Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization driven approaches for subsidy allocation and supply chain procurement

This thesis introduces several new models in operations management, that are motivated by practical settings. It studies these models in an optimization-driven approach, employing mathematical programming techniques to derive important structural and algorithmic insights on the corresponding problems. In the first part of the thesis, we study subsidy allocation problems under budget constraints and endogenous market response, where the central planner's objective is to maximize the market consumption of a good. We first consider co-payment subsidies, that are paid to manufacturing firms per unit sold. We focus on "uniform co-payments", in which each firm receives the same co-payment, regardless of its cost structure, or efficiency. Uniform co-payments are frequently implemented in practice. Therefore, a natural question is whether uniform co-payments are in fact the best that the central planner can do; or, more generally, how do they perform compared to the optimal co-payment allocation? Notably, we first identify relatively general sufficient conditions such that uniform co-payments are optimal, even if the firms are heterogeneous, and if the central planner is uncertain about the market response. We then complement the effectiveness of uniform co-payments, by studying a very relevant setting where they are not optimal. We show that, for any instance of this model, uniform co-payments are guaranteed to induce at least 85% of the optimal market consumption. In summary, uniform co-payments turn out to be surprisingly powerful in maximizing the market consumption of a good. We then consider lump sum subsides, which are an alternative subsidy mechanism also implemented in practice. We show that the problem of optimally allocating lump sum subsidies is NP-hard, and discuss two simple allocation policies that have good performance guarantees. In the second part of the thesis, we introduce a model to incorporate the cost of handling orders at a central distribution center, into the procurement decisions of a company. We show how structural results for this model lead to a practical method to select the best case pack size per SKU in procurement contracts, as well as to serve orders at the distribution center. Furthermore, we test this method on real data from a large utility company, finding significant total cost reductions.
Physical map of the oxyR-trmA region (minute 89.3) of the Escherichia coli chromosome

Previous work involved the characterization of two genes, trmA and oxyR (also known as mor), which map close together at min 89 on the Escherichia coli chromosomal map (1, 10). The former gene encodes tRNA(m5U54)methyltransferase, while the latter gene is a positive regulator of oxidative stress which also can exert control over a number of cell surface properties. In the course of the characterization of these genes, sequence data relating to the intervening region have been obtained. The sequence extends 2,465 bp and overlaps the sequences ECMOR (10) by 37 nucleotides and ECTRMA (2) by 244 nucleotides. Thus, this sequence spans the entire gap between the trmA and oxyR genes. We aligned these sequences with the physical map of E. coli (3) (Fig. 1), showing a good correlation to the restriction sites in the corresponding region. Five additional restriction sites that were not present in the physical map of E. coli were identified by sequencing. The five additional sites are noted in the legend to Fig. 1. Flanking this region to the left are the argECBH operon and theppc gene (5), including a 1.2-kb unsequenced region between argH and oxyR. There is probably no gene located between oxyR and argH, since these genes are transcribed in the same direction and the distance between their respective translational start sites is only 1.3 kb. The size of the ArgH protein has been estimated to be 55 kDa (4), requiring genetic information corresponding to 1.5 kb of DNA. To the right of btuB, the region is flanked by the rrsB, gltT, rrlB, rrfB, orfI, birA, coaA, thrU, tyrU, glyT, thrT, tufB, secE, nusG, and rplK genes, as has recently been mapped (la, 6). The sequence between oxyR and trnmA revealed three open reading frames of unknown function, one of which showed significant similarity to the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase genes from a number of organisms, including the E. coli lpd gene. This open reading frame (orfC) is preceded by cr70-like promoter -35 and -10 sequences and a putative transcription start (CAT) 4 bases 3' of the -10 region. A 60-base leader sequence and a putative Shine-Dalgarno sequence (GAAGG) followed by an ATG start codon 7 bases downstream suggest this 478-amino-acid open reading frame to be expressed as a 55-kDa protein. We have inserted a Tnl737Cm transposon (9) close to the carboxyl end of orfC with a lacZ coding sequence directed in the same orientation as that of orfC. Expression of lacZ was detected, giving functional evidence that the orfC coding sequence does correspond to an expressed gene (data not shown). The 3' ends of the oxyR and orfC structural genes overlap each other for a length of 12 bp, including both nonsense codons, suggesting an intrinsic transcriptional termination mechanism.
Carbamazepine‐induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome: report of four cases and brief review

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare but severe drug reaction, most commonly to aromatic anticonvulsants with a delayed onset, variable clinical presentation and protracted course. The exact incidence of DRESS syndrome is not known because of the variability in clinical presentation, lack of strict diagnostic criteria and universally accepted nomenclature.
Azithromycin Prophylaxis During a Hospitalwide Outbreak of a Pertussis-Like Illness

Abstract A questionnaire regarding tolerability and adherence was administered for 5 days to hospital employees who received azithromycin prophylaxis during a hospitalwide outbreak of a pertussis-like illness. Analysis of the 239 responses from those having received prophylactic azithromycin determined that it was well tolerated and accounted for a minimal loss of days worked; 81.5% were fully adherent with the regimen.
Maximizing the Benefits of an On-Demand Workforce: Fill Rate-Based Allocation and Coordination Mechanisms

Problem definition: With the rapid growth of the gig economy, on-demand staffing platforms have emerged to help companies manage their temporary workforce. This emerging business-to-business context motivates us to study a new form of supply chain coordination problem. We consider a staffing platform managing an on-demand workforce to serve multiple firms facing stochastic labor demand. Before demand realization, each individual firm can hire permanent employees, whereas the platform determines a compensation rate for potential on-demand workers. After knowing the realized demand, firms in need can request on-demand workers from the platform, and then, the platform operator allocates the available on-demand workforce among the firms. We explore how to maximize and distribute the benefits of an on-demand workforce through coordinating self-interested parties in the staffing system. Methodology/results: We combine game theory and online optimization techniques to address the challenges in incentivizing and coordinating the online workforce. We propose a novel and easily implementable fill rate-based allocation and coordination mechanism that enables the on-demand workforce to be shared optimally when individual firms and the platform operator make decisions in their own interest. We also show that the proposed mechanism can be adapted to the cases when contract terms need to be identical to all firms and when actual demand is unverifiable. Managerial implications: The proposed contract mechanism is in line with the performance-based contracting commonly used in on-demand staffing services. Our results suggest that under an appropriately designed performance-based mechanism, individual firms and the platform operator can share the maximum benefits of on-demand staffing. Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 71871097] and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2021. 0327 .
Does Spatial Ambidexterity Pay Off? On the Benefits of Geographic Proximity Between Technology Exploitation and Exploration

While most scholars tend to agree that it is worthwhile for firms to strive for ambidexterity, less consensus exists on how to organize simultaneously for exploration and exploitation. Although firms increasingly conduct R&D activities in multiple locations and countries, prior ambidexterity research has ignored a geographical dimension in explaining the ambidexterity–performance relationship. In this paper, we develop and validate the concept of “spatial ambidexterity,” which we define as the degree to which firms pursue technology exploration and exploitation in proximate locations. We argue that both activities benefit from proximity as firms will increase their ability to enact cross-fertilization opportunities and synergies between explorative and exploitative technological activities. Relying on a panel dataset (1995–2003) of the technological activities of 156 large R&D intensive European, U.S. and Japanese firms, we examine the degree to which technology exploration and exploitation activities are pursued simultaneously in similar or different geographical regions. Patent data are used to construct indicators of technology exploration and exploitation activities. Spatial ambidexterity is measured as the degree to which global technology exploration and exploitation activities are pursued in proximity. Our analysis confirms that firms exhibiting greater geographic proximity between technology exploration and exploitation activities display an elevated level of technological performance. Both technology activities of an explorative and exploitative nature appear to benefit from spatial proximity.
Severe life stress and oxidative stress in the brain: from animal models to human pathology.

SIGNIFICANCE Severe life stress (SLS), as opposed to trivial everyday stress, is defined as a serious psychosocial event with the potential of causing an impacting psychological traumatism. RECENT ADVANCES Numerous studies have attempted to understand how the central nervous system (CNS) responds to SLS. This response includes a variety of morphological and neurochemical modifications; among them, oxidative stress is almost invariably observed. Oxidative stress is defined as disequilibrium between oxidant generation and the antioxidant response. CRITICAL ISSUES In this review, we discuss how SLS leads to oxidative stress in the CNS, and how the latter impacts pathophysiological outcomes. We also critically discuss experimental methods that measure oxidative stress in the CNS. The review covers animal models and human observations. Animal models of SLS include sleep deprivation, maternal separation, and social isolation in rodents, and the establishment of hierarchy in non-human primates. In humans, SLS, which is caused by traumatic events such as child abuse, war, and divorce, is also accompanied by oxidative stress in the CNS. FUTURE DIRECTIONS The outcome of SLS in humans ranges from resilience, over post-traumatic stress disorder, to development of chronic mental disorders. Defining the sources of oxidative stress in SLS might in the long run provide new therapeutic avenues.
Does culture affect the performance of private equity buyouts?

This paper uses GLOBE’s performance orientation (PO) dimension to investigate the relationship between national culture and private equity (PE) performance. We argue that high PO has negative performance implications as it provides the lowest potential for portfolio firms to benefit from a spillover of the distinct PE performance focus, and vice versa. To test this hypothesis, we analyze operating performance metrics of 946 deals from 26 European countries and exit channels of 5093 global deals from 67 countries. Consistent with the “spillover hypothesis”, we find that higher levels of PO are detrimental to efficiency improvements and increase the probability for unsuccessful exits. These findings hold after addressing endogeneity concerns, confounding and measurement error.
The Recent Rise of Labor Force Participation of Older Workers in Sweden

This paper studies the background to the increase in labor force participation of older workers in Sweden since 2000. In the first part, we study how the characteristics of the elderly have changed with respect to health, education level and work environment, as well as the impact of joint decision-making within the household. In the second part, we study the importance of institutional changes, including a major reform of the old-age pension system, introduction of tax credits for older workers, changes of the mandatory retirement age and stricter eligibility criteria in the disability insurance program. We find that the rise in labor force participation has coincided with improvements in health and educational attainment across birth cohorts as well as increased screening stringency in the disability insurance program.
University-industry relationship: From the perspective of small firms

This paper investigates how increasing focus on research commercialisation at universities has required small firms to rethink how they develop and deploy governance mechanisms in university relationships. Today small firms collaborating with universities often face a dual relationship which involves governing both individual scientists and technology transfer offices (TTOs) at the same time. Especially small firms struggle with developing governance mechanisms towards TTOs as they follow a more transactional perspective (e.g. formal governance in form of contracts and enforcing) than individual scientists who correspond more to a relationship perspective (e.g. informal governance in form of trust or social capital). Small firm can solve part of this problem by developing new competences directed at governance towards TTOs and engage in dialogues and communication with TTO officers and individual scientists simultaneously. The other part of the solution to the problem lies with TTO officers and policymakers engaging in dialogue with small firms and moving away from focusing on generating short-term gains towards developing long-term relationships with small firms. The findings contribute to the existing research on university-small firm relationship by providing a detailed empirical account for how small firms are required to rethink governance when collaborating with universities.
How do Firms Manage their Foreign Exchange Exposure?

We examine how firms manage their foreign exchange (FX) exposure using publicly reported data on FX exposure before and after hedging with corresponding hedging instruments. Based on calculated firm-, year-, and currency-specific hedge ratios, we find that about 80 percent of FX firm exposure is managed using risk-decreasing (risk-increasing/risk-constant) strategies. Further, we find that prior hedging outcomes affect the management of current FX exposure, where the exposure is reduced and management adjusts the hedge ratio closer to its benchmark average hedge ratio following prior benchmark losses. When separately evaluating risk-decreasing and risk-increasing positions, we find that prior benchmark losses are only relevant for risk-increasing but not for risk-decreasing positions, i.e., hedging decisions are independent of prior benchmark losses if the intention is to reduce FX exposure.
The Determinants of the Value Created by Stock Repurchase Programs

This paper aims to extend the empirical literature on the determinants of the value created by stock repurchase programs by analyzing the characteristics of the repurchase decision-making groups. Based on a sample of 200 US-listed firms from 1998-2004, the paper examines empirically the relationship between value created by stock repurchase programs and board of directors’ characteristics. The analysis depends on panel data analysis to consider unobservable fixed-effects in this relationship.The results provide evidence of a significant relation between board of directors’ characteristics and value created by the stock repurchase programs. The two important determinants are directors’ independence and directors’ outside experience. However, we find that this relationship changed significantly for some measures after the adoption of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
In-Season Effect of a Combined Repeated Sprint and Explosive Strength Training Program on Elite Junior Tennis Players

Abstract Fernandez-Fernandez, J, Sanz-Rivas, D, Kovacs, MS, and Moya, M. In-season effect of a combined repeated sprint and explosive strength training program on elite junior tennis players. J Strength Cond Res 29(2): 351–357, 2015—The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a combined explosive strength (ExpS) and repeated sprint (RS)-training program (2 times per week) on performance (sprint, jumping ability, and RS ability [RSA]) in young elite tennis players during a competitive period. Eight competitive internationally ranked male junior tennis players participated in an 8-week training intervention. After training, except for percentage of decrement in the RS test (p = 0.72) and maximal aerobic performance (p = 1.0), all performance variables (i.e., sprint, countermovement jump, and RSA) were significantly improved (p ⩽ 0.05; effect sizes ranging from 0.56 to 1.12). Although one can expect greater effects of ExpS or RS training programs alone than a combined program, the results obtained here show that the inclusion of a combined ExpS and RS training program seems to be an effective training tool to improve neuromuscular performance (i.e., changes in jumping ability and single sprint) as well as RSA in high-level tennis players.
Effect of Training and Development on Examination Invigilators’ Work Performance at University of Cape Coast, Ghana

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of training and development (T&D) on the work performance of invigilators of University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana. The study adopted the descriptive design. The study used the census method to capture all the 57 invigilators (both assistant invigilators and invigilation attendants) of the institution. College registrars, faculty and departmental examination officers, and chief invigilators were also captured to appraise invigilators who were assigned to their respective supervision jurisdiction. However, 49 respondents were those that returned completed questionnaires as expected, which was used for the analysis. Questionnaire and work performance appraisal form were the instruments used. The pre-test results of the instruments generated a Cronbach alpha reliability co-efficient of 0.825 and 0.791 respectively. The data were analysed using Pearson product moment correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results of the study indicated that T&D programmes by themselves do not contribute much to invigilators’ work performance in the institution unless invigilators are satisfied with the programme and are able to intensify their effort to transfer what they have acquired from T&D programmes onto their work. It is, therefore, recommended that management of the university should pay particular attention to maximise trainees’ satisfaction and effort to transfer learnt skills onto their workplace in order to enhance their work performance. This can be achieved by using effective supervision and motivation strategies.
Guide to Receptors and Channels (GRAC), 5th edition

The Fifth Edition of the ‘Guide to Receptors and Channels’ is a compilation of the major pharmacological targets divided into seven sections: G protein‐coupled receptors, ligand‐gated ion channels, ion channels, catalytic receptors, nuclear receptors, transporters and enzymes. These are presented with nomenclature guidance and summary information on the best available pharmacological tools, alongside suggestions for further reading. Available alongside this publication is a portal at http://www.GuideToPharmacology. org which is produced in close association with NC‐IUPHAR and allows free online access to the information presented in the Fifth Edition.
A study of post‐stroke depression in a rehabilitative center

This was a prospective study of 52 stroke patients. The incidence of post‐stroke depression was 55%. A past history of depression was significantly associated with the clinical assessment of depression. There was no association between the clinical assessment of depression and type and site of lesion and intellectual impairment. The clinical assessment of depression was significantly associated with the degree of functional impairment. The clinical assessment of depression also correlated well with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score. We conclude that post‐stroke depression is unlikely to be caused by neuronal injury due to the cerebrovascular accident. There is also a significant reactive component to it. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is suitable for assessing the severity of depression in stroke patients.
Induction of tumors and generation of recovered sarcoma viruses by, and mapping of deletions in, two molecularly cloned src deletion mutants

td108 , a transformation-defective (td) deletion mutant of the Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus of subgroup A (SR-A), was molecularly cloned. Two isolates of td viruses, td108 -3b and td108 -4a, obtained by transfection of the molecularly cloned td108 DNAs into chicken embryo fibroblasts, were tested for their ability to induce tumors and generate recovered avian sarcoma viruses ( rASVs ) in chickens. Both td viruses were able to induce tumors with a latency and frequency similar to those observed previously with biologically purified td mutants of SR-A. rASVs were isolated from most of the tumors examined. The genomic RNAs of those newly obtained rASVs were analyzed by RNase T1 oligonucleotide fingerprinting. The results showed that they had regained the deleted src sequences and contained the same set of marker src oligonucleotides as those of rASVs analyzed previously. The src oligonucleotides of rASVs are distinguishable from those present in SR-A. We conclude that those rASVs must have been generated by recombination between the molecularly cloned td mutants and the c-src sequence. The deletions in the td mutants were mapped by restriction enzyme analysis and nucleotide sequencing. td108 -3b was found to contain an internal src deletion of 1,416 nucleotides and to retain 57 and 105 nucleotides of the 5' and 3' src coding sequences, respectively. td108 -4a contained a src deletion of 1,174 nucleotides and retained 180 and 225 nucleotides of the 5' and 3' src sequences, respectively. Comparison of sequences in the 5' src and its upstream region of td108 -3b with those of SR-A, rASV1441 (a td108 -derived rASV analyzed previously), and c-src suggested that the 5' recombination between td108 and c-src occurred from 7 to 20 nucleotides upstream from the beginning of the src coding sequence.
A current–voltage model for Schottky-barrier graphene-based transistors

A low complexity computational model of the current–voltage characteristics for graphene nanoribbon (GNR) field effect transistors (FET), being able to simulate a hundred points in a few seconds using a personal computer, is presented. For quantum capacitance controlled devices, self-consistent calculations of the electrostatic potential can be skipped. Instead, an analytical closed-form electrostatic potential from Laplace’s equation yields accurate results compared with that obtained by the self-consistent non-equilibrium Green’s functions (NEGF) method. The model includes both tunneling current through the Schottky barrier (SB) at the contact interfaces and thermionic current above the barrier, properly capturing the effect of arbitrary physical and electrical parameters.