Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
U.S. Reinsurance Prices, Financial Quality, and Global Capacity

The puzzle of underwriting cycles and insurance crises in property-liability insurance has led to numerous economic hypotheses and analyses, yet no single theory seems capable of explaining all of its aspects. Reinsurance is hypothesized to be a potential factor in observed cycles in the primary market; despite this, few underwriting cycle studies focus on reinsurance. The purpose of this research is to investigate determinants of reinsurance prices in the U.S. Nonproportional reinsurance is highlighted, since it is designed to cover the tail of the loss distribution and is considered to be relatively riskier than proportional reinsurance as a result. Separate samples of professional U.S. reinsurers for property and for casualty are studied, based upon the reinsurers' writings of property versus casualty nonproportional reinsurance. The sample period is 1991-1995. The results support both the capacity constraint hypothesis and the risky debt hypothesis, and this is the first research to support both. A major innovation in this study is the use of capacity variables that are broken down by major region of the world.
Illnesses associated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. A broad clinical spectrum.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To describe the spectrum of illnesses associated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. DESIGN Described an outbreak that showed the broad spectrum of these infections. Reviewed the clinical findings in the other eight major outbreaks reported between 1982 and 1986. Also reviewed reports of sporadic cases. SETTING Outbreaks in communities, nursing homes, a day care center, and a kindergarten. CASES Persons identified in outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 infections. RESULTS Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection causes bloody diarrhea (hemorrhagic colitis), nonbloody diarrhea, the hemolytic uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Infection can be asymptomatic, can involve extraintestinal sites, and can be fatal. Bloody diarrhea is the commonest symptom. Most patients have severe abdominal cramps; fever is documented in less than half. Findings from fecal leukocyte examinations often suggest a noninfectious cause. Results of radiologic and colonoscopic examinations can be consistent with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or ischemic colitis. Patients at the extremes of age are at increased risk for E. coli O157:H7-associated diarrhea, the hemolytic uremic syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and death. Antimicrobial agents have not been shown to modify the illness, but there are few data on individual agents. CONCLUSION Infection with E. coli O157:H7 should be considered in all patients with bloody diarrhea, the hemolytic uremic syndrome, or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura because the infection can masquerade as gastrointestinal bleeding of noninfectious cause, the antecedent diarrhea may be resolved and forgotten by the time the hemolytic uremic syndrome or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is diagnosed, and the detection of E. coli O157:H7 requires specific stool culture techniques.
The prevalence of DSM-III-R "prodromal" symptoms of schizophrenia in non-psychotic psychiatric outpatients

A cross-sectional point prevalence study of the DSM-III-R prodromal symptoms in non-psychotic ( n = 501) consecutive outpatients from a catchment area with 260,000 inhabitants is presented. The relationship between the three most psychosis-specific prodromal symptoms and the development of psychosis during the following 6 months was also explored. The prevalence of any prodromal symptom was 25%, the most prevalent being impairment of role functioning (14%), isolation and withdrawal (11%) and lack of initiative (8%). The most prevalent symptom in affective disorders was lack of initiative (14%); in personality disorders, it was impairment of role functioning (21%). The prevalences of the most psychosis-specific symptoms "peculiar behaviour", "magical thinking" and "unusual perceptual experiences" was 1-2%. At re-evaluation 6 months later, three of 20 patients (15%) with one or more such symptoms had become psychotic, two with schizoaffective disorder, one with affective psychosis. It was concluded that DSM-III prodromal symptoms are common among non-psychotic outpatients, but most such symptoms are non-specific for psychosis. Persistent peculiar behaviour, magical thinking and unusual perceptual experiences have a very low prevalence but may indicate an increased risk for psychosis. Such patients should be followed with that risk in mind.
Treatment options for Dandy-Walker malformation.

OBJECT The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of various treatment options available for children with Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) and to evaluate the role of endoscopic procedures in the treatment of this disorder. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective review of 72 children who underwent surgical treatment for DWM during a 16-year period. All patients underwent computed tomography scanning, and 26 underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The initial surgical treatment included ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement in 21 patients, cystoperitoneal (CP) shunt placement in 24, and combined VP and CP shunt insertion in three. Twenty-one patients underwent endoscopic procedures (endoscopic third ventriculostomy [ETV] alone in 16 patients, ETV with aqueductal stent placement in three, and ETV with fenestration of the occluding membrane in two). Three patients underwent membrane excision via a posterior fossa craniectomy. In the 26 patients who had undergone preoperative MR imaging, aqueductal patency was noted in 23 and aqueductal obstruction in three. These three patients underwent placement of a stent from the third ventricle to the posterior fossa cyst in addition to the ETV procedure. During the follow-up period, 12 patients with a CP shunt and four with a VP shunt experienced shunt malfunctions that required revision. Four patients with a CP shunt also required placement of a VP shunt. In addition, five of the 21 ETVs failed, requiring VP shunt insertion. A reduction in ventricle size noted on postoperative images occurred more frequently in patients with a VP shunt, whereas a reduction in cyst size was more appreciable in patients with a CP shunt. Successful ETV resulted in a slight decrease in ventricle size and varying degrees of reduction in cyst size. CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic procedures may be considered an acceptable alternative in children with DWM. The authors propose a treatment protocol based on preoperative MR imaging findings of associated aqueductal stenosis.
Interactions between buprenorphine and the protease inhibitors darunavir-ritonavir and fosamprenavir-ritonavir.

BACKGROUND This study examined drug interactions between buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist used for opioid dependence treatment and pain management, and the protease inhibitors (PIs) darunavir-ritonavir and fosamprenavir-ritonavir. METHODS The pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine and its metabolites and symptoms of opioid withdrawal or excess were compared in opioid-dependent, buprenorphine-naloxone-maintained, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative volunteers (11 for darunavir-ritonavir and 10 for fosamprenavir-ritonavir) before and after 15 days of PI administration. PI pharmacokinetics and adverse effects were compared between the buprenorphine-maintained participants and an equal number of sex-, age-, race-, and weight-matched, healthy, non-opioid-dependent volunteers who received darunavir-ritonavir or fosamprenavir-ritonavir but not buprenorphine. RESULTS There were no significant changes in buprenorphine or PI plasma levels and no significant changes in medication adverse effects or opioid withdrawal. Increased concentrations of the inactive metabolite buprenorphine-3-glucuronide suggested that darunavir-ritonavir and fosamprenavir-ritonavir induced glucuronidation of buprenorphine. CONCLUSIONS Dose adjustments are not likely to be necessary when buprenorphine and darunavir-ritonavir or fosamprenavir-ritonavir are coadministered for the treatment of opioid dependence and HIV disease.
China’s southbound transboundary river basins: a case of asymmetry

An overview is presented of the contemporary societal and environmental development situation in the six major transboundary river basins that drain south from China: the Red River, Mekong, Salween, Irrawaddy, Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Indus. The overall societal and environmental vulnerability of the basins is assessed using multidimensional river basin vulnerability analysis. The analysis shows that while China has a fairly low level of vulnerability in these basins, its downstream influence is substantial. This setting offers a plethora of opportunities for transboundary cooperation and calls for a high level of responsibility from the upstream riparian countries.
Effect of polarity reversal time on electric field in converter transformer bushing

Polarity reversal is a special condition of converter transformer bushing that needs to bear both DC voltage and AC voltage in an instant polarity reversal, and the time of polarity reversal effects the bushing of the electric field distribution simultaneously. The finite element method is used to analyze the ±600kV converter transformer bushing in different polarity reversal time under the condition of electric field distribution, and the change of maximum electric field intensity in different polarity reversal time. Results show that the DC static voltage make free charges accumulation on the surface of solid media to lead to a dramatic change of electric field distribution when the polarity reversal occurs, the faster the voltage reversal change the higher the maximal transient field is. A transient peak value of electric intensity appears in respective epoxy resin and transformer oil after the polarity reversal and the silicon rubber after the polarity reversal.
Looking proximally and distally: 100 years of limb regeneration and beyond

The experimental study of amphibian limb regeneration spans most of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century. We first review the major questions investigated over this time span: (1) the origin of regeneration blastema cells, the mechanism of tissue breakdown that liberates cells from their tissue organization to participate in blastema formation, (3) the mechanism of dedifferentiation of these cells, (4) how the blastema grows, (5) how the blastema is patterned to restore the missing limb structures, and (6) why adult anurans, birds and mammals do not have the regenerative powers of urodele salamanders. We then look forward in a perspective to discuss the many unanswered questions raised by investigations of the past century, what new approaches can be taken to answer them, and what the prospects are for translation of basic research on limb regeneration into clinical means to regenerate human appendages. Developmental Dynamics 240:943–968, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
THE ROLE OF PATENT, CITATION AND OBJECTION STOCKS IN THE PRODUCTIVITY ANALYSIS OF R&D — USING JAPANESE COMPANY DATA

In this paper, I examine the role of patent stock, citation stock and objection stock in the analysis of R&D productivity and the exact interrelationships between those stocks by using new data on 100 large Japanese companies. I find, first, that citation and objection stock represent the knowledge stock of the company well, whereas patent stock itself is an ineffective proxy for the knowledge stock. Objection stock seems to be the best proxy for the knowledge stock. Second, citation and objection stocks are effective in playing the role of control factors for successful R&D stock, whereas patent stock is only effective if lags in R&D stock are incorporated. Third, citation and objection stocks are good proxies for controlling for the quality of patent stock. Citation stock seems to be the best variable for controlling for R&D stock and patent stock.
The Financing and Programming of Advocacy in Complex Nonprofit Structures

This article examines nonprofit environmental groups to demonstrate the impact of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulation on nonprofit organizations interested in advocacy work. This regulation encourages nonprofits interested in extended advocacy to form additional, related tax-exempt entities, creating complex nonprofit structures. Although regulatory barriers to charitable lobbying have received some attention, little has been written on how regulatory policy shapes the organizational structures, finances, and programming of nonprofits involved in advocacy. This study analyzes the complex structures of five environmental nonprofit groups using information they file with the IRS and FEC and interviews with key officers and representatives. It finds that even with strict regulatory compliance, financial and programmatic relationships across these complex structures can vary creating different types of complex nonprofit structures. The article models the different complex nonprofit structures and provides an analysis of the historical and legal risk factors that underlie them.
Resource Efficiency Complexity and the Commons: The Paracommons and Paradoxes of Natural Resource Losses, Wastes and Wastages

1. A Preliminary Explanation of the Paracommons 2. Main Introduction and the Scope of the Book 3. On Resource Efficiency Multiple Views 4. A Framework of Resource Efficiency Complexity 5. The Liminal Paracommons - Efficiency and Transition 6. Distinctions Between the Commons and Paracommons 7. Significances and Applications of the Paracommons 8. Conclusions
Early discharge and its effect on ED length of stay and access block

Effecting early discharge is a widely recommended strategy for improving patient flow in acute hospitals. This paper analyses the impact of inpatient discharge timing on Emergency Department (ED) flow parameters such as access block and length of stay, while comparing this to the effect on hospital occupancy, to arrive at an understanding of a 'whole of hospital' response to discharge timing. The impact of hospital size is also investigated. The analysis reveals that, on days when the discharge peak lags the peak in inpatient admissions, hospitals of all sizes exhibit increased levels of occupancy, inpatient and ED length of stay, and access block. The findings corroborate the efficacy of early discharge initiatives and 'whole of hospital' flow improvement initiatives for addressing overcrowding and efficiency issues in hospitals.
International market expansion and diversification opportunities for KBB Resources Berhad Malaysia

Title – International market expansion and diversification opportunities for KBB Resources Berhad Malaysia. Subject area – International business. Study level/applicability – Bachelor level. Case overview – This case study simulates a real life management decision. It explores the planning, organizing and controlling challenges associated with developing an internationalization strategy. Top managers planning to expand “internationally” contemplate about potential international markets should understand the risks and opportunities they present and how best to deal with them. Often organizational design is neglected prior to embarking on internationalization strategy. The case provides contrasting perspectives and entry options, to highlight the importance of an in-depth evaluation of alternatives. Expected learning outcomes – Analyze and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of business prior to exploiting international opportunities. Discuss key success factors, each of which has a different degree of im.
Vascular risk factors in normal-tension glaucoma and techniques for evaluating ocular blood flow

The most common optic neuropathy is the glaucomatous neuropathy. It involves progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells including their axons and disc damage resulting in visual field loss. The disease, if not treated, can lead to irreversible vision loss. Apart from the age-related macular degeneration glaucoma is the main cause of blindness in civilized countries. Until recently the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma mainly focused on the detection and reduction of the intraocular pressure, which is found the main risk factor for glaucoma. However, in spite of the normal intraocular pressure some glaucoma patients develop the neuropathy and experience progression of the disease. These patients mostly suffer from the normal-tension glaucoma. According to the current state of knowledge it is believed that one of the leading causes of the optic disk damage in glaucoma is the ischemia of the secondary to elevated intraocular pressure or a disturbance of ocular blood flow. It is considered that the intraocular pressure within statistically normal limits is relatively too high for disk resistance in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma. In these patients the failure of blood circulation in eye usually co-exists with systemic hemodynamic alternations. It is also possible that the disturbances of blood supply to the optic nerve head may cause increased susceptibility of the retinal nerve fibres to the intraocular pressure. The review discusses the mechanisms that (may) affect the regulation of the ocular blood flow and the vascular risk factors that may compromise the systemic and ocular blood flow. The second part of the article summarizes some new visualization techniques for evaluating ocular blood flow.
Pareto Gains from Trade

In this paper we review the literature on Pareto gains from trade. We start by discussing the distributional implications of trade which arise in the general heterogeneous agents case. We present the proof of Pareto gains from trade using lumpsum redistribution, followed by the same result with commodity taxation. Newer results involving non-linear taxation, in particular the special case of a duty free zone, are also discussed. Finally, we address the distributional effects of trade in the presence of increasing returns to scale and love of variety.
Blood Lactate, Heart Rate, and Rating of Perceived Exertion in Collegiate Sprint, Middle Distance, and Long Distance Runners after 400 and 1600 Meter Runs

The aim of this studywas toinvestigate the effect ofrunning classification (sprint, middle, and long distance)and two distances on blood lactate (BLa), heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) Borg scale ratings in collegiate athletes. On different days, runners (n = 15) ran 400m and 1600m at a five min mile pace, followed by a two min 6mph jog, and a two min 3mph walk as part of the cool down. BLa, HR, and RPE were taken at baseline, post-run, plus 2 and 4 min recovery times. The middle and long distance runners exhibited lower BLa concentrations than sprint runners after two min of recovery post 400 m runs, immediately after, and two and four min recovery periods post 1600 m runs. When compared to sprint runners, distance runners may have exhibited the ability to clear BLa more quickly, particularly after running 1600 m. Keywords—Blood lactate, HR, RPE, running.
Intelligent radiant floor heating regulation system with wireless sensors

Thermal comfort of person living in building with radiant floor heating is not usually perfect. There is usually absence of control system based on each single room. This work proposes a simple, promising, effective and cost-effective regulation system for radiant floor heating. Designed system is based on small wireless sensors placed in every room to measure the temperature and wirelessly send it to the cloud. The data is analyzed and compared with user selected values and appropriate actions are taken by wireless relay unit that controls flow through each heating circuit by thermoelectric actuators. Main benefits of this system is Internet of Things (IoT) solution, which means that all the computing is made in the cloud. Used sensors and relay board can be relatively cheap due to low demands on its computing power. There is not any expensive main unit with display and user interface, because this system can be controlled via cloud from any kind of device (such as notebook, tablet, smart phone etc.). Prototype have been tested in a normal environment for its basic functions, but more data needs to be measured for final verification.
Miniaturized Ultra-Wideband Bandpass Filter Using Bridged-T Coil

In this letter, a miniaturized ultra-wideband bandpass filter based on thin-film integrated passive device process is proposed. The multi-mode resonator is adopted to achieve a wide bandwidth from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. By using the bridged-T coil to replace the transmission line of multi-mode resonator, the circuit size is largely reduced while the multi-mode property can be retained. The filter size without pads is 2.21 mm × 1.04 mm, which is only about 0.050 λ0 ×0.024 λ0 at the center frequency of 6.85 GHz. To our knowledge, this is the smallest multi-mode resonator filter ever published.
Do JIT lines perform better than traditionally balanced lines

Over the past decade, JIT approach for designing and operating lines has evolved to compete on time dimensions. Traditionally, the lines designed and operated using line balancing approach are considered optimal. Uses simulation methodology to compare each of these approaches under various levels of system variability and total inventory in the system. Shows that when system variability is low, the JIT line produces lower cycle time at almost all levels of total inventory in the system. However, when system variability is high the balanced line yields lower cycle time, especially at lower levels of inventory in the system.
Development of wireless sensing system monitoring physiological information for healthcare in daily life

In Japan's fast-aging society with a falling birthrate, it has become necessary to work on disease prevention and health maintenance. The availability of information about daily physiological state and activity makes it possible to judge the health condition and provide predictive diagnosis and treatment. A wireless sensing system for monitoring physiological information in the living environment was developed and its functions were evaluated. The system consists of ear-worn temperature sensors, thermo-hygrometers, skin temperature sensors, and an ECG sensor with accelerometer. Data could be obtained in daily life without restraining wearers' movements using multiple networked wearable sensors with a reasonable battery life. The level of data loss in wireless communication was low making it possible to estimate physiological state, even though both the IEEE 802.15. 4 radio and the low power radio coexist. The system was evaluated for the prevention of heat stroke and unwellness during exercise monitoring real-time thermal physiological state with ambient temperature and humidity. Experiments showed that the detection of the abnormal level of physiological data and its change was effective in judging the physiological state and giving a warning on the health condition in the context of activity and surroundings.