Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Membership in Strategic Alliances on the Profitability of Firms in the Retail Sector

Strategic alliances in the retail sector are based on cooperation in a variety of activities, ranging from supply and marketing to knowledge sharing and branding. For their members, they are a source of sustainable competitive advantage. Ever since the 1990s, a growing number of firms from the retail sector have attempted to improve their performance through participation in strategic alliances. The objective of this paper is to explore how participation in strategic alliances influences profitability of firms in the retail sector. A dynamic panel analysis is applied to the data on nearly 3,700 firms obtained from Amadeus, a large firm-level database, for eight countries (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary and Estonia) for the 2007–2012 period. The results of the investigation suggest that participation in strategic alliances positively influences a firm’s performance.
Digitally Competent School Organizations – Developing Supportive Organizational Infrastructures

While research on digital competences so far has focused on the level of single actors (teachers, pupils, and school leaders), a growing but occasionally overlooked field of research looks at school-level competences when promoting digitalization and educational change. The aim of this study is to explore how schools structure their organizations, institutional infrastructure, and activities as conditions for digitalization. The study relies on interviews with school leaders and educational technologists from five upper secondary schools with extensive experience in digitalization and remote teaching. By using three categories, namely setting the direction, developing people, and developing the organization, as an analytical framework, this study identifies two types of digitally competent school organizations: goal- and structure-oriented schools and culture-oriented schools. This study’s insights serve as a point of departure for understanding the different ways schools can organize themselves to become comprehensive, stable, and digitally competent organizations and for understanding important challenges related to this process.
From Natural Resources to Human Rights

Per Magnus Wijkman was the first foreign observer to urge Iceland in print to regulate its fisheries by price. This was in 1975, nine years before the Icelandic fishing quota system came into effect, a system judged discriminatory and unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Iceland in 1998 (but not in 2000! ) as well as by the United Nations Committee on Human Rights in 2007, principally because the advice given by Wijkman and others was not heeded. This paper discusses the human rights aspects of natural resources management in view of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which stipulates the inalienable rights of nations to the rents from their natural resources.
Investigation of CMV disease in immunocompromised patients

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a recognised cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. This review will concentrate on recent advances in the understanding of the complex interplay between the host and parasite and the pathological consequences of perturbation of the host immune system. The classic view of CMV as a slowly replicating virus is challenged by recent in vivo findings suggesting that active replication occurs dynamically in the human host, with a doubling time of approximately one day. In addition, CMV load plays a major role in viral pathogenesis, such that increased CMV replication is a significant risk factor for disease in all immunocompromised groups studied to date. These studies focus attention on understanding the virological and immunological determinants of enhanced viral replication and its pathological consequences.
Dentists' use of caries risk assessment and individualized caries prevention for their adult patients: Findings from The Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

OBJECTIVES Few studies have examined dentists' subjective ratings of importance of caries risk factors or tested whether dentists use this information in treatment planning. This study tested several hypotheses related to caries risk assessment (CRA) and individualized caries prevention (ICP). METHODS Data were collected as part of a questionnaire entitled 'Assessment of Caries Diagnosis and Caries Treatment' completed by 547 practitioners who belong to The Dental Practice-Based Research Network (DPBRN), a consortium of participating practices and dental organizations. RESULTS Sixty-nine percent of DPBRN dentists perform CRA on their patients. Recently graduated dentists, dentists with busier practices, and those who believe a dentist can predict future caries were the most likely to use CRA. The association between CRA and individualized prevention was weaker than expected (r = 0.21). Dentists who perform CRA provide ICP to 57% of their patients, compared with 42% for dentists who do not perform CRA. Based on their responses to radiographic and clinical scenarios in the questionnaire, dentists who use CRA appear to use this information in restorative decisions. CONCLUSION A substantial percentage of DPBRN dentists do not perform CRA, and there is not a strong linkage between its use and use of individualized preventive regimens for adult patients. More progress in the implementation of current scientific evidence in this area is warranted.
Genetic and physical analysis of the chicken tk gene

Several aspects of the structure of the chicken thymidine kinase gene (tk) have been resolved as a result of genetic experiments and nucleotide sequencing. Deletion mapping established the locations of two functional boundaries in a region thought to correspond to the 5' terminus of the gene. One such boundary coincides with a transcriptional promoter, and the other coincides with the translation start codon of the chicken tk polypeptide. Similar deletion mapping assays identified a functional boundary at the 3' terminus of the gene. DNA sequence analysis confirms the prediction that this 3' region encodes the carboxyl terminus of the tk polypeptide. A recombinant cDNA clone complementary to genomic tk sequences was isolated. A comparison between genomic and cDNA sequences reveals the locations of six intervening sequences and allows prediction of the complete amino acid sequence of the chicken tk polypeptide.
Experiences in early stage Alzheimer's disease: Understanding the paradox of acceptance and denial

A wealth of information about the biomedical aspects of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent dementia among people over age 65, stands in counterpoint to the lack of systematic inquiry around the lived experiences of people with AD. Thirteen (four women, nine men) people, recently diagnosed with early stage AD, participated in this 6-month longitudinal study. This paper reports on AD participant's interviews which focussed on their experiences of AD symptoms, relationships with family and friends, and thoughts about the future. The transcribed interviews, analysed using methodological hermeneutics, revealed a constitutive theme of agency versus objectification and explained the paradox of why people with AD use both acceptance and denial when speaking about their experiences. Participants simultaneously acknowledged and resisted aspects of their disease in order to maintain agency in the face of cognitive losses. Acknowledgement was expressed through the themes involving acceptance of the disease and its symptoms, expression of feelings about the disease, and strategies to cope with the symptoms. Resistance was expressed in themes involving denial, minimization, normalization, and reminiscence about achievements and experiences of competence. Longitudinal analyses of the narratives indicated themes held across time. This research contributes to understanding how people live with early stage AD. Living with AD should not be described as either denial or acceptance, but rather as a paradox of understanding that includes both acknowledgement and resistance.
Application of DNA markers to identify the individual‐specific hosts of tsetse feeding on cattle

Primer sets for five different ungulate loci were used to obtain individual microsatellite DNA profiles for 29 Mashona cattle from a herd in Zimbabwe. There were 3–13 alleles for each locus and, using the entire suite of five loci, each animal within the herd, including closely related individuals, could be unequivocally distinguished. Wild‐caught Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera: Glossinidae) were fed on specific cattle and the bloodmeal was profiled 0.5–72 h after feeding. The individual specific sources of the bloodmeals, including mixed meals produced by allowing tsetse to feed on two different cattle, were reliably identified up to 24 h after feeding. The technique was used in field studies of host selection by G. pallidipes and G. morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) attracted to pairs of cattle. When the pair comprised an adult and a calf, 100% of meals were from the adult. For some pairs of adult cattle, tsetse were biased significantly towards feeding on one animal, whereas for other pairs there was no such bias. In general, feeding was greater on the animal known to have a lower rate of host defensive behaviour. Results suggest that relatively slight differences in the inherent defensive behaviour of cattle produce large differences in host‐specific feeding rates when the hosts are adjacent. For flies attracted to pairs of cattle, < 2% contained blood from both hosts. The DNA profiling technique will be useful in studying the epidemiology of vector‐borne diseases of livestock.
Spontaneous Recanalization of Chronic Internal Carotid Artery Occlusions: Report of 3 Cases

Spontaneous recanalization of a chronically occluded internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare occurrence. The authors report 3 patients who had documented total occlusion of the ICA followed by late spontaneous recanalization with subsequent high-grade stenosis. The patients in this series had occlusions for 11 months, 36 months, and 39 months, respectively. One patient had symptoms ipsilateral to the recanalized vessel, and 2 patients were asymptomatic. Endarterectomy was performed uneventfully in 2 patients and pathologic specimens demonstrated typical atherosclerotic plaque with patent lumens. Our experience demonstrates that although chronic recanalizations of occluded ICAs are rare, this does occur. Pathology demonstrates typical atherosclerotic plaque which appeared to have been recanalized by lysis of thrombus. The natural history of this condition is not well known and indications for intervention are not well established.
Effect of an impaired I/Q modulator in the structure of a behavioral model for power amplifiers

In this communication, a general Volterra model for complex-valued systems is employed to analyze the model structure for a power amplifier (PA) and for an I/Q modulator in different situations. Emphasis is placed on showing the differences in the present regressors when the PA is driven by a signal generator with impairments in contrast to the case in which the modulator impairments are previously compensated. Since the proposed representation defines a comprehensive structure, a pruning strategy is applied with the assistance of a compressive-sensing algorithm in order to reduce the number of model parameters and avoid overfitting. Modeling results for a commercial PA show a robust performance in terms of normalized mean square error and adjacent channel power of the error signal compared to other reference behavioral models.
[Resistive exercise in the evaluation of endothelial dysfunction in heart failure].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the use of resistive exercise in the study of endothelial dysfunction in heart failure (HF) comparatively to reactive hyperemia (RH). METHODS Eighteen patients with heart failure and 15 normal volunteers were submitted to intermittent handgrip exercise in a pneumatic bag, at an intensity that corresponds to 75% of the previously assessed maximum load. Patients underwent high-resolution vascular ultrasonography for brachial artery diameter and flow evaluation as well as cardiac output determination at rest, RH and after exercise. The systolic flow index in the brachial artery and cardiac index were calculated. RESULTS Systolic flow index increase in the brachial artery was observed after RH and physical exercise, with the latter presenting the highest increase. There was an increase in the cardiac index after the study conditions in comparison to resting conditions. CONCLUSION Resistive exercise, performed at the assessed load, increases blood flow more intensively than RH, constituting a physiological option for the evaluation of endothelial function in HF.
Komorbidität spezifischer Lernstörungen und psychischer Auffälligkeiten: ein Literaturüberblick

Zusammenfassung. Es wird eine Übersicht über die Forschung zu Komorbiditäten von spezifischen Lernstörungen (SLS) und psychischen Auffälligkeiten gegeben. Eine Literatursuche erbrachte 1100 Artikel, von denen nach explizierten Kriterien 170 für die weiteren Analysen ausgewählt wurden. Ausgeschlossen wurden u.a. Artikel zu nonverbalen Lernstörungen, Buchrezensionen, Einleitungen zu Sonderheften sowie Fallstudien. Die Ergebnisse der Literaturrecherche zeigen, dass die Forschung sich zum großen Teil auf nicht näher spezifizierte Lernstörungen und Lesestörungen bezieht. In Bezug auf Komorbiditäten sind ADHS und sozial-emotionale Probleme die am häufigsten untersuchten Themen. Kinder mit SLS zeigen eine erhöhte Neigung zu externalisierenden und internalisierenden Auffälligkeiten, die jedoch unterhalb eines klinisch relevanten Niveaus liegt. ADHS scheint die am häufigsten auftretende Komorbidität bei Lese- und Rechtschreibstörung zu sein. Das Verhältnis von SLS zu psychischen Auffälligkeiten wird teilweise durch eine mangelnde Effizienz der Funktion des Arbeitsgedächtnisses und Aufmerksamkeitsstörung mediiert. Weiterer Forschungsbedarf besteht insbesondere zur Frage nach Komorbiditäten bei Rechenstörungen. Metaanalysen für den Bereich des Zusammenhangs von SLS und externalisierende Auffälligkeiten stehen noch aus.
Static and dynamic characteristics of 1.29-μm GaInNAs ridge-waveguide laser diodes

Rapid progress has been made in the growth of GaInNAs-GaAs by solid source molecular beam epitaxy, leading to significant improvements of such heterostructures for 1.3-/spl mu/m wavelength laser emission. We report on growth, device fabrication and characteristics of ridge-waveguide lasers in this material system. Performance data of these devices (emission at /spl lambda/=1.29 /spl mu/m, threshold currents of 16 mA, slope efficiencies of 0.35 W/A per facet, and continuous-wave (CW) operation at 100/spl deg/C) prove that this new material can successfully compete with the well matured InGaAsP-InP system. Furthermore, the very first small-signal modulation measurement results of laser diodes in this novel material-system as well as first ageing results are presented.
Exercise and physical activity recommendations for people with cerebral palsy

Physical activity and its promotion, as well as the avoidance of sedentary behaviour, play important roles in health promotion and prevention of lifestyle‐related diseases. Guidelines for young people and adults with typical development are available from the World Health Organisation and American College of Sports Medicine. However, detailed recommendations for physical activity and sedentary behaviour have not been established for children, adolescents, and adults with cerebral palsy (CP). This paper presents the first CP‐specific physical activity and exercise recommendations. The recommendations are based on (1) a comprehensive review and analysis of the literature, (2) expert opinion, and (3) extensive clinical experience. The evidence supporting these recommendations is based on randomized controlled trials and observational studies involving children, adolescents, and adults with CP, and buttressed by the previous guidelines for the general population. These recommendations may be used to guide healthcare providers on exercise and daily physical activity prescription for individuals with CP.
Evolution of Organic Aerosols in the Atmosphere

Framework for Change Organic aerosols make up 20 to 90% of the particulate mass of the troposphere and are important factors in both climate and human heath. However, their sources and removal pathways are very uncertain, and their atmospheric evolution is poorly characterized. Jimenez et al. (p. 1525; see the Perspective by Andreae) present an integrated framework of organic aerosol compositional evolution in the atmosphere, based on model results and field and laboratory data that simulate the dynamic aging behavior of organic aerosols. Particles become more oxidized, more hygroscopic, and less volatile with age, as they become oxygenated organic aerosols. These results should lead to better predictions of climate and air quality. Organic aerosols are not compositionally static, but they evolve dramatically within hours to days of their formation. Organic aerosol (OA) particles affect climate forcing and human health, but their sources and evolution remain poorly characterized. We present a unifying model framework describing the atmospheric evolution of OA that is constrained by high–time-resolution measurements of its composition, volatility, and oxidation state. OA and OA precursor gases evolve by becoming increasingly oxidized, less volatile, and more hygroscopic, leading to the formation of oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA), with concentrations comparable to those of sulfate aerosol throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Our model framework captures the dynamic aging behavior observed in both the atmosphere and laboratory: It can serve as a basis for improving parameterizations in regional and global models.
Nebivolol for the treatment of heart failure

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a common and disabling disease with a high prevalence in the elderly. Beta-blockers are among the mainstay therapies of HF because they antagonize the deleterious effects of the chronic activation of sympathetic nervous system. In large randomized clinical trials, bisoprolol, carvedilol and metoprolol reduced mortality and cardiovascular hospital admission and, hence, are included in current guidelines for HF treatment. Areas covered: Nebivolol is a third-generation β-blocker with high selectivity for β1-adrenoceptors selectivity and vasodilating effects. It also shows antioxidant, antiproliferative and antithrombotic properties. Nebivolol is generally well tolerated. Typical β-blocker-related adverse events are same as that with placebo, except for bradycardia. In addition, it shows no negative effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, erectile function, and glucose and lipid metabolism. The benefits of nebivolol for HF treatment have been evaluated in the SENIORS trial, where it reduced the composite endpoint of mortality and cardiovascular hospital admission. Expert opinion: Nebivolol is a β-blocker with distinctive characteristics. Initiated at 1.25 mg and titrated up to 10 mg/day, it has shown safety and efficacy in one large outcome trial, when added to standard medical therapy, in elderly patients (≥ 70 years) affected by HF.
Influence of Commonly Employed Resistance Exercise Protocols on Circulating IL-6 and Indices of Insulin Sensitivity

Phillips, MD, Mitchell, JB, Currie-Elolf, LM, Yellott, RC, and Hubing, KA. Influence of commonly employed resistance exercise protocols on circulating IL-6 and indices of insulin sensitivity. J Strength Cond Res 24(4): 1091-1101, 2010-The purpose of this project was to examine the influence of resistance exercise (RE) intensities, resulting in different total volume loads on circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6), insulin and glucose response (IGR) to a carbohydrate feeding (CHO), and whether RE-induced IL-6 was associated with postexercise IGR. Fourteen men (21.7 ± 1.7 years, 83 ± 14.2 kg), performed 2 RE sessions (low-intensity resulting in high volume [65% 1-repetition maximum (1RM)], LO; high intensity resulting in low volume [85% 1RM], HI); and a nonexercise control trial (CON). Resistance exercise included 3 sets (LO = 12 reps, 12 reps, and failure; HI = 8 reps, 8 reps, and failure) of 8 exercises. Blood was obtained pre- (PR) and post (PO) exercise, and 6 hours postexercise (6H). Twenty-three hours after RE or CON, participants consumed 100 g dextrose (CHO) beverage. Blood was collected before (0 minutes) and 60 minutes after CHO (n = 6, phase 1) or every 30 minutes for a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (n = 8; phase 2). Circulating IL-6, insulin, and glucose were analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, radioimmunoassay, and enzymatic methods, respectively. Total volume load was higher in LO (17,729 ± 1,466 kg) compared with HI (13,160 ± 1,097 kg; p < 0.001). Postexercise IL-6 was elevated (p = 0.003) in LO and HI compared with CON (7.4 ± 1.3, 5.2 ± 0.7, and 2.5 ± 0.7 pg·mL−1, respectively), with LO IL-6 greater than HI. Areas under the curve for glucose (p = 0.081; CON: 741 ± 46, LO: 690 ± 28, and HI: 660 ± 21 mM·min−1) and insulin (p = 0.075; CON: 6,818 ± 1,018, LO: 5,056 ± 869, and HI: 5,405 ± 1,076 μIU·mL−1) were not different among trials (n = 8). When 0- and 60-minute values were compared (n = 14), insulin was lower at 60 minutes in LO and HI compared with CON (55 + 9.1, 83 ± 13, 105 ± 13 μIU·mL−1, respectively) with LO insulin being lower than HI (p < 0.001). No relationship was observed between PO IL-6 and IGR, but PR IL-6 was negatively related to both PR (r = −0.043, p < 0.05) and 60 minutes (r = −0.59, p < 0.01) glucose (n = 14). These results indicate that TVL contributes to RE-induced IL-6 release and that TVL may be more important than RE intensity when improvements in glucose tolerance or IS are the goal.
Survival and Development of Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) Embryos and Larvae in Hypersaline Conditions

The horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus spawns in the mid- to upper intertidal zone where females deposit eggs in nests below the sediment surface. Although adult crabs generally inhabit subtidal regions of estuaries with salinities from 5 to 34 ppt, developing embryos and larvae within nests are often exposed to more extreme conditions of salinity and temperature during summer spawning periods. To test whether these conditions have a negative impact on early development and survival, we determined development time, survival, and molt cycle duration for L. polyphemus embryos and larvae raised at 20 combinations of salinity (range: 30–60 ppt) and temperature (range: 25–40 °C). Additionally, the effect of hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic shock on the osmolarity of the perivitelline fluid of embryos was determined at salinities between 5 and 90 ppt. The embryos completed their development and molted at salinities below 60 ppt, yet failed to develop at temperatures of 35 °C or higher. Larval survival was high at salinities of 10–70 ppt but declined significantly at more extreme salinities (i.e., 5, 80, and 90 ppt). Perivitelline fluid remained nearly isoosmotic over the range of salinities tested. Results indicate that temperature and salinity influence the rate of crab development, but only the extremes of these conditions have an effect on survival.