Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation and characterization of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular matrix scaffolds.

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of creating extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds from mesenchymal stem cells. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived ECM (BMSC-dECM) scaffolds were fabricated by lyophilization after crosslinking, without using a decellularization process. Acellular porcine chondrocyte-derived ECM (AC-dECM) scaffolds were used as a control. The surface morphology, internal structure, water uptake ratio, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility of the scaffolds, as well as the in vitro behavior of cells grown on the scaffolds were examined and compared between the two scaffold types. For the BMSC-dECM scaffolds, the average pore size was 304.4 ± 108.2 μm, average porosity was 93.3% ± 4.5%, average compressive modulus was 6.8 ± 1.5 kPa, and average water uptake ratio exceeded 20. The BMSC-dECM scaffolds supported the in vitro attachment and proliferation of cells, with these aspects likely being comparable to those of the AC-dECM scaffolds. The findings of this preliminary study highlight the potential utility of BMSC-derived ECM scaffolds for future cartilage tissue-engineering applications.
The Learning Effectiveness of the Concept Map Approach of e-Learning Applied to a Math Class of Special Educational Students in a Vocational School

In order to improve the learning math capability among learning with disabilities in a special education class at a vocational school, the researchers tried to understand the learning predicament of special education students and tried to apply the Concept Map approach of e-learning to a math class. Also the researchers sought to explore the predicament of action process, solution methods, professional growth and the consequences. The research adopted the execution and observation of action research, interviews of 8 research participants and collected qualitative and quantitative data, evaluated the effect of action research and revised the action research. The results of the findings of this study were first, providing assistance to students by applying the Concept Map approach of teaching material; second, effective learning and positive feedback due to the Concept Map approach of e-learning; third, the use of blended (mixed) e-learning improves apprehension; and, finally, the Concept Map approach of e-learning can be employed on after-class review and remedial work. Based on these findings, the researchers provided concrete suggestions for teaching practices in the future.
Determinants for store-switching in shopping for fresh produce: investigating the mediating role of consumer way of life

Abstract The present study addresses store-switching behavior regarding shopping for fresh produce. In particular, the study highlights the role played by a consumer way of life associated with fresh food consumption and explains how it has a mediating effect on consumer intention to switch food stores. A sample consisting of 252 respondents was obtained from the Israeli Arab community. The empirical results of the study indicate that way of life factors have a mediating effect on the influence of store outputs on consumer emotions and behavior intention, thus low outputs for fresh produce will lead to store-switching. However, the findings reveal that dissatisfied consumers may not consider switching due to switching barriers which moderate the influence of perceived dissatisfaction on store-switching. Implications for food retail providers are identified, together with a discussion of the study’s limitations and avenues for future research.
Corporate Governance and Performance During Plummeting and Soaring Financial Markets

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between stock market performance and ownership structure during plummeting and soaring financial markets in a Continental-European setting. Our results demonstrate the importance of ownership concentration, the presence of multiple blockholders and the type of ownership to explain stock market performance in periods of stock market turbulence. In addition, we find that the results for extreme down markets are fundamentally different from the up market results. While ownership concentration is valued positively during down market periods, it is valued negatively during up market periods. Furthermore, the presence of multiple blockholders only influences the stock price during down market periods. Finally, firms controlled by financial institutions loose less value during down markets, while firms controlled by non-founding families loose more value, compared to widely held firms, during down market periods. No significant relationship is found during up market periods.
RPAD 637 Social and Organizational Networks in Public Policy, Management, and Service Delivery: Theory, Methods, and Analysis Course Number: 15428 Fall 2006

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION: The concept of “network” has become central to many discussions of public policy, management, and service delivery. However, use of the term is rarely backed with theoretical and empirical analysis of actual social networks. This course is designed to (1) explore the theoretical underpinnings of the concept; (2) introduce the basic methods needed to collect and analyze network data; (3) familiarize you with the process of initiating and completing a network analysis using real data from real cases; and (4) compare your network findings with results generated using other methods and techniques.
Correlates of Vaginal Colonization with Group B Streptococci among Pregnant Women

Background: A study of genital colonization by group B streptococcus (GBS) was conducted in pregnant women in their third trimester, which is a known risk factor of morbidity and mortality among newborns. Aims: The present study was undertaken to study the prevalence and the correlates of vaginal colonization by GBS among pregnant women. Setting and Design: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted during September 2002 to March 2004 on 524 pregnant women. Materials and Methods: Three high vaginal swabs were obtained from all the pregnant women admitted at term and in preterm labor. Two swabs were used for aerobic culture and the third one for gram staining. The first set of swabs was cultured on 5% Sheep blood agar plates. The second set of swabs were inoculated into Todd–Hewitt broth and then subcultured in 5% Sheep blood agar plates. The main outcome measures were the presence of GBS infection in comparison to the age group, gravida, gestational age, premature rupture of membrane (PROM), preterm labor and association with febrile spells of the present pregnancy. Results: The culture positivity rate of GBS was 4.77% and coexistent organisms isolated were Candida species (36%), Staphylococcus aureus (8%) and Enterococcus species (8%). Culture positivity in the age group of 18–25 years was 5.71%, of which 5.74% were in their first pregnancy. The correlation between age group and gravida with GBS culture positivity was statistically insignificant. The culture positivity in <36 weeks of gestational age was 6.93%. This relation was statistically significant. Twenty-eight percent developed PROM. Sixty-four percent of culture positives had preterm labor. Conclusion: GBS infection among pregnant women was significantly correlated with the gestational age, PROM and preterm labor. In pregnancy GBS colonization causes asymptomatic bacteriuria or UTI. It is a well known cause of puerperal infections with amnionitis, endometritis and sepsis being the most commonly reported infections. [5]
On the Maintenance of Normal Ocular Dominance and a Possible Mechanism Underlying Refractive Adaptation.

Purpose Do humans with uncorrected anisometropia who have not developed anisometropic amblyopia exhibit a shift in ocular dominance nonetheless, reflecting a more subtle form of deprivation? Also, is such a change in dominance, if it occurs, permanent or could it be rectified by an extended period of optical correction? Methods A total of 25 normal controls (27.5 ± 2.1 years; mean ± SD); 28 anisometropes (20.7 ± 5.6 years) who were fully corrected for more than 16 weeks prior to this investigation; and 24 anisometropes who had never been corrected (21.2 ± 9.8 years) participated in this study. Sensory eye dominance of observers was measured using the binocular phase combination paradigm to find an interocular contrast ratio at which the contributions of each eye to the binocularly fused percept were equal (i.e., the balance point measure of ocular dominance). Results Controls exhibited a balance point close to unity (0.91 ± 0.05), while the two groups of anisometropes exhibited a clear binocular imbalance (uncorrected anisometropes, 0.51 ± 0.28; corrected anisometropes, 0.70 ± 0.19); both were significantly different from controls (P < 0.001). The imbalance was less severe in corrected anisometropes compared with uncorrected anisometropes (P = 0.004). Conclusions We find that anisometropia is associated with an ocular imbalance even in the absence of amblyopia. This abnormality is weaker in anisometropes who have worn an optical correction for some time, suggestive that a better optical status leads to a better binocular status.
The Relationship Between Youngsters’ Gender Role Attitudes and Individual, Home, and School Characteristics

Because of the importance of gender role attitudes (GRA) for both academic and social outcomes, it is crucial to understand how GRA is constructed and changes over time. A systematic literature review was conducted to look into the relationship between youngsters’ GRA and individual, home, and school characteristics. Thirty-five international studies were identified through searches in different databases. The review reveals that the studies mostly apply a deterministic view to studying the construction of GRA, focusing predominantly on parent–child transmission. Effects of the school environment and individuals’ own life experiences are under-studied. Also, data are mostly cross-sectional and leave little room for investigating evolutions of GRA over time. Suggestions for future research are formulated focusing on (a) a life-course approach that considers GRA as situated, experience-related, and therefore changing over time and (b) an intersectionality-informed approach investigating GRA at the intersects of multiple diversity dimensions.
Mobilisable strength design for flexible embedded retaining walls

Soil–structure interaction may have an important influence on the behaviour of embedded retaining walls, affecting both wall bending moments and ground movements. However, it can be difficult and time consuming to capture in design, especially in a way that gives a physical insight into the key behavioural mechanisms involved. A calculation procedure has been developed for retaining walls propped near the crest that takes into account both the non-linearity of the stress–strain behaviour of the soil and the flexibility of the wall. Results for different pore water pressure conditions, soil strengths and soil and wall stiffnesses are presented in the form of look-up charts, and are compared with those derived from factored limit equilibrium analyses. A dimensionless parameter is introduced to represent the relative soil–wall stiffness, and its importance is demonstrated. A critical flexibility ratio is identified at which the bending moments start to reduce below those given by a conventional limit equilib.
Impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Hand Hygiene Approach During 3 Years in 6 Hospitals in 3 Mexican Cities

Objectives To evaluate the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multidimensional hand hygiene (HH) approach in Mexico, and analyze predictors of poor HH compliance. Methods From June 2002 to April 2006, we conducted a prospective, observational, before-and-after study in 8 intensive care units (ICUs) from 6 hospitals in 3 cities of Mexico. The approach included administrative support, availability of supplies, education and training, reminders in the workplace, process surveillance, and performance feedback. Results A total of 13,201 observations for HH opportunities were done in each ICU, during randomly selected 30-minute periods. Overall, HH compliance increased from 45% to 79% (95% confidence interval [CI], 69.1–86.5; P = 0.01). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that several variables were significantly associated with poor HH compliance: males versus females (61% versus 66%; 95% CI, 0.91–0.96; P = 0.0001), physicians versus nurses (62% versus 67%; 95% CI, 0.91–0.97; P = 0.0001), and adult versus neonatal ICUs (67% versus 54%; 95% CI, 0.79–0.84; P = 0.0001), among others. Conclusions Hand hygiene programs should focus on variables found to be predictors of poor HH compliance.
Prenatal diagnosis of fetal left pulmonary artery sling

Left pulmonary artery (LPA) sling is a very rare anomaly in which the LPA arises distally, far from the right pulmonary artery on the right side of the distal trachea, turns sharply leftwards around the trachea and courses to the left lung hilum through the space between the trachea and esophagus. LPA sling is often associated with distal tracheal narrowing, due to either intrinsic stenosis or secondary compression by the anomaly itself. To our knowledge, prenatal diagnosis of LPA sling has not been reported so far. We report a case in which LPA sling was diagnosed during fetal ultrasound examination. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Smart tourism destinations: ecosystems for tourism destination competitiveness

Purpose – Grounded in service-dominant (S-D) logic, the purpose of this paper is to explore the core components of smartness to present a framework for the development of the smart tourism destination. Design/methodology/approach – The paper explores the core components of smartness through case study analysis of well-established smart cities. Findings – The paper conceptualises smartness and argues ICT, leadership, innovation and social capital supported by human capital are core components of smartness. Although ICT is a critical enabler for smart tourism destinations, it is insufficient on its own to introduce smartness. The combination of hard and soft smartness components within a S-D logic ecosystem structure holds the potential for sustained competitive advantage and enhancement of quality of life of both residents and tourists in smart tourism destinations. Originality/value – The paper extends the application of S-D logic to the context of smart tourism destinations, specifically to examine the s.
Diffuse axonal injury in head injury: Definition, diagnosis and grading

Diffuse axonal injury is one of the most important types of brain damage that can occur as a result of non‐missile head injury, and it may be very difficult to diagnose post mortem unless the pathologist knows precisely what he is looking for. Increasing experience with fatal non‐missile head injury in man has allowed the identification of three grades of diffuse axonal injury. In grade 1 there is histological evidence of axonal injury in the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres, the corpus callosum, the brain stem and, less commonly, the cerebellum; in grade 2 there is also a focal lesion in the corpus callosum; and in grade 3 there is in addition a focal lesion in the dorsolateral quadrant or quadrants of the rostral brain stem. The focal lesions can often only be identified microscopically. Diffuse axonal injury was identified in 122 of a series of 434 fatal non‐missile head injuries–‐10 grade 1, 29 grade 2 and 83 grade 3. In 24 of these cases the diagnosis could not have been made without microscopical examination, while in a further 31 microscopical examination was required to establish its severity.
Firms and financial markets: empirical studies on the information value of dividends, governance and financial reporting

This dissertation contains three empirical studies that contribute to our understanding of dividend, governance and transparency policies of Dutch listed firms. The first study describes the dividend policy decisions of Dutch firms in the twentieth century. The fraction of dividend-paying firms has increased but the proportion of the profits which are paid out has declined steadily over the century. We identify three dividend regimes, each with a specific set of rationales. We exploit the variation across periods and apply Shapley decomposition algorithms to map changes in the dominant logic. The dominant logic of dividend policies has been revised twice and earnings have decoupled from dividend policies. In the second study, we analyse the stock price effects of block sales and purchases and the disclosures thereof for Dutch firms over the period 2000-2004. Shareholders have to disclose ownership and trading date information when passing specific ownership thresholds. We measure a significant positive price effect for block purchases but not for block sales. We do not measure a significant price effect for their disclosures. We find two opposing effects about the agency role of large shareholders. The final study describes the development of reporting transparency based on annual reports of Dutch non-financial listed firms for the periods before and after IFRS became mandatory. We analyse the relationship between corporate governance and reporting transparency and we investigate the effect of reporting transparency on future firm performance. In particular, after the introduction of IFRS, we observe a strong increase in transparency and with a much lower variation.
Comments on 'O(n2) algorithms for graph planarization'

For the original article see ibid., vol.8, no.3, p.257-67 (1989). The commenters point out that their parallel algorithm provides the maximum planar subgraph, and they compare it to the maximal planar subgraph provided by R. Jayakumar et al. in the above-mentioned paper. The space-time product complexity is also compared
Nonmarket strategy research through the lens of new institutional economics: An integrative review and future directions

Research summary: We use a novel theoretical framework to synthesize ostensibly disparate streams of non-market strategy research. We argue that faced with weak institutions, firms can create and appropriate value by either adapting to, augmenting, or transforming the existing institutional environment, and can do so either independently or in collaboration with others. We use the resulting typology of six distinct non-market strategies to provide an integrative review of non-market strategy research. We then extend this framework to examine the choice between non-market strategies, arguing that this choice depends upon whether the existing institutional environment is incomplete or captured, and discussing other drivers of non-market strategy choice, the relationship between these strategies, and their social impact, so as to provide an agenda for future research. Managerial summary: The pursuit of competitive advantage often requires firms to operate in contexts where existing rules and regulations provide inadequate protection. Disruptive technologies open up new opportunities for value creation, but it takes years before appropriate regulations are introduced. Economic reforms open up new markets, but these are often regulated to favor incumbents and politically connected insiders. In such environments, managers must decide whether to adapt their strategies to the existing institutional environment, devote resources to improve it, or try to transform it altogether. In this article, we develop an integrative theoretical framework that connects and synthesizes research examining each of these options, and offers some preliminary thoughts on how managers may choose among these different approaches.
Olfactory structures of the forebrain in the reeler mutant mouse

Prior studies in the reeler mutant mouse have drawn attention to cytoarchitectonic anomalies in the neocortex and hippocampus of the forebrain and in the cerebellar cortex. In the present study cresyl violet and Loyez stained serial sections were used for light microscopic analysis of the olfactory structures in the forebrain of the mutant. The olfactory bulb and accessory bulb, both targets of afferents form the peripheral nervous system, are normal. By contrast, the laminate structures to which the olfactory bulbs project — the anterior olfactory nucleus, piriform cortex, olfactory tubercle, and cortical nucleus of the amygdaloid complex — are all abnormal in their cytoarchitecture. All of these structures share in common a segregation of cell populations according to size such that the larger cells lie in a deep position close to central fiber bundles. Small, polymorphic cells occupy a superficial zone, and there is no cellsparse external plexiform layer in the mutant. We adopt the view that the relationship of pyramidal cell to complex, external plexiform layer is the cardinal geometric principle defining a normal cortex, and suggest that derangement of this relationship may be the common denominator in the reeler cortical phenotype. The developmental mechanism influenced by the reeler locus and leading to the fundamental cortical geometry in normal or mutant animals may reside in the early interaction of afferent fibers and pyramidal cells.
Momentum and Contrarian Profitability: Insights from the Indian Stock Market Under Alternative Approaches

The study explored the effectiveness of momentum and long-term contrarian strategy in the Indian stock market using data from National Stock Exchange (NSE). The study further examined the similarities and difference in momentum and long-term contrarian profitability using multiple return computation method. The results from the study provide support in favor of both momentum and long-term contrarian strategy in the Indian stock market. The strong momentum and contrarian profits in the Indian stock market are not explained by biases and errors in return computation method as argued in International literature. Such results provide support in favor of momentum and long-term contrarian profitability in the Indian stock market. Earlier studies in the Indian context were primarily focused on testing momentum and contrarian profitability. The study enhances the current literature by empirically showing that such mispricing in the Indian stock market is not an outcome of faulty methodology.
Digit Span in Dyslexia: Variations According to Language Comprehension and Mathematics Skills

The aim of this study was to investigate digit span performance in dyslexia. It was hypothesised that differences would be found in accordance with subgrouping by language comprehension and mathematic skills, and by analyses of how the digit span scores were attained. Two digit span tasks were given to a group of dyslexic children and controls (n = 57), mean age 12.62 (SD = 1.43). The tasks were “Digit Span” of the WISC-R, and “Digit Span 2,” where the use of back-up strategies like finger counting and lip reading were restricted. As expected, the digit span scores were significantly lower in the dyslexia group than in the control group. Restrictions of back-up strategies did not alter the scores in the control group, while the scores were lowered in the dyslexia group. Further analyses of longest digit span, serial recall, and serial position indicated different retrieval patterns in the subgroups. The subgroup with good language comprehension and mathematic skills (n = 12), showed impaired serial recall especially in backward recall. The subgroup with good language comprehension skills, but with mathematics impairment (n = 9), showed impaired serial recall in both forward and backward recall. The subgroup with language impairments (n = 16), recalled fewer digits than the two other subgroups. The findings were discussed in relation to the “Phonological loop” of the Multi Component Model ofWorking Memory, and implications for intervention were discussed.