Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review of recent longitudinal studies.

OBJECTIVE This systematic review was designed and conducted in an effort to evaluate the evidence currently available for the many suggested risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS To identify pertinent literature we searched four electronic databases (Cinahl, Embase, Medline, and The Cochrane Library). The search strategies combined terms for musculoskeletal disorders, work, and risk factors. Only case-control or cohort studies were included. RESULTS A total of 1,761 non-duplicated articles were identified and screened, and 63 studies were reviewed and integrated in this article. The risk factors identified for the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders were divided and organized according to the affected body part, type of risk factor (biomechanical, psychosocial, or individual) and level of evidence (strong, reasonable, or insufficient evidence). CONCLUSIONS Risk factors with at least reasonable evidence of a causal relationship for the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders include: heavy physical work, smoking, high body mass index, high psychosocial work demands, and the presence of co-morbidities. The most commonly reported biomechanical risk factors with at least reasonable evidence for causing WMSD include excessive repetition, awkward postures, and heavy lifting. Additional high methodological quality studies are needed to further understand and provide stronger evidence of the causal relationship between risk factors and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The information provided in this article may be useful to healthcare providers, researchers, and ergonomists interested on risk identification and design of interventions to reduce the rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Synthesized articulated behavior using space-temporal on-line principal component analysis

This paper presents a new framework to synthesize humanoid behavior by learning and imitating the behavior of an articulated body using motion capture. The video-based motion capturing method has been developed mainly for analysis of human movement, but is very rarely used to teach or imitate the behavior of an articulated body to a virtual agent in an on-line manner. Using our proposed applications, new behaviors of one agent can be simultaneously analyzed and used to train or imitate another with a novel visual learning methodology. In the on-line learning phase, we propose a new way of synthesizing humanoid behavior based on on-line learning of principal component analysis (PCA) bases of the behavior. Although there are many existing studies which utilize PCA for object/behavior representation, this paper introduces two criteria to determine if the dimension of the subspace is to be expanded or not and applies a Fisher criterion to synthesize new behaviors. The proposed methodology is well-matched to both behavioral training and synthesis, since it is automatically carried out as an on-line long-term learning of humanoid behaviors without the overhead of an expanding learning space. The final outcome of these methodologies is to synthesize multiple humanoid behaviors for the generation of arbitrary behaviors. The experimental results using a humanoid figure and a virtual robot demonstrate the feasibility and merits of this method.
Teacher Perceptions of Level System Effectiveness on the Behavior of Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

Students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) present significant academic and behavior management challenges for educators. As such, educators are constantly seeking interventions that are effective in assisting students with EBD to manage their own behavior and achieve success in school. One behavioral management approach that educators frequently recommend is the level system. As a first step to better understand level systems, we conducted a large-scale survey to determine the extent of level system use, the characteristics of teacher and students who use level systems, level system characteristics and procedures, teacher perceptions of level system effectiveness, and teacher satisfaction with level systems. Analysis of data revealed extensive use of level systems, similarities and differences between level system users and nonusers, characteristics common to level systems, and inconsistencies in perceptions of effectiveness and satisfaction. Finally, we offer implications of our findings for educators and provide suggestions for further level system research.
A half-bridge LLC resonant converter with loose-coupling transformer and transition capacitor

In this paper, a half-bridge LLC resonant converter with a loose-coupling transformer and a transition capacitor is analyzed and implemented. The LLC resonant tank is comprised with a loose-coupling transformer and a series-resonant capacitor. For transiting the resonant current of the switching transistors and improving the zero-current turn off of the rectifying diodes, a small transition capacitor is added and paralleled to the switching transistors. To verify the analysis of the switching circuit, circuit simulation is executed. And, to demonstrate the design of the LLC converter, a 200W prototype is built and tested. The DC input and output ratings of the converter are 400V and 12V, respectively. The experimental results coincide with the design and prediction.
Microfibrous β-TCP/collagen scaffolds mimic woven bone in structure and composition

Woven bone, as the initial form of bone tissue, is always found in developing and repairing bone. It is thought of as a temporary scaffold for the deposition of osteogenic cells and the laying down of lamellar bone. Thus, we hypothesize that a matrix which resembles the architecture and components of woven bone can provide an osteoblastic microenvironment for bone cell growth and new bone formation. In this study, woven-bone-like beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/collagen scaffolds were fabricated by sol–gel electrospinning and impregnating methods. Optimization studies on sol–gel synthesis and electrospinning process were conducted respectively to prepare pure β-TCP fibers with dimensions close to mineralized collagen fibrils in woven bone. The collagen-coating layer prepared by impregnation had an adhesive role that held the β-TCP fibers together, and resulted in rapid degradation and matrix mineralization in in vitro tests. MG63 osteoblast-like cells seeded on the resultant scaffolds showed three-dimensional (3D) morphologies, and merged into multicellular layers after 7 days culture. Cytotoxicity test further revealed that extracts from the resultant scaffolds could promote the proliferation of MG63 cells. Therefore, the woven-bone-like matrix that we constructed favored the attachment and proliferation of MG63 cells in three dimensions. It has great potential ability to shorten the time of formation of new bone.
SSTL based green image ALU design on different FPGA

In this paper, green Image ALU is designed in Xilinx ISE 14.6 using different IO standard of SSTL in 40 nm Virtex-6 and Spartan-6 FPGA. We are comparing different SSTL IO standard to get reduction in IO power. We accomplish energy efficiency with respect to low voltage impedance, by using SSTL technology. In this entire work, we are using different classes of SSTL and observe that when image ALU operates at 1 THz device operating frequency with SSTL18_I_DCI I/O Standard using virtex-6 FPGA, there is 45.55% decrease in IO power and 20.50% in Clock power as compared to SSTL18_II IO Standard. Similarly when we operate Image ALU at 1 THz using Spartan-6, there is 33.31% reduction in IO power of SSTL18_I with respect to SSTL18_II Standard. There are 16 different arithmetic and logic operations in Image ALU. The Clock power, Logic power and Signal power of Image ALU remains same using Spartan-6 I/O Standard.
Auditory-Cortex Short-Term Plasticity Induced by Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on relevant sounds in the acoustic environment is crucial for everyday function and communication. Converging lines of evidence suggests that transient functional changes in auditory-cortex neurons, “short-term plasticity”, might explain this fundamental function. Under conditions of strongly focused attention, enhanced processing of attended sounds can take place at very early latencies (~50 ms from sound onset) in primary auditory cortex and possibly even at earlier latencies in subcortical structures. More robust selective-attention short-term plasticity is manifested as modulation of responses peaking at ~100 ms from sound onset in functionally specialized nonprimary auditory-cortical areas by way of stimulus-specific reshaping of neuronal receptive fields that supports filtering of selectively attended sound features from task-irrelevant ones. Such effects have been shown to take effect in ~seconds following shifting of attentional focus. There are findings suggesting that the reshaping of neuronal receptive fields is even stronger at longer auditory-cortex response latencies (~300 ms from sound onset). These longer-latency short-term plasticity effects seem to build up more gradually, within tens of seconds after shifting the focus of attention. Importantly, some of the auditory-cortical short-term plasticity effects observed during selective attention predict enhancements in behaviorally measured sound discrimination performance.
Fast spin‐echo triple‐echo dixon (fTED) technique for efficient T2‐weighted water and fat imaging

Previously published fast spin‐echo (FSE) implementations of a Dixon method for water and fat separation all require multiple scans and thus a relatively long scan time. Further, the minimum echo spacing (esp), a time critical for FSE image quality and scan efficiency, often needs to be increased in order to bring about the required phase shift between the water and fat signals. This work proposes and implements a novel FSE triple‐echo Dixon (fTED) technique that can address these limitations. In the new technique, three raw images are acquired in a single FSE scan by replacing each frequency‐encoding gradient in a conventional FSE with three consecutive gradients of alternating polarity. The timing of the three gradients is adjusted by selecting an appropriate receiver bandwidth (RBW) so that the water and fat signals for the three corresponding echoes have a relative phase shift of −180°, 0°, and 180°, respectively. A fully automated postprocessing algorithm is then used to generate separate water‐only and fat‐only images for each slice. The technique was implemented with and without parallel imaging. We demonstrate that the new fTED technique enables both uniform water/fat separation and fast scanning with uncompromised scan parameters, including applications such as T2‐weighted separate water and fat imaging of the abdomen during breath‐holding. Magn Reson Med 58:103–109, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prehepatic insulin production in man: kinetic analysis using peripheral connecting peptide behavior.

The prehepatic production of insulin in normal man was evaluated by kinetic analysis of connecting peptide (C-peptide) behavior in the plasma in men and women. Studies were performed during suppression of endogenous insulin secretion (induced by both fasting and exogenous insulin injection) as well as during stimulation of secretion (induced by oral glucose ingestion) and iv glucose injection. Least squares spline fitting of the C-peptide data by interactive computer analysis permitted evaluation of the precursor production of insulin using a two-compartment model for C-peptide removal. Basal prehepatic insulin production averaged 15-4 mU/70 kg.min in 20 subjects and was reduced to 0.9 +/- 2.2 mU/70 kg.min after 84 h of fasting. The injection of exogenous iv insulin resulted in suppression of endogenous production to 0 +/- 2.5 mU/70 kg.min. Maximum prehepatic insulin production induced by a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test was 91 +/- 1.2 mU/70 kg.min, with a cumulative hormone secretion of 11.4 +/- 2.0 U over the 5 h of observation. After the acute iv injection of 25 g glucose, production rose to 465 +/- 108 mU/70 kg.min at 2 min post injection and rapidly returned toward basal. Levels of insulin in the portal vein calculated from this analysis were markedly elevated relative to simultaneous peripheral venous levels. These results quantitate prehepatic insulin production and portal venous insulin concentration from an analysis of the behavior of C-peptide within the plasma in both the steady state and the nonsteady state in man.
Hormonal Dependence of Cholesterol Ester Hydrolase in the Corpus Luteum and Adrenal*

Leclercq, R. , B. Lutz, C. MialheVoloss: In vitro studies of adrenal response using ßl-24 ACTH and a competitive pro tein-bin ding assay for corticosterone. Excerpta med. 210: 113 (1970) (Abstract) McDonald, R.K. , A.R. Sollberger, P.S. Mueller, M.H. Sheard: The effect of small doses of human AcrH on serum corticosteroid levels in man. Proc.Soc. exp.Biol. (N.Y.) 131: 1091-1094 (1969) Nelson, D.H. , D.M. Hume: Corticosteroid secretion in the adrenal venous blood of the hypophysectomized dog as an assay for ACTH_ Endocrinology 57: 184-192 (955) Soffran, M. , A. V. Scluzlly: In vitro bioassay of corticotrop' in: modification and statistical treatment. Endocrinology 56: 523-632 (1955)
Index Number Theory Using Differences Rather Than Ratios

Traditional index number theory decomposes a value ratio into the product of a price index times a quantity index. The price (quantity) index is interpreted as an aggregate price (quantity) ratio. The present paper takes an alternative approach to index number theory, started by Bennet and Montgomery in the 1920's that decomposes a value difference into the sum of a price difference plus a quantity difference. Axiomatic and economic approaches to this alternative branch of index theory are considered in the present paper. The analysis presented has some relevance to accounting theory where revenue, cost or profit changes need to be decomposed into price quantity components or where standard or budgeted performance is compared with actual performance (variance analysis). The methodology presented in the paper is also relevant for consumer surplus analysis.
Ethics Education for Accounting Students—a Toolkit Approach

In 2006, the International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB), an independent standard-setting board of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) released an information paper entitled Approaches to the Development and Maintenance of Professional Values, Ethics and Attitudes in Accounting Education Programs. The information paper stems from a global research project on ethics education in the accounting profession. The paper is designed to stimulate discussion and debate on the subject of ethics education and includes the provision of an Ethics Education Toolkit to encourage and assist accounting educators and member bodies of IFAC to implement ethics education programmes. Through a review of the literature, this paper considers why we should teach ethics, the types of ethics interventions that have been undertaken and the issues in teaching ethics to accountancy students. The paper then describes in detail the Ethics Education Toolkit and provides some evidence on the positive reaction of a group of students who are taught ethics, based on the principles and practice included in the toolkit.
Selection of freestanding and bound gender-marking morphemes in speech production: a review

In the past years, numerous studies have investigated the production of gender-marking morphemes like determiners or adjectival inflections. In this article we review the evidence that has accumulated thus far, focussing on the question of whether freestanding and bound gender-marking morphemes are selected according to one processing mechanism or according to different processing mechanisms. We conclude that there is no need for postulating different selection mechanisms and that selection by competition seems to play a role in the processing of both freestanding and bound gender-marking morphemes.
Use of Quantitative Ultrasound for Identifying Low Bone Density in Older People

Objective. This study examined criterion, convergent, and discriminant validities of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for identifying low bone density among people aged 55 years and older in Taiwan. Methods. We recruited 453 community‐dwelling volunteers and 30 patients with lower extremity fractures. Bone density was assessed using both calcaneal QUS and femoral neck dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Two QUS parameters, speed of sound (SOS) and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), were also used to estimate heel bone mineral density (HBMD). Results. Using DXA as the criterion for identifying low bone density (DXA T score of 1.0 or lower), likelihood ratios for BUA and SOS at the 50th percentile and HBMD for men were 1.50, 1.75, and 1.28, respectively; the counterparts for women were 1.54, 2.13, and 1.29. As for identifying osteoporosis (DXA T score of −2.5 or lower), higher likelihood ratios of the 3 QUS parameters were gained. For convergent validity, Pearson correlation coefficients for DXA with BUA, SOS, and HBMD ranged from 0.40 to 0.43 for men and from 0.48 to 0.53 for women. For the ability to discriminate men and women with lower extremity fractures from those without, no significant differences in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were detected between BUA, SOS, and HBMD and DXA after adjusting for age, body mass index, fall history, and current smoking. Conclusions. Although having very good convergent and discriminant validities and fair criterion validity, calcaneal QUS may be a screening tool for identifying low bone density.
Stem Cells and Biological Approaches to Treatment of Wrist Problems

Abstract Stem cells are being intensively studied for their potential applications in clinical medicine. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an important subset of stem cells which are attractive for application in musculoskeletal disorders. In this article, we review the characteristics of these MSCs that are relevant to clinical practice but that are still largely experimental in nature.
Expectations and Preferences in British General Elections

We address two questions: How do people form their expectations about the likely winner of the next general election? and What are the links between expectations and votes? Using data collected by the Gallup organization in Great Britain, we find that the expectations formation process (1) has a significant inertia component but also a rapid adjustment to current information; (2) reflects voters' ability to translate economic expectations into political forecasts; and (3) is “time-bounded,” possessing special characteristics immediately before and after a general election. The analysis also confirms the existence of a small bandwagon effect, whereby expectations that one party will win inflate that party's vote. The ability of voters to make reasonable forecasts without being unduly influenced by their own preferences suggests that under normal circumstances voters are expressing real preferences and not simply following the crowd.
An Application of Fear Appeal Messages to Enhance the Benefits of a Jail Encounter Program for Youthful Offenders

Research has consistently shown that so-called scared straight types of jail encounter programs do not have positive benefits for youthful offenders. However, few if any inmate-youth encounter programs have utilized the results of fear appeals message research. Results of the present study suggest that an inmate-youth encounter program may lead to attitude change in youthful offenders if components of successful fear appeals are incorporated into the program.
A Typical Gender Identity Conference? Some Disturbing Reports from the Therapeutic Front Lines

This article resulted from my recent attendance at a conference on gender identity entitled `Atypical Gender Identity Development: Therapeutic Models, Philosophical and Ethical Issues' (2000). Although it featured presentations from pre-eminent clinical psychiatrists, psychologists and physicians in Britain, Canada and the United States, there was no reference to the feminist psychoanalytic and social psychology debates that have circulated in feminist psychology for years. In accounting for the absence of feminist scholarship, I consider three issues. First, rather than highlight the social construction of gender through the social construction of sex, the conference revealed a persistent belief in `sex' as the original sign through which gender is read. A second issue concerns the maturity hierarchy that clinicians seem to construct such that stable gender identification and `opposite' gender desire appear at the apex. Finally, I am concerned with what seems to be a continued association of homosexuality with pathology.
When Work Interferes with Life: Work-Nonwork Interference and the Influence of Work-Related Demands and Resources

Using data from a 2005 survey of U.S. workers, we find that a high percentage of employed men and women report that work interferes with nonwork life. This research offers three main contributions: (1) we document the social distribution of work-nonwork interference across social statuses and dimensions of stratification; (2) we develop a conceptual framework that specifies the influence of a comprehensive set of work resources and demands on interference and their contributions to its social distribution; and (3) we advance a “stress of higher status” perspective to understand the paradoxical influence of some work conditions on work-nonwork interference. Findings generally support both the demands hypothesis and the stress of higher status hypothesis, with patterns from both factors contributing substantially to the social distribution of work-nonwork interference. This article refines and elaborates the job demands-resources model with insights from border theory.
A stochastic parameterization of non‐orographic gravity waves: Formalism and impact on the equatorial stratosphere

A formalism is proposed to represent a broadband spectrum of Gravity Waves (GWs) via the superposition of a large ensemble of statistically independent monochromatic ones. To produce this large ensemble at a reasonable numerical cost, we use the fact that the life cycles of the waves needed to be parameterized in General Circulation Models (GCMs) have time scales that largely exceed the time step of the model. We can therefore launch few waves with characteristics chosen randomly at each time step, and make them having an effect on a longer time scale by applying an AR1 relation between the gravity waves drag at a given time and that at the next time step. The stochastic GW parameterization is applied to a GCM in the tropics, and its additional drag causes a realistic Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO). The more realistic wind structure also results in a better representation of the large scale equatorial waves, like the Rossby Gravity Waves (RGWs) with periods around 4–5 day.
Investigation of emerging magnetic materials for application in axial-flux PM machines

This paper investigates the performance of three magnetic materials: silicon iron, soft magnetic composite and amorphous magnetic material, as the stator of an axial-flux permanent-magnet machine. Three stators, one of each material, are built and tested with the same rotor. The losses of each of the machines are separated using a combination of 3D finite-element analysis and experimental testing under open-circuit and loaded conditions.