Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of motivation in performance management: The case of performance-related-pay schemes in British local authorities

The adoption of performance-related pay schemes is part of the wider market-type reforms occurring in public services today. However, this ‘managerial revolution’ has prompted an academic debate for and against these practices. The main questions raised revolve around the novelty, objectivity and compatibility of such practices to which this study responds. The thesis argues that the value of an incentive scheme policy is a function of the organisational environment, objectivity of performance measurement processes and perceived equity of the installed scheme. The research uses data from in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and desk research based on a case study of performance-related pay schemes in UK local authorities. The evidence indicates a strong support at policy level for the use of market-type managerial reforms, but less support on the ground for the performance-pay thesis. There are difficulties encountered in the setting, measuring and rewarding qualitative performance of intangible targets such as intellectual capital. The evidence perceives PRP schemes to be vulnerable to failure as they are installed as ‘off-the-shelf’ ‘stand-alone’ rather than organization-specific motivational devices. The study looks at the ‘new’ role of management accounting systems in meeting ‘performance information needs’ of public sector managers as a potential area for further research.
Intellectual Capital and the Firm: The Technology of Geographically Localized Knowledge Spillovers

We examine the effects of university-based star scientists on three measures of performance for California biotechnology enterprises: the number of products in development, the number of products on the market, and changes in employment. The `star' concept which Zucker, Darby, and Brewer (1994) demonstrated was important for birth of U.S. biotechnology enterprises also predicts geographically localized knowledge spillovers at least for products in development. However, when we break down university stars into those who have collaborated on publications with scientists affiliated with the firm and all other university stars, there is a strong positive effect of the linked stars on all three firm-performance measures and little or no evidence of an effect from the other university stars. We develop a new hypothesis of geographically localized effects of university research which is consistent with market exchange: Geographically localized effects occur for scientific discoveries characterized by natural excludability, those which can be learned only by working with discoverers or others who have received the knowledge through working together in the laboratory. Natural excludability results in intellectual capital, a transitory form of human capital, embodied in particular scientists whose services must be employed in order to practice the discovery. Contractual and/or ownership relationships occur between firms and the university scientists with intellectual capital and importantly determine firm productivity and growth.
The effect of Galantamine on sleep quality in Thai Alzheimer's disease patients.

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of Galantamine on sleep quality in Thai Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with or without cerebrovascular disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD A 6 month, multicenter open-label, uncontrolled trial was undertaken in 75 mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease patients with or without cerebrovascular disease. Eligible patients received a flexible-dose of Galantamine 16 or 24 mg/day for 24 weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) with self-analysis questionnaires were used to evaluate sleep quality. Analyses were based on the intent-to-treat population. RESULTS Seventy-five eligible patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease with or without cerebrovascular disease (male:female = 32:43, age range 74.5 +/- 0.9) were included and 58 patients (79%) completed the present study. The global PSQI scores showed some improvement over baseline (week 0 = 5.10 +/- 3.08, week 4 = 4.37 +/- 2.48, week 8 = 4.65 +/- 2.71, week 24 = 3.70 +/- 2.12) but were not yet statistical significant. In contrast, most of each component scores such as sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep disturbances, sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction except sleep efficiency, showed significant differences from baseline after week 8. Moreover, there were no significant differences in global PSQI and component scores between mild and moderate stages of Thai AD patients or between men and women patients. CONCLUSION The result of the present study may be consistent with Galantamine being safe and can maintain good sleep quality for mild to moderate Thai AD patients with or without VaD. Galantamine doses of 16-24 mg/day were well tolerated.
Barriers to and Facilitators of Long Term Weight Loss Maintenance in Adult UK People: A Thematic Analysis

Adult obesity and overweight is affecting every region of the world and is described as one of today's most significant and neglected public health problems. The problem has taken the shape of an epidemic not only because the prevalence of obesity has witnessed a dramatic progress in a short period of time, but also because obesity has paved the way for increased risks for morbidity and mortality associated with it. It has been predicted that about half of the adult men and more than a quarter of adult women would be obese by 2030 in the UK and this figure could rise up to 50% in 2050 for whole of the adult UK population. Although a modest 5–10% weight loss maintained in the long term can significantly decrease health risk, few people engage in weight loss activities. Against this background, this review paper aims to investigate the reasons helping and/or hindering adults in the UK maintain weight loss in the long term; using online and organizational data sources and thematically analyzing the data. Self-body perception, enhanced self-confidence, social support, self-motivation, incentives and rewards, increased physical activity levels and healthy eating habits facilitated people in maintaining weight loss in the long term and overall quality of life. Extreme weather conditions, natural phenomena such as accidents, injuries and ill-health, work commitments, inability for time management and to resist the temptation for food constrained the successful long-term weight loss maintenance.
Pediatric Palliative Care Pilot Curriculum

Background: Prior research has shown that less than 40% of pediatric program directors believe their graduating residents competent in palliative care. While many curricula have been developed to address this need, few have demonstrated improved comfort and/or knowledge with palliative care principles. The purpose of this study was to test a pocket card educational intervention regarding resident knowledge and comfort with palliative care principles. Methods: Pocket reference cards were created to deliver fundamentals of pediatric palliative care to resident learners; didactics and case studies emphasized principles on the cards. Self-reported comfort and objective knowledge were measured before and after the curriculum among residents. Results: Of 32 post-graduate year 2 (PGY2) residents, 23 (72%) completed the pre-test survey. The post-test was completed by 14 PGY2 residents (44%) and 16 of 39 PGY3/4 residents (41%). There was improvement in comfort with communication, as well as pain and symptom management among the residents. Knowledge of palliative care principles improved in part, with only a few survey questions reaching statistical significance. 100% of respondents recommended the cards be provided to their colleagues. Conclusion: This longitudinal curriculum, designed specifically for pediatric residents, was built into an existing training program and proved to be popular, feasible, and effective at improving comfort with basic palliative care principles.
Chaperones Involved in Hepatitis B Virus Morphogenesis

Abstract Little is known about host cell factors necessary for hepatitis B virus (HBV) assembly which involves envelopment of cytosolic nucleocapsids by the S, M and L transmembrane viral envelope proteins and subsequent budding into intraluminal cisternae. Central to virogenesis is the L protein that mediates hepatocyte receptor binding and envelopment of capsids. To serve these topologically conflicting roles, L protein exhibits an unusual dual membrane topology, disposing its N-terminal preS domain inside and outside of the virion lipid envelope. The mixed topology is achieved by posttranslational preS translocation of about half of the L protein molecules across a post-endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Here we identify and characterize a preS-specific sequence that confers the suppression of cotranslational translocation even of a model reporter. This cytosolic anchorage sequence specifically binds the cognate heat shock protein Hsc70, thus indicating chaperone participitation in HBV morphogenesis. Conversely, the M envelope protein needs the assistance of the chaperone calnexin for proper folding and trafficking. Calnexin selectively binds to the N-glycan, specific for M, rather than to the N-glycan, common to all three envelope proteins. As inhibition of the calnexin-M interaction blocks the secretion of viral envelopes, we propose an essential role for calnexin, as well as for Hsc70, in chaperoning HBV assemby.
IMPLEMENTASI PROGRAM BERAS MISKIN (RASKIN) DI KELURAHAN ROWOSARI KECAMATAN TEMBALANG KOTA SEMARANG

Beras Miskin (Raskin) Program is a program of food subsidies as a form of government efforts to increase food security and provide protection to poor families through the distribution of rice. Each family will receive a minimum of 10 kg/month with Rp 1,600/kg at the point of distribution. Researchers take focus in Kelurahan Rowosari Kecamatan Tembalang, Kota Semarang. In fact, implementation of Raskin policy is not always consider full-on procedure policy as depending on condition and situation in society. The objective of this study is to analyze the implementation of the Beras Miskin (Raskin) program. This research uses qualitative descriptive method. Data collection was carried out with in-depth interviews from various informants have been determined. In qualitative research, data retrieved from various sources by using a technique of collecting data of which various (triangulation) and continuously until it is saturated. The result of this research is the determining factors of Beras Miskin (Raskin) program implementation in Kelurahan Rowosari Kecamatan Tembalang, Kota Semarang caused by attitude factors (disposition) which is less successful in rice quality, target the household beneficiaries raskin, the number of households that received rice target beneficiaries.
When Constraints Bind

We create proxies for constrained supply of lendable shares by combining unique data on loan fees, stock lending activity, and failures to deliver to examine how often contrarian short sale strategies are affected by constraints. We find that constraints, as captured by our measures, clearly affect the strategies of NYSE and Nasdaq short sellers. In some cases 30%-40% of the cross-section experiences a significant reduction in the contrarian response of short sellers to past returns. However, only for extremely high levels of our constraint measures (top 1%) is contrarian behavior by short sellers completely eliminated. We also find that high minus low daily short selling activity portfolios produce abnormal returns for both constrained and unconstrained stocks.
The evolving role of dabigatran etexilate in clinical practice

Introduction: Stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE) affect millions of patients. The vitamin K antagonist, warfarin, has been the main oral anticoagulant used to treat these conditions despite many limitations associated with its use. Recently, multiple novel oral anticoagulants have been approved and are reshaping how patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at risk of stroke and patients with VTE are treated. The direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran etexilate, is among these novel agents that have been developed to overcome limitations with warfarin. Areas covered: In this article, authors describe the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of dabigatran etexilate and summarize the clinical evidence and controversy surrounding its use in the US, Canada and Europe. Expert opinion: Dabigatran has demonstrated similar efficacy and safety to enoxaparin for VTE prevention in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty, and to warfarin for the treatment of VTE. Dabigatran (110 mg) is noninferior and dabigatran (150 mg) is superior to warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular AF, with a lower rate of intracranial hemorrhage reported at both doses. Apixaban, rivaroxaban and edoxaban provide alternate anticoagulant options to dabigatran. While there are many similarities, there are also significant differences to consider in agent selection based on patient-specific characteristics.
Phenol degradation by Ralstonia eutropha: colorimetric determination of 2-hydroxymuconate semialdehyde accumulation to control feed strategy in fed-batch fermentations.

Phenol biodegradation by Ralstonia eutropha was modeled in different culture modes to assess phenol feeding in biotechnological depollution processes. The substrate-inhibited growth of R. eutropha was described by the Haldane equation with a Ks of 2 mg/L, a Ki of 350 mg/L and a mumax of 0.41 h(-1). Furthermore, growth in several culture modes was characterized by the appearance of a yellow color, due to production of a metabolic intermediate of the phenol catabolic pathway, 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde (2-hms) which was directly correlated to the growth rate and/or the phenol-degradation rate, because these two parameters are coupled (as seen by the constant growth yield of 0.68 g biomass/g phenol whatever the phenol concentration). This correlation between color appearance and metabolic activity was used to develop a control procedure for optimal phenol degradation. A mass-balance equation modeling approach combined with a filtering step using an extended Kalman filter enabled state variables of the biological system to be simulated. A PI controller, using the estimation of the phenol concentration provided by the modeling step, was then built to maintain the phenol concentration at a constant set-point of 0.1 g/L which corresponded to a constant specific growth rate of 0.3 h(-1), close to the maximal specific growth value of the strain. This monitoring strategy, validated for two fed-batch cultures, could lead, in self-cycling fermentation systems, to a productivity of more than 19 kg of phenol consumed/m(3)/d which is the highest value reported to date in the literature. This system of monitoring metabolic activity also protected the bacterial culture against toxicity problems due to the transient accumulation of phenol.
Information in markets

Part A: Basic Decision-Facilitating Role of Information. - Single Person Decision Making under Uncertainty. - Decision-Facilitating Information. - Risk Sharing, Congruent Preferences, and Information in Partnerships. Part B: Public Information in Equity Markets. - Arbitrage and Risk Sharing in Single-period Markets. - Arbitrage and Risk Sharing in Multi-period Markets. - Public Information in Multi-period Markets. - Production Choice in Efficient Markets. - Relation Between Market Values and Future Accounting Numbers. - Relation Between Market Values and Contemporaneous Accounting Numbers. Part C: Private Investor Information in Equity Markets. - Impact of Private Investor Information in Equity Markets. - Strategic Use of Private Investor Information in Equity Markets. Part D: Disclosure of Private Owner Information in Equity and Product Markets. - Disclosure of Private Information by an Undiversified Owner. - Disclosure of Private Information by Diversified Owners. - Disclosure of Private Information in Product Markets. - Author Index. - Subject Index.
Heart Rate and Perceived Exertion During Self-Selected Intensities for Exergaming Compared to Traditional Exercise in College-Age Participants

Kraft, JA, Russell, WD, Bowman, TA, Selsor III, CW, and Foster, GD. Heart rate and perceived exertion during self-selected intensities for exergaming compared to traditional exercise in college-age participants. J Strength Cond Res 25(6): 1736-1742, 2011—Exergames may be useful for promoting physical activity in younger populations. Heart rate (HRs) responses and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) at self-selected intensities were compared in college-age participants during 2 modes of exergame activity vs. traditional exercise. Thirty-seven participants (men: 20, women: 17) completed 3 30-minute self-selected intensity trials: (a) video game interactive bicycle ergometer (GB) (CatEye GB300), (b) interactive video dance game (Dance Dance Revolution [DDR]), and (c) traditional cycle ergometer (CE) while watching television. Mean HR, peak HR (PkHR), and minutes above target HR (THR) were significantly higher for GB (144 ± 22 b·min−1 [57% HR reserve (HRR)], 161 ± 23 b·min−1, and 22.5 ± 11.1 minutes) than for DDR (119 ± 16 b·min−1 [37% HRR], 138 ± 20 b·min−1, and 11.2 ± 11.9 minutes) or for CE (126 ± 20 b·min−1 [42% HRR], 144 ± 24 b·min−1, and 14.2 ± 12.6 minutes). The RPE was significantly higher for GB (4.2 ± 1.5) and CE (3.8 ± 1.2) than for DDR (2.7 ± 1.3). Recovery HR (RecHR) (15 minutes postexercise) was significantly higher for GB (91 ± 14 b·min−1) than for DDR (80 ± 11 b·min−1) and neared significance vs. CE (84 ± 14 b·min−1, p = 0.059). No difference in PkHR, RecHR, or minutes above THR was observed between DDR and CE. Session RPE was significantly higher for GB (4.6 ± 1.7) and CE (4.1 ± 1.6) than for DDR (2.8 ± 1.5). All modes elicited extended proportions of time above THR; GB: 75%, DDR: 37%, and CE: 47%. Results support that exergames are capable of eliciting physiological responses necessary for fitness improvements. Practitioners might consider exergames as periodic activity options for clients needing motivation to be regularly active.
The Endorsement Effects of Corporate Venture Capital in the Creation of Public Companies

Empirical research on the certification role of venture capital investment in initial public offerings (IPOs) tends to ignore how variant attributes and contexts might affect the benefits of affiliation received by a young firm undergoing an IPO. In this paper we argue that because corporate venture capital (CVC) and independent venture capital (IVC) investors possess different types of expertise and investment orientations, they provide different confidence-building signals to investors of newly public firms. Analysis of 1830 initial public offerings during 1990-1999 showed that CVC investment sends a different signal of quality than IVC investment, as reflected in the extent to which the offer price is lower than the market price at the end of the first day of trading than it would be with IVC investment alone. This effect is particularly pronounced when the corporate investor is a bank, or in the same industry as the IPO, and when equity markets are hot. We also found that this effect decreases at an escalating rate when the corporate investor’s portfolio becomes larger. Our results confirm the premise that corporations, banks and independent venture capitalists play different endorsement roles in the creation of public companies, and that the value of CVC endorsements depends on key attributes of the CVC and the type of market uncertainty that dominates IPO investors’ concerns.
The Effect of Internet Trust and Social Influence towards Willingness to Purchase Online in Labuan, Malaysia

This study is an empirical research one-commerce that examines the willingness of consumers to purchase online. The study focuses on two influential components that mediate the relationship between online shoppers and online vendors, namely, trust in the Internet structure and social influence. By using a convenience sample size of 115 from government servants and employees of private sectors residing in the Federal Territory Labuan who are computer literate, have access to Internet, and who possess credit card(s), this study aims to examine the relationship between the two variables of trust in the Internet structure and susceptibility to social influence on their willingness as consumers to purchase online. The findings show that trust in the Internet structure and susceptibility to social influence are significantly related to willingness to purchase online. However, hierarchical linear regression analysis had provided insignificant influence between trust in the Internet structure and willingness to purchase online with social influence as a moderator.
CAR-T cell therapy for liver metastases

Liver metastases are the most common cause of death in colorectal cancer patients. The standard of care and potential for cure for colorectal liver metastases is resection, but often times disease it too extensive for this treatment. Over the years, cancer research has made way for advances in treating progressive disease through immunotherapy. By genetically modifying an individual’s immune system using virally transduced chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), patients are better able to receive exquisitely specific T cells to target specific tumors. Furthermore, selective delivery strategies may enhance efficacy while limiting detrimental, systemic adverse effects. Not only this, CAR-Ts have also lead to complete remission in some liquid tumors while maintaining the potential for remission in solid tumors as well. This literature review takes readers through the emergence of the different generations of CAR-T and the various studies including clinical trials that have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of CAR-T. The second portion of this paper will outline the design for a phase II clinical trial using intrahepatic CAR-T therapy in addition to selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) for refractory CEA+ colorectal liver metastases. Benefits and limitations of using these therapies are further discussed.
Effects of Postpartum Exercise Program on Fatigue and Depression During “Doing-the-Month” Period

&NA; This study explored the effectiveness of an exercise program on reducing levels of fatigue and depression among postpartum women who were “doing-the-month” in a maternity center in Taiwan. Previous studies related to postpartum have focused on depression rather than women's feelings of fatigue, and no study related to exercise has previously been conducted in a Taiwan maternity center. A low-intensity exercise program was specifically designed and administered to 31 subjects in the study's intervention group. Another 30 subjects (the control group) followed a traditional, non-physically active postpartum care regimen. Those in the intervention group were required to participate in at least 6 exercise program sessions during their one month postpartum stay. All subjects were asked to fill out a fatigue and depression questionnaire before and after the program. A Fatigue Symptom Checklist (FSC) was used to measure fatigue, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CESD) was used to confirm the development of depression. Results showed statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of fatigue levels, with statistical improvements (p < .05) registered by the intervention group in terms of levels of physical and psychological fatigue and fatigue symptoms. However, no significant changes in depression between the two groups were found. Study results demonstrate that a low-intensity exercise program can offer a good platform for clinicians and researchers to help reduce fatigue in postpartum women.