Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Sickle Cell Disease Educational Website for Emergency Providers

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex multisystem debilitating disease. Despite its complexity, health care providers who are not SCD experts receive little formal education on SCD. An open-access, educational website, “Emergency Department Sickle Cell Disease: Crisis Management and Beyond,” was created to provide education about SCD to emergency department (ED) providers who are not SCD experts but who provide care for patients with SCD. Electronic surveys were used to conduct a formal evaluation of the accuracy and relevance of the website's content, as well as the effectiveness of the education modules in improving knowledge among health care providers. The evaluation consisted of (1) individual module pre- and post-knowledge assessment, (2) content validity assessment of educational modules, (3) overall website content assessment, and (4) overall website assessment (Health on the Net core principles). A convenient sample of ED providers, accelerated bachelor of science in nursing students, SCD experts, and website experts completed the anonymous surveys. Descriptive statistics and paired t tests were used to compare mean difference in post- minus pre-knowledge test scores. Knowledge scores statistically improved for nursing students (p value less than 0.0001). Emergency department providers showed a mean improvement of 3.2 points on the eight-item knowledge assessment. Both SCD experts and ED providers agreed that the module content was clear and easy to understand, accurate, comprehensive, relevant, and met module objectives. Participants agreed that the website was clear, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. Website experts stated that the website met much of the Health on the Net criteria. The website is a useful resource for providers and nursing students, especially those who serve or plan to serve in EDs.
Voluntary Adoption of More Stringent Governance Policy on Audit Committees: Theory and Empirical Evidence

ABSTRACT: This study exploits an exogenous change to audit committee policy in Canada and presents new evidence on how high-quality corporate governance mitigates managerial resource diversion and improves firm values. We first examine why some firms listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX Venture) voluntarily adopted the more stringent governance policy in 2004 that requires all audit committee members to be independent and financially literate. We develop a parsimonious analytical model that shows that both compliance costs and financing needs have an impact on firms' adoption decisions. Confirming the model's predictions, we find that TSX Venture firms with low compliance costs and greater future financing needs are more likely to adopt the new policy voluntarily. The analytical model also shows that high-quality audit committees enhance firm values by reducing the likelihood of managerial resource diversion. Consistent with the predictions of our analytical model, we find that the adoption decisio.
Marriage Market, Parents Bargaining Powers, and Children's Nutrition and Education

Test of resource pooling and test of effect of sex ratio in the marriage market on intrahousehold resource allocation are combined to test the unitary household model. The consistency condition between the two tests is derived to test the Nash household bargaining and Pareto-efficient household models. I examine intrahousehold resource allocation to children's nutrition and education in Indonesia. For children's nutrition, the unitary household model is rejected in favour of the non-unitary models. The results for investment in education are mixed. The decision-making process may differ depending on the type of decision being made. Copyright 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Board structure and monitoring effects in different institutional settings: a comparison between Italy and the UK

This paper analyses how investor protection provided by the institutional setting in which a firm operates affects the quality of its board of directors. It also investigates whether firms operating in contexts with weaker investor protection rely more on internal corporate governance to prevent dysfunctional behaviour by insiders. This is achieved by the analysis of a matched pair sample of firms listed on the Italian and the UK stock markets. The results indicate that the board composition and structure are of higher quality in the UK. Our findings also suggest that the effectiveness of a boards' monitoring, measured by its ability to mitigate earnings management, is stronger in Italy. Thus, in a context where the institutional setting provides less investor protection, firm-level governance can substitute for the institutional deficit.
Managing non-profit organisations: towards a new approach

This paper puts forth the thesis that the management of non-profit organisations is often ill understood because we proceed from the wrong assumptions about how these organisations operate. Based on this premise, this paper develops a model of the non-profit form as a conglomerate of multiple organisations with multiple bottom lines that demand a variety of different management approaches and styles: a holistic conception that emphasises the diversity of orientations within and outside the organisation; a normative dimension that includes not only economic aspects but also the importance of values and politics; a strategic-developmental dimension that sees organisations as evolving systems encountering problems and opportunities that frequently involve fundamental dilemmas; and an operative dimension that deals with the everyday functioning of organisations. In a third part, the paper presents the basic contours of an analytic approach that tries to accommodate the distinct management challenges faced by non-profit organisations.
Analyses of Five Gallinacin Genes and the Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Response in Poultry

ABSTRACT Gallinacins in poultry are functional equivalents of mammalian beta-defensins, which constitute an integral component of the innate immune system. Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is a gram-negative bacterium that negatively affects both human and animal health. To analyze the association of genetic variations of the gallinacin genes with the phenotypic response to S. enterica serovar Enteritidis, an F1 population of chickens was created by crossing four outbred broiler sires to dams of two highly inbred lines. The F1 chicks were evaluated for bacterial colonization after pathogenic S. enterica serovar Enteritidis inoculation and for circulating antibody levels after inoculation with S. enterica serovar Enteritidis bacterin vaccine. Five candidate genes were studied, including gallinacins 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. Gene fragments were sequenced from the founder individuals of the resource population, and a mean of 13.2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) per kilobase was identified. One allele-defining SNP per gene was utilized to test for statistical associations of sire alleles with progeny response to S. enterica serovar Enteritidis. Among the five gallinacin genes evaluated, the Gal3 and Gal7 SNPs in broiler sires were found to be associated with antibody production after S. enterica serovar Enteritidis vaccination. Utilization of these SNPs as molecular markers for the response to S. enterica serovar Enteritidis may result in the enhancement of the immune response in poultry.
Betting Against Uncovered Interest Rate Parity

An ever growing number of allegedly savvy investors exploit interest rate differentials by borrowing in low-yield currencies or by investing in high-yield currencies. Uncovered interest rate parity (UIP) assumes that high-yield currencies depreciate and that low-yield currencies appreciate so that currency movements exactly countervail interest rate differentials on average. If UIP held, betting against interest rate differentials would turn out to be a futile gamble, leaving investors with a profit of zero in the long run. Although UIP seems to draw on sound foundations, empirical work produces ample evidence for its systematic failure. Deviation from UIP is a well-established feature commonly known as the “UIP puzzle” or the “forward rate anomaly”. This thesis sheds light on potential explanations by interpreting deviation from UIP as compensation for bearing risk. The introductory part of this work provides a comprehensive literature review on deviation from UIP. It starts with a summary on studies testing for departure from UIP where particular emphasis is put on work based on exchange rate surveys. The literature aiming at a solution of the puzzle is then presented by categorizing existing contributions into four broad theory blocks, viz. explanations relating the forward rate anomaly to either (1) market irrationality, (2) in-sample bias, (3) regime shifts and heterogeneous beliefs or to (4) currency risk premia. The main part first examines risk-reward opportunities of carry trades, which is an increasingly prominent form of speculation against UIP. It is shown that carry trade activity exposes investors to potentially large losses in times of financial crises. This finding is supported by results from a multivariate GARCH analysis, which reveals that carry traders experience a diversification meltdown in times of equity market downturns. In fact, the correlation between returns on carry trades and returns on global equity markets gets out of hand during stock market crises. The UIP puzzle dwindles if the alleged anomaly is tackled with consumptionbased asset pricing models (C-CAPM). A conditional C-CAPM using ultimate consumption as the risk factor can explain a surprisingly large fraction of the total cross-sectional variation in deviation from UIP. The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) proves to be similarly successful if the model is upgraded by an additional factor capturing coskewness with equity market returns. In view of these results, betting against UIP appears to be a bold venture because excess returns simply reflect risk premia.
Re-defining self after limb loss: A psychological perspective

The loss of a limb is a traumatic and far-reaching event and often represents a struggle for survival, psychosocial adaptation and re-defining of self. In this case study presentation, a patient's relationship with disability is explored by means of a comprehensive model in understanding and assessing the trauma journey. The value of projective techniques and narrative therapy will be highlighted in the process of re-defining self. It is hoped that professionals working with patients with limb loss will be able to intervene constructively and engage in taking-it-back practices.
Resource‐based competition and the new operations strategy

Argues that operations strategy research should integrate recent theories from the resource‐based view of strategic management. Going beyond the model of Hayes and Wheelwright, this would call for the end of the market‐based view, where operations strategy merely follows the directions set by the marketing function. It would emphasize the dynamic development and leveraging of competencies and capabilities in order to set new business diversification strategies. A new paradigm of operations strategy could emerge, where “management fundamentals” such as learning and culture would be actively integrated within operations, in order to become key sources of competitive advantage. Accordingly, the operations function could progressively: take the leadership of strategy formulation; create “portfolios” of optional capabilities for strategies of organizational agility; and implement world‐class practices more effectively through evolutionary strategic frameworks.
Co-creation and co-profiting in financial services

Co-creation can be useful to develop financial services relevant to customer needs. However, role of customers in financial innovation seems to be controversial. In this qualitative study we focus on: the characteristics of users who can qualify for co-creation, the process of co-creation, and profit-seeking customers. Our findings suggest that financial institutions tend to select customers who are more demanding and who have a possibility to cooperate (in retail markets), and those customers with whom they have longstanding and intertwined relationships (in corporate markets). Financial innovators differ in a way they cooperate with users. We proposed the typology of innovation and introduced the notion of co-profiting proved in the case of co-creation commercialised jointly; however, we did not find evidence of user-centred innovation commercialised by producer as well as user’s innovation commercialised jointly.
Biomechanical Evaluation of Two Techniques for Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background This research was undertaken to determine whether there is a need for a second tibial tunnel in anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Hypothesis Anatomic two-bundle reconstruction with two tibial tunnels restores knee anterior tibial translation in response to 134 N and to 5-N·m internal tibial torque combined with 10-N·m valgus torque more closely to normal than does double-bundle reconstruction with one tibial tunnel. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Ten cadaveric knees were subjected to a 134-N anterior tibial load at 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90° and to 5-N·m internal tibial torque and 10-N·m valgus torque at 15° and 30°. Resulting knee kinematics and in situ force in the anterior cruciate ligament or replacement graft were determined by using a robotic/universal force-moment sensor testing system for (1) intact, (2) anterior cruciate ligament–deficient, (3) double-bundle/one tibial tunnel, and (4) double-bundle/two tibial tunnels. Results Anterior tibial translation for the reconstruction with two tibial tunnels was significantly closer to that of the intact knee than was the reconstruction with one tibial tunnel at 0° and 30° of flexion (0° = 3.82 vs 6.0 mm, P < .05; 30° = 7.99 vs 11 mm, P < .05). The in situ force normalized to the intact anterior cruciate ligament for the reconstruction with two tibial tunnels was significantly higher than the in situ force of the reconstruction with one tibial tunnel (30° = 89 vs 82 N, P < .05). With a combined rotatory load, the anterior tibial translation of specimens with a tibial two-tunnel technique was significantly lower than that of specimens with one tunnel (0° = 5.7 vs 8.4 mm, P < .05; 30° = 7.5 vs 9.5 mm, P < .05). Conclusions Anatomic reconstruction with two tibial tunnels may produce a better biomechanical outcome, especially close to extension. Clinical Relevance At the time of initial fixation, there appears to be a small biomechanical advantage to the second tibial tunnel in the setting of two-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
SME internationalisation: offshoring, “backshoring”, or staying at home in New Zealand

Purpose – This paper aims to focus on production offshoring and “backshoring” in a representative sample of 151 New Zealand manufacturers. It identifies how and why firms offshore; why many increase their offshoring while others “backshore”; and why most firms continue to compete internationally without offshoring. Design/methodology/approach – Data collection used a two-wave postal questionnaire survey of 676 firms, with a usable response rate of 22.3 per cent and no indication of non-response bias. Findings – Most exporters manufactured only from their New Zealand base, but 44 per cent had outsourced some production offshore in the period 2001 to 2011. Among the 67 offshored firms, 11 had then “backshored” to New Zealand. The main reasons for offshoring were lower labour costs and capacity constraints in New Zealand. “Backshoring” occurs when lower labour costs become offset by impaired capabilities in flexibility/delivery; quality; and the value of the Made in New Zealand brand especially among consume.
The Emergence of Convergent Price Clusters in China

This paper reports new evidence on the existence of both large and small price divergent clusters for China's energy markets, 2000–2009. The largest convergent price clusters suggest that the coal and gasoline markets are well integrated, however, small convergent price clusters suggest that electricity and diesel markets are proving harder to integrate. The paper argues that the traditional approach to price convergence analysis should be applied with caution, especially in a transitional economy such as China where questions to be asked should relate to the ‘degree of market‐orientation’ and not simply whether it is a market‐based economy or not.
Evaluation and comparison of RFI detection algorithms

Anthropogenic Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is an increasing problem in microwave remote sensing radiometry. Therefore, there is a growing interest on methods to detect and filter RFI. In this study, the performance of several different detection algorithms has been studied and compared to detect Continuous Wave (CW), QPSK modulated, and pulse modulated (with 0.1%, 1%, and 10% duty cycles) RFI. The mission scenario corresponds a spaceborne, polar-orbiting, conically scanning microwave radiometer. However, the qualitative results (e.g., the relative performances of algorithms) are applicable to other scenarios as well. It has been shown that RFI detection thresholds in 1 K range can be achieved in this scenario if complementary RFI detection algorithms can be incorporated in the system, e.g., in a digital RFI processor. Even 0.1 K level can be achieved for pulsed RFI with low duty cycles. Kurtosis and spectral kurtosis are effective in detecting pulsed RFI but not optimal in detecting constant envelope signals (such as CW or QPSK). Spectral Density Estimation and polarimetry, on the other hand, have a performance that is independent on the modulation or duty cycle of the RFI - they are sensitive to the average power.
Learning Community Transitions in the First Year: A Case Study of Academic and Social Network Change.

Residential learning communities often focus on easing first-year students' transitions to college by emphasizing the creation of peer social and academic relationships. However, this relational process is most often examined through analyzing individual student characteristics, behaviors, and attitudes. This study used network analysis to elucidate the process of residential com- munity development. Specifically, it examined academic and social integration by comparing peer networks generated through a theme-based residential learning community with a random-assignment residence hall floor. Results suggested that learning communities may create an environment where first- year students form academic and social ties more quickly, although these levels were not sustained into the second semester.
Air Quality in Hong Kong: A Study of the Perception of International Visitors

This paper reports on a study of the views of 1304 international travellers about their perception of air quality in Hong Kong. Findings indicated that the respondents generally did not perceive the air quality in Hong Kong as a concern when they chose to travel; they had a neutral view of this issue. However, after their visit they considered Hong Kong's air quality in both indoor and outdoor environments as worse than in their home countries. Many visitors were willing to pay an additional departure tax to fund improvements. The findings of this study have implications for decision-makers in formulating more sustainable planning policies to deal with this important environmental issue.
The Impact of Market Maker Competition on Nasdaq Spreads

This study utilizes a comprehensive database containing monthly information on the number of market makers for about 5,288 Nasdaq securities over an eight-year period to investigate the impact of competition on spreads. A variety of models are estimated in order to demonstrate the robustness of the results that include four specific findings: (1) the number of market makers has a negative and highly significant impact on spreads; (2) the relation is nonlinear with a decreasing impact by the marginal market maker; (3) Nasdaq spreads have been declining over time; and (4) structural changes in Nasdaq are associated with significant changes in the relationship between spread and the number of market makers. One improvement over the literature includes allowing endogenous competition through the use of instrumental variables.
Early Word Segmentation in Typically Developing Infants and Infants with Down Syndrome: A Preliminary Study

This paper presents some preliminary data from the first time point of a longitudinal study that is looking at precursors to language development in typically developing infants, and infants with Down syndrome. The skill of interest in this paper is speech segmentation ability, which refers to an infant’s ability to segment and recognise words embedded in fluent speech. Using the preferential listening paradigm, the study replicated findings from previous research, showing that typically developing infants are able to segment words with a strong/weak stress pattern by 10 months, but are not able to segment words with a weak/strong stress pattern. Group analysis suggests that at almost twice the chronological age of the typically developing infants in this study, infants with Down syndrome are able to successfully segment words with a strong/weak stress pattern, but are not yet able to successfully segment words with a weak/strong stress pattern. These results are discussed in relation to infants’ general cognitive ability. The finding that speech segmentation ability was not found to significantly correlate with general cognitive ability or concurrent language ability is also discussed.
Serological and genomic characterization of human rotaviruses detected in China

A total of 1,385 stool specimens were collected from children with diarrhea at two hospitals in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in 1994 and 1995, and screened for rotavirus by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of viral RNA. Group A rotavirus was detected with high frequency; 56.5% (87/154) and 40.8% (502/1,231) of the specimens collected in 1994 and 1995, respectively, were positive for rotavirus. Assignment of G serotype and P type (VP4 genotype) of group A rotavirus by ELISA with monoclonal antibodies and/or PCR, respectively, showed that strains of G2‐P[4] and G1‐P[8] specificity were predominant in 1994 and in 1995, respectively. In contrast, a single strain was found to have a P[9] type specificity, and no G4 strain was detected. Unusual combinations of RNA pattern‐subgroup‐G serotype‐P type, such as long pattern‐subgroup I‐G1‐P[8], short pattern‐subgroup II‐G3‐P[4] and short pattern‐subgroup I‐G1‐P[4], were detected in four specimens. Nucleotide sequences of the VP8* and/or NSP5 genes from two Chinese P[8] strains 470 and 582 and one Chinese P[9] strain 512 as well as five Japanese P[9] strains (K8, AU1, M318, O264, and O265) were determined and compared with the published sequences of the corresponding gene. In the phylogenetic tree of VP8* sequences of P[9] strains, which formed two clusters each having strain K8 or AU‐1 as the representative strain, the Chinese P[9] strain was found in the cluster represented by AU‐1, although it was most distantly related to other strains. While NSP5 sequences of human strains with P[9] specificity were related to simian and bovine strains, that of Chinese P[8] strains was most closely related to those of porcine strains. A single group C rotavirus (No. 208) was detected. Nucleotide sequences of its VP4, VP6, VP7, and NSP4 genes were very similar to those of group C human rotaviruses detected worldwide. J. Med. Virol. 55:168–176, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.