Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing a model of quality management methods and evaluating their effects on business performance

From an extensive review of the total quality management (TQM) literature, a model of quality management methods (QMMs) was developed. The model has 83 QMMs which are categorized by the 11 TQM elements they primarily aim to improve. Ten manufacturing companies which were renowned for quality management in the Netherlands were selected for investigation of how they practically implemented the model of QMMs and what the effects of QMMs were on business performance. A structured interview technique was employed for data collection. It is concluded that: the model of QMMs can be used to assess an organization's strengths and weaknesses with regard to its use of QMMs; different companies have employed different QMMs on the basis of their own requirements; QMMs really have positive effects on product quality; and TQM has much better effects on overall business performance than ISO 9000.
The incidence of decreased red blood cell deformability in sepsis and the association with oxygen free radical damage and multiple-system organ failure.

We studied the incidence of decreased red blood cell deformability (RBCD) in sepsis and the association between decreased RBCD and oxygen free radical generation (as measured by malonyldialdehyde) and the occurrence of multiple-system organ failure (MSOF). Patients were divided into three groups: septic (n = 28), nonseptic (n = 15), and control (n = 5). Serial measurements of deformability index, malonyldialdehyde, and MSOF were made. The deformability index for the septic group (0.23 +/- 0.17) was significantly less than that for the nonseptic (1.12 +/- 0.48) and control (1.11 +/- 0.25) groups. The malonyldialdehyde levels for the septic group (4.5 +/- 1.0 nmol/mL) were significantly greater than those for the nonseptic (2.7 +/- 0.9 nmol/mL) and control (2.6 +/- 0.8 nmol/mL) groups. The MSOF index for the septic group (10.1 +/- 2.5) was significantly greater than that for the nonseptic (7.6 +/- 1.7) and control (6.0 +/- 0.0) groups. An inverse correlation existed between malonyldialdehyde and deformability index ( = .501, less than .001, n = 40) and between deformability index and MSOF index (= .350, less than .05, n = 61). We conclude that RBCD is decreased during human sepsis; free radicals generated during sepsis may play a role in the decrease in RBCD. Decreased RBCD may contribute to the MSOF that occurs during sepsis.
Functional Analysis of Tumor-Specific Th Cell Responses Detected in Melanoma Patients after Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy1

Recently, we have demonstrated that tumor-specific CD4+ Th cell responses can be rapidly induced in advanced melanoma patients by vaccination with peptide-loaded monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Most patients showed a T cell reactivity against a melanoma Ag 3 (MAGE-3) peptide (MAGE-3243–258), which has been previously found to be presented by HLA-DP4 molecules. To analyze the functional and specificity profile of this in vivo T cell response in detail, peptide-specific CD4+ T cell clones were established from postvaccination blood samples of two HLA-DP4 patients. These T cell clones recognized not only peptide-loaded stimulator cells but also dendritic cells loaded with a recombinant MAGE-3 protein, demonstrating that these T cells were directed against a naturally processed MAGE-3 epitope. The isolated CD4+ Th cells showed a typical Th1 cytokine profile upon stimulation. From the first patient several CD4+ T cell clones recognizing the antigenic peptide used for vaccination in the context of HLA-DP4 were obtained, whereas we have isolated from the second patient CD4+ T cell clones which were restricted by HLA-DQB1*0604. Analyzing a panel of truncated peptides revealed that the CD4+ T cell clones recognized different core epitopes within the original peptide used for vaccination. Importantly, a DP4-restricted T cell clone was stimulated by dendritic cells loaded with apoptotic or necrotic tumor cells and even directly recognized HLA class II- and MAGE-3-expressing tumor cells. Moreover, these T cells exhibited cytolytic activity involving Fas-Fas ligand interactions. These findings support that vaccination-induced CD4+ Th cells might play an important functional role in antitumor immunity.
H-Y Antibody Development Associates With Acute Rejection in Female Patients With Male Kidney Transplants

Background. Human minor histocompatibility antigens (mHA) and clinically relevant immune responses to them have not been well defined in organ transplantation. We hypothesized that women with male kidney transplants would develop antibodies against H-Y, the mHA encoded on the Y-chromosome, in association with graft rejection. Methods. We tested sera from 118 consecutive transplant recipients with kidney biopsies. Antibodies that specifically recognized the recombinant H-Y antigens RPS4Y1 or DDX3Y were detected by IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. Immunogenic epitopes were further identified using overlapping H-Y antigen peptides for both the H-Y proteins. Results. In the 26 female recipients of male kidneys, H-Y antibody development posttransplant (1) was more frequent (46%) than in other gender combinations (P<0.001), (2) showed strong correlation with acute rejection (P=0.00048), (3) correlated with plasma cell infiltrates in biopsied kidneys (P=0.04), and (4) did not correlate with C4d deposition or donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies. Of the two H-Y antigens, RPS4Y1 was more frequently recognized (P=0.005). Conclusion. This first demonstration of a strong association between H-Y antibody development and acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients shows that in solid organ allografts, humoral immune responses against well defined mHA have clear clinical correlates, can be easily monitored, and warrant study for possible effects on long-term graft function.
Yazılım Hata Kestiriminde Kolektif Sınıflandırma Modellerinin Etkisi

Ozet. Yazilim hatalarinin tespiti karmasik ve maliyetli bir surectir. Yazilim projelerinde ortaya cikan hatalarin onceden tespit edilip duzeltilmesi, ongorulen maliyeti ve proje suresini asma risklerini azaltir. Hatalarin tespiti icin “yazilim olcutleri” etkili kullanilarak, erken yazilim gelistirme asamalarinda kod analiz edilip, hata yatkinligiyla ilgili fikir sahibi olunabilir. Yazilimlarin olcumunde kullanilmak uzere cesitli yazilim olcutleri uretilmistir. Bu calismada, "Chidamber and Kemerer (CK)" ve "Object Oriented (OO)" yazilim olcutlerine sahip 4 veri seti uzerinde, 4 tane temel siniflandirici ile bunlarin AdaBoost ve Rotation Forest kolektif siniflandirma modelleri kullanilarak, yazilim hata kestirimi yapilmistir. Temel siniflandiricilar secilirken farkli kategorilerden olmasina dikkat edilmistir. Genel olarak degerlendirildiginde, kolektif siniflandirma yontemlerini kullanmak, temel siniflandiricilarin basarimina gore yaklasik %70 oranla daha iyi sonuc vermektedir.
Therapeutic potential of angiotensin II receptor antagonists

The circulating renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis. More importantly, the local tissue renin angiotensin plays a pivotal role in cell growth and remodelling of cardiomyocytes and on the peripheral arterial vasculature. In addition, the renin angiotensin system is related to apoptosis, control of baroreflex and autonomic responses, vascular remodelling and regulation of coagulation, inflammation and oxidation. The cardioprotective and vascular protective effects of the angiotensin receptive blockade appears to be related to selective blockade of the angiotensin II (A-II) Type I (AT1) receptors. However, there is now growing evidence showing that some of the effects of AT-II receptor blockers (ARBs) are related to the activation of the kinin pathways. This paper will review some of the recent mechanisms related to the cardiovascular effects of angiotensin and more specifically of ARBs. This paper will present the novel data on the role of ARB in the development of atherosclerosis, vascular remodelling, coagulation balance and autonomic regulation. Finally, the role of ARBs, used alone or in combination with ACE inhibitor in patients with heart failure, will be discussed.
Fast Summation at Nonequispaced Knots by NFFT

We develop a new algorithm for the fast computation of discrete sums $f(y_j) := \sum_{k=1}^N \alpha_k K(y_j-x_k)$ (j =1, . . ., M) based on the recently developed fast Fourier transform (FFT) at nonequispaced knots. Our algorithm, in particular our regularization procedure, is simply structured and can be easily adapted to different kernels K. Our method utilizes the widely known FFT and can consequently incorporate advanced FFT implementations. In summary, it requires ${\cal O} (N \log N +M)$ arithmetic operations. We prove error estimates to obtain clues about the choice of the involved parameters and present numerical examples in one and two dimensions.
Models of Interfuel Substitution in the UK

The pattern of fuel demand in two sectors of the UK economy is modelled by means of translog cost functions. The models specified in this study are designed to capture the effects of changes in relative fuel prices and assess the impact of technical change on the demand for fuels. Estimates of biases of technical change and price elasticities for the demand for fuels are calculated from an econometric study with the models.
Human resource management and knowledge management: enhancing knowledge sharing in a pharmaceutical company

There is a gap in understanding the implications for human resource management practices of the rising interest in managing knowledge (Scarbrough and Carter, 2000). As a response, this paper takes an organizational learning perspective to reflect more critically upon the problems of managing knowledge. In particular, it highlights employees' unwillingness to share knowledge with others as crucial in determining the contribution human resource practices can make to managing knowledge ( Alvesson and Karreman, 2001; Easterby-Smith et al., 2000; Hayes and Walsham, 2000; Mueller and Dyerson, 1999; Pritchard et al., 2000; Willmott, 2000). Specifically, the paper considers the contribution that human resource management practices can make in mediating a functionally based organizational structure and culture in a global pharmaceutical company.
Frailty, Mycophenolate Reduction, and Graft Loss in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Background Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) side effects often prompt dose reduction or discontinuation, and this MMF dose reduction (MDR) can lead to rejection and possibly graft loss. Unfortunately, little is known about what factors might cause or contribute to MDR. Frailty, a measure of physiologic reserve, is emerging as an important, novel domain of risk in kidney transplantation recipients. We hypothesized that frailty, an inflammatory phenotype, might be associated with MDR. Methods We measured frailty (shrinking, weakness, exhaustion, low physical activity, and slowed walking speed), other patient and donor characteristics, longitudinal MMF doses, and graft loss in 525 kidney transplantation recipients. Time-to-MDR was quantified using an adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Results By 2 years after transplantation, 54% of frail recipients and 45% of nonfrail recipients experienced MDR; by 4 years, incidence was 67% and 51%. Frail recipients were 1.29 times (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.01–1.66; P = 0.04) more likely to experience MDR, as were deceased donor recipients (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.92; 95% CI, 1.44–2.54, P < 0.001) and older adults (age ≥ 65 vs <65; aHR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.10–1.96, P = 0.01). Mycophenolate mofetil dose reduction was independently associated with a substantially increased risk of death-censored graft loss (aHR, 5.24; 95% CI, 1.97–13.98, P = 0.001). Conclusion A better understanding of risk factors for MMF intolerance might help in planning alternate strategies to maintain adequate immunosuppression and prolong allograft survival.
Dual-band Planar Inverted F Antenna with parasitic element for LTE and WiMAX mobile communication

In this paper, a new conception of dual-band Planar Inverted F Antenna (PIFA) for mobile communication application purposes have been staged. The dual- band antenna is designed by introducing a rectangular form of parasitic element which is located under the main radiating patch of the PIFA in order to attain a dual-band operating frequencies. This dual-band PIFA can be operated at two different operating frequencies which are 2600 MHz for Long Tem Evolution (LTE) Band 7and 3500 MHz for WiMAX application. The antenna is made up from rectangular planar element located above the Flame Retardant 4 (FR4) dielectric substrate and the shorting plate that connect between the top radiating patch to the ground plane. The ground plane is positioned along the bottom side of the substrate. The overall dimension of this antenna is 17.8 mm × 16.5 mm and the height of the antenna is 5 mm. The simulated radiation pattern shows nearly omni-directional with obtaining a gain antenna of 4 to 5 dBi at two different operating frequencies. The antenna design in term of antenna structure, return loss, far field radiation pattern,VSWR and antenna gain are presented in this paper.
Policies to support ethnic minority enterprise: the English experience

Continued political enthusiasm for encouraging entrepreneurship in the UK is beginning to influence business support policy towards black and minority ethnic businesses (BMEBs). The Small Business Service (SBS; the government agency charged with providing business support to small firms in England) has an explicit remit to cater for entrepreneurs from all sections of society. This is an important development given the widely noted reluctance of BMEBs to avail themselves of the services of mainstream business support agencies. This paper aims to assess the extent to which policy aspirations in relation to BMEBs have been realized. A survey of Business Links (the agencies contracted to deliver SBS services in England) and interviews with key informants are drawn upon to address three questions: To what extent do Business Links have a policy to support BMEBs? What form are initiatives to support BMEBs taking? How can these experiences inform a policy agenda towards BMEBs? The findings suggest that uneven and under-developed approaches to the support of BMEBS are commonplace. However, some encouraging examples of potentially fruitful initiatives are in evidence, which may reflect a growing awareness of the particular needs of BMEBs. A number of guidelines for future policy are presented, including the importance of diversity within mainstream provision; the need for an engagement strategy; improved access to finance; the promotion of sectoral diversity; and better evaluation.
Chronic brain glucocorticoid receptor blockade enhances the rise in circadian and stress-induced pituitary-adrenal activity.

This study examined the hypothesis that experimentally induced corticosteroid resistance in the brain would lead to adaptations in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis similar to the endocrine features of the endogenous resistance accompanying the pathogenesis of depression. For this purpose, the glucocorticoid antagonist RU 38486 (aGC) was infused intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) (100 ng/h) via Alzet minipumps for several days. During this chronic receptor blockade, parameters for basal and stress-induced HPA activity were measured in a longitudinal study design. Chronic i.c. v. infusion of the aGC did not affect basal morning levels of ACTH and corticosterone. During the afternoon phase of the circadian cycle, the aGC caused gradual and sequential changes in the HPA axis. After aGC infusion, the circadian rise of ACTH levels was enhanced in the afternoon of day 1, but was normal on subsequent days. For corticosterone, basal afternoon levels towards the diurnal peak were increased at days 1, 3, and 4 in aGC-treated rats. On day 2, in contrast, corticosterone levels did not differ from vehicle-infused controls. Paraventricular CRH messenger RNA, as measured at day 4, was not altered by aGC treatment. After 10 days of aGC treatment, the adrenal weight was increased, and the sensitivity of adrenocortical cells in vitro to ACTH was enhanced. Corticosteroid receptor binding in vitro in hippocampus, hypothalamus, and pituitary was not different between the aGC and vehicle-treated rats. In a second series of experiments, the HPA responsiveness to the stress of a novel environment at day 2 in the morning was increased after chronic aGC infusion, at a time basal hormone levels were not affected. The data show that 1) chronic i.c. v. infusion of aGC readily enhances the amplitude of circadian corticosterone changes, presumably by increasing the adrenocortical sensitivity to ACTH; 2) chronic aGC-treated animals show an enhanced ACTH and corticosterone response to stress, which is delayed in termination; 3) corticosteroid receptor expression, basal CRH messenger RNA, and ACTH levels are not altered after prolonged chronic aGC treatment. It is concluded that, over a period of a few days, aGC-induced corticosteroid resistance triggers a sequelae of pituitary-adrenal adaptations ultimately resulting in hypercorticism. Paradoxically, however, this hypercorticism develops because of increased peak levels of corticosteroid hormone rather than through elevated trough levels as is commonly observed during depressive illness.
Finance capital in Chandlerian capitalism

Alfred Chandler wrote a great deal on finance capital in the development of big business. In making bold and provocative statements, he provided scholars with a variety of stimulating ideas. To a large extent, however, we still do not know whether Chandler's assertions were correct. Ultimately, the value of revisiting Chandler's research on finance capital in the rise of US big business is to understand how much research needs to be done and the questions it needs to address. Copyright 2010 The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Associazione ICC. All rights reserved. , Oxford University Press.
Biomass Recalcitrance: Engineering Plants and Enzymes for Biofuels Production

Lignocellulosic biomass has long been recognized as a potential sustainable source of mixed sugars for fermentation to biofuels and other biomaterials. Several technologies have been developed during the past 80 years that allow this conversion process to occur, and the clear objective now is to make this process cost-competitive in today's markets. Here, we consider the natural resistance of plant cell walls to microbial and enzymatic deconstruction, collectively known as “biomass recalcitrance. ” It is this property of plants that is largely responsible for the high cost of lignocellulose conversion. To achieve sustainable energy production, it will be necessary to overcome the chemical and structural properties that have evolved in biomass to prevent its disassembly.
The calculation of returns during seasoned equity offers

The article analyses how the returns to a shareholder and the returns for an event study are calculated during the three types of seasoned equity offer (SEO) in use in the UK, namely rights issues, open offers and placings. The calculations differ across the two types of return and the three types of offer. Evidence from a sample of SEOs shows the large impact that the choice of calculation method has on returns. An unresolved question is whether to use discount-adjusted returns in event studies of placings.
Cd47-Sirpα interaction and IL-10 constrain inflammation-induced macrophage phagocytosis of healthy self-cells

Significance The present study reveals that macrophage phagocytosis toward healthy self-cells is controlled by a two-tier mechanism: a forefront activation mechanism requiring the inflammatory cytokine-stimulated protein kinase C (PKC)-spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) pathway, to which IL-10 conversely regulates, and the subsequent self-target discrimination mechanism controlled by the CD47-signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα)–mediated inhibition. The findings significantly expand our understanding of macrophage phagocytic plasticity and behavior under different conditions and also provide insights into strategies for enhancing transplantation tolerance and macrophage-based cancer eradication, especially for cancers toward which therapeutic antibodies are yet unavailable. Rapid clearance of adoptively transferred Cd47-null (Cd47−/−) cells in congeneic WT mice suggests a critical self-recognition mechanism, in which CD47 is the ubiquitous marker of self, and its interaction with macrophage signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) triggers inhibitory signaling through SIRPα cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motifs and tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1/2. However, instead of displaying self-destruction phenotypes, Cd47−/− mice manifest no, or only mild, macrophage phagocytosis toward self-cells except under the nonobese diabetic background. Studying our recently established Sirpα-KO (Sirpα−/−) mice, as well as Cd47−/− mice, we reveal additional activation and inhibitory mechanisms besides the CD47-SIRPα axis dominantly controlling macrophage behavior. Sirpα−/− mice and Cd47−/− mice, although being normally healthy, develop severe anemia and splenomegaly under chronic colitis, peritonitis, cytokine treatments, and CFA-/LPS-induced inflammation, owing to splenic macrophages phagocytizing self-red blood cells. Ex vivo phagocytosis assays confirmed general inactivity of macrophages from Sirpα−/− or Cd47−/− mice toward healthy self-cells, whereas they aggressively attack toward bacteria, zymosan, apoptotic, and immune complex-bound cells; however, treating these macrophages with IL-17, LPS, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα, but not IFNγ, dramatically initiates potent phagocytosis toward self-cells, for which only the Cd47-Sirpα interaction restrains. Even for macrophages from WT mice, phagocytosis toward Cd47−/− cells does not occur without phagocytic activation. Mechanistic studies suggest a PKC-Syk–mediated signaling pathway, to which IL-10 conversely inhibits, is required for activating macrophage self-targeting, followed by phagocytosis independent of calreticulin. Moreover, we identified spleen red pulp to be one specific tissue that provides stimuli constantly activating macrophage phagocytosis albeit lacking in Cd47−/− or Sirpα−/− mice.