Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Price Reduction on Consumer’s Buying Behavior in the U.S. Differentiated Yogurt Market

Although price reduction is an interesting topic in marketing literature and has studied in numerous papers, less attention is paid to its effect on consumer behavior. This paper analyzes the effect of the price promotion on consumer’s behavior in terms of the percentage of buying and the brand loyalty in the U.S. differentiated yogurt market. This paper tries to answer the following questions. Is the choice of high preferred brands sensitive to the price promotion of less preferred brands? Are there loyal consumers in the yogurt market? How sensitive is the consumer loyalty of high preferred brands to the price promotion of less preferred brands? Results show that a unit increase in the frequency of price reduction of less popular brands will decrease the consumer’s choice of high popular brands significantly. Switching across brands is very common and there are less loyal consumers in the yogurt market where main brands have collectively only 12% loyal consumers. Loyalty of high popular brands is also sensitive to the price promotion of less popular brands as a unit increase in the frequency of price reduction for less preferred brands will decreases the share of households who are loyal to high popular brands of General Mills and Danone.
How Strategic Priorities Are Reflected in Features of Strategic Performance Measurement System?

Strategic Performance Measurement Systems (SPMSs) are designed to present integrated information, which together with other controls in Management Control Systems (MCSs) helps managers to implement strategy properly and thus outperform the company’s competitors. A wide range of potential factors impacting the design and use of SPMS and MCS has been studied by proponents of the contingency theory since the 1980s who soon found strategy to be one of the most dominant contingencies. But recent reviews of contingency theory provide mixed, sometimes even conflicting evidence, partly because of inconsistent definitions of MCS and SPMS, partly because of exploring contingencies in isolation from other context factors and components. This article addresses both of these challenges. Firstly, it introduces four distinctive features of SPMS and complements them with often neglected “Beliefs” and “Boundaries” controls from the influential MCS framework “Levers of Control” devised by Simons (1995). Secondly, the resulting MCS concept is tested by PLS-SEM whether or not it is influenced by contingency factors of size, industry and especially by two opposing Porter’s generic strategic priorities – differentiation and/or cost-leadership (low prices). Surprisingly, only the former is found to be positively connected to the features of SPMS, however, the link is not direct but mediated by improvements in Boundaries and Beliefs. So the study broadens current knowledge on antecedents of SPMSs, that are applied in the medium-sized and large companies. At the same time, the study urges managers trying to implement differentiation strategy not only to establish the SPMS with all analyzed features, but concurrently to promote values and other belief controls as well as to set organizational rules and boundaries. In other words, the implementation of differentiation strategy has to be accompanied by establishment of the MCS incl. Beliefs and Boundaries, not just SPMS. Contrary to this implication, in case of low-price strategy, the detailed analysis proves that Belief and Boundary components of MCS are not very important tools for achieving cost-leadership. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.ee. 29.5. 17463
Multigrid method with a new interpolation operator

We introduce new techniques to design interpolation in multigrid methods for elliptic problems with discontinuous coefficients. The new techniques employ the Nelder–Mead simplex algorithm and skills in space geometry. The Nelder–Mead algorithm was used to minimize a scalar-valued function, which is a sum of distances from a point to four planes. We derived interpolation scheme in space geometry. We observed that new interpolation is better than traditional bilinear interpolation and cubic interpolation, as prolongation operator in multigrid methods.
Innovation Management with Focus on Production and Operation Team

The study the project work and Ergonomics arise due to the need of human beings use less physical and mental effort in daily tasks and develop a great integration between working conditions. An ergonomically correct organizational environment maintains strong the organizational efficiency, safety, health and worker comfort. This task was based on the Contingency Theory treated in Vinicius Zonattoa [1] to focus on an auto-electric. The general objective of this work is to study the work project with emphasis on Ergonomics in the productive sector, in an auto-electric; for this, it brings as specific objectives to raise business performance focusing on the Work Project emphasizing the Ergonomics applied in the research company (1) analyze work processes performed in the company's office in study (2), and propose measures for innovation of the required operational processes (3). It was adopted the Case Study Method and procedures required as technical visit, observation, analysis, review, among others. As a result, it was found that the organization does not have ergonomically correct tools (1); in regard to the work processes performed at the company's plant, it was found that the company has some employees who feel demotivated, because they are not in an ergonomically correct environment (2); and as proposal of innovation it was observed the need to acquire new ergonomically correct equipment and furniture, it is suggested to adopt the work activity for relaxation of memory and muscle (3). This work is of interest to production managers and other involved on issues related to ergonomics in the workplace. Keywords: Administration, Amazon, Auto-electric, Management, Ergonomics.
The urokinase plasminogen activator and its receptor

Summary The urinary-type plasminogen activator, or uPA, controls matrix degradation through the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin and is regarded as the critical trigger for plasmin generation during cell migration and invasion, under physiological and pathological conditions (such as cancer metastasis). The proteolytic activity of uPA is responsible for the activation or release of several growth factors and modulates the cell survival/apoptosis ratio through the dynamic control of cell-matrix contacts. The urokinase receptor (uPAR), binding to the EGF-like domain of uPA, directs membrane-associated extracellular proteolysis and signals through transmembrane proteins, thus regulating cell migration, adhesion and cytoskeletal status. However, recent evidence highlights an intricate relationship linking the uPA/uPAR system to cell growth and apoptosis.
Corporate Life Cycle and CEO Stock Options Grants

We document that the relation between the proportion of stock options in CEOs' compensation and its economic determinants identified in prior research is more pronounced for firms in the growth stage of their life cycle than for firms in their stagnant and mature stages. We also document that firms in their growth stage earn significantly more than one dollar in future operating income for each dollar of stock options granted to their CEOs, whereas stagnant and mature firms do not. These results suggest that stock options grants to CEOs of firms in their growth stage have an incentive alignment effect as predicted by agency theory. On the other hand, stock options grants to CEOs of firms in their stagnant and mature stages do not provide equity holders with incremental benefits.
Simulations numériques vasculaires, spécifiques et réalistes

Ce travail fait suite aux interrogations soulevees par la medecine interventionnelle concernant la prise en charge des pathologies de la paroi arterielle (anevrisme, dissection, coarctation, atherosclerose). En effet, les cliniciens cherchent actuellement un outil suffisamment robuste et intuitif pour prevoir les consequences du geste medical. Une approche numerique, notamment de type Mecanique des Fluides Numeriques (MFN), peut repondre aux questions posees avec une imagerie fonctionnelle de type biomecanique, a condition d'etre integree a la fois en pratique clinique et en developpement technologique. L'originalite de ce travail est centree sur la facon comment est imposee la position de la paroi dans le domaine discret. Les simulations hemodynamiques realisees a ce jour ont beaucoup de mal a decrire une loi de comportement pour la paroi arterielle. Nous proposons d'opter plutot pour un modele non-couple, fluide /structure, imposant au code de calcul, a chaque instant, la position de la paroi basee sur l'imagerie medicale dynamique. Un nouveau protocole d'IRM est a la base des conditions imposees aux calculs numeriques. La preuve du concept est donnee a travers quelques applications in-vitro et in-vivo. Une etude clinique permet de donner la preuve de faisabilite pour les cas de patients ayant un controle de Stent-Graft aortique. Ce projet de recherche compte propulser la medecine moderne vers une meilleure connaissance de la pathologie vasculaire et des moyens techniques pour sa prise en charge.
Measurements of the concentration and composition of nuclei for cirrus formation

This article addresses the need for new data on indirect effects of natural and anthropogenic aerosol particles on atmospheric ice clouds. Simultaneous measurements of the concentration and composition of tropospheric aerosol particles capable of initiating ice in cold (cirrus) clouds are reported. Measurements support that cirrus formation occurs both by heterogeneous nucleation by insoluble particles and homogeneous (spontaneous) freezing of particles containing solutions. Heterogeneous ice nuclei concentrations in the cirrus regime depend on temperature, relative humidity, and the concentrations and physical and chemical properties of aerosol particles. The cirrus-active concentrations of heterogeneous nuclei measured in November over the western U.S. were <0.03 cm–3. Considering previous modeling studies, this result suggests a predominant potential impact of these nuclei on cirrus formed by slow, large-scale lifting or small cooling rates, including subvisual cirrus. The most common heterogeneous ice nuclei were identified as relatively pure mineral dusts and metallic particles, some of which may have origin through anthropogenic processes. Homogeneous freezing of large numbers of particles was detected above a critical relative humidity along with a simultaneous transition in nuclei composition toward that of the sulfate-dominated total aerosol population. The temperature and humidity conditions of the homogeneous nucleation transition were reasonably consistent with expectations based on previous theoretical and laboratory studies but were highly variable. The strong presence of certain organic pollutants was particularly noted to be associated with impedance of homogeneous freezing.
Validating the innovation prowess framework for firms in emerging economies facing tight regulatory regimes: the case of Indian pharmaceutical firms

ABSTRACT The purpose is to investigate the generalizability of an innovation prowess framework, developed for firms in developed countries, for firms in emerging economies facing tight regulatory regimes. Using a qualitative approach we investigate key informants in six firms, supported by secondary documents and the business press, as well as in-depth organizational observation within one organization. Academic evidence suggests there are four factors – one external (industry structure) and three internal (economic structure of the firm, organizational structure of the firm, and historical development of the firm) – that drive the innovation prowess of firms. While firms in developed economies take such factors as the norm, firms in developing countries face evolving norms and internal challenges to comply with tighter regulatory regimes; however, the research suggests that impact of these four factors appear to be similar to those faced by firms in developed countries. Our research contributes by seeking to broaden our understanding of innovation prowess in emerging country contexts. Innovation in these markets is generally less well understood, especially as they adapt to the tighter regulatory regimes required to compete in global markets (e.g. WTO).
Isolation and characterization of novel microsatellite loci for the endangered orchid Cypripedium japonicum (Orchidaceae)1

Premise of the study: Twenty-six microsatellite markers were developed for the endangered orchid Cypripedium japonicum (Orchidaceae) to estimate the clonal diversity and genetic structure of the remaining populations in Japan. Methods and Results: Microsatellite loci of C. japonicum were isolated using Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM) sequencing. The primer sets were tested on 55 ramets sampled from two populations in Japan. Sixteen loci showed polymorphism in at least one population, with two to five alleles per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosities for the two populations ranged from 0.00 to 0.92 and 0.00 to 0.71, respectively. Conclusions: The microsatellite markers developed here provide a useful tool to analyze clonal structure and sexual regeneration status and will help to manage the remaining genetic variation within C. japonicum.
Modélisation du rayonnement électromagnétique des circuits d'électronique de puissance. Application à un hacheur.

L'etude de la compatibilite electromagnetique (CEM) est devenue un passage oblige pour les concepteurs de circuits d'electronique de puissance. La complexite des phenomenes qui entrent en jeu lors de cette etude fait de plus en plus sentir le besoin d'un outil CAO de prediction des perturbations electromagnetiques conduites et rayonnees. Le present travail est consacre a la modelisation du rayonnement electromagnetique des circuits d'electronique de puissance. La premiere methode proposee est basee sur une approche analytique du probleme, ou les couplages dans le circuit sont quantifies de maniere approximative. Dans le cas de circuits complexes, ces approximations ne sont plus suffisantes et il devient indispensable d'utiliser une methode numerique afin de tenir compte de tous les couplages. L'etat de l'art en matiere de methodes numeriques nous montre qu'en l'etat actuel des choses, aucune methode n'est completement adaptee a notre application. Neanmoins, notre choix s'est fixe sur la methode des moments qui repond le plus a notre cahier des charges. Etant donnee que celle-ci ne resout pas les systemes non lineaires, et sachant que notre resolution doit tenir compte de la presence de composants non lineaires, nous proposons un couplage avec un simulateur de circuits afin de lineariser notre probleme. La methode est mise en oeuvre pour permettre la resolution de problemes avec structures filaires en trois dimensions. Ensuite, elle est appliquee pour calculer le rayonnement d'un circuit de type hacheur. Les resultats de calcul sont completes par une evaluation experimentale du rayonnement. Afin d'ameliorer les resultats numeriques, nous examinons la validite de l'hypothese "fil fin" adoptee pour modeliser les pistes de circuits imprimes. Finalement, nous proposons une hypothese plus precise qui permet de tenir compte de l'effet de peau et de l'effet de proximite dans les pistes.
Validation of β‐Actin Used as Endogenous Control for Gene Expression Analysis in Mechanobiology Studies: Amendments

We write in response to the letter by Liu et al. [1] commenting on our article, ‘‘Mesenchymal Stem Cells Regulate Angiogenesis According to Their Mechanical Environment’’ [2]. The study by Liu et al. demonstrates that the commonly used endogeneous reference gene (ERG), b-actin, is upregulated by mechanical loading, indicating a potential bias in the determined target gene expression when normalizing to b-actin, such as in our report on unchanged vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF)-1a mRNA levels in mechanically loaded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Glide-Symmetric Luneburg Lens Using Substrate-Integrated-Holes for 5G Communications at Ka-Band

Here, we propose a cost-effective implementation of a planar metasurface Luneburg lens operating at Ka-band. The lens is implemented in a parallel plate structure. The required graded refractive index is realized through spatially varying the dimensions of an array of inclusions placed in both plates of the parallel plate waveguide. More specifically, the inclusions are square holes printed on a substrate which is attached to a ground plane. Each square is surrounded by metallic vias which are connected to the ground plane. The inclusions in both plates are arranged to possess glide symmetry. Waveguide feeds are integrated in the parallel plate waveguide. The lens is terminated with a flare to achieve an efficient radiation to free space.
AYESIAN T RANSFER L EARNING FOR S EQUENTIAL D ATA M ODELING

We consider the problem of inferring a sequence of hidden states associated with a sequence of observations produced by an individual within a population. Instead of learning a single sequence model for the population (which does not account for variations within the population), we learn a set of basis sequence models based on different individuals. The sequence of hidden states for a new individual is inferred in an online fashion by estimating a distribution over the basis models that best explain the sequence of observations of this new individual. We explain how to do this in the context of hidden Markov models with Gaussian mixture models that are learned based on streaming data by online Bayesian moment matching. The resulting transfer learning technique is demonstrated with three real-word applications: activity recognition based on smartphone sensors, sleep classification based on electroencephalography data and the prediction of the direction of future packet flows between a pair of servers in telecommunication networks.
Accounting in the brazilian monarchy period: extracts from the ledger book of H. Kettenburg & Co.

This paper analyzes an accounting book used to record the transactions of H. Kettenburg & Co. in the nineteenth century in the South of Brazil. The objective of this research is to present a general view of the accounting entries made in the Ledger Book of this firm, discussing the usefulness of the accounting practices adopted and identifying the accounting themes deemed relevant and of interest, at the time of the Brazilian Monarchy. For this purpose, the paper presents a descriptive and qualitative analysis of the contents extracted from the Kettenburg’s Ledger, between 1868 and 1875. The evidence presented in the Ledger supports the existence of accounting and management control techniques adopted by the firm in the midst of the incipient industrialization of the Province of Rio Grande. The findings highlight the importance of accounting records for the provision of management information to support corporate decision-making. The study also enabled the authors to infer the influences that the Germanic culture had on this family-run business. The Ledger was recorded in German, notwithstanding the Brazilian Commercial Code, which demanded that all accounting documentation should be bookkept in the official language of the country, in other words, Portuguese. This is explained by the fact that the Journal (mandatory by law) was meant for external disclosure and the Ledger (optional), for internal management motivation, in the company’s process of management control.
Linear Microstrip Antenna Array with reduced patch size using L-shaped probe for electrically thick substrates

This paper proposes the design of linear microstrip antenna and array using L-probe feeding technique. L- probe is an attractive feed technique, which can be used to avoid the use of electrically thick substrates. This feed technique is used to design antenna array with high gain. A 15-element linear array is designed to give bandwidth from 5.71 -5.91 GHz (|S11| < -10 dB) with peak gain of 18.9 dBi with stable radiation pattern over the bandwidth. The side lobe level is -14.3 dB at 5.86GHz.
Access to information and support for health: some potential issues and solutions for an ageing population

Computer illiteracy is diminishing as a new generation of retirees become the younger old and display more up-to-date knowledge and skills. However, there are questions about whether this group will be able to continue to update their skills as they get older, and whether it is appropriate to develop technology solutions specifically for this age group or to concentrate on accessible designs for the whole population. We propose that older people may be empowered through involvement in the design and provision of accessible information and technology solutions and through training opportunities in information seeking skills. Access, involvement and training need to be provided in everyday locations, and training needs to be closely related to people's physical, cognitive and information needs and those of the particular communities where they live. These issues are explored using evidence from a number of research projects conducted by the authors.
A truly concurrent semantics for processes sharing quantified resources

A la quete d'une approche vraiment concurrente, ou la concurrence est notionnellement independante du non-determinisme, on presente le domaine des multi-pomsets complexes finis et infinis, qui permettent de decrire le comportement concurrent deterministe de processus recurrents. Le langage de processus qu'on modelise est construit au-dessus d'un ensemble fixe de ressources quantifiees auxquelles les processus peuvent acceder. Il contient plusieurs operateurs fmitaires, tels qu'un processus vide, des processus action, un renommage, un cachement, une restriction, une composition serielle, une composition parallele alphabetisee, ainsi qu'un operateur de recursion infinitaire. La machine structuree operationnelle definie specifie pour chaque operateur un petit nombre de regles de reecriture qui engendrent la semantique operationnelle structuree lineaire et complexe. La denotation d'un processus est un multi-pomset complexe qui comprend deux composantes: la premiere est un multi-pomset deja observe d'evenements quantifies, tandis que la seconde est un multi-ensemble contenant le quota de ressources accordees au processus pour son execution. L'ordre d'approximation defini confere a l'ensemble des multi-pomsets complexes la structure d'un domaine de Scott coheremment complet et algebrique. La semantique denotationnelle complexe des operateurs est ensuite definie et montree Scott-continue par rapport a l'ordre d'approximation. La robustesse du travail semantique presente est etablie en prouvant que la semantique denotationnelle complexe est adequate et pleinement abstraite par rapport aux semantiques operationnelles lineaires et complexes.
Pathologic, radiographic and molecular findings in three fetuses diagnosed with HEM/Greenberg skeletal dysplasia

Greenberg skeletal dysplasia is a very rare, autosomal recessive, in utero, lethal chondrodystrophy for which only eight index cases of diverse ethnic origin have been reported so far. The defect is associated with a defect in cholesterol biosynthesis and due to mutations in the gene encoding the lamin B receptor (LBR).