Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High rate of hepatitis C virus infection in an isolated community: Persistent hyperendemicity or period‐related phenomena?

We investigated underlying risks for hyperendemic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among the 1853 inhabitants of a mountainous village in Eastern Taiwan with high prevalence of HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Among the 80 selected adults, we found that having resided away from the village before 1985 was protective against HCV infection, while residing in the village after 1985 posed little risk for HCV infection to children and young adults < 30 years of age. Among the 559 school children 7 through 14 years of age, anti‐HCV prevalence was 1.9%, and the HBV carrier rate was 29%. Following up 270 children 1 year later, we found that new HCV infection occurred in 0.74% and new or repeated HBV infection occurred in 6.5% of the children, indicating distinct transmission patterns between HBV and HCV. Children of anti‐HCV‐positive mothers were either anti‐HCV‐negative or were infected by distinct genotypes of HCV from those infecting their mothers; most married couples in whom both were infected, were infected by HCV of discordant genotypes, indicating negligible importance of sexual or vertical HCV transmission. A case‐control study comparing 13 anti‐HCV‐positive and 53 anti‐HCV‐negative children showed that having received parenteral medication in local clinics was a significant risk for HCV infection. Our data indicate that, unlike the case of HBV, HCV transmission by vertical or sexual route, or through casual contact are extremely inefficient, and our data further suggest that HCV hyperendemicity is unlikely to persist as a result of the more stringent practice of parenteral precautions in nearly all aspects of daily life. J. Med. Virol. 52:370–376, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
What Drives Firm Growth? Comparing Factors of Intensive and Extensive Firm Growth

This paper compares the determinants of firm’s extensive and intensive growth based on population data of manufacturing firms registered in Slovenia in the 1994-2003 period. The former is measured in terms of employment and the latter is defined in terms of total factor productivity. After controlling for possible endogeneity of explanatory variables and accounting for growth persistence a firm’s extensive growth is found to be stronger in younger and more productive firms, using more capital intensive technology and exporting larger share of their output. Intensive growth is also more pronounced in firms with more capital intensive but it is characterized with inverted U-shaped relationship with its size. However, significant differences among the factors of intensive and extensive firm growth are revealed, especially with respect to industry-specific factors. The industry-level markup size and intra-industry concentration of foreign firms affect significantly only the intensive firm growth, while firm’s age and its export orientation are found to be important factors only for the firm’s extensive growth. The results support the great importance of external factors for firm’s learning process and, consequently its TFP growth, in particular competitive pressure in the market and foreign firms’ presence rather than ability of learning through firm’s own exporting activity or from its eventual foreign owner.
OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF AROMATIC l‐AMINO ACID (l‐DOPA) DECARBOXYLASE IN THE HUMAN BRAIN

—The enzymatic decarboxylation of l‐DOPA was measured in isotonic dextrose homogenates of different regions of the human brain by estimating 14CO2 evolved from tracer amounts of d l‐DOPA[carboxy1‐14C]. Enzyme activity was linear with respect to tissue concentration and time of incubation. The reaction exhibited a pH maximum at 7·0, was completely dependent upon the presence of high concentrations of pyridoxal phosphate, proceeded at the same rate in an atmosphere of air and nitrogen, and produced dopamine in addition to CO2 as a reaction product. The enzyme preparation behaved like an aromatic l‐amino acid decarboxylase: it also decarboxylated o‐tyrosine and when incubated with 5‐hydroxytryptophan, serotonin was isolated as the reaction product; but it was devoid of activity towards d‐DOPA[carboxy1‐14C]. Within the human brain, l‐DOPA decarboxylase was most active in the putamen and caudate nucleus; the pineal gland, hypothalamus, and the reticular formation and dorsal raphe areas of the mesencephalon exhibited considerable activity. Areas of cerebral cortex exhibited very low enzymatic activity and in regions composed predominantly of white matter, l‐DOPA decarboxylase activity was not significantly above blank values. The activity of l‐DOPA decarboxylase in the human putamen and caudate nucleus tended to decrease with the age of the patients; in comparatively young subjects (46 yr old) the enzyme activity compared favourably with that found, by means of the same assay technique, in the caudate nucleus of the cat.
Seasonal vertical distribution and diel migration of zooplankton in a temperate stratified lake

The investigation of the vertical distribution of the zooplankton community in the temperate Lake Trichonis during four seasons in 2005, showed the existence of vertical segregation among species, ontogenetic stages and sexes within and between the major groups. In each season, the two or three more abundant rotifer species distributed at separate depth layers, while this feature was maintained during the entire 24 h period, since no diel vertical migrations (DVM) were performed. In contrast, the crustacean community, comprised mainly by the calanoid copepod Eudiaptomus drieschi and the cladoceran Diaphanosoma orghidani, showed various patterns of DVM, being more pronounced in spring and summer. Females of E. drieschi distributed deeper than males, while the copepod nauplii were found mainly in the surface layer in all four seasons. Temperature was the most important abiotic factor affecting directly and indirectly the vertical distribution and migration of various species. During stratification, the metalimnion was the most productive layer in Lake Trichonis, having maximum values of dissolved oxygen and low transparency due to high concentration of organic matter and phytoplankton. The DVM patterns of the crustaceans indicate that the metalimnion acts probably as a daylight refuge against predation by Atherina boyeri, which is the dominant planktivorous fish in the lake.
Growth and Earnings Persistence in Banking Firms: A Dynamic Panel Investigation

This paper investigates (i) whether growth and profitability persist in banking firms, (ii) whether the level and volatility of growth and profitability are bank-size dependent, and (iii) the relationship between growth and profitability of a bank. Using a dynamic panel model estimated by GMM for a mixed sample of more than 1500 banks from 65 countries, we find no evidence of persistence in bank growth. However, our findings suggest significant persistence in bank profitability. Moreover, our results show that the growth and profitability dynamics of banks based in OECD countries differ from those of banks in non-OECD countries.
The Effect Tax Audit Quality and Service Quality On Tax Reporting Compliance (The cases of tax audit of Indonesian)

This Research test about effect tax audit quality, service quality on tax reporting comliance. This research done in a work unit in South Bengkulu, Indonesia. Respondent in this research are, all the treasurer from the South Bengkulu Region Work Unit. Data Gathering done by using questionnaire methode. About 48 questionnaire are distributed to the respondent. The results showed that the tax audit, quality of service doesn’t affect the tax reporting compliance. Keywords: Tax Audit Quality, Service Quality and Tax Reporting Compliance
Ontogeny of fetal liver glucose‐6‐phosphatase activity

A reliable and sensitive microassay for the measurement of liver glucose‐6‐phosphatase is described. Human fetal liver was assayed for glucose‐6‐phosphatase activity from 7.5 to 24 weeks of gestation and was found to have a mean activity of 2.11 nmol per min per mg of protein. This was approximately 30 per cent of the postnatal controls assayed by the same method, but there was no evidence of a change in activity during the gestational period examined. If fetal liver tissue can be reliably obtained, it may be possible to determine a deficiency of glucose‐6‐phosphatase in fetuses who are at risk.
Voltage‐dependent gating of NR1/2B NMDA receptors

Ligand‐gated ion channels are activated by agonist binding, but may also be modulated by membrane voltage. N‐Methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors (NMDARs) exhibit especially strong voltage dependence due to channel block by external Mg2+(Mgo2+). Here we demonstrate that activity of NMDARs composed of NR1 and NR2B subunits (NR1/2B receptors) is enhanced by depolarization even in 0 Mgo2+, causing slow current relaxations in response to rapid voltage changes. We present a kinetic model of receptor activation that incorporates voltage‐dependent gating‐associated NR2B subunit conformational changes. The model accurately reproduces current relaxations during depolarizations and subsequent repolarizations in 0 Mgo2+. Model simulations in physiological Mgo2+ concentrations show that voltage‐dependent receptor gating also underlies the slow component of Mgo2+ unblock, a phenomenon that previously was shown to influence Mgo2+ unblock kinetics during dendritic spikes. We propose that voltage‐dependent gating of NR1/2B receptors confers enhanced voltage and time dependence on NMDAR‐mediated signalling.
Cognitive radar network design and applications

In recent years, several emerging technologies in modern radar system design are attracting the attention of radar researchers and practitioners alike, noteworthy among which are multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), ultra wideband (UWB) and joint communication-radar technologies. This thesis, in particular focuses upon a cognitive approach to design these modern radars. In the existing literature, these technologies have been implemented on a traditional platform in which the transmitter and receiver subsystems are discrete and do not exchange vital radar scene information. Although such radar architectures benefit from these mentioned technological advances, their performance remains sub-optimal due to the lack of exchange of dynamic radar scene information between the subsystems. Consequently, such systems are not capable to adapt their operational parameters “on the fly”, which is in accordance with the dynamic radar environment. This thesis explores the research gap of evaluating cognitive mechanisms, which could enable modern radars to adapt their operational parameters like waveform, power and spectrum by continually learning about the radar scene through constant interactions with the environment and exchanging this information between the radar transmitter and receiver. The cognitive feedback between the receiver and transmitter subsystems is the facilitator of intelligence for this type of architecture. In this thesis, the cognitive architecture is fused together with modern radar systems like MIMO, UWB and joint communication-radar designs to achieve significant performance improvement in terms of target parameter extraction. Specifically, in the context of MIMO radar, a novel cognitive waveform optimization approach has been developed which facilitates enhanced target signature extraction. In terms of UWB radar system design, a novel cognitive illumination and target tracking algorithm for target parameter extraction in indoor scenarios has been developed. A cognitive system architecture and waveform design algorithm has been proposed for joint communication-radar systems. This thesis also explores the development of cognitive dynamic systems that allows the fusion of cognitive radar and cognitive radio paradigms for optimal resources allocation in wireless networks. In summary, the thesis provides a theoretical framework for implementing cognitive mechanisms in modern radar system design. Through such a novel approach, intelligent illumination strategies could be devised, which enable the adaptation of radar operational modes in accordance with the target scene variations in real time. This leads to the development of radar systems which are better aware of their surroundings and are able to quickly adapt to the target scene variations in real time.
Corporate philanthropy in the UK and US : the impact of cycles, strategy and CEO succession

Theoretical and empirical debates surrounding corporate philanthropy (CP) date back to the 1930s, but have recently grown in line with the importance of corporate social responsibility in the public realm. Through three papers, this thesis adds to these debates by filling gaps in our understanding of CP, relating to the cyclical nature of cash and in-kind giving, how different ways of giving can influence profitability, and the relative importance of the CEO. We do this using a panel of 620 large firms in the UK over 14 years, and 500 US firms over 12 years, enabling us to capture the heterogeneity between firms. Our key theoretical contribution is to state that an integrated theory ought to be developed, which considers the influence of firm costs, strategy and the CEO as factors determining CP. Given the exposed limitations of stakeholder, agency and leadership theories, we propose that a new theory be developed, one which stresses the importance of managerial discretion and values, whilst also considering how firm-level attributes can determine giving.
Capital Structure of Owner- and Management-operated Companies: An Empirical Study on the Example of TecDax-Companies

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between ownership structure and capital structure by looking at 30 Tec-Dax-companies. One crucial aspect is the potential impact that the capital structure may have on corporate success. In particular, we are investigating whether owner-run businesses are more successful than those run by managers. In conclusion, it can be stated that there is a curvilinear relationship between management ownership and debt ratio. Furthermore, the results play a key role in stimulating the capital structure debate and allow a better understanding of the differences in the capital structure and their impact.
Determinants of Women Empowerment in the Onion Value Chain: A Case of Simanjiro District in Tanzania

The impact of women participation in agricultural value chains into their empowerment is poorly understood. This paper explores the linkage between women’s participation in onion value chain development activities and their empowerment. The study involved 402 women of whom 207 (51.2%) were participating in the onion value chain development activities and 195(48.5%) were non-participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS program, four index scales were constructed to measure women empowerment (personal autonomy, household decision making, economic domestic consultation and freedom of movement). A composite women empowerment index was developed to gauge women empowerment. Women in Simanjiro District were categorized in medium level of empowerment (mean score on CEI = 0.6033). Empowerment was found to increase with education attainment, age at first marriage and women income. Generally, women participating in the value chain development programme were more likely to be empowered than their counterparts. Ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that there was a significant relationship between women empowerment and marital status, education level, age at first marriage, land ownership, access to credits and participation in onion value chain (P<0.05). The study recommends to the government, non governmental organization and farmers groups to introduce gender and life skills education in value chain programmes to sensitize and mobilize actors to challenge gender inequalities and promote women empowerment. Key words: Women empowerment, empowerment indices, onion value chain, rural women.
The Valuation Effects of Multinational Firms

Using a unique sample of 212 UK multinational firms and 4,676 subsidiaries, I show that multinational firms attract, on average, a global diversification premium of approximately 16% compared with a country-industry matched portfolio of local non-multinational firms. I also show that the value premium is higher when the difference between UK and host country internal corporate governance is greater - on average better corporate governance practices explain roughly one-third of the value premium. This result suggests that multinational firms are compensated for exporting good corporate governance. Further, I find evidence that advocates multinational firms invest more in countries with weaker governance standards. At the subsidiary level, I find that multinational firms use internal capital markets to channel higher levels of investment into better investment opportunities. Finally, consistent with a value premium, I show that multinational firms channel investment into globally cheap assets.
Effects of electromagnetic absorption towards human head due to variation of its dielectric properties at 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz with different antenna substrates

This paper analyzes and discusses the effect of the electromagnetic absorption by human head against variation of head dielectric properties at 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz. The characteristics of helical antenna and its substrates with variation in human head dielectric properties are simulated by implementing finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method using CST Microwave studio. The variations in human head dielectric properties were manipulated by increasing and decreasing 10% and 20% of each of the human head dielectric properties. In this paper, SAR values increase with increment of head conductivity, and increment of head permittivity and head density lead to decrement of SAR values. Helical antenna with substrate of FR4 results in higher SAR values in all frequency exposures. The head SAR values are higher with higher frequency exposures. The helical antenna with substrate of Rogers RO3006 (loss free) is found to be better over FR4 and Rogers RO4003 (loss free), which contributes towards much lower SAR values in all GSM frequency bands exposure. Received 19 February 2013, Accepted 19 March 2013, Scheduled 28 March 2013 * Corresponding author: Mohammad Tariqul Islam (titareq@yahoo.com).
Effect of exercise and gait retraining on knee adduction moment in people with knee osteoarthritis

The knee adduction moment represents the medial knee joint load, and greater value is associated with higher load. In people with knee osteoarthritis, it is important to apply proper treatment with the least side effects to reduce knee adduction moment and, consequently, reduce medial knee joint load. This reduction may slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis. The research team performed a literature search of electronic databases. The search keywords were as follows: knee osteoarthritis, knee adduction moment, exercise program, exercise therapy, gait retraining, gait modification and knee joint loading. In total, 12 studies were selected, according to the selection criteria. Findings from previous studies illustrated that exercise and gait retraining programs could alter knee adduction moment in people with knee osteoarthritis. These treatments are noninvasive and nonpharmacological which so far have no or few side effects, as well as being low cost. The results of this review revealed that gait retraining programs were helpful in reducing the knee adduction moment. In contrast, not all the exercise programs were beneficial in reducing knee adduction moment. Future studies are needed to indicate best clinical exercise and gait retraining programs, which are most effective in reducing knee adduction moment in people with knee osteoarthritis.
Accounting academics’ multiple challenges: Issues-driven learning offers a way forward

Accounting academics in South Africa are under pressure from their stakeholders, particularly the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and the Department of Education (DoE), to make urgent changes. Challenges include the need for increased research output and for new teaching, learning and assessment techniques that require and enable students to develop additional competencies beyond core technical knowledge, thereby improving graduate attributes and student retention rates. Changes needed involve an educational focus and mind-shift. The purpose of this article is to establish how issues-driven learning (IDL), as an example of experiential or experience-based learning theory (ELT) can be implemented to meet the challenges.
Diagnostic efficacy of fine needle aspiration cytology in breast lesions

Background: Carcinoma of the breast is a leading cause of death in women and needs to be evaluated at an early stage. FNAC helps in rapid diagnosis of breast lesions and their management. Objective: To study the diagnostic efficacy of FNAC in breast lesions. Materials and methods: Three year retrospective study of 105 cases of breast lump was conducted which included cases, where FNAC and histopathological correlation was available. The cytological diagnosis was classified as inflammatory lesions, benign, atypical probably benign, suspicious for malignancy and malignant. Results: On cytology out of 105 cases, 57 were benign, 7 inflammatory lesions, 34 malignant and 7 were inadequate. Fibroadenoma was the most common benign lesion noted in age group of 21-30 years and infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the most common malignant lesion in 31-40 years age group. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of this study were 96.93%, 91.89% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: FNAC of breast lesions is a simple, safe and effective modality in pre-operative assessment of benign and malignant lesions and shows high accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.
Identifying Critical Success Factors for Supply Chain Quality Management (SCQM)

This paper identifies the critical success factors for Supply Chain Quality Management (SCQM). Based on data collected from Taiwan's computer and electronics industries, three performance groups are identified. Our results show that firms in the best performance groups emphasize supplier relationship, IT-driven change, and customer focus. The perceptions of managers of these critical factors could be used as the basis for developing strategic and operational initiatives. A framework is also developed on how to use SCQM's critical success factors to build competitive advantage.
Talker familiarity and spoken word recognition in school-age children*

ABSTRACT Research with adults has shown that spoken language processing is improved when listeners are familiar with talkers' voices, known as the familiar talker advantage. The current study explored whether this ability extends to school-age children, who are still acquiring language. Children were familiarized with the voices of three German–English bilingual talkers and were tested on the speech of six bilinguals, three of whom were familiar. Results revealed that children do show improved spoken language processing when they are familiar with the talkers, but this improvement was limited to highly familiar lexical items. This restriction of the familiar talker advantage is attributed to differences in the representation of highly familiar and less familiar lexical items. In addition, children did not exhibit accent-general learning; despite having been exposed to German-accented talkers during training, there was no improvement for novel German-accented talkers.