Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Business Angel Syndication and the Evolution of Risk Capital in a Small Market Economy: Evidence from Scotland

In this paper, we examine the evolution of risk capital markets in a small market economy, with particular reference to business angel syndication. Scotland provides a valuable case, where the number of business angel syndicates (BAS) has grown from 3 to 18 between 2001 and 2010, the most radical shift in market organisation of any region in Europe. Findings suggest that a narrow range of focused but integrated public policies can be very effective in risk capital ‘capacity building’. Results suggest that syndication generates larger investment deals and more follow-on investment but results in less new investments, fewer exits and an ‘equity gap’ in the lower end of the market, suggesting the need for ongoing formation of new BAS and greater emphasis on investment exits. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural Adjustment, Demography, and the Egyptian Labor Market in the 1990s

The Egyptian economy has undergone significant changes in the 1990s brought about in part by the implementation of an ambitious economic reform and structural adjustment program, initiated in 1991 as well as by long-term demographic and economic forces. Although much is known about the macroeconomic trajectory of the Egyptian economy over this period, much less is known about the microeconomic impact of the reforms, especially when it comes to their effects on labor markets and, through them, on households. The research fills this knowledge gap by drawing on two comparable, nationally-representative household surveys focusing on labor market conditions, carried out in 1988 and 1998.The paper argues that the dynamics of the Egyptian labor market in the 1990s were driven by powerful demographic forces on the supply side, and by a mixture of factors on the demand side that reflect both continuity and change.
Demokratische Beteiligung und Staatsausgaben: Die Auswirkungen des Frauenstimmrechts

In this paper, we study the effect of women's suffrage on government expenditure in Swiss cantons. Based on the institutionally induced change in the electorate, we analyse the relationship between politically represented preferences and the outcome of the political process. Women, on average, still belong to lower income classes than men. According to theories on government size, women's participation is therefore expected to increase demand for public services. In contrast to this hypothesis, we estimate a negative effect of women's suffrage on the development of total expenditure. Thereby, it is possible to control for general trends in the economy, as well as in society because suffrage was introduced in different years in Swiss cantons. We discuss possible explanations like fiscally conservative women or the interaction of women's suffrage and direct democratic institutions.
Role of information communication technology in higher education: learners perspective in rural medical schools.

BACKGROUND Higher education has undergone profound transformation due to recent technological advancements. Resultantly health profession students have a strong base to utilize information technology for their professional development. Studies over recent past reflect a striking change in pattern of technology usage amongst medical students expanding prospects exponentially by e-books, science apps, readymade power-point presentations, evidence based medicine, Wikipedia, etc. Aim & Objectives: The study was undertaken with an aim to explore the general perceptions of medical students and faculties about the role of Information Communication Technology in higher education and to gauge student's dependence on the same for seeking knowledge and information. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional, mixed research design. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted in Department of Physiology, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University). Study population included students (n=150) and teaching faculty (n=10) of I(st) phase of medical curriculum. The survey questionnaire (10 closed ended and 5 open ended items) and Focus group discussion (FGD) captured the perceptions and attitudes of students and faculties respectively regarding the role and relevance of technology in higher education. OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS Quantitative analysis of closed ended responses was done by percentage distribution and Qualitative analysis of open ended responses and FGD excerpts was done by coding and observing the trends and patterns respectively. Overall the observations were in favour of increasing usability and dependability on technology as ready reference tool of subject information. Learners valued text books and technology almost equally and regarded computer training as a desirable incorporation in medical curriculum. CONCLUSION Role of technology in education should be anticipated and appropriate measures should be undertaken for its adequate and optimum utilization by proper training of students as well as facilitators.
The Application Research on Graphic Traverse Algorithm in Graphic Topology Analysis

Graph depth-first traverse algorithm is based on the premise of establishing an adjacency table. According to the demand of graphic component auto-creating in monitoring system, this paper acts in a diametrically opposite way, improves graphic traverse algorithm which creates the adjacency table, and puts forward a kind of algorithm which completes graphic topology analysis with database. The algorithm automatically analyzes system graph of electric substation, traverses every equipment and line, generates the adjacency table, and sets up relationship of equipments. The key of the algorithm is how to accurately determine whether the equipment is connected or not. The application of the algorithm on electric substation automation system is satisfactory. The program using Delphi 6.0 is successfully tested in Windows 98/XP/2000.
Efficacy of alfuzosin and sildenafil combination in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) are frequently encountered in ageing males. We compared the efficacy of alfuzosin 10 mg alone or in combination with sildenafil 50 mg in the treatment of LUTS due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. One hundred male patients older than 45 years were randomized to two groups containing 50 patients each; one group receiving alfuzosin 10 mg and the other group alfuzosin 10 mg combined with sildenafil 50 mg. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), prostate volume and post‐void residual urine were evaluated. The mean age was 60.2 ± 17.8. Mean data of evaluated parameters in both groups at the end of 3rd month compared with baseline values are given respective order as; 5.1 (26.8%) and 5.8 (28.2%) points decreases in IPSS; 1.6 (41.1%) and 1.8 (45%) points decreases in QoL; and 3.4 (29.6%) and 3.4 (33%) points increases in Qmax. The outcomes of our study cannot be interpreted in such a way to report that alpha blocker‐PDE5 inhibitor combination has a better efficacy than alpha blocker treatment alone in patients with LUTS.
Job Demands–Resources Theory: Taking Stock and Looking Forward

The job demands−resources (JD-R) model was introduced in the international literature 15 years ago (Demerouti, Bakker, Nachreiner, & Schaufeli, 2001). The model has been applied in thousands of organizations and has inspired hundreds of empirical articles, including 1 of the most downloaded articles of the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (Bakker, Demerouti, & Euwema, 2005). This article provides evidence for the buffering role of various job resources on the impact of various job demands on burnout. In the present article, we look back on the first 10 years of the JD-R model (2001–2010), and discuss how the model matured into JD-R theory (2011–2016). Moreover, we look at the future of the theory and outline which new issues in JD-R theory are worthwhile of investigation. We also discuss practical applications. It is our hope that JD-R theory will continue to inspire researchers and practitioners who want to promote employee well-being and effective organizational functioning.
China's integration into global production networks and its implications for export-led growth strategy in other countries in the region

TThis paper examines the implications of China's rapid integration into global production networks for export performance of countries in Southeast Asia. In a clear departure from the conventional practice, the trade flow analysis of the paper is based on a careful disaggregation of reported trade data into components and final goods, with a view to delineating supply-side complementarities arising from cross-border production fragmentation. There is clear evidence that network-related trade in components has strengthened Southeast Asia's trade links with China, opening up new opportunities for the expansion of component production/assembly writhing vertically integrated global industries. However, these trade links with China have not lessoned the dependence of growth dynamism of these countries on the global economy; the dynamism of regional cross-border production networks depends inexorably on China's trade in final goods with North America and the European Union.
Using FDG-PET to Measure Early Treatment Response in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Quantifying Intrinsic Variability in Order to Understand Treatment-Induced Change

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Quantification of both baseline variability and intratreatment change is necessary to optimally incorporate functional imaging into adaptive therapy strategies for HNSCC. Our aim was to define the baseline variability of SUV on FDG-PET scans in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and to compare it with early treatment-induced SUV change. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer stages III-IV HNSCC were imaged with 2 baseline PET/CT scans and a third scan after 1–2 weeks of curative-intent chemoradiation. SUVmax and SUVmean were measured in the primary tumor and most metabolically active nodal metastasis. Repeatability was assessed with Bland-Altman plots. Mean percentage differences (%ΔSUV) in baseline SUVs were compared with intratreatment %ΔSUV. The repeatability coefficient for baseline %ΔSUV was compared with intratreatment %ΔSUV. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had double-baseline imaging, and 15 of these patients also had intratreatment scans. Bland-Altman plots showed excellent baseline agreement for nodal metastases SUVmax and SUVmean, but not primary tumor SUVs. The mean baseline %ΔSUV was lowest for SUVmax in nodes (7.6% ± 5.2%) and highest for SUVmax in primary tumor (12.6% ± 9.2%). Corresponding mean intratreatment %ΔSUVmax was 14.5% ± 21.6% for nodes and 15.2% ± 22.4% for primary tumor. The calculated RC for baseline nodal SUVmax and SUVmean were 10% and 16%, respectively. The only patient with intratreatment %ΔSUV above these RCs was 1 of 2 patients with residual disease after CRT. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline SUV variability for HNSCC is less than intratreatment change for SUV in nodal disease. Evaluation of early treatment response should be measured quantitatively in nodal disease rather than the primary tumor, and assessment of response should consider intrinsic baseline variability.
Network Externality, Compatibility Choice, and Planned Obsolescence

This paper attempts to provide a formal theory of planned obsolescence based on incompatible technologies in the presence of network externalities. The author explores how a monopolist's ability to make the new product incompatible with the old version of a product constrains the optimal dynamic behavior of the monopolist. The social optimum and the market equilibrium are compared. Finally, the possibility of quality distortion is considered as a commitment mechanism to the future compatibility choice. Copyright 1994 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Benchmark results for a simple hybrid algorithm on the CEC 2013 benchmark set for real-parameter optimization

In this article, we benchmark a new hybrid algorithm for continuous optimization on the 28 functions for the CEC 2013 special session and competition on real-parameter optimization. Our algorithm makes a loose coupling of (i) IPOP-CMA-ES, an advanced evolution strategy with covariance matrix adaptation integrated with an occasional restart strategy and increasing population size, and (ii) an iterated local search (ILS) algorithm that repeatedly applies a different local search from CMA-ES to perturbations of previous high-quality solutions. The central idea of the hybrid algorithm is to let IPOP-CMA-ES and ILS compete in an initial competition phase and then the winner of the two algorithms is deployed for the remainder of the computation time. A cooperative element between the two algorithms is implemented through a solution exchange from IPOP-CMA-ES to ILS. Hence, one may classify this algorithm as a loosely coupled cooperative-competitive algorithm for continuous optimization. We compare the computational results of this hybrid algorithm to the default version and a tuned version of IPOP-CMA-ES to illustrate the improvement that is obtained through this hybrid algorithm. This comparison is interesting since IPOP-CMA-ES is a state-of-the-art algorithm which somehow has become a standard benchmark to compare against for any new algorithmic proposals for continuous optimization. Our computational results show that the proposed hybrid algorithm performs significantly better than the default and tuned IPOP-CMA-ES variants on the problems of dimension 30 and 50. Thus, these results also indicate that the hybrid algorithm reaches very high performance on the CEC 2013 benchmark set.
Nonmucosal Alphavirus Vaccination Stimulates a Mucosal Inductive Environment in the Peripheral Draining Lymph Node1

The strongest mucosal immune responses are induced following mucosal Ag delivery and processing in the mucosal lymphoid tissues, and much is known regarding the immunological parameters which regulate immune induction via this pathway. Recently, experimental systems have been identified in which mucosal immune responses are induced following nonmucosal Ag delivery. One such system, footpad delivery of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles (VRP), led to the local production of IgA Abs directed against both expressed and codelivered Ags at multiple mucosal surfaces in mice. In contrast to the mucosal delivery pathway, little is known regarding the lymphoid structures and immunological components that are responsible for mucosal immune induction following nonmucosal delivery. In this study, we have used footpad delivery of VRP to probe the constituents of this alternative pathway for mucosal immune induction. Following nonmucosal VRP delivery, J chain-containing, polymeric IgA Abs were detected in the peripheral draining lymph node (DLN), at a time before IgA detection at mucosal surfaces. Further analysis of the VRP DLN revealed up-regulated α4β7 integrin expression on DLN B cells, expression of mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 on the DLN high endothelia venules, and production of IL-6 and CC chemokines, all characteristics of mucosal lymphoid tissues. Taken together, these results implicate the peripheral DLN as an integral component of an alternative pathway for mucosal immune induction. A further understanding of the critical immunological and viral components of this pathway may significantly improve both our knowledge of viral-induced immunity and the efficacy of viral-based vaccines.
Characterization of culturability, protistan grazing, and death of enteric bacteria in aquatic ecosystems

Nonstained bacteria (NSB), rhodamine-stained bacteria (RSB), and fluorescence-labeled bacteria (FLB) were prepared from two enteric bacterial species, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. Counts of CFU of NSB and RSB and total numbers of RSB and FLB were monitored over time, both in the presence and in the absence of natural microbiota. In the presence of natural microbiota, no differences were observed between CFU counts of NSB and RSB, but RSB total numbers were 1 to 4 orders of magnitude higher than CFU numbers. Therefore, the use of standard bacteriological media causes an important underestimation of the total number of enteric bacteria. In the absence of natural microbiota, the total numbers of NSB, RSB, and FLB remained constant over time. These results showed that RSB are a reliable indicator of the decay in both the total number and the CFU of enteric bacteria in natural water samples. By using RSB, enteric bacteria were classified as culturable cells, nonculturable cells (or somnicells), and dead cells in the presence of natural microbiota. In the presence of natural microbiota, differences between RSB and FLB direct counts were detected for E. coli, but not for E. faecalis. These differences were explained by size-selective grazing. Thus, protistan grazing was found to be the main cause of the decrease in total numbers of enteric bacteria in our experiments.
The status and characterization of Enteroramus dimorphus: a xylose-fermenting yeast attached to the gut of beetles

Enteroramus dimorphus from the gut of the passalid beetle Odontotaenius disjunctus was described originally as a yeast-like fungus of unknown taxonomic affiliation. The fungus can be observed in situ, attached by a specialized cell to the beetle hindgut wall. In a recent study of yeast endosymbionts from a variety of beetles, we discovered that E. dimorphus is a member of the Pichia stipitis (Saccharomycetes) clade, known for xylose fermentation and assimilation. The closest relative of E. dimorphus is the PASS1 isolate, repeatedly acquired from passalid beetles in eastern North America from Pennsylvania to Louisiana. In addition to xylose fermentation and assimilation, these yeasts are characterized by the production of hat-shaped ascospores in culture, assimilation of a wide range of sugars, and synthesis of several vitamins. Enteroramus dimorphus, however, can be distinguished from close relatives by several physiological characteristics and rDNA sequences, which vary slightly from the more widespread PASS1 genotype. We present an amended description of E. dimorphus and discuss its symbiotic phase in association with O. disjunctus, including a holdfast that parallels those of unrelated symbiotic yeasts associated with nematodes.
Reform of irrigation management and investment policy in African development

This paper examines the reform of water and irrigation management in Africa and compares it with similar reforms in Asia. Several things are evident from the review. First, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is at an earlier stage of irrigation development and reform than Asia. Second, the articulated need for reform is much stronger in Asia than it is in SSA. Third, the productivity of small-scale irrigated farms is significantly lower in SSA compared to Asia. Thus any irrigation investment strategy in SSA should be different from Asia and focus on increasing small-farm productivity as well as small-scale irrigation projects. Finally, all direct government irrigation investments should be done jointly with decisions regarding the type of project management.
Intracellular pH reduction prevents excitotoxic and ischemic neuronal death by inhibiting NADPH oxidase

Significance Activation of NMDA-type glutamate receptors produces neuronal excitotoxicity, a primary cause of cell death in stroke and other neurological disorders. This cell death process requires superoxide release by neuronal NADPH oxidase. Results presented here show that small reductions in intracellular pH uncouple neuronal NADPH oxidase from NMDA receptor activation, and thereby prevent neuronal death. The findings establish a link between metabolic activity and excitotoxicity, and identify a mechanism by which mild acidosis improves outcome after excitotoxic and ischemic brain insults. The findings also suggest that variations in intracellular pH associated with physiological brain activity may likewise influence the cell-to-cell signaling normally mediated by neuronal superoxide release. Sustained activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) -type glutamate receptors leads to excitotoxic neuronal death in stroke, brain trauma, and neurodegenerative disorders. Superoxide production by NADPH oxidase is a requisite event in the process leading from NMDA receptor activation to excitotoxic death. NADPH oxidase generates intracellular H+ along with extracellular superoxide, and the intracellular H+ must be released or neutralized to permit continued NADPH oxidase function. In cultured neurons, NMDA-induced superoxide production and neuronal death were prevented by intracellular acidification by as little as 0.2 pH units, induced by either lowered medium pH or by inhibiting Na+/H+ exchange. In mouse brain, superoxide production induced by NMDA injections or ischemia–reperfusion was likewise prevented by inhibiting Na+/H+ exchange and by reduced expression of the Na+/H+ exchanger-1 (NHE1). Neuronal intracellular pH and neuronal Na+/H+ exchange are thus potent regulators of excitotoxic superoxide production. These findings identify a mechanism by which cell metabolism can influence coupling between NMDA receptor activation and superoxide production.
Examining valuer's judgement in residential property valuations in metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to examine whether valuers consider and interpret intrinsic value elements in a residential property the same way in a familiar location. The price people pay for a complex commodity like residential property is a sum of the utility of various intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics. The skill of the valuer rests in the recognition of value‐enhancing elements in order to arrive at a value for the subject property.Design/methodology/approach – Relevant data for the study were gathered from a controlled‐experiment involving some residential properties and administration of questionnaires backed up with oral interviews on a random sample of 59 valuation firms in metropolitan Lagos, a commercial nerve‐center in the country. The data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and analysis of variance.Findings – The study showed that there are differences in the means and interpretation of value‐enhancing variables amongst valuation firms sampled. The study, inter .
Quantitative Target Approximation Model: Simulating Underlying Mechanisms of Tones and Intonations

This paper proposes a quantitative target approximation (qTA) model for simulating tone and intonation. Based on two theoretical models: the target approximation model (Y. Xu and Q.E. Wang, 2001) and the PENTA model (Y. Xu, 2005), the qTA model additionally incorporates several assumptions related to the underlying articulatory mechanisms, including (1) F0 production can be represented by a second-order overdamped system, and (2) the system is controlled by a time-delayed feedback loop to sequentially approximate underlying pitch targets. We tested the model with the dataset from Y. Xu (1999). Two experiments were conducted to validate the model and to study the effect of tone, position, and focus. The results were satisfactory in term of the error rate and correlation