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This article discusses the importance of inclusive hiring practices that include refugees. The number of global refugees and asylum seekers has surpassed 50.3 million people, and this number is expected to rise due to geopolitical conflict and humanitarian crises. The authors conducted three studies that highlight the benefits of hiring refugees, including increased employee satisfaction, higher retention rates, and improved market positioning. They provide six recommendations for companies to implement inclusive recruitment processes, such as revising job descriptions and selection criteria, widening outreach to diverse groups, and utilizing external support organizations. The authors emphasize the long-term process of building cross-cultural competencies and understanding diverse backgrounds. [Extracted from the article]

In the global war for talent, refugees are often overlooked. Yet, research indicates that employers who expanded their recruitment strategies to include refugee jobseekers were not only satisfied with their new hires, but also excited about the potential impact refugee recruitment could have on their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies. We use the case of IKEA to show how localization and global strategy interact to create sustainable refugee workforce integration solutions for multinational corporations. Our insights have practical implications for other industry leaders who aim to create their own refugee inclusion programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Su-lee Tsai, Hung-bin Ding, Mark P. Rice Interfirm alliances provide a channel of communication between partnering firms. However, two notable communication barriers hinder the effectiveness of learning across firms. As the target knowledge is different from their existing knowledge base, the recipient firms' incumbent knowledge base may not be sufficient to identify target knowledge. In addition, inability to internalise and integrate acquired knowledge to the rest of organisation may handicap the effect of new knowledge. A growing number of recent studies have reported that the frequency of communication activities has positive contribution to the interaction quality between firms. However, we know relatively less about the role of transparency and receptivity in the relationships between communication activities and learning effectiveness. To address this issue, we designed a survey study based on the learning and knowledge transfer literature. The results of our analysis show that communication improves interfirm learning effectiveness, but such relationship is mediated by transparency and receptivity.

Projection spectral analysis is investigated and refined in this paper, in order to unify principal component analysis and independent component analysis. Singular value decomposition and spectral theorems are applied to nonsymmetric correlation or covariance matrices with multiplicities or singularities, where projections and nilpotents are obtained. Therefore, the suggested approach not only utilizes a sum‐product of orthogonal projection operators and real distinct eigenvalues for squared singular values, but also reduces the dimension of correlation or covariance if there are multiple zero eigenvalues. Moreover, incremental learning strategies of projection spectral analysis are also suggested to improve the performance.

We numerically investigate harmonic generation in Ar gas under high ionization conditions and demonstrate that a lighthouse effect is present. We examine the structure of the driving field during propagation in temporal, spectral, and spatial domains, and conclude that the complete depletion of neutral Ar on axis gives rise to additional wavelets at off-axis regions. We show that these wavelets propagate with increasing divergence as the radial distances from the axis increase, generating the rotation of the wave front, thus fulfilling a necessary condition for the lighthouse effect. We obtain attosecond bursts of light emitted with different divergences in successive optical half-cycles so that in the far field these bursts arrive at different distances from the beam axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a method for resolving the combinatorial issues in the ft lepton + jets events occurring at the Tevatron collider. By incorporating multiple information into an artificial neural network, we introduce a novel event reconstruction method for such events. We find that this method significantly reduces the number of combinatorial ambiguities. Compared to the classical reconstruction method, our method provides significantly higher purity with the same efficiency. We illustrate the reconstructed observables for the realistic top-quark mass and the forward-backward asymmetry measurements. A Monte Carlo study shows that our method provides meaningful improvements in the top-quark measurements using the same amount of data as other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most mobile robots use differential-drive concept, where they are equipped with two actuators that permit only single-direction rotation at a time. This concept limits the robots navigation because its orientation must always change according to the direction of movement. This paper presents the development of an omnidirectional mobile robot that uses three actuators, aligned in 120 degrees separation and each attached to an omniwheel. By manipulating actuator speed, the robot can navigate to any direction without changing its orientation. Using NIsbRIO9632xt as the main controller, navigation algorithm is implemented in LabVIEW, integrated with PID controller to fine-tune robot movements.

Robust development in the industries had lead to the fast development of the robots and sensors. Mobile robot is able to replace human power for many things due to its low cost and high accuracy. Types of navigation of the mobile robot had been in the research for past decades, the simplest and straight forward method of mobile robot navigation will be line following. Line following basically allows the robot to move along the predefined line. This paper is proposing a novel method of line following for more functions for mobile robot. 12 patterns have been defined to perform different functions. POB-Bot has been used to recognize these patterns using its POB-Eye. The result shows that the accuracy of the POB-Eye is promisingly high for simple pattern.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of haptic disturbance where the intermittent force field will applied in training motor skill. A test group (4 subjects) was trained using intermittent divergent force field while a control group (4 subjects) was trained in null force field. The parameter such as error trajectories, motion smoothness and the trial time were measured and a statistical analysis was done in order to identify motion improvement when using the proposed training method. Both groups showed motion improvement in reducing mean error, mean number of zero crossing (indicate the motion smoothness) and mean trial time after training. Only the motion smoothness in the test group improved significantly after training, in contrast to the control group, which showed no significant difference.

This study aimed to investigate and identify the parameters that can be used in recognition of basic stroke patterns including straight lines, oblique lines, circles, and curves. The parameters determined are intended to be utilized in handwriting assessment system as a proposed method for screening of handwriting difficulty problem (HWD) among pupils. Seventeensubjects,agedbetween 7 and 8 years old, participated in this experiment. Each subject was requested to draw a series of principal graphic pattern (lines, circles and curves) using the computerized haptic system developed. Statistical analysis revealed that the threshold value used in identification of straight line patterns and angle difference range from-10.8963° ~ 54.4008°. The threshold value to identify a circle is-16.5435°< gap Angle < 64.2014°, and curve for 79.0398°< gap Angle < 187.7604°.

Reaching movement is one of the important training for stroke patient to recover the impairment arm as this movement is critical for activities of daily living. A studied conducted to investigate the minimal requirement that a rehabilitation robot should have in order to train reaching movement in upward after the impairment arm start to overcome gravity. Result show some convex, linear and concave trajectory during reaching movement in upward direction depended on the level of the target distance. This study can be applied for designing a new simpler or improvement of the existing rehabilitation robot to train the upper limb for stroke patient.

We present a new observable, Δ∅, an azimuthal angle difference between t and t quarks in tt pair production at hadron colliders as an interesting probe of the radiative quantum chromodynamics process as well as a high-order correction in the high-mass regime. This variable also enables good discrimination on some new physics models that may explain the forward-backward charge asymmetry of tt production measured at the Tevatron. With a reliable estimation of the data set obtained up to 2011 at the Tevatron and Large Hadron Collider, we present an opportunity for testing the standard model as well as searching new physics models with the Δ∅ observable in the lepton+jets decay channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employ a top-quark mass measurement technique in the dilepton channel with in situ jet energy scale calibration. Three variables having different jet energy scale dependences are used simultaneously to extract not only the top-quark mass but also the energy scale of the jet from a single likelihood fit. Monte Carlo studies with events corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 fb-1 proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider √s = 7 TeV are performed. Our analysis suggests that the overall jet energy scale uncertainty can be significantly reduced and the top-quark mass can be determined with a precision of less than 1 GeV/c², including jet energy scale uncertainty, at the Large Hadron Collider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to exert antiproliferative and antiapoptotic effects on human T cells. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which degrades heme into biliverdin, free iron (Fe(2+)), and carbon monoxide (CO), has also been known to have antiproliferative and antiapoptotic effects. Recent evidence suggests that HO-1 is an important cellular target of NO; whether HO-1 expression contributes to the antiproliferative and/or antiapoptotic effects mediated by NO remains to be investigated. In the present study, we examined the effects of NO on HO-1 expression and possible roles of HO-1 in T cell proliferation and apoptosis. Using human Jurkat T cells, we found that the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced HO-1 expression and that preincubation with SNP suppressed T cell proliferation induced by concanavalin A and apoptosis triggered by anti-Fas antibody. Suppressions of T cell proliferation and apoptosis comparable with SNP were also observed when the T cells were preincubated with the HO-1 inducer cobalt protoporphyrin. A phosphorothioate-linked HO-1 antisense oligonucleotide blocked HO-1 expression, and subsequently abrogated the antiproliferative and antiapoptotic effects of SNP. Overexpression of the HO-1 gene after transfection into Jurkat T cells resulted in significant decreases in T cell proliferation and apoptosis. The CO donor tricarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) dimer mimicked the antiproliferative effect of SNP, and the Fe(2+) donor FeSO(4) blocked anti-Fas-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest that NO induces HO-1 expression in T cells and that suppressions of T cell proliferation and apoptosis afforded by NO are associated with an increased expression of HO-1 by NO.

Zinc porphyrins have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. The objective of the present study was to characterize the mechanism of zinc tetrakis-(N-methyl-4'-pyridyl) porphyrinato (ZnTMPyP) immune modulation by investigating its effects on the proliferative activity during thymocyte stimulation with mitogenic factors and the molecular events mediating thymocyte proliferation. The results indicate that ZnTMPyP inhibited thymocyte proliferation stimulated with various mitogenic factors, such as concanavalin A (Con A), interleukin (IL)-1beta, and lipopolysaccharide-exposed macrophage supernatant, in a concentration-dependent manner. ZnTMPyP was also effective in preventing DNA binding activity of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and IL-2 production by thymocytes in response to Con A or IL-1beta. Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) with SB203580 substantially inhibited Con A- or IL-1beta-induced DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB, whereas ZnTMPyP inhibited the activation of p38 MAPK. ZnTMPyP also inhibited Con A-induced chemiluminescence and tyrosine phosphorylation by thymocytes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the antiproliferative effect of ZnTMPyP may be mediated by effective inhibition of the production of reactive oxygen species, tyrosine phosphorylation, p38 MAPK activation, NF-kappaB activation, and IL-2 production during mitogenic stimulation of thymocytes.

Abstract This paper presents a conodont biostratigraphic study on the Upper Cambrian Sesong and Hwajeol Formations in the Sabuk area, Korea. Two samples near the base of the Sesong Slate at the Pukil section contain lower Upper Cambrian conodonts, comprising Furnishina furnishi, F. kranzae, F. pernical?, F. triangulata, Hertzina elongata, Laiwugnathus doidyxus?, Phakelodus elongatus, Muellerodus? obliquus, Westergaardodina matsushitaiand W. moessebergensis.This is the first conodont record of the Upper Cambrian formations recovered yet in the northern limb of the Paekunsan syncline. The faunal assemblage is correlatable with the lower Upper Cambrian W. matsushitaiZone of North China. Four local biozones are recognized in the Hwajeol Formation, i.e. the Proconodontus, Eoconodontus notchpeakensis, Cambrooistodus minutusand Cordylodus proavusZones in ascending order. This zonal scheme is essentially equivalent to that of the southern limb of the Paekunsan syncline and they are correlatable with zones in other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, Iran and China.

Antiferroelectric Pb 1.075 La 0.025 Zr 0.95 Ti 0.05 O 3 (PLZT) thin films on Pt/Ti/SiO 2 /Si substrate have been fabricated by pulsed laser deposition technique. The temperature dependent dielectric constant and polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops of PLZT film demonstrate the phase transition from antiferroelectric to ferroelectric. The Curie temperature (T c ) and dielectric constant at T c are 196C and 2065, respectively. The maximum saturated polarization reaches nearly 50 w C/cm 2 , corresponding to a maximum induced charge of 12.5 nC. The complex dielectric constants and ac conductivities of PLZT thin film are measured as a function of frequency (0.01Hz∼1 MHz) and temperature (25∼200C) in order to investigate dielectric dispersions and conduction mechanisms. We also observe the strong low-frequency dielectric dispersion at high temperature above 125C due to the migration of thermally activated oxygen vacancies. The estimated activation energy for conduction is 0.76 eV. The conduction mechanism seems more complicated than simple hopping model. Consequently, understanding of oxygen vacancy transfer in the antiferroelectric PLZT thin film is important for practical applications in high charge storage and actuator devices.

Abstract: The interfacial reactions of molten Sn and molten In with solid Cu substrate were determined by studying their reaction couples. The annealing temperature was 300 C. The phases formed at the interface were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microscopy analysis (EPMA). The thickness of the reaction layers was measured using an image analyzer. For Cu/Sn couples, two phases, ε and η, were found. Only the Cu11In9 phase was observed at the interface of the Cu/In couples. In comparison with the results of couples of solid Sn and solid In with solid Cu substrate, their phase formation sequences were similar; however, the interfacial morphology and the reaction rates were different. For the liquid/solid couples, the reaction rate was much faster and the interface was nonplanar. A mathematic model was also proposed to describe the dissolution of the Cu substrate and the growth of the intermetallic compounds. Fast dissolution of the substrate was observed in the beginning of the reaction and was followed by a relatively slow growth of the intermetallic compounds at the interface.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains one of the top causes of high mortality rate. Early prediction of ventricular fibrillation (VF), and hence SCD, can improve the survival chance of a patient by enabling earlier treatment. Heart rate variability analysis (HRV) has been widely adopted by the researchers in VF prediction. Different combinations of features from multiple domains were explored but the spectral analysis was performed without the required preprocessing or on a shorter segment as opposed to the standards of The European and North American Task force on HRV. Thus, our study aimed to develop a robust prediction algorithm by including only time domain and nonlinear features while maintaining the prediction resolution of one minute. Nine time domain features and seven nonlinear features were extracted and classified using support vector machine (SVM) of different kernels. High accuracy of 94.7% and sensitivity of 100% were achieved using extraction of only two HRV features and Gaussian kernel SVM without complicated preprocessing of HRV signals. This algorithm with high accuracy and low computational burden is beneficial for embedded system and real-time application which could help alert the individuals sooner and hence improving patient survival chance.

Condensation reaction of 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxaldehyde with 1R,2R-1,2-diaminocyclohexane affords a novel bowl-shaped macrocycle with a chiral concave cavity which exhibits a remarkable ability as a host material for the enantioselective enclathration of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol.

Reaction of CoNCS2with 1-methyl-1′-4-pyridyl-2-4-pyrimidylethylene mppe in different solvents yields two kinds of novel coordination polymer structures of Comppe2NCS2n: one of them shows an unprecedented interpenetrating structure with both 2D and 3D topological isomers.