Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of oxygen excess ratio in a PEM fuel cell system using high-order sliding-mode controller and observer

The main objective of this manuscript is to design a high-order sliding-mode observer to provide finite time estimation of unmeasurable states (x4: oxygen mass, x5: nitrogen mass) together with the oxygen excess ratio (ratio of the input oxygen flow to the reacted oxygen flow in the cathode). This is done by applying second-order sliding modes through either super twisting or suboptimal controllers to control the proton exchange membrane fuel cell's breathing. The estimated oxygen excess ratio is controlled in a closed-loop system using 2 distinct sliding-mode approaches: a cascaded super twisting controller and a single-loop suboptimal structure. Simulation results are presented to make a quantitative comparison between the cascade and the single-loop configuration. The results verify that the cascade provides accurate reference tracking while the single-loop presents faster convergence.
The Marketing Ethics Course

Many of the critical issues facing modern businesses can be considered marketing ethics issues. It follows that as the field of business ethics has evolved, marketing has played a key role in the development of business ethics education. Despite a general trend of increasingly larger amounts of ethical content included in business curricula, prior studies have shown there are no significant numbers of courses specifically designed with a focus on marketing ethics in university business programs. This exploratory study examines the current implementation of the stand-alone marketing ethics course. Using a comparative case study method, we describe a variety of different approaches currently being used in the definition and delivery of stand-alone marketing ethics courses. We offer recommendations for the future of the marketing ethics course and discuss related research opportunities. Our goal is to inform and inspire further development and refinement of marketing curricula that incorporate marketing ethics content.
Sustainability Potentials of the Sharing Economy: The case of accommodation sharing platforms

The sharing economy, which facilitates technology-enabled sharing of underused assets, is an umbrella for a variety of segments and platforms. The concept includes peer-to-peer, business-to-business and business-to-consumer platforms which are celebrated for their potential to facilitate a transformative change towards a sustainable society grounded in access over ownership, empowerment, inclusiveness, democracy and an economically, environmentally and socially sound way of doing business. While claims emphasising the sustainability potentials of the sharing economy are ubiquitous in the literature, research on the sustainability implications of the sharing economy is scarce and the potentials have not been contested in scientific studies. Critics of the sharing economy have brought to light some of the negative repercussions sharing platforms might create: exacerbation of wealth inequality, increase of environmental degradation and a race to the bottom. This thesis takes an explorative approach and synthesises the overarching sustainability claims inherent to the sharing economy which are then tested on the accommodation segment. The analytical framework utilised for the discussion of sustainability claims emerged from the literature and primary data was collected via ten in-depth interviews with providers of accommodation sharing platforms and a quantitative survey with their users. The research found a wide spectrum of business models and identified different sustainability implications for each of type of accommodation sharing platforms.
Disturbance Observer-Based Fuzzy SMC of WECSs Without Wind Speed Measurement

The main role of control system for wind turbines is tracking the optimal power via regulating the rotor speed of the generator. A high performance controller, which can deal with unmodeled dynamics, uncertainties, and external disturbance, can effectively increase the captured power from the wind. This paper focuses on designing an advanced sliding mode control (SMC) scheme for wind energy conversion systems (WECSs). As the proposed SMC scheme includes a nonlinear disturbance observer (DOB) for estimating aerodynamic torque and wind speed, there is no requirement to measure aerodynamic torque or wind speed. The proposed control scheme considers not only the uncertainties and disturbance but also the random nature of wind speed and intrinsic nonlinear behavior of the WESCs. Via designing sliding surface based on estimated information, the proposed control system can avoid disadvantages associated with the robust control techniques. To totally remove chattering as well as improving other control criteria, a fuzzy-based variable switching gain scheme is introduced. Comparative simulation results are shown to verify the effectiveness and superior performance of the proposed DOB-based fuzzy SMC scheme.
Analysis of Protein S‐Nitrosylation

S‐nitrosylation is the binding of an NO group to a cysteine or other thiol. Like phosphorylation, S‐nitrosylation is a precisely targeted and rapidly reversible post‐translational modification that serves as an on/off switch for protein function during cell signaling. However, unlike phosphorylation, S‐nitrosylation of proteins occurs nonenzymatically and is mediated, at least in part, by redox‐regulated chemical reactions in cells. Alterations in pH, pO2, cellular reductants, transition metals, and UV light lead to the loss and/or gain of S‐NO bonds. Due to the redox‐sensitive nature of the modification, analysis of protein S‐nitrosylation is technically difficult, since the S‐NO bond is easily disrupted during sample preparation. In addition, the level of S‐nitrosylated proteins in cells approaches the limit of detection of currently available technology. Despite these technical challenges, several useful methods have been developed recently to measure protein S‐nitrosylation in biological samples, and these are described in this unit.
Impact of Verbal Elements of Packaging of Packaged Milk on Consumer Buying Behavior

This research paper examines the impact of packaging elements on consumer buying behavior. The motivation for carrying out this study is to know how packaging elements impact on consumers buying behaviour. In order to know the impact of packaging on consumers the study was carried out to find the relationship between verbal elements of packaging and consumer buying behavior. Verbal elements included nutritional information, product information and country-of-origin. In this study verbal elements of packaging are independent variables and consumer buying behavior is the dependent variable. The findings of the research have revealed that varieties of milk (r=-.070) has a negative correlation with consumer buying behavior in product information, however, expiry date mentioned on the product (r=.033) and manufacturer’s name (r=.061) are positively correlated. Nutritional information (r=.655) is highly and positively correlated with consumer buying behavior, which is significant. Country of origin (r=.619), is also highly and positively correlated with consumer buying behavior, which is significant.
Self-Service Technologies (SSTs): determinants of adoption and its post-usage outcomes from a focal company perspective

With the exponential rise of the technological advances, service firms adopt Self-Service Technologies (SSTs) as their innovative weapons to create value. Much research has focused on customers' perspectives of adopting SSTs, i.e., determinants of SST adoption, attitudes and intentions toward use. Yet, studies on organisational adoption of SST, its post-adoption usage, and its organisational impact have been little explored. This paper conceptually explores the determinants of SST adoption and its post-usage impact from a focal company perspective considering the nomological network of SST adoption. Implications as well as future research opportunities are provided.
The Cost‐to‐Serve Method

Integrating business processes across functions is at the heart of logistics and supply chain management. The fundamentals of compressing time across the chain are well understood. There is a common expectation among logistics professionals that cost will fall out of the supply chain from such programs. The theme of supply chain management is that many businesses are not in the trade‐off zone where cost must be balanced against service, but are in the area where good supply chain practice can drive service up and cost down simultaneously.
Elevated plasma adrenomedullin and vascular manifestations in patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE Adrenomedullin (ADM), a vasodilating peptide that possesses antiinflammatory properties, may have a regulatory role in the vascular manifestations of scleroderma (systemic sclerosis, SSc). We examined associations between ADM concentrations and vascular manifestations in a cohort of patients with SSc. METHODS Patients were examined for manifestations of severe Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), defined as digital resorption, previous iloprost infusion, and sympathectomy. Doppler echocardiography and lung function tests were performed to detect elevation in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP; > 35 mm Hg) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Plasma ADM was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS Plasma ADM was measured in 62 SSc patients and 21 healthy controls. Elevated PAP was found in 15 (24.2%) SSc patients (mean PAP 46.5 +/- 11.2 mm Hg, range 37-74). ADM was not found to be related to age, sex, disease duration, or clinical subset. ADM level was significantly higher (median 13.9 pmol/l) in SSc patients with elevated PAP compared to those with lower PAP (median 7.2 pmol/l) (p = 0.01) and controls (median 7.9 pmol/l) (p = 0.04). ADM level was not different among patients who had elevated PAP with (n = 10) and without concomitant ILD (n = 5) (p = 0.21). SSc patients with severe RP (38.7%; median ADM 11.9 pmol/l) were found not to have different ADM levels compared to controls (p = 0.75). Patients who had both severe RP and elevated PAP were found to have significantly higher ADM levels (median 22.3 pmol/l) than patients who had neither manifestation (median 8.0 pmol/l) (p = 0.006) and those with severe RP alone (median 4.2 pmol/l) (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION Elevated ADM was found in SSc patients with increased PAP regardless of concomitant ILD.
The impact of lifestyle intervention on atrial fibrillation

Purpose of review Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, attributable to several factors that may be amenable through lifestyle modification. There is emerging evidence to suggest that the successful management of several cardiovascular risk factors [obesity, hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)] can lead to fewer complications and atrial fibrillation prevention. However, the long-term sustainability and reproducibility of these effects have yet to be explored in larger studies. This review explores recent findings for exercise and lifestyle modifications to promote alternative strategies to interventional therapy for atrial fibrillation management. Recent findings Several studies have highlighted the impact of established modifiable risk factors on atrial fibrillation burden and the potential for effective risk management in a clinical setting. Higher SBP, HTN, pulse pressure, and antihypertensive treatment have been linked to alterations in left atrial diameter and dysfunction. Effective treatment of HTN has been shown to reduce all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and the overall risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Given the impact of obesity on the development of atrial fibrillation, diet has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for stroke. Maintenance of proper glycemic control through structured exercise training for prediabetes and continuous positive airway pressure utilization for OSA, have also been correlated with reductions in atrial fibrillation recurrence. Summary Early intervention of modifiable cardiometabolic factors leads to lifestyle and behavioral change, which has significant potential to evolve atrial fibrillation management in the coming years.
The Corporate Identity Management Process Revisited

This paper has two objectives. It attempts firstly to define a number of related concepts in the corporate identity management process and secondly, to update one of the earlier models of this process. Recent developments in the corporate identity management theory are discussed and models of this process are reviewed. An up-to-date model of the corporate identity management process is proposed.
Prevalence and correlates of hypertension in the rural community of Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India -

Background: Hypertension is considered a chronic disorder of interest owing to its involvement in the generation of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other vascular complications. It is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular mortality, which accounts for 20%–50% of all deaths and will be the prime cause of morbidity by 2020 in India. Objective: To assess the prevalence of hypertension among adults aged 18–59 years residing at rural community of Dakshina Kannada and study the correlates of hypertension among adults. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the age group of 18–59 years to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among the residents of the rural community. A total of 710 study subjects were selected. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic profiles and dietary patterns. Anthropometric measurements were taken using the standard methodology. The blood pressure was assessed and classified using JNC 7 criteria Result: The overall prevalence of hypertension among adults was 43.6%, and it was higher in female subjects. The maximum prevalence of hypertension was found among the age group of 50–59 years (male subjects, 60.2%, and female subjects, 65.4%). The study participants with diabetes showed 1.59 times higher risk than nondiabetic participants. Conclusion: The rates of hypertension in the rural community under study are similar to those seen in high-income countries and in urban India. Hence, there is a need for primordial prevention efforts on large scale.
Design of low-density parity-check codes for modulation and detection

A coding and modulation technique is studied where the coded bits of an irregular low-density parity-check (LDPC) code are passed directly to a modulator. At the receiver, the variable nodes of the LDPC decoder graph are connected to detector nodes, and iterative decoding is accomplished by viewing the variable and detector nodes as one decoder. The code is optimized by performing a curve fitting on extrinsic information transfer charts. Design examples are given for additive white Gaussian noise channels, as well as multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) fading channels where the receiver, but not the transmitter, knows the channel. For the MIMO channels, the technique operates within 1.25 dB of capacity for various antenna configurations, and thereby outperforms a scheme employing a parallel concatenated (turbo) code by wide margins when there are more transmit than receive antennas.
Salespeople’s unethical behavior during a sales contest: The mediation effect of the perceived ethical climate of the game

This article aims to improve Murphy’s explanation of the consequences of sales contests by underlying the relationships that exist between the psychographic variables of salespeople (competitiveness and status aspiration), the perceived ethical climate of the contest, and unethical behaviors observed during the contest. Data were gathered via a survey questionnaire that targeted salespersons selling financial products in four different French banks. A total of 747 completed questionnaires were collected and their data analyzed using Partial Least Squares techniques. Results show that sales contests can create a specific ethical climate that mediates the relation between salespeople’s status aspiration and competitiveness and their unethical behavior during a sales contest.
A review of multimedia glosses and their effects on L2 vocabulary acquisition in CALL literature

Abstract This article reviews the literature of multimedia glosses in computer assisted language learning (CALL) and their effects on L2 vocabulary acquisition during the past seventeen years. Several studies have touched on this area to examine the potential of multimedia in a CALL environment in aiding L2 vocabulary acquisition. In this review, the researchers investigate the studies that deal with different modes of multimedia annotations in a CALL environment. This article reviews the empirical studies of multimedia glosses in reading as well as in listening comprehension activities and discusses the factors under which these studies have been conducted and their impact on L2 vocabulary acquisition. The study aims to understand how multimedia glosses have been used in the past to support second language vocabulary acquisition and also to explore any evidence regarding how multimedia glosses in a CALL environment can enhance the acquisition of L2 vocabulary. Only empirical studies (18 studies published in international refereed journals and conference) have been reviewed exclusively. The article discusses the findings of the reviewed studies and recommends future research.
The Emperor's new Scorecard

THE BALANCED SCORECARD is 10 years old. Hailed by Harvard Business Review as one of the most important new management tools to appear in the past 75 years, it is now widely applied. Research in the US suggests that 60 per cent of Fortune 1000 companies had attempted to implement the Scorecard by the end of 2001. In the UK, 39 per cent of FT 100 companies use it. In the financial services sector, companies such as NatWest implemented the Scorecard several years ago, while companies like Lloyds/TSB are still rolling theirs out. The Balanced Scorecard is obviously popular, but is our interest just a management fad and does it really make a difference to the overall performance of the business?
The effects of exercise training on walking function and perception of health status in elderly patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease

Abstract. Tsai JC, Chan P, Wang CH, Jeng C, Hsieh MH, Kao PF, Chen YJ, Liu JC (Taipei Medical University‐Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan). The effects of exercise training on walking function and perception of health status in elderly patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. J Intern Med 2002; 252: 448–455.
A 700-W peak ultra-wideband broadcast Doherty amplifier

A wideband high-power Doherty design technique enabling fractional bandwidths > 50% is described. It utilizes wideband impedance inversion, device output capacitance compensation and passive phase-optimized wideband input-signal splitting. As prove of concept a LDMOS based ultra-wideband broadcast Doherty amplifier is presented, which covers the UHF-TV 470MHz-803MHz (BWrel = 52%) band with average efficiencies between 38%-47% @Pavg > 115W while maintaining peak power capability > 700W over the entire band. Predistortability is demonstrated by satisfying the digital TV linearity requirements (-38dBc) using a commercial DVB-T exciter. The proposed DPA is an excellent drop-in replacement for the low-efficiency wideband PA blocks currently in use in broadcast transmitters.
―Cultural Intelligence‖ During ERP Implementation: Insights from a Thai Corporation

Much attention has been devoted to challenges related to ERP implementation. However, there is a wealth of papers that are focusing on cultural issues related to ERP depending the country they are implemented. The objective of this article is to analyze and to illustrate how project managers achieve ERP implementation whereas users face cultural changes concerning the way new tasks and business processes must be done? It differs from the perspective considering IT adoption as depending primarily on IT characteristics and organizational needs. We posit that ERP acceptance/resistance cannot be reduced to use behaviors taken at face value but that they must be analyzed considering their underlying cultural dimensions. The case study was done at Eastwater, a corporation in charge of water distribution across Thailand and that succeeded into implementing SAP in only one year. The semi-structured interviews done with project managers and consultants of the company reveal how cultural values shared by employees were used as change management vectors, showing for example how the project director used the “Bunkhun” values to legitimate the ERP adoption and force users' acceptance of the ERP. The result can help managers to better deal with observed misfits between organizational values and IT project, so that it does not ultimately become an obstacle to user acceptance.
Investigation of the Interaction of Pepsin with Ionic Liquids by Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The molecular mechanism of the interaction between pepsin and two typical ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim]Cl) and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C8mim]Cl), was investigated with fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet absorption, and circular dichroism spectroscopy at a pH value of 1.6. The results suggest that ILs could quench the intrinsic fluorescence of pepsin, probably via a dynamic quenching mechanism. The fluorescence quenching constants were determined by employing the classic Stern-Volmer equation. The constant values are very small, indicating that only a very weak interaction between ILs and pepsin exists. The Gibbs free-energy change, enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS) during the interaction of pepsin and ILs were estimated. Positive values of ΔH and ΔS indicate that the interaction between ILs and pepsin is mainly driven by hydrophobic interaction. Synchronous and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra demonstrate that the addition of ILs (0–0.20 mol L−1 for each IL) does not bring apparent changes to the microenvironments of tyrosine and tryptophan residues. Activity experiments show that the activity of pepsin is concentration dependent; higher concentrations of ILs (>0.22 mol L−1 for [C8mim]Cl and >0.30 mol L−1 for [C4mim]Cl) cause the remarkable reduction of enzyme activity. The presence of ILs also does not improve the thermal stability of pepsin.
Real-Time Data Harvesting Method for Czech Twitter

This paper deals with automatic analysis of Czech social media. The main goal is to propose an approach to harvest interesting messages from Twitter in Czech language with high download speed. This method uses user lists to discover potentially interesting tweets to download. It is motivated by the fact that only about 20% of Twitter users are posting informative messages, whereas the remaining 80% not and that it is possible to identify the “important” users by the user lists. The experimental results show that the proposed method is very efficient because it harvests about 6 times more data than the other approaches. This approach should be integrated into an experimental system for the Czech News Agency to monitor the current data-flow on Twitter, download messages in real-time, analyze them and extract relevant events.