Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estrategias asset-light e internacionalizacion de las cadenas hoteleras espaiiolas: el efecto moderador de la implicacion familiar en la empresa Asset-I ig ht strategies and Spanish hotel chains' internationalisation: The moderating effect of family involvement in the firm

Increasingly, hotel chains opt for alternative strategies to ownership when adding a new hotel abroad to their portfolio, especially since the COVID-19's crisis. Among these strategies, are those known as asset-light, with leasing, management and franchise agreements being the most common in the hotel sector. Combining insights from institutional theory and stewardship theory, we propose several hypotheses on the relationship between institutional distance and cultural distance and internationalization using these asset-light forms that involve a lower commitment of resources. We also analyze how the family involvement of the firms may influence this decision. The results confirm that there is a relationship between institutional and cultural distance and the regime in which hotel chains maintain their international hotels
Enhancing the output power of solar cell system using artificial intelligence algorithms

The main objective of research in the field of solar cell systems is to obtain the maximum output power. In this respect, artificial intelligence (AI) is considered the current icon. Hence, in the present paper perturbation & observation (P&O) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms were used to achieve the maximum power. Solar irradiance at three different regions of Egypt was measured using a new technique based on Arduino microcontroller. The obtained experimental results of the solar irradiance were inlaid to the MATLAB simulation program to study the performance of the proposed algorithms. Many improvements were carried out in P&O and PSO algorithms to harvest maximum power for long hours daily by a continuous modulation of the duty cycle. The output maximum power and the reaching time of both improved P&O and PSO are better than the traditional one and PV array, which indicates their efficiency in harvesting the maximum power and enhancing the performance of solar cell systems. The reinforcing of the PV system by P&O improved its efficiency by 98.733%, while PSO improved its efficiency by 99.968%.
Momentum Strategies in the S&P 500: Can Small Investors Exploit the Momentum Effect?

This paper studies the extent to which small investors can exploit the momentum effect among stocks listed in the S&P 500 Index. This thesis offers a practical alternative to strategies presented in the existing literature, focusing on a widely accessible range of stocks with relatively high liquidity. Furthermore, winners-only strategies are the focus of the investigation, disregarding the short selling of losers which is typically applied in momentum investing literature. Using S&P 500 data from 2010 to 2021, this study investigates the excess returns of 208 strategies formed based on formation periods, holding periods, and the number of stocks included over the S&P 500 Index. Risk-adjusted returns were calculated to analyse the strategies from another angle. They were also tested against the existing CAPM and three-factor models, ultimately proving that these strategies present excess returns for lower initial investments which are not explained by factors in the models. This study therefore promotes a more enterprising investment strategy for retail investors which remains intuitive and accessible.
Acute Effect of Different Velocity-Based Training Protocols on 2000-meter Rowing Ergometer Performance

Abstract Leandro Quidel-Catrilelbún, ME, Ruiz-Alias, SA, García-Pinillos, F, Ramirez-Campillo, R, and Pérez-Castilla, A. Acute effect of different velocity-based training protocols on 2000-m rowing ergometer performance. J Strength Cond Res 38(1): e8–e15, 2024—This study aimed to explore the acute effect of 4 velocity-based resistance training (VBT) protocols on 2000-m rowing ergometer (RE2000) time trial, as well as the behavior of the maximal neuromuscular capacities when RE2000 is performed alone or preceded by VBT protocols in the same session. Fifteen male competitive rowers (15–22 years) undertook 5 randomized protocols in separate occasions: (a) RE2000 alone (control condition); (b) VBT against 60% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) with a velocity loss in the set of 10% followed by RE2000 (VBT60-10 + RE2000); (c) VBT against 60% 1RM with a velocity loss in the set of 30% followed by RE2000 (VBT60-30 + RE2000); (d) VBT against 80% 1RM with a velocity loss in the set of 10% followed by RE2000 (VBT80-10 + RE2000); (e) VBT against 80% 1RM with a velocity loss in the set of 30% followed by RE2000 (VBT80-30 + RE2000). The load-velocity relationship (load-axis intercept [L0], velocity-axis intercept [v0], and area under the load-velocity relationship line [Aline]) was used to evaluate the maximal neuromuscular capacities during the prone bench pull exercise before and after each protocol. The time trial was significantly longer for VBT60-30 + RE2000 and VBT80-30 + RE2000 than for RE2000, VBT60-10 + RE2000 and VBT80-10 + RE2000 (all p < 0.001; ES = 0.10–0.15). L0 and Aline were significantly reduced after all protocols (p < 0.001; ES = 0.10–0.13), with Aline reduction more accentuated for VBT60-10 + RE2000, VBT60-30 + RE2000, VBT80-30 + RE2000, and RE2000 (all p = 0.001; ES = 0.11–0.18) than for VBT80-10 + RE2000 (p = 0.065; ES = 0.05). Therefore, VBT protocols with greater velocity loss in the set (30% vs. 10%) negatively affected subsequent rowing ergometer performance, in line with impairment in Aline pulling performance.
Chronic kidney disease prevalence in asymptomatic patients with risk factors—usefulness of serum cystatin C: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Chronic kidney disease is recognized as a worldwide public health problem, particularly within an increasing prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. This disease affects more than 13% of the world's population and is increasing. Further biochemical assessment with new biomarkers, such as serum cystatin C (CysC), would improve patient care and disease control. The aim of this study was to detect chronic kidney disease (CKD) in asymptomatic subjects with risk factors and evaluate CysC as early biomarker of renal damage and accurate test to estimation glomerular filtration (GF). Methods: This observational analytic and cross-sectional design included 195 patients of both sexes. A full clinical evaluation included height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), and family history of disease. Renal function was evaluated through serum creatinine (SCrea), serum CysC, urinary albumin, and urinary creatinine. GF was calculated using CKD-EPI creatinine (CKD-EPI Crea) and CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin C equations (CKD-EPI Crea-CysC). Results: Renal injury showed 24% of patients with albuminuria; 18% of them were categorized as A2 and 6% as A3. Therefore, 73% had no progression risk (baseline risk), 20% moderate risk, and 7% high risk. Among analyzed groups, significant differences were found in BMI, BP, Screa, CysC, CKD-EPI Crea, and CKD-EPI Crea-CysC. Overweight population was analyzed by assessing CysC and calculating CKD-EPI Crea-CysC, showing an important change with respect to the general population. Conclusion: Combined CysC and Crea measurement provides incremental improvement in predicting measured GF.
The factors affecting employee's satisfaction and loyalty: An evidence from the People's Committee of Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Employees are seen as a valuable resource that can contribute in various ways to an organization's activities. In order to prevent the phenomenon of “brain-drain” from the public sectors to other sectors and have a stable human resource, the organization needs to make employees feel satisfied in work and want to have a strong attachment to the organization for a long time by their loyalty. The aim of the study is to explore the factors that affecting the job satisfaction of employees in the People Committee of Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; to examine the relationship between employees’ satisfaction and loyalty; and to provide solutions to improve the degree of satisfaction and loyalty for employees in this organization. The research model includes six variables, including four independent variables (empowerment, salary and rewards, training, and career advancement opportunities), one dependent variable (loyalty) and one intermediate variable (satisfaction). These variables corresponds with five hypotheses. The research is conducted on 170 staffs who are working at People’s Committee of Binh Tan District through a survey by the questionnaires. Amos 20 was used to test the model, and then, the author ran Amos 20 for CFA and SEM with purpose of enhancing the value of the model, analyzed the data and brought out the results for this study. The results indicated a remarkably positive correlation between satisfaction with salary and rewards as well as a positive relation was also illustrated between the satisfaction with training and empowerment. However, career advancement opportunities has shown an insignificant relation with satisfaction in this organization. Apart from that, implications for management and policy markers in the context of personnel source in People’s Committee of Binh Tan District in particular and the Vietnamese local governments in general are discussed in this study. Table of
Utility of Novel Rotational Load-Velocity Profiling Methods in Collegiate Softball Players

Abstract Herring, CH, Beyer, KS, Redd, MJ, Stout, JR, and Fukuda, DH. Utility of novel rotational load-velocity profiling methods in collegiate softball players. J Strength Cond Res 38(1): 136–145, 2024—The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of bat swing (BS) and rotational medicine ball throw (RMBT) load-velocity profiling (LVP) methods and explore relationships with batting performance in NCAA Division I softball players. Bat velocity was tracked with a swing sensor during the BS method, whereas an inertial measurement unit (IMU) tracked forearm velocity during the BS and RMBT methods. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used for relative reliability, and coefficient of variation (CV) was used for absolute reliability. With the exception of theoretical maximum velocity (V0) using the average of top 2 peak velocities (PVavg) during the RMBT, no LVP variables were found to be reliable during the RMBT or BS method using the IMU (ICC ≤0.7; CV ≥15%). For the BS method with the swing sensor, all bat loads and V0 had acceptable reliability using peak velocity (PV) and PVavg (ICC >0.7; CV <15%), whereas all LVP variables were highly related between the multiple-load and two-load models when using PV and PVavg (r = 0.915–0.988; p < 0.01). There were significant relationships (r = 0.603–0.671; p < 0.05) between PV using the 0.99 Kg bat load and V0, and several in-game batting statistics. Practitioners may use the BS with the swing sensor as a rotational LVP assessment, although they should be cautious of aiming to improve batting performance in collegiate softball players based on the correlations reported until further research is performed.
Multidisciplinary Initiative to Increase Guideline-concordant Antibiotic Prescription at Discharge for Hospitalized Children with Uncomplicated Community-acquired Pneumonia

Background: Clinical practice guidelines recommend using narrow-spectrum antibiotics to treat uncomplicated pneumonia in children. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate if QI methods could improve guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing at hospital discharge for children with uncomplicated pneumonia. Methods: For this single-center QI project, we implemented QI interventions in serial plan-do-study-act cycles, focusing on the key drivers targeting general pediatric inpatient resident teams. Interventions included: (1)Small bimonthly group didactic sessions, (2)Visual job aids posted in resident work areas, and (3) A noon conference session. Balancing measures included postdischarge emergency room visits, readmission and adverse drug reactions. Results: To establish a baseline rate, we conducted a chart review of 112 children diagnosed with uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia during hospitalization from July 2017 through January 2019. The average monthly percentage of children discharged with guideline-concordant antibiotics was 67%. The intervention period was from February 2019 through February 2020, with 118 children meeting the criteria after a review of 262 charts. After our interventions, the average monthly percentage of children discharged with guideline-concordant antibiotics increased to 87%, with the increase persisting for at least 12 months. There were no significant differences in balancing measures pre- and post-interventions. Conclusions: Our QI initiative sustained increased rates of uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing at discharge over 12 months without an increase in balancing measures. The enduring changes in prescribing behavior suggest a lasting impact of our interventions.
Does time heal all wounds? : the restoration of place attachment after loss of place : the case study of Point Pleasant Park after Hurricane Juan

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF FIGURES. vi CHAPTER ONE: Introduction. 1 1.1 Research Questions and Thesis Statement. 4 CHAPTER TWO: Background and Literature Review. 7 2.1 History of Point Pleasant Park . 9 2.2 Parks, Nature and Well-being . 14 2.3 Place and Place Attachment . 19 2.4 Crisis and Solastalgia . 27 2.5 Restoring Point Pleasant Park. 33 2.6 Outcomes and Gaps. 34 CHAPTER THREE: Methodology. 36 3.1 Research techniques. 37 3.2 Data Analysis. 41 3.3 Lessons Learned. 45 CHAPTER FOUR: Findings and Discussion. 49 4.1 Profile and Demographics. 49 4.2 Long-Term Users, Hurricane Juan and Solastalgia. 58 4.2.1 Pre-Juan Place Attachment. 58 4.2.2 Hurricane Juan and Solastalgia. 59 4.2.3 Place Attachment after Hurricane Juan. 61 4.3 Current Attachment to Point Pleasant Park. 66 4.3.1 Long-term vs. Short-term Users. 79 CHAPTER FIVE: Conclusion. 84 APPENDIX A: Informed Consent Form. 90 APPENDIX B: Interview/Survey Question Guide . 92 REFERENCES . 95
Breath Phase Durations, Affect, and Attention: A Pilot Randomized Crossover Trial

Objectives: Previously, yoga volitional breathing with low inspiration to expiration ratios (i/e) (as in bhramari pranayama) improved cognition and reduced state anxiety. This study compared the effects of low, high and equal i/e ratio breathing on affect and attention. Material and Methods: Affect, vigor and attention were assessed in forty healthy participants (group mean age± SD; 22.58±3.83; M:F= 2.33:1) while breathing with three different i/e regulated by a visual metronome on separate days viz., (i) low i/e (28:72), (ii) equal i/e (50:50), (iii) high i/e (72:28) compared to control, without conscious breath modification. Assessments were: (i) brief mood introspection scale (BMIS), (ii) global vigor and affect scale (GVAS), (iii) Spielberger's state trait anxiety inventory-state (STAI-S) and a six letter cancellation test to assess sustained attention. Data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc tests. Results: Pleasant feelings increased after low and equal i/e. Low i/e also increased positive feelings whereas equal i/e decreased scores in the cancellation test for sustained attention. All three breathing practices and the control session decreased state anxiety and increased vigor. High i/e breathing alone did not decrease negative feelings. For all the breath ratios the breath frequency cue was set at twelve breaths per minute. Conclusion: In summary, varying breath phase ratios influenced positive and pleasant feelings but did not influence state anxiety or vigor. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the findings would be improved with concurrent physiological assessments.
ODU Digital Commons ODU Digital Commons

Four different bootstrap methods for estimating conﬁdence intervals (CIs) for a coefﬁ-cient alpha difference from two independent samples (groups) were examined. These four CIs were compared to the most promising non-bootstrap CI alternatives in the literature. All CIs were assessed with a Monte Carlo simulation with conditions similar to previous research. The results indicate that there is a clear order in coverage performance of the CIs. The bootstrapped highest density interval had the best coverage performance across all simulation conditions. Yet, it was impacted by unequal sample sizes when one of the groups had the smallest sample size investigated of 50, or when items came from a compound symmetric correlation matrix with ρ = 0 . 64 . Regardless of the simulation condition, the percentile bootstrap is a good alternative as long as both group sample sizes were 200 or more.
Numerical modeling of magma ascent and emplacement in the continental lithosphere and crust

Magmatism in the continental lithosphere often occurs along convergent margins, where partial melts are formed in the mantle wedge above a subducting slab of oceanic crust. The mechanics of magma ascent through the cold and mechanically strong continental lithosphere and its emplacement as plutonic bodies in the crust are not yet well understood. Also, the coupling between physical modes of melt transport and magmatic differentiation, which produces intermediate to felsic magma bodies from mafic mantle melts, remains an open problem. This thesis addresses the problem of the thermally and compositionally coupled physics of melt ascent in the continental lithosphere by means of numerical simulations. Numerical models form an essential tool of investigation in geodynamics, where processes of interest often occur on time-­‐ and length scales inaccessible to direct observation. Here, a numerical model of two-­‐phase flow is used to describe the physics of a low viscosity silicate melt in interaction with a high viscosity rock phase. As the continental lithosphere is relatively cool and therefore mechanically strong, it is essential to consider not only viscous creep, but also elasto-­‐plastic modes of deformation in the model description as well. A realistic visco-­‐elasto-­‐plastic rheology has not previously been included in numerical model of geodynamic two-­‐phase flow. Therefore, a physically consistent formulation of shear and tensile plastic failure in a two-­‐phase medium is here derived from general plasticity theory. Numerical simulations of melt transport in a visco-­‐elasto-­‐plastically deforming host rock performed at a range of rock viscosities reveal three distinct regimes of melt transport, two of which are governed by plastic failure of the host rock. These regimes are melt diapirism, occurring at low rock viscosities, decompaction channeling, emerging at intermediate rock viscosities, and tensile fracturing, observed at high rock viscosities. Finally, the numerical method is expanded to include the thermal and compositional evolution of the magmatic system, along with a thermodynamically consistent melting model. The compositional variable represents a two end-­‐member solid solution between an enriched (felsic) and a depleted (ultramafic) silicate component. The fully coupled numerical model may now be used to study the thermally and compositionally coupled ascent of magma bodies through the continental lithosphere. Simulation results indicate that melt penetrates the lithosphere by means of plastic failure of the host rock induced by over-­‐pressured melt and regional tectonic stress. During ascent and emplacement, the melt of initially mafic composition differentiates to intermediate to felsic
Queer Japan From The Pacific War To The Internet Age

Thank you very much for reading queer japan from the pacific war to the internet age. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have search numerous times for their chosen readings like this queer japan from the pacific war to the internet age, but end up in harmful downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they cope with some malicious virus inside their laptop.
Creative Fashion Generation from Text Descriptions Using Attentional Generative Adversarial Networks

Due to the increasing demand for an automatic process in fashion design, AI has become more important to the industry. This project proposes and explores to apply the attentional generative adversarial network (AttnGAN) for taking text descriptions as input to generate new fashion product images. AttnGAN consists of two parts: the DAMSM and the attentional Generative Network. DAMSM minimizes image-text matching loss and is used for finding fine scale (word level) match between images and texts and attentional Generative Network minimizes the sum of a generator loss and the DAMSM loss. Analysis of both parts of the method and some promising results are shown.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Background: Maine coon cats have a familial disposition for developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with evidence of an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance [1]. The current mode to diagnose HCM is by use of echocardiography. However, definite reference criteria have not been established. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of echocardigraphic changes consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Swedish Maine coon cats, and to compare echocardiographic measurements with previously published reference values. Methods: All cats over the age of 8 months owned by breeders living in Stockholm, listed on the website of the Maine Coon breeders in Sweden by February 2001, were invited to participate in the study. Physical examination and M-mode and 2D echocardiographic examinations were performed in all cats. Results: Examinations of 42 asymptomatic Maine coon cats (10 males and 32 females) were performed. The age of the cats ranged from 0,7 to 9,3 years with a mean of 4,8 ± 2,3 years. Four cats (9,5%) had a diastolic interventricular septal (IVSd) or left ventricular free wall (LVPWd) thickness exceeding 6,0 mm. In 3