Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Composition of New Venture Teams : Its Dynamics and Consequences

New venture team composition lies at the heart of this thesis. Drawing on social-psychological explanations and human capital reasoning, the thesis addresses the social as well as the instrumental foci facing new venture teams. This is done by addressing four research questions: 1) What are the characteristics of new venture teams and their team members? 2) What impact does team composition and firm performance have on team dynamics? 3) What impact does team member characteristics and individual deviation have on individual dynamics? 4) How does team composition and team dynamics influence firm performance? Dynamics is studied by investigating the adding and dropping of team members. Research on entrepreneurial teams is characterized by several methodological challenges that this thesis takes on. First, there is a lack of longitudinal studies. Second, no studies are based on truly random samples of teams. Third, the unit and level of analysis has been the team and the firm. Rarely is the individual considered. In addition, the thesis sheds light on team diversity and its effects as well as the relationship with performance, both as an antecedent and as a consequence. The empirical setting is based on a unique database covering all individuals entering into self-employment in knowledge-intensive industries in Sweden during the 1996 to 2000 period. Their firms are tracked annually up to 2002, providing a census panel three to seven years long consisting of five cohorts. This is done by using secondary data from Statistics Sweden (SCB) covering information on individuals as well as their firms. By combining individual and firm level data, the thesis demonstrates how team level constructs can be obtained. Overall, the hypothesized relations predicting team member and individual exits receive strong support. Entries to teams and the performance of the firms are not as well explained by the chosen constructs. The findings show that greater internal diversity along some but not all demographic dimensions is positively associated with a higher rate of team member exits. More precisely,when diversity can be linked to status differences, the impact is more pronounced. Furthermore, the findings show that deviation from others in the group has an impact on which individual is likely to leave the team. There are also considerable differences in behavior between teams consisting of spousal pairs and other teams. In fact, the findings show that spousal couples venturing together are very common and that the typical team does not match the entrepreneurial team as it often is portrayed in the literature. In sum, the study suggests that diversity in attributes related to status can influence team stability. In addition, trust and prior relationships appear to be especially important for the creation and development of new venture teams.
Early Antibiotic Exposure Is Not Detrimental to Therapeutic Effect from Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background and Rationale: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is an expanding therapeutic option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Antibiotics (ATB) taken prior to or early during ICI therapy can impact immunotherapy efficacy across indications; however, the effect of ATB is undefined in HCC. Methods: In a large international cohort of 450 ICI recipients from Europe, North America, and Asia, we categorized patients according to timing of ATB focusing on exposure within −30 to +30 days from ICI (early immunotherapy period [EIOP]). EIOP was evaluated in association with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and best radiologic response using RECIST 1.1 criteria. Results: Our study comprised mostly cirrhotic (329, 73.3%) males (355, 79.1%) with a Child-Turcotte Pugh class of A (332, 73.9%), receiving ICI after 1 therapy line (251, 55.9%) for HCC of Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage C (325, 72.4%). EIOP (n = 170, 37.9%) was independent of baseline clinicopathologic features of HCC and correlated with longer PFS (6.1 vs. 3.7 months, log-rank p = 0.0135). EIOP+ patients had similar OS, overall response, and disease control rates (DCRs) compared to EIOP. The effect of EIOP persisted in landmark time analyses and in multivariable models, confirming the independent predictive role of EIOP in influencing PFS following adjustment for covariates reflective of tumor burden, liver function, and ICI regimen administered. In patients receiving programmed cell death-1 receptor/ligand inhibitors monotherapy, EIOP was also associated with higher DCRs (61.4% vs. 50.9%, p = 0.0494). Conclusions: Unlike other oncological indications, ATB in the 30 days before or after ICI initiation is associated with improved benefit from immunotherapy, independent of disease and treatment-related features. Evaluation of the immune microbiologic determinants of response to ICI in HCC warrants further investigation.
TRIALS WITH MICROWAVE DETECTION OF VULNERABLE ROAD USERS AND PRELIMINARY EMPIRICAL MODEL TEST

This paper reports on experiments studying the use of microwave detection for detecting vulnerable road users (VRUs) (namely pedestrians and bicyclists) at signalized intersections. The results of this project show microwave detection to be a viable means for influencing signal control and for informing other road users about the presence of VRUs.
Transportation Systems and Service Policy: A Project-Based Introduction

Introduction. Part I: Introduction. Introduction to transportation planning and policy. Part II: Long-range transportation planning. Transportation demand analysis. Facilities design and impacts. Example: service policy variables and design projects. Part III: Short-range transportation systems planning. Transportation demand management and HOV projects. Example and projects - HOV corridor planning and impacts. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.
Gebelikte Sigara Kullanımının Prenatal Bağlanmaya Etkisi

Objective : This study was conducted to determine the smoking status during pregnancy and the effect of smoking on prenatal attachment. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out in a public hospital between 01.09. 2017 and 30.01. 2018. The study was conducted with 352 pregnant women. In collecting data, sociodemographic features, obstetric history, descriptive information form including smoking features, Fagerstrom test and prenatal attachment inventory for nicotine addiction were used. Results : While 64.5% (n=227) of pregnant women reported that they never smoked, 35.5% (n=125) stated that they smoked. 19.6% (n=69) of women who smoked said that they continued smoking during pregnancy and 15.9% (n=56) quit smoking. In the study, it was found that pregnant women who smoked had less educated, unemployed and unplanned pregnancy compared to non-smoker pregnant women. Prenatal attachment levels of pregnant women who smoke were significantly lower than non-smoking women (p> 0.05). Conclusions : The effect of smoking on prenatal attachment was determined. Women should be counseled about the effects of smoking on the effects of the mother and baby during pregnancy. Especially smoking pregnant women should be supported in quitting smoking and prenatal attachment with consultancy services within the scope of midwifery care during antenatal follow-ups.
The effects of computer assurance specialist competence and auditor accounting information system expertise on auditor planning judgments

While auditors' interactions with complex accounting information systems (AIS) and computer assurance specialists (CAS) play a critical role in determining audit quality (POB 2000), little prior research has examined these topics. This study investigates the effects of CAS competence and auditor AIS expertise on auditor planning judgments in a complex AIS environment. The audit literature has typically examined auditors' evaluations of evidence provided by sources with expertise structures similar to their own. However, the natural variation in knowledge structures that occurs between CAS and auditors likely results in a more complex relationship than those previously examined. Auditors were given a quasi-experimental case where the competence of the CAS was manipulated as high and low between auditors and auditor AIS expertise was measured. The case required auditors to evaluate evidence related to the audit of a complex AIS client to which a CAS had been assigned, assess current year inherent and control risks, and plan the nature, timing, and extent of substantive procedures for a transaction cycle. Results indicate that auditors possessing higher AIS expertise assessed both inherent and controls risks at higher levels and designed corresponding substantive tests that were greater in scope to mitigate those risks. For high AIS expertise auditors, both the quality of their risk assessments and the effectiveness of their scope of tests exceeded those of low AIS expertise auditors. Auditors were also sensitive to the reliability of CAS as an evidence source and assessed control risk higher when provided with control testing evidence from a CAS with low competence. When planning substantive procedures, auditors' AIS expertise levels moderated their reaction to CAS competence. Specifically, under conditions of low CAS competence, auditors with higher AIS expertise expanded the scope of their audit testing beyond the scope designed by auditors possessing lower AIS expertise. No such AIS expertise effect occurred under conditions of high CAS competence. These results suggest that auditor AIS expertise can play a significant role in complex AIS environments and in their ability to compensate for potential CAS competence deficiencies by increasing the scope of substantive tests.
Predicting The Ability To Successfully Retrieve Sperm In Infertile Men With Non-obstructive Azoospermia

Objectives: to determine the ability of pre-surgical markers to predict the ability to retrieve sperm in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing surgical sperm retrieval. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of 136 infertile patients with azoospermia, examined in the Hue Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (HUECREI), Hue University Hospital from August 2014 to July 2018. Patients underwent surgical sperm retrieval in a stepwise manner via percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA), testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) then testicular sperm extraction (TESE) until sperm were detected. Patient age, duration of infertility, body mass index (BMI), hormonal profile (FSH, LH & testosterone), and testicular volume were analyzed to determine the predictor of successful sperm retrieval. Analysis was done by univariate & multivariate generalized estimating equation modeling where the primary outcome was sperm retrieved at surgery. Results: In total of 136 infertile men with azoospermia, beside 45 cases with OA, surgical sperm retrieval was successful in 22/91 patients with NOA (24.2%). The group of men with successful sperm retrieval were more likely to live in urban area (P=0.012), higher proportion of normal testicular density (P<0.05), lower serum FSH and serum LH (P<0.001). By multiple logistic regression model, total testicular volume was found to be a only considerable predictor of sperm retrieval in NOA group (OR 1.09, 95%CI 1.013-1.178, P=0.022). Conclusions: The measurement of total testicular volume can be helpful for predicting the successful result of surgical sperm retrieval in Vietnamese infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia. Key words: testicular ultrasound; endocrine profile; surgical sperm retrieval; non-obstructive; azoospermia.
The mediating role of innovation between family influence and business performance of public listed family businesses in Malaysia / Chong Wei Ying

Innovation is a sine qua non for many businesses in today’s competitive, complex and capricious environment. Plenty researches have highlighted that innovation is closely linked with business performance. Yet, to date, scant attention has been given to innovation in the world dominant form of business - family business. Even pertaining researches carried out in the past, the focuses are normally on the family versus nonfamily business dichotomy on innovation performance. However, in reality, family influence on business is multidimensional and continuous. The involvement and pattern of family influences vary from business to business. This dissertation seeks to fill these gaps by exploring the links between family influence, innovation and business performance. The study was undertaken in Malaysia context using a sample of 174 public listed family businesses. The data were obtained through questionnaire survey conducted over a period of six months. The study involved three constructs: family influence, innovation and business performance. Family influence was operationalized using the F-PEC scale. There are three important dimensions in F-PEC scale: power, experience and culture. The innovation construct was measured using innovation in product/process and idea generation prevailing in the company. The business performance was measured by family goal performance and financial performance. Data were analyzed using two tests: Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 20.0 and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS 20.0. Whereas the former test was used in the pilot test to verify the reliability and screened the iv preliminary data, the latter was conducted to explore the direct and indirect effects of family influence on innovation and business performance. Analysis of the structural relationship supports three out of the ten hypotheses. The hypothesized model results provided evidence that not all dimensions in F-PEC scale are statistically significant related with innovation. Among the dimensions in F-PEC scale, only culture is statistically significant related with innovation in family businesses. With regard to the direct effects of family influence on business performance, the study found that none of the dimensions in F-PEC scale is statistically significant related with business performance. Concerning the direct effect of innovation on business performance, as expected, innovation is positively linked with business performance. In the case of mediating effect, this study concluded that the influence of culture on business performance is mediated by innovation. The findings of this study should help both practitioners and academicians understand the link between family influence, innovation and business performance better. It strikes to provide a foundation for ongoing research into family business’ innovation, and the nature related family influence and their management.
Word-of-Mouth (WOM) distribution and intensity after elective surgery in relation to the decisive hospital choice process, satisfaction and recommendation

Background Patients frequently use experience-based sources when choosing a hospital, most often in form of word-of-mouth (WOM), which is perceived to be independent of direct information from providers. There is scarce data on the prevalence and intensity of WOM in the medical context. Methods This exploratory cohort study recruited patients for elective surgery at two maximum care facilities. In addition to demographic data, information sources used and determinant factors for decisive hospital choice were evaluated. After hospital discharge, a telephone interview was used to inquire about the state of health, complications, overall satisfaction, the extent and intensity of positive and negative communication and the estimated number of people reached by WOM. Results 348 questionnaires were evaluated and 231 patients were reached by telephone. Main sources for the hospital choice were the GP/specialist doctors, family and friends. Decisions were eventually based on the GP/specialist doctors, the hospital reputation and the spectrum of care provided by the hospitals. Post discharge, 94 patients were satisfied, 30 dissatisfied (107 neutral) with the care provided. After the operation, 120 had had contact with their GP/specialist doctors, 226 to family and friends, 129 to others, including 105 responses to the hospital staff. Postoperative persisting pain and a slow recovery to normal function were associated with lower satisfaction scores (p<0.05). Satisfied patients had given mostly positive (ratio 11.6: 1), neutral predominantly positive (ratio 2.2:1), dissatisfied rather negative (ratio 1:1.2) information to others. Per patient, positive aspects were passed on to 12, negative to 4 persons. All satisfied and 46.7% of dissatisfied patients would recommend the hospital to their family and friends. Conclusion WOM was found to correlate to satisfaction, with different proportions of positive and negative communication along the satisfaction continuum. Overall, the communication of positive aspects dominates
Supercirculation effects induced by vectoring a partial-span rectangular jet. [for fighter aircraft maneuverability]

Thrust-induced Supercirculation effects from thrust vectoring have indicated a potential for not only increasing maneuverability of fighter aircraft but also as a means of improving cruise performance. The current study investigated a partial-span rectangular jet-exhaust nozzle located at the wing trailing edge that acts similarly to a jet flap by increasing lift due to Supercirculation. This paper summarizes experimental studies including the effects of nozzle deflection angle, wing camber, and nozzle shape and exit location on lift, drag, and load distributions. The results indicate that significant increases in thrust-induce d lift along with substantial decreases in drag were found. A maximum lift gain factor of 4 was achieved and thrust recovery was maintained to a lift coefficient of 0.50. Of several airfoils considered, the supercritical airfoil exhibited superior performance with respect to both lift augmentation and thrust recovery. Overall performance was maintained to a Mach number of 0.90.
An evaluation of the use of Lexia Reading software with children in Year 3, Northern Ireland (6- to 7-year olds)

This paper evaluates the impact of Lexia Reading software on the progress of children experiencing reading difficulties in four Northern Ireland schools. The programme is designed to raise reading standards through a phonics-based approach to learning to read. A key feature of the software is the use of an ‘assessment without testing’ tool, to accurately place children on the programme and to adapt the programme to meet the individual needs of each child.
PASSENGER CAR EQUIVALENTS FOR UNINTERRUPTED FLOW: REVISION OF CIRCULAR 212 VALUES

As part of an overall federal effort to allocate road user taxes, a number of recent studies have been directed toward the calibration of passenger car equivalent (pce) values for trucks. These studies have provided the opportunity to review the pce values for uninterrupted flow contained in Transportation Research Board Circular 212, "Interim Materials on Highway Capacity. " The results of these efforts and their implications for highway capacity analysis are reviewed. Specific recommendations for revisions of the pce values of Circular 212 are made.
The Impact of Perceived Psychological Contract Breach, Abusive Supervision, and Silence on Employee Well-being

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological contract breach as it is perceived by employees, the comprehensiveness of silence and the moderating effect that abusive supervision has on the relationship between psychological contract breach, silence, and indirectly on employee well-being. This study revealed support for the negative relationship between psychological contract breach and employee well-being. Quiescent silence was found to mediate the negative relationship between psychological contract breach and employee well-being. Abusive supervision was found to be a strengthening moderator in the negative relation between psychological contract breach and quiescent silence.
Antiretroviral Therapy–Related Experiences Predict Mental Health Status Among People Living with HIV in China: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage has increased sharply. This prospective observational cohort study investigated the association between experiences related to ART and mental health problems among a sample of people living with HIV in China.Methods: The participants were 400 people living with HIV who had started ART for the first time in Guangzhou city. They were followed-up one-year after ART initiation. Probable depression and moderate/severe anxiety were measured at baseline and Month 12, while experiences related to ART were measured at Month 6. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to explore the predictors of mental health status.Results: Among the 300 participants (75.0%) who completed all three surveys, a significant decline in prevalence of probable depression (23.0% at baseline vs. 14.0% at Month 12, P = 0.002) and moderate/severe anxiety (14.7% at baseline vs. 8.7% at Month 12, P = 0.023) was observed during the follow-up period. After adjustment for mental health status and potential confounders at baseline, a number of ART-related experiences at Month 6 were associated with probable depression and/or moderate/severe anxiety measured at Month 12. Improved physical health, relationships with sexual partners, and self-confidence were associated with decreased mental health issues, while the side effects of ART, AIDS-related symptoms, and inconvenience in daily life due to ART use were associated with increased mental health issues.Conclusions: ART-related experiences were predictors of mental health problems, tailored mental health promotion interventions targeting these experiences are needed.
DYNAMIC ASPECTS OF DEPARTURE-TIME CHOICE BEHAVIOR IN A COMMUTING SYSTEM: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS

The day-to-day dynamics of departure-time decisions of urban commuters and the underlying behavioral mechanisms determining user responses to dynamically varying time-dependent congestion patterns are addressed. A conceptual model is presented incorporating the boundedly-rational notion of an indifference band of tolerable schedule delay. The results of an experiment involving real commuters interacting daily within a simulated traffic corridor are examined, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of user behavior.
NIGHT VISION ENHANCEMENT SYSTEMS FOR GROUND VEHICLES: THE HUMAN FACTORS LITERATURE

This report summarizes applied human factors studies of vision enhancement systems (both night vision goggles and LCD-based systems) and related topics for driving at night. Research recommendations are given based on gaps in the literature. Studies are grouped by dependent measure and task (target detection, distance/gap estimation, driving performance, subjective workload and preference, and other) and independent factor categories (display, sensor, environment, and the driver). Display characteristics include aided vs. unaided viewing, image-display mapping (field of view, magnification, focal length), image polarity, stereoscopic vs. monoscopic systems, and color vs. monochromatic images. Sensor characteristics include the sensor position and panning, type, fusion, reliability, and quality. Environmental characteristics include lighting and visibility, road, traffic and glare, speed, gap size, target characteristics, and task. The driver variable examined is age. For each one of these independent measures, results from all relevant studies are described. In addition, the report includes a short summary of each paper reviewed. As supplemental material, the appendix includes illustrations of military night vision systems and informal reviews of two civilian night vision systems.