Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IS Employee Attitudes and Perceptions at Varying Levels of Software Process Maturity

Taking a control theory view of software process innovation, we tested prevalent beliefs regarding software process maturity and Information Systems employee attitudes and perceptions by surveying 736 IS professionals in 10 organizations at varying levels of the CMM (capability maturity model). Although anecdotal reports and the scant empirical studies to date suggest job attitudes and perceptions are more positive for employees in organizations at higher levels of software process maturity, we found evidence of a more complex picture. While our data supported expectations that role conflict and perceived work overload were lower for IS professionals in organizations at a level of maturity where software process behavioral controls are implemented, other results were not fully in line with prevalent beliefs. Most notably, IS workers reported significantly lower professional efficacy and lower job satisfaction in organizations at CMM Level 3, where behavioral controls are the dominant form of formal control, than in organizations at Level 1, which is relatively free of formal controls. Some anticipated positive attitudes and perceptions surfaced in organizations at the highest rungs of software process maturity (CMM Levels 4/5), where the established behavioral controls are supplemented by substantial outcome controls, as IS professionals reported lower role ambiguity and higher job satisfaction than did their counterparts in organizations at CMM Level 3.
Barrier certificates for nonlinear model validation

New methods for model validation of continuous-time nonlinear systems with uncertain parameters are presented in this paper. The methods employ functions of state-parameter-time, termed here as barrier certificates, whose existence proves that a model and a feasible parameter set are inconsistent with some time-domain experimental data. A very large class of models, including differential-algebraic models, models with memoryless/dynamic uncertainties, and hybrid models, can be treated within this framework. Construction of barrier certificates can be performed by convex optimization, utilizing the sum of squares decomposition of multivariate polynomials.
Robust D-stability with mixed-type uncertainties

In this note, we deal with the robust D-stability analysis for systems with both structured and unstructured uncertainties. First, an extension of the small gain theorem is presented for robust D-stability analysis of systems with mixed-type uncertainties. Second, an edge verification result is obtained when the structured uncertainty is described by an interval plant. Finally, for some special root location regions, this problem has been converted to the computation problem of the maximal H/sub /spl infin// norm of a transfer function with parametric uncertainties and some explicit vertex results are obtained. It can be seen that the computation complexity is significantly reduced in these special cases.
The Performance of Group‐affiliated Firms during Institutional Transition: A Longitudinal Study of Indian Firms

Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: Institutional and transaction cost theories highlight the idea that group-affiliated firms outperform unaffiliated firms in emerging economies. However, the persistence of superior performance among group-affiliated firms could be challenged by the recent, quick development of markets and institutions in these countries. This article explores the link between firm performance and the evolution of the institutional environment. Research Findings/Insights: We analyze how business group affiliation affected firm performance in India in the post-reform era, i.e., from 1990 to 2006. Our findings show that: (1) the performance benefits of group affiliation are evident in the early phase of institutional transition, but level out in the late phase; (2) older group-affiliated firms are better able to cope with institutional transition than younger group-affiliated firms; and (3) group-affiliated service firms are better able to cope with institutional transition than group-affiliated manufacturing firms. Theoretical/Academic Implications: Our findings support institutional and transaction cost theories, as they show that: (1) when labor, capital, and products markets are characterized by large imperfections and weak supporting institutions business groups outperform independent companies; (2) when markets become more efficient and institutions grow stronger group-affiliated firms fail to show continued superior performance; and (3) heterogeneity among member firms may influence the appropriation of the benefits arising from group affiliation. These findings expand the traditional understanding of the relationship between firm performance and the institutional context in emerging economies, and provide further support for the idea that the relative performance of group-affiliated firms is contingent upon the characteristics of the institutional context and their particular features. Practitioner/Policy Implications: The article has implications for managers and policy makers. Managers of business groups should adapt the timing of strategies to the evolution of the institutional environment. Policy makers should focus on the consequences of their policies, as they may undermine the efficiency of large national companies.
No effect of insertion/ deletion polymorphism at the ACE locus on normal blood pressure level or variability

Angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) cleaves angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which is the active component in the renin‐angiotensin system (RAS). We have studied an insertion/deletion polymorphism in DNA at the ACE locus. In three different series comprising 140, 90 and 136 unrelated individuals we found no evidence of association between genotypes in this insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and level of systolic or diastolic blood pressure. In two series of 130 and 88 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs, respectively, there was no difference between genotypes in within‐pair variation in systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Thus, in these series of healthy people, neither “level gene” nor “variability gene” effects of this insertion/deletion polymorphism were observed.
Localization of the pyramidal tract in the internal capsule by whole brain dissection

Six human brains were dissected by blunt technique and sectioned horizontally to establish the three-dimensional relationships of the pyramidal tract and the internal capsule. In all instances, the pyramidal tract entered the rostral capsule in the anterior half of the posterior limb and progressively shifted into the posterior half of the posterior limb in the more caudal horizontal sections. These observations resolve the current controversy about the exact anatomic location of the pyramidal tract in the posterior limb of the internal capsule. This controversy arose because previous authors failed to consider the changing rostrocaudal/anterior-posterior anatomy of the pyramidal tract as it courses through the posterior limb.
The anisotropy1 D604N Mutation in the Arabidopsis Cellulose Synthase1 Catalytic Domain Reduces Cell Wall Crystallinity and the Velocity of Cellulose Synthase Complexes1[W][OA]

Cellulose synthase complexes may optimize cellulose properties and wall mechanical strength by selective exclusion of faulty CesA1 subunits. Multiple cellulose synthase (CesA) subunits assemble into plasma membrane complexes responsible for cellulose production. In the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) model system, we identified a novel D604N missense mutation, designated anisotropy1 (any1), in the essential primary cell wall CesA1. Most previously identified CesA1 mutants show severe constitutive or conditional phenotypes such as embryo lethality or arrest of cellulose production but any1 plants are viable and produce seeds, thus permitting the study of CesA1 function. The dwarf mutants have reduced anisotropic growth of roots, aerial organs, and trichomes. Interestingly, cellulose microfibrils were disordered only in the epidermal cells of the any1 inflorescence stem, whereas they were transverse to the growth axis in other tissues of the stem and in all elongated cell types of roots and dark-grown hypocotyls. Overall cellulose content was not altered but both cell wall crystallinity and the velocity of cellulose synthase complexes were reduced in any1. We crossed any1 with the temperature-sensitive radial swelling1-1 (rsw1-1) CesA1 mutant and observed partial complementation of the any1 phenotype in the transheterozygotes at rsw1-1’s permissive temperature (21°C) and full complementation by any1 of the conditional rsw1-1 root swelling phenotype at the restrictive temperature (29°C). In rsw1-1 homozygotes at restrictive temperature, a striking dissociation of cellulose synthase complexes from the plasma membrane was accompanied by greatly diminished motility of intracellular cellulose synthase-containing compartments. Neither phenomenon was observed in the any1 rsw1-1 transheterozygotes, suggesting that the proteins encoded by the any1 allele replace those encoded by rsw1-1 at restrictive temperature.
Numerical investigation of transient potential distribution along stress-grading on stators bars (Roebel Type)

This paper presents the potential distribution along the stress-grading system (Roebel Bar Type) under 50 Hz sinusoidal AC voltage based on the finite element method (FEM). In order to reduce the number of mesh elements and simulation time, a comparative study of two different approaches was examined using commercial software based on the Finite Element Method. The first one is a volume approach which takes into account the thickness of the stress-grading system. The second is the surface approach where the stress-grading system is treated as a specific boundary condition. The investigations have focused on the comparison of the surface potential and electric field distributions along the stress-grading system as well as the number of mesh elements and simulation time using 2D-axisymetric finite element method. The results obtained showed that the surface approach is the best method as it provides the same results as the volume approach with less mesh elements. In addition, a good agreement was found qualitatively as well as quantitatively between numerical and experimental results. Thus, the numerical study provides an alternative to calculate the surface potential distribution along the stress grading with sufficient accuracy using surface approach.
Enhancement of extracellular molecule uptake in plasmonic laser perforation

The use of laser induced surface plasmons on metal nanoparticles has proven to be an excellent tool for the delivery of molecules like siRNA and DNA into cells. However, a detailed understanding of the basic mechanisms of molecular uptake and the influence of parameters like biological environment is missing. In this study we analyzed the uptake of fluorescent dextrans with sizes from 10 to 2000 kDa, which resembles a wide range of biologically relevant molecules in size using a 532 nm picosecond laser system and 200 nm gold nanoparticles. Our results show a strong uptake‐dependence on cell medium or buffer, but no dominant dependence on osmotic conditions. The relation between pulse energy and number of pulses for a given perforation efficiency revealed that multiphoton ionization of water might contribute to perforation. Moreover, a seven‐fold uptake‐enhancement could be reached with optimized parameters, providing a very promising basis for further studies and applications. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
THE STUDY OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANCE IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT THE CENTRAL JAVA HOSPITAL

Objective: Multidrug-resistance (MDR) is defined as an acquired non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial categories. MDR can be caused by several factors, including the misuse of antibiotics. Â Resistance to antibiotics still poses a global challenge, especially in Indonesia. This study aimed to identify patterns of MDR in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Central Java Hospital, during the period of January 2014 to December 2015.Methods: The study was conducted using a descriptive retrospective design. The research population comprised of 225 patients. Patient inclusion criteria were neonatal patients treated in NICU ward with infection diagnosis. All patients had culture and sensitivity examinations on their bloods. The culture and sensitivity examinations were performed by microbiology clinicians.Results: The most common infection type was sepsis (60%). The most common bacteria found in the blood specimen of patients in the NICU ward was Gram-negative bacteria with a 72% rate, the other was Gram-positive bacteria. Bacteria which infected patients include; Klebsiellapneumoniaessppneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bulkholderiacepacia, Acinetobacterbaumannii, Enterobactercloacae ssp cloacae, Serratiamarcescens, Staphylococcus haemolyticusand Staphylococcus epidermidis. The research result showed that 97.8% MDR cases were reported in the NICU ward. Antibiotics which were still potent for all bacteria found in NICU patients were tigecycline, meropenem and ciprofloxacin (for Gram-negative bacteria) and tigecycline, linezolid, nitrofurantoin, moxifloksacin and vancomycin (for Gram-positive bacteria). Conclusion: A high percentage of MDR occurred in NICU patients. Sepsis is the most common diagnosis in NICU patients. The usage of third generation antibiotics should be limited and regulated systematically. Â Â Â
A Local Ground-Motion Predictive Model for Turkey, and Its Comparison with Other Regional and Global Ground-Motion Models

We examined the differences between the ground-motion estimations of local and global prediction equations and explored some seismological parameters that may explain these differences. To achieve this objective, we first derived a set of ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs) for estimating peak horizontal accel- eration, velocity, and pseudospectral acceleration using the recently compiled Turkish ground-motion database. The new GMPEs are comparable with the recent global GMPEs in terms of model sophistication, and they are based on a well-studied national dataset. Using global GMPEs from the Next Generation Attenuation of Ground Motions project (Power et al., 2008) and the pan-European Akkar and Bommer (2010) model, we observed that the discrepancy between local and global GMPEs is more prominent at small magnitudes provided that the GMPEs possess similar mag- nitude limits. Our more detailed comparisons with the pan-European Akkar and Bom- mer (2010) predictive model, as well as with the estimations from a combined Italian and Turkish accelerometric dataset, indicate that depth can be of importance for delineating the differences between local and global GMPEs.
THE VERBAL-LOOP HYPOTHESIS: CONVENTIONAL FIGURES.

A question of continuing practical and theoretical interest is the following: "What makes one stimulus simple, well-organized, easy to handle, while another stimulus is complex, poorly-organized, difficult to handle ? " The verbal-loop hypothesis answers this question by making a specific and simple assertion concerning the S's use of language and then by spelling out the implications of that assertion. ' The answer differs markedly from the answers given by gestalt and information-theory approaches to perceptual organization.
Degradation of Lipid Vesicles in the Yeast Vacuole Requires Function of Cvt17, a Putative Lipase*

The vacuole/lysosome serves an essential role in allowing cellular components to be degraded and recycled under starvation conditions. Vacuolar hydrolases are key proteins in this process. In Saccharyomces cerevisiae, some resident vacuolar hydrolases are delivered by the cytoplasm to vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway, which shares mechanistic features with autophagy. Autophagy is a degradative pathway that is used to degrade and recycle cellular components under starvation conditions. Both the Cvt pathway and autophagy employ double-membrane cytosolic vesicles to deliver cargo to the vacuole. As a result, these pathways share a common terminal step, the degradation of subvacuolar vesicles. We have identified a protein, Cvt17, which is essential for this membrane lytic event. Cvt17 is a membrane glycoprotein that contains a motif conserved in esterases and lipases. The active-site serine of this motif is required for subvacuolar vesicle lysis. This is the first characterization of a putative lipase implicated in vacuolar function in yeast.
Proapoptotic and Antiapoptotic Actions of Stat1 versus Stat3 Underlie Neuroprotective and Immunoregulatory Functions of IL-11

Current therapies for multiple sclerosis target inflammation but do not directly address oligodendrocyte protection or myelin repair. The gp130 family cytokines ciliary neurotrophic factor, leukemia inhibitory factor, and IL-11 have been identified as oligodendrocyte growth factors, and IL-11 is also strongly immunoregulatory, but their underlying mechanisms of action are incompletely characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that these effects of IL-11 are mediated via differential regulation of apoptosis in oligodendrocytes versus Ag-presenting dendritic cells (DCs), and are dependent on lineage-specific activity of the transcription factors Stat1 versus Stat3. Focal demyelinating lesions induced in cerebral cortices of IL-11Rα−/− mice using stereotactic microinjection of lysolecithin were larger than in controls, and remyelination was delayed. In IL-11Rα−/− mice, lesions displayed extensive oligodendrocyte loss and axonal transection, and increased infiltration by inflammatory cells including CD11c+ DCs, CD3+ lymphocytes, and CD11b+ phagocytes. In oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) cultures, IL-11 restricted caspase 9 activation and apoptosis, and it increased myelination in OPC-neuron cocultures. Importantly, siRNA inhibition of Stat1 enhanced the antiapoptotic effects of IL-11 on OPCs, but IL-11 induced apoptosis in the presence of Stat3 silencing. In contrast, IL-11 augmented caspase activation and apoptosis in cultures of CD11c+ DCs, but not in CD11b+ or CD3+ cells. Inhibition of Stat3 exacerbated the proapoptotic effects of IL-11 on DCs, whereas they were ablated in Stat1−/− cultures. Collectively, these findings reveal novel mechanisms underlying the actions of a neuroprotective and immunoregulatory member of the gp130 cytokine family, suggesting avenues to enhance oligodendrocyte viability and restrict CNS inflammation in multiple sclerosis.
Conjugatable water-soluble Pt(ii) and Pd(ii) porphyrin complexes: novel nano- and molecular probes for optical oxygen tension measurement in tissue engineering

Measurement of oxygen tension in compressed collagen sheets was performed using matrix-embedded optical oxygen sensors based on platinum( ii ) and palladium( ii ) porphyrins supported on polyacrylamide nanoparticles. Bespoke, fully water-soluble, mono-functionalised Pt( ii ) and Pd( ii ) porphyrin complexes designed for conjugation under mild conditions were obtained using microwave-assisted metallation. The new sensors display a linear response (1/ τ vs . O_2) to varying oxygen tension over a biologically relevant range (7.0 × 10^−4 to 2.7 × 10^−1 mM) in aqueous solutions; a behaviour that is maintained following conjugation to polyacrylamide nanoparticles, and following embedding of the nanosensors in compressed collagen sheets, paving the way to innovative approaches for real-time resolution of oxygen gradients throughout 3D matrices useful for tissue regeneration.
Semantic Models for a Logic of Partial Functions

The Logic of Partial Functions (LPF) is used to rea son about propositions that include terms that can fail to denote values. This paper pr ovides semantics for LPF. A Structural Operational Semantics (SOS) provides an intuitive introduction; this is followed by a denotational semantics where the spac e of denotations is relations which provide an intuitive model of undefined terms . Finally, we illustrate how the denotational semantics can be used as a basis for p ro fs about propositions that include terms that can fail to denote. © 2010 University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Printed and published by the University of Newcastl e upon Tyne, Computing Science, Claremont Tower, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, England. Bibliographical details JONES, C.B. , LOVERT, M. J. Semantic Models for a Logic of Partial Functions [By] C. B. Jones and M. J. Lovert Newcastle upon Tyne: University of Newcastle upon T y e: Computing Science, 2010. (University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Computing Scienc e, Technical Report Series, No. CS-TR-1220)
Microbial diversity and soil functions

Soil is a complex and dynamic biological system, and still in 2003 it is difficult to determine the composition of microbial communities in soil. We are also limited in the determination of microbially mediated reactions because present assays for determining the overall rate of entire metabolic processes (such as respiration) or specific enzyme activities (such as urease, protease and phosphomonoesterase activity) do not allow any identification of the microbial species directly involved in the measured processes. The central problem posed by the link between microbial diversity and soil function is to understand the relations between genetic diversity and community structure and between community structure and function. A better understanding of the relations between microbial diversity and soil functions requires not only the use of more accurate assays for taxonomically and functionally characterizing DNA and RNA extracted from soil, but also high‐resolution techniques with which to detect inactive and active microbial cells in the soil matrix.
Mutations associated with lamivudine‐resistance in therapy‐naïve hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients with and without HIV co‐infection: Implications for antiretroviral therapy in HBV and HIV co‐infected South African patients

This was an exploratory study to investigate lamivudine‐resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains in selected lamivudine‐naïve HBV carriers with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co‐infection in South African patients. Thirty‐five lamivudine‐naïve HBV infected patients with or without HIV co‐infection were studied: 15 chronic HBV mono‐infected patients and 20 HBV–HIV co‐infected patients. The latter group was further sub‐divided into 13 occult HBV (HBsAg‐negative) and 7 overt HBV (HBsAg‐ positive) patients. HBsAg, anti‐HBs, anti‐HBc, and anti‐HIV 1/2 were determined as part of routine diagnosis using Axsym assays (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL). Serum samples were PCR amplified with HBV reverse transcriptase (RT) primers, followed by direct sequencing across the tyrosine–methionine–aspartate–aspartate (YMDD) motif of the major catalytic region in the C domain of the HBV RT enzyme. HBV viral load was performed with Amplicor HBV Monitor® test v2.0 (Roche Diagnostics, Penzberg, Germany). HBV lamivudine‐resistant strains were detected in 3 of 15 mono‐infected chronic hepatitis B patients and 10 of 20 HBV–HIV co‐infected patients. To the best of our knowledge, this constitutes the first report of HBV lamivudine‐resistant strains in therapy‐naïve HBV–HIV co‐infected patients. The HBV viral loads for mono‐infected and co‐infected patients ranged from 3.32 × 102 to 3.82 × 107 and <200 to 4.40 × 103 copies/ml, respectively. It remains to be seen whether such pre‐existing antiviral mutations could result in widespread emergence of HBV resistant strains when lamivudine‐containing highly active antiretroviral (ARV) treatment (HAART) regimens become widely applied in South Africa, as this is likely to have potential implications in the management of HBV–HIV co‐infected patients. J. Med. Virol. 79:1750–1754, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.