Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Work–life balance policies: Challenges and benefits associated with implementing flexitime

Orientation: Helping employees to balance their work and family lives is a business imperative. Work–life balance policies (like flexitime) aim to support employees to do so. However, implementing these policies is problematic. Research purpose: The aim of this article is to report on the challenges and benefits associated with implementing flexitime as a work–life balance policy. Motivation for the study: Organisations must develop and implement work–life balance policies. This requires human resource practitioners to investigate and understand experiences and perceptions about the challenges and benefits of flexitime. Research design, approach and method: The researcher used a qualitative research design with an exploratory approach. She drew a nonprobability purposive and voluntary sample ( n = 15) from the financial sector. She used semi-structured in-depth interviews to collect the data and conducted content analyses to analyse and interpret them. Main findings: The researcher extracted four main themes (individual and general challenges, the aspects organisations need to implement flexitime effectively and the benefits that would follow its implementation) from the data. Its benefits vary from work–life balance to employee loyalty and commitment. Some challenges are maintaining productivity, a shortage of critical resources and understanding flexitime. Practical/managerial implications: The research identified requirements that human resource practitioners should attend to in order to ensure that organisations use flexitime more effectively. Contribution/value-add: The researcher obtained unique findings about the minimum requirements for implementing flexitime effectively. They could assist organisations to address the challenges that employees face.
The kinetics of taxoid accumulation in cell suspension cultures of Taxus following elicitation with methyl jasmonate.

Cell suspension cultures of Taxus canadensis and Taxus cuspidata rapidly produced paclitaxel (Taxol) and other taxoids in response to elicitation with methyl jasmonate. By optimizing the concentration of the elicitor, and the timing of elicitation, we have achieved the most rapid accumulation of paclitaxel in a plant cell culture, yet reported. The greatest accumulation of paclitaxel occurred when methyl jasmonate was added to cultures at a final concentration of 200 microM on day 7 of the culture cycle. The concentration of paclitaxel increased in the extracellular (cell-free) medium to 117 mg/day within 5 days following elicitation, equivalent to a rate of 23.4 mg/L per day. Paclitaxel was only one of many taxoids whose concentrations increased significantly in response to elicitation. Despite the rapid accumulation and high concentration of paclitaxel, its concentration never exceeded 20% of the total taxoids produced in the elicited culture. Two other taxoids, 13-acetyl-9-dihydrobaccatin III and baccatin VI, accounted for 39% to 62% of the total taxoids in elicited cultures. The accumulation of baccatin III did not parallel the pattern of accumulation for paclitaxel. Baccatin III continued to accumulate until the end of the culture cycle, at which point most of the cells in the culture were dead, implying a possible role as a degradation product of taxoid biosynthesis, rather than as a precursor.
Post‐traumatic stress disorder related to birth: a prospective longitudinal study in a French population

The objective of the current study is to determine the prevalence of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following birth in a French sample, as well as to examine predictive variables. This study collected data from women at four different times: 48 h, 1 month, 4 months and 9 months post‐partum. PTSD symptoms were measured using the Impact of Events Scale‐Revised (IES‐R). Predictive variables were examined with four questionnaires: the Labor Agentry Scale (LAS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a researcher‐designed personal information form. PTSD rates varied from 5% (1 month post‐partum) to 2.9% (9 months post‐partum). Primiparity, birth preparation classes, transfer to a tertiary care centre, perception of external control, feeling of pain during birth and depressive symptoms were significant predictors of the global IES‐R score. Results provide a basis for considering changes in healthcare delivery and prevention programs within the French perinatal healthcare system.
Some Experimental Evidence on Differences between Student and Prisoner Reactions to Monetary Penalties and Risk

In this article, we report on a series of laboratory experiments that investigate whether there are differences between criminals and the general population in their relative responsiveness to changes in the certainty and severity of punishment. The results of these experiments show that, while criminals are no less able than the general population to determine their financial self-interest, there are significant differences between these two groups in the effectiveness of increases in the certainty and severity of punishment in deterring antisocial behavior. Criminals appear to be much more responsive to the certainty of punishment than to its severity. In contrast, noncriminal students, consistent with a general aversion to risk, are more easily deterred by increases in severity than by increases in the certainty of punishment.
Pro-Apoptotic Apoptosis Protease–Activating Factor 1 (Apaf-1) Has a Cytoplasmic Localization Distinct from Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL

How Bcl-2 and its pro-survival relatives prevent activation of the caspases that mediate apoptosis is unknown, but they appear to act through the caspase activator apoptosis protease–activating factor 1 (Apaf-1). According to the apoptosome model, the Bcl-2–like proteins preclude Apaf-1 activity by sequestering the protein. To explore Apaf-1 function and to test this model, we generated monoclonal antibodies to Apaf-1 and used them to determine its localization within diverse cells by subcellular fractionation and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Whereas Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were prominent on organelle membranes, endogenous Apaf-1 was cytosolic and did not colocalize with them, even when these pro-survival proteins were overexpressed or after apoptosis was induced. Immunogold electron microscopy confirmed that Apaf-1 was dispersed in the cytoplasm and not on mitochondria or other organelles. After the death stimuli, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL precluded the release of the Apaf-1 cofactor cytochrome c from mitochondria and the formation of larger Apaf-1 complexes, which are steps that presage apoptosis. However, neither Bcl-2 nor Bcl-xL could prevent the in vitro activation of Apaf-1 induced by the addition of exogenous cytochrome c. Hence, rather than sequestering Apaf-1 as proposed by the apoptosome model, Bcl-2–like proteins probably regulate Apaf-1 indirectly by controlling upstream events critical for its activation.
The Repertoire Selection Practices of High School Choral Directors

The purpose of this study was to research the repertoire selection practices of high school choral directors. The 104 directors who participated in the study were selected from two groups: (a) directors identified as outstanding and (b) directors selected from the remaining population. Interviews, a written survey, and solicited programs were used to collect the data. Results suggest that the repertoire selection practices used by directors are not structured. Although directors consider a wide variety of criteria to be influential in the selection process, criteria do not seem to be consistently or systematically applied. The relative influence of individual criteria varies depending on the style of repertoire under consideration. Furthermore, demographic characteristics such as teaching experience, program size, and the socioeconomic composition of the school may also influence repertoire selection practices. Although similarities among directors regarding the selection process were identified, there were differences between the selection practices of “outstanding” directors and directors not so identified with respect to the balance of repertoire that directors believe students should sing and the relative importance and use of selection criteria.
Trust, Risk Barriers and Health Beliefs in Consumer Acceptance of Online Health Services

The Web is an important health information dissemination channel. Potential benefits cannot materialize unless online health information services are accepted and used by consumers. This study develops a research model by integrating the health belief model (HBM) and extended valence framework to explain user acceptance (behavioral intentions). We collected data from a sample of 703 university students in South Africa. Trust had the strongest effect on acceptance. Perceived risk barriers also had significant impacts on acceptance. Furthermore, we confirmed health belief variables, namely perceived susceptibility and severity, are important to consumer acceptance. Selfefficacy was found to moderate the effect of perceived severity on acceptance. The model explains 47.5% of the variance in intentions to use online health information services. Results have helped us identify the relative salience of HBM and extended valence framework in consumer acceptance of online health information services and have important implications for practice.
A validated disease specific prediction equation for resting metabolic rate in underweight patients with COPD

Malnutrition is a serious condition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Successful dietary intervention calls for calculations of resting metabolic rate (RMR). One disease-specific prediction equation for RMR exists based on mainly male patients. To construct a disease-specific equation for RMR based on measurements in underweight or weight-losing women and men with COPD, RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry in 30 women and 11 men with a diagnosis of COPD and body mass index <21 kg/m2. The following variables, possibly influencing RMR were measured: length, weight, middle upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold, body composition by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance, lung function, and markers of inflammation. Relations between RMR and measured variables were studied using univariate analysis according to Pearson. Gender and variables that were associated with RMR with a P value <0.15 were included in a forward multiple regression analysis. The best-fit multiple regression equation included only fat-free mass (FFM): RMR (kJ/day) = 1856 + 76.0 FFM (kg). To conclude, FFM is the dominating factor influencing RMR. The developed equation can be used for prediction of RMR in underweight COPD patients.
Electric Field Finite Element Analysis and Experimentation of Plate- Plate Type Electrospinning Machine

The analysis of electric field distribution in electrospinning machine is critical to the nanofiber preparation. In this paper, electric field strength is calculated based on finite element calculation theory of electric field. Electric field structure of plate-plate type electrospinning machine is simulated using ANSYS software. And vector distribution of nozzle on spinneret pipe of plate-plate type electrospinning machine is obtained. The simulation analysis provides an effective reference for the electric field’s distribution of the plate-plate type electrospinning machine. Based on the experimental system of the plate-plate type electrospinning machine, electrospinning experiment with different spinning distance and extrusion speed is performed. The experimentation results show that fiber diameter decreases with the increase of spinning distance, and the extrusion speed and the diameter of the fiber conform to the direct proportion.
Spherical Crystallization: Direct Spherical Agglomeration of Salicylic Acid Crystals During Crystallization

Direct spherical agglomeration of salicylic acid crystals during crystallization is described. The needle-like salicylic acid crystals simultaneously form and agglomerate in a mixture of three partially miscible liquids, such as water, ethanol, and chloroform, with agitation. The agglomerates can be made directly into tablets because of their excellent flowability. Spherical crystallization could eliminate the usual separate agglomeration step after crystallization and may be adaptable to other pharmaceutical and chemical systems.
The impact of comorbid psychiatric disorders on methadone maintenance treatment in opioid use disorder: a prospective cohort study

Objective There is a significant interindividual variability in treatment outcomes in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). This prospective cohort study examines the impact of comorbid psychiatric disorders on continued illicit opioid use in patients receiving MMT for OUD. Methods Data were collected from 935 patients receiving MMT in outpatient clinics between June 2011 and June 2015. Using linear regression analysis, we evaluated the impact of having a comorbid psychiatric disorder on continued illicit opioid use during MMT, adjusting for important confounders. The main outcome measure was percentage of opioid-positive urine screens for 6 months. We conducted a subgroup analysis to determine the influence of specific comorbid psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders, on continued illicit opioid use. Results Approximately 80% of participants had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder in addition to OUD, and 42% of participants had a comorbid substance use disorder. There was no significant association between having a psychiatric comorbidity and continuing opioid use (P=0.248). Results from subgroup analysis, however, suggest that comorbid tranquilizer (β=20.781, P<0.001) and cocaine (β=6.344, P=0.031) use disorders are associated with increased rates of continuing opioid use. Conclusion Results from our study may serve to guide future MMT guidelines. Specifically, we find that cocaine or tranquilizer use disorder, comorbid with OUD, places patients at high risk for poor MMT outcomes. Treatment centers may choose to gear more intensive therapy toward such populations.
Ranking distributed probabilistic data

Ranking queries are essential tools to process large amounts of probabilistic data that encode exponentially many possible deterministic instances. In many applications where uncertainty and fuzzy information arise, data are collected from multiple sources in distributed, networked locations, e.g., distributed sensor fields with imprecise measurements, multiple scientific institutes with inconsistency in their scientific data. Due to the network delay and the economic cost associated with communicating large amounts of data over a network, a fundamental problem in these scenarios is to retrieve the global top-k tuples from all distributed sites with minimum communication cost. Using the well founded notion of the expected rank of each tuple across all possible worlds as the basis of ranking, this work designs both communication- and computation-efficient algorithms for retrieving the top-k tuples with the smallest ranks from distributed sites. Extensive experiments using both synthetic and real data sets confirm the efficiency and superiority of our algorithms over the straightforward approach of forwarding all data to the server.
Ordaining Women: Culture and Conflict in Religious Organizations

Why does a denomination prohibiting women clergy support parishes run by women? Why does a denomination opt to ordain women when there are few women seeking to join that clergy? And why have some denominations ordained women so much earlier than others? In an examination of the complex relationship among religion, social forces, and organizational structure, this book draws examples and data from over 100 Christian denominations to explore the meaning of institutional rules about women's ordination. Combining historical and sociological perspectives, Mark Chaves shows that formal institutional rules about ordination often diverge from the actual roles of women and are best understood as symbolic gestures in favour of, or in opposition to gender equality. The book concludes that external pressures from the women's movement and ecumenical pressure expressed through interdenominational organizations such as the National Council of Churches influence ordination practices. At the same time, internal factors such as having a source of religious authority that is considered superior to modern principles of equal rights also explain why some denominations ordain women much earlier than others. Surprisingly, "the Bible forbids it" does not account for policies even among fundamentalists and other biblical inerrantists. Chaves historical and comparative approach offers an analysis of how the internal denominational debates have changed over time, becoming more frequent, more politicized, and more contentious. The delineation of forces affecting debates and policies about women's ordination makes this book a contribution to our understanding of religious organizations and of gender equality.
Acculturation, Enculturation, Perceived Racism, Minority Status Stressors, and Psychological Symptomatology Among Latino/as

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible relations between perceived racism and minority status stressors as experienced by Latino/ as and their mental health functioning, as operationalized in terms of somatization, anxiety, and hostility. In addition, the potentially protective moderating role of enculturation and potentially harmful moderating role of acculturation on these relationships were investigated. As hypothesized, the results indicated that perceived racism and minority status stressors were positively correlated with somatization, anxiety, and hostility. Although enculturation did moderate the relationship between perceived racism and minority status stressors and anxiety and hostility, it was in an unexpected direction. Results did not indicate that acculturation played a moderator role.
Semen characteristics, extension, and cryopreservation of Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis)

Aim: The objective of this research is to report parameters for breeding soundness evaluation, semen extension, and cryopreservation in Rusa timorensis. Materials and Methods: Seven healthy stags were chosen for semen collection using an electroejaculator. The collections were performed twice in a breeding season between February and June 2016. Samples were collected between 2 and 3 weeks interval, collected twice for each animal. Semen was evaluated, extended, and cryopreserved using four different extenders; Andromed®, BioXcell®, Triladyl®, and a modified Tris-egg yolk combined with Eurycoma longifolia Jack. Results: R. timorensis semen characteristics according to volume (ml), color, sperm concentration (106/ml), general motility (%), progressive motility (%), and % morphology of normal spermatozoa are 0.86±0.18 ml, thin milky to milky, 1194.2±346.1 106/ml, 82.9±2.8%, 76.1±4.8%, and 83.9±4.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Semen characteristics of R. timorensis collected by electroejaculation is good allowing for cryopreservation and future artificial insemination work. The most suitable extender for Rusa deer semen is Andromed®.
Acceptance of the xylitol chewing gum regimen by preschool children and teachers in a Head Start program: a pilot study.

PURPOSE This pilot study evaluated the acceptance and compliance of a xylitol chewing gum regimen by both children and classroom teachers in a Head Start program. METHODS Thirty-five children chewed 100% xylitol gum (XyliFresh 100%, Leaf, Inc., 500 Field Dr., Lake Forest, IL 60045 U.S.A.) three times a day over a three week period. Children's acceptance was evaluated using a picture selection test. Teachers' acceptance was evaluated using a questionnaire. The children's and teachers' compliance was evaluated using a daily checklist that was completed by each teacher. RESULTS Positive ratings were given for xylitol gum chewing (94%) and for taste (86%). Children's acceptance and compliance for chewing was excellent. Children chewed the gum at designated times and none of the children swallowed the gum. Teachers' acceptance of the chewing program was low. Three out of five participating teachers thought the gum chewing disturbed the classroom routine and four were not willing to participate in the program next year. Teachers' compliance was good and they followed by instructions during a three-week period. CONCLUSIONS This study supports the suggestion that chewing xylitol gum is well accepted by children. Collaboration and education is essential to motivate teachers to adopt and supervise school-based prevention programs.
Differentiating insight from non-insight problems

This study aimed to investigate whether a range of tasks that have been generally classed as requiring insight form an empirically separable group of tasks distinct from tasks generally classed as non-insight. In this study, 24 insight tasks, 10 non-insight tasks, and tests of individual differences in cognitive abilities and working memory were administered to 60 participants. Cluster analysis of the problem-solving tasks indicated that the presumed insight problems did tend to cluster with other presumed insight problems, and similarly the presumed non-insight problems tended to cluster with other presumed non-insight tasks. Performance on presumed insight problems was particularly linked to measures of ideational flexibility with a different pattern of results for the non-insight tasks. Spatial insight problems were linked to spatial flexibility and verbal insight tasks were linked to vocabulary scores. The results are discussed in relation to recent developments of dual process theories of thinking.
Computerized classification testing with the Rasch model

If classification in a limited number of categories is the purpose of testing, computerized adaptive tests (CATs) with algorithms based on sequential statistical testing perform better than estimation-based CATs (e.g., Eggen & Straetmans, 2000). In these computerized classification tests (CCTs), the Sequential Probability Ratio Test (SPRT) (Wald, 1947) is applied to determine when and which classification decision is to be taken. In practice, the procedure is always truncated at a maximum test length (TSPRT). Stochastically Curtailed SPRT (SCSPRT) (Finkelman, 2008) uses additional stopping rules. If the Rasch model (1960) is used as the item response theory (IRT) model, applying the TSPRT and SCSPRT is elegant and simple. The performance of the TSPRT- and SCSPRT-based CATs are compared using different item selection methods. It is shown that the TSPRT and SCSPRT procedures are much better than optimal traditional linear tests. Results with the Rasch model are compared to results with other IRT models.
Late embryogenesis abundant proteins protect human hepatoma cells during acute desiccation

Expression of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins is highly correlated with desiccation tolerance in anhydrobiotic animals, selected land plants, and bacteria. Genes encoding two LEA proteins, one localized to the cytoplasm/nucleus (AfrLEA2) and one targeted to mitochondria (AfrLEA3m), were stably transfected into human HepG2 cells. A trehalose transporter was used for intracellular loading of this disaccharide. Cells were rapidly and uniformly desiccated to low water content (<0.12 g H2O/g dry weight) with a recently developed spin-drying technique. Immediately on rehydration, control cells without LEA proteins or trehalose exhibited 0% membrane integrity, compared with 98% in cells loaded with trehalose and expressing AfrLEA2 or AfrLEA3m; surprisingly, AfrLEA3m without trehalose conferred 94% protection. Cell proliferation across 7 d showed an 18-fold increase for cells dried with AfrLEA3m and trehalose, compared with 27-fold for nondried controls. LEA proteins dramatically enhance desiccation tolerance in mammalian cells and offer the opportunity for engineering biostability in the dried state.