Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Employee personal Internet usage in the workplace

Jiang, Hemin Employee Personal Internet Usage in the Workplace Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2016, p. (Jyväskylä Studies in Computing ISSN 1456-5390; 257) ISBN 978-951-39-6900-4 (nid.) ISBN 978-951-39-6901-1 (PDF) Information technology (IT) devices connected to the Internet, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones, have become pervasive in the workplace. These IT devices have greatly facilitated the performance of job tasks for employees. At the same time, employees are increasingly using these technologies for non-work-related purposes during office hours, which is called personal Internet usage in the workplace (PIU). Examples of PIU include, but are not limited to, checking and sending non-work-related emails, surfing news sites, visiting social network sites, e-banking, stock trading, and online shopping, chatting, and gaming. Previous studies on PIU present two schools of thought on PIU outcomes. Negative PIU studies see PIU as decreasing employees’ job performance by stealing their work time. In contrast, positive PIU studies see PIU as enhancing employees’ productivity, social capital, learning ability, and creative performance, which may eventually improve their job performance as well. However, it is unknown from previous studies the conditions under which PIU is likely to result in a positive or negative impact on employees’ job performance. Further, although Internet monitoring has been widely adopted by organizations to regulate employees’ PIU, it is not known from previous studies the impact of Internet monitoring on employees’ various behaviors and perceptions. This dissertation, consisting of two studies, attempts to address the two issues above. In study 1, we conducted a literature review of PIU and examined the state-of-the-art research on PIU as well as research gaps in existing PIU literature; next, we developed a theoretical model to understand the conditions under which PIU is likely to positively or negatively affect employees’ job performance. In study 2, we conducted a field experiment to examine how Internet monitoring, a PIU policy which has been widely adopted by organizations, affects employees’ PIU behaviors, policy satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). This dissertation has important implications for employees with respect to understanding the impact of PIU on their job performance, and for organizations in terms of developing and implementing better policies to avoid the disadvantages of PIU without sacrificing its benefits.
PMUT: a web-based tool for the annotation of pathological mutations on proteins

PMUT allows the fast and accurate prediction (approximately 80% success rate in humans) of the pathological character of single point amino acidic mutations based on the use of neural networks. The program also allows the fast scanning of mutational hot spots, which are obtained by three procedures: (1) alanine scanning, (2) massive mutation and (3) genetically accessible mutations. A graphical interface for Protein Data Bank (PDB) structures, when available, and a database containing hot spot profiles for all non-redundant PDB structures are also accessible from the PMUT server.
Analysis of K-Means Clustering Based Image Segmentation

This paper presents a new approach for image segmentation by applying k-means algorithm. In image segmentation, clustering algorithms are very popular as they are intuitive and are also easy to implement. The K-means clustering algorithm is one of the most widely used algorithm in the literature, and many authors successfully compare their new proposal with the results achieved by the k-Means. This paper proposes a color-based segmentation method that uses K-means clustering technique. The k-means algorithm is an iterative technique used to partition an image into k clusters. The standard K-Means algorithm produces accurate segmentation results only when applied to images defined by homogenous regions with respect to texture and color since no local constraints are applied to impose spatial continuity. At first, the pixels are clustered based on their color and spatial features, where the clustering process is accomplished. Then the clustered blocks are merged to a specific number of regions. This approach thus provides a feasible new solution for image segmentation which may be helpful in image retrieval. The experimental results clarify the effectiveness of our approach to improve the segmentation quality in aspects of precision and computational time. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is promising.
Developmental cycle-specific host-free RNA synthesis in Chlamydia spp

The incorporation of radiolabeled GTP into RNA in host-free Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 organisms was investigated. The incorporation was partially inhibited by rifampin and dactinomycin and hydrolyzed by RNase. RNA made by host-free chlamydiae consisted mainly of species of fewer than 800 bases in size, although 16S and 23S species were noted by agarose-gel electrophoresis. The hybridization of radiolabeled host-free RNA to restriction fragments of the gene encoding the major outer membrane protein was analyzed; all regions of the gene were transcribed. The relative intensity of hybridization of host-free RNA made by chlamydiae isolated during the middle and late stages of the developmental cycle to the DNA of clones encoding gene products known to be made at these times in vivo indicated that the temporal patterns of host-free and in vivo transcription were similar. Radiolabeled RNA from 1- and 24-h host-free Chlamydia psittaci 6BC organisms hybridized to many of the same EcoRI and BamHI restriction fragments of C. psittaci genomic DNA, although some differences could be noted. When these RNAs were used to screen a partial C. psittaci genomic library in lambda gt11, plaques were identified that reacted mainly either with 1-h RNA or with 24-h RNA. Because RNA synthesized by host-free chlamydiae appears to be developmental cycle stage specific, transcripts made by host-free chlamydiae may be convenient probes that can be used to clone developmental stage-specific chlamydial genes.
Modified microgrid concept for rural electrification in Africa

With the population of 13.4% of the world and a land area of 15%, Africa has only 2% of the world's industrial capacity. Its per capita income is only 15% of the world average and only consumes 3% of world energy. Many sub-Saharan and sub-Equatorial African countries are poor and have limited electricity infrastructures. A survey of energy resources conducted by the World Energy Council (WEC) in 2004 shows that Africa has more than enough to satisfy all its energy requirements. These include 7.1% of the world's known oil reserves, 7.5% of the gas, 10.6% of the coal and 13% of the hydro. Due to the high cost for the construction of UHV/EHV transmission lines, there are needs to develop a balanced distributed generation strategy which takes into account future integration with small, midsize and large regional projects. This paper recommends a bottom up approach through an evaluation of autonomous or non-autonomous modified microgrids concept to provide electricity to local residents and which serve as basic building blocks for future system expansion. Issues regarding to the control associated with the integration of micro grids to larger systems are addressed
Predicting the Financial Distress in the Banking Industry of Bangladesh: A Case Study on Private Commercial Banks

Financial distress is the technical term which is used to assess the insolvency as well as bankruptcy of the financial organizations. Banking sector of Bangladesh play a vital role in the economic development of the country. The main purpose of this study is to assess the financial performance of the banking sector using various ratios. This study also attempts to forecast the bankruptcy or possibility of bankruptcy using Altman (1968) Z-score model. From the various studies it has been found that this model reveals the Altman Z-Score was found to be 72% accurate in predicting bankruptcy two years before the event. The accuracy of this models varies depends on the types of the industry analysis. There are 25 conventional and non-conventional commercial banks which have been randomly selected out of 56 banks for this study over the period of 2010 to 2014. There are various financial ratios like activity, profitability, solvency, leverage & market value ratio that have been used to measure the financial performance of the banks. To measure the financial distress various ratios and descriptive statistics have been used. This study reveals that among the selected commercial banks 24% in the safe zone, 20% in the distress zone and 56% in the grey zone. The greater degree of fluctuation occurred in EBIT to total asset ratio. The findings of the study help the managers, depositors, regulatory body & the shareholders to look after their interest in the banking sector of the country.
A new algorithm for the quantified satisfiability problem, based on zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams and memoization

Quantified Boolean formulas (QBFs) play an important role in theoretical computer science. QBF extends propositional logic in such a way that many advanced forms of reasoning can be easily formulated and evaluated. In this dissertation we present our ZQSAT, which is an algorithm for evaluating quantified Boolean formulas. ZQSAT is based on ZBDD: Zero-Suppressed Binary Decision Diagram , which is a variant of BDD, and an adopted version of the DPLL algorithm. It has been implemented in C using the CUDD: Colorado University Decision Diagram package. The capability of ZBDDs in storing sets of subsets efficiently enabled us to store the clauses of a QBF very compactly and let us to embed the notion of memoization to the DPLL algorithm. These points led us to implement the search algorithm in such a way that we could store and reuse the results of all previously solved subformulas with a little overheads. ZQSAT can solve some sets of standard QBF benchmark problems (known to be hard for DPLL based algorithms) faster than the best existing solvers. In addition to prenex-CNF, ZQSAT accepts prenex-NNF formulas. We show and prove how this capability can be exponentially beneficial.
Emergency Liquidity: Impact on Default Likelihood of Corporate Credits

We analyzed default likelihood of North-American corporate obligors in 1995-2014 using Moody’s DRD quarterly data for both public and private borrowers. Emergency actions by the lender of last resort (LOLR) during 2008-2009 were a novelty so the impact on credit quality of bank portfolios and their loss provisions is not clear at all. To study the impact of emergency liquidity and lending we introduce an instrumental variable, responsible for available emergency liquidity, into the model. The study shows that the presence of emergency lending provisions produces significant impact on default probabilities by reducing the impact of macroeconomic conditions. This means that calibration of capital testing models should account for emergency liquidity (ELA) presence. We showed that given the limited amount of relevant historical data, ignoring ELA in historical fit causes an underestimation of default probability under stress and, apparently, underestimates stress capital requirements.
The status of aquaculture operations and cost analysis in Hondurans tilapia industry

The main objective of this study was to understand the current production situation and operating costs of tilapia (Oreochromis spp) culture in Honduras through survey. Results indicated that, in 2014, the four most important farm levels in tilapia farmed. Furthermore, farm size ranged from 1 to 5 hectares, which employed five or less farm workers throughout the production cycle by earthen ponds and cage in monoculture systems. Fish fry was mostly purchased from others. The use of commercial feed was significantly higher than natural bait or homemade feed. Length of the culture cycle was less than six months. In addition, the produced fish by the farmers were directly contacted by the buyer and to some regular customers. Therefore, most farmers are not considering to change their jobs. The survey found that, the major costs of tilapia aquaculture production are fry, feed and labor. Altogether, the results from this study will benefit to frame an appropriate fishery policy towards the development of fish farming activities and attain sustainable tilapia culture development in Honduras. Further research is required for the development and promotion of more efficient and economically viable strategies for tilapia farming businesses to target key internal markets. Further research is required for the development and promotion of more efficient and economically viable strategies for Hondurans tilapia businesses to target markets.
Comparison of methods to detect gastrointestinal parasites in llamas and alpacas.

OBJECTIVE To compare relative sensitivity and overall yields of various methods of fecal examination for gastrointestinal parasites in llamas and alpacas. DESIGN Prospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION Fecal samples from 42 alpacas and 62 llamas. PROCEDURES Fecal samples were analyzed via direct smear, a modified McMaster technique with sucrose solution or saturated saline (approx 36% NaCl) solution, and a centrifugation-flotation procedure. McMaster flotation chambers were examined 15 and 60 minutes after loading. Centrifugation-flotation samples were examined after 10 and 60 minutes of flotation. The proportions of samples with positive results and concentrations of parasites were compared among methods. RESULTS The centrifugation-flotation technique yielded more positive results than other methods for all parasites except small coccidia. Longer flotation time increased the proportion of positive results and parasite concentrations for all parasites except Nematodirus spp. Longer time in the McMaster chamber made little difference. By use of the modified McMaster technique, sucrose solution yielded more positive results for Trichuris spp, Eimeria macusaniensis, and strongyles, whereas saline solution yielded more positive results for Nematodirus spp and small coccidia. The saline solution McMaster test yielded more positive results for small coccidia than did most other methods, and the sucrose McMaster technique yielded more positive results for Trichuris spp. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The centrifugation-flotation technique appeared to offer clear advantages in detecting infection with E macusaniensis, Trichuris spp, Nematodirus spp, and capillarids. The saline McMaster technique appeared to offer an advantage in detecting small coccidia.
An investigation of the allergens of Ascaris lumbricoides using a radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and sera of naturally infected humans: comparison with an allergen for mice identified by a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test.

The identification of those components of Ascaris lumbricoides (var. suum) body fluid (ABF) which are IgE-inducing antigens (allergens) was found to depend on the type of assay used. By use of the radioallergosorbent test and sera from humans naturally infected with A. lumbricoides, it was found that ABF contains a range of allergens with a variety of isoelectric points and molecular weights. Some cross-reactions were demonstrated between the allergens of A. lumbricoides and Toxocara canis. On the other hand, when a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assay was used with sera from mice sensitized by nasal inhalation of ABF plus Bordetella pertussis vaccine, it was found that only one relatively pure fraction of ABF was involved. This consisted of some of the largest protein molecules in ABF: it had a molecular weight of approximately 360000 (subunits 140000 and 220000), an isoelectric region of 8·0-8·4, and was clearly very different from the allergens isolated from ABF by other workers.
A Robust and Efficient Homography Based Approach for Ground Plane Detection

This paper presents a homography based ground plane detection method. The method is developed as a part of stereo vision based obstacle detection technique for the visually impaired people. The method assumes the presence of a texture dominant ground plane in the lower portion of the scene, which is not severe restriction in a real world. SIFT algorithm is used to extract features in the stereo images. The extracted SIFT features are robustly matched by model fitting using RANSAC. A sample of putative matches lying in the lower portion of the image is selected. A fitness function is developed to select matches from this sample, which are used to estimate ground plane homography hypothesis. The ground plane homography hypothesis is used to classify the SIFT features as either belonging to ground plane or not. Image segmentation using mean shift and normalized cut is further used to filter the outliers and augment the ground plane. Experimental tests have been conducted to test the performance of the proposed approach. The tests indicate that the proposed approach has good classification rate and have operating distance range from 3 feet to 12 feet. Index Terms Ground Plane; SIFT; Electronic Travel Aid, Homography
MapMosaic: dynamic layer compositing for interactive geovisualization

ABSTRACT GIS software applications and other mapping tools enable users to correlate data from multiple layers and gain insight from the resulting visualizations. However, most of these applications only feature basic, monolithic layer compositing techniques. These techniques do not always support users effectively in their tasks, as we observed during interviews with GIS experts. We introduce MapMosaic, a novel approach based on dynamic visual compositing that enables users to interactively create and manipulate local composites of multiple vector and raster map layers, taking into account the semantics and attribute values of objects and fields in the compositing process. We evaluate MapMosaic ’s interaction model against that of QGIS (a widely used desktop GIS) and MAPublisher (a professional cartography tool) using the ‘Cognitive Dimensions’ framework and through an analytical comparison, showing that MapMosaic ’s model is more flexible and can support users more effectively in their tasks. We also report on feedback obtained from experts, which further confirms the potential of this highly dynamic approach to map layer compositing.
Requirements Planning with Event Calculus for Self-adaptive Multi-agent System

Self-adaptation of Multi-agent cooperative systems requires dynamic decision making and planning at runtime. Modeling the contextual and executable requirements of such systems as planning actions and states, this paper proposes a requirements-driven planning approach to self-adaptation. The planning model includes the states of the system context and the actions describing the behaviors of its multiple agents; the interactions between these agents and their environment are computed through an expansion of the requirements-driven planning graph, which is then used to verify whether the agents can collaborate in order to reach the desired goal states from their current states. In addition, the requirements are represented for Event Calculus to facilitate monitoring and reasoning about the actions of agents, achieving requirements driven planning at runtime.
Educational Techniques Used in Changing Provider Behavior

Background A number of techniques have been used to modify the behavior of practicing physicians. Continuing medical education, practice guidelines and critical pathways represent a major thrust of these efforts. The relative effectiveness of each is largely dependent on the particular strategy employed in their implementation. Traditionally these strategies have focused on lectures and printed materials but other techniques have also been utilized, including audit and feedback, academic detailing, local opinion leaders and reminder systems. In addition, some have championed the use of sentinel event reporting and root cause analysis in graduate medical education programs. Only recently have these various techniques been critically evaluated for their effectiveness at changing physician behavior. This chapter reviews the evidence regarding the utility of educational-oriented techniques to improve provider behavior, particularly as they do or might pertain to patient safety practices. Incident reporting (Chapter 4), root cause analysis (Chapter 5), guidelines (Chapter 51), pathways (Chapter 52), and decision support systems (Chapter 53) are reviewed elsewhere in the Report.
Bioavailability of Glipizide and its Effect on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels in Patients with Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes

The bioavailability of glipizide, plasma glucose, and insulin levels were measured in seven patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Glucose and insulin response to three standard meals was measured at 11 identical time points on the day of placebo administration and on the first and 15th day of glipizide administration (mean dose of 8.7 mg glipizide orally per day). The bioavailability profile of glipizide was highly consistent between day 1 and day 15 of administration. On both days, the drug peaked within 1.2–1.8 h and displayed a plasma half-life of between 2.5 and 3.2 h. While insulin levels were significantly (P < 0.05) increased at 4 of 11 time points of day 1, significantly elevated insulin levels were found at one time point on day 15 of glipizide administration. Insulin levels were found to be increased only in the presence of plasma drug concentrations of 200 ng/ml or greater. The hypoglycemic effect of the drug was significantly greater on day 15 than on day 1 of administration, and a significant hypoglycemic effect was noted even when drug levels were undetectable in plasma.
Highly sensitive optical motion detector

With the growing trend in optical devices, Micro Opto Electro Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) are becoming commonplace in our lives. In the area of motion detection, there have been various types of seismic motion detectors but MOEMS still provide an edge over the others with its innate nature of being resilient to electromagnetic interference, having fast detection and also high sensitivity. The device mentioned here has a MEMS layer that has been successfully fabricated using double-sided deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) on an SOI wafer, which has never been used before in MOEMS. Design of the MEMS layer is based on a simple four-beam proof mass etched with 25 1500μm×30μm gratings through the proof mass. Light emitted from an 850nm laser module above the gratings will pass through to the photodiode below which captures the deflection of the proof mass due to inertial forces during motion. Proof-of-concept experimentations have been conducted on the device using a mechanical setup that would produce a force of maximum 10.42N unto the wafer. Results obtained have also successfully shown a waveform that has lower noise influence as compared to a commercial accelerometer used as a reference in experiments. The advantage of this device in motion detection, is that the size of the device can be greatly reduced due to simplified packaging without electromagnetic considerations. Manufacturing of the device would also be cheaper than other optical motion detector devices due to simplicity of design and usage of off-the-shelf laser modules and photodetectors.