Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ANALISIS FLYPAPER EFFECT PADA BELANJA DAERAH KABUPATEN DAN KOTA DI PROVINSI BANTEN

This study aims to identify the flypaper effect on the country and city in Banten Province in 2010-2013. The main objective of this research is to provide empirical evidence for the occurrence of flypaper effect on General Allocation Fund (DAU) and Local Revenue (PAD ) to Regional Expenditure (BD) of country/city in Banten Province. In this case, the dependent variable used is the shopping area while the independent variable is PAD and DAU. Object of research include 8 counties and cities in Banten Province with data source Realisasi Budget Report 2010-2013. Design research using model hypothesis testing using secondary data in the form of panel data. The method of analysis of data used is multiple regression.This research result indicates that (1) PAD and DAU simultaneously influence significantly to regional expenditure, (2) PAD and DAU partially influential significantly against regional expenditure, (3) there is no flypaper effect on contry and city in Banten in the 2010-2013. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengidentifikasi terjadinya flypaper effect pada belanja daerah kabupaten dan kota di Provinsi Banten tahun 2010-2013.Tujuan utama dari penelitian ini adalah memberikan bukti empiris terjadinya flypaper effect pada Dana Alokasi Umum (DAU) dan Pendapatan Asli Daerah (PAD) terhadap Belanja Daerah kabupaten/kota di Provinsi Banten. Dalam hal ini, variabel dependen yang digunakan adalah belanja daerah sedangkan variabel independennya adalah Pendapatan Asli Daerah dan Dana Alokasi Umum. Objek penelitian meliputi 8 kabupaten dan kota di Provinsi Banten dengan sumber data yang diperoleh dari Laporan Realisasi APBD 2010-2013. Desain penelitian menggunakan model pengujian hipotesis dengan menggunakan data sekunder dalam bentuk data panel. Adapun metode analisis data yang digunakan adalah regresi berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa (1) PAD dan DAU secara simultan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Belanja Daerah, (2) PAD dan DAU secara parsial berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap Belanja Daerah, (3) tidak terjadi flypaper effectpada kabupaten dan kota di Provinsi Banten pada tahun 2010-2013.
N‑terminal pro‑B-type natriuretic peptide as a marker of hypervolemia and predictor of increased mortality in patients on hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION N‑terminal pro‑B‑type natriuretic peptide (NT‑proBNP) is an established biomarker of heart failure in the general population. However, its diagnostic value is unclear in hemodialysis (HD) patients owing to renal insufficiency. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to establish the usefulness of NT‑proBNP for hydration assessment and the relation of NT‑proBNP to the nutritional state and prognosis of survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS In 321 HD patients (206 men; mean age, 65.1 ±21.4 years), we assessed NT‑proBNP levels, overhydration (OHBIA), and the indices of the nutritional state (using a bioimpedance analysis [BIA]) in relation to cardiac troponin T (cTnT), hemoglobin, albumin, total cholesterol (TC), and C‑reactive protein (CRP) levels. The efficacy of HD was assessed using Kt/V, weekly HD dose, and HD session ultrafiltration. The cohort was divided into NT‑proBNP quartiles. Patients with 2 NT‑proBNP measurements were categorized also into change‑over‑time subgroups. A follow‑up lasted for a median period of 23.8 ±26.3 months. RESULTS Relative OHBIA increased across the NT‑proBNP quartiles (Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4, 1.31% ±2.56%/2.06% ±2.35%/2.92% ±2.97%/4.62% ±4.22%; P <0.0001). NT‑proBNP was also closely associated with other OH parameters. In addition, there was a significant correlation between NT‑proBNP and cTnT (r = 0.55; P <0.0001). Body mass index (BMI) and fat tissue index (FTI) decreased across the quartiles (BMI, 28.5 ±7.7/26.0 ±6.6/25.8 ±5.4/23.7 ±5.5 kg/m2; FTI, 14.4 ±9.0/14.1 ±7.3/12.3 ±6.8/11.6 ±6.1; P <0.001). The highest albumin level was present in Q1 (4.10 ±0.63/3.99 ±0.51/3.90 ±0.62/3.97 ±0.78 g/dl; P = 0.006). The TC level was the lowest in Q4 (190 ±60/169 ±56/173 ±51/153 ±56 mg/dl; P = 0.002). The hemoglobin level decreased across the quartiles (11.44 ±1.25/11.15 ±2.50/10.79 ±1.51/10.45 ±1.67 g/dl; P = 0.0006). The differences in CRP levels and HD‑related parameters were nonsignificant. During the follow‑up, 97 deaths were recorded (11/26/21/39, P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS NT‑proBNP seems to be a useful biomarker of hypervolemia in HD patients. Nevertheless, it has to be interpreted with regard to the patient's individual residual renal function and cardiovascular status.
Investigation of the index case herd and identification of the genotypes of Theileria orientalis associated with outbreaks of bovine anaemia in New Zealand in 2012

Abstract CASE HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: On 7 September 2012 the Ministry for Primary Industries was notified of a dairy cow with regenerative anaemia (haematocrit (HCT) 0.08 L/L) in a herd of 465 Jersey-Friesian cross cows (index case herd) in the Northland region of New Zealand. Organisms consistent with Theileria spp. were present in red blood cells on a blood smear. No other causes of anaemia were detected following examination of affected cows. Blood samples collected from 29 randomly selected cows on 26 September 2012 showed that 24 (83%) were anaemic (HCT≤0.24 L/L) and therefore fitted the case definition for bovine anaemia associated with Theileria orientalis infection. LABORATORY FINDINGS: Using a T. orientalis type-specific PCR assay that targeted the single subunit rRNA gene, all of six animals tested were positive for T. orientalis type Ikeda. Blood samples collected from clinically affected cattle in 11 subsequent outbreaks from throughout the North Island showed that T. orientalis Ikeda type was a common finding, but mixed infections with Chitose type were also identified. In addition, using a PCR assay that targeted the major piroplasm surface gene, T. orientalis type 5 was detected in one cow from the Waikato region. DIAGNOSIS: The presence of T. orientalis type Ikeda, as well as type 5, was confirmed in cattle from outbreaks of bovine anaemia in herds throughout the North Island of New Zealand. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Two new types of T. orientalis were identified in this investigation, that were associated with a sudden rise in cases of bovine anaemia. The body of evidence showed that the Ikeda type was implicated as the cause of disease observed in this epidemic.
An Integrated Model of the Likelihood and Extent of Adoption of Green Practices in Small and Medium Sized Logistics Firms

Environmental issues have become an essential part of business strategies; it therefore poses a challenge for managers and researchers to explore the integration of environmental concepts in business operations. Although a number of studies on green practice adoption can be found in the literature, few of them analyzed the likelihood of adoption(use or not use) and the extent of adoption(light or intensive) among non- adopters" and adopters" of green practices in organizations. This work aims to explain firms" decisions to adopt green practices, and the extent to which the adopters subsequently implement green practices. Past research of green management concentrated on manufacturing sectors; limited attention was paid on research in service sectors. Over the past 50 years, logistics and transportation, a sector in the services industry, has been regarded as a key determinant of business performance. This paper focuses on the green practice adoption in logistics companies because many logistics operations often lead to severe environmental impacts. The conceptual model was grounded in the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework (Tornatzky and Fleischer, 1990), Roger"s DOI theory and Thong"s (1999) Model. The main purpose of this study is to explore the influences of determinant factors on green practice adoption and the extent to which the practices are adopted among the adopters in Malaysian logistics companies. A quantitative research technique using the survey method will be applied for the research.
The increase in the frequency of MICA gene A6 allele in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was reported to be associated with immune function. The MICA (MHC class I chain-related gene A) is expressed by keratinocytes and other epithelial cells, and its encoded protein interacts with gamma/delta T cells localized in submucosa. The MICA also influences the heat shock protein function. We speculated that the alterations of MICA might influence the pathogenesis of OSCC through the aberration in presenting tumor antigens or heat shock protein. MICA gene has a triplet repeat (GCT) polymorphism in the transmembrane domain, resulting in five distinctive allelic patterns. METHODS We analysed this MICA polymorphism in 67 OSCC patients and 351 randomly selected unrelated controls. By using the ABI Prism 377-18 DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) to analyse the sample DNA PCR products. The number of micro-satellite repeats was estimated with Genescan 672 software (Applied Biosystems) with a standard size marker of GS-350 TAMRA (N,N,N,N-tetramethyl-6-carbohydroxyl rhodamine; Applied Biosystems). RESULTS The phenotype frequency of allele A6 of MICA in subjects with OSCC was significantly higher than that in controls (RR = 3.46, 95% CI = 1.73-6.94, P = 0.0002), as was the frequency of allele (RR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.39-5.02, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION The results suggest that allele A6 in MICA might confer the risk of OSCC.
Quasiclassical approximation for the spin-boson Hamiltonian with counterrotating terms.

We derive quasiclassical (approximately factorizable) trajectories for the spin-boson Hamiltonian without the rotating-wave approximation (RWA) and show how they may be used to calculate the evolution of the fully quantized system when the initial state of the oscillator (boson field) is a coherent state with sufficiently large amplitude. We give a general prescription to obtain such trajectories for other systems. We study how well-known features of the model in the RWA are modified by the counterrotating terms and explore some of the new phenomenology introduced by these terms.
Knowledge Management: Value Creation Through Organizational Learning

1 On the Way to a Knowledge Society -- 2 Knowledge in Organisations -- 3 Organisational Forms to Leverage Knowledge -- 4 Knowledge is Human -- 5 Strategies for Managing Knowledge -- 6 Context Specific Knowledge Management Strategies -- 7 How Can Information and Communication Technology Support Knowledge Work -- 8 Measuring and Safeguarding Knowledge -- 9 How to Put Knowledge Management into Practice.
Human Liver Expression of CYP2C8: Gender, Age, and Genotype Effects

Research investigating CYP2C8 as a drug-metabolizing enzyme has gained momentum over the past few years. CYP2C8 is estimated to oxidatively metabolize approximately 5% of therapeutically prescribed drugs. It is polymorphically expressed, and several single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified with varying effects on the clearance of CYP2C8 substrates. However, the human liver expression of CYP2C8 and effects of genetic variation, age, and gender on mRNA and protein levels have not been fully explored. In this report, interindividual variation in CYP2C8 mRNA and protein expression in 60 livers from white individuals was examined. The livers were genotyped for CYP2C8*3 and CYP2C8*4 polymorphisms. The effects of genotype, age, and gender on hepatic CYP2C8 expression and the correlation of CYP2C8 mRNA expression with CYP3A4 and other CYP2C members were evaluated. The mean ± S.D. protein levels in CYP2C8*1/*1 livers was 30.8 ± 17.5 pmol/mg protein, and a trend for decreased protein levels was observed for CYP2C8*1/*4 livers (15.8 ± 9.7 pmol/mg, p = 0.07). The mean expression levels of CYP2C8 was comparable in males and females (p = 0.18). The mRNA expression of CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4, but not CYP2C18, was highly correlated (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the hepatic CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 protein levels were strongly correlated (r = 0.76, p < 0.0001). This correlation is most likely due to common regulation factors for both genes. CYP2C8 mRNA or protein expression levels were not significantly affected by CYP2C8*3 or *4 genotype, gender, or age, and variation observed clinically in CYP2C8 activity warrants further investigation.
Efflux pumps as antimicrobial resistance mechanisms

Antibiotic resistance continues to hamper antimicrobial chemotherapy of infectious disease, and while biocide resistance outside of the laboratory is as yet unrealized, in vitro and in vivo episodes of reduced biocide susceptibility are not uncommon. Efflux mechanisms, both drug‐specific and multidrug, are important determinants of intrinsic and/or acquired resistance to these antimicrobials in important human pathogens. Multidrug efflux mechanisms are generally chromosome‐encoded, with their expression typically resultant from mutations in regulatory genes, while drug‐specific efflux mechanisms are encoded by mobile genetic elements whose acquisition is sufficient for resistance. While it has been suggested that drug‐specific efflux systems originated from efflux determinants of self‐protection in antibiotic‐producing Actinomycetes, chromosomal multidrug efflux determinants, at least in Gram‐negative bacteria, are appreciated as having an intended housekeeping function unrelated to drug export and resistance. Thus, it will be important to elucidate the intended natural function of these efflux mechanisms in order, for example, to anticipate environmental conditions or circumstances that might promote their expression and, so, compromise antimicrobial chemotherapy. Given the clinical significance of antimicrobial exporters, it is clear that efflux must be considered in formulating strategies for treatment of drug‐resistant infections, both in the development of new agents, for example, less impacted by efflux or in targeting efflux directly with efflux inhibitors.
From conductance-based to integrate-and-fire modelling

This paper proposes a methodology to extract a low-dimensional integrate-and-fire model from an arbitrarily detailed conductance-based model. The method provides a computational bridge between the physiology of a neuromodulator at the cellular level and its impact in a possibly large neuronal network. The approach is illustrated on two well-documented examples of cellular neuromodulation: the transition between Type I and Type II excitability and the transition between spiking and bursting.
Evaluating and Selecting Digital Payment Mechanisms

The Internet is growing rapidly as a marketplace for the exchange of both tangible and information goods and services. Numerous payment mechanisms suitable for use in this marketplace are in various stages of development. Because their development is so recent, it is difficult for potential participants in electronic commerce to evaluate and select payment mechanisms. We propose a systematic method for evaluating and selecting payment mechanisms. Our selection process typically leads to a solution in a few iterations or less; it is generalizable; and it requires relatively little information about each alternative, reducing the cost of evaluating and selecting payment mechanisms. Researchers and payment mechanism designers are guided on further development by the needs of users who desire particular bundles of characteristics. As a by-product of our analysis, we present a detailed matrix characterizing 10 leading payment systems according to 30 criteria.
Determinants and Role of Trust in E-Business: A Large Scale Empirical Study

This research investigates the determinants and role of consumer trust in e-business. It examines consumer perceptions of trust in a Web site and addresses the following key research questions: What factors influence consumer trust in a Web site and what specific Web site trust cues are associated with these factors? How does trust affect consumer behavioral intent on a Web site? To address these questions, we develop a conceptual model that links consumer perceptions of Web site characteristics, consumer characteristics and demographics to perceptions of trust in a Web site, and trust to behavioral intent related to a Web site. We also examine whether trust mediates the relationship between Web site and consumer characteristics and behavioral intent related to the Web site. We test our hypotheses in a large-scale empirical study that estimates this model from 6831 consumers across 25 Web sites and eight industry categories. We validate the model using a holdout sample. The results show that Web site, consumer, category and demographic variables can explain 76% of the variance in trust. Web site characteristics such as privacy and security, navigation, presentation, brand, and advice account for as much as 98% of this explained variance in Web site trust. Surprisingly, over 80% of the explained variance in Web trust is due to factors other than privacy and security-mainly navigation, brand, advice, absence of errors, and presentation. We also find that trust mediates the relationships between Web site and consumer characteristics and behavioral intent related to Web sites. The results offer important implications for Web site strategies that include the manipulation of factors influencing Web site trust to favorably impact consumer behavior at the Web site
Comparison of Caspofungin MICs by Means of EUCAST Method EDef 7.1 Using Two Different Concentrations of Glucose

ABSTRACT According to the product insert for Cancidas (caspofungin acetate), the drug must not be diluted in solutions containing glucose as this decreases caspofungin stability. The aim of this study was to compare caspofungin MICs for a collection of yeasts by means of EUCAST method EDef7.1 but using two different concentrations of glucose: 2% versus 0.2%. MICs were identical or within one 2-fold dilution for 93 out of 95 strains (97.9%), showing that glucose does not interfere with susceptibility.
Inhibitory Activity of Iron Chelators ATA and DFO on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells and Phosphatases PTP1B and SHP2.

BACKGROUND Rapidly-dividing cancer cells have higher requirement for iron compared to non-transformed cells, making iron chelating a potential anticancer strategy. In the present study we compared the anticancer activity of uncommon iron chelator aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) with the known deferoxamine (DFO). MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated the impact of ATA and DFO on the viability and proliferation of MCF-7 cancer cells. Moreover we performed enzymatic activity assays and computational analysis of the ATA and DFO effects on pro-oncogenic phosphatases PTP1B and SHP2. RESULTS ATA and DFO decrease the viability and proliferation of breast cancer cells, but only ATA considerably reduces the activity of PTP1B and SHP2 phosphatases. Our studies indicated that ATA strongly inactivates and binds in the PTP1B and SHP2 active site, interacting with arginine residue essential for enzyme activity. CONCLUSION We confirmed that iron chelating can be considered as a potential strategy for the adjunctive treatment of breast cancer.
Design and modeling of a doubly salient variable reluctance machine

Due to their simplicity, robustness, high performances and reduced cost, the variable reluctance machines (VRM) occupy today a place of choice in the electromechanical conversion of energy. Hence the growing interest for the study and the design of a new structures more successful and better adapted to the new requirements. The purpose of this paper is to propose a useful and comprehensive design methodology for a doubly salient VRM (DSVRM) according to a numerical-analytical approach by finite elements method (FEM) and equivalent magnetic circuit (EMC).
Luxury hotel brand equity, customer experience, and their antecedents : a study of business travellers in Hong Kong

of thesis entitled “Luxury Hotel Brand Equity, Customer Experience, and Their Antecedents: A Study of Business Travellers in Hong Kong” submitted by XU Jing, Bill for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in June, 2010. Prior research has endeavoured to examine customer-based brand equity, but it remains unclear how customer experiences contribute to brand equity and the way brand equity is established from its antecedents. Luxury hotels are cognizant of brand value but they often fail to implement the right marketing and management strategies that can result in positive hotel experience and brand equity. The principal aim of this study is to fill this research gap and to identify the composition and structure of customer experience and brand equity in luxury hotels and to examine the effects indirect (advertising efforts and word-of-mouth) and direct (service performance) experiences of customers have on brand image
Marketing Dietary Supplements: Public Relations and the Ability of Pharmaceutical Companies to Retain and Develop Consumer Relationships

Dietary supplements have grown in popularity in recent years, with multivitamins the most commonly used. As the awareness of dietary supplements continues to increase, there are more chances for consumers to misuse or misunderstand the risks of taking dietary supplements. Public relations, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies should work to educate the consumer about the uses and risks of supplements. This paper addresses the issues associated with dietary supplements, particularly in the area of weight-loss supplements. Adverse side effects are addressed, as well as how public relations can influence the outcome of pharmaceutical companies' relationships with consumers. Public relations can help the target audiences build trust with companies, though at times marketing supplements can interfere with a healthy lifestyle. The lack of regulation on dietary supplements provides consumers with more freedom, but also leaves room for uncertainty and confusion about the science behind dietary supplements.
When Does Preconditioning Help or Hurt Generalization?

While second order optimizers such as natural gradient descent (NGD) often speed up optimization, their effect on generalization remains controversial. For instance, it has been pointed out that gradient descent (GD), in contrast to many preconditioned updates, converges to small Euclidean norm solutions in overparameterized models, leading to favorable generalization properties. This work presents a more nuanced view on the comparison of generalization between first- and second-order methods. We provide an asymptotic bias-variance decomposition of the generalization error of overparameterized ridgeless regression under a general class of preconditioner $\boldsymbol{P}$, and consider the inverse population Fisher information matrix (used in NGD) as a particular example. We determine the optimal $\boldsymbol{P}$ for both the bias and variance, and find that the relative generalization performance of different optimizers depends on the label noise and the "shape" of the signal (true parameters): when the labels are noisy, the model is misspecified, or the signal is misaligned with the features, NGD can achieve lower risk; conversely, GD generalizes better than NGD under clean labels, a well-specified model, or aligned signal. Based on this analysis, we discuss several approaches to manage the bias-variance tradeoff, and the potential benefit of interpolating between GD and NGD. We then extend our analysis to regression in the reproducing kernel Hilbert space and demonstrate that preconditioned GD can decrease the population risk faster than GD. Lastly, we empirically compare the generalization performance of first- and second-order optimizers in neural network experiments, and observe robust trends matching our theoretical analysis.