Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sickness Absence: a Pan-European Study

This study, using the EU-LFS, examines the determinants of sickness absence in 26 EU countries. The analysis highlights the importance of demographic and workplace characteristics and of institutional and societal conditions. Female workers aged 26-35 exhibit higher absenteeism, possibly reflecting the level of high household labour pressure. Increased job insecurity, captured by temporary contracts, and labour market uncertainty, reflected in higher unemployment rates, have a negative effect on absenteeism. Finally, individual sickness absence is lower in countries with higher proportion of dependent/out of the labour market individuals, probably because of the increasing pressure labour active people may experience.
Evaluation of chronic HCV infection in transplanted livers using a modified histological activity index.

BACKGROUND The majority of histopathological classifications of primary chronic viral hepatitis and recurrence of HCV infection in liver transplants is based on the histological activity index (HAI) introduced by Knodell et al in 1981; however, correlation between HAI and clinical/laboratory data is poor. Therefore, the aim of this study was to present a modification of HAI (mHAI) adapted to distinct features of graft infection, and to evaluate its usefulness in the description of disease activity. MATERIAL/METHODS Inflammatory activity in 67 biopsies of HCV-infected grafted livers was semi-quantitatively assessed according to HAI based on Knodell's criteria and to mHAI proposed by the authors. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to level of clinical aggressiveness of HCV reinfection on the basis of laboratory data. Correlations between clinical aggressiveness and histological activity of the disease expressed as HAI or mHAI was estimated. RESULTS Histological features of HCV reinfection of various activity were observed as early as in the second month after orthotopic liver transplantation. HAI and mHAI values were similar in 55.2% of cases, but in 38.8% HAI was lower than mHAI. Morphological and clinical features were found to be consistent in 32.8% and 49.3% of cases for HAI and mHAI evaluation, respectively. mHAI seems to correlate with clinical assessment of HCV recurrence in liver grafts significantly better than does the classical HAI. CONCLUSIONS mHAI proposed in the present study appears to be more useful for evaluation of recurrence of HCV infection in post-transplant liver biopsies.
Patterns and predictors of formal and informal care among elderly persons living in board and care homes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns and predictors of formal and informal help among a sample of older persons living in board and care homes (N = 617). Formal helpers such as facility staff, service agencies, and community organizations were the most common providers of assistance, particularly for activities of daily living (ADLs; e.g., bathing, dressing, toileting) that required close and continual proximity. Informal helpers such as family members, friends, and other residents were most likely to assist with instrumental ADL (IADL) tasks such as shopping and getting around outside. The need for assistance with ADLs predicted the amount of formal ADL help received by residents, whereas both ADL need and the presence of mental illness predicted the amount of IADL help received from formal sources. In contrast, demographic factors such as gender and race, as well as the frequency of family contact, predicted the amount of informal help with IADL tasks. White residents, women, and those with frequent family contact were among those most likely to receive assistance from informal helpers. The results suggest the need to encourage the provision of informal assistance as well as the need to ensure the availability of sufficient staff and other formal helpers are available to provide formal care in these settings.
Waist circumference is a strong and independent determinant of the distribution of HDL subfractions in overweight patients with cardiovascular risk factors

Purpose: Our aim was to determine the influence of waist circumference on the repartition of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions in patients with increased waist perimeter and one or more cardiovascular risk factor. Methods: All 117 patients without lipid-lowering therapy underwent routine clinical, biological evaluation and isolation of the following lipid subfractions: HDL2b, HDL2a, HDL3a, HDL3b, HDL3c and LDL1, LDL2, LDL3, LDL4. Results: Mean waist circumference was 102.9 cm for women and 109.4 cm for men, and 92 patients presented with metabolic syndrome. In the highest waist circumference tertile, when compared with the lowest one, an increased HDL3c (7.7% vs. 5.7% p=0.02) and a non-significant decrease of HDL2b percentages were observed with no difference in other subfractions. In multivariate analysis, only plasma triglycerides and waist circumference remained independent predictors of HDL3c percentage. Conclusion: In our population, waist circumference was a strong and independent determinant of a shift in the distribution of HDL toward denser particles.
Current treatment status of polycystic liver disease in Japan

Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the progressive development of multiple liver cysts. No standardized criteria for the selection of treatment exist because PLD is a rare condition and most patients are asymptomatic. We here aimed to clarify the status of treatment and to present a therapeutic strategy for PLD in Japan.
Audit committee impact on the quality of financial reporting and disclosure: Evidence from the Tehran Stock Exchange

Purpose The purpose of this study is to shed further light on the characteristics of an audit committee (AC) and its probable relationship with the quality of financial reporting and disclosure. Based on the findings of extant research that there are different factors that may have implications for the AC’ effectiveness, the authors posit an association between the aforementioned financial aspects and AC presence. Design/methodology/approach The authors test their hypotheses by performing panel data analysis on a sample of 100 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) during 2013-2014. The tests were conducted by using Eviews software. Findings Examining previously tested characteristics of an AC, the authors indicate that the number of AC meetings held during fiscal year is negatively associated with the quality of corporate disclosure, whereas AC expertise and size are positively associated with the quality firm’s financial disclosure. Their findings are also indicative of a non-significant relationship between other AC attributes and financial reporting quality (FRQ) except for AC independence, which is positively associated with FRQ. Finally, they provide some evidence that the size of a firm positively affects the quality of its financial reporting and disclosure. Research limitations/implications Although the study has been thoroughly considered and cautiously planned, some limitations have yet arisen. Initially, this research was conducted in an Iranian setting where the formation of ACs is on the verge of regulation; therefore, the data utilized for the study only contains the two-year period of ACs’ statutory activity. In addition, a lack of consensus on the precise measures of an AC’s effectiveness could be considered as a restrictive factor. Originality/value The authors’ study contributes to the AC literature by providing empirical evidence of an association between ACs’ different attributes and financial aspects in a newly regulated environment like the TSE. The results provided in this paper could be fruitful for auditors, regulators, institutional investors and policymakers.
Central Role of a Serine Phosphorylation Site within Duck Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein for Capsid Trafficking and Genome Release*

Viral nucleocapsids compartmentalize and protect viral genomes during assembly while they mediate targeted genome release during viral infection. This dual role of the capsid in the viral life cycle must be tightly regulated to ensure efficient virus spread. Here, we used the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infection model to analyze the effects of capsid phosphorylation and hydrogen bond formation. The potential key phosphorylation site at serine 245 within the core protein, the building block of DHBV capsids, was substituted by alanine (S245A), aspartic acid (S245D) and asparagine (S245N), respectively. Mutant capsids were analyzed for replication competence, stability, nuclear transport, and infectivity. All mutants formed DHBV DNA-containing nucleocapsids. Wild-type and S245N but not S245A and S245D fully protected capsid-associated mature viral DNA from nuclease action. A negative ionic charge as contributed by phosphorylated serine or aspartic acid-supported nuclear localization of the viral capsid and generation of nuclear superhelical DNA. Finally, wild-type and S245D but not S245N virions were infectious in primary duck hepatocytes. These results suggest that hydrogen bonds formed by non-phosphorylated serine 245 stabilize the quarterny structure of DHBV nucleocapsids during viral assembly, while serine phosphorylation plays an important role in nuclear targeting and DNA release from capsids during viral infection.
San Antonio 360: The Rise and Decline of the Concentric City 1890–2010

This paper catalogs the suburban expansion of San Antonio, Texas by decade between the years 1890 and 2009, a time frame that saw the city reorganize its morphological structure four times. The city inhabited a 36-square mile grid until the late nineteenth century; expanded radially along streetcar lines during the early twentieth century; grew concentrically along automotive ring roads during the mid-twentieth century; and has assumed a polycentric organization within the past two decades. This research places San Antonio’s recent demographic and geographic boom into historical perspective, utilizing construction completions in host Bexar County to answer the following question: how did the form, location, and type of suburban growth shift over 120 years? The research reveals three trends: first, that historically concentric growth patterns began to assume a polycentric configuration in the late twentieth century; second, that patterns of centrifugal expansion began to accelerate dramatically during the same time period; and third, that the relative increase of multifamily completions has surpassed that of single-family completions in five of the last six decades. These findings suggest that the City of San Antonio, in order to establish a sustainable growth model, must prioritize the opportunities and constraints associated with polycentric suburban expansion.
Decision-making style and gender moderation of the self-efficacy-condom use link among adolescents and young adults: informing targeted STI/HIV prevention programs.

OBJECTIVE To test the moderating effects of decision-making style and gender on the relationship between condom use self-efficacy (CUSE) and condom use behavior among sexually active adolescents and young adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Twenty-four continuation high schools in California. PARTICIPANTS Data were collected between February 2008 to June 2009 from a sample of 1304 sexually active adolescents and young adults. The mean (SD) age of the participants was 16.8 (0.9) years, 41% were female, and the ethnicity frequencies were Hispanic, 65%; mixed, 13%; white, 11%; black, 6%; and other, 5%. MAIN EXPOSURES The tools used were CUSE, decision-making-self-confidence, and decision-making-approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Condom use during the most recent sexual intercourse (termed last sex). RESULTS Forty-five percent of sexually active participants used condoms at last sex. Decision-making-self-confidence and decision-making-approach significantly moderated the effect of CUSE on condom use. The positive relationship between CUSE and condom use was relatively stronger for males and females reporting high vs low decision-making-self-confidence. Among females, the relationship between CUSE and condom use at last sex was weaker for those reporting high vs low decision-making-approach. Both of these effects were observed at high levels of CUSE. CONCLUSION Programs for sexually transmitted infection/human immunodeficiency virus prevention including CUSE content may increase adolescent and young adult condom use by targeting interventions to decision-making style and gender.
Risk of eating disorders among university students in Bangladesh

Abstract Objective: As there is a lack of information on eating disorders in Bangladesh, the aim of this study was to explore the eating disorder attitudes and behaviors among undergraduate university students in the country. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey and anthropometric measurement were conducted with undergraduate students who were recruited randomly from classes. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was used to determine the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes. The sample included 800 university students (56.6% men and 43.4% women), with a mean age of 21.0 years (SD=32.5). Results: Using the EAT-26, 37.6% of the students were classified as being at risk for an eating disorder. In multivariate analysis, being a late adolescent (17–19 years), high religious involvement, overweight body perception, low body appreciation, having had cosmetic surgery, and current binge drinking were found to be associated with an eating disorder risk. Discussion: Very high rates of eating disorder risk were found. This result calls for increased awareness and understanding of eating disorders, and related risk factors and interventions in university students in Bangladesh.
Organizational Ambidexterity and the Emerging‐to‐Advanced Economy Nexus: Cases from Private Higher Education Operators in the United Kingdom

The expansion of advanced market economy (AME) firms into emerging market economies (EME) is well-documented. In recent decades, EME companies have moved increasingly into AMEs, especially within the manufacturing sector, as well as other important AME sectors such as higher education (HE). However, the latter have received less attention. This study conducts an in-depth qualitative analysis of two EME HE organisations operating in the international HE sector in London. The argument applies a theoretical framework of organisational ambidexterity with which to examine the contexts and complexities in collaborations between EME-HE and AME-HE firms. These argument surfaces, inter alia: differing dynamics in relation to institutional frameworks and sense-making; myopic internationalisation; tensions regarding organisational reputation, place, partner, and product legitimisation; unfulfilled reverse innovation and ‘explorative-pull’ phenomena. Overall, the paper develops novel conceptual frameworks of practical relevance which inform EME-AME firm collaborative operations in AME settings.
[HBV DNA levels, aminotransferase and histological activity in young male patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B].

BACKGROUND/AIMS A significant correlation between HBV DNA and liver damage was found in precore mutant strains but there was no significant association between viral replication and liver damage in HBeAg positive patients. Laboratory tests are often requested to predict hepatitis activity (grade) and fibrosis (stage) in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B. We assessed ALT, AST, and HBV-branched DNA to find which is the best for predicting hepatitis activity and fibrosis. METHODS Routine biochemical liver function tests and HBV DNA in sera were assessed in 119 young patients positive with HBsAg and HBeAg. The mean age of patients was 21+/-2 years. All patients were male. By logistic regression analysis the relationships between laboratory data, hepatitis activity, fibrosis, or risk of chronic active hepatitis were analyzed. RESULTS There was a significant correlation between aminotransferase (AST, ALT) and hepatitis activity/ fibrosis. A significant inverse relationship between the HBV bDNA and hepatitis activity was demonstrated (Pearson's correlation coefficient: lobular activity,-0.305; porto-periportal activity, -0.410). But HBV bDNA was not correlated with severity of fibrosis. AST and HBV bDNA was the important test for predicting the more severe hepatitis activity (lobular activity and porto-periportal activity: score>/=3, respectively) CONCLUSION The higher AST, but the lower HBV bDNA, in sera shows the more severe hepatitis activity. AST and HBV bDNA could be helpful for assessing the hepatitis activity in young male patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B if proper reference values are used.
Leadership and innovation in the public sector: studying the organizational, team and individual level

markdownabstractPublic sector organizations throughout the world are facing unprecedented challenges. Given these challenges and demands, fostering innovation could obviously be a very useful strategy for public organizations. As proposed by scholars, increased innovativeness is of key importance for public organizations, due to the challenges with which they are confronted (e.g., budgetary pressures and grand societal challenges). This study investigates effects of leadership on innovation. It is particularly important to analyze the roles that leaders may play in innovation at different hierarchical levels, as initial evidence in the academic literature depicts different leadership roles in public sector organizations in order to cultivate strategies designed to foster innovation. By doing so, this dissertation contributes to the literature by providing additional insights into the role that leadership plays in innovation within a public sector context. Besides, the study offers suggestions to practitioners concerning how to bolster innovation within a public sector context.
Terminal complement complex in septic shock with capillary leakage: marker of complement activation?

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of terminal complement complex (C5b‐9) plasma levels as a marker for complement activation in septic shock with concomitant capillary leak syndrome. Methods: In a prospective animal study 10 fasted, anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated and multi‐catheterized pigs (20.6 ± 1.3 kg) were investigated over a period of 8 h. Sepsis was induced by faecal peritonitis (1 g kg−1 body weight faeces, n = 5) and compared to controls (n = 5). The animals received 6% hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 to maintain a central venous pressure of 12 mmHg. To quantify capillary leak syndrome, albumin escape rate was measured using 99mTc‐labelled human serum albumin. Plasma levels of terminal complement complex were measured in a double antibody immunoassay (neoepitope‐specific MoAb aE11 as catching antibody). Immunohistological studies of renal specimens were performed to detect terminal complement complex deposition. Results: Albumen escape rate increased in septic animals (+52%) compared to controls (+3%, P < 0.05). Plasma levels of terminal complement complex decreased during the study period in both groups. In septic animals this finding was accompanied by a significant deposition of terminal complement complex in renal specimens (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We found an activation of the complement system proven by marked deposition of terminal complement complex in renal specimen, while its plasma levels decreased during the study period in septic and control animals. These results suggest that in septic shock with capillary leak syndrome plasma level of terminal complement complex may not be a reliable marker of complement activation.
Measurement of porto‐systemic shunting in mice by novel three‐dimensional micro‐single photon emission computed tomography imaging enabling longitudinal follow‐up

Background and aims: The reference method for diagnosing porto‐systemic shunting (PSS) in experimental portal hypertension involves measuring 51Chrome (51Cr)‐labelled microspheres. Unfortunately, this technique necessitates the sacrifice of animals. Alternatively, 99mtechnetium‐macroaggregated albumin (99mTc‐MAA) has been used; however, planar scintigraphy imaging techniques are not quantitatively accurate and adequate spatial information is not attained. Here, we describe a reliable, minimally invasive and rapid in vivo imaging technique, using three‐dimensional single photon emission computed tomography (3D SPECT) modus, that allows more accurate quantification, serial measurements and spatial discrimination.
Dermatologic consultations in the hospital setting.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN Dermatologic practice occurs mainly in the outpatient setting. The reasons for, frequency, and impact of inpatient dermatologic consultation are largely unstudied. In this report, we prospectively studied dermatologic consultation in the major teaching hospital complex of a medical school. Over a period of 8 months, we prospectively recorded the demographics of the patients for whom consultation was requested, the provisional dermatologic diagnosis of the referring service, the final diagnosis of the dermatologic service, and the tests necessary to arrive at a final diagnosis. RESULTS During a period of slightly over 8 months, dermatologic consultation was requested and delivered to 591 patients who were either hospitalized or being evaluated in the emergency department or other urgent care settings. The services requesting consultation most frequently were medicine (39%), pediatrics (14%), surgery (12%), psychiatry (6%), and neurology (3%). In 51% of consultations, the patients were younger than 45 years of age. Diagnostic tests, including Tzanck smear and potassium hydroxide preparation, confirmed the clinical diagnosis in up to 50% of cases. Dermatologic consultation changed dermatologic diagnosis and treatment in more than 60% of the patients. Generally, the dermatologic diagnoses most frequently missed by the referring service were common conditions with established treatment. CONCLUSIONS Dermatologic consultation in the hospital setting improves dermatologic diagnosis and has an impact on treatment.
No influence of melatonin on cerebral blood flow in humans.

Melatonin has been attributed a role in a number of physiological processes. Changes in distal skin temperature and blood pressure after intake of melatonin suggest that melatonin induces peripheral vasodilation. The effect on the cerebral blood flow is still unknown. We examined the effect of a single pulse of melatonin on cerebral and peripheral blood flow, using the latter as a positive control. Ten male healthy volunteers (mean age, 22 +/- 3.2 yr) participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. On one occasion 10 microg melatonin were infused i.v. , and on the other occasion saline was infused as the matching placebo. Cerebral blood flow was measured using phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging. Peripheral blood flow was determined from changes in the distal to proximal skin temperature gradient and finger pulse volume. Serum melatonin concentration increased from 12 +/- 5 pg/ml at baseline to 487 +/- 377 pg/ml at 5 min and 156 +/- 68 pg/ml at 10 min after melatonin administration. There was no significantly different time course for cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular resistance. Compared with placebo, melatonin significantly increased peripheral blood flow, as measured by distal to proximal skin temperature gradient and finger pulse volume. These data demonstrate that melatonin does not have an acute regulatory effect on cerebral blood flow in humans.