Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Priority Systems at Theme Parks from the Perspective of Managers and Customers

Waiting times are becoming an increasingly important customer-experience challenge in theme parks. The seemingly ever-present problem of long queues for rides and attractions is being tackled by the development of priority systems. These innovations allow customers to join an alternative queue that bypasses the congestion faced by regular customers. In other words, by paying extra, customers can purchase the right to be served sooner. Such systems are becoming prevalent, but there is a lack of empirical research into priority systems at theme parks in the academic and management literature, which suggests that in-depth empirical analysis is necessary in order to understand the consumer decision-making process when making this purchase. This article examines priority systems at theme parks both from the viewpoint of park management and of customers. To address this gap, we surveyed nearly 1,000 customers at a major theme park in Spain and conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 theme park managers to assess both customer and manager attitudes towards waiting generally and priority systems specifically. Our results reveal that these priority systems facilitate market segmentation. When theme parks offer this "wait or pay" option, different groups of customers are identified based on their attitudes: those who wait in regular lines and those who are willing to pay to avoid lines. Thus, this innovative system creates an important source of new revenue while also improving the customer experience by reducing waiting times and minimizing congestion. Following a discussion of our results, we offer practical recommendations to managers who need to address the challenges of waiting times in theme parks and wish to improve both profits and customer experiences by implementing a priority system. People nowadays like to be together not in the oldfashioned way of, say, mingling on the piazza of an Italian Renaissance city, but, instead, huddled together in traffic jams, bus queues, on escalators and so on. It's a new kind of togetherness which may seem totally alien, but it's the togetherness of modern technology.
Cross‐border information transfers: Evidence from profit warnings issued by European firms

Abstract This paper reports evidence on cross‐border accounting information transfers associated with profit warning announcements. Using a sample of firms from 29 European countries, we find that negative earnings surprises disclosed by firms in one country affect investors’ perceptions of comparable non‐announcing firms in other countries. The form and magnitude of cross‐border effects is consistent with domestic transfers. Tests explaining variation in cross‐border information transfers provide some (albeit rather limited) evidence that effects vary according to a range of firm‐, industryand country‐level characteristics.
INHERITING TEXTURE MAPS BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMPLEXITY 3D MESHES

3D digitisation has been applied in different application domains. Due to the continuous growing interest, commercial and experimental 3D acquisition systems have evolved. Nevertheless, there isn't an all-in-one solution, thus there is a need for combining different technologies in order to exploit the advantages of each approach. In this paper, we present a solution to a specific problem related to the combination of 3D data resulted from a non-colour laser triangulation scanner and a shape-fromsilhouette system. Our approach combines the data of these two 3D acquisition systems in order to produce a hybrid 3D mesh model with the geometric accuracy and detail captured by the laser scanner and the high resolution textural information of the shape-fromsilhouette system. We propose an algorithm that is based on virtual photo shooting and an inverse texture map projection phase. We present an example of our algorithm’s operation on exchanging the texture maps of a replica artefact which has been digitised by both systems.
Statechart modelling of interactive gesture-based applications

Developing intuitive interactive applications that are easy to maintain by developers is quite challenging, due to the complexity and the many technical aspects involved in such applications. In this article, we tackle the problem in two complementary ways. First, we propose a gestural interface to improve the user experience when interacting with applications that require the manipulation of 3D graphical scenes. Second, we reduce the complexity of developing such applications by modeling their executable behaviour using statecharts. We validate our approach by creating a modular and extensible Java framework for the development of interactive gesture-based applications. We developed a proofof-concept application using this framework, that allows the user to construct and manipulate 3D scenes in OpenGL by using hand gestures only. These hand gestures are captured by the Kinect sensor, and translated into events and actions that are interpreted and executed by communicating statecharts that model the main behaviour of the interactive application.
Information Acquisition, Asset Prices and Uncertainty

This article studies the cyclical behavior of asset prices and market beliefs. The model analyzes dynamic rational expectations equilibrium in line with Grossman & Stiglitz (1980). I examine the equilibrium in the asset market with a continuum of risk averse investors who can acquire private costly information in the information market. The information discovery displays increasing returns to scale. A representative investor plays a mixed strategy between acquiring information and not. The identity of the marginal trader fluctuates over the business cycle. The proportion of informed and uninformed investors fluctuates with the cycle. The proportion of informed investors increases in booms and retracts during recessions. Uncertainty measured by the conditional variance of uninformed investors increases in recessions. The model amplifies the excess return paid over the risk-free rate, introducing an alternative explanation for the equity risk premium. ∗I am extremely grateful to Boyan Jovanovic for his invaluable guidance. I also want to thank Klaus Hellwig, David Kohn, Michal Szkup, Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, Laura Veldkamp, Shengxing Zhang for useful suggestions and comments. Any remaining errors are my own. Email: ffilippini@nyu.edu
Nursing preventive measures against the incidence of delirium in hospitalized patients: A narrative review

Background and Purpose: Delirium is a clinical syndrome with cognitive disorder, which occurs within a short time in the admitted patients, specially the elderly. Regarding the fact that one third of the delirium incidences is preventable, applying nursing preventive measures is an issue of fundamental importance. The present study aimed to perform a systematic review over the nursing preventive measures and their impacts on delirium incidence in the critically ill patients. Methods: This review was conducted on the studies published within early 1999 to late December 2014. The search was performed using the available databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Medline, and Persian databases including Magiran, IranMedex, and SID. The keywords used during the searching process entailed delirium, confusion, non-pharmalogical, multi-component, nursing preventive measures, adult patient, as well as education and nursing measures. A total of 2499 articles were obtained based on the inclusion criteria; however, 19 articles were found to be completely relevant to the topic of interest. Results: The review of the retrieved studies demonstrated that the rate of delirium incidence is different depending on the severity of the disease, applied delirium assessment scales, and causes of hospital stay. A combination of multifactorial interventions including drug administration, preventive care, and modification of risk factors can prevent delirium, reduce the intensity of this medical condition, and decrease the duration of hospital stay. Conclusion: Some measures should be taken in the surgical, elderly, and intensive care units in terms of the prevention and immediate diagnosis of delirium. Since the nursing personnel have the most patient contact, they have a strategic role in preventing and managing this medical condition. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the delirium incidence and its complications by educating the nurses and spending little expenses.
The Difference in Calcium Levels in Aspergillus nidulans Grown on Glucose or Pectin

Understanding the growth regulatory mechanisms in filamentous fungi is very important for the production of medicines for antifungal therapies. It is well established that Ca 2+ gradient is essential for hyphal growth and that one mechanism responsible for the Ca 2+ cellular concentration starts with the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5bisphosphate (PIP2) by receptor-regulated forms of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). In the present study the levels of calcium in Aspergillus nidulans wild type (A26) and plcA-deficient mutant (AP27) growing in a carbon source readily assimilated, as glucose or pectin a non-readily assimilated carbon source was investigated. Intracellular calcium levels in A26 were higher in the presence of glucose than in pectin, but lower in AP27 independently of the carbon source and in AP27 the vesicular calcium distribution occurred mainly at the apex of the hyphae. Delay in nuclear division was also observed if A26 and AP27 were grown in pectin presence when compared with growth in glucose. For the first time, it is demonstrated that the levels of intracellular Ca 2+ were higher when A. nidulans was growing in glucose than in a non readily assimilated carbon source as pectin. Further, it also showed that the plcA gene, although not essential, may be responsible for high-molecular weight carbon source recongnation, for the intracellular Ca 2+ levels maintenance and consequently by the nuclear division in A. nidulans.
Soil moisture index from ERS-SAR and its application to the analysis of spatial patterns in agricultural areas

Abstract. Soil moisture is an important factor influencing hydrological and meteorological exchange processes at the land surface. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter is strongly affected by the volumetric soil moisture content, thus providing the potential to derive spatially distributed soil moisture information. Archives of historic SAR data exist, in which the use is limited by the lack of corresponding ground truth measurements. This study analyzes the potential of using a soil moisture index (SMI) with high spatial resolution to assess the soil moisture status in the absence of ground truth data. The index method is applied to agricultural areas in the catchment of the river Rur in Germany. The SMI was evaluated using antecedent precipitation and the wetting and drying behavior. The spatial patterns of the SMI were analyzed using semivariograms. This study confirms the applicability of a high resolution soil moisture index for monitoring near-surface soil moisture changes, to analyze soil moisture patterns, and indicates the possibility to complement antecedent precipitation as an input to hydrological models.
SN 1978K: An evolved supernova outside our Local Group detected at millimetre wavelengths

Supernova 1978K is one of the oldest-known examples of the class of Type IIn supernovae that show evidence for strong interaction between the blast wave and a dense, pre-existing circumstellar medium. Here we report detections of SN 1978K at both 34 GHz and 94 GHz, making it only the third extragalactic supernova (after SN 1987A and SN 1996cr) to be detected at late-times at these frequencies. We find SN 1978K to be >400 times more luminous than SN 1987A at millimetre wavelengths in spite of the roughly nine year difference in ages, highlighting the risk in adopting SN 1987A as a template for the evolution of core-collapse supernovae in general. Additionally, from new VLBI observations at 8.4 GHz, we measure a deconvolved diameter for SN 1978K of ~5 milli-arcsec, and a corresponding average expansion velocity of -1 . These observations provide independent evidence of an extremely dense circumstellar medium surrounding the progenitor star.
Fostering Cooperative Learning with Scrum in a Semi-Capstone Systems Analysis and Design Course

Agile methods such as Scrum that emphasize technical, communication, and teamwork skills have been practiced by IT professionals to effectively deliver software products of good quality. The same methods combined with pedagogies of engagement can potentially be used in the setting of higher education to promote effective group learning in software development classrooms. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to integrate both Scrum and cooperative learning guidelines into a systems analysis and design classroom to promote the skills of teamwork, communication, and problem-solving while learning systems analysis and design methods. This integration was implemented in a sophomore, semi-capstone design course where students were engaged in collaborative classroom activities. Two different approaches – overlapped approach and delayed approach – were used in two different semesters for this implementation. Based on the analysis of student performance in the course, student reflections on their team performance, and student overall perceptions of the teaching approach, this study suggests that the integration of cooperative learning and Scrum serves as guidance for students to effectively analyze and design software solutions, as well as to reflect on their team performance and learning process. In addition, a delayed approach for Scrum implementation appears to effectively support student learning by providing better and earlier feedback.
Stereotype threat among schoolgirls in quasi-ordinary classroom circumstances

There is ample evidence today in the stereotype threat literature that women and girls are influenced by gender-stereotyped expectations on standardized math tests. Despite its high relevance to education, this phenomenon has not received much attention in school settings. The present studies offer the 1st evidence to date indicating that middle school girls exhibit a performance deficit in quasi-ordinary classroom circumstances when they are simply led to believe that the task at hand measures mathematical skills. This deficit occurred in girls working alone or in mixed-gender groups (i.e., presence of regular classmates) but not in same-gender groups (i.e., presence of only same-gender classmates). Compared with the mixed-gender groups, the same-gender groups were also associated for girls in the stereotype threat condition with greater accessibility of positive role models (i.e., female classmates who excel in math), at the expense of both stereotypic in-group and out-group members (i.e., low-math-achievement girls and high-math-achievement boys). Finally, the greater accessibility of positive role models mediated the impact of the activated stereotype on girls' performance, exactly as one would expect from C. M. Steele's (1997) stereotype threat theory. Taken together, these findings clearly show that reducing stereotype threat in the classroom is a crucial challenge for both scientists and teachers.
Nowhere to go: noise impact assessments for marine mammal populations with high site fidelity

As awareness of the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals has grown, research has broadened from evaluating physiological responses, including injury and mortality, to considering effects on behavior and acoustic communication. Most mitigation efforts attempt to minimize injury by enabling animals to move away as noise levels are increased gradually. Recent experiences demonstrate that this approach is inadequate or even counterproductive for small, localized marine mammal populations, for which displacement of animals may itself cause harm. Seismic surveys within the ranges of harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena in California and Māui dolphin Cephalorhynchus hectori maui in New Zealand highlight the need to explicitly consider biological risks posed by displacement during survey planning, monitoring, and mitigation. Consequences of displacement are poorly understood, but likely include increased stress and reduced foraging success, with associated effects on survival and reproduction. In some cases, such as the Critically Endangered Māui dolphin, displacement by seismic activities risks exposing the re maining 55 dolphins to bycatch in nearby fisheries. Similar concerns about military and industrial activities exist for island-associated species such as melon-headed whales Peponocephala electra in Hawai’i; shelf-break associated species such as Cuvier’s beaked whales Ziphius cavirostris off the US Atlantic coast, and whales foraging in coastal habitats, such as the Critically Endangered western gray whale Eschrichtius robustus. We present an expanded framework for considering disturbance effects that acknowledges scientific uncertainty, providing managers and operators a more robust means of assessing and avoiding potential harm associated with both displacement and direct effects of intense anthropogenic noise exposure.
Educators' Experiences of Inclusive Learning Contexts: An Exploration of Competencies.

The successful implementation of inclusive education relies heavily on educators. Inclusive education is based on values such as human dignity, equality, human rights and freedom. The complexity of the interactive relationships between different systems, such as learners, educators, families, schools and the learning context, was recognised in this research and an eco-systemic perspective consequently applied. Our purpose in the research was to explore the experiences of educators in ordinary schools regarding the challenges experienced in inclusive learning contexts and to identify the competencies they used to deal with some of these challenges. A qualitative research design was chosen, using a case study. The study was conducted in North-West Province at a secondary School. Various contextual and microsystemic barriers that threatened an enabling learning environment were observed. Seven educators, one male and six female, were purposively selected for the study, and three methods of gathering data were used, namely, written assignments, in-depth follow-up interviews, and a focus group discussion. Themes and subthemes were identified through thematic content analysis. The findings indicated that the educators had competencies that enabled them to support learners and form collaborative relationships in an inclusive learning environment. Various implications for the Department of Education and school management teams are pointed out.
Constraining projections of summer Arctic sea ice

We examine the recent (1979–2010) and future (2011–2100) characteristics of the summer Arctic sea-ice cover as simulated by 37 Earth system and general circulation models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, phase 5 (CMIP5). As was the case with CMIP3, a large intermodel spread persists in the simulated summer sea-ice losses over the 21st century for a given forcing scenario. The baseline sea-ice extent, thickness distribution and volume characteristics, as well as the multidecadal trend in September sea-ice extent (SSIE) of each CMIP5 model are discussed as potential constraints on the SSIE projections. Our results suggest first that the future changes in SSIE with respect to the model baseline state are related in a complicated manner to this baseline state, due to the large diversity of the CMIP5 population: at a given time, some models are in an ice-free state while others are still on the track of ice loss. However, in phase plane plots (that do not consider the time as an independent variable), we show that the transition towards ice-free conditions is actually occurring in a very similar manner for all models. We also find that the year at which SSIE drops below a certain threshold is likely to be constrained by the present-day sea-ice properties. In a second step, using several adequate sea-ice metrics, we effectively reduce the uncertainty as to when the Arctic could become nearly ice-free in summertime, the interval (2041, 2060) being our best estimate for a high climate forcing scenario.
Optical detection of human urinary bladder carcinoma utilising tissue autoflurescence and protoporphyrin IX-induced fluorescence following low dose ALA instillation

Laser-induced fluorescence spectra were recorded in patients undergoing urinary bladder cystoscopy. The measurements were performed in vivo and the spectra were collected from normal and diseased tissue. The patients were divided into two groups. An instillation of a 1% delta-amino-levulinic acid (ALA) solution was performed 2 - 4 hours prior to the investigation of one group of patients. A second group of patients was investigated without any tumor marking substance. The fluorescence was detected following laser excitation at 405 and 337 nm. Fluorescence emission related to ALA-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) was detected in the ALA group for 405 nm excitation. The data were evaluated at the PpIX emission peak at 635 nm and at 490 nm, which approximately corresponds to the peak of the tissue autofluorescence. The data obtained with 337 nm excitation were evaluated at 400 and 460 nm as well as at 390 and 431 nm. The ratios of the respective wavelength pairs were formed in order to investigate the demarcation between tumor and normal tissue. The tumor demarcation results were better and more consistent utilizing the autofluorescence signal following excitation at 337 nm than the PpIX-related signal excited at 405 nm.
Bayesian earthquake dating and seismic hazard assessment using chlorine-36 measurements (BED v1)

Abstract. Over the past 20 years, analyzing the abundance of the isotope chlorine-36 (36Cl) has emerged as a popular tool for geologic dating. In particular, it has been observed that 36Cl measurements along a fault plane can be used to study the timings of past ground displacements during earthquakes, which in turn can be used to improve existing seismic hazard assessment. This approach requires accurate simulations of 36Cl accumulation for a set of fault-scarp rock samples, which are progressively exhumed during earthquakes, in order to infer displacement histories from 36Cl measurements. While the physical models underlying such simulations have continuously been improved, the inverse problem of recovering displacement histories from 36Cl measurements is still mostly solved on an ad hoc basis. The current work resolves this situation by providing a MATLAB implementation of a fast, automatic, and flexible Bayesian Markov-chain Monte Carlo algorithm for the inverse problem, and provides a validation of the 36Cl approach to inference of earthquakes from the demise of the Last Glacial Maximum until present. To demonstrate its performance, we apply our algorithm to a synthetic case to verify identifiability, and to the Fiamignano and Frattura faults in the Italian Apennines in order to infer their earthquake displacement histories and to provide seismic hazard assessments. The results suggest high variability in slip rates for both faults, and large displacements on the Fiamignano fault at times when the Colosseum and other ancient buildings in Rome were damaged.