Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Union Business: Trade Union Organisation and Financial Reform in the Thatcher Years

It is fashionable to speak of trades unions in the UK as organisations in decline. However, it is their organisation and, in particular, their financial status, which ultimately dictates unions' ability to survive, recruit, and influence employers. This book provides the first systematic picture of union financial status for thirty years, and reveals a dramatic picture. Though, overall, unions have become financially less healthy in the post-war period, many unions experienced an improved financial position during the membership contraction of the Thatcher years. It also shows that the long term financial decline of unions has been more affected by competition between unions for membership than by the effects of traumatic industrial disputes.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients Aged 80 Years and Older: An Analysis of 111 Patients

Introduction: The incidence of cholelithiasis increases with age. More octogenarian (≥80 y) patients are undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) operation throughout the world. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients older than 80 years (group 1: 111 patients) and those in the 18 to 79 years age group (group 2: 185 patients), who underwent LC between July 2005 and October 2009. The variables analyzed were the presentation, demographics, comorbid illnesses, American Society of Anaesthesiology (ASA) scores, history of previous abdominal surgery, the operative time, postoperative morbidity and mortality, and the length of hospital stay. A comparison was made between the two groups. Data was evaluated by using the &khgr;2 and the Fisher exact test. P<0.005 was considered significant. Results: The difference in both groups in the mean age and ASA scores were significant. The indication for LC was gallstone disease in 87 (78.4%) patients, acute cholecystitis in 16 (14.4%), and gallstone pancreatitis in 8 (7.2%) of group 1 patients. The conversion rate was not statistically significant. The mean operative time was 77 minutes in group 1 patients, and this was significantly longer than that of group 2 patients. The postoperative oral intake within 24 hours of surgery was significantly earlier in group 2 patients. Other parameters were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions: LC in octogenarians is a relatively safe procedure that can be performed with low morbidity and mortality rates. The comorbidities and higher ASA scale are major risk factors for postoperative complications in this age group of patients.
Price Transmission In The United Kingdom Yellow Fats Market In The Presence Of Imperfect Competition

The yellow fats sector comprises butter, margarine and a number of newer dairy‐and low‐fat spreads. In analysing the transmission of policy prices (e.g. the intervention price of butter) in this sector, which is characterised by concentrated processors and retailers, it is unrealistic to assume that marketing margins are competitively determined. The empirical estimates in this paper suggest that, since the mid‐1980s, processors and retailers of margarine take into account the price of butter when setting margarine prices, which they can only do if they possess market power. This implies that the benefits of CAP reform (in the form of lower butter prices) may be seriously underestimated if the resulting fall in margarine prices is ignored; the increase in butter consumption would be overestimated.
Public administration: From bureaucratic culture to citizen‐oriented culture

This paper analyzes how public administration may improve the service it offers to citizens through a suitable organizational culture; for this purpose, it starts by studying the specific features of the culture of public administration. In this respect, it analyzes the existing taxonomies in public administration, the role of culture in these agencies and how a diagnosis of such culture is made. Then, it describes the problems of bureaucratic culture, typical of many public agencies, and briefly describes the features of a public service, citizen‐oriented culture. Finally, it proposes a specific methodology for the modification of a bureaucratic culture into a culture based on the notion of serving the citizen, together with an analysis of when modification is necessary.
Parasitic-aware Optimization of a 2.4GHz Cross-Coupled LC VCO using IPO compared to PSO

A parasitic aware radio frequency computer aided design (RF CAD) tool based on an Inclined Planes system Optimization algorithm (IPO) is introduced. Also, in comparison to IPO, RF CAD tool was implemented with Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO). This CAD tool optimizes three structures of Cross-Coupled LC voltage controlled oscillator (LC VCOs) (i.e. CMOS alone, NMOS alone, PMOS alone VCOs) for 2.4GHz central frequency based on IEEE 802.11 in a commercial 0.18um RF CMOS technology, simultaneously. Parasitic aware RF CAD tool casts RF circuit synthesis as weighted multi-objective optimization quandary. Two major objectives fitness (i.e. phase noise and power consumption) are evaluated by harmonic balance (HB) analysis in HSPICE RF. Then results are sent to optimization core which is implemented in MATLAB. At the end, this CAD tool presents optimal parameters for final design.
On the Optimal Design of Insurance Contracts with the Restriction of Equity Risk

This paper focuses on the optimal design of insurance contracts with the restriction of equity risk by Arrow's optimal insurance model [2] and Zhou's optimal insurance model [4]. The insured aims to maximize his/her expected utility of terminal wealth, under the constraint that the insurer wishes to control his/her risk. We establish an optimal insurance model that restrains underwriting risk and investment risk simultaneously. We solve this problem and obtain the results which improve and extend the results given by Arrow [2] and Zhou [4].
Pricing to Market Behaviour and Exchange Rate Pass-Through in Japanese Exports

This paper examines the relationship between exchange rate changes and Japanese export pricing behavior employing a methodology which permits the separate measurement of pricing to market behavior and the cost impact of exchange rate changes. The results suggest that incomplete pass-through of exchange rate changes is a pervasive phenomenon, but rejects the widely held view that Japanese export firms have relied more heavily on pricing to market strategies during the period of yen appreciation in order to maintain market shares. There is also evidence that estimates which capture only pricing to market behavior may over-emphasise the degree of pass-through to the extent that cost of production is sensitive to exchange rate changes. Copyright 1994 by Royal Economic Society.
Noggin haploinsufficiency differentially affects tissue responses in destructive and remodeling arthritis.

OBJECTIVE The balance between destruction and homeostatic or reparative responses determines the outcome of arthritis. Increasing evidence suggests a role for signaling pathways, essential for development and growth, in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and attempts at repair. Inappropriate activation of such pathways may also have a role in disease progression. We undertook this study to determine the effect of shifting the balance in bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in different mouse models of arthritis. METHODS Endogenous levels of noggin, a BMP antagonist, were reduced using heterozygous noggin(+/LacZ) mice in a model of inflammation-driven destruction (methylated bovine serum albumin [mBSA]-induced monarthritis), a model of systemic autoimmune arthritis (collagen-induced arthritis [CIA]), and a model of joint ankylosis (spontaneous arthritis in DBA/1 mice). In addition, we studied BMP inactivation by adenoviral noggin overexpression in destructive arthritis. Cartilage damage and activation of BMP signaling were studied by digital image analysis using Safranin O sulfated glycosaminoglycan staining and immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated Smads (Smads 1, 5, and 8), respectively. RESULTS Noggin haploinsufficiency provided protection for articular cartilage against destruction in mBSA-induced arthritis. Antagonist overexpression rendered cartilage more vulnerable in this model. Noggin gene transfer in knees affected by CIA also enhanced cartilage damage. Haploinsufficiency did not affect CIA, but noggin(+/LacZ) mice had an increased number of CD4-positive cells with normal immune responses. In noggin(+/LacZ) DBA/1 mice with spontaneous arthritis, we observed delayed progression from cartilage to bone formation. CONCLUSION Tight spatiotemporal control of BMP signaling appears to be critical in the response of joint tissues in models of arthritis.
Investigating the effect of incorporating nanosilver/nanohydroxyapatite particles on the shear bond strength of orthodontic adhesives

Abstract Introduction: Development of clinically acceptable orthodontic adhesives with additional anti-microbial and remineralizing features could be undertaken only if their mechanical properties have also been considered. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of incorporating Silver and Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles on the shear bond strength (SBS) of an orthodontic adhesive. Methods: Silver and HA nanoparticles were prepared and inspected by scanning electron microscopy and EDAX analysis. The nanoparticles were added to the primer of Transbond XT in 1%, 5% and 10% silver concentrations. Each compound (along with a control) was used for bonding stainless steel brackets to 12 human premolars (48 in total) and the SBS of all samples, along with their ARI scores were measured. Results: The SBS of the control, 1%, 5% and 10% nanoparticle groups were 12.06 ± 5.48, 20.66 ± 5.72, 10.77 ± 8.16 and 5.40 ± 2.00 MPa, respectively. A significant difference existed between all study groups (p < 0.05), except for the control–5% and 5%–10% study groups (p = 0.99 and p = 0.35). There was no statistically significant difference in distribution of ARI scores across the study groups (p = 0.44). Conclusions: Incorporation of silver/HA nanoparticles containing 5% and 1% silver maintains and increases the SBS of orthodontic adhesives, respectively, whereas increasing the amount of particles to 10% has an undesirable effect when compared to the control group.
Back to the Future: The Development of Educational Policy in England.

This article argues that educational policy in England has passed through four main stages in the last three decades. The first three phases, Social democratic, Resource constrained and Market, all contain elements which now inform the Excellence phase which is being pursued by New Labour. This phase combines a determination to improve the quality of pupil learning with a much more interventionist set of strategies than has been witnessed in recent years. This set of policies has inherent weaknesses. Some of these are derived from the partial incorporation into current policy of the concept of the educational marketplace; others are associated with the concept based for New Labour educational policy, the school effectiveness movement; and yet others derive from an inadequate understanding of the nature of leadership and management in schools which leads to an over‐emphasis on the role of the school principal. The article concludes by suggesting alternative forms of leadership which might be more appropriate for schools in a rapidly changing society.
Treatment of pelvic defect and infection with endoprosthesis exposure by topical negative pressure and irrigation with myocutaneous flap

The treatment of wound complications and deep infection after hemipelvectomy is challenging. We describe a 17‐year‐old woman with Ewing sarcoma in the pelvis who underwent hemipelvectomy and reconstruction with an artificial hip joint and bone cement. After the operation, skin necrosis and deep infection with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were observed. Debridement resulted in exposure of the artificial joint and bone cement. Topical negative pressure (TNP) and irrigation successfully eradicated the infection. The skin and soft‐tissue defect was subsequently reconstructed using a combination of free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and serratus anterior muscle flap. To our knowledge, this is the first described case of combined TNP and irrigation with myocutaneous flap for the treatment of pelvic infection and skin and soft‐tissue defect with endoprosthesis exposure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2011.
Construction and Characterization of Hexon-Chimeric Adenoviruses: Specification of Adenovirus Serotype

ABSTRACT This study has used the strategy of gene replacement to characterize the contribution of the adenovirus (Ad) capsid protein hexon to serotype definition. By replacing the Ad type 5 (Ad5) hexon gene with sequences from Ad2, we have changed the type specificity of the chimeric virus. The type-determining epitopes are primarily associated with loop 1 of hexon and, to a much lesser degree, with loop 2. In spite of the serotype distinctiveness of the chimeric hexon viruses, epitope similarity between the vectors resulted in a low level of cross-reactive neutralizing antibody, which in combination with activated cellular and innate arms of the immune system is sufficient to suppress gene transduction following readministration in vivo.
Morton neuroma: evaluation with MR imaging performed with contrast enhancement and fat suppression.

PURPOSE To evaluate clinically suspected Morton neuroma with contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen patients with clinically suspected Morton neuroma underwent examination with conventional T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging and a combination of fat suppression and administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. A T1-weighted spectral presaturation with inversion recovery sequence was used for fat suppression. RESULTS In six patients, a tumor that conformed to the clinical findings was seen in the interdigital space; surgical findings in these patients correlated closely with the imaging findings in all patients. Patients without positive findings on MR images tended to have less typical clinical findings and received nonsurgical treatment. In all patients, the lesions were best depicted with the combination of contrast-enhanced imaging and fat suppression; conventional MR images either entirely failed to demonstrate the lesions or demonstrated the lesions less clearly. CONCLUSION In patients who need imaging confirmation of a clinically suspected Morton neuroma, the combination of fat suppression and contrast enhancement provides reliable high-contrast images.
Antecedents and Effects of Parent Control in International Joint Ventures

Using a sample of 90 US-China manufacturing joint ventures, this study empirically tested a grounded-theory model of the antecedents and the effects of the structure of parent management control in international joint ventures. The results suggest that competitive and cooperative dynamics occur simultaneously between joint venture partners. On one hand, the relative bargaining power between the partners, derived from the negotiation context and from contributing critical resources to the venture, respectively, is a determining factor in management control; and the level of operational control exercised by a partner over the venture has a positive effect on the extent to which this partner`s strategic objectives are achieved. On the other hand, the quality of the interpartner working relationship was found to have a strong, positive relationship with the achievement of strategic objectives for both partners.
Effect of fish oil on lipopolysaccharide-induced hydroxyapatite loss in rat alveolar bone: A Preliminary Study

Dietary fish oil has been shown to inhibit bone resorption and, therefore, the aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that fish oil alters lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hydroxyapatite loss in rat alveolar bone. Rats were divided into four groups. The animals injected with saline or Escherichia coli-derived LPS into the maxillary alveolar mucosa on the buccoapical site of the molar region daily for 8 days were served as a negative or positive control, respectively. Other groups of animals were injected with LPS and orally treated with fish oil at the same day with or after LPS injection. The results of the present study showed that the hydroxyapatite contents of alveolar bone in rats treated with fish oil at the same day with or before LPS injection were significantly higher than those in rats injected with LPS alone, but still lower than those in untreated animals. Therefore, the present study suggests that oral treatment with fish oil may reduce LPS-induced hydroxyapatite loss in rat alveolar bone
Effects of Restrictions on International Permit Trading: The MS-MRT Model

This paper assesses the economic impacts of carbon abatement programs proposed under the Kyoto protocol: the distribution of economic burden across countries and regions, the implications for international competitiveness, and the consequences of international permit trading. Our analysis is based on a dynamic global trade model which accounts for systematic differences in the energy efficiency of production in industrial and developing countries. Emission limits adversely affect the welfare of industrial and some developing countries, including all of the oil-exporting countries. Imports from Annex-B countries become more costly while demand for most developing country exports is reduced. Oil prices simultaneously fall, so the net impact on oil-importing developing countries is ambiguous. Energy-intensive industries have a strong economic incentive to relocate production to low-energy cost developing countries. Global trading in emission rights provides the lowest cost path to Kyoto, but it is unclear whether there are incentives for all non-Annex B countries to participate.
iRIS: A remote surrogate for mutual reference

In this video, we introduce iRIS, a remote surrogate robot that facilitates mutual reference to a physical object over the distance. The robot has a display that shows remote participant's head. The display is mounted on a 3-DOF neck. The robot also has a built-in projector enabling a remote participant to show his/her actual hand gestures through a physical object in the local environment.
The Introduction of an Electronic Patient Care Information System and Health Care Providers' Job Stress: A Mixed-Methods Case Study

In this paper, the authors explore how the introduction of an electronic Patient Care Information System PCIS relates to changes in health care providers' HCPs' perceptions of computer use, quality of patient care and job stress. Data were collected using a mixed-methods case study approach over a 20 month period following the introduction of this system. Initially stress levels appeared to increase, but over time declined significantly. After 3 months, the majority of HCPs reported they spent more time entering, retrieving and searching for patient information than before; however, these increases in computer use were unrelated to HCP stress. The potentially negative impact of the system on the quality of patient care was highly correlated with increased job stress. After 20 months, HCPs reported spending less time searching, entering and retrieving patient information, but these indicators of computer use were now highly correlated with stress. While some negative perceptions of the impact of the PCIS declined over time, HCPs reported ongoing stress related to concerns about quality of patient care even after 20 months of use.
Quantitation of Helicobacter pylori in dental plaque samples by competitive polymerase chain reaction

Aim—To establish a competitive PCR (cPCR) assay for quantitation of H pylori organisms in dental plaque samples. Methods—The cPCR coamplified target H pylori DNA and a known amount of internal standard template in the same tube with the same primers directed to 0.86 kb DNA of H pylori. The internal standard was a synthesised DNA bearing the same primer recognition sites at two ends and a non-homologous core sequence as the target DNA fragment. Quantitation was based on determination of the relative, not absolute, amounts of the differently sized and [32P]-dCTP labelled products derived from H pylori DNA and the competitive internal standard after gel electrophoresis separation. Results—A significant correlation between known amounts of H pylori added to dental plaque samples and the results of the cPCR was found, and a standard line was developed which allowed quantitation of H pylori in the plaque samples. cPCR was performed on supragingival plaque samples from 10 adult patients with H pylori infection in the stomach, and from five adults and six children without H pylori infection in the stomach. The ranges of H pylori numbers were 1–213 (median 25), 6–76 (10), and 4–94 (14) cells/mg of dental plaque in the three groups, respectively. Conclusions—cPCR is useful for quantitation of H pylori in supragingival dental plaque samples; however, the number of the organisms in dental plaque samples seems very low.
Effects of carvedilol on atrial natriuretic peptide, catecholamines, and hemodynamics in hypertension at rest and during exercise.

Possible counterregulatory neurohumoral and hemodynamic responses to carvedilol (a new vasodilating nonselective beta-receptor blocker) were studied in 19 men with essential hypertension (age range, 34-59 years; mean age, 44 years). Intra-arterial pressure, cardiac output (Cardio-green), heart rate, and the vasoactive peptides norepinephrine, epinephrine, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured at rest supine and sitting and during 100-W bicycle exercise before and 2 h after administration of 25 mg carvedilol. The same protocol was followed after 9 months of chronic carvedilol treatment (mean dose, 52 mg/day). Carvedilol induced both acute and chronic reductions (at rest supine, 11%) in mean arterial pressure, due in part to reduction in cardiac output (5%) and in part to reduction in total peripheral resistance (5%). At rest supine, carvedilol induced a reduction in ANP (27%) that could be viewed as a counterregulatory response to decrease in cardiac output, preventing excessive blood pressure reduction. ANP decreased (18%) when the patient sat up from the supine position and increased (67%) during exercise, but no further change was seen after acute or chronic carvedilol treatment. With the patient in the sitting position, norepinephrine was 110% higher than at rest supine; during 100-W exercise, norepinephrine increased 368%. A further increase (38-86% in the three situations, respectively) was seen after the first dose of carvedilol. Epinephrine showed similar but less marked changes. Neither extracellular fluid volume nor plasma volume (isotope dilution techniques) changed significantly during the study, but the acute blood pressure response to carvedilol was directly related to changes in extracellular fluid volume. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)