Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CeilingTalk: Lightweight Indoor Broadcast Through LED-Camera Communication

Although Visible Light Communication (VLC) is gaining increasing attention in research, developing a practical VLC system to harness its immediate benefits using Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) devices is still an open issue. To this end, we develop and deploy CeilingTalk as a lightweight wireless broadcast system using COTS LED luminaries as transmitters and smartphone cameras as receivers so that it can be fully hosted in a smartphone and is feasible for all possible indoor environments. CeilingTalk innovates in both encoding and decoding to achieve an adequate throughput for realistic applications. On one hand, it employs Raptor coding to allow multiple LED luminaries to transmit collaboratively so as to benefit both throughput and reliability. On the other hand, it involves a lightweight decoding scheme to handle the asynchrony (both spatial and temporal) in transmissions. Moreover, we analyze the impact of various parameters on the performance of CeilingTalk, in order to derive a model for such VLC systems enabled by COTS devices and hence provide general guidance for future VLC deployments in larger scales. Finally, we conduct extensive field experiments to validate the effectiveness of our LED-camera VLC model, as well as to demonstrate the promising performance of CeilingTalk: up to 1.0 kb/s at a distance of 5 m.
Human immune response to meningococcal outer membrane protein epitopes after natural infection or vaccination

Antibody levels in 41 sets of human acute- and convalescent-phase meningococcal sera were compared with those in 23 sets of human prevaccination and 2-week postvaccination sera. We used a modification of a solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA) technique to test each of the human serum samples as inhibitors of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that bind (HIMSPRIA) to the outer membrane complex from a 2a:P1.2:P5.1 strain. We used three murine MAbs specific for the 2a, P1.2, and P5.1 epitopes on meningococcal class 1, 2, and 5 proteins, respectively, to detect antibodies with similar specificities in human sera. Each of 40 available matching strains from patients were also screened with the three MAbs in a nitrocellulose spot blot assay. A total of 37 (92%) were positive for the 2a epitope, 36 (90%) were positive for the P1.2 epitope, and 16 (40%) were positive for the P5.1 epitope. Of 38 available convalescent-phase sera, 27 (71%) matched with these strains and had detectable inhibiting antibody for each of the MAb-defined protein epitopes of the infecting strain. Three convalescent-phase sera had no HIMSPRIA activity for MAb-defined epitopes that were present on the infecting strain; others had activity for one or two of the epitopes. The results were similar for pre- and postvaccination sera. The average level of HIMSPRIA activity for the P1.2 epitope was greater than fivefold higher in postvaccination sera compared with that in convalescent-phase sera. Sera with distinct patterns of HIMSPRIA activity also were tested by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis and showed a correlation between the HIMSPRIA activity for particular epitopes and the level of antibody binding to the immunoblotted proteins possessing those epitopes. A comparison of the HIMSPRIA and the bactericidal activity of selected postvaccination sera indicated a possible correlation between HIMSPRIA and bactericidal activity, but it also suggested the presence of bactericidal antibodies with specificities other than those defined by the MAbs.
Federal contractors and sticky costs

Abstract : Federal contractors must deal with an exceptional amount of paperwork and bureaucracy relative to firms that deal only with the private sector. I investigate whether federal contractor's costs have different responses to revenue increases and decreases. I start by generating a set of federal focus firms that have a business unit name that incorporates the words federal, military, and defense. These firms have built their organizational structure around federal contracting. Because extra paperwork costs are likely to be part of the Selling, General, and Administrative (SGA) costs, I estimate a model of SGA sticky costs. I find that when revenues increase, federal focus firms have greater increases in SGA costs compared to controls. This increase is consistent with higher fulfillment costs for federal contracts. When revenues decrease, federal focus firms have a much lower decrease in SGA costs compared to controls. Federal focus firms have extremely sticky SGA costs. This stickiness is consistent with federal focus firms having higher fixed costs in their procurement systems.
Birth of lambs after in vitro maturation, fertilization, and coculture with oviductal cells

Control ovine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro were transferred to intermediate recipient ewes. After 5 days, 59% of eggs were recovered. Thirty‐one (38%) reached morula/blastocyst stage. Twenty‐one embryos at the morula or blastocyst stage were transferred to six recipient ewes, resulting in five pregnancies, of which four were maintained. Nine lambs were born (43%). In the experiment, 72 ooctyes matured and fertilized in vitro were cocultured for 5 days with sheep oviductal epithelial cells. Thirty‐one eggs (43%) developed to the noncompacted morula stage. Transfer of 26 embryos to 11 recipient ewes resulted in two pregnancies (18%). Two male lambs were born. The result indicates that the coculture of in vitro matured and fertilized ovine eggs with sheep oviductal epithelial cells throughout the preimplantation period is compatible with further development to term.
Folate and Clefts of the Lip and Palate—A U.K.-Based Case-Control Study: Part I: Dietary and Supplemental Folate

Objectives: We sought to determine the associations between nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL−P) and cleft palate only (CP) and maternal intake of dietary folate and supplemental folic acid, in an area where the prevalence at birth of neural tube defects has been high and flour is not fortified with folic acid. Methods: Interviews regarding periconceptional dietary intake and supplement use were completed with the mothers of 112 CL−P cases, 78 CP cases, and 248 unaffected infants. The data were analyzed by logistic regression methods. Results: There was no overall association between CL−P and CP and either energy-adjusted total folate intake or supplemental folic acid use, irrespective of dosage. Conclusion: Overall, higher intakes of total folate do not appear to prevent oral clefts in this population.
Accruals Anomaly in Agriculture Financial Economics

This study investigates the stock prices of the US agriculture industries with regard to anomalous abnormal returns. Do the Accrual Anomaly documented for the entire US stock market less the financial institutions persists in the US Agriculture Industries? Using the risk-free trading strategy of Sloan (1996), which takes a long position on firms with low accruals and a short position on firms with high accruals, we compare ten portfolios formed by sorting the firms on increasing magnitude of accruals for each main component of the US agriculture. We use the SIC and NAICS codes on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) classification of the six agricultural industries to merge the balance sheet and income statement data from Standard & Poor’s COMPUSTAT with the farms and farm related firms stock prices from the Center for research in Security Prices (CRSP). We find no convincing evidence of positive abnormal returns for the stocks of US farm and farm related firms, agricultural input firms, food supply chain firms and indirect agribusiness firms. This result suggests that more scrutiny of the stock prices for the US agriculture related firms with regards to the
Firm performance measurement in fast growth small-to-medium enterprises

Utilizing a case study methodology, this study investigates ways in which fast growth small-to-medium enterprises (FGSMEs) measure firm performance. This investigation revealed that FGSMEs seem to adopt a multi-level approach involving different sources and contexts to performance measurement. Apart from the application of standard financial performance measures such as profits and growth, FGSMEs also utilize measures of customer satisfaction, attainment of industry awards, receipt of client reports, website popularity, number and quality of successful innovations adopted, objective employee performance indices, and staff retention. Founders highlight the importance of providing employees with flexible environments and career opportunities as a way to reduce churn. These organizational characteristics signal non-financial benefits and incentives of working in these firms to potential employees and customers. These findings are in accord with extant literature and the balanced scorecard perspective, advocating associations between performance measurement systems and management strategies.
Functional Performance in Older Adults After a Combination Multicomponent Exercise Program and Bingo Game

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(1) : 38-48, 2015. Inexpensive exercise interventions are needed to attract and retain older adults to participate in sufficient amounts of exercise to improve functional performance (FP). This study examined the addition of a program enhancing game, bingo, to a multicomponent exercise program (BingocizeTM). Older adults (18 women, M age = 75.1 (8.63) years, participated 2 days per week (4560 minute sessions) for 10 weeks. Participants sat at tables with bingo cards, balance pads, and exercise bands. Exercises were alternated with rolls of bingo until a participant won the bingo game. Pre and post body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), and FP were measured. FP was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test battery. Using paired-sample t-tests, significant improvements were found in all FP measures, but not in BW or BMI (p ˂ .05). The low-cost, sustainability, and ease of implementation suggest BingocizeTM may be a novel and enjoyable alternative to traditional older adult group exercise interventions. Our results should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of a control group and small sample size. Future research could examine changes in activities of daily living, quality of life, and other measures of functional fitness in this and other populations.
Information Technology Customization: How is it Defined and How Are Customization Decisions Made?

This study proposes to examine the role of information technology customization in a logistics and supply chain context. As technology continues to be an enabler of collaborative logistics and supply chain relationships, supply chain partners become more dependent upon information technology and the information shared, creating inter-dependence and a shared destiny (Power, 2005). Understanding that many firms today likely develop and deploy disparate information systems, supporting many different business activities and processes (March , Hevner and Ram, 2000), information sharing among supply chain partners calls for some level of information technology customization due to the varying specializations or differences in capabilities across firm boundaries (Charlie and Rebentisch, 2003). But what exactly defines customization and how do firms determine the appropriate level of customization of their information technology resources is necessary to share appropriate information and integrate with their supply chain partners? A grounded-theory approach will be used.
Utility of Second-Generation Line Probe Assay (Hain MTBDRplus) Directly on 2-Month Sputum Specimens for Monitoring Tuberculosis Treatment Response

ABSTRACT The utility of a line probe assay (Genotype MTBDRplus) performed directly on 2-month sputa to monitor tuberculosis treatment response is unknown. We assessed if direct testing of 2-month sputa with MTBDRplus can predict 2-month culture conversion and long-term treatment outcome. Xpert MTB/RIF-confirmed rifampin-susceptible tuberculosis cases were recruited at tuberculosis diagnosis and followed up at 2 and 5 to 6 months. MTBDRplus was performed directly on 2-month sputa and on all positive cultured isolates at 2 and 5 to 6 months. We also investigated the association of a positive direct MTBDRplus at 2 months with subsequent unsuccessful tuberculosis treatment outcome (failure/death during treatment or subsequent disease recurrence). A total of 279 patients (62% of whom were HIV-1 coinfected) were recruited. Direct MTBDRplus at 2 months had a sensitivity of 78% (95% confidence interval [CI], 65 to 87) and specificity of 80% (95% CI, 74 to 84) to predict culture positivity at 2 months with a high negative predictive value of 93% (95% CI, 89 to 96). Inconclusive genotypic susceptibility results for both rifampin and isoniazid were seen in 26% of MTBDRplus tests performed directly on sputum. Compared to a reference of MTBDRplus performed on positive cultures, the false-positive resistance rate for direct testing of MTBDRplus on sputa was 4% for rifampin and 2% for isoniazid. While a positive 2-month smear was not significantly associated with an unsuccessful treatment outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.69; 95% CI, 0.88 to 8.21), a positive direct MTBDRplus at 2 months was associated with an unsuccessful outcome (aOR 2.87; 95% CI, 1.11 to 7.42). There is moderate utility of direct 2-month MTBDRplus to predict culture conversion at 2 months and also to predict an unfavorable outcome.
Economics of the Stakeholders' Firm

We model workers and shareholders contracting for joint production when investment in knowledge is non-verifiable and resulting transaction specific human capital, embedded in the workers, is non tradable. The model provides sufficient conditions for workers' becoming stakeholders of the firm and allows us to investigate the enlightened self-interest of shareholders to empower workers as a way to motivate investment. The model is extended to account for external product market competition that forces to share wealth with customers, and to consider the welfare loss from risk sharing with risk averse workers. Problems of implementation of bilateral and trilateral governance mechanisms for the "new" firm, that substitute the hierarchical shareholders oriented mechanism of the old one, are highlighted.
Psychometric Properties of the Life Events Checklist

The Life Events Checklist (LEC), a measure of exposure to potentially traumatic events, was developed at the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) concurrently with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) to facilitate the diagnosis of PTSD. Although the CAPS is recognized as the gold standard in PTSD symptom assessment, the psychometric soundness of the LEC has never been formally evaluated. The studies reported here describe the performance of the LEC in two samples: college undergraduates and combat veterans. The LEC exhibited adequate temporal stability, good convergence with an established measure of trauma history—the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ)— and was comparable to the TLEQ in associations with variables known to be correlated with traumatic exposure in a sample of undergraduates. In a clinical sample of combat veterans, the LEC was significantly correlated, in the predicted directions, with measures of psychological distress and was strongly associated with PTSD symptoms.
Stat of art : Delay Tolerant Networks Routing Protocols In Heterogeneous Urban Environment

Protocols of collect and dissemination have been attracting great interest from research community. Our paper identifies the motivation and challenges for applying an opportunistic collect and dissemination of information in urban environment with this state of the art. Also, we consider that there is an important difference between the approach of collect / dissemination and routing of data, which we aim to highlight, subsequently, we study the scientific community classification and describe our classifications.
Multiuser Diversity in a MIMO System With Opportunistic Feedback

An opportunistic feedback protocol with multiple thresholds and multiple access probabilities is proposed for multiuser diversity in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) broadcast channels. Users compete to report the channel state information (CSI) via contention-based feedback channels if their scheduling metric exceeds a threshold. The users are divided into two classes according to their scheduling metric. For each class, the users have different random access probabilities and different chances to access feedback minislots. The performance of the proposed feedback protocol is evaluated in a MIMO system with zero-forcing (ZF) receivers in terms of the sum-rate capacity, the feedback load, and fairness. The simulation results show that the proposed feedback protocol significantly reduces the feedback load without sacrificing the sum-rate capacity too much. The proposed feedback protocol can be operated with existing scheduling algorithms without modification.
Stage Financing and the Role of Convertible Securities

Venture capital financing is characterized by extensive use of convertible securities and stage financing. In a model where a venture capitalist provides staged financing for a project, we illustrate an advantage of convertible debt (or warrants) over a mixture of debt and equity. Essentially, when the venture capitalist retains the option to abandon the project, the entrepreneur has an incentive to engage in window dressing and bias positively the short-term performance of the project, reducing the probability that it will be liquidated. An appropriately designed convertible security prevents such behaviour because window dressing also increases the probability that the venture capitalist will exercise the conversion option becoming the owner of a substantial fraction of the project's equity. Copyright 2003, Wiley-Blackwell.
Summary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) provides a comprehensive federal scheme for the regulation of employee pension and welfare benefit plans offered by employers. ERISA contains various provisions intended to protect the rights of plan participants and beneficiaries in employee benefit plans. These protections include requirements relating to reporting and disclosure, participation, vesting, and benefit accrual, as well as plan funding. ERISA also regulates the responsibilities of plan fiduciaries and other issues regarding plan administration. ERISA contains various standards that a plan must meet in order to receive favorable tax treatment, and also governs plan termination. This report provides background on the pension laws prior to ERISA, discusses various types of employee benefit plans governed by ERISA, provides an overview of ERISA’s requirements, and includes a glossary of commonly used terms.
Scalable application-aware resource management in software defined networking

SDN architecture based on separation of control and data plane in network devices enables realization of network programmability and application-aware networking. In this paper, we point out that the information of how applications are using network resources is ignored in modern SDN solution and should be recorded in application-aware SDN. We stress the importance of mapping applications to network resources and maintaining such mapping in the resource management of the SDN controller. The mechanism of mapping and the corresponding implementation are proposed. We setup a testbed to compare performance between scenarios with and without such mapping, which turns out that the mapping between network resources and applications can bring huge performance improvement.
A Comparison of Psychological Response, Body Image, Sexuality, and Quality of Life between Immediate and Delayed Autologous Tissue Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective Long-Term Outcome Study

Background: This is the first study to use generic distress, cancer-specific, and procedure-specific measures to prospectively evaluate psychological responses, body image, sexuality, and health-related quality of life in immediate compared with delayed breast reconstruction. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing autologous immediate and delayed breast reconstruction (June of 2009 to December of 2010) completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Body Image Scale, Sexuality Scale, and BREAST-Q preoperatively and postoperatively (6, 12, and 18 months). Linear mixed-effects analyses between each outcome and time point were performed. Results: One hundred six women underwent mastectomy with immediate (n = 30) and delayed breast reconstruction (n = 76). Before reconstruction, 26 percent of patients had abnormal anxiety scores and 9 percent had abnormal depression scores, with no significant differences between groups. Patients awaiting delayed breast reconstruction had significantly impaired prereconstruction body image (p = 0.01) and sexuality (p = 0.01) and worse satisfaction with breast (p < 0.01), psychological (p < 0.01), and sexual well-being (p < 0.01). At 18 months after immediate and delayed breast reconstruction, there was significant improvement in anxiety, depression, body image, sexuality, and health-related quality of life. Conclusions: This single-center study shows that mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction may protect breast cancer patients from a period of psychosocial distress, poor body image, and diminished sexual well-being compared with those waiting for delayed breast reconstruction. In patients who are oncologically eligible and strongly interested in breast reconstruction, efforts should be made to provide immediate breast reconstruction to decrease the interval of psychosocial distress, poor body image, and impaired sexuality.