Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrastructure of the Salivary Glands in Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Abstract Cimex hemipterus (Fabricius) is a hematophagous insect that can be an experimental host of Trypanosoma cruzi and may play a role as vector of Chagas’ disease. This work analyzed the structure of the salivary glands of C. hemipterus. The secretory portion of main salivary glands has a single oval lobe that is translucent and is formed from a simple columnar epithelium lined by muscle cells. The gland cells are high, with one or two spherical nuclei, nucleolus, and some condensed chromatin. The cell cytoplasm has a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, electron lucent vesicles, lysosomes, and glycogen deposits. The apical plasma membrane has microvilli, zonula adherens, and desmosomes, whereas the basal plasma membrane has some infoldings associated with mitochondria. The duct of the main salivary glands has flattened cells. The secretory portion of the accessory salivary glands is a single vesicular lobe that is translucent and is formed from a single layer of cells that varies from flattened to cubical onto muscle cells. The cytoplasm contains a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles of different sizes containing secretions, electron lucent, and abundant mitochondria. The baso-lateral plasma membrane of adjacent cells shows septate junctions. The duct is formed from a flattened epithelium like the duct of the principal salivary gland. The secretory cells of the main salivary glands are related to protein synthesis and transport of ions. However, the secretory cells of the accessory salivary glands are related mainly to transport of ions and water from the hemolymph to glandular lumen.
Response to erythropoietin in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia

We report the case of a 75-year-old male with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) treated with erythropoietin (EPO) for transfusion-dependent anaemia. Treatment resulted in resolution of hepatomegaly, increase in haemoglobin and reduction in white cell count and increase in haemoglobin and reduction in white cell count and blast count. This suggests that EPO may have a beneficial effect in CMML not simply by stimulating erythropoiesis but also by suppression of the malignant myelomonocytic clone with restoration of polyclonal haematopoiesis.
Neonatal intestinal obstruction in Benin, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Intestinal obstruction is a life threatening condition in the newborn, with attendant high mortality rate especially in underserved subregion. This study reports the aetiology, presentation, and outcome of intestinal obstruction management in neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective study of neonatal intestinal obstruction at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Nigeria, between January 2006-June 2008. Data were collated on a structured proforma and analysed for age, sex, weight, presentation, type/date of gestation/delivery, aetiology, clinical presentation, associated anomaly, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS There were 71 neonates, 52 were males and 19 were females (2.7:1). Their age range was between 12 hours and 28 days (mean, 7.9 +/- 2.7 days) and they weighed between 1.8 and 5.2 kg (average, 3.2 kg). The causes of intestinal obstruction were: Anorectal anomaly, 28 (39.4%); Hirschsprung's disease, 8 (11.3%)' prematurity, 3 (4.2%); meconeum plug, 2 (2.8%); malrotation, 6 (8.5%); intestinal atresia, 8 (11.3%); necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), 4 (5.6%); obstructed hernia, 4 (5.6%); and spontaneous gut perforation, 3 (4.2%). Also, 27 (38%) children had colostomy, 24 (33.8%) had laparotomy, 9 (12.8%) had anoplasty, while 11 (15.4%) were managed nonoperatively. A total of 41 (57.7%) neonates required incubator, 26 (36.6%) needed total parenteral nutrition, while 15 (21.1%) require d paediatric ventilator. Financial constraint, late presentation, presence of multiple anomalies, aspiration, sepsis, gut perforation, and bowel gangrene were the main contributors to death. Neonates with lower obstructions had a better outcome compared to those having upper intestinal obstruction ( P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Outcomes of intestinal obstruction are still poor in our setting; late presentation, financial constraints, poor parental motivation and lack of basic facilities were the major determinants of mortality.
Interleukin 4, interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 polymorphisms in children with acute and chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an immune‐mediated disorder. We investigated the polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)‐4 intron 3, IL‐6 (−572 G/C), and IL‐10 (−627 C/A) in 50 children with acute ITP, 30 children with chronic TIP, and 100 healthy individuals. There were significant differences in the RP1/RP2 genotype proportion (P = 0·04) and the RP2 allelic frequency (P = 0·03) of IL‐4 intron 3 and the A/C genotype proportion (P = 0·01) of IL‐10 (−627) between children with chronic ITP and controls. This finding suggests that the IL‐4 intron 3 and IL‐10 (−627) polymorphisms contribute to the susceptibility of developing childhood chronic ITP.
A Cross-National Validation of the Narver and Slater Market Orientation Scale

Although widely used, the Narver and Slater (1990) measure of market orientation has not yet been validated by structural equation modeling (SEM). Results of SEM suggest a nine-item, three-dimensional model of the components or subscales of market orientation: customer, competitor orientation, and interfunctional coordination. Covariances between the three dimensions in the final model, however, suggest that the measures customer, competitor orientation, and interfunctional coordination can be considered as independent. A preliminary invariance test suggests that the three dimensions are robust across varying country groupings and organizational types. Implications for further research into market orientation are discussed.
Corporate Social Responsibility: Antecedent and Consequence Study of Malaysian Public Listed Companies

Th is paper examines the antecedent and the consequence variables of corporate social responsibility. 200 responses were received fro m a population that had already working in Malaysian public listed companies. The results derived fro m mult i-group structural equation modeling within AMOS 7.0 revealed that the antecedent variables drive CSR to success in Malaysian public listed companies, furthermo re this paper found a significant relationship between CSR and company performance. The findings imp ly the need for public listed companies, particu larly main and ACE board, to strategically leverage the key antecedents of CSR. This could enhance its sustainability, co mpetitiveness and innovation following market trends.
High CD95 expression of BAL lymphocytes predicts chronic course in patients with sarcoidosis

Background and objectives: The prognosis of sarcoidosis is highly variable, with spontaneous remission in some patients. Apoptosis may be associated with spontaneous resolution of the granulomata. CD95 (Fas), an apoptotic molecule, and CD29 and CD45RO (T‐cell memory markers) are expressed at higher levels on T lymphocytes from sarcoid patients compared with normal subjects. However, the prognostic significance of CD95, CD29 and CD45RO expression in sarcoidosis is not clear. It was hypothesized that expression of CD95 would correlate with spontaneous remission.
Exploring consumer adoption of proximity mobile payments

The widespread penetration of proximity mobile payment (MP) systems could drastically change the methods in which consumers purchase goods and services. However, earlier forecasts of the success of these systems have been substantially reduced due to lower than anticipated uptake of the supporting near field communication technology. This study explores the potential of a new model of consumer technology adoption, and its extension with trust and risk constructs, in explaining non-users' adoption of proximity MPs. Analysis of data collected from 244 UK consumers reveals that the extended model explains more variance in behavioural intention, but performance expectancy remains the strongest predictor across both models. The findings provide new and important theoretical and practical contributions, particularly for strategic development and marketing of proximity MPs in the UK.
Vulvar lichen sclerosus: effect of maintenance treatment with a moisturizer on the course of the disease

Objectives: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that may result in significant discomfort and psychological distress in postmenopausal women. One of the most troublesome features of LS is its chronically relapsing nature. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maintenance therapy with a moisturizer in preventing the risk of relapse and progression of vulvar LS in postmenopausal women. Design: Between January 1995 and January 2006, 34 postmenopausal women with vulvar LS were included in a prospective open trial. The participants were treated with a topical corticosteroid cream (0.1% betamethasone valerate) once daily for 1 month and then with maintenance therapy with a moisturizing cream alone once daily. Follow-up visits were scheduled after 1 month and then twice per year (median follow-up, 58 mo). Results: Overall the symptoms of all women improved after therapy with a topical steroid. Twenty-four women (71%) became symptom free, and 10 (29%) experienced partial response. Eighteen of the 24 women (75%) who became symptom free and 6 of the 10 women (60%) who exhibited a partial response reported no worsening of their symptoms while on therapy with a cold cream alone. Total resolution of the clinical signs occurred in 6 of the 19 women with mild vulvar architectural changes. Partial resolution of clinical signs was observed in 22 women (64%). No change was noticed in six (18%) women. None of the participants experienced worsening of vulvar scarring. None of the participants developed vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia or squamous cell carcinoma during the follow-up period. There were no side effects. Conclusion: Long-term maintenance therapy of vulvar LS with a moisturizing cream can maintain the symptom relief induced by topical corticosteroids in women with vulvar LS while being safe and inexpensive. This treatment may also be associated with a reduction in topical corticosteroid use because more than half of the women could eliminate corticosteroids altogether.
Teamwork in the Public Cage: Antecedents of Self-Management of Teams in Public Organizations

Whereas the organizational concept of self-managed teams has received abundant attention by public management scholars as a post-bureaucratic answer to the increasing demands faced by public organizations, research on what teamwork in public organizations actually looks like is lacking. This paper fills this gap by investigating to what extent characteristics of teamwork commonly found in research on private sector organizations - goal dependency, task dependency and external cooperation - affect the degree of self-management of teams in public sector organizations. Furthermore, we examine how self-managed teams are affected by their attachment to public values by analyzing publicness as a moderator of the relationships of goal dependency, task dependency and external cooperation with self-management. Analyses of supervisor and team member data from a sample of 68 teams in Dutch public sector organizations show that goal dependency and external cooperation positively affect the degree of self-management, .
Differential mesengenic potential and expression of stem cell‐fate modulators in mesenchymal stromal cells from human‐term placenta and bone marrow

Placenta has attracted increasing attention over the past decade as a stem cell source for regenerative medicine. In particular, the amniochorionic membrane has been shown to harbor populations of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). In this study, we have characterized ex vivo expanded MSCs from the human amniotic (hAMSCs) and chorionic (hCMSCs) membranes of human full‐term placentas and adult bone marrow (hBMSCs). Our results show that hAMSCs, hCMSCs, and hBMSCs express typical mesenchymal (CD73, CD90, CD105, CD44, CD146, CD166) and pluripotent (Oct‐4, Sox2, Nanog, Lin28, and Klf4) markers but not hematopoietic markers (CD45, CD34). Ex vivo expanded hAMSCs were found to be of fetal origin, while hCMSCs cultures contained only maternal cells. Cell proliferation was significantly higher in hCMSCs, compared to hAMSCs and hBMSCs. Integrin profiling revealed marked differences in the expression of α subunits between the three cell sources. Cadherin receptors were consistently expressed on a subset of progenitors (ranging from 1% to 60%), while N‐CAM (CD56) was only expressed in hAMSCs and hCMSCs but not in hBMSCs. When induced to differentiate, hAMSCs and hCMSCs displayed strong chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation potential but very limited capacity for adipogenic conversion. In contrast, hBMSCs showed strong differentiation potential along the three lineages. These results illustrate how MSCs from different ontological sources display differential expression of cell‐fate mediators and mesodermal differentiation capacity. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 3234–3242, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Globalization and economic diversification in the Sultanate of Brunei

Negara Brunei Darussalam is a small but rich country with an area of 5765 square km in Southeast Asia (Figure 1). According to the 1991 population census, there were as many as 71,000 or 27% temporary resident who are migrant workers since the population of Brunei is not enough to provide all the human resources required to implement its development objectives. On the other hand, according to a Labour Force Survey, unemployment has increased from 3.6% in 1981 to 4.7% in 1991 and 4.9% in 1995. This has accounted for the growing call for diversification, not only to temper the over reliance on oil and gas, but also to provide more job opportunities for the growing work force among the nationals. This paper will examine the effect of the diversification programmes as contained in the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan (1996 2000) in Brunei, whilst preserving domestic stability and Islamic values for which the country has been known for centuries.
A Modification of the Hemagglutination Test for Rheumatoid Arthritis.∗

Summary 1. The hemaggutination test for rheumatoid arthritis is modified by the selective absorption of non-specific factors. The details of this modification are described. 2. Of 39 cases with active peripheral rheumatoid arthritis with x-ray evidence of joint changes, 35 were positive by this test. 3. All cases of inactive peripheral rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis without peripheral joint involvement and psoriatic arthritis tested were negative. 4. In presumptive cases of early rheumatoid arthritis without x-ray evidence of joint changes, the test was negative. 5. In 67 control cases, including a variety of non-rheumatoid arthropathies, the test was negative except in two cases of infectious hepatitis. 6. The modified test was positive in 90% of the proven cases of active peripheral rheumatoid arthritis tested; the Rose test in 61%; the streptococcus agglutination test in 58%. In all cases in which the modified test was negative, the Rose test and the streptococcus agglutination test were also negative. The authors express their thanks to Dr. R. Schuman, Miss E. C. Arrowsmith, and Mr. O. Vasquez of the Clinical Laboratory Service for technical assistance.
The Triple Helix Model of Innovation

Nowadays in a knowledge-based society, university, industry and government play important roles and form a triple helix in innovation stimulating. Such interaction is the source of the creation and development of incubator movements, research centres and venture capital, which can be private, public or social. The implementation of this model is the basis of favorable innovation climate, as it promotes the development of its components, their combination promotes a synergistic effect, increases innovation activity. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n18p203
Some Clinical Findings at Presentation Can Predict High-risk Pathology Features in Unilateral Retinoblastoma

Aims To identify clinical features at presentation to help in detecting patients with retinoblastoma and pathology risk factors (PRFs) preoperatively, and therefore selecting a high-risk population that could benefit from preoperative treatment. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospectively filled form of 182 consecutive patients with unilateral retinoblastoma treated with initial enucleation from 1988 to 2006. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Major choroidal invasion and postlaminar optic nerve and scleral extension were considered PRFs. Within this subgroup, a higher-risk cohort (microscopical residual disease caused by trans-scleral invasion or invasion to the resection margin of the optic nerve) was analyzed separately. Results One hundred sixty-four patients had completely resected and 18 had microscopical residual disease. Seventy three had at least 1 PRF (massive invasion to the choroid in 25, to the postlaminar optic nerve in 41, intrascleral in 10, to the resection margin of the optic nerve in 12, and trans-scleral in 6). Seventy-one patients had glaucoma and 19 had buphthalmia. Intraocular pressure, glaucoma, and buphthalmia correlated significantly with the occurrence of both PRF and microscopical residual disease in multivariate analysis. Buphthalmia was the most specific factor but the sensitivity was lower. Glaucoma and buphthalmia had a high negative predictive value. Conclusions Patients presenting with glaucoma and/or buphthalmia have a significantly higher risk for the occurrence of PRF, including those resulting in microscopically residual disease.
Do Management Earnings Forecasts Resolve Uncertainty around Earnings Announcements?

The purpose of a management earnings forecast is to forecast the eventual earnings figure released to the market at the earnings announcement date. To the extent that management earnings forecasts should reduce periodic shocks by reducing information asymmetry, stock return volatility is expected to be lower for firms who release them surrounding the earnings announcement date. Specifically, this paper asks the question whether stock return volatility surrounding earnings announcements is lower for firms who do release a management earnings forecast compared to those who do not, contingent on forecast accuracy. The empirical results show otherwise, specifically that for firms issuing a management earnings forecast, which is ex post accurate, do not experience stock return volatility at any statistically significantly lower levels. This result is interpreted that old news is still news.
Determinants of Leverage and Agency Problems

In this paper we empirically investigate the determinants of leverage and agency problems and we examine the relationships between leverage and agency problems. As in Titman and Wessels (1988) we use structural equations modeling with latent variables. In contrast to Titman and Wessels (1988), who employ data obtained from annual reports and capital markets, we use questionnaire data to measure firm characteristics. The questions concern the characteristics of the respondents’ firms, including the presence of agency problems. We estimate the relations between these characteristics. The results confirm that the trade-off between tax advantages and bankruptcy costs determines leverage. We also find free cash flow and corporate governance characteristics as determinants of overinvestment. Despite findings that agency problems are present, direct relationships between leverage and four agency problems are absent.
The regulation of competition in the National Health Service (NHS): what difference has the Health and Social Care Act 2012 made?

Abstract This article examines the impact of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 on the regulation of competition in the English National Health Service (NHS), by focussing on the change it marked from a system of sector-specific regulation to one which is clearly based in competition law. It has been suggested that the Act and its associated reforms would significantly alter accountability in the NHS, and would change decisions from the remit of public policy to that of the law. To assess the impact the Act has had in practice, the article compares the interpretation of the rules regarding competition in the NHS by the regulators of competition immediately before, and following, the passing of the Act. It argues that, whilst the reforms have the potential significantly to alter the way competition in the NHS is regulated, the impact of the reforms in this area is limited by the development of systems within the NHS to manage and resolve issues internally where possible.
Trauma Hemostasis and Oxygenation Research Position Paper on Remote Damage Control Resuscitation: Definitions, Current Practice, and Knowledge Gaps

ABSTRACT The Trauma Hemostasis and Oxygenation Research Network held its third annual Remote Damage Control Resuscitation Symposium in June 2013 in Bergen, Norway. The Trauma Hemostasis and Oxygenation Research Network is a multidisciplinary group of investigators with a common interest in improving outcomes and safety in patients with severe traumatic injury. The network’s mission is to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality from traumatic hemorrhagic shock, in the prehospital phase of resuscitation through research, education, and training. The concept of remote damage control resuscitation is in its infancy, and there is a significant amount of work that needs to be done to improve outcomes for patients with life-threatening bleeding secondary to injury. The prehospital phase of resuscitation is critical in these patients. If shock and coagulopathy can be rapidly identified and minimized before hospital admission, this will very likely reduce morbidity and mortality. This position statement begins to standardize the terms used, provides an acceptable range of therapeutic options, and identifies the major knowledge gaps in the field.
Onlay bone graft augmentation for refined correction of coronal synostosis.

OBJECTIVE The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term result of an onlay bone graft augmentation of the supraorbital ridge at the time of primary correction of coronal suture synostosis. DESIGN The study is a retrospective review of 62 consecutive patients treated for coronal synostosis from June 1991 through February 1997. The surgical technique utilized involved a standard bilateral fronto-orbital advancement and calvarial reshaping with the addition of an onlay bone graft in the supraorbital region. SETTING All patients were treated at a tertiary care craniofacial center. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION A total of 62 patients were treated by this technique. Fifty patients underwent primary correction as infants (mean age 9.8 months). An additional 12 patients were older (mean age 8.2 years) and were treated for residual deformity having previously undergone correction by another technique. Results with follow-up as long as 7 years demonstrate stable forehead and orbital symmetry. Complications identified by chart review were minimal and not directly attributable to this modification in surgical technique.