Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
World's Largest Macroalgal Blooms Altered Phytoplankton Biomass in Summer in the Yellow Sea: Satellite Observations

Since 2008, the world's largest blooms of the green macroalgae, Ulva prolifera, have occurred every summer in the Yellow Sea, posing the question of whether these macroalgal blooms (MABs) have changed the phytoplankton biomass due to their perturbations of nutrient dynamics. We have attempted to address this question using long-term Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations. A new MODIS monthly time-series of chlorophyll-a concentrations (Chl-a, an index of phytoplankton biomass) was generated after removing the macroalgae-contaminated pixels that were characterized by unexpectedly high values in the daily Chl-a products. Compared with Chl-a during July of 2002-2006 (the pre-MAB period), Chl-a during July of 2008-2012 (the MAB period) exhibited significant increases in the offshore Yellow Sea waters (rich in macroalgae), with mean Chl-a increased by 98% from 0.64 mu g/L to 1.26 mu g/L in the study region. In contrast, no significant Chl-a changes were observed during June between the two periods. After analyzing sea surface temperature, photosynthetically available radiation, and nutrient availability, we speculate that the observed Chl-a changes are due to nutrient competition between macroalgae and phytoplankton: during the MAB period, the fast-growing macroalgae would uptake the increased nutrients from the origin of Jiangsu Shoal; thus, the nutrients available to phytoplankton were reduced, leading to no apparent increases in biomass in the offshore Yellow Sea in June.
A Theoretical Study of β-Amino Acid Conformational Energies and Solvent Effect

The conformations of four β-amino acids in a model peptide environment were investigated using Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) methods in gas phase and with solvation. Initial structures were obtained by varying dihedral angles in increments of 45° in the range 0° - 360°. Stable geometries were optimized at both levels of theory with the correlation consistent double-zeta basis set with polarization functions (cc-pVDZ). The results suggest that solvation generally stabilizes the conformations relative to the gas phase and that intramolecular hydrogen bonding may play an important role in the stability of the conformations. The β3 structures, in which the R-group of the amino acid is located on the carbon atom next to the N-terminus, are somewhat more stable relative to each other than the β2 structures which have the R-group on the carbon next to the carbonyl.
Oseltamivir Dosing in Critically Ill Patients With Severe Influenza

Objective: To evaluate the literature for published reports regarding the efficacy of standard versus higher dosing of oseltamivir in critically ill patients with severe influenza. Data Sources: An English-language literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1966-February 2014) using the terms oseltamivir and influenza limited to humans and adults older than 19 years. Additional articles were identified through a manual search of the references obtained from the MEDLINE search. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Articles were manually screened for inclusion related to pharmacokinetic or clinical studies comparing varying doses of oseltamivir, particularly in the critically ill patient population. Studies investigating the pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir in continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) were also included. Data Synthesis: During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization suggested 150 mg twice daily as a consideration in critically ill patients with severe influenza. The basis for the recommendation can be traced back to animal studies investigating the H5N1 virus. Three different studies in humans investigating higher doses in severe influenza have found no differences in clinical outcomes between standard and higher dosing. Pharmacokinetic studies suggest adequate absorption in critically ill patients. Although no dosage adjustment appears to be needed for ECMO patients, reduction may berequired for CRRT. Conclusions:. Although additional data are needed for a definitive conclusion, the small body of literature available in humans does not support routine use of high-dose oseltamivir in critically ill patients.
Network Strategies and Performance of Canadian Investment Banks

What implications does a firm's specialization have for firm performance achieved by spanning structural holes between its partners? By analyzing networks within the Canadian investment banking industry, I find that, in networks rich in structural holes, both specialists and generalists outperform banks of moderate specialization levels, and that generalist banks, in turn, perform better than specialists.
Psychosocial factors associated with depressive mood in Israeli obese adolescents

This study aimed to compare levels of depressive symptoms between normal-weight and obese Israeli adolescents and to identify sociodemographic factors that may explain differences in depression between these groups. Thirty normal-weight and 49 obese patients aged 12–18 years participated in this study. The obese group had a significantly higher depression score. On linear regression analysis, obesity, lower parental income, and lower self-esteem were significantly associated with a higher depression score. This model explained 32.4 percent of the variance. The results indicate that psychosocial assessment and identification of depressive signs should be considered integral components in the management of adolescent obesity.
Chinese relationship management: a qualitative study of banking in New Zealand

Abstract This study investigates the relational factors and motivations of Chinese migrant consumers towards financial service providers in New Zealand. Using convergent interviews, a deeper understanding is developed of immigrants’ relational behaviour with service providers. These relationships with service providers are significantly influenced by traditional Chinese values and guanxi and relational embeddedness plays an important role in how they are developed. The research contributes a better understanding of the interplay between Eastern and Western cultures in service relationships among immigrant groups. A general theory of the Chinese perspective of customer relationship management is developed. The implications for how marketing practitioners manage their relationships with migrant customers are explored.
New Estimates of Effective Corporate Tax Rates on Business Investment

This bulletin presents estimates of effective corporate tax rates on new capital investment for 83 countries. “Effective” tax rates take into account statutory rates plus tax-base items that affect taxes paid on new investment, such as depreciation deductions, inventory allowances, and interest deductions. Our calculations also account for other taxes that affect investment, such as retail sales taxes on capital purchases and asset-based taxes. We find that the U.S. effective corporate tax rate on new investment was 34.6 percent in 2010, which was the highest rate in the OECD and the fifth-highest rate among 83 countries. The average OECD rate was 18.6 percent, and the average rate for 83 countries was 17.7 percent.
Management of tracheal obstruction caused by benign or malignant thyroid disease using covered retrievable self-expandable nitinol stents

Background: Curative resection is often contraindicated in patients with airway obstruction by aggressive thyroid disease. Purpose: To evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of covered retrievable self-expandable nitinol stents placed in patients with airway obstruction caused by benign or malignant thyroid disease. Material and Methods: From 1996 to 2009, covered retrievable self-expandable nitinol stents were placed in nine symptomatic patients with malignant (n=7) or benign (n=2) thyroid disease. Improvement in patient respiratory status, complications and their management, and survival data were evaluated. Stents were removed if stent-related complications occurred or the stents were no longer necessary. Results: A total of 11 stents were successfully placed without procedure-related complications. Improvement of more than one dyspnea grade was seen in eight of nine patients (89%), while the ninth patient underwent intubation due to upper airway swelling. Stent migration, sputum retention, and tumor overgrowth occurred in 27.3% (n=3), 9.1% (n=1), and 9.1% (n=1) of the stents, respectively. A total of six stents were successfully removed because of stent-related complications (n=4) or after total thyroidectomy (n=2). In two patients with benign thyroid goiters, a stable airway was maintained until total thyroidectomy. Conclusion: Placement of covered retrievable self-expandable nitinol stents was safe and effective in patients with airway obstruction caused by benign or malignant thyroid disease. Stent retrievability was very useful in cases of stent-related complications. In patients with benign thyroid disease, stent placement can serve as an effective bridge to surgery.
The Interaction between Emotion and Executive Control: Comparison between Visual, Auditory, and Tactile Modalities

The reciprocal connections between emotion and attention are vital for adaptive behaviour. Previous results demonstrated that the behavioural effects of emotional stimuli on performance are attenuated when executive control is recruited. The current research studied whether this attenuation is modality dependent. In two experiments, negative and neutral pictures were presented shortly before a visual, tactile, or auditory target in a Simon task. All three modalities demonstrated a Simon effect, a conflict adaptation effect, and an emotional interference effect. However, the interaction between picture valence and Simon congruency was found only in the visual task. Specifically, when the Simon target was visual, emotional interference was reduced during incongruent compared to congruent trials. These findings suggest that although the control-related effects observed in the Simon tasks are not modality dependent, the link between emotion and executive control is modality dependent. Presumably, this link occurs only when the emotional stimulus and the target are presented in the same modality.
Five Principles for Workable Client-Based Projects: Lessons from the Trenches

Despite the wide-ranging benefits of using client-based projects (CBPs) in the classroom, such projects can be overwhelming for instructors, and many shy away from the considerable workload and time commitment often required by CBPs. This article is designed to help marketing educators overcome such apprehensions and provide them with concrete tools to simplify CBPs and make them easier to manage. The authors discuss five principles they have developed for creating and implementing workable client projects. Their principles come directly “from the trenches” of their own experiences in planning and managing client-based projects across multiple courses. They address, for example, ways to customize CBPs to fit within specific course and professor time constraints, tips to manage the client relationship and students’ expectations, and strategies to streamline the feedback process. They offer workbench-level insights and practices drawn from their own experiences that instructors can put into practice immediately.
NanoRouter: A Quantum-dot Cellular Automata Design

We present NanoRouter, a new router architecture implemented as a quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA). A router is a key component in the Internet core. It allows packets to be transferred in the Internet. QCA is a promising nanoscale technology where components have nano size, ultra-low power consumption and could have a clock rate on the terahertz range. In a bottom-up approach, we first describe the building blocks that compose NanoRouter such as crossbar, demux and parallel-to-serial converter and then describe the full architecture. We demonstrate the functionality, test and validate the proposed architecture and provided performance evaluations of NanoRouter. This new router architecture can increase the speed of the Internet core.
Economic and Social Impact of Privatisation of State-owned Enterprises in Africa, The

The case for privatization, whether defined in a broad or narrow sense, has been forcefully made by its advocates against the backdrop of the much advertised poor performances of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and theoretical arguments relating to the efficiency of private firms over public enterprises. Consequently, privatization and commercialization have been key components of the structural adjustment programmes foisted by the Bretton Woods institutions on Third World countries. Yet, the empirical findings on privatization, especially outside Africa where they exist, do not portray the strategy to be a panacea that works in all circumstances in all branches of economic activity. In spite of this, since the late 1980s, privatization has been stepped up in almost all African countries. And after about two decades of vigorous implementation of privatization programmes in Africa, there is a compelling need for a comprehensive and systematic analysis of various privatization issues, particularly the economic and social impact. This book thus establishes a clear case for a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the impact of privatization in Africa. Specifically, the book provides a state-of-the art review of privatization issues and research questions as a prelude to an in-depth study of the economic and social impact of privatization. In the light of the rich insights brought to bear on the issues, this book should stimulate the interest of researchers, donors and policy makers to undertake or support the follow-up in-depth research envisaged.
Solid cancer incidence in atomic bomb survivors: 1958–1998. Radiat

Res 2007; 168:1–64. 20. Ozasa, K, Shimizu, Y. , Suyama, A. , Kasagi, F. , Soda, M, Grant, EJ, et al. Studies of the mortality of atomic bomb survivors, report 14, 1950–2003: An overview of cancer and noncancer diseases. Radiat Res 2012; 177:229–43. 21. Doss M. Linear no-threshold model vs. radiation hormesis. Dose Response 2013; 11:480–97. 22. Hwang SL, Guo HR, Hsieh WA, Hwang JS, Lee SD, Tang JL, et al. Cancer risks in a population with prolonged low dose-rate gammaradiation exposure in radiocontaminated buildings, 1983–2002. Int J Radiat Biol 2006; 82:849–58.
Periodontal Disease in Habitual Cigarette Smokers and Nonsmokers With and Without Prediabetes

Introduction:Prediabetes and habitual cigarette smoking are significant risk factors contributing to periodontal disease. The aim was to assess the clinical and radiological markers of periodontal disease in habitual cigarette smokers and nonsmokers with and without prediabetes. Methods:Sixty-eight individuals with prediabetes (test group; 34 smokers and 34 nonsmokers) and 68 medically healthy individuals (control group; 34 smokers and 34 nonsmokers) were included. Sociodemographic information, duration of smoking habit and number of cigarettes smoked daily were recorded through a questionnaire. Fasting blood glucose levels and periodontal inflammatory conditions (plaque index [PI], bleeding on probing [BOP] and probing pocket depth [PPD] of 4 to <6 mm and ≥6 mm) were recorded. In both groups, marginal bone loss (MBL) was measured on digital panoramic radiographs. Results:Cigarette smokers and nonsmokers in the test group had significantly higher fasting blood glucose level when compared with cigarette smokers in the control group (P < 0.001). In the test group, there was no significant difference in PI, BOP, PPD (4 to <6 mm and ≥6 mm) and MBL among cigarette smokers and nonsmokers. Cigarette smokers in the control group had significantly higher PI (P < 0.001), PPD (4 to <6 mm; P < 0.001), PPD ≥6 mm (P < 0.01) and MBL (P < 0.05) than nonsmokers. BOP was significantly reduced in smokers when compared with nonsmokers in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions:Cigarette smokers without prediabetes exhibit significantly severe periodontal disease than nonsmokers. In subjects with prediabetes, the severity of periodontal disease seems to be over shadowed by the hyperglycemic state, obscuring the effect of habitual smoking.
The Core Domain of HIV-1 Integrase Recognizes Key Features of Its DNA Substrates*

We investigated which features of the substrate specificity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase could be assigned to the central domain of the 288-residue HIV-1 integrase protein, composed of amino acids 50–212. This domain contains the active site and shares structural homology with a large family of polynucleotidyl transferases. Using model substrates with defined alterations in critical features we found that this domain alone is sufficient for recognition of: 1) the phylogenetically conserved CA/TG base pairs near the viral DNA end; 2) the 5′-terminal dinucleotide that is left unpaired after end processing; and 3) target DNA flanking the site of joining. Future efforts aimed at identifying specific amino acids involved in recognition of these key substrate features can now be targeted at this domain.
Realising opportunities in the premium automotive market via context-oriented new product positioning

Abstract The increasing variety of car concepts is a key characteristic of today's passenger car markets. Particularly in the premium segment with higher revenue opportunities, competition intensity is rising continuously. Numerous traditional car concepts, as well as new body styles, explicitly address heterogeneous premium customers' expectations. The build-up of body styles, exterior designs, and engine types result in a loss of traditional basing points for new car categorisation. Therefore, new car positioning is no longer the sheer outcome of technical data. Instead, it turns out to be a key issue of successful product management and a trigger of customers' purchasing decisions. Against this background, we investigated two positioning alternatives – ‘high’ versus ‘premium’ – by means of a large-scale customer base generated from an innovative car clinic set-up. The paper illustrates the effects of alternative positioning strategies and corresponding context effects on the willingness to pay, design perception, and purchase intention. The derived revenue mark-ups prove adequate product positioning as a relevant factor for revenue optimisation.
Pinning down Geodemographics

A broad look at geodemographics is presented. The emergence over the last decade of this method of segmenting consumer markets is outlined and probable developments in the 1990s are considered. The lexicon associated with diffusion theory and with the product life cycle is used to give some structure. Information has been synthesised from desk research.
Information processing in financial markets. Three essays on equity analysts

This thesis covers three broad research questions: The first paper (chapter 2) “The Good, The Bad, and The Lucky: Projected Earnings Accuracy and Profitability of Stock Recommendations” explores cross-sectional differences among analysts regarding the accuracy of their earnings forecasts and the investment value of their stock recommendations. It focuses on the question whether some analysts add more value in the investment decision process than others and how these analysts can be identified. The second paper (chapter 3) “Sell Side Recommendations during Booms and Busts” switches the focus from the cross-section to the time series. It examines the profitability of analyst stock recommendations across the business cycle. In particular, it studies how the information content of stock recommendations as well as the initial investor reaction depend on the business cycle. The third paper (chapter 4) “Do Aggregate Company Outlooks have Macroeconomic Content? ” addresses the question whether aggregated analyst forecasts have predictive power for overall economic developments. The major difference to the previous two chapters is that analyst outputs are studied on an aggregated basis to analyze their macroeconomic content. A new application of analyst recommendations is proposed which mimics a survey among analysts about the overall future development of all companies covered by them.
Threshold-Based Time-of-Arrival Estimators in UWB Dense Multipath Channels

The need for accurate positioning has gained significant interest recently, especially in cluttered environments where signals from satellite navigation systems are not reliable. Positioning systems based on ultrawide bandwidth (UWB) technology have been considered for these environments because UWB signals are able to resolve multipath and penetrate obstacles. These systems usually obtain range measurements from time-of-arrival (TOA) estimation of the first path, which can be a challenge in dense multipath environments. In this paper, we analyze and compare the performance of matched filter (MF) and energy detector (ED) TOA estimators based on thresholding in UWB dense multipath channels. The main advantage of threshold-based estimators is that they have the potential for complete analog implementation and hence they are particularly attractive for applications that require low cost battery-powered devices. Closed-form expressions for the estimator bias and mean square error (MSE) are derived as a function of the signal- to-noise ratio. A comparison with results obtained from Monte Carlo simulation confirms the validity of our analytical approach. This analysis enables us to determine the threshold value that minimizes the MSE, a critical parameter for optimal estimator design. A simple criteria to determine the threshold value is also presented. It is shown that the estimation accuracy is mainly affected by the ambiguity in the selection of the correct peak at the output of the MF or ED, caused by the fading characteristics of the first path. We also evaluate the performance loss of ED estimators with respect to MF estimators. Finally, results based on experimental measurements in an indoor residential environment are presented in order to compare the performance of TOA estimators in realistic environments.
FDI and Growth: The Role of Institutional Quality

This study is aim to investigate the importance of institutions for the growth-enhancing effect of FDI in a panel of 78 countries over 1981-2005 periods. Interaction term between FDI and institutional quality is imposed in the estimation to capture this mediation effect. While using system GMM method, the findings highlight the complementary between FDI and institutional quality where the impact of FDI on growth actually depends on the quality of institution in the host countries.
Wine production as a service experience – the effects of service quality on wine sales

This paper seeks to investigate the conceptualisation and measurement of the service quality construct and its relationship to behavioural intention through an application of the importance‐performance technique within the Australian wine tourism industry. Many winery operators invite customers to their winery and the quality of service during the visit can impact on future wine sales. Research undertaken among a sample of visitors to Australian vineyards showed that service process factors were more closely linked to wine purchase than tangible elements. The study also provides further support for the use of importance‐performance models of service quality, as this measure was found to be significantly related to two dimensions of behavioural intention.
Governance, Change and the Work Environment*

The papers in this issue are based on some of those presented at a symposium on ‘Governance, Change and the Work Environment’, held at Cardiff University on 30 June to 02 July 2014. The symposium drew in a number of scholars from a range of countries (Australia, Britain, Canada, China and the Philippines) and disciplines (industrial relations, law, sociology and management studies). The symposium, and the wider project of which it formed part, had a number of aims.