Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
With a Little Help of My (Former) Employer: Past Employment and Entrepreneurs' External Financing

Securing external financing and attracting value-adding investors are challenging for nascent businesses, largely due to the concern of information asymmetry. We explore how entrepreneurs’ past employment migitates this concern. Based on the rationale of inherited human and social capital, we hypothesize that: a) for startup founders, their former employers’ prominence signals favorably about the quality of the new ventures, thus increasing the chances of securing funding and attracting prominent investors; b) this signaling is more relevant if the startups’ business is similar to that of the former employers. Empirical tests using a novel dataset of technology companies support our hypotheses. This paper highlights the role of past employment in matching entrepreneurs with prominent investors. Methodologically, we introduce to the management literature a topic-modeling-based measure of business similarity. ∗Corresponding author. Columbia Business School, 7th Floor 3022 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 USA. Email: jh3007@columbia.edu. †W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University, PO BOX 874606, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. Email: zmshi@asu.edu.
Ability, Training Performance, and Demographic Factors in Voluntary Turnover among Psychiatric Aides

This longitudinal study of voluntary turnover among psychiatric aides in a state hospital compared aides who left during the first year of employment with those who stayed on measures of ability, training performance, and demographic variables. No significant differences between stayers and leavers were found on two tests selecting for general ability and a post-training job knowledge test, but significant differences were found on race and sex (higher turnover among white aides and males). The findings were contrary to those of previous studies with professionals, which indicated that leavers were higher in ability, qualifications, and training. Further research appears needed to assess the relationships between turnover and measures of ability and performance potential as well as research to evaluate the turnover and work performance relationship.
Determinants Of Employee Performance In Embryonic Economy

Since the building of a nation is the main concern of most governments worldwide, and human resources have been recognized to be one of the most important promoters in the nation’s development, this paper therefore focuses on the relationship between HR practices and employee performance in the embryonic economy. Also, this work seeks to establish the relationship between selected HR practices and employee performance. In this work, extensive literature review is the approach adopted for the development of conceptual model. Also, review of literature is used to measure and discourse the relationship between the selected HR practices (i.e., compensation, performance appraisal, and succession planning) and employee performance. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that indicates direct and positive relationship between the selected HR practices and employee performance. Hence, this work serves as guide on enhancement of employee performance. This paper is a conceptual work that has its own limitation. However, the study can be improved upon through collection and analysis of related data. The paper can guide the stakeholders in Nigeria to understand better the roles of HRM practices through which employee performance can be enhanced. It is believed that this work is a compendium that contributes to the extant body of knowledge in the HRM-performance research field, and serves as guide for stakeholders on the enhancement of employee performance.
Recent advances in engineering propionyl-CoA metabolism for microbial production of value-added chemicals and biofuels

Abstract Diminishing fossil fuel reserves and mounting environmental concerns associated with petrochemical manufacturing practices have generated significant interests in developing whole-cell biocatalytic systems for the production of value-added chemicals and biofuels. Although acetyl-CoA is a common natural biogenic precursor for the biosynthesis of numerous metabolites, propionyl-CoA is unpopular and non-native to most organisms. Nevertheless, with its C3-acyl moiety as a discrete building block, propionyl-CoA can serve as another key biogenic precursor to several biological products of industrial importance. As a result, engineering propionyl-CoA metabolism, particularly in genetically tractable hosts with the use of inexpensive feedstocks, has paved an avenue for novel biomanufacturing. Herein, we present a systematic review on manipulation of propionyl-CoA metabolism as well as relevant genetic and metabolic engineering strategies for microbial production of value-added chemicals and biofuels, including odd-chain alcohols and organic acids, bio(co)polymers and polyketides.
Silicon-on-insulator-based photonic-crystal Mach-Zehnder interferometers

Si nanophotonics is anticipated to play a critical role in the future ultra-compact system integration due to the maturity of sub-micron silicon complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Photonic crystals (PhCs) provide a promising platform for developing novel optoelectronic devices with significantly reduced device size and power consumption. The active control of photonic crystal waveguides (PCWs) incorporated in Mach-Zehnder interferometers has been investigated in this paper. We designed and fabricated a PCW based silicon thermo-optic (TO) switch operating at 1.55 μm. A novel device structure was proposed to enhance the heat exchange efficiency between the source and the active PCW region, which resulted in a faster switching time (< 20μs) compared with the conventional structure. The required π phase shift between the two arms of the MZI has been successfully achieved within an 80 μm interaction distance. The maximum modulation depth of 84% was demonstrated for switching power of 78mW. For high-speed applications, a p-i-n structure based PCW electro-optical (EO) MZI modulator was proposed. The transient performance of such a device was evaluated using a two-dimensional semiconductor device simulator MEDICI. The simulated structure demonstrated a great potential to realize high-speed ultra-compact Si modulators in the GHz region.
Advances in breast cancer treatment: the emerging role of ixabepilone

Although taxanes and anthracyclines have dramatically improved the treatment of breast cancer, resistance to these agents upon continued exposure is almost inevitable. The epothilone ixabepilone was US FDA approved in 2007 based on its demonstrated activity in metastatic breast cancer that is resistant to other approved agents, including taxanes and anthracyclines. Over 2000 patients have now received this agent in clinical trials, clarifying that ixabepilone has efficacy in minimally and heavily pretreated patients and can overcome chemotherapy-induced drug resistance, while maintaining a manageable safety profile. These clinical trials identified a progression-free survival advantage with ixabepilone/capecitabine combination therapy over capecitabine monotherapy. Moreover, certain hard-to-treat subgroups of patients may derive additional benefit from ixabepilone therapy. The objective of this report is to review the updated body of ixabepilone clinical data in breast cancer, as well as key considerations for ixabepilone administration and side-effect management.
[Increase in weight and changes in the heart weight/body weight quotient of the embryonic heart in early pregnancy].

On the basis of measuring heart weight and body weight of 73 embryos it is shown that there is a close linear correlation between growth of the heart, increase of heart weight and body weight and age of pregnancy. The increase in heart weight, however, is not proportional to that of the increase in body weight during intrauterine development. There is a considerable shift in the heart weight/body weight ratio (i.e. a change in the cardio-fetal index: (formula; see text) In early pregnancy (5-7th weeks) the cardio-fetal index varies from 1.5 to 2.5 and in the course of pregnancy it decreases gradually. In the 12th-14th weeks it falls below 1, and following the 14th week it stays on a relatively constant level of 0.5-0.8. In early embryonic phase heart weight in relation to body weight is 2-5 times bigger than in the period following the 14th week. The significance of these findings is discussed.
Heat‐shock and general stress response in Bacillus subtilis

The induction of stress proteins is an important component of the adaptional network of a non‐growing cell of Bacillus subtilis. A diverse range of stresses such as heat shock, salt stress, ethanol, starvation for oxygen or nutrients etc. induce the same set of proteins, called general stress proteins. Although the adaptive functions of these proteins are largely unknown, they are proposed to provide general and rather non‐specific protection of the cell under these adverse conditions. In addition to these non‐specific general stress proteins, all extracellular signals induce a set of specific stress proteins that may confer specific protection against a particular stress factor. In B. subtilis at least three different classes of heat‐inducible genes can be defined by their common regulatory characteristics: Class I genes, as exemplified by the dnaK and groE operons, are most efficiently induced by heat stress. Their expression involves a σA‐dependent promoter, an inverted repeat (called the CIRCE element) highly conserved among eubacteria, and probably a repressor interacting with the CIRCE element. The majority of general stress genes (class II, more than 40) are induced at σB‐dependent promoters by different growth‐inhibiting conditions. The activation of σB by stress or starvation is the crucial event in the induction of this large stress regulon. Only a few genes, including lonclpCclpP, and ftsH, can respond to different stress factors independently of σB or CIRCE (class III). Stress induction of these genes occurs at promoters presumably recognized by σA and probably involves additional regulatory elements which remain to be defined.
Fragmentation of Bacillus bacteriophage phi105 DNA by complementary single-stranded DNA in the cohesive ends of the molecule

The structure of DNA from the temperate Bacillus subtilis phage phi105 was examined by using the restriction endonuclease EcoRI and by sedimentation analysis. The DNA contains six EcoRI cleavage sites. Although eight DNA fragments were identified in the EcoRI digests, the largest of these was shown to consist of the two fragments that carry the cohesive ends of the phage DNA. In neutral gradients, the majority of whole phi105 DNA sedimented as nicked circles and the remainder as oligomers. No unit-length linear structures were detected. The associated cohesive ends could be sealed by DNA ligase from Escherichia coli and could be cleaved by S1 nuclease. On the basis of these results and previously reported studies, it appears that, as isolated from phage particles, phi105 DNA is a circular molecule that is formed from the linear structure by the association of complementary single-stranded DNA.
Nontoxigenic Vibrio cholerae 01 serotype Inaba biotype El Tor associated with a cluster of cases of cholera in southern India

Thirteen strains of Vibrio cholerae 01 belonging to the Inaba serotype El Tor biotype isolated from patients during an outbreak of cholera in the town of Warangal in southern India were found to be nontoxigenic (NT), since they did not produce cholera toxin or hybridize with DNA probes specific for cholera toxin, Zot, or Ace. The unheated and heated culture supernatants of the NT V. cholerae 01 evoked a rapid cell-rounding effect when introduced on confluent layers of CHO and HeLa cells which could not be inhibited by antiserum against known toxins. Culture supernatants of two representative NT V. cholerae 01 strains caused an increase in short-circuit current in rabbit ileal tissue mounted on an Ussing chamber, and the pattern of increase in short-circuit current was consistent with the presence of a quickly acting toxin like stable toxin. None of the strains of NT V. cholerae 01 hybridized with a DNA probe specific for the heat-stable enterotoxin of V. cholerae non-01, nor did the factor produced by NT V. cholerae 01 resemble the recently described heat-stable enterotoxin produced by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli as determine by a PCR assay. To our knowledge, this is the first report of NT V. cholerae 01 being associated with a cluster of cases of cholera, and it appears that a clone of NT V. cholerae 01 has the potential to cause localized outbreaks of cholera.
A vállalkozói ökoszisztéma Magyarországon a 2010-es években – helyzetértékelés és szakpolitikai javaslatok

A tanulmany elsődleges celja a magyarorszagi vallalkozasfejlesztesi lehetősegek vizsgalata szakpolitikai szempontbol. A cikk első reszeben a szerző elkuloniti a vallalkozaspolitikat es a kisvallalati politikat. A magyar kisvallalati es vallalkozaspolitikai ertekeles utan a Globalis Vallalkozoi Index (GEI) elemzesi eszkozet felhasznalva alternativ vallalkozaspolitikai javaslatokat dolgoz ki. A GEI modszertani fejlesztese lehetőve teszi az egyes orszagok, igy Magyarorszag, vallalkozoi rendszereben a gyenge pontok azonositasat. Idealis esetben a vallalkozaspolitika fő celja a rendszerhibak kikuszobolese reven az erőforrasok optimalis eloszlasanak biztositasa. Magyarorszag eseteben a vallalkozaspolitika elsődleges celjai a vallalkozoi lehetősegek eszlelesenek novelese a lakossag koreben, a termekinnovacio fokozasa, a tőkefinanszirozas osztonzese es a versenyhelyzet javitasa lehetnenek. A GEI-re alapozott szimulaciok jol szemleltetik a szűk politikai es szakpolitikai szempontokon felulemelkedő, az egymastol tavoli teruletek kozotti kapcsolatot figyelembe vevő celrendszer es erőforras-allokacio kidolgozasanak a mikentjet is.
Empirical evaluation of ‘structure-conduct-performance’ and ‘efficient-structure’ paradigms in banking sector of Pakistan

ABSTRACT Historically, the banking sector of Pakistan has been characterized by credit ceilings, directed and subsidized credit, controlled interest rates and lacking competition. This scenario prevailed till the financial sector reforms in 1990. However, after 1990, the banking sector changed significantly and the reforms led to notable improvement in the indicators of market structure of the banking industry of the country. In literature, the changes in indicators of market structure are interpreted in the context of either structure-conduct-performance (SCP) or relative market power (RMP) paradigm, and/or in relation to the efficient structure (ES) hypothesis. This paper studies relevance of SCP, RMP and ES paradigms for banking industry of Pakistan. This study uses (balanced) panel data, spanning 1996 to 2015, of 24 commercial banks to estimate banks’ profit function by using fixed effects model. Findings suggest that: (a) there is a weak association between the indicators of market structure and banks’ performance; (b) there is no empirical evidence to support SCP or RMP paradigms; and (c) the ES paradigm is relevant in the case of banking sector of Pakistan. Thus, the focus of policymakers should be to improve the efficiency of the banking sector in Pakistan. Focus on improving indicators of market structure, like concentration ratios, to encourage competition in the banking sector may not be productive.
Are U.S. Corn and Soybeans Becoming More Drought Tolerant?

An objective drought index that measures the dry and hot conditions adversely affecting crop yields is used in a regression analysis to test whether corn and soybeans have become more drought tolerant. Results indicate that corn yield losses, whether measured in quantity terms or as a percentage of mean yield, have decreased. The null hypothesis that the absolute level of soybean yield losses due to drought has not changed cannot be rejected. But yield losses in percentage terms have decreased over time. Because drought is the primary cause of yield loss in the U.S. crop insurance program and because U.S. crop insurance rates assume that percentage of yield losses are constant over time, these results indicate that U.S. crop insurance rates in the Corn Belt are too high.
Morphometric analysis of the relationships between the maxillary first molar and maxillary sinus floor

Objectives: To assess the relationships between the maxillary first molar and the maxillary sinus floor in a group of patients referred to a dental clinic. Methods: Ninety-seven patients were recruited for this study. The distances between the examined roots (mesio-buccal, disto-buccal and palatal) as well as furcations, and the sinus floor, were evaluated using cone beam computed tomography, and grouped as follows: class 0: distance = 0 mm; class 1: 0 mm < distance < 2 mm; class 2: 2 mm ≤ distance < 4 mm; class 3: 4 mm ≤ distance < 6 mm; class 4: 6 mm ≤ distance. The Spearman’s Rank Correlation coefficient was used to test the univariate associations between furca-tion-sinus floor distance and each root class. Results: The prevalence of class 0 was the highest for the palatal root (44.33%), followed in descending order by mesio-buccal (40.21%), and disto-buccal (38.14%) roots. The highest correlation coefficient was recorded when assessing the relationship between furcation-sinus floor distance and palatal root classes (rho = 0.66, p < 0.001, n = 97). Conclusions: Altogether, the results suggest that the palatal root of the maxillary first molar not only had the closest relationship with the sinus floor, but also proved to be the best predictor for the furcation-sinus floor distance. The clinician should be aware of the anatomical and morphological details of this root, especially when taking surgical decisions.
Cholecystokinin JMV‐180 and Caerulein Effects on the Pancreatic Acinar Cell Cytoskeleton

We previously demonstrated that the supramaximally effective concentrations of caerulein caused marked changes in the apical cytoskeleton of the rat pancreatic acinar cell. These changes included ablation of microvilli, the terminal actin web, and intermediate filament bands. The present study was designed to elucidate part of the intracellular signalling mechanism mediating these changes. For these studies we used a cholecystokinin (CCK) analogue, CCK-IMV-180, that has been previously demonstrated not to inhibit enzyme secretion and to prevent the inhibition caused by caerulein. We investigated the effects of CCK-JMV-180 alone and in combination with supra maximal concentrations of caerulein on the morphology of the apical structures, on 1,2-diacylglycerol production (a measure of phospholipase C activity), and on amylase secretion in rat pancreatic acini. Supramaximally effective concentrations of caerulein caused inhibition of enzyme secretion. CCK-JMV-180 had no effect on the ultrastructure of the apical region of the acinar cell and it prevented the ablation of apical cytoskeleton induced by a supramaximal concentration of caerulein (10 nM). CCK-JMV-180 inhibited the increase in 1,2-diacylglycerol formation and the inhibition of amylase release caused by 10 nM caerulein. Mimicking the effect of 1,2-diacylglycerol on activation of protein kinase C with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and reproducing changes in [Ca2+]i caused by 10 nM caerulein with 100 nM bombesin did not alter the apical cytoskeleton. These results suggest that the cytoskeletal changes observed with inhibitory concentrations of caerulein are caused by the phospholipase C effects of caerulein on membrane phospholipids.
Association between human leukocyte antigens and graft-versus-host disease occurrence after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of the complications following allogenic stem cell transplantation. This study investigated an association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and the occurrence of acute and chronic GVHD in patients who had received stem cell transplantations from HLA-identical siblings. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study at Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp). METHODS: The participants were 176 patients whose first transplant was between 1997 and 2009. HLA genotyping was performed serologically and using the polymerase chain reaction with specific primer sequence. RESULTS: Acute GVHD was positively associated with HLA-A10 (P = 0.0007), HLA-A26 (P = 0.002), B55 (P = 0.001), DRB1*15 (P = 0.0211) and DQB1*05 (P = 0.038), while HLA-B16 (P = 0.0333) was more frequent in patients without acute GVHD. Chronic GVHD was positively associated with HLA-A9 (P = 0.01) and A23 (P = 0.0292) and negatively with HLA-A2 (P = 0.0031) and B53 (P = 0.0116). HLA-B35 (P = 0.0373), B49 (P = 0.0155) and B55 (P = 0.0024) were higher in patients with acute GVHD grade 3 or above, than in other patients. In patients with extensive chronic GVHD, HLA-A9 (P = 0.0004), A24 (P = 0.0059) and A26 (P = 0.0411) were higher than in other patients, while HLA-A2 was lower (P = 0.0097). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that HLA can influence the incidence and severity of acute and chronic GVHD. However, a study with a better design and more patients will be needed to confirm these results.
The effects of variations in respiratory activity and in the skin temperatures of the ears on the temperature of the blood in the external jugular vein of the ox (Bos taurus)

It has been estimated that as much as 35% of the heat produced by metabolism in the ox is dissipated by evaporation of moisture from the respiratory tract when the animal is panting (Kibler & Brody, 1956). The site of this heat loss was investigated by Bligh (1957b), who found that even when the respiratory frequency was approximately 200 cooling of the blood did not occur during its passage through the lungs. He suggested that the heat loss took place from the upper respiratory tract. Since the buccal cavity and nasopharynx of the ox are drained by the external jugular veins, variations in heat loss from these areas should result in detectable changes in the temperature of jugular blood. There is evidence that changes in the skin temperatures of the pinnae ofthe ears of the ox play a part in the regulation ofheat loss to the environment (Beakley & Findlay, 1955a; Whittow, 1962). Since the ears are also drained by the external jugular veins, variations in the rate of heat loss from them should have an affect on the temperature of the jugular blood. In the present study changes in the temperature of the jugular blood of calves have been studied under a variety of environmental conditions, and also whilst the animal was ruminating or feeding, which might affect heat elimination from the respiratory tract.
Analysis of the Testicular Phenotype of the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β-Subunit Knockout and the Activin Type II Receptor Knockout Mice by Stereological Analysis.

This study evaluated the role of FSH and activin A on testicular function using quantitative stereological analysis of testicular cell types in mice with targeted disruption of genes encoding the FSHβ -subunit and the activin type IIA receptor (ActRIIA). Using the optical dissector technique, the numbers of Sertoli cells and germ cells per testis were determined. Testis weights in homozygous males lacking the FSHβ gene or the ActRIIA gene were decreased approximately 60% compared with wild-type or respective heterozygotes. Sertoli cell numbers decreased in both homozygous mice by 30–39%, and there was a comparable decline in germ cell numbers in both models. The degree of germ cell attrition increased in the later stages of spermatogenesis from a 46% reduction of spermatogonia to a 60% decrease in round spermatids. As the FSH levels are decreased in both models, the cellular lesion in both is most likely due to the FSH deficiency. Although the decrease in the Sertoli cell complement represents one cause o.