Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of the Internet by Irish Companies for Investor Relations Purposes

This study of Irish company investor relations material on the Internet was carried out in two parts. Firstly, Irish listed companies were surveyed for Web sites and investor relations material on the sites found was analysed. Results showed that 66 (67%) Irish listed companies had a Web site. Of these, 53 (84%) contained investor relations material. The most common type was background information on the company. The least common was background information on the industry in which the company operates. Despite the many new forms of investor relations activities now possible using technology inherent to the Internet (e.g. the option to download financial information in spreadsheet format, to participate online in company meetings, press and analyst conferences or to take part in Internet chat sessions with the investor relations department) none were featured on Irish publicly listed company (plc) Web sites. In the second part of the study, a content analysis of investor relations material on ten third-party sites was performed. The coverage on these third-party sites of Irish listed companies was also analysed. Results showed that nine (90%) sites provided some form of investor relations material free of charge to users. Share prices were provided on 90% of third-party sites. Historic share prices were found on six (60%) sites. None of the sites offered background information on different industries. The most commonly featured financial information was a direct e-mail order service for annual reports. Only one site, Yahoo! Finance, availed of the new technology inherent to the Internet by providing ratios and other information in a format that could be downloaded onto a spreadsheet. No site covered all Irish plcs. The site with the highest coverage covered 93 Irish companies (94%) while the lowest covered 71 (72%) companies.
Comparative analysis of pharmacological properties of xanomeline and N-desmethylclozapine in rat brain membranes

Background: 3(3-Hexyloxy-1,2,5-thiadiazol-4-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyridine (xanomeline) and N-desmethylclozapine are of special interest as promising antipsychotics with better efficacy, especially for negative symptoms and/or cognitive/affective impairment. Methods: The guanosine-5′-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate ([35S]GTPγS) binding experiments were performed using (1) conventional filtration technique, (2) antibody-capture scintillation proximity assay, and (3) immunoprecipitation method, in brain membranes prepared from rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. Results: Xanomeline had agonistic activity at the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) in all brain regions, as well as at the 5-HT1A receptor in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. On the other hand, N-desmethylclozapine exhibited slight agonistic effects on the M1 mAChR, and agonistic properties at the 5-HT1A receptor in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. This compound also behaved as an agonist at the δ-opioid receptor in the cerebral cortex and striatum. In addition, the stimulatory effects of N-desmethylclozapine on [35S]GTPγS binding to Gαi/o were partially mediated through mAChRs (most likely M4 mAChR subtype), at least in striatum. Conclusions: The agonistic effects on the mAChRs (particularly M1 subtype, and also probably M4 subtype), the 5-HT1A receptor and the δ-opioid receptor expressed in native brain tissues, some of which are common to both compounds and others specific to either, likely shape the unique beneficial effectiveness of both compounds in the treatment for schizophrenic patients. These characteristics provide us with a clue to develop newer antipsychotics, beyond the framework of dopamine D2 receptor antagonism, that are effective not only on positive symptoms but also on negative symptoms and/or cognitive/affective impairment.
Genetic and Biochemical Characterization of the Cell Wall Hydrolase Activity of the Major Secreted Protein of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) produces two major secreted proteins, designated here Msp1 (LGG_00324 or p75) and Msp2 (LGG_00031 or p40), which have been reported to promote the survival and growth of intestinal epithelial cells. Intriguingly, although each of these proteins shares homology with cell wall hydrolases, a physiological function that correlates with such an enzymatic activity remained to be substantiated in LGG. To investigate the bacterial function, we constructed knock-out mutants in the corresponding genes aiming to establish a genotype to phenotype relation. Microscopic examination of the msp1 mutant showed the presence of rather long and overly extended cell chains, which suggests that normal daughter cell separation is hampered. Subsequent observation of the LGG wild-type cells by immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the Msp1 protein accumulates at the septum of exponential-phase cells. The cell wall hydrolyzing activity of the Msp1 protein was confirmed by zymogram analysis. Subsequent analysis by RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry of the digestion products of LGG peptidoglycan (PG) by Msp1 indicated that the Msp1 protein has D-glutamyl-L-lysyl endopeptidase activity. Immunofluorescence microscopy and the failure to construct a knock-out mutant suggest an indispensable role for Msp2 in priming septum formation in LGG.
Ad-hoc automated teller machine failure forecast and field service optimization

As part of its overall effort to maintain good customer service while managing operational efficiency and reducing cost, a bank in Singapore has embarked on using data and decision analytics methodologies to perform better ad-hoc ATM failure forecasting and plan the field service engineers to repair the machines. We propose using a combined Data and Decision Analytics Framework which helps the analyst to first understand the business problem by collecting, preparing, and exploring data to gain business insights, before proposing what objectives and solutions can and should be done to solve the problem. This paper reports the work in analyzing past daily ad-hoc ATM failures, forecasting ad-hoc ATM failures and then using the forecasted results to optimize the number of field service engineers to deploy in each geographical zone, to minimize the number of daily unattended ad-hoc ATM failures. The optimization model ensures that the least number of engineers are deployed in each zone on each day. However, to maintain a consistent number of engineers for a 2-week schedule, we recommend to deploy the maximum number of engineers in each zone within the 2 weeks. The resulting surplus engineer idle hours is reduced, and it represents a cost savings of 28.6% when compared with the bank's current practice.
Ovarian remnant syndrome in dogs and cats: 21 cases (2000-2007).

OBJECTIVE To describe signalment, clinical findings, diagnostic tests, and results of treatment of dogs and cats with ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS). DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 19 dogs and 2 cats with ORS. PROCEDURES Medical records for animals examined between June 2000 and October 2007 were reviewed for signalment, clinical signs, age at time of ovariohysterectomy (OHE), surgical findings during OHE, experience of the surgeon (veterinary student vs veterinarian), interval from OHE until diagnosis of ORS, results of diagnostic tests, surgical findings, and results of histologic examination of excised tissues. RESULTS 21 animals (19 dogs and 2 cats) with ORS were identified. The most common clinical signs were those associated with proestrus and estrus. More dogs than cats were affected, and all residual ovarian tissues were found in the region of the ovarian pedicles. The right ovary in dogs was affected significantly more often than the left ovary. Seven animals had neoplasms of the reproductive system. These animals had a significantly longer interval between OHE and diagnosis of ORS than did the 14 animals without neoplasms. Long-term follow-up of 18 animals revealed resolution of clinical signs following exploratory laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Ovarian remnants were found in typical locations for ovaries and were not considered ectopic tissue; thus, surgical error during OHE was suspected as the cause of ORS. Anatomic differences may account for differences between species, and clinical signs may not be recognized until years after OHE. Surgical removal of residual ovarian tissue resulted in resolution of clinical signs.
ORGANISATIONAL LEARNING ACROSS GROUPS : THE CONSEQUENCES OF STRUCTURAL EMBEDDEDNESS

In this paper, first, two types of social capital are analysed. The two types are particularly different with respect to their view on social relationships: a balanced type of relationship versus an unbalanced type. The effects of both types on organizational learning are discussed. This will lead to a view of social capital that is known in the literature as ‘the dark side of social capital’ also with respect to organisational learning. I will turn to the analysis of processes that are responsible for the development of the dark side. Especially the behaviour of third party and forms of structural embeddedness are discussed. Consequently, I develop alternative proposals that could further organisational learning. These alternatives are illustrated in a case with various types of learning groups.
Macroeconomic volatility and welfare loss under free-trade in two-country models

This paper investigates the interlinkage in the business cycles based on sunspot fluctuations of large-country economies in a free-trade equilibrium. We consider a two-country, two-good, two-factor general equilibrium model with Cobb-Douglastechnologies, sector-specific externalities and linear preferences. We also assume constant social returns in the investment good sector but decreasing social returns in the consumption good sector. We first identify the determinants of each country's accumulation pattern in autarky equilibrium, and second we show that some country's sunspot fluctuations may spread throughout the world once trade opens even if the other country has determinacy under autarky. We thus prove that under free-trade, globalization and market integration may have destabilizing effects on a country's competitive equilibrium. Finally, we characterize a configuration in which opening to international trade improves the stationary welfare at the world level but deteriorates the stationary welfare of the country which imports investment goods and exports consumption goods. We thus show that in opposition to the standard belief, international trade may not be beneficial to all trading partners in the long run. Moreover, we prove that for some country, international trade may have contrasted consequences as it may at the same time improve the stationary welfare and have a destabilizing effect.
CT-guided biopsy of lung lesions: defining the best needle option for a specific diagnosis

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of fine and cutting needles in computed tomography guided-biopsy of lung lesions suspicious for malignancy and to determine which technique is the best option for a specific diagnosis. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the data from 362 (71.6%) patients who underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy and from 97 (19.7%) patients who underwent cutting-needle biopsy between January 2006 and December 2011. The data concerning demographic and lesion characteristics, procedures, biopsy sample adequacy, specific diagnoses, and complications were collected. The success and complication rates of both biopsy techniques were calculated. RESULTS: Cutting-needle biopsy yielded significantly higher percentages of adequate biopsy samples and specific diagnoses than did fine-needle aspiration biopsy (p<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of cutting-needle biopsy were 93.8%, 97.3%, and 95.2%, respectively; those of fine-needle aspiration biopsy were 82.6%, 81.3%, and 81.8%, respectively (all p<0.05). The incidence of pneumothorax was higher for fine-needle aspiration biopsy, and that of hematoma was higher for cutting-needle biopsy (both p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our experience using these two techniques for computed tomography-guided percutaneous biopsy showed that cutting-needle biopsy yielded better results than did fine-needle aspiration biopsy and that there was no significant increase in complication rates to indicate the best option for specific diagnoses.
Societal and economic impact of anterior cruciate ligament tears.

BACKGROUND An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a common knee injury, particularly among young and active individuals. Little is known, however, about the societal impacts of ACL tears, which could be large given the typical patient age and increased lifetime risk of knee osteoarthritis. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of ACL reconstruction compared with structured rehabilitation only. METHODS A cost-utility analysis of ACL reconstruction compared with structured rehabilitation only was conducted with use of a Markov decision model over two time horizons: the short to intermediate term (six years), on the basis of Level-I evidence derived from the KANON Study and the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) database; and the lifetime, on the basis of a comprehensive literature review. Utilities were assessed with use of the SF-6D. Costs (in 2012 U.S. dollars) were estimated from the societal perspective and included the effects of the ACL tear on work status, earnings, and disability. Effectiveness was expressed as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. RESULTS In the short to intermediate term, ACL reconstruction was both less costly (a cost reduction of $4503) and more effective (a QALY gain of 0.18) compared with rehabilitation. In the long term, the mean lifetime cost to society for a typical patient undergoing ACL reconstruction was $38,121 compared with $88,538 for rehabilitation. ACL reconstruction resulted in a mean incremental cost savings of $50,417 while providing an incremental QALY gain of 0.72 compared with rehabilitation. Effectiveness gains were driven by the higher probability of an unstable knee and associated lower utility in the rehabilitation group. Results were most sensitive to the rate of knee instability after initial rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS ACL reconstruction is the preferred cost-effective treatment strategy for ACL tears and yields reduced societal costs relative to rehabilitation once indirect cost factors, such as work status and earnings, are considered. The cost of an ACL tear over the lifetime of a patient is substantial, and resources should be directed to developing innovations for injury prevention and for altering the natural history of an ACL injury.
Multiwavelength Observations of Strong Flares from the TeV Blazar 1ES 1959+650

Following the detection of strong TeV γ-ray flares from the BL Lac object 1ES 1959+650 with the Whipple 10 m Cerenkov telescope on 2002 May 16 and 17, we performed intensive target of opportunity radio, optical, X-ray, and TeV γ-ray observations from 2002 May 18 to August 14. Observations with the X-ray telescope Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer and the Whipple and HEGRA γ-ray telescopes revealed several strong flares, enabling us to sensitively test the X-ray-γ-ray flux correlation properties. Although the X-ray and γ-ray fluxes seemed to be correlated in general, we found an "orphan" γ-ray flare that was not accompanied by an X-ray flare. While we detected optical flux variability with the Boltwood and Abastumani observatories, the data did not give evidence for a correlation of the optical flux variability with the observed X-ray and γ-ray flares. Within statistical errors of about 0.03 Jy at 14.5 GHz and 0.05 Jy at 4.8 GHz, the radio fluxes measured with the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory stayed constant throughout the campaign; the mean values agreed well with the values measured on 2002 May 7 and June 7 at 4.9 and 15 GHz with the Very Large Array and at 4.8 GHz with archival flux measurements. After describing in detail the radio, optical, X-ray and γ-ray light curves, and spectral energy distributions (SEDs), we present initial modeling of the SED with a simple synchrotron self-Compton model. With the addition of another TeV blazar with good broadband data, we consider the set of all TeV blazars, to begin to look for a connection of the jet properties to the properties of the central accreting black hole thought to drive the jet. Remarkably, the temporal and spectral X-ray and γ-ray emission characteristics of TeV blazars are very similar, even though the mass estimates of their central black holes differ by up to 1 order of magnitude.
A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Multiple Sclerosis: Recombinant T-Cell Receptor Ligands Modulate Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by Reducing Interleukin-17 Production and Inhibiting Migration of Encephalitogenic Cells into the CNS

Recombinant T-cell receptor ligands (RTLs) can prevent and reverse clinical and histological signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in an antigen-specific manner and are currently in clinical trials for treatment of subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS). To evaluate regulatory mechanisms, we designed and tested RTL551, containing the α1 and β1 domains of the I-Ab class II molecule covalently linked to the encephalitogenic MOG-35-55 peptide in C57BL/6 mice. Treatment of active or passive EAE with RTL551 after disease onset significantly reduced clinical signs and spinal cord lesions. Moreover, RTL551 treatment strongly and selectively reduced secretion of interleukin-17 and tumor necrosis factor α by transferred green fluorescent protein-positive (GFP+) MOG-35-55-reactive T-cells and almost completely abrogated existent GFP+ cellular infiltrates in affected spinal cord sections. Reduced inflammation in spinal cords of RTL551-treated mice was accompanied by a highly significant downregulation of chemokines and their receptors and inhibition of VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) and ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) expression by endothelial cells. Thus, RTL therapy cannot only inhibit systemic production of encephalitogenic cytokines by the targeted myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-reactive T-cells but also impedes downstream local recruitment and retention of inflammatory cells in the CNS. These findings indicate that targeted immunotherapy of antigen-specific T-cells can result in a reversal of CNS lesion formation and lend strong support to the application of the RTL approach for therapy in MS.
Jenaer Schriften zur Wirtschaftswissenschaft A Comparative Empirical Study on Common Methods for Measuring Preferences

Literature and practice reveal that most marketing related questionnaires measuring consumer preferences rely on some kind of conjoint analysis. Recent studies show the analytic hierarchy process to be suitable for this task, too. This paper gives a comparison of the approaches and the results of former studies. Because we found considerable differences in those results, an additional study has been performed being designed such that it has potential for explaining these differences. As we found respective explanations, we finally derive general guidelines on the selection of conjoint analysis and analytic hierarchy process depending on the complexity of the problem situation and the previous knowledge respondents have in preference measurement.
Star Formation Histories of Nearby Elliptical Galaxies. I. Volume-Limited Sample

This work presents high signal-to-noise ratio spectroscopic observations of a representative sample of nearby elliptical galaxies. These observations provide a strong test of models for the formation of elliptical galaxies and their star formation histories. Combining these data with the González data set, a volume-limited sample of 45 galaxies has been defined. Results are in agreement with previous studies: the existence of the metallicity hyperplane and the Z-plane of Trager and coworkers is confirmed, and the distribution is clearly due to physical variations in stellar population parameters and not measurement uncertainty. Trends between stellar population parameters and galaxy structural parameters suggest that angular momentum may determine the chemical abundance of a galaxy at a given mass.
Argumentation and proof

Topic Group 4 of CERME4 on “Argumentation and Proof ” had 15 participants from different countries across Europe. During its sessions, no formal presentations of the 9 papers were made, but every author had a chance to present her/his main ideas. The discussion was organized around three main themes that emerged from the papers prepared for the Topic Group. This report is organized likewise, in that it presents an account of the arguments and comments made in the group in terms of the three themes rather than in the order in which the discussion occurred. The three themes were • The meaning of proof in mathematics education • Comparing the teaching of proof at school • Problem solving and Conjecturing.
Alert Notification and Resource Allocation against Disease Outbreak using Web Services

When there is an outbreak of a certain disease, gathering individual patient history is a time-critical task. So is the allocating and finding medical products for the remedy. To address this problem, we introduce an infrastructure with Web services that provides a timely and effective way for the government, healthcare institutions, and businesses to cooperate, focusing on the outbreak notification and monitoring, medical resource enquiry and allocation, as well as the mobility of patient history records. We detail the mechanisms of these functions in our system, illustrating the Web services interface parameters for the communications and interoperability.
Improving the Neural GPU Architecture for Algorithm Learning

Algorithm learning is a core problem in artificial intelligence with significant implications on automation level that can be achieved by machines. Recently deep learning methods are emerging for synthesizing an algorithm from its input-output examples, the most successful being the Neural GPU, capable of learning multiplication. We present several improvements to the Neural GPU that substantially reduces training time and improves generalization. We introduce a new technique - hard nonlinearities with saturation costs- that has general applicability. We also introduce a technique of diagonal gates that can be applied to active-memory models. The proposed architecture is the first capable of learning decimal multiplication end-to-end.