Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decline and turnaround: a literature review and proposed research agenda for the hotel sector

Tourism systems are composed of an inter-related and inter-dependent set of individual businesses, organisations and servicescapes. The hospitality industry, and more specifically the hotel sector, comprises many businesses that contribute significantly to the tourism system. Yet, the industry is renowned for business failures and poor financial returns. Increasing competition, globalisation, technology, social change and internal weaknesses are some of the reasons why tourism and hospitality businesses fail or perform significantly below expectations. When in a state of decline or poor performance, many businesses attempt a ‘turnaround’. Declining performance can have wide-ranging impacts not only on hotel businesses directly, but also upon those communities where local economies rely on tourism for jobs and economic prosperity. Consequently, an improved understanding of the processes of declining performance and turnarounds is particularly important to both researchers and practitioners. However, there has been limited research focused on turnarounds in the tourism industry, in general, and in the hotel industry, in particular. In this study we assess the literature on decline and turnarounds and propose an agenda for future research that will enhance our knowledge and inform ongoing debate on the process and impact of turnarounds in the hotel industry.
Targeted Content for a Real-Time Activity Feed: For First Time Visitors to Power Users

The Activity Feed is Etsy's take on the ubiquitous "web feed" - a continuous stream of aggregated content, personalized for each user. These streams have become the de facto means of serving advertisements in the context of social media. Any visitor to Facebook or Twitter has seen advertisements placed on their web feed. For Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods with over 29 million unique items, the AF makes the marketplace feel a bit smaller for users. It enables discovery of relevant content, including activities from their social graph, recommended shops and items, and new listings from favorite shops. At the same time, Etsy's AF provides a platform for presenting users with targeted content, as well as advertisements, served alongside relevant and timely content. One of the biggest challenges for building such a feed is providing an engaging experience for all users across Etsy. Some users are first-time visitors who may find Etsy to be overwhelming. Others are long-time power users who already know what they're looking for and how to find it. In this work, we describe solutions to the challenges encountered while delivering targeted content to our tens of million of users. We also cover our means of adapting to each user's actions, evolving our targeted content offerings as the user's familiarity with Etsy grows. Finally, we discuss the impact of our system through extensive experimentation on live traffic, and show how these improvements have led to increased user engagement.
Effects of Global Changes on Above- and Belowground Biodiversity in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Implications for Ecosystem Functioning

bove- and belowground organisms are criticalforthe biogeochemical cycles that sustain the Earth,butthere is limited knowledge on the extent to which the biotabelow ground and the functions they perform are dependenton the biota above ground,and vice versa.Hooper et al.(2000) provide a synthesis ofthe patterns and mechanismslinking above- and belowground biodiversity.The close re-lationship between vegetation change and soil carbon (C)dynamics (Jobbagy and Jackson 2000) suggests that anydisruption ofthe coupling between plants and soil organ-isms as a result ofglobal change may have deleterious con-sequences for functioning ofterrestrial ecosystems.However,most ofthe scientific evidence supporting this hypothesiscomes from correlative approaches.The complexity ofthenumerous interactions between various environmental
Visual perception of multi-column-layout text: insight from repeated and non-repeated reading

ABSTRACT Information processing speed affects reading performance and interaction with text. Understanding how column type in an online context influences reading effectiveness can help us to identify less effective layouts. This study explored the visual perception of 23 participants while they read text arranged in a multi-column layout. Two tasks (repeated reading and non-repeated reading) were designed and assessed to have the same level of difficulty. Information was organised according to three types of column layout (one, two, or three columns). Eye movement analysis showed that participants performed best in a three-column layout for repeated reading, and with one column for normal reading. We also found that the repeated reading technique reduced readers’ distraction and therefore increased their visual performance, which in turn increased information processing, regardless of column layout. These findings with regard to single- and multi-column layouts can help suggest effective reading configurations for online readers and provide insights for human–computer interaction theories on human interaction with different typographic elements.
Ceph-based storage server application

Ceph is a scalable and high performance distributed file system. In this study, a Ceph-based storage server was implemented and used actively. This storage system has been used as a disk of 40 virtual servers in 4 different Proxmox servers. Performance evaluation of the system has been conducted on virtual servers that holds Windows and Linux based operating systems.
Seer : Leveraging Big Data to Navigate The Complexity of Cloud Debugging

Performance unpredictability in cloud services leads to poor user experience, degraded availability, and has revenue ramifications. Detecting performance degradation a posteriori helps the system take corrective action, but does not avoid the QoS violations. Detecting QoS violations after the fact is even more detrimental when a service consists of hundreds of thousands of looselycoupled microservices, since performance hiccups can quickly propagate across the dependency graph of microservices. In this work we focus on anticipating QoS violations in cloud settings to mitigate performance unpredictability to begin with. We propose Seer, a cloud runtime that leverages the massive amount of tracing data cloud systems collect over time and a set of practical learning techniques to signal upcoming QoS violations, as well as identify the microservice(s) causing them. Once an imminent QoS violation is detected Seer uses machine-level hardware events to determine the cause of the QoS violation, and adjusts the resource allocations to prevent it. In local clusters with 10 40-core servers and 200-instance clusters on GCE running diverse cloud microservices, we show that Seer correctly anticipates QoS violations 91% of the time, and attributes the violation to the correct microservice in 89% of cases. Finally, Seer detects QoS violations early enough for a corrective action to almost always be applied successfully.
Characterization of an ADP-Ribosyltransferase Toxin (AexT) from Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida

ABSTRACT An ADP-ribosylating toxin named Aeromonas salmonicida exoenzyme T (AexT) in A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, the etiological agent of furunculosis in fish, was characterized. Gene aexT, encoding toxin AexT, was cloned and characterized by sequence analysis. AexT shows significant sequence similarity to the ExoS and ExoT exotoxins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to the YopE cytotoxin of different Yersinia species. The aexT gene was detected in all of the 12 A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida strains tested but was absent from all other Aeromonas species. Recombinant AexT produced in Escherichia coli possesses enzymatic ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. Monospecific polyclonal antibodies directed against purified recombinant AexT detected the toxin produced by A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida and cross-reacted with ExoS and ExoT of P. aeruginosa. AexT toxin could be detected in a wild type (wt) strain of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida freshly isolated from a fish with furunculosis; however, its expression required contact with RTG-2 rainbow trout gonad cells. Under these conditions, the AexT protein was found to be intracellular or tightly cell associated. No AexT was found when A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida was incubated in cell culture medium in the absence of RTG-2 cells. Upon infection with wt A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, the fish gonad RTG-2 cells rapidly underwent significant morphological changes. These changes were demonstrated to constitute cell rounding, which accompanied induction of production of AexT and which led to cell lysis after extended incubation. An aexT mutant which was constructed from the wt strain with an insertionally inactivated aexT gene by allelic exchange had no toxic effect on RTG-2 cells and was devoid of AexT production. Hence AexT is directly involved in the toxicity of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida for RTG-2 fish cells.
Cocaine and Sleep: Early Abstinence

Compulsive cocaine use is associated with a profound dysregulation of sleep. Perhaps the result of chronic use, a significant deterioration in sleep is apparent over the first 3 weeks of abstinence, with no indication of recovery. Interestingly, the diminished sleep is not accompanied by subjective reports of poor or worsening sleep. Rather, subjective reports actually improve over abstinence, while sleep-related cognitive performance declines. A mechanistic understanding of the apparent difference in objective and subjective measures is currently lacking. Here we review the relevant literature on cocaine use and sleep, and discuss the possible relevance of this sleep disturbance in relationship to the underlying disorder and its treatment.
The Upper Preferred Multiple Directed Acyclic Graph Support Vector Machines for Classification

The current classification algorithms have weak fault-tolerance. In order to solve the problem, a multiple support vector machines method, called Upper preferred Multiple Directed Acyclic Graph Support Vector Machines (UMDAG-SVMs), is proposed. Firstly, we present least squares projection twin support vector machine (LSPTSVM) with confidence-degree for generating binary classifiers. It uses the idea that "when the confidence-degree outputted from the node in the directed graph, is below the threshold, the decision-making process will go on along with the two branches of the node at the same time. ", which strengthens the algorithm's fault-tolerance. In order to select the parameters of the algorithm, we use genetic algorithm to select these parameters. Secondly, according to the minimal hypersphere distance, and the known principle "the upper-level classifiers bring up better performance of classification in DAG-SVMs ", we present a new classification algorithm, called UMDAG-SVMs. This algorithm has two advantages of strong fault-tolerance and high classification accuracy. Finally, we make the experiments to test the performance of the algorithm. Experimental results in public datasets show that our UMDAG-SVMs has comparable classification accuracy to that other algorithms but with remarkable less computation.
The Endogenous Market Structures Approach. A Technical Survey with Applications to the Theory of Business Cycles, Trade and Growth

The EMSs approach to macroeconomics introduces strategic interactions and en- dogenous entry decisions in the analysis of aggregate phenomena. This approach departs from the perfectly competitive environment, in the sense that rms do not take prices as given, but they do choose their entry and production strategies and they interact strategically. In general equilibrium, this leads to novel implications for the mechanism of propagation of aggregate shocks, for the theory of the gains from trade and for the sources of the growth process. We introduce this emerging literature and discuss some of its implications.
Urinary metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biomarkers in boilermakers exposed to metal fume and residual oil fly ash.

BACKGROUND Boilermakers are occupationally exposed to known carcinogens. METHODS The association of urinary 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP), a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, with biomarkers of metal exposure (vanadium, chromium, manganese, nickel, copper, and lead) in boilermakers exposed to metal fume from welding and dust particulates from residual oil fly ash (ROFA) was examined. A repeated measures cohort study was conducted during the overhaul of an oil-fired boiler. Twice-daily urine samples were obtained for 5 days and analyzed for cotinine, 1-OHP, and metals. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to model the multivariate relationship of 1-OHP to the explanatory variables. RESULTS Metal and 1-OHP levels were determined for 165 urine samples from 20 boilermakers and these levels increased during the workweek. However, the 1-OHP level was not significantly associated with any individual metal level at any time point. CONCLUSION This suggests that boilermakers were occupationally exposed to PAH and metals, but 1-OHP as a PAH biomarker was unable to serve as a surrogate marker of metal exposure for the metals measured in this study.
A Modification of the Fuzzy Logic Based DASH Adaptation Scheme for Performance Improvement

We propose a modification of the fuzzy logic based DASH adaptation scheme (FDASH) for seamless media service in time-varying network conditions. The proposed scheme (mFDASH) selects a more appropriate bit-rate for the next segment by modification of the Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) and estimates more accurate available bandwidth than FDASH scheme by using History-Based TCP Throughput Estimation. Moreover, mFDASH reduces the number of video bit-rate changes by applying Segment Bit-Rate Filtering Module (SBFM) and employs Start Mechanism for clients to provide high-quality videos in the very beginning stage of the streaming service. Lastly, Sleeping Mechanism is applied to avoid any expected buffer overflow. We then use NS-3 Network Simulator to verify the performance of mFDASH. Upon the experimental results, mFDASH shows no buffer overflow within the limited buffer size, which is not guaranteed in FDASH. Also, we confirm that mFDASH provides the highest QoE to DASH clients among the three schemes (mFDASH, FDASH, and SVAA) in Point-to-Point networks, Wi-Fi networks, and LTE networks, respectively.
A hapto-tactile display for presenting virtual objects in human-scale tactual search

In the recognition of an object situated in front of us, we firstly watch it and then try to touch it to feel the tactile and haptic sensation to be perceived by our hands. Various virtual reality and augmented reality systems have been introduced with the growing computational powers, however visual and auditory information related with a virtual object is mainly presented simultaneously to a user for enhancing the reality. If we consider the real situation of a user to try to recognize an object in the living environment, tactile and haptic information is assumed to be rather important for the better interaction with the object. In this study, we develop a hapto-tactile display that covers the movable range of a human arm in the tactual search for presenting tactile sensation of a virtual object. We design and construct a tactile pad to be fixed at the tip of a passively-driven haptic arm, and the tactile sensation and haptic force are simultaneously displayed to a user wearing the pad in the hand. The development of the hapto-tactile display for human tactile search will be described in this paper, together with an experiment to verify the validity of the system.
EOQ model for deteriorating items with resalable returns

In a highly competitive market, no matter for classical retailers or for mail order retailers, offering a return policy to entice customers to purchase items has become an inevitable strategy. This paper aims to investigate the problem of jointly determining order size, selling price and selling period of an inventory management for deteriorating items with resalable returns, in which we restrict the assumptions made by Vlachos and Dekker [9] and Mostard et al. [6] as follows: (1) returns are allowed only within a certain time frame, thereafter, no return is accepted; (2) money is fully reimbursed by retailer; (3) returns can be resold and returned several times per period. In addition, both the effects of deterioration and holding cost are incorporated to make our proposed model more realistic and pragmatic with regard to retail sales. Meanwhile, as proposed by Vlachosand Dekker [9], we defined return rate in terms of percentage of demand, and hence an average distribution approach to model inventory behavior allowing undamaged returns that can be resold immediately. Mathematical analyses of optimal solution are presented, in consequence, numerical examples are computerized comparatively from which many valuable contributions are concluded.
Prophylactic intraaortic balloon counterpulsation in high-risk cardiac surgery: a survey of opinion and current practice

Introduction Patients undergoing cardiac surgery increasingly have greater comorbidities and subsequently are at higher risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. Despite some evidence suggests that prophylactic intraaortic balloon counterpulsation reduces mortality in selected high-risk patients, its use remains low. The aim of this study was to investigate reported management strategies of high-risk patients and attitudes towards further research in this area. Methods A 22-question survey was developed and distributed electronically to all practicing cardiothoracic fellows through the email list of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons Results The response rate was 28% (n=31). Reported use of prophylactic intraaortic balloon counterpulsation varied depending on the specified preoperative indication. Prophylactic intraaortic balloon counterpulsation was used occasionally or never by the majority of respondents for their patients with characteristics similar to those of previous trials. The most frequent reason given for not using prophylactic intraaortic balloon counterpulsation was lack of data (42.9%), with a willingness to consider participation in an randomised controlled trial of prophylactic intraaortic balloon counterpulsation by a large majority of respondents (79.3%). Conclusions The majority of surgeons who responded to this survey do not routinely use prophylactic intraaortic balloon counterpulsation for high-risk patients. Further prospective data is warranted to ascertain whether potential barriers to a randomised control trial of prophylactic intraaortic balloon counterpulsation, such as adequate patient numbers and clear selection criteria, can be overcome.
The quality of water from protected springs in Katwe and Kisenyi parishes, Kampala city, Uganda.

BACKGROUND In the sub-urban areas of Kampala city, springs are a major source of water for domestic use. Though spring water is considered to be aesthetically acceptable for domestic use, presence of poorly designed pit latrines, poor solid waste management as well as poor and inadequate spring protection, may lead to contamination of spring water with pathogenic bacteria. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study were to examine the bacteriological quality of water from ten springs in Katwe and Kisenyi parishes of Kampala, and to identify and quantify risks for spring water contamination with faecal bacteria. METHODS A cross-sectional sanitary risk assessment using a standardised format was carried out in ten randomly selected springs in the parishes of Katwe and Kisenyi parishes in Kampala. A total of 80 samples of water from these springs were collected from December 2001 to March 2002. The samples were analysed for indicators of faecal contamination: total coliforms, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci. Physico-chemical parameters were measured. RESULTS Aggregate qualitative sanitary risk scores ranged from medium to high. The total coliform counts in 90% of the samples exceeded the WHO guideline for drinking water. All the samples had faecal coliform counts above the WHO guideline. A strong correlation (r2= 887) was observed between the median faecal coliform counts and the sanitary risk score. Sixty percent of the samples had nitrate levels above the WHO recommended limit. There was no correlation between the levels of chlorides and nitrates and levels of indicators of faecal bacterial contamination. CONCLUSIONS The sanitary risk assessment score is a reliable tool for predicting the likely levels of bacterial contamination of spring water. Water from the ten protected springs studied is unsuitable for drinking without treatment.
Threshold voltage shift and interface/border trapping mechanism in Al2O3/AlGaN/GaN MOS-HEMTs

Threshold voltage instability (Vth) is a critical issue to the device reliability of GaN-based metal-oxide-semiconductor high-electron-mobility transistors (MOS-HEMTs). As well as the transient voltage shift caused by interface trapping effect, retentive voltage shift in Al2O3/AlGaN/GaN MOS-HEMTs was also demonstrated in this paper, which was attributed to border trapping effects. Interface trapping is found dominant at low gate voltage, and then the transient voltage shift tends to be saturated (∼1.2 V) with gate voltage above 5 V. After the interface traps (∼3×1012cm−2) are fully filled, border trapping with long emission time constant become remarkable, resulting in retentive positive voltage shift over 8 V. In addition to the low-field emission, border de-trapping mechanism of high-field electron tunneling is proposed, which is proved by the Vth recovery after off-state high-voltage sweep.
COSTS, DRAWBACKS AND BENEFITS ‐ THE CUSTOMER′S VIEW OF BS 5750

Very little research is available to help companies which are considering attaining BS 5750. The information that is available tends to be somewhat biased, either coming from the auditing organization, such as BSI, or a consultancy that is in the business of helping companies to achieve this standard. Offers an analysis of both why companies decide to go for the standard in the first place as well as what they hope to achieve. Examines such thorny issues as audit frequency as well as the need to implement additional supporting programmes in order to cement the standard into the culture of the organization.
Do Casual Workers Find Permanent Full‐Time Employment? Evidence from the Australian Youth Survey

The growth of casual employment in Australia is sometimes viewed with concern. Such "non-standard" forms of employment are often associated with intermittent labour force attachment, under-employment and low income. In this paper, we use data from the Australian Youth Survey to analyze the transition from casual work to full-time permanent jobs. In the short term, gender, employer-provided training and the receipt of government benefits are among the more important factors affecting the transition. However, these factors are less important in the long term. Overall, the results suggest that casual employment may be more of a "stepping stone" than a "dead-end. " Copyright 1999 by The Economic Society of Australia.