Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clustering and internal resources: moderation and mediation effects

Purpose – This paper aims to address a central question in strategy: how do internal resources firms mediate the effect of the external resources on the firms' performance? Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted in a sample of 173 Spanish innovative firms located in the Valencia region. Following the literature, the growth of the firm has been used as the main performance indicator. The paper considers the application in this context of the particular and new analysis techniques to combine mediator and moderator effects.Findings – The research shows firms with higher internal resources exploit better external resources. The results confirm that knowledge intensive business services providers, as a form of external resources, exercise a positive influence on innovative firms' performance through the mediating effect of firms' internal assets.Research limitations/implications – First, the study uses only two well‐known internal resources and capabilities indicators. Second, the paper applie.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Secondary to Household Air Pollution

Abstract Approximately 3 billion people around the world cook and heat their homes using solid fuels in open fires and rudimentary stoves, resulting in household air pollution. Household air pollution secondary to indoor combustion of solid fuel is associated with multiple chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outcomes. The exposure is associated with both chronic bronchitis and emphysema phenotypes of COPD as well as a distinct form of obstructive airway disease called bronchial anthracofibrosis. COPD from household air pollution differs from COPD from tobacco smoke with respect to its disproportionately greater bronchial involvement, lesser emphysematous change, greater impact on quality of life, and possibly greater oxygen desaturation and pulmonary hypertensive changes. Interventions that decrease exposure to biomass smoke may decrease the risk for incident COPD and attenuate the longitudinal decline in lung function, but more data on exposure–response relationships from well-designed longitudinal studies are needed.
Ovarian steroid cell tumors (not otherwise specified). A clinicopathological analysis of 63 cases.

Abstract:The clinical and pathological features of 63 steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified, were reviewed. The patients ranged in age from 2'A to 80 years. The most common initial manifestation was virilization (41%); four patients had estrogenic manifestations, and four had hypercortisolemi
Knowledge Transfer across Dissimilar Cultures

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that impact knowledge transfer from the parent corporation to subsidiaries when there are differences in the national culture of the parent corporation and the subsidiary. Transferring knowledge can be especially difficult when the source and recipient do not share common beliefs, assumptions and cultural norms. Therefore, this study examines how trust, cultural alignment, and openness to diversity influence the effectiveness of knowledge transfer from the HQ to the employees in the subsidiary.Design/methodology/approach – Specifically, the study examines knowledge transfer between the headquarters of a multinational corporation in Norway and its Vietnamese subsidiaries, making use of a survey administered to all 70 employees in the Vietnamese subsidiaries.Findings – The results show that individual's trust of the HQ and their openness to diversity are key factors influencing local employees' ability to learn and obtain knowledge from foreign HQ. T.
Repeated Cycles of Recombinant Human Interleukin 7 in HIV-Infected Patients With Low CD4 T-Cell Reconstitution on Antiretroviral Therapy: Results of 2 Phase II Multicenter Studies.

BACKGROUND Phase I/II studies in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy have shown that a single cycle of 3 weekly subcutaneous (s/c) injections of recombinant human interleukin 7 (r-hIL-7) is safe and improves immune CD4 T-cell restoration. Herein, we report data from 2 phase II trials evaluating the effect of repeated cycles of r-hIL-7 (20 µg/kg) with the objective of restoring a sustained CD4 T-cell count >500 cells/µL. METHODS INSPIRE 2 was a single-arm trial conducted in the United States and Canada. INSPIRE 3 was a 2 arm trial with 3:1 randomization to r-hIL-7 versus control conducted in Europe and South Africa. Participants with plasma HIV RNA levels <50 copies/mL during antiretroviral therapy and with CD4 T-cell counts between 101 and 400 cells/µL were eligible. A repeat cycle was administered when CD4 T-cell counts fell to <550 cells/µL. RESULTS A total of 107 patients were treated and received 1 (n = 107), 2 (n = 74), 3 (n = 14), or 4 (n = 1) r-hIL-7 cycles during a median follow-up of 23 months. r-hIL-7 was well tolerated. Four grade 4 events were observed, including 1 case of asymptomatic alanine aminotransferase elevation. After the second cycle, anti-r-hIL-7 binding antibodies developed in 82% and 77% of patients in INSPIRE 2 and 3, respectively (neutralizing antibodies in 38% and 37%), without impact on the CD4 T-cell response. Half of the patients spent >63% of their follow-up time with a CD4 T-cell count >500 cells/µL. CONCLUSIONS Repeated cycles of r-hIL-7 were well tolerated and achieved sustained CD4 T-cell restoration to >500 cells/µL in the majority of study participants. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION INSPIRE II: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01190111) and INSPIRE III: EudraCT (No. 2010-019773-15) and clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01241643).
The efficiency of accounting service provision

The paper uses a procedure called data envelopment analysis (DEA) to compare internal against external (outsource) efficiency in the delivery of finance function activities. The approach allows a direct comparison between the in‐house efficiency of UK small, medium and large companies in managing their accounting activities both with UK outsource contractors and also against the rather larger and more numerous contractors observed in Italy. The paper finds that, through comparative advantages, outsourcing presents a more efficient solution for the management of very small firm accounting than internal provision. Furthermore, there is evidence that substantial scale benefits continue to be available to outsource contractors, while inefficiency on internal provision is mainly technical. The paper concludes that outsourcing provision is likely to offer worthwhile savings to small firms, allowing them to shed competitive weaknesses and operate at efficient or best practice levels. At the same time, by converting an internal fixed cost, fixed capacity activity into a flexible, variable cost activity, SMEs have the potential to transform a previously unmanageable activity into an efficient or best practice activity that can grow or contract with the business.
Detection of IFN-γ Secretion by T Cells Collected Before and After Successful Treatment of Early Lyme Disease.

BACKGROUND Current serodiagnostics for Lyme disease lack sensitivity during early disease, and cannot determine treatment response. We evaluated an assay based on QuantiFERON technology utilizing peptide antigens derived from Borrelia burgdorferi to stimulate interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release as an alternative to serodiagnosis for the laboratory detection of Lyme disease. METHODS Blood was obtained from patients with erythema migrans before (n = 29) and 2 months after (n = 27) antibiotic therapy. IFN-γ release was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) following overnight stimulation of whole blood with the peptide antigens, and compared to the results of standard serological assays (C6, ELISA, and Western blot). RESULTS IFN-γ release was observed in pretreatment blood of 20 of 29 (69%) patients with Lyme disease. Following antibiotic treatment, IFN-γ was significantly reduced (P = .0002), and was detectable in only 4 of 20 (20%) initially positive patients. By contrast, anti-C6 antibodies were detected in pretreatment sera from 17 of 29 (59%) subjects, whereas only 5 of 29 (17%) patients had positive Western blot seroreactivity. Antibody responses persisted and expanded following treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that measurement of IFN-γ after incubating blood with Borrelia antigens could be useful in the laboratory diagnosis of early Lyme disease. Also, after antibiotic treatment, this response appears to be short lived.
Comparison of 5α‐Pregnan‐3α‐ol‐20‐one and Phenobarbital on Cortical Synaptic Activation and Inhibition Studied In Vitro

Summary: The effects of 5Ø‐pregnan‐3Ø‐ol‐20‐one (3Ø‐OH‐DHP) and phenobarbital (PB) on synaptic excitation and inhibition in rat hippocampal slices in vitro were compared. Stimulations were made orthodromically and antidromically while we recorded extracellularly from the dendritic and the somatic layer of the CA1 region. Perfusion with 5 μg/ml of 3Ø‐OH‐DHP for 30 min significantly increased the recurrent inhibition evoked by antidromic stimulation. The effect was most pronounced at short interstimulus intervals. The duration of the recurrent inhibition also was prolonged. There was no effect on the conditioned population spike after orthodromic paired‐pulse stimulation. Furthermore, no effect was observed on the amplitude of the orthodromic fiber volley, the rate of increase in the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and the latency and amplitude of the CA1 population spike. Qualitative and quantitative similar findings were observed during perfusion with PB 0.1 mg/ml, (i.e., a concentration 20 times higher than that of 3Ø‐OH‐DHP). Higher concentrations of PB also affected synaptic excitation. The findings suggest a similar effect of 3Ø‐OH‐DHP and PB on recurrent GABA‐ergic inhibition; however, 3Ø‐OH‐DHP appears to be much more potent.
A comparative proteomic study to characterize the vinblastine resistance in human ovarian cancer cells

Drug resistance is a major impediment to the successful treatment of human cancers, including ovarian cancer. Vinblastine (VLB), an antimicrotubule agent, is one of the chemotherapeutic drugs that exhibit resistance in ovarian cancer patients. To determine the protein factors that are involved in vinblastine resistance in human ovarian cancer cells, a combination of sample pre‐fractionation and high‐resolution 2‐DE proteomic analysis was performed. Approximately 1200 proteins were detected and quantitatively compared in both nuclear/membrane and cytosolic fractions. Sixty‐nine proteins from the nuclear/membrane fraction showed altered expression levels, whereas 59 were altered in the cytosolic fraction between SKOV3 (vinblastine‐sensitive) and SKVLB (vinblastine‐resistant) cell lines. These proteins include membrane‐associated, chromatin remodeling, cytoskeletal, and microtubule‐associated proteins as well as others that regulate signal transduction. This study not only demonstrates a novel understanding of the mechanism of drug resistance but also provides a valuable resource for future studies on drug resistance to vinblastine. In addition, it also represents a good example of how to increase the protein dynamic range and reduce sample complexity using currently available tools.
Differences in the proteome profile in placenta from normal term and preeclamptic preterm pregnancies

The aim of this study was to use proteomic approaches to examine differences in protein expression in placentae from normal term and preterm preeclamptic pregnancies and to validate the data thus obtained by other independent methods. Using 2‐DE we found that 80% of the proteins were present in both normal and preeclamptic placentae. However, 26 proteins in the normal term placentae were not matched in the preterm preeclamptic group. Six proteins showed increased intensity and one protein was down‐regulated in preeclampsia. Four of the seven proteins that were altered in preeclampsia were further analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Identification by MS techniques revealed these proteins to be involved in regulatory pathways activated by stress. This is significant because preeclampsia is a multisystem disorder in human pregnancies that results in considerable oxidative and nitrative stress. Three proteins identified by MS to be Hsp27, catalase, and glucose‐regulated protein were confirmed by Western blot analysis to be significantly up‐regulated in preeclampsia. Endothelial monocyte‐activating polypeptide was shown to be down‐regulated in preeclampsia by 2‐DE and MS.
Toward a better understanding of preeclampsia: Comparative proteomic analysis of preeclamptic placentas

Preeclampsia (PE), a pregnancy‐specific syndrome of hypertension, proteinuria, and other systemic disturbances, is a state of widespread endothelial dysfunction secondary to defective placentation. Morphologically, the current data displayed degenerative and apoptotic changes in the mitochondria and villous trophoblasts of preeclamptic placenta. To reveal the superimposing alterations in placental proteins that might explain the pathophysiology of PE, we performed 2‐DE MALDI‐TOF MS/MS proteomics analysis of differentially expressed placental proteins with placenta from eight normal and eight preeclamptic pregnancies. The identified proteins were confirmed by Western blot analysis. We also performed morphologic evaluation of preeclamptic placentas under both electron and light microscopy. The results disclosed the marked overexpression of chaperonin 60, GST, VDAC, ERp29, and cathepsin D in PE. These proteomics findings clearly suggest the possible cellular battle against mitochondria‐originated oxidative stress during PE that either end up with recovery or apoptosis. These results provide a better understanding of proteomic alterations and may help in clarification of stress‐related changes in preeclamptic placentas.
Postoperative Nausea & Vomiting in Malawi

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting are common complications of anaesthesia and surgery. Known risk factors include motion sickness, migraine, gender and types of surgery. Other possible risk factors for postoperative nausea and vomiting are ethnicity and genetics surgery. Objective: The main objective of the study was to describe factors associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting among adult Malawians. Methods: This was a prospective observational study. 138 adult patients were recruited into the study. Data were collected using a predesigned questionnaire. Patients were followed up to 18 hours postoperatively and any episodes of postoperative nausea and vomiting were noted. Results: A total of 138 patients were enrolled in the study. 78 were female (56.5%) and 60 were males (43.5%). The ages ranged from 18 to 87 years. The mean age was 36.9 years. The overall incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was 29.6%. It was higher among women than men. Patients with motion sickness had the highest incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (78.6%) followed by those with migraine (73.3%). Patients whose intraoperative systolic blood pressure fell
Relationships and online consumer communities

Purpose – To explore, through a case study approach, relationship and community development in online consumer communities.Design/methodology/approach – A case study‐based analysis of three organizations that are supporting online community creation and development is used as the basis for grounded theory development. Two of these organizations, the Consumers Association, and Emerald Group Publishing Limited, are publishers, and are building on established community. The third case study, Letsbuyit.com seeks to bring together a consumer community in pursuit of the good deals with suppliers. Online communities are analysed in terms of relationships, including the nature and types of relationships, the role of value creation and commitment, customer‐to‐customer interaction, and relationship lifecycles.Findings – These case studies demonstrate that whilst communication, content and commerce are often associated with consumer online communities, each e‐business needs to develop its own model of community buil.
Multiple substance use

Abstract Multiple substance use is an important public health issue, because it is associated with adverse physical health, mental health and social integration outcomes. Recreational drug use is not uncommon in young people, in whom it is linked with progression to regular, problematic and dependent use. Treatment intervention should take account of the severity of use or misuse of and/or dependence on multiple substances.
Evaluation of the C6 Lyme Enzyme Immunoassay for the Diagnosis of Lyme Disease in Children and Adolescents.

BACKGROUND The commercially-available C6 Lyme enzyme immunoassay (EIA) has been approved to replace the standard whole-cell sonicate EIA as a first-tier test for the diagnosis of Lyme disease and has been suggested as a stand-alone diagnostic. However, the C6 EIA has not been extensively studied in pediatric patients undergoing evaluation for Lyme disease. METHODS We collected discarded serum samples from children and adolescents (aged ≤21 years) undergoing conventional 2-tiered testing for Lyme disease at a single hospital-based clinical laboratory located in an area endemic for Lyme disease. We performed a C6 EIA on all collected specimens, followed by a supplemental immunoblot if the C6 EIA result was positive but the whole-cell sonicate EIA result was negative. We defined a case of Lyme disease as either a clinician-diagnosed erythema migrans lesion or a positive standard 2-tiered serologic result in a patient with symptoms compatible with Lyme disease. We then compared the performance of the C6 EIA alone and as a first-tier test followed by immunoblot, with that of standard 2-tiered serology for the diagnosis of Lyme disease. RESULTS Of the 944 specimens collected, 114 (12%) were from patients with Lyme disease. The C6 EIA alone had sensitivity similar to that of standard 2-tiered testing (79.8% vs 81.6% for standard 2-tiered testing; P = .71) with slightly lower specificity (94.2% vs 98.8% 2; P < .002). Addition of a supplemental immunoblot improved the specificity of the C6 EIA to 98.6%. CONCLUSIONS For children and adolescents undergoing evaluation for Lyme disease, the C6 EIA could guide initial clinical decision making, although a supplemental immunoblot should still be performed.
Proteomic analysis of early urinary biomarkers of renal changes in type 2 diabetic patients

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a complication associated with diabetes, leading to end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Despite significant progress in understanding DN, the cellular mechanisms leading to the renal damage are incompletely defined. In this study, with the aim to identify urine biomarkers for the early renal alterations in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), we performed urinary proteomic analysis of 10 normoalbuminuric patients with T2D, 12 patients with type 2 DN (T2DN), and 12 healthy subjects. Proteins were separated by 2‐DE and identified with ESI‐Q‐TOF MS/MS. Comparing the patients proteomic profiles with those of normal subjects, we identified 11 gradually differently changed proteins. The decreased proteins were the prostatic acid phosphatase precursor, the ribonuclease and the kallikrein‐3. Eight proteins were progressively increased in both patients groups: transthyretin precursor, Ig κ chain C region, Ig κ chain V‐II region Cum, Ig κ‐chain V‐III region SIE, carbonic anhydrase 1, plasma retinol‐binding protein, β‐2‐microglobulin precursor, β‐2‐glycoprotein 1.
Process selection in re-engineering by measuring degree of change

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a model in order to select the most appropriate process for business process reengineering (BPR) through evaluation of the degree of change.Design/methodology/approach – Corporations usually work in an environment in which business requirements are subject to continuous inevitable change. Therefore, in order to sustain competitive advantage, the corporations are required to continuously configure their business processes and operations with respect to these changes. This paper presents a model for evaluating change in an organization. By applying this model, one can select appropriate processes for reengineering.Findings – The proposed model was confirmed by consulting with engineering companies and was also implemented in one of them. This model includes five soft and hard dimensions, 19 factors, as well as 44 indicators for measuring the changes. Eventually, the proposed model was carried out in “recruitment” and “performance measurement” processes in a .
Increased Antiviral Treatment Among Hospitalized Children and Adults With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza, 2010–2015

(See the Editorial Commentary by Martin on pages 368–9.)Using population-based surveillance data, we analyzed antiviral treatment among hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza. Treatment increased after the influenza A(H1N1) 2009 pandemic from 72% in 2010–2011 to 89% in 2014–2015 (P < .001). Overall, treatment was higher in adults (86%) than in children (72%); only 56% of cases received antivirals on the day of admission.
Brassica Vegetables and Prostate Cancer Risk: A Review of the Epidemiological Evidence

Epidemiological studies have yielded conflicting results on the associations of diet with prostate cancer. We review evidence that Brassica vegetables are associated with reduced prostate cancer risk. Brassica vegetables, which include broccoli, cabbage, mustard and collard greens, and bok choy, contain glucosinolates, the metabolic breakdown products of which are potent modulators of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes that protect DNA from damage. Twelve published studies give some information about Brassica vegetables and prostate cancer risk; six of these studies can be clearly interpreted. Of these, three reported statistically significant reduced risks (P < 0.05) and one reported a borderline significant reduced risk (P = 0.06) with high Brassica vegetable consumption. The epidemiological literature provides modest support for the hypothesis that high intakes of Brassica vegetables reduce prostate cancer risk.
Comparison of proteomic biomarker panels in urine and serum for ovarian cancer diagnosis

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to confirm previously found candidate epithelial ovarian cancer biomarkers in urine and to compare a paired serum biomarker panel and a urine biomarker panel from the same study cohort with regard to the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) area under the ROC curve (AUC) values.
Serum concentrations of selected acute phase proteins and enzyme activities after injection of a combined mineral preparation in calves

The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible effects ofvarious forms of injections of a combined mineral preparation in calvesonchangesinserumconcentrationsofselectedacutephaseproteins–haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA), as well as on changes inthe activity of selected enzymes – creatine kinase (CK) and aspartateamino-transferase (AST). The changes in serum concentrations andactivities of the aforementioned variables were evaluated afteradministration of the recommended therapeutic dose of the mentionedpreparation and its repeated administration, and compared withchanges recorded after a double therapeutic dose and its repeatedadministration. Analyses showed a more marked increase of mean SAAconcentrations after intramuscular and subcutaneous injections of thehigher preparation dose. A gradual insignificant increase in Hp serumconcentrations was observed. The most significant changes wererecorded in increasing serum activities of CK and AST afterintramuscular injections of higher dose of the remedy (P<0.001 andP<0.01, respectively). Presented results indicate that tissue injury andmuscle damage caused by repeated injections, predominantly athigher doses of drugs, may result not only in increased activities ofsome enzymes, but also in more marked changes in serumconcentrations of certain acute phase proteins, particularly serumamyloid A.Key words: calves, enzymes, haptoglobin, injections, serumamyloid A