Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A multisite, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vigabatrin for treating cocaine dependence.

IMPORTANCE Cocaine dependence is a significant public health problem, yet no validated pharmacological treatment exists. The potent γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic medication vigabatrin has previously been shown to be effective in a double-blind single-site study conducted in Mexico. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of vigabatrin for the treatment of cocaine dependence in a U.S. sample. DESIGN AND SETTING Multisite, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week clinical trial with follow-up visits at weeks 13, 16, 20, and 24 in 11 U.S. sites. PARTICIPANTS In total, 186 treatment-seeking participants with cocaine dependence (mean age, 45 years). Approximately 67% were male, and about 60% were of African American race/ethnicity. INTERVENTIONS Participants received twice-daily doses of vigabatrin (total dosage, 3.0 g/d) or matched placebo, plus weekly computerized cognitive behavioral therapy and biweekly individual counseling for 13 weeks. Contingency management encouraged the provision of urine samples. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome measure was the proportion of participants with cocaine abstinence during the last 2 weeks of the 12-week treatment phase as assessed by self-reports and quantitative urine drug screens. The weekly fraction of cocaine use days and the number of drug-free urine samples during weeks 1 through 13 were key secondary measures. RESULTS No significant differences were observed between the vigabatrin group and the placebo group on the primary outcome measure (P = .67), key secondary measures (P > .99), or other outcome measures. However, while pill counts and self-reports indicated that more than 66% of all participants (and >63% of the vigabatrin group) took more than 70% of their medication, post hoc vigabatrin urine concentration levels suggested that approximately 40% to 60% of patients taking vigabatrin may not have been adherent. This lack of adherence may have obscured any evidence of vigabatrin efficacy. No visual acuity or visual field deterioration occurred in any of the participants. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE No protocol-defined differences in efficacy between vigabatrin treatment and placebo were detected for any outcome variable. This may have been due to medication nonadherence or, alternatively, due to the weak efficacy of vigabatrin. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00611130.
Bloodstream Infection Due to Mycoplasma arginini in an Immunocompromised Patient

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma arginini, an organism usually recovered from mammals, was isolated from the blood of a febrile patient with advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The patient's condition improved without administration of antimycoplasmal drugs. Simulation of blood culture showed that automated blood culture instruments may fail to detect the organism.
Transmission channels of business cycles synchronization in an enlarged EMU

The accession of Central European countries to the European Union implies the possibility of euro area membership once the Maastricht nominal convergence criteria will be met. This raises the question about costs and benefits of an enlarged euro area. In particular, the prospects for structural and cyclical convergence in an enlarged euro area have been little investigated so far. How synchronized are business cycles between the Central European new EU countries (CE-EU- 8) and current euro area members? How is business cycles synchronization transmitted across these countries? This paper investigates the degree of business cycles synchronization between the current and future euro area member states over the period 1990-2003 and analyses the similarity of economic structures and bilateral trade intensity as main transmission channels. Using band-pass filtered GDP data, I find that business cycles between the CE-EU-8 countries and euro area members are less correlated in comparison to the current euro area members. In the group of the CE-EU-8 countries, over the analyzed period, business cycles in Hungary, Poland and Slovenia were closer correlated with the economic activity fluctuations in the current euro area members. The econometric analysis indicates that similarity of economic structures and bilateral trade intensity were positively and significantly associated with business cycles correlations. This result is robust to different groups of country pairs and estimation techniques. These empirical findings suggest that, to the extent shocks are country – specific, a common monetary policy might have asymmetric effects in an euro area extended early to the new EU members. This policy implication needs however two qualifications: the cost of adopting a common monetary policy depends first, on the extent to which the exchange rate can be used as an efficient shock absorber and second, on the extent to which monetary policy can be used effectively to stabilizing economic activity. Furthermore, the relationship between similarity of economic structures, bilateral trade intensity, on the one hand, and, business cycles synchronization, on the other hand, is found endogenous suggesting that, in the long term, convergence of economic structures and trade growth are expected. If the adoption of the euro will be well prepared it will bring significant benefits to the new EU countries.
Ancient Values, New Challenges: Indigenous Spiritual Perceptions of Landscapes and Forest Management

ABSTRACT The spiritual values of indigenous peoples represent a challenge for forest managers to understand and integrate in their management activities. This article reports on the results of research with the Cheam First Nation of British Columbia to explore their spiritual perceptions of forested landscapes. Cheam conceptions of spirituality are deeply rooted in ancient narratives and myths that describe the land as a gift from the Creator for the material and spiritual benefit of the Cheam people and their human and nonhuman neighbors. Cheam participants emphasized the need for respectful land use, and described general landscape conditions consistent with such use. Particular forest-based spiritual activities require careful treatment of key landscape conditions around sacred sites, to ensure the continued viability of traditions still important in contemporary Cheam life. With further research, tangible indicators of culturally appropriate and respectful forest use could be developed into guidelines for forest management to protect spiritual values.
A Closer Look at the Size and Value Premium in Emerging markets: Evidence from the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange

In this study of asset pricing in emerging markets, two questions are asked. First, Is there a size and value premium in markets outside the USA? Second, Can the multifactor model of Fama and French (1996) capture the cross–section of average stock returns for the Malaysian setting? The answers from this study suggest that size and value premium exist in markets outside the USA. We find that the two mimic portfolios, ‘small minus big’ (SMB) and ‘high minus low’ (HML), generate a return of 17.70% and 17.69% per annum, respectively, while the market generates a return of 1.92% per annum. Our findings suggest that the multi–factor model of Fama and French (1996) is a parsimonious representation of the risk factors for Malaysia, explaining returns in an economically meaningful manner. Our findings also reject the claim that the multifactor model results can be explained by the turn–of–the–year effect.
Growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, T. pectinovorum, T. socranskii, and T. vincentii in a chemically defined medium

A chemically defined medium, OMIZ (Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Zürich)-W1 was developed. Medium OMIZ-W1 supports the long-term proliferation of a wide range of oral anaerobes, including representative strains of four Treponema species and Porphyromonas gingivalis. High concentrations of ascorbic acid and ammonium ions proved to be important for the growth of these organisms. T. denticola CD-1 grew in the absence of polyamines and long-chain fatty acids, T. pectinovorum and T. socranskii required polyamines, whereas T. vincentii depended on both polyamines and lecithin for growth. Specific requirements for purines and/or pyrimidines were detected, and these requirements could be used to distinguish Haemophilus-Actinobacillus group organisms. Some strains of P. gingivalis grew without vitamin K, while others were not satisfied by menadione but required its precursor 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. Protoporphyrin IX or hemin equally satisfied the porphyrin requirements of P. gingivalis and Bacteroides forsythus, whereas ferrous sulfate was more efficiently used as a source of iron than was hemin. The cellular cohesiveness of P. gingivalis increased with high concentrations of hemin in the growth medium. Prevotella intermedia, B. forsythus, and several strains of P. gingivalis were more fastidious and required a protein or serum supplement to grow in medium OMIZ-W1.
Effects of Photodynamic Therapy on Tumor Stroma

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that combines a photosensitizer with light to generate oxygen-dependent photochemical destruction of diseased tissue. This modality has been approved worldwide since 1993 for the treatment of several oncological and nononcological disorders. PDT continues to be interested in both preclinical and clinical research, with more than 500 publications each year during the past 5 years. This minireview focuses on the effects of PDT on tumor stroma. A tumor consists of two fundamental elements: parenchyma (neoplastic cells) and stroma. The stroma is composed of vasculature, cellular components, and intercellular matrix and is necessary for tumor growth. All the stromal components can be targeted by PDT. Although the exact mechanism of PDT is unknown, emerging evidence has indicated that effective PDT of tumor requires destruction of both parenchyma and stroma. Further, damage to subendothelial zone of vasculature, in addition to endothelium, also appears to be a crucial factor. The PDT-generated immune response as a way of vaccination for treatment and prevention of metastatic tumors remains to be exploited.
Retirement in Australia: A Closer Look at the Financial Incentives

In Australia, labour force participation among older people has been declining. Previous research has found that in many OECD countries, the retirement income system actually provides a financial incentive for older workers to retire early. In this article, we model the retirement behaviour of Australian men and women aged between 55 and 70 years, where individuals retire in the period that the present value of their lifetime retirement income is maximised. Our findings suggest that the Australian retirement system does provide an incentive to retire early. However, men are much more likely than women to respond to these financial incentives.
Global Accounting Convergence and the Potential Adoption of IFRS by the U.S. (Part II): Political Factors and Future Scenarios for U.S. Accounting Standards

SYNOPSIS: This is the second article of a two-part series analyzing the economic and policy factors related to the potential adoption of IFRS by the United States. In Part I (see Hail et al. 2010), we develop the conceptual framework for our analysis and discuss economic factors driving the costs and benefits associated with IFRS adoption. In this part, we provide an analysis of the political factors related to the possible U.S. adoption of IFRS, present several scenarios for the evolution of U.S. accounting standards, and outline opportunities for future research on global accounting standards and regulation. We start with a general discussion of the standard-setting process in accounting and how a U.S. switch to IFRS might affect worldwide competition among accounting standards and standard setters. We discuss potential political ramifications of such a decision on the standard-setting process in the United States, as well as on the governance structure of the International Accounting Standards Board. D.
Relationships among organizational culture, knowledge acquisition, organizational learning, and organizational innovation in Taiwan's banking and insurance industries

This article investigates the relationships among organizational culture (OC), knowledge acquisition (KA), organizational learning (OL), and organizational innovation (OI) in Taiwan's banking and insurance industries. We use the top 100 financial enterprises in Taiwan published by Common Wealth Magazine in 2005 as the population and 23 of them are chosen as the sample in this study. A total of 785 questionnaires were issued and 449 valid replies were received. The research results indicate that OL serves as a partial mediator between OC and OI. In addition, this article finds that OC affects OL and innovation through KA. Furthermore, OL has a full mediation effect on KA and OI.
Entrepreneurship: an organisational learning approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to shed new light on the interface between learning and entrepreneurship, i.e. to show how entrepreneurship can be studied as a never‐ending, dynamic learning process.Design/methodology/approach – By applying the typology of learning concepts at different organisational levels, the paper will elucidate how the entrepreneur's learning process is fundamental in his quest for new business opportunities and describe learning as a crucial factor for entrepreneurial activity.Findings – From observations, a new definition of the entrepreneur is derived (entrepreneur as a learner) and a conceptual model of entrepreneurial learning theory is synthesized.Research limitations/implications – The newly developed conceptual model has not been empirically validated. In terms of the guidelines for future research, this topic should be addressed by collecting information to expand the conceptual model presented here.Originality/value – Key entrepreneurial learning components are iden.
Shadow Economy and Do-it-Yourself Activities: The German Case

This paper presents a consistent structural equation (SEM) estimate of the size and development of the shadow economy and of do-it-yourself (DIY) activities in Germany from 1970 to 2005. By 2005, they reached a level of about 17% and 5% of official GDP. While the shadow economy has regularly increased over the years, DIY activities - though quite sizable - have remained more or less constant since the early 1990s. The driving forces for the shadow economy are regulation and tax burden, whereas for DIY activities the level of unemployment is the main factor.
Comparison of the Luminex xTAG RVP Fast Assay and the Idaho Technology FilmArray RP Assay for Detection of Respiratory Viruses in Pediatric Patients at a Cancer Hospital

ABSTRACT Respiratory viruses are increasingly recognized as serious causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The rapid and sensitive detection of respiratory viruses is essential for the early diagnosis and administration of appropriate antiviral therapy, as well as for the effective implementation of infection control measures. We compared the performance of two commercial assays, xTAG RVP Fast (Luminex Diagnostics, Toronto, Canada) and FilmArray RVP (FA RVP; Idaho Technology, Salt Lake City, UT), in pediatric patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. These assays detect the following viruses: respiratory syncytial virus; influenza A and B viruses; parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, 3, and 4; human metapneumovirus; adenovirus; enterovirus-rhinovirus; coronaviruses NL63, HKU1, 229E, and OC43; and bocavirus. We tested a total of 358 respiratory specimens from 173 pediatric patients previously tested by direct fluorescence assay (DFA) and viral culture. The overall detection rate (number of positive specimens/total specimens) for viruses tested by all methods was 24% for DFA/culture, 45% for xTAG RVP Fast, and 51% for FA RVP. The agreement between the two multiplex assays was 84.5%, and the difference in detection rate was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Overall, the FA RVP assay was more sensitive than the xTAG RVP Fast assay and had a turnaround time of approximately 1 h. The sensitivity, simplicity, and random-access platform make FA RVP an excellent choice for laboratory on-demand service with low to medium volume.
The propagation of European monetary policy shocks into Romania's economy

This article analyses the role of monetary shocks in transmitting macroeconomic fluctuations across countries within a two-country framework, with a special emphasis on the case of Romania. Based on the estimation results for various specifications of the European Central Bank reaction function, we argue that the proper framework for isolating the European monetary policy shocks includes survey data. To determine the magnitude of the effects of European monetary fluctuations on the Romanian economy, we employ a Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) model identified using long-term restrictions that comprises key Romanian macro-indicators and the variables considered suitable for isolating the European monetary policy shocks. Our findings are important to establish the degree of vulnerability of the Romanian economy to external disturbances and the degree of fulfilment of the prerequisites for becoming a full member of the Economic and Monetary Union.
Determinants of Chinese Equity Financing Behaviours: Traditional Model and the Alternatives

This paper studies the capital structure of Chinese SEO issuers, from the perspective of equity. The traditional model is subject to several problems including spurious correlation, cumulative measure and endogeneity. System GMM (generalised method of moments) is superior to the traditional model. Corporate governance is positively correlated to firm equity level; however, it does not affect incremental managerial adjustments to equity. In addition, state control positively influences equity level but has a negative effect on incremental managerial adjustment. Mixed evidence is found for the established capital structure theories in the Chinese context.
Two Types of Antigen Receptor Systems in Vertebrates

Abstract Extant jawless vertebrates, represented by lampreys and hagfishes, have innate immune receptors with variable domains structurally resembling those of T/B-cell receptors. However, they appear to lack cardinal elements of adaptive immunity shared by all jawed vertebrates: major histocompatibility complex molecules and T/B-cell receptors. Thus, it was widely believed that adaptive immunity is unique to jawed vertebrates. Recently, this belief was overturned by the discovery of agnathan antigen receptors named variable lymphocyte receptors. These receptors generate diversity in their antigen-binding sites through assembling highly diverse leucine-rich repeat modules. The crystal structures of hagfish variable lymphocyte receptor monomers indicate that they adopt a horseshoe-shaped structure and likely bind antigens through the hypervariable concave surface. Secreted variable lymphocyte receptors form pentamers or tetramers of dimers and bind antigens with high specificity and avidity. The fact that variable lymphocyte receptors are structurally unrelated to T/B-cell receptors indicates that jawed and jawless vertebrates have developed antigen receptors independently.
Predictor of mortality and rehospitalization of acute decompensated heart failure at six months follow up

Objective. To look for predictors of mortality and rehospitalization, we conducted a prospective study using fifty variables from history, physical examination, ECG, CXR, Echocardiography and blood test (N Terminal proBNP, hsCRP, and lactate level) that suspected as predictors in heart failure Design. Blinded prospective cohort study Setting. Emergency room of Harapan Kita National Heart Center, Jakarta-Indonesia as entry site, with ICCU, wards, and OPD for evaluation. Patients population for study. All consecutive patients with acute decompensated heart failure class III-IV that were hospitalized. Exclusion criteria were other concomitant severe diseases. Measurements and result. Of 97 patients enrolled, variables were measured using standard protocols. During follow up period of six months, 11 (11.3%) patients died of cardiac origin and 29 (29.9%) rehospitalized. Logistic regression analysis revealed BMI >30 kg/m 2 with edema had OR 6.6 (95% CI: 1.3332.72, p=0,021), acute lung edema had OR 3,65 (CI 0,99-13,35, p=0,037), NYHA class IV had OR 5,42 (CI 95% : 1,11-26,59, p=0,037), left ventricle wall thickness >11 mm had OR 0,79 (CI 95 %: 0,63-1,00, p= 0,05), using beta-blocker had OR 0,09 ( CI 95%: 0,010,74, p= 0,025), hemoglobin <12 g/dL had OR 4,53 (CI 95%: 1,24-16,56, p= 0,022), sodium <130 mmol/ Case Report
How Does the Brain Discriminate Familiar and Unfamiliar Faces?: A PET Study of Face Categorical Perception

Where and how does the brain discriminate familiar and unfamiliar faces? This question has not been answered yet by neuroimaging studies partly because different tasks were performed on familiar and unfamiliar faces, or because familiar faces were associated with semantic and lexical information. Here eight subjects were trained during 3 days with a set of 30 faces. The familiarized faces were morphed with unfamiliar faces. Presented with continua of unfamiliar and familiar faces in a pilot experiment, a group of eight subjects presented a categorical perception of face familiarity: there was a sharp boundary in percentage of familiarity decisions between 40 and 60 faces. In the main experiment, subjects were scanned (PET) on the fourth day (after 3 days of training) in six conditions, all requiring a sex classification task. Completely novel faces (0) were presented in Condition 1 and familiar faces (100) in Condition 6, while faces of steps of 20 in the continuum of familiarity were presented in Conditions 2 to 5 (20 to 80). A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that most variations in neural responses were related to the dissociation between faces perceived as familiar (60 to 100) and faces perceived as unfamiliar (0 to 40). Subtraction analyses did not disclose any increase of activation for faces perceived as familiar while there were large relative increases for faces perceived as unfamiliar in several regions of the right occipito-temporal visual pathway. These changes were all categorical and were observed mainly in the right middle occipital gyrus, the right posterior fusiform gyrus, and the right inferotemporal cortex. These results show that (1) the discrimination between familiar and unfamiliar faces is related to relative increases in the right ventral pathway to unfamiliar/novel faces; (2) familiar and unfamiliar faces are discriminated in an all-or-none fashion rather than proportionally to their resemblance to stored representations; and (3) categorical perception of faces is associated with abrupt changes of brain activity in the regions that discriminate the two extremes of the multidimensional continuum.
The Influence of Social Responsibility on Sport Tourists

Sport events have emerged as integral fundraising mechanisms for charitable organisations allowing host communities to leverage the motives for sport participation and charitable giving to increase sport tourism activity. This paper explores the meaning elicited by these events for participants. Using the Psychological Continuum Model (PCM) as its theoretical framework, the current research explores the role of social responsibility in fostering attachment to a charity sport event. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with charity sport event participants (N=32) to discuss their overall event experiences. Results revealed that social responsibility does contribute to participant attachment, which can shape travel decisions. The results provide further refinement of attachment within the PCM framework, as well as additional support for its application in the sport event context. Suggestions are made for event organisers to leverage social responsibility to enhance the host community and promote social change.