Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Preoperative MRI to Select Candidates for Local Excision of MRI-Staged T1 and T2 Rectal Cancer: Can MRI Select Patients With N0 Tumors?

BACKGROUND: To minimize the recurrence rate after local excision of rectal cancer, the false-negative rate of nodal staging should be minimized. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a set of criteria using preoperative MRI that would minimize the false-negative rate for the diagnosis of regional lymph node metastasis. DESIGN: A prospectively maintained colorectal cancer database and MRI images were retrospectively reviewed. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a multidisciplinary tertiary center. PATIENTS: A total of 246 consecutive patients who underwent MRI and curative-intent surgery for MRI-staged T1/T2 rectal cancer from January 2008 to July 2012 were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: MRI features significantly associated with lymph node metastasis were identified using a &khgr;2 test. Five diagnostic criteria for lymph node metastasis were created based on these predictive MRI features, and their false-negative rates were compared using the generalized estimating equation method. RESULTS: Small size/homogeneity of lymph nodes and no visible tumor/partially involved muscular layer were significantly associated with lower risks of lymph node metastasis. When tumor invasion depth was not considered, the false-negative rate did not decrease below 10%, even when the strictest criterion for morphologic evaluation of lymph nodes (not visible or <3 mm) was used. Adding invasion depth to the diagnostic criteria significantly decreased the false-negative rate as low as 1.8%. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by its small sample size and retrospective nature. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing both the depth of tumor invasion and lymph node morphology may reduce the false-negative rate and can be helpful to better identify candidates suitable for local excision of early stage rectal cancer. However, strict MRI criteria for oncologic safety might result in considerable false-positive cases and limit the application of local excision.
Auditor Characteristics and Early Accounting Error Detection:Evidence from Financial Restatements

We investigate auditor attributes that may help determine the time it takes auditors to detect and have clients correct financial statement misstatements. The attributes include auditor tenure, client importance, and auditor industry specialization. We find that the length of the restatement period is positively associated with auditor tenure. However, this positive relationship applies only to the preSarbanes Oxley Act period. The results imply that regulation imposed by Sarbanes Oxley has helped mitigate the impairment from long auditor tenure on auditors’ ability to make timely detection and correction of improper accounting. Thus, mandatory auditor rotation may not be needed.
Lumbar Artery Perforator Flap: An Anatomical Study Using Multidetector Computed Tomographic Scan and Surgical Pearls for Breast Reconstruction

Background: Breast reconstruction with the lumbar artery perforator flap is indicated in patients with unfavorable abdominal donor site. In addition to their clinical experience with lumbar artery perforator free flap breast reconstruction, the authors present an anatomical study of the origin and course of the perforators. Methods: Images of multidetector computerized tomography scans were used to visualize the location of the dominant lumbar artery perforator in 20 patients. The medical files of the authors’ patients who underwent lumbar artery perforator flap breast reconstruction were also analyzed. Results: Multidetector computed tomographic imaging in 20 female patients with a mean age of 47 years revealed an equal number of dominant perforators (10 left and 10 right); 60 percent were third lumbar artery perforators, 30 percent were fourth, and the remaining were second. The dominant perforators were mainly located 42.6 mm from the y axis at their origin at the transverse process, and 69.5 mm when emerging in the subcutaneous tissue. Six patients had nine successful lumbar artery perforator flaps for breast reconstruction. Average operative time was 270 minutes. Due to shortness of pedicle and mismatching between diameter of lumbar artery and internal mammary artery, vascular bypass (harvested from the deep inferior epigastric vessels) was required in 50 percent of the cases. The major complication at the donor site was seroma (80 percent). Conclusions: The lumbar artery perforator has a constant anatomical location. The free lumbar artery perforator flap provides an ample amount of tissue for breast reconstruction; however, its major disadvantages are the small artery diameter, shortness of the pedicle, and high seroma rate at the donor site. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.
Disease Control in Shrimp Aquaculture with Probiotic Bacteria

Shrimp aquaculture production in much of the world is depressed by disease, particularly caused by luminous Vibrio and/or viruses. Antibiotics, which have been used in large quantities, are in many cases ineffective, or result in increases in virulence of pathogens and, furthermore, are cause for concern in promoting transfer of antibiotic resistance to human pathogens. Probiotic technology provides a solution to these problems. The microbial species composition in hatchery tanks or large aquaculture ponds can be changed by adding selected bacterial species to displace deleterious normal bacteria. Virulence of luminous Vibrio species can be controlled in this manner. Abundance of luminous Vibrio strains decreased in ponds and tanks where specially selected, probiotic strains of Bacillus species were added. A farm on Negros, in the Philippines, which had been devastated by luminous Vibrio disease while using heavy doses of antibiotics in feed, achieved survival of 80-100% of shrimp in all ponds treated with probiotics.
An Investigation of a New Activated Clotting Time “MAX-ACT” in Patients Undergoing Extracorporeal Circulation

Activated clotting time (ACT) is a test used in the operating room for monitoring heparin effect. However, ACT does not correlate with heparin levels because of its lack of specificity for heparin and its variability during hypothermia and hemodilution on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). A modified ACT using maximal activation of Factor XII, MAX-ACT (Actalyke MAX-ACT; Array Medical, Somerville, NJ), may be less variable and more closely related to heparin levels. We compared MAX-ACT with ACT in 27 patients undergoing CPB. We measured ACT, MAX-ACT, temperature, and hematocrit at six time points: baseline; postheparin; on CPB 30, 60, and 90 min; and postprotamine. Additionally, we assessed anti-Factor Xa heparin activity and antithrombin III activity at four of these six time points. With institution of CPB and hemodilution, MAX-ACT and ACT did not change significantly but had a tendency to increase, whereas concomitant heparin levels decreased (P = 0.065). Neither test correlated with heparin levels. ACT and MAX-ACT did not differ during normothermia but did during hypothermia, and ACT was significantly longer than MAX-ACT (P = 0.009). At the postheparin time point, ACT-heparin sensitivity (defined as [ACT postheparin − ACT baseline]/[heparin concentration postheparin − heparin concentration baseline]) was greater than MAX-ACT-heparin sensitivity (analogous calculation for MAX-ACT; 520 [266 − 9366] s · U−1 · mL−1 vs 468 [203 − 8833] s · U−1 · mL−1;P = 0.022).
Case of the leather sector in Ethiopia

Entrepreneurship has played an important role in economic growth, innovation, competitiveness and in poverty alleviation. Today’s dynamic, global, and challenging business environment requires a firm to be entrepreneurial if it is to survive and grow. Rapidly changing technology and shortened product life cycles support the need for a firm to be innovative and develop new ideas, products, and processes, and be willing to take risks to cope with rapid change. Increased domestic and global competition amplifies the need for a firm to stay ahead of competition. In dynamic business environment, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) must make competitive changes in order to move forward. The capacity to seize on an opportunity depends on the level of entrepreneurial orientation that a firm possesses (Waldron, 2004). This is because direct entrepreneurial orientation is associated with innovation, proactive and the willingness to take risk which is an important measurement to a firm when implementing a certain strategy to compete with opponents. This study investigated the degree of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) of thirty footwear manufacturing Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Addis Ababa. This study deals with the five dimensions that are critical to entrepreneurial orientation: innovation, pro-activeness, risk taking, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy in relation to small & medium leather footwear manufacturing enterprises in Addis Ababa. And finally come up with the information that to what extent the investigated enterprises are aware of EO and practice it. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were applied for data analysis. Findings showed about 80% of SMEs in AA represented moderate and above moderate level of EO. From the five dimensions: Proactiveness, innovativeness, risk taking competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy, the autonomy and proactiveness dimensions are the most and least exercised ones by the respondents taken in this study. Results further indicated there were moderate responses to the rest dimensions. This study could be useful for policy makers to plan their activities towards entrepreneurship development of SMEs in AA. It is hoped that the findings of this study discussed here can benefit the government, entrepreneurs, other researchers, and important parties in the field of entrepreneurship. Keywords : Small & Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO)
International entrepreneurship in networks : the impact of network knowledge combination on SMEs’ business creation in foreign markets

This article rests on the idea that knowledge is dispersed among different individuals and entities. For international entrepreneurial firms to create new knowledge, they need to find ways to combine these dispersed bits of knowledge. Because of the notion that resource constraints make international entrepreneurial firms dependent on external knowledge, it is assumed that a portion of knowledge combination takes place in networks. The purpose of this article was to investigate the prospective impact network knowledge and knowledge combinations have on entrepreneurial firms' knowledge creation. Three hypotheses are developed and tested in a structural equation model, using linear structural relations (LISREL, Scientific Software International, Inc.).
Closure of a recurrent bladder rupture in a calf by means of a peritoneal flap: a case report

An 11-month old, Piedmontese bullock was admitted to the Department of Veterinary Science, Uni- versity of Turin, for urolithiasis and suspected uroperitoneum owing to urinary bladder rupture. A first episode of uroperitoneum had been treated surgically one week previously. On admission, the animal underwent physical and haematological examination, followed by transabdominal ultrasonography and biochemical screening. Clinical and laboratory findings confirmed the recurrence of uroperitoneum, possibly secondary to the previously failed surgical approach. During surgery, urine leakage from the previously treated tear was clearly visible, together with a large necrotic area surrounding the tear. To close the defect, we created a peritoneal flap. For tissue approximation we used a continuous barbed suture material, which obviated the need for knots to secure the leading and terminal ends of the suture. Postoperative monitoring included transabdominal ultrasonography and biochemical profile tests, performed at 10 and 30 days after surgery. Two months after discharge, a telephone follow-up confirmed the positive outcome of the procedure. The creation of a peritoneal flap allows for effective sealing of a bladder tear with necrotic edges. The use of barbed suture greatly simplifies the entire procedure.
Governance, Risk, Performance and Value of Brazilian Public Traded Companies

This study estimated the quality of governance practiced by a significant sample of Brazilian publicly traded companies between 2002 and 2006, and related it to risk, performance and value. An index composed of twenty questions, with all answers in binary form, was constructed to measure the quality of governance. We used the Hausman test and find endogeneity between governance and value. Afterwards we applied the structural equations method and constructed several models involving the relationships among governance; performance measured by roe (return on assets) and ets (ebit-to-sales); risk measured by the wacc (weighted average cost of capital), and value measured by mts (market-to-book sales) and mtbv (market-to-book value). We observed the existence of statistically significant results between higher levels of governance, lower risk, better performance and higher value.
Core Promoter Functions in the Regulation of Gene Expression of Drosophila Dorsal Target Genes*

Background: The Dorsal transcription factor regulates the dorsal-ventral developmental gene regulatory network by binding to enhancers. Results: The core promoters of multiple Dorsal target genes are evolutionarily conserved and functionally dependent on specific elements. Conclusion: The core promoter composition is an important determinant of the transcriptional outcome. Significance: Transcriptional regulation results from an interplay between enhancers and core promoter composition. Developmental processes are highly dependent on transcriptional regulation by RNA polymerase II. The RNA polymerase II core promoter is the ultimate target of a multitude of transcription factors that control transcription initiation. Core promoters consist of core promoter motifs, e.g. the initiator, TATA box, and the downstream core promoter element (DPE), which confer specific properties to the core promoter. Here, we explored the importance of core promoter functions in the dorsal-ventral developmental gene regulatory network. This network includes multiple genes that are activated by different nuclear concentrations of Dorsal, an NFκB homolog transcription factor, along the dorsal-ventral axis. We show that over two-thirds of Dorsal target genes contain DPE sequence motifs, which is significantly higher than the proportion of DPE-containing promoters in Drosophila genes. We demonstrate that multiple Dorsal target genes are evolutionarily conserved and functionally dependent on the DPE. Furthermore, we have analyzed the activation of key Dorsal target genes by Dorsal, as well as by another Rel family transcription factor, Relish, and the dependence of their activation on the DPE motif. Using hybrid enhancer-promoter constructs in Drosophila cells and embryo extracts, we have demonstrated that the core promoter composition is an important determinant of transcriptional activity of Dorsal target genes. Taken together, our results provide evidence for the importance of core promoter composition in the regulation of Dorsal target genes.
Board Structure and Corporate Performance: Evidence from Public-Listed Family-Ownership in Malaysia

We compare corporate governance and performance between family and non-family ownership of public listed companies in Malaysia from 1999 through 2005 measured by Tobin's Q, ROA and ROE. We find that on average, family ownership experiences a higher value than non-family ownership based on ROE. However, firm value is lower in family than non-family ownership based on Tobin's Q and ROA. In the analysis, the board size, independent director and duality for family and non-family ownership has a strong significant influence on firm performance.
Towards a service governance framework for the internet of services

There are now many virtual worlds in existence, a number of which have built considerable user bases. However, there is little empirical evidence to suggest what factors underpin their continued usage and success. This study set about determining why users continue to use virtual worlds, using the example of the popular virtual world of Second Life. The study adopts continuance theory and extensions to the basic model to examine the effects of enjoyment, habit and absorption. The results (n=339) suggest that continuance intention is driven by perceived usefulness, habit, absorption and enjoyment, which together provide a comprehensive explanation for virtual world behaviour (R 2 =0.565). Interestingly, satisfaction did not appear to play a direct strong role in determining intentions. The paper rounds off with conclusions and implications for future research and practice in this very new area of inquiry.
Underpricing, Price Stabilization and Long Run Performance in Initial Public Offerings: A Study on the Italian Stock Market between 1985 and 1998

The underpricing phenomenon in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) has been analyzed by several empirical studies referring to the major international stock markets. This paper presents an empirical study conducted on 135 IPOs on the Milan Stock Exchange between 1985 and 1998. The resort to econometric analysis has allowed to point out some determinants of the phenomenon. Our research shows the existence of two periods characterized by different levels of the underpricing magnitude and different statistically significant determinants. The first period (between 1985 and 1993) offers results consistent with theoretical frameworks and previous analysis in other countries, such as a negative correlation between the underpricing and the size of the firm, and a positive correlation between the underpricing and the offering size, the market trend, the price volatility. Moreover, a significant positive correlation with the fraction of the equity capital maintained by the controlling shareholders is pointed out. In the second period, between 1994 and 1998, the underpricing is lower and the correlation is less significant. The difference between the two periods seems to confirm the “information gathering” theory and the importance of placing strategies. In fact, during the first period the IPOs were essentially fixed price offers, while in the second one an intermediate chose the final price after a pre-selling book-building activity with open price. Finally, some observations about long run performance are derived and evidence about price stabilization activity in the after-market is provided. J.E. L Classification codes: G30, G32.
Cytokinesis in Tetrahymena: Determination of division plane and organization of contractile ring

A protein, Tetrahymena p85, is localized to the presumptive division plane before the formation of the contractile ring. p85 directly interacts with Tetrahymena calmodulin (CaM) in a Ca2+‐dependent manner, and p85 and CaM colocalize in the division furrow. A Ca2+/CaM inhibitor N‐(6‐Aminohexyl)‐5‐chloro‐1‐naphthalenesulfonamide HCl (W7) inhibits the direct interaction between p85 and Ca2+/CaM. W7 also inhibits the localization of p85 and CaM to the division plane, and the formation of the contractile ring and division furrow. Tetrahymena fimbrin and elongation factor‐1a (EF‐1α), which induce bundling of Tetrahymena F‐actin, are also localized to the division furrow during cytokinesis. The Tetrahymena fimbrin has two actin‐binding domains, but lacks the EF‐hand Ca2+‐binding motif, suggesting that Tetrahymena fimbrin probably cross‐links actin filaments in a Ca2+‐ insensitive manner during cytokinesis. The evidence also indicates that Ca2+/CaM inhibits the F‐actin‐bundling activity of EF‐1α; and EF‐1α and CaM colocalize in the division furrow. In this review, we propose that the Ca2+/CaM signal and its target protein p85 cooperatively regulate the determination of the division plane, and that a Ca2+‐insensitive actin‐bundling protein, Tetrahymena fimbrin, and a Ca2+/CaM‐sensitive actin‐bundling protein, EF‐1α, play pivotal roles in regulating the organization of the contractile ring microfilaments. Microsc. Res. Tech. 49:127–135, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thrombo-embolic complications of the cloth-covered Starr-Edwards prostheses No. 2300 aortic and No. 6300 mitral

The thrombo-embolic complications of the cloth-covered Starr-Edwards prostheses No. 2300 aortic and No. 6300 mitral followed for an average of 14 months in 155 patients are reviewed. There was a high incidence of early fatal and disabling thrombo-embolus in patients having mitral valve replacement. Late emboli were more common after aortic valve replacement. Anticoagulant control was unsatisfactory and not without hazards.
Quantifying saccades while walking: Validity of a novel velocity-based algorithm for mobile eye tracking

We validate a novel algorithm to detect saccades from raw data obtained during walking from a mobile infra-red eye-tracking device. The algorithm was based on a velocity threshold detection method, which excluded artefacts such as blinks and flickers using specific criteria. Mobile infra-red eye-tracking was performed with a group of healthy older adults (n=5) and Parkinson's disease (n=5) subjects. Saccades determined from raw eye tracker data obtained during walking using the algorithm were compared to a ground truth dataset defined as frame-by-frame visual inspection of raw eye-tracking videos. 100 trials from 10 subjects were analyzed and compared. The algorithm was highly reliable when compared to the ground truth (ICC(2,1) = 0.94), with an overall correct saccade detection percentage of 85%. This provides a simple yet robust algorithm for the analysis of mobile eye-tracking data.
A Functional Framework for the Influence of Implicit and Explicit Motives on Autobiographical Memory

A functional framework explains the influence of implicit and explicit motives on autobiographical memory. Personality motives at different levels of awareness are differentially activated by the social context and, in turn, engage memory processes. Research shows that these motives influence both what and how autobiographical events are remembered. Specifically, implicit motives modulate encoding and recall of emotional experiences, vivid memories, and event-specific knowledge through nonconscious organizing strategies that facilitate affective end states. Explicit motives modulate encoding and recall of events linked to self-concept stability change, as well as routine experiences and general event scripts that represent typical self-attributed behaviors that facilitate the attainment of current goals. Research from narrative essays, self-report data, and controlled experiments demonstrates that implicit and explicit motives have a differential influence on each step of the memory process. An integrative framework explains this research from a functional perspective.
A Novel Approach to Evaluating Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is a difficult issue to measure and there is no one method agreed upon. In this article a statistical method, which synthesizes many indicators into one quantitative indicator is proposed. 27 member states of the European Union has been analyzed. The results have demonstrated that Sweden and Denmark are the two top EU countries concerning sustainable development. On the other hand, the newest EU members, such as Latvia, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania and Slovakia, remain at the bottom of the ranking. It is a challenge for the EU, since it has the ambition to take a lead on sustainable development on the global level. It should be emphasized, that the proposed statistical method can be applied to all other regions of the world and can provide useful information as to whether the world is actually moving towards the goals of sustainable development.