Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PERCEPTIONS DU CAPITAL INTELLECTUEL PAR LES MANAGERS ETUDE EMPIRIQUE DANS LE CONTEXTE TUNISIEN

The purpose of this exploratory research study is to examine the extent of recognition of the concept of intellectual capital in the Tunisian context and to identify the perceptions of managers concerning the accounting treatment and disclosure of this hidden concept. A survey questionnaire was conducted among 51 managers. The results of this survey argue that the majority of respondents perceive the elements of intellectual capital as important value drivers for their business. This study shows that managers are aware of the shortcoming of the present accounting system and they approve previous studies that propose voluntary disclosure of information relating to intellectual capital as a solution to compensate for the loss of relevance of traditional accounting information. This study presents a significant interest in the accounting literature and provides whether it would be appropriate for the Tunisian accounting standard setting body to ask companies to disclose more intellectual capital information.
Code of Ethics for Professionals of Information Systems - CEPIS Model

On the area of Information Systems Technology (IST) there is a multiplicity of competences and knowledge. In order the professionals may carry them out with success and great advantage, the existence of a structured and standardized framework that could be used as a reference for any organization, is needed. Parallel to this problematic there still exists the acknowledgement of the impossibility of a technological life without ethics. So, a Code of Ethics for Professionals of Information Systems CEPIS it will be proposed.
Skeletal muscle tissue engineering using functional magnetite nanoparticles

Skeletal muscular tissues were constructed using magnetic force-based tissue engineering (Mag-TE) techniques. Mouse myoblast C2C12 cells labeled with magnetite cationic liposomes (MCLs) were seeded into a well of 24-well ultra-low cell attachment culture plates. When a magnet was positioned underneath the well, cells accumulated evenly onto the culture surface and formed a multilayered cell sheet. Furthermore, because an angiogenic potential of transplants is considered to be important for the long-term maintenance of cell survival and tissue functions, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene-modified C2C12 (C2C12/VEGF) cell sheets were also fabricated by the Mag-TE technique. The secretion level of C2C12/VEGF sheets was 3.0 ng/day, indicating that VEGF gene-expressing cell sheets were successfully fabricated. Since the shape of artificial tissue constructs can be controlled by magnetic force, a cellular string-like assembly was formed by placing a linear-shaped magnetic field concentrator with a magnet. These cellular sheets and strings shrank and did not maintain their shapes for an additional in vitro culture period during myogenic differentiation. On the other hand, when a silicone plug was positioned at the center of well during the fabrication of cell sheets, the cell sheets shrank and formed a ring-like assembly around the plug. After 6-d cultivation of cell rings in differentiation medium, the C2C12 cells differentiated to form multinucleated myotubes. Thus, these procedures can provide a novel strategy for skeletal muscular tissue engineering.
Managing the Innovation Adoption of Supply Chain Finance-Empirical Evidence From Six European Case Studies

Logistics’ contribution to corporate performance has increased over recent years, particularly due to supply chain innovations. Opposed to common innovations focusing on the improvement of product or information flow, supply chain finance (SCF) targets the financial flow and allows buying firms and their suppliers to improve working capital and reduce costs. However, the adoption process of SCF is complex and rather unexplored in academia. This article provides an early step in building knowledge about SCF and in particular how firms adopt SCF, why they adopt differently, and what role suppliers play in the adoption process. The objective was therefore to close the gap between our knowledge on product and information flow oriented innovations and financial flow innovations along the supply chain, namely SCF. For this explorative research, we opted for an inductive multiple case study approach with six European firms. Based on our findings, four sets of propositions are posited and an extended SCF adoption framework is proposed revolving around the interrelated adoption processes of buying firms and their corresponding supplier bases.
Structure of the bovine tau gene: alternatively spliced transcripts generate a protein family

Tau, a major class of microtubule-associated proteins, consists of a family of proteins that are heterogeneous in molecular weight. The presence of internal deletions in previously described cDNA clones for murine and bovine tau suggested that alternative splicing of transcripts could account for the protein size heterogeneity. Analysis of the exon-intron structure of the bovine tau gene provided sequence information necessary to detect new variants of tau transcripts by in vitro amplification techniques. The variant transcripts found corresponded to mRNA species missing one or more exons, which suggested that by skipping various exons during mRNA splicing, a family of proteins is generated. Four major tau protein isoforms isolated from bovine brain were identified by comparison with translation products of cDNA constructs and the use of antisera raised against synthetic peptides. These studies provide reagents and a basis for analyzing potentially altered forms of tau proteins in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Venture Capital Reputation: A Survey

For financial intermediaries that operate in a highly fragmented industry, such as venture capital (VC) firms, reputation is highly valuable in building credibility with entrepreneurs and investors and enhancing business relationships. A strong reputation benefits both a VC firm’s investors and principals and its portfolio companies by making exits from venture investments more profitable and likely. In this survey piece, we compare the associations of a variety of alternative reputation measures for the lead (largest) investor in the VC syndicate with the VC’s portfolio company performance measured by the probability of future IPOs and post-IPO long-run performance metrics. We examine the following VC reputation measures: 1) a VC’s market share of all venture backed IPOs in the immediately preceding 3 calendar years; 2) the number of completed IPOs in a VC’s portfolio over the prior 3 calendar years relative to the number of companies it actively invested in; 3) the value-weighted proportion of a VC’s IPO investments relative to its total investments; 4) the age of a VC firm; 5) the capital under a VC firm’s management; and 6) a VC firm’s total investment in portfolio firms. We document that past IPO success measured by the first three VC reputation measures above have significant predictive power for subsequent IPO success. Importantly, only the first reputation measure, VC IPO Market Share, has significant explanatory power across all the post-IPO long-run performance measures we examine, while the other VC reputation measures are sometimes significant. This result holds even after controlling for selection bias. We also find two variants of VC IPO Market Share, the cumulative IPO market share measure and the average of the VC syndicate IPO market share measure, yield qualitatively similar, albeit weaker, associations with long-run post-IPO performance measures. An appendix to this survey lists the 1000 most reputable VCs and their year-by-year VC IPO Market Share reputation measure for use in future studies.
Glial boundaries in the developing nervous system.

Advances in the biology of glial cells, particularly the development of new molecular markers and the refinement of in vitro techniques, have now revealed many intriguing glial-neuronal interactions that occur both dur­ ing nervous system development and following injury. In recent years, many excellent reviews have focused on the well-accepted guidance role of radial glia during neuronal migration (Hatten et al 1 990; Rakic 1 988, 1 990) and numerous other aspects of neuron-glia interactions that influ­ ence cellular phenotype and differentiation, circuitry formation, and syn­ aptic activity (e.g. see Abbott 1991 ; Miller et al 1 989; Vernadakis 1 988). This review conceptualizes transient glial boundaries that surround func­ tional groups of neurons, their dendrites, and axons, during neural development. These boundaries are comprised of unique glial cells and glycoconjugates (i.e. glycoproteins, glycolipids, and glycosaminoglycans), which have been referred to as "cordones" (Steindler et al 1 989b). Boun­ daries are widespread during central nervous system (CNS) pattern for­ mation and disappear following synaptic stabilization (Steindler et al 1 989a,b, 1 990). These specialized cells may express numerous neurite growth­ inhibitory molecules (Schwab 1 990; Schwab & Schnell 1 991 ; Snow et al 1 990b; Steindler et al 1 990), as well as attractant molecules, that ultimately guide neurites to boundary regions where their neuritic arbors accumulate and fasciculate (Laywell & Steindler 1 991). Astrocyte/recognition molecule boundaries may represent intermediaries between neurons and neurites
Omalizumab in Severe Allergic Asthma Inadequately Controlled With Standard Therapy

BACKGROUND Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting β(2)-agonists (LABAs) are recommended in patients with asthma that is not well-controlled; however, many patients continue to have inadequately controlled asthma despite this therapy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with inadequately controlled severe asthma who are receiving high-dose ICS and LABAs, with or without additional controller therapy. DESIGN Prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00314575). SETTING 193 investigational sites in the United States and 4 sites in Canada. PATIENTS 850 patients aged 12 to 75 years who had inadequately controlled asthma despite treatment with high-dose ICS plus LABAs, with or without other controllers. INTERVENTION Omalizumab (n = 427) or placebo (n = 423) was added to existing medication regimens for 48 weeks. MEASUREMENTS The primary end point was the rate of protocol-defined exacerbations over the study period. Secondary efficacy end points included the change from baseline to week 48 in mean daily number of puffs of albuterol, mean total asthma symptom score, and mean overall score on the standardized version of the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ[S]). Safety end points included the frequency and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events. RESULTS During 48 weeks, the rate of protocol-defined asthma exacerbations was significantly reduced for omalizumab compared with placebo (0.66 vs. 0.88 per patient; P = 0.006), representing a 25% relative reduction (incidence rate ratio, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.61 to 0.92]). Omalizumab improved mean AQLQ(S) scores (0.29 point [CI, 0.15 to 0.43]), reduced mean daily albuterol puffs (-0.27 puff/d [CI, -0.49 to -0.04 puff/d]), and decreased mean asthma symptom score (-0.26 [CI, -0.42 to -0.10]) compared with placebo during the 48-week study period. The incidence of adverse events (80.4% vs. 79.5%) and serious adverse events (9.3% vs. 10.5%) were similar in the omalizumab and placebo groups, respectively. LIMITATIONS The results are limited by early patient discontinuation (20.8%). The study was not powered to detect rare safety events or the treatment effect in the oral corticosteroid subgroup. CONCLUSION In this study, omalizumab provided additional clinical benefit for patients with severe allergic asthma that is inadequately controlled with high-dose ICS and LABA therapy. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE Genentech and Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
Flavonoid biosynthesis in white ̄ white ̄ white ̄ owered Sim carnations ( Dianthus caryophyllus )

Analysis of ̄avonoid composition and gene expression of enzymes involved in anthocyanin synthesis in ̄owers of four acyanic and one cyanic cultivar of Sim carnation showed that the acyanic ̄ower cultivars are divided into three types. The ®rst includes two normal white cultivars, `U Conn Sim' and `White Sim'; the second includes a nearly pure white cultivar, `Kaly'; and the third includes a nearly pure white cultivar, `White Mind'. `U Conn Sim' and `White Sim' accumulated ̄avonol glycosides and lacked anthocyanins. The transcription of the several genes of enzymes involved in ̄avonoid biosynthesis were reduced at a later ̄owering stage than the cyanic cultivar, especially the genes encoding dihydro ̄avonol 4-reductase and anthocyanidin synthase. `Kaly' accumulated ̄avanone glycosides and a small amount of ̄avonol and ̄avone glycosides by blocking the transcription of the gene encoding ̄avanone 3-hydroxylase, in addition to the transcriptional reduction of the genes for ̄avonoid biosynthesis at a later ̄owering stage. Although `White Mind' contains little ̄avonoid, the position of the block on ̄avonoid biosynthesis in `White Mind' is not known. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Vogt‐Koyanagi‐Harada disease associated with interferon alpha‐2b/ribavirin combination therapy

Summary. The complex immunological effects of interferon and ribavirin therapy (IFN/R) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) may also exacerbate or trigger the de novo development of autoimmunity. We report the first case of IFN/R therapy associated with Vogt‐Koyanagi‐Harada disease, a T‐cell‐mediated autoimmune response to melanocytes. This condition, which has characteristic ocular, neurological and integumentary findings, elicits a systemic prodrome that may mimic side‐effect profile and delay of IFN or mask its recognition. We discuss this disease in the context of the known immunomodulatory effects of IFN‐alpha and ribavirin and suggest potential mechanistic explanations for the association.
Robot-aided rehabilitation methodology for enhancing movement smoothness by using a human hand trajectory generation model with task-related constraints

Natural motion produced by the biological motor control system presents movement smoothness, but neurological disorders or injuries severely deteriorates motor functions. This paper proposes a robot-aided training methodology focusing on smooth transient trajectory generation by the arm while performing a complex task (i.e., virtual curling). The aim of the proposed approach is that a trainee should be taught a reference velocity profile with high movement smoothness in the complex task via the interaction with a robotic device while improving coordination ability for natural arm movements. In the virtual curling training, a trainee manipulates the handle of an impedance-controlled robot to move a virtual stone to the center of a circular target on ice while predicting transient behaviors of the released stone. First, a reference hand motion is clarified through a set of preliminary experiments for different task conditions carried out with four well-trained subjects, and the characteristics of skilled hand velocity profiles are coded with a set of quantitative factors as task-related constraints. The skilled hand motions according to task conditions are successfully simulated in the framework of a minimum-jerk model with the task-related constraints. Next, the training program for enhancing movement smoothness is developed using the computational model, which has four training modes of operation: 1) diagnosis, 2) teaching with active-assistance by the robot, 3) training with passive-assistance, and 4) training with no assistance. Finally, training experiments with ten novice healthy volunteers demonstrate that the proposed approach can be utilized in the recovery of motor functions necessary for desired velocity profiles with high motion smoothness.
Design Principles for Virtual Worlds

In this research note, we examine the design, development, validation, and use of virtual worlds. Our purpose in doing so is to extend the design science paradigm by developing a set of design principles applicable to the context of virtual environments, particularly those using agent-based simulation as their underlying technology. Our central argument is that virtual worlds comprise a new class of information system, one that combines the structural aspects of traditional modeling and simulation systems in concert with emergent user dynamics of systems supporting emergent knowledge processes. Our approach involves two components. First, we review the characteristics of agent-based virtual worlds (ABVWs) to discern design requirements that may challenge current design theory. From this review, we derive a set of design principles based on deep versus emergent structures where deep structures reflect conventional modeling and simulation system architectures and emergent structures capture the unpredictable user-system dynamics inherent in emergent knowledge processes, which increasingly characterize virtual worlds. We illustrate how these design challenges are addressed with an exemplar of a complex mirror world, a large-scale ABVW we developed called Sentient World. Our contribution is the insight of partitioning ABVW architectures into deep and emergent structures that mirror modeling systems and emergent knowledge processes respectively, while developing extended design principles to facilitate their integration. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our design principles for informing and guiding future research and practice.
A cross‐national investigation of an extended technology acceptance model in the online shopping context

– The purpose of this paper is to test the cross‐national application of an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) in online shopping across the USA and China. Specifically, the proposed model is tested for invariance, and used to investigate the effect of the TAM constructs on online purchase intentions and interrelationships among the constructs across the two samples. , – A total of 513 usable questionnaires were collected in the USA and China. Measurement and structural invariance of the proposed TAM model were assessed using multi‐group confirmatory factor analysis. , – The paper revealed that both perceived usefulness and perceived risk of online shopping have an invariant effect on consumers' online purchase intentions, while prior online shopping experience does not have an invariant effect. Perceived ease of use shows an equivalent, positive effect on perceived usefulness; prior online shopping experience has an equivalent, positive effect on perceived ease of use and an equivalent, negative effect on perceived risks. But prior online shopping experience has a quite different effect on perceived usefulness across the two countries. , – The paper not only tests the cross‐national application of the extended TAM, but also extends the TAM's use to examine key factors that influence online shoppers' purchase decision in the retail apparel sector.
Analysis of job strain effects

Fujishiro et al 1 have recently published data on the association of job demands and control with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT). The combined effect of demands and control (strain) was analysed using five different strain definitions: 1. a quadrant term (median splits of demands and control), 2. combinations of tertiles of demands and control, …
Evaluation of the Risks in the Investment of Human Capital

In recent years, enterprises are investing more and more money in human capital. However, the investment does not produce desirable economic benefits. This can be attributed to lack of efficient evaluation of the risks in the investment of human capital before the investment. After the overall analysis of enterprises' external environment, internal conditions and human resources themselves, an index system of evaluation of the risks in the investment of human capital is constructed, and a fuzzy integrated evaluation model of the absolute risks is put forward, and a analytic hierarchy process model of the relative risks is put forward too in this thesis. It will give enterprises a efficient quantitative analytic method to the evaluation of the risks in the investment of human capital.
The internet, consumer empowerment and marketing strategies

– Arguing that increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICT) is shifting market power from suppliers to consumers, the ensuing consumer empowerment is presented as an unintended consequence of marketing. Marketing implications arising from this consumer empowerment are examined in terms of a process where control and management by suppliers over consumer access and enablement are increasingly difficult. , – Consumer empowerment is examined historically, using quality gap analysis to capture an ongoing power struggle between consumers and suppliers. This draws out the limitations of current marketing and management strategies. The different forms of marketing challenges in this new environment are discussed. , – The role of marketing strategies in fostering controlled consumer empowerment is reflected in the development of information‐based consumer‐centric marketing strategies that seek to enable and control delegation. In designing such strategies, consumers' familiarity with and use of ICT are both strengthened and widened, emphasising the uncontrolled nature of the consumer empowerment process. , – The approach is literature‐based, focussing on the ICT enabled process. It does not address the psychology of empowerment. Since, consumer empowerment may imply switching suppliers in search of better value propositions, business cannot afford to ignore it, justifying the need for further research of both elements. , – Marketing strategy rests on a control premise and the analysis of the consumer empowerment process implies that current customer‐centric strategies are operating under a false premise. There is a need to regain control over the marketing process, that is, to either manage the technological empowerment of consumers, or to devise new strategies cognisant of the possibility that such technological empowerment cannot be managed. The valuation of consumer loyalty in this environment rises significantly. , – An historical perspective to consumer empowerment exposes the tensions between suppliers and consumers arising from ICT usage. A separation of consumer access and enablement from control and management by suppliers is shown to have important marketing strategy design implications.
Shrinkage-Based Features for Natural Language Call Routing

The feature set used with a classiﬁer can have a large impact on classiﬁcation performance. This paper presents a set of shrinkage-based features for Maximum Entropy and other clas-siﬁers in the exponential family. These features are inspired by the exponential class-based language model, Model M . We motivate the use of these features for the task of text classi-ﬁcation and evaluate them on a natural language call routing task. The proposed features along with a new word clustering method result in signiﬁcant improvements in action classiﬁcation accuracy over typical word-based features, particularly for small amounts of training data.