Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brand community: Drivers and outcomes

Groups of users and admirers of a brand who engage jointly in group actions to accomplish collective goals and/or to express mutual sentiments and commitments are known as brand communities. Lately, brand communities have been a heavily researched topic in marketing science. While the positive consequences of brand communities are well documented in the literature, little is known about how brand communities can be facilitated and how consumer–brand relationships can be fostered. This research empirically assesses the relevance of offline (i.e., events) and online marketing management tools (i.e., Web sites with online bulletin boards and online expert chats) to strengthen brand communities by facilitating shared customer experiences and multi-way interactions. Additionally, the importance of consumer–brand identification as a consequence of such relationship-building activities is investigated, and the outcomes of a consumer's identification with a brand are analyzed. Important management implications can be derived. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Variations in learning, motivation, and perceived immediacy between live and distance education classrooms

One‐hundred and twenty lower division and 49 upper division undergraduate students enrolled in a small Midwestern university were randomly assigned to three experimental educational settings: a live classroom, a video classroom, and an audio with Powerpoint display classroom. The lower division students viewed a brief lecture presented in the live classroom and simulcast to the other two settings. The upper division students viewed a 45 minute lecture presented in the live classroom and simulcast to the other two settings. The impact of the settings on participant learning, motivation, and perceived teacher immediacy was assessed in both studies. Perceived instructor immediacy was significantly higher for the live setting. For the longer lecture, motivation, perceived learning, affect toward the instructor, and willingness to enroll with instructor all varied significantly and were highest in the live setting. Actual short‐term learning varied significantly and was highest for the Powerpoint classroom. Student cognitive style was assessed, but the researchers found no significant variation based on this variable.
Quasi-resonant DC-link voltage inverter with enhanced zero-voltage switching control

A new topology modification of the parallel quasi-resonant circuit for a dc-link voltage inverter enables regulation of the zero voltage dc-link subperiods and the dc-link voltage gradient settings. The proposed circuit is based on four MOSFET switches with free-wheeling diodes for controlled quasi-resonant recharging between L-C tank in order to assure inverter zero voltage switching (ZVS) conditions. Design optimization of the prototype quasi-resonant inverter and timing sequences for common mode voltage reduction are described. Preliminary experimental results confirm precise controllability of the inverter ZVS operation.
Origins of India's "Textbook Culture"

If textbooks are treated as a vehicle for education, the living word of the teacher has very little value. A teacher who teaches from textbooks does not impart originality to his pupils. He himself becomes a slave of textbooks and has no opportunity or occasion to be original. It therefore seems that the less textbooks there are, the better it is for the teacher and his pupils. [M. K. GANDHI (Harijan, September 9, 1939)]
Enlarging the region of stability using the torque-enhanced active SLIP model

One of the most significant outcomes of bio-inspired robotics research studies is that simple spring-mass models can accurately represent legged locomotion with various sizes and morphologies and hence the legged robots. Specifically, the Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum (SLIP) model became a well-known tool among the biologists and robotics researchers due to its simplicity and explanatory nature. Nevertheless, SLIP model has non-integrable system dynamics, which prevents derivation of exact analytical solutions to its dynamics despite its simple nature. In this paper, we propose a torque-enhanced active SLIP (TA-SLIP) model to support partial feedback linearization on nonlinear dynamics of the SLIP model. A linear and rotary actuator is used in TA-SLIP model to inject or remove energy from the system both to support analytic solution of the system dynamics and to control the locomotion. We also investigate the stability of the TA-SLIP model and show that the proposed model increases the region of stability with respect to original SLIP model.
Metakognitive Überwachungs- und Selbstkontrollprozesse bei der Lernzeiteinteilung von Kindern

Zusammenfassung: Bisherige entwicklungspsychologische Arbeiten legen nahe, dass es jungeren Grundschulkindern schwer fallt, ihre Lernzeiten an den Schwierigkeitsgrad des Aufgabenmaterials anzupassen. Die vorliegende Studie versucht zu klaren, ob diese Schwierigkeiten eher auf defizitare Uberwachungsprozesse oder auf Probleme in der Selbstregulation zuruckzufuhren sind. Je 42 Erst- und Drittklassler erhielten die Aufgabe, “leichte” (hoch assoziative) und “schwierige” (nicht miteinander verbundene) Bildpaare zu lernen. Zur Erfassung von Uberwachungsprozessen wurden nach einer ersten Lernphase mit fester Lernzeit “Judgment-of-learning” (JOL)-Urteile zum geschatzten Lernaufwand fur die einzelnen Bildpaare erfragt. Danach wurden dieselben Bildpaare nochmals vorgegeben, wobei die Kinder nun ihre Lernzeiten frei bestimmen konnten. Es zeigte sich, dass Erst- und Drittklassler gleichermasen dazu in der Lage waren, in ihren JOLs zwischen leichten und schweren Bildpaaren zu differenzieren. Die Drittklassler richtete.
Localization in wireless sensor networks with gradient descent

In this article, we present two distance-based sensor network localization algorithms. The location of the sensors is unknown initially and we can estimate the relative locations of sensors by using knowledge of inter-sensor distance measurements. Together with the knowledge of the absolute locations of three or more sensors, we can also determine the locations of all the sensors in the wireless network. The proposed algorithms make use of gradient descent to achieve excellent localization accuracy. The two gradient descent algorithms are iterative in nature and result is obtained when there is no further improvement on the accuracy. Simulation results have shown that the proposed algorithms have better performance than existing localization algorithms. A comparison of different methods is given in the paper.
Institute of POLITICAL ECONOMY UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER On Income Inequality and Green Preferences

We derive conditions on individual preferences and technology that give rise to a negative correlation between income inequality and environmental protection. We present a class of models (which captures a static model as well as an overlapping-generations model) in which individuals differ in earning abilities, and where a majority elected representative takes decisions over a pollution tax and a redistributive tax. We show that, if private consumption goods and the environment are non-inferior goods, then if the decisive individual has lower ability than the average, she will prefer a higher redistributive tax and a lower pollution tax.
A structured reading materials-based intervention program to develop the psychological capital of Chinese employees

In this study we introduced an easy-to-use, structured reading materials-based psychological capital (PsyCap) intervention program, and examined its effectiveness with a sample of 234 employees in China. The results at posttest showed that PsyCap and job performance of the intervention group significantly increased after the program, whereas they remained unchanged in the control group. These results support the effectiveness of the intervention program, and confirm that PsyCap can be developed. Analyses of follow-up retest scores taken 3 months after the program was conducted showed that overall PsyCap, hope, and job performance were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the pretest group. Furthermore, the program control group’s PsyCap and job performance retest scores were significantly lower than their pretest scores. The results suggest a long-lasting, though not robust, effect of the intervention.
Performance Enhancements for a Dynamic Invariant Detector

Dynamic invariant detection is the identification of the likely properties about a program based on observed variable values during program execution. While other dynamic invariant detectors use a brute force algorithm, Daikon adds powerful optimizations to provide more scalable invariant detection without sacrificing the richness of the reported invariants. Daikon improves scalability by eliminating redundant invariants. For example, the suppression optimization allows Daikon to delay the creation of invariants that are logically implied by other true invariants. Although conceptually simple, the implementation of this optimization in Daikon has a large fixed cost and scales polynomially with the number of program variables. I investigated performance problems in two implementations of the suppression optimization in Daikon and evaluated several methods for improving the algorithm for the suppression optimization: optimizing existing algorithms, using a hybrid, context-sensitive approach to maximize the effectiveness of the two algorithms, and batching applications of the algorithm to lower costs. Experimental results showed a 10% runtime improvement in Daikon runtime. In addition, I implemented an oracle to verify the implementation of these improvements and the other optimizations in Daikon. Thesis Supervisor: Michael D. Ernst Title: Associate Professor Thesis Supervisor: Jeff H. Perkins Title: Research Staff
Strategies For Managing Multiple Organizational Identifications

This case study reveals how organization members communicatively manage multiple targets and sources of identification during a time of company transition. Interview accounts are used to examine how members discursively construct understanding as they discuss two competing value-based identity structures. Results reveal three distinct discursive strategies—comparison, logic, and support—that members use to manage identity tensions, and eight corresponding communicative tactics used to enact those strategies. This focus on communicative strategies and tactics is important because identities are expressed through language, and discourse is the means available to organization members for negotiating various identity structures. Discursive strategies are central to the identity formation process and provide a window into the sensemaking of participants.
XRel: a path-based approach to storage and retrieval of XML documents using relational databases

This article describes XRel, a novel approach for storage and retrieval of XML documents using relational databases. In this approach, an XML document is decomposed into nodes on the basis of its tree structure and stored in relational tables according to the node type, with path information from the root to each node. XRel enables us to store XML documents using a fixed relational schema without any information about DTDs and also to utilize indices such as the B 1 -tree and the R-tree supported by database management systems. Thus, XRel does not need any extension of relational databases for storing XML documents. For processing XML queries, we present an algorithm for translating a core subset of XPath expressions into SQL queries. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach through several experiments using actual XML documents.
Safe Screening With Variational Inequalities and Its Applicaiton to LASSO

Sparse learning techniques have been routinely used for feature selection as the resulting model usually has a small number of non-zero entries. Safe screening, which eliminates the features that are guaranteed to have zero coefficients for a certain value of the regularization parameter, is a technique for improving the computational efficiency. Safe screening is gaining increasing attention since 1) solving sparse learning formulations usually has a high computational cost especially when the number of features is large and 2) one needs to try several regularization parameters to select a suitable model. In this paper, we propose an approach called "Sasvi" (Safe screening with variational inequalities). Sasvi makes use of the variational inequality that provides the sufficient and necessary optimality condition for the dual problem. Several existing approaches for Lasso screening can be casted as relaxed versions of the proposed Sasvi, thus Sasvi provides a stronger safe screening rule. We further study the monotone properties of Sasvi for Lasso, based on which a sure removal regularization parameter can be identified for each feature. Experimental results on both synthetic and real data sets are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed Sasvi for Lasso screening.
Molecular and Phylogenetic Analyses Suggest an Additional Hepatitis B Virus Genotype “I”

A novel hepatitis B virus (HBV) strain (W29) was isolated from serum samples in the northwest of China. Phylogenetic and distance analyses indicate that this strain is grouped with a series of distinct strains discovered in Vietnam and Laos that have been proposed to be a new genotype I. TreeOrderScan and GroupScan methods were used to study the intergenotype recombination of this special group. Recombination plots and tree maps of W29 and these putative genotype I strains exhibit distinct characteristics that are unexpected in typical genotype C strains of HBV. The amino acids of P gene, S gene, X gene, and C gene of all genotypes (including subtypes) were compared, and eight unique sites were found in genotype I. In vitro and in vivo experiments were also conducted to determine phenotypic characteristics between W29 and other representative strains of different genotypes obtained from China. Secretion of HBsAg in Huh7 cells is uniformly abundant among genotypes A, B, C, and I (W29), but not genotype D. HBeAg secretion is low in genotype I (W29), whose level is close to genotype A and much lower than genotypes B, C, and D. Results from the acute hydrodynamic injection mouse model also exhibit a similar pattern. From an overview of the results, the viral markers of W29 (I1) in Huh7 cells and mice had a more similar level to genotype A than genotype C, although the latter was closer to W29 in distance analysis. All evidence suggests that W29, together with other related strains found in Vietnam and Laos, should be classified into a new genotype.
Research on Improved P2P Chord Model Based on the IP-LCO Algorithm

In order to solve the problem that the structure of P2P network's logical network and physical topology do not match at a large extent, information of resources' searching are time-consuming , we propose an improved P2P Chord model which was based on the IP-LCO algorithm. The adoption of IPv6 addresses can solve the unmatched problem, and LCO algorithm can quickly location the resources' network node which had connected with higher probability. The simulation experiments show that this algorithm can solve the unmatched problem and improve the search rate. Keywords- P2P; Ipv6; LCO Algorithm; Chord model
Time Aggregation and State Dependence in Welfare Receipt

Dynamic discrete-choice models are an important tool in studies of state dependence in benefit receipt. A common assumption of such models is that benefit receipt sequences follow a conditional Markov process. This property has implications for how estimated period-to-period benefit transition probabilities should relate when receipt processes are aggregated over time. This paper assesses whether the conditional Markov property holds in welfare benefit receipt dynamics in Norway using high-quality monthly data from administrative records. We find that the standard conditional Markov model is seriously misspecified. Estimated state dependence is affected substantially by the chosen time unit of analysis, with the average treatment effect of past benefit receipt increasing with the level of aggregation. The model can be improved considerably by permitting richer types of benefit dynamics: We find strong evidence for both duration and occurrence dependence in benefit receipt. Allowing for heterogeneity in the entry and persistence processes, we find important disparities in the effects of observed and persistent unobserved characteristics. Based on our preferred model, the month-to-month persistence probability in benefit receipt for a first-time entrant is 37 percentage points higher than the entry rate of an individual without previous benefit receipt. Over a 12-month period, this corresponds to an average treatment effect of 5 percentage points.
Pathological evaluation for sterilization of routinely used prosthodontic and endodontic instruments

Background: In daily practice of dentistry, we use same instruments on many patients. Before use, all instruments must be cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized to prevent any contamination. Pre-cleaning and sterilization of some devices can be difficult because of their small size and complex architecture. Dental burs and endodontic files are such instruments. Dental burs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, all with highly complex and detailed surface features. Aim: To determine the effectiveness of various disinfectants and sterilization techniques for disinfection and resterilization of dental burs and endodontic files. Materials and Methods: The materials used for the study were dental burs and endodontic files. Disinfectants used were Quitanet plus, glutaraldehyde, glass-bead sterilizer, and autoclave. The sterility of used dental burs and endodontic files was analyzed. Burs and files that had been used were pre-cleaned, resterilized, and then tested for various pathogens. Each item was transferred by sterile technique into Todd-Hewitt broth, incubated at 37°C for 72 h, and observed for bacterial growth. Results: The present study shows that the endodontic files and burs sterilized by autoclaving and glutaraldehyde showed complete sterilization. Burs and files immersed in glutaraldehyde (2.4%) for 12 h showed complete sterilization, whereas Quitanet plus solution and glass-bead sterilizer showed incomplete sterilization. Conclusion: The present study results indicate that autoclaving and glutaraldehyde (2.4%) showed complete sterilization. Other methods cannot be relied upon for sterilization.
Contour Nest: A Two-dimensional Representation for Three-dimensional Isosurfaces

Visualization of the topological structure of isosurfaces such as exclusion and inclusion plays an important role in analyzing three-dimensional (3D) scalar data like medical images, especially in selecting isosurfaces to observe. Under certain conditions, all isosurfaces in a 3D scalar ﬁeld are closed surfaces having nest structure. Our purpose here is to translate closed isosurfaces in 3D space as a nest structure. Contour Tree (CT) can describe the nest structure among isosurfaces by tree structure, but it is difﬁcult for users to understand the nest structure by direct observation of the tree shape. In this report, we propose a two-dimensional (2D) representation procedure named Contour Nest (CN) for intuitive display of the nest structure of isosurfaces. In the proposed method, nest structure of 3D isosurfaces extracted by Contour Tree is represented as 2D nest of rectangles. We have evaluated the effectiveness of the proposed method in selecting 3D isosurfaces.
Fast large scale Gaussian process regression using approximate matrix-vector products

Gaussian processes allow the treatment of non-linear non-parametric regression problems in a Bayesian framework. However the computational cost of training such a model with N examples scales as O(N3). Iterative methods for the solution of linear systems can bring this cost down to O(N2), which is still prohibitive for large data sets. We consider the use of 2-exact matrix-vector product algorithms to reduce the computational complexity to O(N). Using the theory of inexact Krylov subspace methods we show how to choose 2 to guarantee the convergence of the iterative methods. We test our ideas using the improved fast Gauss transform. We demonstrate the speedup achieved on large data sets. For prediction of the mean the computational complexity is reduced from O(N) to O(1). Our experiments indicated that for low dimensional data (d ≤ 8) the proposed method gives substantial speedups.
Connected to Birds but Not Bees: Valence Moderates Implicit Associations with Nature

The article discusses three experiments that replicated and extended prior research on implicit connections with built and natural environments. In Experiment I, participants classify “nature” (e.g., trees) and “self (e.g., me) items faster than “built” (e.g., factory) and “other” (e.g., them) items. This effect may attribute to words that elicit stronger positive associations to nature and stronger negative associations to built categories. In Experiment 2, participants rated nature and self items more positively than built and other items. This finding suggests a propensity to view oneself and the natural environment more favorably in comparison to others and the built environment This positive association to nature, however, was reversed in Experiment 3: Participants classify built and self items faster than nature and self items. Results indicate that stimulus valence moderates implicit associations to built and natural environments. Implications regarding the role of affective processing on implicit attitudes to these environments are discussed.
Variational Multi-Objective Coordination

In this paper, we propose variational optimistic linear support (VOLS), a novel algorithm that finds bounded approximate solutions for multi-objective coordination graphs (MO-CoGs). VOLS builds and improves upon an existing exact algorithm called variable elimination linear support (VELS). Like VELS, VOLS solves a MO-CoG as a series of scalarized single-objective coordination graphs. We improve upon VELS in two important ways. Firstly, where VELS uses a single-objective solver called variable elimination (VE) as a subroutine, VOLS uses a variational method called weighted mini-buckets (WMB). Because variational methods scale much better than VE, VOLS can be used to solve much larger MO-CoGs than was previously possible. Furthermore, we show that because WMB computes bounded approximations, so does VOLS. Secondly, we leverage the insight that VOLS can hot-start each call to WMB by reusing the reparameterizations output by WMB on earlier calls. We show empirically that VOLS scales much better than VELS and introduces only negligle error. Our experimental results indicate that the reuse of reparameterizations keeps the runtime low and the approximation quality high.
A Test of Bryant's Claims Concerning the Young Child's Understanding of Quantitative Invariance.

KATZ, HELGA, and BEILIN, HARRY. A Test of Bryant's Claims concerning the Young Child's Understanding of Quantitative Invariance. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1976, 47, 877-880. An empirical test of alternative claims by Bryant and Piaget concerning the development of invariance of quantities in 3and 4-year-old children was made. The results support the Piagetian thesis in showing that those subjects respond with stereotypic strategies rather than by an invariance of number prirtciple.