Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in sharing economy post-adoption

Tiago Oliveira (Nova Information Management School (NOVA IMS), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Campolide, Lisboa, Portugal) Iolanda Barbeitos (Nova Information Management School (NOVA IMS), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Campolide, Lisboa, Portugal) Antonela Calado (Nova Information Management School (NOVA IMS), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Campolide, Lisboa, Portugal) This is the author accepted manuscript version of the article published by Elsevier as: Oliveira, T. , Barbeitos, I. , & Calado, A. (2021). The role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in sharing economy post-adoption. Information Technology and People. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-01-2020-0007
Exposure to Chinese imports andlocal labor market outcomes. An Analysis for Spanish provinces

In the period 1999-2007 Spanish imports from China multiplied by six, making that Asian country the fourth largest supplier to the Spanish economy. In this paper, we analyse whether this massive increase in imports impacted on the labour markets of Spanish provinces to differing degrees, due to differences in their initial productive specialization. Our results show that Spanish provinces with a higher exposure to Chinese imports experienced larger drops in manufacturing employment as a share of the working-age population. However, this reduction was compensated for by increases in non-manufacturing employment.
Evaluation of antidiabetic potential of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

Objectives: To study the antidiabetic activity of Pleurotus ostreatus in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Materials and methods: Ethanolic extract of fruiting bodies of P. ostreatus was tested for their antidiabetic activity. BALB/C mice (25–30 g) were divided into four groups of six animals each normal control mice, diabetic control mice, diabetic mice posttreated with standard drug glibenclamide and diabetic mice treated with P. ostreatus ethanolic extract. Blood glucose level, biochemical parameters such as serum total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, VLDL, triglyceride creatinine, urea, and Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase were studied in alloxan-induced diabetic mice after 15 days of treatment. Results: Animals treated with the ethanolic extract of P. ostreatus showed a significant decrease in serum glucose level (p < 0.01). The posttreatment with P. ostreatus extract reduced serum cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol. The serum HDL cholesterol was significantly increased in posttreated groups. The serum creatinine, urea levels were significantly reduced in posttreated group, whereas the decrease in the body weight was arrested by administration of P. ostreatus extract to the animals. Discussion and conclusion: The consumption of P. ostreatus produced a significant hypoglycemic effect in diabetic mice and it is capable of improving hyperlipidemia and the impaired kidney functions in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Thus, indicating that the ethanolic extract of P. ostreatus could be added in the list of medicinal preparations beneficial in diabetes mellitus.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Myasthenia Gravis Overlap Syndrome: A Review of Two Cases and the Associated Literature

Objective To describe the characteristics of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and myasthenia gravis (MG) overlap syndrome and explore the relationship between the two diseases. Methods We conducted a search of medical records at Peking Union Medical University Hospital from 1983 to 2015 for coexistence of ALS and MG and searched the PubMed database for all literature describing ALS and MG overlap syndrome published through December 2016. We analyzed the clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of patients by groups according to strict diagnostic criteria. Results We presented 2 patients in our database with combined ALS and MG, and together with 25 cases reported in the literature, the patients were divided into 4 groups: 12 patients with MG followed by ALS, 8 patients with ALS followed by MG, 5 ALS patients with false-positive anti-acetylcholine receptor, and the other 2 ALS patients with only myasthenia symptoms. Most patients had limb onset ALS, and myasthenia symptoms mainly affected ocular and bulbar muscles. Clinical and neurophysiological characteristics were summarized. Conclusion These findings support the conclusion that immunological mechanisms and alterations in the neuromuscular junction are related to ALS pathogenesis.
Two Essays on Short Selling

TWO ESSAYS ON SHORT SELLING Zhaobo Zhu Old Dominion University, 2016 Director: Dr. Licheng Sun This dissertation provides some new evidence that the information contained in short selling is informative about future returns, confirming the role of short sellers in the price discovery process. The first essay examines the cross-sectional relation between the change in short interest and expected stock returns. NYSE/AMEX stocks with large decreases (increases) in short interest over past medium-term horizon experience significant and positive (negative) abnormal returns. Moreover, the positive abnormal returns are larger in absolute value and are more persistent than negative abnormal returns. The return spread between bottom and top deciles is economically and statistically significant and persistent. The return predictability of the change in short interest is not subsumed by the level of short interest and other well-known determinants of stock returns, and is robust in different calendar months and investor sentiment. These results imply that public information contained in the change in short interest is so slowly incorporated into prices. Moreover, the asymmetry in the speed of price adjustment casts doubts on the implication of short-sale constraints and the limits to arbitrage. The second essay provides new evidence that momentum and long-term reversals would be separate phenomena. We can identify ex ante momentum stocks that exhibit persistent momentum and those that exhibit weak momentum but persistent reversals, using information in short selling. Underreaction and overreaction theories apply to different sets of momentum stocks. The consistent momentum strategy based on short interest succeeds during periods in which the standard momentum strategy fails. The success of the consistent momentum strategy is mainly due to the robust return predictability of short interest in these periods. These evidence confirms that short sellers contribute to price discovery. The information in short selling provides a great hedge or complement to anomaly-based strategies.
Involvement of P‐glycoprotein in regulating cellular levels of Ginkgo flavonols: quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin

Quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin were the most important flavonoid constituents in extracts from Ginkgo biloba leaves. Transport studies of Ginkgo flavonols were performed in Caco‐2 cell mono‐layers. Their apparent permeability in absorptive and secretion directions was determined, and quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin displayed polarized transport, with the Papp,B‐A being higher than the Papp,A‐B (P < 0.01 for quercetin, P < 0.001 for kaempferol and isorhamnetin, Student's t‐test). Bcap37/MDR1 cells, which were transfected with a P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) gene construct, were treated with quercetin, kaempferol or isorhamnetin. The concentrations of Ginkgo flavonol in Bcap37/MDR1 cells were lower than those in parent cells (P < 0.05 for quercetin, P < 0.01 for isorhamnetin, Mann‐Whitney U test). The concentrations of the flavonol in transfected cells increased when incubated with the P‐gp inhibitor verapamil (P < 0.05 for kaempferol, Mann‐Whitney U test). A colorometric assay for ATPase activity was applied to the detection of interaction of flavonol with P‐gp. Quercetin and kaempferol inhibited the ATPase activity, and isorhamnetin stimulated the ATPase activity (P < 0.05 for isorhamnetin, Mann Whitney U test). The results indicated that Ginkgo flavonols quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin were substrates of P‐gp. The P‐gp type efflux pump might limit the bioavailability of Ginkgo flavonols.
The reinfection threshold promotes variability in tuberculosis epidemiology and vaccine efficacy

Population patterns of infection are determined largely by susceptibility to infection. Infection and vaccination induce an immune response that, typically, reduces susceptibility to subsequent infections. With a general epidemic model, we detect a ‘reinfection threshold’, above which reinfection is the principal type of transmission and, consequently, infection levels are much higher and vaccination fails. The model is further developed to address human tuberculosis (TB) and the impact of vaccination. The bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is the only vaccine in current use against TB, and there is no consensus about its usefulness. Estimates of protection range from 0 to 80%, and this variability is aggravated by an association between low vaccine efficacy and high prevalence of the disease. We propose an explanation based on three postulates: (i) the potential for transmission varies between populations, owing to differences in socio–economic and environmental factors; (ii) exposure to mycobacteria induces an immune response that is partially protective against reinfection; and (iii) this protection is not significantly improved by BCG vaccination. These postulates combine to reproduce the observed trends, and this is attributed to a reinfection threshold intrinsic to the transmission dynamics. Finally, we demonstrate how reinfection thresholds can be manipulated by vaccination programmes, suggesting that they have a potentially powerful role in global control.
Multigenerational exposure of the estuarine sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) to 17β‐Estradiol. II. Population‐level effects through two life cycles

The evaluation of multigeneration, population‐level impacts is particularly important in the risk assessment of endocrine‐disrupting compounds, because adverse effects may not be evident during the first generation of exposure. Population models were developed for the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) exposed to 17β‐estradiol (E2) for two complete generations (F1 and F2) to determine population‐level effects of multigenerational exposure to a model estrogen. Stage‐structured matrix models were used to determine interactions between treatment and the number of generations exposed. Reproduction was significantly reduced in both the 0.08 and 0.2 μg E2/L treatments in both generations, and embryo and larval stages experienced reduced survival at 0.2 μg/L in the second generation only. However, increased female to male sex ratio in these treatments compensated for the loss in reproductive output, and significant population‐level effects only occurred in the 0.2 μg E2/L treatment of the F2 population. The F2 population in the 0.2 μg E2/L treatment also had an altered, stable stage distribution relative to the control population of both generations and the F1 population in the 0.2 μg E2/L treatment, resulting in additional population‐level effects. These results demonstrate that continued exposure to E2 had compounding effects on sheepshead minnow populations and that long‐term exposures may be necessary to understand the risk that exposures to environmental estrogens pose to native populations. Although population‐level effects did not occur in the F1 generation, a risk decision based on F1 organism‐level effects would be protective of the population exposed for two generations.
Implication of job satisfaction and organizational commitment on employee loyalty in manufacturing companies

The purpose of this study is to examine the implication of job satisfaction and organizational commitment on employees' loyalty in manufacturing companies in Malaysia In present study, three objectives of the study have been developed. The first objective is to investigate the current level of job satisfaction, organizational commitment and employee loyalty of employees in manufacturing companies in Malaysia. Second, the study aim to examjne the significant differences of the study variables (i.e. job satisfaction, organizational commitment and employee loyalty) within demographic factors such as gender, age, etc. Lastly, the study aims to examine the relationships of the study variables. The results of study indicated that employees in manufacturing companies have moderate job satisfaction, moderate level of organizational commjtment and slightly low level of employee loyalty. The results also revealed that the study variables have no significant differences within demographic factors. Lastly, the study found that job satisfaction and organizational commitment have significant impact on employee loyalty. Based on these findings, recommendations for manufacturing companies and for further study have been proposed.
Effect of School Closure on the Incidence of Influenza among School-Age Children in Arizona

Objective. We assessed the impact of school closures as a viable intervention in the event of an influenza pandemic. Methods. We evaluated the effect of scheduled, two-week winter break school closures during the 2004–2008 school years on the occurrence of influenza among children aged 5–17 years in Arizona. Results. We found a consistent pattern of benefit to school-age children during winter school closures when non-school-age children and adults experienced significant increases in influenza incidence, an increase not seen among school-age children. Quantitative analysis showed that school closures may prevent or delay as much as 42% of potential influenza cases among school-age children. In addition, the ratio of illness in school-age children as compared with adults and non-school-age children decreased significantly from before to during the same school closure periods. Conclusion. This analysis provides evidence to suggest that school-age children may experience a slowing of influenza transmission during winter school closures compared with those not of school age. Federal, state, and local policy makers may consider these findings in their pandemic influenza and public health emergency preparedness planning efforts.
Contemporary methods for the diagnosis and treatment of microscopic colitis

Microscopic colitis is a common cause of chronic diarrhea. It is characterized by non-bloody watery diarrhea with macroscopically normal colonic mucosa. Its specific histological characteristics confirm the diagnosis. Two distinct histological forms can be identified, namely, collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. In collagenous colitis, a thick colonic subepithelial collagenous deposit can be observed, whereas in lymphocytic colitis, a pronounced intraepithelial lymphocytic inflammation in the absence of a thickened collagen band can be identified. Microscopic colitis occurs more frequently in elderly females and its etiology is believed to be multifactorial, although smoking and consumption of several drugs have been identified as risks factors for the development of the disease. The treatment is based on avoiding the risks factors and administration of oral budesonide.
Responsible Stakeholder Engagement. A comparison of corporate approaches in the UK and German Pharmaceutical Industry

A broad-ranging and comprehensive set of significant, persistent, complex events, such as climate change and the global economic crisis, which have arguably been caused by man-made and/or natural events, are calling into question the essential role and strategic purpose of business in society. Identifying and accepting responsibility for those aspects of the business which are of greatest concern to stakeholders is being increasingly recognised as key to achieving strategic success. Responsible stakeholder engagement addresses a quality of management which focuses on an organisation’s ability to create, preserve, or erode economic, environmental, and social value for itself, its stakeholders, and society at large. Positioned within that general context, this paper focuses on the healthcare sector and the specific stakeholder engagement of the pharmaceutical industry in the UK and Germany. Prompted by the controversial nature of its business activities, it presents a comparative empirical study that critically explores and examines the stakeholder engagement practices of leading pharmaceutical companies.
Control of Culture Environment for Improved Polyethylenimine‐Mediated Transient Production of Recombinant Monoclonal Antibodies by CHO Cells

In this study we describe optimization of polyethylenimine (PEI)‐mediated transient production of recombinant protein by CHO cells by facile manipulation of a chemically defined culture environment to limit accumulation of nonproductive cell biomass, increase the duration of recombinant protein production from transfected plasmid DNA, and increase cell‐specific production. The optimal conditions for transient transfection of suspension‐adapted CHO cells using branched, 25 kDa PEI as a gene delivery vehicle were experimentally determined by production of secreted alkaline phosphatase reporter in static cultures and recombinant IgG4 monoclonal antibody (Mab) production in agitated shake flask cultures to be a DNA concentration of 1.25 μg 106 cells−1 mL−1 at a PEI nitrogen:DNA phosphate ratio of 20:1. These conditions represented the optimal compromise between PEI cytotoxicity and product yield with most efficient recombinant DNA utilization. Separately, both addition of recombinant insulin‐like growth factor (LR3‐IGF) and a reduction in culture temperature to 32 °C were found to increase product titer 2‐ and 3‐fold, respectively. However, mild hypothermia and LR3‐IGF acted synergistically to increase product titer 11‐fold. Although increased product titer in the presence of LR3‐IGF alone was solely a consequence of increased culture duration, a reduction in culture temperature post‐transfection increased both the integral of viable cell concentration (IVC) and cell‐specific Mab production rate. For cultures maintained at 32 °C in the presence of LR3‐IGF, IVC and qMab were increased 4‐ and 2.5‐fold, respectively. To further increase product yield from transfected DNA, the duration of transgene expression in cell populations maintained at 32 °C in the presence of LR3‐IGF was doubled by periodic resuspension of transfected cells in fresh media, leading to a 3‐fold increase in accumulated Mab titer from ∼13 to ∼39 mg L−1. Under these conditions, Mab glycosylation at Asn297 remained essentially constant and similar to that of the same Mab produced by stably transfected GS‐CHO cells. From these data we suggest that the efficiency of transient production processes (protein output per rDNA input) can be significantly improved using a combination of mild hypothermia and growth factor(s) to yield an extended “activated hypothermic synthesis”.
Venture Capital Investment Strategies Under Financing Constraints: Evidence from the 2008 Financial Crisis

This paper employs the 2008 financial crisis as an empirical setting to examine how investment strategies of venture capitalists (VCs) vary in the presence of a liquidity supply shock, and what the performance implications of these strategies are for their portfolio startups. We show that while, on aggregate, funded startups receive no less financing during the financial crisis than in non-crisis times, VCs allocate relatively more resources to startups operating in the VCs’ core sectors. We show that this skew allocation follows from VCs choosing to double down on their core-sector investing, rather than by a changed mix of investors or startups during the financial crisis. These effects are strongest for early-stage startups, for which information problems are most severe. Furthermore, these results are driven by the investment strategies of more-experienced VCs. Building on these findings, we find superior ex post performance among crisis-funded portfolio startups operating in more-experienced VCs’ core sectors.
Radiographical and Macroscopical Visualization of Fourth Molars: a Report of Four Cases in Maxilla

Los dientes supernumerarios son definidos como la existencia de un mayor numero de dientes en relacion a la formula dental normal. El desarrollo de los dientes supernumerarios puede ocurrir en diferentes momentos de la vida y puede ser detectada, clinica o radiograficamente. La relacion entre los dientes supernumerarios y los casos no sindromicos han sido reportados de vez en cuando en la literatura. En este reporte se presentan cuatro casos de pacientes no sindromicos con cuartos molares en la maxila, los cuales fueron descritos macroscopicamente y radiologicamente.
Serum Level of Cytokines and their Expression in Brain Tumors (Meningioma and Glioma) of Iraqi Patients

Objective: the study aimed to assess serum level and tissue expression of Cytokines in brain tumour (meningioma and glioma) of Iraqi patients. Methodology: In this study, 64 Iraqi brain tumor patients (30 meningioma and 34 glioma) were investigated for serum level of IL-2, IL-8, IL-10 and IFN-γ, and tumor-immunohistochemical expression of IL-2, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α and TGF-β. Two control samples were also enrolled in the study. The first included 30 blood donors, while the second included 15 cadavers for immunohistochemical evaluation. Results: IL-10 (15.51 ± 1.01 and 16.57 ± 1.01 vs. 11.98 ± 1.48 pg/ml, respectively) and IFN-γ (0.94 ± 0.15 and 0.99 ± 0.16 vs. 0.18 ± 0.01 IU/ml, respectively) levels were significantly increased in meningioma and glioma patients as compared to controls, while IL-2 and IL-8 revealed no significant variation. Assessment of cytokine expressions revealed that TGF-β was positive in all cases of meningioma and glioma, while IL-10 was positive in 20.6% of glioma tissues. In contrast, all brain tissues of patients were negative for IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α expression. The 15 brain tissues of cadavers were negative for the expression of all investigated cytokines. Conclusions: This study shows that meningioma and glioma patients had increased circulating serum levels of IL10 and IFN-γ; demonstrating that brain tumors might have a systemic effect on the immune system. The data also suggest a possible role of TGF-β in pathogenesis of brain tumor.
Interface trapping effects on the charge transport characteristics of LDPE/ZnO nanocomposites

This paper intends to reveal the interface trapping effect on the charge transport characteristics of LDPE/ZnO nanocomposite by combined study of the nanocomposite structures, trap level distributions, space charge distributions, conduction current and charge mobility. Experimental results show that nanofillers in the nanocomposites significantly altered the microstructure of the polymer matrix by introducing lots of smaller spherulites and increasing the crystallinity, leading to a significant increase in the interface areas between amorphous and crystalline regions. The trap density in the nanocomposites is about 2–6 times that in LDPE. The traps are essentially cavities, located at the interface areas between nanofillers and polymer matrix and interface areas between amorphous and crystalline regions. A new method was proposed to evaluate the carrier mobility as a function of discharge time and trap depth from the IDC results directly. The carrier mobility of LDPE is about 4–20 times higher than that of the nanocomposites. Compared with LDPE, bulk space charge accumulation is significantly suppressed in the nanocomposites. An interesting discovery is that there is a clear correspondence between the space charge accumulation and current increase in I-t characteristics under high electric field. The study indicates that the low charge carrier mobility and space charge suppression in LDPE/ZnO nanocomposites and the I-t behavior are all closely related to the interface trapping effects in the nanocomposites.