Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Securing networked embedded systems code through distributed systems analysis

The growing importance of Internet of Things (IoT) calls for tools able to provide users with secure systems. Traditional approaches to analyze distributed systems are not expressive enough to address this challenge. As a solution, we present a framework to analyze networked embedded systems. Our key insight is to look at a distributed system as a single body, and not as separate programs that exchange messages. We then can crosscheck information inferred from different nodes. To construct this global view of a distributed system, we introduce a novel algorithm that discovers inter-program links efficiently. Such links lets us build an inter-program view, a knowledge that we can thus forward to a traditional static analysis tool. We prove that our algorithm always terminates and that it correctly models the semantics of a distributed system. We have implemented our solution on top of the LLVM compiler, and have used it to secure six ContikiOS applications against buffer overflow attacks. Our solution produces code that is as safe as code secured by more traditional analyses; however, our binaries are on average 18% more energy-efficient.
A new PLL method for resolvers

This paper describes a novel implementation of the classical PLL closed loop method without using VCO, DAC, counter and look-up tables. The proposed method makes use of the excitation signal of the resolver to estimate the sine/cosine of the estimated angle. The proposed method is simpler than the available techniques, and may be implemented easily using digital or basic analogue electronic circuitry. Beside simplicity of implementation, the proposed scheme offers the advantage of robustness to amplitude fluctuation of the transducer excitation signal. This paper describes the concept of the new method, simulation and experimental results.
Dither for chattering reduction in sliding mode control systems

Chattering is one of the most undesired drawbacks in the implementation of sliding mode controllers. The boundary layer approach is widely used for chattering reduction but it introduces further complexity into the implementation when the actuator has a natural on-off behaviour. A new technique that uses dithering for reducing the chattering phenomenon is proposed. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed technique in terms of robustness and stability.
Trading Cost Management of Mutual Funds

This paper documents the trading behaviour of actively managed equity mutual funds from the perspective of their trading cost management. Consistent with the predictions in the literature of portfolio choice with trading costs, I present three main findings. Firstly, mutual funds trade more liquid stocks than illiquid stocks when there are large fund flows. Secondly, these mutual funds spread their trades over stocks, especially for outflow-driven sales. Finally, they also spread their flow-driven trades over time and use cash buffers. Spreading trades over stocks and time is consistent with a trading cost increasing and convex in trading amount, which is also consistent with the key assumption in Berk and Green (2004) that costs are increasing and convex in fund size.
A new sentiment classification method based on hybrid classification in Twitter

Social media including Twitter create a space for expression and dissemination of thoughts and opinions on various topics and various events and they have created opportunity to apply theories and technology leading to search and explore the trends. Mining stream data needs to be balanced in three different branches: accuracy, time and memory. The optimal accuracy rate has obtained in the stream data using stochastic gradient descent algorithm. In this paper, we show that replacing the stochastic gradient descent algorithm in tree leaves causes improvement and reliability of the forecast. The proposed algorithm, Hoeffding stochastic gradient descent, has not changed the time while increasing the accuracy. Studies on the tweets that have been randomly selected shows that the proposed algorithm outperforms when assessing the sentiment stream data.
Heterotypic connexin50/connexin50 mutant gap junction channels reveal interactions between two hemichannels during transjunctional voltage‐dependent gating

• Gap junctions (GJs) composed of two hemichannels are intercellular channels that provide a direct pathway for the exchange of ions and signalling molecules between adjoining cells. • GJ conductance is regulated by transjunctional voltage (Vj, the voltage difference between the interiors of adjoining cells), known as Vj‐dependent gating. • The GJs made up of two identical hemichannels show mirror symmetrical Vj‐dependent gating to positive and negative Vj polarities; GJs formed by two non‐identical hemichannels show novel Vj‐gating properties that cannot be simply ascribed to the predicted functional properties of the component hemichannels. • We provide experimental evidence at both macroscopic and single channel levels that two hemichannels interact with each other in a complex manner for the Vj‐dependent gating phenotype of a GJ. • The results help reveal the molecular mechanisms of the gating properties of GJs formed by two non‐identical hemichannels.
Techniques to Increase Impulse Wine Purchases in a Restaurant Setting

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of menus and personal selling techniques by the wait-server staff on wine sales in a restaurant setting. The results of previous research, that found wine to be an impulse purchase, were supported by this research. The study found that placing wine on the food menu will have a significant impact on wine sales.
Determinants of financial performance in Chinese banking

China's banking system has undergone gradual reform since 1978, with a view to improving efficiency and resource allocation. Recent reforms have focused on allowing banks to list some shares on domestic and foreign exchanges, greater foreign equity participation in Chinese banks and the establishment of new rural financial institutions. To assess whether these objectives have been achieved, this study looks at how well different types of Chinese banks have performed between 1999 and 2006, and tests for the factors influencing performance. It also evaluates four measures of performance to identify which one, if any, is superior. The independent variables include the standard financial ratios, those which reflect more recent reforms (listing, bank type, the extent of foreign ownership) and macroeconomic variables. The results suggest Economic Value Added (EVA) and the Net Interest Margin (NIM) do better than the more conventional measures of profitability, namely Return On Average Equity (ROAE) and Return On Average Assets (ROAA). Some macroeconomic variables and financial ratios are significant with the expected signs. Though the type of bank is influential, bank size is not. Neither the percentage of foreign ownership nor bank listings has a discernable effect.
A reference price model of brand choice for frequently purchased products.

A brand choice model that incorporates both reference and observed prices is proposed for frequently purchased products. The model is composed of a probability-of-purchase component and a reference-price-formation component. Empirical testing of the model using coffee UPC scanner panel data demonstrates that for two of the three brands, the model predicts probability of purchase better than do standard demand models that utilize only current observed brand prices.
Endothelin-converting Enzyme-2 Is a Membrane-bound, Phosphoramidon-sensitive Metalloprotease with Acidic pH Optimum (*)

Endothelins (ET) are a family of potent vasoactive peptides that are produced from biologically inactive intermediates, termed big endothelins, via a proteolytic processing at Trp-Val/Ile. We recently cloned and characterized a membrane-bound metalloprotease that catalyzes this proteolytic activation, endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) (Xu, D., Emoto, N., Giaid, A., Slaughter, C., Kaw, S., deWit, D., and Yanagisawa, M.(1994) Cell 78, 473-485). This enzyme was shown to function in the secretory pathway as well as on the cell surface. Here we report molecular cloning of another novel enzyme, ECE-2, that produces mature ET-1 from big ET-1 both in vitro and in transfected cells. The cDNA sequence predicts that bovine ECE-2 is a metalloprotease structurally related to ECE-1, neutral endopeptidase 24.11, and human Kell blood group protein. The deduced amino acid sequence of ECE-2 is most similar to ECE-1, with an overall identity of 59%. ECE-2 resembles ECE-1 in that it is inhibited in vitro by phosphoramidon and FR901533 but not by thiorphan or captopril, and it converts big ET-1 more efficiently than big ET-2 or big ET-3. However, ECE-2 also exhibits the following striking differences from ECE-1. (i) The sensitivity of ECE-2 to phosphoramidon is 250-fold higher as compared with ECE-1, while FR901533 inhibits both enzymes at similar concentrations. (ii) ECE-2 has an acidic pH optimum at pH 5.5, which is in sharp contrast to the neutral pH optimum of ECE-1. ECE-2 has a narrow pH profile and is virtually inactive at neutral pH. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which lack detectable levels of endogenous ECE activity, secrete mature ET-1 into the medium when doubly transfected with ECE-2 and prepro-ET-1 cDNAs. However, ECE-2-transfected CHO cells do not efficiently produce mature ET-1 when present with an exogenous source of big ET-1 through coculture with prepro-ET-1-transfected CHO cells. These findings suggest that ECE-2 acts as an intracellular enzyme responsible for the conversion of endogenously synthesized big ET-1 at the trans-Golgi network, where the vesicular fluid is acidified.
Requirement of polycations for the enzymatic activity of a new proetin kinase-substrate complex from Morris hepatoma 3924A.

Abstract From isotonic extracts of fast-growing Morris hepatoma 3924A, a soluble protein kinase was purified about 25-fold by diethylaminoethyl cellulose column chromatography followed by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column and isoelectrofocusing electrophoresis. The enzyme preparation phosphorylated itself and did not require any added substrate. The reaction was greatly stimulated by H1 histone as well as by polylysine. Polyarginine and other histone fractions were less effective. Spermine and spermidine were slightly active. Acid hydrolysis of the phosphorylated product resulted in the identification of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine in a ratio of about 1.2:1. Analysis of sodium dodecyl sulfate:polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that histones were not phosphorylated, but endogenous proteins with approximate molecular weights of around 7 × 10 4 were labeled. The enzyme did not show homogeneous size distribution upon gel filtration on a Sephadex column, but the major fraction corresponded to an approximate molecular weight of 2.6 × 10 5 . Nevertheless, the enzyme showed a single isoelectric point of 4.9. K m for adenosine triphosphate was about 4 × 10 -6 m. Apparent K a was 8 βg/ml for polylysine and 16 µg/ml for whole histone. A pH optimum was 7.5 to 8.5. In the absence of polylysine, the enzyme showed a biphasic concentration curve for Mg 2+ with an optimum concentration of 50 to 100 mm, but in the presence of polylysine the curve was normalized and the optimum concentration was 3 to 100 mm. Subcellular fractionation with organic solvents revealed that the enzyme did not represent a leakage of nuclear phosphoproteins into the cytoplasm during isolation procedures. The enzyme was not stimulated or inhibited by cyclic nucleotides and is clearly distinguished from cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases.
Soft-feature decoding for speech recognition over wireless channels

A distributed automatic speech recognition (ASR) system is considered where features of the speech signal are extracted at the wireless terminal and transmitted to a centralized ASR server. An unequal error protection scheme is used for the quantized ASR feature stream. At the receiver, coherent demodulation is performed and the probability of error for each bit is computed using the max-log MAP algorithm. A 'soft-feature' decoding strategy is introduced at the ASR server that uses the marginal distribution of only the reliable features during likelihood computation. Alternatively, the confidence of each feature is computed from the bit error probabilities and each feature in the probability computation is weighted as a function of the feature confidence. The performance of the proposed soft-feature algorithms is evaluated over typical cellular wireless channels and it is shown to reduce ASR error rate by over 50% for certain channels at a small additional computational cost.
From Intention to Use: A Longitudinal Investigation on Customer From Intention to Use: A Longitudinal Investigation on Customer Readiness and Facilitating Conditions for Self-Service Technology Readiness and Facilitating Conditions for Self-Service Technology

This research explores the relationship between intention and actual usage of self-service technology (SST), and investigates the effects of facilitating conditions and customer readiness on customer adoption of SST. To analyze the longitudinal effect, a two-stage survey was conducted and lasted for seven months. As it is well known that behavior intention does not necessary lead to actual behavior, our findings offer proactive strategies to service providers in turning intention into actual usage. Implications for practitioners are provided and several limitations are discussed.
Identifying A Profile Of Key Competencies For Financial Planners

In order to provide quality professional education programs to advance knowledge, skills and competencies of individuals in the financial services industry and in continuing education courses, there is a need to identify a professional’s key competencies profile. In recent years, many financial planning associations worldwide have become interested in establishing competency-based requirements for certifying professionals and have adopted competency-based approaches for continuing education. The purpose of this paper is to identify a profile of key competencies for financial planners. The empirical study is carried out through a stratified survey of financial planners within insurance companies, commercial banks, consulting firms, credit unions, security dealers and brokers, trusts and independent professionals. More than individual knowledge or skills, this research views professional competence as result-oriented, expressing an optimal mobilization and use of resources available in the multidisciplinary areas of financial planning, according to professional standards and in harmony with best practices to achieve customer satisfaction. The research design presents an innovative conceptual framework which facilitates the identification of a profile of key competencies for financial planners. Findings enable an advance in knowledge, both at an academic and a professional level, by identifying a profile of twelve specific dimensions of key competencies for financial planners within the financial services industry.
E-trust: the influence of perceived interactivity on e-retailing users

E‐retailing has received considerable attention in recent years, especially with the help of consumer behaviour concepts and tools. This particular paper focuses on e‐trust and its antecedents. Special attention is given to the proposition that the more a site is perceived to be interactive, then the greater the trust that users attach to that site. Previous research has demonstrated this relationship with respect to a particular site. The current paper re‐examines this relationship with respect to another site. More importantly, the paper tests whether the nexus between interactivity and e‐trust applies to both pure “click” and “brick and click” e‐retailers.
Investment in Next Generation Networks and the Role of Regulation: A Real Option Approach

The current regulatory debate in the telecommunications industry in Europe and elsewhere is dominated by the issue of if and how to regulate next generation networks (NGN) which operators plan to roll out in the near future. The crucial issue is whether an extension of current regulatory obligations onto future networks would hamper the investment by large European operators. The paper applies a real option model to explain the investment decision in next generation networks. One important result of the model is that regulation affects the investment decision only in the initial period when uncertainty is still very high. The real option model has been calibrated with parameters drawn from real data for a new entrant and from educated estimates for an established operator. Four different regulatory regimes and their impact on the timing of the investments have been simulated: a temporary regulatory holiday is shown to be an effective regulatory tool in order to induce immediate investments.
A Study of Perceived Innovation Characteristics Across Cultures and Stages of Diffusion

The intense competition for consumer spending and the significant costs, risks, and potential rewards associated with multinational product introductions make it imperative that every aspect of consumer reaction to new products be explored. This study investigates consumer perceptions of innovation characteristics in two different cultures for technology-based consumer durables representing early and late stages of diffusion. Based on survey data from young adults in the United States and South Korea, we find that significant cultural effects exist between consumers from an individualism-centered and a Confucian/collectivism-centered country.
Strategic International Human Resource Management: an Analysis of the Relationship between International Strategic Positioning and the Degree of Integrated Strategic Human Resource Management

In Strategic International Human Resource Management (SIHRM), the human resource function is actively involved in the strategic activities of the firm. While the idea holds promise as a useful response to global competition, previous research has provided limited supporting empirical evidence. Specifically, few studies have sought to equate certain outcomes with the degree of SIHRM practiced across various types of international firms. By separating firms into categories such as multidomestic, global, and hybrid, and by classifying SIHRM according to the degree of integration with strategic planning, a clearer picture could emerge as to the relationship between firm and SIHRMtype. To that end, top strategic executives, such as CEOs, and top HRM executives from eighty four U.S. based firms were surveyed regarding their firm type, the degree of SIHRM practiced, and certain outcomes such as amount of expatriate training and expatriate failure. Additionally, financial results were obtained to determine performance of various firms. Results indicated that while many companies choose a highly integrated formof SIHRM, there is no significant relationship between firm type and SIHRMtype. Additionally, there was no association detected between SIHRMtype and expatriate training and expatriate failure. Finally, there was no significant difference infinancialperformance between firms with the most integrated type of SIHRMand firms with less integrated versions. Interestingly, the HRMprofessionals were more likely to equate their firms with the most integrated types of SIHRMthan were other managers. This may mean that the relationship between HRM and strategic planning is often one of perception. A model of the relationships between SIHRM, firm type, HRM activities, and outcomes is proposed, along with suggestions for future research and limitations of the study.
Effect of Dealing Patterns on Consumer Perceptions of Deal Frequency and Willingness to Pay

Research has shown that brands with higher deal frequency obtain a smaller market share gain on deal and have a lower expected price. However, the level of dealing must be perceived by consumers before it can affect consumer response to promotions. Hence, perception of deal frequency may affect consumer price perceptions and deal response much more strongly than the actual deal frequency. The author determines how consumer perceptions of deal frequency for a brand may be influenced by the dealing pattern of that brand and of other brands. She shows that the price consumers are willing to pay for a brand is correlated more highly with perceived deal frequency than with actual deal frequency. She also shows that the price consumers are willing to pay is correlated with the actual deal frequency of the brand for certain dealing patterns, but not for others.
Cloud-based cost-efficient application and service provisioning in virtualized wireless sensor networks. (Approches nuagiques pour le provisionnement d'applications et de services dans les réseaux virtualisés de capteurs sans fil)

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are becoming ubiquitous and are used in diverse applications domains. Traditional deployments of WSNs are domain-specific, with applications usually embedded in the WSN, precluding the re-use of the infrastructure by other applications. This can lead to redundant deployments. Now with the advent of IoT, this approach is less and less viable. A potential solution lies in the sharing of a same WSN by multiple applications and services, to allow resource- and cost-efficiency. In this dissertation, three architectural solutions are proposed for this purpose. The first solution consists of two parts: the first part is a novel multilayer WSN virtualization architecture that allows the provisioning of multiple applications and services over the same WSN deployment. The second part of this contribution is the extended architecture that allows virtualized WSN infrastructure to interact with a WSN Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) at a higher level of abstraction. Both these solutions are implemented and evaluated using two scenario-based proof-of-concept prototypes using Java SunSpot kit. The second architectural solution is a novel data annotation architecture for the provisioning of semantic applications in virtualized WSNs. It is capable of providing in-network, distributed, real-time annotation of raw sensor data and uses overlays as the cornerstone. This architecture is implemented and evaluated using Java SunSpot, AdvanticSys kits and Google App Engine. The third architectural solution is the enhancement to the data annotation architecture on two fronts. One is a heuristic-based genetic algorithm used for the selection of capable nodes for storing the base ontology. The second front is the extension to the proposed architecture to support ontology creation, distribution and management. The simulation results of the algorithm are presented and the ontology management extension is implemented and evaluated using a proof-of-concept prototype using Java SunSpot kit. As another contribution, an extensive state-of-the-art review is presented that introduces the basics of WSN virtualization and motivates its pertinence with carefully selected scenarios. This contribution substantially improves current state-of-the-art reviews in terms of the scope, motivation, details, and future research issues