Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of normal infants and infants with cystic fibrosis using forced expiratory flows breathing air and heliox *

Summary. The detection of early airway disease in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) may lead to earlier intervention and an improved prognosis. We hypothesized that the ratio of maximal expiratory flows while breathing a mixture of helium and oxygen (heliox) and air, referred to as density dependence (DD), would identify early airway disease in infants with CF who have normal lung function. We also hypothesized that these infants with CF might be better differentiated from normal infants when the flows breathing heliox are compared instead of room air flows. We evaluated 10 infants with CF and 21 infants without CF and with normal lung function, defined as a forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory flows between 25–75% of expired volume (FEF25–75) of greater than 70% predicted (z‐score > −2.0). Full forced expiratory maneuvers by the rapid thoracic compression technique were obtained while breathing room air and then heliox. Flow at 50% and 75% of expired volume (FEF50, FEF75), FEF25–75, and FVC were calculated from the flow volume curve with patients and control subjects breathing each gas mixture. The ratio of heliox to air flow at FEF50 and FEF75 was calculated (DD50, DD75), and the point where the two flow‐volume curves crossed (Viso V′) was also measured.
Trust in Large Organizations

Several authors suggest that trust is an important determinant of cooperation between strangers in a society, and therefore of performance of social institutions. We argue that trust should be particularly important for the performance of large organizations. In a cross-section of countries, evidence on government performance, participation in civic and professional societies, importance of large firms, and the performance of social institutions more generally supports this hypothesis. Moreover, trust is lower in countries with dominant hierarchical religions, which may have deterred networks of cooperation trust hold up remarkably well on a cross-section of countries.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: prospects and constraints

*: The author highlights the problems and prospects of public enterprises within the European Union, as well as the major adjustments considered necessary for these enterprises to fulfil their role. He argues that general criteria determining whether the production of goods and services should be in the public sector cannot be readily established in the European Union, since public supply does not solely depend on the specific economic characteristics of the particular good or service, but also on the prevailing social, cultural and economic conditions in each country, on the economic policy pursued, and on the structural characteristics of its private and public sectors, including entrepreneurial and trade union behaviour.
Offshoring in Business Services Sector Over the Business Cycle: A Case of Growth of the International Cooperation

Offshoring in Business Services Sector Over the Business Cycle: A Case of Growth of the International Cooperation In this paper I analyze the role of business service offshoring in international cooperation over the recession. In business services - as described in Schumpeterian literature - external restructuring including resource and production relocation is more intensive during recession periods while intensive internal restructuring accompanies expansion periods. As external restructuring encompass business processes fragmentation and offshoring of services, I also argue - taking into account historical evidence - that current economic crisis would result in growing service offshoring in business service sector. I expect that many financial institutions would relocate part of their business processes abroad, where operating costs are lower, as they find that external restructuring via offshoring is the way to survive. This, in turn, will be the most possible result in growth of service offshoring projects located in CEE and Asia, as these two locations were the most attractive ones in recent years for service offshoring. The process is reflected by growth of FDI outflows from developed economies to CEE and Asia as well as growth of business and IT services trade between the mentioned economies. However, I also expect that in short run (one year perspective) we will experience tremendous decrease of FDI flows including investment in service offshoring, nevertheless the share of FDI flows related to service offshoring in total FDI flows will increase.
Prenatal Screening for Orofacial Clefts in the Netherlands: A Preliminary Report on the Impact of a National Screening System

In the Netherlands a new and countrywide routine screening system for physical congenital anomalies was introduced by legislation in 2007. The screening was aimed initially at Down syndrome, but under specific conditions secondary screening for cleft lip and palate and other congenital malformations is performed as well. This article gives an overview of the Dutch system, with a focus on cleft lip (and palate) and the report of one center's experience. In general, voluntary termination of pregnancy in the second trimester has increased slightly since the introduction of the current system, but the termination-of-pregnancy rate for isolated cleft lip and palate remains limited in the Netherlands.
Evaluation of Extraocular Muscles in the Edematous Phase of Graves Ophthalmopathy on Contrast-Enhanced Fat-Suppressed Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective: Extraocular muscles (EOMs) reveal characteristic contrast-enhancement patterns on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging due to their rich vascular supply. The objective of this study was to evaluate contrast-enhancement patterns of EOMs in patients with edematous phase of Graves ophthalmopathy (GO) using contrast-enhanced fat-suppressed MR imaging in comparison with normal volunteers. Methods: EOMs of 15 patients with edematous phase of GO and those of 15 normal volunteers were evaluated using coronal T1-weighted MR images with fat suppression before and after intravenous administration of gadolinium. The image sequence was a fast spin-echo with chemical shift selective fat saturation. The degree of contrast enhancement for EOMs and temporal muscles (TMs) was assessed via a 4-step grading system and by 2 reviewers. Results: There were statistically significant differences for the degrees of contrast enhancement in all EOMs between the patients with GO and normal volunteers. The degrees of contrast enhancement for all EOMs were significantly decreased in patients with edematous phase of GO. Conclusions: The microcirculation within the EOMs tends to be impaired during the progress of disease, and the MR imaging pattern gives a semiquantitative measurement of the microcirculatory impairment of the EOMs during the edematous phase of the disease.
Identification of a Genetic Locus Essential for Serotype b-Specific Antigen Synthesis in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

ABSTRACT A large gene cluster associated with the biosynthesis of the serotype-specific polysaccharide antigen (SPA) of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 (serotype b) was cloned and characterized. Western blot analysis showed that Escherichia coli DH5α, containing a plasmid carrying this cluster, produced a polysaccharide which reacted with a monoclonal antibody directed against the SPA of A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated that the polysaccharide produced by an E. coli transformant, as well as A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 SPA, was composed of rhamnose and fucose. Furthermore, using various derivatives of the plasmid, we demonstrated that the cloned 13-kbBssHII-BspHI fragment was indispensable for SPA synthesis in E. coli DH5α. The 24,909-bp nucleotide sequence, which included this fragment and its flanking regions, was determined. In the sequenced area, 24 open reading frames (ORFs) with the same orientation were found. Most of these were located sequentially within a short distance of each other. Many of the deduced amino acid sequences were similar to the gene products of the polysaccharide synthetic genes of other bacteria. The average G+C content (37.7%) of all 24 ORFs in the sequenced area was lower than that (45.6%) of the whole chromosome of A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4. It is noteworthy the average G+C content of the nine ORFs in the 8.5-kb central region of the 13-kbBssHII-BspHI fragment indispensable for SPA synthesis in E. coli was found to be especially low (27.0%).
International Transmissions to Australia: The Roles of the USA and Euro Area

This paper examines the influences of the world's two largest developed economies, namely the USA and the Euro area, on Australia as an exemplar of a small open economy. To do so, we specify and estimate a structural VAR with bilateral linkages between the two large economies, and allow shocks originating in either to affect the Australian economy. More specifically, we show the role of foreign output shocks, the differential effects of USA- or Euro-area-sourced inflation and interest rate shocks on the Australian economy, and the relative unimportance of these foreign shocks to variations in the value of the Australian currency.
A CMOS-MEMS filter using a V-coupler and electrical phase inversion

In this paper a fully integrated CMOS-MEMS filter is presented. The filter is formed by two beams using a V-shaped coupler which allows the in-plane vibrations. The device presents a BW of 1.85MHz for a 29MHz center frequency. The electrical phase inversion mechanism is used in order to obtain the filter response. The device is fabricated using the capacitance module present in the commercial CMOS technology from Austria Micro-systems 0.35 µm.
Systemic Risk Measurement: Multivariate GARCH Estimation of CoVaR

We modify Adrian and Brunnermeier’s (2011) CoVaR, the VaR of the financial system conditional on an institution being in financial distress. We change the definition of financial distress from an institution being exactly at its VaR to being at most at its VaR. This change allows us to consider more severe distress events, to backtest CoVaR, and to improve its consistency (monotonicity) with respect to the dependence parameter. We define the systemic risk contribution of an institution as the change from its CoVaR in its benchmark state (defined as a one-standard deviation event) to its CoVaR under financial distress. We estimate the systemic risk contributions of four financial industry groups consisting of a large number of institutions for the sample period June 2000 to February 2008 and the 12months prior to the beginning of the crisis. We also investigate the link between institutions’ contributions to systemic risk and their characteristics.
Bank Loans vs. Trade Credit

Using a World Bank dataset of Chinese firms, we investigate the relative importance of bank loans and trade credit in promoting firm performance. To deal with possible endogeneity issues, we employ distinct and separable instrumental variables for bank loans and trade credit. We find that access to bank loans is central to improving firm performance and growth, while the availability of trade credit is much less important. Our results suggest that trade credit cannot effectively substitute for bank loans. Overall, our findings suggest the need for further development of China's formal financial institutions, which would enable the non‐state sector to grow much faster than it has grown in recent decades.
Characteristics of Beginning Agriculture Teachers and Their Commitment to Teaching

The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of beginning agriculture teachers and their perceived likelihood of teaching secondary agriculture in the future. Information was gathered from secondary agriculture teachers across the U.S. who were in their second year of teaching agricultural education during the 2003–2004 academic year. A survey instrument was created specifically for this study through which information about the experience of beginning teachers, the demographic characteristics of the beginning teacher, and the perceived likelihood of teaching secondary agriculture in the future was gathered. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a multiple regression analysis. While nearly three–fourths of the respondents reported they were highly likely to teach secondary agriculture one–year from the time of the survey, less than one–third reported they were highly likely to do so at five years, and only 15% reported they were highly likely to do so twenty years from the time of the survey. No statistically significant relationship was found between the characteristics of beginning teachers and their perceived likelihood of remaining in the profession.
Penetrating the Japanese market: the challenge of non‐tariff barriers

Analyses some of the hidden barriers in exporting to Japan. It looks at Japanese industrial organisation and the role of the large corporations in controlling import and distribution outlets. The Japanese wholesale and distribution system is much larger than would be the case in Europe or North America. There are also differences in patterns of consumer behaviour in Japan compared to Europe. Japan’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry also plays a more active role in the business environment. Also examines the problems involved with negotiating with the Japanese. It looks at a number of the obvious sources of confusion and misunderstanding between Japanese and Westerners during the negotiation process.
PROJECTING THE TIME TREND OF THYROID CANCERS: ITS IMPACT ON ASSESSMENT OF RADIATION-INDUCED CANCER RISKS

The incidence of thyroid cancer, which may be induced by ionizing radiation, has been rising in most Western countries for more than 20 years. In France, public worry about this increase and its possible connection with the fallout from Chernobyl led the government to ask for an evaluation of the health impact of this accident and an assessment of the feasibility of an epidemiological study. These requests raise two methodological questions: Which risk model should be used to relate exposure to risk? What is known about the spontaneous incidence rate of thyroid cancers? This article analyzes the impact of the time trend in the spontaneous incidence of thyroid cancers over the past 20 years in France when evaluating the risk of radiation-induced cancer. Age-period-cohort models were used to model the trend of spontaneous incidence from 1978 through 1997 and then to apply two scenarios for projections up to 2007: one with a constant incidence, the other using the trend observed over the past 20 years. Then the risk was assessed for a hypothetical population of 30,000 children aged 0 to 15 y, exposed to a hypothetical 0.1 Gy thyroid dose. The analysis shows that consideration of the trend instead of a constant spontaneous incidence can yield substantial differences in the risk estimates for thyroid cancer.
BANK FAILURE MODELS: A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE "TEXAS" RATIO

This paper examines the use of the “Texas” ratio, a measure of potential bank failure that has become almost a cause celebre among many trying to assess the financial health of individual financial institutions in the current volatile banking environment. Its simplicity is contrasted with more sophisticated models. It appears that such a measure offers important insights but may not be sufficient as a general, all-purpose tool. Given the rapidly increasing level of bank failures, one can presume that there will be a renewed amount of interest placed in this area, both in academia and among the general population.
Is Lean Mean?

This article examines the relationship between workplace transformation (or restructuring) and the well-being of employees, in terms of both psychological and physical health, at a large manufacturing corporation in the United States. While the previous literature has been largely divided over the issue - some researchers providing unqualified enthusiasm and others equally strong criticism of workplace changes - we found, after decomposing workplace transformation into five distinct dimensions of intensity, autonomy, team-work, skilling and computing, that certain components were harmful while others were beneficial to the employees. Furthermore, some effects of reengineering varied between managers and non-managers. Overall, increases in workplace intensity were associated with the largest increases in stress and symptoms of poor health. The data were produced by a longitudinal (two-wave) survey questionnaire of over 1000 employees and were analyzed by means of a structural equations model.
Fair trade in tourism to protected areas - a micro case study of wildlife tourism to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.

Wildlife tourism to protected areas is one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry. However, although tourism development brings rewards, its benefits are seldom distributed equitably. Host communities, particularly in the developing world, are increasingly counting the costs of development that has failed to put their rights and interests on a par with those of their visitors. This paper reports on the impacts of wildlife tourism to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia on the rural local communities that reside there. It assesses local people's attitude towards tourism in the area and solicits their views on how the benefits to the community could be increased. The findings of the research show that experience has so far encouraged the community to want more involvement with tourism and tourists. It indicates, however, that the benefits of tourism currently reach few local people and that in certain instances inequality and discrimination is evident in the employment practice of the local tourism industry. It goes on to highlight the range of factors that inhibit or constrain greater local involvement in tourism, and points to community tourism based on cultural heritage as a potential way of maximising the benefits of tourism to communities, while minimising the impacts. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Value Premium Across Countries

The value premium varies substantially across countries. Kim explores whether the inter-country cross-sectional variation in the value premium can be predicted by the variables known to predict the intra-country time-variation in the value premium. After examining data from 23 developed markets and 13 emerging markets between 2000 and 2010, he found that the earnings-yield spread and the return dispersion have predictive power in emerging markets but not in developed markets. The earnings-growth spread was found to have no significant predictive power.
Agricultural innovation and socio-economic change in early medieval Europe: evidence from Britain and France

Abstract Historical and archaeological data suggest that the Middle Saxon period (c. 650–850 ce) in eastern England was an era of substantial social, political and economic change. This paper argues that it was also a period of substantial innovation in animal husbandry practices. Zooarchaeological data demonstrate a shift from a non-specialized system designed to meet local subsistence needs to more specialized animal husbandry, focused on specific animal products – wool production, but at some sites also pork production – and designed to produce a surplus in agricultural commodities. A similar pattern can be observed in early medieval France. Several possible explanations are examined, including its relation to state formation, the rise of the emporia (the first towns of the post-Roman West), the spread of monasticism and the possibility that this represents a bottom-up innovation pioneered at rural estate centres. The zooarchaeological data suggest that both monastic centres and secular estate centres played a critical role in agricultural innovation in the early medieval period.
Antecedents and Consequences of Consumer Value

Why do travel and tourism consumers appraise products as more or less favorable, and what makes them change their appraisals over time? In addressing these two fundamental questions, we focus on the construct of consumer value, a construct often regarded as pivotal in determining customer satisfaction and loyalty. In this article, we propose and test a model of the antecedents and consequences of change in consumer value. We used a key sector of the tourism industry, timeshare, as the context for this research. Self-report data were obtained from 580 owners of timeshare on two occasions, 12 months apart. Results from this longitudinal study showed that selected consumer, product, consumption experience, and learning experience factors predicted changes in value, and these value changes, in turn, predicted shifts over time in satisfaction and repurchase intent. The findings provide new insights as to the role of value in consumer appraisals and actions.
Mycobacterial Stationary Phase Induced by Low Oxygen Tension: Cell Wall Thickening and Localization of the 16-Kilodalton α-Crystallin Homolog

ABSTRACT Most cases of tuberculosis are due to reactivation of endogenous infection which may have lain quiescent or dormant for decades. HowMycobacterium tuberculosis survives for this length of time is unknown, but it is hypothesized that reduced oxygen tension may trigger the tubercle bacillus to enter a state of dormancy.Mycobacterium bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis H37Rv were cultured under aerobic, microaerobic, and anaerobic conditions. Their ultrastructural morphology was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and protein expression profiles were compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). TEM revealed that the microaerobically and anaerobically cultured bacilli but not the aerobically cultured bacilli developed a strikingly thickened cell wall outer layer. The thickening was not observed in aerobically cultured stationary-phase bacilli or in anaerobically cultured Mycobacterium smegmatis. A highly expressed protein was detected by SDS-PAGE in microaerobic and anaerobic cultures and was identified as the 16-kDa small heat shock protein or α-crystallin homolog. Immunolocalization by colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy identified three patterns of protein distribution in M. bovis BCG cultured under low oxygen tension. The 16-kDa protein was strongly associated with the cell envelope, fibrous peptidoglycan-like structures, and intracellular and peripheral clusters. These results suggest that tubercle bacilli may adapt to low-oxygen conditions by developing a thickened cell wall and that the 16-kDa protein may play a role in stabilizing cell structures during long-term survival, thus helping the bacilli survive the low oxygen tension in granulomas. As such, the cell wall thickening and the 16-kDa protein may be markers for the dormant state of M. tuberculosis.