Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High-frequency Trading High-frequency Trading Industry Strategy Project Engineering Leadership Program

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Burrowing rodents as ecosystem engineers: the ecology and management of plateau zokors Myospalax fontanierii in alpine meadow ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau

1. Plateau zokors, Myospalax fontanierii, are the only subterranean herbivores on the Tibetan plateau of China. Although the population biology of plateau zokors has been studied for many years, the interactions between zokors and plants, especially for the maintenance and structure of ecological communities, have been poorly recognized. In the past, plateau zokors have been traditionally viewed as pests, competitors with cattle, and agents of soil erosion, thus eradication programmes have been carried out by local governments and farmers. Zokors are also widely and heavily exploited for their use in traditional Chinese medicine.2. Like other fossorial animals, such as pocket gophers Geomys spp. and prairie dogs Cynomys spp. in similar ecosystems, zokors may act to increase local environmental heterogeneity at the landscape level, aid in the formation, aeration and mixing of soil, and enhance infiltration of water into the soil thus curtailing erosion. The changes that zokors cause in the physical environment, vegetation and soil clearly affect the herbivore food web. Equally, plateau zokors also provide a significant food source for many avian and mammalian predators on the plateau. Zokor control leading to depletion of prey and secondary poisoning may therefore present problems for populations of numerous other animals.3. We highlight the important role plateau zokors play in the Tibetan plateau ecosystem. Plateau zokors should be managed in concert with other comprehensive rangeland treatments to ensure the ecological equilibrium and preservation of native biodiversity, as well as the long-term sustainable use of pastureland by domestic livestock.
THE IMPACT OF WEB BASED TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF FINANCIAL INSTUTIONS

As many other authors since early ninties (Armour, H.O.; Teece, D.J., 1978; Summer et al., 1990; Meyer, 1991; Pettigrew and Whipp, 1991; 1993; Thomas et al, 1994) we try to measure the performance achieved in insurance companies as a result of properly implementing new information and communication technologies (specifically those we define as web-based technologies). Although organisational performance has been measured in different ways, there are not available guides that allow researchers choose a proper measure. Multiple measures have been chosen in a random way (Kenneth, L.; Lawrence, J.; Boatwright, E., 1996). A way to front this problem is by using a dual perspective. Concretely in this study we propose a new measure in order to evaluate the impact of web based technologies in the relationship with customers. In this way we speak about agility as a combination of four different dimensions.
Finding the Dividing Line Between Tax Sharing and Grants: A Statistical Investigation

Tax sharing and intergovernmental grants are two sub-central funding arrangements that are often difficult to disentangle. The dividing line is not drawn uniformly across OECD countries or across time, and rules established in National Accounts, Revenue Statistics and others give incomplete guidance. Moreover, tax sharing arrangements may differ according to how tax revenue is distributed across individual jurisdictions. In order to ensure that fiscal arrangements are recorded properly and on a comparable basis, a set of clear criteria to delineate them is required. This section presents the results of a test that was applied in order to find the dividing line a) between tax sharing and intergovernmental grants and b) between different categories of tax sharing. The test was performed using questionnaire responses and builds on earlier documents on the same topic presented to Fiscal Network Delegates in 2006 and 2008.
Square-root unscented Kalman filter based simultaneous localization and mapping

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is concerned to be the key point to realize the real autonomy of mobile robot. Unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is widely applied in SLAM problem because of its directly using of nonlinear model. Concerning that square root filter can ensure non-negative definite of the covariance matrix, this article introduced a square-root unscented Kalman filter into SLAM problem and ensured its stability. This algorithm also gained a more accurate estimation compared to UKF based SLAM. Simulation results showed that this algorithm is effective.
Temperament and Competence in the Managerial Roles of Community College Presidents.

This study examines the role of community college presidents as the two-year institution faces changing and expanding issues and challenges. The author argues that the community college president must be adept at assembling a leadership team if he/she is going to be an effective administrator. The study utilized a cross-sectional design and collected data using a mailed survey. The author randomly selected 300 community college presidents from a target population of 463 presidents of stand-alone campuses that are members of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and which have governing boards. A total of 124 presidents agreed to participate in the study, representing 31% of the target population and 47% of the random sample. The 119 usable surveys represented 26% of the target population and 40% of the random sample. The survey asked seven questions regarding temperament type. The author concludes that the study: (1) establishes that there are statistical differences in how the four temperaments rate their competence; (2) confirms Roberts' and Macdaid's temperament distributions for college presidents; (3) reasonably establishes the representatives of the study sample from which conclusions may be drawn; and (4) provides a springboard from which other such studies can be generated. Appended are the Situational Temperament Sorter, the leaderships Competencies Assessment Instrument, and letters of invitation and instruction. (Contains 53 references.) (NB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Temperament and Competence in the Managerial Roles of Community College Presidents
Predictive value of maternal serum β-hCG concentration in the ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy

Background: Measurement of serum β-hCG concentration commonly used to diagnose tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) and follow up patients treated conservatively. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of maternal serum β-hCG concentration in ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy to help physicians identify those women who are at greatest risk. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on all women with a diagnosis of tubal ectopic pregnancy who were treated in Alzahra Hospital, in Rasht, from March 2002 to February 2011. The data was collected for each woman from medical records and included age, parity, gravidia, gestational age, primary level of serum β-hCG, rupture status, past history of pelvic inflammation disease, EP, abortion, and intrauterine contraceptive device use. Women with tubal rupture were compared to those without rupture. Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS 19 for Windows. Results: A total of 247 cases of tubal ectopic pregnancy were recorded during the study period. One hundred and ninety seven (79.8%) were cases with unruptured EP and 50 patients (20.2 %) were cases with ruptured EP. The mean level of β-hCG was significantly higher in patients with ruptured EP compared to patients with unruptured EP (p=0.03). Logistic regression analysis revealed that >1750 IU/ml of β-hCG levels (OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.18-1.68) was the significant risk factors for tubal rupture. Conclusion: Higher β-hCG levels seem to be significant risk factors for rupture of a tubal EP.
Rethinking Snowstorms as Snow Events a Regional Case Study from Upstate New York

epic snowstorm disrupted normal life in much of the Northeastern United States. The Blizzard of 1888 dumped more than 3 ft (91 cm) of snow in much of the Hudson Valley and Connecticut, while winds as high as 36 m s –1 created drifts of more than 20 ft (6 m); (Kocin 1983; Cable 1988). One hundred and five years later, another epic blizzard struck the Northeast. The Blizzard of 1993 was equally impressive, with incredible snow accumulation—such as 42 in. (107 cm) in Syracuse, New York —strong winds, and a paralyzing impact. However, despite the larger area and greater population affected by this storm, fewer human fatalities were attributed to the Blizzard of 1993 than to the Blizzard of 1888. Furthermore, within a few days after the Blizzard of 1993 ended, many businesses and schools resumed normal operations. Why did these two significant snowstorms have such dramatically different effects on society? In 1993, factors such as massive government intervention , cooperative behavior by the general public, and advances in forecasting ability and forecast dissemination allowed for adequate preparation, appropriate actions during the storm, and efficient cleanup operations afterward (Uccellini et al. 1995). While the mitigating influence of these factors may seem intuitive, surprisingly few researchers—either within or outside the meteorological community—have examined how nonmeteorological factors affect a snowstorm's impact. Although, Hart and Grumm (2001) and Zielinski (2002) have devised scales rating winter storms, only Rooney (1967) and Kocin and Uccellini (2004b) have created snowfall scales that incorporate any nonmeteorological factors. Rooney's five-category scale focused on snow's effects on transportation networks, while Kocin and Uccellini considered population in their Northeast snowfall impact scale. This author agrees with Kocin and Uccellini (2004b) that creating an easily understood scale that incorporates the range of snowstorm variability may be difficult. Nonetheless, an understanding of the significant factors that affect a snowstorm's im-pact—both meteorological and nonmeteorological Whether predicting or planning for snowstorms, forecasters, government, and the general public should consider both meteorological and human-caused variations inherent in snow events.
Stress Measurement Using Pulsed Eddy Current Thermography

This paper reports a noncontact inspection method, using Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) stimulated thermography, for the evaluation of the anisotropic dependency of electrical conductivity of steel exposed to tensile stress. This method combines microscope lens based thermography with PEC using a rectangular excitation coil, giving directional excitation, to infer the electromagnetic properties variation in the longitudinal and transverse directions to a static uniaxially applied tensile stress. Theoretical analysis and details of the experimental set-up are presented. The relationship between excitation coil layout and applied stress, and the measured transient thermal images are discussed. Comparison of the results with previous work on PEC techniques for stress measurement is also discussed.
Radio bubbles in the composite AGN-starburst galaxy NGC 6764

We present multifrequency radio continuum as well as H i observations of the composite galaxy NGC 6764, which has a young, circumnuclear starburst and also harbours an active galactic nucleus (AGN). These observations have been made at a number of frequencies ranging from ∼600 MHz to 15 GHz using both the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Very Large Array (VLA). They reveal the structure of the bipolar bubbles of non-thermal radio emission which are along the minor axis of the galaxy and extend up to ∼1.1 and 1.5 kpc on the northern and southern sides, respectively. Features in the radio bubbles appear to overlap with filaments of Hα emission. The high-resolution observations reveal a compact source, likely to be associated with the nucleus of the galaxy, and a possible radio jet towards the south–west. We have compiled a representative sample of galaxies with bubbles of non-thermal radio emission and find that these are found in galaxies with an AGN. The H i observations with the GMRT show two peaks of emission on both ends of the stellar bar and depletion of H i in the central region of the galaxy. We also detect H i in absorption against the central radio peak at the systemic velocity of the galaxy. The H i absorption spectrum also suggests a possible weak absorption feature blueshifted by ∼120 km s−1, which requires confirmation. A similar feature has also been reported from observations of CO in emission, suggesting that the circumnuclear starburst and nuclear activity affect the kinematics of the atomic and molecular gas components, in addition to the ionized gas seen in Hα and [N ii].
Fast Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging via Wavelets

Our objective is to improve the time-resolution of functional magnetic resonance imaging by sampling only a small fraction of the Fourier transform of the spin density, and using a wavelet lter to approximately obtain, not the usual susceptibility map, but instead the integral, I(t), of the diierence in susceptibility between task and pre-task, over a prespeciied region of interest in the brain at successive time-points, t. This space/time trade-oo thus allows us to obtain, at high time-resolution, the total activity , I(t), in a speciied region, B, of the brain that which processes the speciic stimulus/task, to learn or verify where the brain function takes place. We nd that for a typical region, B, of the brain, say describing the hippocampus, believed to be involved in memory, consisting of say 100 points in a 64x64 brain image space, that our optimal choice of Fourier sampling region, A, has a = 400 points, which then gives a 10 fold speed-up compared to the usual method of sampling, since 64 2 : = 4000, is 10 times 400. Of course we get this speed-up at the price of lower spatial resolution. Even faster sampling of the integral of the susceptibility diierence ought to be possible for a set B of 100 points in this level of pixelization. Once A is xed, the mathematical problem of choosing the optimal wavelet lter, can be viewed as a natural generalization to 2 and 3 dimensions of the theory of prolate spheroidal wave functions, due to Landau, Pollak, and Slepian. The rst prolate spheroidal wave function for xed A; B, is that function which is maximally concentrated on B and whose Fourier transform vanishes except on A. The problem of choosing the sampling region A, for xed size a = jAj, to maximize the concentration on the given B, is probably N-P complete, ie probably involves exponential search. However, we give a very simple heuristic for choosing a set A, which seems to give excellent results in the examples we have studied, and we give the optimal wavelet lter, = B , based on our heuristic. The heuristic is to take as A the scaled polar set of B, i.e.,
The Matthew effect of unemployment: how does it affect wages in Belgium

Better understand the consequences of unemployment in terms of labour market opportunities as well as psychological well-being is of primary importance for any policies aimed at reducing unemployment. One way by which unemployment may impact on future labour market outcomes is through a reduction of subsequent earnings. This study therefore investigates the effects of the incidence and duration of unemployment on re-entry wages in Belgium using the Panel Study on Belgian Households for the period 1994-2002. The methodology used is based on a fixed effects model controlling for unobserved heterogeneity and sample selection bias. Results suggest that unemployment most often has a detrimental effect in terms of future labour market prospects. In other words, it can hardly be seen as an investment period allowing the unemployed to find a better match afterwards. The unemployment penalty may vanish if the unemployed find a stable job. However they are most often characterized by smaller average number of tenure years than individuals who did not go through such an experience. Consequently there is a risk that individuals having experienced unemployment will never be able to eliminate the wage penalty if they do not enter into stable job. Finally, we have found robust evidence that the wage penalty increases as the unemployment spell lengthens. This result is particularly alarming given the high proportion of long term unemployment in Belgium. These conclusions imply that unemployment costs go beyond the simple loss of income and human capital associated with job loss. This implies a substantial leeway for public intervention.
Stationary probability density functions: An exact result

An exact expression is obtained for the probability density function (pdf) of any quantity measured in a general stationary process, in terms of conditional expectations of time derivatives of the signal. This expression indicates that the conditional expectations of both the time derivative squared and of the second time derivative influence the shape of the pdf, including its tails. A previous result of Ching [Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 283 (1993)] for temperature measurements in turbulent flows corresponds to the particular case when the latter quantity is linear.
Eco-sensitive management : transitions towards, and the style of, eco-sensitive management of business organisations

In a multi-disciplinary discussion that includes major contribution from sociology, economics, environmental sciences, ecophilosophy and management theory, I outline transitions towards, and the style and practice of eco-sensitive management. Eco-sensitivity means the presence of eco-centric values together with the ability to put these into practice. The argument proceeds in two sections. In the first the deep roots of industrial exploitation of the natural world are established. In chapter one industrial capitalism is discussed while chapter two outlines the moves towards what I have called 're-organised capitalism'. As is pointed out in chapter three, whilst both systems involve exploitation of the natural world, there are indications within re-organised capitalism of an opportunity to 'turn around' the juggernaut of exploitative expansionary capitalism and adopt more eco-sensitive approaches. Business organisations, now entering a period of yet greater influence on world affairs, are a key to this, but as I point out in chapter four, in striving to become more eco-sensitive they must deal with the complex structures of the natural world, a point made by an examination of biodiversity. In the second section the shape of eco-sensitive management is outlined. In chapter five important transitions in the 'world view' of organisations are discussed; they must become less anthropocentric, adopt holistic thinking practices and use the notion of 'risk for nature' instead of financial risk. They will also use 'new science' and ecological economics, sets of ideas developed and discussed in chapter six. Incrementalist and learning based models of strategic planning and an eco-centred scenario based planning style that is used in conjunction with systems thinking are discussed in chapters seven and eight. An organisation structure suitable for eco-organisations and an eco-leadership style are elaborated on in chapter nine.
Prototype models of opportunity recognition and the decision to launch a new venture: Identifying the basic dimensions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to obtain evidence concerning the basic dimensions included in cognitive prototypes pertaining to opportunity recognition and decision to launch a new venture; identifying the underlying dimensions of both prototypes – the cognitive frameworks current or nascent entrepreneurs employ in performing these important tasks. Design/methodology/approach – The bi-dimensional models were tested in a sample of 284 founder entrepreneurs, using a 48-item questionnaire. It was used as structural equation confirmatory factor analysis to compare fit indices of uni-dimensional second-order and third-order bi-dimensional models of business opportunity and decision to launch a venture. Findings – Results support the bi-dimensional models and offer support that both prototypes include two basic dimensions. For the business opportunity prototype these are viability and distinctiveness while for the decision to launch a new venture, the basic dimensions are feasibility and motivational a.
PMSE: A Personalized Mobile Search Engine

We propose a personalized mobile search engine (PMSE) that captures the users' preferences in the form of concepts by mining their clickthrough data. Due to the importance of location information in mobile search, PMSE classifies these concepts into content concepts and location concepts. In addition, users' locations (positioned by GPS) are used to supplement the location concepts in PMSE. The user preferences are organized in an ontology-based, multifacet user profile, which are used to adapt a personalized ranking function for rank adaptation of future search results. To characterize the diversity of the concepts associated with a query and their relevances to the user's need, four entropies are introduced to balance the weights between the content and location facets. Based on the client-server model, we also present a detailed architecture and design for implementation of PMSE. In our design, the client collects and stores locally the clickthrough data to protect privacy, whereas heavy tasks such as concept extraction, training, and reranking are performed at the PMSE server. Moreover, we address the privacy issue by restricting the information in the user profile exposed to the PMSE server with two privacy parameters. We prototype PMSE on the Google Android platform. Experimental results show that PMSE significantly improves the precision comparing to the baseline.
Nonexperimental Replications of Social Experiments A Systematic Review Interim ReportDiscussion Paper

Reports initial findings from a synthesis and reanalysis of all available evidence on whether quasi-experimental evaluation designs produced unbiased estimates of the impacts of education, training, and welfare programs. This methodological paper tries to understand conditions under which quasi-experimental methods can lead to the same conclusion as a well-designed and well-executed randomized experiment. It has practical implications for the design of new evaluation research and synthesis of existing evidence on the effectiveness of social programs.
Good rough path sequences and applications to anticipating stochastic calculus

We consider anticipative Stratonovich stochastic differential equations driven by some stochastic process lifted to a rough path. Neither adaptedness of initial point and vector fields nor commuting conditions between vector field is assumed. Under a simple condition on the stochastic process, we show that the unique solution of the above SDE understood in the rough path sense is actually a Stratonovich solution. We then show that this condition is satisfied by the Brownian motion. As application, we obtain rather flexible results such as support theorems, large deviation principles and Wong-Zakai approximations for SDEs driven by Brownian motion along anticipating vectorfields. In particular, this unifies many results on anticipative SDEs.