Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arbeitszeitwünsche und ihre kurzfristige Realisierung

In the debate on working time there have been recent new developments and various concepts of optional working hours have been in the discussion. This has been triggered by the large numbers of workers in Germany who wish to change their working hours so that the demands of non work-related activities or caring responsibilities can be brought into balance with the demands of work. While differences between actual and preferred working hours have been relatively well researched, little is known about the individual successes in adjusting real working time to desired hours of work over time. By means of longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), this article presents first empirical evidence and thus contributes towards closing this gap in research. Our findings indicate that more than two fifths of all employees who wish to change their weekly working time by at least five hours are able to achieve a real change of at least three hours in the short term. Most successful are those wishing to change their place of work and seeking to achieve bigger changes to their working time.
Measurement of Energy Efficiency Based on Economic Foundations

Energy efficiency policy is seen as a very important activity by almost all policy makers. In practical energy policy analysis, the typical indicator used as a proxy for energy efficiency is energy intensity. However, this simple indicator is not necessarily an accurate measure given changes in energy intensity are a function of changes in several factors as well as ‘true’ energy efficiency; hence, it is difficult to make conclusions for energy policy based upon simple energy intensity measures. Related to this, some published academic papers over the last few years have attempted to use empirical methods to measure the efficient use of energy based on the economic theory of production. However, these studies do not generally provide a systematic discussion of the theoretical basis nor the possible parametric empirical approaches that are available for estimating the level of energy efficiency. The objective of this paper, therefore, is to sketch out and explain from an economic perspective the theoretical framework as well as the empirical methods for measuring the level of energy efficiency. Additionally, in the second part of the paper, some of the empirical studies that have attempted to measure the energy efficiency using such an economics approach are summarised and discussed.
Iraqi University EFL Learners’ Acceptance of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use Technology (UTAUT) E-learning Models

: Recent advancement in technology not only has facilitated the learning process but also increased the access to new and modern tools of electronic learning (E-learning). However, studies in this field are focused mainly on the attitudes of teachers and the different levels of required software and hardware. Therefore, this study aims to determine the factors that may influence the acceptance of E-learning by English foreign language (EFL) students in Iraq, as well as to identify the kinds of barriers associated with E-learning. Building on the literature on technology acceptance model and unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, this study incorporated the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, Information Technology IT knowledge, perceived playfulness, and facilitating conditions as independent variables. Data of the study were collected using a questionnaire which was distributed to 91 respondents. The findings indicated that the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, IT knowledge, and perceived playfulness significantly influenced the attitude of Iraqi EFL learners to use E-learning. These were followed by attitude to use E-learning and its facilitating condition influence user behavior while technical infrastructure, lack of training and motivation were the main barriers to E-learning use.
University of Groningen Neuropsychological and emotional correlates of personality traits in Parkinson ' s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is, apart from the well-known motor symptoms, also characterized by neuropsychological and emotional disturbances. However, patients also often present with a personality profile of low Novelty Seeking and high Harm Avoidance. This profile can be identified as the disease emerges, which raises the question whether these traits correlate with more fundamental neuropsychological and emotional disturbances. This study determined the neuropsychological and emotional correlates of Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance and two other personality traits that are often considered in PD, i.e. Reward Dependence and Persistence. Forty-three patients and 25 healthy participants were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory, a symptoms of depression questionnaire and neuropsychological tests. PD patients showed a higher Harm Avoidance than healthy participants, which was predicted by symptoms of depression. Groups did not differ regarding Novelty Seeking, Reward Dependence and Persistence. While cognitive flexibility was a predictor of Reward Dependence, Persistence was predicted by divergent thinking and inhibition. Novelty Seeking was not predicted by cognition or emotion. In conclusion, cognition and emotion are selectively related to personality traits in PD. Whereas Harm Avoidance covaries with emotional symptoms, Persistence and Reward Dependence are related to cognition. Alterations in personality, cognition and emotion in PD are thus not independent from each other.
Parkinson's disease: A Review about Pathogenesis, Pharmaceutical Treatment and Experimental Models

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer disease, characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta, accompanied by motor and non-motor symptoms. Idiopathic PD is the most common cause of Parkinsonism (primary Parkinsonism) while, certain medication and different groups of neurological disorder may be causes of secondary Parkinsonism. The presence of intraneuronal proteinaceous cytoplasmic inclusions “Lewy Bodies” and the loss of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons are the main neuropathological hallmarks of PD. However, the etiology of the disease is still undefined; several studies assume that oxidative stress, mitochondrial defects, neuroinflammation, apoptosis and excitotoxicity play vital roles in the pathogenesis and progress of the disease. Experimental models of PD can be induced by several neurotoxins such as 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, 6-hydroxydopamine, rotenone and paraquat which produce neuropathological and neurochemical changes that are identical to those seen in PD. The primary drug for PD treatment is L-dopa; however, drug-induced dyskinesia and motor complications restricted its use as long term treatment. Dopamine agonists are alternative options for initial treatment of PD and have been reported to retard the onset of motor complications. Combination of L-dopa with other medications, such ascatechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors and monoamine oxidase B inhibitors has the ability to alleviate L-dopa-induced motor complications. Anticholinergic drugs can be used to control the symptoms of PD but their cognitive and autonomic side effects make them unsuitable for the elderly.
Agency Cost and Management Behavior: The Role of Performance as a Moderator

The purpose of the current study is to examine the relation between management behavior determinants and agency cost. Moreover, the current study investigates the moderating impact of company performance on such relationship. To achieve the objective of this study, three determinants have been used for management behavior, namely: management ownership, financial leverage, and information asymmetry. The sample of the current study is 27 companies distributed to three sectors: service, bank, and industry sectors in Iraq. The results revealed that there is a significant relationship between management ownership and agency cost; and this relationship is affected by the moderating role of firm performance. The results also confirm there is no relationship between financial leverage and information asymmetry, and agency cost. Besides, there is no impact of company performance on such relationship.
Water acquisition patterns of two wet tropical canopy tree species of French Guiana as inferred from H218O extraction profiles.

Nous avons estime la distribution verticale de l'acquisition de l'eau chez deux especes abondantes de la strate arboree superieure en foret tropicale humide, en saison seche et en saison des pluies, pour des sols qui different par le type de drainage. Nous avons combine une approche basee sur les mesures d'abondance naturelle en 18 O de l'eau dans le sol et dans l'aubier, et une approche basee sur la description de l'extension verticale du systeme racinaire des arbres. Les variations de δ 18 O en fonction de la profondeur ne sont pas monotones, des valeurs similaires de δ 18 O sont observees pour plusieurs horizons de profondeurs distinctes. L'interpretation des profils verticaux d'extraction d'eau n'est possible qu'en combinant les donnees isotopiques et les donnees relatives aux profils de prospection racinaire et de variations saisonnieres d'humidite du sol. Sur le site a drainage vertical libre (DVD), Eperua falcata est capable d'absorber de l'eau jusqu'a 3.0 m de profondeur au moins, alors que l'alimentation en eau de Dicorynia guianensis repose essentiellement sur les horizons superieurs. Sur le site a drainage superficiel et lateral (SLD), le systeme racinaire des deux especes est moins profond, mais Eperua falcata puise tout de meme de l'eau jusqu'a -2.0 m de profondeur. Malgre ces differences de profondeur d'extraction de l'eau, l'etat hydrique des arbres est maintenu constant en saison seche et en saison des pluies. En termes d'adaptation a la secheresse du sol, la strategie d'Eperua falcata pourrait presenter des avantages lors de secheresses exceptionnelles.
Metal Use and Production among Coastal Societies of the Atacama Desert

In this paper, we focus on the study of metal objects associated with populations living on the northern coast of Chile in the Late Intermediate and Late periods (c. ad 1000–1550). Our contribution is based on morphometric and physico-chemical (ICP–AES, PIXE and metallographic sections) analyses of the quintessential coastal metal object: the fish-hook. This study is part of a broader investigation that seeks to understand the organization of mining – metallurgical production systems and their relation with coastal economies and ways of life. We distinguish at least two different traditions, one associated with the Western Valleys area and one with the Arid Desert Coast. These findings expand our understanding of Andean metal making. Furthermore, the presence of a metallurgical tradition within the highly mobile hunter–gatherers of the most arid coast of South America is of great anthropological significance.
A novel approach for modeling bubbling gas–solid fluidized beds

A phenomenological discrete bubble model is proposed to help in the design and dynamic diagnosis of bubbling fluidized beds. An activation region mechanism is presented for bubble formation, making it possible to model large beds in a timely manner. The bubbles are modeled as spherical-cap discrete elements that rise through the emulsion phase that is considered as a continuum. The model accounts for the simultaneous interaction of neighboring bubbles by including the trailing effects due to the wake acceleration force. The coalescence process is not irreversible and therefore, the coalescing bubble pair is free to interact with other rising bubbles originating the splitting phenomena. To validate the model, the simulated dynamics are compared with both experimental and literature data. Time, frequency, and state space analysis are complementarily used with a multiresolution approach based on the empirical method of decomposition to explore the different dynamic scales appearing in both the simulated time series and those obtained from experimental runs. It is concluded that the bubble dynamics interactions play the main role as the driver of the resulting bed dynamics, matching the main features of measured bubble dynamics. Exploding bubble phenomena have been identified by establishing a direct relation between the bubble generation, interaction and eruption, and the measured signals. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
Periodontal Disease And Risk For Pre-Term Birth: A Case-Control Study

ABSTRACT Maternal periodontal infection has been recognizsed as a risk factor for preterm and low birth weight infants. It is hypothesized that pathogens causing periodontal disease might translocate to the amniotic cavity and contribute to triggering an adverse pregnancy outcome. The growing evidence that an infection remote from the foetal-placental unit might have a role in preterm delivery has led to an increased awareness of the potential role of chronic bacterial infections in the body. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of chronic periodontitis might influence the incidence of preterm labour and preterm birth. This study was designed as a hospital-based case-control study. Seventy pregnant women aged 18-40 years, with a single live pregnancy were recruited from the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of a general hospital in Sibenik, Croatia, from March 2013 to March 2014. The case group included: 30 pregnant women who were hospitalized with signs of preterm labour. The control group included 40 normal pregnancy patients, who were analysed for up to 48 h after the delivery of a term baby having a birth weight of more than 1500 g. A full-mouth periodontal examination was performed on all the patients. Information was collected on the demographics, health behaviours, and obstetric and systemic diseases that might have an influence in preterm delivery. The presence of chronic periodontitis tended to be higher in women with a preterm delivery (the case group), with 20 cases (66%), than in the women in the, control group, in which chronic periodontitis was found in 14 cases (35%); this difference reached statistical significance (p≤0.01). The PTB cases had a significantly worse periodontal status than the controls (p≤0.001). From the PTL group, 18 patients delivered preterm, and chronic periodontitis, found in 15 cases (83%), was more prevalent than in the control group. The risk of women having periodontitis or attachment loss ≥ 4 mm developing PTB showed an OR of 3.7 (95% CI: 1.91 to 4.86; P< 0.001). The study shows a significant association between periodontal chronic disease and an adverse pregnancy outcome. Periodontal disease represents a strong, independent risk factor for preterm births, and periodontal prevention and therapy should be a part of preventive prenatal care.
Chapter I Attracting and Retaining Online Buyers : Comparing B 2 B and B 2 C Customers

This chapter addresses similarities and differences in e-commerce needs for customers in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) marketplaces. We discuss how and why customers are attracted to online buying in general and to a supplier in particular for each of these types of markets. We further compare the characteristics of customers who choose to buy online with those who prefer to continue with more 2 Bridges, Goldsmith & Hofacker Copyright © 2005, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited. traditional means of purchasing, providing some possible reasons for observed differences. The customer’s online experience may influence both satisfaction and buying behavior, so we address the antecedents of the experience, including Web site design and the nature of customer involvement with the site. We note the importance of Web site efficacy (usefulness and ease of use) as well as experiential elements of online shopping in customer satisfaction and retention and make specific recommendations for marketing managers in firms offering a Web
Medicinal plants used for treatment of diabetes by traditional practitioners in the markets of Abidjan district in Côte d'Ivoire

Diabetes is a serious metabolic disorder. In Côte d'Ivoire, many plants are used as traditional medicines to treat diabetes and are sold on the popular markets of cities. The purpose of this work was to achieve an ethnobotanical investigation, with particular emphasis on herbal medicine. Three markets of Abidjan district were visited and we encountered 270 vendors of plants, aged of 30 to 60 years. Thus, 87 species of antidiabetic plants were identified. Various parts of the plant (root, stem, leaves, whole plant, flowers, fruits) are used to develop drug treatments. The drug preparation methods are varied (decoction, infusion, maceration, kneading). Among the 87 plants identified, 21 are used to treat diabetes and other ailments. The decoction is the most used mode of preparation of the plants sold in the district of Abidjan markets (75%) by traditional practitioners for the treatment of diabetes.
Öğretmen Adaylarının Eğitim Programı Okuryazarlığı Düzeyleri

Bu arastirmada ogretmen adaylarinin egitim programi okuryazarligi duzeylerini belirlemek amaclanmaktadir. Ayrica bu duzeylerin cinsiyet, yas, ogrenim turu, bolum ve akademik basari gibi degiskenlere gore farklilasma durumu da incelenmistir. Betimsel bir saha taramasi olarak desenlenen bu calismada veriler Bolat (2017) tarafindan gelistirilen ‘Egitim Programi Okuryazarligi Olcegi’ araciligiyla 210 ogretmen adayindan toplanmistir. Calismanin katilimcilari bir devlet universitesinin egitim fakultesinde ogrenim goren dorduncu sinif ogretmen adaylari ile ayni fakultede pedagojik formasyon egitimi alan ogretmen adaylarindan olusmaktadir. Arastirmada veriler betimsel istatistikler, bagimsiz orneklem t testi ve tek yonlu varyans analizi yontemleri ile analiz edilmistir. Arastirmada ortaya cikan temel bulgular soyledir: ogretmen adaylarinin egitim programi okuryazarligi duzeyi olcek toplaminda 3.72 olarak belirlenmistir; ogretmen adaylari ‘okuma’ boyutunda ‘yazma’ boyutuna gore daha basarilidir; ogretmen adaylarinin egitim programi okuryazarligi duzeyleri olcek toplaminda cinsiyet, yas ve ogrenim turu degiskenlerine gore anlamli duzeyde farklilasmazken bolum ve akademik basari degiskenlerine gore farklilasmaktadir. Arastirma sonuclarinin ogretmen adaylarinin egitim programi okuryazarligi duzeylerini ortaya koymanin yani sira alanda yeni bir kavram olan egitim programi okuryazarligini on plana cikarmasi onemli gorulmektedir.
Effect of Using Cantilever Bar on the Supporting Structures in Implant Supported Mandibular Overdentures

Statement of problem: free overdenture rotation during function lead to bone resorption in the posterior edentulous regions. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the influence of incorporating a cantilever extension in two implant supported bar mandibular overdentures on the peri-implant tissues in two groups of completely edentulous patients receiving two implants in the mandibular canine region. Materials and method: Ten completely edentulous patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups, in the first group the removable complete overdenture is supported and retained to the implants with metallic bar attachment with bilateral posterior extension, in the second group the removable complete overdenture is supported and retained to the implants with metallic bar attachment with no posterior extension. Marginal bone height and bone density changes around the implants were measured radiographically using cone beam CT.The data were collected, arrayed and statistically compared. Results: regarding bone density radiographically there was no significant difference between the two groups while group one recorded significant higher marginal bone loss radiographically than group two. Conclusion: although that there was a significant difference between the two groups regarding marginal bone loss, it was within the normal rate reported in the literature.
Designing the Organization for User Innovation

There is increasing consensus among practitioners and academics alike that we are in the midst of a paradigm shift from producer-centered and internal innovation processes toward user-centered and open innovation processes. This paradigm shift induces significant changes to the design of organizations. Even though the research field of user innovation has been developing over a period of more than four decades, there have been only occasional intersections with the research field of organizational design. In this article, we aim to provide an integrated perspective of the two fields. We first identify major user innovation strategies. We then derive the implications for each user innovation strategy on key dimensions of organizational design.
Genetic implications of reduced survival of male red deer Cervus elaphus under harvest

Abstract We use simple, multivariate evolutionary models to evaluate the short-term potential for size-selective harvest to reduce genetic variability and alter life history in cervids. These genetic effects limit sustainable levels of harvest of the animals because they determine how changes in sex ratio, generation length and traits contributing to fitness influence population growth rate and local adaptation. Our analysis of harvest-mediated adaptive evolution employs a genetic approach that parameterizes models with empirical data obtained from European red deer Cervus elaphus. The analysis indicates that harvest, if sufficiently high to reduce the breeding ratio of males to females to below about 15:100, can reduce effective population size to a level that threatens adaptive potential. The reduction in effective size is realized through decreases in both sex ratio of breeders and the age of breeding males. Predicted selective effects of harvest on body size indicates a weak potential to alter most life-history traits over 10 generations under two harvest scenarios; the patterns suggest that current modes of harvest are unlikely to produce substantial life-history changes in red deer over 10 or fewer generations unless the genetic influences on red deer traits are considerably higher than those predicted here. Nevertheless, male reproductive success is expected to decline detectably if male harvest rate is sufficiently high (> 30%). Collectively, our results imply that harvest methods should permit higher post-hunt male:female ratios (18:100 or higher) and ensure that a sufficient number of larger, older males survive the breeding season. The capacity of selective harvest to alter demography and life history depends heavily on the genetic covariance structure underlying variation in these traits, information that is unknown for many red deer populations. Prudent harvest management should therefore implement and monitor approaches to hunting that aim to conserve life-history variation; meanwhile, use of less selective methods can reduce the risk to long-term adaptive potential and may permit higher sustainable harvest rates.