Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving labour outcomes in the creative industries: the role of creative workers' social network structure and organisational business acumen

Individuals who work in artistic, cultural and creative fields are increasingly conceptualised as a labour force. Yet, a growing body of research indicates that ‘creative workers’ experience particularly poor labour outcomes, insofar as they work longer hours, for lower incomes, and have little job security. This thesis examines the impact of creative workers’ organisational business acumen and social network structure on their labour outcomes (exploitation, labour precarity and earnings satisfaction). The study is situated within an Australian context, and a total of three hundred people were involved in the data collection.
High molecular mass proteome of androgen‐independent prostate cancer

We made a comprehensive study of protein expression of androgen‐independent (AI) prostate cancer by means of agarose two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (agarose 2‐DE) followed by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometric analysis. The agarose 2‐DE method being good at separating high molecular mass (HMM) proteins and alkaline ones, so we were able to successfully reveal differences between the proteomes of androgen‐dependent (AD) tumors and those of AI tumors. During the creation of agarose 2‐DE protein maps, we successfully identified 295 proteins (91.0%) out of 324 spots excised in total. Excluding redundant and mouse serum proteins, we considered the remaining 225 proteins to be related to the cancer. We divided the 225 cancer‐related proteins into HMM and low molecular mass (LMM) groups by their molecular mass being above or below 80 kDa. Functional classification of the proteins in these two groups showed clear differences between the two: more than half (54.8%) of the HMM proteins, but less than one‐third (29.1%) of the LMM ones were classified among transcription‐ or translation‐related proteins. Eighteen proteins were regulated when the tumor progressed from an AD to an AI state. Five of these proteins, including antioxidant protein 2, superoxide dismutase 1, thioredoxin peroxidase, GTP‐binding protein beta chain homolog, and the ha1225 gene product, had a function to protect cells against oxidant stress‐induced apoptosis. We suggest that prevention against oxidative stress is one of the key points for prostate cancer to obtain androgen independency. We also found proteins that had not been previously reported in prostate cancer by use of genomic or conventional 2‐DE based proteomic approaches. The proteomic approach, using agarose 2‐DE focused on HMM proteins, has the capability to find novel biomarkers of prostate cancer.
Transition to seizures in the isolated immature mouse hippocampus: a switch from dominant phasic inhibition to dominant phasic excitation

The neural dynamics and mechanisms responsible for the transition from the interictal to the ictal state (seizures) are unresolved questions in epilepsy. It has been suggested that a shift from inhibitory to excitatory GABAergic drive can promote seizure generation. In this study, we utilized an experimental model of temporal lobe epilepsy which produces recurrent seizure‐like events in the isolated immature mouse hippocampus (P8–16), perfused with low magnesium ACSF, to investigate the cellular dynamics of seizure transition. Whole‐cell and perforated patch recordings from CA1 pyramidal cells and from fast‐ and non‐fast‐spiking interneurons in the CA1 stratum oriens hippocampal region showed a change in intracellular signal integration during the transition period, starting with dominant phasic inhibitory synaptic input, followed by dominant phasic excitation prior to a seizure. Efflux of bicarbonate ions through the GABAA receptor did not fully account for this excitation and GABAergic excitation via reversed IPSPs was also excluded as the prime mechanism generating the dominant excitation, since somatic and dendritic GABAA responses to externally applied muscimol remained hyperpolarizing throughout the transition period. In addition, abolishing EPSPs in a single neuron by intracellularly injected QX222, revealed that inhibitory synaptic drive was maintained throughout the entire transition period. We suggest that rather than a major shift from inhibitory to excitatory GABAergic drive prior to seizure onset, there is a change in the interaction between afferent synaptic inhibition, and afferent and intrinsic excitatory processes in pyramidal neurons and interneurons, with maintained inhibition and increasing, entrained ‘overpowering’ excitation during the transition to seizure.
The Benefits of Whole Food Nutrition in Veterinary Medicine Clinical Use of Whole Food Nutrients in Veterinary Practice

Nutrition is the foundation of optimal health. Innumerable studies and observations over the centuries have pointed out the importance of nutrition in maintaining health. These studies have correlated deficiencies of vitamin C with scurvy (Firth and Marvan, 2001; Rajakumar, 2001), thiamin with beriberi (Tallaksen and Bovim, 1998; Carpenter and Sutherland, 1995), niacin with pellagra (Ishikawa, 2000; Malfait et al., 1993), B vitamins with Alzheimer’s and heart disease (Selhub et al., 2000; Pautas et al., 1999; Zeitlin et al., 1997), fat-soluble vitamins with liver disease, cholestasis, and inflammatory bowel disease (Shirahata, 1999; Bousvaros et al., 1998), minerals with growth inhibition (Clausen and Dorup, 1998; ), and antioxidants with nutritional amblyopia and chronic diseases (Weisburger, 2000; Lessell, 1998).
Innovation Performance and Clusters: A Dynamic Capability Perspective on Regional Technology Clusters

This research provides a novel, empirically tested, actionable theory of cluster innovativeness. Cluster innovativeness has for long been subject of research and resulting policy efforts. The cluster's endowment with assets, such as specialized labor, firms, research institutes, existing regional networks and a specific culture are, among others, recognized as sources of innovativeness. While the asset structure of clusters as been subject to a variety of research efforts, the evidence on the "soft" factors remains largely anecdotal. This theory building effort aims at providing a comprehensive picture of the contributors to technology cluster innovativeness. In doing so, it applies a dynamic capability framework in combination with a dynamic, network-level research approach in across five European satellite navigation application clusters. It shows that cluster innovation capabilities not only exist, i.e. community building, strategic alignment, reconfiguration, opportunity recognition and networking, but also impact perceived cluster performance. In contrast, the cluster's asset base assumes rather a moderating role. These results and the research approach add to existing theories of regional innovativeness. Furthermore, the research strengthens the dynamic capability view by providing evidence on inter-organizational capabilities. Accordingly, cluster managers and policy makers should focus their activities on their cluster's capabilities in an ongoing optimization process.
How Environmental Management Competitive Pressure Affects a Focal Firm's Environmental Innovation Activities: A Green Supply Chain Perspective

Recently, environmental management offers firms a source of competitive advantage in the marketplace. The development of environmental innovations is critical to the success of today's firms. Drawing on the Schumpeterian perspective of competition, this research examines how the perception of rival firms' green success influences a firm to pursue and produce environmental innovation through its green supply chain integration activities. Using survey data from 230 firms, a conceptual model is developed and tested using structural equation modeling. We find that the firms in our sample do perceive pressure from their competitors' success in environmental management activities, and thus take supply chain action to pursue integration activities. By differentiating incremental and radical environmental innovation, this study also reveals the role of three dimensions of green supply chain integration (internal, supplier, and customer integration of green product development) on incremental and radical environmental innovation separately. Specifically, findings suggest that green supply chain integration has a positive impact on developing incremental environmental innovation, while only customer integration has a significant positive impact on developing radical environmental innovation.
An Empirical Investigation of the True and Fair Override

The True and Fair View (TFV) concept requires UK and EU companies to depart from GAAP or the law if necessary to present a true and fair view of the corporation's financial affairs. We analyze a sample of UK public companies that invoked a TFV override during 1998-2000 to assess whether overrides are used opportunistically. We find overrides increase income and equity significantly, and firms with weaker performance and higher levels of debt employ overrides that are more costly. However, market-based tests indicate that the financial statements of such firms are not less informative than those of the control sample.
Regulatory network of lipopolysaccharide O‐antigen biosynthesis in Yersinia enterocolitica includes cell envelope‐dependent signals

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a glycolipid present in the outer membrane of all Gram‐negative bacteria, and it is one of the signature molecules recognized by the receptors of the innate immune system. In addition to its lipid A portion (the endotoxin), its O‐chain polysaccharide (the O‐antigen) plays a critical role in the bacterium–host interplay and, in a number of bacterial pathogens, it is a virulence factor. We present evidence that, in Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8, a complex signalling network regulates O‐antigen expression in response to temperature. Northern blotting and reporter fusion analyses indicated that temperature regulates the O‐antigen expression at the transcriptional level. Promoter cloning showed that the O‐antigen gene cluster contains two transcriptional units under the control of promoters Pwb1 and Pwb2. The activity of both promoters is under temperature regulation and is repressed in bacteria grown at 37°C. We demonstrate that the RosA/RosB efflux pump/potassium antiporter system and Wzz, the O‐antigen chain length determinant, are indirectly involved in the regulation mainly affecting the activity of promoter Pwb2. The rosAB transcription, under the control of Pros, is activated at 37°C, and Pwb2 is repressed through the signals generated by the RosAB system activation, i.e. decreased [K+] and increased [H+]. The wzz transcription is under the control of Pwb2, and we show that, at 37°C, overexpression of Wzz downregulates slightly the Pwb1 and Pwb2 activities and more strongly the Pros activity, with the net result that more O‐antigen is produced. Finally, we demonstrate that overexpression of Wzz causes membrane stress that activates the CpxAR two‐component signal transduction system.
Analysis of Hybrid Dielectric Plasmonic Waveguides

Future ultracompact photonic integrated circuits (PICs) will rely on high-index-contrast dielectric materials, which permit a strong confinement of the optical field in the diffraction limit as well as low propagation losses. This is the case of PICs implemented on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. To achieve confinement beyond the diffraction limit, plasmonic waveguides (based on metal-dielectric interfaces) have been recently proposed. This new kind of waveguide provides a strong enhancement of the field in the metal-dielectric interface, which is of paramount importance for nonlinear functionalities or sensing. Plasmonic waveguides can also be built on SOI wafers. Thus, it can be reasonably thought that high index contrast as well as plasmonic waveguides can coexist in future ultradense PICs. In this paper, a theoretical and numerical study on the performance of several dielectric and plasmonic waveguides is presented. Thanks to their plasmon-coupled supported modes, ultracompact devices as hybrid ring resonators can be devised and integrated with silicon photonic circuits.
The relationship between hotel staff service delivery with customer attitudinal loyalty and financial outcomes

This research study tests the conceptual model of the service-profit chain construct that suggests a strong linkage between external service value, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and financial growth (Heskett, Jones, Loveman, Sasser, & Schlesinger, 2008). The study identified key variables of staff service delivery, customer attitudinal loyalty, and financial outcomes that conceptually match the service-profit chain construct within the context of the hotel experience. These key variables were analyzed from a sample of over 600,00 survey responses from 314 full-service hotels in North America over a two-year period of time. Quantitative statistical methods were employed, including principal component analysis to identify latent factors of staff service delivery, customer attitudinal loyalty, and financial outcomes. A systematic eight-stage structural equation modeling was utilized to test the interdependent relationships of the staff service delivery, customer attitudinal loyalty, and financial outcome factors. Results from the study suggest that staff service delivery is an important measure of external service value and strongly correlated with customer attitudinal loyalty. Although the study did not provide results that indicate customer attitudinal loyalty influences financial outcomes, the findings demonstrated that customer satisfaction is a key component of customer attitudinal loyalty. This research study illustrates the importance for hotel owner and operators to measure, evaluate, and invest in staff service delivery to improve overall customer attitudinal loyalty.
Prognostic influence and computed tomography findings in dysautonomic crises after traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND Dysautonomic crises represent a relatively unknown complication in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Few studies have been undertaken of their pathophysiology and prognostic repercussions. We studied the prevalence of dysautonomic crises after TBI, their radiologic substrate, influence on the clinical course in the intensive care unit (ICU), and effect on neurologic recovery. METHODS A case-control study involving 11 patients with dysautonomic crises admitted with TBI during a span of 1 year and 26 patients admitted with TBI but no crises during the first 3 months of the same year. The initial severity was assessed from Apache II, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, and computed tomography (CT) during the first 24 hours. Complications were assessed by the duration of ICU stay, days on mechanical ventilation, need for tracheotomy, and number of infectious complications. Neurologic recovery was assessed with the GCS at discharge from the ICU and with the Glasgow Outcome Scale 12 months later. RESULTS Both groups were similar at admission. The prevalence of dysautonomic crises was 9.3%. Patients with dysautonomic crises had more focal lesions on cranial CT than patients without crises, a significantly longer ICU stay, and a tendency to have a worse level of consciousness at discharge from the ICU but not 12 months later. CONCLUSIONS Almost 10% of patients with severe TBI have dysautonomic crises during their ICU stay. Patients with dysautonomia were more likely to have focal intraparenchymal lesions, and crises were associated with greater morbidity and a longer ICU stay. Dysautonomic crises determined a worse short-term neurologic recovery.
Response of the invader Sargassum muticum to variability in nutrient supply

Fluctuations in resource availability are a key factor controlling the susceptibility of an environment to invasion by non-indigenous species. Increases in the availability of resources will facilitate the invasion of habitats and assemblages. In this study, we tested experimentally the com- bined effects of intensity and temporal variability of nutrient supply on the invasion of a low intertidal macroalgal assemblage along the rocky shore of Galicia (northwest Spain) by the brown seaweed Sargassum muticum (Yendo). We estimated invasibility by measuring the number of plants, length of plants and biomass of S. muticum. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that intensity and temporal variation of nutrient addition would affect interactively the invasion of macroalgal assemblages with high temporal variability emphasizing the effects of a high intensity of nutrient addition. Results indi- cated interactive effects between intensity and temporal variability of nutrient addition on the num- ber and length of plants of S. muticum. Moreover, temporal variability of nutrient addition had an effect on biomass of S. muticum. In addition, intensity of nutrient enrichment and temporal variabil- ity to some extent affected native assemblages, with intensity of nutrients being mainly an important driver of the percentage cover of the most abundant functional groups.
Specific inhibitor of FGF receptor signaling: FGF‐2‐mediated effects on proliferation, differentiation, and MAPK activation are inhibited by PD173074 in oligodendrocyte‐lineage cells

Multiple studies have shown that migration, proliferation, and differentiation of oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage cells are influenced by fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2) signaling through its receptors (FGFR) FGFR‐1, FGFR‐2, and FGFR‐3. We report the effectiveness and specificity of a unique inhibitor, PD173074, for inhibiting FGF receptor signaling in OL‐lineage cells. Three FGF‐mediated responses of OL progenitors and two of differentiated OLs were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoblotting. PD173074 effectively antagonized the effect of FGF‐2 on proliferation and differentiation of OL progenitors in culture. One dose of PD173074 at nanomolar concentrations was sufficient to inhibit ongoing FGF‐2 mediated proliferation for prolonged periods, in a non‐toxic, dose‐dependent manner. In contrast, platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)‐induced proliferation was unaffected by PD173074. Similarly, mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, a downstream event after activation of either FGFR or PDGFR, was also blocked by PD173074 in OL progenitors stimulated with FGF‐2 but not PDGF. A general tyrosine kinase inhibitor (PD166285), however, antagonized both FGF‐2‐ and PDGF‐mediated responses. PD173074 also completely antagonized two phenotypic alterations of differentiated OLs, specifically downregulation of myelin proteins, and their re‐entry into the cell cycle. We conclude that PD173704 is an effective and specific inhibitor for multiple FGF‐2‐mediated responses of both OL progenitors and differentiated OLs. This inhibitor provides a direct approach for identifying the importance of FGF signaling, comparable in effect to a knockout of all FGF receptors and all FGF ligands, while leaving other pathways unaffected. Thus, PD173704 is an excellent tool for investigating the role of FGF signaling in vivo in the context of combinatorial interactions of other signals. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Foundations of Finance: The Logic and Practice of Financial Management

1. An Introduction to the Foundations of Financial Management - The Ties That Bind 2. The Financial Markets and Interest Rates 3. Understanding Financial Statements and Cash Flows 4. Evaluating a Firm's Financial Performance 5. The Time Value of Money 6. Risk and Return 7. Bond Valuation 8. Stock Valuation 9. Capital-Budgeting Techniques and Practice 10. Cash Flows and Other Topics in Capital Budgeting 11. Cost of Capital 12. Determining the Financing Mix 13. Dividend Policy and Internal Financing 14. Short-term financial planning 15. Working-Capital management 16. Current Asset Management 17. International Business Finance
Plasma heparanase is associated with blood glucose levels but not urinary microalbumin excretion in type 2 diabetic nephropathy at the early stage

Abstract Aim: To explore the possible correlations between plasma heparanase and albuminuria, glucose and lipid metabolism in the type 2 diabetic nephropathy patients at the early stage. Methods: One hundred and forty patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy at early stage were recruited into the study. Plasma heparanase and the characterized advanced glycation end products (AGEs), carboxymethyllysine (CML) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Plasma heparanase was positively associated with fasting blood glucose (R = 0.24, p = .01) while heparanase was not significantly correlated with the urinary microalbumin to creatinine ratio (urinary mAlb/Cr) (R = 0.05, p = .58) and CML (R = 0.16, p = .26). On stepwise linear regression analysis, fasting blood glucose was the main independent determinants of plasma heparanase concentration. Conclusion: Plasma heparanase is not significantly associated with urinary mAlb/Cr while it is correlated positively with blood glucose levels in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy. Plasma heparnase might be regarded as a marker for vascular endothelial cells injury in diabetic patients.
Quantification of damage to suspended insect cells as a result of bubble rupture

It is proposed that when cells are either attached to, or very near, a rupturing bubble, the hydrodynamic forces associated with the rupture are sufficient to kill the cells. Four types of experiments were conducted to quantify the number and location of these killed cells. We determined: (1) the number of cells killed as a result of a single, 3.5‐mm bubble rupture; (2) the number and viability of cells in the upward jet that results when a bubble ruptures; (3) the number of cells on the bubble film; and (4) the fate of cells attached to the bubble film after film rupture. All experiments were conducted with Spodoptera frugiperda (SF‐9) insect cells, in TNM‐FH and SFML medium, with and without Pluronic F‐68. Experiments indicate that approximately 1050 cells are killed per single, 3.5‐mm bubble rupture in TNM‐FH medium and approximately the same number of dead cells are present in the upward jet. It was also observed that the concentration of cells in this upward jet is higher than the cell suspension in TNM‐FH medium without Pluronic F‐68 by a factor of two. It is believed that this higher concentration is the result of cells adhering to the bubble interface. These cells are swept up into the upward jet during the bubble rupture process. Finally, it is suggested that a thin layer around the bubble containing these absorbed cells is the “hypothetical killing volume” presented by other researchers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Role of Outside Shareholders, Outside Boards, and Management Entrenchment in CEO Selection

Large outside shareholders, outside boards, and management entrenchment influence the choice of inside or outside CEOs. In a sample of 385 CEO changes from 1979 to 1986, the probability of selecting an outside CEO rises with the level of stock ownership of large outside shareholders and the fraction of the board seats held by outsiders. It falls as management entrenchment increases, as firm size increases, and as firm performance improves. Shareholder value increases more with outside than inside CEO selection. Also, more shareholder value is lost the higher the level of ownership by the new CEO relative to the level of ownership by the outgoing CEO, unless the firm has a large outside shareholder. The results are consistent with the view that large outside shareholders play an active role in controlling manager-shareholder conflicts.