Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Data Categorization Using Decision Trellises

We introduce a probabilistic graphical model for supervised learning on databases with categorical attributes. The proposed belief network contains hidden variables that play a role similar to nodes in decision trees and each of their states either corresponds to a class label or to a single attribute test. As a major difference with respect to decision trees, the selection of the attribute to be tested is probabilistic. Thus, the model can be used to assess the probability that a tuple belongs to some class, given the predictive attributes. Unfolding the network along the hidden states dimension yields a trellis structure having a signal flow similar to second order connectionist networks. The network encodes context specific probabilistic independencies to reduce parametric complexity. We present a custom tailored inference algorithm and derive a learning procedure based on the expectation-maximization algorithm. We propose decision trellises as an alternative to decision trees in the context of tuple categorization in databases, which is an important step for building data mining systems. Preliminary experiments on standard machine learning databases are reported, comparing the classification accuracy of decision trellises and decision trees induced by C4.5. In particular, we show that the proposed model can offer significant advantages for sparse databases in which many predictive attributes are missing.
Mood Changes Associated with Iyengar Yoga Practices: A Pilot Study

The main objectives of this study were 1) to examine changes in self-reported moods and emotional states from before to after Iyengar Yoga classes and how they are affected by the practice of different types of Yoga poses and (2) to determine whether observed changes in mood depend on one's personality traits. The participants were 11 healthy Yoga students in a nine-session Yoga course in which three different types of Yoga poses were compared: back bends, forward bends, and standing poses. Each 90-minute class focused on one of the three types of poses with three repetitions of each type of class. Self-ratings of 15 moods dealing with positive, negative, and energy-related emotional states were obtained before and after each class. Personality traits of depression, anxiety, and hostility were assessed at an initial orientation. Independently of the specific pose, positive moods increased, negative moods decreased, and energy-related moods increased from before to after classes with most changes lasting f.
ISO 9000 as a Tool for TQM: A Spanish Case Study

Using case study methodology, the authors asked quality managers about their company's experience with ISO 9000:1994 and total quality management (TQM) implementation. The results show that initially the standard could help some companies reorganize their procedures and define responsibilities and duties. However, managers' perspectives on its possible effect on company performance are not positive. Only product quality improves after implementation. On the contrary, TQM has improved many aspects of performance, the most influential aspects being those “soft” dimensions of leadership and human resource management. These aspects were not included in ISO 9000:1994. After analyzing ISO 9000 as a first step toward the TQM implementation, as much of the literature advises, the authors' findings suggest that managers consider it to be a disturbing element when implemented jointly with TQM. Their study points out that, in practice, there are two parallel quality systems in a company. To get better results, it is important to adapt ISO requirements to facilitate TQM implementation: otherwise, the only advantage of the registration is the “permission” to sell in the market.
The marketing practices-performance relationship in professional service firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate marketing practices in professional service firms (PSFs). PSFs' marketing practices are not well understood, despite their increasing importance to economies worldwide and recognition of their unique characteristics and the marketing challenges they face. The study also examined whether PSF performance outcomes is better modeled through a competency approach suggested by the resource‐based view, or through the extent of use (practices) approach.Design/methodology/approach – Empirical data were collected from professional service providers through an online survey of senior professional service providers across a range of services, including law, engineering, accounting and finance and management consultancy.Findings – Results show interaction marketing was the most common PSF practice and the combination of extent of use and competency, rather than extent of use alone, is a better predictor of firm performance. The results also demonstrate the relevanc.
EFFECTS OF BIOSTIMULATORS AND BIO-FERTILIZERS ON MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM L.)

To investigate the effects of bio-stimulators and bio-fertilizers on morphological traits of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), a factorial experiment was conducted on the basis of randomized complete blocks design in three replicates at Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR. Bio-stimulators in four levels (control or no bio-stimulators and commercial formulations of aminolforte, kadostim and fosnutren at concentration of 1.5 L.ha-1) and bio-fertilizers in four levels (control or no bio-fertilizes and commercial formulations of nitroxin, supernitro-plus and barvar II at concentration of 0.5 L.ha-1) were the two studied factors. The results showed that the interaction effect of bio-stimulators and biofertilizers was significant (P<0.01) on all of parameters except for chlorophyll content (SPAD value). The maximum plant height (87 cm) in treatment of kadostim and nitroxin, secondary stem number (25.33) in treatment of kadostim and supernitro-plus, leaves number (206.33) and total dry weight (35.52 g) in treatment of aminolforte and nitroxin, stem diameter (7.16 mm) in treatment of fosnutren and nitroxin, and also flower dry weight (18.83 g) in treatment of fosnutren and bio-phosphur were obtained. In general, bio-stimulators and bio-fertilizers significantly increased the growth parameters of basil.
The Effects of a Neoprene Knee Sleeve on Subjects With a Poor Versus Good Joint Position Sense Subjected to an Isokinetic Fatigue Protocol

Objectives:It has been shown that muscle fatigue has a negative influence on proprioception. Several studies already have demonstrated improvement of proprioception by using knee sleeves. Hypothesis:Neoprene knee sleeves have different effects on the joint position sense in locally fatigued subjects with good or poor proprioceptive acuity. Design:A true experimental design with random assignment to intervention and control limbs. Setting:Military hospital, department of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Participants:Sixty-four healthy subjects. Interventions:All subjects underwent four consecutive assessments of the same active joint-repositioning test under different conditions (braced, nonbraced, fatigued, and nonfatigued). Main Outcome Measurements:A three-way analysis of variance with repeated-measures design was conducted to investigate the effects of side (braced versus control side), assessment sequence (one to four), and proprioceptive acuity (“good” versus “poor”), and their interactive effect on the joint position sense. Results:Post hoc analysis revealed that only subjects with “poor” proprioceptive acuity benefit from the braced condition before the isokinetic fatigue protocol (P < 0.001). In contrast, all subjects benefit from the braced condition after the fatigue test. Conclusions:Bracing is helpful in individuals with a poor baseline proprioceptive acuity in both fatigued and nonfatigued states. Subjects with a good joint position sense benefit from bracing only when in a fatigued state. The present findings suggest a rationale for using neoprene knee sleeves as a preventative measure or treatment in subjects and patients to enhance proprioceptive acuity in a fatigued state. Classification into “poor” and “good” proprioceptive acuity is only relevant in the nonfatigued condition.
Detecting Regime Switching : Analytic Power

This paper is concerned with the power of tests for regime switching. Asymptotic results are currently available only for the null distribution, and this distribution is dependent on the underlying parameter space. This paper addresses the lack of asymptotic results. The asymptotic behavior of the test statistic is determined under a full range of drifting sequences of true distributions. The results are based on a construction of the test statistic in terms of Hermite polynomials. The number of terms in the polynomial construction depends on the size of the parameter space. Using this relation, a collection of power curves, indexed by the sample space, is obtained. The nite sample properties of the test statistic are analyzed via Monte Carlo simulation. JEL Classi cation: C12
HtrA Stress Protein Is Involved in Intramacrophagic Replication of Adherent and Invasive Escherichia coli Strain LF82 Isolated from a Patient with Crohn's Disease

ABSTRACT Adherent and invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) bacteria isolated from Crohn's disease patients are able to greatly replicate within macrophages without escaping from the phagosome and without inducing macrophage death. In the present study, evidence is provided that in AIEC strain LF82 the htrA gene encoding the stress protein HtrA is essential for intracellular replication within J774-A1 macrophages. Deletion of the htrA gene in strain LF82 induced increased sensitivity of the isogenic mutant to oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide and a reduced rate of growth in an acid and nutrient-poor medium partly reproducing the microenvironment of the phagosome. In vitro experiments using an LF82 htrA gene promoter fusion with the lacZ gene revealed a 38-fold activation of the promoter in AIEC LF82 intramacrophagic bacteria. The CpxRA two-component signaling pathway was not involved in this activation. In addition, the activation of the LF82 htrA gene promoter was not observed in the nonpathogenic E. coli K-12 intramacrophagic bacteria, indicating that the AIEC LF82 genetic background is crucial for induction of htrA gene transcription during phagocytosis.
The relationship between working capital management and profitability of listed companies in the Nairobi Stock Exchange

A well designed and implemented working capital management is expected to contribute positively to the creation of shareholders’ wealth The purpose of this study was to determine the empirical relationship between working capital management and firm's profitability The study used secondary data obtained from annual reports and financial statements of companies listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). A sample of 24 companies listed on the (NSE) for a period of six (6) years from 2001 2006, were studied to determine the effect of different variables of working capital management including average collection period, Inventory turnover in days average payment period and cash conversion cycle on the gross operating profitability Current ratio, size of the firm (measured in terms of natural logarithm of sales), fixed financial assets to total assets ratio and debt ratio were used as control variables Pearson's correlation and regression analysis (pooled least squares) were used for analysis The results show that there is a statistical significant negative relationship between variables of working capital management and the profitability of firms except for the average payment period which showed a positive relationship This means that managers can create profits for their companies by handling correctly the cash conversion cycle and keeping each different component of working capital management (accounts receivables accounts payables and inventory) at an optimal level
Corporate Culture and M&A Results in Banking

We study the effect of corporate culture on the outcomes of large merger and acquisition (M&A) deals. Using a measure of cultural orientation developed in Organization Behavior, we quantify corporate culture by assessing corporate documents using a text analysis approach. We use this quantification to examine the impact of culture on merger performance, controlling for a large number of acquirer-specific and target-specific attributes. We find that culture significantly affects merger outcomes.
Facilitating pyramid to horizontal oriens‐alveus interneurone inputs: dual intracellular recordings in slices of rat hippocampus

1 In adult rat hippocampal slices, simultaneous intracellular recordings from pyramidal cells in CA1 and interneurones near the stratum oriens‐alveus border revealed excitatory connections that displayed facilitation on repetitive activation in twelve of thirty‐six pairs tested. 2 Postsynaptic interneurones were classified as horizontal oriens‐alveus interneurones by the pronounced ‘sag’ in response to hyperpolarizing current injection, high levels of spontaneous synaptic activity and by the morphology of their somata and dendrites, which were confined to stratum oriens‐alveus and their axons which projected to stratum lacunosum‐moleculare where they ramified extensively, in the region of entorhinal cortex input to CA1. 3 Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) elicited by single pyramidal cells were 0 to 12 mV in amplitude. Mean EPSP amplitude (single spikes) was 0.93 ± 1.06 mV at −70 ± 2.3 mV (n= 10). The rise time was 1.2 ± 0.5 ms and the width at half‐amplitude was 7.5 ± 4.7 ms. 4 EPSPs fluctuated greatly in amplitude; the mean coefficient of variation was 0.84 ± 0.37 for the first EPSP and 0.47 ± 0.24 for the second. Apparent failures of transmission frequently occurred after first presynaptic spikes but less frequently after the second or subsequent spikes in brief trains. 5 EPSPs displayed facilitation at membrane potentials between −80 mV and spike threshold. Second EPSPs within 20 ms of the first were 253 ± 48% (range, 152–324%) of the mean first EPSP amplitude. Third EPSPs within 60 ms were 266 ± 70 % (range, 169–389%) and fourth EPSPs within 60–120 ms were 288 ± 71% (range, 188–393%). Both proportions of apparent failures of transmission and coefficient of variation analysis indicated a presynaptic locus for this facilitation.
EVALUATION OF XYLAZINE HYDROCHLORIDE AS THE SOLE IMMOBILIZING AGENT IN MOOSE AND CARIBOU—AND ITS SUBSEQUENT REVERSAL WITH IDAZOXAN

Xylazine hydrochloride was used as the sole immobilizing agent in moose and caribou. The animals were free-ranging and immobilization was accomplished from a helicopter using powered darts. Following a period of immobilization during which radiotelemetry collars were fitted, the animals were revived using idazoxan (RX 781094) or its methoxy analogue RX 821002. Xylazine was administered at dose rates of approximately 3.0 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg to the moose and caribou, respectively. Moose received 430 ± 27 mg of xylazine and a mean dose of 10 mg idazoxan (RX 781094). Caribou received 485 ± 30 mg xylazine and a mean dose of 4 mg idazoxan (RX 821002). This technique gave adequate immobilization with rapid recovery of consciousness in both species.
Perceptions of service quality by clients and contact-personnel in the South African retail banking sector

A superior level of service quality is an important objective for South African retail banks. This paper investigates the levels of perceived service quality among 550 clients and 559 branch contactpersonnel in retail banks in central South Africa. The perceptions are compared, and the findings reveal that clients regard the levels of service they receive to be better than what the contact-personnel perceive them to be experiencing. The physical branch environment was also shown to be an important dimension of perceived service quality among retail clients. A cluster analysis identified three market segments to use when adopting marketing strategies, and the demographic factors of age, race and geographical location were found to be important considerations when developing these marketing strategies. An explicit micro-market marketing approach that is flexible and tailor-made to the characteristics of the location of the branch is a recommendation of the paper. Key words: service quality, central South Africa, retail banks
Global branding, country of origin and expertise: An experimental evaluation

Purpose – The globalisation of markets combined with the paradoxical rise of nationalism has created an increased concern about the importance of the interaction of global brands with other cues such as the country of origin (COO) of products and services. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the decision‐making processes of experts and novices with respect to international brand names, COO and intrinsic quality differences. Design/methodology/approach – Within subject experimental design, quantitative study analysis of variance. Findings – Results of a series of experiments with personal computers as a product with strong COO effects supported this argument. Experts or highly knowledgeable consumers were found to use COO in a circumspect manner or as a limited summary construct, only when such information was consistent with a linked brand name or a particular level of physical quality. Novices, for both products used COO as a halo regardless of brand name and physical quality. Research limitations/implications – International brand names are used in a more analytical manner by experts, with respect to quality, whilst novices based their decision‐making on extrinsic cues. This was a controlled experimental design and results could be evaluated further by more realistic design using actual products in a more market setting. Although the use of product description as used as experimental treatments in this study is not an unusual manner in which personal computers are purchased by consumers, especially when they are purchased online. Practical implications – International marketers must carefully consider the quality, brand and COO information carefully when marketing to consumers of varying product knowledge as it appears different decision‐making styles are used by experts and novices. Originality/value – This is one of the few studies to experimentally manipulate brand, quality and COO information amongst different groups of consumers with varying product knowledge (experts and novices). The experimental treatments were also carefully chosen so that differences due to the use of a global brand IBM could be evaluated against a lesser known local brand name.
Short‐term rates of parasite evolution predict the evolution of host diversity

Coevolution with parasites has been implicated as an important factor driving the evolution of host diversity. Studies to date have focussed on gross effects of parasites: how host diversity differs in the presence vs. absence of parasites. But parasite‐imposed selection is likely to show rapid variation through time. It is unclear whether short‐term fluctuations in the strength of parasite‐imposed selection tend to affect host diversity, because increases in host diversity are likely to be constrained by both the supply of genetic variation and ecological processes. We followed replicate populations of coevolving, initially isogenic, bacteria and phages through time, measuring host diversity (with respect to bacterial colony morphologies), host density and rates of parasite evolution. Both host density and time‐lagged rates of parasite evolution were good independent predictors of the magnitude of bacterial within‐ and between‐population diversities. Rapid parasite evolution and low host density decreased host within‐population diversity, but increased between‐population diversity. This study demonstrates that short‐term changes in the rate of parasite evolution can predictably drive patterns of host diversity.
Two additional polymorphisms within the hypervariable MUC1 gene: association of alleles either side of the VNTR region

The gene MUC1 codes for a mucin‐type glycoprotein and like most of the other mucin genes shows variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism within the coding region. A polymorphism due to a G/A substitution in exon 2, responsible for a genetically determined variation in splicing of the MUC1 transcript, has also been reported (Ligtenberg et al. 1990, 1991). Here we describe the detection of this nucleotide substitution polymorphism by single stranded conformational analysis of genomic DNA and we also report a CA repeat polymorphism within intron 6 of the gene. Haplotypes were determined in a series of families and the common alleles of these two polymorphisms were found to be associated. These results support the notion that the VNTR polymorphism in the coding sequence of MUC1 is not caused by unequal reciprocal recombination at meiosis.
SHARED MANAGEMENT INFORMATION IN BUYER/SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS: ITS USEFULNESS AND ITS INFLUENCE ON CONTINUITY EXPECTATIONS

This paper is focused on the effect that the exchange of management information has on client and/or supplier relationships. Moreover, this study extends the concept of the usefulness of management control information to inter-organizational relationships, analysing how the scope of such information affects continuity expectations, and how these in turn influence opportunistic behaviour and the mutual adaptation of production systems. The data was gathered from 104 purchasing and 90 sales managers of equipment manufacturers on the nature of their respective relationships with their suppliers/ clients. The results confirm that the use of broad-scope management control information sharing in buyer-supplier relationships increases continuity expectations and reduces opportunistic behaviour.
An analysis of the factors affecting the food places where consumers purchase red meat

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the socio‐economic factors affecting meat sales outlets, as preferred by the consumers of the city of Tokat, Turkey. This paper underlines the social and economic factors leading to healthy meat outlet preferences and focuses the attention of producers, policy makers, sellers and consumers on the issue, which will lead to the creation of a healthier and more aware society.Design/methodology/approach – Within the research, the sample size, preferred as 263, will deviate at a maximum of 6 percent from the main population at 95 percent importance level. The inquiries are proportionally dispersed between the quarters, considering the population, in accordance with the records of 2006. Surveys were carried out by way of direct interviews by the researchers. In the survey, particular attention was paid to ensure that the interviewee was the decision maker in regards to the purchasing of foods. Meat outlets (market places, butchers and hypermarkets) were chosen.