Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HRM practices and firm performance: evidence from Finnish manufacturing

We study how HRM practices such as employee involvement (EI) in firm decision making and financial participation (FP) are associated with firm performance. Our novel HRM survey data set has advantages over most data sets typically used in related studies since it is a panel, includes a broad variety of practices and is a representative random sample. Also we take into account other important drivers of firm performance, notably computer use, product market competition, and family and foreign majority ownership. The sensitivity of findings to different empirical approaches is investigated and our preferred approach is novel and uses robust regression methods. While results are sensitive to different specifications we find that performance-based pay and indices of FP are positively related to firm performance. Contrary to many previous findings we do not find a significant positive association between indices of EI and firm performance, though in some case we find that individual EI practices do enhance business performance. JEL Codes: M54, J53, L23
Bilinear time-frequency distributions and pseudodifferential operators

Diese Dissertation verfolgt zwei Zielsetzungen. Erstens wird versucht, wohlbekannte Zeit-Frequenz-Verteilungen wie etwa die Kurzzeit-Fouriertransformation oder die Wigner-Verteilung zu verallgemeinern und in einen einheitlichen Rahmen einzufugen. Insbesondere werden die zugehorigen Pseudodifferentialoperator-Kalkule und deren wesentliche Eigenschaften untersucht und mit bereits bestehenden Kalkulen wie etwa der Kohn-Nirenberg-Korrespondenz oder dem Weyl-Kalkul verglichen. Die Leitfrage besteht darin, ob sich die recht schonen Eigenschaften der erwahnten Kalkule auf die allgemeinere Situation ubertragen lassen. Zweitens wird, basierend auf den Ergebnissen des ersten Teils, ein spezieller Typus von Pseudodifferentialoperatoren, namlich Zeit-Frequenz-Lokalsationsoperatoren, genauer analysiert. Ihre grundlegenden Eigenschaften, besonders Abbildungseigenschaften des Symbols, werden in einheitlichem Rahmen prasentiert. Der Zusammenhang mit der Berezin-Transformation erlaubt es, neue Dichtheitsresultate fur die Menge der Lokalisationsoperatoren als Teilmengen groserer Operatorklassen sowohl bezuglich verschiedener Symbolkalssen als auch verschiedener Topologien zu beweisen.
Unilateral Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for Disabling Kinetic Tremor in Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND Surgical options of multiple sclerosis (MS) tremor treatment are limited and narrowed to thalamotomy or deep brain stimulation of the thalamic nucleus ventralis intermedius. Lack of qualification protocol frequently results in poor outcome. OBJECTIVE To determine prospectively the efficacy and safety of unilateral ventralis intermedius deep brain stimulation as a tool to control disabling kinetic arm tremor related to MS. METHODS Neurological and neuropsychological evaluations were performed 1 month and 1 day before surgery and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. The evaluation included measurement of tremor and dexterity, Extended Disability Status Scale, Mini Mental State Examination, and quality-of-life assessment. Nine consecutive patients were enrolled in the group. Mean age at the time of surgery was 38.9 ± 9 years; median Extended Disability Status Scale at baseline was 7.1. Mean MS duration was 11.7 years, and mean tremor duration was 6.11 years. Mean postural and kinetic scores and hand capacity were measured. RESULTS One month after surgery, median scores off and on stimulation were 12 and 6 for postural tremor, 12 and 10.5 for kinetic tremor score, 12 and 7.5 for manual capacity, and 22 and 20 for functional handicap, respectively. Similar results were 10 and 4, respectively, at the 3-month follow-up. Six months after surgery, median scores off and on stimulation were 10.4 and 4 for postural tremor and 12 and 7.8 for kinetic tremor, respectively. CONCLUSION This prospective study confirms the value and safety of ventralis intermedius deep brain stimulation for treatment of kinetic tremor related to MS. Accurate and precise presurgical qualification plays a key role in successful treatment.
Nonlinear MIMO : A ff ordable MIMO Technology for Wireless Sensor Networks

We consider a sensor network, where an access point (AP) communicates with many sensor nodes (SN), which are simple, cheap, low-complexity and low-power communication nodes. Such systems typically use nonlinear modulation and detection, due to their low power consumption. Increasing their performance by means of multiple antennas at the AP and the SNs has not been considered, since this would violate the stringent power and cost constraints at the SN. We consider SNs with MIMO receivers that perform a nonlinear operation on the complex-valued received signal (amplitude or phase detection). These receivers enjoy the low-cost, low-power, low-complexity characteristics that are crucial for a sensor network. Such nonlinear MIMO systems are first introduced and studied here. They bring the high-rate, high-performance world of MIMO systems and the low-cost, low-complexity world of sensor networks together. We only consider the single-user MIMO system between the AP and one SN, and study the fundamental limits of such systems. We compute achievable rates under perfect and noisy CSI at the SN, and observe that these systems also achieve spatial multiplexing gain, albeit different to legacy linear MIMO systems. We quantify and analyze these gains using numerical means, and give insight into the effect of the nonlinearity on the information theoretic limits of nonlinear MIMO systems.
Cholangiocarcinoma: Advances in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an epithelial cancer originating from the bile ducts with features of cholangiocyte differentiation.1 CCA is the second most common primary hepatic malignancy, and epidemiologic studies suggest its incidence is increasing in Western countries.2 Advanced CCA has a devastating prognosis, with a median survival of <24 months.3 The only curative therapy is surgical extirpation or liver transplantation, but unfortunately the majority of patients present with advanced stage disease, which is not amenable to surgical therapies. Anatomically, CCA is classified into extrahepatic and intrahepatic forms of the disease. The extrahepatic form is more common, accounting for 80% to 90% of CCAs. It is further divided into proximal or perihilar and distal subsets depending on the location of the cancer within the extrahepatic biliary system. Perihilar disease is also frequently referred to as a Klatskin tumor. Three different growth patterns of extrahepatic CCA can be observed: (1) periductal infiltrating, (2) papillary or intraductal, and (3) mass forming.4 Intrahepatic CCA typically presents as an intrahepatic mass. In addition to their distinct morphology and clinical presentations, intrahepatic and extrahepatic CCAs differ in etiopathogenesis, molecular signatures, and management. In the last several years there have been significant new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of CCA. New diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have also been developed, resulting in improved detection rates and outcomes. In addition, we have now entered the era of targeted therapies for human cancers. Therefore, it is timely and topical to review these advances with a focus on promising targeted therapies for this disease. An additional goal is to stimulate further interest in this disease with the hope of improving outcomes for this still highly lethal malignancy.
Inferior Outcomes: Learning in Low-cost English-medium Private Schools—A Survey in Delhi and National Capital Region

The number of English-medium low-cost private schools (LCPS) is increasing in India. Such schools are typically attended by children from economically disadvantaged families. This study, based on primary surveys in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR), finds low learning achievement for the English subject at the primary level of children attending such schools. Learning deficit in English remains hidden during students’ progress through the primary level. Further, low learning achievement for English has negative implications for other non-language subjects too, since the medium of instruction, language for textbooks and the medium of answering examinations for these subjects is English. Children’s ability to comprehend what they read and their ability to communicate in English get little attention in the teaching process. This also has an adverse impact on social equity with poor parents spending considerable money to access an education for their children, the outcome of which is poor.
Development of a multiplex PCR detection of Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. in mussels

Multiplex PCR amplification of invA and virA genes was developed enabling simultaneous detection in mussels of Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. , respectively. Simultaneous amplification of products of 215 and 275 bp was obtained either by using mixtures of individual strains of Sh. dysenteriae and Salm. typhimurium or spiked contaminated mussels with both bacteria. In the case of the mussels, 10–100 cells of Salmonella spp. and Shigella per millilitre of homogenate were detected by the multiplex PCR following a pre‐enrichment step to increase sensitivity and to ensure that detection was based on the presence of cultivable bacteria. Also, the sensitivity and specificity of this method was evaluated. Multiplex PCR amplification was shown to be an effective, sensitive and rapid method for the simultaneous detection of pathogens in mussels.
Systematic review of laparoscopic vs open surgery for colorectal cancer in elderly patients.

AIM To verify the safety and validity of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer in elderly patients. METHODS A meta-analysis was performed of a systematic search of studies on an electronic database. Studies that compared laparoscopic colectomy (LAC) in elderly colorectal cancer patients with open colectomy (OC) were retrieved, and their short and long-term outcomes compared. Elderly people were defined as 65 years old or more. Inclusion criteria were set at: Resection of colorectal cancer, comparison between laparoscopic and OC and no significant difference in backgrounds between groups. RESULTS Fifteen studies were identified for analysis. LAC was performed on 1436 patients, and OC performed on 1810 patients. In analyses of short-term outcomes, operation time for LAC was longer than for OC (mean difference = 34.4162, 95%CI: 17.8473-50.9851, P < 0.0001). The following clinical parameters were lower in LAC than in OC: Amount of estimated blood loss (mean difference = -93.3738, 95%CI: -132.3437 to -54.4039, P < 0.0001), overall morbidity (OR = 0.5427, 95%CI: 0.4425-0.6655, P < 0.0001), incisional surgical site infection (OR = 0.6262, 95%CI: 0.4310-0.9097, P = 0.0140), bowel obstruction and ileus (OR = 0.6248, 95%CI: 0.4519-0.8638, P = 0.0044) and cardiovascular complications (OR = 0.4767, 95%CI: 0.2805-0.8101, P = 0.0062). In analyses of long-term outcomes (median follow-up period: 36.4 mo in LAC, 34.3 mo in OC), there was no significant difference in overall survival (mean difference = 0.8321, 95%CI: 0.5331-1.2990, P = 0.4187) and disease specific survival (mean difference = 1.0254, 95%CI: 0.6707-1.5675, P = 0.9209). There was also no significant difference in the number of dissected lymph nodes (mean difference = -0.1360, 95%CI: -4.0553-3.7833, P = 0.9458). CONCLUSION LAC in elderly colorectal cancer patients had benefits in short-term outcomes compared with OC except operation time. The long-term outcomes and oncological clearance of LAC were similar to that of OC. These results support the assertion that LAC is an effective procedure for elderly patients with colorectal cancer.
Endogenous Association of TRAF2, TRAF3, cIAP1, and Smac with Lymphotoxin β Receptor Reveals a Novel Mechanism of Apoptosis*

Lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR) is a member of tumor necrosis factor receptor family and plays essential roles in the embryonic development and organization of secondary lymphoid tissues. It binds two types of tumor necrosis factor family cytokines, heterotrimer LTα1β2 and homotrimer LIGHT, and activates multiple signaling pathways including transcriptional factor NFκB, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and cell death. However, the molecular mechanism of the activation of these signaling pathways by LTβR is not clear. Because there is no enzymatic activity associated with the receptor itself, the signal transduction of LTβR is mediated by cytoplasmic proteins recruited to receptors. To identify these proteins, we took a proteomic approach. The endogenous LIGHT·LTβR complex was affinity-purified from U937 cells, and proteins associated with the complex were identified by mass spectrometry. Four of five proteins identified, TRAF2, TRAF3, cIAP1, and Smac, are reported here. Their association with LTβR was further confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation in U937 cells and HEK293 cells. The presence of cIAP1 and Smac in LIGHT·LTβR complex revealed a novel mechanism of LIGHT·LTβR-induced apoptosis.
Gyrodactylus derjavinoides sp. nov. (Monogenea, Platyhelminthes) on Salmo trutta trutta L. and G. derjavini Mikailov, 1975 on S. t. caspius Kessler, two different species of Gyrodactylus — combined morphological and molecular investigations

The paper deals with two morphologically similar but molecularly clearly different species of Gyrodactylus: G. derjavinoides sp. nov. on Salmo trutta trutta L. in Western Europe and G. derjavini Mikailov. 1975 collected on Salmo trutta caspius Kessler in Iran. The new species is described and its opisthaptoral hard parts compared to those of G. derjavini. Our molecular analysis of G. derjavinoides and G. derjavini confirmed that the morphological differences between them are species differences and not intraspecific variations. Phylogenetic analysis using the ITS rDNA region placed both species within the subgenus G. (Limnonephrotus) and within the G. wageneri-group, quite in accordance with morphological results. The two species, however, did not cluster as sister taxa. The correspondence between molecular-based clades within G. (Limnonephrotus) and the morphological shapes of marginal hooks within these clades are discussed. The importance of combined molecular and morphological analyses when describing or redescribing Gyrodactylus species is stressed.
Globalne kvantitativne promjene bazičnih i situaciono-motoričkih sposobnosti pod uticajem programa odbojke

Istraživanje je sprovedeno na uzorku od 73 ucenika sedmih i osmih razreda Osnovne skole „Tojsici“ koji su u sklopu dodatne nastave realizovali precizno definisani program odbojke. U istraživanju je primijenjeno 15 varijabli za procjenu bazicnih motorickih sposobnosti i 5 varijabli za procjenu situaciono-motorickih sposobnosti iz odbojke. Osnovni cilj istraživanja bio je da se utvrde globalne kvantitativne promjene bazicnih motorickih i situaciono-motorickih sposobnosti pod uticajem tromjesecnog eksperimentalnog programa odbojke u okviru dodatne nastave. Da bi se utvrdile globalne kvantitativne promjene (razlike) između inicijalnog i finalnog mjerenja primijenjenih sistema varijabli primijenjena je kanonicka diskriminativna analiza. Rezultati kanonicke diskriminativne analize pokazuju da je doslo do statisticki znacajnih globalnih kvantitativnih promjena (razlika) u prostoru bazicnih i situaciono-motorickih sposobnosti pod uticajem primijenjenog programa odbojke u okviru dodatne nastave.
Estrogen receptor beta in the sheep ovary during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy.

Objectives were to sequence and examine the expression of the estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) in the sheep ovary. The sequence of the ovine ERbeta (oERbeta) was determined using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cloning techniques. The reading frame of oERbeta contained 527 amino acids and exhibited high overall homology with cow (98%), rat (88%), and human (88%) ERbeta. In addition, an oERbeta isoform having a 139-base pair deletion (oERbeta1) was identified. The predicted amino acid sequence of this isoform is lacking the ligand-binding and carboxyl-terminal transactivation domains. The oERbeta protein and mRNA were determined in ovaries obtained from ewes on Days 0 (first day of estrus), 2, 6, and 10 of the estrous cycle and Day 30 of gestation. Immunohistochemistry showed that oERbeta protein was located in granulosa cells, the ovarian surface epithelium, endothelium, and Day 2 corpus luteum (CL). Weak immunostaining for ERbeta was detected in the theca interna. Relative steady-state amounts of oERbeta mRNA in the CL were determined using semiquantitative RT-PCR. Amounts of oERbeta mRNA were greater (P < 0.05) during CL formation (Day 2) than at later stages. The oERbeta to oERbeta1 mRNA ratio was lower (P < 0.05) on Day 2 than on Day 10 or Day 30 due to a decrease in amounts of oERbeta1. Results indicate that the oERbeta is a 527-amino acid protein expressed in specific cells of the ovary. Changes in relative amounts of full-length oERB and a deletion isoform in CL occurred during the estrous cycle, suggesting that these two types of ERbeta might regulate estrogen actions during early CL development in sheep.
An Investigation into the Target Needs of Engineers in Selected Employment Sectors

This article aims to investigate and analyze the perceived English language needs of engineers who want to develop their job position through English Language in their workplaces such as public relations, technical and operational, engineering support of production, planning and development, financial, general accounting, and legal affairs. In today’s competitive world, the economy needs more people with higher level skills in the workplace. Taking into consideration the specializations mentioned above, the article focuses on the perceived needs of engineers concerning Business English, not general English. Due to the business and economic development of the last decades in Iran, English has rapidly become the language used all over the world. Developing an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course in their workplaces is another purpose of this study. Questionnaire, interviews and observations were used to gather information in this research. Engineers’ expectations, managers’ demands, economy’s needs ask for more reliable methods to provide a better learning in workplace situation. Finally, based on the findings obtained from this study, it can be concluded that workplace courses have lots of effect on the engineers’ job and development and by passing the time they ask for more variable ESP courses relating to their job.
The co-creation of social value between social enterprises and private firms in the construction industry

This paper addresses the question of how and why social enterprises and private for profit firms collaborate to co-create social value in the construction industry and what institutional and organisational factors shape these practices. It does this using a documentary analysis and semi structured interviews with senior leaders of three construction organisations in the UK and Australia. Considering how collaborative practice is manifest in these arrangements, and the organisational and institutional factors that drive them, our findings suggest that the co-creation of social value through supply chain relationships in the construction industry is driven by commercial concerns which are in turn influenced by both industry and political institutional imperatives. Our findings point to differences in experience and opportunity for collaboration based on supply chain position and organisational scale. These have notable effects on the creation of social value and the legitimacy of different social benefit providers in an era of new public governance.
Phosphorus speciation in temperate basaltic grassland soils by solution 31 P NMR spectroscopy

Phosphorus (P) speciation in 21 basaltic and four non-basaltic Irish grassland soils was determined by NaOH–EDTA extraction and P NMR spectroscopy. Organic P in basaltic soils ranged between 30 and 697 mg P kg 1 and consisted of phosphate monoesters (84–100%), DNA (0–16%) and phosphonates (0–5%). Inorganic P was mainly phosphate (83–100%) with small concentrations of pyrophosphate (0–17%). Phosphate monoesters were more important as a proportion of extracted P in basaltic soils, probably because of their greater oxalate-extractable Fe and Al contents. Phosphate monoesters appeared to be strongly associated with non-crystalline Al and increased with total soil P concentration, indicating that they do accumulate in grassland soils. In non-basaltic soils myo-inositol hexakisphosphate constituted between 20 and 52% of organic P, while scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate constituted between 12 and 17%. These compounds were not quantified separately in basaltic soils because of poor NMR resolution in the phosphate monoester region, but appeared to represent a considerable proportion of the organic P in most samples. DNA concentrations were greater in basaltic soils compared with non-basaltic soils and were associated with acidic pH and large total C contents. The inability of the Olsen P test to assess effectively the P status of basaltic soils may result from strong phosphate sorption to Fe and Al oxides, inducing plant utilization of soil organic P. Phosphorus nutrient management should account for this to avoid over-application of P and associated financial and environmental costs.
Pengaruh Sumber Daya Manusia, Permodalan dan Pemasaran Terhadap Kinerja Usaha Kecil dan Menengah Sari Apel di Kecamatan Tutur

This article aims to determine the effect of Human Resources, Capital and Marketing Against Small and Medium Business Performance of Apple Cider. And find out how much influence Human Resources, Capital and Marketing Against Small and Medium Business Performance Apple cider. The population in this article is Small and Medium Business of Apple Cider located in Tutur District, while the sample used is 35 people consisting of the owner of Small and Medium Business Owner of Apple Cider and analyzed by using multiple regression analysis. The data +used in this article are primary and secondary data.
Criterion-Related Validity of the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale

The mean responses on the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale from 212 wives from intact marriages and 8 wives who had recently separated from their husbands were significantly different. That difference did not appear to be an artifact of social desirability since it decreased only slightly among subjects scoring zero on marital social desirability. The results provide new, if quite limited, support for the criterion-related validity of the marital satisfaction scale. Other characteristics of the scale paralleled previous research, with the new finding that, by controlling for marital social desirability, it was possible to reduce substantially, but not eliminate, some of the nonnormal characteristics of the distributions of the scores.