Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing a Leadership Commitments Inventory

Abstract : Organizations have been modifying performance appraisal systems to collect data from multiple source to guide supervisor development. Multiple rater programs provide leaders with more than one source of feedback, and give them a more complete, and possibly more accurate picture of their performance, which can facilitate meaningful behavioral change. The purpose of this thesis was to develop and validate a Leadership Commitments Inventory (LCI) from a 360-degree feedback approach that reflected a six-factor leadership taxonomy composed of twelve distinct indices, Using successive content adequacy tests, 48 items were validated and the web-based LCI was administered to 278 participants. Internal consistency estimates for the twelve commitment scales differed for supervisors and observers. The internal consistency estimates (indexed by Chronbach's alpha) for supervisors ranged from . 27 to . 79 (8 of 12 were 68 or greater). Internal consistency estimates for the observer sample were much better, with all twelve scales greater than . 70. A nested confirmatory factor analysis using LISREL demonstrated that the hypothesized six-factor model clearly provided the best explanation of the LCI's underlying factor structure, with 11 of the 12 commitments loading on their hypothesized practice. The instrument is now available on the Internet for supervisor's who wish to develop into better leaders.
Multi-Document Summarization By Sentence Extraction

This paper discusses a text extraction approach to multi-document summarization that builds on single-document summarization methods by using additional, available information about the document set as a whole and the relationships between the documents. Multi-document summarization differs from single in that the issues of compression, speed, redundancy and passage selection are critical in the formation of useful summaries. Our approach addresses these issues by using domain-independent techniques based mainly on fast, statistical processing, a metric for reducing redundancy and maximizing diversity in the selected passages, and a modular framework to allow easy parameterization for different genres, corpora characteristics and user requirements.
Exploring the Perceived Career Success of Staff in a South African Science and Engineering Company

This study explored the core themes underlying individuals’ perceptions of their career success with the view to inform retention practices. The participants were a convenience sample of 207 employees (63% Blacks; 60% males) within a South African science and engineering company. Data were gathered by using a quantitative survey approach and posing an open-ended question to the participants regarding their perceived career success. The data were thematically analysed by using the Atlas.ti version 6 computer-aided qualitative data analysis software. Findings suggest that self-perceptions of career success are multifaceted, including learning and development; skills, experience and competence; career transitions and advancement; job content; contributing to a larger community; goal achievement; helping others; rewards and recognition; and work-life balance. Individuals’ inner definitions of career success could inform retention strategies in the science and engineering field focused on their career development, career wellbeing and satisfaction.
Optimal management of a Hawaiian Coastal aquifer with nearshore marine ecological interactions

We optimize groundwater management in the presence of marine consequences of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Concern for marine biota increases the optimal steady‐state head level of the aquifer. The model is discussed in general terms for any coastal groundwater resource where SGD has a positive impact on valuable nearshore resources. Our application focuses on the Kona Coast of Hawai‘i, where SGD is being actively studied and where both nearshore ecology and groundwater resources are serious sociopolitical issues. To incorporate the consequences of water extraction on nearshore resources, we impose a safe minimum standard for the quantity of SGD. Efficient pumping rates fluctuate according to various growth requirements on the keystone marine algae and different assumptions regarding recharge rates. Desalination is required under average recharge conditions and a strict minimum standard and under low recharge conditions regardless of minimum standards of growth.
Influence of Welding Time on Tensile-Shear Strength of Linear Friction Welded Birch (Betula pendula L.) Wood

The purpose of this work was to determine the optimal welding time for linear friction welding of birch (Betula pendula L.) wood while keeping the other parameters constant and at similar levels compared to other species in a similar density range. Specimens with dimensions of 20 × 5 × 150 mm3 were welded together, and the influence of welding time (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 s) on the mechanical properties of the specimens was determined. The studies included a tensile-shear strength test as well as visual estimation of wood failure percentage (WFP). Additionally, X-ray microtomographic imaging was used to investigate and characterise the bond line properties as a non-destructive testing method. The highest mean tensile-shear strength, 7.9 MPa, was reached with a welding time of 3.5 s. Generally, all four result groups showed high, yet decreasing proportional standard deviations as the welding time increased. X-ray microtomographic images and analysis express the heterogeneity of the weld line clearly as well. According to the averaged group-wise results, WFP and tensile-shear strength correlated positively with an R2 of 0.93. An extrapolation of WFP to 65% totals a tensile-shear strength of 10.6 MPa, corresponding to four common adhesive bonds determined for beech.
Characterization of a Novel Heat Shock Protein (Hsp22.5) Involved in the Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis is a worldwide health problem, given that one-third of the world's population is currently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Understanding the regulation of virulence on the molecular level will provide a better understanding of how M. tuberculosis can establish chronic infection. Using in vivo microarray analysis (IVMA), we previously identified a group of genes that are activated in BALB/c mouse lungs compared to in vitro cultures, including the rv0990c gene. Our analysis indicated that this gene is a member of the heat shock regulon and was activated under other stress conditions, including survival in macrophages or during the late phase of chronic tuberculosis in the murine lungs. Deletion of rv0990c from the genome of M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv affected the transcriptional profiles of many genes (n = 382) and operons involved in mycobacterial survival, including the dormancy regulon, ATP synthesis, respiration, protein synthesis, and lipid metabolism. Comparison of the proteomes of the mutant to those of the wild-type strain further confirmed the differential expression of 15 proteins, especially those involved in the heat shock response (e.g., DnaK and GrpE). Finally, the rv0990c mutant strain showed survival equivalent to that of the isogenic wild-type strain during active tuberculosis in guinea pigs, despite showing significant attenuation in BALB/c mice during the chronic phase of the disease. Overall, we suggest that rv0990c encodes a heat shock protein that plays an important role in mycobacterial virulence. Hence, we renamed rv0990c heat shock protein 22.5 (hsp22.5), reflecting its molecular mass.
Physical inactivity and associated factors in older adults in South Africa : geriatrics

Physical inactivity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and is a key component of healthy aging. There is little research on physical activity and associated factors among older adults in Africa. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of physical activity in a national sample of older South Africans who participated in the Study of Global Ageing and Adults Health (SAGE) in 2008. We conducted a national population-based cross-sectional study with a probability sample of 3840 aged 50 years and older South Africans. The questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, health variables, physical activity, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Results indicate that 60.5% engaged in low physical activity, 10.9% in moderate and 28.6% in high physical activity. Overall 55.0% of the participants reported no vigorous or moderated physical activity at work, 89.1% no vigorous or moderated physical activity during leisure and 57.5% did not walk or cycle. The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the prevalence of low physical activity was associated with older age (Odds Ratio=OR: 2.88; Confidence Interval=CI: 2.02-4.09), being from the Coloured population group (OR: 2.68; CI: 1.62-4.45), obesity (OR: 1.94; CI: 1.42-2.65), activity limitation (OR: 2.54; CI: 1.31-4.94) and lack of social cohesion (OR: 0.96; CI: 0.94-0.99). This study thus reveals high rates of physical inactivity among older adults (50 years and above) in South Africa that puts them at risk of morbidity and mortality, and therefore increased efforts are needed to promote physical activity in this population.
Three-Dimensional Strength of Identification Across Group Memberships: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

The current research aimed to examine evidence for the construct validity of the three-factor model of social identity as measured by the three dimensional strength of group identification scale proposed by <citeref rid="b5">Cameron (2004). The 12-item version of the three dimensional strength of group identification scale was used to collect data from an undergraduate sample (N = 219) to assess their social identification across three distinct group memberships. This data was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis to examine the fit of the three-factor model of social identity in comparison to fit indices for one- and two-factor models. The results indicate that the three-factor model is the most parsimonious and best fit to the data, providing empirical support for the hypothesized three-factor structure of social identity. In addition, the fact that different patterns of means and correlations emerged across groups emerged on the three dimensions, provides further evidence for a multidimensional model of social identification.
Does Pedestrian Danger Mediate the Relationship between Local Walkability and Active Travel to Work?

Background Environmental and policy factors play an important role in influencing people’s lifestyles, physical activity (PA), and risks for developing obesity. Research suggests that more walkable communities are needed to sustain lifelong PA behavior, but there is a need to determine what local built environment features facilitate making being active the easy choice. Purpose This county-level study examined the association between local walkability (walkability and traffic calming scales), pedestrian danger, and the percent of adults who used active transport to work. Methods Built environment and PA outcome measures were constructed for the 496 most populous counties representing 74% of the U.S. population. Geographic information system-based walkability scales were constructed and include a census of roads located within the counties using 2011 Navteq data. The pedestrian danger index (PDI) includes data collected from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System 2009–2011, and measures the likelihood of a pedestrian being hit and killed by a vehicle. Four continuous outcome measures were constructed using 2009–2013 American Community Survey county-level 5-year estimates. The measures represent the percentage of workers living in a county who worked away from home and (1) walked to work; (2) biked to work; (3) took public transit; and (4) used any form of active transport. Linear regression and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the association between walkability, PDI, and active transport. Models accounted for clustering within state with robust SEs, and controlled for median household income, families with children in poverty, race, ethnicity, urbanicity, and region. Results The walkability scale was significantly negatively associated with the PDI (β = −0.06, 95% CI = −0.111, −0.002). In all models, the PDI was significantly negatively associated with all active travel-related outcomes at the p < 0.01 level. The walkability scale was positively associated with all four outcomes at the p < 0.01 level. Results showed that the significant positive relationship between local walkability and the four active transport outcome measures was partially mediated by the PDI. We found no association between traffic calming, the PDI, and the active transport outcomes. Conclusion Results from this study show that, at the county-level, walkability is associated with active travel, and this association is partially mediated by an index of pedestrian safety.
Banks, Capital Flows and Financial Crises

This paper proposes a macroeconomic model with nancial intermediaries (banks), in which banks face occasionally binding leverage constraints and may endogenously aect the strength of their balance sheets by issuing new equity. The model can account for occasional nancial crises as a result of the nonlinearity induced by the constraint. Banks’ precautionary equity issuance makes nancial crises infrequent events occurring along with \regular" business cycle uctuations. We show that an episode of capital inows and rapid credit expansion, triggered by low country interest rates, leads banks to endogenously decrease the rate of equity issuance, contributing to a higher likelihood of future crises. Macroprudential policies directed at strengthening banks’ balance sheets, such as capital requirements, are shown to lower the probability of nancial crises and to enhance welfare.
Diagnostic criteria for corticobasal syndrome: a comparative study

Introduction There are no well-established criteria for patients with corticobasal syndrome. The authors have attempted to clarify this area by comparing and applying three sets of well-known criteria (from Toronto, the Mayo Clinic and Cambridge). Patient and methods The authors first compared the three criteria for overlap and differences, and then applied them to a group of 40 consecutive patients (22 men, mean age 67 years) with focal cortical syndrome characterised by apraxia and Parkinsonism, at both the early stages and later in their illness. Results Despite an overall similarity, there were major differences in the criteria which affect their applicability. Cognitive impairment was ubiquitous even at presentation, with speech and language impairment the commonest feature. Some classic features, alien limb and myoclonus, were present in a minority only even late in their course. The three criteria were equally applicable to patients with advanced disease (Toronto 92.5%, Cambridge 90% and Mayo 87.5%). Thirty patients (75%) satisfied all three criteria. Using this group as a ‘gold standard’, 73.3% fulfilled the Cambridge criteria at presentation compared with 46.7% and 36.7% for the Toronto and Mayo Clinic criteria, respectively. Concordance between criteria was poor. Conclusion Cognitive impairment, especially language impairment, was prominent from onset of disease. The Cambridge criteria apply to a higher proportion of cases at an early stage of corticobasal syndrome. The authors suggest a minor modification to capture the high prevalence of aphasia.
High-Accuracy and Area-Efficient Stochastic FIR Digital Filters Based on Hybrid Computation

This paper presents FIR digital filters based on stochastic/binary hybrid computation with reduced hardware complexity and high computational accuracy. Recently, some attempts have been made to apply stochastic computation to realization of digital filters. Such realization methods lead to significant reduction of hardware complexity over the conventional filter realizations based on binary computation. However, the stochastic digital filters suffer from lower computational accuracy than the digital filters based on binary computation because of the random error fluctuations that are generated in stochastic bit streams, stochastic multipliers, and stochastic adders. This becomes a serious problem in the case of FIR filter realizations compared with the IIR counterparts because FIR filters usually require larger number of multiplications and additions than IIR filters. To improve the computational accuracy, this paper presents a stochastic/binary hybrid realization, where multipliers are realized using stochastic computation but adders are realized using binary computation. In addition, a coefficient-scaling technique is proposed to further improve the computational accuracy of stochastic FIR filters. Furthermore, the transposed structure is applied to the FIR filter realization, leading to reduction of hardware complexity. Evaluation results demonstrate that our method achieves at most 40dB improvement in minimum stopband attenuation compared with the conventional pure stochastic design. key words: FIR digital filter, stochastic computation, computational accuracy, digital circuit implementation
Trusting Remote Users… Can They Identify Problems Without Involving Usability Experts?

Based on our belief that critical incident data, observed during usage and associated closely with specific task performance are the most useful kind of formative evaluation data for finding and fixing usability problems, we developed a Remote Usability Evaluation Method (RUEM) that involves real users self-reporting critical incidents encountered in real tasks performed in their normal working environments without the intervention of evaluators. In our exploratory study we observed that users were able to identify, report, and rate the severity level of their own critical incidents with only brief training.
Remaking Reality: Nature at the Millenium

INTRODUCTION 1. The Construction of nature and the nature of construction: analytical and political tools for building survivable features Noel Castree and Bruce Braun CAPITALISING AND ENFRAMING NATURE Introduction 2. Whose nature, whose culture? Private productions of space and the 'preservation' of nature Cindi Katz 3. Fluid bodies, managed nature Emily Martin 4. Moving on from both state and consumer eugenics Hilary Rose 5. Reasserting nature: constructing urban environments after Fordism Roger Keil and John Graham 6. Environmentalism, Wise Use and the nature of accumulation in the rural west James McCarthy 7. The nature of decentralised consumption and everyday life Allan Pred ACTORS, NETWORKS AND THE POLITICS OF HYBRIDITY Introduction 8. Science, social constructivism and nature David Demeritt 9. Incorporating nature: environmental narratives and the reproduction of food Margaret Fitzsimmons and David Goodman 10. To modernise or ecologise? That is the question Bruno Latour (translated by Charis Cussins) 11. Nature as artifice and artifact Michael Watts AFTERWORD 12. Re-enchanting nature Neil Smith Index and
Effect of Pioglitazone, Quercetin, and Hydroxy Citric Acid on the Lipid Profile and Lipoproteins in Experimentally Induced Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an emerging disease belonging to the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) spectrum, which may progress to fibrosis and thereby to cirrhosis of the liver. Currently, no definitive and effective treatment strategies have been identified to treat NASH. Objective: To study the effect of pioglitazone, quercetin, and hydroxy citric acid on lipid profile parameters and lipoproteins in experimentally induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Materials & Methods: NASH was induced in the rats by feeding them the high-fat diet for eight weeks. In drug treated groups, after the rats were fed with high-fat diet for four weeks, they were treated in conjunction with intragastric administration of pioglitazone (4mg/kg body wt), quercetin (20mg/kg body wt) and hydroxy citric acid (150 mg/kg body wt) for an additional four weeks. The concentration of total cholesterol, free cholesterol, esterified cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides, free fatty acids (FFAs), high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), were studied. Results: The experimentally induced-NASH rats treated with pioglitazone, quercetin, and hydroxy citric acid showed marked reduction in the concentration of lipid profile and lipoproteins when compared with that of the NASH-induced group, where as quercetin reversed the changes in a significant manner compared with pioglitazone & HCA. Conclusion: The protective effect of pioglitazone, quercetin, and hydroxy citric acid was observed via the decrease of lipoprotein and lipid concentrations towards normal ranges in the drug-treated groups.
Cloning and characterization of the human oviduct-specific glycoprotein (HuOGP) gene promoter.

Oviduct-specific glycoprotein (OGP) is a high molecular weight glycoprotein belonging to the chitinase protein family. OGPs are found to associate with the zona pellucida and plasma membrane of the oocyte and developing embryo. Recent studies have shown that OGP plays an important role in pre-fertilization reproductive events (i.e. sperm capacitation, sperm-zona binding and zona penetration). To have a better understanding of human OGP (HuOGP) gene expression, a 3.3 kb DNA fragment containing the 5'-flanking and the intron I region of the HuOGP gene was isolated. DNA sequence analysis of the HuOGP putative promoter revealed little homology with its hamster and mouse ogp gene counterparts. One transcription initiation site was found 12 nucleotides upstream of the first ATG codon of the HuOGP gene. The HuOGP gene promoter lacked typical CAAT or GC boxes, but contained eight half estrogen-responsive elements (ERE) and an imperfect ERE (iERE; 5'-GGTCANNNTGACT-3') site. Deletion mutants of the 3.3 kb DNA fragment were generated and fused to a promoterless beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) gene. Transfection studies revealed that in the presence of 100 nmol/l estradiol-17 beta (E(2)), a minimal 0.3 kb promoter construct (pH-298/+25 beta Gal) mediated a high level of beta-Gal expression in immortalized human oviductal epithelial OE-E6/E7 cells, but not in MCF-7 and CHO-K1 cells. By electromobility shift assay and specific estrogen receptor antibodies, we demonstrated that estrogen receptor beta present in the OE-E6/E7 cells binds to the iERE. These findings allow a better understanding of the regulation of OGP gene expression in the human oviduct.
Clinical applications of wavefront aberrometry – a review

One of the most powerful clinical applications of aberrometry is wavefront‐guided refractive surgery. This concept led to a paradigm shift in refractive error correction, and the same ideas were applied to design the power and shape of intraocular and contact lenses. Other applications are the diagnosis of irregular astigmatism and the assessments of the optical quality of the eye. Because the higher‐order aberrations of the eye are expressed as the total root mean square errors, a set of coefficients for the Zernike terms, Strehl ratio, point spread functions, modulation transfer functions, and other types of metrics can be determined, hence the deterioration in the quality of vision can be easily estimated. Simulations of the retinal images are also useful to understand some of the symptoms in patients with irregular astigmatism. With corneal topographic analyses, the origin of irregular astigmatism from the cornea or internally, or both, can be specified by aberrometry.