Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of DRX on VoIP Performance and Battery Life in LTE

Along with higher data rates and application-enriched user terminals, LTE has even higher requirements to conserve the battery power in mobile devices compared to the WCDMA terminals. In LTE, Discontinuous Reception (DRX) has been introduced as one of the key solutions to conserve battery power in mobile terminal. It is very meaningful to investigate the possible impact of DRX on power consumption and also the VoIP performance. This study evaluates several different parameter settings for DRX, and tries to find a reasonable trade-off between VoIP performance and battery life. This study report proposes DRX parameter setting to achieve maximum possible power saving with minimum VoIP degradation. Based on the assumed power saving model and simulation scenario presented in chapter 4 and chapter 5 of this report respectively, the proposed parameter settings can achieve up to ~60% of the terminal power saving. Furthermore, it is concluded that longer DRX cycles are not suitable for VoIP traffic since they introduces longer delays and degrades the VoIP performance particularly in downlink.
Interchange fee rate, merchant discount rate, and retail price in a credit card network: A game‐theoretic analysis

We consider two game‐theoretic settings to determine the optimal values of an issuer's interchange fee rate, an acquirer's merchant discount rate, and a merchant's retail price in a credit card network. In the first setting, we investigate a two‐stage game problem in which the issuer and the acquirer first negotiate the interchange fee rate, and the acquirer and the retailer then determine their merchant discount rate and retail price, respectively. In the second setting, motivated by the recent US bill “H.R. 2695,” we develop a three‐player cooperative game in which the issuer, the acquirer, and the merchant form a grand coalition and bargain over the interchange fee rate and the merchant discount rate. Following the cooperative game, the retailer makes its retail pricing decision. We derive both the Shapley value‐ and the nucleolus‐characterized, and globally‐optimal unique rates for the grand coalition. Comparing the two game settings, we find that the participation of the merchant in the negotiation process can result in the reduction of both rates. Moreover, the stability of the grand coalition in the cooperative game setting may require that the merchant should delegate the credit card business only to the issuer and the acquirer with sufficiently low operation costs. We also show that the grand coalition is more likely to be stable and the U.S. bill “H.R. 2695” is thus more effective, if the degree of division of labor in the credit card network is higher as the merchant, acquirer, and issuer are more specialized in the retailing, acquiring, and issuing operations, respectively. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2012
The XENON10 WIMP Search Experiment at the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory

XENON10 is a new direct dark matter detection experiment using liquid xenon as target for weakly interacting, massive particles (WIMPs). A two-phase (liquid/gas) time projection chamber with 15 kg fiducial mass has been installed in a low-background shield at the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory in July 2006. After initial performance tests with various calibration sources, the science data run started on August 24, 2006. The detector has been running stably since then, and a full analysis of more than 75 live days of WIMP search data is now in progress. We present first results on gamma and neutron calibration runs, as well as a preliminary analysis of a subset of the WIMP search data.
Islamic home financing in Pakistan: a SEM-based approach using modified TPB model

Abstract The present study attempts to examine the Islamic home financing using the modified theory of planned behavior model (TPB). Sample data of 375 are conveniently drawn from walk-in customers of Islamic banks located in the biggest city Karachi. This study employed both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to confirm the validity and reliability of the measurement model. The modified theoretical framework was examined by applying the structural equation modeling using frequently reported goodness-of-fit indices. The findings indicate that the original constructs of TPB model, attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN) and perceived behavioral control has a positive and significant impact on the customer intention to use Islamic home financing. Furthermore, ATT is found to be the most influential factor in determining the customer intention toward Islamic home financing. On the other hand, we introduced two new factors, pricing on home financing (PHF) and religious belief (RB), which proved their presence in the TPB model by showing a significant impact on the customer intention to use the facility of home financing. In addition, PHF has a negative impact while religious belief has a positive relationship with the customer intention to use Islamic home financing in Pakistan. This study also suggests that the standard TPB model is successfully modified by introducing PHF and RB factors. Therefore, Islamic bank managers should consider this study to promote the Islamic home financing facility in Pakistan.
Who are resource nonusers and what can they tell us about nonuse values? Decomposing user and nonuser willingness to pay for coastal wetland restoration

This article assesses the potential for incomplete definitions of resource use to influence estimates of nonuser willingness to pay (WTP), with an emphasis on resources for which an exhaustive set of uses may be difficult to characterize. The data are drawn from a stated preference analysis involving coastal wetland restoration. Results suggest that mechanisms used to distinguish users and nonusers of wetland services may influence estimates of nonuser WTP and that for some attributes, traditional distinctions between user and nonuser WTP may have arguable empirical justification. More broadly, results suggest that relationships among use behaviors and restoration values may be more complex than are typically assumed and point to limitations in methods frequently used to distinguish user and nonuser WTP.
Effect of prophylactic phenobarbital on seizures, encephalopathy and mortality in neonates with perinatal asphyxia

Background. Seizures after an asphyxial insult may result in brain damage in neonates. Prophylactic phenobarbital may reduce seizures. Objective. To determine the effect of prophylactic phenobarbital on seizures, death and neurological outcome at hospital discharge. Methods. Neonates with base deficit >16 mmol/l and Apgar score at 5 minutes 5 minutes at the time of birth were randomised to prophylactic phenobarbital 40 mg/kg (n=50) or placebo (controls) (n=44) within the first 6 hours of life. They were monitored for clinical seizures, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) and mortality. Results. Seizures developed in 30.0% of the phenobarbital group as opposed to 47.7% of the control group (relative risk 0.63; 95% confidence interval -0.37 - 1.06; p=0.083). The proportions of patients who had died and/or had HIE II or III at time of discharge from hospital were similar in the two groups (42.0% v. 45.5%). There were no differences in mortality between the two groups (14.0% v. 15.9%). Conclusion. In infants with asphyxia, prophylactic phenobarbital does not reduce the incidence of seizures, HIE and mortality.
Blood Lactate Estimation in Age Group after a Sprint Swimming Test

As competitive swimming performance, even in young ages, depends significantly on anaerobic conditioning, we developed equations for blood lactate concentration ([La]) estimation in age-group after sprint swimming test. Six male and two female competitive swimmers (15.7 ± 2.2 year s old) performed a 4x50-m maximum velocity front-crawl (10-s intervals) test four times within a training macrocycle (n = 32). Time and kinematic related variables were obtained for each 50-m repetition (with a chronometer and a digital camera), and heart rate and [La] at three, seven and 12 min of the recovery period (La3, La7 and La12) were measured (with a portable analyser). The Pearson correlation test was carried out to select the better predictor parameter and a linear regression estimated La3, La7 and La12. La3 can be predicted by the time in the first 50-m repetition (La3=33.01-0.63Tt1), La7 by the second 50-m repetition (La7=39.81-0.77Tt2) or using La3 (La7=1.53+0.77La3), and La12 by Tt1 or La3 (La12=31.44-0.66Tt1 or La12=-0.36+0.84La3, respectively). [La] at three, seven and 12 min after sprint swimming test can be predicted using the times in the first and second repetitions, but at minutes seven and 12 it can be, also and better, predicted by lactate at minute three. The regression models proposed are accurate for the sample and generalizable to age-group swimmers’ population. KeywordsTraining, exercise performance, exercise physiology, assessment, exercise testing.
Minimax Linear Smoothers

We consider the problem of estimating the mean of a multivariate distribution. As a general alternative to penalized least squares estimators, we consider minimax estimators for squared error over a restricted parameter space where the restriction is determined by the penalization term. For a quadratic penalty term, the minimax estimator among linear estimators can be found explicitly. It is shown that all symmetric linear smoothers with eigenvalues in the unit interval can be characterized as minimax linear estimators over a certain parameter space where the bias is bounded. The minimax linear estimator depends on smoothing parameters that must be estimated in practice. Using results in Kneip (1994), this can be done using Mallows' CL‐statistic and the resulting adaptive estimator is now asymptotically minimax linear. The minimax estimator is compared to the penalized least squares estimator both in finite samples and asymptotically.
Comparison of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy v/s Conventional Dressings in the Management of Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Introduction: Foot Ulcers in patients with diabetes are complex and treatment is often difficult. At the moment negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is widely used for the treatment of several types of wounds. Nevertheless, the clinical evidence to support the application of this dressing in Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of NPWT compared with standard wound dressing to treat chronic diabetic foot ulcers. Patients and method: Prospective time bound comparative study. Diabetic patients aged 18 years or older with a foot ulcer were assigned to treatment with NPWT (Study group) or standard wound dressing (Control group). Primary efficacy end point was time in reaching complete ulcer closure. A size of sample of 15 patients per group was used. NPWT was prepared with a polyurethane foam dressing, a Silicone catheter, a transparent adhesive drape and continuous negative pressure of 125 mm Hg. The wound was treated for cycles of 5 days and evaluated at every dressing change. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used. Results: There were 30 patients, with a mean age of 54.4 years (73.3% men), 15 in each group. The average time to complete ulcer closure was lower in Study group (41.2 [8.5] days vs 58.9 [14.5] days), a statistically significant difference (P=.003). Conclusion: NPWT reduces the time to complete ulcer healing of diabetic foot by 30%, compared with conventional wound dressing.
Focusing illusion in satisfaction with life among college students living in Brazil

La literatura apunta que existen asociaciones significativas entre la felicidad y la salud. Varios paises estan considerando, contemplando o hasta formalmente incorporando la variable de felicidad en sus politicas de salud publica. Ademas, la iniciativa privada ha demostrado interes por el tema. A partir de eso, este articulo analiza errores de juzgamiento en la percepcion de satisfaccion con la vida entre estudiantes universitarios en dos ciudades brasilenas. El estudio explora las asociaciones entre los aspectos de la vida y la percepcion de felicidad, ya que politicas publicas asociadas a la felicidad requieren una mejor comprension de la subjetividad del sentimiento de bienestar. Un survey realizado con 368 estudiantes universitarios posibilito el analisis por medio del Analisis Multivariado de Covariancia (MANCOVA) y regresion lineal. Los resultados sugieren que, aunque no hayan sido encontradas diferencias significativas en terminos de satisfaccion general con la vida entre las dos ciudades consideradas, hubo indicios de ilusion de enfoque en la percepcion de la felicidad, causada por expectativas provenientes del sentimiento de inseguridad personal en una metropolis.
Synthesis and Characterization of a New Semiconductor Oligomer Having Quinoline and Fluorene Units

A new oligomer having fluorenylene and quinolinylene groups was straightforwardly synthesized by Suzuki reaction and proven to be readily soluble in common organic solvents. The chemical structure of the copolymer was confirmed and characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements. In solution, the oligomer presented two absorption maxima at 314 and 245 nm, along with a high fluorescence quantum yield (82%), characterized by an emission maximum at 419 nm. The band gap of the material was estimated to be around 2.60 eV by cyclic voltammetry, however the optical band gap for the thin film observed by UV-Vis spectroscopy was 3.10 eV. The divergence was attributed to charge transfer interactions due to the presence of donor and acceptor units in the copolymer.
Transmission of Monetary Policy with Heterogeneity in Household Portfolios

Monetary policy affects both intertemporal consumption choices and portfolio choices between liquid and illiquid assets. The monetary transmission, in turn, depends on the distribution of marginal propensities to consume and invest. This paper assesses the importance of heterogeneity in these propensities for the transmission of monetary policy in a New Keynesian business cycle model with uninsurable income risk and assets with different degrees of liquidity. Liquidity-constrained households have high propensities to consume but low propensities to invest, which makes consumption more and investment less responsive to monetary shocks compared to complete markets. Redistribution through earnings heterogeneity and the Fisher channel from unexpected inflation further amplifies the consumption response but dampens the investment response.
EFFICACIOUS STUDY OF IKSHURAK ( ASTERACANTHA LONGIFOLIA ) KSHARA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE GALL STONE (CHOLELITHIASIS) WITH VARIOUS VEHICLES

Gall bladder stone (Cholelithiasis) is one of the commonest among the major gallbladder disease, affecting large popul ation of community. In untreated cases it may lead to numerous complications. The clinicians and scientists all over the world are trying hard to find out any safe and effective remedy. The effective method for the treatment of gallbladder stone available so far is surgical maneuver. In surgical management of diseases sometimes patients have to lose the organ associated with disease. In this context Cholelithiasis (Gall bladder stone) is a disease in which patient has to sacri fice with his gall bladder. Aft er the removal of gall bladder, patient becomes away from the normal physiological life and suffers from hyperacidity, nausea, dyspe psia etc. for whole life. Ayurveda being pioneer of the medical modalities of the world has a definite role in the managemen t of such diseases. Efficacy of indigenous herbs in reference to the management of gall bladder stone has not been well documented till date. The critical review of Ayurveda lit erature revealed that Ikshuraka Kshara might be the solution of problem as Iksh uraka is hepato - protective and Kshara preparation is effective in stone management.
Comparative Study on Interest Rate Pass-Through : Albania versus Central , Eastern , and South-Eastern Europe

This study aims to compare interest rate pass-through in Albania with that in countries of Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe. The methodology employed across countries consists in time series cointegrating methods, which allow studying the longand short-run dynamics of such pass-through. The comparison is based on results obtained by Balázs et al (2006) for countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and those obtained by Pertrevksi and Bogoev (2012) for countries of South Eastern Europe. This study is a follow-up of three previous materials which aim to investigate the interest rate pass-through in Albania, its long-term asymmetry, and its nonlinearity, both in shortand long-term. These four studies will constitute the core part of author’s PhD thesis, titled: “Analysis on the functioning of the interest rate channel during the years, 2002-2013”. A main finding of this study is that comparison of interest rate pass-through between Albania and countries of Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe is challenging, and can be misleading given the slight differences in interest rate chosen to represent either the money or the retail market in these countries; differences in methodological approaches; and in time horizon chosen for the empirical analysis. Also, the study finds that interest rate pass-through in Albania is most similar with countries of the Central and Eastern Europe, which operate under floating exchange rate regimes. The bigger similarity 1 Views expressed here are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent views of the European University of Tirana. Ilda MalileComparative Study on Interest Rate Pass-Through: Albania versus Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH, VOL. I, ISSUE 8/ NOVEMBER 2013 2136 refers to the first stage of interest rates pass-through – from policy rate to money market rates (of interbank and primary market).
Title The effectiveness of private tutoring : students ’ perceptions incomparison with mainstream schooling in Hong Kong

This paper examines Hong Kong students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of private supplementary tutoring relative to mainstream schooling. Drawing on survey and interview data, it shows that large proportions of secondary school students receive private tutoring. Students generally perceive private tutoring and private tutors to be more effective in the provision of examination support compared with mainstream schooling and teachers. However, perceptions vary according to students’ self-reported academic levels and motives for taking private tutoring. The operations of the parallel sector of private tutoring have significant implications for the nature of schooling, and therefore need to be considered by teachers and school administrators. The Hong Kong data contribute to the international analysis of private tutoring, and add a significant component to the wider conceptual literature.
Removal, Species Dynamics and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Motile Aeromonads and FaecalBacteria during Municipal Wastewater Purification by Activated Sludges under Aride Climate

In order to evaluate the removal efficiency of an activated sludge plant operating under aride sah elian climate in Mauritania, a 15 months period bacteriological and chemical survey was undertaken. Motile aeromonads, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci and the total heterotrophic bacteria abundances were systematically determi ned at three sampling points : E (wastewater plant influent), C (oxidation pond) and S (treated effluent). The total suspended solids (TSS) and the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), temperature and pH were also systematically measured for each sample.Two se asonal qualitative analyses for theAeromonas species dynamics have been undertaken on water samples obtained from the influent (E) and the effluent of the plant (S). Results showed removal efficiency of 0,45 U log, 0,41 U log, 1,16 U log, 0,59 U log and 0,47 U log for the motile Aeromonas species,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, total heterotrophic bacteria, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci respectively. In regard to the chemical pollution removal efficiency, the results revealed an important removal of th e total suspended solids and BOD. This removal seems to occur essentially (68 %) between the oxidation channel and the clarification pond. The species dynamics analyses showed that A. caviaedominated in both raw wastewater and effluent. A. sobriastrains were slightly present (17 %) in the raw wastewater and noA. hydrophilastrains were detected in the treated effluent in the hot period campaign. The statistical non parametric analysis revealed significant differences (P ￻<0.05) between the different bacterial abundances in the inflow (E) and the outflow (S) of the treatment plant, but have showed that the bacterial removal occurred mainly during the oxidation phase and that only a slight removal (23%) were originated from the clarification phase. Antimicr obial susceptibility tests have covered two hundred and twenty four-strains of motile Aeromonas species andE. coliisolated from the influent, the oxidation pond and effluent. Fifteen of the most frequently used antibiotics in the antibiotic treatment at the
Evaluation of post-vaccination immunity to canine distemper and parvoviruses in Benin City, Nigeria

A study was conducted to determine the immune status of dogs vaccinated against Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) by a clinic-based immunoblot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a commercially available 120 sample immunocomb® test kit for canine parvo and distemper IgG in Benin City, Nigeria. Out of 120 dogs sampled, 63 (52.5%) were females while 57 (47.5%) were males. 84 (70%) dogs were exotic breeds while 36 (30%) were mongrels. Majority of the dogs (35, 29.17%) were less than one year old and the age range of all dogs sampled was between 9 weeks and 10 years. Analysis of data showed that there was no significant difference (P < 0.05) between sex, breed, age and level of immunity. A non-parametric chi-square contingency analysis of antigens (CPV and CDV) and level of immunity revealed that there was a high significant association (p < 0.001) between CPV and CDV antigens and level of immunity of the vaccinated dogs sampled.
Improved Lower Bounds for Ginzburg-Landau Energies via Mass Displacement

We prove some improved estimates for the Ginzburg-Landau energy (with or without magnetic field) in two dimensions, relating the asymptotic energy of an arbitrary configuration to its vortices and their degrees, with possibly unbounded numbers of vortices. The method is based on a localisation of the “ball construction method” combined with a mass displacement idea which allows to compensate for negative errors in the ball construction estimates by energy “displaced” from close by. Under good conditions, our main estimate allows to get a lower bound on the energy which includes a finite order “renormalized energy” of vortex interaction, up to the best possible precision i.e. with only a o(1) error per vortex, and is complemented by local compactness results on the vortices. This is used crucially in our forthcoming paper [SS5]. It can also serve to provide lower bounds for weighted Ginzburg-Landau energies.