Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wait no more: the use of private dental services by welfare recipients in Australia

Dental services in Australia are available both privately and publicly. However, access to public dental services, like access to public hospital services for non-urgent treatment, is subject to a considerable waiting period. Moreover, access to public dental services is restricted to certain categories of welfare beneficiaries who qualify for a health care card. Because of the waiting time for public treatment, there is a frequent call for more public dental resources. This paper addresses the issue of what the waiting time for public dental services represents. One view largely confirmed by our research is that state governments are using the waiting time as a way of trying to push more and more people into the private sector. We find that more and more health care card holders are using the private sector for dental services.
Proactive environmental strategies in small businesses: resources, institutions and dynamic capabilities

The impact of smaller firm size on corporate social responsibility is ambiguous. Some contend that small businesses are socially responsible by nature, while others argue that a smaller firm size imposes barriers on small firms that constrain their ability to take responsible action. This paper critically analyzes recent theoretical and empirical contributions on the size – social responsibility relationship among small businesses. More specifically, it reviews the impact of firm size on four antecedents of business behaviour: issue characteristics, personal characteristics, organizational characteristics and context characteristics. It concludes that the small business context does impose barriers on social responsibility taking, but that the impact of the smaller firm size on social responsibility should be nuanced depending on a number of conditions. From a critical analysis of these conditions, opportunities for small businesses and their constituents to overcome the constraining barriers are suggested. 2 This chapter was published as “Lepoutre, J. & Heene, A. 2006. Investigating the impact of firm size on small business social responsibility: A critical review. Journal of Business Ethics, 67(3): 257-273. ” It was presented in an earlier version at the EABIS Conference on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Corporate Social Responsibility: Identifying the knowledge gaps, 15-16 December 2005, Durham Business School, UK.We wish to thank the participants of this conference, Bart Nooteboom, Mirjam Knockaert, Annick Willem, Geoff Moore, Laura Spence and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions to improve this paper. The Policy Research Centre for Sustainable Agriculture is gratefully acknowledged for the opportunity to carry out this research.
Genetic Characterization of a Tn5-Disrupted Glycosyltransferase Gene Homolog in Brucella abortus and Its Effect on Lipopolysaccharide Composition and Virulence

ABSTRACT We constructed a rough mutant of Brucella abortus 2308 by transposon (Tn5) mutagenesis. Neither whole cells nor extracted lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from this mutant, designated RA1, reacted with a Brucella O-side-chain-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb), Bru-38, indicating the absence of O-side-chain synthesis. Compositional analyses of LPS from strain RA1 showed reduced levels of quinovosamine and mannose relative to the levels in the parental, wild-type strain, 2308. We isolated DNA flanking the Tn5 insertion in strain RA1 by cloning a 25-kbXbaI genomic fragment into pGEM-3Z to create plasmid pJM6. Allelic exchange of genomic DNA in B. abortus 2308 mediated by electroporation of pJM6 produced kanamycin-resistant clones that were not reactive with MAb Bru-38. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA from these rough clones revealed Tn5 in a 25-kbXbaI genomic fragment. A homology search with the deduced amino acid sequence of the open reading frame disrupted by Tn5 revealed limited homology with various glycosyltransferases. This B. abortus gene has been namedwboA. Transformation of strain RA1 with a broad-host-range plasmid bearing the wild-type B. abortus wboA gene resulted in the restoration of O-side-chain synthesis and the smooth phenotype.B. abortus RA1 was attenuated for survival in mice. However, strain RA1 persisted in mice spleens for a longer time than the B. abortus vaccine strain RB51, but as expected, neither strain induced antibodies specific for the O side chain.
Using open source data in developing competitive and marketing intelligence

Purpose – The paper seeks to show how the increasingly popular use of data and information acquired from open sources (OS) impacts competitive and marketing intelligence (C/MI). It describes the current state of the art in analysis efforts of open source intelligence (OSINT) in business/commercial enterprises, examines the planning and execution challenges organizations are experiencing associated with effectively using and fusing OSINT in C/MI decision‐making processes, and provides guidelines associated with the successful use of OSINT.Design/methodology/approach – This is a descriptive, conceptual paper that utilizes and develops arguments based on the search of three unclassified bodies of literature in competitive and marketing intelligence, intelligence processing and marketing analysis.Findings – Open sources are useful in marketing analyses because they can be easily accessible, inexpensive, quickly accessed and voluminous in availability. There are several conceptual and practical challenges the .
Antiviral Activity of Salmonid Gamma Interferon against Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus and Salmonid Alphavirus and Its Dependency on Type I Interferon

ABSTRACT We investigated the antiviral activity and gene induction properties of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) compared to type I IFN (IFNa1) in Atlantic salmon. IFN-γ protected salmon cells against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV)-induced cytopathic effect (CPE), reduced virus titers, and inhibited the synthesis of the viral structural protein VP3. Moreover, IFN-γ showed potent antiviral activity against salmonid alphavirus 3 (SAV3) measured as a reduction in virus nsP1 transcripts. IFN-γ (a type II IFN) had less specific antiviral activity against IPNV than IFNa1, showing a half-maximal effective concentration of 1.6 ng/ml versus 31 pg/ml determined in the CPE reduction assay. Compared to IFNa1, IFN-γ was a more effective inducer of the antiviral protein GBP, several interferon regulatory transcription factors (IRFs), and the chemokine IP-10. The antiviral activity of IFN-γ may also in part be ascribed to upregulation of Mx, ISG15, and viperin. These are typical type I IFN-induced genes in mammals and were also more strongly induced by IFNa1 than by IFN-γ in salmon cells. Fish and mammalian IFN-γ thus show strikingly similar gene induction properties. Interestingly, the antiviral activity of IFN-γ against IPNV and SAV3 and its ability to induce Mx and ISG15 markedly decreased in the presence of neutralizing antiserum against IFNa1. In contrast, antiIFNa1 had no effect on the induction of IRF-1 and IP-10 by IFN-γ. This suggests that the antiviral activity of IFN-γ is partially dependent on IFNa induction. However, because antiIFNa1 could not abolish the IFN-γ-mediated induction of Mx and ISG15 completely, IFN-γ may possibly also induce such genes directly.
Effects of Chemistry on Vertical Dust Motion in Early Protoplanetary Disks

We propose the possibility of a new phenomenon affecting the settling of dust grains at the terrestrial region in early protoplanetary disks. Sinking dust grains evaporate in a hot inner region during the early stage of disk evolution, and the effects of condensation and evaporation on vertical dust settling can be significant. A 1D dust settling model considering both physical and chemical aspects is presented in this paper. Modeling results show that dust grains evaporate as they descend into the hotter interior and form a condensation front, above which dust-composing major elements, Mg, Si, and Fe, accumulate, creating a large temperature gradient. Repeated evaporation at the front inhibits grain growth, and small grain sizes elevate the opacity away from the midplane. Self-consistent calculations, including radiative heat transfer and condensation theory, suggest that the mid-disk temperature could be high enough for silicates to remain evaporated longer than previous estimates. The formation of a condensation front leads to contrasting settling behaviors between highly refractory elements, such as Al and Ca, and moderately refractory elements, such as Mg, Si, and Fe, suggesting that elemental abundance in planetesimals may not be a simple function of volatility.
Hyperphosphatemia, hyperphosphaturia and hypocalcemia in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Abstract Four children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia received a controlled dietary intake of protein, calcium and phosphorus to study prospectively the changes in the serum and urinary calcium and phosphorus values, which occur during therapy of the disease. Two 12-hour urine collections were obtained daily for determinations of phosphorus, calcium, uric acid and creatinine. Serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and uric acid were measured midway through each collection. Hyperphosphatemia (values of 5.7 to 9.4 mg per 100 ml), hypocalcemia (values of 6.6 to 8.3 mg per 100 ml) and marked hyperphosphaturia were observed within 24 to 48 hours of the initiation of chemotherapy. The tubular reabsorption of phosphorus decreased to levels that were 20 to 70 per cent of pretreatment base-line values. Symptomatic hypocalcemia is most common in patients with exceptionally high peripheral lymphoblast counts and some degree of renal insufficiency. These events may be caused by the increased endogeno.
The role of Chordae tendineae in mitral valve competence.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY The study aim was to understand the role of different mitral valve chordae tendineae, and how damage to them affects valve competence. METHODS A test apparatus was used to apply pressure to porcine mitral heart valves that were intact and have had selected chords severed. Anterior leaflet strut and marginal chords were selectively severed, as were posterior leaflet basal and marginal chords. Commissural chords were also severed. RESULTS Severing anterior leaflet marginal chords (p = 0.018) and commissural chords (p = 0.018) significantly reduced mitral valve competence. Severing posterior leaflet marginal and basal chords, and anterior leaflet strut chords, had no significant effect in reducing the pressures that the valves could withstand. Severing a mixture of posterior leaflet basal and marginal chords significantly reduced the pressure withstood by the valves (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION The study results confirmed that anterior leaflet marginal chords, but not strut chords, are vital for valve competence. Commissural chords were also shown to be vital for mitral valve competence. Several posterior leaflet chords had to be severed to affect mitral valve competence.
Psychophysiology of disgust: ECG noise entropy as a biomarker

The identification or classification of emotions allows the description of the person's state and, therefore, the inference of their preferences. The basic emotion of disgust, in particular, allows the organism to protect itself against diseases. Usually, the decrease in heart rate is associated with this emotion. As an avoidance behavior, when facing with disgust stimuli, the body reacts with movements, such as muscle contraction, etc. These reactions are evidenced in the electrocardiogram (ECG) as noise responses. In this paper, we propose the amount of ECG noise measured by the noise entropy as a new biomarker in emotion identification, which has been neglected in the literature. Our results showed that the noise entropy was able to discriminate between disgust, fear and neutral conditions in 88% (p<;0.05). It was also evidenced in this dataset that the median noise entropy in disgust was higher than in neutral and in fear conditions.
Partial trisomy 12q associated with a familial translocation

A case is described of a female infant, who was trisomic for the terminal bands of the long arm of chromosome 12. Congenital abnormalities were present. Cytogenetic analysis on the proband's parents revealed the father to have a rare, simple translocation involving chromosomes 12 and 18.
Spin in Earnings Information and Stock Returns

This study empirically examines whether spin in earnings information in the financial press or in company press releases can alter investor behaviour and affect stock returns. Our sample includes 72 companies from the S&P 100 over the sample period 2000:Q1 to 2005:Q1. Using intraday stock returns, our results suggest that spin in earnings information as reported in the news media has a greater impact on stock returns than company press releases.
Mental disorders among U.S. military personnel in the 1990s: association with high levels of health care utilization and early military attrition.

OBJECTIVE Epidemiological studies have shown that mental disorders are associated with reduced health-related quality of life, high levels of health care utilization, and work absenteeism. However, measurement of the burden of mental disorders by using population-based methods in large working populations, such as the U.S. military, has been limited. METHOD Analysis of hospitalizations among all active-duty military personnel (16.4 million person-years) from 1990 to 1999 and ambulatory visits from 1996 to 1999 was conducted by using the Defense Medical Surveillance System. Rates of hospitalization, ambulatory visits, and attrition from military service were compared for persons with mental disorder diagnoses and those with diagnoses in 15 other ICD-9 disease categories. RESULTS Mental disorders was the leading category of discharge diagnoses among men and the second leading category among women; 13% of all hospitalizations and 23% of all inpatient bed days were attributed to mental disorders. Six percent of the military population received ambulatory services for mental disorders annually in 1998 and 1999. Among a 1-year cohort of personnel, 47% of those hospitalized for the first time for a mental disorder left military service within 6 months. This attrition rate was significantly different from the rate of only 12% after hospitalization for any of the 15 other disease categories (range=11%-18%) (relative risk=4.04, 95% confidence interval=3.91-4.17). The difference remained significant after controlling for effects of age, gender, and duration of service. CONCLUSIONS Mental disorders appear to represent the most important source of medical and occupational morbidity among active-duty U.S. military personnel. These findings provide new population-based evidence that mental disorders are common, disabling, and costly to society.
Immunocompetence in undernutrition.

Abstract The pathophysiologic mechanisms of increased susceptibility to and severity of infections in malnourished children were investigated in 90 patients. The tonsils were small in 47 children, and significant lymphopenia was observed in 15. There was a significant depression of serum siderophilin and complement component C3. Serum immunoglobulin levels were relatively high especially in the presence of infection. Malnourished children without infection had hypoimmunoglobulinemia G. Antibody response to tetanus toxoid was adequate, but response to S. typhi vaccine was significantly reduced. Cutaneous hypersensitivity was distinctly impaired. The in vitro lymphocyte tranformation response to phytohemagglutinin stimulation was reduced. Mantoux conversion following BCG vaccination occurred in 22 per cent of the study group compared to 72 per cent of the healthy control subjects. It is suggested that several facets of immunocompetence are adversely affected in a state of malnutrition.
Bacterial Virulence in the Moonlight : Multitasking Moonlighting Proteins are Important in Bacteria-Host Interactions in Bacterial Infection

Men may not be able to multi-task but it is emerging that proteins can. This capacity of proteins to exhibit more than one function is termed protein moonlighting and, surprisingly, many highly conserved proteins involved in metabolic regulation or the cell stress response have a range of additional biological actions which are involved in bacterial virulence. This review highlights the multiple roles exhibited by a range of bacterial proteins, such as glycolytic and other metabolic enzymes and molecular chaperones, and the role that such moonlighting activity plays in the virulence characteristics of a number of important human pathogens including Streptococcus pyogenes, Helicobacter pylori and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Challenging Problems in the Surgical Management of Melanoma

The surgical management of cutaneous melanoma can occasionally present serious challenges even to experienced surgeons. Management problems range from selecting the best surgical intervention at the time of initial diagnosis of a primary tumor to establishing whether surgery has a role in palliation of advanced disease. We will review the relevant literature and discuss recommended approaches to management in order to address several areas of debate or uncertainty in the surgical management of melanoma.
The use of powder and essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus against mould deterioration and aflatoxin contamination of ‘egusi’ melon seeds

Experiments were carried out to determine the potential of using the powder and essential oil from dried ground leaves of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) to control storage deterioration and aflatoxin contamination of melon seeds. Four mould species: Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. tamarii and Penicillium citrinum were inoculated in the form of conidia suspension (approx. 106 conidia per ml) unto shelled melon seeds. The powdered dry leaves and essential oil from lemon grass were mixed with the inoculated seeds at levels ranging from 1–10 g/100 g seeds and 0.1 to 1.0 ml/100 g seeds respectively. The ground leaves significantly reduced the extent of deterioration in melon seeds inoculated with different fungi compared to the untreated inoculated seeds. The essential oil at 0.1 and 0.25 ml/100 g seeds and ground leaves at 10 g/100 g seeds significantly reduced deterioration and aflatoxin production in shelled melon seeds inoculated with toxigenic A. flavus. At higher dosages (0.5 and 1.0 ml/100 g seeds), the essential oil completely prevented aflatoxin production. After 6 months in farmers' stores, unshelled melon seeds treated with 0.5 ml/ 100 g seeds of essential oil and 10 g/100 g seeds of powdered leaves of C. citratus had significantly lower proportion of visibly diseased seeds and Aspergillus spp. infestation levels and significantly higher seed germination compared to the untreated seeds. The oil content, free fatty acid and peroxide values in seeds protected with essential oil after 6 months did not significantly differ from the values in seeds before storage. The efficacy of the essential oil in preserving the quality of melon seeds in stores was statistically at par with that of fungicide (iprodione) treatment. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Older Swedish women's experiences of living with symptoms related to Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND Approximately 1% of the population over 65 years of age is afflicted with Parkinson's disease (PD). The number of patients with the disease will most probably increase in the future because of the increased longevity of the population. There is no curative therapy for the disease. AIM To explore women's experiences of living with symptoms related to PD, and to analyse how the symptoms influence their quality of life. METHODS A phenomenological-hermeneutic method, inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur was used. The study focuses on eight women between 63 and 80 years of age who have been diagnosed with PD for 5-15 years. The women all lived at home, were moderately to severely disabled and cognitively intact. FINDINGS In the analysis, four themes emerged: (1) wish for a stable body image; (2) wish to keep traditional female competence; (3) need to feel accepted for the person she is; and (4) perceived stigmatization. All themes showed that trying to adapt to unpredictable fluctuations in physical and psychosocial competence has a great impact on the females' lives. It became clear that fluctuations in competence and not knowing when to expect impaired mobility are connected with frustration and social withdrawal. CONCLUSION The experience of PD from eight disabled female patients has revealed that the disease affects quality of life not only for the person who has it, but also for her family. Thus, it is equally urgent that patients, relatives, nurses and caregivers gain better knowledge and more understanding of PD, so as to ease the impact of the disease on the patient's daily life.
Standing out and Giving back: A Legitimization Perspective on SMEs and Philanthropy

We argue that more dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – i.e. those that are more entrepreneurially oriented, internationalized and high-performing - are also more likely to engage in philanthropy. Dynamic SMEs “stand out” and thus have a greater need to build legitimacy with external stakeholders by engaging in philanthropy. We find support for our propositions in a representative sample of Lithuanian SMEs and applying structural equation modelling. We discuss how the transition context may affect our results and conclude with wider implications for entrepreneurship theory.
Consumer education and service quality: conceptual issues and practical implications

Service quality has attracted considerable attention within the service marketing literature, but despite this, high profile consumer education has not been considered a valuable strategy. Argues that consumer education is a powerful quality strategy in a variety of service contexts and that it is already being used by an increasing number of service organizations. This paper sets out the conceptual relationship between consumer education and service quality prior to developing an information‐education continuum that could help organizations recognize when consumer education might be a useful competitive strategy. The article concludes with a discussion of practical issues that organizations need to consider before implementing consumer education programs.