Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Shift in Emphasis in Performance Appraisals

Much literature has pointed to the problems with performance appraisals, which has led some commentators to call for abolition of the process or a renewed focus on the core elements of performance appraisal. For example, Coens and Jenkins based on their experience in North America recommended ‘abolishing performance appraisals’ (2000) 1, citing regular failings in development planning, objective setting and 360 degree feedback. They advocate instead broader performance management approaches focused on customer outcomes and decoupling the complex mix of processes often tied up inside performance appraisal. They cite a Police Department in Madison, Wisconsin which replaced traditional appraisals with a system of individual goal setting, leadership training and employee involvement that let officers choose who they wanted to work with and who supervised them. A US Department of Justice comparative study found that Madison had the highest levels of citizen satisfaction following the changes.
Improved Alignment of Gold Nanorods Embedded in Polymer Films

The multiple applications of gold nanorods (AuNRs) are most effective if the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPR) can be simultaneously excited in all the involved AuNRs. This can be achieved in well aligned ensembles of AuNRs, obtained by stretching AuNR-polymer composite films, as a possible method. One of the difficulties encountered in applying this method, is the thermal reshaping of the rods, which would change their optical properties. To mitigate this risk, while increasing the plastic deformability of the film, a polymer of high molecular weight mixed with a small amount of plasticizer was chosen as the composite matrix. The resulting composite films could be stretched up to seven times their initial length. To quantify the alignment of the rods, the average orientation angle was calculated based on scanning electron micrographs. An orientational order parameter of 0.92 was found, as compared to 1, which is the parameter value corresponding to perfect alignment. The anisotropy of the composite film was tested in linearly polarized light.
Tetraploid sucrose-accumulating grapevines

Introduction: Fructose and glucose are primary sugars of grape (Vitis spp.), and sucrose presents in trace amounts (WINKLER et al. 1974, SHIRAISHI 1993, DAVIS and ROBINSON 1996). However, some American hybrid cultivars such as 'Bath', 'Buffalo', 'Fredonia' and 'Steuben' contain large amounts of sucrose (LOTT and BARRETT 1967, TAKAYANAGI and YOKOTSUGA 1997; SHIRAISHI 2000). The early ripening and strong, sweet taste of these diploid sucrose-accumulating cultivars are of great interest in table grape breeding to broaden variability among seedlings. However, the diploid berries are in general smaller than the tetraploid ones, and consumers’ acceptance of large-sized grapes is high. Polyploid breeding has been very successful in Japan since 1970, and the tetraploid cultivars with large berries offer the possibility of creating unique table grapes with a striking appearance (REISCH and PRATT 1996). Many tetraploid genotypes have also been introduced by crossbreeding and in vitro colchicine treatment of diploid cultivars in our breeding program at Fukuoka Agricultural Research Center, Japan (NOTSUGA et al. 2000). As breeding materials, these tetraploid genotypes are valuable additions to the gene pool for developing future table grapes. By screening sugar variants, the tetraploid genotypes were generally found to be hexose accumulators (Fig. 1 A), but some tetraploid sucrose accumulators were observed as follows (Fig. 1 B): 'Buffalo 4X' (TSA-1), 'Steuben 4X' (TSA-2), 'Red Port 4X' (TSA-3), and Seedling 11-7 (TSA-4). In this report we document the origins of TSA-1,2,3 and -4, and describe their agro/biochemical traits between 2006 and 2007.
Paradigm : Studies of Women and Gender in Commerce and Society of The Middle East

Addressing the nature of the research paradigms in the business sciences is a considerably more complex procedure than in the physical sciences; while there is considerable debate over the position of economics and development studies between these two polarities, most work in the field is reasonably amenable to categorisation. In the case of studies of women’s economic participation in the Middle East, however, issues of objectivity and authenticity are fore-grounded, as authors, particularly women, face massive and conflicting pressures: from the existing patriarchal hegemony, from women seeking representation and empathic presentation, and from the cultural and gender assumptions of their Western audience.
On the Plastic Deformation of Single Crystal of Ice

Experiments on the lateral extension and compression at constant strain rates were made with thin rectangular plates of single crystal of ice. The plates were Imm in thickness, I-2cm in width and 2-5 cm in length. Together with the observations through a polarizing microscope on the changes occurring in the ice crystal, the induced stress by extension or compression was electrically recorded. Stress-strain curves thus obtained show that a single crystal of ice behaves in much the same manner as a perfect plastic body provided that it is strained at a rate below a certain critical value around 5% per hour. But this perfect plasticity can not be understood in the sense of the mathematical theory of plasticity, because the value of yield stress (JY depends upon the value of strain rate i and (Jy becomes smaller as s diminishes. Thus, the results of the experiments were interpreted by the theory of dislocation, taking into consideration the contraction of the force-measuring device, and that of the specimen. A linear relationship was found between v, the moving velocity of a dislocation line on the basal plane of ice crystal, and T, the shear stress acting upon it. The proportional constant VIT between the two was found to be 3 (f1.lsec}j(kg/cm2). The stress begins to relax at the moment when the extension or compression is terminated. If the time t is counted from that moment, between t and the relaxing stress (J the following relationship is found 1/(J = (1/(Jy}+At. (I) The relaxation time ). depends upon (JY as well as upon 8 the angle between the crystallographic c-axis of the ice crystal and the direction of extension or compression. The larger (JY is, the shorter ). becomes. The theory of dislocation was applied successfully also to the phenomena of stress relaxation, giving exactly the above formula (I).
EFFECTS OF LOW INTENSITY ULTRASOUND ON THE CHONDROGENIC DIFFERENTIATION OF ADULT STEM CELLS FROM ADIPOSE TISSUE

Background: Adult stem cells from adipose tissue can be used in tissue engineering because of their capacity to differentiate into chondrocytes. Low intensity ultrasound (LIUS) as a physical chondrogenic inducer differentiates adipose stem cells (ASC) into chondrocyte the same as transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ). However the stage of differentiation and hypertrophy of chondrocytes by LIUS have not yet been studied. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of LIUS on hypertrophic states of differentiated chondrocytes. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, ASCs were cultured in chondrogenic differentiation medium (10 ng/mL of TGFβ) with or without LIUS stimulation for two weeks. The ultrasound signal was applied at an intensity of 200 mW/cm for 10 min/day. For evaluation, the mRNA expression of collagen type X, alkaline phosphatase, Runx2 and Runx2II, were studied using quantitative gene expression method. Histologic and immunohistochemistry evaluations were performed. The data were analyzed by one way ANOVA (Tukey’s). Results: The mRNA expression of collagen type X, and alkaline phosphatase, Runx2 and Runx2II were decreased markedly by the LIUS stimulation, whereas the expression of these genes drastically increased when TGFβ applied alone or with LIUS. LIUS containing cultures showed lower hypertrophic protein expression (alkaline phosphatase and Indian hedgehog) as compared with the controls. Conclusions: Our results showed that LIUS suppresses hypertrophic chondrocyte formation and that LIUS induced chondrocytes are more suitable than TGFβ induced ones due to low expression of hyperthrophic markers in cartilage tissue engineering for clinical applications.
Increasing Ti–6Al–4V brazed joint strength equal to the base metal by Ti and Zr amorphous filler alloys

E. Ganjeh⁎, H. Sarkhosh, M.E. Bajgholi, H. Khorsand, M. Ghaffari Materials Division, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran Department of Material Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, UNAM – National Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
Predictability of stock market activity using Google search queries

This paper analyzes whether web search queries predict stock market activity in a sample of the largest European stocks. We provide evidence that i) an increase in web searches for stocks on Google engine is followed by a temporary increase in volatility and volume and a drop in cumulative returns. ii) An increase for web search queries for the market index leads to a decrease in the returns of the index as well as of the stock index futures and an increase in implied volatility. iii) Attention interacts with behavioral biases. The predictability of web searches for return and liquidity is enhanced when firm prices and market prices hit a 52-week high and diminished when the market hits a 52-week low. iv) Investors tend to process more market information than firm specific information in investment decisions, confirming limited attention theory.
Electrodynamic balance measurements of thermodynamic, kinetic, and optical aerosol properties inaccessible to bulk methods

Abstract. Measurements of a single, levitated particle in an electrodynamic balance are an established tool for deriving thermodynamic and material data such as density, refractive index and activities of components of an aqueous solution under supersaturated conditions, where bulk measurements are not possible. The retrieval relies on combining mass-to-charge data and size data from light scattering. Here, we use a combination of low- and high-resolution Mie resonance spectroscopy to obtain radius data, enabling an accurate size determination not only when the particle is in equilibrium, but also when it is out of equilibrium due to kinetic limitation of mass transport. With the data measured under non-equilibrium conditions, it is possible to retrieve the water diffusivity. A challenge is that the radius retrieval by comparing measured light scattering with Mie theory requires the knowledge of refractive index as a function of concentration. Here, we show an iterative retrieval of refractive index and size for compounds for which data cannot be obtained in the bulk either due to lack of sufficient amounts of sample or limited solubility. We demonstrate the measurement strategy and the retrieval of water activity, density, refractive index and water diffusivity for aqueous shikimic acid. Water diffusivity in concentrated shikimic acid decreases by 6 orders of magnitude at 250 K compared to that at room temperature.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Accounting-A Literature

Master Thesis in Financial Accounting, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, fall semester 2012 Author: Ulla-Christel Götherström Supervisor: Kristina Jonäll Title: Corporate Social Responsibility and Accounting A literature review. Background and problem: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an area which has gained much attention the last 10-15 years. To satisfy various stakeholders, corporate social responsibility has increased its importance and often constitutes a substantial part of the firms ́ financial reports, in spite of the fact that there are no legal requirements. However, to perform strategic CSR-reporting has become more or less compulsory for firms. The research question is: What research has been performed in the area of corporate social responsibility and accounting? Aim: The aim is to provide a structured overview of the literature in the area of corporate social responsibility and accounting regarding the years 2002-2012. The overview will provide a basis for future research and constitute a framework for focused research question. Delimitation: The focus of this study is on research published in scientific journals from 2002 until 2012. Method: A literature review was performed including peer-reviewed papers published in scientific journals. Database search were performed in Business Source Premier (BSP) with the keywords “Corporate social responsibility” and “accounting”, and the time limit was set to 2002-2012. Results and conclusions: The main result is shown in Table A1, which presents the structured overview and the categorization. All papers treated stakeholder theory showing that this theory has gained large acceptance in the area. The categories were based on which stakeholders were identified and were the following: Shareholder theory, Business students, Management, Employer/Human resource, Men and Women, and General. The shareholder perspective, emphasizing the role of investors, tends to have little support. The gender perspective was pronounced and Men and women was the first category to be identified. Awareness of ethical aspects is needed among firms when dealing with CSR and accounting. Future research: New media channels, like facebook and twitter, have emerged recently and one question is how firms handle stakeholders via these new channels. To investigate how the area gender, CSR and accounting is shaped and if there are differences in adherents to stakeholder theory and shareholder theory in relation to gender is a question. To extend the literature review to more years would permit to see if there has been a change in dominance of theories. Finally, more student groups but business students are relevant to examine in how they meet CSR related issues in their education, and also how to educate today managers.
Coordination in secondary schools and its implications for student achievement

Introduction Regarding school organizations the concept of coordination is subject to theoretical and empirical controversies. One can discern two contrasting views. The first rejects the notion that schools are tightly linked bureaucracies. It accepts the proposition that schools lack close internal coordination and that content and methods of Instruction tend to be linked loosely to the control and Influence of both the bureaucratic and collegial aspects of schools (cf.Cohen, March & Olsen, 1972; Meyer & Rowan, 1979; Weick, 1979). The second view states that schools differ on these aspects. Although not as sharply focused on coordination as the literature on 'loose coupling', the growing body of literature on 'effective schools' points to the importance of coordination. Teachers may assume shared responsibility for accomplishing a set of objectives, depending on their shared attitudes toward pupils and shared conceptions of effective instruction. Further, schools may differ in the way school management employs school-wide plans and schedules (structural linkages) with regard to the instructional system and in the way school management controls and evaluates the instructional system (cf. Rosenholtz, 1989). The above leads to two questions guiding this research project. First, it is clear that teaching is controlled and coordinated, but unknown Is the Mature and extent of coordination within schools. The first question guiding this research project is related to this problem. Besides, the effects of instructional coordination are unknown. The reason for coordination Is organizational effectiveness, yet much has to be learned about the exact relationship between coordination and organizational effectiveness. This relationship is at the heart of the second question guiding the Is study. Main focus in this study is on coordination within departments. Departments are regarded as task groups structurally embedded in the organization of schools. They are responsible for (the coordination of) the instruction of specific subject areas. Research concern ing departments is almost absent. As such, it is a neglected area in the field of educational research (cf. Slskin, 1991). Besides departments, attention is given to the (coordinative) role of school management and to the role of heads of department.
ROUGH CLUSTERING FOR CANCER DATASETS

Cancer is becoming a leading cause of death among people in the whole world. It is confirmed that the early detection and accurate diagnosis of this disease can ensure a long survival of the patients. Expert systems and machine learning techniques are gaining popularity in this field because of the effective classification and high diagnostic capability. This paper presents the application of rough set theory for clustering two cancer datasets. These datasets are taken from UCI ML repository. The method is based on MDA technique proposed by [11]. To select a clustering attribute, the maximal degree of the rough attributes dependencies in categorical-valued information systems is used. Further, we use a divide-and-conquer method to partition/cluster the objects. The results show that MDA technique can be used to cluster to the data. Further, we present clusters visualization using two dimensional plot. The plot results provide user friendly navigation to understand the cluster obtained.
Application of Gene Therapy in Common Renal Diseases

For a long time, gene therapy has drawn widespread attention from scientists and clinicians. The concept of gene therapy was first proposed for some single‐gene genetic diseases. The scientists realized that the introduction of the normal gene for the mutant gene could cure the disease (1). With the development of science and technology, the existing gene therapy not only treats the casual genes, but also focus on the key pathways of gene expression. Specific methods include: 1) The replacement of a mutant gene with a normal gene; 2) Inactivation of mutant genes that express aberrant functions; 3) Repair of abnormal genes by point‐directed mutagenesis; 4) Regulation of the extent to which abnormal genes or their upstream and downstream pathway loci on or off; 5) Introducing new genes to help cure the disease (2).
Risk Analysis of Ports in Maritime Industry in Turkey using FMEA Based Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS Approach

Today, international trade is extremely important for countries' economies. It is possible to show the ship's transport as one of the most important execution channels of this trade. International commercial maritime transport subject to many rules and regulations carries many risks in processes such as loading, handling and unloading. Commercial ports are the places where these risks are seen intensely. From this point, many risk components in terms of the process in the port, one of the international commercial port in Turkey, based on a risk analysis is tried to be evaluated in this study. Especially, loading and unloading processes are focused with the directions of industrial experts. The main dimensions of the risks in the port are determined via expert opinions, and the sub-criteria of these dimensions are revealed. In this way, a generic model is proposed based on failure mode and effect analysis and the model is digitized using intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS. Interpretations are made in the direction of the obtained analysis results.
PHARMACOKINETIC EVALUATION OF A CHRONOTHERAPEUTIC SYSTEM LOADED WITH AN ANTIASTHMATIC DRUG AS AN ORAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

Recent studies proved that the symptoms of bronchial asthma follow the circadian rhythms and become worse in the early morning. In such cases, conventional sustained-release treatment regimens are inappropriate for the delivery of antiasthmatic drugs as they cannot be administrated just prior to the worsening of the symptoms. The current work aimed to explore the pharmacokinetics of a model antiasthmatic drug following oral administration of a chronotherapeutic system in six healthy volunteers. A sensitive and selective chromatoghraphic method was used to determine drug concentration in human plasma. A standard calibration curve of the drug over the concentration range of 0.15 - 80 µg/ml was prepared in human plasma. Anhydrous caffeine was used as an internal standard. The protocol of the studies was approved by the Research Ethics Committee for clinical studies at Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt. Following oral administration of the treatments, the pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug including Cmax (µg/ml), Tmax (h), MRT(0– ∞), (h), AUC0–24 (µg h/ml) and AUC0–∞ (µg h/ml) were derived from the individual plasma concentration time curves. The data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA at P < 0.05. The results confirmed that the drug reached Cmax rapidly within two hours following a definite lag time; confirming the potential of the developed chronotherapeutic system in promoting the drug absorption at its site of action at the required time.
The Value of Mentoring For Mathematical Literacy Teachers in the South African School System

Abstract The objective of the paper is to examine the value of mentoring as a professional development for mathematical literacy teachers. A qualitative research approach through questionnaires and interviews was used. The research found that mentoring could be employed in improving the content knowledge as well as the instructional skills of mathematical literacy teachers. However, it was found that there are no formal mentoring programmes for these teachers. They usually seek help from their experienced and knowledgeable colleagues who were approachable and trustworthy. The paper therefore concludes that a well-designed and supported mentoring program is needed to improve the content as well as pedagogical knowledge of mathematical literacy teachers.
An investigation of the effects of using an enzyme-probiotic combination on broilers performance

BACKGROUND: Growth promoters are chemical and bio- logical substances that are added to livestock food with the aim to improve the growth of chickens in fattening and the utilization of food, and in this way achieve better production and financial results. OBJECTIVES:An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of enzyme complex, probiotic, and their combination on performance of broilers fed a basal wheat-barley-soybean meal diet from 1 to 47 d of age. METHODS: A total of 480-day- old male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were randomly assigned to 6 treatments, with 4 replicate cages per treatment and 20 birds per cage. The experiment consisted of a 3×2 factorial arrangement of the treatments, with 3 concentrations of enzyme complex (0, half of the commercial suggested level or commercial suggested level) and 2 concentrations of probiotic (0 and suggested level). RESULTS: Results showed that the suggested level of enzyme complex could improve body weight and feed conversion ratio (p 0.05). Probiotic supplementation did not improve the efficacy of enzyme complex at any levels. The examination of length and relative weight of different regions of intestine showed that only enzyme complex could decrease the relative weight of duodenum and length of jejunum; however, there was no interaction between treatments for these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: This research did not demonstrate any interaction effect between enzyme complex and probiotic on broilers performance fed wheat-barley-soybean meal diet.