Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anti-TNFα agents and interleukin-17 A inhibitor Secukinmuab have similar effects in improvement of ASAS 20 , ASAS 40 , and safety : a meta-analysis

Objective: The aim of this study was to indirectly compare the efficacy and safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) agents and an interleukin (IL)-17A inhibitor Secukinmuab for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: Literatures were searched in Pubmed, Medline, Embase and the Cochrane library to screen citations from January 1996 to December 2015. The mixed treatment comparison (MTC) meta-analysis within a Bayesian framework was performed by WinBUGS14 software. The proportion of patients reaching ASAS20 and ASAS40 improvement by the assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society response criteria index at week 12 was used as efficacy end point. Results: There was no significant difference between the five anti-TNFα agents and Secukinmuab regarding their efficacy and safety. We found that infliximab may have a better effect in improving ASAS20 than the other drugs and ct-p13 may have a better effect in improving ASAS40 than the other drugs during 12 week therapy, although there were no statistical differences. Conclusion: Allsix agents have similar effects in improvement of ASAS20, ASAS40, and safety. However, infliximab and ct-p13 trended to be superior to the other four agents in terms of ASAS20 and ASAS40 during 12 week treatment. IL-17A can be a potential therapeutic target in spondyloarthritis.
A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF MYERS-BRIGGS COGNITIVE STYLES AND THE LENGTH OF CUSTOMER BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

The purpose of this study was to review personality types for their average length of business relationships with an automobile dealership. Data analysis involved reviewing Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) preference types and the average length of the customer organizational relationship (COR) for each preference pair. Data collection involved 111 individuals in two locations. Participants varied in age from 26 to 73, and separation of genders did not occur in the study. Education levels varied from high school to doctorate-level degrees. Collection of MBTI data occurred for each of the four dyadic preference pairs and the 16 type permutations. The COR is the mean number of years of loyalty over which the clients expressed they have maintained a relationship with an automobile dealership. Research indicates that clients with long-term CORs are potentially more valuable to an organization (Reichheld, 1993). If an MBTI preference choice indicates a long average length of COR, organizations may attempt to optimize their marketing and distribution departments to identify and serve these customers. Data from the study indicated that a significant number of introverted (I) and intuition (N) types may have a greater propensity to form long-term CORs.
Do share prices fully reflect the information about future earnings in accruals and cash flow

This article follows the methodology employed by Sloan to evaluate whether share prices fully reflect the information about future earnings contained in the cash flow and accruals components of current earnings. The first hypothesis predicted that the persistence of earnings attributable to the cash flow component of earnings is greater than the persistence of earnings attributable to the accrual component of earnings. The results indicate that this is indeed the case. The second hypothesis predicted that share prices would react as if investors fixate on earnings, and fail to distinguish between the different properties of the cash flow and the accrual components of earnings. In all cases investigated, the null hypothesis of market efficiency was rejected. However, investors did appear to distinguish between the different properties of cash flow and accruals. Market efficiency was rejected as the influence of both components of earnings was underestimated. Thus, although investors were not successful in unscrambling the earnings data, they did not appear to display an earnings fixation.
Cascadable first-order current-mode all-pass filter with electronic tuning

A new cascadable first-order current-mode all-pass filter (FOCMAPF) consists of single active element namely, dual-X current conveyor transconductance amplifier (DXCCTA) and one capacitor is presented in this paper. The proposed filter offers the features of ease of cascading, electronic tuning of pole frequency, low sensitivities to the active components as well as to the passive component, low total harmonic distortion of output current (0.74%) and very good operating frequency (78.4 MHz). HSPICE simulation results using 180 nm CMOS process parameters have been shown to authenticate the proposed theory.
Assessing the Burden of Healthcare-Associated Infections through Prevalence Studies: What Is the Best Method?1

Objective. To explore differences in the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) according to survey methodology. Design. Repeated point and period prevalence survey strategies. Setting. University-affiliated primary and tertiary care center. Methods. Analysis of data collected from 2006 to 2012 from annual HAI prevalence surveys using definitions proposed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study design allowed the analysis of the same data in the format of a point or a period prevalence survey. Results. Pooled point and period HAI prevalence was 7.46% and 9.84% (+32%), respectively. This additional 32% was mainly attributable to infections of the lower respiratory tract (2.42% vs 3.20% [+32%]) and the urinary tract (1.76% vs 2.62% [+49%]). Differences in surgical site infections (1.02% vs 1.20% [+19%]) and bloodstream infections (0.76% vs 0.86% [+13%]) were smaller. HAI prevalence for the point and period methodology in acute and long-term care were 7.47% versus 9.38 (+26%) and 8.37% versus 11.89% (+42%), respectively. Differences were stable over time. Focusing on the 4 major HAIs (respiratory tract, urinary tract, surgical site, and bloodstream infections) misses one-quarter of all HAIs. Conclusions. More HAIs are identified by the period prevalence method, especially those of shorter duration (lower respiratory and urinary tract), which would make this method more suitable to be used in long-term care. Results of the 2 study methods cannot be benchmarked against each other. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(6):674–684
Impact of obsessive-compulsive disorder on the antimanic response to olanzapine therapy in youth with bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE To compare antimanic response to olanzapine therapy in youth with bipolar disorder (BPD) based on the status of comorbidity with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHODS Secondary analysis of identically designed 8-week open-label trials of olanzapine therapy in youth with BPD. Severity of mania assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scales. RESULTS Of the 52 BPD subjects (mean age 8.4 +/- 3.1 years) enrolled in the olanzapine trials (mean dose 8.5 +/- 4.3 mg/day), 39% (n = 20) met criteria for comorbid OCD. Antimanic response in BPD subjects was significantly worse in the presence of comorbid OCD (YMRS mean reduction: -5.9 +/- 13.1 versus -13.7 +/- 18.8, p = 0.04; > or = 30% reduction: 25% versus 63%, p = 0.008; CGI-Improvement score < or = 2: 25% versus 68%, p = 0.003). There was no difference in the rate of dropouts (50% versus 29%, p = 0.2) or adverse effects in BPD subjects with or without comorbid OCD. CONCLUSIONS Less than expected antimanic response to olanzapine therapy in the presence of comorbidity with OCD suggests that OCD is an important functionally impairing psychiatric comorbidity that may impact the efficacy of antimanic agents in youth with BPD. This study is limited by its design of secondary analysis of data from trials of an uncontrolled nature. Further prospective controlled trials are warranted.
Effect of intravenous albumin on renal impairment and mortality in patients with cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

BACKGROUND In patients with cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, renal function frequently becomes impaired. This impairment is probably related to a reduction in effective arterial blood volume and is associated with a high mortality rate. We conducted a study to determine whether plasma volume expansion with intravenous albumin prevents renal impairment and reduces mortality in these patients. METHODS We randomly assigned 126 patients with cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis to treatment with intravenous cefotaxime (63 patients) or cefotaxime and intravenous albumin (63 patients). Cefotaxime was given daily in dosages that varied according to the serum creatinine level, and albumin was given at a dose of 1.5 g per kilogram of body weight at the time of diagnosis, followed by 1 g per kilogram on day 3. Renal impairment was defined as nonreversible deterioration of renal function during hospitalization. RESULTS The infection resolved in 59 patients in the cefotaxime group (94 percent) and 62 in the cefotaxime-plus-albumin group (98 percent) (P=0.36). Renal impairment developed in 21 patients in the cefotaxime group (33 percent) and 6 in the cefotaxime-plus-albumin group (10 percent) (P=0.002). Eighteen patients (29 percent) in the cefotaxime group died in the hospital, as compared with 6 (10 percent) in the cefotaxime-plus-albumin group (P=0.01); at three months, the mortality rates were 41 percent (a total of 26 deaths) and 22 percent (a total of 14 deaths), respectively (P=0.03). Patients treated with cefotaxime had higher levels of plasma renin activity than those treated with cefotaxime and albumin; patients with renal impairment had the highest values. CONCLUSIONS In patients with cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, treatment with intravenous albumin in addition to an antibiotic reduces the incidence of renal impairment and death in comparison with treatment with an antibiotic alone.
The Global Internet Shopper: Evidence from Shopping Tasks in Twelve Countries

ABSTRACT Globally, the characteristics of a website that are critical to increasing the likelihood that customers will shop at that site and will come back for future purchases are largely unknown. Actual shopping tasks by 299 respondents from 12 countries indicate that site quality, trust, and positive affect toward it are critical in explaining both the purchase intentions and loyalty of visitors to the site. This research indicates that the impact of these factors varies across different regions of the world and across different product categories. Results of this research highlight the need to tailor websites according to each world region and product being offered for sale.
The impact of servicescape on quality perception

Purpose – Although numerous articles emphasize the importance of the servicescape (the physical facilities of a service company), the effect of the servicescape on quality perception has been inadequately captured by previous empirical research. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the servicescape on perceived quality in a more comprehensive way.Design/methodology/approach – The article proposes a new model for assessing the effects of the servicescape on quality perception based on SERVQUAL. The model considers the special role of the servicescape (or what is called “tangibles” in SERVQUAL) by taking into account that the servicescape elements act as search qualities, while the other SERVQUAL dimensions represent experience or credence qualities. In doing so, the model captures direct and indirect influences of the servicescape. Additionally, a more comprehensive scale for the servicescape is suggested, which exceeds the mostly tangible aspects of the physical environment covered in the.
Long-term effects of high-dose zidovudine treatment on neuropsychological performance in mildly symptomatic HIV-positive patients: Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation

This study examined the treatment outcome of high-dose (1500 mg/day) zidovudine (AZT) on neuropsychological (NP) functioning (Trailmaking Test A & B, WAIS-R Digit Symbol, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test) across a 12-month period in mildly symptomatic HIV-1 seropositive men (n = 46 at entry) enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (VA Cooperative Studies Program #298). Neither short-term (0–6 months) nor long-term (0–12 months) AZT administration revealed enhancement in NP performance. The results suggest that, although AZT may afford patients prophylactic benefits, protracted high-dose AZT treatment does not improve NP functioning in mildly symptomatic HIV-positive individuals. (JINS, 2001, 7, 27–32)
The active fiber in a volume conductor.

This paper considers the quantitative description of intracellular and extracellular fields of a single circular cylindrical fiber resulting from the propagation of an action potential (AP). Several formulations are noted, but one, which permits identification of free-space source-sink relationships, is examined in some detail; the physical models which it gives rise to are described and developed. Desirable approximations are considered and the conditions of their validity are discussed. A convolution integral formulation to field patterns (from their sources) is presented. Axially symmetric anisotropic media are also considered.
Optimal Foreign Reserves for China

One of the puzzles about the Chinese economy has been the huge amount of foreign reserves that China holds. By conventional standards, China's reserve holdings are simply more than enough for its external trade and debt obligations. This research however argues that the overall level of China's foreign reserves is actually within the range of optimum if the reserves are viewed as China's self insurance against catastrophic events from the world economy or from the country within. Taking possible output losses following an economic/financial crisis to be equivalent to 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of China's GDP, respectively, the nation's reserve holdings before 2002 were found to be close to the lower 5% limit. For the period from 2002, China's reserve holdings are still within the upper limit given by the assumption that a major economic failure may cause its GDP to decline by 25%. This shows that precautionary consideration has consistently been the dominant motive of China's reserve policy. Meanwhile, the Chinese monetary authorities have become more risk aversive since 2002 and more conservative in estimating the probability of an economic failure and its possible fall-out when evaluating its reserve positions.
Cultivation of Theme Tourism Industry Cluster in Yinna Mountain of Meizhou City

Tourism industry cluster is an effective pattern in the promotion of competitiveness for tourism areas.In order to realize a transformation from industry gathering to industry cluster for a tourism area,main features of industry cluster must be developed.By analyzing basic features of the current development in the Yinna Mountain Tourism Area,it is concluded that,to achieve a healthy and sustainable development,the tourism area should perfect its industry network,innovation network and culture network,thus to form a resource dependent industry cluster with a clear eco-culture theme.
Visitor narratives: researching and illuminating actual destination experience

Purpose – This paper aims to argue that, while destination benchmarking and visitor surveys seek to measure the visitor experience, they privilege the destination manager or researcher rather than taking the visitor's viewpoint. It seeks to suggest that capturing and analysing visitor stories while in the destination can facilitate understanding of how destination image changes with actual experience, and what factors or attributes are important, thereby offering a deeper insight into the process through which destination experience is transformed (sense making) and transmitted (sense giving) via those stories, that all important word of mouth publicity.Design/methodology/approach – Unstructured interviews were recorded with visitors in Edinburgh and Greenwich. An interpretive approach was employed in analysing the interview data to uncover facets of visitor experience affecting the image conveyed through the narrative.Findings – The research reveals three elements involved in the sense making and sense g.
Biological toxins and medicinal chemistry: research and therapeutic tools.

Toxins are widely distributed among venomous organisms, from bacteria to mammals, as strategies for defense or prey capture. Throughout evolution, "toxicity” is considered as a successful adaptive character, no matter if toxins are produced in sophisticated organs or not. It is worth noting that toxins constitute potent pharmacological compounds acting on ion channels, membrane receptors and enzymes, thus affecting cellular excitability and many other physiological processes.
Tamoxifen and Mammographic Breast Densities 1

The extent of breast tissue density on mammograms is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate whether tamoxifen can affect mammographic breast density. Subjects were participants in the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT), recruited and followed at the Breast Center of SaintSacrement Hospital in Quebec City, Canada. The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial is a double-blind trial in which women at high risk of breast cancer were randomized to receive either 20 mg tamoxifen per day or placebo. Mammograms were taken before treatment began and yearly thereafter. For the purpose of this analysis, Wolfe’s parenchymal pattern and the percentage of the breast showing tissue densities were assessed by review of preand posttreatment mammograms without knowledge of treatment assignment. Among the 69 women included in this analysis, 36 received tamoxifen and 33 received placebo for an average of 3.3 and 3.5 years, respectively. Among women receiving tamoxifen, 16 of 36 (44.4%) changed to a parenchymal pattern of lower density compared with 5 of 33 (15.2%) women receiving placebo (P 5 0.010). Moreover, in the tamoxifen-treated group, the difference in the percentage of the breast showing tissue densities between the preand posttreatment mammograms reached29.4% on average compared with a reduction of 23.6% in the placebo group (P 5 0.010). Our data show that tamoxifen can reduce high-risk mammographic features. Breast densities should be evaluated as possible early markers of the preventive effect of selective estrogen receptor modulators.
A Critique of Personas as representations of "the other" in Cross-Cultural Technology Design

A literature review on cross-cultural personas reveals both, a trend in projects lacking accomplishment and personas reinforcing previous biases. We first suggest why failures or incompleteness may have ensued, while then we entice a thoughtful alteration of the design process by creating and validating personas together with those that they embody. Personas created in people's own terms support the design of technologies by truly satisfying users' needs and drives. Examining the experiences of those working "out there", and our practises, we conclude persona is a vital designerly artefact to empowering people in representing themselves. A persona-based study on User-Created Persona in Namibia contrasts the current persona status-quo via an ongoing co-design effort with urban and rural non-designers. However we argue persona as a design device must ease its implicit colonial tendency to and impulses in depicting "the other". Instead we endorse serenity, mindfulness and local enabling in design at large and in the African context in particular.
Developmental and behavioral characteristics of individuals with Pallister–Killian syndrome

Pallister–Killian syndrome is a sporadic disorder caused by the presence of mosaic tetrasomy of the short arms of chromosome 12. Case reports of children with Pallister–Killian syndrome have described a range of developmental and behavioral outcomes, but no systematic studies of these outcomes exist. The objective of this study was to describe developmental and behavioral characteristics of individuals with Pallister–Killian syndrome participating in a national meeting of families and their affected children. Sixteen individuals with Pallister–Killian syndrome, ages 16 months to 19 years, were studied using questionnaires and direct interview. Among the 16 patients enrolled in the study, 3 probands were between 16 and 19 months, and had severe developmental delay. Among the rest of the 13 probands older than 24 months, 11 children had a developmental level of less than 8 months age equivalent. They were non‐ambulatory, non‐verbal, and passive, requiring extensive assistance in daily living. There were two higher functioning children who were ambulatory, and verbal. One of these children met criteria for Autism on the Autism Diagnostic Interview‐Revised. Thus, although most individuals with Pallister–Killian syndrome studied showed profound intellectual disability and sensory impairments, individuals with Pallister–Killian syndrome can have mild to moderate intellectual disability. Therefore, in individuals with physical examination findings of Pallister–Killian syndrome, formal diagnostic testing should be considered, even in individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disability. Further studies will be needed to determine if these higher functioning children with Pallister–Killian syndrome are at increased risk for autism. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protective Role of Macrophages in Noninflammatory Lung Injury Caused by Selective Ablation of Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells1

Macrophages have a wide variety of activities and it is largely unknown how the diverse phenotypes of macrophages contribute to pathological conditions in the different types of tissue injury in vivo. In this study we established a novel animal model of acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by the dysfunction of alveolar epithelial type II (AE2) cells and examined the roles of alveolar macrophages in the acute lung injury. The human diphtheria toxin (DT) receptor (DTR), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), was expressed under the control of the lysozyme M (LysM) gene promoter in the mice. When DT was administrated to the mice they suffered from acute lung injury and died within 4 days. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that AE2 cells as well as alveolar macrophages were deleted via apoptosis in the mice treated with DT. Consistent with the deletion of AE2 cells, the amount of surfactant proteins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was greatly reduced in the DT-treated transgenic mice. When bone marrow from wild-type mice was transplanted into irradiated LysM-DTR mice, the alveolar macrophages became resistant to DT but the mice still suffered from acute lung injury by DT administration. Compared with the mice in which both AE2 cells and macrophages were deleted by DT administration, the DT-treated LysM-DTR mice with DT-resistant macrophages showed less severe lung injury with a reduced amount of hepatocyte growth factor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These results indicate that macrophages play a protective role in noninflammatory lung injury caused by the selective ablation of AE2 cells.
The Impact of Paid Versus Complimentary Showroom Entertainment on Gaming Volumes

This study analyzed the effect of showroom entertainment on gaming volumes by examining the paid and complimentary showroom attendees separately in two casino markets: Las Vegas, NV and Atlantic City, NJ. Using the daily data from one casino in each market, this study found that both complimentary and paid showroom headcounts had little effect on the gaming volumes of slots and table games. Given the findings, casino operators would be wise to review their showroom operating strategies and be careful in selecting complimentary awards for casino customers. The findings support current trends to utilize nongaming attractions as revenue generators rather than as marketing tools to attract casino players.