Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relations between work centrality, psychological contracts, and job attitudes: The influence of age

The current study sought to explain a largely overlooked theme in psychological contract literature, that is, how individual factors are related to formation of psychological contract. It investigated the relationship between work centrality, psychological contracts, and job attitudes. It was expected that people with higher work centrality would be less likely to have a transactional contract and more likely to have a relational contract. Furthermore, it was expected that psychological contract mediates the relations between work centrality and job attitudes. Finally, we expected age to moderate the relations between work centrality and the psychological contract, with stronger relations for older workers than for younger workers. Based on life span psychology, it was argued that work centrality becomes an important factor for older workers in deciding whether or not to invest in the relationship with the organization. The study was conducted among 465 employees in a Dutch health care organization. Structural equation models supported the mediating effect of psychological contract types in the relations between work centrality and three job attitudes (work engagement, job satisfaction, and turnover intention). Moreover, it was found that the relations between work centrality and psychological contract were indeed stronger for older workers than for younger workers.
Modeling and prediction of the mechanical properties of woven laminates by the finite element method

The paper presents a review of the prediction methods for the mechanical properties of woven fabric laminates by the finite element method. Woven fabrics usually present orthogonal interlaced yarns according to different architectures: here plain-weave and twill weave are considered. A reference volume or unit cell and appropriate boundary conditions to enforce continuity and periodicity in stresses and strains are initially defined. Three-dimensional finite element models are developed and used to predict stiffness and damage evolution up to final rupture of the model laminate. The computational models include several parameters affecting stiffness and strength of woven composites, such the crimp ratio, the weave architecture, the fiber volume fraction and the mechanical characteristics of the constituents. Results of the computational approach and of parallel experimental investigations on carbon fiber reinforced epoxy laminates are compared.
On using feature descriptors as visual words for object detection within X-ray baggage security screening

Here we explore the use of various feature point descriptors as visual word variants within a Bag-of-Visual-Words (BoVW) representation scheme for image classification based threat detection within baggage security X-ray imagery. Using a classical BoVW model with a range of feature point detectors and descriptors, supported by both Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest classification, we illustrate the current performance capability of approaches following this image classification paradigm over a large X-ray baggage imagery data set. An optimal statistical accuracy of 0.94 (true positive: 83%; false positive: 3.3%) is achieved using a FAST-SURF feature detector and descriptor combination for a firearms detection task. Our results indicate comparative levels of performance for BoVW based approaches for this task over extensive variations in feature detector, feature descriptor, vocabulary size and final classification approach. We further demonstrate a by-product of such approaches in using feature point density as a simple measure of image complexity available as an integral part of the overall classification pipeline. The performance achieved characterises the potential for BoVW based approaches for threat object detection within the future automation of X-ray security screening against other contemporary approaches in the field.
Are Maternal Thyroid Autoantibodies Generated by PCBs the Missing Link to Impaired Development of the Brain ?

In her interesting review addressing endocrine disruption and the developing brain, Colborn (2004) asked rightly for special attention to the role of a disruption of thyroid hormones and thyroid hormone metabolism, which negatively influence early development of the fetal brain. As mechanisms of action, chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were discussed in a dose-related way; the higher the exposure level of the mother, the more problems of brain development will be found in the baby (Colborn 2004). However, this is not always true. Patandin et al. (1999) found a four-point decline in IQ at 4 years of age in relation to maternal PCB levels in the Netherlands. In a followup study of Faroese children at 7 years of age, Grandjean et al. (1997) found no relation of PCBs with cognitive impairment; the levels of PCBs were almost 4 times higher in the Faroese population than in the Dutch population (Longnecker et al. 2003). One explanation of the missing link might be that effects of PCBs are not directly toxic but instead are toxic through immunomodulatory mechanisms in the mother. In a comment on the impact of maternal PCB and dioxin exposure on the neonate’s thyroid hormone status, Vulsma (2000) noted that PCBs affect the generation of autoantibodies against thyroid tissue [e.g., thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab)]. In a study in Slovakia, Langer et al. (1998) described an increase in TPO-Ab in relation to PCB exposure. These antibodies do pass through the placenta. An important risk factor for impaired infant development is a low free thyroxine (fT4) concentration in early pregnancy; particularly at risk are the mothers with low fT4 and high TPO-Ab titers. These antibodies are found in 10% of (euthyroid) women at 12 weeks’ gestation in the Netherlands (Pop et al. 1995, 1999). To my knowledge, none of the studies on effects of PCBs in human pregnancy have reported data on maternal TPO-Ab titers. If the findings reported by Colborn (2004) can be explained by autoimmune processes that cause low fT4 in the mother and negatively affect her developing baby, then it seems more logical that prenatal PCB exposure is related to developmental impairment instead of the amount of PCBs transferred by breast milk after birth. I agree with Colborn (2004) that all women who plan to become pregnant should be evaluated for thyroid hormone status. The author declares she has no competing financial interests.
How Not to Network a Nation: The Uneasy History of the Soviet Internet

In a thorough and witty fashion, Benjamin Peters’s book addresses a simple, yet profound question—why wasn’t there a Soviet internet, in the sense of an expansive but decentralized information network? The idea of the book began with a CIA report about the Soviets creating a unified information network. Although the Soviet Union did not pursue decentralized networks, it did hope to interweave information technologies into its socialist paradigm. As Peters argues, the reason the Soviets did not build their own internet was neither the incompatibility of their rigid state structure and command economy with flexible information networks, nor a lack of scientific insight or technological creativity. Rather, this story reveals the importance of hidden social networks and contingent institutional interests, which are explored by Peters through the epistemologically potent concept of heterarchy (expounded in 1945 by cybernetician Warren McCulloch), an organizational form characterized by “multiple competing regimes of evaluation” (p. 11). In the cold war, cybernetics enjoyed a warm reception in many countries, and it often was invested with hopes for stabilizing and rationalizing governance. In the first chapter, Peters outlines an international history of cybernetics, describing the shape it took in England, France, Chile, Argentina, and the Soviet Union. In the USSR, cybernetics moved from exclusion to center stage through subtle discursive strategies employed by leading scientists, in order to refashion the discipline so that it fit into the dialectical materialist paradigm. Peters also outlines the system of the Soviet planned economy, pointing to various contemporary paths to reform, one of which envisioned cybernetic optimization initiatives as central. The goal of creating a national electronic system to improve economic control and planning was often discussed during the 1960s. Small projects were implemented, but large-scale national plans never came together due to tensions between civil and military specialists, and controversies between financial and planning authorities, as well as various accidents of history. This book centers on the OGAS project (All-Nation Network of Automated Management Systems) led by V. Glushkov, that was to optimize the processing of information, thereby improving planning procedures in particular and bureaucratic governance in general. The project addressed political and social concerns, and it had to include information from details about workers’ activities and office space to information on sociopolitical and ideological processes for optimal management of society. The system was conceived of as an open, decentralized, worker-oriented network, where anyone having access could input information. The magniT E C H N O L O G Y A N D C U L T U R E
Antenatal Care Utilization and Its Associated Factorsamong Pregnant Women in Boricha District, SouthernEthiopia

Consequences of pregnancy and childbirth are still the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Antenatal care is one of the most effective interventions in reducing maternal mortality in the developing world. Hence, this study assessed the antenatal care utilization and its associated factors among pregnant women in Boricha district, southern Ethiopia. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from January, 2015 to October 2015. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 626 women. Data were collected through structured and interviewer administered questionnaires. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. A significant percentage 477 (76.2%) of the respondents were ever attended antenatal care. The educational status of the respondents and occupation of their partners were significantly associated with antenatal care utilization. Number of pregnancy, number of live birth, place of delivery and the profession of birth attendants were also significantly associated with antenatal care utilization. A significant percentage of respondents were ever attended antenatal care. Community mobilization and intensive utilization of community health agents are recommended to enhance the utilization of antenatal care.
Volatility Modelling of CO2 Emission Allowance Spot Prices with Regime-Switching GARCH Models

I compare the performance of solution methods in solving a standard real business cycle model with labor market search frictions. Under the conventional calibration, the model is solved by the projection method using the Chebyshev polynomials as its basis, and the perturbation methods up to third order in both levels and logs. Evaluated by two accuracy tests, the projection approximation achieves the highest degree of accuracy, closely followed by the third order perturbation in levels. Although different in accuracy, all the approximated solutions produce simulated moments similar in value.
Conflict Resolution Strategies in Non-government Secondary Schools in Benue State, Nigeria

This study investigated perceived CRSs (conflict resolution strategies) for the resolution of conflicts in non-government secondary schools in Benue State, Nigeria. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided this study. Proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used in drawing 15% of the population which gave a total of 500 respondents. The instrument used was CRSs questionnaire. This was used to collect data from respondents comprising principals, teachers, proprietors, and students. A four-point scale was used for the ratings of the respondents. Mean and SD (standard deviation) were used to answer the research questions. T-test statistic was used to test hypotheses 1 and 2, while a one-way ANOVA (analyses of variance) was used to test hypothesis 3 at significance level of 0.05. The major findings of the study are unnecessary interferences with the administration of the school by the proprietors and arbitrary increase of school fees by the school management, among others, constitute major sources of conflict. Findings on strategies for resolving conflicts include: agreeing on the procedure taken for the resolution of conflicts, encouraging parties to work together, taking staff and students’ comments and suggestions, and involvement of school disciplinary committee and public complaint commission, among others. Based on the findings, recommendations were made.
Challenges of Traditional and Agile Software Processes

Software processes have evolved significantly since software engineers started to follow a disciplined flow of activities to gain quality and productivity in development. Several process models, methodologies, methods and/or software development practices have been proposed, adopted or rejected that differ at the ceremony level. For many years, there have been conflicts over whether to follow a totally traditional approach (“classical”) or to become more agile. Each approach has its strengths and weaknesses, and each has followers and critics. However, the ongoing diversity of software projects and the advancement of technology has led to debates about what kinds of software process approaches are more context-effective. This paper surveys existing traditional and agile processes and discusses their challenges.
Biochemical and molecular characterization of two 11S globulin isoforms from coconut and their expression analysis during seed development

Cocosin, the 11S globulin of coconut, is the major storage protein that accumulates in the endosperm during seed development. This work describes the gene structure, derived amino acid sequence, structural homologies, and developmental expression profile of cocosin. Two full-length cocosin cDNAs spanning 1,641 and 1,623 nucleotides and encoding for 466 amino acids were isolated through PCR cloning strategy coupled with 5′ and 3′-RACE technologies. Both sequences displayed 92.3% nucleotide identity and 91.5% amino acid identity. They both exhibit the following conserved regions among 11S globulins/ glutelins of various seed plants―signal peptide targeting storage vacuole deposition, highly conserved asparaginyl splice site dividing the polypeptides into acidic (32 kDa) and basic (21 kDa) subunits, bicupin domain and four cysteine residues involved in intraand inter-chain disulfide bonding. Phylogenetic analysis showed that cocosin is more closely related to Elaeis guineensis glutelin, both of which form a distinct clade in the tree between the divergent clades of dicot and cereal 11S globulins. The predicted three-dimensional structure of the cocosin exhibits the bicupin domain separated by a less conserved loop. Relative PCR and western blot analysis showed that synthesis of cocosin started at 6–7 months after pollination (MAP) and increased continuously up to 8–9 MAP. Western blot analysis further showed that majority of cocosin was deposited at 11–12 MAP. Keywords—cocosin, 11S globulins, Cocos nucifera L. , storage protein, seed maturation, developmental expression
Effect of Atomoxetine on Behavior of Outbred Mice in the Enrichment Discrimination Test

Treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with medications is helpful in less than 60% of cases suggesting the necessity of development of novel drugs. The most accepted animal model of the disease is outbred spontaneously hypertensive rat strain. It was recently found in a novel enrichment discrimination test that the rat strain includes attentionally-low and -high phenotypes and clinically efficient drug for the treatment of the disorder atomoxetine is capable of ameliorating the enrichment discrimination by the attentionally-low rats. The present study aimed to test the generality of these findings in outbred CD-1 mice assessed in the same experimental design. The frequency distribution of the enrichment discrimination ratio differed from the curve expected under the normality hypothesis and had a bimodal shape suggesting the existence of attentionally-low and -high mouse phenotypes. Atomoxetine (3 mg/kg, orally, once daily for 4 days) selectively enhanced enrichment discrimination in mice of attentionally-low phenotype only. The present results generalize and extend findings previously reported in spontaneously hypertensive rats and suggest that the present model could be useful in studies of the neurobiological mechanisms of attention deficiency in rodents and for screening of novel drug candidates for treatment of attention deficit disorder.
The Mediating Role of Materialism on the Relationship between Values and Consumption.

The main aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between values and consumption, and to adduce the mediating roles of materialism in this association. Values have been investigated through Schwartz's main value dimensions in his Theory of Human Values: Self-Enhancement, Self-Transcendence, Openness to Change and Conservation. Through the scope of Homer and Kahle's Value-Attitude-Behavior model, the multiple relations and nomological network between the variables of individual values, materialism, and shopping were inves- tigated. The study was conducted on 485 participants (314 females, 171 males), whose ages ranged between 18 and 66. The data was gathered through the administration of surveys including a demographic information form, Schwartz's Portrait Values Questionnaire, the Materialism Scale and the Consumption Habits Survey. In order to test the hypotheses, partial correlation analyses and hierarchical linear mediated regression analyses were used as statistical methods. The results showed that shopping frequency is positively related to Self En- hancement, while its associations with Self-Transcendence and Conservation were negative. In the analyses conducted to reveal the mediating role of materialism between the values of Self-Enhancement, Self-Tran- scendence and Conservation with frequency of shopping, it was found that when materialism was entered into the regression equation, the standardized regression coefficients of the values became insignificant, showing that materialism fully mediated the relationship between values and the frequency of shopping.
Learning a Foreign Language through Text and Memorisation : The Chinese Learners ’ Perceptions

Text memorization is a widely used yet under-explored language practice in foreign language teaching and learning in China. The research addresses the need for a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the practices and beliefs of Chinese learners regarding the use of text memorization in foreign language learning and teaching. This paper reports on findings from semi-structured interviews concentrating on the perceptions of text memorisation as a way of learning from the learners’ perspective. The data was collected from a group of Chinese learners and teachers (N=62) affiliated with 15 schools and universities at three different educational levels, i.e. junior high, senior high and college, which constitute the major part of foreign language education in China. Qualitative analyses of the data reveal that the practice was perceived to be beneficial not only because it assists learning in a number of ways but because it affords the learners psychological satisfaction built on their sense of achievement and confidence.
Asymmetry in the Shapley Value with Applications to Variable Selection

An econometric or statistical model may undergo a marginal gain when a new variable is admitted, and marginal loss if an existing variable is removed. The value of a variable to the model is quantified by its expected marginal gain and marginal loss. Under a prior belief that all candidate variables should be treated fairly, we derive a few formulas which evaluate the overall performance of each variable. One formula is identical to that for the Shapley value. However, it is not symmetric with respect to marginal gain and marginal loss; moreover, the Shapley value favors the latter. Thus we propose a unbiased solution. Two empirical studies are included: the first being a multi-criteria model selection for a dynamic panel regression; the second being an analysis of effect on hourly wage given by additional years of schooling.
Cloning and characterization of recombinant Hc-CPL-1 from gastrointestinal nematode Haemonchus contortus isolate from goat ( Capra hircus ) population in Penang , Malaysia

Cathepsin L (CPL) cysteine protease is a proteolytic enzyme that involves in many biological processes in a wide range of organisms. In free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, CPL plays important roles in embryogenesis and development processes. The CPL protein is also believed to have a role in degradation of blood meal in the gut of parasitic nematodes. Considering this enzyme might play the same functions in parasitic nematodes, CPL became a potential candidate for vaccination against Haemonchus contortus, a gastrointestinal nematode of small ruminants. H. contortus has been shown to have variations in term of morphology and genetic materials that correlated with different hosts and geographical areas. These variations could hinder the development of effective vaccines. Thus, the present study was conducted to clone and characterize recombinant Hc-CPL-1 from H. contortus isolated from a goat population in Penang, Malaysia. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify target complimentary DNA (cDNA) from total RNA and protein expression using Escherichia coli expression system was performed from constructed cDNA clone library. The identity of each protein band was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis followed by De novo sequencing and database matching. The protein structure and its evolutionary relationship were also studied using several bioinformatics approaches. Basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) analysis of the strain retrieved from clone library showed 99% sequence similarity to the Haemonchus cathepsin L cysteine protease and a 47 kDA protein was successfully expressed. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that this protease has a close relationship with Dv-CPL-1, Sv-CPL-1 and Ce-CPL-1. These data might provide an insight on manipulating this enzyme for future novel vaccine development.