Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring the Effectiveness of Budget Consolidation Efforts/Ein Indikator zur Wirkungskontrolle der Budgetkonsolidierung

During the 1980s the financial distress of the public sector turned into the major source of concern for the fiscal authorities of most industrialized countries. In some cases fiscal policy was even found to be unsustainable (Baglioni-Cherubini, 1991, Blanchard-Sartor, 1990). As a consequence, a striking change in fiscal policy orientation took place. The stabilization of cyclical movements in output and unemployment through manipulation of aggregate demand is no longer the single most important goal in fiscal policy. In the last few years fiscal policy has primarily been concerned with the reduction of budget deficits along specified target paths. The size of government borrowing is a "hot" topic particularly in Europe because of the planned economic integration. The rules for economic convergence in the treaty for the Economic and Monetary Union include the condition that government's deficit be not higher than 3% of GDP. At present, only few countries participating in the integration process satisfy this condition which means that consolidation programs will have to be implemented or intensified in the near future. A crucial aspect of any budget consolidation program is the assessment of its effectiveness. Monitoring consolidation efforts is necessary firstly to understand how successful implemented policies are in meeting a specified target, secondly to determine the need for further actions. The main problem, however, is that fiscal policy actions are not the only source of variation in the budget. Assessing the effectiveness of budget consolidation efforts therefore means to answer the following question: Of the changes in the fiscal position, what part is due to changes in the economic environment and what part is due to changes in policy? The traditional approach is based on the cyclically adjusted or structural budget balance. Changes in the structural budget balance are identified as changes induced by discretionary fiscal policy. This paper shows that measuring consolidation efforts in terms of the structural budget balance may be misleading. Changes in the structural budget balance do no necessarily correspond to what discretionary fiscal policy actions
Ultra high frequency static dividers > 150 GHz in a narrow mesa InGaAs/InP DHBT technology

A static frequency divider with a maximum clock frequency >150 GHz was designed and fabricated in a narrow mesa InP/In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As/InP DHBT technology. The divider operation is fully static, operating from f/sub dk/ = 3 GHz to 152.0 GHz while dissipating 594.7 mW of power in the circuit core from a -4.07 V supply. The circuit employs single-buffered emitter coupled logic (ECL) and inductive peaking. The transistors have an emitter junction width of 0.5 /spl mu/m and a 3.0 collector-to-emitter area ratio. A microstrip wiring environment is employed for high interconnect density, and to minimize resonances and impedance mismatch at frequencies >100 GHz.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk for anastomotic failure: a report from Washington State's Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP).

IMPORTANCE Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have many physiologic effects and are being used more commonly to treat postoperative pain, but recent small studies have suggested that NSAIDs may impair anastomotic healing in the gastrointestinal tract. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between postoperative NSAID administration and anastomotic complications. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective cohort study of 13,082 patients undergoing bariatric or colorectal surgery at 47 hospitals in Washington State from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2010, using data from the Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program linked to the Washington State Comprehensive Abstract Reporting System. EXPOSURE NSAID administration beginning within 24 hours after surgery. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES We used multivariate logistic regression modeling to assess the risk for anastomotic complications (reoperation, rescue stoma, revision of an anastomosis, and percutaneous drainage of an abscess) through 90 days after bariatric and colorectal surgery involving anastomoses. RESULTS Of the 13,082 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.1 [15.8] years; 60.7% women), 3158 (24.1%) received NSAIDs. The overall 90-day rate of anastomotic leaks was 4.3% for all patients (151 patients [4.8%] in the NSAID group and 417 patients [4.2%] in the non-NSAID group; P=.16). After risk adjustment, NSAIDs were associated with a 24% increased risk for anastomotic leak (odds ratio, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.01-1.56]; P=.04). This association was isolated to nonelective colorectal surgery, for which the leak rate was 12.3% in the NSAID group and 8.3% in the non-NSAID group (odds ratio, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.11-2.68]; P=.01). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Postoperative NSAIDs were associated with a significantly increased risk for anastomotic complications among patients undergoing nonelective colorectal resection. To determine the role of NSAIDs in colorectal surgery, future evaluations should consider specific formulations, the dose effect, mechanism, and other relevant outcome domains, including pain control, cardiac complications, and overall recovery.
c-Jun ARE Targets mRNA Deadenylation by an EDEN-BP (Embryo Deadenylation Element-binding Protein)-dependent Pathway*

In mammalian cells, certain mRNAs encoding cytokines or proto-oncogenes are especially unstable, because of the presence of a particular sequence element in their 3′-untranslated region named ARE (A/U-rich element). AREs cause this instability by provoking the rapid shortening of the poly(A) tail of the mRNA. The deadenylation of mRNAs mediated by AREs containing repeats of the AUUUA motif (class I/II AREs) is conserved in Xenopusembryos. Here, we first extend these observations by showing that c-Jun ARE, a representative of class III (non-AUUUA) AREs, also provokes the deadenylation of a reporter RNA in Xenopus embryos. Next, by immunodepletion and immunoneutralization experiments, we show that, in Xenopus, the rapid deadenylation of RNAs that contain the c-Jun ARE, but not an AUUUA ARE, requires EDEN-BP. This RNA-binding protein was previously shown to provoke the rapid deadenylation of certain Xenopus maternal RNAs. Finally, we show that CUG-BP, the human homologue of EDEN-BP, specifically binds to c-Jun ARE. Together, these results identify CUG-BP as a plausible deadenylation factor responsible for the post-transcriptional control of c-Jun proto-oncogene mRNA in mammalian cells.
Prevalence of venous thromboembolism in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an Indian perspective.

BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be the third leading cause of death by 2020. Recent studies reveal that pulmonary embolism (PE) may be a trigger of acute deterioration in patients with COPD. Patients with COPD have approximately twice the risk of PE than those without COPD. OBJECTIVE The primary objective was to assess the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AE-COPD) in India. METHODS We conducted this prospective study on patients admitted for AE-COPD in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, India. We considered the prevalence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) to reflect the occurrence of VTE. The screening tool used was a colour Doppler of the bilateral lower limbs. RESULTS One hundred patients enrolled, were in stage II to stage IV COPD; 9% had DVT. Eight of these nine patients had unilateral DVT. Two patients had developed PE and died. CONCLUSIONS Our results show a lower prevalence of unsuspected DVT in Indian patients admitted for AE-COPD. Future prospective, randomised studies are needed to confirm the findings of the present study and to determine whether a systematic evaluation for VTE is justified in these patients, and hence, be recommended.
Hypotrophy of the soleus muscle in man after Achilles tendon rupture

Seven athletes (age range, 35 to 43 years), who sustained total subcutaneous ruptures of the Achilles tendon 2 to 5 cm above its distal insertion, were treated surgically with suturing of the tendon, immobilization of the leg and foot for 6 weeks, and cast changes so as to increase the dorsiflexion of the foot. Needle biopsies were obtained several times from the soleus muscles of both the injured and uninjured legs at a depth of about 5 cm. The cross-sectional area was measured by computed tomogra phy at the same level the tissue was obtained by biopsy. Results of morphologic studies revealed a selective Type I fiber atrophy of the soleus muscle. Computed tomography revealed a 23% decrease in the area of the calf muscles and a 11% total reduction in the cross-sectional area of the calf (about the middle, where the gastrocnemius muscle is transformed into a tendon and where the soleus lies superficially). Mere measure ment of the circumference of the calf is judged to be a poor criterion of muscle atrophy when compared with these other means of evaluation of atrophy. The evidence compiled during this study suggests that prompt surgical treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures, with cast changes several times during the period of immobilization and with tension maintained on the muscle, is the most effective treatment regimen we have found for this injury.
A COMPARISON OF VALSARTAN AND CAPTOPRIL IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION IN INDONESIA

Adult Indonesian outpatients were randomised to receive either valsartan 80 mg once daily or captopril 25 mg twice daily for 8 weeks. The main criterion for tolerability was the incidence of adverse events. The primary efficacy variable was the change in mean sitting diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) from baseline to endpoint. No valsartan patients experienced dry cough, which was reported by 22 captopril patients (21.6%). Both drugs reduced mean SDBP and SSBP, with a trend in favour of valsartan. The percentage of valsartan patients whose BP normalised was higher than in captopril patiente at week 4 (37% and 22%) and week 8 (45% and 34%), the difference being statistically significant at week 4 (p<0.05). Valsartan 80 mg once daily is as effective as captopril 25 mg twice daily in reducing blood pressure in Indonesian patiente, and has a better tolerability profile in respect of dry cough.
Fluvoxamine maleate in the treatment of depression: a single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison with imipramine in outpatients.

The efficacy and safety of fluvoxamine maleate, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, was compared with placebo and imipramine in patients with major depressive disorder. Previous literature has cited a dose range of 100 to 300 mg/day of fluvoxamine maleate for the treatment of major depression; however, this study demonstrates that a dose range of 50 to 150 mg/day is as effective as imipramine (80-240 mg/day). After a 1- to 2-week, single-blind, placebo washout phase, 150 depressed outpatients were randomized to double-blind treatment with fluvoxamine maleate (50-150 mg/day), imipramine (80-240 mg/day), or placebo for 6 weeks. Fluvoxamine produced a significant therapeutic benefit over placebo (p < or = 0.05) as assessed by the total score on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression; imipramine (80-240 mg/day) produced similar results. The secondary outcome variables (i.e., Clinical Global Impression severity of illness item and 56-Item Hopkins Symptom Checklist depression factor) also showed significant differences between fluvoxamine maleate and placebo during three of the four final weeks of the study. Both fluvoxamine maleate and imipramine appeared to be safe and well tolerated by the majority of patients. As expected from the pharmacology of these agents, the imipramine groups reported more anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, dizziness, and urinary retention) and electrocardiographic effects, whereas the fluvoxamine group reported more nausea, somnolence, and abnormal ejaculation. The majority of these adverse events were mild to moderate and, with the exception of dry mouth (imipramine) and abnormal ejaculation (fluvoxamine), were transient. The data clearly demonstrate the antidepressant activity and tolerability of fluvoxamine maleate (50-150 mg/day) as compared with placebo; it is also as effective as the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine (80-240 mg/day) in patients with major depressive disorder.
Intestinal type of thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease)

Abstract. Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is a recurrent, inflammatory, segmental occlusive disease of distal limb arteries which may involve veins as well. Young smokers are predisposed to TAO. The intestinal vessels are rarely affected. We report the clinical, angiografic and histologic findings of a 23‐year‐old smoker with extended thrombophlebitis who developed severe abdominal angina and liver hypoxia due to occlusion of the coeliac artery and subtotal occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. Two surgical bypassing procedures were followed by early graft occlusion. Subsequently, a plastic patch of the superior mesenteric artery and an aortohepatica bypass were performed. The literature since 1945 pertinent to intestinal TAO is reviewed.
Strategische Bindung der Ressourcen von Fach- und Führungskräften. Beurteilung und Umsetzung in Unternehmen

In diesem Beitrag wird analysiert, welche Strategien zur Bindung der Ressourcen von Fach- und Führungskräften, d. h. ihrer für den Unternehmenserfolg bedeutsamen Kompetenzen, in Unternehmen als geeignet beurteilt und welche tatsächlich umgesetzt werden. Auf der Basis der Ressourcenabhängigkeitstheorie von Pfeffer und Salancik und von Etzionis Ansatz der Compliance-Beziehungen entwickeln wir eine Typologie bestehend aus fünf Bindungsstrategien, mit denen der Zufluss und der Erhalt kritischer Ressourcen gesichert werden können. Die Ergebnisse einer Clusteranalyse auf der Basis der Befragung von 159 Personalmanagern der höchsten Leitungsebene in deutschen Unternehmen unterstützen unsere theoretischen Überlegungen zu dieser Typologie. Zugleich zeigt sich eine Diskrepanz zwischen der Beurteilung von Bindungsstrategien und deren Umsetzung, die wir nicht vollständig erklären können. Wir diskutieren Implikationen für die Personalpraxis und -forschung. Der Beitrag zur Forschung liegt insbesondere im Fokus auf die organisationale Ebene sowie in der Anwendung der Ressourcenabhängigkeitstheorie, mit der wir den Blick für die Verknüpfung von Personalbindung, Personalgewinnung und Wissensmanagement als komplementäre Praktiken der Ressourcenbindung öffnen.
Neuropeptide F immunoreactive clock neurons modify evening locomotor activity and free‐running period in Drosophila melanogaster

Different subsets of Drosophila melanogaster's clock neurons are characterized by their specific functions in daily locomotor rhythms and the differences in their neurotransmitter composition. We investigated the function of the neuropeptide F (NPF) immunoreactive clock neurons in the rhythmic locomotor behavior of adult flies. We newly identified the fifth s‐LNv and a subset of the l‐LNvs as NPF‐positive in addition to the three LNds that have been described previously. We then selectively ablated different subsets of NPF‐expressing neurons using npfGal4‐targeted expression of the cell death gene head involution defective (hid) in combination with cryGal80 and pdfGal80. By analyzing daily locomotor rhythms in these flies, we show that the NPF‐positive clock neurons—especially the fifth s‐LNv and the LNds—are involved in both the control of the free‐running period in constant darkness (DD) and the phasing and amplitude of the evening activity in light‐dark (LD) cycles. Furthermore, we show that the simultaneous ablation of NPF and pigment dispersing factor (PDF)‐immunoreactive neurons has additive effects in LD, resulting in an evening peak phase that is even more advanced in comparison to PDF‐ablated flies. We also found that this more advanced evening peak is additionally reduced in amplitude. To putatively assign the observed phenotypes to the action of NPF, we knocked it down in conjunction with PDF using RNA‐interference (RNAi) and further suggest a possible role for NPF in the control of the flies' evening activity. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:970–987, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the Relation Between Unit Testing and Code Quality

Unit testing has been considered as having a key role in building high quality software, and therefore it has been widely used in practice. However, data on the relationship between unit testing and aspects of software quality remain scarce. A survey study with 235 survey responses from seven organizations was conducted in order to understand the correlation between practitioners' perception of code quality and unit testing practices. In addition, we conducted a case study in one of these organizations to investigate the correlation between unit test coverage and post-unit test defects. In both cases none or weak correlations were found. We recommend further research on the effectiveness of different testing practices in order to help practitioners to understand how to best allocate their resources to the testing chain.
Differential Modulation of Androgen Receptor-mediated Transactivation by Smad3 and Tumor Suppressor Smad4*

Smad proteins have been demonstrated to be key components in the transforming growth factor β signaling cascade. Here we demonstrate that Smad4, together with Smad3, can interact with the androgen receptor (AR) in the DNA-binding and ligand-binding domains, which may result in the modulation of 5α-dihydrotestosterone-induced AR transactivation. Interestingly, in the prostate PC3 and LNCaP cells, addition of Smad3 can enhance AR transactivation, and co-transfection of Smad3 and Smad4 can then repress AR transactivation in various androgen response element-promoter reporter assays as well as Northern blot and reverse transcription-PCR quantitation assays with prostate-specific antigen mRNA expression. In contrast, in the SW480·C7 cells, lacking endogenous functional Smad4, the influence of Smad3 on AR transactivation is dependent on the various androgen response element-promoters. The influence of Smad3/Smad4 on the AR transactivation may involve the acetylation since the treatment of trichostatin A or sodium butyrate can reverse Smad3/Smad4-repressed AR transactivation and Smad3/Smad4 complex can also decrease the acetylation level of AR. Together, these results suggest that the interactions between AR, Smad3, and Smad4 may result in the differential regulation of the AR transactivation, which further strengthens their roles in the prostate cancer progression.
Epidemiology of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in a multiethnic cohort: ethnicity as a risk factor.

OBJECTIVE To study the influence of ethnicity on the risk of developing juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in a multiethnic community of patients with unrestricted access to health care. METHODS A questionnaire on ethnicity was distributed to all patients with JIA being followed up at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Of 1,082 patients, 859 (79.4%) responded to the questionnaire. To calculate the relative risk (RR) of developing JIA in this study cohort, the results were compared with data from the age-matched general population of the Toronto metropolitan area (TMA) as provided in the 2001 census from Statistics Canada. RESULTS European descent was reported by 69.7% of the patients with JIA compared with a frequency of 54.7% in the TMA general population, whereas a statistically significantly lower than expected percentage of the patients with JIA reported having black, Asian, or Indian subcontinent origin. Children of European origin had a higher RR for developing any of the JIA subtypes except polyarticular rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive JIA, and were particularly more likely to develop the extended oligoarticular and psoriatic subtypes. A higher frequency of enthesitis-related JIA was observed among patients of Asian origin, while those of black origin or native North American origin were more likely to develop polyarticular RF-positive JIA. CONCLUSION In this multiethnic cohort, European descent was associated with a significantly increased risk of developing JIA, and the distribution of JIA subtypes differed significantly across ethnic groups.
Antiviral activity of danoprevir (ITMN-191/RG7227) in combination with pegylated interferon α-2a and ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND Current therapy options for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection genotype 1 are effective in <50%. Danoprevir (ITMN-191/RG7227) is a potent, selective, and orally active inhibitor of the HCV NS3/4A serine protease. METHODS The safety and antiviral efficacy of danoprevir was examined over 14 days in combination with pegylated interferon α-2a (180 μg once weekly) and ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1b, multiple ascending dose study consisting of 6 dose cohorts (400 mg, 600 mg, and 900 mg twice daily and 100 mg, 200 mg, and 300 mg 3 times daily). RESULTS Danoprevir in combination with pegylated interferon α-2a and ribavirin was safe and generally well tolerated. The median change in HCV RNA level from baseline to the end of treatment with danoprevir at 400 mg, 600 mg, and 900 mg twice daily was -4.7 log(10) IU/mL, -5.4 log(10) IU/mL, and -5.3 log(10) IU/mL, respectively, and at 100 mg, 200 mg, and 300 mg 3 times daily was -5.5 log(10) IU/mL, -5.7 log(10) IU/mL, and -5.6 log(10) IU/mL, respectively. Placebo administered in combination with standard of care resulted in median decrease in HCV RNA level of -2.6 log(10) IU/mL (with twice daily regimen) and -2.0 log(10) IU/mL (with 3 times daily regimen). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed substantial antiviral efficacy of danoprevir in combination with pegylated interferon α-2a and ribavirin. Exploration of the safety and antiviral efficacy of danoprevir in longer clinical studies is warranted.
Pyogenic Liver Abscess: An Audit of Experience Over the Past Decade

Objectives: To audit our experience in managing patients with pyogenic liver abscesses since 1984 and to identify any risk factor associated with hospital mortality. Design: Retrospective review. Setting: A tertiary referral center. Patients: Eighty-three patients with pyogenic liver abscesses were studied to determine demographic characteristics; clinical features, laboratory, imaging, and microbiologic findings; methods of treatment; and final outcome. The median follow-up period was 9.8 months. Intervention: All patients were treated with intravenous antibiotic drugs. Fifty-three patients were subjected to image-guided percutaneous aspiration of the abscess. A percutaneous drainage catheter was inserted after aspiration in 27 patients. Laparotomy was performed in 27 patients; seven of them underwent an elective operation. Main Outcome Measure: Hospital mortality, defined as death within the same hospital admission for management of liver abscess. Results: Biliary tract disease was the most frequently identifiable cause. The right lobe abscess was more frequently cryptogenic, while the left lobe abscess was more frequently related to intrahepatic stones ( P Conclusions: Pyogenic liver abscess is still a disease with significant mortality. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are necessary to further improve our results of management. (Arch Surg. 1996;131:148-152)