Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are They Celebrity Followers? Examining the Third-Person Perception of Celebrity-Endorsed Advertising

ABSTRACT This study explored how consumers' presumed influences mediated the impacts of source credibility and advertising skepticism on purchase intention in the context of celebrity-endorsed advertising (CEA). A national media consumer panel (N = 445) indicated the third-person perception (TPP) were positively correlated to celebrity expertise and attractiveness, but negatively influenced by advertising skepticism. Moreover, three celebrity credibility variables and advertising skepticism yielded direct effects on purchase intention. Indirect effects by the TPP were also generated on purchase intention. The TPP would mediate the impacts of celebrity credibility and advertising skepticism on purchase intention in response to various desirable/undesirable endorsers. Moreover, the TPP would decrease the impact of celebrity credibility, but increase the impact of advertising skepticism on purchase intention, indicating that the third persons' attitudes toward CEA may become a key reference in consumers' purchase intention processes.
Domain Adaptation Image Classification Based on Multi-sparse Representation

Generally, research of classical image classification algorithms assume that training data and testing data are derived from the same domain with the same distribution. Unfortunately, in practical applications, this assumption is rarely met. Aiming at the problem, a domain adaption image classification approach based on multi-sparse representation is proposed in this paper. The existences of intermediate domains are hypothesized between the source and target domains. And each intermediate subspace is modeled through online dictionary learning with target data updating. On the one hand, the reconstruction error of the target data is guaranteed, on the other, the transition from the source domain to the target domain is as smooth as possible. An augmented feature representation produced by invariant sparse codes across the source, intermediate and target domain dictionaries is employed for across domain recognition. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Phytotoxicity of Citric Acid and Tween® 80 for Potential Use as Soil Amendments in Enhanced Phytoremediation

Enhanced phytoremediation adding biodegradable amendments like low molecular weight organic acids and surfactants is an interesting area of current research to overcome the limitation that represents low bioavailability of pollutants in soils. However, prior to their use in assisted phytoremediation, it is necessary to test if amendments per se exert any toxic effect to plants and to optimize their application mode. In this context, the present study assessed the effects of citric acid and Tween® 80 (polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate) on the development of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) plants, as influenced by their concentration and frequency of application, in order to evaluate the feasibility for their future use in enhanced phytoremediation of multi-contaminated soils. The results showed that citric acid negatively affected plant germination, while it did not have any significant effect on biomass or chlorophyll content. In turn, Tween® 80 did not affect plant germination and showed a trend to increase biomass, as well as it did not have any significant effect on chlorophyll levels. M. sativa appeared to tolerate citric acid and Tween® 80 at the tested concentrations, applied weekly. Consequently, citric acid and Tween® 80 could potentially be utilized to assist phytoremediation of contaminated soils vegetated with M. sativa.
Do Institutional Reforms Increase Firm Performance and Eliminate Rents

This paper investigates the impact of institutional reforms on both productivity and profitability of firms from Central East European transition countries. We use a large firm-level dataset for the period 1998-2006 combined with country-level EBRD reform indicators, and apply year-specific Wooldrige selectivity-corrected panel estimator. In line with Cuervo-Cazurra and Dau‘s (2009) results for Latin America we confirm that reforms have more impact on state owned firms as compared with both private domestic and foreign owned companies. Moreover, it is the core set of competition-enhancing ‗first stage‘ liberalisation measures that has the strongest relative impact on state firms, and the weakest impact on foreign-owned firms. In contrast, the immediate effects of the ‗second stage‘ institutional reforms are less clear-cut. The impact of reforms on profitability of firms differs from the impact on productivity, which we interpret as an indication that profitability is an ambiguous measure of performance; high pre-reform profitability may also indicate policy-protected rents. A negative impact of foreign trade liberalisation and price liberalisation on profitability of both state owned companies and foreign companies seems consistent with this interpretation.
Perceptual and cognitive biases in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder symptoms

Given the extreme focus on perceived physical defects in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), we expected that perceptual and cognitive biases related to physical appearance would be associated with BDD symptomology. To examine these hypotheses, participants (N=70) high and low in BDD symptoms completed tasks assessing visual perception and cognition. As expected, there were significant group differences in self-relevant, but not other-relevant, cognitive biases. Perceptual bias results were mixed, with some evidence indicating that individuals high (versus low) in BDD symptoms literally see themselves in a less positive light. Further, individuals high in BDD symptoms failed to demonstrate a normative self-enhancement bias. Overall, this research points to the importance of assessing both cognitive and perceptual biases associated with BDD symptoms, and suggests that visual perception may be influenced by non-visual factors.
Unprotected freezing of human spermatozoa exerts a detrimental effect on their oocyte activating capacity and chromosome integrity

Summary The influence of unprotected freezing of mammalian spermatozoa on their oocyte activating capacity and chromosome integrity is unknown. However, this type of sperm treatment has been used in assisted reproduction by intracytoplasmic sperm injection in cattle and humans. The mouse oocyte injection test was used to analyse the influence of unprotected freezing of human spermatozoa on their reproductive characteristics. Mouse oocytes were microinjected with intact human spermatozoa or spermatozoa treated with two cycles of unprotected freeze-thawing. Oocytes surviving the injection were either cultured without further treatment or exposed to ethanol solution to induce parthenogenetic activation. Both injected and activated oocytes were used for sperm chromosome analysis. The results revealed a significant reduction in oocyte activating capacity and a tenfold increase in the incidence of structural chromosomal abnormalities in human spermatozoa treated by unprotected freezing. We conclude that unprotected freezing of human spermatozoa has a detrimental effect on their reproductive characteristics. Our data also provide a new perspective on the stability of mammalian spermatozoa to physical factors and demonstrate the importance of detailed analysis of the stability of sperm structures for successful development of new approaches in assisted reproduction.
Atrial Fibrillation : Pathogenetic Mechanisms and Electrophysiologic Peculiarities of the Heart Conduction System

Pathogenetic and electrophysiologic mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been gaining increasing interest in the field of cardiac arrhythmia research during the last 40 years especially due to the introduction of esophageal and intracardiac investigation methods and computer data processing in practical cardiology. These methods have revealed the intimate mechanisms of most cardiac arrhythmias. There are two main reasons for cardiologists to be interested in AF: l Several implemented clinical trials have shown that AF is not the benign cardiac rhythm disturbance it was once thought to be, but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality [1-7]. l Technical progress in medical technology due to computer information processing allows detailed analysis of electrophysiologic processes during AF. Decisive progress in explaining the AF mechanism was made by Allessie et al. in their studies on dogs [8]. Their wave model clarified the understanding of AF development and maintenance mechanisms and interrelated the roles of refractory period shortening and atrial conduction slowing in making reentry possible. The early experimental reentry models of Mines [9] Atrial Fibrillation: Pathogenetic Mechanisms and Electrophysiologic Peculiarities of the Heart Conduction System
The role of SMS's frontlines in mobile advertising based on consumer attitude

Information technology (IT) formed the commerce and the marketing strategy for the companies. One side of the marketing that is affected by IT is the advertising. Short Messaging Service (SMS) is one of the channels that is using for marketing. It is becoming important to reach the possible customers via mobile phones. The attitude towards mobile advertising strongly depends on the message characteristics. Therefore, too much work needs to be performed concerning the advertising by using SMS to make it more attractive, creative and effective. The lack of studies which give rich knowledge about the role of the frontlines in SMS messaging and how can affect the consumer attitude toward mobile advertising is very remarkable. This study reviewed the existing factors that affecting the consumer attitude towards mobile advertising, and proposed a research model regarding the factors that affect the SMS’s frontlines in mobile advertising based on consumer attitude. This model was based on systematically analyzing and extracting all the factors affecting the attitude towards mobile advertising and then developed the model according to these models and the understanding of the researcher from the literature. To effectively evaluate the research model, a quantitative research was adopted. Data was collected by survey questionnaires from 153 respondents. The SmartPLS tool was used for data analysis. In sum, the results of this research show that all factors have a significant impact on the attitude towards mobile advertising in the domain of SMS’s frontline. The proposed model will be beneficial to the marketers and researchers by understanding the main factors influencing the consumer attitude towards mobile advertising concerning the frontlines of the SMS. Moreover, it will encourage more researchers in this field to uncover the lacks and find the better solutions.
A Framework for Property Developers to Survive in a Recession

Recession is considered as a major threat to the economy as it slows down the economic activities. The property development sector is extremely responsive to these economic conditions. Thus, it is crucial to understand causes, effects and strategies for property developers to survive in a recession without any ill effects. Thus, this research aimed to develop a framework for property developers to identify appropriate survival strategies in a recession. A comprehensive literature review was conducted in this research to achieve the above mentioned aim. The results of this study indicated that recession prompts negative impacts on the property development sector resulting in unemployment, low demand, low production, low revenue, decline in resources and high level of competition. According to the results, the survival strategies were classified into short-term and long-term strategies. The short term strategies include: implementing management tactics; cut down of operating costs; keeping financing lines set up; timely repayment of debts; setting vital new objectives for the future; undertaking shortterm developments; specialisation in favoured market; and renegotiating contracts. The long-term strategies include: retrenchment; restructuring; investment; and ambidextrous strategies. Similarly, attention should be paid to predict any changes in the economic environment that can influence property development activities and it is necessary to carefully evaluate the investment activities to increase sales, profits and market shares of property developers. Preparing for a crisis is doubtlessly the ideal approach as it can facilitate both survival and growth. Thus, the property developers can implement these suggested strategies in their businesses to enhance their practices.
University of Groningen Hansenula polymorpha Vam 7 p is required for macropexophagy

We have analyzed the functions of two vacuolar t-SNAREs, Vam3p and Vam7p, in peroxisome degradation in the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha. A Hp-vam7 mutant was strongly affected in peroxisome degradation by selective macropexophagy as well as non-selective microautophagy. Deletion of Hp-Vam3p function had only a minor effect on peroxisome degradation processes. Both proteins were located at the vacuolar membrane, with Hp-Vam7p also having a partially cytosolic location. Previously, in baker s yeast Vam3p and Vam7p have been demonstrated to be components of a t-SNARE complex essential for vacuole biogenesis. We speculate that the function of this complex in macropexophagy includes a role in membrane fusion processes between the outer membrane layer of sequestered peroxisomes and the vacuolar membrane. Our data suggest that Hp-Vam3p may be functionally redundant in peroxisome degradation. Remarkably, deletion of Hp-VAM7 also significantly affected peroxisome biogenesis and resulted in organelles with multiple, membrane-enclosed compartments. These morphological defects became first visible in cells that were in the mid-exponential growth phase of cultivation on methanol, and were correlated with accumulation of electron-dense extensions that were connected to mitochondria. 2005 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Optimal Trading and Inventory Management in Electronic Markets

In this thesis three distinct trading scenarios are considered and stochastic optimal control models are proposed to derive the optimal strategy the agent/firm should follow. First, we consider an agent who needs to liquidate a large amount of an asset and can trade in both a ‘lit’ exchange and a dark pool. We find the optimal selling schedule by solving numerically the resulting Hamilton-JacobiBellman (HJB) equation. Next, we consider a customised liquidity pool (CLP) that offers a market-making service, by showing bid and ask prices to its clients. The CLP earns the spread from each transaction and it is subject to an inventory risk deriving from potential unfavourable price movements. The CLP can hedge its position in the ‘lit’ pool by means of limit and/or market orders so to rebalance its position on the asset. Finally, we consider a firm that offers mixed principal-versus-agency trading to its clients, and which earns the spread from the principal portion and a fixed fee for the brokerage service. We find the optimal proportion of principal/agency liquidity that should be displayed to clients and the optimal hedging strategy. We make specific reference to the foreign exchange market and consider the cases of one currency pair and three currency pairs. We provide the pseudo-codes, which have been written for solving numerically the models presented in this thesis, as well as a concise review of the dynamic programming principle (DPP) and the viscosity solution theory, specifically applied to the models discussed herein.
Emerging Models of Business Incubation in Greece

Entrepreneurial support is the provision of valuable resources to entrepreneurs by organizations designed to accelerate the establishment of a startup, improve its survival chances and long-term growth. Given the heterogeneity of entrepreneurship support providers, it is challenging to understand who is providing how and by whom entrepreneurs are being supported. This paper presents an inductive study based on five business incubators located in Greece. We identify six aspects of each incubator with each one representing a unique way of supporting entrepreneurs. We reveal that these emergent incubation models mix several defining aspects of entrepreneurship support sources beyond business incubators, such as business accelerators, and angel investors, blurring commonly accepted definitions and taxonomies. We contribute to the entrepreneurship support literature showing empirically that types of support are not tied to the sources of support. We finalize with implications for future business incubator managers, prospective tenants, and public policy makers.
The Drivers of ERP Value Among Scandinavian and Iberian SMEs

In the strategic information management field, IT value from for instance Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are considered to be paramount in the global economy. Recent research on IT business value claims for more cross-country studies as well as within the space of SMEs. Grounded in the resource-based view theory the authors propose a research model to explain ERP value. To empirically test this model, the study addresses a survey to a wide range of 2000 Scandinavia and Iberia firms and their IT and business executives. The model explains 43,9% and 49,1% of the variation in ERP value for Scandinavian and Iberian firms respectively. Results show that whereas for both regions, analytics and collaboration are important drivers for ERP value, ERP use is not significate for Scandinavian SMEs. This research studying ERP value among SMEs add an international dimension to the IS literature. The current paper also presents theoretical and practical implications, and the study’s limitations.
MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF BUILDING ENVELOPE, LIGHTING AND HVAC SYSTEMS DESIGNS

This paper proposes a computational building design support framework. The framework evaluates and optimizesbuilding envelope systems, electrical systems and HVACsystems simultaneously with the assistance of a newly developed EnergyPlus component cost database. The integrated building system evaluation could potentially revealthe trade-offs among different building systems and helpclients and design teams a gain better understanding ofhigh performance designs. A case study based on a real ofﬁce building is presentedto demonstrate the effectiveness of this framework. EnergyPlus v8.3 was used as the building performance evaluation tool. The NSGA-II multi-objective optimization algorithm was employed for acquiring the best design combinations. Results obtained from the optimization processproved that buildings with high performance componentswill present savings for both ﬁrst and operation costs.Trade-offs between the ﬁrst cost and operation costs fordifferent designs were also discussed within ﬁve selectedoptimized cases.
A Case Study in Blockchain Healthcare Innovation

Healthcare complexity and costs can be decreased through the application of blockchain technology to medical records and insurance companies. Estonia has taken a leadership role in blockchain based services both in the commercial sector and in government. The Estonian government’s innovation strategy was to create GovTech partnerships to implement blockchain based technologies throughout the country, and become a global leader in the technology. Starting in 2011, just 3 years after Satoshi Nakamoto published the first description of distributed ledgers and blockchain technology, the Estonian Government started partnering with the private technology startup company Guardtime to use blockchains to secure public and internal records. Then in 2016, Estonia once again reinforced its global leadership in blockchain technology when it announced it would use blockchain technology to secure the health records of over a million citizens. Estonia’s systematic method of applying blockchain technologies through GovTech partnerships demnostrates how innovation is a process. Estonia also identified early the value of the blockchain as a disruptive platform innovation. The application of blockchain technology to healthcare is a radical innovation given that nearly all previous applications have been in the financial and legal sectors.
Clothing-related attitudes and the body image as perceived and expressed by business and professional women /

3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., is part o f the material being photo­ graphed the photographer has followed a definite m ethod in “sectioning” the material. It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand corner o f a large sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again—beginning below the first row and continuing on until com plete.
Femtoslicing in Storage Rings

The generation of ultrashort synchrotron radiation pulses by laser-induced energy modulation of electrons and their subsequent transverse displacement (” femtoslicing”) was demonstrated at the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley. More recently, a femtoslicing facility was commissioned at BESSY II in Berlin, and another project is in progress at the Swiss Light Source. The paper reviews the principle of femtoslicing and its technical implementations.
Event Marketing : The role of sponsorships on brand equity: a business perspective

Event marketing is a promotional tool which play an important role in the marketing strategy of many companies today. The overall purpose of this thesis is to provide a better understanding on how companies use event sponsorships in order to improve brand equity, through a descriptive and exploratory approach to the area of study. To reach the purpose of this study, research questions were formulated, focusing on the objectives of event sponsorships and how companies choose the right event to sponsor, in order to reach stated objectives and build brand equity. In order to answer the research questions, a literature review was conducted which provided the base for the frame of reference. The method used is a qualitative multiple-case study. The data were collected by interviews with representatives from three well-known companies, Telia Company, Handelsbanken and Polarbrod, which all use sponsorship as a promotional tool. The results of the study indicate that sponsorship objectives within the corporate/product- and marketing categories are most frequently used in the building of brand equity. The single most common objectives are brand awareness, enhanced brand image and public perception, improved customer relations and to reach target markets. It was found that it is important for companies to achieve an appropriate fit with a sponsored event. The choice of event is based on a number of criteria, of which the most important are typicality, relevancy, target market, image and complementary. Another finding was that companies today consider sponsorships as a long-term relationship and cooperation, not only a one-time event, as a tool for building brand equity.