Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Agency and Institutions: National Divergences in Diversification Behavior

A fundamental theme in comparative crosscountry research is the convergence of organizational forms in diverse national settings. In this paper we examine a special instance of this theme: the pattern of diversification across industries. A common argument is that technical and market forces compel firms to adopt ? coherent? strategies of diversification. This thesis implies that there should be a convergence in the patterns of interindustry diversification in all market-based economies. An institutional approach offers an alternative view. From this perspective, when diversification across industries is seen as subject to nation-specific governance and resource constraints, countries should vary widely in their interindustry diversification patterns.To test these alternative views, we analyze the diversification patterns of large corporations from five countries: France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Our results do not support the hypothesis of a common pattern of diversification across countries, and thus reject the technological thesis. By comparing two case studies in which entrepreneurs attempted to diversify by acquisition in France and the United States, we examine how institutions and agents interact to permit different diversification patterns to arise in diverse national environments.The statistical results and case studies imply that, given the fixity of certain institutions, even if countries are subject to globalization, convergence in diversification patterns is not necessary. The results cast doubt upon the merits of stylizing the debate as a choice between technical and institutional theories of organizational choice. Rather, the study points to the importance of two theoretical statements. The first is to inquire under what conditions there is likely to be consensus on a given ? means-end? rationality for a specific managerial decision (e.g., diversification). The second is to understand the structural opportunities available to entrepreneurs for diversifying through acquisitions. Iterating between these cognitive and structural considerations shifts the focus from the false debate between technological and institutional arguments to the study of entrepreneurship situated in historically given national environments.
Fibre‐optic intubation teaching in sedated patients with anticipated difficult intubation

Background and objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the safety of training fibre‐optic intubation performed under propofol light general anaesthesia in patients with an anticipated difficult intubation. Methods: Patients with ear, nose and throat cancer having at least two criteria for anticipated difficult intubation and scheduled for fibre‐optic intubation were included prospectively. In 26 patients, intubation was performed by an anaesthesia resident (under senior supervision), whereas in 20 patients, it was performed by a senior anaesthesiologist. All patients received propofol light general anaesthesia adjusted to maintain both loss of consciousness and spontaneous ventilation. Results: Of the 46 patients, 45 had successful fibre‐optic intubation, and one needed a rescue procedure because of hypoxaemia. Residents failed to intubate four patients, who were easily intubated by the senior. Episodic hypoxaemia (SPO2 < 90%) occurred in three patients in each group. No statistically significant difference was found between junior and senior neither on the duration of the procedure (9.3 ± 4.9 vs. 7.5 ± 4.0 min) nor on the propofol consumption (197 ± 130 vs. 193 ± 103 mg) or the ETCO2 at the end of the procedure (36 ± 6 vs. 38 ± 6 mmHg), respectively. Conclusion: Teaching fibre‐optic tracheal intubation in patients with anticipated difficult intubation and sedated with propofol did not increase morbidity significantly compared with an experienced anaesthesiologist. Fibre‐optic intubation under propofol light general anaesthesia could be safely performed by a resident as long as a senior anaesthesiologist is permanently present, spontaneous ventilation is maintained and a rescue oxygenation technique is immediately available.
A qualitative approach to understanding the study abroad experience

Charlotte Cuss A QUALITATIVE APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THE STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE 2011/12 Burton R. Sisco, Ed.D Master of the Arts in Higher Education Administration The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the study abroad experience on selected students, using a qualitative approach. The participants in this study consisted of six full-time Rowan University students, during the spring 2012 semester. All six students had studied abroad for a full academic semester, within the last calendar year. Three separate interviews were conducted to examine students’ goals and motives, cultural learning, transformational learning, and alcohol use and risky behavior, in regards to study abroad. The interviews were transcribed and content analysis was used to analyze the data. The study found that all students gained cultural learning and transformation learning, but to varying extents. This learning was often prompted by one, or multiple experiences, where the students were faced with a dilemma that caused them to reassess their assumptions. Alcohol use and risky behavior was found to increase during the study abroad experience.
Ischemic placental syndrome – prediction and new disease monitoring

Abstract The last decade has seen an improved understanding of the cause of the development of pathologies such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine fetal death or placental abruption. Nowadays, we know that most conditions within this group share the same pathogenesis, the cause of which is placental ischemia. The following review is an attempt to propose a new method for prediction, diagnosis and – above all – appropriate monitoring of pregnant women and fetuses developing the ischemic placental syndrome with the use of tests that are new but yet widely available in clinical diagnosis. They are closely related to the condition’s pathogenesis, therefore their elevated levels may predate clinical symptoms, and – most importantly – they correlate with syndrome aggravation and the occurrence of complications. Perhaps, the new look will allow us to improve perinatal results by reducing mortality and severe complications in pregnant women and fetal deaths resulting from sudden intrauterine fetal death or placental abruption.
Distribution of General Practitioners in the Health System of Iran Using Equity Indices (Gini, Atkinson(

Introduction: Although equity is a key motivation for providing hospital services to the public, resource distribution in governments, rarely focus on those who need the resources more. This study was done to investigate the distribution of general practitioners in the health system of Iran using Gini and Atkinson indices. Method: In this cross-sectional study, data were gathered from the Statistics Center of Iran, Medical Council and statistics office of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Gini and Atkinson indices have been used to investigate the distribution of human resources. In order to find more accurate estimation of the distribution coefficients, the adjusted index was used. Stata 11 software was applied for data analysis. Results: The range of Gini and Atkinson indices before adjusting needs during 2006-2011were respectively between 0.127-0.204; and 0.018-0.038 that shows a worse status after adjusting needs. Conclusion: Appropriate supply and distribution of medical manpower is the major key for improvement of the countries’ health status. Therefore, accurate estimation of required human resources and population-based distribution help to reduce the cost of health care systems as well as households’ cost. Keywords: General Practitioners, Equity, Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient, Atkinson index
Total Parathyroidectomy and Autotransplantation of Parathyroid Tissue for Renal Hyperparathyroidism A One- to Six‐Year Follow‐up

From 1975 to 1981 total parathyroidectomy and parathyroid autotransplantation were carried out in 62 patients for renal (secondary) hyperparathyroidism. The paper reports on 46 patients followed for one to six years (mean 2.2 ± 1.2 years). Forty-one were on chronic hemodialysis, three were predialytic, two had a functioning renal graft. There have been two different groups of indications: one in which hypercalcemia was the main reason for surgery (59%), the other in which severe renal osteopathy (bone pain, radiologie and histologic signs, elevation of alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone) was observed. Among 45 patients not previously operated on for hyperparathyroidism, five parathyroid glands were removed in three patients, four glands were removed in 36 patients, and three glands were removed in five patients. In one patient previously operated (thyroid surgery), two glands were removed. Tissue was immediately autografted into a forearm muscle. One patient (two glands removed) received cryopre-served tissue six months after neck exploration. An improvement of bone pain, pruritus, and radiologie signs of renal osteopathy was noted in about 80% of patients. At one to six years no patient was hypercalcemic, in 44 patients the grafted tissue was functioning normally after an average time of 5.8 ± 1.4 months. One patient is still on low-dose, supplemental therapy for slight hypocalcemia 14 months after autotransplantation. In another patient a part of the grafted tissue was removed for increasing parathyroid hormone levels. Serum concentration of alkaline phosphatase and serum parathyroid hormone decreased after surgery. One- to six-year results after total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation for renal hyperparathyroidism are considered to be extremely satisfactory.
〈 Clinical Research 〉 The Relationship Between Forefoot and Rearfoot Static Alignment in Pain-Free Individuals With Above-Average

This study used a within- subjects correlational design to deter- mine the relationship between forefoot varus angle and standing rearfoot angle among individuals with above-average forefoot varus angles. Clinicians have long theorized that forefoot position is related to the stand- ing rearfoot angle and that both may be related to pronation during gait. More recently, data suggest that the association between static forefoot and rearfoot position may be limited to those individuals with forefoot varus angles larger or smaller than average. However, little data are available on the association between static forefoot and rearfoot angles among individu- als with larger than average forefoot varus angles. Twenty-three healthy par- ticipants (mean age = 27.04 ± 6.24 years) with at least 8 degrees of fore- foot varus bilaterally were recruited for this study. Goniometric measurements of forefoot varus angle and stand- ing rearfoot angle of each foot were taken. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess intra rater and interra- ter reliability of the static forefoot and rearfoot angle measurements. The Pearson product moment coefficient was used to assess the association between the forefoot and rearfoot static angles. ICCs for intrarater and interrater reliability of the forefoot and rearfoot angles were equal to or greater than 0.98 and 0.92, respectively. Forefoot varus angle was significantly correlated with standing rearfoot angle (P = .034). Among healthy individuals with larger than average forefoot varus angles, static forefoot varus and stand- ing rearfoot valgus angles demonstrate a positive association.
Response of Bt. cotton hybrid (Gossypium hirsutum) to integrated nitrogen management and potassium

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of integrated nutrient supply on the Bt. cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) hybrid Mallika during kharif season of 2009 and 2010 at the Agricultural Research Sta- tion Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh. The results showed that the leaf area, dry matter, bolls/plant and seeds/boll in- creased significantly through the substitution of 25% N with vermicompost both in 2009 and 2010. This treatment also found to remove significantly more N, P and K. Recommended dose of 120 kg N and 60 kg P O /ha P yielded 2 5 2.09 t/ha seed cotton in 2009. This was on par with the yield of 2.0 t/ha due to substitution of 25% N with vermicompost. In 2010 seed cotton yield of 3.36 t/ha was recorded with substitution of 25% N with vermicompost, which was significantly higher than seed cotton yield of 3.13 t/ha recorded with recommended dose of N and P through inorganic. Maximum net profit of 39,564/ha and 96,421/ha were obtained with the application of rec- ommended dose of 120 kg N and 60 kg P/ha with 60 kg K/ha in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Maximum benefit:cost ratio of 0.95 and 2.32/ were also realized from this treatment in the corresponding years. The inte- grated nutrient management reduced the profits per rupee investment. Seed cotton yield recorded significant re- sponse to K application up to 60 kg/ha in 2009 and 90 kg k/ha in 2010. Variation in response across the two sea- son attributed to rainfall variation and its distribution
Accuracy of blood alcohol estimations obtained with a breath alcohol analyser in a casualty department

The accuracy and reliability of a rapid blood alcohol estimation by means of a breath alcohol analyser has been evaluated under casualty department conditions in a series of 646 road‐crash victims managed at the Dandenong and District Hospital. A higher correlation (r = 0.91) was found between the breath alcohol analyser readings in 633 casualties and those obtained by blood analysis in the police laboratory. In 13 unconscious casualties in whom a nasal breath test was performed, the correlation was lower (r = 0.76). In six casualties, the breath alcohol analyser readings showed lower alcohol concentrations than the legal limit of 0.05 g/100 mL (10.9 mmol/L), but blood analysis detected an illegal concentration. Further evaluation of the accuracy of the breath alcohol analyser in other casualty departments is necessary before it can be recommended as a screening device in States which have legislated for compulsory blood alcohol tests in adult road casualties.
Depicting Visual Motion in Still Images: Forward Leaning and a Left to Right Bias for Lateral Movement

What artistic conventions are used to convey the motion of animate and inanimate items in still images, such as drawings and photographs? One graphic convention involves depicting items leaning forward into their movement, with greater leaning conveying greater speed. Though this convention could derive from the natural leaning forward of people and animals as they run, it is also applied to depictions of inanimate objects (eg cars and trains). It is proposed that it is this convention that allows the italicization of text to convey notions of motion and speed. Evidence for this is obtained from three sources: the use of italicization on book covers (in book titles); judgments of typeface connotations; and performance measures during the semantic classification of words appearing in italicized and non-italicized fonts. Inspection of the availability of italic fonts in Hebrew indicates an additional artistic convention for conveying motion, based on a fundamental bias, yet to be confirmed, for people to expect to see, or prefer to see, lateral movement (real or implied) in a left to right direction, rather than a right to left direction. Evidence for such a bias is found in photographs of a range of animate and inanimate items archived on Google Images. Whereas a rightward bias is found for photographs of animate and inanimate items in motion (the more so, the faster the motion being conveyed), either no bias or a leftward bias is found for the same items in static pose. Possible origins of a fundamental left to right bias for visual motion, and future lines of research able to evaluate them, are identified.
Biogenesis of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Membrane Vesicles Provoked by Induction of PagC

ABSTRACT Gram-negative bacteria ubiquitously release membrane vesicles (MVs) into the extracellular milieu. Although MVs are the product of growing bacteria, not of cell lysis or death, the regulatory mechanisms underlying MV formation remained unknown. We have found that MV biogenesis is provoked by the induction of PagC, a Salmonella-specific protein whose expression is activated by conditions that mimic acidified macrophage phagosomes. PagC is a major constituent of Salmonella MVs, and increased expression accelerates vesiculation. Expression of PagC is regulated at the posttranscriptional and/or posttranslational level in a sigmaS (RpoS)-dependent manner. Serial quantitative analysis has demonstrated that MV formation can accelerate when the quantity of the MV constituents, OmpX and PagC, rises. Overproduction of PagC dramatically impacts the difference in the relative amount of vesiculation, but the corresponding overproduction of OmpX was less pronounced. Quantitative examination of the ratios of PagC and OmpX in the periplasm, outer membrane, and MVs demonstrates that PagC is preferentially enriched in MVs released from Salmonella cells. This suggests that specific protein sorting mechanisms operate when MVs are formed. The possible role(s) of PagC-MV in host cells is discussed.
Why Any Seatbelt Mandate is an Infinitely Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma: A Health Economics Perspective

Abstract Among the most controversial of public health measures are those that restrict people’s freedom of choice presumably for the purpose of protecting their own health and safety. Mandatory use of automobile seatbelts can inspire allusions to the “tyranny of health” and the ‘health police. ” This study revisits state seatbelt legislation, which is in force in all but one state of the USA. In modeling seatbelt mandates as indefinitely repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma (PD) games, the study qualifies and overcomes the limitations of conventional interest group and expressive voting theories. It indicates why and how utility-maximizing players, particularly carmakers, insurance companies, consumer advocates and regulators, may choose to cooperate, even in instances where mutual defection would bring each of them higher payoffs. The study suggests why state seatbelt mandates endure, despite ongoing concerns that they undermine individual autonomy or that their social costs outweigh the benefits of law-enforcement. The evolution and mediating effects of reputation and reciprocity in otherwise highly contestable healthcare decisions are consequently explored. Finally, the study identifies the implications of indefinitely repeated games on the continuing nature of strategic relationships and for mitigating conflict over traffic safety regulation, regardless of time and place.
Measurement of the arterial concentration of Gd‐DTPA using MRI: A step toward quantitative perfusion imaging

A noninvasive method using an inversion recovery turbo‐FLASH for dynamic measurement of the arterial input function represented by the bolus passage of Gd‐DTPA in the descending aorta is presented, and the results are compared with the input function obtained by arterial blood samples. A good accordance between the two input functions was found, indicating that it is possible to measure the input function to the myocardium using MRI. A variation between the two concentration curves of 5% at upslope, 2.7% at peak point, and <7% at downslope was found. The study also indicates that a short inversion time <250 ms has to be used to ensure correct measurement of peak concentration.
An approach to reducing distance compression in audiovisual virtual environments

Perception of distances in virtual reality (VR) is compressed: objects are consistl:ntly perceived u closer than intended. Allhougb this phenomenon has been well documented, it is still not fully understood or defined with respect to dle factors influencing such compression. This ill a problem in scenarios where veri.di. cal perception of distance and scale ill essential. We report the results of an experiment investigating an approach to reducing distance compression in audiovisual VR based on a predictive model of distance perception. Our test enviroomeot involved photorealistic 3D images captured through stereo photography, with corresponding spatial audio rendered binaurally over headphones. In a perceptual matclring task, participants positioned an auditory stimulus with respect to the corresponding visual stimulus. We found a high correlation between the distaDce perception predicted by our model and bow participants perceived the distance. Tbrough automated manipulation of the audio and visual displays based on the model, our approach can be used to reposition auditory and visual components of a scene to reduce distance compression. The approach is adaptable to different environments and agnostic of scene content, and can be calibrated to individual observers.
Site‐directed inhibition of DNA replication by triple helix formation

Sequence‐specific DNA recognition can be achieved by the use of triplex‐forming molecules, namely, oligonucleotides (TFO) and peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). They have been used to regulate transcription or induce genomic DNA modifications at a selected site in cells and, recently, in vivo. We have determined the conditions under which a triplex structure can inhibit DNA replication in cells. An oligopyrimidine‐oligopurine sequence suitable for triplex formation was inserted in a plasmid on both sides of the SV40 origin of replication. This insert‐containing plasmid was replicated in COS‐1 cells together with the parent plasmid, and the ratio between the corresponding replicated DNAs was quantitated. Selective inhibition of replication of the insert‐containing plasmid can be ascribed to ligand binding to the oligopyrimidine‐oligopurine sequence. Inhibition of DNA replication was observed using triplex‐forming molecules that induce either covalent binding at the double‐stranded target sequence (with TFO‐psoralen conjugate and irradiation) or noncovalent triplex formation after strand displacement (with bis‐PNA). In contrast, in the absence of covalent cross‐linking, TFOs (which have been shown to arrest transcription elongation) did not act on replication. These results open new perspectives for future design and use of specific inhibitors of intracellular DNA information processing. —Diviacco, S. , Rapozzi, V. , Xodo, L. , Hélène, C. , Quadrifoglio, F. , Giovannangeli, C. Site‐directed inhi‐bition of DNA replication by triple helix formation. FASEB J. 15, 2660–2668 (2001)
1.8-W Room Temperature Pulsed Operation of Substrate-Emitting Quantum Cascade Lasers

High-power broad area substrate-emitting distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade laser emitting at λ ~ 4.6 μm is reported. Proper second-order DFB grating coupling, low waveguide loss mechanism, and epilayer-down mounting bring about a high vertical radiative optical power. The maximum peak power is as high as 1.82 W at 20 <sup>°</sup>C and still 1.22 W at 50 <sup>°</sup>C operated in pulsed mode with a pulsed width of 1 μs and duty cycle of 0.2%. A single-lobed radiation far-field with a divergence angle of 7.9 <sup>°</sup> in the ridge-width direction and two-lobed radiation far-field with a divergence angle of 0.61 <sup>°</sup> in the cavity-length direction are achieved by depositing the high-reflection coatings on both facets. Robust single-mode emission is continuously tunable by the heat sink temperature up to 115 <sup>°</sup>C.
Focal Left Atrial Tachycardias Not Associated with Prior Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Clinical and Electrophysiological Characteristics

Background: The clinical features and electrophysiological characteristics of patients with focal left atrial tachycardias (LATs) are not well characterized. This study reports the experience of a single center in catheter mapping and radiofrequency ablation of focal LAT not associated with prior atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, including in cardiac sarcoidosis and transplant patients.