Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The changing panorama of cerebral palsy in Sweden. VII. Prevalence and origin in the birth year period 1987‐90

This seventh Swedish population‐based cerebral palsy (CP) report comprises 216 children born between 1987 and 1990. The crude live birth prevalence was 2.36 per 1000, indicating a break in the continuous increase since 1970. Excluding 10 postnatally‐derived cases, gestational‐age specific prevalences were 80 for extremely, 54 for very and 8 for moderately preterms and 1.4 for term children per 1000. Birth weight‐specific prevalences were 57 for birth weights <1000 g, 68 for 1000–1499 g, 14 for 1500–2499 g and 1.4 for ≥2500 g per 1000. The aetiology was considered prenatal in 8%, peri/neonatal in 54% and unclassifiable in 38% of preterms and 33, 28 and 39% of term children. Hemiplegic, diplegic and tetraplegic syndromes accounted for 22, 66 and 7% of preterms and 44, 29 and 10% of term children. Non‐walking, mental retardation, epilepsy, severe visual impairment and infantile hydrocephalus were present in 39, 39, 26, 18 and 23% of preterms; and 38, 44, 36, 14 and 5% of term children, respectively. The entire series of 1408 cases born in 1954–90 revealed three distinct trend eras for preterms, clearly related to changes in perinatal care and shifts in type of CP manifestations.
When Does a Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Provide a First-Mover Advantage?

Theory and research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) have been concerned primarily with identifying stakeholders, categorizing types of CSR initiatives, and linking corporate social performance to firm performance. In this conceptual article, the authors assess strategic CSR initiatives, inquiring into the conditions that might give rise to a sustainable competitive advantage in social performance. In what circumstances does a firm's CSR initiative create a first-mover advantage, and when should a firm prefer an early- or late-adopter position? Using the resource-based view and the asymmetries approach of first-mover advantages, the authors propose that for a CSR initiative to lead to a sustainable first-mover advantage, it must be central to the firm's mission, provide firm-specific benefits, and be made visible to external audiences. These strategic attributes generate internal sustainability and must be complemented to ensure external defensibility by a firm's ability to assess its environment, manage its stakeholders, and deal with social issues.
Devanagari text embedding in a gray image: An offbeat approach

Steganography is a tool which helps in hiding information that plays a crucial role in many ways and in many lives. With the advent of the Internet, information exchange is possible in many languages other than English. This technology eventually carries with it a disadvantage which is the loss of security and privacy of information. Steganography an insipid medium, is one such way to ensure privacy. Steganography plays a vital role in securing the secret data. In this paper, a different approach is chosen for encoding Devanagari (Hindi) Text in the cover image. This approach of hiding Devanagari (Hindi) and English Text in an alternate manner is very efficient and simple to use. This paper describes a duplet algorithm, one for encoding and another for decoding. The image parameters are calculated by this proposed methodology, which proves that this process is more efficient and innovative.
HIV-1 Entry and Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1β-mediated Signaling Are Independent Functions of the Chemokine Receptor CCR5*

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) requires the presence of specific chemokine receptors in addition to CD4 to enter its target cell. The chemokine receptor CCR5 is used by macrophage-tropic strains of HIV-1, which predominate during the asymptomatic stages of infection. Here we investigate whether the ability of CCR5 to signal in response to its β-chemokine ligands is necessary or sufficient for viral entry. Three CCR5 mutants with little or no ability to mobilize calcium in response to macrophage inflammatory protein-1β could nonetheless support HIV-1 entry and the early steps in the virus life cycle with efficiencies comparable with those of wild-type CCR5. Conversely, a chimeric receptor with the N terminus of CCR2 replacing that of CCR5 responded to macrophage inflammatory protein-1β and MCP-1 but did not efficiently support viral entry. These results demonstrate that chemokine signaling and HIV-1 entry are separable functions of CCR5 and that only viral entry requires the N-terminal domain of CCR5.
Empresas y empresarios en el Reino Unido. La visión de Marshall y de Keynes

RESUMEN El objetivo del artículo es indagar sobre el conocimiento y sensibilidad de Keynes respecto al mundo empresarial. Como contrapunto de la visión de Keynes, se sitúa el planteamiento de Marshall. La conclusión fundamental del artículo es que Keynes, pese a su experiencia práctica en el mundo de los negocios, tenía unas ideas sobre las empresas y los empresarios que dificultaban la percepción de las razones y consecuencias del declive industrial del Reino Unido. El análisis de Marshall, siendo éste un académico en sentido estricto, le parece al autor mejor orientado para la comprensión de la decadencia industrial inglesa. ABSTRACT The goal of this article is to inquire into the knowledge and sensibility of Keynes with regard to the entrepreneurial world. The vision of Keynes is faced to the interpretation of Marshall. The main conclusion is that Keyne's entrepreneurial ideas led him to misunderstand the reasons and consequences of the industrial decline of the U.K. On the contrary, Marshall, an strict academic, was capable of a better understanding of the English industrial decay.
Innate immunity and its evasion and suppression by hymenopteran endoparasitoids

Recent studies suggest that insects use pattern recognition molecules to distinguish prokaryotic pathogens and fungi from “self” structures. Less understood is how the innate immune system of insects recognizes endoparasitic Hymenoptera and other eukaryotic invaders as foreign. Here we discuss candidate recognition factors and the strategies used by parasitoids to overcome host defense responses. We suggest that host–parasitoid systems are important experimental models for studying how the innate immune system of insects recognizes foreign invaders that are phylogenetically more closely related to their hosts. The strategies used by parasitoids suggest that insects may employ “hidden‐self” recognition molecules for attacking foreign objects intruding the open circulatory system. BioEssays 23:344–351, 2001. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Expression of ets-1 and ets-2 in colonic neoplasms.

BACKGROUND Investigation of transcription regulators in carcinoma can contribute greatly to clarifying the biological character of the carcinoma. In this study, we examined the expression of ets-1 and ets-2, prominent transcription regulators belonging to the ets family, in various colonic tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated the expression of ets-1 and ets-2 in normal colon, hyperplastic polyps, adenomas, carcinoma-in-adenoma and colonic adenocarcinomas by means of immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Expression of ets-1 and ets-2 was not observed in normal colon and hyperplastic polyp. The ets-1 labeling index significantly increased with the successive events of colonic carcinogenesis. A similar tendency was observed for ets-2 expression in colonic neoplasms. In adenocarcinoma, ets-1 and ets-2 expression was directly linked to lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION These results suggest that ets-1 and ets-2 may act as transcription regulators of the genes related to colonic carcinogenesis and the progression of colonic adenocarcinoma.
Of Mice and Men: Empirical Support for the Population-Based Social Epistasis Amplification Model (a Comment on Kalbassi et al., 2017)

Abstract This commentary article offers new perspective on recent research investigating the behavioral and social ecological effects of a mutation related to autism spectrum disorders in mice. The authors explain the consistency of this research on mice with predictions advanced by a theory of the role of mutations in altering interorganismal gene-gene interactions (social epistasis) in social species including humans, known as the social epistasis amplification model. The potential significance of the mouse research for understanding contemporary human behavioral trends is explored.
Exploring the Correspondence between Total Quality Management and Peter Senge's Disciplines of a Learning Organization: A Taiwan Perspective

Abstract The most important part of Total Quality Management (TQM) is pursuing continuous improvement in all aspects of organization, whereas a Learning Organization (LO) denotes learning principles that eventually lead to organization learning and growth. Because these principles seek similar goals, to investigate the association of these philosophies is of great value to management. The primary purpose of this paper is to explore the correspondence between TQM and LO. A group of evaluators consisting of academic scholars, business consultants as well as industry practitioners, judged the relative strength of the relationship between TQM constructs and Senge's five disciplines of learning organization. By applying correspondence analysis and cluster analysis, the result exhibits that close correspondence emerges between TQM and LO. Moreover, TQM constructs and LO disciplines are located on a two-dimensional coordination of a management map, in which dimensions of the measurability and the diffusibility are inferred and managerial implications from these dimensions are articulated. Finally, this study subsequently identifies three distinctive association groups composed of TQM constructs and LO disciplines. These groups are further defined as individual dominant, higher authority and product/material oriented.
A risk-averse newsvendor model with pricing consideration

A Risk-Averse Newsvendor Model with Pricing Consideration by YE Zuobin Master of Philosophy A decision maker who is facing a random demand for a perishable product, such as newspapers, decides how many units to order for a single selling period. This single-period inventory problem is often referred to as the “classic newsvendor problem”, in which the selling price is fixed, the order must be made before the selling period, and the decision maker is risk-neutral. If the decision maker orders too many (overage), the inventory cost will be too high. If the decision maker orders too few (underage), the potential profit will be lost. The optimal order quantity is a balance between the expected costs of overage and underage. This thesis investigates an extension of the classic newsvendor problem. In this extension the demand depends on the selling price, the decision maker may obtain an additional order at a higher price during the selling period, and the decision maker is risk-averse (not risk-neutral). The problem is to find optimal order quantity and selling price so that the expected utility of the risk-averse decision maker is maximized. This thesis examines the relationship between the order quantity and the selling price for different risk-averse decision makers in this extended newsvendor problem defined above. The result shows that the relationships are consistent for some decision makers but not for others. For example, if the decision maker exhibits a constant absolute risk aversion (CARA), the optimal order quantity will decline when the selling price increases. If the decision maker has constant relative risk aversion (CRRA), the relationship is complex. This thesis finds that if it is just known that the decision maker is risk-averse, the optimal order quantity placed is less than that made by a risk-neutral decision maker. Further more, the risk-averse decision maker’s optimal order quantity falls when her/his risk aversion increases. However, the relationship between order quantity and selling price is still indeterminate in this case. This extension of the classic newsvendor problem provides a more realistic dynamic setting than before, therefore providing an excellent framework for examining how the inventory problem interacting with the marketing issue (selling price) will influence decision makers at the firm level. It also provides an integrated framework for investigating different variations of newsvendor problems. Thus, this thesis will motivate and encourage more applications of the newsvendor problem which is a foundation of many supply chain management problems. I declare that this is an original work based primarily on my own research, and I warrant that all citations of previous research, published or unpublished, have been duly acknowledged. (YE Zuobin) September 2004
Data Center: Up and Running 24/7

Data centers are becoming as one of the most promising IT fields. It is a collection of mechanical, technical, electrical and environmental, construction professionals, project managers and experts who challenge themselves to plan, build, and operate. Practitioners and academic researchers are paying attention to this field. Since the data center contains electronic equipment, power supplies, cabling, air conditioning, cooling, along with security and compliance issues, interdisciplinary and holistic approach should be conducted in data center research. This purpose of this data center panel session is to explore one of the research and teaching topics in information systems field
Toward a Better Way to Measure Customer Satisfaction Levels in Public Housing: A Report from Cincinnati

This paper proposes a more reliable approach to measuring public housing customer satisfaction than has been used in the past, that is, one that (a) looks at trends in customer satisfaction rather than satisfaction at one point in time; (b) looks at different components of satisfaction; and (c) combines qualitative and quantitative information. Cross-tabular and logistic regression analysis were applied to a dataset containing approximately 1300 telephone interviews with residents of Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) housing, interviewed over four waves (1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998). In general the survey results parallel objective evidence from agency records showing CMHA to be one of the most rapidly improving local housing authorities in the USA. Levels of housing satisfaction remained high and levels of neighbourhood satisfaction rose significantly during the period. Nevertheless, the findings highlight continuing problem areas including a high level of dissatisfaction with CMHA's repair service.
Employee Ownership and Efficiency: An Evolutionary Perspective

When employees invest firm-specific human capital in the firm, their contribution is just as important as, or even more important than, the shareholders` investment of finance capital. Despite this, the argument that employees` firm-specific investments give rise to a form of ownership equivalent to that of shareholders has not taken root in Anglo-American law. This, it is suggested, is largely because the concept of ownership in the firm is linked uncritically to simplistic notions of efficiency and the idea that the shareholder-ownership model is presumptively efficient. This article looks at the corporate governance debate from an evolutionary perspective, concluding that efficiency concerns do not preclude the recognition of employee property rights in the firm.
Convergence in human resource systems: A comparison of locally owned and MNC subsidiaries in Taiwan

This article investigates issues of convergence in human resource systems in Taiwan, with reference to the similarities and differences between locally owned companies and subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs). Traditionally, management in Taiwanese companies has been largely influenced by Confucian values and is quite distinct from approaches common to MNCs. However, globalization has engendered significant competitive pressures, coupled with cultural and institutional change within Taiwan. This article provides a theoretical framework for understanding such changes and provides empirical evidence indicating that Taiwanese companies are acting very much like MNCs with regard to the adoption of flexible, highperformance work systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Condition of the Working Class in England, 1209–2004

I use building workers’ wages for 1209–2004 and the skill premium to consider the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution. Real wages were trendless before 1800, as would be predicted for the Malthusian era. Comparing wages with population, however, suggests that the break from the technological stagnation of the Malthusian era came around 1640, long before the classic Industrial Revolution, and even before the arrival of modern democracy in 1689. Building wages also conflict with human capital interpretations of the Industrial Revolution, as modeled by Gary Becker, Kevin Murphy, and Robert Tamura; Oded Galor and David Weil; and Robert Lucas. Human capital accumulation began when the rewards for skills were unchanged and when fertility was increasing.
Rate-dependent hysteresis in the EMG-force relationship: A new discovery in EMG-force relationship

In this study, we analyzed the existence of rate-dependent hysteresis in the electromyography (EMG)-force relationship. Eight able-bodied subjects participated in the experiment. Surface EMG signals were acquired from flexor pollicis longus muscle from 0% to 100% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The subject was asked to gradually increase grasping force from 0% to 100% MVC and decrease grasping force from 100% to 0% MVC at five different frequencies (1.5, 1, 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125 Hz). Mean absolute value (MAV) was chosen to represent the EMG signals and force signals. In order to compare differences in force between contraction and relaxation periods to EMG activity among different frequency conditions, a hysteresis index (HI), defined as an area inside the hysteresis cycle, was adopted. The results showed that all mean values of HI in different frequency conditions were larger than 0, which proved that hysteresis cycles existed in all frequency conditions. The results also showed that the HI values in different frequency conditions were significantly different from each other (p <; 0.005), which proved hysteresis effects in EMG-force relationship were rate-dependent. The rate-dependent hysteresis in EMG-force relationship has a huge potential to improve the estimation performance of grasping force from EMG.
Endocrine activities of alexamorelin (Ala-His-d-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-d-Phe-Lys-NH2), a synthetic GH secretagogue, in humans.

OBJECTIVE Peptidyl and non-peptidyl synthetic GH secretagogues (GHS) possess significant GH-, prolactin (PRL)- and ACTH/cortisol-releasing activity after i.v. and even p.o. administration, acting via specific hypothalamo-pituitary receptors in both animals and humans. The hexapeptide hexarelin (HEX) is a paradigmatic GHS whose activities have been widely studied in humans. The heptapeptide Ala-His-d-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-d-Phe-Lys-NH(2) (alexamorelin, ALEX) is a new synthetic molecule which inhibits GHS binding in vitro, but its endocrine activity has never been studied in humans. DESIGN In six young adults we studied the effects of 1.0 and 2.0 microgram/kg i.v. ALEX or HEX on GH, PRL, ACTH, cortisol and aldosterone levels and those of 20mg p.o. ( approximately 300 microgram/kg) on GH levels. RESULTS Basal GH, PRL, ACTH, cortisol and aldosterone levels in all testing sessions were similar. ALEX and HEX (1.0 and 2.0 microgram/kg i.v.) induced the same dose-dependent increase of GH and PRL levels. Both ALEX and HEX induced a dose-dependent increase of ACTH and cortisol levels. The ACTH and cortisol responses to the highest ALEX dose were significantly higher than those after HEX. Aldosterone levels significantly increased after both i.v. ALEX doses, but not after HEX. The GH response to 20mg p.o. ALEX was higher, though not significantly, than that to the same HEX dose. CONCLUSION ALEX, a new GHS, shows the same GH-releasing activity as HEX. On the other hand, ALEX seems endowed with an ACTH-releasing activity more marked than that of HEX; this evidence could explain the significant increase of aldosterone levels after its i.v. administration.
Evaluating Corporate Governance and Identifying its Formulating Factors: The Case of Greece

Purpose: The paper seeks to establish a benchmark for the evaluation of the quality of Corporate Governance (CG) and to detect the factors that affect it in Greece.Design/Methodology: An Index of corporate governance quality is constructed using binary variables. Data from annual reports are used to identify the mechanisms and practices of corporate governance. An Ordinal Probit model is used to identify the drivers of corporate governance.Findings: CG quality in Greece is quite low, in terms of international best practices. The main drivers of CG quality are firm size, leadership or power concentration and board characteristics. Greek firms' CG quality dependent more on the balance of power within the firm, rather than performance or market for corporate control.Research Limitations: Data for the constructed index have been collected from the annual reports and not from questionnaires.Practical Implications: The study provides evidence that there is a different set of factors that affect CG quality than the ones in the Anglo-Saxon countries. The paper addresses the issue of proposed CG mechanisms relevance with the real CG problems. Identifying the factors that have an impact on CG quality, policy makers can focus on them to create a legal - regulatory framework that can improve the level of CG.Originality/value: The paper does not only measure CG, but it pinpoints its formulating factors. Furthermore, a need for new benchmarking tools to address the fundamental elements of corporate environment (ownership concentration, lack of market for corporate control, etc.) in Continental Europe is highlighted.
Earlier diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: importance of family history and implications for cardiovascular and renal complications.

BACKGROUND Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common and serious cause of hereditary renal disease. The emerging possibilities to intervene early in the disease course elevate the importance of both accurate and early diagnosis of ADPKD. Family history analysis is a simple and inexpensive approach to identifying individuals at risk for ADPKD. We hypothesized that advances in knowledge of and potential interventions for ADPKD have led to increased use of family history screening. METHODS We distributed surveys to 1,527 subjects from our ADPKD research database to determine the extent to which examination of family history was used to diagnose ADPKD, by birth cohort. RESULTS Six hundred thirty-seven subjects with ADPKD (42%) completed and returned surveys. Family history analysis led to the initial ADPKD diagnosis in 49% of all subjects overall. In the birth-cohort analysis, ADPKD was more likely to have been diagnosed in individuals born between 1951 and 1974 because of family history (55% versus 38%; P < 0.0002) and patients were younger at diagnosis (27 versus 39 years; P < 0.0001) than individuals born before 1951. CONCLUSION In a large cohort of subjects with ADPKD, we found increased use of family history analysis as a tool for diagnosing ADPKD and earlier age of diagnosis in the more recent birth cohort. This trend may reflect increased overall awareness of ADPKD by physicians, as well as encouraging hypertension and proteinuria treatment outcome data that may depend on intervening early in the course of disease.