Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Can We Create Collaborative Design Knowledge in Politicized Contexts?

This commentary notes that the authors of the Special Issue propose that organization design knowledge will be more actionable if it is created in collaboration with the organization’s members. I draw attention to a risk in the co-creation of design knowledge: increasing the politicization of the already politically fraught process of organizational design. The reasons why collaborative design-knowledge creation may increase politicking are described, and ideas for managing it are suggested.
Determinants of Graduate Unemployment in Tunisia

According to the report of the Central Bank of Tunisia (2009), the unemployment rate had reached 13.3% in 2009. This rate had steadily increased from 12.5% in 2006. This is one of the major challenges of the Tunisian economy and many countries of the MENA region. Furthermore, with more than 500 000 job seekers, the unemployment rate in Tunisia remains one of the highest in the MENA region. A feature of unemployment in Tunisia is the unemployment of graduates. The unemployment rate for this category of young people has recently grown dramatically from 16.9% in 2006 to 21.9% in 2009. This rate is expected to rise in coming years despite all the arrangements made for young graduates to insert them into the labour market. To understand the determinants of this type of unemployment, the paper is based on the diagnosis of the situation through a synthesis of the key findings of surveys conducted in 2005 and 2007 on the promotion of graduates in 2004. This diagnosis was supported by an econometric model linking the unemployment indicator to the key indicators of qualification. The massification of the higher education and the lack of creation of adequate jobs are the main causes of the exponential rise of the unemployment rate for graduates. This situation has forced many students to continue their studies, thus paradoxically minimizing their chances of being recruited because of their over qualification. With the exception of a few specialties such as medicine, computing, telecommunications and architecture, where opportunities are available, especially abroad, other types of graduates meet more or less difficulty on the labour market. The solutions to overcome this crisis of unemployment are rather difficult, requiring enormous resources over several years. These solutions would affect several areas; such as the higher education, the vocational training, the investment and the regional integration.
Measuring relative risk aversion

This note intends to estimate the Coefficient of Relative Risk Aversion (CRRA). The underlying model is expected utility and certainty equivalence. The utility function selected is of the power form and is shown to be independent of initial wealth. This property makes the results applicable to any individual, whatever her initial wealth, or even to a market measure. The equity premium that the CRRA must explain is calculated to be 9.5%. The CRRA is calibrated by assuming six different economies from an economy with two states of nature to an economy with seven states of nature, that all describe the same distribution of returns. The calibrated CRRAs are between 4.2 and 5.4. Running 100 replications of samples of 6000 observations of the risky outcome shows that the CRRA that satisfies the constraint on the equity premium is 4.5, a figure which is reasonable and plausible.
The effect of qualified auditors' opinions on share prices: evidence from Jordan

Purpose – This study aims at investigating the effect of the qualified audit reports on shares prices and returns in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach – A market-based study conducted on the qualified audit reports of the shareholding companies in Jordan during the period 2000-2005. Findings – The conclusions of the study showed that there is no clear or significant effect of a qualified audit opinion on share prices and returns. Practical implications – Based on the conclusions of the study, the researchers recommend there is a need for further educating users of the role of the audit report and the need for extending this study to investigate the effect of the qualified audit reports on share prices and returns during other periods and using different test periods other than the announcement date. Originality/value – This study is original because it provides us with new evidence about the effect of qualified audit reports on shares prices and returns in a developing country.
High-density lipoprotein metabolism and endothelial function

Purpose of reviewHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL) protects against atherosclerosis, transporting cholesterol from peripheral cells to the liver, where it is excreted into the bile. However, HDL also has prominent vascular protective effects. Recent findingsRecent studies have uncovered mechanisms through which HDL decreases vascular inflammation, boosts nitric oxide production, and inhibits thrombosis. The discovery that dysfunctional HDL can also have proinflammatory effects has uncovered a new aspect of HDL biology. SummaryLow-density lipoprotein is the primary target for drug therapy of dyslipidemias. Drugs that increase HDL also affect additional metabolic pathways. Development of selective drugs targeting key aspects of HDL metabolism may enable us to alter the composition of HDL and inhibit atherogenesis.
Serum immunoglobulin levels and naturally occurring antibodies against carbohydrate antigens in germ‐free BALB/c mice fed chemically defined ultrafiltered diet

This study investigates the influence of exogenous antigenic stimulation on the serum immunoglobulin levels and the levels of circulating natural antibodies against carbohydrate antigens. Thus, BALB/c mice, raised in a germ‐free environment and fed a chemically defined, ultrafiltered diet (GF‐CD), were employed. These mice had normal serum IgM levels, but IgG and IgA levels were approximately 5% of conventionally reared littermates. The concentrations of all four IgG isotypes were equally low. The variable part of the heavy chains of naturally occurring BALB/c antibodies against a number of carbohydrate antigens, including 3‐fucosyllactosamine (3‐FL), levan and dextran, are encoded by VH441, and these antibodies express cross‐reactive idiotopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies 6C4 and 6B1. Antibodies against levan and dextran were lower in GF‐CD than in conventional mice, but levels of anti‐3FL antibodies, and 6C4 and 6B1 idiotopes, were comparable to those in conventional animals. Peptidoglycan polysaccharide complexes (PPC) are carbohydrate antigens of bacterial origin, like levan and galactan. Naturally occurring antibodies against PPC were found in the serum of conventional mice, but were severely reduced in GF‐CD mice. The results indicate that most naturally occurring antibodies against carbohydrate antigens of bacterial origin found in conventional mice are caused by exogenous stimulation.
Linking Data, Models and Tools: An Overview

Complex questions trigger researchers around the world to link data, numerical models and tools of different origins together for integrated modeling of the environment and related socio-economic fields. Different researchers have, however, chosen different ways to link such resources. As a result a seemingly wide range of interfaces and frameworks have been defined: some have used low level interfaces others more abstract and object oriented ones; some systems may require little or no code changes whereas others promote to fundamental rewriting of your code. So, if we all try to link data, models and tools, why are we then using such different environments? The basic idea is that the various approaches address supposedly conflicting demands like generality, flexibility, ease of use, accuracy and performance. What are the benefits of the various approaches? This paper addresses these questions by looking at a.o. common component architecture (CCA), earth system modeling framework (ESMF), FRAMES, object modeling system (OMS) and OpenMI. Are they really conflicting or do they to a large degree complement each other?
Significance of Dermoscopy in Acute Diffuse and Total Alopecia of the Female Scalp: Review of Twenty Cases

Background: Acute diffuse and total alopecia of the female scalp (ADTAFS) is a new subtype of alopecia areata that is characterized by rapid progression of diffuse alopecia of the female scalp, marked female predominance and a favorable prognosis. Differential diagnosis of other types of diffuse alopecia such as female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is necessary in some cases. Objective: To describe dermoscopic findings of ADTAFS and to investigate the possibility of utilizing dermoscopy as a diagnostic tool for ADTAFS. Methods: Twenty cases of ADTAFS diagnosed by clinical and/or histological findings were examined by dermoscopy. Results: Cadaverized hairs (black dots), exclamation mark hairs (tapering hairs), broken hairs or yellow dots were seen in 18, 13, 19 and 17 out of 20 cases, respectively. One of these signs was seen in all cases (20/20). On the other hand, none of 12 cases with exclusively FPHL showed the dermoscopic features such as cadaverized hairs, exclamation mark hairs or broken hairs. Only 1 FPHL patient showed a yellow dot in the hair loss area. Conclusion: Dermoscopy is a helpful diagnostic tool for ADTAFS, especially to distinguish it from FPHL.
The Relationship Between Unemployment Spells and Reservation Wages as a Test of Search Theory

The theory of stationary job search predicts that, controlling for other factors that affect the probability of leaving unemployment, duration and reservation wages are likely to be positively associated. The paper tests this prediction for British cross-sectional data from 1982 using an estimating equation implied by search theory. Simultaneity is crucial in the evaluation of this prediction, with single-equation and instrumental-variable estimates differing markedly. Perhaps surprisingly, given the extreme paucity of both job interviews and offers in the sample, the main finding is that reservation wages play a significant role in the determination of duration.
Causal relationships between stock returns and inflation

This article studies correlations and dynamic interactions between real stock returns and inflation in the UK for 1830–2000. The BLS test suggests that an endogenous break point exists in 1970, and therefore the pre- and post-break periods are required to be analysed separately. According to the empirical results, for the post-break period, unpredictable stock returns present little correlation to unpredictable inflation, and an increase in stock returns has an insignificant effect on inflation. Impulse response analyses also demonstrate that a positive shock to inflation does not have a negative impact on stock returns. These results are in contrast to the well-known empirical results for the pre-break period.
Over‐expression of APAF‐1 and caspase‐9 augments radiation‐induced apoptosis in U‐373MG glioma cells

The p53 tumor‐suppressor gene plays a critical role in radiation‐induced apoptosis. Several genes, including Bax and Fas, are involved in p53‐mediated apoptosis, and their over‐expression enhances the degree of radiation‐induced apoptosis. Apaf‐1 and caspase‐9 have been reported to be downstream components of p53‐mediated apoptosis, suggesting that these genes play a role in radiation‐induced apoptosis. In this study, we transduced U‐373MG cells harboring mutant p53 with the Apaf‐1 and/or caspase‐9 genes via adenoviral (Adv) vectors concomitant with X‐ray irradiation and evaluated the degree of apoptosis. The percentage of apoptotic cells in U‐373MG cells co‐infected with the Adv for Apaf‐1 (Adv‐APAF‐1) and that for caspase‐9 (Adv‐Casp9) and treated with irradiation (24%) was much higher than that in cells co‐infected with Adv‐APAF‐1 and Adv‐Casp9 and not treated with irradiation (0.86%) and that in cells infected with either Adv‐APAF‐1 or Adv‐Casp9 and treated with irradiation (2.0% or 2.6%, respectively). The apoptosis induced by co‐transduction of Apaf‐1 and caspase‐9 and irradiation was repressed in cells that were co‐infected with the Adv for Bcl‐XL but not in cells co‐infected with the Adv for Bcl‐2. These results indicate that Apaf‐1 and caspase‐9 play a role in radiation‐induced apoptosis in cancer cells harboring mutant p53. Bcl‐XL may be critically involved in the radioresistance of cancer cells by repressing Apaf‐1– and caspase‐9–mediated apoptosis. Expression of Apaf‐1 and caspase‐9 in tumors may be an important determinant of the therapeutic effect of irradiation in cancer treatment. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Maternal and Fetal Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I), IGF Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3), Leptin Levels and Early Postnatal Growth in Infants Born Asymmetrically Small for Gestational Age

Abstract This study was planned to investigate the relationship between birth weight and insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I),IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and leptin levels in neonates with normal growth (appropriate for gestational age: AGA) and retarded growth (small for gestational age: SGA); and to evaluate these growth factors’ effects in early postnatal growth. All newborns were full-term: gestational age 38-41 weeks. Of 50 neonates, 25 were SGA. IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and leptin levels were measured in maternal serum and venous cord blood at birth and at 15 days of life of neonates using specific RIAs. Maternal serum leptin concentrations were significantly higher than cord blood leptin concentrations (p <0.001). Maternal serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and leptin levels did not show correlations with birth weight. In contrast, there were significantly positive correlations between birth weight and venous cord blood IGF- I, IGFBP-3 and leptin levels (p <0.001). In the SGA group, the newborns with a slow postnatal growth pattern had lower umbilical cord serum IGF-I levels compared with newborns with a normal growth pattern. A similar result was also found in the AGA group. Similar results were not found for serum leptin and IGFBP-3. In conclusion, cord blood IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and leptin levels play an important role in the regulation of fetal and neonatal growth. It is likely that IGF-I has a more important role than the other factors in early postnatal growth.
Metastasis to regional lymph nodes in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: CT versus FDG PET for presurgical detection prospective study.

PURPOSE To prospectively compare the accuracy of fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) for detection of primary tumor and metastasis to individual lymph node groups and for nodal staging. MATERIALS AND METHODS From February 2000 to July 2001, 81 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (78 men and three women; age range, 31-90 years; mean age, 63 years) underwent CT and FDG PET before esophagectomy and lymph node dissection. During surgery, all visible and palpable lymph nodes in the surgical fields were removed. The accuracies of CT and FDG PET for depiction of metastasis to lymph nodes were compared. RESULTS For depiction of malignant nodal groups in each lymph node group, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, respectively, of CT were 11% (11 of 96 nodal groups), 95% (553 of 581), and 83% (564 of 677), whereas those of FDG PET were 30% (29 of 96), 90% (525 of 581), and 82% (554 of 677) (P values: < .001, .009, and .382, respectively). Twenty-eight false-positive interpretations were rendered at CT in evaluations of 11 mediastinal, four hilar, and 13 abdominal nodal groups, and 56 false-positive interpretations were rendered at FDG PET in evaluations of 23 mediastinal, 32 hilar, and one abdominal nodal group. CONCLUSION FDG PET is more sensitive than CT for depicting nodal metastases in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. FDG PET is slightly less specific than CT for depicting metastases, but the difference in specificity between the two modalities is statistically significant. Both FDG PET and CT have low sensitivity for depicting nodal metastasis. The relatively low specificity of FDG PET for depiction of nodal metastasis compared with that of CT is caused mainly by a high rate of false-positive hilar node interpretations.
Influence of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide (OATP) 1B1- and OATP1B3-Mediated Drug Transport

The transporter-mediated uptake of drugs from blood into hepatocytes is a prerequisite for intrahepatic drug action or intracellular drug metabolism before excretion. Therefore, uptake transporters, e.g., members of the organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) family are important determinants of drug pharmacokinetics. Highly and almost exclusively expressed in hepatocytes are the OATP family members OATP1B1 (SLCO1B1) and OATP1B3 (SLCO1B3). Drug substrates of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 include antibiotics and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It has been demonstrated that administration of two or more drugs that are substrates for these hepatic uptake transporters may lead to transporter-mediated drug-drug interactions, resulting in altered transport kinetics for drug substrates. In this study we investigated whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol interact with OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 using the standard substrate BSP and the drug substrate pravastatin. Using human embryonic kidney cells stably expressing OATP1B1 or OATP1B3, we demonstrated that bromosulfophthalein uptake was inhibited by diclofenac, ibuprofen. and lumiracoxib. Of interest, pravastatin uptake was stimulated by these NSAIDs, and for ibuprofen we determined activation constants (EC50 values) of 64.0 and 93.1 μM for OATP1B1- and OATP1B3-mediated uptake, respectively. Furthermore, we investigated whether NSAIDs were also substrates for OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 and demonstrated that only diclofenac was significantly transported by OATP1B3, whereas all other NSAIDs investigated were not substrates for these uptake transporters. These results demonstrated that drugs may interact with transport proteins by allosteric mechanisms without being substrates and, therefore, not only uptake inhibition but also allosteric-induced modulation of transport function may be an important mechanism in transporter-mediated drug-drug interactions.
A comparative industrial profile analysis of urban regions in Western Europe: an application of rough set classification

This paper analyses the locational suitability of industrial sites in five urban regions in Western Europe for five classes of economic activity. In the selected regions a total of 46 industrial sites and office locations were visited and judged on their suitability for each of the five classes of economic activity. Given the small sample size and the qualitative nature of the information collected, conventional statistical tools could not be applied, and rough set analysis was used. This proved to be a useful tool in identifying the major driving forces in the relative competitive position of the European regions. The study shows that the regions are not competitors in all aspects, but have their own individual geographic–economic specialisations.
Macrolide and Azithromycin Use Are Linked to Increased Macrolide Resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae

ABSTRACT The connection between regional rates of antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae and regional antimicrobial use in Finland was investigated. During the 6-year study period of 1997 to 2002, a total of 31,609 S. pneumoniae isolates were tested for penicillin resistance and a total of 23,769 isolates were tested for macrolide resistance in 18 central hospital districts in Finland. The regional macrolide resistance rates were compared with the local use of (i) all macrolides pooled and (ii) azithromycin. The penicillin resistance levels were compared with the consumption data for (i) penicillins, (ii) cephalosporins, (iii) all beta-lactams pooled, and (iv) all macrolides pooled. A statistically significant association between macrolide resistance and total use of macrolides and the use of azithromycin was found. Moreover, total use of beta-lactams and total use of cephalosporins were significantly connected to low-level penicillin resistance. A statistically significant association between penicillin-nonsusceptible isolates and penicillin or total macrolide consumption was not found. In conclusion, total macrolide use and azithromycin use are associated with increased macrolide resistance, and beta-lactam use and cephalosporin use are connected to increased low-level penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae. Unnecessary prescribing of macrolides and cephalosporins should be avoided.
Competition for Ammonia Influences the Structure of Chemotrophic Communities in Geothermal Springs

ABSTRACT Source waters sampled from Perpetual Spouter hot spring (pH 7.03, 86.4°C), Yellowstone National Park, WY, have low concentrations of total ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, suggesting nitrogen (N) limitation and/or tight coupling of N cycling processes. Dominant small-subunit rRNA sequences in Perpetual Spouter source sediments are closely affiliated with the ammonia-oxidizing archaeon “Candidatus Nitrosocaldus yellowstonii” and the putatively nitrogen-fixing (diazotrophic) bacterium Thermocrinis albus, respectively, suggesting that these populations may interact at the level of the bioavailable N pool, specifically, ammonia. This hypothesis was evaluated by using a combination of geochemical, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses of sediment microcosms. Amendment of microcosms with allylthiourea, an inhibitor of ammonia oxidation, decreased rates of acetylene reduction (a proxy for N2 fixation) and nitrite production (a proxy for ammonia oxidation) and decreased transcript levels of structural genes involved in both nitrogen fixation (nifH) and ammonia oxidation (amoA). In contrast, amendment of microcosms with ammonia stimulated nitrite production and increased amoA transcript levels while it suppressed rates of acetylene reduction and decreased nifH transcript levels. Sequencing of amplified nifH and amoA transcripts from native sediments, as well as microcosms, at 2 and 4 h postamendment, indicates that the dominant and responsive populations involved in ammonia oxidation and N2 fixation are closely affiliated with Ca. Nitrosocaldus yellowstonii and T. albus, respectively. Collectively, these results suggest that ammonia-oxidizing archaea, such as Ca. Nitrosocaldus yellowstonii, have an apparent affinity for ammonia that is higher than that of the diazotrophs present in this ecosystem. Depletion of the bioavailable N pool through the activity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea likely represents a strong selective pressure for the inclusion of organisms capable of nitrogen fixation in geothermal communities. These observations help to explain the strong pattern in the codistribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and diazotrophs in circumneutral-to-alkaline geothermal springs.
Academic standards and challenges for accounting educators

A recent paper on Transforming Australia's Higher Education System identifies a number of significant reforms for the sector including the establishment of a Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). The paper also foreshadows the development of competency based standards for universities for all degree awards in Australia. TEQSA will then be responsible for checking compliance with such standards in a similar fashion to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation panel. An article in The Australian Financial Review reported that accounting will be the first discipline to set minimum standards as required by the new Australian Qualifications Framework regime as 'Standards set for accounting' Accounting was chosen because we have a very strong level of engagement with both the profession and industry in relaion to the discipline.