, (2) incisal edge of the maxillary incisor, and (3) mesial cusp tip of maxillary first molar. RESULTS The maxilla was inferiorly repositioned in 27 patients, superiorly repositioned in 21 patients, and advanced horizontally without a significant vertical change in 30 patients. All groups showed 0.5 mm or less horizontal and vertical relapse. There was no statistically significant difference between the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS Maxillary advancement with Le Fort 1 osteotomies by using rigid fixation and interpositional PBHA grafting is a stable and predictable procedure regardless of the direction of vertical maxillary movement.
On The Transmission of Global Shocks to Latin America Before and After China's Emergence in the World Economy

External shocks are very important for Latin America's economic per- formance as the recent global crisis vividly illustrated. At the same time, the global economy has undergone profound structural changes over the past three decades. This paper investigates how changed trade linkages between China, Latin America, and the rest of the world may be aecting the transmission of global shocks to Latin America. Evidence based on a GVAR model estimated with quarterly data from 1979(1) to 2009(4) for all major advanced and emerging economies of the world show that the impact of a China GDP shock on the typical Latin American economy has increased over time since 1995, due to thee increased weight of China international trade in total trade for Latin America, the United States, and the euro area. Over the same period, we do not …nd evidence of in- creased impact of US GDP shocks neither on the US itself nor on the other countries in our model. These results suggest that one reason why Latin America did so well in the aftermath of the global crisis is its newfound much higher loading onto a "winning horse" in the recovery race.
An Integrative Framework of Strategic International Human Resource Management

The globalization of business is making it more important than ever to understand how multinational enterprises (MNEs) can operate more effectively. A major component of this understanding appears to be the field of human resource management, and in particular, the field of international human resource management (Brewster, 1991; Hendry, 1992; Desatnick & Bennett, 1978; Dowling, 1986; Dowling & Schuler, 1990; Evans, 1986; Laurent, 1986; Tung, 1984). The trend over the past few years has been to identify the linkage of human resource management with strategy and offer an understanding of how single country or domestic human resource management can facilitate organizational understanding and effectiveness (Wright and McMhan, 1992). In this article we attempt to extend this line of work into the international arena. We do this by offering a framework of strategic international human resource management (SIHRM). Anchoring SIHRM in the strategic components of MNEs, namely their interunit linkages and internal operations, strategic aspects of international human resource management are described, Using several theoretical bases, numerous propositions are offered. These propositions reflect the single and multiple influence of the strategic components of MNEs and several exogenous and endogenous factors on SIHR. The intention is to offer a framework that can serve both academics and practitioners in furthering our understanding of strategic international human resource management.