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Purpose: This paper aims to explore the role of international quality assurance and accreditation on higher education quality improvement and competitiveness, as well as assessing the associated benefits and challenges in the Asian context with reference to Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach: The paper used a qualitative approach to examine the case study of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (STUST) accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The paper collected survey responses from service providers (i.e. STUST faculty and AACSB) and focus group discussions with students to bridge the perception-expectation gap. Findings: The qualitative results highlighted 10 key success factors and performance indicators which were later used to build a balanced scorecard (BSC) strategy for STUST quality improvement and competitiveness. Findings show that education quality assurance (via AACSB process) can directly influence the competitive advantage (i.e. for AACSB, STUST and Students) or indirectly via education quality enhancement. The results from faculty and students are consistent with the value co-creation trend to achieve continuous quality improvement more effectively and efficiently. Originality/value: This research paper is unique as the first qualitative in-depth study to discuss assurance related factors that positively or negatively affect competitiveness and quality improvement for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Asia and Taiwan. The paper also contributed by designing a BSC framework and strategy-map applicable to HEIs.

Background: Gliomas, prevalent and lethal brain tumors, present limited treatment options despite advancements in understanding their molecular features. SLC4A7, an SLC4 family member and potential biomarker, is involved in acid-base regulation, affecting cancer cell growth. Targeting this mechanism may offer new therapeutic strategies. Aim: This study examines SLC4A7's role in gliomas and its potential as a therapeutic target. Methods: Genomic, whole exon sequencing, and single-cell sequencing datasets from glioma patients were processed and analyzed, followed by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Cellular components and immune cell populations were investigated using 12-cell state and CIBERSORT analyses. Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were employed, with an automated semi-quantitative system scoring staining. ANOVA determined the significance of immunostaining scores related to clinical parameters. Results: Our data found increased SLC4A7 in tumor components correlated with higher tumor grading and poorer prognosis. Immunohistochemistry confirmed a relationship between SLC4A7 protein expression with tumor grade and the proliferation index. GSEA linked high SLC4A7 to cell proliferation and inflammation signaling. PIK3CAs were identified as a potential upstream in IDH mutant glioma but not in IDH wildtype. A positive correlation between heightened SLC4A7 expression and tumor mutation burden suggested genomic instability's role in SLC4A7 upregulation. Cellular heterogeneity analysis highlighted the importance of inflammatory cells, particularly macrophage M0. Conclusion: This study emphasizes SLC4A7's significance in adult gliomas, associating increased expression with high tumor grade, poor prognosis, enhanced proliferation, and inflammation. Investigating SLC4A7 may provide insights into cancer biology and contribute to developing innovative therapeutic targets for improved brain tumor treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5957.2007.02038.x Byline: Yu Chuan Huang (1), Jian-Hsin Chou (1) Keywords: order imbalance; bid-ask spread; order-driven; quote-driven Abstract: Abstract: The behavior of order imbalance and its impact on market performance at the two Taiwan stock index futures markets, the TAIFEX and the SGX-DT, is investigated. The TAIFEX is an order-driven call market, while the SGX-DT uses a quote-driven continuous trading system. Our empirical results show that for the TAIFEX order-driven market, the spread is minimized when order imbalance is high. In contrast, for the SGX-DT quote-driven market, the spread is highest when order imbalance is high. For both markets, order imbalance has an impact on market liquidity and volatility. The impact is larger and more significant for SGX-DT futures. This suggests that the order-driven market mechanism of TAIFEX futures is superior in absorbing order imbalance and in reducing the resulting price impact. Author Affiliation: (1)The authors are from the National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology. Article History: (Paper received February 2005, revised version accepted February 2007) Article note: (*) Address for correspondence: Yu Chuan Huang, Department of Risk Management and Insurance, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, 2 Juoyue Road, Nantsu, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan, ROC. e-mail: ychuang@ccms.nkfust.edu.tw