Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Il Concordato Preventivo in Italia: Una Valutazione Delle Riforme E Del Suo Utilizzo (The ‘Concordato Preventivo’ in Italian Corporate Bankruptcy Law: A Policy Evaluation)

Italian Abstract: Tra il 2005 e il 2013 la disciplina italiana sulle crisi d’impresa e stata oggetto di varie riforme, che hanno cercato di rafforzare il concordato preventivo, in particolare nella sua funzione di istituto atto a favorire la continuita di aziende in crisi non irreversibile. Anche tenendo conto degli effetti della crisi economica, tali riforme hanno conseguito l’obiettivo di allargare il ricorso al concordato, in particolare a seguito dell’introduzione di quello “in bianco”, che consente di posticipare la presentazione del piano di risanamento. Le riforme hanno anche contribuito a un lieve miglioramento della continuita aziendale. Cio nonostante, solo una quota limitata di aziende (circa il 4,5 per cento) sopravvive dopo il concordato, la cui funzione principale e rimasta quella di fornire uno strumento liquidatorio di tipo negoziale, alternativo al fallimento che vede un maggior ruolo degli organi giudiziari. Il ricorso al concordato risulta correlato, oltre che con caratteristiche strutturali dell’impresa (un maggior peso delle immobilizzazioni materiali) e delle relazioni creditizie (un minore peso dei crediti dotati di garanzie reali), anche con la durata temporale delle procedure fallimentari nel tribunale di riferimento.English Abstract: From 2005 to 2013 Italian corporate bankruptcy law underwent a series of reforms. One of the goals was to improve the in-court restructuring proceedings (concordato preventivo), mainly as a way to promote the continuity of distressed but still viable companies. The reforms have succeeded in broadening the use of restructuring proceedings, even taking into account the effects of the economic crisis. The increase has been particularly large since the introduction of the concordato in bianco, which allows the firms to postpone the presentation of their recovery plan. The reforms have thus improved the likelihood of survival of distressed but still viable companies. Nevertheless, only a small proportion of companies (approximately 4.5 per cent) is still active after restructuring, the main purpose of which remains to provide an alternative form of liquidation, entailing a reduced role for courts, with respect to bankruptcy. The use of restructuring procedures is due to the length of bankruptcy proceedings in the courts, as well as to the structural characteristics of companies (larger proportion of fixed assets) and their credit relations (smaller proportion of collateralized loans).
Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes proliferation of hippocampal progenitor cells

Abstract Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) exist not only in the developing brain, but also in certain areas in adult brain in mammals. Recent studies suggest that promoting neurogenesis in adult mammals might provide a therapeutic way to cure age-related neurodegenerative diseases. So, it will be of great value to find out drugs that can increase the proliferation and/or differentiation ability of neural progenitors. The present study investigated the influence of ginsenoside Rg1, an active ingredient of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, on proliferation ability of rodent hippocampal progenitor cells both in vitro and in vivo. Incubation of NPCs with ginsenoside Rg1 resulted in significant increase in absorbency value, 3H-thymidine incorporation and the number of proliferating progenitor cell spheres; In addition, 2 weeks Rg1 administration (i.p.) led to marked enhancement of the number of dividing cells in the hippocampus of adult mice. These findings suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 is involved in the regulation of proliferation of hippocampal progenitor cells and this effect may serve as one of the elementary mechanisms underlying its nootropic and anti-aging actions.
International comparability of patient safety indicators in 15 OECD member countries: a methodological approach of adjustment by secondary diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE To improve the international comparability of patient safety indicators based on administrative hospital data, adjustment of country-specific rates by a proxy measure of diagnostic coding intensity was tested. DATA SOURCES Secondary data (numerator and denominator counts of patient safety indicators) based on adults discharged from acute care hospitals between 2006 and 2008 was used. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective cross-sectional study using hospital administrative data was performed. DATA COLLECTION Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States provided data according to detailed instructions. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Age- and sex-standardized rates varied across countries. An ordinary least squares regression model was estimated for each Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) using the mean number of secondary diagnoses among denominator cases as the predictor (R(2) =23 percent to 56 percent). Estimated country-specific residuals were linearly transformed into adjusted PSI rates. Variation among age-sex standardized PSI rates decreased substantially after this adjustment. CONCLUSIONS International comparisons of health system performance based on unadjusted patient safety indicators are problematic due to suspected coding or ascertainment bias. The model could be an interim approach to provide comparable information on hospital quality, with a long-term goal of improving international consistency in diagnostic reporting in administrative data.
Protein Creatinine Ratio in Random Urine Sample of Hypertensive Pregnant Women: Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes

Objective. To compare protein/creatinine ratio (PCR) in random urine sample levels and adverse outcomes in hypertensive pregnant women. Methods. A total of 370 medical charts from hypertensive pregnant women were reviewed and stratified into three groups according to different PCR in random urine sample levels (group 1: PCR < 0.3 mg/mg; group 2: PCR 0.3–1.99 mg/mg; group 3: PCR ≥ 2.0 mg/mg) and compared with composite maternal and perinatal outcomes. Those outcomes were severe hypertension, thrombocytopenia, high lactate dehydrogenase count, disseminated intravascular coagulation, abruptio placentae, HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count) syndrome, eclampsia, perinatal death, newborn cerebral hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome of newborn, neonatal sepsis, and newborn small for gestational age. Results. To obtain a composite maternal adverse outcome the odds ratio [ORs] between PCR groups were 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–3.2) between groups 1 and 2, and 3.1 (95% CI: 1.5–6.3) between groups 1 and 3; for composite perinatal adverse outcomes, the ORs were 3.0 (95% CI: 1.5–5.9) between groups 1 and 2, and 3.4 (95% CI: 1.6–7.5) between groups 1 and 3. Conclusions. Hypertensive pregnant women with a PCR ≥ 0.3 mg/mg, had worse maternal and perinatal outcomes than those with PCR < 0.3 mg/mg. Above the cut-off of 0.3 mg/mg, higher PCRs are not associated with a significant increase in maternal and perinatal morbidity.
Effets directs et indirects de la pêche sur des groupes trophiques de poissons démersaux, définis par une approche écomorphologique

La dynamique de groupes fonctionnels dans une communaute favorise la comprehension des impacts d’une perturbation sur le fonctionnement d’un ecosysteme. Nous nous attendons en particulier a ce que les groupes fonctionnels repondent differemment a la pression de peche en fonction de leur exposition directe et de leurs interactions (effets indirects). Une methode basee sur une approche ecomorphologique a ete developpee, en se focalisant sur les fonctions de predation, pour definir des groupes fonctionnels bases sur la taille et la taxonomie des individus, dans les communautes de poissons demersaux de mer Celtique et de mer du Nord. Onze traits fonctionnels ont ete utilises pour definir 12 groupes fonctionnels en mer Celtique (bases sur 930 individus parmi 33 especes) et sept en mer du Nord (bases sur 710 individus parmi 22 especes). En mer Celtique, les groupes fonctionnels expliquent mieux le regime alimentaire que des groupes de taille, tandis que le regime alimentaire en mer du nord semble davantage gouverne par la taille des individus. Des series temporelles de biomasse des groupes fonctionnels ont ete reconstituees d’apres des donnees de campagnes scientifiques de chalutage de fond. Dans les deux communautes, la peche semble affecter inegalement differentes fonctions trophiques. Nous montrons par ailleurs (i) une propagation des effets de la peche des hauts vers les bas nivaux trophiques (effets top-down) en mer du Nord et (ii) des phenomenes de compensation ecologique intra-groupe en mer Celtique. Le fonctionnement des deux communautes parait affecte par la peche. Cependant, les fonctions trophiques semblent plus impactees par la peche en mer du Nord qu’en mer Celtique.
Prediction of the Success of Nonoperative Treatment of Insertional Achilles Tendinosis Based on MRI

Background: Insertional Achilles tendinosis is a common clinical diagnosis for posterior heel pain. Nonoperative treatments often are unsuccessful. The purpose of this paper was to review a series of patients with insertional tendinopathy to determine whether MRI stratification could predictably identify patients in whom nonoperative treatment would fail. Methods: Review of records identified 157 patients (176 tendons) who were treated for insertional posterior heel pain. All patients who required surgery had MRI and their tendinosis was classified based on tendon size and degree of involvement (type I, II, or III). Patients who required surgery had standard two-incision decompression and debridement. Results: Of the 157 patients (176 tendons) with insertional heel pain, 83 (53%) responded to nonoperative treatment (96 tendons). Most of these patients who had MRI evaluation had type I involvement. The remaining 74 patients (47%) required operative intervention after an average of 12 months of conservative treatment (80 tendons). Most of these tendons were types II and III. Overall, two of the 16 type I tendons (12.5%) required surgery, 59 of the 65 type II tendons (90.8%) needed surgery, and 19 (70.4%) of the 27 type III tendons required surgery. Conclusions: Patients with tenderness of the Achilles tendon insertion without obvious signs of inflammation who demonstrate confluent areas of intrasubstance signal changes on MRI (types II and III) are not likely to respond to nonoperative treatment. Early identification of these patients and operative intervention may lead to earlier return to function.
Estimation of Cerebral Oxygenation and Hemodynamics in Cerebral Vasospasm Using Indocyaningreen Dye Dilution and Near Infrared Spectroscopy: A Case Report

Changes in cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation patterns in cerebral vasospasm might be underestimated if transcranial doppler sonography and angiography findings are considered singularly. This report describes preliminary findings in further development of a noninvasive method that estimates regional cerebral oxygenation and perfusion. A 50-year-old patient suffering from cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage before and after superselective papaverine infusion was examined. Measurements were taken by using a technique combining indocyaningreen dye dilution and near infrared spectroscopy. Our first results suggest that the technique could be suitable for estimation of cerebral hemodynamics. This noninvasive technique can be performed at the bedside and in special environments, such as neurocritical care units. It seems to be safe, easy to perform, and less time-consuming than conventional techniques. Combination of indocyaningreen dye dilution and near infrared spectroscopy might become a powerful tool in the detection and treatment of cerebral vasospasm causing delayed cerebral ischemic deficit. Further larger-scale investigations are necessary to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of this technique. Our preliminary observations however, based on measurements before and after superselective papaverine infusion in vasospastic vessels, helped to clarify the influence of extracerebral contamination on the cerebral near infrared spectroscopy signal in the adult head.
Smooth Muscle—Specific Expression of CYP4A1 Induces Endothelial Sprouting in Renal Arterial Microvessels

Abstract— Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 4A1 has been characterized as the most efficient arachidonic acid &ohgr;-hydroxylase catalyzing the formation of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), a potent constrictor of the renal and cerebral microcirculation and a mitogen for smooth muscle cells. We constructed adenoviruses expressing the CYP4A1 cDNA or LacZ under the control of the smooth muscle cell–specific promoter SM22&agr; (Ad-SM22-4A1 and Ad-SM22-nLacZ, respectively). &bgr;-Galactosidase expression was detected in Ad-SM22-nLacZ–transduced vascular smooth muscle A7r5 and PAC1 cells, but not in Ad-SM22-nLacZ-transduced 3T3 fibroblasts or vascular endothelial cells. Likewise, CYP4A1 mRNA and protein were detected in Ad-SM22-4A1–transduced A7r5 and PAC1 cells. Ad-SM22-4A1–transduced A7r5 cells metabolized lauric acid to 12-hydroxy-lauric acid at a rate 5 times greater than that of cells transduced with Ad-SM22-nLacZ (4.79±1.77 versus 0.97±0.57 nmol 12-hydroxy lauric acid/106 cells per h). Smooth muscle–specific LacZ expression was also detected in microdissected renal interlobar arteries transduced with Ad-SM22-nLacZ. Arteries transduced with Ad-SM22-4A1 produced higher levels of 20-HETE (4.04±0.29 and 13.43±2.84 ng/mg protein in Ad-SM22-nLacZ–transduced and Ad-SM22-4A1–transduced arteries, respectively) and demonstrated a marked angiogenic activity measured as the total length of sprouting neovessels (12.63±3.66 mm in Ad-SM22-4A1–transduced vessels versus 1.79±0.89 mm in Ad-SM22-nLacZ–transduced vessels). This angiogenic activity represented endothelial cell sprouting and was fully blocked by treatment with HET0016, a selective inhibitor of CYP4A-catalyzed reactions. The inhibitory effect of HET0016 was reversed by addition of a 20-HETE agonist. We conclude that Ad-SM22-4A1 drives a smooth muscle–specific functional expression of CYP4A1 and demonstrates increased angiogenesis, presumably via increased production of 20-HETE.
Estrogen receptor α is a novel target of the Von Hippel-Lindau protein and is responsible for the proliferation of VHL-deficient cells under hypoxic conditions

The Von Hippel-Lindau gene (VHL) is frequently deleted or mutated in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at the early stage. According to the well-established theory, pVHL acts as a tumor suppressor through its E3 ligase activity, which targets hypoxia-inducing factor-1α (HIF-1α). However, the elevated expression of HIF-1α did not promote cell proliferation, indicating that there would be another target, which could promote cell proliferation at the early cancer stage of RCC. In this study, we show that estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) is a novel proteasomal degradation target of the pVHL E3 ligase. Indeed, the overexpression of VHL suppresses exo- and endogenous ER-α expression, whereas si-pVHL can increase ER-α expression. The negative regulation of pVHL on ER-α expression is achieved by its E3 ligase activity. Thus, pVHL can promote the ER-α ubiquitinylation. In addition, we revealed that ER-α and HIF-1α are competitive substrates of pVHL. Thus, under normal conditions, ER-α overexpression can increase the transcription factor activity of HIF-1α. Under the hypoxic condition, where HIF-1α is not a suitable target of pVHL, ER-α is more rapidly degraded by pVHL. However, in VHL-deficient cells, the expression of ER-α and HIF-1α is retained, so that the hypoxic condition did not suppress cell proliferation obviously compared with cells that are expressing pVHL. Thus, blocking of ER-α using its inhibitor could suppress the proliferation of VHL-deficient cells as effectively as hypoxia-induced growth suppression. Considering our results, blocking of ER-α signaling in VHL-deficient cancer cells would be beneficial for cancer suppression. Indeed, we showed the anti-proliferative effect of Faslodex in VHL-deficient cells.
Mutational Analysis of Norrin-Frizzled4 Recognition*

Norrin and Frizzled4 (Fz4) function as a ligand-receptor pair to control vascular development in the retina and inner ear. In mice and humans, mutations in either of the corresponding genes lead to defects in vascular development. The present work is aimed at defining the sequence determinants of binding specificity between Norrin and the Fz4 amino-terminal ligand-binding domain (the “cysteine-rich domain” (CRD)). The principal conclusions are as follows: 1) Norrin binds to the Fz4 CRD and does not detectably bind to the 14 other mammalian Frizzled and secreted Frizzled-related protein CRDs; 2) Norrin and Xenopus Wnt8 recognize largely overlapping regions of the Fz4 CRD; 3) surface determinants on the Fz4 and Fz8 CRDs that allow Norrin to distinguish between these two CRDs reside within several small regions on one face of the CRD; 4) Norrin function depends critically on three pairs of cysteines that form the highly conserved trio of disulfide bonds shared among all cystine knot proteins, but the remaining two putative disulfide bonds are less important; 5) Norrin-CRD binding depends on a largely contiguous group of amino acids in the extended β-sheet domain of Norrin that are predicted to face away from the interface between the two monomers in the Norrin homodimer; 6) Norrin-CRD binding is strongly modulated by interactions involving charged amino acid side chains; and 7) Norrin-CRD binding is enhanced ∼10-fold by the addition of heparin. These observations are discussed in the context of Frizzled signaling and the structure and function of other cystine knot proteins.
La evaluación de la transparencia en España a debate metodológico: Mesta e Índices de Transparencia Internacional

espanolEste articulo realiza un analisis de los dos sis temas de evaluacion de la transparencia de mayor relevancia en Espana en la actualidad, los indices desarrollados por Transparencia Internacional Espana (TIE) y la recientemente desarrolla Metodologia de Evaluacion de la Transparencia en la Actividad Publi ca (MESTA). TIE fue la primera organizacion en poner en marcha indices de evaluacion de la transparencia en nuestro pais a gran escala, pero sus actuales indices presentan limitaciones que es importante resaltar e intentar corregir. Al mismo tiempo, el inc ipiente sistema MESTA, primera metodologia oficial puesta en marcha por el Consejo de la Transparencia y Buen Gobierno (CTBG), pretende ser un sistema universalmente aplicado a todos los sujetos obligados por la Ley 19/2013, de 9 de diciembre, de transpare ncia, acceso a la informacion publica y buen gobierno, tambien presenta importantes limitaciones que no la convierten en un sustituto de los indices precedentes. Para finalizar, proponemos un conjunto de reformas y recomendaciones para que estos instrument os sigan siendo utiles a la sociedad y utiles al conocimiento academico sobre la transparencia, la lucha contra la corrupcion y la rendicion de cuentas. EnglishThis article analyses the two most relevant transparency evaluation systems in Spain at pre sent. They are the indexes developed by the Spain International Transparency (TIE) and the recently developed Methodology for Evaluating Transparency in Public Activity (MESTA). TIE was the first organization to implement large scale evaluating transparenc y indexes in our country, but its current indexes have limitations which are important to highlight and try to correct. At the same time, the incipient MESTA system, the first official methodology launched by the Council of Transparency and Good Governance (CTBG), is intended to be an universally applied system to all subjects bound by the Law 19/13, of December 9, of Transparency, Access to public information and Good Governance, but it also prevents important limitations that do not make it a substitute f or the preceding indexes. Finally, we propose a set of reforms and recommendations in order to ensure that these instruments remain useful to society and for academic knowledge on transparency, the fight against corruption and accountability.
Can an inactivating agent increase enzyme activity in organic solvent? Effects of 18‐crown‐6 on lipase activity, enantioselectivity, and conformation

Lipase from Burkholderia cepacia (lipase BC) and lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB) show an increase of the transesterification activity in toluene (up to 2.4‐ and 1.7‐fold, respectively), when lyophilized with 18‐crown‐6. Nevertheless, the increase was observed only for low (less than 100) 18‐crown‐6/lipase molar ratio, while at higher ratios, the activity decreased for both enzymes to values lower than those obtained in the absence of the additive. In 1,4‐dioxane, the activation is lower for lipase BC (1.7‐fold) and for CALB (1.5‐fold). Concerning enantioselectivity, tested in the kinetic resolution of 6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐2‐ol, only in the case of CALB, an effect of the additive (the E value varied from about 120 to 280) was observed. In water, 4% (w/w) of 18‐crown‐6 caused a loss of activity in the hydrolysis of p‐nitrophenyl laurate of about 88 and 99.75%, compared to that observed in the absence of the crown ether for CALB and lipase BC, respectively. These data and the conformational analysis of both lipases, carried out by FT/IR spectroscopy indicate that the enzyme inactivation in water and in organic solvents at 18‐crown‐6/lipase molar ratios, higher than 100 might be due to conformational changes caused by the additive. Instead, at molar ratios lower than 100, 18‐crown‐6 might increase the activity—particularly, in toluene—thanks to the fact that in its presence, the enzyme has an hydrogen bonds pattern, more similar to that in water. This suggests that the additive would be able to provide the enzyme with more water. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97:12–18. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Semantic annotation and retrieval of unedited video based on extraction of 3D camera motion

In this paper, we propose an approach towards high-level semantic annotation of 3D camera motion information in videos. For video search and retrieval, query by example is a common technique, which proved its capability even for image features. However, complex properties of video clips even in the temporal domain can hardly be described via examples as they often fail to capture the relevant information. Hence, high-level semantic information seems much more appropriate for future video search and retrieval engines fully based on user-friendly interfaces. Well known self-calibration techniques provide robust and reliable information on camera motion, but this rich source of information is not well exploited for high-level semantic video annotation, search and retrieval. The full temporal information along the sequence is evaluated and exploited for the annotation of meaningful high-level semantics such as turn, rotation, fast moving camera, transversal motion and so on. We present a first approach to derive generalmotion properties of the camera motion within video segments and show the potential for further investigations.