Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing changes in the enterprise architecture modelling context

Enterprise architecture (EA) models the whole enterprise in various aspects regarding both business processes and information technology resources. As the organisation grows, the architecture of its systems and processes must also evolve to meet the demands of the business environment. Evolving an EA model may involve making changes to various components across different levels of the EA. As a result, an important issue before making a change to an EA model is assessing the ripple effect of the change, i.e. change impact analysis. Another critical issue is change propagation: given a set of primary changes that have been made to the EA model, what additional secondary changes are needed to maintain consistency across multiple levels of the EA. There has been however limited work on supporting the maintenance and evolution of EA models. This article proposes an EA description language, namely ChangeAwareHierarchicalEA, integrated with an evolution framework to support both change impact analysis and change propagation within an EA model. The core part of our framework is a technique for computing the impact of a change and a new method for generating interactive repair plans from Alloy consistency rules that constrain the EA model.
Emerging revenue model structure for mobile industry: The case for traditional and OTT service providers in Sub-Sahara

With the emergence of internet-based service providers, known as Over-the-top (OTT), the business landscape has changed massively, hence the current traditional service provider's business models are transforming. The question treated in this paper is: “What are the emerging or revised revenue models that an operator must adopt to deal with OTT service providers in Sub-Saharan Africa? ” Utilization of literature reviews around organization business models, revenue models, and value networks components, a conceptual framework is presented which includes price, payment, offering, services and the market structures as part of the components of the framework. Two rounds of Delphi studies were conducted to evaluate the proposed framework. The conclusion is that network operators can no longer ignore the presence of OTT. There is a change in dominance of the revenue model between the existing and impending revenue models due to OTT presence, with advertisements and revenue-share agreements possibly being the revenue models in future. This is a shift from the current transactions- and subscription-based revenue models used by operators. Furthermore, donations and commissions-based models remain to be the least applied mobile operator revenue models.
Changes in the Use of Postnatal Steroids for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in 3 Large Neonatal Networks

BACKGROUND. Postnatal corticosteroids were widely used in the 1990s in an attempt to reduce the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, high rates of short-term adverse effects and impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes were seen. In early 2002, a joint statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Canadian Paediatric Society called for limitation in the use of postnatal corticosteroids. The impact of this statement is not known. OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this work was to determine the frequency of postnatal corticosteroid use and mortality and morbidities over time, particularly before and after the joint statement. DESIGN/METHODS. We conducted a retrospective analysis of cohort data within 3 large network registries (the National Institute of Child Health and Development Neonatal Research Network [18 centers], the Vermont Oxford Network [444 centers], and the Canadian Neonatal Network [10 centers]) for the following 3 periods: prestatement (2001), statement (2002), and poststatement (2003) of very low birth-weight infants (501–1500 g). The National Institute of Child Health and Development Neonatal Research Network and the Vermont Oxford Network were also analyzed for longer-term trends from 1990 to 2003. Postnatal corticosteroid use, mortality at discharge, and neonatal morbidities (bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks, late-onset infection >72 hours of age, necrotizing enterocolitis treated with surgery, and length of stay) between periods were compared. RESULTS. Mean birth weight (range: 1022–1060 g), postmenstrual age (28 weeks), and gender (51% male) were similar between the networks. Race differed with more black infants in the National Institute of Child Health and Development Neonatal Research Network than the Vermont Oxford Network (38% vs 24%). Antenatal steroid use was similar (range: 61%–75%). Postnatal corticosteroid use rose from 1990 (8%–16%), peaked in 1996–1998 (24%–28%), and began to decline in 1999. Use in 2003 was significantly less than in 2001. Mortality and major morbidities were similar. CONCLUSIONS. Postnatal corticosteroid use had decreased significantly in 3 large neonatal networks before the joint statement with further decreases after the statement with no apparent impact on mortality and short-term morbidity. Despite substantial decreases, ∼8% of very low birth-weight infants continue to be treated with postnatal corticosteroid.
Hemorheology in occupational lead exposure.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this investigation was to study hemorheological parameters in occupationally lead exposed men. MATERIAL AND METHODS For 15 clinically healthy lead-exposed male subjects [age 34.6 (SD 8) years] the viscous (epsilon') and elastic (epsilon") components of whole blood viscosity corrected for 45% hematocrit were measured for shear rates between 1.s-1-100.s-1 at 37 degrees C. Moreover, lead concentrations in blood and urine and the delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase level were determined. Fifteen unexposed age-matched men were used as referents. RESULTS The mean lead concentration in the blood and urine of the lead-exposed men was 48.7 (SD 16.2) micrograms. dl-1 and 38.8 (SD 17.1) micrograms.g creatinine-1, respectively. While epsilon" was significantly increased only at low shear rates, epsilon' was elevated throughout the investigated shear range in comparison with the values of the unexposed referents. These results are characteristic of erythrocytes with enhanced rigidity. The aggregation and filtration index of erythrocytes were significantly elevated for the lead-exposed workers. A positive correlation existed between lead in blood and epsilon' or epsilon", whereas delta -aminolevulinic acid dehydrase and epsilon' or epsilon" were inversely correlated. No differences in plasma viscosity or in lipid status could be detected. CONCLUSION Increased blood lead concentrations can be considered an additional risk factor for vascular diseases predisposing towards microvascular occlusion.
Efficient Virus Extinction by Combinations of a Mutagen and Antiviral Inhibitors

ABSTRACT The effect of combinations of the mutagenic base analog 5-fluorouracil (FU) and the antiviral inhibitors guanidine hydrochloride (G) and heparin (H) on the infectivity of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in cell culture has been investigated. Related FMDV clones differing up to 106-fold in relative fitness in BHK-21 cells have been compared. Systematic extinction of intermediate fitness virus was attained with a combination of FU and G but not with the mutagen or the inhibitor alone. Systematic extinction of high-fitness FMDV required the combination of FU, G, and H. FMDV showing high relative fitness in BHK-21 cells but decreased replicative ability in CHO cells behaved as a low-fitness virus with regard to extinction mutagenesis in CHO cells. This confirms that relative fitness, rather than a specific genomic sequence, determines the FMDV response to enhanced mutagenesis. Mutant spectrum analysis of several genomic regions from a preextinction population showed a statistically significant increase in the number of mutations compared with virus passaged in parallel in the absence of FU and inhibitors. Also, in a preextinction population the types of mutations that can be attributed to the mutagenic action of FU were significantly more frequent than other mutation types. The results suggest that combinations of mutagenic agents and antiviral inhibitors can effectively drive high-fitness virus into extinction.
This item is the archived peer-reviewed author-version of: Modernising agriculture through a 'new' green revolution : the limits of the crop intensification programme in Rwanda

Over the past decade, African agriculture sectors have been the object of numerous initiatives advancing a ‘new’ Green Revolution for the continent. The low productivity of African small-holders is attributed to the low use of modern, improved agricultural inputs. In short, African countries are expected to catch up with the Green Revolution in other parts of the world. This paper is a contribution to the debate on the new African Green Revolution. We analyse the Rwandan Crop Intensification Program (CIP) as a case-study of the application of the African Green Revolution model. The paper is based on research at the macro, meso and micro level. We argue that the CIP fails to draw lessons from previous Green Revolution experiences in terms of its effects on social differentiation, on ecological sustainability, and on knowledge exchange and creation.
Comparing pseudo-absences generation techniques in Boosted Regression Trees models for conservation purposes: A case study on amphibians in a protected area

Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) is one of the modelling techniques most recently applied to biodiversity conservation and it can be implemented with presence-only data through the generation of artificial absences (pseudo-absences). In this paper, three pseudo-absences generation techniques are compared, namely the generation of pseudo-absences within target-group background (TGB), testing both the weighted (WTGB) and unweighted (UTGB) scheme, and the generation at random (RDM), evaluating their performance and applicability in distribution modelling and species conservation. The choice of the target group fell on amphibians, because of their rapid decline worldwide and the frequent lack of guidelines for conservation strategies and regional-scale planning, which instead could be provided through an appropriate implementation of SDMs. Bufo bufo, Salamandrina perspicillata and Triturus carnifex were considered as target species, in order to perform our analysis with species having different ecological and distributional characteristics. The study area is the “Gran Sasso—Monti della Laga” National Park, which hosts 15 Natura 2000 sites and represents one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in Europe. Our results show that the model calibration ameliorates when using the target-group based pseudo-absences compared to the random ones, especially when applying the WTGB. Contrarily, model discrimination did not significantly vary in a consistent way among the three approaches with respect to the tree target species. Both WTGB and RDM clearly isolate the highly contributing variables, supplying many relevant indications for species conservation actions. Moreover, the assessment of pairwise variable interactions and their three-dimensional visualization further increase the amount of useful information for protected areas’ managers. Finally, we suggest the use of RDM as an admissible alternative when it is not possible to individuate a suitable set of species as a representative target-group from which the pseudo-absences can be generated.
Rail Revival in Africa? The Impact of Privatization

I explore the impact of railway privatization in Sub-Saharan Africa using two spatial panel datasets – light density measured by satellites at night and geo-coded Afrobarometer survey responses. The lights data comprises a panel of 0.3x0. 3 decimal degrees grid cells over the period 1992-2010, covering thirty-two countries. I find little evidence of an impact on lights – though the average effect masks considerable heterogeneity across countries. In contrast, I find robust evidence in the survey data that privatization leads to a worsening of perceived living standards and opinions toward government, with no impact on objective measures of poverty or employment. Privatization is a controversial, political process – taken together the results suggest that whilst no objective harm was done, individuals felt worse off. More generally, the results show the great difficulty of successful rail reform in Africa.
Organization of cerebellar and area “y” projections to the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis in macaque monkeys

Axonal projections to the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis (RTP) were studied in 11 macaque monkeys by mapping axonal degeneration from lesions centered in the dentate and interpositus anterior (IA) nuclei and by mapping anterograde transport of tritiated amino acid precursors injected into the dentate nucleus. Projections from the dentate and IA nuclei overlap in central parts of the body of RTP, but the terminal field of dentate axons extends dorsomedial and rostral to the terminal field of IA axons, and IA terminal fields extend more ventrolaterally. A caudal to rostral topography of projections from each nucleus onto dorsal to ventral parts of RTP was seen. Projections from rostral parts of both nuclei terminate in a sublemniscal part of the nucleus. The topography of dentate and IA projections onto central to ventrolateral RTP appears to match somatotopic maps of these cerebellar nuclei with the somatotopic map of projections to RTP from primary motor cortex. Projections from caudal and ventral parts of the dentate nucleus appear to overlap oculomotor inputs to rostral, dorsal, and medial RTP from the frontal and supplementary eye fields, the superior colliculus, and the oculomotor region of the caudal fastigial nucleus. Projections to the paramedian part of RTP from vestibular area “y” were also found in two cases that correlated with projections to vertical oculomotor motoneurons. The maps of dentate and IA projections onto RTP correlate predictably with maps of dentate and IA projections to the ventrolateral thalamus and subnuclei of the red nucleus that were made from these same cases (Stanton [1980b] J. Comp. Neurol. 192:377–385). J. Comp. Neurol. 432:169–183, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Refractive Stabilization and Corneal Swelling After Cataract Surgery

Purpose To determine the earliest time after cataract surgery when corneal swelling and automated refraction are stabilized sufficiently to allow reliable refractive prescription. Methods This was a prospective, nonrandomized, case series study of 124 consecutive eyes undergoing uneventful cataract surgery. Automated refraction and central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were made at baseline before cataract surgery and on follow-up visits 1 day and weekly for 4 weeks afterward. Corneal swelling was determined as the percentage change in CCT after surgery. To determine the validity of automated refraction, it was compared with subjective refraction at the final visit. Results Corneal swelling decreased between the first postsurgical day and the first week and again between postsurgical weeks 1 and 2 (p < 0.01 each). Although thinning continued through the fourth postsurgical week, the changes were not significant. Both spherical and cylindrical refraction were stable 1 week after surgery, with the greatest change between the first postsurgical day and 1 week (p < 0.01). In replicate measurements of automated spherical refraction taken on the last visit, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.93. For automated cylindrical refraction, it was 0.81. Conclusions Automated refraction is highly repeatable and can be used to monitor postsurgical refractive changes. Whereas corneal swelling becomes stable 2 weeks after cataract surgery, automated refraction becomes stable after 1 week and can be used to accurately prescribe corrective lenses at that time.
The Effect of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Physiology and Performance in Trained Cyclists.

PURPOSE To determine the effect of dietary nitrate (NO3-) supplementation on physiology and performance in well-trained cyclists after 6-8 d of NO3- supplementation. METHODS Eight competitive male cyclists (mean ± SD age 26 ± 8 y, body mass 76.7 ± 6.9 kg, VO2peak 63 ± 4 mL · kg-1 · min-1) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover-design study in which participants ingested 70 mL of beetroot juice containing ~4 mmol NO3- (NIT) or a NO3--depleted placebo (PLA), each for 8 d. Replicating pretreatment measures, participants undertook an incremental ramp assessment to determine VO2peak and first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilatory thresholds on d 6 (NIT6 and PLA6), moderate-intensity cycling economy on d 7 (NIT7 and PLA7), and a 4-km time trial (TT) on d 8 (NIT8 and PLA8). RESULTS Relative to PLA, 6 d of NIT supplementation produced unclear effects for VO2peak (mean ± 95% confidence limit: 1.8% ± 5.5%) and VT1 (3.7% ± 12.3%) and trivial effects for both VT2 (-1.0% ± 3.0%) and exercise economy on d 7 (-1.0% ± 1.6%). However, effects for TT performance time (-0.7% ± 0.9%) and power (2.4% ± 2.5%) on d 8 were likely beneficial. CONCLUSIONS Despite mostly unclear outcomes for standard physiological determinants of performance, 8 d of NO3- supplementation resulted in likely beneficial improvements to 4-km TT performance in well-trained male endurance cyclists.
Increased Expression of Interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-13, and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Genes in Intestinal Lymph Cells of Sheep Selected for Enhanced Resistance to Nematodes during Infection with Trichostrongylus colubriformis

ABSTRACT Cytokine gene expression in cells migrating in afferent and efferent intestinal lymph was monitored for extended time periods in individual sheep experimentally infected with the nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Animals from stable selection lines with increased levels of either genetic resistance (R) or susceptibility (S) to nematode infection were used. Genes for interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), but not for IL-4, IL-10, or gamma interferon (IFN-γ), were consistently expressed at higher levels in both afferent and efferent lymph cells of R sheep than in S sheep. However, only minor differences were observed in the surface phenotypes and antigenic and mitogenic responsiveness of cells in intestinal lymph between animals from the two selection lines. The IL-4 and IL-10 genes were expressed at higher levels in afferent lymph cells than in efferent lymph cells throughout the course of the nematode infection in animals of both genotypes, while the proinflammatory TNF-α gene was relatively highly expressed in both lymph types. These relationships notwithstanding, expression of the IL-10 and TNF-α genes declined significantly in afferent lymph cells but not in efferent lymph cells during infection. Collectively, the results showed that R-line sheep developed a strong polarization toward a Th2-type cytokine profile in immune cells migrating in lymph from sites where the immune response to nematodes was initiated, although the IFN-γ gene was also expressed at moderate levels. Genes or alleles that predispose an animal to develop this type of response appear to have segregated with the R selection line and may contribute to the increased resistance of these animals.
Positivity rates of antithyroid antibody, antinuclear antibody and thyroid peroxidase antibody in different types of vitiligo

Vitiligo is associated with various autoimmune disorders, and organ‐specific autoantibodies are frequently found in patients with this disorder. Vitiligo is classically divided into segmental vitiligo (SV) and nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV), and it is believed that the pathogenesis differs between these two types. As the NSV type is related to an autoimmune mechanism, autoantibody detection rates are likely to be higher in the NSV type than in the segmental type; however, no comparative studies have been performed.
Pretectal projections to the oculomotor complex of the monkey and their role in eye movements

The nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) is associated with the generation of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN), whereas the olivary pretectal nucleus (ol), which lies embedded in the primate NOT, is believed to be essential for the pupillary light reflex. In this anatomical study of the pretectum, projections from NOT and ol to structures around the oculomotor nucleus were traced in the monkey, to determine which cell groups they innervated.
Family Firms and the Professional Manager Market

In a family firm, the founding family has an influence over firm policy, corporate strategy, personnel issues, and so on, through ownership and participation in management even after the founder retires. Such family firms are prevalent among publicly traded firms not only in emerging countries, but also in developed countries. However, the prevalence and control mechanisms vary by country. In the US, when a founder steps down, they tend to hire professional managers and sell out their shares; thus, the prevalence of family firms is relatively low. In Western Europe, significant ownership typically remains with the founding family even after the founder retires: their children either hire a manager or run the firm themselves. In emerging markets, both management and ownership tends to remain with the family when the founder retires.Scholars have suggested that varying levels of family ownership and management across countries can be explained by the degree of legal protection for outside investors. However, they cannot explain the situation of Japanese family firms. In Japan, investor protection is relatively strong; however, when a founder steps down, founding family ownership tends to decrease, and yet the management role tends to stay within the founding family. Further, scholars have struggled to explain differences across countries in the performance of family firms relative to non-family firms. In the US, heir-managed family firms perform inferior to non-family firms. In France and Japan, however, heir-managed family firms exhibit superior performance.This paper aims to explain the differences in the prevalent patterns of family ownership, management and performance across countries. Specifically, it examines the role and size of professional manager markets, and suggests that these markets affect the decision of founders in key succession decisions. In testing its hypotheses, the paper presents a comparative data analysis of family firms in Japan, the US and France.
A Cognac-Glass Algorithm for Conditionally Guaranteed Budgets

To analyse the schedulability of conditionally guaranteed budgets (CGBs) in the context of fixed-priority preemptive scheduling (FPPS), we present a so-called cognac-glass algorithm (CGA). CGBs have been conceived in the context of software video processing for consumer terminals to exploit the relative importance of applications. CGBs are similar to normal budgets, but are only conditionally guaranteed. This paper presents the schedulability analysis of CGBs under FPPS, based on both best-case and worst-case analysis techniques. We show that because both techniques are used, it is not straightforward to base the analysis on a critical instant. We therefore have to investigate multiple phasings of budgets during the analysis, for which we present a so-called cognac-glass algorithm. We derive that it suffices to consider only a subset of so-called dominating values for the phasing, which improves the efficiency of our algorithm. Given our analysis, we evaluate the effectiveness of CGBs, and conclude that CGBs are particularly useful for software video processing. Finally, we briefly compare our approach for CGBs with existing analysis techniques for hierarchical FPPS, and illustrate that best-case analysis techniques and a CGA can reduce the inherent pessimism in these existing techniques