Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonographic Assessment of Arterial Cross‐sectional Area in the Thoracic Outlet on Postural Maneuvers Measured With Power Doppler Ultrasonography in Both Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Populations

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and potential usefulness of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) in the assessment of changes in arterial cross‐sectional area in the thoracic outlet during upper limb elevation. Methods. Forty‐four volunteers and 28 patients with a clinical diagnosis of arterial thoracic outlet syndrome were evaluated by B‐mode imaging and PDU. Arterial cross‐sectional area was assessed in the 3 compartments of the thoracic outlet with the arm alongside the body and at 90°, 130°, and 170° of abduction. The percentage of arterial stenosis was calculated for each of these arm positions. Nineteen of the 28 patients were also assessed by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Results. No significant arterial stenosis was shown in the interscalene triangle and in the retropectoralis minor space of the volunteers and patients. A significant difference (P < .01) in stenosis between volunteers and patients was seen for all degrees of abduction in the costoclavicular space. The 130° hyperabduction maneuver appeared to be the most discriminating postural maneuver. Seven patients assessed with MR imaging did not have any arterial stenosis on MR images, whereas an appreciable degree of arterial stenosis was shown with ultrasonography. Conclusions. Arterial compression inside the thoracic outlet can be detected and quantified with B‐mode imaging in association with PDU.
Breaking through bureaucracy : a new vision for managing in government

This book attacks the conventional wisdom that bureaucrats are bunglers and the system can't be changed. Michael Barzelay and Babak Armajani trace the source of much poor performance in government to the persistent influence of what they call the bureaucratic paradigm--a theory built on such notions as central control, economy and efficiency, and rigid adherence to rules. Rarely questioned, the bureaucratic paradigm leads competent and faithful public servants--as well as politicians--unwittingly to impair government's ability to serve citizens by weakening, misplacing, and misdirecting accountability. How can this system be changed? Drawing on research sponsored by the Ford Foundation/Harvard University program on Innovations in State and Local Government, this book tells the story of how public officials in one state, Minnesota, cast off the conceptual blinders of the bureaucratic paradigm and experimented with ideas such as customer service, empowering front-line employees to resolve problems, and selectively introducing market forces within government. The author highlights the arguments government executives made for the changes they proposed, traces the way these changes were implemented, and summarizes the impressive results. This approach provides would-be bureaucracy busters with a powerful method for dramatically improving the way government manages the public's business. Generalizing from the Minnesota experience and from similar efforts nationwide, the book proposes a new paradigm that will reframe the perennial debate on public management. With its carefully analyzed ideas, real-life examples, and closely reasoned practical advice, Breaking Through Bureaucracy is indispensable to public managers and students of public policy and administration.
Operating Performance in Leveraged Buyouts: Evidence From 1985 - 1989

This study documents operating performance changes following 44 of the largest LBOs completed between 1985 and 1989. Contrary to the widely held view that these transactions were marginal, the results show that firms completing LBOs in this period experienced improvements in operating margins roughly on par with those following earlier deals. The median industry-adjusted profit margin rises by an average of 11.6% from one year before until two years after the sample LBOs. All told, the LBOs in the sample were followed by a total increase in cash flow in excess of $2.5 billion, suggesting that these transactions yielded significant efficiency gains for the investors. Increases in net cash flow were even higher.
Functional Lateralization of Human Gustatory Cortex Related to Handedness Disclosed by fMRI Study a

ABSTRACT: Ten healthy subjects aged 20‐25 including five right‐handed and five left‐handed according to the Dellatolas test participated in this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. A 3 Tesla whole‐body MR scanner allowed echo planar imaging (EPI)‐64 × 64 pixels, repetition time (TR) = 6 s,field of view (FOV) = 20 × 20 cm2‐associated to acute anatomical localization of activated foci (256 × 256 pixels). Subjects were bilaterally stimulated with NaCl 85 mM, aspartame 2 mM, quinine hydrochloride 1 mM, glycyrrhizic acid 0.5 μM, guanosine monophosphate 1 mM and d‐threonine 250 mM alternating with water. Stimuli and rinse were continuously pushed as bolus of 50 μl every 3 s to the subject's mouth through microsyringes. We detected brain activated areas by correlation of the MR signal to an on‐line perception profile recorded for each experiment and each subject with the finger‐span method. We found most activations in the insula and the perisylvian region in agreement with previous electrophysiological studies on monkeys and clinical reports in humans. The superior part of the insula was bilaterally activated, in accordance with a whole‐mouth stimulation. A striking lateralization related to handedness was found in a lower part of the insula. This projection in the dominant hemisphere, located in the same coronal plane as the upper insular activation, is the first evidence of a functional lateralization of brain processing involved in taste perception.
Searching for Substance: Externalization, Politicization and the Work of Canadian Policy Consultants 2006-2013

The nature of policy advisory systems and the capacity and influence of individual system actors has been a subject of much interest in recent years, especially vis-a-vis observed trends towards the twin themes of politicization and externalization of policy advice. Studies to date for the most part have focused only on the capacity of highly visible advisory system actors such as professional policy analysts in government or those in the NGO and business sectors. This study examines the role of the ‘shadow’ or ‘invisible’ actors employed by governments on temporary contracts as managerial or other kinds of policy consultants to undertake activities related to policy development and evaluation processes. The study reports on the findings of a 2012-2013 survey of such consultants in Canada and presents data on relevant aspects of their background, training, perceptions and capabilities compared to permanent policy analysts employed fulltime by governments. It finds most consultants to be better qualified than their permanent counterparts and to primarily engage, like the latter, in process-related policy work. This answers some questions about the roles and relationships of these members of the advisory system but raises other questions about where the ‘substance’ of policies originates.
The utility of renal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of renal colic in emergency department patients.

OBJECTIVE Computed tomography (CT) is an imaging modality used to detect renal stones. However, there is concern about the lifetime cumulative radiation exposure attributed to CT. Ultrasonography (US) has been used to diagnose urolithiasis, thereby avoiding radiation exposure. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of US to identify renal colic patients with a low risk of requiring urologic intervention within 90 days of their initial emergency department (ED) visit. METHODS We completed a retrospective medical record review for all adult patients who underwent ED-ordered renal US for suspected urolithiasis over a 1-year period. Independent, double data extraction was performed for all imaging reports and US results were categorized as "normal," "suggestive of ureterolithiasis," "ureteric stone seen" or "disease unrelated to urolithiasis. " Charts were reviewed to determine how many patients underwent subsequent CT and urologic intervention. RESULTS Of the 817 renal US procedures ordered for suspected urolithiasis during the study period, the results of 352 (43.2%) were classified as normal, and only 2 (0.6%) of these patients required urologic intervention. The results of 177 (21.7%) renal US procedures were suggestive of ureterolithiasis. Of these, 12 (6.8%) patients required urologic intervention. Of the 241 (29.5%) patients who had a ureteric stone seen on US, 15 (6.2%) required urologic intervention. The rate of urologic intervention was significantly lower in those with normal results on US (p < 0.001) than in those with abnormal results on US. CONCLUSION A normal result on renal US predicts a low likelihood for urologic intervention within 90 days for adult ED patients with suspected urolithiasis.
On the Connections between Intertemporal and Intra-Temporal Trades

This paper develops a new theory of international economics by introducing Heckscher-Ohlin features of intra-temporal trade into an intertemporal trade approach of current account. To do so, we consider a dynamic general equilibrium model with tradable sectors of different factor intensities, which allows for substitution between intertemporal trade (current account adjustment) and intra-temporal trade (goods trade). An economy's response to a shock generally involves a combination of a change in the composition of goods trade and a change in the current account. Flexible factor markets reduce the need for the current account to adjust. On the other hand, the more rigid the factor markets, the larger the size of current account adjustment relative to the volume of goods trade, and the slower the speed of adjustment of the current account towards its long-run equilibrium. We present empirical evidence consistent with the theory.
Employee performance management systems in Belgian organisations: purpose, contextual dependence and effectiveness

In this study, employee performance management (PM) systems are investigated. It is proposed that a PM system’s purpose can be positioned on a bipolar continuum from a strong performance orientation to a strong development orientation. Further, it is suggested that PM system purpose relates to industry characteristics but also to PM system’s effectiveness in terms of (1) increasing performance and (2) fostering employee development and motivation. Analyses based on data from 319 Belgian organisations reveal that organisations operating in more competitive markets tend to have a PM system with a stronger performance oriented purpose, at the expense of a stronger development oriented purpose. Relating PM system purpose to PM system effectiveness, our study indicates that PM systems with a stronger development oriented purpose are more effective in fostering employee development and motivation. In contrast, the strength of a PM system’s performance oriented purpose did not relate to higher effectiveness in terms of increasing performance at various levels.
Determinants and Effects of Subjectivity in Incentives

This study examines two questions: When do firms make greater use of subjectivity in awarding bonuses? What are the effects of subjectivity on employee pay satisfaction and firm performance? We examine these questions using data from a sample of 526 department managers in 250 car dealerships. First, the findings suggest that subjective bonuses are used to complement perceived weaknesses in quantitative performance measures and to provide employees insurance against downside risk in their pay. Specifically, use of subjective bonuses is positively related to: (1) the extent of long‐term investments in intangibles; (2) the extent of organizational interdependencies; (3) the extent to which the achievability of the formula bonus target is both difficult and leads to significant consequences if not met; and (4) the presence of an operating loss. Second, we find that the effects of subjective bonuses on pay satisfaction, productivity, and profitability are larger the greater the manager's tenure, consistent wit.
TRIANGULATION OF THE TRIPLE HELIX : A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Society seems more complex molecular biology itself, depleting the model of the double helix so far valid model to explain the DNA – Desoxiribo Nucleid Acid, essential for understanding the structure and activity of the DNA and heredity. The innovation of the triple helix is now required to explain the relations between the academy, industry and government. Innovation has become the decisive challenge for global competitiveness. The advantages associated to entrepreneurship are unquestionable from the point of view of regions development, taking as a strong driver of employment and wealth creation. The Academy leading role is based on human capital, through its enhancement of skills, or by knowledge transfer and technology, sometimes coated with an entrepreneurial dynamics resulting in spin-off and start-up family-oriented. The competitiveness of firms determines the flows of income and employment regions. The government is a key dimension to stable interactions between the spheres of the system's main roles in the economic and social networks to ensure cooperation, partnership and institutional support. In this context, this research aims to develop a conceptual model of triangulation of the triple helix explaining and understanding the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship within the dynamics interaction of the triple helix as a factor of competitiveness and regional
Optimal Monetary Policy with Collateralized Household Debt and Borrowing Constraints

We study optimal monetary policy in an economy with nominal private debt, borrowing constraints and price rigidity. Private debt reflects equilibrium trade between an impatient borrower, who faces an endogenous collateral constraint, and a patient saver, who engages in consumption smoothing. Since inflation can positively affect borrower's net worth, monetary policy optimally balances the incentive to offset the price stickiness distortion with the one of marginally relaxing the borrower's collateral constraint. We find that the optimal volatility of inflation is increasing in three key parameters: (i) the borrower's weight in the planner's objective function; (ii) the borrower's impatience rate; (iii) the degree of price flexibility. In general, however, deviations from price stability are small for a small degree of price stickiness. In a two-sector version of our model, in which durable price movements can directly affect the ability of borrowing, the optimal volatility of (non-durable) inflation is more sizeable. In our context, and relative to simple Taylor rules, the Ramsey-optimal allocation entails a partial smoothing of real durable goods prices.
Autologous transplantation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells improves critical limb ischemia in diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To assess the application of autologous transplantation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) in the treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI) of diabetic patients and to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of this novel therapeutic approach. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-eight diabetic patients with CLI were enrolled and randomized to either the transplant group or the control group. In the transplant group, the patients received subcutaneous injections of recombinant human G-CSF (600 microg/day) for 5 days to mobilize stem/progenitor cells, and their PBMNCs were collected and transplanted by multiple intramuscular injections into ischemic limbs. All of the patients were followed up after at least 3 months. RESULTS At the end of the 3-month follow-up, the main manifestations, including lower limb pain and ulcers, were significantly improved in the patients of the transplant group. Their laser Doppler blood perfusion of lower limbs increased from 0.44 +/- 0.11 to 0.57 +/- 0.14 perfusion units (P < 0.001). Mean ankle-brachial pressure index increased from 0.50 +/- 0.21 to 0.63 +/- 0.25 (P < 0.001). A total of 14 of 18 limb ulcers (77.8%) of transplanted patients were completely healed after cell transplantation, whereas only 38.9% of limb ulcers (7 of 18) were healed in the control patients (P = 0.016 vs. the transplant group). No adverse effects specifically due to cell transplantation were observed, and no lower limb amputation occurred in the transplanted patients. In contrast, five control patients had to receive a lower limb amputation (P = 0.007, transplant vs. control group). Angiographic scores were significantly improved in the transplant group when compared with the control group (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS These results provide pilot evidence indicating that the autologous transplantation of G-CSF-mobilized PBMNCs represents a simple, safe, effective, and novel therapeutic approach for diabetic CLI.
The Extent of Occupational Segregation in the United States: Differences by Race, Ethnicity, and Gender

This paper studies occupational segregation by ethnicity/race and gender by following a new approach that facilitates multigroup comparisons and econometric analyses to take into account group characteristics. The analysis shows that segregation is particularly intense in the Hispanic and Asian populations (the situation being more severe for the former given its higher concentration in low‐paid jobs). A distinctive characteristic of Hispanics is that segregation is higher for men than for women although females are more concentrated in low‐paid jobs. Segregation neither for women nor for African and Native Americans is reduced by taking human capital variables into account.
Social Connectedness and Flourishing: The Mediating Role of Hopelessness.

In recent years, positive psychology has focused on flourishing; a combination of social and emotional well-being. For flourishing to function optimally, social environments as well as hopeful future expectation are crucial. It can be inferred that social connectedness and hope might be predictor of flourishing in early adulthood. This study aims at investigating the mediating effect of hopelessness on social connectedness and flourishing among university students. The participants were 260 university students (52.7% female, 47.3% male; Mage = 21.8 yr., SD = 0.99) who filled a questionnaire package, consisting the Social Connectedness Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Flourishing Scale. The hypothesis tested the mediation effects of hopelessness between social connectedness and flourishing using structural equation modeling. The results of the analysis revealed the mediating role of hopelessness between social connectedness and flourishing. Findings were discussed in line with relevant literature and conclusions were made.
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Determinants of Cartel Duration

We estimate the impact of cartel organizational features, as well as macroeconomic fluctuations and industry structure, on cartel duration using a data set of contemporary international cartels. We estimate a proportional hazards model with competing risks, distinguishing factors that increase the risk of “death by antitrust” from those that affect natural death, including defection, dissension, and entry. Our analysis indicates that the probability of cartel death from any cause increased significantly after 1995, when competition authorities expanded enforcement efforts toward international cartels. We find that fluctuations in firm-specific discount rates have a significant effect on cartel duration, whereas market interest rates do not. Cartels with a compensation scheme—a plan for how the cartel will handle variations in demand—are significantly less likely to break up. In contrast, retaliatory punishments in response to perceived cheating significantly increase the likelihood of natural death. Cartels that have to punish are not stable cartels.
New Evidence on the Impacts of Access to and Attending Universal Child-Care in Canada

Au Canada, les défenseurs des programmes universels de garde d’enfants présentent souvent l’exemple du Québec comme un modèle que les autres provinces devraient suivre en matière de petite enfance et de garde d’enfants. Alors que ces programmes sont très populaires auprès des citoyens, des études portant sur l’accès à ces services ont indiqué qu’ils ont entraîné une multitude d’effets indésirables sur le développement et la santé des enfants ainsi que sur les familles; ces recherches ont évidemment subi beaucoup de critiques et suscité la controverse. Dans cet article, nous montrons que leurs analyses étaient toutefois robustes en ce qui a trait aux questions portant : 1. sur la possibilité que les effets négatifs diminueraient au fur et à mesure que les prestataires de services auraient plus d’expérience ; 2. sur des comparaisons multiples ; et 3. sur le fait que leurs estimations mesuraient l’impact causal de la disponibilité de services de garde et non celui de l’utilisation de ces services. Il y a cependant une exception notable : alors que les estimations des effets des politiques indiquaient une baisse des résultats aux tests de développement moteur et social des enfants au Québec comparativement au reste du Canada, nos analyses impliquent qu’une présence moyenne en service de garde entraîne une hausse significative des résultats à ces tests. Toutefois, nos analyses révèlent une hétérogénéité importante dans les effets des programmes et indiquent que les impacts négatifs rapportés dans les premières recherches sont associés à des enfants qui ont profité d’un service de garde seulement parce que ces services avaient été mis en place.
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON AND MID-INFRARED CONTINUUM EMISSION IN A z > 4 SUBMILLIMETER GALAXY

We report the detection of 6.2 μm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and rest-frame 4–7 μm continuum emission in the z = 4.055 submillimeter galaxy GN20, using the Infrared Spectrograph on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. This represents the first detection of PAH emission at z > 4. The strength of the PAH emission feature is consistent with a very high star formation rate of ∼1600 M☉ yr−1. We find that this intense starburst powers at least ∼1/3 of the faint underlying 6 μm continuum emission, with an additional, significant (and perhaps dominant) contribution due to a power-law-like hot dust source, which we interpret to likely be a faint, dust-obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN). The inferred 6 μm AGN continuum luminosity is consistent with a sensitive upper limit on the hard X-ray emission as measured by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory if the previously undetected AGN is Compton-thick. This is in agreement with the finding at optical/infrared wavelengths that the galaxy and its nucleus are heavily dust-obscured. Despite the strong power-law component enhancing the mid-infrared continuum emission, the intense starburst associated with the photon-dominated regions that give rise to the PAH emission appears to dominate the total energy output in the infrared. GN20 is one of the most luminous starburst galaxies known at any redshift, embedded in a rich protocluster of star-forming galaxies. This investigation provides an improved understanding of the energy sources that power such exceptional systems, which represent the extreme end of massive galaxy formation at early cosmic times.