Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association between Apolipoprotein C-III Gene Polymorphisms and Coronary Heart Disease: A Meta-analysis.

Polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3) gene have been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), but the data so far have been conflicting. To derive a more precise estimation of these associations, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the three main polymorphisms (SstI, T-455C, C-482T) of APOC3 in all published studies. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang, SinoMed and CNKI were systematically searched. The association was assessed using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3. 3 and Stata 12.0. A total of 31 studies have been identified. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for the association between the APOC3 gene polymorphisms and CHD and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were evaluated by random or fixed effect models. A statistical association between APOC3 SstI polymorphism and CHD susceptibility was observed under an allelic contrast model (P= 0.003, OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.05-1.24), dominant genetic model (P= 0.01, OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.03-1.26), and recessive genetic model (P= 0.02, OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.06-1.71), respectively. A significant association between the APOC3 T-455C polymorphism and CHD was also detected under an allelic contrast (P < 0.0001, OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.10-1.29), dominant genetic model (P= 0.0003, OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.11-1.39) and recessive genetic model (P= 0.04, OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.01-1.67). No significant association between the APOC3 C-482T polymorphism and CHD was found under an allelic model (P= 0.94, OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.93-1.08), dominant genetic model (P= 0.20, OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.97-1.18) or recessive genetic model (P= 0.13, OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.79-1.03). This meta-analysis revealed that the APOC3 SstI and T-455C polymorphisms significantly increase CHD susceptibility. No significant association was observed between the APOC3 C-482T polymorphism and CHD susceptibility.
WSN monitoring area partition clustering routing algorithm for energy-balanced

In order to optimize the energy-balanced problem and lengthen the network lifetime for Wireless sensor network(WSN) monitoring, a routing protocol that based on monitoring area partition clustering for energy-balanced(EBPC) was proposed. We divided monitoring area into several virtual partitions, controlled the number of common nodes and clusters by data fusion rate, and forwarded cluster heads data to the next partitions with minimum path selection coefficient. Through performance analysis and simulation of EBPC reaches a conclusion that EBPC routing protocol has a superior balance of energy consumption than LEACH and EEUC, when data fusion rate is 0.5, network lifetime lengthen rate well be 1.3, and the effect of EEUC is more obvious when the data fusion rate have a lower value.
Autonomous Salient Feature Detection through Salient Cues in an HSV Color Space for Visual Indoor Simultaneous Localization and Mapping

For successful simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), perception of the environment is important. This paper proposes a scheme to autonomously detect visual features that can be used as natural landmarks for indoor SLAM. First, features are roughly selected from the camera image through entropy maps that measure the level of randomness of pixel information. Then, the saliency of each pixel is computed by measuring the level of similarity between the selected features and the given image. In the saliency map, it is possible to distinguish the salient features from the background. The robot estimates its pose by using the detected features and builds a grid map of the unknown environment by using a range sensor. The feature positions are stored in the grid map. Experimental results show that the feature detection method proposed in this paper can autonomously detect features in unknown environments reasonably well.
Breast cancer is associated with loss of the c‐kit oncogene product

The proto‐oncogene c‐kit encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor related to the PDGF/CSF‐I receptors. Mutations of this gene result in impairment of hematopoiesis, melanogenesis and gametogenesis. Using monoclonal antibodies to the c‐kit gene product, we have analyzed its expression in normal and transformed human tissues. Unexpectedly, the receptor was found to be expressed in normal mammary epithelium. While in benign breast lesions, the c‐kit gene product was detected at variable levels in 82% of the instances, in primary tumors, no product could be identified in 87% of the cases. This phenotype is maintained in metastatic foci. These findings were confirmed by paired Northern blot analysis of RNA preparations from normal and tumor tissues. These results demonstrate that the c‐kit receptor may also be involved in the growth control of mammary epithelium and that this function may be impaired following malignant transformation and de‐differentiation. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The efficacy of sales promotions in UK supermarkets: a consumer view

UK supermarkets need to be able to assess the current efficacy of the budget they allocate to promotional activities aimed at boosting sales. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to investigate consumer response to the four different promotional deals most commonly used in UK supermarkets: coupons, price discounts, samples and “buy‐one‐get‐one‐free”. Multi discriminant analysis was used on a study of 160 respondents to analyse whether there was an association between the four consumer promotional approaches and respondents’ reported buying behaviour. The findings indicate that only price discount promotions proved to be statistically significant on consumer’s reported buying behaviour. Purchase acceleration and product trial are found to be the two most influential variables related to a discount. For “buy‐one‐get‐one‐free”, while the result is not significant, the two variables, brand switching and purchase acceleration are statistically significant.
SERVICE QUALITY IN ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN THAILAND: STRATEGIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

To be a service leader in the educational field, it is necessary for private universities to offer quality services to students. As a continuation of the previous paper (Kitcharoen, 2004) on the service quality of administrative departments in Thai private universities, this research was aimed at exploring university senior administrators’ opinions about service quality. Six private universities were randomly chosen from the population of 26 private universities in Thailand. The presidents and vice presidents of these universities were interviewed. The research findings show that according to the university senior administrators, the most important service attribute is “Empathy”, while the best performed service attribute is “Tangible”. Although most administrators believed the students are satisfied with the service quality, all of them acknowledged the necessity for further improvement.
Vers une harmonisation européenne de la communication et du contrôle de la qualité écologique et sociale (QES) : l'intérêt de l'intégration d'un curseur QES dans les outils de contrôle de gestion de l'entreprise

Une nouvelle éthique du comportement s’impose à l’entreprise La mondialisation de l’économie, la subordination des innovations technologiques à leur acceptabilité sociale et à diverses formes d’interrogation sur leur bien fondé, la montée en puissance des arguments écologiques et l’appel à une forme de développement qualifié de « durable », sont les caractéristiques majeures de la fin du deuxième millénaire. Cette évolution affecte doublement la structure du marché : d’une part, les attentes des consommateurs se trouvent modifiées en raison de nouvelles exigences environnementales et sociales. D’autre part, les règles du jeu concurrentiel s’adaptent autour des enjeux liés à ces exigences. Dans le cadre de leurs stratégies de gestion et de communication avec les parties prenantes, les entreprises sont appelées à innover en développant leurs performances sociétales. On verra que les entreprises qui s’engagent dans l’affichage et la transparence des valeurs qu’elles entendent intégrer dans leur système de gestion renforcent leur potentiel de compétitivité. Les « bons » signaux sont capables d’inspirer la confiance et de distinguer les concurrents auprès des clients, d’emporter l’adhésion des stakeholders prioritaires, de nourrir les systèmes de management de la qualité, de générer des compétences telles que l’entreprise peut s’en prévaloir pour forger sa réputation. Les associations de consommateurs fustigent les messages « développement durable » de certains fabricants ou entreprises de la grande distribution qui ne sont que des autodéclarations basées sur des critères unilatéraux. Pareils messages accentuent la confusion à l’égard du concept de développement durable dans l’esprit du consommateur. L’information des consommateurs en matière environnementale et sociale relève incontestablement de la responsabilité sociale des entreprises. Elle soulève aussi le besoin d’une responsabilité et d’une régulation institutionnelles. En l’absence d’information harmonisée, l’action des forces du marché ne permet pas à elle seule de promouvoir une consommation en bonne connaissance de cause. Une information pertinente, vérifiable et
Audience Behavior in the Multi-Screen “Video-Verse”

The traditional television viewing experience has given way to a multi-screen environment in which people, programs, and screens are mobile—viewers can consume video content wherever they have access to a computer, mobile phone, or television set. This emerging “video-verse” is bringing about new patterns of audience exposure, as well as new media business models. This study integrates “multi-screen viewing” research from academia and industry, summarizing current knowledge about this subject. Based on this synthesis, the authors propose avenues for further research to help media managers understand this changing media landscape.
The Practice of Director and Executive Remuneration Disclosure by Australian Firms

Mandatory disclosure of director and executive remuneration is a relatively new phenomenon and has only been a requirement in Australia since 2004. This paper will examine the current practice of disclosure of director and executive remuneration across a sample of Australian listed firms, examine the extent of coverage that this disclosure receives within the total annual report, and the uniformity of disclosure practice across firms of differing market capitalisations.
International Market Entry and Expansion via Independent or Integrated Channels of Distribution

Manufacturers introducing an industrial product to a foreign market face a difficult decision. Should the product be marketed primarily by captive agents (company salesforce and company distribution division) or by independent intermediaries (outside sales agents and distributors)? This is an issue of downstream vertical integration. The authors explore the issue through an empirical investigation of distribution channel choice in foreign markets by U.S. semiconductor companies. Using original interview data, they develop scales to measure key variables. With these measures they build a logistic regression model of what factors affect the form of the distribution channel chosen in various foreign markets. The results indicate that integration is associated with the degree of transaction specificity of assets in the distribution function and whether or not the product being introduced is highly differentiated. There is evidence that the product will be sold through whatever channel is already in place, if any. Further, American firms seem more likely to integrate the distribution channel in highly developed industrialized countries (Western Europe) than in Japan and Southeast Asia, which are more culturally dissimilar. Implications for managers faced with a channel choice are explored.
Bending the Rules: Guaranteeing Profits in the Islamic Financial System

Islamic financing continues to grow worldwide and the system is seen by some as an alternative to the conventional financing system. With more financial institutions now offering Islamic financial products, the future for the system has never looked brighter. Yet there are real concerns that in order to make Islamic financing products competitive and accepted in the current conventional financial system, rules are been altered, which could do irreversible harm to the entire concept of Islamic banking. One such issue is that of guaranteeing profits in profit-and-loss sharing ventures. The paper analyses the features of the profit-and-loss sharing principle and discusses whether it is ethical for Islamic financial institutions to guarantee profits in a profit-and-loss sharing system. The paper concludes that while guaranteeing profits may provide benefits for Islamic banks in the short-run, the long-term effects of such actions may not only harm the future growth and reputation of Islamic finance, but may also threaten its very existence.
Cost and Benefits of Implementing Trade Facilitation Measures under Negotiations at the WTO: an Exploratory Survey

This study suggests that the WTO may need to establish a long-term institutional mechanism to deal with evolving trade facilitation measures and issues. Countries may also agree on a subset of well-defined TFMs to be implemented by all, as well as on a complementary list of possibly more controversial TFMs from which countries would select, based on their own needs and specificity, a pre-determined number of measures for implementation.
Relationship configurations in the apparel supply chain

Purpose – This study aims to identify the types of relationships that intermediaries form with their suppliers and customers in the apparel supply chain and their implications for performance.Design/methodology/approach – Cluster analysis was conducted on the supplier and customer relationships of 90 trade intermediaries in the apparel industry.Findings – Three configurations were identified: moderately dependent relationships with suppliers and customers and moderate flexibility upstream; highly dependent relationships with suppliers and customers but low flexibility upstream; and relationships with suppliers and customers that are low in dependence. Performance of firms using these configurations differed. Firms that cultivated some dependence upstream and downstream performed best. Firms with highly dependent relationships with suppliers and customers but low flexibility upstream performed almost as well. This group was highly skilled in relationship management. Firms that maintained low dependence wit.
Plasma concentrations of Lp(a) lipoprotein and TGF‐β1 are altered in preeclampsia

This study was performed to investigate the possible association between preeclampsia and the plasma concentrations of Lp(a) lipoprotein and TGF‐β1 in a large series of patients. Additionally, correlation between the concentrations of these molecules and the severity of preeclampsia or fetal growth retardation was evaluated. Following clinical examination and biochemical analyses, both electroimmunoassay and RIA technique were used for quantitative determinations of plasma Lp(a) lipoprotein. ELISA technique was used to measure the active form of TGF‐β1 in plasma of pregnant normotensive and preeclamptic women. We examined 154 women with preeclampsia (preeclampsia group) and 76 healthy, pregnant normotensive women (control group). The preeclampsia group was further divided into the following subgroups: mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia and preeclampsia with fetal growth retardation. Plasma levels of Lp(a) lipoprotein were lower in the total preeclampsia group as well as in all preeclampsia subgroups (5.45 ± 7.41, 5.58 ± 8.02, 5.08 ± 5.38, and 4.32 ± 5.28 mg/dl in the total preeclampsia group, and in subgroups with mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, and preeclampsia with fetal growth retardation, respectively) than in the control group (7.84 ± 9.26 mg/dl) as determined by quantitative electroimmunoassay. Corresponding results were obtained with a radioimmunoassay (166.03 ± 200.2 U/l in the total preeclampsia group vs. 229.18 ± 257.7 U/l in controls). There was good correlation between the two methods used for Lp(a) lipoprotein measurement. The differences between controls and the total preeclampsia group as well as each preeclampsia subgroup were statistically significant by a non‐parametric test (one‐way Kruskal‐Wallis test). Plasma concentrations of the active form of TGF‐β1 were increased in all preeclampsia subgroups as well as in the total group (5.63 ± 1.68 ng/ml) compared to controls (4.67 ± 1.33 ng/ml). This increase in TGF‐β1 was statistically highly significant. Plasma concentrations of Lp(a) lipoprotein and the active form of TGF‐β1 did not differ significantly between the preeclampsia subgroups. The outcome of this study may suggest involvement of both parameters in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and may substantiate the notion of a multifactorial etiology of the disease.
EXPLORING ANTECEDENTS TO TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM CONFLICT: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEHAVIORAL INTEGRATION.

Top management teams ("TMTs") make strategic decisions that affect organizational performance. As a result, top management team decision making has become of great interest to researchers in the field of strategic management. Among other things, researchers have found that TMTs must manage conflict effectively in order to make effective decisions. Specifically, TMTs must learn how to gain the benefits cognitive conflict (task-oriented disagreement) while avoiding the costs of affective conflict (emotional and relationship disagreement). This study offers greater insight into conflict management during strategic decision making. Using data from 42 TMTs of public firms in 35 industries, we identify three factors affecting the level and type of TMT conflict: TMT heterogeneity, firm strategy, and behavioral integration. Furthermore, we provide evidence that behavioral integration, an indication of the degree to which the TMT acts like a team, is particularly important to conflict management as it moderates th.
Motivation for Self-Assignment: Factors Agile Software Developers Consider

Self-assignment is a fundamental to self-organizing teams, however, the factors that motivate agile developers to self-assign tasks are not known. In a pilot study of a software organization in India, we conducted interviews with 12 agile developers. Using descriptive statistical and thematic analysis, we identified three groups of factors motivating the self-assignment: task-based, developer-based, and opinion-based factors. We found that agile developers give precedence to task-based and developer-based factors over opinion-based factors. Furthermore, majority of the participants preferred to self-assign tasks that give them an opportunity to learn new technology, tools, and domains. This knowledge can be applied to let team members better select tasks of their interest and to conduct future studies into this topic.
Riboswitch-based antibacterial drug discovery using high-throughput screening methods

Introduction: Bacterial riboswitches are structured RNA domains usually residing at the 5′ untranslated region of messenger RNAs that can directly bind specific metabolites. They serve as logic gates regulating gene expression. As a result, riboswitches enable mRNAs to regulate their own expression without the need for any regulatory proteins. The first riboswitches were found just 10 years ago. Over the last decade, more than dozen different riboswitch classes were identified in many bacterial species, and their number is still growing. These findings indicate that bacteria widely use RNA switches to sense changes in cell physiology and to regulate metabolic pathways. Areas covered: The authors discuss the main mechanisms for riboswitch control of gene expression in bacteria. Various riboswitch classes were found in human bacterial pathogens to control the synthesis of essential cell metabolites as discussed in this review. Some riboswitches can be used as novel targets for antibacterial drug discovery. This review presents the current and possible future high-throughput screening approaches for targeting riboswitches in the process of drug development. Expert opinion: Bacterial riboswitches of 17 different classes are discovered in 36 human bacterial pathogens that can be targeted for addressing the ever-growing need for new antibiotics. In this regard, the adaptation of various in silico, in vitro, and in vivo high-throughput screening methods for probing specific RNA switches are crucial for the success of antibacterial drug discovery process.
Easier Access to Venture Capital in Silicon Valley: Some Empirical Evidence

Spurred by the remarkable growth of Silicon Valley prior to the Internet bubble, state policymakers throughout the country decided to boost the availability of venture capital to local start-up companies. This paper argues that there is still a great deal to learn from empirical data about the role of the venture capital industry in Silicon Valley. It is shown that Silicon Valley received a large proportion of the nation's total venture capital investment during 1992-2001 and that start-ups in Silicon Valley appear to have easier access to venture capital. They receive the first round of venture capital at a younger age and complete more rounds of venture capital financing. This easier access to capital has a significant effect on start-up performance in Silicon Valley. While the easier access may simply be a result of the higher supply of monetary capital in Silicon Valley, it is also consistent with the view that venture capital in Silicon Valley comes with more human and social capital.
An Inter-Cultural Communication Approach to Teaching Business Korean: A Case Study of a Mock Negotiation between Korean and American College Students

This study demonstrates that inter-cultural negotiators, one of whom is a bi-cultural American well-versed in the other’s culture, realized similar joint gains to intra-cultural Korean negotiators. The conclusion of this study is that bi-culturals, who are aware of the cultural difference and social distance, were able to close social distance and produce joint gains that were similar to the result of intra-cultural negotiation. This study also emphasizes the development of pedagogical methods to increase KFL (Korean as a foreign language) learners’ inter-cultural awareness and overcome cultural prejudices, so that they can foster cultural and linguistic competence in inter-cultural business negotiations.
Corporate Governance and Management Earnings Forecast

This paper empirically examines the relationship between corporate governance structure and management earnings forecast or pre-announcement. We find that firms controlled by local SOEs and non-state legal persons are less likely to disclose management earnings forecast or pre-announcement. Firms controlled by central and local government are more likely to disclose management earnings forecast or pre-announcement. Among the firms controlled by local SOEs and non-state legal persons, as the largest shareholder's holding increases, a firm is less likely to disclose management earnings forecast or pre-announcement. There is no evidence that institutional investors, board size, and independent directors have impact on a firm's management earnings forecast or pre-announcement disclosure. A firm's financial pedormance, such as market-to-book ratio, leverage ratio and return on assets (ROA), has significant impact on firm's management earnings forecast or pre-announcement disclosure.