Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an information source illustrated by a case study: Effect of screening for breast cancer

It is argued that to evaluate an information source (e.g., a Wikipedia article), it is necessary to relate the content of that source to an interpretation of the state of knowledge at the research front (which is typically developing dynamically). In the research literature, there is a controversy about the effect of screening programs for breast cancer. This controversy is used to compare the value of Wikipedia with Encyclopedia Britannica and two Danish encyclopedias as information sources. It is argued that this method of examining information sources is preferable to other methods which have been suggested in the literature.
Implantable Defibrillator Pocket Infection and Bacteremia Caused by Nocardia nova Complex Isolate

ABSTRACT Nocardia spp. are common environmental organisms that, to our knowledge, have never been implicated as causing an implantable defibrillator or pacemaker infection. We describe a 70-year-old male with a recent implantable cardiac defibrillator revision and subsequent device infection and bacteremia caused by a Nocardia nova complex isolate.
In vitro Plant Regeneration of Java Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)

— In vitro plant regeneration has been successfully obtained from basal shoot explant of Vetiveria zizanioides through indirect organogenesis. The explant was cultured in Murashige & Skoog’s (MS) media supplemented with 2,4-D, IAA, and kinetin in various concentrations. Callus was well induced in media supplemented with 2ppm 2,4-D, 1ppm IAA, and 1ppm kinetin. This callus was then transferred to MS media supplemented with 1 - 5 ppm of BAP for shoot regeneration. The media supplemented with 3 ppm BAP was a suitable medium for shoot induction, as well as for shoot multiplication. Rooting was well developed in shoot following transferred to half MS media containing 0.2ppm IBA. Plantlet was then transferred to husk charcoal for acclimatization, and almost all (90%) of plantlets were survived during acclimatization.
The effects of arterial blood gas values on lesion volumes in a graded rat spinal cord contusion model.

The detrimental effects of extreme blood gas values are well documented. However, the range of normal values has not been rigorously defined. There is an ongoing debate concerning the need for ventilation and tight control of blood gas values in spinal cord injury models. Consequently, we performed a retrospective study of 84 rats using a graded rat spinal cord contusion model. Spinal cord ionic lesion volumes were calculated from Na and K shifts at 24 h after injury. Blood gas measurements were obtained 5 min before contusion. For pH values of 7.31-7.46, systemic acidosis was associated with a small but significant decrease in ionic lesion volumes in the 12.5 and 25 g.cm contusion groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.03, respectively). pH had no effect on ionic lesion volumes in the 50 g.cm contusion group (p > 0.5). PaCO2 values from 23 to 53 mm Hg showed an effect only at 25 g.cm (p < 0.05). PaO2 values of 46-138 mm Hg and calculated HCO3 values of 13-28 mEq/L had no effect on ionic lesion volumes. Two conclusions may be derived from these data. First, mild systemic acidosis is associated with a small reduction in ionic lesion volumes after mild and moderate injury but not after severe injury. This suggests that secondary mechanisms play a greater role in mild injuries. Second, variations in arterial blood gases within clinically normal ranges do not strongly influence 24-h ionic lesion volumes in a graded spinal cord injury model. The effects of blood gas values on ionic lesion volumes are not statistically significant unless the data are adjusted for injury severity. Although blood gas values must be carefully monitored, ventilation may not be needed routinely in rat spinal cord injury models. We recommend maintaining pH values between 7.35 and 7.40, PaCO2 between 35 and 41 mm Hg, and PaO2 greater than 71 mm Hg.
MONSUN II-Towards Autonomous Underwater Swarms for Environmental Monitoring

This paper presents the small and inexpensive autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) MONSUN II that was designed to operate in a swarm. Particularly in the field of environmental monitoring a swarm based approach could increase the efficiency of the task by parallelization, the inherent redundancy and the fault-tolerance of a swarm. First preliminary results of the hardware and software are given to show the suitability of the system design. Basic approaches concerning the communication and localisation are presented to achieve an effective cooperative behaviour and to maximise the mission time for long time observations.
Low-Power, High-Influence: A Case of IT-enabled Open Strategy Formulation

Despite the advocation for wider participation in strategy formulation, the literature is still dominated by perspectives that emphasize the importance of top and middle managers. In this paper, we focus on the role and potential of low-power actors that reside outside of management positions and influential departments in open strategy formulation. Building on a unique mixed methods study of an IT- enabled open strategy process deployed in a multinational online payments firm, we examine how low-power actors participate and what impact their participation has on the acceptability of ideas generated. Interestingly, low-power actors were more strategically productive than high-power actors, and ideas were most acceptable among the collective when they were solely produced and co- developed by low-power actors and void of any high-power involvement.
A definition and short history of Language Engineering

This paper discusses the nature, history and current characteristics of Language Engineering, which is contrasted with Natural Language Processing and Computational Linguistics, and which is shown to have attained its own distinct identity in recent years. Major trends in the field are examined, including its focus on large-scale practical tasks and on quantitative evaluation of progress, and its willingness to embrace a diverse range of techniques. The importance of software engineering in this context is noted, as are some sociological aspects of the practitioner group.
A Critical Analysis of Cambodia’s Policy for Integrating Information Technology in Education using Human Capital Theory and Globalization

: The integration of information, communication, and technology (ICT) is a popular trend in contemporary educational practices, but does this approach make sense for developing countries? This paper provides an in-depth critique of the decision by the Cambodia Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MOEYS) to become an early adopter of ICT development in education. By employing the human capital theory (HCT) and globalization perspectives, a critical analysis of Cambodia’s ICT in education policy design and approach was conducted and used to ascertain key points that national policymakers may consider as they fine-tune future policy revisions. The overall analysis advises policymakers to employ HCT modelling methods when developing educational programming so that market needs are better met. Further recommendations include leveraging globalization principles to counter the negative influences of globalization to ensure more effective ICT programming.
Knowledge Workers: Deregulated Work, Psychological Contracts and How These Affect Them

Background: Knowledge work has been described in a boundaryless context with increasingly deregulated working conditions. How common deregulated work is and how the psychological contract (PC) of knowledge workers is affected remains unclear. Objective: An empirical investigation of deregulated work, PCs, and their effects on outcomes, namely work-to-life balance, affective organizational commitment, and work satisfaction. Method: n = 111 knowledge workers in the UK were surveyed online. Mean age was 37.25 (SD = 10.10) years; only 28.8 % identified as male. Results: Deregulation was common, but while time and space deregulation overall did not predict outcomes and PCs, performance and collaboration deregulation did. Moreover, the latter kinds of deregulation were associated with more beneficial PCs and outcomes, except work-to-life balance. Relational and balanced PCs were generally positively, while transactional and, more importantly, transitional PCs were negatively associated with outcomes. Discussion: Results are discussed, e.g. unexpected results for time and space deregulation as well as work-to-life balance. After reflecting on limitations, implications for theory and practice are considered. (Less)
The efficacy of immunosuppressive treatment of Graves' orbitopathy is not affected by previous anti-thyroid drugs or by radioiodine therapy of Graves' disease.

INTRODUCTION We studied the efficacy of immunosuppressive treatment of GO in a group of patients who had been treated with antithyroid drugs (the ATD group) and in another group that had undergone radioiodine therapy (the 131-I group). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 214 patients with exacerbation of GO were studied; the ATD group consisting of 168 patients, and the 131-I group consisting of 46 patients. All patients were treated with methylprednisolone IV pulses (total dose 8.0 g) followed by orbital irradiation (20 Gy in 10 fractions). CAS and IO indices, TSH, fT4, and TRAb levels were evaluated prior to, and 1, 6, and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS One month after treatment the CAS index decreased significantly in both groups, against values before treatment, p < 0.05. In the ATD group the median level of TRAb-0 before treatment was 5.6 IU/L (min = 0.1; max = 114.0), and 12 months later (TRAb-12) it was 1.4 IU/L (min = 0.1; max = 75.3) (p < 0.05). In the 131-I group the median level of TRAb-0 was 14.3 IU/L (min = 0.6; max = 90.0) vs. TRAb-12 of 3.65 IU/L (min = 0.1; max = 41.0) (p < 0.05). In the ATD group the median value of IO-0 before treatment was 5.0 (min = 1.0; max = 12.0) vs. IO-12 of 2.0 (min = 0.0; max = 8.0) (p < 0.05). In the 131-I group the median value of IO-0 was 5.0 (min = 2.0; max = 9.0) vs. IO-12 of 2.0 (min = 0.0; max = 6.0) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The severity of GO in the ATD and 131-I groups did not differ significantly over the course of observation despite differences noted in their TRAb levels. The efficacy of GO treatment did not differ between these groups. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (6): 554-561).
Power quality analysis of a three phase ac-to-dc controlled converter

The controlled ac-to-dc converters are used to control the output dc voltage. A six pulses controlled ac-to-dc converter is one of the efficient converters that is widely used in many industrial applications. The main advantage of any higher pulse converter in ac-to-dc conversion is low ripple factor but on the other hand, it highly distorts the input supplied currents. This distortion degrades the power factor, and increases the stresses across the protective devices and measuring units in the power system, hence exhibits poor power quality. It becomes important to analyze the power quality in ac-to-dc power conversion. A new approach called pulse selective method is introduced to analytically calculate the harmonics in a three phase rectifier circuit both for input and output. Then power quality performance parameters are analyzed on the basis of computed harmonics. Simulation modeling is used to verify the proposed method.
Novel deletion at codon 1254 of the BRCA1 gene in an Italian breast cancer kindred

Laura Ottini,’ Cristina D’Amico,2 Cristiana Noviello,2 Claudia P i ~ z i , ~ Clorindo Pagliarul~,~ Maria Cristina Curia,’ Gennaro Limite,3 Angelo Raffaele B i a n ~ o , ~ Luigi Frati? Felice Giacomo Caramia,2 Alessandro Cama,’ Alma Contegiac~mo,~ and Renato Mariani-Costantinil* ‘Institute of Human Pathology, University “Gabriele DAnnunzio,” Chieti, Italy ’Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University “La Sapienza,” Rome, Italy 3Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, University “Federico 11,” Naples, Italy
An Exploratory Study of The Perception of Co-creation Experience in The Tourism Industry: A Case Study in Danang City, Vietnam

This study examines the perception of co-creation tourism experience from a tourism expert perspective in Danang city. By interviewing tourism experts who hold the management level in tourism organization of both government and business level are used to explore the perception of current tourism co-creation experience and the evaluation of the potential for development of co-creation tourism in the city. Findings show that tourism management (both business and destination) had perceived the co-creation tourism experience, however; the city's investigation into the development of co-creation products is still spontaneous and straightforward. The potential tourism products of the city developed from the advantage of natural resources such as sea, river, and mountain, which currently stressed on sea tourism only. Natural resources and location of Danang create the most robust capacity to develop cocreation tourism experiences. The results also reveal the lack in both development strategy and management from tourism destination management to co-creation tourism experiences of Danang city. The study also provides some future suggestions for Danang city tourism management.
A New Watermarking Algorithm Based on Human Visual System for Content Integrity Verification of Region of Interest

This paper proposes a semi-fragile, robust-to-JPEG2000 compression watermarking method which is based on the Human Visual System (HVS). This method is designed to verify the content integrity of Region of Interest (ROI) in tele-radiology images. The design of watermarking systems based on HVS leads to the possibility of embedding watermarks in places that are not obvious to the human eye. In this way, notwithstanding increased capacity and robustness, it becomes possible to hide more watermarks. Based on perceptual model of HVS, we propose a new watermarking scheme that embeds the watermarks using a replacement method. Thus, the proposed method not only detects the watermarks but also extracts them. The novelty of our ROI-based method is in the way that we interpret the obtained coefficients of the HVS perceptual model: instead of interpreting these coefficients as weights, we assume them to be embedding locations. In our method, the information to be embedded is extracted from inter-subband statistical relations of ROI. Then, the semi-fragile watermarks are embedded in the obtained places in level 3 of the DWT decomposition of the Region of Background (ROB). The compatibility of the embedded signatures and extracted watermarks is used to verify the content of ROI. Our simulations confirm improved fidelity and robustness.
The model-based approach to autonomous behavior: Prospects and challenges

Theselectionoftheactiontodonextisoneofthecentralproblemsfacedbyautonomousagents.InAI,threeapproaches have been used to address this problem: the programming-based approach, where the agent controller is given by the programmer, the learning-based approach, where the controller is induced from experience via a learning algorithm, and the model-based approach, where the controller is derived from a model of the problem. Planning in AI is best conceived as the model-based approach to action selection. The models represent the initial situation, actions, sensors, and goals. A main challenge in planning is computational, as all the models, whether accommodating feedback and uncertainty or not, are intractable in the worst case. In this article, I review some of the models considered in current planning research, the progress achieved in solving these models, and some open problems.
Strengthening Success Factors and Overcoming Profitability Barriers towards Sustainable Project Management Consultant Companies

Project success can be assured by identifying, reducing, and eliminating the impact of profitability barriers; and by understanding and exploring the success factors in order to achieve sustainable profitability of Project Management Consultant (PMC) companies. Currently, practices of project management consultants in the construction industry sector do not always ensure project success. Thus, this paper aims to assess and strengthen the success factors; and overcome profitability barriers to improve effectiveness of project delivery. Using Porter’s five forces model as profitability barriers, areas with the highest impact to sustainable profitability were investigated. Data were gathered through a survey questionnaire and purposive sampling technique was used to select 140 respondents who are working in a project management and consulting company in Doha, Qatar for the year 2016-2017. The findings revealed that profitability barriers such as: power of suppliers, industry competition, and impact of new entrants are correlated to some of the areas of success factors, such as: effective project management, efficient cost leadership, competitive differentiation, and strategic alliances and networking. Sustainable profitability is significantly affected by the power of suppliers, and strategic networking and alliance. Whereas, competitive differentiation significantly affects profitability barriers. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations were given on how to strengthen project success factors and reduce the impact of profitability barriers.
An adaptive framework for improving the effectiveness of virtual enterprises in the supply chain

This thesis describes a research project that develops an adaptive framework for improving the effectiveness of virtual enterprises in the supply chains in Mongolia. The research takes empirical and quantitative approach to study the phenomenon of virtual enterprises. Based on a literature review, the factors that influence organisations to join in virtual enterprises are studied by a higher-order factor analysis. As a result, agility is identified as one of the main benefits organisations can gain by joining a virtual enterprise temporarily and changes in business performance are conceived as the measures of effectiveness. Next, a taxonomy of enterprises is developed with five distinguishing clusters that achieve differing levels of agility and business performance. This study suggests that enterprises that are monitoring changes in their business environment take most advantage of agility and achieve the best levels of performance. These findings then allow an adaptive framework based on common reference architectures to be developed as a main contribution of this study. The framework includes a breeding environment as a ‘pool’ of prepared enterprises with the ability to form temporary collaborations to react responsively, rapidly and effectively to the fast-changing opportunities. A structural equation model was used to examine the model fit with the supporting hypotheses, based on the observed data. Then, a powerful clustered expectation maximisation algorithm was applied to the analysis of the grouped enterprises. Finally, a simulation-based case study was conducted to validate the developed framework. The results provide rich empirical evidence of the beneficial impact of virtual enterprises on agile supply chains. The research provides rich empirical evidence of the beneficial impact of virtual enterprises on agile supply chains. It also provides theoretical and managerial insights that can be used to strengthen the drivers, enablers and capabilities that enhance the effectiveness of virtual enterprises collaboration in agile supply chains that can be translated to a global context. These are major contributions the ‘body of knowledge’ in themselves, but the research also adds usefully to the study of applied research methodologies in the area.
Rapid induction of the Growth Hormone Gene Transcription by Glucocorticoids In Vitro: Possible Involvement of Membrane Glucocorticoid Receptors and Phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase Activation

The regulation of transcription of the growth hormone (GH) gene by glucocorticoids was studied in MtT/S cells, a cell line derived from an oestrogen‐induced mammotrophic tumour in the rat, and in the primary culture of the anterior pituitary gland of adult mice. The levels of the GH heteronuclear RNA (GH hnRNA), which are mainly determined by the transcription rate, increased by 25‐fold during 24 h in response to dexamethasone (DEX; 1 μm) in MtT/S cells that were cultured in the medium containing charcoal‐stripped serum for 7 days. The stimulatory effect of DEX on the GH hnRNA levels was detectable as early as 30 min. This rapid effect of DEX did not require on‐going protein synthesis, whereas it was considered that DEX requires the presence of unknown cellular proteins produced independently of DEX stimulation. By contrast, on‐going protein synthesis was required for DEX action when incubated for 6 h, as has been observed in the previous studies. The specific inhibitor of glucocorticoid receptor, RU486, inhibited both rapid (30 min) and delayed (6 h) the effects of glucocorticoids on GH hnRNA levels. Membrane impermeable glucocorticoid, corticosterone‐bovine serum albumin conjugate (CSBSA), was found to have effects similar to those of DEX and free corticosterone (CS), suggesting that glucocorticoids regulate GH gene transcription at least in part through the membrane bound receptors. From pharmacological studies, it was suggested that phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) activation is involved in the rapid effects but not in the delayed effects of glucocorticoids. This also suggests that the delayed effects of glucocorticoids depend on mechanisms other than the activation of PI3‐kinase. Finally, both rapid and delayed effects of CS and CSBSA were observed not only in MtT/S cells, but also in the mouse pituitary cells in primary culture. Therefore, it is possible that the membrane initiated action of glucocorticoids is involved in the regulation of GH transcription in normal pituitary cells, as well as in pituitary tumour cells.
The Effects of Gross vs. Net Asset Value-Based Managers’ Compensation on REIT Capital Structure and Performance. Evidence from the Italian REIT Market

Investors should always argue about management fees because of their impact on net performance that can be substantial. This especially for investments, like real estate, which require intensive management. However, different from traditional mutual funds that are usually related to the gross value of the assets under management, but similar to other financial industry sectors (e.g. hedge funds and private equity funds), REIT managers’ compensation structure typically provides a basically fixed payment based alternatively on gross asset value (GAV) or net asset value (NAV). In addition, managers usually also gain a performance fee. The paper analyses how the two alternative compensation schemes influence REITs’ investment decisions and capital structure and, consequently, REITs’ share value and performance. The final issue addressed is whether—and under which conditions—one compensation scheme is superior to the other. Due to the (usual) market price discount on NAVs, both fee structures incentivise managers to leverage—even in a tax-free environment—in order to maximize the management fees. However, the leverage motivation is stronger for GAV-based than for NAV-based REITs, which are also expected to be more selective in investment decisions. Overall, considering initial fee percentage, GAV-based REITs are expected to execute higher management fees than NAV-based REITs due to the relevant leverage effect. Moreover, debt recourse produces different effects on share value if measured upon market price or net asset value. The empirical analysis focuses on public Italian REITs (2002-2012). The results seem to support the theoretical expectations. GAV-based REITs experience higher debt trends and levels than NAV-based REITs. At the same time, GAV-based REITs register lower real estate asset returns gross and net of management fees for both current and growth yields. Differences in the returns lead to permanent higher performances over total return indexes of NAV-based REITs compared to GAV-based REITs.