Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LMI-Based Feedback Regulator Design via TP Transformation for Fluid Volume Control in Blood Purification Therapies

With blood purification the life of a person suffering by kidney malfunction can be saved or the quality of her/his life can be increased. This is the purpose of hemodialysis machines, where the blood of the patient is filtered (cleared) in an extracorporeal tube system. Here peristaltic pumps are responsible for the fluid transport, where the strict control is a serious need, in order to maintain patient fluid balance and meet exact dosage. The current paper focuses on designing a robust controller with TP transformation. This controller is presented from the application point of view. The experiences with the designed controller are tested on a real system discussing their applicability.
Defining a Mechanism for the Histopathological Changes Seen in Salivary Gland Biopsies of Patients with Sjogren's Syndrome: A Mini-Review

Insights into the role that inflammatory mediators such as lymphocytes and matrix metalloproteinases play in remodeling of the basement membranes of salivary gland cells in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome has led to several observations revealing irregular thickening and thinning of the basement membrane. These observations have revealed that the underlying mechanism for these irregularities in thickness may partly be due to laminin degradation in the basement membrane seen coincidentally along with the intracellular accumulation of laminin in salivary gland ductal and acinar cells.
Enhancing Research Productivity through the Market for Technology

Markets for technology typically enhance value creation though complementarities between upstream research and downstream commercialization capabilities. However, in this paper we focus on the additional benefits of external technology sourcing on the marginal productivity of internal upstream research. In particular, we focus on technology acquisitions and licensing, two of the most common external acquisition strategies in high tech industries, and certainly the most relevant in the biopharmaceutical industry, which constitutes the setting for our empirical study. We find that acquisitions enhance marginal productivity at a decreasing rate, whereas in-licensing enhances productivity when the buyer has greater science-based capabilities. Licensing and acquisitions are complementary strategies for the larger firms, since their joint adoption tends to improve synergies at the upstream research level, therefore increasing the marginal productivity of internal research.
Is consumer perception of foreign online stores affected by the image of the country? An experimental study among Japanese consumers

An experimental study was conducted in Japan to investigate the influence of the perception of country-of-origin image in the evaluation of a foreign online store. The effects of country-of-origin image on consumer behavior have been investigated for products and services, but they have seldom been considered for electronic commerce. In this study, we propose that cognitive and affective dimensions of the country-of-origin image will have a positive influence on visual appeal, trust and intention of use of a foreign online store. A survey was conducted which measured the responses of Japanese respondents towards mockup online stores from Thailand and Singapore. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results show that country-of-origin image has a positive influence on the evaluation of the foreign online store, but that this influence is not equal for all countries. In general, the image of Thailand as a country has a wider influence on the Thai online store, than the Singapore image has on the Singaporean online store. We discuss these results and their implications for cross-border electronic commerce.
Convergence of a large time-step scheme for mean curvature motion

We propose a new scheme for the level set approximation of motion by mean curvature (MCM). The scheme originates from a representation formula recently given by Soner and Touzi, which allows us to construct large time-step, Godunov-type schemes. One such scheme is presented and its consistency is analyzed. We also provide and discuss some numerical tests.
The Relationship between Income and Retail Sales in Local Areas

T HERE are many situations in which it is necessary to compare a large number of geographical areas on the basis of whatever economic statistics may be most readily available. This may be the first step in selection of areas for more precise analysis, or it may be part of an area study in which comparison with like areas elsewhere is desired. The objective of this paper is to point out some limitations of income statistics for this purpose. Data on median income per family, as reported in the United States Census of Population z950, will be used throughout the discussion. It is important to distinguish two very different uses which may be made of income data. First, they may be used as indicators of the level of living maintained by the residents of the areas under consideration and, for this purpose, they are probably the best measure available. Second, they may be used as indicators of the market for goods and services in the areas studied. At this point, caution is urged since a positive relationship is found between income and retail sales (adjusted for population) for some types of geographical areas but not for others. Tentatively, it may be stated that there is a positive correlation between income per capita (or per family) and retail sales per capita only when the areas under consideration are relatively "closed systems" -that is, where the inhabitants both earn their incomes and spend them within the area. This is generally true for statesl and
An investigation into the impact of board composition and ownership structure on corporate performance : the case of the FTSE All Share listed companies

The thesis investigates two major mechanisms of corporate governance in terms of their impact on corporate performance. These mechanisms are the composition of board of directors, and the ownership structure. The thesis focuses on the UK FTSE All Shares non-financial firms. The reason for excluding financial firms was the different regulations that monitor the financial sector, and by excluding this sector from the study, findings more comparable with prior research can be obtained. The sample size arrived at 363 companies that had survived at least four years in the FTSE All shares between the year 2005 and 2010. The main hypotheses tested were whether board composition and ownership structure have an impact on firm performance, using Tobin’s Q (TQ) as a market based performance measure, and Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), Return on Capital Employed (ROCE), and growth in total sales (SGRTH), as accounting-based performance measures. Correlation and multi-regression analysis (univariate and multivariate regression) were carried out to test these hypotheses. The results suggested a high positive association between board size and TQ, and insignificant association between board size and accounting-based performance measures (ROA and ROE), while some evidence was found of an impact of an independent board on firm performance. The results also found a negative association between blockholdings and performance during the financial crisis in 2008, whilst an insignificant relationship was observed before 2008.
IMC–performance relationship: further insight and evidence from the Australian marketplace

As markets become increasingly competitive and the associated brand-related marketing communications activity more frenetic, the need to understand how to gain better outcomes from marketing communications efforts is paramount, especially in terms of creating and leveraging market-based assets. This paper presents the results of research into the relationship between the management of marketing communications, from an integrated marketing communications (IMC) perspective, and brand-related performance in smaller and medium-sized service and consumer goods firms. The paper employs the mini-communications management audit devised by Duncan and Moriarty (1997) as a mechanism for examining key IMC issues. Analysis is presented on differences between high-, medium- and low-performing firms. The analysis suggests that firms with higher levels of integration in the management of marketing communications also have higher levels of brand-related performance.
Targeting of the type II inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase INPP5B to the early secretory pathway

The inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase INPP5B is closely related to the Lowe syndrome protein OCRL1, sharing a similar substrate specificity, domain organisation and an ability to compensate for loss of OCRL1 in knockout mice. The cellular localisation and functions of INPP5B have remained poorly defined until recently, when a role within the endocytic pathway was suggested. Here, we report that INPP5B is also localised to the early secretory pathway including the Golgi apparatus and ER-to-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). Consistent with this localisation, INPP5B binds to specific RAB proteins within the secretory pathway, and mutational analysis indicates that RAB binding is required for efficient Golgi targeting of INPP5B. Unlike OCRL1, INPP5B interacts with neither clathrin nor α-adaptin and is largely absent from clathrin-coated intermediates. Expression of INPP5B but not OCRL1 alters the distribution of the cycling protein ERGIC53 when cells are incubated at low temperature (15°C) or in the presence of brefeldin A, causing ERGIC53 to accumulate in the ERGIC, with a concomitant loss from the ER. Our data suggest a role for INPP5B in retrograde ERGIC-to-ER transport and imply that it has functions distinct from those of OCRL1 within both the secretory and endocytic pathways.
Financial Aspects of HR Scorecard & Business Process Evaluation: An Empirical Study in Retail & Service Industries

In the concept of Balanced Scorecard, internal process is included as one of the scorecards to be balanced by organizations. Such internal processes are classified into 2 (two) sub-sections; production process and business process. However, most organizations may have paid substantial attention toward production process, instead of the actual business process, that is inexistence within organizations. One response is certainly just simply because production process brings about countable outputs, for both success and failure counts, which are considerably easier to be evaluated. On the other side of the coin, business process is often overlooked as the preliminary indication toward the same success and failure rates. Preliminary evaluation on business process seems crucial as a way to provide sufficient ground for organizations to make a giant-leap into the fiercer and tighter competition. This paper attempts to bring out the financial aspects of using Balanced Scorecard in Human Resources Management. In particular, the topics of recruitment and selection are emphasized in looking into the human resources scorecards. Research is conducted by gathering data from primary and secondary sources in retail and service industries in Bandung and Jakarta. As stated, it is expected that such studies would reveal the connection between financial issues and BSC in HRM. This is mostly true for growing organizations, perhaps.
Asymmetric rivalry within and between strategic groups

Our study examines asymmetric rivalry within and between strategic groups defined according to the size of their members. We hypothesize that, owing to several forms of group-level effects, including switching costs and efficiency, strategic groups comprising large firms expect to experience a large amount of retaliation from firms within their group and accommodation from the group comprising smaller firms. Small firms, on the other hand, expect to experience a small amount of retaliation from the group comprising large firms and no reaction from the other firms in their group. We estimate the effect of group-level strategic interactions on firm performance. Our analysis reveals that the rivalry behavior within and between groups is asymmetric, which supports the dominant-fringe relation between firms, as described in our hypothesis
Factors Affecting Automation of Inventory Management in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: A Case Study of Kitui County

Despite many challenges facing micro, small and medium enterprises in Kenya, they are yet to embrace full automation of inventories. Therefore the general purpose of this study was to assess factors affecting the automation of inventory management in micro, small and medium enterprises in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive research design. The target population for the study was 200 respondents. Therefore, census was conducted. The researchers used questionnaire to collect information from respondents. The collected data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. The study found out that majority of employees in the micro, small and medium enterprises have inadequate information technology skills and hence has hindered the automation of inventories. Also, the study found out that financial accessibility is an obstacle in financing automation of inventories. The study recommended that micro, small and medium enterprises should train its workforce to equip them with information technology skills, and allocate more funds towards automation of inventory.
An application‐based classification to understand buyer‐supplier interaction in business services

Purpose – Most existing classifications of business services have taken the perspective of the supplier as opposed to that of the buyer. To address this imbalance, the purpose of this paper is to propose a classification of business services based on how the buying company applies the service with respect to its own business processes.Design/methodology/approach – The paper considers some specific aspects of the process of buying and exchanging business services, focusing on the everyday production and consumption of services as opposed to the initial purchasing and negotiation phases.Findings – Earlier literature has developed similar, albeit less elaborate classifications, but does not provide detailed insight into how such classifications are related to differentiated buyer‐supplier interaction. This classification distinguishes between four business service applications; as a component, semi‐manufacture, instrument or consumable. For each of these four types of services, interaction has to achieve dif.
Stress levels experienced by the parents of enterally fed children.

BACKGROUND The stress levels of parents of children with chronic illness/disability who were also involved in an enteral feeding programme were examined and compared to the stress levels of parents of healthy children and parents of children with other chronic illnesses reported in previous research. METHODS Sixty-four parents who had a child with an enteral feeding tube completed the Parenting Stress Index (PSI). RESULTS Based on criteria developed by Abidin (1995), 42.18% (n = 29) of these parents displayed high stress levels. T-tests revealed that Total Stress scores on the PSI of the parents of children involved in the enteral feeding programme were significantly higher than those reported in the sample of parents used to norm the PSI (P < 0.001), and comparison samples of parents of children with growth deficiencies (P < 0.001) and parents of children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (P < 0.01). Compared to a sample of parents of children with Rett syndrome, the parents of children involved in the enteral feeding programme reported similar levels of stress on the Parent Domain of the PSI and significantly less stress on the Child Domain (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Factors associated with the stress reported by parents of children with an enteral feeding tube were severity of their child's illness/disability, the constant caretaking demands placed on the parent, and the level of support provided by the parents' social network.
TNF-α-Induced Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Human Lung Epithelial Cells: Involvement of the Phospholipase C-γ2, Protein Kinase C-α, Tyrosine Kinase, NF-κB-Inducing Kinase, and I-κB Kinase 1/2 Pathway1

TNF-α induced a dose- and time-dependent increase in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and PGE2 formation in human NCI-H292 epithelial cells. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that COX-2 was expressed in cytosol and nuclear envelope. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein or herbimycin) or phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C inhibitor (U73122) blocked TNF-α-induced COX-2 expression. TNF-α also stimulated phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis and protein kinase C (PKC) activity, and both were abolished by genistein or U73122. The PKC inhibitor, staurosporine, also inhibited TNF-α-induced response. The 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a PKC activator, also stimulated COX-2 expression, this effect being inhibited by genistein or herbimycin. NF-κB DNA-protein binding and COX-2 promoter activity were enhanced by TNF-α, and these effects were inhibited by genistein, U73122, staurosporine, or pyrolidine dithiocarbamate. TPA stimulated both NF-κB DNA-protein binding and COX-2 promoter activity, these effects being inhibited by genistein, herbimycin, or pyrolidine dithiocarbamate. The TNF-α-induced, but not the TPA-induced, COX-2 promoter activity was inhibited by phospholipase C-γ2 mutants, and the COX-2 promoter activity induced by either agent was attenuated by dominant-negative mutants of PKC-α, NF-κB-inducing kinase, or I-κB (inhibitory protein that dissociates from NF-κB) kinase (IKK)1 or 2. IKK activity was stimulated by both TNF-α and TPA, and these effects were inhibited by staurosporine or herbimycin. These results suggest that, in NCI-H292 epithelial cells, TNF-α might activate phospholipase C-γ2 via an upstream tyrosine kinase to induce activation of PKC-α and protein tyrosine kinase, resulting in the activation of NF-κB-inducing kinase and IKK1/2, and NF-κB in the COX-2 promoter, then initiation of COX-2 expression and PGE2 release.
Effectiveness of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline in the treatment of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND Limited data exist on the effectiveness of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline in the treatment of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of all adults hospitalized for pneumonia between January 1999 and July 2001 at an academic medical center. Outcomes were compared for patients with CAP treated with ceftriaxone plus doxycycline versus other appropriate initial empiric antibiotic therapies. Outcomes were adjusted with the use of a propensity score to account for differences in patient characteristics and illness severity between groups. RESULTS A total of 216 patients were treated with ceftriaxone plus doxycycline and 125 received other appropriate initial empiric antibiotic therapies. After adjustment, use of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline was associated with reduced inpatient mortality (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.81) and 30-day mortality (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.17-0.81), but not with length of stay or readmission rates. Analysis of a subset of the sample that excluded patients admitted from nursing homes, patients admitted to the ICU, and patients diagnosed with aspiration also showed reduced inpatient mortality with the use of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline. CONCLUSIONS The use of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline as an initial empiric therapy for patients hospitalized with CAP appears safe and effective, and its potential superiority should be evaluated prospectively.
A Computational Cognitive Biomarker for Early-Stage Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is genetically determined but with variability in symptom onset, leading to uncertainty as to when pharmacological intervention should be initiated. Here we take a computational approach based on neurocognitive phenotyping, computational modeling, and classification, in an effort to provide quantitative predictors of HD before symptom onset. A large sample of subjects—consisting of both pre-manifest individuals carrying the HD mutation (pre-HD), and early symptomatic—as well as healthy controls performed the antisaccade conflict task, which requires executive control and response inhibition. While symptomatic HD subjects differed substantially from controls in behavioral measures [reaction time (RT) and error rates], there was no such clear behavioral differences in pre-HD. RT distributions and error rates were fit with an accumulator-based model which summarizes the computational processes involved and which are related to identified mechanisms in more detailed neural models of prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. Classification based on fitted model parameters revealed a key parameter related to executive control differentiated pre-HD from controls, whereas the response inhibition parameter declined only after symptom onset. These findings demonstrate the utility of computational approaches for classification and prediction of brain disorders, and provide clues as to the underlying neural mechanisms.
The Determinants of Capital Structure Across Firms’ Sizes: The U.K Main and AIM Markets Evidence

We test the determinants of leverage within the trade-off and pecking order framework, and the speed of adjustment to the target leverage of large and small firms quoted on a regulated (Main) and relatively unregulated market (AIM) in the UK. We find that both firm size and market of quotation affect the level of leverage. Consistent with trade-off theory, leverage is affected by measures of taxes, bankruptcy costs and agency costs. In contrast, the leverage of small firms on AIM is more affected by firms’ asset tangibility, positively related to market-to-book reflecting the difficulties of these firms to raise equity capital to finance their growth, and is not affected by taxes or profitability. These differences are strongly reflected in the level of leverage of small firms which is significantly lower than that of large companies.
Open trial of interpersonal therapy in adolescents with moderate to severe major depression: effectiveness of novice IPT therapists.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of interpersonal therapy (IPT) implemented by well-supervised, novice IPT therapists in treating adolescents with moderate to severe mood disorders of lengthy duration. METHOD Twenty-five adolescents with moderate to severe major depression, lasting an average of 8 months, received 12 weeks of IPT. All participants were assessed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), and the Children's Global Assessment Scale (C-GAS) at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS The majority of participants improved substantially on the BDI, the HRSD, and the C-GAS; 84% met remission criteria on the HRSD (score < 7); and 80% met remission criteria on the BDI (score < 10). CONCLUSIONS Results demonstrate that IPT is effective in treating moderately to severely depressed adolescents, that IPT is effective with depression lasting several months, and that IPT can be effectively implemented by well-supervised clinicians with no prior training in IPT.