Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Uppsala Corpus of Student Writings: Corpus Creation, Annotation, and Analysis

The Uppsala Corpus of Student Writings consists of Swedish texts produced as part of a national test of students ranging in age from nine (in year three of primary school) to nineteen (the last year of upper secondary school) who are studying either Swedish or Swedish as a second language. National tests have been collected since 1996. The corpus currently consists of 2,500 texts containing over 1.5 million tokens. Parts of the texts have been annotated on several linguistic levels using existing state-of-the-art natural language processing tools. In order to make the corpus easy to interpret for scholars in the humanities, we chose the CoNLL format instead of an XML-based representation. Since spelling and grammatical errors are common in student writings, the texts are automatically corrected while keeping the original tokens in the corpus. Each token is annotated with part-of-speech and morphological features as well as syntactic structure. The main purpose of the corpus is to facilitate the systematic and quantitative empirical study of the writings of various student groups based on gender, geographic area, age, grade awarded or a combination of these, synchronically or diachronically. The intention is for this to be a monitor corpus, currently under development.
A high stability, smooth walking pattern for a biped robot

Biped robots have better mobility than conventional wheeled robots, but they tip over easily. In order to walk stably in various environments such as rough terrain, up and down slopes, or regions containing obstacles, it is desirable to adapt to such ground conditions with a suitable foot motion, and maintain the stability of the robot by a smooth hip motion. We propose a method to plan a walking pattern consisting of a foot trajectory and a hip trajectory. First, we formulate the constraints of a foot trajectory, and generate the foot trajectory by 3rd order spline interpolation. By setting the values of constraint parameters, it is easy to produce different types of foot motion. Then, we formulate a hip trajectory using a 3rd order periodic spline function, and derive the hip trajectory with high stability. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by simulation examples.
Upgrading the System of Innovation in Late-Industrialising Countries - The Role of Transnational Corporations in Thailand's Manufacturing Sector

The objective of this thesis is to investigate the potential contribution of transnational corporations (TNC) to the upgrading of systems of innovation in late-industrialising countries. This study looks specifically at TNC-affiliierter in Thailands manufacturing sector and compares them with firms in Penang (Malaysia) and Singapore. It examines the technological capabilities of TNC-affiliates vis-a-vis local firms in order to assess whether or not TNC-affiliates are suitable learning and cooperation partners for local firms, and can, consequently, be considered as capable contributors to the improvement of the system of innovation. Based on postal firm surveys of more than 2,000 firms and additional personal interviews, the empirical analysis comes to the conclusion that, in general, this is only partially the case. However, with the analysis shifted to include only advanced firms, TNCs prevail more clearly. Advanced TNCs are especially able to foster the development of the national system of innovation by transferring embodied (e.g. machinery) and disembodied (e.g. patents) technology as well as research results to Thailand. Moreover, they are more frequently embedded in international and domestic knowledge and cooperation networks. In consequence, advanced TNC-affiliates can act as gateways for the diffusion of internationally available technology and knowledge in Thailand. However, the absorptive capacity of local firms for the absorption of new technology and the potential for enhanced innovation activities is restricted, due to a lack of skilled labour. Based on these empirical results, the thesis concludes with policy recommendations.
The Customer Knows Best: The Investment Value of Consumer Opinions

This paper investigates whether consumer opinions convey value-relevant information to financial markets. Using a data set of more than 14.5 million customer product reviews on Amazon.com from 2004 through 2015, I find evidence that consumer opinions contain information for stock pricing. A spread portfolio that is long on stocks with high abnormal customer ratings and short on stocks with low abnormal customer ratings delivers an abnormal return of around 55.7 to 73.0 basis points per month. There is no evidence of return reversals in the subsequent year. The return predictability of customer ratings continues to hold after controlling for firm characteristics such as gross profitability, advertising, research and development expenses, and trading volume. Furthermore, abnormal customer ratings positively predict revenues and earnings surprises. These results suggest that consumer opinions contain novel information about firms’ fundamentals and stock pricing.
Service quality gap between expectation and perception of the customers of Life Insurance Corporation of India in Burdwan

Accepted November 29, 2013 As a social being customers are attached with the different kinds of service provider in their daily life for their own interest and getting their services in various ways. Every dimension of the service quality for a particular service industry plays a significant role in customers’ mind about the quality of services perceived by them where customers’ expectation about the quality of services offered by the service organization varies over time dimension wise, situation wise, culture wise, nation wise, sector wise as well as industry wise. Empirical studies also revealed that dimensions of the service quality vary from one sector to another sector, one nation to another nation, one culture to another culture and obviously over time. In this paper researcher tried to investigate whether there exist any service quality gap in between customers’ perception and expectation of the quality of services provided by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LICI) in the district of Burdwan, West Bengal or not.
Knockout of Mkp-1 Enhances the Host Inflammatory Responses to Gram-Positive Bacteria1

MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-1 is an archetypal member of the dual specificity protein phosphatase family that dephosphorylates MAPK. We have previously demonstrated that MKP-1 acts as a negative regulator of p38 and JNK in immortalized macrophages after stimulation with peptidoglycan isolated from Gram-positive bacteria. To define the physiological function of MKP-1 during Gram-positive bacterial infection, we studied the innate immune responses to Gram-positive bacteria using Mkp-1 knockout (KO) mice. We found that Mkp-1−/− macrophages exhibited prolonged activation of p38 and JNK, but not of ERK, following exposure to either peptidoglycan or lipoteichoic acid. Compared with wild-type (WT) macrophages, Mkp-1−/− macrophages produced more proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. Moreover, after challenge with peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acid, live or heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, Mkp-1 KO mice also mounted a more robust production of cytokines and chemokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and MIP-1α, than did WT mice. Accordingly, Mkp-1 KO mice also exhibited greater NO production, more robust neutrophil infiltration, and more severe organ damage than did WT mice. Surprisingly, WT and Mkp-1 KO mice exhibited no significant difference in either bacterial load or survival rates when infected with live S. aureus. However, in response to challenge with heat-killed S. aureus, Mkp-1 KO mice exhibited a substantially higher mortality rate compared with WT mice. Our studies indicate that MKP-1 plays a critical role in the inflammatory response to Gram-positive bacterial infection. MKP-1 serves to limit the inflammatory reaction by inactivating JNK and p38, thus preventing multiorgan failure caused by exaggerated inflammatory responses.
Gelatin/chondroitin 6-sulfate microspheres for the delivery of therapeutic proteins to the joint.

OBJECTIVE To develop a biodegradable, inflammation-responsive microsphere system for the intraarticular delivery of therapeutic proteins. METHODS Microspheres were synthesized by complex coacervation. Radiolabeled protein release and microsphere degradation were assessed by exposing the microspheres to human synovial fluids (SF) and recombinant gelatinase. Microsphere degradation was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microsphere biocompatibility was evaluated in vitro by incubating the microspheres with human synoviocytes, and in vivo by injection into mouse joints. RESULTS Optimal microsphere formulation was developed. Significant (up to 100%) release of encapsulated protein occurred in SF samples with measurable metalloprotease activity, while release was minimal in SF with negligible activity. Dissolution of microspheres exposed to gelatinase was confirmed by SEM. Microspheres were found to be noncytotoxic in vitro, and noninflammatory in vivo. CONCLUSION Microsphere encapsulation is an inflammation-responsive and biocompatible system of protein delivery that holds promise for use in the delivery of therapeutic proteins to the joint.
Scale and Scope Economies of Intercity Coach Industry: Evidence from Taiwan

This paper investigates the cost structure and the scale and scope economies of the Taiwanese intercity coach industry after deregulation. Using a dataset of 37 firms between 2002 and 2006, a Pulley-Braunstein (1992) composite cost function is estimated together with the cost share equations, for two outputs and three inputs, using a Nonlinear Seemingly Unrelated Regressions (NLSUR) estimator. Our results show that there remain unexhausted scale economies in the Taiwanese intercity coach industry, and scope economies between the two outputs of motorway passenger services and regional road passenger services.
Exploring the relationships between venture capital funds and venture-backed firms: a strategy process approach

A great deal of studies have been carried out so far to explore the impacts of private equity or venture capital (VC) investors on their portfolio companies. Most of them focus on corporate governance, management composition and skills, competences, and performance. A lesser amount of studies have been conducted on how VC investments interact with backed firms’ strategy process. In the present paper we aim to shed light on this topic by investigating in which stage of backed firms’ strategy process venture capitalists (VCs) invest in them and explaining this choice in the light of the value they can deliver and simultaneously extract from them in the different stages of that process. After a cross comparison of eight cases of Italian firms in which venture capital funds have acquired minority stakes, we found that these investors do not challenge the intended strategy backed firms had undertaken, but help them implement this strategy by enriching their endowments of non businessrelated resources and capabilities. Furthermore, VCs seem to invest when the gap between the intended strategy and implemented strategy of backed firms is at intermediate levels. While at early stages of backed firms’ strategy implementation VCs tend to evaluate the risk of their investment as too high, at later stages they would not deliver a significant “value added” to backed firms themselves.
Safety Message Power Transmission Control for Vehicular Ad hoc Networks

Problem statement: Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANET) is one of the most challenging research area in the field of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks. Approach: In this research we proposed a dynamic power adjustment protocol that will be used for sending the periodical safety message. (Beacon ) based on the analysis of the channel status dependi ng on the channel congestion and the power used for transmission. Results: The Beacon Power Control (BPC) protocol first sensed and examined the percentage of the channel congestion, the result ob tained was used to adjust the transmission power fo r the safety message to reach the optimal power. Conclusion/Recommendations: This will lead to decrease the congestion in the channel and achieve good channel performance and beacon dissemination.
Evaluating the Use of Double Asian Options in Volatile Markets

In turbulent and volatile markets options can be a preferred asset class for protection against adverse market movements. When volatility increases and markets become sparsely traded, it is not always effective to hedge adverse market movements using any option. Options, where the underlying is based on the average prices (syn. Asian options) was argued to be a reasonably good instrument in hedging sparsely traded markets. In this paper, double Asian options in volatile markets is evaluated. The double Asian option payoff is shown to be favourable over that of European and single Asian options, especially in volatile and trending markets. The double Asian option pricing can be hurdle in the effective evaluation. This paper gives a note on the consistent pricing of double Asian options, and consequently the effective use of these options in volatile markets.
Timing-Aware Multiple-Delay-Fault Diagnosis

With feature sizes steadily shrinking, manufacturing defects and parameter variations often cause design timing failures. It is essential that these errors be correctly and quickly diagnosed. In this paper, we analyze the multiple-delay fault diagnosis problem and propose a novel, simulation-based approach to solve it. We enhance the diagnostic resolution by processing failure logs at various slower- than-nominal clock frequencies. We experimentally determined our diagnosis algorithm s sensitivity to delay variations.
Cross-cultural research in international marketing: clearing up some of the confusion

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the discussion of cross-cultural research, in particular the use of dimensions of national culture, for international marketing. Design/methodology/approach – Discuss definitions of values and culture, analyze cultural models as to purpose and design and applications of models to international marketing. Findings – International marketers benefit from applying dimensions of national culture, but researchers make mistakes in applying and interpreting such dimensions, thus discrediting useful means of research for international marketing. Practical implications – Researchers should understand the problems of multi-level research and interpret dimensions better when using them for research. Originality/value – The value of this paper is in clearing up some of the misunderstandings about dimensions of national culture.
Initiating Institutional Redirection: Factors for De-escalation of Commitment in Division I Athletic Departments

Given the ever-changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics, university administrators must constantly reexamine the direction of their athletic programs. Despite evidence suggesting limited profitability of athletic endeavors, many institutions sustain investment in Division I athletics. Yet, select institutions have reconsidered their commitment to Division I athletics and chosen to de-escalate from what they have deemed failing courses of action. While prior research has investigated organizations remaining committed to failing courses of action, limited research has considered the factors for reversing such behavior. Based on the theoretical framework of escalation of commitment, the purpose of this study was to investigate the factors for initiating de-escalation of commitment within the context of Division I athletics. Phone interviews were conducted with decision makers (n = 32) involved in the development and implementation of institutional de-escalation initiatives at eight institutions (N = 8). Data collected revealed three primary themes regarding factors for de-escalation in Division I athletics: (a) resource commitment, (b) student-athlete experience, and (c) philosophical inconsistency. Implications from this investigation speak to the necessity of institutions to consider alternative courses of action given the increasing level of commitment with Division I athletic participation. 1
Market Events as Predictors of Stock Returns

This study suggests a method to select trading days when market information is material to individual stocks. While there are market-wide events in any given day, not all of these events relate to each and every security. Thus, idiosyncratic response is separated from market related response. Suggested method is tested using daily prices for S&P-500 stocks for the 2005-2013 period. An out-of-sample trading rule is tested for 2014. Economically and statistically significant returns provide evidence to support the validity of the method.
Effect of strategic purchasing on supplier development and performance: a structural model

Purpose – This purpose of this paper is to introduce strategic purchasing (SP) and supplier development (SD) as constructs that could have the potential to contribute to the success of relationship marketing efforts. Based on the relational view of the firm, the authors propose that SP is an antecedent of SD practices and can create value for the buying firm in terms of better purchasing performance.Design/methodology/approach – Hypotheses derived from the key features of SP and SD practices are tested using structural equation modeling through field research on a sample of 306 manufacturing companies in Spain.Findings – Findings from this study indicate that there is significant evidence to support the hypothesized model in which SP exerts a direct influence on SD practices and purchasing performance, as well as an indirect impact on purchasing performance mediated through SD.Research limitations/implications – Further research is necessary to increase our understanding of a buyer's strategic purchasing .
Therapeutic use of dolls for people living with dementia: A critical review of the literature

Background There are a number of therapies currently available to assist healthcare professionals and carers with non-pharmacological treatment for people living with dementia. One such therapy that has been growing in clinical practice is doll therapy. Providing dolls to some people living with dementia has the potential to enhance personal well-being through increased levels of communication and engagement with others. Despite its potential for benefits, the practice is currently under-developed in healthcare literature, probably due to varied ethical interpretations of its practice. Aim To undertake a critical review of the published literature on doll therapy, using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklist (CASP) tool, in order to determine the potential benefits and challenges of this therapy for people living with dementia. Design A comprehensive literature search, incorporating the CINAHL, Medline, Embase, PubMed, Joanna Briggs, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO data bases, was conducted. Conclusions Despite many commentaries and anecdotal accounts of the practice, this review identified only 11 empirical studies that were eligible. The majority of studies found that the use of dolls could be therapeutic for some people living with dementia by reporting increased levels of engagement, communication and reduction in episodes of distress. Some studies identified limitations to the therapy including; confusion over the ownership of the doll and healthcare professional uncertainty about issues pertaining to autonomy. Relevance to clinical practice According to this review, doll therapy has the potential to increase the well-being of some people living with dementia. This review illuminates that some healthcare professionals feel uncomfortable about its use in clinical practice. The operationalisation of doll therapy in clinical practice has been shown to be inconsistent with different approaches to the practice being advocated. This highlights the need for further empirical research to identify best practice and education to increase awareness in both healthcare professional and carer populations.
Microsurgical treatment of symptomatic sacral Tarlov cysts.

OBJECTIVE Providing relief of symptomatic radiculopathy resulting from sacral perineural cysts has proven difficult. Our goal was to improve the treatment of these cysts with microsurgical cyst fenestration and imbrication, while minimizing functional damage to neural tissues. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records for eight adult patients with large (2-3-cm) sacral perineural cysts who were treated at the University of California, San Francisco, between October 1992 and April 1999. All patients presented with radicular pain that was refractory to medical treatment. Three patients also reported urinary incontinence. We performed sacral laminectomies with microsurgical cyst fenestration and cyst imbrication for all patients, using intraoperative electromyography to minimize damage to the sacral nerve roots. For seven patients, we reinforced the closures with epidural fat or muscle grafts and fibrin glue application. For five patients with cysts that communicated with the subarachnoid space in computed tomographic myelograms, we placed lumbar drains for cerebrospinal fluid diversion for several days postoperatively. We assessed outcomes, using telephone questionnaires and periodic postoperative physical examinations, 3 to 73 months after surgery. RESULTS After surgery, radicular pain improved markedly for four patients and moderately for three patients; one patient with initial improvement experienced pain recurrence 9 months later. Bladder control improved markedly for two of the three patients with bladder dysfunction. There were no cerebrospinal fluid leaks and no new postoperative neurological deficits. CONCLUSION Microsurgical cyst fenestration and imbrication are effective treatments for long-term relief of refractory painful radiculopathy and urinary incontinence associated with large sacral perineural cysts.
Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for recognition and enrichment of polysaccharides from seaweed.

New magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers with two templates were fabricated for the recognition of polysaccharides (fucoidan and alginic acid) from seaweed by magnetic solid-phase extraction, and the materials were modified by seven types of deep eutectic solvents. It was found that the deep eutectic solvents magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers showed stronger recognition and higher recoveries for fucoidan and alginic acid than magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers, and the deep eutectic solvents-4-magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers had the best effects. The practical recovery of the two polysaccharides (fucoidan and alginic acid) purified with deep eutectic solvents-4-magnetic molecular imprinted polymers in seaweed under the optimal conditions were 89.87, and 92.0%, respectively, and the actual amounts extracted were 20.6 and 18.7 μg/g, respectively. To sum up, the developed method proved to be a novel and promising method for the recognition of complex polysaccharide samples from seaweed.
The Microstructure of the Great Export Collapse in German Manufacturing Industries, 2008/2009

This paper uses comprehensive high-quality panel data from official statistics for exporting enterprises to investigate the micro-structure of the recent export collapse in manufacturing industries in Germany during the crisis of 2008/2009. Almost all of the decline in exports was due to negative changes of exports in firms that continue to export (i.e. at the so-called intensive margin) while the decrease of exports due to export stoppers (at the so-called extensive margin) was tiny. It is shown that Idiosyncratic shocks to very large firms played a decisive role in shaping the export collapse.