Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A triple analysis of ISO 9000 effects on company performance

Purpose – ISO 9000 certification has a growing importance for companies, mainly in Europe but also in other countries. Several papers have analysed the effects of ISO 9000 certification on company results, with contradictory conclusions. The purpose of this work is to clarify these possible effects.Design/methodology/approach – This paper reports new findings on the topic following a study using data from 713 companies and using the two methodologies that have been applied in the scientific literature: the comparison of certified and non‐certified companies and a longitudinal study of the results of certification.Findings – The data suggest that not only is ISO 9000 positive for companies but also it can actually reduce benefits and profitability.Practical implications – Several reasons for these results can be suggested and constitute a critique of the almost compulsory character of ISO 9000 as a norm for performance in some markets. Companies should be aware that implementing ISO 9000 just for complianc.
External transparency or internal capture? The role of third‐party statements in adding value to corporate environmental reports1

The paper seeks to evaluate the extent to which verification statements appearing in published corporate environmental reports promote organizational transparency and the empowerment of external parties. To this end, a detailed content analysis was performed on such statements appearing in reports short-listed for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Environmental Reporting Awards for the first seven years of the scheme since its inception in 1991/92. Key issues focused upon included those of verifier independence, degree of rigour applied to verification work, whether the performance dimension is meaningfully addressed in verification statements and the extent to which such statements may be considered to ‘add value’ for external constituencies. Our analysis of the basic characteristics of these ‘leading edge’ statements raises fundamental questions concerning the independence of verification. There is much evidence of auditee control over the process, with an overriding emphasis on the environmental management systems at the expense of commentary on performance-based ‘first order’ audit. The disturbing conclusion revealed is that current verification practice exhibits a ‘managerial turn’ rather than representing corporate commitment to external transparency and accountability. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
The birth of capabilities: market entry and the importance of pre-history

We analyze the birth of capabilities and resources within organizations and within industries, and their historical antecedents, at the time of market entry. We find a consistent theme: the greater the similarity between pre-entry firm resources and the required resources in an industry, the greater the likelihood that a firm will enter that particular industry, and the greater the likelihood that the firm will survive and prosper. In addition, resource gaps affect the likelihood, speed and mode of entry. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
Graves' Disease in Childhood

The vast majority of thyrotoxicosis cases in children are caused by Graves' disease (GD) and these account for 10-15% of all childhood thyroid diseases. The major clinical features of thyrotoxicosis in children are, in general, similar to those in adults. As in adults, the three conventional methods of treatment are antithyroid drugs (ATD), thyroidectomy and ablative radioiodine (131I). Although ATD are associated with side effects and a high relapse rate even after prolonged therapy, they still seem to be chosen as the first line of therapy for GD in childhood by most pediatric endocrinologists, although some have started using 131I as their first therapeutic modality. However, when ATD therapy has to be discontinued, or after relapse which may occur during or following ATD therapy, a definitive mode of therapy has to be chosen. Since thyroidectomy has the disadvantages of hospitalization and surgical complications, there is now an increasing tendency to advocate radioiodine as a choice of treatment in children older than five years old who achieve a high rate of remission. It should be kept in mind that with both thyroidectomy and radioiodine treatment, permanent hypothyroidism is very common and requires lifelong replacement therapy. According to the long-term follow-up data which have been published, radioiodine treatment in older children and adolescents seems to be safe and effective. Although studies of children with GD treated with ablative doses of radioiodine have not revealed an apparent increased risk of thyroid malignancy, a long-term study of larger populations is needed in order to define the true incidence of thyroid neoplasia, and other possible side effects, in children treated with radioiodine. Although the relatively low risks, low cost and practicability of radioiodine treatment has favored this therapy for children, as it has for adults, in the United States, it is still less attractive for European physicians. Progress in the immunological understanding of GD and of its genetic background will hopefully elucidate the pathways leading to GD, as well as the factors determining who is at high risk of developing GD, and may thus ultimately promote novel strategies for a more successful and safe therapy.
Different duration of at‐risk mental state associated with neurofunctional abnormalities. A multimodal imaging study

Objectives: Neurofunctional alterations are correlates of vulnerability to psychosis, as well as of the disorder itself. How these abnormalities relate to different probabilities for later transition to psychosis is unclear. We investigated vulnerability‐ versus disease‐related versus resilience biomarkers of psychosis during working memory (WM) processing in individuals with an at‐risk mental state (ARMS). Experimental design: Patients with “first‐episode psychosis” (FEP, n = 21), short‐term ARMS (ARMS‐ST, n = 17), long‐term ARMS (ARMS‐LT, n = 16), and healthy controls (HC, n = 20) were investigated with an n‐back WM task. We examined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data in conjunction using biological parametric mapping (BPM) toolbox. Principal observations: There were no differences in accuracy, but the FEP and the ARMS‐ST group had longer reaction times compared with the HC and the ARMS‐LT group. With the 2‐back > 0‐back contrast, we found reduced functional activation in ARMS‐ST and FEP compared with the HC group in parietal and middle frontal regions. Relative to ARMS‐LT individuals, FEP patients showed decreased activation in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and insula, and in the left prefrontal cortex. Compared with the ARMS‐LT, the ARMS‐ST subjects showed reduced activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus and insula. Reduced insular and prefrontal activation was associated with gray matter volume reduction in the same area in the ARMS‐LT group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that vulnerability to psychosis was associated with neurofunctional alterations in fronto‐temporo‐parietal networks in a WM task. Neurofunctional differences within the ARMS were related to different duration of the prodromal state and resilience factors. Hum Brain Mapp 33:2281–2294, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
[Effect of head-down bed rest on human EEG].

Objective. To study the influences of short-term simulated weightlessness on human EEG. Method. EEG of 12 male subjects (aged 18-22) was recorded, pre-HDBR (-6 degrees head down bed rest), mid-HDBR (3rd, 4th, 6th day) and post-HDBR (3rd day). Then these EEG recordings were analyzed by power spectral analysis. Result. During HDBR, peak frequency of EEG gradually slowed down (6th day, P<0.05). Alpha-band activities were enhanced (alpha1: P<0.001. Alpha2: 3rd and 6th day, P<0.05; 4th day, P<0.001) and reached maximum on the 4th day. Alpha1/alpha2 ascended (6th day, C3 and C4: p<0.02; F4, P4, T3, T4, T5: P<0.05). Theta-band activities enhanced (P<0.001), and reached maximum on the 3rd day at frontal regions, on the 4th day at parieto-occipital regions. Theta/alpha ascended obviously (6th day, P3, O1: P<0.05). Meanwhile, beta1, activities also enhanced (P<0.001), and reached maximum on the 3rd day at frontal regions. After HDBR, the index that recovered to the pre-HDBR level first was EEG peak frequency. Conclusion. HDBR caused obvious changes of EEG power spectrum characteristic. There exists a potential influence on brain function.
Hypogonadism and CHARGE association.

The G of the CHARGE association represents genital hypoplasia, which is typically recognized only in males (micropenis/cryptorchidism). The cause of genital hypoplasia in this disorder has not been determined. We now report the cases of nine individuals with CHARGE association and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, manifested by hypogenitalism and gonadotropins at or below minimal detectable levels at ages when these hormones should be readily measurable. We suggest that central hypogonadism is responsible not only for the genital hypoplasia in male patients but also for the lack of secondary sexual development in patients of both sexes. Since hypogonadotropic hypogonadism appears to be the usual cause of genital and pubertal abnormalities in CHARGE association, measurement of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations in infants up to 2-3 months of age who are suspected of having this disorder could help establish the diagnosis. Determination of serum LH and FSH concentrations in teenagers with CHARGE association could result in early diagnosis of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, allowing for treatment of hormonal deficiencies and minimization of potential secondary psychosocial and medical problems.
Sociopolitical and Economic Dimensions of Development: A Cross-Section Model

1 of the most important requisites of development is to cultivate those conditions which are appropriate for the generation of a surplus the distribution of which in turn usually generates friction among the various social classes and factions that advance claims to it. Thus modernization being a process of change has economic social political and institutional dimensions; and the changes can result in sociopolitical instability which affects the continuation of the ability of the economy to grow and of the society to develop. The objective of this paper is to test for a feedback mechanism that links all the dimensions of modernization together and the introduction of variables that can reflect it in a model and to present some results of an econometric investigation that recognizes this interaction. Estimation for the model is based on a sample of 104 noncommunist countries for the year 1967 that includes economic and noneconomic variables. The model is used to predict the values of the per capita income and gross capital formation both within and outside of the sample period. Its predictive ability is remarkable as the statistics represented in the tables and charts demonstrate. The model is also used in a number of simulations reflecting a variety of social and political conditions and scenarios. In this relation it is found for example that the social and political atmosphere has profound effects on the economic evolution of a society. The sociopolitical gap defined as the difference between actual sociopolitical envirnoments (characterized by various degrees of instability) and the sociopolitically stable environment (characterized by no sociopolitical violence) retards the development process. The presence and the magnitude of this gap as well as the various trade-offs lead the author to a conclusion of guarded pessimism in relation to the choices and future of developing countries. An appendix lists the types of political violence identified as variables.
Magnetic structure of CuCrO2: a single crystal neutron diffraction study

This paper presents results of a recent study of multiferroic CuCrO2 by means of single crystal neutron diffraction. This system has two close magnetic phase transitions at TN = 24.2 K and Tmf = 23.6 K. The low temperature magnetic structure below Tmf is unambiguously determined to be a fully three-dimensional proper screw. Between TN and Tmf antiferromagnetic order is found that is essentially two-dimensional. In this narrow temperature range, magnetic near neighbor correlations are still long range in the (H,K) plane, whereas nearest neighbors along the L direction are uncorrelated. Thus, the multiferroic state is realized only in the low temperature three-dimensional state and not in the two-dimensional state.
Formal construction of the Mathematically Analyzed Separation Kernel

Describes the formal specification and development of a separation kernel. The Mathematically Analyzed Separation Kernel (MASK), has been used by Motorola on a smartcard project, and as part of a hardware cryptographic platform called the Advanced INFOSEC (INFOrmation SECurity) Machine (AIM). Both MASK and AIM were jointly developed by Motorola and the National Security Agency (NSA). This paper first describes the separation kernel concept and its importance to information security. Next, it illustrates the Specware formal development methodology that was used in the development of MASK. Experiences and lessons learned from this formal development process are discussed. Finally, the results of the MASK development process are described, project successes are discussed, and related MASK research is highlighted.
The seductive discourse of development: The Cape Town 2004 Olympic bid

Research on how the decision to bid for the Olympics is made, the resources and processes involved in the bidding process and how a country responds to a failed bid is important. These aspects are embedded in a range of political and economic processes from the local to the global level. The Olympic Games is the ultimate mega-event. This article uses the case study of the Cape Town 2004 Olympic Bid (CTOB) to examine the above aspects, highlighting the global dimensions of bidding for major events. The CTOB illustrates that contemporary sport associations and structures are strongly influenced by emergent global forces such as global capital and dominance by certain regions. This often results in countries being disadvantaged from one of two sides. Either they cannot afford to participate in the bidding process or they cannot lobby sufficiently to influence the international sport associations.
IL-11 is a parietal cell cytokine that induces atrophic gastritis

Background and Aims IL-is important in gastric damage, mucosal repair and gastric cancer progression. We analysed IL-11 expression in H.pylori infected mouse stomach, the site of gastric IL-11 expression in mice and humans, and the effect of exogenous IL-11 on gastric mucosal homeostasis. Methods IL-11 protein was localised in mouse and human stomach. The impact of chronic, exogenous IL-11 on normal mouse stomach was examined histologically and transcriptionally by microarray, confirmed by mRNA and protein analysis. Functional impact of IL-11 on gastric acid secretion was determined. Results In mice infected with H.pylori, IL-11 was increased in fundic mucosa with temporal expression similar to IL-1b. IL-11 protein was localised predominantly to parietal cells in mouse and human stomach. Application of exogenous IL-11 to resulted in fundic parietal and chief cell loss, hyperplasia, mucous cell metaplasia and inflammation. Coincident with cellular changes were an increased gastric pH, altered parietal cell ultrastructure and altered gene expression, particularly genes involved in immune response and ion transport which could result in compromised acid secretion. We confirmed that a single dose of IL-11 effectively ablated the gastric response to histamine. Conclusions IL-11 is a parietal cell cytokine that blocks gastric acid secretion, likely via reducing expression of parietal cell ion transport genes, CCKb and histamine H2 receptors. IL-11 expression is increased in H. pylori infected mouse stomach and treatment of wild type mice with IL-11 induced changes in the gastric fundic mucosa reminiscent of chronic atrophic gastritis, a precursor to gastric cancer.
Pitx2 promotes development of splanchnic mesoderm-derived branchiomeric muscle

Recent experiments, showing that both cranial paraxial and splanchnic mesoderm contribute to branchiomeric muscle and cardiac outflow tract (OFT) myocardium, revealed unexpected complexity in development of these muscle groups. The Pitx2 homeobox gene functions in both cranial paraxial mesoderm, to regulate eye muscle, and in splanchnic mesoderm to regulate OFT development. Here, we investigated Pitx2 in branchiomeric muscle. Pitx2 was expressed in branchial arch core mesoderm and both Pitx2 null and Pitx2 hypomorphic embryos had defective branchiomeric muscle. Lineage tracing with a Pitx2cre allele indicated that Pitx2 mutant descendents moved into the first branchial arch. However, markers of both undifferentiated core mesoderm and specified branchiomeric muscle were absent. Moreover, lineage tracing with a Myf5cre allele indicated that branchiomeric muscle specification and differentiation were defective in Pitx2 mutants. Conditional inactivation in mice and manipulation of Pitx2 expression in chick mandible cultures revealed an autonomous function in expansion and survival of branchial arch mesoderm.
NBTI reliability analysis for a 90 nm CMOS technology

We present a comprehensive empirical study to investigate the impact of negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) on device performance and reliability. The NBTI lifetime is calculated for different lifetime criteria such as 10% Idsat or 50 mV Vt shift for different bias conditions, temperature, duty cycles, gate length, and gate width dependence, to allow a true comparison between different methodologies. Finally, a circuit level implementation approach is presented to estimate the NBTI device level reliability at a circuit level. Therefore, the absolute threshold voltage shift is calculated and inserted into the spice level transistor model for corner simulations.
Early career change among millennial US college graduates

With employers reporting high turnover among millennial employees, there is a need for better understanding of employment characteristics of this generation of workers. By analyzing the job history of 1,000 American millennials who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey of the Youth, this study found that 26% of millennial US college graduates changed careers within the first five years after obtaining their degree, but no more than past generations when they were young. Analysis also found that flexibility and optimism are not significant predictors of early career change but openness to risk has a strong positive association with early career change particularly among Hispanic millennials. Additional findings include the frequency and rate of early career change by career cluster, by major, and by gender. Sian EARLY CAREER CHANGE AMONG MILLENNIAL US COLLEGE GRADUATES iii
Why Markets Should Not Necessarily Reduce Tick Size

This paper studies the consequences of a change in the tick size in the Paris Bourse. Some stocks experienced a decrease in the tick size. It induced a decrease in depth at the quotes. However, in contrast with results obtained for US markets, this neither generated a change in the bid-ask spread nor a reduction in liquidity provision for large trades. Other stocks experienced an increase in the tick size. Again, this did not alter the spread, but it increased the depth at the best quotes. We also find that a relatively coarse pricing grid encourages traders to submit and expose limit orders, while a tighter grid induces frequent undercutting strategies.
Capacity region of the Gaussian doubly dirty two‐way channel in the presence of partial side information

In this paper, we characterize capacity region of the Gaussian doubly dirty two‐way channel (TWC) with partial side information at users, where there are two additive interference signals that, although similar to the channel noise sequences, corrupt the transmitted signals but are non‐causally and partially known to the users. First, by employing adaptation (considering the previously received signals in encoding process), we derive an adaptive outer bound on the capacity region of the channel. Then, we utilize lattice strategies and obtain a non‐adaptive inner bound that coincides with the adaptive outer bound and hence gives the capacity region. This also shows that for the doubly dirty TWC with partial side information, adaptation is useless and cannot increase the capacity region. Finally, we prove that Costa's dirty paper coding is optimal like lattice strategies and therefore, the Gaussian doubly dirty TWC is an instance of multi‐user channels in which lattice strategy and Costa's strategy have the same performance from the capacity region perspective. It is worth noting that our results subsume the previous related works as special cases. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fine needle aspiration diagnosis of non-epithelial lesions of the major salivary glands

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an accurate, reliable and cost effective procedure for the diagnosis of epithelial salivary gland lesions. The role of FNA is less clear in non-epithelial (mesenchymal and lymphoproliferative) lesions. We report our experience in which we reviewed 242 cases of salivary gland FNA performed during 19992013, from amongst which we identified 7 mesenchymal and 12 lymphoid/lymphoproliferative lesions. The cytology diagnoses were categorized into 3 groups: Group I) benign neoplasms (7 cases); Group II) benign lymphoid lesions (7 cases); Group III) malignant tumors (5 cases), all were non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Of the 19 cases, 9 (47%) had tissue biopsy for comparison. A high degree of diagnostic concordance was noted between FNA and tissue biopsy (67%, 6 out of 9 cases). Causes of the false negative FNA cases were explained in details and discussed. In summary, non-epithelial salivary gland lesions are uncommon. The differential diagnoses are widely scattered, including benign and malignant neoplasms. Adequate sampling and close communication between clinicians and cytopathologists are critical to reach a definitive conclusion. Ancillary tests (immunohistochemical stains, flow cytometry) along with clinical and radiological findings help to reach the definitive diagnosis in some cases.
A Human Perspective on the Daily Commute: Costs, Benefits and Trade‐offs

Abstract The average worker in Britain spends 139 h/year commuting—the equivalent of 19 standard working days. While the average distance and time taken for journeys to work has been steadily increasing, the average number of journeys has been decreasing at a similar rate. The aggregate picture inevitably masks an array of underlying trends. This paper offers a multi‐perspective examination of commuting drawing upon the literature in transport, planning, geography, economics, psychology, sociology and medicine. It examines statistical evidence on trends in commuting travel behaviour and finds that one in 25 commuters now travels to work in excess of 100 km (both ways) and one in ten commuters now spends over 2 h/day travelling to and from work. It explores the different impacts (economic, health and social) that commuting has on the individuals who conduct it and seeks to understand better the role of commuting for individuals in today’s society. The paper finishes its examination by reviewing the commute experience itself, including attitudes towards it and the use of time during the journey. It concludes by highlighting a dilemma facing transport planning and policy. There are social, economic and financial benefits from an improved travel experience for people with long commute journeys, yet improving the travel experience may itself contribute to the trend towards long‐distance commuting.