Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new iterative technique to characterize and design transmission fiber Bragg gratings

The authors present an iterative algorithm to recover the whole complex spectrum of any transmission fiber Bragg grating (FBG) from only the information of either its group-delay spectrum or its magnitude spectrum. Both numerical simulations and experimental results confirm that this simple algorithm is fast and accurate. This technique is especially useful for the practical design and characterization of transmission FBGs with desired spectral features.
Management Quality, Financial Policies, and Asymmetric Information

We develop measures of the management quality of firms and make use of a unique sample of hand-collected data to examine the relationship between the reputation and quality of a firm's management and its financial policies, a relationship that has so far received little attention in the literature. We hypothesize that better and more reputable managers are able to convey the intrinsic value of their firm more credibly to outsiders, thus reducing the information asymmetry facing their firm in the equity market. Given this, firms with better and more reputable managements will have more access to the equity market, so that we expect lower leverage ratios for these firms. In addition, they will have less need to signal using dividends, so that they will have lower dividend payout ratios. Further, since better managers are likely to select better projects (having a larger NPV for any given scale) and implement them more ably, higher management quality will also be associated with higher levels of investment and R&D expenditures. We present evidence consistent with the above hypotheses. Our direct tests of the relationship between management quality and asymmetric information also indicate that higher management quality leads to a reduction in the extent of information asymmetry facing a firm in the equity market.
How Mutations in the nAChRs Can Cause ADNFLE Epilepsy

Summary: Purpose: The linkage between autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor has been strongly reinforced by the report of five distinct mutations in the two genes coding for the major brain α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors. As a first step toward understanding the basic mechanisms underlying this genetically transmissible neurologic disorder, we examined the similarities and differences of the functional properties displayed by naturally occurring mutant forms of this ligand‐gated channel.
Securitization and the Extension of Mortgage Credit

This project focuses on explaining why the aggressive lending in the sub-prime market is a rational behavior of the sub-prime lenders in a qualitative and quantitative way. Through comparing the differences between a traditional mortgage market and the sub-prime market with the involvement of securitization, we can observe that the borrowers bargaining power has changed accordingly. Securitization has prevented borrowers from behaving strategically when serving the debt. Through modeling, we are able to numerically show that when the borrower has limited options to strategically serve the debt, the lender will respond by extending more credit over per dollar of collateral. This is exactly what the banks were doing when making sub-prime loans to potential homeowners. Based on the game theoretical partial differential equation model, our numerical results suggest that aggressive lending is not a predatory behavior, rather, it is a rational movement of the sub-prime lenders.
eCommerce as Computer-Mediated Social Action

We regard business-to-customer electronic commerce (eCommerce) a form of social action that can be analyzed with Habermas’s (1985) communicative action theory. This theory presents a typology consisting of instrumental, strategic, normatively regulated, dramaturgical, and communicative action. We propose that social action theory in general and the action typology in particular are useful for analyzing eCommerce applications and as a framework for eCommerce research.
Beware of Unawareness: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Awareness of Chronic Diseases

This paper studies racial/ethnic disparities in awareness of chronic diseases using biomarker data from the 2006 HRS. We estimate a 3-step sequential probit model which accounts for selection into: (1) participating in biomarker collection; (2) having illness (hypertension or diabetes); (3) being aware of illness. Contrary to studies reporting that African-Americans are more aware of having hypertension than non-Latino whites, we do not find this conclusion holds after self-selection and severity are considered. Likewise, African-Americans and Latinos are less aware of having diabetes compared to non-Latino whites. Disparities in unawareness are exacerbated when we limit the sample to untreated respondents.
DIGITAL REFERENCE SERVICES USING WEB SERVICES: OVERVIEW, DESIGN AND SPECIFICATIONS

Digital reference service (DRS) is an emerging trend of traditional reference service. Easily accessible digital reference service that provides real time service to the patrons has become one of the necessities of the library information systems. Implementing a networked synchronous digital reference service by most libraries has become a difficult task. Web services on the other hand allow interoperability between heterogeneous devices and applications provided that they have conformed to the web services protocols. This paper gives an overview of digital reference service and web services applications. It uses questionnaires to make a survey in some university libraries so as to find out the actual problems faced by patrons while using DRS and also to know the specific requirements of the patrons. It provides a means of eradicating the present problem of digital referencing in the libraries by proposing a model for using web services technology in developing networked synchronous digital reference services. The functional informal specifications of the proposed model are also provided.
Position deviation based second-order consensus in multiple vehicle systems

For second-order dynamic model of multi-vehicle system, we investigate a second-order consensus protocol for the system in the case of collecting information without time-delay. By introducing position tracking value, we propose a simple second-order consensus protocol, making the states of each vehicle converge to the given tracking values. The necessary and sufficient condition under which second-order consensus can be reached is derived by using the system stability theory. The second consensus is then applied to the multiple vehicle systems with four vehicles as an illustrative example.
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan Disclosure Choice

Firms have the option to voluntarily disclose the existence of and details within insiders' Rule 10b5-1 trade plans. This study examines the determinants of disclosure and the association between disclosure and insiders' strategic trade behavior. We find evidence that voluntary disclosure is greater at firms with higher litigation risk and with higher insider strategic trade potential. We also find that insiders' trade returns are greater for firms disclosing plan participation, particularly at firms that disclose specific plan details. Disclosure firms' insiders' sales are associated with subsequent earnings news declines and other substantive negative news events. Collectively, this suggests that 10b5-1 voluntary disclosure may provide legal protection for strategic trade. It also suggests that non-disclosing firms are least associated with strategic trade; therefore an SEC disclosure mandate might not mitigate strategic activity within the Rule.
Adolescent patient and nurse referrals for pastoral care: a comparison of psychiatric vs. medical-surgical populations.

PROBLEM Referrals for pastoral care can expedite interventions that focus on the spiritual needs of hospitalized adolescents. METHODS An uncontrolled, retrospective review of referrals (N = 73) to pastoral care for adolescents ages 10 to 22 in a pediatric hospital over an 18-month period. FINDINGS A majority of the patients (65%) was referred from the psychiatric unit. Psychiatric patients made more self-referrals, whereas PICU nurses made more nurse-generated referrals for pastoral care. CONCLUSIONS Spiritual care of patients in a pediatric hospital is an important component of care. Since the importance of spiritual care is well documented, referrals for spiritual issues and care are essential interventions that should not be overlooked. A better understanding of the referrals can aid in early recognition of factors that may prompt nurses to advocate for spiritual care of the patient.
Characteristics of a good advice giver and the impact of financial incentives and competition on advice quality and advisors' confidence

The Judge-Advisor System (JAS) highlights the importance of advice within the decision making process. Past JAS literature has focused on ways in which to improve advice utilisation and clients’ decision outputs. The aim of this thesis was to focus on an under researched area within the JAS literature: the advice giver. It predominantly aimed to explore three main input areas in relation to what makes a good advice giver: characteristics of the advice giver, the quality of advice, and how the advice is given. It began by identifying individuals’ implicit understanding of what characteristics are important for a good advisor. A three-factor framework was developed, which relates to advisors’ affect, behaviour, and cognition. Further, it explored whether two external motivators (the type of advisors’ financial incentive and competition between advisors) impacted advice quality (the accuracy of recommendations, amount of advice provided, and amount of information acquired) and how the advice is given (how confident the advisor appeared to their client). The type of advisors’ financial incentive impacted advisors’ input within an estimation task, but was not consistent within a choice task. Competition alone was found to have no impact on the advisors’ input. When competition and the advisors’ incentive (financial or quality) were explored together, competition, not the advisors’ incentive, impacted advice quality. A combination of both competition and a financial incentive was found to increase advisors’ public confidence. Finally, as advice-giving is an interactive process, the impact on the client was also explored. Clients’ ratings of their advisors’ trustworthiness were found to predict advice utilisation which increased clients’ decision accuracy but did not predict clients’ decision confidence. The thesis has begun to explore optimal characteristics of good advice givers and how external factors influence advisors’ inputs. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Innovation in the Service Economy: The New Wealth of Nations

Contemporary economies are often described as innovation economies. They are also definitely service economies as far as services are their main sources of wealth and employment. Paradoxically there is still considerable unwillingness to consider them as economies of innovation in services, as if the two main characteristics of modern societies (service and innovation) could coexist while ignoring each other. This paradox is rooted in an obsolete conception of economy which relegates services to the periphery and considers manufacturing as being the only engine of growth. The aim of this book is to try and reconcile these two basic characteristics of contemporary economies. It propounds a relatively simple theoretical framework which allows both to account for innovation specifities in services and to enrich our understanding of industrial innovation itself. This theoretical model is fed by numerous empirical investigations carried out in different countries and and in various service sectors. This book is likely to interest reasearchers conscious of the decreasing return of theoretical apparatus inherited from an agricultural and manufacturing past, but also managers and public authorities, faced with the necessity to design strategies and policies able to benefit from challenges by the new economy of services and innovation.
International Entrepreneurial Values Elicited Through Repertory Test and Laddering Analysis: An SME, Internet-Enabled Tourism Perspective

This study explores the international entrepreneurial values influencing the intensity of Internet use in the internationalization process of small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), within the Australian tourism industry. The findings point to a relationship between the values of international entrepreneurs and the inclination of the firm to develop and initiate international activity. And so, this study endeavors to offer insight into issues that remain unresolved in existing tourism and international entrepreneurship (IE) literature. Two effective but underutilized qualitative methods were used in this study to identify the values of international entrepreneurs. They are repertory test and laddering analysis. ; ;
2-Methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) synthase expression in Nostoc punctiforme leads to over production of phytols

Phytol is a diterpene alcohol of medicinal importance and it also has potential to be used as biofuel. We found over production of phytol in Nostoc punctiforme by expressing a 2-Methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) synthase gene. MBO synthase catalyzes the conversion of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) into MBO, a volatile hemiterpene alcohol, in Pinus sabiniana. The result of enhanced phytol production in N. punctiforme, instead of MBO, could be explained by one of the 2 models: either the presence of a native prenyltransferase enzyme with a broad substrate specificity, or appropriation of a MBO synthase metabolic intermediate by a native geranyl diphosphate (GDP) synthase. In this work, an expression vector with an indigenous petE promoter for gene expression in the cyanobacterium N. punctiforme was constructed and MBO synthase gene expression was successfully shown using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and SDS-PAGE. Gas chromatography – mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) was performed to confirm phytol production from the transgenic N. punctiforme strains. We conclude that the expression of MBO synthase in N. punctiforme leads to overproduction of an economically important compound, phytol. This study provides insights about metabolic channeling of isoprenoids in cyanobacteria and also illustrates the challenges of bioengineering non-native hosts to produce economically important compounds.
Nine-year follow-up of a survey on smoking habits in Florence (Italy): higher mortality among non-responders.

BACKGROUND Smoking prevalence is often assessed in random samples of a population. Non-response bias has been rarely investigated. METHODS In 1989 a survey on smoking habits in Florence, Italy, was carried out (response rate: 85%). For responders and non-responders (3,621 subjects) the life status as of 1998 was assessed. Poisson regression models were fitted to estimate age-adjusted risks of death (RR) of non-responders for overall mortality and for the most important causes of death, taking the whole series of responders, postal responders and telephone responders as the reference in different analyses. This analysis included 2,071 subjects aged >/=45 years. RESULTS Compared to the whole series of responders, mortality from all causes was significantly higher among non-responders in males (RR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.23-2.44) and females (RR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.79-3.29). The higher risk was seen for smoking-related and 'other' causes of death. Among females the difference was more evident for smoking-related causes (RR = 3.14; 95% CI: 1.66-5.93), among males the higher risk was similar for both groups of causes. The excess of mortality was less evident when telephone responders alone were taken as reference. CONCLUSIONS The follow-up of subjects enrolled in a survey on smoking habits shows high mortality risks among non-responders. The data indirectly suggest that smoking was (or had been) more widespread among non-responders, in particular among females. Therefore, the prevalence of smokers assessed through this survey, focussed on smoking habit, may be underestimated. Telephone contact with non-responders to the postal questionnaire attenuated the selection bias of responders, but even with telephone back-up the response bias persisted.
Adiponectin inhibits KISS 1 gene tr anscription through AMPK and specificity protein-1 in the hypothalamic GT 1-7 neurons

Adiponectin secreted from adipose tissues plays a role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, food intake, and reproduction in the hypothalamus. We have previously demonstrated that adiponectin significantly inhibited GNRH secretion from GT1-7 hypothalamic GNRH neuron cells. In this study, we further investigated the effect of adiponectin on hypothalamic KISS1 gene transcription, which is the upstream signal of GNRH. We found that globular adiponectin (gAd) or AICAR, an artificial AMPK activator, decreased KISS1mRNA transcription and promoter activity. Conversely, inhibition of AMPK by Compound C or AMPKa1-SiRNA augmented KISS1 mRNA transcription and promoter activity. Additionally, gAd and AICAR decreased the translocation of specificity protein-1 (SP1) Journal of Endocrinology (2012) 214, 177–189 0022–0795/12/0214–177 q 2012 Society for Endocrinology Printed in Great from cytoplasm to nucleus; however, Compound C and AMPKa1-siRNA played an inverse role. Our experiments in vivo demonstrated that the expression of Kiss1 mRNAwas stimulated twofold in the Compound C-treated rats and decreased about 60–70% in gAdor AICAR-treated rats compared with control group. The numbers of kisspeptin immunopositive neurons in the arcuate nucleus region of Sprague Dawley rats mimicked the same trend seen in Kiss1 mRNA levels in animal groups with different treatments. In conclusion, our results provide the first evidence that adiponectin reduces Kiss1 gene transcription in GT1-7 cells through activation of AMPK and subsequently decreased translocation of SP1. Journal of Endocrinology (2012) 214, 177–189
Blame Attribution as a Moderator of Perceptions of Sexual Orientation—Based Hate Crimes

Blame attribution is a valuable mechanism explaining decision making. However, present literature mainly employs blame attribution as a dependent variable. The shortcoming of this fact is that blame attribution offers a potentially valuable explanatory mechanism for decision making. The authors designed two studies to investigate blame attribution as a moderator of sentencing decisions in sexual orientation—based hate crimes. Study 1 showed that mock jurors punished perpetrators of hate crimes more severely than a control condition. Also, degree of victim blame influenced punitive decision making. In Study 2, mock jurors extended findings that perpetrators of hate crimes are more harshly punished than those of other types of crimes. Victim and perpetrator blame failed to moderate decision making in this more complex scenario. Results are discussed in relation to hate crimes definitions and attribution theory.
Efficiently combining task and motion planning using geometric constraints

We propose a constraint-based approach to address a class of problems encountered in combined task and motion planning (CTAMP), which we call kinematically constrained problems. CTAMP is a hybrid planning process in which task planning and geometric reasoning are interleaved. During this process, symbolic action sequences generated by a task planner are geometrically evaluated. This geometric evaluation is a search problem per se, which we refer to as geometric backtrack search. In kinematically constrained problems, a significant computational effort is spent on geometric backtrack search, which impairs search at the task level. At the basis of our approach to address this problem, is the introduction of an intermediate layer between task planning and geometric reasoning. A set of constraints is automatically generated from the symbolic action sequences to evaluate, and combined with a set of constraints derived from the kinematic model of the robot. The resulting constraint network is then used to prune the search space during geometric backtrack search. We present experimental evidence that our approach significantly reduces the complexity of geometric backtrack search on various types of problem.
Local Retail Segmentation Using the CETSCALE

Abstract The CETSCALE was used to segment a local retail luxury sedan market into pro-import and anti-import groups. Four versions of a newspaper advertisement for both Cadillac and Lexus luxury sedans were tested across these two segments. Non-comparative, weaker indirect comparative, stronger indirect comparative, and direct comparative advertising headlines were used in a between-subjects design. An existing automobile dealership selling both Cadillac and Lexus brands was used as the test sponsor. Results unexpectedly indicate that the pro-import segment favors the hard-hitting direct comparison format significantly less than the anti-import segment, finding it less believable, likable, convincing, and professional, plus more boring.
Hormonal enhancement of neuronal firing is linked to structural remodelling of excitatory and inhibitory synapses

The ovarian hormone estradiol induces morphological changes in the number of synaptic inputs in specific neuronal populations. However, the functional significance of these changes is still unclear. In this study, the effect of estradiol on the number of anatomically identified synaptic inputs has been assessed in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. The number of axo‐somatic, axodendritic and spine synapses was evaluted using unbiased stereological methods and a parallel electrophysiological study was performed to assess whether synaptic anatomical remodelling has a functional consequence on the activity of the affected neurons. Estradiol administration to ovariectomized rats induced a decrease in the number of inhibitory synaptic inputs, an increase in the number of excitatory synapses and an enhancement of the frequency of neuronal firing. These results indicate that oestrogen modifications in firing frequency in arcuate neurons are temporally linked to anatomical modifications in the numerical balance of inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs.
Fraudulent Financial Reporting: A Basic Analysis

The objective of the research is to identify differences between two group of firms, fraud and non fraud firms. Fraud is of particular interest here because the implication is massive, the effect to the company, staff and creditors. The research intends to look at any differences with regard to the board’s and firm’s characteristics. Board’s characteristics consist of board independence and size, and also the audit committee experts. While, firm’s characteristics, contain the financial characteristics of the firm such as long term liability, total assets, sales and operating cash flow. Even though, the study fails to find significant result, but appointing audit committees with certain expertise, may help the company to effectively managed their financial resources.
Development of low cost high efficient DC-DC converter for photovoltaic system with fast converging MPPT algorithm

This Paper presents Development of Low cost Effective MPPT system with High efficient DC-DC converter under partial shading condition. The power available at the output of photovoltaic cells keeps changing with solar insolation and ambient temperature because photovoltaic cells exhibit a nonlinear current voltage characteristic. A good number of publications report on different MPPT techniques for PV system most of the existing schemes are unable to extract maximum power from the PV array under partial shading conditions. This paper proposes PSO algorithm to track the global power peak under partially shaded conditions. The Proposed MPPT algorithm is developed in Low cost C2000™ Piccolo™ Launch Pad™, LAUNCHXL-F28027 microcontroller. All the observations and conclusions, including results are presented.