Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of a Rapid Microarray-Based Assay for Identification of Positive Blood Cultures for Treatment Optimization for Patients with Streptococcal and Enterococcal Bacteremia

ABSTRACT Implementation of the Verigene Gram-positive blood culture test led to reductions in time to acceptable antibiotic overall (1.9 versus 13.2 h, respectively; P = 0.04) and time to appropriate antibiotic for patients with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (4.2 versus 43.7 h; P = 0.006) and viridans group Streptococcus (0.2 versus 7.1 h; P = 0.02).
Isoflurane Blocks Synaptic Plasticity in the Mouse Hippocampus

Background The volatile anesthetic isoflurane depresses glutamatergic transmission. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of isoflurane on the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) in slices from the juvenile and adult mouse hippocampus. Both forms of synaptic plasticity involve the activation of glutamate receptors. Methods Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials and excitatory postsynaptic currents from neurons in the CA1 area were evoked by stimulation of the Schaffer collateral–commissural pathway. Two independent synaptic inputs were stimulated. Clinically relevant concentrations (0.2–0.3 mm) of isoflurane were added to the perfusion solution. Results Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials from slices of juvenile and adult mice were depressed to 37.3 ± 6.1% and 58.3 ± 7.4%, respectively, and excitatory postsynaptic currents were reduced to 36.7 ± 5.4% by isoflurane. A brief tetanic stimulation (100 Hz, 1 s) induced stable LTP of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials. In the presence of isoflurane, tetanization failed to induce LTP. The effect of isoflurane on LTP induction was reversible and could be prevented by antagonizing &ggr;-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAA). Low-frequency stimulation (1 Hz/900 pulses) induced LTD. In the presence of isoflurane, low-frequency stimulation failed to induce LTD. Conclusions The prevention of the isoflurane-induced depression of LTP by the GABAA antagonist picrotoxin suggests an involvement of GABAA receptors. An enhancement of the efficacy of GABA-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission prevents the depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane during tetanus, necessary for the induction of use-dependent alteration of synaptic strength. An impairment of these processes may be a cause for the transient loss of recall and cognitive impairment after anesthesia in juvenile and adult brains.
The Association Between Corporate Governance, Risk Assessment and Debt Contracting

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Market efficiency and volatility in an Islamic financial market interpreted from a behavioural finance perspective : a case study of the Amman Stock Exchange

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The multiscale nature of streamers

Streamers are a generic mode of electric breakdown of large gas volumes. They play a role in the initial stages of sparks and lightning, in technical corona reactors and in high altitude sprite discharges above thunderclouds. Streamers are characterized by a self-generated field enhancement at the head of the growing discharge channel. We briefly review recent streamer experiments and sprite observations. Then we sketch our recent work on computations of growing and branching streamers, we discuss concepts and solutions of analytical model reductions and we review different branching concepts and outline a hierarchy of model reductions.
An investigation into the adoption of electronic business in Saudi Arabia using technology-organisation-environment framework

Despite the proliferation of e-business adoption by organisations and the world-wide growth of the e-business phenomenon, there is a paucity of empirical studies that examine the adoption of e-business in the Middle East. The aim of our study is to provide insights into the salient e-business adoption issues by focusing on Saudi Arabian businesses. We developed a conceptual model for electronic business (e-business) adoption incorporating ten factors based on the technology-organization-environment framework. Survey data from 550 businesses were used to test the model and hypotheses. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis to assess the reliability and validity of constructs. The findings of the study suggest that firm technology competence, size, top management Support, technology orientation, consumer readiness, trading partner readiness and regulatory support are important antecedents of e-business adoption and utilisation. In addition, the study finds that, competitive pressure and organisational customer and competitor orientation is not a predictor for e-business adoption and utilisation. The implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions for future inquiry are presented.
An empirical analysis of the strategic management of competitive advantage : a case study of higher technical and vocational education in Taiwan

Institutions of higher technical and vocational education (hereafter HTVE) in Taiwan face the pressures of a reduced number of students and competition for students from an increased number of domestic and international institutions. To cope with these challenges, HTVE institutions that are better equipped to respond to market requirements, and are prepared to make constant improvements in the efficiency and performance of their academic and administrative affairs, are expected to attain a competitive advantage and enhance their long-term sustainability.
Financial institutions & markets

Part 1: OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL ENVIRONMENT. 1. The Role of Financial Markets and Institutions. 2. Interest Rate Determination. 3. Interest Rate Structure. Part II: THE FED AND MONETARY POLICY. 4. The Fed and Its Functions. 5. Monetary Policy. Part III: DEBT SECURITY MARKETS. 6. Money Markets. 7. Bond Markets. 8. Valuation and Risk of Bonds. 9. Mortgage Markets. Part IV: EQUITY MARKETS. 10. Investor Monitoring and Stock Offerings. 11. Valuation and Risk of Stocks. 12. Market Microstructure and Strategies. Part V: DERIVATIVE SECURITY MARKETS. 13. Financial Futures Markets. 14. Option Markets. 15. Interest Rate Derivative Markets. 16. Foreign Exchange Derivative Markets. Part VI: COMMERCIAL BANKING. 17. Commercial Bank Operations. 18. Regulation of Banks. 19. Bank Management. 20. Bank Performance. Part VII: NONBANK OPERATIONS. 21. Thrift Operations. 22. Finance Company Operations. 23. Mutual Fund Operations. 24. Securities Operations. 25. Pension Fund and Insurance Operations.
CHAINS OF EDGE-SHARING OPb4 TETRAHEDRA IN THE STRUCTURE OF Pb4O(VO4)2 AND IN RELATED MINERALS AND INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Nous avons resolu la structure cristalline du compose Pb 4 O(VO 4 ) 2 en utilisant des cristaux prepares par reactions a l'etat solide a temperature elevee. Il s'agit d'un compose orthorhombique, Pnma, a 22.7276(9), b 11.5346(4), c 7.4349(3) A, V 1949.09(13) A 3 , Z = 8. La structure a ete resolue par methodes directes et affinee en utilisant les facteurs F 2 de toutes les reflexions uniques jusqu'a un residu Rl = 0.029 (wR2 = 0.052), calcule pour 3052 reflexions uniques observees. Il y a six cations Pb 2 + symetriquement independants dans la structure de Pb 4 O(VO 4 ) 2 . Les liaisons Pb-O des polyedres PbO n vont de 2.23 a 3.42 A; on peut les subdiviser en trois groupes: les liaisons courtes (2.15-2.50 A), intermediaires (2.50-2.70 A) et longues (>2.70 A). Chacun des cations Pb 2 + forme entre trois et cinq liaisons Pb-O courtes ou intermediaires d'un cote du cation, et entre trois et sept liaisons Pb-O plus longues de l'autre cote. L'assymetrie dans la distribution des liaisons autour des cations Pb 2 + decoule de l'activite stereochimique des paires d'electrons isoles 6s 2 . La structure contient des chaines de composition [O 4 Pb 8 ] 8 + qui impliquent des tetraedres O(1)Pb 4 a aretes partagees. Ces chaines sont paralleles a [010] et sont agencees en couches paralleles a (100). Les couches de tetraedres OPb 4 alternent avec des couches contenant des tetraedres VO 4 ainsi que des atomes Pb(1), Pb(3), et Pb(4). La formule structurale de ce compose, Pb 2 [Pb 2 O](VO 4 ) 2 , souligne le fait que certains atomes de Pb ne sont pas lies aux atomes additionnels d'oxygene, O a d d .
DIVERSIFIKASI PERUSAHAAN DAN MANAJEMEN LABA

This study examines the association between corporate diversification and earning management. This study making an explicit distinction between operational and geographic diversification. Based on a sample of 124 mining and banking companies that listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange in the period 2010-2011, The result of this study indicates that operation diversification did not have significant influence to earning management on mining and banking companies. Higher geographic diversification decrease earning management on mining company. The more the banking company has geographic segments, the higher the company perfoms earning management. Samples were selected by purposive sampling method and Data were analyzedusing multiple regression analysis model.
Sequence polymorphisms of MC1R gene and their association with depression and antidepressant response

Objective Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is involved in various functions, such as pigmentation, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory actions, development of melanoma, susceptibility to ultraviolet-induced sun damage, modification of oculocutaneous albinism, development of freckles, and mediation of female-specific mechanisms of analgesia. MC1R's natural agonists include &agr;-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and corticotrophin (ACTH1-39), which are important components of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and increase in response to stress. Given the multiple relevant roles of MC1R, we studied whether the MC1R gene would be associated with susceptibility to major depressive disorder or with response to antidepressant treatment. Methods The human MC1R gene is highly polymorphic; therefore, we sequenced the entire MC1R coding region of 1122 bp in 181 depressed Mexican–American patients and 185 Mexican-American controls. Results A total of 23 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, 15 known and eight new) were found within the sequenced region. Among the common SNPs, the nonsynonymous SNP, rs885479 (R163Q) was associated with the diagnosis of depression (P=0.04). The nonsynonymous SNP, rs2228479 (V92M) and the synonymous SNP, rs2228478 were found to be associated with the remission with desipramine treatment. No associations were found for remission with fluoxetine treatment or for the combined sample treated with fluoxetine or desipramine. The frequency of one (H2) of the five haplotypes identified was higher in depressed patients when compared with controls (P=0.05). In-silico functional analysis indicates that SNPs rs885479 and rs2228479 have significant impact on the protein function. Conclusion The MC1R gene might be associated with major depressive disorder and with treatment response to desipramine.
Cost Padding, Auditing and Collusion

This paper first studies how cost padding, auditing and collusion with auditors affect the power of incentive schemes in procurement and regulation. Unaudited cost padding requires fixed price contracts. Incentive schemes are more powerful under imperfect auditing than under perfect auditing and less powerful than under no auditing. The effect of collusion in auditing on the optimal power of incentive schemes is ambiguous; high-powered schemes reduce the incentive for cost padding and thus are less affected by collusion; however, they also yield higher rents and therefore make firms more willing to prevent release of evidence of cost padding. Monitoring of effort, the second topic of this paper, is a substitute for the use of low-powered incentive schemes to extract the informational rents. It thus enables the regulator to afford more powerful incentive schemes. Collusion in auditing unambiguously lowers the power of incentive schemes.
Improvement of the flocculation process in water treatment by using moringa oleifera seeds extract

Water scarcity encourages researchers to keep working on natural coagulant agents such as Moringa oleifera seed extract, that could be used even in developing countries. With this scope, this investigation is focused on the optimization of certain parameters affecting the use of this coagulant product in the clarification of real surface water. Acidic pH levels seem to enhance the coagulation performance and the turbidity removal increases as the stirring period becomes longer (up to 95% with 40 min). The optimum stirring rate is identified as 80 rpm. Water clarified with this optimum coagulation and flocculation process is turbidity-competitive with other well known coagulants and flocculants and its quality is inside standard ranges for clarified water. No microbial growth is observed within the first 72 hours after the coagulant trials.
The Pool Lane One

ABSTRACT This paper presents a large-scale study on the effectiveness of different online video advertising formats. During the process of more than a year, six major U.S. advertisers and seven media companies participated, including Allstate, Applebee’s, BlackBerry, Capital One, Purina, AOL, BBE, CBS, Discovery, Hulu, Microsoft, and Yahoo! Data collection and analysis were carried out in three phases. The results indicate the Ad Selector is the most effective format of online video advertising. Implications of this important finding are discussed.
Auditory hallucinations: a comparison of beliefs about voices in individuals with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder.

OBJECTIVE Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) may experience distressing auditory hallucinations, phenomenologically similar to those seen in psychosis. However, access to effective intervention is limited. The cognitive model of auditory hallucinations highlights the role of appraisals in maintaining distress. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that targets such beliefs has shown efficacy in psychosis. This study examined appraisals about voices in individuals with psychosis and those with BPD to establish whether CBT for voices might have clinical utility for those with BPD. METHODS Participants included 45 patients with distressing auditory hallucinations, recruited from the National Health Service. All participants received a structured clinical diagnostic interview and the Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire. Ten participants met criteria for BPD (22%), 23 met criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia (51%) and 12 met criteria for both disorders (27%). RESULTS Multivariate analyses confirmed that there were no group differences in beliefs about the malevolence or omnipotence of voices, or in behavioural resistance or engagement. Those with BPD and those with both diagnoses reported significantly greater emotional resistance than those with schizophrenia. Those with schizophrenia reported significantly greater emotional engagement with their voices. CONCLUSION Auditory hallucinations in psychosis and BPD do not differ in their phenomenology or cognitive responses (beliefs about the power and malevolence of their dominant voice). The main differential appears to be the affective response. CBT that focuses on appraisals and the relationship with voices may be helpful for distressing auditory hallucinations in individuals with BPD as well as psychosis.
The regulation of growth and intracellular signaling by integrins.

I. Introduction INTEGRINS are a family of more than 20 different transmembrane receptors composed of noncovalently associated α- and β-subunit heterodimers (1). Twelve different α-subunits, each approximately 1000 residues in length, and eight different β-subunits, each approximately 750 residues, have been identified. The receptor consists of a very large extracellular domain, a transmembrane region, and a relatively short cytoplasmic region. The extracellular domain binds to various ligands including extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, such as fibronectin (FN), vitronectin (VN), and collagen (Col), and to other cell surface receptors such as ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule) and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule). The receptor cytoplasmic domains interact with cytoskeletal proteins. In addition to their role as adhesion receptors, integrins also function as signaling receptors and have been shown to regulate reorganization of the cytoskeleton, intracellular ion transport, lipid metabolism,.
Microfinance and the Socio-economic Wellbeing of Women Entrepreneurs in Ghana

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Abstract Microfinance has been touted as a means of improving the lives of the poor and the provision of funds for business enterprises. This study examines the impact of microfinance on the socio-economic lives of women entrepreneurs in Ghana. Using Ghana as the study area, this paper provides valuable insights into micro financing in a developing economy context. A multi-method approach was used in data collection and analysis. Eight hundred and forty (840) women beneficiaries of microfinance loans were surveyed; and interviews conducted with 35 of them. The overall results suggest that the women’s enterprises have expanded while their socio-economic status have improved tremendously after taking the loans. It is however recommended that microfinance institutions provide education in finance management for their clients, since only few of them undertakes such an exercise. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
Determinants of export intensity and propensity among small and medium-sized enterprises: The case of the Philippines

The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in the Philippines is a significant group within the economy in terms of firm numbers and total employment. However, the SME sector’s share of exports is disproportionately small, which raises considerable policy concerns. Prompted by the aforementioned policy issue, this study assesses the different factors that affect SME decisions (a) to export (propensity) and (b) on how much to export (intensity), i.e., export performance. The study utilizes data from the World Bank enterprise surveys, which contain subjective elements concerning the impediments to conducting business in general, e.g., concerns regarding labour regulations, shipping etc. Using a Heckman selection model, the study finds that firm size is a robust determinant, both of export propensity and intensity. It also suggests that while labour productivity is important in determining the value of firm exports, there are certain firm qualities that are important to the initial export decision, such as foreign ownership and the presence of informal competition. Finding such determinants of SME export intensity and propensity provides the direction for policy discussions.
Willow Smoke and Dogs’ Tails: Hunter-Gatherer Settlement Systems and Archaeological Site Formation

Hunter-gatherer subsistence-settlement strategies are discussed in terms of differing organizational components, "mapping-on" and "logistics," and the consequences of each for archaeological intersite variability are discussed. It is further suggested that the differing strategies are responsive to different security problems presented by the environments in which hunter-gatherers live. Therefore, given the beginnings of a theory of adaptation, it is possible to anticipate both differences in settlement-subsistence strategies and patterning in the archaeological record through a more detailed knowledge of the distribution of environmental variables.
Need for health behavior interventions for young adult cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVES To assess the relationship between modifiable health risks (eg, unhealthy diet) and interest in interventions in a sample of young adult cancer survivors (YACS). METHODS Sixty YACS, aged 18 to 40, completed surveys. RESULTS Few met recommendations for diet, exercise, or weight (ie, body mass index, BMI). Participants expressed interest in several health behavior programs, and there was a significant relationship between BMI and interest in weight loss. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that YACS are interested in and may benefit from healthy lifestyle interventions.
Radiation awareness among dentists, radiographers and students.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess radiation awareness among dentists, radiographers, dentistry students and radiography students from the Medical University of Warsaw. METHODS A questionnaire containing 13 multiple-choice questions was administered to 200 dentists, 200 radiographers, 100 dentistry students and 100 radiography students. Participants were asked about basic knowledge concerning dental radiological examinations. RESULTS In total, 301 (50.2%) questionnaires were returned. The mean score of correct answers was 8.13 out of 13 for all responders; 8.36 for dentists, 8.11 for radiographers, 8.19 for dentistry students and 7.46 for radiography students. Range of correct answers varied from 3 to 12. Differences between the four main groups were not statistically significant. Dentists who had completed radiation protection training had significantly higher number of correct answers than untrained dentists. For radiographers, the level of education had no connection with the results. Correlation between year of the study and results was not visible in the dentistry student group. Within the radiography student group, students in the third year of the study had significantly higher number of correct answers than those in the first and second years of the study. CONCLUSIONS Our survey shows that radiation awareness among dentists, radiographers and students is inadequate, without significant differences in the main groups. Dentists who had completed radiation protection training had better awareness than those without such training. Greater emphasis should be put on the dental radiology course in both dentistry and radiography programmes at universities.