Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Language in Corporate Governance: The Case of Board Internationalization

Multinational corporations internationalize their corporate boardrooms in order to capitalize on their commercial and financial internationalization. Board internationalization provides access to specialized knowledge and skills, broadens social networks and ensures greater transparency of strategic decision-making. The entry of a foreign board member is often coupled with a change in the working language of the board. The purpose of the present study is to explore and explain how increased language diversity influences decision-making and work processes of corporate boards. We draw on previous research on board internationalization, diversity and language in multinational corporations. Based on a multiple case study of nine multinational corporations from four Nordic countries, we find evidence of impoverished and silenced discussions in board meetings in those case companies that were unprepared to switch to English as the new working language of the board. Some board members found it difficult to contribute to board meetings, articulate disagreement and felt socially excluded from the board. Such effects on decision-making and work processes were not found in the well-prepared companies. The study adds to the understanding of different modes to internationalize the board as a response to different forms of internationalization of the firm.
IL-7R signaling in regulatory T cells maintains peripheral and allograft tolerance in mice

Significance In mammals, regulatory T cells establish and maintain immune responses toward self- and non–self-antigens by suppression of specific T cells. Several mechanisms of suppression were previously described including starvation for IL-2, a cytokine required for T-cell expansion. Here we show that regulatory T cells (Treg) respond to IL-7, a T-cell survival factor produced by lymph node fibroblast reticular cells, by enhancing their IL-2 sensitivity, thereby limiting expansion of reactive T cells during inflammation. These findings highlight a previously unidentified and unexpected mechanism by which IL-7R signaling in Treg cells maintains peripheral and allograft tolerance. This work may contribute to design new therapeutic approaches using lower IL-2 doses in humans by enhancing the functional competence of regulatory T cells with IL-7. Foxp3+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg) have a crucial role in controlling CD4+ T-cell activation, proliferation, and effector function. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating Treg function remain poorly understood. Here we assessed the role of IL-7, a key cytokine regulating T-cell homeostasis, in suppressor capacity of Treg. Using a skin allograft model in which transplant acceptance is controlled by the number of transferred Treg, we find that Treg impair the proliferation of allogeneic CD4+ T cells, decrease production of IFNγ by effector T cells, and prevent early and increase late IL-7 induction by lymph node stromal cells. Increased IL-7 availability enhanced Treg survival, stabilized Treg molecular signature, enhanced surface IL-2Rα expression, and improved IL-2 binding of Treg, which diminished proliferation of alloreactive CD4+ T cells. Sequestration of IL-7 or impairment of IL-7R signaling after allograft transplantation abolished Treg-mediated tolerance by limiting their suppressive capacity. Aged Il7rα-ΔTreg mice displayed mild symptoms of autoimmunity correlating with impaired expansion of effector Treg in response to IL-2. Thus, IL-7R signaling on Treg supports the functional activity of effector Treg by increasing their IL-2 sensitivity in the lymph node during peripheral and allograft tolerance.
Intellectual Capital Reporting Practices: Evidence from Bangladesh

The study intends to investigate the level of awareness of Bangladeshi companies about intellectual capital and how disclosures are made in the annual reports. A content-based analysis of the complete annual reports of the 22 companies listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange was carried out for the period of 2005-2006. Result shows that the companies do not have a positive approach in reporting and interpreting the IC as the nature of IC reporting is not ample. Secondly, the main areas of intellectual capital reporting focus on internal capital. Further, the results indicate that, Intellectual capital reporting is limited to qualitative form rather than in quantitative form.
Design and Implementation of Financial Warning System based on Large Data

This dissertation is going to bring forward modern development and design of Big Data Integration for financial management system, based on limits of traditional financial management and situation under large numbers of business data accumulation. As per development and requirement of financial management, and leading-edge experience and research of financial budget and cost management combined to realities of actual operation and experience, this dissertation is going to research and promote the creative financial management and decision-making system with Big Data integration, which will carry out the capability of centralizing data, reusing valuable large numbers of business data set, providing excellent data analysis and forecasted decision-making analysis.
Research of Social Engineering Attacks in Telecommunications Fraud

Telecommunications fraud is spreading rapidly in some areas of China, which caused huge losses to the people's property. This paper analyzed the weakness and psychological factors of the victims, and revealed the nature of telecom fraud, i.e., the criminal's skilled use of social engineering for fraud, harm, and other dangerous acts, so as to obtain their own interests. In order to better combat and prevent telecom fraud, countermeasures from all angles are given. The government and law enforcement need to put more effort in the anti telecom fraud campaign and propaganda work and education programs must promptly follow up. And ordinary people need to overcome their own weakness as timid, greedy, curiosity, blind trust, and develop safety awareness, enhance privacy protection. KEYWORD: Telecommunications fraud; Social engineering; Human weakness; Psychological factors
Participatory research in rural communities in transition: A case study of the Malaspina-Ucluelet Research Alliance

This paper provides perspectives on the value of participatory research in empowering rural communities in transition. It highlights one collaborative community-university research alliance in coastal British Columbia and illustrates the benefits and challenges of close linkages between social scientists and communities. It discusses how participatory research can build capacity for successful community economic and social transitions in rural British Columbia, and how challenges and key considerations of community- researcher partnerships are addressed.
Pleiotropic Roles of Polyglycerolphosphate Synthase of Lipoteichoic Acid in Growth of Staphylococcus aureus Cells

ABSTRACT Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is one of two anionic polymers on the surface of the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. LTA is critical for the bacterium-host cell interaction and has recently been shown to be required for cell growth and division. To determine additional biological roles of LTA, we found it necessary to identify permissive conditions for the growth of an LTA-deficient mutant. We found that an LTA-deficient S. aureus ΔltaS mutant could grow at 30°C but not at 37°C. Even at the permissive temperature, ΔltaS mutant cells had aberrant cell division and separation, decreased autolysis, and reduced levels of peptidoglycan hydrolases. Upshift of ΔltaS mutant cells to a nonpermissive temperature caused an inability to exclude Sytox green dye. A high-osmolarity growth medium remarkably rescued the colony-forming ability of the ΔltaS mutant at 37°C, indicating that LTA synthesis is required for growth under low-osmolarity conditions. In addition, the ΔltaS mutation was found to be synthetically lethal with the ΔtagO mutation, which disrupts the synthesis of the other anionic polymer, wall teichoic acid (WTA), at 30°C, suggesting that LTA and WTA compensate for one another in an essential function.
Franchisee perceived relationship value

Purpose – The paper seeks to develop a conceptualization of franchisee perceived relationship value (FPRV), defined as the trade‐off between perceived net worth of tangible and intangible benefits and costs to be derived over the lifetime of the franchisor‐franchisee relationship, as perceived by the franchisee, taking into consideration the available alternative franchise relationships.Design/methodology/approach – A survey of existing literature provided the relevant constructs and concepts for developing a conceptual framework of FPRV.Findings – The behavioral aspects of the franchise relationship are explored from the franchisee's perspective, providing an alternative viewpoint of the franchise relationship.Practical implications – The paper affords a useful foundation for making decisions in a franchise relationship, such as the choice of a new franchisee. This entails a comparison of an existing franchisee about which much is known versus a new franchisee about which less is known. FPRV offers a con.
Automated Detection of Anatomical Regions in Magnetic Resonance Images

Recognition of body parts in three-dimensional medical images is an important task in many clinical applications. It can facilitate image segmentation, registration methods and it can be the ﬁrst step of an automatic image-processing workﬂow. In this paper, we propose an automated method to classify the axial slices of three-dimensional magnetic resonance image series according to the body part they belong to. We apply the Zernike transform to obtain feature vectors representing the structural information of the axial slices. Using machine learning tools statistical correlation is found between the extracted feature vectors and the position of the slices within the human body. The initial classiﬁcation is ﬁltered by a dynamic programming based error correction method that takes the correct sequence of anatomy regions into consideration to eliminate the false recognitions. Using our approach, different body regions can be recognized at high precision rate.
Iterated cubature Kalman filter and its application

We present the novel iterated cubature Kalman filter (ICKF) in which the measurement update of square root of cubature Kalman filter (SR-CKF) is refined to iterate process for fully exploiting the latest measurement so as to achieve the high accuracy of state estimation. The ICKF is implemented easily and inherits the virtues of SR-CKF. We apply ICKF to state estimation for reentry ballistic target with unknown ballistic coefficient. Simulation results indicate ICKF outperforms over the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) and SR-CKF in state estimation accuracy.
Culturally Responsive Marketing of Coach and Pepsi

This study will focus on the cultural aspects of China and how the brands Coach and Pepsi will target Chinese consumers. Information will be provided on the society, economical facets, marketing analysis and positive and normative perspectives of the study. China, like with many other countries has developed certain marketing techniques as a way of gaining the interest of their consumers.
Rapamycin Prevents Early Steps of the Development of Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats

Background/Aims: Recent studies suggested the involvement of the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The effect of mTOR blockade by rapamycin in diabetic nephropathy was investigated, but in vivo study of rapamycin treatment in the course of early diabetes is still insufficient. This study was designed to determine the therapeutic effects of rapamycin on diabetic nephropathy at an early stage. Methods: Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with streptozotocin, and rapamycin (1 mg/kg) was administered by daily gavage for 4 weeks. Renal structural changes and some factors involved in the early pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy were tested. The activation level of the Akt/mTOR pathway was also determined. Results: Rapamycin treatment reduced albuminuria, glomerular enlargement, glomerular basement membrane thickening, renal macrophage recruitment, and levels of renal mRNA expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, transforming growth factor-β1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 without change in blood glucose level and blood pressure in experimental diabetic rats. In addition, treatment with rapamycin also down-regulated the enhanced levels of renal p-Akt, phospho-p70S6 kinase, and phospho-ribosomal S6 protein in diabetic rats. Conclusions: Rapamycin treatment can prevent the early renal structural changes of diabetes in experimental rats, and thus halt the early steps of the development of diabetic nephropathy. mTOR blockade might be beneficial for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
A method for determining customer requirement weights based on TFMF and TLR

‘Customer requirements’ (CRs) management plays an important role in enterprise systems (ESs) by processing customer-focused information. Quality function deployment (QFD) is one of the main CRs analysis methods. Because CR weights are crucial for the input of QFD, we developed a method for determining CR weights based on trapezoidal fuzzy membership function (TFMF) and 2-tuple linguistic representation (TLR). To improve the accuracy of CR weights, we propose to apply TFMF to describe CR weights so that they can be appropriately represented. Because the fuzzy logic is not capable of aggregating information without loss, TLR model is adopted as well. We first describe the basic concepts of TFMF and TLR and then introduce an approach to compute CR weights. Finally, an example is provided to explain and verify the proposed method.
Spillover and Competitive Effects of Advertising in the Carbonated Soft Drink Market

This paper examines the spillover effects of television advertising on brand-level consumer demand for carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) and the competition consequences for manufacturers’ and private label CSDs. Using a random coefficients logit model (BLP) with household purchasing and advertising viewing data from five U.S. cities, we find that although brand advertising is important in increasing demand as previous work confirms, company advertising spillovers are nearly as important. Not surprisingly, advertising by competitors undermines demand for a particular manufacturer’s CSD brand but, surprisingly, there are positive spillover effects on the demand for private label brands. Further results show that eliminating all television advertising for CSDs would lower both brand and aggregate market shares (including private labels) as consumers migrate to other beverages. However, the dominant strategy is for leading companies to advertise to avoid losing revenues when competitors advertise or to increase revenues when they do not.
Can a critical lower threshold of cerebral perfusion be determined? A pilot observational study

Better prognostic indicators are needed for predicting the chances of survival in neurointensive care patients. Brain perfusion, usually assessed using nuclear medicine techniques, is considered a prognostic indicator. We showed that global cerebral blood flow (CBF) volume can be measured by sonography of the extracranial arteries.1 These measurements are noninvasive and can be repeatedly performed at the bedside. Reference data in children2 and in adults3,4⇓ correspond closely to those obtained with other techniques. Interobserver test-retest difference of global CBF volume measurement has been shown to be 1.7 ± 9.2%, which was comparable to a test-retest difference of 2.3 ± 8.7% found with H215O-PET measurement of CBF.5,6⇓ In this pilot observational study we determined CBF volume in neurointensive care patients in order to find out whether a critical lower threshold of cerebral perfusion can be defined above which patients eventually recovered and could be discharged and below which patients eventually died. In 128 patients (59 men, 69 women; mean age ± SD, 49 ± 18 years) admitted to the anesthesiologic and neurosurgical intensive care units of the University Hospital …
Age Changes in Digestibility of Nutrients in Ostriches and Nutrient Profiles of Ostrich and Emu Eggs as Indicators of Nutritional Status of the Hen and Chick

A digestibility study was conducted with 3, 6, 10, 17 week old and 30 month old ostriches. Metabolizable energy (ME) values and fat and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibilities were determined. The formulated ME of the diet (chicken ME basis) was 1983 kcal/kg. The determined values with ostriches were: 3 weeks, 1731; 6 weeks, 2337; 10 weeks,2684; 17 weeks, 2739; and 30 months, 2801 kcal/kg. Fat digestibility was 44.1 percent at 3 weeks and 91.1 percent by 17 weeks of age. NDF digestibility was 6.5 percent at 3 weeks, 51 percent at 10 weeks and 61.6 percent at 30 months. Also, vitamin and mineral levels were determined in the eggs of ostriches and emus and compared with poultry values. Deficiencies or excesses of vitamins and/or minerals in the laying hen, and thus in the egg, can lead to infertility, poor hatchability and early chick health problems. Specifics are described. AGE CHANGES IN DIGESTIBILITY OF NUTRIENTS IN OSTRICHES The digestibility of different nutrients by an animal is a good indicator of how well the animal can process the derive nutrients from a given diet. Digestibility of nutrients changes with age and tends to be low at young ages 1 . Extensive work done with chickens 2 and turkeys 1 has shown that dry matter, protein and fat digestion are low at early ages. This low digestive capability early in the life of these precocial birds is due mainly to the low levels of digestive enzymes found in the intestinal tract at hatch and for a few weeks after hatch 1 .
Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis and Management of Ischaemic Heart Disease

Magnetic resonance imaging has assumed an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with ischaemic heart disease. For patients presenting with acute chest pain, it is essential to diagnose acute coronary syndrome and to treat these patients as soon as possible. Recent studies have shown that cine magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance perfusion are feasible in patients presenting with acute chest pain. Magnetic resonance imaging allows the detection of transmural and non-transmural ischaemia, and is more specific and accurate than observing echocardiographic changes. Magnetic resonance viability scanning also allows the evaluation of the extent of infarction and might play a role in the selection of patients for angioplasty. Magnetic resonance coronary artery angiography is currently more of a research than diagnostic tool. The spatial resolution and contrast-to-noise ratio of magnetic resonance imaging are expected to improve further with parallel imaging, high-field magnets, and the development of new intravascular contrast.
BUSINESS MODELS TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. A LITERATURE REVIEW

The paper aims to perform a literature review on the business models that define the strategic approach of firms in search for competitiveness - within the framework of globalization. The research goals are as follows: to identify the main challenges companies are facing nowadays - due to the complex global economy we are living in, and to explore the business models they develop (or - at least - ought to think about, according to the most recent developments in academia) in order to meet these challenges. The expected results of the study are related to the need for a paradigm shift as regards firms' strategic positioning toward the challenges of the global economy - when designing and implementing their business models.
The Role of Aging on Dynamic Failure Envelopes of OSP-Sn37Pb Interconnects in Plastic Ball Grid Array (PBGA) Packages

This paper quantifies the effect of aging on the durability of printed wiring assemblies (PWAs) subjected to dynamic loading conditions. The test specimen is a FR4 board with a single 256 I/O, full grid, PBGA component at the center. The pad finish on the board and component side of the Sn37Pb eutectic solder interconnects is organic solderability preservative (OSP) and Sn15Pb, respectively. The test matrix is designed to cover one order of magnitude of PWA flexural strain (1E-3 to 1E-2), three orders of magnitude of PWA flexural strain rate (1E-3 to 1E0 s-1), and two aging conditions (as-reflowed and 125 degC for 100 h). Fatigue failure envelopes, based on a mechanics-inspired empirical rate-dependent model, are used to characterize the durability in terms of PWA flexural strain and strain rate. A failure site transition zone (FSTZ) is defined in terms of the damage parameters, beyond which the failure site changes from the solder to other parts of the PWA. The combined effect of load amplitude, loading rate, and thermal aging on the FSTZ and solder durability is quantified and presented.
A consumer‐based view of multi‐channel service

Purpose – Consumers increasingly experience multi‐channel service and a significant challenge for the service organization is to ensure that the design of the multi‐channel interface contributes to the service experience and helps to build bonds with customers. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate four features (i.e. problem‐handling, record accuracy, usability, and scalability) used by customers to evaluate multi‐channel service and investigates their impact on customer relationship and loyalty intentions.Design/methodology/approach – The study involves an online survey with customers selected randomly in two service industries. Empirical data are analyzed using structural equation models.Findings – Customer evaluations of the multi‐channel service interface have a strong influence on customer trust in the organization but a negligible impact on customer commitment. Trust, however, has a positive effect on commitment, thus enhancing customer loyalty.Research limitations/implications – The measures d.
Quantitative aspects of the urinary and fecal excretion of radioactive metabolites of vitamin A in the rat.

Urinary and fecal excretion of radioactive metabolites has been followed for 8 days (12 days in one group) in groups of rats having different initial body stores of vitamin A and given a single oral dose of 11,12-3H-retinyl acetate in oil. During the collections animals were fed a vitamin A deficient diet except for one group which was given laboratory chow throughout. At the end of the collection period animals were killed for determination of liver, kidney, and plasma vitamin A and radioactivity. Specific activities were similar in the three tissues; total liver vitamin A contents ranged from undetectable to 7700 μg. Excretion of fecal and urinary radioactivity was high initially but fell to apparently stable levels by day 8. When the combined urinary and fecal excretion was expressed in terms of the liver vitamin A equivalent (ELV), there was a gradual increase in excretion rate with the logarithm of liver vitamin A up to 150–300 μg/g liver; thereafter the rate of excretion increased more rapidly with .
Corporate reputations in UK biotechnology: an analysis of on‐line ‘company profile’ texts

Internet technology is creating a new corporate communications framework, which is affecting communication channels, corporate audiences, message content and form, communication feedback and corporate personae. Confronted with a complex communications environment, which is characterized by many conflicting views and highly sensitive topics, biotechnology companies have to transmit a clear and powerful message to their target audiences. This study analyses the projection of corporate images in the ‘company profile’ texts published on‐line by biotechnology firms in the UK.