Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Driving factors of mobile services user resistance work in progress

User resistance to information systems (IS) implementation has been identified as a main reason for insufficient success of new systems. Even though numerous studies have investigated the driving factors for user resistance, up to now there is no study that is exclusively focused on the concept of user resistance for the mobile service domain. Within this work in progress paper we examine user resistance for mobile services and investigate the falling short of expectations of mobile services success. Based on a literature review, our findings clearly reveal user-, service-, and provider-related factors that trigger user resistance towards mobile services. These are incorporated into a resulting user resistance framework. This article provides researchers with a framework for future research in this domain and provides practitioners with an improved understanding of mobile service customers and corresponding managerial decisions.
A comparison of formulations for the simple assembly line balancing problem

Assembly line balancing is a well-known problem in operations research. It con-sists in ﬁnding an assignment of tasks to some arrangement of stations where thetasks are executed. Typical objective functions require to minimize the cycle timefor a given number of stations or the number of stations for a given cycle time.Common to all variants of assembly line balancing are the precedence constraintsamong the tasks. Different inequalities for modeling these constraints have beenproposed in the literature and lead to different formulations for problems such asthe simple assembly line balancing problem (SALBP). We theoretically comparethese formulations in terms of the strength of their linear relaxations. Moreover, wepropose two new families of inequalities and a stronger formulation of the stationlimits for the SALBP and show that one of the resulting formulations dominates allexisting ones.We evaluate the efﬁciency of these formulations experiment ally and show that theproposed formulation produces equal or better results than existing formulations.1
Practical issues for configuring carbon nanotube composite materials for computation

We report our experiences of attempting to configure a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) / polymer composite material deposited on a micro-electrode array to carry out two classification tasks based on data sets from University of California, Irvine (UCI)[1]. The tasks are attempted using hybrid “in materio” computation: a technique that uses machine search to configure materials for computation. The SWCNT / polymer composite materials are configured using static voltages so that voltage output readings from the material predict which class the data samples belong to. Our initial results suggest that the configured SWCNT materials are able to achieve good levels of predictive accuracy. However, we are in no doubt that the time and effort required to configure the samples could be improved. The parameter space when dealing with physical systems is large, often unknown and slow to test, making progress in this field difficult. Our purpose is not demonstrate the accuracy of configured samples to perform a certain classification, but to showcase the potential of configuring very small material samples with analogue voltages to solve stand alone computation tasks. Such SWCNT devices would be cheap to manufacture and require only low precision assembly, yet if correctly configured would be able to function as multipurpose, single task computational devices.
Transapical aortic valve implantation with a self-expanding anatomically oriented valve.

AIMS The Medtronic Engager™ aortic valve bioprosthesis is a self-expanding valve with support arms facilitating anatomically correct positioning and axial fixation. Valve leaflets, made of bovine pericardium, are mounted on a Nitinol frame. Here, we report the first in man study with this new implant (Trial Identifier NCT00677638). METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty patients (mean age 83.4 ± 3.8 years; 83% female) with tricuspid aortic valve stenosis were included in the study. Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 23.4 ± 11.9. Mean aortic annulus diameter was 21.8 ± 1.4 mm. For this study, the Engager was available in only one size (23 mm), to fit aortic annuli of 19-23 mm. Standard transapical valve implantation was performed using pre-dilation of the aortic valve and rapid ventricular pacing during balloon valvuloplasty and most valve deployments. Accurate valve placement was achieved in 29/30 cases (97%). Post-implant peak-to-peak gradient was 13.3 ± 9.3 mmHg. In 80% of the patients, no more than grade I paravalvular leakage was observed, in 13% grades I-II and in 3% grade II. Three patients (10%) required permanent pacemaker implantation for higher-degree or complete atrioventricular block. Four dissections (13%) occurred during positioning of the valve and were treated surgically in three cases. Thirty-day and in-hospital mortality were 20% and 23%, respectively, and 6-month survival was 56.7%. No structural failure occurred for up to 1 year. CONCLUSION This series established the feasibility of implanting a novel self-expanding transapical aortic valve prosthesis predictably into an anatomically correct position. Observed complications led to complete redesign of the delivery system for upcoming clinical studies with the goal of establishing safety and performance.
Lean Six Sigma for higher education institutions (HEIs): Challenges, barriers, success factors, tools/techniques

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate whether Lean Six Sigma (LSS) can be a powerful business improvement methodology for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of higher education institutions (HEIs). The paper will also explore the fundamental challenges, barriers and critical success factors for the introduction and development of LSS in the HE context. The last part of the paper is to understand the role of tools and techniques for the sustainability of this initiative for making the HEIs more efficient and effective. Design/methodology/approach - The paper discusses whether LSS can be a useful and systematic approach to tackle operational and strategic issues within the HE industry. The authors use secondary data from literature to justify the need for this powerful approach and the benefits of adopting this business process improvement strategy within the HEIs. Findings - The paper presents the challenges and barriers to be encountered during the introduction of LSS in the higher education sector, most useful tools and techniques for process improvement problems, success factors which are essential for the implementation and sustainability of LSS. Research limitations/implications - This is a very theoretical paper based on the existing literature and authors’ experiences in the HE sector. The next stage of the research is to carry out empirical studies in a number of HEIs and develop a practical and useful roadmap for the implementation and sustainability of LSS as a business process improvement methodology. Originality/value - This paper makes an attempt to remove the myth that LSS is confined to manufacturing. It also demonstrates, through relevant existing literature and authors’ experiences, that LSS is equally applicable to public sector organisations and in particular HEIs. Although lean has been adopted by a few HEIs in the UK and abroad, very few HEIs have adopted the integrated LSS approach for waste reduction and variability reduction, which leads to superior performance and enhanced student satisfaction.
Clinical and Cost Implications of Inpatient Versus Outpatient Orthopedic Surgeries: A Systematic Review of the Published Literature

The number of outpatient orthopedic surgeries performed within North America continues to increase. The impact of this change in services on patient outcomes is largely unknown. The objective of this review is to compare patient outcomes and associated costs for outpatient orthopedic surgeries traditionally performed in hospital to inpatient surgeries, as well as to summarize the eligibility and preoperative education requirements for outpatient orthopedic surgery in North America. We performed a systematic review of Medline, Pubmed and Embase databases for articles comparing the clinical and economic impact of outpatient orthopedic surgical procedures versus inpatient procedures in North America. We reported on requirements for inpatient versus outpatient care, preoperative education requirements, complications and patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, and when available total mean costs. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Eligibility requirements for outpatient orthopedic surgery within the included studies varied, but generally included: patient consent, a caregiver at home following surgery, close proximity to an outpatient center, and no history of serious medical problems. Preoperative education programs were not always compulsory and practices varied between outpatient centers. All of the reviewed studies reported that outpatient surgeries had similar or improved level of pain and rates of nausea. Outpatients reported increased satisfaction with the care they received. As expected, outpatient procedures were less expensive than inpatient procedures. This review found that outpatient procedures in North America appear to be less expensive and safe alternatives to inpatient care for patients who are at lower risk for complications and procedures that do not necessarily require close hospital level care monitoring following same day surgery.
More Effort with Less Pay: On Information Avoidance, Belief Design and Performance

In a tedious real effort task, subjects know that their piece rate is either low or ten times higher. When subjects are informed about their piece rate realization, they adapt their performance. One third of subjects nevertheless forego this instrumental information when given the choice - and perform stunningly well. Agents who are uninformed regarding their piece rate tend to outperform all others, even those who know that their piece rate is high. This also holds for enforced instead of self-selected information avoidance. All our findings can be captured by a model of optimally distorted expectations following Brunnermeier and Parker (2005).
Numerical Modeling of Interstitial Fluid Flow Coupled with Blood Flow through a Remodeled Solid Tumor Microvascular Network

Modeling of interstitial fluid flow involves processes such as fluid diffusion, convective transport in extracellular matrix, and extravasation from blood vessels. To date, majority of microvascular flow modeling has been done at different levels and scales mostly on simple tumor shapes with their capillaries. However, with our proposed numerical model, more complex and realistic tumor shapes and capillary networks can be studied. Both blood flow through a capillary network, which is induced by a solid tumor, and fluid flow in tumor’s surrounding tissue are formulated. First, governing equations of angiogenesis are implemented to specify the different domains for the network and interstitium. Then, governing equations for flow modeling are introduced for different domains. The conservation laws for mass and momentum (including continuity equation, Darcy’s law for tissue, and simplified Navier–Stokes equation for blood flow through capillaries) are used for simulating interstitial and intravascular flows and Starling’s law is used for closing this system of equations and coupling the intravascular and extravascular flows. This is the first study of flow modeling in solid tumors to naturalistically couple intravascular and extravascular flow through a network. This network is generated by sprouting angiogenesis and consisting of one parent vessel connected to the network while taking into account the non-continuous behavior of blood, adaptability of capillary diameter to hemodynamics and metabolic stimuli, non-Newtonian blood flow, and phase separation of blood flow in capillary bifurcation. The incorporation of the outlined components beyond the previous models provides a more realistic prediction of interstitial fluid flow pattern in solid tumors and surrounding tissues. Results predict higher interstitial pressure, almost two times, for realistic model compared to the simplified model.
Information-processing and leadership in school principals : cognitive-experiential self theory and transformational leadership

XII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 COGNITIVE-EXPERIENTIAL SELF THEORY 3 EXPERIENTIAL SYSTEM 3 RATIONAL SYSTEM 4 LINKING INFORMATION-PROCESSING AND LEADERSHIP STYLES 8 TRANSFORMATIONAL AND TRANSACTIONAL LEADERSHIP 9 LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION 11 ISSUES AND GAPS IN LEADERSHIP RESEARCH 15 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THESIS 18 STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS 19 CHAPTER SUMMARY AND OUTLINE FOR THE THESIS 20 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 21 LEADERSHIP – DEFINITION AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE 21 LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 23 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF LEADERSHIP 25 TRAIT THEORY 27 CONTINGENCY THEORY 29 COGNITIVE RESOURCE THEORY 34 DEVELOPMENT OF THE FULL-RANGE LEADERSHIP THEORY 35
Extreme values dependence of risk in Latin American markets

This paper aims to determine which extreme value copula is best suited to the bivariate relationships between shocks of U.S market with Brazilian, Argentine and Mexican markets. We used prices of S&P500, Ibovespa, Merval and IPC from January, 3, 2009 to December, 31, 2010, totaling 483 observations. We estimated Gumbel, Galambos, Husler Reiss and Student's t (extreme-value - TEV) copulas. Results allow concluding that there is a strong dependence on the tails of the joint probability distribution of these markets. Nevertheless, the Gumbel copula for Brazil, Husler-Reiss copula for Argentina and TEV copula for Mexico had the best fit. Thus, its important use an extreme value properly diversify the risk in a portfolio that consist of assets in these countries, especially in turbulence periods.
Teachers' interpretation and implementation of the policy on indigenous knowledge in the science national curriculum statement.

In the new National Curriculum Statement in South Africa, there has been a strong drive towards recognizing and affirming the critical role of indigenous knowledge (IK), especially with respect to science and technology education. The Natural Sciences, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences curricula statements form the basis of this research. This study strove to establish how science teachers responded to the inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) in their science classrooms. My study began with 23 science teachers who completed a university module ―Issues in Science Education,‖ which included an IKS component. The study investigated firstly, what currently informed teachers‘ thinking, knowledge and action of IKS. Secondly, the research questioned how teachers interpreted and implemented IKS in the science classroom. A sample of three teachers were followed into their classrooms to investigate how they specifically implemented Learning Outcome Three related to IK in the Science Curricula Statements, and what approaches pertinent to the inclusion of IK were developed. That is, the study explored how shifts were being made from a theoretical phase at the university where teachers engaged IK to an actual phase of implementation in their school science classrooms. Finally I attempt to explain why the teachers interpreted and implemented IK in the way they did. Production of data took place from 2006 to 2007, and used surveys, telephonic interviews, written assignments, face-to face interviews, classroom observations and reflective interviews. The three case studies involved three science teachers at three secondary schools in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. The study found that the three teachers used three very different approaches through which IKS was brought in the science curriculum: an incorporationist approach, that brings IKS into science by seeking how ―best IKS fits into science‖; a separatist approach that holds IKS ―side-by-side‖ with scientific knowledge; and an integrationist approach that ―links‖ and makes ―connections‖ between IKS and science. The approaches developed by the teachers were found to be informed by their biographies, values, cultural backgrounds and worldviews.
Agglomeration Diseconomies of Traffic Congestion and Agglomeration Economies of Interaction in the Information‐Oriented City

A partial equilibrium model of land, labor, and transportation markets in an information-oriented city with traffic congestion of commuting and agglomeration economies of interaction is presented. The equilibria are derived by numerical computations using specific utility, production, and congestion functions. The laissez-faire equilibrium is compared with the optimum. In contrast with the results of many prior papers in this area, at the optimum the central business district becomes compact and the city more suburbanized than the laissez-faire equilibrium. The paper also analyzes the effects of a Pigouvian tax system and subsidies on the spatial structure in the city.
Evidence on Takeover Characteristics and Motives in the Acquisitions of NASDAQ Targets Following the Stock Market Crash of 1987

Prior to the Black Monday (October 19, 1987), the twenty-day moving average of the NASDAQ composite index had reached a peak level of 442 on October 13, 1987. It then declined rapidly around the Black Monday by over forty percent and did not reach the pre-crash level again till June 8, 1989. This study examines the motives (synergy, agency and/or hubris) in successful takeovers initiated during the "after-crash" period (October 14, 1987 - June 7, 1989). For comparison, it also examine the motives in takeovers during the ten year period "before" the crash of 1987. The sample size for the after-crash and before-crash periods is 76 and 188 respectively. The study finds a significant increase in same industry takeovers, stock-financed takeovers, size of acquirers, and market-to-book ratio of assets of acquirers in the after-crash period relative to the before-crash period. Average gains to the combinations and to the acquirers, however, are significantly lower in the after-crash period than in the before-crash period (target gains are not different). For both the before-crash and after-crash periods, the correlations between the gains to targets, acquirers and combinations suggest synergy as the motive when the combination gains are positive and agency as the motive when the combination gains are negative. The correlations fail to suggest hubris as the primary motive for both the periods irrespective of whether the combination gains are positive or negative. Findings from the cross-sectional relationship between the gains to acquirers/targets and the uncertainty about the gains from takeovers also fail to suggest hubris as the primary motive in takeovers during both the periods. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that gains to the combinations and to the acquirers decrease in takeovers initiated during the after-crash period due to an increase in takeovers motivated by self-serving behavior of acquiring firm managers. The findings fail to suggest that this decrease arises from an increase in takeovers motivated by managerial hubris (i.e., overconfidence) about their ability to estimate and/or extract takeover gains.
材料的真实性及真实性与外语学习的关系—— Authentic Materials and Authenticity in Foreign Language Learning的评介

本文就Alex Gilmore的Authentic Materials and Authenticity in Foreign Language Learning进行了评介。 在简要回顾了真实性这个模糊的概念之后。 文章就四个主要问题展开了讨论：真实材料与传统教科书之间的差距；英语作为一门世界性语言；真实性与学习动机；真实材料的难度和任务设计。 通过分析，本文肯定了该文章内容的全面性和丰富性，同时也指出了一些不足及需要改进的地方。
More than an Urban Legend: The long-term socioeconomic effects of unplanned fertility shocks

This paper exploits a nearly year-long period of power rationing that took place in Colombia in 1992, to shed light on three interrelated questions. First, we show that power shortages can lead to higher fertility, causing mini baby booms. Second, we show that the increase in fertility had not been offset by having fewer children over the following 12 years. Third, we show that the fertility shock caused mothers worse socioeconomic outcomes 12 years later. Taken together, the results suggest that there are significant indirect social costs to poor public infrastructure.
Light Transmission and the Sagnac Effect on the Rotating Earth

Light transmission on the surface of the rotating Earth is examined using the Langevin metric of general relativity. It is shown that this metric which yields the rigorously tested and verified algorithm for clock synchronization in the Global Positioning System (GPS) also predicts east-west light speed anisotropy that is inconsistent with light speed isotropy postulated to hold at a local level on the rotating Earth. This light speed anisotropy is further demonstrated using experimentally confirmed light travel time in a simple speed calculation as well as the classical method of light speed relative to a terrestrial observer rotating with the Earth for light travel in the Earth-Centred Inertial (ECI) frame. These theoretical results are confirmed by experimental findings from GPS measurements and lead to the re-interpretation of the Sagnac effect normally treated as a time correction in GPS operation.
Leveraging Synthetic Discourse Data via Multi-task Learning for Implicit Discourse Relation Recognition

To overcome the shortage of labeled data for implicit discourse relation recognition, previous works attempted to automatically generate training data by removing explicit discourse connectives from sentences and then built models on these synthetic implicit examples. However, a previous study (Sporleder and Lascarides, 2008) showed that models trained on these synthetic data do not generalize very well to natural (i.e. genuine) implicit discourse data. In this work we revisit this issue and present a multi-task learning based system which can effectively use synthetic data for implicit discourse relation recognition. Results on PDTB data show that under the multi-task learning framework our models with the use of the prediction of explicit discourse connectives as auxiliary learning tasks, can achieve an averaged F1 improvement of 5.86% over baseline models.