Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Investigation Regarding the Disclosure of Corporate Social Responsibility Information for Listed Companies from Romania

The purpose of this research was to establish the degree of transparency concerning the communication of the information regarding the corporate social responsibility by the Romanian companies listed. The study used as a sample the listed companies in the first part of the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Considering the fact that in Romania there is no mandatory reporting of such information, we examined the extent to which public companies in Romania have, voluntarily, on their sites, such disclosures. As a research framework we used the model proposed by Dahlsrud (2008). According to this model, CSR-type information can be classified into five dimensions: the environmental dimension, social dimension, economic dimension, the „stakeholders” dimension and voluntary dimension. After conducting site investigation we made a classification of their degree of transparency (dependent variable). For this variable we tested the association with the type of ownership and activity (independent variables).
Torso motion control and toe trajectory generation of a trotting quadruped robot based on virtual model control

This article presents an intuitive approach based on virtual model control for robust quadrupedal trotting. The controller consists of two main modules: support phase virtual model control for torso motion control and flight phase virtual model control for flight toe trajectory generation. We mapped the relationship between the joint torques of support legs and the torso forces. And virtual forces are applied to the torso to regulate the attitude, height, and velocities of the torso during support phase. To unify the control law, virtual forces are also applied to flight toes to track the planned trajectories that are designed based on lateral velocity of the torso and contact signals of the legs. Moreover, state machine, terrain estimator, and the high level controller are designed to control the robot trotting. Simulations of quadruped trotting versatilely on flat ground, trotting over stairs and slops as well as the impact recovery are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our controller. Graphical Abstract
In vivo retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by optical coherence tomography predicts visual recovery after surgery for parachiasmal tumors.

PURPOSE Restoration of visual function after neurosurgery for parachiasmal tumors is variable and unpredictable. The current study was conducted to determine whether in vivo retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements predict the visual recovery of such patients. METHODS Forty patients undergoing surgical resection of parachiasmal lesions were prospectively assessed before surgery with a neuro-ophthalmic examination, involving standard automated visual field (VF) testing and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of RNFL thickness, which was the prespecified marker for axonal loss. Tests were repeated within 6 weeks after surgery. RESULTS Thinner preoperative RNFL thickness was associated with worse visual acuity (VA) and VF mean deviation (MD). Patients with normal preoperative RNFL had significant improvement in mean VA after surgery, from 20/40 to 20/25 (P = 0.028), whereas patients with thin RNFL did not improve (20/80 to 20/60, P = 0.177). Eyes with normal RNFL showed improvement in MD (-7.0 dB before surgery, -3.5 dB after surgery, P = 0.0007) unlike eyes with thin RNFLs, which had no significant improvement after surgery (-15.3 dB before and -13.3 dB after surgery, P = 0.191). RNFL thickness increased by 1% after surgery among all eyes (P = 0.04). Eyes with severe VF defects (MD </= -10 dB) but normal preoperative RNFL thickness showed a postoperative improvement in MD of 14.6 dB compared with 1.6 dB (P < 0.0001) in eyes with thin RNFL before surgery, despite no difference in MD before surgery (normal RNFL MD, -22.3 dB; thin RNFL MD, -20.8 dB; P = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS Patients who have objectively measurable RNFL loss at the time of surgery for chiasmal compressive lesions are less likely to have return of VA or VF after surgery.
Transcription of circular and noncircular forms of Sry in mouse testes

Although its expression in adult testis was immediately apparent, the role for Sry (sex determining region, Y) in testicular function remains elusive. We have performed transcriptional studies in an effort to elucidate potential roles of Sry by studying the time and location of its transcription in mouse testes. Northern analyses and more sensitive nuclease protection assays detected transcripts in 28‐day‐old testes and beyond. The highly sensitive technique of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) could not detect Sry expression in 14‐day testes when primers for the most conserved portion of the gene, the high mobility group (HMG) box, were used, but primers for the circular form detected Sry transcription at all postnatal stages studied. The same HMG box primers were able to detect expression of Sry in XX, Sxra or Sxrb testes. This suggested that Sry is expressed in cells other than germ cells, which was confirmed with studies on fractionated cells—RTPCR detected transcription of Sry in the highly pure interstitial cell fraction. However, Leydig cells and a Leydig cell tumor were negative for Sry expression. We performed in situ studies in an attempt to localize the expression of Sry in the testes. Abundant expression of an Sry cross‐hybridizing transcript was found in spermatogonia, in early spermatocytes, and in some interstitial cells with antisense probes to the HMG box or a more specific, 3′ region, whereas the sense probe gave little or no hybridization. It is probable that the circular transcripts, which are seen in reverse transcriptase positive (RT+) and RT− reactions by PCR because of the RT activity of Taq polymerase, are responsible for the hybridization seen in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, whereas linear and circular forms are detected later. Thus Sry is expressed in pre‐ and postmeiotic germ cells and in somatic cells of the testes. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mobility models comparative study

This paper presents a comparative study between several mobility models. Simulation environment is a time variant real representation of a city based on GIS, integrating all geographical and socio-economical information relative to this city. Simulation results are the basis of the comparative analysis between the models. This comparison is made by setting metrics evaluating individual and population displacement and that by quantifying each model's degree of realism.
Impediments for software test automation: A systematic literature review

Automated software testing is a critical enabler for modern software development, where rapid feedback on the product quality is expected. To make the testing work well, it is of high importance that impediments related to test automation are prevented and removed quickly. An enabling factor for all types of improvement is to understand the nature of what is to be improved. We have performed a systematic literature review of reported impediments related to software test automation to contribute to this understanding. In this paper, we present the results from the systematic literature review: The list of identified publications, a categorization of identified impediments, and a qualitative discussion of the impediments proposing a socio‐technical system model of the use and implementation of test automation.
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Prepubertal Exposures and Effects on Sexual Maturation and Thyroid Function in the Male Rat. A Focus on the EDSTAC Recommendations

Puberty in mammalian species is a period of rapid interactive endocrine and morphological changes. Therefore, it is not surprising that exposure to a variety of pharmaceutical and environmental compounds has been shown to dramatically alter pubertal development. This concern was recognized by the Endocrine Disrupter Screening and Testing Advisory Committee (EDSTAC) that acknowledged the need for the development and standardization of a protocol for the assessment of the impact of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) in the pubertal male and recommended inclusion of an assay of this type as an alternative test in the EDSTAC tier one screen (EPA, 98). The pubertal male protocol was designed to detect alterations of pubertal development, thyroid function, and hypo-thalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) system peripubertal maturation. In this protocol, intact 23-day-old weanling male rats are exposed to the test substance for 30 days during which pubertal indices are measured. After necropsy, reproductive and thyroid tissues are weighed and evaluated histologically and serum taken for hormone analysis. The purpose of this review was to examine the available literature on pubertal development in the male rat and evaluate the efficacy of the proposed protocol for identifying endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The existing data indicate that this assessment of puberty in the male rat is a simple and effective method to detect the EDC activity of pesticides and toxic substances.
An Investment Framework To Help Equity FinanciersSelect Tech SMEs In Malaysia

The research is geared towards understanding the development cycle of technology based companies especially in the small and medium sized sector and refer to a model to help private investors in Malaysia evaluate business proposals to make funding decisions. There is always confusion when technology entrepreneurs want to evaluate the right investors to approach for fund, becuase not all specialize in funding start-ups and risky ventures. Indept investigation of past research indicates that not much have been written on venture capital financing of small and medium sized companies in Malaysia, and this work aims to shed more light and to add to literature on venture capital. Past research have failed to recommend appropriate and a simplified framework for growth firms.However, there is need to understand the relationship between investment evaluation criteria and the development cycle.The research focusses on secondary sources available from literatures on venture capital activities. Findings from this research will be of interest to investors, investees, academics and government.
The magnitude squared coherence estimate: A geometric view

The magnitude squared coherence estimate is often used as a means for detecting the presence of a common signal on two different channels. The value of this detection statistic is enhanced by understanding its behavior when a common signal is not present on both channels and the channel sequences are statistically independent. In this paper the distribution of the magnitude-squared-coherence (MSC) estimate is examined from a geometric point of view. A geometric model is used to show that statistical independence of the channel sequences and spherical symmetry of the distribution function of one of the two sequences used in the coherence estimate are sufficient conditions for the distribution of the coherence estimate to be invariant to second channel statistics. This is a generalization of results obtained by Nuttall [1]. In addition a connection between spherical symmetry and the Gaussian distribution is discussed. A geometric method for the derivation for the MSC estimate is also presented.
The equivalence of acceptable noise level (ANL) with English, Mandarin, and non-semantic speech: A study across the U.S. and Taiwan

Abstract Objective: Acceptable noise level (ANL) determines the maximum noise level that a listener is willing to accept while listening to speech. The objective of this study was to determine the equivalence of ANL measured using different speech stimuli for native speakers who lived in the U.S. and Taiwan. Design: ANLs were measured using English, Mandarin, and the international speech test signal (ISTS) at each site. The same babble noise was used across speech stimuli. The ANLs were considered equivalent if the difference was unlikely to be greater than 3 dB. Study sample: Thirty adults with normal hearing were recruited at each site. Results: For each site, the equivalence test suggested that the native-language and foreign-language ANLs were equivalent. Between the two sites, ANLs measured using the listener’s native language were also equivalent. Although the ISTS ANL obtained within each site was equivalent to, and highly correlated to, the native-language ANL, the data were unable to confirm the equivalence of the ISTS ANLs obtained from the two sites. Conclusions: The results suggested the possibility of directly comparing ANL measures carried out in different countries using different languages. However, it remains unclear if the ISTS can serve as an international ANL stimulus.
Revealed Standards for Distributing Public Home-Care on Clients

When private goods are publicly provided at subsidized prices, government authorities have to determine the distribution of services on recipients. Such distributions are commonly based on legal regulations and professional guidelines. Thus governments are assumed to develop service standards that are incorporated in the preferences for allocation of services. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the behavior of local governments when they are allocating home-care services on elderly and disabled clients. Based on Norwegian data it is demonstrated that service standards as well as economic constraints have an impact on the supply of home-care. As expected the supply to individual clients increases with the degree of disablement. The model estimates also show that service standards vary substantially between different client groups. For instance, service levels for mentally retarded are rather high compared to elderly clients in non-single households. Individual service standards are derived from observed behavior by means of model simulation, where the standards are defined for an average level of municipal incomes and prices. The results are used to evaluate the degree of mismatch between service supply and common service standards in different local communities.
Ribonucleotide reductases reveal novel viral diversity and predict biological and ecological features of unknown marine viruses

Significance Within aquatic ecosystems viruses facilitate horizontal gene transfer, biogeochemical cycling, and energy transfer by infecting and lysing microbial host cells. Despite their critical role in ecosystem function we understand little of the biological, ecological, and evolutionary features of most viruses in nature. We identify ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) genes as superior markers of viral diversity. RNR genes are distributed over a broad range of viruses. The most abundant RNR genes in marine environments are from novel groups only distantly related to known viruses. Frequency distributions of RNR clades within viral metagenome sequence libraries support predictions made by the “kill the winner” hypothesis, indicating that specialist podoviruses specifically adapted to infecting abundant heterotrophic bacterioplankton predominate within the virioplankton. Virioplankton play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems as top-down regulators of bacterial populations and agents of horizontal gene transfer and nutrient cycling. However, the biology and ecology of virioplankton populations in the environment remain poorly understood. Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) are ancient enzymes that reduce ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides and thus prime DNA synthesis. Composed of three classes according to O2 reactivity, RNRs can be predictive of the physiological conditions surrounding DNA synthesis. RNRs are universal among cellular life, common within viral genomes and virioplankton shotgun metagenomes (viromes), and estimated to occur within >90% of the dsDNA virioplankton sampled in this study. RNRs occur across diverse viral groups, including all three morphological families of tailed phages, making these genes attractive for studies of viral diversity. Differing patterns in virioplankton diversity were clear from RNRs sampled across a broad oceanic transect. The most abundant RNRs belonged to novel lineages of podoviruses infecting α-proteobacteria, a bacterial class critical to oceanic carbon cycling. RNR class was predictive of phage morphology among cyanophages and RNR distribution frequencies among cyanophages were largely consistent with the predictions of the “kill the winner–cost of resistance” model. RNRs were also identified for the first time to our knowledge within ssDNA viromes. These data indicate that RNR polymorphism provides a means of connecting the biological and ecological features of virioplankton populations.
The family business : its governance for sustainability

PART ONE: THE WORLD OF FAMILY BUSINESS The Nature and Significance of Family Business Stages of Evolution in Family Business PART TWO: THE CONCEPT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND A CLASSICAL GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE IN A FAMILY BUSINESS The Concept of Corporate Governance in Family Business PART THREE: FOCUS ON FAMILY INSTITUTIONS AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Key Elements of a Governance Structure in a Family Business: The Family and Its Institutions Key Elements of a Governance Structure in a Family Business: The Board of Directors PART FOUR: THE DIRECTING TASK OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: KEY MEASURES Securing CEO Succession as a Key Governance Measure in a Family Business Vision and Strategy as Key Governance Measures in a Family Business Securing Financial Resources as a Key Governance Measure PART FIVE: HANDLING THE CONTROLLING TASK OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Control as a Key Governance Measure PART SIX: HOW TO PUT THESE GOVERNANCE INSIGHTS INTO PRACTICAL USE Putting it All to Work: A Practical Process to Create a Governance Structure for a Family Business Epilogue: Enlightened Ownership of Family Enterprise
Too Much of a Good Thing? Emotional Intelligence and Interpersonal Conflict Behaviors

ABSTRACT Research suggests that the outcomes of interpersonal conflict are determined not only by the conflict itself, but also by the way in which it is handled. Confrontational and domineering tactics have been found to magnify the adverse impact of conflict. Thus, investigations of determinants of aggressive conflict management behaviors are of considerable interest. This study extends the literature by examining the relationship between conflict management preferences and conflict management behaviors and by examining how emotional intelligence (EI) shapes this preference-behavior relationship. Individuals’ conflict management preferences predicted actual conflict management behaviors. EI was found to moderate this relationship. However, some of these moderating effects run contrary to the popular view of EI as a prosocial concept. Specifically, some EI facets were found to strengthen the link between aggressive conflict management preferences and subsequent conflict management behaviors.
Evaluation of Phosphatidylserine-Binding Peptides Targeting Apoptotic Cells

The inhibition or dysregulation of apoptosis plays an intimate role in the initiation and progression of cancer by confounding normal tissue homeostasis. We currently do not have a clinical method to assess apoptosis induced by cancer therapies. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an attractive target for imaging apoptosis because it is on the exterior of the apoptotic cells and PS externalization is an early marker of apoptosis. PS-binding peptides are an attractive option for developing an imaging probe to detect apoptosis using positron emission tomography. In this study, four peptides were evaluated for PS-binding characteristics using a plate-based assay system, a liposome mimic of cell membrane PS presentation, and a cell assay of apoptosis. This work also describes two screening techniques to enable researchers to identify and optimize compounds that bind to PS. The results of our study indicate that all four peptides bind to PS and are specific to apoptotic cells. Two of the peptides in particular that have an additional cysteine residue are good potential candidates for development into imaging probes because they bind to PS with high affinity and specificity and they can be easily radiolabelled with 18F.
Transposable elements P and gypsy in natural populations of Drosophila willistoni

The presence and integrity of the P transposon and the gypsy retrotransposon in the genome of 18 samples of natural Drosophila willistoni populations collected from a large area of South America were Southern blot screened using Drosophila melanogaster probes. The aim of this screening was provide further knowledge-base on the geographical distribution of D. willistoni and to carry out an inter-population analysis of the P and gypsy elements present in the genomes of the populations analyzed. The fragment patterns obtained indicate that both the P and gypsy elements are ancient in the D. willistoni genome, but whereas the gypsy retroelement appears to be invariable and stable the P element varies between populations and appears to still have some capacity for mobilization.
A NOVEL SAR TARGET DETECTION ALGORITHM BASED ON CONTEXTUAL KNOWLEDGE

This paper proposes a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) vehicle target detection algorithm based on contextual knowledge. The proposed algorithm flrstly obtains the general classiflcation of SAR image with a Markov Random Field (MRF)-based segmentation algorithm; then modifles the prior target presence probability utilizing terrain types, distances to boundary and target aggregation degree; flnally gains the detection results using improved Cell Averaging- Constant False Alarm Rate (CA-CFAR). Detections with real SAR image data show that the proposed algorithm can efiectively improve target detection rate and reduce false alarms compared with conventional CA-CFAR.