Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Customer Satisfaction Index for Evaluating Transit Service Quality

This article describes a new customer satisfaction index that can be used to evaluate transit service quality. The index, named Heterogeneous Customer Satisfaction Index (HCSI), is inspired by the traditional Customer Satisfaction Index, but incorporates the heterogeneity among the user judgments about the different service aspects. The newer index includes features that can monitor service quality, identify causes of customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction, and capture ideas for improving service quality. The authors present a case study of the HCSI applied to a suburban bus service offering connections between an urban area and several small villages north and south of Cosenza, Italy. In this case study, the highest contributions to overall satisfaction were ease of purchasing the ticket, security against crimes occurring on the bus, reliability of the schedule, and appearance of the bus agency personnel. The authors conclude that the HCSI shows some advantages compared to the others adopted for measuring service quality, because it can be more easily applied by the transit operators.
ERP system adoption traditional ERP systems vs. cloud-based ERP systems

Several organizations, like small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are faced with the problem of implementing ERP systems in their organizations due to the fact that traditional ERP systems (Client-Server based ERP systems) could be unsuitable, could not be successful to implement or could even end into a disastrous initiative. This paper proposes three alternative approaches for organizations to select from based on security rate, investment level and organizational size. The paper introduces the cloud computing technology in order to represent new non-traditional approaches for ERP systems adoption. Finally, the paper addresses the comparisons between the three presented approaches.
Kernel Measures of Conditional Dependence

We propose a new measure of conditional dependence of random variables, based on normalized cross-covariance operators on reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces. Unlike previous kernel dependence measures, the proposed criterion does not depend on the choice of kernel in the limit of infinite data, for a wide class of kernels. At the same time, it has a straightforward empirical estimate with good convergence behaviour. We discuss the theoretical properties of the measure, and demonstrate its application in experiments.
How Do We Know What Information Sharing Is Really Worth? Exploring Methodologies to Measure the Value of Information Sharing and Fusion Efforts

Abstract : Information sharing between security, intelligence, and law enforcement organizations has become a central focus of U.S. domestic security efforts. The value of being able to better connect the dots to detect threats is obvious, and the identification of failures to do so after incidents occur is routine. The importance of information sharing also reaches beyond counterterrorism and domestic security, with multiagency and multijurisdictional data systems playing central roles in fighting crime more broadly. Yet, in spite of the intense focus on information sharing, the ability to fairly and accurately measure the value of these--sometimes expensive--efforts remains limited. Anecdotes of success and failure can be found on both sides, resulting in a policy debate that has been insufficiently productive to effectively weigh investments in this area. The analysis presented here attempts to help address that shortfall by exploring methodologies to enable better evaluation of information sharing and fusion activities. The framing of the analysis is intentionally broad, covering not only high-profile terrorism information sharing efforts, like the Department of Homeland Security's fusion center program, but also systems used every day by police departments to share records and biometric data to apprehend criminal suspects. The report discusses the evaluation concerns for such systems, reviews the literature that has sought to evaluate them, and frames a path forward for future evaluation efforts.
Exponent function for Wyner-Ziv source coding problem at rates below the rate distortion function

We consider the rate distortion problem with side information at the decoder posed and investigated by Wyner and Ziv. The rate distortion function indicating the trade-off between the rate on the data compression and the quality of data obtained at the decoder was determined by Wyner and Ziv. In this paper, we study the error probability of decoding at rates below the rate distortion function. We evaluate the probability of decoding such that the estimation of source outputs by the decoder has a distortion not exceeding a prescribed distortion level. We prove that when the rate of the data compression is below the rate distortion function this probability goes to zero exponentially and derive an explicit lower bound of this exponent function. On the Wyner-Ziv source coding problem the strong converse coding theorem has not been established yet. We prove this as a simple corollary of our result.
Bargaining and Negotiations What should experimentalists explore more thoroughly

A long time ago most economists would have limited themselves to stating that agreements should be individually rational and efficient and that selecting a specific agreement from that set depends on bargaining and negotiation power whatever that may be. Nowadays hardly any economist will argue that way. The change has been brought about by the strategic approach to bargaining and cooperation and the parallel experimental studies of bargaining and negotiation. When arguing what should be explored more thoroughly, we will point out directions where previous efforts may have been misdirected, where importing new methods may be helpful or even needed, and where new research questions need to be asked and answered.
Texture Mixing and Texture Movie Synthesis Using Statistical Learning

We present an algorithm based on statistical learning for synthesizing static and time-varying textures matching the appearance of an input texture. Our algorithm is general and automatic and it works well on various types of textures, including 1D sound textures, 2D texture images, and 3D texture movies. The same method is also used to generate 2D texture mixtures that simultaneously capture the appearance of a number of different input textures. In our approach, input textures are treated as sample signals generated by a stochastic process. We first construct a tree representing a hierarchical multiscale transform of the signal using wavelets. From this tree, new random trees are generated by learning and sampling the conditional probabilities of the paths in the original tree. Transformation of these random trees back into signals results in new random textures. In the case of 2D texture synthesis, our algorithm produces results that are generally as good as or better than those produced by previously described methods in this field. For texture mixtures, our results are better and more general than those produced by earlier methods. For texture movies, we present the first algorithm that is able to automatically generate movie clips of dynamic phenomena such as waterfalls, fire flames, a school of jellyfish, a crowd of people, etc. Our results indicate that the proposed technique is effective and robust.
Interhemispheric influence of surface buoyancy conditions on a circumpolar current

This study shows that the surface buoyancy conditions in the Northern Hemisphere may influence the stratification and transport of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). We use a course‐resolution ocean general circulation model (OGCM) in an idealized single‐basin configuration with a circumpolar channel. A decrease in the magnitude of the surface temperature meridional gradient in the Northern Hemisphere reduces production of the deep water, affecting the interhemispheric Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) and deepening the thermocline in both hemispheres. The induced change of stratification in the Southern Hemisphere circumpolar region increases the zonal volume transport of circumpolar current because of an increase in the local meridional density gradient and the associated thermal wind shear, which is the dominant baroclinic component of the total volume transport. The result is robust to variations in the background vertical mixing and the parameterization scheme for mesoscale eddies.
Implication du système octopaminergique dans la cohésion sociale et la reconnaissance chez la fourmi Camponotus fellah

Une des caracteristiques des insectes sociaux est le maintien d'un contact quasi permanent entre les ouvrieres d'une meme colonie. Cette forte cohesion sociale a des repercutions sur la reconnaissance et sur l'integrite coloniale. L'isolement social complet pendant 20 jours empeche une ouvriere d'echanger les hydrocabures qu'elle produit et qui recouvrent sa cuticule, avec ceux de ses congeneres. Chez c. Fellah, nous avons montre que ceci se traduisait par une divergence entre le profil des hydrocarbures cuticulaires de l'ouvriere isolee et ceux de ses congeneres maintenues en groupe. Les hydrocarbures faisant partie du signal colonial, cette divergence provoque l'impossibilite pour l'ouvriere isolee de reintegrer sa colonie. Une duree d'isolement plus courte (5 jours) provoque de nombreuses trophallaxies entre l'ouvriere isolee et ses congeneres. Ces trophallaxies, qui marquent le retablissement des liens sociaux, permettraient a l'ouvriere isolee d'echanger des hydrocarbures et de se replacer au centre de l'odeur coloniale. Si, a l'issue de 20 jours d'isolement elle peut avoir des contacts sociaux avec des congeneres non isolees mais dont l'agressivite est experimentalement neutralisee, elle est mieux toleree. A l'inverse, une ouvriere isolee pendant 20 jours devient plus tolerante envers d'autres ouvrieres allocoloniales, suggerant que des contacts sociaux frequents sont egalement necessaires pour maintenir le patron interne servant de reference lors de la reconnaissance coloniale. Les nombreuses et longues trophallaxies provoquees par la privation sociale peuvent etre specifiquement inhibees par une administration d'octopamine et ramenees a leur niveau de base entre des ouvrieres non isolees. Par analogie avec la formation des liens sociaux chez les vertebres, nos resultats suggerent que ce neurotransmetteur soit implique dans le maintien de la cohesion sociale dans les colonies de fourmis.
Measuring knowledge flows among European and American multinationals : a patent citation analysis

The internationalisation of R&D has been driven by a myriad of factors, the most prevalent of which are the need to respond to different demand and market conditions across locations, by adapting their existing product and process technologies through foreign-located ‘home-base exploiting’ (HBE) R&D. However, over the last decade there is a growing significance of overseas R&D in order to augment existing assets by specifically establishing R&D facilities (‘Home base-augmenting’ R&D or HBA) to absorb and acquire technological spillovers, either from the local knowledge base (public infrastructure or to benefit from agglomerative effects in a specific sector), or from specific firms. We have used patent citation data in order to quantify the relative HBA vs. HBE character of foreignbased R&D activity, to test the significance of geographical concentration of knowledge spillovers between European and US owned MNEs located in these two regions. Our results indicate that EU (US) owned patents invented in the US (EU) tend to cite patents originating in the host region more heavily than patents from the domestic region. Further, when adjusted for intra-firm citations, intra-firm knowledge sources are more dominant for US firms than for EU-owned firms, and this can be taken as evidence in favour of a larger HBEcomponent in the R&D of US firms in the EU, while EU firms tend to engage in relatively more HBA activity.
Comparative Pathogenomics Reveals Horizontally Acquired Novel Virulence Genes in Fungi Infecting Cereal Hosts

Comparative analyses of pathogen genomes provide new insights into how pathogens have evolved common and divergent virulence strategies to invade related plant species. Fusarium crown and root rots are important diseases of wheat and barley world-wide. In Australia, these diseases are primarily caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum. Comparative genomic analyses showed that the F. pseudograminearum genome encodes proteins that are present in other fungal pathogens of cereals but absent in non-cereal pathogens. In some cases, these cereal pathogen specific genes were also found in bacteria associated with plants. Phylogenetic analysis of selected F. pseudograminearum genes supported the hypothesis of horizontal gene transfer into diverse cereal pathogens. Two horizontally acquired genes with no previously known role in fungal pathogenesis were studied functionally via gene knockout methods and shown to significantly affect virulence of F. pseudograminearum on the cereal hosts wheat and barley. Our results indicate using comparative genomics to identify genes specific to pathogens of related hosts reveals novel virulence genes and illustrates the importance of horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of plant infecting fungal pathogens.
An ontology for Juz' Amma based on expert knowledge

This paper reports the development of an ontology for Juz' Amma in the Quran manuscript that is designed based on the contextual information support sourced from expert knowledge. The ontology development adopts an existing methology called the Methontology that covers steps from identifying motivation scenarios, formulating the competency questions, development, and evaluation. The ontology was evaluated based on the competency questions determined at the beginning of the development life cycle and the results were promising. The developed ontology is hoped to serve as the domain knowledge for other applications such as the question-answering, dialogue or expert systems.
MR Imaging Characteristics of Wingless-Type–Subgroup Pediatric Medulloblastoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: “Transcriptionally different” medulloblastoma groups are associated with specific signaling pathway abnormalities; hence, they may present with distinct imaging manifestations. In this study, we sought to describe the MR imaging features of wingless-type–subgroup medulloblastomas with embryologic correlations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre- and postoperative imaging studies of 16 patients with wingless-type–subgroup medulloblastoma were evaluated for tumor location, involvement of surrounding CSF spaces or parenchymal structures, conventional and DWI signal properties, and postsurgical damage patterns. Laterality scores were assigned to tumors at each step in the evaluation process. Continuous variables were summarized by using descriptive statistics. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed to compare laterality scores. To determine the interobserver variability, we computed the intraclass correlation and Cohen κ coefficients. RESULTS: Wingless-type–subgroup medulloblastomas in our series were histopathologically “classic. ” Wingless-type–subgroup medulloblastomas occur in specific sites, with involvement of the foramen of Luschka (75%), the fourth ventricle (68.75%), the cisterna magna (31.25%), and the cerebellopontine angle cistern (18.75%). Laterality scores were low (<2) when preoperative primary and secondary anatomic features were evaluated separately, but they increased (>2) when all pre- and postoperative anatomic features were considered. Results were statistically shown to be reproducible (interclass correlation coefficient, 0.71–0.94; Cohen κ, 0.63–1.00). On the basis of anatomic lesion patterns, 4 location-based subtypes may be distinguished: 1) midline-intraventricular, 2) midline-extraventricular, 3) off-midline–intraventricular, and 4) off-midline–extraventricular, which represent a continuum. CONCLUSIONS: Wingless-type–subgroup medulloblastomas are lateralized tumors arising from the brain stem and cerebellum around the foramen of Luschka. Our current understanding of their embryologic origins is in concordance with the spatial distribution of these tumors.
When an efficient bargaining is more "efficient" than a competitive labour market

We consider a unionised duopoly with efficient bargaining at the firm level (i.e. negotiations both on wage and employment). We show that if the target of unions is the total wage bill, then, as expected, consumer surplus and social welfare are the same of when the labour market is "competitive", that is the efficient bargaining institution preserves "efficiency". By contrast, if the trade union is wage (employment) oriented (or, according to an alternative interpretation, unionised workers are risk-averse (risk-neutral)) then both the consumers and social welfare are lower (higher) than those under competitive labour market. The interesting conclusion is that if unions are more employmentoriented (workers are risk-averse) then unionisation is preferred to a "competitive" labour market by consumers and by society as a whole.
Cognitive Function, Habitual Gait Speed, and Late-Life Disability in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2002

Background: Both cognitive function and gait speed are important correlates of disability. However, little is known about the combined effect of cognitive function and gait speed on multiple domains of disability as well as about the role of gait speed in the association between cognitive function and late-life disability. Objective: To investigate (1) how cognition and habitual gait speed are related to late-life disability; (2) the role of habitual gait speed in the cognitiondisability association; and (3) the combined effect of cognitive function and habitual gait speed on late-life disability. Method: Participants (>60 years, n = 2,481) were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. Disability in activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL), leisure and social activities (LSA), and lower extremity mobility (LEM) was obtained by self-report. Cognitive function was measured by a 2-min timed Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), an executive function measure from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test. Habitual gait speed was obtained from a 20-foot timed walk. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between cognitive function and disability. Results: Cognitive function was associated with decreased likelihood for disability in each domain. The odds ratios (ORs) for disability in ADL, IADL, LSA, and LEM for each standard deviation (SD) increase in the DSST score were 0.47 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34–0.64), 0.53 (95% CI = 0.42–0.67), 0.61 (95% CI = 0.47–0.79), and 0.73 (95% CI = 0.61–0.86), respectively, in the multi-variable models. After additional adjustment for habitual gait speed in the cognition-disability relationship, DSST score was no longer a significant correlate for LSA and LEM disability. The strength of the association between DSST score and disability in ADL/IADL was also diminished. The attenuated association between cognition and disability implies that limitation in gait speed likely mediates the association between cognitive function and disability. We found additive effects of cognition and habitual gait speed on late-life disability. The OR of disability in respective domains were lowest among participants with high-DSST score (high executive function) and with high gait speed. In contrast, the OR tended to be highest among participants with low-DSST score (low executive function) and low gait speed. Conclusion: Cognitive function was associated with multiple domains of disability. There was a joint effect of cognitive function and gait speed on late-life disability. This study also suggested that habitual gait speed partially mediated the inverse association between cognitive function and late-life disability, providing a mechanistic explanation in the context of disablement process.
Combined Effects of Contaminant Desorption and Toxicity on Risk from PAH Contaminated Sediments

A strong inverse correlation was observed between the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mass fraction desorbed, a surrogate measure of bioavailability, and relative carcinogenicity, as quantified by potency equivalency factors (PEFs), for two study sediments from the New York/New Jersey Harbor estuary. Because compounds with the highest toxicity, such as dibenz(a,h)anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene (BAP), also tended to be the least rapidly and least extensively desorbed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) default guidance may dramatically overestimate risk from exposure to PAH‐contaminated soils or sediments. A “relative risk index” (RRI) was developed to account for the combined effects of compound‐specific bioavailability and toxic potency in estimating excess cancer risk. Using this approach, estimated excess cancer risk may be diminished by as much as a factor of 159 times versus default EPA guidance. Also, the hierarchy of estimated risk between study sediments and among treatment fractions of study sediments differed using the two approaches, implying that the default approach may inaccurately determine site clean‐up priorities. The percentage contribution of each potentially carcinogenic priority PAH to total excess cancer risk was computed under various scenarios. In each case, the contribution of BAP to total excess cancer risk was remarkably invariable, for example, ranging from 48% to 52% in one sediment, and 44% to 54% in the other, over four different exposure durations. These results suggest that BAP may be an excellent indexing compound for gauging relative exposure risk across sediments. Other important contributors to total excess cancer risk were benz(a)anthracene and dibenz(a,h)anthracene. Together, these three compounds comprised nearly 90% of total excess cancer risk from all PAHs in every scenario. This integrated RRI approach may enable regulators to more accurately gauge relative risks and make more informed sediment management decisions.
Macroeconomic Effects of the War in Mozambique

The aim of this paper is to analyse some macroeconomic channels operating in a war economy. At the theoretical level, the effects of such war on the key economic variables capital, technology, uncertainty, and the government's fiscal deficit are discussed before proceeding to the analysis of individuals, firms and the government. These elements are combined in a dynamic macroeconomic model to study a war's impact on output, growth, consumption, welfare and the national debt. The final section of this paper considers economic policy implications for a government at war, and for donors supporting a war economy. Both the theory and the evidence, drawn from Mozambique, suggest that while capital destruction is the most obvious cost of conflict the long-term development potential of a war economy is more severely damaged by increases in the fiscal deficit, uncertainty and transactions inefficiency. Furthermore, economic policies implemented during a war will determine the size and nature of the country's long-term peace dividend.