Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
State-Owned Enterprises and the Arm’s Length Concept: The Case of Government Commercial Companies in Fiji

Influenced by the rhetoric of the arm's length concept, Fiji's public enterprise reform of 1993 took off with high hopes of better things to come for the struggling government commercial companies (GCCs) that had been posing a significant burden on the government's limited resources. Unfortunately, the prevailing sense of optimism faded after more than a decade of inconsistent performance by the majority of GCCs. There was an oversight right from the outset. Responsible authorities were easily carried away by the finesse of the concept and were largely ignorant of the realities in Fiji that stifled progress following the 1993 reform.
Non-volatile memory technologies: The quest for ever lower cost

Growth of flash memory business over last 20 years was driven by never ending reduction of memory cost through Moore's Law and innovations, and the quest for ever lower cost will continue for many years to come. This review begins with a brief summary of trend of flash memory cost reduction up to now. Then some of the improvement efforts on existing technologies reported by industry will be discussed. NAND flash will continue to be the cost reduction driver in next few years but will face increasing level of difficulties. Innovations will enable the trend to continue. For longer term, industry is developing new memory technologies that have promise to deliver ever lower cost. Some more mature new technology concepts will be discussed in this review. General direction is to go to multi-layer memories with multi-level cell capabilities. There are also alternative approaches like probe based storage. Enhancement from system level solution will help existing technologies as well as facilitating introduction of new technologies. It is expected that products from few new technologies will take off in coming years to enable continuation of cost reduction of non-volatile memories, meeting insatiable demand of existing devices for more memory capacity at lower cost, as well as creating new devices and new markets.
Communication and use of climate scenarios for climate change adaptation in Finland, Sweden and Norway

This paper assesses the communication and the use of climate scenarios at the science–science and science–policy interface in Finland, Sweden and Norway. It is based on document analysis and stakeholder questionnaires. The questionnaires targeted three stakeholder groups, all engaged in the communication and the use of climate scenario information: climate scenario producers; impact, adaptation and vulnerability (IAV) experts; and policy-makers. The respondents were asked to identify issues associated with the communication of scenarios and other needs pertaining to the usefulness and availability of such information. Despite the relatively long history of climate change adaptation in the three countries, climate scenarios are not utilised to their full potential. Climate scenarios have been used in awareness raising, problem understanding and strategy development. However, far less examples can be found on adaptation actions, particularly on harnessing the benefits of climate change. The communication between climate scenario producers and IAV experts functions well; however, communication between climate researchers and policy-makers is less efficient. Each country has developed boundary services to enhance dissemination of the climate scenario information to policy-makers. They are cost-efficient but do not necessarily enhance the comprehension of the information and encourage the actual dialogue between scenario producers and the end-users. Further translation of scenario information to impact and vulnerability estimates together with established boundary work could improve the use of climate research information. As adaptation policy in these countries further progresses towards implementation, there are increasing expectations of support from research, further challenging the communication of climate scenarios.
The Effect of Propofol on Angiotensin II-Induced Ca2+ Mobilization in Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells from Normotensive and Hypertensive Rats

We studied the effect of propofol (5.6–560 &mgr;mol/L; 1–100 &mgr;g/mL) on the mechanisms involved in Ca2+ mobilization elicited by angiotensin II (AngII) in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. We studied the variations in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) concentrations in cultured aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from 6-wk-old WKY and SHR rats loaded with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fura-2, using fluorescent imaging microscopy. In the absence of external Ca2+, AngII (1 &mgr;mol/L) induced a transient [Ca2+]i mobilization from internal stores that was larger in SHR than in WKY rats. Ca2+ influx was assessed after external Ca2+ (1 mmol/L) reintroduction. Propofol (1–100 &mgr;g/mL) added 5 min before the experiments did not alter AngII-induced Ca2+ release from internal stores in either strain. By contrast, Ca2+ influx elicited by AngII was significantly decreased by propofol. This effect occurred at a smaller concentration of propofol in the SHR than in the WKY rats. When Ca2+ stores were depleted by exposure of cells to thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, reintroduction of Ca2+ to the medium induced a capacitative Ca2+ influx of similar magnitude than that elicited by AngII. This influx was also significantly decreased by propofol at 100 &mgr;g/mL ( WKY: 27 ± 3% of control values, n = 107; SHR: 16 ± 3%, n = 47;P < 0.001). In conclusion, propofol decreased AngII-induced Ca2+ influx through voltage-independent channels, without altering Ca2+ release from internal stores in aortic VSMCs. The hypertensive rats were found to be more sensitive to the effect of propofol than the normotensive rats. This suggests that the response of VSMCs to AngII may be altered by propofol. Implications: In rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells, propofol reduced angiotensin II-elicited Ca2+ entry through capacitative Ca2+ channels without altering Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Spontaneously hypertensive rats were more sensitive to these effects of propofol than normotensive rats. The response of vascular smooth muscle cells to angiotensin II may be altered by propofol.
Bidding strategies in sealed-bid reverse multi-attribute auctions

This study considers the reverse multi-attribute, or procurement auction in which the item for sale is defined by several quality attributes in addition to the price, the buyer is the auctioneer, and the sellers are the bidders. We focus on a variation of the first-price sealed-bid protocol termed first-score sealed-bid auction. We analyze a specific model for the protocol, and we provide optimal strategies for both the auctioneer and the bidders participating in the auctions. In addition, we conclude that the auctioneer can manipulate the auction to yield better outcome, however, as the number of the bidders participating in the auction increases, the buyer is motivated to announce a real utility function.
On Designing Jaumann and Circuit Analog Absorbers (CA Absorbers) for Oblique Angle of Incidence

Most investigations of Jaumann and circuit analog absorbers (CA absorbers) consider normal angle of incidence only. This paper expands our investigation to also include oblique angle of incidence as well as arbitrary polarization. Essentially two problems are encountered for oblique angle of incidence: An upward shift of the center frequency; and a mismatch that, in general, will vary with angle of incidence of the incident field. The new contribution given in this paper is that it considers ways to combat both of these dilemmas. Finally, comparison will be made with similar designs obtained by the genetic algorithm (GA) approach. It will be observed that the analytic approach, as used in this paper, in general leads to designs that are not only superior to the GA designs but also simpler, at least in the present case
Nicotine breaks down preformed Alzheimer's beta-amyloid fibrils in vitro.

BACKGROUND Cerebral deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) is a major neuropathologic feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A consistent protective effect of smoking on AD has been documented by many case-control studies. It has been suggested that nicotine, a major component of cigarette smoke, protects neurons against Abeta toxicity via the upregulation of nicotinic receptors, as well as via the inhibition of beta-amyloid fibril (fAbeta) formation from Abeta. METHODS We used fluorescence spectroscopy with thioflavin T and electron microscopy to examine the effects of nicotine, pyridine, and N-methylpyrrolidine on the formation, extension, and disruption of fAbeta(1-40) and fAbeta(1-42) at pH 7.5 at 37 degrees C in vitro. RESULTS Nicotine dose-dependently inhibited fAbeta(1-40) and fAbeta(1-42) formation from fresh Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42), respectively, as well as the extension reaction of both fAbetas. Moreover, nicotine disrupted preformed fAbeta(1-40) and fAbeta(1-42). These effects of nicotine were observed at concentrations above 10 mmol/L and were similar to those of N-methylpyrrolidine. CONCLUSIONS The antiamyloidogenic effect of nicotine may be exerted not only by the inhibition of fAbeta formation but also by the disruption of preformed fAbeta. Additionally, this effect may be attributed to N-methylpyrrolidine moieties of nicotine.
Business History and Legal History

It may well be that the present will stand as a golden age in the historiography of American business and American law. Both fields have flourished – indeed, flowered – in recent years. Perhaps the best measure of this is the fact that the 1978 winners of the Bancroft Prize in American History were Alfred D. Chandler, Jr.'s The Visible Hand: The Managerial Revolution in American Business and Morton J. Horwitz's The Transformation of American Law 1780–1860, each a notable work in its own right, each a summation of sorts of the recent evolution of its field of historical inquiry.
Business Process Reengineering: Charting a Strategic Path for the Information Age

Many organizations are undergoing major restructuring efforts in order to be viable in today's changing economic environment. Business process redesign (BPR), which involves the radical redesign of age-old business processes, represents one such effort. Information technologies (IT) play an important role in BPR. This article presents a framework for examining business processes based on two process characteristics—degree of mediation and degree of collaboration—to show how IT may be applied to improve process performance by altering these process characteristics. Based on the framework, guidelines are provided for selecting strategic paths in reengineering specific processes.
Ca2+/Calmodulin‐dependent Nitric Oxide Synthase in Apis mellifera and Drosophila melanogaster

NADPH diaphorase (NADPHd) is a marker enzyme for nitric oxide (NO)‐producing cells in vertebrates. This paper investigates the relationship between NADPHd and the NO‐producing enzyme NO synthase (NOS) in neuronal tissue of Apis and Drosophila, two insects used for studying learning. First, the NOS and the NADPHd in both species were characterized biochemically. The fixation‐insensitive NADPHd activity, which accounts for the staining in NADPHd histochemistry, co‐purifies with the insect Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent NOS. Formation of NO from l‐arginine depends on NADPH, and half‐maximal stimulation is observed with 0.3 μM Ca2+. NOS is competitively inhibited by methyll‐arginine and nitro‐l‐arginine, with Kiof 1.7 and 1.9 μM, respectively. The co‐purification and the competitive inhibition of NOS by the NADPHd substrate, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT), are proof that in insects the enzyme responsible for fixation‐insensitive NADPHd activity is nitric oxide synthase. Second, the NOS activity was quantified in distinct neuropiles and the NO‐producing neuropiles were visualized using NADPHd histochemistry. In both species the highest NOS activity is found in the chemosensory neuropiles of the antenna1 lobes, intermediate activity in the neuropiles of the central brain and by far the lowest NOS activity in the visual neuropiles. Although in both species the Kenyon cell somata of the mushroom bodies show no detectable staining, the neuropiles of the mushroom bodies of Drosophila and Apis show a distinct staining. The staining pattern of NOS in both species is different to that of all known neurotransmitters.
The Sources of Measured Productivity Growth: United States Agriculture, 1940-60

where Yt is an index of physical output (or value added) in an industry, Xt is a set of "measurable" inputs, usually labor and capital indexes, ut is a random, or short-term, cyclical variable such as weather in agriculture or unemployment in manufacturing, Tt is the "level of technology," a postulated unobserved "latent" variable usually to be inferred from the data in a residual fashion, and g ( ) is the function describing the connection between these variables. It is also often assumed that this function is homogeneous of degree 1 in X (constant returns to scale), and that the industry operates in perfectly competitive product and factor markets and is in equilibrium (or at least was in equilibrium in the weight-base period). This last set of assumptions allows one to approximate
Hedge fund performance and persistence in bull and bear markets

Abstract This paper tests the performance of 2894 hedge funds in a time period that encompasses unambiguously bullish and bearish trends whose pivot is commonly set at March 2000. The database proves to be fairly trustable with respect to the most important biases in hedge funds studies, despite the high attrition rate of funds observed in the down market. An original ten-factor composite performance model is applied that achieves very high significance levels. The analysis of performance indicates that most hedge funds significantly outperformed the market during the whole test period, mostly thanks to the bullish subperiod. In contrast, no significant underperformance of individual hedge funds strategies is observed when markets headed south. The analysis of persistence yields very similar results, with most of the predictability being found among middle performers during the bullish period. However, the ‘Market Neutral’ strategy represents a remarkable exception, as abnormal performance is sustained throughout and significant persistence can be found between the 20% and 69% best performers in this category, probably thanks to an extreme adaptability and a very active investment behaviour.
An ecogenomic analysis of herbivore‐induced plant volatiles in Brassica juncea

Upon herbivore feeding, plants emit complex bouquets of induced volatiles that may repel insect herbivores as well as attract parasitoids or predators. Due to differences in the temporal dynamics of individual components, the composition of the herbivore‐induced plant volatile (HIPV) blend changes with time. Consequently, the response of insects associated with plants is not constant either. Using Brassica juncea as the model plant and generalist Spodoptera spp. larvae as the inducing herbivore, we investigated herbivore and parasitoid preference as well as the molecular mechanisms behind the temporal dynamics in HIPV emissions at 24, 48 and 72 h after damage. In choice tests, Spodoptera litura moth preferred undamaged plants, whereas its parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris favoured plants induced for 48 h. In contrast, the specialist Plutella xylostella and its parasitoid C. vestalis preferred plants induced for 72 h. These preferences matched the dynamic changes in HIPV blends over time. Gene expression analysis suggested that the induced response after Spodoptera feeding is mainly controlled by the jasmonic acid pathway in both damaged and systemic leaves. Several genes involved in sulphide and green leaf volatile synthesis were clearly up‐regulated. This study thus shows that HIPV blends vary considerably over a short period of time, and these changes are actively regulated at the gene expression level. Moreover, temporal changes in HIPVs elicit differential preferences of herbivores and their natural enemies. We argue that the temporal dynamics of HIPVs may play a key role in shaping the response of insects associated with plants.
Forecasting the impact of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for early-stage lung cancer on the thoracic surgery workforce.

OBJECTIVES To predict variation in thoracic surgery workforce requirements with the introduction of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for the treatment of early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS Using Canadian census microdata and the Canadian Community Health Survey, a microsimulation model representing the national population was developed. The demand component simulates the incidence of lung cancer, incorporating the impact of computed tomography (CT) screening for high-risk individuals (>30 pack-year smoking history; age 55-74 years). The supply component simulates the number of thoracic surgeons. SABR was introduced into the model to predict changes in the number of operable NSCLC cases per thoracic surgeon, modelling 30, 60 and 90% compliance with SABR for Stage IA and then for both Stage IA and IB NSCLC. RESULTS In the absence of SABR, the volume of operative NSCLC per surgeon increases by a peak of 49.4% (by 2027) and then gradually declines to the present day volume by 2049. More dramatic decreases are seen with increasing compliance with SABR for Stage IA/IB NSCLCs. If the number of new surgeons entering the workforce per year were reduced by 33%, the operative volume per surgeon would increase by a peak of 57.1% (30% Stage IA SABR compliance) and would decrease by up to 49.1% (90% Stage IA SABR compliance). CONCLUSIONS With the implementation of SABR for treatment of early NSCLC, there would be a decrease in operative volume. The impact would depend on the stage of NSCLC for which SABR is recommended and on compliance. A national strategy for thoracic surgery workforce planning is necessary, given the complex interaction of CT screening and the treatment of medically operable early NSCLC with SABR.
Minimally invasive hybrid ablation procedure for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation: one year results.

BACKGROUND The concept of a hybrid approach, combining the most effective techniques of surgical and endocardial catheter ablation has resulted in the creation of the convergent ablation procedure. This novel, pericardioscopic, hybrid approach can be an effective option for highly symptomatic patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PSAF) and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) for whom standalone surgical or endocardial ablation procedures offer sometimes unsatisfactory outcomes. AIM To assess the safety, efficacy and effectiveness of a hybrid epicardial and endocardial radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of PSAF and LSPAF. METHODS Single-centre, prospective, non-randomised clinical study. Between August 2009 and December 2011, 27 patients with PSAF (n = 5) and LSPAF (n = 22) underwent hybrid ablation (HABL). Mean age was 52.52 ± 11.27 years, and the mean EHRA class was 2.5; 14 (51.8%) patients had a history of electrical cardioversion (n = 6) or catheter ablation (n = 8). Five patients had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 35%. Mean AF duration for all patients was 3.46 ± 2.5 years. All patients were on antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) and oral anticoagulation. Patients were scheduled for three, six and 12 month follow-up with seven day Holters, REVEAL® XT and ECHO measurements. RESULTS The HABL procedure was feasible in all patients. At six months post procedure, 72.2% (13/18) of patients were in SR, and 66.5% (12/18) were off class I/III AADs. Four patients were in AF and one patient developed right atrial flutter. At one year post procedure, 80% (8/10) of patients were in SR and off class I/III AADs. At two year post procedure, 100% (6/6) of patients were in SR and off class I/III AADs. Rapid change in left ventricular function was noted in patients with low LVEF (≤ 35%) prior to the procedure. Patients with LVEF +40% had less apparent improvement. CONCLUSIONS Hybrid, epicardial and endocardial, radiofrequency ablation is feasible and safe, effectively restoring sinus rhythm in the vast majority of patients with PSAF and LSPAF.
Integrating multiple manufacturing initiatives: challenge for automotive suppliers

Purpose – The primary purpose of the research was to determine whether automotive manufacturers integrate multiple manufacturing initiatives and whether performance measures were impacted directly by these initiatives.Design/methodology/approach – A mail survey questionnaire was used to gather data about the attitudinal attributes associated with implementing multiple manufacturing initiatives (i.e. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, lean manufacturing) and changes in key performance measures, both financial and nonfinancial. Descriptive statistics were utilized to gain a better understanding of the level of implementation of specific initiatives. Different forms of regression analysis were used to try to locate a statistically significant predictive model.Findings – Two surveys of automotive suppliers were conducted during early summer 2001 and 2002 to gather information about multiple initiatives, customer mandates, and performance measurement. The results indicate that suppliers are not integrating the initiatives o.
Successful learning in the global economy: the third dimension of knowledge creation

This article aims to subject some of the hypotheses concerning the potential of knowledge upgrading for firms engaged in various vertical and horizontal networks to a critical examination. The theories are applied to a Thai context and use the case of the auto parts industry to evaluate the process of knowledge upgrading in local firms. The article concludes that neither embeddedness in local networks nor linkages with transnational corporations are sufficient for Thai firms to upgrade their knowledge base to become successful actors in the global economy. Instead it points to the importance of focusing more on the capacity to learn and apply new knowledge to the existing knowledge base and on the barriers to diffusion and further development of knowledge embedded in the pre-existing organisational practices of firms.
The crayfish plasma clotting protein: a vitellogenin-related protein responsible for clot formation in crustacean blood.

Coagulation in crayfish blood is based on the transglutaminase-mediated crosslinking of a specific plasma clotting protein. Here we report the cloning of the subunit of this clotting protein from a crayfish hepatopancreas cDNA library. The ORF encodes a protein of 1,721 amino acids, including a signal peptide of 15 amino acids. Sequence analysis reveals that the clotting protein is homologous to vitellogenins, which are proteins found in vitellogenic females of egg-laying animals. The clotting protein and vitellogenins are all lipoproteins and share a limited sequence similarity to certain other lipoproteins (e.g., mammalian apolipoprotein B and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein) and contain a stretch with similarity to the D domain of mammalian von Willebrand factor. The crayfish clotting protein is present in both sexes, unlike the female-specific vitellogenins. Electron microscopy was used to visualize individual clotting protein molecules and to study the transglutaminase-mediated clotting reaction. In the presence of an endogenous transglutaminase, the purified clotting protein molecules rapidly assemble into long, flexible chains that occasionally branch.