Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Problems associated with investment in advanced manufacturing technology from the management point of view

Utilization of advanced manufacturing technology is considered as one of the key factors that help manufacturing companies worldwide to reduce the cost of manufacturing, improve the quality of their products, increase the throughput as well as production flexibility and altogether it should help them to maintain or even enhance their competitiveness on global markets. Moreover, manufacturing companies in economically developed countries cannot rely on cheap labor force and massive investments into advanced manufacturing technology seem to be inevitable necessity for them. On the other hand, these companies are under constant economic pressure and their managers are pushed to economize and cut cost whenever possible. Taking into account that investment into advanced technology is as a rule rather expensive, long-term nature and associated with a higher degree of risk especially if the particular company lacks experience with the particular type of technology, it is clear that the relevant decision making processes are not easy and straightforward ones. We will describe here some problems associated with investment into advanced manufacturing technology from the management point of view. We will demonstrate that managers show rather reserved attitude towards relevant projects and admit many difficulties when deciding about investment into particular advance manufacturing projects in their companies. We will support our views by selected results of two surveys that we did in the Czech Republic and we will compare our findings with outcomes of the similar surveys in other countries too.
Minimal Associations Between Clinical Data and Children's Self- Minimal Associations Between Clinical Data and Children's Self-Reported Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Chronic Reported Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Chronic Conditions-A Cross-Sectional Study Conditio

examines HRQoL of children and adolescents with three different chronic conditions (i.e., diabetes mellitus, juvenile using the computer-adaptive test Kids-CAT, comprising ﬁve HRQoL domains: physical well-being, psychological well-being, parent relations, social support and peers, and school well-being. Further, associations between HRQoL and distinct clinical data and medical assessments are investigated to explore how much variability of the ﬁve domains can be explained by these variables. Cross-sectional data of the study was analyzed. The Kids-CAT was used in two outpatient clinics in northern Germany gathering data on self-reported HRQoL in n = 309 children and adolescents aged 7–17 years. Additionally, general patient information, clinical data, and pediatrician-reported medical assessments were measured. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between HRQoL and selected variables (i.e., disease duration, co-morbidity, disease control, overall health status). Results: Overall, self-reported HRQoL in all ﬁve domains were comparable to data of an age- and sex-matched reference population. Results of regression analyses indicated that the investigated variables only minimally explain variance in the ﬁve Kids-CAT domains. Sociodemographic, clinical data, and medical assessments explained 18.4% of the variance in physical well-being, 10.7% in psychological well-being, and < 10% of the variance in parent relations, social support and peers, and school well-being. Conclusion: Sociodemographic data, disease duration, co-morbidity, and medical assessments, such as disease control or pediatrician-assessed overall health status show low association with HRQoL of children and adolescents with chronic conditions. Data on self-reported HRQoL delivers valuable information on children’s well-being and can improve healthcare professionals’ understanding of the subjective well-being of their young patients. The implementation of tools like the Kids-CAT can facilitate the identiﬁcation of potential problem areas, which should enable healthcare professionals to better address speciﬁc healthcare needs.
Intention to adopt user generated content on virtual travel communities: Exploring the mediating role of attitude

Online communities have brought major changes in the behaviour of consumers in the travel and tourism industry. Travellers frequently rely on the User General Content (UGC) to make their travel-related decisions. Avid travellers join travel communities and actively look for unbiased information, and share their own experiences. This paper explores the predictors of consumer attitude and intention to follow UGC posted on online travel communities. Further, this study attempts to analyze the influence of Customer Value Creation (CVC) on attitude and traveller’s intention to adopt UGC posted on online travel communities. Data collected from 246 members of online travel communities were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling. Empirical results show that CVC has a significant direct and positive impact on travel information adoption intention and indirect influence through attitude. This study is among the few on the impact of CVC on attitude towards UGC posted on an online travel community and advances the literature on the subject by explaining the relative impact of CVC on attitude from a different theoretical perspective.
An Improved Seventh Order Hermite WENO Scheme for Hyperbolic Conservation Laws

A seventh order Hermite weighted essentially non-oscillatory (HWENO) scheme [1] has been used successfully to solve hyperbolic conservation laws. However, the scheme could not achieve the optimal order of accuracy at critical points. In this paper, we propose a new central seventh order HWENO scheme. It involves seventh order HWENO reconstruction [1] and the central-upwind flux [2, 3]. For the ideal weights we used the central procedure presented in [4] and for nonlinear weights we extend the strategy proposed in [5, 6]. For time integration, the seventh order linear strong-stability-preserving Runge–Kutta (ℓSSPRK) scheme is used. The resulting scheme combines the advantages of both the improved and Hermite central schemes, e.g., compactness, improving the convergence and accuracy at critical points, decreasing the dissipation near discontinuities especially for long time evolution problems; it is simple to implement and attains seventh order accuracy. Many numerical tests are presented to validate the performance of the proposed scheme.
Optimal Monetary Policy under Balance-Sheet Effects on the Non-tradable Sector in a Small Open Economy

The choice of an exchange rate regime is crucial in small open economies (SOEs) with a dollarized financial sector. While the traditional Mundell–Fleming model supports a floating exchange rate, evidence shows that central banks frequently intervene in exchange markets. One of the reasons for these interventions is the consequences of large depreciations that could trigger negative balance-sheet effects. This paper extends the literature about the optimal monetary policy in SOEs, by considering a heterogeneous hedge across tradable and non-tradable sectors. Our findings support a ‘leaning against the wind’ policy as an optimal response to negative external shocks. This result is present even if only one sector of the economy faces credit constraints. We show that the vulnerability of the economy to large negative external shocks depends not only on the overall leverage, but also on the distribution of foreign currency debt across economic sectors.
Oxidized Lipids Control Lipid Order and Phospholipase A2 Activity in Model Membranes

Oxidative stress is an important etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The formation of oxidized phospholipid species in vivo induces membrane remodelling with direct pathological implications with a prominent inflammatory component. Secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2) are involved in the regulation of inflammation and immune response. Their activity is highly dependent on the lipid membrane composition, structure and organization. In this work, we studied the impact of oxidized phosphatidylcholines (OxPCs) on the membrane lipid order and the sPLA2 activity. The effects of two of the most physiologically active OxPCs, 1-palmitoyl-2-(5′-oxo-valeroyl)-sn-glycero- 3-phosphocholine (POVPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaroyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (PGPC) were compared using 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero- 3-phosphocholine (POPC) vesicles. Both OxPCs reduce the membrane lipid order and sPLA2 activity at physiological temperature. Moreover, these changes depend on the chemical nature of the oxidized chains.
The influence of storage environment on the fracture behaviour of acrylic bone cement.

Total joint replacement is a procedure which gives pain relief and renewed mobility to over 50,000 people each year in the U.K. alone. Whilst offering new hope to many of these people, approximately 10% of these prostheses fail within 10 years. It is thought that cement fracture could be one cause of the failure of the implant. This study was primarily concerned with the effect of storage environment and time period on the work of fracture of Simplex P bone cement It was found that the storage conditions had a significant influence on the work of fracture of bone cement. In particular, storage at body temperatures embrittled the cement, whilst storage in fluid media had a plasticising effect. These trends were related to post­ curing chemical changes within the cement mass, specifically the absorption of low molecular mass species from the storage environments, and the leaching of residual monomer from the cement. A significant decrease in the work of fracture of the bone cement was observed with long-term storage (2 years) in the fluid media. This decrease could not be attributed to post-curing chemical changes occurring within the cement mass. It is postulated that the decrease in the material's resistance to crack growth was a result of a process termed physical aging.
Comparison of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation to High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation in Neonates with Refractory Respiratory Failure

Background Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is a relatively new mode of ventilation in neonates. We hypothesize that APRV is an effective rescue mode in infants failing conventional ventilation and it is comparable in survival rates to rescue with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). Methods This is a 6-year retrospective cohort study of infants that failed synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) and were rescued with either APRV or HFOV. For comparison, we divided infants into two groups (28-37 and >37 weeks) based on their corrected gestational age (CGA) at failure of SIMV. Results Ninety infants were included in the study. Infants rescued with APRV (n = 46) had similar survival rates to those rescued with HFOV (n = 44)—28-37 weeks CGA (APRV 78% vs. HFOV 84%, p = 0.68) and >37 weeks CGA (APRV 76% vs. HFOV 72%, p = 0.74). Use of APRV was not associated with an increase in pneumothorax (APRV 0% and HFOV 10%, p = 0.31, in 28-37 weeks CGA, and APRV 0% and HFOV 4%, p = 0.22, in >37 weeks CGA). Conclusion APRV can be effectively used to rescue infants with refractory respiratory failure on SIMV. When compared to HFOV, rescue with APRV is not associated with an increase in mortality or pneumothorax.
Encouraging Effective Air Management in Water Pipelines: A Critical Review

AbstractAir can be entrapped in water and wastewater systems under a variety of conditions, and if such air is not managed properly, it can impose considerable operational penalties. To avoid these problems and the dangers associated with air pockets, several air management strategies have been routinely suggested. However, the devastating consequences of air pockets frequently documented in the literature imply the need for further development in this area. Improving air management obviously requires a thorough understanding of the current strategies and their shortcomings. This paper overviews the sources of air in pipes and key consequences associated with its presence. Current measures for managing air in water pipes are reviewed and critiqued. Finally, knowledge gaps that limit the efficient application of current air management strategies to real world problems are identified, and suggestions for future development are presented.
Breast Targets Therapy Managing breast cancer in younger women: challenges and solutions

: Breast cancer in young women is relatively rare compared to breast cancer occurring in older women. Younger women diagnosed with breast cancer also tend to have a more aggressive biology and consequently a poorer prognosis than older women. In addition, they face unique challenges such as diminished fertility from premature ovarian failure, extended survivorship periods and its attendant problems, and the psychosocial impact of diagnosis, while still raising families. It is therefore imperative to recognize the unique issues that younger women face, and plan management in a multidisciplinary fashion to optimize clinical outcomes. This paper discusses the challenges of breast cancer management for young women, as well as specific issues to consider in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of such patients.
Effect of the deletion of qmoABC and the promoter distal gene encoding a hypothetical protein on sulfate-reduction in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

The pathway of electrons required for the reduction of sulfate in sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is not yet fully characterized. In order to determine the role of a transmembrane protein complex suggested to be involved in this process, a deletion of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough was created by marker exchange mutagenesis that eliminated four genes putatively encoding the QmoABC complex and a hypothetical protein (DVU0851). The Qmo complex (quinone-interacting membrane-bound oxidoreductase) is proposed to be responsible for transporting electrons to the dissimilatory adenosine-5? phosphosulfate (APS) reductase in SRB. In support of the predicted role of this complex, the deletion mutant was unable to grow using sulfate as its sole electron acceptor with a range of electron donors. To explore a possible role for the hypothetical protein in sulfate reduction, a second mutant was constructed that had lost only the gene that codes for DVU0851. The second constructed mutant grew with sulfate as the sole electron acceptor; however, there was a lag that was not present with the wild-type or complemented strain. Neither deletion strain was significantly impaired for growth with sulfite or thiosulfate as terminal electron acceptor. Complementation of the D(qmoABC-DVU0851) mutant with all four genes or only the qmoABC genes restored its ability to grow by sulfate respiration. These results confirmed the prediction that the Qmo complex is in the electron pathway for sulfate-reduction and revealed that no other transmembrane complex could compensate when Qmo was lacking.
The accuracy of FOM instrument used in on-line pig carcass classification in the Czech Republic

The objective of this study was to document the accuracy of the classification equipment used in the Czech Republic with respect to measurement errors in lean meat percentage prediction such as point of measurement error, equipment error as well as operator error. To this end, a total of 720 pigs were measured in one abattoir. One can say from the results that the correlations between correct and surrogate measurements of fat depth are high (0.95-0.98), for muscle thickness they are lower ranging from 0.49 to 0.88, and for lean meat percentage they are in the range of 0.85-0.95. The lowest correlation (0.49) was calculated for muscle depth mea - surement between the 2 nd and 3 rd last rib when the place of measurement was moved 1 cm in the caudal direction, which influenced the level of the FOM correlation. It was further demonstrated that for the second insertion the differences in lean meat percentage prediction ranged from -6.07% to +9.29%. It was also demonstrated that various instruments provided identical measurements of fat depth ( r = 0.57-0.97), while for muscle depth the performance was worse ( r = 0.38-0.78), which caused a fluctuation in the prediction of lean meat percentage with differences ranging from -2.56% to +2.81%. It can also be concluded that a high agreement between operators was demonstrated for the determination of lean meat percentage ( r = 0.71-0.80).
The Abi-domain Protein Abx1 Interacts with the CovS Histidine Kinase to Control Virulence Gene Expression in Group B Streptococcus

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a common commensal of the female genital tract, is the leading cause of invasive infections in neonates. Expression of major GBS virulence factors, such as the hemolysin operon cyl, is regulated directly at the transcriptional level by the CovSR two-component system. Using a random genetic approach, we identified a multi-spanning transmembrane protein, Abx1, essential for the production of the GBS hemolysin. Despite its similarity to eukaryotic CaaX proteases, the Abx1 function is not involved in a post-translational modification of the GBS hemolysin. Instead, we demonstrate that Abx1 regulates transcription of several virulence genes, including those comprising the hemolysin operon, by a CovSR-dependent mechanism. By combining genetic analyses, transcriptome profiling, and site-directed mutagenesis, we showed that Abx1 is a regulator of the histidine kinase CovS. Overexpression of Abx1 is sufficient to activate virulence gene expression through CovS, overcoming the need for an additional signal. Conversely, the absence of Abx1 has the opposite effect on virulence gene expression consistent with CovS locked in a kinase-competent state. Using a bacterial two-hybrid system, direct interaction between Abx1 and CovS was mapped specifically to CovS domains involved in signal processing. We demonstrate that the CovSR two-component system is the core of a signaling pathway integrating the regulation of CovS by Abx1 in addition to the regulation of CovR by the serine/threonine kinase Stk1. In conclusion, our study reports a regulatory function for Abx1, a member of a large protein family with a characteristic Abi-domain, which forms a signaling complex with the histidine kinase CovS in GBS.
The Predicted Value of Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) in Healthy People

Purpose Recent studies have focused on whether kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) might serve as a marker of acute kidney tubular injury. Our study analyzed the levels of KIM-1 in the healthy population of different ages to explore the correlation between KIM-1 and age. Moreover, we constructed a model to predict kidney age. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted by Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China, between April 2020 and December 2020. KIM-1 and other kidney biomarkers were measured in 176 healthy individuals ranging from 26 to 91 years old. Statistical correlated analyses for urinary KIM-1, creatinine (uCREA), potassium (K), sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl), plasmic renin, angiotensin-2 (AngII) and aldosterone (ALD), and serum microalbuminuria (MALB), β2-microglobulin (B2MG), cystatin C (CYSC), urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CREA), and glucose (GLU) were performed to assess the correlation between age and kidney biomarkers. All variables were selected as independent variables for the prediction of age by multiple linear regression. Results KIM-1 positively correlated with age in kidney healthy people (r = 0.41, p < 0.05), whether among females (r = 0.51, p < 0.05) or males (r = 0.27, p < 0.05). It was much related to K (r = 0.34), B2MG (r = 0.28), and CL (r = 0.23). The predicted model was constructed with eGFR, Cl, ALD, CYSC, KIM-1, BUN, GLU and AngII, reaching an adjusted R2 of 69.5% and a standard error of the estimated 7.84 years. Conclusion The level of urinary KIM-1 increases with age in healthy people. The model constructed by KIM-1 and the other 7 biomarkers can predict kidney age in healthy people.
Higher Seroprevalence of Anti-Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Neutralizing Antibodies Among Racial Minorities in the United States

Anti-adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) can ablate efficacy of transgene expression following intravenous vector administration. This observation in both preclinical and clinical trials has led to exclusion of NAb-positive patients from receiving AAV gene therapy. AAV drug development includes selection of capsids with lower NAb seroprevalence that also possess other favorable traits. Often a limited number of healthy volunteers are screened to gauge NAb seroprevalence. However, limited data sets can be biased leading to inaccurate estimates of NAb incidence. In this study, we evaluated AAV NAbs against a panel of vectors among healthy donors within the United States. While the overall seroprevalence against most AAVs was lower, we did observe increased NAb incidence among black and Hispanic donors. These findings of increased NAb seroprevalence among the minority races were confirmed in a second set of donors who also demonstrated higher seroprevalence among these races. Interracial- and intraracial differences within genders were also observed among donors. The increased incidence of AAV NAb among racial minorities was unexpected. Our findings underscore the need for removing bias in sample data sets and evaluating seroprevalence within the patient population while selecting capsids.
Identification of Childhood-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Swedish Healthcare Registers: A Validation Study

Purpose The Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) is often used in observational studies of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (<18 years of age) and its subtypes, but the validity of previously used register-based algorithms for capturing childhood-onset IBD has never been examined. Methods We identified a random sample of 233 individuals with at least two first ever diagnostic listings of IBD in the NPR between 2002 and 2014. We calculated the test characteristics for different register-based definitions of IBD and its subtypes using the Copenhagen criteria and the revised Porto criteria as gold standard, both based on medical chart review. We made assumptions of the occurrence of undiagnosed IBD in the general child population based on available literature. Results Out of 233 individuals with at least two diagnostic listings of IBD, 216 had true IBD, resulting in a positive predictive value (PPV) = 93% (95% confidence interval (CI) 89–96), sensitivity = 88% (95% CI 83–92), specificity = 100% (95% CI 100–100), and negative predictive value (NPV) = 100% (95% CI 100–100). The PPV for the NPR-based definitions of IBD subtypes at time of first IBD diagnosis and at end of follow-up were 78% (95% CI 69–86) and 88% (95% CI 80–94), respectively, for Crohn’s disease and 74% (95% CI 63–83) and 71% (95% CI 60–80), respectively, for ulcerative colitis. Conclusion The validity of register-based definitions of childhood-onset IBD in the Swedish NPR is high and can be used to identify patients in observational research.