Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of green self-identity and peer influence in fostering trust towards organic food retailers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of green self-identity, green peer influence, service and product quality of organic food retailers on Indian consumers’ perceived trust and transaction risk. Design/methodology/approach The sample consisted of consumers purchasing organic food products from organic food retailers. A mix of judgemental and convenience sampling was used. Findings Green peer influence, perceived organic food quality and service quality had a positive influence on perceived trust towards organic food retailer. Green self-identity had a negative influence on perceived transaction risk, and green peer influence had a positive effect on perceived transaction risk. Practical implications The findings can be used by organic food retailers to increase trust by improving organic food brands and service quality at the stores. The organic food market is in nascent stage and consumers’ trust towards organic food retailers is crucial in improving intention to purchase organic food. Peer influence should be used in cultivating trust towards products sold by organic food retailers. Originality/value The study adds to existing research by analysing the role of green self-identity, peer influence, organic food and service quality on perceived trust and transaction risk. The results can be used by retailers for marketing organic food brands.
Boards of Directors in Small Corporations: An Untapped Resource

Small business corporations face many problems. Some are inherent because of their size alone while others are due to government regulations and practices. To cope successfully with such problems, it is imperative that small corporations attempt to maximize their available resources. The board of directors is a resource largely ignored as a positive input in managing small firms. This article proposes a departure from traditional use of boards and recommends one conceptual scheme. A typical board structure is presented with applications showing how it can alleviate many of the problems facing small corporations.
The Bleak Nature Of Hrm Practices In Organisational Management Of Casual Labour Employments

The purpose of this study is to investigate the morbid use of numerical labour flexibility with a specific focus on casual labour employment. Scholarly enquiries into labour casualization have often been assessed from a labourmarket flexibility perspective and/or managerial control of labour. In contrast, this research attempts to add to literature by unveiling the experiences facing these organisational cohort from narrative accounts of employees. In doing so, 20 interviews were conducted with casual staffs employed as security guards, cleaners and shelve stackers at one of the Shoprite supermarket subsidiary operating in Nigeria. The findings exposed ebbing HR practices regulating working conditions of these set of workers based on the low skill nature of their job roles. Consequently, practical implications of the study proposes demands for HR managers to reconceptualise HRM best practices that would accommodate and support casual labourers based on the rising need for firms to remain flexible in response to changing market vagaries.
Voxel-Based Analysis of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescents

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: DTI of normal-appearing WM as evaluated by conventional MR imaging in mTBI has the potential to identify important regional abnormalities that relate to PCS. VBA was used to examine WM changes in acute mTBI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: WM was assessed between 1 and 6 days postinjury with voxel-based DTI analyses in 10 adolescent patients with mTBI and 10 age-matched control participants. In addition to the voxel-based group, analysis used to identify brain pathology across all patients with mTBI, 2 voxel-based linear regressions were performed. These analyses investigated the relation between 1) the ADC and PCS severity scores, and 2) ADC and scores on the BSI of emotional symptoms associated with mTBI. We hypothesized that frontotemporal WM changes would relate to symptoms associated with PCS and endorsed on the BSI. RESULTS: Patients with mTBI demonstrated significant reductions in ADC in several WM regions and in the left thalamus. As expected, no increases in ADC were found in any region of interest. All injury-affected regions showed decreased radial diffusivity, unchanged AD, and increased FA, which is consistent with axonal cytotoxic edema, reflective of acute injury. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-brain WM DTI measures can detect abnormalities in acute mTBI associated with PCS symptoms in adolescents.
Treatment-Seeking Inpatient Cocaine Abusers Show Hypothalamic Dysregulation of Both Basal Prolactin and Cortisol Secretion

Cocaine causes neuroendocrine aberrations in cocaine abusers with pituitary stress hormone secretion providing a window to the stress system in the brain. Substance abusers and control participants were hormonally profiled for 3 weeks. Abusers showed significant basal elevations in prolactin in week 1 with normalization over the 3 weeks. No differences in prolactin secretion were seen with either thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation or L-dopa suppression testing. Basal afternoon cortisol secretion was significantly elevated during weeks 1 and 2 comparing abusers to controls. Elevated afternoon cortisol secretion is a sensitive indicator of central stress activation. These results point to the hypothalamus, not the pituitary gland, as being primarily altered in cocaine withdrawal. The data demonstrate that both the dopamine-prolactin and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes are affected during cocaine cessation. As medications are developed to modulate activation of a dysfunctional stress system, future therapeutic studies of substance abuse, withdrawal, craving and relapse should employ more sophisticated tests of hypothalamic pituitary function, especially the HPA axis, as this information may be a guide in the diagnosis and predict clinical responses.
Mutational analysis of 105 mucopolysaccharidosis type VI patients

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI; Maroteaux‐Lamy syndrome) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the N‐acetylgalactosamine‐4‐sulfatase (arylsulfatase B, ARSB) gene. ARSB is a lysosomal enzyme involved in the degradation of the glycosaminoglycans (GAG) dermatan and chondroitin sulfate. ARSB mutations reduce enzyme function and GAG degradation, causing lysosomal storage and urinary excretion of these partially degraded substrates. Disease onset and rate of progression is variable, producing a spectrum of clinical presentation. In this study, 105 MPS VI patients—representing about 10% of the world MPS VI population—were studied for molecular genetic and biochemical parameters. Direct sequencing of patient genomic DNA was used to identify ARSB mutations. In total, 83 different disease‐causing mutations were found, 62 of which were previously unknown. The novel sequence changes included: 38 missense mutations, five nonsense mutations, 11 deletions, one insertion, seven splice‐site mutations, and four polymorphisms. ARSB mutant protein and residual activity were determined on fibroblast extracts for each patient. The identification of many novel mutations unique to individuals/their families highlighted the genetic heterogeneity of the disorder and provided an appropriate cohort to study the MPS VI phenotypic spectrum. This mutation analysis has identified a clear correlation between genotype and urinary GAG that can be used to predict clinical outcome. Hum Mutat 28(9), 897–903, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
With a Little Help from Our Friends: How Social Entrepreneurship Ventures Change the World on a Shoestring

This paper employs grounded theory to understand how social entrepreneurship ventures pursue the types of change that supporters demand with very limited budgets. A multiple case study found that organizations walk a fine line, inspiring supporters by emphasizing grand change goals while at the same time, buffering supporter enthusiasm from disappointment by refraining from identifying as mission critical any goals for which the factors that would influence success are largely outside of the organizations control. SEVs used inter-organizational cooperation to pursue change goals where short term failures were likely and where eventual success was only possible after a protracted effort.
Associations between Neighborhood Characteristics, Well-Being and Health Vary over the Life Course

Background: Neighborhood characteristics are important determinants of individual health and well-being. For example, characteristics such as noise and pollution affect health directly, while other characteristics affect health and well-being by either providing resources (e.g. social capital in the neighborhood), which individuals can use to cope with health problems, or limiting the use thereof (e.g. crime). This also suggests that there might be age differentials in the impact of these characteristics, since individuals at different stages of life might need different resources. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence on age differentials in associations between well-being, health, and neighborhood characteristics. Objective: This paper studies associations between a wide range of neighborhood characteristics with the health and well-being of residents of the greater Berlin area. In particular, we focus on differences in the effects between younger (aged 20-35) and older (aged 60+) residents. Methods: We used data from the Berlin Aging Study II (312 younger and 993 older residents of the Berlin metropolitan area in Germany). We used survey data on health and well-being, combined these with subjective perceptions of the neighborhood, and geo-referenced indicators on the neighborhood, e.g. amenities (public transport, physicians, and hospitals). Results: The results show that access to public transportation is associated with better outcomes on all measures of health and well-being, and social support is associated with higher life satisfaction and better mental health. There are considerable differences between both age groups: while the associations between access to public transport and health and well-being are similar for both age groups, neighborhood social capital shows stronger associations for older residents. However, the difference is not always statistically significant. Conclusion: Having access to services is associated with better health and well-being regardless of age. Local policy makers should focus on lowering barriers to mobility in order to improve the health and well-being of the population. Since the social capital of a neighborhood is associated with better health and well-being among older residents, investments that increase social capital (e.g. community centers) might be warranted in neighborhoods with higher shares of older residents.
Enteric neuronal density contributes to the severity of intestinal inflammation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Enteric neurons have been reported to be increased in inflamed regions of the bowel in patients with inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal neurogangliomatosis. It is impossible to determine whether this hyperinnervation predates intestinal inflammation, results from it, or contributes to its severity in humans, so we studied this process in mice. METHODS To determine whether the density of enteric neurons determines the severity of inflammation, we studied transgenic mice that have greater than normal (NSE-noggin mice, which overexpress noggin under the control of the neuron-specific enolase promoter) or fewer than normal (Hand2(+/-) mice) numbers of neurons in the enteric nervous system. Colitis was induced with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid or dextran sulfate sodium, and the intensity of the resulting inflammation in Hand2(+/-) and NSE-noggin mice was compared with that of wild-type littermates. RESULTS Severity of each form of colitis (based on survival, symptom, and histologic scores; intestinal expression of genes that encode proinflammatory molecules; and levels of neutrophil elastase and p50 nuclear factor κB) were significantly reduced in Hand2(+/-) mice and significantly increased in NSE-noggin animals. Neither mouse differed from wild-type in the severity of delayed-type hypersensitivity (edema, T-cell and neutrophil infiltration, or expression of interleukin-1β, interferon-γ, or tumor necrosis factor-α) induced in the ears using 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene. Transgene effects on inflammation were therefore restricted to the gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSIONS The severity of intestinal inflammation is associated with the density of the enteric innervation in mice. Abnormalities in development of the enteric nervous system might therefore contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.
Do Managers Learn from Short Sellers

This paper investigates whether short selling activities affect corporate decisions through an information channel. By exploiting a unique institutional feature in Hong Kong market that only stocks included in an official list are eligible for short sales, I show that non-shortable firms’ investment is positively and significantly related to their shortable peers’ stock prices: a one standard deviation decrease in shortable peers’ stock prices is associated with a decrease in non-shortable firms’ investment by around 10%. I verify that this relationship is not driven by shortable peers’ other firm characteristics besides short-sale eligibility. Moreover, this relationship becomes stronger in situations where non-shortable firms’ managers are more likely to learn negative information from shortable peers’ stock prices. These findings are consistent with my hypothesis that non-shortable firms’ managers seek to learn short sellers’ information on external conditions from shortable peers’ stock prices and use this information in their corporate investment decisions.
Zinc inhibits interleukin‐1‐dependent T cell stimulation

Zinc is a trace element which is essential for immune functions. It directly induces monokine secretion by monocytes; however, effects of zinc on T cells appear contradictory. Apart from enhanced lymphocyte proliferation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), inhibitory properties of high zinc dosages have also been described. In this study, PBMC failed to produce lymphokines like interferon (IFN)‐γ after stimulation with zinc in a serum‐ and LPS‐free cell culture system, whereas monokine secretion [interleukin (IL)‐1β] occurred. Zinc‐uptake studies with the zinc‐specific fluorescent probe zinquin revealed that zinc is taken up by PBMC within a few minutes, reaching nearly equal levels in PBMC, isolated monocytes, and T cells. However, if zinc was depleted 1 h after monocyte induction, zinc‐free pre‐cultured T cells were stimulated to secrete IFN‐γ by zinc‐induced monokines. Furthermore, the necessity for a cell‐cell interaction between monocytes and T cells for IFN‐γ induction was elucidated. Zinc ions inhibited the proliferation of the IL‐1‐dependent T cell line D 10N in a dose‐dependent manner, suggesting a direct inhibitory effect of zinc. By immunoprecipitation we revealed a specific inhibition of IL‐1 receptor‐associated protein kinase (IRAK) by zinc ions. Therefore, in contrast to an indirect stimulation of T cells due to zinc‐induced monokines, higher concentrations of zinc directly inhibit T cell functions by means of specific inhibition of IRAK and subsequent signaling events such as NFxB activation. The divergent effects of zinc on different cell populations, depending on the zinc concentration, could explain contradictory results of zinc stimulation. Furthermore, our data suggest new strategies of specific zinc‐mediated immune modulation.
The impact of rehabilitation carried out using the Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration method in children with cerebral palsy on the results of brain stem auditory potential examinations.

BACKGROUND Rehabilitation therapy in children with neuromotor development disorders can be carried out with the use of various methods. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of rehabilitation carried out with the use of the new therapeutic method MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) by objective measurements with a brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) examination. MATERIAL AND METHODS Besides the known parameters, Interpeak Latency I-V (IPL I-V) in BAEP, an original parameter proposed by Pilecki was introduced, called a relative IPL I-V value. The study involved a group of 17 children (9 girls and 8 boys) aged from 1.3 to 5.9 years (mean = 3.8 years, SD = 1.3) with cerebral palsy. Due to difficulty in co-operation, analysis of only 15 children could be finished. RESULTS Analysis of the absolute IPL I-V values showed that after rehabilitation the percentage of the results with slowed transmission, i.e. those in which the IPL I-V value was prolonged, decreased from more than 88% to 60%. The assessment of the relative IPL I-V values showed that the results obtained after rehabilitation are more advantageous. CONCLUSIONS As a result of rehabilitation carried out by the MNRI method in children with CP, a significant improvement in the transmission in the brain stem section of the auditory pathway was observed based on the absolute and relative IPL I-V values. However, the change obtained in children was various.
The canine 'groove' model, compared with the ACLT model of osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE The frequently used anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) model of osteoarthritis (OA) in the dog, makes use of a permanent trigger (joint instability) for inducing degenerative changes. The present study evaluates a canine model of degenerative cartilage damage, mimicking OA, which is induced without making use of permanent joint instability. METHODS The articular cartilage of the weight-bearing areas of the femoral condyles in one knee of ten beagle dogs was damaged by making grooves, without damaging the subchondral bone. Surgery was followed by 10 weeks intensified loading of the affected joint. Subsequently, joint damage and inflammation were evaluated. The effects were compared with those of the ACLT model. RESULTS Histological analysis showed chondrocyte clusters around cartilage lesions and moderate loss of proteoglycans in the 'groove' model. Synovial inflammation was mild. Biochemical analysis of cartilage showed changes in matrix proteoglycan turnover, proteoglycan content, and collagen damage, all characteristics of OA. Synovial fluid MMP-1, -3 and -13 activity was enhanced. Changes were found in condyles and plateau, were similar for all animals tested, and were similar to the changes observed in the ACLT model. CONCLUSION The presently described canine 'groove' model shows characteristics identical to those seen in the ACLT model but differs in a way that the changes are induced without joint instability. The latter is expected to make the 'groove' model more sensitive to treatment.
The effects of transforming growth factor-β2 on the expression of follistatin and activin A in normal and glaucomatous human trabecular meshwork cells and tissues.

PURPOSE To compare follistatin (FST) and activin (Act) expression in normal and glaucomatous trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and tissues and determine if exogenous TGF-β2 regulates the expression of FST and Act in TM cells. METHODS Total RNA was isolated from TM cell strains, and mRNA expression for FST 317/344 isoforms and Act was determined via RT-PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Western immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry determined FST and Act A protein levels in normal TM (NTM) and glaucomatous TM (GTM) cells. Cells were treated with recombinant human TGF-β2 protein at 0 to 10 ng/mL for 0 to 72 hours. qPCR, Western immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and ELISA immunoassay were utilized to determine changes in FST and Act A mRNA and protein levels. In addition, NTM and GTM tissue samples were examined by immunohistochemistry for expression of FST, FST 315, FST 288, and Act A. RESULTS Both FST mRNA and protein levels were significantly elevated in GTM cells. FST mRNA transcripts FST 317/344 were also significantly elevated in GTM cells. Immunohistochemistry showed FST levels were significantly elevated in GTM tissues. Exogenous TGF-β2 significantly induced FST mRNA and protein expression. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that Act A protein levels were significantly higher in NTM tissues compared to GTM tissues. CONCLUSIONS FST is elevated in GTM cells and tissues. FST is known to be an inhibitor of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which, coupled with the ability of TGF-β2 to upregulate FST levels, may indicate a possible role of FST in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. These results suggest that additional endogenous molecules in human TM may regulate TGF-β2 signaling via inhibition of BMP family members.
Variable epilepsy phenotypes associated with a familial intragenic deletion of the SCN1A gene

Deletions and duplications/amplifications of the α1‐sodium channel subunit (SCN1A) gene occur in about 12% of patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) who are otherwise mutation‐negative. Such genomic abnormalities cause loss of function, with severe phenotypes, reproductive disadvantage and, therefore, sporadic occurrence. Inherited mutations, occurring in ∼5% of patients with DS, are usually missense; transmission occurs from a mildly affected parent exhibiting febrile seizures (FS) or the generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) spectrum. We identified an intragenic SCN1A deletion in a three‐generation, clinically heterogeneous family. Sequence analysis of SCN9A, a putative modifier, ruled out pathogenic mutations, variants, or putative disease–associated haplotype segregating with phenotype severity. Intrafamilial variability in phenotype severity indicates that SCN1A loss of function causes a phenotypic spectrum in which seizures precipitated by fever are prominent and schematic syndrome subdivisions would be inappropriate. SCN1A deletions should be ruled out even in individuals with mild phenotypes.
The Pilon Map: Fracture Lines and Comminution Zones in OTA/AO Type 43C3 Pilon Fractures

Objectives: The purpose of this investigation is to define the location and frequency of tibia pilon fracture lines and impaction injury for the most severe variety (OTA/AO type 43C3). Patients/Methods: Using axial computed tomography scan images, 38 consecutive OTA/AO type 43C3 fractures treated by a single surgeon were analyzed. For each fracture, a map of the fracture lines and zones of comminution was drawn. Each map was digitized and graphically superimposed to create a compilation of fracture lines and zones of comminution. Based on this compilation, major and minor fracture lines were identified and fracture patterns were defined. Specifically, a basic Y pattern, constant across all patients, was identified where the stem of the Y went into the fibula incisura. All other fracture lines were considered secondary and these defined the comminution. Results: One hundred percent of major fracture lines involved the tibiofibular joint and all exited medially in 2 general zones, anterior and posterior to the medial malleolus best described as a Y-shaped pattern. Therefore, 3 main fragments existed in every single case. Comminution was present in 36 of 38 (95%) cases, and it was predominantly located centrally and in the anterolateral quarter. Conclusions: There is a consistent fracture pattern underlying the majority of OTA/AO type 43C3 pilon fractures that could be defined as 3 main fragments: anterior, medial, and posterior. These result from a major fracture line extending from the fibular incisura and exiting anterior and posterior to the medial malleolus. The comminution commonly distinguishing pilon fractures occurs from secondary fracture lines through the apex of the plafond and in the anterolateral region. Knowledge of this constant pattern should influence surgical approaches and possibly implant design.