Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Management Practices in Indian Organizations—A Sectoral Comparison

The discipline of knowledge management (KM) is about how organizations collect, disseminate and apply knowledge. Both Indian public and private sector organizations use KM for enhancing organizational success. The aim of the paper is to determine if the degree of KM implementation in private sector is significantly more that of public sector. In the Indian context, most of the research studies have looked at the empirical investigations of relationships between KM constructs. Thus, while acknowledging previous work, the study utilizes both qualitative and quantitative technique for instrument design, data collection and analysis. Literature review along with focus group discussion (FGD) and a series of personal interviews were used to build a conceptual framework and a questionnaire. Convenience sampling was used. The instrument was tested for content validity, construct validity and reliability. Further, a measurement model was developed and tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Further, a t-test is carried out to check if there is a statistical difference in the average scores of the constructs between the two sectors. In constructs where a significant difference is found, a t-test is conducted on the items of the construct, to find the source of the difference. The results show that private sector is ahead of public sector on all the KM constructs although it’s significantly higher in all constructs except leadership.
Circuit and system challenges in IR wireless communication

IR wireless transceivers pose interesting challenges for circuit design. There are two basic types of IR wireless transmission: 1) directed, where the transmitting device must be pointed at the receiver, and 2) diffuse, where the IR signal is emitted into a large solid angle and receiving devices collect the signal reflected off walls and ceiling, thus requiring little or no pointing. Unlike RF, IR schemes employ baseband modulation. At data rates up to 60 kb/s, amplitude shift keying has been used. At higher data rates, RZI or pulse position modulation data encoding schemes (L-PPM where L is the number of slots) are used for more efficient modulation.
Relationship marketing: looking backwards towards the future

Purpose This paper aims to review the growth and development of the field of relationship marketing and, through a consideration of this body of work, identifies key research priorities for the future of relationship marketing. The paper also delineates the frequently confused associated concepts of customer relationship management and customer management and considers how they fit within the broader concept of relationship marketing. Design/methodology/approach This paper undertakes a review of the relationship marketing literature, supplemented by the authors’ on-going interactive research with managers. Findings The paper reviews alternative approaches to relationship marketing, reflects on the development of the field of relationship marketing and identifies three critical priorities for future research in relationship marketing. Practical implications The research priorities that are identified in this paper represent important priorities for scholars, managers, regulators and policy makers. Originality/value Although there is now a substantial body of research on relationship, marketing, much of this work focuses on the customer-firm dyad, with a smaller body of work focusing on a broader range of stakeholders. This paper argues for the broadening of the role of relationship marketing to consider ecosystems; the need for firms to shift from a value-in-exchange to a value-in-use perspective when addressing customer relationships; and the critical need to address “dark side” behaviour and dysfunctional processes in relationship marketing.
Effectiveness of radio-agricultural farmer programme in technology transfer among rural farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

The study was carried out in Imo State to examine the effectiveness of radio-agricultural farmer programme in technology transfer to rural farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents from the three agricultural zones of Imo State. Data were obtained using interview schedule and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result shows that majority of the respondents were males, married and educated with the mean age of 46 years. Result indicates that majority of the respondents indicate that radio-agricultural farmer programme was effective in technology transfer to rural farmers. Result further indicates that most (100%) of the respondents confirmed that improved technologies transferred were relevant to their farm practices.
Spectrum of a class of matrices and its applications

In this paper, we give the spectrum of a matrix by using the quotient matrix, then we apply this result to various matrices associated to a graph and a digraph, including adjacency matrix, (signless) Laplacian matrix, distance matrix, distance (signless) Laplacian matrix, to obtain some known and new results. Moreover, we propose some problems for further research.
Three-dimensional tracking of a wide-ranging marine predator: flight heights and vulnerability to offshore wind farms

A large increase in offshore wind turbine capacity is anticipated within the next decade, raising concerns about possible adverse impacts on birds as a result of collision risk. Birds' flight heights greatly influence this risk, yet height estimates are currently available only using methods such as radar- or ship-based observations over limited areas. 2. Bird-borne data-loggers have the potential to provide improved estimates of collision risk and here, we used data from Global Position System (GPS)-loggers and barometric pressure loggers to track the three-dimensional movements of northern gannets rearing chicks at a large colony in south-east Scotland (Bass Rock), located <50 km from several major wind farm developments with recent planning consent. We estimated the foraging ranges and densities of birds at sea, their flight heights during different activities and the spatial variation in height dur- ing trips. We then used these data in collision-risk models to explore how the use of different methods to determine flight height affects the predicted risk of birds colliding with turbines. 3. Gannets foraged in and around planned wind farm sites. The probability of flying at colli- sion-risk height was low during commuting between colonies and foraging areas (median height 12 m) but was greater during periods of active foraging (median height 27 m), and we estimated that ~1500 breeding adults from Bass Rock could be killed by collision with wind turbines at two planned sites in the Firth of Forth region each year. This is up to 12 times greater than the potential mortality predicted using other available flight-height estimates. 4. Synthesis and applications. The use of conventional flight-height estimation techniques resulted in large underestimates of the numbers of birds at risk of colliding with wind tur- bines. Hence, we recommend using GPS and barometric tracking to derive activity-specific and spatially explicit flight heights and collision risks. Our predictions of potential mortality approached levels at which long-term population viability could be threatened, highlighting a need for further data to refine estimates of collision risks and sustainable mortality thresh- olds. We also advocate raising the minimum permitted clearance of turbine blades at sites with high potential collision risk from 22 to 30 m above sea level.
Efficacy of glucocorticoid monotherapy for treatment of canine meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology: a prospective study in 16 dogs

Abstract Canine non‐infectious, inflammatory meningoencephalomyelitis is termed meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology (MUE) and may affect dogs of any age, breed or gender. Treatment with immunosuppressive medication has been widely reported, however no prospective clinical trials with a standard glucocorticoid monotherapy are available. The objectives were to compare the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis at diagnosis and after treatment with a standard glucocorticoid (GC) dose and to determine the survival time in dogs with MUE. We hypothesized that abnormal CSF findings would normalize in dogs with MUE, and survival time would be longer than previously reported for glucocortocoid therapy alone. Inclusion criteria were: (1) normal minimum database, (2) no GC use within 5 days, (3) magnetic resonance imaging performed, (4) negative infectious disease titres, and (5) abnormal CSF analysis. All dogs received GC therapy at 1 mg/kg per os q 12 h. Responders had normal CSF analysis at 1 month. Sixteen dogs met the inclusion criteria. Median total nucleated cell count (TNCC) and protein concentration at time of diagnosis were 39 cells/μL (0–1400 cells/μL), and 49 mg/dL (25–293 mg/dL), respectively. Median TNCC and protein concentration at 1 month were 1 cell/μL (0–120 cells/μL), and 24 mg/dL (13–175 mg/dL), respectively. Seven of 16 dogs (44%) were responders. There was no significant difference in survival between the CSF responders and CSF non‐responders (P = 0.85). Overall median survival was 602 days (45–654 days). This study supports using GC therapy in dogs with MUE.
Managing apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella [Diptera : Tephritidae], by perimeter trapping

Le piegeage des adultes de la mouche de la pomme (Rhagoletis pomonella) en peripherie des vergers de pommiers (Malus pumila) est une methode de lutte physique efficace. En vergers commerciaux, il a permis d'obtenir de 99,5 a 100 % de fruits sains a la recolte. Les pieges consistaient en des spheres rouges (9 cm diam.) ou des panneaux jaunes (28 cm x 21,5 cm) inseres entre deux demi-spheres rouges. Ils etaient enduits de colle et appâtes d'hexanoate de butyle. Le nombre de pieges installes a ete determine en fonction de la longueur de la facade directement exposee a un site d'infestation potentielle par le R. pomonella. Dans les parcelles, sur les cotes adjacents a un boise, les pieges etaient places a environ 10 m de distance sur le rang, ou sur les pommiers a l'extreminte de chacun des rangs. Sur les cotes adjacents a des prairies de graminees ou a des vergers traites chimiquement, on a place les pieges a environ 20 m d'intervalle. Afin d’obtenir un niveau de controle acceptable par les pomiculteurs, les populations de la mouche de la pomme doivent etre de faibles a moderees. La sensibilite aux attaques de la mouche de la pomme a varie d'un cultivar a l'autre. Ce facteur doit etre considere si Ton veut appliquer cette methode en conditions commerciales.
Fractalkine and fractalkine receptors in human neurons and glial cells

Fractalkine has been identified as a novel chemokine that exhibits cell adhesion and chemoattractive properties in the central nervous system (CNS), and the fractalkine receptors, CX3CR1, are also expressed in the CNS. In the present study, the expression of fractalkine and fractalkine receptors was investigated in enriched populations of human CNS neurons, astrocytes, and microglia. In addition, the regulatory role played by protein kinase C (PKC) in fractalkine secretion in neurons was determined in A1 human hybrid neuronal cell line produced between a human cerebral neuron and a human neuroblastoma cell. Human neurons and astrocytes expressed fractalkine mRNA as determined by the revserse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis, while human microglia preparation did not express the fractalkine message. Human neurons and microglia expressed CX3CR1 mRNA, but astrocytes did not. These results suggest that fractalkine secreted by CNS neurons and astrocytes produce biological effects in neurons and microglia. Although phorbol ester did not change the expression of fractalkine mRNA level in A1 hybrid neurons, it did upregulate fractalkine secretion over unstimulated controls. This upregulation of fractalkine production was suppressed by the treatment with Ro32‐0432, a PKC inhibitor. These results indicate that intracellular signals transduced by PKC play an important role in the regulation of soluble fractalkine at the post‐transcriptional level in human neurons. As for the biological function of fractalkine, extracellularly applied fractalkine increased the number of bromodeoxyuridine‐labeled microglia 3‐fold over the untreated controls, indicating fractalkine induces proliferation of human microglia. These observations suggest that fractalkine released by injured neurons could induce proliferation, activation and/or migration of microglia at the injured brain sites. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular characterization analysis of the outer protein layer (VP7) from human rotavirus A genotype G1 isolate identified in Iran: implications for vaccine development.

The full open reading frame of the outer protein layer VP7 from an isolate of human rotavirus identified in 2010 in an Iranian child admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis was amplified from a clinical stool specimen and subjected to molecular characterization. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the analyzed gene falls into the G1 genotype forming a sub-cluster with sequences recently identified in Iran and geographically distant countries. Such results were confirmed by protein sequence alignment, showing a highly conserved "G1-like? amino acid sequence pattern within the known three main immunodominant regions. These results are extremely relevant in a perspective of vaccine development. Indeed, the present study confirms that the A group G1 genotype is the most prevalent Rotavirus circulating in Iran and supports the development of G1 genotype-based rotavirus vaccine for this country.
Quantitative evaluation of hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with concurrent human immunodeficiency virus infections

Quantitation of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) provides a powerful epidemiologic and therapeutic method for the evaluation of infected patients. In this study semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is compared with a new branched DNA signal amplification methodology. Samples from HCV-infected patients as well as from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients were evaluated. Reverse transcriptase PCR correlated well with the branched DNA assay (r = 0.7036, P < 0.05). HCV RNA was found to occur at significantly higher titers (P < 0.05) in patients coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus compared with titers in those infected with HCV alone. Immune status as defined by the CD4+ count was not associated with the observed difference in viral titer.
Histologic and Cytologic Detection of Endocrine and Reproductive Tract Effects of Exemestane in Female Rats Treated for up to Twenty-eight Days

The objective of this study was to determine the shortest period of time necessary to detect histologic evidence of estrous cycle disruption in Sprague-Dawley rats treated for up to 28 days with the aromatase inhibitor exemestane at 1,000 mg/kg. Rats were evaluated on day 5, 8, 15, or 29. Vaginal mucification, uterine and cervical epithelial atrophy, uterine luminal epithelial vacuolation, decreased uterine granulocytes, and hypertrophy/hyperplasia of mammary ducts and alveoli were noted by day 5 and persisted throughout the study. From day 8 to day 29, absence of recent basophilic corpora lutea, increased atresia of antral follicles, interstitial cell hyperplasia, and increased luteinized follicles were present in the ovaries of treated rats. Vaginal smears detected persistent diestrus, confirming estrous cycle disruption between days 5 and 8. Ovary and uterine weights were largely unaffected. Serum hormone levels were not useful due to the study design employed. Other effects of exemestane included decreased adrenal weights and decreased cell size in both the adrenal zona fasciculata and the pituitary pars distalis. While early histologic changes were evident on day 5, only after 8 days of treatment were findings considered sufficient to clearly identify exemestane-induced estrous cycle disruption using microscopy alone.
Prognostic Significance of CD 31 Expression in Patients with Non-Small-Cell-Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the primary cause of cancer related death worldwide. After resection of early stage NSCLC, the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for patient survival still remains unclear and investigations for further risk stratification are needed for an improved treatment decision. Microvessel density (MVD) influences both the nutrition of the cancer and the access to the bloodstream for the development of distant metastasis. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of microvessel density by CD31 staining in patients with resected stage IA-IIIB NSCLC. We used immunohistochemistry (IHC) of CD31 to examine the microvessel density in a cohort of 69 patients who had undergone radical resection for NSCLC. Correlation of IHC values and standard clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed as well as influence on long term survival. Survival analysis revealed a significant better overall survival for patients with higher median microvessel density (log rank p = 0.031) independent of clinicopathologic parameters. Regarding primary cancer related death, the survival was again significantly longer in patients with high CD31 count (log rank p = 0.036). A higher microvessel density was a strong predictor for a longer tumor related survival and could be used for therapeutic decisions of adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of early stage NSCLC.
Molecular screening of SHH, ZIC2, SIX3, and TGIF genes in patients with features of holoprosencephaly spectrum: Mutation review and genotype–phenotype correlations

Holoprosencephaly (HPE; 1 out of 16,000 live births; 1 out of 250 conceptuses) is a complex brain malformation resulting from incomplete cleavage of the prosencephalon, affecting both the forebrain and the face. Clinical expressivity is variable, ranging from a single cerebral ventricle and cyclopia to clinically unaffected carriers in familial dominant autosomic HPE. The disease is genetically heterogeneous, but additional environmental agents also contribute to the etiology of HPE. In our cohort of 200 patients, 34 heterozygous mutations were identified, 24 of them being novel ones: 13 out of 17 in the Sonic hedgehog gene (SHH); 4 out of 7 in ZIC2; and 7 out of 8 in SIX3. The two mutations identified in TGIF have already been reported. Novel phenotypes associated with a mutation have been described, such as abnormalities of the pituitary gland and corpus callosum, colobomatous microphthalmia, choanal aperture stenosis, and isolated cleft lip. This study confirms the great genetic heterogeneity of the disease, the important phenotypic variability in HPE families, and the difficulty to establish genotype‐phenotype correlations. Hum Mutat 24:43–51, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Arrhythmogenesis in a catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia mutation that depresses ryanodine receptor function

Significance Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an arrhythmogenic syndrome characterized by life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias triggered by physical exercise or emotional stress. Although patients with CPVT have no abnormalities in cardiac structure, they present ventricular fibrillation or sudden death as the first symptom. Most CPVT cases are linked to mutations in cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2), an intracellular Ca2+ channel that provides the majority of Ca2+ that enables heart contraction. The current mechanism for CPVT arrhythmogenesis requires RyR2 affected by gain-of-function mutations. However, loss-of-function mutations of RyR2 have also been found in CPVT patients. We generated an animal model of CPVT that harbors a loss-of-function mutation that was originally described in humans and elucidated novel mechanisms by which hypoactive RyR2 channels trigger malignant arrhythmias. Current mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) require spontaneous Ca2+ release via cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) channels affected by gain-of-function mutations. Hence, hyperactive RyR2 channels eager to release Ca2+ on their own appear as essential components of this arrhythmogenic scheme. This mechanism, therefore, appears inadequate to explain lethal arrhythmias in patients harboring RyR2 channels destabilized by loss-of-function mutations. We aimed to elucidate arrhythmia mechanisms in a RyR2-linked CPVT mutation (RyR2-A4860G) that depresses channel activity. Recombinant RyR2-A4860G protein was expressed equally as wild type (WT) RyR2, but channel activity was dramatically inhibited, as inferred by [3H]ryanodine binding and single channel recordings. Mice heterozygous for the RyR2-A4860G mutation (RyR2-A4860G+/−) exhibited basal bradycardia but no cardiac structural alterations; in contrast, no homozygotes were detected at birth, suggesting a lethal phenotype. Sympathetic stimulation elicited malignant arrhythmias in RyR2-A4860G+/− hearts, recapitulating the phenotype originally described in a human patient with the same mutation. In isoproterenol-stimulated ventricular myocytes, the RyR2-A4860G mutation decreased the peak of Ca2+ release during systole, gradually overloading the sarcoplasmic reticulum with Ca2+. The resultant Ca2+ overload then randomly caused bursts of prolonged Ca2+ release, activating electrogenic Na+-Ca2+ exchanger activity and triggering early afterdepolarizations. The RyR2-A4860G mutation reveals novel pathways by which RyR2 channels engage sarcolemmal currents to produce life-threatening arrhythmias.
Continuous-Time Signal Extraction : Filter Design for Economic Time Series

This paper sets out the theoretical foundations for continuous-time signal extraction in econometrics. Continuous-time modeling gives an effective strategy for treating stock and flow data, irregularly spaced data, and changing frequency of observation. We rigorously derive the optimal continuous-lag filter when the signal component is nonstationary, and provide several illustrations, including a new class of continuous-lag Butterworth filters for trend and cycle estimation.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Twin Pregnancies with Complete Hydatidiform Mole and Coexistent Normal Fetus: A Series of 13 Cases

Aim: The study aimed to describe prenatal diagnosis and the outcome of complete hydatidiform mole and coexistent normal fetus (CHMCF). Methods: This was a retrospective case series of 13 patients with CHMCF. Prenatal diagnosis, outcome and development of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) were reviewed. Results: Ultrasound diagnosis was carried out in 12 of 13 cases at 17 ± 2.7 weeks of gestation (mean ± SD). Six patients showed abnormalities suggestive of subchorionic hematoma on first trimester ultrasonography (US). Prenatal invasive procedures were performed in 8 of 13 cases (62%). Two women decided to terminate their pregnancies. Four ended in late miscarriages (36%, 4 of 11) between 13 and 21 weeks, and early neonatal death occurred in 1 case (9%, 1 of 11); 5 women delivered a live baby with a mean gestational age of 31 weeks (range 26-37 weeks) with an overall neonatal survival of 45% (5 of 11). GTN occurred in 31% of cases (4 of 13). Conclusions: The first trimester US features of CHMCF are not well-documented. Our series showed that abnormalities of CHMCF could be misdiagnosed as subchorionic hematoma in the early first trimester. When CHMCF is confirmed by expert US, prenatal invasive procedures should be carefully evaluated depending on the associated US findings and exhaustive counseling should be performed.