Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Service-Time Uncertainty and Anticipated Congestion on Customers' Waiting-Time Decisions

Customers often decide between service providers on the basis of their anticipated waiting times. The duration of the wait depends on two factors: the customer processing speed at the service location and the level of congestion at the time of arrival. While processing speed is an intrinsic operating characteristic of a service provider, congestion is a contingent characteristic that depends on customers' choices between the service provider and its competitors. Consequently, a customer's waiting time at a service location is characterized by an externality because it depends on the concurrent choices made by other customers. In this article, the authors examine how customers account for this externality when choosing between service providers that differ in the uncertainty surrounding their service times. The authors show that the uncertainty surrounding anticipated congestion at service locations suppresses risk aversion with respect to service times. However, if the overall market is expected to be over- or undercrowded, then risk aversion is restored and customer choices favor the low-uncertainty service provider. A partial explanation for the variance in customers' decision strategies lies in the extent to which they focus on the arrival process versus the service process when making their decision.
A bottom-up search algorithm for size-constrained partitioning of modules to generate configurations in modular robots

We consider the problem of partitioning a set of modules for efficient and dynamic shape or configuration generation in modular robotic systems, where the size of any configuration formed by the modules is constrained by a maximum, userprovided value denoted by nmax. The objective is to determine the best partition of the module set that gives the highest utility to the modules. This problem is non-trivial as the set of partitions that needs to be explored grows exponentially with the number of modules and an exhaustive search in the space of partitions makes the problem intractable. To address this problem, we propose a branch and bound based search algorithm, called bottomUpCSGSearch, which is able to intelligently prune the unpromising search space and find the best partition of the modules in a reasonable amount of time. We have provided analytical results related to the completeness, anytime nature and time complexity of our proposed algorithm. Our experimental results show that our proposed algorithm performs better in terms of number of nodes explored (up to 28 times fewer nodes explored) and the time required to find the best partition (improvement up to the order of 104 ms) than existing comparable algorithms. We have simulated with different number of modules and different values of maximum coalition size of a modular self-reconfigurable robot (MSR) called ModRED, and, shown that our algorithm takes nominal time to find the best solution.
THE ROLES OF BRAND EXPERIENCE IN FORMING LOYALTY INTENTION

Drawing from observations on branding theories, this study aims to examine the roles of brand experience dimensions (i.e. sensory, affective, behavioral, and intellectual) in forming loyalty intention towards sports brands. A survey based quantitative approach is employed to examine the posited hypotheses. A total of 320 participants were involved in the final sample. Analysis of structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that out of fourdimensions of brand experience, sensory had the most significant effect on consumer loyalty intention towards sports brands, followed by affective factor and behavioral factor. Marketing practitioners have come to realize that understanding how consumers experience brands is critical for developing marketing strategies that help to increase positive brand experience. Direction for future research is also provided.
A Graph-based Performance Analysis of the 802.11p MAC Protocol for Safety Communications in Highway Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

We address the performance of the 802.11p protocol in terms of the packet delivery ratio (PDR) and the packet reception ratio (PRR) for broadcasting safety messages in highway environments. Regarding the semi-sparse and intermediate traffic, we try to answer to questions such as what are the upper, dominant and lower bounds of PDR and PRR in each traffic condition? How they may deviate from their average values? and What fraction of vehicles may experience such bounds? To answer to such questions, we propose to consider the communication graph formed among vehicles as a special type of the complex networks and we apply the recently proposed obligatory attachment ruleto synthesize such network structures. Then, we compute some of the important structural properties of the communication graph in VANETS including the one-hop and two-hop degree distributions, the clustering coefficient and the average number of common neighbours. Next, we show how these structural properties could be combined with the state-of-the-art medium access control layer performance analysis methods, resulting in a hybrid framework which can be applied to provide the answers to the aforementioned questions. The accuracy of the results obtained through the application of the proposed hybrid framework is discussed through comparison with simulation results.
From Sharing to Exchange: An Extended Framework of Dual Modes of Collaborative Nonownership Consumption

The sharing economy captures several different market practices such as “car sharing” or “house sharing. ” Anecdotal and empirical evidence has found conflicting motivations for participating in the sharing economy due to a misuse of the concept and an absence of a framework. This article proposes a framework to classify sharing economy practices based on their relative weights of sharing and exchange characteristics. The argument is that each practice is dualistic in nature: having characteristics of both sharing and exchange. The essay suggests a way to situate practices within the framework by offering a method to quantitatively calculate the sharing score of a given practice. An augmented model of willingness to participate in the sharing economy is tested across five practices that support the framework’s validity and usefulness. The results resolve some of the mixed findings in the literature and the positive role that materialism plays in the likelihood to participate.
Effect of pre‐ and post‐partum supplementation with lipid‐encapsulated conjugated linoleic acid on milk yield and metabolic status in multiparous high‐producing dairy cows

We evaluated the lactation performance, liver lipid content and plasma metabolites indicating the energy balance of dairy cows supplemented with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) pre- and post-partum (PP) vs. only PP. A total of 60 cows were divided into three groups (n = 20). Daily diet of cows was supplemented with 14 g of CLA (7 g cis-9, trans-11 and 7 g trans-10, cis-12 isomers) from week 3 before the expected date of calving (group CLA1), or from the day of calving (group CLA2) until 77-91 days PP. Control cows were fed an isocaloric, isonitrogenous and isolipidic diet without CLA. Between week 3 and week 6 PP, the milk yield of cows in both CLA-treated groups was approximately 4.5 kg higher (p < 0.05) than in control. Milk fat concentrations decreased from week 3 and were lower in both CLA groups than in control (p < 0.01). Body condition score loss was lower (p < 0.05) in the CLA1 than in the control group on week 5 PP. By week 11 PP, the body condition of both CLA1 and CLA2 groups exceeded that of control. Plasma non-esterified fatty acid was lower in CLA1 compared to CLA2 and control during the early PP period (p < 0.05), while this difference faded away by the late PP period. Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) increased rapidly in all groups following calving. In CLA1 group, it began to decrease sooner than in CLA2 and control. The prevalence of subclinical ketosis (BHBA > 1.2 mm) was lower in CLA1 group than in CLA2 and control (p < 0.05). Liver biopsy analyses showed that CLA1 treatment decreased (p < 0.05) the total lipid content of liver compared to control at week 5 after calving. Our results show that CLA supplementation is more efficient in alleviating body mass mobilization and decreasing the incidence of subclinical ketosis when applied as early as 3 weeks before calving than started feeding after calving.
Aerodynamic Interference Effects on Flutter and Vortex-excited Resonance of Bridges with Twin-separate Parallel Box Decks

A case study was made of a preliminary design alterative for the broadening engineering of the existent single-tower cable-stayed bridge,Tanggu Haihe Bridge in Tianjin,with a main span of 310 m.The aerodynamic interference effects on flutter and vortex-excited resonance of cable-stayed bridges with twin-separate parallel box decks were investigated via a series of wind tunnel tests of spring-suspended sectional model.The results show that because of the aerodynamic interference between the two adjacent separate box decks,the flutter critical wind speeds of the twin-separate box deck bridge drops evidently and the turning point of the corresponding aerodynamic derivative curve from descending to ascending is brought forward.Bridge flutter stability declines due to the aerodynamic interference of this type.Also,the maximal amplitudes of the vortex-excited resonance of the twin-separate box deck bridge in both the vertical and torsional directions increase due to the aerodynamic interference.Correspondingly,the lock-in zone of wind speed is widened,and the onset wind speed decreases.As a result,the Strouhal numbers increase slightly.It is also found that the aerodynamic interference effect between the two adjacent separate box decks is more significant on the flutter and vortex-excited resonance of the leeward deck than on those of the windward deck.Therefore,it is necessary to consider the aerodynamic interference effect when broadening an existent bridge into a twin-separate parallel deck bridge.
Equity Linked Compensation as a Risk Management Tool in the Good Governance of U.S. Investment Banks

Due to the separation between ownership and management and, in the absence of at least a single major shareholder, executives of publicly traded companies have almost complete power and discretion in management to pursue projects that benefit themselves personally but which may not optimize shareholder interest (Berle and Means, 1932). The focus of this paper is on the structure of chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO) compensation packages of publicly traded financial companies in the United States, their effect on excessive firm risk taking, and the perceived role of Board directors in mitigating this risk as a good governance obligation. The addition of CFO’s in this analysis reflects the findings in Chava and Purnanandam (2010) and Jiang, Petroni and Wang (2010) that incentives of CFO’s could be more influential in decision making where sophisticated financial expertise is required.
Optimization of Radial Impeller Geometry

Abstract : This lecture first provides an overview of the relation between the flow mechanisms in radial impellers and the 3D geometry. Special emphasis is given to secondary flows and the pressure gradients that govern them. It is followed by the description of a computerized optimization technique for the design of radial impellers. It is shown how the use of a Database, Artificial Neural Network and Genetic algorithm can be used to accelerate the design process and to improve performance.
Corporate Cultural Spillover and Synergistic Gains: Evidence from Mergers and Acquisitions

Recent research has documented that firms’ social performances have huge impacts on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) outcomes. Using a large sample of U.S public firm data, I test several theories of whether and how the cultural differences measured by adjusted corporate social responsibility (CSR) scores of the acquirer and the target affect short- and long-term post-M&A performances. Consistent with the stakeholder value maximization view, I find that a firm’s shareholders react positively to the deals that involve high CSR acquirers buying targets with low CSR scores and targets without CSR ratings. These “cultural spillover” deals improve firms’ immediate announcement returns (CARs), post-M&A operating performances as well as long-term abnormal stock returns. Nonetheless, there is little evidence of positive reactions from investors for “cultural learning” deals consisted of low/no CSR acquirers and high CSR targets. These results suggest that acquirer-target cultural spillover measured by firms’ social responsibility scores is an important determinant of M&A performance, thus rejecting the alternative hypothesis that the cultural differences affect their immediate as well as the long-term abnormal returns. The paper also finds that deals with CSR-rated acquirers realize higher M&A announcement returns compared to the deals with non-rated acquirers, suggesting that CSR ratings produce valuable information to financial market. Additionally, the results of univariate tests on daily stock market trading volume reveal that investors tend to react more favorably to acquirers’ “responsible” news like being rated with CSR scores.
The Influence of Education and Work-Experience on the Leadership Styles

The study investigated the different leadership styles of the workers in the Chittoor Sugar factory located at the Chittoor town of South India. It was also studied how the factors such as work experience and education influence the leadership styles of the workers. The study mainly concentrated on the three interesting leadership styles that are at the top, middle and the bottom of the leadership authority hierarchy, namely the autocratic, democratic and the laissez-faire leadership styles respectively. Upon study it has been understood that the democratic leadership style is more dominant among the workers. The study indicates that education and work experience both have their respective influence on the worker's own leadership styles. The study reveals that with increase in any one of the two variables, relatively lesser authority is exhibited by the workers.
The Impact of Corporate Governance Mechanisms on the Performance of UAE Firms: An Empirical Analysis

The main aim of this study is to investigate empirically the effect of some internal and external corporate governance mechanisms on the UAE firm performance (i.e., Tobin’s q). Like many of the developing countries all over the world, the UAE has recently initiated the application of the international standards of corporate governance as a part of its merge with the global economy. This study utilizes a sample of 51 firms using the accounting and market data available for 2004. The sample firms are all listed in either the Dubai Financial Market or the Abu Dubai Securities Market. The cross‐sectional regression analysis is employed to test the hypotheses of the study. The results of this study show that the governmental ownership, the debt ratio (total debt/total assets), and the payout dividends ratio have a significant impact on the firm performance; whereas the institutional investors, the board size, the firm size (sales), and the audit type show a non‐significant impact. This study concludes that three of the corporate governance mechanisms in the UAE used in this study appear to be strong enough to affect the firm performance. However, the other four mechanisms are found to have a weak effect on the firm performance which could be a result of the significant absence of some aspects of corporate governance practices and lack of enforcement of rules.
Protective effects of asiaticoside derivatives against beta‐amyloid neurotoxicity

Asiaticoside (AS) derivatives were tested for potential protective effects against Aβ‐induced cell death. Of the 28 AS derivatives tested, asiatic acid (AA), asiaticoside 6 (AS6), and SM2 showed strong inhibition of Aβ‐induced death of B103 cells at 1 μM. The three AS derivatives were further tested for their effects on free radical injury and apoptosis. All three AS derivatives reduced H2O2‐induced cell death and lowered intracellular free radical concentration, but AA showed the strongest protection. In contrast, SM2 was the most effective blocker of staurosporine‐induced apoptosis. These results suggest that the three AS derivatives block Aβ toxicity by acting through different cellular mechanisms. When applied to hippocampal slices, AA, SM2, and AS6 did not alter n‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) or non‐NMDA receptor‐mediated synaptic transmission, paired‐pulse facilitation or induction of long‐term potentiation in the field CA1. These results indicate that the three AS derivatives do not alter physiological properties of the hippocampus at the concentration that blocks Aβ‐induced cell death. Therefore AS6, AA, and SM2 can be regarded as reasonable candidates for a therapeutic Alzheimer's disease drug that protects neurons from Aβ toxicity. J. Neurosci. Res. 58:417–425, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Teacher is Matter for Education Quality : A Transformation of Policy for Enhancing the Teaching Profession in Malaysia

It has been widely acknowledged that teachers are among the pivotal agents of improving the educational quality, especially in the context of student learning outcome. Accordingly, in raising the education standard and quality, effort towards enhancing teacher professionalism for ensuring quality of the teacher and teaching quality become the important issue in the education policy production. In Malaysia, a lot of efforts have been undertaken to address the question of teaching profession. Recent development of the policy for transforming Malaysian education can be seen in the government action launched an education strategic blueprint the so called Education Development Master Plan (2006-2010) and National Education Blueprint (2013-2025) which aimed at raising standards and quality of Malaysian education. Among the core strategy for enhancing Malaysia education quality is making teaching as a prestige profession to ensure that the school will have a qualified and quality teacher for improving the quality of education in the school system. Related, this paper discusses the continuing effort for enhancing teaching profession in Malaysia based on these two long term education strategic plan.
Short and long-term adjustment of circadian rhythms in 'permanent' night nurses.

Two studies are described in which differences were found in the adjustment of the circadian rhythms of full and part-time night nurses to night work. A distinction was drawn between short-term adjustment that takes place over successive night shifts, and long-term adjustment that may take the form either of a permanent ‘flattening’ of the rhythm, or of a facilitation of short-term adjustment. The results from the first study indicated that even when the potential for greater short-term adjustment was controlled for, the full-time staff showed greater adjustment to night work. The second study examined these differences in long-term adjustment in greater detail. No evidence was found of a permanent ‘flattening’ of the full-timers’ circadian rhythms, although they showed clear evidence of adjustment even on the first of a period of successive night shifts. The full-timers also showed more evidence of adjustment from the first to the second night shift. It is suggested that these differences in long-term ad.
Turbulence effect on survival and feeding of pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis larvae, on the basis of a rearing experiment

Physical conditions such as oceanic turbulence related to food availability are considered to be important factors affecting fish larval survival. Rearing experiments were conducted to elucidate the effects of turbulence on the survival and feeding rates during the initial feeding period of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis. Six levels of turbulence intensity were provided by changing flow rates from pipes set on the bottom of rearing tanks. The result showed a dome-shaped relationship between turbulence level and survival rate, in which the feeding rate appeared higher at a logged turbulence energy dissipation rate of −6.32, and decreased at both higher and lower turbulence levels. Compared with the turbulence intensity in the ocean, the optimal turbulence level for Pacific bluefin tuna larvae corresponded to the turbulence caused by sea surface winds with speeds of 4–12.5 m/s. The estimated optimal turbulence intensity for Pacific bluefin tuna larvae is comparable to that for yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares.
Effects of a naturally occurring neurosteroid on GABAA IPSCs during development in rat hippocampal or cerebellar slices

1 The effects of the naturally occurring neurosteroid tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) on GABAA receptor‐mediated miniature, spontaneous and evoked IPSCs was tested using patch‐clamp techniques in slices of hippocampus and cerebellum from rats at two developmental stages (≈10 and ≈20 days postnatal). The cells studied were hippocampal granule cells and cerebellar Purkinje and granule cells. 2 Most miniature GABAergic currents (mIPSCs) decayed with two exponentials and neurosteroids caused a ≈4‐fold increase in the decay time constant of the second exponential at the highest concentration used (2 μm). Similar effects were seen at high concentrations of THDOC (1‐2 μm) in all cell groups tested. No effects were seen on amplitude or rise time of mIPSCs. 3 The effects of THDOC (1 μm) were shown to be stereoselective and rapidly reversible, indicating that the neurosteroid binds to the GABAA receptor, rather than acting genomically. 4 At concentrations of THDOC likely to occur physiologically (50‐100 nm), the decay time of IPSCs was also enhanced (25‐50 %) in all cerebellar cell groups tested. In contrast, at 100 nm THDOC, seven of 11 hippocampal granule cells were sensitive from the 10 day group but the 20 day hippocampal granule cells showed no significant enhancement in the presence of these lower concentrations of THDOC. 5 The differences in sensitivity of hippocampal and cerebellar cells to THDOC are compared to data reported in the literature on regional development of expression of different receptor subunits in the brain and it is suggested that the progressive relative insensitivity of the 20 day hippocampal cells may depend on increasing expression of the δ subunit of the GABAA receptor and possibly an increase in the α4 subunit.