Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Smart Organization: Creating Value Through Strategic R&D

Decision makers faced with selecting a project from alternatives have a problem significantly different from that of most operational managers. In operational settings it is possible to make a choice and the short time between making a change and observing the result provides feedback that enables adjustments to be made. This is the typical situation that quality management approaches are designed to deal with.
New Iron Age Copper-Mine Fields Discovered in Southern Jordan

of California, San Diego-Department of Antiquities of Jordan research team in recent years. While conducting a regional archaeological survey of Iron Age trade routes between the copper-ore-rich Faynan region and the Edom highlands of the Jordanian plateau, our team identified hundreds of plate-like depressions, approximately seven meters in diameter on average, densely scattered in an enclosed valley of about thirty hectares that penetrated into an extensive gravel terrace at the base of Jabal al-Jariya (JAJ-1, 30.695? N, 35.430 ). The resemblance of the new Faynan mines to the plate-like features found in survey areas A, C, and G in Israel's Timna Valley (Conrad and Rothenberg 1980), about one-hundred kilometers to the south, as well as their geological location and association with copper ore deposits, clearly indicate that the newly discovered Faynan features are blocked pit mines that provided ore for nearby Iron Age smelting sites such as Khirbat en-Nahas and Khirbat al-Jariya. Tracking the prominent signature of the Faynan mine scars on satellite imagery available on Google Earth, we located two similar mine fields approximately half a kilometer (JAJ-2, 30.70 , 35.432 ) and one kilometer OAJ-3, 30.704? N, 35.435 ) to the north, sprawling over about one quarter hectare and one hectare respectively. We have named these mine fields from south to north JAJ 1, JAJ 2, and JAJ 3. In the Timna Valley, the previously "enigmatic" depressions were, until now, unique in the entire landscape of the Levant. The scarcity of archaeological finds in such mine fields and the exhaustive exploitation of ore made the interpretation of the "plate-like" features in Timna difficult, and only after years of research were they proven to be blocked mining shafts and pits (Rothenberg 2005).
Milk for Liquid Consumption

Consumption Liquid milk can be delivered to the consumer after various heat treatments: none (raw milk), pasteurized or sterilized, and either packaged or not (although sterilized milk is, of course, always packaged). The properties of liquid milk that require the most attention are safety to the consumer, shelf life, and flavor. Safety is, of course, essential and consumption of raw milk cannot be considered safe. Consequently, the delivery of raw milk is prohibited or severely curtailed in many countries. Likewise, delivering milk that is not packaged may involve health hazards. The relative importance of other quality marks depends on usage. Milk can be consumed as a beverage, in which case flavor is of paramount importance. Most consumers tend to dislike a cooked flavor and, therefore, low-intensity pasteurization is generally preferred. Others use milk primarily in coffee or tea, in cooking, in baking, etc., where the absence of a cooked flavor is mostly not essential (if not too intense) and shelf life may be the most important quality mark. Consequently, sterilized milk is often favored. One may even use milk preserves like evaporated milk, dried milk, or — for some uses — sweetened condensed milk.
The yeast prions [PSI+] and [URE3] are molecular degenerative diseases

The yeast prions [URE3] and [PSI] are not found in wild strains, suggesting they are not an advantage. Prion-forming ability is not conserved, even within Saccharomyces, suggesting it is a disease. Prion domains have non-prion functions, explaining some conservation of sequence. However, in spite of the sequence being constrained in evolution by these non-prion functions, the prion domains vary more rapidly than the remainder of the molecule, and these changes produce a transmission barrier, suggesting that these changes were selected to block prion infection. Yeast prions [PSI] and [URE3] induce a cellular stress response (Hsp104 and Hsp70 induction), suggesting the cells are not happy about being infected. Recently, we showed that the array of [PSI] and [URE3] prions includes a majority of lethal or very toxic variants, a result not expected if either prion were an adaptive cellular response to stress.
The Brazilian Interbank Network Structure and Systemic Risk

We explore the structure and dynamics of interbank exposures in Brazil using a unique data set of all mutual exposures of financial institutions in Brazil, as well as their capital reserves, at various periods in 2007 and 2008. We show that the network of exposures can be adequately modeled as a directed scale-free (weighted) graph with heavy-tailed degree and weight distributions. We also explore the relationship between connectivity of a financial institution and its capital buffer. Finally, we use the network structure to explore the extent of systemic risk generated in the system by the individual institutions.
Ramazzini and Rigoni-Stern on parity and breast cancer. Clinical impression and statistical corroboration.

The preferential selection displayed by cancer of the breast for nulliparae was noticed and recorded perhaps for the first time as far back as 250 years ago. Bernardino Ramazzini who, because of his published treatise on occupational diseases, is justly considered the father of industrial medicine, mentioned this particular observation in the chapter devoted to the diseases of wet nurses. In discussing the factors believed to determine the onset of lactation he was not entirely satisfied with the opinion held by Bartholin, namely that the apparent similarity existing between the villous placenta and the lactating breast was responsible for that unquestionable though elusive "sympathy" linking the uterus to the mammary glands. In fact, Ramazzini remarks, "milk may well be secreted in the absence of a placenta, as it is known to have happened in some virgins who have lactated; and yet we are bound to accept the existence of a
Arithmetical problems and recursively enumerable predicates

It is an immediate consequence of results of Church and Gödel that there exist arithmetical recursively unsolvable problems, that is, recursively unsolvable problems of the form [M](P = Q) where P and Q are polynomials and [M] is some finite sequence of existential and universal quantifiers. A question which is immediately raised by this result is whether there exist unsolvable problems of this form where [M] is some finite sequence of existential quantifiers only. As a matter of fact this question is easily seen to be closely related to the tenth problem in the famous list proposed by Hilbert in 1900. In this paper, we prove the existence of recursively unsolvable problems of the form where P and Q are polynomials with non-negative integral coefficients. As a matter of fact we show that every recursively enumerable predicate is of the form (1), and conversely that every predicate of the form (1) is recursively enumerable. While our result does not yield the recursive unsolvability of Hilbert's tenth problem, it is easily seen that any considerable improvement of our result would yield this unsolvability. The author wishes to take this opportunity to express his gratitude to Professors Alonzo Church and E. L. Post with whom he has had the privilege of discussing some of the questions involved in this paper. He also wishes to thank his friends Melvin Hausner and Jacob Schwartz who have made valuable suggestions.
International Joint Venture Top Management Teams: Does Heterogeneity Make a Difference?

This article examines relationships among top-management-team composition, group processes, and the effects of those processes on cohesion for international joint venture teams in Thailand. For culturally diverse teams, demographic elements (member age, length of team tenure, level of education, functional expertise) and cultural characteristics (country of education, nationality, affiliation with a parent organization, primary language spoken) define heterogeneity. Overall, demographic heterogeneity had a significant influence on openness among team members and on cohesion when mediated by openness. Cultural heterogeneity had a significant influence on openness and cohesion among team members, with loyalty and openness having a significant influence on cohesion.
Serum interleukin-15 levels are not elevated in patients with stage I and II mycosis fungoides.

Sir, Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a newly described cytokine that was ® rst characterized from the culture supernatants of a simian kidney epithelial line, CV-1/EBNA (1). IL-15 shares with IL-2 the ability to bind to the band c-chains of the IL-2 receptor complex and to stimulate the growth of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (1). Recently, IL-15 was found to be a growth factor for the Sezary cell line SeAx and immunohistological analyses of skin biopsy samples of Sezary syndrome and mycosis fungoides (MF) patients showed immunoreactivity for IL-15 in basal cell layer keratinocytes and in® ltrating lymphocytes (2). Therefore, we measured serum IL-15 levels in patients with MF and examined whether they can be a marker for the disease activity of MF.
Audit Quality, Accounting Attributes and the Cost of Equity Capital

We argue that audit quality has direct and indirect effects on the cost of equity capital. Direct effects are consistent with auditor reputation effects reflecting insurance and/or assurance roles. However, if audit quality is at least in part a reflection of expected assurance levels, then we also expect recognized indicators of audit quality to have an indirect mitigating effect on the relation between the cost of equity capital and what would otherwise be viewed as aggressive accounting. That is, we expect that in addition to any insurance role, there is at least one component of an auditor’s assurance role that is valued for the mitigation of aggressive accounting. Our results support this prediction using two audit quality dimensions based on a measure of auditor industry specialization and a measure of unexpected audit fees. We find that in addition to higher audit quality being associated with a direct reduction in the cost of equity capital, for the unexpected audit fee-based measure of audit quality, there is also a significant mitigation of the positive impact of high accruals on the cost of equity capital. Additional analysis of instances of switching to higher quality auditors and audit qualifications provides further evidence of auditor reputation playing a mitigating role on the effect of aggressive accounting on the cost of equity capital. We therefore conclude that markets recognize the importance of both the insurance and assurance dimensions of audit quality.
Impairment of Respiration, Ion Accumulation, and Ion Retention in Root Tissue Treated with Ribonuclease and Ethylenediamine Tetraacetic Acid.

Ribonuclease has been reported to impair protein synthesis (1, 2), growth (2), and ion accumulation (15, 24) in plant tissue. Oxidative phosphorylation by plant mitochondria is uncoupled by RNase3 (8); however, this enzyme has not been found to affect root respiration (1, 8). The experiments reported here represent a further study of the effects of RNase on respiration and ion accumulation by root tissue. Respiration and ion retention proved to be impaired by exogenous RNase. In addition, EDTA was found to produce similar responses, presumably by removal of divalent ions which normally protect polyribonucleotides from endogenous RNase.
Negative sequence current compensation for stator shorted turn detection in induction motors

Negative sequence current analysis is useful for shorted turn detection in induction motors. It can produce fast and reliable monitoring results using a simple measurement technique. However, it is sensitive to disturbances such as sensor calibration, inherent machine asymmetry and supply voltage unbalances. This paper demonstrates an effective phasor compensation technique for these disturbances to allow more accurate shorted turn fault detection. This paper also provides detail investigation of the compensation by demonstrating step-by-step disturbance extraction to obtain the real negative sequence current due to shorted turn faults.
In situ determination of [Ca2+]i threshold for translocation of the alpha-protein kinase C isoform.

Because of inherent difficulties in maintaining physiological conditions in biochemical assays, the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) required for activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in intact cells remains unclear. In the present study, [Ca2+]i was measured in freshly isolated vascular smooth muscle cells loaded with fura 2 while, in parallel, the distribution of the Ca(2+)-dependent alpha-PKC isoform was monitored using digital imaging microscopy. The [Ca2+]i alpha-PKC translocation threshold was determined by changing extracellular free Ca2+ concentration in steps while monitoring [Ca2+]i. In the absence of agonists, increasing [Ca2+]i caused < 25% of maximal translocation. In the presence of phenylephrine, maximum translocation occurred at [Ca2+]i > or = 198 nM. Phenylephrine augmented translocation of alpha-PKC primarily by increasing the slope of the [Ca2+]i-PKC translocation relationship. These results indicate that the [Ca2+]i threshold of alpha-PKC translocation in situ is less than that reported in most in vitro assays and are consistent with an effect of agonist-induced generation of other second messengers that cause cooperative interactions leading to translocation.
Microwave synthesis and antifungal evaluations of some chalcones and their derived diaryl-cyclohexenones

Microwave irradiation (MWI) of acetophenones and substituted benzaldehydes in water resulted in a “green-chemistry” procedure for the preparation of chalcones (1-14), through base catalyzed Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction, in good yields. Further 3,5-diaryl-6-carbethoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-ones (1a-14a) were prepared through base catalyzed cyclocondensation of above chalcones with ethylacetoacetate using MWI as the energy source and silica as support. Out of fourteen cyclohexenones, ten (1a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a and 13a) are reported for the first time in literature. The synthesized compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, viz. (1H NMR and IR) and screened for their antifungal activity in vitro against Sclerotium rolfsii and Rhizoctonia solani by poisoned food technique. The compounds tested were found to be active against R. solani whereas against S. rolfsii, moderate activity was observed, as evident from LC50 values. The most potent compounds against R. solani were 1-(4-Fluoro-phenyl)-3-phenyl-propenone (13) and 1,3-Diphenyl-propenone (14) having LC50 values of 2.36 and 2.49 mgL− 1 respectively (LC50 of Hexaconazole = 1.12 mgL− 1) and against S. rolfsii 3-(4-Fluoro-phenyl)-5-(3-nitro-phenyl)-6-carbethoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one (12a) was most active having LC50 value of 285 mgL− 1compared to Hexaconazole (LC50 = 1.27 mgL− 1).
Protection against Experimental Helicobacter pylori Infection after Immunization with Inactivated H. pylori Whole-Cell Vaccines

ABSTRACT The protective effect of therapeutic oral immunization with homologous and heterologous formalin-inactivated Helicobacter pylori cells given together with cholera toxin as an adjuvant was evaluated with C57BL/6 mice infected with H. pylori Sydney strain 1 (SS1). The bacteria used for immunization were strains that were either homologous or heterologous with regard to the O antigen (i.e., the Lewis antigen [Le antigen]) expressed by the lipopolysaccharide of the infecting H. pylori SS1 strain. We found that repeated oral immunization with inactivated H. pylori SS1 cells can significantly inhibit an existing infection (P < 0.001) and that the protection induced by such therapeutic immunization extends to protection against reinfection (P < 0.001). A similar level of protection was also achieved by immunization with another inactivated H. pylori strain having the same O antigen (Le antigen) as the infecting H. pylori SS1 strain. In contrast, immunization with inactivated strains expressing a heterologous O antigen, Lex, provided less protection or no protection. Immunization with H. pylori lysate preparations, on the other hand, resulted in significant comparable protection whether the lysates were prepared from an Lex strain or an Ley strain. Postimmunization gastritis was seen in mice that were protected after vaccination but not in unimmunized or unprotected mice. In conclusion, therapeutic immunization with inactivated H. pylori whole-cell vaccines may provide strong protection both against experimental H. pylori infection and against later reinfection.
Association of donor TNFRSF6 (FAS) gene polymorphism with acute rejection in renal transplant patients: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND Genetic factors other than HLA have been reported to be associated with the outcome of organ transplantations. Because binding of FasL to its receptor Fas could play an important role in tubulitis and in the death of graft tubular epithelial cells during kidney allograft rejection, a gene polymorphism recently identified in position -671 in the promoter of the TNFRSF6 gene coding for Fas was investigated in donors. METHODS A case-control study was performed within a cohort of non-hyperimmunized adult patients who had received cadaveric kidney transplants based on the occurrence or absence of acute cellular rejection in the first 6 months after renal transplantation. Each recipient from the acute rejection group (n = 35) was matched for age (+/- 5 years) and number of HLA-DR mismatches with two recipients within the non-acute rejection group (n = 70). RESULTS The TNFRSF6-GG genotype was more frequent in donors in the group without rejection episodes. In contrast, patients who received a kidney from a TNFRSF6-A carrier were more likely to experience acute rejection episodes (relative risk nearly 2.1). CONCLUSION This study suggests that donor TNFRSF6 polymorphism directly or indirectly influences acute kidney rejection episodes.
The influence of lead indicator strength on the use of nonfinancial measures in performance management: Evidence from CEO compensation schemes

Nonfinancial measures (NFMs) are a common feature of strategic performance management frameworks. We examine the role of one widely used NFM: customer satisfaction, in one aspect of strategic performance management: CEO compensation schemes. Drawing on agency theory precepts, we hypothesize that the extent to which firms link CEO compensation to customer satisfaction is influenced by satisfaction's ability to act as a leading indicator of future profitability (lead indicator strength). We further hypothesize that the extent to which customer satisfaction's lead indicator strength influences the weighting of satisfaction in CEO compensation schemes has a positive influence on future shareholder value. Our empirical results offer strong support for both hypotheses and extend research on the use and efficacy of NFMs in CEO compensation schemes
Theoretical and Experimental Study of High-Speed Small-Signal Cross-Gain Modulation of Quantum-Dot Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

We numerically and experimentally investigate the high-speed small-signal cross-gain modulation (XGM) characteristics of a quantum-dot (QD) semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). From a p-doped QD SOA operating at 1.3 mum, high-speed small-signal XGM responses up to 40 GHz are measured from low to high injection currents and improve at high injection currents. In the numerical model, we set up about six hundred coupled rate equations, where the carrier dynamics of QD electron and hole states are considered separately and the enhanced hole occupation due to p-type doping is included. The high-speed small-signal XGM spectra are calculated at various modulation frequencies and pump-probe detunings. We identify how the two separate XGM mechanisms of total carrier density depletion (TCDD) at low injection current and spectral hole burning (SHB) at high injection current affect the high-speed small-signal XGM behavior. From the measured and calculated results, we show that high-speed small-signal XGM responses of QD SOAs can be improved by injecting more carriers to the QD excited states, which enhances high-speed XGM induced by SHB rather than by TCDD.
Aquaporin expression dynamics in osmoregulatory tissues of Atlantic salmon during smoltification and seawater acclimation

SUMMARY Osmotic balance in fish is maintained through the coordinated regulation of water and ion transport performed by epithelia in intestine, kidney and gill. In the current study, six aquaporin (AQP) isoforms found in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were classified and their tissue specificity and mRNA expression in response to a hyperosmotic challenge and during smoltification were examined. While AQP-1a was generic, AQP-1b had highest expression in kidney and AQP-3 was predominantly found in oesophagus, gill and muscle. Two novel teleost isoforms, AQP-8a and -8b, were expressed specifically in liver and intestinal segments, respectively. AQP-10 was predominantly expressed in intestinal segments, albeit at very low levels. Transfer from freshwater (FW) to seawater (SW) induced elevated levels of intestinal AQP-1a, -1b and -8b mRNA, whereas only AQP-8b was stimulated during smoltification. In kidney, AQP-1a, -3 and -10 were elevated in SW whereas AQP-1b was reduced compared with FW levels. Correspondingly, renal AQP-1a and -10 peaked during smoltification in April and March, respectively, as AQP-1b and AQP-3 declined. In the gill, AQP-1a and AQP-3 declined in SW whereas AQP-1b increased. Gill AQP-1a and -b peaked in April, whereas AQP-3 declined through smoltification. These reciprocal isoform shifts in renal and gill tissues may be functionally linked with the changed role of these organs in FW compared with SW. The presence and observed dynamics of the AQP-8b isoform specifically in intestinal sections suggest that this is a key water channel responsible for water uptake in the intestinal tract of seawater salmonids.
Volatility of Fragrance Chemicals: Patch Testing Implications

Background: Diagnostic and predictive patch testing to determine contact allergy due to fragrance materials requires applying a fixed dose of material to the skin. This dose can be affected by the volatile nature of fragrances; little data exist on how the loss of fragrance dose due to volatility affects patch testing. Objective: (1) To evaluate pH dependence and evaporation rates of two fragrance chemicals, geraniol, citronellol, and a common fragrance solvent, diethyl phthalate (DEP) and (2) Assess implications for predictive patch‐testing methods for fragrances. Method: pH analysis of each material at 1% for three values (4.0, 5.0, 7.0) was done over 40 hours. Volatility experiments for each material, nonradiolabeled and radiolabeled, were conducted over a 24‐hour period, taking readings at six time points (5 minutes, 15 minutes, 40 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, and 24 hours). Results: Evaporation rates were not sensitive to pH shifts from 4.0 to 7.0. Evaporation rates for nonradiolabeled materials were low: after 24 hours, geraniol lost 8.9%, citronellol 27.0% and DEP 14.5%. The volatility data for radiolabeled materials demonstrated that geraniol loses up to 39% of its dose, citronellol loses up to 26%, and DEP up to 14% within 40 minutes. Conclusion: The tendency of fragrance materials to evaporate can impact the dose being applied to the patch and therefore the result of the patch and ultimately the decision‐making process regarding that fragrance material's safety. These data, developed with DEP, utilized in a predictive sensitization assay cannot be generalized.