Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Classification and Investigation of Trustees in B-to-C e-Commerce: General vs. Specific Trust

Existing literature lacks a common taxonomy and systematic integration necessary for building cumulative knowledge on the nature of trust in an information systems context. Hence, this article explores online trust’s multidimensional nature within the context of online stores. This article develops a framework for classifying trust dimensions and to investigate their influences on behaviors in new and familiar business-to-consumer (B-to-C) ecommerce environments. Specifically, we classify trust dimensions into two levels: general trust (beliefs toward the general e-commerce environment and infrastructure) and specific trust (beliefs regarding a specific e-commerce shopping experience). Specific trust is further delineated into trust in the merchant and trust in the technology artifact, i.e., the website. The integrative framework was tested in two separate empirical studies using e-commerce stores that were either new or familiar to the subjects. The results show that general trust mechanisms are important to consumers in a new e-commerce environment. In contrast, when shopping in a familiar e-commerce store, consumers pay more attention to the current Web experience, diminishing the salience of general trust. This article contributes to the literature by developing an integrative framework of trust and by providing insights into the influences of trust dimensions on purchase decisions in new and familiar e-commerce environments.
E‐services and their role in B2C e‐commerce

E‐services are important in B2C e‐commerce for managing customer relations and enhancing sales. In the electronic world the customer and the merchant do not meet face‐to‐face, and the clients are more discerning with increased options and solutions available to them online. With the click of a mouse a customer can find another provider. As customers embrace e‐commerce their expectations about service, support, and how they make purchases are changing. Services to customers offered electronically to enhance their online shopping experience include search support, e‐response to customer queries, orders and transactions, e‐payment, e‐transaction record management, e‐assurance and trust, e‐help and other online support in the B2C e‐space. This paper discusses the role of e‐services in B2C e‐commerce and how they can be applied to enhance the online customer shopping experience. Findings of two research projects that shed some light on both business and customer perspectives of the role of e‐services in the B2.
Ticagrelor binds to human P2Y12 independently from ADP but antagonizes ADP‐induced receptor signaling and platelet aggregation

Summary. Background: P2Y12 plays an important role in regulating platelet aggregation and function. This receptor is the primary target of thienopyridine antiplatelet agents, the active metabolites of which bind irreversibly to the receptor, and of newer agents that can directly and reversibly modulate receptor activity. Objective: To characterize the receptor biology of the first reversibly binding oral P2Y12 antagonist, ticagrelor (AZD6140), a member of the new cyclopentyltriazolopyrimidine (CPTP) class currently in phase III development. Methods: Ticagrelor displayed apparent non‐competitive or insurmountable antagonism of ADP‐induced aggregation in human washed platelets. This was investigated using competition binding against [3H]ADP, [33P]2MeS‐ADP and the investigational CPTP compound [125I]AZ11931285 at recombinant human P2Y12. Functional receptor inhibition studies were performed using a GTPγS‐binding assay, and further binding studies were performed using membranes prepared from washed human platelets. Results: Radioligand‐binding studies demonstrated that ticagrelor binds potently and reversibly to human P2Y12 with Kon and Koff of (1.1 ± 0.2) × 10−4 nm−1 s−1 and (8.7 ± 1.4) × 10−4 s−1, respectively. Ticagrelor does not displace [3H]ADP from the receptor (Ki > 10 μm) but binds competitively with [33P]2MeS‐ADP (Ki = 4.3 ± 1.3 nm) and [125I]AZ11931285 (Ki = 0.33 ± 0.04 nm), and shows apparent non‐competitive inhibition of ADP‐induced signaling but competitive inhibition of 2MeS‐ADP‐induced signaling. Binding studies on membranes prepared from human washed platelets demonstrated similar non‐competitive binding for ADP and ticagrelor. Conclusions: These data indicate that P2Y12 is targeted by ticagrelor via a mechanism that is non‐competitive with ADP, suggesting the existence of an independent receptor‐binding site for CPTPs.
An Exclusion-Based D2D Activation Scheme in Cellular Networks with Hybrid Spectrum Allocation

Despite of the promising benefits brought by device-to-device (D2D) technique, the attainable performance gains in an underlaying network may still be eroded by the severe mutual interference between cellular and D2D communications. To address this critical issue, we first propose an exclusionbased D2D activation (EDA) scheme with hybrid spectrum allocation to suppress the mutual interference and improve the user performance, where only the D2D users outside the exclusion regions are active and share the frequency band with the cellular users within the exclusion regions. Secondly, we establish a stochastic geometry-based analytical framework and analyze the success probabilities of both cellular and D2D users, where the distribution of the activated D2D pairs follows a bipolar Poisson hole process. The results demonstrate the significant performance improvement and the effectiveness on the interference suppression brought by the proposed EDA scheme and the hybrid spectrum allocation.
A simple, real-time range camera

A simple imaging range sensor is described, based on the measurement of focal error, as described by A. Pentland (1982 and 1987). The current implementation can produce range over a 1 m/sup 3/ workspace with a measured standard error of 2.5% (4.5 significant bits of data). The system is implemented using relatively inexpensive commercial image-processing equipment. Experience shows that this ranging technique can be both economical and practical for tasks which require quick and reliable but coarse estimates of range. Examples of such tasks are initial target acquisition or obtaining the initial coarse estimate of stereo disparity in a coarse-to-fine stereo algorithm. <<ETX>>
ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EXTERNAL PRESSURES & STRATEGIC VALUE OF E-COMMERCE ADOPTION: PERCEPTIONS OF CEOS OF BRUNEIAN SMES

The present study investigates 85 owners cum CEOs of the Bruneian SMEs regarding their perception of organizational readiness, entrepreneurial orientation, and external pressures towards perceived strategic value that further lead to the electronic commerce (EC). PLS-graph was used to test the model. Among the three contextual variables such as entrepreneurial orientation of the CEOs, organizational readiness and external factors only organizational readiness is significant to perceived strategic value of EC that in turn predict the organizational adoption of e-commerce. Based upon the results and conclusions some recommendations are made for the relevant authorities to gear up the EC adoption.
1 La investigación sobre Earnings Managements Research on Earnings Management

l ABSTRACT This paper offers a review of the academic literature on earnings management to high- light the research effort undertaken in this area to the date, as well as to put forward the perspectives for European researchers within this research stream. First of all, we provide a dennition of earnings management. Secondly, we detail the main motivations underlying the earnings manipulation. Thirdly, we offer a classification of the main instruments used by managers to achieve such manipulation. We l review the main research designs used in the literature to detect these practices in section four. In sec- tion five we summarize the literature that analyses the role of corporate governance mechanisms, au- 1 ditor~ and legal and institutional factors in lirniting these practices. Finaily, we summaiise the main conclusions reached by the earnings management literature to the date and identify a nurnber of re- lated issues and opportunities for future research in this area.
Informal Venture Capital in the UK

A variety of factors in the early 1990s engendered interest in informal investment as a financial solution for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Great Britain. Because of recession, a gap had emerged in the provision of both debt and equity financing to SMEs. Banks' attempts to rebuild capital bases meant that SMEs could no longer rely as heavily on loans and overdraft protections. Because SMEs typically needed less than £25,000, traditional venture capital (VC) was not an option, with its majority of institutional investors, emphasis on financial engineering expertise, transaction crafting and closing fee generation, and short term goals, all of which made outlays under £250,000 impractical. While it was clear that informal investors had an important role to play in the British economy, having overtaken traditional VC as a significant source of risk capital for SMEs, American scholarship tended to dominate. In order to study this phenomenon in the UK, solicitations for participation were made by post and via advertisements in industry publications in order to gather a study sample. Several data points emerged. Overwhelmingly, informal investors were men. Often referred to as ‘business angels,' they provide capital to new and growing firms with which they had previously had no association. Angels were more likely to invest than traditional VC, with a tendency to focus on one firm. Professional relationships fostered most referrals, most likely benefiting young companies (one third) but not generally pre-start-ups (9%). Additional characteristics of informal investing and the decision criteria of such investors are discussed. Two major conclusions were reached. Extra-financial considerations were strong motivating factors for angels, who often involved themselves in the day-to-day operations of the firms in which they invested. And, while traditional VC seemed to have been concentrated in the southeast (i.e., around London), informal investments were found to be distributed throughout the UK. There were also four implications for policy. First, entrepreneurs needed to be better informed about business angels. Second, greater efficiency in use of informal venture caital was necessary. Third, parity was needed for taxes on equity for publicly and privately held enterprises. Finally, the Financial Services Act of 1986 needed clarification. (RAS)
Combining Low-Temperature Gettering With Phosphorus Diffusion Gettering for Improved Multicrystalline Silicon

We have investigated low-temperature (≤500 °C) gettering in combination with phosphorus diffusion gettering with a view to improving poor quality multicrystalline silicon. Low-temperature gettering applied after standard phosphorus diffusion gettering is found to provide a >40% improvement in minority carrier lifetime in samples from the top and bottom of an ingot. The best results are achieved at 300 °C with very long annealing times (>24 h). Improvements in the lifetime do not correlate with changes in interstitial iron concentration. Experiments are performed to assess whether the presence of a phosphorus-diffused emitter affects low-temperature gettering, and results from sister samples show the low-temperature gettering behavior is not affected by the existence of an emitter. Further experiments show that low-temperature gettering prior to phosphorus diffusion results in a 20% higher lifetime after phosphorus diffusion. Low-temperature gettering can, therefore, enhance lifetime even when used in conjunction with standard phosphorus diffusion gettering.
Auditory Brainstem Responses for Click and CE-chirp Stimuli in Individuals with and without Occupational Noise Exposure

Introduction: Encoding of CE-chirp and click stimuli in auditory system was studied using auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) among individuals with and without noise exposure. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of two groups. Group 1 (experimental group) consisted of 20 (40 ears) individuals exposed to occupational noise with hearing thresholds within 25 dB HL. They were further divided into three subgroups based on duration of noise exposure (0–5 years of exposure-T1, 5–10 years of exposure-T2, and >10 years of exposure-T3). Group 2 (control group) consisted of 20 individuals (40 ears). Absolute latency and amplitude of waves I, III, and V were compared between the two groups for both click and CE-chirp stimuli. T1, T2, and T3 groups were compared for the same parameters to see the effect of noise exposure duration on CE-chirp and click ABR. Result: In Click ABR, while both the parameters for wave III were significantly poorer for the experimental group, wave V showed a significant decline in terms of amplitude only. There was no significant difference obtained for any of the parameters for wave I. In CE-Chirp ABR, the latencies for all three waves were significantly prolonged in the experimental group. However, there was a significant decrease in terms of amplitude in only wave V for the same group. Discussion: Compared to click evoked ABR, CE-Chirp ABR was found to be more sensitive in comparison of latency parameters in individuals with occupational noise exposure. Monitoring of early pathological changes at the brainstem level can be studied effectively by using CE-Chirp stimulus in comparison to click stimulus. Conclusion: This study indicates that ABR’s obtained with CE-chirp stimuli serves as an effective tool to identify the early pathological changes due to occupational noise exposure when compared to click evoked ABR.
High-pressure atomic phases of solid nitrogen.

Several candidate atomic phases for solid nitrogen at high pressures have been studied theoretically. The semimetallic {ital A}7 ({alpha}-arsenic) phase is found to be the most energetically favored of the atomic phases studied which agrees with previous calculations. At extremely high pressures, this phase is found to deform continuously into the metallic simple cubic structure which is unstable at lower pressures. The possibility that a metallic simple tetragonal phase is metastable at lower pressures is discussed.
Knowledge management strategy, organizational competence and competitiveness in Kenya's commercial book publishing industry

Existing research on knowledge-competency-competitiveness relationship has traditionally viewed competence as either an intervening or dependent variable While . a knowledge management strategy is crucial in attaining competitive advantage, a suitable knowledge strategy cannot be effectively devised and implemented in the absence of organizational competence Competence therefore, plays a critical role in the knowledge-competitiveness relationship, which suggests that a focus on improving competencies is needed if knowledge is to be optimally converted to competitive advantage This study departs from previous research by introducing organizational competence as a co-independent variable to knowledge management strategy in the'knowledge-competencecompetitiveness model This realignment of variables bridged a research gap by contributing to a better understanding of the exact nature of the interaction between the knowledgecompetence co-independent variables and the degree to which this contributes to improved competitiveness The research objectives included ascertaining the nature and extent of the relationship between knowledge management strategy and organizational competence The study also sought to determine the relationship between knowledge management strategy, organizational competence and competitiveness. Additionally, the influence of the interaction between knowledge management strategy and organizational competence on competitiveness was also investigated Consequently, four hypotheses were formulated for testing in order to meet these key objectives
Lipopolysaccharide gel profiles of Haemophilus influenzae type b for epidemiologic analysis

Recently, Tolan et al. (4) reported that analysis of Haemophilus influenza type b lipopolysaccharide (LPS) gel profiles was not a valid epidemiologic tool, because the apparent molecular weight of the LPSs of 5 of 14 isolates changed following passage in vitro or in vivo. Although the results were quite interesting, I was concerned because the gels published were very difficult to interpret. The LPS profiles (individual bands) were not visible, and the authors based their conclusions on apparent molecular weights of the LPSs. After discussing the problem with Dr. Granoff, I was sent 20 isolates of H. influenza type b under code from the published study. The LPSs were extracted, and the profiles were analyzed as previously described (2). My results agreed with those reported by Tolan et al., indicating that some strains of H. influenza type b may change the structure of their LPSs. I do not agree, however, that analysis of LPS profiles cannot be useful for epidemiologic analysis. In contrast, the work by Tolan et al. indicates that analysis of LPS profiles is a very sensitive method for identifying identical strains of H. influenza type b during an outbreak. If the LPS profiles of different isolates of H. influenza type b from a local outbreak are the same, it is very possible the isolates are of the same strain. Other methods of subtyping H. influenza type b include analysis of outer membrane protein profiles and electrophoretic typing. However, 44% of type b isolates studied have been classified into one outer membrane protein type (1), and 47% have been classified into one electrophoretic type (3). Therefore, these methods may not be sensitive enough to differentiate all genotypes. Since only about one-third of the isolates in the study by Tolan et al. changed their LPS profiles, a difference in the profiles of different isolates may still be relevant but should be interpreted with caution. I recommend that a combination of epidemiologic markers of H. influenza type b be examined for careful epidemiologic studies and that LPS profiles can still provide useful epidemiologic information.
Temporally Like-minded User Community Identification through Neural Embeddings

We propose a neural embedding approach to identify temporally like-minded user communities, i.e., those communities of users who have similar temporal alignment in their topics of interest. Like-minded user communities in social networks are usually identified by either considering explicit structural connections between users (link analysis), users' topics of interest expressed in their posted contents (content analysis), or in tandem. In such communities, however, the users' rich temporal behavior towards topics of interest is overlooked. Only few recent research efforts consider the time dimension and define like-minded user communities as groups of users who share not only similar topical interests but also similar temporal behavior. Temporal like-minded user communities find application in areas such as recommender systems where relevant items are recommended to the users at the right time. In this paper, we tackle the problem of identifying temporally like-minded user communities by leveraging unsupervised feature learning (embeddings). Specifically, we learn a mapping from the user space to a low-dimensional vector space of features that incorporate both topics of interest and their temporal nature. We demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed approach on a Twitter dataset in the context of three applications: news recommendation, user prediction and community selection, where our work is able to outperform the state-of-the-art on important information retrieval metrics.
In vivo complement activation and binding of C3 to encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans

Tissues from mice infected with Cryptococcus neoformans were examined by immunofluorescence to determine the extent of deposition of complement component C3 on encapsulated cryptococci. The relative percentages of cryptococci in each tissue having readily visible C3 were greatest for liver and lung tissues, with the kidney tissue having the next highest percentage and the spleen having the lowest percentage. Binding of C3 fragments to cryptococci in brain tissue was essentially absent.
20s-30s Men's Cosmetics Purchase Decision Factors

This study was designed to identify and compare the consumption value and interest in appearance with regard to the comparison of men's cosmetics purchase decision factors. We conducted a survey among 259 men who have experienced the re-purchase of men's cosmetics. All data was analyzed with the SPSS Windows 17.0 program in terms of frequency, percentage, means, standard deviations, paired-t test, Cronbach , factor analyses, and multiple regression. In summary, three findings emerged from this study. First, men's cosmetics purchase decision factors included two subfactors: product quality factors (price, quality, skin compatibility, fragrance) and image factors (trend, brand image, consciousness of others, diversion). Second, a paired-t test revealed that the consideration toward the image factors of a first time purchase decision was lower than the re-purchase decision factors. However the consideration toward the product quality factors of a first time purchase decision was not different from the re-purchase decision factors. Third, the product quality factors were positively influenced by distinction factors of appearance and functional value. And social value, emotional value, and curiosity value were found to be effective in the image factors at the first time of purchase and re-purchase. Also, the product quality factors of re-purchase decisions were influenced by the satisfaction of the first time purchase. This study will contribute to provide some information for marketers in understanding men's cosmetics purchase decisions and to offer basic data for marketing strategies and product development.
Cross-layer design of a time-division multiple access protocol with cooperative diversity

This paper addresses the medium access control (MAC) and physical (PHY) cross-layer design of a time-division multiple access protocol (TDMA) where users with good channels are allowed to relay the packets of other users with less favorable conditions. All signals are combined at the central node using signal processing tools in order to achieve diversity. The work is focused on an asymmetrical scenario where users experience different channel and queuing states. Two performance metrics are used: packet throughput and access delay. To facilitate the analysis, a packet reception model which represents more efficiently the cooperative PHY layer is also proposed. A multi-objective optimization is used to derive the boundaries of the throughput region, i.e., the set of all achievable user throughput values. Sketches of the two-user case show that the region is always convex and larger than the region of its non-cooperative counterpart. The results also show that cooperation is useful when some users with good channels experience low/medium traffic loads and thus can help other users with bad channels and higher traffic loads. Evaluation of access delay is also obtained by using the expressions of a modified TDMA system.