Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between Work Life Balance and Employee Performance: With Reference to Telecommunication Industry of Sri Lanka

In today’s dynamic business environment, work life balance (WLB) has become one of the key issues faced by many employees all over the world. Maintaining work life balance is an issue increasingly recognized as of strategic importance to organization and of significance to employees. There is no one agreed definition of work-life balance but it does appear that the right balance for one person may differ from the next. In simply, WLB means the amount of time you spend doing your job compared with the amount of time you spend with your family and doing things you enjoy. At present, the service sector is the leading factor for the total economic growth rate. Sri Lankan telecommunication industry is one of the largest service contributors to national economy. Poor work life balance leads to many disastrous things like tardiness, bad performance, lack of motivation, more errors, absence from work turnover and so on. Without a doubt, one of the biggest disadvantages is that poor work-life balance is poor employee performance. This reduces work quality, job satisfaction productivity and creates poor employee efficiency, poor employee effectiveness and, poor employee commitment. When an employee won't be able to give time to his family at home, he will feel stressed at work. A lack of work life balance has also an adverse effect on their employer's prospects for success in many respects. The main objective of this study is to carry out research on the Sri Lankan telecommunication industry and recognize the impact of work life balance on employee performance. The target population of this research is executive level married employees in telecommunication industry in Sri Lanka. This investigation area is used Cluster sampling method to select 2 major companies in telecommunication industry. (Dialog Axiata PLC and Sri Lanka Telecom – Sample Size 100) Data were gathered through questionnaire method and in this study, for the purpose of hypothesis testing the researcher use univariate, and bivariate statistics methods. The Data were analyzed through SPSS 20.0 software to find out the relationship between variables. Findings of the study reveal that there is a strong relationship between work life balance and employee performance. This relationship is positive and has significant level. The research findings give evidence that the better work life balance of the employees leads to increased employee performance.
Regional variation in ongoing sound change: The case of the Dutch diphthongs

Abstract This paper discusses the regional variation in four ongoing sound changes in the Dutch vowels /eː,øː,oː,ɛi,œy/ that are conditioned by a following coda /l/. The synchronic diatopic diffusion of these changes is charted using the Dutch teacher corpus, a comprehensive dataset containing word-list data from four regions in The Netherlands and four in Flanders. Comparisons are made of the five vowels preceding nonapproximant consonants and preceding coda /l/. To avoid manually segmenting the oftentimes highly gradient vowel–/l/ boundary, GAMMs are used to model whole formant trajectories. Comparisons are then made of trajectories and of peaks of trajectories. The results are used to classify the nature of the four sound changes in terms of phonetic and lexical abruptness/graduality and to show that the changes are intertwined in such a way that they can only be considered as separate facets of a single, currently ongoing vowel shift.
New class of three‐dimensional close‐to‐cyclic systems of difference equations solvable in closed form

We present the following new class of three‐dimensional systems of difference equations xn+3=1a2+a1yn+2+a0yn+2zn+1,yn+3=1b2+b1zn+2+b0zn+2xn+1,zn+3=1c2+c1xn+2+c0xn+2yn+1,n∈ℕ0, where aj,bj,cj,x1,x2,y1,y2,z1,z2∈ℝ,j=0,2‾ , and show that the systems are solvable in closed form, considerably extending some results in the literature.
An efficient self‐healing network through quadratic probing optimization mechanism

In recent years, mobile networks have been widely used in wide range of applications. Complexity is one of the major issues in mobile networks. The best way to administer the complexity of recent mobile networks is self‐organizing networks. Whenever a fault occurs in the network or in a node, it must be identified and at the same time, healed from within for smooth operation. In this paper, self‐healing is achieved by using a quadratic probing optimization algorithm. This algorithm has a time complexity using O (log n). A self‐healing algorithm is proposed here that uses self‐healing mechanisms to detect, identify, and respond to node breaks.
Recent advances and current trends in brain‐computer interface research and their applications

Brain‐computer interface (BCI) provides direct communication between the brain and an external device. BCI systems have become a trendy field of research in recent years. These systems can be used in a variety of applications to help both disabled and healthy people. Concerning significant BCI progress, we may assume that these systems are not very far from real‐world applications. This review has taken into account current trends in BCI research. In this survey, 100 most cited articles from the WOS database were selected over the last 4 years. This survey is divided into several sectors. These sectors are Medicine, Communication and Control, Entertainment, and Other BCI applications. The application area, recording method, signal acquisition types, and countries of origin have been identified in each article. This survey provides an overview of the BCI articles published from 2016 to 2020 and their current trends and advances in different application areas.
Degeneracy and stability in neural circuits of dopamine and serotonin neuromodulators: A theoretical consideration

Degenerate neural circuits perform the same function despite being structurally different. However, it is unclear whether neural circuits with interacting neuromodulator sources can themselves be degenerate while maintaining the same neuromodulatory function. Here, we address this by computationally modelling the neural circuits of neuromodulators serotonin and dopamine, local glutamatergic and GABAergic interneurons, and their possible interactions, under reward/punishment-based conditioning tasks. The neural modelling is constrained by relevant experimental studies of the VTA or DRN system using e.g. electrophysiology, optogenetics, and voltammetry. We first show that a single parsimonious, sparsely connected neural circuit model can recapitulate several separate experimental findings that indicated diverse, heterogeneous, distributed and mixed DRN-VTA neuronal signalling in reward and punishment tasks. The inability for this model to recapitulate all observed neuronal signalling suggests potentially multiple circuits acting in parallel. Then using computational simulations and dynamical systems analysis, we demonstrate that several different stable circuit architectures can produce the same observed network activity profile, hence demonstrating degeneracy. Due to the extensive D2-mediated connections in the investigated circuits, we simulate D2 receptor agonist by increasing the connection strengths emanating from the VTA DA neurons. We found that the simulated D2 agonist can distinguish among sub-groups of the degenerate neural circuits based on substantial deviations in specific neural populations’ activities in reward and punishment conditions. This forms a testable model prediction using pharmacological means. Overall, this theoretical work suggests the plausibility of degeneracy within neuromodulator circuitry and has important implication for the stable and robust maintenance of neuromodulatory functions.
CIS calibrates GM-CSF signalling strength to regulate macrophage polarization via a STAT5-IRF8 axis

The cytokine granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) possesses the ability to differentiate macrophages (MØs) with opposing functions, namely proinflammatory M1-like and immunosuppressive M2-like. Despite the importance and opposing functional outcomes of these processes, the intrinsic mechanism that regulates the functional polarization of MØs under GM-CSF signaling remains elusive. Here we show that GM-CSF induced MØs polarisation resulted in the expression of the Cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CIS), and that CIS deficiency diverted differentiation of monocytes into immunosuppressive M2-like MØs expression. CIS deficiency resulted in the hyperactivation of the JAK-STAT5 signaling pathway, consequently promoting the downregulation of the transcription factor Interferon Regulatory Factor 8 (IRF8). Loss and gain of function approaches highlighted IRF8 as a critical instructor of the M1-like polarisation program. In vivo, CIS deficiency led to skewing to M2-like macrophages, which induced strong Th2 immune responses characterised by the development of severe experimental asthma. Collectively, we reveal a CIS-censored mechanism interpreting the opposing actions of GM-CSF in MØ differentiation and uncovering its role in controlling allergic inflammation.
Recurrent but Short-Lived Duplications of Centromeric Proteins in Holocentric Caenorhabditis Species

Centromeric histones (CenH3s) are essential for chromosome inheritance during cell division in most eukaryotes. CenH3 genes have rapidly evolved and undergone repeated gene duplications and diversification in many plant and animal species. In Caenorhabditis, two independent duplications of CenH3 (named hcp-3 for HoloCentric chromosome-binding Protein 3) have been previously identified: in C. elegans and C. remanei. Here, using phylogenomic analyses in Caenorhabditis, we find strict retention of the ancestral hcp-3 gene and eight additional independent hcp-3 duplications, most of which are only found in one or two species. hcp-3L (hcp-3-like) paralogs are expressed in both sexes (males and females/ hermaphrodites) and have a conserved histone fold domain. We identified novel N-terminal protein motifs, including putative kinetochore protein-interacting motifs and a potential separase cleavage site, which are well-conserved across Caenorhabditis HCP-3 proteins. Other N-terminal motifs vary in their retention across paralogs or species, revealing potential sub-functionalization or functional loss following duplication. C. afra encodes an unprecedented protein fusion, where the hcp-3 paralog fused to duplicated segments from hcp-4 (nematode CENP-C). Extending our analyses beyond CenH3, we found gene duplications of six inner and outer kinetochore genes in Caenorhabditis, including co-retention of different kinetochore protein paralogs in a few species. Our findings suggest that centromeric protein duplications occur frequently in Caenorhabditis nematodes, are selectively retained under purifying selection but only for short evolutionary periods, then degenerate or are lost entirely. We hypothesize that unique challenges associated with holocentricity in Caenorhabditis may lead to this rapid ‘revolving door’ of kinetochore protein paralogs.
Gradient-k: Improving the Performance of K-Means Using the Density Gradient

We introduce Gradient-k, an upgrade of the k-means algorithm that improves clustering accuracy and reduces the number of iterations required for convergence. This is achieved by correcting the distance used in the k-means algorithm by a factor based on the angle between the density gradient and the direction to the cluster center. We show that this correction allows the algorithm to go beyond the traditional tessellation obtained by k-means, enabling the creation of nonlinear separation boundaries. The correction also provides the ability to distinguish clusters having non-normal shapes and of varying densities. Furthermore, Gradient-k has a lower computational complexity for datasets with many samples. We compare the performance of Gradient-k with that of k-means and of DBSCAN on several benchmark datasets, as well as on a more realistic dataset in the context of neural spike sorting.
Performance Evaluation of Roundabouts for Traffic Delay and Crash Reductions in Oxford, MS

Due to increased traffic volume, congestion, and capacity limitations, two roundabouts have been constructed on South Lamar Boulevard ramp intersections with MS Highway 6 in Oxford, MS. Roundabouts replaced the existing signalized intersection on the north and stop controlled intersections on the south side of the South Lamar Boulevard and MS Highway 6 Interchange. The overall objective of this study was to assess the performance of the roundabouts in Oxford with respect to traffic flow, capacity, and safety improvements, and to determine the public perception of roundabouts by means of an opinion survey. Detailed post-roundabout traffic movement volume and crash data were collected and compared with the pre-roundabout data to assess the in-service performance of the roundabouts. Traffic flow microsimulation and capacity analysis methods were used to evaluate performance of the roundabouts. The results of the Oxford roundabout study showed significant improvement in traffic flow, crash reduction, and reduction in vehicle emissions. It was found that the conversion of the intersections to roundabouts improved traffic flow by reducing average delay by 24%, idling time by 77%, and fuel wastage by 56%. Overall vehicle emissions from idling were reduced significantly including 56% in CO 2 , 80% in VOC, and 77% in CO, NO x , and PM 10. This conversion of stop-controlled intersections to roundabouts increased the average speed by 67% and improved level of service of both roundabouts. The roundabout conversion increased the mean speed on the South Lamar interchange by 67% and improved level of service for both intersections. The roundabout junctions improved safety performance through a 37.5% reduction in crashes and a 60% reduction in the number of crashes resulting in injury. The reduction in overall crashes in the study area reduced comprehensive cost by 54.4%. Total user cost saving from reductions in travel time, fuel wastage, and crash cost combined is $806,018 annually. These benefits paid off the total cost of construction of the two roundabouts within two years. The resulting B/C ratio is 6.2 over a period from 2009 to 2016. Additionally, significant societal benefits are expected from reductions in vehicle emissions. Also, an anonymous public opinion survey overwhelmingly demonstrated favorable results and provides support to consider more roundabout junctions in place of stop-controlled intersections. The study results indicate that roundabouts are performing well as intended. Some constructive comments suggested by the public, such as flashing lights on signs, can be implemented by the Mississippi …
Gold In-and-Out: A Toolkit for Analyzing Subcellular Distribution of Immunogold-Labeled Membrane Proteins in Freeze-Fracture Replica Images

Integral membrane proteins such as ion channels, transporters, and receptors shape cell activity and mediate cell-to-cell communication in the brain. The distribution, quantity, and clustering arrangement of those proteins contribute to the physiological properties of the cell; therefore, precise quantification of their state can be used to gain insight into cellular function. Using a highly sensitive immunoelectron microscopy technique called sodium dodecyl sulfate-digested freeze-fracture replica immunogold labeling (SDS-FRL), multiple membrane proteins can be tagged with different sizes of immunogold particles at once and visualized two-dimensionally. For quantification, gold particles in the images must be annotated, and then different mathematical and statistical methods must be applied to characterize the distribution states of proteins of interest. To perform such analyses in a user-friendly manner, we developed a program with a simple graphical user interface called Gold In-and-Out (GIO), which integrates several classical and novel analysis methods for immunogold labeled replicas into one self-contained package. GIO takes an input of particle coordinates, then allows users to implement analysis methods such as nearest neighbor distance (NND) and particle clustering. The program not only performs the selected analysis but also automatically compares the results of the real distribution to a random distribution of the same number of particles on the membrane region of interest. In addition to classical approaches for analyzing protein distribution, GIO includes new tools to analyze the positional bias of a target protein relative to a morphological landmark such as dendritic spines, and can also be applied for synaptic protein analysis. Gold Rippler provides a normalized metric of particle density that is resistant to differences in labeling efficiency among samples, while Gold Star is useful for quantifying distances between a protein and landmark. This package aims to help standardize analysis methods for subcellular and synaptic protein localization with a user-friendly interface while increasing the efficiency of these time-consuming analyses.
Persistent Hiccups as an Atypical Presentation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

Symptoms, such as fever, dry cough, dyspnoea, and respiratory distress, are commonly described in patients infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Recently, a growing number of cases pertained to persistent hiccups have been reported by SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. The aim of this systematic review was to screen the current literature and provide a summary of the reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients presenting with persistent hiccups. According to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception until October 2021. Case reports or case series that provided a separate clinical description for patients with presenting complaints of persistent hiccups before or after COVID-19 diagnosis were retrieved. The critical appraisal checklist for case reports provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was employed to evaluate the overall quality of the eligible studies. We identified 13 eligible studies that included 16 hospitalized COVID-19 patients who complained of persistent hiccups. The mean duration of hiccups was 4.6 days reported in 88% (14/16) patients. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity present in 50% (8/16) of patients followed by diabetes mellitus (4/16). Moreover, 44% (7/16) of patients received only one medication for managing the hiccups with metoclopramide (5/16) followed by chlorpromazine and baclofen (4/16) used as primary treatment. Equally, 44% of patients (7/16) received dexamethasone followed by azithromycin (5/16), ivermectin (4/16), and ceftriaxone (4/16) for managing the infection from SARS-CoV-2. The majority of patients (14/16) improved after initiation of treatment. Persistent hiccups are possibly a rare symptom that clinicians may expect to encounter in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Although there is not ample proof to propose causation, increased awareness about the diversity of presentations of SARS-CoV-2 infection could be crucial in the early recognition of the disease.
Auditory Processing of the Brain Is Enhanced by Parental Singing for Preterm Infants

As the human auditory system is highly malleable in infancy, perinatal risk factors, such as preterm birth, may affect auditory development. In comparison to healthy full-term infants, preterm infants show abnormal auditory brain responses at term age, which may have long-term detrimental outcomes. To achieve an optimal neonatal care environment for preterm-born infants, many early interventions have been developed. Musical interventions developed for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have shown beneficial effects on vital functions and weight gain of preterm infants and might also influence basic auditory processing and thereby enhance outcomes. In the present study, we tested the effect of parental singing during kangaroo care on auditory processing of standardized audio stimuli. Preterm infants (born between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation) were randomized to singing intervention (n = 13) or control (n = 8) groups. The auditory processing was tested using two audio paradigms assessed with magnetoencephalography (MEG) at term corresponding age. To verify that the paradigms elicit responses in MEG, we studied 12 healthy full-term infants. In the singing intervention group, parents were instructed by a music therapist twice a week for 4 weeks to sing or hum during kangaroo care in an infant-directed way. The control group received standard kangaroo care. The results show that the infants in the singing intervention group show larger neural responses than those in the control group when controlling for the total amount of singing during kangaroo care. Our findings suggest that incorporating singing into kangaroo care may be beneficial for preterm infants, but the effect may not be due to exposure to singing but instead positive parenting, improved parental self-esteem and improved caregiver sensitivity.
Importance of Seasonal Variation in Hawaiian Mushroom (Agaricomycetes) Basidiomata Production for Biodiversity Discovery and Conservation

The Hawaiian Islands have a relatively well-known funga for a tropical location, yet there are over 400 species of mushrooms (Agaricomycetes) in the archipelago that remain to be documented. Importantly, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently evaluated six mushrooms endemic to the islands as threatened with extinction. To improve detection of mushrooms for biodiversity discovery and better monitor threatened species in the archipelago—where many localities lack strong annual precipitation patterns associated with an obvious season for increased mushroom basidiomata production—we examined the phenology of Hawaiian mushrooms. Monthly richness was determined from a literature review and abundance from online data repositories. Phenological patterns were separately explored for native species and differing elevation and annual precipitation categories. Despite relatively consistent monthly temperatures and areas with regular monthly rainfall, we found Hawaiian mushrooms generally exhibit uneven temporal patterns in basidiomata production: richness and abundance are generally highest in January and lowest from February to April, then usually increase from May to July and remain at elevated levels through December. This pattern does not occur when considering native species richness only, nor when examining abundance data stratified by elevation and annual rainfall categories. Increased monthly basidiomata abundance in low elevation (<1,000 m), dry (<1,000 mm rainfall/year) locations on O‘ahu and low, mesic (1,000–2,500 mm rainfall/year) locations on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i are positively correlated with increased monthly rainfall. Phenology of macrofungal sporocarp production should potentially be included in species threat assessments by the IUCN to increase detection via traditional surveying methods.