Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in the Massive Weight Loss Patient: Relative Risk of Bleeding

BackgroundMeasures that can reduce the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) are of great clinical importance. In addition to the use of sequential compression devices (SCDs), chemoprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) has been recommended by the American College of Chest Physicians for major general surgery procedures. There remains inconclusive evidence to support guidelines for the plastic surgery population, and some surgeons hesitate to use anticoagulation due to concerns about bleeding in broad planes of dissection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of postoperative complications secondary to chemical thromboprophylaxis in massive weight loss patients. MethodsFive hundred forty-six surgical cases were enrolled in an institutional review board–approved prospective clinical database in the 2 years before and after routine LMWH use was initiated. Inclusion required weight loss of greater than 50 lb. Group 1 had SCDs only (n = 334), whereas group 2 had SCDs and LMWH 6 hours postoperatively (n = 212). Risk of VTE was calculated and complications of LMWH administration were analyzed. ResultsThe overall risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism was 0.18%. There was no statistical difference between the groups (P > 0.05). Overall risk of hematoma was 5.4%, in concordance with the literature. There was no difference in hematoma risk between the groups (4.6% before and 6.6% after LMWH; P = 0.3). The transfusion rate was 8.5% before use of LMWH (group 1) and 7.6% after (group 2; P = 0.7). ConclusionsStrategies to reduce VTE rates remain important in all areas of plastic surgery. We have demonstrated no increased risk of transfusion or hematoma and a low overall incidence of VTE after implementing a chemoprophylaxis regimen. Postoperative LMWH can provide an excellent balance between VTE prophylaxis and the risk of bleeding complications.
EXACT CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN EIGENVALUES OF MEMBRANES AND FUNCTIONALLY GRADED SIMPLY SUPPORTED POLYGONAL PLATES

We use Reddy's third order plate theory to study buckling and steady state vibrations of a simply supported functionally gradient isotropic polygonal plate resting on a Winkler–Pasternak elastic foundation and subjected to uniform in-plane hydrostatic loads. Young's modulus and the Poisson ratio for the material of the plate are assumed to vary only in the thickness direction. Effects of rotary inertia are considered. The problem of determining the critical buckling load or the vibration frequency of the plate is found to be analogous to that of ascertaining the frequency of a membrane clamped at the edges and whose shape coincides with that of the plate. The critical buckling load and the vibration frequency are shown to be positive. Some available results for plates symmetric about the mid-plane can be retrieved from the present analysis.
Analysis of the Clinical and Histopathological Patterns of 100 Consecutive Cases of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma and Correlation with Staging

Background This study analyzed 100 consecutive patients with primary cutaneous melanoma over the course of 13 years to determine whether epidemiological differences correspond to different stages of the disease. We also investigated whether epidemiological characteristics affected the survival rate. Our results were compared with those of selected descriptive studies of melanoma in other East Asian populations, in order to determine whether cutaneous melanoma patterns are similar in East Asian populations. Methods The patients' medical records were reviewed retrospectively, and we analyzed the relationship of epidemiological characteristics to staging and survival rate. Additionally, papers from Hong Kong and Japan describing these phenomena in East Asian populations were subjected to a statistical comparison. Results The ratio of males to females was 1:1.8, and the foot was the most frequent tumor site (49%). Acral lentiginous melanoma occurred most frequently (55%). Nodular melanoma was associated with a higher stage. Stage III-IV tumors with Clark levels of IV-V were significantly associated with a low survival rate. A statistical analysis of comparable papers reported in Hong Kong and Japan showed similar results with regard to age, tumor location, and histopathological subtypes. Conclusions This study provides the first full epidemiological description of 100 consecutive cases of primary cutaneous melanoma in Korea, with results similar to those observed in other East Asian populations. Corresponding to previous findings, nodular melanoma tended to occur at a higher stage than other types, and tumors with high Clark levels and high stages showed a lower survival rate.
Young children's number sense in Finland, Hong Kong and Singapore

This study examines young children's number sense in subjects from Finland (n=254), Hong Kong (n=246), and Singapore (n=130). Chinese, English and Finnish versions of the Early Numeracy Test (ENT; Van Luit et al., 1994) were used. Two highly correlated aspects of number sense were measured, one reflecting children's abilities to organize and compare quantities (i.e. relational skills), and the other pertaining to their ability to operate with number-word sequence (i.e. counting skills). The results showed significant age-related gain on the relational and counting scales. No gender or language differences were found. The children in Hong Kong and Singapore outperformed those in Finland in relational and counting tasks starting at the age of four years. The children in Singapore also had better relational and counting skills than those in Hong Kong. Differences in teaching were assumed to explain the findings.
Effects of Interviewer Characteristics on Reported Sexual Behavior of California Latino Couples

Effects of interviewer gender and age on disclosure of sexual behavior by 573 California Latino men and their female partners were analyzed,adjusting for interviewee clustering within interviewer. Larger standard errors in adjusted than in naive/unadjusted regression models demonstrated the existence of interviewer effects on responding,but these were only attributable to interviewer gender or age for a small number of specific topics. Men interviewed by women reported fewer sexual partners and were less likely to report sex with strangers than men interviewed by men; they were more likely to report sex with prostitutes or other men to older than to younger interviewers. Women were less likely to report oral sex to older interviewers. Sexual behavior surveys should evaluate and, where detected, adjust for fixed interviewer effects and should routinely report interviewer numbers, panel sizes, and other characteristics.
Noether's Theorem: The Science of Symmetry and the Law of Conservation

Noether's Theorem shows that symmetry-or change-can only exist simultaneously with conservation or invariance. For public relations, the implication is that an organization can behave "symmetrically" while maintaining certain beliefs, principles, or purposes that will never be relinquished. A case study of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Taiwan using participant observation (13 months), qualitative interviews (n = 22), and a quantitative survey (n = 166; response rate = 28.77%) showed that the organization exhibited symmetry by reaching out to external publics, engaging in dialogue with them, and expressing openness regarding Taiwan independence. Simultaneously, the party conserved its interests in gaining power and establishing an independent Taiwan. Recent electoral victories of the DPP suggest the effectiveness of symmetry-conservation for public relations practice.
Setting the Agenda for Research in Aging in Developing Countries

This series of research reports deals with the status of the elderly in several Asian countries. It presents research that is being conducted under a broad project sponsored by the U.S. National Institute on Aging, the Comparative Study of the Elderly in Four Asian Countries (Grant No. AGO7637). The goal is to measure the social, economic and health characteristics of the older population (age 60 and above), to predict what changes may occur over the next decades, and to suggest implications for public policy. The original countries involved in the study are the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Reports on the elderly in other countries in Asia and on methods developed through the project using data from various countries may also be included in this report series.
Adjustment of business expatriates in Greater China: a strategic perspective

Research has found that due to similarities, firms that have gained business experience elsewhere in Greater China may exhibit relatively better performance in mainland China. Hence, the experience of business expatriates could be of strategic importance for the expansion path of their firms. Based on data collected by a survey, this study compares how business expatriates adjust to life and work in different locations in Greater China. Results show that expatriates assigned to Singapore had a higher degree of general adjustment and interaction adjustment than their counterparts elsewhere in Greater China, while expatriates both in Hong Kong and Singapore were better adjusted to work than those in mainland China. Regarding time to proficiency, defined as the period it takes the expatriates to reach an acceptable performance level at their new foreign assignment, findings indicate that it takes longer both in Hong Kong and mainland China than in Singapore. Implications of these results for business firms contemplating to enter Greater China and specifically mainland China are discussed in detail.
Growth, Financial Development, Market Liquidity and Risk

This thesis, rstly, studies the impact of nancial liberalization and political instability on economic growth and quantitatively examines the relative importance of the identi ed underling reasons of Argentine riddle by using an innovative econometric methodology and unique data set: it presents power ARCH estimates for Argentina from 1896 to 2000. The main results show that the long-run effect of nancial liberalization on economic growth is positive while the short-run effect is negative, albeit substantially smaller. The political instability effects are substantially larger in the short-run than in the long-run. We also investigate potential mechanisms for the effects of nancial liberalization and political instability on economic growth: direct impact or happening through the variation of growth volatility. Our results also suggest that nancial development, trade openness and political instability are the main factors to explain the Argentine decline. Furthermore, real business cycle variability growth relationship and the link between in ation and its uncertainty are investigated by using monthly data of four Asian countries/regions (Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan) and parametric power ARCH methodology to proxy uncertainty. We nd that more uncertainty about output leads to a higher rate of growth in three of the four countries/regions and the form of the uncertainty matters. Output growth reduces its uncertainty in all countries/regions via in ation uncertainty except Singapore. For all countries/regions, in ation signi cantly raises in ation uncertainty as predicted by Friedman. On the other hand, increased uncertainty affects in ation positively in Japan and Singapore, which support the Cukierman-Meltzer hypothesis. We nd a negative sign for Taiwan which is in accordance with the Holland hypothesis when error term was normally distributed, however, this result is not statistically signi cant when the student-t distribution is applied. Interestingly, South Korea's data reveals a positive sign initially, however, it turns around when
Estimating and Explaining Extreme Comovements in Asia-Pacific Equity Markets

The correlation structure amongst selected Asia-Pacific equity markets is examined using the Constant Correlation multivariate GARCH (CC-MGARCH) model, the Dynamic Conditional Correlation multivariate GARCH (DCC-MGARCH) model, and an Exponentially-Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) correlation measure. The markets of Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore are analyzed from 1990 to 2001 and dynamic nature of the correlation is captured and explained. We find that global as well as regional factors contribute to the correlation spikes. Extreme volatility does not necessarily result in extreme correlations between some markets and there is higher comovement between markets since the Asian financial crisis. We also find that despite common periods of high volatility, there is still economic justification for diversification within this region.
Descriptive and Injunctive Social Norm Overestimation in Hooking Up and Their Role as Predictors of Hook-Up Activity in a College Student Sample

This study examined the presence of norm overestimation in both injunctive and descriptive norms about hooking up. An online survey was completed by 186 college students (127 women). Overestimation was examined for hooking up as a global category, as well as for six specific behaviors. The role of norms in predicting hooking up was also examined using hierarchical multiple regression analyses. The predictive role of sensation-seeking, sociosexual orientation, self-esteem, and alcohol drinking status was also examined. Injunctive norm overestimation was present for less intimate behaviors (kissing and non-genital touching); only women showed overestimation for more intimate behaviors (genital touching, receiving oral sex, giving oral sex, and intercourse). Descriptive norms were overestimated across the board. Injunctive norms were poor predictors of behavior. Descriptive norms were good predictors only for less intimate behaviors, a pattern similar to that observed for drinking status. Ultimately, participants' level of personal comfort was the best predictor of participation in the most intimate behaviors, including oral sex and sexual intercourse.
Integrated weed management in blackgram (Vigna mungo) under mid hills of Arunachal Pradesh

Field investigation was carried out during pre kharif seasons of 2009 and 2010 at ICAR, Research Complex NEH Region, Arunachal Pradesh Centre, Basar to develop integrated weed management for blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) var. PU-31 with pre plant incorporation of fluchloralin @ 1.5 lit/ha, pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.5 lit/ha and hand weeding. Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.5 lit/ha + one hand weeding on 25 DAS was at par with 2 hand weeding at 15 and 25 DAS in respect of seed yield, net returns and B: C ratio. In weedy check, weeds removed 6 kg N, 2.8 kg P and 7.0 kg K/ha.
Smoking at onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its effect on disease activity and functional status: experiences from BARFOT, a long-term observational study on early RA

Objectives: To assess the effects of smoking on disease outcome in a large cohort of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Between 1996 and 2004, 1787 adult patients (disease duration ≤ 1 year) were included in the BARFOT early RA study in Sweden. Smoking status was recorded at inclusion in the study. Disease Activity Score using 28 joint counts (DAS28), C-reactive protein (CRP), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score, rheumatoid factor (RF), antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), general health (GH) and pain visual analogue scales (VAS), and drug treatment were registered at inclusion and at follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months. European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response and remission criteria were applied at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: The proportion of patients who smoked at inclusion in the study fell from 29% in 1996 to 20% in 2004. There were no significant differences in disease activity at inclusion stratified according to smoking status. At 12 months of follow-up, 18% of current smokers at inclusion, 12% of previous smokers, and 11% of never smokers had high disease activity (DAS28 > 5.1, p = 0.005). Significantly fewer current smokers were in remission at 12 months (33%) compared to never smokers (36%) and previous smokers (42%) (p = 0.013). Current smoking at inclusion independently predicted poor EULAR response up to 12 months of follow-up. Conclusion: The present study gives some support to earlier data indicating that RA patients who smoke have a more active disease but further studies are needed to confirm this.
Vascular Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis Study (VSAPS)

This prospective, randomized study was performed at a single institution. Low-risk patients undergoing elective vascular procedures were enrolled (August 2007 to June 2009). Participants were randomized into 3 separate arms. They received cefazolin, cefazolin + vancomycin, or cefazolin + daptomycin prior to surgery. In total, 169 patients were included in the analysis. Mean age was 64 (range, 26-85), and the patients’ comorbidities were similar across all groups. Only Szilagyi II and III infections were analyzed. Any infection/methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections was seen in 8 (12.9%)/2 (3.23%) in the cefazolin group, 7 (12.5%)/4 (7.14%) in the cefazolin + vancomycin group, and 2 (3.92%)/(0%) in the cefazolin + daptomycin group. In this study, population of low-risk patients undergoing elective vascular procedures, there was a trend toward fewer infectious complications in the cefazolin + daptomycin group. Adding anti-MRSA agents to the current standard prophylaxis regimen does not appear to reduce the incidence of MRSA infection in low-risk patients.
Ownership structure, board of directors and firm performance: evidence from Taiwan

PurposeUsing a data set of listed firms domiciled in Taiwan, this paper aims to empirically assess the effects of ownership structure and board of directors on firm value.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of Taiwanese listed firms from 1997 to 2015, this study uses a panel estimation to exploit both the cross-section and time–series nature of the data. Furthermore, two stage least squares (2SLS) regression model is used as robustness test to mitigate the endogeneity issue.FindingsThe main results show that the higher the proportion of independent directors, the smaller the board size, together with a two-tier board system and no chief executive officer duality, the stronger the firm’s performance. With respect to ownership structure, block-holders’ ownership, institutional ownership, foreign ownership and family ownership are all positively related to firm value.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the Taiwanese corporate governance reform concerning the independent director system which is mandatory only for newly-listed companies is successful, the regulatory authority should require all listed companies to appoint independent directors to further enhance the Taiwanese corporate governance.Originality/valueFirst, unlike most of the previous literature on Western developed countries, this study examines the effects of corporate governance mechanisms on firm performance in a newly industrialised country, Taiwan. Second, while a number of studies used a single indicator of firm performance, this study examines both accounting-based and market-based firm performance. Third, this study addresses the endogeneity issue between corporate governance factors and firm performance by using 2SLS estimation, and details the econometric tests for justifying the appropriateness of using 2SLS estimation.
A randomised study comparing the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin with atorvastatin for achieving lipid goals in clinical practice in Asian patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease (DISCOVERY-Asia study)

ABSTRACT Background: Most studies investigating the benefits of statins have focused on North American and European populations. This study focuses on evaluating the lipid-lowering effects of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in Asian patients. Objectives: The DIrect Statin COmparison of LDL‐C Values: an Evaluation of Rosuvastatin therapY (DISCOVERY)-Asia study is one of nine independently powered studies assessing the efficacy of starting doses of statins in achieving target lipid levels in different countries worldwide. DISCOVERY-Asia was a 12-week, randomised, open-label, parallel-group study conducted in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand. Results: A total of 1482 adults with primary hypercholesterolaemia and high cardiovascular risk (> 20%/10 years, type 2 diabetes, or a history of coronary heart disease) were randomised in a 2 : 1 ratio to receive rosuvastatin 10 mg once daily (o.d.) or atorvastatin 10 mg o.d. The percentage of patients achieving the 1998 European Joint Task Force low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) goal of < 3.0 mmol/L at 12 weeks was significantly higher in the rosuvastatin group (n = 950) compared with the atorvastatin group (n = 471) (79.5 vs. 69.4%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Similar results were observed for 1998 European goals for total cholesterol (TC), and the 2003 European goals for LDL‐C and TC. LDL‐C and TC levels were reduced significantly more with rosuvastatin compared with atorvastatin. Both drugs were well-tolerated and the incidence and type of adverse events were similar in each group. Conclusions: This 12-week study showed that the starting dose of rosuvastatin 10 mg o.d. was significantly more effective than the starting dose of atorvastatin 10 mg o.d. at enabling patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia to achieve European goals for LDL‐C and TC in a largely Asian population in real-life clinical practice. The safety profile of rosuvastatin 10 mg is similar to that of atorvastatin 10 mg in the Asian population studied here, and is consistent with the known safety profile of rosuvastatin in the white population. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00241488.
Corporal Punishment as a Parental Practice and Anxiety in Pre-adolescent Children

Corporal punishment is the physical punitive measures of parents against children with devastating consequences when bordering on child abuse. This has even led to legislation against corporal punishment while controversy and criticism divides researchers and practitioners as to the prohibition against moderate and functional corporal punishment which may act as an effective method of education. Limited research exists on corporal punishment and its effect on the emotional aspects of children and investigation is required due its inherent and immense cultural importance. We studied the relationship between corporal punishment in the context of parenting style and anxieties in pre-adolescent children from northern Israel (age= 11.5 ± 0.56 yrs, n = 101). A positive association between general level of parental punishment and elevated anxieties was elucidated, mainly for the children of authoritarian parents. In addition, within this group children who experienced high levels of corporal punishment were more anxious. In contrast, this was not observed in children of authoritative parents. Results reported here indicate the apparent moderating role parenting style has on corporal punishment in the context of anxieties in children and conclude that while high level of corporal punishment is harmful, moderate corporal punishment may be harmless to children in specific parenting contexts.