Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intellectual Capital And Performance Of New Venture High-Tech Firms

Intellectual capital (IC) has been proposed as an essential factor for organizational survival and maintenance of competitive strength. However, there has been very limited consensus on what encompasses IC and how it can best be conceptualized and measured. Further, very little empirical work has specifically examined the relationship between IC and financial performance. Given these shortcomings, this paper focuses first on the impact IC has on performance and secondly on the role strategic alliances may have on this relationship. While we argue that IC will impact performance, we anticipate this relationship will be moderated by strategic alliances and other inter-firm collaborations. Findings reveal interesting relationships that suggest further effort should be placed on the conceptualization and measurement of IC, specifically regarding its relationship to firm performance.
Immunological evidence for the association of p53 with a heat shock protein, hsc70, in p53-plus-ras-transformed cell lines

A rabbit antiserum was prepared against the C-terminal peptide of 21 amino acids from the human heat shock protein hsp70. These antibodies were shown to be specific for this highly inducible heat shock protein (72 kilodaltons [kDa] in rat cells), and for a moderately inducible, constitutively expressed heat shock protein, hsc70 (74 kDa). In six independently derived rat cell lines transformed by a murine cDNA-genomic hybrid clone of p53 plus an activated Ha-ras gene, elevated levels of p53 were detected by immunoprecipitation by using murine-specific anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies. In all cases, the hsc70, but not the hsp70, protein was coimmunoprecipitated with the murine p53 protein. Similarly, antiserum to heat shock protein coimmunoprecipitated p53. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis demonstrated that the hsc70 and p53 proteins did not share detectable antigenic epitopes. The results provide clear immunological evidence for the specific association of a single heat shock protein, hsc70, with p53 in p53-plus-ras-transformed cell lines. A p53 cDNA clone, p11-4, failed to produce clonable cell lines from foci of primary rat cells transfected with p11-4 plus Ha-ras. A mutant p53 cDNA clone derived from p11-4, SVKH215, yielded a 2- to 35-fold increase in the number of foci produced after transfection of rat cells with SVKH215 plus Ha-ras. When cloned, 87.5% of these foci produced transformed cell lines. SVKH215 encodes a mutant p53 protein that binds preferentially to the heat shock proteins of 70 kDa compared with binding by the parental p11-4 p53 gene product. These data suggest that the p53-hsc70 protein complex could have functional significance in these transformed cells.
Automatic and interactive rule inference without ground truth

Dealing with non annotated documents for the design of a document recognition system is not an easy task. In general, statistical methods cannot learn without an annotated ground truth, unlike syntactical methods. However their ability to deal with non annotated data comes from the fact that the description is manually made by a user. The adaptation to a new kind of document is then tedious as the whole manual process of extraction of knowledge has to be redone. In this paper, we propose a method to extract knowledge and generate rules without any ground truth. Using large volume of non annotated documents, it is possible to study redundancies of some extracted elements in the document images. The redundancy is exploited through an automatic clustering algorithm. An interaction with the user brings semantic to the detected clusters. In this work, the extracted elements are some keywords extracted with word spotting. This approach has been applied to old marriage record field detection on the FamilySearch HIP2013 competition database. The results demonstrate that we successfully automatically infer rules from non annotated documents using the redundancy of extracted elements of the documents.
The coming of age of virus-like particle vaccines

Abstract Virus-like particles are supra-molecular assemblages, usually icosahedral or rod-like structures. They incorporate key immunologic features of viruses which include repetitive surfaces, particulate structures and induction of innate immunity through activation of pathogen-associated molecular-pattern recognition receptors. They carry no replicative genetic information and can be produced recombinantly in large scale. Virus-like particles thus represent a safe and effective vaccine platform for inducing potent B- and T-cell responses. In addition to being effective vaccines against the corresponding virus from which they are derived, virus-like particles can also be used to present foreign epitopes to the immune system. This can be achieved by genetic fusion or chemical conjugation. This technological innovation has greatly broadened the scope of their use, from immunizing against microbial pathogens to immunotherapy for chronic diseases. Towards this end, virus-like particles have been used to induce autoantibodies to disease-associated self-molecules involved in chronic diseases, such as hypertension and Alzheimer's disease. The recognition of the potent immunogenicity and commercial potential for virus-like particles has greatly accelerated research and development activities. During the last decade, two prophylactic virus-like particle vaccines have been registered for human use, while another 12 vaccines entered clinical development.
Rethinking School Lunch: Education for Sustainability in Practice

This paper complements Fritjof Capra’s paper in this issue, “Sustainable Living, Ecological Literacy, and the Breath of Life. ” It explores how concepts essential to ecological literacy can also guide strategies for overcoming bar- riers to introducing integrated, multidisciplinary pedagogy into school cur- ricula. It examines how the crisis of childhood obesity and nutrition-related illness constitutes a point of systemic instability that creates an opportunity to integrate experiential learning and academics, and to promote ecological thinking while addressing mandated standards. It illustrates the contribu- tions to environmental education that a small third-party organization with a clear conceptual framework can make.
Translating the Link Between Social Identity and Health Behavior Into Effective Health Communication Strategies: An Experimental Application Using Antismoking Advertisements

Social identity is a construct that has been linked to health behavior. Yet, limited research has attempted to translate this relationship into health communication strategies. The current study addresses this gap by examining the efficacy of social identity targeting (constructing ads so that they target a specific group with which an individual identifies) to increase anti-cigarette smoking beliefs among adolescents. Two hundred and fifty one adolescents aged 12–15, randomly selected from a nationally representative sample, completed an online survey. Participants indicated which of 11 peer groups (determined in pre-testing) they most identified with. Each participant was then randomly assigned to view an ad that either did or did not target that group. One week later participants reported level of agreement with two key antismoking beliefs presented in the ad. Multiple regression analyses indicated that if an individual identified with the group targeted by the ad, antismoking beliefs were more strongly endorsed. Based on these findings, we conclude that social identity targeting has the potential to increase the effectiveness of antismoking messages and should be considered when designing antismoking campaigns.
Sustainable Public Debt and Economic Growth Under Wage Rigidity

We analyse the effects of public debt on economic growth in a basic endogenous growth model with persistent unemployment due to wages rigidities. We show that there exists either a unique balanced growth path or there are two balanced growth paths depending on structural parameters and on the flexibility of the labour market. Further, public debt does not affect long-run growth and employment but only stability of the economy. Stability is more likely when governments put a high weight on stabilizing the debt to GDP ratio.
“Vicious Circles”

Although there has been extensive research around the etiology of moderate obesity, there are still important questions relating to the development and lived experience of extreme obesity. We present a synthesis of data from two in-depth qualitative studies in which morbidly obese participants (N = 31) were able to explain the development of the condition in their own terms. We identified consistent themes in the two datasets, and undertook a detailed data synthesis. Particularly salient themes in the development of morbid obesity related to family structures and early socialization experiences, and the role of emotional distress was dominant in both initial weight gain and ongoing cycles of loss and regain. All informants accepted some responsibility for their health state, but identified a number of mitigating factors that limited personal culpability that were often related to the fulfillment of gendered social expectations.
On IGARCH and convergence of the QMLE for misspecified GARCH models

We address the IGARCH puzzle by which we understand the fact that a GARCH(1,1) model fitted by quasi maximum likelihood estimation to virtually any financial dataset exhibit the property that alpha^hat + beta^hat is close to one. We prove that if data is generated by certain types of continuous time stochastic volatility models, but fitted to a GARCH(1,1) model one gets that alpha^hat + beta^hat tends to one in probability as the sampling frequency is increased. Hence, the paper suggests that the IGARCH effect could be caused by misspecification. The result establishes that the stochastic sequence of QMLEs do indeed behave as the deterministic parameters considered in the literature on filtering based on misspecified ARCH models, see e.g. Nelson (1992). An included study of simulations and empirical high frequency data is found to be in very good accordance with the mathematical results.
Small accommodation providers and UGC web sites: perceptions and practices

Purpose – This paper aims to understand the perceptions and practices of small accommodation providers regarding the growing area of user‐generated content (UGC) web sites.Design/methodology/approach – A total of eight small hospitality enterprise cases of four classifications were selected using a purposive stratified sampling procedure. On‐site semi‐structured interviews are the main source of information.Findings – Empirical findings indicate that there is a divergence among small accommodation providers with regard to UGC web sites. It finds that small accommodation provider views are varied as to the influence of UGC web sites on traveller decisions. It also shows that some providers are using innovative, proactive practices to respond to UGC web sites, whilst others have limited awareness of the internet and are currently not responding.Research limitations/implications – The generalisation of this research is limited by its sample size. The research implications are that more research using a more .
New Approaches to Multilateration processing: analysis and field evaluation

The "multilateration" (MLAT) system is a surveillance and identification element of the A-SMGCS using the SSR transponder (Mode S or even A/C) reply/squitter as signals received by fixed stations where the time-of-arrival (TOA) is measured. In a central processing unit, the target position is estimated by the TDOA technique (time difference of arrival), for which a station is assumed to be the reference one. The cooperation between Tor Vergata University and the Company SELEX-S.I. has originated a new generation MLAT system (whose original features are patented) tested in a small Italian airport (Tassignano, Tuscany) in 2004/05 and presently (early 2006) installed at Milano Malpensa (MXP) airport. The new features includes (a) time-of-arrival estimation, (b) MLAT algorithms, (c) recovery of clocks deviations; they have permitted advanced surveillance performance in terms of accuracy, timeliness and integrity
Reliability Characteristics and Applicability of a Repeated Sprint Ability Test in Young Male Soccer Players

Abstract Castagna, C, Lorenzo, F, Krustrup, P, Fernandes-da-Silva, J, Póvoas, SCA, Bernardini, A, and D'Ottavio, S. Reliability characteristics and applicability of a repeated sprint ability test in young male soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1538–1544, 2018—The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness and reliability characteristics of a repeated sprint ability test considering 5 line sprints of 30 m interspersed with 30 seconds of active recovery in nonelite, outfield, young, male soccer players. Twenty-six (age, 14.9 ± 1.2 years; height, 1.72 ± 0.12 cm; body mass, 62.2 ± 5.1 kg) players were tested 48 hours and 7 days apart for 5 × 30-m performance over 5 trials (T1–T5). Short-term (T1–T2) and long-term (T1–T3–T4–T5) reliabilities were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and with typical error for measurement (TEM). Short- and long-term reliability ICCs and TEMs for total sprint time and best sprint performance were nearly perfect and satisfactory, respectively. Usefulness (as smallest worthwhile change and TEM ratio) resulted acceptable (i.e., = 1) and good (i.e., >1) for total sprint time and best sprint performance, respectively. The present study revealed that the 5 × 30-m sprint test is a reliable field test in short and long terms when the sum of sprint times and the best sprint performance are considered as outcome variables. Sprint performance decrements variables showed large variability across trials.
Batteries in Space: Designing Energy-Optimal Satellites with Statistical Model Checking

Satellites provide humanity with many useful services, but for the services to work reliably, satellites must be carefully designed, programmed and verified. Formal methods provide many techniques to analyze, check, prove, and synthesize systems. But in addition to correctness we are also interested in energy and how it is used. This thesis follows the transition of formal methods research into quantitative territory. Energy is scarce in space, so to get the most out of the satellites we have spent large sums to place in orbit, we must also understand how they use energy. We treat three topics, starting with batteries. We show that precise modeling of battery behavior in the context of formal methods enables more efficient operation without extensive safety margins, and that battery-aware scheduling can reduce energy waste. On the other hand, pushing a battery to the limit to provide optimal short term performance reduces long term battery life over hundreds of recharge cycles. We provide a method to evaluate the long term effect of proposed usage profiles on the battery and weigh them against the benefit of the increased short term performance. The second topic concerns the actual energy use in satellite equipment such as radio transceivers. Many electronic circuits and computations can be expressed as dataflow graphs. First we show how a translation of dataflow graphs to priced timed automata enables the use of cost-optimal reachability algorithms to perform energy-optimal scheduling, and how this can be used to study trade-offs between time and energy. For the specific dataflow formalism finite-state machine-based scenario-aware dataflow, we develop a systematic translation to timed automata such that general properties of the dataflow graphs can be model checked. The final topic is the correct operation of computer processors in space. We formalize a realistic low-level assembly language and show how programs in it can be modified to guarantee detection of computation errors caused by transient bit errors in data registers, thus making satellite software more resilient to high-energy particles found outside our atmosphere as well as aggressive power saving techniques.
Human Resource Functioning in an Information Society

This paper explores the state human resources management in an information society. As technology rapidly changes organizations and human resources professionals need to be mindful of the impact that can have on the every day operations in human resources departments. As human resource management is involved in the process of recruitment, selection, and retention of new and current employees, they can play a significant role in maintaining a competitive advantage in the knowledge-based market. Thus, the purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the practical and strategic steps that those in the human resources field can take to facilitate success in this changing economy, as well as to warn against the implications and consequences of failing to meet these important challenges.
Metalloproteinase Profiling in Lung Transplant Recipients With Good Outcome and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Background Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), the major cause of death on lung transplantation, is characterized by bronchiolar inflammation and tissue remodeling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in these processes, although it is still unclear whether MMP activity and binding to their endogenous inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), is abnormal in BOS. Methods We studied total MMP-1,-2,-3,-7,-8,-9,-12,-13 levels, their activity state using activity-based extraction and their binding to TIMP-1, ‐2, ‐3, and ‐4 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of lung transplant recipients with good outcome and BOS using a multiplex immunoassay. Results The BAL levels of TIMP-1 and ‐2 and MMP-2, ‐3, ‐7, ‐8, and ‐9 were significantly increased in BOS compared to good outcome recipients. Interestingly, activity of MMP-7, but none of the other MMPs, was detected in good outcome recipients, whereas no active MMPs were observed in BOS recipients. However, BAL levels of TIMP-bound MMP-8 and ‐9 were higher in BOS than in good outcome recipients, suggesting activity of these MMPs in an earlier stage. Conclusions We demonstrate that development of BOS is associated with increased levels of TIMP-1 and ‐2 and total MMP-2, ‐3, ‐7, ‐8, and ‐9. Although active MMP-7 was only observed in good outcome recipients, levels of TIMP-bound MMP-8 and ‐9 were higher in BOS. By enabling profiling of active and TIMP-bound MMPs, our novel method may open opportunities for the screening of early predictors for BOS.
Do Social Bots Dream of Electric Sheep? A Categorisation of Social Media Bot Accounts

So-called 'social bots' have garnered a lot of attention lately. Previous research showed that they attempted to influence political events such as the Brexit referendum and the US presidential elections. It remains, however, somewhat unclear what exactly can be understood by the term 'social bot'. This paper addresses the need to better understand the intentions of bots on social media and to develop a shared understanding of how 'social' bots differ from other types of bots. We thus describe a systematic review of publications that researched bot accounts on social media. Based on the results of this literature review, we propose a scheme for categorising bot accounts on social media sites. Our scheme groups bot accounts by two dimensions - Imitation of human behaviour and Intent.
Effects of Tour Guide Interpretation and Tourist Satisfaction on Destination Loyalty in Taiwan’s Kinmen Battlefield Tourism: Perceived Playfulness and Perceived Flow as Moderators

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mediating role of tourist satisfaction and the moderating roles of perceived playfulness and perceived flow in the relationship between tour guide interpretation and destination loyalty for tourists visiting the Kinmen battlefields in Taiwan. This study provides both theoretical and managerial contributions; an appropriate conceptual research model was developed based on a relevant literature review, and this model has relevant applications to both tourism academia and the tourism industry. By introducing playfulness and flow into our research model, we provide tourism managers at the Kinmen battlefield with insights that might help them to improve the design of their travel products and services. Our analysis confirms that tour guide interpretation has an influence on tourist satisfaction, and that tourist satisfaction in turn influences destination loyalty. Destination loyalty is also indirectly influenced by tour guide interpretation through tourist satisfaction. Key findings include correlations between tour guide interpretation and tourist satisfaction as well as tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty, which are stronger for tourists who perceive a high degree of playfulness and flow in their tourism experience.
Performance measurement in municipalities: Empirical evidence in Canadian context

Purpose – This paper examines the actual and desired use of performance measures for management and external reporting purposes, as well as perceived impediments to their effective use.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 334 senior administrators in Canadian municipalities participated in this survey study.Findings – Somewhat more efficiency measures than effectiveness measures have been used for various purposes. However, greater use was perceived desirable than actually occurred, particularly for effectiveness measures. A significant increase in the use was expected in the near future especially for effectiveness measures. Internal and external verification of measures was considered important by both internal and external auditors. Although the study also identified impediments to the development and meaningful use of performance measures, performance measurement appears to have been accepted as a useful managerial tool and have significant future potential.Research limitations/implications – The .
Preliminary outcomes of a local residency programme for new graduate registered nurses.

AIM The present study reports preliminary findings regarding new graduate nurses participating in a year-long local residency programme at two hospitals in Las Vegas, NV. BACKGROUND Nurse resident programmes are purported to increase the level of clinical competency and professional transition in new graduate registered nurses (RNs) and to decrease first-year turnover rates. The effectiveness of this programme was assessed using data of the first two cohorts participating in this new residency programme. METHOD Clinical competencies, anxiety, stress, professional transition and retention were measured on 55 nurse residents who have participated in the nurse residency programme. RESULTS The findings indicate improved clinical competency throughout the programme, a decreased sense of threat, and improved communication and leadership skills. The first-year cohort's employment retention rate was 78%, and the second-year cohort is presently 96%. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study demonstrate the positive impact of a year-round residency programme for new graduate RNs. Implications for nursing management The need for a consistent nurse workforce demands that new graduates be transitioned into competent practitioners as soon as possible. Nurse residency programmes can provide this support and decrease replacement costs involved in high turnover.