Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sponsorship leveraged packaging: An exploratory study in FMCG

Packaging and sponsorship have been recognised as key tools for gaining competitive advantage, with worldwide packaging expenditures reaching US$500 billion and sponsorship investments reaching US$37 billion. Evidence highlights the importance of supporting sponsorship with additional leveraging, yet little research has addressed the integrative effects of sponsorship with leveraging. This paper examines consumer response to sponsorship leveraged packaging (SLP), a marketing tool widely used in the Australian fast moving consumer goods industry. Exploratory research suggests that SLP is processed peripherally and is impacted by sponsored property identification and sponsor brand loyalty. With multinational corporations allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to sponsorship activity alone, it is crucial that marketers understand how to maximise their packaging and sponsorship investments. This research begins the process of empirically testing how consumers respond to sponsorship leveraged packaging.
Signal and Power Integrity Analysis of Differential Lines in Multilayer Printed Circuit Boards With Embedded Electromagnetic Bandgap Structures

In this paper, the analysis of the signal integrity and the power integrity (PI) performance of different types of electromagnetic bandgap structures (EBGs) in presence of differential (DIFF) striplines is proposed. Four different configurations of 2-D embedded EBG layers are analyzed. A test vehicle consisting in a 12-layer printed circuit board in standard FR4 material is built, and the measured results (validated by means of 3-D electromagnetic simulations) are used to estimate the signal quality in terms of the transmission parameter S21, time-domain reflectometry, and eye pattern at the terminations. The PI is, instead, analyzed by means of the noise coefficient from the source to different positions along the planes (S21). Results confirm the reliability of 2-D EBGs for noise mitigation and the enhancement in the signal quality when DIFF signals are used.
Three novel germline mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli gene

Maria 1. Scarano, Marina De Rosa, Maurizio Gentile, Luigi Bucci, Giuseppe P. Ferulano, Nicola Carlomagno, Andrea Renda, Ginevra Guanti, Francesco Salvatore*, and Paola Izzo Dipartimento di Biochirnica e Biotecnologie Mediche, CEINGE-Biotechnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy; Fax: + 39-81-746-3650 II Divisione di Chirurgia Generale III Divisione di Chirurgia Generale Instituto di Chirurgia Generale e Trapiand d’Organo, Medical School, University of Naples Federico 11, 80131 Naples Cattedra di Genetica Medica, Istituto di Medicina del Lavoro, Policlinico, Bari, Italy
Context-Dependent BSE Impacts on Canadian Food-at-Home Beef Purchases

Household-level Canadian scanner data from 2002 – 2005 were used to identify consumer reactions to the early BSE discoveries that severely impacted Canada’s beef industry. In all provinces, consumers reacted to the initial BSE event by purchasing more beef, apparently to support struggling ranchers. Subsequent BSE events, however, met with reduced beef purchases. The results were consistent across three measures of monthly beef purchases: participation, units purchased, and beef expenditure share. Failing to account for the context of individual BSE events would have produced little evidence of consumer reaction, a common finding among prior North American BSE studies.
Effect of dietary fat and cholesterol on uptake of oleic acid and triolein by everted sacs of bovine small intestine.

The influence of dietary fats on in vitro lipid absorption by bovine intestine was studied in 14 calves. Holstein bull calves were fed for 16 wk five liquid diets containing skim milk plus either 3.5% milk fat, 3.5% tallow, 3.5% tallow and . 2% cholesterol, 7.0% tallow, or 7.0% tallow and . 2% cholesterol. Uptake of oleic acid or triolein by everted jejunal or ileal sacs was measured after incubation for 30 min at 37 degrees C in pH 7.4 micellar solutions containing tritium-labeled oleic acid or tritium-labeled triolein. Lipids were extracted from homogenates of sacs and separated into lipid classes by thin layer chromatography. Equal amounts of oleic acid were taken up by jejunal or ileal sacs. Triolein uptake was less than oleic acid uptake, but uptakes by jejunal or ileal sacs did not differ. Oleic acid incorporation into triglyceride was three to four times greater in intestinal sacs from milk fat-fed calves than in sacs from calves fed either 3.5 or 7% tallow. Oleic acid incorporation in intestinal sacs from calves fed cholesterol as well as tallow was equal to that in milk fat-fed calves. Intestinal uptake and metabolism of oleic acid proceeded faster when calves were fed milk fat than when fed tallow. The lower intestinal incorporation with tallow increased if cholesterol was fed, suggesting that cholesterol either stimulated absorption or increased esterification.
Physical and Chemical Characterization of Mn Phosphate/Sulfate Mixture Used in an Inhalation Toxicology Study

The use of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) in unleaded gasoline has given rise to numerous debates on the potential public health risk associated with manganese emissions. In fact, combustion products are mainly Mn phosphate, Mn sulfate, and Mn phosphate/sulfate mixture. Our research group did several inhalation studies in order to assess the toxicity of each Mn species. The objective of this study is to determine the physical and the chemical characteristics of a mixture of Mn phosphate/sulfate used in one of these inhalation toxicology studies. First, the mixture was analyzed by X-ray diffraction in order to obtain the specific peak of Mn phosphate and Mn sulfate. These peaks were used as reference. Second, samples of the mixture were collected on filters in the inhalation chamber at a concentration level of 3000 μg/m3. They were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), analytical transmission electron microscopy (ATEM), and x-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) to show their size, morphology, and chemical composition. Results indicate that 33% of the particles were found to be agglomerated, while free particles accounted for 44% for Mn phosphate and 23% for Mn sulfate.
Country-Specific Sentiment and Tax Behavior Induced Home Bias

This paper provides a novel tax behavior explanation for investor home bias. Specifically, we show that investors are reluctant to hold foreign equity with a tax levied by a foreign tax collector. Starting point is the observation that willingness to pay taxes depends on the attributes of the tax collecting country. This relationship indicates a form of country-specific tax behavior: taxpayers respond to country attributes as they indicate cooperative and trustworthy behavior of tax authorities, the government or other taxpayers. We conduct a laboratory investment experiment to explore the effect of sentiment towards different tax collectors, specifically of the view on home country taxation relative to foreign country taxation. The results suggest that investors prefer domestic equity and invest in riskier portfolios in case of a foreign tax rather than a domestic tax on foreign dividend income.
Principles of optics : electromagnetic theory of propagation, interference and diffraction of light

Historical introduction 1. Basic properties of the electromagnetic field 2. Electromagnetic potentials and polarization 3. Foundations of geometrical optics 4. Geometrical theory of optical imaging 5. Geometrical theory of aberrations 6. Image-forming instruments 7. Elements of the theory of interference and interferometers 8. Elements of the theory of diffraction 9. The diffraction theory of aberrations 10. Interference and diffraction with partially coherent light 11. Rigorous diffraction theory 12. Diffraction of light by ultrasonic waves 13. Scattering from inhomogeneous media 14. Optics of metals 15. Optics of crystals 16. Appendices Author index Subject index.
Linkage between frontline employee service competence scale and customer perceptions of service quality

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop an instrument to measure service competencies and explore the relationship between service competencies and service quality. Design/methodology/approach – Data were gathered from 207 frontline employees (FLEs). A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the goodness-of-fit of the FLE service competence scale. Further, the partial least squares technique was used to analyze the data gathered from 252 customers to clarify the relationship between service competencies and perceived service quality. Findings – The results indicate that the instrument demonstrated high reliability, stable dimensionality and predictable relationships with service quality within the nomological network of service competencies. Moreover, the results provide evidence for the position that FLE interpersonal competencies are positively associated with the service quality dimensions of reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy, and that FLE professional competenc.
Development of the Fertility and Cancer Project: an Internet approach to help young cancer survivors.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe the development of the Fertility and Cancer Project (FCP), an Internet approach to supplement information about fertility; describe FCP study participants' characteristics, fertility, cancer knowledge, and Internet use; and assess perceived information and support from the oncology team. DESIGN Descriptive. SETTING Internet, international. SAMPLE 106 young survivors of breast cancer from eight countries. METHODS FCP content was developed from the literature and interviews with breast cancer survivors, oncology professionals, and young women without cancer who were having fertility problems. Participants learned about the FCP through advocacy groups, cancer care providers, and Web searches. After enrollment, they completed five surveys: sociodemographic, breast cancer and health status, knowledge of fertility, Internet use, and the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Sociodemographics, breast cancer, health status, fertility knowledge, Internet use, and social support. FINDINGS Prior to diagnosis, most survivors had no fertility concerns, but more than 14% reported fertility problems. Following breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, 23 reported fertility problems. About half reported receiving little information about fertility options from the oncology team and were referred to a reproductive endocrinologist. Internet use to obtain support and health information was common. Most reported frequent computer use and Internet access in their homes. Participants were most knowledgeable of the general and treatment-related factors that could affect fertility; they were least knowledgeable of infertility treatment. CONCLUSIONS Results provide preliminary evidence about the demographic, cancer treatment, and support characteristics of young survivors of breast cancer who seek online information about fertility. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING The Internet is a promising format for engaging young cancer survivors who seek information about fertility and cancer. Future studies can evaluate FCP effectiveness in delivering education and support interventions.
The Impact of Capital Structure on Firm Performance: Evidence from Pakistan*

Abstract Purpose –The purpose of this study is to empirically inves -tigate the impact of capital structure on firm performance.Research design, data, and methodology –This study exam-ined the impact of capital structure on the performance of ce-ment companies listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange duringthe period 2009-2013. The authors hypothesize that there is anegative relationship between capital structure and firmperformance. To examine the association, the authors run aPearson correlation and multiple regression analysis.Results –Results reveal a strong negative relationship be -tween debt to asset and firm performance variables (GPM,NPM, ROA, and ROE). Further, there is a positive relationshipbetween debt to equity and firm performance variables (GPMand NPM), anda negative relationship between debt to equityand firm performance variables (ROA and ROE). Moreover, cap-ital structure variables significantly impact firm performance.Conclusions –This study concluded that financial analystsand managers should emphasize on the optimal level of capitalstructure and efficient utilization and allocation of resources toachieve the targeted level of productive efficiency in business.Keywords: Capital Structure, Firm Performance, CementIndustry, Pakistan.JEL Classifications: G1, G3.
Potentials Of The EU Pre-Accession Assistance In Financing Of Local Economic And Infrastructure Development:Experiences Of Montenegro In MFF 2007-2013

The main aim of the EU instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA) is to support and assist the candidate countries and potential candidate countries in aligning with the Acquis Communautaire, democratic and economic reforms in countries including infrastructure development, strengthening of local economic development, institutional building including administrative and absorption capacities of local self-government, and improving of regional and cross-border cooperation. IPA support in MFF 2007–2013 will amount to some €11.46bn or €103 per capita in the beneficiary countries (Western Balkans, Turkey and Iceland). For Montenegro, the per capita levels of funding are higher than for the other countries, reflecting a minimum level of funding needed for building adequate central and local administrations, irrespective of the size of the country. Consequently, the EU became the biggest donor in the Western Balkans countries on annual basis. Through the pre-accession assistance based on co-financing principle, the Union significantly supports infrastructure projects, which represent the driving force of the regional and local development. The existence of adequate infrastructure enhances economic development, trade, competitiveness, productivity, economic and social cohesion, as well as better standard of living for the inhabitants of the Western Balkans region. This paper is focused on analysis of IPA programmes in Montenegro in the area of infrastructure and capacity building on local level in the MFF 2007–2013. Main infrastructure projects are defined in the transportation sector (roads, railways) and the environment (water supply, wastewater treatment, and solid waste management) in each IPA budget year, such as support for strengthening of local self-government (capacity building, small infrastructure grants). Based on lessons learned from the previous implementation period it is possible to define challenges ahead for the next 7-years programming period and to define areas of specific interest for future economic development and better regional infrastructure networking.
Hyperdynamic circulation in portal-hypertensive rat model: a primary factor for maintenance of chronic portal hypertension.

Two dissimilar hemodynamic hypotheses, the "backward flow" theory and the "forward flow" theory, have been advanced to define splanchnic hemodynamics in portal hypertension. An animal model with portal hypertension and high-grade portal-systemic shunting, the portal vein-stenotic rat, was studied to determine whether a hemodynamic picture compatible with either theory would develop. Splanchnic and systemic hemodynamics and portal-systemic shunting were measured by radioactive microsphere techniques. The portal-hypertensive rats (portal pressure, 12.8 +/- 0.5 vs. 8.3 +/- 0.4 mmHg) with greater than 95% portal-systemic shunting had a 60% increase in portal venous inflow (23.46 +/- 2.54 vs. 14.97 +/- 1.61 ml/min; P less than 0.01) with a concomitant 50% decrease in splanchnic arteriolar resistance (3.86 +/- 0.43 vs. 7.60 +/- 0.80 dyn . s . cm-5 . 10(5); P less than 0.001) compared with control rats. Cardiac index (391 +/- 17 vs. 250 +/- 20 ml . min-1 . kg-1) was elevated 50% (P less than 0.001), and total peripheral resistance (7.1 +/- 0.4 vs. 11.7 +/- 0.8 dyn . s . cm-5 . 10(4)) was decreased 60% (P less than 0.001). The resistance to portal blood flow in portal vein-stenotic rats (4.77 +/- 0.57 dyn . s . cm-5 . 10(4)) was similar to the resistance to portal blood flow in control rats (4.82 +/- 0.43 dyn . s . cm-5 . 10(4)), indicating that the hyperdynamic portal venous inflow, not resistance, provided the main impetus for maintaining the elevated portal venous pressure. The splanchnic hemodynamic observations directly support the forward flow theory of portal hypertension. The relation between splanchnic arteriolar resistance and total peripheral resistance (r = 0.67; P less than 0.01) indicated that the systemic hemodynamic parameters were secondarily altered by the splanchnic hemodynamic changes. This animal model of chronic portal hypertension gave evidence for a generalized splanchnic arteriolar vasodilation occurring in the presence of high-grade portal-systemic shunting.
A Phase Change Memory Compact Model for Multilevel Applications

In this letter, we show a compact model that describes the main electrical features of phase change memory (PCM) devices. The model coherently reproduces the behavior of both SET and RESET states with the description of the physics of involved phenomena for different bias and temperature conditions. For arbitrary programming pulses, the model is able to generate intermediate states with mixed phase distributions and, thus, with resistance values between the SET and RESET ones. The proposed model is therefore a precious tool for the design of multilevel PCM applications.
Low degree almost Boolean functions are sparse juntas

Nisan and Szegedy showed that low degree Boolean functions are juntas. Kindler and Safra showed that low degree functions which are almost Boolean are close to juntas. Their result holds with respect to $\mu_p$ for every constant $p$. When $p$ is allowed to be very small, new phenomena emerge. For example, the function $y_1 + \cdots + y_{\epsilon/p}$ (where $y_i \in \{0,1\}$) is close to Boolean but not close to a junta. We show that low degree functions which are almost Boolean are close to a new class of functions which we call *sparse juntas*. Roughly speaking, these are functions which on a random input look like juntas, in the sense that only a finite number of their monomials are non-zero. This extends a result of the second author for the degree 1 case. As applications of our result, we show that low degree almost Boolean functions must be very biased, and satisfy a large deviation bound. An interesting aspect of our proof is that it relies on a local-to-global agreement theorem. We cover the $p$-biased hypercube by many smaller dimensional copies of the uniform hypercube, and approximate our function locally via the Kindler--Safra theorem for constant $p$. We then stitch the local approximations together into one global function that is a sparse junta.
May 18 , 2004 Self-Deception and Deception in Capital Markets

We argue that self-deception underlies various aspects of the behavior of investors and of prices in capital markets. We examine the implications of self-deception for investor overconfidence, and how firms and financial institutions can exploit the overconfidence of investors in a predatory fashion. These ideas link self-deception to deception by others. We also examine how investor self-deception and overconfidence can affect financial reporting and disclosure policy.
Teaching Security With Network

Network security topics are gaining importance but they are often taught using traditional, passive methods via lectures and textbooks. This paper describes our efforts to change this situation by developing teaching materials and technical support for use of network testbeds in security education. This practice cannot replace the traditional teaching approach but should complement it to better train our future security workforce. We describe our work on both the education and testbed support fronts and offer some preliminary success measures derived from observing the usage of DETER testbed and our materials in Fall 2010.
Valuation Shocks and M&A Activities

How do singular landmark M&A deals with seemingly excessive valuation and high public visibility influence M&A markets? We analyze how M&A market activity and deal characteristics behave in the presence of these landmark deals. Our results show that both valuation levels and M&A activity are significantly influenced by these deals in the cross-section and over time: misvaluation and deal activity increase, while M&A premia decrease. Although the effect is especially strong in the short- and medium-term for the industries in which the landmark deals occur, our results also show spillover effects into other industries. The occurrence of the landmark deals itself is not driven by M&A activity, as perhaps suggested by M&A wave theories.
Optimizing Airspace Sectors for Varying Demand Patterns using Multi-Controller Staffing

A variety of design concepts have been implemented in sectorizing en route airspace, e.g. balancing controller workload, aligning sector shape with flow, and maintaining minimum dwell time. To efficiently serve demand variation over time and space and to increase efficiency, models for dynamic airspace management, e.g. frequently changing sector boundaries or reorganizing jet routes, have also been envisioned. In the U.S., a common way to deal with temporary demand peaks in a sector is to use multiple controller teams, e.g. a Radar-side controller plus a Data-side controller. In this study, we propose an optimization model to create airspace sector boundaries that takes traffic demand variations and multi-controller teams into account. We improve upon existing sectorization techniques by acknowledging that sector capacity can be increased by adding auxiliary controllers. By comparing a multi-controller policy with a singlecontroller policy, our numerical results confirm that when traffic demand patterns are steady over time, a single-controller policy is satisfactory. But when demand varies over time, sectors can be designed in a way that allows for strategic use of multi-controller teams. This makes effective use of controller workforce and circumvents the need to perform disruptive sector boundary changes during busy periods.
Support vector machines and the multiple hypothesis test problem

Two enhancements are proposed to the application and theory of support vector machines. The first is a method of multicategory classification based on the binary classification version of the support vector machine (SVM). The method, which is called the M-ary SVM, represents each category in binary format, and to each bit of that representation is assigned a conventional SVM. This approach requires only [log/sub 2/(K)] SVMs, where K is the number of classes. We give an example of classification on an octaphase-shift-keying (8-PSK) pattern space to illustrate the main concepts. The second enhancement is that of adding equality constraints to the conventional binary classification SVM. This allows pinning the classification boundary to points that are known a priori to lie on the boundary. Applications of this method often arise in problems having some type of symmetry, We present one such example where the M-ary SVM is used to classify symbols of a CDMA two-user, multiuser detection pattern space.