Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of TQM practices between Japanese and non-Japanese electrical and electronics companies in Malaysia: Survey results

Total quality management (TQM) is a crucial concept in ensuring that companies survive in this increasingly competitive global market. Japanese companies are very successful because of the adoption and implementation of TQM principles expounded by quality gurus such as Deming, Juran, Taguchi and others. In order to survive in the global market with intense competition between regions and enterprises, the adoption of TQM practices is essential to ensure business excellence. Many non-Japanese companies particularly in the Malaysian context are still in the initial stage of TQM implementation. This piece of work relates to a study on the comparison between Japanese companies and non-Japanese companies in Malaysia with regard to TQM practices. A questionnaire was prepared and sent to 370 companies from the electrical and electronics sector in Malaysia which gave a 21.9% response rate. Attempts were made at finding significant differences between Japanese and non-Japanese companies with regard to TQM practices and the companies' view of the importance thereof. It was found that there are significant differences in TQM practices between Japanese and non-Japanese companies. Management leadership, measurement and feedback, product design and education and training are the significant factors, which shows the strength of Japanese companies with superior practices in these four factors as against non-Japanese companies. There are no significant differences in perception of the importance of TQM between Japanese and non-Japanese companies except for the product design factor. This study shows that Japanese companies place high importance on product design and they believe quality starts from design and in turn will determine manufacturability, reliability and product quality. This points to the need for much greater emphasis to be placed on future quality improvement programmes for local companies. Further studies can be made focusing on the other types of industry in Malaysia, such as automotive, food processing and metal-based, to develop a comprehensive TQM implementation framework to be built upon to meet the needs of Malaysian industries in their drive towards achieving TQM practices.
Effect of the addition of high-temperature water on the properties of batter and bread made from gluten-free rice flour.

Increasing number of individuals worldwide are consuming gluten-free products, for example, bread, for health and other reasons. However, gluten-free products are currently expensive and/or their preparation involves the use of specialist machinery or food additives. In this study, we focused on the thickening effect of starch gelatinization and attempted to develop a novel method for gluten-free rice flour bread production without the use of additives. We aimed to determine the effect of adding high-temperature water to gluten-free rice flour on the properties of the resulting batter, primarily gelatinization. The water was tested at temperatures between 50 and 80°C, in 2°C increments. For comparison, control bread from gluten-free rice flour was made using cold (5°C) water. The addition of water at a temperature between 66 and 70°C significantly improved the specific volume and firmness of bread (p < 0.05, Dunnett's test; compared with control). Additionally, maintaining the gelatinization temperature of the bread batter for approximately 1-10 s and the degree of gelatinization of batter, approximately 5%-10%, were crucial for obtaining good-quality bread. Further, the addition of water at a temperature above 78°C adversely affected the bread-making properties. This simple method developed for making high-quality bread from gluten-free rice flour will make gluten-free bread products more widely available to and acceptable by the consumers. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Currently, making high-quality bread from gluten-free rice flour involves the use of food additives or special rice flour. Here, we present a simple method for producing high-quality bread by manipulating the temperature of water added during the preparation of rice flour batter. We optimized the method by analyzing the gelatinization properties of the batter and determined the optimal water temperature suitable for bread making. This method yields high-quality gluten-free bread and is cost-effective and simple to implement.
Schools, Job Flexibility, and Married Women's Labor Supply: Evidence From the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study explores the effect of school reopenings during the COVID-19 pandemic on married women's labor supply. We proxy for in-person attendance at US K-12 schools using smartphone data from Safegraph and measure female employment, hours, and remote work using the Current Population Survey. Difference-in-differences estimates show that K-12 reopenings are associated with significant increases in employment and hours among married women with school-aged children, with no measurable effects on labor supply in comparison groups. Employment effects of school reopenings are concentrated among mothers of older school-aged children, while remote work may mitigate effects for mothers of younger children. attendance during the pandemic, controlling for diﬀerential COVID-19 and macroeconomic shocks across jurisdictions. To account for geographic variation in general attitudes about the pandemic and the degree of economic reopening that was occurring separately from schools, we control for continuous measures of relative foot traﬃc at local restaurants and bars. We also estimate event studies and fully interacted triple-diﬀerences models, formally comparing the estimated eﬀects of school reopenings for women in our treated group (married with school-aged children) to those for other women. Our results show that K-12 school reopenings positively aﬀect the labor supply of married women with school-aged children at the extensive and intensive margin, increasing both employment and (conditional) work hours in non-education sectors. In particular, we ﬁnd that an increase in relative school foot traﬃc roughly equivalent to a full in-person “reopening” is associated with an increase in non-education employment of 3.3 percentage points and a small increase in (conditional) weekly work hours of 0.76. Other than responses within the education sector, we ﬁnd no signiﬁcant eﬀects of school reopenings on the employment or hours of unmarried mothers, women without children, or married custodial fathers. Fully interacted triple-diﬀerences models conﬁrm the magnitude and signiﬁcance of these eﬀects.
Rogue drivers, typical cyclists, and tragic pedestrians: a Critical Discourse Analysis of media reporting of fatal road traffic collisions

ABSTRACT In Britain, a third of road traffic fatalities are pedestrians or cyclists. Media reporting may play a key role in shaping how people interpret these events. We conduct in-depth Critical Discourse Analysis of a sample of 17 London Evening Standard articles, covering car-bicycle, car-pedestrian, and bicycle-pedestrian fatality collisions. Using Van Leeuwen’s Social Actor model we find that drivers involved in collisions are backgrounded, except those who failed to stop, who are portrayed as exceptional. Pedestrian casualties are framed episodically, i.e. as individual incidents not linked to wider contexts. Cyclist fatalities are presented thematically, although this common theme was cycling itself, not infrastructure, policy, or driver behaviour. When involved in pedestrian fatality collisions, cyclists are directly described as participants, rather than referred to indirectly through their vehicle as drivers are. Thus, narratives tend to erase driver agency in collisions while highlighting agency for cyclists, and pedestrian deaths appear as isolated incidents rather than part of a wider structural pattern. We identify three key tropes: rogue drivers, typical cyclists, and tragic pedestrians. The analysis shows how these, and the reporting patterns identified here, help to reproduce assumptions about risk posed to others by different modes, and consequent responsibility for crashes.
Email as cultural heritage resource: appraisal solutions from an art museum context

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to evaluate strategies to appraise email correspondence to select significant email for permanent preservation without capturing trivial or personal emails. The strategies were tested on the actual email accounts of selected individuals occupying important roles within an important cultural institution in the Northeastern USA. Design/methodology/approach – Treating this art museum as a case study site, email messages are manually appraised for retention using a rubric. Following the appraisal, strategies for expediting this appraisal process, using what is learned from the manual appraisal process, are explored. Findings – A major finding of this study is that sent mail is almost always significant, although preserving only sent mail, or preserving sent mail in combination with inbox items that have been acted upon (replied to or forwarded), are not sufficient to capture significant correspondence. Rather, a social network approach holds the most promise to accelerat.
Study on Behavioral Decision Making by Power Generation Companies Regarding Energy Transitions under Uncertainty

With respect to decision making by companies, normative approaches such as the net present value (NPV) method are widely applied, even though it is known that investors may make non-normative decisions. This study aimed to obtain new information on the decision-making behavior of renewable energy (RE) companies under uncertainty in the energy market, which is not provided by the conventional normative approach. In this study, we designed a novel framework that expressed both normative and non-normative perspectives of decision making, and developed a behavioral decision-making model of a power generation company investing in large-scale RE (RE company). We also examined the decisions of the RE company under uncertainty in the energy market using the developed model, considering the Kansai region in Japan as an example study area. As a result, compared to the conventional NPV method, we obtained the following information: (i) heavy investments in either photovoltaics (PV) or wind resulted in decreased variable renewable energy (VRE) capacity, even though financial support was sufficient; (ii) balanced investments in both PV and wind yielded a larger VRE capacity in cases where financial support was sufficient; and (iii) co-worker’s suggestions that lowered the decision-makers’ reference point (RFP) encouraged VRE investments despite insufficient financial support.
Oncological Outcome of Surgically Resected Sternal Tumors, 16 Years’ Experience

BACKGROUND: Tumors of the sternum are rare and can develop from primary bone pathology or through metastatic spread. Sternal resection with immediate reconstruction of the anterior chest wall defect was recommended for both primary and secondary sternal tumors as curative treatment. AIM: The purpose of our study was to examine the perioperative outcomes, recurrence rate, and OS in patients undergoing partial, subtotal, and total sternectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our experience with sternal resections in 29 patients during a 16-year period. The purpose of our study was to examine the perioperative outcomes, recurrence rate, and overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing partial, subtotal, and total sternectomy. RESULTS: We found that 5-year OS was 26.0%, Univariate analysis of predictors of survival revealed that, there was a trend toward prolonged 5-year survival at R0 resection (35.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.058). Post resection defect size associated with prolonged 5-year OS (42.1% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). The absence of post-operative complications associated with prolonged 5-year OS (40.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.012), with special attention to absence of post-operative flail chest which was associated with prolonged 5-year OS (36.2% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, R0 resection (HR, 3.692 [95% CI, 1.190–11.456], p = 0.024) and absence of post-operative flail chest (HR, 52.204 [95% CI, 5.908–461.289], p < 0.001) were associated with improved OS. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that sternal resection of benign and primary malignant tumors can yield long-term survival. The completeness of resection and absence of postoperative flail chest are the strongest predictors of survival. Edited by: Ksenija Bogoeva-Kostovska Citation: Abdelrahman A, Ismail M, Ghaly G, Abulkheir IL, Hanafy A. Oncological Outcome of Surgically Resected Sternal Tumors, 16 Years’ Experience. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2022 Jan 03; 10(B):42-47. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022. 6604
Requirement Analysis and Implementation of Multicriteria Analysis in the NEEDS Project

This report specifies the requirements for and implementation of the multicriteria analysis of future energy technologies performed by a large number of stakeholders within the EU-funded integrated projct NEEDS. The report is composed of two main parts and the appendix. The first part starts with a summary of the objectives of the analysis followed by a detailed specifiation of the analyzed problem, in particular the analysis context, discussion of the sets of criteria and alternatives, and the participation of the stakeholders. Next, the planned problem analysis process is first outlined, and then discussed in more detail. Finally, the requirements for the multicritria analysis are specified. The second part deals with the implementation of the dedicated Web-site developed for this analysis, and later extended to support analysis of any multicriteria choice between discrete alternatives. It starts with an overview of the problem analysis process and the corresponding basic assumptions. Te architecture of the application and its features are then presented. Lessons learned from the development and use of this application conclude this part of the report. The appendix contains a review of the state-of-the-art of applying multicriteria analysis to energy problems, as well as characteristics of three applications that exploit the multicriteria analysis methods for energy problems considered relevant to the analysis reported in this paper.
Robot and machine scheduling with state-dependent part input sequencing in flexible manufacturing systems

In competitive global markets, it is important to meet customer demands on multiple priorities such as price, quality, customisation and quick delivery. This paper investigates the problems of part input sequencing and scheduling in flexible manufacturing systems in a mass customisation/mass personalisation (MC/MP) environment. Both robot and machine scheduling rules using a state-dependent part input sequencing algorithm are investigated. Simulation experiments and statistical analyses are carried out. Effective rules are identified. The results show interactions between robot scheduling and machine scheduling in the MC/MP environment. Further research suggestions are provided.
Differential remodelling in small and large murine airways revealed by novel whole lung airway analysis

Airway remodelling occurs in chronic asthma leading to increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass and extra-cellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Whilst extensively studied in murine airways; studies report only selected larger airways at one time point meaning the spatial distribution and resolution of remodelling are poorly understood. Here we use a new method allowing comprehensive assessment of the spatial and temporal changes in ASM, ECM and epithelium in large numbers of murine airways after allergen challenge. Using image processing to analyse 20-50 airways from a whole lung section revealed increases in ASM and ECM after allergen challenge were greater in small and large rather than intermediate airways. ASM predominantly accumulated adjacent to the basement membrane whereas ECM was distributed across the airway wall. Epithelial hyperplasia was most marked in small and intermediate airways. Post challenge, ASM changes resolved over seven days whereas ECM and epithelial changes persisted. The new method suggests large and small airways remodel differently and the long-term consequences of airway inflammation may depend more on ECM and epithelial changes than ASM. The method reduces the number of animals needed, reveals important spatial differences in remodelling and could set new analysis standards for murine asthma models.
Faculty members’ perceptions and use of open access journals

Open access is a humanitarian movement to ensure equal access to knowledge for each and every member of our society. It aims to reduce the access and knowledge divide and allow researchers from around the world to contribute to enriching human knowledge. Using online surveys, this study attempts to understand Bangladeshi faculty members’ awareness, perceptions, and use of open access journals. It also explores the motivational factors that influence the faculty members to choose open access journals for publication. The study briefly discusses some issues of predatory open access journals in the context of the open access movement. Finally, the paper suggests that libraries work as centres for open access publications and help faculty members and researchers choose the right journals for their research.
Comparison of the Effects of Microbial Inoculants on Fermentation Quality and Microbiota in Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and Corn (Zea mays L.) Silage

Forage preservation for livestock feeding is usually done by drying the plant material and storing it as hay or ensiling it into silage. During the ensiling process, the pH in the system is lowered by the activities of lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB), inhibiting the growth of spoilage microorganisms and maintaining the quality of the ensiled product. To improve this process, inoculation of LAB could be used as starter cultures to shorten the ensiling time and control the fermentation process. Here, we compared fermentation quality and bacterial dynamics in two plant materials, whole-plant corn (Zea mays L.) and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), with and without starter inoculation. The efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum, L. brevis, and Pediococcus pentosaceus as starter cultures were also compared in the ensiling system. In whole-plant corn, pH decreased significantly, while lactic acid content increased significantly on Day 3 in both the non-inoculated and LAB-inoculated groups. Prior to ensiling, the predominant LAB bacteria were Weissella, Enterococcus, and Lactococcus, which shifted to Lactobacillus during ensiling of whole-plant corn in both the non-inoculated and LAB inoculated groups. Interestingly, the epiphytic LAB associated with Napier grass were much lower than those of whole-plant corn before ensiling. Consequently, the fermentation quality of Napier grass was improved by the addition of LAB inoculants, especially L. plantarum and a combination of all three selected LAB strains showed better fermentation quality than the non-inoculated control. Therefore, the different abundance and diversity of epiphytic LAB in plant raw materials could be one of the most important factors determining whether LAB starter cultures would be necessary for silage fermentation.
Robotic Cardiac Surgery in Europe: Status 2020

Background European surgeons were the first worldwide to use robotic techniques in cardiac surgery and major steps in procedure development were taken in Europe. After a hype in the early 2000s case numbers decreased but due to technological improvements renewed interest can be noted. We assessed the current activities and outcomes in robotically assisted cardiac surgery on the European continent. Methods Data were collected in an international anonymized registry of 26 European centers with a robotic cardiac surgery program. Results During a 4-year period (2016–2019), 2,563 procedures were carried out [30.0% female, 58.5 (15.4) years old, EuroSCORE II 1.56 (1.74)], including robotically assisted coronary bypass grafting (n = 1266, 49.4%), robotic mitral or tricuspid valve surgery (n = 945, 36.9%), isolated atrial septal defect closure (n = 225, 8.8%), left atrial myxoma resection (n = 54, 2.1%), and other procedures (n = 73, 2.8%). The number of procedures doubled during the study period (from n = 435 in 2016 to n = 923 in 2019). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time in pump assisted cases was 148.6 (63.5) min and the myocardial ischemic time was 88.7 (46.1) min. Conversion to larger thoracic incisions was required in 56 cases (2.2%). Perioperative rates of revision for bleeding, stroke, and mortality were 56 (2.2%), 6 (0.2 %), and 27 (1.1%), respectively. Median postoperative hospital length of stay was 6.6 (6.6) days. Conclusion Robotic cardiac surgery case numbers in Europe are growing fast, including a large spectrum of procedures. Conversion rates are low and clinical outcomes are favorable, indicating safe conduct of these high-tech minimally invasive procedures.
Small Proline-Rich Protein 3 Regulates IL-33/ILC2 Axis to Promote Allergic Airway Inflammation

Small proline-rich proteins (SPRRs), components of cornified cell envelope precursors, have recently been found to participate in airway diseases. However, their role in allergic airway inflammatory conditions remains unknown. Here, we explored the expression of SPRR3 in house dust mite (HDM)-sensitized/challenged mice and attempted to elucidate the regulatory role of SPRR3 in allergic airway inflammation. SPRR3 was identified via bioinformatics analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and further confirmed to be upregulated in the lungs of asthmatic mice. Knockdown of SPRR3 via the intratracheal route significantly inhibited eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and suppressed the expressions of type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in BALF and lung tissues. Further, SPRR3 knockdown reduced the expression of IL-33 and further attenuated the activation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway in the recruitment of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) to inhibit allergic airway inflammation. In vitro, SPRR3 siRNA could alleviate HDM-induced inflammatory responses in BEAS-2B cells. This study reveals the regulatory role of SPRR3 in allergic airway inflammation, identifying this protein as a potential novel therapeutic target for asthma.
Aliidiomarina shirensis as Possible Source of the Integron- and Plasmid-Mediated Fosfomycin Resistance Gene fosC2

In-silico analysis and cloning experiments identified a fosC2-like fosfomycin resistance gene in the chromosome of Aliidiomarina shirensis, with our data suggesting that this bacterium might be added to the list of species identified as reservoirs of fos-like genes that were subsequently acquired by other Gram-negative species. Indeed, the fosC2 gene was identified as acquired in Providencia huaxinensis and Aeromonas hydrophila isolates, with this gene being located in class 1 integron structures in the latter cases. ABSTRACT In-silico analysis and cloning experiments identified a fosC2-like fosfomycin resistance gene in the chromosome of Aliidiomarina shirensis, with our data suggesting that this bacterium might be added to the list of species identified as reservoirs of fos-like genes that were subsequently acquired by other Gram-negative species. Indeed, the fosC2 gene was identified as acquired in Providencia huaxinensis and Aeromonas hydrophila isolates, with this gene being located in class 1 integron structures in the latter cases. Biochemical characterization and site-directed mutagenesis showed a higher catalytic efficiency for the intrinsic FosC2AS (from A. shirensis) than for the acquired FosC2 (from P. huaxinensis) enzyme due to a single substitution in the amino acid sequence (Gly43Glu). Notably, this study constitutes the first identification of the likely natural reservoir of a complete gene cassette (including its attC site).