Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a legislatively mandated influenza vaccination program for adults in Rhode Island, USA.

CONTEXT There have been disruptions in influenza vaccine supply in the United States during the 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006 influenza seasons. Some providers received limited or no vaccine, while others obtained their order in full, depending on with whom the order was placed. A state law was passed that mandates the Rhode Island Department of Health to include the purchase and distribution of influenza vaccine for adults in its immunization program. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the first 2 years of the statewide adult influenza immunization program. DESIGN We conducted key informant interviews of 25 providers in 2008 and surveyed all enrolled providers in 2008 (year 1) and 2009 (year 2). SETTING State of Rhode Island. PARTICIPANTS Physician practices and facilities that provide influenza vaccination to adults, including private practices, nursing homes, health centers, urgent care facilities, hospitals, mass immunizers, and businesses. INTERVENTION Enrolled providers received influenza vaccines free and billed insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid for vaccine administration costs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Provider satisfaction with different program components and overall satisfaction. RESULTS For year 1, there was higher satisfaction with enrollment, training, vaccine ordering, and vaccine shipment than with paperwork and claims. Of the survey respondents, 71% reported that the program paperwork was reasonable and 30% reported difficulties in receiving reimbursement. Satisfaction with the vaccination start date of October 17, 2007, was 80%. There was high overall satisfaction (94%). In response to streamlining of reporting requirements and setting an earlier start date of October 7, 2008, for year 2, there was a significant increase in satisfaction with paperwork (89%) and with vaccination start date (90%). CONCLUSIONS The findings may be useful in guiding the development of vaccination programs to provide influenza and other vaccines for adults at the state or national level.
How important is wine packaging for consumers? On the reliability of measuring attribute importance with direct verbal versus indirect visual methods

Wine packaging design has received a growing research interest in the last few years. Nevertheless different approaches to measure the relative importance of packaging compared to other extrinsic cues like brand name, origin and price yield deviating results. Verbal methods directly asking consumers about wine packaging relevance usually result in low packaging importance ratings contradictory to what we know from the market place. We review previous research in the measurement of packaging attribute importance and discuss psychological differences found between direct verbal and indirect visual methods. We compare the results of two methods to measure wine attribute importance: a direct verbal Best Worst Scaling (BWS) experiment versus an indirect visual discrete choice experiment (DCE). With BWS all visual extrinsic cues are not only measured as less important than verbal cues but also show a smaller variance between respondents, signalling a strong respondent agreement on their non-importance. Contrary, the DCE combining label and packaging attributes in wine bottle graphics in a shelf-like setting reveals a higher average importance and strong consumer preference heterogeneity of wine packaging design attributes and levels. Our results imply that stimuli which are visually perceived by consumers cannot be reliably measured with verbal methods. This results in strongly biased results. Choice experiments with packaging graphics, which simulate consumers’ real purchase behaviour in front of the shelf are a powerful tool for marketing practitioners. It allows them to efficiently measure the relative importance of design attributes for different consumer segments and to costefficiently test consumer acceptance of newly developed wine packaging in the market place.
Influence of Bus Stop Waiting Environment on Competiveness of Transit: What Factors Determine Traveler Choice?

Research was done to reveal what factors of the waiting environment influence the competitiveness of public transit. A sample of travelers from the Jiading district of Shanghai was used to answer questionnaires including social characteristics, satisfaction, and demands in the bus stop waiting environment. An ordered logit model was developed to determine the most significant factors and was compared with the satisfaction survey. The findings show that if bus stops are provided with more comfortable, convenient, and identifiable waiting environment, travelers will choose the bus more, but the findings differ from the satisfaction survey. The preliminary results are: (1) the satisfaction survey cannot fully reflect real psychological needs; and (2) the effects of waiting shown as negative before will be positive by providing other convenient services to attract travelers. Overall, the results can help planners and managers design user-friendly public transport waiting environments based on better understanding of the psychological needs of passengers.
Dimensions of success in new product development: An exploratory investigation

As a key element in survival and sustaining growth, the constant development and re‐development of products has been the subject of many academic and consulting group studies. The specific focus of these studies has often been to identify and describe those factors which determine the outcome of new product developments; the critical success factors in NPD. In order to fulfill their objectives, the studies have focused on many aspects of the management of new product development programmes in companies, and attempted to relate them to a number of alternative outcomes. This has called for the measurement of “success” itself. Unfortunately, there is very little consensus amongst the studies regarding how best to operationalize “success”, and researchers have employed a variety of measures, focused on different levels of analysis, sought data from different sources and used different data collection methods. This paper examines the performance measures used in several major NPD studies and shows how success .
The evolution of cooperation in strategic alliances: Initial conditions or learning processes?

We examine how the learning, along several dimensions (environment, task, process, skills, goals), that takes place in strategic alliances between firms mediates between the initial conditions and the outcomes of these alliances. Through a longitudinal case study of two projects in one alliance, replicated and extended in another four projects in two alliances, a framework was developed to analyze the evolution of cooperation in strategic alliances. Successful alliance projects were highly evolutionary and went through a sequence of interactive cycles of learning, reevaluation and readjustment. Failing projects, conversely, were highly inertial, with little learning, or divergent learning between cognitive understanding and behavioral adjustment, or frustrated expectations. Although strategic alliances may be a special case of organizational learning, we believe analyzing the evolution of strategic alliances helps transcend too simple depictions of inertia and adaptation, in particular by suggesting that initial conditions may lead to a stable 'imprinting' of fixed processes that make alliances highly inertial or to generative and evolutionary processes that make them highly adaptive, depending on how they are set.
Automatic chessboard corner detection method

Chessboard corner detection is a necessary procedure of the popular chessboard pattern-based camera calibration technique, in which the inner corners on a two-dimensional chessboard are employed as calibration markers. In this study, an automatic chessboard corner detection algorithm is presented for camera calibration. In authors' method, an initial corner set is first obtained with an improved Hessian corner detector. Then, a novel strategy that utilises both intensity and geometry characteristics of the chessboard pattern is presented to eliminate fake corners from the initial corner set. After that, a simple yet effective approach is adopted to sort the detected corners into a meaningful order. Finally, the sub-pixel location of each corner is calculated. The proposed algorithm only requires a user input of the chessboard size, while all the other parameters can be adaptively calculated with a statistical approach. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method has advantages over the popular OpenCV chessboard corner detection method in terms of detection accuracy and computational efficiency. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the proposed method used for camera calibration is also verified in authors' experiments.
Perfect sampling for the wavelet reconstruction of signals

The coupling from the past (CFTP) procedure is a protocol for finite-state Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods whereby the algorithm itself can determine the necessary runtime to convergence. In this paper, we demonstrate how this protocol can be applied to the problem of signal reconstruction using Bayesian wavelet analysis where the dimensionality of the wavelet basis set is unknown, and the observations are distorted by Gaussian white noise of unknown variance. MCMC simulation is used to account for model uncertainty by drawing samples of wavelet bases for approximating integrals (or summations) on the model space that are either too complex or too computationally demanding to perform analytically. We extend the CFTP protocol by making use of the central limit theorem to show how the algorithm can also monitor its own approximation error induced by MCMC. In this way, we can assess the number of MCMC samples needed to approximate the integral to within a user specified tolerance level. Hence, the method automatically ensures convergence and determines the necessary number of iterations needed to meet the error criteria.
Genome Architecture of the Human β-Globin Locus Affects Developmental Regulation of Gene Expression

ABSTRACT To test the role of gene order in globin gene expression, mutant human β-globin locus yeast artificial chromosome constructs were used, each having one additional globin gene encoding a “marked” transcript (εm, γm, or βm) integrated at different locations within the locus. When a βm-globin gene was placed between the locus control region (LCR) and the ε-globin gene, βm-globin expression dominated primitive and definitive erythropoiesis; only βm-globin mRNA was detected during the fetal and adult definitive stages of erythropoiesis. When an Aγm-globin gene was placed at the same location, Aγm-globin was expressed during embryonic erythropoiesis and the fetal liver stage of definitive erythropoiesis but was silenced during the adult stage. The downstream wild-type γ-globin genes were not expressed. When an εm-globin gene was placed between the δ- and β-globin genes, it remained silent during embryonic erythropoiesis; only the LCR-proximal wild-type ε-globin gene was expressed. Placement of a βm-globin gene upstream of the Gγ-globin gene resulted in expression of βm-globin in embryonic cells and in a significant decrease in expression of the downstream wild-type β-globin gene. These results indicate that distance from the LCR, an inherent property of spatial gene order, is a major determinant of temporal gene expression during development.
Using the “documentary method” to analyse qualitative data in logistics research

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the use of a qualitative data analysis technique, the documentary method, in the development of knowledge in logistics. The value of the method is illustrated through an example of its application in a study of in‐store logistics processes at six leading European retail stores.Design/methodology/approach – Extant literature is outlined regarding philosophical underpinnings of the documentary method and is followed by an explanation of the method and its application. Finally, an illustration is provided of its adaptation and use in a logistics research project.Findings – Drawing on a social constructionist approach, the documentary method can add to the development of logistics research by providing rich descriptions of actual practice, problems and issues in logistic processes – compared with the stated goals of such processes.Research limitations/implications – The documentary method is not suitable for all areas of logistics research and will need certain adaptations.
Regulation of intracellular xanthine oxidase by endothelial-derived nitric oxide.

We have previously shown that nitric oxide (NO) donors, such as nitrosoglutathione, inhibit endothelial cell (EC) xanthine dehydrogenase (XD)/xanthine oxidase (XO) activity. The purpose of this study was to assess whether endothelial-derived NO plays any role in the regulation of intracellular XD/XO. We exposed rat pulmonary microvascular EC to L-arginine (precursor of NO) or inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), i.e., NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl esther (L-NAME) and NG-nitro-L-arginine, in conditions of normoxia, hypoxia, and hypoxia followed by reoxygenation. Hypoxia alone caused a 1.9- and a 6.6-fold increase in XO and a 5-fold increase in XO + XD activities after 24 and 48 h of exposure, respectively. The combination of hypoxia and L-NAME (300 microM) treatment amounted at 48 h to a 10- and 7.5-fold increase in XO and XO + XD activities, respectively, compared with normoxic untreated cells. L-NAME also prevented the decline in XD/XO activity that occurred in untreated EC after hypoxia-reoxygenation. On the other hand, treatment with L-arginine caused a dose-dependent decrease in XD/XO activity in hypoxic EC compared with cells provided with L-arginine-free medium. In separate experiments, we assessed the role of L-arginine supplementation on the in vivo regulation of lung XD/XO by exposing male adult Sprague-Dawley rats for a period of 5 days to a hypoxic hypobaric atmosphere (0.5 atm). Exposure to hypoxia produced a significant increase in lung tissue XO activity and an increase in the ratio of XO to XD. L-Arginine supplementation in the drinking water prevented the increase in lung XO and the XO-to-XD ratio in hypoxic rats and caused a significant decrease in XO and XD in rats exposed to normoxia. In conclusion, this study suggests that endogenous NO has a significant role in the regulation of XD/XO both in vitro and in vivo. By inhibiting XD/XO activity, NO may have a modulating effect in conditions of hypoxia and hypoxia-reoxygenation, where this enzyme is thought to be important.
Has the Time Finally Come for the Medium of the Future?

ABSTRACT Mobile advertising is a young, fast-growing part of marketing communications. Initially over-hyped, it is now starting to take off for real. What can we learn about it from the early academic research? Initial studies on the medium focused on “push” advertising using SMS—an issue complicated by issues of the constraints of consumer permission, acceptance and trust. Results have been mixed but suggest acceptance, especially by younger consumers, of well-executed SMS-based push advertising if the source is trusted, permission has been given, and the messages are relevant and/or entertaining. Researchers have started to broaden the agenda to cover push mobile advertising beyond SMS (e.g., using still or moving pictures and sound) and mobile as a “pull” or response medium (e.g., in combination with traditional media and promotions). For future research, emerging topics include device-readable printed codes in print ads and packaging; mobile search; location-based mobile communications and promotions; branded mobile entertainment, especially games; and user-generated mobile content and social networking. Many of these reflect the growth of the mobile Internet since the 2007 launch of Apple's iPhone. Finally—perhaps uniquely within academic research in marketing—most mobile advertising research has been conducted in Asia and Europe, not the United States. The rapid growth of the mobile Internet will, the authors hope, lead to more U.S. research in this increasingly important area.
Currency Risk Premia in Global Stock Markets

Large fundamental imbalances persist in the global economy, with potential exchange rate implications. This paper assesses whether exchange rate risk is priced across G-7 stock markets. Given the multitude of hedging instruments available, theory suggests that stock market investors should not be compensated for currency risk. However, data covering 33 industry portfolios across seven major stock markets suggest that not only is exchange rate risk priced in many markets, but that it is time varying and sensitive to currency-specific shocks. With stock market investors typically exhibiting "home bias", this suggests that investors are using equity asset proxies to hedge the exchange rate risks to consumption.
Attitude synchronization of rigid spacecraft using terminal sliding mode

The problem of attitude synchronization for a group of rigid spacecraft is investigated in this paper under the general directed communication topology. Combining the strategies of finite-time control, fast terminal sliding mode (FTSM) control and adaptive control, a novel decentralized finite-time control law is proposed in the presence of inertia uncertainties and environmental disturbances. The new control scheme ensures that each spacecraft can attain the desired time-varying attitude and angular velocity in finite-time while maintaining attitude synchronization with other spacecraft in the formation. The feasibility of the control algorithm is investigated by an illustrative simulation example.
The welfare significance of the castration of cattle: A review

Abstract Castration is an ancient husbandry procedure used to produce docile cattle for draught work, to reduce unwanted breeding, and to modify carcass quality. All the physical methods used to castrate cattle have side-effects and cause pain. The plasma cortisol response to castration using Burdizzo clamps and, by inference, the acute pain experienced, is less than that caused by surgical, rubber-ring or latex-band castration. The cortisol response may be influenced by the age of the animal castrated, but this has not been well defined. Local anaesthesia virtually eliminates the cortisol response, and thus the acute pain, caused by rubber-ring or latex-band castration, but needs to be combined with a systemic analgesic such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen to eliminate the cortisol response to Burdizzo or surgical castration. When used alone, ketoprofen sometimes reduces the cortisol response to Burdizzo or surgical castration but may need to be accompanied by local anaesthesia to eliminate the pain-induced behaviour seen during the castration process itself. Thus, pharmacological methods are available to virtually eliminate the acute pain experienced by calves during the 12 h following castration. The use of these methods is an additional cost for farmers and may be limited by the availability of drugs for farmers to use and the scarcity of veterinarians in farm animal practice.
Generation of mid-infrared pulses by X(3) difference frequency generation in CaF(2) and BaF(2).

Tunable mid-IR pulses in the range 1300-4200 cm(-1) (7.7-2.4 microm) are generated through a phase-matched four-wave mixing process in ordinary mid-IR window materials such as CaF(2) and BaF(2) . In this process the difference frequency v(3)=2v(2)-v(1) is generated from pump fields v(1) and v(2) . The process can be phase matched to different frequencies by adjustment of the angle between the pump fields.
Factors Influencing the Incidence and Outcome of Infection Following Total Joint Arthroplasty

During a ten-year period, 4240 total hip, knee, and elbow arthroplasties were performed. The overall infection rate was 1.25%. Certain groups were identified as being at higher risk of infection following total joint arthroplasty: rheumatoid arthritics were at 2.6 times greater risk than osteoarthritics; patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty as a revision of a previous operation were eight times more likely to have infection than those undergoing a primary operation; and patients with metal-to-metal hinged knee prostheses, when compared with patients with metal-to-plastic knee prostheses, were 20 times more likely to have infection. The majority of infections could be attributed either to perioperative problems or late bacterial seeding from a distant site. Although most infections occurred by two years after operation, late infections, particularly in rheumatoid patients via the hematogenous route, occurred as long as nine years after operation. There was no correlation between the Gram's-staining characteristics of the pathogen and the outcome of the infected joint. Gram-negative organisms were frequent in the perioperative period and reflected either nosocomial infection or the ineffectiveness of the prophylactic antibiotic regimen used in inhibiting gram-negative pathogens. The major factors that influenced the outcome of the infected joint included the interval from the initial surgery to recognition of infection, the delay in institution of appropriate treatment, the particular joint that was infected, the integrity of the bone-cement interface, the type of prosthesis used, and the host susceptibility. Identification of high-risk groups and the recognition that patients with joint implants are at risk of infection at any time in the postoperative period may lead to a lowered infection rate in the future.
Toward an approach to improve MPPT efficiency for PV system

A solar photovoltaic system requires a regulation to extract the maximum of its energy taking account the atmospheric fluctuations and external disturbances [1]. In this article, we propose to study Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system, using an Automatic Selection Algorithm (ASA) to improve the efficiency of the PV system connected to a load via a DC-DC converter. The proposed ASA switch between two conventional MPPT: Incremental Conduction Algorithm (INC) [2] and Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm [3]). It selects automatically the algorithm which should work best according to the solar irradiance data. The study focuses on the analysis of the robustness, speed, precision and the yield of the PV system. The MATLAB/Simulink environment is used to simulate the performance of the electrical conversion systems.
FromΤέκτων toΤέχνη : GoingBack to theClassical Roots of Architecture using Virtual Reality

In Classical Greece the design and construction of buildings were interconnected, forming a single activity. With the development of knowledge and technology, this process has fragmented, giving rise to different activities, performed by various professionals, such as the architect, the engineer and the builder, leading to problems related with information exchange between them. With the research projects Tecton and Technos, we intend to reunite these activities again, seeking to simplify the building production process. In Tecton, we propose an Immersive Virtual Reality Environment to sketch and model objects in an interactive way, using hand gestures and body postures, enabling architects to change between the viewpoint of the creator and that of the user, thereby designing buildings while experiencing them at full-scale at the same time. In the future Technos project, our vision is develop detailed 3D virtual models to serve both as supporting elements for the digital fabrication of building parts and as communications elements for the assembly and construction of buildings.