Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An empirical examination for enhancing the utilization level of advanced manufacturing technologies in India

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the enablers for improving the utilization level of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs) in Indian manufacturing industry. Design/methodology/approach - In this paper, a large number of manufacturing organizations have been extensively surveyed, to ascertain the contributions made by success factors of AMTs towards realizing manufacturing performance improvements. The correlations between enablers of AMTs' utilization and manufacturing performance parameters have been evaluated and validated by employing various statistical tools. Findings - The paper focuses upon significant contributions of AMTs' success factors namely: education and training of employees; interdisciplinary team formation; rewards and recognition to employees; and industry-institute interaction, towards affecting improvements in manufacturing performance in Indian industry. The inter-relationships between various AMTs' utilization success factors with the manufacturing performance parameters have been evaluated. Research limitations/implications - The study has been conducted only in Northern Indian manufacturing organizations. Originality/value - The paper highlights the strong potential for enablers of AMTs' utilization in improving organizational performance parameters.
Greater Incidence of Delirium during Recovery from Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Preschool Boys

Background: In the authors' clinical experience, preschool children are more likely to show delirium after sevoflurane than are older children. Methods: Sixty‐three preschool boys aged 3–5 yr (classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] physical status I), and 53 school‐age boys aged 6–10 yr (ASA physical status I) who underwent minor urologic surgery were randomly assigned to receive either halothane or sevoflurane, thus creating four groups: preschool‐halothane (n = 32), preschool‐sevoflurane (n = 31), school‐halothane (n = 27), and school‐sevoflurane (n = 26). Anesthesia was induced by inhalation of halothane or sevoflurane in oxygen and was maintained at 1 minimum alveolar concentration of each agent throughout surgery. For intra‐ and postoperative analgesia, caudal block with 0.5–1.0 ml/kg 0.25% plain bupivacaine and topical infiltration with 3–5 ml 1% lidocaine were provided for all patients. Recovery characteristics and incidence of delirium on emergence were compared among the four groups. Results: Two patients in the preschool‐halothane group, one in the preschool‐sevoflurane group, and one in the school‐halothane group were excluded from the comparison because of insufficient analgesia or agitation before induction. In both age groups, the time to emergence from sevoflurane was significantly faster (about 3 min) than from halothane. The incidence of delirium during recovery in the preschool‐sevoflurane group (40%) was significantly greater than that in the other groups (preschool‐halothane, 10%; school‐halothane, 15.4%; school‐sevoflurane, 11.5%). Conclusion: Sevoflurane provided quicker emergence and early recovery compared with halothane, but the incidence of delirium was greater in preschool boys after sevoflurane.
Hepatotoxic Cyanobacteria: A Review of the Biological Importance of Microcystins in Freshwater Environments

Cyanobacteria possess many adaptations to develop population maxima or “blooms” in lakes and reservoirs. A potential consequence of freshwater blooms of many cyanobacterial species is the production of potent toxins, including the cyclic hepatotoxins, microcystins (MCs). Approximately 70 MC variants have been isolated. Their toxicity to humans and other animals is well studied, because of public health concerns. This review focuses instead on the production and degradation of MCs in freshwater environments and their effects on aquatic organisms. Genetic research has revealed the existence of MC-related genes, yet the expression of these genes seems to be regulated by complex mechanisms and is influenced by environmental factors. In natural water bodies, the species composition of cyanobacterial communities and the ratio of toxic to nontoxic species and strains are largely responsible for total toxin production. Cyanobacteria play vital roles in aquatic food webs, yet production, accumulation, and toxicity patterns of MCs within aquatic food webs remain obscure. R. Zurawell was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant to E. Prepas. The authors wish to thank D. G. Dixon for the inspiration to write this review and S. Pinder for assisting with figure preparation. Thorough reviews of earlier drafts by two anonymous reviewers greatly improved the content and logical development of this article.Current address for Ronald W. Zurawell is Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation Branch, Environmental Assurance Division, Alberta Environment, 10th Floor, Oxbridge Place, 9820-106 St., Edmonton, AB T5K 2J6, Canada.
Influence of Facebook Commercial Communications on Generation Z's Attitudes in South Africa

The tremendous proliferation of social media (such as Facebook) has provided digital information and communications technology (ICT) platforms that enable Generation Z to instantaneously and uninterruptedly interactive one another and the rest of the globe. The primary aim of this research is to investigate the influence of Facebook commercial communications (FCC) on the hierarchy‐of‐effects model attitude stages amongst Generation Z, and to establish whether several usage (access, usage length, log‐on rate, log‐on duration and profile update incidence) and demographic (gender, age and population group) factors had an effect on the attitudinal responses. A survey was used to sample over 6 200 teenagers through structured self‐administered questionnaires in South Africa (SA). A generalised linear model was utilised for the data analysis. This paper determined that FCC had a positive effect on cognitive, affective and behavioural attitudes amid South African adolescents, which is in correlation with the communications effects pyramid model. This study also makes a notable contribution to attitudinal discourse in emerging nations, where there is a paucity of research on FCC. South African organisations should consider implementing and/or adapting their FCC strategies based on the varying impact of usage and demographic factors, which were disclosed in this study, when targeting the increasingly profitable and technologically savvy, but unpredictable Generation Z.
Tackling undeclared work in southeast Europe: lessons from a 2007 Eurobarometer survey

This paper examines the nature of undeclared work in southeast Europe and evaluates the consequences for tackling such work. Reporting a survey of undeclared work in five southeast European countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Slovenia), a diverse array of types of undeclared work are uncovered ranging from waged employment to own‐account work conducted for closer social relations such as kin, friends and neighbours. The outcome is a call for greater recognition of the diverse array of kinds of undeclared work in southeast Europe and for a wider range of policy approaches and measures to be employed when tackling such work.
Tuberculosis Contacts but Not Patients Have Higher Gamma Interferon Responses to ESAT-6 than Do Community Controls in The Gambia

ABSTRACT The Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen ESAT-6 has been proposed for tuberculosis immunodiagnosis. In The Gambia, 30% of community controls produced gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in response to ESAT-6. Increased proportions of responders and intensities of responses were found in household contacts. Responses that were initially low in tuberculosis patients increased after treatment. An ESAT-6 IFN-γ assay will be of limited use in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. Its role in contact tracing should be evaluated further.
Privacy-Preserving Multibiometric Authentication in Cloud with Untrusted Database Providers

This paper introduces a secure and privacy-preserving mechanism for biometric-based user authentication in a distributed manner. The design combines three modalities (face, iris and fingerprint) according to user’s performance strength parameters (False Acceptance and False Rejection Rates). We use a user-specific weighted score level fusion strategy to determine the final multimodal result. The stored unimodal templates are held by distinct database providers that can be malicious. Privacy regulations recognize biometric data as sensitive, hence their handling and storage in an untrusted environment with third parties are challenging. Therefore, we utilize MultiParty Computation to enhance security among authentication stages. In contrast to the existing research, the novelty of this approach lies in performing multimodal authentication without storing private information in a single database, nor transferring the calculation results to any third party. The proposed protocol is analyzed to assess its usability, security and efficiency (execution time is less than a second under the studied scenario).
From Asset Based Welfare to Welfare Housing? The Changing Function of Social Housing in Ireland

This paper examines a distinctive and significant aspect of social housing in Ireland—its change in function from an asset-based role in welfare support to a more standard model of welfare housing. It outlines the nationalist and agrarian drivers which expanded the initial role of social housing beyond the goal of improving housing conditions for the poor towards the goal of extending homeownership, and assesses whether this focus made it more similar to the ‘asset based welfare’ approach to housing found in South-East Asia than to social housing in Western Europe. From the mid-1980s, the role of Irish social housing changed as the sector contracted and evolved towards the model of welfare housing now found in many other Western countries. Policy makers have struggled to address the implications of this transition and vestiges of social housing's traditional function are still evident, consequently the boundaries between social housing, private renting and homeownership in Ireland have grown increasingly nebulous.
The induction of autophagy by γ‐radiation contributes to the radioresistance of glioma stem cells

Malignant gliomas are characterized by a short median survival which is largely impacted by the resistance of these tumors tochemo‐ and radiotherapy. Recent studies suggest that a small subpopulation of cancer stem cells, which are highly resistant to γ‐radiation, has the capacity to repopulate the tumors and contribute to their malignant progression. γ‐radiation activates the process of autophagy and inhibition of this process increases the radiosensitivity of glioma cells; however, the role of autophagy in the resistance of glioma stem cells (GSCs) to radiation has not been yet reported. In this study we examined the induction of autophagy by γ‐radiation in CD133+ GSCs. Irradiation of CD133+ cells induced autophagy within 24–48 hr and slightly decreased the viability of the cells. γ‐radiation induced a larger degree of autophagy in the CD133+ cells as compared with CD133− cells and the CD133+ cells expressed higher levels of the autophagy‐related proteins LC3, ATG5 and ATG12. The autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 and silencing of ATG5 and beclin1 sensitized the CD133+ cells to γ‐radiation and significantly decreased the viability of the irradiated cells and their ability to form neurospheres. Collectively, these results indicate that the induction of autophagy contributes to the radioresistance of these cells and autophagy inhibitors may be employed to increase the sensitivity of CD133+ GSCs to γ‐radiation. © 2009 UICC
Regeneration of Defects in Articular Cartilage in Rat Knee Joints by CCN2 (Connective Tissue Growth Factor)

CTGF/CCN2, a hypertrophic chondrocyte‐specific gene product, possessed the ability to repair damaged articular cartilage in two animal models, which were experimental osteoarthritis and full‐thickness defects of articular cartilage. These findings suggest that CTGF/CCN2 may be useful in regeneration of articular cartilage.
What should be the nature and role of a revised Conceptual Framework for International Accounting Standards?

This paper asks how far we may expect the IASB’s current approach to revising its Conceptual Framework (CF) – as set out in the recent Discussion Paper on further chapters of the revised Framework – to help overcome difficulties such as those identified by Barth, M.E. (2013). Global Comparability in Financial Reporting: What, Why, How, and When? China Journal of Accounting Studies, 1:1, 2–12. She identifies the importance – given the IASB’s aim in its CF to achieve international comparability in financial statements – of developing improved ‘high quality’ standards for recognition and measurement. I argue that the unavoidable conceptual and institutional difficulties inherent in comparing economic ‘realities’ require that the revision of the Framework should be more fundamental than attempting to improve the recognition and measurement elements of the prevailing ‘balance-sheet’ focused model. Rather than continuing to seek universally applicable answers to provide ‘a complete and updated set of concepts to use when it develops or revises IFRS’, it should instead focus on highlighting the key questions that IASB needs to consider when setting standards. I comment on possible implications for the future development of accounting internationally, and on future research opportunities, with particular reference to China.
California: The Politics of Diversity

Part I: FOUNDATIONS OF CALIFORNIA POLITICS. 1. Explaining California Politics. 2. California's Political Development. 3. Constitutionalism and Federalism: The Perimeters of California Politics. Part II: POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN CALIFORNIA. 4. Direct Democracy in a Hyperpluralistic Age. 5. How Californians Participate. 6. Linking People and Policymakers: Media, Parties, and Interest Groups. Part III: POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN CALIFORNIA. 7. Legislative Politics. 8. Executive Politics. 9. California's Judiciary. 10. Community Politics. Part IV: PUBLIC POLICY IN CALIFORNIA. 11. Budget Policy: The Cost of Diversity. 12. Policies Stemming from Growth. 13. Policies Stemming from Diversity.
Application of neural-network modules to electric power system fault section estimation

This paper presents a neural system intended to aid the control center operator in the task of fault section estimation. Its analysis is based on information about the operation of protection devices and circuit breakers. In order to allow the diagnosis task, the protection system philosophy of busbars, transmission lines, and transformers are modeled with the use of two types of neural networks: the general regression neural network and the multilayer perceptron neural network. The tool described in this paper can be applied to real bulk power systems and is able to deal with topological changes without having to retrain the neural networks.
Segmentation of the posterior ribs in chest radiographs using iterated contextual pixel classification

The task of segmenting the posterior ribs within the lung fields of standard posteroanterior chest radiographs is considered. To this end, an iterative, pixel-based, supervised, statistical classification method is used, which is called iterated contextual pixel classification (ICPC). Starting from an initial rib segmentation obtained from pixel classification, ICPC updates it by reclassifying every pixel, based on the original features and, additionally, class label information of pixels in the neighborhood of the pixel to be reclassified. The method is evaluated on 30 radiographs taken from the JSRT (Japanese Society of Radiological Technology) database. All posterior ribs within the lung fields in these images have been traced manually by two observers. The first observer's segmentations are set as the gold standard; ICPC is trained using these segmentations. In a sixfold cross-validation experiment, ICPC achieves a classification accuracy of 0.86 /spl plusmn/ 0.06, as compared to 0.94 /spl plusmn/ 0.02 for the second human observer.
How do we explain corporate board structure in sub–Saharan Africa?

This study examines the determinants of corporate board structure in selected sub-Saharan Africa. We specifically investigate which firm-level characteristics exhibit any link whatsoever with board size, board composition and board leadership structure in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. We also ascertain whether alternative governance mechanisms such as institutional shareholders and debt holders serve as substitutes in addressing the agency conflicts in firms. The findings of the study indicate that institutional ownership is an alternative governance mechanism for board size for a majority of the countries under study. The findings of this study also indicate that firm size is the only variable that significantly and positively explains board size for all the four countries under study and the other firm-level characteristics, though significant in some cases in explaining the board structure, take on different signs from country to country and for different board characteristics.
Fundamentals, Misvaluation, and Business Investment

Does stock market misvaluation affect business fixed investment? To answer this question, we provide evidence based on U.S. firm-level panel data. We examine the orthogonality conditions for the investment Q and Euler equations, and our qualitative tests reject the null hypothesis that investment is unaffected by misvaluation (this result is not driven exclusively by the late 1990s). To measure the quantitative effects on investment, we introduce a measure of misvaluation into standard investment equations. Our estimates imply that a one-standard-deviation increase in misvaluation increases investment between 20% and 60% relative to the mean level of investment in the sample.
The challenge of change: the positive agenda of the TGWU

This article looks at the response of a major British trade union, the Transport and General Workers Union, (TGWU), to changing circumstances. The paper focuses on the union's response to human resources management and looks at the debate within the union and the elements of the union's strategy for dealing with HRM. It also examines the attempt by the union to move from a ''servicing culture'' to an ''organizing culture'' in response to changes in the nature of work and in society in general.
The Method of Logistic Optimization in E-commerce

Rapidly changing business environment requires new approaches and methods for supporting management systems in all types of companies. Modern companies doing business use e-commerce systems by default. One of the key areas of e-commerce systems is logistics and the supply chain. The optimal way to ensure the success of logistics and supply chains is to use the methods of modeling and simulation based on appropriate models and especially its mathematical representation. In this paper, authors highlight the customer-oriented model of the e-commerce system and deal with logistic optimization and simulations. As an example, a sample logistic structure which requires the adequate control approach is presented. This is realized by means of heuristic algorithms which are responsible for meeting the set criterion. Moreover, the criteria to either maximize the production output or minimize the lost flow capacity of the logistic system or minimize the tool replacement criterion are introduced. Equations of state are given in order to represent the flow of material through the logistic system.
Chlorido{2,2′-[propane-1,3-diylbis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenolato-κ4 O,N,N′,O′}manganese(III)

In the title complex, [Mn(C17H16N2O2)Cl], the MnIII ion is coordinated by two O [Mn—O = 1.719 (2) and 1.813 (2) Å] and two N [Mn—N = 1.824 (2) and 1.931 (2) Å] atoms from the tetradentate Schiff base ligand and a chloride anion [Mn—Cl = 2.9634 (16) Å] in a square-pyramidal geometry. In the ligand, the two benzene rings form a dihedral angle of 68.06 (5)°.
Auditor tenure, auditor specialization, and information asymmetry

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation between a company's bid-ask spread, a proxy for information asymmetry, and auditor tenure and specialization. Design/methodology/approach - The tests use clustered regression for a sample of 31,689 company-years from 1992 to 2001 and control for factors known to impact bid-ask spread in cross-section. Findings - The findings suggest that the market's perception of disclosure quality is higher and private information search opportunities are fewer for companies engaging industry specialist auditors. In addition, the paper finds that information asymmetry has a U-shaped relation to auditor tenure. This U-shaped relation holds for both specialists and non-specialists; however, the bid-ask spread for specialists tends to fall below that of non-specialists at all tenure intervals. Research limitations/implications - The findings may directly result from auditor tenure and specialization or it may be that those auditor-related characteristics are a subset of concurrent choices made by the company that impacts disclosure quality. Practical implications - Companies have incentives to lower information asymmetry and the findings document that the choice of a specialist auditor and the length of the auditor relationship can potentially influence this objective. Originality/value - The paper provides information to academics, regulators, companies, and auditors concerning the effect of auditor-client relationships on the level of information asymmetry. In addition, it shows the importance of industry specialization and audit firm tenure on audit quality.
Schaltungssimulation mit FE-Modellen für mikroelektromechanische Systeme

Mikroelektromechanische Systeme (MEMS) vereinen miniaturisierte Elektronik und Mechanik auf einem Substrat. Die Aufgabe der Elektronik liegt dabei typischerweise im Auslesen von Sensoren und der Anregung von Aktuatoren. In beiden Fällen Ist die Wechselwirkung zwischen Schaltung und Mechanik wesentlich für den Systementwurf. Dies erfordert eine dynamische Kosimulatlon der genannten Domänen, Der vorliegende Beitrag schlägt die Formulierung mechanischer, finiter Elemente (FE) In einer analogen Hardwarebeschreibungssprache (AHDL, Analog Hardware Descriptlon Language) vor, so daß diese dynamisch mit einer Schaltung simuliert werden können. Der Beitrag zeigt am Beispiel eines integrierten Drucksensorsystems, daß sich auf diese Weise komplette MEMS betrachten lassen und man somit bereits vor der Fertigung Informationen über die generelle Funktion, aber auch über wichtige Eigenschaften wie etwa Empfindlichkeit oder Linearität gewinnen kann.
Genotyping of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism by the TaqMan method.

Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism by the TaqMan Method, Werner Koch, Wolfgang Latz, Marianne Eichinger, Claudia Ganser, Albert Schömig, and Adnan Kastrati (Deutsches Herzzentrum München and 1. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; * address correspondence to this author at: Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Lazarettstrasse 36, D-80636 Munich, Germany; fax 49-89-12183053, e-mail wkoch@dhm.mhn.de)