Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, Creativity and Innovation

Creativity and innovation concern the process of creating and applying new knowledge. As such, they are at the very heart of Knowledge Management. This paper first creates a framework in which to discuss these issues. It goes on to explore how our creativity is “blocked” in a variety of ways, including deep‐seated beliefs about the world. Finally, this paper takes a brief look at two tools to support Knowledge Management and creativity: dialogue and groupware.
Clustered Multiuser Detection for the Uplink of 5G Systems

BS (Base Station) cooperation architectures, combined with block transmission techniques, such as SC-FDE (Single-Carrier with Frequency-Domain Equalization) for the uplink and OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) for the downlink, are proven to be suitable for broadband wireless transmission systems. In BS cooperation schemes, MTs (Mobile Terminals) in adjacent share the same physical channel, in which the different signals are sent to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) where iterative frequency-domain receivers based on the IB-DFE (Iterative Block Decision Feedback Equalization) concept perform the combination and separation of the different transmission sources. This paper presents an extension of the BS cooperation system considering a C-RAN (Centralized-Radio Access Network) approach, allowing a large scale clustering centralized deployment.
Evaluation of methods for measurement of regional skin temperature and heat flow in neonates

A reliable method for measurement of regional heat loss is a prerequisite for studies of heat loss in the neonate with different clothing and under varying environmental conditions. In the present study we evaluated methods for measuring regional skin temperature and regional dry heat loss in neonates, and specifically the influence of contact sensors applied to the skin surface. A modified incubator with controlled climate conditions was used as the climate chamber. The operative temperature was measured continuously with a black globe thermometer. Skin temperature was recorded with small‐mass contact sensors and their influence on skin temperature was verified by simultaneous measurement with an infrared camera. The correlation was 0.99 and 1 SD within 0.3 oC from the line of identity. The influence of the regional heat flow meter on skin temperature was also checked with an infrared camera and was found to be neglible.
Genotoxicity of retroviral hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy

Introduction: Retroviral vectors have been developed for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy and have successfully cured X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1), adenosine deaminase deficiency (ADA-SCID), adrenoleukodystrophy, and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. However, in HSC gene therapy clinical trials, genotoxicity mediated by integrated vector proviruses has led to clonal expansion, and in some cases frank leukemia. Numerous studies have been performed to understand the molecular basis of vector-mediated genotoxicity with the aim of developing safer vectors and safer gene therapy protocols. These genotoxicity studies are critical to advancing HSC gene therapy. Areas covered: This review provides an introduction to the mechanisms of retroviral vector genotoxicity. It also covers advances over the last 20 years in designing safer gene therapy vectors, and in integration site analysis in clinical trials and large animal models. Mechanisms of retroviral-mediated genotoxicity, and the risk factors that contribute to clonal expansion and leukemia in HSC gene therapy are introduced. Expert opinion: Continued research on virus–host interactions and next-generation vectors should further improve the safety of future HSC gene therapy vectors and protocols.
Employees High in Personal Intelligence Differ From Their Colleagues in Workplace Perceptions and Behavior

ABSTRACT Personal intelligence (PI) involves the ability to recognize, reason, and use information about personality to understand oneself and other people. Employees in two studies (Ns = 394, 482) completed the Test of Personal Intelligence (TOPI; e.g., Mayer, Panter, & Caruso, 2017a) and assessments of workplace perception and behavior. Higher PI was associated with higher perceived workplace support and lower counterproductive work behavior. These relationships continued to hold after controlling for other key variables. The results indicate the TOPI, although still in research trials, shows promise as a screening device for selecting employees and targeting individuals for training.
A Differential Chaotic Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation System Over Multipath Rayleigh Channels

In this paper, a novel differential chaotic bit-interleaved coded modulation (DC-BICM) system is proposed for band-limited transmission. This system combines protograph-based low density parity check codes with constellation-based <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-ary differential chaos shift keying (DCSK) modulation by one bitwise interleaving. Bit error rate simulation results show that the system has higher coding gain compared with the constellation-based <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-ary DCSK modulation system with the same spectral efficiency over multipath Rayleigh fading channels. At the same time, several simulations and P-EXIT analysis are used to analyze the performance of the proposed system. It is found that there is a lot of room for optimization of the system by comparing decoding thresholds and simulation results. Moreover, the system with only partial channel state information has better performance and lower complexity compared with the traditional bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) direct-sequence-spread-spectrum system. As a result, the DC-BICM system is a good candidate for band-limited transmission.
Co-DARFAD - the collaborative mechanical product design system

Based on a newly developed mechanical product design automation system DARFAD, the D&R (Decomposition & Reconstitution) model based collaborative design concept is proposed first, and the product development model and collaborative design process model are described. Then the framework of the DARFAD based collaborative design system, Co-DARFAD, is introduced which is characterized by truly "collaborative design" (not CSCW in design) and formal collaborative design process, lending itself to both loose-coupled and close-coupled collaborative design work in both synchronous and asynchronous modes on the Internet. Finally, the conceptual design for the mechanical product is shown as an application case.
Portfolio Distortions Among Institutional Investors - Evidence from China

The behavior of institutional investors often deviates from established personal or social norms; this deviation may reflect either an informational advantage or a psychological bias. In this paper, we investigate the reasons Chinese mutual funds hold lottery-type stocks, which are characterized by low average returns and high risk. We find that funds at the aggregate level do not exhibit a propensity to gamble, but when they do gamble, they earn abnormal returns on lottery-type investments. Gambling-related outperformance is greater among held firms with characteristics that enable fund managers to obtain more informational advantages. Our results suggest that portfolio distortion is driven by the ability of managers to capitalize private information rather than by behavioral bias.
Fertility Intentions and Preferences: E®ects of Structural and Financial Incentives and Constraints in Austria

Taking as a starting point the low period fertility rates in Austria, this paper addresses the question to which extent the low period fertility rates in Austria can be accounted for by effects of structural and financial measures. Using data from the Austrian Population Policy Acceptance Survey 2001 we analyse the effects of these two publicly controversial discussed incentives on the desired total number of children, on wanting no (more) children, and on fertility aspirations under the implementation of certain public policies. Based on zero-inflated Poisson models we ¯nd that only structural constraints have an effect on the desired number of children, while financial constraints have no effect. Logistic regression results suggest that neither structural nor ¯financial factors affect the desire for wanting (more) children. Concerning the fertility aspiration under the implementation of certain policy measures our results based on matching methods indicate that both structural and financial incentives would have an effect on thinking about having a(nother) child, on deciding to have a(nother) child, as well as on having the first/next child sooner. However, at parity zero financial incentives seemed to be more important, while at parity one especially structural incentives are the driven force of fertility aspirations.
Discovery of Newsworthy Events in Twitter

The new communication paradigm established by Social Media, along with its growing popularity in recent years contributed to attract an increasing interest by several research fields. One such research field is the field of event detection in Social Media. The purpose of this work is to implement a system to detect newsworthy events in Twitter. A similar system proposed in the literature is used as the base of this implementation. For this purpose, a segmentation algorithm implemented using a dynamic programming approach is proposed in order to split the tweets into segments. Wikipedia is then leveraged as an additional factor in order to rank these segments. The top k segments in this ranking are then grouped together according to their similarity using a variant of the Jarvis-Patrick clustering algorithm. The resulting candidate events are filtered using an SVM model trained on annotated data, in order to retain only those related to real-world newsworthy events. The implemented system was tested with three months of data, representing a total of 4,770,636 tweets created in Portugal and mostly written in the Portuguese language. The precision obtained by the system was 76.9 % with a recall of 41.6%.
Venture capital investments and patenting activity of high-tech start-ups: a micro-econometric firm-level analysis

The aim of this paper is to analyse empirically the impact of venture capital (VC) finance on the innovation output of new technology-based firms (NTBFs) as reflected by their patenting activity. In particular, we compare the patenting rates of VC-backed and non-VC-backed NTBFs. To investigate whether VC investments spur patenting activity, we consider a unique longitudinal dataset composed of 351 Italian NTBFs operating in high-tech manufacturing industries and software, 33 of which are VC-backed. We estimate different econometric models on panel data, controlling for factors that may affect a firm's patenting behaviour other than the presence of VC, like founders' human capital and use of other sources of financing. The results show that VC investments positively affect subsequent patenting activity and that before receiving VC, VC-backed firms do not exhibit a higher patenting propensity than other firms.
Minimizing the Acquisition Time for Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Acquisitions in the Liver and Pancreas

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the combination of b-values and signal averages for diffusion-weighted image acquisitions that render the minimum acquisition time necessary to obtain values of the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model parameters in vivo in the pancreas or liver with acceptable reproducibility. Materials and MethodsFor 16 volunteers, diffusion-weighted images, with 14 b-values and 9 acquisitions per b-value, were acquired in 2 scan sessions. The IVIM model was fitted to data from lesion-sized regions of interest (ROIs) (1.7 cm3) as well as organ-sized ROIs in the pancreas and liver. By deleting data during analyzes, the IVIM model parameters, D and f, could be determined as a function of the number of b-values as well as the number of measurements per b-value taken along. For the IVIM model parameters, we examined the behavior reproducibility, in the form of the within-subject coefficient of variation (CVw), as a function of the amount of data taken along in the fits. Finally, we determined the minimum acquisition time required as a function of CVw. ResultFor the lesion-sized ROI, the intersession CVws were 8%/46% and 13%/55% for D/f in the pancreas and liver, respectively, when all data were taken along. For 1.2 times larger CVws, acquisition in the pancreas could be done in 5:15 minutes using 9 acquisitions per b-value at b = 0, 30, 50, 65, 100, 375, and 500 mm−2s and for the liver in 2:15 using 9 acquisitions per b-value at b = 0, 40, and 500 mm−2s. ConclusionsAcquiring 7 b-values in the pancreas and 3 b-values in the liver only decreases the reproducibility by 20% compared with an acquisition with 14 b-values. The understanding of the behavior of reproducibility as a function of b-values and acquisitions per b-values scanned will help researchers select the shortest IVIM protocol.
Homemade Sector Hedge Funds: Can Investors Replicate the Returns Without Paying the Fees?

This article examines the monthly returns of sectorexchange-traded funds (ETFs) during the period of January1999 to December 2005 to determine whether employinga momentum/oscillating-based trading strategy (relativestrength index) could yield returns comparable to those ofsimilar hedge fund indices. The sectors used are energy,healthcare, financials, and technology. There is no statisticaldifference in mean returns for either of the four sectorETFs and the hedge fund indices. However, there is sub-stantial economic difference in the hedge fund index returnsand those of the ETFs using the relative strength index (RSI). Based on the RSI strategies, investors would not be able toreplicate hedge fund returns.
Signal Processing Interference excision in spread spectrum communications using adaptive biorthogonal local discrete cosine transform

A novel spread spectrum communication receiver employing adaptive biorthogonal local discrete cosine transform (BLDCT) is designed for stationary and nonstationary interference excision. The adaptive BLDCT-based excision algorithm uses a redundant library of biorthogonal local discrete cosine bases and an efficient concave cost function to match the transform basis to the interfering signal. The main advantage of the algorithm over conventional transform domain excision algorithms is that the basis functions are not fixed but can be adapted to the time-frequency structure of the interfering signal. It is well suited to transform domain compression and suppression of a variety of interference types. Compared with discrete wavelet transform (DWT) that provides logarithmic division of the frequency bands, the adaptive BLDCT can provide more flexible frequency resolution. Thus it is more insensitive to the jammer frequency. Simulation experiments demonstrate the improved bit error rate (BER) performance and the increased robustness of our receiver. Copyright © 2004 AEI.
Temporal Coordination Control Task Analysis for Analysing Human-System Integration

Evaluating whether prospective air defense systems will effectively integrate the activities of humans and computers is a pressing issue for developers and purchasers of such systems. We need effective ways of modeling human-system integration while such systems are under development and while the possibilities for action are underspecified. We present a Cognitive Work Analysis-based analytic framework under development for characterising air defense control tasks and also for characterising the larger framework in which such control tasks must be coordinated. The challenge is to produce a formative rather than descriptive or normative model, within which broad logical and temporal constraints can be represented, so revealing possibilities for action as events unfold.
Settling time-based design of a fully differential OTA for a SC integrator

This paper optimizes the design of an OTA for a Switched Capacitor (SC) Integrator in a discrete time Sigma-Delta Modulator based on the total settling time requirement and by application of the gm /Id method. One of the main constraints when implementing SC Sigma-Delta ADCs for high sampling rates is the requirement for the transition frequency and settling behavior of the operational transconductance amplifier. Extensive analysis has been carried out concerning the settling time, however an optimum regarding the distribution between the slew and linear periods is yet to be defined. The gm/ID method is used to sweep the design space of an OTA in order to find a minimum in power consumption thus an optimum slew/linear distribution. The method is validated through the design of three 2.5ns settling time OTAs for two design scenarios with different slew/linear distribution in a 130nm CMOS process. Results show that consumption savings of up to 60% are achieved when compared to the optimum design.
ICT4D research: a call for a strong critical approach

ABSTRACT ICT for development ( ICT4D) research seeks to examine the social and economic changes in developing countries brought about by the deployment and use of ICT. This intent of ICT4D research parallels that of the critical research paradigm in IS, since both focus on transformation and change. The overall goals of this paper are to( 1)understand the extent of critical research in ICT4Dand ( 2)propose an approach, the“strong critical” approach, to conduct critical research in ICT4D. The proposed approach is based on the writings of two social theorists, Arturo Escobar and Gayatri Spivak, and consists of four concepts– the nature of the post-colonial state, provenience or local history of the ICT phenomena, the influence of the Washington Consensusand the issues of representation and subjectivity of subaltern subjects. A review of ICT4D papers showed that only about 20% follow the critical research approach. In-depth reviews ofeight papers that follow the critical approach showed that the“strong critical” lens can enable a deeper and richer analysis. The main contribution of this paper is in addressing a gap in the ICT4D literature about theorizing in the context of developing countries. The paper also reveals, through in-depth reviews, the value of the strong critical approach.
Gene expression in derivatives of embryonic foregut during prenatal development of the rat.

Proteins characteristic for the adult cellular phenotype, i.e., carbamoylphosphate synthetase (CPS) for liver and small intestine, arginase for liver, glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) for pancreas, liver, and small intestine, and amylase for pancreas were studied immunohistochemically in rat embryos and fetuses. At distinct developmental stages, subsets of enzymes appear synchronously in the foregut derivatives, suggesting that gene expression in the different organs is regulated by common factors. In contrast to the long-held opinion that fetal hepatocytes are a homogeneous cell population, it is shown that arginase and CPS are heterogeneously distributed between ED 16 and ED 20. This heterogeneity is related to the vascular architecture of the liver and disappears perinatally as the result of strong stimulation of enzyme synthesis. In addition, an intercellular heterogeneity in CPS content that is not related to the vasculature is observed between ED 14 and ED 20. This "random" heterogeneity reflects temporal differences in the onset of CPS accumulation in individual cells.
American futures options arbitrage: evidence from the Nikkei 225 options market

Previous studies have examined the profitability of European index options arbitrage. This paper adds to the literature by investigating the arbitrage profitability of American index options—the Nikkei 225 index futures options traded on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX). Using the real-time bid–ask prices, we find evidence of profitable arbitrage opportunities, while the frequency of observations violating no-arbitrage bounds and the magnitude of arbitrage profits decrease with the level of transaction costs. Our results have implications for the analysis of American options market efficiency. Failure to use bid–ask prices may lead to biased conclusions.
Newly Proposed Sepsis-Induced Coagulopathy Precedes International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Overt-Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Predicts High Mortality

Background: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) has been recognized as an urgent and critical condition in patients with sepsis. Therefore, unfamiliar and time-consuming tests or a complex scoring system are not suitable for diagnosis. Sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC), a newly proposed category delineated by a few global coagulation tests, has been established as an early warning sign for DIC. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the characteristics of SIC, especially in relation to the score of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) for overt DIC. Method: A data set for 332 patients with sepsis who were suspected to have DIC, antithrombin activity <70%, and treated with antithrombin substitution was utilized to examine the relationship between SIC and overt DIC. The performance of SIC calculated at baseline (ie, before treatment) as well as on days 2, 4, or 7 was analyzed in terms of its ability to predict 28-day mortality and overt DIC. Results: At baseline, 149 (98.7%) of 151 patients with overt DIC according to the ISTH definition were diagnosed as having SIC. Of the 49, 46 (93.9%) patients who developed overt DIC between days 2 and 4 had received a prior diagnosis of SIC. The sensitivity of baseline SIC for the prediction of death was significantly higher than that of overt DIC (86.8% vs 64.5%, P < .001). The sensitivity of SIC on days 2, 4, and 7 was significantly higher than those of overt DIC (96.1%, 92.3%, and 84.4% vs 67.1%, 57.7%, and 50.0%, P < .001, .001, and .001, respectively), although the specificity of SIC was lower at all time points.
Psych-related iPhone apps

Abstract iPhone apps are a widely utilised technology that have recently been identified as a useful medium for health research, clinical interventions and education. While some researchers have discussed advances in app technology, others promote specific apps that are not free to access. To our knowledge, no study has conducted a review of current, free iPhone apps related to psychology, psychiatry and mental health. Therefore, we conducted a pilot, web-based review exploring free iPhone apps using a replicable search strategy within the iTunes Store search function. A selection of apps were selected and subjectively assessed in terms of their usability, utility, graphics, and associated costs for the consumer. We concluded that the apps reviewed, though novel, are limited in their scope and utility. We also note a significant gap in more scientific, evidence-based app technology, and pose some pertinent ethical questions when developing future psych-related apps.