Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Routine occupational stress and psychological distress in police

The relationship between routine work stress and psychological distress was investigated among 733 police officers in three US cities, during 1998‐1999. The Work Environment Inventory (WEI) was developed to assess exposure to routine work stressors, while excluding duty‐related traumatic stressors (critical incidents). The WEI and its general properties are presented. The relationship between routine work stress exposure and psychological distress is then explored. Exposure to routine work stressors predicted general psychological distress (r = 0.46), as well as post‐traumatic stress symptoms following officers’ most traumatic career incident (rs = 0.26 to 0.39). Multivariate analyses found that these effects were independent of, and larger than, the effects of cumulative critical incident exposure. (Time since the most traumatic event, social support, and social desirability effects were also controlled statistically.) Routine occupational stress exposure appears to be a significant risk factor for psychological distress among police officers, and a surprisingly strong predictor of post‐traumatic stress symptoms.
Enjoy your Stress! Using Lacan to enrich transactional models of stress

This article reconsiders stress both theoretically and empirically using a Lacanian perspective. It addresses how Lacan’s concepts of jouissance and desire may be employed to provide a rich overlay to transactional models of stress that engages with unconscious aspects of appraisal. In doing so, it challenges the dichotomy between stress and enjoyment.
Robotics-assisted catheter manipulation for improving cardiac ablation efficiency

The quality of contact between the catheter tip and cardiac tissue has been identified as an important factor in the efficacy of the catheter-based cardiac ablation procedures. However, maintaining a constant tip/tissue contact force during the procedure is difficult due to cardiac and respiratory motions. Robotic manipulation of the catheter has the potential to overcome this difficulty and decrease the range of variations in the contact force during the ablation procedure. This paper investigates the possibility of performing motion compensation for conventional steerable ablation catheters using a robotic manipulator. The behavior of such catheters is analyzed in free space as well as in contact with static and moving targets and the limitations in the actuation mechanism are identified. Based on this analysis, a technique for synchronizing the motion of the catheter tip with cardiac motion is proposed. The suggested control system estimates the frequency of the moving target and reshapes the input trajectory accordingly. The performance of the resulting system is evaluated experimentally. The results show that in the experimental setting, the proposed technique reduces the variations in the contact force and noticeably improves the quality of tip/tissue contact.
Delta-Notch signalling controls commitment to a secretory fate in the zebrafish intestine

The transparency of the juvenile zebrafish and its genetic advantages make it an attractive model for study of cell turnover in the gut. BrdU labelling shows that the gut epithelium is renewed in essentially the same way as in mammals: the villi are lined with non-dividing differentiated cells, while cell division is confined to the intervillus pockets. New cells produced in the pockets take about 4 days to migrate out to the tips of the villi, where they die. We have generated monoclonal antibodies to identify the absorptive and secretory cells in the epithelium, and we have used these antibodies to examine the part that Delta-Notch signalling plays in producing the diversity of intestinal cell types. Several Notch receptors and ligands are expressed in the gut. In particular, the Notch ligand DeltaD (Delta1 in the mouse) is expressed in cells of the secretory lineage. In an aei mutant, where DeltaD is defective, secretory cells are overproduced. In mind bomb (mib), where all Delta-Notch signalling is believed to be blocked, almost all the cells in the 3-day gut epithelium adopt a secretory character. Thus, secretory differentiation appears to be the default in the absence of Notch activation, and lateral inhibition mediated by Delta-Notch signalling is required to generate a balanced mixture of absorptive and secretory cells. These findings demonstrate the central role of Notch signalling in the gut stem-cell system and establish the zebrafish as a model for study of the mechanisms controlling renewal of gut epithelium.
Operational Challenges in Diagnosing Multi-Drug Resistant TB and Initiating Treatment in Andhra Pradesh, India

Background Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), Andhra Pradesh, India. There is limited information on whether MDR-TB suspects are identified, undergo diagnostic assessment and are initiated on treatment according to the programme guidelines. Objectives To assess i) using the programme definition, the number and proportion of MDR-TB suspects in a large cohort of TB patients on first-line treatment under RNTCP ii) the proportion of these MDR-TB suspects who underwent diagnosis for MDR-TB and iii) the number and proportion of those diagnosed as MDR-TB who were successfully initiated on treatment. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis, by reviewing RNTCP records and reports, was conducted in four districts of Andhra Pradesh, India, among patients registered for first line treatment during October 2008 to December 2009. Results Among 23,999 TB patients registered for treatment there were 559 (2%) MDR-TB suspects (according to programme definition) of which 307 (55%) underwent diagnosis and amongst these 169 (55%) were found to be MDR-TB. Of the MDR-TB patients, 112 (66%) were successfully initiated on treatment. Amongst those eligible for MDR-TB services, significant proportions are lost during the diagnostic and treatment initiation pathway due to a variety of operational challenges. The programme needs to urgently address these challenges for effective delivery and utilisation of the MDR-TB services.
Determinants Of Employment Externalization - A Study Of Temporary Workers And Independent Contractors

The authors' names are listed alphabetically; both authors contributed equally to this work. This manuscript was initially submitted to Administrative Science Quarterlys special issue on Process and Outcome: Perspectives on the Distribution of Rewards in Organizations. We gratefully acknowledge the advice and comments of Karen Cook, special issue editor. We would also like to thank Mark Granovetter, Carol Kulik, Dan Levinthal, Michael Schwartz, Judith Tanur, and three anonymous ASQ reviewers for their helpful comments on previous versions of this manuscript. This paper examines what determines the use of temporary workers and independent contractors in a variety of organizations. We hypothesize that four factors affect the use of externalized workers: employment costs, the external environment, organizational size and bureaucratization, and skill requirements. Data from a large sample of employers surveyed by the U.S. Department of Labor were used to test the hypotheses. Analyses showed that each factor affected the use of both temporary workers and independent contractors; however, the effects differed across the two types of workers. Firm-specific training, government oversight, bureaucratized employment practices, establishment size, and requirements for high levels of informational or technical skill had negative effects on organizations' use of temporary workers; variation in employment needs positively affected the use of temporary workers. Variation in employment needs, bureaucratized employment practices, establishment size, and being part of a multiple-site firm had positive effects on the use of independent contractors. We discuss the implications of these findings for the study of the employment relationship. '
A safe-parking and safe-switching framework for fault-tolerant control of switched nonlinear systems

This work considers the problem of handling actuator faults in switched nonlinear systems that transit between multiple modes subject to input constraints. The faults considered preclude the possibility of operation at the nominal equilibrium point in the active mode. For the case where the switching schedule is fixed, a safe-parking scheme is designed, which accounts for the switched nature, to operate the system at temporary equilibrium points during fault-repair time and allow resumption of nominal operation after fault repair. For the case where the switching schedule is adjustable, a safe-switching scheme is designed, which exploits the switched nature, to switch the system to a mode (if exists and available) where nominal operation can be preserved (through control structure reconfiguration when necessary) to continue nominal operation. The proposed framework is demonstrated via a switched process example, as well as application to a polymerisation process of methyl methacrylate.
Hydrolytic degradation characteristics of aliphatic polyesters derived from lactic and glycolic acids.

During the past decade, important advances have been made in the understanding of the hydrolytic degradation characteristics of aliphatic polyesters derived from lactic acid (LA) and glycolic acid (GA). Degradation of large poly(LAGA) (PLAGA) polymers is autocatalyzed by carboxyl end groups initially present or generated upon ester bond cleavage. Faster internal degradation and degradation-induced morphological and compositional changes are three of the most important findings deduced from the behaviors of various PLAGA polymers. This review presents the state of the art in this domain. The research efforts are focused on detailing the degradation mechanism and the effects of various factors on the degradation of PLAGA polymers. An attempt is also made to elaborate a scheme that can be used to predict degradation characteristics of these polymers from their initial composition and morphology. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 48: 342–353, 1999
Group foraging in Socotra cormorants: A biologging approach to the study of a complex behavior

Abstract Group foraging contradicts classic ecological theory because intraspecific competition normally increases with aggregation. Hence, there should be evolutionary benefits to group foraging. The study of group foraging in the field remains challenging however, because of the large number of individuals involved and the remoteness of the interactions to the observer. Biologging represents a cost‐effective solution to these methodological issues. By deploying GPS and temperature–depth loggers on individuals over a period of several consecutive days, we investigated intraspecific foraging interactions in the Socotra cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis, a threatened colonial seabird endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. In particular, we examined how closely birds from the same colony associated with each other spatially when they were at sea at the same time and the distance between foraging dives at different periods of the day. Results show that the position of different birds overlapped substantially, all birds targeting the same general foraging grounds throughout the day, likely following the same school of fish. There were as many as 44,500 birds within the foraging flock at sea at any time (50% of the colony), and flocking density was high, with distance between birds ranging from 8 to 1,380 m. Birds adopted a diving strategy maximizing time spent underwater relative to surface time, resulting in up to 72% of birds underwater in potential contact with prey at all times while foraging. Our data suggest that the benefits of group foraging outweigh the costs of intense aggregation in this seabird. Prey detection and information transmission are facilitated in large groups. Once discovered, shoaling prey are concentrated under the effect of the multitude. Fish school cohesiveness is then disorganized by continuous attacks of diving birds to facilitate prey capture. Decreasing population size could pose a risk to the persistence of threatened seabirds where group size is important for foraging success.
The Empowerment Process: Integrating Theory and Practice

Despite increasing attention on the topic of empowerment, our under-standing of the construct and its underlying processes remains limited. This article addresses these shortcomings by providing an analytical treatment of the construct and by integrating the diverse approaches to empowerment found in both the management and psychology literatures. In addition, the authors identify certain antecedent conditions of powerlessness and practices that have been hypothesized to empower subordinates.
Diagnosis and management of BK polyomavirus interstitial nephritis in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND Interstitial nephritis caused by BK polyomavirus is a recognized complication of renal transplantation. A study of renal transplant recipients at Duke University Medical Center was undertaken to evaluate diagnostic modalities and assess clinical outcomes in transplant polyomavirus infections. METHODS Polyomavirus nephritis was identified in 6 of 240 patients who received renal transplants between January 1996 and June 1998 and an additional patient who underwent transplantation in 1995. The clinical records of these seven patients were reviewed, as were all renal biopsy and nephrectomy specimens. Electron microscopy (EM) was performed on negatively stained urine samples from 6 patients with polyomavirus infection and 23 patients with other diagnoses. RESULTS Patients with polyomavirus infection shared several clinical features, including ureteral obstruction (5/7 patients), lymphocele (3/7), bacterial urinary tract infection (3/7), hematuria (3/7), cytomegalovirus infection (3/7), and immunosuppression with mycophenolate mofetil (6/7). All patients experienced elevations in serum creatinine, which stabilized or decreased in four patients with altered or decreased immunosuppression. The diagnosis of polyomavirus infection was established by renal biopsy and EM of urine in five patients, by biopsy alone in one, and by EM alone in one. Sequential examinations of urine by EM were used to monitor the course of infection in six patients. CONCLUSIONS Interstitial nephritis due to BK polyomavirus occurred in 2.5% of patients receiving renal transplants at our center since 1996. Polyomavirus infection can cause transplant dysfunction and graft loss, but progression of the infection can frequently be abrogated with alterations in immunosuppressive therapy. Both renal biopsy and EM of urine samples are useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of polyomavirus infections.
A psychological contract perspective on organizational citizenship behavior

This study examined the contribution of the psychological contract framework to understanding organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) using survey data gathered at three measurement points over a three-year period from 480 public sector employees. Separating perceived contract breach into its two components (perceived employer obligations and inducements), the data suggest that perceived employer obligations explained unique variance in three dimensions of citizenship behavior (helping, advocacy and functional participation) beyond that accounted for by perceived employer inducements. Employees' acceptance of the norm of reciprocity moderated the relationship between employer inducements and the dimensions of advocacy and functional participation. Employees' trust in their employer moderated the relationship between perceived employer obligations and the dimensions of advocacy and functional participation. Contrary to the hypothesis, procedural or interactional justice did not moderate the relationship between employer inducements and OCB. The implications of the findings for psychological contract research are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Explaining Differences in Mental Health Between Married and Cohabiting Individuals

Research on the relationship between cohabitation and mental health tends to ignore social psychological factors that help explain mental health differences between the married and the unmarried, including coping resources and perceived relationship quality. In this paper I draw on social psychological theory and research to clarify differences in depression and alcohol use between married and cohabiting individuals. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households, I examine the independent and combined influences of socioeconomic status, coping resources, and relationship quality to account for marital status differences in distress. I find that marital status differences in coping resources and relationship quality help explain the gap in depression, but not in alcohol use, between married and cohabiting individuals. I also find that social selection is not responsible for marital status differences in distress. The implications of these findings for future research on cohabitors' mental health are discussed.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Developmental progress of infants detected by routine screening.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was detected in 22 of 3,808 newborns using two survey methods. Of 1,963 urine specimens cultured for virus, 20 (1%) were positive. One child had moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss, one may have minimal brain damage, and a third has slow development following premature birth; 16 are asymptomatic. Cord blood from 1,845 infants was screened for IgM (>18 mg/100 ml) and then for CMV-IgM antibody. Three children had CMV-IgM antibody, and two were excreting CMV. Both are deaf, with severe developmental retardation. All 22 infected infants detected by both methods have had persistent viruria, although antibody levels declined in 16 and became undetectable in ten. Only one infant had symptoms suggestive of CMV infection in the newborn period.
Polymorphism in the Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) NRAMP1 gene: lack of an allelic association to tuberculosis susceptibility

Although previous tuberculosis (TB) research has suggested that underlying genetic factors influence a host's response and ability to survive Mycobacterium infection, only recently has a gene been identified, the `natural resistance‐associated macrophage protein 1' (NRAMP1) gene, which provides a degree of natural resistance to infection by some Mycobacterium species. To date, however, the role that NRAMP1 may play in resistance to Mycobacterium infection has only been examined in mouse and man. Here, we present data generated at NRAMP1 among a group of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) that were euthanized because of an outbreak of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during quarantine. Data were also generated on unrelated (and healthy) rhesus macaques in order to better determine the frequency and degree of genetic polymorphism within Macaca at the NRAMP1 locus. These data represent the first study designed to examine the role that NRAMP1 may play in TB susceptibility among rhesus macaques.
The Friendship Paradox and Systematic Biases in Perceptions and Social Norms

The “friendship paradox” (first noted by Feld in 1991) refers to the fact that, on average, people have strictly fewer friends than their friends have. I show that this oversampling of more popular people can lead people to perceive more engagement than exists in the overall population. This feeds back to amplify engagement in behaviors that involve complementarities. Also, people with the greatest proclivity for a behavior choose to interact the most, leading to further feedback and amplification. These results are consistent with studies finding overestimation of peer consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs and with resulting high levels of drug and alcohol consumption.
Serotoninergic and nonserotoninergic neurons in the medullary raphe system have axon collateral projections to autonomic and somatic cell groups in the medulla and spinal cord

Fluorescent double retrograde‐tracing studies combined with fluorescent immunostaining for serotonin were carried out to determine the potential patterns of divergence in axonal projections to autonomic and somatic motor sites from medullary raphe and parapyramidal neurons. Injections (20–60 nl) of combinations of fluorescent retrograde tracers (Fast Blue, fluoro‐gold, green latex microspheres, Diamidino Yellow) were made into the intermediolateral cell column (IML) of the spinal cord and the brainstem lateral tegmental field or ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord of male Wistar rats. The animals were perfused after a 7–10‐Day survival period, and the brains were removed, sectioned (50μm), and immunostained for serotonin.
The Road to Military Humanitarianism: How the Human Rights NGOs Shaped A New Humanitarian Agenda

This paper presents two articles taken from the Human Rights Quarterly publication. The first article written by David Chandler is concerned with the process through which the core ethics of humanitarianism have been transformed. It focuses on the shift in the politics of humanitarian interventionism as advocated by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) during and after the Cold War. It also considers the nonpolitical approach of traditional humanitarian organizations and the development of more politicized human rights-based humanitarian NGOs it further analyzes some of the consequences of this change the retreat from the principles of neutrality and universalism and the development of "military humanitarianism". The second article by Marcella David discusses the pitfalls of marshaling security council resources to combat AIDS in Africa. David is convinced that the practical limitations on Security Council powers precludes tangible benefits and that there is a great risk of future Council abuse of the principle in expanding responsibility to cover disease and quality of life issues.
Sales Management’s Influence on Employment and Training in Developing an Ethical Sales Force

Because it is believed sales performance can be enhanced through ethical behaviors, increasingly, emphasis is being placed on understanding unethical behaviors among key customer-contact employees and the environment in which these sales professionals engage clients. In this context, understanding how the direct supervision of the sales force (sales managers) can shape the ethical behavior of salespeople may be a critical controllable key to understanding unethical sales behaviors that offers upper management strategic opportunities to enrich customer relationships. In this framework of understanding unethical sales behaviors, 240 sales managers were surveyed to determine their impact on unethical sales behaviors. The results indicate that although the overall ethical climate influences ethical attitudes of sales managers, importantly, these managerial attitudes impact ethical training and hiring evaluations of the sales force. Further, the positive relationship found between the ethical attitudes of sales managers and their hiring evaluation criteria affects unethical sales force behaviors. Detailed implications of the results are presented in the study.
ERP Research At ECIS And ICIS: A Fashion Wave Calming Down?

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) and enterprise systems (ES) have been in information systems (IS) researchers’ and practitioners’ focus for more than ten years. Yet problems with ERP implementation projects get exposed to the public eye constantly. This makes one marvel why so. In this paper, we will take a retrospective look at ERP research and identify the ERP research themes from two main information systems conferences, ECIS and ICIS, in this millennium. The analysis shows not only the prominence of ERP implementation research, but that other themes have been studied only sporadically and unsystematically. This urges for more ERP research with a broader focus. We then compare these findings with the conference tracks and discuss the role of tracks and gatekeepers in this phenomenon. Keyword: ERP, enterprise resource planning, enterprise systems, literature review, gatekeeper