Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Micro-Firms and the Margins of Entrepreneurship

This paper deals with the margins of entrepreneurship at which small business owners are working almost on their own with no or very few employees, and where some work for low returns and run firms that lack stability and/or prosperous dynamics. However, even the area of ‘entrepreneurship at the margins’ is a wide field, embracing not only the broad margins of entrepreneurship but also the fluid borders between entrepreneurship and the informal sector on the one side and the labour market system on the other. New firms – even those that are ultimately very successful – may be more or less created in an experimental market and product testing phase, in which business founders are still employed or registered as unemployed before becoming self-employed. In such cases, the practical starting-point of an entrepreneurial existence is part of a fluent continuum of different activities closely connected to the entrepreneur's sphere of dependent work as an employee or job-seeking during a period of unemployment. The paper addresses this area of entrepreneurship within an integrated framework, which combines entrepreneurship analysis with labour market research and studies on social stratification and social mobility. It contributes to the debate on entrepreneurship at the margins by combining selected empirical information on the case of Germany with conceptual ideas of a labour market perspective. The integrated approach highlights some key issues and raises further questions about the field of entrepreneurship.
Genetic and phenotypic characterization of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from veterinary hospitals in South Korea

Staphylococci were isolated from veterinary staff, hospitalized animals, and medical equipment from 2 major tertiary veterinary hospitals in South Korea to investigate antimicrobial resistance and genetic relatedness. The detection rate for staphylococci was 55.2% (111/201 samples), and 11 species were identified among the collected staphylococcal strains. The most prevalent species were Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (52/111, 46.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (21/111, 18.9%), and Staphylococcus aureus (19/111, 17.1%). The methicillin-resistance rates of staphylococci isolated from veterinary staff and medical equipment were higher than those from hospitalized animals. The genotype of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains in the current study was sequence type (ST)72-SCCmec IVc-t324, which is similar to the genotype of prevalent MRSA strains in human beings and food animals in South Korea. Among the mecA-positive S. pseudintermedius isolates, SCCmec V was most prevalent in strains originating from both veterinary staff and hospitalized animals. SCCmec IVa was detected in methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis, whereas SCCmec IVc was found in other methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci. The SCCmec typing, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, and pulsed field gel electrophoresis results showed that methicillin-resistant staphylococci dissemination between hospitalized animals and veterinary staff is possible in South Korean veterinary hospitals.
Distribution and function of FSH receptor genetic variants in normal men

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) plays a key role in the maintenance of qualitatively and quantitatively normal spermatogenesis. It controls gamete development through Sertoli cells, via binding to its receptor. The influence and importance of FSH receptor (FSHR) variants on Sertoli cell function is not completely understood and remains to be investigated. In this retrospective study, we explored the impact and action of two distinct FSHR isoforms, Thr307/Asn680 and Ala307/Ser680, in a large group of men. This investigation includes 288 normal healthy men, 86 of whom were proven fathers previously studied, and 202 were newly recruited subjects. The FSHR polymorphism at position 680 was analyzed in the whole group, while position 307 was investigated in 150 subjects, both of them by single‐stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) gel electrophoresis. The distribution frequency for position 680 was 29% for the Asn/Asn, 52% for the Asn‐Ser, 19% for the Ser‐Ser variant, and for position 307, 27% for the Thr‐Thr, 55% for the Ala‐Thr, 18% for the Ala‐Ala, respectively. Polymorphism combinations that were different from Thr307/Asn680 – Ala307/Ser680 were found in four subjects. When subjects were grouped according to genotype at position 680, no significant differences between basal FSH, testosterone, inhibin B levels and semen parameters were found. This clinical finding demonstrates that, differently from females, in whom a significant correlation between FSHR polymorphism and basal FSH levels was found, the FSHR genotype has no influence on clinical parameters in males.
Treatment and follow-up of anxiety and depression in clinical-scenario patients: survey of Saskatchewan family physicians.

OBJECTIVE To explore family physicians' recommendations for treatment of, and number of weeks to first follow-up visit for, clinical-scenario patients presenting with symptoms of either a major depressive episode (MDE) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), as well as physicians' perceived barriers to optimal care for these patients. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Saskatchewan. PARTICIPANTS A total of 331 family physicians practising in Saskatchewan as of December 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Type of treatment and number of weeks to first follow-up visit recommended for clinical-scenario patients, as well as family physicians' barriers to providing optimal care. RESULTS The response rate was 49.7% (331 of 666 surveys returned). Most physicians recommended treatment of the GAD-scenario patient (93.7%) and the MDE-scenario patient (90.1%). Most physicians recommended immediate (65.6%) rather than delayed (28.1%) treatment of the GAD-scenario patient, and immediate (55.6%) rather than delayed (34.5%) treatment of the MDE-scenario patient. Pharmacotherapy alone (26.3%) was the most commonly recommended immediate treatment of the GAD-scenario patient; combination pharmacotherapy and counseling (15.8%) was the most commonly recommended immediate treatment of the MDE-scenario patient. Most physicians recommended that the first follow-up visit occur within 2 weeks for the GAD (79.4%) and the MDE (82.5%) clinical-scenario patients. Physicians were more likely to identify themselves rather than patients and the health care system as barriers to providing optimal care to the GAD (39.4%) and the MDE (39.8%) clinical-scenario patients. CONCLUSION Most family physicians recommend immediate treatment and early follow-up for patients presenting with symptoms of GAD or MDE. Physician-related barriers outweigh patient and health system barriers to providing optimal care to patients with common psychiatric disorders.
The pathophysiological role of microRNAs in diabtic cardiac stem cells

Cardiac stem cells (CSCs) have been implicated as the most suitable source of stem cells for regenerating the diseased heart. However, diabetes is known to cause a progressive loss in the functional efficacy of CSCs. The mechanism behind this loss is unclear. MiRNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate genes at the post-transcriptional level. In this study, I used a mouse model of type-2 diabetes to investigate if miRNAs are dysregulated in diabetic CSCs, and whether genetic manipulation of such miRNAs can provide novel insights into their pathophysiological role in improving the function of these cells in the diabetic condition. Sca-1 CSCs were isolated from type-2 diabetic (n=6) and non-diabetic (n=6) db/db mice. Among 598 miRNAs evaluated by an n-counter miRNA expression assay, the expression profiles of 16 miRNAs were significantly altered in the diabetic condition. Among these 16 miRNAs, miR-329 (1.7 ± 0.9 (P=0.01)), miR-376c (2.8 ± 0.8 (P=0.01)) and miR-495 (1.8 ± 0.6 (P=0.02)) were significantly upregulated while miR-30c (0.4 ± 0.1 (P=0.03)) was significantly downregulated in diabetic CSCs. These miRNAs are involved in cell proliferation and survival. Mass spectrometry analysis predicted pro-apoptotic VDAC1 as a direct target for miR-30c and cell cycle regulator CDK6 as the direct target for miR-329, -376c and -495. Western blot analyses confirmed a marked increase in VDAC1 expression (3.2 ± 0.6 (P=0.01)) and a significant decrease in CDK6 expression (0.7 ± 0.1 (P=0.04)) in the diabetic CSCs. Moreover, luciferase assays confirmed VDAC1 as the direct target for miR-30c. An overexpression of miR-30c in diabetic CSCs showed a marked reduction in VDAC1 (0.7 ± 0.1 (P=0.03)) and cleaved caspase-3 (0.6 ± 0.1 (P=0.04)) protein expression, as well as reduced caspase-3/7 activity (0.6 ± 0.1 (P<0.01)), suggesting that genetic manipulation of miRNAs could be beneficial in promoting CSC survival and function. Altogether, my results suggest that altered miR-30c expression may contribute to the reduced functional efficacy of CSCs in the diabetic heart by regulating apoptosis. iii SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Value Orientations From the World Values Survey

We examine data from the World Values Survey regarding the existence of two consistent orientations in mass values, traditional versus secular/rational and survival versus self-expression. We also evaluate the empirical validity of Welzel’s revised value orientations: secular and emancipative. Over the years, a large body of work has presumed the stability and comparability of these value orientations across time and space. Our findings uncover little evidence of the existence of traditional–secular/rational or survival–self-expression values. Welzel’s two dimensions of value orientations—secular and emancipative—seem more reflective of latent value orientations in mass publics but are still imperfectly capturing these orientations. More importantly, these value orientations do not seem very comparable except among a small number of advanced post-industrial democracies. We call attention to the use of value measurements to explain important macro-level phenomena.
Elafin Reverses Pulmonary Hypertension via Caveolin-1-Dependent Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling.

RATIONALE Pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, impaired bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) signaling, and increased elastase activity. Synthetic elastase inhibitors reverse experimental pulmonary hypertension but cause hepatotoxicity in clinical studies. The endogenous elastase inhibitor elafin attenuates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in mice, but its potential to improve endothelial function and BMPR2 signaling, and to reverse severe experimental pulmonary hypertension or vascular pathology in the human disease was unknown. OBJECTIVES To assess elafin-mediated regression of pulmonary vascular pathology in rats and in lung explants from patients with pulmonary hypertension. To determine if elafin amplifies BMPR2 signaling in pulmonary artery endothelial cells and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. METHODS Rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by vascular endothelial growth factor receptor blockade and hypoxia (Sugen/hypoxia) as well as lung organ cultures from patients with pulmonary hypertension were used to assess elafin-mediated reversibility of pulmonary vascular disease. Pulmonary arterial endothelial cells from patients and control subjects were used to determine the efficacy and mechanism of elafin-mediated BMPR2 signaling. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In Sugen/hypoxia rats, elafin reduced elastase activity and reversed pulmonary hypertension, judged by regression of right ventricular systolic pressure and hypertrophy and pulmonary artery occlusive changes. Elafin improved endothelial function by increasing apelin, a BMPR2 target. Elafin induced apoptosis in human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells and decreased neointimal lesions in lung organ culture. In normal and patient pulmonary artery endothelial cells, elafin promoted angiogenesis by increasing pSMAD-dependent and -independent BMPR2 signaling. This was linked mechanistically to augmented interaction of BMPR2 with caveolin-1 via elafin-mediated stabilization of endothelial surface caveolin-1. CONCLUSIONS Elafin reverses obliterative changes in pulmonary arteries via elastase inhibition and caveolin-1-dependent amplification of BMPR2 signaling.
Tobacco Smoking, Fruit and Vegetable Intake Modify Association Between -21A > T Polymorphism of Catalase Gene and Risk of Bronchial Asthma

Although oxidative stress is a cardinal feature of bronchial asthma, the role of interactions between environmental oxidant/antioxidant exposures and antioxidant genes in asthma aetiology has yet to be determined. The present study was conducted to investigate whether two common polymorphisms -21A > T and -262C > T of catalase (CAT) gene are associated with susceptibility to asthma in a Russian population and to test the hypothesis that the asthma risk attributed to CAT genotypes could be dependent on both oxidant (tobacco smoking) and antioxidant (fruit and vegetable intake) exposures. A total of 429 unrelated Russian individuals from Central Russia were recruited in the study, including 215 asthmatics and 214 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Genotyping analysis for the CAT gene polymorphisms was performed by PCR-RFLP assays. The frequencies of both allele -21A (OR 0.73 95%CI 0.55–0.96 p = 0.03) and -21AA CAT genotype (OR 0.42 95%CI 0.23–0.76 p = 0.004) were higher among asthmatics than among healthy controls. The frequency of -21AA genotype of the CAT gene was significantly higher in patients with allergic (OR 0.47 95%CI 0.25–0.92 p = 0.024) and nonallergic (OR 0.32 95%CI 0.14–0.71 p = 0.004) asthma in comparison with controls (at the Bonferroni corrected p value less than 0.025). Polymorphisms -21A > T and -262C > T of the catalase gene were in a positive linkage disequilibrium (p < 0.0001). Smokers who carried -21AA genotype had an increased risk of nonallergic asthma (p = 0.002), whereas nonsmoker carriers of this genotype did not have the risk of any variant of the disease. Notably, no association of CAT genotype -21AA with asthma was found in high fruit and vegetable consumers, whereas low fruit and vegetable consumers (one time per day or less often) possessing this genotype were at increased risk of both allergic (p = 0.013) and nonallergic (p = 0.008) asthma. This is the first study reporting an association of polymorphism -21A > T of the catalase gene with allergic and nonallergic asthma. We also found, for the first time, that cigarette smoking and fruit and vegetable intakes have potentially inverse modifying influences on the asthma risk in individuals with -21AA CAT genotype and that the gene-environment interactions that were found support the biologic plausibility of catalase gene for the development of bronchial asthma.
KINE KHOWA': TARGETING AND EVALUATING FARMING SYSTEMS RESEARCH IN BANGLADESH

Kine khowa ("purchased food") is an indigenous concept of wealth ranking which has been adapted byNon-Govemmental Organisations (NGOs) to target and evaluate Farming Systems Research (FSR) for small farmers in Bangladesh. This analysis of the Mennonite Central Committee's (MCC) FSR programme in southern Bangladesh suggests that kine khowa was useful for identifying target groups but less useful for evaluating the impact of FSR interventions since increases in household assets and income were not necessarily reflected in improved household food security.
Labor Market and Income Distribution in Latin America in Times of Economic Growth: Advances and Shortcomings

The high rhythm of economic growth experienced by Latin America between 2003 and 2008 has had a positive impact on social and labor market indicators. This has become evident through the dynamic creation of employment, the reduction of unemployment and the fall of income inequality and poverty. However, even in this positive context the region continues to exhibit important shortcomings in the labor market. The most evident are high levels of unemployment, precariousness and informality. Along with this, Latin America is still one of the most unequal regions in the world. This paper aims to provide an in-depth analysis of labor and income inequality dynamics in Latin America in the new millennium. In particular, we seek to identify the factors behind the changes observed in the distribution of family incomes, evaluating the role played by labor incomes vis a vis other non-labor income sources. Also, given the significance of labor incomes in total incomes, the analysis will address a distinctive feature of labor markets in the region: the phenomenon of labor informality, by studying its characteristics and distributive impacts.
Registration of cone beam computed tomography data and intraoral surface scans – A prerequisite for guided implant surgery with CAD/CAM drilling guides

Abstract Objectives Guided implant surgery (GIS) is performed with drilling guides that are produced on the virtual tooth model using CAD/CAM technology. The prerequisite for this workflow is the alignment of patients cone beam computed tomography CBCT and surface scan (registration). Dental restorations may cause deteriorating imaging artifacts in CBCT data, which in turn can have an impact on the registration process. The influence of the user and the preprocessing of data and of image artifacts on the registration accuracy were examined. Material and Methods CBCT data and intraoral surface scans of 36 patients were used for virtual implant planning in coDiagnostiX (Dentalwings, Montreal, Canada). CBCT data were reconstructed to a three‐dimensional anatomical model with the default settings provided by the software and also manually by four different examiners. Subsequently, the CBCT and intraoral surface models were registered by each examiner with the help of anatomical landmarks. Patients' data were subdivided into four groups (A–D) according to the number of metallic restorations: A = 0–2 restorations, B = 3–5 restorations, C = 6–8 restorations and D > 8 restorations. After registration, the distances between CBCT and dental surface models were measured. Linear regression models were used to assess the influence of the segmentation, the examiner and to the number of restorations (P < 0.05). Results The deviations between surface scan and CBCT models accounted to 0.54 mm (mean). The mean deviations were 0.69 mm (max. 24.8 mm) and 0.4 mm (max. 9.1 mm) for default and manual segmentation, respectively. Mean deviations of 0.36 mm (Group A), 0.43 mm (Group B), 0.67 mm (Group C) and 1.01 mm (Group D) were recorded. The segmentation (P = 0.000), the user (P = 0.0052) and the number of restorations (P = 0.0337) had a significant influence on the registration accuracy. Conclusions The deviation between CBCT and surface scan model resulting from inaccurate registration is transferred to the surgical field and results in a deviation between the planned and actual implant position. The registration accuracy in commercial virtual implant planning software is significantly influenced by the preprocessing of imported data, by the user and by the number of restorations resulting in clinically non‐acceptable deviations encoded in drilling guides.
Advanced airway management is necessary in prehospital trauma patients.

BACKGROUND Treatment of airway compromise in trauma patients is a priority. Basic airway management is provided by all emergency personnel, but the requirement for on-scene advanced airway management is controversial. We attempted to establish the demand for on-scene advanced airway interventions. Trauma patients managed with standard UK paramedic airway interventions were assessed to determine whether airway compromise had been effectively treated or whether more advanced airway management was required. METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted to identify trauma patients requiring prehospital advanced airway management attended by a doctor-paramedic team. The team assessed and documented airway compromise on arrival, interventions performed before and after their arrival, and their impact on airway compromise. RESULTS Four hundred and seventy-two patients required advanced airway intervention and received 925 airway interventions by ground-based paramedics. Two hundred and sixty-nine patients (57%) still had airway compromise on arrival of the enhanced care team; no oxygen had been administered to 52 patients (11%). There were 45 attempted intubations by ground paramedics with a 64% success rate and 11% unrecognized oesophageal intubation rate. Doctor-paramedic teams delivering prehospital anaesthesia achieved definitive airway management for all patients. CONCLUSIONS A significant proportion of severely injured trauma patients required advanced airway interventions to effectively treat airway compromise. Standard ambulance service interventions were only effective for a proportion of patients, but might not have always been applied appropriately. Complications of advanced airway management occurred in both provider groups, but failed intubation and unrecognized oesophageal intubation were a particular problem in the paramedic intubation group.
Global, Local, or Regional? The Locus of MNE Strategies

This paper provides an overview of the main insights arising from the ‘regional strategy’ literature. It also develops the contours of a new, rich research agenda for future international strategy scholarship, whereby the region should be introduced as an explicit, third geographic level of analysis, in addition to the country-level and the global level. Regional strategy analysis requires a fundamental rethink of mainstream theories in the international strategy sphere. This rethink involves, inter alia, internalization theory, with its resource-based view and transaction cost economics components, as well as the integration (I) – national responsiveness (NR) framework.