Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Addendum to “Average Internal Rate of Return and Investment Decisions: A New Perspective”

This note specifies some results found in [Magni 2010. The Engineering Economists, 55(2), 150-180] where the Average Internal Rate of Return (AIRR) is presented, which overcome all the IRR difficulties. In particular, the AIRR approach enables to prove that (1) a project is not uniquely associated with a return rate, but with a return function, which maps aggregate capitals to rates of return; (2) any definition of rate of return appearing in the (past and) future literature is a particular case of AIRR; (3) for choices between mutually exclusvie projects, the AIRR acceptability criterion may be applied to the incremental project; (4) the AIRR approach easily provides the evaluator with the rate of return on initial investment, whereas the IRR is only the rate of return on an aggregate capital which is internally implied by the IRR itself.
Revisiting business strategy under discontinuity

Purpose – Business strategy and its quest for sustainable competitive advantage and success is challenged by external and internal change, which increasingly takes the form of radical discontinuity. However, emergent strategy models are rising as concepts and constructs, possibly impacting on the advancement of strategic management theory and practices: these tools are the business model (BM), the value network (VN) and resource management (RM). The purpose of this paper is to propose a revisited role for BM design, VN configuration and RM, with specific reference to strategy execution and monitoring under discontinuity. Design/methodology/approach – The study builds its contribution on a theoretical framework (constituted by a literature review on discontinuity, BM, VN and RM), supplemented by two longitudinal case studies on companies which went through several discontinuities affecting their business strategy. Findings – BM, VN and RM are the strategic tools through which a company executes its planned.
Pulse oximetry in newborns with delayed cord clamping and immediate skin-to-skin contact

Objective To assess whether defined reference ranges of oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) of term infants after birth also apply for infants born after midwifery supervised uncomplicated vaginal birth, where delayed cord clamping (DCC) and immediate skin to skin contact (ISSC) is routine management. Design Prospective observational study. Setting and patients Infants born vaginally after uncomplicated birth, that is, no augmentation, maternal pain relief or instrumental delivery. Interventions Midwives supervising uncomplicated birth at home or in hospital in the Leiden region (The Netherlands) used an oximeter and recorded SpO2 and HR in the first 10 min after birth. Main outcome measures SpO2 and HR values were compared to the international defined reference ranges. Results In Leiden, values of 109 infants were obtained and are comparable with previously defined reference ranges, except for a higher SpO2 (p<0.05) combined with a slower increase in the first 3 min. The Leiden cohort also had a lower HR (p<0.05) during the first 10 min with a slower increase in the first 3 min. In the first minutes after birth, tachycardia (HR>180 bpm) occurred less often, and a bradycardia (<80 bpm) more often (p<0.05). Conclusions Defined reference ranges can be used in infants born after uncomplicated vaginal birth with DCC and ISSC, but higher SpO2 and lower HR were observed in the first minutes.
Cortactin-Src Kinase Signaling Pathway Is Involved in N-syndecan-dependent Neurite Outgrowth*

N-syndecan (syndecan-3) was previously isolated as a cell surface receptor for heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) and suggested to mediate the neurite growth-promoting signal from cell matrix-bound HB-GAM to the cytoskeleton of neurites. However, it is unclear whether N-syndecan would possess independent signaling capacity in neurite growth or in related cell differentiation phenomena. In the present study, we have transfected N18 neuroblastoma cells with a rat N-syndecan cDNA and show that N-syndecan transfection clearly enhances HB-GAM-dependent neurite growth and that the transfected N-syndecan distributes to the growth cones and the filopodia of the neurites. The N-syndecan-dependent neurite outgrowth is inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin A and PP1. Biochemical studies show that a kinase activity, together with its substrate(s), binds specifically to the cytosolic moiety of N-syndecan immobilized to an affinity column. Western blotting reveals both c-Src and Fyn in the active fractions. In addition, cortactin, tubulin, and a 30-kDa protein are identified in the kinase-active fractions that bind to the cytosolic moiety of N-syndecan. Ligation of N-syndecan in the transfected cells by HB-GAM increases phosphorylation of c-Src and cortactin. We suggest that N-syndecan binds a protein complex containing Src family tyrosine kinases and their substrates and that N-syndecan acts as a neurite outgrowth receptor via the Src kinase-cortactin pathway.
A Framework for Analysis of Ambidexterity and Performance in Small-to-Medium-Sized Firms

Ambidextrous organizations provide a practical model for forward-looking executives seeking to pioneer disruptive innovations while pursuing incremental gains. The relationships described in this study are based on the organizational-context literature, in particular Ghoshal and Bartlett's (1994) framework for organizational effectiveness, suggesting that contextual ambidexterity emerges when owner-managers in a business unit develop a supportive organization context. This perspective suggests that superior business-unit performance is not achieved primarily though charismatic leadership nor through some formal organizational structure, nor strong company culture; but rather through building a rational set of systems and processes that collectively define a context that allows the transcending capabilities of alignment and adaptability to flourish simultaneously, thereby sustaining business unit performance.
Dynamic Resource Management: Intertemporal Substitution and Risk Aversion

We consider resource management with recursive preferences. These generalize expected utility while eliminating some well-known difficulties. Monotonicity and convergence properties of optimal decision rules are established using lattice programming methods. Empirical applications are rangeland and groundwater management. Decreasing the intertemporal elasticity of substitution implies greater (lower) resource usage with limited (abundant) stocks. This moderates stock evolution and stabilizes consumption. Increasing risk aversion implies the same or reduced usage over the state space. Intertemporal substitution has a substantial effect on the optimal decision rule and a moderate effect on the limiting distribution, while risk aversion has a very small effect. Copyright 1996, Oxford University Press.
A Roadmap for Education Technology

This report describes the initial findings of several workshops convened in 2009 to consider the future of education and in particular the role of technology and computer science in education. Through a series of facilitated collaborative workshops, leaders in several disciplines engaged in conversations that cast computers in the role of facilitating education in the future and recommended a research agenda for federal funding.
Microbead-induced ocular hypertensive mouse model for screening and testing of aqueous production suppressants for glaucoma.

PURPOSE To characterize the microbead-induced ocular hypertension (OHT) mouse model and investigate its potential use for preclinical screening and evaluation of ocular hypotensive agents, we tested the model's responses to major antiglaucoma drugs. METHODS Adult C57BL/6J mice were induced to develop OHT unilaterally by intracameral injection of microbeads. The effects of the most commonly used ocular hypotensive drugs, including timolol, brimonidine, brinzolamide, pilocarpine, and latanoprost, on IOP and glaucomatous neural damage were evaluated. Degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerve axons were quantitatively assessed using immunofluorescence labeling and histochemistry. Thickness of the ganglion cell complex (GCC) was also assessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). RESULTS A microbead-induced OHT model promptly responded to drugs, such as timolol, brimonidine, and brinzolamide, that lower IOP through suppressing aqueous humor production and showed improved RGC and axon survival as compared to vehicle controls. Accordingly, SD-OCT detected significantly less reduction of GCC thickness in mice treated with all three aqueous production suppressants as compared to the vehicle contol-treated group. In contrast, drugs that increase aqueous outflow, such as pilocarpine and latanoprost, failed to decrease IOP in the microbead-induced OHT mice. CONCLUSIONS Microbead-induced OHT mice carry dysfunctional aqueous outflow facility and therefore offer a unique model that allows selective screening of aqueous production suppressant antiglaucoma drugs or for studying the mechanisms regulating aqueous humor production. Our data set the stage for using GCC thickness assessed by SD-OCT as an imaging biomarker for noninvasive tracking of neuronal benefits of glaucoma therapy in this model.
A critical evaluation of the research experiences of master and doctoral students at Technikon Natal

There are indications that the emergence of global trends in the production and dissemination of knowledge is influencing science policies worldwide, and compelling universities and technikons in South Africa to become more market oriented, competitive and entrepreneurial. Some of these trends include new modes of knowledge production, increased financial and academic accountability and distance education. The changing higher education landscape worldwide has implications for South African tertiary institutions. In addition, one of the objectives of the democratic government that took power in 1994 was to transform higher education. The publication of the White Paper on Education in 1997, the establishment of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC), and the National Plan for Higher Education in 2001 heralded the beginning of change. Consequently, it became necessary for higher education institutions to deliberate on the future course of their undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training programmes. In this context, it is important for universities and technikons to understand the needs of their postgraduate students. The overall aim of this study was to identify the perceptions of ex-Technikon Natal (now the Durban Institute of Technology) postgraduate students on their research experiences with regard to supervision, communication, the Technikon generally, availability of resources, finance, time, departments, faculties, research, research methodology, statistics, library and expertise. The particular focus was on postgraduate students registered at the Technikon Natal in 2001, whether or not they had submitted their research proposals. A postal survey was carried out to determine the students' perceptions of their research postgraduate experiences at the then Technikon Natal. The results of the survey indicate that the majority of postgraduate students have a negative perception of the Technikon. Students feel that there are insufficient experienced supervisors available for consultation, leading to unacceptable delays. With regard to communication, students feel that the Technikon does not disseminate enough information on processes and procedures about postgraduate issues. Overall, students in the Health Sciences are more dissatisfied than students in the other faculties. In fact, the postal survey reveals that students in these other faculties are more positive than negative about their postgraduate experiences. However, it is worth pointing out that a large proportion of v Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
Civil Service Relocation and the English Regions

MARSHALL J. N. , ALDERMAN N. and THWAITES A. T. (1991) Civil service relocation and the English regions, Reg. Studies 25, 499–510. The paper uses case study evidence from a civil service related organization considering relocation to consider the impact on the regions of England of the recent round of civil service dispersal from London and the South East. It is based on a cost benefit analysis of the main operating costs of the unit considering relocation, at both its current London base and a number of lower cost locations in the provinces. An investigation of the likely impact of a move on the functioning of the unit relocating and the likely local property and labour market conditions it might face in selected lower cost locations are used to consider the more qualitative aspects of relocation. Decentralization of the civil service is likely to favour selected lower cost locations between the North Midlands and South Yorkshire. This suggests that the economics of relocation from the capital have stretc.
Sex Ratio and the ABO Blood Group System

An interesting association between the sex ratio at birth and the ABO blood group system has been demonstrated by Sanghvi (1951). He showed, in each of two population samples, one from New York and the other from Bombay, that the sex ratio (percentage of males) of Group O infants of Group O mothers was significantly higher than that of Group A infants of Group A mothers ; the ratio for Group B infants of Group B mothers approximated closely with the first ratio. Allan (1952a; 1952b; 1953) further analysed Sanghvi's material and also attempted to correlate the sex ratio data with certain fertility data of various mating types compiled by Waterhouse and Hogben (1947).
Physiological and metabolic responses of men and women to a 5-km treadmill time trial.

Previous studies have reported strong correlations between 5-km performance times and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and also for running speeds equivalent to blood lactate concentrations of 4 mM. However, there is little information on the physiological responses of individuals during races over this distance. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to measure the physiological and metabolic responses of endurance trained male (n = 8) and female (n = 8) runners during a 5-km time trial using an instrumented treadmill. Performance times were 18.77 +/- 1.27 min for the men and 21.80 +/- 1.98 min for the women (P less than 0.01). The corresponding times on the athletics track were 17.68 +/- 0.39 min for the men (P less than 0.05) and 20.70 +/- 2.16 min for the women (N.S.). During the treadmill time trials, both the men and women were able to utilize approximately 90% VO2 max, 82% VE max, 98% HR max and produce similar concentrations of blood lactate. Although the physiological and metabolic responses of these endurance-trained men and women to 5-km treadmill running were similar, the faster running times recorded by the men in this study were the result of their higher VO2 max values.
A predictor model for suicide attempt: evidence from a population-based study.

BACKGROUND There is an extreme need for planning to prevent suicide in developing countries. It is necessary to detect the risk factors of this problem and plan to control them. The aim of this study was to determine a predictive model for suicide attempt based on its risk factors in order to give information for planning therapeutic, preventive, and educational interventions in Karaj City. METHODS The setting was Karaj City, Tehran Province, Iran and the study design was cross-sectional. In this study, data were collected by using the World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire of SUPRE-MISS study. The questionnaire included questions about demographic characteristics, personal and family history of suicide behaviors, use of psychotropic drugs, physical and mental disorders, and community stress. All parts of the questionnaire were filled out by interview. A total of 2300 individuals participated in this study having considered the 1.2% prevalence of suicide attempt in the pilot study, and with type one error rate of 5%, the sample size was calculated as 2300. RESULTS About 65% of the participants were females. Most of the participants had high-school education (48%) and 57.2% of them were married. Housewives included most of the occupation categories (46%). The mean age of the suicide attempters and nonattempters was 26 (+/-9) and 32 (+/-13) years, respectively. This difference was statistically significant. Younger age, female sex, history of mental disorders, lifelong use of tobacco and alcohol, and unemployment were the independent predictors of suicide attempt. CONCLUSION Prevention of suicide is possible by understanding its risk factors and planning to control them.
Why I Wanted More: Inspirational Experiences of the Teaching–Research Nexus for Engineering Undergraduates

What is it about the teaching-research nexus that inspires engineering undergraduates to want more and become researchers themselves? In this study, we sought to discover more about the influences on current PhD students’ choices to embark on higher degrees by research in various fields in engineering in an Australian research-intensive university. An online survey and follow-up focus group discussion revealed that these students are driven primarily by a genuine interest in research itself, rather than other factors such as career advancement (although this too, plays a role). While this is not particularly surprising, what did become apparent was the specific undergraduate experiences that most strongly influenced their decision to undertake research degrees, including enjoying doing project-based work, being exposed to lecturers who were passionate about their own research, and working on a vacation research scholarship. Further analysis reveals that the weighting of various influences changes according to whether the students are local Australian graduates or international PhD candidates.
Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulins for the treatment of mucous membrane pemphigoid-like epidermolysis bullosa acquisita

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP)-like epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a severe and intractable phenotypic variant of EBA [1, 2]. We report a case of oral-predominant MMP-like EBA (oral EBA) successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg). A man in his seventies developed oral pain and blistering. The aphthae and blisters were localized in the oral cavity, lips, tongue, and flexor sides of the wrists (figure 1A-C). No other mucous lesions were observed. Fibroscopic examination [. ]
Manufacturing ICs the neural way

To offset the enormous investment of semiconductor companies, chip manufacturers must innovate to a greater degree in the fabrication processes themselves. The aim is to employ the latest computer hardware and software developments-namely, computer-integrated manufacturing of integrated circuits (or IC-CIM)-to optimize the cost-effectiveness of IC manufacture, much as computer-aided design (CAD) revolutionized the economics of circuit design. Here, the author describes how neural networks have recently emerged as a powerful aid in a computer-integrated manufacturing of ICs. Such neural networks help engineers infer subtle input-output relationships. <<ETX>>
Kinetics of facial motoneuron loss following facial nerve transection in severe combined immunodeficient mice

We have recently shown that cells of the acquired immune system are crucial components of motoneuron survival after injury (Serpe et al. [1999] J. Neurosci. 19:RC7). The goal of the present study was to determine the kinetics of facial motoneuron (FMN) loss in wild‐type, scid, and reconstituted scid mice after a right facial nerve axotomy at the stylomastoid foramen. Scid mice showed a significant decrease in FMN survival at all weekly postoperative (wpo) times. One, two, four, and ten wpo, ipsilateral FMN survival in scid mice was 90% ± 1.8%, 84% ± 1.3%, 52% ± 3.7%, and 45% ± 2.5%, respectively, of the contralateral, unoperated side. In contrast, FMN loss after axotomy in wild‐type and reconstituted scid mice was not observed until 4 wpo (86% ± 2.5% and 83% ± 3.5%, respectively) relative to the contralateral, unoperated side. However, the levels of FMN in both wild‐type and reconstituted scid mice were significantly higher than those in the nonreconstituted scid at 4 wpo. By 10 wpo, FMN survival in both wild‐type and reconstituted scid mice had continued to decline significantly (60% ± 2.1% and 58% ± 3.1%, respectively) relative to the contralateral, unoperated side but were still significantly higher than that of the nonreconstituted scid at 10 wpo. Several important controls were also added to this study. Because the scid mutation is present in all cells (although it specifically results in a loss of V(D)J recombination mechanisms, we wanted to rule out the actual DNA mutation as causal in FMN loss). To accomplish this, we used the recombinase‐activating gene‐2 knockout (RAG‐2 KO) mouse model, in which the RAG‐2 has been disrupted and prevents maturation of T and B cells. As with the scid model, there was a significant loss of FMN at 4 wpo in the RAG‐2 KO that could be reversed with whole splenocyte reconstitution. We also compared FMN numbers in nonaxotomized facial nuclei from both scid and RAG‐2 KO mice relative to wild‐type controls. No differences in normal numbers of FMN were found in either the mutation or the gene knockout model. The ability of T and B lymphocytes to rescue FMN from cell death after peripheral nerve injury supports the hypothesis that cells of the acquired immune system produce neurotrophic factors or neurocytokines to support neuronal survival until target reconnection occurs. J. Neurosci. Res. 62:273–278, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Absorption of Recent Graduates into the Australian Labour Market: Variations by University Attended and Field of Study

This study uses data from the 1999 to 2009 Graduate Destination Surveys to investigate the absorption of recent university graduates into the Australian labour market. The results indicate that graduates of the Group of Eight and Australian Technology Network are less likely than graduates of other universities to be employed in jobs that do not require their qualification. No university group, however, has a clear advantage in protecting its graduates from the adverse earnings consequences associated with working in such jobs. Field of study plays an important role in determining both whether graduates work in occupations that require their qualification and earnings.
Price collusion or competition in US higher education

How geographical neighboring competitors influence the strategic price behaviors of universities is still unclear because previous studies assume spatial independence between universities. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics college navigator dataset, this study shows that the price of one university is spatially autocorrelated to its neighboring competitors and such neighborhood structure induces cooperation Nash equilibrium in a spatial price game. In the spatial price game of universities the possibility of the cooperation solution is about 76%, while that of the defeat solution is about 24%. This study demonstrates that the relation between price difference and geographical distance of universities is an inverse U-shaped curve rather than a line.