Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How hard does the tax bite hurt? Croatian vs. European worker

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the tax burden in Croatia and to find out whether and how the size and the structure of total labour costs affect functioning of the labour market. The tax wedge, together with employment and unemployment rates, is brought into play to classify EU countries and Croatia into clusters using K-means and hierarchical clustering. Results show that Croatia is classified among countries with high tax wedge and high unemployment rate. The same holds when, instead of tax wedge, personal average tax rate is considered. However, in Croatia most of the tax burden is borne by the the employees, not by the employers. Thus, the average Croatian industry worker bears a relatively high tax burden, which is exacerbated when the newly introduced “crisis tax” and the VAT are taken into account.
Lignin Biosynthesis and Structure1

Lignin is the generic term for a large group of aromatic polymers resulting from the oxidative combinatorial coupling of 4-hydroxyphenylpropanoids ([Boerjan et al., 2003][1]; [Ralph et al., 2004][2]). These polymers are deposited predominantly in the walls of secondarily thickened cells, making them
Hypoventilation in Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-shortening genetic disorder in Caucasians. With the improved treatments that have become available, the median survival for patients with this disorder has increased to 37.4 years of age. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of patients still die from respiratory failure. Hypoventilation, arising from a variety of etiologies, may occur as part of the disease process and causes increased morbidity and mortality. Although inspiratory muscles training, oxygen therapy, and noninvasive ventilation are used in the treatment of hypoventilation in CF, more data are needed to guide their optimal use.
From the Origin of Sex-Determining Factors to the Evolution of Sex-Determining Systems

Sex determination is typically classified as either genotypic or environmental. However, this dichotomy obscures the developmental origin and evolutionary modification of determinants of sex, and therefore hinders an understanding of the processes that generates diversity in sex-determining systems. Recent research on reptiles and fish emphasizes that sex determination is a multifactorial regulatory process that is best understood as a threshold dichotomy rather than as the result of genetically inherited triggers of development. Here we critically assess the relationship between the developmental origin of sex-determining factors and evolutionary transitions in sex-determining systems. Our perspective emphasizes the importance of both genetic and nongenetic causes in evolution of sex determination and may help to generate predictions with respect to the evolutionary patterns of sex-determining systems and the underlying diversity of developmental and genetic regulatory networks.
Influence of transition rates and scan rate on kinetic simulations of differential scanning calorimetry profiles of reversible and irreversible protein denaturation.

The thermodynamic parameters characterizing protein folding can be obtained directly using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). They are meaningful only for reversible unfolding at equilibrium, which holds for small globular proteins; however, the unfolding or denaturation of most large, multidomain or multisubunit proteins is either partially or totally irreversible. The simplest kinetic model describing partially irreversible denaturation requires three states: Formula [see text] We obtain numerical solutions for N, U, and D as a function of temperature for this model and derive profiles of excess specific heat (Cp) in terms of the reduced variables v/ki and k1/k3, where v is the scan rate. The three-state model reduces to the two-state reversible or irreversible models for very large or very small values of k1/k3, respectively. The apparent transition temperature (Tapp) is always reduced by the irreversible step (U-->D). For all values of k3, Tapp is independent of v/k1 at sufficiently slow scan rates, even when denaturation is highly irreversible, but increases identically for all models at fast scan rates in which case the excess specific heat profile is determined by the rate of unfolding. Accurate values of delta H and delta S can be obtained for the reversible step only when k1 is more than 2000-50,000 times greater than k3. In principle, approximate values for the ratio k1/k3 can be obtained from plots of fraction unfolded vs fraction irreversibly denatured as a function of temperature; however, the fraction irreversibly denatured is difficult to measure accurately by DSC alone. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Second allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in relapsed acute and chronic leukaemias for patients who underwent a first allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: a survey of the Société Française de Greffe de Moelle (SFGM)

Although recurrent malignancy is the most frequent indication for second stem cell transplantation (2nd SCT), there are few reports that include sufficiently large numbers of patients to enable prognostic factor analysis. This retrospective study includes 150 patients who underwent a 2nd SCT for relapsed acute myeloblastic leukaemia (n = 61), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (n = 47) or chronic myeloid leukaemia (n = 42) after a first allogeneic transplant (including 26 T‐cell‐depleted). The median interval between the first transplant and relapse, and between relapse and second transplant was 17 months and 5 months respectively. After the 2nd SCT, engraftment occurred in 93% of cases, 32% of patients developed acute graft‐vs.‐host disease (GVHD) grade II and 38% chronic GVHD. The 5‐year overall and disease‐free survival were 32 ± 8% and 30 ± 8%, respectively, with a risk of relapse of 44 ± 12% and a transplant‐related mortality of 45 ± 9%. In a multivariate analysis, five factors were associated with a better outcome after 2nd SCT: age < 16 years at second transplant; relapse occurring more than 12 months after the first transplant; transplantation from a female donor; absence of acute GVHD; and the occurrence of chronic GVHD. The best candidates for a second transplant are likely to be patients with acute leukaemia in remission before transplant, in whom the HLA‐identical donor was female and who relapsed more than 1 year after the first transplant.
1.6 million elementary school children have ADHD, says report

About 1.6 million cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been diagnosed in American elementary school children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In a new report the CDC said that about half of the children in whom the disorder was diagnosed had also been identified as having a learning disability. “This report serves as a snapshot of a condition that has important consequences for the development of school age children,” said the CDC's acting director, David Fleming. “However, much more needs to be learned about ADHD and about the spectrum …
[Causes of obesity].

The aetiology and treatment of obesity requires a knowledge of the mechanisms that control the homeostasis of the fuel substrates and adiposity. The processes of regulation adjust the supply of macronutrients and energy demands with the aim of maintaining a stable body mass. In the light of the most recent research, the hypothesis can be advanced that the control of body weight and its composition depends on an axis integrated by three self-regulated components: appetite, stores thermogenesis and fat deposits. The most important factors involved in obesity seem to be dietary habits diet and physical activity, which are affected by genes, which in their turn affect energy expenditure, the metabolism of energy substrates and food consumption. However, the growing rates of obesity cannot be explained exclusively by genetic causes, since they are in some cases associated with the consumption of diets with a high energy density or rich in fat, and by a growing sedentary life style in society, both in developed and developing countries. The study of genetics and life style involved in the increase of body weight and obesity can facilitate the implementation of preventive actions.
Business Management

The business management discussed in this article includes the functions and roles of management, company organization, management of the production of goods and services, and management of human resources. The main focus is understanding how effective management can improve company performance through strategic planning, good organization, efficient production supervision, and human resource management oriented towards developing employee potential. This article details the importance of integrating all these aspects in achieving business goals and increasing a company's competitiveness in a dynamic business environment. This article was created using the Literature Study Method by searching from book sources related to Business Management which were then studied and collected into data. In business management, the role and function of management is very crucial. Management is responsible for organizing the company, managing the production of goods and services, and managing human resources. By designing efficient organizational structures, coordinating production processes, and leading human resource development, management helps achieve business goals in a sustainable manner. Overall, the role of integrated management plays a key role in the success and growth of the business.
Corneal Neovascularization: A Translational Perspective

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) results from the growth of new vessels from the limbal vasculature into the normally avascular cornea. As the second cause of severe visual impairment worldwide, it represents a major clinical problem. This occurs because CNV often leads to corneal opacification, thus reducing visual acuity. CNV is a well characterized and complex process, which includes different aspects of the corneal tissue: degradation of the epithelial basement membrane, remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and proliferation of endothelial cells. A number of studies have investigated the molecular mechanisms regulating corneal angiogenesis, and various mechanisms have been identified. This paper will review corneal neovascularization and its relevance to human disorders. Additionally, we will describe experimental models commonly used to study CNV, the role of innate immune cells in inflammatory-induced angiogenesis, current therapies, and future directions.
Crowdsourcing Information Systems - A Systems Theory Perspective

Crowdsourcing harnesses the potential of large and open networks of people. It is a relatively new phenomenon and attracted substantial interest in practice. Related research, however, lacks a theoretical foundation. We propose a system- theoretical perspective on crowdsourcing systems to address this gap and illustrate its applicability by using it to classify crowdsourcing systems. By deriving two principal dimensions from theory, we identify four fundamental types of crowdsourcing systems that help to distinguish important features of such systems. We analyse their respective characteristics and discuss implications and requirements for various aspects related to the design of such systems. Our results demonstrate that systems theory can inform the study of crowdsourcing systems. The identified system types and the implications on their design may prove useful for researchers to frame future studies and for practitioners to identify the right crowdsourcing systems for a particular purpose.
A Simple Inexpensive Method for the Production of Tissue Microarrays from Needle Biopsy Specimens: Examples with Prostate Cancer

The use of tissue microarrays has become an efficient method for the high-throughput analysis of tissues with molecular markers, yet these studies have not been used to leverage the limited materials present in needle biopsies of human tissues. The use of these biopsy tissues is crucial to study diseases in patients who are treated by nonsurgical methods such as radiation, chemotherapy, or palliative care. The authors present a simple, inexpensive method for using needle biopsy specimens in tissue microarrays. Using this process with prostate cancer specimens, the authors demonstrate that over 150 slides can be produced from a single area of cancer in a needle biopsy and that the length of the core involved by cancer in the needle biopsy determines the number of available tissue microarray slides. The authors also note the optimal number of samples (three) needed from a single patient biopsy to guarantee sufficient material for analysis and perform an immunohistochemical correlation between needle biopsy and surgical resection tissue microarray samples for the quantitative marker Ki-67. This process can be extended to any type of needle biopsy specimen, increasing the number of studies and potential use of these tissues as a practical reality.
Dow Corning Corporation: business processes and information technology

This case study, which is divided into parts A and B, describes one firm's experiences as it adopted a process perspective to managing its business, examined the implications for its information systems needs, decided to acquire SAP (an integrated, enterprise-wide software package) and embarked on the SAP implementation. ‘Dow Corning Corporation part A: Rethinking the Role of IT Within the Firm’ focuses on the business context and describes the role and structure of the information technology (IT) function at Dow Corning in late 1994. In the midst of a legal crisis that was draining financial resources, the firm had to address global competition. The case poses the question of how IT should be organized and managed to meet current business challenges. ‘Dow Corning Corporation part B: Re-engineering Global Processes’ is set in March 1997. The IT organization had been redesigned and reported to a member of the senior management team. The case focuses on Dow Corning's pilot implementation of SAP and its plans to re-engineer global processes. Special attention is given to the IT unit's role in the re-engineering and systems implementation processes.
Novel Therapies Targeting the Endothelium in Sickle Cell Disease

The recognition of sickle cell disease as a chronic vasculopathy characterized by endothelial injury has led to new insights into complex biological processes and offers the potential for novel pharmacological treatments. Endothelial injury has been related to impaired nitric oxide (NO) homeostasis, inflammation, oxidative stress and coagulation activation. Therapeutic agents, especially those targeting multiple pathways of endothelial injury, including inflammation, thrombosis, oxidative stress and NO dysregulation are rational candidates for further exploration in sickle cell disease. This review will discuss novel drugs, specifically targeted at the endothelium, that are currently under investigation in sickle cell disease.
Robust Data Authenticity and Group SignatureMechanism for Enhanced Cloud Security Process

Cloud storage enables users to remotely store their data and enjoy the on-demand high quality cloud applications without the burden of local hardware and software management. In order to achieve a secure and dependable cloud storage service, a secure multi-owner data sharing scheme is proposed according to which any user in the group can securely share data with others by the un-trusted cloud. For reducing the execution time of the keys generation at the user or data owner side, the Group manager is used, who is responsible for generating the group keys for communication between the data owners in the cloud. In addition to the validation of data authenticity by secure group signature mechanism, it is also used for signature generation and verification procedure for enhanced data integrity mechanism to the data being shared in the cloud storage. Thus provides secure and privacy-preserving access control to users, which guarantees any member in a group to anonymously utilize the cloud resource. Moreover, Initiator is introduced which acts as the middleware between the group manager and the data owners for sending the key generation request to Group manager with a list of group members, and provides key confidentiality for enhanced security of cloud data.
End User Programming to Enable Closed-loop Medication Management Using a Healthcare Robot

Developments in healthcare delivery systems are focusing on improved quality of care and patient satisfaction. Automated medication management on a mobile service robot is part of our interdisciplinary Healthbots research project, and has the potential to address both areas. The robotic medication reminding system is the result of an analysis of the workow in medication management and a systematic application of the workow to an interactive mobile robot. The robot is being evaluated to develop a better understanding of the technology required to address the safety and adherence issues of medication management for seniors living independently in a retirement village. Medication data and instructions presented during interaction need to be programmed by end users according to the medication. Changes such as the schedule, the names of drugs, and constraints in taking the medication, are periodically updated by the caregiver after the medication is prescribed by the doctor and dispatched by the pharmacist. This paper presents an analysis of the end user tools and the software architecture essential to complete this medication workow. Initial prototypes of the software were used in a pilot study at a retirement village. The pilot system can support the quality of care provided to the older people and prevent medication errors. The contribution the paper is a new analysis and novel design for enabling role based customization for robotic medication reminding. These contributions will assist in the technical decision making of developers involved in implementing service robots for similar tasks.
Rheological characterization and full 3D mold flow simulation in multi-die stack CSP of chip array packaging

According as high density packaging options such as 2 or more die stacking or package stacking technologies are developed, the major mold process related quality concerns such as incomplete mold, exposed wires and wire sweeping are increased because of their narrow spaces between die top and mold surface and increased wiring density. So, to verify those concerns, full 3D rheokinetic simulation of mold flow has been investigated for 3 die stacking structure of 4 times 4 mold array, 294LD case. The rheological parameters of commercial epoxy molding compound (EMC) were acquired through the slit-die rheometer and DSC (differential scanning calorie-meter) analysis. It is found that the severe void problem is one of the challenging factors in the thin and multi-die stack packaging to determine its manufacturability. To investigate the effect of different gate types, the molding options with four different gates were evaluated. The center gate showed most severe voids but corner gate showed relatively better void performance. But in case of the wire sweeping experiment and prediction results, the center gate type had less wire sweeping than the corner gate type. In the rheological simulation results, the corner gate case indicated increased velocity, shear stress and mold pressure near to the gate inlet and final filling zone. The experimental case study and the mold filling simulation showed good match on the mold external void and wire sweeping related prediction
Driver's characteristic of distance identification on freeway at night

In order to ensure enough time for drivers on freeway to acquire information at night, it is necessary to study on driver's characteristic of distance identification at night. The quantitative impacts of driving speed, horizontal curve radius and longitudinal slope on driver's identification distance at daytime and nighttime were studied based on comparative analysis on driver's identification distance at daytime and nighttime under different condition of driving speed and highway alignment. The relation model was established between driver's identification distance at night and driving speed, horizontal radius, longitudinal slope. It indicates that there is negative linear, positive logarithm, negative exponential relation respectively between driver's identification distance and driving speed, horizontal curve radius, longitudinal slope at night.
Zero-forcing equalization for OFDM systems over doubly-selective fading channels using frequency domain redundancy

Rapid variations of doubly-selective fading channels lead to the loss of orthogonality among subcarriers, resulting in inter-carrier interference (ICI) in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. In this scenario, the one-tap frequency-domain equalizer is not applicable any more. Based on an ICI analysis in both time- and frequency-domain, we propose a novel zero-forcing equalizer (ZFE) for OFDM systems over doubly-selective channels using the existing frequency domain redundancy in many OFDM standards. To deal with the zero-forcing equalizer's disadvantage of noise amplification, which causes system performance degradation when there exist deep nulls in the channel's frequency response, we also provide the MMSE-based optimization of ZFE coefficients in the presence of channel noise. We show that ZFE matrix has a sparse structure, and thus a low computational complexity. Simulation results indicate that the proposed equalizer is capable of suppressing ICI effectively with a low complexity.
Advances in molecular ecology: tracking trophic links through predator–prey food‐webs

Summary 1. It is not always possible to track trophic interactions between predators and prey by direct observation. This is especially true when observing small or elusive animals with cryptic food-web ecology. Gut and/or faecal analysis can sometimes allow prey remains to be identified visually but is only possible when a component of the diet is resistant to digestion. In some cases there are no solid remains, and when there are it can lead to bias in interpretation of prey choice. 2. Numerous invasive and non-invasive methods have been developed to characterize predator‐prey interactions but two principal areas dominate ‘molecular’ research. These are reviewed under the headings of monoclonal antibodies and DNA-based techniques. 3. Early ‘molecular’ studies of predator‐prey food webs were dominated by the development of monoclonal antibodies. These methods continue to be used for mass-screening of field-collected arthropods for insect-specific proteins. 4. The application of species-specific primer design, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP), DNA cloning and sequencing, comparative sequence analysis (e.g. BLAST; basic local alignment search tool), high-resolution gel electrophoresis, Temperature/denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE/DGGE) and automated fragment analysis with fluorescent probes is reviewed. The development of molecular techniques for use in predator‐prey studies is primarily limited by their cost and the development of new procedures and equipment that complement them.