Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiculturals in organizations : Their roles for organizational effectiveness

This dissertation explores multiculturals in global corporations. To date, limited research helps us understand the role of multicultural individuals in facilitating the effective functioning of global teams. To investigate this under-examined phenomenon, this dissertation presents the first empirical study of the roles of multiculturals in organizations by facilitating 10-month ethnographic field work in two MNCs: a leading cosmetic MNC and an auditing and consulting MNC. This dissertation comprises three papers. The first paper develops the theoretical model of bicultural competence and its impact on multicultural team effectiveness. I define bicultural competence, determine its antecedents, and identify two roles that bi/multiculturals might play in promoting multicultural team effectiveness: boundary spanner and conflict mediator. The second paper examines multiculturals’ cultural brokerage role for team work processes in global new product development teams: how multiculturals influence teams’ knowledge processes and handle cross-cultural conflicts (not only collocated but also virtual between corporate headquarters and local subsidiaries). Multiculturals play a critical role that influence knowledge processes and cross-cultural conflict management within global teams where cultural and national heterogeneity seems more complicated than organizational researchers have recognized to date. The third paper investigates boundary conditions and how they impact multiculturals to enact their roles. I compare and contrast multiculturals in two MNCs in different industries. In particular, I identify boundary conditions that have impact on multiculturals in three levels of analysis: organizational; team; individual. Furthermore, I propose what factors challenge or enable multiculturals and accordingly, how multiculturals overcome challenges and use given opportunities in order to perform effectively or yield such challenges in organizations
Time from safer to unsafe sexual behaviour among homosexual men

ObjectiveTo study relapse into unsafe sex among homosexual men using a novel method. DesignTime from safer to unsafe sexual behaviour was analysed using Kaplan-Meier procedures. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to quantify the relation between duration of safer sex and several covariates. SubjectsSubjects were homosexual men enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study in Amsterdam and included in the present assessment if they had ever reported an episode of safer sexual behaviour of at least 12 months. ResultsOf the 402 participants who met the inclusion criterion, 289 (72%) reported at least one episode of unprotected anogenital intercourse during follow-up. The median time from safer to unsafe sexual behaviour was 30 months. After 88 months of follow-up, the cumulative incidence of unsafe sexual behaviour reached 88%. Younger age, HIV seropositivity and use of amyl nitrites (poppers), were related to a shorter time to unsafe sexual behaviour. ConclusionsBased on these findings it is possible to target relapse prevention at specific groups of homosexual men, thereby increasing programme effectiveness and efficiency.
A smartphone-based fall risk assessment tool: Testing Ankle Flexibility, Gait and Voluntary Stepping

Falls are a frequent occurrence in elderly population, contributing significantly to injuries and decreased quality of life. However, through evidence-based interventions for fall prevention, specific risk factors can be modified, offering an opportunity to reduce the number of falls among older persons. An enhanced knowledge of the nature of the risks is of paramount importance to enable a proper design of preventive schemes. In this paper, indicators of declines in balance and mobility are evaluated using a smartphone-based system in alternative to traditional methods such as force platforms and cameras. Fall risk assessment tests were adapted to the smartphone enabling it to test Ankle Flexibility, Gait and Voluntary Stepping. Experimental results show a good correlation of most of the variables derived from the tests using the smartphone and force platforms or cameras. In conclusion, the implementation of these tests in a smartphone platform to measure fall risk-related features supports the feasibility of a valuable alternative to the traditional technology used in dedicated laboratories for the analysis of movement.
Assessment of Eccentric Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress Using Oxidation-Reduction Potential Markers

The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of static (sORP) and capacity ORP (cORP) oxidation-reduction potential markers as measured by the RedoxSYS Diagnostic System in plasma, for assessing eccentric exercise-induced oxidative stress. Nineteen volunteers performed eccentric exercise with the knee extensors. Blood was collected before, immediately after exercise, and 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise. Moreover, common redox biomarkers were measured, which were protein carbonyls, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, total antioxidant capacity in plasma, and catalase activity and glutathione levels in erythrocytes. When the participants were examined as one group, there were not significant differences in any marker after exercise. However, in 11 participants there was a high increase in cORP after exercise, while in 8 participants there was a high decrease. Thus, the participants were divided in low cORP group exhibiting significant decrease in cORP after exercise and in high cORP group exhibiting significant increase. Moreover, only in the low cORP group there was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation after exercise suggesting induction of oxidative stress. The results suggested that high decreases in cORP values after exercise may indicate induction of oxidative stress by eccentric exercise, while high increases in cORP values after exercise may indicate no existence of oxidative stress.
Augmenting Autobiographical Memory: An Approach Based on Cognitive Psychology

This thesis investigates how an interactive software system can support a person in remembering their past experiences and information related to these experiences. It proposes design recommendations for augmented autobiographical memory systems derived from Cognitive Psychology research into human memory – a perspective missing from prior work. Based on these recommendations, a conceptual design of an augmented autobiographical memory system is developed that aims to support users in retrieving cues and factual information related to experiences as well as in reconstructing those experiences. The retrieval aspects of this design are operationalised in an interactive software system called the Digital Parrot. Three important factors in the design and implementation are the context of an experience, semantic information about items in the system and associations between items. Two user studies evaluated the design and implementation of the Digital Parrot. The first study focused on the system’s usability. It showed that the participants could use the Digital Parrot to accurately answer questions about an example memory data set and revealed a number of usability issues in the Digital Parrot’s user interface. The second study embodied a novel approach to evaluating systems of this type and tested how an improved version of the Digital Parrot supported the participants in remembering experiences after an extended time period of two years. The study found that the Digital Parrot allowed the participants to answer questions about their own past experiences more completely and more correctly than unaided memory and that it allowed them to answer questions for which the participants’ established strategies to counteract memory failures were likely to be unsuccessful. In the studies, associations between items were the most helpful fac-
A specifier's introduction to formal methods

Formal methods used in developing computer systems (i.e. mathematically based techniques for describing system properties) are defined, and their role is delineated. Formal specification languages, which provide the formal method's mathematical basis, are examined. Certain pragmatic concerns about formal methods and their users, uses, and characteristics are discussed. Six well-known or commonly used formal methods are illustrated by simple examples. They are Z, VDM, Larch, temporal logic, CSP, and transition axioms. <<ETX>>
The Impact on Full Duplex D2D Communication of Different LTE Transmission Techniques

To augment capacity of spectrum limited cellular systems, 3GPP proposed Licensed Assisted Access (LAA-LTE) while efforts are underway to standardize the standalone MulteFire (a small cell standalone version of LTE). LAA is expected to boost capacity of LTE via unlicensed spectrum (5GHz). On the other hand, recent advances in Self Interference Suppression (SIS) techniques allow radios to transmit and receive simultaneously on the same channel (i.e., in-band Full-Duplex, FD). As part of future wireless networks, Device-to-device (D2D) communications would find its great potential through this FD capability. However, due to high induced aggregate interference from FD and its impact on medium access probability, the rigorous and critical analysis is needed to find an optimum trade-off between performance efficiency and overheads. Using stochastic geometry and the random graph theory, in this article, we analyze the impact of different LTE network paradigms with HD/FD D2D devices. Moreover, the impact of state- of-the-art coexistence techniques (discontinuous transmission and listen-before-talk) recommended for LTE in unlicensed spectrum over HD/FD D2D network is also discussed. The analysis is supported with extensive simulation results that reveal insights of the coexistence mechanism efficiency employed by LTE, the impact of SIS and the cost of FD operation in D2D.
Machinima and video-based soft skills training

Multimedia training methods have traditionally relied heavily on video based technologies and significant research has shown these to be very effective training tools. However production of video is time and resource intensive. Machinima (pronounced “muh-sheen-eh-mah”) technologies are based on video gaming technology. Machinima technology allows video game technology to be manipulated into unique scenarios based on entertainment or training and practice applications. Machinima is the converting of these unique scenarios into video vignettes that tell a story. These vignettes can be interconnected with branching points in much the same way that education videos are interconnected as vignettes between decision points. This study addressed the effectiveness of machinima based soft-skills education using avatar actors versus the traditional video teaching application using human actors. This research also investigated the difference between presence reactions when using avatar actor produced video vignettes as compared to human actor produced video vignettes. Results indicated that the difference in training and/or practice effectiveness is statistically insignificant for presence, interactivity, quality and the skill of assertiveness. The skill of active listening presented a mixed result indicating the need for careful attention to detail in situations where body language and facial expressions are critical to communication. This study demonstrates that a significant opportunity exists for the exploitation of avatar actors in video based instruction.
Tightly-coupled convolutional neural network with spatial-temporal memory for text classification

Although several traditional models like bag of words (BOW), n-grams, and their variants of TFIDF exhibit high performance in the field of text classification, neural network methods such as LSTM, GRU and convolutional neural network (CNN) are recently attracting increasing attention. Considering that CNN has surprising capabilities of extracting hierarchical features, combination of LSTM/GRU with CNN seems to be quite reasonable for semantic representation and sequence analysis. On the other hand, it is also a promising subject to enable CNN to have memory embeddings and/or recurrent pathway. In this paper, we propose a novel tightly-coupled convolutional neural network with spatial-temporal memory (TCNN-SM). It comprises feature-representation and memory functional columns. Feature-representation functional column in our TCNN-SM actually performs hierarchical feature extraction as regular CNN does while memory functional column retains memories of different granularity and fulfills selective memory for historical information. In order to validate effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed TCNN-SM, we conduct extensive experiments on AG's News public dataset. The experimental results show that our new TCNN-SM achieves 7.99% test error, which has the best performance among other existing deep learning methods and is very close to state of the art results yielded using classical n-grams algorithm.
Integrating omics into the cardiac differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells

Time‐dependent extracellular manipulations of human pluripotent stem cells can yield as much as 90% pure populations of cardiomyocytes. While the extracellular control of differentiation generally entails dynamic regulation of well‐known pathways such as Wnt, BMP, and Nodal signaling, the underlying genetic networks are far more complex and are poorly understood. Notably, the identification of these networks holds promise for understanding heart disease and regeneration. The availability of genome‐wide experimentation, such as RNA and DNA sequencing, as well as high throughput surveying with small molecule and small interfering RNA libraries, now enables us to map the genetic interactions underlying cardiac differentiation on a global scale. Initial studies demonstrate the complexity of the genetic regulation of cardiac differentiation, exposing unanticipated novel mechanisms. However, the large datasets generated tend to be overwhelming and systematic approaches are needed to process the vast amount of data to improve our mechanistic understanding of the complex biology. Systems biology methods spur high hopes for parsing vast amounts of data into genetic interaction models that can be verified experimentally and ultimately yield functional networks that expose the genetic connections underlying biological processes. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2014, 6:247–264. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1268
Intracellular Angiotensin II Production in Diabetic Rats Is Correlated With Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Cardiac Fibrosis

OBJECTIVE—Many of the effects of angiotensin (Ang) II are mediated through specific plasma membrane receptors. However, Ang II also elicits biological effects from the interior of the cell (intracrine), some of which are not inhibited by Ang receptor blockers (ARBs). Recent in vitro studies have identified high glucose as a potent stimulus for the intracellular synthesis of Ang II, the production of which is mainly chymase dependent. In the present study, we determined whether hyperglycemia activates the cardiac intracellular renin-Ang system (RAS) in vivo and whether ARBs, ACE, or renin inhibitors block synthesis and effects of intracellular Ang II (iAng II). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Diabetes was induced in adult male rats by streptozotocin. Diabetic rats were treated with insulin, candesartan (ARB), benazepril (ACE inhibitor), or aliskiren (renin inhibitor). RESULTS—One week of diabetes significantly increased iAng II levels in cardiac myocytes, which were not normalized by candesartan, suggesting that Ang II was synthesized intracellularly, not internalized through AT1 receptor. Increased intracellular levels of Ang II, angiotensinogen, and renin were observed by confocal microscopy. iAng II synthesis was blocked by aliskiren but not by benazepril. Diabetes-induced superoxide production and cardiac fibrosis were partially inhibited by candesartan and benazepril, whereas aliskiren produced complete inhibition. Myocyte apoptosis was partially inhibited by all three agents. CONCLUSIONS—Diabetes activates the cardiac intracellular RAS, which increases oxidative stress and cardiac fibrosis. Renin inhibition has a more pronounced effect than ARBs and ACE inhibitors on these diabetes complications and may be clinically more efficacious.
SLACER: randomness to cooperation in peer-to-peer networks

Peer-to-peer applications can benefit from human friendship networks (e.g., e-mail contacts or instant message buddy lists). However these are not always available. We propose an algorithm, called SLACER that allows peer nodes to create their own friendship networks, through randomized interactions, producing an artificial social network (ASN) where nodes share high trust with their neighbors
Failure Data Analysis of HPC Systems

Continuous availability of HPC systems built from commodity components have become a primary concern as system size grows to thousands of processors. In this paper, we present the analysis of 8-24 months of real failure data collected from three HPC systems at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) during 2001-2004. The results show that the availability is 98.7-99.8% and most outages are due to software halts. On the other hand, the downtime are mostly contributed by hardware halts or scheduled maintenance. We also used failure clustering analysis to identify several correlated failures.
Contact investigation for tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Investigation of contacts of patients with tuberculosis (TB) is a priority for TB control in high-income countries, and is increasingly being considered in resource-limited settings. This review was commissioned for a World Health Organization Expert Panel to develop global contact investigation guidelines. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies reporting the prevalence of TB and latent TB infection, and the annual incidence of TB among contacts of patients with TB. After screening 9,555 titles, we included 203 published studies. In 95 studies from low- and middle-income settings, the prevalence of active TB in all contacts was 3.1% (95% CI 2.2–4.4%, I2=99.4%), microbiologically proven TB was 1.2% (95% CI 0.9–1.8%, I2=95.9%), and latent TB infection was 51.5% (95% CI 47.1–55.8%, I2=98.9%). The prevalence of TB among household contacts was 3.1% (95% CI 2.1–4.5%, I2=98.8%) and among contacts of patients with multidrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant TB was 3.4% (95% CI 0.8–12.6%, I2=95.7%). Incidence was greatest in the first year after exposure. In 108 studies from high-income settings, the prevalence of TB among contacts was 1.4% (95% CI 1.1–1.8%, I2=98.7%), and the prevalence of latent infection was 28.1% (95% CI 24.2–32.4%, I2=99.5%). There was substantial heterogeneity among published studies. Contacts of TB patients are a high-risk group for developing TB, particularly within the first year. Children <5 yrs of age and people living with HIV are particularly at risk. Policy recommendations must consider evidence of the cost-effectiveness of various contact tracing strategies, and also incorporate complementary strategies to enhance case finding.
Measuring Collective Mindfulness and Exploring Its Nomological Network

Collective mindfulness was conceptualized as a prerequisite to achieving organizational reliability in the face of complexity and tight coupling. However, researchers have yet to measure collective mindfulness, precluding an assessment of its construct validity. In the current study I att empted to fill this gap by quantitatively measuring collective mindfulness and relating it to a number of characteristics and outcomes. I hypothesized that collective mindfulness can predict organizational reliability, with respect to safety and customer service quality. I also investigated the relationship between collective mindfulness and a number of constructs to begin assessing construct validity. The results of survey data collected from 182 employees, 570 customers, and 330 supervisor reports of 51 community swimming pools suggested that collective mindfulness can be measured in an organizational context and used to predict safety and customer service quality. Further, I found collective mindfulness to be related in expected ways with a number of constructs.
A series-stacked power delivery architecture with isolated differential power conversion for data centers

In this paper, an alternative method to achieve more efficient DC power distribution and voltage regulation for future data centers is proposed. The proposed power delivery architecture is validated with real servers performing two different real-world operations: web traffic management and computation. This paper describes series-stacked power delivery architecture, provides an experimental proof of concept and compares the proposed architecture with the conventional DC power delivery architecture employing a best-in-class power supply unit for servers. Through experimental measurements, we demonstrate up to a 20x reduction in power conversion losses compared to state-of-the-art hardware.
Major HIV resistance mutations in untreated Romanian patients

Drug resistance mutations are frequently detected in antiretroviral–naive HIV positive patients, however the data on transmitted resistance in non-B subtypes are limited. As HIV1 subtype F is prevalent in Romania, our goal is to analyze resistance mutations in the pol gene of HIV–1 isolates from drug–naive Romanian patients. HIV–1 pol gene from 12 untreated patients, newly diagnosed (n = 6) and chronically infected (n=6), with detectable HIV RNA viral load was genotyped and the viral subtype was determined by using the Stanford database algorithm. 8/12 strains belonged to the F subtype, 1/12 to the G subtype, and the rest of the studied strains appeared to be K/F, A/F and J/F inter–subtype recombinant forms. The prevalence of HIV–1 strains with at least one major drug resistance mutation in the studied group was unexpectedly high. Major mutations associated with NRTI, NNRTI and PI resistance were detected in 6/12 patients, 2/12 patients and 3/12 patients, respectively; in addition all viral strains had minor mutations in the protease gene. Newly diagnosed patients harbored resistant variants more often than chronically infected ones (4/6 vs. 2/6) did. These data support the use of genotypic resistance testing in treatment–naive HIV positive patients, in order to guide the selection of the first line of antiretrovirals, due to the fact that persons with transmitted drug resistance have a higher risk for both virologic failure and development of resistance at treatment initiation. HIV–Human immunodeficiency virus; TDR–transmitted drug resistance; HAART–highly active antiretroviral therapy ; SDRM–surveillance list of drug resistance mutations ; NRTIs–nucleos(t)idic reverse–transcriptase inhibitors; NNRTIs– non–nucleosidic reverse transcriptase inhibitors; PIs–protease inhibitors; TAMs–thy–midine analogue mutations; 3TC –lamivudine ; FTC–emtricitabine ; ddI –didanosine ; ABC–abacavir ; ZDV–zidovudine ; d4T–stavudine ; TDF –tenofovir
Model reference adaptive impedance control of rehabilitation robots in operational space

A new nonlinear model reference adaptive impedance controller is presented for the control of robot manipulators with uncertainties in model parameters such as friction coefficients. This method provides asymptotic tracking of a reference impedance model for the robot end-effector in operational space which is more sensible for the patient compared to the joint space impedance used in previous works. The model uncertainties such as friction coefficients are compensated using an adaptation law. The asymptotic tracking of the reference impedance model is shown using a Lyapunov function. The tracking performance and friction compensation are also demonstrated through simulation on a rehabilitation robot, MIT-MANUS.