Banks' risk assessment of Swedish SMEs

Building on the literatures on asymmetric information and risk taking, this paper applies conjoint experiments to investigate lending officers' probabilities of supporting credit to established or existing SMEs. Using a sample of 114 Swedish lending officers, we test hypotheses concerning how information on the borrower's ability to repay the loan; alignment of risk preferences; and risk sharing affect their willingness to grant credit. Results suggest that features that reduce the risk to the bank and shift the risk to the borrower have the largest impact. The paper highlights the interaction between factors that influence the credit decision. Implications for SMEs, banks and research are discussed

Immunity to Bovine Herpesvirus 1: II. Adaptive Immunity and Vaccinology

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) infection is widespread and causes a variety of diseases. Although similar in many respects to the human immune response to human herpesvirus 1, the differences in the bovine virus proteins, immune system components and strategies, physiology, and lifestyle mean the bovine immune response to BHV-1 is unique. The innate immune system initially responds to infection, and primes a balanced adaptive immune response. Cell-mediated immunity, including cytotoxic T lymphocyte killing of infected cells, is critical to recovery from infection. Humoral immunity, including neutralizing antibody and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, is important to prevention or control of (re-)infection. BHV-1 immune evasion strategies include suppression of major histocompatibility complex presentation of viral antigen, helper T-cell killing, and latency. Immune suppression caused by the virus potentiates secondary infections and contributes to the costly bovine respiratory disease complex. Vaccination against BHV-1 is widely practiced. The many vaccines reported include replicating and non-replicating, conventional and genetically engineered, as well as marker and non-marker preparations. Current development focuses on delivery of major BHV-1 glycoproteins to elicit a balanced, protective immune response, while excluding serologic markers and virulence or other undesirable factors. In North America, vaccines are used to prevent or reduce clinical signs, whereas in some European Union countries marker vaccines have been employed in the eradication of BHV-1 disease

modeling the laser ablation process

This chapter focuses on the problem of modeling the laser ablation process from a geometrical point of view. The objective is to create a model capable of describing the laser incision depth based on the knowledge of the laser parameters and inputs. The discussion starts with a statement of the problem, which is defined in terms of a supervised regression. Our approach is compared with existing heuristic models for the prediction of ablation depth

cognitive supervision for transoral laser microsurgery

This chapter introduces the problem of the automatic supervision of laser-induced effects during laser surgery. A top-down approach is used to tackle this problem: specific circumstances in which surgeons would value enhanced information regarding the effects of their laser actions on tissues are identified. The problem is grounded in the identification of variables of interest that are selected as target for the supervision. In the scope of this thesis, we explore the application of artificial cognitive approaches to monitor these variables in a surgical scenario

BVDV and BHV-1 Infections in Dairy Herds in Northern and Northeastern Thailand

Bulk milk samples from 220 dairy herds were collected at 9 public milk collection centres in the northeastern and northern Thailand, and a subset of 11 herds was selected for individual testing. The samples were tested for presence of antibodies to BVDV and BHV-1 using an indirect ELISA. The results from the bulk milk testing demonstrated a moderate level of exposure to BVDV and BHV-1 (73% and 67%, respectively). However, the low proportion of herds with high BVDV antibody-levels (13%) and the low within-herd seroprevalence of BVDV and BHV-1 in the 11 herds (24% and 5%, respectively), particularly among the young stock (15% and 0%, respectively), demonstrated a low prevalence of active BVDV infection and a low rate of reactivation of latent BHV-1. The presence of a self-clearance process was also indicated by the results from the individual testing. Moreover, a surprisingly low prevalence of BVDV and BHV-1 antibody-positive herds at one of the milk centres was found. This centre was established 5–10 years before the others. Our impression is that this reflects the self-clearance process, where consecutive replacement of imported infected animals without further spread has resulted in a nearly total elimination of the infections. Based on our experiences and on these results we are convinced that this process can continue if there is awareness of herd biosecurity. This is especially important in the context of a future intensification of the dairy production

Dietary practices in isovaleric acidemia:A European survey

Background: In Europe, dietary management of isovaleric acidemia (IVA) may vary widely. There is limited collective information about dietetic management. Aim: To describe European practice regarding the dietary management of IVA, prior to the availability of the E-IMD IVA guidelines (E-IMD 2014). Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire was sent to all European dietitians who were either members of the Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism Dietitians Group (SSIEM-DG) or whom had responded to previous questionnaires on dietetic practice (n=53). The questionnaire comprised 27 questions about the dietary management of IVA. Results: Information on 140 patients with IVA from 39 centres was reported. 133 patients (38 centres) were given a protein restricted diet. Leucine-free amino acid supplements (LFAA) were routinely used to supplement protein intake in 58% of centres. The median total protein intake prescribed achieved the WHO/FAO/UNU [2007] safe levels of protein intake in all age groups. Centres that prescribed LFAA had lower natural protein intakes in most age groups except 1 to 10 y. In contrast, when centres were not using LFAA, the median natural protein intake met WHO/FAO/UNU [2007] safe levels of protein intake in all age groups. Enteral tube feeding was rarely prescribed. Conclusions: This survey demonstrates wide differences in dietary practice in the management of IVA across European centres. It provides unique dietary data collectively representing European practices in IVA which can be used as a foundation to compare dietary management changes as a consequence of the first E-IMD IVA guidelines availability. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc

Dietary practices in propionic acidemia:A European survey

Background: The definitive dietary management of propionic acidaemia (PA) is unknown although natural protein restriction with adequate energy provision is of key importance. Aim: To describe European dietary practices in the management of patients with PA prior to the publication of the European PA guidelines. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey consisting of 27 questions about the dietary practices in PA patients circulated to European IMD dietitians and health professionals in 2014. Results: Information on protein restricted diets of 186 PA patients from 47 centres, representing 14 European countries was collected. Total protein intake [PA precursor-free L-amino acid supplements (PFAA) and natural protein] met WHO/FAO/UNU (2007) safe protein requirements for age in 36 centres (77%). PFAA were used to supplement natural protein intake in 81% (n = 38) of centres, providing a median of 44% (14-83%) of total protein requirement. Seventy-four per cent of patients were prescribed natural protein intakes below WHO/ FAO/UNU (2007) safe levels in one or more of the following age groups: 0-6 m, 7-12 m, 1-10 y, 11-16 y and > 16 y. Sixty-three per cent (n = 117) of patients were tube fed (74% gastrostomy), but only 22% received nocturnal feeds. Conclusions: There was high use of PFAA with intakes of natural protein commonly below WHO/FAO/UNU (2007) safe levels. Optimal dietary management can only be determined by longitudinal, multi-centre, prospective case controlled studies. The metabolic instability of PA and small patient cohorts in each centre ensure that this is a challenging undertaking

Reativação e distribuição do DNA latente do herpesvírus bovino tipo 5 no encéfalo de ovinos infectados experimentalmente

A biologia da infecção latente pelo herpesvírus bovino tipo 5 (BoHV-5) tem sido estudada em bovinos e coelhos, mas vários aspectos permanecem desconhecidos. Este artigo relata uma avaliação de ovinos jovens como modelo para o estudo da infecção latente pelo BoHV-5. Treze cordeiros com idade entre seis e sete meses, inoculados pela via intranasal (IN) com a cepa SV-507/99 do BoHV5 (título de 10(6,8) DICC50/mL) excretaram o vírus em secreções nasais em títulos de até 10(5,5) DICC50/mL, com duração de até 11 dias, desenvolvendo anticorpos neutralizantes em títulos de 16 a 128 no dia 30 pós-inoculação (pi). Os ovinos inoculados apresentaram apenas secreção nasal serosa leve e hipertermia transitória. O PCR de secções do encéfalo de cinco animais inoculados no dia 30 pi revelou a presença de DNA viral latente nos gânglios trigêmeos (TG, 5 de 5 animais), bulbo olfatório (BO, 5/5), ponte (2/5), cerebelo (2/5), córtex cerebral (1/5). Administração de dexametasona (Dx, n=4) ou flumetasona (FluM, n=4) a oito ovinos no dia 65 pi resultou em reativação e excreção viral por 3 de 4 animais de cada grupo. A excreção viral nas secreções nasais iniciou no dia 3 pós-tratamento e durou entre 1 e 5 dias nos ovinos tratados com Dx (títulos até 10(2,8)TCID50/mL) e foi mais tardia, durando entre 1 e 3 dias nos animais tratados com FluM (títulos de 10(2,1) TCID50/mL). Uma análise por PCR do encéfalo dos animais submetidos à reativação, no dia 65 pós-infecção, revelou uma distribuição do DNA latente semelhante àquela observada nos animais não submetidos à reativação. Em resumo, a capacidade do BoHV-5 estabelecer infecção latente, a colonização dos TGs a BOs com DNA viral latente e a reativação induzida por corticoides são achados promissores para o uso de cordeiros como modelo para a infecção latente pelo BoHV-5