Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virulence properties and attaching-effacing activity of Escherichia coli O45 from swine postweaning diarrhea

Escherichia coli O45 isolates associated with swine postweaning diarrhea in Québec were characterized with respect to virulence determinants genetically and investigated for their attaching and effacing (A/E) activities by experimental inoculation of gnotobiotic piglets and by the HEp-2 cell adherence assay. All of 32 isolates tested were negative for enterotoxigenic and verotoxigenic E. coli virulence determinants, heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), heat-stable enterotoxins (STap, STb), verotoxins (VT1, VT2), and F4 (K88), F5 (K99), F6 (987P), and F41, except one STb-positive and two F4-positive isolates. A total of 25 isolates hybridized with an EaeA probe, and 11 hybridized with an enteropathogenic E. coli adherence factor (EAF) probe. None of 32 isolates hybridized with a bundle-forming pilus (BFP) probe. The EAF, EaeA, and BFP factors have been associated with human enteropathogenic E. coli strains. A total of 10 of 12 eaeA-positive porcine O45 isolates induced A/E lesions characterized by intimate adherence of bacteria to the intestinal epithelial cell membrane with effacement of the microvilli, similar to those of human attaching-effacing E. coli. However, A/E lesions were not observed in the piglets inoculated with any one of three eaeA-negative O45 isolates. All E. coli O45 isolates were non-adherent to HEp-2 cells. Thus, we have demonstrated the production of typical A/E lesions by nonenterotoxigenic E. coli O45 isolates from swine postweaning diarrhea. The results indicate the significance of the eaeA gene in A/E activities of these isolates and suggest that EAF and BFP are not involved in O45 E. coli infection of weaning piglets.
Rewarding Poor Performance: Why Do Boards of Directors Increase New Options in Response to CEO Underwater Options?

Manuscript Type. Empirical. Research Question/Issue. When the stock options granted to CEOs go underwater, boards of directors tend to award additional stock options to their CEOs. Drawing on agency theory and attribution theory, this study explores social psychological mechanisms that explain why boards of directors increase new option grants to CEOs in response to underwater options. Research Findings/Insights. Using the compensation data of CEOs at 966 US firms, we found that contextual factors such as market conditions and industry performance affected boards of directors' decisions to grant new stock options. Consistent with our hypotheses, boards of directors granted a greater number of new options to CEOs in response to CEOs' underwater options during the recession period than the recovery period, and they granted fewer new options when the firm's industry performance was high rather than low. Theoretical/Academic Implications. This study incorporates attribution theory in understanding boards of directors' causal attribution of firm performance and its impact on executive compensation. It complements earlier studies on causal attribution by exploring the role of contextual factors. It also contributes to the research by examining the attribution process of boards of directors rather than that of top management, as well as the consequences of the causal attribution in terms of ex‐post adjustment in executive option compensation. Practitioner/Policy Implications. This study provides up‐to‐date and improved evidence on boards' decision making about executive stock options. Practitioners and policy makers can benefit from the study's findings that board members rely on contextual information about the market and the competition when they make causal attribution of firm performance changes, which tends to affect their decisions about executive compensation.
The Auditor's Going-Concern Opinion as a Communication of Risk

SUMMARY In this study, we examine the proposition that the auditor's going-concern modified opinion is a valuable risk communication to the equity market that results in a shift of the market's perception of financially distressed firms. Specifically, our analyses reveal that the market valuation is significantly altered from a focus on both the income statement and balance sheet to a balance sheet-only focus in the year a company receives a first-time going-concern modified opinion. These results hold even after controlling for several common measures of financial distress and when examining a larger control sample of distressed firms. We also document that the market devalues a company's inventory and places increased weight on cash, receivables, and long-term assets and liabilities as a result of the auditor's modification. This indicates that the going-concern modification provides incremental information specifically related to abandonment or adaptation risk. Our results provide evidence that the mar.
Robust admissibility of uncertain switched singular systems

This article investigates the robust admissibility of uncertain discrete-time switched singular systems. First, the admissibility is introduced, by using the switched Lyapunov function, for singular systems. Sufficient conditions for robust admissibility of uncertain switched singular systems are presented in strict linear matrix inequalities formulation. Robust admissibility condition designs for both state feedback and static output control feedback are then derived. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate our approach.
Varying Elasticities and Forecasting Performance

This study assumes that tourists' demand reactions to income and price changes are asymmetric at different phases of the business cycle. In order to test this hypothesis, we analyzed the demand for international tourism in five source markets using a modified growth rate (MGR) model. The empirical evidence demonstrates that income elasticity is indeed asymmetric across the business cycle in four source markets. In addition, asymmetric price effects were found for one source market. To compare forecasting performance, we also estimated a time-varying parameter (TVP) model. The results show that the MGR model generally outperforms the TVP model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using a Model of Emotional Intelligence Domains to Indicate Transformational Leaders in the Hospitality Industry

ABSTRACT In the workplace, teamwork, collaboration, and excellent interpersonal communication are traits of successful leaders. Transformational leaders, utilizing their emotional intelligence (EI) abilities, are successful in employing these effective leadership skills. Using the dimensions of transformational leadership and the domains of EI, a model was developed indicating the direct relationship between the two constructs. Additionally, a pilot study was conducted to demonstrate that students in hospitality undergraduate programs do not possess the level of EI needed to be successful transformational leaders. These findings demonstrated the need to incorporate EI instruction into orientation and training programs.
Fate of Chloromethanes in the Atmospheric Environment: Implications for Human Health, Ozone Formation and Depletion, and Global Warming Impacts

Among the halogenated hydrocarbons, chloromethanes (i.e., methyl chloride, CH3Cl; methylene chloride, CH2Cl2; chloroform, CHCl3; and carbon tetrachloride, CCl4) play a vital role due to their extensive uses as solvents and chemical intermediates. This article aims to review their main chemical/physical properties and commercial/industrial uses, as well as the environment and health hazards posed by them and their toxic decomposition products. The environmental properties (including atmospheric lifetime, radiative efficiency, ozone depletion potential, global warming potential, photochemical ozone creation potential, and surface mixing ratio) of these chlorinated methanes are also reviewed. In addition, this paper further discusses their atmospheric fates and human health implications because they are apt to reside in the lower atmosphere when released into the environment. According to the atmospheric degradation mechanism, their toxic degradation products in the troposphere include hydrogen chloride (HCl), carbon monoxide (CO), chlorine (Cl2), formyl chloride (HCOCl), carbonyl chloride (COCl2), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Among them, COCl2 (also called phosgene) is a powerful irritating gas, which is easily hydrolyzed or thermally decomposed to form hydrogen chloride.
Biochemical aspirin resistance is associated with increased stroke severity and infarct volumes in ischemic stroke patients

To explore the correlation of aspirin resistance (AR) with clinical stroke severity and infarct volume using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in 224 Chinese ischemic stroke patients who were taking aspirin before stroke onset. In those patients, the median age was 64 years (IQR, 56-75 years), and males accounting for 54.9%(123)of the total subjects. Fifty of 224 enrolled patients (22.3%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 16.9% to 27.7%) showed AR. In the median regression model, significant increase was estimated in NIHSS score of 0.04 point for every 1-point increase in aspirin reaction units (ARU) (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.06; P<0.001). Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI)-measured infarct volume were significantly higher in patients with AR as compared with those with AS [13.21 (interquartile ranges [IQR], 8.51-23.88) vs.4. 26 (IQR, 1.74-11.62); P<0.001). Furthermore, a statistically significant increase was also measured in NIHSS score of 0.05 point for every 1-point increase in ARU in the median regression model (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.08; P<0.001). The median DWI infarct volume was significantly larger in the highest ARU quartile when compared to that in the low 3 quartiles (P<0.001). In conclusion, stroke patients with AR indicated higher risk of severe strokes and large infarcts compared to patients in the aspirin-sensitive group.
LASIK operations with the Ziemer FEMTO LDV femtosecond laser flap creation after previous photorefractive keratometry or laser‐assisted sub‐epithelial keratomileusis

Ophthalmology 106: 2286–2290. Garcia-Saenz MC, Arias-Puente A, Fresnadillo Martinez MJ & Carrasco-Font C (2001): Human aqueous humor levels of oral ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin. J Cataract Refract Surg 27: 1969–1974. Han DP, Wisniewski SR, Wilson LA, Barza M, Vinc AK, Doft BH & Kelsey SF (1996): Spectrum and susceptibilities of microbiologic isolates in the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study; the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study Group. Am J Ophthalmol 122: 1–17; corrections 920. Hariprasad SM, Mieler WF & Holz ER (2003): Vitreous and aqueous penetration of orally administered gatifloxacin in humans. Arch Ophthalmol 121: 345–350. Pellegrino RM, Segoloni F & Cagini C (2008): Simultaneous determination of Ciprofloxacin and the active metabolite of Prulifloxacin in aqueous human humor by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Pharm Biomed Anal 47: 567–574.
Primary Cutaneous ALCL With Phosphorylated/Activated Cytoplasmic ALK and Novel Phenotype: EMA/MUC1+, Cutaneous Lymphocyte Antigen Negative

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) ordinarily is distinguished from systemic ALCL by clinical presentation, absence of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) expression, and immunophenotype (CLA+, EMA/MUC1−). We present an exceptional case of an elderly man with primary cutaneous ALCL and no systemic disease for a 13-year period. Recurrent skin tumors in this patient were characterized by anaplastic, often multinucleated, cells infiltrating the lymphatics and associated with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. Cutaneous lymphocyte antigen was absent and EMA/MUC1, typical of systemic ALCL, was strongly expressed by the tumor cells. Remarkably, the tumor cells expressed a cytoplasmic-only variant of ALK protein, as reported in 3 previous cases of primary cutaneous ALCL. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed lack of rearrangements of the chromosome 2 ALK gene locus usually involved by translocation t(2;5) or other chromosomal rearrangements that generate nucleophosmin-ALK or the variant ALK fusions that occur in systemic ALCL. Nonetheless, the cytoplasmic ALK protein in the patient's tumor cells was shown to be phosphorylated/activated, suggesting a novel mechanism of ALK activation. Primary cutaneous ALCL of this novel subtype should be distinguished from systemic ALCL to ensure proper clinical management.
Knowledge, Adaptivity, and Performance in Tax Research

The ability to adapt decision making to the features of decision tasks and contexts is likely an important component of professional decision making, but not all professionals will exhibit this adaptivity. One explanation for decision makers' failure to adapt when adaptivity is appropriate is that they do not possess relevant knowledge of the features of decision tasks and contexts, or institutional knowledge. In this study, I examine the relations between institutional knowledge, information search adaptivity, and performance using an experimental research design in the tax decision‐making setting. The results of the study are consistent with predictions. Tax professionals with relevant institutional knowledge responded to the differential features of the taxplanning and compliance contexts by conducting broader and more extensive information search in planning than in compliance; professionals lacking institutional knowledge did not exhibit such information search adaptivity. In addition, tax research p.
An intervention analysis of terrorism: The spanish eta case

In this paper we evaluate what terrorism policies have worked best in handling the Spanish ETA terrorism using time series data from 1968 to 2000. We consider the political, deterrence and economic effects, and conclude that their influence on terrorism incidents is mixed. A parsimonious model shows that the behaviour of different terrorism incidents is distinct and the lagged effect is a primary concern. A policy to manage this case is devised.
The Value of Magnetocardiography in Patients with and Without Relevant Stenoses of the Coronary Arteries Using an Unshielded System

Background: The diagnostic management of patients with chest pain remains a clinical challenge. Magnetocardiography (MCG) is a noninvasive method for the recording of cardiac electromagnetic signals at multiple sites above the chest cage. Contrary to electrocardiogram (ECG) the magnetic field is unaltered by surrounding tissues. The present study aimed to analyze the diagnostic value of an unshielded four‐channel MCG for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with chest pain.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES THE VALUE OF LIFE IN GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM

Perhaps the most important change of the last century was the great expansion of life itself -in the US alone, life expectancy increased from 48 to 78 years. Recent economic estimates confirm this claim, finding that the economic value of the gain in longevity was on par with the value of growth in material well-being, as measured by income per capita. However, ever since Malthus, economists have recognized that demographic changes are linked to economic behavior and vice versa. Put simply, living with others who live 78 years is different than living with others who live only 48 years, so that valuing the extra 30 years of life is not simply a matter of valuing the extra years a single individual lives. The magnitude by which such valuations differ is overstated when there are increasing returns to population and is understated under decreasing returns. Focusing on the gains in life expectancy in the United States from 1900 to 2000, we find that a significant part of the value of longer life may be affected by these general equilibrium demographic effects. Anupam Jena University of Chicago and RAND 1755 East 55th St., Room 504 Chicago, IL 60615 ajena@uchicago.edu Casey Mulligan University of Chicago Department of Economics 1126 East 59th Street Chicago, IL 60637 and NBER c-mulligan@uchicago.edu Tomas J. Philipson Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies The University of Chicago 1155 E 60th Street Chicago, IL 60637 and NBER t-philipson@uchicago.edu Eric Sun University of Chiacago and RAND 1776 Main St Santa Monica, CA 90401 ericsun@uchicago.edu
The nature of body image disturbance in patients with binge eating disorder.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the distinction between body dissatisfaction and self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape and weight, and their longitudinal relationships to depressive symptomatology and self-esteem in patients with binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD Ninety-seven patients with BED completed measures tapping these constructs at baseline and again 4 weeks later. RESULTS Change in body dissatisfaction was significantly correlated with both change in depressive symptomatology and change in self-esteem over time, whereas change in self-evaluation was significantly correlated only with change in self-esteem. In addition, change in shape concern, but not change in weight concern, was significantly correlated with change in self-esteem only. DISCUSSION These findings suggest that self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape is a more useful indicator for BED than body dissatisfaction or self-evaluation unduly influenced by weight.
An equity perspective on access to, enrolment in and finance of tertiary education

Failure to achieve equitable access to university studies has contributed to turning the focus to the funding of higher education systems. This paper aims to review critically the literature assessing the effectiveness of existing financing schemes and changes in them as a means for reducing the prevalent under‐representation of students from a socially disadvantaged background. While the theoretical literature fails to be consensual with respect to the equity effects of student funding schemes, empirical studies remain scarce and inconclusive due to the lack of harmonized data that comprehensively describe the social make‐up of higher education attendees. For reasons of space, references are kept at a minimum but can be found elsewhere. 1
Strategic Staffing and Small‐Firm Performance

Although staffing can be a critical determinant of whether small businesses succeed or fail, there has been less research in this area than might be expected, given the large numbers of such firms. While there has been some research on specific recruiting and selection practices, there has been little attention to the strategic aspects of staffing. We investigated relationships between strategic approaches to staffing and small-firm performance using lagged survey data from 139 founders and owners of small firms. Results indicate that recruiting approaches imitating the practices (processes) of larger businesses are positively related to a perceptual measure of firm performance. Selection approaches stressing a growth orientation are also positively related to firm performance. Finally, founders’ and owners’ perceptions of the strategic importance of human resources moderate the relationship of firm performance with imitative recruiting practices as well as with growth-oriented selection practices. An important contribution of this article is that contextual knowledge facilitates our understanding of the performance implications of staffing practices in small firms
Maintenance of sinus rhythm with an ablation strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation is associated with a lower risk of stroke and death

Objective To investigate whether catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) reduces stroke rate or mortality. Methods An international multicentre registry was compiled from seven centres in the UK and Australia for consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation of AF. Long-term outcomes were compared with (1) a cohort with AF treated medically in the Euro Heart Survey, and (2) a hypothetical cohort without AF, age and gender matched to the general population. Analysis of stroke and death was carried out after the first procedure (including peri-procedural events) regardless of success, on an intention-to-treat basis. Results 1273 patients, aged 58±11 years, 56% paroxysmal AF, CHADS2 score 0.7±0.9, underwent 1.8±0.9 procedures. Major complications occurred in 5.4% of procedures, including stroke/TIA in 0.7%. Freedom from AF following the last procedure was 85% (76% off antiarrhythmic drugs) for paroxysmal AF, and 72% (60% off antiarrhythmic drugs) for persistent AF. During 3.1 (1.0–9.6) years from the first procedure, freedom from AF predicted stroke-free survival on multivariate analysis (HR=0.30, CI 0.16 to 0.55, p<0.001). Rates of stroke and death were significantly lower in this cohort (both 0.5% per patient-year) compared with those treated medically in the Euro Heart Survey (2.8% and 5.3%, respectively; p<0.0001). Rates of stroke and death were no different from those of the general population (0.4% and 1.0%, respectively). Conclusion Restoration of sinus rhythm by catheter ablation of AF is associated with lower rates of stroke and death compared with patients treated medically.
An Investigation into Innovations in SMEs

This article focuses on innovation in small businesses. Specifically, the objectives of the paper are twofold: a) to explore the impact of individual features, business resources, organisational culture, structure and market dynamism on firm-level innovation; b) to develop insights into innovation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The research procedure follows Yin's (1994) case method approach. Two Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies, winners of various innovation awards in the West Midlands of the UK, participated in the case studies. Evidence from the studies shows that innovation intensity is dependent on the availability and sufficiency of financial and human resources. Furthermore, an organisational culture supporting new product development and an innovation-conducive structure/mechanism influences the innovation outcomes. Evidence also reveals that firm-level innovation will be influenced internally by senior executives’ experiences and externally by market dynamism.
Estimating the neutral real interest rate in an emerging market economy

This study estimates the neutral real interest rate and output gap jointly under two different multivariate unobserved components models. In the analyses, Kalman filter is applied to a small-scale macroeconomic model of the Turkish economy to estimate the unobserved variables for the period 1989 to 2005. In addition, two alternative specifications for neutral real interest rate are exploited in the analyses. The first model uses a simple random walk model for the neutral rate, whereas the second one employs more structural specification, which specifically links the neutral rate with the trend growth rate and the long-term course of the risk premium by adapting the model proposed by Laubach and Williams (2003) to allow for small open economy consideration. Model evaluations clearly indicate the use of more structural specification against random walk specification. Results point out that the variation in the long-term course of the risk premium could be an important determinant of the neutral real interest rate in Turkey. Though there is relatively high uncertainty surrounding the neutral rate estimates to use them directly in the policy-making process, estimates appear to be very useful for ex post monetary policy evaluations.