Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computations for bang–bang constrained optimal control using a mathematical programming formulation

An algorithm is proposed to solve the problem of bang–bang constrained optimal control of non‐linear systems with free terminal time. The initial and terminal states are prescribed. The problem is reduced to minimizing a Lagrangian subject to equality constraints defined by the terminal state. A solution is obtained by solving a system of non‐linear equations. Since the terminal time is free, time‐optimal control is given a special emphasis. Second‐order sufficient conditions of optimality are also stated. The algorithm is demonstrated by a detailed study of the switching structure for stabilizing the F–8 aircraft in minimum time, and other examples. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rectal chlamydia infection in women at high risk of chlamydia attending Canberra Sexual Health Centre

Chlamydia is the most commonly notified sexually transmitted infection in Australia. Australian guidelines recommend urogenital screening in asymptomatic men and women, and rectal screening in men who have sex with men or women reporting anal sex/symptoms. International studies describe a rectal chlamydia prevalence in women of 5% to 21%. We found that in women at high risk of chlamydia, 57% (32/56) tested positive for rectal chlamydia. Of these, 97% (31/32) had concurrent urogenital chlamydia. Women with urogenital chlamydia were significantly more likely to have a positive rectal result (χ2, p = 0.000). Neither anal symptoms nor reported anal sex were associated with a positive rectal chlamydia test. The recommended treatment of rectal chlamydia differs substantially from that of urogenital chlamydia, raising the possibility that Australian women are being regularly undertreated due to a lack of rectal testing. Untreated rectal chlamydia may increase the risk of persistent infection, reproductive tract reinfection, complications and transmission. Further work is needed to determine the optimal management of chlamydia in women.
A Study ON Clinical Presentation and Outcome of Malaria from an Underreported , P . vivax Predominant Region of North India .

P. falciparum is the most prevalent and dangerous species causing malaria worldwide. But in contrast to this P. vivax, known to cause benign malaria infection is the commonest species in our region (Uttar Pradesh) and is treated mainly with chloroquine. However in recent years many researchers have come up with the conclusion that P. vivax is changing its clinical pattern and has complications similar to P. falciparum. Due to paucity of studies from our region, poor health infrastructure and to know the present scenario of P. vivax clinical spectrum in our region we conducted a comparative study between different species causing malaria in our region. All febrile adult patients (> 18 years of age) admitted in medicine department, were tested for malaria parasites. Total 387 patients of malaria were enrolled who met both inclusion and exclusion criteria. Frequencies of alterations in clinical, biochemical parameters and outcome were determined in various plasmodium species. Data was analysed using appropriate statistical tests. Out of 387 patients, 297 were P. vivax, 54 were P. falciparum, and 36 were mixed infection. The complications seen in vivax malaria were: severe thrombocytopenia (39.4%), ARDS (15.33%), Hyperbilirubinemia (22.2%), AKI (12.3%), severe anaemia (21.21%), bleeding (6.06%), cerebral malaria (9.04%), seizure (3.03%) and death (3.5%). In our region also P. vivax is emerging to cause Severe and fatal malaria. Further molecular research, status of chloroquine sensitivity and clinical studies is required in the state to understand emergence of severe malaria in vivax mono-infection.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND PROFITABILITY OF LISTED NON FINANCIAL FIRMS IN KENYA.

v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi LIST OF TABLES viii ABBREVIATIONS ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Research Problem 8 1.3 Research Objective 10 1.4 Value of the Study 11 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 12 2.
Corporate social reporting: segmentation and characterization of Spanish companies

This study establishes a new methodology in the analysis of the corporate social information disclosed by companies, since the objective pursued does not concentrate on showing the amount of information issued by each one of the companies individually, but rather on grouping them, taking into consideration their similarity in content and in the characteristics of the information revealed. Afterwards, those characteristics were identified that define or help determine membership in each segment or informative group. This shows that the similarity in the content and the characteristics of the information revealed is positively associated with larger-sized companies that belong to certain sectors of business activity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Abnormal Papanicolaou Smear: A Population‐based Study of Risk Factors in Greenlandic and Danish Women

Possible risk factors for abnormal Papanicolaou smear were investigated in a population‐based cross‐sectional study. From Nuuk (Greenland) and Nykebing Falster (Denmark), random samples of 800 women aged 20–39 years were drawn. Totals of 586 and 661 women were included in Greenland and Denmark, respectively. All women went through a personal interview, and had a gynecologic examination including a PAP smear and cervical swab for HPV analysis. A blood sample was taken for analysis of HSV type specific antibodies. Multiple sexual partners was the most important risk factor for abnormal cervical cytology (OR = 4.2). An infectious etiology was also indirectly supported by a relatively protective effect of barrier contraceptive methods (OR = 0.6). The simultaneous finding of HPV 16/18 as a significant risk factor (OR = 2.4) cannot be taken uncritically as support for a causal effect of this HPV type, since such a relationship between cytological changes of the cervix and HPV infection could also emerge if the positive PAP smear was not just a measure of intra‐epithelial neoplasia but also an expression of the infection itself on the cervix.
The Impact of Foreign Bank Deleveraging on Korea

Korea was hit hard by the 2008 global financial crisis, with the foreign bank deleveraging channel coming prominently into play. The global financial crisis demonstrated that a sharp deleveraging can be transmitted to emerging markets through the bank lending channel to a slowdown in credit growth. The analysis finds that a sharp decline in external funding led to relatively modest decline in domestic credit by Korean banks, due to concerted policy efforts by the government in 2008. Impulse responses from a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model calibrated to Korea shows that it appears better prepared to handle such shocks relative to 2008. Indeed, Korea is much more resilient to such shocks due to the efforts by the authorities, which has led to the strengthening of external buffers, such as higher foreign exchange reserves and bilateral and multilateral currency swap arrangements.
Employee architect’s perception of human resource practices and their job satisfaction

Purpose – There has been little empirical study on employees’ perceptions of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices in the architectural industry, where the employee architects have been described as the assets of the firm, and how these influence their job satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that define the perceptions of these employees of the HRM practices and how these perceptions influence their job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey of employee architects in Lagos, Nigeria was carried out. The respondents were asked to rate their perceptions of HRM practices in their firms. Data were analyzed using mean ranking, principal component analysis, and regression analyses. Findings – The results show that contrary to popular beliefs, most of the respondents were satisfied with their jobs overall, although they were least satisfied with their pay. The factors that predict the satisfaction of the employee architects with various aspects of .
THE STRATEGIC USE OF INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING: AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION

The increasing importance of advanced manufacturing technology, total quality management, and just-in-time to manufacturing firms raises some basic questions as to the strategic use of these techniques in manufacturing. Does strategic use of these techniques influence performance? How is the impact of these techniques influenced by the competitive environment? Are the techniques actually being used strategically? A study in a large sample of manufacturing organizations confirms that the use of integrated manufacturing techniques-particularly total quality-influences performance, and that these effects are magnified or diminished by both the competitive environment and manufacturing strategy. It also shows that, in some cases, firms are missing opportunities to combine integrated manufacturing and strategy in ways that would substantially impact their performance.
'The challenge to take charge of life with long-term illness': nurses' experiences of supporting patients' learning with the didactic model.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this implementation study is to describe nurses' experiences of supporting patient learning using the model called 'The challenge to take charge of life with long-term illness'. BACKGROUND Supporting patient learning for those suffering from a long-term illness is a complex art in nursing. Genuine learning occurs at a deep and existential level. If the patient's resistance to illness can be challenged and reflected upon, the patient may take charge of his/her life. DESIGN The project lasted for 2 years and was initiated by a former patient on an assisted haemodialysis ward and involved 14 registered nurses. The project began with a session to review patients' learning and the didactic model. Monthly reflective meetings and group supervisions were held that focused on the nurses' experiences of supporting patient learning. Notes were written during these reflective meetings and group sessions. METHODS Data collected from interviews, notes and written stories were subjected to phenomenological analysis. RESULTS Three aspects of nurses' experiences of the learning support approach were assessed: To have the courage to listen sincerely, a movement from providing information to supporting learning, and to let the patient indicate the direction. The approach resulted in an increased focus on genuine dialogue and the courage to encourage patients to take charge of their health process. CONCLUSIONS The changes in nurses' approach to learning support reveal that they shift from providing information on the disease, illness and treatment to strengthening and supporting the patient in making decisions and taking responsibility. For nurses, the change entails accepting the patient's goals and regarding their own role as supportive rather than controlling. The didactic model and involved supervision contributed to the change in the nurses' approach. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The didactic model might be useful in caring for persons with long-term illness, making the care more person-centred and enhancing the patient's self-care ability.
Women Entrepreneurs and Economic Development in Nigeria: Characteristics for Success

The objective of this study is to examine the characteristics that are considered essential for the success of entrepreneurial activity in an economy; and whether Nigerian women entrepreneurs have adequate possession of these characteristics. The success of entrepreneurs is a boost to an economy and their business development is considered a vital link to an overall economic growth of such a nation. This is made possible through their positive impact on economic development at the grassroots. Entrepreneurships are very vital to a nation’s economic development as they help to create wealth, reduce unemployment and poverty. In other to perform their vital role in economic development of their households, communities and countries, they need to possess certain characteristics. It has been observed that the survival rate of many micro-enterprises in Nigeria is low, and that some entrepreneurs’ access micro-credits from micro-finance banks only to be used to settle other non-business issues. On this premise, this study seeks to examine whether Nigerian women entrepreneurs possess the necessary characteristics, and the effect of such features on entrepreneurial success. Of the 200 questionnaires distributed, 158 were correctly filled and used for the descriptive statistical analysis. The study revealed that majority of women in micro-enterprises had secondary/high school education, had a mean age of 30 years, mean number of children as 3, mean years of business experience as 3 years, married, understood the local language, had training before business and were group members. Motivation, foresight and achievement were also vital characteristics for success. It was also discovered that the majority of the entrepreneurs were not under paid employment before starting micro-enterprises. This showed that they were new entrants into business which may be occasioned by unemployment situation in the country. It also portrayed lack of skill acquisition which called for pre-loan training. The results of the study concluded that women entrepreneurs in Nigeria possess the necessary characteristics for entrepreneurial success. This confirms that most of the failed enterprises belong to the men.
Financial Shocks, Customer Capital and the Trade Collapse of 2008-2009

The collapse in trade relative to GDP during 2008-09 was unusually large and also puzzling relative to the predictions of canonical two-country models. In a calibrated model of customer capital where firms must acquire a customer base before any sales can occur, we show that credit shocks can cause a fall in the trade-GDP ratio equal to 43 percent of the observed value. The key mechanism involves a reallocation of scarce marketing resources from international to domestic customers, who are acquired more cheaply. Bayesian estimation shows that financial shocks are important in accounting for recent fluctuations in the trade-GDP ratio.
High-resolution observations of internal wave induced turbulence in the deep ocean

An overview is presented of high-resolution temperature (T) observations above underwater topography in the deep, stably stratified ocean. The Eulerian mooring technique is used to monitor T-variations with typically 100 sensors distributed over lines between 40 and 400 m long. The independent sensors sample at a rate of 1 Hz for up to one year with a precision better than 0.1 mK. Under conditions of a tight Tsalinity (T-density) relationship, the temperature data are used to quantify turbulent overturns. These observations show two distinctive turbulence processes that are associated with different phases of a largescale (mainly tidal) internal gravity wave: i) highly nonlinear turbulent bores during the upslope propagating phase, and ii) Kelvin-Helmholtz billows, at some distance above the bottom, during the downslope phase. Both convective turbulence following Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities and shear-induced instabilities are observed with internal waves breaking. With a newly developed five-lines (3D-)mooring, the transition from isotropy (full turbulence) to anisotropy (stratified turbulence/internal waves) is revealed.
The Single Substitution I259T, Conserved in the Plasminogen Activator Pla of Pandemic Yersinia pestis Branches, Enhances Fibrinolytic Activity

ABSTRACT The outer membrane plasminogen activator Pla of Yersinia pestis is a central virulence factor in plague. The primary structure of the Pla β-barrel is conserved in Y. pestis biovars Antiqua, Medievalis, and Orientalis, which are associated with pandemics of plague. The Pla molecule of the ancestral Y. pestis lineages Microtus and Angola carries the single amino acid change T259I located in surface loop 5 of the β-barrel. Recombinant Y. pestis KIM D34 or Escherichia coli XL1 expressing Pla T259I was impaired in fibrinolysis and in plasminogen activation. Lack of detectable generation of the catalytic light chain of plasmin and inactivation of plasmin enzymatic activity by the Pla T259I construct indicated that Microtus Pla cleaved the plasminogen molecule more unspecifically than did common Pla. The isoform pattern of the Pla T259I molecule was different from that of the common Pla molecule. Microtus Pla was more efficient than wild-type Pla in α2-antiplasmin inactivation. Pla of Y. pestis and PgtE of Salmonella enterica have evolved from the same omptin ancestor, and their comparison showed that PgtE was poor in plasminogen activation but exhibited efficient antiprotease inactivation. The substitution 259IIDKT/TIDKN in PgtE, constructed to mimic the L5 region in Pla, altered proteolysis in favor of plasmin formation, whereas the reverse substitution 259TIDKN/IIDKT in Pla altered proteolysis in favor of α2-antiplasmin inactivation. The results suggest that Microtus Pla represents an ancestral form of Pla that has evolved into a more efficient plasminogen activator in the pandemic Y. pestis lineages.
The use of multiple export channels by small knowledge‐intensive firms

A transaction cost analysis model of the situations in which small knowledge‐intensive firms use multiple distribution channels to serve a foreign market is developed. The central argument is that integrated modes are generally preferred, as they facilitate protection of knowledge‐based assets and the provision of high levels of customer service and support. However, it is hypothesised that either plural or hybrid selling may be used, if assets can be protected in other ways, as a response to environmental diversity, when sales volumes are sufficient to support multiple channels, and in relatively mature markets, where sales growth has started to plateau. Data gathered from Canadian software developers generally support these propositions. The results help the managers of knowledge‐intensive firms to identify some of the circumstances in which multiple export channels might be deployed to enhance sales performance in a foreign market.
Service Engagement with High-Risk Men Who Have Sex with Men: Challenges and Implications for Social Work Practice

This article reviews social work challenges in treatment engagement of men who have sex with men (MSM) and details issues co-morbidity creates for reaching HIV-positive MSM engaged in substance abuse. The literature reviewed within the article identifies HIV and substance use risk factors influencing out of care dynamics and examines relevant research identifying contextual and cultural factors central to achieving cultural competence. The article examines aspects of cultural sensitivity and competence in service development and engagement and identifies service qualities and characteristics social workers can incorporate into practice and programs to increase the likelihood of successful engagement and treatment adherence.
Initial Underpricing and Transfer of Shares on the Tunisian Stock Exchange

In this empirical study, the incidence of the shares transfers by the original shareholders on the degree of the initial underpricing is studied, using a sample of Tunisian candidates companies over the 1992-2006 period. Our empirical results make it possible to confirm the existence of a significant initial underpricing of about 19% and which depends closely on the behavior of shares transfer. More precisely, the original and the controlling shareholders, in order to limit the transfer of wealth towards the new shareholders, reduce the degree of IPO underpricing.
Knowledge-based spatial reasoning for automated scene generation from text descriptions

Understanding text is a trivial task for literate humans. For computers, however, it is extremely difficult due to (among other reasons) a lack of knowledge about language and the world, as well as an intelligent reasoning mechanism to process such resources. As a result, computational approaches to text understanding generally lack common sense and suffer from poor performance. This work presents a system that addresses a set of critical cognitive, linguistic, and computational issues. On the cognitive level, it considers the role of spatial characteristics of the external world. On the linguistic level, it considers the roles of underspecification, vagueness, uncertainty, context, and frame of reference in how humans communicate about space. On the computational level, it implements a constraint-based, declarative knowledge representation for qualitative spatial reasoning over the dimensions, positions, and orientations of representative objects (primarily animals and plants) in a simulated microworld of a zoo environment. This system extracts into a semantic network the explicit information in rudimentary text descriptions of static, spatial scenes, integrates it with implicit, background information from an object-oriented, commonsense knowledge base, reasons over the combined representation, and renders a set of corresponding graphical interpretations. From these depictions, it extracts new information that iteratively feeds back into the original description to augment the understanding further. As part of a Monte Carlo simulation, the architecture supports a multidimensional test-and-evaluation framework to investigate a variety of related issues that apply to many applications in artificial intelligence.
The Self-Regulation Model of Sexual Offending

The self-regulation model (SRM) is a nine-phase, four-pathway offense process model designed specifically for sexual offenders that is now being applied to the treatment of this group in many settings and jurisdictions. In the present prospective study, we evaluated the validity and utility of the SRM in a sample of 275 adult male sexual offenders treated within the Correctional Service of Canada. Results indicated that participation in treatment resulted in moderate to large sized improvements from pretreatment to posttreatment on a dynamic risk assessment measure and several self-reported treatment targets. These changes were, in some cases, differentially associated with self-regulation pathways, suggesting that offense pathway is a clinically relevant variable when evaluating treatment change and in conceptualizing sexual offender treatment. In terms of outcome, individuals following the approach pathways, particularly the approach-automatic pathway, demonstrated higher failure rates than individuals following avoidant pathways. However, many of these differences were less pronounced when taking risk for recidivism into account. Implications of these findings for the effective assessment and rehabilitation of sexual offenders are discussed.
Framing Social Judgment: Self-Ingroup Comparison and Perceived Discrimination

Members of disadvantaged groups often report that they are less vulnerable to discrimination than is the average member of their group. In two experiments, we examined how the framing of self-ingroup comparisons moderates this phenomenon. In Experiment 1, participants estimated the relative likelihood that either they, compared to the average member of their ingroup, would experience discrimination or that the average member of their ingroup, compared to themselves, would experience discrimination. In Experiment 2, a direct manipulation of self-ingroup similarity was added to this framing manipulation. Across the experiments, the results demonstrated that conditions highlighting differences between the individual and the group led participants to perceive themselves as much less vulnerable to discrimination than their group, relative to conditions highlighting similarities between the individual and the group.