Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electronic word of mouth: Challenges for consumers and companies

It is well-established that, as a consumer decision aid, electronic word of mouth (eWOM) provides opportunities to both consumers and companies. By relying on eWOM, consumers believe that they are better able to make informed purchase decisions. By incorporating eWOM in their business strategies, companies believe that they can capitalize on its effects. However, both parties must overcome challenges in order to benefit from these opportunities. Consumers are confronted with the challenge of selecting the most useful and credible information amid the overwhelming amount of electronic word of mouth that is circulating on the internet. Companies are faced with the challenge of managing eWOM, especially when they are negatively portrayed in such communications. Although these challenges constitute a topic of both societal and managerial concern, they lack a strong scientific foundation. The objective of this dissertation is therefore to investigate these challenges.
An investigation into Braess' paradox

Braess’ paradox is a counter-intuitive phenomenon which can occur in congesting networks. It refers to those cases where the introduction of a new link in the network results in the total travel time on the network increasing. The dissertation starts by introducing the traffic assignment problem and the concept of equilibrium in traffic assignment. The concept of equilibrium is based on Wardrop’s first principle that all travellers will attempt to minimize their own travel time regardless of the effect on others. A literature review includes details of a number of papers that have been published investigating theoretical aspects of the paradox. There is also a brief description of Game Theory and the Nash Equilibrium. It has been shown that the equilibrium assignment is an example of Nash Equilibrium. The majority of work that has been published deals with networks where the delay functions that are used to compute the travel times on the links of the network do not include explicit representation of the capacity of the links. In this dissertation a network that is similar in form to the one first presented by Braess was constructed with the difference being that the well-known BPR function was used in the delay functions. This network was used to show that a number of findings that had been presented previously using simpler functions also applied to this network. It was shown that when it occurs, Braess’ paradox only occurs over a range of values at relatively low levels of congestion. Real-world networks were then investigated and it was found that similar results occurred to those found in the simpler test networks that are often used in discussions of the paradox. Two methodologies of eliminating the paradox were investigated and the results are presented.
The morphology but not the function of endosomes and lysosomes is altered by brefeldin A

Brefeldin A (BFA) induces the formation of an extensively fused network of membranes derived from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and early endosomes (EE). We describe in detail here the unaffected passage of endocytosed material through the fused TGN/EE compartments to lysosomes in BFA-treated cells. We also confirmed that BFA caused the formation of tubular lysosomes, although the kinetics and extent of tubulation varied greatly between different cell types. The BFA-induced tubular lysosomes were often seen to form simple networks. Formation of tubular lysosomes was microtubule-mediated and energy-dependent; interestingly, however, maintenance of the tubulated lysosomes only required microtubules and was insensitive to energy poisons. Upon removal of BFA, the tubular lysosomes rapidly recovered in an energy-dependent process. In most cell types examined, the extensive TGN/EE network is ephemeral, eventually collapsing into a compact cluster of tubulo- vesicular membranes in a process that precedes the formation of tubular lysosomes. However, in primary bovine testicular cells, the BFA-induced TGN/EE network was remarkably stable (for > 12 h). During this time, the TGN/EE network coexisted with tubular lysosomes, however, the two compartments remained completely separate. These results show that BFA has multiple, profound effects on the morphology of various compartments of the endosome-lysosome system. In spite of these changes, endocytic traffic can continue through the altered compartments suggesting that transport occurs through noncoated vesicles or through vesicles that are insensitive to BFA.
Dynamic proline metabolism: importance and regulation in water limited environments

Drought-induced proline accumulation observed in many plant species has led to the hypothesis that further increases in proline accumulation would promote drought tolerance. Here we discuss both previous and new data showing that proline metabolism and turnover, rather than just proline accumulation, functions to maintain growth during water limitation. Mutants of Δ1-Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Synthetase1 (P5CS1) and Proline Dehydrogenase1 (PDH1), key enzymes in proline synthesis and catabolism respectively, both have similar reductions in growth during controlled soil drying. Such results are consistent with patterns of natural variation in proline accumulation and with evidence that turnover of proline can act to buffer cellular redox status during drought. Proline synthesis and catabolism are regulated by multiple cellular mechanisms, of which we know only a few. An example of this is immunoblot detection of P5CS1 and PDH1 showing that the Highly ABA-induced (HAI) protein phosphatase 2Cs (PP2Cs) have different effects on P5CS1 and PDH1 protein levels despite having similar increases in proline accumulation. Immunoblot data also indicate that both P5CS1 and PDH1 are subjected to unknown post-translational modifications.
Geographical variation in certification rates of blindness and sight impairment in England, 2008–2009

Objectives To examine and interpret the variation in the incidence of blindness and sight impairment in England by PCT, as reported by the Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI). Design Analysis of national certification data. Setting All Primary Care Trusts, England. Participants 23 773 CVI certifications issued from 2008 to 2009. Main Outcome measures Crude and Age standardised rates of CVI data for blindness and sight loss by PCT. Methods The crude and age standardised CVI rates per 100 000 were calculated with Spearman's rank correlation used to assess whether there was any evidence of association between CVI rates with Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and the Programme Spend for Vision. Results There was high-level variation, almost 11-fold (coefficient of variation 38%) in standardised CVI blindness and sight impairment annual certification rates across PCTs. The mean rate was 43.7 and the SD 16.7. We found little evidence of an association between the rate of blindness and sight impairment with either the IMD or Programme Spend on Vision. Conclusions The wide geographical variation we found raises questions about the quality of the data and whether there is genuine unmet need for prevention of sight loss. It is a concern for public health practitioners who will be interpreting these data locally and nationally as the CVI data will form the basis of the public health indicator ‘preventable sight loss’. Poor-quality data and inadequate interpretation will only create confusion if not addressed adequately from the outset. There is an urgent need to address the shortcomings of the current data collection system and to educate all public health practitioners.
Growth Empirics Without Parameters

Recent research on growth empirics has focused on resolving model and variable uncertainty. The conventional approach has been to assume a linear growth process and then to proceed with investigating the relevant variables that determine cross‐country growth. This article questions the linearity assumption underlying the vast majority of such research and uses recently developed non‐parametric techniques to handle non‐linearities as well as select relevant variables. We show that inclusion of non‐linearities is necessary for determining the empirically relevant variables and uncovering key mechanisms of the growth process.
Flavonoid intake and risk of chronic diseases 1 , 2

Background: Flavonoids are effective antioxidants and may protect against several chronic diseases. Objective: The association between flavonoid intake and risk of several chronic diseases was studied. Design: The total dietary intakes of 10 054 men and women during the year preceding the baseline examination were determined with a dietary history method. Flavonoid intakes were estimated, mainly on the basis of the flavonoid concentrations in Finnish foods. The incident cases of the diseases considered were identified from different national public health registers. Results: Persons with higher quercetin intakes had lower mortality from ischemic heart disease. The relative risk (RR) between the highest and lowest quartiles was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.99: P for trend = 0.02). The incidence of cerebrovascular disease was lower at higher kaempferol (0.70; 0.56, 0.86; P = 0.003), naringenin (0.79; 0.64, 0.98; P = 0.06), and hesperetin (0.80; 0.64, 0.99; P = 0.008) intakes. Men with higher quercetin intakes had a lower lung cancer incidence (0.42; 0.25, 0.72; P = 0.001), and men with higher myricetin intakes had a lower prostate cancer risk (0.43; 0.22, 0.86; P = 0.002). Asthma incidence was lower at higher quercetin (0.76; 0.56, 1.01; P = 0.005), naringenin (0.69; 0.50, 0.94; P = 0.06), and hesperetin (0.64; 0.46, 0.88; P = 0.03) intakes. A trend toward a reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes was associated with higher quercetin (0.81; 0.64, 1.02; P = 0.07) and myricetin (0.79; 0.62, 1.00; P = 0.07) intakes. Conclusion: The risk of some chronic diseases may be lower at higher dietary flavonoid intakes. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:560–8.
Perceptual Evaluation of Vibrato Models

We promote a clearer definition of vibrato(Seashore, 1932),based on a review of various vibrato features.We also propose a generalised vibrato effect generator that includes spectral envelope modulation,and a frequency-dependent hysteresis behaviour.We then investigate the influence of spectral envelope modulation on perceived quality with a double-blind randomized ABcomparison task.Eight participants listened to12pairs of sounds with vibrato matched for loudness.Each pair included one sound with constant average spectral envelope (identical amplitude modulation over all frequencies) and one with modulated spectral envelope (frequency dependent amplitude modulation). Participants were asked to choose which version sounded the most natural.The statistical analysis revealed a significant preference for sounds with modulated spectral envelope (p<0.001). Our results highlight the need to consider spectral envelope modulation for vibrato modelling.
Short communication: renal tubular vacuolation in animals treated with polyethylene-glycol-conjugated proteins.

During toxicologic evaluation of a dimeric PEG-linked protein, tumor necrosis factor binding protein (TNF-bp), vacuolation of renal cortical tubular epithelium was seen in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (200-300 g) given i.v. doses of 40, 20, or 10 mg/kg every other day for 3 months. Tubular lesions in rats treated with 20 or 40 mg/kg for 3 months were only partially reversible after a 2-month recovery period. Despite the presence of marked vacuolation, there were no changes in BUN, creatinine, urinalysis parameters, urinary NAG, urinary B2-microglobulin, or fractional sodium excretion. Single i.v. doses > or = 20 mg/kg TNF-bp caused similar but milder changes. However, equivalent doses of PEG alone or the non-PEG-linked TNF-bp did not cause light microscopic evidence of vacuolation. Treatment of rats with another PEG-linked protein of similar molecular weight resulted in similar changes. Immunostaining for TNF-bp revealed positivity in the apical cytoplasm of renal tubular epithelium within 1 h of i.v. dosing. Immunostaining of kidneys from chronically dosed rats indicated that protein was present in some vacuoles as long as dosing continued; however, kidneys from animals on a reversibility study had vacuoles but no immunostaining for TNF-bp. These results, along with a study that showed more severe lesions with PEG-linked proteins of lower molecular weight and minimal if any lesions with PEG-linked proteins > 70 kDa, suggest that TNF-bp is filtered through the glomerulus and that the protein with attached PEG is reabsorbed by the proximal tubules. Vacuolation may be a result of fluid distension of lysosomes due to the hygroscopic nature of PEG. These studies demonstrated that PEG-linked proteins have the capacity to induce renal tubular vacuolation at high doses. However, the change was not associated with alteration of clinical pathology or functional markers.
Market Declines: What is Accomplished by Banning Short-Selling?

In 2008, U.S. regulators banned the short-selling of financial stocks, fearing that the practice was helping to drive the steep drop in stock prices during the crisis. However, a new look at the effects of such restrictions challenges the notion that short sales exacerbate market downturns in this way. The 2008 ban on short sales failed to slow the decline in the price of financial stocks; in fact, prices fell markedly over the two weeks in which the ban was in effect and stabilized once it was lifted. Similarly, following the downgrade of the U.S. sovereign credit rating in 2011? another notable period of market stress? stocks subject to short-selling restrictions performed worse than stocks free of such restraints.
Metabolic organization of freshwater, euryhaline, and marine elasmobranchs: implications for the evolution of energy metabolism in sharks and rays

SUMMARY To test the hypothesis that the preference for ketone bodies rather than lipids as oxidative fuel in elasmobranchs evolved in response to the appearance of urea-based osmoregulation, we measured total non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in plasma as well as maximal activities of enzymes of intermediary metabolism in tissues from marine and freshwater elasmobranchs, including: the river stingray Potamotrygon motoro (<1 mmol l–1 plasma urea); the marine stingray Taeniura lymma, and the marine shark Chiloscyllium punctatum (>300 mmol l–1 plasma urea); and the euryhaline freshwater stingray Himantura signifer, which possesses intermediate levels of urea. H. signifer also were acclimated to half-strength seawater (15‰) for 2 weeks to ascertain the metabolic effects of the higher urea level that results from salinity acclimation. Our results do not support the urea hypothesis. Enzyme activities and plasma NEFA in salinity-challenged H. signifer were largely unchanged from the freshwater controls, and the freshwater elasmobranchs did not show an enhanced capacity for extrahepatic lipid oxidation relative to the marine species. Importantly, and contrary to previous studies, extrahepatic lipid oxidation does occur in elasmobranchs, based on high carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) activities in kidney and rectal gland. Heart CPT in the stingrays was detectable but low, indicating some capacity for lipid oxidation. CPT was undetectable in red muscle, and almost undetectable in heart, from C. punctatum as well as in white muscle from T. lymma. We propose a revised model of tissue-specific lipid oxidation in elasmobranchs, with high levels in liver, kidney and rectal gland, low or undetectable levels in heart, and none in red or white muscle. Plasma NEFA levels were low in all species, as previously noted in elasmobranchs. D-β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (d-β-HBDH) was high in most tissues confirming the importance of ketone bodies in elasmobranchs. However, very low d-β-HBDH in kidney from T. lymma indicates that interspecific variability in ketone body utilization occurs. A negative relationship was observed across species between liver glutamate dehydrogenase activity and tissue or plasma urea levels, suggesting that glutamate is preferentially deaminated in freshwater elasmobranchs because it does not need to be shunted to urea production as in marine elasmobranchs.
The Glass Half Empty: How Emotional Exhaustion Affects the State-Trait Discrepancy in Self-Reports of Teaching Emotions

Following from previous research on intensity bias and the accessibility model of emotional self-report, the present study examined the role of emotional exhaustion in explaining the discrepancy in teachers’ reports of their trait (habitual) versus state (momentary, “real”) emotions. Trait reports (habitual emotions, exhaustion) were assessed via trait questionnaires, and state reports (momentary emotions) were assessed in real time via the experience sampling method by using personal digital assistants (N = 69 high school teachers; 1,089 measures within teachers). In line with our assumptions, multi-level analyses showed that, as compared to the state assessment, teachers reported higher levels of habitual teaching-related emotions of anger, anxiety, shame, boredom, enjoyment, and pride. Additionally, the state-trait discrepancy in self-reports of negative emotions was accounted for by teachers’ emotional exhaustion, with high exhaustion levels corresponding with a greater state-trait discrepancy. Exhaustion levels did not moderate the state-trait discrepancy in positive emotions indicating that perceived emotional exhaustion may reflect identity-related cognitions specific to the negative belief system. Implications for research and educational practice are discussed.
High Reliability Principles and Verifications in Solid Tantalum Capacitors . End-User ’ s Manufacturing Processes

This paper is companion to Y. Freeman’s and P. Lessner’s paper [1] introducing a new Flawless Technology with Simulated Breakdown Screening, (F-TECH) for manufacturing MnO2 style Tantalum (Ta) capacitors. This paper focuses on the impact that the end-user’s manufacturing processes have on reliability of Solid Ta capacitors. It demonstrates that depending on the end-user’s techniques and conditions, improvements in the capacitors quality can diminish significantly by unintended damage to the Ta capacitor dielectric during end-user’s manufacturing processes. Among the other factors affecting non-hermetic solid Ta capacitors, exposure to moisture prior to surface mounting can have a strong negative effect on the capacitor reliability. Test results will be provided to measure failure rate differences between conventional and F-TECH solid Ta capacitors. The results provide evidence that the F-TECH process along with the end-user process improvements provide the lowest component failure rates and the highest reliability. 1. Summary of industry reporting Evidence of catastrophic failure of MnO2 style Ta capacitor as a result of exposure to humidity is well documented [2,3,4]. In 1998, Devaney and Dicken [2] reported the results of testing following exposure to 85% RH at 35°C. They observed 20% failure with no subsequent bake out and a decrease to 4-5% failure with bake out at 100°C for 3 days. They concluded that the effects of humidity are not unique to one manufacturer, can be lot independent or dependent on the location of the user’s facility. In 2003, R.W. Dobson [3] observed 2.9% fallout of surface mount MnO2 style capacitors used in switching power supply applications. These parts were stored in conditions of uncontrolled humidity prior to mounting as well as uncontrolled internal manufacturing process related to aqueous wash and solder reflow. The supplier retested recently manufactured capacitors and found no failures following surge A and B and a 100 hour screen performed at 85°C and rated voltage. A subset of these same parts was subjected to 85°C/85%RH/100hours with 7.5% failure. Independent testing of parts that were initially stored in an uncontrolled environment with and without unbiased 85°C/85%RH/100hours showed a range of 1.7% to 5% failure with an undefined bake out. Continued testing of this sample under conditions of biased 85°C/85%RH/100hours showed failures 3 to 4 time higher than unbiased test results. The conclusions from this work indicate that failure mechanism is not lot or supplier specific, exposure to biased humidity is more severe than un-biased, the failure mechanism affects the entire population of parts and exhibits a wear-out characteristic given continued or repeated exposure to moisture. CARTS International 2014 March 31-April 3, 2014
Optimization to multicasting protocol in unidirectional ad-hoc networks

This paper proposes an optimization as an extension to a swarm-like styled, collaborative multicast routing protocol designed for unidirectional ad-hoc networks - called MUNet. MUNet is inspired by swarm intelligence and further motivated by collaboration discovery. The concept of spatial locality suggests the use of neighbor nodes for network resilience (i.e. path self-healing and shortening.) Potential link breakage can be prevented collaboratively by reinforcing neighbor nodes, prior to any costly time-consuming link recovery. Critical path is shortened when exists. In unidirectional ad-hoc networks where essential feedback does not exist at the MAC layer, neighbor collaboration, while increasing network resilience, can adversely affect the overall routing performance. In order to improve routing efficiency and resource utilization, the optimization applies a heuristic feature into the original MUNet protocol. Instantaneously determined by local control traffic density, a node probabilistically sets a level of its responsiveness to participate in the routing protocol maintenance. Compared with the original MUNet and ODMRP using GlomoSim, the proposed optimization mechanism shows a significant reduction on routing overhead along with an improvement on protocol effectiveness.
Reducing the Shadow Economy in Germany: A Blessing or a Curse?* )

The size and development of the shadow economy of Germany is estimated, using various estimation procedures. An increased burden of taxation and social security payments, combined with intensive labor market regulation, quality of state institutions and the tax morale are the driving forces for the shadow economy. Moreover, the results of recent surveys for Germany demonstrate, that the readiness to undertake illicit employment as well as its acceptance are high in Germany and other countries. Finally, conclusions are made about the effect of the shadow economy on the official one and incentive oriented policy means are presented, so that the “black” value added can be transformed into official value added. JEL class: O17, O5, D78, H2, H26.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Recent Trends (2007)

The nation’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are diverse. Although we discuss them as a category based on their historical racial makeup, these institutions are in fact quite different from one another. According to the government’s definition, black colleges are bound together by the fact that they were established prior to 1964 (the year of the Civil Rights Act) with the express purpose of educating African Americans. These institutions, of which there are 103, are public, private, large, small, religious, nonsectarian, selective, and open-enrolling. They educate 300,000 students and employ over 14,000 faculty members.1 Some black colleges are thriving, others are barely making ends meet, and many fall in between. Regardless, most of them are providing a much needed education to African American students (and many others).