Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of CSR disclosure of Tunisian listed banks: a multi-support analysis

This study aims to investigate the extent and trends of voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and to analyze the determinants of the listed banks’ annual reports and websites in an emergent capital market, namely, Tunisia. ,The authors examine the level of CSR disclosure by means of a manual content analysis where the sentence is used as the unit of the analysis. They use Branco and Rodrigues’ (2006 and 2008) index which includes 23 items. They focus on the annual reports of 11 Tunisian listed banks during the period from 2007 to 2012 and the information presented on their websites in December 2013. They use, also, regression analysis to identify the determinants of CSR disclosure used by Tunisian listed banks. ,The results of the investigation show that Tunisian listed banks disclose CSR information primarily in a narrative form. Human resources are the main focus in the annual reports, whereas, on the websites, community involvement is the most widespread theme. With regard to the determinants, it appears that bank age, financial performance and state shareholding are the main factors that impact CSR disclosure in the Tunisian listed banks’ annual reports. Furthermore, this study finds a positive (negative) relationship between leverage (financial performance) and CSR disclosure in the banks’ websites. In this regard, the results show different determinants of CSR disclosure for the two supports. Moreover, bank size, foreign shareholding and the type of auditor are unrelated to the listed banks’ CSR disclosure either in their annual reports or on their websites. ,The sample size is small; however, it consists of all the relevant Tunisian banks. Also, this study is subject to the limitations of using manual content analysis. ,This study enables highlights the importance of CSR disclosure and its determinants for the Tunisian banks’ stakeholders (such as regulators, investors and managers). ,The authors contribute to the scarce literature on CSR disclosure in financial institutions. It is the first study to investigate Tunisian listed banks’ CSR disclosure. It is a first attempt to show, also, how banks’ characteristics and banks’ ownership structures impact on their CSR disclosure in their annual reports and on their websites.
Efficient Image Warping in Parallel for Multiview Three-Dimensional Displays

Three-dimensional (3D) display technologies make great process in recent years. View synthesis for 3D content requires the hole-filling, which is a challenging task. The increase of resolution and the number of views for view synthesis brings new challenges on memory and processing speed. A predicted hole mapping (PHM) algorithm is presented, which requires no filling priority and smoothing operation, allowing parallel computation that facilitates a real-time 3D conversion system. In experiments, the proposed PHM is evaluated and compared with some other methods in terms of peak signal to noise ratio and structural similarity index measurement, and the result shows the advantages in the numbers. The method can operate on the 32-view display with 4K × 2K resolution in real time on GPU.
Serotypes, Virulence Factors, and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Vaginal and Fecal Isolates of Escherichia coli from Giant Pandas

ABSTRACT Although Escherichia coli typically colonizes the intestinal tract and vagina of giant pandas, it has caused enteric and systemic disease in giant pandas and greatly impacts the health and survival of this endangered species. In order to understand the distribution and characteristics of E. coli from giant pandas, 67 fecal and 30 vaginal E. coli isolates from 21 giant pandas were characterized for O serogroups, phylogenetic groups, antimicrobial susceptibilities, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles. In addition, these isolates were tested for the presence of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) and diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) by multiplex PCR detection of specific virulence genes. The most prevalent serogroups for all E. coli isolates were O88, O18, O167, O4, and O158. ExPEC isolates were detected mostly in vaginal samples, and DEC isolates were detected only in fecal samples. Phylogenetic group B1 predominated in fecal isolates, while groups B2 and D were frequently detected in vaginal isolates. Resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was most frequently observed, followed by resistance to nalidixic acid and tetracycline. All except five isolates were typeable by using XbaI and were categorized into 74 PFGE patterns. Our findings indicate that panda E. coli isolates exhibited antimicrobial resistance, and potentially pathogenic E. coli isolates were present in giant pandas. In addition, these E. coli isolates were genetically diverse. This study may provide helpful information for developing strategies in the future to control E. coli infections of giant pandas.
Mutations in the COL4A4 gene in thin basement membrane disease.

BACKGROUND Patients with thin basement membrane disease (TBMD) are often from families where hematuria segregates with the COL4A3 and COL4A4 genes. These genes also are affected in autosomal recessive Alport syndrome. The aim of this study was to demonstrate COL4A4 mutations in TBMD. METHODS Forty-eight unrelated individuals with TBMD who had no family members with autosomal recessive Alport syndrome were examined for COL4A4 mutations. The diagnosis of TBMD had been confirmed by renal biopsy (43/48, 90%) or by a family history of hematuria but without a renal biopsy (5/48, 10%). The 47 coding exons of COL4A4 were screened for mutations with the methods of enzyme mismatch cleavage or single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, and exons that demonstrated electrophoretic abnormalities were sequenced. RESULTS Nine variants that altered the coding sequences were identified. These were nonsense and frameshift mutations that resulted in stop codons (N = 3), and glycine (N = 3) and non-glycine missense variants (N = 3). Four intronic variants and three neutral polymorphisms were also detected. In total, four variants were considered 'pathogenic' principally because they resulted in stop codons or were not present in non-hematuric normal subjects. Three variants were considered 'possibly pathogenic' but two of these were each present in one of 46 non-hematuric normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS Pathogenic COL4A4 mutations were demonstrated in three of the nine (33%) families in whom hematuria segregated with the COL4A3/COL4A4 locus. Two stop codons (R1377X and 2788/91delG) and a glycine substitution (G960R) resulted in hematuria in all 16 members who were tested from these three families. The S969X mutation described here in TBMD for the first time, as well as the R1377X mutation, also occur in autosomal recessive Alport syndrome.
[Perception of environmental health risks related to living in the vinicity of communal waste incineration plant--part II].

OBJECTIVE The analysis of the environmental risk perception by residents living in the vicinity of the Solid Communal Waste Utilisation Plant (ZUSOK) in Warsaw. The study was to reveal the factors related to perception the incinerator as a cause of frequent illnesses in the families and to intention of changing the place of residence because of the plant's neighbourhood. MATERIAL AND METHODS questionnaire survey of 501 respondents, who have been living in the radius of 3km from the incinerator since at least 2 years prior to its activation. The multiple logistic regression method was applied to indentify demographic factors and opinions concerning the environment and incinerator activity associated with the aforementioned declarations. RESULTS 44% of respondents with frequent illnesses in the family claimed that their problems may be caused by incinerator activity. This declaration is significantly negatively related to: older age (45 years or more) combined with period of residence in the district longer than 40 years (OR=0.4) and positively related to: believes that health problems in community would increase in the course of incinerator activity (OR=7.3), to continuous/very frequent smelling of unpleasant odour in the air (OR=2.8) and considering the odour as a serious disturbance caused by incinerator' (OR=2.8). About 28% of respondents would change the place of residence because of the incinerator's vicinity. The frequency of this declaration increases with: shorter distance between residence and plant (OR=2.0), negative attitude towards the idea of incinerator construction (OR=2.9), opinion that ZUSOK emits to environment large quantities of harmful substances (OR=2.5), health consequences will increase in the course of incinerator activity (OR=3.1), continuous/very frequent smelling smoke in the breathing air (OR=2.6), complaining about the transport of ashes from the incinerator (OR=2.3). People older than 45 years and living in the district more then 40 years significantly less frequent declare possibility of move (OR=0.5). CONCLUSION Risk perception reduction necessitates taking some educational actions for inhabitants and verifying their complaints about quality of air.
Tiam1-IRSp53 Complex Formation Directs Specificity of Rac-Mediated Actin Cytoskeleton Regulation

ABSTRACT The exchange factor Tiam1 regulates multiple cellular functions by activating the Rac GTPase. Active Rac has various effects in cells, including alteration of actin cytoskeleton and gene expression, via binding to and modulating the activity of diverse effector proteins. How individual Rac effectors are selected for activation and regulated in response to upstream signals is not well understood. We find that Tiam1 contributes to both of these processes by binding to IRSp53, an adaptor protein that is an effector for both Rac and Cdc42. Tiam1 directs IRSp53 to Rac signaling by enhancing IRSp53 binding to both active Rac and the WAVE2 scaffold. Moreover, Tiam1 promotes IRSp53 localization to Rac-induced lamellipodia rather than Cdc42-induced filopodia. Finally, IRSp53 depletion from cells prevents Tiam1-dependent lamellipodia induced by Tiam1 overexpression or platelet-derived growth factor stimulation. These findings indicate that Tiam1 not only activates Rac but also contributes to Rac signaling specificity through binding to IRSp53.
Geographic Variations in Risk: Adjusting for Unmeasured Confounders Through Joint Modeling of Multiple Diseases

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important cause of mortality with marked geographic variations in Great Britain. Additional factors beyond cigarette smoking are likely to influence these variations, but direct information on smoking by area is not readily available. We compared methods of jointly modeling the spatial distribution of mortality from COPD and lung cancer, using the latter as a proxy for smoking, to identify areas in which risk factors other than smoking may be important. Methods: We obtained district-level mortality and population data for men aged 45 years or older in 1981–1999 in Great Britain. Three models were compared: Bayesian ecological regression using observed (model 1) or spatially smoothed (model 2) lung cancer standardized mortality ratio (SMR) as a smoking proxy, and bivariate regression (model 3) treating smoking as a spatial latent variable common to both diseases. Results: Model selection criteria favored models 2 and 3 over model 1. Between 9% (model 3) and 25% (model 2) of spatial variation in COPD mortality was estimated to be unrelated to smoking. After adjustment for lung cancer as a proxy for smoking, both models showed similar geographic patterns of higher COPD mortality in conurbation and mining areas, historically associated with heavy industry and higher air pollution levels. Conclusions: Joint modeling of multiple diseases can be used to investigate geographic variations in risk. These models reveal patterns that are adjusted for the effects of shared area-level risk factors for which no direct data are available.
Biogas production from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) grown under different nitrogen concentrations

This paper reports the biogas production from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) grown under different nitrogen concentrations of 1-fold [28 mg/L of total nitrogen (TN)], 2-fold, 1/2-fold, 1/4-fold and 1/8-fold and plants harvested from a polluted water body. This study was carried out for a period of 4 months at ambient mesophilic temperatures of 30.3–31.3°C using six 3-barreled batch-fed reactors with the innermost barrel (45 L) being used as the digester. There was no marked variation in the C/N ratios of the plants cultured under different nitrogen concentrations. The addition of fresh cow dung having a low C/N of 8 resulted in a significant reduction in the C/N ratios of the water hyacinth substrates. However, gas production commenced 3 days after charging the reactors and gas production rates peaked in 4–7 days. The volatile solids (VS) degradation and gas production patterns manifested that in conventional single-stage batch digesters acidogenesis and methanogenesis of water hyacinth requires a retention time of around 27–30 days and 27–51 days, respectively. Substrates in the f-1 digester (i.e., the digester containing plants grown under 28 TN mg/L) having the lowest VS content of 45.3 g/L with a highest C/N ratio of 16 showed fairly higher gas production rates consistently (10–27 days) with higher gas yields containing around 50–65% of CH4 (27–51 days). Moreover the highest overall VS (81.7%) removal efficiencies were reported from the f-1 digester. Fairly higher gas production rates and gas yields with fairly higher CH4 contents were also noticed from the f-2 digester containing substrates having a C/N of 14 and f-out digester (containing the plants harvested from the polluted water body) having the lowest C/N ratio of 9.7 with a fairly high VS content of 56 g/L. CH4 production was comparatively low in the f-1/8, f-1/4 and f-1/2 digesters having VS rich substrates with varying C/N ratios. We conclude that water hyacinth could be utilized for biogas production irrespective of the fact that the plants are grown under higher or lower nitrogen concentrations and that there is no necessity for the C/N ratio to be within the optimum range of 20–32 required for anaerobic digestion. Further it is concluded that several biochemical characteristics of the substrates significantly influences biogas production besides the C/N ratio.
Going global : how short-term study abroad experiences influence student leadership development

THESIS: Going Global: How Short-Term Study Abroad Experiences Influence Student Leadership Development STUDENT: Jennifer Desmond DEGREE: Master of Arts COLLEGE: Teachers College DATE: May 2017 PAGES: 67 Institutions of higher education have recently placed value on leadership development opportunities for college students, empowering them to develop key skills (Boatman, 1999). Limited research has been conducted connecting the influence of study abroad experiences and student leadership development. Although semester and year-long study abroad experiences have been acknowledged for their ability to help students develop intercultural competence (Anderson & Lawton, 2011; Bennett, 1993; Black & Duhon, 2006; Martinez, 2012), personally (Kauffman & Kuh, 1984), and intellectually (McKeown, 2009), there is little understanding around the impact of short term study abroad experiences. The purpose of this study was to explore the extent and influence of short-term study abroad experiences in formal leadership programs. This study used a qualitative single instrument case study to examine student experiences (Yin, 2009). The results of this study supported the influence of short-term study abroad experiences as an impactful and meaningful experience for student development. REFERENCES Anderson, P. H. , & Lawton, L. (2011). Intercultural development: Study abroad vs. on-campus study. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 21, 86-108. Bennet, M. J. (1993). Intercultural sensitivity. In J. M. Bennett (Ed.), Principles of training and development. Portland, OR: Portland State University. Black, H. T. , & Duhon, D. L. (2006). Assessing the impact of business study abroad programs on cultural awareness and personal development. Journal of Education for Business, 81, 140-144. Boatman, S. (1999). The leadership audit: A process to enhance the development of student leadership. NASPA Journal, 37, 325-326. Kauffmann, N. , Martin, J., Weaver, H. D. , & Weaver, J. (1992). Students Abroad: Strangers at Home. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press. Martinez, C. A. (2012). Preparing global leaders: Theoretical model for understanding development of intercultural competency (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from UMI. (3528185). McKeown, J. (2009). The first time effect: The impact of study abroad on college student intellectual development. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. Yin, R. K. (2009). Case study research: Design and method (4 th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Prospective and randomised evaluation of the protease‐modulating effect of oxidised regenerated cellulose/collagen matrix treatment in pressure sore ulcers

In chronic wounds, excess levels and activity of proteases such as elastase and plasmin have been detected. Oxidised regenerated cellulose/collagen matrix (ORC/collagen matrix) has been reported to ameliorate the wound microenvironment by binding and inactivating excess proteases in wound exudates. In this study, the levels and activity of elastase and plasmin in wound exudates of pressure sore ulcers were measured to determine the beneficial effect of ORC/collagen matrix treatment compared with control treatment with a foam dressing. A total of 33 patients with pressure sores were enrolled in the study and were followed up for 12 weeks after treatment. Ten control patients were treated with a foam hydropolymer dressing (TIELLE®, Systagenix), and the remaining 23 patients were treated with ORC/collagen matrix plus the foam dressing (TIELLE®, Systagenix) on top. Wound assessments were carried out over 12 weeks on a weekly basis, with dressing changes twice a week. Ulcers were photographed and wound exudates were collected on admission and at days 5, 14 and then every 14 days to provide a visual record of any changes in appearance of the ulcer and healing rate and for biochemical analysis of the wound. The levels and activity of elastase and plasmin were measured in wound exudates. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Bonferroni's post hoc test with P‐values <0·05 considered to be significant. Compared with controls, ORC/collagen matrix–treated pressure sore wounds showed a significant faster healing rate, which positively correlated with a decreased activity of elastase and plasmin in wound exudates. No signs of infection or intolerance to the ORC/collagen matrix were observed.
Measurement by vertical scanning profilometry of resorption volume and lacunae depth caused by osteoclasts on dentine slices

The resorption pit assay is classically used to evaluate osteoclast activity on bone or dentine slices that can be eroded by these cells. Two different types of cells were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured in the presence of M‐CSF + sRANKL or with M‐CSF + LPS. At the end of the culture period (21 days), cells were discarded and the dentine slices stained with toluidine blue and examined with an NT9100 Wyco vertical scanning profilometer. The images of the dentine surface were corrected for tilt and the eroded volume was calculated on the whole images. The depth of the eroded pits was determined. The data files were used to reconstruct the surface of the slices by standardizing the ground level to compare both conditions. Osteoclasts generated with M‐CSF + sRANKL were capable of resorbing a more important volume than those generated with M‐CSF + LPS. In addition, the formers were able to resorb the dentine matrix more deeply. Data provided by the microscope were used to reconstruct three‐dimensional images of the dentine slices with pseudo colours varying with the depth of erosion. Vertical scanning profilometry, a technique used to measure the roughness of polished or etched surfaces in metallurgic industry, can be used to accurately measure the eroded volume and the mean erosion depth done by osteoclasts in the resorption pit assay.
Progress in paediatric parasitology: a preface to a topic focusing on ever younger subjects

SUMMARY Without realizing it perhaps, the research activities of many parasitologists are often focused upon the study of parasites most commonly found in children. Though there is little recognition of paediatric parasitology as a separate topic within medical parasitology, with the global interest in promotion of maternal and child health, alleviation of diseases associated with poverty and requirements of ‘child-sized’ medicines, a more formal consideration is now timely. Recent research, for example, has highlighted that defining precisely the ‘first-age’ at which parasites interfere with a child's health, or normal developmental processes, is being revised. Attention is now drawn towards ever younger subjects, for parasites have the capacity to also influence the health of the foetus within the in utero environment, altering immune-development. These subtle, yet evolutionary profound interactions perhaps manifest themselves as to why some children are more prone to infection(s), develop overt disease and sadly die while others do not. Here, we address the growing importance of paediatric parasitology and its applications within disease control strategies as highlighted in the 2010 Autumn Symposium of the British Society of Parasitology.
Ischemic reperfusion causes lipid peroxidation and fiber degeneration

Although the neuropathology of ischemic fiber degeneration (IFD) is relatively well known, its pathogenesis is poorly understood. One putative mechanism of IFD is oxidative stress, causing a breakdown of the blood–nerve barrier (BNB) and lipid peroxidation. We evaluated the effect of ischemic reperfusion of rat sciatic‐tibial nerve seeking biochemical and pathologic evidence of BNB disruption and lipid peroxidation. Ischemia, caused by the ligation of the supplying arteries to sciatic–tibial nerve, was maintained for 3 h, followed by reperfusion. Reperfusion resulted in an increase in nerve lipid hydroperoxides, greatest at 3 h, followed by a gradual decline over the next month. Nerve edema and IFD consistently became more severe with reperfusion, indicating that oxidative stress impairs the BNB (edema) and causes IFD. Reduced reperfusion was greates over distal sciatic nerve and midtibial nerve at day 7. The most ischemic segment (midtibial), of nonreperfused ischemic nerves (duration 3 h), underwent both edema and IFD that was as pronounced as those of other segments after reperfusion, and underwent a smaller increase with reperfusion, suggesting that ischemia alone can also cause IFD and edema. The type of fiber degeneration was that of axonal degeneration. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.