Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Three‐year longitudinal study of genotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a low prevalence population

Objective: To investigate the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis, temporal and spatial distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and associations between genotypes and clinical characteristics, in a low prevalence population. Methods: A total of 930 M. tuberculosis isolates referred to the New South Wales (NSW, Australia) Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory in 2004–2006 were characterised by mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit (MIRU) and spacer oligonucleotide (spoligo) typing. Associations between genotypes, patient age, disease site and drug resistance were explored and the predictive power of molecular typing was analysed using Bayesian Belief Networks. Results: Among isolates from 855 NSW residents, there were 287 spoligotypes, 494 MIRU types and 643 unique spoligotype‐MIRU type combinations. They formed 73 spoligotype, 104 MIRU type and 76 spoligo‐MIRU clusters, most of which contained only two isolates. The majority (87.7%) of spoligotype clusters contained several MIRU profiles and 64.4% of MIRU clusters contained several spoligotypes. The three most common M. tuberculosis clades were Beijing (24.1%), East African Indian (11.8%) and Central Asian (6.5%); 6.9% and 0.7% isolates were resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin, respectively. There was no proof of association between genotype and drug resistance but isoniazid resistance increased independently over time. Given the low rates of genotype clustering, statistical analysis of genotype‐phenotype associations was limited. Potential associations were not confirmed by Bayesian classifiers. Conclusions: Spoligo and MIRU typing demonstrated low levels of M. tuberculosis clustering in NSW; temporal and spatial changes in M. tuberculosis genotypes reflected migration patterns to Australia. No analytically significant associations between M. tuberculosis genotypes and clinical phenotypes were detected.
A cross‐cultural comparison of self‐service technology use

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate cross‐cultural variations in the demographics of consumers using self‐service technologies (SSTs). Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires were randomly distributed to individuals in Sweden and Estonia to analyze their SST usage and demographic characteristics. Sweden and Estonia were chosen because of their cultural differences – Sweden represents an established Western European market, whereas Estonia, a former Soviet republic, is considered an emerging market.Findings – Data analysis revealed that the demographics of Swedish and Estonian SST users are quite different. Swedish users are demographically heterogeneous, whereas Estonian users can be segmented according to age, gender, education, and income.Research limitations/implications – A larger study conducted in several cultures would add to our knowledge of a culture's influence on an individual's SST usage.Practical implications – As this study shows, business models used in Western markets may.
Interactions between Free Cash Flow, Debt Policy and Structure of Governance: Three Stage Least Square Simultaneous Model Approach

This research tests the efficiency of the ownership structure and the debt policy as mechanism of resolution of agency conflicts between shareholders and managers due to the problem of overinvestment, in the limitation of the problem of the free cash flow. By estimating three stage least square simultaneous model and on the basis of a sample of 35 non financial Tunisian listed companies selected for the period 1999–2008, our results are in favor of the theory of free cash flows of Jensen (1986) that stipulates that the debt policy represents the principal governance mechanism that can limit the risk of free cash flow. Also, it is found that managerial ownership lowers the level of agency costs of free cash flow. However, the ownership concentration increases the risk of the free cash flow.
Dynamic Strategic Planning: Achieving Strategic Flexibility Through Formalization

In this article, we present findings on strategic thinking and decision making that result from a series of interviews with executives from six firms in the forest products industry. Drawing from these interviews, the executives suggest that much of their firms’ financial success or lack thereof is derived from their form of strategic planning. Firms which are the most financially successful use a dynamic strategic planning process that combines key elements from both formalized and ad-hoc strategic planning through the addition of strategic flex-points. Poorly-performing firms often adopt a reactive approach to opportunities or threats compared to their more successful competitors and are unable or unwilling to change.
Executive Compensation, Hubris, Corporate Governance: Impact on Managerial Risk Taking and Value Creation in UK High-Tech and Low-Tech Acquisitions

While the traditional agency model assumes managerial risk aversion and under-investment in high tech opportunities, the behavioural agency model allows for risk seeking by managers leading possibly to over-risky investments. Corporate governance mechanisms can correct both under- and over-risky investment thereby ensuring value enhancing high tech acquisitions. Our study builds an empirical optimal risk model to identify the drivers of managerial risk taking by comparing UK high tech and low tech acquisitions. We then classify actual acquisitions into optmally risky, over-risky and under-risky acquisitions. We test whether under-risky and over-risky acquisitions underperform optimally risky ones in terms of 3-year post-acquisition shareholder wealth gains. Our main results demonstrate that almost none of the compensation contracts has an impact on managerial risk preferences in acquisitions while LTIP share awards discourage high risk acquisitions. Good past performance, stock market glamour status and flattering media profile that enhance managerial hubris make acquirer managers risk-seekers. Corporate governance structure does not have a material impact on managers' acquisition risk preferences. We find that over-risky investments create more value than under-risky or optimally risky acquisitions especially during the stock market boom of the late 1990s. During such a boom strategic use of stock as acquisition currency seems to avoid value destruction but not in other time periods.
Professional Culture Compatibility and Performance in International 
Joint Ventures: A Chinese Experience

This research was influenced by Sirmon & Lane's (2004) model of cultural differences and international alliance performance. Sirmon & Lane's model introduced the concept and importance of partners' professional culture compatibility in international alliances. However, to date, their model lacks empirical testing. This research therefore took the study further by empirically investigating the influence of professional culture compatibility between partners and international alliance performance by using a selected sample of Sino-Foreign joint ventures in China. The findings overall support Sirmon & Lane's (2004) model that (1) Partners from similar national cultures experience lesser differences in their professional cultures as opposed to partners from diverse cultures; and, (2) Professional culture differences between partners negatively influence the overall performance of international joint ventures. However, this research also argues that the relationships shown in Sirmon & Lane's (2004) model are not as straightforward as was previously proposed, and the findings suggest several additional factors that contribute to the relationship between partner professional culture compatibility and international alliance performance.
Efficacy of clarithromycin treatment of acute otitis media caused by infection with penicillin-susceptible, -intermediate, and -resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in the chinchilla

Because of the increasing frequencies of recovery of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae from the middle ears of children with acute otitis media, non-beta-lactam antibiotics are being explored as treatment alternatives to amoxicillin. In this study, the efficacy of a 10-day course of clarithromycin was evaluated with chinchillas. After the pharmacokinetic profiles for clarithromycin were established, 180 animals were assigned to one of three susceptibility groups (n = 60/group; penicillin-susceptible, -intermediate, and -resistant S. pneumoniae), and the right middle ear was infected with the appropriate strain of S. pneumoniae. Equal numbers of animals in each group were treated orally beginning on day 2 with a 10-day course of clarithromycin (15 mg/kg of body weight; given twice a day) or amoxicillin as a control (20 mg/kg twice a day). On days 4, 9, and 13, otomicroscopy and tympanometry were performed, and on day 13, the middle ears were cultured for bacteria. The results showed 100% eradication of the challenge organism in both treatment groups for the susceptible strains of S. pneumoniae. Cultures were negative in 87 and 74% (P > 0.05) of the animals challenged with the intermediate resistant strains and in 100 and 56% (P < 0.05) of the animals challenged with the resistant strains and treated with clarithromycin and amoxicillin, respectively. There were no differences between treatments in the diagnosis of effusion for any group. These results support the use of the chinchilla to evaluate drug efficacy in the treatment of acute otitis media and show clarithromycin to be effective in sterilizing the middle ears of animals challenged with penicillin-susceptible, -intermediate, and -resistant strains of S. pneumoniae.
Growth-induced Water Potentials in Plant Cells and Tissues.

A physical analysis of water movement through elongating soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) hypocotyls was made to determine why significant water potentials persist in growing tissues even though the external water potentials were zero and transpiration is virtually zero. The analysis was based on a water transport theory modified for growth and assumed that water for growing cells would move through and along the cells in proportion to the conductivity of the various pathways.Water potentials calculated for individual cells were nearly in local equilibrium with the water potentials of the immediate cell surroundings during growth. However, water potentials calculated for growing tissue were 1.2 to 3.3 bars below the water potential of the vascular supply in those cells farthest from the xylem. Only cells closest to the xylem had water potentials close to that of the vascular supply. Gradients in water potential were steepest close to the xylem because all of the growth-sustaining water had to move through this part of the tissue. Average water potentials calculated for the entire growing region were -0.9 to -2.2 bars depending on the tissue diffusivity.For comparison with the calculations, average water potentials were measured in elongating soybean hypocotyls using isopiestic thermocouple psychrometers for intact and excised tissue. In plants having virtually no transpiration and growing in Vermiculite with a water potential of -0.1 bar, rapidly growing hypocotyl tissue had water potentials of -1.7 to -2.1 bars when intact and -2.5 bars when excised. In mature, nongrowing hypocotyl tissue, average water potentials were -0.4 bar regardless of whether the tissue was intact or excised.The close correspondence between predicted and measured water potentials in growing tissue indicates that significant gradients in water potential are required to move growth-associated water through and around cells over macroscopic distances. The presence of such gradients during growth indicates that cells must have different cell wall and/or osmotic properties at different positions in the tissue in order for organized growth to occur. The mathematical development used in this study represents the philosophy that would have to be followed for the application of contemporary growth theory when significant tissue water potential gradients are present.
Gastric emptying characteristics of glucose and glucose polymer solutions.

Abstract In an effort to evaluate various carbohydrate (CHO) molecules for inclusion in an athletic drink, the gastric emptying characteristics of 5, 10, 20, and 40% solutions of glucose and a glucose polymer were compared. The volume of gastric residue remaining 30 minutes after ingestion of 400 ml of each of the solutions was determined in 15 healthy individuals. The volume of gastric residue recovered increased progressively with increasing solute concentration. At the lowest CHO concentration the glucose polymer yielded a significantly smaller gastric residue than glucose. The smaller residue appeared to be attributable both to a greater rate of exit of the polymer from the stomach as well as to a lower rate of gastric secretion induced by the polymer. The calculated delivery of CHO to the intestine increased with solute concentration. At the lowest CHO concentration the more rapid gastric emptying of the polymer allowed significantly greater calculated CHO delivery. We conclude that at low CHO concen.
The use of quality expectations to segment a service market

Reports some findings with respect to the possibility of classifying service consumers on the basis of their quality expectations. After reviewing traditional types of market segmentation, two hypotheses related to the applicability of service quality expectations as a grouping variable are formulated. Then, findings from a study developed in the tourism industry are presented, using the Chow test to verify the mentioned hypotheses. The study indicates that the segmentation proposed is operational and that, in general, the aspects for which the customers have greater expectations are those which influence their satisfaction to a greater extent. Finally, managerial implications are discussed based on the results of the study
Variation in movement patterns of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) inferred from conventional tagging and ultrasonic telemetry.

We used 25 years of conventional tagging data (n= 6173 recoveries) and 3 years of ultrasonic telemetry data (n=105 transmitters deployed) to examine movement rates and directional preferences of four age classes of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in estuarine and coastal waters of North Carolina. Movement rates of conventionally tagged red drum were dependent on the age, region, and season of tagging. Age-1 and age-2 red drum tagged along the coast generally moved along the coast, whereas fish tagged in oligohaline waters far from the coast were primarily recovered in coastal regions in fall months. Adult (age-4+) red drum moved from overwintering grounds on the continental shelf through inlets into Pamlico Sound in spring and summer months and departed in fall. Few tagged red drum were recovered in adjacent states (0.6% of all recoveries); however, some adult red drum migrated seasonally from overwintering grounds in coastal North Carolina northward to Virginia in spring, returning in fall. Age-2 transmitter-tracked red drum displayed seasonal emigration from a small tributary, but upstream and downstream movements within the tributary were correlated with fluctuating salinity regimes and not season. Large-scale conventional tagging and ultrasonic telemetry programs can provide valuable insights into the complex movement patterns of estuarine fish.
Human CD1D Gene Expression Is Regulated by LEF-1 through Distal Promoter Regulatory Elements

CD1d-expressing cells present lipid Ag to CD1d-restricted NKT cells, which play an important role in immune regulation and tumor rejection. Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor-1 (LEF-1) is one of the regulators of the Wnt signaling pathway, which is a powerful regulator in cellular growth, differentiation, and transformation. There is little evidence connecting Wnt signaling to CD1d expression. In this study, we have identified LEF-1 as a regulator of the expression of the gene encoding the human CD1d molecule (CD1D). We found that LEF-1 binds specifically to the CD1D promoter. Overexpression of LEF-1 in K562 or Jurkat cells suppresses CD1D promoter activity and downregulates endogenous CD1D transcripts, whereas knockdown of LEF-1 using LEF-1–specific small interfering RNA increases CD1D transcripts in K562 and Jurkat cells but there are different levels of surface CD1d on these two cell types. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that the endogenous LEF-1 is situated at the CD1D promoter and interacts with histone deacetylase-1 to facilitate the transcriptional repressor activity. Knockdown of LEF-1 using small interfering RNA potentiates an acetylation state of histone H3/H4, supporting the notion that LEF-1 acts as a transcriptional repressor for the CD1D gene. Our finding links LEF-1 to CD1D and suggests a role of Wnt signaling in the regulation of the human CD1D gene.
The comparison of absorbed dose measurements for water and artificial body fluid

Background: Advances in radiation dosimetry concepts and the development of primary measurement standards based on absorbed dose to water over the last decades offer the possibility to calibrate ionisation chambers directly in terms of absorbed dose to water. The aim of this study is the investigation on utility of artificial body fluid (ABF) instead of water by comparing dosimetric measurements for radiotherapy between water and ABF which is more close to human tissue. Materials and Methods: The measurements were done using 60Co gamma source with a radiation field sizes of 5×5, 10×10, 15×15, 20×20 and 25×25 cm 2 at PTW Freiburg MP3 water phantom front surface. The comparisons of the dose measurements were obtained by using IAEA TRS-398 dosimetry protocols and Mephysto mc 2 dose analyzer program. Percent depth dose (PDD), dose profiles and penumbras are compared for water and ABF. Results: When the results of the PDD for water and ABF were compared, the maximum difference was observed in big field sizes. The difference in penumbras was found 2.3 mm averagely for depth of maximum dose (dmax). In addition same differences were observed between water and ABF when the dose profiles were compared. It is found that PDD values taken for water are good agreed with PDD values published in British Journal of Radiology (BJR) Supplement 25. Conclusion: Since the ABF is more equivalent to human tissue than water, it is suggested that advanced dosimetric studies should
Patients' use of social media: e-rating of doctors.

BACKGROUND Patients are increasingly posting online reviews about their medical care, including rating their doctors. OBJECTIVE This article discusses patients' use of social media to comment on and 'rate' their medical care, with a particular focus on what a general practitioner (GP) can do about a negative online review. DISCUSSION The vast majority of online reviews about doctors are positive. However, the small proportion of negative online reviews can be a source of great distress to those doctors who are the subject of these reviews. GPs should seek advice before considering whether or not to respond to a negative online review.
Quality of pulmonary function testing in 3 large primary care pediatric clinics in rural North Carolina.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary function testing (eg, spirometry) is recommended by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute as part of basic asthma management. Previous research has shown that spirometry is feasible in primary care settings. OBJECTIVES In this retrospective study, we sought to describe the proportion of spirometries meeting American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) quality criteria in children with asthma evaluated in North Carolina primary care pediatric clinics and to characterize predictors of spirometry that meets ATS/ERS quality criteria. METHODS Medical records and spirometries from January 1, 2001, to August 1, 2009, were reviewed and analyzed from children enrolled in a larger asthma study that focused on communication between physicians, children, and caregivers. Children were eligible for the larger study if they were between the ages of 8 and 16 years and had received a previous diagnosis of persistent asthma. Children were enrolled from primary care pediatric practices. RESULTS Spirometry was not acceptable, on the basis of ATS/ERS criteria, in 75% of cases. Approximately 19% of spirometries used incorrect or outdated predictive sets. CONCLUSIONS More than three-quarters of spirometries in these primary care pediatric clinics were unacceptable. Changes or lack of changes in asthma management may be based on unacceptable spirometry. Additional education and training regarding accurate spirometry and interpretation are warranted.
Cancer mortality in German carbon black workers 1976–98

Background: Few studies have investigated cancer risks in carbon black workers and the findings were inconclusive. Methods: The current study explores the mortality of a cohort of 1535 male German blue-collar workers employed at a carbon black manufacturing plant for at least one year between 1960 and 1998. Vital status and causes of death were assessed for the period 1976–98. Occupational histories and information on smoking were abstracted from company records. Standardised mortality ratios (SMR) and Poisson regression models were calculated. Results: The SMRs for all cause mortality (observed deaths (obs) 332, SMR 120, 95% CI 108 to 134), and mortality from lung cancer (obs 50, SMR 218, 95% CI 161 to 287) were increased using national rates as reference. Comparisons to regional rates from the federal state gave SMRs of 120 (95% CI 107 to 133) and 183 (95% CI 136 to 241), respectively. However, there was no apparent dose response relationship between lung cancer mortality and several indicators of occupational exposure, including years of employment and carbon black exposure. Conclusions: The mortality from lung cancer among German carbon black workers was increased. The high lung cancer SMR can not fully be explained by selection, smoking, or other occupational risk factors, but the results also provide little evidence for an effect of carbon black exposure.
Passive protection of mice against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by serum from recently vaccinated mice.

Abstract Serum of mice which had been inoculated 3 days previously with a vaccine (P14F1) prepared from a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa P14 gave passive protection to unvaccinated mice against a lethal i.p. challenge by Ps. aeruginosa P14. The serum which protected mice against Ps. aeruginosa P14 did not agglutinate suspensions of this organism. Its capacity to protect unvaccinated mice was removed by absorption with Ps. aeruginosa P14, but not by absorption with an unrelated strain of Ps. aeruginosa; passive protective capacity was removed also by absorption with a strain of Klebsiella aerogenes but not by absorption with a strain of Proteus mirabilis. Serum from recently vaccinated mice had no bactericidal activity against the immunizing strain; heparinized blood taken from such mice usually showed no bactericidal action, but there was consistently poorer growth of the pseudomonas in blood from recently vaccinated mice, or from mice passively protected by serum from the recently vaccinated, than in blood from unvaccinated mice.