Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Networking for knowledge transfer: towards an understanding of local authority roles in regional industrial ecosystem management

Knowledge of the changing roles of local authorities (LAs) in relation to industry would provide an important insight for development and management of industrial ecology at the regional level. Drawing on empirical studies in Sweden, this paper develops a theoretical understanding of the roles of LAs in knowledge transfer in regional environmental management networks. It is suggested that LAs, besides initiating networks and being network brokers and managers, can act as ‘knowledge banks’ or ‘knowledge brokers’. As a ‘knowledge bank’, officers in the LA hold the knowledge transferred to companies and engage closely with the companies in small active networks. As ‘knowledge brokers’, LA officers are less active and mainly help companies to get in contact with consultants and technical experts who hold the knowledge needed for developing environmental management in the companies. In all, the roles identified could be seen as more specific approaches to be taken by the LA when playing the overall role of an institutional anchor tenant, facilitating development and management of regional industrial ecosystems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
CAD tools for fast analysis of parasitic coupling and mismatch effects in switched-capacitor circuits

This paper presents a switched-capacitor simulator, optimized for fast computations. Two CAD tools are implemented in order to perform Monte-Carlo simulations, to identify sensitive parasitic coupling prior to layout and to rapidly verify parasitic coupling from an existing layout. Simulation results and measurements on a ΣΔ ADC are compared to validate the tools1.
Entry and exit: a county-level analysis

A simultaneous model of firm entry and exit is estimated for the counties of Great Britain. This is based on a simple model of entrepreneurial choice augmented by labour market and local economic infrastructure influences. A formal test of recursiveness is carried out and the system is found to be non-recursive. The rate of exit is found to be the sole influence on the entry rate, while exit is influenced by entry, the rate of change of unemployment, and the availability of managerial skills in the local area. The results are compared with an estimation which fails to allow properly for simultaneity, and policy implications are discussed.
An Efficient Algorithm for Surface Integral Equation Based on Mesh-Free Scheme

An efficient algorithm for solving surface integral equation based on mesh-free scheme is proposed. The surface current is represented by a set of shape functions instead of conventional Rao-Wilton-Glisson (RWG) basis functions in the method of moments (MoM). The shape functions are constructed on some distributed nodes without explicitly requiring continuity conditions. Unlike the RWG, the basis function in this letter is not reliant on the tessellation and can be used with nonconformal meshes. In addition, it can be used flexibly to mix different discretization scales of grids. Numerical results demonstrate that scattering from objects can be computed efficiently with the multilevel fast multipole method (MLFMM) combined with adaptive cross approximation (ACA).
‘Someone batting in my corner’: experiences of smoking-cessation support via text message

Background The txt2stop trial demonstrated that smoking-cessation support delivered by text message doubles biochemically verified abstinence at 6 months. There was no significant heterogeneity in any of the pre-specified subgroups. Aim To explore participants’ experiences of the txt2stop intervention via a qualitative study using telephone interviews. Design and setting Qualitative telephone interviews in the community. Method Thematic content analysis of 1283 feedback forms was conducted to develop a topic guide for 25 telephone interviews. Key themes were identified and described. Any differences in the experiences of those who did, and did not, successfully quit were specifically explored. Results Participants liked the fact that smoking-cessation support delivered by text message was convenient, easy to access, and chemical free. They reported that the intervention was a reminder that they were quitting and why, provided emotional support, was a reminder of the physical benefits of stopping smoking, and they saved messages so they could refer back to them. However, the intervention was not helpful for all. Receiving texts about smoking could also stimulate craving, and the timing, frequency, and duration of messages were not optimal for some participants. Those who did not quit reported that additional factors influenced them, such as periods of stress or social events, or reported that they had been unable to cope with the physical effects of withdrawal, and combining text-message support with medication could help with this. Conclusion Although the intervention did stimulate craving in some participants at some times, recipients reported that it also provided emotional support and reinforcement at temporally appropriate moments. It was successful at helping people to quit smoking but could be used together with other forms of smoking-cessation support.
Effects of High-Salt Diet during Pregnancy on Fetal Nephrogenesis and Hypertension Later in Life : Aberrant Renin-Angiotensin System Programming

It is widely accepted that excess salt intake is a risk factor for development of hypertension [1,2]. Current research also supports the idea that adverse conditions during pregnancy can affect progeny postnatal health, both immediately after birth and for the remainder of their lives [3,4]. The purpose of this mini review is to discuss the effects of a gestational high-salt diet on renal development and programming of the renin-angiotensin system in the fetus and how these changes increase the offspring’s incidence of hypertension and renal disease later in life. After reviewing a large body of evidence collected from and related to maternal high-salt diet experiments, it is proposed that high salt (HS) diet during pregnancy causes an increased prevalence of hypertension in offspring due to {A} an overall increase in blood pressure resulting from absence of appropriate modulation of plasma renin activity in response to changes in salt concentration, {B} an increased pressor response to angiotensin II, and {C} a decrease in the number of glomeruli per kidney. (Figure 1) provides a summary of the pathophysiological changes in the fetus caused by maternal high HS diet, and how these changes lead to an increase in the rate of disease risk in offspring.
The conditioning effect of institutional legitimacy on stakeholder influence strategy: evidence from labour unions' reaction to corporate downsizing in Taiwan

Two important managerial practices in quality movement influence the quality of firms' strategies and their business excellence. One is ‘downsizing’, which often accompanies the lean production method, and the other is ‘stakeholder satisfaction’, which has been proven to increase the probability of a firm's long-term success. Stakeholder satisfaction also mitigates the negative impacts from downsizing. This research examines how institutional legitimacy influences the union stakeholders in their strategy selection during corporate downsizing. A quantitative survey was deployed, followed by a qualitative exploration of the phenomenon uncovered in the survey. The research findings showed an overwhelming conditioning effect of institutions which led a majority of labour unions to select a direct negotiation strategy as their reaction to business downsizing decisions. Institutional factors such as legal requirement, social expectation, well-publicised best practices, etc., dominated union leaders' decision on the best initial influence strategy. The findings carry practical implications for firms in managing the quality of labour relations during business downsizing and also contribute to the affirmation of institutional factors as an important dimension of stakeholder influence strategy theory.
Cell-to-Cell Spread of Wild-Type Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1, but Not of Syncytial Strains, Is Mediated by the Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors That Mediate Virion Entry, Nectin1 (PRR1/HveC/HIgR) and Nectin2 (PRR2/HveB)

ABSTRACT The immunoglobulin-like receptors that mediate entry of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) into human cells were found to mediate the direct cell-to-cell spread of wild-type virus. The receptors here designated Nectin1α and -δ and Nectin2α were originally designated HIgR, PRR1/HveC, and PRR2α/HveB, respectively. We report the following. (i) Wild-type HSV-1 spreads from cell to cell in J cells expressing nectin1α or nectin1δ but not in parental J cells that are devoid of entry receptors. A monoclonal antibody to nectin1, which blocks entry, also blocked cell-to-cell spread in nectin1-expressing J cells. Moreover, wild-type virus did not spread from a receptor-positive to a receptor-negative cell. (ii) The antibody to nectin1 blocked transmission of wild-type virus in a number of human cell lines, with varying efficiencies, suggesting that nectin1 is the principal mediator of wild-type virus spread in a variety of human cell lines. (iii) Nectin1 did not mediate cell fusion induced by the syncytial strains HSV-1(MP) and HFEM-syn. (iv) Nectin2α could serve as a receptor for spread of a mutant virus carrying the L25P substitution in glycoprotein D, but not of wild-type virus, in agreement with its ability to mediate entry of the mutant but not of wild-type virus.
Absence of TQM across the fuel supply chain: quality failure-associated costs

Effective management of the supply chain is an essential success factor for any competitive business environment. Fuel supply chain is a typical supply chain which delivers products characterised by consumer requirements and strict environmental specifications. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the costs associated with quality failures of fuel products resulting from the absence of total quality management (TQM). It focuses on a case concerning the downstream fuel supply chain operated by a medium-sized Greek fuel distribution company. The main sources of the arising costs are quantity deficits, product mixtures, fines, consumer problems and negative publicity. These costs highlight the paramount importance and the critical role of a TQM system implemented across the fuel supply chain that would improve the overall supply chain performance in terms of both cost reduction and customer satisfaction. Some important elements of such a TQM system applicable to a fuel supply chain are outlined.
The Austrian theory of price : an example

This paper introduces a simple example for teaching the Austrian theory of price to undergraduate students. It is argued that market prices serve a social function, because plan discoordinations manifest themselves as discrepancies in prices. When plans can be freely expressed in terms of the same commodity (money), the quantities of this commodity (prices) can be compared with each other, and discrepancies between the plans (price differentials) can be perceived with relative ease by entrepreneurs. Traditionally, many economists have failed to understand that the function of market prices is more than merely summarizing market information.
Amyotrophc Lateral Sclerosis: Alterations in Neurotransmitter Receptors

Loss of motor neurons is the primary pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Drug arid neurotransmitter receptors are neuronal markers and can be indicators of neuronal connectivity. Knowledge of alterations in receptors in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis should contribute to our understanding of normal spinal cord neurotransmitter systems as well as of the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We therefore used a sensitive, light microscopic in vitro labeling receptor autoradiographic technique to map and quantitate muscarinic cholinergic, glycinergic, and benzodiazepine receptors in three levels of spinal cord from six patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and six age-and sex-matched control patients. In control tissues, the receptor distributions were similar in the three levels of spinal cord and also similar to those found in previous studies with animals. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, major reductions in receptor densities were noted in Rexed layer IX, the region containing motor neurons. Reductions, were noted in other laminae as well, particularly for muscarinic receptors. The changes in muscarinic receptors were caused solely by changes in high-affinity agonist sites. Reductions in glycine and muscarinic receptors were highly correlated with the degree of motor neuron loss found in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. The findings in this study point out the usefulness of this receptor mapping technique in understanding the changes in neuronal populations that occur in the degenerative neurological diseases.
Realized volatility forecasting in an international context

The value of overseas information within a volatility forecasting setting is examined. The article innovates by considering the forecasting performance of an augmented version of a popular realized volatility model in which this information is incorporated. An application based on realized volatility data from 13 international stock markets demonstrates that this volatility model delivers improved out-of-sample forecasts.
Inter-subject information contributes to the ERP classification in the P300 speller

This study aims to investigate whether the inter-subject information is beneficial to the event-related potential (ERP) classification in the P300-speller. To this end, a classification strategy of weighted ensemble learning generic information (WELGI) was developed, in which the base classifiers constructed by combining both intra- and inter-subject information were integrated into a strong classifier with weight assessments. To verify the algorithm's validity, 55 subjects were recruited to spell 20 characters offline by using the conventional P300-speller paradigm, and the ERP accuracy and precision were investigated. Compared with the traditional classification strategy only using the intra-subject information, the WELGI could achieve significantly higher ERP accuracy and precision. It was demonstrated that the inter-subject information was beneficial to the ERP classification in the P300-speller.
Gender and human resource management in the Middle East

This paper contributes to the limited management knowledge of gender and HRM policies in the Middle East, specifically Bahrain. This involves an assessment of how Islamic values have affected women's work experiences and also how Islam has shaped gender and HRM policies. The study is based on an assessment of 53 survey responses and 27 semi-structured interviews collated from female professionals participating in career development workshops held in Bahrain. The analysis reveals the growing importance of women's employment in the Middle East, and outlines how governments are devising national development strategies within an Islamic framework, to support women's advancement in the public sphere. The empirical data show that women experience career and development constraints on account of equal but different gender roles, and that gender or equality issues are largely absent from HRM organization policy. It is suggested that HRM policy development at the organization level should specifically address the issue of women's management training. The research suggests issues of women's rights are a key aspect of understanding the relationships of globalization, Islam and HRM processes in the Middle East and argues that there is a need for international HRM scholarship to incorporate gender issues in policy planning and development.
TRADABLE TIME-OF-DAY BOTTLENECK PERMITS FOR MORNING COMMUTERS

混雑料金制は，理論的には，交通渋滞問題に対する優れた方策である．しかし，その制度の有効な実施に不可欠な(1)利用者情報（需要関数）の正確な推定や(2)渋滞メカニズム（ボトルネック混雑）を考慮した動的料金の設定は，実際には非常に難しい．そこで本稿では，混雑料金制度に代わるTDM施策として，“ボトルネック通行権取引制度”を提案する．そして，この制度の導入により，確実に渋滞が解消するのみならず，通行権取引市場で適切な通行権価格体系が実現し，社会的に最適な状態となることを示す．さらに，その証明を通じて，提案した通行権の設定・取引問題と住宅立地均衡問題の数理的同型性を明らかにする．
Drosophila betaHeavy-spectrin is essential for development and contributes to specific cell fates in the eye.

The spectrin membrane skeleton is a ubiquitous cytoskeletal structure with several cellular roles, including the maintenance of cell integrity, determination of cell shape and as a contributor to cell polarity. We have isolated mutations in the gene encoding &bgr ;Heavy-spectrin in Drosophila, and have named this essential locus karst. karst mutant individuals have a pleiotropic phenotype characterized by extensive larval lethality and, in adult escapers, rough eyes, bent wings, tracheal defects and infertility. Within karst mutant eyes, a significant number of ommatidia specifically lack photoreceptor R7 alongside more complex morphological defects. Immunolocalization of betaHeavy-spectrin in wild-type eye-antennal and wing imaginal discs reveals that betaHeavy-spectrin is present in a restricted subdomain of the membrane skeleton that colocalizes with DE-cadherin. We propose a model where normal levels of Sevenless signaling are dependent on tight cell-cell adhesion facilitated by the betaHeavy-spectrin membrane skeleton. Immunolocalization of betaHeavy-spectrin in the adult and larval midgut indicates that it is a terminal web protein, but we see no gross morphological defects in the adult apical brush border in karst mutant flies. Rhodamine phalloidin staining of karst mutant ovaries similarly reveals no conspicuous defect in the actin cytoskeleton or cellular morphology in egg chambers. This is in contrast to mutations in alpha-spectrin, the molecular partner of betaHeavy-spectrin, which affect cellular structure in both the larval gut and adult ovaries. Our results emphasize the fundamental contribution of the spectrin membrane skeleton to normal development and reveals a critical interplay between the integrity of a cell's membrane skeleton, the structure of cell-cell contacts and cell signaling.
Dynamical Properties of Optically Sensitive Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Nonvolatile Memories Based on Pt Nanoparticles

We describe the optical properties of nonvolatile memory cells based on metal-insulator-semiconductor structures with embedded Pt nanoparticles, fabricated by atomic layer deposition. We show the effect of illumination on the static as well as dynamic properties of two devices, which differ by their respective thicknesses of the tunneling layer. The device with the thicker tunneling layer exhibits a faster response under illumination and significantly better retention properties, while the device with the thinner tunneling layer is faster under dark conditions.
The Political Economy of Oil: New Zealand and Peru Compared

The relations between national governments and international oil companies present some of the most complicated problems in policy analysis. In order to determine exactly which policy stance is ’appropriate’, we need to know the economics of oil production under local conditions; the character of the national state apparatus and the degree to which it reflects the national interest (however defined); the degree of risk involved in local oil exploration (which will depend on factors such as the amount of previous exploration and the extent of existing proven reserves); the capability of local private capitalists and/or governmental managers to compete with the international firms; and the international conjuncture of oil prices, business confidence, corporate liquidity, perceived distribution of good oil ’prospects’, and comparative severity of regulation of the oil industry by different national governments. To ignore any of these is to run the risk of incomplete and possibly mis-guided analysis, yet to take them all fully Into account is far beyond the scope of a brief paper such as the present one. Here we shall merely survey a few
Impact of wind turbine penetration on the dynamic performance of interconnected power systems

The complexity of power systems has increased in recent years due to the operation of existing transmission lines closer to their limits using flexible AC transmission system devices (FACTS), and also due to the increased penetration of new types of generators that have more intermittent characteristics and lower inertial response, such as wind generators. This changing nature of power systems has considerable effect on its dynamic behaviour resulting in power swings, dynamic interactions between different power system devices and less synchronized coupling. This paper analyses this changing nature of power systems and their dynamic behaviours to identify critical issues that limit the large-scale integration of wind generators and FACTS devices. The studies in this paper are conducted on the New England and New York power system model. Modal analysis, PV analysis, eigenvalue tracking and dynamic simulations are used to investigate the dynamic behaviour of a complex power system under both small and large disturbances. From the analyses, it can be concluded that the modes related to operating slip and shaft stiffness are critical as they may limit the large-scale integration of wind generation.
Multivariate Risk Aversion, Utility Independence and Separable Utility Functions

This paper concerns utility functions for more than one attribute. A new type of risk aversion found only in muitivariate utility functions is defined. Certain behavioral assumptions, which are necessary and sufficient for one of three forms of separable utility functions including the well-known additive form, are given. It is shown that only one of these separable forms, the "negative multiplicative form," possesses this new type of risk aversion and in particular that the additive form does not.
Evaluation and Microenterprise Programs

Microenterprise programs attempt to help poor people start or strengthen small businesses. Funding and political support has grown rapidly. Is microenterprise a good use of scarce development funds? Unfortunately, most evaluations have been case studies in what not to do. Because benefits and costs cannot be measured completely nor with perfect certainty, rigorous evaluations should support their necessarily subjective judgements with logic and explicit assumptions. The usefulness of an evaluation lies not in its (apparent) incontrovertibility but rather in its clarity of assumptions and in its openness to meaningful review and critique.