Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Restrukturyzacja technologiczna przedsiębiorstw przemysłowych Polski Południowo-Wschodniej jako czynnik podnoszenia ich konkurencyjności na rynku międzynarodowym

Proces restrukturyzacji przemyslu, w tym podstawowych jego elementow, tj. przedsiebiorstw przemyslowych, jest procesem ze swej natury bardzo zlozonym. Za Pasiecznym (1997) i Nalepką (1997, 1998) mozna wyroznic dwa glowne etapy tego procesu. Pierwszy – to uchronienie sie przed upadkiem (jest to tzw. restrukturyzacja ratunkowa lub naprawcza), natomiast drugi – to w zalezności od stopnia zaawansowania zmian – restrukturyzacja rekonwalescencyjna lub rozwojowa. Pierwszy etap obejmuje zmiany formy organizacyjno-prawnej (najcześciej przeksztalcenie przedsiebiorstwa panstwowego w jednoosobową spolke Skarbu Panstwa) i prywatyzacje, racjonalizacje poziomu zatrudnienia, restrukturyzacje finansową(negocjacje z bankami i wierzycielami), rezygnacje z produkcji wyrobow, ktore nie znajdują nabywcow na wolnym rynku, oraz pozbywanie sie zbednego majątku produkcyjnego i nieprodukcyjnego. Drugi etap to doskonalenie zasad funkcjonowania, a wiec dzialania na rzecz obnizenia kosztow, budowanie skutecznych strategii finansowych, wprowadzanie nowych produktow i technologii, modernizacja posiadanego majątku produkcyjnego, szerokie i intensywne dzialania projakościowe, zwiekszanie aktywności marketingowej i ekspansja geograficzna oraz wchodzenie w fuzje i przejmowanie innych przedsiebiorstw.
Opening the black box of firm performance: the role of CEO's education

The distribution of firm performance is much dispersed. Rational behind it is still not fully understood. According to upper echelon theory, top managers' personal characteristics de-termine firm-level performance. In the spotlight of research is the role of education, which is often referred as proxy for human capital. I provide evidence that firms managed by CEO with MBA degree are on average 5-7 percentage points more productive. Meanwhile, prestige of education is not important. Cross-sectional dataset combining 18 European countries and 15 sectors allows accounting for unobservables at country-sector level. I also address the gap in the literature by analyzing the impact of different types of education. Evidence suggests that the engineering degree is probably the worse option for CEO. Juridical background has limited positive impact on firm performance. Education in economics, finance, accounting, marketing, or fine arts has no effect.
Mergers and Acquisitions in Maritime Industry

In a comprehensive study of all shipping mergers and acquisitions since 1984 we document that the shareholders of both acquirer and target realize average abnormal gains of 1.2% and 3.3% respectively and both parties gain more from diversifying than focus-increasing deals. We find that acquirers gain more when paying with stock, in cross-border deals and from public targets while larger acquirers destroy wealth. The results indicate that targets gain more from cross-border and focus-increasing deals. We study the impact of regulatory interventions on the marginal propensity to merge among shipping firms and find significant differences across regions.
The political economy of environmental regulations in the U.S. intensive livestock industry

Lawley, Chad D. , M.Sc. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Spring 2004. The Political Economy of Environmental Regulations in the U.S. Intensive Livestock Industry Supervisor: W.H. Furtan. When setting the stringency of environmental regulations of the intensive livestock industry, governments make a trade-off between rural economic development and environmental quality. This trade-off represents the weight the government places on social welfare relative to the profitability of the intensive livestock industry. The impact of the weight the government places on rural economic development on the formation of environmental regulations in the US intensive livestock industry is examined in this thesis. A political economy model explaining the formation of environmental regulations in the presence of a special interest lobby group is developed. The theoretical model finds that the incumbent government sets policy in response to the marginal disutility from pollution, the intensity of pollution damages, and according to the weight the government places on rural economic development. The theoretical model is tested using a cross-sectional analysis of 1997 intensive livestock industry environmental regulations across US states. Econometric results provide evidence that state governments implement more stringent regulations in response to the concerns of rural citizens and the intensity of pollution damages. The study finds that the pressure to pursue rural economic development has a positive relationship with the stringency of regulations.
The Paradox of Pledgeability

We develop a model in which collateral serves to protect creditors from the claims of competing creditors. We find that borrowers rely most on collateral when cash flow pledgeability is high, because this is when it is easy to take on new debt, diluting existing creditors. Creditors thus require collateral for protection against being diluted. This causes a collateral rat race that results in all borrowing being collateralized. But collateralized borrowing has a cost: it encumbers assets, constraining future borrowing and investment, i.e. there is a collateral overhang. Our results suggest that the absolute priority rule, by which secured creditors are senior to unsecured creditors, may have an adverse effect — it may trigger the collateral rat race.
Seed origin and warming constrain lodgepole pine recruitment, slowing the pace of population range shifts

Understanding how climate warming will affect the demographic rates of different ecotypes is critical to predicting shifts in species distributions. Here, we present results from a common garden, climate change experiment in which we measured seedling recruitment of lodgepole pine, a widespread North American conifer that is also planted globally. Seeds from a low‐elevation provenance had more than three‐fold greater recruitment to their third year than seeds from a high‐elevation provenance across sites within and above its native elevation range and across climate manipulations. Heating halved recruitment to the third year of both low‐ and high‐elevation seed sources across the elevation gradient, while watering more than doubled recruitment, alleviating some of the negative effects of heating. Demographic models based on recruitment data from the climate manipulations and long‐term observations of adult populations revealed that heating could effectively halt modeled upslope range expansion except when combined with watering. Simulating fire and rapid postfire forest recovery at lower elevations accelerated lodgepole pine expansion into the alpine, but did not alter final abundance rankings among climate scenarios. Regardless of climate scenario, greater recruitment of low‐elevation seeds compensated for longer dispersal distances to treeline, assuming colonization was allowed to proceed over multiple centuries. Our results show that ecotypes from lower elevations within a species’ range could enhance recruitment and facilitate upslope range shifts with climate change.
Computation and Cognition: Toward a Foundation for Cognitive Science

The question, "What is Cognitive Science? " is often asked but seldom answered to anyone's satisfaction. Until now, most of the answers have come from the new breed of philosophers of mind. This book, however, is written by a distinguished psychologist and computer scientist who is well-known for his work on the conceptual foundations of cognitive science, and especially for his research on mental imagery, representation, and perception. In Computation and Cognition, Pylyshyn argues that computation must not be viewed as just a convenient metaphor for mental activity, but as a literal empirical hypothesis. Such a view must face a number of serious challenges. For example, it must address the question of "strong equivalents" of processes, and must empirically distinguish between phenomena which reveal what knowledge the organism has, phenomena which reveal properties of the biologically determined "functional architecture" of the mind. The principles and ideas Pylyshyn develops are applied to a number of contentious areas of cognitive science, including theories of vision and mental imagery. In illuminating such timely theoretical problems, he draws on insights from psychology, theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence, and psychology of mind. A Bradford Book
Do GP trainers use feedback in drawing up their Personal Development Plans (PDPs)? Results from a quantitative study

Background: General practice (GP) trainers play a key role GP trainees’ education. To stimulate development of trainer competencies a Personal Development Plan (PDP) can be helpful, especially when feedback is incorporated. Aims: To investigate to what extent GP trainers use feedback in PDPs. Methods: GP trainers were provided with three feedback sources: trainees’ rating scores, trainees’ narrative comments, and self-assessment scores. Trainers were instructed to use these while drawing up PDP goals. With quantitative analyses the extent to feedback sources were used was determined. Results: Of the trainers 93% submitted a PDP. More than 75% of goals were based on provided feedback. Multiple sources addressing the same issue increased feedback use. If two sources pointed in the same direction, feedback was used more often if one of them concerned “narrative comments”. Ratings were lowest for GP-related Expertise and Teaching Skills. Most goals defined concerned these domains. Fewer goals regarded Personal Functioning. Proportion of feedback used concerning Personal functioning was lowest. Conclusions: GP trainers use most feedback and address issues most commented upon. Narrative comments deserve a profound place when eliciting feedback. Research into the quality with which feedback is used in PDP goals should complement these results.
Seeking attention: an eye tracking study of in-store merchandise displays

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the role that visual measures of attention to product and information and price display signage have on purchase intention. The authors assessed the effect of visual attention to the product, information or price sign on purchase intention, as measured by likelihood to buy. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used eye-tracking technology to collect data from Australian and US garden centre customers, who viewed eight plant displays in which the signs had been altered to show either price or supplemental information (16 images total). The authors compared the role of visual attention to price and information sign, and the role of visual attention to the product when either sign was present on likelihood to buy. Findings – Overall, providing product information on a sign without price elicited higher likelihood to buy than providing a sign with price. The authors found a positive relationship between visual attention to price on the display sign and .
Experimental induction of feline viral rhinotracheitis virus re-excretion in FVR-recovered cats

The re-excretion of feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) virus (feline herpesvirus I) by FVR-recovered cats is recorded both spontaneously and following a variety of stimuli, namely, corticosteroid administration, change of housing, and parturition and lactation. At least 27 of 33 (82%) FVR-recovered cats studied were shown to be viral carriers. The carrier state was characterised by periods of viral latency interspersed with episodes of viral shedding. Administration of 0-75 mg dexamethasone trimethylacetate and 2-25 mg prednisolone on days 0,2 and 4 resulted in re-excretion after a mean lag period of 7-2 days in 22 of 32 (69%) FVR-recovered cats on a total of 31 of 57 (54%) occasions. Rehousing resulted in virus re-excretion after a mean lag period of 7-2 days in four of 22 (18%) cats tested on a total of six of 40 (15%) occasions. Apparently spontaneous shedding occurred on a total of 10 occasions in nine of 31 (29%) cats during a mean observation period of 8-8 months. Four of six FVR-recovered queens in a total of four of 10 litters (40%) shed virus within two to 10 weeks of parturition. Serum neutralising antibody titres were generally boosted at the time of first re-infection but afterwards remained essentially constant. Although 82% of cats in these studies were shown to be viral carriers, only 45% of cats shed virus spontaneously or as a result of the natural stress situations and it is postulted that these naturally excreting cats are of most significance epidemiologically.
A Communication-Based Marketing Model for Managing Relationships

The authors propose a communication-based model of relationship marketing and discuss how communication (rather than persuasion) is the foundation of the “new” customer-focused marketing efforts. The authors trace recent parallel shifts in communication and marketing theory and show the intersections between communication and marketing. Although communication always has been a critical element in marketing, the authors show how the increase in interactivity makes communication an even more valuable element of marketing by identifying those many points that link the two disciplines. Using the three key points at which the two disciplines intersect—messages, stakeholders, and interactivity—the authors develop a communication-based model of marketing. They demonstrate how interactive communication at three levels—corporate, marketing, and marketing communication—leads to the brand relationships that drive brand value.
Brain Abscess: A STUDY OF 45 CONSECUTIVE CASES

Clinical features, findings of diagnostic studies, results of therapy, and prognostic factors were analyzed in 45 patients with brain abscesses. The number of patients diagnosed yearly has increased since CT scanning became available, but despite the enhanced sensitivity, the time from either onset of symptoms or hospital admission until initiation of therapy was not decreased and there was no dramatic effect upon morbidity or mortality in this series. Infections of paranasal sinuses, ears, lungs, and odontogenic foci were predisposing factors in approximately 70% of cases. Single abscesses, present in 75% of patients, were distributed equally in both hemispheres, with more than half in the frontal and parietal lobes. Common signs and symptoms included headache, fever, chills, seizures, nausea, vomiting, altered sensorium, nuchal rigidity, and localizing neurologic signs. Blood cultures were positive in 11%. Lumbar puncture rarely provided data from which a diagnosis could be established; CSF cultures were positive in only 7% of patients, and there was a 15% temporally associated incidence of brain herniation and death. Diagnostic information was most readily obtained using imaging techniques such as CT and 99mTc scanning, and arteriography was invasive and of no added value. CT scans are however, often initially negative in patients presenting with clinical signs of meningitis presumably following rupture of an abscess into the subarachnoid space, and the average time for changes to appear on CT scan is 9 days. It is, therefore, recommended that when the clinical assessment suggests the possibility of brain abscess the patient be treated empirically with antibiotics and that lumbar puncture be performed only after thoughtful assessment of the risk-to-benefit ratio for each patient. Causative organisms were isolated from more than 80% of abscesses despite prior antibiotic treatment; more than half grew a single pathogen, most commonly streptococci. Anaerobic and microaerophilic bacteria accounted for 62% of all isolates, and were the only organisms in 33% of patients. Computerized tomographic scans in 30 patients showed "ring-enhancing" lesions, nodular enhancement, or areas of low attenuation. Complete resolution of abscesses on CT scans rarely occurred during hospitalization and took as long as 5 months. Decrease in the size of abscesses on CT scan correlated well with clinical improvement and was seen within a week when abscesses were excised, but was often not obvious for 6 to 8 weeks if antibiotics were used alone. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Effect of Systemically Administered Azithromycin in Early Onset Aggressive Periodontitis

Azithromycin is a macrolide which possesses a strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. In the present study, we studied the effect of azithromycin as an adjunct to non-surgical treatment in early onset aggressive periodontitis. Initial treatment consisting of oral instructions and full-mouth scaling and root planing was performed over a 2-month period. Patients were then administered with azithromycin, 500 mg per os, 1x/day, for 3 days. Professional mechanical tooth cleaning was performed once every two weeks during the initial preparation. Initial treatment was considered as completed when the gingival index was < 1. The probing pocket depth, percentage of periodontal pockets with depth ≥ 4 mm, and the rate of bleeding on probing improved following treatment. The duration of the treatment was 4.7 ± 3.2 months. Another group of patients received the same initial treatment but without azithromycin. The duration of the treatment for this group was 11.2 ± 4.9 months. These results indicate that azithromycin may be useful for the treatment of early onset periodontitis.
An analysis of director interlocks on the JSE - with reference to the top 40 listed companies.

Director interlocks have concerned shareholders, the public and legislators since the early 1900’s. In 1914 the Clayton Act prohibited interlocking directorates among competing corporations in the USA. Research has been performed since the 1930’s covering stock exchanges around the world, however very little information was available concerning director interlocks in South Africa. This paper analysed interlocking directorships of the Top 40 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange using key metrics as per Newman and Conyon’s Small World theory, comparing the results to research on Italian, French, German, UK and US companies performed in 2008 by Santella, Drago, Polo and Gagliardi. South Africa was found to be closest to Italy, between the low density models (UK and US) and the significantly higher density models (Germany and France), suggesting that rather than just the two camps, there is a continuum currently reflected as the UK, US, South Africa, Italy, France and Germany. The presence of directors with multiple directorships and having significant influence in the network suggests systemic collusion is possible. Analysis performed on the composition of JSE boards showed that many of the King III Code requirements (presence of Non-Executive Directors, split of Chairman from Chief Executive amongst others) are met while some, such as the annual rotation of one third of directors and the independence of directors is problematic. There is still much that can be learned through enhancing the research coverage to provide a factual basis for understanding the impact of legislation and governance codes on the South African network, as well as to perform holistic research covering the combined network formed by board on exchanges across the globe.
The fluxes through glycolytic enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are predominantly regulated at posttranscriptional levels

Metabolic fluxes may be regulated “hierarchically,” e.g., by changes of gene expression that adjust enzyme capacities (Vmax) and/or “metabolically” by interactions of enzymes with substrates, products, or allosteric effectors. In the present study, a method is developed to dissect the hierarchical regulation into contributions by transcription, translation, protein degradation, and posttranslational modification. The method was applied to the regulation of fluxes through individual glycolytic enzymes when the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was confronted with the absence of oxygen and the presence of benzoic acid depleting its ATP. Metabolic regulation largely contributed to the ≈10-fold change in flux through the glycolytic enzymes. This contribution varied from 50 to 80%, depending on the glycolytic step and the cultivation condition tested. Within the 50–20% hierarchical regulation of fluxes, transcription played a minor role, whereas regulation of protein synthesis or degradation was the most important. These also contributed to 75–100% of the regulation of protein levels.
Modest Exercise Prevents the Progressive Disease Associated with Physical Inactivity

Activity levels continue to decline as technology continues to engineer movement out of our environment. We summarize the findings from Studies Targeting Risk Reduction Interventions through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE) emphasizing the high cost of even short-term continued inactivity in sedentary, overweight, or mildly obese individuals. There seems to be a critical minimal level of physical activity required to maintain metabolic health. A modest amount of exercise seems to prevent metabolic deterioration.
Valganciclovir dosing using area under the curve calculations in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients

Pediatric valganciclovir dosing recommendations have not been extensively validated for prevention or treatment for CMV infection. As such, we performed a pharmacokinetic study to compare different valganciclovir dosing regimens and the potential benefits of individualized dose adjustments in children following organ transplantation. Ganciclovir AUCs were calculated from four plasma drug levels in pediatric SOT recipients aged six months through three yr receiving valganciclovir suspension by mouth. Of the 28 ganciclovir AUC calculations performed, 11 (39%) were outside the therapeutic target range of 40–60 mcg h/L leading to a valganciclovir dose adjustment. Current manufacturer‐recommended dosing based on BSA and CrCl was estimated to result in therapeutic AUCs in fewer patients than the simple weight‐based formula used in our institution (4 vs. 13; p = 0.017). An AUC calculation using only the two‐ and five‐h measurements was strongly correlated with the AUC using all four time measurements (R2 = 0.846; p < 0.001). A simple weight‐based dosing approach gives a higher probability for therapeutic AUCs compared to the manufacturer‐recommended dosing in pediatric transplant patients aged six months through three yr with normal renal function. An AUC calculated using two sample times might allow for fewer blood draws in the future.
Symmetry Protected Topological Phases, Anomalies, and Cobordisms: Beyond Group Cohomology

We propose that Symmetry Protected Topological Phases with a finite symmetry group G are classified by cobordism groups of the classifying space of G. This provides an explanation for the recent discovery of bosonic SPT phases which do not fit into the group cohomology classification. We discuss the connection of the cobordism classification of SPT phases to gauge and gravitational anomalies in various dimensions.