Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Customer Relationship Quality in Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Purpose – In long‐term business relationships the customer experience is affected by how the customer perceives the quality of the customer relationship. The purpose of this paper is to understand the customer relationship quality construct in landlord‐tenant relationships in a business‐to‐business environment.Desig/methodology/approach – The theoretical framework is adapted from relationship marketing literature and this framework is then applied in case study settings to five customer companies in a landlord and tenant relationship. The paper introduces a framework of 13 relationship quality attributes and applies these to the case companies.Findings – The results suggest that some of the suggested relationship quality attributes have an importance in a landlord and tenant relationship while some suggested attributes have less value.Research limitations/implications – The case studies were conducted in companies that occupy office premises in multi‐user buildings.Originality/value – This paper introduce.
A fully automated non-external marker 4D-CT sorting algorithm using a serial cine scanning protocol

Current 4D-CT methods require external marker data to retrospectively sort image data and generate CT volumes. In this work we develop an automated 4D-CT sorting algorithm that performs without the aid of data collected from an external respiratory surrogate. The sorting algorithm requires an overlapping cine scan protocol. The overlapping protocol provides a spatial link between couch positions. Beginning with a starting scan position, images from the adjacent scan position (which spatial match the starting scan position) are selected by maximizing the normalized cross correlation (NCC) of the images at the overlapping slice position. The process was continued by ‘daisy chaining’ all couch positions using the selected images until an entire 3D volume was produced. The algorithm produced 16 phase volumes to complete a 4D-CT dataset. Additional 4D-CT datasets were also produced using external marker amplitude and phase angle sorting methods. The image quality of the volumes produced by the different methods was quantified by calculating the mean difference of the sorted overlapping slices from adjacent couch positions. The NCC sorted images showed a significant decrease in the mean difference (p < 0.01) for the five patients.
Assessing maturity and effectiveness of enterprise performance measurement systems

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe and illustrate an application of a tool for assessing the maturity and effectiveness of enterprise performance measurement systems.Design/methodology/approach – Assessment elements were defined based on the literature, and the scoring approach was designed based on performance excellence frameworks such as Baldrige and EFQM. A research case application in a Belgian public sector organization is used to illustrate how the tool can be used and the types of insights generated.Findings – The case application indicates that the tool can be used to generate useful and actionable feedback for leadership to increase the maturity of enterprise performance measurement systems. The tool can also be used to longitudinally track progress in performance measurement system effectiveness.Research limitations/implications – The current paper represents the pilot application of the tool. Future work is needed to further test and refine the tool, refine the assessment proce.
Tumor-Derived Apoptotic Vesicles: With Death They Do Part

Tumor cells release lipid particles known as extracellular vesicles (EV) that contribute to cancer metastasis, to the immune response, and to thrombosis. When tumors are exposed to radiation or chemotherapy, apoptotic vesicles (ApoVs) are released in abundance as the plasma membrane delaminates from the cytoskeleton. Recent studies have suggested that ApoVs are distinct from the EVs released from living cells, such as exosomes or microvesicles. Depending on their treatment conditions, tumor-released ApoV have been suggested to either enhance or suppress anti-cancer immunity. In addition, tumor-derived ApoV possess procoagulant activity that could increase the thrombotic state in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Since ApoVs are one of the least appreciated type of EVs, we focus in this review on the distinctive characterization of tumor ApoVs and their proposed mechanistic effects on cancer immunity, coagulation, and metastasis.
Reuse of oil and gas produced water in south-eastern New Mexico: resource assessment, treatment processes, and policy

The Permian Basin of south-eastern New Mexico in the United States exemplifies the combination of rapidly expanding oil and gas production with freshwater shortages and aquifer stress. Reuse of saline produced water can provide a stable supply of water for drilling, fracturing and completion and minimize consumptive use of freshwater. We discuss water withdrawals and use by the oil and gas industry in this region, processes for reuse and recycling of produced water in place of freshwater, and operational and policy changes to help improve maximal use of all available water resources in this arid region.
Influence of Experience Level on Physical Activity During Interactive Video Gaming.

BACKGROUND The ability of interactive video games (IVGs) to individualize physical demands influences their viability as a physical activity option. This study examined the influence of experience level on activity levels and affect resulting from playing a martial arts IVG. METHODS Twenty participants completed 3 15-minute trials: (1) walking, (2) IVG with no previous experience (INEXP), and (3) IVG activity after 2 hours of practice (EXP) during which heart rate (HR), step counts, metabolic equivalents of task (METs), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), session RPE, and affect (positive/negative affect, enjoyment) were measured. RESULTS Mean HR was lower during walking (107 ± 18 bpm) than during INEXP (131 ± 25 bpm) and EXP (120 ± 20 bpm). Peak HR and session RPE were lower for walking than for INEXP and EXP. No difference in mean HR was observed between IVG conditions, but peak HR and session RPE were lower for EXP than for INEXP. Walking resulted in greater postactivity reduction of negative affect; however, the IVG conditions were perceived as more enjoyable. CONCLUSIONS Although the current IVG provided a greater exercise stimulus than walking, results suggest that user movements become more efficient with greater IVG experience and that exercise outcomes may decrease as a result.
Computational models of populations of bacteria and lytic phage

Abstract The use of phages to control and reduce numbers of unwanted bacteria can be traced back to the early 1900s, when phages were explored as a tool to treat infections before the wide scale use of antibiotics. Recently, phage therapy has received renewed interest as a method to treat multiresistant bacteria. Phages are also widely used in the food industry to prevent the growth of certain bacteria in foods, and are currently being explored as a tool for use in bioremediation and wastewater treatment. Despite the large body of biological research on phages, relatively little attention has been given to computational modeling of the population dynamics of phage and bacterial interactions. The earliest model was described by Campbell in the 1960s. Subsequent modifications to this model include partial or complete resistance, multiple phage binding sites, and spatial heterogeneity. This review provides a general introduction to modeling of the population dynamics of bacteria and phage. The review introduces the basic model and relevant concepts and evaluates more complex variations of the basic model published to date, including a model of disease epidemics caused by infectious bacteria. Finally, the shortcomings and potential ways to improve the models are discussed.
Alternation in colonization behaviors of Escherichia coli cells with rpoS or yggE deficiency on solid surfaces

Colonization on a solid surface is influenced by the cell surface appendages such as flagella and curli, of which expressions are regulated by rpoS gene encoding a sigma factor. In this study, we investigated the effect of rpoS or yggE (a rpoS‐related and stress‐responsive gene) deficiency on the colonization of Escherichia coli BW25113. Under a static condition, the deletion of rpoS or yggE induced 3.9‐ and 3.7‐fold higher colonization as compared to wild‐type cells, respectively, on the solid surfaces. However, under a liquid flow condition, only ΔyggE cells maintained the stable colonization on the surface, and the values of cell layer thickness and cell coverage on the surface were 17 and 9.2 times as high as those of wild‐type cells, respectively. Gene expression analyses revealed that the deletion of rpoS or yggE positively impacted the expressions of genes involved in flagellum formation. On the other hand, curli assembly was severely prohibited by the rpoS deficiency. Here, we proposed that the plentiful flagella on the ΔrpoS and ΔyggE cell surfaces facilitated mainly the colonization under the static condition. Meanwhile, curli existing on the ΔyggE cell surface played an important role in keeping stable cell attachment and developing attached colonies under the flow stress condition. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1050–1056. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Budget-Constrained Multi-Armed Bandits with Multiple Plays

We study the multi-armed bandit problem with multiple plays and a budget constraint for both the stochastic and the adversarial setting. At each round, exactly K out of N possible arms have to be played (with 1 ≤ K <= N). In addition to observing the individual rewards for each arm played, the player also learns a vector of costs which has to be covered with an a-priori defined budget B. The game ends when the sum of current costs associated with the played arms exceeds the remaining budget. Firstly, we analyze this setting for the stochastic case, for which we assume each arm to have an underlying cost and reward distribution with support [cmin, 1] and [0, 1], respectively. We derive an Upper Confidence Bound (UCB) algorithm which achieves O(NK4 log B) regret. Secondly, for the adversarial case in which the entire sequence of rewards and costs is fixed in advance, we derive an upper bound on the regret of order O(√NB log(N/K)) utilizing an extension of the well-known Exp3 algorithm. We also provide upper bounds that hold with high probability and a lower bound of order Ω((1 – K/N) √NB/K).
Physical properties of iodate solutions and the deliquescence of crystalline I 2 O 5 and HIO 3

Abstract. Secondary aerosol produced from marine biogenic sources in algal-rich coastal locations will initially be composed of iodine oxide species, most likely I2O5, or its hydrated form HIO3, formed as a result of iodine gas-phase chemistry. At present, there is no quantitative hygroscopic data for these compounds and very little data available for iodate solutions (HIO3 and I2O5 share a common aqueous phase). With increased interest in the role of such aerosol in the marine atmosphere, we have conducted studies of (i) the deliquescence behaviour of crystalline HIO3 and I2O5 at 273–303 K, (ii) the efflorescence behaviour of aqueous iodate solution droplets, and (iii) properties (water activity, density, and viscosity) of subsaturated and saturated iodate solutions. The deliquescence of I2O5 crystals at 293 K was observed to occur at a relative humidity (DRH) of 80.8±1.0%, whereas for HIO3, a DRH of 85.0±1.0% was measured. These values are consistent with measured water activity values for saturated I2O5 and HIO3 solutions at 293 K of 0.80±0.01 and 0.84±0.01 respectively. At all temperatures, DRH values for HIO3 crystals were observed to be higher than for those of I2O5. The temperature-dependent DRH data, along with solubility and water activity data were used to evaluate the enthalpy of solution (ΔHsol) for HIO3 and I2O5. A ΔHsol value of 8.3±0.7 kJ mol−1 was determined for HIO3 which is consistent with a literature value of 8.8 kJ mol−1. For I2O5, we report for the first time its solubility at various temperatures and ΔHsol = 12.4±0.6 kJ mol−1. The measured water activity values confirm that aqueous iodate solutions are strongly non-ideal, consistent with previous reports of complex ion formation and molecular aggregation.
Learning to Count Mosquitoes for the Sterile Insect Technique

Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are major global health problems, which are not yet addressable with vaccines and must be countered by reducing mosquito populations. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a promising alternative to pesticides; however, effective SIT relies on minimal releases of female insects. This paper describes a multi-objective convolutional neural net to significantly streamline the process of counting male and female mosquitoes released from a SIT factory and provides a statistical basis for verifying strict contamination rate limits from these counts despite measurement noise. These results are a promising indication that such methods may dramatically reduce the cost of effective SIT methods in practice.
The Generation of Output Supply and Input Demand Elasticities for a Johansen-Type Model of the Irish Agricultural Sector

This paper attempts the estimation of an integrated output supply and input demand system for the Irish agricultural sector. The objective of the exercise is the generation of a set of elasticities to be used in the construction of a Johansen-type model of the sector. Drawing on separability principles, the estimation problem is divided into three levels: the estimation of an aggregate profit function; a revenue function for aggregate output; a revenue function for aggregate tillage output; and a cost function for aggregate fertilizer consumption. Elasticities are obtained for each level and the integrated production system. Copyright 1990 by Oxford University Press.
Multi-symptom illnesses, unexplained illness and Gulf War Syndrome

Explanatory models for the increased prevalence of ill health in Gulf veterans compared to those not deployed to the Gulf War 1990–1991 remain elusive. This article addresses whether multi-symptom reporting in Gulf veterans are types of medically unexplained symptoms and whether the alleged Gulf War Syndrome is best understood as a medically unexplained syndrome. A review of the epidemiological studies, overwhelmingly cross-sectional, describing ill health was conducted including those that used factor analysis to search for underlying or latent clinical constructs. The overwhelming evidence was that symptoms in Gulf veterans were either in keeping with currently defined psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety or were medically unexplained. The application of factor analysis methods had varied widely with a risk of over interpretation in some studies and limiting the validity of their findings. We concluded that ill health in Gulf veterans and the alleged Gulf War Syndrome is best understood within the medically unexplained symptoms and syndromes constructs. The cause of increased reporting in Gulf veterans are still not clear and requires further inquiry into the interaction between sociological factors and symptomatic distress.
Modelling marital fertility by age and duration: an empirical appraisal of the Page model.

Demographers studied data from 38 completed World Fertility Surveys by using the Page model of marital fertility by both age and duration of 1st marriage. Researchers measured goodness of fit of the Page model with generalized linear models (GLIM) and found a significant lack of fit at the 1% level in 11 countries and at the 5% level in 2 countries. All of these countries lie in Africa or Asia. On the other hand the Page model fits the data very well for Latin American and Caribbean countries. Haiti was found to have the worst fit. The model tends to overestimate fertility in the 1st year of marriage and to underestimate it the following year however. Researchers also judged its ability to replicate observed total marital fertility. When including all durations up to 36-37 years the fitted sums of marital fertility rates were close to observed rates (average absolute percentage error = 1.46% over 38 countries; maximum = 7.62% Nigeria). The highest natural fertility level was in Jordan at 12.6% < the maximum. The lowest level was in Haiti at 48.6% < the maximum. Additionally natural fertility increases by 1 percentage point for every additional month of breastfeeding and also by 1 point for every increase of 2% in use of contraception for spacing. Nepal had the lowest degree of control of marital fertility with an index of 1% which means that after 10 years of marriage the fertility of women is on 1% < the natural fertility which corresponds to their age at the time. Portugal had a value of 69.8. A clear monotonic relationship exists between the marital fertility index and contraceptive use (linear regression coefficient = .856). This index may be considered roughly equivalent to the contraceptive prevalence rate.
Using Conjoint Analysis to Derive Estimates of Compensating Variation

Abstract We use several approaches to derive estimates of Hicksian compensating variation from conjoint ratings data. The different estimation approaches produced mixed results with respect to consistency with utility theory, statistical significance of key variables, magnitude of welfare estimates, and confidence bounds on welfare estimates. These findings suggest conjoint analyses are not a panacea for the problems being debated regarding contingent-valuation and travel-cost methodologies, and conjoint questions appear to share many of the advantages and disadvantages associated with dichotomous-choice, contingent-valuation questions.
Balanced score card implementation for IP rights management in a public research institution

Purpose – There is a growing awareness of intellectual property (IP) rights in European public research institutes. Since 2008 a non‐binding recommendation of the European Commission has been, in effect, proposing a consistent policy for IP in research and development (R&D). While there is a broad consensus on the overall goal – achieving a higher competitiveness of European industry in the international market place – there are, however, conflicting expectations on the micro‐management: are technology transfer agencies to be considered as profit‐centers, cost‐centers, mediators or all of the above? This paper seeks to provide an answerDesign/methodology/approach – The Physikalisch‐Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) is the national metrology institute of Germany with 1,900 employees and an annual budget of €145 million. It has established a micro‐management policy for IP rights, which is successfully fostering the development of modern instrumentation for metrology and may serve as an example for other public.
Creativity in Higher Education: Comparative Genetic Analyses on the Dopaminergic System in Relation to Creativity, Addiction, Schizophrenia in Humans and Non-Human Primates

Teaching creativity is a substantial quality improvement in higher education. To demonstrate cross-functional thinking is a must for degree holders to be able to solve solutions useful for the society. Such a demand must be underlined by rational arguments. The neurobiology of creative behavior provides important information how the brain processes such activities. The subcortical mesolimbic brain areas, specifically the dopaminergic system, are of interest. The m e n t i o n e d system and its two class receptors, D1 and D2 types, seem to be key players to mediate pleasure associated with predictive, motivational, or attentional sensations linked to learning processes and creativity. In this work a comparative biological approach was used to analyze genetic polymorphisms of SNPs in humans and nonhuman primates based on phenotypical expressions of creativity in humans. This methodology was used to get a view of the phylogenetic dimension of this trait in the order of primates. 13 out of 50 chosen SNPs showed accelerated selection processes shared by humans and nonhuman primates. The results of this study confirmed the assumption that phenotypical expression of creativity is a genetically inherited feature in primates. It is suggested that such a phylogenetic approach justifies a consideration of teaching creativity in higher education. It is suggested that creativity represents an old trait in primates because the most distant relative primate used in this study diverged 25 Mya ago from humans.
[Effects of self-foot reflexology on stress, fatigue, skin temperature and immune response in female undergraduate students].

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of self-foot reflexology on stress (perceived stress, urine cortisol level, and serum cortisol level), fatigue, skin temperature and immune response in female undergraduate students. METHODS The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-post test design. Participants were 60 university students: 30 in the experiment group and 30 in the control group. The period of this study was from April to June 2010. The program was performed for 1 hr a session, three times a week for 6 weeks. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS The results showed that self-foot reflexology was effective in reducing perceived stress and fatigue, and raised skin temperature in female undergraduate students. But cortisol levels and immune response were not statistically significant different. CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that self-foot reflexology is an effective nursing intervention in reducing perceived stress and fatigue and, in improving skin temperature. Therefore, it is recommended that this be used in clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention for in female undergraduate students.
The cost of not holding back the sea: Toward a national sample of economic vulnerability

Abstract National and regional estimates of U.S. economic vulnerability to greenhouse‐induced sea‐level rise are produced from a sample of 30 discrete regions scattered evenly along the coastline. Scenarios that envision 50 cm, 100 cm, and 200 cm of greenhouse‐induced sea‐level rise are considered. They can be expected to place $39.2, $65.6, and $133.3 billion, respectively, (1989 dollars) of existing development in jeopardy through 2050, and $133.3, $308.7, and $909.4 billion through 2100. Sampling error and consideration of the uncertainty with which we currently view future greenhouse‐induced sea‐level rise places the 25th and 75th percentile values of expected cumulative vulnerability at $38.5 and $76.7 billion through 2050 and $132.6 and $362.4 billion through 2100. Not surprisingly, the southeast displays the largest potential vulnerability, with the northeast ranking second above both the Gulf coast and the west coast.