Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Les comités spécialisés des entreprises françaises cotées : mécanismes de gouvernance ou simples dispositifs esthétiques ?

The formation of monitoring committees (e.g. audit, compensation, and selection) within boards of directors is one of the recommendations Anglo-Saxon institutional investors have brought to France. We question, however, the potential for such committees to meet the expectations of those investors. The empirical study conducted on a sample of 120 listed firms indicates that, in the French context, the formation of monitoring committees can only partly be interpreted in terms of a device aimed at reducing agency costs.
Help-seeking among Male Farmers: Connecting Masculinities and Mental Health

In many ways, male farmers can be considered to be a vulnerable group in relation to mental health, experiencing high rates of suicide, psychological distress and low use of health services. This study highlights important connections between rurality, farming and masculinities in the context of men's mental health. In-depth interviews with 32 male farmers from Quebec, Canada were completed focusing on stress and coping strategies. Findings include informal and formal strategies. Many participants had previous positive experience of formal help and would be willing to use such help again and to recommend it to others in need. Those without such experience are sceptical about services but recognise the courage it requires to seek help. Pride and lack of knowledge about services are the main barriers to help-seeking, but it can be legitimated in certain contexts, such as divorce or other psychosocial crisis, and by alignment with particular male ideals. Role models at national or local levels can also help farmers prioritise their own and their family's wellbeing over stigmas and rigid, traditional masculine ideals. Furthermore, gender-based strengths and recommendations for practice are also discussed.
Relational Aspects of Computer-Mediated Communication: Experimental Observations over Time

Previous research on the interpersonal effects of computer-mediated communication (CMC) reveals inconsistencies. In some cases CMC has been found to be impersonal, task-oriented, and hostile. Other reports show warm personal relations, and still others show gradual adjustments in interpersonal relations over time. The past research results are also difficult to compare, as their research methods reveal inconsistent approaches. These inconsistencies include the treatment of time limits on group development, the neglect of nonverbal behavior in face-to-face, comparison groups, and other measurement issues. Each of these factors may obscure our understanding of the way CMC partners get to know and come to relate to each other through CMC. The present study attempts to address some of these concerns. This study explored the effects of computer conferencing on the interpersonal messages with which people define their relationships, known as relational communication. Observers rated the relational communication from transcripts of CMC conversations or from videotapes of face-to-face three-person groups who had worked in several sessions. Analyses showed that CMC groups achieved more positive levels on several dimensions of interpersonal communication than did face-to-face groups. On other dimensions, no differences between conditions were found. In no case did CMC groups express less intimacy or more task-orientation than face-to-face groups. Implications are drawn suggesting that under certain conditions, CMC may promote positive relational effects in ways that previous theories have not considered, and in some ways superior to more traditional media.
Coordinating initiation and response in computer-mediated communication

Communication interruptions make work sociable and interesting, and they support flexibility and knowledge transfer in the workplace. However, interruptions also delay task completion and degrade performance, with negative consequences for organizational effectiveness. When communication is technologically mediated, how can we maintain connectivity while reducing the potential disruption associated with informal interaction? This thesis examines factors influencing the decision to initiate and respond to communication, and the impacts of communication interactions on both sender and receiver. This thesis advances previous work by considering factors that influence both members of a communication pair. Using a set of laboratory studies, the work presented explores the ways in which awareness displays—i.e., displays that make visible the task constraints of both senders and receivers—affect communication timing. Results indicate that such displays are useful for coordinating communication only when the sender and the receiver have a common social identity and joint incentives. Finally, communication decision-making is examined in the context of the most commonly used form of computer-mediated communication to date: email. The contribution to human-computer interaction is an increased understanding of attention to workplace communication, as well as a set of practical guidelines for the design of electronic communication systems. The results also have relevance in the fields of information systems and organizational communication.
The Impact of Worry on Attention to Threat

Prior research has often linked anxiety to attentional vigilance for threat using the dot probe task, which presents probes in spatial locations that were or were not preceded by a putative threat stimulus. The present study investigated the impact of worry on threat vigilance by administering this task during a worry condition and during a mental arithmetic control condition to 56 undergraduate students scoring in the low normal range on a measure of chronic worry. The worry induction was associated with faster responses than arithmetic to probes in the attended location following threat words, indicating the combined influence of worry and threat in facilitating attention. Within the worry condition, responses to probes in the attended location were faster for trials containing threat words than for trials with only neutral words, whereas the converse pattern was observed for responses to probes in the unattended location. This connection between worry states and attentional capture by threat may be central to understanding the impact of hypervigilance on information processing in anxiety and its disorders.
Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection: a national epidemiological survey of Chinese Han population.

OBJECTIVE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a high morbidity disease in China. The aim of this study was to explore the latest distribution of HCV genotypes in China, mainly focusing on epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of HCV genotype 1 in Chinese Han population. PATIENTS AND METHODS 793 HCV-positive patients were enrolled from 21 hospitals across China. The association of epidemiological data with HCV genotype 1 and the potential risk factors was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The HCV genotype 1b was detected in 66.9% of 793 patients. The way of infection, disease course, HCV RNA level, history of blood transfusion and smoking were found to be significantly different between patients infected with HCV genotype 1 and non-genotype 1. The result of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that HCV genotype 1 infection has a close relationship with age, gender, smoking history, the way of infection, allergy, disease course, and HCV RNA level. Moreover, the HCV RNA level, disease course, and blood transfusion history were the related risk factors for infection of HCV genotype 1 as demonstrated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS The HCV genotype 1 was still the main genotype of HCV infection in China. We should intensify HCV screening for those people who aged over 50 years and had a history of blood transfusion in China. The treatment of genotype 1 should be paid more attention in antiviral of HCV.
Ethnicity and Cultural Issues

This special journal issue was devised to solicit original manuscripts on current research findings, review studies, or conceptual papers pertaining to clinical or community level interventions, innovative treatment approaches, and discussions of cross-cultural issues pertinent to reducing ethnic disparities while improving care provided to patients with depression. Envisioning a collection of quality studies that encompassed a range of diverse topics reflecting the complexity of this issue, we broadly sought papers on areas including, but not limited to health beliefs, stigma, the care-seeking process, genetics and pharmacodynamics, financial barriers or other access problems, informal sources of care, healthcare reform and policy implications for mental health parity, the contribution and burden of medical comorbidities and care coordination, therapeutic alliance and cultural views of clinical power dynamics, unique issues regarding age, gender, and religious or sexual orientation, treatment retention and medication adherence, familial or social dynamics, specific treatment modalities, and special concerns of community patients and large insured populations alike.
Modelling the Effects of Firm-Specific and Environmental Characteristics on Export Marketing Performance

Abstract This study examines potential influences of marketing mix strategy and export marketing performance at the individual product-market level. Data were gathered via a mail survey of exporters in a developing country. The results indicate that firm characteristics, product characteristics and environment characteristics (macro and micro) influence both export marketing mix strategy and export marketing performance. The results also indicate that marketing mix strategy has a significant influence on export marketing performance (economic and perceptual).
Mechanism of human lymphotoxin and tumor necrosis factor induced destruction of cells in vitro: Phospholipase activation and deacylation of specific‐membrane phospholipids

The role of phospholipase (PLase) activation and lipid metabolism in lymphotoxin (LT)‐ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐mediated destruction of murine L929 cells was examined. At the levels of LT and TNF employed, cell destruction began at 4–6 h and was 99% complete by 30 h. Cell membrane phospholipids (PL), labelled in situ at the C2 position with 14C arachidonic acid, were analyzed by two‐dimensional thin‐layer chromatography and quantiated over a 30 h time course after LT or TNF treatment. The ratio of radiolabel incorporation relative to the actual amount of each PL present was determined by inorganic phosphate analysis. Radiolabelled arachidonic acid, eicosanoids, and neutral lipids were released into the medium prior to the onset of cell death (4–6 h) and continued to accumulate linearly throughout the destructive reaction. There was a quantitative relationship between the appearance of radiolabelled metabolites in the media and the loss of radiolabelled cellular PL. Cellular phosphatidylethanola‐mine was the primary PL deacylated by PLase action, showing a 75% reduction in radiolabel. The PLase inhibitors—quinacrine, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, and indomethacin—were potent inhibitors of LT‐ and TNF‐mediated cell destruction, suggesting that selective deacylation of specific membrane PL by PLase activation is an important step in the events that lead to LT‐ and TNF‐mediated cellular destruction in vitro.
Balloon pulmonary angioplasty for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

A 43-year-old female had been diagnosed as having chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) two years previously with pulmonary artery (PA) thrombus detected by computed tomography (CT) (Fig. 1) and precapillary pulmonary hypertension (mean PA pressure [mPAP] 56 mm Hg, cardiac ouput [CO] 6.03 L/min, PA wedge pressure 8 mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR] 7.96 Wood units) by right heart catheterisation (RHC). She was referred to the cardiac surgeon and was not qualified for pulmonary endarterectomy. The patient was treated with sildenafil (off-label) for one year with no improvement. She was admitted to our institution in July 2013 presenting symptoms of class III NYHA heart failure. Echocardiography revealed the progression of right ventricular failure (Fig. 2). Selective pulmonary arteriography confirmed distal localisation of thrombi in segmental arteries of left lower lobe (Fig. 3). Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) of two segmental arteries was performed, resulting in an improvement in control angiography (Fig. 4). The next BPA of another two segmental arteries was performed after three months. There were no complications during or after the procedures. Subsequent RHC confirmed an improvement (mPAP 33 mm Hg , CO 4.88 L/min, PVR 4.50 Wood units). The patient presented clinical recovery and symptoms of class II NYHA. Pulmonary endarterectomy is the only potentially curative treatment for CTEPH. The prognosis of CTEPH has been reported to be poor when mPAP is > 30 mm Hg. BPA seems to be a promising strategy for inoperable CTEPH. Reperfusion pulmonary injury is the major complication after BPA. To reduce the size of the area of this complication, it is recommended not to dilate > two vessels at the initial BPA and to perform it in a staged fashion over several separate procedures.
Short-term clinical performance of zirconia single crowns with different framework designs: 3-year clinical trial.

PURPOSE The present prospective clinical study evaluated the influence of coping design on the fracture resistance of CAD/CAM zirconia single crowns layered with dedicated ceramics. METHODS 56 subjects were provided with 90 zirconia single crowns in posterior regions. Tooth preparations were standardized and the abutment teeth were randomly distributed into three groups, according to three different coping designs (flat design, FD; porcelain-fused-to-metal-like crowns, PFM; anatomically-guided, AG). The zirconia cores were produced using a CAD/CAM software and then were hand-layered with dedicated ceramics. All crowns were cemented with a self-adhesive resin luting agent and the patients were recalled for follow-up visits after 1 month, 6 months, 1, 2 and 3 years of clinical service. The function, esthetics and marginal adaptation of the restorations were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate survival and success of the restorations. RESULTS Success rates of 100% were reported in Group 2 and Group 3 while the percentage was 80% in Group 1. Three chippings were noticed in Group 1 (FD) and two crowns needed to be replaced after 3 years, resulting in a survival rate of 93.3%. Group 2 and Group 3 had significantly higher 3-year success rates than Group 1 (P < 0.05). Based on the present clinical results, the following conclusions were drawn: the porcelain-fused-to-metal-like and the anatomically-guided frameworks for zirconia single crowns performed better clinically than the flat designed cores in posterior regions after 3 years; standardized tooth preparations achieved even thicknesses of the bilayered restorations; the proper support given to the veneering ceramic by the correct design of the zirconia framework could significantly reduce the risk of chipping during function.
Rethinking Academic Literacy for Educators: Towards a Relevant Pedagogy.

Even though South African institutions of higher learning have an open door policy and all students across racial lines can study anywhere they like, very few currently stand a chance of achieving their goals of further education and professional careers. Drawing on research findings, it seems to me that as teacher educators we are faced with a challenge to undo school classroom practices that evolved in western education systems to reward the elite and marginalise the majority. I intend to demonstrate ways in which the Faculty of Education at the University of the Witwatersrand designed a course and implemented strategies to redress this educational inequality. I used Grounded Theory as the research methodology and documentary evidence (in the form of module content) as the research instrument. By means of the research findings, I illustrate the value in focusing squarely on teaching all students in a class to read and write the texts expected of their level and area of study, as part of everyday teaching practice. Research findings indicate that genre pedagogy has the potential to facilitate epistemological access relevant to student teachers.
Sampling in dynamic data streams and applications

A dynamic geometric data stream is a sequence of m Add/Remove operations of points from a discrete geometric space (1,.,Δ)d [21]. Add(p) inserts a point p from (1,.,Δ)d into the current point set, Remove(p) deletes p from P. We develop low-storage data structures to (i) maintain ε-approximations of range spaces of P with constant VC-dimension and (ii) maintain an ε-approximation of the weight of the Euclidean minimum spanning tree of P. Our data structures use O(log3ε • log3(1/ε) • log(1/ε)/ε2) and O(log (1/δ) • (log Δ/ε)O(d)) bits of memory, respectively (we assume that the dimension d is a constant), and they are correct with probability 1-δ. These results are based on a new data structure that maintains a set of elements chosen (almost) uniformly at random from P.
Service Quality with Satisfaction and Loyalty in the Airline Industry

Abstract In a fiercely competitive air travel marketplace, many airlines today focus on delivering quality services with the aim of achieving competitive advantage. While there are many studies investigating service delivery more generally, few have focused on service delivery in the airline industry in particular, and fewer still on airline service provision in the emerging air travel markets of Asia. The aim of this study was to assess service quality in the airline industry with a focus on a major international airline in the Asian region. A total of 181 questionnaires were completed by passengers who had travelled with the airline during a 12-month period. The findings highlight that the quality of service provided has a positive impact on both customer satisfaction levels and behavioural intentions. The study provides valuable implications for the airline industry given the severe competition characterising air travel in the early 21st century.
"Motor oblique effect": perceptual direction discrimination and pointing to memorized visual targets share the same preference for cardinal orientations.

In previous studies we observed a pattern of systematic directional errors when humans pointed to memorized visual target locations in two-dimensional (2-D) space. This directional error was also observed in the initial direction of slow movements toward visual targets or movements to kinesthetically defined targets in 2-D space. In this study we used a perceptual experiment where subjects decide whether an arrow points in the direction of a visual target in 2-D space and observed a systematic distortion in direction discrimination known as the "oblique effect. " More specifically, direction discrimination was better for cardinal directions than for oblique. We then used an equivalent measure of direction discrimination in a task where subjects pointed to memorized visual target locations and showed the presence of a motor oblique effect. We finally modeled the oblique effect in the perceptual and motor task using a quadratic function. The model successfully predicted the observed direction discrimination differences in both tasks and, furthermore, the parameter of the model that was related to the shape of the function was not different between the motor and the perceptual tasks. We conclude that a similarly distorted representation of target direction is present for memorized pointing movements and perceptual direction discrimination.
Caught between the Cartographic and the Ethnographic Imagination: The Whereabouts of Amateurs, Professionals, and Nature in Knowing Biodiversity

In this paper we document current research into new forms of public engagement presently taking place in UK biodiversity policy. This involves locating the main participants in such patterns of engagement; namely nature, amateur naturalists, and professional biologists and conservationists. Two interwoven and mutually interdependent perspectives or ‘imaginaries’—the ‘cartographic’ and the ‘ethnographic’—are presented in the paper to explore the shaping and interpretation of such new forms of engagement. However, in this context the interest lies in the ways in which either perspective is foregrounded or backgrounded by the different parties involved. The described shifts and movements of a range of actors and processes being studied demonstrate the fluidity and instability of networks of ‘knowing nature well’, whose stability is often assumed. The tracing of two constants— expertise and exchange—within networks inhabited by nature and by amateur and professional naturalists allows for an exploration of ways in which social/natural inclusions and exclusions occur in new participatory practices designed as part of biodiversity action planning.
Efficacy and safety of laparo-endoscopic resections of colorectal neoplasia: A systematic review

Objective The purpose of this review is to assess the efficacy and safety of laparo-endoscopic local resections for colorectal lesions not suitable for endoscopic resection. Summary background data The combined laparo-endoscopic approach has been proposed for large colorectal lesions unsuitable for endoscopic resection, in order to reduce morbidity of common laparoscopic resection. However, data on the efficacy and safety of laparo-endoscopic local resections are still controversial. Methods An Embase search of papers published during the period 1985–2014 was performed. Published studies that evaluated laparo-endoscopic resections for colorectal lesions were assessed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) recommendations by two authors. Forest plots on primary (per-lesion rate of further surgery, including surgery for complications and surgery for oncologic radical treatment) and secondary outcomes were produced based on fixed and random effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Risk for within-study bias was ascertained with QUADAS (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) system. Results A total of 11 studies provided data on 707 lesions treated with a combined laparo-endoscopic approach. A variety of techniques were reported. The overall per-lesion rate of further surgery was 9.5%, while per-lesion rate of further surgery for oncologic treatment was 7.9%, per-lesion rate of further surgery for complications treatment was 3.5%, incidence of adenocarcinoma was 10.5%, incidence of overall complications was 7.9%, incidence of conversion to open surgery 4.3% and incidence of recurrence was 5.4%. Conclusions Despite laparo-endoscopic approach ensures limited invasiveness, it is affected by a consistent rate of complications and oncologic inadequacy that often requires further surgical treatment.