Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extracting the Influential Commodities in Stochastic Model of Simple Laspeyre Price Index Numbers with AR(2) Errors

This paper, on the first hand, deals with the problem of estimation of Laspeyre price index number when the errors are assumed to be generated from AR(2) process. The general expression of hat matrix and DFBETA measure to find the influential consumer commodities in stochastic Laspeyre price model with AR(2) errors are developed on the other. The hat values show the noteworthy findings that the corresponding weights of consumer items have large influence on the parameter estimates for simple Laspeyre price index number and are not affected by the parameter of autoregressive process of order two. While, DFBETA measures are the functions of both weights and autocorrelation parameters. Lastly, an example is presented with reference to price data of Pakistan, and shows its practical importance in financial time series.
Identification of Fragile X Syndrome Specific Molecular Markers in Human Fibroblasts: A Useful Model to Test the Efficacy of Therapeutic Drugs

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent cause of inherited intellectual disability and autism. It is caused by the absence of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene product, fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA‐binding protein involved in the regulation of translation of a subset of brain mRNAs. In Fmr1 knockout mice, the absence of FMRP results in elevated protein synthesis in the brain as well as increased signaling of many translational regulators. Whether protein synthesis is also dysregulated in FXS patients is not firmly established. Here, we demonstrate that fibroblasts from FXS patients have significantly elevated rates of basal protein synthesis along with increased levels of phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (p‐mTOR), phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2, and phosphorylated p70 ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (p‐S6K1). The treatment with small molecules that inhibit S6K1 and a known FMRP target, phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) catalytic subunit p110β, lowered the rates of protein synthesis in both control and patient fibroblasts. Our data thus demonstrate that fibroblasts from FXS patients may be a useful in vitro model to test the efficacy and toxicity of potential therapeutics prior to clinical trials, as well as for drug screening and designing personalized treatment approaches.
The Relationship between Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Meta–Analytic Review

The research on entrepreneurship education–entrepreneurial intentions has yielded mixed results. We meta–analyzed 73 studies with a total sample size of 37,285 individuals and found a significant but a small correlation between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions ( ρ ^ ). This correlation is also greater than that of business education and entrepreneurial intentions. However, after controlling for pre–education entrepreneurial intentions, the relationship between entrepreneurship education and post–education entrepreneurial intentions was not significant. We also analyzed moderators, such as the attributes of entrepreneurship education, students’ differences, and cultural values. Our results have implications for entrepreneurship education scholars, program evaluators, and policy makers.
Nitrogen balances of lean and obese Zucker rats subjected to a cafeteria diet.

The effects of a cafeteria diet on nitrogen balance in lean (Fa/? ) and obese Zucker rats (fa/fa) was studied for two consecutive 15 day periods after weaning. Obese rats were able to absorb a lower proportion of dietary nitrogen than the lean controls. Cafeteria diet increased the retention of dietary nitrogen, and lowered urinary nitrogen losses in both obese and lean rats. Urea constituted practically the only product of urinary nitrogen excretion in obese rats, whereas it accounted for only about 75% of that eliminated by Fa/? rats. Nitrogen accretion in the body was highest for the younger animals, and again increased with cafeteria feeding. Obese fa/fa rats showed a lower percentage of body nitrogen retention than their lean counterparts; obese rats were able, however, to accumulate large amounts of nitrogen and fat, in part because of their higher intake. A significant part of the absorbed nitrogen was not found in either the body or the urine; the cafeteria diet markedly increased the weight of this fraction of nitrogen unaccounted for. In conclusion, the effects of cafeteria feeding on weight and nitrogen handling were comparable in lean and obese rats, i.e. the effects of genetic and dietary obesity seem to be additive with regard to nitrogen extraction and excretion for Zucker rats.
SMALL ANGULAR SCALE MEASUREMENTS OF THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND TEMPERATURE POWER SPECTRUM FROM QUaD

We present measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation temperature anisotropy in the multipole range 2000 < ℓ < 3000 from the QUaD telescope's second and third observing seasons. After masking the brightest point sources our results are consistent with the primary ΛCDM expectation alone. We estimate the contribution of residual (un-masked) radio point sources using a model calibrated to our own bright source observations, and a full simulation of the source finding and masking procedure. Including this contribution slightly improves the χ2. We also fit a standard Sunyaev–Zel'dovich (SZ) template to the bandpowers and see no strong evidence of an SZ contribution, which is as expected for σ8 ≈ 0.8.
Lean manufacturing in temperature dependent processes with interruptions

A particular difficulty arises when lean manufacturing principles are applied to temperature dependent processes. Specifically, when an interruption occurs, lean manufacturing advocates stopping the production line to find the “root cause” of the problem. However, interruptions in temperature dependent processes will cause work‐in‐progress and process equipment to cool down and quality problems are likely when production restarts. This difficulty could be countered through a detailed process model, but apart from the difficulty of creating perfect process models with accurate inputs, the use of such a system would separate shop floor operators from the problem‐solving process. Instead, a response to interruptions is sought in the form of a “script” of actions which can be used to train operators. In order to develop an appropriate script, a generic model of a set of temperature dependent processes is defined in which the states of processes and products are time dependent. A hypothetical profit function is defined for the processes and it is shown how this could be optimized by dynamic programming. The dynamic programming process is then translated into a script to guide operators in decision‐making during interruptions. The script is demonstrated with a simulation model of an extrusion process, and the results suggest that the new script will result in improved throughput and reduced scrap in the presence of interruptions.
Long-term results of reoperation and localizing studies in patients with persistent or recurrent medullary thyroid cancer.

HYPOTHESIS Reoperation benefits patients with locoregional, persistent, or recurrent medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Currently available localizing studies have limited utility for detecting all foci of residual MTC. DESIGN A retrospective study with a mean follow-up time of 7.5 years (median, 13 years; range, 2.2-29 years). SETTING A tertiary referral medical center. PATIENTS Thirty-three patients who underwent 46 reoperations for locoregional residual MTC. RESULTS Sixty-four percent of residual MTC was located in the lateral cervical nodes, 22% in the central cervical nodes or thyroid bed, and 14% in the anterior mediastinum (197 of 1128 nodes resected were positive for MTC). After reoperation, basal calcitonin levels were undetectable in 2 patients, reduced by greater than 50% in 10 patients, and either increased or were not reduced by greater than 50% in the remaining patients. On reoperation, one patient had a thoracic duct injury that required reexploration and ligation. Patients who had a greater than 50% decrease in calcitonin levels after reoperation were less likely to develop distant metastases compared with patients who did not have a greater than 50% decrease (P<.05). The sensitivities of magnetic resonance imaging (n = 31), computed tomographic scan (n = 16), ultrasound (n = 9), and dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (n = 3) were 91%, 86%, 88%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Although reoperation in patients with residual MTC rarely results in biochemical cure, cervical reexploration is safe and in selected patients may limit MTC progression. Lateral cervical node dissection could be beneficial at the time of initial surgical treatment because of the high frequency of residual MTC in the lateral cervical nodes. Noninvasive imaging studies were helpful but far from perfect for guiding the reexploration for locoregional residual MTC.
Regression Analysis of Internet Technologies Adoption Factors and Business Performance of UK Independent Hoteliers

The purpose of this paper is to examine the Internet technology adoption factors affecting hoteliers' perception of business performance. To understand the impact of web technology on the operating performance of hotels, we need first to recognise the various ways in which operating performance is selected and measured. This paper will therefore begin with an overview of hotels' business performance measures that have been used in past studies, following which the results of a regression analysis that is conducted based on a questionnaire survey will be presented. This paper reveals the importance of Internet technologies adoption factors to business performance measures of UK independent hotels.
Managerial Work Goal Priorities in Asia: Emerging Trends from Three Divergent National Contexts

During the past decade, unprecedented changes have taken place in the economic life of Asia. Major reforms have been undertaken in large countries like China and India; also smaller Asian countries like Mongolia have moved away from centrally planned socialist systems to market-oriented structures, while Singapore has emerged as a unique Asian country with a significant place in the global competitiveness stakes. As each country endeavours to respond to a particular set of national socio-economic imperatives, the overall diver sity of the Asian context intensifies. Increasingly, it is becoming difficult to develop a pan-Asian basis of managerial ideology and practice to provide a counterpoint to the traditional managerial theories developed in the West. In spite of this, a homogenous pattern is emerging in the work goal priorities of managers across Asia. The transitional context of Mongolia, the competitive context of Singapore, and the socio-economic reform agenda in India may be similar in terms of the managerial priorities in each of these contexts which are converging rapidly. This article explores the nature of convergence taking place in managerial work goals in three Asian countries to evaluate the priorities of managers as they respond to their respective societal contexts of transi tion, reform and global competitiveness. The empirical study reported in this article compares and contrasts managerial work goals through data collected by surveying managers in India, Mongolia and Singapore. The article aims to contribute to the strengthening of the empirical basis of Asian managerial ideas and practices.
A Balance Between Imitation and Contrast: What Makes Newspapers Successful? A Summary of Internationally Comparative Research

What is it that helps printed newspapers successfully compete with other media for the audience: marketing efforts, content, or their design? This article discusses the results of the most recent studies of an extensive research program on this topic. It began with the evaluation of 350 local dailies in Germany in the mid-1990s. Papers were reexamined: 60 in 2001, 28 in 2002. Success factors revealed in the foundation study-such as clearly structuring the content, local orientation and a generous design-are still valid, but now have to be applied in a more refined manner. A replication with 50 U.S. newspapers provided material for both an analysis of newspaper success in the United States and for a German-American comparison. The recipes for newspaper success point to convergence between the two countries, but also to some cultural differences in what reading a newspaper means.
Employment and Capital Accumulation in Unionised Labour Markets: Evidence from five south-European countries

This paper analyses the link between employment and capital accumulation in unionised labour markets by using a dynamic monopoly union model. The role of wage setting is also explored within the above context. The empirical analysis is based on annual data from the manufacturing sector of five European countries (France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain). It verifies that capital accumulation has a positive influence on employment. Concerning wages, there is evidence that, in most countries, income opportunities in the public sector play an important role in wage determination. A larger public sector crowds out private investment and employment by serving as a safety net that allows wage setters to push for higher wage demands.
Liquidity and Risk Management

Firms and financial institutions are best viewed as ongoing entities, whose project completion may require renewed injections of liquidity. This paper proposes a contract-theoretic framework integrating three dimensions of corporate financing and prudential regulation: (a) liquidity management, (b) risk management, and (c) capital structure. It concludes with a preliminary assessment of recent regulatory approaches to the treatment of market risk.
Challenges facing the sustainable consumption and waste management agendas: perspectives on UK households

The management of municipal waste is one of the most emotive local environmental issues in the UK at present and represents a key sustainability “battleground” as local authorities seek to reduce waste arisings and encourage the reuse and recycling of materials among households. Within the literature on household waste management, a broad range of disciplinary perspectives and practical recommendations exist and it is the aim of this paper to step back and take stock of the role of households and communities in resource consumption and waste generation patterns across the UK within recent decades. By exploring the household in this context, trends in consumption and waste generation are outlined in addition to key influencing factors such as lifestyles and well-being, demographics and environment. Finally, key lessons learnt, challenges faced going forward and approaches for developing more sustainable practices at the household, community and national levels are discussed.
An Assessment of Environmentally-Related Non-Tariff Measures

International trade can affect the environment in different ways. This may justify the introduction of border measures by the importing countries. In addition to various dispositions in the GATT, GATS, TRIPs agreements, as well as in the Agreement on Agriculture, this issue is regulated by the agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and on the application of Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary standards (SPS). Despite these rules, abuse of environmental arguments for protectionist reasons remains an open issue. In order to disentangle protectionism from dispositions justified on the grounds of true environmental concerns, we systematically review notifications of SPS and TBTs by importing countries at the tariff line level. Trade is considered as being potentially affected when an environmental SPS/TBT is notified on grounds of environmental concerns. Affected trade is defined as imports by countries notifying such barriers. Protectionist use of environmental barriers is likely when only a limited number of countries impose an environmental obstacle on the imports of a given product. Considering data for 2001, we find that 88 per cent of the value of world trade is in products potentially affected by such measures, while 39 per cent of the value of world imports is potentially subject to a protectionist use of such measures. Agriculture, the automobile industry, the pharmaceutical industry and many other sectors are concerned.
Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment on Lipids in Obese Children

Obesity in children is associated with several co-morbidities including dyslipidemia. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly seen in obese children. In adults, diagnosis of OSA independent of obesity is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors including dyslipidemia. There is limited data on the impact of treatment of OSA on lipids in children. The objective of the study was to examine the impact of treatment of OSA on lipids in 24 obese children. Methods: Seventeen children were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and five underwent adenotonsillectomy. Mean apnea hypopnea index prior to treatment was 13.0 + 12.1 and mean body mass index (BMI) was 38.0 + 10.6 kg/m2. Results: Treatment of OSA was associated with improvement in total cholesterol (mean change = −11 mg/dL, p < 0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mean change = –8.8 mg/dL, p = 0.021). Conclusion: Obese children should be routinely screened for OSA, as treatment of OSA favorably influences lipids and therefore decreases their cardiovascular risk.
Adopting lean principle as sustainable manufacturing strategy in an electronic-enabled supply chain environment

This paper empirically examines the influence of lean supply strategy implemented in electronic-enabled manufacturing supply chains (EMSC) on lean manufacturing adoption in a sustainable manner. Adopting lean manufacturing often not only requires a lengthy period but also involves a prolonged decision process which makes sense to identify the antecedents for improving decision making. The influential factors including information sharing and use of e-business system in supplier integration together with lean performance-based supplier selection were tested with statistical methods based on survey data. It was found that lean manufacturing adoption is positively influenced by all these factors. Moreover, the results revealed that manufacturers may commit ongoing use of lean principle only if it has been adopted as regular practice. Lastly, managerial implications and future research were discussed to alleviate practical concerns in the execution of waste-reducing lean supply strategy and to explore the potential of developing reverse logistics on this platform.
Characterization of Biochar Obtained by Co-Pyrolysis of Waste Newspaper with High-Density Polyethylene

The pyrolysis of waste newspaper (WP) and co-pyrolysis of waste newspaper with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (1:1 wt%) were carried out in a quartz tube at 500 °C to obtain biochars. The biochars were characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), automated specific surface area and pore size analyzer, and Raman spectroscopy to determine their physical and chemical properties. The analysis results for WP/HDPE-derived biochar (CWH) were compared to WP-derived biochar (CWB). The CWH had lower oxygen-containing groups, increased aromatic structure, higher calorific value, higher fuel ratio, and greater porosity development. CWH is more appropriate as solid fuel, soil adsorbent, or activated carbon precursor as compared to CWB.
Analyst Following, Institutional Investors and Pricing of Future Earnings: Evidence from Korea

This paper examines the role of sophisticated investors in pricing future earnings in Korea. Using the future earnings response coefficient (FERC) model, we test the effect of analyst following and institutional ownership on the informativeness of stock returns for future earnings. We find that the informativeness of stock returns for future earnings, measured as the FERC, increases with the analyst following and institutional ownership. We also investigate how the recently introduced Regulation Fair Disclosure in Korea affects the informativeness of stock returns for future earnings and its relation with analyst following and institutional ownership. The results show that the regulation decreases the FERC in general and its relation with analyst following, suggesting that analysts' superior ability is impaired after the regulation.
Use of a purified outer membrane protein F (porin) preparation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a protective vaccine in mice

The outer membrane protein F (porin) from the PAO1 strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was purified by two different methods. One procedure involved separation by column chromatography of proteins extracted from isolated outer membranes, whereas the other involved extraction from gels after slab polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins extracted from cell envelopes. Both procedures yielded protein F preparations which successfully immunized mice from subsequent challenge with the PAO1 strain. The protein F preparations contained small quantities of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This level of LPS contamination protected immunized mice from challenge with the homologous LPS serotype strain. However, immunization of mice with protein F preparations from the PAO1 strain also afforded protection against challenge with two different LPS serotype strains. This protective ability was lost when the protein F preparation was treated with papain before use as a vaccine. These observations support the conclusion that protein F has protective ability, which is not due to LPS contamination, when given as a vaccine. After immunization with the protein F preparation, mice showed an increase in antibody titer to the purified protein F preparation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mice were protected passively by administration of rabbit antisera raised to the protein F preparation. These results indicate that the protein F preparation elicits a specific humoral antibody response in immunized animals. Our results suggest that purified protein F has potential as an effective vaccine for P. aeruginosa.
Information Content of Dividends: Evidence from Istanbul

This study investigates the market reaction to dividend change announcements at the Istanbul Stock Exchange. A sample of 184 announcements made by 46 companies during the period 2005 to 2008 is analyzed by using the event study methodology. The results suggest that the market reacts positively to dividend increases, negatively to dividend decreases and does not react when dividends are not changed, consistent with the signaling hypothesis. Also, the results show pre-event information leakage for the decreasing dividends sample.
One day I will make it : a study of adult student persistence in library literacy programs.

• Participants in the LILAA programs followed five different “pathways” through literacy education: ShortTerm, Tryout, Intermittent, LongTerm, and Mandatory. The programs cannot determine which path a student will follow when the student enrolls. * NOTE: Quantitative data were collected only from the Greenwood pro g r a m . Table 1: The Five Libraries Participating in the LILAA Persistence Study