Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wideband direction-of-arrival estimation using fast chirplet-based adaptive signal decomposition algorithm

The direction-of-arrival (DOA) is one of important parameters, in addition to time-of-arrival (TOA) and attenuation, to describe most radio propagation channel models. Time-frequency analysis is a powerful technique to deal with time-variant or non-stationary signals. Although M.G. Amin (see Gersham, A.B. and Amin, M.G., IEEE Sig. Proc. Letters, vol.7, no.6, p.152-5, 2000; Belouchrani, A. and Amin, M.G., IEEE Sig. Proc. Letters, vol.6, no.5, p.109-10, 1999) and L. Jin et al. (see IEEE Int. Symp. on Circuits and Systems, p.375-8, 2000) combined it with a coherent signal subspace (CSS) approach, it is not easy to extend from the narrowband to the wideband case. We first overview the fast chirplet-based signal decomposition algorithm, then build the general time-frequency covariance matrix to overlap the narrowband and wideband of CSS. After discussing the difference between the two cases, we propose a wideband DOA estimation algorithm with fast chirplet-based adaptive signal decomposition. The algorithm has no restriction to the array manifold. We give the comparison of our proposed algorithm with the optimal solution of maximum likelihood (ML). We can see that the proposed algorithm has very low complexity. Its robust performance is demonstrated with numerical simulations.
Transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus to Preterm Infants Through Breast Milk

Abstract Objective: To determine a potential source of MRSA colonization and infection among preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using molecular analysis of breast milk samples. Design: Case report, outbreak investigation. Results: Preterm triplets were delivered at 26 weeks' gestation via cesarean section when routine active surveillance for MRSA was performed for all infants in a NICU. Surveillance consisted of swabbing the throat, nose, and umbilicus (TNU) weekly. Although infants A and B initially had negative TNU swabs, repeat cultures were positive for MRSA on day of life (DOL) 10 and DOL 18, respectively. Surveillance and clinical cultures for infant C were negative. Infant A developed sepsis, and multiple blood cultures were positive for MRSA beginning on DOL 14. Infant B developed conjunctivitis and a conjunctival exudate culture was positive for MRSA on DOL 70. Both infants were fed breast milk via nasogastric tube. Cultures of breast milk samples for infants A and B dated prior to either infant's first positive surveillance culture were positive for MRSA. All MRSA isolates had identical results on antibiotic susceptibility testing. PFGE demonstrated identical banding patterns for the MRSA isolates from the blood culture of infant A, breast milk for infants A and B, and a surveillance swab from infant B. At no time did the mother develop evidence of mastitis or other local breast infection. Conclusions: MRSA can be passed from mother to preterm infant through contaminated breast milk, even in the absence of maternal infection. Colonization and clinical disease can result.
The mechanism of interactions between tea polyphenols and porcine pancreatic alpha‐amylase: Analysis by inhibition kinetics, fluorescence quenching, differential scanning calorimetry and isothermal titration calorimetry

Scope This study aims to use a combination of biochemical and biophysical methods to derive greater mechanistic understanding of the interactions between tea polyphenols and porcine pancreatic α‐amylase (PPA). Methods and results The interaction mechanism was studied through fluorescence quenching (FQ), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and compared with inhibition kinetics. The results showed that a higher quenching effect of polyphenols corresponded to a stronger inhibitory activity against PPA. The red‐shift of maximum emission wavelength of PPA bound with some polyphenols indicated a potential structural unfolding of PPA. This was also suggested by the decreased thermostability of PPA with these polyphenols in DSC thermograms. Through thermodynamic binding analysis of ITC and inhibition kinetics, the equilibrium of competitive inhibition was shown to result from the binding of particularly galloylated polyphenols with specific sites on PPA. There were positive linear correlations between the reciprocal of competitive inhibition constant (1/K ic), quenching constant (K FQ) and binding constant (K itc). Conclusion The combination of inhibition kinetics, FQ, DSC and ITC can reasonably characterize the interactions between tea polyphenols and PPA. The galloyl moiety is an important group in catechins and theaflavins in terms of binding with and inhibiting the activity of PPA.
COINTEGRATION AND CHANGES IN REGIME: THE JAPANESE CONSUMPTION FUNCTION

In this paper we examine a model of cointegration where long-run parameters are subject to switching between several different cointegrating regimes. These shifts are allowed to be governed by the outcome of an unobserved Markov chain with unknown transition probabilities. We illustrate this approach using Japanese data on consumption and disposable income, and find that the data favor a Markov-switching long-run relationship over a standard temporally stable formulation.
Amazonian functional diversity from forest canopy chemical assembly

Significance Canopy trees are keystone organisms that create habitat for an enormous array of flora and fauna and dominate carbon storage in tropical forests. Determining the functional diversity of tree canopies is, therefore, critical to understanding how tropical forests are assembled and predicting ecosystem responses to environmental change. Across the megadiverse Andes-to-Amazon corridor of Peru, we discovered a large-scale nested pattern of canopy chemical assembly among thousands of trees. This nested geographic and phylogenetic pattern within and among forest communities provides a different perspective on current and future alterations to the functioning of western Amazonian forests resulting from land use and climate change. Patterns of tropical forest functional diversity express processes of ecological assembly at multiple geographic scales and aid in predicting ecological responses to environmental change. Tree canopy chemistry underpins forest functional diversity, but the interactive role of phylogeny and environment in determining the chemical traits of tropical trees is poorly known. Collecting and analyzing foliage in 2,420 canopy tree species across 19 forests in the western Amazon, we discovered (i) systematic, community-scale shifts in average canopy chemical traits along gradients of elevation and soil fertility; (ii) strong phylogenetic partitioning of structural and defense chemicals within communities independent of variation in environmental conditions; and (iii) strong environmental control on foliar phosphorus and calcium, the two rock-derived elements limiting CO2 uptake in tropical forests. These findings indicate that the chemical diversity of western Amazonian forests occurs in a regionally nested mosaic driven by long-term chemical trait adjustment of communities to large-scale environmental filters, particularly soils and climate, and is supported by phylogenetic divergence of traits essential to foliar survival under varying environmental conditions. Geographically nested patterns of forest canopy chemical traits will play a role in determining the response and functional rearrangement of western Amazonian ecosystems to changing land use and climate.
The Moderating Influence of Psychographics in Homestay Tourism in Malaysia

ABSTRACT Like other special interest tourism products, homestay as a community-based tourism product has shown substantial growth in terms of number of visits in recent years. Nevertheless, compared to other special interest tourism products, visitor behavior in homestay tourism has been neglected by the literature. This study fills this void by investigating the relationships between perceived value, satisfaction, and behavioral intention, and by examining the moderating influence of psychographics in a homestay tourism context. Respondents were visitors who visited selected homestay villages in Malaysia. Multi-group structural equation analysis was used to test for group differences in the structural weights.
Quantifying the efficiency of the Xetra LOB market: Detailed recipe

Motivated by the prominent role of electronic limit order book (LOB) markets in today’s stock market environment, this paper provides the basis for understanding, reconstructing and adopting Hollifield, Miller, Sandas, and Slive’s (2006) (henceforth HMSS) methodology for estimating the gains from trade to the Xetra LOB market at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) in order to evaluate its performance in this respect. Therefore this paper looks deeply into HMSS’s base model and provides a structured recipe for the planned implementation with Xetra LOB data. The contribution of this paper lies in the modification of HMSS’s methodology with respect to the particularities of the Xetra trading system that are not yet considered in HMSS’s base model. The necessary modifications, as expressed in terms of empirical caveats, are substantial to derive unbiased market efficiency measures for Xetra in the end.
Climate Change and Hazardscape of Sri Lanka

In recent years ‘vulnerability assessment’ has gained a prominent position in the international climate-change policy arena. There are many social-scientific studies that examine various methods and approaches involved in assessing vulnerability. Rather than making another addition to this literature I examine how climate-change policies have been translated in Sri Lanka in order to identify vulnerable places and social groups by combining actor-network theory and the concept of ‘hazardscape’. In so doing I illustrate how concepts of climate-change vulnerability and hazards are, more often than not, translated in ways that fit within and reinforce existing official narratives of social and spatial disadvantage, rather than addressing new problems or dimensions that might emerge from the combined effects of changes in climate, economy, and society. I conclude by suggesting that the concept of ‘resilience’ needs to be highlighted within international climate-change policy because it offers smaller developing countries the possibility of going beyond mitigation and adaptation strategies and finding innovative ways of integrating traditional resource-use insights and approaches within Clean Development Mechanism projects.
The IS6110 Repetitive DNA Element of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Is Not Detected in Exhaled Breath Condensate of Patients with Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background: A large tertiary referral hospital in inner-city Chicago. Objectives: To determine whether the IS6110 repetitive DNA element of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is detected in exhaled breath condensate of patients with newly diagnosed active pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: Ten hospitalized patients with positive Ziehl-Neelson-stained sputum smears were studied. Concurrent sputum cultures for mycobacteria were performed as well. Exhaled breath condensate was collected from each patient within 6 days of initiating antituberculosis chemotherapy (median 1.5 days). These samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers designed to amplify the IS6110 DNA fragment of M. tuberculosis. Exogenous M. tuberculosis DNA was added to exhaled breath condensate samples to detect PCR inhibitors. Concurrent cultures of exhaled breath condensate for mycobacteria were performed. Results:M. tuberculosis was identified in 9 of 10 sputum cultures. One isolate was identified as Mycobacterium kansasii. The IS6110 repetitive DNA element of M. tuberculosis was not detected in any of the 10 exhaled breath condensate samples. Exogenous M. tuberculosis DNA added to these samples elicited the characteristic band pattern of M. tuberculosis on agarose gel electrophoresis. No PCR inhibitors were detected. Cultures of exhaled breath condensate showed no growth of mycobacteria. Conclusions: The IS6110 repetitive DNA element of M. tuberculosis is not detected in exhaled breath condensate of patients with newly diagnosed active pulmonary tuberculosis.
Comparing Individual Delay Discounting of Gains and Losses

Choices between immediate and delayed consequences have been studied using mathematical models. Several studies have investigated this delay discounting phenomenon using appetitive stimuli, but few have studied it with aversive stimuli, although the models that describe the appetitive scenario have been suggested to also describe the aversive scenario. The aim of this study was to compare the delay discounting of gains and losses. Participants included 36 volunteers (undergraduate students; age range: 18 –28 years) of both sexes. Informed consent was provided by participants. Data collection consisted of a series of hypothetical choices between immediate and delayed monetary amounts that would be earned (gain situation) and paid (loss situation): fixed delayed value of R$1,000 and variable immediate value that could range from R$1R$1,000. For each of 8 delays, an indifference point was calculated. The analysis of the mathematical models revealed that the models found in the literature failed to describe the data obtained for losses. An alternative model is proposed, in which the aversive value of the delay is modulated by 2 parameters that are added to a hyperbolic with exponent model. Such a model provides a better description of the present data.
A Shortcut Way of Pricing Default Risk Through Zero-Utility Principle

Pricing the default risk is a hot challenge for every risk manager. The problem is tackled in the framework of the zero-utility principle. According to Pratt (1964), an approximation of the risk premium should be proportional to the Arrow-Pratt absolute risk aversion coefficient and the variance. Is that still true as a default risk is concerned? The answer appears to be negative, because the variance does not look to be an appropriate tool for asymmetrical risk. On the other hand, fear of ruin coefficient and probability of default are proved to be well-tailored tools for a preliminary pricing. Bid and ask price approximations are both elicited and a necessary condition for risk exchange set out. Copyright The Journal of Risk and Insurance, 2006.
Constructing a Balance between Price and Non-Price Competition in British Multiple Food Retailing 1954-64

The objective of this article is to examine the transition from atomistic to oligopolistic competition within the British grocery food retailing market. The focus of the article is the period from the end of post-war rationing in 1954 to the passing of the Trading Stamps Act in 1964. It was during this decade that multiple retailers fundamentally altered the nature of competition within the industry. This article maintains that it was this decade that also defined the future pattern of development of firms within the grocery retailing market. However, as the article makes clear, multiple retailers were neither united in their approach, nor entirely voluntary participants in this transformation.
Regional Economic Integration in the Pacific: An Empirical Study

Abstract The Pacific Islands Forum, the regional organization comprising 14 Pacific Island countries (PICs), Australia and New Zealand is committed to strengthen regional cooperation and integration. This paper examines progress in real and financial integration in the region. Utilizing the methodology based on international parity conditions: purchasing power parity and uncovered interest parity, the study concludes that while PICs’ integration amongst themselves and with Australia and New Zealand, is relatively advanced with respect to goods and services, the financial market integration remains incomplete. The policy implication is impact of further liberalization is likely to be substantial on financial markets.
COPS Benchmark: interactive analysis of database search methods

SUMMARY The performance of sequence database search methods is usually judged by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The proper interpretation of the results obtained and a fair comparison across different methods critically depends on the properties of the data set used for such an analysis; in particular, each query must have the same number of true positives and true negatives. Here, we present a novel web service based on a dataset specifically designed for ROC analysis and the investigation of alignment quality. The data set is derived from a quantitative classification of protein structures (COPS), while analysis and results are presented through an intuitive web interface. The analysis provides details such as false positives per query, and visualization of the structural similarity between query and targets. Most importantly, results obtained for a specific alignment method are immediately related to those obtained for several popular standard sequence alignment methods.
Increased NCAM Expression and Vascular Development in Trisomy 16 Mouse Embryos: Relationship with Nuchal Translucency

Increased nuchal translucency in the human fetus is associated with chromosomal abnormalities, enlarged jugular lymphatic sacs, cardiac defects and changed flow through the ductus venosus. The developmental background of this nuchal edema in relation to the associated anomalies remains elusive. We studied the morphologic correlation between neurogenesis and vasculogenesis in neck, heart, and ductus venosus region of wild type and trisomy 16 mice embryos (E10- E18), using an antibody against Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM). Trisomy 16 mice are a model for the above described human phenotype. From E12 trisomy 16 mice showed an altered arrangement of cranial nerves IX, X and XI, which are positioned between the carotid artery, jugular vein and enlarged lymphatic sac. The vagal nerve was significantly smaller, compared with wild type embryos. NCAM was over expressed in both neuronal and cardiovascular structures in trisomy 16 mice, being particularly prominent in the 4th and 6th pharyngeal arch arteries, and the ductus venosus. In the 4th and 6th pharyngeal arch arteries, NCAM over expression was located to the part of the vessel wall that is closely related to the vagal and recurrent nerve. In case of 4th pharyngeal arch artery abnormalities NCAM expression, on the other hand, was reduced. In conclusion, the interaction between neurogenesis and vasculogenesis is disturbed in the trisomy 16 mouse model, and might be a common denominator in the spectrum of anomalies associated with increased nuchal translucency.
A Longer Tail?: Estimating The Shape of Amazon's Sales Distribution Curve in 2008

The term “The Long Tail” was coined by Wired’s Chris Anderson (Anderson 2004) to describe a phenomenon where niche products account for a much larger proportion of sales in Internet markets than they do in brick-and-mortar markets. This phenomenon has captured much attention and debate in the popular press (e.g., Gomez 2006, Orlowski 2008) and in the information systems, marketing, and operations management literatures. In an earlier study of the Internet’s Long Tail phenomenon, Brynjolfsson, Hu, and Smith (2003) found that a log-linear relationship (a power law) can be used to describe the relationship between Amazon sales and Amazon sales rank. Assuming such a log-linear relationship holds for all the books sold by Amazon, we estimated that niche books that are not typically stocked in brick-and-mortar bookstores accounted for 39% of Amazon’s total sales in 2000, and that the sales of these niche titles enhanced consumer surplus by $731 million to $1.03 billion in 2000.
Privacy and Biometric Passports

This work deals with privacy implications and threats that can emerge with the large-scale use of electronic biometric documents, such the recently introduced electronic passport (e-Passport). A brief introduction to privacy and personal data protection is followed by a presentation of the technical characteristics of the e-Passport. The description includes the digital data structure, and the communication and reading mechanisms of the e-Passport, indicating the possible points and methods of attack.
The consequences of concluding codecision early: trilogues and intra-institutional bargaining success

One of the most important changes in the history of codecision has been the steep increase in early agreements since 1999. Early agreements have enhanced the efficiency of European Union legislation, but they have been criticized for giving a subset of actors disproportionate control over the legislative agenda and negotiation process. Yet, no study has systematically shown whether and how early agreements have indeed redistributed influence between actors within the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. Our contribution fills this gap by comparing actors’ bargaining success across readings under codecision in a dataset of salient files. Contrary to our theoretical predictions, we do not find evidence of distributional consequences when controlling for inter-institutional conflict and file characteristics. Where codecision is concluded early, the final legislative outcomes are not located closer to the policy positions held by the party group of the Parliament's rapporteur or by the Council Presidency.
How players manage moral concerns to make video game violence enjoyable

Abstract Research on video game violence has focused on the impact of aggression, but has so far neglected the processes and mechanisms underlying the enjoyment of video game violence. The present contribution examines a specific process in this context, namely players' strategies to cope with moral concern that would (in real-life settings) arise from violent actions. Based on Bandura's (2002) theory of moral disengagement, we argue that in order to maintain their enjoyment of game violence, players find effective strategies to avoid or cope with the moral conflict related to their violent behaviors in the game world (‘moral management’). Exploratory interviews with ten players of violent video games revealed some relevance of moral reasoning to their game enjoyment, and several strategies that help players to ‘manage’ moral concern. Most importantly, respondents referred to the game-reality distinction and their focus on winning the game when explaining how violent action is a by-product of good performance. Findings are discussed in light of further theorizing on ‘moral management’ and potential links to the media violence debate.