Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Phylogeny of Microsporidians with Particular Reference to Species that Infect the Muscles of Fish

Ribosomal DNA from eight species of microsporidians infecting fish have been sequenced. Seven of these species infect the skeletal muscle of fish (Pleistophora spp.) and one species infects migratory mesenchyma cells (Glugea anomala). These sequences, in addition to other available microsporidian rDNA sequences from a broad range of host taxa, have been used in phylogenetic analysis. This analysis revealed that muscle‐infecting microsporidians from fish are a polyphyletic group, indicating that characters supposed to be important in the classification of the genus Pleistophora have to be re‐evaluated. One character that probably has a polyphyletic origin is the amorphous coat, which has been extensively used in the definition of this genus. Furthermore, our results showed that the insect parasitizing Pleistophora spp. are not related to the true pleistophorans parasitic in skeletal muscle of fish. Phylogenetic analysis of small subunit rDNA sequences revealed disagreements between the molecular phylogeny and classifications based upon ultrastruclure. Many of the morphological characters claimed to be important in microsporidian classifications appeared to have arisen several times during evolution: for example, the diplokaryon and sporophorous vesicles.
Housing preferences and perceptions of health and functioning among homeless mentally ill persons.

OBJECTIVE Most homeless persons who have received services for serious mental illness want to live on their own, but mental health professionals usually recommend group housing. This study examined the relationship between the types of residential arrangements preferred by homeless mentally ill persons and their demographic and clinical characteristics and perceptions of their health and functional status. METHODS The study sample consisted of 118 homeless mentally ill persons living in publicly funded shelters in Boston who were enrolled in a research demonstration project that would provide them with housing. Before random assignment to housing, study participants were interviewed about their interest in moving, in staff support, and in living with others. Their clinical status and functional strengths and impairments were assessed using a variety of objective and subjective measures. RESULTS Study participants reported a marked preference for independent living but expressed substantial interest in staff support. The desire for independent living was associated with a perceived ability to manage independent living, but was also associated with current substance abuse. Most indicators of clinical status and functional ability were not associated with housing preferences. CONCLUSIONS Self-perceived functional ability may not be an influence on housing preferences, except when that ability is perceived as making independent living more difficult. Symptoms of mental illness did not appear to interfere with study participants' rational decision making about where to live. However, the study finding that substance abusers expressed a desire for independent living suggests the need for caution in adhering to homeless mentally ill persons' housing preferences, given the problems posed by substance abuse for their ability to maintain stable community housing.
Consumer evaluations of food risk management in Russia

Purpose – Consumer perceptions regarding what constitutes best food risk management (FRM) practice may vary as a consequence of cross‐cultural differences in consumer perceptions, cultural contexts, and historical differences in governance practices and occurrence of food safety incidents. The purpose of this paper is to compare the views of Russian consumers with those of consumers in European Union member states.Design/methodology/approach – A survey previously conducted in five EU member states was replicated using a Russian consumer sample (n=460, SEM analysis). Psychological factors underpinning consumer evaluations of food risk management quality (FRMQ) were identified. A qualitative study (consumer focus group, n=9) allowed for in‐depth interpretation of the quantitative results.Findings – Russian consumers hold similar views to consumers in EU member states regarding their perceptions of what constitutes effective FRM practices. However, the perceived honesty of food chain actors was an important .
EFFECT OF NON-GENETIC FACTORS ON REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN SIMMENTAL COWS REARED IN SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE CONDITION

This study aimed to determine reproductive traits, such as gestation length (GL), service period (SP), calving interval (CI), number of insemination per pregnancy (NIPC), and first calving age (FCA) and to reveal the non-genetic parameters affecting these traits in Simmental cows raised at a private farm in Çorum Province under subtropical climate conditions according to Trewartha climate grading and Csb based on the Köppen–Geiger system. A total of 1904 reproduction performance records of 706 Simmental cows raised between 2001 and 2014 were utilized in this study. The GL, SP, CI, NIPC, and FCA were 283.19 days, 116.41 days, 394.30 days, 1.75, and 847.0 days, respectively, for the Simmental cows in the study. The effects of calving year (P<0.001), lactation parity (P<0.05), calving age (P<0.001), birth type (P<0.001) and parity (P<0.001) on GL were significant. Among the factors affecting SP, the effects of calving year and calving season were significant (P<0.01). Calving year, lactation parity, and calving season were significant at different levels for CI. Among the evaluated factors affecting NIPC, calving year, lactation parity, calving season, calving age, and calving year had significant effects (P<0.001, P<0.05). Year, calving age, and calving season were significant (P<0.001) for FCA. As the values for reproductive traits, namely, GL, SP, CI, NIPC, and FCA, were generally within standard values for the Simmental cows, herd management programs seemed to be properly performed at the farm where the study was conducted. Moreover, Simmental cows were successfully raised under subtropical climate conditions.
PRIORITIZATION AND VALUATION FACTORS AFFECTING ON BRAND EQUITY BASED ON THE GILL MODEL: A CASE STUDY ON BUYERS OF LG HOME PRODUCTS IN KERMANSHAH CITY, IRAN

Brand equity (BE) is measured in different international brands by international institutions each year. However, this valuation important for companies to see the customer, because their survival and success depends on their customers. In current study, effective factors on brand equity (price, advertisement, promotions and family) were investigated, using their effects on aspects of brand equity (brand image, awareness of it, loyalty to it and its perceived qua lity). In fact model of Gill et al (2007) was used to study effective factors on brand equity from a consumers' point of view. In this model for the first time family variable is studied along with others. Statistical population was LG home-product consumers in whole Kermanshah city. Since the number of members in this population was infinite, a sample size of 384 persons was derived from Morgan’s table; these were selected by cluster sampling. Statistical significance of Pearson's correlation coefficients were tested at alpha= 0.01. The results indicated that the loyalty factor was the most effective variable factors affecting brand equity (r= 0.729). Regarding model of Gill et al. the largest positive correlation was found between the positive information about the brand in the family and its perceived quality (r= 0.642). This means that the family is an effective source of power on behavior and perception of the consumer.
On the Transitivity of the Actor Focus and Patient Focus Constructions in Tagalog *

This paper offers functional explanations on the transitivity of the Actor Focus (AF) and the Patient Focus (PF) constructions in Tagalog. The existing studies with regard to these two structures are ambivalent as to what can be considered as the basic transitive construction . That is, both are posited to have the same functional role of encoding a transitive event. However, in this paper, it will be shown that the AF construction has a functional role of encoding an intransitive event, and the PF construction, a transitive event. Moreover, it will be pointed out that the two clause structures have different meanings and are used in different contexts. I posit the view that AF constructions with –um/m affix including those containing a semantic actor and a semantic patient are intransitive. Conversely, the PF structures with –in, -an, Iaffix in the verb where semantic actor and semantic patient are always present are transitive clauses. Accordingly, in addressing the issue of transitivity, the contention whether it is definiteness or referentiality which triggers the use of Actor Focus (AF) and Patient Focus (PF) construction will be problematized. If sentences (1) Kumain si Maria ng mangga ‘Maria ate mangoes/a mango’ and (2) Kinain ni Maria ang mangga ‘Maria ate the mango’ are to be considered, there is an element of truth in claiming that AF construction in (1) correlates with indefiniteness of the patient while definiteness of the patient explains the use of PF construction in (2). There is however an Actor Focus (AF) construction where a patient is definite and the AF verb is a relativized verb, such as (3) Si Maria ang kumain sa mangga ‘It is Maria who ate the mango’. Considering (3), the question still remains: what triggers the use of AF and PF constructions? To account for the issues of transitivity and definiteness, I cast my analyses under the transitivity hypothesis of Hopper and Thompson (1980) with particular emphasis on Agency, Affectedness of P and Individuation of O.
Return Persistence, Risk Dynamics and Momentum Exposures of Equity and Bond Mutual Funds

To analyze persistence in mutual fund performance, it is common practice to construct portfolios of funds based on past fund returns. Using a large sample of equity and bond funds, we show that this approach introduces dynamic exposures to common stock and bond risk factors. Correcting for risk dynamics substantially reduces the level of persistence in risk-adjusted performance and drives out the explanatory power of stock and bond momentum factors.
Activate Your Student IEP Team Member Using Technology: How Electronic Portfolios Can Bring the Student Voice to Life!.

The skills of self-determination and self-advocacy are essential for success in adult life. As educators, we want students with disabilities to participate and be significantly involved in the development and implementation of their IEPs, including involvement in IEP and transition planning meetings. By planning, preparing, and presenting an electronic portfolio at one’s own IEP meeting, the student not only becomes an authentic participant, but a self-advocate who has decided, prior to the meeting, his or her strengths, skills, and preferences that he or she would like to share with other IEP team members. Making decisions about perceived strengths and preferences in the planning and preparation of one’s electronic portfolio demonstrates self-determination. By showing an electronic portfolio at the beginning of an IEP meeting, the student ensures that his or her voice is heard, preferences articulated, and strengths and interests are brought before the team.
Essays on cash holdings of corporations and mutual funds

In this thesis, I study the relationship between excess cash holdings of corporations and mutual funds and future performance of these entities. In the first chapter, I document a positive relationship between corporate excess cash holdings and future stock returns. The difference in returns of portfolios of high and low excess cash firms amounts to 5% annually or 6% after standard three-factor risk adjustment. Firms with more excess cash have higher market betas and earn lower returns during market downturns. High excess cash companies invest considerably more in the future than do their low cash peers, but do not experience stronger future profitability. On the whole, this evidence is consistent with the notion that excess cash holdings proxy for risky growth options. In the second chapter, I document a positive relationship between excess cash holdings of actively managed equity mutual funds and future fund performance. The difference in returns of portfolios of high and of low excess cash funds amounts to over 2% annually, or approximately 3% after standard risk adjustment. I study whether this difference in performance can be explained by the differences in managerial stock selection skills, market-timing abilities, fund liquidity needs, and operating costs. I show that managers of high excess cash funds make more profitable stock purchasing decisions, while low excess cash fund managers make better sell decisions. Neither high nor low excess cash groups exhibit significant market-timing skills; however, funds with volatile excess cash holdings are successful market timers. The difference in returns between high and low excess cash groups is particularly pronounced during periods of low fund flows, suggesting that high excess cash funds are better able to anticipate fund outflows. Finally, I show that high excess cash funds incur significantly lower operating expenses than do their low excess cash peers. I additionally document new important determinants of mutual fund cash balances, showing that funds with riskier or less liquid shareholdings, as well as those with higher return gap measures hold more cash. The determinants I consider jointly explain three times more cross-sectional variation in cash positions than variables studied in prior literature.
Strategic Information Management Profiles in Brazilian Companies

Preliminary bibliographical researches identified in the managerial literature a lack of studies on the adequate comprehension how information, as a singular and valuable managerial resource, can become a competitiveness improvement factor and how companies are using it for improve their own competitiveness. This paper had two objectives: i) identify, in the theoretical and conceptual points of view, the ways through out the information can become a competitiveness factor for the companies and ii) identify the shapes within companies are using information to improve their competitiveness, sharing them out by their size. For the first objective it was developed a bibliographical research which identified the SIA (Strategic Information Alignment) framework. For the second one it was developed a field research in the survey format applying the mentioned framework to identify the strategic information management profiles in the analyzed companies.
Product placement by global brands as an alternative strategy: is it worth in emerging market?

This paper examines the nature and role of the product placement in the film as an alternative strategy for better brand recall. For this study, four films – two successful and another two unsuccessful – based on box office report are selected. Clippings of the film are shown to 119 respondents. The paper concludes by arguing that product placement in the film can be an alternative for advertisement for better brand recall, purchase intentions, change in perceptions towards the brands and improving attitude towards the brand. It also gives direction on developing consumer as brand spokesperson for global brands.
Costs and Benefits of Requiring an Engagement Partner Signature: Recent Experience in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT: This paper investigates the effects on audit quality and audit fees of requiring the engagement partner to sign the audit report in the United Kingdom (U.K.). The effect of requiring the engagement partner to sign the audit report is timely since the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) is considering mandating a similar requirement in the United States (U.S.). In the first year after the introduction of the signature requirement, we find a significant decline in abnormal accruals and the propensity to meet an earnings threshold, and we find a significant increase in the incidence of qualified audit reports and in earnings informativeness. In addition, audit fees are significantly higher in the post-signature period than in the pre-signature period. Moreover, we compare U.K. firms with a matched sample of U.S. firms and firms in other European countries in periods both before and after the U.K. adopted a signature requirement. Our results are generally consistent with the argument o.
Circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells are increased and activated in pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are increased in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders and orchestrate immune cell responses therein. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with inflammation, autoimmunity, and lung vascular remodeling. Immature myeloid cells are found in the lungs of humans and animals with PH, and we hypothesized that they would be increased in the blood of patients with PH compared with control subjects. METHODS Twenty-six children with PH and 10 undergoing cardiac catheterization for arrhythmia ablation were studied. Five milliliters of fresh blood were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results were confirmed using magnetic bead sorting and immunofluorescence, while quantitative polymerase chain reaction and intracellular urea concentration assays were used as measures of MDSC arginase-1 activation. RESULTS Flow cytometry demonstrated enrichment of circulating MDSCs among patients with PH (n = 26; mean, 0.271 × 10(6) cells/mL ± 0.17; 1.86% of CD45(+) population ± 1.51) compared with control subjects (n = 10; mean, 0.176 × 10(6) cells/mL ± 0.05; 0.57% of CD45(+) population ± 0.29; P < . 05). Higher numbers of circulating MDSCs correlated to increasing mean pulmonary artery pressure (r = 0.510, P < .05). Among patients with PH, female patients had a twofold increase in MDSCs compared with male patients. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the results of flow cytometry. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay results for arginase-1 and measurement of intracellular urea concentration revealed increased activity of MDSCs from patients with PH compared with control subjects. CONCLUSIONS Circulating activated MDSCs are significantly increased in children with PH compared with control subjects. Further investigation of these cells is warranted, and we speculate that they might play significant immunomodulatory roles in the disease pathogenesis of PH.
Voluntary traceability standards and the role of economic incentives

Purpose – The proliferation of traceability standards shed light on the understanding of the mechanisms leading agri-food firms to choose among different kind of rules and systems for their implementation. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of firms economic incentives on the adoption of different traceability systems. In specific, the analysis aims at segmenting food firms on the basis of economic incentives for the adoption of voluntary traceability and the levels of the system complexity implemented. Design/methodology/approach – A survey based on an ad hoc questionnaire was conducted in 2014 on a sample of firms certified ISO 22005/2008. Cluster analysis was run for the analysis and one-way ANOVA was used to confirm differences among clusters. Findings – The analysis presents three different clusters in terms of economic incentives for voluntary traceability and the level of systems complexity implemented. All the clusters reveal that supply chain incentives play a key role. Moreover.
Evaluating Treatment Effectiveness: Benchmarks for Rehabilitation After Partial Meniscectomy Knee Arthroscopy

Morrissey MC, Milligan P, Goodwin PC: Evaluating treatment effectiveness: Benchmarks for rehabilitation after partial meniscectomy knee arthroscopy. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2006;85:490–501. Objective:The purpose of this study was to give a detailed description of recovery benchmarks that occur in patients whose therapy after partial meniscectomy knee arthroscopy consists of a home program of exercise. These benchmarks can be used as a basis for clinicians to compare improvements to individual patients who receive supervised care. Design:Thirty-nine patients (five females, mean age = 41) who underwent an uncomplicated arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were included. Test sessions occurred at 5 and 50 days after surgery. Outcome measures included: 1) Hughston Clinic knee self-assessment questionnaire; 2) EQ-5D Tariff for assessment of quality of life; 3) number of days taken to return to work after surgery; 4) knee passive range of motion; and 5) knee swelling assessed by evaluation of knee circumference. Stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate factors that might have influenced the amount of pre- to posttest change in the outcome measures (the benchmarks) during the first 7 wks after surgery. The factors used in this analysis were: 1) age, 2) body mass index, 3) period from injury to surgery, and 4) the baseline value of the variable to be examined (except for return to work, where we used a score estimating the challenge to the knee offered by work). Results:None of the factors considered (age, body mass index, period from injury to surgery, stressfulness of the work on the knee) affected the number of days taken to return to work. Baseline scores affected change in all the other outcomes, and knee girth change was also affected by body mass index. Regression equations are presented where suitable for the benchmarks presented. Conclusions:Quick recovery occurs in these patients when only a home exercise program is given. This paper highlights the utility of using historical control group data instead of test-retest analysis of measurement error in evaluating patients whose recovery with a home exercise program is rapid. Of the variables analyzed in this study, quality of life and knee self-assessment changes offer the most useful benchmarks for evaluating treatment effectiveness.
Behavior of the Meat-Borne Bacterium Lactobacillus sakei during Its Transit through the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Axenic and Conventional Mice

ABSTRACT A Lactobacillus sakei strain named FLEC01 was isolated from human feces and characterized genotypically. Comparison of the genetic features of this strain with those of both the meat-borne L. sakei strain 23K and another human isolate, LTH5590, showed that they belong to different but closely related clusters. The three L. sakei strains did not persist and only transited through the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of conventional C3H/HeN mice. In contrast, they all colonized the GITs of axenic mice and rapidly reached a population of 109 CFU/g of feces, which remained stable until day 51. Five days after mice were fed, a first subpopulation, characterized by small colonies, appeared and reached 50% of the total L. sakei population in mice. Fifteen to 21 days after feeding, a second subpopulation, characterized by rough colonies, appeared. It coexisted with the two other populations until day 51, and its cell shapes were also affected, suggesting a dysfunction of the cell division or cell wall. No clear difference between the behaviors of the meat-borne strain and the two human isolates in both conventional and axenic mice was observed, suggesting that L. sakei is a food-borne bacterium rather than a commensal one and that its presence in human feces originates from diet. Previous observations of Escherichia coli strains suggest that the mouse GIT environment could induce mutations to increase their survival and colonization capacities. Here, we observed similar mutations concerning a food-grade gram-positive bacterium for the first time.