Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of abusive supervision and co-worker support on hospitality and tourism student employees’ turnover intentions in Ecuador

Ram (2015. Hostility or hospitality? A review on violence, bullying and sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry. Current Issues in Tourism. doi:10.1080/13683500.2015.1064364) posits that violence and harassment are areas of concern within the hospitality industry, and scholarly interest in abusive supervision in the workplace has grown since the last decade. This study extends Ram's (2015. Hostility or hospitality? A review on violence, bullying and sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry. Current Issues in Tourism. doi:10.1080/13683500.2015.1064364) assertion by examining the effect of abusive supervision experiences on student employees’ turnover intentions in a hospitality and tourism context in a high power distance culture, Ecuador. The results showed that abusive supervision was positively related to turnover intentions, and its effect was stronger than co-worker support, with the abusive supervision–turnover intentions relationship being fully mediated by perceived organizational support (POS). In addition, co-worker emotional support was found to attenuate the negative effects of abusive supervision on POS. All in all, the findings highlight the roles of POS in explaining the relation between abusive supervision and turnover intentions and co-worker emotional support in buffering the negative effect of abusive supervision. The important role of culture is discussed.
Studies on the embryogenesis of Aulocara elliotti (Thomas) (Orthoptera, Acrididae). I. External morphogenesis

The growth and morphogenesis of embryos of Aulocara elliotti (Thomas) at constant temperature are described in terms of 27 discrete morphological stages with four stages designating blastokinesis. The developmental variability of two series of embryos reared from a single wild population in two different years is compared. A bibliography to studies on other embryos of the Acrididae is included.
Japanese Corporate Restructuring CEO Priorities as a Window on Environmental and Organizational Change

Executive Overview This study explores how larger Japanese firms, and in turn the Japanese economy, has restructured since the burst of Japan's asset-inflated economic bubble in 1989. Based on interviews, surveys, and analysis of the appointment calendars of 79 Japanese CEOs, this research examines changes in CEO priorities since 1989 and how these changes reflect larger shifts in the way business is conducted in larger Japanese firms. The authors find that Japanese CEOs and their firms are becoming much more focused on investor relations than on bank relations, more focused on media relations and promoting their firm to the market, and less focused on government relations as Japan undergoes deregulation. The authors also find that Japanese CEOs are focusing more on external factors, with greater emphasis on shareholders and less attention to employees. Within the firm, Japanese decision-making is becoming more top-down than middle-up-down, as well as less hierarchical with fewer levels of management. In .
Deconstructing market responses

Purpose – The aim is to present, explain and illustrate an improved method for decomposing an event‐based change in market value into its cash flow and risk elements.Design/methodology/approach – The approach is two‐fold. There is an algebraic comparison of the existing and improved decomposition to prove and delineate the benefits of the new method. There is an event study, using 130 firms, contrasting the results of the existing and improved methods.Findings – The new, alternative method of decomposition is easier to use, provides a cleaner delineation of the components, and results in increased statistical significance in tests.Research limitations/implications – Researchers now have access to an improved methodology for decomposing market value changes. Explicit limitations reveal when the new method provides benefits over the current method.Practical implications – Managers considering strategic decisions now have an improved method to understand the main impacts on market value. For example, by deco.
Differential Protection of Cry1Fa Toxin against Spodoptera frugiperda Larval Gut Proteases by Cadherin Orthologs Correlates with Increased Synergism

ABSTRACT The Cry proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are the most widely used biopesticides effective against a range of crop pests and disease vectors. Like chemical pesticides, development of resistance is the primary threat to the long-term efficacy of Bt toxins. Recently discovered cadherin-based Bt Cry synergists showed the potential to augment resistance management by improving efficacy of Cry toxins. However, the mode of action of Bt Cry synergists is thus far unclear. Here we elucidate the mechanism of cadherin-based Cry toxin synergism utilizing two cadherin peptides, Spodoptera frugiperda Cad (SfCad) and Manduca sexta Cad (MsCad), which differentially enhance Cry1Fa toxicity to Spodoptera frugiperda neonates. We show that differential SfCad- and MsCad-mediated protection of Cry1Fa toxin in the Spodoptera frugiperda midgut correlates with differential Cry1Fa toxicity enhancement. Both peptides exhibited high affinity for Cry1Fa toxin and an increased rate of Cry1Fa-induced pore formation in S. frugiperda. However, only SfCad bound the S. frugiperda brush border membrane vesicle and more effectively prolonged the stability of Cry1Fa toxin in the gut, explaining higher Cry1Fa enhancement by this peptide. This study shows that cadherin fragments may enhance B. thuringiensis toxicity by at least two different mechanisms or a combination thereof: (i) protection of Cry toxin from protease degradation in the insect midgut and (ii) enhancement of pore-forming ability of Cry toxin.
The Homohypallagic Production Function, Factor-Intensity Reversals, and the Heckscher-Ohlin Theorem

IN THE classical single-factor, constantreturns, two-country mrodel of international trade "production conditions" alone determine the comparative cost advantage commodity, and each country exports that commodity in which it possesses comparative advantage. What exactly is contained in the package of "production conditions" was never exactly specified, though one can find abundant references to such nebulous factors as climate and ingenuity of the population. In fact, the classical economists left the principle of comparative costs hanging in the air. In their scheme of analysis comparative cost differences, somehow, get determined; then, assuming reasonable similarity of taste patterns across countries, these differences in comparative costs give rise to international trade, which is mutually beneficial. Heckscher2 and Ohlin3 attempted to provide a more specific explanation of the principle of comparative costs and the catises of international trade. They
A Multi-robot System for Patrolling Task via Stochastic Fictitious Play

Abstract: A great deal of work has been done in recent years on the multi-robot patrolling problem. In such problem a team of robots is engaged to supervise an infrastructure. Commonly, the patrolling tasks are performed with the objective of visiting a set of points of interest. This problem has been solved in the literature by developing deterministic and centralized solutions, which perform better than decentralized and non-deterministic approaches in almost all cases. However, deterministic methods are not suitable for security purpose due to their predictability. This work provides a new decentralized and non-deterministic approach based on the model of Game Theory called Stochastic Fictitious Play (SFP) to perform security tasks at critical facilities. Moreover, a detailed study aims at providing additional insight of this learning model into the multi-robot patrolling context is presented. Finally, the approach developed in this work is analyzed and compared with other methods proposed in the literature by utilizing a patrolling simulator.
How Responsive are Chinese Exports to Exchange Rate Changes? Evidence from Firm-level Data

Abstract This article examines the impact of exchange rate changes on Chinese firms’ decisions on export market entry and export share. Using a large dataset for Chinese firms in 2000–2006, we find that changes in exchange rate levels play a significant role on both export extensive and intensive margins of Chinese firms. Compared to studies using macro data, our firm-level analysis allows us to control for firm and industry heterogeneity. Firm size and location matter. We do not find a difference between foreign and domestic firms in responding to exchange rate changes. Industry heterogeneity is also found to be important.
Short Article: Do Updating Tasks Involve Updating? Evidence from Comparisons with Immediate Serial Recall

Updating tasks require participants to process a sequence of items, varying in length, and afterwards to remember only a fixed number of the elements of the sequence; the assumption being that participants actively update the to-be-recalled list as presentation progresses. However recent evidence has cast doubt on this assumption, and the present study examined the strategies that participants employ in such tasks by comparing the serial position curves found in verbal and visuo-spatial updating tasks with those seen in standard serial recall tasks. These comparisons showed that even when the same number of items are presented or recalled, participants perform less well in an updating than a serial recall context. In addition, while standard serial position effects were observed for serial recall, marked recency and reduced or absent primacy effects were seen in updating conditions. These findings suggest that participants do not typically adopt a strategy of actively updating the memory list in updating tasks, but instead tend to wait passively until the list ends before trying to recall the most recently presented items.
Electronic interface for position sensing using resonant cavities

The performance and accuracy of micro- and nano-positioning systems are directly linked to the measurement device used to close the associated control loop. In this work we propose, design, and test an electronic interface for a new position and displacement transducer based on resonant cavities. This type of transducer has been proven to achieve resolutions in the nanometer range when the detection is performed using a laboratory network analyzer. The proposed electronic interface is intended to provide a more affordable and compact solution, while preserving as much as possible the excellent performance of the transducer, thus, turning it into a true standalone positioning sensor. The operation of the interface establishes a self-resonance in the cavities and detects the resonance frequency (which is directly related to the position to be measured) by analyzing the attenuation produced by a low pass filter. The results obtained in a prototype of the interface built with discrete elements show that the obtainable positioning accuracy using this cost-effective solution is about 5 micrometers.
Total quality management performance in multinational companies

Purpose – Multinational corporations face a more intense competence and a higher number of changes in the different countries they operate. In this regard, organizational learning and quality management are key elements that could help them to survive in the market. Convinced by the numerous benefits and competitive potential of total quality management (TQM) programmes, corporations have promoted its implementation. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the interaction between these programmes and organizational learning, more precisely with exploitation and exploration capabilities, in order to understand the way in which quality management programmes could help to develop learning in the companies. Design/methodology/approach – Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed model. The sample comprised 111 medium-sized Spanish companies, with four different responses each. Constructs are measured with Likert scales previously tested in the literature. Findings – The results show that TQM .
The Effects of Cutbacks in Swedish Sickness Benefits

Since 1990 sickness benefits have been reduced in Sweden. In this paper we use data from the labour force survey to study the introduction of a qualification day in 1993. Our main centre of interest is the distributional effects caused by this cutback, and to this end we analyse a large number of interactions between background variables and the reform dummy. Considerable attention is thus paid to variable subset selection in binary choice models. Our results show that sick leave incidence is greater for those with job security, but that this difference has decreased after the cutbacks.
Creativity & Innovation a Road Map to Business Success and Growth in Sierra Leone: From Intuition to Process Management

Research scholars and business Professionals have proven that macro of business entities in developing economies like in the case of Sierra Leone fail fundamentally as a result of the incapacity and inability of the owners (Entrepreneurs/shareholders) and business Agents to be creative, innovative and the transformation of their intuitive ways of operational business activities to process management and business process orientation. Some Entrepreneurs/shareholders and Management show some amount of “I don’t care”, negligence and carelessness at the initial stage of not adopting the corrective measures of the business tradition, strategies, risk and change management of winning business success to attain depending on the type of investment portfolio, procedures, policies and approach for business planning, priority, pacing, people, processes and controls to attain operational excellence, high employee engagement and increase customer/client centricity. That is where the problem of this paper lies. Therefore, the objective of this research study is to clearly bring out a theoretical exposition of the issues involved in creativity & innovation and to determine whether these indicators stimulate and influence business success to attain growth, process management and business process orientation as in the case of relevant literature reviewed in Kline-Linked model, Abrams and Hippel’s research findings. Literature findings indicate that innovation and creativity has the capacity to influence success in business performance and growth especially in a developing economy like Sierra Leone. The paper recommends improved quality of human intellectual capital building and training at all levels, training and building quality innovation and creativity structures with related indicators, adequate funding on research, science and development programs, benchmarking countries that ranked high on Global Innovation Index and business growth risk assessment tools. The research study is a proxy of business practitioners to enrich their skills, techniques and strategies for better and excellent operational performance to attain steady growth and sustainable businesses success.
Simple zero interference transmissions to users with rank deficient channels

We investigate linear zero interference transmission strategies when the MIMO channels of the users are rank deficient. It is a common case in downlink cellular systems, as the size of a user equipment is considerably more limited than a base station. We present two new simple zero interference transmission schemes for multiuser transmission when the MIMO channels of the users are rank deficient. One with MRC receivers and no power transmitted to the common null-space of the users, and the other based on generalized eigenvectors projected to transmit no power to the common null-space. We compare these schemes to simple schemes presented in literature and to a numerically optimized linear scheme.
A socioeconomic assessment of human exposure to ozone in the South Coast Air Basin of California.

The purpose of this study is to assess by age, race, ethnicity, and income the effects of air pollution control measures and population growth on human exposure to ozone in the South Coast Air Basin of California (SoCAB). A methodology to study human exposure to air pollutants from a socioeconomic perspective has been developed. Specifically, the Regional Human Exposure model (REHEX-II) has been applied to estimate historical (1980-1982) and recent (1990-1992) human exposure to ozone. The model accounts for time spent in different microenvironments for different age groups and incorporates long-term air quality data with high spatial resolution. The simulation results, expressed as per capita hours of exposure to ozone above various concentration thresholds, are associated with population race, ethnicity, and per capita income. The results indicate that ozone exposure differences by race and ethnicity have diminished over time. However, the study suggests that on average, low income areas may be experiencing higher ozone exposure than high income areas, suggesting that environmental health risks (e.g., respiratory diseases) may be systematically higher for low income groups in the SoCAB.
Design and Implementation of a ZCS-PWM Half-Bridge Boost Rectifier With Output Voltage Balance Control

This paper provides a zero-current-switching (ZCS)-pulse width modulation (PWM) half-bridge boost rectifier with output voltage balance control using ZCS auxiliary resonant circuits. In the proposed ZCS-PWM half-bridge boost rectifier, ZCS in the active switches and ZCS in passive switches are performed without additional current stress. In addition to reduce switching losses, significant reductions in the conduction loss and in the current stress are realized because the circulating current for the soft-switching flows only through the auxiliary circuit. The steady-state analysis is performed for operation illustration, and the small-signal model is built up for output regulation control and power factor correction (PFC). An average-current-mode for PFC is utilized to control the proposed ZCS-PWM half-bridge boost in the continuous conduction mode. The two output capacitor voltage imbalance is inherent in the half-bridge rectifier, and therefore the balance control technique is added to be more complete for this research. The operational principles, design considerations, and realizations are discussed and verified. The specification of the proposed ZCS-PWM half-bridge boost is rated at 400 W and operates at 30 kHz, with an input ac voltage of 110 Vrms and a regulated output voltage 400 Vdc, for experiments to verify the theoretic analysis of the proposed ZCS-PWM half-bridge boost with output voltage balance control.
An extension of the continual reassessment method using decision theory

The primary goal of a phase I trial is to find the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of a treatment. The MTD is usually defined in terms of a tolerable probability, q*, of toxicity. Our objective is to find the highest dose with toxicity risk that does not exceed q*, a criterion that is often desired in designing phase I trials. This criterion differs from that of finding the dose with toxicity risk closest to q*, that is used in methods such as the continual reassessment method. We use the theory of decision processes to find optimal sequential designs that maximize the expected number of patients within the trial allocated to the highest dose with toxicity not exceeding q*, among the doses under consideration. The proposed method is very general in the sense that criteria other than the one considered here can be optimized and that optimal dose assignment can be defined in terms of patients within or outside the trial. It includes as an important special case the continual reassessment method. Numerical study indicates the strategy compares favourably with other phase I designs. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How to Green the red Dragon : A Start-ups' Little Helper for Sustainable Development in China

This article qualitatively identifies and explains the barriers that foreign cleantech start-ups can encounter when attempting to enter the Chinese market, as well as the possible strategies that can help overcome these barriers. We base our analysis on interviews with Chinese and foreign entrepreneurs and facilitators. To structure the analysis of such barriers, we use the components of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We then explain the barriers using institutional theory. We demonstrate that they are caused either by the regulations in China or by the difference between Chinese and Western logics. We further recommend that cleantech entrepreneurs come prepared to China, remain flexible, associate themselves with reputable partners and take advice from those familiar with business in China. Cultural-cognitive barriers might be overcome by integrating the communities of foreign and Chinese start-ups. Regulative barriers can be removed by the Chinese Government, but this conflicts with the logic of state control.
Fluorescent in situ hybridization diagnosis of extramedullary nodal blast crisis

The t(9;22)(q34;q11) translocation between bcr and abl genes plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using specific DNA probes provides a useful and accurate way for the detection of bcr/abl fusion gene in single cell. Here, we report an unusual case of a patient with no prior hematologic disease who initially manifested lymphadenopathy. The lymph node findings were suspicious for T‐lineage lymphoblastic lymphoma, however, his blood and bone marrow at that time were in chronic phase of CML. This presented difficulty for accurate discrimination between CML blast crisis (BC) and non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). To discern where the extramedullary nodal malignancy originated from, we cytologically analyzed lymph node biopsies and bone marrow with FISH to detect bcr/abl fusion signals. Together with the morphology, immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics as well as molecular analysis, the patient was diagnosed as extramedullary T‐lymphoid BC of Ph+ CML. In conclusion, this case is unusual at three levels: first, extramedullary nodal BC as a presenting manifestation of CML is rare and the blasts are of precursor T lymphoblastic lineage, rather than the more common B‐cell lineage; second, this case suggests that extramedullary lymphoid nodal BC of CML can exist independently without the bone marrow developing into BC; and third, FISH analysis on the single neoplastic cell is an accurate way to confirm that the neoplasm is either extramedullary localized blasts of CML or genetically distinct neoplasm. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2013. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gene targeting of ErbB3 using a Cre‐mediated unidirectional DNA inversion strategy

Recombinase‐mediated unidirectional DNA inversion and transcriptional arrest is a promising strategy for high throughput conditional mutagenesis in the mouse. Banks of mouse embryonic stem cells with defined, transcriptionally silent insertions that can be activated by Cre recombinase would take advantage of existing transgenic Cre lines to rapidly produce hundreds of lineage specific and temporally controlled knockout mice for each gene, thereby introducing significant parallelism to functional gene annotation. However, the extent to which this strategy results in effective gene knockout has not been established. To test the feasibility of this strategy we targeted ErbB3, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase receptors, using this strategy. Insertion of a reversed “flipflox” vector consisting of a gene inactivation cassette (GI) and an internal ribosome entry site (IRES)‐GFP reporter into intron 1 of ErbB3 was transcriptionally silent and did not affect ErbB3 expression. Crosses with ubiquitous and lineage specific Cre recombinase expressing lines permanently inverted the inserted GI cassette and blocked ErbB3 expression. Unidirectional DNA inversion by in vivo recombination is an effective strategy for targeted or ubiquitous gene knockout. genesis 44:477–486, 2006. Published 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.