Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Involvement in Knowledge–Acquisition Activities by Venture Team Members and Venture Performance

This research uses concepts of organizational learning to analyze knowledge acquisition by management teams in emerging firms. Involvement in ongoing knowledge–acquisition activities is positively and significantly related to venture performance. In addition, task environment dynamism is a positive moderator of the relationship between involvement in knowledge–acquisition activities and venture performance.
Genetic Trends for Milk Yield, Persistency of Milk Yield, Somatic Cell Count and Calving Interval in Holstein Dairy Cows of Iran

The objective of the present study was to estimate genetic trends for lactation milk yield, persistency of milk yield, somatic cell count and interval between first and second calving in Holstein dairy cows of Iran. The dataset consisted of 210,625 test day and 25,883 first parity cows with milk yield recorded from July 2002 to September 2007 comprising 97 herds in Iran. Breeding values of animals were predicted with Best Linear Unbiased Prediction methodology under multi-trait animal model. Model included region, herd–year–season of calving and age at first calving as fixed effects and Holstein percentage (covariate) and random animal additive effect. Genetic trends of studied traits were estimated by regressing mean of breeding values on calving year. Phenotypic trends were estimated using annual averages of first lactation traits on calving year weighted by the number of animals in each year. Genetic trend was positive and significant for lactation milk yield (21 kg/yr; p < 0.01). Although not significant, favorable genetic trends for most studied traits were reported. Considering that selection emphasis in Iran was on lactation milk yield, progress for this trait was low during the years of the study.
Women's vulnerability, sexual power and prevention of stigma : what do prevention campaigns tell us

The HIV-epidemic that is evident in South Africa today is infecting more women than men. This is mostly due to the vulnerability that women are facing in sexual relationships, where they are not able to negotiate the terms and conditions of their sexual engagement. Patriarchy, the culture of masculinity and a general male dominance influence women’s dependency on their man and agency inside and outside of the home, and contribute to the oppression of women both generally in society and sexually. Women have by this not the control over their own bodies and are for this reason in a high-risk position of contracting HIV. The vulnerability is further linked to the stigmatisation that women experience if they do try to negotiate preventative measures to reduce the risk of transmission. The fear of being stigmatised as ‘loose’ or HIV-positive by both men and women if suggesting condom use, inhibits women to propose the necessary actions for protection. Stigmatising behaviours also impact on a person’s fear of becoming HIV-positive and reduces the likelihood of getting tested, disclose one’s status to sexual partners and receive treatment. This thesis examines cultural and socio-economic issues that contribute to gender inequality in South Africa, and can generate stigma towards women on the basis of HIV and AIDS. This is done by using radical feminism as the theoretical framework for contextualising how women are situated in the South African society, in terms of general and sexual agency. Through the method of content analysis and the findings from the theoretical framework, the thesis further analyses how the three HIVprevention campaigns loveLife, Brothers for Life and TAC manage to address the issues related to stigma based on HIV/AIDS, which are directed towards women. Race, class and gender are all factors that influence the likelihood of becoming HIV-infected and of becoming stigmatised. Women’s low social status situates women in a position where they are more probable to be the object of stigmatisation since they already are considered lower in rank. If the women also are of colour, poor and low educated the chances of becoming stigmatised on the basis of HIV and AIDS are even more likely, the same is the chances of becoming HIV-infected. This indicates that poor, uneducated black women are the group that is most vulnerable towards stigmatisation as well as towards HIV-transmission. Socio-economic and cultural factors have a strong influence on the gender inequality in sexual relationships found in South Africa, which cause HIV to spread and can generate stigmatising behaviours. Stigmatisation on the basis of HIV/AIDS is therefore important to address in order to reduce the number of new HIV-infections. The three campaigns analysed for this thesis did neither Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
Genome-wide Expression Profiling Revealed Peripheral Effects of Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Inverse Agonists in Improving Insulin Sensitivity and Metabolic Parameters

Inhibition of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) has shown efficacy in reducing body weight and improving metabolic parameters, with the effects correlating with target engagement in the brain. The peripheral effects of inhibiting the CB1 receptor has been appreciated through studies in diet-induced obese and liver-specific CB1 knockout mice. In this article, we systematically investigated gene expression changes in peripheral tissues of diet-induced obese mice treated with the CB1 inverse agonist AM251 [1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-(4-iodophenyl)-4-methyl-N-(1-piperidyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide]. CB1 receptor inhibition led to down-regulation of genes within the de novo fatty acid and cholesterol synthetic pathways, including sterol regulatory element binding proteins 1 and 2 and their downstream targets in both liver and adipose tissue. In addition, genes involved in fatty acid β-oxidation were up-regulated with AM251 treatment, probably through the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). In adipose tissue, CB1 receptor inhibition led to the down-regulation of genes in the tumor necrosis factor α signal transduction pathway and possibly to the activation of PPARγ, both of which would result in improved insulin sensitivity.
Actual versus desired initiation patterns among a sample of college men: Tapping disjunctures within traditional male sexual scripts

Research on men's sexual scripts has tended to overlook that some men do not endorse traditional scripts or that one or both members of a couple might desire a departure from culturally dominant sexual scripts. This study used in‐depth interviews with 32 college‐aged men from a community college in New York City to examine disjunctures between current and desired sexual initiation patterns. Results show that although most men currently practice male‐dominated patterns of sexual initiation, many men desire egalitarian patterns of initiation. Men offered clear preference to be an object of desire to their female partners, deployed narratives of wanting to share the “labor” of sexual initiation, and expressed ideologies of sexual egalitarianism. We consider how shifting terrains of gender relations in contemporary U.S. culture may shape masculinities and sexual scripts. We also consider how an examination of disjunctures between current and desired practices might be useful to HIV researchers interested in intervening across multiple levels of the sexual script.
Reputation Repair after a Serious Restatement

ABSTRACT: How do firms repair their reputations after a serious accounting restatement? To answer this question, we review firms' press releases and identify 1,765 reputation-building actions taken by: (1) 94 restating firms in the periods before and after their restatement; and (2) a set of matched control firms during contemporaneous periods. We posit that firms have incentives to target multiple stakeholders in a reputation repair strategy—including capital providers, customers, employees, and geographic communities—and that actions targeting each group generate positive market returns as reputation capital is repaired. Consistent with our predictions, the frequency of, and stock returns to, reputation-building actions are greater for restating firms in the period after their restatement than for the control groups. In addition, firm characteristics predict the types of stakeholders targeted by firms. Finally, actions targeted at both capital providers and other stakeholders are associated with improve.
Incidence of Constipation Associated with Long-acting Opioid Therapy: A Comparative Study

Background Opioid therapy plays a key role in the management of chronic pain. Constipation is one of the more frequently occurring adverse effects associated with opioid therapy. Methods A retrospective cohort design study was conducted to determine the incidence of constipation in chronic pain patients who received three different long-acting opioids (transdermal fentanyl, oxycodone HCl controlled-release [CR], or morphine CR) for malignant or nonmalignant chronic pain. The data source was claims data (January 1996 through March 2001) from a 20% random sample of the California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) database. Claims data were from adult patients with chronic pain (malignant or nonmalignant) who had no prior diagnosis of constipation and no prior usage of long-acting opioids for at least 3 months before the observation period. Patients were followed for at least 3 months after the initiation of opioid therapy. ICD-9 code for diagnosis of constipation was the main outcome variable. Crude rates of constipation, annual incidence density, relative risk, and adjusted odds ratios were compared. Results A total of 1,836 patients (601 receiving transdermal fentanyl, 721 receiving oxycodone CR, and 514 receiving morphine CR) were included in the analysis. Crude (unadjusted) rates of constipation were 3.7% for transdermal fentanyl, 6.1% for oxycodone CR, and 5.1% for morphine CR (P > 0.05). Transdermal fentanyl had a lower annual incidence density and risk of constipation than oxycodone CR and morphine CR (P > 0.05). After adjusting for confounding variables, including race and supplemental opioid use, the adjusted risk of constipation was 78% greater in the oxycodone CR group (P = 0.0337) and 44% greater in the morphine CR group (P = 0.2242) than in the transdermal fentanyl group. Conclusion In this population, patients receiving transdermal fentanyl had a lower risk of developing constipation compared with those receiving oxycodone CR or morphine CR.
Nodal Endosalpingiosis in Ovarian Serous Tumors of Low Malignant Potential With Lymph Node Involvement: A Case for a Precursor Lesion

Lymph node involvement (LNI) in ovarian serous tumors of low malignant potential (OSLMP) upstages 22% of patients. The origin of LNI has been a subject of debate in the literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of nodal endosalpingiosis in the pathogenesis of this entity. We first examined the frequency of nodal endosalpingiosis in 30 OSLMP cases, 30 cervical adenocarcinoma cases, and 30 endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma cases. The rate of nodal endosalpingiosis was significantly higher in OSLMP cases (33%) compared with both cervical (0%, P<0.0001) and endometrial tumor cases (3%, P=0.0015). We then compared the frequency of nodal endosalpingiosis in 36 cases of OSLMP with LNI and 36 cases of OSLMP without LNI. The rate of nodal endosalpingiosis was significantly higher in OSLMP with LNI (66%) than in OSLMP without LNI (14%, P<0.0001). We further investigated the cohort cases of OSLMP with LNI by recording the presence of nodal endosalpingiosis and LNI in each individual lymph node in every case. This analysis revealed that nodal endosalpingiosis and LNI appear together in the same lymph nodes at a much higher rate than would be expected by random chance alone (OR=71.2, P<0.0001). Lastly, in OSLMP cases with LNI, we recorded the types of LNI patterns. We found that the intraglandular pattern was present in a higher percentage of cases with nodal endosalpingiosis (50%) than in cases without nodal endosalpingiosis (8%, P=0.0253). Overall, the intraglandular pattern of LNI appeared in 36% of OSLMP cases with LNI. In this study, we show that nodal endosalpingiosis not only occurs more commonly in OSLMP compared with other Müllerian malignancies, but also in OSLMP with LNI compared with OSLMP without LNI. For the first time, we demonstrate a statistically significant association between endosalpingiosis and the intraglandular pattern of LNI, and we propose that in up to a third of patients with OSLMP and LNI, nodal foci of serous tumor of low malignant potential may derive independently, from nodal endosalpingiosis. This result contributes to the understanding of the pathogenesis of extraovarian disease in cases of OSLMP and has important implications for patient management and follow-up.
When does growth trickle down to the poor? The Indian case

A theoretical analysis and several econometric tests have been undertaken to examine whether the trickle down effect took place in rural India over a long time period. We found little evidence to suggest that the trickle down effect had occurred at all; our analysis suggests that the emergence of capital-labour substitution was primarily responsible for preventing growth from reducing poverty. The decline in poverty and a higher growth rate that took place during the late 1970s and 1980s were largely a result of government anti-poverty measures teamed with the more equitable distribution of credit and inputs to smaller and marginal farmers.
Australian VET policy and the role of business and industry

Vocational education needs to be closely linked to the requirements of business and industry both in terms of policy and educational practice. However, over the past fifteen years the wants of business have come to dominate VET policy to the exclusion of any other stakeholder interests. This has led to seriously inadequate policies in the VET area that are responsible for the current skills crisis. It is more than two years since two major reports concluded the VET policies in Australia are not working yet to date there has been little indication of substantial shifts in government thinking and policy to create a more effective VET system. This paper looks at the need to reposition other stakeholders in the policy equation and reduce the influence of business and industry to some degree to produce a VET system more closely aligned to the needs of Australian society. It is argued that focus upon quality rather than quantity needs to be a central consideration in any new policy realignment.
Is Laparoscopic Appendectomy an Effective Procedure ?

Abstract Aim: To compare the results of open and laparoscopic appendectomy and to determine if the laparoscopic approach might be more effective for some subgroups of patients. Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed the computerised data of 326 consecutive adult patients operated on for suspected appendicitis between 2001 and 2005. The series consisted of 166 men and 160 women with a mean age of 32 ± 16 years and a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24 ± 4. There were 265 ASA I, 46 ASA II and 5 ASA III patients. According to the surgeon’s preference, 176 patients had an open appendectomy (OA) and 150 a laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). Results: The mean operative time and hospital stay were equivalent in the two groups: respectively 49 ± 19 min. and 4.1 ± 2.5 days in OA and 50 ± 16 min. and 3.5 ± 1.8 days in LA. However, subgroup analysis revealed that overweight (BMI > 25) patients (n=102) and patients with ectopic appendices (n=86) had an obvious benefit from LA. In cases of OA, operative time and hospital stay were longer in overweight patients than in normal weight patients: respectively 63 ± 20 min. and 5.3 ± 2.9 days versus 44 ± 16 min. (p < 0.01) and 3.7 ± 2.2 days (p < 0.01). On the contrary, no difference was observed in the lA group. Operative time and hospital stay were also longer in patients with ectopic appendices submitted to OA than in patients with an appendix in the normal position: respectively 60 ± 18 min. and 4.7 ± 2.7 days versus 45 ± 18 min. (p < 0.01) and 3.9 ± 2.4 days (p < 0.01). Again, such a difference was not observed in cases of LA. We noted no mortality, but 24 patients (7%) developed an abdominal complication: 18 wound infections and 6 intra-abdominal abscesses. Wound infections were more common in the OA than in the LA group: 7.3% (13/176) versus 3.3% (5/150) (p = 0.1). In the LA group, 4 wound infections were observed in our early experience, at a time where no endoscopic bag was used for the removal of the appendix. The rate of intra-abdominal abscesses was similar: 1.7% (3/176) in the OA group and 2% (3/150) in the LA group. Conclusions: LA is an effective procedure with a reduced risk of developing wound infection. The laparoscopic approach is particularly effective for overweight patients and/or patients with ectopic appendices as far as shortening the operative time and hospital stay are concerned.
Analysis of drawdowns and drawups in the US$ interest-rate market

We investigate the statistical properties of drawdowns and drawups in interest rates (US$) using over 10 years' worth of daily data. We analyse the nature of the drawdowns in terms of length of runs, magnitude of the individual price moves and coincidence of their occurrence across the maturity spectrum. We document significant positive autocorrelation for several holding periods, pronounced term structure effects and an unexpectedly low degree of coincidence in the occurrence of drawdowns across the maturity spectrum (despite high correlation in daily moves). By drawing on previous work by Rebonato et al. (2005) we try to provide a coherent explanation for a complex set of empirical observations. An essential ingredient of this explanation appears to be the existence of at least two distinct types (normal and excited) of price dynamics, with different serial correlation properties. We concur with the results by Sornette and Johansen (Significance of log-periodic precursors to financial crashes. Quant. Finance, 2001, 1, 452–471) for different asset classes that very large drawdowns belong to the `undemocratic' case, and may therefore result from an amplification mechanism.
Revisiting the Vexing Question: Does Superior Corporate Social Performance Lead to Improved Financial Performance?

The empirical evidence documenting the association between a firm's level of corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP) remains divided. This paper reinvestigates the CSP/CFP association using a more rigorous methodology whilst taking advantage of a superior measure of CSP. In contrast to the findings of much of the prior research, the market-based tests suggest a negative association between CSP and CFP, while the accounting tests indicate no association exists. We suggest that the negative market CSP/CFP relation should not be interpreted as CSP having no value. Rather, our results may suggest that leading CSP firms trade at a price premium (i.e. returns discount) relative to lagging CSP firms, thereby indicating that financial markets value CSP and are prepared to realise lower returns. For firms, this signals an ability to obtain a lower cost of equity capital when they proactively manage their CSP profiles.
Cancer prevention in Europe: the Mediterranean diet as a protective choice

In the coming years, European death rates because of cancer will further decline, but the overall number of cases will increase, mostly as a consequence of the ageing of the population. The target for cancer prevention in Europe will remain a healthy diet and control of obesity in addition to a decrease in smoking. A healthy diet model in European countries is the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is based on abundant and variable plant foods, high consumption of cereals, olive oil as the main (added) fat, low intake of (red) meat and moderate consumption of wine. The Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The biological mechanisms for cancer prevention associated with the Mediterranean diet have been related to the favourable effect of a balanced ratio of omega 6 and omega 3 essential fatty acids and high amounts of fibre, antioxidants and polyphenols found in fruit, vegetables, olive oil and wine. The Mediterranean diet also involves a ‘Mediterranean way of drinking’, that is, regular, moderate consumption of wine mainly with food. This pattern of drinking increases longevity, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and does not appreciably influence the overall risk of cancer. However, heavy alcohol drinking is associated with digestive, upper respiratory tract, liver and breast cancers; therefore, avoidance or restriction of alcohol consumption to two drinks/day in men and one drink/day in women is a global public health priority.
Myocardial perfusion and function in dogs with moderate coronary stenosis

MRI studies of first‐pass contrast enhancement with polylysine‐Gd‐DTPA and myocardial tagging using spatial modulation of magnetization (SPAMM) were performed to assess the feasibility of a combined regional myocardial blood flow and 2D deformation exam. Instrumented closed‐chest dogs were imaged at a baseline control state (Cntl) followed by two interventions: moderate coronary stenosis (St) achieved by partial occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) and moderate coronary stenosis with dobutamine loading (StD). Hypoperfusion of the anterior region (ANT) of the myocardium (LAD distribution) relative to the posterior wall (POS) based on the upslope of the signal intensity time curve from the contrast‐enhanced MR images was demonstrated only with dobutamine loading (ANT:POS Cntl=1.077 ± 0.15 versus ANT:POS StD=0.477 ± 0.11, P<0.03) and was confirmed with radio‐labeled microspheres measurements (ANT:POS Cntl=1.18 ± 0.2 ml/min/g versus ANT:POS StD=0.44 ± 0.1 ml/min/g; P<0.002). Significant changes in regional myocardial shortening were only seen in the StD state (P<0.02); the anterior region showed impaired myocardial shortening with dobutamine loading (P=NS), whereas the nonaffected POS region showed a marked increase in shortening when compared with Cntl (Cntl=0.964 ± 0.02 versus StD=0.884 ± 0.03; P<0.001). These results demonstrate that an integrated quantitative assessment of regional myocardial function and semiquantitative assessment of myocardial blood flow can be performed noninvasively with ultrafast MRI.
The International Elasticity Puzzle

____________________________________________________________ In models of international trade, the elasticity of substitution between foreign and domestic goods—the Armington elasticity—determines the behavior of trade flows and international prices. International real business cycle models need low elasticities, in the range of 1 to 2, to match the quarterly fluctuations in trade balances and the terms of trade, but static applied general equilibrium models need high elasticities, between 10 and 15, to account for the growth in trade following trade liberalization. To reconcile these contradictory findings, we construct a model in which cyclical fluctuations are caused by temporary shocks, as in business cycle models, but tariff changes are permanent. In the model, firms do not change export status in response to temporary shocks, while tariff decreases induce some non-exporters to export. In a calibrated model, the entry of new exporters increases the measured elasticity with respect to a tariff change to 6.4, while the elasticity in response to temporary shocks is 1.2. ________________________________________________________________________ *I would like to thank Timothy Kehoe for his advice and encouragement. I also thank V.V. Chari, Patrick Kehoe, Sam Kortum, Erzo G.J. Luttmer, Edward Prescott, and Kei-Mu Yi helpful discussions and comments. I thank the National Science Foundation for financial support under grant number 0536970.