Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MIMO SAR Chirp Modulation Diversity Waveform Design

Waveform diversity design is a vital issue in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems because the waveforms should have good orthogonality, high coherence, and large time-bandwidth product. However, most of the existing waveforms are not suitable for MIMO SAR and difficult to be implemented in a real-life scene. This letter investigates a scheme for designing chirp modulation diversity waveforms with large time-bandwidth product, constant modulus, implementation simplicity, good Doppler tolerance, and orthogonality. The four waveforms are orthogonal on both transmit and receive. The waveform performances are investigated through the correlation and ambiguity functions. Numerical results validate the superiorities of the designed four waveforms in MIMO SAR high-resolution imaging.
An Image Edge Detection Algorithm Based on Improved Wavelet Transform

In this paper, for wavelet modulus maxima edge detection affected by noise largely, we propose an improved image fusion algorithm. Firstly, wavelet denoising and smoothing filter are conducted on the original image. Secondly, making edge detection with wavelet transform modulus maxima edge detection and improved canny edge detection get each of edge detection images. Thirdly, let the wavelet fusion follow some certain fusion rules. Finally, making the inverse wavelet transform reconstruct the fused image. The experimental results show that the fused image combines the advantages of edge detection methods, which is an effective image edge detection method.
Gaze transfer in remote cooperation: Is it always helpful to see what your partner is attending to?

Establishing common ground in remote cooperation is challenging because nonverbal means of ambiguity resolution are limited. In such settings, information about a partner's gaze can support cooperative performance, but it is not yet clear whether and to what extent the abundance of information reflected in gaze comes at a cost. Specifically, in tasks that mainly rely on spatial referencing, gaze transfer might be distracting and leave the partner uncertain about the meaning of the gaze cursor. To examine this question, we let pairs of participants perform a joint puzzle task. One partner knew the solution and instructed the other partner's actions by (1) gaze, (2) speech, (3) gaze and speech, or (4) mouse and speech. Based on these instructions, the acting partner moved the pieces under conditions of high or low autonomy. Performance was better when using either gaze or mouse transfer compared to speech alone. However, in contrast to the mouse, gaze transfer induced uncertainty, evidenced in delayed responses to the cursor. Also, participants tried to resolve ambiguities by engaging in more verbal effort, formulating more explicit object descriptions and fewer deictic references. Thus, gaze transfer seems to increase uncertainty and ambiguity, thereby complicating grounding in this spatial referencing task. The results highlight the importance of closely examining task characteristics when considering gaze transfer as a means of support.
Early postnatal alcohol exposure acutely and permanently reduces the number of granule cells and mitral cells in the rat olfactory bulb: A stereological study

This study demonstrates that exposure to alcohol during a period of rapid brain growth can lead to severe and permanent deficits in the number of granule cells and mitral cells in the main olfactory bulb. Sprague‐Dawley rat pups were reared artificially and were administered alcohol over postnatal days (PD) 4 through 9, a period of brain development comparable to part of the human third trimester. The daily alcohol dose of 6.6 g/kg was concentrated into two of the twelve daily feedings, producing high peak blood alcohol concentrations followed by near total clearance. Pups were either sacrificed on PD10 or were allowed to grow to adulthood and sacrificed on PD115. The total number of granule cells and mitral cells in the main olfactory bulb were estimated with the aid of unbiased stereological principles and systematic sampling techniques. Exposure to alcohol resulted in significant reductions in the number of both granule cells and mitral cells on PD10. Significant deficits in both neuronal populations remained on PD115. The results support the hypothesis that alcohol exposure can kill developing neurons and lead to permanent neuronal deficits.
Diel and seasonal patterns of Nephrops norvegicus (Decapoda: Nephropidae) catchability in the western Mediterranean

Catchability patterns of western Mediterranean Nephrops norvegicus were studied in relation to depth and season by sampling animals during 4 continuous 24 h cycles of trawl hauls at 100 to 110 m and 400 to 430 m in October (near the autumn equinox) and June (near the summer solstice). Bottom light intensity was recorded between consecutive catches. Catch data were trans- formed into density estimates of animals emerging from their burrows. Results revealed a marked emergence rhythmicity: nocturnal with crepuscular peaks on the continental shelf, and diurnal on the continental slope. On the slope, peaks of catch occurred in phase with light intensity, whereas this did not happen on the shelf. In particular, both benthic environments presented diel fluctuations in light intensity that differed within several orders of magnitude. These data indicate a differential physio- logical adaptation of N. norvegicus eyes to local photic conditions, implying a revision of the optimum light intensity concept, already proposed in the literature. Emergence patterns were almost identical for males, females and berried females, and these were not size-dependent.
Consumer perceptions of cobrands : the role of brand positioning strategies

Cobrands (or brand alliances) are increasingly popular as a viable strategic option for commercial success. Yet the impact of perceptions towards the parent brands’ positioning strategies on consumer evaluation of the cobrands has not been investigated so far. Our study examines the role of positioning strategies in consumer evaluation of cobrands. Employing an experimental design, we create three cobranding scenarios in different product categories (tablets, cosmetics and smart phones). The data are collected via structured questionnaires resulting in 160 valid responses. In line with the conceptual model and research objectives, consumer evaluation of cobrands is tested in relationship to the prior positioning of the parent brands, product fit and brand fit. The results confirm brand positioning as a robust indicator of consumer evaluation of cobrands. Our finding suggests that post-positioning strategies of parent brands are influenced by positioning of the cobrand, which in turn is influenced by the positioning of the parent brands in the alliance. Parent brands were found to ‘adopt’ the positioning perception of its partner. The findings have managerial implications for designing appropriate positioning strategies for cobrands. The study identifies a number of further research areas. Keywords: brand positioning, brand alliances, quasi-experimental design, brand fit, product fit
The role of visualisation in the choice of stationary non-separable space–time covariance functions: an application to air pollution data

Modelling spatio-temporal dependencies resulting from dynamic processes that evolve in both space and time is essential in many scientific fields. Spatio-temporal Kriging is one of the space–time procedures, which has progressed the most over the last few years. Kriging predictions strongly depend on the covariance function associated with the stochastic process under study. Therefore, the choice of such a covariance function, which is usually based on empirical covariance, is a core aspect in the prediction procedure. As the empirical covariance is not necessarily a permissible covariance function, it is necessary to fit a valid covariance model. Due to the complexity of these valid models in the spatio-temporal case, visualising them is of great help, at least when selecting the set of candidate models to represent the spatio-temporal dependencies suggested by the empirical covariogram. We focus on the visualisation of the most interesting stationary non-separable covariance functions and how they change as their main parameters take different values. We wrote a specialised code for visualisation purposes. In order to illustrate the usefulness of visualisation when choosing the appropriate non-separable spatio-temporal covariance model, we focus on an important pollution problem, namely the levels of carbon monoxide, in the city of Madrid, Spain.
Epigenetic inheritance speeds up evolution of artificial organisms

DNA is not the sole medium by which parents transmit information to their offspring. Epigenetic inheritance, in particular , is based on the partial transmission of the cellular state of the parental cell to its descendants. Although the reality of epigenetic inheritance is now firmly established, whether it has an influence on the long term evolutionary process is still subject to debate. To address this question, we used RAevol, an in silico experimental evolution platform, and defined 4 scenarios with static or dynamic environments and with or without epigenetic inheritance. Simulations in dynamic environments show that protein inheritance indeed increases the rate of evolution on the long term. But they also show that it impedes evolution in its very first stages. This negative effect can be explained by instabilities generated by the interference between the two inheritance mediums. On the opposite, the long term gain can be explained by protein inheritance reducing the constraints on the genetic regulation network.
Traffic Safety: Regulation, Strict Liability and Pricing

people die on Belgian roads every year, about 4 persons each day. This tragic number is magnified when we consider the corresponding larger number of serious and light injuries. The real tragedy is that, to a large degree, these crashes and the resultant deaths and injuries are preventable. Moreover, the argument for traffic safety is not simply an emotional one: road crashes represent a serious economic burden, and are estimated to represent up to 4 per cent of GDP in some countries. Policy makers can reduce the accident cost by the use of different instruments. These instruments include regulation (e.g. speed limits, vehicle standards, etc.), enforcement of regulation, liability rules, physical measures (e.g. roundabouts, speed humps, etc.), economic instruments (pricing of transport, insurance pricing), education and sensitisation. In this paper we focus on two specific determinants of accidents: speed and the number of kilometres people drive. If there is no government intervention, people do not take into account the full cost of their driving and they will driver too fast and too much. The government can use three instruments to influence the behaviour of people: speed limits, strict liability and a kilometre tax. Shavell's model (1984a) provides a framework which considers regulation and liability as means to control accident risks. We apply this model to traffic safety and extend it by incorporating the activity level, a kilometre tax and imperfect compliance with the speed limits. We analyse the speed and the number of kilometres chosen by people under the different instruments and determine the optimal combinations. Given our assumptions we never reach the social optimum. To illustrate our results we discuss a numerical example.
Annual review 2015 : FIAS celebrating 30 years of partnership

In the early years, facility for investment climate advisory services (FIAS) was the only part of the Bank Group fully dedicated to investment climate reform. As FIAS-supported work drew from the resources and expertise of the World Bank and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), in addition to International Finance Corporation (IFC), the FIAS program became the only tripartite World Bank Group operational entity. The focus of FIAS-supported work shifted from diagnostics to the design of solutions and implementation of reforms. A key part of this success was the ability to leverage and collaborate with IFC field-based advisory services, World Bank lending programs, and MIGA technical assistance activities. FIAS-supported investment climate work has strong links to the efforts of developing countries to improve their ranking in the World Bank Group’s annual doing business reports. The FIAS story continues with the approach of the FY17-21 strategy cycle. Extensive planning undertaken by trade and competitiveness global practice (T and C) in FY15, in consultation with donors, has led to a robust proposal now going through final review and approval. The strategy envisions a broader FIAS mandate supported by one of the only two global practices that encompasses both World Bank and IFC elements.
Profiles of Targets and Acquirers: Empirical Evidence from European Banking System - Case of Cross-Border M&A Strategies by Line of Activities

During these last decades, the European banking system witnessed deep changes. They were manifest in operations of Merger and Acquisition (M&A). The available studies prove that the rate of failure of theses M&A is relatively high. The cross-border operations are more exposed at this risk. The reasons of failure are due to the cultural and contextual differences between the actors, making the process of integration particularly difficult. Thus, the success of M&A is tributary with the choice of the adequate targets. It constitutes the main challenge which the leaders must take up. The aim of this paper is thus to determine the factors which make possible to identify targets and buyers. Our contribution compared to former works is that we study M&A and the identification of targets and buyers by line of bank’s activities. On the basis of sample made up of 1054 European banks between 2000 and 2006, and M&A operation released between 2000 and 2006, we estimate a Logit Multinomial Model. Our main results show that that the probability of fusion increases with size. The rigidity of the regulatory environment promotes profile "buyer". Banks with this profile, approaching the model of universal banking, try to consolidate abroad their core business of intermediation.
A history of research on yeasts 12: medical yeasts part 1, Candida albicans

Introduction 385 First recognitions of Candida albicans by its pathogenic effects 386 Identification of Candida albicans 390 Identification before World War II 390 Identification after World War II 394 Commercially produced kits for identification 396 Ecology of Candida albicans 399 Cytology 399 Dimorphism 399 Chlamydospores 404 Genetics of Candida albicans: a brief note 405 Conclusion 407 Acknowledgements 408 References 408
The issues toward sustainability of water resource management and the current governance practice in managing water crisis in Malaysia

There is no one could ever deny the importance of water to the life of every human being. In reality, without water either human being or countries all over the world are impossible to survive. Nowadays, water issues have always been addressed on national and international agenda. The fact that water issues especially water crisis will bring major effect or disaster to humanity and country, it starts to trigger concerns of the various parties on how to conserving and managing water resource efficiently and sustainably. Previous studies (Gopalakrishnan, Biswas and Tortajada, 2004; Asian Development Bank, 2004 and Rijsberman, 2008) agree that improving water governance is a key to solve water crisis. In Malaysia, water crisis has become a sequence in this last 3 decades starting from 1980. In addition, since Malaysia reaches their independence right over last five decades, it has undergone rapid economy, social and environmental change, in which this process is still continuing and in fact, with the mission of Malaysia to achieve status of developed countries by the year of 2020, that rapid changes are even faster. If the issue of water crisis is persistent, in what extent can we assure Malaysia will achieve sustainability of water resource management? Does it mean the governance practice that has been guiding and governing water resource management over these independent years did not succeed and need an innovative improvement? Therefore, this paper analyses the current governance that has been practicing water resource management in Malaysia and the challenges in achieving the effectiveness and sustainability of water resource management. Besides, this paper also views how Malaysia will achieve sustainability in water resource management in the perspective of water crisis. Currently, in Malaysia it is found that the governance towards achieving sustainability of water resource management especially in water crisis perspectives is not yet successful implemented by looking deeply through water law, water institution and water policy. Therefore, this paper also suggests adopting water governance practice in water resource management as other ways in managing water crisis in Malaysia. Since governance is about the system which in place to make the action towards sustainability of water resource management become possible, therefore the goal to achieve it must as par as the goal of Malaysia who is striven to achieve developed countries status by 2020. Only then, the term ‘sustainability’ will be defined correctly and meaningful to humanity and countries.
An on-line and deadlock-free path-planning algorithm based on world topology

Proposes a new sensor-based path-planning algorithm running in an uncertain 2D world. In the algorithm, the automaton basically goes straight to the goal, and if it touches some uncertain obstacles, it traces the obstacle boundary until it can go straight to the goal again. Moreover if the automaton finds some loop in the world, it enters into the goal area. As a result, several loops encountered by the automaton become smaller monotonously in the world, and then the automaton arrives at the goal after it has escaped from the minimum loop. This result is ensured in an online manner. The algorithm has several good characteristics: (1) it omits some calculations of the distance from the present point, and therefore it is faster than all previous sensor-based algorithms; (2) it is more robust than the previous sensor-based algorithms for some self-dead-reckoning error; (3) it can generate shorter deadlock-free paths in almost all 2D worlds than the previous sensor-based algorithms.
Church Marketing: The Effect of Market Orientation on Perceived Benefits and Church Participation

This article examines the impact of market orientation on perceived benefits and church participation. Data was collected from a particular church denomination in Australia using a self-administered questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. Findings reveal that market orientation is positively associated with perceived benefits and has indirect effects on church participation. This study contributes to the body of literature in marketing through an examination of market orientation from the customer perspective, as well as to the research context through providing empirical evidence on the link between market orientation and church participation.
Target-Date Funds in 401(K) Retirement Plans

Individual responsibility for portfolio construction is a central theme for defined contribution pensions, yet the rise of target-date funds is shifting investment decisions from workers back to employers. A complex choice architecture including automatic enrollment, reenrollment, and fund mapping, is increasing the number of participants defaulting into employer-selected target-date funds. At the same time, portfolios of non-defaulted participants undergo sizeable changes, with equity share ratios widening by over 40 percent points between younger/older participants. Among active decision-makers, these funds act as a form of implicit employer-provided lifecycle investment advice. More broadly, our findings highlight malleable preferences among retirement investors and a demand for default-based guidance or simplified advice for households facing complex choices.
Measuring customer satisfaction through expectation and perception

A B ST R A C T Countries around the world have showed great efforts in promoting and improving the effectiveness of services given. Malaysia government required all public agencies in this country to strive to achieve ISO certification in order to developed high and consistent quality based on the principle of right the first time and all the time through documentation of policies and procedures. The issue on public service that does not meet the customer expectation has always been as an interesting topic and discussion. Until now, public sector is still trying to improve the facilities in order to meet customer satisfaction. To explore the differences between expected and perceived service quality towards publics Service delivery in Majlis Perbandaran Sungai Petani Kedah (MPSPK), a study was conducted on each individual that received service delivery in the public agency. The results of the study indicated that the overall service quality provided by the MPSPK was below customers’ expectations. Tangible was rated as the most important dimension followed by understanding customer, empathy, reliability and communication.
4-Cyanopyridinium hydrogen sulfate

All non-H atoms of the cation of the title salt, C6H5N2 +·HSO4 −, are essentially coplanar [r.m.s. deviation = 0.005 (1) Å] . In the crystal, N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and weak C—H⋯O and C—H⋯N interactions link the molecules into a two-dimensional network parallel to the (001) plane. Weak π–π stacking interactions between the pyridine rings of neighbouring molecules further stabilize the structure [centroid–centroid distance = 3.785 (1) Å].
Evolutionary changes to transthyretin: structure–function relationships

Transthyretin is one of the three major thyroid hormone‐binding proteins in plasma and/or cerebrospinal fluid of vertebrates. It transports retinol via binding to retinol‐binding protein, and exists mainly as a homotetrameric protein of ∼ 55 kDa in plasma. The first 3D structure of transthyretin was an X‐ray crystal structure from human transthyretin. Elucidation of the structure–function relationship of transthyretin has been of significant interest since its highly conserved structure was shown to be associated with several aspects of metabolism and with human diseases such as amyloidosis. Transthyretin null mice do not have an overt phenotype, probably because transthyretin is part of a network with other thyroid hormone distributor proteins. Systematic study of the evolutionary changes of transthyretin structure is an effective way to elucidate its function. This review summarizes current knowledge about the evolution of structural and functional characteristics of vertebrate transthyretins. The molecular mechanism of evolutionary change and the resultant effects on the function of transthyretin are discussed.