Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stimulus‐Dependent Neuronal Oscillations in Cat Visual Cortex: Receptive Field Properties and Feature Dependence

Previously we have demonstrated that neurons in the striate cortex of lightly anaesthetized cats exhibit oscillatory responses at a frequency near 50 Hz in response to their preferred stimuli. Here we have used both single and multiple unit recording techniques to determine: (i) the receptive field properties and laminar distribution of cells exhibiting oscillatory responses; and (ii) the influence of changing stimulus properties on the temporal behaviour of the oscillatory responses. Oscillatory responses were detected and evaluated by computation of the autocorrelation function of the neuronal spike trains. We recorded oscillatory responses in 56% of the standard complex cells and in 12% and 11% of the simple and special complex cells. Cells exhibiting oscillatory responses were located primarily in supra‐ and infragranular layers. The oscillatory modulation amplitude of the autocorrelation function was enhanced by binocular stimulation (9 out of 16 cells) and reduced by combined stimulation with optimal and orthogonally orientated light bars (16 out of 21 cells). Changing stimulus orientation caused no change in the oscillation frequency of the sampled population of cells, while oscillation frequency increased monotonically with respect to stimulus velocity within the range of 1–12 degrees per second (10 out of 11 cells). The oscillatory modulation of the autocorrelation function increased as a function of stimulus length within the boundary of the cell's receptive field (11 out of 11 cells). In 6 out of these 11 cells, the responses did not show an oscillatory modulation if elicited by small moving spots of light. Moving stimuli were much more effective in evoking oscillatory responses than were stationary stimuli (19 out of 20 cells). In no instance, using either stationary or moving stimuli, was the phase of the oscillatory response synchronized with the stimulus. These results demonstrate functional heterogeneity among cells within striate cortex based on their temporal firing patterns and provide evidence that the temporal pattern of oscillatory cellular activity is influenced by changes in stimulus properties.
Physiological significance of sulci in somatic sensory cerebral cortex in mammals of the family procyonidae

On the basis of histological studies it has been generally accepted that certain cortical sulci, such as the central sulcus and the lunate sulcus in primates, reliably delimit one cytoarchitectonic region from another (Connolly, '50 ). There are many instances, however, where the cytoarchitecture is similar on both sides of a sulcus. This occurs, for example, within somatic sensory cortex of the raccoon. The lack of a clear cytoarchitectonic difference in such cases in no way argues against the delimiting character of these sulci, however, since adjacent gyri separated by a sulcus may be functionally distinct. Indeed, electrophysiological mapping studies in a variety of mammals have shown that sulci often lie between physiological distinct regions within and around somatic sensory cerebral cortex (Woolsey, '60). The primary purpose of the study reported below was that of specifically testing the hypothesis that neocortical sulci demarcate one type of physiological subdivision from another. By means of evoked potential mapping techniques this hypothesis was tested in a series of closely related carnivores that exhibit different neocortical fissure patterns. The results that were obtained confirmed this hypothesis for the sulci within and around the somatic sensory cerebral cortex in ten animals from five genera of the family Procyonidae. Further hypotheses pertaining to the underlying causes of fissure fonnation are discussed, and additional data are presented which indicate a correlation between certain aspects of behavioral expression and the differential enlargement of specific cortical somatic sensory subdivisions. METHOD
Maintenance and enhancement of employees’ employability in the changing public sector

Topic and purposeTransformation of the public sector and spread of contract-based arrangements make the traditional approach to employee development less effective in contemporary public organizations. Simultaneously, many researchers point to the necessity of employability enhancement for employees? long-term career development. However, knowledge about employees? employability and factors influencing it in the public organizations is still limited. The purpose of this paper is to answer the following questions: what factors determine employees? employability in the public sector and what are the conditions of its maintenance and enhancement in the Polish public organizations.MethodThe aims of the paper are realized by presenting the results of the literature study based on the comparison of approaches to employability in the private sector with the reality of the Polish public organizations? functioning, which is provided in the context of the changes in the practice of HRM in the public sector. The paper reviews concepts of employability and considers how they have evolved over time. It also explains why employability of employees has become a subject of interest in the changing public organizations and seeks to identify factors which decide about employees? employability and conditions of its maintenance and enhancement in Polish public organizations.FindingsThe conducted literature study shows that employability is a complex phenomenon, which can be analyzed from different but interconnected perspectives, i.e. the individual, organizational and socio-economic perspectives. It was also found that transformation of public organizations, change of the required profile of employees? competences and new conditions of the psychological contract result in difficult challenges to employees, which they will be able to face only if they continuously enhance their employability. However, public organizations should support them in these efforts.OriginalityThe downsizing of public employment and the requirements for human resources flexibility, which are accompanied with the difficult situation on the labour market, made maintenance and enhancement of employability of public sector employees? become an important problem, not only on the individual level but also on organizational and social levels. The paper provides deeper insight into specific factors determining employability of public sector employees as well as conditions of its enhancement distinctive for public organizations. It should be noted that these issues have been mostly examined in the context of commercial organizations. *The project was funded from the resources of the National Science Centre (Poland) granted by the decision no. DEC-2013/11/B/HS4/00561.
The impact of CEO core self‐evaluation on the firm's entrepreneurial orientation

Although much has been attributed to a CEO's personality, one particularly intriguing, and as yet unexplored, investigation is its impact on the firm's entrepreneurial orientation. Additionally, despite calls from the upper‐echelon literature, CEO personality research has been hobbled by the absence of a unifying construct that captures core dimensions of personality, and by the difficulty in obtaining such intimate assessments from executives. Building on recent advances in personality research, in particular the identification and validation of the core self‐evaluation construct that captures the core facets of an executive's sense of self‐potency, we develop and test a model of the impact of CEO core self‐evaluation on entrepreneurial orientation. Then, consistent with upper echelons and personality theory, we specify the contingent role of environmental dynamism. Using multisource data from a sample of CEOs and their top management teams from 129 firms, including a time‐lagged assessment of the firm's entrepreneurial orientation, we find evidence to suggest that CEOs whose personalities reflect higher core self‐evaluations have a stronger positive influence on their firms' entrepreneurial orientation. In addition, we find that this influence is particularly strong in firms facing dynamic environments, but negligible in stable environments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Culture-positive Pediatric Tuberculosis in Toronto, Ontario: Sources of Infection and Relationship of Birthplace and Mycobacterial Lineage to Phenotype

Background: Few data relate Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) lineage and disease phenotype in the pediatric population or examine the contribution of travel to the tuberculosis (TB)-endemic country in North America. We examined clinical, demographic and Mtb genotype data from patients with TB who were treated in Toronto between 2002 and 2012. Methods: Consecutive Mtb culture-positive, pediatric patients were included. Clinical data were collected from a prospectively populated clinical database. Mtb case isolate genotypes were identified using Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units–Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) and spoligotyping and were categorized into phylogeographic lineages for analysis. Results: The 77 patients included 30.4% of all culture-positive pediatric TB cases in Ontario from 2002 to 2012. Seventy-six (99%) patients were first or second generation Canadians. Foreign-born patients were more likely to have extrathoracic disease [odds ratios (OR) = 3.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–8.71; P < 0.05] and less likely to have a genotype match in the Public Health Ontario Laboratories database [OR = 0.32 (95% CI: 0.11–0.90); P < 0.05] than Canadian-born patients. For those without a known TB contact, Canadian-born patients were more likely to have travelled to a TB-endemic country [OR = 13.0 (95% CI: 2.5–78.5); P < 0.001]. Extrathoracic disease was less likely in patients infected with the East Asian Mtb lineage [OR = 0.1 (95% CI: 0.01–0.9); P < 0.05] and more likely in those infected with the Indo-Oceanic Mtb lineage [OR = 5.4 (95% CI: 1.5–19.2); P < 0.05]. Conclusions: Travel to TB-endemic countries likely plays an important part in the etiology of pediatric TB infection and disease, especially in Canadian-born children. Mtb lineage seems to contribute to disease phenotype in children as it has been described in adults.
A flow control methodology for the rapid generation of vehicle traffic models

This paper presents a conveyor-based methodology to model complex vehicle flows common to factory and distribution warehouse facilities. The AGV and human path modelling techniques available in many commercial discrete event simulation packages require extensive knowledge and time to implement even the simplest flow control rules for multiple vehicle interaction. Although discrete event simulation is accepted as an effective tool to model vehicle delivery movements, human paths and delivery schedules for modern assembly lines, the time to generate accurate models is a significant limitation of existing simulation-based optimisation methodologies. The flow control method has been successfully implemented using two commercial simulation packages. It provides a realistic visual representation, as well as accurate statistical results, and reduces the model development process cost.
Risk of infection with Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis A virus in different groups of hospital workers.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine whether different staff groups in an acute care hospital are at increased risk of acquiring Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis A virus infection. METHODS We examined staff members of an acute care hospital for serum antibodies to H. pylori IgG (n = 457) and to hepatitis A virus (n = 434). The staff members were assigned to three groups: 1) nonmedical staff (n = 110), 2) medical and nursing staff (n = 272), and 3) medical and nursing staff working in a gastroenterology and endoscopy unit (n = 75). Serum antibodies were measured by validated enzyme immunoassays. A questionnaire inquiring about medical and professional history, history of upper GI pain and ulcer, as well as about the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or medication for GI complaints and smoking habits was completed by each person. RESULTS The seroprevalence of H. pylori was 35.5% in group I, 34.6% in group II, and 24.0% in group III (not significant). The seroprevalence of H. pylori antibodies increased with age (p < 0.001), and antibodies were present more frequently in women than in men (36.2 vs 25.4%, p < 0.05). After adjustment for age, duration of experience and the number of years working in the gastroenterology or endoscopy unit did not increase H. pylori seropositivity. No significant association was found between H. pylori seropositivity and history of upper GI pain, ulcers, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or medication for GI complaints, or tobacco use. The prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies was similar in the three groups (group I, 26.4%; II, 26.5% III, 21.7%; not significant). Cross-tabulation showed that 67 subjects (15.4%) were seropositive for both H. pylori and hepatitis A (p < 0.001) and that 245 (56.5%) were negative for both. Seventy-seven (17.7.%) and 45 (10.4%) were seropositive for only H. pylori and for only hepatitis A, respectively. CONCLUSION Occupational exposure to patients in an acute care hospital as well as to patients and to endoscopic procedures of a gastroenterology and endoscopy unit does not increase the rate of infection with H. pylori. The significant correlation between the seroprevalences of H. pylori and hepatitis A antibodies suggests fecal-oral transmission of H. pylori.
Children’s Expression of Uncertainty in Collaborative and Competitive Contexts

We studied the effect of two social settings (collaborative versus competitive) on the visual and auditory expressions of uncertainty by children in two age groups (8 and 11). We conducted an experiment in which children played a quiz game in pairs. They either had to collaborate or compete with each other. We found that the Feeling-of-Knowing of eight-year-old children did not seem to be affected by the social setting, contrary to the Feeling-of-Knowing of 11-year-old children. In addition, we labelled children’s expressions in clips taken from the experiment for various visual and auditory features. We found that children used some of these features to signal uncertainty and that older children exhibited clearer cues than younger children. In a subsequent perception test, adults rated children’s certainty in clips used for labelling. It appeared that older children and children in competition expressed their confidence level more clearly than younger children and children in collaboration.
MNEs and corruption: the impact of national institutions and subsidiary strategy

We argue that the pressure MNE subsidiaries face to engage in corrupt practices in their host country varies positively with the institutionalization of corrupt practices in both host and home country environments. We further argue that the relationship between an MNE's home country environment and the pressure it faces in the host country is moderated by its localization strategy. Results suggest a positive relationship between the host country corruption environment and the pressure subsidiaries face to engage in bribery locally. Mixed results emerged concerning MNEs from home countries participating in the OECD Convention for Combating Bribery. Results concerning the impact of the home country corruption environment are best viewed in light of significant moderating effects. When MNEs did not have local partners, firms from less corrupt home countries reported less pressure to engage in corrupt practices locally; however, the presence of local partners eliminated this relationship. Results will help managers understand the pressures their firm is likely to face when operating in corrupt host country environments, and also offer guidance concerning how the firm might reduce its exposure to those local institutional pressures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of visual performance and after cataract formation between two monofocal aspheric intraocular lenses following phacoemulsification for senile cataract: A randomized controlled study

Purpose: Monofocal aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs) provide better visual outcome compared to other available IOLs following cataract surgery. However, the imported IOLs are expensive and are not affordable by all subset of patients in low- to middle-income countries like India. The aim of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of a relatively low cost indigenous IOL (Acriol EC) with an imported aspheric IOL (AcrySof IQ). Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care centre. Two hundred and five eyes of 137 patients >45 years of age with uncomplicated age-related cataract were recruited. All cases underwent standard phacoemulsification and randomly assigned to one of the IOL implantations (Group I: AcrySof IOL; Group II: Acriol EC IOL). Primary outcome measure was best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Secondary outcomes included visual function (VF) score, spherical equivalent, contrast sensitivity, optical aberrations, and posterior capsular opacification. Independent t-test to compare two means; Mann–Whitney test; Pearson's Chi-square test, and McNemar's test were used for analyzing the nonparametric data such as incidence of posterior capsule opacification. Results: There was no significant difference in the mean postoperative BCVA at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months in either group (P > 0.05). The contrast sensitivity, wavefront aberrations, VF score, and posterior capsular opacification were comparable between the groups except for higher-order aberrations and spherical aberration, which were higher in Group II. Conclusions: Acriol EC IOL provides visual outcomes comparable to other commonly used aspheric IOLs with comparable safety and efficacy at an affordable cost.
Examining the role of international entrepreneurship, innovation and international market performance in SME internationalisation

Purpose – The current study aims to examine the role of international entrepreneurship and innovation in small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) internationalisation, also touching on the role of the firm size as a proxy of resources in the SME internationalisation process. The study seeks to look at these issues in the context of manufacturing firms, arguing that entrepreneurial SMEs pursuing international market entry undertake organisational innovation, which in turn enables such firms to achieve higher marketplace performance.Design/methodology/approach – The paper was based on the development and administration of a self‐completed survey of 302 managers.Findings – The results suggest that international SMEs differ from non‐international SMEs in terms of international entrepreneurship, organisational innovation intensity and firm size.Research limitations/implications – The cross‐sectional research design and the regional nature of the sampled firms may limit the generalisability of the findings. The m.
Decision Making and Coping of Functionally Illiterate Consumers and Some Implications for Marketing Management

A study of the decision making and coping of functionally illiterate consumers reveals cognitive predilections, decision heuristics and trade-offs, and coping behaviors that distinguish them from literate consumers. English-as-a-second-language and poor, literate consumers are used as comparison groups. The strong predilection for concrete reasoning and overreliance on pictographic information of functionally illiterate consumers suggest that companies should reconsider how they highlight the added benefits of new products or the differentiating aspects of existing product offerings across channels such as advertising, in-store displays, and positioning. Concrete reasoning also has strong implications for the execution and presentation of price promotions through coupons and in-store discounts, because many consumers are unable to process the information and thus avoid discounted products. Finally, the elaborate coping mechanisms identified and the loyalty that functionally illiterate consumers display toward companies that are sensitive to their literacy and numeracy deficiencies reveal a potential for loyalty programs aimed at this population that do not involve price discounts.
Development and Application of a Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Detection of Serum Antibodies to Porcine Circovirus Type 2

We report the development of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), the agent associated with the recently described postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in pigs. At present, no method has been published describing a c-ELISA for the detection of antibodies to PCV2, and currently employed tests are impractical for use in some laboratories. The assay described here uses a cell culture isolate of porcine circovirus type 2 as antigen and a PCV2-specific monoclonal antibody as the competing reagent. Evaluation of the ELISA was performed by comparison with results obtained using an indirect immunofluorescent test on 484 sera from pig herds in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and the USA and serial bleeds from pigs experimentally infected with porcine circoviruses. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA were determined as 99.58% and 97.14%, respectively, at 2 standard deviations (SD) from the mean or 95.81% and 100% at 3 SD from the mean. Using this ELISA, a serologic survey of 461 sera collected from commercial pig herds in Northern Ireland between 1973 and 1999 was undertaken. Analysis of the results of this survey demonstrated that the number of ELISA-positive sera detected in an individual year during this period ranged from 55% to 100%. This c-ELISA has applications for large-scale rapid diagnosis of PCV2 infection in pig populations worldwide and for immunoscreening of sera from other species for antibodies to PCV2.
The potential of SIRT6 and SIRT7 as circulating markers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND We have previously demonstrated altered SIRT gene family in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In the present study we aimed to investigate whether the SIRT gene family was also altered in peripheral blood (PB) of patients with HNSCC and the possibility to be used as circulating biomarkers. PATIENTS AND METHODS The expression profiles of the 7 SIRT genes of PB leukocytes from 34 patients with HNSCC before and after surgery and 31 healthy individuals were investigated. RESULTS In the cancer group, the expression level of SIRT1 was down-regulated (p<0.05); in contrast, SIRT6 and SIRT7 were significantly up-regulated (p<0.001). Patients with advanced-stage HNSCC had lower expression of SIRT1 and SIRT3. Recovery of SIRT6 and SIRT7 was observed in postoperative patients (p<0.005). CONCLUSION SIRT genes were altered in PB leukocytes of HNSCC patients and SIRT6 and SIRT7 are potential circulating prognostic markers for HNSCC.