Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strategic flexibility in small firms

ABSTRACT Contrasted with their larger counterparts, small firms are disadvantaged due to their limited resources, economies of scale, and managerial expertise. However, the ability to respond and adapt promptly in today’s rapidly changing environment provides SMEs advantage over larger firms. In this paper, we argue that SMEs need to overcome resource disadvantages, leverage structural advantages, and develop new relational advantages in collaboration with partners to enhance their strategic flexibility for gaining competitive advantage. Specifically, we conjecture that building proactively strategic relationships with suppliers and logistics providers in addition to improving information quality could allow these entities to develop strategic flexibility and improve performance. We use structural equation modeling to assess the proposed model on a sample of 75 small firms located in India.
Measuring the Impact of a Faculty Development Program on Clinical Educators

Introduction An Academy of Clinical Educators (ACE) was established at the University of Newcastle, to support and build capacity among existing and prospective medical educators. ACE established a Certificate of Clinical Teaching and Supervision (CCTS) program, the final assessment of which was a reflective piece on how the course has affected participants’ practice as clinical teachers or supervisors and how changes are expected to impact learner achievement. We conducted a qualitative evaluation of these to explore the impact of the CCTS on participants’ teaching. Methods Thirty-one participants (of 90 completers to date) consented for their written reflections to undergo qualitative thematic analysis and completed a survey exploring their preparation for, and experience of the program, and application of skills learnt. Results Most participants reported applying the skills gained through the CCTS to their teaching practice to a large (n=23; 72%) or very large (n=5; 16%) extent. Four themes emerged from the qualitative data, aligned with the topics of the CCTS: teaching structure; feedback; orientation; and assessment. Participants described application of more structured approaches to orientation, teaching and feedback, positive student responses, and self-reported satisfaction with adopted changes. Discussion The CCTS has motivated change in the teaching practice of participants. Although evidence presented here is limited by the self-reported nature, descriptions of actual changes in practice were detailed and specific enough to suggest they could act as a proxy for objectively measured change in behaviour and outcome. Conclusion A faculty development program delivered to clinicians with a range of teaching and education-related roles, from varied clinical disciplines and professions, can promote improved, structured teaching and feedback.
Explainable Machine Learning Model for Predicting First-Time Acute Exacerbation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: The study developed accurate explainable machine learning (ML) models for predicting first-time acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, AECOPD) at an individual level. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case–control study. A total of 606 patients with COPD were screened for eligibility using registry data from the COPD Pay-for-Performance Program (COPD P4P program) database at Changhua Christian Hospital between January 2017 and December 2019. Recursive feature elimination technology was used to select the optimal subset of features for predicting the occurrence of AECOPD. We developed four ML models to predict first-time AECOPD, and the highest-performing model was applied. Finally, an explainable approach based on ML and the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and a local explanation method were used to evaluate the risk of AECOPD and to generate individual explanations of the model’s decisions. Results: The gradient boosting machine (GBM) and support vector machine (SVM) models exhibited superior discrimination ability (area under curve [AUC] = 0.833 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.745–0.921] and AUC = 0.836 [95% CI 0.757–0.915], respectively). The decision curve analysis indicated that the GBM model exhibited a higher net benefit in distinguishing patients at high risk for AECOPD when the threshold probability was <0.55. The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the symptom of wheezing were the two most important features and exhibited the highest SHAP values, followed by monocyte count and white blood cell (WBC) count, coughing, red blood cell (RBC) count, breathing rate, oral long-acting bronchodilator use, chronic pulmonary disease (CPD), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and others. Higher CAT score; monocyte, WBC, and RBC counts; BMI; diastolic blood pressure (DBP); neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; and eosinophil and lymphocyte counts were associated with AECOPD. The presence of symptoms (wheezing, dyspnea, coughing), chronic disease (CPD, congestive heart failure [CHF], sleep disorders, and pneumonia), and use of COPD medications (triple-therapy long-acting bronchodilators, short-acting bronchodilators, oral long-acting bronchodilators, and antibiotics) were also positively associated with AECOPD. A high breathing rate, heart rate, or systolic blood pressure and methylxanthine use were negatively correlated with AECOPD. Conclusions: The ML model was able to accurately assess the risk of AECOPD. The ML model combined with SHAP and the local explanation method were able to provide interpretable and visual explanations of individualized risk predictions, which may assist clinical physicians in understanding the effects of key features in the model and the model’s decision-making process.
Pile group in clay under cyclic lateral loading with emphasis on bending moment: Numerical modelling

Abstract Pile foundations supporting major structures are often founded in soft compressible clays. Apart from usual super-structural loading, these piles are subjected to cyclic lateral loads originating from actions of waves, ship impacts, winds or moving vehicles. Such repetitive loading induces stress reversal in adjacent soft clay initiating progressive degradation in soil strength and stiffness. This not only deteriorates the pile capacity with unacceptable displacements, the bending moments also increase. Although past studies investigated the response of single pile under lateral cyclic loading, a detailed study on pile group in clay under cyclic lateral loading with emphasis on bending moment is of immense practical interest. This paper focuses on detailed study of the response of pile group in clay under cyclic lateral loading, with emphasis on bending moment, through numerical modelling via a three-dimensional dynamic finite element (FE) approach and simplified boundary element modelling (BEM). Comparisons of computed results with available test data imply that the results obtained by 3 D dynamic FE model are better than the BEM. Extensive parametric studies with field data indicate that pile bending moment has been significantly influenced by cyclic loading parameters (number of cycles, frequency and amplitude). Relevant conclusions are drawn from the entire study.
Association Between Fear of Falling and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Background/Objective Fear of falling (FoF) and frailty are common problems in older adults. FoF can lead to self-imposed restriction of activities and then further decline in physical capacities that predispose older adults to frailty. Evaluating the association of these two geriatric syndromes may be the first step for understanding their complex relationship and might ultimately lead to establishing therapeutic goals and guiding treatments for older adults with frailty. This systematic review was conducted to provide evidence regarding the association between FoF and frailty. Methods All the articles that provided information on the association between FoF and frailty were selected from PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and EMBASE in search of relevant papers. Articles reporting information on the association between FoF (exposure) and frailty (outcome), with older adults (age ≥60 years) living in the community (ie, living either at home or in places of residence that do not provide nursing care or rehabilitation) were included. Only original articles with observational design (cross-sectional or longitudinal/cohort) were included. The methodological quality of included articles was evaluated independently by the two assessors through the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, respectively. Results The initial searches found 4,342 articles, of which 10 articles were included in this review: 7 cross-sectional and 2 longitudinal studies, and 1 study with cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The total sample was composed of 6,294 community-dwelling older adults (61.8% women). Among the longitudinal studies, adjusted odds ratios ranged from 1.18 (95% CI = 1.02; 1.36) to 9.87 (95% CI = 5.22; 18.68), while the adjusted odds ratios of the cross-sectional studies ranged from 1.04 (95% CI = 1.02; 1.07) to 7.16 (95% CI = 2.34; 21.89). Conclusion FoF increases the risk of frailty in community-dwelling older adults. The knowledge of this association is of utmost importance in clinical practice, since it can help health professionals in the development of rehabilitation, prevention, and health promotion protocols. In addition, these findings can contribute to the development of public health policies and actions aimed at reducing the FoF and consequently the frailty. Prospero CRD42021276775.
Identification and Validation of an Annexin-Related Prognostic Signature and Therapeutic Targets for Bladder Cancer: Integrative Analysis

Simple Summary Identification of new prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets could be essential ways to improve the outcome of bladder cancer (BC) patients. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the mRNA expression and prognosis of Annexin family members (ANXA1-11, 13) in BC through public analysis tools, including Oncomine, GEPIA2 and our in-house OSblca web server, and found that several Annexins were aberrantly expressed and associated with prognosis in BC. Then, we constructed and validated an Annexin-related prognostic signature (ARPS) in four individual BC cohorts through LASSO and COX regression, indicating that ARPS was an independent prognostic factor for BC. Briefly, our study was to determine the clinical significance of Annexins and provided a potential prognostic model and potential therapeutic targets for BC. Abstract Abnormal expression and dysfunction of Annexins (ANXA1-11, 13) have been widely found in several types of cancer. However, the expression pattern and prognostic value of Annexins in bladder cancer (BC) are currently still unknown. In this study, survival analysis by our in-house OSblca web server revealed that high ANXA1/2/3/5/6 expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) in BC patients, while higher ANXA11 was associated with increased OS. Through Oncomine and GEPIA2 database analysis, we found that ANXA2/3/4/13 were up-regulated, whereas ANXA1/5/6 were down-regulated in BC compared with normal bladder tissues. Further LASSO analysis built an Annexin-Related Prognostic Signature (ARPS, including four members ANXA1/5/6/10) in the TCGA BC cohort and validated it in three independent GEO BC cohorts (GSE31684, GSE32548, GSE48075). Multivariate COX analysis demonstrated that ARPS is an independent prognostic signature for BC. Moreover, GSEA results showed that immune-related pathways, such as epithelial–mesenchymal transition and IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling were enriched in the high ARPS risk groups, while the low ARPS risk group mainly regulated metabolism-related processes, such as adipogenesis and bile acid metabolism. In conclusion, our study comprehensively analyzed the mRNA expression and prognosis of Annexin family members in BC, constructed an Annexin-related prognostic signature using LASSO and COX regression, and validated it in four independent BC cohorts, which might help to improve clinical outcomes of BC patients, offer insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of BC development and suggest potential therapeutic targets for BC.
First Order Approximation of Model Predictive Control Solutions for High Frequency Feedback

The lack of computational power on mobile robots is a well-known challenge when it comes to implementing a real-time MPC scheme to perform complex motions. Currently the best solvers are barely able to reach 100Hz for computing the control of a whole-body legged model, while modern robots are expecting new torque references in less than 1ms. This problem is usually tackled by using a handcrafted low-level tracking control whose inputs are the low-frequency trajectory computed by the MPC. We show that a linear state feedback controller naturally arises from the optimal control formulation and can be used directly in the low-level control loop along with other sensitivities of relevant time-varying parameters of the problem. When the optimal control problem is solved by DDP, this linear controller can be computed for cheap as a by-product of the backward pass, and corresponds in part to the classical Riccati gains. A side effect of our proposition is to show that Riccati gains are valuable assets that must be used to achieve an efficient control and that they are not stiffer than the optimal control scheme itself. We propose a complete implementation of this idea on a full-scale humanoid robot and demonstrate its importance with real experiments on the robot Talos.
A High-Precision Algorithm for DOA Estimation Using a Long-Baseline Array Based on the Hearing Mechanism of the Ormia Ochracea

Inspired by the Ormia Ochracea hearing mechanism, a new direction of arrival estimation using multiple antenna arrays has been considered in spatially colored noise fields. This parasitoid insect can locate s cricket’s position accurately using the small distance between its ears, far beyond the standard array with the same aperture. This phenomenon can be understood as a mechanical coupled structure existing between the Ormia ears. The amplitude and phase differences between the received signals are amplified by the mechanical coupling, which is functionally equivalent to a longer baseline. In this paper, we regard this coupled structure as a multi-input multi-output filter, where coupling exists between each pair of array elements. Then, an iterative direction-finding algorithm based on fourth-order cumulants with fully coupled array is presented. In this manner, the orientation of the mainlobe can direct at the incident angle. Hence, the direction-finding accuracy can be improved in all possible incident angles. We derive the Cramér-Rao lower bound for our proposed algorithm and validate its performance based on simulations. Our proposed DOA estimation algorithm is superior to the existing biologically inspired direction-finding and fourth-order cumulants-based estimation algorithms.
Efficacy of Probiotics in Management of Celiac Disease

Objective The objective of this study was to interpret any rule of probiotics in the management of celiac disease and apply the results to improve the quality of life of patients with celiac disease if the result comes in favor of probiotics. Materials and methods It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the gastroenterology unit of Nishtar Medical University, Multan. A total of 170 children with celiac disease were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups (A and B) using a computer-generated table of random numbers. Group A was given only a gluten-free diet, while group B was given probiotics and a gluten-free diet. The efficacy of probiotics was measured in terms of reduction in stool frequency at the end of the 28 days of treatment. The data was recorded on the datasheet for every individual, and the statical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. The patients were fully explained about the research purpose, and written consent was taken from them. Results The efficacy of probiotics in children with celiac disease was compared in both groups. Results showed a marked reduction in the frequency of stools to less than half, i.e., 90.59% (n=77) in group B and 63.53% (n=54) in group A. The Chi-Square test resulted in a p-value of 0.000027 showing a significant difference in both groups. Conclusion Probiotics are found to be highly efficient in terms of reduction in diarrhea in celiac disease. Probiotics will improve not only quality of life but also play an essential role in managing celiac disease.
Large Scale One-Pot Synthesis of Monodispersed Na3(VOPO4)2F Cathode for Na-Ion Batteries

Na-ion batteries (NIBs) have received significant interest as potential candidates for large-scale energy storage owing to the widespread distribution of sodium and superior low-temperature performance. However, their commercial application is usually hindered by the high production cost and inadequate performance for electrode materials, particularly for cathodes. Na3(VOPO4)2F (NVOPF) has been recognized as one of the most promising cathodes for high-energy NIBs owing to the high working voltage and energy density. Here, we report a facile highly efficient room-temperature solution protocol for large-scale synthesis of NVOPF cathode for NIBs. By simply regulating pH, NVOPF can be obtained, which delivered a discharge capacity of 120.2 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and 72% capacity retention over 8000 cycles at 25 C. Besides, the kilogram-level NVOPF products have been synthesized, and 26650 cylindrical cells were fabricated, which exhibit excellent cycling stabilities, remarkable low-temperature performance with comparable safety features. We hope our findings could provide insights on the industrial application of NVOPF in NIBs.
Measuring the grain‐size distributions of mass movement deposits

Mass movement deposit grain‐size distributions (GSDs) record initiation, transport and deposition mechanisms, and contribute to the rate at which sediment is exported from hillslopes to channels. Defining the GSD of a mass movement deposit is a significant challenge because they are often difficult to access, are heterogeneous in planform and with depth, contain grain sizes from clay (<63 μm) to boulders (>1 m), and require considerable time to calculate accurately. There are numerous methods used to measure mass movement GSDs, but no single method alone can measure the entire range of grain sizes. This paper compares five common methods for determining mass movement deposit GSDs to assess how their accuracy may affect their applicability to different research areas. We applied an automated wavelet analysis (pyDGS), Wolman pebble counts, survey tape counts, manual photo counts and sieving to three different mass movement deposits (two debris flows, one rockslide) in Tredegar, Wales and the Longmen Shan, China. We found that pyDGS and survey tape counts produced comparable GSDs to sieving over a single order of magnitude. PyDGS required calibration to achieve accurate results, limiting its use for many applications. In Tredegar, Wolman pebble counts over‐estimated grain sizes in the lower 80% of the distribution relative to the other four methods used. We demonstrate that method choice can introduce significant uncertainties, particularly at the edges of the distributions, such that D16 values differ by up to a factor of five. These methodological uncertainties limit GSD comparisons across studies, particularly where these are used to infer processes within deposits. To minimize these challenges, the methods chosen should be both carefully reported and consistent with the research question.
SEMA3D Plays a Critical Role in Peptic Ulcer Disease-Related Carcinogenesis Induced by H. pylori Infection

Background Immune cell infiltration plays a critical role in regulating peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastrointestinal cancer (GC). However, regulators of the cell signaling hubs remain unclear. Aim This study characterizes genes that are differentially expressed in PUD and GC tissue samples. Bioinformatics is used to define the immune-associated hub genes associated with the malignant transfer process of PUD to GC. Methods Total expression data from PUD and early-stage GC tissue samples were obtained from GEO and TCGA. Differentially expressed genes were assessed and immunological enrichment analysis was performed. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) and Cytoscape analysis were used together to identify the hub genes. CIBERSORT and COX analysis were used to analyze the differentially infiltrated immune cell landscapes and determine HR scores of the hub genes. Results Expression data identified 437 DEGs as common to both GC and PUD tissue. Of these, 49 immune-related DEGs were grouped by function, and seven hub genes were identified by PPI analysis. The NRP2 and SEMA3D genes were then selected for survival analysis. SEMA3D had a higher hazard ratio than NRP2 and was defined as the hub for PUD carcinogenesis. Conclusion SEMA3D was characterized as the hub gene for PUD carcinogenesis.
Management and Misallocation in Mexico

We argue that greater misallocation is a key driver of the worse management practices in Mexico compared to the US. These management practices are strongly associated with higher productivity, growth, trade, and innovation. One indicator of greater misallocation in Mexico is the weaker size-management relationship compared to the US, particularly in the highly distorted Mexican service sector. Second, the size-management relationship is weaker in smaller markets, measured by distance to the US for manufacturing firms and population density for service firms. Third, municipalities with weaker institutions, measured by contract enforcement, crime, and corruption, have a weaker size-management relation. These results are consistent with frictions lowering aggregate management quality and productivity.
Choosing Reviewers: Predictors of Undergraduate Manuscript Evaluations

ABSTRACT There is a substantial amount of research examining bias in the peer-review process and its influence on the quality and content of political science journal articles. However, there is limited research examining how students peer review other undergraduate research for publication. To better understand the predictors of manuscript evaluations and build on prior literature, this study examines seven years of undergraduate peer evaluations submitted to the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics from 2013 to 2020. Empirical analyses reveal that a peer reviewer’s prior service on the editorial board (i.e., experience) and race are consistently and significantly associated with manuscript evaluations. By examining how undergraduate peer reviewers assess anonymized manuscripts, this research reveals potential biases in the political science peer-review process. Additionally, the benefits of undergraduate students participating in the peer-review process are explored and discussed.