Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IMPACT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE ON AFFECTIVE EMPLOYEES ’ COMMITMENT : AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF BANKING SECTOR IN ISLAMABAD ( PAKISTAN )

Employees are considered to be the most valuable assets of organization. In order to valuably utilize that asset their commitment level should be increased; and leadership style is one of the determinants which can influence the commitment level of the workforce. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of transformational leadership style on employee affective commitment in banking sector. 4 banks and 293 employees of the banks were selected for study purpose. Findings of the study show that there is significant and positive relation between transformational leadership and employees’ affective commitment. The study provides a tool to retain the employee by stimulating their level of affective commitment to the organization. This study recommended that leaders have to adapt transformational leadership style in order to increases the level of affective commitment in the employees of banking sector and provides practical implications for researches interested in exploring the employees commitment with respect to leadership in broader context.
A Rectangular Loop Yagi–Uda Antenna by the Two Materials 3-D Printing Technology

We present a rectangular loop Yagi–Uda antenna based on the three-dimensional (3-D) printing technology. The antenna comprises a ground plane, a rectangular loop driven element, and rectangular loop directors. The loop driven element is about λ0/20 above the ground plane and is fed by a 50 Ω microstrip feedline. We fabricated the Yagi–Uda antenna by two materials 3-D printing technology and the following chemical plating process. The measured results show the antenna's working frequency is at 2.392 GHz while the |S 11|, gain, and efficiency are –12.63 dB, 8.99 dBi, and 79.5%, respectively. The experimental results are in a good agreement with the design. Our loop Yagi–Uda antenna features good antenna performances, small size, and easy fabrication, which can be an excellent candidate for antenna arrays and applications that need directional radiation property. Our work paves the way to the application of 3-D printing technology in the field of antennas.
Activity and Diversity of Collembola (Insecta) and Mites (Acari) in Litter of a Degraded Midwestern Oak Woodland

Litter-inhabiting Collembola and mites were sampled using pitfall traps over a twelve-month period from four sub-communities within a 100-acre (40-ha) oak-woodland complex in northern Cook County, Illinois. Sampled locations included four areas where future ecological restoration was planned (mesic woodland, dry-mesic woodland, mesic upland forest, and buckthorn-dominated savanna) and a mesic woodland control that would not be restored. Fifty-eight mite and 30 Collembola taxa were identified out of 5,308 and 190,402 individuals trapped, respectively. There was a significant positive relationship between litter mass and both mite diversity and the ratio of Oribatida to Prostigmata and a significant negative relationship between Collembola diversity and litter. Based on multivariate analysis, Collembola and mite composition differed by sub-community and season interaction.
Heart's Role in the Human Body: A Literature Review

Heart in the human body is a muscular organ that pumps blood to the different organs. However, there are some studies that advocate for some additional functionalities of the human heart. Our long term goal is to visualize this extra ordinary role of the human heart through computer technology. In this article we present our initial study about the different views from ancient philosophers to modern scientists that believed heart’s role beyond the pumping machine. We believe that this initial study will also be interesting for research community of the social science field.
Numerical Investigation of Multistage Viscous Micropump Configurations

The viscous micropump consists of a cylinder placed eccentrically inside a microchannel, where the rotor axis is perpendicular to the channel axis. When the cylinder rotates, a net force is transferred to the fluid because of the unequal shear stresses on the upper and lower surfaces of the rotor. Consequently, this causes the surrounding fluid in the channel to displace toward the microchannel outlet. The simplicity of the viscous micropump renders it ideal for micropumping; however, previous studies have shown that its performance is still less than what is required for various applications. The performance of the viscous micropump, in terms of flow rate and pressure capabilities, may be enhanced by implementing more than one rotor into the configuration either horizontally or vertically oriented relative to each other. This is analogous to connecting multiple pumps in parallel or in series. The present study will numerically investigate the performance of various configurations of the viscous micropumps with multiple rotors, namely, the dual-horizontal rotor, triple-horizontal rotor, symmetrical dual-vertical rotor, and eight-shaped dual-vertical rotor. The development of drag-and-lift forces with time, as well as the viscous resisting torque on the cylinders were studied. In addition, the corresponding drag, lift, and moment coefficients were calculated. The flow pattern and pressure distribution on the cylinders’ surfaces are also included in the study. Results show that the symmetrical dual-vertical rotor configuration yields the best efficiency and generates the highest flow rate. The steady-state performance of the single-stage micropump was compared to the available experimental and numerical data and found to be in very good agreement. This work provides a foundation for future research on the subject of fluid phenomena in viscous micropumps.
Modeling biophysical controls on canopy foliage water 18O enrichment in wheat and corn

Leaf water 18O enrichment is an important factor controlling the H218O, C18OO, and O18O exchanges between the biosphere and the atmosphere. At present, there is limited capacity to explain the enrichment mechanisms in field conditions. In this study, three models of varying complexity were used to simulate the leaf water 18O enrichment at the canopy scale. Comparisons were made among the models and with high‐frequency isotopic measurements of ecosystem water pools in wheat and corn. The results show that the steady state assumption was a better approximation for ecosystems with lower canopy resistance, that it is important to consider the effect of leaf water turnover in modeling the enrichment and not necessary to deal with time changes in leaf water content, and that the leaf‐scale Péclet effect was incompatible with the big‐leaf modeling framework for canopy‐air interactions. After turbulent diffusion has been accounted for in an apparent kinetic factor parameterization, the mean 18O composition of the canopy foliage water was a well‐behaved property predictable according to the principles established by leaf‐scale studies, despite substantial variations in the leaf water enrichment with leaf and canopy positions. In the online supplement we provided a discussion on the observed variability of leaf water 18O composition with leaf and canopy positions and on the procedure for correcting isotopic measurements for organic contamination.
Catering Driven Substitution in Corporate Payouts

This paper investigates catering as a motivation for substitution between share repurchases and dividend payments. I hypothesize that firms cater to investor demand by repurchasing shares when investors place a premium on the stock price of firms that repurchase shares, and by paying dividends when investors place a higher value on dividend-paying firms. I propose a proxy to measure the relative preference for repurchases over dividends—the difference premium. Results show that the decision to repurchase shares or to pay dividends depends on this premium. Firms channel higher fractions of the additional payout dollars toward share repurchases when this premium is high. The market reaction to dividend changes is more favorable when firms act in accordance with the catering hypothesis. Overall, I find that catering plays a role in the substitution between repurchases and dividends.
STRATIGRAPHIC RESPONSE OF CARBONATE PLATFORMS AND TERRIGENOUS MARGINS TO RELATIVE SEA-LEVEL CHANGES : ARE THEY REALLY THAT DIFFERENT ?

Using seismic-reflection data and ODP drilling results collected from Broken Ridge we examine the stratigraphic response of a carbonate platform to relative sea-level changes. Interpretation of the seismic-reflection and drilling data indicates the following stratigraphic response of the platform to relative sea-level changes: prograding clinoforms comprising lower Maestrichtian to middle Eocene limestones and chalks were deposited during a long-term relative sea-level rise. High productivity allowed the carbonate sediment to prograde north into the basin during the rise. Onlapping sequences consisting of carbonate detritus were deposited along the northern slope of Broken Ridge in response to the middle Eocene rift-induced relative sea-level fall. The carbonate strata on Broken Ridge were uplifted to at least wave base during middle Eocene time and consequently eroded. The carbonate detritus was transported north into the basin and onlaps the preexisting slope of Broken Ridge. We propose that the stratigraphic response of Broken Ridge to the middle Eocene relative sea-level fall is consistent with stratigraphic predictions based on terrigenous margins. However, during a relative sea-level rise, biogenic carbonate production may allow carbonate sediment to prograde basinward despite the fact that water depths are increasing. Stratigraphic models based on terrigenous margins do not account for the increase in sediment supply along carbonate margins during a relative sea-level rise and thus require minor modification in order to predict the development of the prograding clinoforms.
Large-Area, Highly Uniform Evaporated Formamidinium Lead Triiodide Thin Films for Solar Cells

Perovskite thin-film solar cells are one of the most promising emerging renewable energy technologies because of their potential for low-cost, large-area fabrication combined with high energy conversion efficiencies. Recently, formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3) and other formamidinium (CH(NH2)2) based perovskites have been explored as interesting alternatives to methylammonium lead triiodide (MAPbI3) because they exhibit better thermal stability. However, at present a major challenge is the scale-up of perovskite solar cells from small test-cells to full solar modules. We show that coevaporation is a scalable method for the deposition of homogeneous FAPbI3 thin films over large areas. The method allows precise control over film thickness and results in highly uniform, pinhole-free layers. Our films exhibited a high charge-carrier mobility of 26 cm2 V–1s–1, excellent optical properties, and a bimolecular recombination constant of 7 × 10–11 cm3 s–1. Solar cells fabricated using these vapor-deposited laye.
A Techno-economic Overview of DC-DC Converter used in Photovoltaic System

---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract Due to shortage of fossil fuels, the problem of generation of energy is increasing worldwide. So use of the photovoltaic power system is growing with very fast rate in residential as well as industrial applications. In PV power system the major constraint is low and irregular PV output Voltage. Recently it is analyzed that for satisfying the safety requirement, PV-parallel connected configuration are mostly used in comparison to series connected configuration in residential generation system. So for achieving high efficiency in low cost, use of DC-DC converters are considered as a best way. In this paper, different topologies of DC-DC converters are covered. The advantage and disadvantages of these converters are also discussed in this paper. Beside this, comprehensive analysis of technical parts of some of the commercial DC-DC converter and different inverters are discussed.
Enhanced production of cellulase from tapioca stem using response surface methodology.

Medium composition for production of cellulase by Cellulomonas fimi NCIM-5015 from tapioca stem as a substrate in submerged fermentation was optimized using a stepwise strategy. Plackett-Burman design was employed for screening, the most significant nutrient components which influence the cellulose production from 12 nutrient components. Results revealed that peptone, yeast extract, KH2PO4 and CaCl2.2H2O, have significant effects on cellulase production, with confidence levels above 95%. Central composite design (CCD) was used to determine the optimal concentrations of these four components and the experimental results were fitted with a second-order polynomial model at 95% level (P < 0.05). The optimum conditions are peptone (0.957 g/L), yeast extract (2.5 g/L), KH2PO4 (3.09 g/L), and CaCl22H2O (0.409 g/L). Under these conditions, the production of cellulase was found to be 0.58 IU/ml.
Identification of supershear transition mechanisms due to material contrast at bimaterial faults

Numerical modelling of dynamic rupture is conducted along faults separating similar and dissimilar materials. Supershear transition is enhanced in the direction of slip of the stiffer material (the negative direction) due to the bimaterial effect whereby a decrease in normal stress in front of the crack tip supports yielding ahead of the rupture. In the direction of slip of the more compliant material (the positive direction), an increase in normal stress ahead of the rupture tip delays or prevents the supershear transition, whereas the impact of the bimaterial effect on subshear ruptures is to promote rupture in the positive direction due to the tensile stress perturbation behind the rupture tip in this direction. We demonstrate that the material contrast and the parameter S control whether the transition from sub- to supershear velocity (supershear transition) is smooth or follows the Burridge–Andrews mechanism. Supershear transition along interfaces separating dissimilar materials is possible for higher values of the parameter S than supershear transition along material interfaces separating similar materials. The difference between pulse-like and crack-like rupture is small with regard to the supershear transition type.
A Poly (Lactic Co Glycolic) Acid Based Dry Powder Inhaler for the Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

The goal of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of a novel Poly (Lactic Co Glycolic) Acid (PLGA) based Dry Powder Inhaler in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). First line tuberculosis drugs are highly effective in treating TB, but the lengthy treatment course and side effects associated with their use impacts negatively on treatment compliance. The advantages of using a Dry Powder Inhaler containing a fixed dose combination of first line antitubercular drugs in a PLGA carrier are investigated. Issues relating to the adequacy of current World Health Organization dosing recommendations are discussed and a set of clinical trials is proposed to assess the safety and efficacy of the Dry Powder Inhaler.
Encapsulation and Surface Engineering of Pancreatic Islets: Advances and Challenges

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease representing a major health care problem worldwide (Tierney et al., 2002). T1D is caused by islet-reactive immune T cells that destroy insulin-producing pancreatic ┚-cells. Transplantation of insulin-producing pancreatic islets by their injection in vascularized organs has been recently recognized as a promising path to curing diabetes (Meloche, 2007; Robertson, 2000). However, despite the significant promise, the clinical application of the procedure remains limited due to (a) limited supply of islets suitable for transplantation, (b) a hypoxia because of a low tension of oxygen at the implantation sites and (c) an acute rejection during transplantation. One of the challenges is associated with isolation and culturing islets in vitro before injection. In the pancreas, endocrine cells of the islet clusters are separated from exocrine cells by a discontinuous mantle of collagen fibers defining their respective basement membrane. During collagenase isolation of islets from the pancreas, further disruption of the islet mantle results in preparations exhibiting various morphological changes (islet fragmentation, fusion) under routine tissue culture conditions, particularly in human islets (Lacy & Kostianovsky, 1967). Attenuation of islet viability and functionality accompanies these morphological changes. The second issue is associated with islet transplantation which requires immunosuppression to protect the donor islets from the host immune response and prevent implant rejection and post-surgery inflammations (Ricordi & Strom, 2004). Despite the fact that a range of immunosuppressive drugs have demonstrated pharmacologically inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines (Riachy et al., 2002; Contreras et al., 2002; Lv et al., 2008; Stosic-Grujicic et al., 2001), the use of immunosuppressive molecules is very specific since they can induce non-specific suppression of the immune system resulting in serious side effects and increased risk of infection which can work against the benefits of a transplant (Narang & Mahato, 2006). These issues have inspired the development of a number of strategies to prevent immunogenic reactions and stabilize islet morphology and functionality, both in vitro and following transplantation in vivo (Chandy et al., 1999; Abalovich et al., 2001). Two major approaches have been introduced to prevent immunogenic reactions on the islet surfaces: macro and microencapsulation of the islet cells and islet cell surface modification (Fig. 1) (De Vos et al., 2003; Panza et al., 2000; Scott & Murad, 1998; Opara et al., 2010).
Spectral Diagonal Ensemble Kalman Filters Response to referees ’ comments

This manuscript is unusually clear in its presentation of methodology. The method described is shown to be more accurate for certain types of applications. My only concern was that the particular experiments used to demonstrate the method’s capabilities seemed to be for unusual parameter regimes, and I would like to understand better why the authors chose these cases. I also note a few minor grammatical errors. I think that the manuscript is acceptable pending these minor amendments. Minor concerns: 1. The authors begin their results section with Lorenz96. This non-dimensional model requires an ad hoc mapping to a dimensional time and there is a standard in the literature for doing this. Normally, experiments assimilate at frequencies that are roughly similar to those in numerical weather prediction when using the standard time definition. For instance, assimilating once
An Improved Trustable Routing and Security in Wireless Sensor Network

Wireless sensor networks establish a specific type of wireless data communication networks. WSNs have acknowledged remarkable deliberation in current years due to probable applications in armed sensing, fitness care, wildlife tracking, traffic investigation, building constructions monitoring, atmosphere monitoring etc. The central of trust route deceits in gaining trust. Conversely, the present-day trust-based route approaches have some challenging concerns. Finding the trust of a sensor node is most difficult, and just how it can be completed is still uncertain. Routing rules of wireless sensor network naturally adjust themselves with the current environments which may vary with high mobility to low mobility in extremes along with high bandwidth. Detection of malicious node and information safety in a wireless sensor network is an essential work in any sensor network. To achieve availability, integrity and reliability routing rules should be robust against malevolent attacks. We proposed a secure trust value which helps authenticate the sensor node and similarly preserve and safe the sensor network from malicious nodes. We also proposed a novel approach to detect the black hole attack and also keep safe the network from malicious nodes. The network lifetime will improve
Tempora Mutantur: In Search of a New Testament for NEG

The aim of this article is twofold. First, we present an integrative framework that encompasses a large share of existing neg models. This framework allows us to discuss the fundamental assumptions and the key results that hold throughout a broad class of models. We argue that progress within the straight-jacket of that framework, though potentially important, is unlikely to produce path-breaking new insights. Second, we suggest that there are potentially large payoffs to stepping outside of the established framework and to extend the neg approach into various directions that have to date received only scant attention. Heterogeneity, cities, transportation, and calibration are avenues along which neg needs to make progress in the future.
Nutrient-Gene Interactions Gene Expression Profiles of Genistein-Treated PC 3 Prostate Cancer Cells 1

Our previous studies have shown that genistein inhibits the growth of PC3 prostate cancer cells and induces apoptosis by inhibiting nuclear factor B (NFB) and Akt signaling pathways. To better understand the precise molecular mechanism(s) by which genistein exerts its effects on PC3 cells, we utilized cDNA microarray to interrogate 12,558 known genes to determine the gene expression profiles altered by genistein treatment. We found a total of 832 genes that showed a greater than twofold change after genistein treatment from two independent experiments with a high degree of concordance. Among these genes, 774 genes were downregulated and 58 genes were up-regulated with genistein treatment. Cluster analysis showed nine different types of expression alternations. These genes were also subjected to cluster analysis according to their biological functions. We found that genistein regulated the expression of genes that are critically involved in the regulation of cell growth, cell cycle, apoptosis, cell signaling transduction, angiogenesis, tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was used to confirm the results of cDNA microarray, and the results of RT-PCR were consistent with the microarray data. We conclude that genistein affected the expression of a large number of genes that are related to the control of cell survival and physiologic behaviors. The gene expression profiles provide comprehensive molecular mechanism(s) by which genistein exerts its pleiotropic effects on cancer cells. Genistein-induced regulation of these genes may be further exploited for devising chemopreventive and/or therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer. J. Nutr. 132: 3623–3631, 2002.