The Impact on the Brazilian Economy of the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro in 2016

Purpose: This study aims to examine the influence of channel power and influence strategy, in terms of non-coercive strategies, on sanitary equipment manufacturers' relationships with channel members and channel performance.   Theoretical framework: The study is based on the literature on channel relationships, which suggests that using an influence strategy can contribute to managing the relationship with the channel members and benefit organization performance.   Design/Methodology/Approach:  In this study, we sampled from a sanitary equipment manufacturer's channel strategy. We used survey data to examine the effect of channel management strategies from sanitary equipment manufacturers on distributors.   Findings: The finding indicates that a supplier using economic power tends to adopt non-coercive strategies. In addition, economic power and non-coercive strategies positively affect the continuity of the relationship with distributors. Relationship continuity between manufacturers and distributors positively impacts whole channel performance.   Originality/Value: This study sampled the distributors in the sanitary equipment industry, a market in which the consumers are not knowledgeable about the products. Most consumers base their purchase decisions heavily on the channel member’s recommendations. Therefore, how to manage the relationship with the channel members is critical to understand.   Research, Practical & Social implications: Distributors are regarded as an extension of the company's sales capabilities. Channels have always held an essential position in the industry. Maintaining relationships between distributors and improving channel performance is a critical question in distribution management

NYCU-TWO at Memotion 3: Good Foundation, Good Teacher, then you have Good Meme Analysis

This paper presents a robust solution to the Memotion 3.0 Shared Task. The goal of this task is to classify the emotion and the corresponding intensity expressed by memes, which are usually in the form of images with short captions on social media. Understanding the multi-modal features of the given memes will be the key to solving the task. In this work, we use CLIP to extract aligned image-text features and propose a novel meme sentiment analysis framework, consisting of a Cooperative Teaching Model (CTM) for Task A and a Cascaded Emotion Classifier (CEC) for Tasks B&C. CTM is based on the idea of knowledge distillation, and can better predict the sentiment of a given meme in Task A; CEC can leverage the emotion intensity suggestion from the prediction of Task C to classify the emotion more precisely in Task B. Experiments show that we achieved the 2nd place ranking for both Task A and Task B and the 4th place ranking for Task C, with weighted F1-scores of 0.342, 0.784, and 0.535 respectively. The results show the robustness and effectiveness of our framework. Our code is released at github.Comment: De-Factify 2: Second Workshop on Multimodal Fact Checking and Hate Speech Detection, co-located with AAAI 202

The Effect of Financial Resources on Fertility: Evidence from Administrative Data on Lottery Winners

This paper utilizes wealth shocks from winning lottery prizes to examine the effect of financial resources on fertility. Using administrative data on Taiwanese lottery winners and a difference-in-differences design, we compare the trend in fertility between households receiving lottery prizes of more than 1 million NT$(33,000 US$) with those winning less than 10,000 NT$(330 US$). The results show that the receipt of a big lottery prize significantly increases fertility, and effects are driven by households with less financial resources. Moreover, big lottery wins mainly trigger childless households to have children and induce people to get married earlier

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunctive treatment for sternal infection and osteomyelitis after sternotomy and cardiothoracic surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>A retrospective study to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy on sternal infection and osteomyelitis following median sternotomy.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>A retrospective analysis of patients who received sternotomy and cardiothoracic surgery which developed sternal infection and osteomyelitis between 2002 and 2009. Twelve patients who received debridement and antibiotic treatment were selected, and six of them received additional HBO2 therapy. Demographic, clinical characteristics and outcome were compared between patients with and without HBO2 therapy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>HBO2 therapy did not cause any treatment-related complication in patients receiving this additional treatment. Comparisons of the data between two study groups revealed that the length of stay in ICU (8.7 ± 2.7 days vs. 48.8 ± 10.5 days, p < 0.05), duration of invasive (4 ± 1.5 days vs. 34.8 ± 8.3 days, p < 0.05) and non-invasive (4 ± 1.9 days vs. 22.3 ± 6.2 days, p < 0.05) positive pressure ventilation were all significantly lower in patients with additional HBO2 therapy, as compared to patients without HBO2 therapy. Hospital mortality was also significantly lower in patients who received HBO2 therapy (0 case vs. 3 cases, p < 0.05), as compared to patients without the HBO2 therapy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In addition to primary treatment with debridement and antibiotic use, HBO2 therapy may be used as an adjunctive and safe treatment to improve clinical outcomes in patients with sternal infection and osteomyelitis after sternotomy and cardiothoracic surgery.</p

Serum leptin is associated with cardiometabolic risk and predicts metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese adults

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leptin is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, few studies have assessed its relationship with metabolic syndrome, especially in an Asian population. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess leptin levels and evaluate its association with CVD and metabolic syndrome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2009, 957 subjects, who underwent a routine physical examination and choose leptin examination, were selected to participate. Participants (269 females and 688 males) were stratified according to leptin level quartiles. Metabolic syndrome was defined by NCEP ATP III using waist circumference cutoffs modified for Asian populations, and CVD risk was determined using the Framingham Heart Study profile.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Leptin levels were correlated with CVD risk in men and women. With the exception of fasting plasma glucose, increased leptin levels were observed as factors associated with metabolic syndrome increased in both males and females. After adjusting for age, an association between leptin levels and metabolic syndrome was observed. After adjusting for age alone or with tobacco use, subjects in the highest leptin quartile had a higher risk of having metabolic syndrome than those in the lowest quartile (OR = 6.14 and 2.94 for men and women, respectively). After further adjustment for BMI, metabolic syndrome risk remained significantly increased with increasing leptin quartiles in men. Finally, increased leptin levels were a predictor of metabolic syndrome in men and women.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Serum leptin levels are correlated with CVD risk and metabolic syndrome. Analysis of leptin as part of routine physical examinations may prove beneficial for early diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.</p

Energy dissipation behaviours and seismic reduction performance of a proposed velocity and displacement dependent hydraulic damper (VDHD)

A new oil‐pressure Velocity and Displacement Dependent Hydraulic Damper (VDHD) is proposed by adding an additional Relief Valve parallel to the Throttle Valve with a different aperture size. This objective is to obtain an adaptive control by changing the damping coefficient of the VDHD for better control of structural movement during earthquake. In order to simulate its actual energy elimination, a mathematical analysis model is developed based on the Maxwell Model, which is modified by adding a serial friction model and a small damper parallel to the friction model in this study. The mathematical simulated results are compared with the actual energy‐dissipating behaviours of this proposed damper. The comparison shows that this proposed mathematical modelling could accurately simulate the relation of force and displacement as well as the relation of force and velocity during the process of energy dissipation. In addition, results of both the laboratory shaking table test and simulation analyses are used to test and verify the seismic reduction performance of this proposed damper. The experimental and simulation results show that in spite of the magnitude of the earthquake, the proposed VDHD device has a superior effect on the control of structural displacement by achieving effective acceleration reduction. Santrauka Siūlomas naujas hidraulinis i greiti ir poslinki reaguojantis slopintuvas (HGPS), sukurtas prie droselinio vožtuvo su kintama apertūra pridejus atbulini vožtuva. Buvo siekiama užtikrinti geresne adaptyvia konstrukcijos judejimo žemes drebejimo metu kontrole keičiant HGPS slopinimo koeficienta. Norint modeliuoti tikraji energijos pašalinima, buvo sukurtas matematinis modelis, pagristas Maksvelo modeliu. Šis modelis buvo pakeistas prie trinties modelio pridejus nuosekluji trinties modeli ir nedideli slopintuva. Matematinio modeliavimo rezultatai lyginami su tikraja siūlomo gesintuvo energijos sklaida. Palyginimas rodo, kad matematinio modeliavimo rezultatai atitinka tikraja siūlomo gesintuvo elgsena. Lyginant skaičiavimo rezultatus su eksperimentiniais matyti, kad siūlomas matematinis modeliavimas leidžia tiksliai išreikšti jegos ir poslinkio bei jegos ir greičio ryšius, susidarančius energijos sklaidos metu. Laboratoriniai rezultatai, gauti naudojant vibracini stala, ir modeliavimo rezultatai taikomi tirti bei tikrinti siūlomo gesintuvo itaka mažinant seismines konstrukcijos charakteristikas. Eksperimentiniai ir modeliavimo rezultatai rodo, kad nepaisant žemes drebejimo laipsnio, siūlomas gesintuvas labai pagerina konstrukcijos poslinkiu kontrole efektyviai mažindamas judejimo pagreiti. First Published Online: 10 Feb 2011 Reikšminiai žodžiai: HGPS, Maksvelo modelis, diskretusis sprendinys, pasyvusis energijos skaidos prietaisas, vibracinio stalo bandymas, modeliuojamas konstrukcijos reakcijos mažinima

Application and comparison of scoring indices to predict outcomes in patients with healthcare-associated pneumonia

Introduction: Healthcare-associated pneumonia HCAP is a relatively new category of pneumonia. It refers to infections that occur prior to hospital admission in patients with specific risk factors following contact or exposure to a healthcare environment. There is currently no scoring index to predict the outcomes of HCAP patients. We applied and compared different community acquired pneumonia CAP scoring indices to predict 30-day mortality and 3-day and 14-day intensive care unit ICU admission in patients with HCAP. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on an inpatient database from six medical centers, recruiting a total of 444 patients with HCAP between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2007. Pneumonia severity scoring indices including PSI pneumonia severity index, CURB 65 confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure , age 65, IDSA/ATS Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society, modified ATS rule, SCAP severe community acquired pneumonia, SMART-COP systolic blood pressure, multilobar involvement, albumin, respiratory rate, tachycardia, confusion, oxygenation, pH, SMRT- CO systolic blood pressure, multilobar involvement, respiratory rate, tachycardia, confusion, oxygenation, and SOAR systolic blood pressure, oxygenation, age, respiratory rate were calculated for each patient. Patient characteristics, co-morbidities, pneumonia pathogen culture results, length of hospital stay LOS, and length of ICU stay were also recorded. Results: PSI > 90 has the highest sensitivity in predicting mortality, followed by CURB-65 >= 2 and SCAP > 9 SCAP score area under the curve AUC: 0.71, PSI AUC: 0.70 and CURB-65 AUC: 0.66. Compared to PSI, modified ATS, IDSA/ATS, SCAP, and SMART-COP were easy to calculate. For predicting ICU admission Day 3 and Day 14, modified ATS AUC: 0.84, 0.82 , SMART-COP AUC: 0.84, 0.82, SCAP AUC: 0.82, 0.80 and IDSA/ ATS AUC: 0.80, 0 .79 performed better statistically significant difference than PSI, CURB- 65, SOAR and SMRT-CO. Conclusions: The utility of the scoring indices for risk assessment in patients with healthcare-associated pneumonia shows that the scoring indices originally designed for CAP can be applied to HCAP

Accumulation of epicardial fat rather than visceral fat is an independent risk factor for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of heart failure with preserved left ventricular systolic function are common among patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Epicardial fat (EpF) is an ectopic fat depot with possible paracrine or mechanical effects on myocardial function. The aim of our current study is to assess the association between EpF and Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients undergoing PD and to clarify the relationships among EpF, inflammation, and LVDD in this population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 149 patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function who were undergoing PD. LVDD was diagnosed (according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines) and EpF thickness measured by echocardiography. The patients without LVDD were used as controls. The serum inflammatory biomarker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured. The location and amount of adipose tissue were assessed by computed tomography (CT) at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. RESULTS: Subjects with LVDD had higher levels of hsCRP, more visceral and peritoneal fat, and thicker EpF (all p < 0.001) than controls. Visceral adipose tissue, hsCRP, and EpF all correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with LVDD. Multivariate regression analysis rendered the relationship between visceral adipose tissue and LVDD insignificant, whereas EpF was the most powerful determinant of LVDD (odds ratio = 2.41, 95% confidence interval = 1.43–4.08, p < 0.01). EpF thickness also correlated significantly with the ratio of transmitral Doppler early filling velocity to tissue Doppler early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e’; r = 0.27, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: EpF thickness is significantly independently associated with LVDD in patients undergoing PD and may be involved in its pathogenesis

Gene expression profiling of breast cancer survivability by pooled cDNA microarray analysis using logistic regression, artificial neural networks and decision trees

BACKGROUND: Microarray technology can acquire information about thousands of genes simultaneously. We analyzed published breast cancer microarray databases to predict five-year recurrence and compared the performance of three data mining algorithms of artificial neural networks (ANN), decision trees (DT) and logistic regression (LR) and two composite models of DT-ANN and DT-LR. The collection of microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus, four breast cancer datasets were pooled for predicting five-year breast cancer relapse. After data compilation, 757 subjects, 5 clinical variables and 13,452 genetic variables were aggregated. The bootstrap method, Mann–Whitney U test and 20-fold cross-validation were performed to investigate candidate genes with 100 most-significant p-values. The predictive powers of DT, LR and ANN models were assessed using accuracy and the area under ROC curve. The associated genes were evaluated using Cox regression. RESULTS: The DT models exhibited the lowest predictive power and the poorest extrapolation when applied to the test samples. The ANN models displayed the best predictive power and showed the best extrapolation. The 21 most-associated genes, as determined by integration of each model, were analyzed using Cox regression with a 3.53-fold (95% CI: 2.24-5.58) increased risk of breast cancer five-year recurrence… CONCLUSIONS: The 21 selected genes can predict breast cancer recurrence. Among these genes, CCNB1, PLK1 and TOP2A are in the cell cycle G2/M DNA damage checkpoint pathway. Oncologists can offer the genetic information for patients when understanding the gene expression profiles on breast cancer recurrence