Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical Distribution: Has It Reached Maturity?

In 1966, Professor Donald J. Bowersox mused that the acceptance of the physical distribution (logistics) concept was in “semi‐maturity”. The question then becomes—now, more than a decade later, has the concept of physical distribution reached maturity? Today, most senior executives at least recognise that physical distribution activities generally represent a significant expense item to their firms. While their respective views of the importance of physical distribution vary, most can empathise with this anonymous observation: “Line executives are a happily blessed race who radiate confidence and power. They stride confidently. They can develop a new pathway to greater profits by using decisive words and gestures. However, each line executive usually has one or more logisticians riding on his back. He knows that, at any moment, the logisticians may lean forward and whisper, “No, you can't do that”. ”
Effect of microRNA‐34a in cell cycle, differentiation, and apoptosis: A review

The tumor suppressor gene p53 was shown to directly regulate the expression of microRNA‐34a (miR‐34a). miR‐34a regulates a plethora of target proteins, which are involved in cell cycle, apoptosis, differentiation, and cellular development.miR‐34a resides in the region of chromosome 1p36.23, which is commonly deleted in many tumor types, while it results in the loss expression of miR‐34a. The promoters of the miR‐34a gene subject to inactivation by CpG methylation also induce the loss expression of miR‐34a. Ectopic miR‐34a expression induces apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and differentiation or reduces migration. This review summarizes the progress regarding the role of miR‐34a in cell cycle, differentiation, and apoptosis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 26:79–86 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/jbt.20412
Orientation Modulation for Data Hiding in Chrominance Channels of Direct Binary Search Halftone Prints

In this article, we propose a joint halftoning and data hiding technique for color images. To ensure high quality of the printed image, the color direct binary search (CDBS) iterative halftoning algorithm is used. The proposed approach uses the commonly available cyan, magenta and yellow colorants to hide data in the chrominance channels. Orientation modulation is used for data embedding during the iterative CDBS halftoning stage. The detector is using PCA-learned components to extract the embedded data from the scanned image. Experimental results show that this proposed CDBS-based data hiding method offers both higher data hiding capacity and higher robustness to the print-and-scan channel when compared to the state-of-the-art grayscale counterpart method. The relatively high correct detection rate make this approach suitable for applications which require exact extraction of embedded data in prints. c © 2016 Society for Imaging Science and Technology. [DOI: 10.2352/J.ImagingSci. Technol.2016. 60.5. 050407] INTRODUCTION Despite the expansion of digital media, printed content will be used in the foreseeable future. Large number of official documents such as birth and citizenship certificates, identification cards, passports and educational diplomas still use the printed format. Magazines, posters, billboards, or product packaging, are just other examples of commonly used printed media. For many of these prints there is an increasing need for technologies that allow data to be embedded into the printed content, preferably in an imperceptible way, so that the data can be subsequently extracted using suitable imaging devices – such as scanners and consumer cameras. This approach for data hiding, also known as watermarking,1 provides additional functionalities for security applications like document authentication, tamper detection, source control, or steganography. Other than security applications, hiding data can be used in general to create ‘‘smart’’ prints2 where the embedded data may give additional information about the printed content, or point to an URL where the user can explore more options related to the print. Printers are typically binary devices which either deposit ink or not at a given location on the printing media.
Release of Albumin from Oligoester Plastic Matrices: Effect of Magnesium Oxide and Bivalent Stearates

Biodegradable implantable matrices containing bovine serum albumin were prepared from oligoesters by melting, and subsequently tested on in vitro albumin release. The linear poly (DL-lactic acid) and the branched terpolymer of DL-lactic acid, glycolic acid, and mannitol were synthesized. Products were of similar molecular weight and possessed different thermal and swelling characteristics. Oligoesters were loaded with 4% albumin and plasticized by 30% triacetin. Other additives added into the matrices as albumin stabilizers were divalent stearates and magnesium oxide. The influences of oligomer molecules constitution, divalent ion stearates or magnesium oxide addition, and triacetin concentration on the albumin release were quantified. SDS-PAGE revealed protein hydrolysis during the dissolution tests.
ULTRASTRUCTURE AND CYTOCHEMISTRY OF IN VITRO INTERACTIONS OF THE ANTAGONISTIC BACTERIA BACILLUS CEREUS X16 AND B. THURINGIENSIS 55T WITH FUSARIUM ROSEUM VAR. SAMBUCINUM

SUMMARY The present studies were undertaken to investigate the interaction of the bacterial antagonists Bacillus cereus X16 and B. thuringiensis 55T with Fusarium roseum var. sambucinum, the causal agent of potato dry rot. On wounded potato tubers, both bacilli effectively suppressed the development of Fusarium dry rot. Nevertheless, confrontation of the fungal pathogen with the antagonists on nutrient agar revealed that B. cereus X16, induced a strong visible inhibition zone but B. thuringiensis 55T did not. Light microscopy of the interaction regions after confrontation with B. cereus X16 on nutrient agar generally showed apparently intact fungal cells with densely stained protoplasm, indicating that the inhibition was due to stasis rather than toxicity. By contrast, in presence of B. thuringiensis, Fusarium cells appeared markedly damaged, with partial to complete cell wall disintegration and disorganization and generally complete loss of protoplasm. These observations suggest that, contrary to our expectations, antibiotic and chitinolytic activities of B. thuringiensis 55T may be highly significant in the parasitism of the pathogen. Confrontation in liquid medium revealed that both bacteria completely inhibited the germination of Fusarium macroconidia and resulted in their destruction. This suggests that, to produce their fungitoxic and hydrolytic effects, the two bacteria should make intimate contact with Fusarium cells.
Branched N‐glycans regulate the biological functions of integrins and cadherins

Glycosylation is one of the most common post‐translational modifications, and approximately 50% of all proteins are presumed to be glycosylated in eukaryotes. Branched N‐glycans, such as bisecting GlcNAc, β‐1,6‐GlcNAc and core fucose (α‐1,6‐fucose), are enzymatic products of N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase III, N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase V and α‐1,6‐fucosyltransferase, respectively. These branched structures are highly associated with various biological functions of cell adhesion molecules, including cell adhesion and cancer metastasis. E‐cadherin and integrins, bearing N‐glycans, are representative adhesion molecules. Typically, both are glycosylated by N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase III, which inhibits cell migration. In contrast, integrins glycosylated by N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase V promote cell migration. Core fucosylation is essential for integrin‐mediated cell migration and signal transduction. Collectively, N‐glycans on adhesion molecules, especially those on E‐cadherin and integrins, play key roles in cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix interactions, thereby affecting cancer metastasis.
Project Cost Management in the Israeli High-Tech Industry: State of the Practice and Perceived Needs

Cost management is a topic of main interest in the area of project management. This paper reports on an exploratory study designed to ascertain the current state of the practice in the area of project cost management among Israeli high technology firms. Three main issues were examined: (1) the extent by which project managers implement various cost management tools and techniques; (2) project managers’ perceptions of the contribution of various cost management tools to improvement of the organization's cost management system; (3) project managers' perception of the usefulness of the organization's cost management tools and cost management system in promoting its needs. Data was collected with a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 31 high-tech companies or divisions of large companies in Israel. The respondents were high-level senior project managers or managers of departments or units whose main activity is project management. Following the statistical analysis of the data we point out several directions for further development. Project Cost Management in the Israeli High-Tech Industry: State of the Practice and Perceived Needs
Relationship between topographic heterogeneity and vegetation patterns in a Californian salt marsh

Abstract Questions: Are species richness and species abundances higher in the presence of tidal creeks? Do species richness and species abundances vary with plot size? Location: Intertidal plain of Volcano Marsh, Bahia de San Quintin, Mexico. Methods: We analysed vegetation patterns in large areas (cells) with tidal creeks (+creek) and without (−creek). We surveyed vegetation cover, microtopography, habitat type, and distance to creeks in nested plots of five sizes, 0.1, 0.25, 1, 2.5, and 10 m2. Results: Species richness, frequency, cover, and assemblages differed between ±creek cells. Richness tended to be higher in +creek cells, and cover and frequency of individual species differed significantly between ±creek cells. We found consistent patterns in vegetation structure across plot sizes. We encountered 13 species that occurred in 188 unique assemblages. The most common assemblage had six species: Batis maritima, Frankenia salina, Salicornia bigelovii, S. virginica, Salicornia spec. and Triglochin concinna. This assemblage occurred in ±creek cells and at all spatial scales. Of the most common assemblages all but one were composed of multiple species (3–9 species/plot). Conclusions: The persistence of vegetation patterns across a 100-fold range in spatial scale suggests that similar environmental factors operate broadly to determine species establishment and persistence. Differences in assemblage composition result from variation of frequency and cover of marsh plain species, particularly Suaeda esteroa and Monanthochloe littoralis. The recommendation for restoration of Californian salt marshes is to target (and plant) multi-species assemblages, not monocultures. Nomenclature: Hickman (1993).
EspA, a protein secreted by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, is required to induce signals in epithelial cells

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a leading cause of infant diarrhoea. EPEC mediates several effects on host epithelial cells, including activation of signal‐transduction pathways, cytoskeletal rearrangement along with pedestal and attachingleffacing lesion formation. It has been previously shown that the EPEC eaeB (espB) gene encodes a secreted protein required for signal transduction and adherence, while eaeA encodes intimin, an EPEC membrane protein that mediates intimate adherence and contributes to focusing of cytoskeletal proteins beneath bacteria. DNA‐sequence analysis of a region between eaeA and eaeB identified a predicted open reading frame (espA) that matched the amino‐terminal sequence of a 25 kDa EPEC secreted protein. A mutant with a non‐polar insertion in espA does not secrete this protein, activate epithelial cell signal transduction or cause cytoskeletal rearrangement. These phenotypes were complemented by a cloned espA gene. The espA mutant is also defective for invasion. It is concluded that espA encodes an EPEC secreted protein that is necessary for activating epithelial signal transduction, intimate contact, and formation of attaching and effacing lesions, processes which are central to pathogenesis.
Trends and patterns in inter-firm R&D networks in the global computer industry: a historical analysis of major developments during the period 1970-1999.

We present a historical analysis of major trends in inter-firm R&D partnering in the international computer industry during the period 1970-1999. We first discuss different modes of R&D cooperation in the context of the overall growth patterns in R&D partnerships. We also examine major changes in the structure of R&D partnering networks, by studying both network-level characteristics and partnering behavior at the level of individual firms. This part of the analysis shows the change from extremely sparse and disconnected networks into very dense and well-connected networks. In addition, we analyze the important role played by individual companies when these sparse networks developed into very dense networks. This development coincides with the transition from the old, vertically organized computer industry into a new, horizontally organized computer industry as it emerged towards the end of the previous century.
Ownership Structure, Corporate Characteristics and Scale of Boards of Directors!in Listed Companies

The boards of directors, as the highest control system in companies, have become the focus of research in the academic field throughout the world, and the scale of a board of directors has attracted a lot of attention. Using the data of 1176 listed corporations in China, our empirical study demonstrates that internal stock ownership is negatively correlated with the scales of boards of directors, and external shareholders' supervision positively correlated with the scales of boards of directors. With the increase of the proportion of independent directors, the scale tends to decrease: the independent director's proportion has risen from 22% to 33%, and this will probably result in the reduction of the number of directors by 1 person.
Constituents ofCroton menthodorus and their effects on electrically induced contractions of the guinea‐pig isolated ileum

The present study examines the effects of the extracts [petroleum ether, CHCl3, CHCl3MeOH (9:1) and MeOH], partially purified fractions and pure compounds from Croton menthodorus on the electrically induced contractions of the isolated guinea‐pig ileum (ECI).
Interbody fusion cages in reconstructive operations on the spine.

During the last five years, surgeons around the world have inserted more than 80,000 lumbar interbody fusion cages; in the United States alone, an estimated 5000 such devices are implanted each month. The recent interest in performing lumbar interbody arthrodesis with use of cages is attributable to three factors: the high rate of failure associated with use of bone graft alone3,22,26,45,46,71,82,84,94,96,106,107; the high rate of failure associated with use of posterior pedicle-screw instrumentation39,97,102; and the high rate of success associated with use of so-called stand-alone anterior fusion cages and autogenous bone graft, obviating the need to perform a 360-degree (combined anterior and posterior) lumbar arthrodesis with use of posterior instrumentation77. The purpose of the current review is to summarize the information in the literature with regard to the background, rationale, indications, techniques, results, and possible future developments of interbody arthrodesis for reconstruction of the spine. Early techniques of arthrodesis with use of allograft or autogenous graft and without instrumentation were associated with a high rate of failure. In a classic study, Stauffer and Coventry96 reported on eighty-three patients who had had an anterior interbody arthrodesis between 1959 and 1967. Of seventy-seven patients who were followed clinically for an average of 3.75 years after the procedure, twenty-eight (36 percent) had good (76 to 100 percent) relief of pain, fifteen (19 percent) had fair (26 to 75 percent) relief, and thirty-four (44 percent) had poor (0 to 25 percent) relief. Thirty (44 percent) of sixty-eight patients who were evaluated radiographically at a minimum of eighteen months postoperatively had a pseudarthrosis. Stauffer and Coventry defined radiographic fusion as “a pattern …
Analysis of Gingival Crevicular Fluid as Applied to the Diagnosis of Oral and Systemic Diseases

Abstract: Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), a serum transudate or inflammatory exudate, can be collected from the gingival crevice surrounding the teeth. As such, the fluid reflects the constituents of serum, the cellular response in the periodontium, and contributions from the gingival crevice. The study of GCF has focused on defining the pathophysiology of periodontal disease, and identification of a potential diagnostic test for active periodontitis. The majority of markers that have been identified as potential candidates for such a test are measures of inflammation (i.e., prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), neutrophil elastase, and the lysosomal enzyme β‐glucuronidase). Further, analysis of inflammatory markers in GCF may assist in defining how certain systemic disorders (e.g., diabetes mellitus) can modify periodontal disease, and how periodontal disease/periodontal inflammation can influence certain systemic disorders (i.e., cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases). Methodological concerns related to the collection and analysis of GCF are important factors that need to be considered when studying GCF. Practical concerns argue against the widespread clinical application of GCF as an adjunct to periodontal diagnosis. Rather, analysis of GCF‐derived mediators in saliva may serve as a means of rapid screening for periodontal disease.
Case on Modeling of Manufacturing Systems by Modified IDEF0 Technique

A filled, two-part plastic-producing system is described. This system is based on the use of unsaturated polyester resin and a benzoyl peroxide paste curing agent. By modification of either or both parts of the system, its utility is greatly enhanced. Further a cement composition useful in a filled two-part grout-producing system is described.
Aeromonas spp. possess at least two distinct type IV pilus families.

Type IV pili have been purified from strains of most of the Aeromonas species associated with gastroenteritis (A. veronii biovar sobria, A. hydrophila, A. trota and A. caviae). They appear to be a related family (molecular mass of pilin 19 to 23 kDa) with a tendency to bundle-formation. Hence, we have designated them 'bundle-forming pili' (Bfp). A type IV pilus biogenesis gene cluster (tapABCD) recently cloned from a strain of A. hydrophila, however, encoded a 17 kDa pilin which differed significantly in its N-terminal amino acid sequence from the Bfp pilins. This paper describes the cloning of part (tapA and approximately 20% of tapB) of a homologous pilin gene cluster from a Bfp-positive strain of A. veronii biovar sobria, and presents evidence that the entire pilin gene cluster (tapABCD) is present in this strain. The predicted N-terminal amino acid sequence of the pilin encoded by the A. veronii biovar sobria tapA differed markedly from the corresponding sequence of its Bfp pilin, and those of the Bfp purified from other Aeromonas strains and species. Probing with tapA and tapD genes showed that these Bfp-positive Aeromonas strains also possessed the Tap gene cluster. TapA proteins of A. veronii biovar sobria and A. hydrophila shared 53% identity and 63% homology. We conclude that Aeromonas species are potentially able to express at least two distinct families of type IV pili (Bfp and Tap).
Is There Discrimination in Mortgage Pricing? The Case of Overages

We conduct an empirical investigation to explain observed differentials in mortgage overage pricing. Our analysis makes several contributions. First, we study an area of mortgage pricing that is little understood by consumers and has received little scrutiny in the literature. Second, we consider the impact of the market power of individual loan officers on overages paid by borrowers, particularly minorities. Third, we include a number of borrower and lender characteristics not available in previous analysis. ; Importantly, we introduce a new direct measure of the market power of individual loan officers. We also incorporate the interactive effects of loan officer market power and the race of the borrower in determining the rate of the mortgage loan. Through the use of these new variables and employing proprietary data from different branches of a nationwide mortgage lending institution, we conclude that the market power of the lender and the bargaining or negotiating ability of the borrower are important determinants of overages. We find that overages paid by minorities who purchase homes are larger than those paid by whites. Our evidence suggests that this is due to differences in the pools of borrowers rather than to racial discrimination. Indeed, tests show that the pool of refinancings is more homogeneous across races than the pool for purchases, and we find no differences by race for refinancings. We conclude that a more effective way to eliminate racial differences in overages is to pursue policies designed to increase the ability of minorities to bargain more effectively rather than to enact additional antidiscrimination laws.
Nitric Oxide Generated from Isoniazid Activation by KatG: Source of Nitric Oxide and Activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH) is a frontline antituberculosis agent. Once taken up by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, INH requires activation by the catalase-peroxidase KatG, converting INH from its prodrug form into a range of bactericidal reactive species. Here we used 15N-labeled INH together with electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping techniques to demonstrate that nitric oxide (NO˙) is generated from oxidation at the hydrazide nitrogens during the activation of INH by M. tuberculosis KatG. We also observed that a specific scavenger of NO˙ provided protection against the antimycobacterial activity of INH in bacterial culture. No significant increases in mycobacterial protein nitration were detected, suggesting that NO˙ and not peroxynitrite, a nitrating metabolite of NO·, is involved in antimycobacterial action. In conclusion, INH-derived NO· has biological activity, which directly contributes to the antimycobacterial action of INH.
THE INVESTIGATION OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HERDING BEHAVIOR WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES IN TEHRAN STOCK EXCHANGE

In this paper, the relationship between herding behaviour and characteristics of investment companies in Tehran stock exchange and also high big minus low (HML) and book value to market value (SMB) in these companies is investigated and the Koch model has been used. LSV model has been used to calculate herding and the Eviews software to do the related statics tests. Also OLS and GLS methods have been used to analyze and explain the data and also test the hypotheses. Besides, in this paper the data has been calculated and evaluated quarterly. The results of the research show the significant relationship between herding behaviour and characteristics of investment companies. Besides, these results show there is no significant relationship between the herding of the companies and the variables of the high big minus low and the ratio of book value to market value. But the market returns is positively related to the herding behaviour in the investment companies.