Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Full-time Employment Ads in TESOL: Identifying What Employers Seek in Potential Hires

Full-time Employment Ads in TESOL: Identifying What Employers Seek in Potential Hires Caprice L. Bailey Department of Linguistics and English Language Master of Arts Within the professional field of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), it is not unusual for highly qualified instructors to teach several part-time jobs in order to support themselves. Despite advocacy efforts carried out by the international TESOL organization, finding rewarding full-time employment in the United States can be very challenging. In addition, with the current state of the economy and high unemployment, TESOL professionals like others in various fields are seeking stable employment. Although this research will not solve the lack of full-time jobs, the intention is to help jobseekers better prepare themselves for today’s job market by knowing the skills, knowledge, and personal characteristics that employers are looking for in potential hires. To identify this information, a 12-month review was conducted of three well-established employment websites in an effort to capture advertisements seeking to hire TESOL professionals full-time for ESL related positions in the U.S. A total of 169 job advertisements were collected and reviewed to identify the skills, knowledge, and personal characteristics employers were seeking in qualified individuals. Data from the advertisements were organized into a 42-category coding scheme in an effort to delineate the skills, knowledge, and job characteristics mentioned previously. In addition, a second coding scheme containing 12 categories was created for analyzing the personal characteristics listed in the advertisements Results from this data revealed that employers seek applicants who have knowledge and experience in curriculum development, teacher education, and program administration. Top skills include written and oral communication and basic computer skills. With regards to personal characteristics, employers are most interested in individuals possessing strong interpersonal and teamwork skills. In addition to these skills and qualifications, the data provide important insights concerning the distribution of jobs by job type, degree, institution type, and salary across five regions of the United States.
Rating Agencies as Gatekeepers to the Capital Market: Practical Implications of 40 Years of Research

This paper gives an extensive overview on the avenues academic research has taken in exploring the role of credit ratings. In doing so, it relies on a strict methodological approach for the collection and evaluation of relevant studies to address the criticisms on the lack of profoundness in prior literature reviews in business research. It provides therefore to both academics and practitioners an exhaustive compendium on the role and relevance of credit ratings for each key stakeholder over the past 40 years. Second, it pinpoints specifically to how credit ratings impact corporate strategy. In this matter, it suggests to focus on this underresearched aspect in future as it has become a critical factor in the decision-making of company boards.
Bounds on the Efficiency of Encryption and Digital Signatures

A central focus of modern cryptography is to investigate the weakest possible assumptions under which various cryptographic algorithms exist. Typically, a proof that a “weak” primitive (e.g., a one-way function) implies the existence of some “strong” algorithm (e.g., a private-key encryption scheme) proceeds by giving an explicit construction of the latter from the former. Beyond merely showing such a construction, an equally important research direction is to explore the efficiency of the construction. One might argue that this line of research has become even more important now that minimal assumptions are known for many (but not all) algorithms of interest. Protocols for encryption (in both the publicand private-key setting) and for digital signatures are fundamental to cryptography. In this work, we show the first lower bounds on the efficiency of constructions of these protocols based on black-box access to one-way or trapdoor one-way permutations. If S is the assumed security of the permutation π (i.e., no adversary of size S can “break” π in the appropriate sense on a fraction larger than 1/S of its inputs), our results show that: • Any public-key encryption algorithm for m-bit messages must query π at least Ω(m/ log S) times. This matches the known upper bound. • Any private-key encryption algorithm for m-bit messages which uses a k-bit key must query π at least Ω( logS ) times. This matches the known upper bound. • Any signature verification algorithm for m-bit messages must query π at least Ω(m/ log S) times. We prove our results in an extension of the Impagliazzo-Rudich model. That is, we show that any black-box construction beating our lower bounds would imply the unconditional existence of a one-way function.
McKinnon-Shaw Complimentarity Hypothesis: Evidence From Lesotho

A number of developing countries have implemented financial reforms as a mechanism towards improving the process of financial intermediation and ultimately economic growth. Lesotho has also implemented a series of reforms in the financial sector including interest rate liberalization and introduction of indirect instruments of monetary policy. The paper investigated the validity of McKinnon- Shaw complementarity hypothesis in Lesotho using the quarterly data covering 1990-2006. The hypothesis argues that there is a positive relationship between real money and physical capital. Using granger causality and error correction models (ECM), the study found empirical support for the complementarity hypothesis in Lesotho. Thus the ongoing financial reforms play an important role in enhancing fixed capital formation and economic growth.
The Timing and Terms of Mergers Motivated by Economies of Scale

This paper analyzes the timing of mergers that are motivated by economies of scale. We show that the merger synergies are an increasing function of product market demand. Consequently, in the presence of fixed merger costs and stochastic demand, each firm's payoff from merging has call option-like features. Firms therefore have an incentive to merge in periods of economic expansion, which provides a rationale for the procyclicality of merger waves. Next, relaxing the assumption that firms are price takers, we find that market power strengthens the firms' incentive to merge and speeds up merger activity. Finally, comparing mergers with hostile takeovers we show that the way merger synergies are divided not only influences the acquirer's and the acquiree's return from merging, but also the timing of the restructuring.
Whisker Dynamics Underlying Tactile Exploration

Rodents explore the world by palpating objects with their whiskers. Whiskers interact with objects, causing stresses in whisker follicles and spikes in sensory neurons, which are interpreted by the brain to produce tactile perception. The mechanics of the whisker thus couple self-movement and the structure of the world to sensation. Whiskers are elastic thin rods; hence, they tend to vibrate. Whisker vibrations could be a key ingredient of rodent somatosensation. However, the specific conditions under which vibrations contribute appreciably to the stresses in the follicle remain unclear. We present an analytical solution for the deformation of individual whiskers in response to a time-varying force. We tracked the deformation of mouse whiskers during a pole localization task to extract the whisker Young's modulus and damping coefficient. We further extracted the time course and amplitude of steady-state forces during whisker–object contact. We use our model to calculate the relative contribution of steady-state and vibrational forces to stresses in the follicle in a variety of active sensation tasks and during the passive whisker stimuli typically used for sensory physiology. Vibrational stresses are relatively more prominent compared with steady-state forces for short contacts and for contacts close to the whisker tip. Vibrational stresses are large for texture discrimination, and under some conditions, object localization tasks. Vibrational stresses are negligible for typical ramp-and-hold stimuli. Our calculation provides a general framework, applicable to most experimental situations.
Convergence of the D-iteration algorithm: convergence rate and asynchronous distributed scheme

In this paper, we define the general framework to describe the diffusion operators associated to a positive matrix. We define the equations associated to diffusion operators and present some general properties of their state vectors. We show how this can be applied to prove and improve the convergence of a fixed point problem associated to the matrix iteration scheme, including for distributed computation framework. The approach can be understood as a decomposition of the matrix-vector product operation in elementary operations at the vector entry level.
Error monitoring is altered in musician's dystonia: evidence from ERP‐based studies

Musician's dystonia (MD) is a task‐specific movement disorder characterized by a loss of voluntary motor control in highly trained movements like piano playing. Its underlying pathophysiology is defined by deficient functioning of neural pathways at different levels of the central nervous system. However, a few studies have examined the brain responses associated with executive functions such as error monitoring in MD. We recorded the electroencephalogram (EEG) in professional pianists during the performance of memorized music sequences at fast tempi. Event‐related potentials (ERPs) locked to pitch errors were investigated in MD and a control group. In MD patients, significantly larger error‐related brain responses before and following errors were observed as compared with healthy pianists. Our results suggest that in MD, the generalized degraded neural activity at all levels of the central nervous system is manifested in specific neural correlates of the executive functions that monitor an overlearned sensorimotor performance.
Mechanisms underpinning inattention and hyperactivity: neurocognitive support for ADHD dimensionality

Background. Taxometric and behavioral genetic studies suggest that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is best modeled as a dimension rather than a category. We extended these analyses by testing for the existence of putative ADHD-related deficits in basic information processing (BIP) and inhibitory-based executive function (IB-EF) in individuals in the subclinical and full clinical ranges. Consistent with the dimensional model, we predicted that ADHD-related deficits would be expressed across the full spectrum, with the degree of deficit linearly related to the severity of the clinical presentation. Method. A total of 1547 children (aged 6–12 years) participated in the study. The Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) was used to classify children into groups according to levels of inattention and hyperactivity independently: (1) asymptomatic, (2) subthreshold minimal, (3) subthreshold moderate and (4) clinical ADHD. Neurocognitive performance was evaluated using a two-choice reaction time task (2C-RT) and a conflict control task (CCT). BIP and IB-EF measures were derived using a diffusion model (DM) for decomposition of reaction time (RT) and error data. Results. Deficient BIP was found in subjects with minimal, moderate and full ADHD defined in terms of inattention (in both tasks) and hyperactivity/impulsivity dimensions (in the 2C-RT). The size of the deficit increased in a linear manner across increasingly severe presentations of ADHD. IB-EF was unrelated to ADHD. Conclusions. Deficits in BIP operate at subclinical and clinical levels of ADHD. The linear nature of this relationship provides support for a dimensional model of ADHD in which diagnostic thresholds are defined in terms of clinical and societal burden rather than representing discrete pathophysiological states.
Penetapan Target Premi Asuransi Jiwa Syariah untuk Mencapai Titik Impas dengan Pendekatan Model Profit Testing

This research aimed to give illustration of profit achievement through determination of premium income based on technical assumptions that could be controlled by the company. This model could generally be used as a management tool to take the decision and to arrange the company work planning through allocation of company’s resources. The research was carried out at BRIngin Life Syariah (BLS) company. The results of this study showed that premium income achievement to reach the break even point depended on the kind of insurance products marketed, the operational cost, the investment yield and the risk level of clients. Based on the analyses of profit testing and sensitivity, the product of Tabarru’ produced a better break even point and profit indicator than the insurance products that had the savings element. The results showed that the product of Tabarru with the operational cost between IDR 247,500.0 – IDR302,500.00 per year would reach the break even point between 3.60–5.26 a year. The savings products that had the same operational costs could reach the break even point at 3.91–5.47 a year.
Unions and Wage Insurance

Existing theories of unions emphasize their impact on wage levels relative to the opportunity cost of leisure. This paper explores the possibility that monopoly unions provide income insurance against idiosyncratic wage variability. An optimal union contract is characterized by real wage and other types of flexibility only in response to systematic changes in underlying uncertainty. Under such conditions, there is no presumption that the `union wage premium' relative to the free market wage is positive. The model shows the effect of unemployment benefits, average productivity, and risk on the desirability of union membership, and offers an economic interpretation of equity and solidarity in union policy. It can also explain the negative correlation between inequality and unionism in developed countries.
Synthesis and Crystallographic Characterization of a Maleimide Derivative of Tryptamine

While mechanosynthesis of the target compound, 1-[2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-ethyl]-pyrrole-2,5-dione, C14 H12 N2 O2, did not yield the desired product, it instead resulted in an open intermediate. On the other hand, synthesis starting from the activated maleic anhydride yielded the final maleimide compound. The outcome of the mechanosynthesis has been evaluated by powder X-ray diffraction, and structures of both the final product and open intermediate have been confirmed using single-crystal crystallography.
Thermal Error Modeling of a Machining Center using Grey System Theory and Adaptive Network-Based Fuzzy Inference System

The thermal effect on machine tools has become a well-recognized problem in response to the increasing requirement of product quality. The performance of a thermal error compensation system basically depends on the accuracy and robustness of the thermal error model. This paper presents a thermal error model using two mathematic schemes: GM(1, N) model of the grey system theory and the adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). First, the measured temperature and deformation results were analyzed via the GM(1, N) model to obtain the influence ranking of temperature ascent on thermal drift of spindle. Then, using the high-ranking temperature ascents as the input of ANFIS and training these data by hybrid learning rule, the thermal compensation model can be quickly built. The GM(1, N) model is used to effectively reduce the number of temperature sensors putting on the machine structure in prediction, and the ANFIS has the advantages of good accuracy and robustness. Eventually, tests of no-load and real-cutting operations were conducted and the comparison results show that the modeling schemes of ANFIS coupled with the GM(1, N) has good prediction ability
Adjuvants and Immunization Strategies to Induce Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Stalk Antibodies

The global population remains vulnerable in the face of the next pandemic influenza virus outbreak, and reformulated vaccinations are administered annually to manage seasonal epidemics. Therefore, development of a new generation of vaccines is needed to generate broad and persistent immunity to influenza viruses. Here, we describe three adjuvants that enhance the induction of stalk-directed antibodies against heterologous and heterosubtypic influenza viruses when administered with chimeric HA proteins. Addavax, an MF59-like nanoemulsion, poly(I:C), and an RNA hairpin derived from Sendai virus (SeV) Cantell were efficacious intramuscularly. The SeV RNA and poly(I:C) also proved to be effective respiratory mucosal adjuvants. Although the quantity and quality of antibodies induced by the adjuvants varied, immunized mice demonstrated comparable levels of protection against challenge with influenza A viruses on the basis of HA stalk reactivity. Finally, we present that intranasally, but not intramuscularly, administered chimeric HA proteins induce mucosal IgA antibodies directed at the HA stalk.
Effect of liming on soil properties, yield and nutrient uptake by wheat

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of liming on chemical properties of wheat field soils and yield of wheat in Ranisankail soil series of Bangladesh. There were eight treatments of liming material applied from dolomite (CaCO 3 .MgCO 3 ). Yield and yield components of wheat were recorded at harvest and the grain and straw were analyzed for P, S, Ca and Mg contents. The post harvest soils were analyzed for pH, available P, Ca and Mg. The application of different rates of lime to soil progressively increased soil pH and increased availability of P, Ca and Mg in soils. The pH of the post harvest soils was positively correlated with available Ca and Mg status of soils. The grain yields of wheat were positively correlated with soil pH, available P, Ca and Mg contents of post harvest soils. Tiller number plant -1 , spikelets spike -1 , grains spike -1 , grain and straw yields were significantly affected by liming. The treatment T5 (2.0 t lime ha -1 ) produced grain yield of 4659 kg ha 1 which was statistically identical to those found in T 6 , T 7 and T 8 treatments but higher to those in T 1 , T2, T3 & T4 treatments. Liming markedly increased S and Mg concentrations of wheat grain but the concentrations of P and Ca remained unaffected. Total uptake of P, S, Ca and Mg were increased due to application of lime which was mainly associated with increased wheat yields. The findings showed that liming is beneficial for wheat cultivation in the Ranishankail soil series of Dinajpur. The application of 2.0 t lime ha-1 appears to be optimum for desired soil pH for wheat (>pH 6.0), increased availability of nutrients and ultimately increased wheat yield.
401(k) Plans in 2010: An Update from the SCF

The release of the Federal Reserve’s 2010 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) is a great opportunity to assess how conflicting forces – the maturation of the system and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 on the one hand and the devastating effects of the 2008 financial collapse and Great Recession on the other hand – have affected workers’ 401(k) accounts. The SCF is a triennial survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. households, which collects detailed information on their assets, liabilities, and demographic characteristics. The 2001, 2004, and 2007 surveys showed some improvement in terms of 401(k)participation, contribution levels, investment choices, and cashing out. But median holdings of those approaching retirement remained low even at the peak of the market in 2007. This brief explores the extent to which the positive trends in 401(k) behavior have persisted in the weak economy and how balances have fared in the wake of the financial collapse. The discussion proceeds as follows. The first section describes the importance of 401(k) plans in the retirement income system. The second section assesses the impact of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which was designed to make 401(k)s easier and more automatic, on plan provisions and 401(k)outcomes. The third section documents the trend in individual decisions regarding 401(k)s. The fourth section reports on 401(k) balances. The fifth section describes emerging issues regarding the 401(k) system – namely, the risks associated with the decumulation of 401(k) plan assets in retirement and the migration of assets from 401(k)s to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The final section concludes that the Pension Protection Act has had only a limited impact on plan provisions, financial pressures have reversed some of the positive trends in individual behavior, and 401(k)s have been battered by the financial markets. As a result, median 401(k)/IRA balances for households approaching retirement remain at $120,000, roughly the same as in 2007. Median balances for younger households have actually declined. The low balances are a serious problem because 401(k)s have become the only supplement to Social Security for most private sector workers.
On Disturbance Decoupled Observers for a Class of Bilinear Systems

In this paper, the class of bilinear systems subjected to unknown inputs for which there exists a disturbance decoupled observer with linear error dynamics is characterized. It is shown that the design of this kind of observer is equivalent to the design of a disturbance decoupled observer for a linear system. This result simplifiers considerably the observer design compared to those proposed in the literature, and the observer existence conditions can be easily deduced. As a corollary of this result, necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of disturbance decoupled linear observers for bilinear systems subjected to unknown inputs are derived. This approach is extended to the fault detection of bilinear systems.
Modelling complex geological circular data with the projected normal distribution and mixtures of von Mises distributions

Abstract. Circular data are commonly encountered in the earth sciences and statistical descriptions and inferences about such data are necessary in structural geology. In this paper we compare two statistical distributions appropriate for complex circular data sets: the mixture of von Mises and the projected normal distribution. We show how the number of components in a mixture of von Mises distribution may be chosen, and how one may choose between the projected normal distribution and the mixture of von Mises for a particular data set. We illustrate these methods with a few structural geological data, showing how the fitted models can complement geological interpretation and permit statistical inference. One of our data sets suggests a special case of the projected normal distribution which we discuss briefly.
A Practical Attack on Mobile Data Network Using IP Spoofing

As the mobile Internet has become widespread in recent years, communication based on mobile networks is increasing. As a result, security threats have been posed with regard to the abnormal tra ffic of mobile networks, but mobile security has been handled with focus on threats posed by mobile malicious codes, and researches on security threats to the mobile network itself have not attracted much attention. In this paper, we analyzes security threats that occurred to mobile networks recently, and checks the security threats likely to occur in actual commercial service networks and their results. We propose a countermeasure that can respond to such security threats, present results that can be applied to actual commercial networ ks, and thus make it possible to proactively respond to security threats described in this paper.