Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship Programs Among Dialysis Centers

Antimicrobial exposure contributes to the emergence and spread of multidrug‐resistant organisms. As rates of colonization and infection with these organisms are among the highest in the population of chronic hemodialysis patients and antimicrobial exposure among this patient population is extensive, it is imperative to prescribe antimicrobials judiciously. Thirty to forty percent of chronic hemodialysis patients receive at least one dose of antimicrobials in outpatient centers over a one‐year period. Up to 30% of these antimicrobials are prescribed inappropriately, as per national guidelines. The predominant reasons include (i) failure to de‐escalate to a more narrow‐spectrum antimicrobial, (ii) criteria for infection, especially skin and soft tissue infections, are not met, and (iii) indications and duration for surgical prophylaxis for minor vascular‐access‐related procedures do not follow recommended guidelines. Vancomycin, third‐ or fourth‐generation cephalosporins and cefazolin are the most common antimicrobials or antimicrobial classes prescribed inappropriately. Antimicrobial stewardship programs reduce both inappropriate antimicrobial exposure and associated costs. Effective strategies include (i) education, (ii) guidelines and clinical pathways, (iii) antimicrobial order forms, (iv) de‐escalation therapy, and (v) prospective audit and feedback. Dialysis centers need to identify a team of individuals that will lead the antimicrobial stewardship program. Administrative and financial support for this team is essential. After implementation of the program, regular monitoring for compliance with strategies, and identifying factors that are preventing compliance are necessary. The efficacy of the program should also be evaluated at regular intervals through process and outcome measures.
History of Events and Life-Satisfaction in Transition Countries

Using Life in Transition Survey data for 27 transition countries, the findings of this paper suggest that higher life satisfaction is correlated with lesser experience of unpleasant events such as labor market shock or economic distress, mostly in the recent past. Social capital such as trust, participation in civic groups, and financial stability lead to higher satisfaction, whereas lower relative position to a reference group leaves one with lower life satisfaction. The paper also finds substantial regional variation in life satisfaction between European, Balkan, and lower and middle-income Commonwealth of Independent States. Finally, after controlling for various events that took place during the interview and the nature of refusal of the respondents across countries, the authors show that reported life satisfaction is lower if the emotional state is negative during the interview.
The ownership structure of listed Chinese State-owned enterprises and its relation to corporate performance

In this study, the extant literature relating to the link between the ownership structure of Mainland PRC-incorporated enterprises and firm performance, is extended and updated by considering SOEs with substantial ‘foreign’ (i.e., non-Mainland) ownership. This analysis is carried out for the population of H-share issuers listed on HKEx's Main Board as of May 2004. As with several of the previous studies, evidence of a negative association between ‘free-float’ size and corporate performance is apparent. Moreover, it is found that despite sizeable foreign ownership stakes, such stakes are not significantly associated with corporate performance. However, there is some preliminary evidence to indicate that profitability is generally higher in issuers where two or more major foreign investors are present.
Radioiodine treatment of 524 cats with hyperthyroidism.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a protocol for subcutaneous radioiodine treatment of cats with hyperthyroidism in which the dose was determined on the basis of severity of the cat's clinical signs, thyroid tumor size, and magnitude of the serum thyroxine (T4) concentration. DESIGN Prospective case series. ANIMALS 524 cats with hyperthyroidism. PROCEDURE A scoring system based on 3 factors (severity of clinical signs, size of the thyroid gland, and magnitude of the serum T4 concentration) was used to select the dose of radioiodine to be administered subcutaneously. RESULTS On the basis of the scoring system, 310 (59%) cats were treated with a low dose of radioiodine (< 3.5 mCi; median, 3.0 mCi), 158 (30%) were treated with a moderate dose (3.5 to 4.4 mCi; median, 4.0 mCi), and 56 (11%) were treated with a high dose (> or = 4.5 mCi; median, 5.0 mCi). At time of discharge from the hospital, serum T4 concentration was still high in 80 (15.3%) cats, but by 6 months after administration of radioiodine, the serum T4 concentration had decreased to within or below reference range in all but 8 (1.5%) cats with persistent hyperthyroidism. Many cats had low serum T4 concentrations at some time after radioiodine treatment, but only 11 (2.1%) cats developed clinical and clinicopathologic features of hypothyroidism and required supplementation with L-thyroxine. Thirteen (2.5%) cats had a relapse of hyperthyroidism 1.1 to 6.5 years after initial radioiodine treatment. Overall, the response to treatment was considered good in 94.2% of the cats. Median survival time in the cats was 2.0 years; the percentage of cats alive after 1, 2, and 3 years of treatment was 89, 72, and 52%, respectively. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Results of the study suggest that this method of dose estimation works well and that subcutaneous administration of radioiodine provides a safe and effective means of treating hyperthyroidism in cats.
The Impact of Public Information on the Stock Market

We study the relation between the number of news announcements reported daily by Dow Jones & Company and aggregate measures of securities market activity including trading volume and market returns. We find that the number of Dow Jones announcements and market activity are directly related and that the results are robust to the addition of factors previously found to influence financial markets such as day-of-the-week dummy variables, news importance as proxies by large 'New York Times' headlines and major macroeconomic announcements, and non-information sources of market activity as measured by dividend capture and triple switching rating. However, the observed relation between news and market activity is not particularly strong and the patterns in news announcements do not explain the day-of-the-week seasonalities in market activity. Our analysis of the Dow Jones database confirms the difficulty of linking volume and volatility to observed measures of information. Copyright 1994 by American Finance Association.
Effect of copper complexation on the estrogenic activities of endocrine‐disrupting compounds using E‐screen bioassay

The complexation reaction between Cu and four targeted endocrine‐disrupting compounds (EDCs)—17β‐estradiol (E2), 17α‐ethynylestradiol (EE2), 4‐octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA)—was studied using the fluorescence quenching method, with the changed EDC forms evaluated for their estrogenic activities using an E‐screen assay. The results of the E‐screen showed no estrogenic activity of Cu, whereas results with the EDCs indicated high cell proliferation (decreasing order of induction: E2, EE2, OP, and BPA). The results of the fluorescence quenching response and FTIR (Fourier transformation infrared) strongly support the formation of Cu complexes on the –OH functional group of the targeted EDCs when Cu was spiked at concentrations between 10−7 and 10−4 M. The degree of complexation was in the following order: E2, EE2, OP, and BPA. The E‐screen result for three of the EDCs, with the exception of BPA, was similar when estimating the effects of Cu on the estrogenic activities of the EDCs, which were significantly reduced at α = 0.05 with increasing Cu concentration. Consequently, the results of the complexation reaction and E‐screen assay with the Cu‐EDC mixtures indicated that Cu plays a significant role in the assessment of the estrogenic activities of EDCs in natural waters.
THE IMPACT OF THE CHILD SUPPORT GRANT ON PARTICI-PATION IN THE LABOUR MARKET IN RURAL EASTERN CAPE

South Africa suffers from high and rising poverty levels and extreme inequality. The social security system (mainly social grants) is the government’s chief initiative in tackling these problems. It aims to reduce poverty among groups not expected to participate fully in the labour market, thereby increasing investment in health, nutrition and education. The provision of social security has historically been seen as a core feature of the welfare system aimed at the prevention of poverty during the transition to a multiracial democracy in South Africa. Post-apartheid South Africa moved from residual and institutional models of welfare policy to developmental social welfare, focusing on needy people who have been excluded from mainstream welfare and social security systems. The focus of welfare was on moving people out of poverty, and not only on the construction of social security for prevention, social compensation and income distribution (Department of Social Development, 1997).
Dendritic caliber and the 3/2 power relationship of dentate granule cells

A quantitative examination of granule cell dendritic caliber and knowledge of dendritic lengths allows assessment of the distribution of dendritic membrane and the 3/2 power relationship at branch points. This paper presents caliber data of Golgi‐impregnated rat dentate gyrus. We used camera lucida drawings of the dendritic trees of 15 dorsal leaf and 15 ventral leaf granule cells to quantify mean dendritic caliber, dendritic taper, the 3/2 power relationship of parent and sibling dendritic diameters at branch points, and surface area.
Ethnicity, Race, and Outdoor Recreation. A Review of Trends, Policy, and Research.

Abstract : Differences in outdoor recreation behavior of ethnic groups has been the subject of research in the United States for more than 30 years. This report reviews the social science literature describing ethnic and racial differences in recreation and leisure behavior and summarizes the national policy context for that research. Major sections of the review included demographic trends in the ethnic and racial composition of the United States; national ethnic policy as reflected in the statutes and regulations of the United States, including two recent executive orders that are especially relevant to ethnicity, race, and outdoor recreation; a review of current research programs on ethnicity and recreation in the major Federal recreation resource management agencies; overview of major research issues in studies of ethnicity and recreation and recent applications of recreation ethnicity research to policy and program development, planning, and operations in Federal and State resource management agencies.
Slotting Allowances as Real Options: An Alternative Explanation

This article offers an alternative explanation for slotting allowances using contingent claims analysis, or real option pricing. Slotting allowances arise because retailers hold call options on their shelf space while suppliers must buy these options to introduce a new product. A simulated model of new-product introduction shows that stocking a new product contains a significant, imbedded real option component. We also show that advertising and promotional support can reduce the real option value.
AUSTRALIA'S CARBON FOOTPRINT

This paper gives an overview of the construction techniques and methods used to assign greenhouse gas accounts to industry sectors and of the use of input–output analysis to subsequently calculate the carbon footprint of Australia. The work is motivated by the introduction of an emissions-trading scheme in Australia, and by the need for policy to be developed around the direct and indirect (life-cycle) greenhouse gas emissions of industries, especially with regards to the trade exposure of industries with large carbon footprints. Greenhouse gas multipliers, which show the carbon footprint intensity of consumption items, are calculated to gain insight into opportunities for ‘greening’ consumption. Key industries are identified in relation to both greenhouse gas emissions and economic importance. The effects of imports, exports and capital consumption are explored and a brief analysis of the change in greenhouse gas multipliers over time is given.
Country-Specific Sentiment and Security Prices

I study the effect of country-specific sentiment on security prices. I provide evidence that a country's popularity among Americans affects US investors' demand for securities from that country and causes security prices to deviate from their fundamental values. Moreover, I find that country popularity is positively associated with the intensity of US cross-border mergers and acquisitions activity, suggesting that country popularity also affects firms' investment decisions.
How the Legal System Affects the Equity Mix in Executive Compensation

"We examine variation in relative use of equity-based compensation (equity mix) across firms from different legal environments by studying 381 non-US firms from 43 countries during the 1996-2000 period. These firms are from countries that provide varying degrees of legal protection for shareholders. The data indicate association between equity mix and the degree of legal protection of shareholder rights. Specifically, firms use relatively more equity-based compensation if in a legal environment where shareholder rights are more strongly protected and where laws are more effectively enforced. These findings add to the literature demonstrating a relationship between institutional factors and financial decisions. " Copyright (c) 2010 Financial Management Association International.
The Development of A Mandatory Medical Thesis in an Urban Medical School

Background: The objective of this study was to describe the development of a primary care medical student's thesis. Description: In 1995, as part of its primary care clerkship, the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Drew University), College of Medicine created a curriculum requiring medical students to develop, design, and implement a research project during their 2-year longitudinal clinical experience. For this study, we reviewed all student research projects generated between 1995 and 2004. Evaluation: Among the 112 research projects, topics covered included internal medicine (29.5%), obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN; 22%), psychosocial issues (20.5%), pediatrics (9%), public health/epidemiology (8%), medical education (8%), and surgery (3%). Mentors included faculty from internal medicine (16%), dean's office (16%), pediatrics (13%), family medicine (11%), non-Drew faculty (10%), OBGYN (9%), psychiatry (9%), surgery (9%), emergency medicine (4%), and pathology/radiology departments (3%). The students' survey showed that 83% agreed that the mentors were valuable, 72% admitted that their knowledge about the research process was improved, about 50% indicated that they were more competitive during residency application, and 80% claimed that they obtained satisfaction from accomplishing a goal. Conclusion: Students are able to conduct and present a primary care research project as a requirement of their medical training. Most students find the experience beneficial and positive.
Electoral Competition, Issue Salience and Public Policy for Older People: The Case of the Westminster and Regional UK Elections 1945–2011

Ageing societies and cohort-based differential turnout present challenges and opportunities in political parties' pursuit of electoral support. This article explores their response with reference to the issue salience of public policy for older people in the manifestos for Westminster and regional elections in the UK, 1945–2011. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of party programmes reveals: (1) a significant increase in issue salience and electoral competition around public policy for older people in the post-war era; (2) a continuing failure to adhere to EC and UN edicts on the need to mainstream older people's equality and welfare across portfolios and policy frames; and (3) the territorialisation of public policy based on inter- and intra-party differences in policy programmes as part of a formative process associated with the political opportunity structures afforded by quasi-federalism.
Management Guidance Pre‐ and Post‐Restatement

We examine whether the quality of restating firms’ management guidance differs in periods before and after restatement announcements. While characteristics of restating firms and the consequences of restatement have been a central topic in accounting and auditing research, the quality of management guidance around restatements is less well understood. We consider two competing characterizations of the link between management forecast accuracy and bias and restatement (an event that tends to signal poor financial controls): “Forecast–Opportunism Explanation” and “Forecast–Ability Explanation”. Under the Forecast–Opportunism Explanation, pre-restatement weaknesses in financial controls enable managers to manipulate earnings toward forecasts and to meet or exceed opportunistically biased forecasts, and the post-restatement strengthening of financial controls constrains opportunistic behavior. Under the Forecast–Ability Explanation, pre-restatement weaknesses in financial controls impede managers’ ability to issue accurate forecasts, and post-restatement improvements remove impediments so that the accuracy of forecasts improves; forecast bias remains unaffected. Evidence indicates that before a restatement, restating firms’ forecasts are more accurate and relatively more downwardly biased than control firms’ forecasts. Post-restatement, restating firms have less accurate and less downwardly biased management guidance. Our overall results are consistent with the Forecast–Opportunism Explanation.
THEORY AND EMPIRICS OF ROOT CAUSES OF ECONOMIC PROGRESS

The thesis revisits the debate over the relative contribution of root causes (institutions, geography, trade openness, religion and culture, and knowledge) in economic growth. The results show that institutions, market proximity, malaria and Catholicism have direct effects on economic progress. Catholicism is associated with poor institutions and is not good for trade. Malaria is the most important factor for Africa. The Africa result is explained by an overlapping generations model which shows that high malaria incidence encourages households to consume more at the current period and save less for the future which leads to a poverty trap. Among institutions, ‘market creating institutions’ and ‘market stabilising institutions’ are important. Strong ‘market creating institutions’ characterized by the adequate protection of private property and contract enforcement are growth enhancing. ‘Market stabilizing institutions’ that ensures macroeconomic stability and does not undertake distortionary policies boosts investor confidence and are also good for growth. I notice that there is a growth maximizing level of ‘market regulation’ beyond which it increases red tape and kills the incentive for investment. The effect of ‘market legitimizing institutions’ is statistically insignificant.
Simian immunodeficiency viruses from African green monkeys display unusual genetic diversity

African green monkeys are asymptomatic carriers of simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV), commonly called SIVagm. As many as 50% of African green monkeys in the wild may be SIV seropositive. This high seroprevalence rate and the potential for genetic variation of lentiviruses suggested to us that African green monkeys may harbor widely differing genotypes of SIVagm. To investigate this hypothesis, we determined the entire nucleotide sequence of an infectious proviral molecular clone of SIVagm (155-4) and partial sequences (long terminal repeat and Gag) of three other distinct SIVagm isolates (90, gri-1, and ver-1). Comparisons among the SIVagm isolates revealed extreme diversity at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. Long terminal repeat nucleotide sequences varied up to 35% and Gag protein sequences varied up to 30%. The variability among SIVagm isolates exceeded the variability among any other group of primate lentiviruses. Our data suggest that SIVagm has been in the African green monkey population for a long time and may be the oldest primate lentivirus group in existence.
Currency Crises In Emerging Markets: The Case Of Post‐Liberalization Turkey

This article investigates the determinants of currency crises in Turkey. It analyzes the two major currency crises of 1994 and 2000–2001 in the light of the existing theoretical models. The present study uses logit, probit, and limited dependent models to explain the currency crises in the post–capital account liberalization era. The results obtained from the three approaches are generally consistent and the coefficients obtained for the explanatory variables generally have the same sign. The findings suggest that the currency crises in Turkey are associated with global liquidity conditions, fiscal imbalances, capital outflows, and banking sector weaknesses.
Production and identification of English word-final nasal consonants by Brazilian EFL learners

This preliminary study aims at investigating the production and perception of the English nasals /m/ and /n/ in word-final position by a group of 10 intermediate Brazilian EFL learners. Production data was collected by means of a Sentence Reading Test considering preceding vowel as phonological context. Perception was assessed by means of an identification test contrasting native-like vs. nonnative-like pronunciation of the target nasal consonants. The results from production suggest that the lack of fully realized word-final nasals in Brazilian Portuguese influenced the Brazilian learners’ production, as they frequently nasalized the preceding vowel and deleted the following nasal consonant. The results from the identification test revealed that it was easier for the participants to identify the native-like realization of English word-final nasals when it was presented in contrast to the nonnative-like realization.
Credible leadership: exploring differences in perception of the credibility of the senior student affairs officer among CIC college presidents and their senior leadership teams

Modern higher education institutions face tremendous challenges, including dwindling financial resources, waning public support, demands for greater accountability, and daunting student needs and expectations. Campus presidents simply cannot face these challenges as isolated or solitary leaders. High functioning, inclusive, collaborative, and synergistic senior leadership teams are needed to not only ensure day-to-day campus operations, but also to respond, strategize and make the necessary changes for long term institutional success and viability. Two consistent themes emerge across many leadership theories--team leadership is quite valuable and credible leadership is crucial. This research project employed a source credibility lens (competence, goodwill/caring, and trustworthiness) through which to gather college and university presidents' and their cabinet members' perceptions of senior student affairs officer (SSAO) credibility as well as senior administrator credibility in general. The study revealed that CIC cabinet members, with the exception of campus presidents, perceive their SSAOs' credibility quite similarly--the presidents rated their SSAOs' credibility significantly higher. In addition, trustworthiness was unanimously perceived to be the SSAOs' strongest of the three credibility dimensions, and the dimensions of general senior administrator credibility were prioritized trustworthiness (first), competence (second) and goodwill/caring (third). Understanding differences in perceptions of credibility among senior leaders will assist SSAO's in developing stronger partnerships with colleagues, thus improving their administrative effectiveness, and will assist presidents striving to build stronger leadership teams.