Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Host-Seeking Heights, Host-Seeking Activity Patterns, and West Nile Virus Infection Rates for Members of the Culex pipiens Complex at Different Habitat Types Within the Hybrid Zone, Shelby County, TN, 2002 (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract Host-seeking heights, host-seeking activity patterns, and West Nile virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, WNV) infection rates were assessed for members of the Culex pipiens complex from July to December 2002, by using chicken-baited can traps (CT) at four ecologically different sites in Shelby County, TN. Host-seeking height was assessed by CT placed at elevations of 3.1, 4.6, and 7.6 m during one 24-h period per month. Host-seeking activity was assessed by paired CT placed at an elevation of 4.6 m. Can traps were sampled at one 10-h daytime interval and at seven 2-h intervals during the evening, night, and morning. Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes accounted for 87.1% of collected mosquitoes. Culex (Melanoconion) erraticus (Dyar & Knab) accounted for 11.9% of specimens. The average number of Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes collected per 24-h CT period from July to September was lowest at a rural middle income site (1.7), intermediate at an urban middle income site (11.3), and highest at an urban low income site (47.4). Can traps at the forested site failed to collect Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes. From July to September at urban sites, Culex pipiens pipiens L. was the rarest of the three complex members accounting for 11.1–25.6% of specimens. At the rural site, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say was the rarest member of the complex. Cx. p. pipiens was not collected after September. Mean abundance of Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes was higher in traps at 7.6 m than in traps at 4.6 m. Abundances at 3.1 m were intermediate and not significantly different from abundances at the other heights. Initiation of host-seeking activity was associated with the end of civil twilight and activity occurred over an extended nighttime period lasting 8–10 h. All 11 WNV-positive mosquitoes were Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes collected from urban sites in traps placed at elevations of 4.6 and 7.6 m. Infection rates were marginally nonsignificant by height. Infection rates, host-seeking heights, and activity patterns were not significantly different among members of the Cx. pipiens complex.
Workplace Development Programmes as Institutional Entrepreneurs - Why They Produce Change and Why They Do Not

Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto www.aalto. fi Author Tuomo Alasoini Name of the doctoral dissertation Workplace Development Programmes as Institutional Entrepreneurs: Why They Produce Change and Why They Do Not Publisher School of Science Unit Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Series Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS 12/2016 Field of research Working life research Manuscript submitted 24 September 2015 Date of the defence 11 March 2016 Permission to publish granted (date) 8 December 2015 Language English Monograph Article dissertation (summary + original articles)
Agency Costs of Free Cash Flow

Free Cash Flow (FCF) agency conflicts exist when managers divert cash flow for private benefits. We identify the impact of unobservable FCF conflicts on firm policy using a structural approach. Measurement equations are constructed based on observable managerial choices: payout policy changes and personal portfolio decisions around exogenous tax rate changes. We find that FCF agency conflicts cause (i) under-leverage, leading to higher corporate taxes and (ii) under-investment in PP&E, leading to slower firm growth. Capital markets recognize FCF conflicts and discount such firms. Finally, firms with (i) large institutional holdings or (ii) better-aligned executive compensation, suffer less from FCF agency conflicts.
What are bottom of the pyramid markets and why do they matter?

There are thousands of journal articles that concern themselves with markets at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP). 1 What is there to say that hasn’t been said already? In 2002, an article published in the Harvard Business Review (Prahalad and Hammond, 2002) brought to the forefront of business and academic attention a ‘missing market’ that was claimed to be lying dormant, ignored by international and multination corporations yet worthy of attention for its potential to contribute to both economic and social prosperity. The notion of markets at the BoP is concerned with providing the ‘poor’ in developing and emergent economies with access to markets. Prahalad and Hammond (2002) champion the needs of the ‘invisible poor’ to the marketing efforts of multinational corporations. Prahalad and Hammond’s (2002) assert that the poor as ‘consumers’ constituted a sizeable market opportunity but this view has been criticised. In this essay, we explore how BoP markets might be reconceptualising to better shape interventions that relieve poverty.
Medically induced hypertension, hypervolaemia and haemodilution for the treatment and prophylaxis of vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: systematic review

Abstract Purpose: Arterial vasospasm is a major cause of death and long-term disability following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The use of medically induced hypertension, hypervolaemia and/or haemodilution is widely practiced for prophylaxis and treatment of vasospasm following SAH. We aimed to determine if the quality of available research is adequate to inform use of haemodynamic management strategies to prevent or treat vasospasm following SAH. Methods: Individual searches of the following databases were conducted: The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE and OpenSIGLE. Pertinent randomised clinical trials and cohort studies comparing any element or combination thereof: medically induced hypertension, hypervolaemia, and haemodilution were included. Data were extracted using standardised proformas and risk of bias assessed using a domain-based risk of bias assessment tool. Results: 348 study reports were identified by our literature search. Eight studies were included, three of which examined both volume expansion and medically induced hypertension. Three randomised clinical trials and two cohort studies examining prophylactic volume expansion were included. Two trials of prophylactic medically induced hypertension and two cohort studies were included. One trial and one cohort study of medically induced hypertension for treatment of established vasospasm was included. These trials demonstrated no significant difference in any of the clinical outcome measures studied. No trials of blood transfusion were included. Conclusions: There is currently insufficient evidence to determine the efficacy or non-efficacy of intravenous volume expansion, medically induced hypertension or blood transfusion for the treatment or prophylaxis of vasospasm following SAH. All of these approaches have been associated with adverse events, of unclear incidence. The current evidence base therefore cannot be used to reliably inform clinical practice. This is a priority for further research.
An integrative approach to management systems and business excellence

Traditionally, quality (ISO, 9001), safety (OHSAS, 18001) and environmental (ISO, 14001) management systems are integrated. This study developed the SECQA Model which integrated the latter systems and proposed aids management and corporate governance in the integration process. Questionnaires were sent to thirty manufacturing and service organizations in the KwaZulu-Natal region to elicit the suitability of the SECQA model. The majority of the respondents indicated that they would be keen to use the SECQA model in their organization as integration of management systems would assist them in reducing their workloads. They also believed that the range of management systems selected was conducive to the trends of the country and would reduce resources used and be better than their current practice. The model can be adopted by manufacturing and service type organizations in any country as a springboard to promote business excellence. Key words: Integrated management systems, business excellence, process approach.
Students' perceptions of the effects of term‐time paid employment

Purpose – Owing to increasing debts and lack of parental contribution to undergraduates' income, UK students are taking paid employment during term time in order to finance their studies. The aim of this investigation is to explore employed and non‐employed students' perceptions of the impact of this paid employment on the university experience.Design/methodology/approach – In total, 336 undergraduates completed questionnaires about their employment, their perceptions of the effects on academic study, factors affecting the decision to work and factors which may reduce the amount of time spent studying.Findings – Results indicated that almost 59 per cent of students were employed during term time for an average of 15 hours per week. More students perceived that there were benefits to working than perceived disadvantages, but there were some contradictions concerning the adverse effects of working.Research limitation/implications – The findings were limited by the location of the sample, as they were from a.
The combined diversification breadth and mode dimensions and the performance of large diversified firms

This paper examines the impact of the symbiotic relationship between diversification breadth and mode on firm performance. Seventy‐three Fortune 500 firms were classified by diversification breadth (related/unrelated) and mode (internal/external) and their performance during the period 1975–84 analyzed on four financial performance measures. The two related categories (related‐internal/related‐external) were generally higher performers than the two unrelated categories (unrelated‐internal/unrelated‐external) as hypothesized, but the differences were not significant on most performance measures. The unrelated‐external category appears to be the worst performer, which presents a dilema since this strategy has dominated the conglomerate movement.
The effects of mandatory delay laws on abortion patients and providers.

As of August 1994 legislation had been passed and signed into law in fifteen states requiring women to delay abortion for a certain number of hours or days after receiving state-mandated information and being offered information on fetal development and lists of agencies which provide prenatal care or other services for women who decide to carry their pregnancies to term. In states in which mandatory delays are being enforced the required waiting period is generally 24 hours except for Kansas which requires an eight-hour delay. The authors examine how these laws have affected providers and women seeking abortions in Ohio Pennsylvania and Mississippi. Enforcement of the laws did not begin in the two former states until March 1994 but enforcement in the latter state extends back to August 1992. Even after only four months in Ohio and Pennsylvania it is clear that the restrictions have lengthened the time needed to obtain an abortion especially for women who do not live near a provider and those who must make more than one trip. The lack of abortion providers in many of these states counties makes mandatory delays in obtaining services a real obstacle for some women. Women who must make two visits may incur substantial expenses for transportation accommodations or child care as well as time lost from work school or other responsibilities. It is estimated that the 24-hour delay in Mississippi during the last part of 1992 and 1993 prevented approximately 11-13% of the women who would have had abortions from doing so. Their failure to follow through with abortions however does not appear to be due to the receipt of mandated information. Moreover the legislation is causing women to have their abortions later in the course of pregnancy and have increased clinic operating costs which may be passed onto clients. The authors also explain that the lack of disproportionate effects upon minors nonwhite women and women who live long distances from a provider may be due to these womens need to overcome substantial barriers to obtain abortion services even before the law went into effect.
Customer relationship dynamics: Service quality and customer loyalty in the context of varying levels of customer expertise and switching costs

As customer-organization relationships deepen, consumers increase their expertise in the firm’s product line and industry and develop increased switching costs. This study investigates the effects of customer investment expertise and perceived switching costs on the relationships between technical and functional service quality and customer loyalty. Technical service quality is hypothesized to be a more important determinant of customer loyalty than functional service quality as expertise increases. Both technical and functional service quality are hypothesized to have a reduced relationship with customer loyalty as perceived switching costs increase. Three-way interactions between the main effects of service quality, customer expertise, and perceived switching costs yield additional insight into the change in relative importance of technical and functional service quality in customers’ decision to be loyal. Six of eight hypotheses receive support. Implications are discussed for customer relationship management over the relationship life cycle.
Aprotinin in Major Orthopedic Surgery: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Aprotinin therapy is a promising strategy for reducing blood loss and blood transfusion requirements. The efficacy and safety of aprotinin in orthopedic surgery, however, remain controversial. We searched electronic databases for randomized controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of the use of aprotinin in orthopedic surgery. Thirteen trials that included a total of 506 patients who underwent major orthopedic surgery were analyzed. The pooled intraoperative and perioperative blood loss was significantly less in the aprotinin-treated patients than in the control patients (weighted mean difference [WMD] for intraoperative blood loss = −229 mL, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −367 to −91 mL, P = 0.0011; WMD for perioperative blood loss = −557 mL; 95% CI = −860 to −254 mL; P < 0.0001). The pooled amounts of red blood cell (RBC) units (U) transfused intraoperatively and perioperatively were significantly less in the aprotinin-treated patients than in the control patients (WMD for intraoperative RBC U = −1.1 U; 95% CI = −1.7 to −0.4 U; P = 0.0001; WMD for perioperative RBC U = −1.1 U; 95% CI = −1.7 to −0.5 U; P < 0.0001). Aprotinin was not associated with an increased incidence of deep vein thrombosis (odds ratio = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.14 to 1.05, P = 0.061). The authors conclude that aprotinin reduces the intraoperative and perioperative blood loss and allogeneic blood transfusion requirement and may not be associated with increased risk of deep vein thrombosis in the presence of pharmacological or mechanical prophylaxis in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery.
Prevalence of hypogonadism in male patients with renal failure

Background: Hypogonadism in men may be secondary to renal failure and is well recognised in patients with end-stage renal disease. It is thought to contribute to the sexual dysfunction and osteoporosis experienced by these patients. However, the association between hypogonadism and lesser degrees of renal dysfunction is not well characterised. Methods: The gonadal status of 214 male patients (mean age 56 (SD 18) years) attending a renal centre was studied; 62 of them were receiving haemodialysis and 22 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal disease, whereas 34 patients had functioning renal transplants and 96 patients were in the low-clearance phase. Non-fasting plasma was analysed for testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, sex hormone-binding globulin, parathyroid hormone and haemoglobin. Creatinine clearance was estimated in patients not on dialysis, and Kt/V and urea reduction ratio were assessed in patients on dialysis. Testosterone concentrations were classified as normal (>14 nmol/l), low-normal (10–14 nmol/l) or low (<10 nmol/l). Results: 56 (26.2%) patients had significantly low testosterone levels and another 65 (30.3%) had low-normal levels. No significant changes were seen in sex hormone-binding globulin or gonadotrophin levels. Gonadal status was not correlated with haemoglobin level, parathyroid hormone level, creatinine clearance, or dialysis duration or adequacy. Conclusion: Over half of patients with renal failure, even in the pre-dialysis phase, have low or low-normal levels of testosterone, which may be a potentially reversible risk factor for osteoporosis and sexual dysfunction. These patients may be candidates for testosterone-replacement therapy, which has been shown to improve bone mineral-density and libido in men with low and low-normal testosterone levels.
Construction of silence on issues of sustainability through branding in the fashion market

Abstract This article focuses on the performativity of fashion brand discourse, in particular the performativity of ‘muted sustainable’ brands and the subsequent construction of eco-fashion consumption. We study brand discourses in the fashion industry that are informed by different theoretical marketing approaches and which perform different consumer capabilities that are valid for recognising, understanding and desiring eco-fashion through the provision of certain coordinates for fashion meanings associated to brands. We question self-sustained brand meaning structures causing structural silence by showing that the influence of theoretically informed brand discourse constructs silence regarding issues of sustainability in the fashion market. Results from a case study of Swedish fashion companies’ communication of their efforts in the sustainability domain as part of their brand management practice are analysed as representing different marketing approaches. The findings elucidate that we can understand silence on issues of sustainability in the fashion market as a separation of norm production and economic exchange that reflects basic assumptions about competition and the meaning of branding in dominant theoretical marketing approaches.
Accurate analysis of a single-phase dual active bridge converter for ZVS and deadband conditions

Simplified equations are used for the analysis of a dual active bridge converter leading to a conservative estimation of the zero voltage switching (ZVS) region. The ZVS is directly affected by the inserted deadband in each leg of the converter. In this paper the impact of the ZVS capacitor and deadband on soft switching region for this converter is analyzed. Also, the sufficient constraints for ZVS condition in the input and output bridges are determined by analyzing the circuit behavior during the bridges deadband. Simulation results of a 700V-350V, 50-kW dc-dc converter validate the analysis.
Sovereign Credit Ratings Methodology an Evaluation

This paper describes and evaluates the sovereign credit ratings methodologies of Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings. A simple definition of ratings failurebased on ratings stability - is proposed and tested, pointing to falling failure rates, consistent upside bias, and strong interagency correlation. Possible causes of ratings failure are separated into informational, analytical, revenue bias, and other incentive problems, each of which is discussed. The paper seeks to highlight methodological developments after the Asian crisis, particularly with regard to the estimation of contingent liabilities and the assessment of international reserves adequacy.
An ME-PC Enhanced HDMR Method for Efficient Statistical Analysis of Multiconductor Transmission Line Networks

An efficient method for statistically characterizing multiconductor transmission line (MTL) networks subject to a large number of manufacturing uncertainties is presented. The proposed method achieves its efficiency by leveraging a high-dimensional model representation (HDMR) technique that approximates observables (quantities of interest in MTL networks, such as voltages/currents on mission-critical circuits) in terms of iteratively constructed component functions of only the most significant random variables (parameters that characterize the uncertainties in MTL networks, such as conductor locations and widths, and lumped element values). The efficiency of the proposed scheme is further increased using a multielement probabilistic collocation (ME-PC) method to compute the component functions of the HDMR. The ME-PC method makes use of generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) expansions to approximate the component functions, where the expansion coefficients are expressed in terms of integrals of the observable over the random domain. These integrals are numerically evaluated and the observable values at the quadrature/collocation points are computed using a fast deterministic simulator. The proposed method is capable of producing accurate statistical information pertinent to an observable that is rapidly varying across a high-dimensional random domain at a computational cost that is significantly lower than that of gPC or Monte Carlo methods. The applicability, efficiency, and accuracy of the method are demonstrated via statistical characterization of frequency-domain voltages in parallel wire, interconnect, and antenna corporate feed networks.
Effect of joint spatial correlation on the diversity performance of space-time block codes

We characterize the effect of joint spatial correlation on the diversity performance of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. The joint spatial correlation is structured by the coupling matrix whose elements determine the average power coupling between the transmit and receive eigenmodes. We first derive the closed-form expression for the exact symbol error probability (SEP) of orthogonal space-time block codes over jointly correlated MIMO Rayleigh-fading channels. We then show that the achievable diversity order is equal to the number of nonzero elements of the power coupling matrix and establish the Schur monotonicity theorems on the SEP and the effective fading figure as a functional of elements of the power coupling matrix.