Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing Innovation in a Knowledge Intensive Technology Organisation (Kito)

This study aims to add to the existing knowledge of how innovation works in organisations. By understanding how to assess/evaluate processes that support and enable innovation, managers can better manage innovation as a business process. This paper addresses elements of organisational behaviour that relate to people management where innovation and technology management is concerned. Perception plays a crucial role in driving behaviour and therefore the widely accepted business scorecard methodology has been used to measure innovation practices in the organisation. The research was done in a knowledge intensive technology organisation (KITO) in South Africa. Interviews with managers of R&D were conducted. These interviews were used to adapt an existing audit instrument to suit the technology-based organisation. Thereafter, a comprehensive audit of innovation was conducted at three different management levels using the adapted instrument. Over 100, mostly R&D managers, were asked to complete a scorecard-based questionnaire and to draw a visual representation (VR) of innovation. The results of the interviews, audit and VRs were used to produce a management framework that is not only applicable to a KITO, but can also be used widely to improve innovation through enhanced visual understanding of any technology-based organisation. The results of the study indicate that measuring innovation through a validated instrument is highly valuable. The Holistic System Framework for innovation and the measurement instrument facilitated (1) management of, and (2) organisational learning about innovation. The comprehensive audit indicated, on a strategic level, the strengths and weaknesses of the innovation process as practiced in the organisation. The instrument is valuable at a strategic management level as it indicates where in the organisation the gaps exist regarding the management of the process of innovation with the aim to create a competitive advantage.
Testing the Empirical Relationship between Best Management Practice Adoption and Farm Profitability

Several “best management practices” (BMPs) aimed at reducing movement of nutrients, pesticides, and sediment into surface water resources have been developed and promoted by Extension and other agencies over the past several years. This study utilizes actual farm-level economic and BMP adoption data to rigorously analyze the relationship between BMP use and farm profitability. Results indicate that adoption of nutrient BMPs has a significant positive effect on net farm income (NFI) for wheat and corn, while herbicide BMP adoption, particularly use of BMPs related to the application of atrazine on corn, has a small (but statistically significant) negative impact on income. Adoption of soil conservation BMPs is not shown to have a statistically significant impact on farm income. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Forecast with Judgment and Models

This paper proposes a simple and model-consistent method for combining forecasts generated by structural micro-founded models and judgmental forecasts. The method also enables the judgmental forecasts to be interpreted through the lens of the model. We illustrate the proposed methodology with a real-time forecasting exercise, using a simple neo-Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model and prediction from the Survey of Professional Forecasters
Psychology, consumer sentiment and household expenditures

The aim of this article is to assess the role of the Italian Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) as an autonomous driving force of consumption decisions. We test for the presence of ‘rule of thumb’ consumers as originally proposed by Campbell and Mankiw (1991), using sentiment measures distinguished by respondent's working condition and consumption data disaggregated according to durability, over the period 1982–2004. The consumption-sentiment relationship is found to be stronger for some groups of households and for some particular categories of expenditures. Moreover, sentiment seems to be not well explained by economic fundamentals alone, capturing also the effects of the political cycle and exceptional circumstances.
Europe's Communication Deficit and the UK Press: Framing the Greek Financial Crisis

As Europe's leaders battle to solve the Eurozone debt crisis, Europe's ‘communication deficit’ becomes ever more pertinent. So does the role of national media, which, in the case of Britain, are often accused of fuelling Euroscepticism among the public. This study aims to contribute to this debate and explore the UK media's performance in the early stages of the Greek financial crisis. We address how the British press makes sense of Europe through an issue that pertains in a small economy but entails risks for the whole of Europe; and we ask to what extent this coverage conforms to the allegation that European politics is portrayed through domesticised media frames and polemical language. Although our findings validate existing concerns pertaining to journalists' professional practices that shape the reporting of Europe, they also show evidence of an effort made by British newspapers—albeit mostly broadsheets—to overcome stereotypical interpretations.
Influence of Family Relationships on Family Business Succession: A Conceptual Model

Succession is a challenge to family businesses for a number of reasons, including the excessive influence of the family subsystem on the business. Recent theoretical developments suggest that the effects of family adaptability and family cohesion on the effectiveness of succession and the satisfaction with succession process are determined by the family's commitment to the business and acceptance of individual roles. This article also highlights the importance of considering mediating factors in conducting family business research.
Political Regimes and Sovereign Credit Risk in Europe, 1750-1913

This article uses a new panel data set to perform a statistical analysis of political regimes and sovereign credit risk in Europe from 1750 to 1913. Old Regime polities typically suffered from fiscal fragmentation and absolutist rule. By the start of World War I, however, many such countries had centralized institutions and limited government. Panel regressions indicate that centralized and/or limited regimes were associated with significant improvements in credit risk relative to fragmented and absolutist ones. Structural break tests also reveal close relationships between major turning points in yield series and political transformations.
Crystal Structure of F-93 from Sulfolobus Spindle-Shaped Virus 1, a Winged-Helix DNA Binding Protein

ABSTRACT Sulfolobus spindle-shaped viruses (SSVs), or Fuselloviridae, are ubiquitous crenarchaeal viruses found in high-temperature acidic hot springs around the world (pH ≤4.0; temperature of ≥70°C). Because they are relatively easy to isolate, they represent the best studied of the crenarchaeal viruses. This is particularly true for the type virus, SSV1, which contains a double-stranded DNA genome of 15.5 kilobases, encoding 34 putative open reading frames. Interestingly, the genome shows little sequence similarity to organisms other than its SSV homologues. Together, sequence similarity and biochemical analyses have suggested functions for only 6 of the 34 open reading frames. Thus, even though SSV1 is the best-studied crenarchaeal virus, functions for most (28) of its open reading frames remain unknown. We have undertaken biochemical and structural studies for the gene product of open reading frame F-93. We find that F-93 exists as a homodimer in solution and that a tight dimer is also present in the 2.7-Å crystal structure. Further, the crystal structure reveals a fold that is homologous to the SlyA and MarR subfamilies of winged-helix DNA binding proteins. This strongly suggests that F-93 functions as a transcription factor that recognizes a (pseudo-)palindromic DNA target sequence.
Use of an autologous leucocyte and platelet-rich fibrin patch on hard-to-heal DFUs: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE Leucopatch is a leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin patch that provides concentrated blood cells and signal substances to the surface of an ulcer. It is produced by centrifugation of the patient's own venous blood. The aim of this pilot multicentre cohort study was to evaluate effects of the leucocyte patch in patients with hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). METHOD Non-ischaemic Wagner grade 1 or 2 DFUs with a duration of more than 6 weeks and a maximal area of 10cm² were included. Patients with >40% ulcer area change during a two-week run-in period were excluded. The treatment was applied once a week for up to 19 treatments or until the foot ulcer was completely epithelialised. The primary endpoint was healing within 20 weeks. RESULTS Of the 60 patients who gave consent 16 were excluded during run-in period, 44 patients initiated study treatment and 39 were included in the per-protocol analysis. Complete epithelisation was achieved in 34% (per-protocol analysis 36%) at 12 weeks and 52% (59%) at 20 weeks. In patients with ulcer duration less than 6 months, 73% of ulcers healed within 20 weeks. Patients with healed ulcers had larger ulcer area reduction during the first two treatment weeks compared to non-healers. Adverse events were mild and rare. CONCLUSION The leucocyte patch is well-tolerated, easy to use and has potential in the armamentarium of the DFU treatment, provided this outcome is confirmed in an appropriately powered randomised clinical trial.
Binge eating before the onset of dieting: a distinct subgroup of bulimia nervosa?

OBJECTIVE While most individuals with bulimia nervosa begin dieting prior to the onset of binge eating, some individuals begin binge eating prior to dieting. The purpose of this study was to assess the differences between these two groups. METHODS Participants (N = 120) in a treatment study for bulimia nervosa were separated into two groups (Binge First vs. Diet First) based on the ages they reported for the onset of binge eating and of dieting and then compared across a number of variables. RESULTS Individuals in the Binge First group reported higher weight, higher shape and weight concern, lower age of onset of eating disorder symptoms, and an altered relationship of binge eating to vomiting when compared to individuals in the Diet First group. DISCUSSION The differences between the two groups suggest that there may be subgroups of individuals with purging bulimia nervosa and that individuals in the Binge First group more closely resemble individuals with binge eating disorder than do those in the Diet First group.
An integrated model for prioritizing strategies of the iranian mining sector

Abstract. Mining is one of the most important sectors in most countries. It produces raw material for other sectors such as industry, agriculture, etc. So, determining and prioritizing the mining strategies are critical to development plans in countries. Miscellaneous types of tools are presented for determining and evaluating of operational strategies. Analyzing the internal and external environments using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) helps to determine the current situation and to identify major prospects and challenges that could significantly impact strategy implementation in mining sector. On the other hand, Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is a management system that helps organizations at dealing with today's pace of business and enables business managers to make better decisions. Fuzzy multi criteria decision making (FMCDM) techniques are appropriate tools to prioritize under sophisticated environmental. Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) and Fuzzy Technique for Order Pr.
Fine-grain transformations to refactor UML models

The current trend is to apply refactoring at levels of abstraction above the code level. We present a new approach to formalize model refactorings. The approach is based on the semantics of a predefined set of fine-grain transformations (FGTs) that can be used to construct any refactoring, and relies on logic-based representations of the UML model. The proposed approach has many features: it gives the ability to detect and resolve conflicts; to remove redundancies; to find sequential dependencies between refactorings; and to increase parallelizing opportunities. In addition, it enables the end user to build their new refactorings. Based on the proposed formalism we also introduce a new technique to find automatically the order of a batch of refactorings.
Monoclonal antibody technology applied to the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in human and cattle fecal samples

With the discovery that the coccidian parasite Cryptosporidium sp. can cause severe symptoms in humans, many diagnostic techniques were quickly implemented such as microscopic visualization, immunofluorescence and PCR. Currently, there is no effective drug treatment and none of the current diagnostic methods is 100% accurate. In this study, a BALB/C mouse was subcutaneously immunized with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts extract. The spleen was removed and the splenocytes were fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells in order to obtain hybridoma cells secreting antibodies specific to C. parvum antigens. Human and cattle fecal samples previously characterized by microscopy [Ziehl-Neelsen staining (ZN) and Lugol] and PCR for the presence of C. parvum and Giardia duodenalis, were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence, using the developed hybridomas supernatants. The study shows that the selected hybridomas supernatants identify C. parvum oocysts in fecal samples in correlation with C. parvum oocysts identified using ZN/PCR. No false positive results were obtained and the two best supernatants gave 20% -30% of false negative results. No cross reaction with G. duodenalis was observed. By comparing our results with those obtained with an immunofluorescence commercial kit, it suggests the potential use of the monoclonal antibodies present in two of the hybridomas supernatants as a detection tool of C. parvum. With a reliability of 80.8% and 73.1% versus ZN and PCR methods for IFI, compared with a reliability of 76.9% and 92.3% versus ZN and PCR for commercial DIF kit, the supernatant 4.1D5 seems to be the most promising subject to further study its usefulness for C. parvum detection.
Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of audio and audiovisual distraction aids in the management of anxious pediatric dental patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare audio and audiovisual distraction aids in management of anxious pediatric dental patients of different age groups and to study children′s response to sequential dental visits with the use of distraction aids. Study Design: This study was conducted on two age groups, that is, 4-6 years and 6-8 years with 30 patients in each age group on their first dental visit. The children of both the age groups were divided into 3 subgroups, the control group, audio distraction group, audiovisual distraction group with 10 patients in each subgroup. Each child in all the subgroups had gone through three dental visits. Child anxiety level at each visit was assessed by using a combination of anxiety measuring parameters. The data collected was tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Tukey honest significant difference post-hoc test at 0.05% level of significance revealed audiovisual group showed statistically highly significant difference from audio and control group, whereas audio group showed the statistically significant difference from the control group. Conclusion: Audiovisual distraction was found to be a more effective mode of distraction in the management of anxious children in both the age groups when compared to audio distraction. In both the age groups, a significant effect of the visit type was also observed.
Crisp commitment scheme based on noisy channels

In a crisp commitment schemes, a commitment must be opened using a unique opening key. However in such schemes, there could be many instances where the transmission medium or channel is corrupted by some kind of communication (transmission) noise. In this paper, we proposed a new scheme that enables the injection of fuzziness property to current ordinary crisp commitment scheme. In this way, the uncertainty occurring due to the noise presence is mitigated. It is a known fact that this kind of uncertainty naturally leads to the introduction of a fuzziness dimension to the commitment problem at hand. The security characteristic of our scheme relies on any cryptographic assumption unlike the fuzzy commitment scheme in the literature, which is based on hash function and should be strongly collision-free for the scheme to be secure.
The kinematics of industrial robot manipulators based on the exponential rotational matrices

Formulating the suitable mathematical models and deriving the efficient algorithms are very crucial for simplifying the complexity of the kinematics problems in robotics. Forward and inverse kinematics of industrial robot manipulators is generally performed using Denevit and Hartenberg method. In this paper, the algebra based on the exponential rotational matrices is used as an alternative method for driving the direct and inverse kinematics of the 6-DOF industrial robot manipulators with Euler wrist. The main advantage of this method arises from the explicit physical interpretation of the mechanism without deriving DH table. The exponential rotational matrices can also be easily implemented in the programming of robot manipulators. The RS and NS robot manipulators are given as examples to demonstrate the effectiveness of the employed method.
Enhanced Tolerance of House Mosquito to Different Insecticides due to Agricultural and Household Pesticides in Sewage System of Tehran, Iran

Different insecticides are being used for household and agricultural pest control in the capital city of Iran, Tehran. An investigation was carried out in order to evaluate the susceptibility level of laboratory and field collected mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatusin to different insecticides. Field strain was collected from sewage system of the city. Adult females were subjected to the diagnostic dose of different insecticides as recommended by WHO. Results showed that laboratory strains only exhibit resistant to DDT 4%, and susceptible to other insecticides. By using WHO criteria, field strain is resistant to DDT 4%, bendiocarb 0.1%, and tolerant to malathion 5%, permethrin 0.75%, deltamethrin 0.05%, lambdacyhalothrin 0.05% and etofenprox 5%. The field strain is still susceptible to cyfluthrin 0.15%. This findings indicate that routine use of pesticides in household and agricultural pest control may cause resistant in the wastewater mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus.
Kv7 Channel Activation Underpins EPAC-Dependent Relaxations of Rat Arteries

Objective—To establish the role of Kv7 channels in EPAC (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP)-dependent relaxations of the rat vasculature and to investigate whether this contributes to &bgr;-adrenoceptor-mediated vasorelaxations. Approach and Results—Isolated rat renal and mesenteric arteries (RA and MA, respectively) were used for isometric tension recording to study the relaxant effects of a specific EPAC activator and the &bgr;-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol in the presence of potassium channel inhibitors and cell signaling modulators. Isolated myocytes were used in proximity ligation assay studies to detect localization of signaling intermediaries with Kv7.4 before and after cell stimulation. Our studies showed that the EPAC activator (8-pCPT-2Me-cAMP-AM) produced relaxations and enhanced currents of MA and RA that were sensitive to linopirdine (Kv7 inhibitor). Linopirdine also inhibited isoproterenol-mediated relaxations in both RA and MA. In the MA, isoproterenol relaxations were sensitive to EPAC inhibition, but not protein kinase A inhibition. In contrast, isoproterenol relaxations in RA were attenuated by protein kinase A but not by EPAC inhibition. Proximity ligation assay showed a localization of Kv7.4 with A-kinase anchoring protein in both vessels in the basal state, which increased only in the RA with isoproterenol stimulation. In the MA, but not the RA, a localization of Kv7.4 with both Rap1a and Rap2 (downstream of EPAC) increased with isoproterenol stimulation. Conclusions—EPAC-dependent vasorelaxations occur in part via activation of Kv7 channels. This contributes to the isoproterenol-mediated relaxation in mesenteric, but not renal, arteries.
Following the Leader: Using Opinion Leaders in Environmental Strategic Communication

This study explores potential factors that lead to environmental opinion leadership behaviors such as informing the public about environmental issues and encouraging preventative behaviors among various social groups. Building on the theoretical framework of the diffusion of innovations model, these analyses explore the effects that mass media may have on perceptions of self-efficacy among opinion leaders and how self-efficacy may, in turn, encourage leaders to communicate about aquatic invasive species (AIS) to others in their social networks. Results indicate that mass media and governmental media can have both a positive and negative influence on levels of self-efficacy, and that opinion leaders with higher levels of self-efficacy are more likely to participate in behaviors that could potentially influence their social network(s). These findings not only highlight factors that influence opinion leadership regarding advocacy of environmental behaviors, but also offer insights as to how future campaigns can work with these groups to promote prevention strategies.
Consumers’ values and attitudes and their relation to the consumption of pork products a study from Q-PorkChains in Brazil

Consumers’ attitudes and personal values were assessed, investigating if those constructs affect the consumption of pork products. Empirical data was collected through a survey performed with 482 consumers in Brazil, according to Q-PorkChains project definitions. Attitudes towards the environment and nature are quite positive, although ethnocentrism is also present. Industrial food production seems to be an accepted system, but consumers are showing that environmental sustainability must not be forgotten. Consumers with more ‘traditionalist’ values prefer fresh, whilst those with ‘adventurous’ values prefer processed pork products. The development of innovative pork products aiming to attend to these different groups represents interesting opportunities for the pork chain.
Are Non-Audit Services Associated with Firm Value? Evidence from Financial Information System-Related Services

The purchase of non-audit services from incumbent auditors has generated considerable attention. Surprisingly, limited empirical evidence exists on the association of non-audit services with firm value. Focusing on services related to financial information system (FIS), we find that the market value of equity is greater for firms that purchase FIS-related services from their incumbent auditors relative to firms that do not. The levels of FIS fees are also positively related to firm value after controlling for total other fees, or total other non-audit fees. Hence, despite the negative perception associated with non-audit services, investors regard FIS-related services as value-adding activities.