Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toxic Emissions and Executive Migration

We study the impact of toxic emissions on the migration of corporate executives. We link data on the opening of industrial plants emitting toxic air pollutants with information on the career paths of executives at all S&P 1500 firms over the 1996-2014 period. We find that (1) the opening of toxic emitting plants increases the rate at which executives leave geographically close firms and move to firms in less polluted areas, (2) stock returns fall when these “treated” executives announce their departures, and (3) the replacement executives have less experience than the departing executives.
8-14-2003 Warrant Pricing Using Observable Variables

The classical warrant pricing formula requires knowledge of the variance of the firm value process, and the firm value. When warrants are outstanding the firm value itself is a function of the warrant price. Firm value and the variance of the firm value are then unobservable variables. I develop an algorithm for pricing warrants using stock prices, an observable variable, and variance of stock returns. The method also enables estimation of the variance of firm value. A proof of existence of the solution is provided.
Optimal design of PID controller by Multi-objective genetic algorithms

A novel design method for PID controller with optimal parameters is proposed based on the Improved Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II(NSGA-II). The design of PID controller is formulated as multi-objective optimization problem where the integral of time multiplied by absolute error and integral of the square of the error (ISE), are optimized simultaneously. By testing two control systems, the proposed method has been able to produce a good performance control.
Atlantis: A Grain of Truth Behind the Fiction?

The legend of Atlantis was almost certainly invented by Plato to promote the political ideal of his masterwork The Republic, while praising the heroism of his own ancestors. This paper suggests that, in assembling the story, Plato might have reworked the myth of the foundation of Egypt—attributed to divine invaders bringing agriculture and unknown technologies to the country—and popularized in Greece through the writings of Herodotus. The key issue explored is the curious coincidence between the period of the alleged foundation of Egypt (according to traditional Egyptian sources) and some remarkable events that characterized the end of the Ice Age. Indeed, besides the sudden increase in temperature and the consequent rise in sea level, the period was also marked by the birth of agriculture and the appearance of totally new technologies in diverse Near Eastern locations. The memory of these events would have been handed down through the myth of the foundation of Egypt, and through this, to Greek culture, enabling Plato to exaggerate the antiquity of his noble ancestors, while embellishing the characteristics of the invaders. Such occasional technological leaps may also have occurred elsewhere in the world, for instance on the deltas of the Indus or the Yangtze, driven by the same change in climate that affected the whole planet. Although today there is no archaeological evidence of such events besides in the Near East, the article suggests that the possible discovery of obsidian in a submerged site would be a strong indication of a local technological leap. To this end it examines, as a Mediterranean example, some flooded islands in the Strait of Sicily, which, lying on the route to Pantelleria, may retain traces of ancient obsidian exploitation.
Response of stream salamanders to experimental drought in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA

Droughts act as significant disturbances to freshwater animals and their ecosystems. Given the impending threat of more frequent and persistent droughts because of global climate change, the lack of data on the responses of many aquatic animals to drought is a cause for concern. This study examined the body condition of the most commonly detected species (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) and abundance of commonly found species after two years of experimental drought in two first-order streams in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Our results indicated negative effects of drought on the stream salamander community. The body condition of D. quadramaculatus larvae in experimental drought transects was significantly lower than larvae captured in control reaches, which may have resulted from lower macroinvertebrate production in experimental reaches. Additionally, larval D. quadramaculatus abundance declined 47% in experimental drought transects, and Eurycea wilderae larvae and D. ocoee adults were 70% less likely to be captured in experimental stream transects. Our findings contribute additional evidence that stream plethodontids have little resistance to drought. With extended droughts resulting from climate change more likely in the future, more research is necessary to determine if reduced body condition, production, and lowered abundance have effects on long-term population viability.
Ancient metalworking in South America: a 3000-year-old copper mask from the Argentinian Andes

Abstract Metallurgy in pre-Columbian America first developed in the Andes, and Peru has long been considered to be the initial point of origin. The recent discovery of an anthropomorphic copper mask in north-west Argentina, however, draws new attention to the southern Andes as a centre of early metalworking. Found in a funerary context c. 3000 BP, at a time of transition from mobile hunter-gatherer bands to agro-pastoral villages, the mask from Bordo Marcial shows that the Cajón Valley and its surrounding region was an important locus for copper metallurgy. To date, the mask is the oldest intentionally shaped copper object discovered in the Andes, and suggests that more than one region was involved in the origin of this technology.
SUSTAINABILITY RISK MANAGEMENT FOR PRODUCT INNOVATION

Social and environmental issues are directly connected to many of the most important risks that product development companies are facing. Based on literature review and interviews, this study investigates risk management practices on the strategic, tactical, and operational levels of companies. The findings are used to identify preconditions for integrating sustainability into risk management processes and support tools. The results show that sustainability risks need to be connected to company objectives through internal and external stakeholder value creation.
ELECTRO-CHEMO-MECHANICAL SIMULATION OF 3D-MICROSTRUCTURES FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES

A micromodel coupling lithium-ion diffusion and electric potentials[1] to a linear elastoplastic model is applied and discretized with finite volumes. The numerical algorithm does not require the assembly of a Jacobian and applies the immersed interface method for the electro-chemical problem[2]. An established elastic solver optimized for non-linear heterogeneous structures is applied to describe mechanical strains resulting from lithiumion intercalation. Numerical examples on several structures are given, including academic structures, and microstructures given by computer tomography compared with microstructures drawn from stochastic models[3]. Figure 1 shows the lithium-ion concentration and stress invariants in a 3D-microstructure of anode material charged with C-rate 1 at 40% state of charge.
Physics of structural colors

In recent years, structural colors have attracted great attention in a wide variety of research fields. This is because they are originated from complex interaction between light and sophisticated nanostructures generated in the natural world. In addition, their inherent regular structures are one of the most conspicuous examples of non-equilibrium order formation. Structural colors are deeply connected with recent rapidly growing fields of photonics and have been extensively studied to clarify their peculiar optical phenomena. Their mechanisms are, in principle, of a purely physical origin, which differs considerably from the ordinary coloration mechanisms such as in pigments, dyes and metals, where the colors are produced by virtue of the energy consumption of light. It is generally recognized that structural colors are mainly based on several elementary optical processes including thin-layer interference, diffraction grating, light scattering, photonic crystals and so on. However, in nature, these processes are somehow mixed together to produce complex optical phenomena. In many cases, they are combined with the irregularity of the structure to produce the diffusive nature of the reflected light, while in some cases they are accompanied by large-scale structures to generate the macroscopic effect on the coloration. Further, it is well known that structural colors cooperate with pigmentary colors to enhance or to reduce the brilliancy and to produce special effects. Thus, structure-based optical phenomena in nature appear to be quite multi-functional, the variety of which is far beyond our understanding. In this article, we overview these phenomena appearing particularly in the diversity of the animal world, to shed light on this rapidly developing research field.
Speech Analysis, Synthesis and Perception

The first edition of this book has enjoyed a gratifying existence. 1s sued in 1965, it found its intended place as a research reference and as a graduate-Ievel text. Research laboratories and universities reported broad use. Published reviews-some twenty-five in number-were universally kind. Subsequently the book was translated and published in Russian (Svyaz; Moscow, 1968) and Spanish (Gredos, S.A.; Madrid, 1972). Copies of the first edition have been exhausted for several years, but demand for the material continues. At the behest of the publisher, and with the encouragement of numerous colleagues, a second edition was begun in 1970. The aim was to retain the original format, but to expand the content, especially in the areas of digital communications and com puter techniques for speech signal processing. As before, the intended audience is the graduate-Ievel engineer and physicist, but the psycho physicist, phonetician, speech scientist and linguist should find material of interest. "
Developmental Biology Enriches Paleontology

ABSTRACT Paleontology provides information about the history of morphological transformations, whereas developmental biology provides information about how such transformations happen at a mechanistic level. As such, developmental evidence enriches paleontology in formulating and assessing hypotheses of homology, character definition, and character independence, as well as providing insights into patterns of heterochrony, evolvability of features, and explanations for differential rates of evolution. The focus of this article is to review a series of case studies that illustrate how our understanding of paleontology is enriched by data generated by developmental biologists. The integration of paleontological and developmental data leads to a greater understanding of evolution than either of these sciences could have reached alone. Our case studies range from fish to mammals and involve somite and vertebral formation, limb loss, hand and foot patterning, and tooth formation.
Prevalence of Child Abuse and its Long-Term Psychological Consequences among Female Students of Medical Faculties

Introduction: Recently there is increasing attention regarding psychological consequences of child abuse all over the world and particularly in Arab world. Aim: to examine prevalence of child abuse and its long term psychological consequences in adulthood among female University students attending medical faculties at El-Fayoum University. Method: 837 female students from four different medical faculties at El-Fayoum University, namely faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and Dentistry. They answered two questionnaires including; Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Psychological Problem Scale (PPS) in addition to socio demographic data sheet. Results: From all studied sample, 11.84% of them reported that they have a child abuse experience. Participants rated physical neglect domain 49.73% as the highest domain of child abuse followed by emotional neglect 47.11%, and physical and emotional abuse (40.28%, 40.26% respectively). Meanwhile, the lowest domain rated was sexual abuse 33.05. While 53.5% of participants reported psychological problems in form of low self-esteem, impulsivity and post traumatic stress. Results also revealed statistically significant differences in the level of abuse and psychological problems in relation to students' ages, family monthly income, number of siblings and their parents' educational levels. Conclusion: Despite the lower frequency of child abuse experiences in comparison with other studies, but higher frequency of long term psychological consequences, it needs the early diagnosis and early detection in addition protective educational interventions which could have critical roles in diminishing the prevalence and harmful long term psychological consequences of child abuse experience.
Particle staining: physically based texture generation

Particle Staining: Physically Based Texture Generation. (December 2003) Jean Michael Mistrot, B.F. A. , Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Donald House Computers are being employed in a variety of ways by a variety of individuals to create imagery. Much work has been done to accurately model natural phenomena in the context of computer graphics as well as model specific artists’ tools and techniques. Focusing on the dynamics of water flow across surfaces, it is the goal of this work to develop a physically inspired texturing tool that allows artists to create interesting staining and wearing effects on surfaces. Weathering or the wearing down of materials by natural forces can create complex and beautiful patterns on a variety of surfaces. In this process lies the very essence of the creative act. To distill the essence of the elements of the water staining process, we employ a computer generated particle system in a phenomenological model. The motion of these particles is controlled by physically based constraints, such as wind, gravity, mass, etc. The way in which each particle interacts with or modifies the look of the surface is further controlled by parameters such as surface roughness, surface color and surface hardness. Each particle can remove or deposit material as it flows across the surface, creating complex patterns.
Occurrence of Adenovirus Field Strains in Birds Infected with Marek’S Disease Virus

Abstract The strains of adenoviruses were isolated from 356 birds with clinical form of Marek’s disease and coinfection with adenoviruses. A hexon gene fragment coding loop L1 of adenovirus strains was sequenced and obtained data were analysed with BLAST, Geneious 5.3, and MEGA5 software by comparison with nucleotide sequences of reference strains of fowl adenoviruses (FAdV-1 - FadV-12), two turkey adenoviruses, and two goose adenovirus strains. On this basis, serotypes of adenovirus strains were determined. Sequences of all adenovirus strains isolated from birds infected with Marek’s disease virus were classified into six serotypes representing four species. Mostly FAdV-7, FAdV2/11, and FAdV-8a serotypes were found.
Essays on the elasticity of intertemporal substitution

This dissertation estimates the elasticity of intertemporal substitution (EIS) of consumption using the Nielsen Consumer Panel. The Nielsen Consumer Panel is built from transactional data that follows households in the United States and their grocery purchases from 2004 to 2014. Because of the transactional nature of the dataset, there is a low source of measurement error in consumption, and aggregation bias can be minimized. Due to changes in the economy during this timeframe, the data is examined for structural breaks. The data suggests evidence for two structural changes in the U.S. economy leading to three regimes. The first regime, 2004 to 2006, was a period of economic expansion, while the second regime, 2007 and 2008, was a period of recession. Lastly, during the third regime, 2009 to 2014, the economy exhibited quantitative easing. Chapter 1 introduces the EIS and provides an overview of the literature. In Chapter 2, the EIS is estimated for each regime using expected utility with linearized Epstein-Zin preferences and by the use of fixed effects and instrumental variables. In order to estimate the EIS, consumption is aggregated weekly, and consumption growth is measured over a four-week time period in order to match four-week Treasury bills. This study adds to the literature by examining individual EIS during different periods of economic activity. With a more complete dataset that has less measurement error and aggregation bias than the existing literature, this study gives evidence of a small and negative EIS during a period of expansion, a small and positive EIS during a period of recession, and a large and positive EIS during quantitative easing.
Determination of Discrete Spectrum in a Random Field

We consider a two dimensional frequency model in a random field, which can be used to model textures and also has wide applications in Statistical Signal Processing. First we consider the usual least squares estimators and obtain the consistency and the asymptotic distribution of the least squares estimators. Next we consider an estimator, which can be obtained by maximizing the periodogram function. It is observed that the least squares estimators and the estimators obtained by maximizing the periodogram function are asymptotically equivalent. Some numerical experiments are performed to see how the results work for finite samples. We apply our results on simulated textures to observe how the different estimators perform in estimating the true textures from a noisy data.
Achieving Sustainable Competitive Advantage Through Service Quality: An Analysis of Pakistan's Telecom Sector

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether service quality confers a competitive advantage for firm, customer behavioral intention for future, and can that competitive advantage be sustained over a period of time. Methodology: Cross-sectional study design was used as a methodology for the paper. A field survey was carried out with the help of questionnaire using SERVQUOL scale. 400 current users of cell phone were targeted for the purpose of data collection through convenient sampling. Findings: The study found that telecom industry received excellent rating on tangibility, particularly equipment and customer service staffsâ€™ dress, and low ratings on empathy, particularly not knowing customersâ€™ needs and not giving individual and personal attention to customers. Research Implications: SERVQUOL is a good starting point for assessing service quality. Service delivery system should produce moments of truth where different cues expressed by customers about quality must be assessed promptly. Originality: The study has a practical significance for policy makers of firms in telecommunication sector of Pakistan for understanding behavioral intentions of their customers and for effectively positioning their firmâ€™s service quality. Limitation and Future Research: This study only assessed the functional dimension of the service quality to explain consumer behavior which might be misspecification of service quality and may have low predictive validity.
Design and the creation of meaningful consumption practices in access-based consumption

ABSTRACT Within the rising access economy, products that were traditionally owned are now accessed, shared, rented or swapped. A recent research has shown that access-based consumption, when consumers pay a fee to have access to a product or service, threatens the relationship between consumers and objects. Specifically, access prevents consumers from enacting practices of appropriation and from gaining anything other than utility from this type of consumption. To address this issue, this research draws on the discipline of design and the theory of practice to examine how users form relationships with objects they use. Design, by changing consumer practices, could be the key in restoring the relationship between users and accessed objects. This article looks at a Parisian car sharing system to understand the role of design in restoring this relationship.
Disposable Optical Stretcher Fabricated by Microinjection Moulding

Microinjection moulding combined with the use of removable inserts is one of the most promising manufacturing processes for microfluidic devices, such as lab-on-chip, that have the potential to revolutionize the healthcare and diagnosis systems. In this work, we have designed, fabricated and tested a compact and disposable plastic optical stretcher. To produce the mould inserts, two micro manufacturing technologies have been used. Micro electro discharge machining (µEDM) was used to reproduce the inverse of the capillary tube connection characterized by elevated aspect ratio. The high accuracy of femtosecond laser micromachining (FLM) was exploited to manufacture the insert with perfectly aligned microfluidic channels and fibre slots, facilitating the final composition of the optical manipulation device. The optical stretcher operation was tested using microbeads and red blood cells solutions. The prototype presented in this work demonstrates the feasibility of this approach, which should guarantee real mass production of ready-to-use lab-on-chip devices.
A tabu search algorithm for a multi-period bank branch location problem: A case study in a Turkish bank

Banks need to open new branches in new sites as a result of an increase in the population, promotion of individual earnings, and growth in national economy. In this respect, opening new branches or reorganizing the locations of current branches is an important decision problem for banks to accomplish their strategic objectives. This paper presents a decision support method for multi-period bank branch location problems. The aim is to (cid:12)nd bank branch locations based on transaction volume, distance between branches, and cost of opening and closing branches. The proposed method not only develops an integer program and a Tabu Search (TS) algorithm to (cid:12)nd the exact places of branches, but also presents a structuring method to identify the related criteria and their importance. We demonstrate the e(cid:11)ectiveness of the method on random data. In the (cid:12)nal stage, the method is applied to a Turkish bank’s branch location problem considering the current and possible places of the branches, availability of the data, and the bank’s strategies for a four-year strategic planning.
A Comparative Study on Human Action Recognition Using Multiple Skeletal Features and Multiclass Support Vector Machine

This paper proposes a framework for human action recognition (HAR) by using skeletal features from depth video sequences. HAR has become a basis for applications such as health care, fall detection, human position tracking, video analysis, security applications, etc. Wehave used joint angle quaternion and absolute joint position to recognitionhuman action. We also mapped joint position on 𝑆𝐸(3) Lie algebra and fuse it with other features. This approach comprised of three steps namely (i) an automatic skeletal feature (absolute joint position and joint angle) extraction (ii) HAR by using multi-class Support Vector Machine and (iii) HAR by features fusion and decision fusion classification outcomes. The HAR methods are evaluated on two publicly available challenging datasets UTKinect-Action and Florence3D-Action datasets. The experimental results show that the absolute joint positionfeature is the best than other features and the proposed framework being highly promising compared to others existing methods.