Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capturing gazelles : features of high potential firms & new venture growth

This paper investigates the characteristics of ventures which have the potential to reach high growth and compares this with ‘everyday’ new ventures. Findings of interest in this paper include: • HP firms are characterised by higher human capital, are more likely to have a team of founders, are more likely to be product based. • HP firms are more likely to achieve more extreme levels of growth (both positive and negative). • HP ventures that make a loss are more likely to do so early in the venture process. Those that do hold on show that there can higher levels of loss made later on in firm development. HP firms have higher resource needs, in terms of seeking external finance, but are no more likely to receive external finance than regular firms.
Alternative splice acceptor utilization during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of cultured cells

The utilization of alternative splice acceptors for excision of the 5' major intron of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA was observed after infection in vitro. Specific splice events were monitored by a cDNA-polymerase chain reaction. These splice events shared a common splice donor but utilized several alternative splice acceptors. In addition to identifying the previously documented splice acceptors for tat and nef (S. K. Arya, C. Guo, S. F. Josephs, and F. Wong-Staal, Science 229:69-73, 1985), nucleotide sequence analysis of cDNA-polymerase chain reaction fragments also revealed the following: (i) two splice acceptors 15 and 9 nucleotides upstream from the rev start codon, which are utilized to create transcripts suitable for specific rev expression; and (ii) use of the splice acceptor previously attributed to nef to generate a singly spliced, env-encoding transcript. Hybridization signals representing the nef/env, tat, and rev splice events increased in intensity between 6 and 12 h after infection of CEM cells with the LAV-1BRU strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. In contrast, the signal for utilization of the nef/env splice acceptor for the singly spliced env transcript appeared first at 12 h and increased to maximum intensity by 24 h. The nef/env splice acceptor was dominant at all time points examined. We propose that this dominance ensures efficient downstream splicing proximal to the env initiation codon in singly spliced transcripts. However, early after infection, the dominance of the nef/env splice acceptor appears to divert primary transcripts away from tat- and rev-specific processing paths. The relative proportions of hybridization signals representing these alternative splice events remained constant throughout the viral replicative cycle. This result suggests that trans-acting factors that might influence splice choices are not induced during infection, but rather that cis-acting, sequence-specific splice preferences determine the relative efficiency of alternative acceptor utilization.
AM symbiosis alters phenolic acid content in tomato roots

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi colonize the roots of most plants to establish a mutualistic symbiosis leading to important benefits for plant health. We have recently shown that AM symbiosis alters both transcriptional and hormonal profiles in tomato roots, many of these changes related to plant defence. Here, we analytically demonstrate that the levels of other important defence-related compounds as phenolic acids are also altered in the symbiosis. Both caffeic and chlorogenic acid levels significantly decreased in tomato roots upon mycorrhization, while ferulic acid increased. Moreover, in the case of caffeic acid a differential reduction was observed depending on the colonizing AM fungus. The results confirm that AM associations imply the regulation of plant defence responses, and that the host changes may vary depending on the AM fungus involved. The potential implications of altered phenolic acid levels on plant control over mycorrhizal colonization and in the plant resistance to pathogens is discussed.
Large striatocapsular infarcts: clinical presentation and pathogenesis in comparison with lacunar and cortical infarcts

In a well‐defined prospective series of 247 patients with a first‐ever supratentorial brain infarct, 15 patients (6%; 95% confidence interval 3–9%) had a large striatocapsular infarct. Twelve (80%) had signs of cortical dysfunction, whereas risk factor profile, frequency of significant carotid stenosis, and frequency of potential cardioembolic sources did not differ between patients with striatocapsular and those with cortical infarction. However, patients with striatocapsular infarction more frequently had potential cardioembolic source and significant carotid stenosis than patients with lacunar infarction. Our findings show that large striatocapsular infarcts differ from lacunar infarcts with regard to both presenting signs and symptoms, and pathogenesis, whereas they resemble infarcts involving the cortex. Such patients should therefore be managed and treated as patients with cortical infarction.
Putting mobile application privacy in context: An empirical study of user privacy expectations for mobile devices

ABSTRACT Users increasingly use mobile devices to engage in social activity and commerce, enabling new forms of data collection by firms and marketers. User privacy expectations for these new forms of data collection remain unclear. A particularly difficult challenge is meeting expectations for contextual integrity, as user privacy expectations vary depending upon data type collected and context of use. This article illustrates how fine-grained, contextual privacy expectations can be measured. It presents findings from a factorial vignette survey that measured the impact of diverse real-world contexts (e.g., medical, navigation, music), data types, and data uses on user privacy expectations. Results demonstrate that individuals’ general privacy preferences are of limited significance for predicting their privacy judgments in specific scenarios. Instead, the results present a nuanced portrait of the relative importance of particular contextual factors and information uses, and demonstrate how those contextual factors can be found and measured. The results also suggest that current common activities of mobile application companies, such as harvesting and reusing location data, images, and contact lists, do not meet users’ privacy expectations. Understanding how user privacy expectations vary according to context, data types, and data uses highlights areas requiring stricter privacy protections by governments and industry.
On the ethics of trade credit: an analysis of disclosures in UK company directors’ reports

In the last decades the use of trade credit has been extended as a short-term financing, but this indiscriminate use has misleading consequences to suppliers that support the main disadvantages. In this research it has been analyzed the use of trade credit in United Kingdom. The companies that have sign a code, the size of companies and industry are contrasted through an empirical study made in UK companies of FTSE, and the use of the trade credit is questioned from an ethical perspective.
Effectiveness of teaching evidence-based medicine to undergraduate medical students: A BEME systematic review

Abstract Background: Despite the widespread teaching of evidence-based medicine (EBM) to medical students, the relevant literature has not been synthesized appropriately as to its value and effectiveness. Aim: To systematically review the literature regarding the impact of teaching EBM to medical students on their EBM knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors. Methods: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of science, ERIC, CINAHL and Current Controlled Trials up to May 2011 were searched; backward and forward reference checking of included and relevant studies was also carried out. Two investigators independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the studies. Results: 10,111 potential studies were initially found, of which 27 were included in the review. Six studies examined the effect of clinically integrated methods, of which five had a low quality and the other one used no validated assessment tool. Twelve studies evaluated the effects of seminars, workshops and short courses, of which 11 had a low quality and the other one lacked a validated assessment tool. Six studies examined e-learning, of which five having a high or acceptable quality reported e-learning to be as effective as traditional teaching in improving knowledge, attitudes and skills. One robust study found problem-based learning less effective compared to usual teaching. Two studies with high or moderate quality linked multicomponent interventions to improved knowledge and attitudes. No included study assessed the long-term effects of the teaching of EBM. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that some EBM teaching strategies have the potential to improve knowledge, attitudes and skills in undergraduate medical students, but the evidenced base does not demonstrate superiority of one method. There is no evidence demonstrating transfer to clinical practice.
Insulin‐like growth factors modulate the growth inhibitory effects of retinoic acid on MCF‐7 breast cancer cells

Retinoids are currently being tested for the treatment and prevention of several human cancers, including breast cancer. However, the anti‐cancer and growth inhibitory mechanisms of retinoids are not well understood. All‐trans retinoic acid (RA) inhibits the growth of the estrogen receptor‐positive (ER+) breast cancer cell line, MCF‐7, in a reversible and dose‐dependent manner. In contrast, insulin‐like growth factors (IGF‐I,IGF‐II) and insulin are potent stimulators of the proliferation of MCF‐7 and several other breast cancer cell lines. Pharmacologic doses of RA (≤10−6M) completely inhibit IGF‐I‐stimulated MCF‐7 cell growth. Published data suggest that the growth inhibitory action of RA on IGF‐stimulated cell growth is linear and dose‐dependent, similar to RA inhibition of unstimulated or estradiol‐stimulated MCF‐7 cell growth. Surprisingly, we have found that IGF‐I or insulin‐stimulated cell growth is increased to a maximum of 132% and 127%, respectively, by cotreatment with 10−7 M RA, and that 10−9–10−7 M RA increase cell proliferation compared to IGF‐I or insulin alone. MCF‐7 cells that stably overexpress IGF‐II are also resistant to the growth inhibitory effects of 10−9–10−7 M RA. Treatment with the IGF‐I receptor blocking antibody, αIR‐3, restores RA‐induced growth inhibition of IGF‐I‐treated or IGF‐II‐overexpressing MCF‐7 cells, indicating that the IGF‐I receptor is mediating these effects. IGFs cannot reverse all RA effects since the altered cell culture morphology of RA‐treated cells is similar in growth‐inhibited cultures and in IGF‐II expressing clones that are resistant to RA‐induced growth inhibition. These results indicate that RA action on MCF‐7 cells is biphasic in the presence of IGF‐I or insulin with 10−9–10−7 M RA enhancing cell proliferation and ≥ 10−6M RA causing growth inhibition. As IGF‐I and IGF‐II ligands are frequently detectable in breast tumor tissues, their potential for modulation of RA effects should be considered when evaluating retinoids for use in in vivo experimental studies and for clinical purposes. Additionally, the therapeutic use of inhibitors of IGF action in combination with RA is suggested by these studies. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss Inc.
Hand-held Doppler Ultrasound : The assessment of lower limb arterial and venous disease

• Place an appropriately sized cuff around the upper arm • Ensure that the equipment and the arm are at heart level • Locate the brachial pulse and apply ultrasound contact gel • Angle the Doppler probe at 45 o and move the probe to obtain the best signal • Inflate the cuff until the signal is abolished then deflate the cuff slowly and record the pressure at which the signal returns being careful not to move the probe from the line of the artery • Repeat the procedure for the other arm • Use the highest of the two values as the best non-invasive estimate of central systolic pressure and use this figure to calculate the ABPI
The influence of a seated break on prolonged standing induced low back pain development

With the recent attention to ‘sitting disease’, health practitioners and scientists are promoting standing in the workplace to decrease sedentary time, despite a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP) development during prolonged standing. The purpose of this study was to assess how a seated break inserted between bouts of prolonged standing would influence LBP development, posture and movement. A total of 20 participants stood for 45 minutes, sat for 15 minutes and repeated this sequence while lumbar and thoracic angles were measured, and LBP visual analogue scale reports were taken. Of the sample, 55% participants reported LBP in standing. A stand to sit ratio of 3:1 did not provide lasting recovery of LBP from standing and pain developers utilised a limited range of their lumbar spine angle and increased thoracic extension, resulting in static postures that caused tissue aggravation that was not resolved after 15 minutes of sitting. Prolonged standing in the workplace has the potential to result in LBP for some workers and alternate ways to reduce sedentary time should be investigated. Practitioner Summary: Recommending standing to replace sitting should be undertaken with caution. A ratio of 3:1 (stand to sit) did not mitigate standing induced LBP. Practitioners should consider the interplay between standing and seated work and provide a variety of activities to reduce sedentary time tailored to work, preference and tolerance for an activity.
How Large are the Benefits of Emerging Market Equities?

We perform a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits of emerging market equities by extending previous research in four fundamental ways. The contribution of this study is that it 1) evaluates a more complete sample; 2) examines performance measures that account for asymmetric return distributions; 3) separates emerging markets by region; and 4) considers the influence that the market environment has on the benefits of emerging market investments. Our results suggest that previous research has understated the benefits associated with investing in emerging markets. We find that broad emerging market indices have relatively low downside risk, which results in Sortino ratios that are approximately twice that offered by developed markets. Furthermore, we find that Latin American countries are particularly beneficial in hedging against adverse conditions in U.S. financial markets. Overall, our findings indicate that emerging markets allow investors to achieve lower risk, higher returns, and expanded risk/return possibilities; especially during periods when developed world investors need diversification the most.
Risky Debt-Maturity Choice Under Information Asymmetry

AbstractThe traditional equilibrium models of signaling with debt-maturity require transaction costs by firms when raising new capital. In this paper, we propose a new model that has no such requirement. We demonstrate that a separating equilibrium of debt-maturity choice exists under a much more general condition, once accounting for the interactions between borrowers and lenders. The model is able to explain the observed complex financial structure. It is found that callable debt functions much like short-term debt, and serial debt similar to long-term debt. In equilibrium, high-quality firms issue short-term debt, and low-quality firms issue long-term debt.
Processing of Pulmonary Surfactant Protein B by Napsin and Cathepsin H*

Surfactant protein B (SP-B) is an essential constituent of pulmonary surfactant. SP-B is synthesized in alveolar type II cells as a preproprotein and processed to the mature peptide by the cleavage of NH2- and COOH-terminal peptides. An aspartyl protease has been suggested to cleave the NH2-terminal propeptide resulting in a 25-kDa intermediate. Napsin, an aspartyl protease expressed in alveolar type II cells, was detected in fetal lung homogenates as early as day 16 of gestation, 1 day before the onset of SP-B expression and processing. Napsin was localized to multivesicular bodies, the site of SP-B proprotein processing in type II cells. Incubation of SP-B proprotein from type II cells with a crude membrane extract from napsin-transfected cells resulted in enhanced levels of a 25-kDa intermediate. Purified napsin cleaved a recombinant SP-B/EGFP fusion protein within the NH2-terminal propeptide between Leu178 and Pro179, 22 amino acids upstream of the NH2 terminus of mature SP-B. Cathepsin H, a cysteine protease also implicated in pro-SP-B processing, cleaved SP-B/EGFP fusion protein 13 amino acids upstream of the NH2 terminus of mature SP-B. Napsin did not cleave the COOH-terminal peptide, whereas cathepsin H cleaved the boundary between mature SP-B and the COOH-terminal peptide and at several other sites within the COOH-terminal peptide. Knockdown of napsin by small interfering RNA resulted in decreased levels of mature SP-B and mature SP-C in type II cells. These results suggest that napsin, cathepsin H, and at least one other enzyme are involved in maturation of the biologically active SP-B peptide.
External Financing and Voluntary Disclosure: Is There a Difference between Equity-Issuing Firms and Debt-Issuing Firms?

This paper examines whether there are differences in the voluntary disclosure strategies of firms choosing different sources of external financing. I hypothesize that the different information demands of equity and debt investors will influence the likelihood and characteristics of firms' voluntary disclosures. I test this hypothesis using management earnings forecast data for a large sample of debt-issuing, equity-issuing, and a control sample of non-issuing firms. I find that the likelihood of forecasting is not associated with the decision to raise external funds and the likelihood of making a forecast is not associated with the type of external financing transaction. However, I do find that equity-issuing firms release earnings forecasts for longer time horizons regardless of the news content of the disclosure. These results are robust to quiet-period regulations. The above results hold for an alternative sample that consists of shelf-registrants for equity issues and debt issues and their control groups. This evidence on the characteristics of firms' voluntary disclosures is important because it indicates that the firms tailor their disclosures to meet the different information demands of investors based on the financing choice.
Service Quality Gap and Customer Satisfaction Among Public versus Private Hospitals of Pakistan

The first major objective of this study is to explore the service quality level of Public and Private Hospitals in Pakistan from perspective of customers. Secondly, the satisfactions level of consumers towards the services provided by these health care providers in general is investigated. The measurement instrument used in this study is based on famous SERVQUAL model. In this study an attempt has been made for this first time to explore the service quality gap by means of making a comparison between customers’ expectations and their actual perceptions towards the service provided. The results have shown an alarming situation where public hospitals are far away from the customer expectations. Furthermore there is an extreme need for training in the area of customer relationship management for both public and private hospital staff. Looking at the situation it is highly recommended that the government should take a country wide initiative to launch special programs where hospitals internal structures and work process are re-organized on the principles of quality management practices, through the introduction of ISO Programs. This would help in improving the service quality at each stage of the services provided by these hospitals.
Management and outcome of children with skin and soft tissue abscesses caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Background. Although the epidemiology of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has been explored in many investigations, management of this emerging infection has not been well-studied. For non-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue abscesses, incision and drainage is generally adequate therapy without the use of antibiotics, but this has not been established for CA-MRSA. Methods. Children presenting to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas for management of skin and soft tissue abscesses caused by culture-proved CA-MRSA were prospectively followed. We analyzed data from the initial evaluation and from two follow-up visits that focused on the management and outcome of CA-MRSA infection. Retrospective chart review was performed 2 to 6 months after the initial visit. Results. Sixty-nine children were identified with culture-proved CA-MRSA skin and soft tissue abscess. Treatment consisted of drainage in 96% of patients and wound packing in 65%. All children were treated with antibiotics. Five patients (7%) were prescribed an antibiotic to which their CA-MRSA isolate was susceptible before culture results were known. Four patients (6%) required hospital admission on the first follow-up; none of these patients had received an antibiotic effective against CA-MRSA. A significant predictor of hospitalization was having a lesion initially >5 cm (P = 0.004). Initial ineffective antibiotic therapy was not a significant predictor of hospitalization (P = 1.0). Of the 58 patients initially given an ineffective antibiotic and managed as outpatients, an antibiotic active against CA-MRSA was given to 21 (36%) patients after results of cultures were known. No significant differences in response were observed in those who never received an effective antibiotic than in those who did. Conclusions. Incision and drainage without adjunctive antibiotic therapy was effective management of CA-MRSA skin and soft tissue abscesses with a diameter of <5 cm in immunocompetent children.
Generic medicines: a holistic assessment of stakeholder perceptions and online information provision

Generic medicines are those where patent protection has expired, and which may be produced by manufacturers other than the innovator company. Use of generic medicines has been increasing in recent years, primarily as a cost saving measure in healthcare provision. Generic medicines are typically 20 to 90% cheaper than originator equivalents. Our objective is to provide a high-level description of what generic medicines are and how they differ, at a regulatory and legislative level, from originator medicines. We describe the current and historical regulation of medicines in the world’s two main pharmaceutical markets, in addition to the similarities, as well as the differences, between generics and their originator equivalents including the reasons for the cost differences seen between originator and generic medicines. Ireland is currently poised to introduce generic substitution and reference pricing. This article refers to this situation as an exemplar of a national system on the cusp of significant health policy change, and specifically details Ireland’s history with usage of generic medicines and how the proposed changes could affect healthcare provision.