Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compassion revealed: What we know about compassion at work (and where we need to know more)

In this chapter, we examine work by those who have responded to Frost’s (1999) call for research that accounts for suffering and compassion in work organizations. We add to this line of inquiry by reviewing the organizational research on compassion published over the past decade and illuminating connections with extant research on related phenomena. In particular, we explore current understandings of the nature and impact of compassion at work, the conditions that facilitate compassion in work organizations, and efforts to institutionalize compassion. In pointing to what we see as fruitful directions for future research, we invite more scholars to see suffering and compassion as critical and pervasive aspects of organizational life.
Fuzzy inference and rule extraction using a neural network

This paper proposes a neural network for building and optimizing fuzzy models. The network can be regarded both as an adaptive fuzzy inference system with the capability of learning fuzzy rules from data, and as a connectionist architecture provided with linguistic meaning. Fuzzy rules are extracted from training examples by a hybrid learning scheme comprised of two phases: rule generation phase from data using a modified competitive learning, and rule parameter tuning phase using gradient descent learning. This allows simultaneous definition of the structure and the parameters of the fuzzy rule base. After learning, the network encodes in its topology the essential design parameters of a fuzzy inference system. A well-known classification benchmark is used to illustrate applicability of the proposed neuro-fuzzy hybrid network.
Cigarette smoking and risk of prostate cancer in the physicians' health study (United States)

To assess whether cigarette smoking is associated with prostate cancer incidence or mortality, we analyzed a large cohort of 22,071 men, aged 40–84 at baseline, in the Physicians' Health Study. During an average of 12.5 years of follow‐up, we documented 996 cases of prostate cancer, including 113 fatal cases. Men were categorized according to smoking status, total pack‐years smoked, and duration of smoking. We used Cox proportional hazard models to estimate the relative risks associated with smoking. Compared to never smokers, the age‐adjusted relative risks (RR) of total prostate cancer were 1.14 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00–1.30) for past smokers, 1.10 (95% CI = 0.78–1.55) for current smokers of less than 20 cigarettes per day, and 1.10 (95% CI = 0.84–1.44) for current smokers of 20 or more cigarettes per day. Adjustment for body mass index, height, alcohol intake, and physical activity did not materially alter these findings. No significant association was observed in analyses of total pack‐years smoked or duration of smoking. The results were similar for non‐fatal and fatal prostate cancer. These data indicate no material association between cigarette smoking and prostate cancer incidence or mortality. Int. J. Cancer 87:141–144, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differentiated leader-member exchange and group effectiveness: a dual perspective

Leader-member exchange (LMX) differentiation, the extent to which the leader forms different quality exchange relationships with group members, is the fundamental premise of LMX theory. The present study tests whether, why, and when LMX differentiation increases group outcomes. More specifically, I suggest a dual perspective model of LMX differentiation and group effectiveness, which includes both leaders’ and members’ perspectives on LMX differentiation. To explicate the effects of leaderand member-rated LMX differentiation on group effectiveness, I delineate two group processes (task and socio-emotional processes) to link LMX differentiation to two aspects of group effectiveness (group performance and group viability). I propose that leader-rated LMX differentiation increases group performance via task group processes (group role clarity and group coordination) whereas member-rated LMX differentiation decreases group viability via socio-emotional processes (relationship conflict and group potency). Furthermore, I propose moderators (distributed expertise, leader-leader exchange, leader prototypicality, and group power distance) suggesting when leader-rated LMX differentiation relates to task group processes more strongly and positively, and when member-rated LMX differentiation relates to socio-emotional group processes less strongly and negatively. Survey data, based on the US and South Korean employees working in 57 teams, were collected from three different sources (group leaders, members, and upper-level managers) at two points in time (with 3-month time lag). Results revealed three important findings: (a) leader-rated LMX differentiation is positively correlated with group role clarity, group coordination, and group potency and negatively correlated with relationship conflict, (b) group mean member LMX and group mean leader LMX were more robustly, positively related to most group process and effectiveness variables, and (c) leader prototypicality moderates the relationship between member-rated LMX
Promoting intercultural understanding and reducing stereotypes: incorporating the cultural portfolio project into Taiwan's EFL college classes

Learning about foreign language (FL) cultures is becoming an important objective in the FL curricula and national standards of different countries throughout the world. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of the cultural portfolio project on: (1) students' concept development in their perceptions of the target language culture and their own; (2) students' evaluation of stereotypes towards English‐speaking cultures; and (3) students' self‐awareness and perception of EFL (English as a foreign language) and cultural learning process. Data were collected from students' cultural portfolio projects, classroom observation, and interviews. Results indicate that through the cultural portfolio project, students engaged in active learning, gained insight into specific aspects of the target language cultures and became more aware of the diversity within these cultures, and developed their ability to think critically instead of automatically accepting cultural information.
The impact of color composition on X-ray image interpretation in aviation security screening

In order to improve aviation security, many airports apply Threat Image Projection (TIP) and computer-based X-ray image interpretation training (CBT). One difference between TIP and CBT X-ray images is the algorithm used to merge virtual threat items into X-ray images of passenger bags, resulting in different color nuances. In this study, we tested the influence of merging algorithms on threat object detection performance, reaction time and confidence rating of 12 airport security screeners. The image merging algorithms of the individually adaptive CBT X-Ray Tutor were used. We have found that the hit rate was higher for TIP images compared to CBT images. Accordingly, the mean of confidence ratings was increased for TIP images. The reaction times tended to be shorter for TIP images. The results of our study indicate that the CBT merging algorithm used in this study is more realistic than the tested TIP image merging algorithm.
GABAB Receptor Activation in the Ventral Tegmental Area Inhibits the Acquisition and Expression of Opiate-Induced Motor Sensitization

Opiate-induced motor sensitization refers to the progressive and enduring motor response that develops after intermittent drug administration, and results from neuroadaptive changes in ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons. Repeated activation of μ-opioid receptors localized on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons in the VTA enhances dopaminergic cell activity and stimulates dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. We hypothesize that GABAB receptor agonist treatment in the VTA blocks morphine-induced motor stimulation, motor sensitization, and accumbal Fos immunoreactivity by inhibiting the activation of dopaminergic neurons. First, C57BL/6 mice were coadministered a single subcutaneous injection of morphine with intra-VTA baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist. Baclofen produced a dose-dependent inhibition of opiate-induced motor stimulation that was attenuated by 2-hydroxysaclofen, a GABAB receptor antagonist. Next, morphine was administered on days 1, 3, 5, and 9 and mice demonstrated sensitization to its motor stimulant effects and concomitant induction of Fos immunoreactivity in the NAc shell (NAcS) but not NAc core. Intra-VTA baclofen administered during morphine pretreatment blocked the acquisition of morphine-induced motor sensitization and Fos activation in the NAcS. Intra-VTA baclofen administered only on day 9 blocked the expression of morphine-induced motor sensitization and Fos activation in the NAcS. A linear relationship was found between morphine-induced motor activity and accumbal Fos in single- and repeated-dose treatment groups. In conclusion, GABAB receptor stimulation in the VTA blocked opiate-induced motor stimulation and motor sensitization by inhibiting the activation of NAcS neurons. GABAB receptor agonists may be useful pharmacological treatments in altering the behavioral effects of opiates.
Anti-HMGB1 Monoclonal Antibody Ameliorates Immunosuppression after Peripheral Tissue Trauma: Attenuated T-Lymphocyte Response and Increased Splenic CD11b+Gr-1+ Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Require HMGB1

Although tissue-derived high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is involved in many aspects of inflammation and tissue injury after trauma, its role in trauma-induced immune suppression remains elusive. Using an established mouse model of peripheral tissue trauma, which includes soft tissue and fracture components, we report here that treatment with anti-HMGB1 monoclonal antibody ameliorated the trauma-induced attenuated T-cell responses and accumulation of CD11b+Gr-1+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the spleens seen two days after injury. Our data suggest that HMGB1 released after tissue trauma contributes to signaling pathways that lead to attenuation of T-lymphocyte responses and enhancement of myeloid-derived suppressor cell expansion.
The Effect of Cooperative and Individualistic Instruction on Vocabulary and Pronunciation Learning: A Case of Low-Intermediate Iranian EFL Learners

The present study was carried out in order to find out about the effect of two instructional programs, namelycooperative and individualistic instruction on the vocabulary and pronunciation improvement of low-intermediate EFL learners. The subjects were 50 students at the fifth grade of Mellal school aged 10-12 in Esfahan in Iran, who were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The two selected groups were instructed over a period of ten weeks. For this purpose, a pretest-posttest experimental design was used. Prior to the treatment, a test for both vocabulary and pronunciation was developed, piloted, and administered to check the homogeneity of the participants. Then, the students‟ scores in the homogeneitycheck test were used as the pre-test score, too. For the treatment, the learners in the experimental group were instructed via cooperative technique whereas the learners in the control group received instruction according to a teacher-centered method following an individualistic-instructional approach. At the end of the study, the same test was administered to both groups as the post-test. Results suggested that both individualistic and cooperative instruction can enhance vocabulary achievement of Iranian lowintermediate EFL learners. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups regarding their vocabulary achievement. However, there was a significant difference between the two groups regarding their pronunciation achievement, and, thus, it was concluded that the application of collaborative methods in EFL classes can lead to an improvement in the learners‟ pronunciation.
Validation of MODIS and GEOV1 fPAR Products in a Boreal Forest Site in Finland

Remote sensing of the fraction of absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fPAR) has become a timely option to monitor forest productivity. However, only a few studies have had ground reference fPAR datasets containing both forest canopy and understory fPAR from boreal forests for the validation of satellite products. The aim of this paper was to assess the performance of two currently available satellite-based fPAR products: MODIS fPAR (MOD15A2, C5) and GEOV1 fPAR (g2_BIOPAR_FAPAR), as well as an NDVI-fPAR relationship applied to the MODIS surface reflectance product and a Landsat 8 image, in a boreal forest site in Finland. Our study area covered 16 km2 and field data were collected from 307 forest plots. For all plots, we obtained both forest canopy fPAR and understory fPAR. The ground reference total fPAR agreed better with GEOV1 fPAR than with MODIS fPAR, which showed much more temporal variation during the peak-season than GEOV1 fPAR. At the chosen intercomparison date in peak growing season, MODIS NDVI based fPAR estimates were similar to GEOV1 fPAR, and produced on average 0.01 fPAR units smaller fPAR estimates than ground reference total fPAR. MODIS fPAR and Landsat 8 NDVI based fPAR estimates were similar to forest canopy fPAR.
Subjective and Relative Socioeconomic Status and Adolescent Health Outcomes

Social and psychological variables associated with relative position in the socioeconomic hierarchy may influence health over and above the material implications of that position. Subjective socioeconomic status, the perception of one’s position in the socioeconomic structure, may reflect relative status better than traditional measures of socioeconomic status. Income inequality, the scale of income distribution in a society, is linked to the degree of social status differentiation in a society. Although relative status and social comparison may be particularly relevant during adolescence, and adolescence may be a period of relevance for later health outcomes, less research has been conducted on socioeconomic disparities in health during this developmental period. The objective of the current research program is to examine how relative position in the socioeconomic hierarchy is related to adolescent health, across multiple domains of health: self-rated health, mental health, physical health, and health behaviours. Study 1, a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis of the studies that have examined the association between subjective socioeconomic status and adolescent health, demonstrated a significant overall effect of subjective socioeconomic status on adolescent health, and examined the influence of a variety of moderating factors. Using data from the population-based National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, Study 2 found a main effect of province-level income inequality on select individual physical health outcomes and a moderating effect of income inequality on the associations between family socioeconomic status and mental health outcomes in adolescents. Using the Quebec Child and Adolescent Health and Social Survey, Study 3 demonstrated the independent effects of subjective socioeconomic status, individual socioeconomic status relative to community, and income inequality on a range of adolescent health outcomes. Overall, this research program provided a comprehensive understanding of the influence of subjective socioeconomic status and income inequality, and the broader construct of relative status, on several domains of health during adolescence. It is recommended that future studies use longitudinal data to examine pathways between relative socioeconomic status and health during adolescence and into adulthood. Further examination of cross-level interactions is also warranted. This line of research has implications for health and social policy.
Are race and ethnicity risk factors for breech presentation?

OBJECTIVE To investigate race and ethnicity as risk factors for breech presentation. DESIGN Case-control study using a population-based birth certificate registry that included linkage to Medicaid/Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) eligibility data for a socioeconomic proxy variable. SETTING Florida, USA. PARTICIPANTS 912,107 mothers of singletons born in Florida 1999 to 2003. METHODS Maternal race and ethnicity were evaluated as risk factors for breech presentation using logistic regression. The dependent variable was birth presentation. Covariates were variable measures that have been repeatedly identified as risk factors for breech presentation in the literature and are known to be highly accurate birth certificate variable measures. RESULTS White women were 69% more likely to have a breech baby (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63, 1.76) than Black women. Higher socioeconomic status was a risk factor in the bivariate analyses, but not in the adjusted analysis. Prematurity, nulliparity, female infant, and advancing maternal age were risk factors in the final model. The final model accounted for <5% of the total variance (Max Rescaled R(2)=4.18%), and thus was poorly fit (Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of fit <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS White women were at increased risk of having a breech baby. However, important variables appear to be missing from the model.
Cardiorespiratory response to physical exercise and psychological variables in panic disorder.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the possible influence of psychological variables on cardiorespiratory responses and perceived exertion of patients with Panic Disorder (PD) during a submaximal exercise test. METHOD Ten outpatients with PD and 10 matched healthy subjects walked up on a treadmill slope at a speed of 4 km/h in order to reach 65% of their maximum heart rate. Cardiorespiratory variables were continuously recorded. Before the exercise, the state and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores), fear of physical sensations (Body Sensation Questionnaire scores), and fear of autonomic arousal (Anxiety Sensitivity Index scores) were assessed; during the exercise, levels of anxiety (VAS-A) and exertion (Borg Scale CR 10) were measured. RESULTS Compared to controls, patients reached earlier the target HR and the ventilatory threshold, showed lower oxygen consumption, higher HR and lower within-subject standard deviations of HR (a measure of cardiac variability). Exertion was also higher, and there was a significant correlation between breathing frequency, tidal volume and HR. No significant associations were found between cardiorespiratory response, perceived exertion, and psychological variables in patients with PD. CONCLUSION Although patients with PD presented poor cardiorespiratory fitness and were required to spend more effort during physical exercise, this did not appear to be related to the psychological variables considered. Further studies with larger groups are warranted.
Altered Glucose Homeostasis and Hepatic Function in Obese Mice Deficient for Both Kinin Receptor Genes

The Kallikrein-Kinin System (KKS) has been implicated in several aspects of metabolism, including the regulation of glucose homeostasis and adiposity. Kinins and des-Arg-kinins are the major effectors of this system and promote their effects by binding to two different receptors, the kinin B2 and B1 receptors, respectively. To understand the influence of the KKS on the pathophysiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), we generated an animal model deficient for both kinin receptor genes and leptin (obB1B2KO). Six-month-old obB1B2KO mice showed increased blood glucose levels. Isolated islets of the transgenic animals were more responsive to glucose stimulation releasing greater amounts of insulin, mainly in 3-month-old mice, which was corroborated by elevated serum C-peptide concentrations. Furthermore, they presented hepatomegaly, pronounced steatosis, and increased levels of circulating transaminases. This mouse also demonstrated exacerbated gluconeogenesis during the pyruvate challenge test. The hepatic abnormalities were accompanied by changes in the gene expression of factors linked to glucose and lipid metabolisms in the liver. Thus, we conclude that kinin receptors are important for modulation of insulin secretion and for the preservation of normal glucose levels and hepatic functions in obese mice, suggesting a protective role of the KKS regarding complications associated with obesity and T2DM.
one of a series of studies on industrial development in Africa produced in collaboration between the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings , the African Development

There has recently been a resurgence of interest in industrial policy. This paper examines the choices, implementation processes, and outcomes of the Ethiopian present industrial policy. The country represents an excellent case study of recent industrial policy experimentation in Africa as it is one of the few countries that has formulated and implemented a comprehensive industrial policy early on when the term industrial policy had been a taboo in the international policy forums. By providing detailed assessment of the policy practice this paper seeks to inform the ongoing industrial policy debate.
Detection of Myelination Using a Novel Histological Probe

Current methods for myelin staining in tissue sections include both histological and immunohistochemical techniques. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry, which uses antibodies against myelin components such as myelin basic protein, is often used because of the convenience for multiple labeling. To facilitate studies on myelin, this paper describes a quick and easy method for direct myelin staining in rodent and human tissues using novel near-infrared myelin (NIM) dyes that are comparable to other well-characterized histochemical reagents. The near-infrared fluorescence spectra of these probes allow fluorescent staining of tissue sections in multiple channels using visible light fluorophores commonly used in immunocytochemistry. These dyes have been used successfully to detect normal myelin structure and myelin loss in a mouse model of demyelination disease.
Physico-mechanical and joint performance of bamboo veneer products manufactured by mould pressing

Bamboo can be processed into engineering materials with excellent properties by reasonable processing methods. In this study, the performance of mould-pressed bamboo (MBP) veneer products was examined. The physical mechanical properties and connection properties of MPB were tested, and the application performance of the MPB was analyzed. The results show that MPB has a comprehensive property of high internal bonding and good dimensional stability, and its density and mechanical properties are similar to those of wood dimensional stock. The overall bending strength, bending modulus, and compression strength of MPB were 29.0 MPa, 6.83 GPa, and 15.6 MPa, respectively. While the overall carrying capacity was relatively low, the connection performance of BPM was good. Thus, it can be used as a connector or substructure.