Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Problems of Differential Diagnosis in Melanoma Arising from Blue Naevus

Abstract Melanoma arising from blue naevus is an exceedingly rare variant of melanoma. Most of the cases are located in head and neck area, with scalp the most affected site. This type of melanoma develops on blue naevus or resembles blue naevus, most frequently cellular blue naevus. We present the case of a 52 years old female diagnosed with a pigmented melanoma of the scalp, with maximum tumoral thickness of 6.8 mm and invasion of the hypodermis, highly resembling cellular blue naevus. All criteria of malignancy were present: prominent nuclear pleomorphism, infiltrative pattern, tumoral necrosis, high mitotic rate (11 mitoses/mm2) with atypical mitosis and high Ki67 index. No lymph node or distant metastases were identified at presentation. Because of the rarity of cases, histopathological diagnosis can be difficult, differential diagnosis with blue naevi, atypical blue naevi or metastatic melanoma being the most challenging problems. Prognosis is given by tumoral thickness, frequently being more than 4 mm. Abstract Melanomul dezvoltat din nev albastru este o variantă extrem de rară de melanom. Majoritatea cazurilor prezintă localizare la nivelul zonei cap şi gât, scalpul fiind cel mai afectat. Acest tip de melanom se dezvoltă pe nev albastru sau se aseamănă cu un nev albastru, cel mai frecvent, nev albastru celular. Prezentăm cazul unei femei de 52 de ani diagnosticate cu un melanom pigmentat al scalpului, cu grosime tumorală maximă de 6,8 mm şi invazie în hipoderm, foarte asemănător cu un nev albastru celular. Toate criteriile de malignitate au fost prezente: pleomorfism nuclear, pattern infiltrativ, necroză tumorală, indice mitotic crescut (11 mitoze/mm2) cu forme atipice şi index Ki67 crescut. La prezentare nu au fost identificate metastaze limfoganglionare sau la distanţă. Din cauza rarităţii cazurilor, diagnosticul histopatologic poate fi dificil, diagnosticul diferenţial cu nevi albaştri, nevi albaştri atipici sau metastaze din melanom malign reprezentând cele mai dificile probleme. Prognosticul este dat de grosimea tumorală, frecvent peste 4 mm.
Leishmaniasis in Greece

(3) The potencies of some solubilized derivatives were similar to those of the parent compound but sulphanilamide L.S. F. was inactive in our experiments. The activity of various antiseptics was also compared. (4) The sulphonamides exerted no effect on the multiplication of C. pyogenes in the chick-embryo. Penicillin inhibited multiplication of C. pyogenes but we have not been impressed with the therapeutic activity of penicillin in the chick-embryo, and its efficiency in preventing death of embryos inoculated with unfiltered sputum (Rose et al., 1945) may be due to the fact that these workers mixed the sputum with the penicillin before inoculation, thus allowing it to exert a direct bactericidal effect. (5) In common with some other workers we have found that the results obtained in the chick-embryo are rather less consistent than those obtained in the mouse, but certain types of tests can be carried out which cannot be performed in the mouse, and the chick-embryo is susceptible to a number of infections to which laboratory animals are resistant.
Young Consumers' Intention Towards Future Green Purchasing in Malaysia

Green marketing is all about marketing products that are considered environmentally safe. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of price, time, and eco-label, on the intention of future green products purchasing among young Malaysian. In this study 250 questionnaires were distributed. The data was analyzed using reliability test, normality, correlation analysis, and multiple regressions. The results of this study showed that price, and time have a significant relationship with young consumers’ intention to purchase green products, however, eco-label had no influence on consumers’ intention to purchase green products. This research brings a better understanding on young consumers’ intention towards future green purchasing in Malaysia.
Viewpoint – Export performance measurement: reflective versus formative indicators

While the conceptualization and operationalization of export performance has been receiving increased attention in the literature, practically all multi‐item measures of export performance available are based on reflective (effect) indicators. Explores an alternative measurement approach based on formative (causal) indicators and examines the implications of constructing an index rather than a scale of export performance. The aim is to assist researchers in choosing the appropriate measurement model for their needs when conducting substantive export performance studies.
Non-compete Agreements: Barriers to Entry … and Exit?*

This chapter describes recent research on postemployment covenants not to compete, as well as potential policy implications of such research. We propose that non-competes are an underappreciated lever for policy makers to wield in effecting entrepreneurial outcomes. We review theory and models as well as qualitative and quantitative evidence from ourselves and others, at three levels of analysis. First, how do non-competes impact individual careers? Second, why do firms adopt non-compete agreements, and how do they affect the behavior and performance of firms? Third, what do we know of the regional implications of non-competes for entrepreneurship, productivity, and other measures? We observe that non-competes are generally favorable for established firms though less so for firms that are young, small, or not yet established. These benefits to firms appear to be offset by costs to individual workers, who are often unaware of non-competes when they accept an employment offer and end up with reduced opportunities for employment or entrepreneurship going forward. At the regional level, evidence is thinner but points again to the tension between the interests of established firms and those that do not yet exist. Ultimately, policy makers’ decisions whether or not to enforce non-competes should be driven by the extent to which they want to optimize for the preservation of established firms versus individual career flexibility and the founding and growth of new start-ups.
Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting: A Longitudinal Study of Listed Banking Companies in Bangladesh

The aims of this study are to investigate the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting practices of the listed banking companies in Bangladesh and explore the potential effects of corporate governance and company specific characteristics on CSR disclosures. The study conducted a content analysis of all the listed banks operating from 2007 to 2011 and analyzed the factors affecting CSR reporting of the sample companies. The study found that engagements of banks in CSR activities is increasing from an average CSR disclosure index 59.02% in 2007 to 76.87% in 2011 and direct monetary expenditure increases more than 10 times in this period. The results showed that CSR disclosure is positively significant with firm size, board size, ownership structure, and independent non-executive director in the board, while it is negatively associated with firms' profitability and the age of the company. On the other hand, there is an insignificant relationship between CSR disclosure and board leadership structure. It also revealed that, to varying degrees, all listed banks' practices social responsibility in an unstructured manner and need to adopt a comprehensive format for CSR reporting such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), 2006.
Riboregulation in plant-associated α-proteobacteria

The symbiotic α-rhizobia Sinorhizobium meliloti, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Rhizobium etli and the related plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens are important model organisms for studying plant-microbe interactions. These metabolically versatile soil bacteria are characterized by complex lifestyles and large genomes. Here we summarize the recent knowledge on their small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) including conservation, function, and interaction of the sRNAs with the RNA chaperone Hfq. In each of these organisms, an inventory of hundreds of cis- and trans-encoded sRNAs with regulatory potential was uncovered by high-throughput approaches and used for the construction of 39 sRNA family models. Genome-wide analyses of hfq mutants and co-immunoprecipitation with tagged Hfq revealed a major impact of the RNA chaperone on the physiology of plant-associated α-proteobacteria including symbiosis and virulence. Highly conserved members of the SmelC411 family are the AbcR sRNAs, which predominantly regulate ABC transport systems. AbcR1 of A. tumefaciens controls the uptake of the plant-generated signaling molecule GABA and is a central regulator of nutrient uptake systems. It has similar functions in S. meliloti and the human pathogen Brucella abortus. As RNA degradation is an important process in RNA-based gene regulation, a short overview on ribonucleases in plant-associated α-proteobacteria concludes this review.
Adaptation and Fallibility in Experts’ Judgments of Novice Performers

Competition judges are often selected for their expertise, under the belief that a high level of performance expertise should enable accurate judgments of the competitors. Contrary to this assumption, we find evidence that expertise can reduce judgment accuracy. Adaptation level theory proposes that discriminatory capacity decreases with greater distance from one’s adaptation level. Because experts’ learning has produced an adaptation level close to ideal performance standards, they may be less able to discriminate among lower-level competitors. As a result, expertise increases judgment accuracy of high-level competitions but decreases judgment accuracy of low-level competitions. Additionally, we demonstrate that, consistent with an adaptation level theory account of expert judgment, experts systematically give more critical ratings than intermediates or novices. In summary, this work demonstrates a systematic change in human perception that occurs as task learning increases.
Building Trust in High-Performing Teams

Trust is difficult to define. Ring and van de Ven (1992; tinyurl.com/72bz27v) define trust as “confidence in another’s goodwill”. Trust is a commitment to cooperate before there is any certainty about how the trusted people will act (Coleman, 1990; tinyurl.com/7qkkg8d). Adler (2001; tinyurl.com/7npfxzm) distinguishes three sources of trust: i) a calculative form of trust via assessment of costs and benefits; ii) familiarity through continuing interaction; and iii) values and norms that cultivate trustworthy behaviour. Fukuyama (1996; tinyurl.com/7qd3fpl) describes trust as arising from expectations of honest and cooperative behaviour. Thus, trust is expressed in the behaviour towards others (Costa, 2003; tinyurl.com/7p9s5nd). Trust also can be seen as a flexibility that turns up in difFacilitation of growth is more about good, trustworthy contacts than capital. Trust is a driving force for business creation, and to create a global business you need to build a team that is capable of meeting the challenge. Trust is a key factor in team building and a needed enabler for cooperation. In general, trust building is a slow process, but it can be accelerated with open interaction and good communication skills. The fast-growing and ever-changing nature of global business sets demands for cooperation and team building, especially for startup companies. Trust building needs personal knowledge and regular face-to-face interaction, but it also requires empathy, respect, and genuine listening. Trust increases communication, and rich and open communication is essential for the building of high-performing teams. Other building materials are a shared vision, clear roles and responsibilities, willingness for cooperation, and supporting and encouraging leadership.
Infectivity of Prion Protein Bound to Stainless Steel Wires: A Model for Testing Decontamination Procedures for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

Abstract Objectives: To establish an animal model to study transmissible spongiform encephalopathy using hamsters and steel wires contaminated with infectious brain materials as transfer vehicles, and, based on this model, to test decontamination procedures against the infectious prion proteins on the steel wires as a near real situation bioassay. Design: Infectious brain materials were given to healthy hamsters intracerebrally either as a suspension or as dried materials on the surface of steel wires. The animals were observed for 18 months. During this period, animals showing definitive clinical signs were euthanized. Decontamination studies were performed by reprocessing contaminated steel wires with different disinfection agents and procedures before implantation. Results: Pathological prion proteins were able to bind to the steel wires and caused disease after the contaminated wires were implanted in the brains of hamsters. When the contaminated wires were treated with different reprocessing procedures before implantation, infectivity was reduced, which was manifested directly by prolonged survival time of the test animals. These results show that this model can be used as a bioassay to validate reprocessing procedures for surgical instruments. Conclusions: At the time of submission of this article, only the group of hamsters incubated with wires reprocessed with an alkaline detergent, followed by sterilization with a modified cycle in a hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilizer (4 injections), showed no clinical signs of disease and remained alive. Two animals from the group receiving sodium hydroxide followed by autoclaving (at 134° C for 18 minutes) died. Furthermore, the tested enzymatic cleaning agent seemed to have no positive effect.
Taking Private Equity Fees Apart

In this paper I build a simplified model of the remuneration structure of a private equity fund using option theory. This model is then used to analyze the relative importance of the fixed and variable fee parts. The model is complemented with a structural model to evaluate the financial choices of private equity fund managers. It turns out that the control over the financial structure is valuable to the fund manager, hence creating a conflict of interests. From the fund managers point of view the increased expected fee resulting from the independent control over the financial structure of the fund is at some point off-set by the increasing risk in the fund. This creates a static trade-off point for a one fund manager. For a fund manager with future fund projects, there is also a dynamic trade-off between current expected fee and the ability to raise future funds.
Mergers & acquisitions and the acquirer-target cultural differences

AbstractWe investigate the impacts of cultural environment on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the U.S. To measure the cultural environment of a firm, we use several variables of cultural dimension widely adopted in the literature, mainly the percentage of religious adherents and the percentage of Republican supporters in the county where the firm is headquartered. We compute alternative summary variables to proxy for the overall differences in cultural environment between firms. We find that the bigger cultural differences between two firms, the less likely that the firms will start an M&A negotiation. However, once an M&A negotiation has started, the cultural differences have a small positive impact on the negotiation success rate, a significantly positive impact on the immediate abnormal return of the target, and a small positive impact on the long-run abnormal return of the acquirer, but no negative impacts on other negotiation outcomes.
Lack of superiority of steroids plus plasma exchange to steroids alone in the treatment of polyarteritis nodosa and Churg-Strauss syndrome. A prospective, randomized trial in 78 patients.

OBJECTIVE To define the most effective treatment for polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). METHODS We conducted a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial in which 78 patients were randomly assigned to receive either prednisone and plasma exchange (group A; n = 36) or prednisone alone (group B; n = 42) as first-line treatment of PAN and CSS. Patients with hepatitis B virus-related PAN were not included in this study. The end point of the study was control of the disease (recovery and remission) or death. RESULTS Clinical symptoms and laboratory findings did not differ statistically in the 2 groups at study entry. Initial control of the disease was similar in both groups. The assigned treatment was stopped in 16 patients because of lack of efficacy. Oral cyclophosphamide or dapsone therapy reversed the disease evolution in 7 of these 10 group A patients and in 4 of these 6 group B patients. At 7 years of followup, 56 patients had completely recovered (27 in group A, 29 in group B), 7 patients were in clinical remission, and 15 patients had died (19.2%; 6 group A patients and 9 group B patients). The prednisone-plasma exchange combination was no more beneficial than corticosteroids alone in preventing relapses over the long term. There was no significant difference in the 7-year cumulative survival rates of the two groups (83% and 79%, respectively). CONCLUSION Based on our data, we conclude that combined treatment with prednisone and plasma exchange is not superior to treatment with prednisone alone and must not be systematically employed for initial treatment of PAN and CSS. In most cases, cyclophosphamide as second-line treatment is effective and well tolerated.
How Do Firm Characteristics Affect Capital Structure? Some UK Evidence

This study aims to determine the influence of various firm level characteristics such as, profitability, size, growth opportunities, asset tangibility, non-debt tax shield, volatility and liquidity on capital structure. Employing the cross-sectional data methodology, the researcher examines the capital structure determinants of 202 companies from FTSE 250 for the time period of 2002 – 2009. Seven variables multiple regression models are used to estimate the influence of firm level attributes on capital structure and capital structure is measured simultaneously by the ratios of total debt, long-term debt and short-term debt at both book value and market value of equity. The results obtained from four different regression models show that profitability and liquidity are negatively and significantly related to leverage. Also asset tangibility has a positive relationship with leverage, which is significant. Moreover the researcher finds that total debt ratio at market value of equity is the most important dependent variable as a proxy of capital structure, followed by long-term debt ratio at market value of equity.
Market Neutral Diversification for Individual European Investors: A Risk-Return Improving Strategy Under the Sand and an Appealing Niche for the ETF Industry

This paper aims to empirically verify whether an individual European investor can enhance the diversification of his/her portfolio of financial assets by implementing an equity market neutral strategy. The analysis takes into consideration a typical European investor who has roughly diversified her financial investments and assumes that investors are risk-averse and have preferences characterized by a mean-variance model. We concluded that adding an equity market neutral can significantly improve the long term risk-return profile of a conventional asset allocation. The diversification benefits are realizable even with a little exposition to the market neutral and are more consistent for an investor who is allowed to go short. Investors who are willing to bear high levels of risk better appreciate the low correlation/ low standard deviation features of the equity market neutral. We also discuss how an individual investor who cannot afford a hedge fund can actually implement an equity market neutral strategy and point out that the appealing features of the equity market neutral open an interesting niche in the European exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry.
The Effects of Context on Processing Words During Sentence Reading Among Adults Varying in Age and Literacy Skill

The facilitation of word processing by sentence context reflects the interaction between the build-up of message-level semantics and lexical processing. Yet, little is known about how this effect varies through adulthood as a function of reading skill. In this study, Participants 18–64 years old with a range of literacy competence read simple sentences as their eye movements were monitored. We manipulated the predictability of a sentence-final target word, operationalized as cloze probability. First fixation durations showed an interaction between age and literacy skill, decreasing with age among more skilled readers but increasing among less skilled readers. This pattern suggests that age-related slowing may impact reading when not buffered by skill, but with continued practice, automatization of reading can continue to develop in adulthood. In absolute terms, readers were sensitive to predictability, regardless of age or literacy, in both early and later measures. Older readers showed differential contextual sensitivity in regression patterns, effects not moderated by literacy skill. Finally, comprehension performance increased with age and literacy skill, but performance among less skilled readers was especially reduced when predictability was low, suggesting that low-literacy adults (regardless of age) struggle when creating mental representations under weaker semantic constraints. Collectively, these findings suggest that aging readers (regardless of reading skill) are more sensitive to context for meaning-integration processes; that less skilled adult readers (regardless of age) depend more on a constrained semantic representation for comprehension; and that the capacity for literacy engagement enables continued development of efficient lexical processing in adult reading development.
Population data for the twelve Y-chromosome short tandem repeat loci from the sample of multinational population in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

POPULATION: We have analyzed the distribution of allele frequencies at 12 Y-chromosornal short tandem repeats loci (DYS 19, DYS385a, DYS385b. DYS389I. DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438 and DYS439) in the representative sample of Bosnian and Herzegovinians. A total of 100 unrelated male individuals (Caucasians) from different regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been sampled for the analysis. Samples were collected with a respect to the approximate proportional participation of three main ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina [Bosniacs-Muslim (35). Serbs (31), Croats (34)].