Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Website Efficiency, Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty: A Customer Value Driven Perspective

This paper proposes a customer value driven perspective for analyzing the design of Internet retailing websites, the initial stage in the electronic service delivery channel. As a loyal customer base is crucial for website profitability over both the short and long term, customer satisfaction plays a critical role in determining both website efficiency and customer loyalty. The quandary facing Internet retailers is how to meet consumers' complex expectations for the retailing website without sacrificing speed and simplicity. The key to addressing this dilemma is to focus on customer value. This paper presents an empirical study of these issues using data from food retailing websites. The study uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and a post-DEA statistical analysis approach proposed in Xue and Harker (1999) to evaluate website efficiency and to analyze how website features affect website efficiency. 3 1. Introduction E-retailing, " a giant industry " that " virtually awakens " (Fortune2000), has gone through rapid development and dramatic transitions in a relatively short period of time. Shopping has changed forever. While brick-and-mortar stores still hold the major portion of market share, Internet retailers have earned significant gains in recent years. A survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in January 2000 showed that nearly half of the primary shoppers in households with Internet access had made purchases on-line, up from 27 percent in 1998. In 1997, only 62 percent of these individuals visited websites more than three times per month. By the year 2000, the percentage climbed to 80 percent (Fortune 2000). However, in stark contrast to the phenomenal performance of Internet companies in financial markets through the spring of 2000, many Internet retailers are now facing difficulties. Profit margins are still thin or absent, but investors now are demanding profitability. Many Internet companies' stock prices have fallen sharply. Venture capitalists are much more cautious and are reluctant to commit additional investments needed to keep numerous Internet companies alive. This gloomy picture of present day e-commerce is not universal. For those who have focused from the beginning on customers rather than products or technology, significant growth opportunities still exist. The capability of developing loyal customers and the profitability that ensues from this loyalty holds great promise. To achieve this goal, flawless operations are crucial. In a market where a given product can be purchased from any number of retailers within a certain price range, what really makes the difference to the customer is …
Bond Variance Risk Premia

Using data from 1983 to 2010, we propose a new fear measure for Treasury markets, akin to the VIX for equities, labeled TIV. We show that TIV explains one third of the time variation in fund- ing liquidity and that the spread between the VIX and TIV captures flight to quality. We then construct Treasury bond variance risk premia as the difference between the implied variance and an expected variance estimate using autoregressive models. Bond variance risk premia display pronounced spikes during crisis periods. We show that variance risk premia encompass a broad spectrum of macroeconomic uncertainty. Uncertainty about the nominal and the real side of the economy increase variance risk premia but uncertainty about monetary policy has a strongly neg- ative effect. We document that bond variance risk premia predict excess returns on Treasuries, stocks, corporate bonds and mortgage-backed securities, both in-sample and out-of-sample. Fur- thermore, this predictability is not subsumed by other standard predictors.
SinEx DB: a database for single exon coding sequences in mammalian genomes

Eukaryotic genes are typically interrupted by intragenic, noncoding sequences termed introns. However, some genes lack introns in their coding sequence (CDS) and are generally known as ‘single exon genes’ (SEGs). In this work, a SEG is defined as a nuclear, protein-coding gene that lacks introns in its CDS. Whereas, many public databases of Eukaryotic multi-exon genes are available, there are only two specialized databases for SEGs. The present work addresses the need for a more extensive and diverse database by creating SinEx DB, a publicly available, searchable database of predicted SEGs from 10 completely sequenced mammalian genomes including human. SinEx DB houses the DNA and protein sequence information of these SEGs and includes their functional predictions (KOG) and the relative distribution of these functions within species. The information is stored in a relational database built with My SQL Server 5.1. 33 and the complete dataset of SEG sequences and their functional predictions are available for downloading. SinEx DB can be interrogated by: (i) a browsable phylogenetic schema, (ii) carrying out BLAST searches to the in-house SinEx DB of SEGs and (iii) via an advanced search mode in which the database can be searched by key words and any combination of searches by species and predicted functions. SinEx DB provides a rich source of information for advancing our understanding of the evolution and function of SEGs. Database URL: www.sinex. cl
Trust and Social Collateral

This paper builds a theory of informal contract enforcement in social networks. In our model, relationships between individuals generate social collateral that can be used to control moral hazard when agents interact in a borrowing relationship. We define trust between two agents as the maximum amount that one can borrow from the other, and derive a simple reduced form expression for trust as a function of the social network. We show that trust is higher in more connected and more homogenous societies, and relate our trust measure to commonly used network statistics. Our model predicts that dense networks generate greater welfare when arrangements typically require high trust, and loose networks create more welfare otherwise. Using data on social networks and behavior in dictator games, we document evidence consistent with the quantitative predictions of the model.
Partial integration of Syrian ‘escapees’ under the rule of Turkey's Justice and Development Party (JDP)

This article deals with the policy of the Justice and Development Party (JDP) in Turkey with regard to Syrian ‘refugees’. Initially referred to as ‘guests', they were subsequently granted the official status of ‘temporary protection’. The article also covers efforts to incorporate the Syrians into some areas of Turkish society (the job market, healthcare, citizenship, the housing market, social prominence and marriage relationships). It is argued that the JDP's policy towards the Syrians is based on ideological–sectarian reasons. It also contends that Turkey has struggled to deal with the mass influx from Syria into Turkey, since it did not have the proper legal infrastructure to deal with mass refugee influxes. This has rendered the management of the refugees' stay in Turkey problematic and confused. This study provides a novel contribution to the study of the Syrian refugee issue by scrutinizing the JDP's nation-building project and the partial integration of Syrian refugees into Turkish society as an u.
Video Object Segmentation by Salient Segment Chain Composition

We present a model for video segmentation, applicable to RGB (and if available RGB-D) information that constructs multiple plausible partitions corresponding to the static and the moving objects in the scene: i) we generate multiple figure-ground segmentations, in each frame, parametrically, based on boundary and optical flow cues, then track, link and refine the salient segment chains corresponding to the different objects, over time, using long-range temporal constraints, ii) a video partition is obtained by composing segment chains into consistent tilings, where the different individual object chains explain the video and do not overlap. Saliency metrics based on figural and motion cues, as well as measures learned from human eye movements are exploited, with substantial gain, at the level of segment generation and chain construction, in order to produce compact sets of hypotheses which correctly reflect the qualities of the different configurations. The model makes it possible to compute multiple hypotheses over both individual object segmentations tracked over time, and for complete video partitions. We report quantitative, state of the art results in the SegTrack single object benchmark, and promising qualitative and quantitative results in clips filming multiple static and moving objects collected from Hollywood movies and from the MIT dataset.
Observational Model of Blenders and Erasers in Computer-Generated Pencil Rendering

In this paper we present a blender and eraser model that extends our graphite pencil and paper model. This blender and eraser model enhances the rendering results producing realistic looking graphite pencil tones and textures. Our model is based on observations on the absorptive and dispersive properties of blenders and erasers interacting with lead material deposited over drawing paper. The parameters of our model are the particle composition of the lead over the paper, the texture of the paper, the position and shape of the blender and eraser, and the pressure applied to them. We demonstrate the capabilities of our approach with a variety of pencil swatches and compare them to digitized pencil drawings. We also present automatic and interactive image-based rendering results implementing traditional graphite pencil tone rendering methods. Resume Cette oeuvre presente un modele de gommes a effacer et de melangeurs qui augmente notre modele de crayon a mine et de papier. Notre modele de gommes et de melangeurs nous offre des images et textures plus realistes. Notre modele est base sur des observations de l’interaction de l’absorption et dispertion des gommes et des melangeurs avec la mine de crayon depose sur le papier. Les parametres de notre modele sont la composition des particules composantes de la mine de crayon, la texture du papier, la position et la forme de la gomme et du melangeur, et la pression avec lequels ils sont appliques. Nous demontrons les capabilites de notre aproche en comparant des traits dessines avec notre systeme avec des traits dessines sur papier. Nous presentons aussi des images crees automatiquement qui demontrent la possibilite de creer des images usant des techniques traditionnelles d’illustration au crayon.
Examining the public’s exposure to reports about ethnic groups in mainstream Russian media

This article examines the exposure of Russian public to reports about ethnic groups in current mainstream Russian media by analyzing the amount of such reports today, as well as results of an online survey (n = 1040) aimed at revealing to what extent the public is indeed exposed to them by the respondents’ own estimations. The survey showed that generally users tend to lack information about ethnicities in mainstream media and demonstrate a certain interest in learning more about other ethnic groups in Russia through media channels. We argue thus that the public’s exposure to information about ethnic issues, although relatively high on a quantitative level (i.e., in terms of the actual number of reports), is lower on a qualitative one (i.e., the share of the respondents who actually come across such reports). The paper also reveals a number of tendencies from analyzing users’ age groups and their regions of living. In general, we believe that singling out both specifics of the public’s exposure to information about ethnicities and the connection between this exposure and the public’s attitudes toward ethnicities (which is planned as the second stage of the current research project) may contribute to better understanding of the effects media can have on their audience in terms of agenda-setting and psychological influence. The current research can also be of interest when discussing the role mass media play in building harmonious relationships between representatives of different ethnic groups in a multiethnic society such as the Russian one.
Congruence in Parent-Teacher Relationships

Parental engagement is an important avenue for supporting student achievement. Positive relationships between parents and teachers are increasingly recognized as vital in this process. Most studies consider parents’ and teachers’ perceptions separately, and it is unknown whether shared perceptions of relationship quality matter with respect to child outcomes. This study investigated the role of relationship congruence in predicting child academic, social, and behavioral outcomes in 175 elementary students referred for behavioral consultation. Results indicated that teacher, but not parent, ratings of child social skills and externalizing behaviors were more favorable in the presence of a shared, positive view of the relationship. Furthermore, parents who reported higher levels of home-school conferencing and greater self-efficacy were more likely to be in congruent, positive relationships. Though preliminary, these results suggest that shared perceptions of relationship quality may be important in understanding reports of child behavior and finding ways to support positive student outcomes.
Greengard's N-Body Algorithm is not Order N

Greengard's $N$-body algorithm claims to compute the pairwise interactions in a system of $N$ particles in $O(N)$ time for a fixed precision. In this paper, we show that the choice of precision is not independent of $N$ and has a lower bound of $\log N$. We use this result to show that Greengard's algorithm is not $O(N)$.
The nature and scope of festival studies

The nature and scope of festival studies is examined by compiling and analyzing a large-scale literature review of 423 research articles published in the English-language scholarly press. These have been annotated and their themes classified by reference to a pre-determined framework. Identification and discussion of three major discourses was enabled by this method, namely the roles, meanings and impacts of festivals in society and culture, festival tourism, and festival management. Conclusions focus on revealed research gaps and the need for greater interdisciplinarity to advance the field of festival studies.
Galactosynthesis: halo histories, star formation and discs

We investigate the effects of a variety of ingredients that must enter into a realistic model for disc galaxy formation, focusing primarily on the Tully–Fisher (TF) relation and its scatter in several wavebands. In particular, we employ analytic distributions for halo formation redshifts and halo spins, empirical star formation rates and initial mass functions, realistic stellar populations, and chemical evolution of the gas. Our main findings are as follows. (a) The slope, normalization and scatter of the TF relation across various wavebands are determined largely by the parent halo properties as dictated by the initial conditions, but are also influenced by star formation in the disc. (b) TF scatter in this model is due primarily to the spread in formation redshifts. The scatter can be measurably reduced by chemical evolution, and also by the weak anticorrelation between peak height and spin. (c) Multiwavelength constraints can be important in distinguishing between models that appear to fit the TF relation in I or K. (d) Assuming passive disc evolution, successful models seem to require that the bulk of disc formation cannot occur too early (z>2–3) or too late (z<0.2), and are inconsistent with high values of Ω0. (e) A simple, realistic model with the above ingredients, and fewer free parameters than typical semi-analytic models, can reasonably reproduce the observed z=0 TF relation in all bands (B, R, I and K), as well as the observed B-band surface brightness–magnitude relation. In such a model, the near-infrared TF relation at z=1 is similar to that at z=0, while bluer bands show a markedly steeper TF slope at high redshift, consistent with limited current data. The remarkable agreement with observations suggests that the amount of gas that is expelled or poured into a disc galaxy may be small (though small fluctuations might serve to align B-band predictions better with observations), and that the specific angular momentum of the baryons should roughly equal that of the halo; there is little room for angular momentum transfer. In Appendix A we present analytic fits to stellar population synthesis models.
The efficiency of magnetic-activated cell sorting and fluorescence-activated cell sorting in the decontamination of testicular cell suspensions in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Before clinical application, the feasibility and safety of autologous testicular stem cell transplantation should be explored. Apart from limitations in their numbers, spermatogonial stem cells may also be contaminated by malignant cells. Therefore, both enrichment and decontamination before transplantation may be necessary. This study aimed at evaluating the decontaminating potential of magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and/or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) for both murine and human testicular cell suspensions. In the mouse, the effectiveness of the transplantation technique after cell sorting was also assessed. METHODS Murine testicular cells were contaminated with 5% EL4 cells. Fresh and frozen-thawed suspensions were sorted using MACS (CD49f (+)) and FACS (CD49f(+), H-2Kb(-)) and evaluated by FACS, cell culture and transplantation into W/W(v) mice. Human testicular cells were contaminated with 5 or 0.05% CCRF-SB (SB) cells. Frozen-thawed suspensions were sorted using FACS (HLA class I(-)) and evaluated by FACS, cell culture and PCR for the B-cell receptor. RESULTS In the mouse, the sorted fractions contained 0.39% H-2K(b)-positive and 76.55% CD49f-positive cells. After transplantation, 1 in 20 recipient mice developed a malignancy. In the human experiments, an average of 0.58% SB cells was detected after sorting. In only 1 of 11 samples, there were no SB cells observed. CONCLUSION MACS and/or FACS are insufficient for completely depleting testicular tissue of malignant cells. Although more research on alternative decontamination techniques is necessary, developing a reliable method to screen a priori testicular tissue for malignant cells may be equally important.
Review Article Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-related Pathways in Hemato-lymphoid Malignancies

Angiogenesis is essential for malignant tumor growth. This has been documented for solid tumors, and there is emerging evidence suggesting that tumor progression of hemato-lymphoid malignancies also depends on the induction of new blood vessel formation. The most important pro-angiogenic agent is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), activating VEGF receptors 1 and 2. The available data on angiogenesis in hemato-lymphoid malignancies such as acute leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms, multiple myeloma and lymphomas, point towards the significance of autocrine and paracrine VEGF-mediated effects for proliferation and survival of leukemia/lymphoma cells in addition to tumor vascularization. Anti-angiogenic strategies have become an important therapeutic modality for solid tumors. Several anti-angiogenic agents targeting VEGF-related pathways have are also being utilized in clinical trials for the treatment of hemato-lymphoid malignancies, and in some instances these pathways have emerged as promising therapeutic targets. This review summarizes recent advances in the basic understanding of the role of angiogenesis in hemato-lymphoid malignancies and the translation of such basic findings into clinical studies.
Apoptosis: basic mechanisms and implications for cardiovascular disease.

Since Kerr et al1 in 1972 coined the term “apoptosis” for a morphologically distinct mode of cell death, this concept of cell suicide has gained increasing interest in cytology and pathology. In terms of tissue kinetics, apoptosis may be considered a mechanism that counterbalances the effect of cell proliferation by mitotic division. In fact, deregulated apoptosis has been implicated as a fundamental pathogenetic mechanism in a variety of human diseases. Excessive apoptotic cell death may cause organ atrophy and organ failure, as suggested for neurodegenerative diseases and viral hepatitis. On the other hand, inefficient elimination of malignant, autoreactive, infected, or redundant cells may lead to the development of neoplasia, autoimmunity, viral persistence, and congenital malformations. Further interest in apoptosis has arisen from the recent elucidation of effector and regulatory mechanisms with the aid of molecular biology, genetics of lower organisms, and genetic modification of the mouse. However, only recently, compelling evidence has accumulated indicating that apoptotic cell death may also play a critical role in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, and atherosclerosis. Apoptosis can be differentiated from other forms of cell death that occur in response to toxins, physical stimuli, and ischemia. Although not widely used, this form of cell death was termed “accidental cell death” in the pathology literature.2 In contrast to apoptosis, accidental cell death does not involve suicide mechanisms and is not energy dependent. In the case of accidental cell death induced by ischemia, depletion of intracellular ATP stores, swelling, and disruption of the cell membrane, leading to liberation of cytoplasmic contents into the extracellular space, are prominent features (Figure 1⇓). This specific form of accidental cell death is also referred to as “oncosis. ” The term “necrosis,” often used to describe cell death other than apoptotic cell death, is …
A GRFa2/Prop1/Stem (GPS) Cell Niche in the Pituitary

Background The adult endocrine pituitary is known to host several hormone-producing cells regulating major physiological processes during life. Some candidates to progenitor/stem cells have been proposed. However, not much is known about pituitary cell renewal throughout life and its homeostatic regulation during specific physiological changes, such as puberty or pregnancy, or in pathological conditions such as tumor development. Principal Findings We have identified in rodents and humans a niche of non-endocrine cells characterized by the expression of GFRa2, a Ret co-receptor for Neurturin. These cells also express b-Catenin and E-cadherin in an oriented manner suggesting a planar polarity organization for the niche. In addition, cells in the niche uniquely express the pituitary-specific transcription factor Prop1, as well as known progenitor/stem markers such as Sox2, Sox9 and Oct4. Half of these GPS (GFRa2/Prop1/Stem) cells express S-100 whereas surrounding elongated cells in contact with GPS cells express Vimentin. GFRa2+-cells form non-endocrine spheroids in culture. These spheroids can be differentiated to hormone-producing cells or neurons outlining the neuroectoderm potential of these progenitors. In vivo, GPSs cells display slow proliferation after birth, retain BrdU label and show long telomeres in its nuclei, indicating progenitor/stem cell properties in vivo. Significance Our results suggest the presence in the adult pituitary of a specific niche of cells characterized by the expression of GFRa2, the pituitary-specific protein Prop1 and stem cell markers. These GPS cells are able to produce different hormone-producing and neuron-like cells and they may therefore contribute to postnatal pituitary homeostasis. Indeed, the relative abundance of GPS numbers is altered in Cdk4-deficient mice, a model of hypopituitarism induced by the lack of this cyclin-dependent kinase. Thus, GPS cells may display functional relevance in the physiological expansion of the pituitary gland throughout life as well as protection from pituitary disease.