Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
X-ray view of four high-luminosity Swift/BAT AGN: Unveiling obscuration and reflection with Suzaku

Aims. A complete census of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) is necessary to reveal the history of the super massive black hole (SMBH) growth and galaxy evolution in the Universe given the complex feedback processes and the fact that much of this growth occurs in an obscured phase. In this context, hard X-ray surveys and dedicated follow-up observations represent a unique tool for selecting highly absorbed AGN and for characterizing the obscuring matter surrounding the SMBH. Here we focus on the absorption and reflection occurring in highly luminous, quasar-like AGN, to study the relation between the geometry of the absorbing matter and the AGN nature (e.g. X-ray, optical, and radio properties), and to help to determine the column density dependency on the AGN luminosity. Methods. The Swift/BAT nine-month survey observed 153 AGN, all with ultra-hard X-ray BAT fluxes in excess of 10 −11 ergcm −2 s −1 and an average redshift of 0.03. Among them, four of the most luminous BAT AGN (44.73 100) X-to-[OIII] luminosity ratios, with an extreme value of R X ∼ 800 for 3C452, confirming the [OIII] luminosity to be affected by residual extinction in presence of mild absorption, especially for “buried” AGN such as 3C452. Three of our targets are powerful FRII radio galaxies, which is shown by their high luminosity and absorption; this makes them the most luminous and absorbed AGN of the BAT Seyfert survey despite the inversely proportional NH − LX relation.
Fatigue in immune thrombocytopenia

Fatigue is an important aspect of health‐related quality of life from the patient perspective and can have significant socio‐economic consequences. It is a common feature of chronic illnesses and a significant number of both adults and children with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) suffer from fatigue. Reliable, validated fatigue scales have been developed for use in ITP. These will facilitate future investigation of its pathogenesis and the effectiveness of intervention. Acute inflammation acts on neural and endocrine systems resulting in ‘sickness behaviour’, an adaptive response to infection and injury. Inflammation is also thought to cause fatigue in chronic disease and immune dysregulation in ITP appears to have a number of pro‐inflammatory components. Clinicians should consider fatigue when assessing the burden of disease. Although effective ITP‐directed therapy can improve fatigue, a number of fatigue‐directed strategies may also need to be considered.
The Relationship between Entrepreneurial Drive and Challenges Among Minority Entrepreneurs in the United States

Research shows that minority entrepreneurs experience challenges with growth of their businesses in the United States. The challenges that minority entrepreneurs experience and the impact of growth in their businesses are not clearly defined. Research explores the levels of entrepreneurial drive among entrepreneurs and the effect of growth in their businesses in the United States. Previous studies about entrepreneurial drives does not provide an in-depth analysis about minority entrepreneurs and the influence of business growth in the United States. This paper shows the existing challenges and various levels of entrepreneurial drive among minority entrepreneurs in the United States. It reveals the relationship of existing challenges and various levels of entrepreneurial drive among minority entrepreneurs and the impact of business growth in the United States
HRM and Small-Firm Employee Motivation: Before and After the Great Recession

A long-running debate in the small-firms’ literature questions the value of formal human resource management (HRM) practices, which have been linked to high performance in larger firms. The authors contribute to this literature by exploiting linked employer–employee surveys for 2004 and 2011. Using employees’ intrinsic job satisfaction and organizational commitment as motivational outcomes, the authors find the returns to small-firm investments in HRM are U-shaped. Small firms benefit from intrinsically motivating work situations in the absence of HRM practices and find this advantage disturbed when formal HRM practices are initially introduced. Firms can restore positive motivation when they invest intensively in HRM practices in a way that characterizes high performance work systems (HWPS). Although the HPWS effect on employee motivation is modified somewhat by the Great Recession, it remains robust and continues to have positive promise for small firms.
Activity recognition by smartphone based multi-channel sensors with genetic programming

Recognition of activities such as sitting, standing, walking and running can significantly improve the interaction between human and machine, especially on mobile devices. In this study we present a GP based method which can automatically evolve recognition programs for various activities using multisensor data. This investigation shows that GP is capable of achieving good recognition on binary problems as well as on multi-class problems. With this method domain knowledge about an activity is not required. Furthermore, extraction of time series features is not necessary. The investigation also shows that these evolved GP solutions are small in size and fast in execution. They are suitable for real-world applications which may require real-time performance.
Corporate sector financials from financial stability perspective

Non-financial companies’ indebtedness has risen substantially following global financial crisis era due to increasing global risk appetite and capital inflows towards developing economies. However, reversal of capital flows owing to lower growth prospects of emerging countries, concerns about expansionary monetary policies of developed economies and surged in global risk aversion resulted in higher funding cost for emerging markets’ corporate sectors. In order to analyze potential systemic risk stemming from corporate sector’s foreign currency risk and roll-over capability, indebtedness should be monitored closely from sustainable financial stability perspective. This study aimed to estimate optimal debt level for non-financial companies listed on Borsa Istanbul Stock Exchange and estimated leverage ratio stood at reasonable levels in spite of the significant increase in indebtedness since global crisis. Even if indebtedness of corporate sector is assumed to be at reasonable levels, non-financial companies’ prudential approach for debt sustainability is considered to be important in terms of systemic risk mitigation. Moreover, since this study was conducted for aggregated terms for company sample, sector and company specific factors should also be considered to estimate optimal leverage ratio specifically.
Do People Mix at Mixers? Structure, Homophily, and the “Life of the Party”

We used electronic name tags to conduct a fine-grained analysis of the pattern of socializing dynamics at a mixer attended by about 100 business people, to examine whether individuals in such minimally structured social events can initiate new and different contacts, despite the tendency to interact with those they already know or who are similar to them. The results show that guests did not mix as much as might be expected in terms of making new contacts. They were much more likely to encounter their pre-mixer friends, even though they overwhelmingly stated before the event that their goal was to meet new people. At the same time, guests did mix in the sense of encountering others who were different from themselves in terms of sex, race, education, and job. There was no evidence of homophily (attraction to similar others) in the average encounter, although it did operate for some guests at some points in the mixer. Results also revealed a phenomenon that we call “associative homophily,” in which guests were more likely to join and continue engagement with a group as long as it contained at least one other person of the same race as them. We consider the implications of these results for organizations and individuals seeking to develop their networks and for theories of network dynamics.
Nutritional interventions during pregnancy for the prevention or treatment of impaired fetal growth: an overview of randomized controlled trials.

This paper reviews the efficacy of nutrition interventions to prevent or treat impaired fetal growth. Searches were made for Cochrane systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials published before October 2002. Balanced protein energy supplementation reduced the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) by 30% (95%CI: 20% to 43%) while one trial conducted in New York, U.S., reported a negative effect of high protein supplementation on SGA (RR 1.58; 95%CI: 1.03-2.41). Calcium supplementation protected against low birth weight (RR 0.83; 95%CI: 0.71-0.98). Micronutrient supplements did not affect birth weight, except for magnesium supplementation, which reduced the risk of SGA by 30%. This finding, however, needs or be interpreted with caution because of methodological issues in the data analysis. Programmatic recommendations can be made only for intervening with balanced protein energy supplements, especially in population with a high prevalence of undernutrition. Research is needed to determine the efficacy of multiple micronutrient supplementation and the effect of single micronutrients supplementation on specific growth outcomes such as fetal organ and bone growth. In addition, the public health relevance of these outcomes and their relation to morbidity need to be evaluated.
Assessment of metal-assisted nucleophile activation in the hepatitis delta virus ribozyme from molecular simulation and 3D-RISM

The hepatitis delta virus ribozyme is an efficient catalyst of RNA 2′-O-transphosphorylation and has emerged as a key experimental system for identifying and characterizing fundamental features of RNA catalysis. Recent structural and biochemical data have led to a proposed mechanistic model whereby an active site Mg2+ ion facilitates deprotonation of the O2′ nucleophile, and a protonated cytosine residue (C75) acts as an acid to donate a proton to the O5′ leaving group as noted in a previous study. This model assumes that the active site Mg2+ ion forms an inner-sphere coordination with the O2′ nucleophile and a nonbridging oxygen of the scissile phosphate. These contacts, however, are not fully resolved in the crystal structure, and biochemical data are not able to unambiguously exclude other mechanistic models. In order to explore the feasibility of this model, we exhaustively mapped the free energy surfaces with different active site ion occupancies via quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) simulations. We further incorporate a three-dimensional reference interaction site model for the solvated ion atmosphere that allows these calculations to consider not only the rate associated with the chemical steps, but also the probability of observing the system in the presumed active state with the Mg2+ ion bound. The QM/MM results predict that a pathway involving metal-assisted nucleophile activation is feasible based on the rate-controlling transition state barrier departing from the presumed metal-bound active state. However, QM/MM results for a similar pathway in the absence of Mg2+ are not consistent with experimental data, suggesting that a structural model in which the crystallographically determined Mg2+ is simply replaced with Na+ is likely incorrect. It should be emphasized, however, that these results hinge upon the assumption of the validity of the presumed Mg2+-bound starting state, which has not yet been definitively verified experimentally, nor explored in depth computationally. Thus, further experimental and theoretical study is needed such that a consensus view of the catalytic mechanism emerges.
Mechanisms to Improve Decentralized Category Management with Vendor-Speciflc Product Portfolios

Category management is a popular retail practice in which pricing, assortment, and stocking decisions are coordinated across products within a particular retail category such as laundry detergent or toothpaste. Recently some retailers have been delegating the assortment decision to their vendors, but it is not known how well this approach performs. We analyze an industry-motivated model of category management in which the retailer allows each vendor to make stocking and assortment decisions for a given amount of shelf space. We determine the optimal pricing decisions for the retailer and the best stocking and assortment policies for each vendor in a two-stage decentralized system. We find that when the vendors’ stocking incentives run contrary to the retailer’s preferences, the retailer can be considerably worse off (i.e., experience profit losses as high as 40%) by delegating these responsibilities to the vendors. We compare the delegated system to a retailer-controlled channel and a centralized supply chain and demonstrate how a minimum-profit constraint can induce the vendors to achieve the total profit of a retailer-controlled channel but it may not induce centralized performance. To improve the performance of the decentralized, vendorcontrolled channel, we show that a revenue-sharing arrangement with a discounted wholesale price is guaranteed to achieve full supply chain coordination in a vendor-controlled channel when the vendors produce multiple substitutable products and shelf space is limited or ample. Revenue sharing may not coordinate a vendor-controlled channel with medium levels of shelf space, but we characterize the difference in the decisions compared with the centralized channel’s decisions, which is small for most parameter realizations. Through our analysis of revenue sharing, we establish that a revenue-sharing contract can coordinate stocking levels in a general, uncapacitated supply chain consisting of multiple vendors setting stocking levels for multiple substitutable products.
Feasibility of quantitative pain assessment in outpatient oncology practice.

PURPOSE Although physicians view failure to assess pain systematically as the most important barrier to outpatient cancer pain management, little is known about pain assessment in this setting. We sought to determine whether pain is routinely assessed and whether routine quantitative pain assessment is feasible in a busy outpatient oncology practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a pre- and postintervention chart review of 520 randomly selected medical and radiation oncology patient visits at a community hospital-based private outpatient practice. The intervention consisted of training health assistants (HAs) to measure and document patient pain scores by using a visual analog scale. The main outcome measures included HA documentation of patient pain scores, quantitative and qualitative mention of pain in the physician note, and analgesic treatment before and after the intervention. RESULTS After the intervention, HA documentation of pain scores increased from 1% to 75.6% (P < .0001). Physician documentation increased from 0% to 4.8% for quantitative documentation (P < .01), and from 60.0% to 68.3% for qualitative documentation (not significant). Of all the patients, 23.1% reported significant pain. Subgroups with greater pain included patients actively receiving radiation treatments and patients with lung cancer. Of patients with significant pain, 28.2% had no mention of pain in the physician note and 47.9% had no documented analgesic treatment. CONCLUSION Quantitative pain assessment was virtually absent before our intervention but easily implemented and sustained in a busy outpatient oncology practice. Pain score collection identified a high prevalence of pain, patient subgroups at risk for pain, and a significant proportion of patients with pain that was neither evaluated nor treated by their oncologists.
Gain and directivity enhancment of microstrip patch antenna using frequency selective surface

In this present work, a microstrip patch antenna (MPA) using frequency selective surface (FSS) is proposed. The FSS acts as a reflection plane which is loaded onto a microstrip patch antenna to improve the performance of antenna. The single-layer FSS (SL-FSS) and double-layer FSS (DL-FSS) are respectively loaded onto the C-band microstrip patch antenna. After loading the FSS as the reflection plane, the gain is increased by 1.45dB and 3.97dB respectively and the directivity is also improved. The proposed antenna is designed to operate at the resonant frequency of 5.2 GHz. The antenna is simulated in HFSS using FR-4 substrate with a dielectric constant of 4.4, thickness of 0.8mm and loss tangent of 0.02. The proposed antenna can be used in WLAN applications.
Toxic Emissions and Financial Performance: The Role of Complementary Strengths in Employee Relations

This research examines the role of complementary strengths in the relationship between firm toxic emissions and financial performance. The research posits and demonstrates that the impact of toxic emissions on performance is moderated by the firm’s employee relations strengths and concerns. This research also posits that the moderating role of employee relations strengths and concerns in the emissions performance relationship is contingent on the firm’s labor productivity. Hypotheses are tested in the context of US manufacturing firms using secondary data drawn from the US Environmental Protection Agency, Compustat, and KLD Research & Analytics. The analyses and discussion suggest that not only do employee relations strengths and concerns influence the firm’s ability to reduce its levels of emissions profitably, but their impact differs based on firm’s labor productivity.
INFLUENTIAL PREDICTORS FOR FINANCIAL ADEQUACY AMONG MALAYSIAN PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES

Financially well employees are presumed to be portraying good work attitude and may result in good work performance. This will benefit their employer and organization. Knowing the adequateness level of their finances and what influence it is important as it will also affect the organization. Hence, this study was performed to identify influential factors predicting financial adequacy among public sector employees. A cross-sectional study using a multistage random sampling was employed. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed at the work-place of public sector employees in Peninsula Malaysia and were able to obtain 472 usable questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis controlled for socioeconomic characteristics identified savings ratio as the most influential predictor for financial adequacy followed by number of insurance policy and net-worth. The likelihood of an employee to be financially adequate by these redictors was from four to five times as compared to being financially inadequate. Furthermore, financial risk management knowledge was also determined as influential predictor for financial adequacy. The results suggests for a financial education at the work-place to educate the employees on the need to increase savings, purchase various insurance policies and having a positive net-worth to increase employees’ financial well-being for the sake of the organization’s success.
Production of Phytases from Mesophilic and Thermophilic Fungi

Phytase, (myo-inositol-hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolase) is a phosphatase, capable of initiating the stepwise dephosphorylation of phytate (myo-inositol-hexakisphosphate) to inositol and inorganic phosphate (Figure 1.). Phytic acid serves as the storage form of phosphorus in plant seeds. Cereals (maize, barley, wheat, and oats) and legumes that are commonly used as feed ingredients all have similar phytate levels, approximating 0.25% of dry matter. On average, 70% of the total phosphorus in the feed ingredient is found as phytate-P (Maenz 2001). The monogastric animals (pig, poultry, fish) are unable to utilise phosphorous from phytic acids, because their intestine lacks phytase activities. As a result feed must be supplemented with inorganic phosphate. Therefore the manure secreted by animals contains high amount of phosphorous that may cause environmental pollution, eutrophication of surface water, particularly in areas of intensive livestock production. Microbial phytase can be used as an animal feed supplement as an effective and practical method of improving phytate digestibility and nutritive value of feeds as well as reduces the environmental phosphorus pollution.
10G-enabled optical network architecture directions for video, voice and data: an MSO perspective

We discuss the characteristics of a converged, 10G-enabled, DWDM optical network architecture used to provide carrier-grade service availability, resilience, and protection for a variety of multimedia commercial and entertainment services. By exploiting advances in 10G technology and overlaying OSI layer 2/3 with layer-1 photonics, the network can scale efficiently and provide the most flexibility for current and future service delivery.
Adapting the Balanced Scorecard into the HealthCare Industry: A Literature Review, New Insight and Future Directions

The paper tried to entangle the current puzzle on the implementation of the balanced scorecard, especially within a health-service provider. By positing two folding questions which address the possible antecedents for the successful balanced scorecard and how to perform each antecedent to deal with the current issue, the study begins with comprehensive literature reviews among more than 58 manuscripts from respective journals. Having performed the analysis in an objective manner, the study succeeded in identifying five possible antecedents as crucial elements to BSC: (1) vision and mission, (2) organizational fitness, (3) organizational capabilities, (4) technological support and (5) organizational commitment. Furthermore, in maintaining the objectivity, the study also analyzed major challenges faced in the health-service industry. Our findings portrayed three major challenges: (1) due to objectivity of the measurement process, (2) organizational capability’s consideration and (3) special organizational characteristics. Therefore, we enclosed the paper with proposing a firm model which can be used as future guidance for the health-service provider to implement the balanced scorecard, thus preparing the next stage for future research directions.
Preventing adolescent drug use: long-term results of a junior high program.

OBJECTIVES Although several studies have reported short-term gains for drug-use prevention programs targeted at young adolescents, few have assessed the long-term effects of such programs. Such information is essential for judging how long prevention benefits last. This paper reports results over a 6-year period for a multisite randomized trial that achieved reductions in drug use during the junior high school years. METHODS The 11-lesson curriculum, which was tested in 30 schools in eight highly diverse West Coast communities, focused on helping 7th and 8th grade students develop the motivation and skills to resist drugs. Schools were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. About 4000 students were assessed in grade 7 and six times thereafter through grade 12. Program effects were adjusted for pretest covariates and school effects. RESULTS Once the lessons stopped, the program's effects on drug use stopped. Effects on cognitive risk factors persisted for a longer time (many through grade 10), but were not sufficient to produce corresponding reductions in use. CONCLUSIONS It is unlikely that early prevention gains can be maintained without additional prevention efforts during high school. Future research is needed to develop and test such efforts.