Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation The Effectiveness Of Customer Relationship Management Factors In Isfahan Tourism And Travel Agencies

The aim of this study is assessing the effectiveness of Customer Relationship Management factors in Isfahan tourism and travel agencies by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). It is practical according to the goal and it’s a kind of descriptive survey in terms of methodology. Research population included all of staffs and managers at tourism and travel agencies in Isfahan in 2012 that 274 of them were selected as research sample through Cochran’s formula and the return rate of questionnaires was 93%. Data analysis has been done by SPSS20 and AMOS20 softwares. Results showed that the model in this research in terms of fit model indexes, is a decent model for assessing the condition of customer relationship management in Isfahan travel and tourism agencies. Also findings showed that all factors of customer relationship management are effective. Findings lead to better understanding of behavioral mechanisms which is an acceptable fundamental for maintaining and improving customer relationship management in tourism industry.
Resonant DC/DC converter controlled with constant frequency

DC/DC resonant converter controlled with constant frequency by means of the additional transistors conduction time control is presented. The proposed converter topology allows to relatively high range of its output power changes in comparison to the conventional PRC converter. Comparison between average power losses in semiconductor elements in a DC/DC converter controlled with constant frequency and in equivalent DC/DC converter controlled with variable frequency is presented to emphasize attractiveness of the proposed converter. Power losses were calculated and verified experimentally. Some of the converter characteristics from PSPICE simulation are presented and compared with experimental results.
Chromosome replication patterns in the hyperthermophilic euryarchaea Archaeoglobus fulgidus and Methanocaldococcus (Methanococcus) jannaschii

We analysed chromosome replication patterns in the two hyperthermophilic euryarchaea Archaeoglobus fulgidus and Methanocaldococcus (Methanococcus) jannaschii by marker frequency analysis (MFA). For A. fulgidus, the central region of the chromosomal physical map displayed a higher relative abundance in gene dosage during exponential growth, with two continuous gradients to a region of lower abundance at the diametrically opposite side of the genome map. This suggests bidirectional replication of the A. fulgidus chromosome from a single origin. The organization of the putative replication origin region relative to the cdc6, mcm and DNA polymerase genes differed from that reported for Pyrococcus species. No single replication origin or termination regions could be identified for M. jannaschii, adding to the list of unusual properties of this organism. The organization of the A. fulgidus cell cycle was characterized by flow cytometry analysis of the samples from which genomic DNA was extracted for MFA. The relative lengths of the cell cycle periods were found to be similar to those of crenarchaea.
Delivering Feedback: Supervisors’ Source Credibility and Communication Competence

This study investigated how perceptions of supervisor communication competence and source credibility were affected by the valence and synchronicity of a feedback message and the channel used to deliver the feedback message. Results indicated that those receiving feedback preferred phone calls rather than text messages as a channel for managers to deliver feedback. Also, supervisors delivering positive feedback were identified as more positive in general than those delivering negative feedback. Further results and implications are discussed.
Long-Term Active Integrator Prediction in the Evaluation of Code Contributions

In open source software (OSS) projects, integrators are given high-level access to repositories so that they could maintain and manage projects. Although integrators play a critical role in evaluating code changes for OSS projects, they may be short-term active. Long-term active integrators keep in evaluating code update submission and managing responses from contributors. In order to survive and succeed, OSS projects need to attract and retain long-term active integrators. To assist OSS projects to retain active integrators, we propose a method called LTAPredict to predict whether integrators will be long- term active in the evaluation of code contributions. LTAPredict collects activity data of integrators, extracts a rich set of features, and makes prediction via machine learning techniques. We perform experiments on 37 popular projects, containing a total of 1,073 integrators. Results show that based on the Decision Tree, LTAPredict achieves the accuracy as 0.829, the precision as 0.81, the recall as 0.827 and the F1 as 0.818. Meanwhile, we evaluate the feature importance to identify the most significant indicators of long-term active integrators. We observe that whether integrators becoming long-term active is associated with the number of active months and social distance with contributors in their first year as integrators. These findings assist OSS projects to identify potential long-term active integrators and adopt better strategies to retain them in the evaluation of code contributions. Keywords-Long-term active integrator; Code contributions; Open source software
Neural Detection of Malicious Network Activities Using a New Direct Parsing and Feature Extraction Technique

Abstract : The aim of this thesis is to develop an intrusion detection system (IDS) software, which learns to detect and classify network attacks and intrusions through prior training data. With the added criteria of operating in real-time applications, ways of improving the efficiency of the IDS without sacrificing the probability of correct classification (PCC) are also considered. Knowledge Data and Discovery Cup 99 data is used to evaluate the IDS architecture. Two neural network (NN) architectures were designed and compared through simulation; the first architecture uses a single NN, while the second uses the merged output of three NNs in parallel. Results show that a three-parallel NN implementation has similar classification performance and a shorter training time than with a single NN implementation. PCC is on the order of 93% for denial-of-service attacks and 96% for normal traffic. The classification results for the R2L and U2R attacks are poor due to the lack of available training data.
Brand romance: a complementary approach to explain emotional attachment toward brands

Purpose – This research aims to explain consumer attraction to brands when stimulation needs are paramount using the perspective of the Self‐Expansion Model. In doing so, it seeks to identiy brand romance – a more proximal construct to brand loyalty and aims to offer a complementary perspective to understand emotional attachment to brands.Design/methodology/approach – A series of four studies developed and validated a three‐factor, 12‐item measurement scale for brand romance using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Reliability, convergent, criterion, discriminant and nomological validities were established.Findings – Brand romance is a reliable, valid, and a more proximal construct that explains loyalty significantly better than attitudes.Research limitations/implications – Student subjects constitute the sample and the findings are cautiously generalizable to adult populations. Future research should focus on teasing out product category effects, extending generalizability to other product cat.
Delta-gamma-theta Hedging of Crude Oil Asian Options

Since Black-Scholes formula was derived, many methods have been suggested for vanilla as well as exotic options pricing. More of investing and hedging strategies have been developed based on these pricing models. Goal of this paper is to derive delta-gamma-theta hedging strategy for Asian options and compere its efficiency with gamma-delta-theta hedging combined with predictive model. Fixed strike Asian options are type of exotic options, whose special feature is that payoff is calculated from the difference of average market price and strike price for call options and vice versa for the put options. Methods of stochastic analysis are used to determine deltas, gammas and thetas of Asian options. Asian options are cheaper than vanilla options and therefore they are more suitable for precise portfolio creation. On the other hand their deltas are also smaller as well as profits. That means that they are also less risky and more suitable for hedging. Results, conducted on chosen commodity, confirm better feasibility of Asian options compering with vanilla options in sense of gamma hedging.
Cross selling of non-audit services and the consequences for earnings quality and audit quality in the Netherlands

This thesis studies the effect of cross selling non-audit services on earnings quality and audit quality in the Netherlands. European Commissioner Michel Barnier published a green paper in the end of November 2011, about current issues that are believed to be problems in the audit industry and possible solutions. One of these problems is the practice of cross selling non-audit services to audit clients. Barnier proposes to ban cross selling non-audit services to public interest entities. Dutch politicians took this proposal serious and the majority of the Dutch Parliament supported amendment 24B Wta (Audit Firms Oversight Act) during February 2012. This amendment will prohibit audit firms to cross sell non-audit services to clients, who are classified as a public interest entity. Client importance is measured by dividing total non-audit fees by total fees that are paid to the auditor. This is used to study if this cross selling has an effect on audit quality and earnings quality. The sample consists of 163 company observations from which 112 observations disclose additional information. The main finding of this thesis is that companies that buy relative large amounts of non-audit services are more inclined to disclose more information. From the Basu model (1997) it is concluded that companies that buy large amounts of non-audit services report less conservatively compared to companies that buy low amounts of non-audit services. Other measures do not support this. From the coefficients of the earnings management model it seems that indeed the cross selling of relative large amounts of non-audit services increases the level of earnings management and thus a decreased level of audit quality and earnings quality. However the results from the earnings management measure are insignificant. Overall, no hard evidence is found that the practice of cross selling non-audit services influences audit quality and earnings quality. However the suspicion remains, since the sample might be somewhat small. Name: T.A.M. (Tom) van Vlimmeren Master thesis Department Accountancy, Graduation date: 09-07-2012 Faculty of Economics and Business Studies, Supervisor: prof. dr. E.H. J. (Eddy) Vaassen RA Tilburg University Second reader: dr. B.C.G. Dierynck
Is There a "Tax Penalty" on Stock Options in Germany?

This paper examines the taxation of employee stock options in Germany. In some countries, particularly in the U.S., stock options have emerged as the single most important source of income not only for executives, but also for other staff – especially in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. In Germany, however, the use of stock options as a means of compensation has been rather limited. It has been claimed that this is mainly due to a ”tax penalty“ on stock options in Germany. This paper begins with an outline of the tax considerations associated with stock options along with the economics of employee stock options to determine whether a favourable tax treatment might be justified on economic grounds. All considered, a neutral treatment seems appropriate. After that, it is shown that the current tax treatment can be classified as broadly neutral. A rather unfavourable tax treatment only exists vis-a-vis other countries, which have introduced quite favourable tax regimes. This might indicate a tax-competition for high-qualified labour, particularly in the ICT sector. * Contact address: Research Institute for Labour Economics and Labour Law, Guisanstrasse 92, CH-9010 St. Gallen, Switzerland; E-mail: Thomas.Liebig@unisg.ch. The author would like to thank Simon Gachter and Fred Henneberger from the Economics Department of the University of St. Gallen for valuable comments. The paper has greatly benefited from the author’s work as a consultant for the OECD, for which he is particularly indebted to Isabelle Joumard and Paul van den Noord from the Organisation’s Economics Department.
Mediation from Multilevel to Structural Equation Modeling

Background/Aims: The purpose of this article is to outline multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) for mediation analysis of longitudinal data. The introduction of mediating variables can improve experimental and nonexperimental studies of child growth in several ways as discussed throughout this article. Single-mediator individual-level and multilevel mediation models illustrate several current issues in the estimation of mediation with longitudinal data. The strengths of incorporating structural equation modeling (SEM) with multilevel mediation modeling are described. Summary and Key Messages: Longitudinal mediation models are pervasive in many areas of research including child growth. Longitudinal mediation models are ideally modeled as repeated measurements clustered within individuals. Further, the combination of MSEM and SEM provides an ideal approach for several reasons, including the ability to assess effects at different levels of analysis, incorporation of measurement error and possible random effects that vary across individuals.
Gesture recognition application with Parametric Hidden Markov Model for activity-based personalized service in APRiME

The paper introduces an approach to automatically recognize people's activity patterns within an “intelligent” building. We envisage a model of interactions with a smart phone and building. Various sensors in smart phone enable to recognize daily routine of people's activities automatically in building. The smart phone application; ‘Activity Pattern Recognition in Mobile Environment (APRiME)’ recognized user's activity using location context as GPS and Wi-Fi. For increasing the accuracy of user's activity in the application, we suggest a new method to recognize hands movement using small parts of gesture. It is possible to recognize the actions user's activities via gesture. This paper summarizes some experiments that we performed using a smart phone that equipped with 3-dimension accelerometer to detect gestures. We can apply to Parametric Hidden Markov Model to learn and detect movement of gesture like as video analysis. This research will eventually be extended to realize an intelligent building like a ‘Big Brother’, which knows everything you did using 3-dimensional accelerometer in smart building.
Determinants of the Financial Performance of SRI: What Methods for What Effects? An International Evidence

Socially Responsible Investment (SRI), a new form of investment including respect for ethical values, environmental protection, and improvement of social conditions or ‘good’ governance is attracting more and more interest of institutional and private investors but also from the academic world. Historically, investments called ‘ethical’ are the first to emerge in the years 1920 in the US and exclude from their selection companies directed on immoral activities (alcohol, tobacco, nuclear). ‘Socially responsible’ investments appear later (late 1980 the U.S. and Britain) and adopt a technique called ‘inclusion’. Internal extra-financial analysts in asset management companies (buy-side) or external (sell side) evaluate companies on ESG criteria (environment, social, governance), enabling integration of the best companies in assets portfolios.
Where did all the benches go? The effects of mall kiosks on perceived retail crowding

Purpose – This study aims to investigate how density conditions caused by multiple kiosks in shopping mall walkways affect shoppers' shopping outcomes based on psychological reactance theory and behavioural constraint theory.Design/methodology/approach – The experiment uses a one‐factor between‐subjects design with two levels of density conditions (high vs low). A total of 382 respondents participated.Findings – The findings of this paper indicate that respondents perceive the environment with kiosks as crowded and this perception of crowdedness negatively affects their approach behaviour, leading to lower intentions to patronise.Practical implications – Findings provide practical information to mall managers by indicating that kiosks within a shopping mall negatively affect shopper patronage and approach intentions. Thus, mall managers need to pay more attention to the environmental atmospherics of the mall itself.Originality/value – The paper is the first empirical research which examines how kiosks wit.
Power balanced cascaded multilevel inverter fed scalar controlled induction motor pump sourced from photovoltaic source

Recent researches on cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverters (MLI) have led to its application for photovoltaic (PV) fed inverters for static isolated loads. The topology provides transformer less operation where separate DC links at each bridge are fed from individual PV units. The traditional control techniques using battery supported PV panels lead to non uniform operation and utilization of each H-bridge, where some bridges are under high stress as compared to others. Moreover, application to isolated dynamic loads likes pumps require variable voltage variable frequency(VVVF) control together with power balanced operation for sustainable operation. The paper presents control techniques which provide PWM gating pulses for VVVF control of inverter, power balance operation of induction motor in constant V/f control with storage element only supporting transient operation, and rotation of gating pulses for operation of each bridge at each level with uniform utilization of generated power by PV arrays of same capacity and same size of battery. Simulated results under MATLAB environment are presented to validate the effectiveness of the control scheme under varying insolation levels.
Effect of alpha-lipoic acid and time-of-day on interleukin-6 response to exhaustive exercise in humans

Circadian rhythms have an influence on human performance. Interleukin-6 is a cytokine which plays a role in muscle energy homeostasis during physical exercise. This study tested the effect of diurnal variation and alpha-lipoic acid, a natural thiol antioxidant, on skeletal muscle contractile properties, interleukin-6 response and oxidative damage. Male subjects (n=26) performed isokinetic exercise in different time-of-day. Next, the subjects were supplemented with alpha-lipoic acid for two weeks and the exercise tests were repeated. Blood samples were analyzed at baseline and immediately after exercise. Leg extensor muscle parameters were compared withtime-of-day. Maximal work per single repetition and total work values were higher in the afternoon time, suggesting a time-of-day effect. Serum interleukin-6 levels increased in response to exercise, but were not associated with time-of-day. Alpha-lipoic acid did not have a significant effect on any of the measured parameters. Diurnal variations during exhaustive eccentric exercise seem to reflect muscle contractile work capacity. Exercise increases serum interleukin-6 levels irrespective of diurnal variation. Key words: Diurnal variation, lipoic acid, interleukin-6, muscle performance.
Consistent Quantitative Operational Risk Measurement and Regulation: Challenges of Model Specification, Data Collection, and Loss Reporting

Amid increased size and complexity of the banking industry, operational risk has a greater potential to transpire in more harmful ways than many other sources of risk. This paper provides a succinct overview of the current regulatory framework of operational risk under the New Basel Capital Accord with a view to inform a critical debate about the influence of varying loss profiles and different methods of data collection, loss reporting, and model specification on the reliability of operational risk estimates and the consistency of risk-sensitive capital rules. The presented findings offer guidance on enhanced market practice and more effective prudential standards for operational risk measurement.
Logistics education: Achieving market and research driven skill development

Rapid changes in practice and further developments of research in logistics challenge educators to further upgrade their courses. This paper makes a case for a stronger focus on integrating hot topics and research skill development in logistics courses. Methods for improving market and professional relevance of courses, as well as, improve research skills of students are presented. Results from a market and literature survey of topics in logistics, used to identify market relevant topics, are presented. Approaches to research skill development are suggested, including in‐company projects and mini‐research projects. And most importantly, a case is presented of a course where market and research driven skill development was combined successfully. The format for the course is specified and evaluated.
An Empirical Investigation of Option Pricing Models

In this paper, we empirically compare the pricing and forecasting performance of the wavelet option pricing model, the spline method, and the parametric stochastic volatility model with jumps. Both in-sample pricing and out-of-sample forecasting accuracy are examined using the US and UK index options data in 2006. Our results show that the wavelet model significantly outperforms the others in the in-sample pricing test in both markets. However, there is no clear winner in the out-of-sample
Prevention and Control of Aedes aegypti-borne Diseases: Lesson Learned from Past Successes and Failures

Historically, Aedes aegypti has been one of the most important mosquito vectors of human disease. A native of Africa, it was introduced to the Americas in the 1600s by the slave trade, and became highly domesticated, adapted to humans, and a highly efficient vector of epidemic yellow fever and dengue. As the shipping industry expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, Ae. aegypti was transported around the world, infesting port cities and then moving inland along routes of transportation (Gubler, 1997). The result was major epidemics of dengue in Asian and American countries. Fortunately, for reasons that are unrelated to dengue but not yet fully understood, yellow fever epidemics never occurred in Asia (Curtis and Reuben, 2007). Dengue epidemics occurred at infrequent intervals because the viruses and mosquito vectors depended on sailing ships to move them between continents. During World War II, however, transmission intensified as both the Allied and Japanese armies spread the viruses and Ae. aegypti throughout the Asian and Pacific regions. Dengue fever was a major cause of casualties in both armies in these theatres; it was at this time that the dengue viruses were first isolated (Kimura and Hotta, 1944; Sabin and Schlesinger, 1945).