Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Challenges of Upward Regulatory Harmonization: The Case of Sustainability Reporting in the European Union

What are the prospects for the upward harmonization of regulatory standards, and why do governments support or oppose more stringent supranational regulation? To answer these questions, this paper examines an important case of upward regulatory harmonization, the European Union’s non-financial disclosure Directive 2014/95/EU, which requires large firms to report on their social, environmental, and human rights impacts. In spite of favorable circumstances, the Directive’s opponents watered down the Commission’s proposal during the course of the negotiations. Upward regulatory harmonization is difficult because of the adjustment costs it imposes on the private sector. The paper provides an in-depth analysis of countries’ positions in the negotiations: Germany was the most hardline opponent, France the strongest supporter, and the United Kingdom was somewhere in between. For most countries, private sector adjustment costs determine government support and opposition for upward harmonization at the supranational level, but the analysis shows that partisan politics and varieties of capitalism also matter. For a closely related paper, please see "The tenuous link between CSR performance and support for regulation: Business associations and Nordic regulatory preferences regarding the corporate transparency law 2014/95/EU" https://ssrn.com/abstract=3451630.
Ownership Reduction in State-Owned Enterprises and Corporate Social Responsibility: Perspective from Secondary Privatization in China

As an emerging economy, China modernized its economy via split-share structure reform. This reform changed the nature of ownership in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Following this reform, we investigated the research question concerning how reductions in state ownership affect the corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance of listed firms. This study tests the hypotheses using data of Chinese listed firms between 2010 and 2015. Applying multiple regressions, we found a negative association between state reductions and CSR performance. We contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence that those firms which reduce state holdings are not taking CSR activities seriously. Our study also sheds light on the worthiness and prominent status of large state owners of SOEs, as they are more likely to engage in social activities. This study provides fruitful implications for policy-makers and practitioners about state holdings, which may either hinder or enhance the corporate social performance.
GABAergic and other noncholinergic basal forebrain neurons, together with cholinergic neurons, project to the mesocortex and isocortex in the rat

The extrathalamic relay from the brainstem reticular formation to the cerebral cortex in the basal forebrain has been thought to be constituted predominantly, if not exclusively, by cholinergic neurons. In contrast, the septohippocampal projection has been shown to contain an important contingent of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons. In the present study, we investigated whether GABAergic neurons also contribute to the projection from the basal forebrain to neocortical regions, including the mesocortex (limbic) and the isocortex in the rat. For this purpose, retrograde transport of cholera toxin (CT) was examined from the medial prefrontal cortex for the mesocortex and from the parietal cortex for the isocortex and was combined with dual‐immunohistochemical staining for either choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in adjacent series of sections.
The Relationship between Knowledge and Child and Caregiver Distress during the Medical Examination for Child Sexual Abuse

When child sexual abuse is suspected, a child sexual abuse–related medical examination is recommended to ensure the child's well-being. While the extant research has sought to identify factors influencing child distress during this examination, only recently have studies began examining variables that may be directly associated with the child or with the medical setting. Knowledge of the child sexual abuse–related medical examination is one medical-related variable that has been implicated in child and caregiver distress during the examination. The current study contributes to the existing literature by investigating associations among examination knowledge in relation to caregiver and child anxiety at the time of a child sexual abuse–related medical examination, taking into account ethnicity, past child abuse, injury to child as result of abuse, and caregiver response to disclosure. Sixty-eight children and their nonoffending caregiver were assessed. Results indicated that understanding of the examination and caregiver response to disclosure were significantly associated with caregiver and child anxiety.
Enhancement of tumor radioresponse by combined treatment with gefitinib (Iressa, ZD1839), an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is accompanied by inhibition of DNA damage repair and cell growth in oral cancer

Molecular blockade of EGFR with either an EGFR MAb or an EGFR TKI enhances the radiosensitivity of human SCCs. In the present study, we investigated whether treatment with the EGFR TKI gefitinib (Iressa, ZD1839) improves the response to radiotherapy in the OSCC cell lines HSC2 and HSC3. We examined potential mechanisms that may contribute to the enhanced radiation response induced by gefitinib. Growth inhibition was observed in vitro with radiation or gefitinib. A cooperative antiproliferative effect was obtained when cancer cells were treated with radiation followed by gefitinib. Cells treated with a combination of radiation and gefitinib arrested in G1 and G2–M phases, with a decrease in the S‐phase population. While radiation alone did not significantly affect MEK1/2 and p38 MAPK autophosphorylation, the combination of gefitinib and radiation completely inhibited the downstream signaling of EGFR. Results from DNA damage repair analysis in cultured OSCC cells demonstrated that gefitinib had a strong inhibitory effect on DNA‐PKc pathways after radiation. Tumor xenograft studies demonstrated that the combination of gefitinib and radiation caused growth inhibition and tumor regression of well‐established OSCC tumors in athymic mice; tumor volume was reduced from 1,008.2 to 231.4 mm3 in HSC2 cells (p < 0.01) and from 284.2 to 12.4 mm3 in HSC3 cells (p < 0.01). Immunohistochemical analysis of OSCC xenografts revealed that gefitinib caused a striking decrease in tumor cell proliferation when combined with radiotherapy. Overall, we conclude that gefitinib enhances tumor radioresponse by multiple mechanisms that may involve antiproliferative growth inhibition and effects on DNA repair after exposure to radiation. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Downregulation of cannabinoid receptor 1 from neuropeptide Y interneurons in the basal ganglia of patients with Huntington's disease and mouse models

Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1 receptor) controls several neuronal functions, including neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, gene expression and neuronal viability. Downregulation of CB1 expression in the basal ganglia of patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and animal models represents one of the earliest molecular events induced by mutant huntingtin (mHtt). This early disruption of neuronal CB1 signaling is thought to contribute to HD symptoms and neurodegeneration. Here we determined whether CB1 downregulation measured in patients with HD and mouse models was ubiquitous or restricted to specific striatal neuronal subpopulations. Using unbiased semi‐quantitative immunohistochemistry, we confirmed previous studies showing that CB1 expression is downregulated in medium spiny neurons of the indirect pathway, and found that CB1 is also downregulated in neuropeptide Y (NPY)/neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)‐expressing interneurons while remaining unchanged in parvalbumin‐ and calretinin‐expressing interneurons. CB1 downregulation in striatal NPY/nNOS‐expressing interneurons occurs in R6/2 mice, HdhQ150/Q150 mice and the caudate nucleus of patients with HD. In R6/2 mice, CB1 downregulation in NPY/nNOS‐expressing interneurons correlates with diffuse expression of mHtt in the soma. This downregulation also occludes the ability of cannabinoid agonists to activate the pro‐survival signaling molecule cAMP response element‐binding protein in NPY/nNOS‐expressing interneurons. Loss of CB1 signaling in NPY/nNOS‐expressing interneurons could contribute to the impairment of basal ganglia functions linked to HD.
The First Step to Early Intervention Following Diagnosis: Communication in Pediatric Hearing Aid Orientation Sessions.

Purpose This preliminary study aimed to explore communication processes and information exchange in pediatric hearing aid orientation (HAO) sessions. Effective information exchange in such sessions is crucial to support appropriate hearing aid use. Method Using a qualitative sociolinguistic framework, we recorded and analyzed 5 HAO sessions between 2 audiologists and 5 caregivers of children who had just been fitted with hearing aids. We also conducted semistructured interviews with the audiologists and caregivers and analyzed these using content analysis. Results By necessity, audiologists provide a significant amount of information about hearing aids to caregivers in HAO sessions. Although caregivers in our study recalled and understood certain points such as the importance of not getting the hearing aids wet, crucial information about insertion and cleaning was often not recalled. Some caregivers misunderstood how the hearing aids would assist their child. Conclusions Caregivers need time to practice and absorb the information given, particularly given the emotional aspects associated with the diagnosis and "switch-on. " There is a need to revisit approaches to information giving, which align with the ongoing early intervention process. We offer some suggestions for improving HAO sessions and information giving about hearing aids.
Endoscopic versus surgical resection for early colorectal cancer-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND To investigate the available data on the treatment of early colorectal cancer (CRC), either endoscopically or surgically. METHODS Two independent reviewers searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL COCHRANE, LILACS and EBSCO for articles published up to August 2015. No language or dates filters were applied. Inclusion criteria were studies with published data about patients with early colonic or rectal cancer undergoing either endoscopic resection (i.e., mucosectomy or submucosal dissection) or surgical resection (i.e., open or laparoscopic). Extracted data items undergoing meta-analysis were en bloc resection rate, curative resection rate, and complications. A complementary analysis was performed on procedure time. The risk of bias among studies was evaluated with funnel-plot expressions, and sensitivity analyses were carried out whenever a high heterogeneity was found. The risk of bias within studies was assessed with the Newcastle score. RESULTS A total of 12,819 articles were identified in the preliminary search. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, three cohort studies with a total of 768 patients undergoing endoscopic resection and 552 patients undergoing surgical resection were included. The en bloc resection rate risk difference was -11% [-13%, -8% confidence interval (CI)], demonstrating worse outcome results for the endoscopic resection group as compared to the surgical resection group [number need to harm (NNH) =10]. The curative resection rate risk difference was -9% [(-12%, 6% CI)] after a sensitivity analysis was performed, which also demonstrated worse outcomes in the intervention group (NNH =12). The complications rate exhibited a -7% risk difference [(-11%, -4% CI)], denoting a lesser number of complications in the endoscopic group [Number Need to Treat (NNT =15). A complementary analysis of procedure time with two of the selected studies demonstrated a mean difference of -118.32 min [(-127.77, -108.87 CI)], in favor of endoscopic resection, even though such data lacks homogeneity across studies, and could be heavily influenced by local expertise. Long-term results were found in only one study and therefore were not included in the final analysis. CONCLUSIONS According to the current available data, the treatment of early CRC by surgical resection is associated with higher curative resection rates and higher en bloc resection rates, despite of higher complications rates, as compared to endoscopic resection. Shorter procedure times are associated with the endoscopic methods of treatment, however high heterogeneity levels limit this conclusion.
Implementation of Integrated Health Homes and Health Outcomes for Persons With Serious Mental Illness in Los Angeles County.

OBJECTIVE The Medicaid health home option of the Affordable Care Act provides a new opportunity to address the fragmented system of care for persons with serious mental illness. This study examined the implementation of integrated health homes in Los Angeles County. METHODS Longitudinal data on client-reported physical health status, clinician-reported mental health recovery, and screening for common chronic conditions among 1,941 persons enrolled in integrated care programs for serious mental illness and chronic general medical illness were combined with site visit data measuring the level of integration of general medical and mental health care among ten integrated care programs. Various analyses were used to compare outcomes by level of program integration (generalized estimating equations for physical health status and mental health recovery and logistic regression and chi-square tests for screening for common chronic conditions and clinical risk factors). RESULTS Clients in more highly integrated programs had greater improvements in physical health status and mental health recovery and higher rates of screening for common chronic conditions compared with clients in less integrated programs. They also had greater reductions in hypertension but a worrisome increase in prediabetes and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Highly integrated mental health and general medical programs were associated with greater improvements in health outcomes compared with less integrated programs. Additional research is necessary to identify predictors of integration, to determine which aspects of integration drive improvements in health outcomes, and to identify strategies to increase integration within less integrated programs. Efforts are needed to coordinate pharmacotherapy, including increased consideration of the metabolic effects of antipsychotic medication.
Barriers to healthy eating in the nursing profession: Part 1.

AIM The aim of this study commissioned by the NHS Executive North West was to identify the main areas of the nurse's working environment that prevent healthy eating, to ascertain if nurses have enough nutritional knowledge to make informed choices, and to review sources, availability and quality of food provided for nursing staff. METHOD A purposive sample size of 126 nurses from across eight healthcare sites in the North West region completed questionnaires. RESULTS Shift patterns and failure to take breaks were identified as the two main barriers to healthy eating by respondents. However, satisfaction with food on offer and a supportive environment were also identified as important influences. CONCLUSION Several recommendations were made as a result of the study. Ideally, nurses should take regular breaks. Food should carry nutritional labelling and nutritional information should be displayed at healthcare sites in a more imaginative and innovative way. More refrigerated vending machines with a selection of healthier options should be supplied. Packed lunches or plated salads obtainable from restaurants by evening and night-shift nurses should be offered, in addition to a better selection of sandwiches and other food choices outside the hours of 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Nurses should be encouraged to drink the recommended amount of eight glasses of water per day (Health and Fitness Tips 2000) by providing adequate water dispensers. The possibility of having separate catering facilities for staff who wish to avoid patients and visitors during breaks should be explored.
Mobile Phones for Financial Inclusion: What Explains the Diffusion of Mobile Money Innovations?

Mobile money innovations are expanding rapidly in developing countries, where they appear to be on track to extend financial services to billions of unbanked populations. However, adoption rates differ significantly across countries, and the success of innovations is also radically different within countries. To understand the factors that affect the development and diffusion of mobile money services, this study uses a mixed research method that combines cross-country data of adoption rates and an in-depth case study of a successful mobile money innovation. Quantitative analysis of adoption rates across countries indicates the varying role of institutional and economic factors on the adoption and usage of mobile money innovations. We undertake an in-depth study of M-Pesa in Kenya, one of the world’s most known mobile money innovations, to gain nuanced understanding of the development and diffusion of the innovation. Analysis using the functional innovation system approach reveals the key role of the lead firm in guiding the innovation process, and the importance of a supportive regulatory environment that sought to advance financial inclusion. The results further reveal how the power and interest dynamics of key actors in the innovation system can shape the emergence of inclusive innovations that aim to address social issues.
The Persistence of Broadband User Behavior: Implications for Universal Service and Competition Policy

In several markets, firms compete not for consumer expenditure but consumer attention. We examine user priorities over the allocation of their time, and interpret that behavior in light of policy discussions over universal service, data caps, and related policy topics, such as merger analysis. Specifically, we use extensive microdata on user online choice to characterize the demand for the services offered online, which drives a household's supply of attention. Our data cover a period of time that saw the introduction of many new and notable sites and new devices on which to access them. In our analysis, we assess “how” households supply their attention along various dimensions, such as their concentration of attention across the universe of sites and the amount of attention expenditure per domain visit. Remarkably, we find no change in “how” households allocated their attention despite drastically changing where they allocated it. Moreover, conditional on total attention expenditure, demographics entirely fail to predict our key measures of attention allocation decisions. We highlight several important implications, for policy and beyond, stemming from the persistence and demographic orthogonality of our novel attention measures.
Wireless over cable for energy-efficient femtocell systems

Recently, network architectures based on high-density cells with reduced transmit power have been claimed as a promising solution for energy efficiency enhancement. Cell size reduction down to the range 10–50m is the paradigm of femtocells, based on low-cost, user-deployed in-house base stations connected to the operator's core network through DSL links. However, in dense urban scenarios, radio interference arising from multiple femtocells sharing the same spectrum can result in detrimental throughput degradation, with the straightforward consequence of increasing the effective amount of consumed energy per delivered information bit. In this paper, capitalizing on the Distributed Antennas System (DAS) paradigm, we propose a new Wireless over Cable architecture for femtocells (named FemtoWoC architecture) as a green solution that prevents the need of xDSL equipments for connections over cable, and enhances throughput performances through centralized resource management and interference mitigation for multiple femtocells. Benefits of the FemtoWoC solution with respect to the conventional scheme are investigated through simulations by accounting for a realistic LTE cellular deployment.
Time Needed for Treatment Is the Major Predictor of Quality of Life in Psoriasis

Background: The literature on predictors of health-related quality of life in psoriasis is inconsistent. Objective: To assess potential predictors of quality of life in psoriasis. Methods: In a cross-sectional study involving 130 dermatological practices and outpatient clinics, data of 1,210 patients with psoriasis were collected. Quality of life was evaluated using the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Medical history, clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, therapy and health care features were used as independent variables in a backward multiple regression analysis. Results: Twelve predictors were included in the model explaining 38% of variance in quality of life. The strongest predictor was daily treatment time (β = 0.30), followed by patient-defined treatment benefit (β = –0.18), disease severity (β = 0.19) and treatment satisfaction (β = –0.16). Conclusion: Treatment burden requires special attention when quality of life in psoriasis is to be improved. Since the larger part of variance is left unexplained, further factors predicting quality of life have yet to be detected.
LysNDeNovo: An algorithm enabling de novo sequencing of Lys‐N generated peptides fragmented by electron transfer dissociation

Recently, we introduced a novel proteomics method employing a metalloendopeptidase with Lys‐N specificity to produce proteolytic peptides. Fragmentation spectra generated by electron transfer dissociation, for a large proportion of the Lys‐N proteolytic peptides, were found to be dominated by extensive series of c‐type ions. Taking advantage of this unique spectral property, we developed an algorithm, LysNDeNovo, to facilitate de novo sequencing of these peptides. LysNDeNovo contains simple and naive heuristics to demonstrate a proof of concept, i.e. that Lys‐N peptide electron transfer dissociation spectra are perfectly suited for de novo interpretation. A stringent “golden” dataset of peptides identified by conventional database search algorithms was taken to validate the performance of LysNDeNovo. The results on this dataset indicate that LysNDeNovo was able to confidently identify a considerable proportion (42%), without requiring any prior genome or protein sequences. Results of similar quantity and quality could also be obtained on a much more extensive experimental dataset, illustrating the potential for higher throughput de novo sequencing using these methods.