Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Government Support in Sustainable Competitive Position and Firm Performance

Achievement of sustainable competitive position and superior performance is the first priority of business organizations. However, small firms, due to fairly known reasons; lack of resources, financial capabilities and lack of managerial skills are often unable to succeed in their mission. Hence, they often look for less risky and convenience sources to compete in the market. A variety of factors has been tested towards a firm competitive position and performance but the role of government support in this perspective has received minor attention. The present study examines the influence of government financial support and nonfinancial support on firm performance with mediating role of the sustainable competitive position. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling in Analysis Moment of Structure (AMOS) on a data set of 326 Pakistani Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs). The results indicate that government financial and nonfinancial support have a significant influence on sustainable competitive position and firm performance. Additionally, a sustainable competitive position partially mediates the relationship between government support and firm performance. Government bodies and policy makers are advised to provide financial and nonfinancial support to SMEs which in turn can upsurge economic growth and sustainability.
Achieving Gender Balance on British Boards with the Soft-Law Approach: Directors’ Perspective

A soft-law approach is followed in the UK for improving gender diversity on boards. Regulatory authorities recommend voluntary targets and companies endeavour to achieve them. In this paper, the authors present the result of a study exploring the causes and solutions of gender homogeneity on British boards. The paper is based on thirty-three interviews with board members of FTSE 350 companies. It posits that British boards have been gender homogeneous due to discrimination against women, a lack of confidence among women and a lack of objectivity in nomination processes. Hence regulatory intervention is warranted to improve gender diversity on boards. However, the current soft-law approach is the best-suited strategy due to established institutional processes. Also, there is an increasing demand for more intrusive statutory action if the current approach fails to achieve gender parity on boards, soon enough. The paper contributes to Institutional theory, public policy and corporate praxis.
Pharmacokinetics and first-pass effects of ϵ-acetamidocaproic acid after administration of zinc acexamate in rats

Zinc acexamate (ZAC) is ionized to zinc and ϵ-acetamidocaproic acid (AACA). Thus, the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of zinc and AACA after intravenous (50 mg kg−1) and oral (100 mg kg−1) administration of ZAC were evaluated in rats. Also the pharmacokinetics of AACA after intravenous (10, 20, 30, and 50 mg kg−1) and oral (20, 50, and 100 mg kg−1) administration of ZAC and the first-pass extractions of AACA at a ZAC dose of 20 mg kg−1 were evaluated in rats. After oral administration of ZAC (20 mg kg−1), approximately 0.408% of the oral dose was not absorbed, the F value was approximately 47.1%, and the hepatic and gastrointestinal (GI) first-pass extractions of AACA were approximately 8.50% and 46.4% of the oral dose, respectively. The incomplete F value of AACA was mainly due to the considerable GI first-pass extraction in rats. Affinity of rat tissues to zinc and AACA was low—the tissue-to-plasma (T/P) ratios were less than unity. The equilibrium plasma-to-blood cells partition ratios of AACA were independent of initial blood ZAC concentrations of 1, 5, and 10 µg ml−1—the mean values were 0.481, 0.490, and 0.499, respectively. The bound fractions of zinc and AACA to rat plasma were 96.6% and 39.0%, respectively.
Dopamine D2 receptor expression in hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex of rat, cat, and human in relation to tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactive fibers

A detailed study comparing the distribution of D2 receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactive fibers in the hippocampus and parahippocampal cortices of the rat, cat, and human was conducted. The distribution of [125I]epidepride binding to D2 receptors along the transverse and longitudinal axes of the hippocampus and parahippocampus differed among the species. In rat hippocampus, the number of sites was highest in septal portions of lacunosum‐moleculare of CA1 and stratum moleculare of the subiculum. Virtually no binding to D2 receptors existed in the temporal hippocamps. For the cat hippocampus, the highest binding existed in the inner one‐third of the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus (DG). There were also significant numbers of D2 receptors in strata radiatum and oriens of the CA subfields, with almost undetectable levels in lacunosum moleculare and subiculum. The number of sites was higher in the septal than temporal hippocampus. In the human hippocampus, highest binding was observed in the molecular layer of DG and the subiculum, with lower levels in strata oriens and lacunosum‐moleculare of CA3, and very low binding in CA1. The histochemical demonstration of the pattern of mossy fibers revealed an organization complementary to that of D2 receptors in cat and human. In none of the species was there significant expression of D2 receptors in the entorhinal cortex, except in the caudal extreme of this region in the rat. In that region a trilaminar pattern was exhibited that continued into the perirhinal cortex. A trilaminar pattern of D2 receptor expression was observed in the perirhinal cortex of all species, with the highest values in the external and deep laminae and low expression in the middle laminae. The organization of dopamine fibers was assessed by comparing the distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive and dopamine β‐hydroxylase‐immunoreactive fibers in these same regions. It revealed consistent mismatches between the pattern of D2 receptor expression and dopaminergic innervation in all three species. The implications for this mismatch are discussed. It is hypothesized that the distribution of D2 receptors, and not of dopamine fibers, determines what neural systems dopamine influences in the hippocampal complex. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The impact of ice class on the economics of wet and dry bulk shipping in the Arctic waters

ABSTRACT Shipping in Arctic waters is subject to technical requirements posed by harsh ambient conditions. Vessels operating in ice-infested waters need reinforced hulls and more powerful engines, for example. These requirements are reflected in the vessel’s ice class, which has specific implications not only for operational issues but also for shipping economics. This article examines the extent to which the shipping costs of wet and dry bulk vessels compliant with the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Polar Class rules exceed those of vessels without an ice class. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to estimate differentials in capital and fuel costs, as well as in cargo-carrying capacity. The applied dataset, obtained from two major shipping registries, includes technical details of 21,352 bulk vessels, of which 711 possessed a PC, and the remaining 20,641 comprised the reference category. The results show that Polar Class compliant vessels could be up to three times more expensive to build than vessels without an ice class. Moreover, the respective increase in fuel costs may account for up to 150 per cent given the additional engine power and the increased hull weight. Finally, the reduction in cargo-carrying capacity amounts to 20 per cent compared to the reference category.
How Financial Stability Affects Economic Development in South Asia: A Panel data Analysis

This study examines the relationships between economic development and financial stability in five South Asian economies, namely Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal over the period of 1980-2012. Human Development Index (HDI) is used to measure economic development calculated using the goalposts based on south Asian data. While financial stability is measured by constructing an aggregate financial stability index (AFSI) that combines various indicators relating to financial sector development, vulnerability and banking soundness. We employ Pedroni panel cointegration technique to examine long-run relationship between variables. Empirical evidence confirms the long-run relationship between selected variables. Results estimated by employing Fully Modified OLS (FMOLS) show that financial stability is an essential factor for improving the process of economic development in South Asian countries. Causality analysis indicates that economic development Granger cause financial stability in South Asia.
Sustainable portfolio management under climate change

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the management of climate change risks for equity investments and presents a scenario-based framework for building sustainable portfolios under the climate change scheme. An empirical analysis is first performed using historical price data to show the inferior risk-adjusted performance of the carbon-intensive industries in the North American stock market, which supplements evidence from existing literature in the market's gradual pricing of the climate change risk. Risk management modules are devised with subjective top-level constraints to achieve comprehensive coverage of the key aspects of climate change: risk exposures are measured by carbon intensities, while the risk impacts are quantified through equity return impact scenarios derived from climate change paths under Integrated Assessment Models. A model for quantifying stranded asset risk is also presented. Results from these modules formulate the joint posterior return distribution of the stocks that are used to construct the mean-variance optimal portfolio.
Effects of Resistance Band Exercise on Vascular Activity and Fitness in Older Adults

Abstract This study investigated the effects of a low to moderately intense resistance-band exercise intervention on cutaneous microvascular function in an older population. 18 sedentary healthy participants (age: 58±5) were assessed for their upper and lower-limb endothelial cutaneous vascular conductance using laser Doppler fluximetry with endothelial-dependent (80 μl acetylcholine chloride), and -independent vasodilation (80 μl sodium nitroprusside). In addition, participants underwent a range of functional assessments (cardiopulmonary fitness, strength, flexibility), and completed a perceived quality of life questionnaire. Participants were randomised into 2 groups: Exercise (EX) and Control (CON), and followed either an 8-week self-supervised home-based resistance-band intervention or maintained their habitual lifestyle. Following post-intervention assessment (n=16; EX=7, CON=9), EX improved acetylcholine-chloride-mediated endothelial-dependent vasodilation within the lower limb (cutaneous vascular conductance at 2 000 μCb; P<0.01), but without associated changes in the upper limb. Exercise, compared to CON, significantly affected sodium-nitroprusside-mediated independent vasodilation in the upper limb (P<0.01) at 2 000 μCb, but without associated changes in the lower limb. Of functional assessments, only lower limb strength and flexibility improved for EX (P<0.05). EX experienced positive changes within global measures of General Health, Bodily Pain and Energy/Fatigue (P<0.05). An 8-week home-based resistance-band exercise programme improves age-provoked microcirculatory endothelial vasodilation, but without concomitant changes in cardiopulmonary and anthropometric measures.
Joint Channel Estimation and Decoding for FTNS in Frequency-Selective Fading Channels

In this paper, we develop a joint channel estimation and decoding method for faster-than-Nyquist signaling (FTNS) transmitting over (quasi-static) time-varying frequency-selective fading channels based on the variational Bayesian (VB) framework. In contrast to existing methods, ours is capable of performing explicit frequency-domain channel estimation and decoding in a turbo mode without requiring any cyclic prefix (CP), as well preserving the computational complexity at a logarithmic level. In view of the colored noise inherent in FTNS, we propose to approximate the corresponding autocorrelation matrix by a circulant matrix, the special eigenvalue decomposition of which facilitates an efficient fast Fourier transform operation and decoupling the noise in frequency domain. In addition, through a specific partition of the received symbols, many independent estimates are obtained and combined to further improve the accuracy of the channel estimation and data detection. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the conventional CP-based and overlap-based frequency-domain equalization methods with known channel impulse response (CIR). Moreover, ours come within $1$dB of the counterpart Nyquist system with 25% higher spectral efficiency achieved when the CIR is unknown.
DOG1 (Clone K9) is Seldom Expressed and Not Useful in the Evaluation of Pancreatic Neoplasms

DOG1, a transmembrane calcium-regulated chloride channel protein, is a sensitive and specific marker for gastrointestinal stromal tumors compared with other spindle cell and epithelioid neoplasms. Overexpression has also been described in a variety of both benign and malignant epithelial neoplasms. Recently, DOG1 immunoreactivity has been reported in pancreatic solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPT), suggesting a role as a marker for SPT. Utilizing immunohistochemistry, we evaluated DOG1 expression in pancreatic neoplasms to determine the prevalence of staining and establish diagnostic utility. Multiple tissue microarrays (TMA) were created from cores of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks containing pancreatic adenocarcinomas (n=112), neuroendocrine tumors (n=99), serous cystadenomas (n=28), and SPT (n=14) as well as normal pancreas (n=12). Immunoreactivity for DOG1 (clone K9) was assessed for intensity (1 to 3+), percentage of tumor positivity and location. Of the 99 cases of neuroendocrine tumors, only 2 (2%) were focally positive. Patchy staining was identified in 8 cases (7%) of adenocarcinoma of 1 to 2+ intensity, involving 15% to 80% of the tumor cells and primarily seen in a membranous and luminal distribution. In contrast to a previous report, no DOG1 positivity was observed in SPT, evaluated by both TMA and full sections. The TMAs of serous cystadenomas and normal pancreas were negative for DOG1. Rarely, pancreatic islets displayed granular, cytoplasmic staining. DOG1 antibody clone K9 is not a useful marker for SPT or other primary pancreatic neoplasms. Additional studies may be helpful to evaluate differences between clones of DOG1.
Antiretroviral Therapy Responses Among Children Attending a Large Public Clinic in Soweto, South Africa

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) access with successful outcomes for children is expanding in resource-limited countries. The aim of this study was to determine treatment responses of children in a routine setting where first-line therapy with lopinavir/ritonavir is routinely included for young children. Methods: Outpatient records of children who initiated ART between April 2004 and March 2008 at a government clinic in Soweto were reviewed. Children <3 years initiated ART with lopinavir/ritonavir and those ≥3 years initiated with efavirenz-containing regimens. Results: ART was initiated at a median age of 4.3 years, 28.6% also received tuberculosis treatment. During 3155 child-years of follow-up (median follow-up 17 months), 132 children (6%) died giving a mortality rate of 4.2 (95% confidence interval: 3.5, 5.0) deaths per 100 child-years. By 12 and 24 months, 84% and 96% of children achieved virologic suppression. The proportion of children with viral rebound increased from 5.4% to 16.3% at 24 and 36 months from start of ART. Younger children (receiving lopinavir/ritonavir-based first-line therapy) with higher viral loads suppressed more slowly and were more likely to die. Children who were started on treatment for tuberculosis at the time of viral suppression were more likely to have virologic rebound. Conclusion: Despite good treatment outcomes overall, children with advanced disease at ART initiation had poorer outcomes, particularly those <3 years of age, most of whom were treated with lopinavir/ritonavir-containing therapy. The increasing risk of viral rebound over time for the whole cohort is concerning, given currently limited available treatment options for children.
Adaptive Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Objective: To investigate the effects of adaptive radiotherapy on dosimetric, clinical, and toxicity outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy with intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Methods: Fifty-one patients with advanced head and neck cancer underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy with the original plan optimized to deliver 70.2 Gy. All patients were resimulated at a median dose of 37.8 Gy (range, 27.0-48.6 Gy) due to changes in tumor volume and/or patient weight loss (>15% from baseline). Thirty-four patients underwent adaptive replanning for their boost planning (21.6 Gy). The dosimetric effects of the adaptive plan were compared to the original plan and the original plan copied on rescan computed tomography. Acute and late toxicities and tumor local control were assessed. Gross tumor volume reduction rate was calculated. Results: With adaptive replanning, the maximum dose to the spinal cord, brain stem, mean ipsilateral, and contralateral parotid had a median reduction of −4.5%, −3.0%, −6.2%, and −2.5%, respectively (median of 34 patients). Median gross tumor volume and boost planning target volume coverage improved by 0.8% and 0.5%, respectively. With a median follow-up time of 17.6 months, median disease-free survival and overall survival was 14.8 and 21.1 months, respectively. Median tumor volume reduction rate was 35.2%. For patients with tumor volume reduction rate ≤35.2%, median disease-free survival was 8.7 months, whereas it was 16.9 months for tumor volume reduction rate >35.2%. Four patients had residual disease after chemoradiotherapy, whereas 64.7% (20 of 34) of patients achieved locoregional control. Conclusion: Implementation of adaptive radiotherapy in head and neck cancer offers benefits including improvement in tumor coverage and decrease in dose to organs at risk. The tumor volume reduction rate during treatment was significantly correlated with disease-free survival and overall survival.
Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Nav1.7 Maintains the Membrane Potential and Regulates the Activation and Chemokine-Induced Migration of a Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cell Subset

Expression of CD1a protein defines a human dendritic cell (DC) subset with unique functional activities. We aimed to study the expression of the Nav1.7 sodium channel and the functional consequences of its activity in CD1a− and CD1a+ DC. Single-cell electrophysiology (patch-clamp) and quantitative PCR experiments performed on sorted CD1a− and CD1a+ immature DC (IDC) showed that the frequency of cells expressing Na+ current, current density, and the relative expression of the SCN9A gene encoding Nav1.7 were significantly higher in CD1a+ cells than in their CD1a− counterparts. The activity of Nav1.7 results in a depolarized resting membrane potential (−8.7 ± 1.5 mV) in CD1a+ IDC as compared with CD1a− cells lacking Nav1.7 (−47 ± 6.2 mV). Stimulation of DC by inflammatory signals or by increased intracellular Ca2+ levels resulted in reduced Nav1.7 expression. Silencing of the SCN9A gene shifted the membrane potential to a hyperpolarizing direction in CD1a+ IDC, resulting in decreased cell migration, whereas pharmacological inhibition of Nav1.7 by tetrodotoxin sensitized the cells for activation signals. Fine-tuning of IDC functions by a voltage-gated sodium channel emerges as a new regulatory mechanism modulating the migration and cytokine responses of these DC subsets.
The Organic Content of the Tagish Lake Meteorite

The Tagish Lake meteorite fell last year on a frozen lake in Canada and may provide the most pristine material of its kind. Analyses have now shown this carbonaceous chondrite to contain a suite of soluble organic compounds (∼100 parts per million) that includes mono- and dicarboxylic acids, dicarboximides, pyridine carboxylic acids, a sulfonic acid, and both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The insoluble carbon exhibits exclusive aromatic character, deuterium enrichment, and fullerenes containing “planetary” helium and argon. The findings provide insight into an outcome of early solar chemical evolution that differs from any seen so far in meteorites.
Early time course of Akt phosphorylation after endurance and resistance exercise.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to determine the early time course of exercise-induced signaling after divergent contractile activity associated with resistance and endurance exercise. METHODS Sixteen male subjects were randomly assigned to either a cycling (CYC; n = 8, 60 min, 70% V˙O2peak) or resistance (REX; n = 8, 8 x 5 leg extension, 80% one-repetition maximum, 3-min recovery) exercise group. Serial muscle biopsies were obtained from vastus lateralis at rest before, immediately after, and after 15, 30, and 60 min of passive recovery to determine early signaling responses after exercise. RESULTS There were comparable increases from rest in Akt(Thr308/Ser473) and mTOR(Ser2448) phosphorylation during the postexercise time course that peaked 30-60 min after both CYC and REX (P < 0.05). There were also similar patterns in p70S6K(Thr389) and 4E-BP1(Thr37/46) phosphorylation, but a greater magnitude of effect was observed for REX and CYC, respectively (P < 0.05). However, AMPK(Thr172) phosphorylation was only significantly elevated after CYC (P < 0.05), and we observed divergent responses for glycogen synthase(Ser641) and AS160 phosphorylation that were enhanced after CYC but not REX (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We show a similar time course for Akt-mTOR-S6K phosphorylation during the initial 60-min recovery period after divergent contractile stimuli. Conversely, enhanced phosphorylation status of proteins that promote glucose transport and glycogen synthesis only occurred after endurance exercise. Our results indicate that endurance and resistance exercise initiate translational signaling, but high-load, low-repetition contractile activity failed to promote phosphorylation of pathways regulating glucose metabolism.
[Vitamin D metabolism and signaling in human hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding non-tumorous liver].

INTRODUCTION 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D3 mediates antitumor effects in hepatocellular carcinoma. AIM We examined mRNA and protein expression differences in 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D3-inactivating CYP24A1, mRNA of activating CYP27B1 enzymes, and that of VDR between human hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding non-tumorous liver. METHODS Snap-frozen tissues from 13 patients were studied for mRNA and protein expression of CYP24A1. Paraffin-embedded tissues from 36 patients were used to study mRNA of VDR and CYP27B1. mRNA expression was measured by RT-PCR, CYP24A1 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Expression of VDR and CYP27B1 was significantly lower in hepatocellular carcinoma compared with non-tumorous liver (p<0.05). The majority of the HCC samples expressed CYP24A1 mRNA, but neither of the non-tumorous liver. The gene activation was followed by CYP24A1 protein synthesis. CONCLUSIONS The presence of CYP24A1 mRNA and the reduced expression of VDR and CYP27B1 mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma samples indicate decreased bioavailability of 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D3, providing an escape mechanism from the anti-tumor effect. Orv. Hetil. , 2016, 157(48), 1910-1918.