Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Export mode portfolio: transaction cost economics and real options perspectives

Exporting plays an imperative role in many firms growth and survival. For that reason, a profound understanding of export operations is of interest to researchers as well as practitioners. Choosing the export mode is one of the most important strategic decisions a firm makes when exporting to its foreign markets. This decision may affect the firm s resource allocations and shape the possibility of future foreign expansion, and thus has potential performance implications. This study acknowledges that export mode choices should contribute to the firm success initially and on a continuous basis. Hence, it recognises the interlinked nature of export mode operations, and, for the first time, adapts a holistic view on export operation modes. Introducing the portfolio logic, this study investigates antecedents of the export mode portfolio and its performance implications. Two different theoretical approaches of transaction cost economics (TCE) and real options (RO) were used to distinguish different possible export mode portfolios of a firm. The study model is empirically tested using data from 250 Chinese export firms. From the TCE perspective, the finding suggests that firms' levels of investment uncertainty and export marketing capability are the main drivers of an internalised export mode portfolio. From the RO theory viewpoint, on the other hand, the result indicates that firms' levels of endogenous uncertainties (i.e. cultural uncertainty and technological uncertainty) are positively related to the intensity of use of Joint-Investment export modes in the portfolio of firms. In ddition, as expected, the greater the preponderance of exogenous uncertainties (i.e. investment uncertainty and demand uncertainty) the higher the proportion of No-Investment export modes in the portfolio of the firm. Further analysis of firms' export performance reveals that firms shaping their export mode portfolios according to the predictions of real options out-perform firms that shape their export mode portfolio based on TCE considerations. More specifically, firms that reduce their endogenous uncertainty, by engaging more in Joint- Investment modes of export operation across their portfolio, benefit from higher profit performance. The new model developed in this study provides a tool that enables scholars to give better advice to exporters on how they can structure their export mode portfolio for enhanced export profit.
Primary Aldosteronism: Are We Missing the Wood for the Trees?

Abstract The prevalence of primary aldosteronism (PA) is around 10% of hypertensives, with markedly increased risk of cardiovascular damage compared with age-, sex- and BP-matched essential hypertension (EH). Currently, if hypertension is present in 20% of the population, PA will account for 2%; of these PA patients only 1% are ever screened, let alone diagnosed and treated, and the remaining 99% suboptimally treated, if at all. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists are effective in lowering BP, uniquely vasoprotective and safe when titrated to effect in EH. In resistant hypertension (BP elevated despite 3 or more conventional agents, including a diuretic), which constitutes 20–30% of EH, addition of a low dose MR antagonist reproducibly produces BP lowering of 20–30 mm Hg. Two thirds of PA is unilateral, and normally treated by MR antagonists; in unilateral PA surgery is recommended, but there are also studies reporting MR antagonist therapy to be noninferior over the longer term. There thus seems to be a very strong case for including a low dose MR antagonist in first-line therapy for new hypertension, given its utility and safety across EH, its particular efficacy in resistant hypertension, and its specific benefits for the 99% of subjects with occult PA. We do not have the resources to diagnose PA, but we do have the wherewithal to treat it.
Cloning of the genes for penicillinase, penP and penI, of Bacillus licheniformis in some vector plasmids and their expression in Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis

By using plasmid pMB9, penicillinase genes (penP and penI) from both the wild-type and constitutive strains of Bacillus licheniformis 9945A were cloned in EScherichia coli. When a low-copy-number plasmid was used, both wild-type and constitutive penicillinase genes could be transferred into Bacillus subtilis. However, when a high-copy-number plasmid was used, only the genes of the wild type could be transferred. These recombinant plasmids in B. subtilis could all be transferred by the protoplast transformation procedure into B. licheniformis. Transformants of E. coli were resistant to ampicillin (20 micrograms/ml) in spite of the low penicillinase activities (7 U/mg of cells). However, transformants of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis were sensitive to ampicillin (20 micrograms/ml) even in high penicillinase activities (more than 10,000 U/mg of cells). The secretion of penicillinase was rarely observed in E. coli. In contrast, penicillinases secreted from transformants of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis were around 30 and 60% of the total activities, respectively. We took advantage of the plasmids to permit the construction of hetero- and mero-polyploid structures in host cells, and we discuss a regulatory mechanism of penicillinase synthesis in B. licheniformis.
Road Bicycle Fit

Proper bicycle fit is essential for comfort, safety, injury prevention, and peak performance. The goal is to balance all of the issues at hand, optimize power and aerobic efficiency, and avoid injury. At an average of 80 revolutions per minute, a cyclist may complete over 5400 revolutions during an hour ride, up to 30,000 revolutions over a 100-mile course, and 81,000 revolutions in the span of 1 week. Compounded over a season, one can see how overuse injuries develop. If properly fitted, the majority of cyclists training correctly will remain injury-free. Bicycle fit consists of static (measurements at rest) or dynamic (measurements while riding) evaluation. Dynamic fit also involves video analysis with concomitant heart rate, wattage, and pedal torque readings. There are 3 contact areas a rider makes with the bicycle, addressed in the following order (Fig. 1): 1. Shoe-cleat-pedal interface 2. Pelvis-saddle interface 3. Hands-handlebar interface Whether a weekend warrior or elite Olympic hopeful, all cyclists are positioned the same, with the exception of the hands-handlebar interface. A recreational rider may prefer to be positioned more upright.
From famine to feast: the role of methylglyoxal production in Escherichia coli

The enzyme methylglyoxal synthase (MGS) was partially purified from Escherichia coli extracts, and the amino‐terminal sequence of candidate proteins was determined, based on the native protein being a tetramer of about 69 kDa. Database analysis identified an open reading frame in the E. coli genome, YccG, corresponding to a protein of 16.9 kDa. When amplified and expressed from a controlled promoter, it yielded extracts that contained high levels of MGS activity. MGS expressed from the trc promoter accumulated to approximately 20% of total cell protein, representing approximately 900‐fold enhanced expression. This caused no detriment during growth on glucose, and the level of methylglyoxal (MG) in the medium rose to only 0.08 mM. High‐level expression of MGS severely compromised growth on xylose, arabinose and glycerol. A mutant lacking MGS was constructed, and it grew normally on a range of carbon sources and on low‐phosphate medium. However, the mutant failed to produce MG during growth on xylose in the presence of cAMP, and growth was inhibited.
Self-Monitoring Using Continuous Glucose Monitors with Real-Time Feedback Improves Exercise Adherence in Individuals with Impaired Blood Glucose: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND Exercise helps individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2D) manage their blood glucose (BG); however, exercise adherence in this population is dismal. In this pilot study we tested the efficacy of a self-monitoring group-based intervention using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) at increasing exercise adherence in individuals with impaired BG. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirteen participants with prediabetes or T2D were randomized to an 8-week standard care exercise program (CON condition) (n = 7) or self-monitoring exercise intervention (SM condition) (n = 6). Participants in the SM condition were taught how to self-monitor their exercise and BG, to goal set, and to use CGM to observe how exercise influences BG. We hypothesized that compared with the CON condition, using a real-time CGM would facilitate self-monitoring behavior, resulting in increased exercise adherence. RESULTS Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant Condition × Time interactions for self-monitoring (P < 0.01), goal setting (P = 0.01), and self-efficacy to self-monitor (P = 0.01), such that the SM condition showed greater increases in these outcomes immediately after the program and at the 1-month follow-up compared with the CON condition. The SM condition had higher program attendance rates (P = 0.03), and a greater proportion of participants reregistered for additional exercise programs (P = 0.048) compared with the CON condition. Participants in both conditions experienced improvements in health-related quality of life, waist circumference, and fitness (P values <0.05). CONCLUSIONS These findings provide promising initial support for the use of a real-time CGM to foster self-monitoring and exercise behavior in individuals living with prediabetes or T2D.
RelB reduces thymocyte apoptosis and regulates terminal thymocyte maturation

Thymocyte maturation is controlled by successive developmental checkpoints connected to the acquisition of a functional T cell receptor (TCR). During thymocyte selection, engagement of the TCRregulates the fine balance between death and survival signals. At the final stages of single‐positive (SP) thymocyte maturation, the coupling of the TCR changes from death‐ to proliferation‐inducing signals, a competence required for optimal effector functions in the periphery. We show here that in RelB mutant thymuses, thymocyte differentiation of CD24– SP cells is partially impaired. Competitive bone marrow reconstitution experiments show that this defect is constitutive to the lymphoid compartment. This is accompanied by an increased proportion of apoptotic thymocytes and a drastically reduced proliferation upon activation with anti‐CD3 antibody/PMA stimulation. Thus, the RelB protein contributes to the quality of cell signaling in thymocytes by providing anti‐apoptotic signals. These results suggest that in addition to its major role on the activation of antigen‐presenting cell function, the RelB protein is intrinsically required for terminal thymocyte differentiation and activation.
Three Essays on Sustainable Supply Chain Management – Towards Sustainable Supplier Selection and Sustainable Sourcing

The need for implementing sustainability in companies and along their supply chains has become a major concern for Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM). Although SSCM has been studied in multiple studies, the knowledge about how institutional pressures – coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures – impact companies’ sustainability activities is still at an early stage. In this paper, a model is developed for conceptualization the impact of institutional pressures on sustainability, sustainability activities in response to institutional pressures are explored, and the outcome defined as sustainability pervasion is studied. Based on the findings from a multiple case study of eight multinational companies in the manufacturing and service providing sectors, first evidence is supported that institutional pressures induce isomorphic sustainability activities and result in average-sustainability pervasion levels. Second, it is proposed that institutional pressures on sustainability are impacted by the moderators “expected sustainability benefits” and “top management support” which induce anisomorphic sustainability activities and result in suprarespectively subsustainability pervasion levels. Finally, the findings are presented in an extended research model and testable propositions are derived.
The Micro Impact of Macroprudential Policies: Firm-Level Evidence

Combining balance sheet data on 900,000 firms from 48 countries with information on the adoption of macroprudential policies during 2003-2011, we find that these policies are associated with lower credit growth. These effects are especially significant for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and young firms that, according to the literature, are more financially constrained and bank dependent. Among MSMEs and young firms, those with weaker balance sheets exhibit lower credit growth in conjunction with the adoption of macroprudential policies, suggesting that these policies can enhance financial stability. Finally, our results show that macroprudential policies have real effects, as they are associated with lower investment and sales growth.
Standard olanzapine versus placebo and ineffective-dose olanzapine in the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE Two studies compared the efficacy of standard-dose oral olanzapine (5 to 15 mg a day) with placebo and with ineffective-dose olanzapine (1 mg a day) in maintenance therapy of schizophrenia. METHODS The studies were 46-week double-blind extensions of multicenter studies that assessed the efficacy of olanzapine in the acute treatment of schizophrenia. Subjects were 120 adults who met DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia with an acute exacerbation and who had a minimum score of 24 on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, who had responded to acute therapy (defined as at least a 40 percent reduction in the BPRS score from baseline or a score of 18 or less during up to six weeks of treatment), and who were outpatients at their last acute-phase visit. Relapse was defined as hospitalization for psychopathology. Relapse risk was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and life table analysis. Patients who relapsed were discontinued from the studies. RESULTS In the first study (N = 58), patients in the standard-dose olanzapine group experienced a significantly lower relapse risk (p = .002) over one year than patients treated with placebo. The estimated one-year risk of relapse with olanzapine was 28.6 percent, compared with 69.9 percent with placebo. Results were similar in the second study (N = 62); patients treated with standard-dose olanzapine had a significantly reduced risk of relapse (p = .018) over one year compared with patients treated with ineffective-dose olanzapine. The estimated one-year risks of relapse were 19.6 percent for standard-dose olanzapine and 45.5 percent for ineffective-dose olanzapine. CONCLUSIONS Olanzapine is superior to placebo and ineffective-dose olanzapine in the maintenance therapy of schizophrenia.
Structural Analysis of Shu Proteins Reveals a DNA Binding Role Essential for Resisting Damage*

Background: The yeast Shu complex promotes repair through inhibition of the Srs2 anti-recombinase. Results: Psy3 and Csm2 share a similar structure that binds to DNA through a Rad51-like motif. Conclusion: The DNA binding activity of the Shu complex is essential for in vivo function. Significance: The structural and biochemical studies on the Shu proteins provide a good foundation for further understanding of the Shu complex in eukaryotic cells. The yeast Shu complex, consisting of the proteins Shu1, Shu2, Psy3, and Csm2, maintains genomic stability by coupling post-replication repair to homologous recombination. However, a lack of biochemical and structural information on the Shu proteins precludes revealing their precise roles within the pathway. Here, we report on the 1.9-Å crystal structure of the Psy3-Csm2 complex. The crystal structure shows that Psy3 forms a heterodimer with Csm2 mainly through a hydrophobic core. Unexpectedly, Psy3 and Csm2 share a similar architecture that closely resembles the ATPase core domain of Rad51. The L2 loop present in Psy3 and Csm2 is similar to that of Rad51 and confers the DNA binding activity of the Shu complex. As with Rad51, the Shu complex appears to form a nucleoprotein filament by binding nonspecifically to DNA. Structure-based mutagenesis studies have demonstrated that the DNA binding activity of the Shu complex is essential for repair of the methyl methanesulfonate-induced DNA damage. Our findings provide good foundations for the understanding of the Srs2 regulation by the Shu complex.
Hypocretin‐2 (orexin‐B) modulation of superficial dorsal horn activity in rat

The hypothalamic peptides hypocretin‐1 (orexin A) and hypocretin‐2 (Hcrt‐2; orexin B) are important in modulating behaviours demanding arousal, including sleep and appetite. Fibres containing hypocretin project from the hypothalamus to the superficial dorsal horn (SDH) of the spinal cord (laminae I and II); however, the effects produced by hypocretins on SDH neurones are unknown. To study the action of Hcrt‐2 on individual SDH neurones, tight‐seal, whole‐cell recordings were made with biocytin‐filled electrodes from rat lumbar spinal cord slices. In 19 of 63 neurones, Hcrt‐2 (30 nm to 1 μm) evoked an inward (excitatory) current accompanied by an increase in baseline noise. The inward current and noise were unaffected by TTX but were blocked by the P2X purinergic receptor antagonist suramin (300–500 μm). Hcrt‐2 (30 nm to 1 μm) increased the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in the majority of neurones. The sIPSC increase was blocked by strychnine (1 μm) and by TTX (1 μm), suggesting that the increased sIPSC frequency was glycine and action potential dependent. Hcrt‐2 increased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in a few neurones but had no effect on dorsal root‐evoked EPSCs in these or in other neurones. Neurones located in outer lamina II, particularly radial and vertical cells, were most likely to respond to Hcrt‐2. We conclude that Hcrt‐2 has excitatory effects on certain SDH neurones, some of which exert inhibitory influences on other cells of the region, consistent with the perspective that hypocretin has a role in orchestrating reactions related to arousal, including nociception, pain and temperature sense.
From product provision to advanced service solutions: challengesandenablersinservitization depending on type of Product-Service Syste

To avoid the commodization trap and build a long-term competitive advantage an increasing number of companies include services in their oﬀerings. However, for manufacturing ﬁrms advancing towards selling service solutions is challenging. The topic of servitization has generated a large amount of research regarding challenges and corresponding enablers that servitizing companies are faced with. Yet, limited research has tried to categorize these challenges into diﬀerent Product-Service Systems (PSS). This master thesis aims at identifying which challenges a servitizing company is faced with, depending on the type of Product-Service System that is oﬀered. Moreover, the enablers for deploying a servitization strategy are examined. This is done by analyzing the existing literature within the ﬁeld and conducting an empirical study based on interviews with six embedded case companies. Our ﬁndings suggest that the challenges companies are faced with when servitizingaredependentonthePSSclassiﬁcation. Identiﬁedchallengesfromtheempirical studyisclusteredintoﬁveclusters;Culture,Servicedevelopment,InternetofThings, Business model and Sales process. Each challenge is analyzed and individually categorized into their corresponding PSS category. It is shown that cultural challenges are important for all companies independently on the PSS type, while service development and IoT are most signiﬁcant for PoPSS-companies. Furthermore, it is suggestedthatbusinessmodelaswellassalesprocesschallengesaremostsigniﬁcant for UoPSS- and RoPSS-companies. Corresponding enablers to the challenges are identiﬁed. Firstly, internal marketing of servitization and education of employees can overcome the cultural challenge. Secondly, it is suggested that a well-deﬁned service development process and service modularity can counteract the challenges related to service development. Thirdly, updating IoT systems continuously, developing IoT standards and partnerships can help overcoming IoT challenges. Fourthly, suggested enablers to overcome the challenges connected to business model is to develop new technical capabilities, introduce new pricing algorithms and methods and increased collaboration between departments. Lastly, education of service sales force, acquiring new external service competence,targetingcustomercontactshigherupinthehierarchy,increasingcommunication to customers and educating customers can counteract challenges related to sales process. Keywords: servitization, servitization enablers, servitization challenges, ProductService
Genetic variation in paraoxonase‐2 is associated with variation in plasma lipoproteins in Canadian Oji‐Cree

We report studies of the association between genetic variation in PON2 and variation in plasma quantitative traits in a sample of 334 non‐diabetic Oji‐Cree. We detected associations between PON2 variation in codon 148 (Ala → Gly) and variation in fasting plasma concentrations of total and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) B. In particular, homozygotes for a PON2 allele that encoded A148 had significantly higher plasma total, LDL cholesterol and apo B than subjects having the other two genotypes (p <0.01). Taken together, our results suggest that common genetic variation on chromosome 7q21.3–22.1 in PON2 is associated with significant variation of intermediate traits in plasma lipoprotein metabolism.
The -675 4G/5G polymorphism in the PAI-1 gene may not contribute to the risk of PCOS.

OBJECTIVE The association between the -675 4G/5G polymorphism in PAI-1 gene and PCOS has been studied with inconclusive results. We sought to investigate this inconsistency by performing a comprehensive meta-analysis on the polymorphism. MATERIALS AND METHODS Searches were performed in the PubMed, Embase, CNKI and Wanfang databases, covering all papers. Statistical analysis was performed using Revman5.2 and STATA11.0 software. A total of 11 case-control studies were extracted on the polymorphism involving 1861 PCOS cases and 1187 controls. RESULTS The results showed that, no significant increased/decreased risk were found for the polymorphism for PCOS: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.77-1.66, p = 0.52 for 4G4G + 4G5G vs. 5G5G; OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.66-1.49, p = 0.96 for 4G4G vs. 5G5G + 4G5G; OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.66-1.79, p = 0.76 for 4G4G vs. 5G5G; OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.78-1.58, p = 0.56 for 4G5G vs. 5G5G; OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.71-1.41, p = 0.99 for 4G vs. 5G. In the further subgroup analysis by ethnicity, we did not find a significant association between the polymorphism for PCOS risk in either Asians or Europeans. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrated that -675 4G/5G polymorphism in the PAI-1 gene might not be a risk factor for the development of PCOS.