Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Training on Employee Performance

Employee is a blood stream of any business. The accomplishment or disaster of the firm depends on its employee performance. Hence, top management realized the importance of investing in training and development for the sake of improving employee performance. This conceptual paper aimed at studying the effect of training on employee performance and to provide suggestion as to how firm can improve its employee performance through effective training programs. The research approach adopted for the study conforms to qualitative research, as it reviews the literature and multiple case studies on the importance of training in enhancing the performance of the workforce. Further the paper goes on to analyse and understand the theoretical framework and models related to employee development through training and development programs, and its effect on employee performance and on the basis of the review of the current evidence of such a relationship, offers suggestions for the top management in form of a checklist, appropriate for all businesses, to assess the employee performance and to find out the true cause(s) of the performance problem so the problem could be solved in time through desired training program. The study in hand faces the limitations as there are no adequate indications to correlate directly the relationship between training and employee performance. Hence, there is a need for conducting an empirical research in future to test the proposition discussed in the study. The study in hand provides brief overview of the literature about training effectiveness and how it contributes in enhancing the employee performance and ultimately concludes along with recommendation to give directions for future research by applying different level of analysis on exploring the impact of training practices on employee performance. Keywords: Training , Employee performance.
Competitividad del frijol mexicano frente al de Estados Unidos en un contexto de liberalización comercial

Resumen:La perdida de rentabilidad del cultivo de frijol en Mexico,auna-da al incremento de los volumenes de importacion y la desregu-lacion del mercado, ocasiona que el grano sea cada vez menoscompetitivo en relacion con el cultivado en Estados Unidos, suprincipal socio comercial. El objetiv o de esta in vestigacion fue ana-lizar la competitividad de la produccion de frijol en Mexico en elmarco de la liberalizacion comercial; se encontro que a nivelmacro, esta es revelada negativa, debido al tipo de cambio sobre-valuado que favorece el dumping en las importaciones, ademas deque ha quedado desprotegida por el Tratado de Libre Comercio deAmerica del Norte ( TLCAN ),al omitirse el pago de aranceles.A nivelmeso, la formacion de organizaciones ha favorecido a los produc-tores,que han logrado crear economias de escala,aunque les faltaconsolidarlas.En el estudio a nivel micro,en Chihuahua, se obser-vo que los costos de produccion unitarios son elevados y los ren-dimientos bajos,lo que resulta en una rentabilidad menor encomparacion con la de Estados Unidos.
Enhancing ATM Security using Fingerprint and GSM Technology

There is need for improve security in ATM transactions. Due to tremendous increase in the number criminals and their activities, the ATM has become insecure. ATM systems today use no more than an access card and PIN for identity verification. The Personal Verification Number(PIN) not only give good security. The fingerprint is unique and cannot duplicate by others. This paper combine the pin verification and fingerprint recognition technology for identification. With fingerprint recognition technology and pin verification we embedded the GSM modem connected to the microcontroller generates the 4 digit one time password and it send to the main user mobile number when the user (main user or nominee user) enroll the fingerprint. The fingerprint of the nominee and the card holder are collected and stored in the database. Every fingerprint which enrolls is check by the db. The 4digit one time password should be entered by pressing the keys on the touch screen. After enter all the correct information customer can begin the further transaction. We also proposed nominees fingerprint identification process while actual card holder unable to do the transactions. The biometric features cannot be replicated, this proposal will go a long way to solve the problem of account safety.
Developmental Change in Notetaking during Scientific Inquiry

This paper addresses the development in children’s and adults’ awareness of the benefits of writing through the analysis of change in notetaking while engaged in scientific inquiry over 10 weeks. Participants were given a notebook that they could choose to use. Our results indicate consistent differences between the performance of adults versus children and also across time. First, there were clear differences in the number of participants who chose to take notes. Second, not only did adults write more notes than children, but also the adults’ mean number of notes slightly increased over time, whereas children’s notes actually decreased in frequency. Third, children and adults differed in the types of notes they took. These results are interpreted in terms of participants’ awareness of what needs to be noted in a scientific task and why it needs to be noted, and they suggest implications for educational practice. First, because learners often have inaccurate representations of the task demands and their own future state of knowledge, they do not perceive the utility of notetaking. Second, because of these misperceptions, learners do not refer back to their notes and thereby miss feedback that would spur the refinement of their metacognitive (particularly metastrategic) knowledge and strategy use. Educators need to design opportunities for students to engage in activities that increase metacognitive knowledge of their own cognitive abilities and the demands of the task.
Sickness absence and 'working through' illness: a comparison of two professional groups.

BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated occupational groups reporting low rates of sickness absence because of an assumption that these rates indicate low morbidity. This is inconsistent with the view that sickness absence, which may be caused by social and psychological rather than medical factors, does not equate with morbidity. This paper investigates rates of sickness absence and factors influencing decisions not to take sick leave among doctors and a comparative professional group. METHODS A postal survey was sent to 670 general practitioners (GPs), 669 hospital doctors and 400 company 'fee earners'. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 64 doctors reporting an illness lasting one month or more in the last three years. RESULTS Self-reported health status was similar for both groups but GPs reported higher levels of occupational stress. However, doctors were significantly less likely to report short periods of sick leave in the previous year. Over 80 per cent of all respondents had 'worked through' illness, citing cultural and organizational factors behind their decision not to take sick leave. Barriers to sick leave among doctors included the difficulty of arranging cover and attitudes to their own health. CONCLUSIONS Considerable emphasis has been given to the role of social factors in contributing to rates of sickness absence. These may also contribute to the decision not to take sick leave, resulting in possible inappropriate non-use. Measures to encourage and enable doctors to take sick leave might improve the management of their own health.
Quality from a Toddler's Perspective: A Bottom-Up Examination of Classroom Experiences.

Defining and measuring quality in group care settings has become a central issue in the field of early care and education in the United States, particularly as states develop systems to improve child care quality. Most research and policy definitions of quality rely on a top-down perspective focusing on structural and environmental features of the child care context. This pilot study, based on Lilian Katz’s multidimensional framework of child care quality (Phi Delta Kappan, 76(3), 200-206, 1994), documents the social ecology of individual toddlers’ experiences in one classroom, in relation to a global quality measure of the same classroom. Research questions were (1) What is the frequency of teacher-child interaction in the target child care classroom for each of the four focus children? (2) Does teacher-child interaction vary by classroom context? (3) How does focal child interaction data compare with a global measure of classroom quality? Findings included low levels of interaction between the individual toddlers and the caregivers throughout the classroom day. This multi-method approach illuminates the complexity of measuring quality and the potential value of considering children’s daily experiences as an important element of quality assessment.
The New World of Welfare

Congress must reauthorize the sweeping 1996 welfare reform legislation by October 1, 2002. A number of issues that were prominent in the 1995-96 battle over welfare reform are likely to resurface in the debate over reauthorization. Among those issues are the five-year time limit, provisions to reduce out-of-wedlock births, the adequacy of child care funding, problems with Medicaid and food stamp receipt by working families, and work requirements. Funding levels are also certain to be controversial. Fiscal conservatives will try to lower grant spending levels, while states will seek to maintain them and gain additional discretion in the use of funds. Finally, a movement to encourage states to promote marriage among low-income families is already taking shape. The need for reauthorization presents an opportunity to assess what welfare reform has accomplished and what remains to be done. The New World of Welfare is an attempt to frame the policy debate for reauthorization, and to inform the policy discussion among the states and at the federal level, especially by drawing lessons from research on the effects of welfare reform. In the book, a diverse set of welfare experts uliberal and conservative, academic and nonacademic uengage in rigorous debate on topics ranging from work experience programs, to job availability, to child well-being, to family formation. In order to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on welfare reform, the contributors cover subjects including work and wages, effects of reform on family income and poverty, the politics of conservative welfare reform, sanctions and time limits, financial work incentives for low-wage earners, the use of medicaid and food stamps, welfare-to-work, child support, child care, and welfare reform and immigration. Preparation of the volume was supported by funds from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Contributors include Thomas L. Gais, Richard P. Nathan, and Irene Lurie (Rockefeller Inistitute, SUNY-Albany), Thomas Kaplan (University of Wisconsin), Lucie Schmidt (University of Michigan), Charles Murray (American Enterprise Institute), Hugh Heclo (George Mason University), Lawrence M. Mead (NYU), ), Julie Strawn, Mark Greenberg, and Steve Savner (Center for Law and Social Policy), Ladonna Pavetti (Mathematica Policy Research), Dan Bloom (Manpower Demonstration Research Corp.), Charles Michalopoulos and Gordon Berlin (Manpower Demonstraton Research Corporation), Jason A. Turner (Commissioner of Welfare, State of New York), Thomas Main (Baruch College of the City University of New York), Sheila Zedlewski and Pamela Loprest (Urban Institute), Robert Greenstein and Jocelyn Guyer (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities), George Borjas (Harvard University), Greg Duncan and Lindsay Chase-Landsdale (Northwestern University), Wade F. Horn (National Fatherhood Initiative), Isabel V. Sawhill (Brookings Institution, Irwin Garfinkel (Columbia University), Douglas Besharov and Nazanin Samari (American Enterprise Institute), Lynn A. Karoly, Jacob A. Klerman, and Jeannette A. Rogowski (RAND Corp.).
Attribute Scatter and Decision Outcome: Judgment versus Choice

Abstract This paper demonstrates that in multiattribute decisions, the mode of response (judgment vs choice) influences the outcome of decisions. This influence depends on the scatter, or internal variability, of attribute values. In decisions to accept, there is a higher preference towards high scatter profiles in judgment than in choice, while in decisions to reject, there is only a small difference between the two. Moreover, in judgment there is a higher preference toward high scatter profiles in acceptance decisions than in rejection decisions, while in choice there is a lower preference toward high scatter profiles in acceptance decisions than in rejection decisions. The processes that lead to these effects are discussed.
Effects of Levothyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone on bone loss in patients with primary hypothyroidism

Objective: Previous studies on bone mineral density (BMD) abnormalities associated with hypothyroidism are scarce and not conclusive. The effect of thyroid hormone therapy on BMD has shown mixed results. The aim of the present study was to determine the severities of osteoporosis in female patients with hypothyroidism in comparison to healthy women. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 150 women aged over 50 years. Totally, 100 patients with primary hypothyroidism and 50 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study and divided into three groups. Group A, which consisted the patients who had been recently diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism. The second group of patients diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism for at least 2 years and was treated with levothyroxine (Group B). The third group of healthy individuals was selected as a control group (Group C). Blood samples were taken for the measurements of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and bone densitometry was performed to determine the BMD reported as T-score in order to measure the severity of osteoporosis. T-score of the lumbar vertebra (L2-L4) and femoral neck were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and were compared between the three groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS using regression analysis and Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis, or analysis of variances statistical tests. The statistical significance was set at a P < 0.05. Findings: The average age of patients and baseline serum TSH levels in Group B was significantly different from the other two groups (P < 0.001). T-score of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) in Group B was significantly lower than the other groups (P = 0.01). The linear regression between serum TSH levels and BMD categories were not clearly associated. However, after removing the effect of the baseline TSH level in Group B, bone loss was significantly greater than the other two groups (P = 0.01). Conclusion: According to the present study, it seems that the treatment of hypothyroidism with thyroid hormones reduces both serum levels of TSH and bone density. Hence, proper control of this risk factor can be an effective way in prevention of osteoporosis.
The Validity of Visual Surrogates for Representing Waterscapes

Abstract Visual surrogates have been widely used for solving environment related issues. Researchers now have concern over the validity of surrogates. Human perception is multi-modal (Wohlwill, 1976; Ittelson, 1973) and motion is an essential aspect in the perceptual process (Gibson, 1979). Therefore, a surrogate has to be able to represent the dynamic elements in the environment and more realistically reflect human environmental experience. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of videos and slides as visual surrogates for representing dynamic environment. The validity of the surrogates was verified by comparing subjects' perceptual responses to on-site and simulated situations. The perceptual assessments included emotional, cognitive, behavioural and preference responses. The results indicated that on-site participants' emotional responses and preferences are significantly stronger than those of video and slide viewers. In addition, on-site participants' and video viewers' cognitive and behavioural responses were significantly higher than those of slide viewers. Overall, the validity of videos and slides for representing waterscapes was not supported.
Intuition versus Deliberation: The Role of Information Processing in Judgment and Decision Making

In mijn onderzoek heb ik laten zien dat mensen die vertrouwen op intuitie, een globale verwerkingsstijl hanteren waarbij ze informatie in een breder perspectief zien. Vertrouwen op redenatie, aan de andere kant, induceert een lokale verwerkingsstijl waarbij mensen zich richten op details (Hoofdstuk 2). Wanneer we vertrouwen op intuitie integreren en relateren we informatie aan kennis die we (bewust of onbewust) al hebben, zoals geinternaliseerde ervaring. Terwijl wanneer we beredeneren, we ons richten op informatie die makkelijk onder woorden te brengen is (Hoofdstuk 4). Ik laat ook zien dat verwerkingsstijl een voorkeur induceert voor oordelen op basis van intuitie of op basis van redenatie. Daarnaast laat ik zien dat mensen meer subjectieve waarde ervaren van een beslissing wanneer het besluit is genomen op een manier die past bij hun verwerkingsstijl (Hoofdstuk 3). In het laatste empirisch hoofdstuk (Hoofdstuk 5) ben ik ingegaan op de effecten van ervaring en kennis op de twee manier van oordelen (intuitie en redenatie). Oordelen van leken en experts (laag of hoog in zowel ervaring als kennis) worden niet beinvloed in hun oordeel door de manier waarop ze een oordeel vellen. Zij oordelen gebrekkig of adequaat ongeacht of ze vertrouwen op intuitie of op redenatie. De kwaliteit van oordelen van intermediates (hoog in ervaring, laag in kennis) profiteert bij het vertrouwen op intuitie, maar lijdt onder beredeneren Samengevat; het is niet altijd kwalijk om naar je intuitie te luisteren.
PECAS: A Low-Cost Prototype for the Estimation of Channel Activity Statistics in Cognitive Radio

Dynamic spectrum access#x002F;cognitive radio (DSA#x002F;CR) systems can benefit from an accurate knowledge of the primary channel ON#x002F;OFF activity statistics. This information can be readily obtained from spectrum sensing observations. However, given the practical limitations of spectrum sensing, an accurate and realistic evaluation of estimation methods is required before they can be implemented in real systems. This paper presents the design and implementation of a low-cost Prototype for the Estimation of Channel Activity Statistics (PECAS) in DSA#x002F;CR systems. An in-depth description of the hardware design (based on common and inexpensive components) and software implementation (based on free open source code) is provided along with an illustrative applicability example. The developed platform provides researchers and engineers with a low-cost fully functional tool for proof-of- concept, validation and optimisation of algorithms and designs.
Sociometric types and children's intelligence

This study investigates the relation between intelligence and the currently widely used five sociometric types ‘popular’, ‘rejected’, ‘neglected’, ‘controversial’ and ‘average’. The sample consists of N = 5861 children belonging to 317 third-grade classes. Intelligence was operationalized by a combination of three standardized intelligence tests and a combination of three ratings—corresponding to the three intelligence tests—of the pupils' intelligence by their head teachers. Results show that, regardless of the operationalization of intelligence, there is a positive relation between intelligence and ‘popularity’, whereas ‘rejection’ is negatively related to intelligence. For the other three sociometric types ('controversial', ‘neglected’ and ‘average’) no relation to intelligence can be observed. The discussion stresses the need to control the variable ‘intelligence’ in studies investigating the behavioural and socio-emotional correlates of ‘popular’ and ‘rejected’ children.
A variety of reading disability associated with right hemisphere lesions

Dyslexia, the apparently selective impairment in the ability to read words, or even individual letters, has been repeatedly described in association with left (major) hemisphere lesions. Verbal dyslexia, affecting the reading of words but not of isolated letters, may be characterized by paralexic errors (misreading of words). The paralexias may accompany similar (paraphasic) errors in spoken speech, and be secondary to a more general disorder of language function. They may occur in the 'parietal dyslexia' of Herrmann and Potzl (1926) described as involving 'the frequent intrusion of incorrect words or word fragments in place of the ones actually in the text'. Patients with 'spelling dyslexia' in the absence of aphasia (Wolpert, 1924), who can only read words letter by letter because of a pathological limitation of their ability to perceive forms simultaneously, which prejudices the simultaneous perception of the whole word (Kinsbourne and Warrington, 1962a), make paralexic errors if they try to maintain normal reading speed. In contrast, patients with right-sided (minor hemisphere) damage, though sometimes liable to lose their place on the printed line (Paterson and Zangwill, 1944), have not been reported to show verbal dyslexia. Below are described six right-handed patients with acquired right hemisphere lesions who suffered from reading disability. The paralexic errors were of a very characteristic, consistent, and hitherto undescribed type. They could be reproduced experimentally in a predictable fashion under the controlled conditions of tachistoscopic presentation of written material.
Adaptive Significance of Circadian Clocks

Circadian clocks are ubiquitous and are found in organisms ranging from bacteria to mammals. This ubiquity of occurrence implies adaptive significance, but to date there has been no rigorous empirical evidence to support this. It is believed that an organism possessing circadian clocks gains fitness advantage in two ways: (i) by synchronizing its behavioral and physiological processes to cyclic environmental factors (extrinsic adaptive value); (ii) by coordinating its internal metabolic processes (intrinsic adaptive value). There is preliminary circumstantial evidence to support both. Several studies using organisms living in constant environments have shown that these organisms possess functional circadian clocks, suggesting that circadian clocks may have some intrinsic adaptive value. Studies to assess the adaptive value of circadian clocks in periodic environments suggest that organisms may have a fitness advantage in those periodic environments, which closely match their own intrinsic periodicity. Furthermore, evidence from organisms living in the wild, selection studies, and studies on latitudinal clines suggest that circadian clocks may have an extrinsic adaptive value as well. In this paper, I have presented several hypotheses for the emergence of circadian clocks and have reviewed some major empirical studies suggesting adaptive significance of circadian clocks.