American Corporate Political Strategy By Revealed Preference: A Cross-Industry Analysis of Political Activity as a Bundle of Economic Goods

This thesis explores corporate political activity as a bundle of economic goods by analyzing heterogeneity between industries’ spending on lobbying, PAC contributions, and the appointment of former political officials to a corporate board of directors. By using hand-collected data on political connections of board members, and years of lobbying and PAC expenses, this paper reveals the sector-specific preferences of the firms within the S&P 500 as of Spring 2021. The analysis shows clear differences between the nonmarket strategies of each industry, signaled by whether or not the industry views the three methods of political engagement as complementary of substitute goods. This tactical selection suggests diverse motivations and goals between sectors and solidifies the theory that firms (and the executives that lead them) perceive corporate political activity as strategically apt.Maxwell Palmer BU Political Science Departmen

Seroprevalence for norovirus genogroups GII and GIV in captive non-human primates

Noroviruses (NoVs) are a major cause of epidemic gastroenteritis in children and adults. Several pieces of evidence suggest that viruses genetically and antigenically closely related to human NoVs might infect animals, raising public health concerns about potential cross-species transmission. The natural susceptibility of non-human primates (NPHs) to human NoV infections has already been reported, but a limited amount of data is currently available. In order to start filling this gap, we screened a total of 86 serum samples of seven different species of NPHs housed at the Zoological Garden (Bioparco) of Rome (Italy), collected between 2001 and 2017, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on virus-like particles (VLPs) of human GII.4 and GIV.1 NoVs. Antibodies specific for both genotypes were detected with an overall prevalence of 32.6%. In detail, IgG antibodies against GII.4 NoVs were found in 18 Japanese macaques (29.0%, 18/62), a mandrill (10.0%, 1/10), a white-crowned mangabey (16.6%, 1/6) and in an orangutan (33.3%, 1/3). Twelve macaques (19.3%, 12/62), five mandrills (50.0%, 5/10), two chimpanzees (100%, 2/2) and a white-crowned mangabey (16.6%, 1/6) showed antibodies for GIV.1 NoVs. The findings of this study confirm the natural susceptibility of captive NHPs to GII NoV infections. In addition, IgG antibodies against GIV.1 were detected, suggesting that NHPs are exposed to GIV NoVs or to antigenically related NoV strains

Hepatitis B virus PreS/S gene variants: Pathobiology and clinical implications

SummaryThe emergence and takeover of hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants carrying mutation(s) in the preS/S genomic region is a fairly frequent event that may occur spontaneously or may be the consequence of immunoprophylaxis or antiviral treatments. Selection of preS/S mutants may have relevant pathobiological and clinical implications. Both experimental data and studies in humans show that several specific mutations in the preS/S gene may induce an imbalance in the synthesis of the surface proteins and their consequent retention within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the hepatocytes. The accumulation of mutated surface proteins may cause ER stress with the consequent induction of oxidative DNA damage and genomic instability. Viral mutants with antigenically modified surface antigen may be potentially infectious to immune-prophylaxed patients and may account for cases of occult HBV infection. In addition, preS/S variants were reported to be associated with cases of fulminant hepatitis as well as of fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis, and they are associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma development

Detection of feline kobuviruses in diarrhoeic cats, Italy

Kobuviruses have been identified in the enteric tract of several mammalian species but their role as enteric pathogens is still not defined. In this study, feline kobuviruses were found in 13.5% of cats with diarrhoea, but not in asymptomatic animals. In the full-length genome, one such strains, TE/52/13/ITA, displayed the highest nucleotide identity (96.0%) to the prototype strain FK-13. These results provide firm evidence that kobuviruses are common constituents of feline enteric viroma and that they are not geographically restricted to the Asian continent, where they were first signalled

Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors in Children with ADHD during Lockdown for COVID-19: The Role of Parental Emotions, Parenting Strategies, and Breaking Lockdown Rules

Lockdown experience for COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected children and adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exacerbating or promoting the onset of externalizing and internalizing symptoms. However, few studies have considered how externalizing and internalizing behaviors changed in relation to parental emotions and parenting strategies. In the present study, 992 caregivers of children and adolescents with ADHD from 5 to 18 years were presented with an online survey evaluating youths' externalizing and internalizing behaviors, their non-compliance with lockdown rules, and parental factors related to parental emotions and parenting strategies. Two hierarchical linear regression models were performed to examine the contribution of children's non-compliance with lockdown rules, parental emotions, and parenting strategies on children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Results revealed that externalizing behaviors were higher in children and adolescents with ADHD non-compliant with lockdown rules. Moreover, positive parenting strategies moderated the relationship between non-compliance with lockdown rules and externalizing behaviors. Differently, higher internalizing behaviors were observed in children with ADHD who had parents reporting more negative emotions and positive parenting strategies. In this case, parents' negative emotions had a moderator effect in the association between internalizing behaviors and non-compliance to lockdown measures. The clinical implications of these two different patterns of relations are discussed

First molecular evidence of kobuviruses in goats in Italy

By screening 139 rectal swabs collected from either asymptomatic or diarrhoeic goats in Italy, we identified kobuvirus RNA in eight samples (5.8 %). Higher positivity rates were observed in diarrhoeic goats (6.5 %, 3/46) than in asymptomatic animals (5.4 %, 5/93), although the difference was not statistically significant. Based on the analysis of a portion of the 3D gene, four strains were found to share the highest nucleotide (nt) sequence identity with bovine kobuviruses (95.0-98.0 %), which had been detected previously in calves in the UK and Korea. Interestingly, two strains were genetically related to the newly discovered caprine kobuviruses (83.0-97.0 % nt sequence identity), which had been identified in black goats in Korea and in roe deer in Italy. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that kobuviruses are common enteric viruses of goats, although their clinical relevance remains to be investigated

Detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in goats

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. Genotypes 1 and 2 are restricted to humans, whereas genotypes 3 and 4 also occur in animals and are recognized as zoonotic pathogens. In this study, by screening goat faecal samples collected from six small farms located in the province of Teramo (Abruzzo region, Italy), HEV RNA was found with an overall prevalence of 9.2% (11/119). Upon sequence analysis of a 0.8 kb portion of the ORF2 gene, four strains were grouped with animal and human genotype 3 HEVs, subtype c, with the highest match (94.2–99.4% nt identity) to a wild boar strain, WB/P6-15/ITA, identified in the same geographical area in which the six goat farms were located. Further investigations are needed in order to assess if goat may represent an additional active host for HEV

ETEROGENEITÀ GENETICA DI NOROVIRUS BOVINI IDENTIFICATI IN ITALIA

I norovirus (NoV) sono piccoli virus a RNA monocatenario appartenenti alla famiglia Caliciviridae. Sulla base dell’analisi di sequenza del gene ORF2 codificante per la proteina capsidica VP1, i NoV sono attualmente classificati in sei genogruppi (G), con GI, GII e GIV responsabili di gastroenterite nell’uomo. Calicivirus enterici morfologicamente simili a NoV umani sono stati identificati per la prima volta in vitelli diarroici nel Regno Unito nel 1978 e in Germania nel 1980. Il sequenziamento nucleotidico dell’intero genoma ha permesso di classificare i NoV bovini (BoNoV) all’interno del genogruppo III in due genotipi, GIII.1 (prototipo Bo/Jena/80/DE) e GIII.2 (prototipo Bo/Newbury/76/UK). I BoNoV hanno una diffusione mondiale con una maggiore prevalenza di virus GIII.2-like. Tuttavia, studi recenti basati sull’analisi nucleotidica a livello della giunzione fra la polimerasi (RdRp) ed il capside, hanno dimostrato la circolazione di ceppi ricombinanti. Nel presente lavoro vengono riportati i risultati di un’indagine per la ricerca e tipizzazione di BoNoV condotta su quattro allevamenti bovini ubicati nelle province di Teramo e Pescara. A tal fine, 104 tamponi rettali collezionati da vitelli asintomatici sono stati sottoposti a nested RT-PCR impiegando due set di primer specifici per BoNoV in grado di amplificare un frammento di 326 bp della RdRp. L’RNA di BoNoV è stato identificato nel 10,5% (11/104) degli animali testati. L'analisi di sequenza ha evidenziato per nove sequenze un’elevata identità nucleotidica (nt) (88-96%) con i ceppi GIII.2-like, mentre per due è stata rilevata la maggiore identità (87-90% nt) con i BoNoV GIII.1-like. Per sette ceppi è stata ottenuta anche una sequenza di circa 750 bp che includeva oltre che la regione parziale della RdRp, la regione 5’ capsidica. Sulla base dell’analisi molecolare, cinque ceppi sono risultati strettamente correlati con BoNoV GIII.2-like, mentre solo uno dei due ceppi con polimerasi GIII.1-like, ha mostrato la maggiore identità nucleotidica nei confronti di BoNoV appartenenti al genotipo 1. Il ceppo 80/TE/IT che possedeva una polimerasi GIII.1-like, a livello capsidico ha mostrato la più alta identità con ceppi GIII.2-like, suggerendo un fenomeno di ricombinazione a livello della giunzione ORF1/ORF2