Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elite formation in the third industrial revolution

1. The heroes This paper examines brings together two topics normally understood separately: the study of elites and the processes by which new ‘technologies’ develop. We discuss these in the context of the new technology known as additive or 3D printing. We examine how it was that elites came to be formed in this new and as yet still-to-befully-formed area of development. We show behind every elite are formations of complex mobilities. We extract and visualize public patent data from the early history of this technology and consider the mobilities of innovation across organizations, relationships and affiliations. Social network analysis (SNA) is used here to examine critically the popular notion that elites are uniquely and individually responsible for what may be significant game-changing innovations.
A model for stakeholder classification and stakeholder relationships

Purpose – This paper aims to develop a new model of stakeholder classification and a model for explaining the relationship between the organization and its respective stakeholders.Design/methodology/approach – The new proposed model is based on an empirical study that comprises an exploratory study based on 15 interviews and a confirmatory study based on 684 questionnaires answered by staff of 11 public universities. The main variable deployed is the stakeholder's respective level of influence from the organization's management perspective, that is, their level of legitimacy, power and urgency.Findings – The new model proposes six stakeholder types (regulator, controller, partner, passive, dependent and non‐stakeholder). To explain the relationship between the stakeholder and the organization, the traditional needs‐satisfaction vision was expanded. The variables of relevance, mutual influence and participation were found to be important in explaining the organization and stakeholder relationship. This stu.
Assessing the adoption of HRM by small and medium-sized manufacturing organizations

This paper reports on exploratory research which uses a comparative case-study approach with sixteen organizations to study the extent to which HRM has been adopted in traditional brownfield-site, small and medium-sized UK manufacturing organizations. The paper begins with a comparison of HRM practices across the sixteen organizations. It is argued that the most common HRM practices in these firms appeared to relate more to a traditional small firm approach than to any proactive attempt to adopt HRM. The analysis shows that very few of the organizations adopted a strategic approach towards HRM with an integrated set of policies related to corporate strategy being put forward. Instead, the dominant approach seemed to be one of reactive, opportunistic pragmatism, showing little development from the standard modern approach identified as most common in the early 1980s. On the other hand, three organizations are shown to approximate quite closely to the model of strategic HRM and contextual analysis is undert.
EFFECT OF ENTERAL VERSUS PARENTERAL NUTRITION ON INFLAMMATION AND CARDIAC FUNCTION IN A RAT MODEL OF ENDOTOXIN-INDUCED SEPSIS

The present study examined whether total enteral nutrition (TEN) and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) differentially modulates ghrelin, inflammatory mediator production, and cardiac dysfunction induced by LPS. Rats received isocaloric parenteral or enteral nutrition through implanted vascular catheters or gastrostomy tubes for 7 days. Enteral nutrition was provided in conventional (TEN-C) and immunonutrition (TEN-I) formulations. Subsequently, rats were injected i.v. with LPS. Serum ghrelin, TNF-&agr;, and high mobility group box 1 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Myocardiac function was also assessed via the Langendorff isolated heart technique. The TEN-C increased plasma ghrelin and inhibited inflammatory mediators both before and after LPS administration when compared with TPN or TEN-I. Furthermore, animals receiving TPN and TEN-I had significantly lower left ventricular developed pressure but increased pressure development during isovolumetric contraction (dP/dtmax) and relaxation (dP/dtmin) when compared with animals receiving TEN-C after LPS-induced shock (P < 0.05). We conclude that TEN-C more effectively increased plasma ghrelin levels than TPN and TEN-I. The maintenance of higher ghrelin levels in TEN-C rats was associated with inhibiting various inflammatory mediators and maintaining cardiac function during LPS-induced septic shock.
Big data in government organizations: A review

Government is the most sophisticated organization among various establishments and organizations owing to its proliferation in people's lives, complicated step-by-step procedures, various stakeholder indulgence and complex relationship with a myriad of agencies and institutions. Big data can contribute to what government organizations have been wanted for a long time. This paper considers the nature of big data as constrained to a governmental environment setup for the application and development of likewise big data system projects which consequently lead to improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations.
Foresight and Public Utility Regulation

The paper develops a model that shows the effects of rational expectations, and of efficient markets, on public utility regulation. It is shown that the feedback from investor expectations to regulatory behavior, together with investor expectations that take account of this feedback, basically alters the consequences of regulatory decisions. The analysis examines the effects of a deviation between the allowed rate of return and the cost of capital, with both perfect and imperfect investor foresight. It also assesses the consequences of differing expected growth rates. Conclusions are drawn for the effects of regulatory decisions on resource misallocation and of regulatory lag on incentives.
Ökonomische Wirkungen der Mitbestimmung in Deutschland: Ein Update

Der Beitrag gibt einen aktuellen Uberblick uber die okonomischen Wirkungen der Mitbestimmung auf Betriebs- und Unternehmensebene. Seit dem Uberblick von Jirjahn (2006) sind innerhalb weniger Jahre insbesondere zu Betriebsraten zahlreiche neue Studien publiziert worden. Wahrend die Effekte auf Produktivitat und Lohne weiterhin eine wichtige Rolle spielen, sind auch neue Aspekte wie der Einfluss auf eine familienfreundliche Personalpolitik in das Blickfeld der Forschung geraten. Aktuelle Studien deuten zudem auf positive Profitabilitats- und Beschaftigungseffekte betrieblicher Mitbestimmung hin. Die geschatzten Effekte fallen tendenziell starker aus, wenn die Endogenitat von Betriebsraten berucksichtigt wird. Zugleich zeigt sich eine Reihe von Differenzierungen. So sprechen aktuelle Studien dafur, dass die Wirkungen von Betriebsraten nicht nur von der Tarifbindung, sondern auch vom Vorhandensein auslandischer Eigentumer und von der innerbetrieblichen Lohnungleichheit abhangen. Schlieslich findet sich erste Evidenz dafur, dass organisationale Lernprozesse fur die Effekte eine Rolle spielen. Wahrend sich bei einer Reihe von Frage-stellungen insgesamt eine Konvergenz der Resultate abzeichnet, gibt es bei bestimmten Fragen jedoch noch deutlichen Forschungsbedarf. So prasentieren aktuelle Studien sehr heterogene Ergebnisse, was die Lohneffekte von Betriebsraten anbelangt. Auch wenn es nach wie vor es deutlich weniger Studien zur Unternehmensmitbestimmung gibt, hat sich die Forschung auch in diesem Bereich in den letzten Jahren deutlich weiterentwickelt. Im Un-terschied zu alteren Studien spricht die neuere Forschung dafur, dass sich Unternehmensmitbestimmung nicht nur positiv auf die Produktivitat, sondern – unter bestimmten Bedingungen – auch positiv auf Rentabilitat und Kapitalmarktbewertung auswirken kann. Gleichwohl ist noch eine gewisse Heterogenitat der Resultate zu verzeichnen.
Towards Direct Synthesis of Alane: A Predicted Defect-Mediated Pathway Confirmed Experimentally.

Alane (AlH3 ) is a unique energetic material that has not found a broad practical use for over 70 years because it is difficult to synthesize directly from its elements. Using density functional theory, we examine the defect-mediated formation of alane monomers on Al(111) in a two-step process: (1) dissociative adsorption of H2 and (2) alane formation, which are both endothermic on a clean surface. Only with Ti dopant to facilitate H2 dissociation and vacancies to provide Al adatoms, both processes become exothermic. In agreement, in situ scanning tunneling microscopy showed that during H2 exposure, alane monomers and clusters form primarily in the vicinity of Al vacancies and Ti atoms. Moreover, ball milling of the Al samples with Ti (providing necessary defects) showed a 10 % conversion of Al into AlH3 or closely related species at 344 bar H2 , indicating that the predicted pathway may lead to the direct synthesis of alane from elements at pressures much lower than the 10(4) bar expected from bulk thermodynamics.
Phragmites australis root secreted phytotoxin undergoes photo-degradation to execute severe phytotoxicity

Our study organism, Phragmites australis (common reed), is a unique invader in that both native and introduced lineages are found coexisting in North America. This allows one to make direct assessments of physiological differences between these different subspecies and examine how this relates to invasiveness. Recent efforts to understand plant invasive behavior show that some invasive plants secrete a phytotoxin to ward-off encroachment by neighboring plants (allelopathy) and thus provide the invaders with a competitive edge in a given habitat. Here we show that a varying climatic factor like ultraviolet (UV) light leads to photo-degradation of secreted phytotoxin (gallic acid) in P. australis rhizosphere inducing higher mortality of susceptible seedlings. The photo-degraded product of gallic acid (hereafter GA), identified as mesoxalic acid (hereafter MOA), triggered a similar cell death cascade in susceptible seedlings as observed previously with GA. Further, we detected the biological concentrations of MOA in the natural stands of exotic and native P. australis. Our studies also show that the UV degradation of GA is facilitated at an alkaline pH, suggesting that the natural habitat of P. australis may facilitate the photo-degradation of GA. The study highlights the persistence of the photo-degraded phytotoxin in the P. australis’s rhizosphere and its inhibitory effects against the native plants.
Régimes de change: Le chemin vers la flexibilité

Nous cherchons dans le sillage de travaux tels que Agenor (2004) ou Duttagupta et al (2004) a identifier les principales conditions que doit remplir au prealable une economie avant l’adoption d’un regime de flottement pur du taux de change. Ces dernieres englobent le developpement du marche des changes, la mise en place d’une nouvelle strategie de politique monetaire et d’une ancre nominale credible et le developpement du systeme financier.
Kinematics of the Trunk and the Lower Extremities During Restricted and Unrestricted Squats

Abstract List, R, Gülay, T, Stoop, M, and Lorenzetti, S. Kinematics of the trunk and the lower extremities during restricted and unrestricted squats. J Strength Cond Res 27(6): 1529–1538, 2013—Squatting is a common strength training exercise used for rehabilitation, fitness training, and in preparation for competition. Knowledge about the loading and the motion of the back during the squat exercise is crucial to avoid overuse or injury. The aim of this study was the measurement and comparison of the kinematics of the lower leg, trunk, and spine during unrestricted and restricted (knees are not allowed beyond toes) squats. A total of 30 subjects performed unrestricted and restricted barbell squats with an extra load of 0, 25, and 50% bodyweight. Motion was tracked using a 12-camera Vicon system. A newly developed marker set with 24 trunk and 7 pelvic markers allowed us to measure 3D segmental kinematics between the pelvic and the lumbar regions, between the lumbar and the thoracic segments, and the sagittal curvatures of the lumbar and the thoracic spine. In an unrestricted squat, the angle of the knee is larger and the range of motion (ROM) between the lumbar and the thoracic segments is significantly smaller compared with a restricted squat (p < 0.05). The studied subjects showed significantly increased ROM for thoracic curvature during restricted squats. The unrestricted execution of a squat leads to a larger ROM in the knee and smaller changes in the curvature of the thoracic spine and the range of smaller segmental motions within the trunk. This execution in turn leads to lower stresses in the back. To strengthen the muscles of the leg, the unrestricted squat may be the best option for most people. Thus, practitioners should not be overly strict in coaching against anterior knee displacement during performance of the squat.
A method of image segmentation based on mutual information and threshold iteration of multi-spectral image fusion

The surface color of some mature fruit has little difference with the background color or the entire fruit surface color has inconsistent under the nature growth condition. This fruit image segmentation is very difficulty with the color threshold or the segmentation result is the serious error of the goal outline. A new mutual information threshold iteration segmentation method based on the multi-spectrum image fusion is proposed. First, gather visible light color image and the near-infrared image of the same target, fusion processing the multi-spectrum image using image fusion algorithm (PCA-LWT) based on PCA and lifting wavelet transformation; Then, carries on mutual information optimal threshold value iteration division to the fusion image. Through target extraction experiment of many tomato images, the result indicate carrying on mutual information optimal threshold value iteration segmentation to the visible light and the near-infrared PCA-LWT fusion image, may obtain good segmentation effect, and can solve this kind of image segmentation problem well.
Super-Grids and Concentrated Solar Power: A Scenario Analysis with the WITCH Model

We extend the WITCH model to consider the possibility to produce and trade electricity generated by large scale concentrated solar power plants in highly productive areas that are connected to the demand centres through High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cables. We find that it becomes optimal to produce with this source only from 2040 and trade from 2050. In the second half of the century, CSP electricity shares become very significant especially when penetration limits are imposed on nuclear power and on carbon capture and storage operations (CCS). Climate policy costs can be reduced by large percentages, up to 66% with respect to corresponding scenarios without the CSP-powered Super-Grid option and with limits on nuclear power and CCS. We also show that MENA countries have the incentive to form a cartel to sell electricity to Europe at a price higher than the marginal cost. Therefore we advocate the institution of an international agency with the role to regulate a hypothetic Mediterranean electricity market.
THE SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF THE HUMAN PREGNANT UTERUS

THE ability of the uterus to increase in weight by ten to twenty times in a few months and to regress in a few weeks is probably unique among adult organs. Its hypertrophy during pregnancy is responsible for a substantial fraction of the mother's weight gain, and represents a considerable accumulation of protein. In view of this it is regrettable that so few published measurements are available from what must in the past have been many postmortem opportunities, and surprising that gross chemical analysis appears to have been almost entirely neglected. We report here information on 32 uteri removed at different stages of pregnancy and on 2 removed in the puerperium, and compare the findings with those previously published.
Identification of testis‐specific ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis

The ubiquitin–proteasome system is known to play a key role in fertilization in ascidians, sea urchins, and mammals. To obtain insights into the ubiquitin‐conjugating enzymes (Ube2) involved in reproductive systems, we systematically explored Ube2 enzymes expressed in the testis of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Here, we report cDNA cloning and characterization of a novel type of Ube2r (Ci0100152677) that is capable of making a thiolester bond with ubiquitin. Northern analysis, whole‐mount in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry indicate that this enzyme is exclusively expressed in the testis, mainly in the germ cells during the late stage of spermatogenesis, and is localized in the sperm head and tail, suggesting possible participation in fertilization or spermatogenesis/spermiogenesis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 77: 640–647, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Balkan Holocausts?: Serbian and Croatian Victim Centered Propaganda and the War in Yugoslavia

1. What is the nation? : towards a teleological model of nationalism 2. Instrumentalising the holocaust: from universalisation to relativism 3. Slobodan Milosevic and the construction of Serbophobia 4. Croatia, 'greater serbianism', and the conflict between east and west 5. Masking the past: world war II and the Balkan Historikerstreit 6. Comparing genocides: 'numbers games' and 'holocausts' at Jasenovac and Bleiburg 7. Whither Tito? : communism, post-communism, and the war in Croatia 8. 'Greater Serbia' and 'greater Croatia': the Moslem question in Bosnia-Hercegovina Conclusions: Confronting relativism in Serbia and Croatia Bibliography
Policy Polarization and Strategic Candidacy in Elections Under the Alternative Vote Rule

We use the citizen-candidate model to study electoral outcomes under the Alternative Vote rule, a voting method often proposed as a replacement to the prevalent Plurality rule. We show that, like the Plurality rule, the Alternative Vote rule deters multiple candidate clusters and the presence of candidates at more than two positions. Moreover, the Alternative Vote rule tends to support less policy polarization than the Plurality rule. These results stand in contrast to those obtained under other proposed voting rules, Approval Voting in particular, which are prone to candidate clustering and, as a result, can support greater policy polarization vis-Aƒ -vis the Plurality rule.
Organizational Traits, Care Processes, and Burnout Among Chronic Hemodialysis Nurses

In light of evidence linking registered nurse (RN) staffing levels to patient outcomes in chronic hemodialysis facilities, U.S. government regulations have set minimum RN staffing requirements during dialysis. Consequently, facility administrators are focused on decreasing nurse attrition in this crucial practice setting. This study used a cross-sectional, correlational design to investigate the effects of workload, practice environment, and care processes on burnout among nurses in U.S. chronic hemodialysis centers and to determine the association between burnout and nurses' intentions to leave their jobs. Findings indicate that predictors were associated with an increased likelihood of nurse burnout and that nurses experiencing burnout were more likely to be planning to leave their jobs. Findings have important implications for retention of nurses, enhancement of patient safety, and adherence to new federal staffing requirements in chronic hemodialysis units.
What Makes Small-Scale Farmers Participate in Financing Agricultural Research and Extension? Analysis of Three Case Studies from Benin

Abstract This paper analyses the organizational, financial and technological incentives that service organizations used to motivate farmers to finance agricultural research and extension in Benin. Understanding the foundations and implications of these motivation systems is important for improving farmer financial participation in agricultural research and extension. We studied three cases of farmer financial participation in the field of agricultural research and extension in Benin. We conducted semi-structured interviews with leaders of service organizations and farmers’ associations, local authorities and individual farmers. Our interviews focused on service delivery systems, mechanisms of farmers’ financial contribution, the functioning of farmers’ associations, and the appropriateness of services provided. We performed thematic and comparative analyses at the interfaces between (1) service providers and partner–farmer associations, (2) service providers and delivered services, and (3) farmers/farmers’ associations and services. Incentives for farmer financial participation are the increasing participation strategy, the fulfillment of farmers’ needs and the local leadership valorization. The selection and combination of their variants determine the motivating capacity and orientation of service organizations. Conversely to the increasing participation strategy, an effective fulfillment of farmers’ needs and local leadership valorization can lead to sustainable motivation. As the fulfillment of farmers’ needs determines importantly the effectiveness and sustainability of farmers’ motivation, the strategies of farmer financial participation are likely to fail if there are no successful agricultural technological incentives. In the current context of privatization of agricultural services in developing countries, this analytical framework is of interest for policy makers and development workers for identifying conditions of farmer financial participation and designing effective motivation strategies.
A meta-analysis of the lymphatic microvessel density and survival in gastric cancer with 1809 cases

Lymph node metastasis commonly occurs in gastric cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated that the overexpression of lymphatic microvessel density (LVD) is correlated with various malignancies. To evaluate the potential role of LVD in various malignancies, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to thoroughly investigate the association of LVD expression with tumor progression and survival in gastric cancer. We performed a comprehensive search of common databases and selected studies demonstrating the relationship between LVD expression and gastric cancer prognosis. Hazard ratios (HR) were used to determine the value of LVD for predicting gastric cancer metastasis and prognosis. The data were extracted from the included studies and pooled with the appropriate effects model using STATA 12.0. The results showed that high LVD expression obviously impacted the prognosis of gastric cancer, based on an overall survival (OS) HR of 2.58 (95% CI: 1.91–3.48, P < 0.001) and a disease-free survival (DFS) HR of 2.51 (95% CI: 1.35–4.68, P = 0.004) in the univariate analysis. In addition, the results of the multivariate analysis indicated a remarkable relationship between high LVD expression and gastric neoplasm prognosis. The pooled OS HR was 4.12 (95% CI: 3.45–4.91, P < 0.001). The current meta-analysis shows that high LVD is closely related to tumor metastasis and poor prognosis in gastric malignancy. LVD could be a key factor in tumor lymphatic metastasis. Moreover, LVD is likely a potential index and an effective biomarker for the prediction of patient prognosis.