Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intracranial aneurysms in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage: CT angiography as a primary examination tool for diagnosis--systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE To calculate the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomographic (CT) angiography in the diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) at presentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic search for relevant studies was performed of the PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodologic quality of each study by using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. The inclusion criteria were met by 50 studies. Heterogeneity was tested, and the presence of publication bias was visually assessed (by using a funnel plot). A meta-analysis of the reported sensitivity and specificity of each study with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was performed on a per-patient level. RESULTS Concerning sensitivity, the selected studies showed moderate heterogeneity. For specificity, low heterogeneity was observed. Moderate-heterogeneity studies that investigated only sensitivity or specificity were excluded from the pooled analyses by using a bivariate random effects model. The majority of the studies (n = 30) used a four-detector row CT scanner. The studies had good methodologic quality. Pooled sensitivity was 98% (95% CI: 97%, 99%), and pooled specificity was 100% (95% CI: 97%, 100%). Potential sources of variability among the studies were variations in the methodologic features (quality score), CT examination procedure (number of rows on the multidetector CT scanner), the standard of reference used, and the prevalence of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. There was evidence for publication bias, which may have led to overestimation of the diagnostic accuracy of CT angiography. CONCLUSION Multidetector CT angiography can be used as a primary examination tool in the diagnostic work-up of patients with SAH.
How Do Risk Attitudes Differ within the Group of Entrepreneurs? The Role of Motivation and Procedural Utility

Starting a business involves risk and, thus, requires a risk‐taking attitude. The concept of risk and entrepreneurship has been widely discussed in the entrepreneurship literature; most studies compare entrepreneurs with nonentrepreneurs such as managers or bankers. So far, little research exists on the risk attitudes of the different types of entrepreneurs—those who pursue a new business because of opportunity and those who do so through necessity. This study aims to fill this gap. Our particular focus is on individuals' motivations to start their businesses and the nonmonetary returns from entrepreneurship. The results show that opportunity entrepreneurs are more willing to take risks than necessity entrepreneurs. In addition, those who are motivated by creativity are more risk tolerant than other entrepreneurs. The study contributes to the literature about both risk attitudes of entrepreneurs and necessity and opportunity entrepreneurship.
Demand Elasticities for Short-Haul versus Long-Haul Tourism

The estimation of demand elasticities in international tourism has been the subject of numerous empirical studies conducted over the last three decades. These studies have collectively analyzed a wide variety of situations. In particular, the findings span a diverse combination of origin and destination pairs representing extremes in terms of length of haul. This study integrates the empirical findings of 80 studies of international tourism demand using meta-analysis. The aim was to identify whether a systematic difference exists between long-haul and short-haul tourism. Income, price, exchange rate, transportation cost, and promotional expenditure elasticities of demand have been analyzed. In addition, underlying growth rates of long-haul tourism have been contrasted to the growth in short-haul tourism.
Time‐varying volatility modelling of Baltic stock markets

Abstract As time‐varying volatility has found applications in roughly all time series modelling in economics, it largely draws attention in the areas of financial markets. This study also examines the characteristics of conditional volatility in the Baltic Stock Markets (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) by using a broad range of GARCH volatility models. Correctly forecasting the volatility leads to better understanding and managing financial market risk. Daily returns from four Baltic stock indexes are used; Estonia (TALSE index), Latvia (RIGSE index), Lithuania (VILSE index) and synthetic BALTIC benchmark index. We test a large family of GARCH models, including; the basic GARCH model, GARCH‐in‐mean model, asymmetric exponential GARCH and GJR GARCH, power GARCH and component GARCH model. We find strong evidence that daily returns from Baltic Stock Markets can be successfully modelled by GARCH‐type models. For all Baltic markets, we conclude that increased risk will not necessarily lead to a rise in the retu.
Does ISO 9000 have an effect on quality management practices? An international empirical study

Abstract The past few years have witnessed an increasing global interest in ISO 9000 standards. Thousands of companies have already been certified. However, doubts have been raised about the effectiveness of ISO 9000 standards for infusing quality within organizations. In this paper, we empirically explore, in the international context, the relationship between ISO 9000 and the level of quality management practices and quality results. Our findings indicate that ISO 9000 registered companies exhibit higher levels of quality leadership, information and analysis, strategic quality planning, human resource development, quality assurance, supplier relationships, customer orientation and quality results.
Agencification and Performance: The Impact of Autonomy and Result-Control on the Performance of Executive Agencies in Korea

ABSTRACT Agencification, the practice of creating semi-autonomous public bodies based on a contractual relationship with a parent government, has spread across the industrialized and developing world. The main principles of this NPM-based reform are autonomy and result control. This study uses regression analysis with data from forty-four executive agencies in Korea to examine the effect of these factors on organizational performance. The results show that both human resource management autonomy and financial autonomy have statistically significant negative relationships with performance, whereas systems for performance evaluation and rewards for result control are significantly and positively related to the performance of executive agencies in Korea.
Back to the future: an empirical investigation into the validity of stock index models over time

The use of technical analysis to predict security price movements from past price series has been supported by a number of academic research studies. These studies are broadly based on the premise that a technical trading rule should have constant validity over time. This premise is in accord with the practitioner rational for technical analysis, which is that, in the securities markets, history tends to repeat itself due to the relative constancy of human behaviour. The primary purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which technical trading rules have constant validity over time by determining the extent to which rules derived entirely from a particular time period can have validity over a variety of different time periods. It is found that rules derived from the data from the early period can be predictive at a later date and, rather unexpectedly, can even exceed the predictive power of rules derived from more contemporary data. It is hypothesized that this may be due to a decreasing signal to noise ratio in the data as the volatility of the index increases over time. The findings tend to support the assertion that, with respect to share trading, ‘history repeats itself’ with the caveat that there are factors that confound modelling in later periods.
Managing Partners and Management Professionals: Institutional Work Dyads in Professional Partnerships

This study presents an empirical analysis of the micro-dynamics of institutional work. Examining the ‘corporatization’ of large international law firm partnerships, the study identifies the dyadic relationship that develops between two different types of professionals, the managing partner and management professional, and demonstrates how their relationship becomes a key mechanism for institutional work. The study shows how, by working together, these individuals take advantage of differences in their relative social positions: specifically their formal authority, specialist expertise, and social capital. The study identifies seven forms of institutional work in which they engage and demonstrates how these multiple forms simultaneously encompass the creation, maintenance, and disruption of the institution of partnership. The study argues that this simultaneous occurrence helps to account for the phenomenon of sedimentation, whereby the gradually emerging institutional logic of the corporatized partnership is being integrated into the traditional partnership form.
Productivity Trends and the Sterling Real Exchange Rates

This paper provides favorable econometric evidence for a productivity-based model of the pound/euro real exchange rate. We find that a 1% increase in UK productivity is consistent with a 3.5% real depreciation of sterling. Likewise, a 1% increase in euro area productivity is compatible with a 5.16% real appreciation of sterling. The asymmetric response of UK and foreign productivity shocks corresponds well with our model if UK labor supply is more elastic than euro area labor supply. Estimates of equilibrium exchange rates suggest that sterling was not overvalued at its 2004Q3 level vis-a-vis the euro.
Shooting Performance and Fly Time in Highly Trained Wing Handball Players: Not Everything Is as It Seems.

PURPOSE To (1) assess the usefulness of countermovement jump (CMJ) testing to predict handball-specific jumping ability and (2) examine the acute effect of transiently modified jumping ability (ie, flight time) on shooting efficiency in wing players. METHODS Eleven young highly trained wing players performed 3 CMJs and 10 typical wing jump shots with 3 different modalities: without any constraint (CONTROL), while stepping on a 14-cm step (STEP), and wearing a weighted vest (VEST, 5% of body mass). Flight time and the associated scoring efficiency during the jump shots were recorded. RESULTS There was no clear correlation between jump shot and CMJ flight time, irrespective of the condition (r = .04-.18). During jump shots, flight time was most likely longer (effect size [ES] = 1.42-1.97) with VEST (635.4 ± 31 ms) and STEP (615.3 ± 32.9 ms) than CONTROL (566 ± 30.5 ms) and very likely longer with VEST than with STEP (ES = 0.6). The correlation between scoring efficiency and jump-shot flight time was not substantial either in each modality or for all shots pooled. The difference in scoring efficiency between the 3 jumps with the longest vs shortest flight times was either small (VEST, 48% vs 42%) or nonsubstantial (2 other conditions). CONCLUSIONS The use of CMJ as a predictor of handball-specific jumping ability is questioned given the dissociation between CMJ and jump-shot flying time. These results also show that transiently affected flight time may not affect scoring efficiency, which questions the importance of jumping ability for success in wing players.
Associated viruses threatening sweetpotato improvement and production in Ethiopia

The level of virus contamination on sweetpotato germplasm resources in Ethiopia was determined. Sweetpotato (Ipomea batatus) accessions in fields at Awassa and Wondo Genet Research Stations had 85% typical virus symptoms with up to 100% incidence. The associated viruses were identified by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Accordingly, out of 57 accessions serologically tested from Awassa, 22 and 21 were found to be infected by Sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) and Sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV). Only one was infected by Sweetpotato virus 2 (SPV2). Similar serological analysis of 122 accessions from Wondo Genet revealed that SPFMV is the most frequent (64.7) followed by SPCSV (10.7%) and SPV2 in only two accessions. This is the first report of the occurrence of SPCSV and SPV2 in Ethiopia. There was a high virus contamination level of sweetpotato germplasm resources in Ethiopia.
Immediate interpretation of FNA smears from the head and neck region

FNA smears from 540 patients, investigated for visible and/or palpable lesions in the head and neck, examined immediately during consultation have been compared with the final cytologic diagnoses and, when possible, with histologic results. Preliminary and final cytologic diagnoses differed in 25 cases (4.6%). Major discrepancies as to whether a lesion was benign or malignant occurred in 15 cases (2.8%). Histologic follow‐up was available for 188 lesions (35%). There were 5 false‐positive (2.6%) and 9 false‐negative (4.7%) diagnoses, giving a sensitivity of 90.6% and a specificity of 94.6%. The main diagnostic problem was benign, reactive lymphadenitis versus malignant lymphoma, which was responsible for 11 of 14 erroneous cytologic diagnoses (3 false‐positive and 8 false‐negative smears). © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exercise capacity in adult patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries

OBJECTIVE To examine cardiopulmonary values, static lung function, and ejection fraction in adult patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA). PATIENTS AND METHODS 41 patients who had undergone static lung function testing and cardiopulmonary exercise tests with measurements of ejection fraction were identified at the Toronto Congenital Cardiac Centre for Adults. RESULTS Aerobic capacity in patients with CCTGA was severely diminished, varying from 30–50% of the results achieved by healthy subjects. Normal values of right ventricular and left ventricular ejection fraction were found. However, the systemic right ventricular ejection fraction increased by 2% from rest to exercise, as opposed to the expected > 5% increase in a healthy population. The pulmonary left ventricular ejection fraction decreased by 2% at peak exercise. CONCLUSION Diminished values of heart rate, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity, and systolic blood pressure compared to the predicted values may contribute to the reduced maximal oxygen uptake (Vo 2max) found in patients with CCTGA. In addition, a limited increase in systolic right ventricular ejection fraction and a decrease in pulmonary left ventricle contractility suggest a dysfunction of both ventricles.
Were Former Andersen Clients Treated More Leniently than Other Clients? Evidence from Going-Concern Modified Audit Opinions

In the wake of the collapse of Enron and Andersen, several questions were raised about Enron's accounting and the behavior of its auditor. An important question is whether ex‐Andersen's clients received more conservative treatment by their new auditors, either due to a greater perceived litigation risk because of their previous association with Andersen or because of a “correction” of alleged lax auditing by Andersen. We examine going‐concern modified audit opinions for former clients of Arthur Andersen, and compare them with opinions issued for other newly acquired clients. We find that auditors were less likely to issue going‐concern modified audit opinions to small clients who switched from Andersen than to their existing clients. However, this trend reverses with an increase in client size, with large former Andersen clients more likely to receive going‐concern opinions. Our results are consistent with suggestions that increased litigation risk associated with the larger ex‐Andersen clients led to inc.
Serum sialic acid and ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratio in NIDDM.

Serum sialic acid is related to mortality from cardiovascular disease and is increased in patients with diabetic microangiopathies. The purpose of this study was to examine whether serum sialic acid is associated with ischemic disease of the lower extremities, using the ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratio. The subjects were NIDDM patients attending diabetic clinics. They received a questionnaire on smoking and duration of diabetes, and physical examinations including measurement of blood pressure of upper and lower extremities. Fasting blood was taken for measurement of sialic acid, total and HDL cholesterol, and HbA1c. Serum sialic acid was significantly correlated with ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratio (r = -0.32) and HbA1c (r=0.45). The correlation with ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratio was evident in the patients with low ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratios (r = -0.66), but was not significant in those with normal ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratios (r=0.16). The correlation with HbA1c was significant independently of ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratios. Mean serum sialic acid was higher in patients with very low ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratios (< 0.9) than in those with normal ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratios (> or = 1.0) or slightly low ankle versus brachial arterial-pressure ratios (0.9 approximately 1.0). These results suggest that serum sialic acid reflects the status of blood glucose control and the progression of ischemic disease of the lower extremities in NIDDM patients.
Gift Giving and the Evolution of Cooperation

Gift giving is a practice common to many societies. In an evolutionary model the social custom of giving gifts at the beginning of a relationship can lead to trust and cooperation. The evolutionary approach makes predictions about the character of the goods that can be used as gifts. For example, gift goods may have little use value even at low levels of consumption. Although the gifts themselves are useless, the institution is not.
State-Level Determinants of Entrepreneurship and a Preliminary Measure of Entrepreneurial Climate

State and local governments increasingly look to entrepreneurship as a means of stimulating economic growth. However, can the public sector play a role in promoting entrepreneurial activity—and if so, what should that role be? The authors investigate independent effects of financial and human entrepreneurial capital and ideas on entrepreneurial activity in the 50 states. Financial entrepreneurial capital has an inverse U-shaped relationship with entrepreneurial activity, suggesting there are limits to using increasing amounts of financial capital to stimulate entrepreneurship, all else being equal. The authors rank each state in terms of predicted and actual entrepreneurial activity scores and propose a preliminary measure of the entrepreneurial “climate” of each state. Although most states are ranked near where casual analysis might place them, the authors find that others have predicted values that differ significantly from actual values. This suggests that climate may be an important factor in stimulating entrepreneurial activity.
Governance at community level: Small towns in rural Victoria

The ‘blurring’ of the boundaries between and within public and private sectors has led to new styles of governing that affect the way that rural communities organise themselves. Some have called this a shift from ‘government’ to ‘governance’ where there has been a convergence of neo-liberal and communitarian ideologies to form the basis of a new relationship between the state, the market and civil society. We analyse the impact of these converging ideologies using a survey of development groups in 35 towns in rural Victoria and explore the types of community governance that have emerged as a response to changes in those towns that lost their local government authorities in the last decade of the twentieth century.
Anatomical outcomes of surgery for idiopathic macular hole as determined by optical coherence tomography.

OBJECTIVES To determine the rate of anatomical closure of idiopathic macular holes undergoing vitreous surgery with respect to preoperative horizontal diameter as determined by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to correlate postoperative visual acuity, duration of symptoms, and late reopening with initial idiopathic macular hole diameter by OCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty eyes of 40 patients with an idiopathic macular hole were examined with OCT before and after vitreous surgery. All eyes were treated with pars plana vitrectomy, peeling of posterior cortical vitreous, and dilute perfluoropropane or sulfur hexafluoride gas. Face-down positioning was maintained for 7 to 14 days. RESULTS Twenty-two (92%) of 24 eyes with a preoperative idiopathic macular hole diameter smaller than 400 microm measured by OCT attained anatomical closure following surgery. Anatomical closure was observed in 9 (56%) of 16 eyes with a macular hole diameter of 400 microm or larger measured by OCT (P =.02). The median postoperative visual acuity improvement was 4 Snellen lines in the 31 eyes achieving anatomical closure and no change in the 9 eyes not achieving anatomical closure (P< .001). Late macular hole reopening at longer than 6 months occurred in 3 (10%) of 31 eyes with an initially closed macular hole. This event was observed only in macular holes 400 microm or larger measured by OCT. The preoperative macular hole diameter (P =.02) and duration of symptoms (P =.02) were factors predictive of anatomical closure of the macular hole postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS The postoperative closure of idiopathic macular holes following vitreous surgery was related to the preoperative macular hole diameter determined by OCT, with lesions smaller than 400 microm demonstrating higher success rates. A trend toward greater visual acuity improvement was demonstrated for idiopathic macular holes smaller than 400 microm. Late reopening was only seen in macular holes that were 400 microm or larger measured by OCT. Preoperative analysis and measurement of idiopathic macular holes with OCT may help delineate postoperative expectations for successful anatomical closure of the macular hole, visual acuity, and long-term closure.
Body size, host choice and sex allocation in a spider-hunting pompilid wasp

Two important relationships in parasitoid evolutionary ecology are those between adult size and fitness and between host quality and sex ratio. Sexually differential size–fitness relationships underlie predicted sex-ratio relationships. Despite each relationship receiving considerable attention, they have seldom been studied simultaneously or using field data. Here we report the biology of Anoplius viaticus paganus Dahlbom, a little known parasitoid of spiders, using field and laboratory data. We found that larger foraging females were able to select larger host spiders from the field, thus identifying a relatively novel component of the size–fitness relationship. Larger offspring developed from larger hosts and, in agreement with the prediction of the host quality model of sex allocation, were generally female. Data on the size–fitness relationship for males are lacking and, in common with many prior studies, we could not evaluate sexually differential size–fitness relationships as an explanation for the observed sex-ratio patterns. Nonetheless, A. v. paganus exhibited one of the strongest relationships between host size and offspring sex ratio yet reported. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 87, 285–296.