julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
European integration and the dynamic process of investments and divestments of foreign TNCs in Greece
2006-01-01

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to analyse how European integration shapes the locational decisions of foreign transnational corporations (TNCs). Design/methodology/approach The paper concentrates on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the European Union (EU) and highlight the case of Greece. The investigation is based on a wide original sample of 199 foreign industrial subsidiaries operating in Greece. In particular, the paper reveals the dynamic investment and divestment strategies of TNCs in the host economy, which have taken place in the context of the reduction of EU market fragmentation and barriers to entry. Findings The empirical results suggest, that, in general, the participation of Greece in the EU has not increased the attractiveness of the country as a production base for TNCs. In fact, Greece did neither manage to attract considerable amounts of export oriented foreign investment nor did it receive much efficiency seeking FDI. Research limitations/implications The findings show for the case of Greece that divestment strategies of TNCs play a crucial role in explaining FDI patterns. For extending the results to more general applications, further research on this topic is needed. Practical implications The paper concludes that the integration of Greece into the EU has uncovered some structural deficits of the national economy. In addition, we identify some important locational weaknesses concerning the Greek ability to attract FDI. Thus, in order to stop divestment of foreign TNCs further reform efforts are necessary. These findings are of particular interest for public policy makers. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first study that jointly analyse the investment and divestment strategies of TNCs in the specific regional context of Greece and the EU. It draws on an original sample of 199 foreign enterprises operating in Greece.
Drawing activity diagrams
2006-01-01

Activities and the corresponding activity diagrams belong to the basic concepts of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) which has become the standard modeling language for specifying, visualizing and documenting software systems. Activity diagrams are used for modeling behavioral logic like business processes or workflow. In the modern UML 2, they experienced an increasing importance. While they were considered as a special case of state diagrams in UML 1.x, they are now enriched with additional constructs that widens the range of their applicability. This make them more suitable for areas like economics or bio-informatics.
FO[<]-uniformity
2006-01-01

Uniformity notions more restrictive than the usual FO[<, +, *]-uniformity = FO[<, Bit]-uniformity are introduced. It is shown that the general framework exhibited by Barrington et al. still holds if the fan-in of the gates in the corresponding circuits is considered.
Tenilsetam prevents early diabetic retinopathy without correcting pericyte loss
2006-01-01

Summary Hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial overproduction of reactive oxygen species leads to the activation of different biochemical pathways involved in endothelial damage of the diabetic retina. Tenilsetam [(±)-3-(2-thienyl)-2-piperazinone] is a dicarbonyl scavenger in the millimolar range anda transition metal ion chelator in the micromolar range. We tested its effect on experimental diabetic retinopathy, and on endothelial cell characteristics in vitro. Streptozotocin diabetic male Wistar rats (60 mg/ kg BW) received 50 mg/kg BW tenilsetam (D-T) for 36 weeks, or no treatment (D).The impact of tenilsetam (0–30 mM) on endothelial proliferation, apoptosis, sprouting, cytokine-induced leucocyte-endothelial interaction, and VEGF expression was tested in vitro.Tenilsetam did not affect glycemic control or body weight in diabetic animals. The 3.7 fold increase in acellular capillaries in diabetic rats [p&lt;0.001 vs. non-diabetic controls (N)] was reduced by 70% (p&lt;0.001) through treatment, but pericyte loss (D vs. N –33%; p&lt;0.001) remained unaffected. In vitro, tenilsetam inhibited endothelial proliferation at lower doses, while inducing apoptosis at high doses. Leucocyte adhesion was only inhibited at high doses. Sprouting angiogenesis of bovine retinal endothelial cells was promoted at lower doses (≤ 10 mM). At micromolar concentrations, endothelial VEGF expression was upregulated by 100%. Long-term treatment with the AGEinhibitor and iron-chelating compound tenilsetam inhibits the formation of acellular capillaries without correcting pericyte loss. The compound has dose-dependent effects on endothelial cell function. These data suggest that, independent of known properties, tenilsetam shows important rescue functions on endothelial cells which could be useful for the treatment of early diabetic retinopathy.
Linguistic distances
2006-01-01

In many theoretical and applied areas of computational linguistics researchers operate with a notion of linguistic distance or, conversely, linguistic similarity, which is the focus of the present workshop. While many CL areas make frequent use of such notions, it has received little focused attention, an honorable exception being Lebart & Rajman (2000). This workshop brings a number of these strands together, highlighting a number of common issues.
Surgical technique affects the risk for tracheostoma-related complications in post-ICU patients
2006-01-01

A total of 170 patients were included in this study. In all, 57.6% of the patients had unstable tracheostomas, a stenosis of the tracheal lumen above the stoma was encountered in 48.2% (G I, <50% of the lumen = 27.6% and G II, >50% of the lumen = 20.6%), and below the stoma in 3.5% of the patients. A significant association was found between severe suprastomal stenosis, tracheostoma instability and the use of dilatational tracheotomy (DT) (p<0.001). A malacia of the trachea was significantly more common among female patients (p < 0.010).
Measuring anatomical acetabular cup orientation with a new X-ray technique
2006-01-01

Proper alignment of the acetabular cup component is one of the most important requisites for a successful long-term outcome in total hip replacement. However, measurement and indication of cup orientation in an anatomical pelvic reference system is very difficult. We propose a new C-arm-based X-ray technique for determining the values for inclination and anteversion of the acetabular cup component. The proposed method is validated by computer simulation and sources of error are evaluated. The method predicts an accuracy of better then 5 degrees for determination of anteversion of the cup.
Focusing on Care : Family Policy and Problems of Analysis
2006-01-01

This paper addresses problems of analysis in family policy and suggests new standards of examination. The first part of the paper outlines Esping-Andersen's interpretation of family policy and its functions within the wel-fare state from his 1999 work "Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economies". I explain how the terms defamilialization, familialism and non-familialism and their influence on other authors incompletely address families with regard to current issues. I show that the conceptualization, measurement, and interpretation of family policy are lacking. This has consequences for addressing and interpreting overall welfare state devel-opment. In the second part of my paper, I propose a conceptualization to interpret family policy which especially addresses the perspective of the general carer in the welfare state. Here is a focal point that gives better in-sight into the welfare state crisis and how a welfare state could be more adequately conceptualized. The issue of care, I argue, is very much part of what has become a question of the welfare state function and the problems faced by the welfare state. The terms that I have coined to capture family policy functions in the welfare state with an analytical focus on care are carer-commodification and carer-stratification. They have their theoretical roots in empirical studies on family policy developments in the U.S. and the U.K. Finally, I extend these terms to interpret other European welfare states and their family policies.
Long-Term Results of an Uncemented Straight Femoral Shaft Prosthesis
2006-01-01

The first consecutive series of 250 implantations of an uncemented, proximally anchored straight femoral shaft prosthesis in 236 patients is included in this prospective follow-up study. Average time of follow-up evaluation was 11.8 years (range 10.6 - 13.7 years). At follow-up, 41 patients with 44 hips had died and three could not be located. Eight hips were revised, two for infection, one for recurrent dislocation, two for rapid subsidence due to component undersizing and one for aseptic loosening of a varus-malaligned stem; two radiologically well-fixed stems were revised during acetabular revision. Survival estimate showed an overall survival of 96.6% after 14 years (confidence limits: 98.4% (upper) and 92.8% (lower)). The median Harris hip score at time of follow-up was 81.4 points; clinical results were compromised by high loosening rates (68.8%) of the threaded cup, which had been used in 165 of the 250 cases. Radiologically, tiny reactive lines (&lt; 2mm) were frequently present in the distal zones of the femoral shaft, but could be found in the proximal anchoring zone in only one case. In conclusion, the long-term follow-up results with this femoral component are encouraging and are comparable to those of modern techniques of cementing in primary total hip arthroplasty.
Enhanced Expression of Serum and Glucocorticoid-Inducible Kinase-1 in Kidneys of <i>L-</i>NAME-Treated Rats
2006-01-01

&lt;i&gt;Objective:&lt;/i&gt; The serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase-1 (SGK1) has previously been shown to be highly expressed in renal injury such as glomerulonephritis and diabetic nephropathy. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with N&lt;sup&gt;G&lt;/sup&gt;-nitro-&lt;i&gt;L-&lt;/i&gt;arginine methyl ester (&lt;i&gt;L-&lt;/i&gt;NAME) leads to arterial hypertension with subsequent renal injury. The present study explored whether chronic treatment with &lt;i&gt;L-&lt;/i&gt;NAME affected renal SGK1 expression. &lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt; 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control group and an experimental group, in which hypertension was induced by oral administration of &lt;i&gt;L-&lt;/i&gt;NAME (100 mg/kg/day). The rats were sacrificed 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, after initiation of the treatment. Blood pressure was determined with the tail-cuff method, urinary albumin and β&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-microglobulin concentration were measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay, and SGK1 expression in renal cortex was quantified by real-time PCR and Western blotting. &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; The administration of &lt;i&gt;L-&lt;/i&gt;NAME increased systolic blood pressure significantly from 107 to 135 mm Hg within 4 weeks and to 155 mm Hg within 8 weeks. It further enhanced urinary excretion of albumin and β&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-microglobulin. Histology revealed marked fibrosis of glomerular and tubular tissue. The 4- and 8-week &lt;i&gt;L-&lt;/i&gt;NAME treatment increased significantly (p &lt; 0.01) SGK1 mRNA and protein abundance in renal cortex. &lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;i&gt;L-&lt;/i&gt;NAME treatment leads to hypertension, proteinuria and renal fibrosis. It increases renal transcription and expression of SGK1, which has previously been shown to foster matrix protein deposition and could thus contribute to renal injury.
Hardware accelerated multi-resolution geometry synthesis
2006-01-01

In this paper, we propose a new technique for hardware accelerated multi-resolution geometry synthesis. The level of detail for a given viewpoint is created on-the-fly, allowing for an almost unlimited model resolution in rendering without excessive memory usage. The models consist of regularly sampled rectangular patches that are subdivided hierarchically by a programmable shader in order to create different levels of resolution. The approach is inherently parallel and lends itself to an implementation on vector processor-like parallel architectures. We demonstrate this property by an implementation on programmable graphics hardware. This implementation shows a substantial performance benefit over a CPU-based implementation by up to more than an order of magnitude. We apply the framework to rendering of smooth surfaces and to rendering of complexly structured fractal landscapes using a novel multi-channel fractal subdivision technique. Due to the hardware acceleration, it is possible to perform interactive editing and walkthroughs of such scenes in real-time.
Dog after dog revisited
2006-01-01

This paper presents a compositional semantic analysis of pluractional adverbial modifiers like 'dog after dog' and 'one dog after the other'. We propose a division of labour according to which much of the semantics is carried by a family of plural operators. The adverbial itself contributes a semantics that we call pseudoreciprocal.&#x0D;
Solid‐state ESR differentiation between racemate versus enantiomer
2006-01-01

Abstract Noticeable differences between solid‐state ESR spectra of enantiopure and racemic single crystals as well as powders of 2,2,5,5‐tetramethylpyrrolidine‐3‐carboxamide‐1‐oxyl have been observed. Possible reasons of this fact are proposed. Chirality, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantifier scope in German
2006-01-01

Relative quantifier scope in German depends, in contrast to English, very much on word order. The scope possibilities of a quantifier are determined by its surface position, its base position and the type of the quantifier. In this paper we propose a multicomponent analysis for German quantifiers computing the scope of the quantifier, in particular its minimal nuclear scope, depending on the syntactic configuration it occurs in.
Tinnitus sensitization: a neurophysiological pathway of chronic complex tinnitus.
2006-01-01

A novel neuro- and psychophysiological pathway for central cognition of tinnitus, i.e. tinnitus sensitization, is presented here. As a complement to the neurophysiological pathway for the conditioned reflex according to Jastreboff, which permits therapeutic procedures to bring about an extinction of the tinnitus (e.g. by the acoustic tinnitus retraining therapy), sensitization can be treated with procedures that act at the cognitive level. Since on the one hand therapeutic extinction procedures (e.g. the therapeutic application of sound) are still to be proven effective in controlled studies, while on the other cognitive interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapies have in fact acquired evidence level IIa in prospective studies, it is indeed appropriate to discuss whether the earlier neurophysiological model of a conditioned reflex is sufficient on its own, and whether in fact it needs to be complemented with the sensitization model.
Flexible Specification and Application of Rule-based Transformations in an Automotive Design Flow
2006-01-01

This paper addresses an XML-based design environment, which provides a powerful basis for the manipulation of hardware design descriptions. The contribution of the paper is a flexible specification entry for the definition of transformation rules, which allows a designer to specify transformations by his/her own without having XML expertise. The specification entry provides a guided and graphically supported mechanism to define transformation rules. This opens up a new approach, in which the specification and verification of a transformation rule is carried out by using simple design examples, to be applied to arbitrary complex designs subsequently. A new key characteristic of our approach is that both transformation environment and transformation entry tool are based on a very compact definition of the hardware description language grammar in use, and both of them are fully automatically generated from that basic grammar definition. This makes our approach highly open for other hardware and system specification languages. The paper describes the transformation environment and transformation entry tool, and demonstrates its application in terms of two automotive-typical transformations, addressing power aspects on the one hand, and safety aspects on the other
Aspect-Oriented Parallel Discrete Optimization on the Cohesion Desktop Grid Platform
2006-01-01

This paper deals with our novel Desktop Grid platform Cohesion, which is designed to lay the system-level foundations for advanced parallel programming models and application specific frameworks. Cohesion specifically integrates functionality for parallel computing, e.g. a scalable group model and methods for collective communication. It is designed as an extensible layered architecture built around an industrial strength microkernel component. As an initial use case, we present an aspect-oriented framework for parallel discrete optimization built on top of Cohesion.
The Message of the Quantum?
2006-01-01

We criticize speculations to the effect that quantum mechanics is\\nfundamentally about information. We do this by pointing out how unfounded such\\nspeculations in fact are. Our analysis focuses on the dubious claims of this\\nkind recently made by Anton Zeilinger.\\n
Species diversity of opisthobranch molluscs on Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
2006-01-01

During several visits from 1999 to 2004 to the Australian Museum Research Station on Lizard Island (LIRS) (Great Barrier Reef, Northern Section, Queensland, Australia) the authors collected 158 different opisthobranch species from the reefs and lagoon areas surrounding Lizard Island.The number of species found gives an estimate of the diversity of the opisthobranch fauna on the northern Great Barrier Reef.
Effect of <i>L</i>-Dopa Decarboxylase Inhibitor Benserazide on Renal Function in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats
2006-01-01

&lt;i&gt;Background/Aims:&lt;/i&gt; Benserazide (BZD), an inhibitor of the dopamine synthesis, abolished the increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) following the infusion of a mixed amino acid solution. These results reveal endogenous dopamine as a mediator in the renal response to amino acids. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether dopamine is also involved in the regulation of glomerular hyperfiltration during the early state of diabetes mellitus (DM). &lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt; Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with a single dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg i.p.) for induction of experimental DM (n = 7–8/group). Age-matched non-diabetic animals, injected with citrate buffer, served as controls (CON, n = 8/group). Clearance experiments were performed 2 weeks after induction of DM in thiopental-anesthetized rats (80 mg/kg i.p.), which were continuously infused either with BZD (30 μg/min/kg) or vehicle (VHC). &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; Mean arterial blood pressure was around 110 mm Hg and did not significantly differ among the groups. GFR was 0.95 ± 0.02 ml/min/100 g b.w. in VHC-treated CON. BZD treatment did not significantly change GFR in the CON group (0.92 ± 0.06 ml/min/100 g b.w.). As expected, glomerular hyperfiltration was observed in diabetic rats infused with VHC (1.24 ± 0.08 ml/min/100 g b.w.). Treatment with BZD significantly reduced the diabetes-induced increase in GFR to control levels (0.95 ± 0.05 ml/min/100 g b.w.). &lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt; Our results show that the inhibition of dopamine synthesis prevented the increase in GFR due to diabetic conditions, indicating that endogenous dopamine is involved in the regulation of DM-induced changes in renal hemodynamics.
Synthesis and Properties of Some New 1,4-Dihydrothieno[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazepin-5-ones
2006-01-01

Methyl 3-aminothiophene-2-carboxylate reacts readily, in the presence of triethylamine, with hydrazonoyl chlorides (7a - c) to afford good yields of the corresponding N-arylamidrazones (8a - c). The latter acyclic adducts undergo, in the presence of t-BuOK/t-BuOH, cyclocondensation accompanied by elimination of the acetyl group present in 8, to deliver the respective thieno-1,3,4-triazepin- 5-ones 10a - c.
Intracontinental Deformed Processes of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis
2006-01-01

Structures of and have been recently distinguished within the eastern Himalayan syntaxis. The former includes a north-dipping normal fault and two top-to-south thrust zones, named as Upper and Lower Thrust here. The Namche Barwa sequence (high-pressure granulite facies) and the Pei sequence (amphibolite facies) were southwards exhumed from beneath the Gangdise unit by these faults. The latter includes, from west to east, an NE-trending northwest-dipping and two NNE-trending south-dipping nappe sheets. The exposed Dongjiu, Namche Barwa, Pei and Laiguo sequences in the south were displaced to indent into the Gangdise unit in the north by the North Indentation structures. Monazite TIMS U-Th-Pb dating has revealed that the normal fault and the Lower Thrust from the Southward Extrusion structures were probably active at 7.9 Ma and 10.7 Ma, respectively. The Upper Thrust was active between 6.2±0.2 Ma and 5.5±0.2 Ma, suggested by zircon SHRIMP and phlogopite K-Ar dating. This clearly suggests that the thrusts of the Southward Extrusion structures are out-of-sequence structures. The Northward Indentation structures within the core portion of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis were active between 3.0 Ma and 1.5 Ma, also suggested by zircon SHRIMP and amphibole Ar-Ar dating.
Bonding modes of stanna-closo-dodecaborate: η1(Sn) to η3(BH) rearrangement reactions in zwitterionic stanna-closo-dodecaborate ruthenium complexes
2006-01-01

Reaction of the stanna-closo-dodecaborate salt [Bu3MeN]2[SnB11H11] with the dimeric ruthenium complex [Ru2(mu-Cl)3(triphos)2]Cl (triphos = {MeC(CH2PPh2)3}) in refluxing acetonitrile yields the zwitterionic compound [Ru(SnB11H11)(MeCN)2(triphos)] (4) which has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Refluxing the zwitterion in acetone leads to an eta1(Sn) to eta3(BH) rearrangement with formation of [Ru(SnB1)H11)(triphos)] (5) whose structure has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in solution and in the solid state. Furthermore, two isomeric zwitterions fac- and mer-[Ru(SnB11H11)(dppb)(MeCN)3] (6a, 6b) and their rearrangement reactions as well as their NMR properties are described.
Using Netconf for Configuring Monitoring Probes
2006-01-01

Netconf is a new protocol for configuration and management of network devices, based on a flexible XML-encoded message format. Netconf aims to overcome the short-comings of SNMP and CLIs that are predominantly used for configuration tasks. We demonstrate that Netconf is highly suitable for the configuration of IPFIX/PSAMP monitoring probes, as required in order to dynamically and remotely adapt to the varying needs of applications that receive and process monitoring data. In this regard, we present an XML-based data model covering all common configurable parameters for flow metering and aggregation, packet sampling, and data export. Finally, we describe how we implemented the Netconf-based configuration approach based on Web Services and SOAP.