Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The retailer's role in car distribution : a study of competitiveness, market communication, and knowledge in a changing context

This licentiate thesis, entitled The Retailer's Role in Car Distribution, deals with three areas important to the understanding of retail strategies and the retailer's role in the distribution of cars. First of all, different views on competitiveness are analyzed. Second, market communication and brand issues, which have gained increased interest in the last years, are investigated. Third, the processing of market knowledge is examined - retailers are bearers of market knowledge, which might be used for developing products and customer services. Retail strategies for metro, city, and rural areas are proposed, influenced by the emergence of new distribution arrangements. The emerging multitude of distribution arrangements makes it important for the retailers to be aware of and develop their competitive advantages. The choice of brand separation or dual franchising strategies is discussed - the former ensures brand-specific experiences whereas the latter means lower costs. The analysis is concluded with three scenarios, each describing a possible future development of car distribution.
Embryonic stem cells neural differentiation qualifies the role of Wnt/β‐Catenin signals in human telencephalic specification and regionalization

Wnt‐ligands are among key morphogens that mediate patterning of the anterior territories of the developing brain in mammals. We qualified the role of Wnt‐signals in regional specification and subregional organization of the human telencephalon using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). One step neural conversion of hPSCs using SMAD inhibitors leads to progenitors with a default rostral identity. It provides an ideal biological substrate for investigating the role of Wnt signaling in both anteroposterior and dorso‐ventral processes. Challenging hPSC‐neural derivatives with Wnt‐antagonists, alone or combined with sonic hedgehog (Shh), we found that Wnt‐inhibition promote both telencephalic specification and ventral patterning of telencephalic neural precursors in a dose‐dependent manner. Using optimal Wnt‐antagonist and Shh‐agonist signals we produced human ventral‐telencephalic precursors, committed to differentiation into striatal projection neurons both in vitro and in vivo after homotypic transplantation in quinolinate‐lesioned rats. This study indicates that sequentially organized Wnt‐signals play a key role in the development of human ventral telencephalic territories from which the striatum arise. In addition, the optimized production of hPSC‐derived striatal cells described here offers a relevant biological resource for exploring and curing Huntington disease. Stem Cells 2013;31:1763‐1774
Narrowing candidate region for monosomy 9p syndrome to a 4.7‐Mb segment at 9p22.2‐p23

A 2‐year‐old boy with clinical manifestations of monosomy 9p syndrome and brown hair is described. G‐banding and chromosome FISH studies demonstrated complex rearrangements involving seven breakpoints in chromosomes 2 and 9, which included a 6.6‐Mb deletion at 9p22.2‐p23. This, together with previous studies in the literature, narrowed the shortest region of overlap (SRO) for the syndrome to a 4.7‐Mb interval. Candidate genes for trigonocephaly, mental retardation, and brown hair are discussed. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 isoenzyme expression as a marker of cancer stem cells correlates to histopathological features in head and neck cancer: A meta-analysis

There is a lack of predictive biomarkers that can identify patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who will experience treatment failure and develop drug resistance, recurrence, and metastases. Cancer stem-like cells (CSC) were identified as a subset of cells within the tumor in a variety of solid tumors including HNSCC. CSC are considered the tumor-initiating population responsible for recurrence or metastasis and are associated with therapy resistance. This meta-analysis including fourteen studies with altogether 1258 patients updates and summarizes all relevant data on the impact of ALDH1+ CSC on the prognosis of HNSCC and its association with clinicopathological parameters. ALDH1 expression is highly correlated with tumor differentiation (G3 vs. G1+G2; odds ratio = 2.85. 95% CI: 1.72–4.73, P<0.0001) and decreased overall survival (relative risk = 1.77. 95% CI: 1.41–2.22, P<0.0001) if one out of seven studies was excluded because of heterogeneity. These findings provide insights into the understanding of more aggressive tumor phenotypes and also suggest that the prognostic value provided by HNSCC-subtyping by CSC frequency warrant further clinical investigation.
Dictyostelium LvsB has a regulatory role in endosomal vesicle fusion

ABSTRACT Defects in human lysosomal-trafficking regulator (Lyst) are associated with the lysosomal disorder Chediak–Higashi syndrome. The absence of Lyst results in the formation of enlarged lysosome-related compartments, but the mechanism for how these compartments arise is not well established. Two opposing models have been proposed to explain Lyst function. The fission model describes Lyst as a positive regulator of fission from lysosomal compartments, whereas the fusion model identifies Lyst as a negative regulator of fusion between lysosomal vesicles. Here, we used assays that can distinguish between defects in vesicle fusion versus fission. We compared the phenotype of Dictyostelium discoideum cells defective in LvsB, the ortholog of Lyst, with that of two known fission defect mutants (&mgr;3- and WASH-null mutants). We found that the temporal localization characteristics of the post-lysosomal marker vacuolin, as well as vesicular acidity and the fusion dynamics of LvsB-null cells are distinct from those of both &mgr;3- and WASH-null fission defect mutants. These distinctions are predicted by the fusion defect model and implicate LvsB as a negative regulator of vesicle fusion.
Knowledge and practices of mothers about infants' diarrheal episodes.

OBJECTIVES To study the socioeconomic correlates of infants' diarrhea as well as infants' mothers' knowledge and practice concerning diarrheal diseases. METHODS Study subjects included 300 infants (150 from Sulaimania Pediatrics Hospital and 150 from the Maternal and Childrens Hospital) with diarrheal episodes during the study period selected by systematic random sampling. Data was collected via a structured open ended pilot tested modified questionnaire filled in by trained Arabic speaking research assistants who interviewed mothers about the diarrheal aspects of their infants, assessed their knowledge and practices concerning diarrheal diseases in children as well as collecting the necessary sociodemographic characteristics of the mothers, fathers and infants themselves. RESULTS The majority of parents of infants with diarrhea were illiterate or can just read and write, mothers were mostly young aged 20 - 29 years, family income for about 40% of the subjects was less than 5000 Saudi Riyals per month. Diarrheal episodes were mostly in infants 6 months or less in age, mostly the first child in order with males more affected than females. Mothers' knowledge about many aspects of diarrhea was grossly deficient but tends to increase with increasing age, educational level, and birth order. Mothers' practices were better but still deficient and sources of information about diarrhea was mostly from non health professionals. CONCLUSION Intervention strategies to control infants diarrheal episodes needs to be through an integrated approach aiming at boosting mothers' knowledge and improving their practice concerning diarrhea and improving the families socioeconomic status and encouraging all health professionals to act as a readily available source for health information about diarrhea and other important health problems.
Does ownership structure matter for publicly listed companies performance in Malaysia

The word of corporate governance has become a very important concept that requires many countries around the world to concentrate on its reformation. Globalisation of markets, open markets competition, and international business has generated awareness about the importance of improving corporate governance practices. Protecting shareholders and other stakeholders are also being attentive agenda and play important roles in corporate governance reforms due to ensure their value creation and their right as the owner of the shares. This article attempts to address this issue by examining the relationship between ownership structure and firm performance. The hypothesis is tested by assessing the impact of the structure of ownership on firm performance, using data for 237 Malaysia Public Listed Companies (PLCs). Therefore, this paper will provide an insight into further understanding on the issue of the relationship between ownership structure and firm performance Keywords: Corporate governance, ownership structure, shareholders, firm performance
Regulating Executive Pay: Using the Tax Code to Influence CEO Compensation

This study explores corporate responses to 1993 legislation, implemented as section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, that capped the corporate tax deductibility of top management compensation at $1 million per executive unless it qualified as substantially performance-based. ' We detail the provisions of this regulation, describe its possible effects, and test its impact on U.S. CEO compensation during the 1990s. Data on nearly 1400 publicly-traded U.S. corporations are used to explore the determinants of section 162(m) compensation plan qualification and the effect of section 162(m) on CEO pay. Our analysis suggests that section 162(m) may have created a focal point' for salary compensation, leading some salary compression close to the deductibility cap. There is weak evidence that compensation plan qualification is associated with higher growth rates, as would be the case if qualification relaxed some political constraints on executive pay. There is little evidence that the deductibility cap has had significant effects on overall executive compensation levels or growth rates at firms likely to be affected by the deductibility cap, however, nor is there evidence that it has increased the performance sensitivity of CEO pay at these firms. We conclude that corporate pay decisions seem to be relatively insulated from this type of blunt policy intervention.
The Emergence of Wireless Networks

AbstractThe purpose of this chapter is to provide organisations with a better understanding of how they can manage rapidly developing information and communication technology, and particularly wireless networks that have evolved into several technological standards in recent years. Case analyses of two large organisations, called here Metro University and Urban Healthcare Centre, demonstrated collective patterns of how organisational legitimacy was changed. More specifically organisational legitimacy, in relation to wireless networks and IT management, was often enhanced by the recognition and/or appreciation from three major groups of stakeholders: external customers who were normally prospective users, internal customers who were the existing users, and the IT staff members who provided services to the user groups. Our empirical findings suggest that certain social values such as prospective customers' recognition, internal customers' satisfaction, and existing IT staff members' appreciation might help shape an organisation's long turn image and legitimacy. They might not provide immediate profitability and growth, but their effects could be sustained over time and help organisations to survive and ultimately thrive. Organisations situated in today's rapidly changing IT and wireless environment might thus need to reconsider how to better capture various social values derived from IT and wireless network projects, and in turn help legitimise their innovative status that might ultimately ensure long-lasting survival.
An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship between Cost Accounting Systems Structure and Cost Reporting Attributes: Evidence from Syria

To be useful for decision making, costing reports produced by the cost accounting system should be characterized by various attributes (relevance, summarization, accuracy, etc.). This paper aims at exploring the associations between cost systems and the quality of costing reports attributes, specifically the cost accounting systems structures in terms of level of details, level of disaggregation, variances calculation, and frequency of reporting. It also intends to explain the variance in report attributes. Data collected from Syrian Corporations listed in the Syrian Commission of Financial Markets & Securities using the survey strategy. Questionnaires were sent by email and data was collected during the first three months in 2014. The empirical analysis supported the theoretical argument between cost accounting systems structure and costing report attributes. However, explaining the variance in report attributes by cost systems structure has not yet been studied in management accounting literature, which is the main contribution of this study. It is believed that managerial reporting has not got sufficient attention comparing with financial reporting by accounting researchers.
Depression, drinking, and substance use among 14- to 16-year-old Finnish adolescents

Our aim was to assess the relationship between self-reported depression, alcohol consumption, and substance use among 14- to 16-year-olds. A school survey was conducted of 16,464 14- to 16-year-olds in two regions of Finland. Alcohol and other substance use were found to be significantly associated with depression. Of girls (boys) who reported drinking weekly, 24% (13%) scored as depressed, compared with 7% (4%) of those not drinking. Of girls (boys) who reported having experimented with substances five times or more, 37% (28%) scored as depressed compared with 8% (5%) of those who reported never having experimented with substances. These associations persisted in multivariate analyses controlling for sociodemographic background. In conclusion, frequent drinking and experimenting with substances indicate a risk for adolescent depressive disorders, and depressive adolescents are at risk for substance use. Health services should pay attention to the identified depressive adolescents to prevent the possibly subsequent substance use problems among them and also pay attention to frequently drinking adolescents and substance experimenters, to increase identification of depressive disorder and possibilities for early interventions.
Multipathway Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon and Pyrene Exposure Among Children Living in Campania (Italy)

Multipathway exposure to Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Pyrene (Py) was studied among children ages 7–9 living in two areas of the Campania Region (South-Italy) classified as urban and rural. During five consecutive days PAHs and Py were detected in air samples from outdoors, indoors (school and home), individuals at inhalatory levels, and in food and beverages (defined as food) consumed daily by each child. 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was detected in children's urine. Gender, weight and height of each subject were recorded, and the personal Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated. The type of home heating, the presence of smokers and the number of cigarettes smoked at home was determined. Total PAH and Py median concentrations in outdoor air from urban areas were 1.70 ng m−3 and 0.19 ng m−3, respectively while in rural areas they were 1.10 ng m−3 and 0.14 ng m−3. Indoor air total PAH and Py median concentrations were 2.50 ng m−3 and 0.15 ng m−3, respectively for urban areas, and 4.10 ng m−3 and 0.15 ng m−3 for rural areas. In food the total PAH and Py median levels were 10.44 and 0.81 μg Kg−1 in urban areas and 18.90 and 0.90 μg Kg−1 in rural areas. The median urinary levels of 1-OHP for urban and rural children were 0.07 and 0.06 μmol/mol creat. , respectively. From these data, food appears to be the most relevant source of exposure to PAHs and Py. The Py intake from single (food or air) or total (food and air) pathways did not significantly correlate with the urinary 1-OHP excreted daily for each child during all 5 days of observation.
The doublesex Splicing Enhancer Components Tra2 and Rbp1 Also Repress Splicing through an Intronic Silencer

ABSTRACT The activation of sex-specific alternative splice sites in the Drosophila melanogaster doublesex and fruitless pre-mRNAs has been well studied and depends on the serine-arginine-rich (SR) splicing factors Tra, Tra2, and Rbp1. Little is known, however, about how SR factors negatively regulate splice sites in other RNAs. Here we examine how Tra2 blocks splicing of the M1 intron from its own transcript. We identify an intronic splicing silencer (ISS) adjacent to the M1 branch point that is sufficient to confer Tra2-dependent repression on another RNA. The ISS was found to function independently of its position within the intron, arguing against the idea that bound repressors function by simply interfering with branch point accessibility to general splicing factors. Conserved subelements of the silencer include five short repeated sequences that are required for Tra2 binding but differ from repeated binding sites found in Tra2-dependent splicing enhancers. The ISS also contains a consensus binding site for Rbp1, and this protein was found to facilitate repression of M1 splicing both in vitro and in Drosophila larvae. In contrast to the cooperative binding of SR proteins observed on the doublesex splicing enhancer, we found that Rbp1 and Tra2 bind to the ISS independently through distinct sequences. Our results suggest that functionally synergistic interactions of these SR factors can cause either splicing activation or repression.
Health care reform in the former Soviet Union: beyond the transition.

OBJECTIVE To assess accessibility and affordability of health care in eight countries of the former Soviet Union. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Primary data collection conducted in 2010 in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional household survey using multistage stratified random sampling. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS Data were collected using standardized questionnaires with subjects aged 18+ on demographic, socioeconomic, and health care access characteristics. Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses were used. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Almost half of respondents who had a health problem in the previous month which they viewed as needing care had not sought care. Respondents significantly less likely to seek care included those living in Armenia, Georgia, or Ukraine, in rural areas, aged 35-49, with a poor household economic situation, and high alcohol consumption. Cost was most often cited as the reason for not seeking health care. Most respondents who did obtain care made out-of-pocket payments, with median amounts varying from $13 in Belarus to $100 in Azerbaijan. CONCLUSIONS Access to health care and within-country inequalities appear to have improved over the past decade. However, considerable problems remain, including out-of-pocket payments and unaffordability despite efforts to improve financial protection.
Retzius-sparing Robotic-assisted Radical Prostatectomy Associated with Less Bladder Neck Descent and Better Early Continence Outcome.

BACKGROUND/AIM We attempted to evaluate the association of early continence outcome of Retzius-sparing robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and bladder neck descent with postoperative cystography. PATIENTS AND METHODS From November 2014 to December 2015, 30 patients with prostate cancer who received Retzius-sparing LRP/ RARP were compared to 30 patients that received retropubic approach RARP with propensity score matching analysis. Cystogram was used to evaluate the bladder neck descent using the bladder neck to pubic symphysis (BNPS) ratio and the continence state was evaluated. RESULTS A total 60 patients were included 30 of which had received Retzius-sparing and 30 the retropubic approach, using propensity score matching analysis. There was no difference in age, prostate size, pathology T stage and PSA among groups. BNPS ratio is significantly low in the Retzius-sparing group (0.25±0.10 vs. 0.46±0.14, p=0.000). Early continence was improved in the Retzius-sparing group and early continence within the first week was 73.3% compared to 26.7% (p=0.000), but no difference was seen at one year (100.0% vs. 93.30%, p=0.150). The independent risk factors affecting post-operative continence were age and approach. The association between less bladder neck descent as BNP ratio and continence was also confirmed (HR=0.048, 95%CI=0.005-0.420, p=0.006). CONCLUSION With the advantage of more normal pelvic anatomy preserved in Retzius-sparing RARP, it was associated with less bladder neck descent and better early continence outcome. Age was also an independent risk factor for postoperative continence.
Slow Response to Entecavir Treatment in Treatment-Naive HBV Patients is Conditioned by Immune Response Rather than by the Presence or Selection of Refractory Variants

Background Entecavir is the drug of choice as first-line treatment for treatment-naive HBV patients. As a result of the high genetic barrier to resistance, treatment failure remains rare, but occurs within 3 years of initiation, suggesting that viral genetic characteristics may provide a fast lane to resistance. One of the main concerns is the long time to viral suppression observed in some (even treatment-naive) patients. The reasons for this phenomenon were investigated in a group of chronic hepatitis B treatment-naive patients. Methods Out of 23 treatment-naive patients starting entecavir, the 5 with the best and those with the worst viral load decay curves were selected for the study. Quasispecies analysis was performed for the reverse transcriptase/hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) open reading frame (ORF) by ultra-deep pyrosequencing. For each patient, the analysis was performed at baseline (T0) and when viraemia reached between 15,000 and 200 IU/ml (T1). Results The few resistance mutations present at T0 were not selected by treatment; no other resistance mutations or suggestive mutational patterns were selected at T1. Selective pressure analysis indicated that both at T0 and T1 the HBsAg ORF was subjected to a significantly higher pressure in rapid responders, especially in a region rich in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes. Conclusions The results did not provide evidence that a slower response to entecavir is due to the emergence of less sensitive variants. Rather, the lower selective pressure and variability in humoral and CTL epitopes in slow responders suggests that their immune response might be at odds in rapidly clearing infected cells from the liver.
A review of bovine tuberculosis at the wildlife–livestock–human interface in sub-Saharan Africa

SUMMARY Infection of wild animals by bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is raising concern worldwide. This article reviews the current epidemiological situation, risk of emergence and control options at the wildlife–livestock–human interface in sub-Saharan Africa. In livestock, bTB has been confirmed in the majority of countries from all parts of the continent. Wildlife infection is confirmed in seven countries from southern and eastern Africa, apparently spreading in the southern Africa region. Mycobacterium bovis has been isolated from 17 wild mammal species, although only four are suspected to play a role as maintenance host. Zoonotic risks are a concern, but no direct spillover from wildlife to humans has been documented, and no case of bTB spillback from wildlife to livestock has been confirmed. In this paper we assess the main risk factors of bTB spillover at the wildlife–livestock–human interface and suggest several research themes which could improve the control of the disease in the African context.