Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of polyenes in the coloration of cultured freshwater pearls

The exact nature of pigments present in cultured freshwater pearls is still not well known. We examined 21 untreated cultured freshwater pearls from Hyriopsis of typical colors by diffuse reflectance UV-Vis-NIR and Raman scattering measurements, at high resolution. The objective was to establish the relation between color and the nature of the pigment mixture in pearls, using strictly non-destructive methods. All natural color samples show the two major Raman resonance features of unmethylated (unsubstituted) polyenes, not carotenoids. Their general chemical formulae are R-(-CH=CH) N -R′ with N = 6 to 14 and they give absorptions from violet to yellow–green. Each color is due to a mixture of pigments, not a single pigment. Different colors are explained by different mixtures. Each pigment identified by Raman spectroscopy can be related to a specific absorption with apparent maximum in the range 405–568 nm, thus absorbing from violet to yellow–green. This is the first study of the precise relation between Raman and diffuse reflectance spectra of cultured freshwater pearls.
' Loughlin Real-Time Commenting Online : Television Debate and BBC Question Time The Emerging Viewertariat and

This paper advances the study of microblogging and political events by investigating how one high-profile broadcast acted as a stimulus to real-time commentary from viewers using Twitter. Our case study is a controversial, high-ratings episode of BBC Question Time, the weekly British political debate show, in October 2009, in which Nick Griffin, leader of the far-right British National Party, appeared as a panelist. The “viewertariat” emerging around such a political event affords the opportunity to explore interaction across media formats. We examine both the structural elements of engagement online and the expressions of collective identity expressed in tweets. Although many concerns noted in previous studies of online political engagement remain (inequality in the propensity to comment, coarseness of tone), we find certain notable characteristics in the sample, especially a direct link between the quantity of tweets and events on the screen, an ability to preempt the arguments offered by panelists, and ways in which viewertariat members add new content to the discussion. Furthermore, Twitter users commenting online express a range of overlapping identities. These complexities challenge broadcasting and political institutions seeking to integrate new, more organic models of engagement.
The weak substitution method – an application of the mortar method for patch coupling in NURBS‐based isogeometric analysis

In this contribution, a mortar‐type method for the coupling of non‐conforming NURBS (Non‐Uniform Rational B‐spline) surface patches is proposed. The connection of non‐conforming patches with shared degrees of freedom requires mutual refinement, which propagates throughout the whole patch due to the tensor‐product structure of NURBS surfaces. Thus, methods to handle non‐conforming meshes are essential in NURBS‐based isogeometric analysis. The main objective of this work is to provide a simple and efficient way to couple the individual patches of complex geometrical models without altering the variational formulation. The deformations of the interface control points of adjacent patches are interrelated with a master‐slave relation. This relation is established numerically using the weak form of the equality of mutual deformations along the interface. With the help of this relation, the interface degrees of freedom of the slave patch can be condensated out of the system. A natural connection of the patches is attained without additional terms in the weak form. The proposed method is also applicable for nonlinear computations without further measures. Linear and geometrical nonlinear examples show the high accuracy and robustness of the new method. A comparison to reference results and to computations with the Lagrange multiplier method is given. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Econometrics of Ultra-High Frequency Data

Ultra-high frequency data are complete transactions data which inherently arrive at random times. Marked point processes provide a theoretical framework for analysis of such data sets. The ACD model developed by Engle and Russell (1995) is then applied to IBM transactions data to develop semi-parametric hazard estimates and measures of instantaneous conditional variances. The variances are negatively influenced by surprisingly long durations as suggested by some of the market micro-structure literature
Gesture, sign and beyond. Negation across three generations of signers

Unlike spoken languages for which written records date back several millennia, village sign languages emerge from scratch over the timespan of only a few decades even in the 20th century. These languages newly arise in remote areas where there is an exceptionally high incidence of hereditary deafness (Zeshan & de Vos, 2012). Kata Kolok (KK) is a young sign language used by hearing and deaf members of a single Balinese village community (Marsaja, 2008). The present study investigates negation in KK. Negation is a core feature of all human languages, both spoken and signed (Dahl, 2010; Miestamo, 2005). Across a large range of unrelated signed languages, negation is expressed by both manual and non-manual elements: a lexical sign with a repeated side-to-side movement and a headshake (Zeshan, 2004). Often shared with the wider hearing community, the manual and the nonmanual marker seem to have derived from co-speech gestures (Wilcox, 2009). In sign languages, these gestures have grammaticalized into linguistic negation markers that vary alongside two parameters: 1) only one of the two markers (manual or non-manual) is obligatory, and 2) spreading of the headshake i.e. the headshake is co-articulated only with the manual negator or extends to neighboring signs.
The Impact of Smoothing on Firm Value - An Industry Analysis

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of smoothing on firm value in the US Electricity, Oil & Gas Producers, Pharma & Biotechnology, Retail and Leisure & Tourism Industry. We find that investors value smooth earnings in the Oil & Gas, Electricity & Alternative Energy and Leisure & Tourism Industry. In the Pharma & Biotechnology and Retail industry we do not find smoothing activity to be value relevant. Over the majority of industries we observe time- specific effects. The findings of our empirical analysis show that benefits from smoothing cannot be generalized across industries. Instead the value relevance of smoothing income/earnings has three dimensions which need to be analyzed in order to find meaningful results. This is the firm, industry and time dimension.
Does Price Elasticity Vary with Economic Growth? A Cross-Category Analysis

How does price sensitivity change with the macroeconomic environment? The authors explore this question by measuring price elasticity using household-level data across 19 grocery categories over 24 quarters. For each category, they estimate a separate random coefficients logit model with quarter-specific price response parameters and control functions to address endogeneity. This specification yields a novel set of 456 elasticities across categories and time that are generated using the same method and therefore can be directly compared. On average, price sensitivity is countercyclical: It rises when the macroeconomy weakens. However, substantial variation exists, and a handful of categories exhibit procyclical price sensitivity. The authors show that the relationship between price sensitivity and macroeconomic growth correlates strongly with the average level of price sensitivity in a category. They examine several explanations for this result and conclude that a category's share of wallet is the more likely driver versus alternative explanations based on product perishability, substitution across consumption channels, or market power.
An Empirical Analysis of Metadiscourse in the Abstracts of Romanian Accounting Research Articles

Metadiscourse is vital in academic writing, whereas abstracts are arguably considered by some authors to be the most important part of an academic paper. The aim of this paper is to study the evolution of interactional metadiscourse elements present in the abstracts of accounting research articles (RA) published in the Journal of Accounting and Management Information Systems (JAMIS) over the period 2006-2014. 130 RA abstracts were analyzed, yielding a total of 25,570 words. The research design is empirical. The research hypotheses have all been accepted. First, there is a correlation between the publication’s maturity and the number of interactional instances. Second, the number of such metadiscourse elements has increased over time. Third, hedges, boosters and attitude markers are the most frequent elements of interactional metadiscourse. This suggests that once Romania underwent historical changes (such as the transition from the communism to capitalism, the integration in the European Union, the adaptation to the internationalization trend in research), Romanian accounting authors became increasingly aware of their place in the competitive scholarly community, whereby this awareness becomes tangible through the increased use of interactional metadiscourse elements.
The molecular gas content of ULIRG type 2 quasars at z < 1

We present new results of CO(1-0) spectroscopic observations of four Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) type 2 quasars (QSO2) at z similar to 0.3, observed with the 30-m IRAM radio telescope. The QSO2 have infrared luminosities in the ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRG) regime. We confirm the CO(1-0) detection in one of our four QSO2, SDSS J1543-00, with L-CO' and M-H2 (1.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(10) K km s(-1) pc(2) and (9.4 +/- 1.4) x 10(9) M-circle dot, respectively. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the CO(1-0) line is =575 +/- 102 km s(-1). No CO(1-0)) emission is detected in SDSS J0903+02, SDSS j1337-01, SDSS j1520-01 above 3 sigma, yielding upper limits on M(H-2) similar to 9.6, 4.3 and 5.1 x 10(9) M-circle dot, respectively. We expand previous studies of the molecular gas content of intermediate z QSO2 into the ULIRG regime. Taking into account nine QSO2 at z similar to 0.3-1.0 from the literature, we discuss the location of the 13 ULIRG QSO2 at z < 1 with available L-CO' measurements in the L-CO' vs. z and L-CO' vs. L-FIR diagrams, in comparison with other QSO1. and ULIRG star forming samples.
Trade Costs, Market Access and Growth in the Commonwealth

This paper considers how access to international markets affects development and growth, with a particular emphasis on the Commonwealth countries. It shows that countries with low trade costs to large markets have higher levels of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita on average. The relationship is strong and robust, and even extends to areas within the same country. Two implications are explored in detail. First, remote economies such as the Commonwealth’s small island states face a clear disadvantage in achieving sustainable growth. Second, faster growth in economic ‘hubs’ will increase growth in neighbouring countries. By modelling a number of counterfactual scenarios, the paper quantifies the importance of these two results for output and growth.
The effect of marketing communication on business relationship loyalty

The purpose of this paper is to create a new understanding of industrial business-to-business (B2B) relationships by connecting the theoretical streams of marketing communications and relationship marketing. This study tests how various marketing communication channels and communication quality increase the transformation of customer-perceived value into customer loyalty. ,The theoretical framework consists of links between customer-perceived value, marketing communication quality, channel effectiveness, and customer loyalty. The age of the business relationship is also taken into consideration. Empirical testing is based on global survey data (n=121) collected from customers of Finnish manufacturing companies operating in the paper, mineral, and metal-processing industries. ,The effects of customer-perceived value on customer loyalty are both direct and indirect, as marketing communications partially mediate this relationship. The customer-perceived effectiveness of various marketing communication channels adds more to loyalty formation than the perceived quality of marketing communications. ,Of special interest for marketing practitioners is the channel-specific approach to the effectiveness of marketing communications. Results suggest that personalized channels would be the most important mediators of the effects of perceived value on loyalty and also bring up the possibility of combining personalized direct communication with new cost-effective digital channels. ,Relatively little research has examined the mediating role of marketing communications in the relationship between perceived value and loyalty in the B2B context.
Fault Detection of Stator Inter-Turn Short-Circuit in PMSM on Stator Current and Vibration Signal

The stator inter-turn short circuit fault is one of the most common and key faults in permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). This paper introduces a time–frequency method for inter-turn fault detection in stator winding of PMSM using improved wavelet packet transform. Both stator current signal and vibration signal are used for the detection of short circuit faults. Two different experimental data from a three-phase PMSM were processed and analyzed by this time–frequency method in LabVIEW. The feasibility of this approach is shown by the experimental test.
The growth, structure and optical properties of CsI-PbI2 co-evaporated thin films

The structure and optical properties of thin films grown by vacuum co-evaporation of CsI and PbI2 powders from two independent crucibles were studied. Typical thickness of the grown films was about 0.5 micrometer. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy using different grazing angles (0.1 0 -2 0 ) revealed the formation of ternary phases, namely CsPbI3 and Cs4PbI6 and gave us an estimate of their percentage in volume. The sizes of the aggregates were estimated by the Warren- Aberbach method in around 20-40 nm. A direct observation of the thin film surface by atomic force microscopy was performed. Absorption and luminescence spectroscopies were employed to characterize the optical properties of these ternary nano-aggregate phases in the 4.2 - 300 K temperature ranges.
Running Head: CONTENT GENERALITY OF CREATIVITY CHECKLISTS Evidence of Content Generality

This study re-examined three previous studies on creativity in an attempt to address the question of whether creativity is content general or content specific. Statistical re-examinations were conducted that involved inferential statistical analyses (factor analysis and multivariate analysis) of correlation matrices representing student scores on creative activity checklists. Each of the three reanalyses includes a brief description of the original study and a summary of the researchers' original conclusions followed by a re-examination of the data. The studies involved analysis of: (1) activity checklists of high school seniors who qualified to be National Merit Finalists; (2) activity checklists of college freshmen; and (3) revised checklists completed by undergraduate students. The overall re-analysis study found a number of discrepancies requiring further research, but suggests that in regard to the content general or content specific question there is a method effect. Performance assessments produce evidence of content and task specificity, while creativity checklists suggest that creativity is applied generally across disciplines. (Contains 36 references.) (DB) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************
First principles design of spintronics materials

Spintronics is one of the most promising next generation information technology, which uses the spins of electrons as information carriers and possesses potential advantages of speeding up data processing, high circuit integration density, and low energy consumption. However, spintronics faces a number of challenges, including spin generation and injection, long distance spin transport, and manipulation and detection of spin orientation. In solving these issues, new concepts and spintronics materials were proposed one after another, such as half metals, spin gapless semiconductors, and bipolar magnetic semiconductors. Topological insulators can also be viewed as a special class of spintronics materials, with their surface states used for pure spin generation and transportation. In designing these spintronics materials, first-principles calculations play a very important role. This article attempts to give a brief review of the basic principles and theoretical design of these materials. Meanwhile, we also give some attentions to the antiferromagnetic spintronics, which is mainly based on antiferromagnets and has aroused much interest in recent years.
Time Discounting , Savings Behavior and Wealth Inequality *

The distribution of wealth in society is very unequal and has important economic and political consequences. According to standard life-cycle savings theory, differences in time discounting behavior across individuals can play an important role for their position in the wealth distribution. Empirical testing of this hypothesis has been difficult because of serious data limitations. We overcome these limitations by linking an experimental measure of time discounting for a large sample of middle-aged individuals to Danish high-quality administrative data with information about their real-life wealth over the life-cycle as well as a large number of background characteristics. The results show that individuals with relatively low time discounting are persistently positioned higher in the wealth distribution. The relationship is of the same magnitude as the association between years of education and the position in the wealth distribution, and it robustly persists after controlling for a large number of theoretically motivated confounders such as education, risk aversion, school grades, income, credit constraints, initial wealth, and parental wealth. These findings support the view that individual differences in time discounting affect individuals’ positions in the wealth distribution through the savings channel.
How Accumulation of Intellectual Capital of IC Design Firms Listed in Taiwan Impacts Organization Performances: Organizational Learning Capability as the Mediator

The main purpose of this paper is to understand and validate how the accumulation of intellectual capital of IC design firms listed in Taiwan influences organizational performances. This paper refers to organizational learning capability as the mediator and samples the population based on convenience sampling. A structural equation modelling (SEM) is performed to validate the overall model fit in terms of structural modelling and measurement modelling. The research finds that (1) the accumulation of intellectual capital has positive and significant influence on organizational performance; (2) the accumulation of intellectual capital has positive and significant influence on organizational learning capability; (3) organizational learning capability has positive and significant influence on organizational performances. To sum up, organizational learning capability has certain mediating effects. It is hoped that this research finding can not only shed light to the importance and benefits of the accumulation of intellectual capital to the IC design firms listed in Taiwan, but also serve as a reference to decision makers in the industry.
Serum Isoflavone Concentrations and Equol-Producing Intestinal Flora inProstate Cancer in Japanese-American in Hawaii

Studies have reported that soy isoflavones and the ability to produce equol may play a role in the prevention of prostate cancer (PCa). To further investigate this relationship, we evaluated Japanese-Americans (JA) and Caucasians (CA) in Hawaii with and without PCa, with regards to dietary soy intake, serum isoflavone levels, and the presence of equol-producing Slackia sp. in the intestine. The serum levels of isoflavone were determined in 65 JA (34 PCa, 31 controls) and 68 CA (34 PCa, 34 controls). All completed a lifetime dietary soy consumption survey. The serum levels of genistein and o-DMA were significantly higher in JA (p = 0.04). Daidzein and isoflavone levels trended higher in JA, but no differences were noted in dihydrodaidzein (DHD) and equol levels. There were no differences in serum isoflavone levels between PCa patients and controls for both JA and CA. Only 8.6% stool samples were positive for equol-producing Slackia sp. , a rate much lower than seen in Japan. JA reported a higher intake of soy than CA. The high soy consumption and isoflavone levels in JA may be related to the lower incidence of PCa relative to CA in Hawaii. The near absence of equol producers in Hawaii JA may contribute to their higher incidence of PCa compared to Japan Japanese. These results suggest that both soy isoflavone levels and equol production may be inversely associated with PCa risk.
Valuing passes in football using ball event data

This master thesis introduces and evaluates several models for valuing passes in football. We use event data from five seasons of matches from the top five leagues in Europe. The most simplistic model considers the value of possessing the ball in a certain area of the pitch. The other models use clustering methods to find similar passes and similar attacks to value passes. The comparison of attacks also yields the opportunity to find teams with similar playing styles. The proposed pass valuing models make it possible to rank players based on the values that were assigned to their passes. This ranking of players may help clubs to scout potential new players as well as to analyze the upcoming opponent. We show that the pass values can be used to estimate player market values and to predict match outcomes.
Knowledge, attitude and practice about hypertension in hypertensive patients attending hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq

Patients’ knowledge and attitudes have an impact on the management of their illnesses. Obtaining information about the level of awareness is the first step in formulating a preventive program for any health problem. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of hypertensive patients about their disease. A consecutive non- probability sampling technique was adopted to collect all adult hypertensive patients that attended the outpatient clinic of the main three teaching hospitals in Baghdad city. Adults of both gender who had history of hypertension for at least six months were included in the study. A questionnaire was developed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of those patients. More than 60% had good knowledge, 80% expressed good attitude while 24% recorded good practice. Analyses of data revealed that the score of knowledge is significantly associated with age ( p =0.002) and gender ( p =0.002). It was also directly related to the education level. ( p =0.0001), duration of hypertension ( p =0.041) and the presence of positive family history of the disease ( p =0.0001). The attitude was significantly associated with age ( p =0.046), level of education ( p =0.008) and family history ( p =0.006). The score of practice was significantly associated with age ( p =.0008), and duration of hypertension ( p =0.004). Hypertensive patients in our community have relatively good knowledge and attitude, but poor practice and compliance to treatment. Efforts are needed to increase the awareness through continuous health education in the health facilities and health promotional programs via the mass media. South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.7(1) 2017: 29-34