Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On packing spanning arborescences with matroid constraint

Let D=(V+s,A) be a digraph with a designated root vertex s . Edmonds’ seminal result (see J. Edmonds [4]) implies that D has a packing of k spanning s ‐arborescences if and only if D has a packing of k(s,t) ‐paths for all t∈V , where a packing means arc‐disjoint subgraphs. Let M be a matroid on the set of arcs leaving s . A packing of (s,t) ‐paths is called M ‐based if their arcs leaving s form a base of M while a packing of s ‐arborescences is called M ‐based if, for all t∈V , the packing of (s,t) ‐paths provided by the arborescences is M ‐based. Durand de Gevigney, Nguyen, and Szigeti proved in [3] that D has an M ‐based packing of s ‐arborescences if and only if D has an M ‐based packing of (s,t) ‐paths for all t∈V . Bérczi and Frank conjectured that this statement can be strengthened in the sense of Edmonds’ theorem such that each s ‐arborescence is required to be spanning. Specifically, they conjectured that D has an M ‐based packing of spanning s ‐arborescences if and only if D has an M ‐based packing of (s,t) ‐paths for all t∈V . In this paper we disprove this conjecture in its general form and we prove that the corresponding decision problem is NP‐complete. We also prove that the conjecture holds for several fundamental classes of matroids, such as graphic matroids and transversal matroids. For all the results presented in this paper, the undirected counterpart also holds.
Use of Electronic Information Resources: A Case Study of Thapar University

This paper is an attempt to study the issues like use of electronic information resources, its impact on the collection of print and electronic journals its awareness among the users, and the places where the users are accessing these resources. A survey was conducted in the academic year 2006-07 at the Thapar University, Patiala. A total number of 504 users from the undergraduate, postgraduate, research scholar and faculty members were selected and their response was obtained with the help of questionnaire. The findings show that users from all these categories were using e-resources; the awareness about e-resources encourages users to use such resources to the maximum; and the users are using computer centre and hostels more for accessing the information. The impact of e-resources was visible from the decrease in number of printed journals in comparison to the increase in number of electronic journals. The use of e-journals has increased manifold. The printed material is being quickly replaced by the electronic resources. http://dx.doi. org/10.14429/djlit.29. 243
Time Dependence in Banking Crises: A Discrete-Time Duration Approach

This paper investigates whether the probability of a banking crisis depends on the time that has elapsed since the last banking crisis. More than two centuries of banking crises are considered, and a discrete-time duration model that is based on a cubic spline methodology is implemented. The results allow to identify when the exposure to a banking crisis is particularly high, which is a major concern for policy makers. The probability of having a new banking crisis noticeably increases over the first decade following a banking crisis. Furthermore, (as expected) the exposure to banking crises is also particularly high following a long period of time without any banking crisis because no country has ever avoided having a banking crisis in the long run. However, between the two extremes, the exposure to a banking crisis decreases, which suggests that countries benefit from a period of increasing stability.
Effect of taurine and bile acid supplementation and their interaction on performance, serum components, ileal viscosity and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens

A 3 × 3 factorial experiment (4 pens/treatment, 10 birds/pen) was conducted with 3 levels of supplemental taurine (Tau) (0.0, 0.25 and 0.50%) and 3 levels of dissected bile acid (DBA): 0.0, 0.25 and 0.50% of the diet were arranged in a completely randomized design. Isocaloric and isonitrogenous starter and grower diets were fed ad libitum to chickens from 7 - 21 and 22 - 42 d, respectively. The measured parameters were body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), fat digestibility, serum cholesterol (Chol), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (HDL). The supplementation of Tau had no effect on FI, BWG and FCR for all periods. Moreover, BWG and FCR were a function of the DBA level in the diet for the finisher and the cumulative periods; birds which received the highest level of DBA (0.50%) had the highest BWG and the best FCR as compared to 0.0 and 0.25%. Fat digestibility was significantly improved by Tau and DBA supplementation. DBA and Tau supplementation had increased serum components at 21 and 42 d of age. The supplementation of Tau or DBA in the diets did not affect carcass parameters at 42 d of age. However, a linear reduction on the small intestinal weight was observed as a result of DBA supplementation. Supplementation of the diets with Tau significantly increased bursa weights. The results of this study indicated that Tau had limited impact on performance, while the supplementation of DBA at 0.50% had the best improvements in performance and blood characteristics and this could be explained in part by its positive effect on fat digestibility. Keywords: Broilers, blood parameters, desiccated bile acid, performance, taurine
Supply chain management practices and firms' operational performance An empirical study of Vietnam garment industry

Purpose: This study aims at providing an empirical evidence about the relationship between practices of supply chain management (SCM) and operational performance. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a comprehensive literature review and the practical experience in the field of the Vietnam garment industry, a set of management practices have been identified and selected to develop a conceptual model as well as to establish their relationship to companies’ operational performance. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to evaluate the validity of the model. The measurement instrument of practices was developed in 4 steps: (1) identification and development of initial instrument, (2) personal interviews and Q-sort, (3) large-scale data collection and (4) large-scale analysis in order to ensure unidimensionality, reliability and validity. Data were collected in Vietnamese garment enterprises. Findings: The study showed that the four practices: customer focus, supplier management, process control and improvement, top management support are positively related to operational performance. In addition, this study also showed that these SCM practices could explain 52.6% variance of operational performance.
Brand Trust dalam Konteks Loyalitas Merek: Peran Karakteristik Merek, Krakteristik Perusahaan, dan Karakteristik Hubungan Pelanggan-Merek

Brand loyalty or customer loyalty is an important concept for many company, it can brings many benefits for the company, such as repeat purchase and recommendation of the brands to others, and then can reduce marketing costs. The existing literature of brand loyalty has been focused on the roles of customer satisfaction guiding their subsequent actions. In this context, the shifting emphasis to relational marketing has devoted a lot of effort to analyze how other constructs such as brand trust predict future intentions. Trust in a brand is important and is a main factor in the development of brand loyalty. Factors that can influence trust in a brand include a number of brand characteristics, company characteristics, and consumer-brand characteristics. Marketers should, therefore, take consideration of brand factors in the development of trust in a brand. The focus of this paper is to discuss factors affecting the development of trust in a brands, and to represent how that trust affect to brand loyalty.
Prevalence of vaginal candidiasis in diabetic women of Madhya Pradesh, India

A B S T R A C T In a healthy women, vaginal ecosystem acts to provide a barrier to both new colonization by pathogenic organisms and overgrowth of organisms that are otherwise commensals. Diabetes is a proven predisposing factor for the imbalance in vaginal microbiota resulting vulvovaginal candidiasis. The present study was undertaken to find out prevalence of vaginal candidiasis in diabetic women. For the study, 119 diabetic women were recruited and categorized with symptomatic and asymptomatic group of vaginal infections. Vaginal swab samples were collected and processed in laboratory. The patients were asked to fill the questionnaires related to personal introduction, history of diabetes, duration of diabetes, blood sugar level, socioeconomic status, education, etc. For the isolation of Candida species, the swabs were streaked on Sabouard Dextrose agar plates containing chloramphenicol and incubated at 27 0 C for 48 h. After incubation the plates were observed and pure cultures of yeast were obtained and characterized for species level. Proteinase and haemolysin activity of Candida species were also determined. Total 57 (47.5%) yeast were isolated from 119 diabetic women. Out of 57 yeast culture total four candida species were identified viz. 12 (21.1%) Candida albicans, 15 (26.3%) Candida glabrata, 24 (42.1%) Candida krusei and 6 (10.5%) Candida tropicalis. In symptomatic group of patients Candida albicans was predominant as 10 (17.5%) followed by Candida glabrata 8 (14%), while in asymptomatic group of patients Candida krusei 19 (33.3%) was predominant. C.albicans has shown the maximum extent of proteinase activity range from 0.096-0.325 with average 0.179±0.05, haemolysin activity range from 0.256-0.568 with an average value of 0.352±0.08 among the other species. K e y w o r d s Vaginal candidiasis, SDA, C.albicans, C.glabrata, C.krusei, C.topicalis, diabetes
A Study on the Effect of Company Investment Announcements on Stock Market Prices in India

Company investment announcements can be expected to affect the long-term performance of its stock prices. If the stock markets are efficient (Fama; 1970), investors expect the market to react quickly to the announcement, adjusting the market capitalization of the firm by the change in the expected present value of the announcement. Many previous studies conducted in US and UK stock markets have given rise to contradictory views on this issue, leading one to a conclusion that different markets behave differently with respect to company investment announcements. It is a commonly known fact that the effect of an announcement is not abrupt and is spread over a couple of days and in some cases over weeks, and that this in turn can be attributed to the efficiency of the market. This study finds that the company's investment announcement decisions do have an effect on its stock price, and also that the nature of the announcement is a major factor in determining the effect on returns that would result.
Knowledge Management Processes and International Joint Ventures

The management and processing of organizational knowledge are increasingly being viewed as critical to organizational success. By exploring how firms access and exploit alliance-based knowledge, the authors provide evidence to support the argument that the firm is a dynamic system of processes involving different types of knowledge. Using data from a longitudinal study of North American-based joint ventures (JVs) between North American and Japanese firms, they address three related research questions: (1) what processes do JV partners use to gain access to alliance knowledge; (2) what types of knowledge are associated with the different processes and how should that knowledge be classified; and (3) what is the relationship between organizational levels, knowledge types, and the transfer of knowledge? Although many generalizations have been drawn about the merits of knowledge-based resources and the creation of knowledge, few efforts have been made to establish systematically how firms acquire and manage new knowledge. Moreover, prior alliance research has not addressed in detail the nature of alliance knowledge and how knowledge is managed in the alliance context. The authors examine the processes used by alliance partners to transfer knowledge from an alliance context to a partner context. They identify four key processes-technology sharing, alliance-parent interaction, personnel transfers, and strategic integration-that share a conceptual underpinning and represent a knowledge connection between parent and alliance. Each of the four processes is shown to provide an avenue for managers to gain exposure to knowledge and ideas outside their traditional organizational boundaries and to create a connection for individual managers to communicate their alliance experiences to others. Although all of the knowledge management processes are potentially effective, the different processes involve different types of knowledge and different organizational levels. The primary types of knowledge associated with each process are identified and then linked with the organizational level affected by the transfer process. From those linkages, several propositions about organizational knowledge transfer and management are developed. The results suggest that although a variety of knowledge management strategies can be viable, some strategies lead to more effective knowledge transfer than others.
Sensitivity enhanced noncontact vital signal sensor using oscillation frequency deviation

In this paper, a 2.4 GHz wireless vital signal sensor is proposed to detect heartbeat and respiration signals. The oscillator circuit incorporates with the planar resonator, which functions as a parallel feedback element as well as a near-field radiator. The periodic movement of a body by respiration exercise could cause the input impedance variation of the radiator within near-field range. This variation results in corresponding deviation in the oscillation frequency and it has been utilized for sensing of vital signals. In addition, a SAW filter and power detector have been used to transform the frequency variation into voltage waveform. Also, the relation of the frequency deviation of oscillator and the Q value of resonator is analyzed to increase the system sensitivity. As a result, the experimental results show that the proposed sensor placed 10 mm away from a human body can detect the vital signals very accurately.
Hypoxia and interleukin-1beta stimulate vascular endothelial growth factor production in human proximal tubular cells.

BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis and inflammatory reactions. VEGF mRNA is detectable in the proximal tubules of inflamed kidneys but not in normals. In other organs VEGF gene expression is induced by hypoxia and cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1). To identify the cellular mechanisms in control of tubular VEGF production, we studied effects of hypoxia and IL-1beta in VEGF mRNA levels, VEGF secretion, and activity of the hypoxia-inducible dimeric transcription factor 1 (HIF-1alpha/beta) in human proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) in primary culture. METHODS PTECs were grown in monolayers from human kidneys. Hypoxia was induced by incubation at 3% O2. VEGF mRNA was quantitated by competitive polymerase chain reaction following reverse transcription. VEGF was measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. HIF-1alpha was demonstrated by Western blot analysis and HIF-1 DNA binding by gel shift assay. RESULTS Significant amounts of VEGF mRNA and VEGF protein were measured in PTEC extracts and culture media, respectively. Stimulation of VEGF synthesis at low O2 tension and following IL-1beta treatment was detectable at the protein level only. Nuclear HIF-1alpha protein levels and HIF-1 binding to DNA were also increased under these conditions. CONCLUSIONS PTECs in culture produce VEGF. One mechanism of induction appears to be increased DNA binding of HIF-1 to hypoxia-responsive elements in the VEGF gene promoter. In inflammatory diseases of the kidney, tubular cell-derived VEGF may contribute to microvascular leakage and monocyte extravasation.
Supporting self-management of obesity using a novel game architecture

Obesity has commonly been addressed using a ‘one size fits all’ approach centred on a combination of diet and exercise. This has not succeeded in halting the obesity epidemic, as two-thirds of American adults are now obese or overweight. Practitioners are increasingly highlighting that one’s weight is shaped by myriad factors, suggesting that interventions should be tailored to the specific needs of individuals. Health games have potential to provide such tailored approach. However, they currently tend to focus on communicating and/or reinforcing knowledge, in order to suscitate learning in the participants. We argue that it would be equally, if not more valuable, that games learn from participants using recommender systems. This would allow treatments to be comprehensive, as games can deduce from the participants’ behaviour which factors seem to be most relevant to his or her weight and focus on them. We introduce a novel game architecture and discuss its implications on facilitating the self-management of obesity.
Reassessment of Contagion and Competitive Intra-industry Effects of Bankruptcy Announcements

We investigate the effects of bankruptcy on equity value of the bankrupt firm 's competitors and find that these effects are unclear. Using a sample of bankruptcies with debt over $120 million, Lang and Stulz (1992) find competitive and contagion effects on other firms in the same industry. We replicate their stratification of industry portfolios by concentration and leverage but use a sample of bankruptcy filings from a single legal regime. Our tests do not support their conclusions. Furthermore, use of a debt screen on bankruptcies appears to confound the conclusions, because test significance depends on the debt screen applied.
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G Promoter Polymorphism and Levels in Subjects with Cerebrovascular Disease

Summary The exact role of the fibrinolytic system in the pathogenesis of stroke remains to be established. Elevated circulating levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, the principle inactivator of the fibrinolytic system, have been related to the development of myocardial infarction. There is evidence that a polymorphism in the promoter region of the PAI-1 gene is associated with circulating PAI-1 levels. We studied a common single nucleotide insertion/deletion (4G/5G) polymorphism by PCR in 558 patients with stroke, the pathological type of which was established by cranial computed tomography, and in 172 controls. 4G/5G genotype and PAI-1 activity were investigated in relation to 1) stroke type and 2) mortality occurring within four weeks, three months and six months of the stroke. No difference in genotype frequency was observed when all cases of stroke were compared with controls nor between the clinically determined subtypes of cerebral infarction. PAI-1 activity was significantly higher in patients with stroke (n = 245) both at presentation (11.6 U/ml) and after three months (11.8 U/ml), in paired samples, than in control subjects (8.8 U/ml, p <0.0001). Thirty-seven (6.2%), 86 (14.5%) and 122 (20.5%) patients had died within one, three and six months of admission, respectively. PAI-1 activity was independently associated with all-cause mortality at one and three months after stroke (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03 respectively), but not after six months. In this population the 4G/5G promoter polymorphism is not associated with an increased risk of stroke. PAI-1 levels were elevated at the time of acute stroke which persisted after three months. PAI-1 level but not genotype was associated with early mortality following stroke.
Assessment on low complexity C/No estimators based on M-PSK signal model for GNSS receivers

In a GNSS receiver the measure of the carrier to noise power density ratio (CNo) is not only a measure of the strength of the received signal, but is also used to determine the lock condition of the carrier and tracking loops and to control the channel scheduling. This paper investigates the possibility of implementing various low complexity C/No estimators, properly adapted from the digital communications world in a real GPS/Galileo receiver. After a theoretical analysis, the paper presents the performance evaluation carried out on different C/No estimation techniques, through both simulated and real GPS signals. We used a real-time GPS/Galileo software receiver, that guaranteed a high level of flexibility and helped to analyze and compare the C/No estimators under test.
An Empirical Investigation of the Extensiveness of Stand-Alone Environmental Reporting in South Korea

In contrast to most other countries, South Korea's Ministry of Environment has been providing substantial guidance for corporate stand-alone environmental reporting. Motivated by the existence of such support, we investigate the extensiveness of environmental disclosure for a sample of South Korean firms. Results show higher disclosure scores than those reported in other studies using the same scale. Further, South Korean disclosure is more extensive than that of a matched sample of comparable US companies. While conceding that disclosure extensiveness is not necessarily associated with higher quality, our results suggest authoritative guidance for stand-alone reporting may improve corporate environmental disclosure practices.
DO PERCEPTIONS BECOME REALITY? THE MODERATING ROLE OF SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCY ON DISRUPTION OCCURRENCE

The concern and study of supply risk and supply continuity has recently come to the forefront in managing business and conducting research. This empirical study of U.S. and German firms investigates the relationship between perceived supply risk sources and supply disruption occurrence, as well as the use of supply chain resiliency practices to reduce disruption frequency. We demonstrate that supply managers' concerns with risk emanating from suppliers and the supply market are positively related to supply disruption occurrence. We further show how and when implementing flexibility and redundancy may reduce the effects of supply disruptions.
Convolution perfectly matched layer (CPML) implementation of the WCS-FDTD method for graphene applications

In this paper, the convolution perfectly matched layer (CPML) is proposed to truncate the weakly conditional stable finite-difference time-domain (WCS-FDTD) lattices. Numerical simulations show that the proposed CPML can achieve good absorbing performance and high effectiveness. With its implementation and by incorporating the graphene model and the auxiliary differential equation (ADE) technique into the Maxwell's equations, the WCS-FDTD method can be employed in simulating graphene devices effectively.