Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A note on the forecast performance of temporal aggregation

Earlier research on the effects of nonoverlapping temporal aggregation on demand forecasting showed the benefits associated with such an approach under a stationary AR(1) or MA(1) processes for decision making conducted at the disaggregate level. The first objective of this note is to extend those important results by considering a more general underlying demand process. The second objective is to assess the conditions under which aggregation may be a preferable approach for improving decision making at the aggregate level as well. We confirm the validity of previous results under more general conditions, and we show the increased benefit resulting from forecasting by temporal aggregation at lower frequency time units. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 61: 489–500, 2014
Cerebrospinal fluid-contacting nucleus mediates nociception via release of fractalkine

Increasing evidence suggests that the cerebrospinal ﬂuid-contacting nucleus (CSF-contacting nucleus) mediates the transduction and regulation of pain signals. However, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Studies show that release of fractalkine (FKN) from neurons plays a critical role in nerve injury-related pain. We tested the hypothesis that release of FKN from the CSF-contacting nucleus regulates neuropathic pain, in a chronic constriction injury rat model. The results show that FKN is expressed by neurons, via expression of its only receptor CX3CR1 in the microglia. The levels of soluble FKN (sFKN) were markedly upregulated along with the increase in FKN mRNA level in rats subjected to chronic constriction injury. In addition, injection of FKN-neutralizing antibody into the lateral ventricle alleviated neuropathic pain-related behavior followed by reduction in microglial activation in the CSF-contacting nucleus. The results indicate that inhibition of FKN release by the CSF-contacting nucleus may ameliorate neuropathic pain clinically.
Customer Satisfaction in Online Shopping: a study into the reasons for motivations and inhibitions

This study endeavours to understand customer satisfaction in online shopping while investigating the major reasons that motivated customers' decision-making processes as well as inhibitions of online shopping. The Kotler and Killers (2009) Five Stage Buying Process Model was chosen as the basis of framework of this study to explain customer satisfaction through their motivations to buy products online. The existing literature was reviewed to discover reasons that would influence customers positively or negatively towards shopping online. Surveys were conducted by distributing questionnaires in the Wrexham area (North Wales) to gather data for this research. SPSS software package was used to present research data graphically and to test research hypothesis. From the findings, it was discovered that respondents use internet to purchase products through online because they believe it is convenience to them and the term convenient includes elements such as time saving, information availability, opening time, ease of use, websites navigation, less shopping stress, less expensive and shopping fun. In contrast, along with respondents' mind-sets, online payment security, personal privacy and trust, unclear warranties and returns policies and lack of personal customer service are the foremost barriers of online shopping. Furthermore, the result of hypotheses established that even though online shopping is convenient to all consumers, online payment system and privacy or security anxieties have significant impact on online shopping. Finally, some recommendations have been offered for online retailers to take initiatives for making online shopping more admired and trustworthy.
On the use of HRR data to improve target kinematics estimation: CRLB computation and comparison with simulated results

An innovative approach to jointly estimate and compensate the radial velocity and acceleration of non-cooperative targets in HRR (High Range Resolution) processing for a frequency stepped radar has been proposed in [1] and [6]. The estimation is performed using different approaches mainly based on the maximization or the minimization of a proper functional (contrast, correlation-like or entropy) of the reconstructed profile. The partial improvement found for the target velocity and acceleration estimation indicates that the three analyzed “cost functions” don't reach ideal performance. Scope of this paper is to quantify the best theoretical achievable performance by means of the Cramer-Rao Lower Bounds (CRLB) and compare the obtained results in [1] and [2] with the CRLB.
Universal Banking and Conflicts of Interest: Evidence from German Initial Public Offerings

This paper investigates conflicts of interest associated with relationship banking. Using a sample of 270 German initial public offerings (IPOs), we ask if universal-bankunderwritten IPOs perform differently from IPOs underwritten by specialized investment banks. We find that universal-bank affiliation is correlated with higher first-day returns (underpricing) but uncorrelated with long-term performance. This suggests that underpricing compensates for potential conflicts of interest. The results also suggest that preexisting bank relationships, rather than issuer characteristics, may determine the choice of underwriter. Keywords: Universal banking, relationship banking, initial public offering, underpricing
Relationships between hyperglycemia and cognitive performance among adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Hyperglycemia is a common event among patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. While the cognitive-motor slowing associated with hypoglycemia is well documented, the acute effects of hyperglycemia have not been studied extensively, despite patients' reports of negative effects. This study prospectively and objectively assessed the effects of hyperglycemia on cognitive-motor functioning in subjects' natural environment. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Study 1 investigated 105 adults with type 1 diabetes (mean age 37 years and mean duration of diabetes 20 years), study 2 investigated 36 adults with type 2 diabetes (mean age 50 years and mean duration of diabetes 10 years), and study 3 investigated 91 adults with type 1 diabetes (mean age 39 years and mean duration of diabetes 20 years). Subjects used a hand-held computer for 70 trials over 4 weeks, which required them to complete various cognitive-motor tasks and then measure and enter their current blood glucose reading. RESULTS Hyperglycemia (blood glucose >15 mmol/l) was associated with slowing of all cognitive performance tests (P < 0.02) and an increased number of mental subtraction errors for both type 1 and type 2 diabetic subjects. The effects of hyperglycemia were highly individualized, impacting approximately 50% of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS Acute hyperglycemia is not a benign event for many individuals with diabetes, but it is associated with mild cognitive dysfunction.
International Standardisation of Good Corporate Governance: Best Practices for the Board of Directors

Introductory Considerations Regarding the Research Methodology. Synthesis and Final Conclusions. Part I: Corporate Governance: In Search of the Correct Frame of Reference. 1. Standardisation Regarding Corporate Governance? 2. Corporate Governance: Relevance of the Debate. 3. Corporate Governance: In Search of a Useful Definition. 4. Corporate Governance in a Historical Perspective. 5. Corporate Governance in a Geographical Perspective. 6. Systematising the Relevant Determining Factors and Optional Issues Regarding Sound Governance. 7. Is There Greater Convergence Between the Different Systems of Corporate Governance. Part II: Corporate Governance Standards and Codes: A Comparative International Analysis. 8. Type of Recommendations and Enforceability. 9. Management versus Board of Directors. 10. Independence of Directors. 11. Other Provisions Concerning the Composition of the Board of Directors. 12. An Effective Operation of the Board of Directors. 13. Committees within the Board of Directors. Part III: Detailed Analysis of the International Comparison of the Corporate Governance Codes, Standards and Recommendations. 14. Background to Sources. 15. Type of Recommendations and Enforceability. 16. Management versus Board of Directors. 17. Independence of Directors. 18. Other Provisions Regarding the Composition of the Board of Directors. 19. Operation of the Board of Directors. 20. Committees within the Board of Directors. Appendix: References of the International Comparison ofCodes, Standards and Recommendations: Abbreviations. Bibliographical References. Index.
ISO 9000 in SMEs: the mediating role of quality systems in the innovation performance

The relation between TQM and innovation performance in organizations is the subject of many studies with different conclusions. It is generally accepted that the relation is not lineal but complex. Several authors have proposed a mediating role of quality systems in promoting innovation activities. The studies are mainly in the context of large companies where the capability to deploy quality systems and strategies is larger than in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) and therefore difficult to extrapolate the conclusions. This work presents an empirical study of the mediating role of quality systems on innovation in SMEs. ISO 9001 has been selected due to the tendency of these companies to initiate the quality journey with this system. The basic assumption is that ISO 9001certification will stimulate the organization to adopt some quality specific activities related with knowledge management practices (KMPs), such as collaborative and participative activities and learning and involvement of individuals, that will produce organizational learning and therefore increase the scope of innovation. The study is based on data from to 84 SMEs, representative of the regional industry, from two industrial parks. The source of data is a survey that inquires in the adoption of ISO 9001, the scope of the innovative activities and the deployment of KMPs associated with the quality culture. For the data analysis there has been used two statistical methods; one way analysis of variance and ordinal logistic regression. The results validate the adopted hypotheses: There is no direct relation between the quality system and innovation but ISO 9000 stimulates the adoption of quality related KMPs. The scope of innovation has a strong correlation with the amount of KMPs deployed in the organization. These results open new and promising ways of further research.
The Impact of Kazakhstan Accession to the World Trade Organization: A Quantitative Assessment

In this paper the authors use a computable general equilibrium model of the Kazakhstan economy to assess the impact of accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which encompasses (1) improved market access; (2) Kazakhstan tariff reduction; (3) reduction of barriers against entry by multinational service providers; and (4) reform of local content and value-added tax policies confronting multinational firms in the oil sector. They assume that foreign direct investment in business services is necessary for multinationals to compete well with Kazakstan business services providers, but cross-border service provision is also present. The model incorporates productivity effects in both goods and services markets endogenously, through a Dixit-Stiglitz framework. The authors estimated the ad valorem equivalent of barriers to foreign direct investment based on detailed questionnaires completed by specialized research institutes in Kazakhstan. They estimate that Kazakhstan will gain about 6.7 percent of the value of Kazakhstan consumption in the medium run from WTO accession and up to 17.5 percent in the long run. They estimate that the largest gains to Kazakhstan will derive from liberalization of barriers against multinational service providers, but the other three elements of WTO accession that the authors model all contribute positively to the estimated gains. Piecemeal sensitivity analysis shows that qualitatively the results are robust, but there are four parameters in the model that significantly affect the estimated magnitude of the gains from WTO accession.
Employment Protection, Product Market Competition and Growth

It is commonly argued that labor market institutions such as employment protection worsen an economy’s performance and particularly so, if product markets become more competitive. Empirical evidence, however, has difficulties to detect a robust negative correlation between employment protection and growth. We show in a model with step-by-step innovations that whether employment protection decreases incentives to innovate and thus productivity growth depends on the degree of product market competition. For reasonable parameter values product market deregulation fosters growth substantially more in the flexible than in the constrained economy.
Reversion of a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Matrix Mutation Affecting Gag Membrane Binding, Endogenous Reverse Transcriptase Activity, and Virus Infectivity

ABSTRACT We previously characterized mutations in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 matrix (MA) protein that displayed reduced infectivity in single-round assays, defects in the stable synthesis of viral DNA in infected cells, and impaired endogenous reverse transcriptase activity. The mutants, which contained substitutions in a highly conserved Leu at MA amino acid 20, also increased binding of Gag to membrane. To elucidate further the role of MA in the virus replication cycle, we have characterized a viral revertant of an amino acid 20 mutant (20LK). The revertant virus, which replicates with essentially wild-type kinetics in H9 cells, contains second-site compensatory changes at MA amino acids 73 (E→K) and 82 (A→T), while retaining the original 20LK mutation. Single-cycle infectivity assays, performed with luciferase-expressing viruses, show that the 20LK/73EK/82AT triple mutant displays markedly improved infectivity relative to the original 20LK mutant. The stable synthesis of viral DNA in infected cells is also significantly increased compared with that of 20LK DNA. Furthermore, activity of revertant virions in endogenous reverse transcriptase assays is restored to near-wild-type-levels. Interestingly, although 20LK/73EK/82AT reverses the defects in replication kinetics, postentry events, and endogenous reverse transcriptase activity induced by the 20LK mutation, the reversion does not affect the 20LK-imposed increase in Gag membrane binding. Mutants containing single and double amino acid substitutions were constructed, and their growth kinetics were examined. Only virus containing all three changes (20LK/73EK/82AT) grew with significantly accelerated kinetics; 73EK, 73EK/82AT, and 20LK/82AT mutants displayed pronounced defects in virus particle production. Viral core-like complexes were isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of detergent-treated virions. Intriguingly, the protein composition of wild-type and mutant detergent-resistant complexes differed markedly. In wild-type and 20LK complexes, MA was removed following detergent solubilization of the viral membrane. In contrast, in revertant preparations, the majority of MA cosedimented with the detergent-resistant complex. These results suggest that the 20LK/73EK/82AT mutations induced a significant alteration in MA-MA or MA-core interactions.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PARMALES (HETEROKONTA/HETEROKONTOPHYTA/STRAMENOPILES) FROM THE OYASHIO REGION, WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC 1

A small siliceous species of marine phytoplankton, order Parmales (Heterokonta), was isolated and characterized for the first time with the aid of a fluorescent silicon tracer 2‐(4‐pyridyl)‐5‐([4‐(2‐dimethylaminoethylaminocarbamoyl)‐methoxy]phenyl)oxazole (PDMPO). This dye was easily detected by clear fluorescence in newly produced silica cell plates. Our isolate was surrounded by eight smooth plates without any ornamentation, suggesting a similarity to Triparma laevis B. C. Booth. TEM observation showed the typical ultrastructure of photosynthetic heterokontophytes; with two chloroplast endoplasmic reticulate membranes, a girdle lamella, three thylakoid lamellae, and mitochondrion with tubular cristae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of SSU rDNA and rbcL genes showed that the parmalean alga was within the bolidophycean clade of autotrophic naked flagellates and a sister group of diatoms. HPLC analysis detected chl a, c1 + c2, and c3; fucoxanthin; and diadinoxanthin as major photosynthetic pigments, and a composition that is shared with Bolidophyceae and diatoms. Together, these data indicate a close evolutionary relationship between Parmales, Bolidophyceae, and diatoms. The PDMPO‐staining procedure should accelerate isolation of other Parmales species, helping to establish their diversity and aiding quantitative study of their role in oceanic processes.
Plant odour stimuli reshape pheromonal representation in neurons of the antennal lobe macroglomerular complex of a male moth

SUMMARY Male moths are confronted with complex odour mixtures in a natural environment when flying towards a female-emitted sex pheromone source. Whereas synergistic effects of sex pheromones and plant odours have been observed at the behavioural level, most investigations at the peripheral level have shown an inhibition of pheromone responses by plant volatiles, suggesting a potential role of the central nervous system in reshaping the peripheral information. We thus investigated the interactions between sex pheromone and a behaviourally active plant volatile, heptanal, and their effects on responses of neurons in the pheromone-processing centre of the antennal lobe, the macroglomerular complex, in the moth Agrotis ipsilon. Our results show that most of these pheromone-sensitive neurons responded to the plant odour. Most neurons responded to the pheromone with a multiphasic pattern and were anatomically identified as projection neurons. They responded either with excitation or pure inhibition to heptanal, and the response to the mixture pheromone + heptanal was generally weaker than to the pheromone alone, showing a suppressive effect of heptanal. However, these neurons responded with a better resolution to pulsed stimuli. The other neurons with either purely excitatory or inhibitory responses to all three stimuli did not exhibit significant differences in responses between stimuli. Although the suppression of the pheromone responses in AL neurons by the plant odour is counter-intuitive at first glance, the observed better resolution of pulsed stimuli is probably more important than high sensitivity to the localization of a calling female.
Interspinous process spacers versus traditional decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Interspinous spacers are used in selected patients for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. The uses of interspinous devices are still debated, with reports of significantly higher reoperation rates and unfavourable cost-effectiveness compared to traditional decompression techniques. METHODS Six electronic databases were searched from their date of inception to December 2015. Relevant studies were identified using specific eligibility criteria and data was extracted and analyzed based on predefined primary and secondary endpoints. RESULTS Eleven comparative studies were obtained for qualitative and quantitative assessment, data extraction and analysis. There was no significant difference in VAS back pain, leg pain or ODI scores for standalone interspinous process device (IPD) vs. bony decompression. However, standalone IPD was associated with lower surgical complications (4% vs. 8.7%, P=0.03) but higher long-term reoperation rates (23.7% vs. 8.5%, P<0.00001). IPD as an adjunct to decompression had comparable patient-reported scores, complications and reoperation rates to decompression alone. CONCLUSIONS Current evidence indicates no superiority for mid- to long-term patient-reported outcomes for IPD compared with traditional bony decompression, with lesser surgical complications but at the risk of significantly higher reoperation rates and costs.
A randomized, controlled trial of an intervention promoting cataract surgery acceptance in rural China: the Guangzhou Uptake of Surgery Trial (GUSTO).

PURPOSE To evaluate an educational intervention promoting acceptance of cataract surgery in rural China using a randomized controlled design. METHODS Patients aged 50 years or older with presenting visual acuity (PVA) less than 6/18 in one or both eyes due to cataract were recruited from 26 screening sessions (13 intervention, 13 control) conducted by five rural hospitals in Guangdong, China. At intervention sessions, subjects were shown a 5-minute informational video, and counseled about cataract, surgery, and surgical cost. During screening, all subjects answered questionnaires on knowledge and attitudes about cataract, their finances, and transportation, and were referred for definitive examination if eligible. Study outcomes were acceptance of surgery (principal outcome) and hospital follow-up. RESULTS Subjects in the intervention group were younger than controls (P = 0.01), but the groups did not otherwise differ. Among 212 intervention patients and 222 controls, no differences in knowledge and attitude regarding cataract were found. Surgery was accepted by 31.1% of intervention patients and 34.2% of controls (P > 0.50). Predictors of acceptance included younger age, worse logMAR PVA, knowing that cataract can be treated surgically only, greater anticipated loss in income from hospitalization, and greater house floor space per person. Membership in the intervention group was not associated with accepting surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-1.84) or hospital follow-up (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.63-1.67). CONCLUSIONS Educational interventions that successfully impart the knowledge that cataract can be only treated surgically may be more effective in increasing uptake in this setting. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01123928.).