Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the customer relationship quality and propensity to change mobile telephone operators

The objective of this article is to shed light on the possible relations between previous events and the customer relationship quality and loyalty and a financial result indicator (lifetime revenue) on the predisposition to change mobile telephone operators. The study was carried out with a non-probabilistic quantitative framework and relied on the hypotheticaldeductive method. The data were obtained from a survey of 493 mobile phone users and were analyzed through a structural equation and logistic regression. The results partially proved the model proposed, because of the particularities of the groups analyzed. We confirmed (directly and indirectly) the premises of a positive and significant effect between Satisfaction, Trust and Commitment and their antecedents. Satisfaction and Loyalty were distinctive elements among the groups with lower propensity to change operators. These results demonstrate some particularities of this market, where consumers perceive supply as being homogeneous, a fact that stimulates the churn rate in Brazil.
Histopathology stain-color normalization using deep generative models

Performance of designed CAD algorithms for histopathology image analysis is affected by the amount of variations in the samples such as color and intensity of stained images. Stain-color normalization is a well-studied technique for compensating such effects at the input of CAD systems. In this paper, we introduce unsupervised generative neural networks for performing stain-color normalization. For color normalization in stained hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) images, we present three methods based on three frameworks for deep generative models: variational auto-encoder (VAE), generative adversarial networks (GAN) and deep convolutional Gaussian mixture models (DCGMM). Our contribution is defining the color normalization as a learning generative model that is able to generate various color copies of the input image through a nonlinear parametric transformation. In contrast to earlier generative models proposed for stain-color normalization, our approach does not need any labels for data or any other assumptions about the H&E image content. Furthermore, our models learn a parametric transformation during training and can convert the color information of an input image to resemble any arbitrary reference image. This property is essential in time-critical CAD systems in case of changing the reference image, since our approach does not need retraining in contrast to other proposed generative models for stain-color normalization. Experiments on histopathological H&E images with high staining variations, collected from different laboratories, show that our proposed models outperform quantitatively state-of-the-art methods in the measure of color constancy with at least 10-15%, while the converted images are visually in agreement with this performance improvement.
Measuring Group Differences in High-Dimensional Choices: Method and Application to Congressional Speech

We study the problem of measuring group differences in choices when the dimensionality of the choice set is large. We show that standard approaches suffer from a severe finite‐sample bias, and we propose an estimator that applies recent advances in machine learning to address this bias. We apply this method to measure trends in the partisanship of congressional speech from 1873 to 2016, defining partisanship to be the ease with which an observer could infer a congressperson's party from a single utterance. Our estimates imply that partisanship is far greater in recent years than in the past, and that it increased sharply in the early 1990s after remaining low and relatively constant over the preceding century.
Teachers’ Socioeconomic Status and Its Relationship with Teachers Work Morale and Teachers’ Job Performance at State Senior High Schools in Merauke Regency – Indonesia

Teachers’job performance is the way teachers perform their work in the classroom.This research aimed to examine the relationship between teachers' socialeconomic status (SES),teachers’work morale,and teachers'job performance.The nature of this research was a correlational research that was conducted using survey method as it sought to establish relationships among various variables of the research.The samole of this research comprised 118 teachers at State Senior High Schools in Merauke regency.Questionairres were the main tool of the research to collect data.The data were given quantitative treatment using path analyses technique. In order that data were analyzed well, the reseacher using the help of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 for windows.Based on the data analyses, the findings revealed that: (a) there was a significant relationship between teachers’ SES and teachers’ work morale at state senior high schools in Merauke regency,Papua,Indonesia; (b) there was a significant relationship between teachers’ SES and teachers’job performance at state senior high schools in Merauke regency,Papua,Indonesia; and (c) there was a significant relationship between teachers’ wok morale and teachers’job performance at state senior high schools in Merauke regency,Papua,Indonesia.
Adult aggressive behavior in humans and biomarkers: a focus on lipids and methylation

Aggression shows large variation between individuals, with about 50% explained by genetic factors. Biomarkers related to aggression have been reported for lipid metabolism and for epigenetic marks. Methylation and blood lipid levels are not independent and differential methylation can be a consequence of variation in blood lipid levels. We hypothesized that the methylation level of such loci in blood can inform us if aggression is associated with long-term exposure to lipid levels. If this is the case, we expect to find that loci where methylation levels are influenced by lipid levels to show differential methylation in aggressive individuals. Such loci might complement classic lipid level measures as a biomarker for lipid-related disturbances in aggression. As a first step, we examined the association of lipid levels and related biomarkers with aggression in a large adult population cohort (N = 5,588) and in 31 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs who were discordant for aggression, as well as 12 extremely discordant MZ pairs. Biomarkers were not significantly associated with aggression in the population cohort. In the discordant MZ pairs we identified significant within-pair differences for glucose and marginally significant differences for lipids and cytokines, with the more aggressive twin showing lower levels of glucose and low density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher levels of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. The analysis of epigenetic data in the MZ pairs discordant for aggression did not show enrichment for lipid cytosine guanine dinucleotides (CpGs) and we observed no enrichment of lipid CpGs in an epigenome-wide association study of aggression in the population cohort. These results did not support the hypothesis that lipid CpGs show differential methylation in adult aggression. A next step will be to examine the role of biomarkers in aggression across the lifespan, including childhood, and to explore a more holistic biomarker approach, such as offered by metabolomics.
Water Distribution Systems Efficiency Assessment Indicators - Concepts and Application

The measure of performance of any water utility is based on the efficiency of the water distribution systems in place. Lately, performance indicators and benchmarking methodologies are the most important approaches used in assessing water distribution systems efficiency. This paper reviews water distribution systems assessment indictors and assesses their application to developing countries. The main indicators in use world over are either financial or operational. It was discovered that many utilities in developing countries do not adequately use these assessment indicators in their water loss management strategies. In a case study of the City of Harare, Zimbabwe, it was established that the city has 53% Non Revenue Water Management systems efficiency after applying non revenue water assessment indicators.
An Investigation of the Relationship Between Self-Serving Attributions and Corporate Governance

This work is an initial attempt to investigate a possible relationship between causal attributions in narrative sections of annual reports and a corporate governance index among companies listed on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa), for 2006. As a proxy for corporate governance we use the enhanced governance certification seals attributed by the Bovespa. The results show that self-serving attributions can be found in the annual reports, regardless of corporate governance levels indicated by the Bovespa seals. Evidence of a relationship obtained through the use of sentence counts is not corroborated when the proportion of reports dedicated to causal attributions is used. The possible explanation is connected to report length. The conclusion suggests further research, with inclusion of other variables and use of an extended sample, in order to clarify the issue.
The influence of store image on customer satisfaction: a case study of a shoe store

Knowledge of customers’ image of a store is an essential factor in the management of retail outlets. This article presents a case study of the effect of the image customers have of a shoe store on their satisfaction, based on a descriptive and quantitative survey, with the application of a structured questionnaire. We then employed factor analysis to obtain seven store image factors: assortment, convenience, reputation, price, atmosphere, layout and service. The results show that the factor that most affects customer satisfaction in the store studied is service, and that atmosphere and layout have no effect in this respect. The results provide a better understanding of the role store image plays in customer satisfaction and loyalty. Classification-JEL:
Beneficials Effects of Canagliflozin in a Weight-Centered Management in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Real Practice

Objective: Evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of canagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), associated to a weight-loss intensive lifestyle intervention program (WLIP), to achieve weight loss greater than 5% at 12 months.Methods: Retrospective review of patients with T2DM included in a WLIP, who were prescribed canagliflozin from June 2015 to December 2016 at four endocrinology clinics in the south of Spain within routine clinical practice context. Changes during 12 months in anthropometric variables, HbA1c, uric acid and adverse events were assessed.Results: 201 patients with T2DM (45.8% women, 60.3 ± 9.4 years old and BMI: 34.9 ± 8.7 kg/m2) were studied. Patients treated with canagliflozin lost an average weight and reduced an average of waist circumference of -4.0 ± 4.2 kg and -3.2 ± 8.4 cm, -5.4 ± 5.7 kg and -4.9 ± 9.9 cm and -5.3 ± 8.0 kg and -7.0 ± 14.6 cm, achieving weight loss greater than 5%: 29.0%, 47.9% and 42.7% of patients at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. HbA1c levels were average reduced by -1.2%, -1.3% and -1.3% and 68.8% reached an HbA1c level ≤ 7% at 12 months. 17.9% (36 patients) experienced mild adverse events and canagliflozin treatment was suspended in 23 patients (11.4%). Conclusion: The addition of canagliflozin to the treatment of overweight or obese patients with T2DM, as a complement of a weight-loss intensive lifestyle intervention, was associated with improvement in body weight and glycemic control with relative mild adverse events.
The effect of organic acids and sulfur dioxide on C4 compound production and β-glucosidase activity of Oenococcus oeni from wines under acidic conditions

The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of l-malic and citric acids and SO2 on two biochemical properties (diacetyl/acetoin/2,3-butanediol formation and β-glucosidase activity) relevant to flavor development in six Oenococcus oeni strains from wines at pH 4.8 and 3.8. Cells were cultured in MRS without citrate (control medium) and combined with l-malic acid (2 g/L), citric acid (0.7 g/L), and SO2 (80 mg/L) at pH 4.8 and 3.8. All the test strains grew at all conditions tested including in the presence of SO2 and at initial pH 3.8, even though growth parameters were maximum in the presence of both the acids at pH 4.8. Organic acids were depleted totally regardless of the condition examined, in which degradation of l-malic acid was faster than that of citric acid. Diacetyl, acetoin, and 2,3-butanediol levels significantly varied depending on the strain for a given condition, for example, at pH 4.8 in control medium the highest value (6.55±0.31 mg/L, strain MS25) represented almost threefold the lowest one (2.43±0.22 mg/L, strain MS9). There was also variability for each strain depending on the initial pH (strains MS25, MS27, and MS48) and the presence of organic acids (all strains except MS25) but not SO2. In addition, among strains there was a trend toward mainly diacetyl formation (55%–75%). O. oeni MS9, MS20, and MS46 yielding adequate diacetyl levels were selected for investigating specific β-glucosidase activity and its possible cell localization. Cell suspensions of all the selected strains exhibited positive activities at both pH values which were >4.8. As observed for C4 compounds, organic acids stimulated this activity (28%–49% at pH 4.8; ~20% at pH 3.8), thus partially reverting the inhibition caused by acid stress, while SO2 did not affect it. The use of different cell fractions (permeabilized cells, cell protoplasts, and cell extracts) associated this activity to the cell surface. Results indicated that diacetyl formation and β-glucosidase activity levels in O. oeni strains as influenced by acidity and organic acids are of relevance for vinification decisions.
Psychological Outcomes of Perpetrating Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Analysis

Despite the vast body of research on outcomes of sexual violence victimization, little is known about the psychological outcomes of sexual violence perpetration. This omission is significant, due to the fact that preventing recidivism may depend on treatment of identified perpetrators. The purpose of the current thesis is to examine the psychological responses to perpetrating sexual violence with a qualitative analysis of first-hand accounts of sexual violence perpetration, obtained from anonymous posts on Reddit.com. The analysis revealed four primary emotional outcomes to perpetrating sexual violence: shame, remorse, depression, and anger. The four themes appeared independently and were associated with different contextual themes. Remorse, unlike the other themes, co-occurred with reports of self-growth, indicating that remorse may be a more adaptive outcome. The results also indicated that the social context played an important role in perpetrator outcomes. These findings have important clinical implications for the treatment of perpetrators. INDEX WORDS: sexual assault, perpetrator psychology, rape PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOMES OF PERPETRATING SEXUAL VIOLENCE: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
Adults' and Children's Identification of Faces and Emotions from Isolated Motion Cues

Faces communicate a wealth of information, including cues to others’ internal emotional states. Face processing is often studied using static stimuli; however, in real life, faces are dynamic. The current project examines face detection and emotion recognition from isolated motion cues. Across two studies, facial motion is presented in point-light displays (PLDs), in which moving white dots against a black screen correspond to dynamic regions of the face. In Study 1, adults were asked to identify the upright facial motion of five basic emotional expressions (e.g., surprise) and five neutral non-rigid movements (e.g., yawning) versus inverted and scrambled distractors. Prior work with static stimuli finds that certain cues, including the addition of motion information, the spatial arrangement of elements, and the emotional significance of stimuli affect face detection. This study found significant effects involving each of these factors using facial PLDs. Notably, face detection was most accurate in response to facelike arrangements, and motion information was useful in response to unusual point configurations. These results suggest that similar processes underlie the processing of static face images and isolated facial motion cues. In Study 2, children and adults were asked to match PLDs of emotional expressions to their corresponding labels (e.g., match a smiling PLD with the word “happy”). Prior work with face images finds that emotion recognition improves with age, but the developmental trajectory depends critically on the emotion to be recognized. Emotion recognition in response to PLDs improved with age, and there were different trajectories across the five emotions tested. Overall, this dissertation contributes to the understanding of the influence of motion information in face processing and emotion recognition, by demonstrating that there are similarities in how people process full-featured static faces and isolated facial motion cues in PLDs (which lack features). The finding that even young children can detect emotions from isolated facial motion indicates that features are not needed for making these types of social judgments. PLD stimuli hold promise for future interventions with atypically developing populations. INDEX WORDS: Face processing, Emotion recognition, Point-light displays, Motion, Cognitive development, Social cognition ADULTS’ AND CHILDREN’S IDENTIFICATION OF FACES AND EMOTIONS FROM ISOLATED MOTION CUES
NEW APPLICATIONS OF LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES FOR THE STUDY OF MICROBIOLOGICAL INCLUSIONS IN AMBER

Abstract Amber is a superb medium for the fossilization of delicate organisms. Besides light microscopy techniques for the study of insects in amber, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in backscattered electron mode (SEM-BSE), low temperature SEM (LTSEM) and also confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to examine microcenosis and particulate plant remains (microdebris). We applied these techniques to such inclusions in amber Álava, northern Spain (Allaian: Early Cretaceous). Confocal microscopy provides a 3D image of partial microcenosis showing bifurcate fungal hyphae. The huge potential of SEM-BSE yields high resolution images, in which the relationship between protozoa and fungal hyphae may be observed and the characterization of further ultrastructural details in flagellates. According to the SEM-BSE images, food and pulsatile vacuoles appear better preserved than mitochondria and lipids in amber-embedded protozoa. A process of protozoan mineralization has led to the deposition of S and Fe in peripheral areas, and the Fe is also present in the core of surrounding fungal hyphae. Application of LTSEM for the study of protozoan inclusions produces images of their exteriors showing many vacuoles. Plant tissues under SEM-BSE show mummified cell walls, while the cytoplasm exhibits a bright appearance and is very rich in Fe and S. SEM in secondary electron mode (SEM-SE) also reveals a microbiota trapped in gas bubbles.
Collaboration, Adaptation, and Scaling: Perspectives on Environmental Governance for Sustainability

In preview of the special issue on “Environmental Governance for Sustainability”, this manuscript examines three key themes on governance and sustainability. Governance for sustainability, by its nature, requires long-enduring institutional arrangements. Given the complex adaptive systems in which governance decision-making takes place, we explore three key characteristics of successful, long-term governance. The first of these is working across scale. This includes nested institutions as well as communication and coordination both horizontally and vertically between diverse governance groups. Second, we highlight the importance of collaboration. Building on the previous point, we draw on literature from collaborative governance and co-management to emphasize how collaboration can help to build more enduring governance structures. Third, we examine the importance of adaptation and evolution in the resolution of collective action dilemmas in complex systems filled with nonlinearities, unclear causal chains, and environments in which we have less than a full understanding of the ramifications of governance actions.
Advance Care Planning for Older People with Cancer and Its Implications in Asia: Highlighting the Mental Capacity and Relational Autonomy

With dramatically increasing proportions of older people, global ageing has remarkably influenced healthcare services and policy making worldwide. Older people represent the majority of patients with cancer, leading to the increasing demand of healthcare due to more comorbidities and inherent frailty. The preference of older people with cancer are often ignored, and they are considered incapable of making choices for themselves, particularly medical decisions. This might impede the provision of their preferred care and lead to poor healthcare outcomes. Advance care planning (ACP) is considered an effective intervention to assist older people to think ahead and make a choice in accordance with their wishes when they possess capacity to do so. The implementation of ACP can potentially lead to positive impact for patients and families. However, the assessment of mental capacity among older adults with cancer might be a crucial concern when implementing ACP, as loss of mental capacity occurs frequently during disease deterioration and functional decline. This article aims to answer the following questions by exploring the existing evidence. How does ACP develop for older people with cancer? How can we measure mental capacity and what kind of principles for assessment we should apply? What are the facilitators and barriers when implementing an ACP in this population? Furthermore, a discussion about cultural adaptation and relevant legislation in Asia is elucidated for better understanding about its cultural appropriateness and the implications. Finally, recommendations in relation to early intervention with routine monitoring and examination of capacity assessment in clinical practice when delivering ACP, reconciling patient autonomy and family values by applying the concept of relational autonomy, and a corresponding legislation and public education should be in place in Asia. More research on ACP and capacity assessment in different cultural contexts and policy frameworks is highlighted as crucial factors for successful implementation of ACP.
Mean field systems on networks, with singular interaction through hitting times

Building on the line of work [DIRT15a], [DIRT15b], [NS17a], [DT17], [HLS18], [HS18] we continue the study of particle systems with singular interaction through hitting times. In contrast to the previous research, we (i) consider very general driving processes and interaction functions, (ii) allow for inhomogeneous connection structures, and (iii) analyze a game in which the particles determine their connections strategically. Hereby, we uncover two completely new phenomena. First, we characterize the "times of fragility" of such systems (e.g., the times when a macroscopic part of the population defaults or gets infected simultaneously, or when the neuron cells "synchronize") explicitly in terms of the dynamics of the driving processes, the current distribution of the particles' values, and the topology of the underlying network (represented by its Perron-Frobenius eigenvalue). Second, we use such systems to describe a dynamic credit-network game and show that, in equilibrium, the system regularizes: i.e., the times of fragility never occur, as the particles avoid them by adjusting their connections strategically. Two auxiliary mathematical results, useful in their own right, are uncovered during our investigation: a generalization of Schauder's fixed-point theorem for the Skorokhod space with the M1 topology, and the application of the max-plus algebra to the equilibrium version of the network flow problem.