Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potentiation of radiation sensitivity in breast tumor cells by the vitamin D3 analogue, EB 1089, through promotion of autophagy and interference with proliferative recovery

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and vitamin D3 analogues, such as EB 1089, potentiate the response to ionizing radiation in breast tumor cells. The current studies address the basis for this interaction by evaluating DNA damage and repair, the effect of interference with reactive oxygen generation, the involvement of p53 and caspase-3, signaling through c-myc, as well as the induction of senescence and multiple modes of cell death. EB 1089 failed to increase the extent of radiation-induced DNA damage or to attenuate the rate of DNA repair. The reactive oxygen scavengers N-acetyl-l-cysteine and reduced glutathione failed to protect the cells from the promotion of cell death by EB 1089 and radiation. Whereas MCF-7 cells expressing caspase-3 showed significant apoptosis with radiation alone as well as with EB 1089 followed by radiation, EB 1089 maintained its ability to confer susceptibility to radiation-induced cell killing, in large part by interference with proliferative recovery. In contrast, in breast tumor cells lacking p53, where radiation promoted extensive apoptosis and the cells failed to recover after radiation treatment, EB 1089 failed to influence the effect of radiation. EB 1089 treatment interfered with radiation-induced suppression of c-myc; however, induction of c-myc did not prevent senescence by radiation alone or radiation-induced cell death promoted by EB 1089. EB 1089 did not increase the extent of micronucleation, indicative of mitotic catastrophe, induced by radiation alone. However, EB 1089 did promote extensive autophagic cell death in the irradiated cells. Taken together, these studies suggest that the effect of EB 1089 treatment on the radiation response is related in part to enhanced promotion of autophagic cell death and in part to interference with the proliferative recovery that occurs with radiation alone in p53 wild-type breast tumor cells. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(11):2786–97]
Licensing with Patent Competition

We consider licensing with a patent competition for a non-drastic process innovation among firms competing in a Cournot market. We study whether licensing improves social welfare, after taking rent dissipation into account. For licensing auction, welfare worsens for minor innovations and improves for major innovations. For royalty licensing, welfare does not change. Surprisingly, when the licensor may choose between licensing auction and royalty licensing, licensing fails to improve welfare in general.
Consumers' Need for Uniqueness: Scale Development and Validation

Consumers acquire and display material possessions for the purpose of feeling differentiated from other people and, thus, are targeted with a variety of marketing stimuli that attempt to enhance self-perceptions of uniqueness. Because the pursuit of differentness (or counterconformity motivation) varies across individuals to influence consumer responses, we develop and validate a trait measure of consumers' need for uniqueness. Consumers' need for uniqueness is defined as an individual's pursuit of differentness relative to others that is achieved through the acquisition, utilization, and disposition of consumer goods for the purpose of developing and enhancing one's personal and social identity. Following assessments of the scale's latent structure, a series of validation studies examines the scale's validity. The presentation of empirical work is followed by a discussion of how consumers' need for uniqueness could be used in better understanding consumer behavior and the role consumption plays in people's expression of identity. Copyright 2001 by the University of Chicago.
EGF-induced mitogenesis in proximal tubular cells: potentiation by angiotensin II.

The mitogenic effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the characteristics of EGF binding were studied on primary cultures of rabbit proximal tubular cells. EGF was found to be a potent mitogen and stimulated DNA synthesis 18-fold above the level observed in quiescent cells. Using 125I-EGF as a ligand, two classes of specific EGF receptors were identified on the proximal tubular cell in culture, i.e., a high-affinity receptor with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.3 nM and maximal binding (Bmax) of 1.7 X 10(4) receptors/cell and a low-affinity receptor with a Kd of 1.9 nM and Bmax of 5.3 X 10(4) receptors/cell. Because angiotensin II (ANG II) appeared to possess many properties common to growth factors, we also examined the interaction of ANG II and EGF on these cells. ANG II was not mitogenic, but it potentiated the mitogenic effect of EGF with a maximal effect at 10(-9) M. The dose-response curve of EGF-induced mitogenesis was shifted to the left in the presence of 10(-9) M ANG II, decreasing the approximate half-maximal stimulatory concentration from 3 X 10(-8) to 5 X 10(-9) M. ANG II also stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release, but inhibition of basal and ANG II-stimulated PGE2 synthesis had no effect on mitogenesis. ANG II had no effect on the binding of EGF to the high-affinity receptor from 1 to 20 h and did not alter receptor downregulation. ANG II (10(-9) M) had no effect on cell protein content, RNA and protein synthesis, Na+-H+ antiport, and intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. Higher concentrations of ANG II (5 X 10(-8) to 5 X 10(-6) M) led to a rapid and transient dose-dependent rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration. These studies demonstrate that ANG II potentiates EGF-induced mitogenesis at one or more postreceptor steps that may include small changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.
Vision effects in Thai retail stores: practical implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between vision attributes and content, and customer and staff satisfaction in Thai retail stores, taking into account vision realization factors of vision communication, organizational alignment, motivation of staff and empowerment of staff.Design/methodology/approach – Variables of vision attributes and content, vision communication, organizational alignment, motivation of staff and empowerment of staff were derived from the literature. Data were from store managers, staff and customers of 126 apparel stores in Bangkok. These variables were tested for significant relationships through regression analyses.Findings – Vision attributes is an indirect predictor of improved staff and customer satisfaction. Visions containing images about leadership were positively correlated with customer satisfaction. Motivation of staff is the only direct predictor of enhanced staff satisfaction, while vision, empowerment of staff, organizational alignment,.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF PAKISTANI MUTUAL FUNDS

Extensive research has evaluated mutual fund performance in different financial markets which led to mixed results (Soderlind et al., 2000; Korkeamaki and Smythe, 2004), however, limited work has been done to evaluate Pakistani mutual funds. The purpose of this study is to provide guidelines to the managers of open-ended Pakistani mutual funds and benefit small investors by pointing out the significant variables influencing the fund performance. An effort has been made to measure the fund performance by using Sharpe ratio with the help of pooled time-series and cross-sectional data and focusing on different fund attributes such as fund size, expenses, age, turnover, loads and liquidity. The quarterly sample data are collected for all the open-ended mutual funds listed on Mutual Fund Association of Pakistan (MUFAP), for the years 1999-2006. The results indicate that among various funds attributes lagged return, liquidity and 12B-1 had significant impact on fund performance.
Eliciting Health Insurance Benefit Choices of Low Income Groups

An appropriate scheme of health insurance must respond to clients' priorities, yet cover a finite and affordable benefit package. A variety of methods have been developed so far to engage the public in prioritising services. This paper deals with a plan that allows variably educated populations who are inexperienced with health insurance to pick health benefits. The decision exercise reported here enhances popular understanding (1) that even within a limited premium there is a choice of different package compositions; and (2) that the level of the premium determines the expectation of coverage by health insurance.
Breast‐conserving surgery after neoadjuvant anthracycline‐based chemotherapy for large breast tumors

Randomized trials comparing neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy show that primary chemotherapy allows more frequent breast‐preserving surgery even though no survival advantage has been demonstrated. The aim of the current study was to determine the predicting factors and the survival impact of breast conservation in patients with large breast tumors treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
COMPARISON OF SLAUGHTER VALUE IN PHARAOH QUAIL OF DIFFERENT AGES

The effect of age of Pharaoh quails on dressing percentage, carcass composition, and sensory and physicochemical properties of their meat was determined. Compared to 42-day-old birds, Pharaoh quail aged 33 days had lower body weight (169.1 vs 139.4 g), carcass weight (111.7 vs 88.8 g) and dressing percentage (66.1 vs 63.7%). The carcasses of 42-day-old birds contained more breast muscles (30.9%), leg muscles (18.3%), skin with subcutaneous fat (6.5%) and remainders of the carcass (31.0%) compared to birds at 33 days of age (30.8; 16.7; 6.2 and 30.0%, respectively). Older birds showed higher values of pH15, redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) and lower values of sensory meat properties except aroma intensity.
Maturation of Mismatch Negativity in School‐Age Children

Objective: Event‐related potentials were recorded to investigate the maturation of auditory processing in school‐age children. Design: The mismatch negativity (MMN) was obtained in an oddball tone discrimination paradigm in 66 school‐age children and 12 adults. In the children's data, a prominent negativity to both the standard and deviant tone, peaking around 200 msec, was observed, and compared with the N1 auditory evoked potential component. Results: The MMN was found to decrease with latency by 11 msec/yr from 4 to 10 yr of age. No developmental change in MMN amplitude was seen from 4 to 10 yr of age. However, the MMN amplitude was significantly smaller in adults than in children. The prominent negativity in children was significantly later than the adult N1 component, and did not change in latency from 4 to 10 yr of age. This finding adds to a body of evidence suggesting that this prominent negativity and the adult N1 are not the same component. The magnitude of the prominent negativity in children decreased slightly with age. Conclusion: Changes in the timing of the brain discriminative response, MMN, suggest systematic maturational changes in auditory processing.
Marketing, Business Processes, and Shareholder Value: An Organizationally Embedded View of Marketing Activities and the Discipline of Marketing

The authors develop a framework for understanding the integration of marketing with business processes and shareholder value. The framework redefines marketing phenomena as embedded in three core business processes that generate value for customers—product development management, supply chain management, and customer relationship management—which in turn creates shareholder value. Such a conceptualization of marketing has the potential to introduce dramatic shifts in the scope, content, and influence of marketing in the organization. The authors highlight the implications of an organizationally embedded view of marketing for the future of marketing theory and practice.
The Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway After Induction of General Anesthesia Versus Awake Fiberoptic Intubation in Patients with Difficult Airways

We performed the current study to compare tracheal intubation (TI) using awake fiberoptic intubation (AFOI) and TI using the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) in patients with difficult airway. Our hypothesis was that patients with difficult airways could be safely intubated after induction of anesthesia using the ILMA. After ethics approval and informed consent, 38 patients who were identified to have difficult airways were randomly assigned to AFOI or TI using the ILMA. Patients in the AFOI group had the usual sedation and airway topicalization. Patients in the ILMA group were induced with propofol for ILMA insertion and succinylcholine for TI. The first TI attempt was done blindly via the ILMA and all subsequent attempts were performed with fiberoptic guidance. All patients in the ILMA group were successfully ventilated. Successful TI was achieved in all patients in both groups. However, in 10% of the patients in the ILMA group, TI was achieved by a second anesthesiologist who was more experienced with the use of the ILMA. In a postoperative questionnaire, patients in the ILMA group were more satisfied with their method of TI (P < 0.01). The ILMA is a useful device in the management of patients with difficult airways and may be a valuable alternative to AFOI when AFOI is contraindicated or in the patient with the unanticipated difficult airway.
Breast Cancer Screening Practices and Related Health Beliefs among Taiwanese Nurses

Objective: Breast cancer is one of most common cancer types among women in Taiwan. Nurses are in an ideal position to promote breast cancer screening and educate individuals about breast health-related issues. This exploratory study aims to provide preliminary information on Taiwanese nurses' beliefs about breast cancer, breast cancer-related knowledge, and their cancer screening practices. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 96 nurses completed self-report questionnaires. Results: Participants were knowledgeable about the different breast cancer screening modalities and the risk factors for breast cancer, but various misconceptions about breast cancer were still observed. Nevertheless, more than 50% of participants reported that they never had clinical breast examinations, ultrasound, and/or mammography screening in the past. Conclusions: Our study sample demonstrated greater knowledge on modalities of breast cancer screening modalities and the risk factors for breast cancers but lower screening practices. Future studies that examine the impact of demographics and the reinforcing and inhibiting factors related to nurses' screening uptake are warranted.
Factors Determining Mobile Banking Adoption in Mauritius

This study aims at providing an insight on the factors influencing behavioural intention towards M-banking adoption in Mauritius. Five factors which influence customers’ behavioural intention in the adoption of mobile banking were identified from the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A self-administered questionnaire and an online survey platform were used for primary data collection. The findings of the study indicated that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived credibility, perceived self-efficacy, had a positive relationship on behavioural intention to adopt mobile banking services. Conversely, the perceived financial cost was the only factor found to be insignificant. The main limitation of the study is that it focuses on only five constructs influencing behavioural intention towards M-banking adoption. Since the field of M-banking is relatively an innovative and developing one, the integration and examination of additional constructs would provide a better understanding of M-banking acceptance. The results obtained from this study may help financial institutions to better craft their strategies to prompt potential customers in adopting mobile banking. In addition, the paper purports to contribute to the scarce literature on M-banking in Mauritius.
Family Businesses And Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Orientation: A Study Of Moroccan Family Firms

Several researchers have reported that family firms tend to show a CSR orientation in their activities which might increase their performance (Chrisman et al., 2005; O'Boyle et al., 2010). In Morocco, many studies have focused on the integration of CSR principles into businesses without highlighting the impact of family structure on the adoption of CSR. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether the family structure of Moroccan companies influences CSR adoption and how it affects financial performance. We used a framework combining stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory and stewardship theory and investigated the linkage between family structure, CSR orientation and financial performance. Our results show that family structure positively influences the CSR orientation of Moroccan family firms and thus enhances their financial performance. Although this trend is recent in Morocco, our exploratory research on CSR in Moroccan family firms is a first step toward establishing a model to explain this phenomenon in developing countries.
Alane-based classical and frustrated Lewis pairs in polymer synthesis: rapid polymerization of MMA and naturally renewable methylene butyrolactones into high-molecular-weight polymers.

The seminal works by the research groups of Stephan and Erker uncovered the concept of “frustrated lewis pairs” (FLPs) to describe pairs formed by a sterically encumbered borane Lewis acid (most commonly B(C6F5)3) and a base (e.g. (tBu)3P), in which these two components are sterically precluded from forming classical donor/acceptor adducts Instead, the unquenched, opposite reactivity of FLPs can carry out unusual reactions or reactions that were previously known to be possible only by transition-metal complexes, such as activation of H2, CO2, N2O, B H bonds, alkenes and alkynes, as well as catalytic hydrogenation. The direct use of FLPs in polymer synthesis and/or in polymerization catalysis is currently still missing from this list. Our research group reported in 2002 that strongly acidic, sterically encumbered alane Al(C6F5)3 [5] and bulky 2,6-di-tertbutyl pyridine, which do not form a classical acid/base adduct when the unsolvated alane is used, work cooperatively to activate and break arene C H bonds when the toluene/alane adduct, C7H8·Al(C6F5)3, [6] is used, or when toluene is added to the above-mentioned mixture (Scheme 1). Preceding the current term FLP, this result was an early example of the unusual reactivity of FLPs relative to what was generally recognized. Since then, our interest has continued to focus on utilizing the high Lewis acidity of Al(C6F5)3 and, more importantly in many cases, the unique catalytic feature of the active species derived from this alane, for the polymerization of functionalized alkenes. Reported herein is a significant development in this continuing effort: Al(C6F5)3based Lewis pairs rapidly polymerize polar vinyl monomers at room temperature (Scheme 2), including methyl methacrylate (MMA) and the naturally renewable methylene butyr-
The adoption of Internet financial services: a qualitative study

Examines the case of the consumer adoption of Internet financial services, which may be viewed as an innovation in service delivery. The qualitative study employed Rogers’ model of perceived innovation attributes is augmented by Bauer’s concept of perceived risk. The perceived innovation attributes were found to be important determinants of consumers’ adoption decisions. However, two additional dimensions were found to influence people’s adoption decisions, highlighting the complexity of the adoption decision for Internet financial services.
Spatio‐temporal variability of lake CH4 fluxes and its influence on annual whole lake emission estimates

Lakes are major sources of methane (CH4) to the atmosphere that contribute significantly to the global budget. Recent studies have shown that diffusive fluxes, ebullition and surface water CH4 concentrations can differ significantly within lakes—spatially and temporally. CH4 fluxes may be affected at longer scales in response to seasons, temperature, lake mixing events, short term weather events like pressure variations, shifting winds and diel cycles. Frequent measurements of fluxes in the same system and integrated assessments of the impacts of the spatio‐temporal variability are rare. Thereby, large scale assessments frequently lack information on this variability which can potentially lead to biased estimates. In this study, we analysed the variability of CH4 fluxes and surface water CH4 concentrations across open water areas of lakes in a small catchment in southwest Sweden over two annual cycles. Significant patterns in CH4 concentrations, diffusive fluxes, ebullition and total fluxes were observed in space (between and within lakes) and in time (over diel cycles to years). Differences observed among the lakes can be associated with lake characteristics. The spatial variability within lakes was linked to depth or distance to stream inlets. Temporal variability was observed at diel to seasonal scales and was influenced by weather events. The fluxes increased exponentially with temperature in all three lakes, with stronger temperature dependence with decreasing depth. By comparing subsets of our data with estimates using all data we show that considering the spatio‐temporal variability in CH4 fluxes is critical when making whole lake or annual budgets.
Growth strategies, professionalization, ownership structure and performance across generations of a family firm

This paper analyzes and compares first generation family firms with those of second and subsequent generations through certain characteristics relevant to a greater understanding of the influence over the business of a generational transition. The study examines a sample of successful family businesses in Aragon (Spain), over a period of fifteen years (1990 to 2004) that have provided information about their growth strategy, corporate governance, professionalization, ownership structure and financial results. Our results confirm the greater degree of complexity of the family firm as the ownership and the running of the business is passed to future generations. However, and contrary to all expectations, the greater degree of investment and complexity of the family firm over time does not give rise to the incorporation of external partners in the company’s share capital and neither a higher level of debt. The study also fines no differences in profitability between family firms, independent of which generation runs the business. Key words: Growth strategies, professionalization, ownership structure, profitability, first generation family firm, second-later generation family firm.
Factors Influencing Bank Transparency: Case of Emerging Markets

Using a random effect regression, this paper examines internal and external factors that may explain the differences of transparency across banks. Our sample is an unbalanced panel data of 69 commercial banks operating in seven emerging countries (Egypt, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkey) over the period 2006-2009. The results relative to governance variables indicate that ownership concentration has a negative effect on transparency. We also find a positive correlation of transparency with government ownership. Concerning macroeconomic and juridical indicators, we observe a positive association of transparency with the existence of an explicit system of deposits insurance, the protection of stockholders’ rights, and a negative one with the development of financial market and inflation. Finally, as for the impact of banks’ characteristics, the empirical results show only an association between transparency and profitability measured by ROE and ROA.