Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring innovation in services: the role of surveys

The main aim of this paper was to analyse the role of European innovation surveys in measuring innovation in services. The various community innovation surveys (CISs) are analysed in the light of the three main theoretical approaches to innovation in services, namely assimilation, service-oriented and integrative. The analysis performed shows a gradual change in the way in which European surveys have been structured over time, highlighting a partial shift from the assimilation approach towards the integrative one. Furthermore, the paper provides a systematic assessment of the CIS experience and of the lessons to be drawn from it.
Myogenesis and MyoD Down-regulate Sp1

Muscle cell differentiation caused a reduction of glucose transport, GLUT1 glucose transporter expression, and GLUT1 mRNA levels. A fragment of 2.1 kilobases of the rat GLUT1 gene linked to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase drove transcriptional activity in myoblasts, and differentiation caused a decrease in transcription. Transient transfection of 5′ and 3′ deletion constructs showed that the fragment −99/−33 of the GLUT1 gene drives transcriptional activity of the GLUT1 gene and participates in the reduced transcription after muscle differentiation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed the binding of Sp1 protein to the fragment −102/−37 in the myoblast state but not in myotubes, and Sp1 was found to transactivate the GLUT1 promoter. Western blot analysis indicated that Sp1 was drastically down-regulated during myogenesis. Furthermore, the forced over-expression of MyoD in C3H10T1/2 cells mimicked the effects observed during myogenesis, Sp1 down-regulation and reduced transcriptional activity of the GLUT1 gene promoter. In all, these data suggest a regulatory model in which MyoD activation during myogenesis causes the down-regulation of Sp1, which contributes to the repression of GLUT1 gene transcription and, therefore, leads to the reduction in GLUT1 expression and glucose transport.
Development of career capital through international assignments and its transferability to new contexts

Individuals working in a dynamic international operating environment need flexibility and related competencies that can be transferred to different contexts. Understanding the development and transferability of these competencies is therefore important for both individuals and firms. This article examines and contrasts the development of expatriates' career capital during their first two international assignments, and its transferability to new contexts. Based on interviews with Finnish expatriates, the results show that each assignment has different developmental influences and that all types of career capital acquired are transferable, but not equally or in the same way. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ultrasound Assessment of Synovial Thickness of Some of the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of Hand in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and the Normal Population

Objective. To compare ultrasound synovial thickness of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPJ) in a group of patients with proven rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a control group of normal individuals. Materials and Methods. This is a cross-sectional study comprising 30 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 30 healthy individuals. Ultrasound scans were performed at the dorsal side of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th MCPJ of both hands in RA patients and the healthy individuals. Synovial thickness was measured according to quantitative method. The synovial thickness of RA patients and healthy individuals was compared and statistical cut-off was identified. Results. Maximum synovial thickness was most often detected at the radial side of the 2nd MCPJ and 3rd MCPJ and ulnar side of the 4th MCPJ of both hands which is significantly higher (p < 0.05) in RA patients compared to healthy individuals. With high specificity (96%) and sensitivity (90%) the optimum cut-off value to distinguish RA patients and healthy individuals' synovial thickness differs for the radial side of the 2nd and 3rd MCPJ and ulnar side of the 4th MCPJ. Conclusion. Patients with early RA appear to exhibit a characteristic pattern of synovitis which shows radial side predominance in the 2nd and 3rd MCPJ and ulnar side in the 4th MCPJ.
Fluorescent imaging in a glioma model in vivo

Nile blue dyes have been shown to have affinity for tumor tissue as compared to surrounding normal tissue and to be relatively non‐toxic. We have employed EtNBA, a lipophilic, fluorescent benzophenoxazine dye, in a murine model to image subcutaneous and intracranial U‐87 glioma implants.
Is there a maturity effect in the price of the S&P 500 futures contract?

The maturity effect is re-examined using the S&P 500 futures contract. A model is estimated in which daily volatility, measured on the basis on intraday data, is determined by its previous value and the number of days remaining to maturity. The estimation results do not support the maturity effect. This finding is in line with existing evidence that indicates the absence of the maturity effect in financial futures prices.
Entrepreneurship and urban growth: dimensions and empirical models

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look at various dimensions of entrepreneurship and the empirical models that try to explain the relationship between entrepreneurship and growth in cities for both developed (USA and Europe) and developing countries.Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides an in‐depth and extensive review of the existing literature on entrepreneurship and economic growth in cities. In most empirical studies, the growth rate of employment or unemployment rate is used as the dependent variable to analyze the effect of entrepreneurship on development. The important independent variables other than entrepreneurship (new start‐ups) are localization, urbanization, level of education, age, industry structure (specialization vs competition), monopoly or competition. The economic units considered for cities are labor market areas (LMAs), standard metropolitan areas (SMAs) and consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs). The majority of studies have utilized discrete depend.
Diurnal Variation in Glucose Tolerance: Associated Changes in Plasma Insulin, Growth Hormone, and Non-esterified

Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in the morning and afternoon of separate days on 31 people derived from a normal population sample. Blood sugar levels were higher in the afternoon test from and including 60 minutes after the glucose load. The degree of diurnal variation was similar in men and women, but greater in the older half of the group. It was negatively correlated with the degree of obesity. The plasma insulin response was less at the 30 minute time point in the afternoon, but significantly exceeded the morning values at 120 and 150 minutes after the glucose load. Growth hormone levels were similar in morning and afternoon tests. Fasting non-esterified fatty acid levels were significantly higher before the afternoon test. The relatively impaired glucose tolerance in the afternoon is associated with a delayed insulin response to the glucose load. This seems unlikely to be the sole explanation, however, and increased non-esterified fatty acid metabolism with a consequent decrease in glucose disposal may also contribute.
The Successful Application of Plasmapheresis in the Treatment of a Patient with Opsoclonus and Autoantibodies to Glutamate Receptor δ2

Glutamate receptor δ2 (GluRδ2) is expressed in the neuronal postsynaptic densities at the junctions between the Purkinje cells and the parallel fibers. Recent reports have described patients with opsoclonus who possess anti-GluRδ2 antibodies. We report the case of a 53-year-old man with opsoclonus whose cerebrospinal fluid was positive for anti-GluRδ2 antibodies. Electronystagmography revealed abnormal sinusoidal eye movements, which were definitively identified as opsoclonus. The frequency and amplitude of saccadic oscillations diminished after plasmapheresis (PE). The patient’s opsoclonus was altered after PE, suggesting that anti-GluRδ2 antibodies may act on the saccade generator in the brainstem via the cerebellum and that they may be involved in the onset of opsoclonus.
Adding thymoglobuline to the conventional immunosuppressant regimen in kidney transplantation: A cost-benefit analysis.

BACKGROUND Thymoglobuline (TG), is used for both induction and rejection therapy in kidney transplantation (TX). This study was conducted to compare between adding TG or not to the conventional drugs to evaluate the rate of rejections, infections and costs. METHODS In two groups of patients, each of 45 cases; group A received conventional drugs (cyclosporine, mycophenolate and prednisolone) and in group B, TG was added; both groups were then compared. TG was administered for 5 doses (1.5 mg/kg/d for the first 3 days and 1 mg/kg/d for the last 2 days. Suspicious signs of rejection (fever, graft tenderness, graft enlargement and increase in length and depth), creatinine rise, diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid scan (DTPA) results and urinary tract infections (UTI) with counts > 10(5) CFU/ml were recorded. The duration of the first hospitalization, the CMV incidence of infection in the first 6 months and their costs were finally compared. RESULTS There was no difference for age, duration of hospitalization and CMV infection between the two groups. UTI occurred more frequently in TG group (p=0.049). Creatinine rise, suspicious signs of rejection occurred more frequently in TG group (p<0.05). Creatinine rise and suspicious signs of rejection occurred more frequently in conventional group (p=0.020, p<0.000, respectively). The need for additional steroid pulses was more frequent in conventional group (p<0.000). The total costs of TG, ganciclovir, antibiotics and steroid pulses in both groups were similar. CONCLUSION The results show that the posttransplantation problems (signs of rejection, rise of creatinine, graft losses and delayed graft function) occurred rarely in TG group. The incidence of infection and the cost of both regimens were similar. We strongly recommend this protocol as induction therapy.
Neurophysiology underlying influence of stimulus reliability on audiovisual integration

We tested the predictions of the dynamic reweighting model (DRM) of audiovisual (AV) speech integration, which posits that spectrotemporally reliable (informative) AV speech stimuli induce a reweighting of processing from low‐level to high‐level auditory networks. This reweighting decreases sensitivity to acoustic onsets and in turn increases tolerance to AV onset asynchronies (AVOA). EEG was recorded while subjects watched videos of a speaker uttering trisyllabic nonwords that varied in spectrotemporal reliability and asynchrony of the visual and auditory inputs. Subjects judged the stimuli as in‐sync or out‐of‐sync. Results showed that subjects exhibited greater AVOA tolerance for non‐blurred than blurred visual speech and for less than more degraded acoustic speech. Increased AVOA tolerance was reflected in reduced amplitude of the P1‐P2 auditory evoked potentials, a neurophysiological indication of reduced sensitivity to acoustic onsets and successful AV integration. There was also sustained visual alpha band (8–14 Hz) suppression (desynchronization) following acoustic speech onsets for non‐blurred vs. blurred visual speech, consistent with continuous engagement of the visual system as the speech unfolds. The current findings suggest that increased spectrotemporal reliability of acoustic and visual speech promotes robust AV integration, partly by suppressing sensitivity to acoustic onsets, in support of the DRM's reweighting mechanism. Increased visual signal reliability also sustains the engagement of the visual system with the auditory system to maintain alignment of information across modalities.
Fund managers' attitudes to risk and time horizons: the effect of performance benchmarking

Results are reported of an interview survey conducted with 64 fund managers. The objective of the survey is to identify the performance appraisal and reward systems under which the fund managers are operating, and to identify ways in which this impacts upon their investment heuristics. The results of the interviews indicate that fund managers are evaluated on a regular basis against performance benchmarks, although the extent of such evaluation and the choice of benchmark differs according to the types of funds under management. The papers hows th at performance evaluation affects fund managers' attitudes to risk, to motivation and to time horizons. It is shown that fund managers believe that the quarterly relative performance monitoring to which many funds and fund managers are subject, results in the adoption of a more short-termist attitude and approach to the management of the funds in question.
İlköğretim Okullarında Görev Yapan Öğretmenlerin Algılarına Göre Okul Yönetiminde Kayırmacılık

Bu arastirmanin amaci, Milli Egitim Bakanligi'na bagli kamu ilkogretim okullarinda gorev yapan yoneticilerin, uygulamalarinda kayirmacilik yapip yapmadiklarini, ilkogretim okullarinda gorev yapan ogretmenlerin algilarina dayali olarak ortaya cikarmaktir. Genel tarama modelinin kullanildigi bu arastirmanin orneklemi, tabakali ornekleme yontemi ile secilen Van ili belediye sinirlari icindeki 21 kamu ilkogretim okulunda gorev yapan toplam 362 ogretmenden olusmaktadir. Arastirma verileri, Erdem ve Meric (2011) tarafindan gelistirilen “Okul Yonetiminde Kayirmacilik Olcegi” kullanilarak elde edilmistir. Verilerin cozumlenmesinde SPSS istatistik paket programi araciligiyla yuzde, frekans, aritmetik ortalama ve standart sapma gibi betimsel istatistik teknikleri kullanilmistir. Arastirmada su sonuclara ulasilmistir: Dlkogretim okullarinda gorev yapan ogretmenlerin algilarina gore okul yoneticileri uygulamalarinda nadiren kayirmacilik yapmaktadir. Kadin ogretmenler, erkek ogretmenlere oranla okul yoneticilerinin uygulamalarinda daha fazla kayirmacilik yaptiklarini dusunmektedir. Okul yoneticilerinin uygulamalarinda kayirmacilik yapip yapmadiklarina iliskin ogretmen algilari arasinda; bransa, istihdam sekline, meslek orgutune uye olup olmamaya ve mesleki kideme gore anlamli fark bulunmamaktadir. Ancak ogretmenlere gore okullarinda gorev yapan ogretmen sayisi arttikca, okul yoneticileri uygulamalarinda daha fazla kayirmacilik yapmaktadir. Ogretmenler, okul yoneticilerinin planlama, orgutleme, koordinasyon ve degerlendirme boyutlarindaki uygulamalarinda nadiren kayirmacilik yaptiklarini dusunmektedirler.
The Changing Geography of Japanese Foreign Direct Investment in Manufacturing Industry: A Global Perspective

The aim in this paper is to set Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Europe (including the United Kingdom) into its broader global perspective. The geographical form of Japanese FDI is the outcome of a complex interaction between economic and political forces, both internal to Japan itself and also in its external trading environment. The dominant foci of Japanese FDI are North America, and East and South East Asia. Initially, Japanese manufacturing investment was heavily concentrated in neighbouring countries of Asia but the emphasis has shifted more recently to North America. However, the organisational structure of Japanese investment tends to be substantially different in these two world regions. In East and South East Asia, in particular, a complex intrafirm division of labour has developed, whereas in North America (and in Europe) the Japanese plants tend to be directly market-oriented and established primarily in response to trading frictions. The recent massive revaluation of the yen promises to generate further substantial changes in the global geography of Japanese FDI.
A Social Values Segmentation of the Potential Ecotourism Market

The use of social values in segmenting leisure and travel markets involving social goods is suggested as an alternative to the more common personal values approach. Results of a social values segmentation of the potential Australian ecotourism market indicate that the majority of potential ecotourists do not have particularly green values, and those with greener values tend to be least in favour of the use of park entrance fees. The latter appears to be a consequence of the high importance greens attach to equality, and the fact that shared responsibility through income taxes is perceived to be a more equitable source of funds for the management of natural areas.
Export performance of developing countries under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act: Experience from US trade with Sub‐Saharan Africa

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to assess the implications of US trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and its impact on beneficiary country exports. Design/methodology/approach - The approach is to use Wilcoxon signed rank test and time series regression analysis using ARIMA. Findings - The results largely indicate that AGOA has a positive but not significant effect on beneficiary exports to the USA for all country groups. Its effect is also quite marginal on sectoral exports except for textiles and apparel. Similarly, AGOA's effect is positive but not significant for all major exporters except Lesotho. Originality/value - A proper understanding of this relationship will help donors and recipients devise appropriate policies to help encourage the growth and diversification of exports that is so vital for developing countries.
Polymorphisms in cytomegalovirus genotype in immunocompetent patients with corneal endotheliitis or iridocyclitis

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) that caused corneal endotheliitis and iridocyclitis in immunocompetent patients was genotyped. The gB type1 was detected in seven endotheliitis samples (77.8%) and five iridocyclitis samples (100%), and the gB type 3 was detected in two endotheliitis samples (22.2%). The UL144 type 1 was found in five endotheliitis samples (45.5%) and five iridocyclitis samples (83.3%). The UL144 type 2 was found in two endotheliitis samples (18.2%) and one iridocyclitis sample (16.7%). The gB type 1 was predominant in endotheliitis and iridocyclitis, and the CMV genotypes in eyes with endotheliitis and iridocyclitis were similar. J. Med. Virol. 87:1441–1445, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intravenous immunoglobulin for myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease. In up to 90 per cent of cases IgG autoantibodies to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor are detectable which mediate the neuromuscular transmission disorder. As with other autoimmune diseases, patients would be expected to benefit from intravenous immunoglobulin. Case series and two randomised controlled trials suggest that intravenous immunoglobulin may be beneficial. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review is to examine the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin for treating exacerbations of myasthenia gravis or for chronic myasthenia gravis. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group trials register (21 July 2002) and MEDLINE (January 1966 to July 2002) using 'myasthenia gravis' and 'intravenous immunoglobulin' as the search terms. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised or quasi-randomised trials in which intravenous immunoglobulin was compared with no treatment, placebo or plasma exchange, in people with myasthenia gravis who were diagnosed by an internationally accepted definition. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS One author extracted the data and the two others checked these data and the source from which they were derived. For methodological reasons, no formal meta-analysis was performed. MAIN RESULTS We identified four randomised controlled trials (147 participants in total), all investigating short-term benefit. In the first study of 87 people with myasthenia gravis exacerbation, comparing intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange, there was no statistically significant difference between the efficacy of the two treatments after two weeks. In the second study 12 people with moderate or severe myasthenia gravis were treated in a cross-over design trial with intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange: no statistically significant difference in the efficacy of the two treatments was found after four weeks. In the third study 15 people with mild or moderate myasthenia gravis received intravenous immunoglobulin or a placebo: no significant difference in efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin or placebo was found six weeks after treatment. The last study, which included 33 people with moderate exacerbations of myasthenia gravis, compared intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone and showed no statistically significant difference in the efficacy of the two treatments. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS One randomised controlled trial did not show a significant difference between intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange for treatment of severe exacerbations of myasthenia gravis. There is no evidence from randomised controlled trials to determine whether intravenous immunoglobulin for moderate or severe myasthenia gravis improves functional outcome or has a sparing effect on steroid dosage, nor is there sufficient evidence to favour intravenous immunoglobulin over steroids in moderate exacerbations. Further randomised controlled trials are needed.
Amphetamine reduces vesicular dopamine content in dexamethasone‐differentiated PC12 cells only following l‐DOPA exposure

Amphetamine (AMPH) increases brain dopamine (DA) levels via reversal of the membrane DA transporter. Additional mechanisms have been suggested, including inhibition of vesicular monoamine transporters and vesicular leakage of DA and Ca2+. According to the widely‐accepted weak base theory, AMPH disrupts the proton gradient required for filling vesicles with DA. As a result, DA and Ca2+ will leak from vesicles, giving rise to exocytosis of less‐filled vesicles. As several contradictions have been described, the aim of the present study was to re‐examine this theory using amperometry and Fura‐2 imaging to measure AMPH‐induced changes in exocytosis and intracellular Ca2+ levels, respectively, in PC12 and chromaffin cells. Unexpectedly, 15 min exposure to AMPH (20–200 μM) does not affect the amount of DA released per vesicle, the frequency of exocytosis or intracellular Ca2+ levels in PC12 cells or chromaffin cells. Comparable results were found following prolonged exposure to AMPH (45 min) or at 37°C. When cells were pre‐treated with the DA precursor l‐DOPA, vesicle content increased to ∼150%. When these pre‐treated cells are exposed to AMPH, vesicle content is strongly reduced. These results indicate that in dexamethasone‐differentiated PC12 cells AMPH‐induced vesicle leakage occurs only under specific conditions, therefore arguing for re‐evaluation of the theory of AMPH‐induced vesicular DA leakage.
The Relationship between Valuation and Ownership of Listed Firms in China

This paper investigates the relationship between firm performance and corporate governance in China. Firm performance is measured by Tobin's Q, while corporate governance is determined based on ownership structure and concentration. Prior research, in both China and elsewhere, indicates that ownership structure and concentration have a significant impact on firm performance. The paper builds on previous studies by investigating the complex structure of different share classes that are typical of Chinese listed firms. The paper reports the results of an empirical study of a sample of firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets over the period 1997-1999. The sample of firms selected represents a cross-section of industries, share classification, ownership type and ownership concentration. The paper reports a series of regressions that account for different specifications of firm valuation and ownership characteristics. The results indicate that ownership concentration has little explanatory power but ownership structure does matter. Legal person's shareholdings are positively related to firm valuation. The findings of the study are discussed in the context of the current enterprise reform process in China.