Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Board characteristics and the level of compliance with IAS 1 in Bahrain

This paper aims to investigate the association between board characteristics and the level of compliance by Bahraini listed firms with International Accounting Standards (IAS 1). A disclosure index is used to measure the extent of compliance with IAS 1. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess the association of board characteristics with the extent of compliance with mandatory IAS 1 disclosure requirements. The findings indicate that there is a significant and negative relationship between CEO non-duality, board size, ownership of top stockholders, and the level of compliance with IAS 1 disclosure. The results of the analysis provided in this research should be particularly relevant to regulatory bodies and standard setters. This study might also help when formulating forward-looking disclosure strategies by managing the composition and characteristics of the board of directors. Additionally, the study contributes to financial reporting literature relating to the GCC countries, mainly Bahrain.
CD109 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

CD109 is a cell surface protein, a member of the α2 macroglobulin/C3,C4,C5 family of thioester‐containing proteins. The authors have recently reported that high expression of the CD109 gene was detected in approximately half of the examined lung and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas as well as in the testis, and that CD109 has the characteristics of a cancer–testis antigen. In the present study CD109 expression in cervical squamous cell carcinoma was compared with that in endometrial adenocarcinoma by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The result demonstrated that CD109 expression is significantly higher in cervical squamous cell carcinomas than in endometrial adenocarcinomas and normal cervix and endometrium. In contrast, when expression of RET finger protein (RFP) and bromodomain testis‐specific (BRDT) genes, which are also known to be highly expressed in the testis, was examined, no significant difference in their expression levels was observed between squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. These findings suggest that CD109 may become a molecular target for the development of new therapeutics for squamous cell carcinoma of various tissue origins.
Structures of the promoter and operator of the glpD gene encoding aerobic sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli K-12

The nucleotide sequence of a 690-base-pair DNA segment containing the control region for the glpD gene encoding aerobic sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was determined. An ATG translation initiation codon with an adjacent ribosome-binding site was found which preceded an open reading frame continuing 61 codons to the end of the DNA that was sequenced. The start site for transcription, identified by using primer extension analysis, was located 42 base pairs upstream from the proposed Met start codon. The transcription start site was preceded by a region containing typical -10 and -35 sequences found in bacterial promoters. A binding site for the cyclic AMP-cyclic AMP receptor protein complex (identified by comparison with the consensus-binding sequence and verified by using DNase I footprinting) was located just upstream from the -35 sequence, centered at position -63. The interaction site for the glp repressor was identified by using DNase I footprinting. It consisted of a 49-base-pair region which started at the -10 sequence and continued to position +38. This region contained two directly repeated sequences, each possessing hyphenated dyad symmetry, which suggests that the operator is tandemly repeated. The presence of two adjacent operators may explain why expression of the glpD gene is the most sensitive to repressor when compared with expression of the other operons that are members of the glp regulon.
Performance evaluation of direct saline stool microscopy, Formol ether concentration and Kato Katz diagnostic methods for intestinal parasitosis in the absence of gold standard methods

Background The parasite load within the sample and the amount of sample taken during examination greatly compromise the sensitivity of direct saline stool microscopy. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2011 in Bahir Dar city among 778 fresh single stool samples to evaluate the performance of direct saline (DS), Kato Katz (KK) and Formol ether concentration (FEC) methods against the ‘Gold’ standard. Result Among 778 stool samples from school age children, the highest prevalence of intestinal parasites was recorded by FEC (55.1%). The sensitivity of DS, FEC and KK were 61.1%, 92.3% and 58.7%, respectively. Conclusion FEC is more sensitive than DS and KK. Hence, use of the latter is preferred.
Ndrg1-Deficient Mice Exhibit a Progressive Demyelinating Disorder of Peripheral Nerves

ABSTRACT NDRG1 is an intracellular protein that is induced under a number of stress and pathological conditions, and it is thought to be associated with cell growth and differentiation. Recently, human NDRG1 was identified as a gene responsible for hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy-Lom (classified as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4D), which is characterized by early-onset peripheral neuropathy, leading to severe disability in adulthood. In this study, we generated mice lacking Ndrg1 to analyze its function and elucidate the pathogenesis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4D. Histological analysis showed that the sciatic nerve of Ndrg1-deficient mice degenerated with demyelination at about 5 weeks of age. However, myelination of Schwann cells in the sciatic nerve was normal for 2 weeks after birth. Ndrg1-deficient mice showed muscle weakness, especially in the hind limbs, but complicated motor skills were retained. In wild-type mice, NDRG1 was abundantly expressed in the cytoplasm of Schwann cells rather than the myelin sheath. These results indicate that NDRG1 deficiency leads to Schwann cell dysfunction, suggesting that NDRG1 is essential for maintenance of the myelin sheaths in peripheral nerves. These mice will be used for future analyses of the mechanisms of myelin maintenance.
Economic Growth in East Asia Before and after the Financial Crisis

In 1997-98, five east Asian countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand -- experienced sharp currency and banking crises. The contraction of real GDP was severe in relation to the previous history and in comparison with five east Asian countries that were less affected by the financial crisis. Recoveries in the five crisis countries in 1999-2000 were strong in most cases, but it is unclear whether the pre-crisis growth paths will be reattained. Indications for permanently depressed prospects come from the sharp reductions in investment ratios, which have recovered only slightly, and the lowered stock-market prices. A panel analysis for a broad group of economies shows that a combined currency and banking crisis typically reduces economic growth over a five-year period by 2% per year, compared with 3% per year for the 1997-98 crisis in east Asia. The broader analysis found no evidence that financial crises had effects on growth that persisted beyond a five-year period.
Therapeutic use of the natriuretic peptide ularitide in acute renal failure.

BACKGROUND Ularitide is a member of the natriuretic peptide family. This hormone exhibits an N-terminal extension by four amino acids compared with atrial natriuretic peptide. Ularitide was shown to exert strong diuretic and natriuretic effects when infused intravenously. Its main action sites are the glomerulum, inducing preglomerular vasodilation and postglomerular vasoconstriction and thereby elevating the glomerular filtration rate, and the tubular system inhibiting Na(+)-reabsorption. In initial uncontrolled clinical trials, this peptide was shown to have beneficial effects in patients suffering from oliguric acute renal failure. METHODS We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, dose-finding trial recruiting 176 patients randomized into 4 different Ularitide doses groups (U5, U20, U40, and U80 ng/kg/min) and a placebo group (U0). Ularitide/placebo infusion was performed for 5 days with half the originally infused dose on day 5. The primary objective of the study was to test various doses of Ularitide in patients suffering from oliguric acute renal failure to avoid mechanical renal replacement therapy during the first 12 hours. FINDINGS The results indicate that Ularitide does not reduce the incidence of mechanical renal replacement therapy compared with placebo-treated patients during the first 12 h of treatment (U0: 36 (20), U5: 35 (11), U20: 36 (9), U40: 28 (8), U80: 41 (12), (% (n) (p = 0.87)). Diuresis increased in the Ularitide-treated groups and the placebo group after onset of infusion and did not show any significant difference in the first 12 h collection period (U0: 576, U5: 514, U20: 500, U40: 360, U80: 158 ML/12h (Median), (p = 0.16)). INTERPRETATION In summary, the incidence of mechanical renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients suffering from oliguric acute renal failure could not be altered positively by Ularitide administration according to our protocol. Further prospective clinical trials are needed to answer the question whether a different patient collective or a prophylactic administration of Ularitide are more promising approaches in the clinical setting of oliguric acute renal failure.
The Diffusion of Social Media Among State Governments in Mexico

Most﻿of﻿the﻿research﻿about﻿how﻿state﻿governments﻿use﻿social﻿media﻿focuses﻿on﻿services,﻿comparative﻿ perspectives﻿or﻿assessment﻿of﻿e-governments. ﻿The﻿authors’﻿focus﻿is﻿on﻿the﻿adoption﻿of﻿social﻿media﻿ by﻿state﻿governments﻿in﻿Mexico. ﻿Many﻿state﻿governments﻿may﻿be﻿slow﻿to﻿adopt﻿social﻿media﻿due﻿ to﻿a﻿lack﻿guidance﻿on﻿where﻿their﻿efforts﻿may﻿lead. ﻿The﻿purpose﻿of﻿this﻿research﻿is﻿to﻿provide﻿some﻿ insight﻿into﻿the﻿factors﻿affecting﻿adoption﻿of﻿social﻿media﻿by﻿state﻿governments﻿in﻿Mexico. ﻿Guided﻿ by﻿diffusion﻿of﻿innovation﻿theory,﻿the﻿authors﻿analyzed﻿data﻿from﻿Twitter﻿and﻿Facebook﻿accounts﻿of﻿ all﻿32﻿Mexican﻿state﻿governments﻿from﻿2010﻿to﻿2015. ﻿According﻿to﻿diffusion﻿theory,﻿the﻿results﻿find﻿ that﻿only﻿one﻿state﻿government﻿in﻿the﻿sample﻿is﻿classified﻿as﻿an﻿innovator,﻿four﻿state﻿governments﻿are﻿ early﻿adopters,﻿eleven﻿are﻿early﻿majority,﻿eleven﻿are﻿late﻿majority,﻿and﻿five﻿are﻿laggards. ﻿The﻿use﻿of﻿ social﻿media﻿by﻿state﻿governments﻿in﻿Mexico﻿is﻿in﻿its﻿infancy,﻿and﻿there﻿is﻿a﻿significant﻿difference﻿in﻿ the﻿use﻿of﻿social﻿media﻿among﻿the﻿different﻿states. KeywoRDS Diffusion of Innovation Theory, E-Government, Facebook, State Governments, Social Media, Twitter
Broadband Dual-Polarized Dual-Dipole Planar Antennas: Analysis, Design, and Application for Base Stations

In this article, we propose a compact &#x000B1;45&#x000B0; dual-polarized dual-dipole (DPDD) antenna for second-, third-, and fourth-generation (2G/3G/4G) long-term evolution (LTE) base stations. The DPDD antenna consists of two perpendicularly crossed dual-dipole elements. Each dual-dipole element is directly fed by a coaxial cable. Two dual-dipole elements are printed on the same substrate, making the DPDD antenna planar and compact. Due to the coupling between two crossed dual-dipole elements, the DPDD antenna can achieve a broad bandwidth of 51% for a return loss greater than 15 dB (1.61-2.71 GHz) with a high isolation of 30 dB. The dual-polarized antenna has a gain of 9 dBi and a halfpower beamwidth (HPBW) of 65 &#x000B1; 5&#x000B0; for &#x000B1;45&#x000B0; polarization with a flat metallic reflector. For applications in LTE700/GSM850/900 base stations, a new artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) surface is introduced to replace the metallic reflector. It is shown that the antenna height can be significantly lowered from 105 mm (0.29&#x003BB;<sub>0.83</sub>, where &#x003BB;<sub>0.83</sub> is the freespace wavelength at the frequency of 0.83 GHz) for a metallic reflector to 31.52 mm (0.087&#x003BB;<sub>0.83</sub>) for an AMC surface while a broad bandwidth of 52% (0.68-1.16 GHz) is still achieved. The broadband &#x000B1;45&#x000B0; DPDD antenna is described in the "Broadband &#x000B1;45&#x000B0; DPDD Antenna" section, and the &#x000B1;45&#x000B0; DPDD antenna with an AMC surface is demonstrated in the "DPDD Antenna with an AMC Surface" section.
Anticoagulation intensity sufficient for haemodialysis does not prevent activation of coagulation and platelets.

BACKGROUND A single bolus of dalteparin at the start of haemodialysis (HD) may prevent clot formation, but subclinical activation of platelets and coagulation may still occur. Consequently, the relationship between clinical clotting events and activation markers of platelets and coagulation before and during HD is of interest. METHODS The effect of tapered doses of dalteparin during 84 HD sessions (4-4.5 h) was prospectively examined in 12 patients. Six of the patients were treated with warfarin. The initial dalteparin dose was reduced to 50% if no clotting was observed. Clinical clotting was evaluated by inspection of the air trap every hour and by inspection of the dialyser after each session. Anti-FXa activity was measured for assessment of dalteparin activity. Markers of activated plasma coagulation, (thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) and prothrombin fragment 1+2 (PF1+2)) and a marker of platelet activation (beta-thromboglobulin, beta-TG), were measured before the start of and after 3 and 4 h of dialysis. Ten pre-dialytic patients with chronic renal failure served as a control group. A total of 230 measurements of each parameter were performed. RESULTS An anti-FXa activity above 0.4 IU/ml at the end of HD inhibits overt clot formation for 4 h. This was obtained by an intravenous dalteparin dose of about 5000 IU. TAT and PF1+2 correlated to clinical clotting episodes (r=0.50 and 0.47, P<0.001). beta-TG was not significantly correlated to clinical clotting. All parameters increased during the sessions (TAT, PF1+2, beta-TG, P<0.001). When measurements during clinical clotting episodes were disregarded, all parameters were still markedly increased. Warfarin-treated patients had lower TAT and PF1+2. Dialysis patients had higher beta-TG values than pre-dialytic patients. CONCLUSION Despite clinically effective anticoagulation, obtained by dalteparin administration, platelets and coagulation are activated by HD, resulting in a potentially thrombophilic state. Warfarin treatment reduces clinical clot formation and subclinical activation of coagulation.
CORNEAL DIAMETER IN GREENLAND ESKIMOS

In a population survey the corneal diameter (CD) was measured in 1,211 adult Greenland Eskimos from six districts. Using a Wessely keratometer, transversal and vertical readings were performed, and the CD value taken as the average. The unimodal distributions obtained were found to differ from normality.
The Discovery of Competence: Teaching and Learning with Diverse Student Writers

"The Discovery of Competence" shows how the writing classroom can be reconceived as an environment for collaborative inquiry by students and teachers. It presents new ways of thinking about program design, redefines the nature of writing assessment, and offers alternative conceptions of multicultural curriculums. Drawing on students' writing and research, it suggests how teachers can recognize their students' competence and help them build on it systematically. While the book speaks to all teachers of writing, it will be of considerable interest to those who work with diverse student populations, including ESL students. The authors make it clear that the writing classroom is a place where both students and their teachers may build on their competence and realize their possibilities as writers and learners.
Sex and relationships : the role of learning disability support staff

Sex and relationships with regards to people with learning disabilities is an important area of research for two overarching reasons; the promotion of social equality for people with learning disabilities, and to promote safety. Many people with learning disabilities have the support of paid staff to enable them to live independent lives. Support-staff’s attitudes and opinions towards sex and relationships can have an impact on the type of support they provide. This study sought to explore what informs support-staff understanding of their role with regards to provision of support around sex and relationships, how learning disability support-staff conceptualise their role with regards to providing this support, and what conflicts arise as a result of their adopted role. The study employed a qualitative design, using semi-structured interviews with a sample of 11 support-staff from across South East England. A critical realist epistemology was adopted and a thematic analysis used to analyse the data. Three overarching themes emerged; ‘Definition of support work’, ‘Moral and value judgement’, and ‘Enablement and empowerment’. Support-staff discussed the changing nature of the support-staff role and how understanding of the overall support-staff role impacts on the type of provision towards sex and relationships. Support-staff identified the personal and value laden nature of decisions around sex and relationships, drawing on societal norms, family values and legislation to inform their role. Support-staff demonstrated a willingness to support people with learning disabilities with regards to sex and relationships and identified ways in which they could be enabled and empowered to do so such as organisational changes, clear guidance and support from external professionals. The findings have implications for clinical change in organisations and cross professional working in this area. Further research could take a more action focused approach to enable and empower support-staff in the arena of sex and relationships.
An economic evaluation of increased uptake in Q fever vaccination among meat and agricultural industry workers following implementation of the National Q Fever Management Program

Introduction:Q fever is a serious but vaccine‐preventable infectious disease that predominantly affects those working in the meat and agricultural industries. In October 2000, the Commonwealth Government introduced the National Q Fever Management Program. This economic evaluation assesses the cost‐effectiveness and cost‐utility of improved vaccine uptake among meat and agricultural industry workers.
Longitudinal Studies of Cardiac Troponin-I Concentrations in Serum from Male Sprague Dawley Rats: Baseline Reference Ranges and Effects of Handling and Placebo Dosing on Biological Variability

Serum cardiac troponin-I has been validated as a biomarker for cardiotoxicity in numerous animal models; however, baseline reference ranges for cTnI concentration in a healthy population of laboratory rats, as well as an investigation of biological cTnI variability in rats with respect to time, handling, and placebo dosing methods, have not been reported. In this study, we used an ultrasensitive cTnI immunoassay to quantify hourly concentrations of cTnI in live rats handled under standard laboratory conditions using 15 μL of serum per determination. The baseline reference range (mean 4.94 pg/mL, range 1–15 pg/mL, 99% confidence interval [CI]) of cTnI concentration in rats was consistent with previously reported reference ranges for cTnI in humans (1–12 pg/mL) and with preliminary studies in dogs (1–4 pg/mL) and monkeys (4–5 pg/mL) using the same cTnI assay method. In addition, cTnI concentrations in individual rat serum samples show minimal biological variability over a twenty-four-hour interval when compared to a meaningful reference change value of 193% to 206%. Furthermore, measurements of cTnI concentration were consistent within the reference limits in individual rats over long periods and under three different standard laboratory handling conditions. Thus, using this new method, rats can be followed longitudinally at hourly intervals, and a doubling of cTnI concentration would be significant above biological variability. This is a new paradigm for preclinical testing, which allows transient changes in cTnI concentration to be accurately quantified. This understanding of baseline and biological variability in rats will be fundamental for designing and analyzing future studies that assess potential cardiotoxicity in drug development.
The role of inflammatory and parenchymal cells in acute pancreatitis

The infiltration of inflammatory cells into the pancreas is an early and central event in acute pancreatitis that promotes local injury and systemic complications of the disease. Recent research has yielded the important finding that resident cells of the pancreas (particularly acinar and pancreatic stellate cells) play a dynamic role in leukocyte attraction via secretion of chemokines and cytokines and expression of adhesion molecules. Significant progress has been made in recent years in our understanding of the role of leukocyte movement (adhesion to the blood vessel wall, transmigration through the blood vessel wall and infiltration into the parenchyma) in the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis. This review discusses recent studies and describes the current state of knowledge in the field. It is clear that detailed elucidation of the numerous processes in the inflammatory cascade is an essential step towards the development of improved therapeutic strategies in acute pancreatitis. Studies to date suggest that combination therapy targeting different steps of the inflammatory cascade may be the treatment of choice for this disease. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The ‘Virtual Economy’ of REDD+ Projects: Does Private Certification of REDD+ Projects Ensure Their Environmental Integrity?1

SUMMARY Certification standard bodies in climate governance are assumed to function as independent third parties agencies in transactions, providing trust and transparency to ensure that the calculation of carbon credits is reliable. This article investigates the validity of this assumption for the voluntary forest carbon market by analysing the environmental credibility of baseline scenarios of two certified REDD+ projects, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (the Maï Ndombe REDD+ Project) and in Madagascar (The CAZ REDD+ Project). Authors show that these two certified REDD+ projects resemble ‘virtual emission reduction machines’ designed to inflate the production of carbon credits and that they do not structurally change the local economy characteristics which drive deforestation. The design of both REDD+ and certification standards business models leads almost inevitably to the decision to use a baseline scenario with high deforestation rates and to limited interventions in the field. The need to deal with the carbon market's price volatility and to cover the fixed costs of certification exacerbates this trend towards inflated baselines, which also assists in the reduction of land use conflicts with local populations.