Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Channel power, conflict and conflict resolution in international fashion retailing

Research that has considered the problems faced by internationalising retailers has tended to focus upon such dimensions as non‐conducive environmental conditions and inferior internal capability, rather than the conflicts that may arise from the partnerships that are formed in order to facilitate the internationalisation of retailer operations. This study seeks to re‐dress this research neglect and does so by focusing upon the fashion sector. The aim of this study is to identify the problems that may arise from fashion retailers’ international relationships. The paper reports the findings of an in‐depth study of the relationships of ten international fashion retailers. It is found that these relationships face significant tensions, specifically with respect to strategy non‐compliance, perceptual disagreements, and arguments concerning the demarcation of decision making responsibility. The paper concludes by identifying areas for future research consideration.
Random and site‐specific mutagenesis of the Helicobacter pylori ferric uptake regulator provides insight into Fur structure–function relationships

The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) of Helicobacter pylori is a global regulator that is important for colonization and survival within the gastric mucosa. H. pylori Fur is unique in its ability to activate and repress gene expression in both the iron‐bound (Fe‐Fur) and apo forms (apo‐Fur). In the current study we combined random and site‐specific mutagenesis to identify amino acid residues important for both Fe‐Fur and apo‐Fur function. We identified 25 mutations that affected Fe‐Fur repression and 23 mutations that affected apo‐Fur repression, as determined by transcriptional analyses of the Fe‐Fur target gene amiE, and the apo‐Fur target gene, pfr. In addition, eight of these mutations also significantly affected levels of Fur in the cell. Based on regulatory phenotypes, we selected several representative mutations to characterize further. Of those selected, we purified the wild‐type (HpFurWT) and three mutant Fur proteins (HpFurE5A, HpFurA92T and HpFurH134Y), which represent mutations in the N‐terminal extension, the regulatory metal binding site (S2) and the structural metal binding site (S3) respectively. Purified proteins were evaluated for secondary structure by circular dichroism spectroscopy, iron‐binding by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, oligomerization in manganese‐substituted and apo conditions by in vitro cross‐linking assays, and DNA binding to Fe‐Fur and apo‐Fur target sequences by fluorescence anisotropy. The results showed that the N‐terminal, S2 and S3 regions play distinct roles in terms of Fur structure–function relationships. Overall, these studies provide novel information regarding the role of these residues in Fur function, and provide mechanistic insight into how H. pylori Fur regulates gene expression in both the iron‐bound and apo forms of the protein.
Mild cognitive impairment: applicability of research criteria in a memory clinic and characterization of cognitive profile

Background. We explored the applicability of recently proposed research criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a memory clinic and changes in case definition related to which memory tests are used and the status of general cognitive function in MCI. Method. A total of 166 consecutive GP referrals to the Cambridge Memory Clinic underwent comprehensive neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluation. Results. Of 166 cases, 42 were excluded (significant depression 8, established dementia 29 and other disorders 5). Of 124 non-demented, non-depressed patients, 72 fulfilled Petersen's criteria for amnestic MCI based upon verbal memory performance [the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)] and 90 met criteria if performance on verbal and/or non-verbal memory tests [the Rey figure recall or the Paired Associates Learning test (PAL)] was considered. Of the 90 broadly defined MCI cases, only 25 had pure amnesia: other subtle semantic and/or attention deficits were typically present. A further 12 were classed as non-amnestic MCI and 22 as ‘worried well’. Conclusions. Definition of MCI varies considerably dependent upon the tests used for case definition. The majority have other cognitive deficits despite normal performance on the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and intact activities of daily living (ADL) and fit within multi-domain MCI. Pure amnesic MCI is rare.
From IP port numbers to ADSL customer segmentation: knowledge aggregation and representation using Kohonen maps

The very rapid adoption of new applications makes the segmentation of ADSL customers according to their network usage a critical step both for a better understanding of the market and for the prediction and dimensioning of the network. We show how Kohonen self-organizing maps can be used to build successive layers of abstraction starting from low-level traffic data to achieve an interpretable clustering of the customers and how the unique visualisation ability of the Kohonen maps makes the analysis quite natural and easy to interpret. 1 Motivation Broadband access for home users and small or medium businesses and especially ADSL access is of vital importance for telecommunication companies since it allows them to leverage their copper infrastructure so as to offer new valueadded broadband services to their customers. The market for broadband access has three strong characteristics: - there is a strong competition between the various actors, - although the market is now very rapidly increasing, customer retention is important because of high acquisition costs, - new applications or services may be picked up very fast by some segments of the customers and the behaviour of these applications or services may have a very strong impact on the quality of service delivered to all customers (and not only those using these new applications or services). Two well-known examples of new applications or services with possibly very demanding requirements in terms of bandwidth are peer-to-peer file exchange systems and audio or video streaming.
High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Bifidobacterium longum E18, Isolated from a Healthy Adult

ABSTRACT Bifidobacteria are important gastrointestinal commensals of a number of animals, including humans, and various beneficial effects on host health have been attributed to them. Here, we announce the noncontiguous finished genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum E18, isolated from a healthy adult, which reveals traits involved in its interaction with the host.
Pedestrian detection based on appearance, motion, and shadow information

We present a new pedestrian detection algorithm that considers multiple information sources. Appearance-based detection methods face difficulties such as appearance variations and occlusions. Shape-based methods can have false positives on shadows since they usually have similar shapes with foreground objects. To deal with these problems, we use appearance, motion, and shadow information simultaneously in our detection method. We detect pedestrians using shape information of both foreground and shadow regions. Then, we filter the detection results based on motion information if available. The proposed method gives low false positives due to the integration of multiple information sources. Moreover, it alleviates the problem brought by occlusion since casted shadows are observable when foreground objects are occluded. Our experimental results show that the proposed algorithm provides good performance in difficult situations.
ResearchRNAi-mediated silencing of CD 147 inhibits tumor cell proliferation , invasion and increases chemosensitivity to cisplatin in SGC 7901 cells in vitro

Background: CD147 is a widely distributed cell surface glycoprotein that belongs to the Ig superfamily. CD147 has been implicated in numerous physiological and pathological activities. Enriched on the surface of many tumor cells, CD147 promotes tumor growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis and confers resistance to some chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, we investigated the possible role of CD147 in the progression of gastric cancer. Methods: Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expressing vectors targeting CD147 were constructed and transfected into human gastric cancer cells SGC7901 and CD147 expression was monitored by quantitative realtime RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation, the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9, the invasive potential and chemosensitivity to cisplatin of SGC7901 cells were determined by MTT, gelatin zymography, Transwell invasion assay and MTT,
THE IMPACT OF MULTIPLE BLOCKHOLDERS IDENTITYON EXPROPRIATION OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS:Evidence from Indonesia

This paper explores the impact of multiple blockholders identity on the relation between family firms, excess control rights over cash flow rights, and expropriation of minority shareholders, in the specific case of Indonesia by using a panel of Indonesia companies over the period 2006-2008. Three research questions are investigated: 1. What is the impact of family firms on expropriation of minority shareholders; 2. What is the impact of excess control rights over cash flow rights on expropriation of minority shareholders; 3. To what extent does multiple blockholders identity moderate the relationship between family firms, excess control rights over cash flow rights, and expropriation of minority shareholders. In the theory review, agency theory and stewardship theory are introduced as theoretical foundation, followed by the discussion of corporate governance in Indonesia context. While agency theory specifies the agency problems namely principal-agent conflicts and principalprincipal conflicts; stewardship theory discusses that managers are considered as good stewards who will act in the best interest of the owners which ideal for explaining governance in the family business context. In regards to the methodology, ten testable hypotheses are generated for empirical analysis. Multiple regression analysis of panel data applies Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression to test the impact of multiple blockholders identity on the relation between family firms, excess control rights over cash flow rights, and expropriation of minority shareholders. Finally, the research questions are answered: there is positive correlation between family firms and expropriation of minority shareholders; excess control rights over cash flow rights has positive impact on expropriation of minority shareholders; and multiple blockholders identity namely another family as the second largest blockholders as well as institutional investor generate disparate significant impact on expropriation of minority shareholders. The existence of another family as the second largest blockholders creates expropriation more severe for minority shareholders while the presence of institutional investor is notable to lessen the positive impact of family firms and excess control rights over cash flow rights on expropriation of minority shareholders.
Maize Centromeres: Organization and Functional Adaptation in the Genetic Background of Oat

Centromeric DNA sequences in multicellular eukaryotes are often highly repetitive and are not unique to a specific centromere or to centromeres at all. Thus, it is a major challenge to study the fine structure of individual plant centromeres. We used a DNA fiber-fluorescence in situ hybridization approach to study individual maize (Zea mays) centromeres using oat (Avena sativa)-maize chromosome addition lines. The maize centromere-specific satellite repeat CentC in the addition lines allowed us to delineate the size and organization of centromeric DNA of individual maize chromosomes. We demonstrate that the cores of maize centromeres contain mainly CentC arrays and clusters of a centromere-specific retrotransposon, CRM. CentC and CRM sequences are highly intermingled. The amount of CentC/CRM sequence varies from ∼300 to >2800 kb among different centromeres. The association of CentC and CRM with centromeric histone H3 (CENH3) was visualized by a sequential detection procedure on stretched centromeres. The analysis revealed that CENH3 is always associated with CentC and CRM but that not all CentC or CRM sequences are associated with CENH3. We further demonstrate that in the chromosomal addition lines in which two CenH3 genes were present, one from oat and one from maize, the oat CENH3 was consistently incorporated by the maize centromeres.
Using the SPENCE Model of Online/Offline Community to Analyse Sociality of Social Machines

Online/offline community (O/OC), the integrated performance of community in a blend of online/offline activities is increasingly prevalent as online systems organise, mediate and broadcast forms of communal engagement. O/OCs are social machines where the focus is on the social achievement, rather than the computational outcomes, of the combined human-technical infrastructure. An O/OC model SPENCE is proposed as an analytical tool for describing social machines from the perspective of sociality. Twitter is a technical infrastructure and social network of shared online/offline community phenomena that is also a social machine combining social participation with conventional forms of machine-based computation. Drawing from the extensive Twitter research literature, a sample of papers are analysed against SPENCE, demonstrating the clarity of the organisation of inter-relating themes of a range of perspectives in current Twitter research. It is concluded that SPENCE provides a lens of synthesis for the sociality dimension of a social machine and can be used in taxonomic activities (such as the social machines observatory) to differentiate social machines.
Physical Factors in the Dilation of Vessels

search Institute of the University of Buffalo School of Medicine. 2 S. Lloyd Teitelman, M.D., F.A. C.S. , is Clinic Surgeon at the Michael Reese Hospital and is Associate in Surgery at the Chicago Medical School. 3 Leo M. Zimmerman, M.D., F.A. C.S. is an Attending Surgeon at the Michael Reese Hospital and is Professor of Surgery at the Chicago Medical School. 4 This tubing is fabricated by dipping a cylindrical form into a tank of liquid latex rubber (natural), withdrawing it, and then immersing it in a coagulant solution. The deposit is then vulcanized and dried (Information obtained through the courtesy of Mr. E. L. Hanna, Davol Rubber Co., Providence, R. I.). Previous work of this laboratory has suggested that hydraulic factors may account for the development of certain elements of the structure of blood vessels
Effects of Remifentanil on the Spectrum and Quantitative Parameters of Electroencephalogram in Propofol Anesthesia

Background:A high dose of opioids associated with a low dose of propofol has become a popular anesthetic technique. However, the influence of opioids on the electroencephalographic phenomenon related to induction of anesthesia and, thereby, on the quantitative parameters used in the depth-of-anesthesia estimation is not well known. Methods:Twenty-seven patients were divided into three groups to receive saline, low-dose remifentanil (7.5 μg · kg−1 · h−1) or high-dose remifentanil (30 μg · kg−1 · h−1) during induction of anesthesia with propofol (30 mg · kg−1 · h−1). Electroencephalogram was recorded from Fz electrode, and its time-frequency properties in the patient groups were analyzed from the induction of anesthesia to the occurrence of burst suppression pattern. The group differences in 14 quantitative spectral parameters used in the depth-of-anesthesia estimation were examined as well. Results:The time-frequency properties of electroencephalogram were different between groups. The high-frequency (greater than 14 Hz) activity during light anesthesia was decreased in remifentanil groups; whereas, increased activity in extended alpha band (7–14 Hz) and decreased activity in delta band (0.5–4 Hz) was observed during deep anesthesia. This resulted in statistically significant changes in all 14 quantitative parameters. Conclusions:The effect of remifentanil on the spectrum and quantitative parameters of electroencephalogram is significant and strongly dependent on the level of anesthesia. Coadministration of opioids therefore challenges the reliability of the spectral properties of electroencephalogram in the depth-of-anesthesia estimation by using a frontal montage. Furthermore, the finding has implications for design of opioid coadministration studies.
Emerging Bonds Markets Crises and Contagion: Extreme Dependence

Recent financial crises suggest the importance of the diffusion mechanism, at an international level, of emerging bonds markets shocks. Using extreme value analysis for the sovereign debt spreads of emerging markets, the present paper explores the extreme dependence of the colombian risk premium to international financial markets. The architecture of capital markets can lead a collapse of emerging markets, arranging that fundamentals do not determine the position liquidation totally. The relation between the colombian country risk and the United States asset markets shows that an increase in global uncertainty defines a "flight to quality" and therefore an additional increase in the contagion probability for the emerging markets bonds.
The Motivational Determinants for Adopting Sustainable Products

In the context of sustainable development, product developers and engineers often tend to adapt existing products towards more sustainable products. Ehrenfeld (2008) and Manzini (2009) argue, however, that a sustainable future is not reached by diminishing ‘unsustainability’. Instead, they claim that sustainability requires a radical change in thinking and being in the world. Product design should contribute to this new paradigm. How does this new designers’ concept relate to established frameworks on new product adoption such as the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (Taylor and Todd, 1995)? The introduction of an electric vehicle, which is projected to be a new more sustainable transport system, is taken as a case to explore the integration of these viewpoints. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework of the factors that impact the decision to adopt an electric vehicle, based on previous conceptual models of the adoption of an innovation and a preliminary qualitative research on electric vehicle acceptance. This framework will be applied in follow-up research to contribute to the development of sustainable products.
Neonatal Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata Type 1: Weaving Evidence Into Clinical Practice

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) is a rare genetic peroxisome biogenesis disorder with a reported incidence of 1 in 100 000 live births. The 3 genetic subtypes of RCDP are acquired by an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. RCDP type 1 accounts for greater than 90% of all aggregate cases. Differentiating between the 3 subtypes of RCDP, as well as disorders characterized by similar punctate cartilaginous changes, is essential to guide an appropriate postnatal plan of care. Management strategies are focused toward associated clinical manifestations and require an interdisciplinary approach including ophthalmology, cardiovascular, endocrine, physical and occupational therapy, and neurology. Purposeful and frequent collaboration among all members of the neonatal/pediatric interdisciplinary team is necessary to optimize outcomes for the neonate and the family unit. The purpose of this article is to anticipate the needs of both patients with known and prenatal diagnosis of RCDP type 1 and patients with suspected clinical diagnosis of RCDP type 1 in the immediate neonatal period and to guide the appropriate plan of care. This article presents a case report of type I RCDP, as well as describes genetic influences, symptoms, diagnosis, management, and prognosis.
Improved global optical flow estimation with mean shift algorithm for target detection

In view of the problem that the global optical flow algorithm cannot acquire accurate motion parameter estimation at a low-gradient value, an improved method has been presented in order to enhance the self-adaptive ability. The proposed method is divided into three steps: firstly, the Gaussian filter is used to restrain the background noise; secondly, the optical basic constraint weighted function is modified to acquire targets area; finally, the morphological filtering and mean shift segmentation algorithm is adopted to reduce the false alarm rate. Compared with other algorithms, the experiment results show that the proposed method can improve the self-adaptive ability and the detection rate.
Kinetic oscillatory stimulation of nasal mucosa in non-allergic rhinitis: comparison of patient self-administration and caregiver administration regarding pain and treatment effect. A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Conclusion: Patient self-administration of the Kinetic Oscillatory Stimulation (KOS)-catheter was a fully acceptable alternative to insertion of the catheter by physician with helmet fixation, in patients with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR). The approaches were equivalent regarding pain. The treatment effect in the patient self-administration group was not inferior. Objectives: To evaluate whether self-administration of a KOS-catheter was different compared to insertion by a physician, assessed with patient reported pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Also, to evaluate the difference in nasal stuffiness with the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF). Methods: Patients with NAR were randomized to group 1, patient insertion of catheter and manual fixation, and group 2, catheter insertion by physician and fixation with a helmet. Patients were treated once, 10 min in each nasal cavity, and followed up 14 days later. Results: Twenty-nine patients were included (group 1, n = 14; group 2, n = 15). There was no statistical significant difference in patient reported pain between groups. There was a decrease in nasal stuffiness after treatment in the total study population (n = 26, p = 0.001). In group 1 nasal stuffiness was decreased and in group 2 there was no change (group 1, p = 0.004; group 2, p = 0.071). No statistical significant change in PNIF was observed.
Modeling and identifying 3-D color textures

A model that characterizes the appearance of textured color surfaces in three dimensions is developed. The model is derived from properties of surfaces and the physics of image formation. The color texture model describes the dependence of the spatial correlations within and between bands of a color image on surface reflectance, illumination, and the scene geometry. It is shown that there are important advantages in using color information for texture analysis. From the authors' model, an algorithm for recognizing instances of color textures independent of scene geometry is derived. This algorithm is useful for the recognition of three-dimensional objects and the segmentation of color images of three-dimensional scenes. Experimental results are provided to confirm the model and to illustrate the performance of the algorithm. <<ETX>>