Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
www.cognizantcommunication.com Gene Expression Analysis in Myotonic Dystrophy: Indications for a Common Molecular Pathogenic Pathway in DM1 and

Italy An RNA gain-of-function of expanded transcripts is the most accredited molecular mechanism for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and 2 (DM2). To disclose molecular parallels and divergences in pathogenesis of both disorders, we compared the expression profile of muscle biopsies from DM1 and DM2 patients to controls. DM muscle tissues showed a reduction in the major skeletal muscle chloride channel (CLCNl) and transcription factor Sp1 transcript levels and an abnormal processing of the CLCN1 and insulin receptor (IR) pre-mRNAs. No essential differences were observed in the muscle blind-like gene (MBNL1) and CUG binding protein 1 (CUGBP1) transcript levels as well as in the splicing pattern of the myotubularin-related 1 (MTMR1) gene. Macroarray analysis of 96 neuroscience-related genes revealed a considerable similar expression profile between the DM samples, reflective of a common muscle pathology origin. Using a twofold threshold, we found six misregulated genes important in calcium and potassium metabolism and in mitochondrial functions. Our results indicate that the DM1 and DM2 overlapping clinical phenotypes may derive from a common trans acting mechanism that traps and influences shared genes and
The impact of curriculum design on learning satisfaction

Against the background of global economic recession, college graduates are becoming increasingly anxious in fear of facing unemployment upon graduation. Entry into college has never been easier than the time being, which further undermines the competitiveness of college education by largely admitting less qualified students. Given the guiding mission of satisfying students' need for acquiring professional skills, it is key to equip college students with adequate expertise and professional skills for employment in the face of more various demands from employers. Reviewing domestic and international literature to probe the relevance between curriculum design and learning satisfaction, the study targets Taiwanese college students and gleans data using questionnaire survey. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed, with 341 valid responses and collection rate of 68.2%. The collected copies are studied using SPSS 14.0 and through factor, credibility, and regression analyses. The following fi ndings were yielded: 1) curriculum design is found largely positively correlated with the factor “learning environment” in learning satisfaction; 2) curriculum design is found largely positively correlated with “instructor and teaching;”3) significant positive correlation is found between curriculum design and “course context and materials;”and 4) significant positive correlation is found between curriculum design and “administrative service. ” The article concludes by formulating a comprehensive discussion on all findings from the study and providing recommendations for the academia and employers.
Risk Budgeted Portfolio Optimization Using an Extended Ant Colony Optimization Metaheuristic

Risk Budgeted portfolio optimization problem centering on the twin objectives of maximizing expected portfolio return and minimizing portfolio risk and incorporating the risk budgeting investment strategy, turns complex for direct solving by classical methods triggering the need to look for metaheuristic solutions. This work explores the application of an extended Ant Colony Optimization algorithm that borrows concepts from evolution theory, for the solution of the problem and proceeds to compare the experimental results with those obtained by two other Metaheuristic optimization methods belonging to two different genres viz., Evolution Strategy with Hall of Fame and Differential Evolution, obtained in an earlier investigation. The experimental studies have been undertaken over Bombay Stock Exchange data set BSE200: July 2001-July 2006 and Tokyo Stock Exchange data set Nikkei225: July 2001-July 2006. Data Envelopment Analysis has also been undertaken to compare the performance of the technical efficiencies of the optimal risk budgeted portfolios obtained by the three approaches.
Study of High Rise Residential Buildings in Indian Cities (A Case Study -Pune City)

High-rise structures are also called "vertical cities", having the potential to decongest urban sprawl. Indian cities are witnessing immense demographic expansion due to migration from surrounding villages, leading to urban sprawl, housing demand, rise in cost of land. Housing has developed into an economy generating industry. Given this demand, while high-rise residential structures have become a solution in the metropolitan cities, they remain eluded in tier II cities in India. Low-rise or mid-rise high-density dwelling types have developed in these cities. A study of Pune city's housing needs, demands, market, and type of structures being built, reveal that tall buildings of 11 floors are being developed on the city's urban fringe. Most of the high-rise projects remain as proposals. An investigation in this case study reveal that high rise structures are not preferred due to user perception of insecurity in case of fire and high cost of the building. The paper aims at studying the availability and use of fly ash in various proportions, which can be used in Indian high-rise residential buildings. The research paper indicates that fly ash concrete can be used to reduce the cost of construction and has the potential to minimize the damage caused due to high temperature.
Electronic Marketplace: A Distinct Platform for Business-to-Business (B-to-B) Procurement

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine whether buyers perceive different electronic marketplaces (EMs) as distinct types of procurement platforms. More specifically, it empirically investigates to what extent professional buyers expect different benefits from different EM types and perceive different barriers associated with their usage. Methodology: A Web-based survey of purchasing professionals in the United States was conducted with 359 responses received. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed to determine if there are significant differences between EM types with respect to expected benefits (market aggregation and inter-firm collaboration) and perceived barriers (financial risks and trust barriers). Findings: The results show buyers' expectations of benefits differ significantly between public EMs (i.e., third-party exchanges and industry-sponsored marketplaces) and private EMs (i.e., private trading networks), and between neutral EMs (i.e., third-party exchanges) and biased EMs (i.e., private trading networks and industry-sponsored marketplaces). Likewise, their perception of barriers differs significantly between public and private EMs. Research limitations/implications: The research confirmed empirically that EMs are a distinct platform for business-to-business procurement. Nevertheless, by examining EMs from business buyers' perspective, this study necessarily limits itself to purchasing-related issues. Practical implications: By providing insights into buyers' perceptions, our findings can help managers focus their promotional efforts aimed at potential firms that would like to use EM for procurement by emphasizing specific benefits or addressing specific perceived barriers based on the type of EM they manage. Originality/value: This study fills a void in academic literature on EMs that currently contains few empirical studies with respect to EM types. Its main contribution is in establishing empirically that EMs do not constitute a single, homogeneous marketspace but are instead comprised of distinct types that offer users specific benefits and expose them to certain risks.
Influences of Propolis use on Technical, Cost and Allocative Efficiencies of Meat Production in Ross-308 Broilers

The increasing food requirement around the globe is a big consideration for the researchers as well as for the farmers dealing in food production. The technological enhancement and best use of the resources can promise to meet the increasing needs of food. In this realm, this study is focused to test the influences of propolis on meat production of Ross-308 broiler and its effects on technical, cost and allocative efficiencies of chicken production. Four groups of chicken were raised. Feed of experimental groups was supplemented with extract of propolis at doses of 200 mg.kg -1 (T1 group), 300 mg.kg -1 (T2 group) and 400 mg.kg -1 (T3 group) respectively whereas the control (C) was fed without propolis. Feed intake of all groups was recorded and reaching upon 42 days of their age, chicken were slaughtered and weights of economically important parts of chicken were recorded. To estimate the efficiencies, Data Envelopment Analysis was used to estimate the efficiencies (technical, cost and Allocative). The results revealed that with the increase in amount of propolis in the diets of treatment groups, the average feed intake by each chick (on average) in T1, T2 and T3 (treatment groups) decreased by 97.98, 220.58, and 329.37 g, respectively. Moreover, it has different effects on production of different parts of meet. Average meat weight of economic parts of the chicken was calculated in C, T1, T2 and T3 as 2240.57±110.89, 2316.55±92.11, and 2341.26±149.98 and 2339.01±121.15 g, respectively. However, the use of propolis did not influence the efficiency of meat production. On the other hand, with an increase in the amount of propolis in diet of chicken, the cost and allocative efficiency was increased.
Drop Impact Study on Flexible Superhydrophobic Surface Containing Micro-Nano Hierarchical Structures

Superhydrophobic surfaces are abundant in nature. Several surfaces such as wings of butterfly, legs of water strider, feet of gecko and the lotus leaf show extreme water repellence behaviour. Self-cleaning, stain-free fabrics, spill-resistant protective wears, drag reduction in micro-fluidic devices etc. are few applications of superhydrophobic surfaces. In order to design robust superhydrophobic surface, it is important to understand the interaction of water with superhydrophobic surface textures. In this work, we report a simple coating method for creating large-scale flexible superhydrophobic paper surface. The surface consists of multiple layers of silanized zirconia microparticles decorated with zirconia nanoparticles. Water contact angle as high as 159±1 and contact angle hysteresis less than 80 was observed. Drop impact studies on superhydrophobic paper surface were carried out by impinging water droplet and capturing its dynamics through high speed imaging. During the drop impact, the Weber number was varied from 20 to 80 by altering the impact velocity of the drop and the parameters such as contact time, normalized spread diameter were obtained. In contrast to earlier literature reports, we observed contact time to be dependent on impact velocity on superhydrophobic surface. Total contact time was split into two components as spread time and recoil time. The recoil time was found to be dependent on the impact velocity while the spread time on the surface did not show much variation with the impact velocity. Further, normalized spreading parameter was found to increase with increase in impact velocity. Keywords—Contact angle, contact angle hysteresis, contact time, superhydrophobic.
An Empirical Study Appraising Travelers' Resistance to Online Tourism Services of Indian Railway

The synergistic interaction between internet and tourism in recent times has brought revolutionary changes in the functioning of tourism industry and also in the ways travelers seek out information and plan journeys. Indian railway has also initiated the use of internet in its tourism business by introducing an online business portal in January 2008. But this innovative channel used by Indian railway is yet to be reached at a high level of adoption and use by travelers. The purpose of the study is to examine the factors resisting travelers’ to adopt online tourism services offered by Indian Railway and to explore the different categories of non-adopters of these services. The findings of the paper have implications for target marketing strategies designed for those potential travelers or customers who will be instantly responsive to online tourism offerings. The results of the study can also provide a valuable source of information to railway authorities and other travel organizations, which are incorporating or planning to incorporate internet in their tourism businesses, to convince travelers’ for the usefulness and added values of its online initiatives.
A Comparison between Data Mining Methods in Anticipation of Financial Distress and Improvement of Anticipation through Combination of Methods - TI Journals

Abstract: Nowadays, many studies have been conducted on corporate financial distress anticipation using data mining techniques. Artificial Neural Networks, Support Vector Machine and Decision Tree Algorithms are three current methods for data mining to anticipate corporate financial distress. This study compares the anticipation accuracy of these three methods in anticipation of corporate financial distress. The effect of combining these three methods is also studied through relative majority voting method to improve anticipation of corporate financial distress. Statistical population of this study includes 100 sound companies and 100 distressed companies, active in Tehran Stock Exchange Market between 2005 and 2011, which were studied for the two years of “t” and “t-1”. Findings of the study show that decision tree with 95.95% accuracy for the year “t” and artificial neural network with 89.92% accuracy for the year “t-1” have the highest level of efficiency to anticipate corporate financial distress. The results also show that combination of relative majority voting with 93.89% accuracy in the year “t” and 89.89% accuracy in the yea “t-1” is able to anticipate corporate financial distress.
Leadership style and market orientation: an empirical study

There has been considerable research into the barriers to the development of market orientation. However, whilst researchers have alluded to the importance of top management knowledge, skills and commitment, the issues of leadership style has been largely overlooked. This lacuna in marketing theory is despite numerous indirect references to the importance of leaders in developing a market oriented culture. The objective of this study is to explore and describe the role of top management leadership style in influencing the process of market orientation development. Begins with a review of existing definitions of and perspectives on the content and components of market orientation. Thereafter extant research into the barriers and processes of market orientation are examined and critically appraised. Following a discussion of the research methodology adopted, the findings of a survey of leadership style and market orientation are presented. Concludes with a discussion of the implications of this study for theory and practice, highlighting the importance of this avenue of research.
MEMS mass spectrometers : the next wave of miniaturization

This paper reviews mass spectrometers based on micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The MEMS approach to integration is first briefly described, and the difficulties of miniaturizing mass spectrometers are outlined. MEMS components for ionization and mass filtering are then reviewed, together with additional components for ion detection, vacuum pressure measurement and pumping. Mass spectrometer systems containing MEMS sub-components are then described, applications for miniaturized and portable systems are discussed, and challenges and opportunities are presented.
Women’s Business Centers in the United States: Effective Entrepreneurship Training and Policy Implementation

Abstract In the US, the passage of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 (HR5050) provided seed funding for women’s business centers through the Small Business Administration. Women’s business centers were targeted to provide technical assistance to women for business formation, particularly women who were socially and economically disadvantaged. This research examined women’s business centers in the US to ascertain the success of a policy initiative targeted to provide training, technical assistance and support for entrepreneurship by women. We found that women’s business centers in the United States are successfully accomplishing their mission. The success of women’s business centers can be attributed to shared practices targeted specifically to women’s situational and social capital needs. Tailored programming, a relationship-oriented approach, and activities that develop social capital are key practices consistently used by women’s business centers nationwide. US women’s business centers provide an effective model for entrepreneurship training and assistance for women.
Mandatory accounting disclosure by small private companies

This article analyzes how mandatory accounting disclosure is grounded on different rationales for private and public companies. It also explores technological changes, such as computerised databases and the Internet, which have recently made disclosure of company accounts by small companies potentially less costly and more valuable, thanks to electronic filing and universal online access to credit information systems. These recent developments favour policies that would expand the scope of mandatory publication for small companies in countries where it is voluntary. They also encourage policies to reduce the costs and enhance the value of disclosure through administrative reforms of filing, archive and retrieval systems. Survey and registry evidence on how the information in the accounts is valued and used by companies is consistent with these claims about the evolution of the tradeoff of costs and benefits that should guide policy in this area.
Survival outcomes for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: implications for clinical practice and trial design.

BACKGROUND Clinical experience suggests that many women with triple-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) relapse quickly. This has implications for clinical practice and trial design. We evaluated the duration of first-, second-, and third-line chemotherapy as a surrogate for duration of treatment response. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective multicenter chart review of patients with triple-negative MBC receiving palliative chemotherapy. Primary outcome was duration of palliative chemotherapy, and secondary outcome was to identify prognostic variables. RESULTS A total of 111 patients were analyzed. Median age at diagnosis was 51 years (range, 26-82 years). Fourteen percent of patients presented with MBC. Twenty-seven percent received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 48% received adjuvant chemotherapy. Median distant disease-free interval (DDFI) was 18 months (range, 0-172 months). At presentation of MBC, 68% had visceral and 71% had multiple sites of disease. Median survival with MBC was 13.3 months (range, 0.8-99.8 months). Median duration of first-line palliative therapy was 11.9 weeks (range, 0-73.1 weeks). Eighty-seven patients (78%) went on to receive second-line therapy with a median duration of 9 weeks (range, 0-120.9 weeks), and 55 (49%) received third-line therapy with a median duration of 4 weeks (range, 0-59 weeks). Multivariate analysis revealed that age < 50 years, ALP > 120 U/L, history of previous chemotherapy, DDFI < 12 months, and visceral presentation were all independently associated with a poor prognosis. CONCLUSION Despite the poorer overall prognosis of patients with triple-negative disease, there remains considerable heterogeneity in individual outcomes. Many women with recurrent triple-negative disease will progress quickly on first-, second-, and third-line palliative treatment. Future clinical trials in this population must take into account their shorter time to progression when determining optimal trial design.
A Man’s (Precarious) Place

Across three studies, we investigate men’s reactions to women in superior roles. Drawing from precarious manhood theory, we hypothesize that when a woman occupies a superior organizational role, men in subordinate positions experience threat, which leads them to behave more assertively toward her and advocate for themselves. In Studies 1 and 2, we demonstrate that men feel more threatened (relative to women) by women in superior roles (relative to men in superior roles) and, as a result, engage in more assertive behaviors toward these women. In Study 3, we investigate a boundary condition to this effect and demonstrate that a woman in a superior role who displays qualities associated with administrative agency (e.g., directness, proactivity) rather than ambitious agency (e.g., self-promotion, power-seeking) elicits less assertive behavior from men. We conclude by discussing implications as well as directions for future research.
Successful Treatment of Rhino-orbital Mucormycosis Without Exenteration: The Use of Multiple Treatment Modalities

Purpose To describe the successful management of rhino-orbital mucormycosis without the use of orbital exenteration. Method Case report. Results The patient had successful eradication of the fungal infection with retention of normal vision and ocular function. Conclusions The use of multiple treatment modalities including aggressive surgical debridement guided by intraoperative frozen section monitoring, intravenous liposomal amphotericin B, intraorbital regular amphotericin B and hyperbaric oxygen may allow complete resolution of orbital phycomycosis and spare the patient from the blindness and disfigurement associated with exenteration.
Human Resources practices and workplace environmental support

phone: 011-6520366 Abstract. The key to retaining employees lies on the organization's capability of supporting employees by understanding and answering to their intrinsic motivators. It is important for employees to perceive a positive and valuing attitude of the organization toward them in order to have greater motivation for staying in the organization. Such condition for employee retention is based on the social exchange theory which holds that the exchange relationship between employer and employee goes beyond exchange of impersonal resources such as money, information, and service. One of the leading challenges in creating attractive and supporting working environment has be implementing effective human development strategies to enhance organizational performance and employee commitment. Therefore, managing human resources plays a crucial role in a process of increasing organization, starting from line managers who need to be aware of factors that motivate their subordinates to make them perform well, ending up with human resources professionals who have to understand motivation to effectively design and implement reward structure and systems. In employment situation, as in personal relationships, commitment is a tow-away street. If employers want committed employees, they need to be committed employers. Committed employees do better work than uncommitted ones and organizations with committed workers do better financially than organizations with uncommitted ones. Employers need to determine what is responsible for this disparity. Many employees perceive that employers do not value loyalty and are willing to sacrifice workers to maintain the financial bottom line. Employees points to decades of downsizing, rightsizing, and re-engineering as the evidence that employers treat them as expendable commodities when times get tough (Bragg, 2002).