Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Big Data: Innovation and Competitive Advantage in an Information Media Analytics Company

The advent of technology has allowed for the capture of large volumes of data from a variety of sources. This has led to an ever-increasing number of firms collecting large amounts of data with the belief that this will give the firm an advantage over its competitors. However, the question is, does big data by itself really lead to firm advantage? And if not, how can firms gain an advantage from big data? This paper investigates the role that big data plays in innovation and firm advantage. Using the Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities framework, this paper looks at how a firm can gain an advantage from big data. Through the analysis of a case-study concerning a global information/media analytics company, this paper provides an example of how to build a capability in Digital Data Generation that can lead to improved product or service innovation, and possibly help a firm gain an advantage over its competitors.
Orbscan Corneal Topography System in Evaluating the Anterior Structures of the Human Eye

Purpose. To investigate the relationship among horizontal corneal diameter, corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, pupil size, and spherical equivalent and to evaluate the variation in these parameters attributable to age, sex, iris color, and refractive state of the eye. Methods. One thousand three hundred forty-one eyes of 688 consecutive patients who had a LASIK evaluation at World Eye Hospital were involved in the study. The information that was reviewed included age and sex of the patient, horizontal corneal diameter, corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, iris color, pupil size (scotopic and photopic), and spherical equivalent. Results. The mean corneal thickness was 537.6 ± 37.5 &mgr;m (range, 334–702). The mean anterior chamber depth was 3.5 ± 0.38 mm (range, 1.99–4.75). The iris color was dark in 829 (61.8%) eyes and light in 512 (38.2%). The mean scotopic pupil size was 6.1 ± 0.9 mm (range, 3.5–9.0) and the mean photopic pupil size was 4.0 ± 0.7 mm (range, 2.1–7.4). The mean spherical equivalent was −3.4 ± 3.7 D (range, −16.00–+7.50 D). Age was correlated with corneal thickness (r = 0.069, p = 0.012), spherical equivalent (r = 0.080, p = 0.003), and inversely correlated with corneal diameter (r = −0.367, p < 0.001), anterior chamber depth (r = −0.335, p < 0.001), scotopic pupil size (r = −0.309, p < 0.001), and photopic pupil size (r = −0.367, p < 0.001). Males had larger corneas (p < 0.001) and deeper anterior chambers (p < 0.001) than females. The eyes with a dark iris color had thicker corneas (p < 0.001), deeper anterior chambers (p < 0.001), and more minus spherical equivalents (p = 0.017) than the eyes with a light iris color. Conclusions. There is a substantial range of dimensions of anterior structures of the human eye. These dimensions are related to each other and are influenced by age, sex, iris color, and refractive state of the eye.
Ways of Assembling Complex Natural Products on Modular Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) catalyze the assembly of a large number of complex peptide natural products, many of which display therapeutically useful activity. Each cycle of chain extension is carried out by a dedicated module of the multifunctional enzymes. A module harbors all the catalytic units, which are referred to as domains, necessary for recognition, activation, covalent binding, and optionally modification of a single building block monomer, as well as for peptide‐bond formation with the growing chain. A terminal domain releases the full‐length peptide chain from the enzyme complex. Recent characterization of many NRPS systems revealed several examples where the sequence of the product does not directly correspond to the linear arrangement of modules and domains within the enzyme(s). It is now obvious that these systems cannot be regarded as rare exceptions of the common NRPS architecture but rather represent more complicated variations of the NRPS repertoire to increase their biosynthetic potential. In most of these cases unusual peptide structures of the products are observed, such as structures with side‐chain acylation, cyclization involving the peptide backbone and/or side chains, and transfer of the peptide chain onto soluble small‐molecule substrates. These findings indicate a previously unexpected higher versatility of the modules and domains in terms of both catalytic potential and interaction within the multifunctional protein templates. We propose to classify the known NRPS systems into three groups, linear NRPSs (type A), iterative NRPSs (type B), and nonlinear NRPSs (type C), according to their biosynthetic logic. Understanding the various biosynthetic strategies of NRPSs will be crucial to fully explore their potential for engineered combinatorial biosynthesis.
Induction of lesions of dermatitis herpetiformis by autologous serum

Summary In the present study various factors which contribute to the initiation of lesions in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) were examined. Thirty‐one patients with DH. seven with bullous pemphigoid. two with linear IgA disease and two healthy subjects were studied either before starting treatment or after stopping dapsone for up to 5 days. Intradermal inoculation of freshly prepared autologous serum was followed after 18–24 h by the formation of DH‐like lesions in 24/31 DH patients. The lesions were erythematous papules, often with vesicles and microscopically showed papillary tip microabscesses. Serum‐induced formation of lesions only occurred in patients with active DH with some spontaneous lesion formation; it did not occur in any of the non‐DH controls. The formation of lesions was dose‐related, declining proportionately with dilution of the serum down to 1/16. Plasma prepared by various methods of anticoagulation (heparin. citrate. EDTA) caused lesser reactions, while addition of heparin or ε‐amino caproic acid (EACA), but not citrate, to serum substantially inhibited the formation of lesions. This suggested the responsible factor might be a protease. Other vasoactive agents including histamine (1–4 μg) and compound 48/80 (1–5 μg) caused normal immediate wealing. DH‐like lesions occurred in only one of 13 subjects challenged with histamine and two of nine challenged with 48/80. In all these, autologous serum elicited large vesicular responses. There is a factor(s) in serum in DH which can initiate the formation of lesions. This factor appears to be activated by clotting and can be inhibited by heparin and EACA, suggesting it may be a protease.
Astrophysical limitations to the identification of dark matter: Indirect neutrino signals vis-à-vis direct detection recoil rates

A convincing identification of dark matter (DM) particles can probably be achieved only through a combined analysis of different detections strategies, which provides an effective way of removing degeneracies in the parameter space of DM models. In practice, however, this program is made complicated by the fact that different strategies depend on different physical quantities, or on the same quantities but in a different way, making the treatment of systematic errors rather tricky. We discuss here the uncertainties on the recoil rate in direct-detection experiments and on the muon rate induced by neutrinos from dark matter annihilations in the Sun, and we show that, contrarily to the local DM density or overall cross section scale, irreducible astrophysical uncertainties affect the two rates in a different fashion, therefore limiting our ability to reconstruct the parameters of the dark matter particles. By varying within their respective errors astrophysical parameters such as the escape velocity and the velocity dispersion of dark matter particles, we show that the uncertainty on the relative strength of the neutrino and direct-detection signal is as large as a factor of 2 for typical values of the parameters, but can be even larger in some circumstances.
General method for quantifying base adducts in specific mammalian genes.

A general method has been developed to measure the formation and removal of DNA adducts in defined sequences of mammalian genomes. Adducted genomic DNA is digested with an appropriate restriction enzyme, treated with Escherichia coli UvrABC excision nuclease (ABC excinuclease), subjected to alkaline gel electrophoresis, and probed for specific sequences by Southern hybridization. The ABC excinuclease incises DNA containing bulky adducts and thus reduces the intensity of the full-length fragments in Southern hybridization in proportion to the number of adducts present in the probed sequence. This method is similar to that developed by Bohr et al. [Bohr, V. A. , Smith, C. A. , Okumoto, D. S. & Hanawalt, P. C. (1985) Cell 40, 359-369] for quantifying pyrimidine dimers by using T4 endonuclease V. Because of the wide substrate range of ABC exinuclease, however, our method can be used to quantify a large variety of DNA adducts in specific genomic sequences.
Amplification enhancers and replication origins in the autosomal chorion gene cluster of Drosophila.

Drosophila melanogaster follicle cells over‐replicate the chromosomal domain containing the third chromosome chorion gene cluster. Multiple regions of this cluster are needed in cis for attainment of high levels of amplification. We have confirmed the importance of the proposed amplification control element (ACE3) and demonstrated that it can support low levels of follicular amplification in the absence of other elements, but that it lacks detectable activity as a DNA replication origin. We have also demonstrated the existence of additional amplification‐enhancing regions (AERs), by analyzing the amplification levels of a series of in situ induced, nested deletions of the chorion cluster. These deletions were induced by P‐transposase perturbation of a chorion transposon in a highly amplifying transformed line, and were not accompanied by re‐transposition, making possible a quantitative analysis of amplification levels in the absence of chromosomal position effects. Analysis of endogenous replication intermediates in wild‐type follicular DNA suggested that at least one of the AERs may be an origin of replication and that amplification uses at least one additional replication origin.
Dynamics of aortic flow in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The purpose of this study was to reassess left ventricular ejection dynamics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, to investigate whether a premature stoppage of ejection occurs, as previously reported, and whether reliable criteria for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction can be established by non-invasive evaluation of aortic flow patterns. In a group of 21 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, composed of 9 with the obstructive form (HOCM), 9 with the non-obstructive form (HNCM) and 3 with apical hypertrophy (HACM), instantaneous flow velocities across the ascending aorta were determined non-invasively with a 16-gated Doppler 2-D echo instrument. Ten normals served as controls. The 16 flow velocities were averaged over 8 heart beats and the relative volume flow rate was calculated by microprocessor analysis. Ejection time (i.e. flow time) derived from the flow curves was compared with the available ejection period as determined from the carotid pulse tracing. In normals, ejection time amounted to 94 +/- 3% of the available ejection period, in HOCM to 92 +/- 5% and in HNCM to 93 +/- 4% (no significant differences). In HACM, however, ejection time was reduced to 71 +/- 14% of the available ejection period. In contrast to HNCM, aortic flow in HOCM was characterized by an early peak followed by a plateau at a sizably lower flow level for the rest of systole. Flow time of an abnormally short duration was the hallmark of HACM. We conclude that in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, HOCM and HNCM can be distinguished by the shape of their volume flow curves. A premature stoppage of ejection is only found in patients with HACM.
The process and consequences of UBIQUITIFICATION

Traditionally a distinction has been made in location theory, between on the one hand the factors of economic importance for the operation of a firm, for which the costs differ significantly between locations, and on the other hand the so-called ubiquitous materials: the ones used in production of a commodity which in practice are available everywhere at more or less the same cost. The paper discusses the process whereby some former important locational factors are actively converted into becoming ubiquities. This process is labelled ’ubiquitification’. The paper argues, that ubiquitification is the outcome of the ongoing internationalisation and of the process whereby former tacit knowledge becomes codified. Ubiquitification undermines the competitiveness of firms in the high-cost areas of the world: When international markets are opened and when knowledge of the latest production technologies and organisational designs are becoming globally available, firms in lowcost regions are becoming increasingly competitive. In a knowledge based economy this infers that firms in the high-cost areas must either shield some valuable pieces of knowledge from becoming globally accessible, or be able to create, acquire, accumulate and utilise codifiable tacit knowledge a little faster than their cost-wise more favourable located competitors. Focusing on the latter process, the paper maintains that most firms learn from close interaction with suppliers, customers and rivals mainly within the nation or the region. This process of knowledge-creation is strongly influenced by the specific resources, structures and institutional endowment of the place of location. The paper concludes that the knowledge created in the interaction between firms and the formal and informal geographical specific institutions contain a decisive element of tacitness, which prevents its swift dissemination to competitors in areas with a more favourable (labour) cost structure. The existence of agglomerations of industries, as well as very stable and dissimilar patterns of specialisation between the economically most developed nations of the world, is seen as an indicator of the importance of localised capabilities in order to overcome the otherwise devastating consequences of ubiquitification. Every locality has incidents of its own which affect in various ways the methods of arrangement of every class of business that is carried on in it.The tendency to variation is the chief cause of progress. (Marshall 1890)
Determinants of Customer Switching towards Mobile Number Portability

Customer churn is haunting Indian mobile telecom services in a big way. Mobile number portability has further aggravated this problem for mobile telecommunication companies, although it has rightly empowered the subscribers of these services. Telecom sector is a very capital-intensive sector, so a customer’s stay with a cellular services operator effects its earning. The efforts are being made to predict and model the customer churn towards telecom services, so as to maximize customer lifetime value for the company. Before making predictions of customer switching behaviour, it is imperative to understand those variables which determine customer’s loyalties towards a mobile service’s vendor. So this study provides an exploratory analysis of the factors which become reasons for discontinuing services of a cellular operator. The results have identified factors like: network, tariffs, technology, advertising, rewards programme and external factors which lead to switching of a mobile services operator.
Pharmacokinetics of sulbactam in humans

Sulbactam, a new beta-lactamase inhibitor, has pharmacokinetic characteristics in humans similar to those of ampicillin and amoxicillin. Its half-life in humans is approximately 1 h. In a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model, the apparent volume of distribution for the central compartment is approximately 12 liters, and half of the dose is found in the central compartment in the postdistributive phase. Approximately 75% of a parenteral dose is excreted unchanged in urine. The coadministration of sulbactam with ampicillin, penicillin G, or cefoperazone has essentially no effect upon the kinetics of either the beta-lactam antibiotic or sulbactam.
The Ownership of Enterprise

Preface Introduction PART 1: A Theory of Enterprise Ownership 1. An Analytic Framework 2. The Costs of Contracting 3. The Costs of Ownership PART 2: Producer-Owned Enterprise 4. Invertor-Owned Firms 5. The Benefits and Costs of Employee Ownership 6. Governing Employee-Owned Firms 7. Agricultural and Other Producer Cooperatives PART 3: Customer-Owned Enterprise 8. Retail, Wholesale, and Supply Firms 9. Utilities 10. Clubs and Other Associative Organizations 11. Housing PART 4: Nonprofit and Mutual Enterprise 12. Nonprofit Firms 13. Banks 14. Insurance Companies Conclusion Notes Sources Index
ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEM IN PT. SME'S PRODUCTION PROCESS

SME Company is a manufacturing company which deals in producing medicine herb. The company is facing problem in their production system process : couldn’t determine how much production cost which incurred in each department, production cost report can’t be produce automatically, the lack of supervision on stock of finished goods and raw material, no journal entries, and double jobs that took place in the company. The methods used are data collection method by using literature study, company’s survey and conducting direct interviews. For the analysis and design is done with OOAD which will be drawn using UML notation and for the cost calculation will be done with each department calculation method and cost of inventory method will be done with weighted average method. There is a high expectation that with this production process accounting information system can help the company to do every activity of the production process.
GESTÃO ESTRATÉGICA EM EMPRESAS DE TECNOLOGIA DA INFORMAÇÃO: UM ESTUDO DE CASO

The Information Technology (IT) sector is regarded as strategic for national economy. In Brazil, this sector is formed mostly of micro and small businesses. This article aims at understanding how does the strategic management process occurs in a small IT company, according to the schools of strategy and the strategy-as-practice approach. The method applied was a single case study of a small IT company, located in Rio Grande do Sul. The analyzed data revealed that the company adopts an informal strategic management centered on its directors, which may be related to the entrepreneurial school of strategy. However, data also indicate the presence of features of other schools of strategy along the company trajectory. We analyzed the strategy as social practice at the strategic level and also at the tactical level of the organization, through the guidance of managers, their interactions with customers and suppliers, their decision-making processes, among other practices related to everyday life. The results of the article shed light on the process of strategic management in micro and small IT companies, generating insights that can be useful for managers of similar companies.
Realization of a 36-way cavity RF combiner at 476MHz for IR-FEL

A 36-way cavity combiner was realized. The combiner structure is consisting of a cylindrical cavity; RF post-couplers, 36 nos., connected to N-type input ports; and a 1⅝" EIA coaxial combiner output port & coupler. Distinctive feature of this structure is that of inputs which are conductively coupled to the cavity; providing perfect symmetry for in-phase excitation, structural stability for its long term performance and that facilitating a large numbers of RF inputs to be combined. Design, construction, simulation and test results for its satisfactory performance are described for the cavity combiner which is to be used in combining output power from transistor based pulsed RF amplifier modules at 476MHz operating RF frequency so as to have 20kW pulse RF power source for IR-FEL.
Stock Returns and the Competitive Effects of Debt

Prior studies examine real firm behavior and show that high debt makes a firm vulnerable in the product market. In this study, we assess the economic magnitude of competitive effects of debt by examining stock returns. For identification, we use a double-layer of contrasts by conditioning our tests across the business cycle and varying product differentiation environments. Firms with high relative-to-industry debt experience significantly lower stock returns during recessions but similar returns during normal times compared to firms with low relative-to-industry debt. The results are driven by the sub-sample of firms with low product differentiation where the competitive effects of debt should be the strongest. Returns are 9% lower during recessions for firms with above industry median debt in this sub-sample. This finding is robust to alternative explanations such as endogeneity, mechanical leverage effects, business risk, debt overhang, and customer warranty concerns. We also link real effects to stock returns by showing that debt-induced sales growth is a significant determinant of stock returns. Our finding that the competitive effects of debt have an economically significant effect on stock returns is important to investment bankers who advise firms on capital structure decisions, chief financial officers, corporate treasurers, and equity money managers.
A CONCEPTUAL STUDY ON IMPACT OF STRESS ON WORK-LIFE BALANCE

The pressure of increasingly demanding work culture in our country is perhaps the biggest and most pressing challenge to the mental health of employees. The effect of increased working hours is having an important effect on the lifestyle of huge number of people, which will damage their mental well being. Stressful job conditions and work-life imbalance are pieces of a more complex puzzle. While not definite, one can suggest that employer actions to address workload distribution could provide employees who experience work-life conflict with a better balance. The need for employers to address work load and work schedules is root cause of work life imbalances. The tangible benefits of providing environment that supports work-life balance need to be more effectively and widely communicated. According to a survey done by Human Solutions, workers who report they have a good balance between work and personal/family life experience less stress than workers who lack this balance. The high incidence of job stress among knowledge workers raises concerns about the sustainability and cost of the job and career pressures the employees’ face. Employees need to assess the business and personal risks of job stress, focusing specifically on knowledge workers who put in excessive hours. Work-life balance and stress go hand in hand. What seems to matter in this regard is the importance workers place on balance in their lives and the effectiveness of work place policies and practices in supporting them to achieve this goal. This paper focuses on the work life of both employers and employees’ and also suggests how work life-balance has to be achieved. The employers needs to frame polices that would minimize the work load of employee without affecting the productivity of the organisation, for achieving successful work-life balance.