Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Customer Solutions Management (CSM) Empirical Model based on European Machine Building Sector Experience

There can be seen growing demand for customized solution offers prepared by companies on both B-2-B and B-2-C markets. While this approach is well developed in some B-2-B sectors it is not that often in majority of B-2-C markets. Rapid technology development within past years gives more and more possibilities to increase production flexibility in more and more production sectors. This will lead in increasing level of product customization shortly. Purpose of this article is to introduce an empirical model of Customer Solutions Management that has been created based on long term experience in machine building sector within European Union. The experience is documented by qualitative case study research performed in five European companies involved in product supply chain within the machine building sector from component production through distribution to machine building. Selected companies represent range of sizes from large global corporation to micro business. The research was performed in period of years 2012 to 2015 by observations and in-depth interviews with all level managers in all researched companies. Prior to this qualitative research also a research through secondary data in publications was performed to analyze the sector in complexity. The research proves increasing demand for individualized product solutions from customers. Results of the research were used to create empirical model of Customer Solutions Management business approach that can be of inspiration for many companies not only in B-2-B sector but more and more often also in B-2-C. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.ee. 27.5. 14491
Life events, social support, coping strategies, and quality of life in attempted suicide: A case-control study

Background: Though deliberate self-harm encompasses a wide variety of medical and social disciplines some of the important psychosocial variable such as life events, social support, coping strategies, and quality of life have not yet been explored in depth in India. Aims: The aim was to analyze and compare the type and severity of life events, coping strategies, social support, and quality of life of suicide attempters versus matched normal controls, and to identify the risk factors leading to suicide. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 consecutive suicide attempters were compared with same number of age, sex, and martial status matched healthy controls using Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale, Social Support Questionnaire, AECOM Coping Style Scale, and WHO QOL-Bref. Results: Attempters experienced significantly more life events especially untoward events whereas the control group experienced more desirable and impersonal life events. Social support, positive coping, and of QOL were significantly lower in attempters. Among all risk factors desirable life events, good education, and good social support were protective against suicide. Conclusion: Suicide attempters were differentiated from healthy controls based on more stressful life events, lower social support, less healthy coping, and poor QOL. Positive life events, good education, and good social support were protective factors against suicide. However, it is difficult to pinpoint a single factor responsible for suicidal behavior. It is the complex interplay of various interrelated factors and the resultant buffering effect, which is protecting the individual against deliberate self-harm.
Regularized Least Squares Classifiers may Predict Crohn's Disease from Profiles of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

In this paper we focus on the prediction of Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility by analyzing SNP profiles for a number of defined or suggested gene polymorphisms. We assess the correlation between genetic markers and the phenotype by using well‐founded methods and procedures developed in the field of statistical learning theory. To this end, we use a sample generated by a case‐control study composed of 178 CD patients and 127 healthy controls. The genetic profile of each subject is composed of 16 genetic variants distributed over 11 genes. We find that regularized least squares (RLS) classifiers predict Crohn's disease with a statistically significant accuracy of 62%(p= 0.018), significantly increasing the diagnostic accuracy by at least 10% compared to that obtained with the more largely confirmed gene involved in CD predisposition, namely CARD15. This also demonstrates that our sample size is adequate for accurate and significant prediction estimates. The strength of this methodology, in contrast to classical statistical methods, is that it accounts simultaneously for the effect of several genetics markers and their possible interactions. The findings of this study show that RLS methodology is able to increase the diagnostic accuracy of CD prediction by contemporary evaluation of a large number of gene polymorphisms. This approach may be particularly useful in large‐scale population screening programs, and when evaluating large datasets of gene polymorphisms (i.e. chips, microarrays). Moreover, it could shed more light on possible candidate genes with a weak genetic contribution, and for evaluating gene‐gene and gene‐phenotype interactions by analyzing populations with a reasonably small sample size.
Subclassification of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia based on chemokine responsiveness and constitutive chemokine release by their leukemic cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Chemokines are soluble mediators involved in angiogenesis, cellular growth control and immunomodulation. In the present study we investigated the effects of various chemokines on proliferation of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells and constitutive chemokine release by primary AML cells. DESIGN AND METHODS Native human AML cells derived from 68 consecutive patients were cultured in vitro. We investigated AML cell proliferation (3H-thymidine incorporation, colony formation), chemokine receptor expression, constitutive chemokine release and chemotaxis of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS Exogenous chemokines usually did not have any effect on AML blast proliferation in the absence of hematopoietic growth factors, but when investigating growth factor-dependent (interleukin 3 + granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor + stem cell factor) proliferation in suspension cultures the following patient subsets were identified: (i) patients whose cells showed chemokine-induced growth enhancement (8 patients); (ii) divergent effects on proliferation (15 patients); and (iii) no effect (most patients). These patient subsets did not differ in chemokine receptor expression, but, compared to CD34- AML cells, CD34+ cells showed higher expression of several receptors. Chemokines also increased the proliferation of clonogenic AML cells from the first subset of patients. Furthermore, a broad constitutive chemokine release profile was detected for most patients, and the following chemokine clusters could be identified: CCL2-4/CXCL1/8, CCL5/CXCL9-11 (possibly also CCL23) and CCL13/17/22/24/CXCL5 (possibly also CXCL6). Only the CCL2-4/CXCL1/8 cluster showed significant correlations between corresponding mRNA levels and NFkB levels/activation. The chemotaxis of normal immunocompetent cells for patients without constitutive chemokine release was observed to be decreased. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS Differences in chemokine responsiveness as well as chemokine release contribute to patient heterogeneity in AML. Patients with AML can be classified into distinct subsets according to their chemokine responsiveness and chemokine release profile.
Reactive Oxygen Species and 12/15-Lipoxygenase Contribute to the Antiproliferative Capacity of Alternatively Activated Myeloid Cells Elicited during Helminth Infection 1

Understanding the role of CD11b+GR-1+ myeloid suppressor cells in the immune suppression and immunoregulation associated with a variety of diseases may provide therapeutic opportunities. In this article, we show, in a model of helminth infection, that CD11b+GR-1+ myeloid suppressor cells but not CD11b+F4/80high mature macrophages expanded in the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice implanted with Taenia crassiceps. Peritoneal cell populations from early stage-infected animals impaired T cell proliferation by secreting NO. Yet, they lost their ability to secrete NO in the late stage of infection. Concomitantly, their capacity to exert arginase activity and to express mRNAs coding for FIZZ1 (found in inflammatory zone 1), Ym, and macrophage galactose-type C-type lectin increased. Furthermore, cells from early stage-infected mice triggered T cells to secrete IFN-γ and IL-4, whereas in the late stage of infection, they only induced IL-4 production. These data suggest that CD11b+GR-1+ myeloid suppressor cells displaying an alternative activation phenotype emerged gradually as T. crassiceps infection progressed. Corroborating the alternative activation status in the late stage of infection, the suppressive activity relied on arginase activity, which facilitated the production of reactive oxygen species including H2O2 and superoxide. We also document that the suppressive activity of alternative myeloid suppressor cells depended on 12/15-lipoxygenase activation generating lipid mediators, which triggered peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ. IL-4 and IL-13 signaling contributed to the expansion of myeloid suppressor cells in the peritoneal cavity of T. crassiceps-infected animals and to their antiproliferative activity by allowing arginase and 12/15-lipoxygenase gene expression.
Noninvasive measurement of heartbeat, respiration, snoring and body movements of a subject in bed via a pneumatic method

We have developed a noninvasive pneumatics-based system by which to measure heartbeat, respiration, snoring, and body movements of a subject in bed. A thin, air-sealed cushion is placed under the bed mattress of the subject and the small movements attributable to human automatic vital functions are measured as changes in pressure using a pressure sensor having an almost flat frequency response from 0.1 to 5 kHz and a sensitivity of 56 mV/Pa. Using the newly developed system, heartbeat, respiration, apnea, snoring and body movements are clearly measured. In addition, the optimal signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio by which to evaluate the reliability of the heart rate measurement is presented. Heart rates were measured for four different body postures, 13 different subjects, four different bed mattresses, and three different sensor positions. For these measurements, the S/N ratios ranged from 15.9 to 23.5 dB, and so were determined to be reliable.
Increased rate of lung function decline in Australian adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Though baseline lung function as measured by spirometry in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) has improved, the annual rate of decline has not changed significantly during the critical period of adolescence. The aim of this study was to describe factors associated with longitudinal decline in lung function in a contemporary cohort of children with CF.
Variable RF MEMS capacitors with extended tuning range

Three distinct designs of variable RF MEMS capacitors are presented and a comparison is made in terms of their continuous tuning range. Among these designs are the classical parallel-plate capacitor, as well as the so-called two-gap structure and a novel device with torsion-beam suspensions and double actuation. This allows the capacitance to be tuned over a larger range compared to a single-driven device. As a result of this, the tuning range of the device exceeds the theoretical 50%-limit for parallel-plate capacitors. The tuning ranges of all three devices have been determined experimentally and were found to be 39% for the parallel-plate capacitor, 310% for the two-gap structure and 61% for the torsion-suspension device. The measured tuning voltages are 17 V, 22 V and 11 V respectively.
The C-Terminal PDZ-Binding Motif in the Kv1.5 Potassium Channel Governs its Modulation by the Na+/H+ Exchanger Regulatory Factor 2

Kv1.5 belongs to the family of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels and contains a N- and a C-terminal PDZ-binding motif that might be recognized by PDZ domains on the scaffold proteins NHERF1 and NHERF2. Expression studies in Xenopus oocytes demonstrated that NHERF1 and NHERF2 activate Kv1.5, an effect requiring the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif on Kv1.5. NHERF2 enhances Kv1.5 activity and cell surface expression as determined by electrophysiology and immunoassays. NHERF2 elevates Kv1.5 abundance at the plasma membrane by decreasing channel internalization as proven by Brefeldin A experiments. Kv1.5 is stimulated by the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1, a kinase known to interact with the second PDZ domain of NHERF2. This study aims to identify if SGK1 and NHERF2 synergize to increase Kv1.5 currents. Expression of NHERF2 potentiated SGK1-mediated Kv1.5 activation, which was significantly attenuated by deletion of the second PDZ domain in NHERF2. Specificity of observed effects was verified by evaluating the influence of NHERFs on Kv1.3, a known SGK1 target that contains an internal PDZ binding motif. In summary, our results suggest that NHERFs might participate in the regulation of electrical excitability in part by controlling Kv1.5 surface abundance and by clustering signal transduction molecules to the channel.
Price Momentum and Reversal: An Information Cascade Rationale

I develop a model in which price momentum builds up as a result of in-vestors' rational learning. Investors make sequential buy or sell decisions based on the past history of price movements and a private signal. The private signal has a stronger impact in the early stage, but beyond certain point the ini¬‚uence gradually dies out and subsequent investors tend to follow the trend. In the presence of upward momentum, early buyers impose a negative externality on later buyers by increasing the incidence of large losses. A self-fulfilling reversal occurs once a correction factor is added to investors' valuation function.
Enhancing Implicit Change Detection through Action

Implicit change detection demonstrates how the visual system can benefit from stored information that is not immediately available to conscious awareness. We investigated the role of motor action in this context. In the first two experiments, using a one-shot implicit change-detection paradigm, participants responded to unperceived changes either with an action (jabbing the screen at the guessed location of a change) or with words (verbal report), and sat either 60 cm or 300 cm (with a laser pointer) away from the display. Our observers guessed the locations of changes at a reachable distance better with an action than with a verbal judgment. At 300 cm, beyond reach, the motor advantage disappeared. In experiment 3, this advantage was also unavailable when participants sat at a reachable distance but responded with hand-held laser pointers near their bodies. We conclude that a motor system specialized for real-time visually guided behavior has access to additional visual information. Importantly, this system is not activated by merely executing an action (experiment 2) or presenting stimuli in one's near space (experiment 3). It is activated only when both conditions are fulfilled, which implies that it is the actual contact that matters to the visual system.
French CEO Compensations: What is the Cost of a Mandatory Upper Limit?

In the middle of the nineties, the sharp increase in globalisation and the last privatization wave promoted the shaping of a market for executives in France. Characteristics of this market are estimated for France and a competitive model is simulated in order to assess to what extent such a model could explain the observed ceo compensations. The size elasticity of compensation in France is equal to 0.5 and justifies a large magnitude in compensation. To moderate these compensations, a wage cap is often called for by opinion and the European Left but also, more surprisingly, by representatives of shareholders. The cost of this policy is evaluated in this job assignement model and the lobbying of shareholders is explained. Classification JEL: J31, J33, D33, D41.
A Brushless DC motor design for an aircraft electro-hydraulic actuation system

This paper describes a 5-phase Brushless DC motor designed for an electro-hydrostatic actuation system. The foundation of the design is a motor with compact structure, low weight, fault tolerance and high reliability. The motor power rating is 12 kW at 12,000 rpm and a “wet” form of construction is used where hydraulic oil is present in the motor in order to reduce the number of oil seals of the EHA for enhanced reliability and lifetime. The thermal behavior is evaluated for an optimized design. Fault tolerance for Brushless DC motors will be discussed. A 5-phase motor has been manufactured and test results are presented to validate the design.
A 15.5-mW 20-GSps 4-bit charge-steering flash ADC

This paper presents a 4-bit 20-GSps time-interleaved flash ADC for an ADC-based high-speed serial-link equalizer. The ADC is designed and simulated in a 65-nm CMOS technology. It dissipates 15.5 mW from a 1-V supply while operating at 20 GSps. Low power consumption is achieved by utilizing charge-steering concept, sharing single reference ladder across all the four interleaved branches, and merging the dynamic latch into the pre-amplifier of the comparator. Results show that for a sinusoidal input frequency of 9.84 GHz with an amplitude of 600 mVdiff, the SNDR of the digital output is 23.9 dB, SFDR is 33.6 dB, and the effective number of bits (ENOB) is 3.67 bits.
ZD1839 (Iressa), a novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, potently inhibits the growth of EGFR‐positive cancer cell lines with or without erbB2 overexpression

Overexpression of the growth factor receptors EGFR and erbB2 occurs frequently in several human cancers and is associated with aggressive tumour behaviour and poor patient prognosis. We have investigated the effects of ZD1839 (Iressa), a novel EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on the growth, in vitro and in vivo, of human cancer cell lines expressing various levels of EGFR and erbB2. Proliferation of EGFR‐overexpressing A431 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells in vitro was potently inhibited (50%–70%) by ZD1839 with half‐maximally effective doses in the low nanomolar range. In parallel, ZD1839 blocked autophosphorylation of EGFR and prevented activation of PLC‐γ1, ERK MAP kinases and PKB/Akt by EGF. It also inhibited proliferation in EGFR+ cancer cell lines overexpressing erbB2 (SKBr3, SKOV3, BT474) by between 20% and 80%, effects which correlated with inhibition of EGF‐dependent erbB2 phosphorylation and activation of ERK MAP kinase and PKB/Akt in SKOV3 cells. Oral administration of ZD1839 inhibited the growth of MDA‐MB‐231 and SKOV3 tumours, established as xenografts in athymic mice, by 71% and 32%, respectively. Growth inhibition coincided with reduced proliferation but no change in apoptotic index. Collectively, these results show that ZD1839, at the doses studied, is a potent inhibitor of proliferation not only in cells overexpressing EGFR but also in EGFR+ cells that overexpress erbB2. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel frequency-adaptive PLL for single-phase grid-connected converters

This paper presents a novel frequency-adaptive Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) for single-phase grid-connected power converters. The orthogonal component in the rotating reference frame is generated by a synthesis circuit which utilizes the detected amplitude and phase. It's frequency-adaptive without using any additional circuits. Moreover, a special improved synthesis circuit PLL is proposed to make sure the PLL work well under low-order harmonics distortion condition. These structures are simple and easy implementation. In this paper, the method is analyzed and its performance is evaluated by both simulations and experiments.
Leishmania donovani  lipophosphoglycan blocks NADPH oxidase assembly at the phagosome membrane

Phagocytosis of Leishmania donovani promastigotes is characterized by an inhibition of phagolysosome biogenesis mediated by the surface glycolipid lipophosphoglycan (LPG). However, the consequences of this inhibition on macrophage function remain to be determined. In this study, we investigated the impact of LPG‐mediated phagosome remodelling on the assembly and function of the NADPH oxidase complex. Phagocytosis of both wild‐type and LPG‐defective L. donovani promastigotes triggered the release of similar levels of superoxide. However, wild‐type promastigotes, but not LPG‐defective mutants, inhibited generation of superoxide at the phagosome. Confocal microscopy imaging revealed that the membrane component gp91phox and the Rho‐family GTPase Rac1 were present on phagosomes containing either wild‐type or LPG‐defective promastigotes. In contrast, the NADPH oxidase cytosolic components p47phox and p67phox were excluded from phagosomes in a LPG‐dependent fashion. This inhibition is not the consequence of a general defect in the initiation of the NADPH oxidase activation process because both wild‐type and LPG‐defective promastigotes induced p47phox phosphorylation and the formation of complexes containing p47phox and p67phox. Thus, by remodelling their intracellular habitat, L. donovani promastigotes prevent the assembly of a functional phagosomal NADPH oxidase complex, thereby evading an important host innate defence mechanism.
A kilohertz kilotaxel tactile sensor array for investigating spatiotemporal features in neuromorphic touch

The spatiotemporal structure of mechanoreceptor responses is known to facilitate rapid tactile processing in the brain. To investigate whether such mechanisms can be replicated by artificial systems, tactile sensors with a large number of elements and sub-millisecond response time are required. In this work, we present a 4096 element tactile sensor array that can be sampled at over 5kHz. Experimental results demonstrate that high spatiotemporal resolution aids to resolve force magnitude and direction of tactile events. Such a platform enables the development of time dependent neuromorphic algorithms for tactile learning and signal processing.