Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organizational Size and Innovation

This paper offers a meta-analytic review of the relationship between organiza tional size and innovation. Using 36 correlations derived from 20 published studies, the review finds a positive relationship between size and innovation. In addition, an examination of the effects of several moderating factors indicates that: (1) size is more positively related to innovation in manufacturing and profit- making organizations than in service and non-profit-making organizations; (2) the association between size and innovation is stronger when a non-personnel or a log transformation measure of size is used, than when a personnel or a raw measure of size is used; (3) types of innovation do not have a considerable moderating effect on the relationship between size and innovation; and (4) size is more strongly related to the implementation than to the initiation of innovations in organizations. The implications of the findings for theory development and future research are discussed.
Performance Analysis of Finite-Buffered Asynchronous Multistage Interconnection Networks

We present a queueing model for performance analysis of finite-buffered multistage interconnection networks. The proposed model captures network behaviour in an asynchronous communication mode and is based on realistic assumptions. A uniform traffic model is developed first and then extended to capture nonuniform traffic in the presence of a hot-spot. Throughput and delay are computed using the proposed model and the results are validated via simulation. The analysis is extended to predict performance of MIN-based multiprocessors. The effects of buffer length, switch size, and the maximum allowable outstanding requests on the system performance are discussed. Various design decisions using this model are drawn with respect to delay, throughput, and system power.
Social networks: applicability to minority communities in multilingual settings

Milroy (1987) has suggested that a close-knit social network system is a significant device of language maintenance and that in principle it can be applied universally. However, local researchers such as David's (1996) study of the Sindhi community in Malaysia show that although the community has a close and dense network, it is moving away from its ethnic language. This study set out to examine to what extent constructs from the West such as social networks would be applicable to minority, immigrant communities like the Malayalees in the context of multilingual Malaysia. The study shows that although there is a dense network system operating in the community (albeit slowly declining with age of members), it has not facilitated language maintenance. Malayalees are still interacting socially with more of their own kind than with members of other ethnic groups, but the language of interaction is increasingly shifting from Malayalam to English. Hence it appears that in the present era where the priority is on economic advancement, patterns of social interaction such as the networks system is unable to act as a norm enforcement agent as the community, particularly the immigrant minority, responds to the opportunities and pressures of its external environment.
The Effect of Redistricting Commissions on Electoral Competitiveness in U.S. House Elections, 2002-2010

This research examines the various methods of electoral districting in the post-2000 Census years in order to determine the variation in competitiveness for subsequent elections to the U.S. House of Representatives. The evidence from this period suggests that “backup” and independent commissions resulted in more competitive districts, as measured by margin of victory and challenger win rate, after controlling for partisan and contextual factors.
An Adaptation and Extension of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale1

Despite its utility, several conceptual and methodological concerns are raised regarding Fischer and Turner's (1970) Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS). These concerns were addressed in an adaptation and extension of the ATSPPHS using 208 adult volunteers. The new Inventory of Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS) consists of 24 items and 3 internally consistent factors: psychological openness, help-seeking propensity, and indifference to stigma. We replicated this 3-factor model with 293 university undergraduates, and established test-retest reliability with 23 student volunteers. Validity was demonstrated by the ability of the IASMHS to distinguish between those who had and had not used mental health services in the past, and those who would and would not use these services in the future. It also discriminated between participants’ intentions to use professional and nonprofessional help. Finally, expected gender differences in help-seeking attitudes were demonstrated.
Effects of Polyphenols on Oxidative Stress-Mediated Injury in Cardiomyocytes

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality and morbidity in the world. Hypertension, ischemia/reperfusion, diabetes and anti-cancer drugs contribute to heart failure through oxidative and nitrosative stresses which cause cardiomyocytes nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage, denaturation of intracellular proteins, lipid peroxidation and inflammation. Oxidative or nitrosative stress-mediated injury lead to cardiomyocytes apoptosis or necrosis. The reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) concentration is dependent on their production and on the expression and activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. Polyphenols are a large group of natural compounds ubiquitously expressed in plants, and epidemiological studies have shown associations between a diet rich in polyphenols and the prevention of various ROS-mediated human diseases. Polyphenols reduce cardiomyocytes damage, necrosis, apoptosis, infarct size and improve cardiac function by decreasing oxidative stress-induced production of ROS or RNS. These effects are achieved by the ability of polyphenols to modulate the expression and activity of anti-oxidant enzymes and several signaling pathways involved in cells survival. This report reviews current knowledge on the potential anti-oxidative effects of polyphenols to control the cardiotoxicity induced by ROS and RNS stress.
Using Rating Scale and Nomination Techniques to Measure Friendship and Popularity

The associations between measures of friendship and popularity derived from nomination and rating scales procedures were studied with a sample of school-age and early adolescent boys and girls. Confirmatory factor analyses and comparisons of the correlations among these measures showed that each of these techniques can provide parallel measures of popularity (i.e. sociometric preference) and friendship (i.e. whether the child is participating in a mutual friendship). These findings are discussed in regard to measurement issues in the study of friendship and popularity.
Effect of Definition of Mortality on Hospital Profiles

Background: Hospitals are ranked based on risk-adjusted measures of postoperative mortality, but definitions differ about which deaths following surgery should be included. Objective: To determine whether varying the case definition of deaths following surgery that are included in coronary artery bypass surgery quality assessment affects the identification of outlier hospitals. Research Design: The study used a prospective cohort design. Subjects: A total of 15,288 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery without other cardiac procedures from October 1993 to March 1996 at all (N = 43) Veterans Affairs hospitals that conduct cardiac surgery. Measures: The first measure included any death occurring within 30 days after surgery, regardless of cause, in or out of the hospital (30-day mortality). The second measure included 30-day mortality plus any death occurring 30 days to 6 months after surgery that was judged to be a direct result of a perioperative complication of the surgery (all procedure-related mortality). Results: Hospital performance as assessed by the two different definitions of death varied substantially. The rankings of hospitals differed for 86% (37/43) of hospitals. Twenty-one percent (9/43) changed their quartile of rank, and five hospitals changed their outlier status. The correlation of observed-to-expected ratios was high (r = 0.96), but there was disagreement of outlier status (&kgr; = 0.71). Conclusions: Judgments regarding the quality of a hospital’s performance of coronary artery bypass surgery vary depending on the definition of postoperative mortality that is used. Further research is needed to assess what definition is most appropriate to identify quality of care problems.
Pathways To Childhood Obesity: A Deprivation Amplification Model And The Overwhelming Role Of Socioeconomic Status

People of low socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to live in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, where resources and facilities that might support healthy living are scarce, while harmful environmental aspects are abundant. Our aim was to analyse the associations between children’s body mass index (BMI), children’s sports activity (SA) and perceived environmental characteristics with the children’s SES. The sample included 1885 children, aged 3–10 years, living in Coimbra, Portugal. Overweight and obesity were defined using age and sexspecific BMI cut-off points, as defined by International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). SA levels, SES and parental neighbourhood perceptions were assessed through questionnaires. Environmental data were reduced through a Principal Component Analysis for Categorical Data (CATPCA), and two neighbourhood dimensions were achieved. The independent associations of SES, the main predictor, with BMI, SA and perceived neighbourhood dimensions was analysed using ordered logistic regressions. Our results showed that children of low and medium SES were more likely to be obese than their high-SES peers, children from low and medium SES groups were less likely to participate in SA; parents of children from low and medium SES groups were less likely to have positive WIT Transactions on Ecology and The Environment, Vol 191, www.witpress. com, ISSN 1743-3541 (on-line) © 2014 WIT Press doi:10.2495/SC141442 The Sustainable City IX, Vol. 2 1697
Evaluation of additives and current mode on copper via filling

Copper via filling by electroplating method became a common technology for interlayer metallization in 3D SiP and then it has been extensively studied. The void free copper via can be obtained with varying the additives on the electrolytes and the current density and mode. The effects of current mode and additives on the copper via filling were investigated. The acid copper electrolytes containing additives were examined to fill 10∼20um via hole without void. The different sized vias were successfully filled with copper varying current density and mode after fixing additive conditions. The effect of pulse duty cycle on via filling was also investigated.
Relatives’ Experiences of Frontal-Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

In this article we address how relatives of people with frontal-variant frontotemporal dementia (fvFTD) experience the illness and how it impacts their lives. We interviewed 6 participants and carried out interpretative phenomenological analysis. We report on 11 themes that reflect distinctive challenges. Five themes relate to witnessing bizarre and strange changes: changed appetites and drives, loss of planning ability, loss of inhibition leading to social embarrassment, risky behavior, and communication problems. Four relate to managing these changes and two to the impact on the person and his or her relationships. Relatives must live with unusual changes in the person with fvFTD and the stigma this carries in social settings. They learn to act assertively for their relatives and put effort into promoting quality of life, using strategies adapted for fvFTD. Relatives grieve the loss of the person with fvFTD and their mutual relationship, but nonetheless find sources of solace and hope.
A cloud radio access network with power over fiber toward 5G networks: QoE-guaranteed design and operation

While the concept of Cloud Radio Access Networks (C-RANs) presents a promising solution to provide required quality of service (QoS) for the future network environment, i.e., more than 10 Gbps capacity, less than 1 ms latency, and connectivity for numerous devices, it is still susceptible to quality of experience (QoE) problems. Until now, only a few researchers considered the design and operation of C-RANs based on QoE. In this article we describe our envisioned C-RAN based on passive optical networks (PONs) exploiting power over fiber (PoF), which can be installed with low installation cost and is capable of providing communication services without external power supply for remote radio head (RRH), and describe QoE requirement on the envisioned network. For all users in the envisioned network to satisfy their QoE, effective network design and operation approaches are then presented. Our proposed design and operation approaches demonstrate how to construct the envisioned network, i.e. the numbers of RRHs and optical line terminals (OLTs), and sleep scheduling of RRHs for an energy-efficient optical power transmission.
Lung Cancer Presenting With Unilateral Facial Pain : Remission After Laryngeal Nerve Palsy

A 39-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of intractable, left-sided facial pain. A CT scan of the thorax disclosed a large lung mass surrounding supra-aortic vessels and hilus. The symptoms underwent a rapid and spontaneous remission after laryngeal nerve palsy with dysphonia developed. Referred facial pain secondary to the compression of the vagus nerve can rarely be the first manifestation of an underlying lung cancer. All cases of unexplained unilateral facial pain should be investigated for a mediastinal pathology, especially in smoker subjects.
"I Have No Idea What I'm Doing" - On the Usability of Deploying HTTPS

Protecting communication content at scale is a difficult task, and TLS is the protocol most commonly used to do so. However, it has been shown that deploying it in a truly secure fashion is challenging for a large fraction of online service operators. While Let’s Encrypt was specifically built and launched to promote the adoption of HTTPS, this paper aims to understand the reasons for why it has been so hard to deploy TLS correctly and studies the usability of the deployment process for HTTPS. We performed a series of experiments with 28 knowledgable participants and revealed significant usability challenges that result in weak TLS configurations. Additionally, we conducted expert interviews with 7 experienced security auditors. Our results suggest that the deployment process is far too complex even for people with proficient knowledge in the field, and that server configurations should have stronger security by default. While the results from our expert interviews confirm the ecological validity of the lab study results, they additionally highlight that even educated users prefer solutions that are easy to use. An improved and less vulnerable workflow would be very beneficial to finding stronger configurations in the wild.
Text- and Content-based Approaches to Image Modality Detection and Retrieval for the ImageCLEF 2010 Medical Retrieval Track

This article describes the participation of the Communica- tions Engineering Branch (CEB), a division of the Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications, in the ImageCLEF 2011 medical retrieval track. Our methods encompass a variety of techniques relating to text- and content-based image retrieval. Our textual approaches pri- marily utilize the Unied Medical Language System (UMLS) synonymy to identify concepts in topic descriptions and image-related text, and our visual approaches utilize similarity metrics based on computed \visual concepts" and low-level image features. We also explore mixed approaches that utilize a combination of textual and visual features. In this article we present an overview of the application of our methods to the modality classication, ad-hoc image retrieval, and case-based image retrieval tasks, and we describe our submitted runs and results.
Training and collective bargaining in European public services: a study of training‐related issues in French, Finnish and UK health services

It is frequently asserted that there is a link between the nature of training provision within an organization and its success or failure. Within this approach is an assumption that training is simply a neutral tool to be applied to the benefit of all. This article challenges this approach, arguing that training is an issue that may be the subject of disagreement and conflict. Using evidence gained from managers and trade union representatives in health care services in France, Finland and the UK, it is argued that all aspects of training provision are best handled through traditional collective bargaining procedures. This suggests that there is a need to provide training for managers and union representatives to enable them to understand both training issues and collective bargaining procedures.
A Note on the Historical Relationship between the Economy and Police Organizational Activities

Works which have examined the relationship between economic conditions and the criminal justice system have usually attempted to explain criminality within specific, short term time periods. Conclusions based upon these efforts have been mixed and ambiguous. This present study uses Chicago Police Department variables as indicators of organizational activities and investigates the duration andpersistence of relationships between selected economic conditions andpolice organizational measures. Nearly 100 years of annual City of Chicago data are examined in a two step, lagged, time series regression analysis. The findings show that a persistent historical relationship exists between vagrancy arrests and economic conditions but does not exist between felonylmisdemeanor arrests or number of police employees and economic conditions. This present study suggests supportfor the previousfindings of Chambliss (1964, 1976), Wellford (1974), and Land and Felson (1976), and reveals the necessity of further model development in specifying the historical interaction between the economy and the criminal justice system. Lastly, it points to the value of developing and analysing long term historical data bases.
State-of-the-art usage of simulation in anesthesia: skills and teamwork

Purpose of review This review describes the level of evidence for the use of medical simulation in anesthesia. It also discusses the topic of realism in simulation and its use for assessment. Recent findings Medical simulation in anesthesia covers a variety of techniques used for training and assessment. The current level of evidence for the use of medical simulation strongly supports a shift from learning on patients to learning on simulators. Skill and multidisciplinary team training are effective modalities and improve (team) performance and patient outcome. Well defined learning objectives, not a high level of realism should be the main focus of a simulation activity. Simulation centers should focus on faculty development as emphasis on simulation facilities and simulator fidelity alone does not guarantee effective training. Formative and summative assessment can help identify the omissions in knowledge, skills, and the ability to work in a team for both residents and anesthesiologists. Not only does it help to obtain competence, it also helps to maintain it. Summary Simulation for skill and team training should be a mandatory component for anesthesia residency programs and continuous medical education. The ‘see one, do one, teach one’ approach is obsolete and should be abandoned.
AFLATOXINS RESIDUES IN SOME MARKTED POULTRY PRODUCTS

This work was carried out to evaluate the mycological quality of chicken meat products sold in local markets at Zagazig City in EL-sherkia governorate, Egypt. Samples were subjected to mycological examination and detection of aflatoxins residues in chicken processed product samples, to evaluate their quality and safety. A total of One hundred samples of different chicken meat products represented by chicken luncheon, chicken burger, coated chicken fillet, chicken Fillet and chicken Liver (20 of each) which were collected from different localities of different sanitation levels at Zagazig City under different trade name. The obtained results showed that the average total mould counts in the examined samples of chicken meat products were 6.25 x 10 2 ± 1.85 x 10 2 , 3.78 x 10 2 ± 1.14 x 10 2 , 2.34 ×10 2 ± 0.78 ×10 2 , 2.19 ×10 2 ± 0.43 ×10 2 and 2.01 ×10 2 ± 0.53 ×10 2 in chicken liver, chicken burger, coated chicken fillet, chicken fillet and chicken luncheon, respectively. In the examined samples, 9 mould genera were identified. The identified mould were Aspergillus, Pencicillium, Cladosporium, Rhizopus, Alternaria , Acremonium, Pacilomyces, Aurobasidium and Absidia with incidence rate 58(58%) ,19 (19%), 13(13%), 11(11%), 10 (10%), 9(9%), 6 (6%), 4 (4%) and Absidia 2 (2%), respectively. On other hand, Aspergillus species were further identified into five strains. The identified strains of Aspergillus could be isolated were A. niger had the highest incidence rate 28 (28%) followed by A.flavus 23 (23%), A.fumigatus 6 (6 %), A. terreus1 (1%) and at last A . parasitcus 3 (3%). The results revealed that the mean value of the total aflatoxin residues (B1 + B2 +G1 + G2) could be detected from the examined luncheon, burger, coated fillet , fillet and liver samples were 0.87 ± 0.14, 1.12 ± 0.23, 2.53 ± 0.31, 0.20 ± 0.03 and 0.82 ± 0.19 ppb, respectively. The public health significance of isolated mould species and aflatoxin production as well as recommended hygienic measures to keep meat products safe were discussed.