Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional characterization of a portion of the Moloney murine leukemia virus gag gene by genetic footprinting

Retroviral Gag proteins perform important functions in viral assembly, but are also involved in other steps in the viral life cycle. Conventional mutational analysis has yielded considerable information about domains essential for these functions, yet many regions of gag remain uncharacterized. We used genetic footprinting, a technique that permits the generation and simultaneous analysis of large numbers of mutations, to perform a near-saturation mutagenesis and functional analysis of 639 nucleotides in the gag region of Moloney murine leukemia virus. We report here the resulting functional map defined by eight footprints representing regions of Moloney murine leukemia virus gag, some previously uncharacterized, that are essential for replication. We found that significant portions of matrix and p12 proteins were tolerant of insertions, in contrast to the N-terminal half of capsid, which was not. We analyzed 30 mutants from our library by using conventional methods to validate the footprints. Six of these mutants were characterized in detail, identifying the precise stage at which their replication is blocked. In addition to providing the most comprehensive functional map of a retroviral gag gene, our study demonstrates the abundance of information that can be gleaned by genetic footprinting of viral sequences.
Modes for enhancing competitiveness: an application of transaction cost in Australian sugar supply chain

The concept of international competitiveness accords a notion of highly competitive marketplace with countries, industries, and firms fiercely vying for dominance, market share, and profit. However, the arena of competition and competitive advantage is moving from individual operations towards supply chains using coordination mechanisms. In such an environment, competitive capacity for agricultural products, and sugar in particular, needs to be based on supply chain coordination and cooperation. As the world sugar industry is under intense pressure to deregulate and become competitive, the importance of co-operating increases. This paper aims at reinforcing the relation between cooperation and competitiveness by examining Australian sugar supply chain activities from the perspectives of transaction cost economics. It lays the groundwork in which various transaction costs in the supply chain can be segregated and assessed. The main conclusion is to develop relationship among chain members based on trust with a common goal for improving competitiveness.
The Relationship among Self-Efficacy Beliefs, External Locus of Control and Work Stress in Public Setting Schoolteachers

Work stress is considered as the product of an imbalance between environmental demands (stressors) and individual differences (capabilities, resources or needs), associated with adverse health outcomes as well as adverse work outcomes. According to the literature in this field, teaching has ranked among the most stressful occupation. In order to investigate the role of Self-Effi- cacy Beliefs and Locus of Control as personal capabilities to cope with environmental demands, this study examines the interactions among these psychological features in a group of schoolteachers. Results of this survey suggest that self-efficacy belief represents one of the most important “protective” factors in response to psychological stress.
Value-Added Records Management: Protecting Corporate Assets and Reducing Business Risks

Preface Guilty Until Proven Innocent Preservation of Legal Rights and Business Assets Threats to Sensitive and Valuable Records and Information Employer Rights and Responsibilities A Day in Court The Roles of Records in Corporate Change Retention and Disposition Integrating Media Choices for the Ultimate Information System Electronic Records and Information The Internet E-Mail The Bottom Line Organization and Staffing for the Records and Information Management The Challenges Ahead Appendix I: A Vital Records Program Appendix II: Records and Information Security Program Appendix III: High-Performance, Low-Maintenance Records Retention Appendix IV: Records and Information Management Best Practices Glossary Additional Resources Index
Market Structure, Conduct, and Performance: Constraints of Performance of Ethiopian Grain Markets

The purpose of this report is to assess the efficiency of the Ethiopian grain marketing system and identify some of the constraints on market participants which influence its performance. The main questions dealt with are: How is the grain marketing system organized and coordinated? Is the grain trade business composed of many small units competing one another or is it dominated by few large participants? What are the approaches followed by traders in buying, selling and pricing grain? Are there any barriers to entry, and if so, what are the major factors? What problems and constraints are observed in transportation, storage, financial credit, and market information? How have the structure and conduct of the market and the constraints and problems affected the performance of the market?
The Function and Future of the Folder

Folders are a commonplace metaphor in computing environments, constituting a link to physical work materials and are a key means for individuals to impose order on their digital work materials. This paper presents the findings of a novel qualitative study examining folder use by 12 information workers, using logging to accurately capture how folders were used in individual everyday work over 6 weeks, and challenging participants to work without using folders. Through observation and interviews, the study provides new descriptions of how folders are used and the dependence some study participants had on their folders to think and create, as well as to access files. The findings call into question whether search and recency-based lists of files could fulfil the functional role of folders, identified as key means for individuals to construct and specialize their work environments. Implications are discussed for document management tools, and more generally for operating system design.
Contribution of immigrant employees to international marketing standardisation strategies selection

Purpose – Previous studies on the contribution of immigrant employees (IE) have mainly focused on immigrants from non‐Western industrialised countries. Few studies have explored the contribution of immigrants from the European Union (EU). The purpose of this commentary is to present the outcomes of a recent study on immigrant employees from the EU region.Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines the experience of 77 New Zealand firms operating in 11 EU markets. Only 10 percent of the firms investigated hired IE to assist or manage their firms' marketing activities in the EU region, suggesting employment of IE is still in its infancy stage. The EU is the largest immigrant source region, which contributes more than 30 percent of total immigrants to New Zealand in 2005. This study uncovers the profile of firms which have, or have not, utilised such a strategy.Findings – It was found that, at present, the users of IE are larger in size, equipped with higher international business experience, FDI mode .
A geometric approach for turbo decoding of reed-solomon codes in QAM modulation schemes

This work studies the turbo decoding of Reed-Solomon codes in QAM modulation schemes for additive white Gaussian noise channels (AWGN) by using a geometric approach. Considering the relations between the Galois field elements of the Reed-Solomon code and the symbols combined with their geometric dispositions in the QAM constellation, a turbo decoding algorithm, based on the work of Chase and Pyndiah, is developed. Simulation results show that the performance achieved is similar to the one obtained with the pragmatic approach with binary decomposition and analysis.
The Changing European Firm: Limits to convergence

Throughout Europe, governments have acted in accordance with the conviction that a larger and uniform market would enable greater economics of scale and the growth of large corporations. This is seen in terms of the spread of multinational, US-style companies, enforcing a uniform type of firm across countries. The contributions to this volume, in contrast, show how the nature of firms is embedded in the larger societal context of nations, preventing a homogenised firm-type spreading across European countries. It becomes clear that researchers should locate the firm in the social context in which it is rooted, rather than looking to economic science to explain a 'non-ideal type. ' Areas covered by the contributors include the comparison of typical firms in Denmark adn Finland; the limited transformation of large enterprises in Hungary; and an analysis of supply networks in Britain and Germany. Through these essays and a discussion of the variations in the nature of the firm in Europe by leading Eur
Monitoring the response of canine hyperadrenocorticism to trilostane treatment by assessment of acute phase protein concentrations.

BACKGROUND Acute phase proteins (APPS) include haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA). Increased Hp concentrations may be induced by endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoids in dogs. OBJECTIVES To assess whether control of hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) affects the concentrations of Hp, CRP, SAA, alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and cholesterol, to determine whether these analytes can be used to assess control of HAC following trilostane treatment, and whether a combination of these tests offers a valid method of assessing disease control. METHODS Hp, CRP, SAA, ALKP and cholesterol were assessed in 11 dogs with spontaneous HAC before and after treatment with trilostane. Adequate control of HAC was defined as post-ACTH cortisol less than 150 nmol/l. RESULTS Significant reductions in Hp, ALKP, cholesterol and SAA (P<0.05) but not of CRP were found after control of HAC. Only Hp, cholesterol and ALKP were moderately informative (Se & Sp>0.7) of disease control when compared to adrenocorticotropin or corticotropin (ACTH) stimulation test. SAA and CRP were unhelpful (Se & Sp<0.7). The analysis of the combination of the analytes did not improve the correlation with ACTH stimulation test. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Relying on these analytes does not provide additional information over ACTH stimulation test results when assessing control of HAC treated with trilostane.
Sustainable Supply Networks: A Complex Systems Perspective

A complex adaptive systems perspective is used to examine the sustainability of the supply network in the commercial aerospace manufacturing sector. A framework for the analysis of coevolutionary dynamical change is used which examines the structure, integration methods and process dynamics within the supply network. Multiple methods are used for data collection from 8 firms in the sector. The frame work identifies 14 management implica tions related closely to the sector’s current heterarchical supply network archetype. The management implications address known environmental factors for the sector and the broader techno-economic paradigm.
Supply Chain Integration: A Framework of Validation using Structural Equation Modeling

The purpose of this study was to test and redefine the measurement of supply chain integration practices in the manufacturing industry in Malaysia as a developing country. The study employed a survey method where data collection was done through a questionnaire composed of supply chain integration dimensions; internal integration and external integration. Data was obtained from 113 respondents, from manufacturing firms across Malaysia. The collected responses were analysed using Partial Least Square based Structural Equation Modeling, [PLS] to test and validate supply chain integration measurement and its model confirmation in a developing country. Findings suggest that supplier, customer and internal integration eminently established inter-organisational capabilities through supply chain integration both externally and internally. The sample consisted logistics managers, supply chain managers and operational managers with vast operational experience. As there was only one respondent from each of the firms, it is open to response biasness. Managers from manufacturing firms in Malaysia could employ the selected supply chain integration elements in developing key performance indicators to enable and enhance inter-organisational capabilities. The research is an original contribution to the body of knowledge as supply chain integration is used to measure inter-organisational integration among manufacturing firms in a developing country like Malaysia – something that has not been attempted by researchers in this field.
A Self-commissioning Notch Filter for Active Damping in a Three-Phase LCL -Filter-Based Grid-Tie Converter

LCL-filters are a cost-effective solution to mitigate harmonic current content in grid-tie converters. In order to avoid stability problems, the resonance frequency of LCL-filters can be damped with active techniques that remove dissipative elements but increase control complexity. A notch filter provides an effective solution, however tuning the filter requires considerable design effort and the variations in the grid impedance limit the LCL-filter robustness. This paper proposes a straightforward tuning procedure for a notch filter self-commissioning. In order to account for the grid inductance variations, the resonance frequency is estimated and later used for tuning the notch filter. An estimation for the maximum value of the proportional gain to excite the resonance is provided. The resonance frequency is calculated using the Goertzel algorithm, which requires little extra computational resources in the existing control processor. The discrete Fourier transform coefficients are therefore obtained, with less calculations than the running sum implementation and less memory requirements than with the fast Fourier transform (FFT). Thus, the self-commissioning technique is robust to grid impedance variations due to its ability to tune the grid-tie inverter on-site. Finally, the analysis is validated with both simulation and experiments.
An operational efficiency evaluation method for weapon system-of-systems combat networks based on operation loop

To meet the demands of the joint operation under the information conditions, the operational effectiveness of a combat network of weapon system-of-systems has become a hot research. In this study, an operational effectiveness evaluation method based on operation loop is put forward. First, we introduce the concepts of operation loop and discuss the weapon system-of-systems combat networks model. Then, a measure called operation loop evaluation index is present to evaluate the operational effectiveness. To verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the given measure, two scenarios: a scenario of edge decreasing and a scenario of node decreasing are designed. We compare the operational effectiveness evaluated by operation loop evaluation index and the radio of the Perron-Frobenius eigenvalue of the network adjacency matrix and the node number (PFE/N) under the two scenarios. Results show that operation loop evaluation index is better in evaluating the operational effectiveness of a combat network.
Segmenting nonprofit stakeholders to enable successful relationship marketing: a review

When establishing relationships with stakeholders, nonprofit organizations must define appropriate target groups to allocate resources purposively. This paper explicates that link by reviewing the literature on nonprofit stakeholder segmentation and by discussing whether stakeholder segmentation is perceived as a prerequisite of successful relationship marketing by nonprofit researchers. We develop two conceptual dimensions of nonprofit stakeholder segmentation: the stakeholders segmented and the segmentation criteria used. A systematic database and journal search yielded 53 papers, categorized according to these two dimensions. The studies are described briefly, and the relevance of the relationship marketing concept is examined and discussed. Several research gaps emerge from this review, leading to propositions for further research. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of the 4Ps in Emerging Markets

Emerging markets have in recent times become a great source of interest for companies due to the unique value that they have to offer. In spite of this, marketing products or services in emerging markets can pose a distinct set of challenges, apart from being a source of great opportunity that firms need to consider in order to succeed. Results can be obtained by employing a combination of the marketing mix variables over which the marketer has control. The 4P classification of the marketing mix, remains the most cited and the most often used classification of the marketing mix. However, the applicability and suitability of the 4Ps for implementation in emerging markets still remains a source of debate. The paper, based on previous literature, presents an account of the marketing mix (4Ps) and its application in emerging markets, as well as a discussion on whether or not they can be applied in emerging markets. Two main schools of thought have emerged in an attempt to explain how applicable the marketing mix is in the context of emerging markets. One school believes that the 4Ps is not applicable in emerging markets, while a second school of thought believes that the marketing mix is indeed applicable in emerging markets subject to contextual adaptations. The paper adopts the latter view and calls for an investigation into the application of the 4Ps marketing mix among customers in emerging markets, incorporating four key considerations: access, affordability, availability and awareness. Likewise, the paper suggests that the nature of marketing strategy formulation of different types of organizations for emerging markets can be better understood by investigating the level of economic development, economic growth, as well as the market governance pertaining within the particular emerging market.
Managing variability of self-customizable systems through composable components

Self-customizable systems must adapt themselves to evolving user requirements or to their changing environment. One way to address this problem is through automatic component composition, systematically (re-)building systems according to the current requirements by composing reusable components. Our work addresses requirements-driven composition of multi-flow architectures. This article presents the central element of our automated runtime customization approach, the concept of composable components: the internal configuration of a composable component is not fixed, but is variable in the limits of its structural constraints. In this article, we introduce the mechanism of structural constraints as a way of managing the variability of customizable systems. Composition is performed in a top–down stepwise refinement manner, while recursively composing the internal structures of the composable components according to external requirements over the invariant structural constraints. The final section of the article presents our cases of practical validation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The social and economic proclivity of social enterprises : antecedents, measurement, and dynamics

Balancing both social and economic goals is a key issue in social enterprises. This paper reports a historical process analysis of an award-winning social enterprise that faced bankruptcy only two years after founding to understand the dynamics of having both economic and social goals in social enterprises. We performed a categorical analysis and identified two aggregated analytical dimensions which affect the goals of the venture and provide a super-ordinate framework for organizing the second order themes: a social employment logic – encompassing the social mission focus and supporting government – and a market logic – encompassing the growth and management of the firm. The paper contributes to the literature on competing logics where there has been limited empirical attention to the impact of competing logics on actors within the field. The findings further counterbalance the largely positive assumptions in the social entrepreneurship literature and offer lessons for the governance of social enterprises.
Investigation of the Potential for Interference with Whole Blood Glucose Strips

RESULTS oxalate tubes (Vacutainers, Becton Dickinson). The interferents were added to whole blood in a ratio of 1:9 using aqueous stock solutions, to achieve the final desired concentration ranges in the sample (Table 1). Samples were examined after the addition of the interferents but no obvious haemolysis was evident. The reference glucosemeasurement was made on each blood sample after treatment with perchloric acid (3070) using the glucose dehydrogenase procedure in duplicate on a centrifugal analyser (MonarchTM, Instrumentation Laboratory, Warrington, UK).
Seeking community input to improve implementation of a lifestyle modification program.

OBJECTIVES Obesity increases a person's risk for diabetes, which is becoming the most common chronic disease in the United States. Latina and African-American women in disadvantaged communities are at higher risk for becoming overweight and subsequently developing diabetes. The purpose of this focus-group study was to guide our adaptation of an evidence-based lifestyle intervention and implementation of the Community-Based Lifestyle Balance program (CLSB). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We conducted 11 focus-group discussions with 87 African-American and Latina women in disadvantaged communities, including schools, senior centers, subsidized housing communities, and churches. We also conducted informal key informant interviews with community service providers and leaders. RESULTS Discussions revealed high knowledge of healthy behavior and strong interest in making lifestyle changes. However, barriers such as competing demands on these women prevented long-term practice of healthy behaviors. Women frequently expressed feelings of guilt and self-blame in their attempts and failures to make healthy changes in their daily routine. Some patterns were identified that varied by age and race/ethnicity. These findings suggest guidelines for implementing this lifestyle intervention in a variety of community settings. CONCLUSIONS Community-level changes such as safer streets and better access to quality grocery stores or markets, with affordable, healthy, fresh food can take years to accomplish. In the interim, CLSB can provide women with skills and strategies that can help improve their health and the health of their families.
A note on power comparison of panel tests of cointegration – An application on health expenditure and GDP

This paper presents a comparison of power of panel tests of cointegration and show how the choice of most powerful test depends on the values of the sample statistics. Country-by-country and panel stationarity and cointegration tests are performed using a panel of 20 OECD countries observed over the period 1971-2004. Residual-based tests and a cointegration rank test in the system of health care expenditure and GDP are used to test cointegration. Asymptotic normal distribution of these tests allows a straightforward comparison: for some values of the sample statistics, residual-based and rank tests are not directly comparable and the power of residual-based tests oscillates, while for other values rank test is more powerful than residual-based tests. In conclusion, a clear-cut conclusion on the most powerful test cannot be reached. JEL classification: C12; C22; C23; I10