Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-dropout regulator using body-driven technique

Small size and high performance LDO regulator using body driven technique is presented in this paper. The body driven technique can decrease threshold voltage (Vth) and increase the current ID flowing from drain to source in current. The technique is applied to the error amplifier, voltage buffer and pass transistor to reduce chip size and maintain the same performance as conventional LDO regulator. The pass transistor using the technique can reduce the size 5.4% compared with conventional pass transistor at 150mA load condition. The proposed current mirror in error amplifier and voltage buffer can save the area about 61% compared with the conventional current mirror. The proposed LDO regulator works under the input voltage of 2.7V~4.5V and provides up to 150mA load current for an output voltage range of 1.2~3.3V.
Electrically Small Metamaterial-Inspired Tri-Band Antenna With Meta-Mode

Two novel metamaterial-inspired antennas applied for 4G mobile communication are proposed in this letter. Antenna 1 takes a triangular electromagnetic resonator (TER) as its radiator fed by a coplanar waveguide (CPW). After the model building and simulation, three frequency bands of 1.78 ~ 1.84 GHz, 2.34 ~ 3.86 GHz and 5.75 ~ 5.87 GHz are achieved. Each band is well matched except for the band 3. Therefore, Antenna 2 is further developed, which adds a complementary TER (CTER) on the ground, and the improved design has a good impedance matching in band 3 without influencing the first two bands. Both antennas have operational bands covering WiMAX in 1.8/3.5 GHz and WLAN in 5.8 GHz and omnidirectional radiation patterns during the operating bands. The proposed two metamaterials antennas have the advantages of simple fabrication, miniaturization and compactness, which can be applied to the 4G wireless mobile communication system.
Transcriptome Changes for Arabidopsis in Response to Salt, Osmotic, and Cold Stress1,212

To identify genes of potential importance to cold, salt, and drought tolerance, global expression profiling was performed on Arabidopsis plants subjected to stress treatments of 4°C, 100 mm NaCl, or 200 mm mannitol, respectively. RNA samples were collected separately from leaves and roots after 3- and 27-h stress treatments. Profiling was conducted with a GeneChip microarray with probe sets for approximately 8,100 genes. Combined results from all three stresses identified 2,409 genes with a greater than 2-fold change over control. This suggests that about 30% of the transcriptome is sensitive to regulation by common stress conditions. The majority of changes were stimulus specific. At the 3-h time point, less than 5% (118 genes) of the changes were observed as shared by all three stress responses. By 27 h, the number of shared responses was reduced more than 10-fold (< 0.5%), consistent with a progression toward more stimulus-specific responses. Roots and leaves displayed very different changes. For example, less than 14% of the cold-specific changes were shared between root and leaves at both 3 and 27 h. The gene with the largest induction under all three stress treatments was At5g52310 (LTI/COR78), with induction levels in roots greater than 250-fold for cold, 40-fold for mannitol, and 57-fold for NaCl. A stress response was observed for 306 (68%) of the known circadian controlled genes, supporting the hypothesis that an important function of the circadian clock is to “anticipate” predictable stresses such as cold nights. Although these results identify hundreds of potentially important transcriptome changes, the biochemical functions of many stress-regulated genes remain unknown.
Foreign Pressure and the Politics of Autocratic Survival

1. Introduction 2. Autocratic Regimes and Their Collapse 3. Foreign Pressure and Autocratic Survival 4. Foreign Aid and Political Reform 5. Economic Sanctions and the Defeat of Dictators 6. Naming and Shaming Dictatorships 7. Do Human Rights Prosecutions Destabilize Dictatorships? 8. Military Intervention and Regime Change 9. Conclusion
On the Provision of Guided Tours in Multiple Foreign Languages to Tourists

We provide the first theoretical analysis of the working of an agency that provides guided tours in multiple foreign languages to tourists. We begin by delineating a simple model of the functioning of such an agency. Our model accounts for the fact that this agency is operating in an environment of uncertainty because the demand for guided tours in foreign languages is probabilistic. Next, we compute the probability that in the next day, the agency under study will receive a total of n∈N requests for guided tours. Finally, we ascertain the probability density function of the amount of time it takes to complete a requested guided tour in an arbitrary foreign language.
Cervical cancer stem‐like cells: systematic review and identification of reference genes for gene expression

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide. Among many factors, the presence of cancer stem cells, a subpopulation of cells inside the tumor, has been associated with a worse prognosis. Considering the importance of gene expression studies to understand the biology of cervical cancer stem cells (CCSC), this work identifies stable reference genes for cervical cancer cell lines SiHa, HeLa, and ME180 as well as their respective cancer stem‐like cells. A literature review was performed to identify validated reference genes currently used to normalize RT‐qPCR data in cervical cancer cell lines. Then, cell lines were cultured in regular monolayer or in a condition that favors tumor sphere formation. RT‐qPCR was performed using five reference genes: ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, HPRT1, and TBP. Stability was assessed to validate the selected genes as suitable reference genes. The evaluation validated B2M, GAPDH, HPRT1, and TBP in these experimental conditions. Among them, GAPDH and TBP presented the lowest variability according to the analysis by Normfinder, Bestkeeper, and ΔCq methods, being therefore the most adequate genes to normalize the combination of all samples. These results suggest that B2M, GAPDH, HPRT1, and TBP are suitable reference genes to normalize RT‐qPCR data of established cervical cancer cell lines SiHa, HeLa, and ME180 as well as their derived cancer stem‐like cells. Indeed, GAPDH and TBP seem to be the most convenient choices for studying gene expression in these cells in monolayers or spheres.
The Permanent Income Hypothesis and Consumption Durability: Analysis Based on Japanese Panel Data

The permanent income hypothesis is tested on a four-quarter panel of about two thousand Japanese households for ten commodity groups. Consumption is a distributed lag function of expenditures, and the utility function is additively separable in time. Durability is defined as the persistence of the distributed lag. The permanent income hypothesis implies that, for each commodity group, expected change in expenditures is correlated neither with past expenditure changes on other commodities nor with expected change indisposable income, if its own lags are controlled for. The main results are the following: (1) durability is substantial even for food and services, (2)the permanent income hypothesis applies to almost all (probably more than ninety percent) of the population, and (3) the habit persistence hypothesis is rejected in favor of the permanent income hypothesis.
Intralesional Curettage for Grades II and III Giant Cell Tumors of Bone

Grade III Campanacci lesions are traditionally treated with wide resections based on their postulated aggressiveness and potential for local recurrence and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in local recurrence rates of Grade II and III lesions treated with intralesional curettage, burring, phenol cauterization, and polymethylmethacrylate application. Sixty-three patients (26 Campanacci Grade II and 37 Grade III lesions) met the inclusion criteria. No pathologic fractures, including intraarticular fractures, were included in this study. Followup averaged 108 months (range, 25–259 months). The overall local recurrence rate was 6% (4 of 63 patients), with no observed difference between Grade II and III lesions. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score was 27.9/30 (93%). The mean range of motion of the adjacent joint was 97%. Patients with radiographic signs of osteoarthritis before treatment did not show substantial progression, and only one patient developed radiographic signs of degenerative arthritis postoperatively. Our distal metastatic rate was 3.2%. These data support the use of intralesional curettage and burring with adjuvant phenol and polymethylmethacrylate even in Grade III lesions, in the absence of pathologic fracture, regardless of the presence or extent of extraosseous extension. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level III-1 (retrospective cohort). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Happiness in ASEAN member states

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be following in the footsteps of China and India in order to become a major economic growth engine in Asia. However, despite its great economic success, there have been increasing inquiries into whether or not economic achievements can bring happiness to ASEAN people. This paper focuses on investigating the relationship between happiness and economic development in ten specific Asian cultures using panel data. One common feature which appears, from examining the fixed effect model, is that the unobservable heterogeneous variables are significant in all models. This implies that Asian cultural and social values play an important role in affecting the happiness of ASEAN member states. When considering relationships between happiness and economic variables, the empirical results are mixed. One possible explanation may be that some of the rich ASEAN member states have reached a level of affluence where money has little effect on enhancing happiness. The saying that 'money cannot buy happiness' is true for richer member states, but not for poor- or middle-income member states, where having insufficient money on which to subsist makes achieving happiness an issue.
Effect of stress on clinical reasoning during simulated ambulatory consultations

Background: The goal of this study was to examine the impact of subjective and physiological stress responses on medical students’ diagnostic reasoning and communication skills. Method: A prospective randomized quantitative study was undertaken, looking at ambulatory consultations in internal medicine. On the first day (baseline day), volunteer year 6 students (n = 41) participated in a simulated ambulatory consultation with standardized patients (SPs). On the second day (study day), one week later, they were randomly assigned to two groups: a low stress (n = 20) and a high stress (n = 21) simulated ambulatory consultation. Stress was measured using validated questionnaires and salivary cortisol. The SPs assessed the students’ reasoning and communication. The students completed assessments of their clinical reasoning after the consultations. Results: Although stress measures were all significantly higher in the high-stress condition (all p < 0.05), no differences were found in diagnostic accuracy and justification scores. However, correlational analyses revealed a negative correlation between multiple-stress measures and the students’ ability to generate arguments for differential diagnoses. Conclusion: Stress was associated with impairments in clinical reasoning, of a nature typically suggestive of premature closure.
High‐throughput assessment of antigen conformational stability by ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy and its application to excipient screening

In high‐throughput screening (HTS) assays, the use of ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy (UA) is commonly limited to concentration and turbidity measurements. Our aim was to evaluate microplate‐based UA and its second‐derivative [(2d)UA] for measuring the conformational stability of two recombinant antigenic proteins in the presence of 44 excipients. Protein conformational stability was assessed by (2d)UA upon titration with guanidine hydrochloride. (2d)UA was compared with tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy (TF) and differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF), both commonly used techniques for measuring protein conformational stability. The HTS data were corrected for plate, row and column effects by applying a median polish procedure. Irrespective of the unfolding method applied, similar stabilizing excipients were identified by all analytical methods for a given antigen. The native forms of both antigens were destabilized by arginine, hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, and sodium docusate, and were protected by polyols. The median polish correction improved the quality of the prediction models and the screening resolution. The higher sensitivities of TF and DSF compared with (2d)UA allowed the identification of a larger number of stabilizing excipients. However, similar screening resolutions (z'‐factor > 0.8) were observed for 2dUA, TF, and DSF in a HTS of excipients applied to one of the antigens. Therefore, (2d)UA deserves more attention in HTS studies focused on protein conformational stability. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:502–516. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new flux weakening control algorithm for interior permanent magnet synchronous motors

The operation range of interior permanent magnet synchronous (IPM) motors is mainly limited by the saturation of the inverter. In order to extend the operation range of IPM motors, a flux weakening control algorithm should be employed. The terminal voltage ratio is defined to determine the saturation of the inverter. The flux weakening operation region can be directly determined by monitoring the terminal voltage ratio. A new flux weakening control algorithm is now derived based on minimal terminal voltage ratio. This method can make the utmost use of the inverter capacity, and it can greatly extend the operation range of IPM motors. Simulation results by means of these methods are provided and compared with the conventional schemes.
Income, Schooling, and Ability: Evidence from a New Sample of Identical Twins

We develop a model of optimal schooling investments and estimate it using new data on approximately 700 identical twins. We estimate an average return to schooling of 9 percent for identical twins, but estimated returns appear to be slightly higher for less able individuals. Simple cross-section estimates are marginally upward biased. These empirical results imply that more able individuals attain more schooling because they face lower marginal costs of schooling, not because of higher marginal benefits.
Abnormal Accrual Estimates and Evidence of Mispricing

To estimate abnormal accruals, prior research employs a wide variety of models and estimation procedures. We evaluate the performance of three representative models – modified Jones model (MJ), MJ with operating cash flows (MJOCF), and MJ with return on assets (MJROA) – and two estimation procedures – industry-specific and firm-specific regressions. In evaluating the performance of various models, we use mispricing tests (i.e. relating current accruals to future returns) as our main test. We find that the best performing model is the firm-specific MJOCF model followed by the industry-specific MJROA model. However, when we use the recursive firm-specific procedure (i.e. based on current and previous years’ information only), we do not find the firm-specific MJOCF model outperforms the industry-specific MJROA model. We recommend that researchers use the industry-specific MJROA model to estimate abnormal accruals when investigating earnings management. For evaluating earnings quality that can include management estimation error, the firm-specific MJOCF remains clearly the best model from the perspective of abnormal accrual mispricing.
Simple ROI cone-beam computed tomography

In classical x-ray CT the diameter of the field of measurement (FOM) must not fall below the transversal diameter of the patient or specimen. Thereby, the ratio of the the diameter of the FOM and the number of transversal detector elements typically defines the spatial resolution. We aim to improve the spatial resolution within a region of interest (ROI) by a factor of 10 to 100 while maintaining artifact-free CT image reconstruction inside and outside the ROI. Two novel methods are proposed for artifact-free reconstruction of the truncated ROI scan (data weighting method and data filtering method) and compared with the gold standard (data completion method) for this problem. First, an overview scan with low spatial resolution and a large FOM that exceeds the object transversally is performed. Second, a high resolution scan is performed where the scanner's magnification is changed such that the FOM matches the ROI at the cost of laterally truncated projection data. The gold standard is forward projecting the low resolution scan on the rays missing in the high resolution scan. We propose the data filtering method, which uses the low resolution reconstruction and calculates a high frequency correction term from the high resolution scan, and the data weighting method, which reconstructs the truncated high resolution data and calculates a detruncation image from the low resolution data. The methods are compared using a simulation of the Forbild head phantom and a measurement of a spinal disk implant. The results of the data weighting method and the data completion method show the same image quality. The data filtering method yields inferior image quality because artifacts (partial volume effect, noise) of the overview scan propagate into the ROI reconstruction. Both new methods considerably outperform the data completion method regarding the computational load. The new ROI reconstruction methods are superior to the gold standard regarding the computational load. Comparing the image quality with the gold standard, the data filtering method is inferior and the data weighting method yields equal quality.
Characteristics of successful gazelles - problems in approaches and methods of analysing the data

This paper focuses on the problems of analysing growth and success of a firm. The data consists of 348 growing SMEs. 75 of them were growing rapidly and highly successful (HGS). The methods include discriminant, regression and logistic regression analysis. In regression models, growth and success seem to be inversely related. Regression analysis is not an appropriate way to analyse HGS firms. Logistic regression and discriminant analysis should consider a priori probabilities to produce reliable results. The use of different methods depends on the design of the study, the characteristics of the data and the validity of the research questions. A robust analysis presupposes refinement of the data, accurate model specification, and competent interpretation of the results. Future research should focus on periods longer than 3-5 years and take into account uncertainty and discontinuity of variables. A qualitative approach where behavioural and management issues will be included is needed.
Cultural diplomacy and the British Council: 1934 — 1939

In November, 1934, the British Council for Relations with Other Countries was founded on the initiative of the Foreign Office. The decision to establish a body specifically designed to conduct cultural propaganda overseas on behalf of the British Government was, perhaps, the most constructive peacetime response to the growing realization that more positive measures were required to counter the detrimental effects of aggressive foreign propaganda upon British interests and prestige. The British Council, which continued to operate under the auspices of the Foreign Office, offered a new and alternative approach to the traditional conduct of foreign affairs: the practice of cultural diplomacy. It was believed that cultural propaganda — broadly interpreted as the dissemination of British ideals and beliefs in a general rather than specifically political form – would not only serve to enhance British influence and prestige abroad, but would also effectively further the wider ideals of international peace and understanding.
Changes in seroepidemiological pattern of Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis A virus over the last 20 years in Japan

OBJECTIVE:The age groups most susceptible to infection and the mode of transmission of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are not yet clear. To contribute to a better understanding of this disease, this study was undertaken to evaluate changes in the seroepidemiological pattern of H. pylori in a group of Japanese people over the last 20 yr sampled in 1974, 1984, and 1994 in comparison with that of the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which was used as a marker of the fecal-oral route of transmission.METHODS:A total of 1015 serum samples were obtained from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo. All of these samples were from healthy persons aged 0–89 yr (442 male and 573 female; median age 35.6 yr), living in seven prefectures in the central part of Japan in 1974, 1984, and 1994. All serum samples were assayed for H. pylori IgG by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Further, anti-HAV antibodies were assayed by blocking ELISA in the same samples. We investigated the prevalence of H. pylori and HAV for all ages, and the positive rate of H. pylori for infants and children separately.RESULTS:The overall prevalence of H. pylori antibodies was 72.7% (CI 95%, 68.0–77.3) in 1974, 54.6% (CI 95%, 49.1–60.0) in 1984 and 39.3% (CI 95%, 34.1–44.4) in 1994. That of HAV was 57.7% (CI 95%, 52.5–62.8) in 1974, 41.7% (CI 95%, 36.3–47.0) in 1984, and 23.4% (CI 95%, 18.9–27.8) in 1994. The prevalence of both H. pylori and HAV was found to increase with age, whereas there have been clear cohort shifts in the seroepidemiological patterns of both infections over the last 20 yr in Japan. This study shows that there is a slight similarity in the concordance of positive and negative populations between H. pylori and HAV. However, it was very difficult to determine the concordance between H. pylori and HAV infection in this study.CONCLUSIONS:Our data strongly suggest that the highest infection rates for both H. pylori and HAV occur among infants and children in Japan. This study provides evidence that H. pylori and HAV may share a common mode of transmission but that changes in environmental conditions make this very difficult if not impossible to prove with seroepidemiological data.