Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Global Sourcing Patterns of French Clothing Retailers

Combining a business-system perspective and a global value-chain perspective, I draw on French clothing import data and interviews to characterize the sourcing patterns of French clothing retailers and analyze their determinants. The dominant pattern identified is one of dispersed, unstable, and informal supplier relations, which can be explained by the importance of small specialized chains, the predominance of family and management ownership, and a low concentration level in French clothing retailing. Since the late 1990s, however, the largest retailers operating in the standard-product segment, some of them engaged in ‘financialization’ strategies, have launched supply-chain rationalization policies aimed at reducing the number of suppliers, stabilizing relations with preferred suppliers, and externalizing manufacturing-related services. A new sourcing model of Anglo-Saxon origin can thus be seen to be diffusing under the combined influence of concentration and financialization in the French clothing retail scene.
WHO'S PATENTING IN THE UNIVERSITY? EVIDENCE FROM THE SURVEY OF DOCTORATE RECIPIENTS

We use the Survey of Doctorate Recipients to examine the question of who in US universities is patenting. Because standard methods of estimation are not directly applicable, we use a zero-inflated negative binomial model to estimate the patent equation, using instruments for the number of articles to avoid problems of endogeneity. We also estimate the patent model using the generalized method of moments estimation of count data models with endogenous regressors. We find work context and field to be important predictors of the number of patent applications. We also find patents to be positively and significantly related to the number of publications. This finding is robust to the choice of instruments and method of estimation. The cross-sectional nature of the data preclude an examination of whether a trade-off exists between publishing and patenting, holding individual characteristics constant over time. But the strong cross-sectional correlation that we find does not suggest that commercialization has come at the expense of placing knowledge in the public domain.
The Role of Public Relations With Internal Activists

Abstract Within the context of benefits/outsourcing reviews at a small, Eastern U.S. college, this qualitiative case study examined potential internal activism, employee/organizational leadership communication strategies, and ensuing changes in internal public relations practices/structure. Findings revealed that employees implemented activist strategies in response to perceived communication gaps, prompting organizational leadership to increase solictiation of employee input and commit to ongoing, two-way symmetrical communication; structural changes in internal public relations practices and reporting relationships also resulted. Extending previous activism research findings to internal publics as activists, in this study I suggest that the prodrome of potential employee activism should inform future public relations practice.
Techniques for Improving the High-Frequency Performance of the Planar CM EMI Filter

This paper has developed two techniques to reduce the parasitic parameters and improve the high-frequency performance of the planar integrated electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter. First, each developed technique has been analyzed, respectively, then the performance of an EMI filter with both the developed techniques has been researched. The research contents are as follows. 1) Analyzing the improvement of the equivalent parallel capacitance (EPC) for a common mode (CM) EMI filter by two CM windings overlapped and interleaved layout. The EPC of the integrated EMI filter is about 14% of the reference EMI filter. 2) Analyzing the improvement of the equivalent series inductance (ESL) in the parallel branch for a CM EMI filter by each CM winding coupled with two ground winding layers. The resonance frequency brought by ESL is shifted to a higher frequency. At 30 MHz, the insertion loss is increased by 45 dB compared with the reference. In the mean time, the structure is equivalent to a two-stage L-type low-pass filter, which can largely increase the high-frequency attenuation compared with the one-stage L-type low-pass filter for the reference one. (3) Researching the performance of an EMI filter with both the proposed techniques. The developed EMI filter can not only decrease the EPC, but also reduce the negative effect of ESL. The developed EMI filter improves the high-frequency performance dramatically compared with the EMI filter with only one of the developed techniques. In the mean time, the differential mode (DM) capacitor is formed by the two overlapped and interleaved windings, and does not need an extra lumped DM capacitor. Therefore, CM inductors, CM capacitors, and DM capacitors can be integrated in the overlapped and interleaved L-C winding structure, so miniaturized EMI filter can be realized. The experiment results indicate effectiveness of the developed integrated EMI filters, and the cost and complexity is the same as the reference EMI filter.
Deutsche forschungsintensive Industrie: Feuerprobe in der Krise bestanden?

In Germany, unlike other OECD countries, research-intensive industries play a crucial role for overall economic growth. In the course of the 2008/2009 financial crisis these industries were hit especially hard by a sharp decline in production. This article studies how the crisis affected the international competitive position of German research-intensive industries by looking at the development of value added and labor productivity. Internationally comparable data on the subject, however, are only available with a time lag. Therefore, the respective data are estimated for Germany, the USA, Japan, the UK, France and Italy using time series models and leading indicators for the 2008 to 2010 period. Our results show that German research-intensive industries have successfully overcome the crisis and maintained its leading international position. Die Bedeutung der forschungsintensiven Industrie fur die gesamtwirtschaftliche Entwicklung ist in keinem anderen grosen OECD-Land so hoch wie in Deutschland. Im Zuge der Finanz- und Wirtschaftskrise 2008/2009 kam es aber gerade in diesem Bereich zu starken Produktionseinbruchen. Dieser Beitrag geht der Frage nach, inwieweit dies einen Einfluss auf die internationale Wettbewerbsposition der deutschen Industrie hatte. Dafur wird die Entwicklung der Wertschopfung und der Arbeitsproduktivitat in der forschungsintensiven Industrie analysiert. Die entsprechenden Daten stehen im internationalen Vergleich allerdings nur mit erheblicher zeitlicher Verzogerung zur Verfugung. Deshalb haben wir fur Deutschland, die USA, Japan, Grosbritannien, Frankreich und Italien die Wertschopfung und das Arbeitsvolumen mit Vorlaufindikatoren und Zeitreihenmodellen fur die Jahre 2008 bis 2010 geschatzt. Die Ergebnisse weisen insgesamt darauf hin, dass die deutsche forschungsintensive Industrie die Krise gemeistert hat und ihre Spitzenposition im internationalen Vergleich behaupten konnte.
Existence of simply connected algebraic surfaces of general type with positive and zero indices.

In the classification problem of algebraic surfaces of general type, an important conjecture states that for simply connected such surfaces Chern numbers satisfy the inequality c(1) (2) </= 2c(2) (or equivalently, the index tau </= 0). We disprove this conjecture by computing fundamental groups of Galois coverings corresponding to generic CP(2) projections of projective embeddings of CP(1) x CP(1) related to linear systems [unk]al(1) + bl(2)[unk], a >/= 3, b >/= 2. Also, we proved the existence of simply connected minimal surfaces of general type with zero index (e.g., c(1) (2) = 2c(2)). Previously, it was conjectured that these are exactly the surfaces uniformizable in the polydisk. So this conjecture is also disproved.
Rifampin resistance of Legionella pneumophila is not increased during therapy for experimental Legionnaires disease: study of rifampin resistance using a guinea pig model of Legionnaires disease

Isolates of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, obtained from guinea pigs with experimentally induced Legionnaires disease, were tested for rifampin resistance. Thirteen isolates were from animals treated with rifampin alone, four isolates were from animals treated with saline, and three isolates each were from animals treated with erythromycin or erythromycin plus rifampin; all of these isolates were derived from the same parent strain, F889. Most of the isolates were obtained from rifampin-treated animals that survived infection but had persistence of bacteria in their lungs at necropsy. No differences in rifampin agar dilution MICs were detected for the 23 isolates and parent strain that were tested. None of the 13 isolates from animals treated with rifampin alone had a high number of resistant organisms detected by using a rifampin gradient plate assay. Thirteen isolates plus the parent strain were tested by using a quantitative method of determining resistance frequency. Considerable heterogeneity among isolates was observed, but there was no evidence of increased resistance for any treatment group. The range of rifampin resistance frequencies was 10(-7) to 10(-8). No evidence for rifampin-induced resistance of L. pneumophila was found in this study.
Comparison of intermittent preventive treatment with chemoprophylaxis for the prevention of malaria during pregnancy in Mali.

BACKGROUND Malaria during pregnancy contributes to maternal anemia and low birth weight. In East Africa, several studies have demonstrated that intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is more efficacious than weekly chloroquine (CQ) chemoprophylaxis in preventing these adverse consequences. To our knowledge, there are no published trials evaluating IPT in West Africa. METHODS We undertook a randomized controlled trial of weekly CQ chemoprophylaxis, 2-dose IPT with CQ, and 2-dose IPT with SP; 1163 women were enrolled. RESULTS In multivariate analyses, when compared with weekly CQ, IPT/SP was associated with a reduction in third-trimester anemia (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.49; P<.001), placental parasitemia (AOR, 0.69; P=.04), and low birth weight (<2500 g) (AOR, 0.69; P=.04). The prevalence of placental infection remained unexpectedly high, even in the IPT/SP group (24.5%), possibly because of the intensity of seasonal transmission. There were no significant differences in stillbirths, spontaneous abortions, or neonatal deaths among the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS In Mali, IPT with SP appears more efficacious than weekly chloroquine chemoprophylaxis in preventing malaria during pregnancy. These data support World Health Organization recommendations to administer at least 2 doses of IPT during pregnancy. In intensely seasonal transmission settings in Mali, >2 doses may be required to prevent placental reinfection prior to delivery.
Optimal battery utilization over lifetime for parallel hybrid electric vehicle to maximize fuel economy

This paper presents a control strategy to maximize fuel economy of a parallel hybrid electric vehicle over a target life of the battery. Many approaches to maximizing fuel economy of parallel hybrid electric vehicle do not consider the effect of control strategy on the life of the battery. This leads to an oversized and underutilized battery. There is a trade-off between how aggressively to use and `consume' the battery versus to use the engine and consume fuel. The proposed approach addresses this trade-off by exploiting the differences in the fast dynamics of vehicle power management and slow dynamics of battery aging. The control strategy is separated into two parts, (1) Predictive Battery Management (PBM), and (2) Predictive Power Management (PPM). PBM is the higher level control with slow update rate, e.g. once per month, responsible for generating optimal set points for PPM. The considered set points in this paper are the battery power limits and State Of Charge (SOC). The problem of finding the optimal set points over the target battery life that minimize engine fuel consumption is solved using dynamic programming. PPM is the lower level control with high update rate, e.g. a second, responsible for generating the optimal HEV energy management controls and is implemented using model predictive control approach. The PPM objective is to find the engine and battery power commands to achieve the best fuel economy given the battery power and SOC constraints imposed by PBM. Simulation results with a medium duty commercial hybrid electric vehicle and the proposed two-level hierarchical control strategy show that the HEV fuel economy is maximized while meeting a specified target battery life. On the other hand, the optimal unconstrained control strategy achieves marginally higher fuel economy, but fails to meet the target battery life.
Assessment of the Participation Banks and Their Role in Financial Inclusion in Turkey

We evaluate the performance of participation banks (PBs) and analytically discuss the participation banking industry in Turkey. First, we examine establishment and deregulation of PBs. We also evaluate the performance and governance structure of the four full-fledged participation banks currently operating in the Turkish banking system. Participation banks expand the scope for financial inclusion for those who stay away from conventional banking due to religious sensitivity. The PBs play a pivotal role in channeling the idle capital into more productive sectors. In this sense, new sovereign sukuk issuances and their importance for the PBs' liquidity management are also discussed. We also examine the changing approaches for the supervision and regulation of PBs in different periods in Turkey. Finally, we discuss some critical views of and challenges for the PBs while providing a critical perspective for the development of the sector in the future.
Increased Local Recurrence and Reduced Survival From Colorectal Cancer Following Anastomotic Leak: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To examine the long-term oncological impact of anastomotic leakage (AL) after restorative surgery for colorectal cancer using meta-analytical methods. Outcomes evaluated were local recurrence, distant recurrence, and survival. Background: Recurrence after potentially curative surgery for colorectal cancer remains a significant clinical problem and has a poor prognosis. AL may be a risk factor for disease recurrence, however available studies have been conflicting. A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of AL on disease recurrence and long-term survival. Methods: Studies published between 1965 and 2009 evaluating the long-term oncological impact of AL were identified by an electronic literature search. Outcomes evaluated included local recurrence, distant recurrence, and cancer specific survival. Meta-analysis was performed using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model to compute odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals. Study heterogeneity was evaluated using Q statistics and I 2 and publication bias assessed with funnel plots and Egger's test. Results: Twenty-one studies comprising 13 prospective nonrandomized studies, 1 prospective randomized, and 7 retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria, yielding a total of 21,902 patients. For rectal anastomoses, the odd ratios (OR) of developing a local recurrence when there was AL was 2.05 (95% CI = 1.51–2.8; P = 0.0001). For studies describing both colon and rectal anastomoses, the OR of local recurrence when there was an AL was 2.9 (95% CI = 1.78–4.71; P < 0.001). The OR of developing a distant recurrence after AL was 1.38 (95% CI = 0.96–1.99; P = 0.083). Long term cancer specific mortality was significantly higher after AL with an OR of 1.75 (95% CI = 1.47–2.1; P = 0.0001). Conclusions: AL has a negative prognostic impact on local recurrence after restorative resection of rectal cancer. A significant association between colorectal AL and reduced long-term cancer specific survival was also noted. No association between AL and distant recurrence was found.
In silico strategies on prion pathogenic conversion and inhibition from PrPC –PrPSc

ABSTRACT Introduction: To date, various therapeutic strategies identified numerous anti-prion compounds and antibodies that stabilize PrPC, block the conversion of PrPC-PrPSc and increased effect on PrPSc clearance. However, no suitable drug has been identified clinically so far due to the poor oral absorption, low blood–brain-barrier [BBB] penetration, and high toxicity. Although some of the drugs were proven to be effective in prion-infected cell culture and whole animal models, none of them increased the rate of survival compared to placebo. Areas covered: In this review, the authors highlight the importance of in silico approaches like molecular docking, virtual screening, pharmacophore analysis, molecular dynamics, QSAR, CoMFA and CoMSIA applied to detect molecular mechanisms of prion inhibition and conversion from PrPC-PrPSc. Expert opinion: Several in silico approaches combined with experimental studies have provided many structural and functional clues on the stability and physiological activity of prion mutants. Further, various studies of in silico and in vivo approaches were also shown to identify several new small organic anti-scrapie compounds to decrease the accumulation of PrPres in cell culture, inhibit the aggregation of a PrPC peptide, and possess pharmacokinetic characteristics that confirm the drug-likeness of these compounds.
Can Social Security Boost Domestic Consumption in the People’s Republic of China?

This paper reviews the development of the social security system and trends in the urban labor market in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Despite its remarkable economic achievement, the PRC faces a difficult path before it can reform and improve its social security system and provide basic support for all of its people. The unemployment shock has caused rural and urban household income to decrease and has thus slowed down household consumption growth. The provision of broader social security would not only mitigate unemployment shocks in the short term, but it would also guarantee individuals and households more security for spending that could reduce the high savings rate and help achieve a balanced growth path in the long run. The author's findings argue that households with social security coverage spend more and income distribution among urban households is improved through public transfers.
Mix of Fiscal and Monetary Policy Rules and Inflation Dynamics in China

The present paper examines the role of the mix of fiscal and monetary policy rules in determining inflation dynamics using fiscal and monetary policy reaction functions and Markov-switching vector autoregression methods based on quarterly data in the period 1992–2007. Our results show that fiscal and monetary policies in China can be adequately described using some simple rules, and that significant regime shifts took place around 1998. Fiscal policy tended to be active and countercyclical in the pre-1998 period, then switched to be passive and more countercyclical, whereas monetary policy was characterized as passive and procyclical in the pre-1998 period, and switched to be active and countercyclical afterwards. The mix of fiscal and monetary policy rules can explain inflation dynamics better than the monetary policy rule alone. Therefore, price stability requires not only appropriate monetary policy but also appropriate fiscal policy.
Validity and reliability of the Persian version of the multiple sclerosis quality of life questionnaire.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS To translate and test the reliability and validity of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQoL-54) in Iranian MS patients. SETTING AND DESIGN Using a standard "forward-backward" translation, cognitive debriefing and cultural adaptation procedure, the English version of the MSQoL-54 was translated to Persian which is the Iranian official language. MATERIALS AND METHODS The subjects were multiple sclerosis (MS) patients referred to Motaharri clinic, Shiraz, South of Iran. Demographic data were recorded. Epidemiological data concerning MS type, duration of the disease, Functional System Score (FSS) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of patients were also provided by a qualified neurologist. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Construct validity was assessed through factor analysis. Factor analysis was performed to determine that the Persian version is a two-dimensional measure including physical and mental parameters. RESULTS Multiple sclerosis patients (female:106 (75.2%), male:35 (24.8%)), with a mean+/-SD age of 32.2+/-9.8 years were enrolled in the study. Cronbach's alpha was 0.962. There were no significant differences between each item and the mean of physical and mental scores of MSQoL-54, regarding sex, marital status and education. There was a negative significant correlation between EDSS and physical health, role limitation due to physical problems, pain, energy, health perception, social function, cognitive function, health distress, overall Quality of Life. The scaling success rates were 100%, demonstrating convergent validity of each scale. Factor analysis confirmed the construct validity of the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS The Persian version of the MSQoL-54 questionnaire has a good structural characteristic, it is a reliable and valid instrument and can be used for measuring the effect of MS on the Quality of Life.
Photoplethysmographic measurement of changes in total and pulsatile tissue blood volume, following sympathetic blockade

Epidural anaesthesia, used for pain relief, is based on blocking the sensory and the sympathetic nerves in the lower part of the body. Since the sympathetic nervous system regulates blood vessel diameter, the sympathetic block is also associated with several haemodynamic changes. In the current study photoplethysmography (PPG) was measured on toes and fingers of patients undergoing epidural anaesthesia. Three parameters, which are related to the change in total and pulsatile tissue blood volume, were derived from the PPG baseline and amplitude. All parameters showed statistically significant increase in the toes after the sympathetic block, indicating higher arterial and venous blood volume and higher pulsatile increase in the arterial blood volume (higher arterial compliance) in the toe. These haemodynamic changes originate from the lower tonus of the arterial and venous wall muscles after the sympathetic block. In the fingers the PPG parameters based on the change in PPG amplitude decreased after the sympathetic block, indicating lower compliance. The measurement of the haemodynamic changes by PPG enables the assessment of the depth of anaesthesia, and can help control the adverse effects of the blockade on the vascular system.