Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A major methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone predominates in Malaysian hospitals

This study was conducted to determine the molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Malaysian hospitals. A total of 264 MRSA isolates from eight hospitals were subjected to typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI restricted DNA. Antibiotic disk susceptibility testing was also carried out to determine their resistance patterns. Thirty-one PFGE pattern types were identified. Three major pattern types A, ZC and K were found with type A the predominant profile in c. 80% of strains and present in all hospitals. Unlike type A, other DNA pattern types were unique to the hospitals in which they were isolated. PFGE type A also consisted of strains that were multiply antibiotic resistant. The presence of a single predominant PFGE type in Malaysian hospitals is an important finding which suggests that inter-hospital spread of MRSA had occurred frequently and regularly.
Renal tubular dysgenesis in Israel: pathologist's experience and literature review.

BACKGROUND Renal tubular dysgenesis is a rare lethal kidney abnormality clinically manifested by olighydramnios, anuria and respiratory distress. Most of the information on this entity is provided by case reports and short series. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the incidence and comparative frequency of clinical manifestations in different etiologic-pathogenic variants of RTD in Israel and in summarized published data. METHODS Stillborn and neonatal autopsy material from nine medical centers in northern and central Israel was studied. Information concerning pregnancy, labor and postnatal status and autopsy findings of cases with histologically, histochemically and immunohistochemically confirmed RTD were obtained from corresponding reports and from published material. RESULTS From the 1538 autopsies of fetuses (2 20 weeks gestation) and neonates that were performed between 1976 and 2007 we identified 12 cases of RTD (0.78%). Abnormality occurred more often (1.4%) in the Upper and Western Galilee than in Israel as a whole. CONCLUSIONS Our study and a review of the literature showed that the autosomal recessive variant of RTD was more frequent than twin-twin transfusion-induced. Most symptoms were similar in all variants of RTD, but their frequency was different in each of them.
Networking, entrepreneurship and microbusiness behaviour

It has been argued that networking by owner-managers of small businesses will enhance business performance. Yet to define and demonstrate the presence of networking activity is suffused with methodological difficulties. In this paper the authors attempt to disentangle some of these difficulties. The paper draws on quantifiable data from 104 owner-managers and qualitative data from 34 critical incident interviews from a study of microbusinesses to assess the nature and extent of networking activity. The paper shows: a high proportion of owner-managers use their trading contacts as sources of useful additional information; they use ‘weak ties’ for purposes such as recruitment; a sparse use of institutional networks; an association between networking activity and business performance, although it seems that this must be qualified by sectoral differences; an association between type of owner-manager on a scale of entrepreneurship and networking activity. The policy implications of this paper suggest that economic development agencies continue to have problems reaching out to the microbusiness. This paper recommends that such agencies might use a tool to differentiate more finely amongst the microbusiness population.
Leisure Travel Expenditure Patterns by Family Life Cycle Stages

Abstract This study examines travel expenditure patterns by family life cycle (FLC) stages and identifies characteristics that influence the likelihood and level of travel expenditures in the U.S. The 1999–2000 Consumer Expenditure (CE) survey is used and a two-stage tobit regression analysis is performed. Across the FLC, families maximize their utility through different allocations of resources among leisure travel goods and services as shown by the results of this study. Marrieds without children are more likely to spend on leisure travel than singles, whereas single parents and solitary survivors are less likely to spend on leisure travel than singles. Moreover, Marrieds without children, full nesters II, and empty nesters spend significantly more than singles, whereas solitary survivors spend significantly less on leisure travel. Constraint factors (time and money) and various sociodemographic characteristics are significantly associated with the likelihood of spending on leisure travel and total expenditures. Based on these findings, implications formarketers are discussed.
A Sectoral Econometric Study of the Postwar Residential-Housing Market

Professor Smith finds two conclusions of my econometric investigation of the postwar U.S. residential housing market quite surprising, in that they do not seem to obey conventional economic laws. He develops an econometric model of the Canadian housing market, where the variables behave properly, in that both the conventionally financed and governmentinsured sectors of the housing market respond inversely with respect to mortgage interest rates and directly with respect to yield spreads between mortgages and bonds. Smith takes specific issue with the following two results of my study: (1) Investment in the conventionally financed market varied inversely with respect to the yield differential between conventional mortgages and Baa bonds. (2) Investment in FHA insured housing was relatively unaffected by changes in FHA mortgage yields. I will reply to each of these objections in order. Smith assumes a priori that conventionally financed housing starts should vary directly with the rate spread between conventional mortgages and corporate bonds, and he avers to have proved this assumption with the statistical results of regression (4a). I find his analytical reasoning incomplete and his statistical estimates inconclusive. My view of the relationship between housing starts and mortgage interest rate spreads is as follows: When the capital market tightens, the entire structure of interest rates moves upward. Because federally underwritten mortgages have fixed rate ceilings and the discounting mechanism works imperfectly, monetary stringency narrows the rate spread between federally insured mortgages and bonds, and lenders move out of FHA-VA (or NHA) mortgages into other assets. Since conventional mortgage yield changes tend to lag behind bond yield changes by three to six months, monetary stringency also narrows the gap between conventional mortgage rates and bond rates, and lenders move out of conventional mortgages
Therapeutic RNAi targeting PCSK9 acutely lowers plasma cholesterol in rodents and LDL cholesterol in nonhuman primates

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) regulates low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) protein levels and function. Loss of PCSK9 increases LDLR levels in liver and reduces plasma LDL cholesterol (LDLc), whereas excess PCSK9 activity decreases liver LDLR levels and increases plasma LDLc. Here, we have developed active, cross-species, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) capable of targeting murine, rat, nonhuman primate (NHP), and human PCSK9. For in vivo studies, PCSK9 and control siRNAs were formulated in a lipidoid nanoparticle (LNP). Liver-specific siRNA silencing of PCSK9 in mice and rats reduced PCSK9 mRNA levels by 50–70%. The reduction in PCSK9 transcript was associated with up to a 60% reduction in plasma cholesterol concentrations. These effects were shown to be mediated by an RNAi mechanism, using 5′-RACE. In transgenic mice expressing human PCSK9, siRNAs silenced the human PCSK9 transcript by >70% and significantly reduced PCSK9 plasma protein levels. In NHP, a single dose of siRNA targeting PCSK9 resulted in a rapid, durable, and reversible lowering of plasma PCSK9, apolipoprotein B, and LDLc, without measurable effects on either HDL cholesterol (HDLc) or triglycerides (TGs). The effects of PCSK9 silencing lasted for 3 weeks after a single bolus i.v. administration. These results validate PCSK9 targeting with RNAi therapeutics as an approach to specifically lower LDLc, paving the way for the development of PCSK9-lowering agents as a future strategy for treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Revisiting the Feldstein-Horioka Hypothesis of savings, investment and capital mobility: evidence from 27 EU countries

This paper is an attempt to estimate the magnitude of integration for capital mobility among EU economies for the time period 1991-2009. It has been empirically observed that there is strong evidence in favor of higher degree of capital mobility for many EU countries, especially at euro currency period and in euro zone. We conclude that short run and long run capital mobility test based on Feldstein-Horioka (F-H) estimation method is likely to provide a measure of EU capital mobility. ]
The Basic Facts of Korean Breast Cancer in 2012: Results from a Nationwide Survey and Breast Cancer Registry Database

The Korean Breast Cancer Society has constructed a nationwide breast cancer database through utilization of an online registration program. We have reported the basic facts about breast cancer in Korea in 2012, and analyzed the changing patterns in the clinical characteristics and management of breast cancer in Korea over the last 10 years. Data on patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer were collected for the year 2012 from 97 hospitals and clinics nationwide using a questionnaire survey, and from the online registry database. A total of 17,792 patients were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. The crude incidence rate of female breast cancer, including invasive cancer and in situ cancer, was 70.7 cases per 100,000 women. The median age at diagnosis was 51 years, and the proportion of postmenopausal women was higher than that of premenopausal women among those diagnosed with breast cancer. The proportion of cases of early breast cancer increased continuously, and breast-conserving surgery was performed in more cases than total mastectomy in that same year. The total number of breast reconstruction surgeries increased approximately 3-fold over last 10 years. The 5-year overall survival rate for all stages of breast cancer patients was extremely high. The clinical characteristics of breast cancer have changed in ways that resulted in high overall survival over the past 10 years in Korea, and the surgical management of the disease has changed accordingly. Analysis of nationwide registry data will contribute to a better understanding of the characteristics of breast cancer in Korea.
Long‐term MRI‐guided combined anti‐TNF‐&agr; and thiopurine therapy for crohn's perianal fistulas

Background: Anti‐tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy heals many Crohn's disease (CD) anal fistulas clinically but the rate, extent, and durability of deep tissue healing and factors influencing long‐term outcome are unknown. Methods: Consecutive patients with CD‐related perianal (anal, rectovaginal, anolabial) fistulas treated with infliximab or adalimumab were monitored prospectively both clinically and radiologically using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Forty‐one consecutive patients with CD‐related perianal fistulas were treated with infliximab (n = 32) or adalimumab (n = 9; following infliximab failure) in combination with a thiopurine (unless intolerant). Fifty‐eight percent of all patients, comprising 66% and 43% of infliximab and adalimumab‐treated patients, respectively, demonstrated remission or response at 3 years. Thirty‐three percent of infliximab treated patients maintained clinical remission at 3 years. Radiological healing lagged behind clinical remission by a median of 12 months. The likelihood of clinical remission at any time was five times greater in patients who had early clinical response within 6 weeks than those without. A higher number of fistula tracts was associated with reduced clinical remission. All patients who achieved radiological healing maintained healing on infliximab treatment, while only 43% maintained healing after cessation of anti‐TNF therapy. Conclusions: Combination anti‐TNF and thiopurine therapy provides sustained benefit in patients with perianal CD fistula. Early clinical response is associated with subsequent clinical remission. Radiological healing is slower than clinical healing. Radiologically healed fistula tracts maintain healing on infliximab but can recur after cessation of therapy. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012)
IMPACT OF MONETARY POLICY SHOCKS ON THE CONVENTIONAL AND ISLAMIC BANKS IN A DUAL BANKING SYSTEM: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA

This study analyzes the impact of monetary policy shocks on the conventional and Islamic banks in a dual banking system environment. The responses of the conventional banks to monetary policy shocks is expected to be different from that of the Islamic banks due to the nature of the Islamic ones which only involve with interest-free instruments. Focusing on the Malaysian data covering the period from January 1999 to December 2006, the study aims at determining the sensitivity of the Islamic banks by analyzing the impact of interest rate changes on the banks’ financing and deposits. To provide meaningful comparison, the same analysis is also conducted on the conventional banks so as to determine the unique risks confronting the Islamic banks. The study employs the impulse response functions and variance decomposition analysis based on the Vector Auto-Regression (VAR) methodology. Contrary to the general expectations, the results show that the Islamic banks’ balance sheet items are relatively more sensitive to monetary policy changes, while the conventional banks’ balance sheet items, particularly the conventional loans are insensitive to interest rate changes. This implies that the impact of monetary policy is more destabilizing on the Islamic banks than the conventional banks. The results of this study have important implications for the risk management
Impact of Frequent Interruption on Nurses’ Patient-Controlled Analgesia Programming Performance

Objective: The purpose was to add to the body of knowledge regarding the impact of interruption on acute care nurses’ cognitive workload, total task completion times, nurse frustration, and medication administration error while programming a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Background: Data support that the severity of medication administration error increases with the number of interruptions, which is especially critical during the administration of high-risk medications. Bar code technology, interruption-free zones, and medication safety vests have been shown to decrease administration-related errors. However, there are few published data regarding the impact of number of interruptions on nurses’ clinical performance during PCA programming. Method: Nine acute care nurses completed three PCA pump programming tasks in a simulation laboratory. Programming tasks were completed under three conditions where the number of interruptions varied between two, four, and six. Outcome measures included cognitive workload (six NASA Task Load Index [NASA-TLX] subscales), total task completion time (seconds), nurse frustration (NASA-TLX Subscale 6), and PCA medication administration error (incorrect final programming). Results: Increases in the number of interruptions were associated with significant increases in total task completion time (p = .003). We also found increases in nurses’ cognitive workload, nurse frustration, and PCA pump programming errors, but these increases were not statistically significant. Applications: Complex technology use permeates the acute care nursing practice environment. These results add new knowledge on nurses’ clinical performance during PCA pump programming and high-risk medication administration.
Comparing Patterns of Industrial Interdependence in National Systems of Innovation - A Study of Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and the United States

This paper presents a quantitatively based method for comparing the structure of National Systems of Innovation (NSI). The emphasis is on technological interdependencies at the industrial level in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The mapping of the interdependencies, based on input-output tables, builds on a graph theoretical model (a minimal flow analysis). R&D expenses are used as the technology indicator. The NSI framework is taken as the point of departure. It is claimed that 'history matters', through relating historical descriptions and analyses of industrialization processes to the findings of structural analyses of R&D interdependencies within the NSIs. The paper shows that the national systems tend to cluster in two main 'bulks'. One is centred around industrial chemicals and/or pharmaceuticals, and the other is centred around communication equipment, electronics etc. In most cases these clusters do not appear to be closely technologically related through embodied R&D flows, i.e. it seems appropriate to assume that two distinct technology bases are at play.
VEGF levels in asthmatic airways do not correlate with plasma extravasation

Vascular permeability/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a role in chronic inflammation and angiogenesis. Its expression in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has not been determined although VEGF may be relevant to the pathophysiology of asthma in which oedema is an important feature.
Who Owns Ideas? An Investigation of Employees' Beliefs About the Legal Ownership of Ideas

When employees believe that they, and not their employers, have legal ownership of ideas, they may choose to keep their ideas from employers, thereby hindering their employers’ ability to produce new products and services. This research used a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods in order to investigate what factors influence employees’ beliefs about who legally owns ideas. The major findings were as follows. Employees’ beliefs about who owns ideas are influenced directly by employees’ beliefs about the strength of their own legal claim to ideas and the strength of the competing legal claim of their employers. Those two variables are in turn influenced by factors that are specific to each idea, including the degree of employer involvement in the origins of ideas and the nature of the ideas; and by general factors including employees’ beliefs about their job responsibilities and their familiarity with pertinent organizational procedures. Employers should try to strengthen their legal claims to ideas by ensuring they are involved when ideas are originally generated, by socializing employees to believe that their job responsibilities include assigning ownership of ideas to employers, and by ensuring that employees are familiar with relevant organizational procedures.
Single function drain current model for MESFET/HEMT devices including pulsed dynamic behavior

A new approach to modeling the dynamic behavior of microwave devices based on pulsed measurements is presented. DC and pulsed I/V characteristics of these devices are modeled using a single function derived from an existing and well-established MESFET/HEMT nonlinear static current model. The robust methodology in this work can be applied to other current models and subsequently implemented into a new large-signal circuit as a single current source, capable of accurately predicting both static and small-signal performance of FET devices
Fractal activity time and integer valued models in finance

The role of the financial mathematician is to find solutions to problems in finance through the application of mathematical theory. The motivation for this work is specification of models to accurately describe the price evolution of a risky asset, a risky asset is for example a security traded on a financial market such as a stock, currency or benchmark index. This thesis makes contributions in two classes of models, namely activity time models and integer valued models, by the discovery of new real valued and integer valued stochastic processes. In both model frameworks applications to option pricing are considered.
EMERGING PATTERNS IN DEVIATIONS FROM ABSOLUTE PRIORITY RULES IN BANKRUPTCY

This paper documents emerging patterns in deviations from absolute priority (DAPs) in Chapter 11 bankruptcies. Priority rules are violated in at least two-thirds of all cases, with equityholders benefiting in most situations of violation. However, DAPs have been decreasing over time, with the index of deviations from absolute priority rules more than halving over a 12-year period. This fact is best explained by the reduced bargaining power of the debtor, smaller complexity of the cases, and choice of bankruptcy venue. Interestingly, both unsecured creditors and equityholders now benefit from DAPs to the detriment of secured creditors.
Self-Recruitment in the Legal Profession

We argue that lawyers' sons follow in their parents' footsteps because the occupation lends itself to low-cost transfer of relevant skills and knowledge from one generation to the next, especially in the context of the family law practice. Analysis of Project Talent data reveals that knowledge about the law is transmitted from lawyers to their children and that this transmitted knowledge is a significant factor in a son's decision to follow in his father's legal footsteps. Second-generation lawyers who receive these human capital transfers experience greater earnings than lawyers who have not received such transfers.
An empirical analysis on government capital controls and international capital flows in Korea

The present paper analyses government controls of international capital flows using Korean data. First, indexes of liberalizations are constructed on controls of capital inflows and outflows based on documented policy changes made by the Korean government. Second, VAR models are estimated that include the constructed capital liberalization indexes, capital flows, and other macroeconomic variables. It is found that capital inflows increase persistently after shocks to liberalization policy while capital outflows increase temporally. It is also found that shocks to liberalization of capital outflows attract capital inflows, a result explicable by two competing theories - that liberalization of capital outflows: (1) removes investment irreversibility; and (2) signals more friendly government policy in the future. Examination of the effects of separate capital liberalization measures concerning only Korean residents and those concerning only nonresidents confirms the importance of the ‘signal effect’.
Price Behavior in the Water Market of Northeastern Colorado

ABSTRACT Past prices of Colorado-Big Thompson water shares were analyzed using an asset pricing model which incorporated the growth rate in real returns to irrigation water and the value of potential urban water uses. A real growth rate in the returns to irrigation water was estimated at 5.3 percent. Nevertheless, market values for water shares have exceeded capitalized agricultural values since 1969. Historically, urban use potential was heavily discounted, but the implicit discount rate fell rapidly in the last decade. The expectation that water shares will eventually be sold to municipal or industrial consumers now appears to be reflected fully in water prices.