Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The analysis of customer-satisfaction-related elements of ISO 14000 implementation: evidence from the food machinery industry

Customer satisfaction is recognized as a major benefit of implementing and developing an environmental management system (EMS). Companies implementing ISO 14000 standards should adopt a strategic, proactive focus on the customer's requirement based on understanding which attributes of an EMS are more relevant to customers and meeting their needs. In the paper, an analytical framework for such a strategic analysis is presented. It is based on the utilization of the analytic hierarchic process (AHP) and consists of four major steps: (i) analysing the importance of the various elements of an EMS for the customers; (ii) benchmarking own performance against competitors; (iii) analysing the strengths and weaknesses of the company against competitors and (iv) defining customer-satisfaction-oriented plans. The effectiveness of the framework is tested with a real application to a large manufacturer of bottling machines and equipment that has recently implemented ISO 14000 standards. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
THU_NGN at IJCNLP-2017 Task 2: Dimensional Sentiment Analysis for Chinese Phrases with Deep LSTM

Predicting valence-arousal ratings for words and phrases is very useful for constructing affective resources for dimensional sentiment analysis. Since the existing valence-arousal resources of Chinese are mainly in word-level and there is a lack of phrase-level ones, the Dimensional Sentiment Analysis for Chinese Phrases (DSAP) task aims to predict the valence-arousal ratings for Chinese affective words and phrases automatically. In this task, we propose an approach using a densely connected LSTM network and word features to identify dimensional sentiment on valence and arousal for words and phrases jointly. We use word embedding as major feature and choose part of speech (POS) and word clusters as additional features to train the dense LSTM network. The evaluation results of our submissions (1st and 2nd in average performance) validate the effectiveness of our system to predict valence and arousal dimensions for Chinese words and phrases.
Provisão pública e privada de educação fundamental: diferenças de qualidade medidas por meio de propensity score

O artigo busca mensurar as diferencas de desempenho entre escolas publicas e privadas na fase inicial do ensino fundamental. Utiliza-se o metodo dos minimos quadrados ponderados por propensity score com as informacoes do SAEB/2003 para evitar problemas de selecao e ter uma melhor estimativa das relacoes de causalidade. Os resultados mostram uma grande diferenca de desempenho entre alunos destas redes alem de uma diferenca crescente segundo o nivel socioeconomico da familia do aluno e os salarios medios pagos aos professores. Alunos negros e pardos se beneficiariam menos de uma mudanca de rede que aqueles brancos e asiaticos. Aumento nos gastos por aluno nao reduzem tais diferencas que tambem variam de acordo com especificidades regionais.
Study on Threshold Voltage Control of Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors Using VT-Control Doping Region

Although the Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor (TFET) is a promising device for ultra-low power CMOS technology due to the ability to reduce power supply voltage and very small off-current, there have been few reports on the control of VT for TFETs. Unfortunately, the TFET needs a different technique to adjust VT than the MOSFET because most of TFETs are assumed to use on SOI substrates. In this paper, we propose a technique to control VT of the TFET by putting an additional VT-control doping region (VCR) between source and channel. We examine how much VT is changed by doping concentration. An increase of n-type doping concentration reduces VT because it increases the semiconductor work function difference, φs,channel φs,source, at off-state. Also, the effect of the size of the region is investigated. The region can be confined at the top of silicon surface because most of tunneling occurs at the surface. At the same time, we study the optimum width of this region while considering the mobility degradation by doping. Keyword Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor threshold voltage VT-control doping region (VCR)
A single index of mortality and morbidity.

A CONTINUING interest of the National Center for Health Statistics is the development and evaluation of new health indices suited to diverse specific purposes. No one index can reflect all aspects of health, but there is considerable agreement that an index which measures some aspects of nonfatal illness as well as mortality would be desirable. A rationale for using both mortality and disability rates as the components of such an index has already been published (1). One technique for combining mortality and morbidity rates into a single index was devised and reported by Chiang in conjunction with his development of mathematical models of illness frequency, illness duration, and mortality (2). Moriyama has discussed criteria desired in an index of health and, in view of these, reviewed some approaches proposed in the literature (3). A deseription and evaluation of disability concepts and measures being considered as the basis of the morbidity component of a mortality-morbidity index appeared in a recent report (4). Another technique for merging death rates with illness rates, and some illustrative results are described in this paper. A primary objective of these studies is development of a summary measure which reflects changes over time in the health status of the nation's population. Too little is known as yet about these techniques, and in some cases about the data they employ, to permit thorough evaluation of alternative approaches to the construction of such indices. Results of studies of such measures are presented as they become available by the Center to stimulate consideration of the issues and, possibly, to stimulate further studies by those in a position to conduct related research. Some preliminary index values based upon the techniques presented in this paper have already been published for fiscal years 1958-66 (5). The estimates in this article are also preliminary. Although they relate to only a single year, they provide previously unpublished information on whites and other persons and on sex differences. These estimates are considered more accurate than earlier computations of such values.
Comparative distribution of gentamicin, tobramycin, sisomicin, netilmicin, and amikacin in interstitial fluid in rabbits

We compared the penetration of five aminoglycosides into interstitial fluid (IF). IF was obtained in rabbits from Silastic tissue cages. Intramuscular injections were made: 1.5 mg/kg per dose for gentamicin (G), tobramycin (T), sisomicin (S), and netilmicin (N) and 7.5 mg/kg per dose for amikacin (A). Serum levels and IF concentrations were studied for 12 h after a single injection. IF levels were also compared in a six-injection study (one injection every 8 h). Peak serum levels were significantly higher with A than with G, T, S, and N, which gave similar concentrations. In IF, G gave the highest levels 1 h after the first injection. At 4 and 8 h, the concentrations achieved with G and A were similar but significantly greater than those achieved with T, S, and N. Twelve hours after a single injection, N gave higher IF levels than the other drugs except A. In the six-injection study, the IF levels of G and A reached 4.6 +/- 1.5 and 5.27 +/- 1.1 microgram/ml, respectively, at 48 h. S and N gave identical concentrations (2.07 +/- 0.25 and 2.42 +/- 0.42 microgram/ml, respectively). T induced the lowest levels (1.17 +/- 0.30 microgram/ml). Thus, in this rabbit model, the IF concentrations achieved with G and A were above the minimal inhibitory concentrations for most susceptible strains. Possible relations between IF aminoglycoside concentrations and therapeutic efficiency or toxicity are pointed out but deserve further studies.
A MODEL OF THE IMPACT OF MISSION STATEMENTS ON FIRM PERFORMANCE

A relationship between mission and organizational performance was modeled by drawing on previous research. The model was tested with data from 83 large Canadian and US organizations. We found that mission statements can affect financial performance, however, not as one might have anticipated initially. Several mediating elements were observed to exist. For instance, “commitment to the mission” and the “degree to which an organization aligns its internal structure, policies and procedures with its mission” were both found to be positively associated with “employee behavior”. It was this latter variable which was observed, in turn, to have the most direct relationship with financial performance.
Frameworks for analysing international construction

The international construction market is subject to many dynamic influences that can lead to changes in the volume, mix and distribution of demand and sources of competitiveness. The international construction firm faces several problems: physical, technological, financial, legal, socio-cultural and political. It is important that factors that contribute to the success of firms in this market are clearly understood. This paper considers relevant aspects of international construction. The international performance of construction firms in middle- and low-income countries is compared. The applicability of various analytical frameworks to international construction is then examined. Finally, the implications for future research are considered.
Value creation through measurement of innovation capability – an intellectual capital management perspective

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether prior theories of intellectual capital (IC) management can be utilised in the measurement of innovation capability. The study is based on the current literature on innovation capability and intellectual measurement and management. It examines the match between these two parameters to determine how the measurement and management of innovation capability can best be organised. The paper presents a measurement and management framework for the measurement of innovation capability by taking account of the static and dynamic view of IC. This paper proposes a framework for defining measures of innovation capability performance based on measures derived from the study of IC.
An Examination of the Volatility of South African Risk-Free Rate Proxies: A Component Garch Analysis

Abstract He Capital Asset Pricing Model has become the standard model for estimating the required rate of return on equity. Application of themodel requires the selection of proxies for key inputs including the risk- free asset. Despite the clear theoretical requirements for the risk-free asset a surprising divergence is evident in the proxies employed, particularly in the choice of a short-term or longer-term government security. This paper employs the Component GARCH model to examine the volatility of the most commonly used proxies. We find that for both South African and United States Treasury securities long-term shocks have a more sustained impact on future volatility than short- term shocks to the system and that for South African Treasury-Bonds negative shocks have a greater impact on volatility than positive shocks of equal magnitude. The returns on South African Treasury-Bills are found to include a risk premium for the volatility in their returns unlikeU.S. government securities or longer-term South African Treasury- Bonds. This volatility risk premium contravenes the requirements of a risk-free asset and provides empirical evidence that in the South African context, Treasury-Bills are not an appropriate proxy for the risk- free asset and that Treasury-Bonds should be employed instead.
Production Flexibility and the Behaviour of the Competitive Firm under Price Uncertainty

There have been numerous studies in the literature of the competitive firm under price uncertainty. Recently, Sandmo [18] and Batra and Ullah [2] have analysed the behaviour of an expected utility maximizing firm which chooses its output level subject to uncertainty about the price that will prevail for its product. Both studies represent increased price uncertainty by a multiplicative shift of the random variable coupled with a translation so as to preserve the mean, and they consider the effect on output of increased product price uncertainty. While Sandmo is unable to sign the effect, Batra and Ullah show that output declines if absolute risk aversion is declining. In both [18] and [2] it is assumed that all decisions must be made ex ante. Turnovsky [19] has extended the model to allow the firm to modify its initial decisions, at additional cost, after it learns the true selling price of its product. He compares initial production when price expectations are certain and when they are uncertain with the same expected value. Hartman ([10] and [12]) has investigated the firm's reactions to increased price uncertainty when the technology permits some ex-post flexibility in adjusting to the prices that are eventually realized. In the former paper Hartman uses a multiperiod model to analyse the effects of future product and factor price uncertainty on the rate of investment in a single capital stock, given that the firm encounters convex adjustment costs in changing the level of its stock. Qualitative results are derived from the hypothesis of constant returns to scale in production. This hypothesis is dropped in the two-period model in [12] which considers a single output, two factor technology. ' Capital is a quasi fixed factor and must be chosen ex ante, while the other input, labour, may be chosen after prices become known with certainty. In both studies increased variability is represented by a mean preserving spread (see Rothschild and Stiglitz [16]), and it is generally assumed that the firm maximizes the expected value of profits. In [12], Hartman also compares the capital input given certain price expectations with that in a situation involving a " small" amount of uncertainty, assuming that the firm is averse to profit uncertainty. In this paper we modify and generalize the above analyses in three principal ways. First, we adopt the Rothschild-Stiglitz definition of increased uncertainty and show that the findings of both Sandmo and Batra and Ullaht must subsequently be altered. Unlike the other studies, we also investigate the effects of mean utility preserving spreads (see Diamond and Stiglitz [5]). These spreads generate some intuitively appealing comparative statics results. With the exception of a paper by Dhrymes [4] which employs the restrictive meanvariance framework, in other studies, including all of the above, the firm's ex-ante decision variable is a scalar, e.g. the level of production or the input of a quasi-fixed factor. Most of our qualitative results are similarly restricted to aggregative models. However, for the
Serum Antibodies to Louping-Ill Virus

A M 0 N G the numerous viruses which can give rise to acute infections of the central nervous system in man, the tick-borne Russian Spring Summer group is one which has been found toberesponsible for many outbreaks throughout Central and Eastern Europe (Silber & Soloviev, 1946; Richling, 1955). The only member of this group of viruses so far detected in Britian is the virus of louping-ill responsible for a meningoencephalitis affecting sheep and hill cattle, a disease long recognized in the affected areas, chiefly the hill farms of north and west Scotland. Although man is susceptible to infection with the virus of louping-ill, as a number of laboratory infections bears witness (Rivers & Schwentker, 1934; Edward, 1948), the number of cases of natural infection in man which have been recorded has remained small (Davison et al., 1948; Brewis et al., 1949; Lawson et al., 1949; Likar & Dane, 1958; Ross, 1961). Apart from the four cases described by Likar and Dane, where the illness resembled acute poliomyelitis, the cases have all suffered from an acute meningo-encephalitis often biphasic in character. Infections, however; which to a greater or lesser extent fall short of a meningo-encephalitis undoubtedly occur in laboratory workers exposed to the infection (Edward, 1948), and these are followed by appearance in the serum bf viral antibodies. It is possible that this also occurs in natural infections, but there is little information available on the incidence of antibodies to this virus in human serum, information which might be a pointer to the prevalence, or otherwise of human infections. Inverness is the hospital centre for a large area of north and west Scotland, over parts of which the disease is endemic in sheep. We had available for examination, therefore, serum from a population some of whom might be expected to be exposed to the disease. We report here the results of serological examinations carried out over the period January 1959 to June 1961.
ENDOTHELIAL NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE G894T (GLU298ASP) POLYMORPHISM IS ASSOCIATED WITH HYPOTENSION IN PATIENTS WITH E. coli BACTEREMIA BUT NOT IN BACTEREMIA CAUSED BY A GRAM-POSITIVE ORGANISM

Nitric oxide (NO) as a vasoactive substance is a crucial element in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) is, in turn, a key regulator of vascular NO production. The eNOS gene polymorphism at position 894 (G>T, Glu298Asp) resulting in T allele has been studied in the context of vascular diseases, but its role in sepsis has not yet been explored. We here studied the effect of eNOS Glu298Asp polymorphism on the clinical course of the disease in patients with bacteremia. The study comprised 147 patients with bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, &bgr;-hemolytic streptococci, or Escherichia coli. Laboratory findings and clinical data were registered on admission and during 6 consecutive days. The polymorphism of eNOS gene, G894T, was genotyped. Carriage of the T allele was associated with low MAP (P = 0.004) and high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (P = 0.001) in patients with E. coli bacteremia. The effect on blood pressure was most prominent in the early stage of the disease (MAP on admission = 52 mmHg in T-allele carriers vs. 91 mmHg in noncarriers; P < 0.001). However, the same was not detected in bacteremia caused by a gram-positive organism (S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, or &bgr;-hemolytic streptococci). The Glu298Asp polymorphism had no effect on case fatality in any pathogen. Carriage of the T allele of the eNOS gene is a risk factor for hypotension in patients with E. coli bacteremia but not in bacteremia caused by a gram-positive organism.
Smart Antenna Using Element-Level Photonic Up-Conversion to Generate an Apodized Beam-Space for Increased Spatial Isolation

A prototype linear radio frequency receive array that utilizes element-wise photonic up-conversion, via Mach–Zehnder modulators, a linear fiber array, and an accompanying optical beam-space processor, is described along with methods to generate an apodized beam-space output. A selected apodization scheme utilizing a weighted distribution of a master laser is described, simulated, and prototyped via variable attenuators in order to measure the output sidelobe levels. Results of the apodization technique are then shown via an experiment where two sources of varying power levels are spatially isolated via the apodized beam-space output.
Regional patterns and determinants of birth and survival of new firms in Western Germany

Although there is a large body of literature on the determinants of regional variation in new firm formation little is known on the spatial differences in new firm survival. The often-stated positive relationship between entry and exit suggests a negative correlation between entry and survival. On the other hand it seems convincing that regions with high birth rates should also have high survival rates, because a favourable environment for the founding of new firms should also stimulate the development of these firms. However, our analysis reveals an overall negative relationship. In detail the spatial pattern of a combination of both rates is complex, and all types of possible relationships exist. We analyse the factors that influence regional birth and survival rates of new firms for 74 West German regions over a 10-year period. It is shown that in the service sector most variables literally work in opposite directions in the birth and survival rates models. The spatial structures which promote the formation of new service firms are detrimental to the survival of these firms. This does not hold for the manufacturing sector where we find evidence for the ‘supportive environment thesis’. Obviously both industries have different requirements for their ‘seed bed’ but not for their survival.
The Decreasing Influence of Domestic Market Structure on Racial Earnings Differentials: 1984 to 1996

This study investigates the market concentration/racial earnings discrimination relationship in two periods: 1984-90 and 1991-96. In each period, the racial wage gap and the residual wage gap are compared for union and nonunion workers in monopolistic and competitive industries. The authors find no evidence of market structure-driven discrimination for union workers in either period. However, from the first to the second period they find evidence of increased racial earnings differentials for nonunion workers, yet market structure-driven discrimination decreases. The authors suggest that concentration has become a less effective measure of market power and firms' latitude to discriminate. (JEL "J31, J71") Copyright 2006 Western Economic Association International.
Characterization of domains of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein E involved in Fc binding activity for immunoglobulin G aggregates

Herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoproteins gE and gI form receptors for the Fc domain of immunoglobulin G (IgG) which are expressed on the surface of infected cells and on the virion envelope and which protect the virus from immune attack. Glycoprotein gE-1 is a low-affinity Fc receptor (FcR) that binds IgG aggregates, while gE-1 and gI-1 form a complex which serves as a higher-affinity FcR capable of binding IgG monomers. In this study, we describe two approaches used to map an Fc binding domain on gE-1 for IgG aggregates. First, we constructed nine plasmids encoding gE-1/gD-1 fusions proteins, each containing a large gE-1 peptide inserted into the ectodomain of gD-1. Fusion proteins were tested for FcR activity with IgG-sensitized erythrocytes in a rosetting assay. Three of the fusion proteins containing overlapping gE-1 peptides demonstrated FcR activity; the smallest peptide that retained Fc binding activity includes gE-1 amino acids 183 to 402. These results indicate that an Fc binding domain is located between gE-1 amino acids 183 and 402. To more precisely map the Fc binding domain, we tested a panel of 21 gE-1 linker insertion mutants. Ten mutants with insertions between gE-1 amino acids 235 and 380 failed to bind IgG-sensitized erythrocytes, while each of the remaining mutants demonstrated wild-type Fc binding activity. Taken together, these results indicate that the region of gE-1 between amino acids 235 and 380 forms an FcR domain. A computer-assisted analysis of the amino acid sequence of gE-1 demonstrates an immunoglobulin-like domain contained within this region (residues 322 to 359) which shares homology with mammalian FcRs.