Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Soft and Hard TQM Factors on Knowledge Management : Perspective from Malaysia

The management of knowledge in businesses is an important and necessary factor for organizational survival in today’s uncertain environment. Organizations need a total quality management approach that views knowledge as a potential source for competitive advantage. This study examines the influence of soft and hard total quality management factors on knowledge management processes. Survey questionnaires were distributed to managers of government-linked companies. Regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses in the study. Analyses show that soft total quality management factors contribute more to knowledge management processes in order to enhance organizational performance. Report shows that these government-linked companies need to focus more on their human capital development since this factor is vital to generate and refresh organizational knowledge and to obtain competitive advantage.
The B″/PR72 subunit mediates Ca2+-dependent dephosphorylation of DARPP-32 by protein phosphatase 2A

In dopaminoceptive neurons, dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa (DARPP-32) plays a central role in integrating the effects of dopamine and other neurotransmitters. Phosphorylation of DARPP-32 at Thr-34 by protein kinase A results in inhibition of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), and phosphorylation at Thr-75 by Cdk5 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5) results in inhibition of protein kinase A. Dephosphorylation at Thr-34 involves primarily the Ca2+-dependent protein phosphatase, PP2B (calcineurin), whereas dephosphorylation of Thr-75 involves primarily PP2A, the latter being subject to control by both cAMP- and Ca2+-dependent regulatory mechanisms. In the present study, we have investigated the mechanism of Ca2+-dependent regulation of Thr-75 by PP2A. We show that the PR72 (or B″ or PPP2R3A) regulatory subunit of PP2A is highly expressed in striatum. Through the use of overexpression and down-regulation by using RNAi, we show that PP2A, in a heterotrimeric complex with the PR72 subunit, mediates Ca2+-dependent dephosphorylation at Thr-75 of DARPP-32. The PR72 subunit contains two Ca2+ binding sites formed by E and F helices (EF-hands 1 and 2), and we show that the former is necessary for the ability of PP2A activity to be regulated by Ca2+, both in vitro and in vivo. Our studies also indicate that the PR72-containing form of PP2A is necessary for the ability of glutamate acting at α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid and NMDA receptors to regulate Thr-75 dephosphorylation. These studies further our understanding of the complex signal transduction pathways that regulate DARPP-32. In addition, our studies reveal an alternative intracellular mechanism whereby Ca2+ can activate serine/threonine phosphatase activity.
Demonstration of a tunable hybrid laser diode using an electrostatically tunable silicon micromachined Fabry-Perot interferometer device

A previously reported silicon micromachined Fabry-Perot interferometer device is used for the first time with an edge-emitting single-quantum-well high-power laser diode in an extremely short external cavity configuration to realize a tunable laser diode. This hybrid configuration is advantageous in that it allows the use of "off-the-shelf" components, loose adjustment tolerances and potentially has low cost. In the current demonstration, external optical feedback from the extremely short-external-cavity, formed by such hybridization of the laser diode and the micro-optoelectro-mechanical device, resulted in a 4-nm range of quasi-continuous tuning with tens of milliwatts of output power.
Social organization and space use of a wild mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) group

Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) are enigmatic Old World primates whose social organization and ecology remain poorly known. Previous studies indicated, for example, that groups are composed of only adult females and their young or that several units composed of one adult male and several females make up larger permanent social units. Here, we present the first data on group composition and male ranging patterns from the only habituated wild mandrill group and examine how home range size and daily path length varied with environmental and demographic factors over a 15‐month period. Our study site is located in southern Gabon where we followed the group on a daily basis, collecting data on presence, ranging, behavior, and parasite load of its individual members. Throughout the study, the group was made up of about 120 individuals, including several non‐natal and natal adult and sub‐adult males. One‐male units were never observed. The mandrills traveled an estimated 0.44–6.50 km/day in a home range area of 866.7 ha. Exploratory analyses revealed that precipitation, the number of adult males present, and the richness of protozoan parasites were all positively correlated with daily path length. These results clarify the social system of mandrills and provide first insights into the factors that shape their ranging patterns. Am. J. Primatol. 77:1036–1048, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Black Adenoma of the Adrenal Gland

A 60-year-old Caucasian female was admitted to the hospital because of mild right lumbar pain. An abdominal computed tomography scan disclosed a round solid nodule in the right adrenal gland. A laparoscopic resection of the tumor was carried out. A large, black, almost spherical tumor that weighed 10 g and measured 3.5 × 3 × 2.5 cm was received in the pathology laboratory. On cut section the tumor displayed a solid, uniformly black surface (Figures 1 and 2). Histologically, the lesion was composed of cords of adrenal cortical cells with regular round to oval nuclei and an eosinophilic cytoplasm containing numerous brown pigmented granules (Figures 3-5).
Butyrylcholinesterase as a biochemical marker.

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is an enzyme expressed in multiple organs and abundant in plasma. BChE can fluctuate in course of several reasons while both hypercholiensterasemia and hypocholinesterasemia are known. Considering evidence of BChE activity alterations, hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic liver diseases and poisoning with carbamates or organophosphates can be diagnosed by activity assay. BChE is responsible for detoxification reactions, and the compounds such as cocaine, succinylcholine, and acetylsalicylic acid are degraded in the body. The detoxification can be slowed in patients carrying the K variant of the enzyme. Summarization of literature, discussion on the meaning of BChE in the body, and the principles of BChE assay in samples are described in the review (Tab. 2, Fig. 8, Ref. 86). Text in PDF www.elis. sk.
QoS-Guaranteed Capacity of Centralized Cognitive Radio Networks with Interference Averaging Techniques

It is widely believed that cognitive radio (CR) networks have an opportunistic nature and therefore can only support best-effort traffics without quality-of-service (QoS) guarantees. In this paper, we propose a centralized CR network that adopts interference averaging techniques to support QoS guaranteed traffics under interference outage constraints. In such a CR network, a CR user adaptively adjusts its transmit power to compensate for the channel loss, thereby keeping the receive signal power at the CR base station (BS) at a constant level. The closed-form system capacity of such a CR network is analyzed and derived for a single cell with one CR BS and multiple CR users, taking into account various key factors such as interference outage constraints, channel fading, cell radius, and locations of primary users. The accuracy of the theoretical results is validated by Monte Carlo simulations. Numerical and simulation results show promising capacity potential for deploying QoS-guaranteed CR networks in frequency bands with fixed primary receivers. Our work can provide theoretical guidelines for the strategic planning of centralized CR networks.
Characteristics of pathogenic Neisseria spp. isolated from homosexual men

Oropharyngeal, urethral, and rectal cultures for pathogenic Neisseria spp. were collected from 815 homosexual men attending a community clinic in Chicago. Meningococci were characterized by serogrouping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Gonococci were auxotyped, and susceptibilities to penicillin and tetracycline were determined. Of the 815 men tested, 42.5% carried meningococci in the oropharynx. Gonococci were recovered from the urethra, rectum, and oropharynx of 18.5, 16.3, and 5.6%, respectively. Meningococci were also recovered from the urethra (6 patients) and the rectum (15 patients). Some of these isolates were identical to the isolates from the oropharynges of the same patients, whereas others were distinct from the oropharyngeal isolates by serogroup or antimicrobial susceptibilities. Serogroups B, W135, and C comprised over 90% of the meningococci. Almost 80% of the gonococcal strains required minimal inhibitory concentrations greater than 0.06 micrograms of penicillin per ml, whereas greater than 90% of the meningococci were inhibited at this concentration. Auxotyping demonstrated three major auxotypes: Zero (required none of the nutrients tested), 60%; arginine requiring, 19.4%; and proline requiring, 12.3%. Only four strains (1.2%) required arginine, hypoxanthine, and uracil.
SLEEP CYCLE DURING NAPPING.

The cyclic occurrence of REM periods (sleep characterized by a low voltage, desynchronized EEG pattern, and rapid eye movements) 1,3 and the association of these periods with reports of dreaming 1,4,6,7,9,10,14 have been well established. With the exception of narcoleptic sleep, 5,13 and the sleep of amphetamine addicts subjected to drug withdrawal, 12 REM periods do not occur during nocturnal sleep until after the passage of approximately 45 minutes of NREM sleep (periods characterized by EEG sleep spindle and/or δ-activity and the absence of rapid eye movements). Although reports of dreaming are sometimes elicited on awakenings from NREM sleep, the frequency of such reports is less than the frequency for REM period awakenings, and the quality of these reports is less "dream-like" than the quality of REM period reports. 6,14 Therefore, one would expect, upon hearing vivid, well-recalled, thematically organized dreams, that they were experienced during
Neoplasia: a disease of cell differentiation.

Neoplasia is one of the diseases of cell differentiation. Prob ably all normal biologic processes have their pathologic mani festations, and embryonic development, including cell differ entiation, is no exception. However, the precise identification of the defective normal process that underlies the disease is commonly very difficult, and certainly so in analyzing the na ture of the neoplastic transformation of normal cells. Precise and useful definitions of the various kinds of neoplasia are not easy to devise, but all definitions tend to focus on recognized abnormal cell characteristics rather than on causal mechanisms. Neoplasms are commonly classified as benign or malignant, but this classification is not very informative and tends to obscure the more fundamental and significant properties of tumor cells.
Homologous Pairing Promoted by the Human Rad52 Protein*

The Rad52 protein, which is unique to eukaryotes, plays important roles in the Rad51-dependent and the Rad51-independent pathways of DNA recombination. In the present study, we have biochemically characterized the homologous pairing activity of the HsRad52 protein ( H omosapiens Rad52) and found that the presynaptic complex formation with ssDNA is essential in its catalysis of homologous pairing. We have identified an N-terminal fragment (amino acid residues 1–237, HsRad521–237) that is defective in binding to the human Rad51 protein, which catalyzed homologous pairing as efficiently as the wild type HsRad52. Electron microscopic visualization revealed that HsRad52 and HsRad521–237 both formed nucleoprotein filaments with single-stranded DNA. These lines of evidence suggest the role of HsRad52 in the homologous pairing step of the Rad51-independent recombination pathway. Our results reveal the striking similarity between HsRad52 and the Escherichia coli RecT protein, which functions in a RecA-independent recombination pathway.
Increases in Both Acute and Chronic Temperature Potentiate Tocotrienol Concentrations in Wild Barley at ‘Evolution Canyon’

Biosynthesis of tocols (vitamin E isoforms) is linked to response to temperature in plants. ‘Evolution Canyon’, an ecogeographical microcosm extending over an average of 200 meters (range 100–400) wide area in the Carmel Mountains of northern Israel, has been suggested as a model for studying global warming. Both domestic (Hordeum vulgare) and wild (Hordeum spontaneum) barley compared with wheat, oat, corn, rice, and rye show high tocotrienol/tocopherol ratios. Therefore, we hypothesized that tocol distribution might change in response to global warming. α‐, β‐, γ‐, and δ‐tocopherol, and α‐, β‐, γ‐, and δ‐tocotrienol concentrations were measured in wild barley (H. spontaneum) seeds harvested from the xeric (African) and mesic (European) slopes of Evolution Canyon over a six‐year period from 2005–2011. Additionally, we examined seeds from areas contiguous to and distant from the part of the Canyon severely burned during the Carmel Fire of December 2010. Increased α‐tocotrienol (p<0.01) was correlated with 1) temperature increases, 2) to the hotter ‘African’ slope in contrast to the cooler ‘European’ slope, and 3) to propinquity to the fire. The study illustrates the role of α‐tocotrienol in both chronic and acute temperature adaptation in wild barley and suggests future research into thermoregulatory mechanisms in plants.
Targeted sonography for small hepatocellular carcinoma discovered by CT or MRI: factors affecting sonographic detection.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detection rate of targeted sonography for small (<or= 3 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) primarily discovered by CT or MRI and to assess factors affecting lesion visibility on targeted sonography. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Between October 2005 and April 2008, targeted sonography for small (<or= 3 cm) HCC was prospectively performed in cirrhotic patients. Targeted sonography was performed by a radiologist with knowledge of the size and location of the HCC. Invisible HCCs were compared with visible HCCs with regard to size, distance from the diaphragm, segmental location, subcapsular location, cause of liver cirrhosis, presence or absence of previous treatment, Child-Pugh class, and serum alpha-fetoprotein by using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS A total of 93 consecutive patients (65 men and 28 women; mean age, 59 years) with 93 HCCs (mean size +/- SD, 1.8 +/- 0.6 cm) were enrolled in this study. Of those, 73 (78.5%) HCCs were visible on targeted sonography. The detection rate was 36.4% (4/11) for HCC <or= 1.0 cm, 77.6% (38/49) for HCC between 1.1 and 2.0 cm, and 93.9% (31/33) for HCC between 2.1 and 3.0 cm. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, the size of the tumor and distance between the tumor and the diaphragm were statistically significant factors affecting sonographic visibility. CONCLUSION The overall detection rate for small (<or= 3 cm) HCC on targeted sonography was 78.5%. Small size and subphrenic location of the tumor were two independent predictors of sonographic invisibility.
Paternity assessment in wild groups of toque macaques Macaca sinica at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka using molecular markers

Genetic variation at four microsatellite loci in conjunction with that at a highly variable allozyme locus was used to analyse paternity over a 12‐year period in 13 social groups of toque macaques Macaca sinica inhabiting a natural forest in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Paternity exclusion analysis revealed that the set of offspring produced by a female usually consists of half‐siblings because few males father more than one offspring with a particular female. No evidence of offspring produced by matings between first degree relatives was found. The social unit in toque macaques was not identical to the reproductive unit and the possibility of paternity by males outside the social group should be considered when estimating male reproductive output. Although it was common for multiple males to father offspring in a social group each year, reproduction within a group during a breeding season tended to be limited to a few males. The mean number of males reproducing per group per year was independent of the number of males in a group. The paternity data suggests that many males may father relatively few offspring during their entire lives and that the effective population size for toque macaques may be much smaller than indicated by demographic data.
Harvesting renewable energy from Earth’s mid-infrared emissions

Significance Renewable energy can be generated whenever heat flows from a hotter to a colder body. One such flow is from the warm surface of Earth to cold outer space, via infrared thermal radiation. An emissive energy harvester (EEH) is a device that can generate energy from emitting thermal radiation into the clear sky. We calculate how much power is thermodynamically available, using a location in Oklahoma as a case study. We discuss two possible ways to make such a device: A thermal EEH (analogous to solar thermal power generation) and an optoelectronic EEH (analogous to photovoltaic power generation). For the latter, we propose using a rectifying antenna, and we discuss its operating principles, efficiency limits, system design considerations, and possible technological implementations. It is possible to harvest energy from Earth's thermal infrared emission into outer space. We calculate the thermodynamic limit for the amount of power available, and as a case study, we plot how this limit varies daily and seasonally in a location in Oklahoma. We discuss two possible ways to make such an emissive energy harvester (EEH): A thermal EEH (analogous to solar thermal power generation) and an optoelectronic EEH (analogous to photovoltaic power generation). For the latter, we propose using an infrared-frequency rectifying antenna, and we discuss its operating principles, efficiency limits, system design considerations, and possible technological implementations.
It Works Both Ways: The Relationship Between Exposure to Sexual Content in the Media and Adolescent Sexual Behavior

Using a longitudinal Web-based survey of adolescents 14–16 years of age, we estimate regression models where self-reported sexual behavior and content analytic-based exposure to sex in the media are related cross-sectionally and longitudinally. We find evidence for both cross-sectional nonrecursive and prospective longitudinal relationships even after adjusting for both established predictors of sexual behavior (e.g., physical development, having a romantic partner, parental monitoring, peer and parental norms, respondent's age) and of exposure to sexual media content (e.g., time the respondent goes to bed, extracurricular activities, television in the bedroom, total time spent with television, music, video games, and magazines). Sexually active adolescents are more likely to expose themselves to sex in the media and those exposed to sex in the media are more likely to progress in their sexual activity. These findings are consistent with others in the literature that demonstrate a causal effect of exposure to sexual content on sexual behavior but extend established results by also looking at the causal effect of sexual behavior on exposure both cross-sectionally and over time.
Efficacy and Safety of Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients With Complex Partial Seizures

Summary: A clinical trial of chronic intermittent vagal stimulation in five patients suggests that the procedure may be safe and effective as adjunctive treatment of medically intractable seizures of partial onset. Patients tolerated well the implantation of the neurocybernetic prosthesis and the vagal stimulation without serious physiological or lifestyle changes. Stimulation of the vagus nerve either reduced the seizure frequency or decreased the duration or intensity of seizures. Adverse side effects were limited to a tingling sensation in the throat and hoarseness during stimulation. A major complication was mechanical interruption of the wire‐electrode circuitry, with consequent cessation of stimulation. The small number of patients and the relatively short follow‐up period make this a pilot study, but the results are promising.
A cross-layer MAC protocol of embedded sensor network for PHM

Prognostics and System Health Management (PHM) has a significant influence on improving reliability and security of complex equipment, while embedded information perception and test are a major foundation for the realization of PHM. This paper proposed a novel media access control (MAC) protocol for massive wireless sensor networks which are served by the distributed antenna system (DAS). First, the sensor nodes around each remote antenna unit (RAU) of DAS are grouped together and assigned IDs to form a virtual token ring according to the one-hop neighborhood relationship between sensor nodes. An ID allocation algorithm is designed to reduce the size of a token ring, which results in the throughput improvement. And then, each sensor node transmits one-by-one according to the virtual token ring to eliminate potential collision. The performance of proposed MAC protocol is verified through the OPNET simulation. The simulation results reveal that the proposed MAC protocol achieves higher throughput than traditional distributed coordination function (DCF) and point coordination function (PCF) under heavy traffic.
In-Vitro Study of Bacterial Adherence to Different Types of Intraocular Lenses

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to intraocular lenses made of five different biomaterials: polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), heparinized PMMA, silicone, hydrophilic acrylic, and hydrogel. The extent of bacterial binding was measured by counting. The results were compared using a one-factor variance analysis. Adherence was weakest on hydrogel and strongest on the silicone polymer. Bacterial adherence to the implant surface must therefore depend on the hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of the biomaterial.
The tubular maximum for calcium reabsorption in patients with chronic active thoracic sarcoidosis.

The tubular maximum for calcium reabsorption (TmCa) was evaluated in 52 patients with chronic active thoracic sarcoidosis. Hypercalcaemia was found in five patients (9.6%). The mean serum calcium value of 2.54 +/- 0.18 mmol.l-1 in patients with sarcoidosis was significantly higher than that obtained in the control group (2.42 +/- 0.11 mmol.l-1). The mean TmCa in patients with sarcoidosis (2.11 +/- 0.26 mmol.l-1 glomerular filtrate (GF] was not statistically different from the mean TmCa for the group of healthy subjects (2.18 +/- 0.23 mmol.l-1 GF). Urinary sodium corrected TmCa in both groups of patients was affected in a similar way. Our study demonstrates for the first time that there is no increase in TmCa in patients with chronic active thoracic sarcoidosis. Hypercalcaemia is not a result of an increased TmCa.
Revenue and Fairness Guaranteed Downlink Adaptive Power Allocation in WiMAX Access Networks

WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) is a new choice for last-mile Internet access, especially in crowded urban areas or desolate rural areas, where cable and DSL infrastructures are difficult to be deployed. In this paper we propose a downlink adaptive power allocation (APA) scheme for WiMAX access networks, which allows the transmitter to grant different power levels to different subcarriers according to the channel state information. We formulate the APA as an optimization problem, where the demands of both revenue and fairness are taken into account. To solve the optimization problem, we develop a fairness-constrained greedy revenue algorithm. Our simulation results show that, the proposed APA scheme can give a good trade-off between revenue and fairness considerations.