Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Typing of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Can PCR Replace Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis?

ABSTRACT Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is considered the “gold standard” for molecular typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, the method is time-consuming and expensive, and its discriminatory power may not be necessary in outbreak situations. We used a rapid multiplex PCR-based method with published primers and compared the results with those obtained by PFGE. A total of 75 clinical isolates were typed: 59 strains originated from our prospectively collected clinical strains and were epidemiologically unrelated; 16 strains came from an outbreak that was epidemiologically well defined in time and space. A primer mix of the spa gene, the coa gene, and the hypervariable region adjacent to mecA gene was used for multiplex PCR. Both PFGE and PCR clustered the 75 strains into 41 different genotypes. Concordance of the results was 100% for strains originating from the outbreak. Overall, both methods produced concordant results in 72% of cases. A total of 16% were clustered together by PFGE, but not by PCR and 12% were clustered together by PCR but not by PFGE, respectively. The turnaround time was only 8 h for PCR but 5 days for PFGE. This PCR-based method is excellent for rapid and inexpensive typing of MRSA in an outbreak setting, but the discriminatory power and reproducibility are still insufficient to replace PFGE in longitudinal studies in the endemic setting.
The Game Academics Play: Editors Versus Authors

This article studies a game between authors and editors. Editors play as leaders while authors are the followers. Authors maximize the number of publications seeking to increase the impact of their work in the literature, captured by citations. Editors maximize the quality of papers they publish in order to increase the reputation of their journals. The main results are: (i) rules aimed at increasing scholars productivity, such as requirements to obtain tenure, increase author's citations and journal's quality; (ii) editors willingness to build journal's reputation hurt journal's quality and increase author's publications; (iii) journal's reputation increases citations and journal's quality.
Poor people on the move: county-to-county migration and the spatial concentration of poverty.

"Poverty rates in high-poverty and low-poverty rural [U.S.] counties, and, thus, the spatial concentration of poverty, are affected by poverty-specific differences in in-migration and out-migration patterns. These patterns are investigated using 1985-90 county-to-county migration data from the decennial census. Effects on poverty rates of four migration flows (in- and out-migration of poor, in- and out-migration of nonpoor) are quantified, and their impacts on spatial concentration of poverty are assessed. The effect of selected county characteristics on the migration of the poor and nonpoor in nonmetro counties [is] estimated. "
Bond Rating Confusion

Bond ratings are becoming confusing because rating agencies have adopted inconsistent rating definitions for different kinds of securities. Standard & Poor's rating definitions illustrate the issue most vividly. S&P's rating symbols correspond to different default probabilities for 1) corporate bonds, 2) mortgage and asset backed securities, and 3) collateralized bond obligations. At Moody's, the rating scale for U.S. municipal bonds is calibrated to different levels of expected loss than is the rating scale for all other types of bonds. Inconsistent rating definitions undermine the comparability of bonds from different sectors of the fixed income markets. Moreover, regulations that rely on private credit ratings often presume that each rating agency's rating definitions are constant across market sectors (and also constant over time). Inconsistent rating definitions contradict that presumption and cast doubt on the effectiveness of the regulations.
The Carnegie Conjecture: Some Empirical Evidence

This paper examines tax-return-generated data on the labor force behavior of people before and after they receive inheritances. The results are consistent with Andrew Carnegie's century-old assertion that large inheritances decrease a person's labor force participation. For example, a single person who receives an inheritance of about $150,000 is roughly four times more likely to leave the labor force than a person with an inheritance below $25,000. Additional, albeit weaker, evidence suggests that large inheritances depress labor supply, even when participation is unaltered. Warren Kendall … heir to an insurance company fortune … says he's worth about $5 million and has an income of "about, oh, $300 and some thousand a year. " [H]e has never held a job, or wanted to. Going down to sea in cruise ships is his full-time pursuit. He estimates that he has taken about 250 cruises over the past couple of decades, spending at least 50 percent to 70 percent of the year afloat [Morgenthaler, 1991, p. Al].
Why has Unemployment in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom Fallen so Much

The Netherlands and the United Kingdom have experienced a major decline in unemployment rates since the early 1980s. Over the same period, there was also a strong decline in non-employment rates. Since in most other countries of the European Union such declines did not occur there is something of an unemployment miracle in both countries. Combinations of supply-oriented policies causing a significant reduction of equilibrium unemployment rates in both countries are responsible for this.
Risk factors for candidemia in cancer patients: a case-control study

Risk factors for candidemia were analyzed in a case-control study of 30 cancer patients with candidemia and 58 controls. In a univariate analysis, previous surgery, neutropenia, central catheterization, chemotherapy, specific antibiotic treatments, and peripheral cultures positive for Candida spp. were associated with a significantly increased risk of candidemia. In a multivariate logistic model, the significant risk factors for candidemia were positive peripheral cultures for Candida spp. (P = 0.02), central catheterization (P = 0.03), and neutropenia (P = 0.05). These results should help to identify cancer patients with a high risk of candidemia, who should be given early systemic antifungal therapy.
A Perspective on Quality Activities in American Firms

Dr. Kano reviews the progress of the American quality movement as seen through his experiences with American companies over the last fifteen years. He identifies the movement9s strengths and weaknesses and compares its development to that of the Japanese quality movement. In particular, he elaborates the appeal of management by policy (hoshin kanri) to Americans and describes the specific characteristics of its development in American firms. Overall, although progress may be described as slow and uneven, he finds considerable cause for optimism about the progress of selected American firms and industries.
Innovations in climate policy: the politics of invention, diffusion, and evaluation

The governance of climate change is in flux. In the understandable rush to explore what is filling the governance gaps created by gridlock in the international regime, scholars risk under-appreciating the capacity of states to engage in policy innovation at national and sub-national levels. Based on a review of existing concepts and theoretical explanations for (in)action at this level, we make the case for adopting a more holistic approach to understanding policy innovation, covering the source of new policy elements (‘invention’), their wider entry into use (‘diffusion’), and their projected and/or real effects (‘evaluation’). The analytical and methodological challenges that arise from integrating these three perspectives are systematically explored and integrated into a new analytical framework used in the other contributions to this volume to explore more fully the politics of invention, diffusion, and evaluation in specific areas of mitigation and adaptation policy.
Capital Flight and Tax Havens: Impact on Investment and Growth in Africa

This paper examines the implications of capital flight and tax havens for economic development in African economies. Specifically, it investigates the impact of capital flight on domestic investment and the opportunity costs of capital flight in terms of foregone growth. First, econometric analysis is used to assess the impact of capital flight on domestic investment. Second, a simulation exercise is undertaken to estimate the potential gains in terms of growth that could be derived from investing capital flight domestically. The empirical evidence is used to draw some policy implications.
Magnetocaloric effect in M–pyrazole–[Nb(CN)8] (M = Ni, Mn) molecular compounds

We report a study of magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in cyanido-bridged {[MII(pyrazole)4]2[NbIV(CN)8]⋅4H2O}n molecular compounds where M = Ni, Mn, pyrazole = C3H4N2. The substances show a sharp phase transition to a long range magnetically ordered state, with ferromagnetic coupling between M and Nb sublattices in the case of the Ni-based sample 1 (Tc = 13.4 K) and ferrimagnetic coupling for the Mn-based sample 2 (Tc = 23.8 K). The magnetic entropy change ΔS due to applied field change ΔH as a function of temperature was determined by the magnetization and heat capacity measurements. The maximum value of ΔS at μ0ΔH = 5 T is 6.1 J mol−1 K−1 (5.9 J kg−1 K−1) for 1 at T = 14 K and 6.7 J mol−1 K−1 (6.5 J kg−1 K−1) for 2 at T = 25 K. MCE data at different applied fields have been presented as one universal curve, which confirms magnetic transitions in 1 and 2 to be of second order. The temperature dependences of the n exponent characterizing the dependence of ΔS on ΔH have been obtained. The n(Tc) values, consistent with the shape of the magnetization curves, pointed to the 3D Heisenberg behaviour for 2 and some anisotropy, probably of the XY type, for 1. The (H/Tc)2/3 dependence of the maximum entropy change has been tested in the ferrimagnetic Mn2–L–[Nb(CN)8] (L = C3H4N2, C4H4N2) series.
Intertemporal Balance, Sustainability and Efficiency of the Exchange Rate Mechanism

Under the assumption that the balance of payments must satisfy the expected intertemporal balance, this paper seeks to establish a pre-condition for a crisis of the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). Proposing that non-stationarity of the growth rate of assets is evidence of a violation of expected intertemporal bal - ance, we calculate Augmented Dickey-Fuller statistics of the growth rate of for - eign exchange reserves prior to the ERM crisis in September, 1992 for member states. In all, but one, of the crisis experiences, there is no evidence of a violation of intertemporal balance prior to the month of the crisis. However, the persistent violation of intertemporal balance by Italy prior to the crisis reflects that the fun - damental disequilibrium matters to the viability of the ERM. With no evidence of ef ficient allocation of the foreign reserves within the member states, the ERM is exposed to attack by speculators.
Pensions with early retirement and without commitment

In this article it is shown that more generous early retirement provisions as well as lower employment lead to lower steady state pension rates if governments weigh the welfare of the older persons relatively strongly. A relatively stronger weight on the welfare of the young reverses the results. The driving force behind those findings are governments that cannot commit to pension policies and consequently take into account future governments' policies when maximizing electoral support from the currently young and old constituencies.
O Parcelamento Tributário e Seus Efeitos sobre o Comportamento dos Contribuintes

Em sua busca pela ampliacao de receitas, o governo brasileiro tem usado de forma recorrente o parcelamento de dividas tributarias. Apesar de gerar aumento do caixa temporario e imediato, tal politica nao esta livre de criticas. Este artigo procura analisar os efeitos dos parcelamentos sobre a evasao fiscal. Verificou-se que a disposicao de pagar tributos no Brasil estaria em torno de 2/3 dos valores devidos, e que os parcelamentos concedidos na ultima decada reduziram ainda mais este percentual para algo pouco acima dos 60%, percentual em linha com a literatura que trata de informalidade no Brasil. Ademais, sugere-se que dentre as condicoes ofertadas, cuidado especial deve ser dado a definicao do numero de parcelas e da taxa de juros aplicada as parcelas, pois afetam de forma significativa o recolhimento espontâneo hoje. Este resultado indica que as autoridades devem ser cuidadosas na utilizacao deste tipo de mecanismo.
Electrophysiological observations on hearing and sound production in the fish, Porichthys notatus.

Males of the northern midshipman, Porichthys notatus emit sounds that can be characterized as irregular grunts, trains of regularly spaced grunts and buzzes. The grunts contain their maximum amplitude in a band from 85-600 cps with a possible fundamental just below 85 cps. The buzzes contain frequencies from 85 cps to 1 kc. Some buzzes have a well defined fundamental at approximately 85 cps. In others, the fundamental varies between 150 and 250 cps. Microphonics were recorded from the sacculus and appear to originate primarily from the posterior region of the saccular macula. Two microphonic potentials are produced for each cycle of sound. A hearing frequency curve based on a 20 microvolt microphonic response indicates that the ear can detect sounds from 30 to at least 210 cps. There is a low threshold at 30 and at 150 cps. Electromyograms from the pair of muscles attached to the air bladder indicate that they contract simultaneously at frequencies from 93-227 per second during sound production. Each contraction is associated with a pulse of sound. The variety of sounds produced in any given behavioral situation indicates that there is no clear association between a given type of activity and the sound produced. The low threshold of the ear at 150 cps corresponds to a fundamental frequency commonly found in the sounds produced by the fish. This indicates that the fish could use these sounds for communication between individuals.
`The stress of dying': the role of heat shock proteins in the regulation of apoptosis

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a family of highly homologous chaperone proteins that are induced in response to environmental, physical and chemical stresses and that limit the consequences of damage and facilitate cellular recovery. The underlying ability of Hsps to maintain cell survival correlates with an inhibition of caspase activation and apoptosis that can, but does not always, depend upon their chaperoning activities. Several mechanisms proposed to account for these observations impact on both the `intrinsic', mitochondria-dependent and the `extrinsic', death-receptor-mediated pathways to apoptosis. Hsps can inhibit the activity of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins to prevent permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane and release of apoptogenic factors. The disruption of apoptosome formation represents another mechanism by which Hsps can prevent caspase activation and induction of apoptosis. Several signaling cascades involved in the regulation of key elements within the apoptotic cascade are also subject to modulation by Hsps, including those involving JNK, NF-κB and AKT. The coordinated activities of the Hsps thus modulate multiple events within apoptotic pathways to help sustain cell survival following damaging stimuli.
Collaborative Crisis Communication in Rural Settings: A Public Information Case Study

As a result of successful resource collaboration, the first ever joint-press release between four Southern Illinois public health departments was published in a preventative measure to control a possible mumps outbreak. Public information officers, nurses and emergency response coordinators worked collaboratively to gather information and distribute it to the public to control misinformation, provide education and inform the public of the Illinois mumps condition. The purpose of the presentation is to educate agencies and organizations on the importance of collaborative communication and joint information sharing in rural emergency planning.
Reputation, Voluntary Mobility and Wages

This study analyzes the effect of voluntary mobility on subsequent wages to discover if there are wage penalties associated with repeated mobility. To reduce the endogeneity between wages and voluntary mobility, the sample is restricted to young males on their first job following a permanent layoff. Using respondents from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, ordinary least squares wage equations from the layoff sample are compared to those from a sample of workers who remained employed. The evidence shows that voluntary mobility differentially affects the wage equations of the restricted and the unrestricted samples. Copyright 1993 by MIT Press.
THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF PULSATILE HORMONE SECRETION DATA

Knobil (1980) first demonstrated that the pulsatile nature of the secretion of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH), and hence of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), was vital for the induction of menarche and ovulation. The main clinical applications of this principle are surveyed in Clayton (1 987); they include the treatment of certain types of anovulation and of the absence of puberty and spermatogenesis. As a result of the growing awareness of the importance of pulsatility, there has been a substantial increase in the measurement and interpretation of patterns of pulsatile hormone secretion in serial blood samples, and the number of published papers in the field has risen sharply since 1982. However, it is evident from reading recent papers that there is no consensus as to which mathematical methods are best used to analyse the large numbers of hormone series thus collected. Presumably because of its physiological and clinical significance, LH is the hormone most frequently analysed in the literature. This review will implicitly concentrate on LH series, though some comments will be made on growth hormone (GH) pubatility in the light of its relation with the growth rate (height velocity) of children (Hindmarsh et al. 1987). Other hormones whose pulsatile nature has been studied include FSH, oestradiol, progesterone, ACTH, prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone. In this brief review, important issues in the analysis of pulsatile data and the major methods that have emerged since 1970 will be considered. An extensive bibliography will not be given because the intention is more to examine the methodology than to synthesize the results of many studies. For a much wider-ranging and detailed survey of the issues involved in peak detection, together with a useful description and comparison of most of the major computer algorithms, the reader is referred to Urban et al. (1988a).
Market Interest in Nonfinancial Information

During the past two decades, more and more companies have volunteered to provide “corporate social responsibility” or “sustainability” reports that include information about their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies and performance. Such reporting has come about largely in response to demands by a wide range of stakeholders for information about how the company's operations are affecting society in a number of different ways. But do investors really care about companies' ESG performance and policies? Using data from Bloomberg, the authors provide the first broadly based empirical evidence of investors' interest in ESG data. More specifically, the authors show how interest in the top 20 ESG metrics varies with geographical location (European vs. American), asset class (fixed income vs. equity), and firm type. At the aggregate market level, there is greater interest in environmental and governance information than in “social” information. U.S. investors are more interested than their European counterparts in governance and less interested in environmental information. Equity investors are interested in a wider range of nonfinancial information than are fixed income investors. And whereas sell‐side analysts are primarily interested in greenhouse gas emissions, money managers tend to focus on a broader set of metrics. Similarly, pension funds and hedge funds have shown interest in more nonfinancial metrics than insurance companies. The authors' bottom line: Companies need to recognize the growing market interest in nonfinancial information and ensure that they are providing it according to the specific information needs of market users.
An Estimate of Cancers Attributable to Occupational Exposures in France

Objective: To perform a quantitative estimate of the proportion of cancers attributable to occupational exposures in France in 2000. Methods: Exposure data for established carcinogens were obtained from a 1994 survey and other sources. Relative risks for 23 exposure-cancer combinations were derived from meta-analyses and pooled analyses. Results: A total of 4335 cases of cancer among men (2.7% of all cancers) and 403 cases among women (0.3% of all cancers) were attributed to occupational exposures. Asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and chromium VI were the main occupational carcinogens in men, and asbestos and involuntary smoking were the main carcinogens in women. Corresponding proportions for cancer deaths were 4.0% and 0.6% in men and women, respectively. Lung cancer represented 75% of deaths attributable to occupational exposures. Conclusion: Our estimates are comparable with those obtained for other countries in studies based on similar methodology.
Development of an optical-based image guidance system: technique detecting external markers behind a full facemask.

PURPOSE Optical image-guided systems (e.g., AlignRT, frameless SonArray, ExacTrac) have been used with advantages of avoiding excessive radiation exposure and real-time patient monitoring. Although these systems showed proven accuracy, they need to modify a full facemask for patients with H&N cancer and brain tumor. We developed an optical-based guidance system to manage interfractional and intrafractional setup errors by tracking external markers behind a full facemask. METHODS Infra-red (IR) reflecting markers were attached on the face of a head phantom and then the phantom was immobilized by a full face thermoplastic mask. A stereo camera system consisting of two CCD cameras was mounted on the inferior wall of treatment room. The stereo camera system was calibrated to reconstruct 3D coordinates of multiple markers with respect to the isocenter using the direct linear transform (DLT) algorithm. The real-time position of the phantom was acquired, through the stereo camera system, by detecting the IR markers behind the full facemask. The detection errors with respect to the reference positions of planning CT images were calculated in six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) by a rigid-body registration technique. RESULTS The calibration accuracy of the system was in submillimeter (0.33 mm +/- 0.27 mm), which was comparable to others. The mean distance between each of marker positions of optical images and planning CT images was 0.50 mm +/- 0.67 mm. The maximum deviations of 6-DOF registration were less than 1 mm and 1 degrees for the couch translation and rotation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The developed system showed the accuracy and consistency comparable to the commercial optical guided systems, while allowing us to simultaneously immobilize patients with a full face thermoplastic mask.