Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moderating effect of perceived inflation on dual commitment to organization and professional association: A case of health professionals in Ghana

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to draw upon exchange theory to test the moderating effect of perceived inflation on dual commitment among a sample of health professionals in Ghana. The authors test this effect on the unilateral contributions of commitment to the organization and commitment to the professional association. Design/methodology/approach - – Survey questionnaires were used to elicit responses from 141 health professionals in Ghana. Least square moderated regression analysis was employed to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings - – The authors found that respondents do exhibit dual commitment to the organization and the professional association. The findings also supported the hypothesized moderating effect of perceived inflation on the contribution of the unilateral commitments to dual loyalty. Perceived inflation alters the contributions from the predictors, hence, reducing dual commitment. Research limitations/implications - – The study sampled only public sector employees, but the authors do not consider this a fatal flaw since the public sector in Ghana employs a large percentage (51 percent) of the workforce. Future research should focus on the private sector to increase the generalizability of the perceived inflation construct. Practical implications - – Perceived inflation can have adverse effects on workplace attitudes, including dual loyalty to the organization and to the union. But the finding also suggests that, in periods of inflationary pressures, high affective commitment can benefit the organization. The perceived reduction in the value of the economic exchange clearly has implications for compensation policy for the public sector in Ghana. Originality/value - – Researchers have examined the perception of inflation on consumer behavior, but none has investigated the inflationary influence on workplace attitudes. This study extends the conceptualization of the index of perceived inflation and the psychology of inflation to the management literature. This study is the first to investigate the effect of perceived inflation on commitment.
Effect of C/N ratio on extracellular polymeric substances of activated sludge from an anoxic–aerobic sequencing batch reactor treating saline wastewater

The effect of C/N ratio on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of activated sludge was investigated in an anoxic–aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treating saline wastewater. The protein (PN) and protein/polysaccharide (PN/PS) ratio in the loosely bound EPS (LB-EPS) increased with the decrease of C/N ratio, whereas the PS in the LB-EPS decreased. The PS, PN and PN/PS ratio in the tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS) were independent of C/N ratio. Two fluorescence peaks in the LB-EPS and TB-EPS were identified at excitation/emission (Ex/Em) wavelengths of 275–280/335–340 nm and 220–225/330–340 nm by three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. These peaks in LB-EPS and TB-EPS were, respectively, associated with tryptophan protein-like substances and aromatic protein-like substances. The tryptophan protein-like fluorescence peaks in LB-EPS showed blue shift along the Ex axis and red shift along the Em axis with the decrease of C/N ratio. Fourier transform infrared spectra suggested that the variation of C/N ratio had more distinct effect on the functional groups of protein in the LB-EPS than those in the TB-EPS. The sludge volume index value decreased with the increase of LB-EPS, but there was no correlation between SVI and TB-EPS.
Adverse hemodynamic effects of intraabdominal pressure- is it all in the head?

BACKGROUND Elevated intraabdominal pressure (IAP) is observed in various clinical situations, the most common of which are severe abdominal trauma and laparoscopic surgery. Extreme pressures may lead to Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS), but even with lower pressures adverse effects are apparent. The cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, the kidneys and the visceral circulation are all affected, but the exact physiological mechanism is not well defined. AIMS To discuss possible mechanisms which explain the observed hemodynamic effects of increased IAP. METHODS Large animal model observations and review of current literature regarding the correlation between IAP and intracranial pressure (ICP). RESULTS It was shown that the elevation of abdominal pressure leads to elevation of ICP. Transfer of pressure through the central venous system or by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been proposed as an explanation. In response to elevated ICP, various stress hormones are secreted by the central nervous system, including vasoconstricting agents such as vasopressin and catecholamines. It is hypothesized that the central nervous system is the link between the increased abdominal pressure and its adverse hemodynamic effects. This may be a protective mechanism of the brain, aimed to increase the mean arterial pressure when the ICP is elevated, in order to preserve the cerebral perfusion pressure. CONCLUSION ICP is elevated in response to IAP elevation, and may be responsible for its adverse hemodynamic effects. Antagonists to vasopressin may have a role in the treatment of this condition.
Designing logic-based robots

A rational agent exploring a complex and dynamic environment with incomplete information needs cognitive capabilities, e.g. planning, in addition to its perception and reaction for basic functionalities. However, mere planning, i.e., reasoning about sequences of actions, is not sufficient to solve problems in such complex environment. This is because (i) agents need to execute actions while they plan, (ii) they must gather and interpret sensor information, (iii) revise their world model, and (iv) adapt their own goals during a task. The knowledge representation and non monotonic reasoning area has shown the advantage of using logical formalisms to specify rational agents for complex robot applications, also called cognitive robotics applications. An example of such formalism is the Golog language and its different dialects. What those areas are still missing is implementational testbeds to evaluate existing theories. Since practical experimentation highlights the need for the improvement of existing formal theories at the ontological level. This work presents a logic-based implementation of an agent for the Wumpus World domain, which can be envisaged as a simplified model of an agent that reasons logically about its actions and sensor information in the presence of incomplete knowledge. Through a complete implementation of an agent in a real robot, the LegoMindStorm robot, we show some experiments to verify that the Wumpus World can be an implementational testbed used to identify difficulties in transforming theory into operational solutions.
Performance analysis of PI and fuzzy control for resonant converter incorporating boost converter

In this paper, the closed loop control of LLC type of series parallel resonant converter configuration of load resonant converter and its modeling analysis is implemented using fuzzy control. The LLC type resonant converter provides high frequency operation, without any change its high efficiency, whose applications mostly in DC to DC converters. The state space modeling technique is used to determine the internal state i.e. converter stability. The closed loop fuzzy controller is used on both the side of the LLC resonant tank. This eliminates the steady state error and reduces the rise time of the output voltage. The 40V input to LLC resonant converter is built to produce output voltage of 220V with the help of ZVS boost converter with 140 kHz resonant frequency. The simulation result comparison is made with fuzzy controller and PI controller in closed loop which gives the output performance characteristics and reliability of a fuzzy controller.
Balanced Budget Government Spending in a Small Open Regional Economy

This paper investigates the impact of a balanced budget fiscal policy expansion in a regional context within a numerical dynamic general equilibrium model. We take Scotland as an example where, recently, there has been extensive debate on greater fiscal autonomy. In response to a balanced budget fiscal expansion the model suggests that: an increase in current government purchase in goods and services has negative multiplier effects only if the elasticity of substitution between private and public consumption is high enough to move downward the marginal utility of private consumers; public capital expenditure crowds in consumption and investment even with a high level of congestion; but crowding out effects might arise in the short-run if agents are myopic.
An Adaptive Resonance Regulator Design for Motion Control of Intake Valves in Camless Engine Systems

This paper deals with an adaptive control strategy based on the resonance concept to minimize the regulation energy of a new generation of actuators for intake valves of camless engines. The new actuator contains different parts, but basically it consists of a piezo part and a hydraulic one. Even though this work considers a particular application, the solutions proposed in the paper are quite general. The regulator consists of a cascade structure which combines feedforward actions with an external resonance controller strategy. These controllers guarantee that each single part of the actuator works at the frequency given by the velocity of the revolution of the engine. The parameters of the valve controller and of its feedforward action change adaptively in accordance with any change in the velocity of the revolution of the engine. Real measurements on an intake valve of a camless engine are shown.
Estimation of Battery State of Charge With $H_{\infty}$  Observer: Applied to a Robot for Inspecting Power Transmission Lines

Battery state-of-charge (SOC) estimation is essential for a mobile robot, such as inspection of power transmission lines. It is often estimated using a Kalman filter (KF) under the assumption that the statistical properties of the system and measurement errors are known. Otherwise, the SOC estimation error may be large or even divergent. In this paper, without the requirement of the known statistical properties, a SOC estimation method is proposed using an H∞ observer, which can still guarantee the SOC estimation accuracy in the worst statistical error case. Under the conditions of different currents and temperatures, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified in the laboratory and field environments. With the comparison of the proposed method and the KF-based one, the experimental results show that the proposed method can still provide accurate SOC estimation when there exist inexact or unknown statistical properties of the errors. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the robot for inspecting the running 500-kV extra high voltage power transmission lines.
Measurable Dynamic Gains from Trade

Productive factors, such as human and physical capital, accumulate, and trade policy can affect their steady-state levels. Consequently, in addition to the usual static effects, trade liberalization has dynamic effects on output and welfare as the economy moves to its new steady state. The output impact of this dynamic effect is measurable and appears to be quite large. The welfare impact of this dynamic effect is also measurable. The size of this dynamic gain from trade depends on the wedge between social and private returns to capital. Rough numerical estimates of the output and welfare effects are provided.
The Impact of Exchange Rate Variability on Agricultural Exports of Developing Countries

Abstract This paper examines the impact of exchange rate and its volatility on the Turkish agricultural exports in the framework of error-correction model. The error correction model results indicate that except a few countries, the exchange rate and its variability do not have significant impact on Turkish exports of dried figs, grapes and tobacco. Thus, policies designed to increase the export level of Turkish agricultural products by incorporating weak Turkish lira against other currencies are not likely to be effective. The policy makers, therefore, should take into account the ineffectiveness of exchange rate on stimulating agricultural exports in their new policy designs.
Cost of dental services provided in private general practice for an insured population in New South Wales, Australia.

OBJECTIVE To determine cost of dental services provided to a cohort of insured population 18 years and over, who used private general dental practice in New South Wales, Australia. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN This cohort study used the person-years method and Weibull regression for analysis. Setting Data were derived from claims records submitted for rebates by members of a health insurance fund for services they received in private general dental practice during 1 January 1992-31 December 1995. PARTICIPANTS 75,501 members from New South Wales. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES To determine, by age groups, the cost per item of dental service, cost of services received at a visit and cost of services received per year. RESULTS The median cost per item of dental service received for all ages was A$36.7; with cost increasing with age until 55-64 year age group where an apparent plateau occurred. The median cost of services received at a visit for all ages was Australian dollars 93.5. Cost of services received at a visit increased with age, reaching a plateau in the middle aged groups. The median cost of providing services for all age groups per year was Australian dollar 183.6. The cost of services per year when compared with the youngest age group (18-24 years) increased by about 20% for each successive age group up to the 45-54 year age group. From 55 years onwards the cost levelled off at approximately 70% more than the youngest age group. CONCLUSION The cost of providing dental services increased with age to reach a plateau in the middle age groups.
Sn- and Pd-Free Synthesis of D-π-A Organic Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Cu-Catalyzed Direct Arylation.

<A variety of D-π-A-type functional organic dyes are facilely synthesized by direct C-H arylation catalyzed by inexpensive copper salts. Under optimized reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope with good functional group compatibility was demonstrated. Based on this synthetic strategy, three new dye sensitizers (CYL-5-7) were designed and fabricated for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Photovoltaic characterization showed that these devices gave open-circuit voltages of 0.65-0.75 V, short-circuit currents of 5.90-12.60 mA cm-2 , and fill factors of 65.6-76.9 %, corresponding to power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 2.95-6.20 %. This work represents the first use of Cu-catalyzed C-H arylation for a step-saving, Sn-free synthesis of precursor dyes for DSSC applications.
Re-Evaluation of the MARKOR Scale Dimensions in the Brazilian Context

ABSTRACT In Brazil, despite the common utilization of the MARKOR scales of market orientation, few studies have questioned specifically its validity or proposed revisions in the scales. For this purpose, this article presents the details of a research which had the objective of validating the MARKOR scale as well as making a critical analysis of the proposed structure of its theoretical dimensions using, as a base, the Brazilian retail apparel and the electrical-electronic industries. Results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses pointed to a unidimensionality of the market orientation construct indicating the necessity of re-evaluating the theoretical structure subdivision of the construct dimensions. RESUMEN. En el Brasil, a pesar del relativo uso de las escalas de orientación al mercado, ningún estudio empírico ha cuestionado hasta el momento la validez de dichas escalas (o señaló la necesidad de revisarlas). Dentro de este contexto, este artículo presenta los detalles de una investigación realizada sobre la validez de la escala MARKOR (Kohli, Jaworski y Kumar, 1993) y de la estructura teórica de sus dimensiones en dos importantes sectores económicos brasileños: el comercio minorista de confección y la industria electro-electrónica. Los resultados de los análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio parecen indicar la uní dimensionalidad del constructor de orientación al mercado, indicando que se debe revaluar la estructura de sus dimensiones teóricas. RESUMO. No Brasil, apesar da relativa utilização das escalas de orientação para o mercado, nenhum trabalho questionou ainda especificamente a validade ou propôs revisões dessas escalas. Neste sentido, este artigo apresenta os detalhes de uma pesquisa que objetivou validar a escala MARKOR, bem como tecer uma análise crítica à estrutura proposta de suas dimensões teóricas, tomando como base o Varejo de Confecções e a Indústria Eletro-Eletrônica brasileiros. Os resultados das análises fatoriais exploratória e confirmatória apontam para a unidimensionalidade do construto de Orientação para o Mercado, indicando a necessidade de reavaliação da subdivisão da estrutura teórica das dimensões do construto.
Identiﬁcation and Characterization of Glycoproteins on the Spore Surface of Clostridium difﬁcile

In this study, we identify a major spore surface protein, BclA, and provide evidence that this protein is glycosylated. Following extraction of the spore surface, solubilized proteins were separated by one-dimensional PAGE and stained with glycostain to reveal a reactive high-molecular-mass region of approximately 600 kDa. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis of in-gel digests showed this band to contain peptides corresponding to a putative exosporangial glycoprotein (BclA3) and identiﬁed a number of glycopeptides modiﬁed with multiple N-acetyl hexosamine moieties and, in some cases, capped with novel glycans. In addition, we demonstrate that the glycosyltransferase gene sgtA (gene CD3350 in strain 630 and CDR3194 in strain R20291), which is located immediately upstream of the bclA3 homolog, is involved in the glycosylation of the spore surface, and is cotranscribed with bclA3 . The presence of anti- (cid:2) -O-GlcNAc-reactive material was demonstrated on the surface of spores by immunoﬂuorescence and in surface extracts by Western blotting, although each strain produced a distinct pattern of reactivity. Reactivity of the spore surface with the anti- (cid:2) -O-GlcNAc antibody was abolished in the 630 and R20291 glycosyltransferase mutant strains, while complementation with a wild-type copy of the gene restored the (cid:2) -O-GlcNAc reactivity. Phenotypic testing of R20291 glycosyltransferase mutant spores revealed no signiﬁcant change in sensitivity to ethanol or lysozyme. However, a change in the resistance to
Myoblast‐mediated gene transfer to the joint

Several genetic and acquired pathologic conditions of the musculoskeletal system, such as arthritis and damage to ligament, cartilage, and meniscus, may be amenable to gene therapy. Even though ex vivo gene transfer with synovial cells has been shown to deliver genes encoding for anti‐arthritic proteins into the rabbit knee joint, its success has been limited by a transient transgene expression, In this study, data were investigated regarding the use of muscle cells as an alternative gene‐delivery vehicle to the joint in newborn rabbit and adult severe combined immunodeficiency mice. We demonstrated that myoblasts were transduced more efficiently than synovial cells with use of the same adenoviral preparation in vitro. After intra‐articular injection, the engineered muscle cells adhered to several structures in the joint, including the ligament, capsule, and synovium. In addition, myoblasts fused to form many post‐mitotic myotubes and myofibers at different locations of the joint of the newborn rabbit 5 days after the injection. In the knee of the adult mouse, myoblasts fused and expressed the reporter gene for at least 35 days after the injection. The presence of post‐mitotic myofibers in the knee joint raises the possibility of long‐term expression of the secreted protein. Currently, numerous tissues in the joint (ligament, meniscus, and cartilage) have poor intrinsic healing capacity and frequently need surgical corrections. A stable gene‐delivery vehicle to the joint producing proteins that ameliorate these different musculoskeletal conditions may change the clinical implications of these pathologies.
Improvement of a Parallel Type Two-axial Actuator Controlled by a Multi-layered Neural Network

Our parallel typed two-axial actuator was composed of two bimorph piezoelectric elements and two small links connected by three joints. We formulated kinematics for the parallel typed two-axial actuator because the endpoint is controlled in the two-dimensional coordinate. Since relationship between applied voltage and displacement cause by the voltage shows a hysteresis loop in the bimorph piezoelectric element used as components of the two-axial actuator, we produce a control system for the two-axial actuator based on a multi-layered artificial neural network to compensate the hysteresis. The neural network is comprised of 4 neurons in the input layer, 10 neurons in the hidden layer and ones neuron in the output layer. The output neuron emits time derivative of voltage; two bits signal expressing increment or decrement condition is generated by two input neurons; one of the other two input neurons and the other calculate current values of voltage and displacement, respectively. In the learning process, the network learns the hysteresis including minor loops. In the verification test, the endpoint of the two-axial actuator traces the desired circular trajectory in the two-dimensional coordinate system. After learning hysteresis loops including minor loops, the neural network simulates these hysteresis phenomena with very high accuracy.
Remote sensing estimates of actual evapotranspiration in an irrigation district

Abstract Accurate estimates of the spatial distribution of actual evapotranspiration (AET) are useful in hydrology but can be difficult to obtain. Remote sensing provides a potential capability for routinely monitoring AET by combining remotely sensed surface temperature and vegetation cover observations with near surface meteorological data in a surface energy balance model. Results from two different energy balance models are compared to airborne and ground measurements of surface energy fluxes over an irrigation district in northern Victoria during January 2003. Ground data collected include eddy correlation measurements of latent and sensible heat fluxes and associated meteorological measurements. The airborne data include eddy correlation measurements of latent and sensible heat fluxes (35 m above ground level), surface temperature transects and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) imagery (1 m resolution). Surface temperature and NDVI maps were derived from Landsat ETM+ data and combined with the ground meteorological observations in both a one- and two-source energy balance model. The two models produced similar results over irrigated sites, but large discrepancies were present over sparsely vegetated and bare soil areas. Although both models overestimated the latent and sensible heat fluxes in comparison to the ground and airborne measured fluxes, it was found that the modelled and observed Bowen ratios compared well.