Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sustainable business practices

The current demanding business environment requires corporations to act fast in finding effective solutions to problems given the myriad of challenges they face (Dyllick & Hockerts, 2001). The challenges include the impact of climate change on business practices, natural resource consumption, chemical pollution, technological change etc. Moreover, the forces of globalization, heightened concerns about the deteriorating quality of the physical environment and increased stakeholder power are also increasingly having a real influence on business practices (Rainey, 2008). Since 1992, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has encouraged the adoption of the concept of ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) to support business efforts aimed at addressing some of these challenges. The aim of eco-efficiency is to reduce the amount of energy and materials used in production processes to achieve economic and environmental benefits (WBCSD, 2000). In particular, eco-efficiency indicators (EEI) were developed, some tailored for business purposes while others have generic application. The aim of this study was to investigate how corporations with ambitions of achieving sustainable development use the concept of eco-efficiency. Specifically this involved an assessment of the application of eco-efficiency indicators within corporations to illustrate their effectiveness when utilized to achieve sustainable development. A qualitative approach based on a literature review formed the basis of the research approach. Empirical data for the study was derived from journal articles reviewed from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) library and other organization websites. The triple bottom line perspective which requires corporations to pay attention to economic, social and ecological aspects (Elkington, 1999) was used as the grand theory for the thesis. The findings were that: corporations in different sectors use different eco-efficiency indicators which presents a challenge of comparing best practice; the triple bottom line framework does not provide enough grounds for understanding the required cooperation and manifest interdependencies between the different domains of sustainable development (SD); eco-efficiency indicators are inadequate as a solution for corporations especially small companies, to move towards sustainable development, because of the high costs, data intensity and lack of attention to social development, associated with their implementation. In view of the above findings, the study proposes that more needs to be done to find sustainable and affordable democratic indicators, tools and concepts that capture all the aspects of sustainable development.
Nickel availability to pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants limits hydrogenase activity of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae bacteroids by affecting the processing of the hydrogenase structural subunits

Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae UPM791 induces the synthesis of an [NiFe] hydrogenase in pea (Pisum sativum L.) bacteroids which oxidizes the H2 generated by the nitrogenase complex inside the root nodules. The synthesis of this hydrogenase requires the genes for the small and large hydrogenase subunits (hupS and hupL, respectively) and 15 accessory genes clustered in a complex locus in the symbiotic plasmid. We show here that the bacteroid hydrogenase activity is limited by the availability of nickel to pea plants. Addition of Ni2+ to plant nutrient solutions (up to 10 mg/liter) resulted in sharp increases (up to 15-fold) in hydrogenase activity. This effect was not detected when other divalent cations (Zn2+, Co2+, Fe2+, and Mn2+) were added at the same concentrations. Determinations of the steady-state levels of hupSL-specific mRNA indicated that this increase in hydrogenase activity was not due to stimulation of transcription of structural genes. Immunoblot analysis with antibodies raised against the large and small subunits of the hydrogenase enzyme demonstrated that in the low-nickel situation, both subunits are mainly present in slow-migrating, unprocessed forms. Supplementation of the plant nutrient solution with increasing nickel concentrations caused the conversion of the slow-migrating forms of both subunits into fast-moving, mature forms. This nickel-dependent maturation process of the hydrogenase subunits is mediated by accessory gene products, since bacteroids from H2 uptake-deficient mutants carrying Tn5 insertions in hupG and hupK and in hypB and hypE accumulated the immature forms of both hydrogenase subunits even in the presence of high nickel levels.
Maximizing Effectiveness Using a Flexible Inventory

Abstract : Although uncertainty in production and inventory systems is not desirable predictions for demand are inherently uncertain. When the set of products is complex, that is, composed of multiple subassemblies, and there are shared subassemblies amongst different product types, the option for storing partially completed assemblies may also help in meeting demand uncertainties. Furthermore, as new technology is developed and new models are added to the inventory, older models can sometimes be upgraded to add the new functionality and increase the overall effectiveness of the inventory in meeting demand. Thus, when faced with uncertain demand for one or more products over a geographically distributed domain, the set of recourses for a manufacturer/planner include excess production (inventory storage), rapid re-location of inventory, production surges when to upgrade technology or procure new models, what level of assembly to store the products, and where to store these, as well as in what quantities and ratios of product types. Factors affecting these decisions are manpower availability, budgets ease of upgrade, cost of new procurements, and probabilities of demand realization. This paper explores related decision models in the context of the torpedo enterprise. Solutions of mathematical models are illustrated and features of some of the models leading to specific solution algorithms highlighted. Simulations to assess the utility of the solutions obtained by analytical methods are also presented.
A New Inverted U-Shape Hazard Function

The hazard function describes the unobserved rate at which failures occur. In this paper, we present a new inverted U-shape hazard function, developed for risk-events related to human activities. This hazard shape has received less attention in the literature relative to monotone hazard functions, likely due to the mathematical complexity of their regression models. We present a new survivor function, based on a logarithm transformation, and time displacement of Weibull's survivor function, that has an inverted U-shape hazard function similar to the log-logistic one. The advantage of this hazard function relative to the Weibull, and log-logistic hazard functions is in its unique curvature, which may fit better in some cases. We use simulation studies to present the new distribution characteristics in comparison to the Weibull, and the log-logistic distributions.
A fractional-order optimization and parametric selection method of fractional differential masks

When processing the image, The first-order image de-fuzzification template which is defined by the traditional integer differential produces a wide edge, while the second-order template enhances texture and noise. In order to avoid the side effects of the integer differential template, this paper constructs the fractional differential mask and constructs the fractional differential mask, In the traditional fractional mask, by setting the parameters manually, the entropy of the image can be used to determine the abundance of the image information as an image test standard, and an entropy optimal fractional differential mask parameter is selected, The simulation results show that the mask can not only keep the low-frequency contour information of the smooth region, but also enhance the texture information of the high-frequency edge and high-frequency in the image. For the severe weather images, the method used in this paper has a good effect, can retain the image information very well.
Cloning and Expression Analysis of Human Bleomycin Hydrolase , a Cysteine Proteinase Involved in Chemotherapy Resistance 1

inactive metabolite led Umezawa et a! (5) to suggest that drug inactivation could play a major role in the tumor resistance to these compounds. Over the last years, a number of studies from different groups have contributed to elucidate structural and functional characteristics of bleomycin hydrolase. Thus, biochemical studies with the enzyme purified from rabbit tissues have shown that this hydrolytic enzyme is a cysteine proteinase with a cathepsin H-like substrate specificity and is sensitive to cysteine proteinase-specific inhibitors like E-64 (6, 7). More recently, the isolation of partial cDNA clones encoding rabbit bleomycin hydrolase has confirmed that this enzyme contains, in its amino acid sequence, several features characteristic of the different members of the cysteine proteinase family of proteins, including the active site cysteine residue (8). However, it differs from these en zymes in a number of physicochemical properties, including molec ular mass, oligomeric structure, and pH optimum. The availability of structural data on rabbit bleomycin hydrolase has been also useful to demonstrate that there are yeast and bacterial homologues of this enzyme (9â€”13). These proteins, called yeast bleomycin hydrolase and pepC,3respectively, have about 35% identities with the rabbit enzyme and also possess peptidase activity. The conservation of this gene from bacteria to mammals points to an important, although as yet unknown, function. In this regard, it has been reported recently that the yeast bleomycin hydrolase also hasDNA-binding activity and acts
Budgeting and Hierarchical Control

This paper develops a model of budgeting in hierarchical organizations. Each agent (manager) in the hierarchy receives a budget for a task; based on his own information, the agent assigns tasks and budgets to his subordinates, who, in turn, do the same for their subordinates and so forth. Each department's performance is measured by the difference between budgeted and actual cost. In this setting we show that a particular budget mechanism is optimal in terms of the incentives it creates and the coordination it achieves.
Lectin-sugar interaction. Calculated versus experimental binding energies.

Although a steadily increasing number of protein--ligand docking experiments have been performed successfully, there are only few studies concerning protein--sugar interactions. In this study, we investigate the interaction of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) with N-acetylglucosamine and a number of its derivatives and predict the binding free energies using flexible docking techniques. To assess the quality of our predictions, we also determined those binding free energies experimentally in cell-binding studies. The predicted binding site, ligand orientation, and details of the binding mode are in perfect agreement with the known crystal structure of WGA with a sialoglycopeptide. Furthermore, we obtained an excellent linear correlation of our predicted binding free energies with both our own data and experimental data from the literature [Monsigny, M. , Roche, A.C. , Sene, C. , Maget Dana, R. & Delmotte, F. (1980) Eur. J. Biochem. 104, 147-153. ]. In both cases, predicted energies were within 1.0 kJ x mol(-1) of the experimental value. These results illustrate the usefulness of docking-based methods for the qualitative and quantitative prediction of protein--carbohydrate interactions. The insights gained from such theoretical studies may be used to complement the results from the still scarce crystal structures.
Patient perceptions of patient-empowering nurse behaviours, patient activation and functional health status in postsurgical patients with life-threatening long-term illnesses.

AIM To explore the trajectory of associations between the nursing care process of patient empowerment during postsurgical hospitalization and postdischarge patient self-management outcomes, specifically patient activation and functional health status. BACKGROUND Patient-centred care models advocate for patient empowerment in long-term illness care. Postsurgical patients with life-threatening long-term illnesses frequently feel powerless, have unmet needs, decreased functional health status and high readmission rates; however, previous studies of patient empowerment have conceptualized empowerment as an outcome primarily in outpatient settings, with little attention paid to provider processes used to empower patients during hospitalizations. DESIGN A non-experimental, prospective, correlational study. METHODS This sample consisted of 113 postsurgical cancer and cardiac patients enrolled between August 2012–February 2013. Patient perceptions of patient-empowering nurse behaviours and baseline patient activation were measured prior to discharge. Patient activation and functional health status were measured 6 weeks following discharge. Data were analysed with multiple linear regression using a simultaneous equation approach. RESULTS Patients reported high perceptions of patient-empowering nurse behaviours and patient activation levels. Functional health status scores were below population norms. Patient perceptions of empowering nurse behaviours were positively associated with postdischarge patient activation, which was positively associated with mental functional health status. Length of stay was the only significant predictor of physical functional health status. CONCLUSION This study provides further quantitative evidence supporting the relationship between quality nursing care and postdischarge patient outcomes. Intentional use of patient-empowering nurse behaviours could lead to improved patient activation and functional health status in postsurgical patients with life-threatening long-term illnesses.
Evidence regarding patient compliance with incentive spirometry interventions after cardiac, thoracic and abdominal surgeries: A systematic literature review

Reducing postoperative pulmonary complications by improving postoperative lung expansion and ventilation is a primary goal after major thoracic surgeries, and can directly impact morbidity and downstream health care costs. Although deep breathing exercises, with or without devices, have demonstrated efficacy, the evidence regarding the utility of incentive spirometry has been inconclusive. Accordingly, this comprehensive literature search and review examined selected randomized controlled trials investigating several aspects of incentive spirometry interventions.
The Use of Simulation Technology in Sport Finance Courses: The Case of the Oakland A's Baseball Business Simulator

Teaching a graduate level sport finance class can be quite complex. With a variety of concepts, such as pricing, budgeting, and public funding, to convey in a limited amount of time, new forms of pedagogy are necessary to assist instructors as this technologically-advanced generation enters into academia. Subsequently, technology has been created to apply basic concepts related to finance to the complexity of a professional sports organization. One such program is the Oakland A’s Baseball Business Simulator. Through interviews and “emotional recall” (Ellis, 2004), this evaluative case study seeks to determine the effectiveness of this technology within this environment.
Foreign Ownership and Stock Market Liquidity

In this study we analyze how the price impact of trades and the bid-ask spread are related to foreign stock ownership using data from 20 emerging markets. We show that while the price impact of trades increases with the percentage of shares held by foreign investors, the bid-ask spread decreases with foreign ownership. We interpret these results as evidence that although foreign investors increase adverse selection risks for liquidity providers, they bring net benefit to the market in terms of lower trading costs by increasing competition in the price discovery process. The general increase in foreign ownership in emerging markets after the global financial crisis resulted in higher price impacts and lower spreads. The two-stage least squares regression analysis suggests that our results are unlikely to be driven by reverse causality.
Test–retest reproducibility of the default‐mode network in healthy individuals

Independent component analysis (ICA) of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) time‐series reveals distinct coactivation patterns in the resting brain representing spatially coherent spontaneous fluctuations of the fMRI signal. Among these patterns, the so‐called default‐mode network (DMN) has been attributed to the ongoing mental activity of the brain during wakeful resting state. Studies suggest that many neuropsychiatric diseases disconnect brain areas belonging to the DMN. The potential use of the DMN as functional imaging marker for individuals at risk for these diseases, however, requires that the components of the DMN are reproducible over time in healthy individuals. In this study, we assessed the reproducibility of the DMN components within and between imaging sessions in 18 healthy young subjects (mean age, 27.5 years) who were scanned three times with two resting state scans during each session at 3.0T field strength. Statistical analysis of fMRI time‐series was done using ICA implemented with BrainVoyager QX. At all three sessions the essential components of the DMN could be identified in each individual. Spatial extent of DMN activity and size of overlap within and between sessions were most reproducible for the anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus. The degree of reproducibility of the DMN agrees with the degree of reproducibility found with motor paradigms. We conclude that DMN coactivation patterns are reproducible in healthy young subjects. Therefore, these data can serve as basis to further explore the effects of aging and neuropsychiatric diseases on the DMN of the brain. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Firm boundaries and investments in information technologies in Spanish manufacturing firms

The objective of this paper is to analyse the relationship between information processing needs and capabilities. We explore the consequences of variations in the vertical and horizontal boundaries of the firm on investments in information technologies. Contrarily to the existing literature, which postulates that less vertical integration implies more investments in information technologies, we argue that concurrent sourcing increases the likelihood of investing in the stock of information technologies. We also maintain that the type of technology analysed has to be taken into account when relating it to firm limits. In particular, we show that beyond-firm technologies are positively related with outsourcing, but diversification only has an influence on the technologies that are used internally. Our hypotheses are tested on a panel of Spanish manufacturing firms, offering general support to our arguments.
Should I Take It or Should I Not? Exploration of Students’ Course Choice as a Product

This study aims to explore the components of students’ course selection process and overlooking these components from marketing perspective. Three focus groups were administered. Data revealed that the focus groups participants’ responses are congregated in two main categories: (1) WOM related evaluations. (2) Official concerns based evaluations. The WOM related evaluations were emerged as follows; (1.1) instructors’ in-class performance, (1.2) the degree of attractiveness of course-related virtual environment, (1.3) the toughness of course assignments and their grading policies. Official concerns based evaluations were surfaced as follows; (2.1) level of academic and practical experience of instructors (2.2) the use of computer-enhanced learning technologies. Like consumer purchase decision process it is observed that, students too seek reliable information and gather information mainly from senior students in the form of WOM activities; and courses and instructors’ performance factors which are counterparts of product and services in academia are evaluated based on information in WOM activities.
Deconstructing SYNtax

There are at least two distinct ways of conceiving of syntax: the set of rules that enable speakers and listeners to combine the meaning of expressions (compositional syntax), or the set of formal constraints on the combinations of expressions (formal syntax). The question that occupies us in this paper is whether all languages include a significant formal syntax component or whether there are languages in which most syntactic rules are exclusively compositional. Our claims are (1) that Oneida (Northern Iroquoian) has almost no formal syntax component and is very close to a language that includes only a compositional syntax component and (2) that the little formal syntax Oneida has does not require making reference to syntactic features.
Functional Properties and Genetic Relatedness of the Fusion and Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase Proteins of a Mumps Virus-Like Bat Virus

ABSTRACT A bat virus with high phylogenetic relatedness to human mumps virus (MuV) was identified recently at the nucleic acid level. We analyzed the functional activities of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and the fusion (F) proteins of the bat virus (batMuV) and compared them to the respective proteins of a human isolate. Transfected cells expressing the F and HN proteins of batMuV were recognized by antibodies directed against these proteins of human MuV, indicating that both viruses are serologically related. Fusion, hemadsorption, and neuraminidase activities were demonstrated for batMuV, and either bat-derived protein could substitute for its human MuV counterpart in inducing syncytium formation when coexpressed in different mammalian cell lines, including chiropteran cells. Cells expressing batMuV glycoproteins were shown to have lower neuraminidase activity. The syncytia were smaller, and they were present in lower numbers than those observed after coexpression of the corresponding glycoproteins of a clinical isolate of MuV (hMuV). The phenotypic differences in the neuraminidase and fusion activity between the glycoproteins of batMuV and hMuV are explained by differences in the expression level of the HN and F proteins of the two viruses. In the case of the F protein, analysis of chimeric proteins revealed that the signal peptide of the bat MuV fusion protein is responsible for the lower surface expression. These results indicate that the surface glycoproteins of batMuV are serologically and functionally related to those of hMuV, raising the possibility of bats as a reservoir for interspecies transmission. IMPORTANCE The recently described MuV-like bat virus is unique among other recently identified human-like bat-associated viruses because of its high sequence homology (approximately 90% in most genes) to its human counterpart. Although it is not known if humans can be infected by batMuV, the antigenic relatedness between the bat and human forms of the virus suggests that humans carrying neutralizing antibodies against MuV are protected from infection by batMuV. The close functional relationship between MuV and batMuV is demonstrated by cooperation of the respective HN and F proteins to induce syncytium formation in heterologous expression studies. An interesting feature of the glycoproteins of batMuV is the downregulation of the fusion activity by the signal peptide of F, which has not been reported for other paramyxoviruses. These results are important contributions for risk assessment and for a better understanding of the replication strategy of batMuV.