Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testing and Improving Commercial Real Estate Market Segmentations With Cluster Analysis and Neural Network Techniques

Market segmentation is a standard concept in both strategic marketing and investment analysis. The standard approach in the real estate market context is to segment markets by regions and property types. While this approach provides investment analysts with a powerful basic classification grid, its capability of predicting the performance and risk characteristics of direct investments is rather limited. The corollary of this is that a classification based on the two criteria yields segments that are too heterogeneous in their investment performance. As this is an issue of potential importance to investment analysts, this paper tests the predictive power of existing segmentations. In a further step, we apply a two-step cluster algorithm to generate new clusters based on additional investment characteristics and information relating to the tenant base and lease structure of a property. To this aim, we analyze the very large IPD commercial real estate database for the UK over the period 1980-2006. Finally, we apply both discriminant analysis and a non-parametric neural network estimation to test the ability of various segmentations to predict total returns. Both methods confirm that the segments determined by cluster analysis yield superior explanatory power. We conclude that the new segments are a potentially useful tool for commercial real estate investment analysis.
A foreign dihydrofolate reductase gene in transgenic mice acts as a dominant mutation

We have produced 17 lines of transgenic mice by microinjecting a full-length cDNA clone of an altered dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene. The protein specified by this gene carries a point mutation which triples its Km for dihydrofolate and reduces substrate turnover 20-fold relative to the wild-type enzyme. Transgenic mice from different pedigrees, several of which carry a single copy of this gene in different integration sites, manifest an array of similar developmental abnormalities including growth stunting, reduced fertility, pigmentation changes, and skeletal defects. These defects appear in animals heterozygous for the foreign gene. RNA analyses demonstrate significant expression of the cDNA in newborn mice and adult tissues. These findings show that the additional dhfr gene exerts its mutational effects in a dominant fashion, and therefore the data indicate that transgenic mice can serve as models for elucidating mechanisms of dominant mutagenesis.
Real-time omnidirectional image sensor (COPIS) for vision-guided navigation

Describes a conic projection image sensor (COPIS) and its application: navigating a mobile robot in a manner that avoids collisions with objects approaching from any direction. The COPIS system acquires an omnidirectional view around the robot, in real-time, with use of a conic mirror. Based on the assumption of constant linear motion of the robot and objects, the objects moving along collision paths are detected by monitoring azimuth changes. Confronted with such objects, the robot changes velocity to avoid collision and determines locations and velocities. >
On the formalization of model driven software engineering

Model-Driven Software Engineering (MDSE) encompasses traditional areas of language design, tool engineering, and system validation and veriﬁcation, following a uniﬁed conceptual and technical framework (metamodeling, declarative model transformations, model-based analysis). This work presents design cases of methodologies and tools for MDSE, where the state-of-the-art is advanced as a result of applying formal techniques. The contributions encompass (a) the application of metamodeling techniques to industrially relevant languages, capturing their static semantics in a machine-processable manner; (b) the formulation of a methodology for the design-time certiﬁcation of transformation algorithms; (c) the design of algorithms for eﬃciently evaluating Object Constraint Language (OCL) invariants for both the secondary-storage and main-memory cases; and (d) several contributions focused on the generation of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) derived from language deﬁnitions for Domain Speciﬁc Languages (DSLs). Venues for further progress and an appraisal of the impact of our research are also reported.
Quantum Dots: A New Technique to Assess Mycorrhizal Contributions to Plant Nitrogen Across a Fire-Altered Landscape

The overarching objective of our research is to develop a better understanding of the contributions of mycorrhizal fungi (root symbionts) to the nitrogen (N) nutrition of plants in human-impacted ecosystems of Southern California. Toward this goal, we have (1) developed a novel nanotechnological technique to measure the uptake of organic N by plants and fungi, (2) established a size gradient of fragments of coastal sage scrub in which to apply this technique, and (3) conducted a global synthesis of plant responses to N additions to place our results within a larger scale. We focused on habitat fragmentation because it is one of the most striking aspects of global change operating in Southern California. About 90% of coastal sage scrub habitat has been lost due to urban development and agriculture. Nitrogen uptake is an important issue in restoration and conservation of remaining coastal sage scrub fragments, because the growth of many plant species is N limited.
Newly graduated nurses' occupational commitment and its associations with professional competence and work-related factors.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore newly graduated nurses' occupational commitment and its associations with their self-assessed professional competence and other work-related factors. BACKGROUND As a factor affecting nurse turnover, newly graduated nurses' occupational commitment and its associations with work-related factors needs exploring to retain adequate workforce. Nurses' commitment has mainly been studied as organisational commitment, but newly graduated nurses' occupational commitment and its association with work-related factors needs further studying. DESIGN This study used descriptive, cross-sectional, correlation design. METHODS A convenience sample of 318 newly graduated nurses in Finland participated responding to an electronic questionnaire. Statistical software, NCSS version 9, was used in data analysis. Frequencies, percentages, ranges, means and standard deviations summarised the data. Multivariate Analyses of Variance estimated associations between occupational commitment and work-related variables. IBM SPSS Amos version 22 estimated the model fit of Occupational Commitment Scale and Nurse Competence Scale. RESULTS Newly graduated nurses' occupational commitment was good, affective commitment reaching the highest mean score. There was a significant difference between the nurse groups in favour of nurses at higher competence levels in all subscales except in limited alternatives occupational commitment. Multivariate analyses revealed significant associations between subscales of commitment and competence, turnover intentions, job satisfaction, earlier professional education and work sector, competence counting only through affective dimension. CONCLUSION The association between occupational commitment and low turnover intentions and satisfaction with nursing occupation was strong. Higher general competence indicated higher overall occupational commitment. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Managers' recognition of the influence of all dimensions of occupational commitment in newly graduated nurses' professional development is important. Follow-up studies of newly graduated nurses' commitment, its relationship with quality care, managers' role in enhancing commitment and evaluation of the impact of interventions on improving commitment need further studying.
Service Recovery, Satisfaction and Customers' Post Service Behavior in the Malaysian Banking Sector

Financial services sector has become very competitive after Malaysia government's liberalization policy. In order to address the increased competition, banks have shifted their strategy from product-centered to a customer-centered strategy. This study tests a model related to the relationship between the service recovery, customer satisfaction and customer after purchase behavior. To test the proposed model, 370 self-administered questionnaires were distributed. The analyses based on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) reveal direct relationships between perceived distributive justice, perceived procedural justice, perceived interactional justice and customer satisfaction in regard to service recovery. The results also show that customer satisfaction increases the level of trust among customers. There is also a high possibility that satisfied customers will spread positive word of mouth that can reinforce the good reputation of the service provider. Bootstrap is used to examine the mediation effects of satisfaction and the results show that customer satisfaction fully mediates the relationship between perceived interactional justice and word of mouth. The results also indicate that customer satisfaction partially mediate the following relationships; perceived distributive justice with word of mouth, perceived procedural justice with word of mouth and perceived interactional justice with perceive trust. However, the fact that this study is conducted by using cross sectional method, focuses on banking industry and covers a small area of the country should be taken into consideration for any generalization of results.
Integrate Vehicle Routing and Truck Sequencing in Cross-docking Operations

Cross-docking is a an important logistics strategy in which freight is unloaded from inbound vehicles and directly loaded into outbound vehicles, with little or no storage in between. This study considers a crossdocking system which combines the vehicle routing problem with crossdocking (VRPCD) for both inbound and outbound operations and truck sequencing problem at docks. The objective is to minimize the logistics center operation costs and transportation costs. We first formulated the integrated problem with a mixed integer programming model. Since VRPCD and sequencing problems are NP-hard, the integrated problem is also an NP-hard problem. We propose an ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm to solve the VRPCD and sequencing problem by two independent ant colonies sequentially. The proposed ACO is tested with 15 randomly generated instances. The results show that ACO can obtain the optimal solutions in small size instances. We believe the proposed ACO algorithms can be used for practical use for the cross-docking system.
Factors affecting municipal debt

The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyze the debt differences among Swedish municipalities, and how they are affected by variations in size of population, political composition and geographical location between 2007 and 2011. The results of this investigation show that municipalities’ debt differ due to political composition. Where RED municipalities to a larger extent finance their investments in material assets with debt, BLUE municipalities self-finance their investments in material assets by selling material assets. Moreover, this thesis indicates that municipalities with a decreasing population experience difficulties as they are faced with a downward sloping spiral of increasing costs and lower tax-revenues. As a result they have to rely more and more on the Swedish grant system to provide them with the necessary funds to be able to serve their inhabitants with the goods and services needed. The opposite is true for municipalities with an increasing population where costs decrease in the short-term, but increases in the long-term at the rate of the population increase. This thesis also shows that the slower the population increase is, the higher are the costs for the municipality. The findings also indicates that municipalities in the north of Sweden finance their investments in material assets with debt to a larger extent compared to municipalities in the south of Sweden. Further, this thesis shows that by excluding Stockholm, Sweden experiences lower investments in material assets and result.
On the Relationship between Innovation and Export: The Case of Australian SMEs

This paper investigates the link between innovation and export market participation using Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) data. The results show that export and innovation are positively linked. Depending on the industry and the type of innovation (process or product), innovation may lead to export and, to a lesser extent, export may lead to innovation. Firms in the primary sector (agriculture and mining) show the strongest evidence that innovation leads to export. From firms in the services sector, there is indication that only process innovation leads to export. Also, only in this sector, there is evidence that export may lead to (process) innovation.
NDVI , and vegetation biomass for Low Arctic sites in the Yamal Region of Russia ( 2 ) An overview of modeling vegetation and ecosystem dynamics in arctic tundra

The most significant event in the geocryological society nowadays is the International Polar Year (IPY). Half a century past since the previous Polar Year (III International year of geophysics, 1957-1959) and it is time to make some conclusions and to outline the new tasks. The end of 1950's was a time of rather cold climatic and the main investigations in permafrost zone concerned cryogenic structure of soil. Than due to the temperature rise resulted into the global warming concept more and more attention was paid to the problem of permafrost degradation and destructive exogenic processes especially in case of technogenic influence. Basic problem is the investigation of seasonal and annual changing of climatic–permafrost conditions and interaction in order to reveal the nature of trend or the presence of the cyclic recurrence. So our contemporary researches are coordinated with numerous international IPY programs and also by Russian Integrative and Regional Programs and are aimed to assess permafrost changing. Collecting and processing of climatic and geocryological data are performed using GIS-technique applied to model observed phenomena at global, regional, local and elementary level. Researches conducted in the Polar regions of Eurasia present such main directions: • Geocryological structure and cryogenic features; • Contemporary climate and sea hydrodynamics changing in Arctic regions; • Continental and submarine permafrost forming and evolution; • Natural and technogenic cryogenic physical and geological processes; • Permafrost monitoring (including coastal permafrost); • Developing of GIS-oriented cartographical models; • Development of the new techniques of the permafrost research. Geocryological researches, mapping and monitoring of the northern territories influenced by climate changes and intensive technogenic impact is functional to held with use of global, regional and local GIS and data-bases. A multiversion generalization of data and drawing-up and redraft of thematic digital maps make it possible to reflect the present-day state, trend, and dynamics of natural and technogenic features. Contemporary permafrost and climatic trends extrapolation shows that there will be no significant changing of geocryological conditions in the coming 20-25 years. But the decreasing of climate continentality can accelerate the development of the negative destructive cryogenic processes coursing permafrost degradation. E.g., at Urengoy gas-field the temperature of permafrost increased approximately up to 1°C during the period 1975–1993 owing to the natural climate dynamics. That’s why the descending of permafrost roof started somewhere at forest sites. Technogenic impact added extra 1.2. 5°C, but this ground temperature rise is located close to human constructions. At tundra and boggy sites the worming of permafrost was changed by meaningful cooling in the mid 1990’s. The more significant freezing can be found on different hillocks.
Weighted Census-based deprivation indices: their use in small areas.

BACKGROUND The concept of deprivation refers to the conditions experienced by people who are poor, whereas the concept of poverty relates to the lack of income and other resources that make these conditions difficult to break away from. The usual Census-based deprivation indices are often based on equally weighted (and highly correlated) variables. This is in spite of the fact that different social groups have been shown in numerous studies to have differing probabilities of suffering from deprivation. A weighted deprivation index based on individual level data and Census data produces a more accurate and more easily understandable method of estimating deprivation within an area, as it reflects the differences between social groups. This paper will describe how a technique used by Gordon (J Epidemiol Commun Hlth 1995; 49(Suppl. 2): S39-S44) can be applied to smaller areas to give estimates of the number of deprived living within them, producing a weighted index. METHODS Breadline Greenwich data together with Census data were used to estimate the percentage of poor households in Greenwich wards using similar methods to those of Gordon. RESULTS The results produced were very similar to the numbers estimated using the Breadline Britain weightings but there were differences in individual weightings for some of the variables. CONCLUSION Gordon's approach can be applied to smaller areas to give estimates of the number of deprived using the nationally derived weightings. More accurate local estimates, subject to the different local conditions, can be easily derived if a similar survey to the Breadline Britain survey is conducted locally.
Exploiting Music Play Sequence for Music Recommendation

Users leave digital footprints when interacting with various music streaming services. Music play sequence, which contains rich information about personal music preference and song similarity, has been largely ignored in previous music recom-mender systems. In this paper, we explore the effects of music play sequence on developing effective personalized music recommender systems. Towards the goal, we propose to use word embedding techniques in music play sequences to estimate the similarity between songs. The learned similarity is then embedded into matrix factorization to boost the latent feature learning and discovery. Furthermore, the proposed method only considers the k-nearest songs (e.g., k = 5) in the learning process and thus avoids the increase of time complexity. Experimental results on two public datasets demonstrate that our methods could significantly improve the performance on both rating prediction and top-n recommendation tasks.
Self-Sensing Sinusoidal Drive for Spindle Motor Systems

Traditionally, spindle motor systems are driven with Brushless DC (BLDC) drive. This drive, however, suffers from torque pulsations which is undesirable from the perspective of motion control and acoustics. In this paper, a self-sensing sinusoidal drive for spindle motor systems is proposed. The drive comprises of (1) an optimal angle sinusoidal drive, (2) an innovative lossless current sensing for self-sensing methodology, (3) a self-sensing sinusoidal drive. The drive introduced was implemented on FPGA and its results are presented.
Lentiviral vectors for gene delivery to normal and demyelinated white matter

Lentiviral vectors are increasingly used for gene delivery to neurons and in experimental models of neurodegeneration. Their use in gene delivery to white matter and their potential value in preventing or repairing CNS demyelination has received less attention. Here we show using a VSV‐G–pseudotyped HIV‐derived vector expressing the marker gene LacZ that lentiviral vectors transduce the major macroglial cell types present in normal white matter (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte progenitors). Injection of lentiviral vectors causes an inflammatory response at the injection site characterized by OX42+ and ED1+ macrophages, but only a few CD8+ and no CD4+ lymphocytes, and mild demyelination. Injection of lentiviral vectors into areas of toxin‐induced demyelination resulted in significant numbers of cells expressing the marker gene and was a more effective means of gene delivery than was a LacZ‐expressing murine retroviral vector. GLIA 42:59–67, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The relationship between corporate governance and financial performance of small corporations in Australia

This paper examines a widely explored but yet to be co nfirmed relationship between two latent constructs - corporate governance and financial performance of small corporations in Australia. Prior studies have either focused on larger organisations or isolated corporate governance mechanisms in small firms. However, few have examined how corporate governance mechanisms, as a bundle, relate to small corporations. This study fills this gap by empirically analysing the aforementioned relationship using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Based on 387 responses from small corporations, the results show that corporate governance bundles measured by the extant literature, has a negative impact on the financial performance of small corporations. The result calls for a stakeholder approach to the governance needs of small corporations.
Origin and Spread of Spliceosomal Introns: Insights from the Fungal Clade Zymoseptoria

Abstract Spliceosomal introns are a key feature of eukaryote genome architecture and have been proposed to originate from selfish group II introns from an endosymbiotic bacterium, that is, the ancestor of mitochondria. However, the mechanisms underlying the wide spread of spliceosomal introns across eukaryotic genomes have been obscure. In this study, we characterize the dynamic evolution of spliceosomal introns in the fungal genus Zymoseptoria at different evolutionary scales, that is, within a genome, among conspecific strains within species, and between different species. Within the genome, spliceosomal introns can proliferate in unrelated genes and intergenic regions. Among conspecific strains, spliceosomal introns undergo rapid turnover (gains and losses) and frequent sequence exchange between geographically distinct strains. Furthermore, spliceosomal introns could undergo introgression between distinct species, which can further promote intron invasion and proliferation. The dynamic invasion and proliferation processes of spliceosomal introns resemble the life cycles of mobile selfish (group I/II) introns, and these intron movements, at least in part, account for the dramatic processes of intron gain and intron loss during eukaryotic evolution.