Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A study on the measurement and application of customer loyalty

With more intense competitions and increasing customer acquisition costs, more and more enterprises begin to devoted more effort to grow and maintain loyal customer groups in order to win the competitions. So, proposing and executing customer loyalty management strategy is very import for enterprises to maintain long-term relationship with customers. A lots study show providing comprehensive and differentiated services to fulfill customers' need is an important factor to improve customer relationship management level. This paper first analyses factors influencing customer loyalty and develops a conceptual customer loyalty model; then develope a customer loyalty measurement model; at last, develope a closed-loop dynamic and integrated customer loyalty management system. This study can help enterprises impove its customer loyalty management level.
UnCrowdTPG: Assuring the experience of public transportation users

Use of public transportation is on a rise, enabling greener cities and improvement of the quality of life of the city residents. The challenge for the public transportation system is that its demands are non linear and the passengers' experience depends on many human factors. UnCrowdTPG is a mobile service and a research platform that has been developed for understanding the mobility patterns of the users of public transportation services in Geneva (TPG), as well as their experience with respect to the crowds perceived aboard the vehicles. UnCrowdTPG models algorithmically this experience using crowdsourcing techniques and it provides to the individual estimations of the future expected experiences aboard, thus enabling them to better plan their journeys with respect to the crowds. In this paper we position the UnCrowdTPG service as a research platform. Additionally we discuss the research questions in areas like local governance and public healthcare supported by the data analysed collectively from all UnCrowdTPG users. We also discuss the challenges for implementing the truly smart transportation system in a small-sized European city like Geneva.
Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI measurements of passive permeability through blood retinal barrier in diabetic rats.

PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) provides a useful in vivo measure of passive blood retinal barrier permeability surface area product (BRB PS) in experimental diabetic retinopathy. METHODS BRB PS (cm(3)/min) was measured using DCE-MRI and Gd-DTPA (MW 590 Da) in urethane-anesthetized control rats, sodium iodate-treated rats, rats receiving intravitreally injected human serum albumin (HSA) or vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF), or in rats that were diabetic for 2, 4, 6, or 8 months. RESULTS Sodium iodate-treated rats exhibited an eightfold increase (P < 0.05) in BRB PS compared to that in control animals. Furthermore, in iodate-treated rats, the average vitreous signal enhancement was linearly dependent on Gd-DTPA dose (r = 0.91, P < 0.0001). Six hours postinjection, VEGF/VPF-treated rats exhibited a threefold increase in BRB PS (P < 0.05) compared to eyes injected with HSA. In 2-, 4-, and 6-month diabetic rats, BRB PS was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from control BRB PS values. After 8 months of diabetes, a twofold increase (P < 0.05) in PS over control PS values was found. DCE-MRI demonstrated that the BRB becomes leaky immediately before death, possibly causing an artificial increase in retinal permeability in methods that require enucleation or retinal isolation to assess permeability. CONCLUSIONS DCE-MRI provides a sensitive, noninvasive, and linear assay that accurately measures, without potential artifacts associated with death and enucleation, passive BRB PS in experimental diabetes. DCE-MRI BRB PS measurements are expected to provide a useful surrogate marker of drug treatment efficacy.
ensory basis of vigilance behavior in birds : Synthesis and future prospects

Birds gather visual information through scanning behavior to make decisions relevant for survival (e.g., detecting predators and finding food). The goal of this study was (a) to review some visual properties involved in scanning behavior (retinal specialization for visual resolution and motion detection, visual acuity, and size of the blind area), and (b) hypothesize how the inter-specific variability in these properties may lead to different scanning strategies. The avian visual system has a high degree of heterogeneity in visual performance across the visual field, with some sectors providing higher levels of visual resolution and motion detection (e.g., retinal specializations) than others (e.g., peripheral retina and blind area). Thus, information quality will vary in different parts of the visual field, which contradicts some theoretical assumptions on information gathering. Birds need to move their eyes and heads to align the canning quality retinal specializations to different sectors of visual space. The rates of eye and head movements can then be used as proxies for scanning strategies. I propose specific predictions as to how each of the visual properties studied can affect scanning strategies in the context of predator detection in different habitat types and with different levels of predation risk. Establishing the degree of association between sensory specializations and scanning strategies can enhance our understanding of the evolution of anti-predator
Seismic monitoring of oil production: A feasibility study

We perform a feasibility study on the likelihood of seismically detecting and interpreting the time-varying changes in a North Sea reservoir during solution-gas-drive oil production from a horizontal well. This study integrates reservoir engineering fluid-flow simulations, rock physics measurements and transformations, and prestack seismic modeling and migration on a real but anonymous North Sea reservoir model. We calculate spatial distributions of reservoir rock properties from the fluid-flow simulation data, and map the associated seismic responses at three production-time snapshots: prior to any oil production (Base Survey), after 56 days (Monitor 1), and after 113 days (Monitor 2) of oil production. Multi-offset seismic surveys are simulated for each of these three production times. Using realistic seismic acquisition parameters, we are able to successfully detect and monitor dynamic gascap expansion in the reservoir during the fluid-flow simulation of the oil production process. Evidence of gas coning is clearly visible in the prestackmigrated difference sections at realistic seismic noise levels and frequency bandwidth.
Nettimer: A Tool for Measuring Bottleneck Link Bandwidth

Measuring the bottleneck link bandwidth along a path is important for understanding the performance of many Internet applications. Existing tools to measure bottleneck bandwidth are relatively slow, can only measure bandwidth in one direction, and/or actively send probe packets. We present the nettimer bottleneck link bandwidth measurement tool, the libdpcap distributed packet capture library, and experiments quantifying their utility. We test nettimer across a variety of bottleneck network technologies ranging from 19.2Kb/s to 100Mb/s, wired and wireless, symmetric and asymmetric bandwidth, across local area and cross-country paths, while using both one and two packet capture hosts. In most cases, nettimer has an error of less than 10%, but at worst has an error of 40%, even on cross-country paths of 17 or more hops. It converges within 10KB of the first large packet arrival while consuming less than 7% of the network traffic being measured.
A Class of Switched Piecewise Quadratic Systems for Coupling Gene Expression with Growth Rate in Bacteria

In this paper we propose a novel qualitative formalism to model gene expression dynamics dependent on dilution due to growth rate of the cell. We extend the piecewise linear (PL) systems by keeping the use of step functions to model the interactions between the elements and adding a growth rate expression to model the dilution effect. Focusing on the global gene expression machinery in bacteria, we model the growth rate as the minimum of two limiting factors: RNA polymerase (RNAP) and ribosomes. The resulting system is a switched system with two piecewise quadratic (PQ) modes. We study the stability of such switched piecewise quadratic (SPQ) system starting from the stability analysis of the (PQ) modes. We also present and analyze by means of phase-planes a bidimensional SPQ model involving RNAP and ribosomes concentrations, which brings out the important differences with respect to PL systems. Finally, we qualitatively show that our growth rate expression acts well in different biological conditions.
A dust emission model of Lyman-break galaxies

Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) contain a non-negligible amount of dust. Takeuchi (2003a, MNRAS, 343, 839) (T03) constructed a model of the infrared spectral energy distribution (SED) for very young galaxies by taking into account the dust size distribution in the early stage of galaxy evolution, which can be different from that of present-day evolved galaxies. We applied the T03 model to LBGs and constructed their expected SED. In order to examine the grain size distribution of dust, we calculated the SEDs based on two distinct types of the distribution models: a single-sized distribution and a power-law distribution with a slope of dN/da ∝ a −3.5 . We found that the single-sized and power-law dust size distributions yield a very similar detectability of LBGs at submillimetres (submm). We also found that galaxies with a power-law dust distribution have much less flux in the mid-infrared (MIR) than the other type. By making use of this fact we will be able to explore the dust grain size distribution in high-redshift galaxies through (observer-frame) FIR observations in future observations. We then applied the model to a gravitationally lensed LBG MS 1512−cB58 (cB58), a unique probe of the dust emission from LBGs. Observations by SCUBA suggest that the galaxy has hot dust. Our model well reproduced the hot dust temperature under natural physical assumptions for the star formation rate (SFR), starburst age, and the radius of the star forming region in this galaxy. We also examined the detectability of LBGs at submm wavelengths in an eight-hour deep survey by ALMA. The LBG population with an age >10 8 yr and a SFR > 10 Myr −1 can be detected in such a survey. By integrating over their redshifted SEDs with the observed luminosity functions, we obtained the contribution of LBGs to the cosmic infrared background radiation (CIRB). Although they have a non-negligible amount of dust, their contribution was found to be small, especially in the FIR ∼ 200 µm. Thus, we need a strongly obscured population of galaxies which contains a large amount of star formation, at some epoch in the history of the universe.
Study of star formation in NGC 1084

ABSTRACT We present UBVRI broad band, Hα narrow band photometry of the star formingcomplexes in the infra-red bright galaxy NGC 1084. Results of medium resolutionspectroscopy of some of the brighter complexes are also discussed. Spectroscopic datais used to better estimate the internal reddening within the galaxy which is found to behighly variable and to calculate metallicity which is close to the solar value. Diagnosticdiagramidentiﬁes the shockedregionswithin this galaxy.The narrowbandHα ﬂuxandits equivalent width are used to determine the star formation rates of the complexesand the distribution of ages. Star formation rates for a few of the complexes are foundto be as high as 0.5 M ⊙ yr −1 . The star forming complexes lie in the age range 3 Myrto 6.5 Myr. U − B vs V − I colour-colour mixed population model created usingthe Starburst99 model colours is used to estimate the ages of the stellar populationspresent within these regions. Using this technique, it is found that the star formationin NGC 1084 has taken place in a series of short bursts over the last 40 Myr or so. Itis proposed that the likely trigger for enhanced star formation is merger with a gasrich dwarf galaxy.Key words: star forming regions; general - galaxies: individual: NGC 1084
An empirical comparison using both the term structure of interest rates and alternative models in pricing options on 90-day BAB futures

The use of the term structure of interest rates to price options is relatively new in the literature. It describes the relationship between interest rates and the maturities of bonds. The first model that described the interest rate process was the Va'iicek (1977) model. There have been many studies on the formulation of theoretical pricing models. Yet limited empirical research has been done in the area of actually testing the models. In this thesis we report the results of a set of tests of the models indicated below. This paper involves analysis of the pricing errors of the Black model ( 1976), Asay model (1982), Extended-Vasicek model ( 1990) and Heath-Jarrow-Morton model (HJM) ( 1992) as applied to call options on 90-day Ban.k Accepted Bill (BAB) futures. Monthly yield curves are generated from cash, futures, swap and interest rate cap data. A number of different methods of analysis are used. These include the use of inferential statistics, non-parametric sign tests and Ordinary Least Square Regressions. The Wilcoxon non-parametric sign test assists the interpretation of whether the pricing errors are from the same distribution. Ordinary Least Square Regressions are used to assess the significance of factors r-~ecting pricing errors. In addition, data are plotted against different variables in order to show any systematic patterns in how pricing errors are affected by the changes in the chosen variables. Monthly options data on BAB futures in the year 1996 suggest that the term structure models have significantly lower pricing errors than the Black and the Asay model. The
Evaluating IT Fashion Investments regarding Risk and Return

IT fashions are IT innovations within a hyped phase. They are on the rise and claimed to be “the next big thing”. Investing in IT fashions bears potential for high returns in case the technology becomes institutionalized and first mover advantages can be realized. Contrary, it bears the risk of investing in a losing technology. By waiting for others to make the first move organizations bypass this risk but accept the chance of being out-innovated. Depending on an emerging technology’s evolution and its characteristics, the extent of risk and return differ for each strategy. Literature regarding risk and return of IT investments does not address these idiosyncrasies adequately. Our aim is to outline risk/return for each strategy and characteristics of emerging technologies that determine its extent. Hence, this conceptual paper brings together IT fashion and IT investment literature to provide a basis for further research on the evaluation of fashionable IT innovations.
Gaining Insight into Off-Target Mediated Effects of Drug Candidates with a Comprehensive Systems Chemical Biology Analysis

We present a workflow that leverages data from chemogenomics based target predictions with Systems Biology databases to better understand off-target related toxicities. By analyzing a set of compounds that share a common toxic phenotype and by comparing the pathways they affect with pathways modulated by nontoxic compounds we are able to establish links between pathways and particular adverse effects. We further link these predictive results with literature data in order to explain why a certain pathway is predicted. Specifically, relevant pathways are elucidated for the side effects rhabdomyolysis and hypotension. Prospectively, our approach is valuable not only to better understand toxicities of novel compounds early on but also for drug repurposing exercises to find novel uses for known drugs.
Molecular Characterization of Borrelia persica, the Agent of Tick Borne Relapsing Fever in Israel and the Palestinian Authority

The identification of the Tick Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) agent in Israel and the Palestinian Authority relies on the morphology and the association of Borrelia persica with its vector Ornithodoros tholozani. Molecular based data on B. persica are very scarce as the organism is still non-cultivable. In this study, we were able to sequence three complete 16S rRNA genes, 12 partial flaB genes, 18 partial glpQ genes, 16 rrs-ileT intergenic spacers (IGS) from nine ticks and ten human blood samples originating from the West Bank and Israel. In one sample we sequenced 7231 contiguous base pairs that covered completely the region from the 5′end of the 16S rRNA gene to the 5′end of the 23S rRNA gene comprising the whole 16S rRNA (rrs), and the following genes: Ala tRNA (alaT), Ile tRNA (ileT), adenylosuccinate lyase (purB), adenylosuccinate synthetase (purA), methylpurine-DNA glycosylase (mag), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hpt), an hydrolase (HAD superfamily) and a 135 bp 5′ fragment of the 23S rRNA (rrlA) genes. Phylogenic sequence analysis defined all the Borrelia isolates from O. tholozani and from human TBRF cases in Israel and the West Bank as B. persica that clustered between the African and the New World TBRF species. Gene organization of the intergenic spacer between the 16S rRNA and the 23S rRNA was similar to that of other TBRF Borrelia species and different from the Lyme disease Borrelia species. Variants of B. persica were found among the different genes of the different isolates even in the same sampling area.
Inferring fault rheology from low‐frequency earthquakes on the San Andreas

Families of recurring low‐frequency earthquakes (LFEs) within nonvolcanic tremor (NVT) on the San Andreas fault in central California show strong sensitivity to shear stress induced by the daily tidal cycle. LFEs occur at all levels of the tidal shear stress and are in phase with the very small, ~400 Pa, stress amplitude. To quantitatively explain the correlation, we use a model from the existing literature that assumes the LFE sources are small, persistent regions that repeatedly fail during shear of a much larger scale, otherwise aseismically creeping fault zone. The LFE source patches see tectonic loading, creep of the surrounding fault which may be modulated by the tidal stress, and direct tidal loading. If the patches are small relative to the surrounding creeping fault then the stressing is dominated by fault creep, and if patch failure occurs at a threshold stress, then the resulting seismicity rate is proportional to the fault creep rate or fault zone strain rate. Using the seismicity rate as a proxy for strain rate and the tidal shear stress, we fit the data with possible fault rheologies that produce creep in laboratory experiments at temperatures of 400 to 600°C appropriate for the LFE source depth. The rheological properties of rock‐forming minerals for dislocation creep and dislocation glide are not consistent with the observed fault creep because strong correlation between small stress perturbations and strain rate requires perturbation on the order of the ambient stress. The observed tidal modulation restricts ambient stress to be at most a few kilopascal, much lower than rock strength. A purely rate dependent friction is consistent with the observations only if the product of the friction rate dependence and effective normal stress is ~ 0.5 kPa. Extrapolating the friction rate strengthening dependence of phyllosilicates (talc) to depth would require the effective normal stress to be ~50 kPa, implying pore pressure is lithostatic. If the LFE source is on the order of tens of meters, as required by the model, rate‐weakening friction rate dependence (e.g., olivine) at 400 to 600°C requires that the minimum effective pressure at the LFE source is ~ 2.5 MPa.
The regeneration blastema of lizards: an amniote model for the study of appendage replacement

Abstract Although amniotes (reptiles, including birds, and mammals) are capable of replacing certain tissues, complete appendage regeneration is rare. Perhaps the most striking example is the lizard tail. Tail loss initiates a spontaneous epimorphic (blastema‐mediated) regenerative program, resulting in a fully functional but structurally non‐identical replacement. Here we review lizard tail regeneration with a particular focus on the blastema. In many lizards, the original tail has evolved a series of fracture planes, anatomical modifications that permit the tail to be self‐detached or autotomized. Following tail loss, the wound site is covered by a specialized wound epithelium under which the blastema develops. An outgrowth of the spinal cord, the ependymal tube, plays a key role in governing growth (and likely patterning) of the regenerate tail. In some species (e.g., geckos), the blastema forms as an apical aggregation of proliferating cells, similar to that of urodeles and teleosts. For other species (e.g., anoles) the identification of a proliferative blastema is less obvious, suggesting an unexpected diversity in regenerative mechanisms among tail‐regenerating lizards.
A system for spoken query information retrieval on mobile devices

With the proliferation of handheld devices, information access on mobile devices is a topic of growing relevance. This paper presents a system that allows the user to search for information on mobile devices using spoken natural-language queries. We explore several issues related to the creation of this system, which combines state-of-the-art speech-recognition and information-retrieval technologies. This is the first work that we are aware of which evaluates spoken query based information retrieval on a commonly available and well researched text database, the Chinese news corpus used in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)s TREC-5 and TREC-6 benchmarks. To compare spoken-query retrieval performance for different relevant scenarios and recognition accuracies, the benchmark queries-read verbatim by 20 speakers-were recorded simultaneously through three channels: headset microphone, PDA microphone, and cellular phone. Our results show that for mobile devices with high-quality microphones, spoken-query retrieval based on existing technologies yields retrieval precisions that come close to that for perfect text input (mean average precision 0.459 and 0.489, respectively, on TREC-6).
'RHIC serves the perfect fluid': Hydrodynamic flow of the QGP

The bulk of the hot and dense matter created at RHIC behaves like an almost ideal fluid. I present the evidence for this and also discuss what we can learn about the transport properties of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) from the gradual breakdown of ideal fluid dynamic behavior at large transverse momenta, lower beam energies, larger impact parameters, and forward rapidities.