Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of intangibles: an attempt to build a theory

This article attempts to contribute to the development of a positive theory on the management of intangibles by building a model that describes the process followed by business firms willing to implement a system for the management of intangibles. The study reveals that companies usually take three steps: the identification of critical intangibles related to value creation, the measurement of those intangibles by means of a set of indicators and, finally, the monitoring of intangible resources and activities.
Perinatal and parental risk factors in an epidemiological study of children with autism spectrum disorder

Objectives: This study examines several perinatal and parental risk factors in an epidemiological study of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Methods: Based on a sample of 273 children with ASD who have been followed up at a General Hospital of North Greece, an additional sample of 273 healthy children, matched for age, is also recruited as a control group. Results: The innovative results indicate significant correlation of ASD with three critical categories of factors: genetic, perinatal, and environmental. According to the empirical findings of multivariate logistic regression analysis, critical factors indicating higher risk for autism disorders include: male gender; gestational age (GA); multiple gestations; maternal age at delivery; and, maternal education. Conclusions: The significant impact of perinatal and environmental factors can be indicative of their amplifying impact on genetic prone subjects.
On the Step Size of Symmetric Alternating Directions Method of Multipliers

The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is an application of the Douglas-Rachford splitting method; and the symmetric version of ADMM which updates the Lagrange multiplier twice at each iteration is an application of the Peaceman-Rachford splitting method. Sometimes the symmetric ADMM works empirically; but theoretically its convergence is not guaranteed. It was recently found that the convergence of symmetric ADMM can be sufficiently ensured if both the step sizes for updating the Lagrange multiplier are shrank conservatively. In this paper, we focus on the convex programming context and specify a step size domain that can ensure the convergence of symmetric ADMM. In particular, it is shown for the first time that, we can choose Glowinski’s larger step size for one of the Lagrange-multiplier-updating steps at each iteration; so shrinking both the step sizes is not necessary for the symmetric ADMM. Some known results in the ADMM literature turn out to be special cases of our discussion.
Compressive pre-strain in Nb/sub 3/Sn strand by steel tube and effect on the critical current measured on standard ITER barrel

The large Cable-In-Conduit Conductors (CICC) designed for the magnet coils in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), are composed of Nb/sub 3/Sn strand bundles in a Stainless Steel (SS) or Incoloy conduit. Both, the thermal contraction of the strand composite and the conduit material, define the final pre-strain after cooling down and thus affect the strand critical current (I/sub c/). The transverse forces, introduced when charging a coil, in addition affect the overall strain state due to bending and pinching of strands. Recently, periodic bending tests were applied on strand samples without additional axial compressive pre-strain. Here we explore the method of swaging a SS-tube around a strand to imitate the cool-down strain effect of the conduit. The experimental results of the I/sub c/ measurements at 12 T and 4.2 K are presented for a Nb/sub 3/Sn PIT strand with and without swaged SS tube on both Ti-6Al-4V and SS standard ITER sample holder (barrels). The effect of gluing the sample to the barrel is also investigated. The intrinsic strain state of the samples is verified by measurement of the I/sub c/ versus applied strain with the Pacman spring.
Temperature-dependent Characteristics of Carbon Nanofiber Arrays

In this work, we present temperature-dependent electrical characteristics of vertically aligned carbon nanofiber (CNF) arrays for on-chip interconnect applications. The study consists of two parts. First, the electron transport mechanisms in these structures are investigated using low-temperature (∼4K-300K) I-V measurements. The measured resistivity in CNF arrays are modeled based on known graphite a-axis (parallel to basal plane) and c-axis (perpendicular to basal plane) electron conduction mechanisms. The model is verified using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) of the CNF-metal interface. Second, electrical reliability measurements are performed at different temperatures to demonstrate the robust nature of CNFs for interconnect applications. Finally, some guidance is presented in catalyst material selection to yield lower resistance CNFs.
Candida fermentati as a Cause of Persistent Fungemia in a Preterm Neonate Successfully Treated by Combination Therapy with Amphotericin B and Caspofungin

ABSTRACT A case of persistent candidemia in a preterm neonate caused by Candida fermentati, identified by sequencing of the internally transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), is described. The neonate was treated for 30 days by combination therapy with amphotericin B (AmBisome) and caspofungin with a successful outcome, and no drug-related side effects were observed.
Information-flow security for JavaScript and its APIs

JavaScript drives the evolution of the web into a powerful application platform. Increasingly, web applications combine services from different providers. The script inclusion mechanism routinely turns barebone web pages into full-fledged services built up from third-party code. Script inclusion poses a challenge of ensuring that the integrated third-party code respects security and privacy. This paper presents a dynamic mechanism for securing script executions by tracking information flow in JavaScript and its APIs. On the formal side, the paper identifies language constructs that constitute a core of JavaScript: dynamic objects, higher-order functions, exceptions, and dynamic code evaluation. It develops a dynamic type system that guarantees information-flow security for this language. Based on this formal model, the paper presents JSFlow, a practical security-enhanced interpreter for fine-grained tracking of information flow in full JavaScript and its APIs. Our experiments with JSFlow deployed as a browser extension provide in-depth understanding of information manipulation by third-party scripts. We find that different sites intended to provide similar services effectuate rather different security policies for the user's sensitive information: some ensure it does not leave the browser, others share it with the originating server, while yet others freely propagate it to third parties.
The role of self-compassion in chronic illness care

Objective: To present current research and theory on the potential of self-compassion as a clinical concept for improving health-related outcomes in chronic illness, and make recommendations for the application of self-compassion interventions in clinical care to improve well-being and facilitate self-management of health for this group. Methods: Narrative review of the literature. Results: Current theory indicates that the self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness components of self-compassion can foster adaptive responses to the perceived setbacks and shortcomings that people experience in the context of living with a chronic illness. Research on self-compassion in relation to health has been examined primarily within non-medical populations. Cross-sectional and experimental studies have demonstrated clear links between self-compassion and lower levels of both perceived stress and physiological indictors of stress. A growing evidence base also indicates that self-compassion is associated with more frequent practice of health-promoting behaviours in healthy populations. Research on self-compassion with chronic illness populations is limited, but has demonstrated cross-sectional links to adaptive coping, lower stress and distress, and the practice of important health behaviours. There are several interventions for increasing self-compassion in clinical settings, with limited data suggesting beneficial effects for clinical populations. Conclusion: Self-compassion holds promise as an important quality to cultivate to enhance health-related outcomes in those with chronic health conditions. Further systematic and rigorous research evaluating the effectiveness of self-compassion interventions in chronic illness populations is warranted to fully understand the role of this quality for chronic illness care.
Physical and MAC Cross Layer Design for Wireless Mesh Networks

Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) are an alternative technology for last-mile broadband Internet access that can support broadband services. However, for a WMN to be all it can be, considerable research efforts are still needed. For example, the available MAC and routing protocols are not scalable; throughput drops significantly as the number of nodes or hops in WMNs increases. Thus, existing protocols need to be enhanced or re-invented for WMNs. When advanced physical layer techniques, used, novel MAC protocols, especially multi-channel MAC, need to be proposed to utilize the agility provided by the physical layer. This paper presents an introduction to wireless mesh networks, IEEE 802.11, physical layer and Medium Access Control (MAC) cross layer design.
Efficiently Disassemble-and-Pack for Mechanism

In this paper, we present a disassemble-and-pack approach for a mechanism to seek a box which contains total mechanical parts with high space utilization. Its key feature is that mechanism contains not only geometric shapes but also internal motion structures which can be calculated to adjust geometric shapes of the mechanical parts. Our system consists of two steps: disassemble mechanical object into a group set and pack them within a box efficiently. The first step is to create a hierarchy of possible group set of parts which is generated by disconnecting the selected joints and adjust motion structures of parts in groups. The aim of this step is seeking total minimum volume of each group. The second step is to exploit the hierarchy based on breadth-first-search to obtain a group set. Every group in the set is inserted into specified box from maximum volume to minimum based on our packing strategy. Until an approximated result with satisfied efficiency is accepted, our approach finish exploiting the hierarchy.
A Motif-Based Framework for Characterizing the Evolution of Social Networks

Social network computing has become popular in recent years. The study of evolving patterns of networks is facing a challenge: how to find the evolving features so as to extract significant evolving patterns. In this work, a novel framework based on network motifs is proposed to characterize the evolution of networks, capture the behavioral tendencies that contribute to the evolution of the network, and then identify evolving significantly behaviors. We show the results of extensive exploration on a real social news network, which demonstrate that the proposed scheme will contribute to the understanding of the evolving characteristic of social networks.
Seasonal Variation of Cistus ladanifer L. Diterpenes

The exudate of Cistus ladanifer L. consists mainly of two families of secondary metabolites: flavonoids and diterpenes. The amount of flavonoids present in the leaves has a marked seasonal variation, being maximum in summer and minimum in winter. In the present study, we demonstrate that the amount of diterpenes varies seasonally, but with a different pattern: maximum concentration in winter and minimum in spring-summer. The experiments under controlled conditions have shown that temperature influences diterpene production, and in particular, low temperatures. Given this pattern, the functions that these compounds perform in C. ladanifer are probably different.
The Architectural Role of Emotion in Cognitive Systems

In this chapter, we will revive an old argument that theories of human emotion can give insight into the design and control of complex cognitive systems. In particular, we claim that appraisal theories of emotion provide essential insight into the influences of emotion over cognition and can help translate such findings into concrete guidance for the design of cognitive systems. Appraisal theory claims that emotion plays a central and functional role in sensing external events, characterizing them as opportunity or threats and recruiting the cognitive, physical and social resources needed to adaptively respond. Further, because it argues for a close association between emotion and cognition, the theoretical claims of appraisal theory can be recast as a requirement specification for how to build a cognitive system. This specification asserts a set of judgments that must be supported in order to correctly interpret and respond to stimuli and provides a unifying framework for integrating these judgments into a coherent physical or social response. This chapter elaborates argument in some detail based on our joint experience in building complex cognitive systems and computational models of emotion.
Evidence for impaired neurovascular transmission in a murine model of 1 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 2 3 4 5

33 34 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a muscle wasting disease caused by mutations in the 35 dystrophin gene. Little is known about how blood flow control is affected in arteriolar networks 36 supplying dystrophic muscle. We tested the hypothesis that mdx mice, a murine model for DMD, 37 exhibit defects in arteriolar vasomotor control. The cremaster muscle was prepared for intravital 38 microscopy in pentobarbital anesthetized mdx and C57BL/10 control mice (n ≥ 5 per group). 39 Spontaneous vasomotor tone increased similarly with arteriolar branch order in both mdx and 40 C57BL/10 mice (pooled values: first-(1A), 6%, second(2A), 56% and third-(3A) order, 61%) 41 with no difference in maximal diameters between groups measured during equilibration with 42 topical 10 μM sodium nitroprusside (pooled values: 1A:70±3, 2A: 31±3 and 3A: 19±3 μm, 43 respectively). Concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh) and norepinephrine added 44 to the superfusion solution did not differ between mdx and C57BL/10 mice, nor did constriction 45 to elevated (21%) oxygen. In response to local stimulation from a micropipette, conducted 46 vasodilation to ACh and conducted vasoconstriction to KCl were also not different between 47 groups however constriction decayed with distance (P<0.05) whereas dilation did not . 48 Remarkably, arteriolar constriction to perivascular nerve stimulation (PNS) at 2, 4, and 8 Hz was 49 reduced by ~25-30% in mdx mice compared to C57BL/10 mice (P < 0.05). With intact arteriolar 50 reactivity to agonists, attenuated constriction to PNS indicates impaired neurovascular 51 transmission in arterioles controlling blood flow in mdx mice. 52 53
ESTUDIO DE CASO: RAZONES PARA FOMENTAR EL VOLUNTARIADO CORPORATIVO EN TRES ORGANIZACIONES EN PUERTO RICO

La responsabilidad social empresarial (RSE) representa una actitud proactiva de las empresas en cuanto a su compromiso con sus responsabilidades sociales y ambientales, para reconciliar objetivos economicos y sociales que les generan beneficios tangibles. El proposito de este estudio fue analizar las razones para fomentar el voluntariado corporativo como parte de la filosofia de RSE, mediante el estudio de caso en tres organizaciones en Puerto Rico. La metodologia empleada fue cualitativa y distribuida en dos fases. Para la primera fase se recopilaron datos mediante entrevistas a un representante de cada organizacion a cargo de la coordinacion de las iniciativas de RSE. Para la segunda fase, se llevo a cabo un grupo focal con empleados que participaban activamente dentro del voluntariado corporativo. Los hallazgos mostraron que las empresas realizan esfuerzos internos para constituir un programa de voluntariado corporativo consono con su filosofia de RSE. Esta filosofia se refleja en la mision y los valores organizacionales en cada una de ellas. Entre los esfuerzos que realizan para desarrollar el programa de voluntariado se encuentran: desarrollar perfiles de areas de interes de sus empleados, capacitar a sus empleados en temas alineados, pareo con entidades de la comunidad, estrategias de involucracion, entre otros.
Balancing work and family through social support among working women in Pakistan

Work-family balance (WFB) is considered as one of the most important issues in organizational studies. The current study examines the relationship of social support (SS), employee performance (EP) and job satisfaction (JS) with work-family balance of working women in Pakistan. Based on cross - sectional data, out of 315 distributed questionnaires, 150 women working in different public and private sector organizations responded to the questionnaire, thereby resulting in a 47.6% response rate. The work-family balance through social support is a new concept, and as such, little evidence is available in the literature. The study aims to provide empirical grounds for the said relationship in a developing country. Independent sample t – test, Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The study confirms that social support is moderately related to employee performance and job satisfaction and is strongly related to work family balance, whereas employee performance is moderately related to job satisfaction and has weak relationship with work family balance. The multiple regression analysis shows that social support and job satisfaction have a significant strong positive relationship with work family balance, whereas employee performance has a highly significant moderate relationship with work family balance of working women. Significant differences were found among the public and private sector working women with respect to social support, job satisfaction and work family balance. The relationships of independent variables such as social support, well performance at work and job satisfaction are contributors of work-family balance. However, the results are compared and discussed in the light of previous studies. Key words: Work-family balance, social support, job satisfaction, employee performance, working women, Pakistan.
Evaluation of the effects of two different bone resorption inhibitors on osteoclast numbers and activity: An animal study

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bone resorption inhibitors, doxycycline (DOX) and erythromycin (EM), on osseous wound healing in rat alveolar socket. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 45 8–10-week-old male Wistar rats had their maxillary right molar extracted. They were divided into three groups of 15. In Group 1 normal saline, Group 2 DOX, and Group 3 EM were administered at the doses of 5 ml/kg/day, 5 mg/kg/day, and 2 mg/kg/day, respectively, for 7 consecutive days. The rats were sacrificed 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to evaluate the mRNA expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and immunohistochemical staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) to determine osteoclasts. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post hoc test using SPSS version 20. Significant level was set at 0.05. Results: The results showed that when drug-treated groups compared to control groups, RANKL gene expression significantly decreased, TRAP+ cells decreased on day 7. The RANKL/OPG ratios in the first two weeks in the test groups were significantly lower than the control group. There was no significant difference in the studied indices between DOX and EM groups. Conclusion: Following administration of DOX and EM, the number of osteoclasts and RANKL/OPG ratio decreased suggesting their anti-osteoclastogenesis activity. These two drugs have no advantage over each other in increasing the bone formation.
Pembangunan Perisian Multimedia Berasaskan Proses Pembelajaran Berasaskan Masalah dalam Subjek Sains Komputer

Pembelajaran Berasaskan Masalah (PBL) merupakan satu inovasi yang signifikan dalam proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam bidang seperti perubatan, kejuruteraan, sains komputer dan undang-undang. Masalah dunia sebenar akan dikemukakan kepada pelajar di mana ianya akan menjadi pemandu utama ke arah pembelajaran pelajar. Proses pembelajaran menggunakan kaedah ini nampaknya menunjukkan hasil penyelidikan yang memberangsangkan mengikut para penyelidik yang telah menggunakannya. Proses ini juga telah cuba diterapkan dengan penggunaan komputer sebagai satu wadah untuk menjadikan proses pembelajaran lebih menarik dan signifikan. Beberapa model telah dicadangkan untuk membentuk satu proses yang kukuh ke arah pembangunan perisian multimedia berasaskan proses PBL ini. Ia turut mengaitkan ciri-ciri utama proses PBL dan teknik pembangunan perisian komputer. Proses penilaian formatif dan sumatif dalam mengumpul data kualitatif dan kuantitatif dijalankan untuk memastikan objektif yang ditetapkan akan dicapai. Kertas kerja ini bertujuan menerangkan proses pembangunan perisian multimedia berasaskan proses PBL dalam subjek sains komputer.
Primer sequence disclosure: a clarification of the MIQE guidelines.

To the Editor: The publication of the minimum information for the publication of real-time quantitative PCR experiments (MIQE)1 guidelines (1) has turned out to be a defining event in the maturing of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technology. The response from instrument and reagent manufacturers has been universally positive. There has been extensive publicity in print, online, and at scientific meetings, and scientific journals are beginning to take note (2). Citations of the MIQE paper are accelerating, with 63 of the 169 citations (as of the end of January 2011) having appeared since September 2010. There is an enormous amount of good will toward this initiative, with many researchers keen to implement the different parameters within their own experimental protocols. MIQE was never conceived with the intent of imposing an immutable edict, as in the spirit of a regulatory agency. The aim was to provide commonsense guidelines for enhancing the reproducibility and transparency of qPCR assays. MIQE, however, has become a marketing and selling argument (“MIQE compliance”), and this practice places a responsibility on the authors of the guidelines to assess whether the rapidly evolving technology demands refinement of the guidelines to acknowledge researchers' uncertainty. Most discussion has concerned the stipulation of primer sequence disclosure. Many commercial qPCR assays are not supplied with the primer/probe sequences because most vendors consider such information commercially sensitive. In addition, there usually …