Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Work–Life Balance Culture, Work–Home Interaction, and Emotional Exhaustion: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Objective: To examine the relationships among employees' emotional exhaustion, positive and negative work–home interaction, and perceived work–life balance culture in companies. Methods: Data for this study were collected through online surveys of employees from companies in the micro- and nanotechnology sectors (N = 509). A structural equation modeling analysis was performed. Results: A company culture perceived by employees as supportive of their work–life balance was found to have both a direct negative effect on emotional exhaustion and an indirect negative effect meditated by negative work–home interaction. In addition, whereas negative work–home interaction associated positively with emotional exhaustion, positive work–home interaction had no significant effect. Conclusions: The direct and indirect relationship between work–life balance culture and emotional exhaustion has practical implications for health promotion in companies.
Role of the Upstream Region Containing an Intrinsic DNA Curvature in the Negative Regulation of the Phospholipase C Gene of Clostridium perfringens

The phospholipase C (α‐toxin) gene (plc) of Clostridium perfringens was cloned into pUC19 and the effects of the upstream regions on expression of the plc gene were examined in Escherichia coli JM109. When the 0.7‐kb region just upstream of the putative — 35 site of the gene was deleted, production of phospholipase C increased approximately 10‐fold. Northern blot hybridization analysis of the plc transcript showed that the upstream region inhibited transcription from the plc promoter. Nucleotide sequencing of this upstream region revealed that there are three periodically repeated (dA)5–6 tracts between positions −66 and −40 of the plc gene. A fragment containing this sequence showed anomalously slow electrophoretic mobility at low temperature, indicating that the region immediately upstream of the plc promoter is a locus of sequence directed DNA‐bending. Nested deletions of the upstream region were created from its 5′ end by exonuclease III and the effects of deletions on the expression of the plc gene were examined. When the 77‐bp fragment containing the two (dA)5–6 tracts was deleted, phospholipase C production increased markedly. These results indicate that the intrinsic DNA curvature upstream of the plc promoter is involved in the negative regulation of the plc gene transcription.
Compact arc-shaped slotted circularly polarized microstrip antenna for RFID readers

A compact arc-shaped slotted circularly polarized (CP) microstrip antenna is presented for ultra high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) handheld reader applications. Four unequal arc-shaped slots are cut diagonally onto the square patch radiator for CP radiation and compact size. The antenna prototype is with an overall antenna size of 90 × 90 × 4.572 mm<sup>3</sup> (0.277λ<inf>0</inf> × 0.277λ<inf>0</inf> × 0.0141λ<inf>0</inf> at 924 MHz). The measured 3-dB axialratio (AR) bandwidth of around 8.0 MHz with and 10-dB return loss bandwidth of 24.0 MHz are achieved. The gain is up to 3.7 dBic.
A distributed algorithm for fast optimal power flow regulation in Smart Grids

This paper deals with the solution of the optimal power flow (OPF) problem under voltage regulation by means of a distributed algorithm. Taking inspiration from the recent literature on distributed-OPF, the approach is developed via the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), and provides a fully decentralized, scalable, very fast, and robust method, whose performance is shown in meaningful scenarios. Unlike most of the literature, no semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxations of the OPF problem is used, but local subproblems are addressed via efficient interior point methods (IPMs) to guarantee limited local processing efforts.
Sphingomonas rubra sp. nov., isolated from bioreactor wastewater.

A Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped, motile, neutrophilic bacterium, designated strain BH3(T), was isolated from wastewater of a sequential batch reactor treating wastewater taken from a leather plant. The isolate grew in 0-8 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 6-9 and at 4-45 °C. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that strain BH3(T) had characteristics typical of members of the genus Sphingomonas, such as the presence of sphingolipids, Q-10 and 2-hydroxymyristic acid and the absence of 3-hydroxy fatty acids. The presence of C(18 : 1)ω7c (39.2 %) and C(16 : 0) (11.2 %) as major fatty acids, C(14 : 0) 2-OH (20.6 %) as the major 2-hydroxy fatty acid and homospermidine as the major polyamine indicated that strain BH3(T) belonged to the genus Sphingomonas sensu stricto. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain BH3(T) was 65.6 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between the isolate and closely related members of the genus Sphingomonas sensu stricto ranged from 92.6 to 97.3 %, the highest sequence similarities being to Sphingomonas melonis DSM 14444(T) (97.3 %) and Sphingomonas aquatilis DSM 15581(T) (97.3 %). Based on its phenotypic characteristics and the results of DNA-DNA hybridization studies and 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain BH3(T) represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas sensu stricto, for which the name Sphingomonas rubra sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BH3(T) ( = CGMCC 1.9113(T) = JCM 16230(T)).
Difficulties in choosing a single final classifier from non-dominated solutions in multiobjective fuzzy genetics-based machine learning

A large number of non-dominated fuzzy rule-based classifiers are often obtained by applying a multiobjective fuzzy genetics-based machine learning (MoFGBML) algorithm to a pattern classification problem. The obtained set of non-dominated classifiers can be used to analyze their accuracy-interpretability tradeoff relation. One important issue, which has not been discussed in many studies on MoFGBML, is the choice of a single final classifier from a large number of non-dominated classifiers. The selected classifier is used for the classification of new input patterns. In this paper, we focus on this important research issue: classifier selection from a large number of non-dominated fuzzy rule-based classifiers. In general, it is not easy to choose a single final solution from non-dominated solutions in multiobjective optimization. This is because further information on the decision maker's preference is needed to choose the single final solution. In addition to this general difficulty in multiobjective optimization, MoFGBML has its own difficulty in classifier selection, which is the difference between training data accuracy and test data accuracy. While our true objective is to maximize the test data accuracy (i.e., classifier's generalization ability), only the training data accuracy is available for fitness evaluation and classifier selection. In this paper, we discuss why classifier selection is difficult in MoFGBML.
Design of a tapered slot array antenna for UWB through-wall RADAR

Ultra-wideband (UWB) RADAR based technologies have been gaining popularity recently for through-wall detection and surveillance applications. In this paper, the design and implementation of antenna for such applications is presented. An exponentially tapered slot (Vivaldi) antenna[1] is adopted. The tapered slot element being a travelling wave structure has inherently wide bandwidth with added advantages of high gain and low weight. Arrays based on Vivaldi elements have been extensively studied[2,3]. The current design is based on a segmented approach[2] with design of antenna element or array configuration based on radiation pattern requirements, followed by design of balun feed for individual elements and finally the design of feed network for broadside radiation. In each step, the objective of good impedance match and hence low insertion loss leads to the desired bandwidth performance in the final design.
Symbiosis between humans and networked communication robots

This paper discusses symbiosis between humans and networked communication robots from the viewpoint of communication media. The "network robot system" integrating ubiquitous networking and robot technologies, is introduced in order to improve performance for sensing and human robot interaction and create brand new markets in the robot services. The communication robots in the system have come into greater use by being networked with humans, mobile phones and ubiquitous sensors (cameras, tags, wearable computers, etc.). This paper also introduces several field experiments with the system at elementary schools, at a science museum, at a train station. The results of field experiments indicate the potential of networked communication robots as next-generation communication media.
Wound healing properties of PVA/starch/chitosan hydrogel membranes with nano Zinc oxide as antibacterial wound dressing material

Abstract In this work, hydrogel membranes were developed based on poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), starch (St), and chitosan (Cs) hydrogels with nano Zinc oxide (nZnO). PVA/St/Cs/nZnO hydrogel membranes were prepared by freezing-thawing cycles, and the aqueous PVA/St solutions were prepared by dissolving PVA in distilled water. After the dissolution of PVA, starch was mixed, and the mixture was stirred. Then, chitosan powder was added into acetic acid, and the mixture was stirred to form a chitosan solution. Subsequently, Cs, St and PVA solutions were blended together to form a homogeneous PVA/St/Cs ternary blend solution. Measurement of Equilibrium Swelling Ratio (ESR), Water Vapor Transmission Test (WVTR), mechanical properties, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay, antibacterial studies, in vivo wound healing effect and histopathology of the hydrogel membranes were then performed. The examination revealed that the hydrogel membranes were more effective as a wound dressing in the early stages of wound healing and that the gel could be used in topic applications requiring a large spectrum of antibacterial activity; namely, as a bandage for wound dressing.
Antidepressants for anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is an illness characterised by extreme concern about body weight and shape, severe self-imposed weight loss, and endocrine dysfunction. In spite of its high mortality, morbidity and chronicity, there are few intervention studies on the subject. OBJECTIVES The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of antidepressant drugs in the treatment of acute AN. SEARCH STRATEGY The strategy comprised of database searches of the Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE (1966 to April 28th, 2005), EMBASE (1980 to week 36, 2004), PsycINFO (1969 to August week 5, 2004), handsearching the International Journal of Eating Disorders and searching the reference lists of all papers selected. Personal letters were sent to researchers in the field requesting information on unpublished or in-progress trials. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised controlled trials of antidepressant treatment for AN patients, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-IV) or similar international criteria, were selected. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Quality ratings were made giving consideration to the strong relationship between allocation concealment and potential for bias in the results; studies meeting criteria A and B were included. Trials were excluded if non-completion rates were above 50%. The standardised mean difference and relative risk were used for continuous data and dichotomous data comparisons, respectively. Whenever possible, analyses were performed according to intention-to-treat principles. Heterogeneity was tested with the I-squared statistic. Weight change was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were severity of eating disorder, depression and anxiety symptoms, and global clinical state. Acceptability of treatment was evaluated by considering non-completion rates. MAIN RESULTS Only seven studies were included. Major methodological limitations such as small trial size and large confidence intervals decreased the power of the studies to detect differences between treatments, and meta-analysis of data was not possible for the majority of outcomes. Four placebo-controlled trials did not find evidence that antidepressants improved weight gain, eating disorder or associated psychopathology. Isolated findings, favouring amineptine and nortriptyline, emerged from the antidepressant versus antidepressant comparisons, but cannot be conceived as evidence of efficacy of a specific drug or class of antidepressant in light of the findings from the placebo comparisons. Non-completion rates were similar between the compared groups. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS A lack of quality information precludes us from drawing definite conclusions or recommendations on the use of antidepressants in acute AN. Future studies testing safer and more tolerable antidepressants in larger, well designed trials are needed to provide guidance for clinical practice.
Review of MR image segmentation techniques using pattern recognition.

This paper has reviewed, with somewhat variable coverage, the nine MR image segmentation techniques itemized in Table II. A wide array of approaches have been discussed; each has its merits and drawbacks. We have also given pointers to other approaches not discussed in depth in this review. The methods reviewed fall roughly into four model groups: c-means, maximum likelihood, neural networks, and k-nearest neighbor rules. Both supervised and unsupervised schemes require human intervention to obtain clinically useful results in MR segmentation. Unsupervised techniques require somewhat less interaction on a per patient/image basis. Maximum likelihood techniques have had some success, but are very susceptible to the choice of training region, which may need to be chosen slice by slice for even one patient. Generally, techniques that must assume an underlying statistical distribution of the data (such as LML and UML) do not appear promising, since tissue regions of interest do not usually obey the distributional tendencies of probability density functions. The most promising supervised techniques reviewed seem to be FF/NN methods that allow hidden layers to be configured as examples are presented to the system. An example of a self-configuring network, FF/CC, was also discussed. The relatively simple k-nearest neighbor rule algorithms (hard and fuzzy) have also shown promise in the supervised category. Unsupervised techniques based upon fuzzy c-means clustering algorithms have also shown great promise in MR image segmentation. Several unsupervised connectionist techniques have recently been experimented with on MR images of the brain and have provided promising initial results. A pixel-intensity-based edge detection algorithm has recently been used to provide promising segmentations of the brain. This is also an unsupervised technique, older versions of which have been susceptible to oversegmenting the image because of the lack of clear boundaries between tissue types or finding uninteresting boundaries between slightly different types of the same tissue. To conclude, we offer some remarks about improving MR segmentation techniques. The better unsupervised techniques are too slow. Improving speed via parallelization and optimization will improve their competitiveness with, e.g., the k-nn rule, which is the fastest technique covered in this review. Another area for development is dynamic cluster validity. Unsupervised methods need better ways to specify and adjust c, the number of tissue classes found by the algorithm. Initialization is a third important area of research. Many of the schemes listed in Table II are sensitive to good initialization, both in terms of the parameters of the design, as well as operator selection of training data. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
B‐lymphocyte quiescence, tolerance and activation as viewed by global gene expression profiling on microarrays

Self-tolerance is achieved by deleting or regulating self-reactive lymphocytes at a series of cellular checkpoints placed at many points along the developmental pathways to plasma cells and effector T cells. At each checkpoint, what are the molecular pathways that determine whether a lymphocyte remains quiescent, begins dividing, differentiates or dies? In splenic B cells, the decision between quiescence, tolerance by anergy, and activation provides a tractable setting to explore these issues by global gene expression profiling on DNA microarrays. Here we discuss the application of microarrays to illuminate a set of cell fate decisions that appear to be determined by summation of numerous small changes in expression of stimulatory and inhibitory genes. Many genes with known or predicted inhibitory functions are highly expressed in naive, quiescent B cells, notably the signal inhibitor SLAP and DNA-binding proteins of the Kruppel family (LKLF, BKLF, GKLF), Tsc-22, GILZ, Id-3, and GADD45. Activation of naive B cells, triggered by acute binding of antigen to the B-cell receptor, involves a rapid decrease in expression of these inhibitory genes. Promitotic genes are induced in parallel, including c myc, LSIRF/IRF4, cyclin D2, Egr-1 and Egr-2, as are the anti-apoptotic gene A1 and genes for the T-cell-attracting chemokines MIP-1alpha and beta. B-cell tolerance through the process of anergy, induced by chronic binding of self antigen, maintains expression of the inhibitory genes found in quiescent B cells and induces an additional set of inhibitory genes. The latter include inhibitors of signaling - CD72, neurogranin, pcp4 - and additional inhibitors of gene expression such as SATB1, MEF2C, TGIF and Nab-2. The effects of tolerance, the immunosuppressive drug FK506 and other modulators of calcium or MAPK signaling allow individual gene responses to be linked to different signal transduction pathways. The global molecular profiles obtained illustrate how quiescence and anergy are actively maintained in circulating B cells, how these states are switched to clonal expansion and how they could be better emulated by pro-tolerogenic drugs.
An Improved Artificial Bee Colony ( IABC ) Algorithm for Numerical Function Optimization

This paper proposes an Improved Artificial Bee Colony (IABC) algorithm by introducing the Newtonian Law of Universal Gravitation between the employed bee and onlooker bee. The Universal Gravitation considers the fitness value of the employed bee that is picked by applying the roulette wheel selection as well as the fitness value of the randomly selected employed bees. Since the proposed modification makes the onlooker bee to perform neighborhood search using more than one employed bee it widens the exploration capability of the algorithm. The performance of the proposed IABC is tested using six bench mark functions. From the simulation result it is found the exploration ability of the proposed IABC is not constrained through a narrow zone and produces better results without getting struck in to the local optima when compared with simple ABC. KeywordsNumerical Optimization, Swarm Intelligence, Artificial Bee Colony, Newtonian Law of Gravitation
Geographic Dispersion and Stock Returns ∗ Diego Garćıa

This paper shows that stocks of truly local firms have returns that exceed the return on stocks of geographically dispersed firms by 70 basis points per month. By extracting state name counts from annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 10 K, we distinguish firms with business operations in only a few states from firms with operations in multiple states. Our findings are consistent with the view that lower investor recognition for local firms results in higher stock returns to compensate investors for insufficient diversification. JEL classification: A12, G14.
The Collective Resource Approach: the Scandinavian Experience

The Collective Resource Approach is an innovative Scandinavian approach to the design and implementation of new technologies in the work place. It attempts to empower trade unions and workers at the local level by exploiting the needs of the highly integrated Scandinavian economies to constantly improve their technology. In this paper we discuss the practical impact of the CRA in Scandinavia and its likely relevance to the U.S. We conclude that the Collective Resource Approach has not been accepted by workers and unions nor affected in major way the day-today practice in Scandinavian work places. The reasons are both ideological and embedded in the Scandinavian systems of industrial relations. For somewhat different reasons, notably the disintegration of the U.S. trade union movement, the Collective Resource Approach seems even less likely to serve as a useful model for the United States.
Rugged high-power mismatch characterization of a high-performance band 41 FBAR filter designed for HPUE applications

An innovative high-power mismatch measurement is performed to validate the operation of a high-performance band 41 Film Bulk Acoustic Wave Resonator (FBAR) filter. The results demonstrate the operation of an FBAR filter at +33dBm input power and 10:1 VSWR mismatch, thereby successfully fulfilling the power requirements of the High-Power User Equipment (HPUE) standard, while simultaneously testing all worst-case scenario mismatch conditions that might be presented by the antenna.
The vertical distribution of thin features over the Arctic analysed from CALIPSO observations

Clouds play a crucial role in the Arctic climate system. Therefore, it is essential to accurately and reliably quantify and understand cloud properties over the Arctic. It is also important to monitor and attribute changes in Arctic clouds. Here, we exploit the capability of the CALIPSO-CALIOP instrument and provide comprehensive statistics of tropospheric thin clouds, otherwise extremely difficult to monitor from passive satellite sensors.We use 4 yr of data (June 2006.May 2010) over the circumpolar Arctic, here defined as 67-82°N, and characterize probability density functions of cloud base and top heights, geometrical thickness and zonal distribution of such cloud layers, separately for water and ice phases, and discuss seasonal variability of these properties. When computed for the entire study area, probability density functions of cloud base and top heights and geometrical thickness peak at 200-400, 1000-2000 and 400-800 m, respectively, for thin water clouds, while for ice clouds they peak at 6-8, 7-9 and 400-1000 m, respectively. In general, liquid clouds were often identified below 2 km during all seasons, whereas ice clouds were sensed throughout the majority of the upper troposphere and also, but to a smaller extent, below 2 km for all seasons.
Germination of phaseolus vulgaris I. Resumption of axis growth.

Growth of the excised axis of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (var. White Marrowfat) begins after a 7-hour incubation in buffer or water at 26 degrees . Growth, as measured by axis elongation or fresh weight increase, is linear for at least 8 hours with a resultant fresh weight increase of approximately 65%. Cell elongation begins 4 or 5 hours prior to cell division and 5 or 6 hours prior to radicle protrusion in the intact seed.The initiation of axis elongation is apparently dependent on synthesis of RNA and protein. Both actinomycin D and puromycin inhibit the initiation of elongation. Actinomycin I) inhibits the incorporation of ATP-8-C(14) into axis RNA and C(14)-leucine into protein, while puromycin inhibits the incorporation of C(14)-leucine into axis protein.The respiratory rate of the axes increases sharply at about the time of initiation of cell elongation. Dinitrophenol initially increases O(2) uptake by the axes, but at the end of 15 hours the rates of O(2) uptake by control or dinitrophenol-treated axes are approximately the same.