Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Echographic evaluation of optic disc excavation

Purpose: To evaluate the role of high resolution B-scan echography in differentiating the causes of optic disc excavation. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 30 subjects presenting to Al-Zahraa University Hospital (2009 – 2011) with optic nerve excavation. Of these patients 10 with coloboma, 10 with cup-shaped posterior staphyloma and 10 with glaucomatous optic nerve cupping were identified. Horizontal and vertical approaches for optic disc excavations were evaluated using B-scan echography. Specific echographic criteria for excavation configurations were successfully estimated. Results & conclusion: High-resolution contact B-scan echography may provide useful differentiation for optic disc excavations in eyes with opaque media.
An Empirical Study of the Expectation- Perception Gap of I.S. Development

(cid:1) Abstract — This paper adopts a notion of expectation-perception gap of systems users as information systems (IS) failure. Problems leading to the expectation-perception gap are identified and modelled as five interrelated discrepancies or gaps throughout the process of information systems development (ISD). It describes an empirical study on how systems developers and users perceive the size of each gap and the extent to which each problematic issue contributes to the gap. The key to achieving success in ISD is to keep the expectation-perception gap closed by closing all 5 pertaining gaps. The gap model suggests that most factors in IS failure are related to organizational, cognitive and social aspects of information systems design. Organization requirement analysis, being the weakest link of IS development, is particularly worthy of investigation.
Isolation and structure of an intrastrand cross-link adduct of mitomycin C and DNA.

A new covalent mitomycin C-DNA adduct (4) was isolated from DNA exposed to reductively activated mitomycin C (MC) in vitro. The MC-treated DNA was hydrolyzed enzymatically under certain conditions, and the new adduct was isolated from the hydrolysate by HPLC. Its structure was determined by ultraviolet and circular dichroism spectroscopy and chemical and enzymatic transformations conducted on microscale. In the structure, a single 2" beta, 7"-diaminomitosene residue is linked bifunctionally to two guanines in the dinucleoside phosphate d(GpG). The guanines are linked at their N2 atoms to the C1" and C10" positions of the mitosene, respectively. A key to the structure was a finding that removal of the mitosene from the adduct by hot piperidine yielded d(GpG); another was that the adduct was slowly converted to the known interstrand cross-link adduct 3 by snake venom diesterase and alkaline phosphatase. Adduct 4 represents an intrastrand cross-link in DNA formed by MC. Of the two possible strand-polarity isomers of 4, 4a in which the mitosene 1"-position is linked to the 3'-guanine of d(GpG) is designated as the proper structure, on the basis of the mechanism of the cross-linking reaction. The same adduct 4 was isolated from poly(dG). poly(dC), synthetic oligonucleotides containing the GpG sequence, and Micrococcus luteus and calf thymus DNAs. The relative yields of interstrand and intrastrand cross-links (3 and 4) were determined under first-order kinetic conditions; an average 3.6-fold preference for the formation of 3 over that of 4 was observed. An explanation for this preference is proposed. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
How Reliable Are Heat Pulse Velocity Methods for Estimating Tree Transpiration

Transpiration is a significant component of the hydrologic cycle and its accurate quantification is critical for modelling, industry, and policy decisions. Sap flow sensors provide a low cost and practical method to measure transpiration. Various methods to measure sap flow are available and a popular family of methods is known as heat pulse velocity (HPV). Theory on thermal conductance and convection, that underpins HPV methods, suggests transpiration can be directly estimated from sensor measurements without the need for laborious calibrations. To test this accuracy, transpiration estimated from HPV sensors is compared with an independent measure of plant water use such as a weighing lysimeter. A meta-analysis of the literature that explicitly tested the accuracy of a HPV sensors against an independent measure of transpiration was conducted. Data from linear regression analysis was collated where an R2 of 1 indicates perfect precision and a slope of 1 of the linear regression curve indicates perfect accuracy. The average R2 and slope from all studies was 0.822 and 0.860, respectively. However, the overall error, or deviation from real transpiration values, was 34.706%. The results indicate that HPV sensors are precise in correlating heat velocity with rates of transpiration, but poor in quantifying transpiration. Various sources of error in converting heat velocity into sap velocity and sap flow are discussed including probe misalignment, wound corrections, thermal diffusivity, stem water content, placement of sensors in sapwood, and scaling of point measurements to whole plants. Where whole plant water use or transpiration is required in a study, it is recommended that all sap flow sensors are calibrated against an independent measure of transpiration.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING:A PERSPECTIVE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S GOVERNANCEIN THE COMPETITIVE SITUATIONS

Marketization and globalization have created one intensely competitive environment for Chinese city development. The trend of local government entrepreneurialism becomes more obvious, and various reactions have been made to the outside changes. Through the research of urban developing strategic planning, this paper analyses its function and the leading role of local government in the planning; gives a perspective of the change of local government governance in the economic-social transition of China. In this paper, it's believed that in recent 20 years, the huge change in the Chinese economic society is made, affected vigorously by inner and outer two strengths, which is the marketization reform and impact of globalization. The control of local government for the city economic and social development tends to be strengthened, and the diversity and competitiveness of governance pattern is reinforced. Under such a background, city and regional panning gradually surmounts the traditional technical space scope, and becomes one of the important governance patterns of the government. As far as many of the Chinese city strategic planning are concerned, all of them take the "strengthening the competition advantage" as the core subject. Strategic planning is not only a planning drafting course, but a governance course of local government, which is integrated by politics, society and operation. Through the above analysis, this paper concludes that the inside and outside two-way course of economic globalization and marketization aggravates the competitive relation between Chinese local governments. The governance pattern of Chinese local government is transforming to that with the characteristics of entrepreneurialism and competitiveness, which is in conformity with the western main trend.
Multivariate Standardized Time Series for Steady-State Simulation Output Analysis

The theory of standardized time series, initially proposed to estimate a single steady-state mean from the output of a simulation, is extended to the case where more than one steady-state mean is to be estimated simultaneously. Under mild assumptions on the stochastic process representing the output of the simulation, namely a functional central limit theorem, we obtain asymptotically valid confidence regions for a (multivariate) steady-state mean based on multivariate standardized time series. We provide examples of multivariate standardized time series, including the multivariate versions of the batch means method and Schruben's standardized sum process. Large-sample properties of confidence regions obtained from multivariate standardized time series are discussed. We show that, as in the univariate case, the asymptotic expected volume of confidence regions produced by standardized time series procedures is larger than that obtained from a consistent estimation procedure. We present and discuss experimental results that illustrate our theory.
Investigation on survival of Aphidius nigripes Ashmead (Hym.: Aphidiidae) reared on infected potato aphid by Lecanicillium muscarium (Deut.: Moniliaceae).

Survival of larval stages of endoparasitoid Aphidius nigripes Ashmead was investigated on entomopathogen Lecanicillium muscarium (Zare and Gains) infected potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas. Low and high concentrations of L. muscarium (10s and 10(7) blastospore/ml. , respectively) were administered on parasitized aphid nymphs (by A. nigripes) on 0, 2, 4 and 6 day intervals base. Distilled water with surfactant agent was used as control and 3 replicates were applied. Ten days following inoculation by the pathogen, aphid mortality; aphid progeny and emerged parasitoids were sampled to estimate the aphid survival, treated aphid net reproductive rate (Ro) and survival of parasitoid, respectively. Results demonstrated that parasitoid and pathogen collectively enhanced aphid mortality and lowered its net reproductive rate compared to any single use of the agents (P<0.01). Mortality of immature parasitoid decreased when low concentration of fungus was applied and the same result obtained on any increase between fungus inoculation and parasitization interval. Parasitoid suffered a vast mortality rate in pupation period using high concentration of the fungal material. On the weight comparison base, there wasn't any significant differences (P>0.05) between emerged parasitoid adults, both from fungus infected mummified aphids and control treatments.
A longitudinal study of the internationalisation process in a small sample of pharmaceutical and scientific instrument companies

The results of a longitudinal study of co‐operative strategies in a small sample of pharmaceutical and scientific instrument companies are brought to bear on the process of internationalisation. Ten companies are studied over a four‐year period—two are British scientific instruments companies, eight are pharmaceutical companies, five British owned, two French and one European. Five pharmaceutical companies are separated out as having their internationalisation strategy affected by extreme turbulence in the industry, resulting in acquisition or merger. The relatively stable environment of the other five companies provides a telling contrast. Internationalisation strategies are found to depend on the company's overall strategy, the immediate context of the firm and its past history of inter‐nationalisation. However, the crucial issue of the level of the analysis arises because many internationalisation moves are shown to he initiated at division, unit, site or individual manager level, with the result that .
A tendon-driven glove to restore finger function for disabled

An innovative glove system actuated by electric motors has been developed to restore finger functions for disabled people. This glove system is composed of a leather glove having external tendons built-in, an actuation unit and a sensor to detect user's intentions for finger operations. Fingers are operated by actuation of the thin tendons made of polyethylene. The driving force of the tendon is transferred to the glove from the actuation unit by using bowden cables. It was demonstrated that the glove system can drive user's paralyzed fingers. The details of the system and results of the evaluation experiments are reported in this paper.
Cadherin‐2 function in the cranial ganglia and lateral line system of developing zebrafish

Cadherins are cell surface molecules that mediate cell–cell adhesion through homophilic interactions. Cadherin‐2 (also called N‐cadherin), a member of classic cadherin subfamily, has been shown to play important roles in development of a variety of tissues and organs, including the nervous system. We recently reported that cadherin‐2 was strongly expressed by the majority of cranial ganglia and lateral line system of developing zebrafish. To gain insight into cadherin‐2 role in the formation of these structures, we have used several markers to analyze zebrafish embryos injected with a specific cadherin‐2 antisense morpholino oligonucleotide (cdh2MO). We find that development of several cranial ganglia, including the trigeminal, facial, and vagal ganglia, and the lateral line ganglia and neuromasts of the cdh2MO‐injected embryos are severely disrupted. These phenotypes were confirmed by analyzing a cadherin‐2 mutant, glass onion. Our results suggest that cadherin‐2 function is crucial for the normal formation of the zebrafish lateral line system and a subset of cranial ganglia. Developmental Dynamics 230:137–143, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Coronary artery stenoses: accuracy of 64-detector row CT angiography in segments with mild, moderate, or severe calcification--a subanalysis of the CORE-64 trial.

PURPOSE To evaluate the influence of cross-sectional arc calcification on the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) angiography compared with conventional coronary angiography for the detection of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent were obtained from all centers and participants for this HIPAA-compliant study. Overall, 4511 segments from 371 symptomatic patients (279 men, 92 women; median age, 61 years [interquartile range, 53-67 years]) with clinical suspicion of CAD from the CORE-64 multicenter study were included in the analysis. Two independent blinded observers evaluated the percentage of diameter stenosis and the circumferential extent of calcium (arc calcium). The accuracy of quantitative multidetector CT angiography to depict substantial (≥ 50%) stenoses was assessed by using quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). Cross-sectional arc calcium was rated on a segment level as follows: noncalcified or mild (< 90°), moderate (90°-180°), or severe (> 180°) calcification. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression, receiver operation characteristic curve, and clustering methods were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS A total of 1099 segments had mild calcification, 503 had moderate calcification, 338 had severe calcification, and 2571 segments were noncalcified. Calcified segments were highly associated (P < .001) with disagreement between CTA and QCA in multivariable analysis after controlling for sex, age, heart rate, and image quality. The prevalence of CAD was 5.4% in noncalcified segments, 15.0% in mildly calcified segments, 27.0% in moderately calcified segments, and 43.0% in severely calcified segments. A significant difference was found in area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (noncalcified: 0.86, mildly calcified: 0.85, moderately calcified: 0.82, severely calcified: 0.81; P < .05). CONCLUSION In a symptomatic patient population, segment-based coronary artery calcification significantly decreased agreement between multidetector CT angiography and QCA to detect a coronary stenosis of at least 50%.
UNIVERSITIES AND COMPANIES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP: RUSSIAN PRACTICE

One of the main purposes of the educational system is to provide a qualified workforce for the companies of the different industries. And nowadays universities understand that along with the teaching and research activities they should pay attention to the creation positive and effective relationship with the business world. To achieve their goals and to become competitive on the market both universities and companies should create long-term relationships that give them the opportunities for effective development. So, they should think about strategic partnership. Because of the strategic partnership universities can share and exchange knowledge and expertise with the business community. They understand the “outside world” and its needs and requirements better and then they can use this knowledge in their activities. Strategic partnerships can help universities earn extra profit and encourage innovations. But to use all of these advantages universities should learn more about strategic partnerships. They should know about the mechanism and forms of the partnership, such as universities enterprises and technical parks, the using of the universities facilities, professional development courses, business-related events, employing universities graduates, research cooperation. The paper contains the theoretical as well as the practical aspects of the strategic partnership between universities and companies. The authors have summarized the approaches to the strategic partnership and analyzed the most important forms of the partnership in Russia using the practice of the most developed Rus
Barriers and facilitators for breastfeeding among working women in the United States.

OBJECTIVE To review the literature and describe the barriers and facilitators to the continuation of breastfeeding for at least 6 months by working women in the United States. DATA SOURCES A search of PubMed, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, ISI, PsychInfo, and ProQuest. STUDY SELECTION Twenty studies based on the inclusion criteria and published between January 1, 1995, and January 2006. DATA EXTRACTION An ecologic framework, which includes the individual (microsystem), social support and relationships (mesosystem), and the workplace environment (exosystem). DATA SYNTHESIS When working mothers possess certain personal characteristics and develop a strategic plan, breastfeeding is promoted. When social support is available and when support groups are utilized, lactation is also facilitated. Part-time work, lack of long mother-infant separations, supportive work environments and facilities, and child care options facilitate breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS Health care providers can use the findings of this review to promote breastfeeding among working women by using tactics geared toward the mother, her social network, and the entire community.
SVM kernel functions for classification

A new generation learning system based on recent advances in statistical learning theory deliver state-of-the-art performance in real-world applications that is Support Vector Machines [2]. Applications such as text categorization, hand-written character recognition, image classification, bio-sequence analysis [9] etc for the classification and regression Most of the existing supervised classification methods are based on traditional statistics, which can provide ideal results when sample size is tending to infinity. However, only finite samples can be acquired in practice. In this paper, a novel learning method, Support Vector Machine (SVM), is applied on different data. This paper emphasizes the classification task with Support Vector Machine with different kernel function. It has several kernel functions including linear, polynomial and radial basis for performing classification [13].
Psychology and counselling Relationship between quality of life and distress in infertility : a validation study of the Dutch FertiQoL

J.W. M. Aarts1,*, I.W. H. van Empel1, J. Boivin2, W.L. Nelen1, J.A.M. Kremer1, and C.M. Verhaak3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands Cardiff Fertility Studies Research Group, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Efficient Utilization Of InterContinental New Orleans Hotel Resources After Hurricane Katrina: A Case Study

A significant capital budgeting problem faced the InterContinental New Orleans Hotel after the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The problem was presented to students as a case study. Students were provided firm specific and market data to perform a detailed discounted cash flow analysis, including estimation of the weighted average cost of capital and the corresponding sensitivity analysis. The case is designed to be used in an upper level undergraduate corporate finance class.
Safe as houses: Investor confidence in New Zealand

We investigated the psychology of risk in the context of residential property investment. One hundred and thirty‐seven participants completed a questionnaire that measured their sensation‐seeking, general investment risk attitude, and attitude and confidence about investing in a term deposit, unit trust shares, a residential property syndicate and residential property. People with higher sensation seeking scores found shares and unit trusts more attractive than low sensation seekers, but all groups were most confident about investing in residential property. Overall the results indicate that New Zealanders invest overwhelmingly in real estate because they trust it more than other forms of investment.
Customer knowledge transfer and key account management in professional service organizations

Purpose – Effective customer‐specific knowledge transfer is the cornerstone of customer value creation in professional service organizations. In order to formulate a coherent service offering across different expertise areas, it is crucial to share customer‐specific knowledge between professionals, business functions and units. The purpose of this study is to offer insights into the role of key account management (KAM) systems in facilitating this process.Design/methodology/approach – The work is based on an explorative case study in which the implementation of the KAM system in two consulting and training companies was investigated. Comparison of the two cases in terms of KAM design and success in knowledge transfer enabled conclusions to be drawn about the role of KAM as a knowledge carrier and a “linking pin” in a loosely coupled organization.Findings – Organizational fragmentation and insufficient communication channels among experts and subgroups of professional organizations cause problems in relati.