Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salivary interleukin‐6 in the detection of oral cancer and precancer

Oral cancer is a major health concern in many parts of the world. Despite its low survival rates, when detected early or in the precancer stage, it can drastically increase the survival rates. This strongly supports the need for sensitive biomarkers to perk up early detection of oral cancers. The aim of the study is to estimate whether salivary interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) can be used as a molecular marker to diagnose leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Servant Leadership and Cultural Characteristics as Predictors of Follower Engagement

Servant leadership theory, introduced in the 1970s, has gained in popularity in recent years. Servant leadership’s roots in serving, caring, and behaving ethically makes it a leadership model that is timely and relevant in light of today’s global, organizational, and political challenges. Additionally, an engaged workforce is considered to be a key lever that organizations utilize to gain an advantage in the marketplace while disengaged employees present a significant cost to companies. Nevertheless, servant leadership’s impact on organizations and specifically its ability to engage employees has received limited research. This quantitative study was undertaken in a multinational manufacturing organization and utilized survey instruments to examine individual contributors’, or followers’, perceptions of their immediate supervisor’s servant leader characteristics and how these characteristics predicted engagement in their work. Furthermore, this study also examined cultural characteristics as predictors of follower engagement in the same context. The results of the study demonstrated that both servant leadership and cultural characteristics significantly contributed to the prediction, however, servant leadership significantly predicted more of the variance over and above cultural characteristics. Important then is understanding how servant leadership influences employee engagement as organizations establish presence in other parts of the world. It behooves leaders to acknowledge that their organizations’ cultural surroundings can predict employee engagement. Of particular importance though, is recognizing that beyond these cultural ix influences, practicing a servant leadership management model can have an even greater influence on employee engagement. This study may assist other servant led, multinational, and multicultural organizations in informing how servant leadership and cultural characteristics serve as predictors of follower engagement. As a result of this study, recommendations for practice are provided including the adoption of the servant leadership model to have a positive impact on social justice. Document Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Education (EdD) Department Executive Leadership First Supervisor J. Jason Berman Second Supervisor Timothy Franz Subject Categories Education This dissertation is available at Fisher Digital Publications: https://fisherpub.sjfc. edu/education_etd/290 Servant Leadership and Cultural Characteristics as Predictors of Follower Engagement
Imp Associates with Squid and Hrp48 and Contributes to Localized Expression of gurken in the Oocyte

ABSTRACT Localization and translational control of Drosophila melanogaster gurken and oskar mRNAs rely on the hnRNP proteins Squid and Hrp48, which are complexed with one another in the ovary. Imp, the Drosophila homolog of proteins acting in localization of mRNAs in other species, is also associated with Squid and Hrp48. Notably, Imp is concentrated at sites of gurken and oskar mRNA localization in the oocyte, and alteration of gurken localization also alters Imp distribution. Imp binds gurken mRNA with high affinity in vitro; thus, the colocalization with gurken mRNA in vivo is likely to be the result of direct binding. Imp mutants support apparently normal regulation of gurken and oskar mRNAs. However, loss of Imp activity partially suppresses a gurken misexpression phenotype, indicating that Imp does act in control of gurken expression but has a largely redundant role that is only revealed when normal gurken expression is perturbed. Overexpression of Imp disrupts localization of gurken mRNA as well as localization and translational regulation of oskar mRNA. The opposing effects of reduced and elevated Imp activity on gurken mRNA expression indicate a role in gurken mRNA regulation.
A study of the protein and amino acid requirements of the growing New Zealand White rabbit with emphasis on lysine and the sulphur-containing amino acids

1. New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were given, between 4 and 8 weeks of age, a range of diets, based on oats and fish meal, containing from 104 to 255 g crude protein (nitrogen × 6.25; CP)/kg to establish the level of CP below which growth was retarded. 2. In three experiments each diet was fed to four animals and food intake, growth and N balance were measured over 4 weeks. Body analysis was also carried out after two of the experiments. 3. The rates of food intake and growth of animals increased with dietary CP concentration until a CP concentration of approximately 150 g/kg diet had been reached. Beyond this there was little further improvement. N balance studies showed that once this dietary concentration of CP had been reached, there was a reduced rate of N retention. 4. Good agreement was found between N retention measured by balance methods and by body analysis: body composition showed a tendency towards an increase in fat and a decrease in N as the dietary protein concentration was reduced. 5. Microbial protein produced in the caecum and eaten during coprophagy, was found to supplement the dietary protein by approximately 2 g CP/d, or by only 0.1 of a normal dietary intake of CP. 6. In the second part of the study NZW rabbits were offered, between 5 and 8 weeks of age, diets based on oats containing 150 g CP/kg. The protein supplied by oats was supplemented with maize gluten, gelatin, groundnut meal, casein, soya-bean meal or fish meal. 7. Rabbits offered diets containing casein, soya-bean meal and fish meal gained 40–50 g/d similar, to animals given a well-balanced control diet, while those given diets containing maize gluten, gelatin or groundnut meal gained approximately 30 g/d. This indicated that amino acid balance in dietary protein was important to the growing rabbit. 8. In later experiments, diets based on cereals and groundnut meal supplemented with varying amounts of lysine and methionine were offered during a 3-week post-weaning period in order to assess requirements for those limiting amino acids. 9. The addition of both lysine and methionine improved growth rates. The minimum requirements for normal growth were found to be 6.2 g methionine+cystine and 9.4 g lysine/kg diet.
Increased risk of colorectal neoplasia in adult patients with cystic fibrosis: a matched case–control study

Abstract Objective. As the lifespan of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) increases, concerns regarding the occurrence of bowel cancer have arisen. However, previous cohort studies have yielded contradictory results as to the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the CF population. The aim of this study was to determine whether CF is associated with an increased risk of colorectal neoplasia. Methods. We performed a matched case–control study at a statewide CF center. Cases were adult CF patients undergoing colonoscopy in a 5-year period from 2007 to 2012. Controls were matched in a 2:1 ratio for age, gender, and colonoscopy indication. Results. A total of 50 patients with CF who underwent colonoscopy were identified. Among CF patients, there were 5 (10%) cases with CRC, 1 (2%) with ileal adenocarcinoma, 13 (26%) with adenomas, and 16(32%) with advanced adenomas. In contrast, there was 1 (1%) case with CRC, 11 (11%) with adenomas, and 6 (6%) with advanced adenomas identified among controls. Compared to controls, CF was associated with a 10-fold increased risk of CRC (odds ratio [OR] = 10.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–85.6; p = 0.03), threefold increased risk of adenomas (OR = 3.34, 95%CI: 1.23–9.08; p = 0.018], and sevenfold increased risk of advanced adenomas (OR = 6.95, 95% CI: 2.30–21.01; p = 0.001). Moreover, the quality of bowel preparation was significantly worse in CF patients with a fourfold (p = 0.01) increased likelihood of a poor preparation. Conclusions. Our data suggest that CF patients are at significantly increased risk of CRC compared to age, sex, and colonoscopy-indication matched controls. Consideration should be given to the introduction of a CRC surveillance program in the CF population.
Evaluation of receptor‐ligand mechanisms of dual‐targeted particles to an inflamed endothelium

Abstract Vascular‐targeted carriers (VTCs) are designed as leukocyte mimics, decorated with ligands that target leukocyte adhesion molecules (LAMs) and facilitate adhesion to diseased endothelium. VTCs require different design considerations than other targeted particle therapies; adhesion of VTCs in regions with dynamic blood flow requires multiple ligand‐receptor (LR) pairs that provide particle adhesion and disease specificity. Despite the ultimate goal of leukocyte mimicry, the specificity of multiple LAM‐targeted VTCs remains poorly understood, especially in physiological environments. Here, we investigate particle binding to an inflamed mesentery via intravital microscopy using a series of particles with well‐controlled ligand properties. We find that the total number of sites of a single ligand can drive particle adhesion to the endothelium, however, combining ligands that target multiple LR pairs provides a more effective approach. Combining sites of sialyl Lewis A (sLeA) and anti‐intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (aICAM), two adhesive molecules, resulted in ∼3–7‐fold increase of adherent particles at the endothelium over single‐ligand particles. At a constant total ligand density, a particle with a ratio of 75% sLeA: 25% aICAM resulted in more than 3‐fold increase over all over other ligand ratios tested in our in vivo model. Combined with in vivo and in silico data, we find the best dual‐ligand design of a particle is heavily dependent on the surface expression of the endothelial cells, producing superior adhesion with more particle ligand for the lesser‐expressed receptor. These results establish the importance of considering LR‐kinetics in intelligent VTC ligand design for future therapeutics.
Psychiatric, neuropsychological, and psychosocial features of DSM-IV subtypes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: results from a clinically referred sample.

OBJECTIVE To assess the validity of the DSM-IV subtypes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD Using structured diagnostic interviews and psychometric measures of cognitive and social functioning, the authors assessed 413 children and adolescents consecutively referred to a pediatric psychopharmacology clinic since 1991. RESULTS Marked psychiatric differences were found among DSM-IV subtypes of ADHD, but few differences were found in cognitive or psychosocial functioning. The greatest psychiatric differences were found between the combined-type subjects (who tended to show more impairment in multiple domains) and the other two subgroups. The inattentive patients, however, were more likely to have required extra help in school. The hyperactive-impulsive patients were not different from controls on rates of depression, Child Behavior Checklist measures of social functioning, or psychometric measures of intellectual functioning and academic achievement. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that, regarding clinical features, combined-type patients have a more severe disorder than the other DSM-IV subtypes.
Do foreign institutional investors enhance firm innovation in China?

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the impact of the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) scheme regulated by the Chinese government on firm innovation in China. By explicitly addressing the potential endogenous relationship between foreign institutional ownership and firm innovation, we find that foreign institutional investors enhance firm innovation in China, suggesting that the Chinese government should further relax its foreign capital investment control, for example, increase the quota of the QFII scheme.
ZNF143 protein is an important regulator of the myeloid transcription factor C/EBPα

The transcription factor C/EBPα is essential for myeloid differentiation and is frequently dysregulated in acute myeloid leukemia. Although studied extensively, the precise regulation of its gene by upstream factors has remained largely elusive. Here, we investigated its transcriptional activation during myeloid differentiation. We identified an evolutionarily conserved octameric sequence, CCCAGCAG, ∼100 bases upstream of the CEBPA transcription start site, and demonstrated through mutational analysis that this sequence is crucial for C/EBPα expression. This sequence is present in the genes encoding C/EBPα in humans, rodents, chickens, and frogs and is also present in the promoters of other C/EBP family members. We identified that ZNF143, the human homolog of the Xenopus transcriptional activator STAF, specifically binds to this 8-bp sequence to activate C/EBPα expression in myeloid cells through a mechanism that is distinct from that observed in liver cells and adipocytes. Altogether, our data suggest that ZNF143 plays an important role in the expression of C/EBPα in myeloid cells.
Mapping Standards to Patents Using Declarations of Standard‐Essential Patents

This paper describes a new database of declared standard‐essential patents (SEPs), discusses methods for matching declared SEPs to specific standard documents, and presents empirical evidence on technology standards subject to declared SEPs. Although there is a growing body of empirical research using data on declared SEPs, this research has so far focused on the declared patents, and neglected the implications of SEP declarations for specific standards. Furthermore, we present a new methodology for matching standards with technology classes, using the classification of declared SEPs. This method allows identifying other standard‐related patents, and provides information on technological relationships between standards and standard‐related patenting. The paper discusses opportunities for new empirical research using databases of declared SEPs and data on patenting in standard‐related technology classes.
Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Hearing Recovery From Noise-Induced Temporary Hearing Threshold Shifts in Mice

Hypothesis: Cigarette smoking may potentiate noise-induced hearing loss. Background: Many epidemiological studies have shown that cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss. Methods: BALB/c mice were exposed to passive smoking for 2 h/d for 2 weeks before exposure to 110-dB sound pressure level white noise for 3 hours once. Hearing was assessed via the auditory brainstem response with tone-burst stimulation and distortion product otoacoustic emissions before and at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after noise exposure. Oxidative stress and hypoxia were assessed by immunostaining with 8-oxoG and hypoxia-inducible factor 1&agr;, respectively. Results: Control mice unexposed to both smoking and noise and mice exposed to smoking only showed no shift in hearing threshold. In contrast, mice exposed to noise only or smoking plus noise showed abrupt increases in hearing threshold. In mice exposed to noise only, hearing threshold returned to prenoise levels after 2 weeks. However, in mice exposed to smoking plus noise, the loss of hearing was significantly higher, and hearing threshold did not return to the pre-exposure levels until 4 weeks later. Positive staining with 8-oxoG and hypoxia-inducible factor 1&agr; were observed in the inner ear of the smoking-only and smoking-plus-noise group similar to noise-only mice, whereas no positive staining was observed in control group. Conclusion: These results indicate that cigarette smoking may potentiate the harmful effects of noise on hearing and disturb the recovery mechanism in the cochlea.
Effect of entrepreneurial orientation on firm performance and failure : a longitudinal analysis

This thesis aimed to examine the longitudinal effects of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and each of its dimensions, innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk taking, on firm performance, among surviving and failed firms, as well as on the risk of firm failure. By utilising the theoretical framework of organisational learning theory and prospect theory, this thesis advances knowledge on EO by challenging the dominating EO-as-Advantage perspective. This research adopted a quantitative methodology by objectively measuring EO at the firm-level and examining its effects along a longitudinal timeframe from the pre-crisis (fiscal year 2000) to the post-crisis period (fiscal year 2014). The thesis utilised secondary data from Compustat and CRSP databases to collect financial and market information on a sample of US large firms in the high-technology industry. The sample consisted of a total of 742 firms with 5,011 observations. Study 1 used fixed effect panel regression to examine the effect of EO and its dimensions on short-term and long-term measures of firm performance over time in the sample of surviving firms versus the sample of failed firms. Study 2 of this thesis examined the effect of EO and each of its dimensions on the risk of firm failure. The analysis of the data for Study 2 was done by the Cox proportional Hazard regression. EO was shown to have an inverse U-shaped effect on performance among surviving firms and a negative effect on performance among failed firms. It was revealed that innovativeness had a significant positive effect on long-term performance; whereas proactiveness and risk taking had a significant negative effect on long-term performance. It was also shown that EO as well as its dimensions increased risk of failure over time. Such results provide evidence for the EO-as-Experimentation perspective and align with our predictions on EO from organisational learning theory and prospect theory.
Further studies on platelet serotonin transporter binding in depression.

OBJECTIVE There is an impressive literature implicating abnormalities in serotonergic neural systems in depression. Many investigators, but not all, have reported low numbers of platelet and brain serotonin (5-HT) transporter sites in drug-free depressed patients. In the present study the authors sought to determine whether the low platelet 5-HT transporter binding in depressed patients is due to previous antidepressant drug exposure. In addition, the binding of both [3H]imipramine and the more specific ligand [3H]paroxetine to the platelet 5-HT transporter was compared in drug-free depressed patients and age- and sex-matched normal comparison subjects. METHOD In the first experiment blood samples were obtained from 12 depressed patients who had never received antidepressant drugs and 12 normal comparison subjects, and platelet 5-HT transporter binding was measured by using [3H]imipramine. In the second experiment blood samples were obtained from 28 drug-free depressed patients and 28 age- and sex-matched comparison subjects, and platelet 5-HT transporter binding was assessed by using both [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine. RESULTS In the first experiment the never-medicated depressed patients exhibited fewer platelet [3H]imipramine binding sites than did the comparison subjects. In the second experiment the drug-free depressed patients had fewer platelet binding sites for both [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine than did the comparison subjects. CONCLUSIONS The low number of platelet [3H]imipramine binding sites does not appear to be due to prior antidepressant drug exposure. The Bmax of platelet binding sites for both [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine, ligands used to measure 5-HT transporter binding, is abnormally low in depressed patients.
In vitro miconazole susceptibility of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND The emergence and dissemination of meticillin-resistant staphylococci has created significant treatment challenges in veterinary medicine and increased interest in topical therapy for superficial infections. Concern has been expressed regarding the use of some topical antimicrobials in animals because of the potential for emergence of resistance, and additional options are required. Miconazole has limited antibacterial properties that include antistaphylococcal activity. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to assess the in vitro susceptibility of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus aureus to miconazole. METHODS In vitro susceptibility of 112 meticillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP), 53 meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 37 meticillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) to miconazole was assessed using agar dilution. RESULTS The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) range, MIC(50) and MIC(90) for MRSP were 1-8, 2 and 4 μg/mL, respectively. Corresponding results for MRSA were 1-8, 2 and 6 μg/mL, and for MSSP 1-4, 2 and 2 μg/mL. The MIC for MSSP was a significantly lower MIC than that for both MRSP (P = 0.006) and MRSA (P < 0.001), while the MIC for MRSP was significantly lower than that for MRSA (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE These in vitro data suggest that miconazole could be a useful therapeutic option for superficial infections caused by meticillin-susceptible and meticillin-resistant staphylococci, but proper clinical investigation is required.
Successful treatment for patients with von Willebrand disease undergoing urgent surgery using factor VIII/VWF concentrate (Humate‐P®)

Summary. von Willebrand disease (VWD) is characterized by insufficient von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity. It has been proposed that VWF:ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo) activity may be useful in evaluating the response to VWD treatment in patients who require replacement therapy. This prospective, open‐label, non‐randomized study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a factor VIII (FVIII)/VWF concentrate (Humate‐P®) used in treatment regimens based on VWF:RCo activity in subjects with VWD in situations requiring urgent and necessary surgery. This article summarizes the results for 39 subjects with 42 evaluable surgical treatment events, 100% of which were rated as excellent/good for overall efficacy (achievement of haemostasis). The median loading dose based upon VWF:RCo activity was 82.3 international units/kilogram (IU kg−1; range 32.5–216.8 IU kg−1), and the median maintenance dose per infusion was 52.8 IU kg−1 (range 24.2–196.5 IU kg−1) for a median of 3 days (range 1–50 days). The median number of infusions per event was 6 (range 1–67 infusions). Three unanticipated adverse events (peripheral oedema, extremity pain and pseudo‐thrombocytopenia) from two surgical treatment events were reported that were potentially treatment‐related. No serious drug‐related adverse events (AEs) were observed, and no thrombotic events were reported in this study. This study supports the safety and efficacy of the FVIII/VWF concentrate Humate‐P® for the prevention of surgical haemorrhage in patients with VWD when administered in doses calculated in VWF:RCo units.