Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of liking for advertising and brand allegiance on drinking and alcohol-related aggression: a longitudinal study.

AIMS To test a hypothesized model of the effect of televised alcohol advertising and allegiance to specific brands of beer on subsequent beer consumption and self-reports of aggressive behaviour linked with drinking. DESIGN Structural equation modelling was used to assess the fit between data collected as part of a longitudinal study of young people's health and development and a hypothesized model based on theoretical perspectives and previous research. SETTING A birth cohort has been assessed every few years, most of them in their home city of Dunedin, New Zealand. The questions about alcohol are asked as part of the day-long assessment. PARTICIPANTS Members of a longitudinal survey cohort at ages 18 and 21 years. Data from 630 beer drinking participants were analysed in this study. MEASUREMENTS Responses to questions about beer consumption, liking for advertising, favourite brand of beer and self-reports of alcohol-related aggressive behaviour. FINDINGS Our hypothesized model assumed a positive impact of liking of alcohol advertising and brand allegiance at age 18 on the volume of beer consumed at age 21 and self-reports of alcohol-related aggressive behaviour. This was found to be a good fit to the data from the longitudinal study. CONCLUSION This measurable impact of alcohol advertising occurred during a time of decline in aggregate alcohol in New Zealand. While this effect was not large enough to halt the decline in aggregate alcohol consumption it does indicate a measurable, specific impact of broadcast alcohol advertising on alcohol consumption and related behaviour which is of relevance for public health policy.
Foreign entry and survival: effects of strategic choices on performance in international markets

This paper investigates effective strategies that can reduce the risk of failure in international expansion by examining the entry and survival of foreign subsidiaries in the U.S. computer and pharmaceutical industries over the 1974-89 period. Using a hazard rate model, we examine the effects of (1) diversification strategies, (2) entry strategies, and (3) organizational learning and experience on the survival probabilities of foreign subsidiaries. The results show a higher exit rate for foreign acquisitions and joint ventures than for subsidiaries established through greenfield investments. The results also indicate a higher exit rate for subsidiaries that diversify than for those that stay in the parent firm's main product areas. Finally, the results show that firms benefit from learning and experience in foreign operations, which improves the chances of success for subsequent foreign investments. These findings shed light on the dynamic process of international expansion and the evolution of the multinational corporation.
A steady‐state theory for processive cellulases

Processive enzymes perform sequential steps of catalysis without dissociating from their polymeric substrate. This mechanism is considered essential for efficient enzymatic hydrolysis of insoluble cellulose (particularly crystalline cellulose), but a theoretical framework for processive kinetics remains to be fully developed. In this paper, we suggest a deterministic kinetic model that relies on a processive set of enzyme reactions and a quasi steady‐state assumption. It is shown that this approach is practicable in the sense that it leads to mathematically simple expressions for the steady‐state rate, and only requires data from standard assay techniques as experimental input. Specifically, it is shown that the processive reaction rate at steady state may be expressed by a hyperbolic function related to the conventional Michaelis–Menten equation. The main difference is a ‘kinetic processivity coefficient', which represents the probability of the enzyme dissociating from the substrate strand before completing n sequential catalytic steps, where n is the mean processivity number measured experimentally. Typical processive cellulases have high substrate affinity, and therefore this probability is low. This has significant kinetic implications, for example the maximal specific rate (Vmax/E0) for processive cellulases is much lower than the catalytic rate constant (kcat). We discuss how relationships based on this theory may be used in both comparative and mechanistic analyses of cellulases.
Worldwide energy analysis of major free cooling methods for data centers

Various free cooling methods are available for data centers that eliminate or reduce the need for mechanical cooling by utilizing outdoor air under certain conditions. It is evident that climate conditions affect the performance of free cooling modes. It also affects the performance of main components of the cooling infrastructure indirectly due to inefficiencies caused by the part load operation during free cooling modes. Hence, modeling key components of the cooling infrastructure is an essential element for reliable assessment of these methods. Most of the studies assessing energy saving potential of free cooling methods in the existing literature follow simpler approaches that do not consider the off-design performance of key cooling equipment. There are a few studies paying attention to these effects, but they address energy saving potential of only certain free cooling methods. This paper presents an overview of a comprehensive thermodynamic modeling study considering the off-design performance of major components of data center cooling infrastructure for an air cooled data center with 1 MW information technology (IT) load. Subsequent modeling effort integrates the most common free cooling methods; Direct Air-Side Economizer (ASE), Indirect Air-Side Economizer (IASE), Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) and Indirect Water-Side Economizer (WSE); into the thermodynamic model of the data center. Based on hour-by-hour annual energy simulations in all climate zones defined by ASHRAE Standard 169-2013, the results provide a comparison of energy and water consumption of data centers utilizing various free cooling methods.
Schedulability analysis and efficient scheduling of rate constrained messages in the TTEthernet protocol

Over time, cyber‐physical systems are becoming mixed criticality systems. As the complexity and the size of these systems grow, computation/communication resources should be more efficient than with traditional systems. TTEthernet is a communication infrastructure that enables the use of a single physical communication infrastructure for distributed mixed criticality applications while providing timely determinism. TTEthernet distinguishes between two traffic categories: the standard event triggered and the time triggered. The latter, for which higher priority is granted, is subject to strong timing guarantees because of strict periodicity constraint that fixes start‐time cycles of time‐triggered messages. In addition, event‐triggered traffic includes rate‐constrained messages that are of lower priority and have a minimum time interval between their transmission. The paper proposes both an on‐line efficient scheduling algorithm and a necessary and sufficient schedulability condition based on the worst case response time computation for rate‐constrained messages while taking into account time‐triggered messages transmission. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Management of Innovation in Small and Medium Enterprises in India: Comparison of I.T. and Pharmaceutical Firms

It is a well-known fact that Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a prominent part in worldwide economy. In India, the contribution of SMEs is about 45 percent of the gross turnover in the manufacturing sector and 40 percent of total exports. These companies are also source of employment to many people and contribute maximum to country’s economy. Knowledge has been recognized as a major determinant of competitive edge. And it has replaced traditional factors with knowledge factors. The result show that innovation does have a positive impact on the size of enterprise, and also on their performance. The paper analyses case studies of some enterprises in information technology and pharmaceutical sector. I.T. firms tend to innovate more due to their impact on the other sectors. They are willing to take more risk with respect to investment and innovation. These further result in more entrepreneurial ventures. More competition in the past has pushed these enterprises into more innovative activities. These case studies look at the background information, management of innovation, factors that influence innovation, resources of innovation that affect implementation of innovative practices in SMEs. Some enterprises are start-ups which have been started by first time entrepreneurs but some are decade old companies which have grown with time. The factors that influence innovation are opportunities, new business proposition, high cost of existing product, aim to have more market share or to be the market leader or to provide affordable technical solution to everybody. The management of innovation differed in the two sample sectors owing to their different nature.
Effectiveness of Family and Caregiver Interventions on Patient Outcomes Among Adults with Cancer or Memory-Related Disorders: A Systematic Review

Database: Ovid MEDLINE(R) Search Strategy: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 exp family/ 2 couples.mp. 3 exp home nursing/ 4 (grandparent: or grandmother: or grandfather:). mp. 5 exp legal guardians/ 6 or/1-5 7 couples therapy/ or family therapy/ or marital therapy/ (8466) 8 6 or 7 9 exp Infertility/ or exp Infertility, Male/ or exp Infertility, Female/ or exp Fertilization in Vitro/ or exp Reproductive Techniques, Assisted/ or exp Insemination, Artificial/ 10 8 not 9 11 limit 10 to (English language and yr=”1980 -Current”) 12 limit 11 to (“newborn infant (birth to 1 month)” or “infant (1 to 23 months)” or “preschool child (2 to 5 years)” or “child (6 to 12 years)”) 13 11 not 12 14 limit 13 to meta analysis 15 (systematic adj review:). mp. 16 13 and 15 17 14 or 16 18 limit 13 to randomized controlled trial
UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B15 (UGT2B15) and UGT2B17 Enzymes Are Major Determinants of the Androgen Response in Prostate Cancer LNCaP Cells*

Uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 2 (UGT2)B15 and B17 enzymes conjugate dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and its metabolites androstane-3α, 17β-diol (3α-DIOL) and androsterone (ADT). The presence of UGT2B15/B17 in the epithelial cells of the human prostate has been clearly demonstrated, and significant 3α-DIOL glucuronide and ADT-glucuronide concentrations have been detected in this tissue. The human androgen-dependent cancer cell line, LNCaP, expresses UGT2B15 and -B17 and is also capable of conjugating androgens. To assess the impact of these two genes in the inactivation of androgens in LNCaP cells, their expression was inhibited using RNA interference. The efficient inhibitory effects of a UGT2B15/B17 small interfering RNA (siRNA) probe was established by the 70% reduction of these UGT mRNA levels, which was further confirmed at the protein levels. The glucuronidation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 3α-DIOL, and ADT by LNCaP cell homogenates was reduced by more than 75% in UGT2B15/B17 siRNA-transfected LNCaP cells when compared with cells transfected with a non-target probe. In UGT2B15/B17-deficient LNCaP cells, we observe a stronger response to DHT than in control cells, as determined by cell proliferation and expression of eight known androgen-sensitive genes. As expected, the amounts of DHT in cell culture media from control cells were significantly lower than that from UGT2B15/B17 siRNA-treated cells, which was caused by a higher conversion to its corresponding glucuronide derivative. Taken together these data support the idea that UGT2B15 and -B17 are critical enzymes for the local inactivation of androgens and that glucuronidation is a major determinant of androgen action in prostate cells.
A study on order effect in a subjective experiment on stereoscopic video quality

Randomization is the best method to avoid any effects on the grading of tiredness or adaptation in a subjective experiment. Researchers' attention usually concentrates on a random order of stimuli in a clip displayed to a subject, but sometimes, due to the large number of stimuli to assess, it is necessary to divide the test material into a few clips and conduct a series of assessment sessions for each subject. Herein we present a study providing on evidence that there are significant differences in subjective assessment depending on the order in which clips are displayed, especially when the experiment concerns assessing the subjective experience of emerging technologies.
Matriz de riesgo y plan de gestión integral en residuos hospitalarios en un centro neuroradioncológico en Cartagena

After the need for procedures and guidelines that facilitate the management of waste, it is proposed to implement a plan for comprehensive management of hospital and similar waste (PGIRHS), to assess the risks through a consistent matrix with the GTC 045 standard so that will provide useful input on safety and health at work, which in turn propend to preserve, maintain and continuously improve the quality of life of workers of the institution. These goals were made through visits to the institution, in which inquiries were applied for the development of procedures for handling, treatment and disposal is given to waste, safety inspections, as well as photographic record at specific points way of support for the research study. In conclusion, the PGIRHS was formulated at the institution, then standards and procedures for effective waste management defined further the risks to which it is exposed center staff, giving a priority to biological risk, based onthis assessed prevention and control measures were passed in an action plan.
Increased susceptibility of leukemia-infected chickens to Marek's disease.

Intramuscular (i.m.) injection of RAV-49 into 1--3 day-old chickens infected with Marek's disease herpes virus (MDHV) by contact led to exceedingly high rate of Marek's disease (MD) incidence. According to the data obtained in three experiments 52 out of 108 (48.1%) chickens fell ill in this group. While in the group uninfected with RAV-49 but contactly infected with MDV-Kekava there were only 11 out of 102, (10.7%) incidences. Simultaneous inoculations of RAV-49 and MDV had no effect on MD morbidity. Increased susceptibility of i.m. RAV-49-infected and contactly MDV-infected chickens to MD was abolished by simultaneous inoculation of RAV-49 and herpes virus of turkeys (HVT).
Modelling functional landscape connectivity from genetic population structure: a new spatially explicit approach

Functional connectivity between spatially disjoint habitat patches is a key factor for the persistence of species in fragmented landscapes. Modelling landscape connectivity to identify potential dispersal corridors requires information about those landscape features affecting dispersal. Here we present a new approach using spatial and genetic data of a highly fragmented population of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in the Black Forest, Germany, to investigate effects of landscape structure on gene flow and to parameterize a spatially explicit corridor model for conservation purposes. Mantel tests and multiple regressions on distance matrices were employed to detect and quantify the effect of different landscape features on relatedness among individuals, while controlling for the effect of geographic distance. We extrapolated the results to an area‐wide landscape permeability map and developed a new corridor model that incorporates stochasticity in simulating animal movement. The model was evaluated using both a partition of the data previously set apart and independent observation data of dispersing birds. Most land cover variables (such as coniferous forest, forest edges, agricultural land, roads, settlements) and one topographic variable (topographic exposure) were significantly correlated with gene flow. Although inter‐individual relatedness inherently varies greatly and the variance explained by geographic distance and landscape structure was low, the permeability map and the corridor model significantly explained relatedness in the validation data and the spatial distribution of dispersing birds. Thus, landscape structure measurably affected within‐population gene flow in the study area. By converting these effects into spatially explicit information our model enables localizing priority areas for the preservation or restoration of metapopulation connectivity.
Effects of climate change on a peri-urban farming community in Lagos, Nigeria

This paper investigates the effects of climate change on agricultural activities in Igbe Farming Community, Lagos, Nigeria. The paper adopts a case study methodology in which structured questionnaires were administered on 161 farmers in the community. Information on the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, their agricultural practices, knowledge of, vulnerability to and adaptation to climate change were obtained. The study revealed that most of the migrants lease their farm plots from the indigenous land owners on annual or biennial basis and made marginal profits of $200 to $350 per farming cycle. Erratic weather patterns and aggressive urban growth of the Lagos Megacity were the major challenges they faced. Forty-eight percent of respondents thus engaged in informal enterprises to cushion the effects. The paper concludes by advancing strategies for addressing identified challenges and these include the establishment of farming cooperatives in order to access agricultural land and support from institutional bodies.
Increased levels of tissue factor activity and procoagulant phospholipids during treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

The use of l‐asparaginase (l‐ASP) in paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is associated with thrombotic complications. We evaluated the activities of tissue factor (TFa), thrombomodulin (TMa) and procoagulant phospholipids (PPL) in 26 consecutive children with ALL (25 B‐ALL and one T‐ALL) treated by the French Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia group (FRALLE)‐2000 protocol. Samples were obtained at diagnosis, after glucocorticoid (GC) therapy, during the induction phase with l‐ASP, vincristine (VCR) and adriamycin (ADR), during the re‐induction and within the week after treatment. Plasma levels of TFa, TMa and PPL increased gradually and significantly during the different phases of the treatment, with higher levels observed during the induction period, and decreased after treatment discontinuation. In vitro studies showed that the different drugs used for ALL treatment could induce a weak expression of TF and procoagulant activity (PCA) on normal and leukaemia blood cells, while a marked effect was observed on endothelial cells. In conclusion, these data indicate that, in addition to the well‐identified increased in coagulation factors and inhibitor deficiencies, the injury of the endothelium could lead to the release of TF and PPL and could contribute to the hypercoagulability of children treated for ALL.
Semi-supervised semantic labeling of adaptive cell decomposition maps in well-structured environments

We present a semi-supervised approach for semantic mapping, by introducing human knowledge after unsupervised place categorization has been combined with an adaptive cell decomposition of an occupancy map. Place categorization is based on clustering features extracted from raycasting in the occupancy map. The cell decomposition is provided by work we published previously, which is effective for the maps that could be abstracted by straight lines. Compared to related methods, our approach obviates the need for a low-level link between human knowledge and the perception and mapping sub-system, or the onerous preparation of training data for supervised learning. Application scenarios include intelligent warehouse robots which need a heightened awareness in order to operate with a higher degree of autonomy and flexibility, and integrate more fully with inventory management systems. The approach is shown to be robust and flexible with respect to different types of environments and sensor setups.
Effectiveness of tension-free vaginal tape compared with transobturator tape in women with stress urinary incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy of transobturator tape with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency. METHODS: One hundred sixty-four women diagnosed with urodynamic stress incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency with or without concomitant pelvic organ prolapse repair were randomized to receive TVT or transobturator tape. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of urodynamic stress incontinence at 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were the rate of operative complications, symptomatic stress incontinence requiring further surgery, and quality-of-life questionnaires. RESULTS: Of 180 women eligible to participate, 164 were enrolled and underwent surgery. Of the 138 patients assessed at 6 months with urodynamic studies, 14 of 67 (21%) had urodynamic stress incontinence in the TVT group compared with 32 of 71 (45%) in the transobturator tape group ( P (cid:1) . 004), with nine women in the transobturator tape group having repeat sling surgery compared with none in the TVT group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the incident rate difference for request of repeat surgery was 9.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0–19.9); repeat surgery would be requested in one of every six transobturator tape procedures compared with 1 of every 16 TVT procedures. The risk ratio of repeat surgery was 2.6 (95% CI 0.9–9.3) times higher in the transobturator tape group. CONCLUSION: Retropubic TVT the tape
Models, theories and methods of studying online behaviour

While there is a growing body of work that documents online behavior in its different forms, there has been little research that develops holistic models and theories of online behavior. This workshop will draw together internet researchers to develop new understandings of online behavior across a diversity of activities and applications. The emphasis is on new theories and models that can be used to understand and predict social behavior as underlying technologies change. This workshop will work as a valuable bridge across individual disciplines and empirical studies supporting the generalization of understandings and approaches.
Analysis of developments in EU capital flows in the global context. Bruegel Final study Bruegel N° 2015.2574, November 2015

Free movement of capital, which is one of the four fundamental economic freedoms of the European Union, can enhance welfare if it leads to better allocation of financial and productive resources. However, it can also be a source of vulnerability, with far-reaching spillovers. Monitoring and assessing capital flows is therefore crucial for policymakers, market participants and analysts.
A New Chosen IV Statistical Attack on Grain-128a Cipher

Grain-128a is a well-known stream cipher which has resisted against all types of single-key attacks since its introduction in 2011. A chosen IV conditional differential attack was applied on Grain-128a with 177 initial rounds. It was a distinguishing attack. Another conditional differential attack was recovered 18 secret key expressions of Grain-128a with 169 initial rounds. We propose a new chosen IV statistical attack on Grain-128a upon d-monomial tests and cube testers. Our attack enables us to distinguish between random sequences and keystreams of Grain-128a up to 169 initial rounds with the 2^26 computational complexity. Better results can be achieved by more computational complexity. The proposed attack is applicable to all symmetric ciphers and hash functions, and it can reveal the weaknesses that are not possible to be found by d-monomial tests. The attack was practically verified.