Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling and performance analysis of sequential zone picking systems

The major disadvantage of such systems, though, is congestion and blocking under heavy use, leading to long order lead times. In order to diminish blocking and congestion most systems make use of a dynamic block-and-recirculate protocol. The various elements of the system, like conveyor lanes and the pick zones, are modeled as a network of queues with multiple order classes and with capacity constraints on subnetworks, including the dynamic block-and-recirculate protocol. Due to this protocol, however, the stationary distribution of the queueing network is highly intractable. Therefore, an innovative approximation method, using jump-over blocking is proposed to accurately assess key performance statistics such as throughput and recirculation. Multi-class jump-over networks admit a product-form stationary distribution, and can be eciently evaluated by Mean Value Analysis (MVA) and use of Norton’s theorem. The method is most suitable to support rapid and optimal design of complex zone picking systems, in terms of number of segments, number and length of zones, buer capacities, and storage allocation of products to zones, in order to meet prespecied performance targets. Comparison of the approximation results to simulation show that for a wide range of parameters the mean relative error in the system throughput is typically less than 1%. The approximation is also applied to evaluate a real-life zone picking system of a large wholesaler supplying non-food items.
The use of cholinesterase inhibitors and the risk of myocardial infarction and death: a nationwide cohort study in subjects with Alzheimer's disease.

AIMS Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are used for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. These drugs have vagotonic and anti-inflammatory properties that could be of interest also with respect to cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated the use of ChEIs and the later risk of myocardial infarction and death. METHODS AND RESULTS The cohort consisted of 7073 subjects (mean age 79 years) from the Swedish Dementia Registry with the diagnoses of Alzheimer's dementia or Alzheimer's mixed dementia since 2007. Cholinesterase inhibitor use was linked to diagnosed myocardial infarctions (MIs) and death using national registers. During a mean follow-up period of 503 (range 0-2009) days, 831 subjects in the cohort suffered MI or died. After adjustment for confounders, subjects who used ChEIs had a 34% lower risk for this composite endpoint during the follow-up than those who did not [hazard ratio (HR) 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-0.78]. Cholinesterase inhibitor use was also associated with a lower risk of death (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.54-0.76) and MI (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.40-0.95) when analysed separately. Subjects taking the highest recommended ChEI doses (donepezil 10 mg, rivastigmine >6 mg, galantamine 24 mg) had the lowest risk of MI (HR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19-0.64), or death (HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.43-0.67) compared with those who had never used ChEIs. CONCLUSION Cholinesterase inhibitor use was associated with a reduced risk of MI and death in a nationwide cohort of subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia. These associations were stronger with increasing ChEI dose.
On the Anticipation of IPO Underpricing: Evidence from Equity Carve-Outs

We investigate IPO market efficiency using a sample of equity carve-outs offered during the period of 1985-2005. Unlike IPOs examined in previous studies where trading during the pre-IPO book-building period does not exist and trading on the IPO date is rationed, in equity carve-outs, investors can trade in the non-rationed market for shares of the parent, which holds a significant fraction of the subsidiary. We find that the subsidiary's initial day return is significantly related to its parent's return over the book-building period, but unrelated to its parent's contemporaneous return. Neither the pre-IPO price revision of the subsidiary nor the return to the parent on the initial trading day can be predicted. While the portion of the subsidiary's initial return unpredictable from information available during the book-building period is significantly related to its parent's contemporaneous return, the predictable component of the initial return is not. We interpret these results as evidence consistent with market efficiency.
Ownership Strategy for a Foreign Affiliate: An Empirical Investigation of Japanese Firms

■ This study offers the first large sample investigation of the factors which affect the choice of foreign ownership structure by Japanese MNCs in 36 countries from 1969 to 1991. ■ The study finds that the parent's familiarity with host country, the parent's R & D intensity, and the cultural distance between home and host country have positive influence on the Japanese firms' choice of full ownership structure for their foreign affiliates, whereas the restrictiveness of host country has a negative influence on their choice of full ownership.
Banks, Ownership Structure, and Firm Value in Japan

We investigate the relation between firms' ownership structures and q ratios in Japan. At low levels of ownership by main banks, firms' q ratios fall as bank equity ownership rises. At higher levels of bank ownership, this relationship is mitigated and, in some specifications, even reversed. We argue that this relation reflects both costs and benefits of equity holdings by banks. In Japan, unlike the United States, firm value rises monotonically with increased managerial ownership. Equity ownership by corporate blockholders is also positively related to firm value in Japan. Copyright 2000 by University of Chicago Press.
Restraint Reduction, Restraint Elimination, and Best Practice: Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Patient Safety

Purpose: Baseline restraint prevalence for surgical step-down unit was 5.08%, and for surgical intensive care unit, it was 25.93%, greater than the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) mean. Project goal was sustained restraint reduction below the NDNQI mean and maintaining patient safety. Background/Rationale: Soft wrist restraints are utilized for falls reduction and preventing device removal but are not universally effective and may put patients at risk of injury. Decreasing use of restrictive devices enhances patient safety and decreases risk of injury. Description: Phase 1 consisted of advanced practice nurse–facilitated restraint rounds on each restrained patient including multidisciplinary assessment and critical thinking with bedside clinicians including reevaluation for treatable causes of agitation and restraint indications. Phase 2 evaluated less restrictive mitts, padded belts, and elbow splint devices. Following a 4-month trial, phase 3 expanded the restraint initiative including critical care requiring education and collaboration among advanced practice nurses, physician team members, and nurse champions. Evaluation and Outcomes: Phase 1 decreased surgical step-down unit restraint prevalence from 5.08% to 3.57%. Phase 2 decreased restraint prevalence from 3.57% to 1.67%, less than the NDNQI mean. Phase 3 expansion in surgical intensive care units resulted in wrist restraint prevalence from 18.19% to 7.12% within the first year, maintained less than the NDNQI benchmarks while preserving patient safety. Interpretation/Conclusion: The initiative produced sustained reduction in acute/critical care well below the NDNQI mean without corresponding increase in patient medical device removal. Implications: By managing causes of agitation, need for restraints is decreased, protecting patients from injury and increasing patient satisfaction. Follow-up research may explore patient experiences with and without restrictive device use.
The Noninvasive Urinary Polyomavirus Haufen Test Predicts BK Virus Nephropathy in Children After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Pilot Study

Background After hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), polyoma-BK virus is associated with hemorrhagic cystitis and also with polyomavirus nephropathy (PVN). However, the true burden of post-HCT PVN is unknown because kidney biopsies are avoided due to their bleeding risk. The novel, noninvasive urinary PV-Haufen test detects PVN in kidney transplant recipients with greater than 95% positive/negative predictive values. We hypothesized that the detection of PV-Haufen in voided urine samples—a positive PV-Haufen test—was also clinically significant after HCT. Methods We examined 21 suitable urine samples from 14 patients (median age, 15 years; 71.4% male) who were selected from repositories for having varying degrees of BK viremia (range, 0-1.0 × 108 copies/mL), hemorrhagic cystitis (present/absent), and data on kidney function. Urine samples were obtained at a median of 88 days post-HCT. Results The PV-Haufen were detected in 5 of 14 patients (35.7%) and 7 of 21 (33.3%) urine samples, with histologic confirmation of PVN in 1 autopsy specimen. After a median of 285 days post-HCT, patients with PV-Haufen had an increased risk of dialysis-dependent renal failure (P < 0.05). All 3 dialysis-dependent patients had PV-Haufen and died. The presence of urinary PV-Haufen was not significantly correlated with hemorrhagic cystitis. From the 16 urines collected during BK viremia, 43.8% were PV-Haufen–positive, and 56.2% were negative. The PV-Haufen were not present in the 5 urines from patients without concomitant BK-viremia. Conclusions In this proof-of-concept study, a positive PV-Haufen test was only seen in some patients with BK viremia and was not associated with hemorrhagic cystitis. The detection of PV-Haufen suggests underlying PVN with an increased risk of kidney failure and dialysis.
The new metrics of corporate performance : Profit per employee

Let’s get right to the point: companies focus far too much on measuring returns on invested capital (ROIC) rather than on measuring the contributions made by their talented people. The vast majority of companies still gauge their performance using systems that measure internal financial results—systems based on metrics that don’t take sufficient notice of the real engines of wealth creation today: the knowledge, relationships, reputations, and other intangibles created by talented people and represented by investments in such activities as R&D, marketing, and training.
Strategic Cost Reduction and Cost Revelation

Abstract Strategic cost reduction requires cost transparency. When unilateral cost revelation is feasible, strategic cost reduction indeed arises as equilibrium. If it is not feasible, however, credible revelation has to be organized, possibly by a trade association. Then, firms face a prisoners' dilemma: in Cournot duopoly, cost revelation arises as an equilibrium, but hurts firms; in Bertrand duopoly, cost concealing is the equilibrium, while firms would be better off with cost revelation. Since cost revelation is socially desirable (undesirable) in Cournot (Bertrand) competition, it should be encouraged (discouraged).
Growth and development of Heterakis gallinae in turkeys and chickens infected with Histomonas meleagridis.

Under natural conditions blackhead in both turkeys and chickens usually results from the ingestion of Histomonas-infected eggs of the cecal worm, Heterakis gallinae, the unprotected histomonads having difficulty in surviving the passage through the gizzard (Horton-Smith and Long, 1955, 1956; Lund, 1956). The number and size of the cecal worms recovered at necropsy has been used as a means of approximating the time of infection with Histomonas, and also as an indication of the degree of pollution of the source from which the infections were acquired. However, as shown by Baker (1933) and Roberts (1937), there has been considerable disagreement in the literature on the rate of development of these worms in chickens. Both authors attributed at least some of the differences to the
Corporate entrepreneurship and market performance: an empirical study in China

Purpose – This paper reviews literature of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) and explores the relationship between CE and market performance in China by taking a disaggregated approach after developing a reliable and valid scale of CE.Design/methodology/approach – The empirical paper is based on questionnaire survey and statistical analysis.Findings – This paper identifies the key dimensions of CE and finds that each dimension exerts differentiated impacts on market performance of firms in China.Originality/value – Nowadays, more and more studies have been conducted on entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial orientation, intrapreneurship or CE. However, no agreement has been reached about the key dimensions of CE and much less is know about the generalizability of related research findings in emerging economies. This paper is intended to bridge these gaps.
Effects of a Flaxseed-Derived Lignan Supplement in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Trial

Background Flaxseed consumption has been shown to improve blood lipids in humans and flaxseed-derived lignan has been shown to enhance glycemic control in animals. The study aimed to investigate the effect of a flaxseed-derived lignan supplement on glycemic control, lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. Methodology/Principal Findings This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial and it was conducted between April and December 2006 in Shanghai, China. Seventy-three type 2 diabetic patients with mild hypercholesterolemia were enrolled into the study. Patients were randomized to supplementation with flaxseed-derived lignan capsules (360 mg lignan per day) or placebo for 12 weeks, separated by an 8-week wash-out period. HbA1c, lipid profiles, insulin resistance index and inflammatory factors were measured. Sixty-eight completed the study and were included in the analyses. The lignan supplement significantly improved glycemic control as measured by HbA1c (-0.10±0.65 % vs. 0.09±0.52 %, P = 0.001) compared to placebo; however, no significant changes were observed in fasting glucose and insulin concentrations, insulin resistance and blood lipid profiles. Urinary excretion of lignan metabolites (enterodiol and enterolactone) was significantly higher after the lignan supplement intervention compared to baseline (14.2±18.1 vs. 1.2±2.4 µg/mL, P<0.001). Data also suggested minimal competition between lignan and isoflavones for bioavailability when measured by the excretion concentrations. Conclusions/Significance Daily lignan supplementation resulted in modest, yet statistically significant improvements in glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients without apparently affecting fasting glucose, lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the efficacy of lignans on type 2 diabetes. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00363233
Pain and Analgesia During Labor and Delivery Between 16 0/7 and 22 6/7 Weeks of Gestation

OBJECTIVE: To describe severity of pain during labor at previable estimated gestational age and to determine the effectiveness of various methods of analgesia in this population. METHODS: In this retrospective review of the records of women undergoing induction or augmentation of labor between 16 0/7 and 22 6/7 weeks of gestation, we examined pain scores (numeric rating scale 0–10) documented throughout labor and analgesia method (none, systemic, or neuraxial). We compared relevant patient and labor characteristics such as gestational age, fetal weight, time interval from induction to delivery as well as pain data including analgesia type and pain scores before and after analgesia. We compared analgesia response in patients who received neuraxial analgesia and those who did not. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients met inclusion criteria: four requested no analgesia, 56 used systemic analgesia only, 11 used systemic analgesia initially and then requested neuraxial analgesia, and nine used neuraxial without using systemic analgesia first. Median peak pain score was 7 among all patients. Patients who chose neuraxial analgesia had higher estimated gestational age (21 compared with 20 weeks of gestation, P=.03), fetal weight (362 compared with 268 g, P=.047), and admission-to-delivery time intervals (19.25 compared with 10.3 hours, P=.003) than those who chose no or systemic analgesia. Immediate preanalgesia peak pain scores were not different between groups, but patients who received neuraxial analgesia had lower immediate postanalgesia nadir scores than those who chose systemic pain relief. CONCLUSION: Pain during induction of labor at previable gestational ages may be greater than is commonly appreciated. Neuraxial analgesia may provide more optimal pain relief for patients with higher estimated gestational age and fetal weight, particularly after 22 weeks of estimated gestational age.
Interspecific signalling between mutualists: food-thieving drongos use a cooperative sentinel call to manipulate foraging partners

Interspecific communication is common in nature, particularly between mutualists. However, whether signals evolved for communication with other species, or are in fact conspecific signals eavesdropped upon by partners, is often unclear. Fork-tailed drongos (Dicrurus adsimilis) associate with mixed-species groups and often produce true alarms at predators, whereupon associating species flee to cover, but also false alarms to steal associating species' food (kleptoparasitism). Despite such deception, associating species respond to drongo non-alarm calls by increasing their foraging and decreasing vigilance. Yet, whether these calls represent interspecific sentinel signals remains unknown. We show that drongos produced a specific sentinel call when foraging with a common associate, the sociable weaver (Philetairus socius), but not when alone. Weavers increased their foraging and decreased vigilance when naturally associating with drongos, and in response to sentinel call playback. Further, drongos sentinel-called more often when weavers were moving, and weavers approached sentinel calls, suggesting a recruitment function. Finally, drongos sentinel-called when weavers fled following false alarms, thereby reducing disruption to weaver foraging time. Results therefore provide evidence of an ‘all clear’ signal that mitigates the cost of inaccurate communication. Our results suggest that drongos enhance exploitation of a foraging mutualist through coevolution of interspecific sentinel signals.
The Year-Two Decline: Exploring the Incremental Experiences of a 1:1 Technology Initiative

Abstract Reports on one-to-one (1:1) technology initiatives emphasize overall favorable results; however, comprehensive multiyear studies looked at understate the progressive experiences of teachers and students. A small body of research suggested the second year of 1:1 technology programs manifested difficulties and struggles which significantly contrasted with the first year of implementation. The purpose of this case study was to discover any negative experiences of participants during the second year of a 1:1 technology initiative, and understand how those experiences influenced the success and sustainability of the program. Data suggest that participants felt the goals of the initiative were not being met, evidenced by a significant decrease in desired teaching and learning outcomes.
The International Transmission of Shocks in an Imperfectly Competitive International Business Cycle Model

This paper investigates the effects of introducing imperfect competition in an international business cycle model. We provide some international evidence on markups and analyze the implicactions of increasing returns to scale and monopolistic competition for the effects and the international transmission of technology and government spending shocks. We also consider exogenous markup fluctuations as a source of shocks and of transmission of business cycles.
Rational expectations in the foreign exchange market? Some survey evidence

This paper uses a survey data set that includes a large cross-section of currencies to test for the rationality of expectations in the foreign exchange market. Two standard tests are applied to the data. First, a test to determine if investors make systematic forecast errors. Second, a test to determine if investors use all available information efficiently when they make their forecasts. This paper's data set involves a more recent time period which saw more quiescent exchange rate changes than the 1980s. This paper finds that participants in the foreign exchange market do make systematic forecast errors and do not always use all available information when forecasting. This conclusion is similar to past research but is now extended to a broader range of currencies and more recent time period.
The Impact of Product Recalls on the Wealth of Sellers: A Reexamination

In a recent article in this Journal, Jarrell and Peltzman (1985) opened an important new area to event study research when they analyzed the effect of automobile and drug product recalls on the shareholders of firms within these industries. Earlier, Crafton, Hoffer, and Reilly (1981) and Reilly and Hoffer (1983) found that severe automobile recalls have a significant short-term impact on demand, but neither study investigated the effect of recalls on industry shareholders. In their work, Jarrell and Peltzman found that for manufacturers of automobiles and ethical drugs, capital markets penalized shareholders far more than the direct costs of the recall campaign. Further, they concluded that in both industries, shareholders of competitor firms to the firm with the recalled product(s) also suffered wealth losses. Interestingly, they concluded that over the 1975-81 period shareholders of General Motors bore greater wealth losses from the recall of a Ford or Chrysler product than they did from the recall of a GM product. This paper presents several modifications to the Jarrell-Peltzman study, as it applies to the automobile industry, for the purpose of
Does Malpractice Liability Keep the Doctor Away? Evidence from Tort Reform Damage Caps

Many U.S. states limit awards for noneconomic damages in malpractice cases. Proponents often argue that such tort reform increases physician supply and access to care. However, the degree to which marginal changes in malpractice liability affect physician supply is theoretically ambiguous. If patients bear the full incidence of cost changes and market demand is inelastic, then tort reform will not affect physicians’ net income or location decisions. I use county‐level, specialty‐specific annual counts of physicians from 1970–2000 to estimate the effect of damage caps on physician supply. The results suggest that caps do not affect physician supply for the average resident of states adopting reforms. On the other hand, caps appear to increase the supply of frontier rural specialist physicians by 10–12 percent. This is likely because rural doctors face greater uninsured litigation costs and a more elastic demand for medical services.
The Entrepreneurial Leader's Impact on the Organization's Performance in Dynamic Markets

The focus of this research is to examine similarities and differences between the fields of leadership and entrepreneurship and create a working definition of the “entrepreneurial leader. ” As knowledge and information become the new sources of power in today's dynamic markets, organizations must cultivate a new form of entrepreneurial leader that can maximize their companies' capabilities. The entrepreneurial leader lends his or her vision, leadership style, and strategy to the very essence or core of the business. This individual is a major independent variable influencing the outcome and success of the business.