Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implications of Customer-Supplier Relationships on Corporate Governance

Supporting stakeholder theory we demonstrate that a firm’s major customers and suppliers influence its corporate governance. We document a negative contemporaneous association between corporate governance G-index and the presence of major customers and suppliers. Consistent with the causal link between major stakeholders and firm’s governance, we find that obtainment of new business partners predicts future improvements in firm’s governance. We demonstrate that business partners are more likely to employ board interlocks when the agency problem of customer-supplier relationships is more severe. We observe that relationships between partners last longer if they have strong governance and/or board interlocks.
Competitive Interference and Consumer Memory for Advertising

This article reports the results of three experiments that examine memory interference in an advertising context. In Experiment 1, consumer memory for a brand's advertising was inhibited as a result of subsequent exposure to ads for other products in that manufacturer's product line and ads for competing brands in the product class. Experiment 2 demonstrates analogous proactive interference effects. The results of Experiment 3 indicate that the presence of advertising for competitive brands changes the relationship between ad repetition and consumer memory. Repetition had a positive effect on recall only when there was little or no advertising for similar products.
Ontology for cultural variations in interpersonal communication: Building on theoretical models and crowdsourced knowledge

The domain of cultural variations in interpersonal communication is becoming increasingly important in various areas, including human–human interaction (e.g., business settings) and human–computer interaction (e.g., during simulations, or with social robots). User‐generated content (UGC) in social media can provide an invaluable source of culturally diverse viewpoints for supporting the understanding of cultural variations. However, discovering and organizing UGC is notoriously challenging and laborious for humans, especially in ill‐defined domains such as culture. This calls for computational approaches to automate the UGC sensemaking process by using tagging, linking, and exploring. Semantic technologies allow automated structuring and qualitative analysis of UGC, but are dependent on the availability of an ontology representing the main concepts in a specific domain. For the domain of cultural variations in interpersonal communication, no ontological model exists. This paper presents the first such ontological model, called AMOn+, which defines cultural variations and enables tagging culture‐related mentions in textual content. AMOn+ is designed based on a novel interdisciplinary approach that combines theoretical models of culture with crowdsourced knowledge (DBpedia). An evaluation of AMOn+ demonstrated its fitness‐for‐purpose regarding domain coverage for annotating culture‐related concepts mentioned in text corpora. This ontology can underpin computational models for making sense of UGC.
Predictive control vs. linear control for current control of a single-leg inverter

This paper presents a comparison of a predictive control scheme with a linear regulator for current control of a single-leg inverter driving a resistive-inductive load with back-EMF. The comparison is motivated by the fact that in most comparisons the linear regulator is not tuned optimally, i.e. it is just providing a suboptimal result. In this paper an oversampled linear resonant regulator is compared to a regularly sampled deadbeat-like predictive control scheme. Due to the fact that both controllers should be implemented on an FPGA for a first approximation it is assumed that the control outputs can be calculated within one FPGA clock cycle. The future reference values are unknown and - despite this fact - the reference should be tracked as accurately as possible. It will be shown that in general a predictive control formulation leads to one sample delay which must not be confused with the more familiar calculation delay for software-based implementations of regularly sampled controller implementations.
Semi-supervised probabilistics approach for normalising informal short text messages

The growing use of informal social text messages on Twitter is one of the known sources of big data. These type of messages are noisy and frequently rife with acronyms, slangs, grammatical errors and non-standard words causing grief for natural language processing (NLP) techniques. In this study, our contribution is to target non-standard words in the short text and propose a method to which the given word is likely to be transformed. Our method uses language model probability to characterise the relationship between formal and Informal-word, then employ the string similarity with a log-linear model to includes features for both word-level transformation and local context similarity. The weights of these features are trained by employing maximum likelihood framework using stochastic gradient descent (SGD) to hypothesise the better clean feature for a given informal short text. Experiments were conducted on a publicly available Enlish-language tweet and the approach is able to normalise inflected words in an online social network.
Out-of-Plane Fed Elliptical Slot Array for Microwave Imaging

In this communication, a new approach for feeding a PIN diode-loaded resonant elliptical slot used in microwave imaging arrays for nondestructive testing applications is considered. The proposed feed is based on coupling the transmitted and received signals into the slot using an out-of-plane (perpendicular) microstrip line. An imaging array prototype with this slot, a 90 °-bent microstrip-line feed and a coplanar waveguide (CPW) to microstrip line transition was designed and experimentally validated. The design readily accommodates placement of the switching and PIN diode biasing networks on the feeding plane using CPWs, enabling one-sided imaging measurements. The relevant design steps and imaging results obtained with this prototype, in mono-static and bi-static modes, are presented.
Fast Simulation of Facial Tissue Deformations Using Mass-Spring Chain Algorithm

We propose a method to develop a unique head model to be used in craniofacial surgery simulations. This method considers the shape of the head and skull structure and provides a polygonal model, which includes different tissue layers with realistic tissue thickness. We also introduce the use of the new deformation simulation technique called mass-spring chain algorithm in simulation of facial tissue deformations caused by operations on the bone structure. This method produces plausible results and considerably reduces the simulation time.
NanoAsPipe: A transcriptome analysis and alternative splicing detection pipeline for MinION long-read RNA-seq

After the next-generation sequencing technology, long-read sequencing technologies were developed. Both the advantages and the drawbacks of long-read sequencing technologies are obvious. Here, we take advantages of long-read sequencing technology, MinION, to develop a comprehensive and user-friendly pipeline, NanoAsPipe, to identify the transcriptomic profiles, isoform profiles, and alternative splicing (AS) events of long-read RNA-seq data on the Open Science Grid (OSG). NanoAsPipe includes RNA-seq data preprocessing, mapping and alternative splicing analysis to simultaneously account for AS events. NanoAsPipe was applied to two long-read datasets and its performance was evaluated by comparing discovered AS events with gene annotation and results from short-read RNA-seq data. Majority of predicted AS events by NanoAsPipe was confirmed by the gene annotation and there is a high correlation between results from long-read data and short-read data. NanoAsPipe was implemented as a software package, which is available for academic research at http://sysbio.unl. edu/NanoAsPipe. The user may run the workflow based on the OSG environment or switch it to other computing setup environments.
Black–Litterman in continuous time: the case for filtering

In this article, we extend the Black–Litterman approach to a continuous time setting. We model analyst views jointly with asset prices to estimate the unobservable factors driving asset returns. The key in our approach is that the filtering problem and the stochastic control problem are effectively separable. We use this insight to incorporate analyst views and non-investable assets as observations in our filter even though they are not present in the portfolio optimisation.
The Buyer Behavior of Chinese Consumers of Different Ages: An investigation using the Juster scale and the Dirichlet model

To explore the feasibility of generation cohort as a segmentation basis in China, the buyer behavior of three cohorts is compared. Survey results for Beijing consumers are reported, using Juster scale estimates as inputs to the Dirichlet model. Results show that purchasing levels of the oldest age groups were the lowest in the four product categories that we studied. The oldest generation also showed the highest level of loyalty in toothpaste and soy sauce purchasing, but they were not the most loyal in mobile phone buying and bank credit card usage. Product category and generation effects appear to interact to determine observed and predicted levels of buyer behavior.
Intervention to improve follow-up for abnormal Papanicolaou tests: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a theory-based, culturally targeted intervention on adherence to follow-up among low-income and minority women who experience an abnormal Pap test. METHOD 5,049 women were enrolled and underwent Pap testing. Of these, 378 had an abnormal result and 341 (90%) were randomized to one of three groups to receive their results: Intervention (I): culturally targeted behavioral and normative beliefs + knowledge/skills + salience + environmental constraints/barriers counseling; Active Control (AC): nontargeted behavioral and normative beliefs + knowledge/skills + salience + environmental constraints/barriers counseling; or Standard Care Only (SCO). The primary outcome was attendance at the initial follow-up appointment. Secondary outcomes included delay in care, completion of care at 18 months, state anxiety (STAI Y-6), depressive symptoms (CES-D), and distress (CDDQ). Anxiety was assessed at enrollment, notification of results, and 7-14 days later with the CDDQ and CES-D. RESULTS 299 women were included in intent-to-treat analyses. Adherence rates were 60% (I), 54% (AC), and 58% (SCO), p = . 73. Completion rates were 39% (I) and 35% in the AC and SCO groups, p = . 77. Delay in care (in days) was (M ± SD): 58 ± 75 (I), 69 ± 72 (AC), and 54 ± 75 (SCO), p = . 75. Adherence was associated with higher anxiety at notification, p < . 01 and delay < 90 days (vs. 90+) was associated with greater perceived personal responsibility, p < . 05. Women not completing their care (vs. those who did) had higher CES-D scores at enrollment, p < . 05. CONCLUSIONS A theory-based, culturally targeted message was not more effective than a nontargeted message or standard care in improving behavior.
Differentiated Services Quality of Service Policy Information Base

This document describes a Policy Information Base (PIB) for a device implementing the Differentiated Services Architecture. The provisioning classes defined here provide policy control over resources implementing the Differentiated Services Architecture. These provisioning classes can be used with other none Differentiated Services provisioning classes (defined in other PIBs) to provide for a comprehensive policy controlled mapping of service requirement to device resource capability and usage.
Investigating the effects of pulsed low intensity ultrasound and microbubbles in mouse tumors

We previously demonstrated that it was feasible to induce both transient and sustained blood flow reductions in mouse tumors using microbubbles and low intensity ultrasound. In the present study this phenomenon is investigated further, by assessing the signals emitted from bubbles subjected to treatment pulses, and by examining the potential for inducing therapeutic effects in tumors. Subcutaneous xenograft tumors were situated in the hind limbs of mice and exposed to 1 MHz (740 kPa) pulsed ultrasound following a bolus injection of Definity™ microbubbles. Bubble emissions were monitored with a 750 kHz detection transducer co-localized with the transmit transducer beam within the tumors. The results showed the presence of distinct sub- and ultraharmonic peaks, along with substantial levels of broadband emissions, consistent with the occurence of inertial cavitation. The ability to induce these signals diminished with time, but they continued to be produced up to 45 minutes after injection, well after bubbles were undetectable with imaging. Therapeutic effects were evaluated by comparing growth curves of control and treated tumors. With a therapy scheme involving weekly treatment exposures, a significant growth delay was observed in treated relative to control tumors, suggesting the potential of this approach for therapeutic applications. Both short and long term flow modifications may have implications for US potentiated local drug enhancement.
SLC 6 A 4 METHYLATION MODIFIES THE EFFECT OF THE NUMBER OF TRAUMATIC EVENTS ON RISK FOR POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and debilitating mental disorder that occurs following exposure to a traumatic event. However, most individuals do not develop PTSD following even a severe trauma, leading to a search for new variables, such as genetic and other molecular variation, associated with vulnerability and resilience in the face of trauma exposure. Method: We examined whether serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) promoter genotype and methylation status modified the association between number of traumatic events experienced and PTSD in a subset of 100 individuals from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study. Results: Number of traumatic events was strongly associated with risk of PTSD. Neither SLC6A4 genotype nor methylation status was associated with PTSD in main effects models. However, SLC6A4 methylation levels modified the effect of the number of traumatic events on PTSD after controlling for SLC6A4 genotype. Persons with more traumatic events were at increased risk for PTSD, but only at lower methylation levels. At higher methylation levels, individuals with more traumatic events were protected from this disorder. This interaction was observed whether the outcome was PTSD diagnosis, symptom severity, or number of symptoms. Conclusions: Gene-specific methylation patterns may offer potential molecular signatures of increased risk for and resilience to PTSD. Depression and Anxiety 28:639–647, 2011. r 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
OUTSOURCING MARKETS IN SERVICES: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRENDS, PATTERNS AND EMERGING ISSUES

The global context and estimates of the market for outsourcing, within the framework of Multinational Enterprises’ (MNEs) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), are reviewed. The examination of geo-economic spatiality of MNEs international involvement, including outsourcing, shows stark gravitational asymmetries with the Triad economies of North America, European Union and Japan as core and South and East Asia as periphery – particularly China and India. The impacts of outsourcing on policy issues, and responses, are scrutinised to expose the key variables of policy craft.
Human astrovirus‐associated gastroenteritis in children under 2 years of age followed prospectively during a rotavirus vaccine trial

This study evaluated the clinical significance of human astrovirus‐associated gastroenteritis in young children in the community. Placebo‐ (n = 1207) and rhesus rotavirus tetravalent (RRV‐TV) vaccine‐ (n= 1191) recipient children were followed from 2 mo to 2 y of age. Stool specimens from 1528 episodes of acute gastroenteritis (805 in the placebo group and 723 in the RRV‐TV vaccine group) were tested for astrovirus with a sensitive reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay and positive results were confirmed by Southern hybridization using probes specific for astrovirus serotypes 1 and 2. Astroviruses were detected in 144 (9%) episodes of gastroenteritis; 92% of the findings were serotype 1 and 6% were serotype 2. The astrovirus peak season was in winter. Of the 102 children who had gastroenteritis with astrovirus as the only diarrhoea virus in the stools, 72% had watery diarrhoea, 59% had vomiting, 26% had fever, 5% needed oral rehydration and 3% were hospitalized. Overall, the clinical severity of astrovirus gastroenteritis was much lower than that of rotavirus gastroenteritis. RRV‐TV rotavirus vaccine did not protect against astrovirus gastroenteritis. It is concluded that astroviruses are common causative agents in acute gastroenteritis in young children, but the symptoms of astrovirus gastroenteritis are usually mild and the illness is therefore only of minor clinical significance. □Astrovirus, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, rotavirus vaccine
The marketing of financial services to independent distributors

Explores the purchasing behaviour of independent financial advisors (IFAs) within the context of the UK financial sector. Reports on empirical work in which attitudes of such independent distributors toward identified supplier selection criteria were assessed. Set within the context of relationship marketing theory, seeks to employ findings to develop a generic conceptual basis for approaching the marketing of services to independent intermediaries.
Tandem‐Scanning (Confocal) Microscopy of the Full‐Thickness Cornea

We have utilized a radically new type of optical scanning microscope to study the full-thickness morphology of the intact cornea in an excised human eye bank eye and in freshly sacrificed rabbit eyes in situ. This technology enables one to study corneal morphology layer by layer in extremely thin sections, only disturbing the tissue with an applanating tip. We have demonstrated the cells of the corneal surface, subsurface cells, the topography of Bowman's membrane, corneal lamellae, stromal keratocytes, and the corneal endothelium. The application of this technology lends itself to the in vivo examination of the human cornea. This should aid us greatly in the study of normal morphology, disease states, and the reaction of the cornea in wound healing.
ASEAN Economic Integration through Trade and Foreign Direct Investment: Long-Term Challenges

This paper explores the long-term challenges for trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The region has emerged as an important production base for multinational corporations by joining East Asia’s supply chains. While proceeding to establish the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the end of 2015, ASEAN has also forged five major free trade agreements (FTAs) with its dialogue partners (People’s Republic of China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Australia–New Zealand) and is currently negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In addition, four ASEAN member states are working on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. Econometric evidence suggests that (i) trade flows and inward FDI mutually reinforce each other, i.e., an increase in trade flows stimulates inward FDI and vice versa; (ii) a larger market attracts more inward FDI; (iii) FTAs tend to help stimulate inward FDI; and (iv) strong institutions, good physical infrastructure, and low costs of doing business are critical in boosting inward FDI. The paper concludes that in the long run ASEAN should aim to further integrate itself with the rest of Asia and the world (through a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific and an Asia–Europe FTA), while substantially deepening its internal integration (by moving from the AEC to a customs and economic union) and thereby maintaining ASEAN centrality.
Internationalization and Performance of Taiwanese Banks

This research stresses entry location factors, which may affect Taiwanese banks' internationalization strategy, and the relationship between banks' internationalization and performance. This article combines foreign direct investment theory with country- and bank-level panel data, and analyzes the 219 affiliates of all Taiwanese commercial banks in 25 countries from 2000 to 2005. The results generally support the predictions. First, export and foreign direct investment by the Taiwanese manufacturing industry are the most important location factors. Second, increasing the levels of internationalization of banks may improve their operational efficiency but does not directly improve financial performance. Internationalization improves operational efficiency, which in turn increases financial performance. Finally, we suggest that the current regulations should be released.
Observability analysis and optimal placement of PMU using Differential Evolution algorithm

Power system state estimator uses the set of available measurements in order to estimate the state of the system. For the given measurements, the network observability analysis will determine if a unique estimate can be found for the system state. Network observability analysis can be performed using either numerical or topological approaches. In this paper optimal number and location of phasor measurement unit is performed using Differential Evolution algorithm. In addition single phasor measurement unit loss is also considered. To verify our proposed approach, simulations on 6-bus test system and IEEE 14-bus, 30-bus, 57-bus and 118-bus system are performed.
Comparing the Satisfaction with the Banks E-payment Services between Degree Holder and Non-Degree Holder Customers in Penang-Malaysia

this study intends to investigate bank customer's satisfaction rate with e-payment services in Malaysia as many financial transactions are held by electronic payment systems in this country. Malaysian bank managers believe that the e-payment is of high potentiality to succeed as a new tool of payment which can increase the rapidity and accuracy of transactions and consequently increase customers' satisfaction. In this study, firstly, through a review of the literature issues associated with electronic payment along with its advantages are elaborated and discussed. Then a comparative analysis is provided by investigating the satisfaction rate with e-payment services in Malaysia's Banking Industry between two sample groups in Penang. These two groups consist of Degree Holder and Non-Degree Holder individuals who use electronic payment bank services in Penang. A sample size of 350 individuals was selected to answer the survey questions and then the collected data was analyzed by SPSS software. The findings from this study depicts that in spite of inconveniences, cost and some security concerns among Non-Degree holders about e-payment services and also some security concerns about such services among Degree holders, both groups of customers depicted a high level of satisfaction with e-payment services in Penang. In addition, inconvenience is found to be the most important issue which Non-Degree Holders were concerned about, while Degree Holders were more concerned about security issues. The results from this study can be used as a platform for bank managers and e-payment service companies in order to improve their systems and services in Penang, based on Malaysian consumers' needs and concerns.
The upside-down intubating laryngeal mask airway: a technique for cases of fixed flexed neck deformity.

IMPLICATIONS When the neck is fixed in extreme flexion, access to the windpipe becomes very difficult. The intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) appears unsuitable for guiding the breathing tube into the windpipe in such cases because of its rigid, preformed shape. However, the ILMA introduced upside down may provide the answer, even if the mouth opening is smaller than normal.