Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive marketing capabilities, market orientation, and international performance: the moderation effect of competitive intensity

Purpose It is well established in marketing literature that international performance is positively affected by marketing capabilities, whether static or dynamic. However, recent theoretical development proposed adaptive marketing capabilities (AMC) as a set of capabilities able to close the marketing gap. Given the relative newness of this construct, empirical studies are still scarce. Therefore, drawing from a resource-based view perspective, this study aims to analyse the relationships among market orientation (MO), AMC and firms’ international performance, as well as the moderating effects of competitive intensity. Design/methodology/approach The authors have used survey-based research with 335 internationalised Portuguese business-to-business small and medium sized enterprises (B2B SMEs) during June 2020. The authors analysed responses through structural equation modelling and path analysis. Findings Results revealed positive relationships between AMC and international performance and between MO and AMC. Furthermore, results were robust to the competitive environment. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study contributes to international marketing literature by analysing MO as an antecedent of AMC, which has never been done before. Furthermore, it analyses the simultaneous effects of MO and AMC on international performance, as well as the moderation of competitive intensity. Also, the study’s results inform managers and marketeers of internationalised firms about the advantages of adopting a market-oriented behaviour and the development of AMC, whether in more or less competitive environments.
World Intellectual Property Report 2015 - Breakthrough Innovation and Economic Growth

WIPO’s latest World Intellectual Property Report (WIPR) explores the role of IP at the nexus of innovation and economic growth, focusing on the impact of breakthrough innovations. Extraordinary technological breakthroughs over the last 300 years have touched almost every aspect of human activity and transformed the world’s economies. The 2015 report shows how three historical breakthrough innovations – airplanes, antibiotics and semiconductors – fueled new business activity. It examines three current technologies with breakthrough potential: 3D printing, nanotechnology and robotics. And it considers the future outlook for innovation-driven growth.Classification-JEL:
Voluntary Wheel Running in Old C57BL/6 Mice Reduces Age-Related Inflammation in the Colon but Not in the Brain

Inflammation is considered a possible cause of cognitive decline during aging. This study investigates the influence of physical activity and social isolation in old mice on their cognitive functions and inflammation. The Barnes maze task was performed to assess spatial learning and memory in 3, 9, 15, 24, and 28 months old male C57BL/6 mice as well as following voluntary wheel running (VWR) and social isolation (SI) in 20 months old mice. Inflammatory gene expression was analyzed in hippocampal and colonic samples by qPCR. Cognitive decline occurs in mice between 15 and 24 months of age. VWR improved cognitive functions while SI had negative effects. Expression of inflammatory markers changed during aging in the hippocampus (Il1a/Il6/S100b/Iba1/Adgre1/Cd68/Itgam) and colon (Tnf/Il6/Il1ra/P2rx7). VWR attenuates inflammaging specifically in the colon (Ifng/Il10/Ccl2/S100b/Iba1), while SI regulates intestinal Il1b and Gfap. Inflammatory markers in the hippocampus were not altered following VWR and SI. The main finding of our study is that both the hippocampus and colon exhibit an increase in inflammatory markers during aging, and that voluntary wheel running in old age exclusively attenuates intestinal inflammation. Based on the existence of the gut-brain axis, our results extend therapeutic approaches preserving cognitive functions in the elderly to the colon.
Evaluation of Deadwood Characteristics and Carbon Storage under Different Silvicultural Treatments in a Mixed Broadleaves Mountain Forest

The deadwood (DW) of the forest is in the following two forms: standing (snag) and fallen (log). The DW categories and decay stage are important functional and structural components of forest ecosystems. We used a field-based assessment to quantify how the relative contribution of deadwood to total above-ground carbon stock changes across a silvicultural method and stand altitude gradient in mixed broadleaves stands. The characteristics of DW and carbon stock in selection-cutting managed stands (Sc), shelter-wood managed stands (Sh) and protected stands (Pr) were examined in three altitude ranges (low, <600; medium, 600–1200; and high, >1200 m a.s.l.) in a mixed broadleaves high forest. The results showed that with increasing altitude, the volume of DW increased. The volume of DW in Pr stands was about three times higher than Sh stands and twice higher than Sc stands. The volume of the standing DW was greater than that of the fallen DW in all stands. The highest volume ratio of fallen DW to standing DW was found in the medium altitude in the Sc stand. The amount of carbon stock by DW in the Sh, Sc, and Pr stands was 1.53–2.22, 2.29–3.19, and 5.03–6.80 t ha−1, respectively. The DW share of C-stock of above ground biomass was 4%–4.6% in Sh stand, 4.3%–4.8% in Sc stand, and 7.4%–7.9% in the Pr stand. Deadwood assessment and management, in terms of volume, type, species composition, diameter distribution, spatial allocation and decay stage, is one of the new challenges for a proper sustainable forest management.
Recommended doses of medetomidine-midazolam-butorphanol with atipamezole for preventing hypothermia in mice

A non-narcotic anesthetic combination (Me/Mi/Bu) of medetomidine (Me), midazolam (Mi), and butorphanol (Bu) has been recommended as the injectable anesthesia in mice. An original dose of Me/Mi/Bu (0.3/4.0/5.0 mg/kg) has provided sufficient anesthetic duration of 40–50 min in mice. In addition, atipamezole is available for reversal of Me/Mi/Bu anesthesia. As an adverse effect of Me/Mi/Bu anesthesia, however, severe hypothermia has been also observed in mice. In the present study, we investigated 1) the main agent in Me/Mi/Bu to cause of hypothermia, 2) the effects of the differential doses of atipamezole on hypothermia induced by Me/Mi/Bu anesthesia and on the plasma levels of creatinine phosphokinase and transaminases, and 3) those recommended doses for preventing hypothermia induced by Me/Mi/Bu anesthesia in mice. The results suggested that 1) the α2-agonist medetomidine is most likely to induce hypothermia in mice under Me/Mi/Bu anesthesia, 2) the antagonism of atipamezole within proper dose range is effective in promoting the recovery from Me/Mi/Bu-induced hypothermia, and 3) Me/Mi/Bu at the recommended dose of 0.2/6.0/10.0 mg/kg enable to provide anesthetic effects for 40 min and is more considerable to prevent the hypothermia than that at the original dose of 0.3/4.0/5.0 mg/kg.
Knowledge discovery by factory floor workers and its transfer to management

Factory floor workers can create and add value to their firm from new knowledge they may discover whilst performing their daily tasks. The subsequent transfer of that knowledge to middle managers can improve process efficiencies, if they can utilise it. Many researchers and practitioners perceive value in understanding and implementing a range of knowledge transfer strategies and initiatives, yet there is little empirical evidence on ground level knowledge discovery and bottom-up knowledge transfers in a manufacturing environment. We conducted in-depth interviews with factory floor workers, leading hands and production managers from the Australian metal fabrication industry and analysed the data using a multiple case study method. The findings firstly suggest that the transfer of knowledge between factory floor workers and middle management flows through one main channel, and that knowledge is generally shared within expert communities based on members' previous experience within the trade. Secondly, middle managers have a support function as facilitators of knowledge flow and exchanges rather than being knowledge creators. Thirdly, factory workers only communicate with management through no-fuss, personal, face-to-face interaction. The results indicate that firms must implement policies and initiatives to develop or foster the ease and frequency of those interactions to gain maximum value from knowledge transfers between the two communities.
Development and internal validation of an equation using anthropometric measures to predict correct endotracheal tube insertion depth

Purpose To develop, internally validate, and assess the utility of implementing a regression model for determining endotracheal tube (ETT) insertion depth. Research methods We recorded height, weight, age, sex, ETT internal diameter (ID), lip marking, and tracheal position from the electronic record from a random subset of 2,000 intubated subjects obtained from 1 January 2009 to 5 May 2012. A multivariable linear regression model was constructed and validated by a nonparametric bootstrapping technique using unrestricted random sampling methods. A prospective pilot of subjects admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit requiring invasive mechanical ventilatory support was conducted from 7 January 2019 to 31 May 2019. Those with spinal and/or skeletal malformations, without a post-intubation chest-x-ray (CXR) order, or whose CXR quality impaired visualizing the carina and ETT tip, were excluded. The validated regression equation determined insertion depth. CXR following intubation determined ETT position. Demographic data were summarized. Two-tailed, one-sample binomial test of proportions assessed differences in the proportion of correct position by the equation. Main findings Four hundred and seventy-seven subjects included in model construction yielded 10,000 independent samples for internal validation; 55% were female, and the mean age (SD) was 47 (63) months. Bias between bootstrap coefficients and refined model estimates were negligible (P < 0.01). Eleven subjects in the pilot were female (64%), mean age (SD) of 36.7 (38) months. Four protocol violations (36.4%) resulted in malposition. Subsequent repositioning per protocol resulted in 100% correct positioning (P = 0.01). Conclusion The regression equation [0.8636 * (Ht. 0.6223)] facilitated correct ETT placement. A larger, diverse sample is required for external model validation.
Effects of resistance added on aerobic training on autonomic function in cardiac patients

Objective Autonomic imbalance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is characterized by reduced parasympathetic and enhanced sympathetic activity. Aerobic exercise improves autonomic function in patients with CHF and CVD. However, little is known about the effects of resistance training (RT) on cardiac autonomic function. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of RT added on aerobic training on autonomic function in patients with CHF and CVD. Data sources The relevant clinical trials were searched in PubMed, Physiotherapy evidence Database (PEDro, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases using the following keywords, “resistance or strength training”, “chronic heart failure”, “coronary artery disease”, “myocardial infarction”, “hypertension”, “cardiovascular disease”, “heart rate variability (HRV)”, “heart rate recovery (HRR)”, “muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA)”, and “autonomic function”. Data synthesis Twelve articles with 323 subjects were eligible to be evaluated. The outcome measures included HRV, HRR, and MSNA. There were seven studies on CHF, two on CAD, and three studies on hypertension. Meta-analysis of all the studies showed that combined RT and aerobic training decreased MSNA significantly in patients with CHF and CAD (mean difference: −3.796; CI: −6.779 to 0.813; p=0.013; I2=93.5%). No study evaluated the effects of RT or combined training on HRR. Conclusion We could not find sufficient data about the effects of RT alone on HRV and HRR, but the results showed that combined RT and aerobic training improved MSNA in patients with CHF and CAD, significantly. Further studies with similar methodological principles on the same patient population are needed.
La Vida de Juan: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Crime and Violence in Mexico

Background: Crime and violence have hindered the development of the people, economy, and health of Mexico. In this study, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis to illustrate the compounding costs associated with not addressing the risk factors that lead children and young persons to violence and crime in Mexico.Methods: We created a fictional account of a typical male criminal offender in Mexico based on quantitative and qualitative data. Using quantitative and qualitative data from public, private, and government sources, we calculated the cost of each stage of Juan’s life along with the total cost of all crimes, violence, and events until the age of 37. Results: Direct and indirect costs increased exponentially over time as violent actions and crimes became more severe. The stage where costs were lowest was infancy, totaling $6,216 USD, while the costliest stage was adulthood totaling $1,034,847 USD. The total cost associated with the offender’s life (up to age 37) was $1,752,501 USD, while the total estimated cost of implementing prevention programs in each stage of life was $144,254 USD.Conclusions: The Mexican government must prioritize implementing evidence-based policies and programs for mitigating the risk factors that lead young persons to a life of violence and crime. Specifically, investing in programs at the earliest stages of life has been shown to have the greatest benefit in offsetting the compounding associated costs later in life. Our study shows that, theoretically, for every dollar invested on interventions to support Juan’s life, $12 are saved. This study can be used as an example and recommendation for other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, which suffer from similar levels of violence and crime, and from similar cultural and socioeconomic conditions.
Bienestar psicológico y uso de redes sociales en estudiantes del Instituto ICT, Huancayo

El incremento de la implementación de tecnología en los distintos contextos cotidianos de la vida de los jóvenes debe vigilarse de cerca para evitar afectaciones en su desarrollo psicológico, por lo que este estudio se propuso como objetivo determinar la relación entre el bienestar psicológico y el uso de rede sociales en estudiantes del Instituto ICT ubicado en Huancayo, Perú, realizando un estudio de enfoque cuantitativo, de nivel correlacional en una muestra censal de 93 estudiantes a quienes se les aplicó el instrumento del cuestionario, que llevo a evidenciar un bajo bienestar psicológico y un alto uso de redes sociales en la mayoría. El análisis estadístico permitió concluir con la existencia de una relación inversa y moderada entre el bienestar psicológico y el uso de las redes sociales en los estudiantes.
A New Calcium Vectoring Technology: Concentration and Distribution of Ca and Agronomic Efficiency in Pepper Plants

Calcium (Ca) is an important macronutrient for plants, although its low mobility through the phloem makes more difficult the translocation to growing tissues, including fruits. The blossom end rot (BER) physiopathy occurs mainly in fruits and is associated with water stress, and especially with low Ca levels, which has a very negative effect on the production of many crops. Currently, through the vectoring process, it is possible to increase the transport of immobile elements to the fruits. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of BRANDT® MANNI-PLEX® Ca, which contains Ca with a vector (polyalcohols), provided by the company BRANDT EUROPE S.L. (Carmona, Spain), on Ca accumulation and the production and quality of pepper fruits, both at harvest and post-harvest stage. Pepper plants were grown in a shaded greenhouse and supplied with BRANDT® MANNI-PLEX® Ca and parameters related to biomass, production, and fruit quality were analyzed. The results showed that the product increased shoot biomass, photosynthesis performance, Ca accumulation and quality of pepper fruits both at harvest and post-harvest, while reducing the incidence of Ca physiopathies by 70%. Therefore, this study proves the BRANDT® MANNI-PLEX® Ca efficacy in a crop with a high incidence of Ca physiopathies, such as pepper.
Sodium Valproate Incompatibility with Parenteral Nutrition Admixtures—A Risk to Patient Safety: An In Vitro Evaluation Study

Epilepsy is defined as a group of concerning problems related to the nervous system; its defining feature is a predisposition to epileptic seizures. The frequency of seizures in intensive care units (ICU) ranges from 3.3% to 34%, and ICU antiepileptic treatment is routine practice. The administration of drugs through the same infusion line is not recommended but is common clinical practice, especially in ICU. Incompatibilities between parenteral drugs and between drugs and parenteral nutrition admixtures (PNAs) are common medical errors and pose risks to patient safety. The co-administration of drugs must always be confirmed and clearly defined. The simultaneous infusion of sodium valproate (VPA, drug used to treat seizures and epilepsy) with parenteral PNAs has not yet been studied. During the experiment reported in this study, a visual control, pH, osmolality, zeta potential, particle size, polydispersity index, and turbidity were measured. The conducted research shows that the lipid emulsion composition has a significant influence on drug–PN (drug–parenteral nutrition) compatibility. The acceptance criteria were met only for PNs containing omega-3-acid-triglycerides (Omegaflex special and peri). The second fraction of particles above 1000 nm was observed for most of the tested PNAs (Lipoflex special, Lipoflex peri, Kabiven, SmofKabiven, Kabiven Peripheral, and Olimel Peri N4E), which disqualifies their simultaneous administration with VPA.
Performance evaluation of interleaved high-gain converter configurations

This study presents the experimental verification of an interleaved high-gain (IHG) DC–DC converter using series and parallel configurations. The interleaved configurations allow the converter to achieve high voltage gain and high current rating, thus increasing the power rating of the converter. Analytical expressions for the design of these interleaved converter configurations are included in the study. The efficiency of the IHG DC–DC converter is increased due to the zero-voltage switching of all active switches and the zero-current switching of all diodes. Experimental results taken from three 1 kW prototypes with different configuration (non-interleaved, and series and parallel interleaved) are presented to verify the interleaving performance and efficiency. Moreover, the effect of soft-switching in terms of efficiency is demonstrated.
Stability on Maize Hybrids Based on GGE Biplot Graphical Technique

In this study, 12 maize hybrids were planted and evaluated to determine the effect of genotype and genotype-environment interaction (GEI) base GGE (genotype plus genotype-by-environment) using a Graphical biplot technique in four research stations (Arak, Birjand, Shiraz and Karaj) within two years using a Randomized Complete Blocks Design (RCBD). The combined analysis of variance showed that the effects of the environment, genotype and genotype-environment interaction (GEI) were significant in the one percent probability level. GGE biplot results indicated that the first and second principal components (PC1 and PC2) explained more than 83% of the grain performance variation. Simultaneous study of grain performance and hybrid stability using the biplot of average environment coordinates showed that the KSC705 genotype had the highest yield and stability. Polygon view divided the studied areas into two mega-environments (MEs) and identified the best genotypes in each mega-environment (ME). In the first mega-environment (ME1), the Karaj and Shiraz with KSC706 and KSC400 genotypes were detected, and were the best; and in the second mega-environment (ME2), Arak and Birjand with KSC704 and KSC707 genotypes performed better. The biplot graph for the correlation between the genotypes categorized the studied hybrids into four groups positively related to each other based on the angles between vectors. The KSC704 and KSC707 genotypes were desirable in the yield in Shiraz and Karaj and KSC706 were in Arak and Birjand. Additionally, Arak-Birjand, Karaj-Shiraz showed a positive and significant correlation. Birjand and Karaj had most genotype interaction with each other.
Viscosity and physical state of sucrose mixed with ammonium sulfate droplets

Abstract. Although knowledge of the physical state of aerosol particles is essential to understand atmospheric chemistry model and measurements, information on the viscosity and physical state of aerosol particles consisting of organic and inorganic salts are still rare. Herein, we quantified viscosities at 293 ± 1 K upon dehydration for the binary systems, sucrose/H2O and ammonium sulfate (AS)/H2O, and the ternary systems, sucrose/AS/H2O for organic-to-inorganic dry mass ratios (OIRs) = 4 : 1, 1 : 1, and 1 : 4. For binary systems, the viscosity of sucrose/H2O particles gradually increased from ~6 × 10−1 to > ~1 × 108 Pa‧s when the relative humidity (RH) decreased from ~83 % to ~24 %, which agrees with previous studies. The viscosity of AS/H2O particles remained in the liquid state (< 102 Pa‧s) for RH > ~50 %, and for RH ≤ ~50 %, the particles showed viscosity of > ~1 × 1012 Pa‧s, corresponding to a solid state. For ternary systems, the viscosity of organic-rich particles (OIR = 4 : 1) gradually increased from ~4 × 10−2 to ~1 × 108 Pa‧s for a RH decrease from ~80 % to ~18 %, similar to the sucrose/H2O particles. In the particles for OIR = 1 : 1, the viscosities ranged smaller than ~4 × 101 for RH > 34 %, and > ~1 × 108 Pa‧s at ~27 % RH. Compared to the organic-rich particles, in the inorganic-rich particles (OIR = 1 : 4), drastic enhancement in viscosity was observed as RH decreased; the viscosity enhanced approximately 8 orders of magnitude in RH from 43 % to 25 %. Based on viscosity data, all particles studied in this work were observed to exist as a liquid, semi-solid or solid depending on the RH. Furthermore, we compared the measured viscosities of ternary systems with OIRs of 4 : 1, 1 : 1, and 1 : 4 to the predicted viscosities using the Aerosol Inorganic–Organic Mixtures Functional groups Activity Coefficients Viscosity model (AIOMFAC-VISC) predictions with the Zdanovskii–Stokes–Robinson (ZSR)-style organic–inorganic mixing model, with excellent model–measurement agreement for all OIRs.