Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ageing in Rett syndrome.

BACKGROUND The aim was to gain a UK national sample of people with Rett syndrome across the age range and (1) conduct a cross-sectional comparison of age groups and (2) undertake a longitudinal follow-up. METHODS From 308 potential participants approached to take part, a sample of 91 girls and women was achieved (29.5%). Their ages ranged from 4 to 47 years, and 71 were known to have a mutation in the methyl-CpG binding protein-2 (MECP2) gene. Seventy-two of the initial sample were followed up 16 months later, and 50 returned completed assessments (69.4%). Their ages ranged from 7 to 48 years, and 42 were MECP2 positive. Parental questionnaire measures of Rett syndrome specific characteristics, impulsivity, overactivity, mood, interest and pleasure, repetitive behaviour and self-injury were administered. RESULTS Adaptive behaviour and behavioural characteristics of Rett syndrome were similar across age groups and, where assessed, stable over time, as were repetitive behaviours generally and self-injury. There was some suggestion of deterioration in health arising with ageing, principally contributed to by deteriorations in dental and gastro-intestinal problems both with moderate effect sizes. Indicators of mood, interest and pleasure differed significantly across age groups. The total scale score significantly deteriorated over time, with a moderate effect size. CONCLUSIONS This study provides further evidence for the post-regression stability that characterises Rett syndrome. Emergent low mood in Rett syndrome requires further research.
Diversification Benefits from Foreign Real Estate Investments

Executive Summary. Previous research has questioned the stability of international equity diversification. This study examines whether foreign real estate exists in a more segmented market and whether foreign real estate provides any diversification benefit beyond that obtainable from foreign stocks. Using data encompassing the stock market crash of 1987, foreign real estate was found to have a lower correlation with U.S. stocks than foreign stocks. This lower correlation is shown to be stable through time as foreign real estate has a lower correlation in nearly the entire time period. Foreign real estate was also found to have a significant weight in efficient international portfolios.
Correlation of Blood Sugar, Serum Lipid Profile, Blood Pressure, Duration of Diabetes in A Patient With Diabetic Cardiomyopathy - A Hospital Based Study In Manipur.India

Objective: To access the correlation of Blood Pressure, Serum Lipid Profile, Duration of diabetes in a patient with diabetic cardiomyopathy in Manipur. Material and methods: A total of 100 type2 diabetic patient were selected randomly. Anthropometric parameters were recorded, blood pressure, glucose level and serum lipid profile were determined and echocardiography study were performed in all patient according to standard technique. Results and conclusions: Lipid profile of patient with diabetic cardiomyopathy showed higher level of total cholesterol 207 mg/dl (male) and 212 mg/dl (female) compared to 163mg/dl (male) and 188mg/dl ( female) in diabetic patient without cardiomyopathy Serum triglycerides and LDL are also found to be higher in patient with cardiomyopathy, The mean blood pressure both systolic and diastolic was observed to be lower with diabetic cardiomyopathy for both male and female.
Optimised state assignment for asynchronous circuit synthesis

This paper presents a new efficient optimised state assignment method for solving complete state coding (CSC) problem that operates purely at the state graph level and is applicable to a broad class of behaviors. This method has been automated and applied to a large set of asynchronous benchmarks and industrial circuits. Compared to existing techniques, this new method achieves significant improvements in terms of both circuit area and computation time.
Mediation Analysis Using the Hierarchical Multiple Regression Technique: A Study of the Mediating Roles of World-Class Performance in Operations

The changing environment in an organization is forcing the organization to find a plan of integrated management framework and adequate performance measurement. Failure to plan basically means planning failure for the business. Finding the critical factors of quality management practices (QMP), the mediating roles of the contextual factors of world-class performance in operations (i.e., world-class company practices or WCC, operational excellence practices or OE, company nonfinancial performance or CNFP), and the company financial performance would enable the company to facilitate the sustainability of TQM implementation model. This empirical study aims to assess how TQM—a holistic management philosophy initially developed by W. Edward Deming, which integrates improvement strategy, management practices, and organizational performance—is specifically implemented in the oil and gas companies operating in Indonesia. Relevant literature on the TQM, the world-class performance in operations (world-class company and operational performance), the company performance (financial and non-financial performances), and the amendments of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia concerning the oil and gas industry, and related research on how the oil and gas industry in Indonesia develops sustainable competitive advantage and sustainable development programs are reviewed in details in our study. The findings from data analysis provide evidence that there is a strong positive relationship between the critical factors of quality management practices and the company financial performance mediated by the three mediating variables, i.e., world-class company practices, operational excellence practices, and company non-financial performance.
Systemic Chemotherapy with and without Anti-EGFR Antibody in the First-line Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

To define whether or not the addition of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies to standard chemotherapy, compared with chemotherapy alone, can improve Overall Survival (OS) and Progression-Free Survival (PFS) in the patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC), and evaluate the influence of KRAS mutant status on the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibodies in the first-line setting. Medline, Embase and the Cochrane controlled trials register were searched. Six trials were identified, covering a total of 4,988 subjects. A significant benefit of anti-EGFR based regimen as first-line treatment was found for OS (HR, 0.89, 95% CI: [0.80, 0.99]; P=0.04) and for PFS (HR, 0.85 [0.77, 0.94]; P=0.002) among the overall population. The PFS benefit are probably limited to KRAS wild-type patients (HR, 0.83 [0.69, 0.99] P=0.03). No significant benefit was found among KRAS-positive patients: The summary HRs was 1.13 [0.91, 1.39] (P=0.26) for PFS, 1.06 [0.94, 1.19] (P=0.34) for OS, respectively. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that the addition of anti-EFGR antibodies to chemotherapy for mCRC improved overall and progression-free survival for the overall population in the first-line setting. And the benefit from anti-EGFR antibodies as first-line treatment seems to be limited to patients with KRAS wild-type tumors with respect to PFS.
Association analysis of the catechol‐o‐methyltransferase (COMT ), serotonin transporter (5‐HTT ) and serotonin 2A receptor (5HT2A) gene polymorphisms with obsessive‐compulsive disorder

Family and twin studies have supported a strong genetic factor in the etiology of obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD), although the precise mechanism of inheritance is unclear. Clinical and pharmacological studies have implicated the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems in disease pathogenesis. In this cross‐sectional study, we have examined the allelic and genotypic frequencies of a Val‐158‐Met substitution in the COMT gene, a 44‐base pair (bp) length variation in the regulatory region of the serotonin transporter gene (5‐HTTLPR) and the T102C and C516T variants in the serotonin receptor type 2A (5HT2A) gene in 79 OCD patients and 202 control subjects. There were no observed differences in the frequencies of allele and genotype between patients and control groups for the COMT, the 5HTTLPR and the T102C 5HT2A gene polymorphisms. In contrast, a statistically significant difference between OCD patients and controls was observed on the genotypic distribution (χ2 = 16.7, 2df, P = 0.0002) and on the allelic frequencies (χ2 = 15.8, 1df, P = 0.00007) for the C516T 5HT2A gene polymorphism. The results suggest that the C516T variant of the 5HT2A gene may be one of the genetic risk factors for OCD in our sample. However, further studies using larger samples and family based methods are recommended to confirm these findings.
An Investigation of Pricing Data for Evidence of Institutional-Level Relationship Marketing Behaviors

The relationship marketing literature implies that relationship marketing behaviors are taking on an institutional-like quality. In this study, I use a unique approach for testing whether this is the case by comparing American consumer and producer pricing data over an extended period of time. I find that relationship marketing behaviors are increasing in frequency but perhaps not at the rate implied in the extant work. I also test for certain boundary conditions to the relationship marketing phenomenon. I find that credence goods see more relationship marketing behaviors than search and experience goods.
Apprentissage automatique d’un chunker pour le français (Machine Learning of a chunker for French) [in French]

Machine Learning of a chunker for French We describe in this paper how to automatically learn a chunker for French, from the French Tree Bank and CRFs (Conditional Random Fields). We did several experiments, either to recognize every possible kind of chunks, or to focus on simple nominal phrases only. We evaluate the obtained chunker on internal data (i.e. also extracted from the French Tree Bank) as well as on external (i.e from a distinct corpus) ones, to measure its robustness.
Collaboration in Forecasting

Collaboration and information sharing is becoming an increasingly important tool in improving forecasting socio-political events. How can we harness the power of crowds for forecasting without its associated limitations? In this paper, we explore how different types and amounts of information sharing affect forecast quality. The results of the experiment show that, overall, different types of information sharing improve performance over no sharing. In addition, information sharing does not appear to harm aggregation weighting methods that depend on meta-predictions about group performance . We discuss implications for these results for use in improving forecasting.
Power-distortion optimization and delay constraint scheme for layered video transmission

In this paper, by jointly considering power and delay constraints, we present an unequal error protection (UEP) approach for minimization of the receiver power consumption subject to a given quality of service, by exploiting data partition and selective hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). The proposed scheme assigns different error resilient tools to different priority data partitions with UEP and delay-constrained ARQ. Simulations are conducted to H.264 video over fading channels, and achieve excellent tradeoff between video delivery quality and power consumption. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme yields obvious better video quality compared with the classical unequal error protection approach and significant power saving compared with hybrid UEP (HUEP) scheme which adopts different HARQ mechanisms to different priority data in wireless video transmission.
P1–11: Investigation of the electrodynamic characteristics for the double-gap multibeam klystron's cavities

The results of the numerical investigation of the electrodynamics features for the various shapes double-gap cavities are presented. The regularity of behavior for fundamental and the first higher-order mode for these cavities are determined. Furthermore the conditions when a ratio of frequencies for fundamental antiphased and higher-order cophased mode becomes multiple were found.
A strategy for managing customer relations on the internet: evidence from the football sector

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of how the internet is used as a strategic tool in electronic customer relationship management (e‐CRM) in the football sector. In particular, the research questions this paper addresses are: How can the online environment be described? How are the customers served in this online environment? The first research question provides an overview of the online environment and the second research question describes the services offered in this online environment.Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative research is the appropriate approach, in order to collect the required data, as the particular research characterizes a complete and comprehensive view and understanding of a phenomenon in its entity. The research is based on the use of double case study approach combining two data collection methods, participant observation and documentation. This particular research adopts the approach of participant observation and documentation. Prima.
Impact of Information Technology Capital on Firm Scope and Performance: The Role of Asset Characteristics

This research draws on transaction-cost and resource-based theory to examine how information technology (IT) capital moderates the relationship between different types of assets and firm scope — both vertical integration and diversification. The analysis suggests that IT capital enables firms with narrowly valuable assets to be less vertically integrated and less diversified, and enables firms with broadly valuable assets to be more vertically integrated and more diversified. The moderating influence of IT capital on the relationship between different types of assets and firms’ vertical and product market scope is consistent with transactions-cost as well as resource-based traditions.
Convergence of an iterative time-variant filtering based on discrete Gabor transform

An iterative time-variant filtering based on the discrete Gabor transform (DGT) has been previously proposed by the authors. In this article, we present a proof of the convergence of the iterative algorithm under a sufficient condition on the analysis and synthesis window functions of the DGT. In the meantime, we show that the iterative algorithm refines the least squares solution.
A nonlinear SEIR epidemic model with feedback vaccination control

A mathematical model describing a generic disease is introduced and the dynamics of the subpopulations are studied. Through linearization of the continuous-time model, the stability of the equilibrium points and the characteristics of the disease are defined properly. Due to the nature of the disease, the model is discretized in order to apply some adaptive vaccination strategies involving feedback loops. Furthermore, such techniques are compared to the traditional regular-vaccination strategies. The obtained results indicate a possible improvement in the use of the adaptive strategies for vaccination.
Research in relationship marketing: antecedents, traditions and integration

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the theoretical foundations of relationship marketing from the perspective of several management‐related disciplines, and to attempt a fresh perspective that seeks to integrate these contributions.Design/methodology/approach – Despite the recent popularity of research into relationship marketing, there is still some confusion surrounding the concept of and how it differs both from “non” relationship marketing and from other ways of managing marketing relationships. This confusion reflects, to some extent, the diverse origins of the concept and the scarcity of research into such fundamental questions as what is a relationship, and what forms of relationship are more or less suited under different circumstances to management through relationship marketing. Taking a broad approach to the subject, the paper explores and integrates these theoretical foundations.Findings – This article finds that an integrated account can be offered for the emergence of relationship marketin.
How and why do we measure surgical risk?

Surgical decision-making has evolved over time, and what was once an intuitive matter for surgeons has now become a multi-faceted decision with increased expectations from medical staff and patients, making the decision-making process itself often as challenging as the technical procedure. When planning the most appropriate treatment for a patient, it is important to distinguish what we aim to achieve with regards to treating the pathology from what can be realistically expected from the patient physiologically. In other words, has the patient the potential to withstand the insult of the treatment itself and what are the risks involved? By quantifying this risk and making it a key part of surgical decision-making, we can arrive at the safest modality of treatment for an individual patient. This allows realistic expectations for the patient, helping them to make an informed decision. This article aims to highlight some of the important aspects of surgical risk and the impact they have on patients.
Effect of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone and Insulin‐Like Growth Factor‐1 Administration on IGF‐1 and IGF‐Binding Protein‐3 Levels in Brain Injury

Study Objective. To assess the effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) plasma concentration versus time profile during continuous infusion of recombinant human (rh)IGF‐1 to patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Analysis of three methods for web-based opinion mining

For the purpose of measuring semantic orientation of documents, we implemented an opinion mining tool which hybrids three different methods: The first one is based on semantic patterns, which simplify the structure of the natural language syntax; the second is based on the weighted sentiment lexicon, which used as semantic feature words; and the third one is based on traditional KNN or SVM text classification method. Our experiments show that each method has its own shorts and advantages.
Heavy wine consumption: empirical and theoretical perspectives

A common approach to analysing markets and selecting the most profitable target consumers is to identify and focus on the heavy users. Although this is a widely used practice in food marketing, no general theory describes the characteristics of heavy users of food products. The purpose of this paper is to use data from four empirical studies to test hypotheses about heavy wine users with the objective of developing a comprehensive model of heavy usage. The topics of the surveys were wine attitudes and behaviours. Data came from samples of students and adult US consumers. The findings showed consistently that heavy wine users were more likely to be interested in and involved with wine. When compared with studies of heavy users in other product fields, the beginnings of a general model of heavy usage that focuses on product involvement rather than demographics can be proposed.
Culture, values and Japanese tourism behaviour

While the role of culture as an influence on consumer behaviour and product/service choice has long been acknowledged, the current literature in marketing offers an incomplete understanding of how and why culture plays its influential role (Overby, Woodruff and Gardial 2005). Research suggests that values provide the link between culture and consumer behaviour and values have been the focus of much research in the social sciences. In particular, values have received significant attention in cross-cultural research, being used to characterise the similarities within and differences across cultures. Values are central to the marketing discipline as they determine value, i.e. what activities, interests, and material goods consumers identify with, enjoy, acquire, or consume (Grunert and Muller 1996). Both directly and indirectly, values drive consumption behaviour. Typically, values have been assessed and compared through the use of standard measures such as Rokeach’s Value Survey, the List of Values and Schwartz’s Value Survey. Recent literature highlights growing concern over the application of standard measures across cultures and issues of cross-cultural invariance. There is a need for new research into crosscultural applications of consumer value measures and theoretical models. This thesis critiques the use of Western conceptual paradigms and imposed etics in value research, and, using a Japanese tourism context, seeks a deeper understanding of how culture and values affect tourism consumption and experience. This thesis offers an empirical test of the cross-cultural applicability of a commonly used values scale in consumer research, the List of Values (Kahle 1983). The findings of this phase of the research extend the literature concerning methodological issues in values research and highlight the limitiations of the LOV as a cross-cultural measure of values. Based on these findings the thesis adopts an alternative, qualitative methodology to investigate the relationship between Japanese culture, values and tourism behaviour in New Zealand. The findings of the second phase of the research contribute to a recent call in the literature for more qualitative research in tourism, and allow the identification and understanding of the key values relevant to Japanese tourism behaviour. The results of Means-End interviews with Japanese visitors reveal the important cultural assumptions informing values and shaping tourism decisions and behaviours for two key groups of Japanese tourists.
The Effect of Adopting K-IFRS on Financial Reports - Case Study with KT&G

Through a case study with selected company early adopted K-IFRS, we review the changes of discretionary accruals as indicator of existence of earning management activities. We set up the following hypothesis: Discretionary accruals and its associated financial ratios changes after adopting K-IFRS reflecting increase of transparency in accounting information. Related variables are calculated for selected company, KT&G, during 2007-2010. We review the changes of indicators after introduction of K-IFRS. The results of this study show the increase of transparency assuming the change of discretionary accruals as indicator of earning management activities. Besides, discretionary accruals and the debt ratio show positive correlation indicating better business performance can lower the incentives of earnings management. IFRS introduction and debt ratio have the positive correlation indicating debt increase due to the change of the revenue recognition criteria and retirement benefits accounting. Also the