Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Impact of Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) on Productivity and Efficiency in Faecal Sludge Management: A Case Study of the Giant Faecal Sludge Management Company in Ghana

Today’s environment had seen technology taking the center stage in research, and several researches in this area assess the impact of technology on the society and business organizations. This study outlines the impact of computer mediated communication (CMC) on productivity and efficiency in the faecal sludge industry and Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited was used as a case study. Selective sampling technique was used to identify the institution and respondents were randomly selected to undertake the study. A total of 92 respondents were engaged and a questionnaire was administered in order to get the required responds. The study indicates that about 53% of the respondents admitted to the use of emails as medium in communication to be the best medium in attaining high efficiency and productivity, while 28% believed the use of What’s App application would improve the effectiveness and productivity. Some respondents preferred other methods, for example, communicating face to face which they have highlighted is a medium which enhances interpersonal relationships. The use of printed memo and letters as well as the use of the notice boards was also endorsed to have positive consequence on productivity and efficiency. It was noted that the usage of CMC is highly dependent on age and educational background. As the age of the respondents increased, there was decrease in the utility acceptance of CMC and the reverse was noted for educational background. The highly rated and preferred medium of communication based on the study is the most used medium utilized by Sewerage Systems Ghana Ltd. Employing the most preferred medium for communication in the organization is evidenced in the high performance of the staff which is reflective in the overall performance of the plant operations. The application of the CMC and the utilization of the appropriate medium or media in the management of faecal sludge highly aided the productivity and efficiency of personnel as well the overall performance of the plant operations and hence the organization.
Advanced Stereo Projection Using Interference Filters

Stereo projection using interference filters is an advanced wavelength multiplexing approach that specifically takes into account the nature of the human eye characterized by three types of color receptors. Accordingly, the filters used to code image information for the left and for the right eye image have three narrow bands each. Wavelength multiplexing represents a modern approach by overcoming earlier drawbacks in color reproduction of image separation methods such as anaglyph technologies. In contrast to polarizing technologies, there is neither a need of polarization preservation nor a limitation to the projection technology.
Concordance of Increased B1 Cell Subset and Lupus Phenotypes in Mice and Humans Is Dependent on BLK Expression Levels

Polymorphisms in the B lymphoid tyrosine kinase (BLK) gene have been associated with autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, with risk correlating with reduced expression of BLK. How reduced expression of BLK causes autoimmunity is unknown. Using Blk+/+, Blk+/−, and Blk−/− mice, we show that aged female Blk+/− and Blk−/− mice produced higher anti-dsDNA IgG Abs and developed immune complex–mediated glomerulonephritis, compared with Blk+/+ mice. Starting at young age, Blk+/− and Blk−/− mice accumulated increased numbers of splenic B1a cells, which differentiated into class-switched CD138+ IgG-secreting B1a cells. Increased infiltration of B1a-like cells into the kidneys was also observed in aged Blk+/− and Blk−/− mice. In humans, we found that healthy individuals had BLK genotype-dependent levels of anti-dsDNA IgG Abs as well as increased numbers of a B1-like cell population, CD19+CD3−CD20+CD43+CD27+, in peripheral blood. Furthermore, we describe the presence of B1-like cells in the tubulointerstitial space of human lupus kidney biopsies. Taken together, our study reveals a previously unappreciated role of reduced BLK expression on extraperitoneal accumulation of B1a cells in mice, as well as the presence of IgG autoantibodies and B1-like cells in humans.
Etude des composants nanophotoniques pour les interconnexions optiques sur silicium

L'augmentation des frequences de fonctionnement des circuits integres rend de plus en plus problematique l'utilisation d'interconnexions metalliques et requiert l'introduction de nouveaux types de liaisons telles que les liens optiques. Le premier objectif de cette these a ete de montrer la faisabilite d'un lien optique en utilisant un procede technologique compatible CMOS. Les principaux resultats obtenus concernent le developpement de deux nouvelles filieres de materiaux bas cout deposes par un procede PECVD basse temperature : le nitrure de silicium (SiNx) et silicium amorphe (a-Si:H). Des guides rubans compacts ont ete fabriques et les pertes optiques mesurees de 2,2dB/cm et 5,5dB/cm respectivement a longueur d'onde de 1,3µm pour la filiere nitrure et silicium amorphe sont a l'etat de l'art mondial. La realisation de composants elementaires d'optique integree compact tel que des virages et des diviseurs de faisceaux de type MMI ont permis d'obtenir un premier lien optique de 1 vers 8 validant ainsi l'approche retenue dans ce travail. Afin de realiser une integration monolithique des sources et des photodetecteurs III-V peuvent etre reportes sur le circuit optique par un procede de collage de plaque par adhesion moleculaire. L'approche originale retenue lors de ce travail de these a consiste a utiliser des coupleurs guide a guide compacts pour le transfert de la lumiere entre la couche active III-V et le circuit optique passif. L'efficacite de couplage obtenue est de 60%. Le codage de l'information dans un circuit optique necessite l'emploi de modulateurs de lumiere. La deuxieme partie de cette these a ete consacree a l'etude des cavites resonantes permettant d'accroitre les performances des modulateurs optiques a base de silicium. Compte tenu de la faible variation d'indice de refraction induit par des effets electro-optique dans le silicium, ces effets sont renforces par l'utilisation de microcavites et de structures diffractives (cristaux photonique unidimensionnel). Ces approches permettent de reduire de maniere significative les dimensions des composants et augmenter leur frequence d'utilisation. Pour la realisation d'un modulateur otpique integre, les resonateurs en anneaux de type stade et les cavites Fabry-Perot sont les deux des structures resonantes explores conduisant a des dispositifs compacts fabriquees dans une technologie de guide en arete. Sur le resonateur en anneau de type stade, le facteur de qualite de 5200 a ete obtenu, et il a ete montre que celui-ci est suffisant pour assurer une modelisation efficace dans le silicium.
Alcohol use in pregnant and nonpregnant Russian women.

BACKGROUND Alcohol consumption in Russia is reportedly high for both men and women; most studies of Russian drinking have used questionnaires not designed specifically to measure alcohol consumption or to interview women. This study was designed specifically to measure drinking patterns among pregnant and nonpregnant Russian women. METHODS Eight hundred ninety-nine women of child-bearing age in St. Petersburg, Russia, were interviewed in employment centers, educational centers, and at obstetric and gynecologic (OB/GYN) clinics and hospitals. Measurement of drinking used several types of drinking questions and time frames. RESULTS Nearly all nonpregnant Russian women (95.9%) reported consuming alcohol in the last 12 months. Among nonpregnant women drinkers, 7.6% reported drinking heavily (29.58 mL or more ethanol/d), and 18.4% reported drinking >or=5 on at least 1 occasion. Contrary to expectations of Russian obstetricians, pregnant Russian women readily answered detailed questions about their drinking behavior during pregnancy. Nearly all pregnant women drank in the year before they became pregnant; of these, 60.0% reported drinking when they knew they were pregnant, and 34.9% drank in the past 30 days. Among pregnant women who drank in the past 30 days, 7.4% reporting having >or=5 drinks on at least 1 occasion. Nevertheless, more than 90% of pregnant and nonpregnant Russian women believed that alcohol has a detrimental effect on pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Pregnant and nonpregnant Russian women were willing to answer detailed questions about their drinking behavior. Although most pregnant women studied reduced their drinking during pregnancy, one-third of the pregnant women did not stop drinking. It is important to find out what enabled two-thirds of the pregnant women to stop drinking before or during their pregnancy.
Evolution as a constraint on theories of syntax : the Case against Minimalism

This thesis investigates the evolutionary plausibility of the Minimalist Program. Is such a theory of language reasonable given the assumption that the human linguistic capacity has been subject to the usual forces and processes of evolution? More generally, this thesis is a comment on the manner in which theories of language can and should be constrained. What are the constraints that must be taken into account when constructing a theory of language? These questions are addressed by applying evidence gathered in evolutionary biology to data from linguistics. The development of generative syntactic theorising in the late 20th century has led to a much redesigned conception of the human language faculty. The driving question ‘why is language the way it is? ’ has prompted assumptions of simplicity, perfection, optimality, and economy for language; a minimal system operating in an economic fashion to fit into the larger cognitive architecture in a perfect manner. Studies in evolutionary linguistics, on the other hand, have been keen to demonstrate that language is complex, redundant, and adaptive, Pinker & Bloom’s (1990) seminal paper being perhaps the prime example of this. The question is whether these opposing views can be married in any way. Interdisciplinary evidence is brought to bear on this problem, demonstrating that any reconciliation is impossible. Evolutionary biology shows that perfection, simplicity, and economy do not arise in typically evolving systems, yet the Minimalist Program attaches these characteristics to language. It shows that evolvable systems exhibit degeneracy, modularity, and robustness, yet the Minimalist Programmust rule these features out for language. It shows that evolution exhibits a trend towards complexity, yet the Minimalist Program excludes such a depiction of language.
EFFECTS OF MODIFIED CARY AND BLAIR MEDIUM ON RECOVERY OF NONHEMOLYTIC PASTEURELLA HAEMOLYTICA FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP (OVIS CANADENSIS CANADENSIS) PHARYNGEAL SWABS

Modified Cary and Blair transport medium (MCB) was evaluated for recovery of Pasteurella spp. from pharyngeal swabs of healthy Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis). In experiment one, three pharyngeal swabs were collected from each of 25 bighorns. Pasteurella haemolytica was recovered from 21 of 25 swabs tested almost immediately and from 16 of 25 swabs held in MCB medium at about 22 C for 24 hr before testing (P > 0.10). Recovery of P. haemolytica decreased (P < 0.005) to 1 of 25 when swabs were held in MCB medium at about 22 C for 48 hr before testing. In experiment two, four pharyngeal swabs were collected from each of ten bighorns and held in MCB medium at about 5 C for ≤5, 24, 48, or 72 hr prior to testing. Recovery was unaffected by storage at 5 C; P. haemolytica was isolated from all 40 of these samples. All Pasteurella spp. isolates were nonhemolytic P. haemolytica. In experiment one, most isolates were serotype 4; in experiment two, serotype 3 was most common. We propose that MCB medium is effective for transporting bighorn sheep pharyngeal swabs for P. haemolytica screening because it imposes minimal or no effect on recovery when held ≤24 hr at 22 C or ≤72 hr at 5 C.
REPUTATION RISK: MEASURED

Two principal results for reputation risk are established. First, reputation risk can be measured in terms of a single index, arising from a data mining process directed at the opinions in a complex multiagent network. Second, the results of the measurement process, gathered over an extended period, can be expressed directly in monetary terms by finding a correlation between the daily changes in the index and in sales. Stressed periods are modelled by calculating value-at-risk using a ‘loss-distribution/ scenario’ approach, as for operational risk capital. The short-term effect of reputation risk events on sales and profits can be significant in absolute terms, but is small as a percentage of total sales. Negative reputation has a more significant impact than positive reputation.
The brand personality dimensions of business-to-business firms: a content analysis of employer reviews on social media

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the brand personalities that employees are creating of their employer brands, in particular business-to-business (B-to-B) brands, when describing these brands on social media. We examine how the brand personalities, based on written online reviews, differ between high- and low-ranked, and high- and low-rated brands. Methodology/Approach: 6,300 written employee reviews from a social media platform, Glassdoor, are used for content analysis in DICTION, to determine the brand personality dimensions they communicate (J. L). An independent B-to-B brand ranking data source, Brandwatch, is used as a reference to various brands’ level of ranking, while an ANOVA test is used to determine whether there is a difference in the brand personality trait means when comparing high and low-ranked, and high- and low-rated brands. Findings: Our findings suggest that a strong social media presence does not equate to a strong employer brand personality perception among employees, since there are no significant differences between B-to-B firms based on their rankings. Research Implications: Extant literature has mostly explored the impact of either critical reviews or favourable customer ratings and reviews on company performance, with very little research focusing on the B-to-B context. In addition, research employing DICTION for the purposes of content analysis of reviews is sparse. The methodology used in this study could thus be employed to further compare and contrast the reviews from a single company, dividing top and low starred reviews to compare discrepancies. Practical Implications: The results of this study show how online shared employee experiences of employer brands contribute to the formation of a distinct employer brand personality. From a managerial viewpoint, engaging with current and past employees and being cognizant of the online narratives that they share on social media, may be an early indicator of where the firm is lacking (or showing strength) in its’ employee engagement. This would offer a way for firms to both understand their employer brand personality as well as gauge how they compare to top employers in a specific sector or industry. Originality/Value/Contribution: The study attempts to grow the literature of employee brand engagement in a B-to-B context, by recognizing the important role that employees play in engaging with their employer brand online. Two main contributions are offered. The first contribution relates to the finding that employees perceive highly-rated B-to-B brands as being more competent, exciting, sincere and sophisticated than low-rated B-to-B brands. Second, the methodology used in this study proves to be a novel and accurate way of comparing employee reviews and perceived employer brand personality, with the employer-created intended brand image.
Electrically evoked compound action potentials are different depending on the site of cochlear stimulation

One of the many parameters that can affect cochlear implant (CI) users’ performance is the site of presentation of electrical stimulation, from the CI, to the auditory nerve. Evoked compound action potential (ECAP) measurements are commonly used to verify nerve function by stimulating one electrode contact in the cochlea and recording the resulting action potentials on the other contacts of the electrode array. The present study aimed to determine if the ECAP amplitude differs between the apical, middle, and basal region of the cochlea, if double peak potentials were more likely in the apex than the basal region of the cochlea, and if there were differences in the ECAP threshold and recovery function across the cochlea. ECAP measurements were performed in the apical, middle, and basal region of the cochlea at fixed sites of stimulation with varying recording electrodes. One hundred and forty one adult subjects with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss fitted with a Standard or FLEXSOFT electrode were included in this study. ECAP responses were captured using MAESTRO System Software (MED-EL). The ECAP amplitude, threshold, and slope were determined using amplitude growth sequences. The 50% recovery rate was assessed using independent single sequences that have two stimulation pulses (a masker and a probe pulse) separated by a variable inter-pulse interval. For all recordings, ECAP peaks were annotated semi-automatically. ECAP amplitudes were greater upon stimulation of the apical region compared to the basal region of the cochlea. ECAP slopes were steeper in the apical region compared to the basal region of the cochlea and ECAP thresholds were lower in the middle region compared to the basal region of the cochlea. The incidence of double peaks was greater upon stimulation of the apical region compared to the basal region of the cochlea. This data indicates that the site and intensity of cochlear stimulation affect ECAP properties.
Complement resistance of pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica mediated by trypsin-sensitive surface component(s)

Pathogenic forms of the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica were reported previously to resist the cytolytic effect of the alternative complement pathway (AP) only temporarily during exposure to complement. In contrast, nonpathogenic forms of E. histolytica had been found to show AP resistance as a stable property. We studied the mechanisms of AP resistance of the two forms. Upon exposure to AP activity, resistant pathogenic or nonpathogenic forms bound significantly less C3 products than complement-sensitive pathogenic amebae, indicating that the two resistant forms both inhibited AP amplification. Various enzymatic treatments and inhibition of membrane mobility by cytochalasin B and glutaraldehyde fixation showed that the mechanisms of AP inhibition differed between pathogenic and nonpathogenic forms; in contrast to nonpathogenic forms, pathogenic amebae required intact membrane mobility and a trypsin-sensitive surface component(s) to inhibit AP activation.
Cellular program controlling the recovery of adipose tissue mass: An in vivo imaging approach

The cellular program responsible for the restoration of adipose tissue mass after weight loss is largely uncharacterized. Leptin mRNA levels are highly correlated with adipose tissue mass, and leptin expression can thus be used as a surrogate for changes in the amount of adipose tissue. To further study the responses of adipocytes to changes in weight, we created a transgenic mouse expressing the luciferase reporter gene under the control of leptin regulatory sequences, which allows noninvasive imaging of the leptin expression of mice in vivo. We used these animals to show that weight loss induced by fasting or leptin treatment results in the retention of lipid-depleted adipocytes in adipose depots. To further study the cellular response to weight regain after leptin treatment, a leptin withdrawal protocol was used to induce a state of acute leptin deficiency in wild type mice. Acute leptin deficiency led to the transient deposition of large amounts of glycogen within pre-existing, lipid-depleted adipocytes. This was followed by rapid reaccumulation of lipid. Transcriptional profiling revealed that this cellular response was associated with induction of mRNAs for the entire pathway of enzymes necessary to convert glucose into acetyl-CoA and glycerol, key substrates for the synthesis of triglycerides.
Review and Study of Genotypic Diversity Measures for Real-Coded Representations

The exploration/exploitation balance is a major concern in the control of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) performance. Exploration is associated with the distribution of individuals on a landscape, and can be estimated by a genotypic diversity measure (GDM). In contrast, exploitation is related to individual responses, which can be described with a phenotypic diversity measure. Many diversity measures have been proposed in the literature without a comprehensive study of their differences. This paper looks at surveys of GDMs published over the years for real-coded representations, and compares them based on a new benchmark, one that allows a better description of their behavior. The results demonstrate that none of the available GDMs is able to reflect the true diversity of all search processes. Nonetheless, the normalized pairwise diversity measurement proves to be the best genotypic diversity measurement for standard EAs, as it shows nondominated behavior with respect to the desired GDM requirements.
Jet propagation and the asymmetries of CSS radio sources

As Compact Steep Spectrum radio sources have been shown to be more asymmetrical than larger sources of similar powers, there is a high probability that they interact with an asymmetric medium in the central regions of the host elliptical galaxy. We consider a simple analytical model of the propagation of radio jets through a reasonable asymmetric environment and show that they can yield the range of arm-length and luminosity asymmetries that have been observed. We then generalize this to allow for the effects of orientation, and quantify the substantial enhancements of the asymmetries that can be produced in this fashion. We present two-dimensional and three-dimensional simulations of jets propagating through multi-phase media and note that the results from the simulations are also broadly consistent with the observations.
Social Media Exploitation by Covert Networks: A Case Study of ISIS

: Social media has quickly become a dominant mode of professional and personal communication. Unfortunately, groups who intend to perform illegal and/or harmful activities (such as gangs, criminal groups, and terrorist groups) also use it. These covert networks use social media to foster membership, communicate among followers and non-followers, and obtain ideological and financial support. This exploitation of social media has serious political, cultural, and societal repercussions that go beyond stolen identities, hacked systems, or loss of productivity. There are literal life-and-death consequences of the actions of the groups behind these covert networks. However, through tracking and analyzing social media content, government agencies (in particular those in the intelligence community) can mitigate this threat by uncovering these covert networks, their communication, and their plans. This paper introduces common social media analysis techniques and the current approaches of analyzing covert networks. A case study of the Syrian conflict, with particular attention on ISIS, highlights this exploitation and the process of using social media analysis for intelligence gathering. The results of the case study show that covert networks are resilient and continually adapt their social media use and presence to stay ahead of the intelligence community.