Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exporting inequality: US investors and the Americanization of executive pay in the United Kingdom

Abstract Existing studies of the political determinants of top incomes and inequality tend to focus on developments within individual countries, neglecting the role of interdependencies that transcend national borders. This article argues that the sharp rises in top incomes observed in recent years are in part a product of specific features originating in the US political economy, which were subsequently exported to other economies through the global expansion of US-based financial investors. To test the argument, we collect fine-grained micro-level data on executive pay and firm ownership structures for a comprehensive sample of publicly listed firms in the United Kingdom (UK). Our analyses uncover robust evidence that the Americanization of UK firm ownership leads to the financialization of remuneration practices and sizeable pay increases for high-level managers at those firms. Scrutinizing the causal mechanisms underlying this effect, we find them to be more consistent with changes in bargaining power inside firms rather than coercion from outside or exogenous shifts in labor markets for executives. The findings show the disruptive potential of Wall Street investments abroad to empower local managerial elites to capture greater rents and, more generally, demonstrate the need to take the transnational seriously in order to understand patterns of inequality in the global political economy.
Mechanical integrity of the IC device package-a key factor in achieving failure free product performance

A methodology has been developed to maximize product hardware integrity and practically eliminate service affecting field failures. This methodology starts with the analysis of the field failures reported over a period of 5 to 10 years. Failed parts are analyzed and similar failures are reproduced in laboratory conditions. This procedure allows researchers to identify the failure mechanisms and the factors that initiate and accelerate device degradation. Contrary to general belief, silicon temperature was eliminated as a major failure cause. In fact, a very weak correlation was found between silicon maximum temperature and field failure probability. Temperature cycling due to power and environmental changes was found to have a stronger impact on overall device reliability. Device packaging and especially the silicon chip interconnect were found to be the most sensitive part of the entire assembly. The degradation of the device packaging occurs, in most cases, faster than the degradation of the silicon itself. Most of the parts fail mechanically long before any apparent degradation of the device electrical performance. <<ETX>>
Market Knowledge and Stakeholder Considerations for the Biopharmaceutics Sector—Incorporating User Value and Societal Needs in Therapeutic Interventions

Purpose: Many health systems are considered ill-equipped to adequately meet future demand. Although academic entrepreneurs and small and me-dium-sized enterprises (SMEs) drive health technology innovation, they often suboptimally consider important market and stakeholder requirements. This can result in missed opportunities to improve health system performance, address demand-supply gaps, and achieve financial rewards. Market intelligence can provide crucial information in this regard, but scientifically sourced guidance on how to perform market research for biopharmaceutics is scarce. Our objective was, therefore, to create and provide an easily accessible biopharmaceutics market research toolbox that can be perused by academic entrepreneurs and SMEs to improve the alignment of their developments with stakeholder needs. Design: Guided by market orientation theory, we inter-viewed senior managers and commercialisation experts from the biopharmaceutics sector. We asked them which information they consider most relevant, and how they collect, analyse and respond to new information to align product features, positioning and stakeholder-relationship management with market needs. Findings: Our innovator toolbox consists of a high-level overview of market intelligence considerations mapped against a novel innovation framework, a stakeholder reasoning and value model, and detailed considerations (checklists) per ket intelligence considerations for the biopharmaceutics sector. Although primarily collated for academic entrepreneurs and SMEs, our innovator toolbox for the biopharmaceutics sector can help all stakeholders better understand their orientation towards markets.
Performance Indicators for Sun-Tracking Systems: A Case Study in Spain

Current PV cells technology takes advantage mainly from beam radiation. In this context the sun-trackers are such devices for efficiency improvement. On the other hand, projected shadows between devices make mandatory to increase the distances between mounting systems. Thus, the land’s capacity for mounting PV panels can be dramatically decreased. This fact conducts us to wonder where the optimum efficient point is. First, in this paper different types of sun-tracking systems are classified according to the movement they perform (cinematic classification). Further, three real PV installations-fixed, horizontal-axis tracking and dual-axis mount tracking—located in the same geographical area in Spain (they are approximately under the same weather conditions) are analyzed. These installations have been studied in order to establish which one is the most efficient and affordable—Specific Energy Production (SEP) and Performance Ratio (PR) analysis. PVGIS solar radiation estimate tool has been used for comparing the theoretical radiation potential on each plant. The land requirements have been considered in the analysis of the Ground Cover Ratio (GCR) and the Surface Performance Ratio (SPR). Moreover, comparing three main financial indicators let us carry out a financial study: Payback Time (PBT), Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). In the case study, final annual energetic results demonstrate that the dual-axis plant shows a relevant SEP advantage, but if we take into account the land occupied for this sort of devices we find much more profitable the horizontal-axis sun-tracking system, with a SPR value 4.24% higher than the fixed system we have studied. Its PBT is also a 22% lower than the dual-axis tracking installation.
Parents’ Report of Canadian Elementary School Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

COVID-19 public health protocols have altered children’s daily routines, limiting their physical activity opportunities. The purpose of this study was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected children’s (ages 10–12 years) physical activity and screen time, and to explore the impact of gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and public health constraints (i.e., facility use and social interaction) on the changes in children’s health behaviors. Online surveys were disseminated to parents at two time points: before COVID-19 (May 2019 to February 2020) and during COVID-19 (November to December 2020). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess changes in physical activity and screen time, and for subgroup analyses. Parents (n = 95) reported declines in children’s physical activity (Z = −2.53, p = 0.01, d = 0.18), and increases in weekday (Z = −4.61, p < 0.01, d = 0.33) and weekend screen time (Z = −3.79, p < 0.01, d = 0.27). Significant changes in physical activity and screen time behaviors were identified between gender, SES, and facility use groups. All social interaction groups underwent significant changes in screen time. Overall, COVID-19 protocols have negatively influenced children’s physical activity and screen time. Due to the negative consequences of inactivity and excessive screen time, resources must be made available to support families during the pandemic.
How I Use Measurable Residual Disease in the Clinical Management of Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Over the last decade the use of measurable residual disease (MRD) diagnostics in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has expanded from a limited number of study groups in Europe and the United States to a world-wide application. In this review, we summarize the advantages and drawbacks of the current available techniques used for MRD monitoring. Through the use of three representative case studies, we highlight the advances in the use of MRD in clinical decision-making in the management of ALL in adults. We acknowledge discrepancies in MRD monitoring and treatment between different countries, reflecting differing availability, accessibility and affordability.
OMR (Optical Mark Recognition with Simple Scanner)

In this fast and furious era ubiquitous computing is growing so extensively and every manual works are shifting towards computerized work. People don’t want to invest their time in processing they just want to give an input and take an output immediately. And by the help of machines we can reduce the processing time. The OMR sheet can be scanned by any simple scanner and by the use of this System it can be easily assessed also the result can be put into the database of the system. The Software is designed to serve that entire organization who conducts their exam on OMR sheet. Different organizations could use to assess and evaluate their answer sheet on various scales and Parameters. The system could help in many ways and could turn out to be a revelation for the Organizations and also for the HR people.
Psychometric Evidence of the 10-Item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC10, Greek Version) and the Predictive Power of Resilience on Well-Being and Distress

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the construct validity of CD-RISC10 in a sample of 1089 Greek adults of the general population. The CD-RISC10 factor structure was evaluated first with EFA in a 20% subsample and confirmed with CFA (CFA1) in a different 40% subsample. A cross-validation CFA followed (CFA2) in a third 40% subsample (i.e. of equal power with CFA1). Model fit comparison using −2ΔLL difference test suggested a bidimensional structure but bifactor ancillary measures indicated that multidimensionality was weak to exclude the unidimensional structure. Full weak measurement invariance across gender for this unidimensional model was successfully established in the entire sample. Partial strong measurement invariance was established after freeing intercepts of 2 items and partial strict after freeing the error variance of 1 item. Internal consistency reliability (α) was equal to three different model-based reliability calculations (CR) at adequate levels (.85), corroborating one another, although CD-RISC10 was not tau-equivalent. The average variance extracted was . 37 to evaluate model-based convergent validity. Convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated further with correlation analysis with a resilience measure, life satisfaction, affectivity, depression, anxiety, and stress with all associations to the expected direction. The predictive validity of CD-RISC10 was evaluated with a SEM model of resilience regressed on two higher-order latent factors of subjective well-being (SWB) and psychological distress, yielding significant strong positive and negative effects respectively. Male scored significantly higher than females thus, normative data were calculated over the total sample and also separately by gender. How to cite this paper: Kyriazos, T. , & Stalikas, A. (2021). Psychometric Evidence of the 10-Item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC10, Greek Version) and the Predictive Power of Resilience on Well-Being and Distress. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 9, 280-308. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2021. 911022 Received: September 30, 2021 Accepted: November 27, 2021 Published: November 30, 2021 Copyright © 2021 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access T. Kyriazos, A. Stalikas DOI: 10.4236/jss.2021. 911022 281 Open Journal of Social Sciences
Os consumidores valorizam a coleta de embalagens recicláveis? Um estudo de caso da logística reversa em uma rede de hipermercados

The aim of this paper is to verify the role and relevance of recycled packaging Collection Centers as a factor of attracting customers to supermarkets. The analysis is based on a theoretical reference that has reverse logistics as a central concept. The literature affirms that reverse logistics are a result of the increasing concern of consumers about the environment, which, therefore, would tend to value organizations that were involved in recycling. To address these issues, research conducted on 105 customers from three of the retailer's hypermarkets was conducted in three capital cities (Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Sao Paulo/SP and Belo Horizonte/MG). Taking this into account, it was possible to point out that most of the retailer's customers in the Belo Horizonte and Sao Paulo stores are not aware of the existence of Collection Centers, unlike customers in the Rio de Janeiro store. Consequently, these Centers are not considered as an influence factor on the choice of the purchasing store. It is concluded that in order for the recycling incentive campaign to be broader and more efficient, it is necessary for the retailer and the recycling company to make a greater effort in advertising Collection Centers and in its customers' motivation towards the campaign. Thus, firms may have a sustainable competitive advantage by differentiating their company's image.
ADVANCED BEAM MANIPULATION TECHNIQUES AT SPARC

SPARC in Frascati is a high brightness photo-injector used to drive Free Electron Laser experiments and explore advanced beam manipulation techniques. The R&D effort made for the optimization of the beam parameters will be presented here, together with the major experimental results achieved. In particular, we will focus on the generation of sub-picosecond, high brightness electron bunch trains via velocity bunching technique (the so called comb beam). Such bunch trains can be used to drive tunable and narrow band THz sources, FELs and plasma wake field accelerators.
Antibiotic Use and Misuse in Dentistry in India—A Systematic Review

Background: Infections caused by antibiotic resistance pose a serious global health threat, undermining our ability to treat common infections and deliver complex medical procedures. Antibiotic misuse, particularly in low-–middle-income countries, is accelerating this problem. Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the use and misuse of antibiotics in dentistry in India. Method: We included studies carried out on Indian populations evaluating the prescription of prophylactic or therapeutic antibiotics by dental practitioners or other healthcare providers, along with antibiotic self-medication by the general population. The primary outcome measure was prescription rate/use of antibiotics for dental/oral problems. The secondary outcome measures included indications for antibiotic use in dentistry, their types and regimens, factors influencing practitioners’ prescription patterns and any differences based on prescriber and patient characteristics. Multiple databases were searched with no restrictions on language or publication date. The quality assessment of all included studies was carried out using the AXIS tool for cross-sectional studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for qualitative studies. Results: Of the 1377 studies identified, 50 were eligible for review, comprising 35 questionnaire surveys, 14 prescription audits and one qualitative study (semi-structured interviews). The overall quality of the included studies was found to be low to moderate. The proportion of antibiotic prescriptions amongst all prescriptions made was found to range from 27% to 88%, with most studies reporting antibiotics in over half of all prescriptions; studies also reported a high proportion of prescriptions with a fixed dose drug combination. Worryingly, combination doses not recommended by the WHO AWaRe classification were being used. The rate of antibiotic self-medication reported for dental problems varied from 5% to 35%. Conclusions: Our review identified the significant misuse of antibiotics for dental diseases, with inappropriate use therapeutically and prophylactically, the use of broad spectrum and combination antibiotics not recommended by WHO, and self-medication by the general population. There is an urgent need for targeted stewardship programmes in this arena.
Seismic Resistance of Timber Frames with Mud and Stone Infill Walls in a Chinese Traditional Village Dwelling

Traditional Chinese wood residences consist of timber frames with masonry infill walls or other types of infill, representing valuable heritage. A field investigation of traditional village dwellings in northern China consisting of timber frames with mud and stone infill walls was conducted. Their construction characteristics are reported, and static cyclic tests were performed on two full-size wood-stone hybrid walls with different configurations (exterior transverse wall and internal transverse wall) and no openings (doors or windows). Their failure mechanics and seismic capacity, i.e., the strength, stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation, were investigated. The results are compared with a previous experimental study of two full-size timber frames with the same traditional structure but no infill to determine the effect of the mud and stone infill on the lateral resistance. The experimental results indicate that the stone infill has a critical influence on the lateral performance of traditional village buildings, resulting in a high lateral stiffness, high strength (>20 kN), and a high ductility ratio (>10). An increase in the vertical load leads to an increase in the lateral resistance of the timber frame with infill walls, larger for the internal transverse wall than the external gable wall. The incompatibility of the deformation between the timber frame and stone infill is the main failure reason, resulting in falling stones and collapse with undamaged timber frames. Suggestions are provided for the protection and repair of traditional wood residences in northern China.
Magnetic flux distributions in transformer core joints

This paper presents results of a rigorous analytical study performed in order to understand the role which joints play in determining the performance of cores of power and distribution transformers. The paper presents the details of the magnetic flux distribution and redistribution in the core joint region along the core stack height direction as a function of the operating flux density, core joint material, joint configuration, and joint design parameters. The results are presented for both conventional and step-lap joints. The results illustrate the benefits of the step-lap joint in reducing core losses, noise and excitation current. The results also explain the impact of overlap length, the number of laminations per step, and the contribution of the joint region to the whole core performance. The calculated flux density wave shapes in the joint region were found to be in good agreement with measured wave shapes. The results presented in this paper have been used in developing an accurate calculation of core losses for both power and distribution transformers. They have also been used to arrive at the optimum core joint configuration for a transformer core.
Analysis on the Instrumental and Experiential Attitudes towards Bribery among Youths from Different Types of Primary and Secondary Schools in Malaysia

Attitudes explain a wide range of behaviours including bribery. As the education environment plays a crucial role in communicating messages about what behaviour is acceptable, the ways we structure our school system could potentially influence how attitudes are shaped. In Malaysia, students attended different types of primary and secondary school (e.g. national and vernacular). Thus, this study aimed to explore the instrumental and experiential attitudes towards bribery of students attended four different types of primary and secondary schools. There were 198 Malaysian youths with an age range of 18 to 29 (M = 20.43) participated in this study. Instrumental and experiential attitudes towards bribery scales were used to measure both variables. Kruskal-Wallis test was used and the results indicated that there were no significant differences found between instrumental attitudes or experiential attitudes towards bribery among youths from four different types of schools selected in this study. However, some respondents claim that offering a small amount of money is more acceptable than offering a large amount of money. The implied that the acceptability of a dishonest act depends on its seriousness. SMK, to SMJK and SJK to SMP) score on the towards bribery, and (2) are there any significant differences between graduates who attended different types of schools and attitudes towards bribery? SK is a public primary school, SJK is a Chinese vernacular primary school, SMK is a public secondary school, SMJK is a Chinese vernacular secondary school and SMP is a private Chinese high school. Past literature about attitudes and education will be reviewed.
The Mediating Effect of Intention to Use on the Relationship between Mobile Learning Application and Knowledge and Skill Usage

Mobile learning (m-learning) has evolved as an alternative way of training delivery in a variety of businesses and sectors. Mobile device technology is continuously developing and improving, resulting in more mobile device use. In a corporate setting, the usage of mobile devices as learning aids has become a new delivery technique. Telekom Malaysia (TM) has also adopted this learning tool for staff training. This research has been conducted to determine the mediating effect of intention to use on the relationship between mobile learning applications and knowledge and skill usage. There are five objectives for this research. Hypotheses have been generated to be tested according to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model. The questionnaire was used for data collection. SmartPLS version 3.2. 8 and IBM SPSS Statistics version 26 statistical software were used in the analysis. The finding revealed that there was an effect of perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) on TM employee knowledge and skill usage. In addition, the study also found there was a mediating effect of Intention to Use (ITU) on the relationship between PEOU and PU with TM employee knowledge and skill usage.
Mixed-mode operation of boost switch-mode rectifier for wide range of load variations

A mixed-mode input current sensorless predictive current control at constant but two different switching frequencies for a single-phase boost type switch-mode rectifier (SMR) with single switch topology is proposed. The SMR operates in continuous input current mode (CCM) or in discontinuous input current mode (DCM) depending upon the load. This load dependent operating mode selection avoids the operation of the SMR in the dual mode, where the input current harmonic distortion is maximum. The closed loop output voltage regulation is achieved without the need of an input current sensor. The control scheme is optimized to result in an economic size of the boost inductor along with the compliance of IEC 1000-3-2 harmonic limits for input current.