The Role of the Mangement Sciences in Research on Personalization

We present a review of research studies that deal with personalization. We synthesize current knowledge about these areas, and identify issues that we envision will be of interest to researchers working in the management sciences. We take an interdisciplinary approach that spans the areas of economics, marketing, information technology, and operations. We present an overarching framework for personalization that allows us to identify key players in the personalization process, as well as, the key stages of personalization. The framework enables us to examine the strategic role of personalization in the interactions between a firm and other key players in the firm's value system. We review extant literature in the strategic behavior of firms, and discuss opportunities for analytical and empirical research in this regard. Next, we examine how a firm can learn a customer's preferences, which is one of the key components of the personalization process. We use a utility-based approach to formalize such preference functions, and to understand how these preference functions could be learnt based on a customer's interactions with a firm. We identify well-established techniques in management sciences that can be gainfully employed in future research on personalization.CRM, Persoanlization, Marketing, e-commerce,

Potensi Bakteri Endofit Dalam Meningkatkan Pertumbuhan Tanaman Tembakau Yang Terinfeksi Nematoda Puru Akar (Meloidogyne Spp.)

Potensi Bakteri Endofit dalam Meningkatkan Pertumbuhan Tanaman Tembakau yang Terinfeksi Nematoda Puru Akar (Meloidogyne spp.). Nematoda puru akar (Meloidogyne spp.) pada tanaman tembakau merupakan penyakit penting yang dihadapi oleh perkebunan tembakau di Indonesia. Beberapa teknik pengendalian telah dilakukan, seperti penggunaan nematisida, kultur teknis dan penambahan bahan organik namun belum efektif mengendalikan patogen ini. Pengendalian biologi dengan bakteri endofit merupakan alternatif pengendalian Meloidogyne spp. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan bakteri endofit asal akar nilam meningkatkan pertumbuhan tanaman tembakau yang terinfeksi nematoda puru akar (Meloidogyne spp.). Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Penyakit Tumbuhan Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Sumatera Utara pada bulan Juli – Desember 2014. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap nonfaktorial dengan perlakuan pemberian beberapa jenis bakteri endofit yaitu: Kontrol (diaplikasikan nematoda 500ekor/pot), Bacillus spp.1, Pseudomonas spp. dan Bacillus spp.2. Hasil penelitian menunjukan laju pertumbuhan dan pertambahan jumlah daun terbaik terdapat pada perlakuan Pseudomonas spp. sedangkan berat basah dan kering akar tertinggi terdapat pada tanaman yang diaplikasikan Bacillus spp 1

Evaluating Greek equity funds using data envelopment analysis

This study assesses the relative performance of Greek equity funds employing a non-parametric method, specifically Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Using an original sample of cost and operational attributes we explore the e¤ect of each variable on funds' operational efficiency for an oligopolistic and bank-dominated fund industry. Our results have significant implications for the investors' fund selection process since we are able to identify potential sources of inefficiencies for the funds. The most striking result is that the percentage of assets under management affects performance negatively, a conclusion which may be related to the structure of the domestic stock market. Furthermore, we provide evidence against the notion of funds' mean-variance efficiency

Homeobox gene TGIF-1 is increased in placental endothelial cells of human fetal growth restriction.

Aberrant placental angiogenesis is associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR). In the mouse, targeted disruption of the homeobox gene, transforming growth β-induced factor (Tgif-1), which is also a transcription factor, causes defective placental vascularisation. Nevertheless, TGIF-1's role in human placental angiogenesis is unclear. We have previously reported increased TGIF-1 expression in human FGR placentae and demonstrated localisation of TGIF-1 protein in placental endothelial cells (ECs). However, its functional role remains to be investigated. In this study, we aimed to specifically compare TGIF-1 mRNA expression in placental ECs isolated from human FGR-affected pregnancies with gestation-matched control pregnancies in two independent cohorts from Australia and Canada, and to identify the functional role of TGIF-1 in placental angiogenesis using the human umbilical vein endothelial cell-derived cell line, SGHEC-7 and primary human umbilical vein ECs. Real-time PCR revealed that TGIF-1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in ECs isolated from FGR-affected placentae compared with that of controls. The functional roles of TGIF-1 were determined in ECs following TGIF-1 siRNA transfection. TGIF-1 inactivation in ECs significantly reduced TGIF-1 at both the mRNA and protein levels, as well as the proliferative and invasive potential, but significantly increased the angiogenic potential. Using angiogenesis PCR screening arrays, we identified ITGAV, NRP-1, ANPGT-1 and ANPGT-2 as novel downstream targets of TGIF-1, following TGIF-1 inactivation in ECs. Collectively, these results show that increased TGIF-1 in FGR may regulate EC function through mediating the expression of angiogenic molecules and contribute to aberrant placental angiogenesis in FGR pregnancies

A Novel Two-Stage Approach For Automatic Detection of Brain Tumor

Brain tumor is one of the most life-threatening diseases, and it is the most common type of cancer that occurs among those in the age group belonging to 0-19. It is also a major cause of cancer-related deaths in children (males and females) under age 20 hence its detection should be fast and accurate. Manual detection of brain tumors using MRI scan images is effective but time-consuming. Many automation techniques and algorithms for detection of brain tumors are being proposed recently. In this paper, we propose an integrated two-step approach combining modified K-means clustering algorithm and Hierarchical Centroid Shape Descriptor (HCSD). The images are clustered using modified K-means based on pixel intensity, and then HCSD helps to select those having a specific shape thus making this approach more effective and reliable. Simulation of the proposed work is done in MATLAB R2013a. Tests are carried out on T1 weighted MRI scan images

Influence of Ethanol with Karanja Oil on Exhaust Gas Emissions from a Variable Compression Ratio Engine

Biodiesel is an alternative choice for diesel and have benefits over diesel because, it is renewable, biodegradable, sulfur free, and non-poisonous in nature and less exhaust emissions. The transesterification process is used to reduce the viscosity of the karanja oil. The aim of this paper is to examine the emission parameters under variable compression ratios (17 and 18) in a VCR diesel engine which runs using karanja oil 20% (B20) and ethanol as an additive by adding 5% and 10% at constant speed of 1500 rpm with variable loads. The outcomes of these blends have been compared with the normal diesel. The influences of compression ratios on exhaust gas emissions were investigated. The exhaust emissions, namely hydrocarbons, NOx, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are found to be reduced when compared with diesel

Trauma indices for prediction of acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background A myriad of trauma indices has been validated to predict probability of trauma survival. We aimed to compare the performance of commonly used indices for the development of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Materials and methods Historic, observational cohort study of 27,385 consecutive patients admitted to a statewide referral trauma center between July 11, 2003 and October 31, 2011. A validated algorithm was adapted to identify patients with ARDS. Each trauma index was evaluated in logistic regression using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results The case rate for ARDS development was 5.8% (1594). The receiver operating characteristics for injury severity score (ISS) had the best discrimination and had an area under the curve of 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.87-0.89). Glasgow coma score (0.71, 95% CI = 0.70-0.73), A Severity Characterization of Trauma (0.86, 95% CI = 0.85-0.87), Revised Trauma Score (0.71, 95% CI = 0.70-0.72) and thorax Abbreviated Injury Score (0.73, 95% CI = 0.72-0.74) performed worse (P \u3c 0.001) and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (0.88, 95% CI = 0.87-0.88) performed equivocally (P = 0.51) in comparison to ISS. Using a cutoff point ISS ≥16, sensitivity and specificity were 84.9% (95% CI = 83.0%-86.6%) and 75.6% (95% CI = 75.1%-76.2%), respectively. Conclusions Among commonly used trauma indices, ISS has superior or equivocal discriminative ability for development of ARDS. A cutoff point of ISS ≥16 provided good sensitivity and specificity. The use of ISS ≥16 is a simple method to evaluate ARDS in trauma epidemiology and outcomes research

Design and Implementation of Multi-Node Wireless Security and Safety Siren System for Mid-Scale Industry

Ensuring safety in industrial environments is a critical challenge, especially in mid-scale industries where hazards like fire, gas leaks, and unauthorized access can pose serious risks. Traditional wired security systems are costly, rigid, and difficult to maintain. In this paper, we introduce a Multi-Node Wireless Security and Safety Siren System designed to improve real-time monitoring, threat detection, and response. The system relies on sensor nodes for continuous surveillance, using nRF24L01 transceivers for communication, an ESP8266 module for cloud connectivity, and RFID-based access control for security. Through testing, we observed that the system achieved reliable data transmission, quick hazard detection (within 1.5 seconds), and seamless scalability. Our approach presents an efficient, scalable, and cost-effective alternative to traditional wired safety systems

First trimester placental endothelial cells from pregnancies with abnormal uterine artery Doppler are more sensitive to apoptotic stimuli.

Failure of the placental capillary network to develop normally is associated with early onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) and pre-eclampsia (PE). Although the symptoms are observed at term, the problem begins in the first trimester. However, investigations at this clinically relevant time are hindered by difficulties in identifying earlystage pregnancies that are at risk of developing FGR/PE. Using uterine artery Doppler ultrasound in the first trimester as a proxy measure of poor placentation, we have identified pregnancies at increased risk of developing early onset FGR/PE. Placental endothelial cells (PEC) isolated from pregnancies at increased risk of developing FGR/PE grew more slowly and their basal rate of apoptosis was significantly higher than that seen in the normal group. The pro-apoptotic stimulus, TNFα, induced apoptosis in cells from both groups but this was significantly greater in the high risk group. TNF receptor expression was unaffected. Inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production significantly increased the sensitivity of cells from the normal pregnancies to TNFα but not in the high risk group establishing a functional role for NO in this system. In conclusion, first trimester PEC from pregnancies at increased risk of developing early onset FGR/PE were inherently more sensitive to apoptotic stimuli and this was functionally linked to the synthesis of NO. This may contribute to the poor placental vascular development seen in on going pregnancies