Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Group A streptococcal infections: trend and strain emm typing in an area of central Italy, 1985–2002

A retrospective study of group A streptococcal (GAS) infections was performed for the period 1985–2002 in an area of central Italy. Although very severe diseases such as streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) were observed, a general increase in invasive infections was not found. Isolates of GAS were classified by M protein genotyping (emm typing) and analysed according to their origin from invasive and non-invasive infections. The predominant emm types were types 1, 4 and 12, followed by types 3, 6 and 28. During the study period the proportion of isolates of types 1 and 12 fell, while other types (3, 6, 22, 28 and 77) appeared. Isolates from invasive and non-invasive infections shared several emm types; however, most invasive strains belonged to five types only (types 1, 4, 12, 28 and 77), while non-invasive isolates were generally more heterogeneous.
Human herpesvirus-8 antibodies and DNA in HIV-1 infected patients in South Africa

HIV-infected individuals with high levels of IgG antibodies against human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) are at increased risk of developing Kaposi's sarcoma. The aim of this study was to measure the association between HHV-8 viraemia and IgG antibody responses (by immunofluorescence) in a group of 201 HIV-infected individuals attending outpatient clinics, 91 in-patients with AIDS and 87 HIV-infected patients admitted with Kaposi's sarcoma. Compared to HIV-infected outpatients, the adjusted odds ratio in relation to Kaposi's sarcoma was 15·4 (95% CI 4·4–54·2) in those with viraemia, 25·1 (95% CI 6·6–95·6) in those with a positive immunofluorescent signal and ∞ (lower exact CI 33·6) in those with a high immunofluorescent signal (all P trend <0·001). Among those without HHV-8 viraemia, 23% were IgG-positive, but only 5·5% had a high immunofluorescent signal. In those who were viraemic, 89·1% were IgG-positive, and 28·2% had a high immunofluorescent signal, suggesting viraemia is associated with high HHV-8 immunofluorescence IgG signal.
The institutionalisation of a business performance management system in the Australian public sector

This research explores the institutionalisation of a new performance management system, namely the Balanced Scorecard in a Government owned corporation in Australia. A single exploratory/descriptive case study with embedded multiple unit analysis was used in order to examine the adoption of a balanced scorecard as an example of the process of evolution of a new initiative. It uses the concept of isomorphism to explain the initial adoption of the Balanced Scorecard. Further, it highlights the importance of the deliberation of both rational analytical approaches and legitimacy as a fundamental accompaniment to isomorphism in the continuing development of the new performance management system.
Input-Specific Long-Term Depression in the Lateral Amygdala Evoked by Theta Frequency Stimulation

Although conditioned fear has been shown to involve mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the amygdala, the association with afferent input systems is not yet clear. Here we report on homosynaptic long-term depression (LTD) of excitatory responses after stimulation of putative thalamic input fibers, but not of cortical inputs, to the rat lateral amygdala in vitro. LTD is induced by theta frequency stimulation and involves postsynaptic calcium-dependent mechanisms and group II metabotropic glutamate receptors. These input-specific changes in synaptic strength represent potential cellular sources, which regulate the balance between sensory thalamic and cortical input signals to the amygdala. This regulation would function to reduce the influence of relatively undiscriminated stimulus information carried by thalamic afferents in favor of discriminated sensory information mediated by the cortex during fear responses.
Advances in Brief Constitutive Expression of ErbB2 in Gallbladder Epithelium Results in Development of Adenocarcinoma 1

Overexpression of ErbB-2 in the basal layer of biliary tract epithelium led to the development of gallbladder adenocarcinoma in 100% of transgenic mice by 3 months of age. In addition, tumors developed in other parts of the biliary tree (e.g., cholangiocarcinoma). Adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder appeared to arise via a stepwise process involving hyperplasia, adenoma formation, and then adenocarcinoma formation. Increased ErbB-2/epidermal growth factor receptor heterodimer formation, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, and up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 levels (mRNA and protein) were observed in gallbladder epithelium of these mice. These mice represent a unique new animal model for studying biliary tract carcinogenesis.
Psychiatric disorder and separation from military service: a 10-year retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the association between the onset of psychiatric morbidity and separation from military service over a 10-year period (1991-2001). METHOD The prevalence of affective, anxiety, somatic, and substance use disorders was assessed in 2,215 male Australian Navy personnel with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS The onset of a psychiatric disorder during military service was related to a 19% greater risk of separation overall. The majority of those leaving military service did so in the first year after symptom onset. Personnel who remained in service past this period had no significantly elevated risk of separation in subsequent years. CONCLUSIONS Psychiatric morbidity represents a significant potential cost to defense forces. Improved recognition and early management of mental health problems among military personnel may improve retention rates.
Use of Internet in supply chain management: a study of Indian companies

The advent of the Internet and electronic communication has enabled companies to be more responsive to their customers. However, the uses of the same technological advancements in business‐to‐business supply chain management are changing the marketplace itself. Successful supply chain management requires a change from managing individual functions to integrating activities into the key supply chain process. The advantages are far more than the efforts involved in accessing the final product, a seamless chain that operates fluidly and benefits the entire value chain by speeding up communication between customers and their suppliers, improving service quality, and reducing costs. In this article, the author discusses how the Internet is being used in the management of various areas of supply chain by Indian companies.
The influence of pyridoxine on fat metabolism in the rat.

The role of pyridoxine in fat metabolism has been the subject ofanumber of investigations. McHenry & Gavin (1938) reported that supplementation of a synthetic diet with a concentrate of rice polishings together with vitamin B1, riboflavin and choline resulted in a greater deposition of body fat than occurred with vitamin B1 and riboflavin alone. The inclusion of rice concentrate of rice polishings pro-vided a good supply of pyridoxine. Each of these factors appeared to contribute to the increase of body fat, the effect being, at least in part, independent of appetite stimulation. In later work these authors (McHenry Gavin, 1941) observed that rats on a basal diet containing 96% caseinogen developed more body fat when receiving supplements of vitamin B1, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, choline, nicotinamide and pyridoxine than when pyridoxine was omitted. They interpreted their results on the hypothesis that pyridoxine is required for the synthesis of fat from protein, and suggested that it is necessary for such stages of protein metabolism as may essential protein carbohydrate. the body fat of rats 26-63 days on diets with and pyridoxine with that of 1 A paired-feeding technique was employed in experiments. the pyridoxine-deficient g. whereas those pyridoxine a mean gain of 8-12
Mutual fund flows’ performance reaction: does convexity apply to small markets?

In this paper we study the performance reaction of investors in a small market context. Instead of the asymmetrical investors’ reaction to winners and losers, as usually documented for the US, an absence of risk-adjusted performance reaction was observed. The absence of reaction can be attributed to either lower investor sophistication, conflicts of interests in the context of the Portuguese universal banking industry, or the existence of relevant back-end load cost which prevent investors from reacting. A high persistence of net investment flows was also noted. Our results are consistent with the idea that the financial groups with larger market shares have the capacity “to drive” their customers to funds with larger fees. This practice emerges as a non-transparent means of increasing prices.
The Foundations of Small Business Enterprise: An Entrepreneurial Analysis of Small Firm Inception and Growth

Part 1: Background 1. Small Firm Inception and Growth 2. Database Construction and Use 3. Main Quantitative Features of Database Part 2: Existing Evidence 4. Growth and Survival of Micro-Firms 5. Funding Shortages Part 3: Finance 6. Modelling Financial Structure 7. Capital Structure at Inception 8. Trajectories of Financial Structure Part 4: Performance 9. The Morphology of Performance 10. Strategy and Structure of Performance 11. Actions and Outcomes
Production of soft dileptons in the quark-gluon plasma.

The production rate for soft dileptons in a hot quark-gluon plasma is computed to leading order in the QCD coupling constant through a systematic resummation of perturbation theory. The partial rate from the annihilation and decay of soft quarks and antiquarks exhibits unexpected structure---sharp peaks due to Van Hove singularities. These peaks are overwhelmed by the partial rate from processes involving hard quarks and gluons. The total rate for soft dileptons is larger than the naive one-loop prediction by orders of magnitude.
The Response of The Boards of Directors In the Distressed Jordanian Public Shareholding Companies to The Risk And Repercussions of The Global Financial Crisis

This study aimed at determining to what extent the board of directors in distressed Jordanian public shareholding companies addressed the risks and repercussions caused by the Global Financial Crisis. It also aimed at highlighting the impact of this crisis on their profits and their stock prices. The study consisted of two main sections , the first section was an empirical study done by using content analysis on a sample consisting of (36)distressed companies while the second section was a field study done by using descriptlive analysis on a sample consisting of. (98) person selected from three groups: stockholders , external auditors ,and control vis supervision bodies.The study revealed that (GFC) had significant impact on the performance of companies working in the three main economic sectors.their profits declined for the year 2010 compared with that for the year 2007 as follows: the industrial sector 637% ,the service sector 580% and the financial sector 280%. It also revealed that boards of directors in the distressed companies did not actually response well so as to meet the risk caused by the (GFC). Their actual response to meet those risks were less than that was expected by both the stockholders and the other stakeholders. This created an expectation gap between the two groups amounting 15.7%. So in order to bridge this gap the researchers recommended the need to enforce corporate governance systems and to enhance the role of independent membership in the board of directors.
Joint Replenishment and Supply Chain Actions in the Retail Grocery Industry: Two Essays

Title of Document: JOINT REPLENISHMENT AND SUPPLY CHAIN ACTIONS IN THE RETAIL GROCERY INDUSTRY: TWO ESSAYS Pamela S. Donovan, Ph.D., 2006 Directed By: Dr. Curtis Grimm, Dean’s Professor of Supply Chain and Strategy, Logistics, Business & Public Policy Dr. Philip T. Evers, Associate Professor, Logistics, Business & Public Policy This study investigated supply chain management practices in the retail grocery industry from two perspectives. First, the operational performance objectives were examined by developing and testing a periodic review, joint replenishment model and heuristic. Joint replenishment policies, designed to coordinate the ordering of multiple items, can reduce inventory costs by synchronizing transportation and replenishment decisions (Cetinkaya and Lee, 2000). A fully specified model was developed taking into account the cost disadvantage of overdeclared shipments. Based on the performance of the Full model, a Truck heuristic was proposed to fill a truck with each order. By varying the model parameters, the study demonstrated the large impact transportation costs had on total inventory costs and the viability of the Truck heuristic, even for moderate differences in transportation rates. A simulation study tested violations of the demand normality assumption and found the Full model suboptimized the order interval and base stock levels under non-normal demand conditions. The result was a 2 percent cost increase over the expected costs in the Full model. The primary cost drivers were positive or negative deviations from truckload shipments and higher than expected demand during the order interval and replenishment period. The second essay examined the strategic objectives of the retail grocer using the Schumpeterian perspective to relate supply chain actions, market-based actions, and firm performance in a longitudinal study. A structured content method was used to code articles reporting on supply chain and market-based activities. The study found that higher levels of supply chain and market-based actions, a source of competitive advantage, resulted in higher sales growth. Unexpectedly, firms engaged in a broad range of supply chain activities realized a decline in sales, suggesting that a more narrow focus on specific supply chain programs provided greater financial benefits to firms in the retail grocery industry. An exploratory study using cluster analysis found grocery retailers used a variety of strategies. Larger firms were more likely to focus on market-based strategies and realized the largest sales growth. Smaller firms, on the other hand, tended to choose balanced or supply chain-focused strategies, while still realizing average sales growth. JOINT REPLENISHMENT AND SUPPLY CHAIN ACTIONS IN THE RETAIL GROCERY INDUSTRY: TWO ESSAYS.
Non-response to antiviral therapy is associated with obesity and increased hepatic expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS-3) in patients with chronic hepatitis C, viral genotype 1

Background: Interferon α (IFN-α) activated cellular signalling is negatively regulated by inhibitory factors, including the suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) family. The effects of host factors such as obesity on hepatic expression of these inhibitory factors in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unknown. Objectives: To assess the independent effects of obesity, insulin resistance, and steatosis on response to IFN-α therapy and to determine hepatic expression of factors inhibiting IFN-α signalling in obese and non-obese subjects with chronic HCV. Methods: A total of 145 subjects were analysed to determine host factors associated with non-response to antiviral therapy. Treatment comprised IFN-α or peginterferon alpha, either alone or in combination with ribavirin. In a separate cohort of 73 patients, real time-polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyse hepatic mRNA expression. Immunohistochemistry for SOCS-3 was performed on liver biopsy samples from 38 patients with viral genotype 1 who had received antiviral treatment. Results: Non-response (NR) to treatment occurred in 55% of patients with HCV genotypes 1 or 4 and 22% with genotypes 2 or 3. Factors independently associated with NR were viral genotype 1/4 (p<0.001), cirrhosis on pretreatment biopsy (p = 0.025), and body mass index ⩾ 30 kg/m2 (p = 0.010). Obese subjects with viral genotype 1 had increased hepatic mRNA expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy kinase (p = 0.01) and SOCS-3 (p = 0.047), in comparison with lean subjects. Following multivariate analysis, SOCS-3 mRNA expression remained independently associated with obesity (p = 0.023). SOCS-3 immunoreactivity was significantly increased in obesity (p = 0.013) and in non-responders compared with responders (p = 0.014). Conclusions: In patients with chronic HCV viral genotype 1, increased expression of factors that inhibit interferon signalling may be one mechanism by which obesity reduces the biological response to IFN-α.
The Effects of Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, Organizational Citizenship Behavior on Turnover Intentions

The current study investigated the effects of job satisfaction and organizational commitment on organizational citizenship behavior and turnover intentions. The study also examined the effect of organizational citizenship behavior on turnover intentions. Frontline employees working in five-star hotels in North Cyprus were selected as a sample. The result of multiple regression analyses revealed that job satisfaction is positively related to organizational citizenship behavior and negatively related to turnover intentions. Affective organizational commitment was found to be positively related to organizational citizenship behavior. However, the study found no significant relationship between organizational commitment and turnover intentions. Furthermore, organizational citizenship behavior was negatively associated with turnover intentions. The study provides discussion and avenues for future research.
SOME EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE IN DENMARK

Abstract. Laursen, H. Bakgaard (Departments of Cardiology and Paediatrics, University Hospital, Århus, Denmark). Some epidemiological aspects of congenital heart disease in Denmark. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69:619, 1980. —Information on 5249 children with congenital heart disease (CHD) in the age group 0–15 years was collected from all paediatric and cardiological departments in Denmark and, furthermore, from death certificates. The mean prevalence for CHD in Denmark was 6.1 % during 11 years (1963–73); during the years 1972–73 it was 7.0 %. The mean age at detection was 25.86 months; 36% were diagnosed within the first month of life and 63% within the first year. The sex distribution was; 52%, female, 48%, male. No seasonal variation was found in the months of birth for individual cardiac anomalies. The largest group of CHD was ventricular septal defect, 24.0%, followed by persistent ductus arteriosus, 12.6%; atrial septal defect, 9.2%; coarctation of the aorta, 7.0%; pulmonary stenosis, 6.0%; and tetralogy of Fallot, 5.8%. The cumulated lethality for all 5 249 children was 25% at 1 month, 42% after 5 years, and 48% at the age of 15 years. CHD was found in 135 cases among 5835 siblings (2.3 %).
Effect of Food Industry Mergers and Acquisitions on Employment and Wages

Empirical analysis of mergers and acquisitions in eight important food industries suggests that workers in acquired plants realized modest increases in employment and wages relative to other workers. Results also show that mergers and acquisitions reduced the likelihood of plant closures while high relative labor costs encouraged plant shutdowns. These results differ from commonly held views that mergers and acquisitions lead to fewer jobs, wage cuts, and plant shutdowns.
Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in ulcerative colitis.

AIM To examine the expression of metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to study the expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 at both mRNA and protein levels in patients with UC and controls. The relationship between MMP-1 mRNA, TIMP-1 mRNA, MMP-1 mRNA/TIMP-1 mRNA ratio and the severity of clinical symptoms of the patients with UC were also analyzed. RESULTS The expression of MMP-1 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA in the ulcerated and inflamed colonic mucosa was significantly higher than that in the non-inflamed colonic mucosa (P < 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference in the non-inflamed colonic mucosa of UC patients and normal controls (P > 0.05). The mRNA expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in ulcerated colonic mucosa of UC patients was increased by 80-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively when compared with the normal controls. In the inflamed colonic mucosa, the increase was 30-fold and 1.6-fold, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that among the ulcerated, inflamed, and non-inflamed colonic mucosae of UC patients and the normal controls, the positive rate of MMP-1 expression was 87%, 87%, 40% and 35% respectively, and the positive rate of TIMP-1 expression was 89%, 89%, 80% and 75%, respectively. Furthermore, the expression of MMP-1 mRNA, TIMP-1 mRNA and the MMP-1 mRNA/ TIMP-1 mRNA ratio were correlated with the severity of clinical symptoms (P <0.05). CONCLUSION Excessive expression of MMP-1 in the diseased colonic mucosa causes excessive hydrolysis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and ulceration in UC patients. MMP-1 mRNA, TIMP-1 mRNA and MMP-1 mRNA/TIMP-1 mRNA ratio can be used as biomarkers to judge the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with UC. Exogenous TIMP-1 or MMP-1 inhibitor therapy is a novel treatment for patients with UC.
Medical Marijuana: The State of the Science

[3] The survey found that whereas only 19% of respondents believed that physicians should recommend medical cannabis, 80% agreed that it should be incorporated into medical school education, 82% agreed that it should incorporated into residency training, and 92% agreed that it should be a topic of continuing medical education for practicing physicians. In addition, the majority of respondents agreed that there are significant mental and physical health risks associated with marijuana.
Effects of Client Pressure and Audit Firm Management Control Systems on Auditor Judgments

We examine the effects of pressures from client management and the audit firm’s own management control systems (MCS) on auditors’ willingness to accept an aggressive accounting that is preferred by client management. We find that auditors perceiving more pressure from client management to accept the client’s aggressive accounting react by increasing the size of the proposed adjustment needed to bring the client’s accounting into conformity with GAAP. However, we find that when client management promotes the jointness of interests they share with the auditor or the audit firm’s MCS focuses the auditor more on client service quality the auditor experiences increased affinity for the client and proposes lower adjustments in response to the same accounting facts. Furthermore, we find that the auditor’s proposed adjustment to client accounting leads to intended use of negotiation tactics that are consistent with the relative size of the proposed adjustment: larger proposed adjustments result in relatively greater auditor intentions to use contending tactics whereas smaller adjustments lead to increased intentions to use compromising tactics. Two implications emerge from our research. First, that client management, if subtle with its use of pressure, can nudge auditors towards accepting the aggressive accounting management wants. Second, the audit firm’s own MCS can facilitate auditor identification with client needs leading to a lesser willingness by auditors to challenge aggressive client management accounting.