Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A multiple case study on employee engagement and retention at startup companies

A company's ability to retain employees often relies on how well the founder can facilitate and motivate engagement. Retaining employees, however, is challenging at startups due to the often-uncertain organizational climate wherein they manifest and develop. The HRM practices that ought to be adapted in such environment are often unclear, and leave employees feeling stressed, burnt out, and increasingly disengaged. This study looks into the HRM practices of startup founders in 11 companies, and how they affect employee engagement and retention. The cases were selected based on criteria that kept the size and resources of companies comparably similar. Data, both qualitative and quantitative, was then collected from founders by way of interviews, and employees by way of surveys, in order to confirm the key HRM practices that affect engagement, and assess whether the conducted practices were perceived similarly by both respondent groups. Findings indicate that the perspectives of founders and employees were not aligned on what the company claimed to facilitate in terms of engagement and retention. Many of the identified HRM practices were either sparingly implemented, or not at all. This study contributes to the pool of applicable HRM knowledge in an entrepreneurial context; it provides insights on the impact of HRM practices on employee retention and engagement, maps out engagement components that founders should be aware of, and proposes counter measures for disengagement.
Time Series Analysis on Diabetes Mortality in the United States, 1999- 2015 by Kolmogorov-Zurbenko Filter

Kolmogorov-Zurbenko filters can be utilized in the public health context analyzing mortality data. This paper aims to expand upon the robust methodology of the KZ filters and their many applications. As a low-pass filter the KZ filters are proven to be the optimal means of analysis for non-stationary data such as mortality data which usually contains various underlying signals: seasonality, long-term trend, and short-term fluctuations. As diabetes incidence and prevalence increases, the burden of health care cost increases, thus prompting the need to understand patterns underlying adverse events related to diabetes, such as mortality. Increasing incidence and prevalence of diabetes prompts the need for preventative measures and understanding what environmental factors are related to adverse events as a result of diabetes. Diabetes mortality across time analyzed with non-parametric models has not previously been studied, thus this extension to the KZ filters is utilized as a preliminary analysis to address the gap in knowledge of diabetes mortality in the United States. Non-parametric time series analysis methods identify an 8.5-year long-term trend as well as annual seasonality of diabetes mortality. Spectral and time analysis of diabetes mortality introduces the relationship between solar activity and diabetes mortality, which is quantified utilizing the cross-correlation between diabetes mortality and total solar irradiation. The strong correlation between solar activity and diabetes mortality confirms the environmental role related specifically to diabetes mortality.
Fluorescence Approaches for Determining Protein Conformations, Interactions and Mechanisms at Membranes

Processes that occur at membranes are essential for the viability of every cell, but such processes are the least well understood at the molecular level. The complex nature and physical properties of the molecular components involved, as well as the requirement for two separated aqueous compartments, restrict the experimental approaches that can be successfully applied to examine the structure, conformational changes and interactions of the membrane‐bound proteins that accomplish these processes. In particular, to accurately elucidate the molecular mechanisms that effect and regulate such processes, one must use experimental approaches that do not disrupt the structural integrity or functionality of the protein–membrane complexes being examined. To best accomplish this goal, especially when large multicomponent complexes and native membranes are involved, the optimal experimental approach to use is most often fluorescence spectroscopy. Using multiple independent fluorescence techniques, one can determine structural information in real time and in intact membranes under native conditions that cannot be obtained by crystallography, electron microscopy and NMR techniques, among others. Furthermore, fluorescence techniques provide a comprehensive range of information, from kinetic to thermodynamic, about the assembly, structure, function and regulation of membrane‐bound proteins and complexes. This article describes the use of various fluorescence techniques to characterize different aspects of proteins bound to or embedded in membranes.
Fixed-Order Robust Filter Design for Markovian Jump Systems With Uncertain Switching Probabilities

This paper discusses the fixed-order robust fil- tering problem for a class of Markovian jump linear systems with uncertain switching probabilities. The uncertainties under consid- eration are assumed to be norm-bounded in the system matrices and to be elementwise bounded in the mode transition rate matrix, respectively. First, a criterion based on linear matrix inequalities is provided for testing the filtering level of a filter over all the ad- missible uncertainties. Then, a sufficient condition for the existence of the fixed-order robust filters is established in terms of the solvability of a set of linear matrix inequalities with equality con- straints. To determine the filter, a globally convergent algorithm involving convex optimization is suggested. Finally, a numerical ex- ample is used to illustrate that the developed theory is more effec- tive than the existing results.
A Fuzzy Adaptive Tightly-Coupled Integration Method for Mobile Target Localization Using SINS/WSN

In recent years, mobile target localization for enclosed environments has been a growing interest. In this paper, we have proposed a fuzzy adaptive tightly-coupled integration (FATCI) method for positioning and tracking applications using strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) and wireless sensor network (WSN). The wireless signal outage and severe multipath propagation of WSN often influence the accuracy of measured distance and lead to difficulties with the WSN positioning. Note also that the SINS are known for their drifted error over time. Using as a base the well-known loosely-coupled integration method, we have built a tightly-coupled integrated positioning system for SINS/WSN based on the measured distances between anchor nodes and mobile node. The measured distance value of WSN is corrected with a least squares regression (LSR) algorithm, with the aim of decreasing the systematic error for measured distance. Additionally, the statistical covariance of measured distance value is used to adjust the observation covariance matrix of a Kalman filter using a fuzzy inference system (FIS), based on the statistical characteristics. Then the tightly-coupled integration model can adaptively adjust the confidence level for measurement according to the different measured accuracies of distance measurements. Hence the FATCI system is achieved using SINS/WSN. This innovative approach is verified in real scenarios. Experimental results show that the proposed positioning system has better accuracy and stability compared with the loosely-coupled and traditional tightly-coupled integration model for WSN short-term failure or normal conditions.
A Multi-criteria Recommender System Exploiting Aspect-based Sentiment Analysis of Users' Reviews

In this paper we propose a multi-criteria recommender system based on collaborative filtering (CF) techniques, which exploits the information conveyed by users' reviews to provide a multi-faceted representation of users' interests. To this end, we exploited a framework for opinion mining and sentiment analysis, which automatically extracts relevant aspects and sentiment scores from users' reviews. As an example, in a restaurant recommendation scenario, the aspects may regard food quality, service, position, athmosphere of the place and so on. Such a multi-faceted representation of the user is used to feed a multi-criteria CF algorithm which predicts user interest in a particular item and provides her with recommendations. In the experimental session we evaluated the performance of the algorithm against several state-of-the-art baselines; Results confirmed the insight behind this work, since our approach was able to overcome both single-criteria recommendation algorithms as well as more sophisticated techniques based on matrix factorization.
Maturation of the mammalian embryo: biochemical aspects.

The oocyte of the eutherian mammal undergoes fertilization within the fallopian tube of the female and the zygote, formed from the fusion of the male and female gametes, undergoes its initial cleavage and development first in the fallopian tube and later in the uterine lumen. During this preimplantation period, the length of which varies considerably between species, the embryo depends for its nutrition and development upon the luminal secretions of the female reproductive tract. The chemistry of these secretions is complex and they are known to contain a wide array of both inorganic ions and organic components. (Restall & Wales, 1966; Wales, 1973; Beier, 1974). At present one can only guess at the possible physiological significance of some of these components for the gametes prior to fertilization and for the development of the ovum following fertilization. However, the apparent refractoriness of the embryos of some species to culture techniques suggests a dependence on specific environmental conditions that, at our present state of knowledge, can only be provided by the secretions of the female reproductive tract.
Introducing learner infrastructural capabilities into information systems success model using e-learning

The study introduces learner infrastructural capabilities into the field of information systems success. The introduction of this construct in information systems success is important due to lack of consideration for the individual infrastructural ability that has not been addressed by the success factors with respect to individual, environment, developing countries and digital divide. An explanatory mixed method research design is considered using questionnaire for the survey and an open-ended interview for data collection. Four hundred and twelve responses were used from survey and ten people for interview. The Information Systems success dimensions include system use, system quality, service quality, content quality, user satisfaction and net benefit and the learner infrastructural capabilities which include the computer ownership, internet access and energy generation. The study found a good model fit for learner infrastructural capabilities when dimensions of information systems success model of DeLone and McLean are used, forming a success model that inculcate the individual Information Systems infrastructure.
Do Pollution Markets Harm Low Income and Minority Communities? Ranking Emissions Distributions Generated by California&Apos;S Reclaim Program

We compare the spatial distribution of emissions from Southern California’s pollution-trading program with that of a counterfactual command-and-control policy. We develop a normatively significant metric with which to rank the various distributions in a manner consistent with an explicit well-behaved preference structure. Results suggest trading benefited all demographic groups and generated a more equitable overall distribution of emissions even after controlling for its lower aggregate emissions. Upper-income and white demographics had more desirable distributions relative to low-income and some minority groups under the RECLAIM trading program, however, and population shifts over time may have undermined anticipated gains for African Americans.
Pairing heaps, scrambled pairing and square-root trees

Fredman et al. have shown that the amortized cost for deleting the item with the minimum value from a pairing heap is O(√n), no matter how the pairing is done [M. Fredman, R. Sedgewick, D. Sleator, and R. Tarjan, The Pairing heap: a new form of self-adjusting heap, Algorithmica 1(1) (1986), pp. 111–129]. In this paper, this upper bound is shown to be realizable (indicating that their analysis is tight). More precisely, starting with any n-node heap, we consider an alternating sequence of the operations: delete-min and insert; and give a pairing strategy for which Θ(√n) is the amortized cost per delete-min, irrespective of the initial heap structure. More interesting is that, starting with any initial structure, the heap will converge after O(n 1.5) operations to the same structure, which we call the square-root tree.
A massive system of microtubules associated with cytoplasmic movement in telotrophic ovarioles.

The telotrophic ovary of Notonecta glauca glauca consists of 7 ovarioles. Each ovariole comprises, from front to rear, a terminal filament, a trophic region, a prefollicular region, and a series of 10-15 follicles of progressively increasing size The trophic region is largely syncytial and is made up of polyploid trophic nuclei packed around a central trophic core The cytoplasm of the trophic core is continuous with the cytoplasm of each oocyte through a system of trophic tubes. There is one trophic tube per oocyte. The trophic nuclei have large nucleoli. There are a few small nucleoli in the oocyte nuclei The cytoplasm of the trophic core, the trophic tubes, and the oocytes is rich in RNA. Autoradiographs of sections of ovarioles fixed 2 h after injection of [ 3 H]uridine into animals show label over the trophic nuclei only. Eight-hour autoradiographs show heavy labelling of the trophic region and label over the front ends of the trophic tubes, but little label over the posterior regions of the tubes or the oocyte cytoplasm. Later autoradiographs mdicate that label gradually spreads backwards from the trophic core, along the trophic tubes, and progressively builds up in the oocyte cytoplasm These observations are thought to indicate synthesis of RNA in the trophic region and movement of RNA from the trophic core along the trophic tubes to the oocytes The trophic core and tubes show brilliant positive form birefringence with respect to their lengths. This birefringence can be reduced by keeping animals at 2 °C for 12 h, and eliminated by placing ovarioles in 1 % colchicine for 6 h. Electron micrographs of thin sections of ovarioles show that trophic core and tubes are densely and uniformly packed with ribosomes and microtubules The latter are lined up along the trophic tubes. There are about 30000 microtubules evident in a TS through a trophic tube 15µm wide. Lengths of microtubules up to 2µm have been observed. Ribosomes are packed between the microtubules but are excluded from regions where the spacing between adjacent microtubules is less than 25 nm The contribution of the trophic region to the oocytes and the role of the microtubules in maintaining or facilitating the movement of ribosomes along the trophic tubes is discussed
PENGARUH UKURAN PERUSAHAAN, LEVERAGE DAN TIPE INDUSTRI TERHADAP CORPORATE INFORMATION TRANSPARENCY ON THE INTERNET (e-CTI) PERUSAHAAN LQ45

Science and technology is growing in line with the development of business and economics. The development of the Internet as a means to disseminate information about the company has created a form of communication between the company and its stakeholders. The company as a provider of financial data will reach a wider user when using the website. The fact that there are not all companies provide a website to inform the company to stakeholders led to the need for this research. The purpose of this study was to obtain empirical evidence about the factors that affect the company's disclosure of information via the Internet (website). Research conducted on 45 companies in the Indonesia Stock Exchange whose shares are listed in the LQ45. Hypothesis testing is done through either partial or simultaneously regression . Results of the study provide empirical evidence that the characteristics of the company consisting of firm size (SIZE), leverage (LEV) and type of industry (IND) simultaneously does not affect the e-CTI. However, for the partial test for this type of industry (IND) proved to yield significant results. That is, for companies that are in LQ45, type of industry influence on Internet-based information disclosure or use of the website. This proves that the company in a particular industry will reveal more information than other types of industries . Keywords: e-CTI, transparency, information.
External reporting of human capital in Malaysia

Human capital information which is vital for effective management of resources is usually only accessible internally within an organization. However, information regarding human capital or human resource investments and the return on these investments are currently not presented in the annual reports systematically and consistently. This paper examines the extent of the disclosure of human capital in the annual reports of Malaysian top companies based on the concept of Human Resource Costing and Accounting (HRCA) and other relevant human capital elements or measures. A content analysis using word count was conducted to determine the extent of human capital disclosures. The findings reveal that the concept of HRCA is still distant to human resource managers in Malaysia. The human capital items which are most commonly disclosed are information on training, human resource development, employee skill, knowledge and competence. Return on human resource investment is not reported in the annual reports.
Extracting Core Users Based on Features of Users and Their Relationships in Recommender Systems

As an effective way to solve information overload, recommender system has drawn attention of scholars from various fields. However, existing works mainly focus on improving the accuracy of recommendation by designing new algorithms, while the different importance of individual users has not been well addressed. In this paper, the authors propose new approaches to identifying core users based on trust relationships and interest similarity between users, and the popular degree, trust influence and resource of individual users. First, the trust degree and interest similarity between all user pairs, as well as the three attributes of individuals are calculated. Second, a global core user set is constructed based on three strategies, which are frequency-based, rank-based, and fusion-sorting-based. Finally, the authors compare their proposed methods with other existing methods from accuracy, novelty, long-tail distribution and user degree distribution. Experiments show the effectiveness of the authors' core user extraction methods.
Destination Governance at Stake: Fostering Policy Coordination Among Decision-Makers of a Small Town

ABSTRACT This research aims to foster small-town decision-makers’ awareness of policy coordination as a central issue in either implementing collaborative governance and designing tourism development policies. To this end, a System Dynamics-based Interactive Learning Environment (ILE) has been designed with the intent of challenging decision-makers to increase tourism in the small town, while managing trade-offs among individualistic vs. collaborative behaviour. The action research took place in Castelbuono, a small tourism destination in Sicily (Italy). Three major decision-makers were involved: the mayor of the town, the museum’s director, and a restaurant owner. The use of the ILE has enabled decision-makers to review their mental models and to understand interdependence among their strategies. The action research leads decision-makers to reflect upon the importance of collaborative governance for tourism destination as well as to manage small-town shared resources.
Ligation-independent cloning of PCR products with primers containing nonbase residues.

For many applications it is often necessary to subclone PCR products into plasmid vectors. Many strategies for subcloning PCR products have been developed but most require subsequent enzymatic treatment and/or purification. Ligation-independent cloning of PCR products (LIC-PCR) is a versatile method eliminating a time-consuming and occasionally problematic ligation step. In the method described by Aslanidis and de Jong (1) two amplifications are required - amplification of product with primers containing 12 nucleotide sequences lacking dCMP in the 5' ends and amplification of a vector with primers containing 12 nucleotides complementary to product primers. Complementary single strands are produced by exonuclease activity of T4 DNA polymerase in the presence of dGTP and dCTP, respectively. Alternatively specific sequences devoid of particular bases can be incorporated into a vector, eliminating the vector PCR (2). Another method (3) also requires only amplification of product with primers containing 12 nucleotides complementary to any vector sequences flanking a restriction site. Complementary single strands are created by controlled Exo HI digestion of product and linearized vector. In both cases annealed 12 nucleotide stretches are stable enough to transform competent cells. LIC-PCR kits based on method (2) are now commercially available (Clontech, Pharmingen). An additional improvement to this methodology would be elimination all enzymatic treatment of the PCR product and direct of complementary single strands to predefmed vector sequences during PCR. Abasic sites (nonbase residues) present in template DNA have been reported to markedly slow the incorporation of nucleotide triphosphates by DNA polymerases nonbase into primers to PCR products with single-stranded tails,
Finite Element Analysis of Switched Reluctance Motor under Dynamic Eccentricity Fault

This paper describes the results of a two-dimensional finite element analysis carried out on an 8/6 switched reluctance motor for studying the effects of dynamic eccentricity on the static characteristics of the motor. Flux contours, flux-linkage profiles and mutual fluxes are obtained for both healthy and faulty motor. Besides, Static torque profiles of phases are obtained for different degrees of eccentricity and it is shown that at low current; the effect of eccentricity is considerable compared to that of the rated current case. Finally, Fourier analysis of the torque profiles is performed to make their difference visible.
From Patient Navigation to Cancer Justice: Toward a Culture-Centered, Community-Owned Intervention Addressing Disparities in Cancer Prevention

In this study, we analyze data from an ongoing academic-community collaboration targeted at conceptualization and delivery of a patient navigation intervention for cancer prevention. Echoing overall U.S. trends, the region under study is earmarked by significant socioeconomic and racial disparities in cancer outcomes. While there is a large body of research on the use of patient navigation across the continuum of cancer care, the role of communication in shaping navigation is unclear in the literature. Responding to this gap, we use the culture-centered approach to document how community-based “lay” patient navigators’ local knowledge and cultural expertise shaped the scope and meanings of patient navigation for a predominantly African-American population. Qualitative data in the form of navigator interviews, participant observation of navigation, and research team members’ reflexive journals were used to document how the definition and scope of navigation were re-inscribed by community navigators. While navigation was initially equated with screening promotion, interaction with community members led to the development of more listening-focused and structural barrier-focused conceptualization of patient navigation. Finally, we discuss the implications and contributions and limitations of this study.