Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linking Induced Technological Change , Competitiveness and Environmental Regulation : Evidence from Patenting in the U . S . Auto Industry

This article examines firms’ innovation activities in response to U.S. technology-forcing auto emissions standards enacted between 1970 and 1998. Patent applications in automobile emission control technologies were used as a measure of firms’ innovative responses to regulatory pressures. In addition, we extensively studied secondary literature and industry specific records and conducted targeted interviews with experts involved in the development. Findings of this study provide new evidence that supports the Porter hypothesis: the performance based technology-forcing auto emissions regulations induced technological innovation and led domestic U.S. firms to become relatively more innovative when compared to their foreign rivals. Overall, this study suggests that properly technology-forcing regulations have the potential to induce technological innovation, in particular radical innovation. Findings also imply that domestic firms may establish competitive advantage over rival firms by reacting proactively in the early phase of the regulatory era. * The authors of this article would like to thank Peter Thomson, Edward S. Rubin, M. Granger Morgan, David Gerard, and John Ettlie for their constructive feedbacks. We also thank seminar participants at the Carnegie Mellon University, the Academy of Management Conference, Innovation Research Network (IRN) Conference, the International Conference on Technology Policy and management, and the International Motor Vehicle Program (IMVP). Funding for this work was provided by the Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) at Carnegie Mellon University, the IMVP, and the National Science Foundation (Award 522190). Any errors remain our own.
Cerebral toxoplasmosis in an allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplant recipient: case report and review of literature

Abstract: We present a patient who underwent allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplantation (PSCT) for chronic myelocytic leukemia. Twenty months after the PSCT he experienced status epilepticus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a focus in the ventral thalamus–hypothalamus region. Using stereotactic biopsy with histology and specific polymerase chain reaction investigation from brain tissue, cerebral toxoplasmosis was diagnosed and treated with antiparasitic therapy. Early recognition of such serious and potentially lethal disease enabled prompt specific treatment. This case report emphasizes the role of stereotactic biopsy in diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis. Other methods such as MRI are non‐invasive but not sufficiently specific and sensitive.
The usefulness of stone density and patient stoutness in predicting extracorporeal shock wave efficiency: Results in a North African ethnic group.

INTRODUCTION We determine the role of stone density and skin-to-stone distance (SSD) by non-contrast computed tomography of the kidneys, ureters and bladder (CT-KUB) in predicting the success of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). METHODS We evaluated 89 patients who received ESWL for renal and upper ureteric calculi measuring 5 to 20 mm, over a 12-month period. The mean stone density in Hounsfield units (HU) and mean SSD in mm was determined on pre-treatment CT-KUB at the CT workstation. ESWL was successful if post-treatment residual stone fragments were ≤3 mm. RESULTS ESWL success was observed in 68.5% of patients. Mean stone densities were 505 ± 153 and 803 ± 93 HU in the ESWL successful and failure groups, respectively (p < 0.001, student's t-test). The mean SSD were 10.6 ± 2.0 and 11.2 ± 2.6 cm in ESWL successful and failure groups, respectively; this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that stone density can help to predict the outcome of ESWL. We propose that stone density <500 HU are highly likely to result in successful ESWL. Conversely, stone densities >800 HU are less likely to be successful.
Use of gabapentin, esmolol or their combination to attenuate haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation.

BACKGROUND Laryngoscopy and intubation increases blood pressure and heart rate. OBJECTIVE The study aims to investigate the effect and safety of gabapentin, esmolol or their combination on the haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation. METHODS A total of 72 patients undergoing elective surgery were randomly allocated to one of the four groups. First study drug was administered orally as gabapentin 1200mg or placebo. Second study drug was administered intravenously as esmolol 1.5mg/ kg or normal saline. Heart rate, rate pressure product, systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were recorded at baseline and at zero, one, three and five minutes after tracheal intubation. RESULTS Baseline values were compared with the values at various time intervals within the same group. In group PE (placebo, esmolol), there was significant decrease in heart rate and rate pressure product at five minutes. In group GN (gabapentin, normal saline), there was significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure at five minutes. In group GE (gabapentin, esmolol), there was significant decrease in heart rate at zero, three and five minutes. Systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and rate pressure product was significantly lower at three and five minutes. In group PN (placebo, normal saline), there was significant increase in heart rate at zero, one, three and five minutes; systolic blood pressure at zero and one minutes; mean arterial pressure at zero and one minutes and rate pressure product at zero, one and three minutes. In group GN (gabapentin, normal saline), there was significant increase in heart rate at zero, one and three minutes and rate pressure product at zero, one and three minutes. In group PE (placebo, esmolol), there was significant increase in systolic blood pressure at zero and one minutes and mean arterial pressure at zero and one minutes. However, in group GE (gabapentin, esmolol) none of the variables showed statistically significant increase at any time. Inter-group comparison was made for each time point. At zero minute, there was significant difference in heart rate between groups PN and GE, GN and PE and GN and GE Significant difference was also noted in rate pressure product between PN and GE at zero minute. At one minute there was difference in heart rate between PN and PE, PN and GE, GN and PE and between GN and GE. Significant difference was observed in rate pressure product between PN and PE amd between PN and GE at one minute. No significant side effects of the study drugs were observed. CONCLUSIONS Combination of gabapentin and esmolol in this study design is safe and better attenuates both the pressor and tachycardic response to laryngoscopy and intubation, than either agent alone.
Business process modeling in Web service-based healthcare systems

Web services composition is an emerging paradigm for enabling inter and intra organizational integration, and a landscape of languages and techniques for modeling business processes in web service based environments has emerged and is continuously being enriched. With the advent of modeling standards, different business sectors are investigating the options for modeling their workflows. In terms of business process modeling, healthcare is a rather complex sector of activity. Indeed, modeling healthcare processes presents special requirements dictated by the complicated and dynamic nature of these processes as well as by the specificity and diversity of the actors involved in these processes. Little effort has been dedicated to evaluating the capabilities and limitations of modeling languages based on healthcare requirements. This thesis presents a set of healthcare requirements and proposes an evaluation framework for process modeling languages based on these requirements. The suitability of three major processbased service composition languages, namely BPEL, BPMN and WS-CDL, is evaluated. To my beloved parents Abbas and Marziyeh, and my sisters Parvaneh and Fatemeh, who supported me with their love and encouragement
Does asset specificity influence transaction costs and adoption? An analysis of sugarcane farmers in the Great Barrier Reef catchments

ABSTRACT A number of improved farming activities (IFAs) have been proven to reduce the sediment and nutrient impact of sugarcane farming on the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef (Australia). Some of these also have the potential to improve the profitability of sugarcane farming. Despite this, sugarcane farmers remain reluctant to adopt these practices which suggest that perhaps the transaction costs of adoption are greater than the benefits. In this paper we classify IFAs as requiring investments in assets that are either highly asset-specific or of low asset specificity. Specificity relates to how transferable the investment is to other parts of the farming operation. Following a survey of sugarcane farmers we find that sugarcane farmers adopting IFAs considered to be of low asset specificity have the highest transaction costs. We provide some explanations for this result, some policy recommendations and also highlight some issues relating to the application of a theoretical construct such as asset specificity to real-world problem analysis.
The Calponin Homology Domain of Vav1 Associates with Calmodulin and Is Prerequisite to T Cell Antigen Receptor-induced Calcium Release in Jurkat T Lymphocytes*

Vav1 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that is expressed specifically in hematopoietic cells and plays important roles in T cell development and activation. Vav1 consists of multiple structural domains so as to facilitate both its guanine nucleotide exchange activity and scaffold function following T cell antigen receptor (TCR) engagement. Previous studies demonstrated that the calponin homology (CH) domain of Vav1 is required for TCR-stimulated calcium mobilization and thus downstream activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells. However, it remained obscure how Vav1 functions in regulating calcium flux. In an effort to explore molecules interacting with Vav1, we found that calmodulin bound to Vav1 in a calcium-dependent and TCR activation-independent manner. The binding site was mapped to the CH domain of Vav1. Reconstitution of vav1-null Jurkat T cells (J.Vav1) with CH-deleted Vav1 exhibited a severe deficiency in calcium release to the same extent as that of Jurkat cells treated with the calmodulin inhibitor or J.Vav1 cells. The defect persisted even when phospholipase-Cγ1 was fully activated, indicating a prerequisite role of Vav1 CH domain in calcium signaling. The results suggest that Vav1 and calmodulin function cooperatively to potentiate TCR-induced calcium release. This study unveiled a mechanism by which the Vav1 CH domain is involved in calcium signaling and provides insight into our understanding of the role of Vav1 in T cell activation.
Incidence of normal pineal and chroids plexus calcification on brain CT (computerized tomography) at Tikur Anbessa Teaching Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of normal calcification of pineal gland and choroids plexus on Brain -CT (computerized Tomography) and to see its association with age and sex. METHOD A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Radiology Department, Tikur Anbessa Teaching Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from May 2001 to August 2002. A total of 518 patients; 312 males and 206 females underwent brain-CT without pineal or choroids plexus pathology. RESULTS The over all incidence of normal pineal gland calcification was 72.0 % and that of choroid plexus 43.3 %. The incidence of normal pineal gland and choroids plexus calcification were higher in males than in females by 13.1% and 6.0% respectively. The frequency of pineal gland and choroids plexus calcification showed a steady increase with age on both sex groups. CONCLUSION The incidence of normal pineal gland calcification in this study is similar to most of the findings of other studies while the incidence of choroids plexus calcification was lower as compared the finding of other studies.
INFLUENCE OF EMPOWERMENT ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE: A CASE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ IN KAKAMEGA CENTRAL DISTRICT, KENYA

Employee empowerment seeks to increase the employees’ responsibility, build their morale and improve the quality of their work life by creating a working environment where an employee is allowed to make his own decisions or participate in the decisions of the management in specific work-related situations. Ideally, when an employee feels valued in an organization, he will be more productive, loyal and confident. The main purpose of this study was to establish the influence of employee empowerment on primary school teachers’ performance in Kakamega Central District. , Kenya. The study used descriptive and correlation survey design to collect data from 164 teachers through questionnaires and document analysis. Data was analysed using frequencies, percentages and Pearson’s Product moment correlation coefficient test. The study concluded that the autonomy the teachers’ had in their work execution and the impact of their duties had the greatest influence on teachers’ performance. Competence, manifested as training, knowledge and skills they possessed had a minimal effect on teachers’ performance. The study recommends that employees should be encouraged to value their work and be allowed to participate in decision making especially on issues related to task accomplishment in a bid to enhance their performance. © 2014 Elixir All rights reserved ARTICLE INF O Articl e h istory: Received: 12 August 2013; Received in revised form: 2 February 2014; Accepted: 28 February 2014;
Review: Collectins link innate and adaptive immunity in allergic airway disease

Although the lipoprotein complex of pulmonary surfactant has long been recognized as essential for reducing lung surface tension, its role in lung immune host defense has only relatively recently been elucidated. Surfactant-associated proteins A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) can attenuate bacterial and viral infection and inflammation by acting as opsonins and by regulating innate immune cell functions. Surfactant-associated protein A and D also interact with antigen-presenting cells and T cells, thereby linking the innate and adaptive immune systems. A recent study from our laboratory demonstrated that mice deficient in SP-A have enhanced susceptibility to airway hyper-responsiveness and lung inflammation induced by Mycoplasma pneumonia, an atypical bacterium present in the airways of approximately 50% of asthmatics experiencing their first episode, and further supports an important role for SP-A in the host response to allergic airway disease. Animal and human studies suggest that alterations in the functions or levels of SP-A and SP-D are associated with both infectious and non-infectious chronic lung diseases such as asthma. Future studies are needed to elucidate whether alterations in SP-A and SP-D are a consequence and/or cause of allergic airway disease.
Intravascular ultrasound-guided optimized stent deployment. Immediate and 6 months clinical and angiographic results from the Multicenter Ultrasound Stenting in Coronaries Study (MUSIC Study)

OBJECTIVES A study was set up to validate the safety and feasibility of intravascular ultrasound-guided stenting without subsequent anticoagulation, and its impact on the 6 months restenosis rate. METHODS The study was designed to be multicentred, prospective, and observational. RESULTS One hundred and sixty-one patients with stable angina and a de novo coronary artery lesion were enrolled. In four patients, the implantation of a Palmaz-Schatz (with spiral bridge) stent had failed. One of these four patients died 3 days following bypass surgery. In two other patients, intravascular ultrasound assessment was not performed. One hundred and twenty-five of the remaining 155 patients (81%) were treated with aspirin (100 mg x day(-1)), because all three criteria for optimized stent expansion were met. Twenty-two of the remaining 38 patients (25%), in whom at least one criterion was not met were treated with aspirin and acenocoumarol (3 months, INR 2.5-3.5), while 16 patients only received aspirin. Stent thrombosis was documented in two patients (1.3%) for which repeat angioplasty was performed. During the hospital stay, there were no deaths or Q-wave myocardial infarctions. Five patients (3.2%) sustained a non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. During the follow-up period (198+/-38 days, complete for all patients, except one), one patient (0.6%) sustained a Q-wave myocardial infarction, one (0.6%) underwent bypass surgery, and repeat angioplasty was performed in nine patients (5.7%). In two of the nine patients, repeat angioplasty involved another lesion. Therefore, the target lesion revascularization rate during follow-up was 4.5% (seven patients). At quantitative coronary angiography, the minimal lumen diameter (mean+/-SD) increased from 1.12+/-0.34 mm before to 2.89+/-0.35 mm after stenting. Repeat angiography at 6 months was performed in 144 patients (92%). The minimal lumen diameter at follow-up was 2.12+/-0.67 mm. Restenosis (diameter stenosis of 50% or more) was documented in 12 patients or 8.3%. When the two patients with documented stent thrombosis are included, the restenosis rate amounts to 97%. CONCLUSIONS These data confirm that, in selected patients, stents can safely be implanted without the use of systemic anticoagulation, provided optimal stent expansion is achieved. The exact role of intravascular ultrasound in the achievement of these results needs to be established by appropriately designed studies. In the meantime, intravascular ultrasound coupled with the Palmaz-Schatz stent incorporating a spiral bridge, may have contributed considerably to the immediate angiographic outcome, which in turn may explain the favourable clinical and angiographic outcome at 6 months.
Effect of adhesion on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production in purified human neutrophils

The production of nitric oxide (NO) within neutrophils is an important element of the innate immune response. We have previously shown that cytokines (IL‐1α, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha and interferon‐gamma) induce human neutrophils in buffy coat preparations to produce iNOS. In order to define better the exact requirements for iNOS production within human neutrophils, we have studied the conditions needed for the production of iNOS in purified neutrophils. In contrast to buffy coat preparations, purified neutrophils in suspension did not produce an increase in iNOS following addition of cytokines. However, when purified neutrophils were allowed to adhere to glass surfaces either uncoated or coated with fetal calf serum (FCS), plasma, fibronectin or laminin, there was an increase in the percentage of iNOS‐positive cells. The addition of cytokines during adhesion of these cells increased this proportion further. This was most marked for glass alone and FCS‐coated glass on which the proportion of iNOS‐positive cells increased to 22·7% and 35·5%, respectively, a significant increase compared with cytokine‐treated neutrophils in suspension. Neither transmigration through activated endothelial monolayers nor the addition of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 to purified neutrophil suspensions increased the percentage of iNOS‐positive cells following cytokine stimulation. Adhesion of neutrophils to surfaces coated with IgG or complement also failed to increase cytokine‐induced iNOS production. We conclude that iNOS production in human neutrophils requires not only cytokine stimulation, but also additional stimuli from adhesion to a surface.
Lead Manager’s Reputation and Aftermarket Survival of Initial Public Offerings: Empirical Evidence from India

This article examines the effect of lead manager’s (LM) reputation on the survival profile of Indian initial public offerings (IPO) in the post-Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) era. The study analyzes the relationship between the involvement of expert intermediary and the probability of delisting as well as the time duration of post-IPO failure. For this, logistic regression and parametric survival analysis models have been employed. The study reveals that IPOs backed by highly reputed LMs are less likely to get delisted and exhibit longer survival duration in the market. Overall, the results indicate that expert market intermediary plays a crucial role in acquiring the resources for successful development of newly listed issues, which in turn enhance its survivability in the aftermarket. The present study provides all new evidence on the value of reputable LMs’ involvement on subsequent survival of newly listed firms.
The Small Heat Shock Protein Hsp22 of Drosophila melanogaster Is a Mitochondrial Protein Displaying Oligomeric Organization*

Drosophila melanogaster has four main small heat shock proteins (Hsps), D. melanogaster Hsp22 (DmHsp22), Hsp23 (DmHsp23), Hsp26 (DmHsp26), and Hsp27 (DmHsp27). These proteins, although they have high sequence homology, show distinct developmental expression patterns. The function(s) of each small heat shock protein is unknown. DmHsp22 is shown to localize in mitochondria both in D. melanogaster S2 cells and after heterologous expression in mammalian cells. Fractionation of mitochondria indicates that DmHsp22 resides in the mitochondrial matrix, where it is found in oligomeric complexes, as shown by sedimentation and gel filtration analysis and by cross-linking experiments. Deletion analysis using a DmHsp22-EGFP construct reveals that residues 1–17 and an unknown number of residues between 17–28 are necessary for import. Site-directed mutagenesis within a putative mitochondrial motif (WRMAEE) at positions 8–13 shows that the first four residues are necessary for mitochondrial localization. Immunoprecipitation results indicate that there is no interaction between DmHsp22 and the other small heat shock proteins. The mitochondrial localization of this small Hsp22 ofDrosophila and its high level of expression in aging suggests a role for this small heat shock protein in protection against oxidative stress.
Financial Flexibility Demand on Corporate Financial Decisions

Financial flexibility is a firm's ability to deploy its financial resources to meet future financing needs. Flexibility-building firms' financial decisions are geared toward building up financial flexibility --- maintain low leverage by issuing equity in order to raise cash. As firms progress and start making investments, they utilize their financial resources --- flexibility-utilizing firms increase debt and use reserved cash in order to exercise investment options. As more cash flows are generated and investment opportunities diminish, firms recharge their financial flexibility by repaying debt and increasing cash using internal funds. The findings have important implications for previously documented empirical regularities.