Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salary Gap and Operating Performance: Perspective of Tournament Theory

According to the tournament theory, different hierarchies are paid different salaries. The salary gap between different hierarchies can motivate employees. The empirical data are from the 2005-2009 Survey Report of Audit Firms in Taiwan and published by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC). The hierarchy in audit firms is divided into certificate accountant, officer, assistant officer, and assistant. This study investigates the relationship between the salary gap in different hierarchies in the workplace and the operating performance of audit firms in Taiwan. The empirical results are consistent with the tournament theory and show that the salary differences in different hierarchies are statistically and positively related to the operating performance. The salary gap increases with the rise of hierarchies in audit firms. Employees in audit firms obtain promotion opportunities by continuously competing with coworkers. Accordingly, the association between operating performance and salary difference between certificate accountants and officers is the greatest. The salary gap increases with each level of the hierarchy along with promotion incentives for employees
Pengaruh perceived quality, perceived value, brand preference, consumer satisfaction, dan consumer loyalty pada repurchase intention

Keyword perceived quality, perceived value, brand preference, consumer satisfaction, consumer loyalty repurchase intention. Tujuan umum penulisan skrispi ini adalah untuk mengkonstruksi model yang dapat menjelaskan niat pembelian ulang pada produk handphone merek Nokia. Sedangkan secara spesifik, terdapat sepuluh tujuan yang diharapkan, yaitu menjelaskan pengaruh (1) perceived qualitypada consumer satisfaction,(2) perceived quality pada perceived value, (3) perceived qualitypada brand preference, (4) perceived valuepada consumer satisfaction, (5) perceived valuepada brand preference, (6) consumer satisfactionpada consumer loyalty, (7) consumer satisfactionpada brand preference, (8) consumer satisfactionpada repurchase intention, (9) consumer loyaltypada brand preference, dan (10) brand preference pada repurchase intention. Teknik pemgumpulan data dilakukan melalui survei dengan cara mewawancarai responden secara langsung yang dipandu dengan kuesioner yang didesain. Adapun pengujian statistik yang digunakan adalah structural equation model(SEM). SEM digunakan sebagai alat analisis karena (1) dapat mengestimasi hubungan dependen ganda yang saling berkaitan, (2) kemampuannya untuk memunculkan konsep yang tidak teramati dalam hubungan serta dalam menentukan kesalahan pengukuran dalam proses estimasi, dan (3) kemampuannya untuk mengakomodasi seperangkat hubungan antara variabel independen dengan variabel dependen serta mengungkap variabel laten. Hasil pengujian yang diperoleh mengindikasi hubungan yang positif dan signifikan antar variabel dalam delapan interaksi hubungan, yaitu: (1) perceived quality denganconsumer satisfaction (CR = 2,412), (2) perceived quality dengan perceived value (CR = 2,612), (3) perceived value denganbrand preference (CR= 2,667), (4) consumer satisfaction denganconsumer loyalty (CR = 4,573),(5) consumersatisfaction denganbrand preference(CR = 2,587),(6)consumer satisfaction denganrepurchase intention (CR = 4,894), (7) consumer loyalty dengan brand preference(CR = 2,553), serta (8) brand preference denganrepurchase intention(CR = 5,676). Sedangkan variabel yang tidak signifikan adalah perceived qualitydengan brand preference, serta perceived valuedengan consumer satisfaction. Hubungan yang positif dan signifikan antar variabel mengindikasi terdapat pengaruh yang positif antar variabel. Sedangkanhubungan yang tidak signifikan mengindikasi bahwa tidak terdapat pengaruh antar variabel. Adapun stimulus pemasaran yang dapat dilakukan adalah (1) mengoptimalkan kepuasan pelanggan 14 melalui peningkatan kualitas handphonedan (2) inovasi secara berkesinambungan dalam fitur dan desain handphonesehingga kecenderungan konsumen dalam memilih handphoneNokia dapat meningkat.
RAX, a Cellular Activator for Double-stranded RNA-dependent Protein Kinase during Stress Signaling*

The double-stranded (ds) RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) regulates protein synthesis by phosphorylating the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-2. PKR is activated by viral induced dsRNA and thought to be involved in the host antiviral defense mechanism. PKR is also activated by various nonviral stresses such as growth factor deprivation, although the mechanism is unknown. By screening a mouse cDNA expression library, we have identified an ubiquitously expressed PKR-associated protein, RAX. RAX has a high sequence homology to human PACT, which activates PKR in the absence of dsRNA. Although RAX also can directly activate PKR in vitro, overexpression of RAX does not induce PKR activation or inhibit growth of interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent cells in the presence of IL-3. However, IL-3 deprivation as well as diverse cell stress treatments including arsenite, thapsigargin, and H2O2, which are known to inhibit protein synthesis, induce the rapid phosphorylation of RAX followed by RAX-PKR association and activation of PKR. Therefore, cellular RAX may be a stress-activated, physiologic activator of PKR that couples transmembrane stress signals and protein synthesis.
Measurement of wettability of the corneal epithelium

Abstract Adult rabbit corneas were saline‐rinsed, mucolytic‐rinsed, or wiped to remove mucus. The corneas were allowed to dry in air; sessile droplets of saline were placed on the surface at various drying times, and their equilibrium contact angle θ measured. Several stages of drying can be distinguished: 1) an initial period when excess water is present, with either complete spreading of droplets or very low value of θ; 2) a ‘plateau’ region lasting about 20–25 min in which θ is low and changes slowly with time, and reflects the intrinsic wettability of the surface; 3) a region when more severe drying takes place and θ rises sharply. Computed tables are used with known values of θ and the surface tension of the saline drops, to give the surface tension of the corneal surface and the interfacial tension between cornea and saline. Acetylcysteine‐washed corneas showed a plateau value of about 16° and corneal surface tension of 69.3 mN/m. Rinsed corneas remained fully wettable (θ = 0°) for longer than 90 min; hence the plateau value must also be near zero and corneal surface tension about 72 mN/m. Mechanically‐wiped corneas dried more rapidly and θ rose continuously with no marked plateau value, indicating much lower wettability due to cellular damage (about 40 mN/m).
Work-Life Balance Policies: Organisational and Human Resource Responses

Work-life balance may not be of organisational importance as other areas in the current economic recession with a labour market abundant in skills. Flexibility contributes to employees work-life balance and the aim of this research is to identify organisational policy responses to work-life balance from external or external pressure. A case study methodology was utilised from an interpretive perspective and qualitative data was collected via unstructured interviews conducted with two Human Resource managers from different organisations in the same sector. Primary data obtained through unstructured interviews gave the organisational perspective of the research topic and provided an opportunity to explore themes that emerged and probe them further. Secondary data was obtained from the literature, background information on the sector, examination of organisational documentation and theories connected to work-life balance such as social exchange and spillover theory. Findings were analysed and the research found firstly that work-life balance policies were amended or drafted in response to external factors, such as legislation. Secondly, it was identified that internal pressure from employees experiencing spillover from family to work was accommodated through individual flexible agreements. The findings also identified the role of Human Resource manager as having diminished involvement in Work-life balance policy arrangements.
Proteasome-dependent regulation of Syk tyrosine kinase levels in human basophils.

BACKGROUND In human basophils, FcepsilonRI signal initiation, leading to histamine release, relies on activation of Syk protein tyrosine kinase. Basophils from approximately 10% of unselected donors do not degranulate in response to FcepsilonRI cross-linking. Their unresponsiveness has been linked to the absence of Syk protein despite apparently normal levels of Syk mRNA. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore pathways of Syk protein degradation as a possible posttranslational mechanism for downregulating Syk protein levels in human basophils and other leukocytes. METHODS Highly purified basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were incubated in the presence or absence of a panel of cell-permeable inhibitors of proteolytic degradation pathway(s). Subsequently, the protein level of Syk tyrosine kinase was determined by means of Western blotting. In vitro assays were conducted through use of immunoprecipitated basophil Syk and a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. RESULTS Three inhibitors of proteasome-mediated degradation-PSI, lactacystin, and ALLN-substantially increased Syk levels in releaser basophils and restored Syk expression in nonreleaser basophils. Caspase inhibitors were less effective, and inhibitors of calpain-mediated proteolysis had no effect. Among other leukocytes tested, only naive CD4(+) T cells had more Syk after proteasome inhibitor treatment. In vitro ubiquitination assays demonstrated that Syk is readily ubiquitinated in vitro and also that Syk ubiquitination is associated with a substantial decrease in total levels of Syk protein. CONCLUSION These data provide evidence for a ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent mechanism that contributes to Syk regulation in human basophils and might also be relevant to naive T cells. Understanding this regulatory pathway might lead to strategies for suppressing allergic inflammation while preserving essential Syk-mediated functions in other hematopoietic cells.
Outcome of Patients with Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor Alpha–Mutated Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Era

Purpose: Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRA) mutations are found in approximately 5% to 7% of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). We sought to extensively assess the activity of imatinib in this subgroup. Experimental Design: We conducted an international survey among GIST referral centers to collect clinical data on patients with advanced PDGFRA-mutant GISTs treated with imatinib for advanced disease. Results: Fifty-eight patients were included, 34 were male (59%), and median age at treatment initiation was 61 (range, 19–83) years. The primary tumor was gastric in 40 cases (69%). Thirty-two patients (55%) had PDGFRA-D842V substitutions whereas 17 (29%) had mutations affecting other codons of exon 18, and nine patients (16%) had mutation in other exons. Fifty-seven patients were evaluable for response, two (4%) had a complete response, eight (14%) had a partial response, and 23 (40%) had stable disease. None of 31 evaluable patients with D842V substitution had a response, whereas 21 of 31 (68%) had progression as their best response. Median progression-free survival was 2.8 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.6–3.2] months for patients with D842V substitution and 28.5 months (95% CI, 5.4–51.6) for patients with other PDGFRA mutations. With 46 months of follow-up, median overall survival was 14.7 months for patients with D842V substitutions and was not reached for patients with non-D842V mutations. Conclusions: This study is the largest reported to date on patients with advanced PDGFRA-mutant GISTs treated with imatinib. Our data confirm that imatinib has little efficacy in the subgroup of patients with D842V substitution in exon 18, whereas other mutations appear to be sensitive to imatinib. Clin Cancer Res; 18(16); 4458–64. ©2012 AACR.
The yvaJ Gene of Bacillus subtilis Encodes a 3′-to-5′ Exoribonuclease and Is Not Essential in a Strain Lacking Polynucleotide Phosphorylase

ABSTRACT Studies of Bacillus subtilis RNases that are involved in mRNA degradation reveal a different pattern from that ofEscherichia coli. A strain lacking polynucleotide phosphorylase, the major 3′-to-5′ exoribonuclease activity in cell extracts, is viable. Here, we show that the B. subtilis yvaJ gene encodes a second 3′-to-5′ exoribonuclease. A strain lacking both of these RNases grows slowly but is viable. The existence of another, as yet unknown, 3′-to-5′ exoribonuclease in B. subtilis is suggested.
Calendar queues: a fast 0(1) priority queue implementation for the simulation event set problem

A new priority queue implementation for the future event set problem is described in this article. The new implementation is shown experimentally to be O(1) in queue size for the priority increment distributions recently considered by Jones in his review article. It displays hold times three times shorter than splay trees for a queue size of 10,000 events. The new implementation, called a calendar queue, is a very simple structure of the multiple list variety using a novel solution to the overflow problem.
Feasibility of automated speech sample collection with stuttering children using interactive voice response (IVR) technology

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of adopting automated interactive voice response (IVR) technology for remotely capturing standardized speech samples from stuttering children. Method: Participants were 10 6-year-old stuttering children. Their parents called a toll-free number from their homes and were prompted to elicit speech from their children using a standard protocol involving conversation, picture description and games. The automated IVR system was implemented using an off-the-shelf telephony software program and delivered by a standard desktop computer. The software infrastructure utilizes voice over internet protocol. Speech samples were automatically recorded during the calls. Video recordings were simultaneously acquired in the home at the time of the call to evaluate the fidelity of the telephone collected samples. Key outcome measures included syllables spoken, percentage of syllables stuttered and an overall rating of stuttering severity using a 10-point scale. Result: Data revealed a high level of relative reliability in terms of intra-class correlation between the video and telephone acquired samples on all outcome measures during the conversation task. Findings were less consistent for speech samples during picture description and games. Conclusion: Results suggest that IVR technology can be used successfully to automate remote capture of child speech samples.
The distribution of salmonella agglutinins in sera of healthy adults at Ibadan

The distribution of salmonella agglutinins among 2117 normal sera from 1054 male and 1063 female adult population of Ibadan is described, and the relation of the distribution of the agglutinins with the antigens of salmonella strains isolated over 2-year period in a hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria, is discussed. We wish to thank Prof. B. G. T. Elmes and Dr J. B. Lawson for their help with the collection of specimens. Our thanks are due to Mr R. J. Leeming, F.I. M.L. T. for his technical assistance. (Part of the material upon which this paper is based is included in a thesis for submission for the Cambridge M.D. degree by one of us (D.M.). )
Cancellation of Artifacts in ECG Signals Using a Normalized Adaptive Neural Filter

Denoising electrocardiographic (ECG) signals is an essential procedure prior to their analysis. In this paper, we present a normalized adaptive neural filter (NANF) for cancellation of artifacts in ECG signals. The normalized filter coefficients are updated by the steepest-descent algorithm; the adaptation process is designed to minimize the difference between second-order estimated output values and the desired artifact-free ECG signals. Empirical results with benchmark data show that the adaptive artifact canceller that includes the NANF can effectively remove muscle-contraction artifacts and high-frequency noise in ambulatory ECG recordings, leading to a high signal-to-noise ratio. Moreover, the performance of the NANF in terms of the root-mean-squared error, normalized correlation coefficient, and filtered artifact entropy is significantly better than that of the popular least-mean-square (LMS) filter.
Privacy-Preserving Search of Similar Patients in Genomic Data

Abstract The growing availability of genomic data holds great promise for advancing medicine and research, but unlocking its full potential requires adequate methods for protecting the privacy of individuals whose genome data we use. One example of this tension is running Similar Patient Query on remote genomic data: In this setting a doctor that holds the genome of his/her patient may try to find other individuals with “close” genomic data, and use the data of these individuals to help diagnose and find effective treatment for that patient’s conditions. This is clearly a desirable mode of operation. However, the privacy exposure implications are considerable, and so we would like to carry out the above “closeness” computation in a privacy preserving manner. In this work we put forward a new approach for highly efficient secure computation for computing an approximation of the Similar Patient Query problem. We present contributions on two fronts. First, an approximation method that is designed with the goal of achieving efficient private computation. Second, further optimizations of the two-party protocol. Our tests indicate that the approximation method works well, it returns the exact closest records in 98% of the queries and very good approximation otherwise. As for speed, our protocol implementation takes just a few seconds to run on databases with thousands of records, each of length thousands of alleles, and it scales almost linearly with both the database size and the length of the sequences in it. As an example, in the datasets of the recent iDASH competition, after a one-time preprocessing of around 12 seconds, it takes around a second to find the nearest five records to a query, in a size-500 dataset of length- 3500 sequences. This is 2-3 orders of magnitude faster than using state-of-the-art secure protocols with existing edit distance algorithms.
Implied correlations of iTraxx tranches during the financial crisis

Implied Base Correlations of Single-tranche CDOs on standardized Credit Indices such as the iTraxx Europe have been used in the credit derivatives market for price communication. During the financial crisis, implied correlations have been quite volatile indicating the growing fraction of systematic credit risk of STCDOs. This paper analyses the determinants of tranche implied base correlations for the period September 2006 until April 2009. It will be shown that realized asset correlations between iTraxx Europe corporates are not able to explain the extreme movements of tranche implied correlations during the financial crisis. Additionally, it will be seen that the worsening creditworthiness of market participants in the interbank market as well as growing pressure on their refinancing conditions correlated significantly with the development of implied base correlations of iTraxx tranches.
Analysis of the effect of a saturable-core HTS fault current limiter on the circuit breaker transient recovery voltage

This paper presents the analysis of transient recovery voltage (TRV) under the presence of a saturable-core high temperature superconducting fault current limiter (HTS FCL). Calculations are performed for the case when an equivalent air core reactor that provides comparable fault current limitation as the FCL is inserted in the line. Simulations are performed using different approaches that comprise the direct solution of the related equations solved in a spreadsheet. This is compared with results obtained using EMTP-RV® and PSCAD® software simulation tools. The obtained results concur to show that the saturable-core HTS FCL has a significantly lower effect on the rate of rise of the circuit breaker TRV as compared with the air core reactor.
Kernel methods through the roof: handling billions of points efficiently

Kernel methods provide an elegant and principled approach to nonparametric learning, but so far could hardly be used in large scale problems, since naive implementations scale poorly with data size. Recent advances have shown the benefits of a number of algorithmic ideas, for example combining optimization, numerical linear algebra and random projections. Here, we push these efforts further to develop and test a solver that takes full advantage of GPU hardware. Towards this end, we designed a preconditioned gradient solver for kernel methods exploiting both GPU acceleration and parallelization with multiple GPUs, implementing out-of-core variants of common linear algebra operations to guarantee optimal hardware utilization. Further, we optimize the numerical precision of different operations and maximize efficiency of matrix-vector multiplications. As a result we can experimentally show dramatic speedups on datasets with billions of points, while still guaranteeing state of the art performance. Additionally, we make our software available as an easy to use library.
Design, Control, and Experimental Test of an Open-Winding IPM Synchronous Motor

A concentrated winding interior permanent-magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) capable of being used in wide speed range applications is designed and introduced. The IPMSM in the study is capable of being operated either from a single supply or from two converters in an open winding configuration. In this study, the phase windings are open connected to two separate voltage source converters: a dc-supplied main bridge, capable or supply real and reactive power, and a floating bridge (FB), connected to a capacitor and only capable of supplying reactive power to the motor. Vector diagram analysis and two-dimensional finite-element analysis (FEA) are presented to illustrate the extension of the capabilities of the IPMSM compared to the usual Y connection. The open winding IPMSM is built and performance experimentally investigated over a wide range of speeds. The results demonstrate 10–15% higher power capability using an open winding and FB, compared to the single inverter drive by experiments.