Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Institutional Perspective on the Diffusion of International Management System Standards: The Case of the Environmental Management Standard ISO 14001

This paper analyzes how national institutional factors affect the adoption of the international environmental management standard ISO 14001, using a panel of 139 countries from 1996 to 2006. The analysis emphasizes that during the emerging phase of the standard, the potential lack of consensus within the constituents of the national institutional environment concerning the value of a new standard could send mixed signals to firms about the standard. The results show that in the early phase of adoption, regulative and normative forces within the institutional environment can work against each other. Results also show that regulative or coercive forces play a relatively more important role in the early phase of adoption of the standard than in the subsequent phases of diffusion. In the later phases of diffusion of ISO 14001, normative forces, such as the diffusion of other management standards, as well as factors related to trade, play a more important role. Because of the similarities between environmental management standards and corporate social responsibility standards, this study can help identify some of the challenges for diffusion of ISO management standards in the area of social responsibility.
The Role of Coagulase-negative Staphylococci in Early Onset Sepsis in a Large European Cohort of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Background: Early Onset Sepsis (EOS) is associated with increased major morbidity and mortality rates among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The epidemiology is changing in response to evolving medical practice. The objective of the study was to evaluate EOS epidemiology, risk factors, mortality and major morbidity rates among VLBW infants within a European cohort. Methods: Data from VLBW infants born from 2006 through 2009 was collected by neonatal units participating in the EuroNeoNet initiative. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the independent association of EOS with VLBW infant’s perinatal characteristics, morbidity and mortality rates. Results: The cohort included 14,719 infants, 391 developed EOS (2.7%). The most common pathogen responsible for EOS was Gram-positive bacteria (53.9%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were isolated in 22.5% of episodes. Antenatal steroids exposure, single gestation, very low gestational age and birth weight, low 5 minute Apgar score and delivery room resuscitation were independently associated with EOS. EOS was also associated with a longer hospital stay, increased risk of mortality [adjusted odd ratio (aOR): 2.4; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.9–3.1], respiratory distress syndrome (OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.9), severe intraventricular haemorrhage (aOR: 2.1; 95%CI: 1.6–2.8) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (aOR: 5; 95% CI: 1.9–13.3). Morbidity and mortality rates of infants with EOS caused by CoNS were similar to those of infants with EOS caused by other pathogens. Conclusions: VLBW infants with EOS are at an increased risk of mortality and major morbidities. CoNS was a significant cause of sepsis, infants with CoNS were at a similarly high risk of complication of prematurity and mortality as those with EOS caused by other organisms.
ASPECTOS BIO-ECOLOGICOS DO CARANGUEJO-UÇÁ, Ucides cordatus cordatus (LINNAEUS 1763), NO ESTUÁRIO DO RIO DOS CACHORROS E ESTREITO DO COQUEIRO, SÃO LUÍS – MA

Este trabalho refere-se ao estudo da densidade populacional e biomassa do caranguejo-uca, Ucides cordatus cordatus (Linnaeus), no sistema estuarino do Rio dos Cachorros e Estreito do Coqueiro, bem como objetiva relacionar alguns aspectos ecologicos e morfometricos as especie, fornecendo subsidios para possiveis alternativas de exploracao e protecao ambiental. No total foram analisados, 716 exemplares capturados no periodo de julho/82 a junho/83, sendo 573 machos e 143 femeas. Na composicao dos estoques, verificou-se uma predominância dos machos em relacao as femeas em numero, peso e com relacao aos parâmetros morfometricos; sendo os machos maiores e mais largos que as femeas. A densidade total estimada foi de 29.916 ind/ha; enquanto que a biomassa total foi de 3,5 ton/ha. ABSTRACT Populational density and biomass of the uca crab ( Ucides cordatus cordatus) were determined as well as some aspects of its ecology and morphometry. The area of study was the estuary of Cachorros river and Coqueiro strats. Secondary objectives were to have data to suggest measures for national expoitation and environment protection. A total of 716 individuals were captured and analysed from July 1982 to June 1983, of which, of which 573 were males and 143 females. There was a predominance of males both in number and in weight. The males were also morphometrically larger and wider than the females. The total density was 29+916 ind/ha; biomass 3.5 ton/ha.
Nonlinear chemical kinetic schemes derived from mechanical and electrical dynamical systems

The nonlinear transformation presented converts a mechanical or electrical system with positive and negative variables into a dynamically related chemical scheme that allows only nonnegative state variables. This transformation preserves the phase space qualitative features of the original system. The harmonic oscillator, Van der Pol, Lorenz, Rossler spiral chaos, forced negative stiffness Duffing, and a series RLC‐circuit are transformed into mass action chemical schemes. For example, the harmonic oscillator is converted into the Lotka–Volterra model. Hence, the information from a variety of physical studies is applicable to chemical systems.
Association of TP53 mutations with stem cell-like gene expression and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Mutations in TP53, a tumor suppressor gene, are associated with prognosis of many cancers. However, the prognostic values of TP53 mutation sites are not known for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because of heterogeneity in their geographic and etiologic backgrounds. METHODS TP53 mutations were investigated in a total of 409 HCC patients, including Chinese (n = 336) and white (n = 73) patients, using the direct sequencing method. RESULTS A total of 125 TP53 mutations were found in Chinese patients with HCC (37.2%). HCC patients with TP53 mutations had a shorter overall survival time compared with patients with wild-type TP53 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37-2.52; P < .001). The hot spot mutations R249S and V157F were significantly associated with worse prognosis in univariate (HR, 2.11; 95% CI: 1.51-2.94; P < .001) and multivariate analyses (HR, 1.79; 95% CI: 1.29-2.51; P < .001). Gene expression analysis revealed the existence of stem cell-like traits in tumors with TP53 mutations. These findings were validated in breast and lung tumor samples with TP53 mutations. CONCLUSIONS TP53 mutations, particularly the hot spot mutations R249S and V157F, are associated with poor prognosis for patients with HCC. The acquisition of stem cell-like gene expression traits might contribute to the aggressive behavior of tumors with TP53 mutation.
Improved diagnostic yield with severity of bleeding

OBJECTIVE: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is an important tool for non‐invasive imaging of the small bowel. Whether there is a dose‐related effect of anemia severity on the diagnostic yield of VCE is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of anemia severity on VCE outcome measures.
Controlled Cohort Study of Serum Gonadal and Adrenocortical Steroid Levels in Males Prior to Onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis (pre-RA): A Comparison to pre-RA Females and Sex Differences among the Study Groups

Serum testosterone levels are generally reported to be lower in male rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, but it is not determined if a deficiency may occur before clinical onset of disease (pre-RA). Lower testosterone levels were recently reported in males many years before RA onset but were predictive only of rheumatoid factor (RF)—negative disease. A preceding prospective study did not reveal androgenic-anabolic hormone association with risk of RA in men or women. This cohort study of males analyzed baseline serum levels of gonadal and adrenocortical steroids, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin in 18 pre-RA versus 72 matched non-RA control (CN) subjects. Findings in males were compared to those in female pre-RA and CN subjects in the same cohort, and sex differences were analyzed. Steroidal and hormonal levels, including total testosterone, were similar between male study groups. In females, mean (±SE) serum androstenedione (nmol/L) was slightly (P = 0.048) lower in 36 pre-RA (6.7 ± 0.36) than 144 CN (7.6 ± 0.22). With the exception of 3 partial correlations of hormonal variables observed to differ between pre-RA versus CN subjects, the patterns were similar overall. However, partial correlations of hormonal variables differed frequently by sex, both within and between study groups.
Gait Characteristics of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients

Purpose To identify potential differences between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients and controls in fall-relevant gait characteristics. Methods Spatiotemporal gait characteristics using the GAITRite walkway were collected from 29 AMD patients and 20 controls, aged 60 to 90 years, at the Wilmer Eye Institute. Multiple linear regressions, controlling for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities were used to assess associations between gait characteristics and AMD. Results Study participants were predominantly white (86%) and female (55%). Mean age of the full study population was 73.51 (SD: 8.14) years, and mean BMI was 27.80 (SD: 5.44) kg/m2. Median better-eye acuity (logMAR) was 0.23 (interquartile range [IQR] = 0.18, 0.36) and −0.02 (IQR = −0.08, 0.02), while median binocular log contrast sensitivity was 1.44 (IQR = 1.32, 1.56) and 1.76 (IQR = 1.76, 1.80) for the AMD and control groups, respectively. In multivariable regression models, AMD patients had significantly slower walking speeds (β = −0.118 m/sec [95% confidence interval (CI): −0.229, −0.007], P = 0.038) and stride velocities (β = −0.119 m/sec [95% CI: −0.232, −0.007], P = 0.038), and greater double support time (β = 3.381% of the walk cycle, 95% CI = 1.006, 5.757, P = 0.006) than controls. There were no group differences in base of support, step length, stride length, or gait variability measures. Conclusion AMD patients exhibited many fall-relevant gait characteristics. Translational Relevance The finding of fall-relevant gait characteristics suggests that AMD patients may be at a greater risk of falls during ambulation than those without AMD.
Semiregular group divisible designs whose duals are semiregular

ABSTRAC"T A construction method for semiregular group divisible designs is given. This method can be applied to yield many classes of (in general, non-symmetric) semiregular group divisible designs whose duals are semiregular group divisible. In particular, the method can be used to construct many classes of transversal designs whose duals are serniregular group divisible designs, but not transversal designs. Also, some of the semiregular group divisible designs the construction method yields can be used to construct self-dual regular group divisible designs with two groups of points and blocks. Four infinite classes of such regular group divisible designs are constructed.
Resident perceptions of event impacts: Taupo and Ironman New Zealand

iii CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 The Case Study – An Introduction. 2 1.2 Towards a Framework. 3 1.3 Aims & Objectives. 4 1.4 Thesis Outline . 5 CHAPTER 2 : LITERATURE REVIEW . 7 2.1 Sport Tourism. 7 2.2 Sport Tourism & Events. 9 2.3 Impacts . 11 2.4 Community & Tourism. 19 CHAPTER 3 : METHODOLOGY & RESEARCH CONTEXT. 30 3.1 Case Study Context . 30 3.2 Research Paradigms . 36 3.3 Interviews. 39 3.4 Field Observations . 41 3.5 Web-Survey. 42 3.6 Representativeness of the Sample. 52 CHAPTER 4 : RESIDENT PERCEPTIONS OF IMNZ . 59 4.1 Resident Participation & Awareness. 59 4.2. Perceptions of the Event. 63 4.3 Personal & Community Perceptions . 74
Selection for Heterozygosity Gives Hope to a Wild Population of Inbred Wolves

Recent analyses have questioned the usefulness of heterozygosity estimates as measures of the inbreeding coefficient (f), a finding that may have dramatic consequences for the management of endangered populations. We confirm that f and heterozygosity is poorly correlated in a wild and highly inbred wolf population. Yet, our data show that for each level of f, it was the most heterozygous wolves that established themselves as breeders, a selection process that seems to have decelerated the loss of heterozygosity in the population despite a steady increase of f. The markers contributing to the positive relationship between heterozygosity and breeding success were found to be located on different chromosomes, but there was a substantial amount of linkage disequilibrium in the population, indicating that the markers are reflecting heterozygosity over relatively wide genomic regions. Following our results we recommend that management programs of endangered populations include estimates of both f and heterozygosity, as they may contribute with complementary information about population viability.
A Hybrid Control Scheme for a Twin Rotor System with Multi Objective Genetic Algorithm

Control of vibration suppressions is crucial for applications in engineering particularly in the area of aircraft system. A hybrid control approach encompasses of using a feedforward intelligent command shaping technique with combination of intelligent PID feedback control is presented in this paper. The advantage of using command shaping is to reduce system vibration. However, it can cause delay in system response resulting to a conflict between vibration suppression and rise time response. Multi objective genetic algorithm is employ in this work to determine a set of solutions for the amplitudes and corresponding time locations of impulses on an extra sensitive (EI) command shaping as well as gain parameters for the PID controller. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is assessed both in the time domain and the frequency domain. Moreover, a comparative assessment of the performance of the technique with the system response and unshaped finite step input is presented.
Flood Risk, Climate Change and Housing Economics: The Four Fallacies of Extrapolation

This paper argues that major gaps exist in the research and policy understanding of the intersection of flood risk, climate change and housing markets. When extrapolating the research on historical flooding to the effects of future floods – the frequency and severity of which are likely to be affected by global warming – housing economists must be careful to avoid a number of methodological fallacies: (a) The Fallacy of Replication, (b) The Fallacy of Composition, (c) The Fallacy of Linear Scaling, and (d) The Fallacy of Isolated Impacts. We argue that, once these are taken into account, the potential magnitude and complexity of future flood impacts on house prices could be considerably greater than existing research might suggest. A step change is needed in theory and methods if housing economists are to make plausible connections with long-term climate projections.
Microtubule-based localization of a synaptic calcium-signaling complex is required for left-right neuronal asymmetry in C. elegans

The axons of C. elegans left and right AWC olfactory neurons communicate at synapses through a calcium-signaling complex to regulate stochastic asymmetric cell identities called AWCON and AWCOFF. However, it is not known how the calcium-signaling complex, which consists of UNC-43/CaMKII, TIR-1/SARM adaptor protein and NSY-1/ASK1 MAPKKK, is localized to postsynaptic sites in the AWC axons for this lateral interaction. Here, we show that microtubule-based localization of the TIR-1 signaling complex to the synapses regulates AWC asymmetry. Similar to unc-43, tir-1 and nsy-1 loss-of-function mutants, specific disruption of microtubules in AWC by nocodazole generates two AWCON neurons. Reduced localization of UNC-43, TIR-1 and NSY-1 proteins in the AWC axons strongly correlates with the 2AWCON phenotype in nocodazole-treated animals. We identified kinesin motor unc-104/kif1a mutants for enhancement of the 2AWCON phenotype of a hypomorphic tir-1 mutant. Mutations in unc-104, like microtubule depolymerization, lead to a reduced level of UNC-43, TIR-1 and NSY-1 proteins in the AWC axons. In addition, dynamic transport of TIR-1 in the AWC axons is dependent on unc-104, the primary motor required for the transport of presynaptic vesicles. Furthermore, unc-104 acts non-cell autonomously in the AWCON neuron to regulate the AWCOFF identity. Together, these results suggest a model in which UNC-104 may transport some unknown presynaptic factor(s) in the future AWCON cell that non-cell autonomously control the trafficking of the TIR-1 signaling complex to postsynaptic regions of the AWC axons to regulate the AWCOFF identity.
Resilient Localization for Sensor Networks in Outdoor Environments

The process of computing the physical locations of nodes in a wireless sensor network is known as localization. Self-localization is critical for large-scale sensor networks because manual or assisted localization is often impractical due to time requirements, economic constraints or inherent limitations of deployment scenarios. We have developed a service for reliably localizing wireless sensor networks in environments conducive to ranging errors by using a custom hardware-software solution for acoustic ranging and a family of self-localization algorithms. The ranging solution improves on previous work, extending the practical measurement range threefold (20-30m) while maintaining a distance-invariant median measurement error of about 1% of maximum range (33cm). The localization scheme is based on least squares scaling with soft constraints. Evaluation using ranging results obtained from sensor network field experiments shows that the localization scheme is resilient against large-magnitude ranging errors and sparse range measurements, both of which are common in large-scale outdoor sensor network deployments
Anti-Nuclear Autoantibodies in Naive Mice Cognate T Cell Help Is Sufficient to Trigger

The mechanisms involved in the initiation of anti-nuclear autoantibodies are unknown. In this study, we show that one factor allowing anti-nuclear autoantibodies to develop is the incomplete nature of immune tolerance to many of these proteins. Immune responses in mice toward the ubiquitous nuclear autoantigen La/SS-B are much weaker than responses to the xenoantigen, human La (hLa; 74% identical). However, in transgenic (Tg) mice expressing hLa, the Ab response to this neo-autoantigen was reduced to a level resembling the weak autoimmune response to mouse La. Partial tolerance to endogenous La autoantigen was restricted to the T compartment because transfer of CD4 1 T cells speciﬁc for one or more hLa determinants into mice bearing the hLa transgene was sufﬁcient to elicit production of anti-hLa autoantibodies. Notably, only hLa- speciﬁc T cells from non-Tg mice, and not T cells from hLa Tg mice, induced autoantibody production in hLa Tg mice. These ﬁndings conﬁrm partial Th tolerance to endogenous La and indicate the existence in normal animals of autoreactive B cells continuously presenting La nuclear Ag. Therefore, the B cell compartment is constitutively set to respond to particular nuclear autoantigens, implicating limiting Th responses as a critical checkpoint in the development of anti-nuclear autoantibodies in normal individuals. The Journal of Immunology, 2001, 166: 5826–5835.
Motivation to Use Self-Regulated Learning Strategies in Learning Management System amongst Science and Social Science Undergraduates

The purpose of this study is to determine students’ levels of self-regulated learning by adjusting MotivatedStrategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) developed by (Pintrich et al., 1993). This study involved 436undergraduate students. The validity of instrument used was checked by convergent validity and discriminatevalidity in Structural Equation Modeling. The reliability of scale was measured by internal consistency analyseswhilst students’ levels of self-regulated learning detected by descriptive analyses involving percentage,frequency, means, t-tests and standard deviation . As a result it can be concluded that MSLQ is recognized as avalid and reliable scale in order to examine levels of self-regulated learning among university students inMalaysia. Besides, the students’ self-regulated learning strategies are found to be generally in the middle range;their highest level of skills being Effort regulation, whereas the lowest skill is Metacognitive strategies. Thestudents’ level of self-regulated learning in social sciences faculties was significantly lower than students inscience faculties.
The Effect of Pyramid Structure on Firm Value

— Corporate ownership structure is an important factor influencing firm performance. This study aims to answer the question whether pyramid structure has negative effect on firm value. This study is important because the ownership of public listed companies in Malaysia is highly concentrated. The concentrated ownership such as Malaysia, agency conflict is prevalent between controlling shareholders and minority shareholders. Accordingly, the dominant role of shareholders in firms allows the controlling shareholders (including managers) to expropriate the interest of the minority shareholders for their own private advantage. This research is conducted on pyramidal firms in Malaysia. Applying the Attig Model as the underlying statistical test, it is found that firm value is negatively related to pyramid ownership of Malaysian public listed firms due to the mismatch between cash flow rights and control rights. Future research needs to focus on identifying the heterogeneous factors that improve the generalizability of research.
When Humans Become Objects: Out-Group Effects in Real and Artificial Faces

Out-group members are commonly viewed as being less human than in-group members. They are denied certain human characteristics and in turn become associated with machines or automata. Specifically, out-groups are attributed less naturally and uniquely human traits, and they are also seen as being less able to experience complex emotions in comparison to the in-group. Such dissociations have been demonstrated with real human faces but in our study, we aimed to test whether similar effects generalize to their artificial versions. Caucasian participants were presented with images of male Caucasian and Indian faces. Their task was to evaluate to what extent naturally and uniquely human traits, as well as primary and secondary emotions, can be attributed to them. In line with previous research, it was found that positive naturally human traits were attributed to a greater degree to the in-group than to the out-group, applying to both real and artificial faces. Moreover, negative naturally human traits and negative primary emotions were attributed more to the out-group. This indicates a positive bias towards the in-group and subtle out-group derogation. The results extend prior research based on real human faces and show that intergroup processes emerge similarly in response to artificial faces, which may have implications for the fields of computer graphics and animation. That is, even the most realistic face recognized as belonging to an out-group member may convey less humanness than that of an in-group member.