Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurial orientation in the emerging Russian regulatory context: the criticality of interpersonal relationships

The present research examines the understudied impact of the regulatory environment on the manifestation of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) among firms within an emerging market context. Results from an exploratory sample of 432 Russian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) suggest that key aspects of the regulatory environment may deserve further attention in future research. Controlling for the level of compliance by a given Russian SME, the perceived protection of private property rights was observed to have a marginally significant direct positive effect, whereas the perceived strength of contract law is shown to exhibit a marginal negative relationship with EO among Russian SMEs. In terms of operating within this emerging regulatory context, the perceived availability of governmental contracts had a marginal positive effect on EO. Finally, stressing the importance of 'who you know is more important than what you know', relationships with government officials had a very strong positive effect on EO.
Noise properties of harmonically injection-locked oscillators

We analyze the noise properties of an injection-locked pair of oscillators whose frequencies are a harmonic of each other. This harmonic injection locking process is indirect and mediated by a nonlinear mixing process. The mixing signals are inherently correlated and, therefore, the phase noise of the locked system is lower than that of either original oscillator. We present a highly accurate time domain numerical model whose results are confirmed by an electrooptic experimental implementation.
Non-invasive cardiovascular imaging for evaluating subclinical target organ damage in hypertensive patients: A consensus paper from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), the European Society of Cardiology Council on Hypertension, and the European Society of Hypertension (ESH)

Arterial hypertension (HTN) accounts for the largest amount of attributable cardiovascular (CV) mortality worldwide, and risk stratification in hypertensive patients is of crucial importance to manage treatment and prevent adverse events. Asymptomatic involvement of different organs in patients affected by HTN represents an independent determinant of CV risk and the identification of target organ damage (TOD) is recommended to further reclassify patients' risk. Non-invasive CV imaging is progressively being used and continues to provide new technological opportunities to TOD evaluation at early stage. The aim of this article is to provide the community of cardiology with an update on appropriate and justified use of non-invasive imaging tests in the growing population of hypertensive patients.
Validity and Reliability of Cognitive Assessment Using Virtual Environment Technology in Patients with Stroke

Ku J, Lee JH, Han K, Kim SI, Kang YJ, Park ES: Validity and reliability of cognitive assessment using virtual environment technology in patients with stroke. Objectives: We assessed the validity and reliability of a virtual environment technology (VET)-based cognitive assessment program that was developed as a measurement tool of cognitive abilities in patients after a stroke. Design: Twenty participants diagnosed with stroke caused by unilateral brain lesions were enrolled to assess the VET program's validity and test-retest reliability. Participants underwent evaluation by paper-based neuropsychological tests including the Korean Mini-Mental Status Examination, the Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Motor Free Visual Perception Test, Rey-Kim Memory Test, and Kim's Frontal-Executive Neuropsychologic Test as well as the VET-based cognitive assessment. Major variables and indices of the VET program were calculated. The VET program validity was evaluated using a simple correlation analysis between variables from the VET program and conventional paper-based neuropsychological measurements, and the reliability was evaluated by investigating the test-retest correlation coefficients. Results: Major variables and indices of the VET program in patients with stroke correlated significantly with the related scores of paper-based neuropsychological tests. In addition, the test-retest reliability analysis revealed that the correlation coefficients ranged from 0.528 to 0.926. Conclusion: The VET-based cognitive assessment program showed adequate reliability and validity as a method of cognitive assessment in patients after stroke.
Small molecule inhibitors of Smoothened ciliary localization and ciliogenesis

Vertebrate Hedgehog (Hh) signals involved in development and some forms of cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, are transduced by the primary cilium, a microtubular projection found on many cells. A critical step in vertebrate Hh signal transduction is the regulated movement of Smoothened (Smo), a seven-transmembrane protein, to the primary cilium. To identify small molecules that interfere with either the ciliary localization of Smo or ciliogenesis, we undertook a high-throughput, microscopy-based screen for compounds that alter the ciliary localization of YFP-tagged Smo. This screen identified 10 compounds that inhibit Hh pathway activity. Nine of these Smo antagonists (SA1–9) bind Smo, and one (SA10) does not. We also identified two compounds that inhibit ciliary biogenesis, which block microtubule polymerization or alter centrosome composition. Differential labeling of cell surface and intracellular Smo pools indicates that SA1–7 and 10 specifically inhibit trafficking of intracellular Smo to cilia. In contrast, SA8 and 9 recruit endogenous Smo to the cilium in some cell types. Despite these different mechanisms of action, all of the SAs inhibit activation of the Hh pathway by an oncogenic form of Smo, and abrogate the proliferation of basal cell carcinoma-like cancer cells. The SA compounds may provide alternative means of inhibiting pathogenic Hh signaling, and our study reveals that different pools of Smo move into cilia through distinct mechanisms.
Fetal wound repair results in scar formation in interleukin-10-deficient mice in a syngeneic murine model of scarless fetal wound repair.

BACKGROUND Fetal dermal wound healing is characterized by minimal inflammation, restoration of normal dermal architecture, and scarless repair. The authors have shown that proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are diminished during fetal wound repair. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an antiinflammatory cytokine that decreases production of IL-6 and IL-8. The authors hypothesized that diminished IL-6 and IL-8 and minimal inflammation may be caused by IL-10. METHODS To test this hypothesis, the authors developed a new syngeneic murine model of fetal wound repair in which 15-day-gestation skin from either normal C57BL/6 or transgenic C57BL/6 IL-10 knockout mice was grafted to the back of the same strain adult mice. The grafts were incisionally wounded after 5 days, harvested at 1 week, and analyzed for inflammatory response and scar formation. RESULTS Wounds in normal fetal skin grafts showed minimal inflammation and normal dermal reticular collagen pattern at the site of the wound, consistent with scarless repair. In contrast, wounds in IL-10 knockout fetal skin grafts showed significant inflammation and scar formation. CONCLUSIONS Fetal skin grafts on adult syngeneic mice heal without inflammation or scar formation. The absence of IL-10 in fetal skin results in scar formation. Intrinsic lack of IL-10 may result in continued amplification of the inflammatory cytokine cascade, continued stimulation of fibroblasts, and abnormal collagen deposition. IL-10 is necessary for scarless wound repair to occur.
Diamond-shaped microstrip patch antenna with defected ground structure

In this study, a broadband microstrip diamond-shaped patch antenna is designed for broadband communication. The results are presented by simulating microstrip patch antenna at 3.675 GHz and 10.35 GHz frequencies. The antenna was simulated in the frequency range of 1–15 GHz. S11, the input reflection coefficient parameter has a value of −14.63 dB at the frequency of 3.675 GHz and −11.91 dB at the frequency of 10.35 GHz. The antenna gain of the designed antenna is 7.76 dB at the first resonance frequency (3.675 GHz) and 11.04 dB antenna gain at the other resonance frequency (10.35 GHz).
Hyperprolactinemia in optico-spinal multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To clarify the clinical features of MS patients with hyperprolactinemia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The serum prolactin level was measured in 67 Japanese patients (19 men and 48 women) with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in 16 patients (4 men and 12 women) with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) using a two-site immunoradiometric assay. RESULTS In the MS patients, 32 were classified as having Asian type MS showing a selective involvement of the optic nerves and spinal cord, while the other 35 were classified as having Western type MS which displayed disseminated central nervous system involvement. In women, the serum prolactin level was found to be significantly higher only in Asian type MS (mean=23.1 ng/ml, n=25) than in HAM/TSP (mean=6.9 ng/ml, n=12) (p=0.0297), while it did not differ significantly in men among the three groups. Hyperprolactinemia was significantly associated with acute relapse involving the optic nerves. All MS patients with hyperprolactinemia (7 women with Asian type MS and 2 women with Western type MS) showed recurrent opticomyelitis either throughout or in the early course of the disease, and also had a higher age of onset, a higher Expanded Disability Status Scale score, a greater visual impairment, and higher cell counts and protein contents in the cerebrospinal fluid than did the normoprolactinemic patients. CONCLUSION Hyperprolactinemia may be one of the characteristic features of Asian patients with MS who preferentially show the optic nerve involvement.
Accuracy of self-collected vaginal dry swabs using the Xpert human papillomavirus assay

Background Polymerase chain reaction-based Xpert human papillomavirus (HPV) assay is a rapid test that detects high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection. This point-of-care test is usually performed by collecting a cervical specimen in a vial of PreservCyt® transport medium. We compared HPV test positivity and accuracy between self-collected sample with a dry swab (s-DRY) versus physician-collected cervical sampling using a broom like brush and immediate immersion in PreservCyt (dr-WET). Methods In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 150 women ≥ 18 years old attending the colposcopy clinic in the University Hospital of Geneva. Each participant first self-collected a vaginal sample using a dry swab and then the physician collected a cervical specimen in PreservCyt. HPV analysis was performed with Xpert. Part of the PreservCyt-collected sample was used for hrHPV detection with the cobas® HPV test. HPV test positivity and performance of the two collection methods was compared. Results HPV positivity was 49.1% for s-DRY, 41.8% for dr-WET and 46.2% for cobas. Good agreement was found between s-DRY and dr-WET samples (kappa±Standard error (SE) = 0.64±0.09,), particularly for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL+) (kappa±SE = 0.80±0.17). Excellent agreement was found between the two samples for HPV16 detection in general (kappa±SE = 0.91±0.09) and among LSIL+ lesions (kappa±SE = 1.00±0.17). Sensitivities and specificities were, respectively, 84.2% and 47.1%(s-DRY), 73.1% and 58.7%. (dr-WET) and 77.8% and 45.7% (cobas) for CIN2+ detection. The median delay between sampling and HPV analysis was 7 days for the Xpert HPV assay and 19 days for cobas. There were 36 (24.0%) invalid results among s-DRY samples and 4 (2.7%) among dr-WET (p = 0.001). Invalid results happened due to the long interval between collection and analysis. Conclusion Self-collected vaginal dry swabs are a valid alternative to collecting cervical samples in PreservCyt solution for HPV testing with the Xpert HPV assay. Impact HPV self-collection with dry cotton swabs might assist in the implementation of an effective screening strategy in developing countries. Trial registration International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Registry ISRCTN83050913
A Psychometric Analysis of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Short Form (TEIQue–SF) Using Item Response Theory

Trait emotional intelligence refers to a constellation of emotional self-perceptions located at the lower levels of personality hierarchies. In 2 studies, we sought to examine the psychometric properties of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Short Form (TEIQue–SF; Petrides, 2009) using item response theory (IRT). Study 1 (N= 1,119, 455 men) showed that most items had good discrimination and threshold parameters and high item information values. At the global level, the TEIQue–SF showed very good precision across most of the latent trait range. Study 2 (N= 866, 432 men) used similar IRT techniques in a new sample based on the latest version of the TEIQue–SF (version 1.50). Results replicated Study 1, with the instrument showing good psychometric properties at the item and global level. Overall, the 2 studies suggest the TEIQue-SF can be recommended when a rapid assessment of trait emotional intelligence is required.
Comparison of short-term in vitro fluoride release and recharge from four different types of pit-and-fissure sealants.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the effects of four commercial fluoride-containing pit-and-fissure sealants on caries prevention. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four sealants containing fluoride, Fuji III, Fuji III LC (GC Co., Tokyo), Teethmate F-1 (Kuraray Medical Co., Osaka) and Helioseal F (Vivadent Co., Liechtenstein) were used to investigate fluoride release and recharge. Disk-shaped specimens prepared from each material were immersed in distilled water at a temperature of 37 degrees C. After seven days, acidulated phosphate fluoride solution (APF) was applied to each specimen, and it was then again immersed in distilled water for 14 days. We then determined how much fluoride had been released into the immersing water. Fuji III LC was used with APF solution to investigate the fluoride uptake. RESULTS Fuji III had the highest fluoride release, and Fuji III LC had the highest fluoride recharge. Helioseal F and Teethmate F-1 had almost no fluoride recharge. Fuji III LC/APF had a higher fluoride uptake to enamel than Fuji III LC. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that GIC-sealants in the oral cavity can serve as a fluoride reservoir and contribute to retaining a low fluoride level in oral fluids, thereby preventing caries.
Long-Lasting Effects of a New Memory Self-efficacy Training for Stroke Patients

Background and purpose. This study aims to determine the long-term effects of a new Memory Self-efficacy (MSE) training program for stroke patients on MSE, depression, and quality of life. Methods. In a randomized controlled trial, patients were allocated to a MSE training or a peer support group. Outcome measures were MSE, depression, and quality of life, measured with the Metamemory-In-Adulthood questionnaire, Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Who-Qol Bref questionnaire, respectively. We used linear mixed models to compare the outcomes of both groups immediately after training, after 6 months, and after 12 months, adjusted for baseline. Results. In total, 153 former inpatients from 2 rehabilitation centers were randomized—77 to the experimental and 76 to the control group. MSE increased significantly more in the experimental group and remained significantly higher than in the control group after 6 and 12 months (B = 0.42; P = .010). Psychological quality of life also increased more in the experimental group but not significantly (B = 0.09; P = .077). However, in the younger subgroup of patients (<65 years old), psychological quality of life significantly improved in the experimental group compared to the control group and remained significantly higher over time (B = 0.14; P = .030). Other outcome measures were not significantly different between both groups. Conclusions. An MSE training program improved MSE and psychological quality of life in stroke patients aged <65 years. These effects persisted during 12 months of follow-up.
Parenthood, Life Course Expectations, and Mental Health

Although past research indicates that giving birth at a young age and prior to marriage negatively affects mental health, little is known about the role of individual expectations in shaping these associations. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, the authors consider how individual expectations for the sequencing of marriage and parenthood and the timing of first births shape mental health outcomes associated with premarital childbearing and age at first birth, and they investigate variation in the role of expectations across gender and race/ethnicity. Results indicate that expecting children before marriage ameliorates the negative mental health consequences of premarital first births and that subsequently deviating from expected birth timing, either early or late, results in increased distress at all birth ages. In both cases, however, the degree and manner in which expectations matter differ by gender and race/ethnicity. Expectations for premarital childbearing matter only for African Americans’ mental health, and although later-than-expected births are associated with decreased mental health for all groups, earlier-than-expected births are associated only with decreased mental health for women, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites.
A Semi-Analytical Model for Macaroni MOSFETs With Application to Vertical Flash Memories

We present a semianalytical model for the electrostatics and the current-voltage characteristics of Macaroni MOSFETs based on the exact solution of the Poisson equation, which is useful to investigate both the subthreshold and the ON-state regimes of these devices. With the addition of a simplified calculation of the tunneling current, the model is exploited to analyze the program performance of Macaroni NAND flash memories.
LETHAL EFFECTS OF FREEZING ECHINOCOCCUS MULTILOCULARIS EGGS AT ULTRALOW TEMPERATURES

Methods for killing Echinococcus multilocularis eggs within stool or intestinal samples, without damaging the diagnostic value of the sample, would significantly reduce the risk of animal health providers acquiring alveolar hydatid disease. The first objective of this study was to determine whether E. multilocularis eggs located in fox intestines can survive storage at −70 C for at least 4 days. Results showed that none of 72,000 E. multilocularis eggs remained infectious to defined strains of mice under these conditions, yet, similar eggs recovered from nonfrozen carcasses stored at 4 C for the same time period were viable. The structural identities of adult worms and eggs were not significantly altered by the freezing and thawing processes. These results indicate that ultracold temperatures can be used to kill or inactivate E. multilocularis eggs, making them safe to handle when diagnosing this parasite in definitive hosts. The second objective of this study was to determine whether E. multilocularis eggs could survive freezing to −70 C if commonly used cryopreservation protocols were used. The use of the cryoprotectant solution, 5% dimethyl sulfoxide–35% saline–60% lamb serum, with a −1 C/min freezing rate was unable to prevent the eggs from being killed by freezing to −70 C. Rapid cooling by plunge freezing into liquid nitrogen was also lethal to E. multilocularis eggs. Only a few of the many potential cryopreservation protocols were tested in this study, so it is not yet possible to completely rule out the possibility of preserving these eggs at ultralow temperatures, but it does indicate that temperatures below −70 C are lethal to eggs even under favorable storage conditions.
Rating Perceived Exertion during Short Duration, Very High Intensity Cycle Exercise

This study compared undifferentiated ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during short duration, very high intensity cycle exercise using high and low resistance. 30 recreationally trained males (24.2 ± 2.4 yr.) were memory-anchored to the Borg 15-category scale. The high and low resistance exercises were defined by 30-sec. maximum tests assigned in counterbalanced order, with resistances set before testing during an orientation session. High resistance was 10% of body mass. Low resistance resulted in the same total work as the high resistance over the 30-sec. sessions (± 5%) but increased pedal rate. RPE was taken at 8, 13, 18, 23, and 28 sec. during the high and the low resistance exercises. Measurements were compared using a 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance. RPE was significantly greater (p = .005) for the high than the low resistance exercise at each interval. RPE increased when the subjects were required to pedal against a greater resistance and produce the highest forces. These RPE data are consistent with data from both aerobic cycle and resistance exercise. The data suggest that instantaneous force production, not summed work, is a primary determinant of RPE. All of these observations support Cafarelli's theoretical model of effort sense. In conclusion, as an individual generates more force during high resistance exercise than in light resistance exercise, a potential explanation of our results is that the increased motor outflow and corollary sensory signal lead to a greater sense of effort.
The advantages and limitations of cross-sectional body composition analysis

Purpose of reviewCross-sectional (C-S) imaging is now commonly used to measure body composition in clinical studies. This review highlights the advantages, limitations and suggested future directions for this technique. Recent findingsCurrent understanding of C-S imaging reproducibility, tissue identification and segmentation methods, comparison between imaging techniques and estimates of whole body composition using a single image are described. SummaryC-S imaging can reliably measure muscle and fat distribution and uniquely discriminate between intra-abdominal organ and muscle component of fat-free mass. It precisely tracks changes within an individual, but is less able to distinguish true differences in whole body estimates between individuals.