Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emergence of third-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus costaricensis Morera and Cespedes 1971 from Biomphalaria glabrata (Say).

Courtney and Forrester (op. cit.) called it C. spiculigerum. Hartwich (1964, Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berlin 40: 15-53) considered that more than one species went by C. spiculigerum and erected C. rudolphii for those specimens reported by Huizinga and by others. This name has been accepted by most recent workers (see references listed by Barus et al., 1978, Helminths of fish-eating birds of the Palaearctic Region I, Nematoda. W. Junk, Publ., Czech. Acad. Sci., Prague, 318 p.), but there are several possible and proposed, older synonyms. In fact, our specimens from the Double-crested Cormorant, White Pelican, Brown Pelican, and Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, collected in Mississippi, as well as additional specimens from Louisiana and Florida were identified as C. microcephalum (Rudolphi 1809) using the key by Barus et al. (op. cit). The interlabial tips are rounded in adults, rather than bifurcated as reported for C. rudolphii. On the other hand, the 4.7to 6.2-mm-long spicules in 12 males 21.0 to 34.5 mm long are 18 to 25% of the body length, which fits within the length-range of those reported for C. rudolphii, but is a smaller percentage of total body length. The spicule tips are similar to those of C. rudolphii, and apparently, the postanal papillae are similar in the two species. We have seen a third species represented by a few specimens. Contracaecum micropapillatum (Stossich 1890) infected one migrating White Pelican. Oglesby (1960, Auk 77: 354) reported more than 1,100 specimens identified as "probably C. micropapillatus" from a dead White Pelican in Apalachee Bay, Florida. We wish to thank W. Guthrie Perry of the Louisiana Fish and Wildlife Commission for providing space and assistance at Rockefeller Refuge; Richard Heard, at that time with the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, and Charles Courtney for supplying some material from the Brown Pelican; and Donald Norris of the University of Southern Mississippi for examining the gavaged rats. This study was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, under PL 88-309 Project No. 2-325-R and HEW-Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration Contract No. 223-76-2141. ose of C. rudolphii, and apparen ly, the
Transcutaneous perianal sonography: a sensitive method for the detection of perianal inflammatory lesions in Crohn's disease.

AIM Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and endoanal ultrasound which are established imaging methods for perianal inflammatory lesions in patients with Crohn's disease require expensive specialized equipments and expertise. We investigated the feasibility and sensitivity of transcutaneous perianal ultrasound (PAUS) using regular ultrasound probes in the imaging of perianal inflammatory lesions. The sonographic findings were correlated to pelvic MRI-scans. METHODS We performed PAUS in 25 patients with Crohn's disease and clinical signs of perianal inflammatory disease. Within a median of 10 d (range 0-75) these patients underwent MRI of the pelvis. Regular convex and linear high resolution probes were used for PAUS. The sonographic findings were correlated to the MRI findings by blinded investigators. RESULTS The sonographic investigations were well tolerated by all patients. Fistulae typically presented as hypoechoic tracks. Twenty-nine fistulae were detected in 22 patients. Abscesses were detected in 7 patients and presented as hypo- or anechoic formations. Twenty-six of 29 fistulae and 6 of 7 abscesses could be confirmed by MRI. Kappa statistics showed an excellent agreement (kappa>0.83) between the two imaging methods. CONCLUSION PAUS is a simple, painless, feasible, real-time method that can be performed without specific patient preparation which is comparable in its sensitivity to pelvic MRI in the detection of perianal fistulae and/or abscesses. PAUS can especially be recommended as a screening tool in acute perianal disorders such as perianal abscess and for follow-up studies of perianal inflammatory disease.
Strategic Management and Crisis Communication Interdependence in the Global Context: A Preliminary Investigation

This research discusses the topic of communication in general with emphasis on managerial communication and crisis interdependence from a strategic management perspective within the global context. This study illustrates the severity of the consequences that firms can suffer due to lack of preparedness, poor planning and coordination of communication, and crisis management and their interdependence when an event occurs. The study uses the recent credit cards data breach of major US retailers. The result of a qualitative inquiry confirms that communication and crisis are interdependent and must be strategically planned and managed with clear policies in place. Such a strategy can prevent potential negative effects in the firm and lead to success. Strategic management is about survival in the hypercompetitive business world. Management must, therefore, prepare and decide when and how to act to prevent dealing with unexpected events.
A comparison between the Cotrel-Dubousset and the pedicle screw-plate instrumentations in the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

BACKGROUND The Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation (CD) is one of the standard instrumentations in the scoliosis surgery. Since the pedicle screw-plate system (PSP) was developed, it has resulted in the three-planar and three-dimensional correction with the minimal neurological complications. However, the correction effectiveness between these two methods is still open to question. OBJECTIVE To compare the results of using the CD and the PSP in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD A retrospective cohort study was conducted in all patients having an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who underwent the surgery with either the CD or the PSP instrumentation at the Department of Orthopedics, Ramathibodi Hospital, during 1991 to 1998. The data of the Cobb angle, kyphotic angle, plumb line, rib hump difference and vertebral rotation were collected pre-operatively, post-operatively, and at the last follow-up. RESULTS Forty-three patients having an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were included. Eighteen patients: 16 females and 2 males were operated by the CD multiple hooks, and 25 patients: 23 females and 2 males were operated by the PSP instrumentation. The PSP system significantly reduced the Cobb angle and de-rotated the vertebrae in comparison with the CD group (p-value < or = 0.05). The percentage of the correction in King Type III, IV and T-L curve was higher than the other types. Both instrumentations could restore thoracic kyphosis without any major complications. CONCLUSION The PSP system was more effective in the sagital correction, vertebral derotation and rib hump compared to the CD instrumentation. Although the PSD is a technically demanded operation, the PSP system is currently one of the most appropriate instrumentation for the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment.
MicroRNA Targeting in Heart : A Theoretical Analysis Zhiguo

Cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality; according to statistics, heart failure, the syndrome consequential to many diseases of the cardiovascular system, is estimated to have a prevalence of 1–2% and an annual incidence of 5–10 per 1,000 in the developed countries and is the leading cause of hospitalization in the population over 50 years of age. Worse so, there is a clear tendency of increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease in this planet particularly in the developing nations. This problem casts enormous health concern and costly socioeconomic burden worldwide. We have entered post-genome era after the human genome project had been completed years ago. Only <2% of all transcribed bases of the entire human genome constitutes the genetic sequence encoding proteins and the rest of 98% accounting for ~70% of all genes carry the sequences for RNAs not encoding a polypeptide chain that was used to be considered for many years “junk DNA” of no physiologic function; proteins were generally assumed the sole biopolymer capable of regulatory function. Intriguinly, the proportion of transcribed non-protein-coding sequences increases with developmental complexity and is a better indicator of phylogenetic level than the number of protein-coding genes of an organism. It is now known that “junk DNA” encodes non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that are involved in determining the expression of protein-coding genes by regulating the activity of that 2% of the genome. These ncRNAs include microRNAs (miRNAs), once ignored completely or overlooked as cellular detritus, which were discovered over a decade ago have recently taken many by surprise because of their widespread expression and diverse functions. miRNAs are endogenous small mRNAs of ~22 nucleotide in length which act primarily to repress gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. To date, ~6400 vertebrates mature miRNAs have been registered in miRBase, an online repository for miRNA, among which ~5100 miRNAs are found in mammals which include >850 human miRNAs. These miRNAs are predicted to regulates >60% of protein–coding genes. The discovery of miRNA challenges the central dogma of molecular biology that has be hold since the latter half of the 20th century. With the recent rapid evolution of miRNA research, researchers have begun to appreciate the roles of these small non-protein-coding mRNAs in the cardiovascular system. Based on the published studies, it is now clear that miRNAs are involved in nearly all aspects of cardiac function and pathogenesis (Wang, 2010; Wang et al., 2008; Yang et al., 2008).
O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase protects against nitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

We previously generated transgenic C3H/HeN mice by introducing the Escherichia coli O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT, DNA-O6-methylguanine:protein-L-cysteine S-methyltransferase, EC2.1.1.63) gene, ada, attached to the Chinese hamster metallothionein I gene promoter. One transgenic mouse line expressing both ada-specific mRNA and Ada protein could be propagated over many generations in a homozygous state with respect to the integrated DNA. Liver extracts from transgenic homozygous mice have consistently demonstrated about 3 times the control activity of normal mice. Furthermore, in the transgenic homozygotes treated with ZnSO4, activity is increased to 6-8 times the normal level in mice and is equivalent to that for man. To examine whether these increased levels of MGMT activity can actually decrease the susceptibility of animals to N-nitroso compounds, we studied liver carcinogenesis in our transgenic mice expressing high amounts of MGMT. Groups of transgenic and nontransgenic mice, each comprising about 200 suckling animals (14 +/- 1 days old), were divided each into eight subgroups, providing paired groups of transgenic and nontransgenic mice. They received an i.p. injection of ZnSO4 to induce MGMT, and 10 hr thereafter were given an i.p. injection of either dimethylnitrosamine or diethylnitrosamine. Liver tumor development was quantitatively assessed at 7-11 months. Here, we report statistically significant reduction of tumor formation in transgenic mice of four of the six paired groups that received treatment. The remaining two demonstrated results in line with dose dependence. Therefore, our data indicate that MGMT can indeed protect animals from low-dose exposure to environmental alkylating carcinogens.
Service quality and customer loyalty: the case of the Mobile Telecommunication industry in Ghana.

The study investigated the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty in the Mobile Telecommunication industry in Ghana. The research was conducted at the time when Ghana has just introduced the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) system which provides dissatisfied customers the opportunity to port to other networks in search for better mobile services. The literature review revealed that although quality is an elusive and indistinct construct which may vary from one person to another or even from one situation to another it can be assessed by probing whether perceived service delivery meets, exceeds or fails to meet customer expectations. The SERVQUAL instrument postulated by Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry was used to measure service quality. Customer satisfaction and customer loyalty construct were also established relying on studies done by Zhang and Feng, Mouri and Aydin and Ozer. A total of 400 questionnaires were administered out of which 311 valid responses were obtained for the study. The findings from the study revealed that service quality variables such as Tangibles, Responsiveness, Reliability, Assurance and Empathy have a positive influence on customer loyalty through customer satisfaction. Besides, customer satisfaction was found to have a direct relationship with customer loyalty. The study recommends that mobile operators should endeavour to improve the quality of mobile services offered to clients in order to achieve brand Loyalty. %%%%A Thesis submitted to the Institute of Distance Learning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Commonwealth Executive Masters in Business Administration, June, 2011%%%%KNUST
Simulate the Job: Predicting Accidents Using a Work Sample

In almost any work-related environment that involves physical activity, safety is routinely rated as the single most important factor by subject matter experts. No other aspect of work is more important than ensuring the health and well-being of oneself and others. While there are many factors that contribute to accidents, it is clear that some individuals are more likely to engage in high risk, unsafe behaviors than others. For instance, a study by Knipling and his colleagues found that 20 percent of drivers account for almost 80 percent of all driving accidents (Knipling et al., 2004). In addition to the health and welfare of the individuals involved, accidents are costly to the organization in terms of insurance, equipment, and goods. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), for every $1 a company spends on medical expenses for a worker’s compensation claim they also incur $4 in indirect workers compensation costs. For every $1 of disability (lost time) expenses paid for a worker’s compensation claim OSHA estimates that the employer also incurs between $2 and $10 in indirect workers compensation costs. Considering that in 2007 the average workers’ compensation claim was $46,800, the indirect cost would be over $200,000. Workplace injuries are both more ubiquitous and serious than is commonly thought. According to a recent study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, slightly more than one-half of the 3.3 million private industry injury and illness cases reported nationally in 2009 were of a more serious nature that involved days away from work, job transfer, or restriction – commonly referred to as DART cases. In 2009 these occurred at a rate of 1.8 cases per 100 workers (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, News Release, October 21, 2010. USDL-10-1452). Therefore, nearly 50% of all injuries are severe enough to lead to loss of work, restricted duty upon return and/or transferring out of the original job.
China and the Manufacturing Exports of Other Developing Countries

In this paper, we examine the impact of China's growth on developing countries that specialize in manufacturing. Over 2000-2005, manufacturing accounted for 32% of China's GDP and 89% of its merchandise exports, making it more specialized in the sector than any other large developing economy. Using the gravity model of trade, we decompose bilateral trade into components associated with demand conditions in importing countries, supply conditions in exporting countries, and bilateral trade costs. We identify 10 developing economies for which manufacturing represents more than 75% of merchandise exports (Hungary, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey), which are in theory the countries most exposed to the adverse consequences of China's export growth. Our results suggest that had China's export supply capacity been constant over the 1995-2005 period, demand for exports would have been 0.8% to 1.6% higher in the 10 countries studied. Thus, even for the developing countries most specialized in export manufacturing, China's expansion has represented only a modest negative shock.
Polymer / montmorillonite nanocomposites with improved thermal properties . Part II : Thermal stability of montmorillonite nanocomposites based on different polymeric matrixes

In previous part of this work factors influencing the thermal stability of polymer nanocomposite materials were indicated, such as chemical constitution of organic modifier, filler content, nanocomposites’ structure and the processing-dependent degree of homogenization of nanofiller, were presented. In this part the basic changes in thermal behaviour of different polymeric matrixes (e.g. polyolefins, polyamides, poly(vinyl chloride) and styrene-containing polymers) upon addition of montmorillonite have been described. Brief description of the kinetics of the decomposition process in inert and oxidative environment, as well as analysis of volatile and condensed products of degradation, have also
Airport Benchmarking An Efficiency Analysis of European Airports from an Economic and Managerial Perspective

Subsequent to airline deregulation, an increasing commercialization, privatization and restructuring gradually changed a sovereign operated airport industry to modern business enterprises. Where market power was likely to be exploited, airports may now face competition with nearby airports or other transport modes. Consequently airport benchmarking became popular for comparisons with competitors and to assess efficiency changes resulting from the structural change. Within academic benchmarking a number of studies emerged utilizing parametric and non-parametric approaches to estimate the productivity and efficiency of airports. Building on the limitations and discussions from previous research the general objective of this thesis is to further the understanding of the airport industry and to improve airport benchmarking in order to enhance its usefulness for managerial, political and regulatory purposes. Particular emphasis is given on the consideration of the heterogeneous character of airports and how to explain efficiency difference across airports. The cumulative thesis presents the results of three research articles. The first article provides a survey on the methods, data and findings of empirical research from the current literature in airport benchmarking. The survey indicates substantial progress in the methodological application however many issues still remain unresolved such as the appropriate measurement of capital. The second article assesses the combined impact of ownership form, economic regulation and competition on airport performance and pricing in order to search for the most desirable combination. Australian and European are analyzed using non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) in a first stage efficiency measurement and regression analysis in a second stage environmental study. The results reveal that airports not facing competition should be regulated to increase cost efficiency and prevent exploitation of market power. However, in a competitive setting, regulation inhibits airports of any ownership from operating efficiently. Nevertheless, unregulated private airports appear to remain profit-maximizer within competition. The third article aims to improve the airport benchmarking process. Most previous studies either treat the airport production technology as a black box or separate terminal and airside activities, assessing them individually. This research analyzes European airports as a single unit due to the direct complementarities but opening the black box through network DEA. Combined with dynamic clustering appropriate benchmarks are identified based on pre-defined characteristics. Compared to basic DEA models, the results of the network DEA structure provide more meaningful benchmarks with comparable peer units and target values that are achievable in the medium term.
Determining the scope and impact of market orientation profiles on strategy implementation and performance

Strategy implementation and performance in organizations are influenced by its market orientation. Market orientation is the collective of employee behaviors that affects strategy implementation, how an organization interacts with its environment and adjusts to changes within that context. The relationship between market orientation, strategy implementation, and performance is robust across environmental contexts. This study identifies ideal behavioral profiles for organizations seeking to maximize performance by considering the scope and impact of market orientation on strategy implementation. This is accomplished by considering market orientation and strategy profiles in relation to performance in a holistic coalignment perspective, corresponding to competitive contexts characterized by varying degrees of market turbulence and competitive intensity. Important strategic and performance implications of this dynamic are revealed that should be considered by academics and practitioners alike. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
BRINGING THE NETWORK INTO THE DYADIC RELATIONSHIP

This paper examines how business relationship partners bring the surrounding business network into their business relationship by coordinating activities across business relationships. It uses a conceptualization of business networks as unbounded structures of connected business relationships between business firms viewed as collective actors. The paper formulates a structural model in which relationship trust is an exogeneous construct and business network coordination and relationship commitment are endogeneous constructs. The LISREL analysis of the model supports the hypothesized model but shows that the role of the business network context of the relationship is more complex than initially hypothesized.
OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE

We present 432 low-dispersion optical spectra of 32 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) that also have well-calibrated light curves. The coverage ranges from 6 epochs to 36 epochs of spectroscopy. Most of the data were obtained with the 1.5 m Tillinghast telescope at the F. L. Whipple Observatory with typical wavelength coverage of 3700–7400 Å and a resolution of ∼7 Å. The earliest spectra are 13 days before B-band maximum; two-thirds of the SNe were observed before maximum brightness. Coverage for some SNe continues almost to the nebular phase. The consistency of the method of observation and the technique of reduction makes this an ideal data set for studying the spectroscopic diversity of SNe Ia.
Total Quality Management & Service Sector

The following paper highlights the domination of quality service and adaptation of Total Quality Management in the service Industry. It tries to explain that along with the increasing awareness in the society in respect to culture, education and the living standard, there is an increasing demand for quality service. It is one of the factors that is forcing the service industry to adopt TQM (total quality management) as the measures to improving quality of service. It has been observed that TQM is being accepted increasingly in the last decade by the service sector which clearly signifies that service quality is treated as a crucial factor for survival, Success & growth by the companies. This has led to an increased interest in service quality recently, and TQM concepts increasingly being applied in literature for service sector