Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Absorptive Capacity and Organizational Performance in Technology Intensive Firms: A Conceptual Framework

Strategic management, Absorptive capacity, Organizational learning, Organizational amnesia, Technology-intensive firms In today‘s world, newer and more knowledgeable economies spawn more technology intensive firms and these firms greatly depend on their persistently innovative capabilities to attain sustainable competitive advantage. The way the firms persistently innovate depends mostly on their ability to absorb knowledge from internal and external sources. This ability known as ‗absorptive capacity‘ and its impact on organizational performance is the central motivation for this paper. More specifically, this study delves deeper into the literature pertaining to the absorptive capacity, organizational learning, organizational amnesia and their interrelationships and subsequent impact on predicting the performance of the technology intensive firms. This Paper methodologically reviews the extant literature thereby identifying the research need and proposes viable research propositions for the future empirical investigations.
Identification and Estimation of Distributional Impacts of Interventions Using Changes in Inequality Measures

This paper presents semiparametric estimators of distributional impacts of interventions (treatment) when selection to the program is based on observable characteristics. Distributional impacts of a treatment are calculated as differences in inequality measures of the potential outcomes of receiving and not receiving the treatment. These differences are called “Inequality Treatment Effects” (ITE). The estimation procedure involves a first non-parametric step in which the probability of receiving treatment given covariates, the propensity-score, is estimated. In the second step weighted sample versions of inequality measures are computed using weights based on the estimated propensity-score. Root-N consistency, asymptotic normality, semiparametric efficiency and validity of inference based on the bootstrap are shown for the semiparametric estimators proposed. In addition of being easily implementable and computationally simple, results from a Monte Carlo exercise reveal that its good relative performance in small samples is robust to changes in the distribution of latent selection variables. Finally, as an illustration of the method, we apply the estimator to a real data set collected for the evaluation of a job training program, using several popular inequality measures to capture distributional impacts of the program.
The 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Lumped Constant Determined in Human Brain from Extraction Fractions of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose and Glucose

Quantification of regional cerebral glucose metabolism (CMRglc) using positron emission tomography and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (PET-FDG) requires knowledge of the correction factor between FDG and glucose net clearance, the FDG lumped constant (LC). Because diverging values for LC have been obtained, the authors reevaluated LC by measuring the ratio of the cerebral net extraction fractions of FDG (E*) and glucose (E) from arteriovenous cerebral measurements. Thirty subjects were studied (mean age = 25 ± 4 years): 12 during a programed infusion of FDG and 18 after a bolus injection of FDG. In the infusion study, LC was calculated as the ratio E*/E. In the bolus study, E* was calculated from the slope of a Patlak–Gjedde plot. Lumped constant was significantly smaller in the infusion study as compared with the bolus study (0.48 ± 0.16 vs. 0.81 ± 0.27, P < 0.001). In 4 subjects studied during continuous FDG infusion for 2.5 hours, LC decreased to 0.36 ± 0.11. These results suggest that the “steady-state” method underestimates LC because E* continues to decline because of significant labeled product. Further, the authors provide evidence for resetting of LC toward a greater value. The subsequent resetting of CMRglc provides a physiologically more meaningful estimate and allows for comparison of CMRglc values between different methodologies.
Diverse immunocytologic findings of nasal smears in influenza.

EVIDENCE that the rapid diagnosis of influenza might be possible by means of fluorescent-antibody technic was first presented by Liu1 , 2 This finding was confirmed by Japanese3 , 4 and Czechoslovakian5 , 6 workers. We modified the technic of Liu in obtaining nasal epithelial cells and extended the experiment further. The only difference between his and our technics was that we obtained the nasal smears directly from the nasal cavity by means of a cotton swab instead of using nasal washings. This modification enabled us to obtain abundant nasal epithelial cells readily at outpatient clinics, at bedside or at home visits. During the recent epidemic .
A bandwidth enhancement technique for mobile handset antennas using wavetraps

A novel technique for enhancing the impedance bandwidth of wireless terminal antennas is presented. By introducing resonant short circuit transmission lines to the long sides of the chassis edges, an effective electrical shortening of the terminal ground plane is achieved. This effect has been used to realize terminal ground planes with resonant lengths at high frequencies, such as GSM 1800/1900 MHz or UMTS 2 GHz, thereby extending the impedance bandwidth. The proposed technique has been validated by simulations and measurements. Three typical applications are presented where the introduction of wavetraps improves the bandwidth and/or in-band performance
Legal principles of managing agricultural lands in Poland and their impact on changes in the agrarian structure

The article assesses legal regulations regarding managing agricultural lands in Poland. The paper presents, first of all, the scope of activity of the Agricultural Property Agency, which is a significant institution on the property market. This institution started its activity on 1 January 1992 and its main task was to take over all state agricultural property and to manage the property in compliance with the regulations. Secondly, the article analyzes basic regulations concerning the sale and lease. They both give legal title to organize family as well as large farms. It also presents information about perpetual usufruct. Additionally, the article shows the EU instruments which have an essential impact on changing the agricultural structure, namely structural pensions and bonuses for young farmers.
Movement and impact characteristics of South African professional rugby union players

Background. Global positioning system (GPS) technology can provide accurate, non-invasive, real-time movement analysis of players participating in team sports. The application of this technology to rugby union will improve training practices by allowing improved understanding of movement characteristics and more individualised programmes. Objectives. To characterise the movement and impact patterns of South African professional rugby union players during match play and compare these to previously reported data. Methods. Nineteen professional rugby players were tracked using GPS systems during 24 matches during the 2013 rugby season. Players were grouped as (i) backs or forwards and (ii) tight forwards, loose forwards, scrumhalves, inside backs or outside backs. Movements were categorised in speed zones corresponding to walking (0 - 2 m.s-1), jogging (2 - 4 m.s-1), striding (4 - 6 m.s-1) and sprinting (>6 m.s-1). Walking and jogging were classified as low-intensity and striding and sprinting as high-intensity movement zones. An inbuilt triaxial accelerometer (sampling frequency 100 Hz) measured the total impacts >5G and high-intensity impacts >8G. All data were normalised to time on field and reported as mean (standard deviation). Results. There was no difference between forwards and backs in relative distance covered. Backs reached higher maximum speeds than forwards (backs 8.8 (1.1) v. forwards 7.6 (1.3) m.s-1, effect size (ES) 1.0, and outside backs were the fastest positional group (9.4 (0.9) m.s-1, ES 0.4 - 2.2). Players in all positions spent the majority of time walking (79 - 84%). Backs covered more distance than forwards in high-intensity speed zones (forwards 11 (5) v. backs 14 (4) m.min-1, ES 0.7). Tight forwards covered the most distance in low-intensity zones (63 (6) m.min-1, ES 0.3 - 1.7) while scrumhalves ran the most distance in high-intensity zones (20 (5) m.min-1, ES 1.2 - 3.6). Highintensity : low-intensity running ratios ranged from 1:13 (tight forwards) to 1:3 (scrumhalves). Loose forwards and inside backs exhibited similar movement patterns. There was no difference in impact variables between forwards and backs. Inside backs sustained the least total impacts (6.5 (1.2) >5G.min-1, ES 0.9 - 2.0) and high-intensity impacts (0.7 (0.2) >8G.min-1, ES 0.5 - 1.4). Conclusions. There were notable differences in the movement of professional rugby union players in different positions, and effective training programmes should reflect these variations.
A sustainable urban logistics dashboard from the perspective of a group of logistics managers

Urban logistics has now become a priority issue in both supply chain management and urban planning. However, the different stakeholders involved develop different approaches whose aims and objectives do not always coincide and sometimes present conflicting standpoints. The aim of this paper is to complete existing literature by proposing a sustainable dashboard for evaluating the sustainable performance of urban delivery systems, from the perspective of operational logistics managers, one of the categories of stakeholders given less consideration by public authorities in their quest for consensus. First, a synthesis of the main works on the subject is proposed, in order to provide a common grid of economic, environmental and social/societal indicators for Sustainable Supply Chain Management, after which the method for defining the dashboard is presented. This method is derived from a collaborative decision-aid approach and applied to a panel of operational logistics managers. Next, the results of the analysis framework are presented, and the selected indicators proposed and commented. Finally, a model dashboard is presented and discussed, followed by conclusions and further developments in view to the practical application of the approach proposed.
Phosphorylation-mediated 14-3-3 Protein Binding Regulates the Function of the Rho-specific Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (RhoGEF) Syx*

Background: The junctional localization and RhoGEF activity of Syx mediate cell junction integrity. Results: PKD-mediated phosphorylation and 14-3-3 binding prevent the junctional localization and suppress the GEF activity of Syx. Conclusion: 14-3-3 proteins modulate the function of Syx in the context of cell-cell adhesion. Significance: Understanding mechanisms that regulate junction integrity is crucial in vascular and tumor biology. Syx is a Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that localizes at cell-cell junctions and promotes junction stability by activating RhoA and the downstream effector Diaphanous homolog 1 (Dia1). Previously, we identified several molecules, including 14-3-3 proteins, as Syx-interacting partners. In the present study, we show that 14-3-3 isoforms interact with Syx at both its N- and C-terminal regions in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. We identify the protein kinase D-mediated phosphorylation of serine 92 on Syx, and additional phosphorylation at serine 938, as critical sites for 14-3-3 association. Our data indicate that the binding of 14-3-3 proteins inhibits the GEF activity of Syx. Furthermore, we show that phosphorylation-deficient, 14-3-3-uncoupled Syx exhibits increased junctional targeting and increased GEF activity, resulting in the strengthening of the circumferential junctional actin ring in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. These findings reveal a novel means of regulating junctional Syx localization and function by phosphorylation-induced 14-3-3 binding and further support the importance of Syx function in maintaining stable cell-cell contacts.
Distribution of the glycine receptor β‐subunit in the mouse CNS as revealed by a novel monoclonal antibody

Inhibitory glycine receptors (GlyRs) are composed of homologous α‐ (α1–4) and β‐subunits. The β‐subunits (GlyRβ) interact via their large cytosolic loops with the postsynaptic scaffolding protein gephyrin and are therefore considered essential for synaptic localization. In situ hybridization studies indicate a widespread distribution of GlyRβ transcripts throughout the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), whereas GlyRα mRNAs and proteins display more restricted expression patterns. Here we report the generation of a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes rodent GlyRβ (mAb‐GlyRβ) and does not exhibit crossreactivity with any of the GlyRα1–4 subunits. Immunostaining with this antibody revealed high densities of punctate GlyRβ immunoreactivity at inhibitory synapses in mouse spinal cord, brainstem, midbrain, and olfactory bulb but not in the neocortex, cerebellum, or hippocampus. This contrasts the abundance of GlyRβ transcripts in all major regions of the rodent brain and suggests that GlyRβ protein levels are regulated posttranscriptionally. When mAb‐GlyRβ was used in double‐labeling experiments with GlyRα1‐, α2‐, α3‐, or α4‐specific antibodies to examine the colocalization of GlyRβ with these GlyR subunits in the mouse retina, >90% of the GlyRα1–3 clusters detected were found to be GlyRβ‐immunoreactive. A subset (about 50%) of the GlyRα4 puncta in the inner plexiform layer, however, was found to lack GlyRβ and gephyrin immunostaining. These GlyRα4‐only clusters were apposed to bassoon immunoreactivity and hence synaptically localized. Their existence points to a gephyrin‐independent synaptic localization mechanism for a minor subset of GlyRs. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:3962–3981, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Information technology and customer relationship management (CRM) in some selected insurance firms in Nigeria

In this study, we explore the question of how IT could enhance firm performance in the areas of customer’s service and organization’s profitability in the Nigerian insurance industry. To draw our sample size of 90, 30 insurance companies were randomly selected from the 49-member insurance umbrella body, the Nigerian Insurers Association. Each company received 3 copies of the questionnaire meant for the IT manager, marketing manager and underwriting manager, respectively, making a total of 90. We proposed 3 hypotheses which were tested with the aid of Komolgorov-Smirnov test. Our findings show that while most companies have a comprehensive data base of their customers, not all make provisions for their customers to make major transactions online because they have not fully integrated their customer relationship management with information technology. We also find out that effective combination of customer relationship management with information technology leads to improved customer service and organization’s profitability. Key words: Information technology, customer relationship management (CRM), firm performance, insurance.
ZOOMING IN ON THE PROGENITORS OF SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVAE WITH THE HST

We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) rest-frame ultraviolet imaging of the host galaxies of 16 hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe), including 11 events from the Pan-STARRS Medium Deep Survey. Taking advantage of the superb angular resolution of HST, we characterize the galaxies’ morphological properties, sizes, and star formation rate (SFR) densities. We determine the supernova (SN) locations within the host galaxies through precise astrometric matching and measure physical and host-normalized offsets as well as the SN positions within the cumulative distribution of UV light pixel brightness. We find that the host galaxies of H-poor SLSNe are irregular, compact dwarf galaxies, with a median half-light radius of just 0.9 kpc. The UV-derived SFR densities are high ( ⟨ &Sgr; SFR ⟩ ≃ 0.1 M ⊙ yr − 1 kpc − 2 ? > ), suggesting that SLSNe form in overdense environments. Their locations trace the UV light of their host galaxies, with a distribution intermediate between that of long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs; which are strongly clustered on the brightest regions of their hosts) and a uniform distribution (characteristic of normal core-collapse SNe), though cannot be statistically distinguished from either with the current sample size. Taken together, this strengthens the picture that SLSN progenitors require different conditions than those of ordinary core-collapse SNe to form and that they explode in broadly similar galaxies as do LGRBs. If the tendency for SLSNe to be less clustered on the brightest regions than are LGRBs is confirmed by a larger sample, this would indicate a different, potentially lower-mass progenitor for SLSNe than LRGBs.
Triple Role of Business Model Co-Creation in Business Networks

This paper focuses on the topics of learning and coordination within emerging business networks. It discusses the triple role of Business Model co-creation process within business networks: first the process helps the business network to learn and create trust between the partners, second it helps the partners to estimate the feasibility and fairness of the cooperation, and third, it helps the business network to agree on the use of differing coordination mechanisms. This paper contributes to the existing literature on business model co-creation and coordination in networked settings.
Majorana vortices in atomic superfluid Fermi gases with s-wave pairing and Rashba spin-orbit coupling

Quantum Control in large Hilbert spaces is an essential part of the toolbox for Quantum Information Processing. Even so, for systems with Hilbert space dimension d > 2, the design of control Hamiltonians and the feasibility of robust implementation have only recently been explored in the laboratory. To this end we have developed a test bed for quantum control, consisting of the d = 16 dimensional hyperfine manifold associated with the electron-nuclear spins of individual Cs atoms driven by radio-frequency and microwave magnetic fields. I will begin with a brief review of some experimental work on Optimal Control with this system [1], in which we demonstrate accurate and robust control ranging from state-to-state maps to arbitrarily chosen unitary transformations.
Human Service Matters: A Cross-National Study in Restaurant Industry

The restaurant industry is becoming more important in generating income for many nations and hence the factors affecting the restaurant service performance need to be well managed. Therefore, this paper aims to explore and validate the importance of servicescape, human service, food quality and price from the customers’ perspective. The restaurant customers in Malaysia, South Africa and India participated in the study. Duly completed structured questionnaires were collected. The study reveals that key determinants on satisfaction and loyalty were mainly human service and food quality.
Understanding industrial distributors' expectations of benefits from relationships with suppliers

Due to the increased domination of industrial sales channels by distributors, suppliers must develop strong relationships with industrial distributors in order to succeed in new markets. Initiating partnering relationships with distributors in new markets, however, entails significant risks and commitments with the prospect of substantial long‐term rewards. To help suppliers assess and select distributor partners, this study focuses on the starting‐point of the relationship by exploring industrial distributors' expectations of benefits. A nationwide survey of US industrial distributors showed that distributors expect financial and competitive differentiation benefits with greater differentiation benefits inferred to lead to fewer financial benefits. Several observable distributor characteristics can be used by suppliers to conduct preliminary assessments of distributor expectations and thereby prepare for a healthy future relationship.
Information systems check-up as a leverage for SME development

INTRODUCTION The widespread adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) has been involving both large companies and smaller ones. However, while large enterprises usually own the managerial competence and financial resources to face innovation, a lot of research has been highlighting the typical weakness related to small and medium enterprises1 (SMEs) (Burns, 1996; Raymond, 1985, 1992). In fact, their typical focus on production activities, together with their limited investment budget, very often lead SME entrepreneurs to exclude information systems (IS) issues whenever planning organizational development. As a result, SMEs usually devote minimal resources to the IS department and, whenever they do, IS staff competence are strictly narrowed to technical issues (Soh, 1994; Palvia, 1994; Zinatelli, 1996). The consequent lack of internal expertise limits ICT specification and selection policies (Monsted, 1993; Schleich, 1990), and inevitably leads SMEs to develop an IS which is inadequate to the organizational needs (Cragg, 1995; Lai, 1995; Lang, 1997).
B2b inter‐organisational digitalisation strategies

Purpose – Digital technology is increasingly important for businesses as it has the capability to enable, support and sometimes influence the overall strategic direction of the corporation. This paper investigates business‐to‐business (b2b) inter‐organisational digitalisation strategies in one of Denmark's biggest companies with an annual turnover of €3 billion and over 30,000 employees. This paper specifically seeks to understand to what extent the widely used strategic continuum (planning – incremental) is sufficient to understand the process of creating inter‐organisational digitalisation strategies in the case.Design/methodology/approach – This paper utilises degree of freedom analysis (DFA). DFA is in essence a “pattern‐matching” between theoretical propositions and observations in a set of data. Inline with the DFA tradition in‐depth interviews were conducted and finally the results and interpretations are returned to the respondents for final feedback.Findings – This paper concludes that a strategi.
Designing a Model for Improved Outcomes among Student-Athletes in Sports Education

Abstract This study explores improving outcomes for graduation and placement rates among student-athletes through the design inputs (e.g., program curriculum, instructor capability) for sports education programs for student-athletes. A model is developed based on a group process model, which addresses independent variables that impact completion and placement rates. Two hypotheses regarding model outcomes are posited. Both hypotheses were supported with the conclusion that improving key input variables would enhance overall outcomes performance.
LAZY MAPPING OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND POLLUTION DATA M. F. Kanevski Institute of Nuclear Safety (IBRAE)

The work deals with the application of modern lazy learning algorithms to environmental and pollution decision-oriented mapping. The term ‘lazy’ comes from the recent developments in machine learning algorithms terminology. The ‘learning’ here means understanding of original data and development of the corresponding algorithm capable to respond/predict/interpolate to new requests. Lazy mapping algorithms presented in the report have close relation to general regression (GRNN) and probabilistic (PNN) neural networks and to nonparametric function estimations based on locally weighted regression [1-7]. The case study is based on mapping of radioactively contaminated territories after the Chernobyl accident.