Terrestrial Rabies and Human Postexposure Prophylaxis, New York, USA

During 1993–2002, cats accounted for 2.7% of rabid terrestrial animals in New York but for one third of human exposure incidents and treatments. Nonbite exposures and animals of undetermined rabies status accounted for 54% and 56%, respectively, of persons receiving rabies treatments

Effect of surface morphologies and chemistry of paper on deposited collagen

Paper-based platforms for biological studies have received significant attention given that cellulose is ubiquitous, biocompatible, and can be readily organized into tunable fibrous structures. In the latter form, effect of complexity in surface morphologies (roughness, porosity and fiber organization) on cell-substrate interaction has not been thoroughly explored. We infer that altering the properties of a fibrous material should lead to significant changes in cellular microenvironment and direct the deposition of structurally analogous extracellular matrix (fiber-fiber templating) like collagen. Here, we elucidate the effect of varying paper roughness and surface chemistry on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts via organization of excreted collagen. Collagen intensity was found to increase linearly with paper porosity, indicating a 3D culture platform. The intensity, however, decays over time due to biodegradation of the substrate. Stability can be improved by introducing fluorinated alkyl silanes to yield hydrophobic paper. This process concomitantly transforms the substrate to a 2D-like scaffold where collagen is predominantly assembled on the surface, thus changing the cellular microenvironment. Altering surface energy also led to fluctuations in collagen intensity and organization over time for smooth (calendered) paper substrates. We infer that the increased roughness improves collagen adsorption through capillary driven petal effect. In general, the influence of the substrate simultaneously affects its ability to host collagen and guide orientation. These findings offer insights into the effects of secondary structures and chemistry of fibrous polymeric materials on cell culture, which we propose as vital parameters when using paper-based platforms

Investigating the genetic association between ERAP1 and ankylosing spondylitis

A strong association between ERAP1 and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was recently identified by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium and the Australo-Anglo-American Spondylitis Consortium (WTCCC-TASC) study. ERAP1 is highly polymorphic with strong linkage disequilibrium evident across the gene. We therefore conducted a series of experiments to try to identify the primary genetic association(s) with ERAP1. We replicated the original associations in an independent set of 730 patients and 1021 controls, resequenced ERAP1 to define the full extent of coding polymorphisms and tested all variants in additional association studies. The genetic association with ERAP1 was independently confirmed; the strongest association was with rs30187 in the replication set (P = 3.4 × 10−3). When the data were combined with the original WTCCC-TASC study the strongest association was with rs27044 (P = 1.1 × 10−9). We identified 33 sequence polymorphisms in ERAP1, including three novel and eight known non-synonymous polymorphisms. We report several new associations between AS and polymorphisms distributed across ERAP1 from the extended case–control study, the most significant of which was with rs27434 (P = 4.7 × 10−7). Regression analysis failed to identify a primary association clearly; we therefore used data from HapMap to impute genotypes for an additional 205 non-coding SNPs located within and adjacent to ERAP1. A number of highly significant associations (P < 5 × 10−9) were identified in regulatory sequences which are good candidates for causing susceptibility to AS, possibly by regulating ERAP1 expression

Public Health Impact of Reemergence of Rabies, New York

This report summarizes the spread of a raccoon rabies epizootic into New York in the 1990s, the species of animals affected, and human postexposure treatments (PET). A total of 57,008 specimens were submitted to the state laboratory from 1993 to 1998; 8,858 (16%) animals were confirmed rabid, with raccoons the most common species (75%). After exposure to 11,769 animals, 18,238 (45%) persons received PET, mostly because of contact with saliva or nervous tissue. We analyzed expenditure reports to estimate the cost of rabies prevention activities. An estimated $13.9 million was spent in New York State to prevent rabies from 1993 to 1998. Traditional prevention methods such as vaccinating pets, avoiding wildlife, and verifying an animal’s rabies status must be continued to reduce costly PET. To reduce rabid animals, exposures, and costs, oral vaccination of wildlife should also be considered

Potential cost savings with terrestrial rabies control

BACKGROUND: The cost-benefit of raccoon rabies control strategies such as oral rabies vaccination (ORV) are under evaluation. As an initial quantification of the potential cost savings for a control program, the collection of selected rabies cost data was pilot tested for five counties in New York State (NYS) in a three-year period. METHODS: Rabies costs reported to NYS from the study counties were computerized and linked to a human rabies exposure database. Consolidated costs by county and year were averaged and compared. RESULTS: Reported rabies-associated costs for all rabies variants totalled $2.1 million, for human rabies postexposure prophylaxes (PEP) (90.9$784,529). Average costs associated with the raccoon variant varied across counties from $440 to$1,885 per PEP, $14 to$44 per specimen, and $0.33 to$15 per pet vaccinated. CONCLUSION: Rabies costs vary widely by county in New York State, and were associated with human population size and methods used by counties to estimate costs. Rabies cost variability must be considered in developing estimates of possible ORV-related cost savings. Costs of PEPs and specimen preparation/shipments, as well as the costs of pet vaccination provided by this study may be valuable for development of more realistic scenarios in economic modelling of ORV costs versus benefits

The effect of cross-listing on insider trading returns

Holding privileged positions within firms, insiders can acquire excessive private benefits based on their informational advantage. The bonding hypothesis suggests that this can be prevented when a firm is cross-listed on an exchange with higher regulatory and legal costs compared with its home exchange. When cross-listed insiders buy and sell shares, the returns earned are lower than in domestic firms. This difference is attributable to the increased shareholder protection in cross-listed firms that constrains the extraction of private benefits, such that when cross-listed insiders trade, they trade for non-informational reasons. 2011 The Authors. Accounting and Finance 2011 AFAANZ

Late Disclosure of Insider Trades: Who Does It and Why?

We attempt to understand the personal incentives that motivate corporate insiders to engage in unethical behavior such as delayed trade disclosure. Delayed disclosure affects corporate transparency and other shareholders in the firm potentially suffer investment losses because they are unaware of insiders\u27 activities. Using archival data from the 300 largest Australian firms between 2007 and 2011, the results show that risk factors such as insider age and tenure and wealth effects in the form of insider shareholdings affect the likelihood of delayed reporting. Governance positions such as committee membership mitigate this behavior. Our study highlights the importance of considering individual insider\u27s wealth and risk factors. The self-monitoring role of governance positions is also indicative of the effectiveness of internal corporate governance in the prevention of illegal insider behavior

The effect of voluntary versus mandatory adoption of trading policies on the returns to insider trades

An insider trading policy is a critical aspect of a firm\u27s internal governance which ensures the maintenance of corporate transparency. We examine the effect of trading policies on the returns to trades by corporate insiders over two periods: one where the adoption of a policy is voluntary and another where it is mandatory. In the former, we find that the requirement to notify the firm prior to trading does not result in lower trade returns on days outside the permitted trading windows. Where adoption of a policy is mandatory, trade returns made during the restricted windows are higher and the requirement to notify prior to trading significantly reduces these returns. The mandatory disclosure of a trading policy is effective in reducing returns from insider trading, suggesting improved investor confidence through greater transparency

Disclosure incentives, mandatory standards and firm communication in the IFRS adoption setting

We investigate the content, timing and relevance of firms\u27 narrative disclosure about the effects of IFRS adoption in annual statutory financial statements and firm announcements to the stock exchange for 150 large listed Australian firms in the three-year period surrounding adoption (which occurred from 1 January 2005). We observe communication about changes in financial reports, even when the change relates to accounting rather than economic events. We record more disclosure by firms experiencing an adverse change in earnings, consistent with them being sensitive to signals about future earnings. When economic performance is stronger, firms provide less discussion of the accounting effects of IFRS. We also find the discussion of IFRS impact in both disclosure channels is value-relevant for firms with relatively higher levels of disclosure, providing evidence of the usefulness of transition disclosures. The Author(s) 2013

Board Gender Diversity and Corporate Response to Sustainability Initiatives: Evidence from the Carbon Disclosure Project

This paper investigates the effect of female representation on the board of directors on corporate response to stakeholders\u27 demands for increased public reporting about climate change-related risks. We rely on the Carbon Disclosure Project as a sustainability initiative supported by institutional investors. Greenhouse gas emissions measurement and its disclosure to investors can be thought of as a first step toward addressing climate change issues and reducing the firm\u27s carbon footprint. Based on a sample of publicly listed Canadian firms over the period 2008-2014, we find that the likelihood of voluntary climate change disclosure increases with women percentage on boards. We also find evidence that supports critical mass theory with regard to board gender diversity. These findings reinfo rce initiatives being undertaken around the world to promote gender diversity in corporate governance while demonstrating board effectiveness in stakeholder management