Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What do we need to do to make protocol biopsies standard of care or should we discontinue doing?

Implicit in this surveillance program is the recognition of the unique features of pediatric renal transplantation, such as the high degree of immunological responsiveness of children and therefore increased propensity for acute rejection (AR) (5, 6), the large renal mass of adult-sized kidneys (ASKs) that conceals the clinical manifestations of graft injury (7–9) and the overriding goal of graft longevity for appropriate growth, development and psychosocial adaptation. Accumulated data from experienced transplant centers offer insights into the clinical utility of biopsy surveillance for pediatric patients.
The Golgi Apparatus: Balancing New with Old

Most models put forward to explain cellular processes do not stand the test of time. The ‘lucky’ few that are able to survive extensive experimental tests and peer critique may eventually become dogmas or paradigms. When this happens, the amount of experimental data required to overturn the paradigm is extensive. To some, such inertia may seem prohibitive to scientific progress but rather, in our opinion, this helps to maintain a degree of coherence. It is needed so that experiments and interpretations may be conducted within relatively safe boundaries. In the field of protein transport in the secretory pathway, we have enjoyed a relatively stable and productive period for quite some time (more than 30 years! ). It is only very recently that the field has entered into a phase where all bets seem to be off. As in any paradigm shift, the accumulation of experimental observations inconsistent with the old dogma eventually reached a critical point. As we ‘reluctantly’ dispense with the long‐standing paradigm of forward vesicular transport, we face a time that is bound to be trying as well as exciting.
Financing High-tech Start-ups: Moral Hazard, Information Asymmetry and the Reallocation of Control Rights

Abstract Recent data suggest that venture capital investments concentrate in the high-tech sector only in those countries where banks are not allowed to offer equity financing. To explain this fact, I develop a simple principal-agent model of start-up financing with both private information and hidden actions in which the equity investor can vary the level of control over the firm and the debt investor cannot. The model shows that when three commonly documented characteristics of the high-tech industry coexist, namely: (i) a high degree of information asymmetry, (ii) a high level of uncertainty about returns, and (iii) a large amount of R&D investments preceding production, then the ability to reallocate control rights that are contingent on performance becomes the key. Unlike debt contracts, equity contracts specify detailed provisions regarding the allocation of control rights. Thus, venture capitalists as equity holders have a clear advantage in financing young high-tech firms in places where banks are not allowed to offer equity contracts; in countries with no such restriction, they no longer have such an advantage. This result helps explain why most European governments’ efforts in promoting venture capital activities failed to attract such investments in the high-tech sector.
Organizational retention strategies and employee performance of Zenith Bank in Nigeria

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine employee-retention strategies and performance in the Nigerian banking sector over the period 2000-2005, with focus on Zenith Bank in Nigeria. The sector is unique in terms of its contribution to Nigeria's gross domestic product. Design/methodology/approach - The survey research design involving the use of questionnaire and structured interview to obtain primary and secondary data from relevant books, journals and the internet were adopted. The paper also adopted the Findings - The study revealed that it is more profitable for organizations to put in place appropriate employee-retention strategies such as good organization's image, staff participation in decision making, enhanced and regular salary package, and humane treatment of employees as strategies for organizational performance. Practical implications - Particularly, organizations are likely to experience frequent employee turnover for as long as they fail to put in place appropriate employee-retention strategies, which is capable of preventing enhanced performance. Originality/value - This paper provides insight into what could enhance the performance of organizations in their quest for quality service delivery and profitability. Its findings could also be a source of motivation to organizations in other sectors in the area of employee performance.
Effectiveness of clinical rotations as a learning environment for achieving competences

Competences are becoming more and more prominent in undergraduate medical education. Workplace learning is regarded as crucial in competence learning. Assuming that effective learning depends on adequate supervision, feedback and assessment, the authors studied the occurrence of these three variables in relation to a set of clinical competences. They surveyed students at the end of their rotation in surgery, internal medicine or paediatrics asking them to indicate for each competence how often they had received observed and unobserved supervision, the seniority of the person who provided most of their feedback, and whether the competence was addressed in formal assessments. Supervision was found to be scarce and mostly unobserved. Senior staff did not provide much feedback, and assessment mostly targeted patient-related competences. For all variables, the variation between students exceeded that between disciplines. We conclude that conditions for adequate workplace learning are poorly met and that clerkship experiences show huge inter-student variation.
Airline Business Models and Networks: Regulation, Competition and Evolution in Aviation Markets

This paper examines the evolution of airline business models and network structure decisions in the passenger aviation industry. The paper reviews the growth of hub-and-spoke networks as the dominant business model following deregulation in the latter part of the 20th century, followed by the emergence of low cost carriers as a global phenomenon at the end of the century. The paper highlights the link between airline business strategies and network structures, and examines the resulting competition between divergent network structure business models. In this context, we discuss issues of market structure stability and the role played by competition policy.
Sustainable agriculture, science and the co-production of ‘expert’ knowledge: The value of interactional expertise

Abstract After the last few decades in which the importance of ‘local’ knowledge has been emphasized, attention must now turn to better understanding how such knowledge is communicated to certified experts (scientists) and vice versa. This paper examines how expert knowledge is co-produced in agriculture by local and non-local experts for the benefit of both. The argument is informed by an empirical case study of sustainable farmers and agriculture professionals in Iowa. While much has been written about how the conventional and sustainable models of agriculture rest upon different epistemological orientations, little has yet been said about how those different experts (local and certified) interact with each other. Building upon the work of H. M. Collins and Robert Evans, and their tripartite model of expertise (of no, contributory, and interactional expertise), I investigate the different forms of expertise that exist within agriculture. In doing so, specific focus is placed upon interactional expertise for creating meaningful exchanges (or interactions) between scientists and non-scientists.
Information shocks and cigarette addiction: views from dynamic panels with common structural changes

In this article we attempt to evaluate the impact of various information shocks on cigarette consumption. In contrast to the existing studies, we do not impose any break points a priori. We use recently developed techniques for sample splitting in the data on US cigarette demand, and find that using a time index as a transition variable can cluster cigarette demand into four distinct regimes. In the past four decades a myopic-to-rational switch in cigarette consumption behaviour was observed in response to various anti-smoking information events. In particular, we find strong evidence in support of the rational addiction model in the 1980s and 1990s. Moreover, in line with the theoretical prediction, our estimate of the long-run elasticity is twice as large as the short-run elasticity. Our empirical framework should improve policy makers' understanding of the dynamics of cigarette consumption in response to various anti-smoking campaigns, and stress the role of sound policy making in improving smoking control measures.
Political Intolerance among Masses and Elites in Israel: A Reevaluation of the Elitist Theory of Democracy

This study of political tolerance focuses on the political elites in Israel. It is based on elite and mass surveys and on a case-study analysis of the response of the Israeli political system to the entrance of two new outgroups in the 1980s. The results raise doubts as to the general application of elitist theory of democracy on three counts: First--in particular in situations of high threat and objection--the political elite does not seem to differ much in its attitudinal tolerance from the general public, yet nonpolitical elites do. Second, politically partisan calculations enter the decision-making process and produce dynamics of intolerance rather than tolerance. The political elite groups did not restrain each other, but rather cooperated in limiting more groups. And third, the moves to limit political groups were the affair of the elites, even though there was widespread intolerance within the public.
Petroleum Refining Industry: An Assessment of its Production Structure

Cost structure of petroleum refining industry in Kuwait has been examined, with specific focus on factor substitution, and economies of scale and utilisation. This has been done by estimating translog cost functions, both long-run and short-run, using annual time-series data covering the period from 1976 to 1998. The results indicate that the implied production structure is non-homothetic, and the pattern of scale effect is labour and capital saving but material using. The evidence also supports presence of induced exogenous technical change, which is non-neutral (labour and capital using, and material saving). The elasticity of substitution between capital and labour is negative, implying that the two inputs are complements. The results also indicate absence of economies and diseconomies of scale in the petroleum refining industry.
Are we becoming gadgets? Social capital in the era of social networking

Social capital is partially predicated on the levels of trust obtaining between institutions and between members of society. As such it is a vital ingredient in the ‘glue’ which holds society together and which facilitates contractual economic activity. Recent technological advances, and the concomitant ascendancy of social networking, have radically reconfigured the environment in which social capital is generated, and the social sciences have some way to go fully to digest these new developments. This article surveys the meteoric rise of the ‘technium’ in the social imaginary and delineates some of the reservations current commentators have about the next ‘singularity’ to succeed the Internet. The discussion includes a brief account of the philosophy behind the objectification of the human. It also speculates about the consequences of paradigm shifts in modes of relating for the formation of social capital in the future.
Accounting Theory Formulation as a TOOL for Enhancing International Harmonization of Accounting Standards

Literature reviews show that accounting is practiced within an implicit theoretical framework composed of principles and practices that have been accepted by the profession because of their alleged usefulness and logic, it is increasingly difficult to convince the specialist of other disciplines merely by saying “this has been the practice”. This difficulty is further compounded as accountants across the globe adopt different accounting standards that best suit the economic climate in which they operate. This paper focuses on the accounting theory formulation as tool to enhance uniform accounting standards. The traditional and new approaches to accounting theory formulation was discussed and the main recommendations were that a set of universal accounting standard should be developed to back already existing international accounting standard and harmonization of all local and international standards so that there will be a common basis of financial reporting globally. The theories should be adhered to by Practicing Accountant to avoid public scandal and confusion.
In vitro and in vivo chemosensitizing activity of LFM-A13, a dual-function inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase and polo-like kinases, against human leukemic B-cell precursors

Abstract The present study documents the chemosensitizing anti-leukemic activity of the leflunomide metabolite (LFM) analog, LFM-A13, a dual-function inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and Pololike kinases (PLK), against human leukemic B-cell precursors. The results in 135 xenografted NOD/SCID mice regarding the anti-leukemic activity of GMP-grade LFM-A13, obtained with only 4-days of LFM-A13 therapy at nontoxic dose levels corresponding to 1 – 20 % of its NOAEL (no observable advserse effect level), alone or in combination with the standard chemotherapy drug vincristine, demonstrate the potential of LFM-A13 as a new anti-leukemic drug candidate. A11 82 LFM-A13-treated mice, including those receiving a combination of vincristine + LFM-A13 at the highest dose level of LFM-A13, tolerated their treatments well without weight loss, diarrhea, lethargy/paralysis, other signs of morbidity, or mortality. The present study provides preclinical proof-of-principle for the development of LFM-A13 as a new chemosensitizing and apoptosis-promoting anti-leukemic agent and lends support to the hypothesis that the chemoresistance of relapsed B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) can be overcome by using LFM-A13 in combination with chemotherapy. Also presented are the results of a comprehensive meta-analysis of the overexpression of genes for LFM-A13 targeted kinases and their downstream effector molecules in B-lineage lymphoid malignancies utilizing the Oncomine database.
Naked Short Selling and Market Returns

Boulton and Braga-Alves study persistent failures to deliver (fails) to better understand naked short sellers’ trading strategies, their ability to profit from their trades, and the market’s reaction to information about their activities. Contrary to recent claims that naked short sellers are momentum traders who drive down stock prices, they find that returns are typically positive just prior to periods of increased naked short selling that result in persistent fails and that returns generally remain positive for several weeks afterward. Their results also suggest that stocks that experience persistent fails are susceptible to short squeezes as shares move from a normal state in which short exposure is established by borrowing and selling to a hard-to-borrow state in which fails become a more attractive option for establishing short exposure.
Reconstruction Enhancement by Denoising the Magnetic Particle Imaging System Matrix Using Frequency Domain Filter

Magnetic particle imaging is a new modality, which allows the determination of the spatial distribution of magnetic nanoparticles in-vivo. A standard approach for magnetic particle image reconstruction employs a so-called system matrix. The system matrix is typically acquired by a calibration measurement, whereby the system response at numerous positions in the field-of-view is measured. Due to the measurement process, the system matrix contains noise, which affects the reconstruction of the particle distribution. In this paper, the special structure of the system matrix is exploited for noise reduction by applying frequency domain filters. It is shown that image reconstruction with the denoised system matrix yields an improved resolution and a better signal-to-noise ratio.
A Combined Signal Approach to Technical Analysis on the S&P 500

This paper examines the effectiveness of nine technical trading rules on the S&P 500 from January 1950 to March 2008 (14,646 daily observations). The annualized returns from each trading rule are compared to a naive buy-and-hold strategy to determine profitability. Over the 59 year period, only the moving-average cross-over (1,200) and (5,150) trading rules were able to outperform the buy-and-hold trading strategy after adjusting for transaction costs. However, excess returns were generated by employing a Combined Signal Approach (CSA) on the individual trading rules. Statistical significance was confirmed through bootstrap simulations and robustness through sub-period analysis.
Impact of the tsunami on Chinese outbound tourism

Purpose – Seeks to report and analyze the impacts of the Asian tsunami on China's outbound tourism.Design/methodology/approach – Uses industry data to assess the impact of tourism from China to the affected region.Findings – The tsunami has caused a redistribution of outbound tourists and stimulated a rapid increase in some other outbound and domestic destinations.Practical implications – The tsunami itself had both direct and indirect effects. South and Southeast Asia has lost tourism revenues from China and is now perceived as a high‐risk region by Chinese tourists.Originality/value – Uses recently available industry data to assess the impact of the tsunami on Chinese outbound tourism.
Bilancio sociale e bilancio del capitale intellettuale: quali relazioni?

Intangibles are the main firm value drivers. This consideration implies that becomes more and more critical to measure and report the intellectual capital, for each kind of firm. The new reporting statement for firm’s intangible assets (i.e. intellectual capital report) are not yet of common use for the firms, but many of them already publish, on voluntary basis, documents (i.e. social report, sustainability report etc) which contain many information on intangibles. Starting from this point, the two authors question themselves on the overlapping areas related to intangibles between these two reporting models, by analysing the similarities under a theoretical profile, under an empirical one, by examining cases of companies which issue social report and intellectual capital report and also by examining the evidences of researches focused on the contact points of social and intellectual capital reports. The evidences of these overlapping areas drive the authors to consider the opportunity to integrate the information on intangibles in a new, widest report: the Intangibles Global Report. Gli intangibili costituiscono i principali driver del valore aziendale. Tale considerazione implica che diviene sempre piu critico misurare e rendicontare il capitale intellettuale, per ogni categoria di azienda. I nuovi documenti di rendicontazione per gli intangibili d’azienda (ad esempio il bilancio del capitale intellettuale) non sono di uso comune nel mondo aziendale, ma molte aziende gia pubblicano, su base volontaria, documenti (quali ad esempio il bilancio sociale) che contengono diverse informazioni sugli intangibili. Partendo da questa considerazione, gli autori si interrogano sulle aree di intersezione correlate agli intangibili presenti nei due report, analizzando le similitudini sotto il profilo teorico ed empirico, esaminando casi di aziende che pubblicano sia report sociali che report sul capitale intellettuale, esaminando infine i risultati delle ricerche focalizzate sui punti di contatto tra bilancio sociale e bilancio del capitale intellettuale. Le evidenze delle aree di intersezione tra le due tipologie di report portano i due autori a considerare l’opportunita di integrare le informazioni sugli intangibili in un nuovo, piu ampio documento di rendicontazione: l’Intangibles Global Report.
The use of antenatal services in health centres of Fès, Morocco

Summary Morocco has reported important achievements in coverage for mother and child healthcare services. Nevertheless, client-use and quality of antenatal care (ANC) services need to be improved. The aim was to identify factors related to the use of ANC services through a cross-sectional survey among women attending an urban maternity hospital in Fès. We describe quality of ANC services assessed in six health centres through pre-established national checklists. Of 240 women interviewed in postnatal wards, 23% had not undertaken any ANC consultation during their last pregnancy. The main characteristics of women not using ANC services were being multiparous (OR: 2.7; CI: 1.5 – 4, 8) and having no formal schooling (OR: 3.7; CI: 2.2 – 6.4). These women stated three main reasons: (1) did not find it necessary (46.9%); (2) health centre too far away (14%); (3) dissatisfied about the quality of care (12%). Evaluation of the quality of care showed a shortage of personnel and basic supplies and malfunctions were identified at various levels. In the region of Fès, there is a need to strengthen ANC and overall maternal health activities through community mobilisation and information and education. We recommend that the WHO ANC protocol (less ANC visits with emphasis on quality) be pilot tested in Morocco.
MIMO polarization diversity antenna with ultra-wide bandwidth and small size

A wide-band, small-size, tri-axial antenna is described for MIMO polarization diversity systems. Polarization diversity has gained increasing attention as a MIMO discriminator. This antenna provides polarization diversity by using three co-located orthogonal antenna radiating elements, which are also impedance matched over close to an octave (2:1) frequency band. This offers efficient transmission and reception over an extremely wide frequency band. One of the elements has an impedance bandwidth of more than 10:1. The total antenna size is less than ¼ wavelengths at the lowest frequency of operation. Test results are included to show measured gain patterns and frequency bandwidth.
Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings: Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force

Summary The Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings provides health-care workers (HCWs) with a review of data regarding handwashing and hand antisepsis in health-care settings. In addition, it provides specific recommendations to promote improved hand-hygiene practices and reduce transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to patients and personnel in health-care settings. This report reviews studies published since the 1985 CDC guideline (Garner JS, Favero MS. CDC guideline for handwashing and hospital environmental control, 1985. Infect Control 1986;7:231-43) and the 1995 APIC guideline (Larson EL, APIC Guidelines Committee. APIC guideline for handwashing and hand antisepsis in health care settings. Am J Infect Control 1995;23:251-69) were issued and provides an in-depth review of hand-hygiene practices of HCWs, levels of adherence of personnel to recommended handwashing practices, and factors adversely affecting adherence. New studies of the in vivo efficacy of alcohol-based hand rubs and the low incidence of dermatitis associated with their use are reviewed. Recent studies demonstrating the value of multidisciplinary hand-hygiene promotion programs and the potential role of alcohol-based hand rubs in improving hand-hygiene practices are summarized. Recommendations concerning related issues (e.g., the use of surgical hand antiseptics, hand lotions or creams, and wearing of artificial fingernails) are also included.