Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Varicella transmission in two samples of children with different social behaviour in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

In order to establish the differences in transmission pattern of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a comparative seroepidemiological study was carried out in two different children samples. Children aged 1–11 years, were randomly selected from state schools of São Paulo city, Brazil. Individuals aged 1–15 years were sampled by cluster from Caieiras city. Children aged 3 years or under from Caieiras were not attending school, while those from São Paulo were attending all-day nurseries or kindergarten. The presence of antibodies to VZV was analysed by ELISA technique. The force of infection and contact rate were determined by mathematical techniques. The average age of first infection was 2·87±0·14 years and 4·07±0·47 years for São Paulo and Caieiras, respectively. The average force of infection estimated was 0·29 year−1 for São Paulo and was 0·26 year−1 for Caieiras. The proportion of seropositivity and the force of infection were higher in São Paulo school children up to 3 years of age compared with Caieiras children, where the social contact starts later. In conclusion, social changes affecting contact among children may influence varicella epidemiology.
Pig‐to‐Monkey Islet Xenotransplantation Using Multi‐Transgenic Pigs

The generation of pigs with genetic modifications has significantly advanced the field of xenotransplantation. New genetically engineered pigs were produced on an α1,3‐galactosyltransferase gene‐knockout background with ubiquitous expression of human CD46, with islet beta cell‐specific expression of human tissue factor pathway inhibitor and/or human CD39 and/or porcine CTLA4‐lg. Isolated islets from pigs with 3, 4 or 5 genetic modifications were transplanted intraportally into streptozotocin‐diabetic, immunosuppressed cynomolgus monkeys (n = 5). Immunosuppression was based on anti‐CD154 mAb costimulation blockade. Monitoring included features of early islet destruction, glycemia, exogenous insulin requirement and histopathology of the islets at necropsy. Using these modified pig islets, there was evidence of reduced islet destruction in the first hours after transplantation, compared with two series of historical controls that received identical therapy but were transplanted with islets from pigs with either no or only one genetic modification. Despite encouraging effects on early islet loss, these multi‐transgenic islet grafts did not demonstrate consistency in regard to long‐term success, with only two of five demonstrating function beyond 5 months.
Symmetrization of the Blood Glucose Measurement Scale and Its Applications

OBJECTIVE To introduce a data transformation that enhances the power of blood glucose data analyses. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In the standard blood glucose scale, hypoglycemia (blood glucose, <3.9 mmol/l) and hyperglycemia (blood glucose, >10 mmol/l) have very different ranges, and euglycemia is not central in the entire blood glucose range (1.1–33.3 mmol/l). Consequently, the scale is not symmetric and its clinical center (blood glucose, 6–7 mmol/l) is distant from its numerical center (blood glucose, 17 mmol/l). As a result, when blood glucose readings are analyzed, the assumptions of many parametric statistics are routinely violated. We propose a logarithmic data transformation that matches the clinical and numerical center of the blood glucose scale, thus making the transformed data symmetric. RESULTS The transformation normalized 203 out of 205 data samples containing 13,584 blood glucose readings of 127 type 1 diabetic individuals. An example illustrates that the mean and standard deviation based on transformed, rather than on raw, data better described subject's blood glucose distribution. Based on transformed data: 1) the low blood glucose index predicted the occurrence of severe hypoglycemia, while the raw blood glucose data (and glycosylated hemoglobin levels) did not; 2) the high blood glucose index correlated with the subjects' glycosylated hemoglobin (r = 0.63, P <0.001); and 3) the low plus high blood glucose index was more sensitive than the raw data to a treatment (blood glucose awareness training) designed to reduce the range of blood glucose fluctuations. CONCLUSIONS Using symmetrized, instead of raw, blood glucose data strengthens the existing data analysis procedures and allows for the development of new statistical techniques. It is proposed that raw blood glucose data should be routinely transformed to a symmetric distribution before using parametric statistics.
Influence of Technological Factors on Organizational Performance of Airlines: A Case Study Kenya Airways Ltd

The aviation sector is probably the most important mode of transport intermediary in the economy because of the role it plays as the quickest mode of transport for both passengers and freight. Air travel remains a large and growing industry. It facilitates economic growth, world trade, international investment and tourism and is therefore central to the globalization taking place in many other industries. A country such as Kenya which relies heavily on foreign earnings through the export of agricultural produce is a direct beneficiary of airline services. Statistics indicate that Kenya Airways posted kes 25.7bn loss in the 2014/2015 financial year and this was largely attributed to change in the macro-environmental forces. The effect of macro-environmental forces on the organizational performance of the airline industry especially in Kenya has received little attention in academic research. This study sought to establish the influence of technological factors on organizational performance of Kenya Airways. This study adopted descriptive research design and was limited to two financial years, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, due to resource constraints. The target population of this study was 245 staff working in Kenya Airways Finance department. Stratified random sampling was used to select 74 respondents. The researcher used a questionnaire as primary data collection instrument. Secondary data was collected from published materials and annual reports of Kenya Airways. Content analysis and descriptive analysis was employed. In addition, a multiple regression was used. The study established that technological factors influence the organizational performance of Kenya Airways Limited. The study also recommends that there is need for the management of Kenya Airways to adopt modern technologies in the airline industry. This will help in making them competitive and thus improving its performance.
The role of histamine in human mammary carcinogenesis: H3 and H4 receptors as potential therapeutic targets for breast cancer treatment.

There is increasing evidence that describes a histamine role in normal and cancer cell proliferation. To better understand the importance of histamine in breast cancer development, the expression of histamine H3 (H3R) and H4 (H4R) receptors and their association with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and histamine content were explored in mammary biopsies. Additionally, we investigated whether H3R and H4R were implicated in the biological responses triggered by histamine in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The expression levels of H3R, H4R, PCNA, HDC and histamine content were determined by immunohistochemistry in 40 benign and malignant lesions. MDA-MB-231 cells proliferation (clonogenic assay and BrdU incorporation) and cell cycle distribution (flow cytometry) were evaluated upon treatment with histamine, H3R and H4R agonists and antagonists. Apoptosis was determined by Annexin staining and TUNEL assay. Cell migration was assessed by transwell system. Results indicate that H3R was detected in 67% (10/15) of benign lesions and in almost all carcinomas (24/25), being the level of its expression significantly higher in carcinomas (P=0.0016). The non-tumoral breast tissue surrounding carcinomas revealed a lower H3R expression compared to the tumor cells. Only 13% (2/15) of the benign lesions expressed H4R compared to 44% (11/25) of the carcinomas. Interestingly, H3R expression was correlated in carcinomas with the expression of HDC and PCNA (P
Types and Drivers of Innovation in the Manufacturing Sector of Ghana

The study sought to identify the type and drivers of innovation with special reference to the manufacturing sector of Ghana. This study employed Probit regression model on the 2013 Ghana Enterprise Survey and the 2014 Ghana Innovation Follow-Up Survey. The results showed that market innovation is the predominant type of innovation among the manufacturing firms in Ghana. Product innovation and process innovation were found to be driven by internal R&D. It was also discovered that organisational innovation is positively driven by the age of the firm, training of production staff and internally installed internet. We further found that female top managers, internal R&D, training of production staff and internally installed internet drive market innovation. In order to aid the innovation activities, government should subsidize internal R&D activities and companies should engage in constant training of production staff in the manufacturing firms.
Understanding the motivation of repeat visitors to Rome

Tourism marketing studies and knowledge of the motivations of tourists’ repeat visiting behaviour are highly fragmented even in an increasingly saturated marketplace. The success of a destination should be guided by a thorough analysis of tourist motivations to return to the destination. This study has three aims: to examine the travel motivations of repeat travellers, to determine whether there is a significant difference in travel motivations among travellers with different demographic and trip profiles, and to verify whether motivations and satisfaction are valid predictors of destination loyalty for return visitors. To accomplish these goals, this study considers the particular destination of the city of Rome, one of the most visited locations in the world. The objectives are pursued through quantitative analyses conducted on 232 questionnaires completed by visitors to Rome. Based on the results, this study confirms the previous literature on the topic and contributes some additional findings. Moreover, various managerial implications are proposed.
Performans Produksi Ternak Babi Yang Mengkonsumsi Limbah Organik Pasar

The aim of this research was to evaluation growth respon, morbiditas, and the best of feed formulation which use market organic waste.The research was designed using Block (Randomly) Design with 5 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were T0: Ration without USAge of market organic waste; T1, T2, and T3, and T4: USAge of 25, 50, 75, and 100% of market organic waste respectively. The result revealed that the treatments did not significantly affect (Pg0,05) daily gain but significantly affect (Pl0,01) to dry matter intake so the mount swine morbiditas if consuming young white mustard vegetable waste 100% at treatment of T3 and of T4 and 0% at treatment of T0,T1, and T2. It can be concluded that the best feed formulation which the best of the growth, low morbiditas is T2 with using 50% market organic waste and 50% complete feed. It is suggested that USAge of market organic waste in feed of pig livestock shall not exceed 50% and avoid USAge of white mustard vegetable waste which still young in order not to happened diarrhoea.
Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor is expressed by inflammatory cells in the sciatic nerves of Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune neuritis

Neurotrophic factors, including glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), have been known to play a role in neuroprotection in the injured peripheral nervous system (PNS). To evaluate the involvement of GDNF in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) pathogenesis, the expression of GDNF in rat sciatic nerves with EAN was studied. Western blot analysis showed that the level of GDNF protein significantly increased 1.8‐fold at the paralytic stage of EAN at day 12 post‐immunization (PI) (p < 0.01), and its level further increased approximately 2.5‐fold at day 21 PI (p < 0.001) in the sciatic nerves of EAN‐affected rats compared with those of control rats, and then declined thereafter at day 28 PI. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that axons and Schwann cells constitutively contained GDNF in normal controls. In sciatic nerves with EAN at day 12 PI, GDNF was immunostained in infiltrating inflammatory cells including macrophages and T cells. Collectively, we postulate that GDNF plays a regulatory role in EAN paralysis. A paradoxical role of inflammatory cells to ameliorate PNS inflammation remains to be further studied in EAN, an animal model of human demyelinating disease.
Entrepreneurial behaviour, firm size and financial performance: the case of rural tourism family firms

ABSTRACT Family firms dominate the rural tourism industry, and within these firms family related interests guide entrepreneurial behaviour. This study utilises the entrepreneurial orientation (EO)–performance relationship to investigate which kind of entrepreneurial behaviour is important in order for rural tourism family firms to perform well. Considering the moderating effect of firm size, findings based on a sample of 198 firms and 4 follow-up interviews with owner-managers show that Innovativeness and Proactiveness are relevant variables to explain performance, while Risk-Taking is not. In addition, the Proactiveness–performance effect was negatively impacted by micro firm size. Initiatives to foster firm collaboration to overcome the disadvantage of small firm size and to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation are suggested.
Elevated levels of serum creatinine: recommendations for management and referral.

BACKGROUND The potential benefits of earlier referral to a nephrologist of patients with elevated levels of serum creatinine include identifying and treating reversible causes of renal failure, slowing the rate of decline associated with progressive renal insufficiency, managing the coexisting conditions associated with chronic renal failure and facilitating efficient entry into dialysis programs for all patients who might benefit. METHODS A subcommittee of the Canadian Society of Nephrology, which included representatives from family practice and internal medicine, conducted a MEDLINE search for the period 1966 to 1998 using the key words referral and consultation, dialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, renal replacement therapy and kidney diseases. Where published evidence was lacking, conclusions were reached by consensus. GUIDELINES Earlier referral to nephrologists of patients with elevated creatinine levels is expected to lead to better health care outcomes and lower costs for both the patients and the health care system. All patients with newly discovered renal insufficiency (as evidenced by serum creatinine elevated to a level above the upper limit of the normal range of that laboratory, adjusted for age and height in children) must undergo investigations to determine the potential reversibility of disease, to evaluate the prognosis and to optimize planning of care. All patients with an established, progressive increase in serum creatinine level should be followed with a nephrologist. Adequate preparation for dialysis or transplantation (or both) requires at least 12 months of relatively frequent contact with a renal care team. Nephrologists should provide consultation in a timely manner for any patient with an elevated serum creatinine level. In addition, they should provide advice about what aspects of the condition require particularly urgent or emergency assessment. SPONSORS This clinical practice guideline has been endorsed by the Canadian Society of Nephrology and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Meeting, teleconference and travel expenses of the Referral Guideline Subcommittee were covered by The Momentum Program, a collaboration between Baxter Corp. and Janssen-Ortho Inc. However, the authors are solely responsible for the editorial content of this article.
The role of the purinergic P 2 X 7 receptor in inflammation

The inflammatory process, orchestrated against a variety of injurious stimuli, is composed of three inter-related phases; initiation, propagation and resolution. Understanding the interplay between these three phases and harnessing the beneficial properties of inflammation whilst preventing its damaging effects, will undoubtedly lead to the advent of much needed therapies, particularly in chronic disease states. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is increasingly recognised as an important cell surface regulator of several key inflammatory molecules including IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α and IL-6. Moreover, as P2X7R-dependent cytokine production is driven by activating the inflammasome, antagonists of this receptor are likely to have therapeutic potential as novel anti-inflammatory therapies. The function of the P2X7R in inflammation, immunity and its potential role in disease will be reviewed and discussed. 1. Background Inflammation is an important physiological reaction which occurs in response to a wide variety of injurious agents (e.g. bacterial infection or physical trauma) ultimately aiming to perform the dual function of limiting damage and promoting tissue repair [1]. The inflammatory process is often viewed as being comprised of three closely linked phases: – initiation, propagation and resolution, with current anti-inflammatory therapies designed to limit or prevent the initiation and propagation phases. However, it is increasingly recognised that therapies aimed at enhancing the resolution phase will be important in limiting the damage associated with persistent inflammatory disease states such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and artherosclerosis [2]. In recent years, the role of ATP and its cognate receptors in the inflammatory process has been recognised. In particular, the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) which is expressed primarily (though not exclusively) on cells of haemopoietic origin [3] is thought to play an important role in macrophage/microglial and granulocyte function by regulating cytokine production and apoptosis. Moreover, as the P2X7R is known to be up-regulated during inflammation, antagonists of this receptor may serve as novel antiinflammatory agents. In this review we summarise recent advances in the understanding of the role of the P2X7R in inflammatory processes and highlight the potential of Published: 16 March 2007 Journal of Inflammation 2007, 4:5 doi:10.1186/1476-9255-4-5 Received: 11 December 2006 Accepted: 16 March 2007 This article is available from: http://www.journal-inflammation.com/content/4/1/5 © 2007 Lister et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Servitization strategy and financial performance of manufacturing SMEs: a necessary alignment between the service concept and the operational service system

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between servitization strategies and firms’ financial performances. We postulate that it is the right alignment between the firm’s operational service system and the type of service strategy (viewed as the service concept implemented) that is likely to increase the firm’s overall profitability. We built a research model testing the impact of the type of service concept on the relationship between the firm’s operational service system and its financial performance. Globally, the more developed the service concept, the stronger the positive relationship between the dimensions of the operational service system and the firm’s financial performance indicators. The model is tested on data gathered from a survey conducted in face-to-face interviews with CEOs of 184 French manufacturing SMEs offering services, and it is completed with financial indicators. Results indicate that to perform, firms must focus on different operational service dimensions according to the service concept implemented. While this is not relevant for a company proposing an added services-based strategy to invest in a complex operational service system, firms adopting a reconfiguration-based service strategy should focus on the service delivery system as firms offering PSS must develop a high level of service culture.
EFFECT OF EXOGENOUS INSULIN ON FASTING SERUM LEVELS OF GASTRIC INHIBITORY POLYPEPTIDE (GIP) IN JUVENILE DIABETES

The effect of insulin on fasting levels of immunoreactive gastric inhibitory polypeptide (IR‐GIP) has been examined in insulin‐dependent, juvenile‐type diabetics who were well‐controlled with two doses of an intermediate insulin. After withdrawal of the evening insulin injection the fasting blood glucose and serum IR‐GIP levels were elevated and decreased significantly following intravenous insulin towards normal values. There was a significant positive correlation between levels of blood glucose and serum IR‐GIP before and during insulin application. It is suggested that fasting serum GIP levels increase in case of insulin deficiency because basal GIP secretion is suppressed by normal insulin levels.
Discrete Time Hazard Model with Interest Rate for Default Forecast: A Study of Post-2008-Crises In Indonesian Listed Insurance Companies

This paper is intended to examine the preformance of the discrete-time hazard model with interest rate in predicting bankruptcy of listed insurance companies in Indonesia Stock Exchange. The study focuses on the period after the 2008-crises. The study employed 2008-2015 financial data of all insurance companies listed in Indonesia stock market. The author conducted stepwise logistic regression to find particular financial ratios to be included in the model, and used interest rate as the baseline hazard rate. To examine precision of the model, the author placed 2016 as the forecast period.
Surgery of the Lumbar Spine for Spinal Stenosis in 118 Patients 70 Years of Age or Older

Study Design. A consecutive case retrospective chart review and an outcome satisfaction questionnaire were used in this study. Objective. To provide a surgical reference for surgeons and elderly patients who may have concerns regarding the safety and outcome of lumbar spine surgery in their age population. Summary of Background Data. Elderly patients scheduled for spine surgery have a major concern about the safety and outcome of the procedure in light of their advanced age. A review of the literature demonstrated conflicting results regarding the outcome of lumbar spine surgery for spinal stenosis in the elderly. Methods. A retrospective review evaluated 118 consecutive patients ages 70 to 101 years who were managed surgically for lumbar spinal stenosis. This patient population was analyzed for the operative procedure, postoperative morbidity and mortality, and long-term clinical outcome and satisfaction. All 118 patients had at least a 2-year follow-up evaluation, and 21 of these patients were older than 80 years. Clinical parameters were compiled and analyzed on the basis of chart review. Results. Overall morbidity occurred in 24 patients (20%). During the study period, the average length of hospitalization declined an average of 2 days. Of the 118 patients, 109 expressed satisfaction with the operation and resumed daily activities, whereas 9 had fair or poor results. Conclusions. Advanced age did not increase the morbidity associated with this operation because the results reported in this study are comparable with those from other studies of a younger population, nor did advanced age decrease patient satisfaction or return to activities.