Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A preliminary framework for DNA barcoding, incorporating the multispecies coalescent.

The capacity to identify an unknown organism using the DNA sequence from a single gene has many applications. These include the development of biodiversity inventories (Janzen et al. 2005), forensics (Meiklejohn et al. 2011), biosecurity (Armstrong and Ball 2005), and the identification of cryptic species (Smith et al. 2006). The popularity and widespread use (Teletchea 2010) of the DNA barcoding approach (Hebert et al. 2003), despite broad misgivings (e.g., Smith 2005; Will et al. 2005; Rubinoff et al. 2006), attest to this. However, one major shortcoming to the standard barcoding approach is that it assumes that gene trees and species trees are synonymous, an assumption that is known not to hold in many cases (Pamilo and Nei 1988; Funk and Omland 2003). Biological processes that violate this assumption include incomplete lineage sorting and interspecific hybridization (Funk and Omland 2003). Indeed, simulation studies indicate that the concatenation approach (in which these two processes are ignored) can lead to statistically inconsistent estimation of the species tree (Kubatko and Degnan 2007).
Transaction streams: theory and examples related to confidence in internet-based electronic commerce

This paper analyses how transactions related to the exchange of goods and services are being performed on the Internet. The adoption of electronic markets in an industry has a disintermediation potential because it can create a direct link between the producer and the consumer (without the need for the intermediation role of distributors). Electronic markets lower the searches cost allowing customers to choose between more providers. This ultimately reduces both the costs for the customer and the profits for the producer. In this paper it is contended that electronic markets on the Internet have the opposite effect, resulting in an increase in intermediators. It introduces transaction streams which model how transactions are being conducted and helps explain the types of new intermediators that are appearing on the Internet. The mechanisms by which companies are exploring ways of extending transaction streams are also described. To illustrate the model, the paper briefly analyses transaction streams in the insurance industry and provides examples related to confidence in electronic commerce.
A vibration energy harvesting device with bidirectional resonance frequency tunability

Vibration energy harvesting is an attractive technique for potential powering of wireless sensors and low power devices. While the technique can be employed to harvest energy from vibrations and vibrating structures, a general requirement independent of the energy transfer mechanism is that the vibration energy harvesting device operate in resonance at the excitation frequency. Most energy harvesting devices developed to date are single resonance frequency based, and while recent efforts have been made to broaden the frequency range of energy harvesting devices, what is lacking is a robust tunable energy harvesting technique. In this paper, the design and testing of a resonance frequency tunable energy harvesting device using a magnetic force technique is presented. This technique enabled resonance tuning to ± 20% of the untuned resonant frequency. In particular, this magnetic-based approach enables either an increase or decrease in the tuned resonant frequency. A piezoelectric cantilever beam with a natural frequency of 26 Hz is used as the energy harvesting cantilever, which is successfully tuned over a frequency range of 22–32 Hz to enable a continuous power output 240–280 µW over the entire frequency range tested. A theoretical model using variable damping is presented, whose results agree closely with the experimental results. The magnetic force applied for resonance frequency tuning and its effect on damping and load resistance have been experimentally determined.
Maintenance precepts for efficient electricity infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa: The case of the Nigerian electricity network

The growing demand for electric power supply in developing countries has driven system operators to seek for better ways to harness more sources of sustainable power. The growth of power Networks and the number of elements which constitutes them has tremendously increased. This has created the need for an increased capacity and diligence in the sustenance of power systems in such countries. The adoption of a holistic approach in the management and planning of power systems cannot be over emphasized. This brings about the need for system maintenance management that encompasses; planning, monitoring and appraisal of maintenance activities in order to sustain growth and productivity. The work highlights due diligence and standard maintenance practices applied in other developed countries where efficiency is recorded. This work looks at some of those practices from the Nigerian context.
The Evaluation Model of Transaction Trust in online Group-buying Based on Transaction History Information

Trust is an vital factor affecting online transaction. This paper presents an evaluation model of transaction trust based on transaction history information including past transaction amounts, transaction dates and rates of favorable comments, which can widen the applicability of the trust evaluation model. Some case studies are given to testify the effectiveness of the evaluation model presented in this paper. The results mainly show that (1) the new transaction with positive category difference of transaction amounts will have higher transaction risk than that with negative category difference of transaction amounts;(2) the bigger the absolute value of category difference of transaction amounts is, the higher the transaction risk is;(3)the farther the transaction date of the past transaction is from the new transaction, the smaller the impact on the risk of the new transaction is.
An Optimal and Distributed Method for Voltage Regulation in Power Distribution Systems

This paper addresses the problem of voltage regulation in power distribution networks with deep-penetration of distributed energy resources, e.g., renewable-based generation, and storage-capable loads such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. We cast the problem as an optimization program, where the objective is to minimize the losses in the network subject to constraints on bus voltage magnitudes, limits on active and reactive power injections, transmission line thermal limits and losses. We provide sufficient conditions under which the optimization problem can be solved via its convex relaxation. Using data from existing networks, we show that these sufficient conditions are expected to be satisfied by most networks. We also provide an efficient distributed algorithm to solve the problem. The algorithm adheres to a communication topology described by a graph that is the same as the graph that describes the electrical network topology. We illustrate the operation of the algorithm, including its robustness against communication link failures, through several case studies involving 5-, 34-, and 123-bus power distribution systems.
Multiple Classifier Learning of New Facial Extraction Approach for Facial Expressions Recognition using Depth Sensor

In this paper, we are justifying the next step experiment of our novel feature extraction approach for facial expressions recognition. In our previous work, we proposed extracting the facial features from 3D facial wire-frame generated by depth camera (Kinect V.2). We introduced the facial movement streams, which were derived from the distance measurement between each pair of the nodes located on human facial wire-frame flowing through each frame of the movement. The experiment was conducted by using two classifiers, K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM), with fixed values of k parameter and kernel. 15-people data set collected by our software was used for the evaluation of the system. The experiment resulted promising accuracy and performance of our approach in the last experiment. Consequently, we were anticipating to know the best parameters that would reflect the best performance of our approach. This time experiment, we try tuning the parameter values of K-NN as well as kernel of SVM. We measure both accuracy and execution time. On the one hand, K-NN overcomes all other classifiers by getting 90.33% of accuracy, but on the other hand, SVM consumes much time and gets just 67% of accuracy.
Particle Swarm Optimisation and high dimensional problem spaces

Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) has been very successful in finding, if not the optimum, at least very good positions in many diverse and complex problem spaces. However, as the number of dimensions of this problem space increases, the performance can fall away. This paper considers the role that the separable nature of the traditional PSO equations may have in this and introduces the ideal of a dynamic momentum value for each dimension as one way of making the PSO equations non-separable. Results obtained using high dimensional versions of a number of traditional functions are presented and clearly show that both the quality of, and the time taken to find, the optimum obtained using variable momentum are better than when using fixed momentum.
Aberrant IgM Signaling Promotes Survival of Transitional T1 B Cells and Prevents Tolerance Induction in Lupus-Prone New Zealand Black Mice1

New Zealand Black (NZB) mice develop a lupus-like syndrome. Although the precise immune defects leading to autoantibody production in these mice have not been characterized, they possess a number of immunologic abnormalities suggesting that B cell tolerance may be defective. In the bone marrow, immature self-reactive B cells that have failed to edit their receptors undergo apoptosis as a consequence of Ig receptor engagement. Splenic transitional T1 B cells are recent bone marrow emigrants that retain these signaling properties, ensuring that B cells recognizing self-Ags expressed only in the periphery are deleted from the naive B cell repertoire. In this study we report that this mechanism of tolerance is defective in NZB mice. We show that NZB T1 B cells are resistant to apoptosis after IgM cross-linking in vitro. Although extensive IgM cross-linking usually leads to deletion of T1 B cells, in NZB T1 B cells we found that it prevents mitochondrial membrane damage, inhibits activation of caspase-3, and promotes cell survival. Increased survival of NZB T1 B cells was associated with aberrant up-regulation of Bcl-2 after Ig receptor engagement. We also show that there is a markedly increased proportion of NZB T1 B cells that express elevated levels of Bcl-2 in vivo and provide evidence that up-regulation of Bcl-2 follows encounter with self-Ag in vivo. Thus, we propose that aberrant cell signaling in NZB T1 B cells leads to the survival of autoreactive B cells, which predisposes NZB mice to the development of autoimmunity.
The link between customer satisfaction and loyalty: the moderating role of customer characteristics

Abstract This research examines whether trust and commitment mediate the extent to which satisfaction influences loyalty, and whether such mediation is conditional on certain demographic or situational customer characteristics. The findings suggest that assuming homogeneity supports the general notion that trust and commitment partially mediate the extent to which satisfaction influences loyalty. FIMIX-PLS and PLS-MGA analyses substantiate that this mediation differs between two distinct customer segments. The two segments reveal heterogeneity in how trust and commitment partially mediate the link between satisfaction and loyalty. That is, the effect of satisfaction on loyalty is fully mediated by trust and commitment in the segment of customers with high education, whereas satisfaction is partially mediated by trust, but not by commitment, in the other segment of customers with less education.
Impact of Corporate Tax Cuts on Corporate Investment

□ There has been growing public support for a tax hike as corporate investment remains stagnant despite the recent cut in the corporate tax rate. Accordingly, this study aims to closely examine the impact of the corporate tax rate on investment. ○ Managerial decisions, including those on investment, are based on a diverse range of factors, encompassing not only the corporate tax rate but also financial conditions and investment uncertainties. As such, corporate characteristics must be controlled, when possible, before estimating the impact of corporate tax change on investment. □ An empirical analysis found that Korea’s listed companies expand their investment significantly when the corporate tax rate is reduced. ○ For the robustness of the analysis results, this study adopted various models and methodologies to analyze listed companies in 2002-2014 and found that a 1%p cut in the average effective corporate tax rate caused the investment rate to increase by 0.2%p. ○ In particular, it can be assumed that such an increase in investment may have been higher if the managements‘ tunneling activities were curtailed. - An analysis, using a structural model, revealed that in Korea, management sought private interests nine times more than their counterparts in the US, diminishing the effects of a tax cut by roughly 28% in the short run. □ Therefore, the government must take a cautious approach when increasing the corporate tax rate, and also strengthen the internal and external monitoring and supervision of management to enable companies to make reasonable investment decisions.
DEFINING CONTEXTUAL ADVANTAGE: EXPLORING THE CONTEXTUAL RELATION BETWEEN EFFECTUATION AND ENTREPRENURIAL MARKETING FOR CREATING NEW MARKETS EFFECTUALLY

The paper explores the behaviour of the Entrepreneur and the Effectual use of available resources mainly social capital in new market creation. The study dwells on creating a unique ‘Context’ by leveraging these resources to increase the Entrepreneurial orientation of a firm. The paper further attempts to explore whether the Contextual link between Effectuation and Entrepreneurial Marketing helps develop a ‘Contextual Advantage’, which can be used as a mean of developing a unique business model which differentiates the firm in the market. The paper hence explores contemporary theories of Entrepreneurship and Marketing namely Entrepreneurial Marketing, Effectuation and Contextual Marketing by studying their inter-relation. The nature of these theories is underexplored according to the authors and requires further investigation to evolve the field of Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
Development of a fetal risk assessment score for the prediction of neonatal outcome in the growth-restricted fetus

Objective: To develop and analyze a fetal risk assessment score (FRAS) that incorporates fetal arterial and venous blood flow studies (BFS), amniotic fluid volume, the non-stress test (NST) and an estimated fetal weight to improve the ability of antenatal testing to identify fetuses at risk for poor perinatal outcome and compare it to the Biophysical Profile (BPP). Study design: The Perinatal data base of the author’s institution was searched for all patients with singleton gestation with the diagnosis of intrauterine growth restriction, and who had both a biophysical profile (BPP) and fetal BFS (umbilical and middle cerebral artery, ductus venosus) within 4 days of delivery. Fetuses with major congenital abnormalities, chromosomal anomalies, or who delivered less than 25 weeks gestation were excluded. A FRAS score was developed by assigning numerical points for increasing abnormal arterial and venous BFS, and one point each for a non-reactive NST, oligohydramnios or if the fetus was small for gestational age. Recommendations for delivery were based on the clinical situation and the results of the Biophysical Profile (BPP); the FRAS score was not available to the attending physician. The FRAS was then compared to the BPP for the prediction of poor neonatal outcome (significant neonatal complications or prolonged hospital stay) using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and χ2 analysis. Results: Two hundred twenty-nine patients were included in the study. The results of the ROC analysis showed that the designed FRAS (area: 0.802) was slightly better than the BPP (area: 0.659) at predicting poor perinatal outcome in a group of growth-restricted fetuses. Conclusion: The study gives support to the hypothesis that combining biophysical tests with BFS will improve the identification of potential high-risk patients at increased risk for poor neonatal outcome, but prospective, randomized studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
LMI Conditions for the Stability of Linear Uncertain Polynomially Time-Varying Systems

This technical note investigates the robust stability of uncertain linear time-varying systems with a mode-switch dynamics. Each mode is characterized by a dynamical matrix containing elements whose time behavior over bounded time intervals is described by interval polynomials of arbitrary degree. Using a quadratic Lyapunov function polynomially depending on time, stability conditions for each mode are stated in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The stability conditions of the switching system are stated both in terms of minimum and average dwell time. A salient feature of the technical note is that the single-mode stability conditions given here allow the parameters and their derivatives to take values over arbitrarily large uncertainty sets.
Estimation of Gompertz growth curve parameters by a non-linear mixed effects model

Abstract Simulated growth data with parameters appropriate for pigs were generated through a 2 step process. First, a linear mixed model was used to produce Gompertz growth curve coeff icients for each pig. Then, 30 weekly weights were produced using the coeff icients. Simulated pedigree had 3 generations without selection: 10 unrelated grandsires and 200 sires, each with 24 tested offspring. A method based on Taylor series approximation was applied to estimate breeding values for curve parameters and the corresponding (co)variance components. In every iteration, a working variate (sum of predictions by linearized model and a non-linear model residual) was utili zed to solve location and dispersion parameters of the linearized model. Approach required only minor changes to existing software for random regression models. In addition to data from full growing period, a truncated time trajectory data was analyzed to test the approach when animals are slaughtered prematurely. Truncation was at slaughter weight 115kg, which reduced the number of measurements to 11 per pig on average. From 50 replicates with full data the bias of estimates of three genetic variances were 1% of the parameter values, on average. For the truncated data bias increased to 19% and -23% for first and third parameter. Results of this study indicated the capabilit y of linearization approach to estimate original parameters satisfactorily for full data, but not as well for truncated data.
JOB SATISFACTION OF COMMERCIAL BANK EMPLOYEES IN BANGLADESH: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS

Banking sector plays a pivotal role in the economic development of a country. Since one of the key factors of an organisation is its employees the success/failure of the organisation largely depends on their satisfaction/dissatisfaction. Thus, the present study was designed with a view to investigating the satisfaction of commercial bank employees and its consequences on related issues. A total number of 440 commercial bank employees from both the private and the public sectors were randomly selected as sample for the present study. The results revealed that the public sector bank employees were in a better position in terms of their job satisfaction than the private sector bank employees and the executives were more satisfied than the non-executives. Job satisfaction had significant positive correlation with performance but significant negative correlation with job stress and propensity to quit the job. Job satisfaction had the highest positive contribution to performance. Bank employees perceived their job as highly stressful irrespective of their rank and status in the organisation. Moreover, banking employees in Bangladesh were highly dissatisfied with their salary, lack of fair promotional opportunity, low job status and absence of recognition for good work. Finally, some recommendations are made to improve the situation to provide
THE ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER PURCHASE INTENTION TOWARDS COSMETIC PRODUCTS BASED ON PRODUCT ORIGIN

In this modern era, the use of cosmetic products has become the things that are important starting from infancy to old age. Then consumers offered with so many different kinds of cosmetic products, which come from different brands. In order to have, beautiful skin, healthy hair and good-looking appearance. The objectives of this research are to identify which country–of–origin people prefer the most for cosmetic products and to identify which criterion is the most influential in selecting cosmetic products. To accomplished the objectives, data were collected in Manado through questionnaire. This quantitative descriptive research was using Analytical Hierarchy Process. Sample size is 60 women who have intention to buy cosmetic products. As the result of this research, the United States cosmetic products is the most preferred country–of–origin by the consumer since United States always has the biggest score, followed by South Korea and Indonesia. Based on overall result, price is the most preferred among six criteria for selecting cosmetic products followed consecutively by brand, promotion, quality, packaging and the last is availability. This research suggests, South Korea and Indonesia need to improve the performance considering the criteria that have been analyzed. Then among the criteria, price has important role so retailers and producers have to pay more attention toward this factor. Keywords: consumer purchase intention, country–of–origin, analytical hierarchy process
Firm Life Cycle and Analyst Forecast Behavior

This study examines how analyst forecast behavior varies over the firm life cycle. While mispricing by investors and firms’ visibility concerns could increase both the supply and demand for analyst services in early-stage firms, forecasting difficulty and limited visibility could in contrast reduce analysts’ incentives to follow these firms. Consistent with analysts responding to investor needs, we find that analyst following is higher for firms in the introduction and growth stage. With regard to forecast accuracy, we find that whereas analyst forecasts are less accurate in the introduction, shake-out and decline stage, analysts issue more accurate forecasts for firms in the growth stage. Additionally, forecast accuracy increases when there is life cycle alignment between the firm and its industry, reflecting the greater extent to which analysts can be benefit from their industry expertise under these circumstances. Yet, forecast accuracy decreases after life cycle changes, suggesting that analyst do not immediately incorporate changes in the earnings generating process after a life cycle shock.