Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inventory management of short lifecycle slow moving items: a case study

One of the biggest challenges that the current manufacturers and retailers are facing is to manage huge varieties of short lifecycle items to meet various consumer preferences. This study proposes an inventory management policy with a demand forecasting algorithm. In this algorithm, the discrete probability distribution is assumed and the parameters to define the distribution are estimated dynamically so that it adapts demand pattern changes during the sales season. The proposal is evaluated with the sales data disclosed by a real company and shows that the policy successfully increases the expected profit of the company.
Peripheral insulin-like factor 3 concentrations are reduced in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus: effect of glycemic control and visceral adiposity on Leydig cell function.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Hypogonadism frequently occurs in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while the role of glycemic control and visceral obesity is still unclear. This study aimed to assess the Leydig cell function, including the new sensitive marker insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), in T2DM patients without overt hypogonadism and the influence of either glycemic control or visceral adiposity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty T2DM patients (age 57.1+/-6.2 years, body mass index (BMI) 28.0+/-4.3) without overt hypogonadism and 30 age- and BMI-matched controls were studied. Anthropometric, glycometabolic parameters and testosterone, SHBG, LH, INSL3 levels, bioavailable and free testosterone (BT and cFT) were evaluated. The human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) test was also performed. RESULTS Patients had lower total testosterone (452.6+/-130.0 vs 512.6+/-117.3 ng/dl, P=0.06), BT (189.7+/-36.4 vs 237.1+/-94.1 ng/dl, P=0.002), cFT (8.1+/-1.6 vs 10.1+/-4.0 ng/dl, P=0.002), and higher LH levels (3.5+/-1.6 vs 2.6+/-1.2 mU/ml, P=0.01) versus controls. Serum INSL3 concentrations were also lower in patients (1.1+/-0.3 vs 1.5+/-0.7 ng/ml, P=0.01). These hormonal parameters, including INSL3, did not differ between T2DM patients with poor or good glycemic control (HbA1c>9 or <7% respectively). In patients, waist circumferences (97.9+/-12.4 cm) negatively correlated with INSL3 (P=0.03) and basal, as well as hCG-stimulated testosterone levels (P=0.04 and 0.004 respectively). Basal or stimulated hormonal levels and INSL3 concentrations were not different between patients with (40%) or without erectile dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS An early impairment of the overall Leydig cell function is present in men with T2DM, mainly related to visceral adiposity rather than to glycemic control.
BALANCED SCORECARD, STRATEGY MAPS AND BUSINESS UNIT ALIGNMENT

Management of companies today is carried out in a complicated competitive environment. Therefore managers need a lot of information and a set of supporting tools to manage and make decisions. They need such tools in order to evaluate different aspects resulting from the company activity and its economic environment and thus to be able to monitor the progress of the company in fulfilment of the set goals. It is not enough to know that the company is successful today, it is necessary to know if it will be and if it has a chance to be successful also in the future.
The Return on Investments in Tax Planning for Employees: Evidence from Germany

Tax preparation firms advertise their services as a way to save taxes. Along this line, we use a large cross-sectional sample of German income tax accounting data, consisting of employees and other taxpayers with non-business income, to explore the relationship between expenses for tax preparation and tax liabilities. We find a negative link with expenses exceeding estimated tax savings. Specifically, one additional Euro yields estimated tax savings of only 75 Cents which implies that individual tax planning is no profitable investment from a tax saving perspective. In consideration of time savings, tax planning is worthwhile only for high income groups. This result suggests for most taxpayers an overinvestment. Potential explanations include an overvaluation of time and tax savings or a benefit of tax planning beyond these savings.
Earlier discharge with community-based intervention for low birth weight infants: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND Prolonged hospitalization of low birth weight infants increases the risk of medical and psychosocial complications. The feasibility of earlier discharge with community-based follow-up of infants of < or = 2000 g birth weight, without the use of home apnea monitors, was investigated. METHODS One hundred infants of < or = 2000 g birth weight were randomized to either an intervention or control group. Intervention infants were discharged when readiness criteria were met. Based on assessed need, intervention group families received public health nursing and homemaker services for up to 8 weeks. Control infants were discharged to their homes at the discretion of the attending physician. All infants were assessed blindly at age 1 year with the Bayley and Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) scales. RESULTS There were no group differences in baseline infants' characteristics or in neonatal complications. Infants in the intervention group were discharged from the hospital at an earlier postconceptional age (mean +/- SD 36.6 +/- 1.5 weeks vs 37.3 +/- 1.6 weeks; P < .04). Median length of hospital stay (23 days vs 31.5 days) and mean weight at the time of discharge (2200 +/- 288 g vs 2275 +/- 301 g) were lower, but not significantly, for infants in the intervention group. A secondary analysis by birth weight strata (< or = 1500 g and 1501 through 2000 g) revealed that the most significant reductions in hospital stay and weight at discharge were realized in infants of 1501 through 2000 g birth weight. The persistence of apneic episodes and need for electronic monitoring prevented earlier discharge of infants of < or = 1500 g birth weight. Postdischarge services to the intervention group included 185 public health nurse home visits (3.8 +/- 0.91), 410 phone contacts (8.4 +/- 5), and 2298 homemaker hours (46 +/- 78) of service. At 1 year, there were no deaths and no group differences in rehospitalization rates, use of ambulatory services, or Bayley scores. Intervention families had significantly higher 1-year HOME scores. Minimum cost of hospital care was $873 per day, while the total cost of community-based services averaged $626 per infant. CONCLUSIONS A significant reduction in average length of hospital stay was achieved for infants of 1501 through 2000 g birth weight. Earlier discharge of infants weighing < or = 1500 g at birth was hampered by persistent apneic episodes and feeding difficulties. A community-based program designed to provide individualized support and education for families of low birth weight infants was cost-effective and had a positive influence on the home environment.
Effects of PGF2α on the expression of uterine activation proteins in pregnant human myometrial cells from upper and lower segment.

CONTEXT The lower and upper segments of the uterus may play different roles in the process of parturition. The switch from pregnancy to delivery involves changes in expression of uterine activation proteins (UAPs). Prostaglandin (PG) F2α has multiple and complex roles in the birth process in addition to its vital contractile role. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate whether PGF2α regulates the expression of UAPs in human myometrium and to compare PGF2α actions in lower and upper segments. DESIGN Cultured human myometrial cells from upper and lower segments were treated with PGF2α. Western blotting was used to determine the levels of connexin 43 (CX-43), prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 (PTGS-2; cyclooxygenase-2), oxytocin receptor (OTR), and PGF2α receptor (PTGFR) in the cells. The small interfering RNA approach was used to knock down PTGFR. RESULTS PGF2α dose dependently increased CX-43 and PTGS-2 while decreasing PTGFR in upper and lower segments. PGF2α increased OTR in the lower segment while decreasing it in the upper segment. PGF2α lost its effects on PTGS-2 and OTR in PTGFR knockdown cells, but its effect on CX-43 remained. AL8810, a specific antagonist of PTGFR, reversed the actions of PGF2α on UAPs except for CX-43 in the lower segment. Indomethacin reversed the PGF2α-induced effects on CX-43 and PTGS-2, but it did not alter PGF2α-induced PTGFR and OTR expression. The stimulatory effects of PGF2α were enhanced in the presence of IL-1β, which reversed the inhibitory effect of PGF2α on PTGFR. CONCLUSION PGF2α regulates UAPs in both upper and lower segment cells through either direct or indirect pathways, indicating that PGF2α uniquely participates in uterine preparation for the onset of labor.
Do Environmental Services Buyers Prefer Differentiated Rates? A Case Study from the Colombian Andes

Flat user fees in payment for environmental services (PES) schemes promote administrative ease, and are sometimes perceived as egalitarian. However, when environmental service (ES) buyers are heterogeneous in their income and water consumption levels, this may not be optimal, as total payments become too low and services are under-supplied. This paper identifies ES buyer preferences and estimates their willingness to pay (WTP) differentiated fees in an ongoing PES initiative in an Andean watershed in Colombia. Small, flat user payments have recently been introduced to implement incipient watershed protection upstream. Environmental service users fall into two highly heterogeneous categories: smallholder peasants and owners of recreational houses. We performed a contingent valuation analysis in a representative stratified sample of 218 user households. For improved water services, ES buyers on average were willing to pay a monthly US$1 premium over current flat PES rates. Owners of recreational houses were willing to pay about US$1.50 more; smallholders only US$0.5. 85% of ES buyers also agree to pay differentiated fees. Of these, 41% would prefer fees differentiated by water consumption, 23% by household income, 30% criteria combination, and 6% by other criteria. Spatial variables, such as distance to the water distribution point and to the town center, importantly influenced WTP. The results may help designing users-driven PES schemes in accordance with efficiency and equity objectives.
Homology model of the rainbow trout estrogen receptor (rtERα) and docking of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

A model for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) estrogen receptor (rtERα) was built by homology with the human estrogen receptor (hERα). A high level of sequence conservation between the two receptors was found with 64% and 80% of identity and similarity, respectively. Selected endocrine disrupting chemicals were docked into the ligand binding domain (LBD) of rtERα and the corresponding free binding energies Δ(ΔGbind) values were calculated. A Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) model between the relative binding affinity data and the Δ(ΔGbind) values was derived in order to predict which further organic pollutants are likely to bind to rtERα. ‖Presented at CMTPI 2005: Computational Methods in Toxicology and Pharmacology Integrating Internet Resources (Shanghai, China, October 29–November 1, 2005).
A mutant phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in Escherichia coli conferring oxaloacetate decarboxylase activity

The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in Escherichia coli (encoded by pck) catalyzes the conversion from oxaloacetate (OAA) to phosphoenolpyruvate under gluconeogenic conditions. We report here the characterization of two mutant alleles, pck-51 and pck-53, both of which are point mutations leading to single amino acid changes (D to N at position 268 and G to S at position 284, respectively). Pck51 is an altered-activity mutant that catalyzes the conversion from OAA to pyruvate (OAA decarboxylase activity). This new activity was not detected from the wild-type Pck, and it complements the pck null mutation only in a pps+ background. Pck53 is a reduced-activity mutant that complements the pck null mutation in a strain-dependent fashion.
Immunohistochemistry for beta-catenin in the differential diagnosis of spindle cell lesions: analysis of a series and review of the literature.

AIMS Nuclear staining for beta-catenin by immunohistochemistry is being used increasingly to diagnose desmoid tumours (deep fibromatoses), especially where the differential diagnosis includes other abdominal spindle cell neoplasms. This study aimed to define the prevalence of beta-catenin positivity in desmoid tumours and other morphologically similar spindle cell neoplasms. METHOD AND RESULTS Nuclear beta-catenin expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 270 soft tissue tumours. Nuclear immunopositivity was detected in 80% of cases of sporadic desmoid fibromatosis (24/30) and in 67% of tumours in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (8/12). Nuclear positivity was also present in 14/25 superficial fibromatoses (56%), 3/10 low-grade myofibroblastic sarcomas (30%), 5/23 solitary fibrous tumours (22%), 1/5 infantile fibrosarcomas (20%), 1/18 desmoplastic fibroblastomas (6%) and 1/21 gastrointestinal stromal tumours (5%). No nuclear immunoreactivity was present in neurofibromas (0/26), schwannomas (0/25), nodular fasciitis (0/19), leiomyosarcomas (0/16), inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (0/12), fibromas of tendon sheath (0/9), lipofibromatoses (0/5), Gardner fibromas (0/4), calcifying aponeurotic fibromas (0/4) or fibromatosis colli (0/1). CONCLUSION Nuclear staining for beta-catenin is supportive, but not definitive, of the diagnosis of desmoid fibromatosis. No significant difference in immunoreactivity was observed between sporadic and familial desmoid fibromatoses. beta-Catenin negativity does not preclude the diagnosis of fibromatosis.
Imaging of Explosive Emission Cathode and Anode Plasma in a Vacuum-Sealed Vircator High-Power Microwave Source at 250 A/cm \(^{2}\)

Cold cathode operation under high current densities leads to explosive electron emission (EEE) that contributes to early A-K gap closure. Hence, inconsistent vacuum conditions and, if utilized in a high power microwave device, degradation of microwave output power are observed. The EEE centers are known to produce localized plasmas on the surface of the cathode that release and ionize the electrode material. Further, low melting point material in the anode is released due to electron bombardment accompanied by a significant surface temperature increase. Postmortem analysis has revealed particles up to 50 μm in diameter embedded in the opposite electrode. High speed ICCD imaging during A-K gap operation enabled resolving the plasma's spatial characteristics in time. Images of cathode and anode plasma during the operation of a virtual cathode oscillator at 250 A/cm2 under ultrahigh vacuum conditions are presented.
Stages, Content, and Theory of Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM): An Exploratory Study

This study discusses “theory of strategic human resource management (SHRM)”. Theory of SHRM is that human resource management (HRM) has an impact on firm performance through employee performance. Therefore, research topic of this study is to discuss SHRM theory. Research method is literature scanning. Research findings are, firstly, that strategic HRM can be defined with employee/firm performance relationship. Secondly, this study depicts its own SHRM model. In this model, HRM practices develop individual performance of employees in organizations, and individual performance increases performance of business departments, such as supply department, finance department, marketing department, logistics department, etc., and performance of business departments has an impact on firm performance. Furthermore, this study makes its SHRM definition. So far, there have been two definitions of SHRM in literature studies. The first definition identifies SHRM with corporate strategies and competitive advantage. The second definition describes SHRM with HRM-firm performance relationship. This study makes the third definition, namely, SHRM is employee/firm performance relationship, and this definition is figured in a SHRM model in this study.
Mucosal immunology of HIV infection

Recent advances in the immunology, pathogenesis, and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection continue to reveal clues to the mechanisms involved in the progressive immunodeficiency attributed to infection, but more importantly have shed light on the correlates of immunity to infection and disease progression. HIV selectively infects, eliminates, and/or dysregulates several key cells of the human immune system, thwarting multiple arms of the host immune response, and inflicting severe damage to mucosal barriers, resulting in tissue infiltration of ‘symbiotic’ intestinal bacteria and viruses that essentially become opportunistic infections promoting systemic immune activation. This leads to activation and recruitment or more target cells for perpetuating HIV infection, resulting in persistent, high‐level viral replication in lymphoid tissues, rapid evolution of resistant strains, and continued evasion of immune responses. However, vaccine studies and studies of spontaneous controllers are finally providing correlates of immunity from protection and disease progression, including virus‐specific CD4+ T‐cell responses, binding anti‐bodies, innate immune responses, and generation of antibodies with potent antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity activity. Emerging correlates of immunity indicate that prevention of HIV infection may be possible through effective vaccine strategies that protect and stimulate key regulatory cells and immune responses in susceptible hosts. Furthermore, immune therapies specifically directed toward boosting specific aspects of the immune system may eventually lead to a cure for HIV‐infected patients.
E-GOVERNANCE ADOPTION IN GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION OF INDIA

India, the growing economic super-power proceeded with lightning speed towards the adoption and successful implementation of e-governance. The Government of West Bengal (federal unit of India) implemented e-governance in pension office i.e. Pension Management System (PMS), for faster and efficient delivery of public services. The success of PMS is dependent on many factors and one among them is the successful adoption by the employee which has been empirically analyzed. The study used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Trust to build a conceptual model. Data collected from 60 employees working on the system and the model is assessed with regression analyses. The findings show that the determinants of the research model are support. The study also shows that the system doesn’t perform completely error free tasks which the Government of West Bengal should address. This is the first study of employee adoption of e-governance in pension office of India.
The Development Status and Prospects of Chinese P2P Network Lending

P2P network lending is a new financial service model based on network.It has the features of small private lending,the flexible and simple procedures.It provides a new financing channel for individuals and is a useful complement to the existing banking system.The future development of China's P2P network lending faces such barriers as imperfect personal credit system,lack of relevant laws and regulations and poor self-discipline. ,It is inevitable that P2P network lending,a financial innovation,encounters some problems at the early stage of development.At the same time it is regulated,it should be given some room for development.Commercial banks should follow the CBRC's requirements to prevent the private lending risk from transfering to banking system,concern about business opportunities and actively provide services for the supervision of funds of P2P network lending platform.
Atopic and Nonatopic Asthma in Children: two Different Diseases?

e majority of the studies in the "eld of childhood asthma lie within the scope of allergy/atopic asthma; however, airway hyperresponsiveness is considered a marker of asthma, independent of the atopic status and should be regarded as a parallel pathological process that can lead to subsequent symptoms and clinical evidence of asthma in children, without the evidence of atopy. e aim of this study is to estimate the possible dierences in clinical and lung functions, and the immunological status of children with atopic and nonatopic asthma phenotypes. In a prospective study design, 54 children (age 3-18 years) in Germany were monitored via active surveillance, by twice-a-week phone calls. All the children were divided into two groups, based on their atopic status, clinical date and lung function tests. e "rst 27 patients had atopic asthma (AA), whereas the second set of 27 patients had nonatopic asthma (NA). All patients underwent IgE and RAST tests for the most common inhalant allergens, and a quantitative measurement of Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) by CAP-radioallergosorbent test-#uorescence enzyme immunoassay (UniCAP, Pharmacia Diagnostics, Germany). Further, the IgA, IgM, IgG subclasses, IL-6 and CRP levels in the serum were tested. e resultant data showed signi"cant dierences in the prevailing IgE level 317.5±58 g/l in AA versus 83±21 in NA. However, there was no signi"cant distinction either in the ECP serum level in children with atopic and nonatopic asthma or in the IL-6 serum level. An unexpected result was the signi"cant drop in the level of serum CRP in group NA - 0.68±0.37 g/l; while in group AA this result was 1.5±0.38 g/l. No signi"cant dierences were noted between the mean values of the IgM and IgG levels in patients of all groups; however, the IgG levels increased only in the children with nonatopic asthma. Our study did not reveal any type of immunoglobulin de"ciency. e IgA level was relatively decreased in children with nonatopic asthma compared with those with the atopic form. Patients from group NA had signi"cantly higher IgG4 subclass levels than patients from group AA. e results of our study show that both atopic and nonatopic asthma are diseases, with similar in#ammatory changes, however having probably dierent pathogenetic immunological mechanisms. IJBM 2012; 2(3):214-221. © 2012 International Medical
Alterations in opioid receptor binding in Parkinson's disease patients with levodopa‐induced dyskinesias

Levodopa‐induced dyskinesias remain a major challenge in the therapeutic management of Parkinson's disease (PD). Their etiology is unknown although dysfunction of striatal opioid transmission has been implicated in experimental models of PD. To determine whether the opioid system is involved in human dyskinetic PD, we measured in vivo opioid receptor binding in PD patients with and without levodopa‐induced dyskinesias, using positron emission tomography (PET) and the opioid receptor ligand [11C]diprenorphine. Striatal and thalamic/occipital uptake ratios were calculated using a region of interest (ROI) approach. In addition, we used statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and images reflecting the volume of distribution of [11C]diprenorphine to assess changes in cerebral receptor binding on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis. By using the ROI approach, we found significantly reduced striatal and thalamic opioid binding in dyskinetic, but not in nondyskinetic, PD patients. The SPM approach confirmed reduced availability in these areas and, in addition, showed decreased cingulate and increased prefrontal opioid receptor binding in the dyskinetic patients. Our findings confirm that altered opioid transmission is part of the pathophysiology of levodopa‐induced dyskinesias in PD and support further investigation into the role of opioid agents in the management of these involuntary movements.