Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance Shortfalls and R&D Investment Change: Aspirations, Actions, and Expectations

Built on the Behavioral Theory of the Firm, the paper examines how firm response to performance feedback is influenced by firm expectation on the likelihood of an action to close the performance gap. Using firm level change in R&D intensity as a problemistic search behavior, we explore how performance shortfalls relative to social and historical aspirations may prompt underperforming firms to adjust its R&D investment intensity, and how the magnitude of this adjustment is moderated by firm resources, past experience, industry and market conditions. We conduct our analysis using a longitudinal sample of Chinese firms listed on the ChiNext Board between 2009 and 2017. Our results indicate that underperforming firms increase their R&D intensity to a larger degree than their over-performing peers and periods when these firms have substantial cumulated R&D spending, abundant organizational slack, and are competing in more dynamic industries. We also document that these moderating factors influence relationships between social and historical aspirations and R&D investment decisions in a distinct way. We conclude that firm internal resources, capabilities and external industry and market conditions all affect firm expectations, and consequently shape the direction and magnitude of organizational actions in response to performance aspirations.
Exploring teacher perceptions of different types of ‘feedback practices’ in higher education: implications for teacher feedback literacy

Abstract Universities around the world are encouraging teachers to provide more constructive feedback to support student learning, but do teachers know how to distinguish constructive feedback? What pedagogical practice is considered as feedback and what is not? For example, is a rubric a type of feedback? To date, very limited research has answered these questions from university teachers’ perspectives and the current study aims to address this gap. In this study, ten teacher training workshops were conducted in a university in Hong Kong, with an intention to enhance teachers’ competence in assessment and feedback. During the workshops, we first adopted Poll Everywhere to survey whether teachers (N = 248) recognise six types of common pedagogical practices as feedback, and subsequently used this as a base to discuss with teachers the reasons behind their responses. Findings reveal teachers’ varied perceptions of these practices as feedback, which may be related to their varied understandings of feedback purposes. The paper calls for an explicit acknowledgement of the multiple purposes of feedback, and concludes with implications for teacher feedback literacy in higher education.
Airport Self-Service Technologies, Passenger Self-Concept, and Behavior: An Attributional View

Airports are rapidly deploying self-service technologies (SSTs) as a strategy to improve passenger experience by eliminating operational inefficiencies. This places some responsibility on the passengers to shape their experience. As service coproducers, passengers’ self-concepts and attributional tendencies are deemed instrumental in their consumption processes. Accordingly, drawing on the tenets of attribution theory, this study explores the interaction effects of passenger self-concept (am I competent at this? ) and causal inference (who is responsible for SSTs’ performance? ) on SST performance and satisfaction with airport SST link. Additionally, the probable spillover effect of passenger satisfaction with SST performance on satisfaction with airport and on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is examined. The sample for the study consisted of 547 passengers departing from an airport in Shanghai, China. Structural equation modeling was utilized to test the study’s theoretical model. The findings indicate that airport SSTs’ performance influences passenger satisfaction with airport SSTs. The multiplicative effect of passenger self-concept (am I competent at this? ) in the moderating role of passenger causal inference (who is responsible for SSTs’ performance? ) in SST performance and satisfaction with SST link is demonstrated. Furthermore, the spillover effect of satisfaction with SST performance on satisfaction with airport and on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is illustrated. Given the current need for contactlessness, the findings proffer critical managerial and research insights.
Dynamical Internal Cost of Capital Driven by Cash Flow Growth

Based on the insight that risk exposure as quantified in the consumption based asset pricing model (CCAPM) is linearly proportional to the cash flow growth rate, we introduce a discounted cash flow model with a time-varying expected return structure matching the implicitly assumed risk exposure at each future point in time in the valuation model, i.e. the assumed cash flow growth rate process. This reduces the range of reasonable valuations outcomes to useful levels, given that the linearly proportional term structures of potential cash flow growth rates and equity risk premia are complementary, offsetting variables in a discounted cash flow pricing model. In the same manner we elaborate a time-varying internal cost of capital (ICC) model that reflects the implied risk exposure at each future point in time and thus has a clear interpretation as an expected return process. This time-varying ICC model is superior to the constant ICC model in a Fama-MacBeth regression setting to predict future realised returns. And using the expected return of the time varying ICC model as control in a Fama-MacBeth regression of the profitability, the investment and the value factor, both the profitability and the value factor become insignificant in explaining future realised returns. The superiority and economic significance of the time-varying ICC model is further con firmed in a trading strategy with yearly rebalancing.
Give a dog a bone: Spending money on pets promotes happiness

ABSTRACT Pet owners routinely spend money on services, accessories, and gifts for their pets. The present research investigates the affective consequences of pet spending. Specifically, we propose that spending money on pets promotes happiness. As predicted, a lab study demonstrated that pet owners who were randomly assigned to recall a time they spent money on their pet reported greater happiness than those who recalled spending money on themselves. Likewise, a field study demonstrated that pet owners who were randomly assigned to spend $5 on their pet reported greater happiness than those who were assigned to spend on themselves or another person – an effect specific to feelings of happiness rather than to mood more generally. This research offers pet owners an evidence-based strategy for boosting happiness, representing an additional intentional activity that can be used to improve well-being.
Regional distribution of COVID-19 mortality in Peru

Objetivos: Comparar la tasa de mortalidad por COVID-19 a nivel nacional por regiones y departamentos desde marzo a septiembre del 2020. Métodos: Estudio cuantitativo, observacional, transversal, ecológico y retrospectivo. La data fue extraída del Sistema Nacional de Defunciones (SINADEF) en Microsoft Excel 2016 y se importó a Stata. Se obtuvo la mortalidad dividiendo el total de muertes sobre la población total de acuerdo al último censo. Se utilizó frecuencias y porcentajes, se realizó un análisis exploratorio ajustado con métodos de regresión robusta para evaluar la asociación entre mortalidad por departamento y regiones ajustado a edad y sexo. Se consideró significativo p< 0.05. Resultados: Se reportaron 32535 fallecidos, el 69.84% fueron varones y la mediana de edad fue 67. La mortalidad por mil habitantes, en la región Costa se calculó en 145 muertes (n=24276), seguido de Sierra con 51 (n=4434) y Selva con 63 (n=2545). Existieron diferencias significativas de mortalidad de acuerdo a la región, en la comparación de la costa con la sierra se halló un coeficiente beta de -96.28 (p <0.001 IC -123.76 -68.77), mientras que en la comparación con la selva se determinó un coeficiente de -50.38 (p 0.01 IC 95% -91.47 -9.29). No se encontró asociación significativa entre la mortalidad y la edad o el sexo de los fallecidos por departamento. Conclusión: La tasa de mortalidad por COVID-19 en Perú fue de 101 por 100000 habitantes, fue mayor en la costa que en la sierra y la selva independientemente de la proporción de varones, mujeres o la edad.
Further results on large sets of partitioned incomplete Latin squares

In this article, we continue to study the existence of large sets of partitioned incomplete Latin squares (LSPILS). We complete the determination of the spectrum of an LSPILS ( g n ) and prove that there exists an LSPILS ( g n ) if and only if g ≥ 1 , n ≥ 3 , and ( g , n ) ≠ ( 1 , 6 ) . We also start the investigation of LSPILS with two group sizes and prove that there exists an LSPILS + ( g n ( 2 g ) 1 ) for all g ≥ 1 and n ≥ 3 except possibly for n ≡ 2 , 10 ( mod 12 ) and n ≥ 14 . Furthermore, we obtain a pair of orthogonal LSPILS + ( 1 p 2 1 ) s, where p is a prime and p ≡ 1 ( mod 6 ) .
Upper crustal shear wave velocity and radial anisotropy beneath Jeju Island volcanoes from ambient noise tomography

Complete List of Authors: Lee, Sang-Jun; Seoul National University, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences Kim, Seongryong; Chungnam National University, Geology and Earth Environmental Sciences Rhie, Junkee; Seoul National University, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Kang, Tae-Seob; Pukyong National University, Department of Earth Environmental Sciences Kim, YoungHee; Seoul National University, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Urbanization affects how people perceive and benefit from ecosystem service bundles in coastal communities of the Global South

ABSTRACT Urbanization profoundly transforms ecosystems and the bundles of services they provide to people. The relationship between urbanization and how ecosystem services are produced together to form bundles has received increased research interest. However, there is limited understanding of how people’s perceptions of the benefits they receive from ecosystem service bundles change with urbanization, particularly in the Global South. Addressing this research gap is critical given perceptions influence how people relate to, use and manage their environment. We used a paired sampling design to contrast urban and rural dwellers’ perceptions of ecosystem service bundles associated with local ecosystems in the Solomon Islands, a rapidly urbanizing Small Island Developing State. Interviews from 200 households revealed that urbanization simplified the composition of perceived ecosystem service bundles. Contributions of provisioning and some cultural ecosystem services were reduced in bundles in urban areas, indicating a decrease in the diversity of experiences of nature and ecosystems providing those experiences. Examining changes in perceived ecosystem service bundles offers a valuable perspective on the implications of social-ecological change for ecosystem service demand and human wellbeing. Our approach presents a novel and simple way to identify and analyse bundles, providing insights into how and where people benefit from nature.
The Buffering Effect of Intrinsic Value Orientation on the Relationship between Everyday Discrimination and Mental Health Symptoms among Hispanic/Latinx Undergraduates

Discrimination, as a psychosocial stressor functions as one pathway in reduced mental health among Hispanic/Latinx undergraduates. Intrinsic value orientation is associated with adaptive functioning and may protect from mental health symptoms. From a strengths-based perspective, this study examined intrinsic value orientation as a buffer against adverse effects of discrimination on mental health among Hispanic/Latinx undergraduates enrolled in a Hispanic Serving Institution. Intrinsic value orientation buffered only against depressive symptoms. Hispanic/Latinx mental health implications are discussed.
An assesment of domoic acid levels as a function of salinity-temperature variations in the Sea of Marmara

Bu calismada Nisan, Temmuz ve Ekim 2019 donemlerinde Marmara Denizi’nden alinan plankton kepce orneklerinde Amnezik Kabuklu Zehirlenmesi’ne (AKZ) neden olan denizel biyotoksin, domoik asit (DA), seviyeleri sunulmaktadir. Plankton kepce orneklemeleri, Marmara Denizi’nin dogusunda, guneybatisinda ve Istanbul metropol bolgesinin yakininda bulunan toplam 13 adet istasyondan yapilmistir. Domoik asit olcumleri, diode-array dedeksiyonu kullanilarak Yuksek Performansli Sivi Kromatografisi yontemiyle gerceklestirilmistir (Belirleme limiti: 0.108 µg mL −1 ). Calisma donemi boyunca alinan toplam 26 adet plankton kepce orneginden 22’sinin (%84.6) DA icerdigi tespit edilmis ve bu orneklerdeki konsantrasyon araligi 0.22 - 3.45 µg mL −1 olarak belirlenmistir. DA konsantrasyonlari ile fiziksel parametreler (tuzluluk ve sicaklik) arasindaki olasi iliskiler incelenmis ve calisma donemi boyunca DA uretiminin genel olarak tuzluluk (r:0.47, p<0.05; n:26) tarafindan kontrol edildigi tespit edilmistir. Calisma sonucunda elde edilen bu veriler, Marmara Denizi’nin farkli bolgelerinde de ayni kosullarin bulunma olasiliginin degerlendirilmesinde kullanilabilecegi gibi, yerel midye yetistiricilik ve balikcilik alanlarindaki potansiyel riskleri belirlemek acisindan da kullanilabilecektir.
Clinical Profile of Acute Viral Hepatitis in Children – In Southern Assam

Background: Viral hepatitis defined as infection of the liver caused by hepatotropic and/or nonhepatotropic viruses. Acute hepatitis is a self-limiting illness characterized by an abrupt onset of symptoms with the hepatocellular inflammation usually resolving completely within 4-6 weeks. The clinical spectrum of acute viral hepatitis ranges from entirely subclinical and in apparent infection to rapidly progressing and fulminant hepatic failure. India is hyper-endemic for hepatitis A and E virus infection. Purpose of this study was to identify the etiology, and to assess the clinical and biochemical profile, complications and final outcome of acute viral hepatitis in children. Method: This was a prospective observational study, conducted in department of Pediatrics, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, among the children from 6month to 12years of age over a period of 1 year (July 2019 to June 2020). A total of 56 children with clinical diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis were included in the study. Data on clinical profile, laboratory parameters were obtained and analysis was performed. Results: Among 56 cases 32(57.14%) were boys and 24 were girls (42.85%). Mean age group was 7.37± 2.49 years. Virology marker revealed 41 (73.21%) cases positive for hepatitis A(HAV), 6(10.71%) cases positive for hepatitis E (HEV), and co-infection with HAV and HEV in 1(1.78%) case, no specific etiology was detected in 8(14.28%) cases, no positive hepatitis B and hepatitis C cases were detected. Jaundice was the most common (100%) presenting complaint, followed by fever (96.42%), high colored urine (83.92%), pain abdomen (80.35%). Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia was detected in all (100%) the HAV, HEV positive cases, hepatic enzymes raised above 5 times of normal limit in all the HAV, HEV positive cases. Significant elevations in hepatic enzymes were seen more commonly in children with HEV infection. INR more than 2.5 was noticed among 4 HAV positive cases (9.75%) and 1 HEV positive case (16.67%). Acute liver failure was seen in3 children, and among them 2(66.67%) children were infected with HAV and 1(33.33%) child was infected with HEV. All the 3 cases of acute liver failure died after 4-5 days of admission. Conclusion: Hepatitis A is most common cause of acute viral hepatitis in pediatrics population. Hepatitis E infection leads a more severe clinical course than HAV infection.
The impact of audit quality on real earnings management in the UK context

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether audit quality influence real earnings management activities using a sample of UK listed firms that have strong incentives to manage earnings upward through meeting past year’s earnings as a benchmark in the post-adoption period of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Design/methodology/approach The authors use a sample of 4,774 firm-year observations of UK listed firms during the period 2005–2018. Univariate and multivariate analyses have been conducted to test the association after controlling for firm characteristics and institutional variables. Findings The study reports that the presence of Big 4 auditors is significantly and positively related with greater levels of sales and discretionary expenses manipulation. Though the authors do not find any conclusive evidence on production costs manipulation, the aggregated measure of real earnings management shows a significant positive association with the presence of Big 4 auditors. Practical implications The study implies that managers who have incentives to manage earnings upward around the UK firms take advantage of the accounting flexibility in defining policies while reducing information asymmetry among the investors to signal better future performance. The approach to detect earnings manipulation as described in the auditing standards fails to limit the managerial use of real activities due to limited scope and unclear guidance. Thus, due to the significant impact on public policies, the results should, therefore, be of interest to the regulators and standard setters. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that examines the association between audit quality and real earnings management for the UK all-purpose operational firms in sampled data that just meet past year’s earnings as a benchmark in the post-IFRS period.
Enzyme Storage and Recycling: Nanoassemblies of α-Amylase and Xylanase Immobilized on Biomimetic Magnetic Nanoparticles

Immobilization of enzymes has been extensively required in a wide variety of industrial applications as a way to ensure functionality and the potential of enzyme recycling after use. In particular, enzyme immobilization on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) could offer reusability by means of magnetic recovery and concentration, along with increased stability and robust activity of the enzyme under different physicochemical conditions. In the present work, microbial α-amylase (AmyKS) and xylanase (XAn11) were both immobilized on different types of MNPs [MamC-mediated biomimetic MNPs (BMNPs) and inorganic MNPs] by using two different strategies (electrostatic interaction and covalent bond). AmyKS immobilization was successful using electrostatic interaction with BMNPs. Instead, the best strategy to immobilize XAn11 was using MNPs through the hetero-crosslinker 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The immobilization protocols were optimized by varying glutaraldehyde (GA) concentration, enzyme quantity, and reaction time. Under optimal conditions, 92% of AmyKS and 87% of XAn11 were immobilized on BMNPs and MNPs–E/N, respectively (here referred as AmyKS–BMNPs and XAn11–MNPs nanoassemblies). The results show that the immobilization of the enzymes did not extensively alter their functionality and increased enzyme stability compared to that of the free enzyme upon storage at 4 and 20 °C. Interestingly, the immobilized amylase and xylanase were reused for 15 and 8 cycles, respectively, without significant loss of activity upon magnetic recovery of the nanoassemblies. The results suggest the great potential of these nanoassemblies in bioindustry applications.
Energy system analytics and good governance -U4RIA goals of Energy Modelling for Policy Support

Energy modelling is the process of using mathematical models to develop abstractions and then seek insights into future energy systems. It can be an abstract academic activity. Or, it can insert threads that influence our development. We argue therefore, that energy modelling that provides policy support (EMoPS) should not only be grounded in rigorous analytics, but also in good governance principles. As, together with other policy actions, it should be accountable. Almost all aspects of society and much of its impact on the environment are influenced by our use of energy. In this context, EMoPS can inspire, motivate, calibrate, and ‘post assess’ energy policy. But, such modeling is often undertaken by too few analysts under time and resource pressure. Building on the advances of ‘class leaders’, we propose that EMoPS should reach for practical goals — including engagement and accountability with the communities it involves, and those it will later affect. (We use the term Ubuntu, meaning ‘I am because you are’ to capture this interdependency). We argue that Ubuntu, together with retrievability, repeatability, reconstructability, interoperability and auditability (U4RIA) of EMoPS should be used to signal the beginnings of a new default practice. We demonstrate how the U4RIA principles can contribute in practice using recent modelling of aspirational energy futures by Costa Rica as a case study. This modelling effort includes community involvement and interfaces and integrates stakeholder involvement. It leaves a trail that allows for its auditing and accountability, while building capacity and sustainable institutional memory.
Wastewater Discharge through a Stream into a Mediterranean Ramsar Wetland: Evaluation and Proposal of a Nature-Based Treatment System

Impacts on wetlands are becoming more pressing every day. Among them, habitat loss, overexploitation of aquifers and changes in land use are considered the most important. However, the impacts linked to wastewater discharges are increasing worldwide. In this context, this study analyses the impacts of input of wastewater to a Mediterranean Ramsar temporary wetland (Fuente de Piedra, south of Spain). To this end, systematic sampling was carried out in the Charcón stream which receives water from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and discharges it into the wetland. The results showed a slight decrease in the nutrient concentrations, particularly for nitrogen compounds. Heterotrophic and fecal bacteria concentration, as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance and biomass, all significantly decreased from the treatment plant to the wetland. When comparing the effect of this discharge with other similar occurring to the same wetland, it was evident that the Charcón stream was responsible for a greater impact. At this point, it is relevant to note that the main difference among both treated wastewater discharges lies in the different water retention time once the wastewater was released from the WWTP. In fact, we recommend an increase in the water retention time by building seminatural ponds, together with the use of biofilters, which will notably contribute to improve the processes of assimilation of nutrients and to decrease the impact generated in the wetland by this spill.
Distracted Driver Detection Based on a CNN With Decreasing Filter Size

In recent years, the number of traffic accident deaths due to distracted driving has been increasing dramatically. Fortunately, distracted driving can be detected by the rapidly developing deep learning technology. Nevertheless, considering that real-time detection is necessary, three contradictory requirements for an optimized network must be addressed: a small number of parameters, high accuracy, and high speed. We propose a new D-HCNN model based on a decreasing filter size with only 0.76M parameters, a much smaller number of parameters than that used by models in many other studies. D-HCNN uses HOG feature images, L2 weight regularization, dropout and batch normalization to improve the performance. We discuss the advantages and principles of D-HCNN in detail and conduct experimental evaluations on two public datasets, AUC Distracted Driver (AUCD2) and State Farm Distracted Driver Detection (SFD3). The accuracy on AUCD2 and SFD3 is 95.59% and 99.87%, respectively, higher than the accuracy achieved by many other state-of-the-art methods.