Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genital Human Papillomavirus Types in Immunocompetent and Immunodepressed Women in Northeast Italy: Prevalence and Cytomorphological Correlations

Objective We evaluated the prevalence of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types in correlation with cytomorphological findings in patients at different risk for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia living in northeast Italy. Methods Exfoliated cervicovaginal cells from 943 women, who were divided into three groups, were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Results Overall, HPV prevalence rates were 7%, 38%, and 52%, respectively. The single most frequent type was HPV 16 (18%), followed by types 6, 31, 53, 58, 61, and novel/unidentified (5–7%); other types had a frequency <5%. Infection with multiple types was present in 12%. In HIV-infected women, HPV infection was correlated with lower CD4 level and higher viral load; HGSILs were correlated only with a lower CD4 count, and no correlations were found for LGSILs. Conclusions HGSILs were associated with high-risk types, mainly HPV 16 (40%). LGSILs, instead, were associated with a broad spectrum of low-risk and high-risk types.
Hiring of Personal Ties: A Cultural Consensus Analysis of China and the United States

ABSTRACT Although employees react negatively when employers hire individuals with whom the employers have personal ties, the practice is prevalent worldwide. One factor contributing to the discrepancy between reactions to the practice may be differences in cultural beliefs and institutions regarding perceptions about hiring decisions. To examine cross-national differences in perceptions about hiring personal ties, we conducted a consensus analysis on the perceived fairness, profitability, and overall evaluation of hiring decisions in China and the United States. We find cross-national differences in consensus levels as to whether people believe it is fair or unfair to hire moderately qualified candidates with employer ties (kinships or close friends with the employer) and whether people positively or negatively evaluate the hiring of unqualified candidates with stakeholder ties (ties to business associates or government officials). We also find contrasting areas of consensus about whether hiring unqualified candidates with stakeholder ties is profitable. Implications for research on cultural comparisons of perceptions of hiring practices and guanxi are discussed.
Management Forecast Regulation and Practice in Germany – Firm and Auditor Perspectives

The German regulation on future-oriented reporting is unique in the international context. Its scope is extensive and it specifically pertains to a two-year time horizon in the management forecast section of the annual report. The goal of our research is to provide insights into the perspectives of forecasters on the one hand and auditors on the other, as well as to contrast their viewpoints in order to promote the regulatory debate. Applying the multiple case study method, we exploratively interview forecasters and auditors in order to extract perspectives on the regulation itself, the forecasting process and their mutual relationship. Our main results show that the auditing of forecasts is a regular cause of friction and that most firms and auditors are dissatisfied with the current regulation. In particular, its concreteness and detail are criticised because the forecasting behaviour of firms is generally rather heterogeneous in practice. The management of small enterprises and auditors of smaller firms seem to view management forecasts even more critically. Our research provides evidence for the ongoing regulatory discussion in the German and international contexts and allows for greater insight for both auditors and forecasters into the viewpoints of their respective counterparts.
Traps and Thresholds in Pastoralist Mobility

This article presents a new approach to identifying poverty traps in East African pastoralist communities. A flexible semiparametric estimation procedure is used to identify a bifurcation in the propensity to engage in the asset-based, mobile herding livelihood, in comparison to the sedentary alternative, as a function of herd size. The identified threshold is consistent with previous evidence on poverty traps based on modeling herd stock dynamics. The approach contributes to an emerging literature that seeks to identify poverty traps through testing the implications of the posited behavioral mechanism behind the trap, as opposed to directly modeling asset dynamics. The approach is further employed to provide complementary evidence on the relationship between ability and assets in sustaining mobile pastoralism.
Lender Liability and Large Investors

Abstract We explore the optimal financial contract for a large investor with potential control over a firm's investment decisions. An optimal menu of claims resembles a U.S. version of lender liability doctrine—equitable subordination. This doctrine permits the court to subordinate a controlling investor's claim in bankruptcy, but only under well-specified conditions. It allows a firm to strike an efficient balance between: (i) inducing the large investor to monitor, and (ii) limiting the influence costs that arise when claimants can challenge existing contracts. We provide a partial rationale for a financial system in which powerful creditors do not hold blended debt and equity claims. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: G20, G33, K22.
Developing a pedagogical framework for designing a multisensory serious gaming environment

The importance of multisensory interaction for learning has increased with improved understanding of children’s sensory development, and a flourishing interest in embodied cognition. The potential to foster new forms of multisensory interaction through various sensor, mobile and haptic technologies is promising in providing new ways for young children to engage with key mathematical concepts. However, designing effective learning environments for real world classrooms is challenging, and requires a pedagogically, rather than technologically, driven approach to design. This paper describes initial work underpinning the development of a pedagogical framework, intended to inform the design of a multisensory serious gaming environment. It identifies the theoretical basis of the framework, illustrates how this informs teaching strategies, and outlines key technology research driven perspectives and considerations important for informing design. An initial table mapping mathematical concepts to design, a framework of considerations for design, and a process model of how the framework will continue to be developed across the design process are provided.
Prevention and Private Health Insurance in the U.K.

This paper investigates empirically how different insurance plans affect individual behaviours in terms of prevention activities in the U.K. The data come from the British Household Panel Survey. We test if purchasing private health insurance modifies the probability of exercising, undergoing regular check-ups and smoking. Based on both simple probits and an IV strategy, our results suggest that, in the U.K., contracting private health insurance does not lead to less prevention.
Repletion of Atypical Protein Kinase C following RNA Interference-mediated Depletion Restores Insulin-stimulated Glucose Transport*

The role of atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) in insulin-stimulated glucose transport in myocytes and adipocytes is controversial. Whereas studies involving the use of adenovirally mediated expression of kinase-inactive aPKC in L6 myocytes and 3T3/L1 and human adipocytes, and data from knock-out of aPKC in adipocytes derived from mouse embryonic stem cells and subsequently derived adipocytes, suggest that aPKCs are required for insulin-stimulated glucose transport, recent findings in studies of aPKC knockdown by small interfering RNA (RNAi) in 3T3/L1 adipocytes are conflicting. Moreover, there are no reports of aPKC knockdown in myocytes, wherein insulin effects on glucose transport are particularly relevant for understanding whole body glucose disposal. Presently, we exploited the fact that L6 myotubes and 3T3/L1 adipocytes have substantially different (30% nonhomology) major aPKCs, viz. PKC-ζ in L6 myotubes and PKC-λ in 3T3/L1 adipocytes, that nevertheless can function interchangeably for glucose transport. Accordingly, in L6 myotubes, RNAi-targeting PKC-ζ, but not PKC-λ, markedly depleted aPKC and concomitantly inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose transport; more importantly, these depleting/inhibitory effects were rescued by adenovirally mediated expression of PKC-λ. Conversely, in 3T3/L1 adipocytes, RNAi constructs targeting PKC-λ, but not PKC-ζ, markedly depleted aPKC and concomitantly inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose transport; here again, these depleting/inhibitory effects were rescued by adenovirally mediated expression of PKC-ζ. These findings in knockdown and, more convincingly, rescue studies, strongly support the hypothesis that aPKCs are required for insulin-stimulated glucose transport in myocytes and adipocytes.
Drivers of Corporate Social Responsibility: The Role of Formal Strategic Planning and Firm Culture

Scholars have paid considerable attention to studying the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance. Yet, little empirical research demonstrates what actually shapes or drives CSR. This paper builds a case that formal strategic planning is one such driver in that it creates awareness of and formulates responses to stakeholder demands for CSR. However, exploring single variable relationships is problematic, as other important endogenous factors need to be considered in explaining CSR. Specifically, firm culture is identified as influencing a firm's orientation towards the responsible treatment of stakeholders. One such cultural factor, humanistic culture, is argued to have a positive effect on CSR. By studying a sample of heterogeneous firms in Australia, results demonstrate that a formal strategic planning effort is positively linked to CSR. Further, a humanistic culture positively impacts CSR, after accounting for a firm's formal planning efforts.
Decomposition of effects of social security on private savings

Abstract The main aim of this paper is to decompose the effects of social security on private savings and quantify to what extent each factor that impacts saving behavior account for the effects of social security. For this purpose, I estimate a stochastic dynamic model in which households facing income and survival uncertainty choose optimal levels of consumption, asset holdings and labor supply. In this model, social security pensions reduce private assets by less than 10%. Bequest and precautionary savings motives are the main reasons of this partial offset. Uncertainty on future benefits has no role to play on the effect.
Aminoglycoside Volume of Distribution and Illness Severity in Critically Ill Septic Patients

The volume of distribution of amikacin and the APACHE II score were determined in 42 critically ill patients being treated for a gram-negative infection. The mean volume of distribution (Vdt) was 0.41±0.12 l/kg with a wide range (normal of 0.25 l/kg). There was a good relationship between the Vdt and illness severity as measured by the APACHE II score (r=0.70; P<0.001). Critically ill patients should receive larger loading doses of aminoglycosides in order to achieve therapeutic blood levels. The aminoglycoside Vdt may be useful in determining the degree of capillary leak and tissue oedema that accompanies sepsis.
The Effect of Oil and Gas Producers' FRR No. 48 Disclosures on Investors' Risk Assessments

We hypothesize that oil and gas producers' sensitivity and value-at-risk (VAR) disclosures, mandated by SEC Financial Reporting Release Number 48 (FRR No. 48), convey useful information to investors about commodity betas (defined as the sensitivity of firms' equity price changes to commodity price changes). Consistent with the hypothesis, we find that first-time sensitivity and VAR disclosers experience greater commodity beta shifts at 10-K filing dates than do nondisclosing firms in a matched control sample. To enhance confidence that the observed shifts are associated with FRR No. 48 disclosures, we repeat the analyses in the year before the release was effective, when firms did not disclose sensitivity or VAR. At the prior year 10-K filing dates, we find that firms in the disclosure sample do not exhibit significant commodity beta shifts. We conclude that the results are consistent with FRR No. 48-mandated sensitivity and VAR disclosures providing useful information to investors.
Stakeholder analysis in a protected natural park: case study from Slovenia

Stakeholder analysis is the key step towards a successful participatory spatial planning. The case study of the protected area in designation features stakeholder analysis as a tool in defining the salience of the stakeholders' involvement in the designation and the operations of the Kamniško-Savinjske Alps Regional Park in Slovenia. The salience of a stakeholder was determined using a flexible method using numerical evaluations of three stakeholder attributes: power, legitimacy and interest. Local farmers and residents are the key stakeholders in the research area. The survey explored which stakeholders they believe are necessary in individual phases of the protected area and how they would participate. The salience of different stakeholder groups varies during various project stages. Consequently, the perception of how and to what extent those stakeholders should participate also varies.
Online reporting for sustainability issues

Online reporting describes an emerging digital reporting approach based on support through current information and communication technology (ICT), particularly on the internet. Such a computer-based method provides an array of medium-specific capabilities and technical benefits to improve sustainability communication, both for companies (reporters) and their various stakeholders (report users). Compared with orthodox methods, online reporting used for sustainability communication overcomes the limitations of paper-based disclosure, such as ‘one size fits all’ reports, print medium fixation and one-way communication. The contribution gives an outline on this up-and-coming sustainability online reporting approach in four categories. (i) Medium-specific trends in the field are observed. (ii) New opportunities emerging for corporate sustainability communication are identified. (iii) A framework for sustainability online reporting is presented. (iv) Limitations are discussed that should be considered when moving away from early reporting stages towards the advanced one of sustainability online reporting. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Disclosure‐Disciplining Mechanisms: Capital Markets, Product Markets, and Shareholder Litigation

This paper demonstrates that a firm's trade‐offs between reporting good news to reduce the cost of capital and bad news to minimize proprietary costs can induce the firm's manager to provide truthful disclosures when the opposing effects balance each other. We also show that greater proprietary costs can make a firm's disclosures more credible, increase the frequency of voluntary adverse disclosures, and improve the disclosing firm's welfare. Further, we find that potential shareholder litigation can interact with capital and product markets' influences to make voluntary disclosures more credible, but only under certain circumstances. For example, although product market competition can complement the capital market effects in inducing the manager to provide truthful disclosures, shareholder litigation cannot complement the capital market in the same way. Nevertheless, while shareholder litigation can never induce misreporting, a very strong product market influence can prompt a firm to underreport its tr.
Advertising corporate social responsibility initiatives to communicate corporate image: Inhibiting scepticism to enhance persuasion

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a set of research propositions concerned with how the alignment between socially responsible corporate image and corporate identity might be enhanced through the reduction of scepticism by considering diagnostic dimensions of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) image advertising claim.Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews corporate image advertising, the tool investigated for informing about the firm's CSR record, discusses the scepticism construct and theoretical explanations of why this communication approach might induce scepticism, considers extant empirical findings that lend support to these theories, and describes several elements of CSR advertising claims considered to be diagnostic and capable of inhibiting scepticism responses to CSR image advertisements among consumers. Research propositions are advanced and discussed.Findings – The paper provides conceptual insights into reducing consumer scepticism toward CSR‐based corporate id.
Electronic and face-to-face communication in maintaining social relationships

Although the spectacular spread of wired and wireless communication technologies such as the Internet and mobile phone have been discussed extensively in the academic literature, knowledge of the interactions among face-to-face (F2F) and electronic communication modes and their implications for travel behavior is rather limited. The same is true for knowledge about factors influencing the choice for these types of communication. Using survey data collected among 662 respondents, this paper aims to gain more insight into (i) the interaction between F2F and electronic contacts, (ii) the influence of information content and relational distance on the choice of the communication mode/service, and (iii) the influence of relational and geographical distance, in addition to various other factors, on the frequency of F2F and electronically mediated contacts with relatives and friends. Bivariate correlation analysis indicates that the frequency of F2F contacts is positively correlated with that for electronic communication, which points at a generation effect. With respect to the impact of information content and relational distance, we find that such synchronous modes/services as F2F and telephone conversations are used more for urgent matters and that asynchronous modes (especially e-mail) become more influential as the relational distance in the social network increases. Finally, ordered probit analyses confirm that both F2F and electronic communication frequencies decline with increasing physical and relational distance to the social network members.
Joining Up Government by Integrating Funding Streams? The Experiences of the Individual Budget Pilot Projects for Older and Disabled People in England

Individual Budgets (IBs) were piloted in 13 English local authorities during 2005–2007. Similar to personal budgets and “cash-for-care” schemes in other parts of Europe and beyond, IBs built upon previous English government initiatives to increase choice and control by users of adult social care services. A key aim of the IB pilots was to bring together resources from different funding streams to which an individual was entitled, and integrate or align those funding streams, thereby reducing the number of assessments and reviews; then allow those resources to be spent flexibly according to individual wishes and needs. IBs, available only to those eligible for adult social care services and support, could include resources from up to five other funding streams which, among them, were the responsibility of three different government departments: Access to Work, Disabled Facilities Grants, Integrated Community Equipment Services, Independent Living Funds, and Supporting People. Qualitative interviews with IB lead officers and funding stream lead officers formed part of the larger evaluation of the IB pilots (IBSEN study) and revealed deep disappointment that only minimal progress with integration had been possible, with the exception of Supporting People. This article explores possible reasons for the failure to integrate funding streams despite strong aspirations at local and national levels: legislative barriers; continuing accountability to individual funding streams; concerns over destabilizing the market; and concerns over the budgetary implications of an expected increase in demand.
Human Immature Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Express the G Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR105 (KIAA0001, P2Y14) and Increase Intracellular Calcium in Response to its Agonist, Uridine Diphosphoglucose

Dendritic cells (DC) are essential to the initiation of an immune response due to their unique ability to take-up and process Ag, translocate to lymph nodes, and present processed Ag to naive T cells. Many chemokines, chemokine receptors and other G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are implicated in these various aspects of DC biology. Through microarray analysis, we compared expression levels of chemokines, their cognate receptors, and selected GPCRs in human monocytes and in vitro monocyte-derived immature and mature DC. Hierarchical clustering of gene expression clearly distinguishes the three cell types, most notably highlighting exceptional levels of expression of the GPCR GPR105 within the immature monocyte-derived DC (MDDC) gene cluster. Little or no expression was observed within the monocyte and mature MDDC cluster. Putative functionality of the GPR105 receptor was demonstrated by an observed calcium flux in immature MDDC treated with the potent GPR105 agonist, uridine 5′-diphosphoglucose (UDP-glucose), while no response to the nucleotide sugar was seen in monocytes and mature MDDC. This UDP-glucose-induced calcium response was, at least in part, pertussis toxin-sensitive. Moreover, immature MDDC from some donors treated with UDP-glucose exhibit an increase in expression of the costimulatory molecule CD86, which correlates with the intensity of the UDP-glucose-induced calcium flux. Together, these data demonstrate differential expression of GPR105 on immature and mature MDDC and suggest a role for the receptor and its agonist ligand in DC activation.
Regulation of senescence in bean leaf discs by light and chemical growth regulators.

The senescence of excised discs of primary leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris, L. , var. Red Kidney was followed by measuring the net breakdown of protein and chlorophyll. The chemical growth regulators indoleacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid, gibberellic acid, kinetin, and 6-benzylaminopurine were relatively ineffective in retarding senescence in this tissue. White light, on the other hand, was very effective in senescence retardation. The response to light did not have the characteristics of a low energy (phytochrome) response and was blocked by concentrations of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea which inhibited photosynthesis in the leaf discs. The light-induced retardation of senescence was concluded to be dependent on photosynthesis.