Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Operational Integration in Health Care versus Mass Production

Purpose: Operational integration has been studied by several authors. However, still there are many research questions to be raised. Methodology/Approach: Two value chains have been studied within two different sectors: the health sector and the car component industry (mass producer). The research methodology is based on semi-structured interviews with selected persons from different levels within the organizations. The data was transcribed, coded and further analyzed to find enablers or disablers to operational integration in both sectors. Findings: From this study, factors such as management commitment, co-location, and job-rotation can be seen as contributing factors in both organizations. Both experience disablers such as working as functional silos and little alignment of overall goals. Differences are seen in the greater use of job rotation within health care, while the mass producer had more mechanisms to facilitate working in cross functional teams. Practical implication: This paper presents empirical findings of success factors and pitfalls for operational integration within the value chain of two different types of organizations. Based on this mapping, recommendations on how to achieve better operational integration will be presented. Originality/Value of paper: The research initiative provides knowledge experiences from operational integration in two different Norwegian organizations representing two different sectors.
Sequence to structure alignment in comparative modeling using PrISM

PrISM (Protein Informatics System for Modeling) is a protein analysis and modeling system in which informatics, alignment, modeling, and assessment modules are integrated in a computational environment where protein analysis and modeling protocols can be designed and assessed interactively. It can then be used automatically and repetitively in response to a variety of protein analysis and modeling problems. PrISM was used to predict a single model for each of the 43 targets in the CASP3 experiment. In this paper, we present results for 13 target sequences, which we consider to be comparative modeling targets with clearly related structural templates. We emphasize the problem of aligning a target sequence to a template structure with various alignment methods. When more than one alignment method and/or parameter set are applied, the final alignment is chosen on the basis of a model ranking system also used in PrISM's fold recognition module. Advanced sequence–template alignment procedures in PrISM are useful in some cases when standard pairwise dynamic programming algorithm fail to make any reasonable global alignment. The same procedures, however, failed in other cases, corresponding to remotely related query‐template pairs that involved extensive insertions and deletions. Proteins Suppl 1999;3:66–72. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An integrated system for statistical testing of pseudo-random generators in FPGA devices

This paper presents results of studies on development of the system for testing of pseudo-random binary sequences produced by chaotic generators implemented in programmable devices. This task requires a large amount of computing resources due to the complex form of statistical tests. The proposed solution is a flexible, platform-independent integrated test-bed and can be extended by new modules. It has been proved, that the described system significantly simplifies testing of pseudorandom generators implemented in FPGA devices.
THE ROLE OF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR IN THE RAMIFICATION OF SYMPATHETIC NERVE FIBRES INTO THE RAT IRIS IN ORGAN CULTURE

Small amounts of nerve growth factor (NGF) were present in the superior cervical ganglion and the iris of the rat. The observations that NGF content in each of the tissues was depleted during organ culture and that more NGF appeared in the media than was originally present in the tissues indicated that synthesis or activation of NGF had occurred in organ culture. Antibody to NGF or the depletion of endogenous NGF retarded growth of new sympathetic axons into irides in organ culture. Exogenously added NGF appeared to enhance the initiation of axonal sprouting and the rate of the ramification of nerve fibres.
Grading gastrointestinal dysplasia and what to call it when you don't know what it is

Dysplasia in the gastrointestinal tract is defined as intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) according to the WHO nomenclature. Neoplastic growth in the gastrointestinal tract evolves through stepwise tumour progression in which consecutive morphological stages are characterized by increasing genetic instability accompanied by specific genetic alterations. Invasive cancer is preceded by non‐invasive precursor stages and the clonal epithelial cell proliferation in these pre‐invasive stages is diagnosed as dysplasia or IEN. Dysplasia is therefore a marker for cancer risk and guides surveillance. Dysplasia is conventionally graded using a two‐tier system and low‐ and high‐grade dysplasia convey different connotations regarding cancer risk. This perspective argues that the critical differential diagnosis is the one between neoplastic and non‐neoplastic epithelial cell proliferations and the relevance of grading dysplasia is questionable. It is furthermore expected that a molecular signature will predict the propensity to invasive carcinoma more accurately than routine histopathology in the near future. Research in this field needs to focus on a combination of biomarkers representing genetic instability, clonal mutations, and genetic clonal divergence. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Odanacatib increases mineralized callus during fracture healing in a rabbit ulnar osteotomy model

The effects of the cathepsin K inhibitor odanacatib (ODN) on fracture healing were monitored for ∼6 and 15 weeks post‐fracture in two separate studies using the unilateral transverse mid‐ulnar osteotomy model in skeletally mature female rabbits. Rabbits were pre‐treated for 3–4 weeks with vehicle (Veh), ODN (2 mg/kg, po, daily), or alendronate (ALN) (0.3 mg/kg, sc, twice‐weekly) prior to osteotomy. In Study 1, the animals were maintained on the same respective treatment for ∼6 weeks. In Study 2, the animals were also continued on the same therapy or switched from Veh to ODN or ODN to Veh for 15 weeks. No treatment‐related impairment of fracture union was seen by qualitative histological assessments in the first study. Cartilage retention was detected in the calluses of ALN‐treated rabbits at week‐6, while calluses in the ODN and Veh groups contained bony tissue with significantly less residual cartilage. ODN treatment also markedly increased the number of cathepsin K‐(+) osteoclasts in the callus, indicating enhanced callus remodeling. From the second study, ex vivo DXA and pQCT confirmed that ODN treatment pre‐ and post‐osteotomy increased callus bone mineral content and bone mineral density (BMD) versus Veh (p < 0.001) and discontinuation of ODN post‐surgery returned callus BMD to Veh. Peak load of ODN‐ or ALN‐treated calluses were comparable to Veh. ODN increased callus yield load (20%, p = 0.056) and stiffness (26%, p < 0.05) versus Veh. These studies demonstrated that ODN increased mineralized callus during the early phase of fracture repair without impairing callus formation or biomechanical integrity at the fracture site. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Research Society. J Orthop Res 34:72–80, 2016.
The diversity among IVHS navigation systems worldwide

More than 100 intelligent vehicle highway system (IVHS) navigation systems are being built worldwide. Japan and the United States are the leaders in developing systems, with the second grouping of countries being Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada. Various positioning technologies such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Radio Determination Satellite System RDSS, dead reckoning, signposts, map matching, and terrestrial RF systems are used more in some countries than in others, and these trends are reported. Countries in some regional blocks use certain positioning technologies more prominently than those used in other blocks. Examples of novel systems in the four basic categories (autonomous, fleet management, advisory, and inventory) are given to illustrate the trend toward specific market penetration and thus the diversity among systems. A brief description of future trends is given.
Cities, regions and the decline of transport costs

Abstract.The theoretical framework of urban and regional economics is built on transportation costs for manufactured goods. But over the twentieth century, the costs of moving these goods have declined by over 90% in real terms, and there is little reason to doubt that this decline will continue. Moreover, technological change has eliminated the importance of fixed infrastructure transport (rail and water) that played a critical role in creating natural urban centres. In this article, we document this decline and explore several simple implications of a world where it is essentially free to move goods, but expensive to move people. We find empirical support for these implications.
Holistic Marketing and Lean Management – Correlation or Misspecification in Company X

High and multi - faceted dynamic of business changes increases customers requirements in relation to their business partners. Operation of holistic marketing together with lean management can enable response and act on time in relation to the customer. But is it possible to implement and cooperation in parallel with the two philosophies? It's definitely a challenge. But wise manager knows that usage of 5S, 5 Why’s, Ishikawa and Pareto with integrated, internal marketing can built a stable relationship with the customer and get the KPI’s level on the same performance as achieving them the biggest fish in the market.
Benders decomposition algorithm for reference network

A reference network is topologically identical to the existing network in which the generators and loads are not changed while the transmission line capacity will be optimized. By applying a reference network, the optimal transmission capacities of each line could be identified, as it takes annual operational and transmission costs into consideration. A reference network provides a standard to evaluate the real network objectively. The congestion costs can be quantified and the optimal investment proposal can also be obtained based on load forecasting. Furthermore, the weakness of the system can be detected by comparing those in the reference and the actual network. However, for a large-scale power system, it is extremely complicated to build the reference network, as the optimal capacities for each line must be determined considering various contingency events. In this paper a simplified Benders decomposition algorithm is presented and applied to solve this model. Simulation results show that this technique can reduce computation time and improve convergence performance.
Understanding the Use of Social Media for Employer Branding

Employer branding applies marketing tools to promote an organisation as an employer to current and potential employees. The importance of strategic alignment between parts of the business has been highlighted in literature: marketing and human resource activities are no exception. On the contrary, the alignment of customer brand and employer brand is equally important to marketers and human resource managers. This chapter frames the creation and communication of the employer brand as a “strong communication system”. A framework for assessment of the system's strength is introduced and a practical application of this framework is demonstrated in two case studies. The conflict between the traditional top-down one-way marketing communication flow and bottom-up bi-directional communication on social media is highlighted and the impact of this apparent conflict on the system strength is discussed. Social media appears to change the way in which employer brand is created, communicated and perceived and this chapter aims in aiding the understating of this changes.
Audit Resource Planning Success in B2B E-Commerce: Development and Testing of a Measurement Scale

Abstract The e-commerce audit engagement scenario makes audit resource planning (ARP) an activity full of technological complexities. These complexities generally involve both e-commerce technologies and enterprise information integration, putting real pressure on the audit organization's scarce human and financial resources. However, the success (or effectiveness) of such complex audit resource planning activity is not well understood or easily measured. This paper attempts to develop and diagnostically test measurement scales using classical measurement development framework and contemporary structural equation modeling methods. This study is motivated by prior studies in the conventional (non e-commerce) audit resource planning, and audit-planning domain published in the accounting and management information systems discipline. The prior studies suggest that audit resource planning in a B2B (business-to-business) e-commerce engagement is a multi dimensional construct consisting of four latent dimensions. The four latent dimensions of ARP success are reflected through several manifest variables obtained from various relevant studies. The results confirm that audit resource planning success is operationalizable as a measurement scale with the four dimensions. The results of the study are tools for benchmarking future efforts by audit organizations. Accounting scholars can also use this study as a base for operationalizing audit resource planning success as a key dependent variable in future research.
Diversity-Awareness – The Key to Human-Like Computing ? ?

While AI has recently produced impressive systems that achieve human-like performance at challenging tasks, these systems tell us very little about how human intelligence works. In particular, they do not address the problem of composing knowledge and behaviour incrementally – a phenomenon that is pervasive in individual and collective human intelligence. We argue that achieving more human-like AI requires focusing on diversity in reasoning and behaviour among humans and artificial agents, and that developing systems capable of dealing with such diversity is key to achieving more human-like AI. In these systems intelligence should not only be measured in terms of how a system performs at a certain task, but also in terms of the properties of the process by which each component combines its knowledge and behaviour with that of others, just like humans do.
Lopinavir Measurement in Pleural Effusion in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Patient with Kaposi's Sarcoma

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is highly compartmentalized within various organs. Tissue dissemination is evident in the lung ([1][1]), the male ([3][2]) and female ([8][3]) genital tracts, the lymph nodes ([12][4]), and especially in the brain ([5][5], [12][4]). This process
Business Financing Factors Influencing Entrepreneurs’ Decisions to Prepare a Business Plan

This paper investigates factors that influence entrepreneurs’ decisions to prepare business plans. Data is obtained from a survey administered to clients of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and designed to address various aspects of financing options, including availability/use of outside debt or equity funds and owner attitudes toward various funding options. Factors identified as influencing the decision to prepare a formal business plan in support of financing efforts include greater amount of required start-up costs, proportion of start-up costs raised from outside sources, and self-assessment of financial knowledge.
LINKING STELLAR CORONAL ACTIVITY AND ROTATION AT 500 MYR: A DEEP CHANDRA OBSERVATION OF M37

Empirical calibrations of the stellar age-rotation–activity relation (ARAR) rely on observations of the co-eval populations of stars in open clusters. We used the Chandra X-ray Observatory to study M37, a 500-Myr-old open cluster that has been extensively surveyed for rotation periods ( P rot ? > ). M37 was observed almost continuously for five days, for a total of 440.5 ks, to measure stellar X-ray luminosities ( L X ? > ), a proxy for coronal activity, across a wide range of masses. The cluster’s membership catalog was revisited to calculate updated membership probabilities from photometric data and each star’s distance to the cluster center. The result is a comprehensive sample of 1699 M37 members: 426 with P rot ? > , 278 with X-ray detections, and 76 with both. We calculate Rossby numbers, R o = P rot / τ ? > , where τ is the convective turnover time, and ratios of the X-ray-to-bolometric luminosity, L X / L bol ? > , to minimize mass dependencies in our characterization of the rotation-coronal activity relation at 500 Myr. We find that fast rotators, for which R o < 0.09 ± 0.01 ? > , show saturated levels of activity, with log( L X / L bol ? > ) = − 3.06 ± 0.04 ? > . For R o ≥ 0.09 ± 0.01 ? > , activity is unsaturated and follows a power law of the form R o β ? > , where β = − 2.03 − 0.14 + 0.17 ? > . This is the largest sample available for analyzing the dependence of coronal emission on rotation for a single-aged population, covering stellar masses in the range 0.4–1.3 M ⊙ ? > , P rot ? > in the range 0.4–12.8 days, and L X ? > in the range 10 28.4 − 30.5 ? > erg s − 1 ? > . Our results make M37 a new benchmark open cluster for calibrating the ARAR at ages of ≈ 500 ? > Myr.
THE PIG AS A MODEL FOR HUMAN WOUND HEALING

The medical literature describes numerous in vitro and in vivo wound‐healing models. The selection of an animal model depends on a number of factors including availability, cost, ease of handling, investigator familiarity, and anatomical/functional similarity to humans. Small mammals are frequently used for wound healing studies, however, these mammals differ from humans in a number of anatomical and physiological ways. Anatomically and physiologically, pig skin is more similar to human skin. The many similarities between man and pig would lead one to believe that the pig should make an excellent animal model for human wound healing. The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature for evidence of this supposition and determine how well the various models correlate to human wound healing. Studies of wound dressings, topical antimicrobials, and growth factors are examined. Over 180 articles were utilized for this comparative review. Our conclusion is that the porcine model is an excellent tool for the evaluation of therapeutic agents destined for use in human wounds.
Exploring the Drivers and Nature of Corporate Social Responsibility Practice from an African Perspective

This paper explored the major drivers of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice in Africa. In the process of explaining the nature of CSR it explained the evolutionary trend of CSR through the whole century and also touched on the CSR orientations and a recognized framework for determining the orientations through the four responsibilities or dimensions. The CSR orientations explained the priority accorded to some sets of activities representing the CSR practice of organizations in Africa from different literatures. The paper found out that CSR practice in Africa is determined by philanthropic responsibilities derived from cultural and religious practice in Africa. The practice of CSR as a strategy for achieving profitability, competitiveness, standard compliance, ethical and legal considerations, stakeholder management and engagement and achievement of sustainable development is less emphasized in the African context when compared to the western perspective of CSR practice.
Smaller scale New Zealand dairy farmers: the context for future innovations

There is a wide variation in the scale of New Zealand dairy herds, 18% of farmers manage more than 600 cows, while 69% of farmers have herds with less than 400 cows (DairyNZ & LIC 2012/13). The smaller scale farms, those with less than 400 cows, are important due to the proportion of the industry they represent, yet little research has been conducted in New Zealand into their particular needs or context. Understanding these farmers' goals, plans and challenges is critical to developing innovations and extension programs tailored specifically to their needs. Farmers with less than 400 cows were surveyed (n=346) by telephone in October and November 2014. On average respondents milked 240 cows on 97 ha, employed staff and had a low level of debt as a proportion of their business assets (33%). Respondents strongly agreed that earning maximum sustainable net cash returns and planning for reasonable holidays and leisure time was important, but were neutral regarding the importance of passing the farm onto family members. Farmers were planning no major changes in farm ownership, but the majority were planning to lift production by more than 10%, and reduce the already low debt levels further and employ a non-family employee to do the majority of the work. The key challenges identified by the famers were 'environmental regulation and compliance', followed by 'finding suitable staff', then various capital and cash- flow factors were considered moderately challenging. Two key outcomes of the research are: 1. The most likely future plans of New Zealand smaller scale dairy farmers is described, which can inform the development of future programs and innovations. 2. The key challenges for smaller scale farmers plans are identified and ranked. It is concluded that a range of exit strategies need to be developed for smaller scale farmers without successors, which meets both their financial and personal needs.
Increasing Comprehension of Students with Significant Intellectual Disabilities and Visual Impairments during Shared Stories.

Shared stories have been shown to help increase emerging literacy skills in students with significant intellectual disabilities. One important literacy skill is the development of listening comprehension. In this study, least-to-most prompt system was used to promote listening comprehension during shared stories for two students with significant intellectual disabilities and visual impairments. The procedure was evaluated via a multiple probe design across materials (i.e., books). Outcomes indicate that both students improved on the correct number of comprehension questions answered during all three books. In addition, Student 1 was able to generalize responses across people and settings as well as maintain results. Future research and implications for practical team implementation of the least-to-most prompt system to teach listening comprehension are discussed.
Spinal muscular atrophy: a motor neuron disorder or a multi‐organ disease?

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder that is the leading genetic cause of infantile death. SMA is characterized by loss of motor neurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord, leading to weakness and muscle atrophy. SMA occurs as a result of homozygous deletion or mutations in Survival Motor Neuron‐1 (SMN1). Loss of SMN1 leads to a dramatic reduction in SMN protein, which is essential for motor neuron survival. SMA disease severity ranges from extremely severe to a relatively mild adult onset form of proximal muscle atrophy. Severe SMA patients typically die mostly within months or a few years as a consequence of respiratory insufficiency and bulbar paralysis. SMA is widely known as a motor neuron disease; however, there are numerous clinical reports indicating the involvement of additional peripheral organs contributing to the complete picture of the disease in severe cases. In this review, we have compiled clinical and experimental reports that demonstrate the association between the loss of SMN and peripheral organ deficiency and malfunction. Whether defective peripheral organs are a consequence of neuronal damage/muscle atrophy or a direct result of SMN loss will be discussed.