Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nationwide survey of extended-spectrum {beta}-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the French community setting.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing enterobacteria (ESBLE) in the French community, during a 2006 survey. METHODS All enterobacteria isolated from urine samples of patients, exhibiting a decreased susceptibility to broad-spectrum cephalosporins, were analysed for their beta-lactamase content (synergy test, isoelectrofocusing, conjugation transfer, PCR amplification and/or cloning experiments and sequencing). Additional co-resistances were investigated by PCR, sequencing and/or cloning. Epidemiological relationship was studied by PFGE for all species and, in addition, for Escherichia coli by the determination of the phylogenetic group, multilocus sequence type (ST) and O25b antigen. Characteristics of CTX-M-producing E. coli carriers were compared with other ESBLE carriers. RESULTS Seventy-two ESBLE were collected from 71 patients. Most of them expressed a CTX-M enzyme (n = 42, comprising 40 E. coli), with a predominance of CTX-M-15 (n = 24); 10 CTX-M-15-producing E. coli belonged to the same clone (phylogroup B2, ST131, serotype O25b). The 30 remaining strains possessed a TEM- or SHV-type ESBL. In addition, three strains presented unusual co-resistances such as DHA-1 (n = 2), QnrB4 and ArmA. Risk factors for ESBLE acquisition were substantially less frequent when the ESBL was of the CTX-M type, except for prior antimicrobial therapy. Eighteen percent of the patients were considered to have true community-acquired ESBLE; most of them harboured a CTX-M-producing E. coli. CONCLUSIONS This first nationwide study reports an ESBLE prevalence of 1.1% in the French community setting in 2006, mainly related to the presence of CTX-M-producing E. coli strains; furthermore, unusual co-resistances rarely found in the community setting were occasionally observed, which may threaten future emergence.
Ethnic penalties in the transition to and from unemployment: A West European perspective

The gap between unemployment rate of immigrants and that of natives varies across West European countries. This article aims at explaining these differences by taking into account economic and institutional characteristics of labour markets and by adopting a dynamic perspective, that is, disentangling the risk of being unemployed into two different risks: that of entering unemployment and that of remaining in long-term unemployment. From the analyses of yearly transitions to/from unemployment, less immigrant penalization results in those countries where the employment protection legislation is stricter, the labour demand is more biased towards low skilled jobs and the welfare state is less generous for the unemployed. Furthermore, the article summarizes the main results of five country studies also focused on labour market transitions of immigrants and natives.
Expression of TGF Beta Receptor 1 in Sika Deer Antler

Deer antler is the unique mammalian tissue which can fully regenerate after losing. Therefore, deer antlers provide an excellent model to study the developmental regulation of mammalian tissues. The expression and regulatory mechanism of transforming growth factor-β receptor 1 (TGF-β receptor 1) to the rapid growth of deer antler was explored through the research on growing tip in sika deer antler using in situ hybridization. The results showed that TGF-β receptor 1 mRNA was mainly expressed in the proliferating cells of the dermis and the chondrocytes of the cartilage columns. The respective positive cells were the fibroblasts of the dermis, the maturing chondroblasts and the mature cartilage region cells. The expression of TGF-β receptor 1 mRNA signal could be detected in the fibrous region of the perichondrium. The signal was mainly showed on periosteal fibrous cells, while the signal on cells around the blood vessel was weak. TGF-β receptor 1 mRNA was lowly expressed in the mesenchyme, the positive cells were the undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. However, the mRNA expression of TGF-β receptor 1 in the epidermis of sika deer antler could only be detected at a low level and there was no detectable signal in the perivascular cells and hair follicle and sebaceous glands. The results suggest that TGF-β receptor 1 may contribute to the deer antler epidermal cell differentiation and dermis fibroblasts rapid proliferation, thereby increase the growth rate of the deer antler skin to coordinate with the rapid growth of deer antler cartilage.
The Effect of Interest-Rate Movements on Real Estate Investment Trusts

The rising interest-rate environment in early 1994 in the United States raised questions by investors as to how REITs will react to interest-rate movements. This study analyzes the movement of REIT price changes during past interest-rate cycles. The results indicate that REIT price movements have a low correlation with changes in interest rates and a lower correlation with interest rates than with movements in the stock market as a whole. The findings lead to a call for research into other areas in order to ascertain the determinants of REIT price movement.
Nonlinear Dynamics Between the Investor Fear Gauge and Market Index in the Emerging Taiwan Equity Market

Nonlinear models that include the threshold autoregressive model and the threshold cointegration model (TVECM) are applied from the behavioral finance point of view to examine the dynamics between the investor fear gauge proxied by the volatility index (TVIX) and the market index (TAIEX) in Taiwan. If the TVIX is in the extreme higher regime identified by the TAR, the overreaction of the investors' fear gauge could be the leading indicator of the market. However, in the extreme lower regime identified by the TVECM, the TAIEX returns would drive the deviation between the indexes to convergence.
The Relationship between Insurance and Economic Development: 85 Empirical Papers for a Review of the Literature

The objective is to examine the determinants of the relationship between insurance growth and economic development. This paper contributes to this body of research by providing an extensive literature review of empirical studies that have looked at both sides of the relationship, i.e. the demand side (economic growth is an explanatory variable among other factors that affect the demand) and the development side (insurance is a determinant of growth).
Inequality and Growth: From Micro Theory to Macro Empirics

To establish the nature of the link between income distribution and economic growth by means of a standard growth regression, one needs to collapse an entire income distribution into a scalar measure of inequality. Due to data shortages macro-economic research has typically been forced to use the gini coefficient for this purpose. Using a simulation set up we check how well different measures of inequality or poverty succeed in detecting the correct relationship. We find that the gini coefficient might not be the worst of choices, but the comparison of the explanatory power of different inequality measures can help to identify the theoretical mechanism through which inequality affects growth.
Distractor Generation for Multiple Choice Questions Using Learning to Rank

We investigate how machine learning models, specifically ranking models, can be used to select useful distractors for multiple choice questions. Our proposed models can learn to select distractors that resemble those in actual exam questions, which is different from most existing unsupervised ontology-based and similarity-based methods. We empirically study feature-based and neural net (NN) based ranking models with experiments on the recently released SciQ dataset and our MCQL dataset. Experimental results show that feature-based ensemble learning methods (random forest and LambdaMART) outperform both the NN-based method and unsupervised baselines. These two datasets can also be used as benchmarks for distractor generation.
Epistemology of capital structure decisions by building contractors in Hong Kong

Purpose – This paper aims to identify a set of potential determinants of capital structure. By knowing the key determinants, it is possible to understand how building contractors make decisions on capital structure.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey was conducted to solicit Hong Kong building contractors' view on the predictive power of a set of financial ratios on capital structure. Each of the seven proxies of capital structure was regressed on the five financial ratios. The usual diagnostic tests (i.e. Durbin‐Watson and variance inflation factor tests) and plots of residuals and normality were carried out to ensure that assumptions of linear regression analysis were met. To validate the findings, eight contractors were further interviewed.Findings – Both measures of long‐term debts (i.e. “long‐term debt divided by total assets” and “long‐term debt divided by total debt”) are proven to be related to “tangibility” significantly. Also, perceived growth opportunities are significantly rel.
Leadership, decision making, and organizational justice

The article integrates three lines of research with regard to leadership, decision making, and organizational justice. First the theoretical perspective, it is argued that transformational and transactional leaders adopt different approaches to decision making. Transformational leaders appear to prefer a comprehensive style of decision making that uses many input sources and considers many optional pathways. Transactional leaders, by contrast, are more prone to use a more limited information base, and consider fewer alternative routes. The study reported on here concludes that transformational and transactional leaders focus on different aspects of organizational justice. Transformational leaders tend to emphasize the social dimensions of fairness in the workplace. Transactional leaders are oriented toward the structural features of workplace justice. Some practical issues are addressed, such as what should be considered when managers are selected for specific assignments with leadership requirements, and issues pertaining to changing leadership styles.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection imposes a G(1)/S block in asynchronously growing cells and prevents G(1) entry in quiescent cells.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection disrupted cell cycle regulation in at least two ways. First, infection of quiescent human embryonic lung cells simultaneously with readdition of serum caused inhibition of cyclin D/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4,6-specific and cyclin E/CDK2-specific phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein pRb. The inhibition of cyclin D/CDK4,6 kinase activity corresponded to a loss of cyclin D1 protein and a failure of CDK4 and CDK6 to translocate to the nucleus. Failure to detect cyclin E/CDK2 kinase activity was accompanied by a loss of cyclin E protein and a failure of CDK2 to translocate to the nucleus. Levels of pocket protein p130 persisted, whereas p107 did not accumulate. As a result of these effects on cyclin kinase, G(0)-infected cells failed to reenter the cell cycle. The second type of HSV-induced cell cycle dysregulation was observed in asynchronously dividing cell cultures. A rapid inhibition of preexisting cyclin E/CDK2 and cyclin A/CDK2 activities was observed in human embryonic lung cells, as well as two other human cell lines: C33 and U2OS. HSV-1 immediate-early gene expression was necessary for the inhibition of CDK2 kinase activity. Cyclin and CDK subunit protein levels, intracellular localization, and complex stability were unaffected by infection. In addition, levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p27 and p21, were not affected by HSV-1. Previous experiments demonstrated that in asynchronous infected cells, hypophosphorylated pRb and pocket protein-E2F complexes accumulated, and cellular DNA synthesis was rapidly inhibited. Coupled with the present results, this indicates that HSV-1 has evolved mechanisms for preventing cells in G(1) from proceeding through the restriction point and for cells in S from completing a round of DNA replication.
Are Text Messages a Feasible and Acceptable Way to Reach Female Entertainment Workers in Cambodia with Health Messages? A Cross-Sectional Phone Survey

Background Despite great achievements in reducing the prevalence of HIV, eliminating new HIV infections remains a challenge in Cambodia. Entertainment venues such as restaurants, karaoke bars, beer gardens, cafes, pubs, and massage parlors are now considered important venues for HIV prevention efforts and other health outreach interventions. Objective The purpose of this study was to explore phone use and texting practices of female entertainment workers (FEWs) in order to determine if text messaging is a feasible and acceptable way to link FEWs to health services. Methods This cross-sectional phone survey was conducted in May 2015 with 97 FEWs aged 18–35 years and currently working at an entertainment venue in Phnom Penh. Results Of the 96 respondents, 51% reported sending text messages daily; of them, 47% used Khmer script and 45% used Romanized Khmer. Younger FEWs were more likely to report daily texting (P<.001). Most FEWs (98%) in this study reported feeling comfortable receiving private health messages despite the fact that 39% were sharing their phone with others. Younger FEWs were less likely to share their phone with others (P=.02). Of all of the FEWs, 47% reported owning a smartphone, and younger women were more likely to own a smartphone than were older women (P=.08). Conclusions The findings from this study support the development of mHealth interventions targeting high-risk groups in urban areas of Cambodia. Our data suggest that mHealth interventions using texting may be a feasible way of reaching FEWs in Phnom Penh.
A DYNAMIC GAME OF R AND D: PATENT PROTECTION AND COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOR'

A theory of dynamic optimal resource allocation to R and D in an n-firm industry is developed using differential games. This technique represents a synthesis of the analytic methods previously applied to the problem: static game theory and optimal control. The use of particular functional forms allows the computation and detailed discussion of the Nash equilibrium in investment rules. THIS PAPER ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM of resource allocation to research and development. Among the important issues that a firm engaging in R and D must evaluate are: uncertainty regarding the feasibility and profitability of a particular innovation; the possibility of a protracted development period; the possibility that a rival firm may innovate first, capturing either a patent or a significant share of the new market; the possibility that a rival firm may imitate the innovation and appropriate some of the profits in the new market. In what follows, we will develop a theory of optimal resource allocation to research and development which incorporates the aspects of R and D enumerated above. We will use a dynamic game theoretic analysis, determining the Nash equilibrium strategies for n identical firms. The availability of perfect patent protection is shown to accelerate development of the innovation, and the effect of increasing rivalry is addressed. The impact of increasing rivalry on Nash equilibrium investment in R and D depends upon the degree of appropriability of rewards. If patent protection is perfect, then increasing the number of Nash rivals results in increased R and D effort. However, when imitation is rewarded, the opposite may be true. Finally, some notions of competitive and perfectly competitive equilibrium are examined in the context of the model developed below.
Determination of MIC Distribution and Mechanisms of Decreased Susceptibility to Bedaquiline among Clinical Isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus

ABSTRACT Chemotherapeutic options against Mycobacterium abscessus infections are very limited. Bedaquiline, a new antituberculosis (anti-TB) drug, is effective for the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB. However, few data are available on bedaquiline for treatment of M. abscessus infections. In this study, we determined the profile for in vitro susceptibility of M. abscessus clinical isolates to bedaquiline and investigated the potential molecular mechanisms of decreased susceptibility. A total of 197 M. abscessus clinical isolates were collected from sputum and bronchoalveolar fluid of patients with lung infections. Standard broth microdilution test revealed that bedaquiline exhibited high in vitro killing activity against M. abscessus isolates, with a MIC50 of 0.062 and a MIC90 of 0.125 mg/liter. Whole-genome sequencing data showed that no nonsynonymous mutation occurred in atpE, the gene encoding the bedaquiline-targeted protein. However, of 6 strains with decreased susceptibility of bedaquiline (MIC = 0.5 to 1 mg/liter), 3 strains had nonsynonymous mutations in mab_4384, the gene encoding the repressor of efflux pump MmpS5/MmpL5. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression of MmpS5/MmpL5 in the group with decreased susceptibility to bedaquiline was significantly higher than in those with medium MICs (MIC = 0.125 to 0.5 mg/liter) or in the low-MIC group (MIC ≤ 0.062 mg/liter). Two isolates with increased MICs did not show overexpression of MmpS5/MmpL5, which could not be explained by known molecular mechanisms. This is the first report showing the association of MmpS5/MmpL5 with decreased bedaquiline susceptibility in M. abscessus clinical isolates and suggesting the presence of other, yet-to-be identified mechanisms for decreased bedaquiline susceptibility in M. abscessus.
Rational Management, Performance Targets and Executive Agencies: Views from Agency Chief Executives in Northern Ireland

The way in which central government services are delivered in both Britain and Northern Ireland has changed significantly since 1988. Executive Agencies have been created with the aim of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery, with changes being supported by an increasing focus on the rational management model as a basis for improving management in the public sector. This paper is a case study of nine agencies within the Northern Ireland ‘family of agencies’ and is the first study of its type in the UK. It presents the results of a series of interviews with agency Chief Executives that attempted to identify perceptions with respect to the development, use and impact of mission statements, objectives, targets and performance measures (components of a rational management approach). The main findings of the research include: Northern Ireland Chief Executives perceive an increased focus on quantification since agencification; this focus is viewed as helpful in providing a basis for improving management; systems in practice are considered to be much more flexible than a rigid management model would normally suggest; and, it is thought that the potential adverse consequences of such an approach can be managed.
The Determinants of Household Savings in South Africa

Abstract In South Africa, substantial government dissaving as well as poor household savings performance has caused a decline in aggregate savings. Whilst government dissaving has been successfully reversed, household savings continue to fall. Low domestic savings have required South Africa to attract large, volatile portfolio capital inflows to fund a structural current account deficit. Repeated reversals of such inflows have constrained domestic growth and hence an understanding of the factors that have caused this decline in savings is essential in order to formulate policies supportive of sustained higher rates of economic growth. Within the context of the existing literature, this article examines the various determinants of household savings using a vector error-correction model (VECM). The results suggest that interest rates, a wealth effect and upturns in the business cycle all contribute to explaining the decline in household savings. The presence of a partial offset between household savings and government savings also has important implications for the effectiveness of using the fiscal position of the South African government to boost savings.
Reciprocity and the Effectiveness of Optimal Agency Contracts

ABSTRACT: Optimal agency contracts pay the lowest wage necessary to induce profit‐maximizing effort. Employees could view such contracts as violating reciprocity because, relative to more reciprocal contracts, they offer a lower wage in exchange for higher effort. Consequently, the profit‐maximizing effectiveness of optimal contracts could be impaired if employees reject them or reduce their effort. We use experimental labor markets to examine (1) how employees respond to an optimal versus a suboptimal reciprocity‐based contract when each contract is the only contract available, (2) how employees respond to these contracts when firms choose which one to offer, (3) whether the firms' contract offers depend on employees' reactions to those offers, and (4) how employees and firms react to a hybrid contract that incorporates features of both contracts. We find that the optimal contract is less effective than agency analysis predicts, the reciprocity‐based contract can be equally effective, and the hybrid cont.
Induced Diffusion: Definition, Review and Suggestions for Further Research

There has been a good deal of work on how policy interventions can encourage the development of new/improved innovations (induced innovation). There are, however, only limited and disparate contributions on how, if at all, policy interventions can encourage the greater use of existing innovations (induced diffusion) using established diffusion theory. Most of these contributions are relatively recent and have been motivated by growing concerns for the natural environment. This paper seeks to develop the nascent concept of induced diffusion by (1) providing a generic definition for induced diffusion, (2) conducting an interdisciplinary review of studies that would fall within the definition of induced diffusion and (3) by making suggestions for future research that may help to develop the understanding of the concept. The paper concludes that the desire to tackle climate change should provide ample policy impetus to develop the concept of induced diffusion. This should not, however, obscure the potential for its wider application in areas such as healthcare and the need to develop it as a generic academic concept beyond the energy/environment nexus.
Firm versus industry financing structures in Nigeria

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine whether industry‐specific factors play a more significant role in the financing decisions of firms than firm‐specific characteristics; and to determine the degree of uniformity that exists between a firm's capital structure and industry financing patterns in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approach – The described study makes use of fixed effects panel regression techniques. The dataset, which covers the period 1990‐2006, comes from a sample of 71 non‐financial firms quoted in the Nigerian Stock Exchange.Findings – The study finds support for both the pecking order theory and the trade‐off theory of capital structure in Nigeria. Firms/industries that are more profitable have less proportion of debt, and those that have a higher level of asset tangibility use more long‐term finances. Empirically, the study reveals that the set of factors that explain firm‐specific determinants of capital structure do not statistically and significantly explain the way industries.