Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enteral absorption of hyoscine N‐butylbromide

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The challenge of poultry processing.

Technical evolution led to high level machinery in poultry processing lines from transport via slaughter and dressing up to cutting premises. However, the whole line got vulnerable in particular to those zoonotic agents, which are able to multiply. In times of increasing public concern on human health as well as animal welfare and observing a strengthening of corresponding legislation, these items are clearly a major challenge and need attention from the producer’s side at all stages involved. Biosecurity at farm level must be performed consequently, and its single elements separately considered for applicability and/or improvement. Focussing on the abattoir is too narrow a task, but abattoir hygiene must also improve. Too little information is available on the quantitative aspect of the presence of salmonellae and Campylobacter. In order to master that, an integrated approach is needed. Existing options so far should be explored more intently. In case of failing, other options must be considered. The organisation of control – surveillance by authorities and/ or internal control – remains open.
An application of abstract data types in the genetic algorithms construction: the example of the travelling salesman problem

The article presents the specification of a system for the travelling salesman problem through a genetic algorithm developed from abstract data types (R.V. Vieira and M.A. Lopes, 1999). It is intended with this to demonstrate the efficiency of genetic algorithms in the solution of evolution problems. It mainly shows the genetic algorithm, AG, developed by Vieira and Lopes, as a general, correct genetic algorithm for construction, from which other algorithms can be correctly reproduced, depending in each case on the adopted representation.
Three-Dimensional Visualization of the Mouse Thymus Organization in Health and Immunodeficiency

Lymphoid organs exhibit complex structures tightly related to their function. Surprisingly, although the thymic medulla constitutes a specialized microenvironment dedicated to the induction of T cell tolerance, its three-dimensional topology remains largely elusive because it has been studied mainly in two dimensions using thymic sections. To overcome this limitation, we have developed an automated method for full organ reconstruction in three dimensions, allowing visualization of intact mouse lymphoid organs from a collection of immunolabeled slices. We validated full organ reconstruction in three dimensions by reconstructing the well-characterized structure of skin-draining lymph nodes, before revisiting the complex and poorly described corticomedullary organization of the thymus. Wild-type thymi contain ∼200 small medullae that are connected to or separated from a major medullary compartment. In contrast, thymi of immunodeficient Rag2−/− mice exhibit only ∼20 small, unconnected medullary islets. Upon total body irradiation, medullary complexity was partially reduced and then recovered upon bone marrow transplantation. This intricate topology presents fractal properties, resulting in a considerable corticomedullary area. This feature ensures short distances between cortex and medulla, hence efficient thymocyte migration, as assessed by mathematical models. Remarkably, this junction is enriched, particularly in neonates, in medullary thymic epithelial cells expressing the autoimmune regulator. The emergence of a major medullary compartment is induced by CD4+ thymocytes via CD80/86 and lymphotoxin-α signals. This comprehensive three-dimensional view of the medulla emphasizes a complex topology favoring efficient interactions between developing T cells and autoimmune regulator–positive medullary thymic epithelial cells, a key process for central tolerance induction.
A Primer for Preventing Teen Dating Violence? The Representation of Teen Dating Violence in Young Adult Literature and Its Implications for Prevention

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a significant public health issue. Preventing TDV requires attention to risk and protective factors across ecological system levels. The media is one of the primary cultural drivers of societal-level social scripts about the causes of TDV. Framing theory asserts that the media’s portrayal of social issues, including what contextual information is included and/or excluded, affects individual-level attitudes about TDV and potential policy responses. This study investigates the representation of TDV in young adult (YA) literature, a media genre that is marketed to adolescent audiences. Data include all YA novels (N = 8) that have a primary focus on TDV. Texts were analyzed systematically using thematic content analysis methods. Results indicate that the antecedents of TDV were portrayed as being related to victim personal characteristics such as inexperience in relationships and low self-esteem. Rather than underscoring how societal-level factors contribute to TDV, perpetration was seen as stemming from family dysfunction and mental health issues. These results underscore how the structural determinants of TDV have been overshadowed in the media’s portrayal of TDV, in favor of narrow portrayals of victimization and perpetration. Implications for TDV prevention programs including the importance of media literacy are discussed.
Synergistic effect of the anti‐HER‐2/neu antibody and cisplatin in immortalized and primary mesothelioma cell lines

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) still remains a therapeutic and diagnostic problem to which new therapeutic perspectives are being continuously tried and tested. Three different primary cultures (MMGe‐1, MES MM 98, and MES 1) and one immortalized cell line (MSTO 211 H) of human MM were studied in order to evaluate the HER‐2/neu expression. Three out of four cell lines showed a different level of c‐erbB‐2 expression, the highest being detected on the MSTO 211 H cell line (fibroblastic phenotype), whereas MMGe‐1 resulted negative. The effect of the anti‐HER‐2/neu antibody (Trastuzumab) alone, and in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) at different doses (ranging from 0.1 to 100 μg/ml), was studied on all the c‐erB‐2 positive cell lines. Trastuzumab was able to inhibit cell proliferation in a time‐dependent manner, with growth inhibition also obtained at low concentrations (0.1–1 μg/ml). Combined treatment with Trastuzumab (10 μg/ml) and CDDP (1 μg/ml) showed synergism. Our results were encouraging, and suggest a rationale for further investigations in a clinical setting. J. Cell. Physiol. 193: 37–41, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Collective Action and Governance Activism

Can institutional investors generate sufficient power through collective action to drive improvements in governance? We use proprietary data on the private communications of a formal coalition of Canadian institutional investors and find that its private engagements influenced firms’ adoption of majority voting and say-on-pay advisory votes, improved compensation structure and disclosure, and influenced CEO incentive intensity. Spillovers to non-engaged firms occur through board interlocks and to firms in which the CCGG is expected to be more powerful in a voting contest. This form of activism is both a substitute and complement to other interventions to address governance concerns.
Comparative analysis of a dc to dc boost converter with constant and variable duty cycle

In order to use dc to dc boost converter in combination with a fuel cell, for modern aircraft APU, it is important that the input current ripples to be very small. This paper presents a comparative analysis of a dc to dc boost converter with variable duty cycle and one with constant duty cycle. The Dc to dc boost converter proposed was modeled in Multisim, with a PID controller. After numerical simulations it was found that input current ripples have a maximum output current of approximately 20A. The variation is more flat when operating with constant duty cycle. The use of this controller that changes the duty cycle also leads to a greater variation of ripples in relation with the output current. Thus, to make a comparison with theoretical results, which were achieved in the bibliography, numerical simulations were made with the PWM pulse at a constant value, with 50% duty cycle. Based on simulation results there were plotted the boost converter output characteristics for the two cases. Graphs were performed in Matlab. Besides these output characteristics, there were also plotted the output and input current variation, the current through the transistor, the ripples for the output voltage and for the input current in relation with the output current.
Insulin and Oleate Promote Translocation of Inosine‐5′ Monophosphate Dehydrogenase to Lipid Bodies

In the present study we identify inosine‐5′ monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), a key enzyme in de novo guanine nucleotide biosynthesis, as a novel lipid body‐associated protein. To identify new targets of insulin we performed a comprehensive 2‐DE analysis of 32P‐labelled proteins isolated from 3T3‐L1 adipocytes (Hill et al. J Biol Chem 2000; 275: 24313–24320). IMPDH was identified by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry as a protein which was phosphorylated in a phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3‐kinase‐dependent manner upon insulin treatment. Although insulin had no significant effect on IMPDH activity, we observed translocation of IMPDH to lipid bodies following insulin treatment. Induction of lipid body formation with oleic acid promoted dramatic redistribution of IMPDH to lipid bodies, which appeared to be in contact with the endoplasmic reticulum, the site of lipid body synthesis and recycling. Inhibition of PI 3‐kinase blocked insulin‐ and oleate‐induced translocation of IMPDH and reduced oleate‐induced lipid accumulation. However, we found no evidence of oleate‐induced IMPDH phosphorylation, suggesting phosphorylation and translocation may not be coupled events. These data support a role for IMPDH in the dynamic regulation of lipid bodies and fatty acid metabolism and regulation of its activity by subcellular redistribution in response to extracellular factors that modify lipid metabolism.
The Role of Investor Capabilities in Public-to-Private Transactions

In a public-to-private (PTP) acquisition, the gained control and the capabilities of the private equity investor affect strategic management of the firm and its value. We examine the role of idiosyncratic investor capabilities in the value appropriation from PTPs and provide implications for the changing market for private equity. Next to the traditional sources of value, we incorporate and value entrepreneurial aspects, investor specialisation, path-dependency and levering the private investor’s core competencies. Due to competition and replicability an increasing part of value creation in PTPs is reflected in the acquisition premium. As a result, we expect more specialization in private equity to lever idiosyncratic capabilities, as can be observed in buy-and-build strategies.
Thalamic NMDA Receptor Function Is Necessary for Patterning of the Thalamocortical Somatosensory Map and for Sensorimotor Behaviors

NMDARs play a major role in patterning of topographic sensory maps in the brain. Genetic knock-out of the essential subunit of NMDARs in excitatory cortical neurons prevents whisker-specific neural pattern formation in the barrel cortex. To determine the role of NMDARs en route to the cortex, we generated sensory thalamus-specific NR1 (Grin1)-null mice (ThNR1KO). A multipronged approach, using histology, electrophysiology, optical imaging, and behavioral testing revealed that, in these mice, whisker patterns develop in the trigeminal brainstem but do not develop in the somatosensory thalamus. Subsequently, there is no barrel formation in the neocortex yet a partial afferent patterning develops. Whisker stimulation evokes weak cortical activity and presynaptic neurotransmitter release probability is also affected. We found several behavioral deficits in tasks, ranging from sensorimotor to social and cognitive. Collectively, these results show that thalamic NMDARs play a critical role in the patterning of the somatosensory thalamic and cortical maps and their impairment may lead to pronounced behavioral defects.
Identifying a Set of Key Members in Social Networks Using SDP-Based Stochastic Search and Integer Programming Algorithms

This paper presents two semi-definite programming (SDP) based methods to solve the Key Player Problem (KPP). The KPP is to identify a set of k nodes (i.e., key players) from a social network of size n such that the number of nodes connected to these k nodes is maximized. The KPP has applications in social diffusion and products adoption as it helps maximizing information diffusion and impact. We first formulate the KPP as an integer program (IP) and then convert it into an SDP formulation, which can be solved efficiently and produce a set of high quality candidate solutions. We develop an IP-based algorithm and a stochastic search (greedy) algorithm to find the final solution for the KPP. We compare our algorithms with existing methods in small and large networks with different network structures, including random graph, scale-free network, and community-based scale-free network (CSN). Computational results show that our algorithms are more efficient in solving the KPP in all networks. In addition, we examine how the network structure influences the nodes coverage. It is found that CSNs allow the highest nodes coverage due to their community and scale-free structure.
Managing Flexibility in Outsourcing 1

In recent years, outsourcing has gained considerable management attention. However, the benefits of outsourcing are not without concessions. One major risk is losing the flexibility to change the extent, nature, or scope of the outsourced business services, and such flexibility is strategically imperative in today’s dynamic business environment. This paper seeks to clarify the multi-dimensional notion of flexibility in outsourcing by examining robustness, modifiability, new capability, and ease of exit. Adapting from Evans (1991), we also develop a framework to classify existing practices in managing outsourcing flexibility. We go beyond contractual provision to surface a portfolio of pre-emptive, protective, exploitive, and corrective maneuvers. These strategic maneuvers map well to traditional notions in coordination theory, both in advanced structuring through loose coupling and dependency diversification, and in dynamic adjustment through proactive sensing and reactive adapting. We put forward a set of propositions hypothesizing the relationships between the various strategic maneuvers and the different dimensions of outsourcing flexibility, and discuss the moderating impact of such maneuvers on outsourcing success. We hope the greater conceptual clarity will not only contribute to the effectiveness of outsourcing management but also spawn a new research agenda on outsourcing flexibility.
Reduced beta-cell compensation to the insulin resistance associated with obesity in members of caucasian familial type 2 diabetic kindreds.

OBJECTIVE Both obesity and a family history of diabetes reduce insulin sensitivity, but the impact of obesity on insulin secretion among individuals predisposed to diabetes is uncertain. We used a pedigree-based approach to test the hypothesis that beta-cell compensation to the insulin resistance associated with obesity is defective among individuals predisposed to diabetes by virtue of a strong family history of type 2 diabetes before the development of diabetes or glucose intolerance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 126 members of 26 families ascertained for at least a sib pair with type 2 diabetes with onset before age 65 years underwent a tolbutamide-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT). Family members included 26 individuals with impaired glucose tolerance and 100 individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The acute insulin response to glucose (AIRglucose) was determined and insulin sensitivity (S(I)) estimated by minimal model analysis of FSIGT data. The beta-cell compensation for insulin sensitivity was estimated from the disposition index (DI), calculated as the product of S(I) and AIRglucose. Obesity was measured by BMI. RESULTS Among all individuals, BMI was a significant predictor of both S(I) and AIRglucose, as expected. However, BMI also significantly predicted DI (P = 0.002) after correcting for age, sex, family membership, and glucose tolerance status. The relationship of BMI and DI was confirmed in 85 individuals with NGT who were aged <45 (P = 0.002) but not in 91 unrelated control individuals without a family history of diabetes. When normoglycemic individuals aged <45 were separated into three classes by BMI (< or =27, 27-30, >30), S(I) decreased progressively and significantly with obesity whereas AIRglucose rose significantly from lean to most obese classes. In contrast to the expectation of complete beta-cell compensation with obesity D1 fell significantly (P = 0.004) among obese family members. This relationship was not observed in control subjects. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with a genetic predisposition to diabetes show a reduced beta-cell compensatory response to the reduced insulin sensitivity associated with obesity. We propose that this impaired compensation may be one manifestation of the underlying genetic defect in susceptible individuals. This finding helps explain the multiplicative effects of family history and obesity on risk of type 2 diabetes.
Unprecedented pressure increase in deep magma reservoir triggered by lava‐dome collapse

The collapse of the Soufrière Hills Volcano lava dome on Montserrat in July 2003 is the largest such event worldwide in the historical record. Here we report on borehole dilatometer data recording a remarkable and unprecedented rapid (∼600s) pressurisation of a magma chamber, triggered by this surface collapse. The chamber expansion is indicated by an expansive offset at the near dilatometer sites coupled with contraction at the far site. By analyzing the strain data and using added constraints from experimental petrology and long‐term edifice deformation from GPS geodesy, we prefer a source centered at approximately 6 km depth below the crater for an oblate spheroid with overpressure increase of order 1 MPa and average radius ∼1 km. Pressurisation is attributed to growth of 1–3% of gas bubbles in supersaturated magma, triggered by the dynamics of surface unloading. Recent simulations demonstrate that pressure recovery from bubble growth can exceed initial pressure drop by nearly an order of magnitude.
BaAMPs: the database of biofilm-active antimicrobial peptides

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are increasingly being considered as novel agents against biofilms. The development of AMP-based anti-biofilm strategies strongly relies on the design of sequences optimized to target specific features of sessile bacterial/fungal communities. Although several AMP databases have been created and successfully exploited for AMP design, all of these use data collected on peptides tested against planktonic microorganisms. Here, an open-access, manually curated database of AMPs specifically assayed against microbial biofilms (BaAMPs) is presented for the first time. In collecting relevant data from the literature an effort was made to define a minimal standard set of essential information including, for each AMP, the microbial species and biofilm conditions against which it was tested, and the specific assay and peptide concentration used. The availability of these data in an organized framework will benefit anti-biofilm research and support the design of novel molecules active against biofilm. BaAMPs is accessible at http://www.baamps. it
Effects of 2,4-dinitrophenol on respiration in the dog.

The intravenous administration of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) to unanesthetized or anesthetized dogs produced an increase in arterial pH and decrease in arterial Pco2 which preceded any significant rise in body temperature. Thus the hyperventilation associated with DNP-administration appears not to be solely the result of increased production of CO2. Although DNP in small amounts stimulated respiration via the carotid body, larger doses still produced increased ventilation and pH and decreased Pco2 after denervation of the carotid bodies and bilateral vagotomy, thus demonstrating a stimulatory effect of DNP at some more central site as well. DNP increased the sensitivity of the respiratory center (or its afferent connections) to Pco2 and/or concentration of hydrogen ion. The similarities of respiratory effects of DNP and salicylate are discussed. An unexplained increase in ‘buffer base’ of the blood occurred in association with the respiratory alkalosis induced by DNP.
Management control in professional service firms - A control package in audit companies

Management control in professional service organizations is fundamentally different from the control in classical industrial and producing corporations. This is mainly due to the special context a professional service firm has to face, as the value creation is knowledge intensive, demands a high level of education, and the professional employees have different expectations concerning their work. Hence, customized control tools have to be applied in professional service firms. Malmi and Brown (2008) provide a general management control package, which shall be applied to the context of professional service firms and auditing in particular. The aim of this master thesis is a detailed analysis of the management control package in audit firms. The data collection was done via a two-step approach, which comprised a questionnaire as one part, while interviews were also accomplished. The final sample consists of five office managers or senior auditors within large audit firms in the region of Skane in Southern Sweden. Additionally, a former CEO of a big4 company is contacted in order to gain detailed information about auditing from a top-management point of view. Concerning the findings, it can be stated that the most important tools within the control package in audit firms are ‘organizational structure and procedures’, ‘budgeting’, ‘performance evaluation’, and ‘cultural control’. In contrast to previous literature which argued for an increasing use of ‘cultural control’, this study reports the maintained importance of ‘cybernetic controls’. This includes budgeting as a main tool for the management control package in audit firms, while ‘cultural tools’ are important but still of a supportive function.
[Orthopedic device-related infections].

Prosthetic joint infection is an increasing public health problem. The bacterial biofilms that form on these foreign bodies are resistant to host defence mechanisms and antimicrobial therapy. Sixty per cent of prosthetic joint infections are caused by Staphylococcus sp. , and they are usually acquired during surgery or in the early post-operative period, but can also occur by haematogenous seeding. There are several kinds of prosthetic joint infections: early postoperative infection (EPI), late postoperative infection (LPI), haematogenous infection (HI), and positive operative cultures. In EPI and HI, early diagnosis is mandatory to save the implant, and in LPI the main issue is the differential diagnosis with aseptic loosening. The treatment of choice for susceptible staphylococcal EPI and HI is debridement and a combination of rifampin and levofloxacin for 8 weeks, with retention of the implant. In LPI, replacement of the prosthesis is required, followed by antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks.