Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Audit Committee as an Interactive Process: Insights on the AC Chairperson’s Power

Abstract The audit committee (AC) chairperson is considered a key actor in the AC process, yet little is known about the role of AC chairpersons and how they exert power in a constraining institutional environment. Considering the AC as an inhabited institution – an institution actively inhabited by agentic and creative actors, this paper provides insights into the dynamics of the AC process with respect to the contribution, power and influence of the AC chairperson. The analysis draws on 53 interviews with experienced AC members, chief financial officers and auditors of 23 publicly listed companies. The results show that AC chairpersons are neither totally constrained by the institutional environment nor fully strategic actors, but carve out individual corridors of action and exert power within the AC process. In particular, our findings bring out three styles of leadership: managing ongoing trust relationships to act as marginal-secant able to play with the various local ecologies of knowledge and power, using in-depth knowledge of the institutional rules to manage them purposefully, serving as an expert in a timely and targeted manner. The analysis points to the ways AC chairpersons inhabit their role, deal with institutional scripts and give meaning to their oversight duties.
Flow cytometric monitoring of red blood cell chimerism after bone marrow transplantation

Chimerism after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was investigated by flow cytometry analysis of red blood cells (RBCs) and of reticulocytes using a series of selected monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies directed against ABO, Rhesus, Kell, Duffy or MNSs antigens. The method allows the routine detection of less than 0.1% of positive cells in artificial mixed field populations. Blood samples from 135 patients undergoing BMT were investigated around days 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 180, and then every 6 months after transplantation. Characteristic patterns showing expression of donor red blood cell antigens (expansion markers) and concomitant decrease of recipient specific antigens (depletion markers) within days 16–20 were observed for 125 successfully engrafted patients. Distinct patterns were obtained in 10 patients. A delay in engraftment was evidenced in four patients by the absence of chimerism during the first 6 months without any sign of relapse. Re‐appearance of recipient RBCs and reticulocytes was observed in five patients; it was consistent with relapse that was later confirmed by clinical, haematological and cytogenetic studies. Finally, a stable and partial chimerism with 20% of RBCs expressing a marker from the recipient was observed in one patient without any sign of relapse. The reported investigation demonstrated that flow cytometry of RBCs and reticulocytes represents a powerful method to efficiently monitor bone marrow transplanted patients on a long‐term basis.
Subtalar Joint Configuration on Weightbearing CT Scan

Background: Standard values that describe the morphology of the subtalar (ST) joint have previously been obtained from cadaveric studies or by using conventional unloaded radiographs. It is known that these parameters differ significantly from those measured in vivo and in loaded images, limiting the diagnostic value of the previously published morphological parameters in the literature. However, the morphology of the ST joint clearly affects its function. The objective of this study was to determine the morphology of the posterior facet of the ST joint using loaded computed tomography (CT) images and to describe the different configurations found in asymptomatic patients. Methods: A weightbearing CT scan was performed on 59 patients without any history of hindfoot and ankle pathology. The shape of the posterior facet and the subtalar vertical angle (SVA) were measured in 3 different coronal planes of the ST joint. Results: The posterior facet was concave in 88% and flat in 12%. The posterior facet was oriented in valgus in 90% and varus in 10% when measured in the middle coronal plane. However, the SVA changed depending on which coronal plane it was measured in. Conclusion: We believe it is important to get a better insight into the morphological parameters of the ST joint. Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of subtalar joint morphology could help clarify why certain failures have occurred in reconstructive hindfoot surgery and thus might help plan the surgical procedure to reduce these failures in the future.
Human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection and tropical spastic paraparesis in belgian expatriates

A case of HTLV‐1 associated tropical spastic paraparesis is described in a Belgian nun who had been working as a midwife in Central Africa. Occupational exposure was the only risk factor identified. Among 2,482 Belgian expatriates in tropical countries, 92% of whom had resided in sub‐Saharan Africa for an average of 15.5 years, only one Belgian‐born man was found seropositive for HTLV‐1. He was married t o an African woman and living in Central Africa for 23 years. The risk of HTLV‐1 infection is low in Belgian expatriates and on its own does not support generalised anti‐HTLV screening in autochthonous Belgian blood donors.
Integrated resort employee competencies: a Macau perspective

Purpose This study aims to develop an employee competency model for integrated resorts (IRs) in Macau through insights gleaned from IR professionals and to investigate whether any differences emerge in competency perception between IR professionals and college and high school students. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method approach was adopted to answer the research questions. The Delphi approach was used, and four IR experts were invited to refine components of the IR competency for the survey questionnaire. Quantitative data were collected from 596 IR professionals and college/high school students. Fisher’s least significant difference test was used to test the competency gaps between groups. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 respondents to gather their comments on the survey results. Findings The IR competency model consists of 15 critical competencies. A strong work ethic and customer service orientation were ranked as important attributes of employee competency among the four target groups. A mismatch in IR competency perceptions emerged among IR managers, employees and students. Practical implications The IR competencies can serve as a pragmatic reference for IRs in terms of employee recruitment and training. This model can also serve as a guideline to ensure the alignment between IR industry needs and the course offerings in higher education institutions in Macau. Originality/value The IR competencies contribute to resolving human capital issue challenging Macau’s IRs and provide insights for Macau’s IR stakeholders to improve the IR workforce development.
Cellular debris and ROS in age-related cortical cataract are caused by inappropriate involution of the surface epithelial cells into the lens cortex.

PURPOSE To quantify changes in the lens epithelial cells and underlying lens cortex responsible for age-related cortical cataract (ARCC) in the rat. METHODS Freshly isolated lenses were stained vitally for DNA with Hoechst 33342. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondria were visualized and quantified by dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR). The fluorescence was quantified using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) of vitally stained lenses. Cortical DNA was verified as such by DNAse I digestion. Cataract reflections were determined from digitalized images of light reflections taken with a low magnification light microscope, or with the LSCM. RESULTS The anterior surface epithelia of old rat lenses were full of gaps and ragged in appearance with a decrease of over 50% in lens epithelial cell (LEC) density. The surface LECs were frequently seen to have involuted into the cortex at inappropriate sites, forming deposits full of DNA, nuclear and mitochondrial debris, and abundant ROS. These involutions frequently originated near open gaps in the surface epithelia, where they appear to have detached from the capsular membrane. Cortical cataracts in the rat lenses were seen to co-localize with these LEC involutions, as had been seen previously in mice with ARCC. CONCLUSIONS ARCC in rats co-localized with inappropriate accumulations of nuclei, mitochondria, DNA, and expression of ROS in debris filled foci. These were the result of both involution of surface LECs into areas of cortical ARCC, and by an extension of the normal bow region deep into the anterior and posterior of cataractous lenses. These results were in complete agreement with our previous studies on ARCC in mice.
Oxidant and antioxidant profile of hyperketonemic ewes affected by pregnancy toxemia.

BACKGROUND Negative energy balance during late pregnancy in ewes is an important cause of hyperketonemia. Ketone bodies can generate superoxide radicals and cause oxidative stress and cellular dysfunction, as noted in cows with subclinical ketosis or in diabetic people. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of hyperketonemia in initiating the process of lipid peroxidation. METHODS The study included 10 pregnant ewes (aged 3.5-6 years) with pregnancy toxemia, 10 clinically healthy pregnant ewes, and 10 clinically healthy nonpregnant ewes. Serum concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), cortisol, and glucose, plasma activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, and plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), markers of lipid peroxidation, and reduced glutathione were measured. Data from the 3 groups were statistically analyzed and compared. RESULTS Serum concentrations of BHB, cortisol, and TBARS were significantly higher in ewes with pregnancy toxemia when compared with concentrations in healthy pregnant and nonpregnant groups (P≤.05). In ewes with pregnancy toxemia, a strong positive correlation was found between concentrations of TBARS and BHB (r=.80; P=.002) and between concentrations of BHB and cortisol (r=.76; P=.005). CONCLUSIONS Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation are involved in the development and complications of pregnancy toxemia. An association between hyperketonemia and the products of lipid peroxidation has also been demonstrated, suggesting that ketosis is a risk factor in the development of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in ewes affected by pregnancy toxemia.
Enhancement of microvessel tortuosity in the vastus lateralis muscle of old men in response to endurance training

Muscle microvascularization is usually quantified in transverse sections, in absolute terms (capillaries around fibres, CAF, or capillary‐to‐fibre ratio, C/F) or as CAF related to fibre area (CAF/area, CAFA). The capillary‐to‐fibre perimeter exchange ratio (CFPE) has been introduced in order to assess the role of the capillary‐to‐fibre interface in resistance to O2 diffusion. The ratio between the length of capillaries in contact with fibres and fibre perimeter (LC/PF) has also been used as an index for capillary tortuosity. The possibility of change in capillary tortuosity with endurance training was not considered in previous studies. Consequently, this study investigated the effect of 14 weeks of endurance training on muscle microvascularization, including microvessel tortuosity, in 11 elderly men (8th decade). Microvessels were analysed using the CD31 antibody. Together with the significant increase in peak oxygen exchange and citrate synthase activity, there was a significant increase in C/F. While CFPE and CAFA remained unchanged, an important finding was the clear increase in LC/PF (56%; P < 0.001) for a same sarcomere length. We also found a strong correlation between oxidative enzyme activity and LC/PF both before and after training. These results indicate that endurance training induces significant remodelling in the microvessel network in elderly men and that an increase in the degree of microvessel tortuosity would be an important mechanism of adaptation to endurance training.
Hemagglutinin B Is Involved in the Adherence of Porphyromonas gingivalis to Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells

ABSTRACT Porphyromonas gingivalis is a periodontopathogen that may play a role in cardiovascular diseases. Hemagglutinins may function as adhesins and are required for virulence of several bacterial pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the role of hemagglutinin B (HagB) in adherence of P. gingivalis to human coronary artery endothelial (HCAE) cells. P. gingivalis strain 381, a P. gingivalis 381 HagB mutant, Escherichia coli JM109 expressing HagB (E. coli-HagB), and E. coli JM109 containing pUC9 (E. coli-pUC9) were tested for their ability to attach to HCAE cells. Inhibition assays were performed to determine the ability of purified recombinant HagB (rHagB) as well as antibodies to HagB, including the polyclonal antibody (PAb) A7985 and the monoclonal antibody (MAb) HL1858, to inhibit the attachment of P. gingivalis to HCAE cells. As expected, when the attachment of P. gingivalis and the HagB mutant were compared, no statistical significance was observed between the two groups (P = 0.331), likely due to the expression of the hagB homolog hagC. However, E. coli-HagB adhered significantly better to HCAE cells than did E. coli-pUC9, the control strain. In a competition assay, the presence of purified rHagB decreased bacterial adhesion of P. gingivalis or E. coli-HagB to HCAE cells. The presence of PAb A7985 or MAb HL1858 also significantly decreased attachment of P. gingivalis and E. coli-HagB to host cells. These results indicate that HagB is involved in the adherence of P. gingivalis to human primary endothelial cells.
Longitudinal Assessment of Body Composition in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients using Bioelectric Impedance and Anthropometric Measurements

We assessed the utility of bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometry for longitudinal evaluation of body composition In continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Eleven subjects were studied at the beginning of CAPD and again at regular Intervals during the first 6 months of treatment. The significant weight gain that occurs In our patients Is mainly due to a rise in total body water (TaW), as measured by BIA, during the first weeks of CAPD, and later on due to a body fat increase. Anthropometry seems more reliable than BIA In the evaluation of body mass, because the latter Is derived from TBW in BIA. Therefore, any change In TBW that occurs in a CAPD patient necessarily causes a similar change in the fat-free mass. In our experience, only the combined use of both anthropometry and BIA allows a proper assessment of body composition In patients on CAPD.
Regulation of Amyloid β Oligomer Binding to Neurons and Neurotoxicity by the Prion Protein-mGluR5 Complex*

The prion protein (PrPC) has been suggested to operate as a scaffold/receptor protein in neurons, participating in both physiological and pathological associated events. PrPC, laminin, and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) form a protein complex on the plasma membrane that can trigger signaling pathways involved in neuronal differentiation. PrPC and mGluR5 are co-receptors also for β-amyloid oligomers (AβOs) and have been shown to modulate toxicity and neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. In the present work, we addressed the potential crosstalk between these two signaling pathways, laminin-PrPC-mGluR5 or AβO-PrPC-mGluR5, as well as their interplay. Herein, we demonstrated that an existing complex containing PrPC-mGluR5 has an important role in AβO binding and activity in neurons. A peptide mimicking the binding site of laminin onto PrPC (Ln-γ1) binds to PrPC and induces intracellular Ca2+ increase in neurons via the complex PrPC-mGluR5. Ln-γ1 promotes internalization of PrPC and mGluR5 and transiently decreases AβO biding to neurons; however, the peptide does not impact AβO toxicity. Given that mGluR5 is critical for toxic signaling by AβOs and in prion diseases, we tested whether mGlur5 knock-out mice would be susceptible to prion infection. Our results show mild, but significant, effects on disease progression, without affecting survival of mice after infection. These results suggest that PrPC-mGluR5 form a functional response unit by which multiple ligands can trigger signaling. We propose that trafficking of PrPC-mGluR5 may modulate signaling intensity by different PrPC ligands.
An Investigation of Physicochemical Properties of Piroxicam Liquisolid Compacts

The potential of liquisolid systems to improve the dissolution properties of a water-insoluble agent (piroxicam) was investigated. In this study, physicochemical properties of piroxicam liquisolid tablets, effect of aging, and type of the carrier were also investigated. To this end, several liquisolid tablets formulations containing various ratios of drug: solvent and different carriers were prepared. X-ray crystallography, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and contact angle measurement were used for evaluation of physicochemical properties of piroxicam. Liquisolid compacts exhibited significantly higher drug dissolution rates, in different dissolution media, than compacts prepared by the direct compression technique. The results showed that enhanced dissolution rate of piroxicam liquisolid tablets was due to an increase in wetting properties and surface area of drug available for dissolution. To investigate the effect of aging on the hardness and dissolution rate of liquisolid compacts, the formulations were stored at 25°C/75% relative humidity for 9 months. The results showed that aging had no significant effect on hardness or dissolution profile of liquisolid tablets. It was shown that Avicel had more liquid retention potential than other carriers, but there were no significant differences in the dissolution profiles between formulations. The results of DSC and X-ray crystallography did not show any changes in crystallinity of the drug and interaction between piroxicam and exipients (Avicel and silica) during the process.
Cues of upper body strength account for most of the variance in men's bodily attractiveness

Evolution equips sexually reproducing species with mate choice mechanisms that function to evaluate the reproductive consequences of mating with different individuals. Indeed, evolutionary psychologists have shown that women's mate choice mechanisms track many cues of men's genetic quality and ability to invest resources in the woman and her offspring. One variable that predicted both a man's genetic quality and his ability to invest is the man's formidability (i.e. fighting ability or resource holding power/potential). Modern women, therefore, should have mate choice mechanisms that respond to ancestral cues of a man's fighting ability. One crucial component of a man's ability to fight is his upper body strength. Here, we test how important physical strength is to men's bodily attractiveness. Three sets of photographs of men's bodies were shown to raters who estimated either their physical strength or their attractiveness. Estimates of physical strength determined over 70% of men's bodily attractiveness. Additional analyses showed that tallness and leanness were also favoured, and, along with estimates of physical strength, accounted for 80% of men's bodily attractiveness. Contrary to popular theories of men's physical attractiveness, there was no evidence of a nonlinear effect; the strongest men were the most attractive in all samples.
The Low‐Density Lipoprotein Receptor‐Related Protein, a Multifunctional Apolipoprotein E Receptor, Modulates Hippocampal Neurite Development

Abstract: The ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E (apoE) is an important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. A major neuronal receptor for apoE within the brain is the low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein (LRP). Using primary cultured hippocampal neurons, we examined the role of LRP in early neuronal development. LRP, as well as a 39‐kDa protein that regulates its activity, is localized abundantly in developing neurons. Both the 39‐kDa protein and an anti‐LRP antibody inhibited neurite outgrowth of primary hippocampal neurons cultured in either serum‐containing medium or on cortical astrocyte monolayers in serum‐free medium. It is noteworthy that microtubule‐associated protein‐2 immunoreactive process outgrowth was decreased significantly in hippocampal neurons cultured on cortical astrocytes derived from apoE‐deficient mice and was not diminished further following incubation with LRP inhibitors. Thus, these results suggest that LRP can influence aspects of neuronal process development and that apoE‐containing lipoproteins may be one of the major LRP ligands that can contribute to this process.
Phylogeography of Borrelia burgdorferi in the eastern United States reflects multiple independent Lyme disease emergence events

Since its first description in coastal Connecticut in 1976, both the incidence of Lyme disease and the geographic extent of endemic areas in the US have increased dramatically. The rapid expansion of Lyme disease into its current distribution in the eastern half of the US has been due to the range expansion of the tick vector, Ixodes scapularis, upon which the causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi is dependent for transmission to humans. In this study, we examined the phylogeographic population structure of B. burgdorferi throughout the range of I. scapularis-borne Lyme disease using multilocus sequence typing based on bacterial housekeeping genes. We show that B. burgdorferi populations from the Northeast and Midwest are genetically distinct, but phylogenetically related. Our findings provide strong evidence of prehistoric population size expansion and east-to-west radiation of descendent clones from founding sequence types in the Northeast. Estimates of the time scale of divergence of northeastern and midwestern populations suggest that B. burgdorferi was present in these regions of North America many thousands of years before European settlements. We conclude that B. burgdorferi populations have recently reemerged independently out of separate relict foci, where they have persisted since precolonial times.
HIGH-AFFINITY SITES FOR beta-D-GALACTOSIDASE ON MEMBRANE-BOUND VESICLES ISOLATED FROM RAT EPIDIDYMAL FLUID

Glycosidases in rat epididymal fluid are secreted under androgen stimulation and possess receptors on the sperm surface. One of these enzymes, beta-D-galactosidase (gal), was found in the epididymal fluid as a soluble enzyme and also in a heterogeneous population of membrane bound vesicles (mbv). beta-D-Galactosidase was specifically localized to a subpopulation of larger, electron-dense mbv. The aim of this study was to analyze the high-affinity sites for gal on the membrane of mbv using two different methods: classical fluorometric assay (used in previous papers) and colloidal gold (20 nm) conjugated to gal as a marker in ultrastructural studies. beta-D-Galactosidase bound to mbv with high-affinity (Kd in a nanomolar range) are in a saturable form. Furthermore, 25 mM fructose-1,6-diphosphate (f-1,6-dip), a sugar that competes for the binding site, showed 50% inhibition of the binding. The gold conjugates were mostly observed on the surface of the large, electron-dense mbv but not on the small, electronlucent mbv. Gold particles were also observed on the larger vesicles, but less frequently in the presence of f-1,6-dip. Larger mbv possesses high-affinity sites for gal on their membrane.