Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk Management and Corporate Governance: The Importance of Independence and Financial Knowledge

This paper provides an independent assessment of the effects of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Sarbanes Oxley act (SOX) requirements of independence and financial literacy on the use of derivatives for hedging purposes. Our original hand collected database on directors' university education and financial experience allows multiple definitions of financial knowledge. We show that financially educated directors encourage the use of derivatives as opposed to directors with only financial experience or accounting background. We also find evidence that shareholders are better off with financially qualified board and audit committee members. Specifically, we provide the first direct evidence showing that graduate education of the board including the CEO is an important determinant of the hedging activity using derivatives.
The Future of Research in Marketing: Marketing Science

This February 1993 issue begins the 30th Anniversary volume of the Journal of Marketing Research. The academic marketing discipline, as reflected in the articles published in JMR, has certainly changed dramatically over this time period. To reflect on these changes and generate discussion about the future directions for marketing research, I have asked several marketing scholars to prepare guest editorials. It is fitting that Frank Bass write the first of these guest editorials. Professor Bass is a former editor of the JMR and a recipient of the William O'Dell Award for the best paper published in JMR, the Paul D. Converse Award for outstanding contributions to marketing science and theory, and the Richard D. Irwin/American Marketing Association Distinguished Marketing Educator Award. In addition to his research published in the leading marketing and management science journals. Professor Bass has made significant contributions through his former doctoral students who are professors in leading management schools across the world. —Barton A. Weitz, Editor
Deal evaluation and purchase intention: the impact of aspirational and market‐based internal reference prices

While there has been much debate in the reference pricing literature on the most appropriate conceptualization of internal reference price used by consumers in evaluating deals, the question of whether consumers may use different internal reference prices at different stages of the purchase process has not been addressed. In this article, we hypothesize that consumers may use one type of internal reference price to form their deal attitude and another to determine their purchase intentions. We also show that different dimensions of internal reference price are used to determine deal attitude and purchase intention and that price uncertainty moderates the relationship between these internal reference prices and deal evaluation.
The Economics of Railways Restructuring in South Korea

South Korea, like many countries, is engaged in a policy debate concerning possible railways reforms. However, unlike most countries, here the focus of discussion has been the government’s proposal to open high-speed passenger train lines to a second train company that would supply on-track competition to KTX trains. While such a policy may indeed lead to lower fares and greater efficiency, worldwide experience casts doubt on the government’s hope that it would lead to such dramatic increases in ridership that the level of subsidies to the overall rail system could be reduced. We argue that a more promising reform strategy may be to introduce competition into freight rail. Based on the Latin American experience, creating independent, vertically integrated, competing freight railway companies could be expected not only to lower shipper rates and increase efficiency but also to raise considerable revenues from the private sector in franchising fees and new investments.
LRP1-Dependent Endocytic Mechanism Governs the Signaling Output of the Bmp System in Endothelial Cells and in Angiogenesis

Rationale: Among the extracellular modulators of Bmp (bone morphogenetic protein) signaling, Bmper (Bmp endothelial cell precursor-derived regulator) both enhances and inhibits Bmp signaling. Recently we found that Bmper modulates Bmp4 activity via a concentration-dependent, endocytic trap-and–sink mechanism. Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanisms required for endocytosis of the Bmper/Bmp4 and signaling complex and determine the mechanism of Bmper's differential effects on Bmp4 signaling. Methods and Results: Using an array of biochemical and cell biology techniques, we report that LRP1 (LDL receptor-related protein 1), a member of the LDL receptor family, acts as an endocytic receptor for Bmper and a coreceptor of Bmp4 to mediate the endocytosis of the Bmper/Bmp4 signaling complex. Furthermore, we demonstrate that LRP1-dependent Bmper/Bmp4 endocytosis is essential for Bmp4 signaling, as evidenced by the phenotype of lrp1-deficient zebrafish, which have abnormal cardiovascular development and decreased Smad1/5/8 activity in key vasculogenic structures. Conclusions: Together, these data reveal a novel role for LRP1 in the regulation of Bmp4 signaling by regulating receptor complex endocytosis. In addition, these data introduce LRP1 as a critical regulator of vascular development. These observations demonstrate Bmper's ability to fine-tune Bmp4 signaling at the single-cell level, unlike the spatial regulatory mechanisms applied by other Bmp modulators.
Fault tolerant control approach based on multiple models and set-membership state estimation

This paper proposes a new Fault Tolerant Control technique based on the Multiple Models approach for linear systems with bounded perturbations and measurement noises. The consistency of each model with the measurements is checked at each sample time, using an ellipsoidal set-membership state estimation. A Min-Max Model Predictive Control is developed in order to find the optimal control and the best model in spite of the simultaneous presence of component and/or actuator and/or sensor faults. An illustrative example is analyzed in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Vascular receptor autoantibodies in pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis.

RATIONALE Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) portends worse outcome than other forms of PAH. Vasoconstrictive and vascular remodeling actions of endothelin (ET) 1 and angiotensin (Ang) II via endothelin receptor type A (ETAR) and Ang receptor type-1 (AT1R) activation are implicated in PAH pathogenesis. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that stimulating autoantibodies (Abs) targeting and activating AT1R and ETAR may contribute to SSc-PAH pathogenesis, and tested their functional and biomarker relevance. METHODS Anti-AT1R and -ETAR Abs were detected by ELISA in different cohorts of patients and tested in vitro and in an animal model for their pathophysiological effects. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The Abs were significantly higher and more prevalent in patients with SSc-PAH (n = 81) and connective tissue disease-associated PAH (n = 110) compared with other forms of PAH/pulmonary hypertension (n = 106). High anti-AT1R and anti-ETAR Abs predicted development of SSc-PAH and SSc-PAH-related mortality in a prospective analysis. Both Abs increased endothelial cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations in isolated perfused rat lungs, which could be blocked by respective specific receptor antagonists. Ab-mediated stimulation of intralobar pulmonary rat artery ring segments increased vasoconstrictive responses to Ang II and ET-1, and implicated cross-talk between both pathways demonstrated by reciprocal blockade with respective antagonists. Transfer of SSc-IgG containing both autoantibodies into healthy C57BL/6J mice led to more abundant vascular and airway α-smooth muscle actin expression and inflammatory pulmonary vasculopathy. CONCLUSIONS Anti-AT1R and -ETAR Abs are more frequent in SSc-PAH/connective tissue disease-PAH compared with other forms of pulmonary hypertension, and serve as predictive and prognostic biomarkers in SSc-PAH. Both antibodies may contribute to SSc-PAH via increased vascular endothelial reactivity and induction of pulmonary vasculopathy.
Injury Management: The Development and Implementation of Innovative Software in an Elite Sporting Club

This paper explores the business processes of injury tracking and the adoption of the term “injury management” in the context of elite athletes. It does this through a study of the development and implementation of innovative software which captures and manages critical knowledge concerning injuries and their management in an elite sporting club. Key findings indicate that injury management is a much broader concept than previously considered in the health and medical literature. Understanding the broader context for injury management provides an opportunity to use technology for competitive advantage, thus influencing the way elite sporting clubs and their business processes are perceived.
Modeling and Simulation of Online Customer Loyalty Based on Analysis of Big Data

A modeling method of online customer loyalty based on big data analysis is put forward. The influencing factors of online customer loyalty is analyzed in details,and then an evaluation model of customer loyalty is built. The hidden variables impacting the online customer loyalty are predicted by using the partial least squares for the evaluation model,the big data based algorithm is used to simplify and eliminate the redundant attributes of hidden variable in the modelling of the online customer loyalty. Finally,a high quality model of customer loyalty is established. The simulation result shows that the improved method has high accuracy and strong stability.
Modulation of ecotropic murine retroviruses by N-linked glycosylation of the cell surface receptor/amino acid transporter

The cell surface receptor for ecotropic host-range (infection limited to mice or rats) murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) is the widely expressed system y+ transporter for cationic amino acids (CAT-1). Like other retroviruses, ecotropic MuLV infection eliminates virus-binding sites from cell surfaces and results in complete interference to superinfection. Surprisingly, infection causes only partial (ca 40 to 60%) loss of mouse CAT-1 transporter activity. The NIH/Swiss mouse CAT-1 (mCAT-1) contains 622 amino acids with 14 hydrophobic potential membrane-spanning sequences, and it is known that the third extracellular loop from the amino terminus is required for virus binding. Although loop 3 is hypervariable in different species and mouse strains, consistent with its proposed role in virus-host coevolution, loop 3 sequences of both susceptible and resistant species contain consensus sites for N-linked glycosylation. Both of the consensus sites in loop 3 of mCAT-1 are known to be glycosylated and to contain oligosaccharides with diverse sizes (J. W. Kim and J. M. Cunningham, J. Biol. Chem. 268:16316-16320, 1993). We confirmed by several lines of evidence that N-linked glycosylation occludes a potentially functional virus-binding site in the CAT-1 protein of hamsters, thus contributing to resistance of that species. To study the role of receptor glycosylation in animals susceptible to infection, we eliminated loop 3 glycosylation sites by mutagenesis of an mCAT-1 cDNA clone, and we expressed wild-type and mutant receptors in mink fibroblasts and Xenopus oocytes. These receptors had indistinguishable transport properties, as determined by kinetic and voltage-jump electrophysiological studies of arginine uptake in oocytes and by analyses Of L-[3H]arginine uptake in mink cells. Bindings of ecotropic envelope glycoprotein gp7O to the accessible receptor sites on surfaces of mink cells expressing wild-type or mutant mCAT-1 were not significantly different in kinetics or in equilibrium affinities (i.e., K(D) approximately 3.7 X 10(-10) to 7.5 X 10(-10) M). However, when values were normalized to the same levels of mCAT-1 transporter expression, cells with wild-type glycosylated mCAT-1 had only approximately 50% as many sites for gp70 binding as cells with unglycosylated mCAT-1. Although infection with ecotropic MuLV had no effect on activity of the mink CAT-1 transporter that does not bind virus, it caused partial down-modulation of wild-type mCAT-1 and complete down-modulation of unglycosylated mutant mCAT-1. These results suggest that N-linked glycosylation causes wild-type mCAT-1 heterogeneity and that a significant proportion is inaccessible to virus. In part because only the interactive fraction of mCAT-1 can be down-modulated, infected murine cells conserve an amino acid transport capability that supports their viability.
Signature lipid biomarker [SLB] analysis in determining changes in community structure of soil microorganisms

Signature lipid biomarker (SLB) analysis is a useful tool for identifying microorganisms and characterizing microbial communities in natural systems. Specific fatty acids, especially phospholipids (PLFA), are essential membrane components, make up a relatively constant proportion of the microorganisms under natural conditions and their patterns provide insight into the bacterial and fungal community structure and biomass. This method is based on direct extraction of fatty acids from cultured bacteria or environmental samples and determining the isolated methyl ester fatty acids (FAME) using gas chromatography (GC). Several PLFAs are useful markers for the detection of the specific groups, and whole cell fatty acid analysis is used for routine identification of microbial species. The fatty acid analysis has been successfully applied for the characterization of microbial communities from agricultural soils, from sites contaminated with heavy metals, aromatic compounds, alkaline dust, acid rain and from other diverse habitats.
Effect of filler content on the microtensile bond strength of composite resin and dentin in Class I cavities.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of filler content on microtensile bond strength (Μ-TBS) in Class I cavities. METHOD AND MATERIALS Experimental composites with filler contents of 80%, 76%, 70%, 60%, and 50% by weight were used. Polymerization shrinkage was measured with Acuvol, and a three-point flexural test was performed to determine flexural properties. For evaluation of Μ-TBS, 25 extracted human molars were randomly divided into five groups and Class I cavities were prepared. After filling with one of the experimental composites and curing for 40 seconds, teeth were serially sectioned perpendicular to the cavity floor. Stick-shaped samples were tested with a microtensile tester. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests. RESULTS Significant correlations were found between filler content and polymerization shrinkage (r = -0.973, P < .05) and the filler content and Young modulus (r = 0.891, P < .05). Different filler contents in the experimental composites had no significant effect on Μ-TBS or flexural strength. CONCLUSION In a Class I cavity model, this in vitro study showed that the filler content did not influence the flexural strength of experimental composite resins and had no effect on the microtensile bond strength between composite resin and dentin.
Chloramination of wastewater effluent: Toxicity and formation of disinfection byproducts

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Chloramination of wastewater effluent: Toxicity and formation of disinfection byproducts Julien Le Roux, Michael J. Plewa, Elizabeth D. Wagner, Maolida Nihemaiti, Azra Dad, Jean-Philippe Croué
Inflammatory cytokine response in patients with septic shock secondary to generalized peritonitis

Objectives: The aims of this study were the following: a) to assess the proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]‐α, interleukin [IL]‐1, and IL‐6) response in patients with septic shock secondary to generalized peritonitis; and b) to evaluate the influence of bacteremic status, type of peritonitis (acute perforation or postoperative), and peritoneal microbial status (mono‐ or polymicrobial) on cytokine expression and mortality. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients: Fifty‐two consecutive patients with septic shock caused by generalized peritonitis. Interventions: Routine blood tests, blood cultures, and cytokine assays were performed during the first 3 days after onset of shock. Measurements and Main Results: Serum TNF‐α and IL‐6 concentrations were measured by using a radioimmunoassay, and IL‐1 concentrations were measured by using ELISA. Median serum concentrations on day 1 were: TNF‐α, 90 pg/mL; IL‐1, 7 pg/mL; and IL‐6, 5000 pg/mL. TNF‐α and IL‐6 concentrations decreased significantly between the first and third days of septic shock (p = .0001), whereas IL‐1 concentrations remained low. The decrease in IL‐6 tended to be more pronounced in the survivors group (p = .057). Median TNF‐α serum concentrations were higher in bacteremic compared with nonbacteremic patients (151 vs. 73 pg/mL, p = .003). TNF‐α, IL‐1, and IL‐6 serum concentrations and mortality were not different between acute perforation vs. postoperative peritonitis and mono‐ versus polymicrobial peritonitis. Conclusions: The systemic release of TNF‐α and IL‐6 during septic shock caused by generalized peritonitis was maximal on day 1 and decreased rapidly during the next days. No systemic release of IL‐1 was observed. IL‐6 serum concentrations remained higher in patients who subsequently died. Among the different features of peritonitis studied, only bacteremia influenced the systemic cytokine response (higher TNF‐α).
ANALYZING THE EFFECTF QUALITY OF FOOD, SERVICE, AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CASE STUDY OF CABAL DINING

ABSTRACT The primary needs of food resulted in booming of culinary industry. Recently, in Manado city, the culinary business is growing rapidly. Customer satisfaction is the most fundamental asset in this industry because it is the key to sustainable competitive advantage. The study aims: (1) To identify the effect of Quality of Food, Service and Physical Environment on Customer Satisfaction simultaneously, (2) To identify the effect of Quality of food on Customer Satisfaction partially, and (3) To identify the effect of Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction partially, (4) To identify the effect of Physical Environment on Customer Satisfaction partially. 130 people of Manado city by incident sampling randomly were surveyed as respondents. The result shows that food quality has a significant influence to customer satisfaction, service quality has a significant effect to customer satisfaction, and physical environment has a significant effect to customer satisfaction. Keywords: Food Quality, Service Quality, Physical Environment Quality, Customer Satisfaction
Ultrastructural Features of Alveolar Lesions in Induced Respiratory Syncytial Virus Pneumonia of Calves

Ultrastructural changes occurred in alveolar epithelium in the acute and repair stages of induced respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia induced in eight calves (calf Nos. 1–7, 3 to 6 days old and calf No. 8, 2 weeks old), using a bovine strain of respiratory syncytial virus. Five of the calves were Friesians, three were Hereford x Friesians, and all were male. Tissues from three mock-infected control calves (two Friesian, one Hereford x Friesian) were also examined. Evidence of respiratory syncytial virus infection was observed in both type I and type II pneumocytes from day 4 to day 8 after infection. Infection of type I pneumocytes frequently resulted in necrosis. The response of type II pneumocytes to respiratory syncytial virus infection varied and included hypertrophy, hyperplasia, and syneytial formation. In some infected type II pneumocytes, there were numerous irregular projections of the cell surface, associated with viral budding. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of type II pneumocytes, epithelial syncytium formation, and irregular cytoplasmic projections from epithelial cells caused considerable thickening of respiratory membrane and occlusion of alveolar lumina. Neutrophils were frequently observed in close association with virus-infected epithelial cells, but evidence of respiratory syncytial virus infection and replication was not observed in alveolar macrophages or neutrophils. Proliferation of type II pneumocytes appeared to play a major role in maintaining the integrity of the alveolar epithelium during the acute stage of the experimental pneumonia. Increased numbers of type II pneumocytes were present on alveolar walls, particularly from 4 to 8 days after infection, and some alveoli were lined entirely by this cell type. In some areas, however, squamous epithelial cells were also involved in covering exposed alveolar basement membrane.
Fetal gender and pregnancy outcomes in Libya: a retrospective study

Objective: The relationship between pregnancy outcomes and fetal gender is well reported from different areas in the world, but not from Africa. In this study, we try to understand whether the recorded phenomenon of association of adverse pregnancy outcomes with a male fetus applies to our population. Materials and methods: A total of 29,140 patient records from 2009 and 2010 were retrieved from Aljalaa Maternity Hospital, Tripoli, Libya. Analysis was carried out to find the correlation between fetal gender and different pregnancy outcomes. Results: A male fetus was associated with an increased incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (odds risk 1.4), preterm delivery (6.7% for males, 5.5% for females, odds risk 1.24), cesarean section (23.9% for males, 20% for females, odds risk 1.25), and instrumental vaginal delivery (4.4% for males, 3.1% for females, odds risk 1.48), p<0.005. Preeclampsia was more frequent among preterm females and postterm males, p<0.005. It was also more frequent in male-bearing primigravids, p<0.01. Conclusion: We confirm the existence of an adverse effect of a male fetus on pregnancy and labor in our population. We recommend further research to understand the mechanisms and clinical implications of this phenomenon.