Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Regulation of Hepatic Fibrosis, an Integrated Cellular Response to Tissue Injury*

Background, Disease Context of Hepatic Fibrosis Chronic injury leading to fibrosis in liver occurs in response to a variety of insults, including viral hepatitis (especially hepatitis B and C), alcohol abuse, drugs, metabolic diseases due to overload of iron or copper, autoimmune attack of hepatocytes or bile duct epithelium, or congenital abnormalities (1). Typically, injury is present for months to years before significant scar accumulates, although the time course may be accelerated in congenital liver disease. Liver fibrosis is reversible, whereas cirrhosis, the endstage consequence of fibrosis, is generally irreversible. Thus, efforts to understand fibrosis focus primarily on events that lead to the early accumulation of scar in hopes of identifying therapeutic targets to slow its progression. Like other parenchyma, the normal liver contains an epithelial component (hepatocytes), an endothelial lining (which in liver is distinguished by fenestrae or pores), tissue macrophages (Kupffer cells), and a perivascular mesenchymal cell called the stellate cell (previously called Ito cell, lipocyte, perisinusoidal cell, or fat-storing cell) (Fig. 1); stellate cells are the key fibrogenic cell (see next section). The cellular elements of liver are organized within the sinusoid, or microvascular unit, with the subendothelial space of Disse separating the epithelium (hepatocytes) from the sinusoidal endothelium. In normal liver this space contains a basement membrane-like matrix, although it is not electron-dense like a typical basement membrane. The normal subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential for maintaining the differentiated function of all resident liver cells. Establishing the importance of the normal ECM in liver has illuminated recent attempts to develop artificial liver support by recognizing that all cellular elements and supporting structures (not just the hepatocyte compartment) must be reconstituted to preserve differentiated function of liver ex vivo (2). As the liver becomes fibrotic, there are both quantitative and qualitative changes in composition of the hepatic ECM. The total content of collagens and noncollagenous components increases 3–5fold, accompanied by the shift in the type of ECM in subendothelial space from the normal low density basement membrane-like matrix to interstitial type matrix containing fibril-forming collagens.
The Challenges of Accounting Education: The Nigerian Experience

The paper reviewed the development of accounting education in Nigeria and the challenges confronting it. It critically examined the state of the profession and the dynamics that will help to build implicit confidence in the Accountant, mould his character and develop analytical mindset which will assist him to provide high standard of professional services. The objective of the paper is to identify the factors that have hindered the adequate and rapid development of accounting profession in Nigeria. These factors were highlighted under the section of challenges facing accounting education in Nigeria. Also the need for accounting education was examined and recommendations were made. It concluded that there is urgent need for effective training and retraining of practicing Accountants, for adequate provision of funds for the education sector and regular review of accounting curriculum to capture modern trends in Accountancy.
A reevaluation of the symptom of morning stiffness.

OBJECTIVE To study, both qualitatively and quantitatively, morning stiffness in consecutive patients attending a rheumatology clinic. METHODS A detailed interview from 93 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 46 patients with noninflammatory joint disease. RESULTS Occurrence, duration and severity of morning stiffness were similar in both groups, as was its detailed qualitative description. Patients with RA with active disease had higher severity scores of morning stiffness than those with inactive disease. CONCLUSION Morning stiffness is a poor discriminator between RA and noninflammatory joint disease. Its assessment by a severity score is better than one based on duration.
Majority Ownership and Enterprise Value: Free Cash Flow Hypothesis Testing

This study examined the free cash flow hypothesis. The manager, with the authority which is granted by the enterprise owners, can make use of the internal funds in the enterprise to make investment less profitable for the shareholders so that the enterprise owners need some oversight on policies made by the managers in this regard. This study then examined and analyzed the influence of operating cash flow on enterprise investments and debt which had impact on the increase or decrease of enterprise value. The study employed majority ownership as the moderating variable for the correlation between (1) operating cash flow and investments as well as (2) the correlation between operating cash flow with debt. The sample of this study comprised 94 manufacturing enterprises which were selected based on certain research criteria during the period of 2000 to 2013. This study also used three simultaneous equations. Also, the regression analysis technique used was the three-stage least squared (3-SLS). These results indicated that the presence of majority ownership in the enterprise could act as a control mechanism to evaluate the decisions made by the enterprise management that would enhance enterprise value. Keywords : free cash flow hypothesis, operating cash flow, investment, debt, enterprise value, majority ownership.
The Geography of Shareholder Engagement: Evidence from a Large British Institutional Investor

We study the global corporate engagement activities of a large UK-based asset manager from 2006 to 2011. Using proprietary data on these activities, we find that corporate engagements “behind-the-scenes” are frequently used to change corporate behavior. We show that geography is an important determinant for the occurrence of such engagements: UK firms receive significantly more engagements than their foreign counterparts. This finding gives rise to a “home bias” in corporate engagement. We also document that the extent of successful corporate engagements is significantly higher for U.S. firms than for domestic, UK firms.
Opposite actions of hypothalamic vasopressin on circadian corticosterone rhythm in nocturnal versus diurnal species

Relatively little is known about the function of the biological clock and its efferent pathways in diurnal species, despite the fact that its major transmitters and neuronal connections are also conserved in humans. The mammalian biological clock is located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). Several lines of evidence suggest that the activity cycle of the SCN itself is similar in nocturnal and diurnal mammals. Previously, we showed that, in the rat, vasopressin (VP) derived from the SCN has a strong inhibitory effect on the release of adrenal corticosterone and is an important component in the generation of a daily rhythm in plasma corticosterone concentrations. In the present study we investigated the role of VP in the control of the daily corticosterone rhythm in a diurnal rodent, i.e. Arvicanthis ansorgei. Contrary to our previous (rat) results, VP administered to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in A. ansorgei had a stimulatory effect on the release of corticosterone. Moreover, both the morning and evening rise in corticosterone were blocked by the administration of a VP receptor antagonist. These results show that with regard to the circadian control of the corticosterone rhythm in diurnal and nocturnal rodents, temporal information is carried along the same pathway from the SCN to its target areas, but the response of the target area may be quite different. We propose that the reversed response to VP is due to a change in the phenotype of the target neurons that are contacted by the SCN efferents, i.e. glutamatergic instead of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic.
ANALYSIS OF AUDIT EXPECTATION GAP BETWEEN USERS OF AUDIT REPORTS AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS ABOUT THE FEATURES OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

IDifferences between what users expect from the auditor and what the auditor actually provides is often called the ‘audit expectation gap’. The study tries to identify the gaps between users of audit reports and independent auditors about the features of independent auditors and offer a solution to reduce it. For this purpose, intended features of independent auditors will play the role of component for developed hypotheses. This research was performed through distributing questionnaire among the independent auditors and users (stockholders and managers). In addition, Kruskal-Wallis test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc test were used to test hypotheses. The results of the study indicate that there is a significant different between users of audit reports and independent auditors about the features of independent auditors. Key words: Expectations Gap, Features Auditors, Independent Auditors, Audit Reports Users.
The Balance Between the Transmitted and the Perceived Image of Luxury Fragrance Brands

The luxury market has experienced considerable growth over recent years, being one of the sectors that have been the most resistant to the current economic recession. Selective fragrances make up one of the primary categories of the so-called accessible luxury consumed by a middle class that is seeking to approach the upper classes by copying their lifestyle. Despite the importance of this market, there is relatively little literature existing in regards to the study of the image of luxury brands due to the complexity of the luxury phenomenon. This article presents the results of an initial qualitative study conducted on focus groups of luxury fragrance consumers, making it possible to identify the types of attributes to be considered when studying the brand image of said luxury products. Subsequently, a quantitative study was conducted in order to determine the perceived image of the principle luxury fragrance brands by consumers. Thanks to this study, it has been possible to determine the typical profile of each of the analyzed brands so that a subsequent comparison may be made with the advertising created by said brands in order to verify whether or not the image projected in their advertising corresponds with the perceived image of their target audience.
Size, scatter and coverage of ganglion cell receptive field centres in the cat retina.

1. Receptive field centre sizes of brisk‐sustained (X) and brisk‐transient (Y) ganglion cells of the cat retina were assessed by three different methods: small spot mapping, area threshold method and spatial resolution. 2. Centre sizes of brisk‐sustained (X) cells increased from 20' in the central area to about 70' at an eccentricity of 4.5 mm, centre sizes of brisk‐transient (Y) cells from 50' in the central area to about 140' at 5 mm eccentricity. 3. The scatter of centre sizes at one retinal location was measured by recording as many ganglion cells as possible in one cat in a small field of retina. The centre sizes of the individual classes were homogeneous and exhibited only a small amount of scatter. 4. The coverage of the retina by the different ganglion cell classes was assessed from their density and their receptive field centre area. At every retinal location the receptive field centres of seven to twenty brisk‐sustained (X) cells and of three to six brisk‐transient (Y) cells were found to overlap. Sluggish concentric and non‐concentric cells taken together have a coverage factor of about 60.
Elevated levels of IgM and IgA antibodies to Proteus mirabilis and IgM antibodies to Escherichia coli are associated with early rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Antibodies to Proteus mirabilis were previously detected in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined the prevalence of antibodies to P. mirabilis and their associations with RA in early synovitis patients. METHODS Two hundred and forty-six patients with inflammatory arthritis for less than 1 yr were prospectively evaluated for 1 yr. Of these patients, 30% had rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive RA, 16% RF-negative RA, 17% a spondyloarthropathy and 37% undifferentiated arthritis. Serum antibodies to P. mirabilis, Escherichia coli and other potentially arthritogenic organisms (Chlamydia, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia and parvovirus B19) and for antibodies specific for immunoglobulin (Ig) G damaged with advanced glycation end-products (anti-IgG-AGE) were measured. RESULTS IgM and IgA anti-Proteus antibodies were significantly higher in patients with RF-positive RA compared with all other patient groups (P < 0.0005 and P < 0.005). Anti-P. mirabilis IgG, and IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to other potentially arthritogenic pathogens did not differ in the patient groups. IgM antibodies to E. coli were elevated in RF-positive RA patients. Anti-P. mirabilis IgM and IgA results were not explained by false-positive reactions, because after absorption of RF there was no decrease in antibodies to Proteus in 10 of 12 patients. Proteus and E. coli antibodies were highest in patients positive for both RF and anti-IgG-AGE antibodies (P<0.001). Patients with erosions tended to have higher IgA anti-Proteus titres, but no association with the shared HLA epitope or treatment was detected. CONCLUSION Anti-P. mirabilis IgM and IgA and anti-E. coli IgM antibody elevations are associated with early seropositive RA and the presence of anti-IgG-AGE antibodies. The role that P. mirabilis or E. coli plays in early RF-positive RA requires further investigation.
Relations between daytime pre‐ejection period reactivity and sleep in late childhood

The sympathetic nervous system and children's sleep serve critical arousal regulation functions. Shortened pre‐ejection period, a reliable indirect index of greater sympathetic nervous system activity, has been associated with reduced sleep duration and quality in adults, but limited evidence exists in children regarding associations between pre‐ejection period and sleep. We examined relations between pre‐ejection period reactivity in response to a laboratory‐based stressor and multiple parameters of actigraphy‐based sleep duration and quality in children. The sample included 123 boys and 112 girls [mean age = 11.31 years, standard deviation (SD) = 0.63 years]. Controlling for body mass index, sex and pre‐ejection period baseline, increased sympathetic nervous system reactivity, indexed by a lower level of pre‐ejection period during the challenge than the baseline, was associated with worse sleep quality indicated by lower sleep efficiency, greater sleep activity and greater long wake episodes. The findings add to a small literature on relations between sympathetic nervous system functioning and children's sleep, suggesting that poor sleep quality is related to dysregulation of this stress response system.
Strategic decisions in supply‐chain intelligence using knowledge management: an analytic‐network‐process framework

Purpose – To investigate the linkage between organization performance criteria and the dimensions of agility, e‐supply‐chain drivers and knowledge management.Design/methodology/approach – The analytic network process is applied as the research methodology in the context of executive decisions that include qualitative and quantitative attributes. The decision model is presented, along with a case study with an e‐supply chain of a global telecommunications company.Findings – The study develops a framework for measuring the relative importance of a particular dimension based on the application of theoretical concepts from the information systems and management science literature to the digital, knowledge economy. Since contextual factors play a critical role in the design of effective knowledge‐management (KM) systems, technical and process solutions need to be customized to fit the organization performance criteria, dimensions of agility and supply chain drivers.Research limitations/implications – The model.
Online fashion shopping: mystery shopping-based evaluation of online German fashion stores

The purpose of this study is to evaluate online German fashion shopping websites from a customer perspective, based on a two-dimensional conceptual framework covering shopping experience and shopping quality. As the research methodology, an exploratory mystery shopping approach was used in order to compare online shops. The results were as follows. First, four categories of online shops were identified: heroes, marketing winners, process winners, and underperformers. Second, three main levers for improvement were elaborated: emotionality of websites, reducing complexity, and the introduction of an industry standard of payments. From these results, it is possible to analyze and benchmark websites and to adapt online marketing decisions as well as general management strategies for online fashion shopping companies. The study has originality and value as it is the first time that an evaluation of websites has combined the consumer's perspective before the purchase and its fulfillment (e.g. delivery) after the online purchase.
The role of participants’ competitiveness in consumers’ valuation for food products using experimental auctions

Th e aim of the paper is to assess the eff ect of the participants’ competitiveness on their valuation for food products. Specifi cally, to investigate the eff ect of the participants’ competitiveness on their bids in a non-hypothetical experimental auction. Th en, we designed an experimental auction to measure the consumers’ preferences for food products with two treatments. Both treatments had all the same designed characteristics except that in the second treatment, the participants who reported the highest levels of competitiveness were not allowed to participate in the auction. Th en, we could directly compare bids from the participants with two diff erent levels of competitiveness (higher competitiveness and lower competitiveness). Because the bids from the two treatments were found statistically the same, we can conclude that the consumer’s valuation for food products using the non-hypothetical experimental auctions are independent on the level of the participants’ competitiveness.
Price Matching by Vertically Differentiated Retailers: Theory and Evidence

This research examines vertically differentiated retailers' incentives to offer price-matching guarantees. It suggests that offering and not offering a price-matching guarantee are both signals of a retailer's service-price profile, a way of branding the retailer to uninformed consumers. The signals are made credible and costless by the presence of informed consumers. The authors show that when the service differentiation is large enough, only low-service retailers offer price-matching guarantees. Data from a sample of Canadian retail chains support this prediction. In addition, larger retail chains are more likely to offer price-matching guarantees than smaller chains, and competition has an interactive effect with service. As the intensity of competition a chain faces increases, lower-service retailers are even more likely to use a guarantee, and higher-service retailers are less likely to do so, suggesting that price-matching guarantees are competitive tools, not collusive tools, as the literature has often implied.
A controlled single case study with repeated fMRI measurements during the treatment of a patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder: Testing the nonlinear dynamics approach to psychotherapy

There is increasing evidence that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with a dysfunction of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical neuronal circuits. In order to examine treatment-related changes in neuronal processes, a drug-naive female patient with OCD (subtype: washing/contamination fear) and an age- and gender-matched healthy control were repeatedly tested using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the presentation of a symptom provocation task. Patient-specific visual stimuli of symptom provoking situations were compared with disgust provoking and neutral pictures. FMRI scanning was conducted at the beginning, during and upon completion of an inpatient treatment. During the treatment period of more than eight weeks (combined behavioural and systemic couple therapy) the patient filled out a therapy process questionnaire (TPQ) which was administered daily. Results show a phase transition-like change characterized by a sudden reduction of clinical symptoms as assessed by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) in the middle of the treatment period. Before the discontinuous symptom reduction occurred, the dynamic complexity of the TPQ-time series increased which might be indicative for a critical instability of the system. The fMRI results at the beginning of the treatment suggest strong activities in various brain regions, especially in the anterior cingulate cortex. The results of the second and third acquisition revealed comparably smaller OCD-related neuronal responses. The results may indicate that important clinical changes are taking place during the psychotherapy process which correspond to changing patterns of brain activation as well as to critical instabilities and phase-transition like phenomena in the time-series of the patient's daily self-report data.
Customer Self-Efficacy and Response to Service

The customers’ role is significant in the delivery and consumption of many types of services. This study examines customers’ beliefs about their ability to participate in a service (service use self-efficacy) and its effect on response to service. A theoretical model is proposed that explains how self-efficacy affects customers’ perceptions of service value and complaint intentions (“voice”). These factors, in turn, predict exit intentions and positive word of mouth. The model is tested on a sample of 444 members of a group insurance plan. The results of a structural equation model confirm the hypothesized relationships. The findings suggest that service managers should take steps to increase customer service use self-efficacy, such as providing training with feedback, vicarious experiences (e.g., print or video portrayals of successful service experiences), verbal persuasion (e.g., “You can do this”-type coaching), and a low-stress environment. It is also important to develop varied opportunities for customer comments.
Determinants of Brand Equity of Services: A Verification Approach in the Banking Industry in Malaysia

This study attempts to verify the determinants of brand equity of services based on consumers’ perception of a banking service. The conceptual framework of this study is based on customer-based brand equity called the Brand Resonance model which comprises of six building blocks namely brand salience, brand performance, brand imagery, brand judgment, brand feelings and brand resonance. Factor analyses were conducted on all items measuring the six constructs and the results produced only five factors i.e brand salience, brand performance, brand judgments, brand feelings and brand resonance as the determinants of brand equity of services. Reliability test on all these factors produced satisfactory reliability coefficients. Correlation analysis was also conducted on the study variables and the results indicate that there are strong, positive and significant relationships between brand performance and brand judgment, and between brand performance and brand feelings. Strong, positive and significant relationships are also found between brand performance and brand resonance, between brand judgment and brand resonance as well as between brand feelings and brand resonance. Keywords: brand equity of services, consumers’ perception of a banking service, brand salience, brand performance, brand imagery, brand judgment, brand feelings and brand resonance