Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Price Surcharge and the Effects of Construal Level

The growth of ecommerce has increased the importance of providing efficient pricing information in online offerings. We examine consumers’ inherent construal level to understand effectiveness of partitioned versus combined online pricing strategies. In two studies we investigate a scenario where an individual’s construal level moderates the effectiveness of the pricing format (partitioned versus combined) on perceived value and purchase intention. Building on prior partitioned pricing research our first study uses a reasonable surcharge amount and our second study uses an unreasonable surcharge amount. Our results provide evidence that consumers evaluate online product offerings differently depending on their inherent construal level.
Molecular cloning and characterisation of the 5 ’-untranslated region and promoters in human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha ( hPPAR α )

Introduction The peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor gene superfamily of ligandactivated transcription factors [Issemann and Green, 1990]. So far, three distinct subtypes of PPARs have been identified, PPARα, PPARγ and PPARβ/δ, with each subtype encoded by a separate gene and has a specific tissue distribution [Issemann and Green, 1990; Braissant et al, 1996]. The PPARα, the first isoform to be identified, is expressed mainly in tissues that have high ratio of fatty acid oxidation such as liver, heart and kidney [Issemann and Green, 1990; Braissant et al., 1996]. PPARα has attracted considerable attention since it was demonstrated to be regulators of lipoprotein metabolism [Staels et al., 1998], vascular inflammation [Chinetti et al., 2000], atherosclerosis [Chinetti et al., 2000; Pineda-Torra et al, 2002] and carcinogenesis [Neve et al., 2000; Collett et al., 2000]. Moreover, recent studies suggested important roles for PPARα in skin wound healing, and epidermal maturation and repair [Wahli, 2002]. In order to understand the structure and molecular mechanisms governing hPPARα regulation, we carried out experiments to identify and characterise the 5’-untranslated region (UTR) and promoter regions of the hPPARα gene. In this study, we managed to identify six differentially spliced variants in the 5’-untranslated region (UTR) of human PPARα gene, due to four different promoter usages and alternative splicing [Chew et al., 2003]. Since promoter A has been characterised [Pineda-Torra et al., 2002], three other promoters designated as promoter B, C and D were cloned, sequenced and their promoter activities analysed. By carrying out transient transfection analysis in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells, we proved these three promoters are functional promoters, capable of inducing the basal luciferase gene expression, with promoter B being the most potent and strongest promoter of the three promoters.
Sero-epidemiological investigation and risk factors for contagious bovine pleuro pneumonia infection of cattle in Dello Mena and Sawena Districts of Bale Zone, South Eastern Ethiopia

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a highly infectious cattle disease, which is widespread in pastoral areas of Africa and it is a major problem for Ethiopian livestock. A cross-sectional study on sero-epidemiology and risk factors for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia infection of cattle in Dello Mena and Sawena districts of Bale Zone was conducted from February, 2016 to May, 2016. Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay test was used to analyze 384 cattle sera for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia antibodies and the overall sero-prevalence rate was determined to be 6.51%. A higher sero-prevalence rate of 8.26% was observed in Dello Mena district when compared to Sawena (3.89%) district. The prevalence in each kebele ranged from 0 to 15.91% and the highest prevalence (15.91%) was found at Hi-Oda, located in Dello Mena district. A Chi-square computed statistical analysis indicated that age (χ2=5.738; p 0.05) for origin (Dello Mena/Sawena), contact with other herds (yes/no) and herd size (small/medium/large). Multivariable logistic regression statistical analysis revealed that age (adult/young), body condition score (good/medium/poor) and purpose of rearing cattle (beef/draft power/milk) were significantly associated with contagious bovine pleuropneumonia sero-positivity (p<0.05). Consequently, cattle rearing purpose (for beef/draft power/milk) was statistically identified as the major risk factor for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia occurrence in relation to other factors and cattle(oxen/bull) used for the purpose of draft power were more likely to be infected by CBPP(Adjusted Odds Ratio=49.052). This study showed that the overall sero-epidemiology of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in Bale Zone of Oromia Regional State was relatively high. This warrants the implementation of appropriate preventive and control measures to minimize the economic losses arising from the disease. Key words: Cattle, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, Dello Mena, risk factors, Sawena, seroepidemiology
Registration of Five Spring Wheat Lines Resistant to Russian Wheat Aphid, Stem Rust (Ug99), Leaf Rust, and Stripe Rust

Russian wheat aphid (RWA; Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov) and wheat rusts (stem rust [caused by Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn.], leaf rust [caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks.], and stripe rust [caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Eriks.]) are major constraints to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. We aimed to combine resistance to these four biotic constraints in ‘Kariega’, a South African spring wheat cultivar. Five spring wheat lines, SA16486 (Reg. No. GP-990, PI 674173), SA16487 (Reg. No. GP-991, PI 674174), SA16488 (Reg. No. GP-992, PI 674175), SA16490 (Reg. No. GP-993, PI 674176), and SA16491 (Reg. No. GP-994, PI 674177) were developed by the Agricultural Research Council-Small Grain Institute, South Africa, and released in 2015. These F3:6 lines are descended from a topcross made in 2001 between two backcrossed lines, one with RWA resistance from PI 225227 (resistant to biotypes RWASA1, RWASA2, and RWASA3) and another with Sr35 (resistant to the Ug99 race group). Phenotypic screening for RWA resistance (using biotype RWASA1) and marker assisted selection for rust resistance genes including Sr35, Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38/Sb1/ Ltn1, and QYr.sgi-2B.1 were used to identify the targeted traits during selection. The unique combination of aphid and rust resistance, medium to high yield potential, and good end-use quality makes these wheat lines useful for wheat breeders with an interest in these resistance traits.
Jamaica: Employer size and worker remuneration in the private sector

Evidence suggests that labour markets do not clear as posited by conventional microeconomics. The enduring inter-industry wage differentials (iiwd) and employer-size wage differentials (eswd) present a challenge. Data from the Jamaican private sector reveal that eswd could be the impetus for iiwd. After accounting for labour quality and other characteristics, employers with 10 to 49 employees and 50 or more employees pay estimated premiums of 14.3% and 22.9%, respectively. After estimating the differences in tenure profiles, the premium associated with the largest employer size was reduced to 15.9%, while the premium associated with establishments of 10 to 49 workers was unchanged. Notwithstanding the partial explanation provided by tenure profile differences, the bulk of the eswd appears to be explained by other theoretical constructs.
Analysing the Determinants of Logistics Service Provider Efficiency in Urban Distribution

Traffic congestion, lack of parking spaces, and high levels of pollution in urban areas, together with an increased awareness of freight transportation impacts, stress the importance of City Logistics (CL) as a comprehensive approach aimed at mitigating the negative effects of distribution activities without penalizing social, cultural, and economic development. CL faces a relevant degree of complexity, which causes uncertainty about planning and managing urban logistics activities. Several models have been developed to optimize CL focusing on distribution warehouses, freight flows, the routing task, vehicle loading, the size and type of vehicles that can enter urban areas, and possible congestion charges. However, a successful implementation of such models requires a proper level of internal efficiency of the stakeholders involved. Among them, logistics service providers (LSPs) play a crucial role because they are expected to offer high quality services in urban areas. The paper proposes an empirical analysis on the operational factors determining the level of efficiency of a LSP, which is here assessed through productivity. Data about an Italian LSP involved in urban freight distribution are analyzed and a regression analysis is completed. Two managerial levers are found to affect the level of productivity: the organization of the distribution network, and the vehicle loading strategy. The first lever implies a more efficient location of warehouses, an extension of the area covered by each driver and a more effective routing structure. Furthermore, vehicles should not be excessively loaded, especially with big parcels, in order to ensure flexibility. This study represents an attempt to develop a comprehensive panel of operational variables affecting the efficiency of the urban distribution system of LSPs. The enhancement of LSP efficiency contributes to achieve a better quality of life in urban areas as well as the associated economic and environmental benefits
Black silicon n-type photodiodes with high response over wide spectral range

Commercial photodiodes suffer from reflection losses and different recombination losses that reduce the collection efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. Recently, we realized a near-ideal silicon photodiode, which steps closer to the physical performance limits of silicon photodiodes than any other silicon photodiode realized before. Our device exhibits an external quantum efficiency above 95% over the wavelength range of 235 – 980 nm, and provides a very high response at incident angles of up to 70 degrees. The high quantum efficiency is reached by 1) virtually eliminating front surface reflectance by forming a “black silicon” nanostructured surface having dimensions in the range of wavelength of optical light and 2) using an induced junction for signal collection, formed by negatively charged alumina, instead of a conventional doped p-n junction. Here, we describe the latest efforts in further development of the photodiode technology. In particular, we report improvements both in the short wavelength response via better control of the surface quality, and superior response to photons with energies close to the silicon bandgap.
STUDIES ON THE USE OF TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING IN THE MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS BELONGING TO THE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Within the frames of the use of terrestrial laser scanning we find numerous examples of registration of building facilities, including also historical and valuable in their culture. In the case presented in this paper, at the root of the problem there is a preservation of the historic blacksmith's forge located in Gdansk Orunia. The facility dating from the early nineteenth century was intended to repair involving the complete demolition and rebuilt in the historical form but with the use of new materials. Only selected elements were to be retained, creating a kind of architectural artefacts and handicrafts. Implementation of the laser scanning was carried out in a conventional manner, though in difficult field conditions. The obtained data have become good material to carry out analyses concerning construction and surveying. The paper presents results of studies on using laser scanning and possible problems which can appear during measurements and data processing. It also indicated solutions for proliferation of the data and models based on point clouds.
THE INFLUENCE OF FOOD ON LONGEVITY AND OVIPOSITION IN RHYSSA PERSUASORIA (L.) (HYMENOPTERA: ICHNEUMONIDAE)

A study was made of the effect of carbohydrate food on the longevity and oviposition of Rhyssa persuasoria (L.). The adult life span was 9 days without food and approximately 45–55 days on a carbohydrate diet. When females were starved, searching and egg‐laying activity were reduced. Aphid honeydew was found to be as effective as honey solution in promoting longevity and oviposition. Some aspects of the availability of honeydew in Australian pine plantations and its importance in the establishment of rhyssines are discussed.
University of Birmingham Explaining turn of the year order flow imbalance

The paper provides evidence of a turn of the year effect in the order flow imbalance of both retail and institutional investors. In December there is net selling pressure which is reversed in January. We examine high frequency intraday order flow information and find that the changes in order flow imbalance between December and January are related to firm risk factors and characteristics. We find that retail order flow imbalances are associated with a wide range of risk characteristics including beta, illiquidity and unsystematic risk. Imbalances in institutional order flow are associated with only a small number of risk variables. We show that these order flow changes are important because risk premiums are elevated in January. Our results are robust to the effects of decimalization.
Face Recognition Based on Deep Autoencoder Networks with Dropout

Though deep autoencoder networks show excellent ability in learning feature, its poor performance on test data go against visualization and classification of image. In particular, a standard neural net with multi-hidden layers typically fails to work when sample size is small. In order to improve the generalization ability and reduce over-fitting, we apply dropout to optimize the deep autoencoder networks. In this paper, we propose face recognition based on deep autoencoder networks with dropout. Our experiments show that deep autoencoder networks with dropout yield significantly lower test error, and bring a new conception in pattern recognition with deep learning. Keywords-deepautoencoder networks; dropout; face recognition
Methyl ethyl ketone removal using microbial attached zeolite biofilter

Biofiltration has been an increasingly popular process to minimise/eliminate emissions of volatile organic compounds from industrial sources. In this study, we investigate the use of natural zeolite as biofilter media to treat methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) contaminated air stream. Dried natural zeolite was found to be effective in adsorbing MEK in gas phase. The isotherm adsorption was found to follow Langmuir’s isotherm, with an adsorption capacity of 1.1-2.4 mg/g zeolite (2.4-4.0 mm diameter) at partial pressures of 0.1-0.5 mM MEK at equilibrium. In a continuous-flow system, at air flow rate of 1L/L/min and MEK concentration of around 400 ppmv, the adsorption capacity was 1.8 mgMEK/g zeolite. Much smaller amount of MEK were found to be adsorbed by wet zeolite indicates that MEK adsorption mechanism of natural zeolite from gas phase is via volume filling of zeolite micropores. To combine MEK adsorption and biodegradation in a single step, two lab-scale bio-filters were set up using natural zeolite inoculated with mixed microbes from a local composting facility and pure culture of Pseudomonas veronii. It was found that under continuous fixed bed conditions with a flow-rate of 0.5/L/L/min and a MEK concentration of 250 ppmv, 80-90% MEK removal could be achieved from both trials.
Abundance, edge effect, and seasonality of fauna in mixed-species seagrass meadows in southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract Motile fauna species in two mixed-species seagrass meadows with different canopy structure were studied on an uninhabited island in the Spermonde Archipelago, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The main focus of the study was to assess the edge effect and seasonal abundance of macrobenthic invertebrates. Fish and infauna densities were determined as well. Fauna was counted using permanent transects (macrobenthic invertebrates), visual census (fish species), and sediment cores (infauna). Both meadows had a comparable distribution of motile fauna species with polychaetes (35% of total abundance), bivalves (27%) and sipunculids (25%) accounting for the largest part of the total faunal abundance. The closed canopy meadow (high seagrass leaf biomass) had an overall higher faunal abundance compared with the open canopy meadow (low seagrass leaf biomass) (1133 vs. 751 individuals m−2). Although infauna abundance was comparable between the meadows, macrobenthic invertebrates (crustaceans, echinoderms, and molluscs) and fishes were more abundant in the closed canopy meadow, with only a few individual species more abundant in the open canopy meadow. The effect of distance from the meadow edge on macrobenthic invertebrate abundance was significant, with higher abundances towards the interior of the seagrass meadows, but for fish abundance no significant differences were found. Effects of seasonality (rainy vs. dry season) on macrobenthic invertebrate abundance were only significant for molluscs. We concluded that macrobenthic invertebrate abundance was most influenced by seagrass canopy structure, followed by meadow edge effects, and least by seasonality. Comparisons of faunal abundance in seagrass meadows need thus to include information on these three variables.
Professionalism and Competencies as Predictors of Public Relations Practitioners’ Self-Efficacy: A Conceptual Framework

The essence of this research work is to test the predictive roles of attitudinal professionalism and competencies in public relations practitioners’ self-efficacy. For the fast three (3) decades, a lot of works have been conducted by scholars as part of an effort to uplift PR as a full pledge profession. However, scholars still lament the shortfall of PR practitioners in the discharge of their professional duties. This work is an attempt to study public relations practitioners’ ability in accomplishing professional tasks which self-efficacy represents. The work conceptualizes Six (6) PR self-efficacy dimensions and also tests the predictive role of attitudinal professionalism; which is practitioners’ commitment to their profession and competencies; which represents sets of behaviors that are required to accomplish organizational objectives. It appraises the importance of commitment to professional development and mastering professional competencies that are evolving and changing. Conceptualizing the dimension of PR self-efficacy remains the originality of this work. Keywords : Attitudinal professionalism, Competencies, Public Relations, Self-efficacy
Empirical aspects on deining product data for rapid productisation 109 Empirical aspects on deining product data for rapid productisation

Purpose – Emerging customer needs are calling for companies to quickly create new solutions in business front-end e.g. in sales situation. However, bypassing predeined product development processes and thus product deinition turns to be problematic and leads later problems in product management. The main objective is to study what kind of special issues is related on deining product data when rapidly productising products. Design/methodology/approach – This is a qualitative case study including three descriptive company cases. The study is conducted to show special characteristics that occur when rapidly deining products and their product data. Findings – The results indicate that the practices to carry out rapid productisation (RP) are very company speciic. However, three common forms for RP can be recognised. It can be concluded International Journal of Synergy and Research Vol. 2, No. 2, 2013 p. 107–128 Pobrane z czasopisma International Journal of Synergy and Research http://ijsr.journals. umcs.pl Data: 05/12/2018 16:17:14
Diurnal cycle of rainfall and surface winds and the mid-summer drought of Mexico/Central America

This study uses a novel data set of satellite-derived precipitation and reanalysis winds to describe variations in the diurnal cycle during the summer season in southern Mexico, Central America, and adjacent oceans, with the purpose of elucidating local forcing mechanisms of the midsummer drought (MSD). It is well established that precipitation peaks in the evening over land, while just off the Pacific coast the maximum is during the day. However, little is understood about the diurnal cycle of rainfall and winds associated with the MSD, a climatological phenomenon that impacts the local population. First, the MSD was quantified with the precipitation data and found to be strongest over Guatemala and El Salvador, consistent with previous studies. Over Guatemala the strength of the diurnal cycle follows the evolution of the MSD. Here evening precipitation rates are 25% higher at the beginning and end of the summer compared to mid-summer, while daytime rates remain fairly constant throughout the season. To the south, over the Pacific, both daytime and nighttime precipitation rates are higher at the beginning and end of summer as compared to mid-summer. In June, surface winds in the vicinity of the Gulf of Tehuantepec are southerly during the evening and northerly during the day, dynamically consistent with the diurnal cycle of convection. In July-August and September, tradewind systems disturb this apparent local circulation cell bringing conditions conducive to reduced and enhanced rainfall respectively. In neighboring areas where the MSD is weak, precipitation and wind change little over land and ocean for the summer season. Thus, these results support earlier studies linking solar forcing of sea surface temperatures and changes in the large-scale circulation in the development of a strong but localized MSD.
Mediating effect of Management Information System (MIS): Warehouse operation efficiency in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) perspective

This study investigates the relationship between the influential warehouse efficiency and warehousing operations, applied by the Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) manufacturing firms in Malaysia.These perspective research objectives are to determine whether there is any relationship between the warehousing operations, and warehousing Management Information System (MIS). It also examines the mediating effect of warehousing MIS in the relationship between warehousing attributes and warehouse efficiency.A quantitative method approach is applied in this research methodology.Three hypotheses have been proposed for the research with data collected from the survey of 182 SME manufacturing firm owners in Malaysia as listed in the SME Directory (2009). The findings indicate that the warehousing MIS significantly mediates and has an effect on the warehousing operations and their relationship with warehouse efficiency in the SME manufacturing firms. Theoretically, the research contributes to the growth development of the warehouse efficiency theories.Practically it could facilitate the owners or warehouse managers of the manufacturing firms in making the right management decisions regarding warehousing.As a conclusion, this study provides new knowledge and important insights of warehousing operations that will benefit manufacturing firms and other related industries, particularly for SMEs in Malaysia.