Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Commitment: The Dynamic of Strategy

The author examines "commitment" - the tendency of business strategies to persist over time - and demonstrates with actual company examples how current decisions are constrained by past decisions and future decisions by current ones. Topics covered include four business conditions facing managers who look to the future: "locked-in" - when a company maintains a strategy as a result of massive investment; "locked-out" - the cost of lost opportunities that can never be pursued again; "lags" - making it imperative to stick with a strategy until certain key results are achieved; "inertia" - the tendency of a company to preserve the "status quo". The text also attempts to explain why one company's performance differs from its competitors.
Why Melbourne kept its trams

Why did Melbourne keep its trams, especially during the 1950s and 1960s when other Australian capital cities, the major cities in New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, and most US and Canadian cities didn’t? Melbourne now has the largest tramway system in the world, as measured by route length, though not by passenger numbers. This paper will explore how the automobile clubs and bus lobbies campaigned to get rid of trams. What is it in Melbourne’s topography and political culture which enabled its tramway system to survive, while Sydney, with a bigger system, closed its entire network? Cities abandoning their trams promptly turned to buses. Only a handful of ‘heritage’ tram lines survived, though there is now a resurgence of light rail in some cities, and of all places, on the Gold Coast. The paper will set the analysis in the context of the coming of mass car ownership in the 1950s and 1960s, and the apparent attraction of getting rid of trams in the name of modernity.
To What Extent are Belgian Universities Highly Engaged Into European S&T Networks?

This paper discusses the changing relationships between universities, industries and governments and the implications of universities in economic development. Thanks to several indicators, Belgian partnerships as well as Belgian university collaborations in European pre-competitive RDT projects are positioned relatively to other European countries. In particular, we appreciate to what extent Belgian universities are become aware of their role as active partner in economic development by examining their degree of involvement in near-the-market research consortia under the Eureka initiative. The paper concludes with some suggestions in order to reinforce the Belgian university contribution to the transformation of research output into additional economic and social welfare. On the whole, The Belgian participation to European R&D programmes is very high and largely influenced by geographic and cultural proximities. Yet, the weakness of intra-national collaboration links shows that the Belgian teams do not exploit their complementarities enough. Regarding EUREKA projects, the Flemish region is the main Belgian actor in the networks. Finally, the intensity of collaboration between universities and business enterprises shows some weaknesses. In order to better valorise the S&T potential of these precompetitive and near the market joint research projects into economic terms, new policies in the S&T field could be implemented such as programmes aimed at deepening and completing the acquired knowledge with a special emphasis on downstream capabilities such as manufacturing and commercialisation capabilities.
Nonlinear time-domain macromodeling using proper orthogonal decomposition and feedforward neural networks

In this paper we propose an algorithm that generates reduced-order time-domain macromodels of nonlinear circuits. The reduction technique is done in two steps. In the first step, proper orthogonal decomposition is used to reduce the size of the nonlinear differential algebraic equations describing the circuit. In the second step, feedforward neural networks are used to model the behavior of the nonlinear algebraic portion of the resulting reduced-order equations.
Adaptive Backstepping Control for Linear Induction Motor Drive Using FPGA

An adaptive backstepping controller is proposed to control the mover position of a linear induction motor (LIM) drive to compensate the uncertainties including the friction force. First, the dynamic model of an indirect field-oriented LIM drive is derived. Next, a backstepping approach is designed to compensate the uncertainties occurred in the motion control system. Moreover, the uncertainties are lumped and the upper bound of the lumped uncertainty is necessary in the design of the backstepping controller. However, the upper bound of the lumped uncertainty is difficult to obtain in advance in practical applications. Therefore, an adaptive law is derived to adapt the value of the lumped uncertainty in real-time, and an adaptive backstepping control law is resulted. Then, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip is adopted to implement the indirect field-oriented mechanism and the developed control algorithms for possible low-cost and high-performance industrial applications. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by some experimental results. With the adaptive backstepping controller, the mover position of the FPGA-based LIM drive possesses the advantages of good transient control performance and robustness to uncertainties for the tracking of periodic reference trajectories
PET Studies of Syntactic Processing with Auditory Sentence Presentation

Sixteen subjects made plausibility judgments regarding auditorily presented cleft object and cleft subject sentences (It was the actress that the award thrilled; It was the award that thrilled the actress). rCBF increased in Broca's area, pars triangularis, when subjects processed the syntactically more complex cleft object sentences. The results are consistent with previous experiments using written materials and suggest that an increase in rCBF in Broca's area is associated with processing syntactically more complex sentences.
U.S. Automotive Industry: Policy Overview And Recent History

Preface Introduction and Key Findings Developments in the U.S. Domestic Automotive Industry The Automotive Industry in the International Context Impact of Fuel Economy and Emissions Standards Automotive Industry Outlook and Policy Issues Recent Legislation Policy Issues for the 109th Congress North American Industry Profile Consolidation of the North American Industry Rise of International Investment in North America Big Three Lead in Light Trucks Transplants Grow Rapidly Shifts in Employment Among Companies Changes Among States in Automotive Employment Divergence in Labour Relations Organisation Pension and Health Care Issues U.S. Automotive Trade: Data and Policy Issues The Changing U.S. Automotive Trade Balance Globalisation of the Automotive Industry Globalisation and the U.S. Market Global Performance of Automotive Manufacturing Companies Performance by Producing Countries The Global Automotive Supplier Industry Fuel Economy and Emissions Standards Fuel Economy Standards Emissions Standards Appendix Endnotes Index.
New locus for hereditary spastic paraplegia maps to chromosome 1p31.1‐1p21.1

We have updated the clinical description of a large Scottish pedigree, in which patients were affected by spastic paraplegia complicated by hearing impairment and persistent vomiting due to hiatal hernia inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Using a genome‐wide mapping approach, we identified a novel locus (SPG29) for this form of hereditary spastic paraplegia on chromosome 1p31.1‐21.1 and narrowed it to 22.3cM between markers D1S2889 and D1S248. Sequencing of one candidate gene in the region (sorting nexin 7, SNX7), involved in several stages of intracellular trafficking and protein transport, showed no disease‐causing mutations. Ann Neurol 2005;58:423–429
Neighborhood safety and the prevalence of physical inactivity--selected states, 1996.

Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for premature morbidity and mortality, especially among high-risk populations. Although health-promotion programs have targeted high-risk groups (i.e., older adults, women, and racial/ethnic minorities), barriers exist that may affect their physical activity level. Identifying and reducing specific barriers (e.g., lack of knowledge of the health benefits of physical activity, limited access to facilities, low self-efficacy, and environmental issues [2-6]) are important for efforts designed to increase physical activity. Concerns about neighborhood safety may be a barrier to physical activity. To characterize the association between neighborhood safety and physical inactivity, CDC analyzed data from the 1996 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in Maryland, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. This report summarizes the results of this analysis, which indicate that persons who perceived their neighborhood to be unsafe were more likely to be physically inactive.
Systolic blood pressure, isolated systolic hypertension and risk of coronary heart disease, strokes, cardiovascular disease and all‐cause mortality in the middle‐aged population

Objective To determine the risk of death from coronary heart disease, stroke, all cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality associated with systolic blood pressure and in particular with isolated systolic hypertension among the middle-aged population. Methods and design A prospective 15-year cohort study of two independent cross-sectional random samples of subjects participating in baseline surveys in 1972 and 1977. Each survey included a self-administered questionnaire, measurements of height, weight and blood pressure and the determination of the serum cholesterol concentration. Setting North Karelia and Kuopio provinces in eastern Finland. Mortality follow-up complete with the personal identification number. Participants Participants were 10 333 men and 11 160 women aged 25–64 years without histories of myocardial infarction and stroke incidence at the time of the baseline survey. Isolated systolic hypertension in these analyses was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 95 mmHg. Subjects with blood pressure < 160/90 mmHg were considered normotensive. Results Coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality among men and women aged 45–64 years increased with the increasing systolic blood pressure. Among women aged 45–64 years, isolated systolic hypertension increased the relative risk of these fatal events. Among men aged 45–64 years, only coronary heart disease mortality was significantly associated with isolated systolic hypertension. Conclusion Isolated systolic hypertension is an important predictor of death from coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease and all causes for women. For men aged 45–64 years, the risk of death from coronary heart disease was associated with isolated systolic hypertension, but the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality associated with increasing systolic blood pressure was evident already at the systolic blood pressure levels < 160 mmHg, independently of the level of diastolic blood pressure. J Hypertens 16:577–583 © 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
Young Children's Food Neophobia Characteristics and Sensory Behaviors Are Related to Their Food Intake.

BACKGROUND Food neophobia in children has been associated with poor dietary variety and nutrient intakes. Underlying characteristics that may predispose a child to neophobia have not been widely studied. OBJECTIVE We investigated the associations between children's food neophobia, sensory sensitivity, and dietary intake in a diverse sample of typically developing preschoolers. METHODS Caregiver reports of children's food neophobia and sensory behaviors (SBs) as measured by the Food Neophobia Scale and the Sensory Profile, children's observed weight outcome [body mass index z score (BMIz)], and children's food intake as estimated from the Block Kids Food Screener were collected at baseline in the Colorado LEAP (Longitudinal Eating and Physical Activity Study) study of childhood obesity. Preschool-aged children (n = 249; 136 girls, 113 boys; aged 55.6 ± 4.7 mo; BMIz = 0.54 ± 1.14) and caregivers [n = 180; 57 Hispanic, 119 non-Hispanic white (NHW), 4 unknown] participated. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlations and multivariate hierarchical linear regression analyses. RESULTS Lower scores for children's oral sensory characteristics (i.e., more atypical) were related to higher neophobia ratings (r = -0.53, P < 0.001), and neophobia was negatively associated with reported vegetable intake (r = -0.31, P = 0.001) and dietary variety (r = -0.22, P < 0.001). Hispanic caregivers reported more atypical child SB scores (46.2 ± 8.8) than did NHW caregivers (50.5 ± 7.6; P = 0.006); however, no differences were noted for neophobia and SB scores by parent income and education or child sex. Neophobia was negatively associated with vegetable intake and dietary variety (P < 0.001 for both). SBs were associated with children's energy intake from sugar-sweetened beverages in bivariate analyses (r = -0.18, P < 0.05); however, in regression models, only ethnicity was significantly associated with energy from sugar-sweetened beverages (P < 0.001). Hispanic ethnicity was positively associated with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Children's neophobia and sensory sensitivity may be important in understanding underlying issues related to limited food acceptance in typically developing young children and for helping caregivers facilitate healthy dietary intake patterns for their children. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01937481.
CrossTalk opposing view: The diaphragm muscle does not atrophy as a result of inactivity

The hypothesis that inactivity induces muscle fibre atrophy is widely accepted, and indeed this hypothesis has essentially become physiological dogma in the literature, forming the basis for conclusions reached by many investigators when interpreting their results. Certainly, there is no better muscle to explore the impact of inactivity than the diaphragm. Breathing persists day-in and day-out for our entire life, and the diaphragm muscle is the primary muscle for inspiration, responsible for moving air into our lungs. As such, the diaphragm muscle has a duty cycle (fraction of time active) ranging from 25 to 40% (Sieck et al. 1984; Kong & Berger, 1986; Mantilla et al. 2011; Mantilla & Sieck, 2011), which exceeds that of almost all other skeletal muscles in the body and is comparable to that of the heart. Thus, inactivity imposed on the diaphragm muscle should result in fibre atrophy if the hypothesis of inactivity-induced atrophy is correct. However, as with any hypothesis, support must come from direct experimentation and alternative hypotheses must be considered. In this respect, a number of observations strongly indicate that inactivity per se does not result in diaphragm muscle fibre atrophy. Unfortunately, many of these basic observations have been largely ignored by
Empirical evidences of stock split market effects

Under normal financial market circumstances (i.e., not under the shadow of financial crisis) it is common to believe that buying shares from large institutions leads to high profit. This is because the shares are of high trading value due to the solid financial foundation and superior performances of large institutions or companies. In contrast to these traders' belief, large companies often exercise "stock split" to strengthen the confidence on the company and encourage more investments in the company. A "stock split" increases the number of shares outstanding without increasing the company's capital. A conjecture is that a "stock split" action will increase the market liquidity because of the price decrease of each share; consequently, market trading activities would be intensifying such that log-return will be higher and the volatility also higher accordingly. The financial market literature shows that the impacts of "stock split" were controversial. In other words, the influences on the market of "stock split" did not always behave as the management expected. In this thesis, we intend to use limited available stock split data from NASDAQ to explore some empirical evidences on the impacts of "stock split". We also propose a DEAR-based trend analysis in log-return and market volatility measured by daily trading range for technical analysis on "stock split" impacts.
Heterogeneity in migrating neural crest cells revealed by a monoclonal antibody

A monoclonal antibody, GlN1, obtained by immunization with extracts of the 14 d embryonic quail nodose ganglion, is described. GlN1 recognizes an antigenic determinant present in virtually all the satellite cells of the peripheral ganglia, all Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves, and in subpopulations of sensory and autonomic neurons of embryonic and adult quails and chickens. The molecular weight of the antigen(s) revealed by GlN1 in embryonic day 12 quail dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cultures is around 80 kDa. In the neural crest, GlN1 determinant is found as soon as the crest cells leave the neural primordium. Only a proportion (25%) of the migrating neural crest cells carry the antigen. This demonstrates that the neural crest is composed of a heterogeneous population of cells from its early migratory stages. Being selectively distributed on neural crest cells and its derivatives, the GlN1 determinant may be considered as a “differentiation antigen” that will be useful in further studies on cell-line segregation during the ontogeny of the PNS.
Screening and management of adult hearing loss in primary care: scientific review.

CONTEXT Hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic condition in older adults and has important effects on their physical and mental health. Despite these effects, most older patients are not assessed or treated for hearing loss. OBJECTIVE To review the evidence on screening and management of hearing loss of older adults in the primary care setting. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION We performed a search from 1985 to 2001 using MEDLINE, HealthSTAR, EMBASE, Ageline, and the National Guideline Clearinghouse for articles and practice guidelines about screening and management of hearing loss in older adults, as well as reviewed references in these articles and those suggested by experts in hearing impairment. DATA EXTRACTION We reviewed articles for the most clinically important information, emphasizing randomized clinical trials, where available, and identified 1595 articles. DATA SYNTHESIS Screening tests that reliably detect hearing loss are use of an audioscope, a hand-held combination otoscope and audiometer, and a self-administered questionnaire, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening version. The value of routine screening for improving patient outcomes has not been evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. Screening is endorsed by most professional organizations, including the US Preventive Services Task Force. While most hearing loss in older adults is sensorineural and due to presbycusis, cerumen impaction and chronic otitis media may be present in up to 30% of elderly patients with hearing loss and can be treated by the primary care clinician. In randomized trials, hearing aids have been demonstrated to improve outcomes for patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Nonadherence to use of hearing aids is high. Prompt recognition of potentially reversible causes of hearing loss, such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, is important to maximize the possibility of functional recovery. CONCLUSION While untested in a clinical trial, older adults can be screened for hearing loss using simple methods, and effective treatments exist and are available for many forms of hearing loss.
Metadata Logging in an NFS Server

Over the last few years, there have been several efforts to use logging to improve performance, reliability, and recovery times of file systems. The two major techniques are metadata logging, where the log records metadata changes and is a supplement to the on-disk file system, and log-structured file systems, whose log is their only on-disk representation. When the file system is mainly or wholly accessed through the Network File System (NFS) protocol, it adds new considerations to the suitability of the logging technique. NFS requires that all operations be updated to stable storage before returning. As a result, file system implementations that were effective for local access may perform poorly on an NFS server. This paper analyzes the issues regarding the use of logging on an NFS server, and describes an implementation of a BSD Fast File System (FFS) with metadata logging that performs effectively for a dedicated NFS server.
Harnessing media attention: Strategic press releases around earnings announcements

We document that firms are 80% more likely to issue non-earnings press releases during the earnings announcement period when delivering extremely negative earnings news. Non-earnings press releases are insufficient to improve negative announcement returns in isolation. However, if the media covers the non-earnings press release, announcement returns increase by about 6% followed by a partial reversal. Our results suggest that while the non-earnings press releases are value relevant, investors tend to overreact to the media reporting of the non-earnings news. These valuation effects are concentrated in small firms.
[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer: a report of 305 cases].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Triple-negative breast cancer is defined by a lack of expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2/neu, and considered to be a clinicopathologic entity with aggressive behaviors and poor prognosis. No satisfactory treatment is available. This study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of the patients with triple-negative breast cancer. METHODS Clinical data of 1,280 patients with histopathologically confirmed resectable breast cancer, treated at Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2004, were analyzed. Of the 1,280 patients, 305 (23.8%) were confirmed to be triple-negative breast cancer. The clinical characteristics, recurrence and survival of the patients were summarized. RESULTS Triple-negative breast cancer was commonly seen in young patients, with large masses, a high proportion of lymph node metastasis and familial history of breast cancer at diagnosis. By Jun. 2007, the median time of follow-up was 52 months (range, 28-89 months). Of the 1,280 patients, 234 had local recurrence and metastasis, and 94 died. There was no significant difference in local recurrence between triple-negative and non-triple-negative breast cancer patients. However, the occurrence rates of lung metastasis (HR= 4.41, P<0.001) and liver metastasis (HR=2.13, P=0.006) were significantly higher in triple-negative breast cancer patients than in non-triple-negative breast cancer patients. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were significantly lower in triple-negative breast cancer patients than in non-triple-negative breast cancer patients (73.7% vs. 80.8%, P=0.025; 88.5% vs. 92.8%,P=0.010). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that tumor size and lymph node state were prognostic factors of triple-negative breast cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS Nearly one fourth of breast cancer patients in China are triple-negative breast cancer patients. These patients are usually young, with large masses, lymph node metastasis, and family history of breast cancer. Lung metastasis and liver metastasis may be the main reason of poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer.