Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Making sense of strategic communication from an organizational culture perspective

Problem statement: According to Hansen and Cox (2015), there is a current need to comprehend the underlying reasons why strategic communication is interpreted the way it is by environmental practitioners. The present thesis is an attempt to answer to this knowledge gap by offering insights on an NGO informing and educating people to protect water. Aim: The aim of this research was to understand how environmental practitioners from a French Non Governmental Organization (NGO) make sense of strategic communication, and how this sense-making might be influenced by organizational culture. To that end, two research questions have been answered: How do the organizational members make sense of strategic communication? and, How does this sense-making towards strategic communication relate to the culture of the organization? Research design and method: A social constructivist approach has been applied due to the focus on sense-making of members - who are both a source and result of their work culture. Using open-ended interviews, all the members of the organization (nine in total) have been interviewed to collect a large and complete range of understandings regarding strategic communication and organizational culture and thus enrich my findings. In addition, a content analysis has been carried out to study the consistency or inconsistency between how the members talk about strategic communication and how they apply it. Hence, reports of activities, institutional brochures, leaflets, web pages and others communication tools have been analyzed. Theoretical framework: Two key concepts, namely strategic communication and organizational culture, serve as theoretical framework for the present study. Findings: The data analysis pointed out that the sense-making (meanings behind actions) of the NGO members are reflected in their way of implementing strategic communication. They talk about strategic communication as a transmission process for conveying information and design it accordingly. Moreover, the research revealed that the strategic communication carried out by the NGO was not only based on transferring information from a sender to a receiver (linear model) - therefore not adapted to current societal and environmental issues - but seemed also unstructured and undervalued. This predominant finding can be explained by the lack of internal cohesion and common vision present in the NGO, which is the reflect of the organizational culture. Thus, the relationship between what is going on within the organization (its culture) and the way strategic communication is applied was found to be of great importance in this study. Research limitations and implications: The fact that the data have been collected from and analyzed by a single source (myself) can be considered as one. Additionally, although t the results of this research cannot be replicated to others organizations due to the uniqueness of organization culture, it might motivate others research to empirically reveal the link between work culture and strategic communication.
Micro/nanostructured surface modification using femtosecond laser pulses on minimally invasive electrosurgical devices.

The purpose of the present study was to examine thermal damage and a sticking problem in the tissue after the use of a minimally invasive electrosurgical device with a nanostructured surface treatment that uses a femtosecond laser pulse (FLP) technique. To safely use an electrosurgical device in clinical surgery, it is important to decrease thermal damage to surrounding tissues. The surface characteristics and morphology of the FLP layer were evaluated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy; element analysis was performed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In the animal model, monopolar electrosurgical devices were used to create lesions in the legs of 30 adult rats. Animals were sacrificed for investigations at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days postoperatively. Results indicated that the thermal damage and sticking situations were reduced significantly when a minimally invasive electrosurgical instrument with an FLP layer was used. Temperatures decreased while film thickness increased. Thermographic data revealed that surgical temperatures in an animal model were significantly lower in the FLP electrosurgical device compared with that in the untreated one. Furthermore, the FLP device created a relatively small area of thermal damage. As already mentioned, the biomedical nanostructured layer reduced thermal damage and promoted the antisticking property with the use of a minimally invasive electrosurgical device. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 865-873, 2017.
Segmenting time‐lapse phase contrast images of adjacent NIH 3T3 cells

We present a new method for segmenting phase contrast images of NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells that is accurate even when cells are physically in contact with each other. The problem of segmentation, when cells are in contact, poses a challenge to the accurate automation of cell counting, tracking and lineage modelling in cell biology. The segmentation method presented in this paper consists of (1) background reconstruction to obtain noise‐free foreground pixels and (2) incorporation of biological insight about dividing and nondividing cells into the segmentation process to achieve reliable separation of foreground pixels defined as pixels associated with individual cells. The segmentation results for a time‐lapse image stack were compared against 238 manually segmented images (8219 cells) provided by experts, which we consider as reference data. We chose two metrics to measure the accuracy of segmentation: the ‘Adjusted Rand Index’ which compares similarities at a pixel level between masks resulting from manual and automated segmentation, and the ‘Number of Cells per Field’ (NCF) which compares the number of cells identified in the field by manual versus automated analysis. Our results show that the automated segmentation compared to manual segmentation has an average adjusted rand index of 0.96 (1 being a perfect match), with a standard deviation of 0.03, and an average difference of the two numbers of cells per field equal to 5.39% with a standard deviation of 4.6%.
Essays on regulation, accounting and market competition

The dissertation mainly addresses different issues regarding the impact of regulation in a competitive market and how market participants react strategically in such market. It consists of four chapters that address the impact of certain regulation and how would market competition play a role in such dynamic. The scope of these chapters is not restricted to accounting regulations but accounting regulations or markets for accounting professionals are mainly embedded in the settings which my dissertation investigate. In general, this disertation extends the understanding on the impact of regulation or accounting related regulation on market particpants and market as a whole, for instance their market output, comeptitive strategic disclousre and market structure changes.
Ultraviolet A/Riboflavin Corneal Cross-linking for Infectious Keratitis Associated With Corneal Melts

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of ultraviolet-corneal cross-linking (CXL) for treating infectious melting keratitis. Methods: Five patients with infectious keratitis associated with corneal melting were treated with CXL at the outpatient departments of the Institut für Refraktive und Ophthalmo-Chirurgie and the eye hospital at the University of Zurich. CXL was performed when the infection did not respond to systemic and topical antibiotic therapy. Follow-up after cross-linking ranged from 1 to 9 months. Results: In all cases, the progression of corneal melting was halted after CXL treatment. Emergency keratoplasty was not necessary in any of the 5 cases presented. Conclusions: CXL is a promising option for treating patients with therapy-refractory infectious keratitis to avoid emergency keratoplasty.
The Quality of Intermediate Goods: Growth and Welfare Implications

This paper explores the implications of the quality of intermediate goods in an endogenous growth model. We show that a trade-off exists between the quality and the variety of products, which creates a wedge between the market-equilibrium quality and the socially optimal quality. Relative to the social optimum, the equilibrium quality could be either under-supplied or over-supplied, depending on the productivity-enhancing effect as well as the increasing returns to production specialisation and business-stealing effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Conservation of the expression of Dll, en, and wg in the eye‐antennal imaginal disc of stalk‐eyed flies

SUMMARY We studied the developmental basis of exaggerated eye span in two species of stalk‐eyed flies (Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni and Sphyracephala beccarri). These flies have eyes laterally displaced at the end of eyestalks, and males have greatly exaggerated eye span, which they use as a sexual display. To investigate eye span development we have compared eye‐antennal disc morphology and the expression of three key regulator genes of Drosophila head development, Distal‐less (Dll), engrailed (en), and wingless (wg), in the stalk‐eyed flies and Drosophila. We found great similarity in the basic division of the disc into anterior‐antennal and posterior‐eye portions and in the general patterning of Dll, en, and wg. Unexpectedly, our results showed that although the eye and antenna are adjacent in adult stalk‐eyed flies, their primordia are physically separated by the presence of an intervening region between the anterior and posterior portions of the disc. This region is absent from Drosophila eye‐antennal discs. We chose two stalk‐eyed fly species that differed in the degree of eyestalk exaggeration but surprisingly we found no corresponding difference in the size of the en‐wg expression domains that mark the boundaries of the dorsal head capsule primordia. In summary, our expression data establish the regional identity of the eye‐antennal disc and provide a framework from which to address the developmental genetics of hypercephaly.
TCP-friendly layered multicast protocol for multimedia streaming

Layered multicast protocol (LMP) is designed to support simultaneous and real-time multimedia content distribution to large number of disparate receivers across the heterogeneous Internet. However, the current layered multicast protocols (LMPs) use the techniques that do not correctly model TCP behaviour, which results in the protocols can't fairly compete with TCP. TCP-friendly layered multicast protocol (TfLMP) is designed to solve the problems with the current LMPs. It use the techniques that closely model TCP behaviour, i.e. scalable RTT estimation and 2-step loss event rate filtering. The techniques enable TfLMP to compete with TCP and get fair amount of bandwidth share. TfLMP is evaluated using ns2 simulation and the results are compared with the other LMPs.
A Bayesian approach to parameter estimation in HIV dynamical models

In the context of a mathematical model describing HIV infection, we discuss a Bayesian modelling approach to a non‐linear random effects estimation problem. The model and the data exhibit a number of features that make the use of an ordinary non‐linear mixed effects model intractable: (i) the data are from two compartments fitted simultaneously against the implicit numerical solution of a system of ordinary differential equations; (ii) data from one compartment are subject to censoring; (iii) random effects for one variable are assumed to be from a beta distribution. We show how the Bayesian framework can be exploited by incorporating prior knowledge on some of the parameters, and by combining the posterior distributions of the parameters to obtain estimates of quantities of interest that follow from the postulated model. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Concentrated ERP Delivered in a Group Setting: A Replication Study

Background: In a previous effectiveness study (Havnen et al., 2014), 35 obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients underwent Concentrated Exposure Treatment (cET), which is a newly developed group treatment format delivered over four consecutive days. Aims: The primary aims of the present study were to evaluate the treatment results for a new sample of OCD patients receiving the cET treatment approach and to replicate the effectiveness study described in Havnen et al. (2014). Method: Forty-two OCD patients underwent cET treatment. Treatment was delivered by different therapists than in Havnen et al. (2014), except for two groups led by the developers of the treatment. Assessments of OCD symptom severity, treatment satisfaction, and occupational impairment were included. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scores from pre-treatment to post-treatment, which was maintained at 6-month follow-up. At post-treatment, 74% of the sample was remitted; at 6-month follow-up, 60% were recovered. The sample showed a very high degree of overall treatment satisfaction. The results from the present study were statistically compared with those obtained in the previous study. The analyses showed that the study samples had comparable demographic data and equal application of treatment. The outcome of the present and original study did not differ significantly on primary and secondary outcome measures. Conclusions: This study shows that cET was successfully replicated in a new patient sample treated by different therapists than the original study. The results indicate that cET is well accepted by the patients, and the potential for dissemination is discussed.
Contrast media clearance in a single kidney measured on multiphasic helical CT: results in 50 patients without acute renal disorder.

OBJECTIVE Single kidney contrast media clearance was measured using multiphasic CT in patients without acute renal disorder. The aim of this study was to answer two questions. First, how accurate is CT in measuring contrast media clearance compared with plasma clearance? Second, is the accuracy of CT clearance measurements dependent on the timing of CT scans with respect to the contrast media injection? SUBJECTS AND METHODS Fifty adult patients without acute renal disorder were included in this study. Each patient underwent CT for clinical indications. The CT protocol consisted of an unenhanced scan and three contrast-enhanced scans 45, 75, and 105 sec after starting an injection of 120 mL of iopromide using an injection rate of 3 mL/sec. All scans included both kidneys. As a reference, plasma clearance of contrast media was determined as a slope clearance by measuring iodine concentration in eight blood specimens up to 8 hr postinjection. RESULTS CT clearance was calculated three times for each patient, including early CT clearance, 45-75 sec postinjection; late CT clearance, 75-105 sec postinjection; and overall CT clearance, 45-105 sec postinjection. An overall CT clearance yielded the best correlation with plasma clearance with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.84 and a regression line of y = 7.5 + 0.94x. The mean difference was -3 mL/min (95% confidence interval, -35 to 29 mL/min). CONCLUSION CT clearance calculated from data acquired with a minimally modified diagnostic abdominal CT protocol was well correlated with the reference method in determining contrast media clearance for patients without acute renal disorders. The presented method can be used to calculate single kidney contrast media clearance in patients receiving contrast-enhanced abdominal CT for clinical indications.
Impulse-based Control of an Impulsive Haptic Interface

In a previous paper, the authors presented the first haptic display capable of applying directly an impulse to its operator. The resulting immediate change in momentum is considered invaluable to make interactions with rigid virtual objects feel realistic. The size of the impulse is controlled by adapting the amount of momentum of a momentum wheel. At the predicted instant of contact with the virtual object, an electromagnetic tooth clutch is engaged. The axes of momentum wheel and haptic handle are connected and a real but controllable collision between the operator and the momentum wheel is realized. This paper presents some tools to improve the accuracy of the impulses realized by the device. First, a detailed investigation of the dynamic properties of the tooth clutch is included. Based on this analysis, conclusions with respect to the range of display able impulses are made. The first order adaptive windowing method (FOAW) of Janabi-Sharifi is extended to a second order form (SOAW) and used to make accurate predictions of the instant and velocity of impact. Finally, the impulse generation capability of the device is utilized in a new method to estimate the inertia of the device's interacting components. All these tools are combined and a rigid virtual wall was implemented. Experimental results confirm the quality improvement with respect to traditional virtual walls
Early intestinal growth and development in poultry.

While there are many accepted "facts" within the field of poultry science that are in truth still open for discussion, there is little debate with respect to the tremendous genetic progress that has been made with commercial broilers and turkeys (Havenstein et al., 2003, 2007). When one considers the changes in carcass development in poultry meat strains, these genetic "improvements" have not always been accompanied by correlated changes in other physiological systems and this can predispose some birds to developmental anomalies (i.e. ascites; Pavlidis et al., 2007; Wideman et al., 2013). Over the last decade, there has been increased interest in intestinal growth/health as poultry nutritionists have attempted to adopt new approaches to deal with the broader changes in the overall nutrition landscape. This landscape includes not only the aforementioned genetic changes but also a raft of governmental policies that have focused attention on the environment (phosphorus and nitrogen excretion), consumer pressure on the use of antibiotics, and renewable biofuels with its consequent effects on ingredient costs. Intestinal morphology has become a common research tool for assessing nutritional effects on the intestine but it is only one metric among many that can be used and histological results can often be interpreted in a variety of ways. This study will address the broader body of research on intestinal growth and development in commercial poultry and will attempt to integrate the topics of the intestinal: microbial interface and the role of the intestine as an immune tissue under the broad umbrella of intestinal physiology.
Single-Channel 400-Gb/s OTDM-32 RZ/QAM Coherent Transmission Over 225 km Using an Optical Phase-Locked Loop Technique

A single-channel 400-Gb/s transmission with a polarization-multiplexed , 10-Gsymbol/s, four-optical time-division multiplexed (OTDM) 32 return-to-zero/quadrature amplitude modulation (RZ/QAM) scheme is demonstrated for the first time. By using an optical phase-locked loop technique and a clock recovery circuit, we have successfully obtained a very stable pulsed-local oscillator whose phase was locked to the transmitter, and achieved precise demultiplexing and demodulation simultaneously. As a result, 400-Gb/s data were transmitted over 225 km with a bit-error-rate performance below the forward-error correction limit. Furthermore, we also realized a 320-Gb/s to 450-km transmission with an OTDM 16 RZ/QAM scheme.
Posture Classification via Wearable Strain Sensors for Neurological Rehabilitation

Stroke and other neurological accidents account for a wide fraction of the healthcare costs in industrialised societies. The last step in the chain of recovery from a neurological event often includes motor rehabilitation. While current motion-sensing technologies are inadequate for automated monitoring of rehabilitation exercises at home, conductive elastomers are a novel strain-sensing technology which can be embedded unobtrusively into a garment's fabric. A sensorized garment was realized to simultaneously measure the strains at multiple points of a shirt covering the thorax and upper limb. Supervised learning techniques were employed to analyse the strain measures in order to reconstruct upper-limb posture and provide real-time feedback on exercise progress
A Study of Experiential Quality, Equity, Happiness, Rural Image, Experiential Satisfaction, and Behavioral Intentions for the Rural Tourism Industry in China

ABSTRACT This study aims at examining the interrelationships among experiential quality, equity, happiness, rural image, experiential satisfaction, and behavioral intentions for the rural tourism industry in China. The data used in this study were based on a sample of 694 rural tourists staying in Sansheng Flower Town of Chengdu, indicating that the proposed model fits the data. The result of this study will assist rural tourism management in developing and implementing market-orientated service strategies to increase experiential quality and equity, and enhance the image and experiential satisfaction of rural tourists in order to generate favorable intentions to return or revisit the same rural village.
Head injuries and Parkinson's disease in a case-control study

Background Head injury is a hypothesised risk factor for Parkinson's disease, but there is a knowledge gap concerning the potential effect of injury circumstances (eg, work-related injuries) on risk. The objective of this study is to address this gap while addressing issues of recall bias and potential for reverse causation by prediagnosis symptoms. Methods We conducted a population based case-control study of Parkinson's disease in British Columbia, Canada (403 cases, 405 controls). Interviews queried injury history; whether injuries occurred at work, in a motor vehicle accident or during sports. Participants were also asked to report their suspicions about the causes of Parkinson's disease to provide an indicator of potential recall bias. Associations were estimated with logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex and smoking history. Results Associations were strongest for injuries involving concussion (OR: 2.08, 95% CI 1.30 to 3.33) and unconsciousness (OR: 2.64, 95% CI 1.39 to 5.03). Effects remained for injuries that occurred long before diagnosis and after adjustment for suspicion of head injury as a cause of Parkinson's disease. Injuries that occurred at work were consistently associated with stronger ORs, although small numbers meant that estimates were not statistically significant. Conclusions This study adds to the body of literature suggesting a link between head injury and Parkinson's disease and indicates further scrutiny of workplace incurred head injuries is warranted.