Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The New Payments Platform and Fast Settlement Service | Bulletin – September Quarter 2018

A significant advance in the Australian payments system occurred in February 2018 with the public launch of the New Payments Platform (NPP). The NPP enables customers of financial institutions to make immediate payments 24 hours a day, every day of the week (‘24/7’). In conjunction with the development of the NPP, the Reserve Bank developed new infrastructure, the Fast Settlement Service (FSS), which provides for settlement of NPP transactions between financial institutions on a 24/7 basis across their Exchange Settlement Accounts (ESAs) at the Reserve Bank. These new systems have brought fast payment services to Australians in line with similar initiatives that have been undertaken or are underway internationally. The initial adoption of the NPP has been gradual, reflecting the staged introduction of services by financial institutions, as well as the time taken for customers to assess and adjust to the new services being offered. R E S E R V E B A N K O F AU S T R A L I A B U L L E T I N – S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8 1
The strong connection between sensory and cognitive performance in old age: not due to sensory acuity reductions operating during cognitive assessment.

Cognitive aging research has documented a strong increase in the covariation between sensory and cognitive functioning with advancing age. In part, this finding may reflect sensory acuity reductions operating during cognitive assessment. To examine this possibility, the authors administered cognitive tasks used in prior studies (e.g., Lindenberger & Baltes, 1994) to middle-aged adults under age-simulation conditions of reduced visual acuity, auditory acuity, or both. Visual acuity was lowered through partial occlusion filters, and auditory acuity through headphone-shaped noise protectors. Acuity manipulations reduced visual acuity and auditory acuity in the speech range to values reaching or approximating old-age acuity levels, respectively, but did not lower cognitive performance relative to control conditions. Results speak against assessment-related sensory acuity accounts of the age-related increase in the connection between sensory and cognitive functioning and underscore the need to explore alternative explanations, including a focus on general aspects of brain aging.
The Mediating Effect of Eco-Innovation between Motivation and Organization Performance in Jordan Industrial Estates Company in Jordan

The main aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of motivation on organization performance in Jordan Industrial Estate Company (JIEC) in Jordan, the mediating role of eco-innovation. Resource Based View theory (RBV) highlighted the role of Motivation in achieving the high organization performance. A quantitative approach and simple random sampling were used to obtain data via questionnaire from 381 employees from different level of JIEC, the response rate was 74.8%. SEM was employed to analyses the study variables. The results shows that the direct effect of motivation and eco-innovation on organization performance are significant at a p-value 0.050 and 0.000 for motivation and eco-innovation respectively and eco-innovation mediates the relationship between motivation and organization performance, with a partial mediating effect. This paper contribute to theory by filling the gap of eco-innovation literature in developing countries, validate eco-innovation as a mediator variable between motivation and organization performance. This study recommended for further studies about eco-innovation in developing countries particularly in Jordan, and repeat the same study to ensure the validate the study model.
Multiple hypothesis testing using the excess discovery count and alpha-investing rules

We propose an adaptive, sequential methodology for testing multiple hypotheses. Our methodology consists of a new criterion, the excess discovery count (EDC), and a new class of testing procedures that we call alpha-investing rules. The excess discovery count is the difference between the number of correctly rejected null hypotheses and a fraction of the total number of rejected hypotheses. EDC shares many properties with the false discovery rate (FDR), but is adapted to testing a sequence of hypotheses rather than a fixed set. Because EDC controls the count of incorrectly rejected hypotheses rather than a ratio, we are able to prove that a wide class of testing procedures that we call alpha-investing rules control EDC. Alpha-investing rules mimic alpha-spending rules used in sequential trials, but possess a key difference. When a test rejects a null hypothesis, alpha-investing rules earn additional probability toward testing subsequent hypotheses. Alpha-investing rules allow one to incorporate domain knowledge into the testing procedure and improve the power of the tests.
Simulation of fuel-cell stacks using a computer-controlled power rectifier with the purposes of actual high-power injection applications

This paper presents the guidelines for simulation of fuel-cell (FC) stacks by using a computer-controlled high-power converter, which drives actual electric loads, or injects power to the grid. The FC output static and dynamic characteristics are closely reproduced in such a way the actual loads are seamlessly driven as if they were supplied by the simulated FC. The simulator characteristics include the membrane temperature and humidity, efficiency, flow of the reactants, cooling air fan and water pumps, the actual air environmental temperature and humidity, and the regimen of operation of the actual electrical load. Any type of FC of ordinary size can be simulated without having to use hydrogen with improved safety, variety of tests, flexibility, and demo facilities. Those features allied to the low cost of this FC simulator contribute for market analysis and life-cycle studies of a site installation.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate activation of ERM contributes to vascular calcification[S]

Vascular calcification is the deposition of mineral in the artery wall by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in response to pathological stimuli. The process is similar to bone formation and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Given that ceramide and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are involved in cardiovascular pathophysiology and biomineralization, their role in VSMC matrix mineralization was investigated. During phosphate-induced VSMC mineralization, endogenous S1P levels increased accompanied by increased sphingosine kinase (SK) activity and increased mRNA expression of SK1 and SK2. Consistent with this, mineralization was increased by exogenous S1P, but decreased by C2-ceramide. Mechanistically, exogenous S1P stimulated ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) phosphorylation in VSMCs and ERM phosphorylation was increased concomitantly with endogenous S1P during mineralization. Moreover, inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase and ceramidase with desipramine prevented increased S1P levels, ERM activation, and mineralization. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of ERM phosphorylation with NSC663894 decreased mineralization induced by phosphate and exogenous S1P. Although further studies will be needed to verify these findings in vivo, this study defines a novel role for the SK-S1P-ERM pathways in phosphate-induced VSMC matrix mineralization and shows that blocking these pathways with pharmacological inhibitors reduces mineralization. These results may inform new therapeutic approaches to inhibit or delay vascular calcification.
Hsa‐miR‐375 is differentially expressed during breast lobular neoplasia and promotes loss of mammary acinar polarity

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) of the breast, characterized by loss of E‐cadherin expression, accounts for 5–15% of invasive breast cancers and it is believed to arise via a linear histological progression. Genomic studies have identified a clonal relationship between ILC and concurrent lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) lesions, suggesting that LCIS may be a precursor lesion. It has been shown that an LCIS diagnosis confers a 15–20% risk of progression to ILC over a lifetime. Currently no molecular test or markers can identify LCIS lesions likely to progress to ILC. Since microRNA (miRNA) expression changes have been detected in a number of other cancer types, we explored whether their dysregulation might be detected during progression from LCIS to ILC. Using the Illumina miRNA profiling platform, designed for simultaneous analysis of 470 mature miRNAs, we analysed the profiles of archived normal breast epithelium, LCIS lesions found alone, LCIS lesions concurrent with ILC, and the concurrent ILCs as a model of linear histological progression towards ILC. We identified two sets of differentially expressed miRNAs, the first set highly expressed in normal epithelium, including hsa‐miR‐224, ‐139, ‐10b, ‐450, 140, and ‐365, and the second set up‐regulated during lobular neoplasia progression, including hsa‐miR‐375, ‐203, ‐425‐5p, ‐183, ‐565, and ‐182. Using quantitative RT‐PCR, we validated a trend of increasing expression for hsa‐miR‐375, hsa‐miR‐182, and hsa‐miR‐183 correlating with ILC progression. As we detected increased expression of hsa‐miR‐375 in LCIS lesions synchronous with ILC, we sought to determine whether hsa‐miR‐375 might induce phenotypes reminiscent of lobular neoplasia by expressing it in the MCF‐10A 3D culture model of mammary acinar morphogenesis. Increased expression of hsa‐miR‐375 resulted in loss of cellular organization and acquisition of a hyperplastic phenotype. These data suggest that dysregulated miRNA expression contributes to lobular neoplastic progression. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal torque matching of a magnetic gear within a permanent magnet machine

The concept of a geared machine, where a magnetic gear and brushless permanent magnet machine are combined into a single machine, has been introduced and analysed in previous literature. However, the design methodology or process involved to provide an optimal design has not been developed. This paper proposes a strategy of matching the magnetic gear and machine to produce insight into how an optimal design can be achieved. The investigation of machine parameters through extensive finite element analyses is firstly employed to attain the influence of individual parameters and their impact upon an optimal solution. Finally an example design is further analysed to confirm their performance and justify the selection of optimum parameters.
Utilization Bound of Non-preemptive Fixed Priority Schedulers

It is known that the schedulability of a non-preemptive task set with fixed priority can be determined in pseudo-polynomial time. However, since Rate Monotonic scheduling is not optimal for non-preemptive scheduling, the applicability of existing polynomial time tests that provide sufficient schedulability conditions, such as Liu and Layland's bound, is limited. This letter proposes a new sufficient condition for non-preemptive fixed priority scheduling that can be used for any fixed priority assignment scheme. It is also shown that the proposed schedulability test has a tighter utilization bound than existing test methods.
Fault-tolerant circular routing algorithm for 3D-NoC

Expanding Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) to the third dimension (3D-NoC) has been known as a promising solution for the latency challenges of future many-core Systems-on-Chip. 3D-NoC may take advantages of TSVsfor vertical links which are shorter and faster than horizontal ones. Faults may occur in TSVs as well as the horizontal links though faults in TSVs are more costly. In this paper, we present a fault-tolerant routing algorithm targeting faults in both TSVs and horizontal links. The proposed routing algorithm is based on defining some circular routing paths which offers a deadlock-free routing for packets in mesh-based topologies. In addition to tolerating faults, these circular pathshelp in reducing congestion in the centralpart of the network at high injection rates. The proposed circular routing algorithm is able to tolerate all one-faulty links. In addition, it is shown that its performance is better than those of traditional methods.
Visual Localization of a Ground Vehicle Using a Monocamera and Geodesic-Bound Road Signs

The work explores the on-board navigation system of the moving object, which includes a camera, odometer and steering sensor. The navigation algorithm is based on the method of visual odometry compensated by the data of recognized road signs. Recognition of road signs is carried out on the basis of a roll-out neural network. The algorithm is tested on natural data.
Synergistic effects of matrine and 5-fluorouracil on tumor growth of the implanted gastric cancer in nude mice.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibitive effects of matrine and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the growth of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC-7901 when transplanted into nude mice and to investigate the bone marrow toxicity of these compounds. METHODS 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg matrine with 50 mg/kg 5-FU, and 50 mg/kg matrine only, 50 mg/kg 5-FU only were intraperitoneally injected to observe their inhibitive effects by calculating the relative tumor volume (RTV) and tumor inhibition rates (IR%) as shown by the number of nucleated cells and bone marrow cell colony culture. RESULTS The tumor inhibitive effect of the combined 100 mg/kg matrine and 50 mg/kg 5-FU group was stronger than that of the combined 50 mg/kg matrine and 50 mg/kg 5-FU groups (P < 0.05), and were also much stronger than that of the control group (50 mg/kg matrine only, 50 mg/kg 5-FU only, P < 0.01). As for the bone marrow inhibition effect, there was no significant statistical difference between the combination group and 5-FU alone group. In the cultured bone marrow cell colony, exuberant growth was seen in the combination group, but not in the control group. CONCLUSIONS The inhibitive effect of combined matrine and 5-FU on the growth of transplanted human gastric cancer in nude mice is superior to that of matrine or 5-FU alone. Combined matrine and 5-FU can increase the inhibitive effect on proliferative hemopoietic bone marrow cells in nude mice and does not affect the resting bone marrow stem cells.
Footstep Modification Including Step Time and Angular Momentum Under Disturbances on Sparse Footholds

Maintaining dynamic balance is an important requirement for bipedal robots. To deal with large disturbances, the footsteps need to be modified depending on the disturbance. Currently, there are few methods that determine footsteps by considering foothold constraints and the balance of the robot. In this paper, we propose a footstep modification method that considers the steppable region. In certain situations, robots cannot maintain balance due to the limitations of the landing position on sparse footholds, such as stepping stones. Therefore, our proposed method modifies not only the step position, but also the step timing and the angular momentum, and balance can be maintained even on the footholds where the steppable region is strictly limited. These walking parameters are analytically calculated by representing the steppable region as convex hulls and applying our previously utilized method. We verified the effectiveness of the proposed method in an experiment where a life-sized humanoid robot walked on stepping stones consisting of unsteady blocks and was able to recover when pushed.
Success Factors and Performance Indicators for health-care start-ups

iv Index of Tables . viii Index of Figures . x Index of Appendixes . xi 1.Introduction . 1 2.Literature Review . 4 2.1. The importance of start-ups in economy . 4 2.1. 1. Start-ups’ definition . 4 2.1. 2. Characterization of the Start-ups’ growing phases. 5 2.1. 3. Start-ups’ characteristics . 6 2.1. 4. Start-ups’ importance in the economy . 9 2.2. Start-ups’ internationalization . 10 2.2.1. The process of internationalization . 10 2.2.2. International Comparisons . 11 2.3. Success factors in start-ups . 16 2.3. 1. Theoretical review . 16 2.3. 2. Resume of the main success factors in start-ups . 22 2.4. Performance indicators in start-ups . 27 2.4. 1. Theoretical review . 27 2.4. 2. Resume of the main performance indicators in start-ups . 33 2.5. Similar Studies . 34 2.5. 1. Identification of similar studies . 34 2.5. 2. Methodological aspects of similar studies . 38 3. Research Goals and Methodology . 40
Impact of service delivery in pension industry on fraud reduction and employees' motivation for quality service

Pension scheme is an important motivational tool for the protection of employees’ old age at retirement. To make this a reality, Pension Reform Act 2004 (PRA) was amended in 2014. This reform allows contributions between employees and employers. Following the implementation of this reform, there has been alleged irregular remittance of statutory pension contributions among employers due to weak monitoring to enforce compliance by the regulatory body. Hence, this study was designed to examine the extent of irregular remittances in public institutions and determine whether prompt remittances will motivate employees to offer efficient and quality service. Data were sourced from 211 employees in selected federal institutions in Jos Metropolis. Different inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected. The result of the findings revealed that regulatory control has positive and significant impact on employers’ compliance to pension remittances; service delivery by employers has significant positive impact on fraud reduction among employers but not significant for the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Pension Commission (PenCom). Similarly, efficient quality service by PFAs and PenCom significantly influence employees’ motivation to offer quality service in their respective organisations; and that compliance with PRA has strong relationship with good investment performance which also serves as an incentive to employees to offer quality service. On the basis of these findings, this study concluded that a strong and efficient regulatory control will drastically lead to fraud reduction among key players. Hence, the study recommended among other things that the PenCom needs to intensify regulatory control to prevent fraudulent practices among employers and PFAs.Keywords: pension remittances, service delivery, defined contribution
Analysis of Factors Affecting Application of Computer-Based Accounting Information System on Banking Sector

This study aims to analyze user participation factor, the ability of individual’s techniques, training and education programs, the support of top management, the quality of information, perceived benefits and perceived ease toward user satisfaction. This research method is a quantitative survey using purposive sampling on internal side such as employee’s perspective through questionnaires, which are distributed to employees in all branches of the Central Java Bank both conventional and Islamic. This study uses Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to measure the level of user satisfaction of the system of psychological factors and types of banks as control variables in research. The results of this study reveal that user satisfaction of information systems in Central Java Bank affected by two factors, namely the ability of individual techniques and top management support.
Economics of nontimber forest products.

Nontimber forest products (NTFPs) encompass a broad variety of edible, woodbased, decorative, and medicinal goods derived from various plant and fungus parts (Chamberlain et al. 1998). NTFPs provide signifcant economic benefts to users in the United States; however, many of these values have not been systematically researched or quantifed (Alexander et al. 2001). Interest in assessing the economic value, impact, and potential of NTFPs surged in the 1990s and early 2000s probably in part because of controversies over the impact of timber harvest on endangered species and other conservation priorities; NTFPs seemed like a way to generate income and maintain standing forests (Robbins et al. 2008). Research in the United States and transferable knowledge from other countries provide an important baseline of evidence. However, these diverse studies typically address individual species at a specifc location at a single point in time. They may have divergent or even contradictory fndings. Furthermore, there are very few data consistently collected over time regarding NTFP harvest, trade, and consumption. This chapter is an attempt to synthesize the knowledge of the economics of NTFPs, but when necessary we utilize individual studies or data points from specifc regions, which while not generalizable to the Nation as a whole, can be seen as illustrative or suggestive.
Location privacy awareness on geo-social networks enhancing awareness with feedback solutions

Users of GeoSocial Networks (GeoSNs) share their personal location information with other users online. GeoSNs use spatiotemporal histories of users and other semantic information from their tags and comments to build location-based profiles and to offer personalised services and interaction experiences. However, such location-based profiles can potentially be used to extract private information about users, that they may not wish to disclose, and can thus pose a threat to their privacy. Users are generally unaware of the extent of data they are sharing and its potential implicit content. Studies have also shown that users are concerned about their location privacy and that current solutions offered by GeoSNs, namely privacy policies and privacy settings, do not effectively address their concerns. The focus of this thesis is on addressing the problem of location privacy on GeoSNs through enhancing users’ location privacy awareness of potential risks to allow them to make informed consent about their location disclosure. Therefore, this work firstly studies the link between location information disclosure and the risks to personal privacy and evaluates the level of user awareness and their attitude to privacy implications of sharing location information in GeoSNs. Factors contributing to the location privacy problem are identified, including those stemming from the nature of the data collection procedures and the modes of using the application by the users. Systematic user studies were carried out that showed the limitation in users’ awareness of the extent of the data and information they are disclosing. Thus, to enable location privacy awareness, a data-driven approach is undertaken to assessing the threat associated with the exposure of location-related personal information. Based on that, a privacy threat model is proposed that takes into account the types of shared data, its visibility by possible adversaries and the user’s awareness of the disclosed information. In addition, privacy feedback solutions are proposed to address the gaps in user awareness by revealing the level of risk to their privacy associated with exposing different types of location-related personal information. These solutions allow users to view their geo-profiles collected and inferred based on their location-sharing actions on GeoSNs and notify them about who of the other users can see their information. User-based experiments were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed solutions using surveys, interviews, and prototypes along with realistic users’ data. Results demonstrate clearly the significance of the proposed solutions on enhancing user awareness. Employing the methods proposed in this thesis will thus enable users to effectively manage their privacy and make informed decisions about their location disclosure on GeoSNs.