Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UBIQUITOUS EMAIL: INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF BLACKBERRY USE.

This study outlines the experiences and ramifications of the use of wireless email devices within a small private equity firm. We find that the opportunity to frequently monitor and respond to email enables a sense of control over the pace and substance of information flow while the specific properties of wireless email devices provide an opportunity to control potential interruptions. This encourages a compulsive checking of email and an inability to disengage from work that is common to all users but framed as a matter of individual choice. Emerging norms reveal implicit expectations of availability and responsiveness that are in direct contrast to espoused firm values. Thus, members of an entire firm carrying a device that facilitates ‘unobtrusive’ access to email may unwittingly generate shared patterns of use that encourage a self-reinforcing cycle of constant communication.
Trademark families: Characteristics and market values

Research shows that financial markets value trademarks. Often, a firm’s trademarks can be decomposed into groups of related trademarks (trademark families). This study identifies different types of trademark families and analyzes their respective effects on the market values of large, publicly listed firms. The results show that financial markets value only those trademarks that develop existing brands, while they do not value the creation of new trademarks. The implications of the results for corporate intellectual property and brand management are discussed.
Transcutaneous Bone-anchored Hearing Aids Versus Percutaneous Ones: Multicenter Comparative Clinical Study

Objective The aim of this study is to compare the clinical audiological outcomes as well as patient satisfaction of bone-anchored, hearing aid surgery between the percutaneous Dermalock and the transcutaneous Attract systems. Study Design and Methods This is a multicenter, retrospective clinical study. The patients who underwent Baha Dermalock and Baha Attract surgery were analyzed for hearing results, surgical complications, and postoperative follow-up specifications for both systems. Speech reception thresholds and bone conduction thresholds with and without aided conditions were evaluated. Patient satisfactions were also determined for both groups by Glasgow Benefit Inventory questionnaire. Results Both of the groups had some minor complications such as skin irritations around the abutment and skin erythema over the magnet. Both of the groups benefit from the devices audiologically; however, when the groups were compared, better results were observed in the percutaneous, bone-conduction group. Conclusion We can confirm that both transcutaneous and percutaneous techniques are effective in the rehabilitation of conductive hearing loss when conventional hearing aids cannot be used. However, both of the systems have some advantages and limitations in terms of audiological and surgical perspectives.
The effects of trait and state anxiety on attention to emotional images: An eye-tracking study

Attentional biases for threatening stimuli have been implicated in the development of anxiety disorders. However, little is known about the relative influences of trait and state anxiety on attentional biases. This study examined the effects of trait and state anxiety on attention to emotional images. Low, mid, and high trait anxious participants completed two trial blocks of an eye-tracking task. Participants viewed image pairs consisting of one emotional (threatening or positive) and one neutral image while their eye movements were recorded. Between trial blocks, participants underwent an anxiety induction. Primary analyses examined the effects of trait and state anxiety on the proportion of viewing time on emotional versus neutral images. State anxiety was associated with increased attention to threatening images for participants, regardless of trait anxiety. Furthermore, when in a state of anxiety, relative to a baseline condition, durations of initial gaze and average fixation were longer on threat versus neutral images. These findings were specific to the threatening images; no anxiety-related differences in attention were found with the positive images. The implications of these results for future research, models of anxiety-related information processing, and clinical interventions for anxiety are discussed.
Motor Neuron Degeneration in a 20-Week Male Fetus: Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 0

Background: Neuropathological changes in degenerating motor neurons are well documented in the term neonate with spinal muscular atrophy, but not at midgestation. Methods: Postmortem neuropathological examination was performed in a 20-week male fetus with a hypoplastic left cardiac anomaly. Results: Selective degeneration of spinal and hypoglossal motor neurons was an incidental finding. Degenerating motor neurons were not immunoreactive with neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN) or neuron-specific enolase (NSE), as were the normal motor neurons. Synaptophysin reactivity was reduced around the soma of degenerating normal motor neurons. Ubiquitin and tau were expressed in degenerating motor neurons. Gliosis, inflammation and microglial activation were lacking in the ventral horns of the spinal cord. Laryngeal striated muscle was unaltered for age. No cerebral malformations or hypoxic-ischaemic changes were found. Conclusion: This case represents an early motor neuronal degeneration and corresponds to the recently described “type 0” spinal muscular atrophy. Lack of contractures is attributed to the early fetal age, since most muscular growth occurs in the second half of gestation.
Backdating Executive Stock Option Grants: An Agency Problem or Just Efficient Contracting?

It is widely documented that managers tend to backdate their stock option grants so that a past date on which the stock price was particularly low is picked to be the grant date. Almost all of the current literature attributes the option backdating behavior exclusively to the agency problem which states that managers manipulate the terms of their option awards at the expense of shareholders. Our paper challenges this idea and demonstrates an alternative explanation for backdating. We show that backdating could be the consequence of efficient contracting that solves executive compensation problems. We first empirically document a rather strong but surprising evidence that better corporate governance is associated with more backdating. We then establish a theoretical model to explain this finding. The model predicts that managerial backdating benefits shareholders by (1) reducing the management compensation cost and (2) increasing managerial incentive. Using a large dataset, we provide strong empirical evidence supporting the model's predictions. Overall, our evidence supports the efficient contracting view of optionbackdating, and contradicts the prevalent agency explanation.
Confronting Environmental Risk via Communication

Advances in information technology are able to create avenues to communicate about environmental catastrophes. Mass media development over the years allows dissemination of information to mass audiences quickly and effectively, transcending international and national borders. Although there are now many high-tech means of communication, the devastation caused by natural disasters is not yet to be under human control. Efforts to reduce the destructive effects of natural disasters must be enhanced. Media organizations and the global community are increasingly aware of the importance of mass media in disseminating information on the destructive effects of natural disasters to the public. The potential of the mass media should be fully exploited so that preparations can be made and preventive measures carried out prior to the disaster itself or as soon as possible afterwards. It is the authorities’ function to arrive at practical solutions because the environment is for us to preserve and develop, and not as merely to use for short-term purposes. The underlying environmental dilemma is the fact that so much is written about problems and possible solutions, but putting words into actions has been slow. Societies have to achieve economic and social advances and simultaneously afford effective protection to the environment. Thus, this paper seeks to identify the media channels that people prefer to use for information on environmental disasters and the extent to which the government is taking steps to create awareness about the environment and its sustainability to its people.
Brand‐country of origin (COO) knowledge and COO image: investigation in an emerging franchise market

This study investigates the relationship between accuracy of brand‐country of origin (COO) knowledge and COO image, in a franchising context. Accuracy of brand‐COO knowledge is found to be positively related to COO image. Inaccurate brand‐COO knowledge leads to a confusing and somewhat negative image about COO. In addition, antecedents to the brand‐COO knowledge are also investigated. Factors such as social class, education and travel abroad positively influence brand‐COO knowledge. This investigation, conducted in an emerging market, holds interesting research and managerial implications, especially for multinational franchisors.
Letter re: Primary marginal zone lymphoma of the CNS presenting as a diffuse leptomeningeal process

Similar to Gazzola et al.,1 we treated a patient with primary marginal zone leptomeningeal lymphoma. A 58-year-old man presented with headaches, papilledema, and confusion on a background of left face/arm paresthesias for 3 years, attributed to migraine. CT brain scan showed sulcal-pattern right frontal hyperdensity, suspicious for subarachnoid blood, but normal size ventricles. Catheter arteriogram was normal. MRI showed frontal, basal, and spinal leptomeningeal enhancement. Lumbar punctures showed persistently elevated CSF pressure (>30 cm H2O) and protein (3.95 g/L) with monoclonal B lymphocytes and reactive T cell. Leptomeningeal biopsy showed a low-grade B cell neoplasm. Biopsy flow cytometry showed CD19, CD20, CD22, and FMC7-positive, kappa light-chain restricted B cells interpreted as low-grade marginal zone lymphoma. The patient was given high-dose methotrexate, rituximab IV, and intrathecal methotrexate for 6 weeks without clear response, then intrathecal rituximab plus methotrexate, with some improvement in CSF and MRI abnormalities. Our patient similarly had 2–3 years of intermittent cortical symptoms, then confusion and neuroimaging suggested subarachnoid hemorrhage. In addition, our patient also developed pseudotumor cerebri,2 probably due to very high CSF protein, and had incomplete response to chemotherapy. He completed a course of low-dose (2 Gy x 2) craniospinal radiotherapy and is now headache-free. These observations expand the clinical spectrum of chronic low-grade leptomeningeal lymphoma.
Polydimethylsiloxane bilayer films with an embedded spontaneous curvature.

Elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films with embedded in-plane gradient stress are created by making PDMS/(PDMS + silicone oil) crosslinked bilayers and extracting the oil in a suitable organic solvent bath. The collapse of the elastomer after oil extraction generates differential stress in the films that is manifested through their out-of-plane deformation. The curvature κ of narrow stripes of the bilayer, which is composed of layers of approximately equal thicknesses and elasticity moduli, is satisfactorily described by the simple relationship κ = 1. 5δH(-1), where δ is the mechanical strain, and H is the total thickness of the bilayer. Curvature mapping of triangular PDMS plates reveals the existence of spherical and cylindrical types of deformation at different locations of the plates. Various 3D-shaped objects can be formed by the self-folding of appropriately designed 2D patterns that are cut from the films, or by nonuniform distribution of the collapsing layer. Thin PDMS bilayers with embedded stress roll up into microtubes of almost perfect cylindrical shape when released in a controlled manner from a substrate.
[Fluorescent in situ hybridization with a panel of probes detects molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia].

OBJECTIVE To explore the characteristics and prognostic significance of molecular cytogenetic aberrations in Chinese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and the significance thereof in diagnosis of CLL. METHODS A panel of probes (LSI D13S319, LSI p53, LSI ATM, CEP 12, LSI MYB, and LSI IGHC/IGHV) and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to prospectively detect the cytogenetic abnormalities in 106 CLL patients, 82 males and 24 females, aged 62 (34 - 86). RESULTS Molecular cytogenetic aberrations were found in 79 of the 106 CLL patients (74.5%) and 35 patients (33.0%) showed more than two kinds of abnormalities. The most frequent abnormality detected was del (13q14) in 48 cases (45.3%), followed by trisomy of chromosome 12 in 27 patients (25.5%), IgH translocation in 25 patients (23.6%), del (17p13) in 17 patients (16.0%), del (11q22) in 11 patients (10.5%) and del (6q23) in 5 patients (4.7%). The Del (13q14) rate of the group younger than 60 was 56.5%, significantly higher than that of the group aged > or = 60 (36.7%, P = 0.033). There was no significant relationship between molecular cytogenetic aberrations and sex and Binet stages (both P > 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the survival time was shorter in the patients with p53 or ATM gene deletion. Patients with sole Del (13q14) had longer survival time than those with other abnormalities. CONCLUSION The frequencies of the chromosomal abnormalities in Chinese CLL patients are similar to those in Western countries. Panel FISH has greatly increased the sensitivity of cytogenetic analyses. Del (13q14) is the most frequent abnormality in CLL. Molecular cytogenetic aberrations detected with FISH have important prognostic significance in CLL.
p16 expression differentiates high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumor and predicts poor outcome.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are characterized by alterations in genes involved in cell cycle regulation. Although p16 (INK4A) have been extensively investigated in GISTs, there are still discrepancies regarding its prognostic value. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical occurrence, diagnostic and prognostic value of p16 staining in GIST. One hundred one patients (54 women and 47 men) with a mean age of 64.1 years (range, 17-94 years) were surgically treated for a GIST within a 10-year period. Of these patients, 28 (28%) were affected by metastases (mean follow-up, 4.5 years). In 36 patients (36%), GIST occurred coincidentally with other malignancies. Expression of c-kit was confirmed in 97 GIST patients (96%). In patients with high-risk GIST, the expression of p16 expression was highly predictive for poor prognosis, i.e., the development of recurrence or metastases (P = .006) and poor survival (P = .004). In addition, the expression of p16 was highly predictive for reduction of the survival in patients who were affected by metastases or recurrence (P = .041). The disease-specific and disease-free 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 96%, 90%, and 85% and 81%, 77%, and 72%, respectively. Primary tumor state, tumor size, and high-risk classification were confirmed as relevant predictors for unfavorable prognosis in GIST (P < .001). Our results indicate that in high-risk GIST and in patients with recurrence or metastases, the expression of p16 is highly predictive for poor outcome. Thus, in addition to high-risk classification, p16 expression might be an indicator for "very high risk GIST. "
Correlation analysis of intracellular and secreted cytokines via the generalized integrated mean fluorescence intensity

The immune response in humans is usually assessed using immunogenicity assays to provide biomarkers as correlates of protection (CoP). Flow cytometry is the assay of choice to measure intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) of cell‐mediated immune (CMI) biomarkers. For CMI analysis, the integrated mean fluorescence intensity (iMFI) was introduced as a metric to represent the total functional CMI response as a CoP. iMFI is computed by multiplying the relative frequency (percent positive) of cells expressing a particular cytokine with the MFI of that population, and correlates better with protection in challenge models than either the percentage or the MFI of the cytokine‐positive population. While determination of the iMFI as a CoP can readily be accomplished in animal models that allow challenge/protection experiments, this is not feasible in humans for ethical reasons. As a first step toward extending the iMFI concept to humans, we investigated the correlation of the iMFI derived from a human innate immune response ICS assay with functional cytokine release into the culture supernatant, as innate cytokines need to be released to have a functional impact. Next, we developed a quantitatively more correlative mathematical approach for calculating the functional response of cytokine‐producing cells by incorporating the assignment of different weights to the magnitude (frequency of cytokine‐positive cells) and the quality (the MFI) of the observed innate immune response. We refer to this model as generalized iMFI. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Vaccination of advanced prostate cancer patients with PSCA and PSA peptide‐loaded dendritic cells induces DTH responses that correlate with superior overall survival

Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) and prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) are overexpressed in most prostate cancers. PSCA‐ and PSA‐derived, HLA‐A2 binding peptides are specific targets for T‐cell responses in vitro. A phase I/II trial was performed to demonstrate feasibility, safety and induction of antigen‐specific immunity by vaccination with dendritic cells (DC) presenting PSCA and PSA peptides in patients with hormone‐ and chemotherapy‐refractory prostate cancer. Patients received 4 vaccinations with a median of 2.7 × 107 peptide‐loaded mature DC s.c. in biweekly intervals. Clinical responses were assessed 2 weeks after the 4th vaccination. Immune monitoring was performed by DTH and HLA multimer analysis. Twelve patients completed vaccination without relevant toxicities. Six patients had stable disease after 4 vaccinations. One patient had a complete disappearance of lymphadenopathy despite rising PSA. Four patients with SD and 1 progressor developed a positive DTH after the 4th vaccination. With a median survival of all patients of 13.4 months, DTH‐positivity was associated with significantly superior survival (p = 0.003). HLA tetramer analysis detected high frequencies of peptide‐specific T cells after 2 vaccinations in 1 patient who was also the sole responder to concomitant hepatitis B vaccination as an indicator of immune competence and survived 27 months after start of vaccination. Vaccination with PSA/PSCA peptide‐loaded, autologous DCs may induce cellular responses primarily in immunocompetent patients, which appear to be associated with clinical benefit. Testing of DC‐based vaccination is warranted for patients at earlier stages of prostate cancer. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Trends in screen time on week and weekend days in a representative sample of Southern Brazil students.

BACKGROUND Economic and technological improvements can help increase screen time use among adolescents, but evidence in developing countries is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine changes in TV watching and computer/video game use patterns on week and weekend days after a decade (2001 and 2011), among students in Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. METHODS A comparative analysis of two cross-sectional surveys that included 5 028 and 6 529 students in 2001 and 2011, respectively, aged 15-19 years. The screen time use indicators were self-reported. 95% Confidence intervals were used to compare the prevalence rates. All analyses were separated by gender. RESULTS After a decade, there was a significant increase in computer/video game use. Inversely, a significant reduction in TV watching was observed, with a similar magnitude to the change in computer/video game use. The worst trends were identified on weekend days. CONCLUSIONS The decrease in TV watching after a decade appears to be compensated by the increase in computer/video game use, both in boys and girls. Interventions are needed to reduce the negative impact of technological improvements in the lifestyles of young people, especially on weekend days.
Mobilization of Mechanically Ventilated Patients in Switzerland

Purpose: Growing evidence suggests that early mobilization benefits intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, national practices and the culture of individual ICUs influence mobilization activities. Materials and Methods: In a 1-day, Swiss point prevalence study conducted in 35 ICUs (representing 45% of all ICUs), the highest level of mobilization for mechanically ventilated patients was characterized using the validated ICU Mobility Scale, along with data collection for potential safety events and mobilization barriers. Results: Among 161 mechanically ventilated patients, a total of 33% (n = 53) had active mobilization, with walking achieved by only 2% (n = 4). More severe organ failure was associated with lower mobilization (respiratory Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score: P = .037, cardiac: P = .008, neurology: P < .001). Barriers to mobilization were reported in 71% (n = 115), with deep sedation significantly higher among patients receiving passive versus active mobilization (14% vs 0%, P = .005). Potential safety events occurred in 20% (n = 33) of patients without significant differences between passive and active mobilization. Availability of physiotherapists and appropriate equipment were not reported barriers. Conclusion: Mobilization during mechanical ventilation occurred infrequently with greater organ failure associated with lower mobilization. Addressing the identified modifiable barriers via structured efforts to achieve multidisciplinary culture change is essential to decrease the common use of bed rest in Swiss ICUs.
Understanding Trust in Financial Services

Although the financial crisis has elevated the interest for factors such as consumer financial healthiness, broad-scope trust, financial knowledge, and consumer relationship satisfaction, no existing model describes how these factors may influence consumer financial relationship trust. This research extends prior research by developing a conceptual framework explaining how these constructs affect consumers' trust in their financial service provider. Based on two surveys comprising 764 pension consumers and 892 mortgage consumers, respectively, the results of this study indicate that financial healthiness, broad-scope trust, knowledge, and satisfaction positively affect narrow-scope trust in financial services. Furthermore, it is found that broad-scope trust negatively moderates the relationships between financial healthiness and narrow-scope trust and between satisfaction and narrow-scope trust, respectively. In addition, the results marginally indicate that broad-scope trust negatively moderates the relationship between consumer financial knowledge and narrow-scope trust. This study encourages public policy makers, consumer organizations, and financial service providers to continue, improve, and/or develop consumer financial education programs and also encourages consumers to participate in such programs. This is especially important when broad-scope trust is low. Also, when broad-scope trust is low, financial service providers should consider devoting additional resources in satisfying their customers and/or in improving their financial healthiness.