Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retrospect of Research on the Resort Lifecycle

The resort lifecycle theory has been one of hot issues among scholars since it was first put forward.This paper first introduces the contents of Butler's resort lifecycle theory.It then analyzes the foreign and Chinese scholars' research on the resort lifecycle.It finally makes a comparison between Chinese scholars' research on the resort lifecycle and that of foreign scholars and also predicts the future trend of the research.
Relevant prognostic factors in gastric cancer: ten-year results of the German Gastric Cancer Study.

OBJECTIVE In 1986 a prospective multicenter observation trial in patients with resected gastric cancer was initiated in Germany. An analysis of prognostic factors based on the 10-year survival data is now presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 1654 patients treated for gastric cancer between 1986 and 1989 at 19 centers in Germany and Austria were included. The resected specimen were evaluated histopathologically according to a standardized protocol. The extent of lymphadenectomy was classified after surgery based on the number of removed lymph nodes on histopathologic assessment (25 or fewer removed nodes, D1 or standard lymphadenectomy; >25 removed nodes, D2 or extended lymphadenectomy). Endpoint of the study was death. Follow-up is complete for 97% of the included patients (median follow-up of the surviving patients is 8.4 years). Prognostic factors were assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS A complete macroscopic and microscopic tumor resection (R0 resection according to the UICC 1997) could be achieved in 1182 of the 1654 patients (71.5%). The calculated 10-year survival rate in the entire patient population was 26.3% +/- 4.7%; it was 36.1% +/- 1.6% after an R0 resection. In the total patient population there was an independent prognostic effect of the ratio between invaded and removed lymph nodes, the residual tumor (R) category, the pT category, the presence of postsurgical complications, and the presence of distant metastases. Multivariate analysis in the subgroup of patients who had a UICC R0 resection confirmed the nodal status, the pT category, and the presence of postsurgical complications as the major independent prognostic factors. The extent of lymph node dissection had a significant and independent effect on the 10-year survival rate in patients with stage II tumors. This effect was present in the subgroups with (pT2N1) and without (pT3N0) lymph node metastases on standard histopathologic assessment. The beneficial effect of extended lymph node dissection for stage II tumors persisted when patients with insufficient lymph node dissection (<15 nodes) were excluded from the analysis. There was no difference in the postsurgical morbidity and mortality rates between patients with standard and extended lymph node dissection. CONCLUSIONS Lymph node ratio and lymph node status are the most important prognostic factors in patients with resected gastric cancer. In experienced centers, extended lymph node dissection does not increase the mortality or morbidity rate of resection for gastric cancer but markedly improves long-term survival in patients with stage II tumors. This effect appears to be independent of the phenomenon of stage migration.
Innovation quality management in public sector research and development organizations: Application of six sigma methodology

Abstract Measuring and managing six sigma critical success factors (CSF) is required for organizational alignment and optimization to its perceived goals. This research explores the key aspects of CSF public sector R and D organizations (PSRDO) which seem consistent for breakthrough improvement through six sigma. This paper proposes a framework to integrate innovation ability and quality management (Six Sigma) into a framework for enhancing and improving innovation quality in public sector research and development organizations. Twenty-three critical variables for implementing Six-Sigma were identified through documentary investigation, brainstorming and Delphi methods. The relevance rating and rank of these variables were computed from the response of 195 and 240 scientists in two sets. Following hierarchical cluster analysis these 23 variables were grouped in to five critical successes factors. A framework encompassing these five factors is proposed for institutionalizing Six Sigma approach in PSRDO to foster innovation quality and productivity.
Visual Criteria for Success in Restoring the Youthful Neck

We have suggested visual criteria for achieving and assessing success in platysma cervical lift. We believe it is now possible to satisfy these criteria in most patients, even those with a low-lying hyoid. Anterior adjustment of the platysma is more important for desirable results than posterior adjustment or posterior closure alone. If present in a heavy neck, the subplatysma fat pocket must be excised. A posterior submental incision as well as a more radical submental lipectomy with platysma sling (submental neck lift) is helpful for patients who are not yet candidates for an upward lift. The cutting of the platysma and fashioning of the sling, as well as defatting, may possibly add to the longevity of the lift, but this can be ascertained only by long-term follow-up.
What are biofilms? Evaluation and management in open skin woufnds

JEADV 2006, 20, 735–767 © 2006 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 743 nisolone (16 mg a day) therapy, 8 days later, rapid progression of the disease was detected associated with painful skin, fever and candidiasis of the corners of mouth. After raising methylprednisolone (32 mg a day) together with administration of ethacrynic acid (50 mg a day), skin symptoms progressed to erythroderma. In parallel, symptoms and signs of tetany appeared, calcium levels decreased to 1.1 mmol/L (normal range: 2.15–2.55); phosphate levels increased to 2.8 mmol/L (normal range: 0.81–1.62). After adequate calcium and dihydrotachysterol administration, serum calcium and phosphate levels normalized, but clinical improvement was only detected after methotrexate (7.5 mg a week) and methylprednisolone (80 mg a day) were given (etretinate was discontinued). Although later the dose of methylprednisolone and methotrexate could be reduced to 12 mg every second day and 2.5 mg every twelfth day, respectively, withdrawal of methotrexate resulted in recurrence of the pustular skin condition even when serum calcium levels were normal or higher than normal. After 2 years of this medication, repeated examinations revealed symptomless nephrolithiasis associated with intermittent pyuria. After successful extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, she became completely free of skin symptoms, and after 3 years of followup, both methotrexate and methylprednisolone could be stopped. In the last year of follow-up, she had only very mild skin symptoms in the body folds on dihydrotachysterol monotherapy. Our case confirms previous observations that impetigo herpetiformis can occur in patients with hypoparathyroidism when calcium is insufficiently substituted. Latent ionized hypocalcaemia may have been present already at the time of admission, but it might also have been drug induced. Although acitretine is known to induce hypercalcaemia, both ethacrynic acid and methylprednisolone increase urinary calcium excretion, and methylprednisolone also decreases intestinal calcium absorption when given in pharmacologic doses. In conclusion, laboratory examinations for both total and ionized serum calcium levels are recommended in all cases of pustular psoriasis. Hypocalcaemia might be, however, not the only provoking factor. Methotrexate was shown to be useful for additional treatment of impetigo herpetiformis.
Solvent–free Microwave Extraction of Essential Oils from Laurus nobilis and Melissa officinalis: Comparison with Conventional Hydro-distillation and Ultrasound Extraction

Solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) has been applied to the extraction of essential oils from Melissa officinalis L. and Laurus nobilis L. The results of SFME were compared with those obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (USE) of essential oils from dried plant materials. The compositions of the essential oils were identified by GC–MS. The essential oil obtained with SFME contained substantially higher amounts of oxygenated compounds and lower amounts of monoterpenes than the oils obtained by conventional methods. The three different extraction methods used showed differences in the compositions and contents of the essential oils.
TYPE XIII COLLAGEN

Type XIII collagen is a transmembrane protein consisting of a short intracellular portion, a transmembrane anchor, and a long extracellular domain with a mainly collagenous sequence. Histochemical and cell biological studies have revealed that type XIII collagen has a wide distribution in various tissues and that it is mostly localized to cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts. In order to study type XIII collagen at the molecular level, the protein was expressed in insect cells as a homotrimer. The recombinant protein was found to reside in the plasma membrane of insect cells with its N-terminus intracellular and C-terminal part extracellular, i. e. in a type II orientation. The trimerization of type XIII collagen chains was initiated by 21 amino acid residues adjacent to the transmembrane domain on the extracellular side, and this sequence was found to be conserved in several other collagenous transmembrane proteins. In addition to the transmembrane form, the ectodomain of type XIII collagen was secreted into the cell culture medium, a result of proteolytic cleavage by furin-like proteases at the non-collagenous NC1 domain. The ectodomain was purified from the insect cell culture medium with a typical collagenous composition and conformation, and it showed as a 150 nm-long rod in rotary shadowing electron microscopy. Furthermore, the recombinant ectodomain showed high affinity binding to several extracellular matrix proteins, e. g. fibronectin, nidogen-2, and perlecan, as well as to heparin. The type XIII collagen ectodomain also showed selective recognition to collagen receptor integrins. Integrin α1 and α11 I domains bind to type XIII collagen with a high affinity, and both integrins α1β1 and α11β1 mediate cell attachment to type XIII collagen. The present results suggest that type XIII collagen shares common aspects with other collagenous transmembrane proteins in terms of chain association and ectodomain shedding. However, it is notably distinct in its structure and binding specificity compared to other types of collagen and cellsurface proteins. The data imply that type XIII collagen might participate in multiple cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.
Assessing executive functions in older adults: a comparison between the manual and the computer-based versions of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test

Executive functions (EF) are a group of high-level cognitive processes that control and direct lower-level abilities in order to produce goal-directed behavior. Because these functions are a multidimensional entity, they can be assessed using different tests. One of the tests often used to evaluate EF is the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). The WCST is a task that involves hypothesis testing, identification of concepts, resistance to interference, switching categories, and inhibition. Two versions of the task have been used in neuropsychological testing, but little is known about their equivalence. In this study, we investigated the performance of two groups of elderly people in two versions of the task: manual (cards) and computer-based. Fifty-four healthy elderly participants took part in this study; half of the sample was assessed with the computer-based version of the WCST, while the other half performed the manual version. There were no differences between the two versions of the task in our sample of elderly participants (total number correct, perseverative errors, percent conceptual level responses, and number of categories completed). In this sense, the results provide evidence for the equivalence of both versions in the assessment of EF in healthy elderly participants.
Optimal Pricing and Rationing Decisions for Short Life Cycle Products with Time-Sensitive Customers

We consider a firm that sells a product with a short life cycle to time-sensitive customers. The customers’ product valuations decrease over time and they are grouped into different classes according to their delay sensitivities, the marginal decrease of their product valuation over time. The product is sold at two points of sale (POS’s): pre-sale and regular sale. We study the firm's sales strategy which involves pricing and rationing decisions. The rationing decision involves the firm deciding which customers to satisfy at pre-sale and rationing the other customers to regular sale. We formulate the firm's problem for both capacitated and uncapacitated firms in order to understand the effect of capacity constraints on the firm’s optimal decisions. We show that for both types of firms the set of rationing constraints is equivalent to a simpler set of constraints that is only related to the total sales in each period. Under optimality, we find that the uncapacitated firm either rations all the customer classes or none of them, and the capacitated firm does not carry inventory from pre-sale to regular sale. When the firm sells to homogeneous customers, we fully characterize the firm's optimal decisions: regardless of the capacity constraints, the firm can obtain optimal profits without rationing any of its customers. Surprisingly, the optimal product entry timing for the capacitated firm can actually increase even when customers’ delay sensitivity increases. When the firm sells to two customer classes, rationing can be optimal for both capacitated and uncapacitated firms. Further, for a capacitated firm it is optimal to either ration both customer classes or none, and rationing can be optimal even when the prices decrease from pre-sale to regular sale. Finally, we perform a numerical study in which we examine how optimal sales strategy changes with parameters and identify the scenarios in which different sales strategies are optimal.
A metamaterial transition layer for free-space radiation from a slot-line leaky-wave antenna

A metamaterial transition layer is proposed for a slot-line dielectric leaky-wave antenna that will allow the excited mode trapped within the dielectric to radiate. The transition layer is designed using transformation electromagnetics to behave like a dielectric prism in order to prevent total internal reflection within the dielectric. Two-dimensional full-wave simulations compare the fields from a uniform dielectric layer to the fields from an inhomogeneous anisotropic metamaterial layer.
Photodynamic therapy mediated by methylene blue dye in wound healing.

OBJECTIVE We sought to investigate the wound-healing process after photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by methylene blue dye (MB). BACKGROUND DATA Few scientific studies show the PDT roles in wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred rats were given a circular wound on the back, inflicted with a 6-mm-diameter punch. The animals were divided into four groups: control (no treatment); dye (topical application of MB); laser (InGaAlP, 117.85 J/cm(2), 100 mW, 660 nm, single point); and PDT (topical application of MB followed by laser irradiation). After 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days, the cutaneous wounds were photographed and assessed with histopathologic examination by using light microscope. Changes seen in edema, necrosis, inflammation, granulation tissue, re-epithelialization, and number of young fibroblasts were semiquantitatively evaluated. The wound-area changes were measured with special software and submitted to statistical analysis. RESULTS The laser group demonstrated the smallest wound area at 14 days after the surgical procedure (p < 0.01). Concerning complete re-epithelialization, the laser group showed it at 5-7 days after surgery, whereas the PDT and the other groups showed it at 14 days. CONCLUSIONS Laser interaction with tissue is somehow changed when exposed to the MB. PDT mediated by MB was not prejudicial to wound healing, as no delay occurred compared with the control group.
Exploring the Factors Favoring mCommerce Adoption among Indian MSMEs: A TOE Perspective

The current research aims to explain, through the Technology-Organization- Environment (TOE) framework, the factors affecting the adoption of mobile commerce (mCommerce) over electronic commerce (eCommerce) by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging markets, particularly India. The current research through a review of literature and multiple case studies, proposes that though eCommerce has its own unique value propositions and benefits, the adoption of mCommerce will be a more feasible option than eCommerce for MSMEs in India. Using the TOE framework, the current research provides insights into the drivers of mCommerce and inhibitors of eCommerce adoption in emerging markets, thus adding to the limited knowledge among both academics and practitioners. The current research finds that given the present business environment, MSMEs' capabilities, and external/internal infrastructural issues, adoption of mCommerce for business is a better option than eCommerce for MSMEs in India. Since mCommerce in India is still in its nascent stage, the current research provides valuable guidance to mCommerce adoption among Indian MSMEs.
Deciphering 140 Characters

Objective: Conduct an exploratory analysis of driver distraction tweets using text mining. Background: Twitter is a popular social networking site with a wealth of data that is both explanatory and predictive of current trends and events. Data from Twitter may also prove useful in understanding the attitudes and opinions surrounding distracted driving. Method: Tweets posted between January 29, 2012 and April 12, 2013 containing the words ‘driver distraction’ or ‘driving distraction’ were collected. Text mining was used to extract patterns from the tweets in terms of timelines, frequencies, and associations. Results: Over 8,000 tweets were collected and contained information about users’ personal experience with driver distraction as well as various news articles about driver distraction. Conclusion: Twitter data provide a real-time snapshot of the attitudes surrounding of distracted driving. Application: Information from social media can complement traditional driving data sources, such as simulator studies, naturalistic studies, and epidemiological data, to create a more holistic picture of distracted driving.
Practical Media Decisions and the Computer

Of the variety of new computer applications, the most important is the development of decision models for media selection. This article discusses the development of decision models in general, the development of a practical media decision model which grew out of disillusionment with linear programing, the ways that this model's requirements for new data are being met, and the implications of the model for the future of the advertising business. After reading this article, read the succeeding one, “How Practical Is the Media Model? ” by Joseph St. Georges (pp. 31–33).
Interference avoidance in co-channel deployment of macro-femto network using a new approach of solving Markov chain

The function of a femtocell is to extend the cellular coverage to areas where the signal from base station cannot be received, thus improving the indoor wireless services. However, under the expected co-channel deployment of femto and macro-cells, a significant number of calls originating from femtocell users get dropped or blocked. This blocking rate problem must be controlled so that the femto users get quality of services. In this paper, the analytical system model is designed introducing a novel approach for solving Markov chain for increased number of femtocells. A channel selection algorithm along with power control is also being proposed in this paper to reduce the call dropping and blocking rates for femto users. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in reducing the blocking and dropping rates.
Mobilising for change in vocational education and training in Sweden – a case study of the ‘Technical College’ scheme

Abstract In this article, we analyse a recent industry-driven initiative in Sweden for the organisation and operation of Vocational Education and Training. In the context of a statist and school-based system for VET, this is an initiative which seems to be an example of an anomaly in the present system. The initiative is called the Technical College scheme and is a certification scheme for upper secondary school education in technology. The aim of this article is to describe and explain the establishment of the Technical College scheme in Sweden from a historical institutionalist approach. Based on this approach, the case is analysed as a process of incremental institutional change, with a focus on initiatives and strategies by different stakeholders driving the invention and implementation of the scheme, the importance of the power balances between central interests, and how the process has been shaped by institutional conditions. Our study shows how previously marginalised actors in a VET system can mobilise for change without radically changing the rules of the game. The process that we characterise can be explained by changes in the power balances between key actors, but also by changed institutional conditions that have provided windows of opportunity for new initiatives.
Progress in antimicrobial activities of chitin, chitosan and its oligosaccharides: a systematic study needs for food applications

In recent years, active biomolecules such as chitosan and its derivatives are undergoing a significant and very fast development in food application area. Due to recent outbreaks of contaminations associated with food products, there have been growing concerns regarding the negative environmental impact of packaging materials of antimicrobial biofilms, which have been studied. Chitosan has a great potential for a wide range of applications due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, antimicrobial activity, nontoxicity and versatile chemical and physical properties. It can be formed into fibers, films, gels, sponges, beads or nanoparticles. Chitosan films have been used as a packaging material for the quality preservation of a variety of foods. Chitosan has high antimicrobial activities against a wide variety of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms, including fungi, and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A tremendous effort has been made over the past decade to develop and test films with antimicrobial properties to improve food safety and shelf-life. This review highlights the preparation, mechanism, antimicrobial activity, optimization of biocide properties of chitosan films and applications including biocatalysts for the improvement of quality and shelf-life of foods.