Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
C-Type Lectins DC-SIGN and L-SIGN Mediate Cellular Entry by Ebola Virus in cis and in trans

ABSTRACT Ebola virus is a highly lethal pathogen responsible for several outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever. Here we show that the primate lentiviral binding C-type lectins DC-SIGN and L-SIGN act as cofactors for cellular entry by Ebola virus. Furthermore, DC-SIGN on the surface of dendritic cells is able to function as a trans receptor, binding Ebola virus-pseudotyped lentiviral particles and transmitting infection to susceptible cells. Our data underscore a role for DC-SIGN and L-SIGN in the infective process and pathogenicity of Ebola virus infection.
Exposure to chemicals and metals and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A systematic review

Environmental exposure to chemicals and metals may contribute to the risk of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Two systematic reviews of the literature on these topics performed according to the well-established MOOSE guidelines are presented. Literature cited in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases (up to March 2007) as well as references of relevant articles were screened for case-control or cohort studies investigating the associations between sporadic ALS and exposure to chemical agents or metals. Methodology of selected studies was appraised according to Armon's classification system for ALS risk factor studies as well as a newly developed classification system for quality of exposure assessment. Seven of the 38 studies concerning exposure to chemicals and three of the 50 studies concerning exposure to metals fulfilled the validity criteria. In two independent studies meeting the validity criteria, a significant association with increased ALS risk was reported for exposure to pesticides. This systematic review demonstrated the difficulty in attaining a high level of evidence due to lack of high quality of methodological and exposure assessment components. Although pesticide exposure was identified as candidate risk factor, more well-designed studies are needed to provide a definitive answer about exogenous factors of ALS.
Maintenance of hormone responsiveness in luminal breast cancers by suppression of Notch

Luminal breast cancers express estrogen (ER) and/or progesterone (PR) receptors and respond to hormone therapies. Basal-like “triple negative” cancers lack steroid receptors but are cytokeratin (CK) 5-positive and require chemotherapy. Here we show that more than half of primary ER+PR+ breast cancers contain an ER−PR−CK5+ “luminobasal” subpopulation exceeding 1% of cells. Starting from ER+PR+ luminal cell lines, we generated lines with varying luminal to luminobasal cell ratios and studied their molecular and biological properties. In luminal disease, luminobasal cells expand in response to antiestrogen or estrogen withdrawal therapies. The phenotype and gene signature of the hormone-resistant cells matches that of clinical triple negative basal-like and claudin-low disease. Luminobasal cell expansion in response to hormone therapies is regulated by Notch1 signaling and can be blocked by γ-secretase inhibitors. Our data establish a previously unrecognized plasticity of ER+PR+ luminal breast cancers that, without genetic manipulation, mobilizes outgrowth of hormone-resistant basal-like disease in response to treatment. This undesirable outcome can be prevented by combining endocrine therapies with Notch inhibition.
The Impact of Seasonal Affective Disorder on Financial Analysts and Equity Market Returns

We examine three related issues on the impact of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) on financial markets. First, we hypothesize and find that analysts are more pessimistic in the fall season, as indicated by their earnings forecasts and forecast revisions. Second, we show that equity returns fail to anticipate the downward impact of SAD on forecast revisions. Finally, we find that firms with analyst revisions in the fall experience less negative abnormal returns during the fall, compared with those without analyst revisions. Overall, the evidence suggests that both analysts and equity investors are affected by SAD, but forecasts by analysts helps to mitigate the depressing effects of SAD.
Developmental Expression of Magmas in Murine Tissues and Its Co-expression with the GM-CSF Receptor

Magmas is a protein that is involved in GM-CSF signaling in a myeloid cell line. Its precise role in the signal transduction process is unclear. To accurately characterize Magmas expression in a variety of cells, mouse embryos and adult murine tissues were analyzed for both mRNA and protein content. Magmas expression was detected as early as the day 6.5 embryo. The level of expression was developmentally regulated. During embryo-genesis, elevated Magmas was observed in several structures, including heart, liver, notochord, choroid plexus, cervical ganglion, and nasal mucosa. Muscle, pancreas, intestinal mucosa, and testes were among the adult tissues with high Magmas expression. Most cell types, including hepatocytes and skeletal, smooth, and cardiac myocytes, also expressed the GM-CSF receptor (GMR) but the relative tissue levels of GMR were not always proportional to Magmas. The expression patterns suggest that Magmas has a role in both developing and mature tissues.
Why Do Some Firms Recognize Whereas Others Only Disclose Asset Revaluations?

Australian GAAP requires firms to either disclose or recognize the current values of property in their financial statements. We investigate why managers of some firms choose to recognize revaluation increments in their financial statements while others choose simply to disclose. We propose that the propensity to recognize is related to the degree of management certainty that the value increase will be realized in future cash flows. In support of this proposition, we find that firms recognizing a revaluation increment (a) tend to have assets that are more general than specific, and (b) are more likely to have subsequent increases in operating performance. Our results indicate that, for asset revaluations at least, disclosure and recognition are different in terms of the signal that they convey about the underlying reliability of the measure.
The Organisational Engagement of Manual Labourers in a Transnational Corporation

Huge competition in global markets and an insufficient supply of manual workers have together forced transnational corporations in Thailand to look for appropriate strategies to reduce labour costs and improve worker productivity. This study, therefore, examines factors influencing the work performance and organisational engagement of manual workers. For the research I randomly drew a sample of manual workers in a branch factory of a transnational food company to analyse their work performance, organisational engagement, and retention. The article finally suggests ways management can recruit manual labourers, improve their performance, and prolong their tenure with the organisation.
The Effectiveness of Donation Promises in Charity Auctions as a Cause-Related Marketing Strategy

A donation promise is the amount to be donated by the seller as part of a cause-related marketing transaction. As CRM campaigns increase in popularity and donation promises serve a competitive attribute between products, it is important to determine how consumers perceive and respond to varying donation promises. In this paper we study the relationship between donation promise and charity auction revenue. Using charity auctions we can determine consumers’ willingness to pay for different levels of donation promises. Results of two controlled field experiments indicate that higher donation promises lead to increased selling prices, but at a diminishing rate. Furthermore, relative donation promises influence selling prices by serving as a comparison frame and contrast to a target donation promise – where higher relative donation promises result on higher selling prices. Finally, we observe significant overpayments for low to medium levels of donation promises, suggesting that sellers can profit from their charitable associations. Overall results have important implications for the relative appeal of CRM offerings in a fixed-price setting and suggest that charity auctions are cost-effective as part of corporate social responsibility strategy.
ESSAYS ON THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT AND FOREIGN ISSUERS LISTED IN THE U.S.: MARKET VALUE AND INFORMATION MEASURES

This dissertation studies foreign firms' shareholder value and earnings-related information measures in relation with the implications of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Chapter One addresses the value implications and empirically tests the changes in market values of foreign firms around SOX related announcements, and how it varies across home country legislative characteristics. My findings on market reactions provide mixed evidence. SOX related announcements exhibit the expected sign, but statistical significant is limited. Results from cross-sectional analysis are partially aligned with the bonding hypothesis implications. My findings suggest that the market reaction for cross-listed firms from countries with common-law origin and, consequently, better investor protection is not statistically different than firms from civil law originated jurisdictions and, consequently, weaker investor protection. Chapter Two studies the earnings-related information environment for foreign firms following the enactment of SOX Act in comparison with earlier periods. In particular, I empirically analyze the change in forecast accuracy, dispersion among the analysts' forecasts, and the informativeness of earnings announcements. My analysis suggests there was no significant improvement or deterioration in forecast accuracy and informativeness of earnings announcement in the post-SOX period relative to pre-SOX period. However, my findings suggest some improvement in forecast dispersion of foreign firms for the post-SOX period.
Corporate Socially Responsible Firms Perform Well! Evidence from Financial and Operating Performances

This paper analyzes the financial and operational performance of Corporate Socially Responsible firms. We test different hypothesis of over- and under-performance of such companies and show that CSR firms perform just as they were expected to perform financially and operationally, even after bearing the cost of being socially responsible. Our findings indicate that bearing the cost of socially responsible behavior does not have a negative tradeoff. The overall findings indicate that socially responsible firms outperform in that they satisfy their stakeholder needs and may generate even higher returns for their shareholders in the future, due to the feedback effect.
Systemic Manifestations of Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis: Comment on the Article by Jachiet et al

ginal structural model estimates substantially or alter the overall conclusion of the study. Last, our operational definition of the primary determinant was questioned. In our study, glucosamine and chondroitin were likely over-the-counter products and as such, different from those tested in clinical trials in terms of quality, strength, and composition (1), and no dosage information was available. Our study represents use of these supplements in actual practice and as such provides a more realistic view of the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin than what may be observed in the context of a clinical trial. Zeng and colleagues questioned the rationale for our operational definition of glucosamine/chondroitin exposure. We required participants to report glucosamine/chondroitin use for 4 days/week. We did so to “mimic” published long-term trials in which participants assigned to active treatment were often required to take the supplements daily during the study period (2). In our study, <3% of patients reported supplement use 1–3 days/week. A sensitivity analysis in which exposure (supplement use for 1 day/week versus <1 day/week or no use) showed no material change to our previous findings. Zeng and colleagues questioned our decision to combine glucosamine and chondroitin as one group. As indicated in our original report, the overwhelming majority of glucosamine and/or chondroitin users reported use of both. This is consistent with the fact that glucosamine and chondroitin are almost always sold in a combination pill (3). Few participants (1–2% of the total sample) reported taking a single supplement, and almost all of the participants who reported taking a single supplement used glucosamine only. A sensitivity analysis defining exposure as concurrently taking both supplements versus taking a single supplement/none did not substantially change the marginal structural model estimates. Supported by a grant from the NIH (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute contract no. HHSN-268201000020C, reference no. BAA-NHLBI-AR-1006). This article was prepared using an Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) public-use data set, and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the NIH or the private funding partners of the OAI. The OAI is a public–private partnership between the NIH (contracts N01-AR-22258, N01-AR-2-2259, N01-AR-2-2260, N01-AR-2-2261, and N01-AR-2-2262) and private funding partners (Merck Research Laboratories, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, and Pfizer, Inc.) and is conducted by the OAI Study Investigators. Private sector funding for the OAI is managed by the Foundation for the NIH. Dr. Eaton is a principal investigator of an OAI site, and Dr. McAlindon a co–principal investigator of the same site.
RAPD variation in relation to population differentiation of Chamaecyparis formosensis and Chamaecyparis taiwanensis

The population differentiation of Chamaecyparis formosensis and Chamaecyparis taiwanensis based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation is described. Two populations (Chilanshan and Alishan) of these two Chamaecyparis species are investigated for population differentiation. Shannon's phenotypic index was used to estimate Ho of these two Chamaecyparis species based on RAPD variation. RAPD analysis showed that the Chilanshan population had higher genetic diversity than the Alishan population in both Chamaecyparis species. These results correlated with the large population found in Chilanshan for both species. Based on RAPD analysis, there was 15.13% population differentiation between Chilanshan and Alishan of C. formosensis compared with 14.73% for C. taiwanensis. Higher levels of genetic variation and population differentiation indicated dynamic evo- lution in these two Chamaecyparis species in Taiwan as revealed by variation at RAPD loci.
Agave fructans and oligofructose decrease oxidative stress in brain regions involved in learning and memory of overweight mice

Abstract Obesity is currently a public health problem worldwide. Recently, non-reducing carbohydrates, that include β(2→1) and β(2→6) linkages in their structure, have been of particular interest in the field of obesity because they are involved in lipid metabolism. Some of these are agave fructans (AF) and oligofructose (OF). In this study, we evaluated both AF and OF on oxidative stress (OS) markers in the brain of overweight mice (OM). AF and OF decreased TBARS levels and carbonyls at different levels in hippocampus (HP), frontal cortex (FC) and cerebellum (CB) of OM. The results indicated that fructans may have anti-oxidative potential and can be used as an alternative treatment for the prevention of the consequences of this pathology.
Assessment of Driver Stress from Physiological Signals collected under Real-Time Semi-Urban Driving Scenarios

AbstractDesigning a wearable driver assist system requires extraction of relevant features from physiological signals like galvanic skin response and photoplethysmogram collected from automotive drivers during real-time driving. In the discussed case, four stress-classes were identified using cascade forward neural network (CASFNN) which performed consistently with minimal intra- and inter-subject variability. Task-induced stress-trends were tracked using Triggs’ Tracking Variable-based regression model with CASFNN configuration. The proposed framework will enable proactive initiation of rescue and relaxation procedures during accidents and emergencies.
Cost of Pork Production with Nonsubtherapeutic Use of Antibiotics

and Implications This report has shown that it costs more to produce pork through the nonuse of subtherapeutic antibiotics than through the subtherapeutic use of antibiotics. The report shows that there is a cost increase of $2.16 per hundredweight ($5.39 per pig) for the Nonsubtherapeutic system. It shows that there is an increase of non antibiotic feed costs ($.28), labor costs ($1.20), breeding herd costs ($.49), as well as fixed costs ($2.35). The item having the largest impact was the difference in pigs finished per sow. This impacted labor, fixed costs, and breeding herd costs, as well as a portion of the feed costs.
Effects of suxibuzone and phenylbutazone on development of gastric ulcers in horses.

Suxibuzone (SBZ), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pro-drug, is systemically metabolized to phenylbutazone (PBZ), thereby bypassing local effects on gastric mucosa. Gastric ulcer scores in horses administered SBZ or PBZ as top-dress formulations were not significantly different compared with untreated controls. Thus, SBZ is no safer than PBZ in causing gastric ulceration when administered at recommended doses. Authors’ addresses: Equine Health Studies Program, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 (Andrews); East Tennessee Clinical Research, Rockwood, Tennessee 37854 (Reinemeyer); and Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC, 11 Yeomanry Road, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3EH, United Kingdom (Longhofer); e-mail: fandrews@lsu.edu (Andrews). © 2009 AAEP.
A conceptual framework of the relationship betweenorganizational resources, capabilities, systems, competitiveadvantage and performance

Achieving a competitive advantage position relative to its business rival is what organization in particular should be aiming for. Despite the importance of attaining competitive advantage in organizations, there has been limited study on the relationship between organizational resources and the way firms are organized to achieve competitive advantage. The resource-based view (RBV) research presently has been focusing more on the attributes and characteristics of resources to build competitive advantage. This has created a gap in the body of knowledge and between the theoretical and practical aspect of managing organizations that is from the perspective of the RBV of the firm. Examining organizational competitive advantage from the resource-based view allows the organization to gauge the magnitude of importance placed upon its internal firm resources, capabilities and systems in their relationship with competitive advantage and performance.
Do depositors discipline banks? an international perspective

The recent financial crisis highlights the importance of both regulatory and market discipline. Government reactions to the crisis include expanding deposit insurance coverage and rescuing troubled institutions, including some that might not otherwise be considered too big to fail, which may have the unintended consequence of a reduction in depositor discipline that might otherwise penalize banks for risk-taking behavior. To examine the potential for this to occur, we test for the presence of depositor discipline effects in the period leading up to the financial crisis in both the US and the EU. We find significant depositor discipline in both the US and EU, but this varies between the US and the EU, and also varies with banking organization size and with listed versus unlisted status. We also find that depositors appear to react more consistently to equity ratios than measures of loan portfolio performance, the latter of which may sometimes considered too manipulable to be trusted. This is consistent also with the requirements of Basel III that increase the minimum amount of Tier 1 common equity.
Bile bacterial flora and its in vitro resistance pattern in patients with acute cholangitis resulting from choledocholithiasis

Abstract Introduction. Cholangitis and biliary sepsis are severe infectious diseases, which are often observed in patients with choledocholithiasis. The antimicrobial therapy is effective if started as soon as the diagnosis is made. Therefore, the profile of bile pathogens and its susceptibility to a number of antibiotics were evaluated. Material and methods. Bile cultures and antibiograms from 92 patients hospitalized between January 2006 and December 2008 in a tertiary referral center for the treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases (Central Teaching Hospital, Medical University of Silesia) were reviewed. Specimens were obtained from patients with acute cholangitis and confirmed choledocholithiasis during endoscopic (i.e. ERCP) and surgical (i.e. percutaneus transhepatic biliary drainage) procedures. The bile specimens were examined for pathogenic aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi. Results. Sixty-five of 92 analyzed cultures were positive. A total of 69 pathogens were isolated: 47 (68.1%) Gram-negative bacteria, 18 (26.1%) Gram-positive bacteria, 2 (2.9%) anaerobes and 2 (2.9%) Candida. The predominant Gram-negative pathogens were Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumani complex, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae. The most effective antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria were imipenem, cefoperazone/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam and cefepime (susceptibility 97.9%, 89.4%, 85.1% and 85.1%, respectively). The expenditure on antibiotics monotherapies and combined therapies was also analyzed. Conclusion. Our study shows that Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant bile pathogens found in patients with acute cholangitis. Piperacillin/tazobactam or ceftazidime may be the alternative to ciprofloxacin therapeutic option. The addition of ticarcillin/clavulanic acid to ciprofloxacin could also be considered. However, imipenem should remain a back-up antibiotic in the treatment of acute cholangitis.
Measuring Emotions in Electronic Auctions

This book develops a structured methodology that allows to systematically analyze emotions in auctions. It provides a unified framework for emotional bidding in auctions, which comprises the bidders' processes of cognitive reasoning and emotional processing, and a methodology for measuring physiological correlates of human emotional processing in economic experiments is proposed: physioeconomics. Finally, an experiment is presented which investigates the impact of clock speeds in Dutch auctions.