Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of Local Anesthetics in Dermatologic Surgery

BACKGROUND Local anesthesia is an integral aspect of cutaneous surgery. Its effects provide a reversible loss of sensation in a limited area of skin, allowing dermatologists to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures safely, with minimal discomfort and risk to the patient. OBJECTIVE This article discusses the application of local anesthetics in dermatologic surgery through a brief review of the mechanism of local anesthetic activity, classification of local anesthetics, and adverse effects. The discussion will focus on the different methods of administration and techniques that may make the administration less painful to patients. METHODS An evaluation of the literature, as well as clinical experience in the administration of local anesthetics provide the basis for this review. CONCLUSION Local anesthesia provides a safe and effective means of decreasing patient's sensitivity to pain. Because of its critical importance to the field of dermatology, a working knowledge of local anesthetics is necessary for optimal use of these agents.
Options Thinking and Platform Investments: Investing in Opportunity

There are many factors which bias managers towards a myopic view of the world: pressures from financial markets, strategy techniques, and incomplete rules of financial evaluation. A major casualty of myopic rules is the underinvestment in new capabilities, such as increasing the speed to the market, or the quality delivery of product and services. Investments in new capabilities are investments in opportunity: to be a player in new but uncertain markets requires learning new ways of doing things. This article analyzes the costs of myopic rules and proposes an evaluation technique based on option pricing theory as a way to demonstrate the value of long-term investments in new capabilities as platforms into new markets. It examines investments in core technologies, joint ventures, flexible manufacturing, and entry into foreign markets in terms of their platform value.
Intellectual capital disclosure in Chinese (mainland) companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report research on the extent and quality of intellectual capital (IC) disclosure of Chinese (mainland) companies that have dual listed A and H shares.Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive IC disclosure index was constructed in the study to code, using content analysis methods, the annual reports of 49 dual‐listed companies in mainland China.Findings – Consistent with previous research, the current level of IC disclosure by mainland Chinese companies is not high. Most of the reported IC attributes are expressed in discursive rather than numerical or monetary terms. However, the average number of items disclosed is high enough to suggest that there is a clear awareness of the significance of IC disclosure. While the disclosure quality is not considered strong, it does suggest that the companies have a modest commitment in communicating their IC information to an external audience.Research limitations/implications – The research only examines the dual listed.
EVALUATION OF ANTITERMITIC ACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OBTAINED FROM INDONESIAN TEAKWOOD (Tectona grandis L.f)

The antitermitic activity of different extracts obtained from Tectona grandis L.f was investigated against Coptotermes curvignathus (Holmgren). The main objective of this work was to determine the mortality rate of termites by the teak wood extracts. Different extracts exhibited different degree of antitermitic activity. A teak wood with age of 39-59 years and 59-79 years were selected from Purwakata and Cepu regions of Indonesia, respectively. As per earlier reports, quinones are considered as toxic to termites, and these quinones are found in abundance in teak wood. Among the extracts of petroleum ether, acetone/water (9:1), and ethanol/water (8:2), the acetone/water (9:1) extracts exhibited strong activity. The surface morphology of extracted wood samples was observed by scanning electron microscopy in order to reveal evidence of change.
Antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of organisms causing urinary tract infection in children with sickle cell anemia in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Patients with sickle cell disease have increased tendency to develop frequent and severe infections, especially of bones and urinary tract. OBJECTIVE The knowledge of antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of common etiological agents will serve as a guide to empiric treatment while results of urine culture and sensitivity are being awaited. MATERIALS AND METHODS Antimicrobial sensitivity test was carried out on bacterial isolates from the urine of febrile children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) and children with HbAA in Maiduguri. Urine specimens were collected and cultured by standard methods. Sensitivity to 15 antimicrobials (based on availability of sensitivity disc) was tested using the disc-diffusion technique of stokes. RESULTS Significant bacteriuria was obtained from 65 (26%) of the 250 children with SCA and 51 (20.4%) of the 250 controls. The isolates were E. coli, Klebsiella, Coliforms, Proteus, Staph aureus and Salmonella. Sensitivity was highest to 3 rd generation cephalosporins, followed by the quinolones: ciprofloxacin (86.2%), ofloxacin (83.1%), and peflacine (73.8%). Sensitivity of the organisms to some of the commonly used antibiotics like ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, and nalidixic acid was generally low. In general, the pattern of bacteriuria and their sensitivity in the SCA group was similar to the pattern in the control group. CONCLUSION Etiological agents of childhood urinary tract infections (UTI) in this environment are resistant to most of the drugs commonly recommended for its treatment. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefuroxime, and gentamicin, are recommended as first-line drugs for treatment of UTI while awaiting results of culture and sensitivity. Ceftriaxone and ceftazidime should be reserved for case of non response to first-line drugs and severe infections.
Inflation in Albania

As Albania has succeeded in reducing inflation to very low levels, understanding the driving forces behind the behaviour of the price level becomes increasingly important for policy design. In particular, persistent changes in relative prices may contribute to movements of the aggregate price level, and policy makers need to decide to what extent such effects should be accommodated. This article provides insight into the nature and extent of relative price adjustments during the transition period, and argues that some of their inflationary effects should not be resisted.
Modeling Purchasing Behavior with Sudden "Death": A Flexible Customer Lifetime Model

This study proposes a new customer lifetime model: the gamma/Gompertz distribution (G/G). The advantage of this model relative to the well-known Pareto distribution is twofold: (i) its probability density function can exhibit a mode at zero or an interior mode, and (ii) it can be skewed to the right or to the left. We combine the G/G with a negative binomial distribution (NBD) and obtain the moments of the distribution of the number of transactions over (0, T] and (T, T+T*]. Out of six data sets, the G/G/NBD model provides a notable improvement in the log-likelihood over the Pareto/NBD model in four data sets. It can indicate substantial differences in expected residual lifetimes compared to the Pareto/NBD and induce a retention rather than acquisition policy. On the average, the G/G/NBD exhibits slightly better forecasts of the mean number of transactions than the Pareto/NBD. This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
Autofluorescence and the detection of cyclospora oocysts.

References 1. Bockemuhl J, Aleksic S, Karch H. Serological and biochemical properties of Shiga-like toxin (verocytotoxin)-producing strains of Escherichia coli, other than O-group 157, from patients in Germany. Zentralbl Bakteriol 1992;276:189-95. 2. Gunzer F, Bohm H, Rossmann H, Bitzan M, Aleksic S, Karch H. Molecular detection of sorbitol-fermenting Escherichia coli O157 in patients with hemolyticuremic syndrome. J Clin Microbiol 1992;30:1807-10. 3. Chapman PA, Siddons CA, Wright DJ, Norman P, Fox J, Crick E. Cattle as a possible source of verocytotoxinproducing Escherichia coli O157 infections in man. Epidemiol Infect 1993;439:447. 4. Bauer AW, Kirby WMM, Sherris JC, Turk M. Antibiotic susceptibility testing by a standardized single disc method. Am J Clin Pathol 1966;45:493-6. 5. Wells JG, Davis BR, Wachsmuth IK, Riley LW, Remis RS, Sokolow R, Morris GK. Laboratory investigation of hemorrhagic colitis outbreaks associated with a rare Escherichia serotype. J Clin Microbiol 1983;18:512-20.
Macro-economic and Sectoral Effects of Carbon Taxes: A General Equilibrium Analysis for China

This paper analyzes the macro-economic and sectoral effects of carbon taxes imposed to achieve predefined carbon dioxide (CO2) emission targets for China, by using a dynamic computable general equilibrium model of the Chinese economy. Following a brief introduction of the model, the baseline scenario for the Chinese economy until 2010 is developed under a set of assumptions about the exogenous variables. Next, the paper analyzes the economic implications of two less restrictive scenarios under which China's CO2 emissions in 2010 are cut by 20% and 30%, respectively, relative to the baseline, assuming that carbon tax revenues are retained by the government. Then, the efficiency improvements are computed for four indirect tax-offset scenarios relative to the two tax-retention scenarios already considered. The paper ends with some remarks on constructing a social accounting matrix for China and suggestions for further work to enrich the policy relevance of this study.
Ethics and morality in human resource management

Purpose - The paper seeks to focus on operationalising corporate social responsibility in the context of employee governance. Its purpose is to evaluate critically the ethics of “mainstream” human resource management (HRM) and to propose an alternative stakeholder systems model of HRM. Design/methodology/approach - Stakeholder theory is utilised to critique modes of employee governance, in the light of concepts of stakeholder accountability and organisational justice. Conceptual analysis attests to the need for a different philosophy of employee governance – in particular within knowledge-intensive organisations. Findings - The paper identifies the concept of “the responsible organisation” as a means of assessing organisational maturity in employee governance, and relates this to dimensions of organisational justice. Linkage enables employee perceptions of equitable treatment to be combined with effectiveness measures in the employee governance model proposed. Research limitations/implications - The paper demonstrates the significance and application potential of a stakeholder systems development of current modes of managing people. Conclusions confirm instrumental and ethical rationales for the greater involvement of and accountability to employee stakeholders. Practical implications - The paper demonstrates a business-based rationale for the adoption of ethical corporate governance and HRM. Originality/value - The stakeholder systems model represents a holistic approach to human resource management by its incorporation of employee perspectives at HRM system design, operation and evaluation stages. It responds to the need for a new philosophy of HRM in an era of stakeholder-accountable organisations.
Norms, coercion and contracting in the struggle against ‘harmful’ tax competition

The world's richest and most powerful countries have become increasingly concerned about revenue lost to tax havens, and fear that tax competition might spark a fiscal ‘race to the bottom’, yet they have failed to pressure much smaller and weaker tax haven states into reform. This article argues that the OECD-sponsored campaign against ‘harmful’ tax competition has been unsuccessful because regulative norms have severely constrained the means legitimately able to be employed. Early decisions on how the campaign was designed subsequently brought norms into play which have not only ruled out the use of coercion, but also the use of side payments, despite the massive potential benefits available to both sides from a deal between tax havens and OECD states. The failure to strike a deal cannot be explained by high transaction costs nor by corporate lobbying in defence of tax shelters. Regulative norms can thus affect economic bargaining in the international arena by preventing mutually advantageous exchanges that are nevertheless regarded as inappropriate.
Primary structure of a novel subunit in ba3‐cytochrome oxidase from thermus thermophilus

The ba3‐type cytochrome c oxidase from Thermus thermophilus is known as a two subunit enzyme. Deduced from the crystal structure of this enzyme, we discovered the presence of an additional transmembrane helix “subunit IIa” spanning the membrane. The hydrophobic N‐terminally blocked protein was isolated in high yield using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Its complete amino acid sequence was determined by a combination of automated Edman degradation of both the deformylated and the cyanogen bromide cleaved protein and automated C‐terminal sequencing of the native protein.
Genetic Diversity of Algal Viruses Which Lyse the Photosynthetic Picoflagellate Micromonas pusilla (Prasinophyceae)

The genetic similarity among eight clones of Micromonas pusilla virus (MpV) isolated from five geographic locations was measured by DNA hybridization. Our objective was to explore the existence of genetically distinct populations of MpV by comparing the similarity among MpVs isolated from a single water sample to the similarity among viruses isolated from geographically distant locations. The highest and lowest similarities we observed were 70% (plusmn) 1.1% (mean (plusmn) standard error [SE], n = 3) for virus strains SP1 and SP2 isolated from a California coastal water sample and 13% (plusmn) 1.9% for strains SP2 and PB6; the latter was isolated from New York estuarine water. However, the similarity between MpV isolated from a single water sample was not always greater than the similarity between viruses isolated from different locations. Viruses PB7 and PB8 were isolated from a single New York estuarine sample but were only 16% (plusmn) 0.5% similar, whereas PB7 was quite similar (43% (plusmn) 2.9%) to PL1, a virus from Texas coastal water. Overall, the similarity among MpVs isolated from a single geographic location, 34% (plusmn) 12.6% (mean (plusmn) SE, n = 4), was not significantly different from the similarity among MpVs isolated from geographically distant locations, 26.6% (plusmn) 2.7% (mean (plusmn) SE, n = 24) (P = 0.92, Mann-Whitney U test). Clones of MpV were more similar to each other than they were to the related algal virus PBCV-1, and three groups of MpVs consisting of (i) PL1, SG1, PB6, and PB7, (ii) PB8, and (iii) GM1, SP1, and SP2 were resolved. The genetic variation among MpVs isolated from a single water sample was as large as the variation between viruses isolated from different oceans. If MpVs within a geographic location share genetic characteristics not shared with MpVs from geographically distant locations, this was not reflected in the overall similarity of their genomes.
Chromosomes 1 and 5 harbor plasmacytoma progressor genes in mice

Mouse spectral karyotyping (SKY) was employed to analyze 29 primary BALB/c plasmacytomas (PCTs) for the presence of chromosomal aberrations that took place subsequent to the Myc‐activating T(12F1;15D2) or T(6C1;15D2) translocations, the initiating oncogenic mutations in plasmacytomagenesis. Recurrent amplifications of chromosome (Chr) 1 (48% prevalence) and promiscuous non‐reciprocal translocations of Chr 5 (52% prevalence) suggested the existence of important PCT progressor genes on bands 1B/C and 5F. The additional occurrence of sporadic aberrations (93% prevalence) most likely reflected the general instability of the PCT genome. This instability, however, was not consistent, as two PCTs lacked secondary cytogenetic changes detectable by SKY. Our findings led us to conclude that BALB/c PCTs show a remarkably similar degree of cytogenetic heterogeneity to human multiple myeloma, despite being genetically defined (inbred mouse strain) and uniformly initiated (deregulation of Myc). Genes Chromosomes Cancer 29:70–74, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mucoadhesive microspheres for nasal administration of an antiemetic drug, metoclopramide: in‐vitro/ex‐vivo studies

Microparticulate delivery systems designed for the nasal administration of an antiemetic drug, metoclopramide hydrochloride, were prepared. Microspheres composed of sodium alginate, chitosan hydrochloride, or both, were obtained using a spray‐drying method; some batches of drug‐free microparticles were prepared as a comparison. The morphology, in‐vitro swelling behaviour, mucoadhesive properties and drug release from microparticles were evaluated. Ex‐vivo drug permeation tests were carried out using sheep nasal mucosa; permeation test of the drug solution was peformed as comparison. During ex‐vivo permeation tests, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses were carried out on the nasal mucosa to study the morphological changes of epithelial cells and tight junctions, while the change in microsphere morphology was examined using photostereo microscopy (PM). Spray‐dried microparticles had a mean diameter (dvs) in the range of about 3–10 μm. They showed good in‐vitro mucoadhesive properties. In‐vitro release profiles and swelling behaviour depended on their composition: the drug release occurred in 1–3 h. Ex‐vivo studies showed that drug permeation through the mucosa from microparticles based on chitosan was higher than from those consisting of alginate alone. This can be related to the penetration enhancing properties of chitosan. Complexation of chitosan with alginate led to a control of the drug release. Microscopy observation of microspheres during the permeation tests revealed that microparticles swelled and gelled, maintaining their shape. TEM analyses of the mucosa after exposure to the microparticles consisting of alginate/chitosan showed opened tight junctions. This preliminary study shows that alginate/chitosan spray‐dried microspheres have promising properties for use as mucoadhesive nasal carriers of an antiemetic drug.
18FDG PET versus high-dose 67Ga scintigraphy for restaging and treatment follow-up of lymphoma patients

To date, only one published study has directly compared 67Ga scintigraphy (low dose, planar) with planar dual-head gamma camera 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) imaging for the purpose of treatment follow-up monitoring in lymphoma patients, and no data on restaging are available. The present study reports the direct comparison of high-dose (297-370 MBq) 67Ga planar and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and conventional 18FDG positron emission tomography (PET) for restaging and treatment follow-up of lymphoma patients versus a gold standard consisting of morphological imaging, including plain radiography and computed tomography (CT) scanning, bone marrow examination and long-term follow-up (<12 months). Sixteen patients, 10 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and six with Hodgkin's disease, were included (10 men, six women; median age, 43 years; range, 16-64 years). The median follow-up time was 27 months (range, 12-34 months). In two patients, 67Ga and 18FDG PET (370 MBq) were performed twice, resulting in 18 cross-sectional episodes. In 11 episodes, the results obtained by both imaging modalities were in agreement with regard to the presence or absence of disease when compared with the gold standard. However, the abnormalities found on 18FDG PET were always more extensive. In two episodes, 67Ga imaging normalized after treatment, whereas PET showed significant regression followed by subsequent normalization. In four additional episodes, 67Ga images were negative, whereas FDG PET visualized non-tumour-related pathology, such as lung infection, rib fracture or dense thymic tissue. In one gold standard-negative patient, the underlying cause of sternal FDG uptake remained undetermined. The data presented, although limited in number, suggest that 18FDG PET performs better than 67Ga imaging in monitoring lymphoma disease status. However, a correlation with clinical history and a knowledge of the characteristics of benign lesions are mandatory. Further studies are recommended.
Employee Attachment and Noncoercive Conditions of Work

Recent sociological arguments have claimed that employee attachment in corporatist organizations is produced, not with direct coercive measures, but indirectly by employers controlling various structural conditions of work. It is argued that this also occurs in smaller organizations that do not exhibit internal labor markets nor other corporatist organization characteristics. Specifically, in smaller organizations that are structured more traditionally with the employer deciding work schedules, pay, distribution of profits, and so on, the features of employee social integration, autonomy/participation, and legitimacy of the authority structure are just as important as they are in the larger corporatist firms. This claim is generally supported with data on the job satisfaction, the organizational commitment, the intent to stay, and the turnover of dental hygienists working in dental offices that are controlled by the employer, the dentist. Work group integration and legitimacy-producting features were found to be especially important. In addition, job satisfaction, not organizational commitment (loyalty), was the crucial intervening variable in the causal process. These data indicate that certain basic conditions of work, such as social integration and legitimacy of the authority structure, are essential for employee attachment to form. The actual work structures that produce these conditions, however, can vary considerably.
CMV‐IVIG for Prevention of Epstein Barr Virus Disease and Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disease in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients

A randomized controlled trial of CMV‐IVIG (cytomegalovirus‐intravenous immunoglobulin) for prevention of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in pediatric liver transplantation (PLTx) recipients was begun in Pittsburgh and subsequently expanded to four additional sites. Protocol EB viral loads were obtained in a blinded fashion; additional loads could be obtained for clinical indications. Patients were followed for 2 years post‐LTx. Eighty‐two evaluable patients (39 CMV‐IVIG, 43 placebo) developed 18 episodes of EBV disease (7 CMV‐IVIG, 11 placebo) including nine cases of PTLD (three CMV‐IVIG, six placebo). No significant differences were seen in the adjusted 2‐year EBV disease‐free rate (CMV‐IVIG 79%, placebo 71%) and PTLD‐free rate (CMV‐IVIG 91%, placebo 84%) between treatment and placebo groups at 2 years (p > 0.20). The absence of significant effect of CMV‐IVIG may be explained by a lack of efficacy of the drug or limitations of sample size.