Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Approaches in Surgical Management of Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Despite many prospective randomized clinical studies a specific pharmacotherapy for severe acute pancreatitis is not in sight. To date, the only possibility to influence the prognosis of this severe illness is early diagnosis and prevention of intra- and extrapancreatic necrosis and its subsequent infection. In severe necrotizing pancreatitis the incidence of infected necrosis amounts to 40–70% of all patients within 3 weeks. Thereby, the clinical picture often varies to large extent. Ultrasonographically or computertomography-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNAC) is a fast and reliable technique for diagnosis with an overall sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 90%. This method should however not be applied too early in the course of necrotizing pancreatitis. Since infection of pancreatic necrosis determines significantly the prognosis of disease, various studies have assessed the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotic treatment in patients. Three prospective randomized studies have shown that prophylaxis significantly minimizes septic complications, only in one study, however, the mortality rate could be improved. Although randomized studies are still mandatory to resolve the controversy, it seems justified to recommend prophylaxis with antibiotics which are capable of penetrating the pancreatic tissue and juice. Sterile necrosis should be treated conservatively, with prophylactic antibiotic treatment for as long as possible. Only if patients worsen despite intensive care medicine, surgical debridement should be considered. In contrast, in patients with infected necrosis immediate surgery is in most cases mandatory. Although in one prospective study conservative treatment did not lead to an enhanced mortality rate, possible delay of surgical treatment may endanger the patient. In order to improve the prognosis of the disease, timely and adequate treatment in specialized units provides the best chances for a good prognosis whereby the severely ill patient should not be treated according to a scheme but to his/her individual needs.
Interpretations of Departures from the Pareto Curve Firm-Size Distributions

Empirical firm-size data show concavity when size is plotted against rank (largest firm = rank 1) on a log-log scale, a departure from the Pareto distribution which shows a straight line. Two reasons for this departure are proposed. One is an exponential decay in the effect of a unit increase in size upon the firm's future growth. It is shown analytically that the greater the decay rate, the greater the concavity. The other is an effect of mergers and acquisitions. Based on Federal Trade Commission data, the actual firm-size distribution in 1969 is compared with a hypothetical one where all mergers and acquisitions in 1948-69 were "undone" to demonstrate their effect.
Women in Top Management and Agency Costs

This study investigates gender diversity among the top managers of Fortune 500 firms and its effect on agency costs. The study finds that firms with a greater percentage of female officers present lower agency costs but that the negative relation is not robust when considering the endogeneity of diversity. The study also finds that external governance influences the relationship. Although increasing diversity does not reduce agency costs for all firms, the evidence shows that diversity is significantly negatively related to agency costs in firms in less competitive markets. The results suggest that increasing diversity in management can have beneficial effects for firms where strong external governance is absent.
Emission Spectrum and Output Efficiency of Exchange Distributed Feedback III–V on Silicon Lasers

Exchange-type distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers based on heterogeneous integration of III-V lasers on silicon are analyzed by using a coupled-mode model. We show that such lasers have a similar emission spectrum to their classical counterparts, in which the forward and backward modes have the same transverse profile. We demonstrate that there exists an optimal value for the coupling coefficient, which gives the maximum output slope efficiency in exchange DFB lasers. However, the maximum output efficiency is much lower than that in classical DFB lasers, due to the strong coupling between the two counterpropagating modes.
Azithromycin Inhibits Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT We report that 2 μg of azithromycin/ml inhibits the quorum-sensing circuitry of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1. Addition of synthetic autoinducers partially restored the expression of the trancriptional activator-encoding geneslasR and rhlR but not that of the autoinducer synthase-encoding gene lasI. We propose that azithromycin interferes with the synthesis of autoinducers, by an unknown mechanism, leading to a reduction of virulence factor production.
Use of an Online Community to Develop Patient-Reported Outcome Instruments: The Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Adherence Questionnaire (MS-TAQ)

Background Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may face barriers, such as treatment fatigue, memory problems, or side effects, that may influence their adherence to medication. Objective The objective of our study was to use an online community to develop a self-report questionnaire to quantify adherence and barriers to achieving adherence, that is specific to MS disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) and predictive of missed doses. Methods A review of the scientific literature and analysis of discussions between MS patients on PatientsLikeMe.com were used to generate survey items salient to patients. Cognitive debriefing was used to refine the items. The Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Adherence Questionnaire (MS-TAQ) contains 30 questions in three subscales: Barriers, Side Effects, and Coping Strategies. Results MS patients completed an online survey (response rate: 431 of 1209 invited, 35.7%). Between 16% (14/86) and 51% (51/100) of MS patients missed at least 1 dose of their DMT in the previous 28 days, with significant between-treatment differences. The MS-TAQ Barriers scale was positively correlated with the proportion of doses missed (r = .5), demonstrating a stronger relationship between adherence and perceived barriers than was found with clinical or demographic variables (r ≈ .3). The Coping Strategies subscale was negatively correlated with missed doses (r = -.3), suggesting that use of more coping strategies is associated with higher adherence. Conclusions Online communities can provide domains of interest and psychometric data to more rapidly develop and prototype patient-reported outcome instruments. The MS-TAQ offers patients and clinicians a simple method for identifying barriers to adherence, which may then be targeted through interventions.
Earnings Transitions of the Low‐paid in Britain, 1976‐91: A Longitudinal Study

Using a large panel of employees from the New Earnings Survey, examines the subsequent earnings transitions of those who were in the lowest quintile of the earnings distribution in 1976. Traces the quintile earnings positions in 1984 and 1991 of three age groups of 1976 – the young, the prime‐aged, and older workers. Presents and analyses transition probabilities for each group, and contrasts the experience of men and women in terms of the incidence of low pay and its persistence. Also examines the previous locations within the earnings distribution of those who were low paid in 1991.
The Action of Sevoflurane on Vascular Smooth Muscle of Isolated Mesenteric Resistance Arteries (Part 1): Role of Endothelium

Background The direct action of sevoflurane on systemic resistance arteries is not fully understood. Methods Isometric force was recorded in isolated rat small mesenteric arteries. Results Sevoflurane (2–5%) enhanced contractile response to norepinephrine only in the presence of endothelium, but inhibited it in its absence. Sevoflurane still enhanced the norepinephrine response after inhibitions of the nitric oxide, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways, or after blockade of either endothelin-1 ET-1), angiotensin-II, or sevotonin receptors. Sevoflurane (3–5%) inhibited contractile response to potassium chloride only in the absence of endothelium but did not influence it in its presence. In the endothelium-intact strips, inhibition of the norepinephrine response, which was enhanced during application of sevoflurane, was observed after washout of sevoflurane and persisted for approximately 15 min. In the endothelium-denuded strips, the inhibition of norepinephrine response was similarly prolonged after washout of sevoflurane. However, no significant inhibitions of potassium chloride response were observed after washout of sevoflurane in both the endothelium-intact and the endothelium-denuded strips. Conclusions The action of sevoflurane on norepinephrine contractile response consists of endothelium-dependent vasoconstricting and endothelium-independent vasodilating components. In the presence of endothelium, the former predominates over the latter, enhancing the norepinephrine response. The endothelium-independent component persisted after washout of sevoflurane, leading to prolonged inhibition of the norepinephrine response. The mechanisms behind the sevoflurane-induced inhibition of norepinephrine response are at least in part different from those behind its inhibition of potassium chloride response. Nitric oxide, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, cyclooxygenase products, lipoxygenase products, endothelin-1, angiotensin-II, and serotonin are not involved in the vasoconstricting action.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus NM1 Strain from Northern China

ABSTRACT NM1 is a highly pathogenic North American-type porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The complete genome sequence shows that NM1 shares high sequence identity (99.2 to 99.4%) to other HP-PRRSV isolates, containing two discontinuous deletions, a 1-amino-acid deletion at position 481 and a 29-amino-acid deletion at positions 533 to 651, in nonstructural protein 2.
Carbon nanotubes for ultrafast photonics

We report characterization by absorption and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy of carbon nanotube solutions, which are then used for nanotube‐based composite preparation. PLE shows the presence of bundles in the solution. The composite show a saturation intensity of 5 MW/cm2 and is used in a fibre laser to generate pulses as short as 866 fs at about 1530 nm. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Corporate governance determinants on Australian resource companies' financial instrument disclosure practices

Purpose - This paper seeks to investigate the corporate governance determinants of financial instrument disclosure (FID) practices of Australian listed resource firms in their annual reports for the 2005 financial year. This is an important time period to explain FID patterns for Australian resource companies leading up to formal adoption of the Australian equivalents to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Design/methodology/approach - The extent of FID was measured using a Financial Instrument Disclosure Index (FIDI) comprised of 120 items of both mandatory and discretionary financial instrument information. Hypothesis testing used empirical data from a representative sample of Australian listed resource firms. Research limitations/implications - The results of regression analysis demonstrate that corporate governance characteristics of firms are significant determinants of FID patterns. Univariate and multivariate results showed that FIDs were significantly and positively associated with strength of corporate governance structure and the control variables – leverage, firm size and industry. Originality/value - This paper contributes to an emerging paradigm that emphasises the link between firms' governance structures and their disclosure responses to financial instruments and in particular, financial derivatives.
Does agricultural growth have a causal effect on manufacturing growth

Though the role of agricultural growth for manufacturing growth has been at the center of the discourse on economic development, empirically identifying the causal effect of agricultural growth on manufacturing growth has remained illusive for the correlation between the two doesn't necessarily imply causality. This paper attempts to overcome the identification problem. Since agriculture is heavily dependent on the weather, random weather variations are used as instruments to identify the causal impact of agricultural growth on manufacturing growth. Results show that agricultural growth has a significant positive impact on manufacturing growth. The impact is higher the higher is agriculture's share in the economy (as measured by GDP and employment share). For example, in an economy with 50% of agricultural GDP, a 1% increase in agricultural output increases manufacturing output by about 1%.
IN POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY CONSIDERING PARTIAL VOLUME EFFECTS IN OPTICAL FLOW ESTIMATION

Motion correction in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using optical flow estimation can lead to image artifacts due to Partial Volume Effects (PVE). These artifacts appear especially in cardiac gated PET images and cause blurred edges in the averaged gates. In this paper we propose a new method to motion correct PET images considering the PVE during optical flow estimation. For this purpose we introduce a local intensity correction algorithm and combine it with the optical flow computation in an iterative scheme. The results of our approach show a qualitative and quantitative improvement of the motion corrected PET gates in examinations of both human patients and laboratory mice for pre-clinical research.
The Stabilisation of LDCs' Export Earnings. The impact of the EU STABEX programme

As part of the Lome Convention the STABEX programme is one of the instruments of the European Union's development policy. Its objective is to reduce the instability of the agricultural export earnings of the developing countries which signed the agreement. By working on a commodity-by-commodity basis, this paper provides an empirical evaluation of the effects of the financial transfers disbursed by the EU. The results obtained are substantially different from those by other authors because it is shown that STABEX does have a positive impact on the sectors in which the drop of export earnings occurred. Furthermore, it is argued that the delay concerning the payments in favour of the African Caribbean and Pacific countries (henceforth ACPs) influences the effectiveness of STABEX, even if no conclusive evidence has been found to support the widely shared opinion that the relationship between these two variables (impact of the transfers and their delays) is negative.
Relationship between clinical effectiveness and pharmacoeconomic cost in patients with diabetes mellitus

Relationship between clinical effectiveness and pharmacoeconomic cost in patients with diabetes mellitus Therapeutic practices and effectiveness have a crucial impact on healthcare system costs in diabetes mellitus treatment with significant economic implications. Encompassing up to 15% of the healthcare budget in the Slovak Republic, diabetes mellitus imposes a huge economic burden on the Slovak healthcare system. The paper analyzes the treatment needs and medication costs for diabetes between 2004 and 2010 in the Slovak Republic. Both insulin and oral antidiabetic therapy are available for all patients depending on the severity of the disease. The costs analysis clearly indicates a great impact of diabetology on healthcare. The results of this work have confirmed that diabetes mellitus is a costly disease, and the costs are expected to grow further. With respect to the increasing demand and limited resources, there is a growing need for additional economic analyses. To achieve control of costs in the decision making processes in the Slovak Republic, the role of pharmacoeconomics should be strengthened. Vzťah klinickej efektivity a farmakoekonomickej nákladovosti u pacientov s diabetes mellitus Diabetes mellitus a prediabetes sa stali celosvetovým zdravotným a sociálnym problémom pre neustále narastajúci výskyt ochorenia. Spôsob a efektivita liečby majú rozhodujúcu úlohu pri ovplyvňovaní poskytovaných nákladov zo systému zdravotnej starostlivosti, s významnými ekonomickými dôsledkami. Diabetes mellitus ekonomicky zaťažuje až 15 % rozpočtu na zdravotníctvo v Slovenskej republike. Práca sa zameriava na hlavné okruhy ekonomického vplyvu diabetes mellitus na zdravotný systém: celkové odhady priamych nákladov na diabetes a jeho komplikácií; vplyv nákladov na starostlivosť a zdravotné výsledky; kvantifikovanie spotreby antidiabetík; posúdenie kvality života a farmakoekonomické modelovanie z pohľadu platcu za zdravotnú starostlivosť. Práca sa zaoberá analýzou spotreby liekov a nákladov na lieky za obdobie 2004 - 2010. Liečba inzulínom alebo perorálnymi antidiabetikami je na Slovensku dostupná pre všetkých pacientov v závislosti na stave ochorenia. Analýza nákladov jasne ukazuje, že diabetológia má veľký vplyv na celkové náklady na zdravotnú starostlivosť. Práca potvrdila, že diabetes mellitus je nákladné ochorenie, s predpokladom ďalšieho zvyšovania. Potreba ekonomických zisťovaní bude aj naďalej rásť vzhľadom na zvyšujúci sa dopyt a obmedzené zdroje. Kontrolu nákladov možno dosiahnuť posilnením úlohy farmakoekonomiky v procesoch rozhodovania v Slovenskej republike.
Mechanical work of breathing in normal subjects analysed with a computer technique.

AbstractThe mechanics of breathing has been determined in 21 normal subjects during resting spontaneous ventilation in the sitting position, by using pneumotachography and oesophageal balloon technique. The respiratory work and power were derived with an analogue computer technique and recorded continuously. The work was 0.16 kpm/mm for men and 0.23 kpm/min for women. These values agree with those of earlier investigations and can be regarded as normal values for the technique used.
Current assays overestimate 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and underestimate 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 compared with HPLC: need for assay-specific decision limits and metabolite-specific assays

Background: Clinical demand for quick, cheap, precise and accurate 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) results has led to the development of a variety of assay methods. Lack of standardization of these methods has resulted in intermethod disagreement and challenged whether current assays recognize 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 equally. Methods: We studied 172 patient samples from hip fracture cases using DiaSorin (DS) and IDS radioimmunoassays and the Nichols Advantage-automated protein binding assay (NA-CLPBA) in comparison to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 52 patient samples were analysed before and after three months treatment with 1000 IU of daily ergocalciferol (vitamin D2). Results: Linear regression analysis in pre-treatment samples demonstrated a positive Y-intercept for each immunoassay compared with HPLC, and a slope that varied from 0.64 (IDS) to 0.97 (DS, NA-CLPBA). Bland Altman analysis demonstrated that all the three assays had a proportional positive bias relative to HPLC at values from 20 to 50 nmol/L. Regression analysis of post-treatment samples demonstrated a slope that was not significantly different from zero for the IDS and NA-CLPBA and 0.2 for the DS method, with a positive intercept for all assays of between 8 and 22, indicating less than 50% of 25(OH)D2 measured by HPLC was detected. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the need for assay-specific decision limits for 25(OH)D3 in order to define appropriate thresholds for treatment institution. Treatment with vitamin D2 may not be accurately monitored with any of the three commercial assays studied. Clinicians and biochemists who continue to use 25(OH)D assays need to be urgently informed of these issues.
Estimation of the Economic Impacts of Yachting in Greece via the Tourism Satellite Account

This paper examines the impacts of yachting on the Greek economy. The contribution of yachting to major macroeconomic values and its impact on the Greek economy in 2004 are evaluated with the use of the tourism satellite account (TSA). The method has been applied by several countries to estimate the economic impacts of the traditionally designated tourism-related industries, as well as of all industries participating in the tourist economy, but not for the economic effects of special interest tourism (such as yachting). To date, there has been no application of this method in Greece either for the total tourism industry or for a specific tourism ‘sector’. The adaptation of TSA tables, maintaining harmonization with OECD directives and definitions which are approved and accepted internationally, is a precondition of the research. To achieve the research aims, both the theoretical and empirical aspects of yachting in Greece were investigated. Data from public sources have been included in the TSA tables. Since these tables require information with economic value, which is not found in the data recorded by many public services, primary research was conducted to collect this necessary information. The paper concludes by presenting the impacts of yachting on the major macroeconomic values of the Greek economy, such as tourist consumption, gross domestic product, balance of invisible resources, national income, employment, investments and public revenues (taxes).
Why Bother Asking? The Limited Value of Self-Reported Vote Intention

How accurate are people when predicting whether they will vote? These self-predictions are used by political scientists to proxy for political motivation, and by public opinion researcher to predict election outcomes. Phone surveys from three elections, including one survey experiment, are analyzed to compare respondents' pre-election vote intention with their actual voting behavior using administrative records (N=29,403). Unsurprisingly, many who predict that they will vote actually do not vote. More surprisingly, many who predict that they will not vote actually do vote (29% to 56%). Records of past voting behavior predicts turnout substantially better than self-prediction. Self-prediction inaccuracy is not caused by lack of cognitive salience of past voting, or by inability to recall past voting. Moreover, self-reported recall of turnout in one past election predicts future turnout just as well as self-prediction. We discuss implications for political science research, behavioral prediction, election administration policy, and public opinion.