Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The demographics of Software Maintenance Management

Organizational demographics is proposed as a promising analytic technique for understanding a central problem of information systems (IS) management, the problem of the maintenance of the application system portfolio. This problem is viewed as occurring in significant part as a consequence of the effects and interaction among distributions of individual characteristics of both the application systems and the members of the IS staff. To examine this proposition, a sample of eighteen'IS organizations is described in demographic terms, and regression equations are developed to explain variance in maintenance problems associated with the installed portfolios. The results provide support for the proposition, with implications for management and for further research. The mature IS organization has also come to INTRODUCTION face an increasingly large, complex user community with both complementary and competing information requirements. A focus on any The problem of managing the mature inforone segment of this user community has accordmation systems (IS) organization has been iningly become increasingly difficult. Again, the creasingly recognized as a problem in managing consequence is that IS management has to an application system portfolio, an aggregate of balance its efforts in meeting these diverse user related systems and services (Mcfarlan, 1981 needs, with the consequence that the portfolio Nolan, 1979, 1984). During the early years o point of view has been reinforced. many IS organizations and, in particular, during rapid growth phases, management attention was often lavished on individual systems under new Further, issues of staff assignment, turnover development. The successful development of and replacement have come to prominence in these new systems, however, has resulted ulmature IS organizations, and the IS staff itself is timately in the accumulation of an installed base increasingly viewed in aggregate terms. which requires significant maintenance and continued development resources (Boehm, In consequence, managers of mature IS organiz1983). The manager of the mature IS organizations attend to the relationships and interation has thus come to recognize the necessity of dependencies among their varied systems, users, viewing these systems in the aggregate, i.e. as a and staff, with respect to the overall problem of portfolio of systems in various states of produceffective and efficient IS management. For this tion. reason, studies of problems associated with in-
Mammalian Golgi‐associated Bicaudal‐D2 functions in the dynein–dynactin pathway by interacting with these complexes

Genetic analysis in Drosophila suggests that Bicaudal‐D functions in an essential microtubule‐based transport pathway, together with cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin. However, the molecular mechanism underlying interactions of these proteins has remained elusive. We show here that a mammalian homologue of Bicaudal‐D, BICD2, binds to the dynamitin subunit of dynactin. This interaction is confirmed by mass spectrometry, immunoprecipitation studies and in vitro binding assays. In interphase cells, BICD2 mainly localizes to the Golgi complex and has properties of a peripheral coat protein, yet it also co‐localizes with dynactin at microtubule plus ends. Overexpression studies using green fluorescent protein‐tagged forms of BICD2 verify its intracellular distribution and co‐localization with dynactin, and indicate that the C‐terminus of BICD2 is responsible for Golgi targeting. Overexpression of the N‐terminal domain of BICD2 disrupts minus‐end‐directed organelle distribution and this portion of BICD2 co‐precipitates with cytoplasmic dynein. Nocodazole treatment of cells results in an extensive BICD2–dynactin–dynein co‐localization. Taken together, these data suggest that mammalian BICD2 plays a role in the dynein–dynactin interaction on the surface of membranous organelles, by associating with these complexes.
Alendronate for the treatment of osteoporosis in men

Background: Men have higher rates of osteoporosis and suffer fragility fractures more often than previously believed. Fracture-related morbidity and mortality in men is substantially higher than in women. Objective: To investigate alendronate for treating osteoporosis in men. Methods: Search limited to ‘men’ and ‘English’; keywords were ‘osteoporosis’ or ‘bone density’ or ‘fracture’ and ‘alendronate’. Results/conclusions: Alendronate is an amino-bisphosphonate with proved efficacy for increasing bone mineral density in men with idiopathic or secondary osteoporosis and has demonstrated an ability to prevent vertebral fractures in men with low bone mass. There are trends for alendronate to decrease the risk of non-vertebral fracture, but larger trials are needed to conclusively establish this benefit. Alendronate is a well-tolerated and comparatively safe drug with an attractive once-a-week dosing regimen.
Measuring psychographics to assess purchase intention and willingness to pay

Purpose – Marketing managers routinely use purchase intentions data to make strategic decisions concerning both new and existing products and the marketing programs that support them. Yet, the indication from empirical investigations regarding the link between respondents' stated intentions and their actual behavior is not as clear. Predicting which consumer will purchase an environmentally friendly product, the research remains split, particularly when it comes to perceived “trade‐offs” between the environmental benefits, quality, and cost. In this regard, previous research has fallen short in examining consumers' actual purchase behavior versus self‐reported purchase intentions. This paper seeks to address these issues.Design/methodology/approach – This study measured consumer psychographics and expressed purchase intention to predict actual purchase behavior using an online survey and the Vickrey auction method.Findings – The results show that respondents expressing a high intention to purchase environ.
An on-chip stochastic sigma-tracking eye-opening monitor for BER-optimal adaptive equalization

An on-chip stochastic sigma-tracking eye-opening monitor (SSEOM) for background adaptive equalization is presented. The proposed SSEOM detects the BER-related eye opening area accurately with a feasible degree of time/area efficiency without an external microcontroller. In addition, the SSEOM determines the BER-optimal equalization parameters for both CTLE and DFE by incorporating a pattern-dependent eye-tracking scheme. Auxiliary data samplers are employed in parallel with data samplers to track link variations and adjust the equalization parameters in the background. A 28-Gb/s CDR including a SSEOM-based adaptive equalizer is fabricated in 40nm CMOS for an evaluation.
Client Industry Expertise: An Investigation of the Different Units of Analysis

This study examines the role of auditor industry expertise in the pricing of Big 5 audits in Australia during the period 1997-1998, just before the demise of Arthur Andersen. This study reviews the previous audit research literature by considering three contrasting levels of conceptualising auditor industry expertise: (1) the national 'firm-wide' level, (2) local 'office' level, and (3) the 'partner' level. The appropriate unit of analysis has long been an issue for debate, and with several recent studies trying these varies different approaches, this study attempts to consolidate all three levels into one empirical analysis, while measuring client industry expertise using both market share industry specialisation, and self-reported industry specialisation at the national level. What is found in an empirical analysis of a Big 5 sample (period 1997-1998) using the both self-reported and market share audit specialisation at the 'national' level is that only the self-reported specialisation model is significant at explaining total client audit fees in the Australian market for specialist audit services. At the 'partner' level, consistent with the national level, there was evidence found of audit fee discounting.
Localization of Engineered Vasculature within 3D Tissue Constructs

Today, in vitro vessel network systems frequently serve as models for investigating cellular and functional mechanisms underlying angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Understanding the cues triggering the observed cell migration, organization, and differentiation, as well as the time frame of these processes, can improve the design of engineered microvasculature. Here, we present first evidence of the migration of endothelial cells into the depths of the scaffold, where they formed blood vessels surrounded by extracellular matrix and supporting cells. The supporting cells presented localization-dependent phenotypes, where cells adjacent to blood vessels displayed a more mature phenotype, with smooth muscle cell characteristics, whereas cells on the scaffold surface showed a pericyte-like phenotype. Yes-associated protein (YAP), a transcription activator of genes involved in cell proliferation and tissue growth, displayed spatially dependent expression, with cells on the surface showing more nuclear YAP than cells situated deeper within the scaffold.
Avoiding Supply Chain Management Failure: Lessons from Business Process Re‐engineering

Business Process Re‐engineering (BPR) appears to have had its 15 minutes of fame and is now viewed by many managers as an unqualified failure. It is important that managers realize that every concept has some merit and that lessons can be learned even from a failure. This paper reviews the similarities that exist between BPR and Supply Chain Management (SCM). These similarities allow supply chain practitioners to obtain valuable lessons from the mistakes associated with BPR implementation. These lessons are reviewed and their application to SCM is explained.
Association between Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures and Firm Value - Empirical Evidence from Vietnam

A number of studies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have suggested that corporates accountable for social responsibilities had better financial performance. However, this relationship had remained undiscovered in Vietnam. The purpose of this research was to examine a link between Corporate Social Responsibility disclosures and firm value in Vietnam. A sample of 50 companies listed on stock exchanges in Hochiminh City (HOSE) and Hanoi (HNX) were investigated from 2010 to 2013. Content of annual reports were analyzed to measure corporate social responsibilities, and Tobin’s Q ratio was proxied for firm value. Regression analysis tests indicated that social responsibility disclosures are associated with following year’s firm value. Specifically, the relationship between environmental information provision and following year’s firm value was positive, while that between employee disclosures and firm value was negative. The results show a positive sign for Vietnamese firms that take on environmental responsibilities.
Perception of export barriers to Mercosur by Brazilian firms

This study analyzes the perceptions of export obstacles to the Mercosur by top executives of Brazilian companies located in the state of Riode Janeiro. Differences in perceptions were studied in order to determine to what extent they were associated with industry type, firmsize, export experience and geographic scope of export activities. Self‐administered questionnaires were sent to top executives of Rio de Janeiro companies that had recently exported to Mercosur countries. A total of 69 companies returned the questionnaire, representing a total response rate of 50.36 per cent. Data were analyzed using factor analysis and stepwise linear discriminant analysis. Results confirmed the hypothesized relationships.
Organizational Commitment, Organizational Justice, and Employee Turnover in Malaysia

This study attempts to investigate the relationship among organizational justice, organizational commitment and turnover intention of Malaysian employees. Using asample of 172, collected from employees across organizations in the country, both procedural and distributive justice perceptions were significant contributors in explaining organizational commitment and turnover intention. These findings have important implications for managers in formulating appropriate strategies, policies and procedures to improve employees’ commitment to their organizations and to reduce their turnover intentions. Key words: Organizational justice, organizational commitment, turnover intention, Malaysia.
A real-time vehicle identification system implemented on an embedded ARM platform

This paper explores the feasibility of using a low-cost embedded ARM-based system for real-time vehicle recognition and identification through image processing. The main features of the system include: vehicle detection, speed measurement, and vehicle identification by license plate number recognition, the information obtained is then send to a database on a server in a local network. An ODROID-U3 embedded board was used for general processing and control. Image processing algorithms for detection of moving vehicles on a road were implemented and optimized, in order to obtain shorter processing times than existing algorithms. OpenCV libraries were used for the implementation. Finally, an analysis of the processing times required by the algorithms and the error percentages obtained with the system implemented are presented and discussed.
Quality, pricing and the performance of the wheat industry in South Africa

Statistics paint a picture of a wheat industry under severe pressure, with the number of hectares dedicated to wheat production that have decreased while imports notably increased since 1997. This has had a negative impact on the industry‘s global competitiveness. The direct and indirect linkages between wheat and wheat products, together with the benefits that the industry can bring to the economy in the form of heightened food security and employment opportunities, highlight the need for a competitive wheat industry in South Africa. Clearly, the underlying causes of the declining wheat production in South Africa need to be investigated and understood. The presence of strict wheat quality standards and the fact that one of the general characteristics of wheat is the defect of conversion (that is, yield declines as quality improves) help to explain why wheat production in South Africa has declined in recent years. This can also negatively affect prices received for produce because South African wheat prices are determined by the lowest import parity price and not by the specific quality of the wheat. The fact that market concentration has been observed in certain parts of the wheat industry in South Africa has raised concerns that this phenomenon could potentially have had a negative impact on the performance of the country‘s wheat production sector. Consequently, this study revolves around the following main questions: ―could the evident market concentration in the South African wheat industry influence the performance of the wheat production sector by prescribing certain quality standards which attract relatively low prices? ‖, and if so, ―can the wheat quality standards and prices be held responsible for the decline in the industry‘s performance, and to what extent? ‖ Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used in pursuit to answer these questions. The qualitative approach was used to describe the theoretical basis of performance, competitiveness and concentration. Three different quantitative approaches were employed to determine the current state of competitiveness (Relative Trade Advantage (RTA) method),
Device-to-device communication in cellular networks with fractional frequency reuse

As a promising technology, Device-to-device (D2D) communication as an underlay to cellular mobile networks is proposed to improve the spectral and energy efficiency. In OFDMA cellular networks, fractional frequency reuse (FFR) is an efficient frequency reuse scheme. This paper focuses on analysing the performance of D2D communications as an underlay to the FFR based OFDMA cellular network and analytically evaluates how spectral efficiency performance is affected by parameters, such as the ratio of the transmit power for the D2D transmission to that for the cellular transmission and radius ratio of the central area to the whole cell. Also, the optimal radius ratio to achieve the highest spectral efficiency is investigated for the D2D communication underlaying to the OFDMA cellular network.
β3‐Mediated engulfment of apoptotic tumor cells by dendritic cells is dependent on CAMKII: inhibition by HIV‐1 Tat

In this paper, we show that the engulfment of apoptotic tumor cells by DC requires the activation of the calcium‐calmodulin kinase II (CAMKII). Indeed, DC phagocytosis of apoptotic lymphoma cells is consistently inhibited by KN62 and KN93, two blockers of CAMKII, but not by the inactive compound KN92. Wortmannin and LY294002, two inhibitors of the phosphatidyl‐inositol‐3 kinase, slightly decrease the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, at variance with PD98059, an inhibitor of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase. It is interesting that the addition of synthetic HIV‐1 Tat, which we demonstrated to inhibit phagocytosis and calcium influx in DC, blocks the activation of CAMKII elicited via β3 integrin, which is involved in apoptotic body engulfment by DC. Experiments performed with Tat‐derived peptides showed that this inhibition is mediated by the C‐terminal domain of Tat. Finally, pertussis toxin can prevent HIV‐1 Tat‐mediated inhibition, suggesting the involvement of a guanosine triphosphate‐binding (G) protein in DC‐mediated phagocytosis.
The 2002 Denali Fault Earthquake, Alaska: A Large Magnitude, Slip-Partitioned Event

The MW (moment magnitude) 7.9 Denali fault earthquake on 3 November 2002 was associated with 340 kilometers of surface rupture and was the largest strike-slip earthquake in North America in almost 150 years. It illuminates earthquake mechanics and hazards of large strike-slip faults. It began with thrusting on the previously unrecognized Susitna Glacier fault, continued with right-slip on the Denali fault, then took a right step and continued with right-slip on the Totschunda fault. There is good correlation between geologically observed and geophysically inferred moment release. The earthquake produced unusually strong distal effects in the rupture propagation direction, including triggered seismicity.
Lessons We Should Have Learned from the Global Financial Crisis but Didn’t

In this paper, I first quickly recount the causes and consequences of the global financial crisis (GFC). Of course, the triggering event was the unfolding of the subprime crisis; however, I argue that the financial system was already so fragile that just about anything could have caused the collapse. I then move on to an assessment of the lessons we should have learned. Briefly, these include: (a) the GFC was not a liquidity crisis, (b) underwriting matters, (c) unregulated and unsupervised financial institutions naturally evolve into control frauds, and (d) the worst part is the cover-up of the crimes. I argue that we cannot resolve the crisis until we begin going after the fraud. Finally, I outline an agenda for reform, along the lines suggested by the work of Hyman P. Minsky.
Expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ and cyclo-oxygenase 2 in primary and recurrent ovarian carcinoma

Aim: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in several types of cancer. In ovarian carcinomas, limited and conflicting data on PPARγ protein expression have been reported. Methods: The immunoexpression of PPARγ and its putative target cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX2) was investigated in tumour tissues from 80 patients with primary and corresponding recurrent ovarian serous carcinomas after conventional platinum-based chemotherapy. Results: PPARγ expression was observed in 29% of primary and recurrent carcinomas. In the recurrent tumours, PPARγ expression inversely correlated with COX2 overexpression in both chemosensitive (p = 0.02) and chemoresistant (p = 0.04) carcinomas. Conclusions: The data indicate that PPARγ may represent a potential target for second-line treatment in ovarian cancers.
Industry Forces, Strategic Typologies, Firm Characteristics And Brand Performance: The Balance Between External And Internal

This paper outlines a conceptual framework which comprises two components externaladaptation and internal-effectiveness to understand how (1) industry forces influence firm characteristics market orientation, innovative culture and the role of strategic typologies in these links, and (2) firm characteristics contribute to brand performance. The results show industry forces positively influence market orientation (MO), but not associated innovative culture. While innovative culture is highest for prospectors, followed by analysers, defenders, and reactors, similar linkages were not found between strategic typologies and MO and industry forces. Finally, MO and innovative culture enable firms to achieve higher brand performance.
Low-temperature properties of a model glass.

Un modele de dipoles elastiques places aleatoirement dans un continuum elastique est utilise, avec la methode de Monte Carlo pour determiner la densite d'etats pour de petites oscillations de dipoles. Le couplage de ces modes aux phonons entraine une variation en fonction de la frequence de la duree de vie et du deplacement de vitesse des phonons. La courbe de chaleur massique (C/T 3 ) presente une protuberance et celle de conductivite thermique un plateau, en accord avec les resultats experimentaux du verre orientationnel KBr:KCN
Benachteiligung von Unternehmen im ländlichen Raum durch den Rückzug der Banken aus der Fläche

Eine Beeintrachtigung des Prinzips der Gleichwertigkeit der Lebensverhaltnisse wird u. a. in dem zunehmend ausgedunnten Angebot an okonomischer, sozialer und technischer Infrastruktur im landlichen Raum gesehen. So wird beispielsweise in einer schlechteren Erreichbarkeit dieser Angebote eine quantitative und qualitative Benachteiligung der Unternehmen im landlichen Raum vermutet. Dieser Beitrag setzt den Fokus auf den privaten Sektor und untersucht fur den Bereich des Bankenwesens, ob durch den kontinuierlichen Ruckzug vieler Kreditinstitute aus der Flache der Zugang landlich angesiedelter Unternehmen zu Finanzprodukten eingeschrankt wird. @The increasingly scanty range of economic, social and technical infrastructure available in rural areas is regarded here as one example of impairment of the principle of parity of living conditions. To take one example, it can be assumed that businesses in rural areas will suffer in both qualitative and quantitative terms as these infrastructure assets become less easily accessible. This paper focuses on the private sector and specifically on banking. It considers whether businesses located in rural areas are suffering from restricted access to financial products as an effect of the continuous retreat of many banks from rural areas.