Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EMPLOYEES ’ ORGANISATIONAL COMMITMENT , ORGANISATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOUR AND PERCEIVED JOB PERFORMANCE AMONG EXECUTIVES

This research investigates the relationships between employees’ Organisational Commitment (OC), Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) and their immediate superior’s perceived Job Performance (JP). It is also done to examine if OC mediates between OCB and JP. The respondents include 115 executives with job grade 7 and above who worked for SEGi University College (SEGi UC). The instruments used were the Meyer and Allen’s (1997) OC Questionnaire (OCQ), Podsakoff’s (1990) OCB Questionnaire (OCBQ) and Annual Performance Appraisal 2008. The results indicated that there was a positive relationship between OC and OCB. However, there was no relationship found between OC and JP. The OC was found to be positively related to the JP. Lastly, it is evident that the OC did not act as the mediator between OCB and JP in this context. Other contributing factors to the participants’ JP gathered from the focus group discussion were highlighted.
One-Day Two-Fraction Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases Using Gamma Knife

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a one-day two-fraction Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for brain metastases. Cases and methods: Ten cases with ten brain metastases (four cases of lung adenocarcinoma, one small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), two renal cell carcinoma, one breast cancer, one esophageal carcinoma, and one bile duct carcinoma) were treated by one-day two-fraction (with an interval of more than six hours) GKRS under rigid skull frame fixation. Of the ten brain metastases, five lesions were in the frontal lobe, one in temporal, one in occipital, and three in the cerebellar hemisphere. The mean planning target volume (PTV) of the ten brain tumors was 7.8 ml (median, 8.0; range, 3.8 - 11.8). The ten targets of the mean prescription isodose volume (PIV) of 10.1 ml (median, 10.1; range, 4.4 - 15.9) were treated with a mean margin dose of 20.4 Gy (median, 20.5; range, 16.4 - 22) in two fractions. In five cases, other small brain metastases (one to seven tumors) were also treated simultaneously in a single fraction GKRS. The indication of two-fraction radiosurgery was large lesion size in eight, retreatment in three, the proximity of the motor area in three, and pre-existing perifocal edema symptom of dysarthria in two, nausea and vomiting in one, and dementia in one. Results: Eight cases were alive at the end of the follow-up period of one to nine months (median, 6). One patient with SCLC died four and a half months after GKRS, from aggressive regrowth of the treated frontal lesion after transient marked shrinkage. Another patient died four months after GKRS due to the progression of other brain tumors treated by single fraction GKRS at the same time. In nine of 10 cases, the size of the treated tumors was controlled until the end of the follow-up period or the patient’s death. In two cases, an additional GKRS was performed for newly developed brain metastases at distant locations at six months and five months after one-day two-fraction GKRS, respectively, and controlled at the end of the follow-up period. Conclusions: A relatively high dose may be safely delivered to large lesions, to those close to the important structures, or those with perifocal edema by one-day two-fraction radiosurgery. Local control was good except for a relapsed SCLC metastasis case. Evaluation in more cases with a longer follow-up period is necessary to determine definite indications and optimal prescription doses.
Fundamental parameters and infrared excesses of Tycho–Gaia stars

Effective temperatures and luminosities are calculated for 1,475,921 Tycho-2 and 107,145 Hipparcos stars, based on distances from Gaia Data Release 1. Parameters are derived by comparing multi-wavelength archival photometry to BT-Settl model atmospheres. The 1-sigma uncertainties for the Tycho-2 and Hipparcos stars are +/-137 K and +/-125 K in temperature and +/-35 per cent and +/-19 per cent in luminosity. The luminosity uncertainty is dominated by that of the Gaia parallax. Evidence for infrared excess between 4.6 and 25 microns is found for 4256 stars, of which 1883 are strong candidates. These include asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, Cepheids, Herbig Ae/Be stars, young stellar objects, and other sources. We briefly demonstrate the capabilities of this dataset by exploring local interstellar extinction, the onset of dust production in AGB stars, the age and metallicity gradients of the solar neighbourhood and structure within the Gould Belt. We close by discussing the potential impact of future Gaia data releases.
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT RADIATORS USED TO MEASURE THE TRANSVERSE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW ENERGY ELECTRON BEAMS AT PITZ

The Photo Injector Test facility at DESY, Zeuthen site (PITZ), has been established for developing and optimizing electron sources for linac based Free Electron Lasers (FELs). Characterizationsof the beams with maximum energies of about 25 MeV are carried out at PITZ. In order to study properties of the electron beams, several diagnostic systems are applied. An important investigation is the study of transverse beam pro� les at different beam conditions. Two screen types - Ce-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG) powder coated and optical transition radiation (OTR) - are used as beam pro� le monitors and are installed in screen stations at different locations along the beam line. Two wire scanner systems are available for the same purpose. In addition, a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) diamond screen is installed in the screen station prior to a beam dump for testing. In this contribution a comparison of experimental results from all three screen types and the wire scanner will be presented and discussed.
Modelling studies on the effect of aerosols and cloud microphysics on cloud and fog properties

Atmospheric aerosol particles influence the Earth’s climate either directly by scattering and absorbing incoming solar radiation, or indirectly by influencing cloud properties. According to our current understanding, anthropogenic aerosols induce a cooling effect on the Earth's climate, but estimates of the effect's magnitude are very uncertain. To reduce this uncertainty, it is important to gain more knowledge on how aerosols affect cloud properties, and how cloud processing feeds back into aerosol properties. In this thesis, the high-resolution large eddy model UCLALES is used as main tool to simulate atmospheric dynamics. Aerosol processes are represented in UCLALES using the sectional aerosol module SALSA. The aerosol module SALSA was further developed to cover cloud droplets and precipitation with a sectional representation. With this tool, it is possible to study the aerosol effect on cloud and fog properties in different atmospheric conditions in more detail than before. In this thesis, the developed model is employed to address different research questions. It has been suggested that marine cloud brightening (MCB) is an efficient and cost effective geoengineering solution to counteract climate warming. Here, it is shown that the efficacy of the method has previously been overestimated. By accounting for all of the different microphysical processes affecting aerosol particles, the aerosol dispersion in the boundary layer was found to be less efficient than expected, and thus, the proposed emission fluxes need to be re-estimated. The effect of aerosols on radiation fogs was also simulated, and it was found that aerosols, as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), have a significant effect on the radiation fog life cycle. This effect was significantly enhanced by positive feedback mechanisms. Beyond radiation fog, the skill of UCLALES-SALSA in simulating the dynamics of marine stratocumulus clouds and their dependence on aerosols was demonstrated. As a last topic, another large eddy model, PALM, was employed together with a cloud parcel model to simulate how the surface topography affects cloud droplet formation in low altitude clouds. These simulations were performed for the measurement station at Puijo tower, which lies on top of Puijo hill. Simulations show that the high orographic updrafts on the slopes of the hill can cause the in-cloud formation of droplets, leading to a bi-modal cloud droplet distribution. The results in this thesis demonstrate the importance of using detailed aerosol representation in cloud-resolving models when aiming to understand cloud-aerosol interactions. It is shown that, in order to reduce the uncertainties associated with aerosol-cloud interactions, not only a detailed understanding of how aerosol affects clouds is required, but an understanding of the associated feedback mechanisms is essential as well.
Valuing Subscription-Based Businesses Using Publicly Disclosed Customer Data

The growth of subscription-based commerce has changed the types of data that firms report to external shareholders. More than ever, companies are discussing and disclosing information on the number of customers acquired and lost, customer lifetime value, and other data. This has fueled an increasing interest in linking the value of a firm's customers to the overall value of the firm, with the term “customer-based corporate valuation” being used to describe such efforts. Although several researchers in the fields of marketing and accounting have explored this idea, their underlying models of customer acquisition and retention do not adequately reflect the empirical realities associated with these behaviors, and the associated valuation models do not meet the standards of finance professionals. The authors develop a framework for valuing subscription-based firms that addresses both issues, and they apply it to data from DISH Network and Sirius XM Holdings.
The Impact of Competition on the Selection and Valuation of Deals by Private Equity Firms

An important but largely neglected question in the literature on private equity investing is how the competitive environment shapes the behavior of private equity firms. In this study, we first explore whether competition has an impact on the role of previous industry knowledge for the generation of investment opportunities. Second, we study the impact of competition on the valuation of investment targets. Our hypotheses are tested on a unique hand-collected dataset of the UK buyout market. Using different measures of competition, our results show that increased competition has two opposing effects on the role of previous industry knowledge for the selection of investment opportunities. Further, increased competition leads to higher valuations of target firms.
A Single Chip Standalone Water Splitting Photoelectrochemical Cell

Water splitting photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) was fabricated in which the electrolyzer parts were made on a single chip. This was achieved by depositing an optically transparent Mn-oxide-TiO 2 thin layer on the front of a triple junction amorphous Si photovoltaic cell which acted as the anode and the back stainless steel layer acted as the cathode under illumination of light. This single chip water electrolysis cell operates like an artificial leaf. Water splitting was observed by simply submersing the device in a basic electrolyte solution under solar simulated light of 1 sun (0.1 W cm -2 ). This self-driven PEC was found to produce hydrogen gas at the rate of 12.42 L m -2 h -1 and a solar to hydrogen efficiency (STHE) of 3.25 % from the collected H 2 gas in 2.5 M KOH solution. No signs of degradation of this single chip PEC were observed during water splitting when the device was run continuously for 6 hours.
Seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections among prisoners in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia

There are about a million of people jailed in the prison center worldwide[1]. Ethiopia has the second highest number of prisoners next to South Africa. According to the reports of International Center for Prison Study in 2014, there are 93 044 prisoners in Ethiopia. This puts the country into the 15th leading imprisoning nation in the world[2]. The prison setting has been shown to be a high risk environment for blood-borne viral pathogens[3]. HIV and the most common types of viruses that cause viral hepatitis like hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are a major public health problem, and may put the prisoners at higher risk for infections[4]. During imprisonment, prisoners may acquire new infections due to a scarcity of proper infrastructure, inadequate medical facilities and health professionals, poor infection control and health care systems in the prisons[5]. In Ethiopia, the epidemiology and risk factors for viral infection among prisoners are known to be different across the country. Moreover, the prevalence of viral infections among prisoners is reported to be higher than that in the general population[6]. HIV adult prevalence in the general population is estimated to be 1.5% in 2011[7]. Most of viral hepatitis, especially HCV, spread through intravenous drug use or through contaminated blood during transfusion procedures, and the risk factors associated with HIV transmission are also similar to those of HBV and HCV as they share common routes of transmission[1,8,9]. HBV infection prevalence from three African countries was reported to be 4.2%, 2.2% and 12% among prisoners[10-12]. Whereas, the incidence of ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
Loughborough University Institutional Repository Effective student industrial designers : identifying formative factors

Those students who are most effective at gaining high grades at A’ level Design do not necessarily produce the best design at a university level. A small sample of first year undergraduate industrial design students with the highest performance in university design modules were interviewed to identify the factors they saw as formative in establishing them as good designers. In addition university staff teaching design to this cohort produced a reflective analysis of approaches to design they observed in new undergraduates; that is approaches developed during their school experiences. It was apparent that these high-performing young designers had their appetites for design formed in play with construction kits in pre-school years. The majority of their primary and secondary school design experiences were bland and uninteresting to them. However, when teachers ran extra-curricula experiences in design it was apparent that a far more positive impression was made. This discussion may inform the on-going debate as to the nature of design practice and teaching and learning the knowledge and skills required.
Status of Mn and Fe in Agricultural Soils of Western Ethiopia: Laboratory Assessment

One hundred and sixty soil samples at depth of 0-15 cm were collected from Nitisols of Western Ethiopia following three elevational positions (low, mid and high altitudes) at 1300, 1800 and 2300 masl, respectively, and two farming practices (traditional and intensive). The objectives of the study were to assess the status of manganese and iron in Nitisols and examine effects of altitude and farming practices on the status. The status was determined using diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid-triethanolamine (DTPA-TEA), ammonium bicarbonate diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA) and Mehlich III methods using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. There were no textural variation among all samples and all the samples were classified in the clay textural class. The pH measured in water varied between 4.24-6.21. Sixty four percent and fourteen percent of the samples were low in available phosphorus and organic carbon, respectively. Comparing the results of extractable manganese and iron in Nitisols of Western Ethiopia with critical levels of manganese and iron from literature, the amounts of extractable manganese and iron were in the sufficient range. The manganese status was higher in traditional farms than in intensive farms in low and high altitudes. In mid altitude, on the other hands, the status of manganese in intensive farms was higher than that in traditional ones. The iron status was mostly higher in traditional farms than in intensive farms in all altitudes. Irrespective of farming practices the status of manganese and iron increased with the increase in altitude. The amounts of manganese were higher than those of iron in all the three altitudes using the three methods. Comparing the extracting power of the methods used for determining manganese and iron, the result of soil analysis showed that DTPA-TEA was superior to the others followed by AB-DTPA and Mehlich III.
Dark valence electrons and color vision

By its large orbital radius dark valence electron (dark in TGD sense, heff = n × h) sees atomic nucleus and other electrons, which are ordinary, effectively as an object of charge Zeff = 1. The spectrum of bound state energies and transition energies is scaled down by the factor (h/heff ) . This irrespective of what the atom is. The only condition is that there is single unpaired valence electron guaranteed if Z for the atom is odd. For even Z odd number of valence electrons must be associated with valence bonds: this would be the case for OH radical for instance. The dynamics of dark valence electrons is universal with universal transition energy spectrum. One obtains a fractal hierarchy of dynamics labelled by the value of (h/heff ) , where heff = n × h0, h0 the minimal value of Planck constant, not necessary equal to h so that one has h = n0 × h0. The quantum critical dynamics characterizing living matter in TGD Universe is indeed universal. The dark photon communications in living matter could utilize these universal energy spectra besides cyclotron energy spectrum and Larmor spectrum assignable to dark particles at flux tubes and the spectrum of generalized Josephson frequencies assignable to cell membrane. In particular, vision and even other sensory modalities could rely on the transitions induced by the absorption of dark valence electron. In TGD also other sensory percepts are communicated from sensory receptors to the sensory areas of cortex and also here same universal transitions of dark valence electrons might be involved. This hypothesis when combined with the earlier ideas about color qualia leads to a highly predictive and testable model for the perception of colors. In particular the condition h = n0 × h0, n0 > 1, is necessary for the model to work. n0 = 4 and n0 = 6 look the most realistic options. For n0 = 4 the number of values of n = 8, 9, 10 and correspond to the number 3 of color sensitive receptors whereas n0 = 6 the number of values n = 12, 13, 14, 15 suggests the existence of a fourth color receptor sensitive to red light. The statistical aspects of color summation can be understood from TGD inspired theory of consciousness in terms of the hypothesis that self experiences the mental images of sub-self as kind of statistical averages. The identification of quark colors as fundamental color qualia, the entanglement of quarks and antiquarks to form states in one-one correspondence with charged gluons, and the twistor space of CP2 play key roles in the model of color summation.
Understanding the listening problems in noise experimented by children with Auditory Processing Disorders

Earlier studies have shown that children with normal hearing function perform more poorly than adults on different tasks that involve the perception of speech in noise (Fallon et al. 2000; Hall et al. 2002; Johnson 2000; Picard & Bradley 2001). Some authors have suggested that children’s immature cognitive capacity and less developed coping strategies explain this difference between children and adults (Stansfeld & Matheson 2003). Others have proposed that children’s poorer speech perception performances while they are in presence of background noise can be attributed to their immature central auditory processing system abilities (Blandy & Lutman 2005; Fallon et al. 2000). And, some have suggested that children’s speech perception in noise difficulties can be accounted for by the fact that they have immature linguistic competencies (Elliott 1979). At the present time, there is no agreement about the causes that may explain why children perform more poorly on speech perception in noise tasks compared to adults. However, there is a consensus that, with children, the ability to perceive speech in noise improves as a function of age until they reach adolescence. As the hearing abilities and the brain are developing, it is conceivable that there is an increased specialization and fine tuning of the different perceptual and cognitive processes such as the ones involved for speech recognition in presence of background noise.
ICMC Conference Paper In-store vs . online shopping of search and experience goods : A Hybrid Choice approach

This paper aims at explaining the choice between online and in-store shopping for experience (groceries) and search (standard electronic appliances) goods in Zurich, Switzerland, within an experimental setting assuming no privately owned vehicles, applying an integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) approach to model choice behavior: In a stated preference survey 466 respondents were requested to trade-off different attributes related to their choice between online and in-store shopping, together with a separate questionnaire asking for their attitudes towards online shopping and the pleasure of shopping. Respondents with more positive attitudes towards online shopping exhibit a higher shopping cost sensitivity, which can be explained by the larger choice set when effectively considering both purchasing channels, while shopping time sensitivity differs by the product category and the pleasure of shopping. The strongest socio-economic factor explaining choice behavior is education: Well-educated people tend to have a better access to ICT in general and make use of that technology, thus exhibit a higher choice probability of online shopping that is mainly mediated via the pro-online shopping attitudes. Results reveal further potential for online shopping services, given the relatively high value of travel time savings (VTTS) of about 75 CHF/h for experience and 45 CHF/h for search goods, compared to the value of delivery time savings (VDTS) ranging between 6 CHF/day for experience and 2.50 CHF/day for search goods: Especially for search goods, avoiding a shopping trip produces more benefits than waiting for the delivery of the ordered products.