Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Job Performance in the Public Sector-A Case Study from India

Job satisfaction and employee performance is critical in a service industry like bus transport in the public sector, where about fifty percent of the costs are incurred on the procurement, maintenance, training and development of personnel. This research is an attempt to study the relationship between overall job satisfaction, job facet satisfaction (14 job facets) and six measures of job performance, with regard to the operating staff like conductors and drivers. Results showed that there is no association between job facet satisfaction and overall job satisfaction. Out of the six measures of job performance, for which association was tested with overall job satisfaction, association was found only in the case of one measure viz. passenger complaints. No association was found between salary and overall job satisfaction, in the case of low and medium income groups, whereas there is negative association in the case of high income group only. Recommendations are given and implications for future research are also discussed.
Bioinformatik-Strategien zur Analyse regulatorischer RNA-Motive und ihre experimentelle Validierung

Regulatorische Motive in untranslatierten Regionen spielen eine entscheidende Rolle bei der posttranskriptionellen Genregulation von mRNAs. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden bioinformatische Strategien zur Vorhersage und Validierung potentiell regulatorischer RNA-Motive entwickelt. Die Berechnung globaler und lokaler Strukturalignments mit dem Programm RNAforester wurde zur Entwicklung einer sehr flexiblen Strategie zur Vorhersage regulatorischer RNA-Motive eingesetzt. Die vorhergesagten Motive wurden mittels Datenbanksuchen validiert. Dazu wurden ausgehend von den Vorhersagen Muster definiert, die allgemein genug sein sollten, um ausreichend viele Vorkommen des Musters zu finden, die aber auch spezifisch genug sein sollten, um nur wenige falsch positive Treffer zu liefern. Um solche Muster zu definieren, wurden Signifikanzberechnungen eingesetzt und die Datenbanksuchen wurden mit den Programmen RNAMotif und HyPa durchgefuhrt, wobei diese Programme auch vergleichend analysiert wurden. Durch die Anwendung der entwickelten Strategien konnte ein potentiell regulatorischer Stemloop in der Rab1A 3'UTR von Mensch und Zitterrochen vorhergesagt werden. Die Datenbanksuche hat ergeben, dass dieser Stemloop in den Rab1A 3'UTRs verschiedener Vertebraten und der Sirtuin 2[alpha] 3'UTR von Mensch und Maus vorkommt. Experimentelle Analysen im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit konnten Hinweise auf eine biologische Funktion des vorhergesagten Stemloops in der Rab1A 3'UTR liefern. Die Ergebnisse von Gelverzogerungs- und Proteinisolierungsexperimenten legten die Interaktion eines Proteinkomplexes mit dem RNA-Stemloop nahe. MALDI-TOF Analysen mehrerer Proteinbanden ergaben, dass unter anderem ein potentielles RNA-Bindeprotein und der "Rab GDP-dissociation-inhibitor" in dem Proteinkomplex enthalten sein konnten.
Ecogenomic approach to the role of herbivore‐induced plant volatiles in community ecology

1 Linking new developments in genomics with ecology provides interesting novel tools to address ecological questions in ways that have not been possible up to now. In this paper we address this issue for the ecology of infochemicals and plant–insect interactions in a food web context. 2 Plants are at the basis of most terrestrial food webs and insects are a dominant animal group interacting with plants. Insect–plant communities are characterized by direct and indirect interactions, many of which are mediated by infochemicals. Plants respond to insect herbivory with the production of volatiles that attract the enemies of the herbivores, such as insect predators and parasitoids. Moreover, the plant volatiles may be exploited by any organism in the environment and this results in many more infochemically mediated interactions. Thus, a food web is overlaid with an infochemical web. 3 In the past, several manipulative tools have been developed to investigate the role of infochemicals. The rapid advancement of molecular genetics and ‘‐omics’ technologies results in interesting new tools. A recent development is the use of well‐characterized genotypes that are modified in the mechanisms underlying the induced plant volatiles. These genotypes produce precisely manipulated phenotypes that often differ in only a single gene, and can be used to investigate the effect of particular genes on specific interactions. Moreover, these genotypes can be introduced into a natural community to assess the effects of the genetic change and its resulting phenotypic change on interactions with the entire natural community. 4 Furthermore, with the progress in microarray technology it becomes possible to assess the expressed genotype of plants in the field, which can be exploited to investigate expressed genetic variation under field conditions. 5 These developments are expected to be only the beginning of a successful integration of ‐omics technologies, such as transcriptomics and metabolomics, with community ecology into the new research field of ecogenomics. 6 In this review we present the current status and discuss the prospects for the future of an ecogenomic approach to the role of herbivore‐induced plant volatiles in insect–plant community ecology.
Magnetic Scaffolds Enriched with Bioactive Nanoparticles for Tissue Engineering

Novel magnetic fibrin hydrogel scaffolds for cell implantation and tissue engineering are reported. The magnetic scaffolds are produced by the interaction between thrombin-conjugated maghemite nanoparticles of narrow size distribution and fibrinogen. These scaffolds, enriched with growth factor conjugated fluorescent maghemite nanoparticles, provide a supporting 3D environment for massive proliferation of various cell types, and can be successfully visualized by MRI.
The Effects of National Culture and Cosmopolitanism on Consumers’ Adoption of Innovation: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the impact of national culture and individuals’ cosmopolitanism on consumer innovativeness and innovation adoption behavior. Our research model proposes the linkage between an individual's cultural context and psychological and behavioral outcomes. The research model involves a hierarchical model of consumer innovativeness, including innate innovativeness, domain-specific innovativeness, and adoption of innovation. Data were collected in two culturally distinct countries: the U.S. and South Korea. The study's findings illustrate that the impact of national culture on an individual's innate innovativeness is evident. However, the direct effect of innate innovativeness on innovation adoption is significant only in the U.S. The effects of consumer cosmopolitanism and sociodemographics on consumer innovativeness and innovation adoption behavior are found to vary across the two countries. The managerial implications for the diffusion of global brands are discussed.
Regional Anesthesia, Time to Hospital Discharge, and In-Hospital Mortality: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis

Background and Objectives The anesthetic technique used during surgery can affect postoperative length of stay and outcomes, even after controlling for other clinically important factors. This study evaluated the impact of regional anesthesia (RA) compared with general anesthesia (GA) on the amount of time between leaving the operating room and hospital discharge and the odds of in-hospital mortality. Methods Surgical patients admitted after surgery, who received RA, were matched to patients who received GA by propensity score in a 1:4 ratio. We measured the association between anesthetic technique and time to hospital discharge using Kaplan-Meier methods. In-hospital mortality was analyzed using a generalized estimating equation logistic regression model. Results A total of 5870 inpatient surgical cases were analyzed; 1174 cases received RA and 4696 cases received GA. The median time to hospital discharge among patients who received RA was 67.6 hours compared with 71.9 hours among patients who received GA (P < 0.0001). A total of 86 cases died in the hospital after surgery; 7 were in the RA cohort and 79 were in the GA cohort. Receiving RA during surgery was associated with 64% lesser odds of dying in the hospital (odds ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.16–0.75), when adjusting for the number of postoperative days spent in the hospital. Conclusions The study data provide evidence that median time to discharge is shorter when RA is used instead of GA, controlling for other clinically important factors. Additionally, RA use during surgery was associated with a decrease in in-hospital mortality. When an appropriate option, RA may facilitate faster hospital discharge and improve patient outcomes.
The Effect of Speaking Style on a Locus Equation Characterization of Stop Place of Articulation

Abstract Locus equations were employed to assess the phonetic stability and distinctiveness of stop place categories in reduced speech. Twenty-two speakers produced stop consonant + vowel utterances in citation and spontaneous speech. Coarticulatory increases in hypoarticulated speech were documented only for /dV/ and [gV] productions in front vowel contexts. Coarticulatory extents for /bV/ and [gV] in back vowel contexts remained stable across style changes. Discriminant analyses showed equivalent levels of correct classification across speaking styles. CV reduction was quantified by use of Euclidean distances separating stop place categories. Despite sensitivity of locus equation parameters to articulatory differences encountered in informal speech, stop place categories still maintained a clear separability when plotted in a higher-order slope × y-intercept acoustic space.
PERSPECTIVES ON LOGISTICS VS. SCM: A SURVEY OF SCM PROFESSIONALS

Here is a recent paper that may be of interest for managers that are considering the transition of logistics into supply chain management. This paper reports the results of a survey of senior-level CSCMP members about perspectives on logistics vs. supply chain management. Executives seem to prefer a broad, multiple function perspective on SCM, implication of which is that the process of implementation can be both difficult, expensive and slow.
Self-Awareness: A Review and Analysis of a Basic Nursing Concept

Self-awareness has long been addressed as fundamental for the professional nurse with the accepted view that self-awareness will lead to greater competence. Therefore, it is important to understand the historical evolution of the concept, attributes, antecedents, and consequences. Rodgers’ evolutionary method was used for critical analysis of nursing, social sciences, and education literature. Analysis indicates that self-awareness is a dynamic, transformative process of self. Ultimately, self-awareness is the use of self-insights and presence knowingly to guide behavior that is genuine and authentic to create a healing interpersonal environment. Future research areas within practice and education are identified.
Monte Carlo simulation of x-ray scattering for quantitative characterization of breast cancer

In the last decade there has been growing interest in the possibility of characterizing breast cancer using differences in the coherent x-ray-scattering profiles of normal and malignant tissues. To a great extent, characterization has depended on the differences in the peak positions of both tissues in addition to the overall profile which exhibits a distinctive sharp adipose peak in the case of a normal breast. In many excised tissue samples, breast cancer samples may be mixed with a variable percentage of other tissues which affect the shape of the x-ray-scattering profile and consequently the ability to characterize the tissue. Moreover, fibroglandular tissue produces a scattering profile showing an extent of similarity to breast cancer. The present study introduces a Monte Carlo simulation code capable of tracing photon transport inside a mixed two-component sample. The code is utilized to simulate and best fit x-ray-scattering profiles of the measured samples. This provides reliable breast tissue characterization in addition to a quantitative estimate of the percentage of each component in a given sample. It is expected that the present simulation would potentially enhance the characterization of breast cancer using the x-ray-scattering technique.
Plasma Erosion Opening Switch in the Double-Pulse Operation Mode of a High-Current Electron Accelerator

This paper reports the results of investigations of the operation of a fast current opening switch, with a 1013-1016 plasma density produced either by dielectric surface flashover or by explosive emission of graphite. A series of two pulses was applied to two diodes in parallel. The first pulse produced plasma in the first diode which closed that diode gap by the arrival time of the second pulse. The first, shorted, diode then acted as an erosion switch for the second pulse. A factor of 2.5-3 power multiplication was obtained under optimum conditions. The opening-switch resistance during the magnetic insulation phase, neglecting the electron losses between the switch and the generating diode, exceeded 100 ¿. The duration of the rapid opening phase was less than 5 ns under optimum conditions. This method of plasma production does not require external plasma sources, and permits a wide variation of plasma density, which in turn allows high inductor currents and stored energies.
A genetic algorithm approach for quay crane scheduling with non-interference constraints at Narvik container terminal

A fast, robust and efficient algorithm for solving the problem of scheduling two quay cranes with non-interference constraints at Narvik container terminal has been developed. To solve the problem, a genetic algorithm approach is used and adapted to the case of two cranes. This approach manages to provide practical solutions and significant time savings for a real-life crane-scheduling problem. Operators at Narvik container terminal find the solution to be user-friendly, and it allows the user to change parameter settings and obtain solutions in real time.
Ontologies and agents for better information flow in logistics

This paper shows that information flow in the supply chain can be improved or shifted to a more distributed level, which will give tremendous advantage to those who notice it early enough. The other part of the paper concentrates in showing the technical means of how to use semantic interoperability on a large scale. The main findings summarised in this paper are: why allowing large scale distributed interoperability is so important for the supply chain and what are the technical means to make this vision a reality.
Machine Learning Tool Development in Fire Safety Design Review

The feasibility of object detection technique to recognize and localize the less-featured building elements on the architectural drawings was tested. An object detection engine using Faster R-CNN deep learning techniques was trained that machine can learn from existing architectural drawings what the different variations of the building components look like. Then machine is capable to tag these elements on a 2D architectural drawing, and engineers can apply some rule-based checks to flag up any design that violates the building code of practice. It is proved that machine can go through a large amount of design drawings quickly, recognize where the important building components are located, and report whether the design conforms to the building codes.
Temporal and Spatial Expression of the period Gene in the Reproductive System of the Codling Moth

The authors examined patterns of spatial and temporal expression of Drosophila per gene homologue in the codling moth, Cydia pomonella. Since sperm release in moths is regulated in a circadian manner by an autonomous clock that is independent from the brain, the authors investigated per expression in male reproductive system along with its expression in moth heads. per mRNA is rhythmically expressed with the same phase and amplitude in both tissues under light-dark (LD) conditions. The levels of per mRNA are low during the day, start to increase before lights-off, reach the peak in dark, and decrease after lights-on. In constant darkness (DD), cycling of per mRNA continued in heads with severely blunted amplitude. No cycling of per mRNA was detected in testis in DD. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry revealed distinct spatial patterns of per expression in the moth reproductive system. There is no expression of per in cells forming the wall of testes or in sperm bundles. However, permRNA and protein are rhythmically expressed in the epithelial cells forming the wall of the upper vas deferens (UVD) and in the cells of the terminal epithelium, which are involved in the circadian gating of sperm release. Increase in permRNA in the UVD coincides with sperm accumulation in this part of the insect reproductive system.
Physical performance and subjective ratings after a soccer-specific exercise simulation: Comparison of natural grass versus artificial turf

Abstract This study aimed to compare the recovery kinetics of physical performance and subjective ratings in response to a soccer-specific exercise simulation on natural grass and artificial turf. Physical performance tests and subjective ratings were assessed on 13 professional soccer players before, immediately after, 24 h and 48 h after the test. Physical performance tests included squat jump, countermovement jump, 6-s sprint on a non-motorised treadmill and isokinetic eccentric hamstring assessment (2.09 rad · s−1). Hamstring peak torque decrement was higher (P < 0.05) on natural grass than on artificial turf immediately (-4.0%, CI 95%: -10.0 to 2.0%, Effect Size [ES] = 0.29), 24 h (-3.1%, CI 95%: -9.3 to 3.1%, ES = 0.29) and 48 h (-3.8%, CI 95%: -8.5 to 0.9%, ES = 0.43) after the test. Squat jump performance decrement was significantly lower (P < 0.05) on natural grass than artificial turf 48 h after the test (+3.7%, CI 95%: 1.1 to 6.3%, ES = 0.40). Sprint performance showed no change from baseline performance for both trials throughout the protocol. No significant interaction between surface and time was found for countermovement jump and subjective ratings. These results suggest that a one-off exercise on artificial turf does not induce greater fatigue nor does it delay the recovery process when compared to natural grass among regular artificial turf players.
The influence of purchasing strategies on performance

The potential of the purchasing function to increase shareholder value is not well publicized and hence not widely recognized. This fact becomes self‐evident when the effect of purchasing strategies on performance is well understood. With an increasing number of organizations embracing long‐term oriented collaborative relationships, studies looking at performance implications of contemporary purchasing practices are particularly timely. Attempts to provide empirical evidence linking four purchasing strategies to two dimensions of procurement performance: effectiveness and efficiency. Results indicate that purchasing managers can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their purchasing efforts via cooperative negotiation with a small base of suppliers and by establishing collaborative long‐term oriented relationships with them, revealing the impressive ability of the purchasing function to enhance shareholder‐value.
The Effects of the Keiretsu On the Export Performance of Japanese Companies: Help or Hindrance?

This study investigates the effect that membership in a financial keiretsu has on the export performance of Japanese manufacturing companies. Companies that belong to one of the six major financial keiretsu are found to have lower export ratios than similar companies who are not members. The negative effects of keiretsu membership appear confined to producer goods companies where intergroup linkages such as preferential trading relationships are tightest. Additional evidence from the producer goods sector showing that keiretsu members do less well on other measures of company performance supports the argument that the cartel-like properties sometimes ascribed to the keiretsu actually reduce competitiveness, thus dampening export performance. In general, the data do not support recommendations that non-Japanese companies might look to keiretsu-type alliances as an organizational strategy that will lead to competitive advantage in global markets. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Localization and tracking of same color vehicle under occlusion problem

This paper proposes a vision based multiple vehicle detection and tracking system. Vehicle tail light information is used to localize vehicle potential region, then each candidate is verified by a back propagation neural network (BPNN) trained by Gabor feature set. In the multiple vehicle tracking stage, multiple scale vehicle tracking, same color vehicle occlusion and observation model updating problem are investigated. Mean shift algorithm is main part of tracking sub-system; each detected vehicles are tracked by a mean shift tracker in parallel. Vehicle tail light pairs which are determined in vehicle detection step are used to adjust tracking windows size. Color information is observation model in tracking algorithm, which is insensitive to different color vehicle occlusion problem; mean while, only color information based tracking algorithm can't deal with same color vehicle occlusion case. To overcome this problem, local edge image projection technique is implemented. In experiments, the result shows the proposed system have good performance in multiple vehicle detection and tracking system in the daytime, the results shows 84% accuracy detection rate, 5254 frames image sequences are texted for multip le vehicle tracking.
Risk factors associated with cognitive decline in the elderly with type 2 diabetes: Pooled logistic analysis of a 6‐year observation in the Japanese elderly diabetes intervention trial

Aim: Considerable attention has been paid to the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cognitive dysfunction in the elderly. T2DM is often comorbid with several other metabolic disturbances, including hypertension and dyslipidemia. These comorbid diseases might be associated with cognitive impairment. Many clinical indices should be included as variables for the association with cognitive decline. In the current study, we tried to identify the associated factors with cognitive decline during a 6‐year period in elderly T2DM considering the changes in the clinical indices during the follow‐up period.
The influence of social media on business processes

Business process reengineering (BPR) has been discussed over 20 years. Nowadays, social media is widely used by companies in doing business. It plays the role to influence business processes. This thesis aims to answer the question: “How does social media change the major business processes? ” The prior research in the disciplines of BPR and social media is reviewed first. Based on the literature, a framework used to illustrate the influence of social media on business processes and degrees is developed. In the framework, four types of communication (firm-to-customer communication, customer-to-firm communication, internal-firm communication, and customer-to-customer communication) are discussed in four main business processes (marketing/sales, services, product, and personnel.) Finnair, because of its activity of using social media, is introduced in detail as an example. The story of Finnair using social media supports the framework. The relationship between BPR and social media is found that is medium.