Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Considerations Regarding Legal Ownership of the Data Stored Within Cloud Based Systems

This paper addresses certain issues related to ownership rights over the data that is stored in cloud based systems. These systems have been designed to allow access for a large amount of users to software services, thus reducing the costs and increasing the efficiency in using such resources. The access to a cloud based system is accomplished only after the user agrees to a series of terms and conditions, imposed by the administrator of the system. This set of conditions, which constitute a true adhesion contract, does not always contain mentions regarding ownership rights over the date or projects made by the user and stored within the system. Thus, it is important to identify the owners of these rights, as well as the conditions in which such rights come into existence and afterwards cease. At the end of the paper, a few conclusions and proposals regarding the development of such services are presented, aiming to ensure an adequate balance between the rights of the users and the rights of cloud based system administrators.
An Exploratory Study of Malaysian Technology-based Firms Leadership Styles

Leaders are effective when they are able to determine the success or failure of a firm. In a recent study on leadership styles within technology-based firms, three leadership styles have been identified; transformational, transactional and ambidextrous leadership. The present study is conducted to determine the level of leadership styles of technology-based firms in Malaysia based on these three styles. A survey was conducted on 46 technology-based firms in Malaysia. The findings revealed that all constrcuts of leadership styles were found to be significant. Practical implications are discussed and suggestions for future research are made.
PKHD1 mutations in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD)

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is an important cause of childhood renal‐ and liver‐related morbidity and mortality. The clinical spectrum is widely variable. About 30 to 50% of affected individuals die in the neonatal period, while others survive into adulthood. ARPKD is caused by mutations in the PKHD1 (polycystic kidney and hepatic disease 1) gene on chromosome 6p12, which is among the largest human genes, with a minimum of 86 exons assembled into a variety of alternatively spliced transcripts. The longest continuous open reading frame is predicted to yield a 4,074‐aa (447‐kDa) multidomain integral membrane protein (fibrocystin/polyductin) of unknown function. This update compiles all known PKHD1 mutations and polymorphisms/sequence variants. Mutations were found to be scattered throughout the gene without evidence of clustering at specific sites. Most PKHD1 mutations are unique to single families (“private mutations”) hampering genotype–phenotype correlations. Correlations have been drawn for the type of mutation rather than for the site of individual mutations. All patients carrying two truncating mutations displayed a severe phenotype with perinatal or neonatal demise, while patients surviving the neonatal period bear at least one missense mutation. However, some missense changes are obviously as devastating as truncating mutations. The present article intends 1) to provide an overview of PKHD1 mutations and polymorphisms/sequence variants identified so far, 2) to discuss potential genotype–phenotype correlations, and 3) to review them in the context of their clinical implications. A constantly updated list of mutations is available online (www.humgen.rwth‐aachen.de) and investigators are invited to submit their novel data to this PKHD1 mutation database. Hum Mutat 23:453–463, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Karyotype Characteristics of Onychostoma rara from South China

The karyotype of Onychostoma rara, which is endemic to China, was investigated for the first time using the methods of culture of kidney cell in vivo, and the numbers, sizes and morphology of the chromosomes in the species were reported. A total of 210 mitotic metaphases from 10 individual fish of O. rara, which were collected from the Pan yang River (located in the Pearl River system, China), showed that the modal number of chromosomes (82.38%) was 2n=50. The chromosome formula of the species could be stated as 2n=50=12M+16SM+10ST+12T and the arm number was NF=78. The average size of the chromosomes in the species varied from 8.592 to 13.872 μm, and its total length of haploid chromosomes was 302.777±23. 331μm. No heteromorphic sex chromosome was distinguished in these species. This study provides new and fundamental knowledge on karyotypes in O. rara which may advance evolutionary understanding, enhance conservation practices and the chromosomal manipulations used in aquaculture in these species.
Improved reconstruction for distributed video coding

Distributed video coding (DVC) gains more and more interest in the recent decade. State-of-the-art Wyner-Ziv decoding is performed by a mandatory feedback channel. It's mandatory for rate allocation and high reconstruction quality. The feedback channel is a handicap for real application. If no feedback channel is available the RD-performance of the system is decreased. We propose a soft reconstruction algorithm, which significantly increases the reconstruction quality if no feedback channel is available. If a feedback channel is available, the proposed soft reconstruction shows the similar performance as the best state-of-the-art reconstruction algorithm (MMSE).
Bone mineral density, vertebral fractures and body mass index in postmenopausal women with abdominal aortic calcification

Abstract Background: Evidence suggest that there are connections between osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between radiological measurements of abdominal aorta calcifications (AAC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study were included 125 postmenopausal women 50–84 years of age. BMD of the spine and hip was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). AAC were assessed by lateral radiographs of lumbar spine (L1–L4), using the antero-posterior severity score (0–24). Vertebral fractures were evaluated from T4 to L4 using Genant’s semiquantitative method. Results: Forty-one (32.8%) patients had osteoporosis and 61 (48.8%) had AAC with a mean score of 3.1. Postmenopausal women with AAC were older and had significantly lower femoral neck and trochanteric BMD than subjects without AAC (all p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the frequency of fractures between subjects with AAC and those without AAC (p > 0.05). In univariate analysis, age, height, weight, femoral and trochanter BMD were significantly associated with the severity of AAC score. In multiple regression analysis, femoral neck BMD, but not lumbar spine, trochanter BMD or age, was an independent predictor of AAC. Conclusions: Reduced femoral neck BMD is negatively associated with the presence of AAC in postmenopausal women. The association between BMD and AAC seems to be age-independent, which suggests a common pathogenesis for bone loss and vascular calcifications.
Uncovering regularities: On bare and evaluated controllers in Tigrinya

The "flexibility" of gender in Tigrinya is uncovered by (i) setting a value for gender for each noun at the lexical level (i.e. bare controllers) and (ii) analysing gender shifts as signals for evaluations (i.e. evaluated controllers). The analysis is formalized as lexical rules which change the value of gend and add an elementary predication in the rels list.
Technology Adoption Under Variable Weather Conditions — The Case of Rain Water Harvesting in Lake Naivasha Basin, Kenya

This paper applies a parametric econometric duration model (log–logistic) to analyze the duration of adoption of rain water harvesting techniques (RWHTs) among smallholder farmers in the Lake Naivasha basin, Kenya. The study utilizes survey data from 307 farm-households who are dependent on rain-fed agriculture in a region where rainfall has historically been relatively variable. In such circumstances, RWHT helps to stabilize water supply and help farmers manage weather-related risks. The current study seeks to identify constraints to the spread of RWHTs by exploring how rainfall variability influences the timing of decisions to adopt RWHTs alongside other farm-household and spatial characteristics. Empirical results indicate that although rainfall variability is a significant determinant of time to adoption of RWHTs, farmers’ sensitivity to rainfall variability have declined over time. Instead, access to informal sources of information has gained importance in adoption of RWHT implying that adoption has become more of an endogenous process of social exchange within communities, and less driven by external natural pressure and persuasion by state agents. Other important factors were: age and education level of household head, domestic water demand, ground water abstraction and the number of previous and expected adopters in the village.
Visual Project Mapping of Project Interdependencies

The research presented in this paper tests a network mapping approach called visual project mapping (VPM) as a tool for managing project portfolio interdependencies. Project portfolio management (PPM) approaches provide a holistic framework for the strategic management of the project portfolio to enhance the return from project investments. However; despite the increasing maturity of the project management (PM) and PPM disciplines, a large percentage of projects still fail and the management of complexity and project interdependencies is not well addressed. The findings of the exploratory study suggest that VPM may provide benefits, however fUrther research is required to better understand whether and how VPM can enhance an organisationS PPM capability, and how VPM representations can be best constructed, interpreted, and used in practice.
Undergraduate medical student's perceptions on traditional and problem based curricula: pilot study.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate and compare students' perceptions about teaching and learning, knowledge and skills, outcomes of course materials and their satisfaction in traditional Lecture Based learning versus Problem-Based Learning curricula in two different medical schools. METHODS The comparative cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 2009 to January 2011. Two different undergraduate medical schools were selected; one followed the traditional curriculum, while the other followed the problem-based learning curriculum. Two equal groups of first year medical students were selected. They were taught in respiratory physiology and lung function lab according to their curriculum for a period of two weeks. At the completion of the study period, a five-point Likert scale was used to assess students' perceptions on satisfaction, academic environment, teaching and learning, knowledge and skills and outcomes of course materials about effectiveness of problem-based learning compared to traditional methods. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Students used to problem-based learning curriculum obtained marginally higher scores in their perceptions (24.10 +/- 3.63) compared to ones following the traditional curriculum (22.67 +/- 3.74). However, the difference in perceptions did not achieve a level of statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS Students following problem-based learning curriculum have more positive perceptions on teaching and learning, knowledge and skills, outcomes of their course materials and satisfaction compared to the students belonging to the traditional style of medical school. However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant.
Internet computing as a disruptive information technology innovation: the role of strong order effects 1

A cross‐sector survey study was conducted between 2004 and 2005 among 121 software firms that adopted internet computing for the presence of strong order effects, which explain how, why and in which order radical innovations in information system (IS) are adopted. The following strong order effects were detected: (1) the amount of base innovations positively and directly influenced the amount of service innovation and the amount of process innovation, while the amount of service innovation partially mediates the impact of base innovation on process innovation; (2) the radicalness of base innovations directly and positively influences the radicalness of service innovation, while the impact of the radicalness of the base innovation on the radicalness of process innovations is fully mediated by the radicalness of service innovation; (3) the predominant sequence of initial adoption of radical information technology innovations is first in base innovations, followed by service innovations and finally by process innovations. Our study helps to better understand how and why radical innovations are adopted in ensembles by software firms. In consequence, software organizations should orchestrate flexible innovation strategies that recognize that radical innovations are interconnected and heterogeneous.
Analysis of Workplace Stress and Organizational Performance in Human Resource Management: A Case Study of Air Traffic Controllers of Pakistan

Today main issue in management and organization is corporate sustainability which includes organizational performance. Organizational performance is one of the strategic issues for any management. The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between workplace stress and organizational performance; and mediational affect of employees’ health issues between workplace stress and organizational performance. Both primary and secondary data were used for the current study. A self-developed questionnaire was used after validating it through a pilot study for collecting the data. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select the sample – air traffic controllers. The hypotheses were accepted at significant ‘p’ value proving the model as good fitting. Out of 134 questionnaires, 122 were received back from the respondents and used for the current study. The study results confirm that there is a negative relationship between workplace stress and organizational performance; while there is a partial mediational affect of employees’ health issues between workplace stress and organizational performance. The quantitative technique was used for investigation of the problem. The practical implications of the paper include implementation of the results provided by the researcher to reduce workplace stress by providing appropriate health facilities to the subjects; and increasing organizational performance. The findings of this study are important for corporations and future researchers on organizational behavior field. Original finding have a potential to contribute related field and expecially aviation management and strategy since sever workplace stress has an direct impact on both performance and employee sustainability in aviation business. The research aims to raise awareness of organizational behavior to achieving business objectives since human resource is most critical risk on the way of corporate sustainability.
Insect cells as HLA-restricted antigen-presenting cells for the IFN-gamma elispot assay.

Measurement of specific cellular immune responses in patients undergoing immunotherapy is difficult. Established approaches, including cytotoxicity (e.g., 51Cr release) and cytokine release assays, require in vitro culturing for several weeks or more of patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the addition of exogenous cytokines. Therefore, the immunological response does not reflect in vivo conditions. To address these disadvantages, we have used an interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) Elispot assay for detecting peptide-specific CD8(+) lymphocytes in PBMC. A limitation of this assay is the lack of a reproducible source of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Currently available APCs often lead to significant background levels. It has been shown that transfected insect cells can express empty MHC class I molecules on their surface. We have transfected Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells and the Lepidopteran line Sf9 with the gene encoding human HLA-A2.1. We demonstrate that insect cells expressing a human HLA molecule effectively function as APCs in the IFN-gamma Elispot assay. Initially the feasibility of the assay was assessed using CD8(+) T cells from HLA-A2.1(+) donors with known reactivity against an HLA-A2.1-binding epitope of the influenza matrix protein. Use of insect cells as APCs abrogated background spots, increasing sensitivity. We further observed that a short-term prestimulation of PBMC with peptide-pulsed insect cells markedly enhanced the frequency of peptide-specific T cells that could be measured in the Elispot assay without increasing the background. This approach was then used to measure CD8(+) T cell reactivity to a peptide from tyrosinase, an antigen that is processed and presented by melanoma cells. Insect cells expressing human HLA molecules provide a standard APC for monitoring CD8(+) T cell responses to tumor and viral peptides during immunotherapy.
The effect of age and compression strength on venous leg ulcer healing

Objectives The aim of the study is to compare proportions of venous leg ulcers healed in patients treated with two different sub-bandage pressure values in relation to age. Methods The study included 102 outpatients with venous leg ulcers, one group with moderate compression pressure of 35–40 mmHg and the second with high pressure >45 mmHg. Each group was divided into two subgroups according to the age (≥65 vs. <65 years). Computerized planimetry was used to measure the size of the ulcers at 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks. Results Kaplan–Maier analysis showed high pressure leads to higher proportion of healed venous leg ulcers, compared to moderate pressure, in patients aged ≥65 years (57.6% vs. 28%) and in patients <65 years (53.8% vs. 36%) (p < 0.05). Conclusion The study showed that higher compression pressure leads to higher proportions of venous leg ulcers healed, independent of age and could be safely preferred in older patients.
Arabidopsis Phosphatidic Acid Phosphohydrolases Are Essential for Growth under Nitrogen-Depleted Conditions

The Arabidopsis homologs of mammalian lipin, PAH1 and PAH2, are cytosolic phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolases that are involved in phospholipid biosynthesis and are essential for growth under phosphate starvation. Here, pah1 pah2 double-knockout mutants were found to be hypersensitive to nitrogen (N) starvation, whereas transgenic plants overexpressing PAH1 or PAH2 in the pah1 pah2 mutant background showed a similar growth phenotype as compared with wild type (WT) under N starvation. The chlorophyll content of pah1 pah2 was significantly lower than that of WT, whereas the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity of the transgenic plants were significantly higher than those of WT under N-depleted conditions. Membrane glycerolipid composition of the pah1 pah2 mutants showed a significant decrease in the mole percent of chloroplast lipids to other phospholipids, whereas membrane lipid composition did not differ between transgenic plants and WT plants. Pulse-chase labeling experiments using plants grown under N-depleted conditions showed that, in pah1 pah2 plants, the labeling percent of chloroplast lipids such as phosphatidylglycerol and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol in the total glycerolipids was significantly lower than in WT. Moreover, N starvation-induced degradation of chloroplast structure was enhanced in pah1 pah2 mutants, and the membrane structure was recovered by complementation with PAH1. Thus, PAH is involved in maintaining chloroplast membrane structure and is required for growth under N-depleted conditions.
ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction: executive summary. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee on Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction).

Executive Summary andListing of Recommendations These guidelines are intended for physicians, nurses, and allied healthcare personnel who care for patients with suspected or established acute myocardial infarction (MI). These guidelines have been officially endorsed by the American Society of Echocardiography, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This executive summary and listing of recommendations appears in the November 1, 1996, issue of Circulation. The guidelines in their entirety, including the ACC/AHA Class I, II, and III recommendations, are published in the November 1996 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Beginning with these guidelines, the full text of ACC/AHA guidelines will be published in one journal and the executive summary and listing of recommendations in the other . Reprints of both the full text and the executive summary with its listing of recommendations are available from both organizations. Each year 900 000 people in the United States experience acute MI. Of these, roughly 225 000 die, including 125 000 who die “in the field” before obtaining medical care. Most of these deaths are arrhythmic in etiology. Because early reperfusion treatment of patients with acute MI improves left ventricular (LV) systolic function and survival, every effort must be made to minimize prehospital delay. Indeed, efforts are ongoing to promote rapid identification and treatment of patients with acute MI, including (1) patient education about the symptoms of acute MI and appropriate actions to take and (2) prompt initial care of the patient by the community emergency medical system. In treating the patient with chest pain, emergency medical system personnel must act with a sense of urgency. When the patient with suspected acute MI reaches the emergency department (ED), evaluation and initial management should take place promptly, because the benefit of reperfusion therapy is greatest if therapy …
Pricing in the actuarial market

In contrast to the price of derivative securities in a complete financial market, which can be uniquely determined by constructing a portfolio that hedges the payoff, the price of insurance risk typically is not unique. This is because the price of insurance risk is also determined by supply and demand for insurance products in the market. No mathematical model to date has fully captured the interactions between insurance markets and financial markets that characterize modern corporate practice. Young and Zariphopoulou (2001) introduced an expected utility approach to price dynamic insurance risk. Their valuation is based on comparing maximal expected utility under two scenarios: with and without incorporating the sale of a given insurance product. Their work gives reserve prices for the company and for the customer; that is, upper and lower bounds on the price of the insurance product so that the transaction can occur. However, Young and Zariphopoulou did not specify which particular value in the interval between reserve prices should be adopted by the insurer. In this paper, we will solve this problem and generalize their work by incorporating a demand curve which addresses the market demand of a certain insurance product at a given price. In this way, insurance policies are treated en masse and their price can be calculated using the Dynamic Programming Principle.