Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Firms and Collective Reputation: the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal as a Case Study

This paper uses the 2015 Volkswagen emissions scandal as a natural experiment to provide causal evidence that group reputation externalities matter for firms. Our estimates show statistically and economically significant declines in the U.S. sales and stock returns of, as well as public sentiment towards, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Smart as a result of the Volkswagen scandal. In particular, the scandal reduced the sales of these non-Volkswagen German manufacturers by approximately 76,000 vehicles over the following year, leading to a loss of approximately $3.7 billion of revenue. Volkswagen's malfeasance materially harmed the group reputation of "German car engineering" in the United States.
Expression of chemokines and their receptors in human and simian astrocytes: evidence for a central role of TNF alpha and IFN gamma in CXCR4 and CCR5 modulation.

Chemokines are key mediators of the selective migration of leukocytes that occurs in neurodegenerative diseases and related inflammatory processes. Astrocytes, the most abundant cell type in the CNS, have an active role in brain inflammation. To ascertain the role of astrocytes during neuropathological processes, we have investigated in two models of primary cells (human fetal and simian adult astrocytes) the repertoire of chemokines and their receptors expressed in response to inflammatory stimuli. We demonstrated that, in the absence of any stimulation, human fetal and simian adult astrocytes express mRNA for receptors APJ, BOB/GPR15, Bonzo/CXCR6, CCR2, CCR3, CCR5, CCR8, ChemR23, CXCR3/GPR9, CXCR4, GPR1, and V28/CX3CR1. Moreover, TNFalpha and IL-1beta significantly increase BOB/GPR15, CCR2, and V28/CX3CR1 mRNA levels in both models. Furthermore, TNFalpha and IFNgamma act synergistically to induce expression of the major coreceptors for HIV infection, CXCR4 and CCR5, at both the mRNA and protein levels in human and simian astrocytes, whereas CCR3 expression was not affected by cytokine treatment. Finally, TNFalpha/IFNgamma was the most significant cytokine combination in leading to a pronounced upregulation in a comparable, time-dependent manner of the production of chemokines IP-10/CXCL10, RANTES/CCL5, MIG/CXCL9, MCP-1/CCL2, and IL-8/CXCL8. In summary, these data suggest that astrocytes serve as an important source of chemokines under the dependence of a complex cytokine regulation, and TNFalpha and IFNgamma are important modulators of chemokines and chemokine receptor expression in human as well as simian astrocytes. Finally, with the conditions we used, there was no difference between species or age of tissue.
Factors Affecting Student Loan Default in Proprietary Non-Degree Granting Colleges

Factors Affecting Student Loan Default in Proprietary Non-Degree Granting Colleges by Samuel Hanson Kelley MBA, Kent State University, 2000 BA, Free Will Baptist Bible College, 1988 Proposal Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Finance Walden University June 2017 Abstract The significant problem addressed in this research was the increasing default rate among federal student loan borrowers who attended non-degree-granting proprietary colleges in Florida (i.e., career and technical colleges). The purpose of this study was to identify, better understand, and predict which borrower characteristics increased the likelihood of student loan default at proprietary non-degree-granting colleges. The research was basedThe significant problem addressed in this research was the increasing default rate among federal student loan borrowers who attended non-degree-granting proprietary colleges in Florida (i.e., career and technical colleges). The purpose of this study was to identify, better understand, and predict which borrower characteristics increased the likelihood of student loan default at proprietary non-degree-granting colleges. The research was based on the structural-functional and planned behavior theories and utilized a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional design to explore the relationship between academic success, age, college graduation status, ethnicity, gender, high school class ranking, and federal student loan default. Self-reported data were obtained from students who attended private, for-profit, less than 2-year colleges in Florida. To determine which student borrower characteristics predicted an increase in the likelihood that borrowers would default on their student loan payments, one hypothesis was proposed to evaluate six borrower characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the statistical relationships and found that academic success, age, and gender were statistically significant in predicting student loan default among students who attended private, for-profit, less than 2-year colleges in Florida. This study may facilitate positive social change by aiding educational institutions in identifying at-risk borrower characteristics and by providing various default prevention strategies that could be incorporated into specific counseling messages to reduce future student loan defaults and lower institutional cohort default ratings. Factors Affecting Student Loan Default in Proprietary Non-Degree Granting Colleges by Samuel Hanson Kelley MBA, Kent State University, 2000 BA, Free Will Baptist Bible College, 1988 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Finance Walden University June 2017
Role of the Individual Interferon Systems and Specific Immunity in Mice in Controlling Systemic Dissemination of Attenuated Pseudorabies Virus Infection

ABSTRACT The importance of each of the two interferon (IFN) systems in impeding herpesvirus replication and in stimulating virus-specific lymphocytes to control an acute systemic infection is not completely understood. To further our knowledge, pseudorabies virus, attenuated by deletion of the glycoprotein E gene to impair its neurovirulence and by deletion of the thymidine kinase gene (gE−TK−PRV), was used to infect wild-type 129Sv/Ev and congenic mice with immune system-associated genetic deficiencies. Mice with mature B and T lymphocytes but lacking either one or both functional receptors for members of each of the two IFN families were infected with gE−TK−PRV. At 3 and 7 but not 14 days after infection, replicating gE−TK−PRV could be isolated only from livers or spleens of mice lacking the receptors for both IFN families, and these mice survived the infection. Therefore, functional IFN receptors were not required to induce a protective immune response against an acute infection with gE−TK−PRV. Furthermore, PRV-specific antibodies of all immunoglobulin G isotypes were produced in these mice. Mice without mature B and T lymphocytes and lacking either one or both functional receptors for members of each of the two IFN families were also infected with gE−TK−PRV. Three days after infection, replicating virus could be isolated only from mice lacking both mature B and T lymphocytes and functional IFN receptors, and these mice were not able to clear the virus. We present evidence that mice with an intact gamma IFN system but without mature B and T cells were able to prevent systemic dissemination of gE−TK−PRV.
Generation of a Spacing Pattern: The Role of TRIPTYCHON in Trichome Patterning in Arabidopsis

Trichomes in Arabidopsis are single-celled hairs that exhibit a regular spacing pattern. Here, the role of TRIPTYCHON (TRY) in the generation of this spacing pattern is studied. By using genetic mosaics, we demonstrate that the formation of trichome clusters in try mutants is not correlated with cell lineage, indicating that TRY is required to single out trichome cells in a process involving cellular interactions. The genetic interactions of TRY, GLABRA1 (GL1), and TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA (TTG) in trichome patterning are assessed by determining the cluster frequency in various genetic combinations. It is shown that TRY acts as a negative regulator of GL1- and TTG-dependent pathways. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that trichome initiation in ttg-1, a strong ttg allele, is rescued almost to wild-type levels in a try background in which GL1 is expressed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, indicating that TTG acts upstream of GL1 and TRY. These findings are incorporated into a model to explain the generation of a trichome spacing pattern from a homogeneous population of epidermal cells.
Assessment of patients with spondyloarthropathies for treatment with tumour necrosis factor alpha blockade.

There is no doubt that the arrival and licensing of two tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-blocking drugs—infliximab and etanercept—for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) represents the first major advance in the treatment of this condition since the advocacy of exercises and the introduction of phenylbutazone. These agents have also been shown unequivocally to be effective in a proportion of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), comparable to their effect in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and anecdotal reports also suggest benefits for patients with enteropathic arthritis, persistent reactive arthritis (ReA) and undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (SpA). But, as with RA, the availability of these agents places a huge responsibility upon rheumatologists, individually and collectively, to negotiate the poorly charted waters of assessment of disease outcomes, known and potential drug toxicity and potentially massive cost. Moreover, all parties to the negotiation are signed up to the provision of such treatment according to criteria that are wise, transparent and fair. For the SpAs, the opportunities provided by TNFblockade come not a moment too soon but at a difficult time. In recent years huge expertise has developed in the assessment of RA and the development of suitable instruments for that purpose. In contrast, the SpAs have received much less clinical trial attention and clinicians are less well equipped to make objective assessments. Indeed, until the last few years few useful measures were available, especially for the assessment of spinal disease. Fortunately, several groups, notably that at Bath, UK, have developed and validated instruments for measuring such attributes as disease activity, function and pain in AS and more recently an international group of rheumatologists interested in AS have formed the Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis (ASAS) working group to attempt to reach consensus over treatment issues which cannot presently be governed by objective criteria such as the presence or absence of joint erosions. Thus, just in the nick of time, a basis has been laid on which to build a framework within which TNFblockade and other biological therapies can reasonably be used in the treatment of SpAs. Unfortunately, at present much of that framework relies heavily on subjective measures, with very limited objectivity. But the need for guidance is now, as our patients need treatment now. Such guidance as emerges must therefore be seen as provisional and requiring regular revision year on year.
SCoT MARKER FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC DIVERSITY IN SAUDI ARABIAN DATE PALM CULTIVARS

Different types of molecular markers based on DNA have been used for the assessment of genetic diversity in the plant species. Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism (SCoT) marker has recently become the marker of choice in genetic diversity studies. SCoT marker was used for the assessment of genetic diversity in Saudi Arabian date palm cultivars. The percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) at population level ranged from 3.28 to 13.11 with an average of 7.10. The Nei’s gene diversity (h) and Shannon’s Information index (I) were 0.033 and 0.046, respectively. However, at cultivar level, PPL, Nei’s gene diversity (h) and Shannon’s Information index (I) were 42.62, 0.090 and 0.155, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed 48% of variation within the populations, whereas 52% was found among the populations. A hierarchical analysis of molecular variance revealed level of genetic differentiation among populations (52% of total variance, P = 0.001), consistent with the gene differentiation coefficient (Gst = 0.631). Unweighted pair group method of arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis of the SCoT marker data divided the six cultivars and their populations into five main clusters at 0.95 genetic similarity coefficient level.
Path Analysis on Gestational Socio-economic Determinants of Nutritional Status in Children Under Five in Purworejo Regency, Central Java

Background: Undernutrition by height-for-age standard starts during pregnancy and continues to the first two years of life. Linear growth disorders among children under five years are associated with morbidity, mortality, loss of physical growth potential, reduced neurological development, reduced cognitive functions, and increased risks of adulthood chronic diseases. In 2015, the number of undernourished children under five (height-for-age) reached 156 million globally. Purworejo regency was an area with the second highest under­nutrition cases in Central Java in 2014. This study aimed to analyze the life-course epidemiology perspectives on the socio-economic factors contributing to the nutritional status of the children aged two to five years in Purworejo regency, Central Java. Subjects and Method: This was an observational analytical study with case control design. This study was conducted in Purworejo, Kaligesing, and Bruno sub-districts, Purworejo Regency, Central Java in February to March 2017. A total sample 160 children aged two to five years and their mothers were selected by fixed disease sampling. There were 37 children in the case groups, and 113 children in the control groups. The independent variables included family income, maternal age, maternal nutritional status (mid upper arm circumference), birth length, exclusive breastfeeding and the children’s history of illness. The dependent variable was the children’s nutritional status (height-for-age/HAZ). Data on the children’s height were collected using microtoise. Other data were collected by maternal and children health (MCH) books and a set of questionnaires. The data were analyzed using path analysis. Results: Nutritional status of children under five (height-for-age/HAZ) was affected by family income (x Rp 100,000) (b=0.03; SE=0.24; p<0.001), maternal age (years) (b=0.02; SE=0.02; p=0.160), maternal nutritional status/MUAC (cm) (b=0.08; SE=0.05; p=0.066), birth length (cm) (b=0.22; SE=0.05; p<0.001), exclusive breastfeeding (b= 0.03; SE=0.16; p=0.080), and the absence of illness (b=0.39; SE=0.14; p=0.007). Conclusion: Nutritional status of the children under five (height-for-age/HAZ) is affected by family income, birth length, exclusive breastfeeding, maternal age, maternal nutritional status, and the absence of illness. Keywords: nutritional status, children under five, life-course epidemiology, socio-economic Correspondence: Ika Yuli Ayuningrum. Magister of Public Health Program, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta. Email: ayuningrum0811@gmail.com. Mobile: +6285729407360. Journal of Maternal and Child Health (2017), 2(1): 30-41 https://doi.org/10.26911/thejmch.2017. 02.01. 04
La victimización sexual en las relaciones con los iguales en una muestra de mujeres adolescentes y jóvenes: prevalencia y creencias relacionadas con la victimización

Resumen Este estudio pretende conocer la prevalencia de la victimización sexual entre las mujeres adolescentes y jóvenes por parte de sus iguales conocidos varones, así como identificar la posibilidad de que determinados factores se asocien con una mayor vulnerabilidad ante este tipo de victimización. Para ello, 239 adolescentes y jóvenes escolarizadas respondieron anónimamente a un cuestionario que incluía una adaptación del Sexual Experiences Survey (SES; Koss, Gidycz y Wisniewski, 1987), y otras escalas para valorar la aceptación de determinadas actitudes y creencias que se han asociado a la vulnerabilidad ante la victimización sexual. Un 42,7% de las adolescentes y jóvenes afirma haber mantenido algún tipo de relación sexual no deseada porque un varón al que conocían utilizó algún tipo de estrategia coercitiva para ello. Las adolescentes y jóvenes que informan haberse visto implicadas en alguna situación sexualmente coercitiva muestran una aceptación significativamente mayor de determinadas creencias estereotipadas y tradicionales en torno a los roles de género, la sexualidad y la coerción sexual.
Antifungal Prophylaxis with Posaconazole in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Dose Intensification Coupled with Avoidance of Proton Pump Inhibitors Is Beneficial in Shortening Time to Effective Concentrations

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the influence of dose frequency and the presence or absence of cotreatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on the time to a target trough concentration (Cmin) of >700 ng/ml with posaconazole in the first 8 days of antifungal prophylaxis in hematological patients. This was a retrospective, observational study performed with 42 adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia who underwent posaconazole prophylaxis with 200 mg every 8 h (q8h) or 200 mg q6h after receiving induction chemotherapy and who had at least three subsequent therapeutic drug monitoring assessments during the first 8 days of treatment. The cohort was split into four groups (group 1, 200 mg q8h without PPI; group 2, 200 mg q8h with PPI; group 3, 200 mg q6h without PPI; group 4, 200 mg q6h with PPI). Rapid attainment of the target Cmin was obtained only in group 3 (P < 0.01) (median Cmin on day 4 of 935.5 ng/ml [interquartile range, 760.0 to 1,270.0 ng/ml] in group 3, versus 567.0 ng/ml [346 to 906 ng/ml] in group 1, 420.0 ng/ml [326.2 to 527.2 ng/ml] in group 2, and 514.0 ng/ml [403.7 to 564.7 ng/ml] in group 4). A linear accumulation of posaconazole over time was observed among patients in groups 1 and 3, regardless of the total daily dosage, differently from what occurred among those receiving PPI cotreatment (groups 2 and 4). Dose intensification (200 mg q6h) coupled with avoidance of PPI coadministration may represent a very powerful strategy to rapidly achieve effective concentrations with posaconazole in neutropenic hematological patients.
The role and competences of the ‘Purchaser from tomorrow’ – A case study to compare demands in German SMEs and large enterprises

The analysed CRQ deals with the theme of what education and skills a professional ‘Future purchaser’ should possess with regard to SMEs and large enterprises to meet demands in the context of a strongly evolving PSM field to a key strategic business function. Surprisingly, assumptions of substantial differences in PSM role and competences with regard to an organisation’s size could not be confirmed. Conducted field research has revealed that irrespective of a company's size, today’s purchasers take on a strategic cross-functional management role, require a diverse set of managerial and function specific competences and are accountable for a wide range of source-to-contract and purchase-to-pay processes. Likewise large enterprises, interviewed SMEs have stated PSM importance with strategic relevance, rising priority, professional purchasers in separate departments and contribution to total firm success. Even though large enterprises engage more specialists for certain commodity groups and demand more project, process and interface management, SMEs also report the need for qualified PSM personnel with commercial, technical and IT competences. Analytical tools, strategic PSM knowledge, communication, decision-making and conflict resolution capabilities, negotiation techniques and IT skills in SAP/ EDI software appear to be most relevant. A Bachelor degree is considered as a minimum formal education for purchasers.
A soft error mitigation technique for constrained gate-level designs

A single event transient generated from a high-energy particle is capable of corrupting the status of a digital system. Not only in aerospace engineering, but even in terrestrial application system reliability is expected to worsen due to radiation effects as semi-conductor technology advances. In this paper, we introduce an incremental gate-sizing method for minimizing soft errors in gate-level designs. The target designs have constraints for marginal circuit area and path delay. The proposed heuristic algorithm searches for each driving strength of logic gates using modified topological order. It gives a more effective solution in large marginal constraints than the existing greedy approach. In the experiments, we show the effectiveness of our algorithm using several benchmark circuits synthesized by a 130nm cell library.
Effects of initiative-friendly culture, individual creativity, and knowledge sharing on innovation: Mediating and moderating approaches

Purpose: Management scholars and practitioners regard innovation as key to long-term firm success, suggesting the need to understand the best methods for enhancing innovation in the workplace. The current study investigates how an initiative-friendly culture, individual creativity, and knowledge sharing contribute to innovation. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative study was conducted among 125 employees working in different organizations, most of them in France. Findings: The results indicate that creativity has a positive effect on innovation, but neither an initiative-friendly culture nor knowledge sharing have direct impacts on it. Their impacts on innovation instead are indirect, through creativity. Furthermore, business ethics and organizational size strengthen the association between creativity and innovation. Originality/value: The findings thus provide new insights into how innovation can be enhanced in the workplace, along with relevant implications for research and practice. Keywords: Individual creativity, knowledge sharing, initiative-friendly culture, innovation, business ethics, organizational size
Variations in ridge morphology and depth‐age relationships on the Pacific‐Antarctic Ridge

Adjacent segments of the Pacific-Antarctic ridge display significantly different morphologies and depth-age relationships over seafloor younger than 36 Ma. The spreading corridor southwest of Fracture Zone XII is characterized by a rift valley and an usually small subsidence constant of 226±13 m/m.y. ^(½), while the two spreading corridors immediately northeast of Fracture Zone XII have an axial high and a subsidence constant consistent with the global average. This abrupt variation in ridge morphology is not usually characteristic of medium-rate spreading centers, nor is such an abrupt variation expected of adjacent ridge segments that are spreading at the same rate. We suggest that a thermal anomaly beneath the ridge may influence the first-order effects of spreading rate and lithospheric cooling enough to produce the observed rift valley and axial high and the different subsidence constants. Although we are not certain what would produce the thermal anomaly here, we speculate that when the spreading rate on the Pacific-Antarctic ridge increased from slow to intermediate rates since 20 Ma, so did the need for materials for accretion, which may be supplied in part by along-axis asthenospheric flow from hotspots or a hot region to the northeast. A sufficient supply of hot asthenosphere may still be lacking in the ridge segment with the axial valley to the southwest, leaving it cooler and starved for accretionary materials.