Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The challenges for quality managers in Britain and Australia

Purpose – This paper aims to compare and contrast the career experiences and development needs of British and Australian quality managers.Design/methodology/approach – The results of a postal survey of the careers of British quality managers are compared with Australian quality managers based on two surveys.Findings – The study finds that quality managers in both countries brought wide functional experience to their roles. Their current jobs are major sources of intrinsic job satisfaction for both groups of managers but they utilise a very limited range of quality tools. Also British and Australian managers show little awareness in terms of their development needs for a broader background in quality.Practical implications – The findings suggest a worrying lack of innovatory zeal amongst quality managers who appear to be more concerned with the maintenance of standards rather than taking a more dynamic approach. Thus it is argued that while quality managers bring wide functional experience to their current.
SECURED SMART HOME ENERGY MONITORING SYSTEM (SSHEMS) USING RASPBERRY PI

This paper deals with the design and implementation of Secure Home Automation using Raspberry Pi for mobile devices that leverage mobile technology to provide essential security to our homes and associated control operations. The proposed home security solution hinges on our novel integration of cameras and motion detectors into web application. Raspberry Pi operates and controls motion detectors and video cameras for remote sensing and surveillance, streams live video and records it for future playback, and finally manages operations on home appliances, such as turning ON/OFF a television or microwave. For instance, when motion is detected, the cameras automatically initiate recording and the Raspberry Pi device alerts the homeowner of the possible intrusion. Raspberry Pi has two main components interacting with each other: the Web application that executes on the mobile device's browser and server-side scripts that run in a cloud which will be operated by the Raspberry Pi hardware tool component
Price adjustments and multiregional rigidities in the analysis of world trade

This paper reviews a variety of approaches to modeling interregional and international trade flows. It then suggests a framework which is capable of combining price formation mechanisms with factors which cause resistance to change and barriers to trade. In certain respects the framework adheres to the Takayama-Judge tradition, but differs by using a probabilistic approach which generates solutions which are not perfectly competitive equilibria. With regard to prices, the adopted framework is Walrasian rather than Marshallian in nature.
Protein associated with Myc (PAM) is involved in spinal nociceptive processing

PAM (protein associated with Myc) is a potent inhibitor of adenylyl cyclases (ACs) which is primarily expressed in neurones. Here we describe that PAM is highly expressed in dorsal horn neurones and motoneuron of the spinal cord, as well as in neurones of dorsal root ganglia in adult rats. PAM mRNA expression is differentially regulated during development in both spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of rats, being strongest during the major respective synaptogenic periods. In adult rats, PAM expression was up‐regulated in the spinal cord after peripheral nociceptive stimulation using zymosan and formalin injection, suggesting a role for PAM in spinal nociceptive processing. Since PAM inhibited Gαs‐stimulated AC activity in dorsal root ganglia as well as spinal cord lysates, we hypothesized that PAM may reduce spinal nociceptive processing by inhibition of cAMP‐dependent signalling. Accordingly, intrathecal treatment with antisense but not sense oligonucleotides against PAM increased basal and Gαs‐stimulated AC activity in the spinal cord and enhanced formalin‐induced nociceptive behaviour in adult rats. Taken together our findings demonstrate that PAM is involved in spinal nociceptive processing.
The adoption of photovoltaic systems in Wiesbaden, Germany

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that determine the adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Our case study of the city of Wiesbaden, Germany, is based on a geocoded data set of the grid-connected PV systems set up through 2009. We aim to determine whether the decision to install can be explained by peer effects measured by preexisting installations in the vicinity, i.e. the installed base which is determined for each decision-maker individually. We employ a binary panel logit model and control for spatial variations in buying power and population density. Our analysis reveals a significantly positive influence of previously installed systems located nearby on the decision to install a PV system.
Acoustic and perceptual effects of left-right laryngeal asymmetries based on computational modeling.

PURPOSE Computational modeling was used to examine the consequences of 5 different laryngeal asymmetries on acoustic and perceptual measures of vocal function. METHOD A kinematic vocal fold model was used to impose 5 laryngeal asymmetries: adduction, edge bulging, nodal point ratio, amplitude of vibration, and starting phase. Thirty /a/ and /ɪ/ vowels were generated for each asymmetry and analyzed acoustically using cepstral peak prominence (CPP), harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), and 3 measures of spectral slope (H1*-H2*, B0-B1, and B0-B2). Twenty listeners rated voice quality for a subset of the productions. RESULTS Increasingly asymmetric adduction, bulging, and nodal point ratio explained significant variance in perceptual rating (R2 = .05, p < .001). The same factors resulted in generally decreasing CPP, HNR, and B0-B2 and in increasing B0-B1. Of the acoustic measures, only CPP explained significant variance in perceived quality (R2 = .14, p < .001). Increasingly asymmetric amplitude of vibration or starting phase minimally altered vocal function or voice quality. CONCLUSION Asymmetries of adduction, bulging, and nodal point ratio drove acoustic measures and perception in the current study, whereas asymmetric amplitude of vibration and starting phase demonstrated minimal influence on the acoustic signal or voice quality.
Employees' overestimation of functional and relational service quality: A gap analysis

This study extends previous research on gap analysis of service quality by including not only functional service quality but also relational benefits. To this end, a field study was carried out in 36 hotels and 35 restaurants. The samples consisted of 213 employees and 657 customers. A questionnaire format was used to measure both functional and relational service quality, as well as customers' loyalty. When comparing employee and customer perceptions, gaps potentially range from ‘overestimation’ (employees' perceptions are greater than customers' perceptions) to ‘underestimation’ (customers' perceptions are greater than employees' perceptions). In general, the results indicated that the employees surveyed overestimated the service quality they offer to customers, although gaps were greater for certain service attributes than for others. In addition, some gaps were more related to customer loyalty than others. The findings also showed that employees' overestimation of relational benefits plays a moderating role, increasing the negative relationship between employees' overestimation of functional service quality and customers' loyalty. The theoretical and managerial implications of the results are discussed further in this paper.
The inflammatory cytokine response of cholesterol‐enriched macrophages is dampened by stimulated pinocytosis

Two features of advanced atherosclerotic lesions are large numbers of macrophages and a heightened state of inflammation. Some of the macrophages appear to be enriched with free cholesterol (FCMφs), and we have shown that this process induces the synthesis and secretion of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF‐α and IL‐6. However, lesions contain many other macrophages that are not FC‐enriched (non‐FCMφs). Therefore, we sought to understand how the interaction of these two populations of macrophages would influence the inflammatory response. We show here that non‐FCMφs possess a robust ability to deplete TNF‐α and IL‐6 secreted by FCMφs. The mechanism involves enhanced pinocytic uptake and lysosomal degradation of the FCMφ‐secreted cytokines by the non‐FCMφs. The FCMφs contribute directly to this process by secreting pinocytosis‐stimulatory factors that act on non‐FCMφs but not on the FCMφs themselves. One of these pinocytosis‐stimulatory factors is M‐CSF, which is induced by a process involving cholesterol trafficking to the endoplasmic reticulum and signaling through PI‐3K and ERK MAPK pathways. However, one or more other FCMφ‐secreted factors are also required for stimulating pinocytosis in non‐FCMφs. Thus, FCMφs secrete inflammatory cytokines as well as factors that promote the eventual pinocytosis and degradation of these cytokines by neighboring macrophages. This process may normally serve to prevent prolonged or disseminated effects of inflammatory cytokines during inflammation. Moreover, possible perturbation of stimulated pinocytosis during the progression of advanced atherosclerosis may contribute to the heightened inflammatory state of these lesions.
The Impact of an Innovative Human Resource Function on Firm Performance: the Moderating Role of Financing Strategy

The current study examined the impact of the human resource function and financing strategy on the financial performance of 104 UK manufacturing firms. Hypotheses are drawn from a resource-based perspective on human resource management and a financial theory perspective on capital structure. Results show that an innovative HR function is significantly related to economic performance. However, the relationship between an innovative HR function and economic performance was moderated by the firm? s financing strategy. Firms obtained higher returns from an innovative HR function when pursuing a low leveraging (debt) financing strategy, a finding consistent with modern finance theory notions that firmspecific strategic assets provide greatest value when financed primarily through equity as opposed to debt.
Security Risk Assessment in Internet of Things Systems

Information security risk assessment methods have served us well over the past two decades. They have provided a tool for organizations and governments to use in protecting themselves against pertinent risks. As the complexity, pervasiveness, and automation of technology systems increases and cyberspace matures, particularly with the Internet of Things (IoT), there is a strong argument that we will need new approaches to assess risk and build trust. The challenge with simply extending existing assessment methodologies to IoT systems is that we could be blind to new risks arising in such ecosystems. These risks could be related to the high degrees of connectivity present or the coupling of digital, cyber-physical, and social systems. This article makes the case for new methodologies to assess risk in this context that consider the dynamics and uniqueness of the IoT while maintaining the rigor of best practice in risk assessment.
Capital Structure, Rates of Return and Financing Corporate Growth: Comparing Developed and Emerging Markets, 1994-2000

Firm level data from financial statements for nearly 8,000 listed companies in 22 emerging and 22 developed countries over the period 1994-00 are examined. Capital structure, asset structure, rates of return and financing patterns are compared across countries and over time. Generally, there are as many similarities as differences between the two groups. The differences include lower levels of debt to finance assets and lower levels of current assets in emerging markets compared with developed countries. Returns on assets, expressed in local currency, are comparable in the two groups but appear more volatile in emerging markets. Capital Structure, Rates of Return and Financing Corporate Growth: Evidence from Developed and Emerging Markets, 1994-00
Making Campuses More Inclusive of Transgender Students

ABSTRACT This article examines a number of areas of campus life where transgender students experience discrimination because of gender-exclusive policies and practices: health care, residence halls, bathrooms, locker rooms, records and documents, public inclusion, and programming, training, and support. The specific obstacles faced by transgender students in a given area are discussed, followed by examples of how different colleges and universities are addressing these issues.
Monetary policy shocks in the new EU members: a VAR approach

The article provides empirical evidence on the effects of monetary policy shocks in the three largest new European Union (EU) economies: Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Vector autoregression (VAR) system estimates show that the co-movement of macroeconomic variables, conditional on a monetary policy shock, is similar across these countries and, despite their lower degree of financial development, not dissimilar to that found for more advanced European economies. While qualitatively similar to the responses observed in the old EU members, the responses of the new members are, on average, weaker.
Artificial Long Memory Effects in Two Agend-Based Asset Pricing Models

This note is concerned with two recent agent-based models of speculative dynamics from the literature, one by Gaunersdorfer and Hommes and the other by He and Li. At short as well as long lags, both of them display an autocorrelation structure in absolute and squared returns that comes remarkably close to that of real data at a daily frequency. The note argues that these long memory effects are to be ascribed to the stochastic specification of the price equation, which given the wide fluctuations in these models unduly fails to normalize the price shocks. Under an appropriate respecification, the long memory completely disappears.
Measuring Tax Multipliers: The Narrative Method in Fiscal VARs †

This paper argues in favor of empirical models built by including in fiscal VAR models structural shocks identified via the narrative method. We first show that "narrative" shocks are orthogonal to the relevant information set a fiscal VAR. We then derive impulse responses to these shocks. The use of narrative shocks does not require the inversion of the moving-average representation of a VAR for the identification of the relevant shocks. Therefore, within this framework, fiscal multipliers can be identified and estimated even when, in the presence of "fiscal foresight," the MA representation of the VARs is not invertible. (JEL C32, E62, H20, H62, H63)
A Functional YNKI Motif in the Short Cytoplasmic Tail of Varicella-Zoster Virus Glycoprotein gH Mediates Clathrin-Dependent and Antibody-Independent Endocytosis

ABSTRACT The trafficking of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gH was investigated under both infection and transfection conditions. In initial endocytosis assays performed in infected cells, the three glycoproteins gE, gI, and gB served as positive controls for internalization from the plasma membrane. Subsequently, we discovered that gH in VZV-infected cells was also internalized and followed a similar trafficking pattern. This observation was unexpected because all herpesvirus gH homologues have short endodomains not known to contain trafficking motifs. Further investigation demonstrated that VZV gH, when expressed alone with its chaperone gL, was capable of endocytosis in a clathrin-dependent manner, independent of gE, gI, or gB. Upon inspection of the short gH cytoplasmic tail, we discovered a putative tyrosine-based endocytosis motif (YNKI). When the tyrosine was replaced with an alanine, endocytosis of gH was blocked. Utilizing an endocytosis assay dependent on biotin labeling, we further documented that endocytosis of VZV gH was antibody independent. In control experiments, we showed that gE, gI, and gB also internalized in an antibody-independent manner. Alignment analysis of the VZV gH cytoplasmic tail to other herpesvirus gH homologues revealed two important findings: (i) herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 homologues lacked an endocytosis motif, while all other alphaherpesvirus gH homologues contained a potential motif, and (ii) the VZV gH and simian varicella virus gH cytoplasmic tails were likely longer in length (18 amino acids) than predicted in the original sequence analyses (12 and 16 amino acids, respectively). The longer tails provided the proper context for a functional endocytosis motif.
Catheter-related Bacteremias in Patients with Cancer

TO THE EDITOR: A recent report by Groeger and coworkers [1] shows a higher proportion of catheter-related bacteremias in patients with Hickman-type catheters; the authors speculate that the predominance of gram-negative pathogens is probably caused by translocation of gut bacteria in neutropenic patients with altered mucosal barriers. However, they do not report the proportion of neutropenic patients at the time of diagnosis of catheter-related bacteremias and, among Enterobacteriaceae, do not differentiate those pathogens frequently identified as contaminants of infusate and antiseptics [2-4]. We did a study of the incidence of catheter-related bacteremias in 584 Broviac catheters inserted from January 1984 to December 1991 in 475 children (median age, 6 years; range, 20 days to 17 years) hospitalized at our center for treatment of neoplastic disease. Catheter care and patient management have been reported previously [5]. The total number of catheter-days was 108 678, and the median duration in situ was 263 days (range, 1 to 835 days). During the period of observation of 226 episodes of bacteremia, 65 (28.7%) were classified as catheter-related; 23 occurred in neutropenic patients (granulocyte count, <1000/mm3) and 42 in patients without neutropenia. Of the 161 episodes classified, unrelated to catheters, 134 occurred in neutropenic patients and 27 in patients without neutropenia. The incidence of catheter-related bacteremia among patients with and without neutropenia was statistically different (P < 0.001). Twenty-eight of 65 cases of catheter-related bacteremia (43%) were diagnosed as gram-positive bacteremia, 15 (23%) as gram-negative, 9 (14%) as fungal, and 13 (20%) as polymicrobial. Among polymicrobial bacteremias, 17 gram-negative strains were isolated. Of the 32 gram-negative strains isolated, 27 (83%) belonged to one of the following: Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Achromobacter, Serratia, and Pseudomonas non-aeruginosa. These strains are generally considered infusate or antiseptic contaminants [2-4]. Gram-negative strains were isolated with the same frequency, regardless of the presence of neutropenia and independent of the underlying disease (acute leukemia or solid tumor). No epidemic cluster was observed. All survey cultures of hospital infusate were negative. Children without neutropenia are usually followed as outpatients. Therefore, we speculate that the higher frequency of catheter-related bacteremia was related to the inadequate parental management of catheters at home, especially the maintenance of intravenous fluids (heparin) and antiseptics. The low frequency in patients with ports [1] is plausible because such patients require fewer procedures when the ports are not in use.
Fluctuations in an Equilibrium Convective Ensemble. Part II: Numerical Experiments

Abstract The theoretical predictions derived in Part I of this study for the equilibrium fluctuations of an idealized ensemble of noninteracting, pointlike cumulus clouds are tested against three-dimensional cloud resolving model (CRM) simulations of radiative–convective equilibrium. Simulations with different radiative cooling rates are used to give a range of cloud densities, while imposed vertical wind shear of different strengths is used to produce different degrees of convective organization. The distribution of mass flux of individual clouds is found to be exponential in all simulations, in agreement with the theory. The distribution of total mass flux over a finite region also agrees well (to within around 10%) with the theoretical prediction for all simulations, but only after a correction to the modeled variance to take account of the finite size of clouds has been made. In the absence of imposed vertical wind shear, some spatial clustering of convective cells is observed at lower forcings (−2 an.
Severe community acquired pneumonia: a one-year analysis in a tertiary referral intensive care unit.

AIMS To define outcomes, characteristics, microbiology and salient prognostic factors of patients admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) with severe community acquired pneumonia, over a one year period. METHODS All adult patients with severe community acquired pneumonia admitted between July 1997 and July 1998 were studied. Data were extracted by retrospective chart review. Variables assessed included underlying conditions and baseline physical parameters. Evolutionary variables eg, septic shock and laboratory data including microbiology and arterial blood gas determinants were also assessed. Prognostic factors were determined by comparison of the above variables between survivors and non-survivors. The prognostic value of the British Thoracic Society discriminant 'rule one' was assessed. Results. 32 patients were assessed. ICU mortality was 31%. 84% of patients had co-morbidity. The average age was 58.5 (SD 17.4) years and the average APACHE 11 score was 20.37 (SD 9.12). A microbiological diagnosis was made in 40%. Mortality was not increased in those in whom a bacterial diagnosis was not made. Commonest pathogens isolated were Streptococcus pneumoniae (46%), gram negative organisms (29%) and Staphylococcus aureus (23%). Prognostic factors on and during ICU admission were the need for mechanical ventilation (p=0.0003), septic shock (p=0.02), inotrope requirement (p=0.003), low serum albumin (p=0.041), base deficit (p=0.04), INR (p=0.02) and inspired oxygen concentration (p=0.003). On initial admission to hospital the presence of bilateral pneumonia was the only variable correlated with outcome (p=0.01). The British Thoracic Society 'rule one' did not correlate with death either on admission to hospital or ICU. CONCLUSIONS Severe community acquired pneumonia carries a high mortality despite ICU management. Bacterial diagnostic rate was low but made no difference to mortality. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the commonest causative pathogen. The development of septic shock, requirement for mechanical ventilation and bilateral disease are important adverse prognostic indicators.
Strong-Form Efficiency on the Toronto Stock Exchange: An Examination of Analyst Price Forecasts

Strong-form efficiency on the Toronto Stock Exchange is examined by focusing on the stock price forecasts of brokerage-firm analysts who follow TSE firms. Two principal analyses are undertaken. First, there is considerable evidence in both the U.S. and U.K. that analysts possess valuable private information at the firm-specific level. This paper provides evidence that this finding is generalizable to Canadian analysts. Second, U.S. and U.K. studies generally have been based on a single-factor model (e.g., the CAPM). The choice of benchmarks (CAPM versus APT) has been shown to be important in a variety of contexts. We provide evidence that the choice of benchmark does not alter the fundamental conclusion that Canadian analysts possess valuable private information at the firm-specific level. Our findings have implications for accounting researchers, namely, the appropriateness of researchers to use CAPM in lieu of the computationally, more burdensome APT and the appropriateness of researchers to use Canadian analyst forecasts when a proxy is required for the (unobservable) market expectation.