Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploration and evaluation of hybrid TFET-MOSFET monolithic 3D SRAMs considering interlayer coupling

This paper investigates and evaluates 7T hybrid TFET-MOSFET monolithic 3D SRAM cells considering interlayer coupling for ultra-low voltage operation using TCAD mixed-mode simulations. The planar (2D) 7T hybrid TFET-MOSFET SRAM cell is shown to exhibit equal leakage, better stability and performance compared with the conventional 2D 8T MOSFET SRAM at ultra-low voltage (Vdd ≤ 0.3V). The interlayer coupling, where the front-gate of the bottom tier device alters the back gate bias of the upper tier device, and various stacking and layout arrangements are examined and exploited to improve the stability and performance of monolithic 3D SRAMs. An optimized 3D 7T hybrid SRAM design is shown to exhibit 80% write static noise margin (WSNM) improvement and 24% cell write performance improvement, whereas optimized 3D 8T MOSFET SRAM exhibits 66% WSNM improvement and 33% cell write performance improvement over the planar design. Furthermore, 3D SRAM designs are shown to reduce the SRAM cell area by nearly 40%.
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ENTREPRENEURIAL INCLINATION: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF BUSINESS UNDERGRADUATES IN HONG KONG

ABSTRACT This study investigates the factors associated with entrepreneurial inclination. In particular, it tests whether entrepreneurial inclination is significantly associated with certain psychological, demographic and family characteristics. A self-administered, fixed-alternative questionnaire is administered to 200 business undergraduates in Hong Kong, resulting in a usable response rate of 58.50per cent. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, Chi-square tests and probit analysis are used to analyze the data. Overall, the results show that entrepreneurial inclination is significantly associated with psychological, demographic and family characteristics. In particular, probit analysis results indicate that at a 0.05 level of significance, entrepreneurial inclination is significantly associated with a greater need for achievement, higher propensity to take risk, more tolerance of ambiguity and greater innovativeness. Entrepreneurial inclination is also significantly associated with demographic and family cha.
The Performance of Bond Mutual Funds

Using linear and nonlinear models, the authors examine two samples of bond funds--one sample designed to eliminate survivorship bias and a second much larger sample. Overall and for subcategories of bond funds, they find that bond funds underperform relevant indexes postexpenses. The authors' results are robust across a wide choice of models. They find that, on average, a percentage-point increase in expenses leads to a percentage-point decrease in performance. The nonlinear model weights closely match actual composition weights. The authors find no evidence of predictability using past performance to predict future performance for their unbiased sample. Copyright 1993 by University of Chicago Press.
Top 10 Research Questions Related to Body Composition

An understanding of body composition is crucial to understanding human health, disease, and function. Research in body composition has focused on the development of assessment methods, description of normal changes in body composition with growth and development and aging, and the changes that occur in body composition in response to challenges ranging from illness to planned interventions. Each focus is significant, and in a sense, they are interdependent, because technological advances allow more sophisticated questions to be addressed, which in turn drives the development of better methods. Significant advances have been made in each area, although perhaps surprisingly basic questions remain. For example, growth trajectories are often estimated from cross-sectional data, given the resources needed for long-term observational studies, and thus, longitudinal descriptive data are still needed. Along with advances in laboratory methods, development of field methods remains relevant for screening and clinical practice. Despite recognition of wide interindividual differences in intervention response, average outcomes continue to be emphasized. With technological advances, it is now possible to examine genetic along with nongenetic factors that underlie changes in body composition, and these techniques need to be applied in long-term, well-controlled trials. In this article, we review 10 key questions in related areas in which research is needed to continue to advance the field.
A potential role of connexin 43 in epidermal growth factor‐induced proliferation of mouse embryonic stem cells: Involvement of Ca2+/PKC, p44/42 and p38 MAPKs pathways

Abstract. Objectives: The gap junction protein, connexin (Cx), plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and cell proliferation by allowing communication between adjacent cells. Therefore, this study has examined the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on Cx43 and its relationship to proliferation of mouse embryonic stem cells. Materials and methods: Expressions of Cx43, mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and cell cycle regulatory proteins were assessed by Western blot analysis. Cell proliferation was assayed with [3H]thymidine incorporation. Intercellular communication level was measured by a scrape loading/dye transfer method. Results: The results showed that EGF increased the level of Cx43 phosphorylation in a time‐ (≥5 min) and dose‐ (≥10 ng/mL) dependent manner. Indeed, EGF‐induced increase in phospho‐Cx43 level was significantly blocked by either AG 1478 or herbimycin A (tyrosine kinase inhibitors). EGF increased Ca2+ influx and protein kinase C (PKC) translocation from the cytosolic compartment to the membrane compartment. Moreover, pre‐treatment with BAPTA‐AM (an intracellular Ca2+ chelator), EGTA (an extracellular Ca2+ chelator), bisindolylmaleimide I or staurosporine (PKC inhibitors) inhibited the EGF‐induced phosphorylation of Cx43. EGF induced phosphorylation of p38 and p44/42 MAPKs, and this was blocked by SB 203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) and PD 98059 (a p44/42 MAPK inhibitor), respectively. EGF or 18α‐glycyrrhetinic acid (GA; a gap junction inhibitor) increased expression levels of the protooncogenes (c‐fos, c‐jun and c‐myc), cell cycle regulatory proteins [cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), CDK4 and p‐Rb], [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell number, but decreased expression levels of the p21WAF1/Cip1 and p27Kip1, CDK inhibitory proteins. Transfection of Cx43 siRNA also increased the level of [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell number. EGF, 18α‐GA or transfection of Cx43 siRNA increased 2‐DG uptake and GLUT‐1 protein expression. Conclusions: EGF‐induced phosphorylation of Cx43, which was mediated by the Ca2+/PKC, p44/42 and p38 MAPKs pathways, partially contributed to regulation of mouse embryonic stem cell proliferation.
Managing legitimacy issues in global supply chains : The case of the athletic footwear industry

Purpose – This paper aims to explore new forms of control that can address the legitimacy problems of globally‐integrated enterprises.Design/methodology/approach – In a conceptual analysis the characteristics of the globally‐integrated enterprise are used to put forward apt strategies of control. These proposals are examined and illustrated in a case study of the strategies in use in the athletic footwear industry.Findings – This paper argues that command‐and‐control strategies will be ineffective for globally‐integrated enterprises. In order to behave like a global corporate citizen companies need to stress controls based on belief systems and interactive systems. Certain features of this shift in control are visible within the athletic footwear industry although many strategies in use are still based on thinking like a multinational.Research limitations/implications – This paper is explorative in nature. More empirical research is needed to test the proposals this paper puts forward.Practical implicatio.
The Impact of Teaching Critical Thinking Tasks on Coherence in Argumentative Essay Writing among EFL Learners

Lack of coherence in argumentative essays written by teenage English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners has been associated with and attributed to lack of critical thinking abilities. This aforementioned problem, in particular, has impeded students’ ability to obtain high scores on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. In order to investigate potential interventions that will facilitate students’ writing abilities in general and, more specifically, coherence, this study focuses on teaching two fundamental critical thinking tasks: Identify-Cause-and-Effect-Relationships and Divergent-Thinking. We conducted a quantitative experimental research with two classes at Mofid high school. Performing quantitative data analysis, we found that there is a significant difference in each class --class A and class B--before and after the treatment. Both classes improved; however, the difference between improvement levels for each task was negligible. The present study’s implication is that the given tasks of critical thinking can make a valuable contribution to learners to become competent writers with regard to coherency. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015. v6n6p460
Regularized Filters for L1-Norm-Based Common Spatial Patterns

The ℓ1-norm-based common spatial patterns (CSP-L1) approach is a recently developed technique for optimizing spatial filters in the field of electroencephalogram (EEG)-based brain computer interfaces. The ℓ1-norm-based expression of dispersion in CSP-L1 alleviates the negative impact of outliers. In this paper, we further improve the robustness of CSP-L1 by taking into account noise which does not necessarily have as large a deviation as with outliers. The noise modelling is formulated by using the waveform length of the EEG time course. With the noise modelling, we then regularize the objective function of CSP-L1, in which the ℓ1-norm is used in two folds: one is the dispersion and the other is the waveform length. An iterative algorithm is designed to resolve the optimization problem of the regularized objective function. A toy illustration and the experiments of classification on real EEG data sets show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Approaches towards Sustainable Development in China

China aims at quadrupling its real GDP by 2020 compared to the year 2000. Without any energy and environmental policy measures, this tremendous economic growth would be associated with a quadrupling of primary energy consumption up to 4.5 bn tons of standard coal equivalents (sce) and energy-related CO2-emissions of 11.5 bn tons. Given these expectations, China is urgently searching for a way to ease these negative implications of economic growth and has committed itself to achieve a level of 3.0 bn t sce primary energy consumption in 2020. As a consequence, the macro-economic energy intensity has to be reduced by 35 percent by 2020. In 2000, however, the average energy intensity in terms of energy consumption per unit industrial output was about 50 percent higher in China than in industrialised countries. Coming from this level, a reduction of 35 percent by 2020 would lead to an energy intensity representing roughly the year-2000 level of developed countries. This is a very demanding goal: depending on the specific industrial process, the decrease of energy intensity in the forthcoming 20 years has to be two to five times higher than what was achieved during the past two decades. Yet, only this path may help to achieve a sustainable development in China.
Differential regulation of the anti-crossover and replication fork regression activities of Mph1 by Mte1

Xue et al. identified Mte1 as a multifunctional regulator of S. cerevisiae Mph1. Mte1 stimulates Mph1-mediated DNA replication fork regression and branch migration in a model substrate. Surprisingly, Mte1 antagonizes the D-loop-dissociative activity of Mph1–MHF and exerts a procrossover role in mitotic recombination.
Assessing the Validity of the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge Examination through an Evaluation of its Clinical Relevance

Purpose. To assess the validity of the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) examination by addressing the degree to which experts view item content as clinically relevant and appropriate for Step 2 CK. Method. Twenty-seven experts were asked to complete three survey questions related to the clinical relevance and appropriateness of 150 Step 2 CK multiple-choice questions. Percentages, reliability estimates, and correlation coefficients were calculated and ordinary least squares regression was used. Results. Results showed that 92% of expert judgments indicated the item content was clinically relevant, 90% indicated the content was appropriate for Step 2 CK, and 85% indicated the content was used in clinical practice. The regression indicated that more difficult items and more frequently used items are considered more appropriate for Step 2 CK. Conclusions. Results suggest that the majority of item content is clinically relevant and appropriate, thus providing validation support for Step 2 CK.
Dynamic Brand Satiation

The authors develop a dynamic factor model of brand satiation to explain longitudinal variation in consumer purchases. Factor loadings are associated with a brand's position along a satiation dimension, and factor scores are associated with a household's sensitivity to satiation effects. The authors introduce dynamics by allowing the factor scores to evolve over time, reflecting variation in household satiation sensitivity. They embed the factor model in a direct utility model that allows for both corner and interior solutions and show that it fits the data better than alternative specifications. Analysis of a panel data set of corn chips purchases indicates that respondent satiation is better explained by a low-dimensional factor structure, while baseline utility and preferences are not. The authors explore implications for product line assortment in the face of quickening satiation.
SOIL EROSION AND DEGRADATION BASED ON SAND PARTICLES TRANSPORT CAUSED BY WIND BLOWING

Abstract In this paper, the effect of sand particles transport caused by wind blowing and its role in the land degradation and desertification process is considered. For the modeling of the 3D landscape, a grayscale height map has been used, the vegetation has been modeled using a Lindenmayer system, and the sand particles have been modeled as a 3D mesh‐free particles system. It was assumed that both the sand motion and the wind motion are incompressible continuum systems and their behavior follows the Navier–Stokes equations. To simulate the sand transport, the Navier–Stokes equations are discretized using the moving particle Semi‐implicit (MPS) method. Different types of revegetation patterns (windbreakers) have been used to show some effective measures preventing soils from erosion.
A Study of TDOA Positioning Using UWB Reflected Waves

In this paper, we propose applying the time of arrival (TOA) positioning scheme with a few base stations (BSs) (one BS at minimum) using reflected waves in a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environment, to time difference of arrival (TDOA) scheme. Synchronization among BSs is generally necessary in TDOA, but there is no synchronization problem in the proposed scheme for one BS. The estimated position error is evaluated by computer simulation. The feasibility of the proposed scheme is established based on experiments with one BS in an NLOS environment. The estimation error of a substantiative experiment was 6.1 cm.
Implications of student conceptions of teaching for the reform of engineering education

Quality assurance of higher education is based on a combination of collegial and student evaluation in many universities. Conceptions of what teaching at university level involves can be expected to play an important role in defining what we mean by high quality instruction. This paper presents a case study, based on official quality assurance data and student reflection, which illustrates the external pressures which prevail on university teachers, and the potential these constraints have to discourage innovation and provide and incentive for teachers to adopt a conservative pedagogy.
Gulf Cooperation Council trade integration: a new empirical examination

This paper investigates GCC countries' trade integration. The gravity equation is estimated using Panel Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial specification and COMTRADE aggregate and disaggregated flows. Results confirm GCC countries' integration deficit on exports side, while being integrated to some extent on imports side and on some particular commodities. Moreover, economic size and distance differently affect trade according to its direction and the nature of goods. Finally, two major obstacles to integration are highlighted: ? Limited trade complementarity induced by excess reliance on oil and lagged industrialisation. Intensive trade with industrialised and some developing countries at the expense of GCC countries.
The Economics of Transaction Costs

Part 1 Background: the nature of the firm, R.H. Coase the vertical integration of production - market failure considerations, Oliver E. Williamson production, information costs, and economic organization, Armen A. Alchian, Harold Demsetz industrial organization - a proposal for research, R.H. Coase. Part 2 Apparatus: vertical integration, appropriable rents, and the competitive contracting process, Benjamin Klein et al comparative economic organization - the analysis of discrete structural alternatives, Oliver E. Williamson credible commitments - using hostages to support exchange, Oliver E. Williamson the limits of firms - incentive and bureaucratic features, Oliver E. Williamson the costs and benefits of ownership - a theory of vertical and lateral integration, Sanford J. Grossman, Oliver D. Hart multitask principal-agent analyses - incentive contracts, asset ownership, and the job design, Bengt Holmstrom, Paul Milgrom. Part 3 Applications: integration of the sales force - an empirical examination, Erin Anderson, David C. Schmittlein the costs of organization, Scott E. Masten et al contracts and specific investment - an empirical test of transaction cost theory, Bruce R. Lyons contract duration and relationship-specific investments - empirical evidence from coal markets, Paul L. Joskow quantity and price adjustment in long-term contracts - a case study of petroleum coke, Victor P, Goldberg, John R. Erickson efficient adaptation in long-term contracts - take-or-pay provisions for natural gas, Scott E. Masten, Keith J. Crocker the economics of block booking, Roy W. Kennedey, Benjamin Klein franchise bidding for natural monopolies -in general and with respect to CATV, Oliver E. Williamson regulation and administered contracts, Victor P. Goldberg the institutional foundations of regulatory commitment - a comparative analyses of telecommunications regulation, Brian Levy, Pablo T. Spiller the industrial organization of Congress - or, why legislatures, like Firs, are not organized as markets, Barry R. Weingast, William J. Marshall.
Delayed Postnatal Loss of P/Q-Type Calcium Channels Recapitulates the Absence Epilepsy, Dyskinesia, and Ataxia Phenotypes of Genomic Cacna1A Mutations

Inherited loss of P/Q-type calcium channel function causes human absence epilepsy, episodic dyskinesia, and ataxia, but the molecular “birthdate” of the neurological syndrome and its dependence on prenatal pathophysiology is unknown. Since these channels mediate transmitter release at synapses throughout the brain and are expressed early in embryonic development, delineating the critical circuitry and onset underlying each of the emergent phenotypes requires targeted control of gene expression. To visualize P/Q-type Ca2+ channels and dissect their role in neuronal networks at distinct developmental stages, we created a novel conditional Cacna1a knock-in mouse by inserting the floxed green fluorescent protein derivative Citrine into the first exon of Cacna1a and then crossed it with a postnatally expressing PCP2-Cre line for delayed Purkinje cell (PC) gene deletion within the cerebellum and sparsely in forebrain (purky). PCs in purky mice lacked P/Q-type calcium channel protein and currents within the first month after birth, displayed altered spontaneous firing, and showed impaired neurotransmission. Unexpectedly, adult purky mice exhibited the full spectrum of neurological deficits seen in mice with genomic Cacna1a ablation. Our results show that the ataxia, dyskinesia, and absence epilepsy caused by inherited disorders of the P/Q-type channel arise from signaling defects beginning in late infancy, revealing an early window of opportunity for therapeutic intervention.
Continuous obstructed range queries in spatio-temporal databases

In this paper, we study the Continuous Obstructed Range (COR) queries in spatio-temporal databases, which consider the impact of obstacles on the distance between objects. Given a data set P, an obstacle set O, a query point q and a positive value r, a COR query continuously retrieves every point p from P such that the obstructed distance between p and q is less than r, where the obstructed distance is the shortest path between p and q without crossing any obstacle in O. The moving object candidates are divided into several groups according to the obstacles blocking the immediate path from moving objects to query point and the corresponding small local group visibility graphs are constructed. An efficient method is proposed to reduce the time and space costs of computing the obstructed distance. An identification strategy is designed to efficiently process the update of moving objects via directly identifying the qualified objects. Extensive experiments with both real and synthetic data sets demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of our proposed algorithm.
Surgical Aspects of Donor Hand Recovery for Transplantation

Abstract The purpose of this article is to share our institution's experience in optimizing the suitability of composite donor tissue for use in hand transplantation. The centerpiece of this process includes procurement techniques, preservation and timing issues, and anatomical matching. Recovery of the donor hand must proceed in an efficient, organized, and expedient manner. Proper timing of the donor operation not only ensures the quality of donor tissue and outcome for the hand recipient, but also allows surgeons recovering other organs to obtain high quality tissue for those recipients. Timing remains a critical factor in preserving tissue after removal from the donor. We will also consider the factors of temperature and preservation solution during transport.