Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diversity management in practice.

Presents the findings of a research project which analysed diversity management approaches, and in particular the ethnic minority policies of international hotel chains operating in San Francisco. The primary research was based on the work of Kandola and Fullerton (1994) and included questionnaires and interviews with seven human resource directors. The study did not intend to create a representative sample or to explore diversity management practices in general. It concentrated on gathering in‐depth data on hotels which were expected to have the most advanced policies and practices in the area of diversity management and equal opportunities. Most of the sample hotels implemented a “reactive diversification strategy” which tolerates, but does not expressly value, the diversity of a workforce. Therefore, many of the sample hotels could be categorised as plural organisations which focus on affirmative action programmes required by law and equal opportunity training. To achieve some of the benefits of diversity promoted by supporters of diversity management, the hotels would have to change from plural to multicultural organisations which foster and value cultural differences.
Aqua(4,4′-bipyridine-κN)bis(1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-olato-κ2 O 1,O 2)zinc 4,4′-bipyridine monosolvate dihydrate

The reaction of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 4,4′-bipyridine with zinc acetate produced the title compound, [Zn(C10H5O3)2(C10H8N2)(H2O)]·C10H8N2·2H2O. The bond lengths and angles around the metal atom indicate a deviation from octahedral geometry. The two naphthoquinone ligands coordinate in a cis fashion, with the 4,4′-bipyridine ligand and the water molecules completing the coordination sphere of the metal atom. The asymmetric unit contains also one free 4,4′-bipyridine molecule and two uncoordinated water molecules. These molecules make contacts with the complex through O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, creating a layer two-dimensional network parallel to (121).
USING SOCIAL GOALS TO EVALUATE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS

The need to increase public participation in environmental decision-making is receiving renewed attention at all levels of government. However, there are few approaches to evaluating these processes that address the question: What are we getting from public participationq This article proposes one way to answer this question using a framework that evaluates the outcomes of participatory processes using a set of "social" goals. These social goals are: 1) educating the public; 2) incorporating public values, assumptions, and preferences into decision making; 3) increasing the substantive quality of decisions; 4) fostering trust in institutions; 5) reducing conflict; and 6) making decisions cost-effectively. Although these goals apply to public participation writ large, there are a limited number of formalized mechanisms available to public agencies for involving the public. The article matches these six social goals to the participatory mechanisms by which they might be achieved. It concludes with areas for further research suggested by the framework. Copyright 1999 by The Policy Studies Organization.
Prophetic goal-space planning for human-in-the-loop mobile manipulation

This paper introduces the Prophetic Goal-Space Planner (PGP) system developed to accomplish mobile manipulation tasks. Goal-space planning exploits the under-constrained and variable nature of many real-world tasks by defining Cartesian goals in terms of intuitive solution manifolds (e.g., the principal axis of a cylindrical handle, the rim of a valve, the surface of a step) rather than precise points in 6-dimensional space. The PGP system combines 1) a goal-space planner, 2) a kinematic planner and visualizer called the prophet, and 3) user interface tools. The prophet determines appropriate stance locations for the robot to reach its goals and animates the result. The UI tools allow a human operator to either approve or reject the planner's output (the "prophecy"), request new plans, or adjust the goal-space target regions to better match the robot's perceived environment. The PGP system thus enables a level of shared autonomy between the robot and operator that can ensure task completion with only limited, corrective operator input. PGP was employed by Team TRACLabs on the Boston Dynamics Atlas robot for the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) 2015 Finals. PGP enabled the efficient completion of multiple manipulation tasks, including opening and walking through a door, walking up to and turning a valve, and throwing a lever - despite degraded network communication channels - and contributed to TRACLabs' placing 9th out of 23 teams in the competition.
Decision‐making in the European Union: Towards a framework for analysis

Abstract Renewed interest in theorizing about the process of European integration is reflected in recent scholarship on the political evolution of the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, a rich and growing literature has emerged on EU policy‐making in specific policy sectors. Yet the gap remains wide between theoretical models which seek to explain broad patterns of European integration and those which seek to explain the EU's policy‐making process. This article conceptualizes ‘policy networks’ as a tool for analysing EU policy‐making. Its central argument is that the EU is a ‘hothouse’ for different types of policy network, for two reasons. First, the EU lacks ‘off‐the‐shelf institutions which can facilitate informal bargaining between different types of actor. Secondly, decisions taken at the policy formulation stage have become important determinants of eventual EU policy outcomes in recent years. The policy networks model is placed within a broader theoretical framework for studying decision‐making in the.
On spurious differences in growth performance and on the misuse of National Accounts data for governance purposes

ABSTRACT The paper ventures forward into the largely unknown terrain of the political economy of statistical measurement. National Accounts data are shown to be indispensable for economic governance, yet, it is argued, they can also be misused in this context when spurious conclusions about economic policy are drawn from spurious differences in growth performance. That the US economy grows faster than most European economies since the mid-1990s is widely accepted as a stylized fact; and this had a strong impact on policy reform debates in Europe over the last decade. The paper questions the legitimacy of this debate by calculating the proportion of the US lead in growth over the European Union that can be explained simply in terms of differing statistical methods.
The Size and Sustainability of the Nigerian Current Account Deficits

This paper uses two different criteria -- a set of macroeconomic indicators and the intertemporal model of the current account -- to examine the excessiveness and sustainability of Nigerian current account deficits over the period 1960-2003. Our analysis shows excessive reliance on oil revenues, misperception of temporary increases in oil prices as permanent ones and structural weaknesses of the economy resulting in unsustainable current account deficits and external crisis, necessitating the adoption of the Structural Adjustment Program in 1986. However, both the macroeconomic indicators and the intertemporal model point to an improved current account position over the past decade. The paper also presents empirical results from the application of the Present Value Model of the Current Account (PYMCA) to Nigeria. Comparison of the estimated optimal and actual current account balances shows several years with excessive current account deficits. Further, these excessive current account deficits were driven by consumption tilting.
Compromise-free Pathfinding on a Navigation Mesh

We want to compute geometric shortest paths in a collection of convex traversable polygons, also known as a navigation mesh. Simple to compute and easy to update, navigation meshes are widely used for pathfinding in computer games. When the mesh is static, shortest path problems can be solved exactly and very fast but only after a costly preprocessing step. When the mesh is dynamic, practitioners turn to online methods which typically compute only approximately shortest paths. In this work we present a new pathfinding algorithm which is compromise-free; i.e., it is simultaneously fast, online and optimal. Our method, Polyanya, extends and generalises Anya; a recent and related interval-based search technique developed for computing geometric shortest paths in grids. We show how that algorithm can be modified to support search over arbitrary sets of convex polygons and then evaluate its performance on a range of realistic and synthetic benchmark problems.
Dendritic cell-based vaccine research against cancer

Therapeutic vaccines that treat cancers with the help of the patient’s own immune system signify a feasible option for active immunotherapy against the disease. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in modulating the immune response and thus can be wisely utilized as an immunotherapeutic strategy for cancer regimens. Advances in the knowledge of DC biology and function have led to the development of DC-based vaccines for cancer therapy. In the present review, we discuss the biology and function of DCs, their subsets and receptors, antigen loading and route of administration of DC vaccines, as well as active and passive targeting strategies for treating the cancer. We also discuss the preclinical and clinical status of these newly developed vaccines. Special attention should be given by the scientific community to the challenges that need to be solved for the successful implication of these vaccines in cancer therapy.
Load Theory Behind the Wheel; Perceptual and Cognitive Load Effects

Perceptual Load Theory has been proposed as a resolution to the longstanding early versus late selection debate in cognitive psychology. There is much evidence in support of Load Theory but very few applied studies, despite the potential for the model to shed light on everyday attention and distraction. Using a driving simulator, the effect of perceptual and cognitive load on drivers’ visual search was assessed. The findings were largely in line with Load Theory, with reduced distractor processing under high perceptual load, but increased distractor processing under high cognitive load. The effect of load on driving behaviour was also analysed, with significant differences in driving behaviour under perceptual and cognitive load. In addition, the effect of perceptual load on drivers’ levels of awareness was investigated. High perceptual load significantly increased inattentional blindness and deafness, for stimuli that were both relevant and irrelevant to driving. High perceptual load also increased RTs to hazards. The current study helps to advance Load Theory by illustrating its usefulness outside of traditional paradigms. There are also applied implications for driver safety and roadway design, as the current study suggests that perceptual and cognitive load are important factors in driver attention. La théorie de la charge perceptuelle a été proposée comme une solution à l’éternel débat entre la sélection précoce et la sélection tardive en psychologie cognitive. Plusieurs preuves viennent appuyer la théorie de la charge, mais très peu d’études appliquées ont été réalisées, malgré le potentiel de ce modèle à faire la lumière sur l’attention et la distraction de tous les jours. Au moyen d’un simulateur de conduite automobile, l’effet des charges perceptuelle et cognitive sur la recherche visuelle du conducteur a été évalué. Les conclusions étaient en grande partie alignées avec la théorie de la charge, affichant un traitement réduit des éléments de distraction sous une charge perceptuelle élevée et un traitement accru des éléments de distraction sous une charge cognitive élevée. L’effet de charge sur le comportement au volant a également été analysé, affichant des différences significatives au niveau du comportement au volant selon que ce dernier était soumis à une charge perceptuelle ou cognitive. De plus, l’effet de la charge perceptuelle sur les niveaux de conscience des conducteurs a été étudié. Les charges perceptuelles élevées ont considérablement augmenté la surdité et la cécité d’inattention en réponse à des stimuli pertinents et non pertinents à la conduite automobile. La charge perceptuelle augmentait aussi les temps de réaction par rapport aux dangers. La présente étude contribue à faire progresser la théorie de la charge en démontrant son utilité en dehors de paradigmes traditionnels. Cette théorie a aussi des implications en matière de sécurité des conducteurs et de conception des routes, étant donné que la présente étude actuelle suggère que les charges perceptuelle et cognitive jouent un rôle important sur l’attention du conducteur.
Towards an operations strategy for product-centric servitization

Purpose – This paper aims to present a framework that will help manufacturing firms to configure their internal production and support operations to enable effective and efficient delivery of products and their closely associated services. Design/methodology/approach – First, the key definitions and literature sources directly associated with servitization of manufacturing are established. Then, a theoretical framework that categorises the key characteristics of a manufacturer's operations strategy is developed and this is populated using both evidence from the extant literature and empirical data. Findings – The framework captures a set of operations principles, structures and processes that can guide a manufacturer in the delivery of product-centric servitized offering. These are illustrated and contrasted against operations that deliver purely product (production operations) and those which deliver purely services (services operations). Research limitations/implications – The work is based on a review of the literature supported by data collected from an exploratory case study. Whilst it provides an essential platform, further research will be needed to validate the framework. Originality/value – The principal contribution of this paper is a framework that captures the key characteristics of operations for product-centric servitized manufacture.
Consumer's Surplus versus Compensating Variation Revisited

Consumer's surplus and a second-order approximation to compensating variation are compared to the exact compensating variation for a subsystem of several commodities. An empirical application to the relative retail price distortions created by the U.S. dairy program is presented. In the application, a new specification for weakly integrable incomplete demand models is developed and estimated. The integrable demand model has sufficient flexibility that it is not rejected by the data. Both welfare approximations are found to introduce large errors in the measurement of deadweight losses. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (T (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, Control and Risk Factors of Hypertension in the Guangxi Hei Yi Zhuang and Han Populations

Han is the largest nationality and Zhuang is the largest minority among the 56 nationalities in China. Geographically and linguistically, Zhuang can be classified into 43 ethnic subgroups, with the Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese, who live in Napo County bordering northeast Vietnam and comprise a population of 51,655, having the most conservative culture and customs (Hei Yi means “black-clothing” and the Hei Yi Zhuang revere and wear the color black). The determinants of hypertension and its risk factors in this population have not been well-defined. To obtain some of this information, a cross-sectional study of hypertension was carried out in 1,166 Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese (aged 7–84; mean, 44.00±17.54 years) and 1,018 Han Chinese controls (42.95±17.11; range, 6–89 years) in the same area. Information on demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors and lifestyle factors was collected by questionnaire. The overall prevalence rates of hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension in Hei Yi Zhuang were higher than those in Han (23.2% vs. 16.0% and 11.5% vs. 3.7%; p<0.001 for each). The levels of systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in Hei Yi Zhuang were also higher than those in Han (p<0.001 for each). The prevalence of hypertension was positively correlated with triglycerides, male gender, and age in Hei Yi Zhuang, whereas it was positively correlated with total cholesterol, male gender, age, and alcohol consumption in Han. The rates of awareness, treatment and control in Hei Yi Zhuang were lower than those in Han (8.5% vs. 20.9%, 4.4% vs. 15.3%, and 1.9% vs. 10.4%; p<0.001 for each), which may have been due to unique geographical characteristics, unwholesome lifestyles, greater sodium intake, lower education levels, and genetic risk factors in the former group.
Quantitation of human cytomegalovirus DNA from peripheral blood cells of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients could predict cytomegalovirus retinitis.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA copy number in white blood cells from both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative and HIV-seropositive patients was amplified from the immediate-early region of CMV DNA and quantified by colorimetric detection of the hybridization of the amplification product to a detector oligonucleotide probe in microtiter wells. By Mann-Whitney U test, significantly higher (P < .05, two-tailed) copy numbers of CMV DNA were detected in HIV-seropositive patients with retinitis than in either patients with < 100 CD4 cells/mm3 and no symptomatic CMV disease or HIV-seropositive patients with > 100 CD4 cells/mm3. By prospective monitoring for increases in CMV DNA copy number, it may be possible to identify HIV-seropositive patients who are at imminent risk for development of symptomatic CMV retinitis.
ADDING SUPPLY-DRIVEN CONSUMPTION MAKES THE GHOSH MODEL EVEN MORE IMPLAUSIBLE

Guerra and Sancho (2011) argue that adding a supply-driven consumption function to the Ghosh model diminishes its implausibility in the case of centrally planned economies. Extending the Leontief model with a demand-driven consumption function does make that model more realistic. Extending the Ghosh model, however, makes it even more implausible in the case of a market economy, while it becomes even more problematic as a guide for a centrally planned economy. The prime reason is that complementarities between inputs are negated, not only for firms, but now also for households. Consequently, industry and aggregate output may now increase, while corresponding value added decreases, and vice versa.
Entrepreneurship, the Informal Economy and Rural Communities

Purpose – This paper aims to evaluate whether early-stage entrepreneurs and the established self-employed in rural communities trade off-the-books and whether this tendency varies across deprived and affluent rural localities. Design/methodology/approach – Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 350 households in both affluent and deprived rural communities in England. Findings – In both the affluent and deprived rural communities surveyed, wholly legitimate enterprises represent just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface is a large hidden enterprise culture of both registered businesses trading off-the-books and unregistered wholly off-the-books enterprises. However, the preponderance of both early-stage entrepreneurs, as well as the established self-employed to trade off-the-books is greater in deprived than affluent rural communities, intimating that deprived rural communities are perhaps relatively more enterprising and entrepreneurial than is currently recognised. Research limitations/implications – These findings are based on a small-scale study of five English rural communities. Further studies are now required to evaluate whether similar findings are replicated elsewhere. Practical implications – The paper reveals that legitimising the hidden enterprise culture in deprived rural communities could be an important but so far untapped means of promoting enterprise and economic development. Originality/value – Evaluates the extent of informal entrepreneurship in rural communities and how this varies spatially.
Explaining the Role of Service-Oriented Architecture for Cyber-Physical Systems by Establishing Logical Links

In the context of the so-called fourth industrial revolution, cyber-physical systems (CPS) build the technological foundation for the increasing digitalisation of our world. Because guidelines to overcome challenges of building such systems (e.g. security concerns, missing know-how, and lack of standards) are scarce, researchers and practitioners alike have begun to analyse the role of the mature paradigm of service-oriented architecture (SOA) in implementing CPS. However, the relationship between SOA and CPS is not entirely understood. To close this gap, we analyse SOA’s role for CPS based on a concept-driven literature review. The analysis of 12 publications that address the interrelation between SOA and CPS yielded four groups of CPS benefits that can be achieved by leveraging SOA. Combining these benefits with architectural layers and SOA’s design principles, we identify logical links that explain the role of SOA for CPS. Future research might concentrate on dominant patterns to scrutinise how a specific benefit can be achieved by leveraging SOA. Designers of CPS can leverage the identified patterns to understand the importance of specific characteristics of SOA to address the unique requirements of their CPS.
Improved signal-to-noise ratio estimation algorithm for asymmetric pulse-shaped signals

The split-symbol moment estimation (SSME) algorithm is a conventional method to estimate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in communication systems for M-ary phase shift keying signals. However, the conventional SSME is based on the assumption of symmetric pulse-shaping waveforms, and becomes no longer proper when the shaping pulse is asymmetric. In this study, the authors propose a modified SSME algorithm for asymmetric pulse-shaped signals, based on an odd-even symbol splitting approach. Simulation results show that the modified SSME outperforms the conventional SSME for both symmetric and asymmetric pulse-shaped signals in terms of SNR estimation accuracy.