Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Spillovers from Creation to Exploitation: A Theoretical Model with Implications for Firms and Public Policy

In this paper we present an endogenous growth model in which we investigate the implications of knowledge spillovers between knowledge creators (inventors) and commercializers (innovators). We then turn to the question how such knowledge spillovers affect value creation within and among organizations as well as at the aggregate level and discuss how the internalization of these knowledge spillovers can help improve economic performance at both levels.
Mycobacterium smegmatis in Skin Biopsy Specimens from Patients with Suppurative Granulomatous Inflammation

ABSTRACT Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin biopsy specimens, including 72 suppurative granulomatous inflammation (SGI) and 47 non-SGI controls, were tested for mycobacteria by using a broad-range PCR and a suspension array identification system. Mycobacterium smegmatis was detected in 13 (18.1%) of the SGI skin biopsy specimens, which was significantly more than 2 (4.3%) in the controls (odds ratio, 5.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 27.06; P = 0.028).
Sok2 Regulates Yeast Pseudohyphal Differentiation via a Transcription Factor Cascade That Regulates Cell-Cell Adhesion

ABSTRACT In response to nitrogen limitation, Saccharomyces cerevisiae undergoes a dimorphic transition to filamentous pseudohyphal growth. In previous studies, the transcription factor Sok2 was found to negatively regulate pseudohyphal differentiation. By genome array and Northern analysis, we found that genes encoding the transcription factors Phd1, Ash1, and Swi5 were all induced insok2/sok2 hyperfilamentous mutants. In accord with previous studies of others, Swi5 was required for ASH1 expression. Phd1 and Ash1 regulated expression of the cell surface protein Flo11, which is required for filamentous growth, and were largely required for filamentation of sok2/sok2 mutant strains. These findings reveal that a complex transcription factor cascade regulates filamentation. These findings also reveal a novel dual role for the transcription factor Swi5 in regulating filamentous growth. Finally, these studies illustrate how mother-daughter cell adhesion can be accomplished by two distinct mechanisms: one involving Flo11 and the other involving regulation of the endochitinase Cts1 and the endoglucanase Egt2 by Swi5.
Assessing Country-Of-Origin Effects: The Impact Of An International Event

This study is to investigate how consumers’ attitudes toward brands/products manufactured by a country are affected by an international event. Authors explored that consumers’ attitudes toward brand “made in ___” are affected by various constructs, such as prior beliefs about the products’ attributes, the country’s image along with the brand name, and attitudes toward the advertising during an international event.
Pregabalin versus placebo in postoperative pain relief of patients' status post photorefractive keratectomy: a double-masked, randomized, prospective study.

PURPOSE Gabapentinoids are currently being used anecdotally for postoperative pain following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) despite the lack of evidence. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of pregabalin in mitigating pain after PRK compared to the standard of care. METHODS One hundred thirty-five patients scheduled for PRK at the Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center in San Antonio, Texas were randomized to receive either oral pregabalin 75 mg twice daily for 5 days or placebo, in addition to the standard pain care regimen. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in the primary outcome of 10% improvement in subjective pain scores between the treatment and placebo groups at any point during the postoperative period, but there was a trend for lower subjective pain scores in the pregabalin group. There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of rescue pain medications used on postoperative days 1 and 2. The pregabalin group required an average of 1.7 doses of rescue medications on postoperative day 1 versus 2.4 doses in the placebo group, and 1.7 doses versus 2.6 doses on postoperative day 2 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that pregabalin may provide an alternative or add-on option to standard narcotics for pain relief after PRK.
Lattice and discrete Boltzmann equations for fully compressible flow

Equilibria for the common two-dimensional, nine-velocity (D2Q9) lattice Boltzmann equation are not uniquely determined by the Navier–Stokes equations. An otherwise undetermined function must be chosen to suppress grid-scale instabilities. By contrast, the Navier–Stokes–Fourier equations with heat conduction determine unique equilibria for a one-dimensional, five-velocity (D1Q5) model on an integer lattice. Although these equilibria are subject to grid-scale instabilities under the usual lattice Boltzmann streaming and collision steps, the equivalent discrete Boltzmann equation is stable when discretized using conventional finite volume schemes. For flows with substantial shock waves, stability is confined to a window for the parameter controlling the mean free path. It is constrained between needing a large enough mean free path (large enough viscosity) to provide dissipation at shocks, and a small enough mean free path to ensure valid hydrodynamic behavior.
RNAi-mediated knockdown of relaxin decreases in vitro proliferation and invasiveness of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells by inhibition of MMP-9.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to determine the role of relaxin knowdown by siRNA transfection in cellular growth and invasion of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, and discusses the molecular mechanisms of this action. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression of relaxin in MG-63 cell was examined by western blot or RT-PCR. To evaluate the biological role of relaxin, proliferation assay (MTT) and invasion assay (BD Matrigel™), apoptosis assay (TUNEL and ELISA) and cell cycle analysis (flow cytometer) were performed after silencing relaxin using siRNA. MMP-9 expressions were analyzed using RT-PCR, western blot and zymography after silencing relaxin. RESULTS Results showed that the downregulation of relaxin expression by siRNA in human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. Furthermore, relaxin knockdown led to cell arrest in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle, and eventual apoptosis enhancement in MG-63 cells. We provide evidence in our cell model that the relaxin siRNA down-regulated the expression of MMP-9 and the MMP-9 activity, suggesting that relaxin may promote the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells by regulating the expression of MMP-9 and facilitating ECM degradation. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, siRNA-directed knockdown of relaxin may represent a viable clinical therapy for osteosarcoma.
High tech v. high touch: a case study of TQM implementation in higher education

Presents the results of a case study to evaluate the effectiveness of a TQM programme in higher education. The academic advising office at the University of Houston College of Business Administration implemented a quality improvement programme called the TQM laboratory, which used the SERVQUAL instrument to assess student perceptions of service quality prior to TQM programme implementation, and then during the subsequent semester. Results yielded some implications regarding the trade‐off between high tech and high touch which may be of interest to managers. Specifically, the high‐tech focus of the TQM laboratory increased student perceptions of service quality regarding reliability and responsiveness. However, there was a corresponding decrease in the high‐touch area. Student perceptions of empathy decreased significantly with the implementation of the TQM laboratory.
Elite Polarization and Public Opinion: How Polarization Is Communicated and Its Effects

Elite polarization has reshaped American politics and is an increasingly salient aspect of news coverage within the United States. As a consequence, a burgeoning body of research attempts to unravel the effects of elite polarization on the mass public. However, we know very little about how polarization is communicated to the public by news media. We report the results of one of the first content analyses to delve into the nature of news coverage of elite polarization. We show that such coverage is predominantly critical of polarization. Moreover, we show that unlike coverage of politics focused on individual politicians, coverage of elite polarization principally frames partisan divisions as rooted in the values of the parties rather than strategic concerns. We build on these novel findings with two survey experiments exploring the influence of these features of polarization news coverage on public attitudes. In our first study, we show that criticism of polarization leads partisans to more positively evaluate the argument offered by their non-preferred party, increases support for bi-partisanship, but ultimately does not change the extent to which partisans follow their party’s policy endorsements. In our second study, we show that Independents report significantly less political interest, trust, and efficacy when polarization is made salient and this is particularly evident when a cause of polarization is mentioned. These studies have important implications for our understanding of the consequences of elite polarization—and how polarization is communicated—for public opinion and political behavior in democratic politics.
Direct Evidence That Extracellular Giant Hemoglobin is Produced in Chloragogen Tissues in a Beard Worm, Oligobrachia mashikoi (Frenulata, Siboglinidae, Annelida)

Abstract In Oligobrachia mashikoi, a mouthless and gutless polychaete known as a beard worm, sites of production of extra-cellular giant hemoglobin were examined with whole-mount in-situ hybridization and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. An RNA probe was prepared from mRNA of the A2-globin subunit. Clear signals were obtained from a peritoneal membrane covering the trophosome in the posterior body in all seven individuals examined in this study. In addition, weak signals were observed in the peritoneal membrane covering tissues in the middle part of the body in some individuals. Furthermore, in one individual, signals were obtained in complicated bodies invaginated into the dorsal vessel from a peritoneal membrane that also released signals. The results of RT-PCR regarding the expression levels of four kinds of globin-subunit genes suggest that the main site of hemoglobin production is the peritoneal membrane in the posterior body.
High density hybrid integrated light source with a laser diode array on a silicon optical waveguide platform for inter-chip optical interconnection

A hybrid integrated light source was developed with a novel configuration in which a laser diode (LD) array was mounted on a silicon optical waveguide platform for inter-chip optical interconnection. An output power uniformity of 1.3 dB was observed at the 13-channel integrated light source with 30-µm pitch. Use of a SiON waveguide with a spot size converter resulted in an optical coupling loss of 1 dB between an LD and a SiON waveguide. The integrated light source including 52 output ports was demonstrated to reduce the footprint per channel. These integrated light sources are attractive candidates for use with photonic integrated circuits for high density optical interconnection.
Diagnosing Brand Performance: Accounting for the Dynamic Impact of Product Availability with Aggregate Data

The extent to which a brand's individual products (relative to competing products) are available to consumers for purchase in a retail store can critically affect the brand's overall performance. However, store-level product availability information is lost in aggregate market-level data sets and has been ignored by extant demand studies in general, which can create the risk of misinformed managerial decision making. In this research, the authors propose a unique methodology to enable manufacturers to infer retailers’ joint stocking probability of products from aggregate data and, thus, enable consumers’ choices to be contingent on the assortment of products available in retail stores. The application of the proposed framework in the context of an emerging market results in unbiased demand parameter estimates, a significantly better model fit, and richer managerial insights (compared with conventional approaches) pertaining to how brand performance is affected by the (1) dynamics of retailers’ stocking preferences, (2) assortment of products that retailers are more (vs. less) likely to jointly stock, and (3) cannibalization of retailers’ shelf space resulting from product line extensions.
Choosing the Number of Categories in Agree–Disagree Scales

Although agree–disagree (AD) rating scales suffer from acquiescence response bias, entail enhanced cognitive burden, and yield data of lower quality, these scales remain popular with researchers due to practical considerations (e.g., ease of item preparation, speed of administration, and reduced administration costs). This article shows that if researchers want to use AD scales, they should offer 5 answer categories rather than 7 or 11, because the latter yield data of lower quality. This is shown using data from four multitrait-multimethod experiments implemented in the third round of the European Social Survey. The quality of items with different rating scale lengths were computed and compared.
Lipid Profiles And Platelets Counts Of Pre-eclamptic Women In Selected Rural Areas Of Northern Nigeria

Pre-eclampsia is one of the most common and potentially life-threatening complications of pregnancy. It affects five to eight percent of all pregnancies and is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and preterm delivery In North East and North western Nigeria, ignorance and misconception about the disease plays an imperative role in the effect of the diseases on women, like wise accurate, affordable and sufficient routine test to be use clinically to identify the disease in whom it may develop and effective intervention or approaches that help in reducing pre-eclampsia is unclear on unavailable in health centres, in Nigeria approximately 37,000 women die annually because of Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia related complication WHO (2004). Objective of the study is to study lipid profiles in women with pre-eclampsia in rural areas of northern Nigeria. The mean age among the three groups is 25.18±0.86 in Non Pregnant non hypertensive, 24.52±0.53 in pregnant non hypertensive and 24.03±0.65, there is also a significant difference in the mean Triglycerides SEM 4.21±0.89 of the pre-eclamptic group as compare to the other two groups which have lower means, No significant difference seen in the LDL, among the three groups, there were significant difference in the pre-eclamptic group urine specific gravity SEM of 1.127±0.007, platelets SEM of 0.46±0.34x105, and hemoglobin 1.34±0.001. Conclusion Pre-eclampsia is common in rural areas of Northern Nigeria due to presence of high risk factors in the study areas; this can be explained by the presence of high maternal mortality in the three states respectively. In summary, the findings reported in this research suggest that the women who develop pre-eclampsia had disturbed lipid profile due to abnormal lipid metabolism. Increased triglycerides levels and delayed triglycerides clearance, decrease High density lipoprotein, severe proteinuria of greater than 500mg in 24hrs urine or 3+ using dipstick and high blood pressure are the reasons for the development of preeclampsia. The findings in this study may be relevant for understanding the pathophysiology of Pre-eclampsia and the future treatment by lipid modifying regimens of this life-threatening condition. Recommendation In efforts to identify women with at risk of developing pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, a question about family history of pre-eclampsia should be included during antenatal clinics.
An Examination of Students' Perceptions of Service Quality in Higher Education

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on university students' perceptions of educational service quality. Results suggest that both technical and functional quality are important dimensions that shape students' perceptions of their university's service quality. Although both dimensions are important, the findings suggest that the quality of education, campus facilities and the environment, and course process impact significantly on students' perceptions of service quality. The authors empirically measure students' perceptions using the SERVPREF methodology. Four hypotheses are formulated about the relationship between two main service quality dimensions, technical and functional, and perceived service quality. These relationships are tested using multiple regression analysis and ANOVA. The findings are discussed as are the implications for educational marketers and managers.
Super Lax pairs and infinite symmetries in the 1/r2 system.

We present an algebraic structure that provides an interesting and novel link between supersymmetry and quantum integrability. This structure underlies two classes of models that are exactly solvable in one dimension and belong to the 1/r 2 family of interactions. The algebra consists of the commutation between a "super-Hamiltonian" and two other operators, in an enlarged Hilbert space. These reduce to quantal Ordered Lax equations when projected onto the original subspace, and to a statement about the "Harmonic Lattice Potential" structure of the Lax operator, leading to a highly automatic proof of the integrability of these models and to an interesting hierarchy of new models.
Gender and non-medical use of prescription opioids: results from a national US survey.

AIMS Gender differences exist regarding alcohol and illicit drug use disorders in the United States. Little is known about the gender-related factors associated with non-medical use of prescription opioids. DESIGN Using data from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we examined risk factors for past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids stratified by gender. SETTING Non-institutionalized US residences. Participants Civilian, non-institutionalized US citizens aged 12 years and older. MEASUREMENTS Self-reported alcohol and drug use, focusing specifically on past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids. FINDINGS Among 55 023 respondents, 4.8% reported past-year, non-medical use of prescription opioids. For both women and men, alcohol abuse/dependence and marijuana, hallucinogen, cocaine, non-medical stimulant and sedative/tranquilizer use were associated with past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids. Among women but not men, first use of illicit drugs beginning at 24 years or older [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) 1.90, 95% CI 1.05-3.44], serious mental illness (AOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.29-2.17) and cigarette smoking (AOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.05-1.68) were associated with past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids. Among men but not women, past-year inhalant use (AOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.28-2.92) was associated with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS For both women and men, illicit drug use is associated with the non-medical use of prescription opioids. Additionally, certain factors associated with the non-medical use of prescription opioids are notably gender-specific. Clinicians should recognize that patients with a history of illicit substance use or misuse of other prescription medications are at increased risk for non-medical use of prescription opioids, and that gender-specific factors can help to identify individuals at greatest risk.
Consequences of corporate environmental marketing strategies in New Zealand organisations

Purpose – This research aims to present an exploratory study of the consequences of environmental marketing strategies in New Zealand organisations. In general, empirical research on the impact of environmental practices on organisational outcomes is limited and inconclusive, thus a greater understanding of the consequences associated with successful corporate environmental (CE) organisations is needed.Design/methodology/approach – Eight in‐depth interviews were conducted with leading and proactive CE organisations in New Zealand.Findings – General consequences including innovation, strategic alliances, and improved public relations were found in addition to consequences specifically related to product/service, process‐, and project‐dominant environmental marketing strategies. Negative consequences were also identified.Research limitations/implications – Owing to the broad nature of the study, it is not possible to make substantial inferences between different industries or specific organisation types and.
Effects of Crop Commercial Orientation on Productivity of Smallholder Farmers in Drought-prone Areas of the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia.

This paper examines the tradeoff between commercial orientation and crop productivity among smallholder farm households living in drought risk-prone areas of the central rift valley of Ethiopia. The study was built on the hypothesis that there is a one-way causation between commercial orientation and productivity. The relationship between commercial orientation and crop productivity is assessed in a censored simultaneous equation model framework. Results indicate that there is a unidirectional relationship with total factor productivity being influenced by the endogenous commercial orientation factor. The influence of commercial orientation is expounded with the addition of farm and non-farm characteristics. Thus, in priority order, number of non-oxen livestock, commercial orientation, agricultural credit and sex have been important factors positively influencing productivity whereas labor availability for farming, distance and off-farm wage labor employment have been working against increased productivity of the smallholder farm households. However, it was observed that with a shift from commercial orientation criteria to unrestricted level of market participation in crop sales, the type, magnitude and direction of determinant factors have increased emphasizing the seriousness of performance influencing factors along with market participation to the majority of the smallholder farmers. The findings suggest that programs targeted at improving market access have the potential to increase agricultural productivity.
Comparison of multisystem traction converters for high-power locomotives

The European railways are characterized by a wide range of supply voltage systems. To allow flexible operation of electrical locomotives and short stops at system borders, multisystem locomotives are necessary. The paper gives a comparison of different solutions for multisystem converters and introduces the most promising concept based on the latest high-power IGBT technology.