Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The potential of Beclin 1 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer

Introduction: Beclin 1 plays a crucial role in autophagy via the Beclin 1 interactome, and is involved in various biological processes such as protein sorting, chemokinesis, and cell death. Via these biologic functions, Beclin 1 contributes to both tumor suppression and tumor progression. Areas covered: Beclin 1 plays a key biologic function on cell homeostasis and affects tumorigenesis. In this review, detailing up-to-date knowledge on the tumorigenic role of Beclin 1, its implication in breast cancer, and its utility as a breast cancer-specific drug target is discussed. Expert opinion: Because Beclin 1 is expressed in breast cancer cells, Beclin 1 could be a unique, effective drug target for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. However, the expression of Beclin 1 varies according to cancer molecular subtypes, and Beclin 1 is involved in both breast cancer suppression and tumor progression; therefore, the decision of using a Beclin 1 inducer or inhibitor should be made based on breast cancer stage and subtype.
Effects of aerobic and microaerobic conditions on anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) sludge

The anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) process is a promising novel option for removing nitrogen from wastewater. In this study it was shown that the Anammox process was inhibited reversibly by the presence of oxygen. Furthermore, aerobic nitrifiers were shown not to play an important role in the Anammox process.
Developing a Stock Market without Institutions—The China Puzzle

Jump-starting securities markets in transition economies has proved difficult because these countries normally lack institutions that support them. However, China seems to be an exception. Since the 1990s, China's stock market has rapidly expanded in the absence of any effective institutions. This article attempts to explain the China puzzle. It first raises a critique of Pistor and Xu, who argued that the quota system played a key role in fostering the Chinese stock market. In contrast, it argues that the Chinese stock market is mainly driven by state guarantees, institutional rent-seeking by state-owned enterprises and investors' speculation in an environment of financial repression. Since some of the driving factors are unique to China, its experience cannot be generalised. More importantly, since a market so expanded is highly inefficient, the Chinese approach should be avoided rather than mimicked by other transition economies.
Residential Energy Demand and the Taxation of Housing*

This paper examines how the favorable tax treatment of housing capital in the U.S. affects the demand for residential energy. Relative to a tax system that is neutral between different investments, the current taxation of housing lowers the cost of housing capital by 23%. The tax subsidy for housing capital increases the demand for housing services and the concomitant energy demand and creates an incentive for the substitution of capital for energy in the production of housing services. Eliminating this tax subsidy for housing would lower the demand for housing services by 11.8% and residential energy demand by 6.8%. Alternatively, the same reduction in residential energy demand could be obtained through a 20% tax on residential energy.
Molecular targets in the inhibition of angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, the process of blood vessel formation, is crucial for malignant tumour growth and metastases; therefore, it has become an attractive target for anticancer therapy. Theoretically applicable to most solid tumours, this therapy may be advantageous over existing cytotoxic therapy, since it is directed at genetically stable endothelium growing within tumours rather than at malignant cells, which acquire resistance to treatment. Many promising angiogenesis inhibitors have been developed, although their activity has yet to be demonstrated in human clinical trials. To improve therapeutic benefit, this may require further insight into tumour angiogenesis, development of appropriate surrogate markers of activity, treatment of early stage neoplastic disease and probably a combination of different classes of antiangiogenesis agents to overcome redundant mechanisms of angiogenesis control.
Foreign Direct Investment with Hysteresis: Short Term Rescue or Long Term Sentence?

Foreign direct investment is often regarded by countries with balance of payments problems as a potential source of salvation. The consequences of a rise in foreign direct investment are analysed within a two-country, four-product, six-asset small macro model and is shown to have two distinct and offsetting effects. The first effect improves the balance of payments and prevents devaluation. The second effect depreciates the real exchange rate and raises the return on capital. In both cases net international debt increases. If foreign direct investment is withdrawn, a consequence of there being multiple equilibria in the model is that the domestic country may get stuck in a debt-trap. Similarly hysteric behaviour is displayed by the real exchange rate.
Methodologies in cancer cytogenetics and molecular cytogenetics.

Various types of cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic approaches, including conventional banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), fiber-FISH, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), matrix array CGH, chromosome microdissection, and microcell-mediated chromosome transfer are summarized. The rationale, advantage, and limitations of each approach are discussed with respect to research and clinical applications in human neoplasia.
Relational Bonds and Customer's Trust and Commitment - A Study on the Moderating Effects of Web Site Usage

Several relationship marketing theories have suggested that businesses could build long-term customer relationships. The purpose of this study is to develop relational bonding strategies for a financial service business and examine the relationship between the various relational bonds and customer trust and commitment under the moderating effects of corporate website usage. The findings of this study are threefold. First, the relational bonds that foster customer trust and commitment can be categorised empirically into three types: economic, social and structural bonds. Second, all of these bonds are significantly positively correlated with the customers' trust and commitment. Finally, customer use of a corporate website significantly moderates the relationship between the relational bonds and customer relational performance.
Social Aspects Influencing Relationships in Digital Innovation Networks -- The Smart Lock Case

Digital innovation processes are becoming more and more networked, where actors are growing dependent on each other's competences, resources and knowledge. In networks developing digital innovation, actors need to identify, mobilize, and integrate diverse and heterogeneous knowledge resources to be able to innovate successfully. Social aspects seem to be important at the boundaries of communities where heterogeneous actors connect, negotiate, and adjust to each other's perspectives. The aim of this paper is to explain how social aspects influence changes in relationships in digital innovation networks. A case study approach was selected to study events involving multiple actors in an innovation and development project aimed at introducing technology that aids elderly, home care personnel and next of kin by improving the management of home care visits. We describe how social aspects such as trust, interest, and commitment among actors influence the changes in relationships.
Une modélisation du processus de recherche d'emploi en présence de mesures publiques pour les jeunes.

Résumé Dans cet article, nous tentons de mesurer l'effet des passages par des dispo­sitifs d'emploi sur la fréquence des offres d'emploi faites aux jeunes chômeurs bénéficiaires des mesures, mais aussi sur le niveau des salaires qui leur sont pro­posés. Pour cela, nous estimons un modèle structurel de recherche d'emploi et de transition entre chômage, stages et emploi. L'hypothèse qui sous-tend le modèle est que le passage par des stages, et en particulier par le stage de plus haut niveau effectué, est susceptible de modifier les paramètres du processus de recherche d'emploi des jeunes chômeurs. Les résultats montrent que le passage par des stages accroît l'employabilité des jeunes chômeurs les moins diplômés, mais surtout que les passages par les mesures les plus formatrices s'accompa­gnent de propositions de salaire plus élevées.
Interorganizational Determinants of Promotion: Client Leadership and the Attainment of Women Attorneys

Explanations of gender inequality typically emphasize individual characteristics, the structure of internal labor markets, or pressures from the institutional environment. Extending the structuralist and institutional perspectives, this article argues that the demographic composition of an organization's exchange partners can influence the demographic composition of the focal organization when the focal organization is dependent upon its partners. Specifically, law firms with women-led corporate clients increase the number of partners who are women attorneys. Data on elite law firms and their publicly traded clients support a bargaining power hypothesis whereby law firms promote women attorneys when their corporate clients have women in three key leadership positions: general (legal) counsel, chief executive officer, and board director. These effects are stronger when the law firm has few clients, reinforcing the hypothesis that interorganizational influence is more vital when a focal organization is dependent on its exchange partner. The results also support a related explanation based on homophily theory. The analysis rules out several alternative explanations and establishes a relationship between the presence of women-led clients and the promotion of women attorneys in law firms.
MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS: Management by objectives

CURRENT trends in management techniques give considerable scope for the application of the buzzword generator. Value engineering, cost/benefit analysis and variable cost control are all stages on the way to the currently fashionable corporate planning, and management information systems. A modern manager may come to feel that if he misses a television programme he may be unaware of the latest “in” tecnnique, despite the repeated warnings by management philosophers that a business cannot solve its problems merely by acquiring a technique, whether new or established.
Exposure of Macrophages to an Enzymatically Inactive Macrophage Mannose Receptor Ligand Augments KiIIing of Candida albicans

Abstract Macrophages (Mφ) are involved in host defenses against opportunistic pathogens. Previous studies by the present investigators indicate that Mφ exposed to enzymatically active myeloperoxidase (MPO), exhibited both increased phagocytosis and killing of Candida albicans. The purpose of this study was to determine if enzymatically inactive Mφ-mannose receptor (MMR) ligands could function similarly. Resident murine peritoneal Mφ were exposed to the MMR ligands, mannosylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA), and enzymatically inactive myeloperoxidase (iMPO), followed by exposure to opsonized C. albicans. Both mBSA and iMPO induced a slight increase in the number of phagocytizing cells; however, candidacidal activity was significantly higher in treated cultures compared to controls (P ≤ 0.001). The production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) was detected using chemiluminescence. After employment of ROI scavengers, a decrease in candidacidal activity was observed. The data suggest that MMR-ligand interaction alone is sufficient to significantly enhance the candidacidal activity of Mφ via ROI, and that iMPO which is released at a site of inflammation induces Mφ-mediated killing of microorganisms. These findings indicate a previously unrecognized role of iMPO.
Consumer Values of Health-Related Food Symbols and Chemical Food Additives - The Case of Breakfast Cereals

In this paper we analyze consumers’ revealed values of food symbols indicating nutritious and organic food, as well as consumers’ revealed values for chemical food additives. We do so by estimating a hedonic price function based on a rich data set on breakfast cereal purchases. Our findings suggest that consumers positively value chemical food additives in breakfast cereals, suggesting that the positive taste effect from e.g. chemical taste enhancers, emulsifiers, colourings and preservatives outweighs consumers’ health concerns regarding such additives. We find no evidence that consumers positively value the symbol indicating nutritious food. In addition, surprisingly enough, our results imply that consumers have a negative willingness-to-pay for the symbol indicating organic food.
Symmetric or Asymmetric Interest Rate Adjustments? Evidence from Southeastern Europe

The purpose of this paper is to examine how effectively the wholesale interest rates are transmitted to the retail rates and whether the interest rate passthrough is symmetric or asymmetric in Greece, Bulgaria, and Slovenia. The disaggregated general-to-specific methodology is applied for testing the symmetry hypothesis in these economies. It is evident from our results that variations exist across the countries examined regarding the monetary transmission process and the symmetry hypothesis alike. This can be interpreted as an indication of a different level of competition, development, and liberalization among the banking systems in these Southeastern European economies.
Diode rectifier bridge-based structure for DFIG-based wind turbine

This paper proposes a new structure for the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbine. The proposed structure consists of a DFIG controlled by a partial rated power converter in the rotor side, a three-phase diode rectifier bridge (DRB) connected to the stator, and a DC/AC full rated power inverter. As this structure could isolate the DFIG and the grid by a DC-link, the DFIG could avoid the direct influences from the grid, and achieve fault ride through requirement easily. Based on this structure, two control strategies are developed to control the DFIG and fulfill maximum power output. The simulation results based a MATALAB/Simulink using a 2MW DFIG compare the performances of DFIG system with the two control strategies. Further, the experimental results based on a scaled-down setup with a 7.5kW DFIG validate the correctness of the control strategies.
Symmetry-Driven Decision Diagrams for Knowledge Compilation

In this paper, symmetries are exploited for achieving significant space savings in a knowledge compilation perspective. More precisely, the languages FBDD and DDG of decision diagrams are extended to the languages Sym-FBDDX,Y and Sym-DDGX,Y of symmetry-driven decision diagrams, where X is a set of "symmetry-free" variables and Y is a set of "top" variables. Both the time efficiency and the space efficiency of Sym-FBDDX,Y and Sym-DDGX,Y are analyzed, in order to put those languages in the knowledge compilation map for propositional representations. It turns out that each of Sym-FBDDX,Y and Sym-DDGX,Y satisfies CT (the model counting query). We prove that no propositional language over a set X ∪ Y of variables, satisfying both CO (the consistency query) and CD (the conditioning transformation), is at least as succinct as any of Sym-FBDDX,Y and Sym-DDGX,Y unless the polynomial hierarchy collapses. The price to be paid is that only a restricted form of conditioning and a restricted form of forgetting are offered by Sym-FBDDX,Y and Sym-DDGX,Y. Nevertheless, this proves sufficient for a number of applications, including configuration and planning. We describe a compiler targeting Sym-FBDDX,Y and Sym-DDGX,Y and give some experimental results on planning domains, highlighting the practical significance of these languages.
What Do the Leading Indicators Lead

The authors find that the composite leading index (CLI) is useful for forecasting gross national product (GNP), both in sample and in an out-of-sample real-time exercise. They propose a nonlinear specification in which cyclical shifts of the CLI precede those in GNP. However, the authors find that better forecasts are provided by a simple linear relation between current GNP growth and the growth rate of the CLI during the previous quarter along with an error-correction term corresponding to the previous quarter's logarithmic difference between the level of the CLI and the level of GNP. Copyright 1996 by University of Chicago Press.
Estimating the risk of invasive group A Streptococcus infection in care home residents in England, 2009–2010

SUMMARY Invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections cause severe disease and death, especially in residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). In order to inform iGAS prevention, we compared the risk of iGAS in LTCF residents and community residents. We identified LTCF residents among cases of iGAS from national surveillance (2009–2010) using postcode matching, and cases of hospital-acquired infections via hospital admission records. We used Poisson regression to calculate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and logistic regression to explore factors associated with case fatality rate (CFR). A total of 2741 laboratory-confirmed iGAS cases were matched to a hospital admission: 156 (6%) were defined as hospital-acquired. Out of the total cases, 96 (3·5%) were LTCF residents. Compared with community residents, LTCF residents over 75 years of age had a higher risk of iGAS infection (IRR = 1·7; 95% CI 1·3–2·1) and CFR (OR = 2·3; 95% CI 1·3–3·8). Amongst community-acquired cases, the risk of iGAS in LTCF residents between 75 and 84 years of age doubled (IRR = 2·7; 95% CI 1·8–3·9) compared with their community counterparts. The CFR among community-acquired cases was higher in LTCF residents than community residents (21% vs. 11%). Age remained associated with death in our final model. Our study showed that, even controlling for age, LTCF residents have a higher risk of acquiring and dying from iGAS. Whilst existing co-morbidities may explain this, it is reasonable to assume that the institutional setting may facilitate transmission. Therefore, cases in LTCF require prompt investigation together with a better understanding of factors contributing to the acquisition of infection.
Local tourism awareness: Community views in Katutura and King Nehale Conservancy, Namibia

In Namibia the tourism industry is increasingly used for socioeconomic development. Recent government policies have highlighted the role of community-based tourism in particular, a policy tool that aims to ensure that local communities can participate actively in tourism and have a fairly high degree of control over tourism development and practices, so as to recognise and receive the benefits of tourism. For this to happen, local people need to know about tourism, tourists and the impacts of tourism in their daily environment. This paper discusses community views and local tourism awareness in two case study communities in Namibia: Katutura, in Windhoek, and King Nehale Conservancy. It concludes that making local communities aware of tourism could help them become agents in tourism development, rather than objects as is still often the case in peripheral and marginalised rural and urban communities in southern Africa.
Neuro-fuzzy TSK network for calibration of semiconductor sensor array for gas measurements

The neuro-fuzzy network applying Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) fuzzy reasoning for the calibration of the semiconductor sensor array is developed in this paper. The structure, as well as the learning algorithm of the neuro-fuzzy network, is presented and tested on the example of estimation of the concentration of gas components in the gaseous mixture (so-called artificial nose problem). The results of numerical experiments are presented and discussed.
The multidimensional nature of production competence and additional evidence of its impact on business performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look into production competence theory by proposing and validating a multidimensional construct, and offering additional empirical evidence regarding the contribution of production competence to business performance.Design/methodology/approach – Production competence is defined as a second‐order factor/construct in terms of five underlying dimensions: cost, flexibility, quality, delivery and environmental protection competence. Different scales are used to measure the construct, validated by a multi‐step process. Data from 274 manufacturing firms and structural equation modelling as the main technique are used for the analysis.Findings – The paper suggests that manufacturing capabilities and their alignment with the competitive priorities pursued must be considered to explain the contribution of manufacturing to business performance. The provided evidence suggests that the manufacturing function significantly contributes to business performance, and enables us to .
Multinational Companies and Human Resource Management: an Overview of Research Issues1

Anthony Ferner, who is Principal Research Fellow in the Industrial Relations Research Unit at the University of Warwick, uses a wide range of literature and recent empirical research to examine the consequences for HRM of central facets of multinational companies – corporate structure and strategy, country of operation and country of origin. How, for example, do they impact on the degree of cross-national coordination of human resource policies? Are there distinct ‘national’ cultures that infuse these policies? How does ‘corporate culture’ interact with national management cultures of ‘host’ countries? In considering the implications of the discussion for a future research agenda, he emphasises the need to redress the overwhelming concentration in the existing literature on US and Japanese companies.
Failure Factors in Tunisian Micro-enterprises: Introspection through Cognitive Mapping

Abstract This paper aims to identify the key factors of entrepreneurial failure in Sfax, a Tunisian region known for its entrepreneurial culture, using a sample of 150 micro-enterprises operating in different sectors of the economy. To study this particular phenomenon, the authors used the cognitive approach and the structural analysis, regarded as a tool for structuring ideas and for schematizing the mental image of micro-entrepreneurs. The results show that the weak engagement and the insufficient wealth of human, financial and social capital of microentrepreneurs represented the main potential barriers that reduced the success of their micro-enterprises. This study also emphasizes the importance of the attributes of human and social resources (e.g., education, experience, knowledge and skills, social networks, and family) as critical resources for successful individual businesses.
The impact of environmental supply chain sustainability programs on shareholder wealth

Purpose – Multinationals are increasingly pressured by stakeholders to commit to environmental sustainability that exceeds their own firm borders. As a result, multinationals have started to commit to environmental supply chain sustainability programs (ESCSPs). However, little is known about whether such commitment is rewarded or punished by financial markets, and if the stock price reaction differs depending on the type of firm that commits to such a program. This paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct an event study followed by two-equation Heckman modeling, using a sample of 66 multinationals that committed to the ESCSP of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Findings – It was found that generally there is a marginally significant negative stock price reaction to announcement of participation in this ESCSP (i.e. −0.8 percent, p<0.10). However, the authors argue and show that firms in industries that have historically faced more pressure from consumers are .