Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Wall Parameters From Time-Delay-Only Through-Wall Radar Measurements

Knowledge of the basic characteristics of the wall is especially important for the proper function of through-wall radars (TWR). In this paper, we introduce an estimation method that can provide the unknown wall parameters in real time. Our algorithm is based on a modified version of common midpoint processing, a technique adopted from geophysics. Using this method, it is possible to estimate the thickness and the permittivity of the wall from time-delay-only measurements performed at several different transceiver-receiver separations. Time-delay estimation (TDE) of echoes backscattered from the wall at each antenna separation is performed entirely in the frequency domain by a subspace super-resolution method. Our TDE approach is capable of resolving overlapping echoes reflected from the wall even in the case of only one snapshot of the measured data, suboptimal calibration possibilities, imperfect deconvolution of the measurement system, and limited radar bandwidth. The performance of our estimation algorithm is verified by simulations, and we also present the results for two real brick walls measured by using the time-domain technique. The estimated wall parameters can be utilized for improving the accuracy of real-time locating and tracking of moving humans by TWR.
Permanent magnet generators for renewable energy devices with wide speed range and pulsating power delivery

This paper describes the design of a direct-drive permanent-magnet generator for use in a novel sea-wave electrical generator. The basic system is briefly described and the target specification derived from the device and the wave tank performance. The design for the brushless permanent-magnet generators is then developed using SPEED PC-BDC and verified using Finite Element Analysis (PC-FEA). A diode bridge model is also tested using Portunus system simulation.
Managerial judgement and the real options approach in the investment appraisal process : evidence from the British automotive components manufacturers

While there has been extensive research on the use of financial appraisal techniques (Pay back, Return on Capital Employed, Internal Rate of Return and Net Present Value) in the Investment Appraisal Process (lAP), little research has been conducted on the role of the Real Options Approach (ROA) and Managerial Judgement (MJ) in the IAP. In an ideal world, prior to making Strategic Investment Decisions (SIDs), a detailed analysis of the benefits generated by the investments would be conducted. This would cover financial and nonfinancial benefits. In practice, however, many investments are undertaken on the basis of financial returns with little or no analysis of the growth options embedded in the proposed investments. The exploitation of these options contributes to the enhancement of the business strategy as financial returns do. Essential to considering these options in the IAP is the deployment ofMJ inthe lAP. This thesis aims to make a sound contribution to the development of the emerging literature on capital budgeting. First, it provides a critical review of the existing investment appraisal literature. Second, it investigates whether or not British Automotive Components Manufacturers (BACMs) deploy the ROA and MJ in the lAP in order to accommodate the growth options. And fmally, it presents an alternative perspective of the IAP by the development of a conceptual framework that integrates the ROA & MJ into the lAP, while taking account ofproject risk and business strategy. This research draws on a 73-firm survey of finance directors in this industry enhanced by fieldwork (11 interviews) to set out the relative importance of the strategic approach (ROA informed by MJ) and financial analysis when making the SIDs. The findings from the survey show similar results to earlier studies in relation to the popularity of PB and the use of more than one financial technique in the lAP. However, in contrast to previous studies, DCF techniques seem to be less popular and higher usage of ROCE is evident, and no relationship is found between company size and the range and type of techniques used in the lAP. The main thrust of the findings of the statistical analysis is the absence of the formal adoption of the ROA in the IAP. However, the impact of the growth options regarding the deployment of MJ in the lAP appeared to be evident. The analysis shows that MJ is considered when assessing both investments with growth options and risky projects. The fieldwork provides insights into the context of the lAP and the factors that influence the deployment of the ROA and MJ in the lAP. Conclusions are drawn regarding the interrelationships between financial analysis and the ROA and MJ in the lAP. The integration of the ROA and MJ into the lAP appears to involve moving the focus of attention in the lAP away from financial analysis and a short-term perspective towards a more strategic perspective. More importantly, it contributes to bridging the gap between risk management and strategic analysis.
Impact of Body Overweight and Class I, II and III Obesity on the Outcome of Acute Biliary Pancreatitis

Objectives: Body overweight and obesity have been associated with an increased morbidity in acute pancreatitis, but conflicting results were reported in the literature with regard to the type and frequency of complications. We investigated the occurrence of complications in different classes of overweight in a homogeneous group of patients with gallstone pancreatitis. Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 250 patients with biliary pancreatitis to allow calculation of the Blamey (Glasgow) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) scores. According to their body mass index (BMI), the patients were allocated to different categories of body overweight. The outcome for each category was measured by the components of the Atlanta criteria. Secondary end points of the study were the length of hospital stay, the length of stay at the intensive care unit, and the number of abdominal operations. Results: When compared with normal-weight patients (BMI 18.5-24.9), all categories with BMI ≥25 had an increased risk of developing the "severe" form of acute pancreatitis [odds ratio (OR): 3.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.50-8.40]. Patients with class I obesity (BMI 30-34.9) developed significantly more organ failure and local complications (OR: 3.469, 95% CI: 1.15-10.43). Patients with class II and III obesity (BMI 35-49.9) had, in addition to more organ failure and local complications, also more metabolic complications (OR: 7.33, 95% CI: 1.62-33.24) than did their normal-weight counterparts. They needed also more frequently intensive care and had a longer total hospital stay. Conclusion: In acute biliary pancreatitis, body overweight and obesity represent a risk of more "severe" disease and the number and type of complications increase in categories of increasing BMI.
Procurement in the Construction Industry: The Impact and Cost of Alternative Market and Supply Processes

Do recent moves in the construction industry towards collaborative working and other new procurement procedures really make good business sense? 'Procurement in the Construction Industry' is the result of research into this question and it includes the first rigorous categorizing of the differences between procurement methods currently in use. In the process of carrying out this research, the team has produced a comprehensive study of procurement methods which looks in detail at the relative benefits and costs of different ways of working, with sometimes surprising results. As such, it is not only a valuable guide for practitioners on the complexities of the procurement process, but also an outline of the relevance of economic theory to the construction sector.
The impact of antiproteinuric therapy on the prothrombotic state in patients with overt proteinuria

Summary. Background: Overt proteinuria is a strong risk factor for thromboembolism, owing to changes in the levels of various coagulation proteins and urinary antithrombin loss. The described coagulation disturbances in these patients are based on outdated studies conducted primarily in the 1970s and 1980s. Whether these coagulation disturbances resolve with antiproteinuric therapy has yet to be studied. Methods: A total of 32 patients with overt proteinuria (median, 3.7 g day−1; interquartile range, 1.5–5.6) were enrolled in this intervention crossover trial designed to assess optimal antiproteinuric therapy with sodium restriction, losartan, and diuretics. Levels of various procoagulant and anticoagulant proteins, and parameters of two thrombin generation assays (calibrated automated thrombogram [CAT] and prothrombin fragment 1 + 2) were compared between the placebo period and the maximum antiproteinuric treatment period. As a secondary analysis, coagulation measurements of the placebo period in these patients were compared with those of 32 age‐matched and sex‐matched healthy controls. Results: Median proteinuria was significantly lower during the maximum treatment period (median, 0.9 g day−1; interquartile range, 0.6–1.4; P < 0.001) than during the placebo period. Similarly, levels of various liver‐synthesized procoagulant and anticoagulant proteins, activated protein C resistance and prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 levels were significantly lower during the maximum treatment period than during the placebo period. However, von Willebrand factor and factor VIII levels were similar. On the basis of the higher levels of procoagulant proteins (fibrinogen, FV, FVIII, and von Willebrand factor) and both thrombin generation assays, patients were substantially more prothrombotic than healthy controls (P < 0.004). Conclusions: Antiproteinuric therapy ameliorates the prothrombotic state. Proteinuric patients are in a more prothrombotic state than healthy controls.
Performance of Coded FH/MFSK in a Worst-Case Tone Jamming Channel

Abstract : Several block and convolutional coding options are considered which are applicable to the noncoherent detection of FH/MFSK (Frequency Hopped/ Multiple Frequency Shift Keying) signals in the presence of tone jamming. The tone jamming model used in this report is the worst-case tone jamming for an uncoded system. Using decoded probability of bit error as a performance criterion, we show that large signaling alphabets yield poor performance in a tone jamming environment. Furthermore, when hard-decision quantization is used, the degradation of a coded system in tone jamming over worst-case partial band noise jamming is the same as the corresponding degradation for the uncoded system: 4.3 dB for M=2, 6.3 dB for M=4, 8.3 dB for M=8, and increasing thereafter without bound as M approaches infinity. The poor performance of coded systems with hard-decisions in tone jamming can be improved by about 10 dB by using soft-decision quantization assisted by perfect jammer state side- information. For the binary case the results obtained by using soft-decision quantization are about 1 dB better than those obtained for the partial band noise channel, showing that the worst-case channel for the uncoded system is not necessarily the worst-case channel for a coded system when side-information is available. The use of small alphabets and soft-decision quantization is recommended for coded FH/MFSK systems in a tone jamming environment. A major issue to be addressed in future studies concerns the type of soft-decision decoding to be used. An approach is needed that is realizable and will give performance close to that of pure soft-decisions with side-information while being free of the problems associated with obtaining perfect side information.
A Novel Type of Peptidoglycan-binding Domain Highly Specific for Amidated d-Asp Cross-bridge, Identified in Lactobacillus casei Bacteriophage Endolysins*

Background: Peptidoglycan hydrolases, including bacterial autolysins and bacteriophage endolysins, contain generally a cell wall-binding domain (CWBD), responsible for their high affinity and specificity toward target cell walls. Results: Two Lactobacillus casei endolysins lyse only bacterial cells with a d-Asn cross-bridge in their peptidoglycan. Conclusion: The CWBD of these two endolysins recognizes specifically peptidoglycan with a d-Asn cross-bridge. Significance: This CWBD is a novel type of peptidoglycan-binding domain. Peptidoglycan hydrolases (PGHs) are responsible for bacterial cell lysis. Most PGHs have a modular structure comprising a catalytic domain and a cell wall-binding domain (CWBD). PGHs of bacteriophage origin, called endolysins, are involved in bacterial lysis at the end of the infection cycle. We have characterized two endolysins, Lc-Lys and Lc-Lys-2, identified in prophages present in the genome of Lactobacillus casei BL23. These two enzymes have different catalytic domains but similar putative C-terminal CWBDs. By analyzing purified peptidoglycan (PG) degradation products, we showed that Lc-Lys is an N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase, whereas Lc-Lys-2 is a γ-d-glutamyl-l-lysyl endopeptidase. Remarkably, both lysins were able to lyse only Gram-positive bacterial strains that possess PG with d-Ala4→d-Asx-l-Lys3 in their cross-bridge, such as Lactococcus casei, Lactococcus lactis, and Enterococcus faecium. By testing a panel of L. lactis cell wall mutants, we observed that Lc-Lys and Lc-Lys-2 were not able to lyse mutants with a modified PG cross-bridge, constituting d-Ala4→l-Ala-(l-Ala/l-Ser)-l-Lys3; moreover, they do not lyse the L. lactis mutant containing only the nonamidated d-Asp cross-bridge, i.e. d-Ala4→d-Asp-l-Lys3. In contrast, Lc-Lys could lyse the ampicillin-resistant E. faecium mutant with 3→3 l-Lys3-d-Asn-l-Lys3 bridges replacing the wild-type 4→3 d-Ala4-d-Asn-l-Lys3 bridges. We showed that the C-terminal CWBD of Lc-Lys binds PG containing mainly d-Asn but not PG with only the nonamidated d-Asp-containing cross-bridge, indicating that the CWBD confers to Lc-Lys its narrow specificity. In conclusion, the CWBD characterized in this study is a novel type of PG-binding domain targeting specifically the d-Asn interpeptide bridge of PG.
Customer Emotional Needs in Product Design

Most studies on product design have focused on customer needs concerning functionality and utility. Rarely has the issue of customer emotions been investigated. Traditional cognitive approaches to product usability tend to underestimate the importance of customer emotions in design. Not surprisingly, the success of a product in the marketplace may be determined by its aesthetic appeal, the pleasure it creates, and the satisfaction it brings to the customer. Emotions influence how a customer interacts with the product. In the interaction, feelings accompany thinking. This article characterizes customer emotions and issues concerning their measurement. The literature has documented various methods for measuring and evaluating emotions, but only a few are relevant to product development. In this article, we illustrate subjective and objective methods that are commonly used in evaluating customer emotion to an artifact. While evidence suggests that emotion matters in determining the sales potential of products, the measurement of emotions may be difficult because of the indefinite relationship between an emotion and its behavioral expression. Culture has a strong effect on what customers look for in a product and how they interpret the product and its interfaces. We present a framework for analysis of customer emotions in relation to the designer’s environment. The framework is part of the product development life cycle, where customer needs and measured emotions are input early in the design process. The goal is to achieve a pleasurable and satisfying product.
5-Hydroxycyclopenicillone Inhibits β-Amyloid Oligomerization and Produces Anti-β-Amyloid Neuroprotective Effects In Vitro

The oligomer of β-amyloid (Aβ) is considered the main neurotoxin in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, the inhibition of the formation of Aβ oligomer could be a target for AD therapy. In this study, with the help of the dot blotting assay and transmission electronic microscopy, it was have discovered that 5-hydroxycyclopenicillone, a cyclopentenone recently isolated from a sponge-associated fungus, effectively reduced the formation of Aβ oligomer from Aβ peptide in vitro. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested hydrophobic interactions between 5-hydroxycyclopenicillone and Aβ peptide, which might prevent the conformational transition and oligomerization of Aβ peptide. Moreover, Aβ oligomer pre-incubated with 5-hydroxycyclopenicillone was less toxic when added to neuronal SH-SY5Y cells compared to the normal Aβ oligomer. Although 5-hydroxycyclopenicillone is not bioavailable in the brain in its current form, further modification or encapsulation of this chemical might improve the penetration of 5-hydroxycyclopenicillone into the brain. Based on the current findings and the anti-oxidative stress properties of 5-hydroxycyclopenicillone, it is suggested that 5-hydroxycyclopenicillone may have potential therapeutic efficacy in treating AD.
Three Studies on Multi-attribute Market Mechanisms in E-procurement

Successful e-procurement depends on selecting the appropriate mechanisms that comprise rules governing and facilitating transaction process. Existing mechanisms have theoretical or practical limitations such as limited number of attributes, disclosure of buyer’s preferences and costly processes. The present research addresses these issues through three studies. Study 1 presents two feasible mechanisms for multi-attribute multi-supplier transactions. They allow buyers to control preference representation and information revelation, assuring that suppliers obtain sufficient information in making effective proposals while protecting confidential information. Following the design-science approach, the mechanisms are implemented to support multi-attribute reverse auctions and multi-bilateral negotiations. Study 2 examines the revelation of information in multi-attribute reverse auctions. Three revelation rules are formulated with admissible bids, winning bids and all bidders’ bids. Their effects on the process, outcomes and bidders’ assessment are tested in two experiments. The results show significant improvement in process efficiency when more information is revealed. The suppliers reached better outcomes with either admissible bids only or all bidders’ bids, while the buyers gained more when revealing the winning bids only. Bidders were more satisfied with the outcomes and system when more information was provided. Study 3 compares multi-attribute reverse auctions and multi-bilateral negotiations in both laboratory and online experiments. The results show that auctions are more efficient than negotiations in terms of the process. Auctions led to greater gains for the buyers, whereas more balanced contracts were reached in negotiations. Suppliers’ assessment was affected by their outcomes, and the winning suppliers were more satisfied with the process, outcomes and system. The buyer’s role was also examined. Different types of information conveyed from buyer influence suppliers’ behavior in making bids/offers and concessions, which in turn affected buyer’s gains. This research provides implications to future studies and practices in e-procurement, in particular, the formulation of a procedure of two multi-attribute mechanisms and the formulation of general guidelines for strategic use of different mechanisms in various e-procurement contexts.
Does Asia Really Have Poorer Corporate Governance?: Evidence from International Variations in Transparency

Prior literature contending that corporate governance in Asia is poor ignores disclosure of self-dealing. This paper overcomes this deficiency as it examines the determinants of measures against self-dealing in business transactions in sixty countries, focusing especially on Asian countries controlling for national culture and relevant economic variables. We document that higher self-dealing transparency is positively associated with the Asian region. We also find that governance disclosure is negatively associated with uncertainty avoidance and positively associated with an English legal origin and greater economic inequality. Given that the Asian region has often been regarded as having poorer governance, our study will be of considerable interest to investors, managers, and policy makers.
The Genre System Lens on E-Democracy

E-Democracy aims at enhancing citizen involvement in societal communication and decision making. However, the very ideals of democ- racy vary while reports of e-democracy in use have often left them undis- cussed. Moreover, theoretical works on the potential of information tech- nology (IT) for democratization have often viewed IT as a "black box", and assumed that technology should create an impact as such. Hence, there is a dearth of research on the interplay between models of e-democracy and actual IT artefacts in use. We suggest and elaborate an analytical frame- work, which combines the genre system lens of organizational communica- tion and contemporary e-democracy models. The framework adheres to the ensemble view of IT artefacts. We illustrate use of the framework through a retrospective analysis of four e-democracy applications. The framework re- veals similarities and differences between particular e-democracy contexts and applications, which can now be more concretely discussed at the level of genre systems and their constituent genres. Such analytical dimensions as malleability, genre compatibility, and density of genre systems may give insight for further research and knowledge accumulation on e-democracy.
SERVICE QUALITY IN BANKING

The subject "quality" is nowadays, in a globalized world, one of the key concerns of businessmen to face the competition on industries and service areas. Financial groups are measuring no efforts to achieve quality excellence, starting by customer services and relationship. The intent of this study was to evaluate de quality of the services delivered by Public and Private Financial institutions. The evaluation has been performed through questionnaires to the customers applied at the branches in the four largest cities in the Southern area of Rio de Janeiro State (Volta Redonda, Barra Mansa, Barra do Pirai and Resende). The profile of each customer has been mapped - age, scholarship, wage - and his/her perception about branches' quality: facilities, installations, services, lanes' organization, employees' knowledge about offered products and services. The research results showed that most of the customers consider the branches comfortable, and their employees are polite, objective-oriented and they also try to provide privacy to the customer during their contacts. As a generic statement, the customers consider the quality of bank services as being good. Therefore, it can be said that it is possible to evaluate the quality of bank services, based on the customer quality perception. This research tool, used as a way to search information and knowledge, is easy to use and easy to be interpreted by the customers, with a potential to be used by any service provider.