Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The mitochondrial contribution to stem cell biology.

The distribution and functions of mitochondria in stem cells have not been examined, yet the contributions of these organelles to stem cell viability and differentiation must be vitally important in view of their critical roles in all other cell types. A key role for mitochondria in stem cells is indicated by reports that they translocate in the oocyte during fertilisation to cluster around the pronuclei and can remain in a perinuclear pattern during embryo development. This clustering appears to be essential for normal embryonic development. Because embryonic stem cells are derived from fertilised oocytes, and eventually can differentiate into 'adult' stem cells, it was hypothesised that mitochondrial perinuclear clustering persists through preimplantation embryo development into the stem cells, and that this localisation is indicative of stem cell pluripotency. Further, it was predicted that mitochondrial activity, as measured by respiration and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, would correlate with the degree of perinuclear clustering. It was also predicted that these morphological and metabolic measurements could serve as indicators of 'stemness. ' This article reviews the distribution and metabolism of mitochondria in a model stem cell line and how this information is related to passage number, differentiation and/or senescence. In addition, it describes mitochondrial DNA deletions in oocytes and embryos that could adversely affect stem cell performance.
The Role and importance of women entrepreneurs in Social Entrepreneurship

This article is oriented to through a light and argues that social entrepreneurs do not give adequate consideration to gender and emphasise that there was a lack of research on women’s contribution as social entrepreneurs; this article suggests other possible areas of study to advance this field of research. It brings out the extensive literature on social entrepreneurs and female entrepreneurs, while also drawing on the gender/diversity literature. This article creates interest to researchers who wish to examine aspects related to women as social entrepreneurs. It is also relevant to government agencies and social enterprise organisations those are looking to gain a more understanding of social entrepreneurs, their characteristics and the issues they face. It provides key avenues of further work to better understand the way in which sex and gender interact with the practices of social entrepreneurs.
Detection and molecular characterisation of Giardia lamblia genotypes in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND No data are available on Giardia lamblia genotypes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to identify G. lamblia from DNA extracted from human stool samples to gain information on its prevalence and to perform molecular analysis on isolates collected from expatriates from different localities residing in Sharjah, UAE. METHODS In total, 111 healthy expatriates residing in Sharjah were screened for G. lamblia using nested PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu-rRNA) gene. Positive samples were genotyped using a nested PCR amplifying the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene to differentiate between the two human assemblages (A and B). A subset of the PCR products (n=23) were sequenced and their phylogenetic relationships were determined. RESULTS Of the 111 participants, 67 (60.4%) were identified as positive for the ssu-rRNA gene. When genotyped for the tpi gene, 18.9% (21/111) were of assemblage A, 17.1% (19/111) belonged to assemblage B and 5.4% (6/111) showed patterns compatible with mixed infections. A strong correlation between the presence of diarrhoea and assemblage B was observed (χ(2)=10.553; p=0.001). Moreover, an association was also observed between mixed infections (A+B) and diarrhoea (χ(2)=8.899; p=0.003). No correlation between age, gender and geographic origin of the infected individual was noted. Phylogenetic analysis showed three clusters for the tpi gene. No relationship between the clusters and the origin of samples was noted. CONCLUSION This study is the first to determine the infection rate and genotypic composition of Giardia in Sharjah, UAE.
Does Regulation Substitute or Complement Governance?

We examine whether firms utilize governance systems and increased monitoring mechanisms when information asymmetry and managerial discretion are limited. Given that such monitoring is costly, we expect regulated firms to use less monitoring if regulation substitutes for governance. Using data from initial public offerings, we document that regulated firms have greater proportions of monitoring directors and larger boards as well as use similar amounts of equity-based compensation as non-regulated firms. Further, regulated and unregulated firms are analogous in terms of observed trade-offs between traditional monitoring mechanisms and insider ownership. Finally, regulated firms appear to decrease monitoring following a period of deregulation. These findings support the hypothesis that regulation and governance are complements and are consistent with the notion that regulators pressure firms to adopt effective monitoring structures.
Corporate Governance Disclosure in the Annual Report: An Exploratory Study on Indonesian Islamic Banks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore disclosure on corporate governance mechanisms in annual reports of Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia.Design/methodology/approach – Employing a sample comprising seven Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia, the present study constructs the so‐called Corporate Governance Disclosure Index (CGDI) to score the banks' disclosure level. Corporate governance mechanisms addressed in this study include Shariah Supervisory Board, the Board of Commissioners, the Board of Directors, board committees, internal control and external audit, and risk management.Findings – It is revealed that Bank Muamalat and Bank Syariah Mandiri, the county's two largest and oldest Islamic commercial banks, score higher than their peers. Disclosure of the sample banks on some dimensions, such as board members and risk management, is found to be strong. On the other hand, disclosure on internal control and board committees tends to be weak.Practical implications – This study shows that .
Assessment of Electromagnetic Emissions From Synchronous Generators and Its Metrological Characterization

A specific class of electrical machine, i.e., synchronous generators, with a broad application for energy production is considered. The electromagnetic emissions are evaluated on the results of several measurement campaigns, accompanied by their metrological characterization; signal-to-noise ratio, uncertainty, reproducibility, and repeatability are evaluated in different operating conditions, measuring positions, and generators under test.
Evaluation of biogenic amines in the faeces of children with and without autism by LC-MS/MS

Previous researchers have postulated that gastrointestinal bacteria may contribute to the development and maintenance of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). There is evidence based on quantitative evaluation of the gastrointestinal bacterial population in ASD that this is unlikely and an alternate mechanism will be examined where the bacteria may contribute to the development of ASD via their metabolic products and the role of biogenic amines (BAs) will be investigated. In humans, BAs influence a number of physiological processes via their actions as neurotransmitters, local hormones and gastric acid secretion. Various amines have been implicated in several medical conditions such as schizophrenia and colon cancer. To date, the relationship between BAs and autism has not been explored. This study has been designed to identify differences (and/or similarities) in the level of Bas in faecal samples of autistic children (without gastrointestinal dysfunction: n = 14; with gastrointestinal dysfunction; n = 21) and their neurotypical siblings (n = 35) by LC-MS/MS. Regardless of the diagnosis, severity of ASD and gastrointestinal dysfunction there were no significant differences found between the groups. The findings suggest that BAs in the gastrointestinal tract do not play a role in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal dysfunction associated with ASD.
Appearance of cellular and humoral immunity in guinea pigs after infection with Coxiella burnetii administered in small-particle aerosols

The development of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses was studied in guinea pigs infected with Coxiella burnetti administered in small-particle aerosols. Direct macrophage migration inhibition was observed in cultured peritoneal exudate cells as early as 3 days after exposure. Maximum inhibition of macrophages cultured with phase I or II antigen occurred 14 to 21 days postexposure and persisted through 35 days. This inhibitory action was no longer detectable at 42 days. Serum antibody to the phase II antigen of C. burnetii was detected at 14 days, and serum antibody to phase I antigen was detected at 21 days, 18 days after the cell-mediated immune response.
Transformation of cellulose and its derived carbohydrates into formic and lactic acids catalyzed by vanadyl cations.

The transformation of cellulose or cellulose-derived carbohydrates into platform chemicals is the key to establish biomass-based sustainable chemical processes. The systems able to catalyze the conversion of cellulose into key chemicals in water without the consumption of hydrogen are limited. We report that simple vanadyl (VO(2+)) cations catalyze the conversions of cellulose and its monomer, glucose, into lactic acid and formic acid in water. We have discovered an interesting shift of the major product from formic acid to lactic acid on switching the reaction atmosphere from oxygen to nitrogen. Our studies suggest that VO(2+) catalyzes the isomerization of glucose to fructose, the retro-aldol fragmentation of fructose to two trioses, and the isomerization of trioses, which leads to the formation of lactic acid under anaerobic conditions. The oxidative cleavage of C-C bonds in the intermediates caused by the redox conversion of VO2(+)/VO(2+) under aerobic conditions results in formic acid and CO2. We demonstrate that the addition of an alcohol suppresses the formation of CO2 and enhances the formic acid yield significantly to 70-75 %.
2T2M memristor-based memory cell for higher stability RRAM modules

This paper introduces a novel 2T2M memristor based memory cell which, offers higher stability and noise margins than previous works. The proposed 2T2M RRAM module is similar to conventional 6T SRAM module in terms of delay and number of interface pins. However, the predicted area of the proposed 2T2M RRAM cell is significantly lower compared to the CMOS based 6T SRAM cell, and is also expected to consume lower energy. The nonvolatile characteristics of the cell make it more attractive for nonvolatile random access memory design. Write, read and repeated read operations of the proposed 2T2M RRAM cell are briefly explained. A complete RRAM module array based on the proposed 2T2M cell is designed, and the schematic details of the IO circuit is shown. A comparison between the proposed 2T2M cell and previous works is presented.
Resource Use in Growing China

Natural resources provide the basis for our life on Earth. This article presents the accounts of China's direct material input (DMI) during 1998–2008. Using decomposition, we examine factors that have influenced changes in recent resource use in China. China's resource demand in 2011–2015 is projected, based on China's 12th Five‐Year Plan. Finally, effective policies to restrain China's resource demand are discussed with the following conclusions: (1) During 1998–2008, China's DMI doubled, from 11 gigatons (Gt) to 22 Gt. Metallic minerals had the strongest growth, quadrupling; nonmetallic minerals and fossil fuels more than doubled, but biomass remained stable. In relative terms, nonmetallic minerals dominated, with more than 60% of total DMI. (2) Factors of affluence (A) and material use intensity (T), respectively, contributed most to the increase and decrease of DMI, but the overall decrease effect is much smaller. Factors of population (P) and recycling (R) only slightly affected changes in China's DMI. (3) During 2008–2015, China's DMI is expected to increase by 27% to 38%, from 22 Gt to 28 to 31 Gt. The average annual rate of increase of DMI would drop to 3% to 5%, from 7% during 1998–2008. (4) Designing new products and infrastructure that use less energy and materials and changing consumption patterns to be more sustainable are crucial to the future resource strategy of China. More policies are expected to improve China's material use intensity and recycling levels.
The Role of Parts and Spatial Relations in Object Identification

An investigation of the role of parts and their spatial relations in object identification is reported. At the most general level, two important results were obtained. First, proper spatial relations among components of an object are critical for easy identification. When parts were scrambled on the page, naming times and error rates increased. And, second, the way an object is divided into parts (parsed) affects identification only under the most impoverished viewing conditions. When subjects had as little as 1 s (and sometimes as little as 200 ms) to view an object, the way objects were divided into parts had no effect on naming times or accuracy. There was no hint of an interaction between type of parse and how parts were arranged on the page. This pattern of effects supports theories that suggest that objects typically are recognized without being parsed into parts. The findings are in agreement with theories suggesting that object features (not specifically related to parts) are matched directly with such features stored in long-term memory, with the constraint that the features of a single object are seen from a single viewpoint.
Managerial succession and organizational performance—evidence from the German Soccer League

It has been widely studied how organizational performance changes after the replacement of managers. However, there is little evidence whether environmental changes moderate the efficiency of management replacements. In this paper, I explicitly consider the effect of a change in the environment of organizations on post-replacement effects. Analyzing the performance effect of coach replacements in the German Soccer League before and after the introduction of the 3-points-rule theoretically and empirically I find that the magnitude of the performance effect of coach replacements differs under alternative regimes. The empirical analysis confirms predictions from my theoretical model and identifies moderating effects. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Absorbing new knowledge in small and medium-sized enterprises: A multiple case analysis of Six Sigma

The primary aim of this article is to critically analyse the development of Six Sigma theory and practice within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using a multiple case study approach. The article also explores the subsequent development of Lean Six Sigma as a means of addressing the perceived limitations of the efficacy of Six Sigma in this context. The overarching theoretical framework is that of absorptive capacity, where Six Sigma is conceptualized as new knowledge to be absorbed by smaller firms. The findings from a multiple case study involving repeat interviews and focus groups informed the development of an analytical model demonstrating the dynamic underlying routines for the absorptive capacity process and the development of a number of summative propositions relating the characteristics of SMEs to Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma implementation.
Further studies on the perfusion method for measuring intestinal absorption in man: The effects of a proximal occlusive balloon and a mixing segment

The reliability and accuracy of the two-lumen tube perfusion method for measuring intestinal absorption in man has been assessed by the use of a proximal occlusive balloon in nine normal volunteers. Luminal occlusion significantly reduced the variability of individual glucose and water absorption rates, and reduced the variability of triplicate marker concentrations within individual studies. Mean absorption rates of glucose, water, sodium, and chloride were not significantly affected by luminal occlusion. Absorption rates obtained with the triple-lumen tube method were rather more variable both within and between individuals, but a statistical comparison of the accuracy of the two methods could not be made. These results are discussed in relation to the contribution of endogenous gut secretion and proximal reflux of infused fluid to the variability of absorption rates obtained by the perfusion technique.
ESTIMATING CONSUMER SATISFACTION: OLS VERSUS ORDERED PROBABILITY MODELS

This paper reviews the use of logit and probit models in marketing and focuses on demonstrating the use of ordered probability models. This type of model is appropriate for many applications in marketing and business where the dependent variable of interest is ordinal (e.g., likert scales). A comparison between the properties of the ordinary least squares (OLS) model and ordered logit and probit models is made using consumer satisfaction data on automobiles. This comparison between the two models shows that the use of OLS for ordered categorical data gives misleading results and produces biased estimates, leading to inaccurate hypothesis testing. The paper concludes that ordered probability models, such as the ones illustrated, should be employed in marketing and business research where the dependent variable is ordinal.
The future of work – what kind of work? Impacts of gender on the definition of work and research methodology

This article shows that many political and academic debates on the future of work do not adequately take the gender structure of work into account, and argues that what is needed is not only the incorporation of gender into research, but a different methodological approach. This approach has to improve the dialogue between different scientific disciplines (interdisciplinary) and between researchers and actors in the practical world (cooperation between research and practice). In addition, research has to reflect upon and inspect its prejudices, taking into account that gendered structures are present in every aspect of our lives. This article describes how these ideas were realised through the development of ‘Forschungswerkstätten’ (research workshops) and reports on some experiences from the field. The article concludes by presenting some of the difficulties and perspectives of this approach. Cet article souligne que beaucoup de discussions politiques et dans les milieux académiques concernant l'avenir du travail ne tiennent pas suffisamment compte de la dimension de genre dans la structure du travail, et met l'accent sur le fait que ce qui est nécessaire, c'est non seulement l'incorporation du genre dans la recherche, mais surtout une approche méthodologique différente. Cette approche doit améliorer le dialogue entre les différentes disciplines scientifiques (interdisciplinaires) et entre les chercheurs et les acteurs dans le monde pratique (coopération entre la recherche et la pratique). En outre, la recherche doit analyser ses préjugés en la matière et tenter de les éliminer, tout en tenant compte du fait que les structures liées au genre sont présentes dans tous les aspects de la vie. Cet article décrit la manière dont ces idées ont été réalisées via le développement de «Forschungswerkstätten» (ateliers de recherche) et fait état de certaines expériences dans ce domaine. L'article conclut en présentant certaines difficultés et perspectives de cette approche. Dieser Beitrag zeigt, dass viele politische und wissenschaftliche Debatten über die Zukunft der Arbeit die geschlechtsspezifische Struktur der Arbeit nicht angemessen berücksichtigen. Die Autorin argumentiert, dass es nicht nur um die Einbeziehung der Geschlechterperspektive in die Forschung geht, sondern um einen anderen methodischen Ansatz. Dieser Ansatz muss den Dialog zwischen den verschiedenen wissenschaftlichen Disziplinen (interdisziplinär) und zwischen Forschern und Praktikern (Zusammenarbeit zwischen Forschung und Praxis) verbessern. Darüber hinaus muss die Forschung über ihre Voreingenommenheiten reflektieren und sie überprüfen und dabei berücksichtigen, dass geschlechtsspezifische Strukturen alle Aspekte unseres Lebens beeinflussen. Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt, wie diese Ideen durch die Entwicklung von Forschungswerkstätten verwirklicht werden, und berichtet über einige Felderfahrungen. Zum Abschluss werden einige der Schwierigkeiten und Perspektiven dieses Ansatzes präsentiert.
Placing Welfare States: The Netherlands as a Crucial Test Case

Typologies categorize welfare regimes either on the basis of their history or of their program characteristics or of their policy outputs. These three approaches often converge; but they do not always lead to the same conclusions. Reanalyzing data from Esping-Andersen's THREE WORLDS OF WELFARE CAPITALISM and elsewhere, we show that the Dutch welfare regime looks very different depending upon which basis for classification is used.
The impact of ‘learning’ and ‘leadership’ management styles on organizational outcomes: a study of tyre firms in Thailand

This study examines the relationship between managers' learning and leadership styles on the one hand, and organizational outcomes on the other. Small retail tyre firms in north-east Thailand are taken as a case study. Questionnaires were distributed to managers covering demographics, learning styles, leadership styles and organizational effectiveness. Follow-up interviews gathered further, more detailed, data. The questionnaire results suggested that leadership styles do indeed impact upon organizational outcomes. Learning styles were also found to impact upon organizational outcomes. Specifically, the reflector and pragmatist learning styles and the transformational and transactional leadership styles were found to be the most effective. The impact of learning styles was found to be mediated by leadership styles.
THE EFFICIENT COMPUTATION OF PRICES AND GREEKS FOR CALLABLE RANGE ACCRUALS USING THE DISPLACED-DIFFUSION LMM

We study the simulation of range accrual coupons when valuing callable range accruals in the displaced-diffusion LIBOR market model (DDLMM). We introduce a number of new improvements that lead to significant efficiency improvements, and explain how to apply the adjoint-improved pathwise method to calculate deltas and vegas under the new improvements, which was not previously possible for callable range accruals. One new improvement is based on using a Brownian-bridge-type approach for simulating the range accrual coupons. We consider a variety of examples, including when the reference rate is a LIBOR rate, when it is a spread between swap rates, and when the multiplier for the range accrual coupon is stochastic.
Consumption, habit formation, and precautionary saving: evidence from the British Household Panel Survey

In this paper, we generalise Weil's (1993) model, which is based on hybrid non-expected utility preferences, by allowing for habit formation. We use this generalised model to derive an Euler equation, where current consumption changes depend on lagged changes and labour income risk. We then estimate this Euler equation using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) for the period 1992--97. Our results suggest that both labour income risk and past changes in consumption play an important role in determining current changes in consumption. We then compare the model with habits with the one without, and strongly reject the latter. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.