Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Potential Impact of Recreational Shoppers on Mall Intercept Interviewing: An Exploratory Study

Major changes are expected for shopping centers in the next several years as many highly competitive non-mall retailers are successfully targeting value-conscious and convenience-oriented consumers. This trend suggests that shopping centers may be loosing certain types of shoppers to these non-mall retailers. Given these changes, marketing researchers must begin to explore the implications this trend holds for users of mall intercept interviews. The authors discuss this trend and the current state of mall intercept interviewing, and report the [mdings of a study designed to investigate the types of shoppers who are interviewed in a shopping mall. Three hundred and three regional shopping center customers were selected and surveyed to test the study’s research questions. The results demonstrate the potential of mall intercept samples with an over-representation of recreational-type shoppers and surface several trade-offs associated with mall intercept interviewing. The authors provide suggestions for futur.
Drafting the Genetic Privacy Act: Science, Policy, and Practical Considerations

Only 27 percent of Americans in a 1995 Harris poll said they had read or heard “quite a lot” about genetic tests. Nonetheless, 68 percent said they would be either “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to undergo genetic testing even for diseases “for which there is presently no cure or treatment. ” Perhaps most astonishing, 56 percent found it either “very” or “somewhat acceptable” to develop a government computerized DNA bank with samples taken from all newborns, and their names attached to the samples. This does not necessarily mean the public is unconcerned about genetic privacy. More likely it means that the public is still uninformed about the risks associated with genetic testing, and has not thought at all about the risks involved in storing identifiable DNA samples. A central question presented by genetic screening and testing is whether the genetic information so obtained is different in kind from other medical information (such as family history and cholesterol levels), and, if so, whether this means that it should receive special legal protection.
Clinical Relevance of Molecular Diagnosis in Patients with CongenitalHypothyroidism

Congenital hypothyroidism, defined as the functional deficiency of thyroid hormones present at birth, occurs in approximately 1: 2,000 to 4,000 newborns. Thyroid hormones play an essential role in the maturation of the central nervous system. Congenital hypothyroidism results in severe neurodevelopmental impairment if untreated and, therefore constitutes the most common preventable endocrine cause of irreversible mental retardation. As clinical diagnosis of hypothyroidism in the newborn period is almost always overlooked, newborn screening programs seeking to identify elevated thyrotropin levels at birth are available to detect primary congenital hypothyroidism mainly. Significantly, early onset on levothyroxine replacement therapy virtually abolishes severe intellectual development. Congenital hypothyroidism is caused by genetic defects occurring at three different levels, including the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, the thyroid gland, and the peripheral tissues. Up to date, 30 monogenic forms of congenital hypothyroidism have been reported in individuals with thyroid dysgenesis, thyroid dyshormonogenesis, central and peripheral hypothyroidism, highlighting the genetic heterogeneity of the disease. This mini-review summarizes the latest advances in the genetic basis of monogenic forms of congenital hypothyroidism and novel strategies to uncover the molecular etiology of the disease. Moreover, the article provides the current knowledge and future perspectives on the clinical relevance of the molecular diagnosis in patients with congenital hypothyroidism.
Control of a redundant, reconfigurable ball wheel drive mechanism for an omnidirectional mobile platform

SUMMARY This paper develops a controller for position tracking of a new ball wheel drive mechanism for a robust omnidirectional wheeled mobile platform, an adaptive controller with physical parameter estimation. This platform, integrated with a manipulator, is designed for use in highway maintenance and construction, which is a generally unstructured and congested environment. The proposed ball wheel mechanism can move in all directions on the plane, instantaneously and isotropically. Reconfiguration of the redundant drive system of the ball wheel mechanism is accomplished by altering the contact pressure between the drive wheels and the sphere based on platform heading direction. The system redundancy is resolved through a Weighted Optimal Torque Distribution method allowing for smooth reconfiguration. Finally, experimental and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Open Tourism Initiative

Resumo. As actividades económicas na actualidade vêem-se obrigadas a adequar todo o seu modelo de negócio para a forma tecnológica emergente que a suporta: a Internet. No momento discute-se a aplicabilidade de modelos de negócio moldados e certificados pela experiência de anos, aos novos padrões de sustentabilidade tecnológica, naturalmente condicionados pela webização de tudo o que é manipulável, pela ubiquidade da informação e pela socialização de regras antes vistas como naturais às Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação. Este trabalho propõe-se analisar um Modelo de Integração para as actividades de Turismo de índole global, facilitando a integração dinâmica e transparente entre todos os intervenientes neste ramo de negócio (clientes, agências, fornecedores, etc.), virtualmente (ou não) inter-relacionados com quaisquer outras actividades e contextos, quer de dados, quer de informação, quer de processos, geograficamente e globalmente distribuída. Pretende contribuir para o desenvolvimento da Open Tourism Initiative, uma iniciativa global como proposta tecnológica de integração de sistemas, suportada por um mecanismo de “brokering” entre os diferentes intervenientes, capaz de suportar a reconfiguração de serviços a prestar.
Distress Disclosure and Psychological Functioning Among Taiwanese Nationals and European Americans: The Moderating Roles of Mindfulness and Nationality

Research using Western samples shows that talking about unpleasant emotions—distress disclosure—is associated with fewer psychological symptoms and higher well-being. These benefits of distress disclosure may or may not be observed in East Asia where emotional control is valued. Instead, mindfulness may be more relevant to emotion regulation in East Asia (e.g., Taiwan). In the present study, cultural context (Taiwanese nationals vs. European Americans) and mindfulness were examined as moderators of the relation between distress disclosure and both depression symptoms and life satisfaction. A sample of 256 Taiwanese college students and a sample of 209 European American college students completed self-report measures in their native language. Moderated multiple regression analyses revealed significant interaction effects of mindfulness and distress disclosure on both depression symptoms and life satisfaction for Taiwanese participants but not for European Americans. Specifically, distress disclosure was negatively associated with depression symptoms and positively associated with life satisfaction for Taiwanese low in mindfulness but not for Taiwanese high in mindfulness. For European Americans, distress disclosure was not associated with depression symptoms but was associated with higher life satisfaction, regardless of one’s level of mindfulness. These findings suggest that the potential benefits of disclosing distress are a function of one’s cultural context as well as, for those from Taiwan, one’s mindfulness.
Controlled Dynamic Braking for Switched Reluctance Motor Drives With a Rectifier Front End

Switched reluctance motors (SRMs) have ease of manufacturing, low cost, and robustness in withstanding centrifugal force advantages. Therefore, they are very suitable for high-speed applications. However, when running at high speeds, rapid braking becomes difficult because the regeneration energy may increase the dc-link voltage to a critical level if a diode rectifier bridge is used for ac-dc conversion. This paper investigates the relationship between the regeneration energy and the dc-link voltage and proposes an electric braking scheme employing two-phase excitations. During braking, instead of regenerating the excessive rotor kinetic energy back to the dc link, the energy is dissipated in the stator winding resistance. Therefore, the rotor can stop safely within a short time. The proposed control scheme is verified experimentally using a four-phase SRM.
Multiple independence tests for point processes by permutation methods : a Unitary Events approach based on delayed coincidence count

Mélisande Albert, Univ. Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, LJAD, UMR 7351, 06100 Nice, France, Melisande.Albert@unice.fr Yann Bouret, Univ. Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, LPMC, UMR 7336, 06100 Nice, France, Yann.Bouret@unice.fr Magalie Fromont, Univ. Européene de Bretagne, CNRS, IRMAR, UMR 6625, 35042 Rennes, France, magalie.fromont@univ-rennes2.fr Patricia Reynaud-Bouret, Univ. Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, LJAD, UMR 7351, 06100 Nice, France, Patricia.Reynaud-Bouret@unice.fr
Imaging of Bioelectric Sources in the Heart Using a Cellular Automaton Model

The approach to solve the inverse problem of electrocardiography presented here is using a computer model of the individual heart of a patient. It is based on a 3D-MRI dataset. Electrophysiologically important tissue classes are incorporated using rules. Source distributions inside the heart are simulated using a cellular automaton. Finite element method is used to calculate the corresponding body surface potential map. Characteristic parameters like duration and amplitude of transmembrane potential or velocity of propagation are optimized for selected tissue classes or regions in the heart so that simulated data fit to the measured data. This way the source distribution and its time course of an individual patient can be reconstructed
The Influence of Social Work Environment on Employee Productivity in Manufacturing in Indonesia

One of the problems in their research in the field of human resources is rendanya labor productivity employees in some industries, labor productivity employees very influential on the the target company. Every industry are exposed to similar problems to the namely the levels of education, human resource not competent to make and completes the process of production, lack of the availability of raw materials and economic system unstable. The purpose of this research to obtain picture what contained environmental influences social work to labor productivity employees. This research uses the method crossing sectional method. Statistical analysis used namely linear regression simple with the significance 5 percent. Based on the outcome of the findings, show is the social to work environment to labor productivity employees is as much as 51.6 %.
An Integrated Model of Upgrading and Catchup by Emerging Economy Firms

Abstract One of the more important and interesting phenomena in international business in recent times is the upgrading and catchup of firms from emerging economies. How do these firms upgrade and catchup? This paper reviews and synthesizes the literature on upgrading and catchup by emerging economy firms and develops a model and testable propositions to advance research on the topic.
Internet Banking and Online Trading

In the recent past, online or Internet based banking has become quite common. Banks have also realized the potential of Internet banking and have recognized that it is necessary to integrate the customers’ new lifestyle and Web based activity preferences with their business models. Most of the empirical studies have reported positive impact of Internet banking on bank performance. Adoption of Internet banking leads to cost reduction and hence likely to increase banks’ profitability. Introduction on internet banking has brought unprecedented speed in banking system and has been playing a major role in the globalization of banking system. As Internet banking makes inroads to banking business, market participants have also started to use Internet for security trading activities. Online trading has led to an upward trend in trading frequency, trading volume
Use of the fagerstrom tolerance questionnaire for measuring nicotine dependence among adolescent smokers in China: a pilot test.

The validity of the Prokhorov adolescent version of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ) has not been demonstrated in assessing nicotine dependence among Chinese adolescents in China. Data for 48 tenth-grader 30-day smokers in Wuhan, China (ages 16-17 years), were analyzed. Two different item scoring protocols were used, and self-reports of smoking were validated with saliva cotinine. When items were scored using Protocol A, Cronbach's alphas were . 42 and . 63 for the 7-item and the 4-item scales, respectively; while using Protocol B, the alphas were . 67 and . 79 for the 7-item and 4-item scales, respectively. The total FTQ scores were significantly associated with self-reported smoking and saliva cotinine levels. These results support the reliability and validity of the Prokhorov FTQ.
The Role of an Entrepreneur in Developing an Organizational Culture Fostering Innovations

The paper examines the role of an entrepreneur in developing an organizational culture which could contribute to sustaining a competitive advantage based on innovation. Early concepts of an entrepreneur and his role in the economy as well as the contemporary concept of corporate entrepreneurship are presented. The attempt is made to link these concepts by the corporate culture which should foster corporate entrepreneurship. It then presents Wal-Mart as an example of a culture fostering entrepreneurship based on innovation. Findings suggest that entrepreneurship embedded in corporate culture is crucial for achieving sustainable competitive advantage and should be developed from the moment of the company foundation. The main values which fostered company success should be maintained whereas the way of implementing them should be changed along with changes in and outside the organization. The paper contributes to the theory as well as to business practice with reference to sustaining competitive advantage based on an entrepreneurial corporate culture. Past research does not emphasize enough the development of entrepreneurship culture, which allows an organization to sustain its growth after the entrepreneur’s death. This problem should be tackled by scientists in the management field.
Evaluation of oxidative stress in AIDS pediatric patients

SUMMARY. Infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to increase worldwide. The progression of the disease in children may be rapid. Oxidative stress is well documented in adult HIV/AIDS patients. Viral Tat protein plays a role in the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species thus increasing apoptotic index, and depleting CD4 + T lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate an extensive array of redox status indices: glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxidation potential, total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Total hydroperoxide (TH) and DNA fragmentation in AIDS pediatrics patients compared to healthy subjects. Blood samples from 11 pediatric patients and 22 healthy subjects were tested by spectrophotometric techniques in order to measure oxidative stress indices. Both a reduction of GSH levels and an increase in MDA and TH levels were detected in the plasma of AIDS patients. These patients also showed an increase of DNA fragmentation in lymphocytes as well as a reduction of GPx and an increase in SOD activity in erythrocytes. Relatively to the control group, AIDS patients had differences in global indices of total antioxidant status. These results contribute to the evidences that substantial oxidative stress occurs during AIDS pediatric infection. RESUMEN. “ Evaluacio n del Estre s Oxidativo en Pacientes Pediatricos con SIDA” . La infeccio n por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) continua aumentando a nivel mundial. La progresio n de la infeccio n en ninos es rapida. El proceso de estre s oxidativo asociado a la infecci o n en adultos esta bien documentado. La proteina viral Tat juega un papel reconocido en la generaci o n intracelular de especies reactivas de ox igeno, evento este que repercute en el incremento del indice de apoptosis y en la disminuci o n de los linfocitos T CD4 + . El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar un extenso grupo de marcadores del estado redox tales como: glutati o n (GSH), malonildialdehido (MDA), potencial de peroxidacio n (PP), estado antioxidante total (TAS), glutati o n peroxidasa (GPx), supero xido dismutasa (SOD), hidropero xidos totales (TH) y % de fragmentacio n del ADN, en pacientes pediatricos comparados estadisticamente con individuos sanos. Muestras de sangre de 11 pacientes SIDA pedi atricos y de 22 individuos sanos fueron utilizadas para realizar las mediciones de los marcadores del estado redox por te cnicas espectro fotome tricas. En el plasma de los pacientes SIDA pedi atricos se detecto un nivel bajo de GSH, asi como niveles altos de MDA y TH. Ademas se observo un mayor porcentaje de fragmentacio n del ADN en linfocitos, actividad enzim atica de GPx disminuida y actividad mayor de SOD en eritrocitos en comparaci o n con el grupo de individuos sanos. Se observaron diferencias significativas en cuanto a los indices del estado antioxidante global. Estos resultados corroboran las evidencias que el estado de estr e s oxidativo se manifiesta durante la infeccio n SIDA en pacientes pediatricos.
Monitoring by busy and overlap directors: an examination of executive remuneration and financial reporting quality

ABSTRACT We examine the influence of multiple board directorships and boards’ committee memberships on three board supervisory outcomes: executive remuneration, external auditor opinion, and earnings management. The study uses a panel of 122 non-financial companies listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange over the period 2004–2011. Our results show that firms with busy directors offer low executive remuneration and present a low probability of a qualified audit opinion. Furthermore, the results indicate that firms with overlap directors exhibit a higher probability of receiving a qualified audit opinion. Additionally, we find evidence that the overcommitment effects of busy and overlap directors are more evident for large firms. Overall, our findings suggest that busy (overlap) directors are beneficial (detrimental) to the monitoring capability of the board in the Spanish context.
Evaluation of parenchymal thyroid diseases with multiparametric ultrasonography

Abstract Aim: Differential diagnosis of parenchymal thyroid diseases by gray-scale ultrasound is quite difficult for a radiologist as the findings are very similar to each other. In this study we aimed to assess some quantitative spectral Doppler parameters, resistivity index (RI), acceleration time (AT), and quantitative elastography [shear wave velocity (SWV)] together to show their reliability for differential diagnosis of parenchymal thyroid diseases. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed findings of 227 patients (179 females, 48 males) that underwent spectral Doppler ultrasound and acoustic radiation force impulse between October 2013 and March 2016. Ages of the patients were between 18 and 74 years (39.52 ± 12.67). Based on clinical and laboratory findings, patients were divided into five groups (N: Normal, EH: Early Hashimoto, H: Late Hashimoto, M: Nodular Thyroid Disease, HM: Hashimoto + Nodular Thyroid Disease). Detailed statistical analyses were done on parameters such as age, gender, volume information, and RI, AT (ms), SWV (m/s). Results: No significant effect of gender or volume on the differentiation of disease pattern (Chi-square test: P= 0.306, Kruskal-Wallis test: P= 0.290) was found in this study. RI (0.41 ± 0.06) and SWV values (1.19 ± 0.18 m/s) were the lowest. AT values (>55 ms) were the highest in EH group (area under the curve: 0.913). Existence of H decreased RI and SWV values, while it extended AT in a different thyroid disease. Conclusion: Thyroid parenchymal diseases could be classified and differentiated from each other by measuring RI, AT, and SWV values quantitatively. So, in suspicious cases, these parameters could be a reliable asset for differential diagnosis.
A Theoretical Perspective on the Relationship between Knowledge Management Systems, Customer Knowledge Management, and Firm Competitive Advantage

The hierarchical construct, from data to information to knowledge, is well known in the IT field. While data is seen as text in a database, knowledge is considered a renewable and reusable asset, which is valuable to a firm, and is enhanced with an employee’s experience. In addition, the role of IT in applying knowledge varies from providing access to sources of knowledge, and gathering, storing, and transferring knowledge, to supporting the development of individual and organizational competencies. Explicit knowledge tends to be considered anything that can be documented, archived, or codified; It can be contained within artefacts like paper or technology. Tacit knowledge is more difficult to qualify, and is retained by people in their minds. Hence, it is the product of their experiences and
Effects of Stakeholders in Knowledge Management in Hotel Industry in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Knowledge Management (KM) refers to a range of practices used by organizations to identify, create, disseminate, and share knowledge, awareness and learning across the organization. It also applies to the ways organizations gather, manage, and use the knowledge that they acquire. Current studies show that knowledge management leaders look forward to analyzing the strategies of developing their knowledge, communication, and decision making in the hotel industry, bringing up a research culture about KM.
Suspicious event recognition using infrared imagery

The society's concern about safety is growing every day and with it the demand for intelligent surveillance systems with the minimal human intervention possible. In this work we identify suspicious events that could take place in a parking lot based on infrared imagery. The object segmentation process is performed using a dynamic background-subtraction technique which robustly adapts detection to illumination changes. Segmented objects are tracked by a two phase function: prediction and correction. During the tracking process the objects are classified into two categories: Person and Vehicles, based on features like size, velocity and temperature. With the objects correctly segmented and classified using features like velocity and time stood in one spot, it is possible to identify suspicious events occurring in the monitored area. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique to recognize suspicious events.
Common-mode voltage suppression based on auxiliary leg for three-level NPC inverters

In this paper, a novel technique which can suppress the common-mode voltage (CMV) of the three-level neutral-point clamped (3L-NPC) inverter is proposed, where an auxiliary NPC leg is added to produce the compensating voltage through a single-phase four-winding transformer. In this method, the utilization of the DC-link voltage is kept unchanged and the saturation of the transformer is avoided owing to the half-bridge structure of the proposed circuit even though the asymmetrical operating condition exists. With the proposed method, the CMV of the system has been reduced to about 10% in RMS compared with that of the regular modulation method. The validity of the proposed method has been verified by the experimental results for the proto-type system.