Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First controlled vertical flight of a biologically inspired microrobot

In this paper, we present experimental results on altitude control of a flying microrobot. The problem is approached in two stages. In the first stage, system identification of two relevant subsystems composing the microrobot is performed, using a static flapping experimental setup. In the second stage, the information gathered through the static flapping experiments is employed to design the controller used in vertical flight. The design of the proposed controller relies on the idea of treating an exciting signal as a subsystem of the microrobot. The methods and results presented here are a key step toward achieving total autonomy of bio-inspired flying microrobots.
Green and Black Cardamom in a Diet-Induced Rat Model of Metabolic Syndrome

Both black (B) and green (G) cardamom are used as flavours during food preparation. This study investigated the responses to B and G in a diet-induced rat model of human metabolic syndrome. Male Wistar rats were fed either a corn starch-rich diet (C) or a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet with increased simple sugars along with saturated and trans fats (H) for 16 weeks. H rats showed signs of metabolic syndrome leading to visceral obesity with hypertension, glucose intolerance, cardiovascular remodelling and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Food was supplemented with 3% dried B or G for the final eight weeks only. The major volatile components were the closely related terpenes, 1,8-cineole in B and α-terpinyl acetate in G. HB (high-carbohydrate, high-fat + black cardamom) rats showed marked reversal of diet-induced changes, with decreased visceral adiposity, total body fat mass, systolic blood pressure and plasma triglycerides, and structure and function of the heart and liver. In contrast, HG (high-carbohydrate, high-fat + green cardamom) rats increased visceral adiposity and total body fat mass, and increased heart and liver damage, without consistent improvement in the signs of metabolic syndrome. These results suggest that black cardamom is more effective in reversing the signs of metabolic syndrome than green cardamom.
Integration , Agglomeration , and Costly Adjustment of Labor

How large are the welfare e¤ects of EU enlargement and to what extent are skilled workers a¤ected di¤erently than unskilled workers in each region? In this paper, imperfect labor mobility is modeled within an economic geography framework to examine the welfare implications of goods and factor market integration. While unskilled workers are immobile, forward-looking skilled workers have the option to relocate, which involves an adjustment cost with a common and an idiosyncratic component. Consequently, steady-state properties depend on the distribution of these costs. Furthermore, trade liberalization does not necessarily harm the periphery. JEL Codes: F16, R13 Keywords: integration, agglomeration, adjustment costs Address: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Postal Square Building Rm 3105, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212-0001 USA. Email: kim.mina@bls.gov. Phone: +1 202 691 6596. Fax: +1 202 691 6583. The author would like to thank Robert Staiger for invaluable guidance and encouragement. She would also like to thank Charles Engel, Robert Baldwin, Richard Baldwin, and Rodolfo Manuelli for useful discussions, as well as Meredith Crowley, Ted To, Paul Sullivan, Chia-Hui Lu, Alan Spearot, Matthew Kim, Tanapong Potipiti, and Federico Diez. All opinions, ndings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Bureau of Labor Statistics or the United States Government. Any remaining errors are the authors only.
Drought Stress Distribution Responses of Continental Beech Forests at their Xeric Edge in Central Europe

In order to develop adequate adaptation measures for environmental vulnerability, we need detailed knowledge on the climatic performance of forest ecosystems. In this study, we aim to explore climate function variability of lowland beech forest distribution at a landscape scale. We also construct the response profiles of these forests near their xeric limit under wet continental climatic conditions. We studied distribution responses using presence-absence forest records and 18 bioclimatic variables. We performed exploratory factor analysis and frequency estimation to evaluate climate function distribution responses. We found that temperature adjusted precipitation measures during summer were the most important, followed by winter rainfall indices. The relative Drought Response Range (rDRR) in the response profile presented the climate limitation function of the distribution. According to our results, higher level of climate function variability is associated with lower level of rDRR, presenting an ecological trade-off. Our results suggest that distribution functions of the rDRR, especially the Ombrothermic index, can be used as landscape indicators of drought stress. Consequently, rDRR could be a useful measure to assess regional climatic vulnerability of forest occurrence and distribution patterns.
Evaluation of the Texas 0.08 BAC law.

AIMS The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects on alcohol-involved traffic crashes and fatalities of the 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) per se law introduced in the state of Texas in 1999. METHOD Data pertaining to alcohol-involved traffic crashes and fatalities were extracted from two datasets: the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (for the period January 1995-September 2002), and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports of Alcohol Related Motor Vehicle Traffic Accidents and Casualties (for the period January 1995-December 2000). The data were analysed using time-series methods (ARIMA routines). The effects of the law on all drivers were assessed, along with the effects among gender, racial, and age subgroups and crash location (urban vs rural). RESULTS Separate time-series analyses were conducted with all alcohol-involved and fatal alcohol-involved crashes from the DPS dataset and fatal alcohol-involved crashes from the FARS dataset as the outcome variables. None of the effects for either the total sample or any of the subgroups analysed was statistically significant (this was true of both the FARS and DPS datasets). CONCLUSIONS While there is a growing body of evidence that indicates that 0.08 BAC laws can be effective in reducing alcohol-involved traffic accidents and fatalities, the present study shows that this was not the case in Texas. Future research should move beyond the simple question of whether or not 0.08 BAC laws 'work' and instead explore in more detail the conditions, such as publicity and enforcement, under which the law does or does not contribute to a decline in alcohol-involved accidents and fatalities.
Development and validation of two scales to measure elaboration and behaviors associated with stewardship in children

This investigation examines the development of two scales that measure elaboration and behaviors associated with stewardship in children. The scales were developed using confirmatory factor analysis to investigate their construct validity, reliability, and psychometric properties. Results suggest that a second-order factor model structure provides the best fit. This model produced: (1) a stewardship elaboration scale measuring interest and cognitive engagement in stewardship issues, and (2) a stewardship behavior scale measuring in-park, community, and home behaviors. These scales will be useful for evaluating environmental educational programs focused on environmental and park stewardship. The scales may also help researchers assess whether environmental education results in participants elaborating on persuasive messaging, thereby increasing the likelihood that behavioral intentions leading to behavior change will occur.
Molecular aging of the brain, neuroplasticity, and vulnerability to depression and other brain-related disorders

The increased risk for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders associated with extended lifespan has long suggested mechanistic links between chronological age and brain-related disorders, including depression, Recent characterizations of age-dependent gene expression changes now show that aging of the human brain engages a specific set of biological pathways along a continuous lifelong trajectory, and that the same genes that are associated with normal brain aging are also frequently and similarly implicated in depression and other brain-related disorders. These correlative observations suggest a model of age-by-disease molecular interactions, in which brain aging promotes biological changes associated with diseases, and additional environmental factors and genetic variability contribute to defining disease risk or resiliency trajectories. Here we review the characteristic features of brain aging in terms of changes in gene function over time, and then focus on evidence supporting accelerated molecular aging in depression. This proposed age-by-disease biological interaction model addresses the current gap in research between “normal” brain aging and its connection to late-life diseases. The implications of this model are profound, as it provides an investigational framework for identifying critical moderating factors, outlines opportunities for early interventions or preventions, and may form the basis for a dimensional definition of diseases that goes beyond the current categorical system.
Burnout and turnover intentions in Australian coaches as related to organisational support and perceived control

Coach burnout and turnover intentions, as potentially modified by organisational support, perceived control, and coping strategies, were explored in a sample of 406 team and individual sport coaches. Multiple regression analyses revealed that higher perceived organisational support was associated with lower coach burnout scores. Further, coaches' internal locus of control and use of approach coping strategies predicted lower levels of burnout, especially reduced sense of accomplishment. Higher perceived organisational support was also a negative predictor of coaches' turnover intentions, whereas all three burnout dimensions were strong positive predictors. The focus of coach burnout literature has traditionally been on individual factors; this study shows that organisational factors also play an important role for understanding and preventing coach burnout and turnover. We therefore encourage sporting organisations to consider these findings and how they can work towards protecting their coaches against burnout and from leaving the organisation.
Essential role for smooth muscle BK channels in alcohol-induced cerebrovascular constriction

Binge drinking is associated with increased risk for cerebrovascular spasm and stroke. Acute exposure to ethanol at concentrations obtained during binge drinking constricts cerebral arteries in several species, including humans, but the mechanisms underlying this action are largely unknown. In a rodent model, we used fluorescence microscopy, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and pharmacological studies in intact cerebral arteries to pinpoint the molecular effectors of ethanol cerebrovascular constriction. Clinically relevant concentrations of ethanol elevated wall intracellular Ca2+ concentration and caused a reversible constriction of cerebral arteries (EC50 = 27 mM; Emax = 100 mM) that depended on voltage-gated Ca2+ entry into myocytes. However, ethanol did not directly increase voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents in isolated myocytes. Constriction occurred because of an ethanol reduction in the frequency (–53%) and amplitude (–32%) of transient Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) currents. Ethanol inhibition of BK transients was caused by a reduction in Ca2+ spark frequency (–49%), a subsarcolemmal Ca2+ signal that evokes the BK transients, and a direct inhibition of BK channel steady-state activity (–44%). In contrast, ethanol failed to modify Ca2+ waves, a major vasoconstrictor mechanism. Selective block of BK channels largely prevented ethanol constriction in pressurized arteries. This study pinpoints the Ca2+ spark/BK channel negative-feedback mechanism as the primary effector of ethanol vasoconstriction.
Two modes of microtubule sliding driven by cytoplasmic dynein

Dynein is a huge multisubunit microtubule (MT)-based motor, whose motor domain resides in the heavy chain. The heavy chain comprises a ring of six AAA (ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities) modules with two slender protruding domains, the tail and stalk. It has been proposed that during the ATP hydrolysis cycle, this tail domain swings against the AAA ring as a lever arm to generate the power stroke. However, there is currently no direct evidence to support the model that the tail swing is tightly linked to dynein motility. To address the question of whether the power stroke of the tail drives MT sliding, we devised an in vitro motility assay using genetically biotinylated cytoplasmic dyneins anchored on a glass surface in the desired orientation with a biotin–streptavidin linkage. Assays on the dyneins with the site-directed biotin tag at eight different locations provided evidence that robust MT sliding is driven by the power stroke of the tail. Furthermore, the assays revealed slow MT sliding independent of dynein orientation on the glass surface, which is mechanically distinct from the sliding driven by the power stroke of the tail.
Translation of the psbA mRNA of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii requires a structured RNA element contained within the 5' untranslated region

Translational regulation is a key modulator of gene expression in chloroplasts of higher plants and algae. Genetic analysis has shown that translation of chloroplast mRNAs requires nuclear-encoded factors that interact with chloroplastic mRNAs in a message-specific manner. Using site-specific mutations of the chloroplastic psbA mRNA, we show that RNA elements contained within the 5' untranslated region of the mRNA are required for translation. One of these elements is a Shine- Dalgarno consensus sequence, which is necessary for ribosome association and psbA translation. A second element required for high levels of psbA translation is located adjacent to and upstream of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, and maps to the location on the RNA previously identified as the site of message-specific protein binding. This second element appears to act as a translational attenuator that must be overcome to activate translation. Mutations that affect the secondary structure of these RNA elements greatly reduce the level of psbA translation, suggesting that secondary structure of these RNA elements plays a role in psbA translation. These data suggest a mechanism for translational activation of the chloroplast psbA mRNA in which an RNA element containing the ribosome-binding site is bound by message- specific RNA binding proteins allowing for increased ribosome association and translation initiation. These elements may be involved in the light-regulated translation of the psbA mRNA.
GITAM: A Model for the Adoption of Green IT

Over the last decade, an increasing number of businesses are undertaking initiatives to reduce their environmental footprint and improve their -green- credentials. As information technology (IT) has permeated most, if not all, business processes and supply chains, it offers an important means to tackle the climate problem. On the other hand, IT managers are pressed to reduce the total cost of IT operations and run energy efficient IT shops. Greening IT has therefore become one of the latest considerations to improve a business's environmental sustainability whilst reducing the cost of IT operations. A growing number of consulting reports speculate the benefits of greening IT for both IT vendors and mainstream businesses that use IT. While the opportunities and potentials of Green IT might be attractive, the extent of Green IT adoption and the actual realization of the benefits that Green IT aficionados allude to remain unknown. Indeed, unless business organisations incorporate Green IT into their operations, the potential benefits of Green IT remain potential and not reality. Currently, there does not appear to be a model to systematically investigate Green IT adoption. This paper proposes such a model called the Green IT Adoption Model (GITAM). The model defines Green IT from four distinct but interrelated perspectives. It posits that the technological, organisational and environmental contextual variables, dynamic Green IT readiness dimensions and strong order Green IT drivers can predict the intention and the breadth and depth of Green IT adoption.
Developing and Enhancing Marketing Students’ Skills: Written and Oral Communication, Intuition, Creativity, and Computer Usage

Because of recent changes in the environment of business and business education, the basic skills of students—such as written and oral communication, intuition, creativity, and computer usage—are being scrutinized closely by prospective employers and thus students. The authors present ways to incorporate education on important skills into curriculum while continuing to impart content knowledge.
The prognostic impact of dynamic ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and narrow QRS.

AIMS Asynchronous myocardial contraction adversely influences left ventricular (LV) function and is therefore associated with a poor prognosis in heart failure. Exercise-induced change in ventricular dyssynchrony may be an important determinant of dynamic changes in cardiac output and mitral regurgitation. METHODS AND RESULTS A prospective, longitudinal study was designed with pre-defined dyssynchrony index and outcome variables to test the hypothesis that dynamic dyssynchrony is associated with worse long-term event-free survival in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and 'narrow' QRS complex. One-hundred eighty patients (62 ± 8 years; 110 males) with NYHA class II-III, idiopathic DCM, ejection fraction ≤35%, and QRS duration <120 ms were selected. All the patients underwent standard Doppler echo, colour tissue velocity imaging (DTI), and supine bicycle exercise stress echocardiography. Cardiac synchronicity was defined, at rest and at peak exercise, as DTI velocity opposing-wall delay (significant if ≥65 ms). Outcome was defined as freedom from death, heart transplantation, or LV-assist device implantation, over a median follow-up of 48 months, and a Cox proportional hazards model was used for survival analysis. At baseline examination, DCM patients showed a reduced LV ejection fraction (31 + 4%). A significant electromechanical delay in 58 patients (32%). At the peak of physical exercise, a significant electromechanical delay was detected in 103 patients (57%). There were 41 events during the follow-up (23%): 28 cardiac deaths, 8 heart transplantations, and 5 LV-assist device implantations over 4 years. When adjusted for confounding baseline variables, LV end-diastolic volume, restrictive mitral flow pattern, severity of mitral regurgitation, and the presence of exercise-induced intraventricular dyssynchrony were the only independent determinants of an adverse outcome. CONCLUSION In patients with idiopathic DCM and narrow QRS, the increase in echocardiographic dyssynchrony during exercise was the strongest predictor of less favourable event-free survival.
Use of hair coloring products and the risk of lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

OBJECTIVES Hair coloring products are widely used and contain components that are mutagenic and carcinogenic. An association between occupational exposure to hair coloring products and hematopoietic cancers has been reported, but the risk for these cancers among users has not been carefully evaluated. METHODS We conducted a population-based, case-control study with telephone interviews from 385 with telephone interviews from 385 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases, 70 Hodgkin's disease cases, 72 multiple myeloma cases, 56 chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases, and 1432 controls. RESULTS Among women, use was associated with odds ratios of 1.5 for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1.7 for Hodgkin's disease, 1.8 for multiple myeloma, and 1.0 for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Risk was higher for permanent hair coloring products than for semi- or nonpermanent products, particularly for dark colors. Long duration and early age of first use tended to increase risk, but the patterns were inconsistent. Use was much less common in men and did not significantly increase risk. CONCLUSIONS The use of hair coloring products appears to increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Multiple myeloma and Hodgkin's disease were also associated, although based on far fewer subjects. If these results represent a causal association, use of hair coloring products would account for 35% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases in exposed women and 20% in all women.
A Multicentre, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study of Multiple Treatments of Botulinum Toxin Type A (BoNTA) for the Prophylaxis of Episodic Migraine Headaches

Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA; BOTOX®) for prophylaxis of episodic migraine. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients were randomized to 225, 150 or 75 U of BoNTA or placebo after a 30-day placebo run-in for three 90-day treatment cycles. The primary efficacy end-point was the mean reduction from baseline in the frequency of migraine episodes at day 180 in the placebo non-responder stratum. All groups (N = 495) improved, with no significant differences. At day 180, the frequency of migraine episodes was reduced from baseline means of 4.3, 4.7, 4.7 and 4.4 by 1.6, 1.7, 1.5 and 1.4 for BoNTA 225 U, 150 U and 75 U and placebo, respectively. The primary end-point was not met. Treatment-related adverse events were transient and mild to moderate. BoNTA treatment was safe and well tolerated but did not result in significantly greater improvement than placebo in this study. Several factors may have confounded the results.
Antecedents and Consequences of Employee Turnover: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

Aims: This study examines the interrelationship among major antecedents of employee turnover such as HRM practices, organisational culture, attitudes of boss on employees’ intention to quit in Pakistani banking and IT sectors. Study Design: The study employs exploratory research design; in-depth interviews were applied for the data collection. Place: The study is conducted in the national and multinational companies in Pakistan. Methodology: Data collected through in-depth interviews from thirty top executives to junior managers from government, private and multinational organisations. The study employed ‘narrative analysis’ method to analyse the data. Narrative analysis looks at selfstory and individual experiences of interviewee regarding social phenomenon. This analytical technique helped authors to compare and categorize emerging themes to give meaning to words, context-situation, story and basic actions. Results: The results suggest that, overall picture of HRM and organisational culture in public sector organisation appears to be poor whereas private (local) organisations seem comparatively better improving. On the contrary, respondents in MNCs expressed high agreement on merit-based HRM, organisational culture and attitude of boss with higher self-esteem. Conclusion: This study revealed that there exists interrelationship among the factors stated above and also study concludes that taking care of human factor with mutual