Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Industrial evolution and national institutional advantage A comparative analysis of the photovoltaic industry in Germany, China and South Korea

A number of alternative economic and economic geography theories have been developed to account for the divergence of national political economy and industrial dynamics. These include the varieties of capitalism, developmental state, neo-Schumpeterian innovation, and Gerschenkronian catching-up theories. In this thesis I shall argue that in these theories a core and often shared concept of "institutional advantage" plays a central role in explaining different economic performances across nations. This concept is elaborated as a means of examining the causal relationships between institutional advantages and four necessary functions (market creation, capital mobilisation, process innovation and cost reduction) in the development of the photovoltaic (PV) industry of Germany, China, and South Korea. The development of these industries is examined in detail on the basis of empirical evidence in the form of archival and interview based data. Two main conclusions are reached. Firstly, domestic market creation is not a generally necessary condition for the development of a local PV industry at a national level. China's PV industry grew fast without a sufficient domestic market unlike in Germany. However, domestic market creation is important, because the domestic PV industry, national support policy and the domestic market are interrelated. Secondly, capital mobilisation is a core function in establishing the PV industry. In the 2000s, Korea failed to establish its local PV industry despite an institutional advantage in creating domestic markets, mainly due to the fact that it had an institutional disadvantage in mobilising capital. However, Germany and China succeeded in mobilising capital in their PV sectors, governments playing a decisive role in facilitating the raising of funds in both cases. This research contributes to a better understanding of the nature of industrial dynamics in the context of institutional configurations of a national political economy, broadening the usage of "institutional advantage" by applying this concept to comparative analysis on the national PV trajectories. Moreover, from the perspective of the social system, four necessary functions for the PV industry have been proposed and investigated.
A robust classification procedure based on mixture classifiers and nonparametric weighted feature extraction

There are many factors to consider in carrying out a hyperspectral data classification. Perhaps chief among them are class training sample size, dimensionality, and distribution separability. The intent of this study is to design a classification procedure that is robust and maximally effective, but which provides the analyst with significant assists, thus simplifying the analyst's task. The result is a quadratic mixture classifier based on Mixed-LOOC2 regularized discriminant analysis and nonparametric weighted feature extraction. This procedure has the advantage of providing improved classification accuracy compared to typical previous methods but requires minimal need to consider the factors mentioned above. Experimental results demonstrating these properties are presented.
Evidence for an Antiapoptotic Role of Dopamine in Developing Retinal Tissue

Abstract : Inhibition of protein synthesis leads to apoptosis in the undifferentiated neuroblastic layer of the retina of newborn rats. We have shown previously that an increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP prevented apoptosis induced in the retinal neuroblastic layer by inhibition of protein synthesis. In this study, we tested the effects of dopamine on retinal apoptosis and related these effects to the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. Both dopamine (100 μM) and the D1‐like agonists SKF‐38393, 6‐chloro‐7,8‐dihydroxy‐1‐phenyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐3‐benzazepine (6‐Cl‐PB), and (±)‐2‐amino‐6,7‐dihydroxy‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronapthalene (100 μM) blocked apoptosis induced in the neuroblastic layer by the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin. The antiapoptotic effects of the D1‐like agonists were not reversed by the D1‐like antagonist SCH‐23390 (5‐100 μM). Both dopamine and D1‐like angonists induced a five‐to sevenfold increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP in the retina of newborn rats. The concentration of cyclic AMP induced by the D1‐like agonists in the presence of 100 μM SCH‐23390 was still at least two‐ to threefold as high as control values, showing that the activation of adenylyl cyclase by D1‐like agonists was reversed only partially by the specific antagonist. The isoquinolinesulfonamide H‐89 (20 μM), an inhibitor of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase, partially prevented the antiapoptotic effect of 6‐Cl‐PB. The data show that an early effect of dopamine in the developing retina is the control of programmed cell death. The antiapoptotic effect of dopamine is mediated, at least in part, through an atypical D1‐like receptor coupled to stimulation of adenylyl cyclase, followed by activation of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase.
Within-Bank Spillovers of Real Estate Shocks

By considering banks as portfolios of assets in different locations, we study the transmission of negative real estate shocks across bank’s business areas and geographical locations while controlling for local demand shocks and bank location–specific factors. Affected banks recognize capital losses and cut lending across the board indicating contagion across business lines and locations. They also roll over and fail to liquidate problematic loans, in addition to reducing their operational costs and depleting their liquidity. These results provide evidence of bank balance sheet transmission and amplification of real estate shocks.
The Effect of Temperature on Amdahl Law in 3D Multicore Era

This work studies the influence of temperature on performance and scalability of 3D Chip Multiprocessors (CMP) from Amdahl's law perspective. We find that 3D CMP may reach its thermal limit before reaching its maximum power. We show that a high level of parallelism may lead to high peak temperatures even in small scale 3D CMPs, thus limiting 3D CMP scalability and calling for different, in-memory computing architectures.
Optimizing Large Scale Problems With Metaheuristics in a Reduced Space Mapped by Autoencoders—Application to the Wind-Hydro Coordination

This paper explores a technique denoted LASCA to solve large scale optimization problems with metaheuristics by reducing the search space dimension with autoassociative neural networks. The technique applies autoencoders as a reversible mapping between the original problem space and a reduced space. A metaheuristic then evolves in the latter, having its objective function assessed in the original space. The technique is illustrated with an application of an Evolutionary Particle Swarm Optimization (EPSO) algorithm to four benchmarking unconstrained optimization functions and to a wind-hydro constrained coordination problem. The new technique allows an improvement in the quality of the solutions attained.
Contemporary pharmacotherapy for the prevention of skeletal complications in patients with prostate cancer

Introduction: Bones represent the most common metastatic sites in prostate cancer (PCa) patients, and in addition with androgen deprivation therapy, they represent the causative reasons of bone mineral density loss and the onset of skeletal-related events. Areas covered: An extensive search of PubMed/Medline was performed to identify randomized, Phase II/III controlled trials reporting results regarding the prevention of skeletal morbidity in patients with PCa. Expert opinion: Preventing bone health is an imperative issue for preserving quality of life and elongate survival and, thus, a concerted effort should be made to monitor skeletal changes and to apply treatment for preventing bone loss. Although several agents have received approval for routine use, it is of paramount importance to identify the appropriate patients who would mostly be benefited by the use of these agents with attention to documenting the toxicity and economic implications. Additionally, it remains to be justified the frequency of administration in order to balance the efficacy and the potential complications.
Improving Medical Education

Virtual simulation is an emerging field in medical education. Research suggests that simulation reduces complication rates and improves learning gains for medical residents. One benefit of simulators is their allowance for more realistic and dynamic patient anatomies. While potentially useful throughout medical education, few studies have explored the impact of dynamic haptic simulators on medical training. In light of this research void, this study was developed to examine how a Dynamic-Haptic Robotic Trainer (DHRT) impacts medical student self-efficacy and skill gains compared to traditional simulators developed to train students in Internal Jugular Central Venous Catheter (IJ CVC) placement. The study was conducted with 18 third year medical students with no prior CVC insertion experience who underwent a pre-test, simulator training (manikin, robotic, or mixed) and post-test. The results revealed the DHRT as a useful method for training CVC skills and supports further research on dynamic haptic trainers in medical education.
MONROE : Measuring Mobile Broadband Networks in Europe

There is a strong need for objective data about stability and performance of Mobile Broadband (MBB) networks, and for tools to rigorously and scientifically assess their performance. In particular, it is important to measure and understand the quality as experienced by the end user. Such information is very valuable for many parties including operators, regulators and policy makers, consumers and society at large, businesses whose services depend on MBB networks, researchers and innovators. In this paper, we introduce the MONROE measurement platform aimed to address this need. MONROE is an open, European-scale, and flexible platform with multi-homing capabilities to run experiments on operational 3G/4G Mobile Broadband networks. The MONROE platform enables accurate, realistic and meaningful monitoring and assessment of the performance of MBB networks. MONROE also provides WiFi connectivity mimicking multi-homing in smartphones with both MBB and WiFi interfaces, to allow experimenting on different access technologies as well as to explore new ways of combining them to increase performance and robustness.
A Domain-Independent Hybrid Approach for Automatic Taxonomy Induction

Semantic taxonomies are the flexible way to organize, navigate and retrieve information effectively. Natural Language Processing and Artificial Intelligence tasks are heavily relied on these taxonomies. This paper presents a taxonomy induction system that integrates two modules: word-embedding and string inclusion. We implement a simple, semi-supervised and domain independent system based on Taxonomy Extraction Evaluation (TExEval2) Task, SemEval 2016. The task is divided into two steps, first is to identify hyponym-hypernym relations and then to construct a taxonomy from a domain specific terms lists. The system is trained over large general corpus. The system learns vectors for phrases and utilizes word vectors with phrases such as "known as", etc. to generate possible hypernyms and construct taxonomy. Three different domains, i.e. environment, food and science are considered for taxonomy induction. The constructed taxonomies are evaluated against gold standard taxonomies. The proposed system achieved significant results for hyponym-hypernym identification and taxonomy induction.
Axial ratio correction for GNSS antennas in asymetrically coupled environments

The paper demonstrates a technique to correct the axial ratio of dual-fed circularly-polarized antennas in the presence of strong coupling with surrounding components or asymmetrically reduced ground plane. It demonstrated — based on a standard GPS L1 patch antenna — that for certain situations a phase shift of up to 135° may be beneficial compared to the routinely used 90°, allowing for AR improvement from 7.8 dB (for 90°) to 2.1 dB (135°).
Adenosine in rat cerebral cortex: its determination, normal values, and correlation to AMP and cyclic AMP during shortlasting ischemia.

It has recently been suggested that adenosine is a metabolic coupling factor responsible for an increased cerebral blood flow during hypoxia or increased functional activity. However, tissue adenosine concentrations have been reported to increase in situations previously shown to be unassociated with changes in tissue AMP concentrations. The present experiments were undertaken to assess cerebral cortex concentrations of adenosine under normal circumstances, and to relate changes in adenosine, AMP and cyclic AMP during shortlasting ischemia. Following freezing and extraction of tissue, adenosine was measured using high pressure liquid chromatography. In paralyzed and anaesthetized (70% N2O) rats, freezing of tissue through intact skull bone gave an adenosine concentration of 0.9 +/- 0.1 mumol-kg-1 (mean +/- S.E.M.). With freezing through the exposed dura the concentration was 3 times as high with a large scatter. When special precautions were taken to avoid tissue trauma during craniotomy, the adenosine concentration was 1.1 +/- 0.1 mumol-kg-1. It is concluded that previously reported values are erroneously high. During the first 60 s of total ischemia there was a linear correlation between increase in AMP and in adenosine concentration (as well as between adenosine and cyclic AMP concentrations). It is concluded that increases in tissue adenosine concentration only occur if AMP accumulates. However, since (relative) changes in adenosine concentrations are at least twice those of AMP, analyses of adenosine may provide sensitive measures of a change in phosphorylation state.
A Novel 700-V SOI LDMOS With Double-Sided Trench

A novel silicon-on-insulator (SOI) high-voltage device structure with double-sided trenches on the buried oxide layer (DT SOI) is proposed and its breakdown characteristics are investigated theoretically and experimentally in this letter. Theoretically, the charges implemented in the DTs, whose density changes with the drain voltage, increase the electric field in the buried layer and modulate the electric field in the drift region, which results in the enhancement of the breakdown voltage (BV). Experimentally, the BV of 730 V is obtained for the first time in SOI LDMOS with DT on 20-mum SOI layer and 1- mum buried oxide layer
Is this time different for Asia?: Evidence from stock Markets

The recent sub-prime financial crisis initially affected the Asian economy to a degree comparable to that of the downturn in the Asian financial crisis; however, the recovery in Asia took place at a much faster pace than during the Asian financial crisis. We investigate whether the effects of sub-prime financial crisis on 13 Asian economies are similar to those of the previous crisis, by examining stock markets for volatility spillovers and causality directions between the US and Asia as well as for the degree of regional integration. The empirical evidence indicates stark differences between these two crises. First, the decline in volatility spillovers during the period of financial turmoil was more pervasive for the Asian financial crisis. Second, the estimated point of transition in correlation is indicative of market participants’ awareness of the upcoming stock market crash in September 2008. Third, the causality from the epicenter of crises is intensified during crisis. Fourth, regional integration was strengthened after the financial turmoil of the recent sub-prime financial crisis but not after the Asian financial crisis.
Guanxi network and business performance of Sino-Thai SMEs

During the last few decades overseas Chinese business networks have been important for the local economies of many countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand. Although only 14 percent of the Thai population is Sino-Thai, they still make a significant contribution to the Thai economy. Sino-Thais are estimated to control over 80 percent of listed companies by market capitalisation (Mackie, 1994). One of the key factors behind the success of overseas Chinese in Thailand, and in other countries, is strong social relationships and strong business networks between them. A number of studies have attempted to explain how these social relationships and business networks contribute to Chinese business success. A clear picture of such a connection has, however, still not been achieved. Thus, the main object of this thesis is to examine how social relationships can be used to improve business performance, in particular for the case of Sino-Thai SMEs. To attain this objective, this thesis first reviews the literature relating to both guanxi and organisation networks. Evidence from the literature shows the importance and benefits that both guanxi and organisational networks can provide to its members. In addition, this thesis also reviews the literature relating to strength of ties, network embeddedness, business uncertainty and business performance. By reviewing the literature a theoretical framework, that links these factors together, can be established. From the framework a number of assumptions and hypotheses relating to relationships between the guanxi network, strength of ties, network embeddedness, business uncertainty, and business performance are identified. The Kruskal-Wallis Test, a multiple regression analysis, a multiple discriminant analysis, and factor analysis are all used to test these assumptions and hypotheses. Data from 298 Bangkok based Sino-Thai SMEs provide a number of interesting results. First, strength of ties in the network for the family relationship is stronger than the friend and stranger relationship, while the strength of ties in the network for the friend relationship is stronger than the stranger relationship. Second, strength of ties in the network has a positive impact on the level of network embeddedness. Third, the level of network embeddedness for the family relationship is stronger than that for the friend and stranger relationship, while the level of network embeddedness for the friend relationship is stronger than the stranger relationship. Fourth, network embeddedness has a positive impact on Sino-Thai SMEs’
Churning seismic attributes with principal component analysis

Summary Seismic attributes are an invaluable aid in the interpretation of seismic data. Different attributes are derived for different purposes. For example there are discontinuity attributes for fault interpretation, impedance and AVO-derived attributes for lithology interpretation, spectral decomposition frequency volumes to quantify tuning effects and help identify hydrocarbons, and many others. Extracting all the potential information hidden in the seismic data using a single attribute almost never occurs. Therefore a combination of attributes or multiattribute analysis is carried out to gauge more information overall than what is possible with any one attribute . When attempting multiattribute analysis usually attributes of a similar kind are used, i.e. coherence and curvature attributes for fault interpretation, or impedance, lambda-rho, mu-rho, or other similar kind of attributes for lithology or fluid interpretation. However, in doing so we may be limiting ourselves to a subset of the information, say structural vs. stratigraphic. There are several ways of combining multiple attributes, with visualization in RGB and HLS color space coupled with transparency being one of the more powerful means. Unfortunately, such color display is limited to three and with transparency four attributes. One of the methods commonly used for this purpose is principal component analysis, which essentially ‘churns’ the different attributes and yields one or two volumes that represent the maximum variation in the input attributes. Such analysis reduces redundancy but projects the interpreter into mathematical vs. physical space, such that the resulting images can be difficult to understand. We present the results of our investigation into the combination of attributes that should be used for such an analysis.
Domestic Liquidity Costs and Cross-Listing in the US

Using intraday data from domestic markets for a sample of US-cross-listed firms, we document evidence that cross-listing leads to significant reductions in domestic liquidity costs and significant increases in local trading volume. The average effective spread goes down by 12 percent, the cost of adverse information reduces by 24%, and trading volume increases by 19 percent in the year after US cross-listing. Consistent with the bonding hypothesis, we find that these reductions in trading costs, and increases in trading volume, are significantly larger for firms from countries with weaker investor protection, poorer information quality, and less developed capital markets. Also consistent with the bonding hypothesis, we find that liquidity cost reductions, and trading volume increases, are larger for stocks that are cross-listed on the NYSE versus stocks crossed-listed on NASDAQ or OTC.
CoBRA: A cooperative coevolutionary algorithm for bi-level optimization

This article presents CoBRA, a new evolutionary algorithm, based on a coevolutionary scheme, to solve bi-level optimization problems. It handles population-based algorithms on each level, each one cooperating with the other to provide solutions for the overall problem. Moreover, in order to evaluate the relevance of CoBRA against more classical approaches, a new performance assessment methodology, based on rationality, is introduced. An experimental analysis is conducted on a bi-level distribution planning problem, where multiple manufacturing plants deliver items to depots, and where a distribution company controls several depots and distributes items from depots to retailers. The experimental results reveal significant enhancements, particularly over the lower level, with respect to a more classical approach based on a hierarchical scheme.
Risks associated with the non-medicinal use of cannabis.

BACKGROUND Cannabis is the most commonly consumed illicit drug around the world; in Germany, about 4.5% of all adults use it each year. Intense cannabis use is associated with health risks. Evidence-based treatments are available for health problems caused by cannabis use. METHODS Selective literature review based on a search of the PubMed database, with special emphasis on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, cohort studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case-control studies, and treatment guidelines. RESULTS The delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol content of cannabis products is rising around the world as a result of plant breeding, while cannabidiol, in contrast, is often no longer detectable. Various medical conditions can arise acutely after cannabis use, depending on the user's age, dose, frequency, mode and situation of use, and individual disposition; these include panic attacks, psychotic symptoms, deficient attention, impaired concentration, motor incoordination, and nausea. In particular, intense use of high doses of cannabis over many years, and the initiation of cannabis use in adolescence, can be associated with substance dependence (DSM-5; ICD-10), specific withdrawal symptoms, cognitive impairment, affective disorders, psychosis, anxiety disorders, and physical disease outside the brain (mainly respiratory and cardiovascular conditions). At present, the most effective way to treat cannabis dependence involves a combination of motivational encouragement, cognitive behavioral therapy, and contingency management (level 1a evidence). For adolescents, family therapy is also recommended (level 1a evidence). No pharmacological treatments can be recommended to date, as evidence for their efficacy is lacking. CONCLUSION Further research is needed to elucidate the causal relationships between intense cannabis use and potential damage to physical and mental health. Health problems due to cannabis use can be effectively treated.