Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Strategic Management on Organizational Growth and Development of Commercial Banks in Delta State

The study which investigated the impact of strategic management on organizational growth and development was carried out using commercial banks operating in Delta State, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was employed in carrying out the study. The population for the study was 1,500 top management and lower management staff, and the sample was 306; stratified random sampling technique was used to select the sample. Structured questionnaire developed by the researcher; validated by three experts in Measurement and Evaluation as well as in Business Administration, was used as the instrument for data collection. The reliability test of the instrument yielded a correlation co-efficient of 0.82 which was considered suitable for the study. T-test statistical tool was employed to test the formulated null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings from the study indicated that strategic management has impact on the growth and development of organizations, commercial banks inclusive. The study recommended, among others, therefore, that organizations should embrace strategic management if they are to achieve growth and development and that top management and lower management staff of organizations should undergo training and retraining regularly to equip them on the adoption and implementation of strategic management.
QUEMDISSE ? Reported speech in Portuguese

This paper presents some work on direct and indirect speech in Portuguese using corpus-based methods: we report on a study whose aim was to identify (i) Portuguese verbs used to introduce reported speech and (ii) syntactic patterns used to convey reported speech, in order to enhance the performance of a quotation extraction system, dubbed QUEMDISSE? In addition, (iii) we present a Portuguese corpus annotated with reported speech, using the lexicon and rules provided by (i) and (ii), and discuss the process of their annotation and what was learned.
Diffusive Hebbian model for orientation map formation

The distribution of orientation selective cells over the cortical surface is captured in the orientation map. In the existing models on orientation map formation, the lateral connectivity in the cortex is modelled by Mexican hat intra-cortical interaction. The Mexican hat intra-cortical interaction requires long range interaction to be present during early period of development. We show that near neighbour diffusive Hebbian learning mechanism along with self-inhibition in the cells is sufficient for the formation of an orientation map. Long range intra-cortical connectivity is not critical for formation of orientation maps.
Contribution au mosaïquage d'images endoscopiques d'organes creux pour l'aide au diagnostic du cancer en phase précoce

Cette these est une contribution au developpement d'une methode de cartographie des parois internes d'organes creux a partir de sequences d'images video-endoscopiques, applicable pour la localisation de lesions cancereuses au sein de ces cavites (vessie notamment). Cette approche doit permettre aux specialistes de mieux cibler les biopsies pour augmenter ainsi la sensibilite de la detection. Les cartes ainsi realisees faciliteront les controles et compte-rendus post-operatoires. La premiere partie de cette these est consacree aux principes physiques et instrumentaux permettant la detection des lesions precancereuses par la technique d'imagerie multi-bande par autofluorescence. Cette technique se base sur le fait que le spectre d'autofluorescence emis par un tissu sain lors d'une excitation appropriee est different de celui emis par un tissu cancereux. Pour cette technique, deux images de la meme zone a examiner sont acquises. Une image obtenue en faisant le rapport pixel a pixel des intensites des deux images acquises met en evidence les lesions precancereuses. Une interface logicielle specifique a ete developpee pour la commande du systeme opto-mecanique d'acquisition des images d'autotluorescence a deux longueurs d'onde differentes et la visualisation des images dans differents modes operatoires: en lumiere blanche, d'autotluorescence et/ou composite (rapport d'intensite des images). La seconde partie de cette these presente la methode developpee pour la construction d'une carte de la zone examinee a partir d'une sequence d'images. Nous avons implemente un modele de transformation projective. Un algorithme de recalage d'image de niveaux de gris base sur l'information mutuelle et le gradient descendant stochastique a ete mis en œuvre pour estimer les parametres des transformations perspectives liant geometriquement les paires d'images consecutives de la sequence. Ces transformations autorisent la construction de la carte par une methode de mosaiquage sequentiel. Des methodes de correction des defauts des images endoscopiques (deformation de barillet, pattern de fibre de fibroscopes, etc. ) et de diminution des erreurs de recalage cumulees au niveau des transformations perspectives sont egalement employees. Les resultats obtenus sur images tests de paroi de vessie de porc ont permis de valider la robustesse de notre methode de recalage automatique mais avec des temps de calcul qui restent importants. La precision obtenue apres correction de l'erreur accumulee est de quelques pixels. La methode de recalage developpee a egalement permis de proposer une procedure simplifiee de calibrage d'endoscope.
Sequential ballistic movement.

Studies of sequential ballistic movements showed that strong interaction occurs between components of a complex movement task. Within an individual component of the motion, a good predictor of movement time was the square root of the movement amplitude. There was a statistically significant influence of the preceding amplitude on the movement time, apart from the first component where the movement time was dependent on the immediate subsequent movement amplitude. Models for movement times are proposed for the different components of sequential movements.
Willingness to Pursue Live-Donor Kidney Transplantation Among Waitlisted Patients Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): A Preliminary Investigation

We show that HIV-infected waitlisted patients (n=33) had significantly lower knowledge (P<0.001), more concerns (P=0.01), and lower willingness to pursue live-donor kidney transplantation (LDKT; P=0.02) than matched noninfected patients. The majority (78%) of patients felt that their HIV status reduced their chance of LDKT. Although limited to a single center and a small sample, our data suggest that HIV-infected patients who are waitlisted for kidney transplantation may need more education about the potential benefits of LDKT and may benefit from patient-centered decision support to facilitate a risk-benefit assessment consistent with their preferences and values.
Fairness in network optimal flow control: optimality of product forms

Consideration is given to the problem of optimal flow control in a multiclass telecommunications environment where each user (or class) desires to optimize its performance while being fair to the other users (classes). The Nash (1950) arbitration scheme from game theory is shown to be a suitable candidate for a fair, optimal operation point in the sense that it satisfies certain axioms of fairness and is pareto optimal. This strategy can be realized by defining the product of individuals user performance objectives as the network optimization criterion. This provides the rationale for considering the product of user powers, as has been suggested in the literature. For delay constrained traffic, the constrained optimization problem of maximizing the product of user throughputs subject to the constraints leads to a Nash arbitration point. It is shown that these points are unique in throughput space, and the authors also obtain some convexity properties for power and delays with respect to throughputs in a Jackson network. >
Polycomb/Trithorax response elements and epigenetic memory of cell identity

Polycomb/Trithorax group response elements (PRE/TREs) are fascinating chromosomal pieces. Just a few hundred base pairs long, these elements can remember and maintain the active or silent transcriptional state of their associated genes for many cell generations, long after the initial determining activators and repressors have disappeared. Recently, substantial progress has been made towards understanding the nuts and bolts of PRE/TRE function at the molecular level and in experimentally mapping PRE/TRE sites across whole genomes. Here we examine the insights, controversies and new questions that have been generated by this recent flood of data.
Effect of Elapsed Time From Coronary Revascularization to Implantation of a Cardioverter Defibrillator on Long‐Term Survival in the MADIT‐II Trial

Coronary Revascularization and Long‐Term Mortality in MADIT‐II. Introduction: Coronary revascularization (CR) may reduce arrhythmia risk and improve long‐term outcome in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of elapsed time from CR on long‐term mortality and arrhythmic risk among patients who receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
Coffee and tea intake and risk of cancers of the colon and rectum: A study of 3,530 cases and 7,057 controls

The relationship between coffee, decaffeinated coffee and tea intake and risk of cancers of the colon and rectum was considered combining data from 2 case‐control studies, one conducted between 1985 and 1991 in Northern Italy and the other between 1991 and 1996 in 6 Italian centers. Cases were patients below age 80, with histologically confirmed cancer of the colon (n = 2,166) or rectum (n = 1,364), and controls were 7,057 patients admitted to hospital for a wide spectrum of acute, non‐neoplastic, non‐digestive tract diseases. Compared with coffee non‐drinkers, the risk of colon cancer was reduced in drinkers of 4 or more cups/day multivariate odds ratios (ORs) 0.73; 95% confidence intervals 0.60–0.89), with a significant trend in risk with dose; no significant association emerged between coffee drinking and risk of rectal cancer (OR 1.00 for drinkers of 4 or more cups/day). Decaffeinated coffee was consumed in small amounts by about 4% of cases and controls and the OR was 0.92 for colon and 0.88 for rectal cancers. Tea consumption was generally limited to 1 cup/day or to occasional intake and did not substantially modify the risk of colon and rectal cancers. No significant heterogeneity was found for the inverse relationship between coffee intake and colon cancer risk across strata of age at diagnosis, sex, smoking status, total alcohol and meat and vegetable intake, while the protection of coffee was stronger in people eating 3 or more meals/day. Thus, our results confirm that coffee intake has a quantifiable protective effect on colon cancer risk. Int. J. Cancer 73:193–197, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Registros de marcas na economia criativa: evolução temporal e setorial

Although the creative economy is prominent in the generation and diffusion of value in the international arena, and so is attracting the attention of actors in the public and private spheres, there still is a gap regarding the definition of variables that can be used as a measure of production and innovation in its segments. In this paper, the use of trademarks applications is proposed as a way to evaluate the production and introduction of new goods and services in segments related to this sector. It can be observed that USPTO trademarks in segments aligned with the creative economy showed a strong expansion, especially since the 1980s, which may be related to the technological and economic changes observed in the global market thereafter.
Trends in Using Insecure E-mail Services in Communication with Journal Editors

Objective: Free web based e mail services (e.g. gmail, yahoo and hotmail) are considered to have more security flaws than institutional ones, but are widely popular and frequently used. The objective of this study was to analyze the changes in the use of free web based e mail services for correspondence by authors of published papers in a medical journal. Design: Contact information of corresponding authors for all papers published in the Croatian Medical Journal (CMJ) during a ten year span (1998-2007) were collected from the CMJ electronic archive. Domains of all e mail addresses were assessed and contacts were categorized into four groups: no e mail, world wide available free web based e mail service, free national web based e mail service, and institutional or corporate e mail address. Results: Out of 978 authors, 34 had no mail (3.5%), 563 (57.6%) used institutional or corporate e mail addresses, 246 (25.2%) free national web based e mail service, and 135 (13.8%) world wide available free web based e mail service. The proportion of authors using world wide available free web based e mail services increased from 7.6% in 1999 to 20.8% in 2007 showing significant increasing trend (Cochrane-Armitage trend test, P=0.011). Non Croatian authors (n=520, 53%) more often used institutional e mail addresses than Croatian authors (n=458, 47%), (chi square=56.1, df=3, P<0.001). Conclusions: There is a significant increasing trend in using world wide available free web based e mail services in a small general medical journal. Authors should be aware that insecure e mail services may compromise confidential nature of author editor communication and should prefer institutional e mail addresses over free ones.
High-Q measurements of fused-silica microspheres in the near infrared.

Measurements of the quality factor Q approximately 8x10(9) are reported for the whispering-gallery modes (WGM's) of quartz microspheres for the wavelengths 670, 780, and 850 nm; these results correspond to finesse f approximately 2.2x10(6) . The observed independence of Q from wavelength indicates that losses for the WGM's are dominated by a mechanism other than bulk absorption in fused silica in the near infrared. Data obtained by atomic force microscopy combined with a simple model for surface scattering suggest that Q can be limited by residual surface inhomogeneities. Absorption by absorbed water can also explain why the material limit is not reached at longer wavelengths in the near infrared.
Use of maneuvers to achieve fiscal objectives in Brazil: Science or Discretion?

Can the “illusionary” fiscal results of the public accounts of the Brazilian federal government, impacted by the employment of fiscal maneuvers and creative accounting, be attributed to accountancy applied to the public sector? Based on bibliographical and documental research and employing exploratory techniques and content analysis regarding the accountability of the Brazilian federal government from 2000 to 2014, this study aims to demonstrate the limits of public accountability regarding the manipulation of fiscal results. The results show that the distortions in the primary result are not dependent on existing accountancy tools, as they stem from the discretionary initiative of Brazilian public managers, stimulated by internal and external incentives regarding the practice of these manipulations of results. This is done by using a form of unorthodoxy that is not included in the instrumentality of accounting as a science. It is the responsibility of the managerial agent.
Open label study of ambrisentan in patients with exercise pulmonary hypertension

A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise pulmonary hypertension (ePH) is an early form of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Identifying the disease at an early, potentially more responsive phase, and initiating treatment may improve functional status and prevent progression to severe forms of PAH. This was a single-center, open-label six-month treatment trial to evaluate the effect of ambrisentan on pulmonary hemodynamics and exercise capacity in ePH utilizing invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET). After six months of treatment with ambrisentan, patients repeated iCPET; exercise capacity, symptoms, and pulmonary hemodynamics were reassessed. Twenty-two of 30 patients completed the treatment phase and repeat iCPET. After six months of treatment there was a significant decline in peak exercise mPAP (−5.2 ± 5.6 mmHg, P = 0.001), TPG (−7.1 ± 8.0 mmHg, P = 0.001), PVR (−0.9 ± 0.7 Woods units, P = 0.0002), and Ca-vO2 (−1.8 ± 2.3 mL/dL, P = 0.0002), with significant increases in peak PCWP (+2.9 ± 5.6 mmHg, P = 0.02), PVC (+0.8 ± 1.4 mL/mmHg, P = 0.03), and CO (+2.3 ± 1.4 L/min, P = 0.0001). A trend toward increased VO2max (+4.4 ± 2.6% predicted, P = 0.07) was observed. In addition, there were improvements in 6MWD and WHO FC after 24 weeks. Our findings suggest that treatment of ePH with ambrisentan results in improved pulmonary hemodynamics and functional status over a six-month period. Treatment of ePH may prevent the progression of vascular remodeling and development of established PAH.
Un Método Híbrido de Restauración de Imágenes Médicas con Ruido Gausiano e Impulsivo

Las tecnicas de eliminacion de ruido para restaurar imagenes ruidosas es actualmente un tema importante, por ejemplo, las imagenes medicas obtenidas por rayos X de tomografia computarizada (TC) en condiciones de ruido debido al empleo de un pequeno numero de proyecciones presentan ruido de diferentes tipos. Diferentes metodos han sido propuestos para la restauracion de imagenes a partir de imagenes ruidosas, por ejemplo, los metodos basados en la solucion de problemas de minimos cuadrados regularizados y metodos basados en el uso de la ecuacion de difusion no lineal. En este trabajo se analizaran y evaluaran dos tecnicas que por separado cada una se comporta de forma eficiente para la eliminacion de ruido Gaussiano e Impulsivo respectivamente, y combinadas forman un metodo hibrido que obtiene muy buenas prestaciones con respecto a la calidad en la mayoria de los distintos tipos de ruido. La primera tecnica se basa en el concepto de peer-group y en la utilizacion de una metrica Fuzzy, la segunda trata de una tecnica de Difusion no lineal. Las imagenes con las que se han analizado los metodos propuestos han sido obtenidas de la base de datos de mini-MIAS y se han danado (modificado) con ruido Gaussiano y/o impulsivo de diferentes magnitudes utilizando el entorno MATLAB.
Socializing influences and the value of sex: The experience of adolescent school girls in rural Masaka, Uganda

In order to explore the socializing influences which have shaped rural adolescent schoolgirls' views and values about sex in a high HIV prevalence area of Uganda, detailed qualitative data was obtained over a one year period from 15 schoolgirls (aged 14-17), chosen for their willingness to participate actively in a series of role plays, focus group discussions (FGD) and one-to-one interviews. Findings suggest that the girls have been subjected to a wide range of influences, including parents, social functions, other young children, nature, their ssengas, peers, school, and various media, such as pornography. There was disagreement about the relative values of sex and virginity. Some were determined to retain their virginity, but the majority felt that sex benefits them socially and personally. Peer pressure was a major factor shaping many girls' opinions, while traditional influences are in decline. Because of the small sample size, care should be taken in generalizing from the findings. However, the data suggest that sex has a high value for at least a substantial minority of adolescent girls in rural Masaka, Uganda. Policy makers and health educators should therefore consider how best to devise safe sex messages that are both relevant and applicable to this especially vulnerable group.
A slot dipole antenna with wide tunability range

A slot dipole antenna capable of triple band operation is presented. The antenna configuration is consists of three parallel pairs of thin slots, where each pairs of slot generate a single band. By placing variable capacitors at the specific location on the each arm pairs, the operating frequency of the antenna can be tuned over a wide range. Depending on the capacitor values, the operating frequency can be tuned from 2.0 GHz to 5.3 GHz. The proposed antenna is designed to suit the future multi-mode applications such as cognitive radio systems. The analyses of the antenna were based on the return loss, surface current distribution, and radiation pattern with gain performance will be discussed.
In-Plane Optical Beam Collimation Using a Three-Dimensional Curved MEMS Mirror †

The collimation of free-space light propagating in-plane with respect to the substrate is an important performance factor in optical microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). This is usually carried out by integrating micro lenses into the system, which increases the cost of fabrication/assembly in addition to limiting the wavelength working range of the system imposed by the dispersion characteristic of the lenses. In this work we demonstrate optical fiber light collimation using a silicon micromachined three-dimensional curved mirror. Sensitivity to micromachining and fiber alignment tolerance is shown to be low enough by restricting the ratio between the mirror focal length and the optical beam Rayleigh range below 5. The three-dimensional curvature of the mirror is designed to be astigmatic and controlled by a process combining deep, reactive ion etching and isotropic etching of silicon. The effect of the micromachining surface roughness on the collimated beam profile is investigated using a Fourier optics approach for different values of root-mean-squared (RMS) roughness and correlation length. The isotropic etching step of the structure is characterized and optimized for the optical-grade surface requirement. The experimental optical results show a beam-waist ratio of about 4.25 and a corresponding 12-dB improvement in diffraction loss, in good agreement with theory. This type of micromirror can be monolithically integrated into lensless microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS), improving their performance in many different applications.
Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal tumors

Early diagnosis, endoscopic differentiation of benign from malignant lesions, and removal of clinically significant tumors are increasingly considered to be major topics of interest in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This interest is mainly due to the development of better imaging tools and new resection techniques that fulfill surgical criteria. At this year’s Digestive Disease Week (DDW; 7 – 10 May 2011, Chicago, Illinois, USA), more than 500 abstracts were presented that focused on better imaging, training, safety issues, luminal stenting, and indications and results in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). This review highlights a selection of clinically relevant reports of the upper gastrointestinal tract, excluding Barrett’s esophagus, which is covered in a separate report. Related abstracts that are not discussed in this review can be found in the additional references of interest.