Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Effects of Bilateral Norms on SMEs’ Export Relationships: A Dynamic Perspective

Prior research has established the pivotal role of bilateral norms in relationship marketing, identifying them as effective relational governance mechanisms that firms can use to manage their international alliances with overseas intermediaries. Unfortunately, few studies have examined differential effects of specific norms on positive and negative behaviors, let alone norms’ effectiveness in the harsh export context of resource-constrained small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To address these gaps, the authors explicate the effects of three norms (continuity expectations, equity, and cooperation) on both dysfunctional and productive behaviors of foreign distributors. Using two consecutive data collections, the results indicate that norms curb importer opportunism and help improve importer role performance and that continuity expectations and cooperation increase the chances of the survival of export ventures. The study further scrutinizes relational norms’ effects on opportunism in the context of exporting SMEs’ realities and tests relevant moderating effects. The findings indicate that while exporter dependence reduces the shielding effect of norms against opportunism, psychic distance and competitive intensity strengthen the protecting effect of relational norms. The results of this study underscore the heterogeneous nature of relational norms and suggest that norms such as continuity expectations play a leading role in structuring the ideology of a business dyad.
The Detection of Moderately-Fluctuating Rayleigh Targets

Pulse train detection of fluctuating targets whose coherence time is long compared to the time between pulses and short compared to the pulse train duration is compared for two systems: (1) a recursive digital optimal receiver operating in conjunction with a coherent pulse train transmitter, and (2) a good (but not optimal) receiver operating with a block coherent frequency-hopping transmitter. The equivalence of this type of problem to noise-in-noise detection problems is demonstrated, the performance relations for both systems are derived and comparisons are made.
Feasibility study of emerging non-volatilememory based physical unclonable functions

The feasibility and quality of Memory-based Physical Unclonable Functions (MemPUFs) based on emerging Non-Volatile Memory (eNVM) technologies (Spin-Transfer Torque Magnetic Random Access Memory, Phase Change RAM, and Resistive RAM) are studied in this paper. MemPUFs using the three technologies were evaluated in terms of reliability, uniqueness and randomness using different sensing modes and under varying operating conditions. Our results show that eNVM based MemPUFs with differential sensing mode exhibit good randomness and reliability. As compared to conventional MemPUFs, eNVM based MemPUFs are better in terms of area cost.
Spatially regulated translation in embryos: asymmetric expression of maternal Wnt-11 along the dorsal-ventral axis in Xenopus.

Transition from symmetry to asymmetry is a central theme in cell and developmental biology. In Xenopus embryos, dorsal-ventral asymmetry is initiated by a microtubule-dependent cytoplasmic rotation during the first cell cycle after fertilization. Here we show that the cytoplasmic rotation initiates differential cytoplasmic polyadenylation of maternal Xwnt-11 RNA, encoding a member of the Wnt family of cell-cell signaling factors. Translational regulation of Xwnt-11 mRNA along the dorsal-ventral axis results in asymmetric accumulation of Xwnt-11 protein. These results demonstrate spatially regulated translation of a maternal cell-signaling factor along the vertebrate dorsal-ventral axis and represent a novel mechanism for Wnt gene regulation. Spatial regulation of maternal RNA translation, which has been established in invertebrates, appears to be an evolutionarily conserved mechanism in the generation of intracellular asymmetry and the consequential formation of the multicellular body pattern.
Model checking the properties of ISO/IEEE 11073-20601:2016 standard-based communication protocol for personal health device

Engineering of medical informatics systems is a complex work because it is at the intersection of several critical domains, among which medicine, computer science, electrical engineering to mention just a few. One critical aspect of such systems is the interoperability of the different components. One key solution for the interoperability is the creation of good standards that will assure the interchange of data between products of several vendors and domains - medical devices, medical information systems, medical data, etc. In this paper a formal analysis of the ISO/IEEE 11073 −20601: 2016 Draft Standard for Health informatics - Personal health device communication - Application profile - Optimized exchange protocol is described. This family of standards specifies the communication between devices that can be agents (weighing scales, spirometers) which measure health related data and managers (laptop, smartphone etc.) that collect the information and can display or forward it. First the protocol was modeled in Promela and then the model was checked manually and also using the Spin tool that performed an automated check. The results revealed issues which can cause deadlocks. However, these issues appeared in exceptional workflows, the normal flow being designed well. This highlights the methodology of developing such protocols: concentration on normal, intended behaviors without dealing with exceptional behaviors. Using formal models can reveal problems with exceptional behaviors. The results and proposed solutions were reported to the IEEE 1073 working group and will be integrated in the standard.
Exploiting Renewable Energy Resources: a Viable Solution to Energy Problem in Nigeria

Nigeria is facing chronic energy problem which is evident in its inability to meet the energy demand of its people. A number of studies claim that an estimated 60 – 70% of the Nigerian population do not have access to electricity. Statistics from the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in 2010 indicated that only 10% of rural households and 30 – 40% of the country's total population have access to electricity. There is the need therefore to responsibly increase electricity generation so that more people and more rural households have access to electricity. A good option to diversify electricity generation from the traditional fossil fuels (which are fast depleting), cut down green-house gas emission and increase the access of rural areas to electricity is generation from renewable energy sources. This paper therefore discusses the prospects of boosting electricity generation in Nigeria by adopting renewable energy resources. This includes among other things investigating and estimating the mega-watts of electricity that could be generated from the abundant renewable energy resources in the country.
A Datalog model of must-alias analysis

We give a declarative model of a rich family of must-alias analyses. Our emphasis is on careful and compact modeling, while exposing the key points where the algorithm can adjust its inference power. The model is executable, in the Datalog language, and forms the basis of a full-fledged must-alias analysis of Java bytecode in the Doop framework.
Prenatal Group Visit Program for a Population With Limited English Proficiency

Introduction: The declining number of family physicians providing pregnancy care is of concern because they are an important source of pregnancy care in underserved communities. Innovative approaches might reinforce family physician participation in pregnancy care for the underserved. Since group prenatal visits have been shown to improve patient education, support, and satisfaction, we implemented and evaluated a group prenatal visit program for Japanese women in Michigan, an underserved population because of their limited proficiency with English. Methods: We conducted a convergent quantitative and qualitative mixed methods evaluation involving repeated survey administration (program evaluations, 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire, pregnancy distress questionnaire) to participants during 5 group visits and in-depth postpartum interviews in the University of Michigan Japanese Family Health Program setting. We conducted independent quantitative and qualitative analytics and then thematically integrated these data. Results: Cultural adaptations to the Centering Pregnancy format involved changes in total visits, educational content, and participation format. Based on 5 groups attending 5 sessions each, 42 women evaluated the program through 158 surveys after the sessions. Participants evaluated multiple parameters positively: being with other pregnant women (98%), improving their understanding about prenatal care (96%), preparation for labor and delivery (96%), organization of visits (94%), and preparation for newborn care (85%). In final evaluations, 96% to 100% of participants rated 7 educational topics as “covered” or “covered well. ” Qualitative interviews with 20 women revealed positive views of social support from prenatal group visits and group facilitation but mixed enthusiasm for clinical assessments in the prenatal group visit setting and partner and children attendance at the sessions. Conclusions: This research demonstrates the feasibility and cultural acceptability of prenatal group visits for Japanese women. Prenatal group visits provided education and social support for Japanese women during the perinatal and postpartum periods that were not otherwise accessible in Japanese. This study confirms the feasibility of family physicians providing prenatal group visits and extends the literature of the applicability of prenatal group visits for patients with limited English skills.
Temporary Employment Agencies in Ontario: Experiences of South Asian Immigrant Women

Informed by the feminist political economy perspective (FPE), this study examines the experiences of recent South Asian immigrant women working through temporary employment agencies in Ontario, paying particular attention to how social factors such as gender, race and immigrant status shape these experiences. As FPE pays attention to the interconnection between family, state and market, the study examines how women experience precariousness at work, within the household, and trying to settle and integrate. Based on analysis of twelve qualitative interviews and observations as a participant-researcher, findings indicate that recent South Asian immigrant women are funneled into agency work due to a variety of structural barriers, and that the lack of rights associated with agency work leaves them particularly vulnerable to exploitation and poverty. As such, it is proposed that changes must address a lack of security and enforcement of employment standards, and barriers to employment for women and recent
Trp-Asp (WD) Repeat Domain 1 Is Essential for Mouse Peri-implantation Development and Regulates Cofilin Phosphorylation*

Trp-Asp (WD) repeat domain 1 (WDR1) is a highly conserved actin-binding protein across all eukaryotes and is involved in numerous actin-based processes by accelerating Cofilin severing actin filament. However, the function and the mechanism of WDR1 in mammalian early development are still largely unclear. We now report that WDR1 is essential for mouse peri-implantation development and regulates Cofilin phosphorylation in mouse cells. The disruption of maternal WDR1 does not obviously affect ovulation and female fertility. However, depletion of zygotic WDR1 results in embryonic lethality at the peri-implantation stage. In WDR1 knock-out cells, we found that WDR1 regulates Cofilin phosphorylation. Interestingly, WDR1 is overdosed to regulate Cofilin phosphorylation in mouse cells. Furthermore, we showed that WDR1 interacts with Lim domain kinase 1 (LIMK1), a well known phosphorylation kinase of Cofilin. Altogether, our results provide new insights into the role and mechanism of WDR1 in physiological conditions.
Species-specific and ubiquitous DNA-based assays for rapid identification of Staphylococcus epidermidis

Staphylococcus epidermidis is an aerobic gram-positive coccus that is now recognized among the coagulase-negative staphylococci as an etiological agent with an important range of pathogenicity in humans. Several diagnostic kits based on biochemical or immunological reactions can efficiently identify Staphylococcus aureus. However, these tests are often unreliable for the identification of coagulase-negative staphylococcal species including S. epidermidis. Since DNA-based assays for the species-specific identification of S. epidermidis remain unavailable, we have developed such tests in order to improve the accuracy and the rapidity of tests for the diagnosis of S. epidermidis infections. On the basis of the results of hybridization assays with clones randomly selected from an S. epidermidis genomic library, we identified a chromosomal DNA fragment which is specific and 100% ubiquitous for the identification of S. epidermidis. This 705-bp fragment was sequenced and used to design PCR amplification primers. PCR assays with the selected primers were also highly specific and ubiquitous for the identification from bacterial cultures of clinical isolates of S. epidermidis from a variety of anatomic sites. While three strains of S. capitis were misidentified as S. epidermidis with the API Staph-Ident system and 2.5% of the S. epidermidis identifications were inconclusive with the MicroScan Autoscan-4 system, the PCR assay was highly specific and allowed for the correct identification of all 79 S. epidermidis strains tested. The PCR assays developed are simple and can be performed in about 1 h. The DNA-based tests provide novel diagnostic tools for improving the diagnosis of S. epidermidis infections.
Variations in Nanometer CMOS Flip-Flops: Part II—Energy Variability and Impact of Other Sources of Variations

In this paper, the impact of variations on single-edge triggered flip-flops (FFs) is evaluated for a wide range of topologies. In particular, this Part II explicitly considers sources of variations such as voltage, temperature and variations induced by the clock network. The effect of variations on the energy and its tradeoff with performance is also investigated. This paper complements the previous Part I, which is focused on process variations and flip-flop timing. From a design perspective, the presented results provide well-defined guidelines for variation-aware selection of the flip-flop topologies, and for early budgeting of variations before detailed circuit design. Results are put into the technology scaling perspective through comparison of results at 65 and 28 nm. The results show that the technology scaling does not affect either the main findings of this analysis or the ranking of the considered topologies.
Evaluating Robotic Surgical Skills Performance Under Distractive Environment Using Objective and Subjective Measures

Background. Distractions are recognized as a significant factor affecting performance in safety critical domains. Although operating rooms are generally full of distractions, the effect of distractions on robot-assisted surgical (RAS) performance is unclear. Our aim was to investigate the effect of distractions on RAS performance using both objective and subjective measures. Methods. Fifteen participants performed a knot-tying task using the da Vinci Surgical System and were exposed to 3 distractions: (1) passive distraction entailed listening to noise with a constant heart rate, (2) active distraction included listening to noise and acknowledging a change of random heart rate from 60 to 120 bpm, and (3) interactive distraction consisted of answering math questions. The objective kinematics of the surgical instrument tips were used to evaluate performance. Electromyography (EMG) of the forearm and hand muscles of the participants were collected. The median EMG frequency (EMGfmed) and the EMG envelope (EMGenv) were analyzed. NASA Task Load Index and Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery score were used to evaluate the subjective performance. One-way repeated analysis of variance was applied to examine the effects of distraction on skills performance. Spearman’s correlations were conducted to compare objective and subjective measures. Results. Significant distraction effect was found for all objective kinematics measures (P < .05). There were significant distraction effects for EMG measures (EMGenv, P < .004; EMGfmed, P = .031). Significant distraction effects were also found for subjective measurements. Conclusions. Distraction impairs surgical skills performance and increases muscle work. Understanding how the surgeons cope with distractions is important in developing surgical education.
Is the aorta truly dextroposed in tetralogy of Fallot? A two-dimensional echocardiographic answer.

The embryogenesis of tetralogy of Fallot is still much debated. In particular, the dextroposition of the aorta is not considered by all pathologists as a genuine abnormality in this congenital heart disease but rather as a false impression due to an exaggeration of the normal overriding caused by dilatation of the aorta secondary to abnormal hemodynamics. We used two-dimensional echocardiography to examine the spatial position of the aortic root in 22 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (aged 5 days to 24 years, mean 6.4 years) and in 23 normal subjects (aged 1 month to 27 years, mean 7.6 years). Using the parasternal short-axis view, we determined the percent rightward displacement of the aortic root in relation to the plane of the atrial septum, and the relationship between the aortic cusps and the atrial septum. We measured the value of the angle luminal diameter, which was defined as the angle between the plane of the atrial septum and the plane of the left coronary-noncoronary commissure and leaflet appositional plane. In the control group, the aortic root was displaced to the right by only 23.6 +/- 7.6%; the atrial septum crossed the posterior aspect of the aortic root at the middle (n = 19) or at the right half of the posterior cusp (n = 4), and the angle luminal diameter had a value of 43.3 +/- 8.8 degrees. In the 22 patients with tetralogy, the percent rightward shift of the aortic root was augmented to 55.5 +/- 9% (p less than .001) and the atrial septum was related to the posterior commissure in 14 patients. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Endogenous Renovascular Hypertension Combined With Low Shear Stress Induces Plaque Rupture in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Objective—The development of a murine model of spontaneous atherosclerotic plaque rupture with luminal thrombus. Methods and Results—Combined partial ligation of the left renal artery and left common carotid artery in 8-week-old apolipoprotein E–deficient mice induced endogenous renovascular hypertension and local low oscillatory shear stress in the left common carotid artery. After 8 weeks, a fresh left common carotid artery lumen thrombus associated with severe plaque burden was found in 50% (10/20) of the mice. Histological analyses indicated that all left common carotid artery lesions had vulnerable features, and 50% (5/10) of the mice showed plaque rupture with a lumen thrombus. Multiple layers with layering discontinuity and intraplaque hemorrhages were found in 80% (8/10) of the mice. Further experiments showed that both increased blood pressure, and angiotensin-II contributed to plaque progression and vulnerability. Decreased intimal collagen associated with increased collagenase activity and matrix metalloproteinase expression also resulted in plaque disruption. Conclusion—We demonstrate a murine model of spontaneous plaque rupture with a high incidence of luminal thrombus. The model not only nicely recapitulates the pathophysiological processes of human plaque rupture but it is also simple, fast, and highly efficient to generate.
An Islanding Detection Method for Multi-DG Systems Based on High-Frequency Impedance Estimation

Active islanding detection methods are generally employed for grid-connected inverter-based distributed generation (DG). However, there might be mutual influences and power quality issues caused by the disturbance signal when multiple inverters are involved. To address those problems, this paper analyzes the potential failure mechanism of the f-Q (frequency-reactive power) drifting active method in multiple-DG situations. Then, a novel high-frequency transient injection-based islanding detection method that is suitable for both single and multiple DGs is proposed. Compared with the conventional injection methods, a high-frequency impedance model for DG is provided for better theoretical analysis. By means of the intermittent time-domain low-voltage condition injection control, this method can achieve good accuracy and reduce disturbances to power system.
Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools, 2nd Edition.

Make your school soar by escalating trust between teachers, students, and families Trust is an essential element in all healthy relationships, and the relationships that exist in your school are no different. How can your school leaders or teachers cultivate trust? How can your institution maintain trust once it is established? These are the questions addressed and answered in Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools, 2nd Edition. The book delves into the helpful research that has been conducted on the topic of trust in school. Although rich with research data, Trust Matters also contains practical advice and strategies ready to be implemented. This second edition expands upon the role of trust between teachers and students, teachers and administrators, and schools and families.
Bayesian semiparametric mixture Tobit models with left censoring, skewness, and covariate measurement errors

Common problems to many longitudinal HIV/AIDS, cancer, vaccine, and environmental exposure studies are the presence of a lower limit of quantification of an outcome with skewness and time‐varying covariates with measurement errors. There has been relatively little work published simultaneously dealing with these features of longitudinal data. In particular, left‐censored data falling below a limit of detection may sometimes have a proportion larger than expected under a usually assumed log‐normal distribution. In such cases, alternative models, which can account for a high proportion of censored data, should be considered. In this article, we present an extension of the Tobit model that incorporates a mixture of true undetectable observations and those values from a skew‐normal distribution for an outcome with possible left censoring and skewness, and covariates with substantial measurement error. To quantify the covariate process, we offer a flexible nonparametric mixed‐effects model within the Tobit framework. A Bayesian modeling approach is used to assess the simultaneous impact of left censoring, skewness, and measurement error in covariates on inference. The proposed methods are illustrated using real data from an AIDS clinical study. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.