Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intangible asset management framework: an empirical evidence

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the interrelationships of intangible assets to business performance. The paper reports an empirical evidence for the impact of three elements of intangible assets: learning and growth, internal business process, and external structure on the business performance of the firm. The linkages between intangible asset elements and business performance are investigated in companies of various business sizes, business sectors and establishment ages. , – The proposed model was adapted from the balanced scorecard strategy map. The primary data for analyzing and investigating the interrelationships between intangible assets and business performance were gathered by subjective opinion survey questionnaire. In all, 3,084 questionnaires were distributed to the top management. The numbers of qualified responses were 304 and the data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique. , – The commonly assumed causal relationships are confirmed, i.e. the element of learning and growth has influence on internal business process, the element of internal process has effect on external structure, and the element of external structure, in turn, has effect on business performance. , – Following the research findings, top management in companies of different sizes, business sectors, and establishment ages should understand the nature of interrelationships and recognize the importance of intangible assets. These findings will enable top management to realize the impact of intangible asset elements on business performance so that long‐term strategies for effective intangible asset management may be emphasized for sustainable competitive advantage of the firm.
The Influence of Exercise Training on Quality of Life and Psychosocial Functioning in Children with Congenital Heart Disease: A Review of Intervention Studies

Children and adolescents operated upon for congenital heart disease may show reduced exercise capacity and physical activity, associated with lowered quality of life. This review presents intervention studies on the influence of an exercise program on quality of life and psychosocial functioning in children with severe congenital heart disease. Participation in an exercise program among young people with complex congenital heart disease seemed to have positive effects on quality of life and passive leisure time spent. However, more effects of the exercise programs may have been expected. For future research it is important to critically evaluate the content of the exercise programs.
A fast motion estimation algorithm for MPEG-4 shape coding

This paper proposes a fast motion estimation algorithm for MPEG-4 shape coding. The proposed algorithm is based on inherent properties of shape coding as well as shape information, i.e., context-based motion estimation feature, motion vector (MV) correlation between neighboring binary alpha blocks (BABs), and THE binary feature of shape information. By using these properties, the proposed algorithm can achieve a high processing speed. Simulation results show that our algorithm can reduce the computational complexity of ME for shape coding up to 90% at least even for the worst case. Therefore, the algorithm is suitable for real-time software applications of MPEG-4 shape encoding.
Induction of labour in women with one previous caesarean section

We conducted a postal survey of NHS obstetric consultants working in England regarding their own practice and views on induction of labour in women with one previous caesarean section. Out of 480 consultant obstetricians across England, 322 replied, giving a response rate of 67%. Our survey has revealed a wide variation in practice of consultants across England, regarding induction of labour at term or post-term in women with one previous caesarean section. Hence, we feel that there is a need for a national audit of induction of labour in women with one previous caesarean section, with uterine rupture following induction of labour in such women as an auditable standard.
Data-aided symbol timing and CFO synchronization for filter bank multicarrier systems

In this paper we consider the problem of data-aided joint symbol timing and carrier-frequency offset (CFO) estimation for filter bank-based multicarrier (FBMC) systems. As all multicarrier systems, FBMC systems are very sensitive to synchronization errors, since CFO and symbol timing errors cause interference between successive symbols and adjacent subcarriers which can lead to a severe performance degradation. Therefore, reliable and accurate synchronization algorithms must be designed for these systems. The approach herein presented is based on the deployment of appropriate training sequences. In particular, we propose a new joint symbol timing and CFO synchronization algorithm based on the least squares approach and exploiting the transmission of a training sequence made up of identical parts. The performance of the derived estimators, assessed by computer simulations, is compared with that of two data-aided synchronization algorithms previously proposed in the literature.
Novel Insulin Delivery Profiles for Mixed Meals in Basal-Bolus and Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Traditional basal-bolus and closed-loop artificial pancreas therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus were studied in the present work and novel insulin delivery profiles have been identified. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition resulting from autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic insulin producing β-cells. Inadequate insulin secretion prevents efficient glucose metabolism and is a serious health risk. Major available treatment modes are multiple daily injections of insulin and insulin pump therapy providing continuous subcutaneous infusion.General insulin regimens for low- and high-fat meals were studied in silico to improve current pump therapy for type 1 diabetes. This involved modifications of the FDA-accepted UVA/Padova metabolic simulation model for evaluations of meals with different absorption rates. Simulations of meals with varied fat content under this modified model demonstrated qualitative replications of published data. Subsequently, an insulin regimen library with optimized regimens under open- and closed-loop settings for a variety of meal compositions was constructed using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. Calculations show that the optimal open-loop insulin delivery profiles for low-fat meals comprise a normal bolus or short square wave depending on the size of the meal. The preferred delivery pattern for large meals is a short insulin wave due to the increased risk for hypoglycemia. Interestingly, the optimal open-loop regimens for high-fat meals are typically biphasic, but can extend to multiple phases for large slow absorbing meals. Furthermore, individual in silico optimizations revealed that patients with high insulin sensitivity could benefit from biphasic insulin deliveries when consuming high-fat meals. Preliminary investigations of the optimal closed-loop regimens under varied fat content also display bi- or triphasic patterns for high-fat meals and are primarily influenced by the carbohydrate content in the meal. The novel insulin delivery profiles identified in this work comprise new and unique waveforms that provide better control of postprandial glucose excursions than existing schemes. Furthermore, the novel regimens are also more or similarly robust to uncertainties in various parameter estimates with the closed-loop schemes displaying superior performance and robustness. The proposed closed-loop strategy does not rely on optimal basal therapy and is therefore a realistic approach that could have real-life applications in an artificial pancreas.
Diversion from Custody. I: Psychiatric Assessment at the Magistrates' Court

The homeless mentally disordered defendant facing minor charges poses considerable problems regarding appropriate disposal. Psychiatric assessment may be required in order to facilitate the court's decision, but this is often available only after remand in custody. A psychiatric assessment service based at two inner-London magistrates' courts is described. Over 18 months, 201 defendants were referred. They were predominantly male, single, and of no fixed abode, suffering from serious psychiatric disorder; these defendants had often received previous in-patient treatment, frequently as detained patients. They typically were recidivists charged with minor offences. Following initial assessment, 25% were admitted to hospital, 50% were released, and 25% returned to custody. The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued 29% of cases. For those admitted directly to hospital, the mean (s.d.) time from arrest to hospital admission was 5.8 (6.8) days, significantly quicker than with prison-based assessments.
PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE Original Studies Intragraft Pressures Predict Outcomes in Hemodialysis Patients With Graft Outflow Lesions Undergoing Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty

Objectives: This study is to introduce intragraft pressure (IGP) as intraprocedural parameter for outcome survey in hemodialysis patients with graft outflow lesions undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Background: The role of IGP on procedural endpoint and patency is unknown. Methods: Seventy-five participants with graft outflow lesions receiving PTA were enrolled. Procedural data regarding IGP and angiographic findings were collected and the 1-year graft patency through collaboration with hemodialysis units. Analyses and comparisons among IGP, angiographic findings, and patency were conducted. Using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, we intended to detect significance and the cut-off points of IGP for patency prediction, and difference in patency between the two groups divided by using the cut-off points. Results: Pre-PTA and post-PTA IGP were significantly associated with 1-year patency (both significance <0.01) with 0.756 and 0.791 areas under the ROC curves, respectively. The cut-off points of pre-PTA and post-PTA IGP were closer to 106 and 47 mm Hg for prediction of 1-year patency (sensitivity 5 0.76, specificity 5 0.69; sensitivity 5 0.79, specificity 5 0.69, respectively; 95% CI). Significant reductions in 1-year patency were shown in the subjects with greater than the cut-off values, either pre-PTA or post-PTA IGP, compared with those with smaller than these values (both log rank test < 0.001). Conclusion: IGP might be useful to evaluate procedural endpoints and predict patency outcomes in hemodialysis patients with graft outflow lesions undergoing PTA. Patients with the greater pre-PTA or post-PTA IGP, to some level, seem to have the shorter patency. VC 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Study of PLGA Copolymer in Vitro Degradation

The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), known as PLGA, is one of the main bioreabsorbable polymers used in the field of medicine today. This copolymer is widely applied in sutures, devices geared toward the controlled release of medication, and the guided regeneration of bone tissue as it presents a short degradation time. This work aimed to synthesize the 82/18 PLGA (expressed by the mass ratio of D,L-lactide and glycolide, respectively), to characterize and study the in Vitro degradation in the form of rods in phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The copolymer was synthesized by opening the cyclic dimer rings of the monomers D,L-lactide and glycolide, in the presence of the tin octanoate initiator and of the lauryl alcohol co-initiator. The characterization of the copolymer and the follow-up of its in vitro degradation were studied using: Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetry (TG), Infrared Molecular Absorption Spectroscopy with Fourier Transform (FTIR), Rheometry, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Through these characterization techniques, it was possible to obtain the glass transition temperature, thermal stability, chemical composition, morphology, and molar mass of both the synthesized and the degraded copolymer. The molar mass of the synthesized copolymer was, approximately, 106 g·mol-1. The degradation rate of PLGA significantly increased from the 19th to the 28th day in PBS. After 28 days in PBS, the glass transition temperature and the molar mass reduced from 45°C to 17°C and from 1.5 × 106 g·mol-1 to 7.5 × 104 g·mol-1, respectively. The pH of the medium has a significant influence on the copolymer degradation profile. When it diminishes, it accelerates the degradation process, resulting in smaller PLGA polymer chains. This pH dependent degradation can be useful for drug release systems.
Mesurer la biodiversité pour comprendre l'effet des perturbations sur les commutés végétales : apport des caractéristiques écologiques et évolutives des espèces

Mon travail de these avait pour objectif d’etudier deux indicateurs de biodiversite tenant compte des caracteristiques des especes, la specialisation ecologique et la diversite phylogenetique, afin d’evaluer leur apport pour la comprehension des causes et des consequences des modifications des communautes vegetales. Nos resultats montrent que la specialisation moyenne des communautes peut etre un bon indicateur de reponse de la biodiversite a une perturbation (ici la fragmentation des habitats), parce que les especes specialistes sont plus sensibles aux perturbations que les especes generalistes. Neanmoins, la specialisation est faiblement correlee aux traits des especes et renseigne peu sur les causes et consequences du declin des especes specialistes. En parallele, la diversite phylogenetique semble apporter des informations complementaires sur les communautes, par rapport a la diversite taxonomique, en documentant a la fois la diversite d’histoires evolutives des especes presentes dans une communaute mais aussi leur diversite fonctionnelle. En revanche, les liens entre diversite phylogenetique et perturbations (ici l’augmentation du taux d’urbanisation), sont difficiles a interpreter. Aucun des deux indicateurs ne semble donc contenir toute l’information necessaire pour identifier les mecanismes, et comprendre les consequences, des changements de biodiversite, mais ils apportent des complements interessants aux mesures classiques de biodiversite et leur utilisation pour l’etude des communautes doit etre etendue a d’autres groupes taxonomiques et d’autres echelles spatiales.
A two-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Viola odorata, Echium amoenum and Physalis alkekengi mixture in symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) men

Abstract Context: As an alternative approach, administration of phytotherapeutic agents in management of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), is rapidly growing each day. Different authors have indicated effectiveness of Viola odorata L. (Violaceae), Echium amoenum Fisch. & C.A. Mey. (Boraginaceae) and Physalis alkekengi L. (Solanaceae) in treatment of BPH. However, none have reported the beneficial outcomes of the mixture yet. Objective: This study evaluates the therapeutical effects of V. odorata, E. amoenum and P. alkekengi mixture on symptomatic BPH patients. Materials and methods: Eighty six symptomatic BPH patients with International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of more than 13 and prostate volume of more than 30 cm3 were randomly allocated to receive a two-week course of placebo (control group) or 1 mL of mixed hydro-alcoholic solution of P. alkekengi, E. amoenum and V. odorata extracts (1.5, 1 and 1.5% respectively) (treatment group). Results: IPSS score of incomplete urination (42.3 ± 2.04%), frequency of urination (20.08 ± 1.02%), intermittency (40.78 ± 2.16%), urgency (60.91 ± 3.14%), weak stream (50.58 ± 2.14%), straining (55.67 ± 2.53%) and nocturia (40.14 ± 1.89%) in treatment group were significantly decreased after treatment compare to placebo receiving group. Furthermore, the prostate volume (16.92 ± 0.89%) and extant urine volume (28.12 ± 1.36%) also significantly decreased in treatment group compared to control group. No significant side effects or abnormalities in biochemical tests and urinalysis were observed throughout the study. Discussion and conclusions: Based on results, mentioned mixture is safe and effective in improving life quality of patients suffering from BPH.
Medical care expenditures and earnings losses among persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003, and comparisons with 1997.

OBJECTIVE To obtain estimates of medical care expenditures and earnings losses associated with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions and the increment in such costs attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the US in 2003, and to compare these estimates with those from 1997. METHODS Estimates for 2003 were derived from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS), a national probability sample of households. We tabulated medical care expenditures of adult MEPS respondents, stratified by arthritis and comorbidity status, and used regression techniques to estimate the increment of medical care expenditures attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. We also estimated the earnings losses sustained by working-age adults with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. Estimates for 2003 were compared with those from 1997, inflated to 2003 terms. RESULTS In 2003, there were 46.1 million adults with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (versus 36.8 million in 1997). Adults with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions incurred mean medical care expenditures of $6,978 in 2003 (versus $6,346 in 1997), of which $1,635 was for prescriptions ($899 in 1997). Expenditures for adults with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions totaled $321.8 billion in 2003 ($233.5 billion in 1997). In 2003, the mean increment in medical care expenditures attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions was $1,752 ($1,762 in 1997), for a total of $80.8 billion ($64.8 billion in 1997). Persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions ages 18-64 years earned $3,613 less than other persons (versus $4,551 in 1997), for a total of $108.0 billion (versus $99.0 billion). Of this amount, $1,590 was attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (versus $1,946 in 1997), for a total of $47.0 billion ($43.3 billion in 1997). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the increase in medical care expenditures and earnings losses between 1997 and 2003 is due more to an increase in the number of persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions than to costs per case.
Is the Resource-Based View a Practical Organizational Theory?

We explore the question of whether the resource-based view (RBV) is a practical theory for managers. We test the ability of the RBV to provide two pieces of practical information: (1) the identification of the very few strategic assets from a large set of assets, and (2) the estimation of the functional form of how such strategic assets' critical VRIO characteristic levels relate to firm performance. We do so by modeling the tenets of the RBV and adjusting them in a simulation. We place ourselves in the shoes of the managers by using standard empirical methods on the simulated data to determine whether the RBV does provide practical information. We then discuss what can be done for academics and managers given that determination.
Risk factors for sleep bruxism in the general population.

OBJECTIVE Sleep bruxism can have a significant effect on the patient's quality of life. It may also be associated with a number of disorders. However, little is known about the epidemiology of sleep bruxism and its risk factors in the general population. DESIGN Cross-sectional telephone survey using the Sleep-EVAL knowledge based system. SETTINGS Representative samples of three general populations (United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy) consisting of 158 million inhabitants. PARTICIPANTS Thirteen thousand fifty-seven subjects aged > or = 15 years (United Kingdom, 4,972 subjects; Germany, 4,115 subjects; and Italy, 3,970 subjects). INTERVENTION None. MEASUREMENTS Clinical questionnaire on bruxism (using the International Classification of Sleep Disorders [ICSD] minimal set of criteria) with an investigation of associated pathologies (ie, sleep, breathing disorders, and psychiatric and neurologic pathologies). RESULTS Grinding of teeth during sleep occurring at least weekly was reported by 8.2% of the subjects, and significant consequences from teeth grinding during sleep (ie, muscular discomfort on awakening, disturbing tooth grinding, or necessity of dental work) were found in half of these subjects. Moreover, 4.4% of the population fulfilled the criteria of ICSD sleep bruxism diagnosis. Finally, subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (odds ratio [OR], 1.8), loud snorers (OR, 1.4), subjects with moderate daytime sleepiness (OR, 1.3), heavy alcohol drinkers (OR, 1.8), caffeine drinkers (OR, 1.4), smokers (OR, 1.3), subjects with a highly stressful life (OR, 1.3), and those with anxiety (OR, 1.3) are at higher risk of reporting sleep bruxism. CONCLUSIONS Sleep bruxism is common in the general population and represents the third most frequent parasomnia. It has numerous consequences, which are not limited to dental or muscular problems. Among the associated risk factors, patients with anxiety and sleep-disordered breathing have a higher number of risk factors for sleep bruxism, and this must raise concerns about the future of these individuals. An educational effort to raise the awareness of dentists and physicians about this pathology is necessary.
Density-dependent overwinter survival and growth of red shiners from a southwestern river

Abstract The red shiner Cyprinella lutrensis is the most widespread and abundant minnow (Cyprinidae family) in central and southwestern North America, occurring at very high local densities in streams from northern Mexico to Nebraska and Iowa. The streams in which red shiners occur are typically harsh, unpredictable environments with temperature extremes and episodes of low oxygen, floods, and drought. In outdoor experimental streams, red shiners stocked at densities typical of natural streams showed moderate density effects on overwinter survival and strong effects on growth from October to May. At lower densities a higher percentage (>70% on average) of individuals survived winter, and most grew to adult size the next spring. At higher densities survival and average growth were lower, and the distribution of final body size was highly skewed, with a few individuals reaching sexual maturity and most remaining at the juvenile stage. The apparent growth of the cohort in the Washita River, Oklahoma, from wh.