Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of corporate governance, ownership structure, and economic and financial liberalization on the financial and operating performance of newly privatized firms in selected MENA countries

Ce rapport a ete realise avec le soutien financier de la Commission des Communautes Europeennes. Les opinions exprimees dans ce texte n’engagent que les auteurs et ne refletent pas l’opinion officielle de la Commission. This report has been drafted with financial assistance from the Commission of the European Communities. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and therefore in no way reflect the official opinions of the Commission.
Induction of protective Th1 responses to Candida albicans by antifungal therapy alone or in combination with an interleukin-4 antagonist.

Resistance or susceptibility to disseminated and mucosal Candida albicans infections in mice correlates with the development of protective or nonprotective T helper (Th) cell responses. To determine whether immunomodulatory activity on Th cell functions is an effect beyond that provided by antifungal therapy, mice with disseminated or gastrointestinal infection were treated with amphotericin B or fluconazole and assessed for mortality, fungus burden in the organs, and parameters of Th cell ‐ dependent immunity. Both antimycotics produced protective CD4 / Th1 cell responses, as revealed by increased production of interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon-g, decreased production of IL-4, delayed-type hypersensitivity to fungal antigen, and the disappearance of antigen-specific IgE. Concomitant neutralization of endogenous IL-4 greatly increased the antifungal efficacy and the Th1-promoting activity of both agents. These results indicate that successful antifungal therapy alone or in combination with cytokine antagonists may rely on the induction of an appropriate Th antifungal cell response.
Clinical and radiological features of patients with macroprolactinaemia

objectives Macroprolactin is a complex of prolactin (PRL) and IgG and may account for a significant proportion of cases of ‘idiopathic hyperprolactinaemia’. In this study, we sought to determine the prevalence and clinical features of macroprolactinaemia in patients diagnosed with hyperprolactinaemia in our region, with a view to determining how patients with macroprolactinaemia should be investigated and managed.
Open-Lung Ventilation Improves Clinical Outcomes in Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE To compare pulmonary function, functional capacity, and clinical outcomes among conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV), early open-lung (EOL), and late open-lung (LOL) strategies after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). DESIGN Prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study. SETTING Two hospitals of the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS Ninety-three patients undergoing elective first-time OPCAB. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized into 3 groups: CMV (n=31); LOL (n=32) initiated upon intensive care unit (ICU) arrival; EOL (n = 30) initiated after intubation. MEASURAMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Spirometry was performed at bedside preoperatively and on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, and 5. Partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) and pulmonary shunt fraction were evaluated presurgically and on POD 1; 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was performed presurgically and on POD 5. Both open-lung groups demonstrated higher forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second on PODs 1, 3 and 5 compared to the CMV group (p<0.05). Similar results were found in relation to the 6MWT distance. Shunt fraction was lower and PaO2 was higher in both open-lung groups (p<0.05). Open-lung groups had shorter intubation time and hospital stay as well as fewer respiratory events (p<0.05). No statistical difference was found relative to the aforementioned results when the EOL and LOL groups were compared. CONCLUSIONS Both open-lung strategies were able to promote higher pulmonary function preservation and greater recovery of functional capacity with better clinical outcomes after OPCAB. No difference in outcome was found when comparing initiation of OLS intraoperatively or after ICU arrival.
The Economic Impact of Merger Control: What is Special about Banking?

There is a long-standing debate about the special nature of banks. Based on a unique dataset of legislative changes in industrial countries, we identify events that strengthen competition policy, analyze their impact on banks and non-financial firms and explain the reactions observed with institutional features that distinguish banking from non-financial sectors. Covering nineteen countries for the period 1987 to 2004, we find that banks are special in that a more competition-oriented regime for merger control increases banks’ stock prices, whereas it decreases those of non-financial firms. Moreover, bank merger targets become more profitable and larger. A major determinant of the positive bank returns, after controlling inter alia for the general quality of institutions and individual bank characteristics, is the opaqueness that characterizes the institutional setup for supervisory bank merger reviews. Thus strengthening competition policy in banking may generate positive externalities in the financial system that offset unintended adverse side effects on efficiency introduced through supervisory policies focusing on prudential considerations and financial stability. Legal arrangements governing competition and supervisory control of bank mergers may therefore have important implications for real activity. JEL Classification: G21, G28, D4
Comparison of Optical Coherence Tomography and Scanning Laser Polarimetry Measurements in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose. To compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry (GDx) measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with and without optic neuritis (ON). Methods. OCT and GDx were performed on 68 MS patients. Qualifying eyes were divided into two groups: 51 eyes with an ON history ≥6 months before (ON eyes) and 65 eyes with no history of ON (non-ON eyes). Several GDx and OCT parameters and criteria were used to define an eye as abnormal, for example, GDx nerve fiber indicator (NFI) >20 or 30, OCT average RNFL thickness, and GDx temporal-superior-nasal-inferior-temporal average (TSNIT) below 5 or 1% of the normative database of the instruments. Agreement between OCT and GDx parameters was reported as percent of observed agreement, along with the AC1 statistic. Linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between OCT average RNFL thickness and GDx NFI and TSNIT. Results. All OCT and GDx measurements showed significantly more RNFL damage in ON than in non-ON eyes. Agreement between OCT and GDx parameters ranged from 69 to 90% (AC1 0.37 to 0.81) in ON eyes and 52 to 91% (AC1 = 0.21 to 0.90) in non-ON eyes. Best agreement was observed between OCT average RNFL thickness (p < 0.01) and NFI (>30) in ON eyes (90%, AC1 = 0.81) and between OCT average RNFL thickness (p < 0.01) and GDx TSNIT average (p < 0.01) in non-ON eyes (91%, AC1 = 0.90). In ON eyes, the OCT average RNFL thickness showed good linear correlation with NFI (R2 = 0.69, p < 0.0001) and TSNIT (R2 = 0.55, p < 0.0001). Conclusions. OCT and GDx show good agreement and can be useful in detecting RNFL loss in MS/ON eyes.
Consumer perceptions of company environmental requests : an experimental examination of hotel reuse programs

Consumer response toward companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts has received much attention in the consumption context. However, little is known in the anti-consumption context. The present research studies one anti-consumption CSR program – reusing, which suggests that customers in a hotel use towels and linens more than once in order to reduce the use of fresh water and the generation of waste water. The impact of source credibility, argument strength, and fit on consumer response was assessed. It was found that a high credibility source (i.e., the hotel source) generated less egoistic attributions than a low credibility source (i.e., the Project Planet source). Regardless of the charity type, making a charitable donation can positively influence subjects’ attitudes toward the hotel and value-driven attributions, while negatively influenced egoistic attributions. Moreover, subjects’ perceived strong arguments positively influenced attitude, behavior intention, value-driven, strategic, and stakeholder-driven attributions, while negatively influenced counterarguments.
High Performance Management Strategies for Entrepreneurial Companies: Research Findings from Over 500 Firms

Preface Introduction The Strategic Profile of Profitable Small Companies Profitable Strategies and Competition Profitable Strategies in High-Growth, Mature, and Declining Industries Profitable Strategies in a Cyclical Environment Profiles of Start-Up, Buy-Out, and Family Firms Organizational Life Stage and the Small Business The Family Firm Women-Owned Enterprises Conclusion Appendix 1: The Research Study Appendix 2: Sample Questionnaire Index
Voice fatigue and use of speech recognition: a study of voice quality ratings

Previous studies have suggested the use of speech recognition software may be related to the development of voice problems. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of using such software on perceptual voice quality. In particular, the variables type of speech recognition (discrete and continuous) and vocal load of a speaker are considered. One of the most consistent results was a rise in pitch, a common finding in voice fatigue studies. It is interpreted as part of a hyperfunctional mechanism countering early signs of voice fatigue.
Bupropion Maintenance Treatment in Refractory Bipolar Depression: A Case Report

Background: The optimal duration of antidepressant treatment in bipolar depression appears to be controversial due to a lack of quality evidence, and guideline recommendations are either vague or contradictive. This is especially true for second line treatments such as bupropion that had not been subject to rigourous long term studies in Bipolar Disorder. Case presentation: We report the case of a 75 year old woman who presented with treatment refractory bipolar depression. Because of insufficient response to previous mood stabilizer treatment and refractory depressive symptoms, bupropion was added to venlafaxine and lamotrigine. From there onwards, the patient improved continuously without experiencing deterioration of depression or a switch into hypomania. Our patient being on antidepressants for allmost four years experienced an obvious benefit from longterm antidepressant administration. Conclusion: Noradrenergic/dopaminergic mechanisms of action may play a more prominent role in bipolar depression, and may still be underused as a therapeutic strategy in the acute phase as well as in long-term maintenance in at least a subgroup of bipolar patients. There is still a lack of evidence from RCTs, but this case report further supports antidepressant long-term continuation and the usefulness of a noradrenergic/dopaminergic antidepressant in the acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.
Radiation sensitivity increases with proliferation‐associated telomere dysfunction in nontransformed human epithelial cells

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated age differences among human adults in susceptibility to radiation, with cancer cases attributable to radiation being more frequent for older individuals at time of exposure. In addition to the notion that susceptibility increases because of progressive decline in DNA monitoring and immunosurveillance, telomere function is now emerging as a new and important factor in modulating cellular and organism sensitivity to ionizing radiation. The link between telomeres and radiosensitivity is well‐documented in humans, but the causal events remain elusive. In this paper, it is shown that irradiated human epithelial cells with short dysfunctional telomeres derived from normal mammary gland display elevated DNA damage. An approach identifying the specific chromosomes with critically shortened telomeres in each donor has allowed us to conclude that short dysfunctional telomeres in human epithelial cells join radiation‐induced DNA broken ends, thus interfering with their efficient repair. These findings argue against telomeres participating as sensors or transducers of DNA damage, as previously suggested. Rather, our current findings give support to the idea that dysfunctional telomeres, by acting as an additional joining option, reduce the repair fidelity of DNA broken‐ends induced by radiation throughout the genome. In the mammary gland, age‐dependent telomere attrition due to epithelial turnover, together with the accretion of checkpoint deficiencies, might render the accumulation of short dysfunctional telomeres. This implies that the risks associated with mammography screening could be higher than previously assumed. Our results have the possibility of imprinting a temporal dimension onto radiation sensitivity, namely, that shortened telomeres in aged cells may more easily compromise normal tissue function in the elderly.
A comparative study of the phonology of pre-school children with specific language impairment (SLI), language delay (LD) and normal acquisition

The phonology of two groups of SLI (n =5) and LD (n =5) children was analysed at age 3 and compared with two control groups: an age control (n =5) and a language level control (measured using the MLU-W) (n =5). Children with SLI and LD showed a delay in the acquisition of segments, syllabic structures and word structures, and in the simplification processes, compared with their age control group. However, SLI children also displayed significant differences vis-à-vis their language level controls, mainly in early acquisitions: vowels, nasals and stops at the segmental level, and in CV structures at the syllabic level. There is also a simplification process that seems to be more prevalent in these children than in their language level controls, namely, the deletion of unstressed syllables, mainly initial ones. The results enable SLI to be distinguished from LD and suggest that the development of SLI phonology is deviant. This deviation is interpreted as being a plateau in early acquisitions when later acquisitions have already appeared. The results are considered in the light of Leonard's surface hypothesis and an exclusively linguistic cause for this disorder is ruled out.
Public Perceptions of Celebrity Cancer Deaths: How Identification and Emotions Shape Cancer Stigma and Behavioral Intentions

ABSTRACT Celebrity cancer deaths can focus public attention on the disease like few events can. However, not all celebrities or their families are open about the exact cause of death. Anecdotal reports suggest that some do not reveal the exact cause of death due to fears of stigma associated with the specific type of cancer. However, empirical evidence regarding whether or how the cause of death actually impacts public perceptions and behaviors is lacking. A three (cause of death: nonspecified cancer, liver cancer, or lung cancer) by two (celebrity obituary: David Bowie or Alan Rickman) fully factorial between-subjects online experiment (N = 390) tested a proposed model of effects on identification, discrete emotional reactions, stigma-related perceptions, and behavioral intentions. Results suggest that specific causes of death do not have a direct impact on stigma but they can alter identification and emotional reactions, such as compassion and anxiety, which subsequently shape stigma-related perceptions and behavioral intentions.
Factors predicting persistent thrombocytopenia after living donor liver transplantation in pediatric patients

Honda M, Yamamoto H, Hayashida S, Suda H, Ohya Y, Lee K‐J, Takeichi T, Asonuma K, Inomata Y. Factors predicting persistent thrombocytopenia after living donor liver transplantation in pediatric patients. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 601–605. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Corporate Social Disclosures By Indonesian Listed Companies

The issue of corporate social disclosure (CSD) has been of growing concern among businesses and communities globally, including those in Indonesia. As one of the big developing countries which offers a large domestic market and workforce, Indonesia is exposed to this issue. This study exammes the extent of CSD in Indonesian listed companies by applying the content analysis method to company annual reports for the years 2003 to 2006. Prior studies have focused on exploring the theoretical framework, seeking the motivation for disclosures and obtaining certain stakeholder' s opinions regarding CSD. However, those studies were limited to developed countries and to select stakeholder groups for their perceptions. For these reasons, the current study proposes to enrich research into CSD, particularly by providing evidence from a large developing country in Asia, with an expanded research corpus. First, the practice of CSD in Indonesian listed companies was examined, including the trend and discussion about the nature of disclosures from the content analysis. Second, the importance of CSD information for stakeholders was investigated through the examination of a broader range of stakeholders (shareholders, employees, suppliers, customers, communities, and investors). Third, top management representatives of the listed companies were questioned to elicit company motivations and identify the most influential party to practise CSD. Finally, some variables, including the company's type and size, financial performance, percentage of ownership, creditors' and auditors' influences, and corporate age were examined to establish their relationships to the extent of CSD. A pilot study was undertaken prior to the main study as this research area is considered relatively new for Indonesia. The samples, including the issues of data collection, questionnaires, and hypotheses were initially tested and the results were then used to redesign the main study. The main study findings indicate that the majority of hypotheses can be accepted and suggest that: (1) Every stakeholder group has significantly different perceptions of the importance
Comparative evaluation of two serologic typing methods for hepatitis C virus

Serologic methods of typing for hepatitis C virus offer advantages over PCR-based typing methods in terms of speed and simplicity of sample preparation and in the use of standard laboratory equipment. We examined the sensitivities and specificities of two hepatitis C virus serotyping assays which use sets of type-specific antigenic peptides derived from the core or the nonstructural 4 (NS4) regions and compared the results with those of molecular typing with type-specific primers from the core region. Although there was a good concordance between serotyping by either assay and genotyping, we found that the sensitivities of both serologic assays were less than optimal compared with that of molecular typing, with only about 50% of samples being unequivocally typed. Moreover, amino acid sequence similarities within the regions of the genome used for serotyping preclude differentiation into subtypes, which may have important clinical and therapeutic implications.
Evasion of CO 2 from Streams Quantifying a Carbon Component of the Aquatic Conduit in the Boreal Landscape

Boreal streams represent potentially important conduits for the exchange of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. The gas transfer coefficient of CO(2) (K(CO2)) is a key variable in estimating this source strength, but the scarcity of measured values in lotic systems creates a risk of incorrect flux estimates even when stream gas concentrations are well known. This study used 114 independent measurements of K(CO2) from 14 stream reaches in a boreal headwater system to determine and predict spatiotemporal variability in K(CO2). The K(CO2) values ranged from 0.001 to 0.207 min(-1) across the 14 sites. Median K(CO2) for a specific site was positively correlated with the slope of the stream reach, with higher gas transfer coefficients occurring in steeper stream sections. Combining slope with a width/depth index of the stream reach explained 83% of the spatial variability in K(CO2). Temporal variability was more difficult to predict and was strongly site specific. Variation in K(CO2), rather than pCO(2), was the main determinant of stream CO(2) evasion. Applying published generalized gas transfer velocities produced an error of up to 100% in median instantaneous evasion rates compared to the use of actual measured K(CO2) values from our field study. Using the significant relationship to local slope, the median K(CO2) was predicted for 300,000 km of watercourses (ranging in stream order 1-4) in the forested landscape of boreal/nemoral Sweden. The range in modeled stream order specific median K(CO2) was 0.017-0.028 min(-1) and there was a clear gradient of increasing K(CO2) with lower stream order. We conclude that accurate regional scale estimates of CO(2) evasion fluxes from running waters are possible, but require a good understanding of gas exchange at the water surface.
Microsoft, Refusal to License Intellectual Property Rights, and the Incentives Balance Test of the EU Commission

This article contributes to the analysis of refusal to license cases as abuse of a dominant position pursuant Article 82 EC from an economic perspective. In the Microsoft case, the European Commission introduced an "Incentives Balance Test" to assess whether the refusal to give access to interface information can be justified by arguing that this information is protected by Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs): The Commission argued that if the overall innovative effects evoked by a compulsory license are significantly higher than without this access, the IPR owner is obliged to license. This should be assessed through balancing the different incentives to innovate between the dominant firm and its competitors. In the paper we pursue two objectives: Firstly, we analyze to what extent the decision of the Court of First Instance, which confirmed the decision of the Commission, helps to clarify the criteria in refusal to license cases; in fact, it is disappointing in this regard. Secondly, we demonstrate that the basic idea of the Incentives Balance Test can be interpreted as a test whether the specific IPRs of the dominant firm can be defended from the perspective of the economics of IPRs. This implies that Article 82 allows competition law to correct economically not optimal IPRs through a specific economic analysis. This is followed by a broad overview on theoretical and empirical insights from economics of IPRs, innovation economics and competition and network economics that can help to develop a more general and sophisticated Innovation Effects Test that can be applied in Article 82 refusal to license cases.