Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Telephone surveillance in call centers: prescriptions for reducing strain

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine telephone surveillance in call centers and the role that job control plays in reducing the strain associated with the practice.Design/methodology/approach – Supervisory practices influencing job control – a form of worker empowerment – were viewed by the study as a key variable mitigating the long‐standing relationship between telephone surveillance and work strain. As part of a field experiment, a sample of 163 service representatives completed a questionnaire measuring strain, perceived degree of surveillance, and job control.Findings – Correlational and path analyses indicated that the strain associated with telephone surveillance could be explained by a loss of perceived control, even though service representatives had no direct control over the surveillance process itself.Research limitations/implications – These findings support previous research emphasizing the importance of task control during service encounters and suggest that supervisory practic.
Propagation Between On-Body Antennas

The theory of propagating waves near a surface is reviewed with an eye to gain insight into the mechanisms involved, and to provide analytical-based models, for power-efficient on-body propagation. The Zenneck wave, and in particular the Norton wave, are appraised as candidate mechanisms for the propagation. For flush-mounted (ldquoband aidrdquo) antennas, desired for on-body sensors, the Norton wave is the only direct propagation mechanism between the sensors. The Norton wave fits very well to simulation results presented here, and comparisons are also made with available published physical experiments, although these measurements typically feature the optical paths of elevated, or non-flush, antennas.
Technical Standards Coalitions for Network Goods

We examine the incentives of firms to form coalitions based on adherence to common technical standards. Many network goods as well as non-network goods with close complements exhibit "network externalities" -- i.e., the value of such goods increases with the size of sales of compatible products. Thus, firms have incentives to be in coalitions of compatible goods that share the same technical "standards. " This incentive contrasts with the traditional incentive to differentiate each product and be a dominant player in a particular market "niche. " This paper analyzes the interaction of these opposite incentives in the creation of technical standards coalitions. Despite no inherent differences in the features of the products and no cost differences, we find that often at equilibrium the market is highly concentrated with coalitions of widely varying sizes charging very different prices.
The transcriptional co-repressor TLE3 regulates myogenic differentiation by repressing the activity of the MyoD transcription factor

Satellite cells are skeletal muscle stem cells that provide myonuclei for postnatal muscle growth, maintenance, and repair/regeneration in adults. Normally, satellite cells are mitotically quiescent, but they are activated in response to muscle injury, in which case they proliferate extensively and exhibit up-regulated expression of the transcription factor MyoD, a master regulator of myogenesis. MyoD forms a heterodimer with E proteins through their basic helix-loop-helix domain, binds to E boxes in the genome and thereby activates transcription at muscle-specific promoters. The central role of MyoD in muscle differentiation has increased interest in finding potential MyoD regulators. Here we identified transducin-like enhancer of split (TLE3), one of the Groucho/TLE family members, as a regulator of MyoD function during myogenesis. TLE3 was expressed in activated and proliferative satellite cells in which increased TLE3 levels suppressed myogenic differentiation, and, conversely, reduced TLE3 levels promoted myogenesis with a concomitant increase in proliferation. We found that, via its glutamine- and serine/proline-rich domains, TLE3 interferes with MyoD function by disrupting the association between the basic helix-loop-helix domain of MyoD and E proteins. Our findings indicate that TLE3 participates in skeletal muscle homeostasis by dampening satellite cell differentiation via repression of MyoD transcriptional activity.
Does Board Diversity Really Matter? Gender does not, but citizenship does

We study the impact of female board representation as well as citizenship on corporate performance based on a sample of the largest listed firms in the Nordic countries as well as Germany. We also seek to determine the variation of board structures using factor analysis. We find no support for any performance impact relating to female board representation. However, we find an impact of board citizenship on performance showing that board members with a background from common law have a significant positive influence on corporate performance measured as ROA, ROE and ROCE. Consistent with other studies we also document that large boards impact corporate performance negatively. Moreover we also show that data set on boards can be explained by four underlying factors. This article adds insight to board determinants of corporate performance as well as the classification of board variation. Specifically, our results support the view that increasing the proportion of board members from common law countries would be beneficial for the largest German and Nordic listed companies.
CEO Turnover, Information Uncertainty, and Debt Contracting

CEO turnovers are important corporate events that can lead to significant changes within the firm. We find that CEO departures are associated with a subsequent increase in bank loan financing. The negative effect that CEO departures have on borrowing costs is largely driven by forced CEO turnovers. Following such departures, firms pay higher loan spreads, see an increase in covenants, and are more likely to be subject to collateral requirements, when compared to matched non-turnover and voluntary turnover firms. Evidence suggests that asset substitution and changes in accounting information quality help to explain the observed worsened terms following forced dismissals. On the other hand, more traditional voluntary departures are unrelated to changes in price and non-price loan terms.
Seasonal changes in the negative feedback regulation of the secretion of the gonadotrophins by testosterone and inhibin in rams.

Three experiments were conducted with castrated Romney Marsh rams (wethers) to investigate the ability of testosterone and inhibin to suppress the secretion of LH and FSH during the breeding and the non-breeding seasons. In Experiment 1, wethers (n=5/group) were treated every 12 h for 7 days with oil or 16 mg testosterone propionate (i.m.) and were then given two i.v. injections either of vehicle or of 0.64 microg/kg human recombinant inhibin A (hr-inhibin) 6 h apart. Blood samples were collected for 4 h before inhibin or vehicle treatment and for 6 h afterwards for the assay of LH and FSH. In Experiments 2 and 3 wethers underwent hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection (HPD) and were given 125 ng GnRH i.v. every 2 h. In Experiment 2, HPD wethers (n=3/group) were injected (i.m.) every 12 h with oil or testosterone and blood samples were collected over 9 h before treatment and 7 days after treatment. In Experiment 3, HPD (n=5/group) wethers were treated with vehicle or hr-inhibin, as in Experiment 1, after treatment with oil, or 4, 8 or 16 mg testosterone twice daily for 7 days. Blood samples were collected over 4 h before treatment with vehicle or hr-inhibin and for 6 h afterwards. Treatment of wethers with testosterone (Experiment 1) resulted in a significant decrease in the plasma concentrations of LH and number of LH pulses per hour but the magnitude of these reductions did not differ between seasons. Testosterone treatment had no effect on LH secretion in GnRH-pulsed HPD wethers in either season and treatment with hr-inhibin did not affect LH secretion in wethers or HPD wethers in any instance. Plasma concentrations of FSH were significantly (P<0.05) reduced following treatment with testosterone alone during the breeding season but not during the non-breeding season. FSH levels were reduced to a greater extent by treatment with hr-inhibin but this effect was not influenced by season. During the non-breeding season, the effect of hr-inhibin to suppress FSH secretion was enhanced in the presence of testosterone. These experiments demonstrate that the negative feedback actions of testosterone on the secretion of LH in this breed of rams occurs at the hypothalamic level and is not influenced by season. In contrast, both testosterone and inhibin act on the pituitary gland to suppress the secretion of FSH and these responses are affected by season. Testosterone and inhibin synergize at the pituitary to regulate FSH secretion during the non-breeding season but not during the breeding season.
Intervertebral Stiffness of the Spine Is Increased by Evoked Contraction of Transversus Abdominis and the Diaphragm: In Vivo Porcine Studies

Study Design. In vivo porcine study of intervertebral kinematics. Objectives. This study investigated the effect of transversus abdominis and diaphragm activity, and increased intra-abdominal pressure on intervertebral kinematics in porcine lumbar spines. Background. Studies of trunk muscle recruitment in humans suggest that diaphragm and transversus abdominis activity, and the associated intra-abdominal pressure contribute to the control of intervertebral motion. However, this has not been tested in vivo. Methods. Relative intervertebral motion of the L3 and L4 vertebrae and the stiffness at L4 were measured in response to displacements of the L4 vertebra imposed via a device fixed to the L4 vertebral body. In separate trials, diaphragm and transversus abdominis activity was evoked by stimulation of the phrenic nerves and via electrodes threaded through the abdominal wall. Results. When intra-abdominal pressure was increased by diaphragm or transversus abdominis stimulation, the relative intervertebral displacement of the L3 and L4 vertebrae was reduced and the stiffness of L4 was increased for caudal displacements. There was no change in either parameter for rostral displacements. In separate trials, the diaphragm crurae and the fascial attachments of transversus abdominis were cut, but intra-abdominal pressure was increased. In these trials, the reduction in intervertebral motion was similar to trials with intact attachments for caudal motion, but was increased for rostral trials. Conclusions. The results of these studies indicate that elevated intra-abdominal pressure, and contraction of diaphragm and transversus abdominis provide a mechanical contribution to the control of spinal intervertebral stiffness. Furthermore, the effect is modified by the muscular attachments to the spine.
“If it helps …” the use of microarray technology in prenatal testing: Patient and partners reflections

The objective was to gain insight into the experiences of women and their partners diagnosed with a fetal abnormality on prenatal ultrasound examination and receiving genetic testing including microarray. Twenty‐five semi‐structured interviews were performed with women +/− their partners after receiving the results of prenatal genetic testing. Framework analysis was performed to elicit themes and subthemes. Five main themes were recognized; diagnosis, genetic testing, family and support, reflections of the treatment received and emotions. Our results showed that women recall being told about QFPCR for trisomy 13, 18, and 21 but often no further testing. Women expected the conventional karyotype and microarray result would be normal following a normal QFPCR result. There were frequent misconceptions by couples regarding aspects of counseling/testing. Communication of variants of unknown (clinical) significance (VOUS) presents a particularly difficult challenge. Good clear communication by health care professionals is paramount. When counseling women and their partners for fetal chromosomal testing it should be reinforced that although the most common, trisomy 13, 18, and 21 only account for some of the chromosomal changes resulting in abnormal scan findings. Couples should have literature to take home summarizing scan anomalies and reinforcing information about genetic testing. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Neglected Role for Organizational Design: Supporting the Credibility of Delegation in Organizations

Managers delegate the right to make decisions to employees because delegation economizes on scarce managerial attention, fosters the use of local knowledge, and positively impacts employee motivation. This is particularly important in knowledge-intensive organizations that operate in uncertain environments, where employees have specialized knowledge and need to be responsive to local changes. Managers, however, often renege on delegation, particularly in high-uncertainty contexts, because they are tempted to adjust past decisions based on new information. We argue that employees’ knowledge that management may renege on delegated decision rights has negative motivational consequences that are costly in knowledge-intensive organizations. As a consequence, making delegation credible is essential for sustaining the advantages that flow from delegation. Organizational design can play a key role in making delegation credible, supporting the value creation caused by delegated discretion. Our theoretical argument sheds new light on relationships among organizational design, credible delegation, and firm-level value creation.
Survey on Trypanosoma spp. infection of dogs in Gabon and its epidemiological implications for sleeping sickness.

This survey screened native dogs (Canis familiaris) in Gabon (Africa) for trypanosome infection. A total of 376 apparently healthy dogs, divided into two populations, were examined. The first group included 252 semi-domesticated dogs inhabiting 16 villages of the Ogooué-Ivindo Province, a rural inland area in northeast Gabon, and the second group 124 dogs belonging to protection companies or families from Libreville (n = 113) and Port-Gentil (n = 11), in the coastal area of Gabon. Both study areas include active or former foci of sleeping sickness in Gabon. Molecular testing (polymerase chain reaction) was performed on blood samples from dogs in both groups. All dogs were negative for T. congolense ("savanna type" and "forest type"). Eighteen dogs (4.7%), however, tested positive for T. brucei s.l. : 3% (8/252) were from the Ogooué-Ivindo Province, and 8% (10/124) from the coastal area. These animals may be potential reservoirs of the parasite T. brucei gambiense, responsible for human African trypanosomiasis. This hypothesis, as well as the role of the dog as a sentinel of human infection by T. brucei gambiense, should be investigated in further studies.
The development of a Guanxi framework

Relationship marketing is currently an important topic in the marketing literature. The use of relationships in marketing and business generally varies around the world. In the Chinese‐based economies much is made of Guanxi which provides the relationship building for interpersonal relationships. In this paper the foundations of Guanxi are described in the form of a four‐stage model. As Guanxi is a particular form of relationship in the Chinese culture and underpins much of the business carried out in China‐based economies, it is compared to relationship building in Western cultures. The paper adds to the literature on relationships and how they are developed and is important to the literature on relationship marketing applied in the Chinese context. It also helps the practitioner, who wishes to develop relationships in Chinese‐based economics, by providing guidelines on how the Chinese like to do business.
An empirical study of the influence of intensity of competition on the deployment of contemporary management accounting practices and managerial techniques in Egyptian firms

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of managers’ perception of the importance of aspects of competition on levels of deployment of contemporary management accounting practices (CMAPs) and analyzing that impact on levels of implementation of innovative managerial practices (IMP) and advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs) in use in Egyptian manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach - A survey of manufacturing firms operating in the three biggest industrial areas in Egypt was carried out in 2005. Data were collected through interviews, using structured questionnaire forms, which were carried out with managers of the surveyed firms. Findings - The research findings indicate that within the six aspects, quality came first in ranking, followed by customer service and delivery, second and third, then innovation, price and flexibility respectively. Interestingly, respondents rank highly the importance of all aspects of competition included. Findings also show high levels of implementation of CMAPs and IMPs in the surveyed firms, while levels of implementation of CMTs are found to be below average. Originality/value - The paper adds to the knowledge of contemporary management accounting practices and managerial techniques in Egyptian firms.
Consequences of Web-based service quality: Uncovering a multi-faceted chain of effects

Evidence from traditional service settings shows that service quality is a major driver of customer satisfaction, trust, and loyalty, which ultimately lead to profitability. Regarding business on the Internet, many argue that trust and loyalty become even more important for long-term success. But does quality play the same influential role in the context of Web-based services, where it is said that price is king and competitors just one click away? In the present study, the authors develop a structural equation model that links Web-based service quality to a broad set of consequences.The model is tested with a large sample drawn from three different Web-based service domains. The results provide insights into the mechanisms leading from Web-based service quality to outcome variables. Specifically, they point to a multifaceted chain of effects, with trust playing a key mediating role.
The role of technology readiness in customers' perception and adoption of self‐service technologies

Purpose – This study aims to examine how technology readiness (TR) influences customers' perception and adoption of self‐service technologies (SSTs) through development of an empirical model to explore the relationships among TR, perceived service quality, satisfaction and behavioral intentions toward SSTs.Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework is proposed to suggest the links between the four constructs. Extant research and concepts from various fields, including marketing, psychology and information system (IS), are reviewed, deriving six hypotheses. Data from SST users is examined through structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings – Results indicate TR influences perceived SST service quality and behavioral intentions, while perceived SST service quality has a positive impact on customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions toward SSTs.Research limitations/implications – This study represents an early attempt at explaining the role of TR in customer SST usage. Future research directio.
A Very Compact RF MEMS Switch For Frequencies Up To 50 GHz

A scaled, smaller version of the recently published Toggle Switch, an extremely broad band and highly linear ohmic RF MEMS switch for a frequency range from DC to 50 GHz, is presented. The electromagnetic simulation, the fabrication process, and measurement results of the Small Toggle Switch are given. The switch in its smaller geometry inherits the outstanding RF performance which could even be extended with an insertion loss of 0.95 dB and an isolation of 16 dB up to 50 GHz. These measurement results are in good agreement with the simulation. Power measurements (2 W) in the frequency range from 8 to 18 GHz did not show a self actuation of the switch.
Managing posttraumatic stress disorder in combat veterans with comorbid traumatic brain injury

Military deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq have been associated with elevated prevalence of both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) among combat veterans. The diagnosis and management of PTSD when a comorbid TBI may also exist presents a challenge to interdisciplinary care teams at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and civilian medical facilities, particularly when the patient reports a history of blast exposure. Treatment recommendations from VA and Department of Defense’s (DOD) recently updated VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Post-Traumatic Stress are considered from the perspective of simultaneously managing comorbid TBI.
A comparison of omeprazole and ranitidine for prophylaxis against aspiration pneumonitis in emergency Caesarean section

One hundred and sixty‐two Chinese women undergoing emergency Caesarean section were allocated at random on admission to the labour ward to receive one of three regimens for orally administered chemoprophylaxis against acid aspiration: ranitidine 150 mg 6 hourly with sodium citrate at induction of anaesthesia, omeprazole 40 mg 12 hourly with sodium citrate, or omeprazole 40 mg 12 hourly alone. Intragastric pH and volume were measured immediately after induction of anaesthesia. Ten patients (17%) in the omeprazole‐only group, three (6%) in the omeprazole and citrate group and one (2%) in the ranitidine group had an intragastric pH < 2.5 and volume > 25 ml (p < 0.05). The use of sodium citrate resulted in higher intragastric pH but larger intragastric volumes (p < 0.05). The sodium citrate and ranitidine regimen was the most cost‐effective among the three.
Linearly χ‐bounding (P6, C4)‐free graphs*

Given two graphs H 1 and H 2 , a graph G is ( H 1 , H 2 ) ‐free if it contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to H 1 or H 2 . Let P t and C s be the path on t vertices and the cycle on s vertices, respectively. In this paper we show that for any ( P 6 , C 4 ) ‐free graph G it holds that χ ( G ) ≤ ( 3 / 2 ) ω ( G ) , where χ ( G ) and ω ( G ) are the chromatic number and clique number of G , respectively. Our bound is attained by several graphs, for instance, the 5‐cycle, the Petersen graph, the Petersen graph with an additional universal vertex, and all 4 ‐critical ( P 6 , C 4 ) ‐free graphs other than K 4 (see Hell and Huang [Discrete Appl. Math. 216 (2017), pp. 211–232]). The new result unifies previously known results on the existence of linear χ ‐binding functions for several graph classes. Our proof is based on a novel structure theorem on ( P 6 , C 4 ) ‐free graphs that do not contain clique cutsets. Using this structure theorem we also design a polynomial time 3 ∕ 2 ‐approximation algorithm for coloring ( P 6 , C 4 ) ‐free graphs. Our algorithm computes a coloring with ( 3 / 2 ) ω ( G ) colors for any ( P 6 , C 4 ) ‐free graph G in O ( n 2 m ) time.