Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL - UFRGS ESCOLA DE ADMINISTRAÇÃO PROGRAMA DE PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM ADMINISTRAÇÃO - PPGA

Research on financial sector governance contributes significantly to analyze the several elements that influence the performance of this sector. However, the research in this area is still limited. One of the reasons is the inherent complexity of the public sector governance notion. The governance, like a complex system, can be described as a system composed by a great number of interdependent entities, with different degrees of relationship. In this research work, the regulatory governance of the financial sector is seen as a complex system, in which the governance is as a phenomenon that results of the several interactions among all actors that influence or are influenced by the regulation activities of the financial sector. In order to cope with the peculiarities of complex systems, an agent-based model is developed and implemented to analyse the regulatory governance of the Brazilian financial sector by simulation experiments. The agent-based models can help to clarify the agents’ interactions and behaviors (micro level), e.g., the non-linear behaviors of the system that are difficult of be captured with mathematical formalisms. The agent-based model is integrated to an econometric model, which is responsible to characterize the macroeconomic environment. The micro environment is modeled by computational agents using the BDI architecture (beliefs-desires-intentions). These agents interact with one another and with the environment. They have beliefs about its environment and desires they want to satisfy, thus making them create intentions to act. The behavior of the agents was modeled using fuzzy logic with rules that were built through content analysis research on newspapers and in-depth interviews with experts of the financial area. The results of the experiments have shown the potential of the agent-based model simulation to study complex environments of regulatory governance.
A IMPORTÂNCIA DA CERTIFICAÇÃO PELA NORMA ISO 9001 NA PERFORMANCE DAS EMPRESAS DO SECTOR DOS TRANSPORTES EM PORTUGAL

Abstract Despite the growing popularity of ISO 9001 certification, there is little empirical evidence of its relationship with organizational performance. The research on this topic is crucial to support the business decision to invest in certified quality systems. This choice should be based on concrete evidence as to their effect on organizational performance, differentiation from the competition and added value. This thesis aims to characterize the impact of quality systems certified according to ISO 9001, in company performance, measured by indicators on which the literature expects improvements can be seen: total assets, net profit, general liquidity, the solvency ratio, return on assets and return on equity. Based on a random sample, provided by Informa D&B, of certified and non-certified firms, explores quantitatively the relationship between ISO 9001 certification and financial performance indicators, determining the impact / importance of it. The sample consisted of 120 versus 5592 certified companies non-certified by ISO 9001 in 2008 and 2009. In conclusion, only financial indicators - Active, RLE, LG and RS - appear to be associated with the impact of ISO 9001 on company performance.
Comparison of a three and four phase interleaved bidirectional DC/DC-converter for the operation in an energy storage system in wind turbines

The increasing penetration of wind power to the electrical grid leads to the need of a stronger contribution of wind turbines to grid control, concerning quality and stability. For the purpose of controlling the active power injection, depending on the needs of the grid and not depending on the power generation, energy storage systems can be used. In this paper this kind of system with a bidirectional interleaved DC/DC-converter and electric double-layer capacitors as storage technology is investigated. The dimensioning of the converter's main elements and its performance for three- and four-phase interleaved configurations is studied and compared. Simulations are carried out in MATLAB/Simulink/Plecs.
[Bone metabolism in child and adolescent athletes: a systematic review].

BACKGROUND Physical exercise is beneficial for the prevention of osteoporosis. Bone metabolism markers are the main indicators of metabolic balance and may indicate early risk in bone tissue. AIM This systematic review aims to summarize and update present knowledge about bone metabolism markers in child and adolescent athletes. METHOD Literature search was conducted up to March 2017 in PubMed and Sport Discus. A total of 19 studies (case-control, longitudinal and randomized control trials) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. RESULTS In females, bone remodeling decreases with age independently of sport practiced. Athletes with amenorrhea had lower levels of both markers of bone turnover than control subjects. High-impact sports present higher biomarkers in females. A brief period of training have positive effects in bone formation markers in adolescent males. CONCLUSIONS The age, sex type of exercise and sport, and performance level of the subjects can deeply affect bone metabolism markers during adolescence. More studies are needed to establish common criteria for metabolic response to physical exercise in these stages.
Influence of oocyte recovery method, in vitro fertilization method and serum source on embryonic development of in vitro matured bovine oocytes

objective of this study was to investigate the influence of various factors on blastocyst development in a bovine in vitro embryo production system. Two production systems were originally compared: Protocol 1, which utilized oocyte recovery by slicing, 20 % fetal bovine serum with FSH (FBS+) for oocyte maturation, and sperm preparation system 1 (F1), and Protocol 2, which utilized oocyte recovery by aspiration, 5 % estrous cow serum with FSH, HCG and estradiol (ECS+) for oocyte maturation, and sperm preparation system 2 (F2). Because a significantly higher blastocyst development rate was found for Protocol 2, the different factors of oocyte recovery technique (slicing vs. aspiration), sperm preparation technique (F1 vs. F2) and serum and hormone supplementation during maturation (FBS+ vs. ECS+) were evaluated. Recovering oocytes using the alternative technique (slicing vs. aspiration) did not significantly alter blastocyst rate on Day 8 within either production system 1 (FBS+/F1) or production system 2 (ECS+/F2). Although investigations of influence of the type of fertilization method revealed no effect, a significant effect of the type of serum was observed on the blastocyst rates with ECS+ proving better as compared to the use of FBS+ (P<0.03). When embryos produced from these investigations were evaluated by differential staining, the number of ICM cells did not differ among treatment, but the number of TE cells, and thus the total cell number, and the ICM : TCN ratio, was significantly increased when oocytes were matured in ECS+ supplemented medium, regardless of sperm preparation method. In conclusion, serum supplementation, but not oocyte recovery method or sperm preparation method, was responsible for the difference in blastocyst rate between the two original IVP protocols.
Current Status of CSR in the Realm of Supply Management: the Case of the Korean Electronics Industry

Purpose – The purpose of this study is two‐fold: to survey research on supply management and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reported over the past two decades; and to carry out an empirical study of the current status of supply management and CSR in the Korean electronics industry.Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on an explorative approach, wherein “triangulation” is adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. A questionnaire survey with a 132‐company sample is employed as a quantitative method and the telephone interviews with 23 samples are used as a qualitative method. By adopting a triangulation approach, rich data and explanatory power can be obtained to answer the research question.Findings – The results of the study show that “environmental” pressures and standards are widely accepted and implemented for supply management in the Korean electronics industry. However, “social” pressures and standards are still not commonly used and there is a lack of implementation.
Profitability and Ownership Structure of US Foreign Ventures

This paper explores a striking empirical pattern that has gone unnoticed in the literature: U.S. multinationals’ joint ventures abroad are substantially and systematically less profitable than their wholly-owned ventures. On average, majority-owned affiliates in manufacturing earned a 6.4% return on assets in 1977-2003, compared to 3% for minority-owned affiliates. This pattern is found across many industries and regions. To explain these findings, we develop a new framework that views both the ownership structure and the profitability of a foreign venture as functions of the value created by the ownershipspecific capabilities that the multinational company brings to the host country. Where these capabilities are strong, the multinational is likely to choose whole ownership; its profits are also likely to be highest in these activities. Where the firm’s capabilities are weak, it is likely to seek additional capabilities from local firms through a joint venture; these investments are also likely to yield lower profits. We test these theoretical predictions by constructing measures of the ownership-specific capabilities, i.e. relative international competitive advantage of US multinationals. Two such measures—a ratio of foreign sales of US MNCs to their sales in the US (or the total sales of all firms, including foreign, in their sector in the US) show a substantial correlation with the gap. We also test for the possible effects of size, age, foreign tax rates and non-dividend payments. With few alterations, our framework can be extended to explain “value destruction” among firms that go abroad or diversify into new industries. Conversely, we use the arguments of these studies to suggest that firms may suffer the same kind of value destruction in forming joint ventures. More broadly, we argue for a return to the micro-economic foundations of MNC theory.
The Challenge of Co-Creation: Corporate Blogs and Collaborative Product Innovation

Purpose - Focusing the attention on firm-hosted online consumers communities, this paper will analyze the managerial challenges that companies have to face to leverage consumers’ creative talent involving them in innovative collaboration processes.Methodology approach - A detailed case history, whose reconstruction was based on non-participant observation. Findings – The paper clarifies some of the “soft” issues that firms have to manage when trying to support effective learning processes with their customers, focusing on the efforts that companies have to made in order to remove all the stumbling blocks that could prevent an ongoing and effective dialogue with their customers. Research implications – The paper suggests an interpretative model of pre-conditions needed to enact online collaborative product innovation, in particular focusing on: barriers to be removed and competences that firms need to develop, in order to promote, maintain and increase customer’s engagement in the exchange; benefits that have to be offered to customer in order to maintain the right level of motivation and participation.Practical implications: The paper specifies some of the main community management activities the firms should learn to governate in order to accrue the probability of their blogs’ success.
Corporate Governance and Stock Liquidity in Australia: A Pitch

This pitch research letter (PRL) applies the pitch template developed by Faff (2015a) to an academic project in corporate finance; that is, corporate governance and market microstructure, namely, stock liquidity for Australian firms. The pitch template is useful in identifying the core elements that form the framework of research project. This PRL encloses a brief background about the pitcher and pitch, followed by a brief commentary on the pitch and personal reflections of the pitcher on the pitch exercise itself.
Assessment of plantar pressure and balance in patients with diabetes

Introduction Patients with diabetes for more than 10 years may have an increase in peak plantar pressure, considerable postural oscillation, balance deficit, alterations in gait pattern and an increased risk of falls. The aim of the present study was to assess the correlation between plantar pressure distribution and balance in patients with diabetes using a pressure platform (Footwork). Material and methods The study was carried out at the Human Movement Clinic of the Centro Universitário de Belo Horizonte (Brazil). The sample was made up of 18 right-handed individuals with type 2 diabetes – 14 females and 4 males – with an average age of 58.72 ±9.54 and an average of 18.56 ±6.61 years since diagnosis. Result Data analysis revealed that greater peak plantar pressure on the right hindfoot led to greater radial displacement (Rd) (r = 0.2022) and greater displacement velocity (r = 0.2240). Greater peak plantar pressure on the left hindfoot also led to greater displacement velocity (P) (r = 0.5728) and radial displacement (RD) (r = 0.1972). A positive correlation was found between time elapsed since diagnosis and peak midfoot pressure (r = 0.3752) on the right and left side as well as between BMI and plantar pressure on all regions of the foot. Conclusions The data reveal a correlation between postural oscillation and peak plantar pressure on the hindfoot.
Exological relationships of bacteria involved in a simple, mixed anaerobic infection

Infectivity of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (formerly B. melaninogenicus subsp. asaccharolyticus; see S. M. Finegold and E. M. Barnes, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 27:388--391, 1977) was dependent on the presence of a second organism. An infective consortium consisting of B. asaccharolyticus and Klebsiella pneumoniae was defined. Neither organism was infective alone, but the Klebsiella could be replaced by organisms of a number of different genera. The nature of the infection appeared to be determined by the length of the lag period preceding the initiation of growth of B. asaccharolyticus. A rapid onset of growth led to the severe spreading form of the disease, whereas a slow initiation of growth resulted in the formation of a localized, self-limiting abscess. B. asaccharolyticus depends on the second or "helper" organism to produce a required growth factor which is not present at the inoculation site. The growth factor was shown to be succinate which was able to replace the hemin requirement. The dependency on succinate produced by K. pneumoniae was demonstrated in agar medium, in liquid culture, and in the infectivity assay. Any organism which produced succinate was able to stimulate growth of B. asaccharolyticus on agar medium and could replace K. pneumoniae as a member of the infectious consortium. The need for the second organism could be eliminated by inoculating B. asaccharolyticus together with agar-immobilized succinate or hemin.
Prognosis and Quality of Survival in a Hospitalized Stroke Population From the South

Likelihood and quality of survival were assessed for patients (79% blacks) consecutively admitted to a southern teaching hospital stroke unit. The functional condition of 260 patients in eight categories of cerebrovascular disease was determined at discharge and three years later. Cumulative probability of five-year survival was calculated for 400 patients and compared to the population at large. Clinical variables were related to the prognosis in 155 patients with anterior circulation infarction. Mortality during hospitalization varied from 8% to 52%. More than half of the patients in most diagnostic groups died within three years of their stroke. Only 22% of patients with anterior circulation infarcts were fully ambulatory three years later. Prognosis worsened markedly with age and known pre-existing hypertension, and survival was decreased in blacks and in men. Overall five-year survival probability for all stroke patients discharged alive was 49%. Survival was similar in patients discharged ambulatory with or without aid, but poor in patients not ambulatory at discharge. Less than half as many individuals in the anterior circulation infarct group survived five years than did in the general population. The prognosis for blacks was even somewhat worse when compared to the black population at large.
Nandrolone androgenic hormone presents genotoxic effects in different cells of mice

Nandrolone is an androgenic–anabolic steroid (AAS) with diverse medical applications but taken indiscriminately by some to rapidly increase muscle mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic and clastogenic potential of nandrolone (deca‐durabolin®) in vivo in different cells of mice, using the comet assay and micronucleus test, respectively. The animals received subcutaneous injection of the three doses of the steroid (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg kg−1 body weight). Cytotoxicity was assessed by scoring 200 consecutive total polychromatic (PCE) and normochromatic (NCE) erythrocytes (PCE–NCE ratio). The results showed a significant dose‐related increase in the frequency of DNA damage in leukocytes, liver, bone marrow, brain and testicle cells at the three tested doses and a significant increase of the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes at all tested doses. Under our experimental conditions, the nandrolone steroid hormone showed genotoxic and clastogenic effects when administered subcutaneously to mice. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
When does conservation genetics matter?

Is this short review we explore the genetic threats facing declining populations, focusing in particular on empirical studies and the emerging questions they raise. At face value, the two primary threats are slow erosion of genetic variability by drift and short-term lowering of fitness owing to inbreeding depression, of which the latter appears the more potent force. However, the picture is not this simple. Populations that have passed through a severe bottleneck can show a markedly reduced ability to respond to change, particularly in the face of novel challenges. At the same time, several recent studies reveal subtle ways in which species are able to retain more useful genetic variability than they ‘should’, for example by enhanced reproductive success among the most outbred individuals in a population. Such findings call into question the validity of simple models based on random mating, and emphasize the need for more empirical data aimed at elucidating precisely what happens in natural populations.
An Educational Ontology-based M-Learning System

Smart devices applications can assist young children in improving their learning capabilities and comprehension skills. However most of learning applications are built without taking into consideration the effective needs and background of Arab users. They are somehow incompatible with their local environment and culture. We propose in this paper a mobile-based educational system that displays illustrations automatically to characterize the content of children’ stories on animal domain, and we use some intelligent technique to answer users’ questions using an educational ontology. The generation of illustrations passes through different phases which include text processing, extraction of word-to-word relationships, building and accessing an ontology, and using Internet search engines for retrieval of complimentary information. The system can be used also by instructors to teach the children in a non-conventional manner. They can customize semantically the structure of the questions and determine how the answers will be displayed. In order to customize questions and answers, we have defined a semantic infrastructure to define the logic of terms, and the workflow of answers. The aim of our system is to improve the children educational skills to grasp vocabulary and grammar using multimedia with a portable smart device which includes observation, comprehension, realization, and deduction. Children will then be able to continue learning outside the limited time of their schools and from any location.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in CAPN10 gene of Chinese people and its correlation with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of northern China.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CAPN10 gene in Chinese population and their relation with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China. METHODS CAPN10 gene was sequenced to detect SNPs in different nationalities of China. Five SNPs were chosen to perform case-control study and haplotype analysis in 156 normal Han people of Northern China and 173 type 2 diabetes. One SNP was also analyzed with transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT) and sib transmission-disequilibrium test (STDT) in 68 type 2 diabetes pedigrees (377 people). RESULTS A total of 40 SNPs were identified in length of 8,936 bp, with an average of 1 in every 223 bp. The SNPs in CAPN10 gene did not distribute evenly and the SNPs in Chinese were different from those reported in Mexican American. There was no significantly statistical difference in the allele frequency of the 5 SNPs between case and control, and the haplotype frequencies in the two groups were not significantly different. No positive results was found in TDT and STDT analysis. CONCLUSIONS The SNP distribution of CAPN10 gene differs in different nationalities. The studied SNPs in CAPN10 gene may not be the major susceptibility ones of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.
An Exploratory Study of Organizational Information Systems Usage and Effectiveness

In the 21 st century, there is no doubt that organizations are using information technologies (IT) to become more effective and efficient, consequently gaining competitive advantages. There are extensive researches on the organizational effectiveness of IT. However, there is lack of empirical study in how organizations are using IT. In this study, using exploratory study methodology, we investigate the usage and effectiveness of a variety of IT in organizations in different industries. Specifically, we focus on the extent of use and the effectiveness of traditional Information Systems (TIS), and two newly-recognized types of IS, E-Commerce (E-C) and Customer Relationship Management systems (CRM). We also examine the impact of industry types on the extensiveness and effectiveness of using specific IT.
Biotyping of Aeromonas isolates as a correlate to delineating a species-associated disease spectrum

A group of 147 Aeromonas isolates from diverse clinical and environmental sources was subjected to the biotyping scheme of Popoff and Veron. Of the 147 isolates biotyped, 137 (93%) could be identified, with Aeromonas hydrophila predominating (48%) and equal percentages (25 to 27%) of the other two species (Aeromonas sobria and Aeromonas caviae). A number of additional biochemical properties were found to be significantly associated with one or more of these three species. These included lysine decarboxylase activity, hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes, lecithinase production, staphylolytic activity, arbutin hydrolysis, and acid production from utilization of various carbohydrates. By incorporating these phenotypic properties into an extended biotyping system, 98% of the isolates were identified. Selective distribution of individual species with respect to certain body sites was noted.