Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Novel GLP-1–Gastrin Dual Agonist ZP3022 Improves Glucose Homeostasis and Increases β-Cell Mass without Affecting Islet Number in db/db Mice

Antidiabetic treatments aiming to preserve or even to increase β-cell mass are currently gaining increased interest. Here we investigated the effect of chronic treatment with the novel glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)–gastrin dual agonist ZP3022 (HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKN-8Ado-8Ado-YGWLDF-NH2) on glycemic control, β-cell mass and proliferation, and islet number. Male db/db mice were treated with ZP3022, liraglutide, or vehicle for 2, 4, or 8 weeks, with terminal assessment of hemoglobin A1c, basal blood glucose, and plasma insulin concentrations. Pancreata were removed for immunohistochemical staining and stereological quantification of β-cell mass, islet numbers, proliferation, and apoptosis. Treatment with ZP3022 or liraglutide led to a significant improvement in glycemic control. ZP3022 treatment resulted in a sustained increase in β-cell mass after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, whereas the effect of liraglutide was transient. The expansion in β-cell mass observed in the ZP3022-treated mice appeared to be driven by increased β-cell proliferation in existing islets rather than by formation of new islets, as mean islet mass increased but the number of islets remained constant. Our data demonstrate that the GLP-1–gastrin dual agonist ZP3022 causes a sustained improvement in glycemic control accompanied by an increase in β-cell mass, increased proliferation, and increased mean islet mass. The results highlight that the GLP-1–gastrin dual agonist increases β-cell mass more than liraglutide and that dual agonists could potentially be developed into a new class of antidiabetic treatments.
Marketing Strategies for Foreign Expansion of Companies Originating in Small and Open Economies: The Consequences of Strategic Fit and Performance

This study examines the marketing strategies of companies originating in small and open economies as they expand into foreign markets. It distinguishes two major globalization paths (that of born globals and that of globalizing internationals), contrasts them with traditional internationalizers, and describes their characteristics. It then outlines a framework and hypotheses regarding the marketing strategies used in foreign expansion and examines them empirically in the information and communication technology field. The authors examine two important strategic marketing issues: the breadth of product offering and the standardization of marketing strategies across countries. The empirical results show that foreign expansion path, foreign business experience, and external globalization pressure have an impact on the selection of marketing strategies. The study also finds that the fit between these contextual factors and the standardization of marketing strategy has a positive effect on performance. The novel results regarding the importance of foreign expansion paths in the selection of marketing strategies have important implications for both academicians and practitioners in the field of international marketing.
Short-Run Arbitrage in Crisis Markets – Experimental Evidence

The field experimental approach was utilized to collect expectations-arbitrage portfolios from competent investors in late 2008 where stock prices shrunk by 50%. Positions were closed after three months and the four-factor model was applied to characterize strategies and derive risk-adjusted returns. In line with classic judgment literature findings (Lichtenstein et al., 1982), performance significantly improves with prior self-confidence, although the participants exhibit typical patterns of overconfidence. The time-series estimations reveal that the experimental arbitrageurs generally benefited from "leveraging the crisis", but the highly confident delivered positive alpha beyond loading on common premia. The experimental results are discussed in light of the literature on expertise and stock selection in crisis markets.
Percutaneous Autologous Bone Marrow Injection in the Treatment of Distal Meta-diaphyseal Tibial Nonunions and Delayed Unions

Objective: To report the outcomes of percutaneous autologous bone marrow injection for nonunion or delayed union of the distal tibial metaphysis in patients with prior plating. Design: Consecutive case series. Setting: Tertiary center. Patients: Eleven consecutive patients (aged 24–51 years) were referred to us with a nonunion or delayed union of the distal tibial metaphysis after open reduction and internal fixation (plates and screws) at the time of fracture. The average time from initial injury to nonunion or delayed union and bone marrow treatment was 8 months (range, 3–20 months). Intervention: A total of 40–80 mL of bone marrow aspirated from the posterior iliac crest and injected in and around the nonunion or delayed union site under fluoroscopic guidance. Measurements: Healing at the injury site was evaluated using clinical and radiographic criteria, including computed tomography. Measures included American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Lower Limb Core Scale (LLCS), Brief Pain Inventory, and Short Form 12 Physical Component Summary. Results: Nine of the 11 patients attained bony union within 6 months of bone marrow injection. Six of these 9 patients who were followed-up an average of 4.4 years (range, 1.3–8.2 years) after the injection reported significant (P < 0.05) improvements in Lower Limb Core Scale (59.9–89.7), pain intensity (2.9–1.7), pain interference (4.6–2.3), and Short Form 12 Physical Component Summary (29.5–46.6) and 5.6 years improvement in quality-adjusted life years. Conclusions: Percutaneous autologous bone marrow injection is a minimally invasive, safe, and inexpensive treatment option for distal metaphyseal tibial nonunions or delayed unions after internal fixation and should be considered when the retained hardware seems to be intact and stable. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
An Island Biogeographical Approach to Island Tourism and Biodiversity: An Exploratory Study of the Caribbean and Pacific Islands

Islands are especially susceptible to the loss of indigenous species following anthropogenic change. Although tourism has long been cited as a justification for conserving biodiversity via the establishment of national parks and reserves, it also contributes to biodiversity loss as a result of direct habitat change and human activities, as well as more indirectly via the introduction of exotic species and environmental change. An island biogeographical approach is used to provide an exploratory analysis of tourism and biodiversity relationships in the Caribbean and Pacific Islands. Data suggest that the islands are under heavy anthropogenic pressure, of which tourism is just one element, although for some countries tourism represents a substantial real increase in the size of the human population. Few of the countries examined have anywhere near the recommended percentage of area protected, with marine ecosystems being least conserved. The study concludes that there are significant data gaps for examining tourism and biodiversity relations at the national level, but suggests that island biogeographical approaches may yield significant insights into the pressures of tourism on biodiversity at smaller scales if adequate data can be gained.
Release of endothelin from the porcine heart after short term coronary artery occlusion.

OBJECTIVE Endothelin is increased in plasma following myocardial infarction. Whether brief periods of myocardial ischaemia not leading to myocardial infarction increase plasma endothelin is not known. Thus, the present study was designed to examine cardiac endothelin balance in association with a 10 min coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. METHODS Venous blood was selectively sampled from the transiently ischaemic myocardium using a shunt between the anterior interventricular vein and the right atrium in eight pentobarbitone anaesthetised pigs. Flow in the shunt was measured with a Doppler flow probe. Arterial blood was drawn from the aortic arch. Plasma endothelin was measured using an Endothelin 1-21 specific [125I] assay system. This assay system has no cross reactivity with big endothlin. RESULTS A net cardiac endothelin uptake of 0.7(0.3-1.4) fmol.min-1 x g-1 (median, 95% confidence interval) in the control period shifted to a net release during the first 10 min of reperfusion. The release reached a maximum of 2.8(0.4-6.0) fmol.min-1 x g-1 after 1.5 min of reperfusion. Cardiac venous endothelin concentration increased from 3.4(2.5-4.8) to 4.4(3.6-6.9) and 4.4(3.6-6.6) fmol.ml-1 at 1.5 and 5 min of reperfusion, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). Arterial endothelin concentration decreased from 4.8(3.9-6.1) to 2.7(2.4-4.3) fmol.ml-1 at 10 min of reperfusion (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Endothelin is released from the heart for several minutes during reperfusion following a brief coronary artery occlusion.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Induced Neurotoxicity: Roles for the NMDA Receptor Subtypes

Neuronal damage in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in the brain is thought to occur at least in part through NMDA receptor (NMDAR) excitation initiated by soluble neurotoxins from HIV-infected brain macrophages. Furthermore, brain regions enriched in NMDAR-2A (NR2A) and NMDAR-2B (NR2B) subunits, such as the hippocampus, are particularly vulnerable. Using cultured rat hippocampal cells and HIV-1-infected human monocyte-derived macrophages (HIV/MDM), we examined the role of NR2A and NR2B in HIV/MDM-induced hippocampal neuronal death. We used the primary HIV-1 strain Jago derived from the CSF of an individual with HIV-associated dementia and that robustly replicates in MDM. We found the following: (1) hippocampal neuronal susceptibility to HIV/MDM excitotoxins varies according to the developmental expression patterns of NR2A and NR2B; (2) NMDAR activation by HIV/MDM results in neuronal calpain activation, which results in neuronal death; and (3) selective antagonists of homomeric NR2B/NR2B- and heteromeric NR2A/NR2B-containing NMDARs, as well as an inhibitor of calpain activity, afford neuroprotection against HIV/MDM. These studies establish a clear link between macrophage HIV infection, neuronal NR2A and NR2B activation, and calpain-mediated hippocampal neuronal death. They further suggest a dominant role for NR2A and NR2B in determining neuronal susceptibility in HIV-infected brain. Antagonists of NR2A and NR2B subunits as well as inhibitors of calpain activation offer attractive neuroprotective approaches against HIV in both developing and mature brain.
T2 hyperintensities in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and their relationship to cognitive functioning

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a single gene disorder associated with a high frequency of cognitive deficits and a complex cognitive phenotype. These cognitive deficits have been associated with focal areas of high signal intensity on T2 weighted MRI images but the relationship remains controversial. Method: A cohort of 76 children with NF1 and 45 unaffected sibling controls (aged 8–16 years) underwent extensive neuropsychological assessment, with the NF1 children having MRI examinations. Results: The presence or number of T2 hyperintensities (T2H) was not associated with cognitive dysfunction. However, the location of discrete (well circumscribed) T2H in the thalamus was associated with severe and generalised cognitive impairment. More diffuse lesions in the thalamus were also associated with reductions in IQ but the effects were less marked compared with the discrete lesions. Comparing children with NF1 to their unaffected siblings revealed more subtle effects of the lesions on cognitive ability. Conclusions: T2H cannot be used in general as a radiological marker for cognitive deficits in children with NF1; however, lesions in the thalamus are strongly associated with cognitive impairment. It is possible that lesions in the thalamus in conjunction with more general thalamic hypometabolism may compound the level of thalamic dysfunction, resulting in cognitive deficits well beyond those produced by T2H in other regions.
Spatial Dependence in Entrepreneurship Research

Measures used in entrepreneurship research are often subject to spatial dependence. Spatial dependence renders ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation inappropriate because the estimates will be biased, inconsistent, and/or inefficient. The aims of this article are (a) to demonstrate how spatial dependence is especially problematic for entrepreneurship research and (b) to arm researchers with spatial modeling techniques that are more appropriate for such analysis. As such, not only will this article illustrate how to incorporate spatial dependence explicitly into the linear regression model, it also discusses how these techniques make it possible to explore and locate areas with particularly high levels of spatial dependence (i.e., hot spots). These techniques, although new to the management literature, are well known in both the regional science and geography literatures and are rapidly diffusing to economics, sociology, and related social sciences.
The Effects of Cross‐Sectional Scale Differences on Regression Results in Empirical Accounting Research*

This study investigates coefficient bias and heteroscedasticity resulting from scale differences in accounting levels-based research designs analytically and using simulations based on accounting data. Findings indicate that including a scale proxy as an independent variable is more effective than deflation at mitigating coefficient bias, even if the proxy is 95 percent correlated with the true scale factor. In fact, deflation can worsen coefficient bias. Also, deflation often does not noticeably reduce heteroscedasticity and can decrease estimation efficiency. White (1980) standard errors are close to the true ones in regressions using undeflated variables. Replications of specifications in three recent accounting studies confirm the simulation findings. The findings suggest that when scale differences are of concern, accounting researchers should include a scale proxy as an independent variable and report inferences based on White standard errors.
Attracting and Retaining Globally Mobile Skilled Migrants: Policy Challenges based on Australian Research

For people with managerial, professional or technical skills and work experience, the job market is global, if they so choose. Their skills and work experience are sought after in a number of countries and they have a choice of where they would prefer to work. This article1 examines globally mobile skilled migrants' reasons for migration and return migration, as indicated in Australian research, and the policy challenges some of these reasons may pose for source and destination countries that want to retain or attract these people. This is because while some reasons or factors motivating the migration or return migration of skilled workers can be influenced by government policy, others such as lifestyle or quality of life factors may pose more difficulties for policy influence.
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM - A BENCHMARKING STUDY APPLIED TO HOSPITALITY FIRMS

In an era of economic growth, achieving sustainable development is undoubtedly a challenge. Meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability to respond to those of future generations may seem more a dream than a real possibility. New choices and innovative new ways of thinking and acting are needed to encourage sustainable development. This study aims to demonstrate and understand the importance of sustainability in Portugal through a benchmarking study applied to the Tivoli, Vila Gale and Pestana groups. The overall objective consists of the following specific sub-objectives: 1) to present the guidelines and conceptual approaches on issues of sustainability in tourism; 2) to find out about different approaches to sustainable practices in the hospitality industry through case studies; 3) to analyze possible gains resulting from the implementation of sustainable practices. Case study methodology was used for the empirical research. A questionnaire was directly applied to key respondents (hotel managers, general managers, operational managers and quality managers). Analysis of the empirical results corroborated the hypotheses tested and confirmed that there were several kinds of sustainable practices in leading Portuguese hotel groups, such as the less important sustainable practices that require higher investment costs and the priority of sustainable practices that allow cost reduction. The discussion of the theoretical approach and empirical results also disclosed important aspects that highlight the relevance of sustainable practices.
The value of commuting time in an empirical on-the-job search model – an application based on moments from two samples

This article estimates the Value of Commuting Time (VOCT) among Swedish males in an empirical on-the-job search model. It uses a large sample of employee-establishment linked data obtained from administrative registers. The sample lacks information on mode choice for the journey to work. We therefore estimate a mode choice model on another sample and use this model to link the administrative data to the relevant set of travel times, costs and distances. The VOCT is found to be 1.8 times the net hourly wage rate in the sample. The relatively high estimate results from a high VOCT among cohabiting men.
Theoretical and empirical foundations of HIPC debt sustainability targets

This article traces the origins of HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Country) debt sustainability targets. These targets are interpreted as ‘switching values’, below which countries are expected to avoid debt service problems but, as such, they do not take into account that countries encounter debt problems for a variety of reasons and at different levels of debt. It is likely that the ‘true’ switching value of the debt-to-export ratio of many HIPCs lie below the present target. Regarding the ‘fiscal window’ of the HIPC initiative, the lack of analytical basis for a 250 per cent target for the debt-torevenue ratio is noted, and the problems raised by the joint ‘openness-revenue’ condition are discussed. The article concludes that the sustainability targets, as presently applied, are not well supported in analytical terms.
The Impact of Trade Liberalization on the Trade Balance in Developing Countries

Using two recently constructed measures of trade liberalization dates, this research studies the impact of trade liberalization on imports, exports, and overall trade balance for a large sample of developing countries. We find strong and consistent evidence that trade liberalization leads to higher imports and exports. However, in contrast Santos-Paulino and Thirwall (2004) who find a robustly negative impact of trade liberalization on the overall trade balance, we only find mixed evidence of such a negative impact. In particular, we find little evidence of a statistically significant negative impact using our first measure of liberalization dates which extends Li (2004). Using a second measure of liberalization dates compiled by Wacziarg and Welch (2003), we find some evidence that liberalization worsens the trade balance, but the evidence is not robust across different estimation specifications, and the estimated impact is smaller than that reported by Santos-Paulino and Thirwall (2004).
De Novo Kidney Transplantation Without Use of Calcineurin Inhibitors Preserves Renal Structure and Function at Two Years

We performed a randomized prospective trial comparing calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)‐free to CNI‐based immunosuppression to determine the impact on renal function, structure and gene expression. Sixty‐one kidney recipients treated with basiliximab mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and prednisone (P) were randomly assigned to concentration‐controlled sirolimus or cyclosporine. Two years post‐transplant 55 patients underwent renal function studies, 48 (87%) underwent transplant biopsies; all classified by Banff scoring and 41 by DNA microarrays. Comparing sirolimus/MMF/P to cyclosporine/MMF/P there was a significantly lower serum creatinine (1.35 vs. 1.81 mg/dL; p = 0.008), higher Cockroft‐Gault glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (80.4 vs. 63.4 mL/min; p = 0.008), iothalamate GFR (60.6 vs. 49.2 mL/min; p = 0.018) and Banff 0 (normal) biopsies (66.6 vs. 20.8%; p = 0.013). Regression analysis of calculated GFRs from 1 to 36 months yielded a positive slope for sirolimus of 3.36 mL/min/year, and a negative slope for cyclosporine of −1.58 mL/min/year (p = 0.008). Gene expression profiles from kidneys with higher Banff chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) scores confirmed significant up‐regulation of genes responsible for immune/inflammation and fibrosis/tissue remodeling. At 2 years the sirolimus‐treated recipients have better renal function, a diminished prevalence of CAN and down‐regulated expression of genes responsible for progression of CAN. All may provide for an alternative natural history with improved graft survival.
Interventions for mitigating indoor‐air pollution in Nigeria: a cost‐benefit analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the costs and benefits of interventions to reduce indoor‐air pollution arising from the use of solid biomass fuels for cooking and heating in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approach – The authors use cost‐benefit analysis and assess two intervention scenarios: providing access to improved stoves; and providing access to cleaner fuels (liquefied petroleum gas – LPG – burners). Both intervention scenarios are compared with the current situation, i.e. the “business as usual” scenario where there is no attempt to reduce the present level of exposure to indoor‐air pollution from solid fuel use.Findings – The result shows that the cost‐benefit ratio of the stove intervention is 0.388 while that of LPG is 0.371. Practical implications – While providing access to cleaner fuels (LPG) has a larger health impact on the population than improved stoves, the low income level of the participants will favor the stove option because of the lower recurrent cost which is usually.
Revolution and evolution: 30 years of ileoanal pouch surgery

&NA; Ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the standard of care for the 25% of patients with ulcerative colitis who ultimately require colectomy. IPAA is favored by patients because it avoids the necessity for a long‐term stoma. This review examines how 3 decades of experience with IPAA has molded current practice, highlighting 5‐ and 10‐year follow‐up of large series to determine durability and functional performance, in addition to causes of failure and the management of complications.
Intellectual Capital Disclosure in Canadian Corporations

There has been increased attention and focus on the importance of intellectual capital disclosure. Several Scandinavian companies have ventured forward by publishing intellectual capital statements. However, despite the global appeal and changing beliefs surrounding the value of intellectual capital, it continues to be excluded from Canadian corporate annual reports. This paper outlines a study in which content analysis was conducted on the annual reports of 10,000 Canadian corporations. A list of intellectual capital related terms was searched within the annual reports yielding a significantly small number of instances in which intellectual capital disclosure took place. A major recommendation for corporations who are concerned with their relationship with the capital markets is to develop strategic and tactical initiatives that provide for voluntary disclosure of intellectual capital. These initiatives may initially be used for internal management purposes only, however, an external stakeholder‐focus report will more than likely should be the ultimate goal.