Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of HR outsourcing and strategic HR integration on the HR-to-employee ratio: An empirical evaluation of the HR function over the last decade

Purpose Two simultaneous trends have arisen in the field of HRM: the development of the HR function towards a more strategic, value adding unit and the trend of HR outsourcing (HRO). Opinions are divided in the field of HRM research regarding the interdependences between these two trends and whether the HR function has a positive or negative effect. Therefore, this study examines the triangular relationship among strategic HR integration, the HR-to-employee ratio and HRO. Design/methodology/approach The study analyses data from three large evaluations conducted in 14 European countries and compares the results obtained from the 2000, 2005 and 2010 Cranet survey waves. For the hypotheses, a multilevel regression design was used. Findings The results allow concluding that HR outsourcing supports the professionalization of the HR function in an effort to make it a strategic asset. Research limitations/implications The study extends prior understandings of the theoretical perspective on HRO and its organizati.
Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Effects of Clonazepam in Children With Epilepsy Treated With Valproate: A Preliminary Study

The authors report the use of the quantitative pharmaco-EEG (QPEEG) technique to study the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of clonazepam (CZP) in four epileptic children who suffered uncontrolled seizures despite long-term valproate (VPA) therapy. After a single dose of CZP (0.05 mg/kg, PO), blood samples were collected at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 8.0, 12.0, and 24.0 hours. CZP and VPA concentrations were measured by HPLC or GC assay, respectively. At each blood collection time point, EEG signals (60 s) were recorded for brain electrical activity mapping, and the power percentage average (PPA) of each frequency band was calculated. The relationship between drug concentrations and their corresponding PPA of each frequency band was analyzed. VPA steady-state drug concentrations (Css) were within the therapeutic range and not affected by CZP. The peak concentration (Cmax) of CZP and the time intervals from dosing to Cmax (Tmax) were 20.9 ng/mL to 113.8 ng/mL and 1 hour to 1.5 hours, respectively. There was no significant correlation between VPA concentrations and the PPA of any of the EEG frequency bands. CZP blood concentrations showed significant correlation with PPA in 3 of the 4 patients. Our results suggested CZP could affect fast wave activities in proportion to CZP blood concentrations. We propose that QPEEG is a promising technique to study the PK and PD of selected anti-epileptic drugs.
Social Ties and Perceived Support

Objectives: Assess the effects of social relationships on physical and mental health among the elderly in Taiwan. Methods: Using 4 waves of a survey of the elderly, we examine the relationship between social ties and perceived support and four health outcomes—mortality, functional status, self-assessed health, and depression. Results:Perceived support and social ties are related to health, but many of the apparent effects are attenuated in the presence of controls for prior health. However, positive perceptions about support are protective of mental (but not physical) health. Discussion: If baseline health is ignored, estimates of the effects of social relationships on health at a given stage of life are likely to be inflated by reverse causality or by effects occurring prior to baseline. Inclusion of controls for initial health reveals that, in general, the relationship between social support and health at the older ages in Taiwan is relatively modest.
Job Scheduling at Cascading Machines

We consider the serial batching scheduling problem in which a group of machines can process multiple jobs continuously to reduce the processing times of the second and subsequent jobs. The maximum batch size is finite. Since all jobs in the same batch are loaded and unloaded simultaneously, a completed job has to wait for the others. We examine how to schedule all jobs to minimize the total completion time. If the batch size is only one, i.e., a single job per batch, the total processing time will be longer, since no reduction in processing time is possible. As a consequence, the total completion time will also be longer. On the other hand, if the batch size is large, the total completion time can be large. Each job has to wait until all jobs in the same batch are completed. We identify several optimality properties of the optimal batching sequence. These properties are used to develop a dynamic programming algorithm to optimize the batching sequences efficiently. The complexity of the proposed method depends only on the maximum batch size and the number of jobs. The improvement achieved with the proposed method when compared with two other batching rules is illustrated using two practical applications.Note to Practitioners— Machines with job cascading (or cluster tools) are commonly seen in semiconductor manufacturing processes. While meeting production move targets is a common goal for the nondelayed jobs, catching up with the schedule is an important task for the delayed jobs to achieve higher customer service level. From the viewpoint of scheduling, reducing the delay is equivalent to reducing completion time. Hence, we propose scheduling algorithms to reduce the completion time by taking advantage of the special structure of a cascading machine. In contrast to existing scheduling theory, the proposed algorithm can be efficient due to the small maximum batch size of real cascading machines. In addition to the theoretical contributions, this paper aims at solving practical problems through a rigorous approach. The finding and insight from this paper can be used to enhance shop floor control in a semiconductor fab.
In vitro translation with adenovirus polyribosomes

Polyribosomes isolated from adenovirus type 2 (Ad2)-infected HeLa cells late in productive infection can be used for translation in cell-free systems. At least eight viral polypeptides are synthesized, including the precursors to virion polypeptides VI and VII. Separation of polyribosomes by zonal rate centrifugation followed by translation in a cell-free system reveals a correlation between the sizes of the polyribosomes and the polypeptides synthesized. The cell-free extracts incorporate amino acid linearly for only 10 min and show little or no capacity to reinitiate protein synthesis. The elongation efficiency measured as the number of amino acids incorporated per ribosome in 20 min is low, ranging from 10 to 100. The maximum chain elongation rate is estimated to be 10 to 20 amino acids per min. The limited elongation has been used to assess the relative concentration of mRNA's engaged in translation.
Green and rapid synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Borago officinalis leaf extract: anticancer and antibacterial activities

Abstract This study highlights the facile, reliable, cost effective, and ecofriendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Borago officinalis leaves extract efficiently. The biosynthesis of AgNPs was verified by UV–Vis spectrum which showed the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 422 nm. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis revealed that the particles were spherical, hexagonal, and irregular in shape and had size ranging from 30 to 80 nm. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and elemental mapping have displayed the purity and maximum distribution of silver in the AgNPs. The crystalline nature of AgNPs had been identified using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area diffraction pattern (SAED). The particle size analysis revealed that the Z-average diameter of the AgNPs was 50.86 nm with polydispersity index (PDI) 0.136. Zeta potential analysis displayed the colloidal stability of AgNPs. This work also showed the efficacy of AgNPs against lung cancer cell lines (A549) and cervical cancer cell line (HeLa), in vitro. The AgNPs showed cytotoxicity to the A549 and HeLa cancer cell line at the concentrations 5 and 2 μg/ml. The AgNPs were also explored for the antibacterial activity including biofilm inhibition against pathogenic bacteria. The B. officinalis leaves extract can be used efficiently for green synthesis AgNPs. The biosynthesized AgNPs demonstrated potentials as anticancer and antibacterial agents. This work provides helpful insight into the development of new anticancer and antimicrobial agents.
Robust stabilization of nonholonomic mobile robots based on homography visual servoing

This paper investigates a robust control problem of nonalcoholic mobile robots with a monocular camera attached. By comparing corresponding target points of an object from two different camera images, geometric relationships are exploited to derive a transformation that relates the actual position and orientation of the mobile robot to a reference position and orientation. This transformation is used to synthesize a rotation and translation error system from the current position and orientation to the fixed reference position and orientation. Lyapunov-based techniques are used to construct a robust controller to stabilize the error system with a constant, unmeasurable depth parameter. The contribution of this paper is that Lyapunov techniques are used to construct a robust controller that makes mobile robot position and orientation converge to the desired configuration despite the lack of an object model and the lack of depth information. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the performance of the controller.
Rethinking Land Reform in East Asia: Egalitarian or Inegalitarian?

Abstract: Taking a historical and comparative view, we explore the long debated cause of the spectacular economic successes of East Asia using land reforms in China and Japan during the 1940-50s. Examining the approach to land reform embodied by technocrats such as Liu Shaoqi in China and Wada Hiroo in Japan in addition to the implementation mechanisms of the policies they adopted, we show that the land reforms developed characteristics of dynamic factor endowment according to the Engerman-Sokoloff hypothesis. Fairly equal land redistribution led to political power equality and improved agricultural productivity and income equality, which is conducive to long-term economic development and the prevention of the Kuznets effect ex ante. Nevertheless, factors such as initial exogenous shocks, insufficient scale of family farming, persistent government support and consequential interest groups obstruct sustainable development of the agricultural sector as well as the generalization of East Asian experiences. Equality or inequality is essentially a policy choice in addition to being a long-term ex post evaluation of the reforms.
Isolation and Characterization of Soil Bacteria That Define Terriglobus gen. nov., in the Phylum Acidobacteria

ABSTRACT Bacteria in the phylum Acidobacteria are widely distributed and abundant in soils, but their ecological roles are poorly understood, owing in part to a paucity of cultured representatives. In a molecular survey of acidobacterial diversity at the Michigan State University Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research site, 27% of acidobacterial 16S rRNA gene clones in a never-tilled, successional plant community belonged to subdivision 1, whose relative abundance varied inversely with soil pH. Strains of subdivision 1 were isolated from these never-tilled soils using low-nutrient medium incubated for 3 to 4 weeks under elevated levels of carbon dioxide, which resulted in a slightly acidified medium that matched the pH optima of the strains (between 5 and 6). Colonies were approximately 1 mm in diameter and either white or pink, the latter due to a carotenoid(s) that was synthesized preferentially under 20% instead of 2% oxygen. Strains were gram-negative, aerobic, chemo-organotrophic, nonmotile rods that produced an extracellular matrix. All strains contained either one or two copies of the 16S rRNA encoding gene, which along with a relatively slow doubling time (10 to 15 h at ca. 23°C) is suggestive of an oligotrophic lifestyle. Six of the strains are sufficiently similar to one another, but distinct from previously named Acidobacteria, to warrant creation of a new genus, Terriglobus, with Terriglobus roseus defined as the type species. The physiological and nutritional characteristics of Terriglobus are consistent with its potential widespread distribution in soil.
Measurement of ß2-Microglobulin in Serum by a Particle-Enhanced Nephelometric Immunoassay

A particle-enhanced immunoassay of beta 2-microglobulin in serum is described. It is based on the agglutination of complexes formed between the serum beta 2-microglobulin and latex particles coated with F(ab')2 fragments of polyclonal anti-beta 2-microglobulin antibodies. The analytical range of the method is 0.50 to 16 mg/l; it can be extended by appropriate dilution to 0.12 to 80 mg/l with good precision (CV less than 5% over the whole range). The accuracy and the precision are confirmed by a good correlation with radioimmunoassay (n = 123, r = 0.993). No error due to antigen excess was observed, even up to 292 mg/l. The main advantages of the method are its simplicity, its low cost per test and its high sensitivity (final dilution of the sample at 1/1200) with no known interference. The calibration curve is stable for at least 2 weeks.
Interferon‐γ Induced Resistance to Legionella pneumophila in Susceptible A/J Mouse Macrophages

Legionella pneumophila (Lp) grow in cultures of human, guinea pig, and mouse macrophages from A/J strain mice. Because exudate macrophages from this strain of mice have been reported deficient in responsiveness to lymphokines, we thought it of interest to document the extent of responsiveness to interferon‐γ in the context of growth restriction of Lp. Peritoneal exudate macrophages were obtained from A/J mice and cultured in either the presence or absence of recombinant lnterferon‐γ. These cultures were then infected with Lp and the extent of bacterial growth estimated 48 hr later by means of a colony‐forming unit (CFU) assay and electron microscopy, lnterferon‐γ treatment significantly restricted the number of CFUs in the culture at concentrations as low as 20 U/ml, but did not affect the uptake of bacteria by macrophages. Furthermore, treatment with interferon induced morphological changes consistent with activated macrophages. The involvement of oxygen‐dependent mechanisms in phagocyte killing and growth restriction was examined by the use of inhibitors such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Neither one of these inhibitors of toxic oxygen metabolites affected the interferon‐γ‐induced suppression of Lp growth. These results suggest that although thioglycolate‐induced exudate macrophages from A/J mice support the growth of Lp, these cells readily respond to the activating influence of lnterferon‐γ. Furthermore, lymphokine treatment does not inhibit Lp uptake by macrophages and apparently restricts the growth of bacteria by mechanisms independent of the activity of toxic oxygen metabolites.
Cultural Identities of the Well-Educated Chinese Immigrant Children in the UK

Since the Reform and Opening-up in 1978, China has broadened and deepened its exchanges and relations with other countries. This has contributed to the increase in the migration of well-educated Chinese abroad and United Kingdom (UK) has become a most desirable destination for the elite Chinese immigrants. The impact of the migration of well-educated Chinese deserves particular attention and study, especially the second generation’s cultural identities—this under-researched topic is the focus of this study. The study investigates the cultural identity differences between Chinese born children (CBC) and British born children (BBC) of the Chinese intellectual families living in Britain. Results indicated that both CBC and BBC had high pride in Chinese and British culture. No significant evidence for cultural identity crises was found. The children investigated considered themselves as bi-culturalism and were content with “dual identities,” with the CBC a bit more Chinese, while the BBC a bit more British. Much smaller differences in views of cultural identity were reported.
P2X7 Receptor Inhibition Interrupts the Progression of Seizures in Immature Rats and Reduces Hippocampal Damage

Early‐life seizures, particularly when prolonged, may be harmful to the brain. Current pharmacotherapy is often ineffective; therefore, novel neuro‐ and/or glio‐transmitter systems should be explored for targeting. The P2X7 receptor is a cation‐permeable channel with trophic and excitability effects on neurons and glia which is activated by high amounts of ATP that may be released in the setting of injury after severe seizures. Here, we tested the effects of A‐438079, a potent and selective P2X7 receptor antagonist in a lesional model of early‐life status epilepticus.
Characterization of gap junctions between pairs of Leydig cells from mouse testis.

Leydig cells are coupled in vivo by numerous gap junctions. In vivo and in vitro cells were immunolabeled by connexin 43 (Cx43) but not by Cx26 or Cx32 antibodies; immunoblotting confirmed specificity of Cx43 labeling. Pairs of Leydig cells dissociated from mouse testis were studied by dual whole cell voltage clamp, and a high incidence of dye (n = 20) and electrical coupling (n = 60; > 90%) was found. Coupling coefficients were near 1 and junctional conductance (gj) averaged 7.2 +/- 1.2 nS (SE, n = 40). Large transjunctional voltage (Vj) decreased gj; currents decayed exponentially with time constants of seconds that decreased at greater Vj. The residual conductance at large Vj was at least approximately 40% of the initial conductance. Exposure of cell pairs to saline solutions saturated with CO2 (n = 15) or containing 2 mM halothane (n = 15) or 3.5 mM heptanol (n = 15) rapidly and reversibly reduced gj. In eight cell pairs, gating of single junctional channels was observed during halothane-induced reduction in gj. Most gating events at Vj < 40 mV were fit by a Gaussian distribution with a mean of approximately 100 pS. With Vj > 40 mV, smaller transitions of approximately 30 pS were also recorded, and the frequency and duration of the approximately 100-pS transitions decreased. Also, approximately 70-pS transitions between 30- and 100-pS conductances were observed in the absence of 70-pS transitions to or from the baseline, indicating that the 30-pS conductance was a substate induced by large Vj.
Clinical and Molecular Spectrum of Somatic Mosaicism in Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome

We recently found that postzygotic de novo mutations occur at the expected high rate of an X-linked recessive mutation in androgen insensitivity syndrome. The resulting somatic mosaicism can be an important molecular determinant of in vivo androgen action caused by expression of the wild-type androgen receptor (AR). However, the clinical relevance of this previously underestimated genetic condition in androgen insensitivity syndrome has not been investigated in detail as yet. Here, we present the clinical and molecular spectrum of somatic mosaicism considering all five patients with mosaic androgen insensitivity syndrome, whom we have identified since 1993: Patient 1 (predominantly female, clitoromegaly), 172 TTA(Leu)/TGA(Stop); patient 2 (ambiguous), 596 GCC(Ala)/ACC(Thr); patient 3 (ambiguous), 733 CAG(Gln)/CAT(His); patient 4 (completely female), 774 CGC(Arg)/TGC (Cys); and patient 5 (ambiguous), 866 GTG(Val)/ATG(Met). Serum sex hormone binding globulin response to stanozolol, usually correlating well with in vivo AR function, was inconclusive for assessment of the phenotypes in all tested mosaic individuals. An unexpectedly strong virilization occurred in patients 1, 3, and 5 compared with phenotypes as published with corresponding inherited mutations and compared with the markedly impaired transactivation caused by the mutant ARs in cotransfection experiments. Only the prepubertal virilization of patients 2 and 4 matched appropriately with transactivation studies (patient 4) or the literature (patients 2 and 4). However, partial pubertal virilization in patient 4 caused by increasing serum androgens and subsequent activation of the wild-type AR could not be excluded. We conclude that somatic mosaicism is of particular clinical relevance in androgen insensitivity syndrome. The possibility of functionally relevant expression of the wild-type AR needs to be considered in all mosaic individuals, and treatment should be adjusted accordingly.
Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins, or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease.

BACKGROUND Both lipid-modifying therapy and antioxidant vitamins are thought to have benefit in patients with coronary disease. We studied simvastatin-niacin and antioxidant-vitamin therapy, alone and together, for cardiovascular protection in patients with coronary disease and low plasma levels of HDL. METHODS In a three-year, double-blind trial, 160 patients with coronary disease, low HDL cholesterol levels and normal LDL cholesterol levels were randomly assigned to receive one of four regimens: simvastatin plus niacin, vitamins, simvastatin-niacin plus antioxidants; or placebos. The end points were arteriographic evidence of a change in coronary stenosis and the occurrence of a first cardiovascular event (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or revascularization). RESULTS The mean levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol were unaltered in the antioxidant group and the placebo group; these levels changed substantially (by -42 percent and +26 percent, respectively) in the simvastatin-niacin group. The protective increase in HDL2 with simvastatin plus niacin was attenuated by concurrent therapy with antioxidants. The average stenosis progressed by 3.9 percent with placebos, 1.8 percent with antioxidants (P=0.16 for the comparison with the placebo group), and 0.7 percent with simvastatin-niacin plus antioxidants (P=0.004) and regressed by 0.4 percent with simvastatin-niacin alone (P<0.001). The frequency of the clinical end point was 24 percent with placebos; 3 percent with simvastatin-niacin alone; 21 percent in the antioxidant-therapy group; and 14 percent in the simvastatin-niacin-plus-antioxidants group. CONCLUSIONS Simvastatin plus niacin provides marked clinical and angiographically measurable benefits in patients with coronary disease and low HDL levels. The use of antioxidant vitamins in this setting must be questioned.
Molecular Mechanism for the Shp-2 Tyrosine Phosphatase Function in Promoting Growth Factor Stimulation of Erk Activity

ABSTRACT We have previously shown that activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) by epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment was significantly decreased in mouse fibroblast cells expressing a mutant Shp-2 molecule lacking 65 amino acids in the SH2-N domain, Shp-2Δ46-110. To address the molecular mechanism for the positive role of Shp-2 in mediating Erk induction, we evaluated the activation of signaling components upstream of Erk in Shp-2 mutant cells. EGF-stimulated Ras, Raf, and Mek activation was significantly attenuated in Shp-2 mutant cells, suggesting that Shp-2 acts to promote Ras activation or to suppress the down-regulation of activated Ras. Biochemical analyses indicate that upon EGF stimulation, Shp-2 is recruited into a multiprotein complex assembled on the Gab1 docking molecule and that Shp-2 seems to exert its biological function by specifically dephosphorylating an unidentified molecule of 90 kDa in the complex. The mutant Shp-2Δ46-110 molecule failed to participate in the Gab1-organized complex for dephosphorylation of p90, correlating with a defective activation of the Ras-Raf-Mek-Erk cascade in EGF-treated Shp-2 mutant cells. Evidence is also presented that Shp-2 does not appear to modulate the signal relay from EGF receptor to Ras through the Shc, Grb2, and Sos proteins. These results begin to elucidate the mechanism of Shp-2 function downstream of a receptor tyrosine kinase to promote the activation of the Ras-Erk pathway, with potential therapeutic applications in cancer treatment.