Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SME brand building and management: an exploratory study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess brand identity, equity and brand management in SMEs.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology is based on the analysis of four site cases of consumer goods SMEs through in‐depth interviews and related documents.Findings – Results showed that the founders' value and beliefs set the tone for the core competencies to be developed and transmitted through brand identity. A bundle of marketing innovations, including coherent marketing programs and the use of the country of origin image, support the brands. Brand diversification strategies contribute to SMEs' growth.Research limitations/implications – Results need to be expanded and confirmed with other international SMEs that are not as well established and that do not use the country of origin in their brand image.Practical implications – Entrepreneurs need to be aware that their public image may reflect consumers' perception of their firms. Consequently, this image should be carefully nurtured. Because of r.
Predicting behavioural intention in a small business context

Investigates the proposition that reasoned action theory can be successfully applied in the small business (dairy farmers) domain. That proposition is supported by the outcome and, in common with many other studies, attitude was found to be the main predictor of behavioural intention. The normative component does not improve the efficacy of the model, possibly because of the routinised nature of the behaviour under scrutiny or the expertise of the decision makers concerned. It seems likely that the influence of other people may be greater in new‐buy situations, but that influence is unlikely to involve the element of social obligation that is behind consumers’ tendency to comply with the expectations and beliefs of salient referents. Some recommendations for further research into the stability and generalizability of the findings are made.
Management of free flap failure in head and neck surgery

SUMMARY Free flap surgery is overall considered the gold standard in head and neck reconstruction, with a success rate of 95%. The management of a total flap necrosis and which solution, between a pedicled or a second free flap, is safer for a salvage procedure is still controversial. Object of this study is to describe the authors' management of total free flap loss in head and neck reconstruction and compare the choices and results to those reported in the literature. From January 2012 to January 2016, 149 consecutive free flaps were performed at the Maxillo- Facial Operative Unit of the Hospital Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza in San Giovanni Rotondo (Italy) for reconstruction of head and neck defects. Of these, 6 flaps were lost due to a total necrosis. In 5 cases it was decided to harvest a second free flap, and in the remaining patient a temporalis muscle flap was used. All the free salvage flaps were successful, without complications and with a good aesthetic and functional recovery. Analysing the data obtained, and comparing them with those reported in the literature, it can be concluded that a second subsequent free flap can be considered an ideal and safe procedure in salvage surgery.
Shall evidence-based risk assessment be abandoned?

Hart et al [1][1] argued that actuarial risk assessments (Violence Risk Appraisal Guide, VRAG, and Static-99) are `virtually meaningless'. They committed statistical error by misapplying confidence intervals (see or <http://bjp.rcpsych. org/cgi/eletters/
Head and face injuries in scholastic women's lacrosse with and without eyewear.

PURPOSE The use of protective equipment has been absent or inconsistent in scholastic women's lacrosse leading to increasing concern for eye and head injury. There is a paucity of field data, however, on which to base strategic decisions on how best to prevent head injuries in young athletes. METHODS This study examined the effects of protective eyewear on injury rates in scholastic women's lacrosse in a cohort of approximately 700 varsity and junior varsity players in central New York studied prospectively for 2 yr during a transition from sparse to almost complete eyewear use. RESULTS The overall head/face injury rate was 0.71 injuries per 1000 exposures (games and practices) and was 16.5% lower in goggle wearers. In games alone, where more aggressive play and stick use prevails, the rate associated with protective eyewear use was markedly lower (51%). Considering specific regions, the rates for peri-orbit and forehead injuries among goggle users were substantially lower than for nonusers (6% and 13%, respectively). Cheek and scalp injury rates tended to be higher among goggle wearers, but not statistically significantly so. Significant compensatory increases with goggle wear at other sites were not observed. Only a few injuries appeared to be mediated by the goggles themselves and potentially could have been more serious if the goggles had not been present. No direct eye (orbit) injuries were reported throughout the study period. CONCLUSION On balance, then, the use of eyewear in women's lacrosse appears to be beneficial when users are compared with nonusers.
Optimal Impulse Control When Control Actions Have Random Consequences

We consider a generalised impulse control model for controlling a process governed by a stochastic differential equation. The controller can only choose a parameter of the probability distribution of the consequence of his control action which is therefore random. We state optimality results relating the value function to quasi-variational inequalities and a formal optimal stopping problem. We also remark that the value function is a viscosity solution of the quasi-variational inequalities which could lead to developments and convergence proofs of numerical schemes. Further, we give some explicit examples and an application in financial mathematics, the optimal control of the exchange rate.
Hormonal regulation of oxidative and reductive activities of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rat Leydig cells.

We have proposed that the 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) of Leydig cells protects against glucocorticoid-induced inhibition of testosterone (T) production. However, Leydig cells express type I 11 beta-HSD, which has been shown to be reductive in liver parenchymal cells. Because reduction would have the opposite effect of activating glucocorticoid, the present study was designed to determine: 1) whether Leydig cell 11 beta-HSD is primarily oxidative or reductive; and 2) whether oxidative and reductive activities are separately modified by known regulators of Leydig cell steroidogenic function. Leydig cells and liver parenchymal cells were purified from mature male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 g BW), and 11 beta-HSD oxidative and reductive activities were measured using radiolabeled substrates and TLC of triplicate media samples from 1-h incubations immediately after cell isolation. Enzyme activities also were examined in purified Leydig cells at the end of 3 days of culture in vitro in the presence of LH (10 ng/ml), dexamethasone (DEX, 100 nM), T (50 nM), or epidermal growth factor (EGF, 50 ng/ml). In confirmation of previous reports, the reductive activity of 11 beta-HSD was predominant over oxidation in liver parenchymal cells. In contrast, 11 beta-HSD oxidative activity prevailed over reduction in Leydig cells by a ratio of 2:1. The activities of 11 beta-HSD also were analyzed in Leydig cells that were purified 7 days after endogenous glucocorticoid levels were suppressed by adrenalectomy (ADX). Oxidative activity declined in Leydig cells after ADX (22.53 +/- 1.12 pmol/h.10(6) cells, mean +/- SEM vs. 31.47 +/- 1.48 pmol/. 10(6) cells in sham-operated controls, P < 0.05), whereas there was no change in reductive activity. This indicated that physiologically active corticosterone is involved in maintaining the predominance of 11 beta-HSD oxidation. When enzyme activities were analyzed in Leydig cells after 3 days of hormonal treatment in vitro, oxidation and reduction were observed to change in opposing directions. Culture of Leydig cells from sham-operated control rats with either LH, T, or EGF resulted in declines in oxidative activity from 33.35 +/- 0.77 to 28.24 +/- 1.93, 27.30 +/- 0.96, and 24.13 +/- 1.02 pmol/ h.10(6) cells (x +/- SE), respectively. However, EGF stimulated 11 beta-HSD reductive activity in cultured Leydig cells from both control (from 18.97 +/- 1.10 to 27.16 +/- 0.71 pmol/h.10(6) cells and ADX rats (from 16.51 +/- 0.75 to 23.56 +/- 0.84 pmol/h.10(6) cells). Among the hormonal treatments, only DEX increased oxidative activity and simultaneously decreased reductive activity in Leydig cells from ADX rats. This increase accentuated the predominance of oxidative activity in Leydig cells, with a ratio of oxidative to reductive activity of 4:1 after DEX treatment, compared with 2:1 in controls that were untreated. We conclude that 11 beta-HSD activity in Leydig cells is primarily oxidative. Moreover, oxidation and reduction are regulated separately by hormones.
Modulation of event‐related potentials by prototypical and atypical faces

High-density event-related potentials (HD-ERPs) were recorded while adults passively viewed colour images of faces that artificially (Experiment I) or naturally (Experiment II) differed in configuration. In Experiment I, altering features of faces to make them less typical and less attractive did not affect the amplitude of N170, but did affect the amplitude of P1 and P2. In Experiment II, the P1 and N170 were larger for unattractive and atypical faces compared with attractive and typical faces, in the absence of P2 effects. The results show for the first time that variations in facial configuration modulate ERP activity as early as P1, but that modulation of later latency components depends on the nature of the stimuli and implicit task demands.
Understanding Proactive Behaviours and Career Success: Evidence from an Emerging Economy

This article explores the relationship between proactive career behaviours and both objective and subjective career success. The study was conducted on a sample of managers within the public sector of an emerging economy (Malaysia). A sample of 288 managers reported on their proactive career behaviours and career success. Results show that managers who engage in individual career management and networking behaviours report more subjective career success. Networking is positively related to both objective and subjective career success. We discuss the implications for managers’ career in emerging economies.
Corporate Ownership and Performance in Twentieth Century Japan

In this paper, we examined the effect that governance structures have on corporate performance using our newly constructed corporate database for 20 century Japan. We show that the ownership structure was an important determinant of corporate performance during the interwar period. Especially, ownership by large shareholders and managerial ownership had a significant effect in this period. By contrast, in the high-growth era and after the oil crises, ownership structure also influenced corporate performance, but to a much smaller degree than in the prewar period. Ownership structure was not an important determinant of corporate performance when economy grew rapidly. However, corporate performance grew more sensitive to ownership structure in the bubble period (the late 1980s) and after the collapse of the bubble, as the negative effects of stable shareholding and shareholding by banks became apparent. These Japanese experiences suggest that ownership structure influences corporate performance but not necessarily on a consistent basis.
Type II Collagen Autoimmunity in Animals and Provocations Leading to Arthritis

The mean feature of organ-specific autoimmune disease is that the individual produces an immune response against one or several localized autoantigens. In humans this immune response may be characterized by the description of Band T-cell responses to particular autoantigens in individuals with autoimmune diseases. However, the pure descriptive character of these studies does not allow us to answer questions about how these autoimmune reactions are induced; whether the autoimmune reactions are the "driving force" of the disease or rather epiphenomena resulting from nonspecific inflammatory activity or an immune response against some uncharacterized infectious agent. To be able to study these questions experimentally, several autoimmune animal models have been developed. In this review we will discuss results produced with the type II collagen (Cll)-induced autoimmune arthritis model (CIA). CIA was first described in 1977 by David Trentham who showed that immunization with type II collagen (CII) led to the development of arthritis in certain rat strains (Trentham et al. 1977). The CIA model was also later estabhshed in mice (Courtenay et al. 1980) and primates (Cathcart et al. 1989, Yoo et al. 1988) whereas guinea pigs are insensitive (Hernandez et al. 1988). As will be discussed in this review, the CIA mode! provides the opportunity for studying autoimmunity to a defined autoantigen present in the healthy individual and how this autoimmunity may be converted into pathology as a consequence of certain provocations. However, to understand the picture that emerges from these studies we will first refer to some recent findings and theories about the physiological importance of autoimmunity and the mechanisms for self-nonself discrimination in the immune system.
The role of novel oncogenes squamous cell carcinoma-related oncogene and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p110alpha in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue.

PURPOSE Amplification at chromosome 3q26.3 is a common and crucial event in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), impacting significantly on tumor progression and clinical outcome. Two novel oncogenes, namely squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)-related oncogene (SCCRO) and PIK3CA (gene encoding phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase catalytic alpha-polypeptide), have been identified as targets of 3q26.3 amplification. This study aimed to delineate the role of SCCRO and PIK3CA in the pathogenesis of oral tongue SCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The association between gene copy number for SCCRO and PIK3CA measured by fluorescence in situ hybridization and level of mRNA expression quantitated by real-time reverse transcription-PCR was assessed in a panel of human HNSCC cell lines. In addition, gene expression in 49 consecutive primary SCCs of the oral tongue was determined and correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and outcome. RESULTS The mRNA level of SCCRO and PIK3CA was significantly correlated to the gene copy number in nine HNSCC cell lines. In addition, the expression level of SCCRO and PIK3CA was significantly greater in malignant tissues compared with those in histologically normal mucosae (2.17- and 2.46-fold, respectively; P < 0.001). Matched tumor normal control analysis revealed that 24.5 and 69.4% of patients expressed high levels of SCCRO and PIK3CA, respectively. Univariate analyses demonstrated that SCCRO overexpression correlated with nodal metastases (P = 0.05) and advanced stage (P = 0.02), whereas PIK3CA overexpression was associated with vascular invasion (P = 0.04). Only SCCRO overexpression was associated with disease-specific (P = 0.04) and overall survival (P = 0.02). Furthermore, SCCRO overexpression remained an independent predictor for cervical nodal metastasis on multivariate regression analysis (chi(2) likelihood ratio = 4.38; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Although both SCCRO and PIK3CA may play a role in the pathogenesis of oral tongue SCC through amplification at 3q26, SCCRO appears to be a significant predictor of regional metastasis and may be a marker for tumor aggressiveness and clinical outcome.
The Price Knowledge and Search of Supermarket Shoppers

A model of grocery shopper response to price and other point-of-purchase information was developed and hypotheses were tested by using observations and interviews. The findings suggest that shoppers tended to spend only a short time making their selection and many did not check the price of the item they selected. Perhaps as a consequence, more than half could not correctly name the price of the item just placed in the shopping cart and more than half of the shoppers who purchased an item that was on special were unaware that the price was reduced. Other results on point-of-purchase information processing and behavior are discussed.
Obesity and body fat distribution and breast cancer prognosis

This study addresses the effect of obesity and body fat distribution on axillary lymph node involvement, tumor size, and estrogen receptor (ER) level in breast cancer patients. Anthropometric measurements were prospectively obtained on 248 consecutively and newly diagnosed women with invasive breast cancer. The anthropometric measurements evaluated were abdomen, thigh, subscapular, and midaxillary skinfolds; weight; and height. Weight and Quetelet Index (kg/m2) were significantly (P = 0.001) associated with lymph node involvement in postmenopausal patients. The abdomen:thigh skinfold ratio was significantly higher in premenopausal patients (P = 0.004) and postmenopausal (P = 0.03) without axillary node involvement compared with women with 4+ axillary node involvement. The abdomen:thigh skinfold was higher (P = 0.05) in women with smaller breast cancers (< 2.0 cm) and higher ER levels. Weight and Quetelet Index did not affect tumor size or ER level. This study demonstrated that obese postmenopausal women who developed breast cancer tend to have more axillary node involvement than their leaner counterparts. Generalized obesity did not affect tumor size or ER level. Premenopausal and postmenopausal women with upper body fat distribution appear to be a subset of women who have a more favorable prognosis as measured by less lymph node involvement, smaller tumors, and higher levels of ER in their tumors.
Mycological Survey of Chicken Feed and Some Feed Ingredients in Turkey.

Level of mold contamination and mycoflora were determined for 144 mixed feed and feed ingredients, including corn, sunflower cake, soja cake, meat and bone meal, and fish meal. Four samples were found to be free of mold. Among the feed samples examined, the mold count has been found to be low (102 to 103 colonies/g) for fish meal, high (104 to 105 colonies/g) for meat-bone meal and sunflower cake, and extremely high (more than 105 colonies/g) for soja cake, corn and mixed feed. The predominant flora in the feed samples consisted of Penicillium , Aspergillus , Fusarium , Mucor and Eurotium , respectively. The most frequently encountered species was found to be Penicillium aurantiogriseum , followed by Aspergillus flavus .
Identifying characteristics of consumers who frequently return apparel

Purpose – This paper seeks to investigate relationships between apparel return behavior and fashion innovativeness, buying impulsiveness, and consideration of return policies of US consumers.Design/methodology/approach – A convenience sample of 246 undergraduates studying in the USA completed a questionnaire that contained measures of apparel returns, fashion innovativeness, buying impulsiveness, and consideration of return policies. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data.Findings – It was found that apparel return behavior of participants was positively related to buying impulsiveness and to consideration of return policies. These two variables were also significant predictors of frequency of apparel returns. Fashion innovativeness was not significantly related to participants' apparel return behavior. In addition, participants' consideration of return policies was not related to their innovative or impulsive purchase behaviors.Practical implications – F.
Development and Evaluation of a PCR Assay for Tracking the Emergence and Dissemination of Haitian Variant ctxB in Vibrio cholerae O1 Strains Isolated from Kolkata, India

ABSTRACT A PCR-based assay was developed to discriminate the classical, El Tor, and Haitian types of ctxB alleles. Our retrospective study using this newly developed PCR showed that Haitian ctxB first appeared in Kolkata during April 2006, and 93.3% of strains isolated during 2011 carried the new allele. Dendrogram analysis showed a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern of the new variant strains isolated recently that was distinct from the PFGE pattern of the strains carrying classical ctxB that closely matched the 2006 to 2007 variant strains.
Mechanisms of clinical resistance to fluoroquinolones in Staphylococcus aureus

Mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus resistance to fluoroquinolones were characterized. Subunit A and B proteins of DNA gyrase were partially purified from fluoroquinolone-susceptible strain SA113 and resistant isolate MS16405, which was 250- to 1,000-fold less susceptible to fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, temafloxacin, and sparfloxacin than SA113 was. The supercoiling activity of the gyrase from SA113 was inhibited by the fluoroquinolones, and the 50% inhibitory concentrations of the drugs correlated well with their MICs. In contrast, the gyrase from MS16405 was insensitive to inhibition of supercoiling by all of the quinolones tested, even at 800 micrograms/ml. Combinations of heterologous gyrase subunits showed that subunit A from MS16405 conferred fluoroquinolone resistance, suggesting that an alteration in gyrase subunit A is a cause of the fluoroquinolone resistance in MS16405. Uptake of hydrophilic fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin by MS16405 was significantly lower than that by SA113. Furthermore, this difference was abolished by the addition of an energy inhibitor, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, suggesting that an alteration in an energy-dependent process, such as an active efflux of hydrophilic quinolones, may lead to decreased drug uptake and hence to increased resistance to fluoroquinolones in MS16405. These findings suggest that the fluoroquinolone resistance in MS16405 is due mainly to an alteration in subunit A of DNA gyrase and may also be associated with an alteration in the drug uptake process.
Rectal perforation with profuse bleeding following an enema. Case report and review of the literature.

ALTHOUGH it is impossible to estimate the numbar of enemas administered each year, one would suspect that it is a significant and growing number. The vast majority of enemas produce their desired effect without any accompanying complications. However, laceration and rupture of the rectum have been reported following the administration of enemas. 1-7 Occasionally, rectal bleeding is associated with trauma, but it rarely is profuse and rarely occurs as the presenting sign of laceration or rupture. Large and Mukheiber reported a case of laceration of the rectum following enema administration and reviewed 30 other cases that had been reported in the English literature. 1 In none of these cases was there excessive bleeding. Turell, in reviewing his experience with rectal perforations following an enema, reported only two cases where surgical intervention was necessary because of bleeding, 3 and Szunyorgh had only one case where bleeding was the presenting sign. 7