Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surface wave and mutual coupling reduction between two element array MIMO antenna

In this paper, we introduce a two element array MIMO antenna with reduced coupling and surface wave effect. The coupling has been reduced by employing an electromagnetic bandgap structure between the two elements of the array antenna and a defected ground structure between the two antennas. The proposed MIMO antenna is characterized by very small antenna separation 0.06 λ. The coupling reduction principles for each antenna pair are explained. The MIMO array antenna performance was examined using electromagnetic full wave simulation. Results confirm that coupling coefficient has been reduced by 12 dB, to reach -30dB transmission coefficient with very close separation 3 mm spacing which is less than 0.06 λ.
Spectrum efficient coding scheme for correlated non-binary sources in wireless sensor networks

Energy-aware technique to reduce energy consumption in distributed sensor networks has become a prominent topic in sensor network research. Various sensor network applications have taken energy efficiency into consideration, in the case of correlated binary sources, distributed source coding has been literally studied in information theory. However, data sources from real sensor networks are normally non-binary. In this paper, we proposed a spectrum efficient coding scheme for correlated non-binary sources in sensor networks. Our approach constructs the codeword cosets for the interested source, taking advantage of statistical characters of the distinct observations from sensor nodes. The coset leaders are then transmitted via the channel and decoding is performed with the available side information. Simulations are carried out over independent and identically distributed (i.i.d) Gaussian sources and data collected from Xbow wireless sensor network test bed. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme performs at 0.5 - 1.5 dB from the Wyner-Ziv distortion bound
The cremasteric reflex and its muscle – a paragon of ongoing scientific discussion: A systematic review

The technique of triggering the cremasteric reflex and its respective signaling pathway is not described uniformly throughout the literature. As this reflex is a useful sign in diagnosing testicular torsion, orchitis, varicocele, and undescended testis, it seems desirable to identify and define the correct mechanism. Our aim was to investigate how the cremasteric reflex and its signaling pathway are described in the current literature and how the variability of the innervation of the inguinal region could affect the frequency of this reflex. Thirty‐five original articles and 18 current textbooks were included after searching PubMed (MEDLINE) and Scopus for the terms “cremaster muscle,” “cremasteric reflex,” and “genitofemoral nerve” and after applying all exclusion criteria. This systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA Statement Rules. Eliciting the cremasteric reflex was defined either as “rubbing of the upper inner thigh” or “rubbing of the skin under the inguinal ligament. ” Four different afferent pathways among studies and three different pathways among textbooks were described and the frequency of an intact reflex ranged between 42.7 and 92.5% in newborns and between 61.7 and 100% in boys between 24 months and 12 years. Owing to the huge differences among the studies investigated and the lack of convincing results, it is not possible to define the correct way to elicit the cremasteric reflex. Four hypotheses about the afferent pathway are proposed on the basis of the literature. Further studies should be performed, concentrating on the afferent pathway(s) with respect to the individual innervation of the inguinal region. Clin. Anat. 30:498–507, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
University entrepreneurship centres as service businesses

In recent years, many universities have created entrepreneurship centres which offer a set of services to students, educators and professionals in order to promote entrepreneurial attitudes. The first part of this work focuses on describing a university entrepreneurship programme as a service business. The second part summarises the results of the empirical study, based on the Student Evaluation of Educational Quality (SEEQ) questionnaire administered to 106 students at the Technical University of Catalonia in Spain who attended the entrepreneurship courses offered by the Innova Programme entrepreneurship centre.
Financing Constraint and Firm-Level Investment Following a Financial Crisis in Indonesia

This paper deals with the sensitivity relation between firm-level investment and its internal liquidity by splitting samples into two different groups of firms, which are tradable (T) and non-tradable (N) sector. The study includes 226 listed companies in Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) by at least five consecutive years in the period of 1994 – 2004. This paper finds that during boom period, N-sector is less financially constrained, but in burst period, N-sector has greater financial constraints. It leads us to the explanation that during boom period N-sector grows faster than T-sector, but when crisis hits T-sector recovers more easily. By employing panel data analysis, our findings support an argument that asymmetric financing opportunities among N and T-sector are common in developing countries. Accordingly, this paper provides important explanations on firm-level investment behavior around financial crisis, which could be pivotal considerations in monetary and other relevant policies
Economic Effects of Tightening Accounting Standards to Restrict Earnings Management

This paper examines the usual claim that tighter accounting standards reduce earnings management and provide more relevant information to the capital market. We distinguish between accounting and real earnings management and assume that a standard setter can only influence accounting earnings management by the tightness of standards. In a rational expectations equilibrium model, we find that earnings quality increases with tighter standards, but we identify several consequences that may outweigh this benefit. First, managers increase costly real earnings management because the higher earnings quality increases the marginal benefit of real earnings management. Second, tighter standards can increase rather than decrease expected accounting and total earnings management. Third, the expected total costs of earnings management can also increase. We provide conditions for the occurrence of each of these effects.
A Randomized Trial of Synthetic Patch versus Direct Primary Closure in Carotid Endarterectomy

OBJECTIVE:To define whether or not direct microscopic closure with or without the use of a vascular patch is advantageous in terms of clinical outcome and late vessel occlusion rates after microsurgical carotid endarterectomy. METHODS:Three hundred thirty-eight elective carotid endarterectomies in 315 patients were randomized to direct arteriotomy or closure with a polyester collagen-coated vascular patch. Ten procedures did not follow the randomization process because of technical difficulties and were excluded. Vessel patency (duplex ultrasound) and outcome were assessed during and immediately after surgery and at 4 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS:Four-month ultrasound assessment (n = 321) identified five occluded vessels: two in the patch group (n = 149) and three in the direct closure group (n = 172). Six patients in the patch group had died or were significantly disabled at 4 months, compared with five in the direct closure group. At the 12-month assessment (n = 313), eight vessels had occluded: five from the patched group (n = 146) and three from the direct closure group (n = 167). Eight patients in the patch group had died or were significantly disabled, compared with four in the direct closure group. No statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of vessel occlusion, morbidity, or mortality was seen (P > 0.1). CONCLUSION:No difference in vessel patency and clinical outcome has been identified after microscopic patch angioplasty and direct arteriotomy repair. The authors conclude that there is no benefit from the routine use of patch angioplasty in microscopic carotid endarterectomy.
Thermoelectric effect in Aharonov–Bohm structures

The thermoelectric effects of a single Aharonov–Bohm (SAB) ring and coupled double Aharonov–Bohm (DAB) rings have been investigated on a theoretical basis, taking into account the contributions of both electrons and phonons to the transport process by using the nonequilibrium Green's function technique. The thermoelectric figure of merit of the coupled DAB rings cannot be predicted directly by combining the values of two SAB ring systems due to the contribution of electron–phonon interaction to coupling between the two sites connecting the rings. We find that thermoelectric efficiency can be optimized by modulating the phases of the magnetic flux threading the two rings.
‘Let's Talk Cash’: Cantons' Interests and the Reform of Swiss Federalism

In 2004 the Swiss people accepted a new equalization scheme and a new distribution of competences between the federal state and the cantons. It was argued that the reform was successful because of the capacity of veto-players to overcome their interests and adopt a ‘problem-solving’ interaction mode. We propose a different interpretation and argue that distributive issues and the accommodation of actors' interests crucially mattered. We identify three mechanisms that contribute to a successful reform, i.e. package-deals, side-payments and the downsizing of the reform. Our in-depth, mainly qualitative study of both the content of the reform and related decision-making process supports the pertinence of these strategies for the explanation of the successful reform of Swiss federalism.
Audiometric Configurations in Children

Recent studies suggest that the amplification needs of children and adults differ due to differences in perceptual ability. For example, several studies have confirmed that children realize greater benefit from a more audible speech signal (Stelmachowicz, Hoover, Lewis, Kortekaas and Pittman 2000; Stelmachowicz, Pittman, Hoover, Lewis and Moeller 2004), a higher signal-to-noise ratio (Hall and Grose 1991; Veloso, Hall and Grose 1990), and an extended frequency response (Kortekaas and Stelmachowicz 2000; Stelmachowicz, Pittman, Hoover and Lewis 2001) compared to adults. In addition to these aspects, a comparison of the audiometric configurations of these two groups also may be appropriate. The hearing losses of children have been observed in clinical practice to be unlike those of adults in that they are not typically sloping in configuration. Because pure-tone thresholds are used to prescribe amplification characteristics (e.g., gain, output, compression), it seemed reasonable to compare the audiometric configurations of children and adults to determine whether or not differences that are fundamental to amplification exist. For that reason, Pittman and Stelmachowicz (2003) compared the audiometric configurations, bilateral symmetry, and progression of hearing loss over time in children and adults with hearing loss. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the results of that study as well as several additional analyses that highlight interesting aspects of amplification in children.
New NodW- or NifA-regulated Bradyrhizobium japonicum genes.

A cluster of genes coding for putative plant cell-wall degrading enzymes (i.e., genes for two endoglucanases [gunA and gunA2], one pectinmethylesterase [pme], and one polygalacturonase [pgl]) was identified by sequence similarities in the symbiotic region of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum chromosome. In addition, a systematic screen of the region revealed several genes potentially transcribed by the sigma(54)-RNA polymerase and activated by the transcriptional regulator NifA (i.e., genes for proteins with similarity to outer membrane proteins [id117 and id525] and a citrate carrier [id331 or citA] and one open reading frame without similarity to known proteins [id747]). Expression studies using transcriptional lacZ fusions showed that gunA2 and pgl were strongly induced by the isoflavone genistein in a NodW-dependent manner, suggesting a role of the gene products in early events of the nodulation process; by contrast, gunA and pme expression was very weak in the conditions tested. The gunA2 gene product was purified and was shown to have cellulase activity. beta-Galactosidase activity expressed from transcriptional lacZ fusions to id117, id525, and id747 in the wild type and in nifA and rpoN mutant backgrounds confirmed that their transcription was dependent on NifA and sigma(54). Despite the presence of a -24/-12-type promoter and a NifA binding site upstream of citA, no regulation could be demonstrated in this case. Null mutations introduced in gunA, gunA2, pgl, pme, citA, id117, id525, and id747 did not impair the symbiosis with the host plants.
Temperature-Compensated CMOS-MEMS Oxide Resonators

Integrated CMOS-MEMS clamped-clamped beam resonators using metal wet etching technique are demonstrated with passive temperature compensation through the use of SiO2 and large stopband rejection via circuit integration. Such performance is enabled by the high- Q structural material (i.e., SiO2) and embedded electrodes (i.e., metal) for capacitive transduction without the need of complex post-CMOS processes. In virtue of exceptional selectivity of metal wet etchant to SiO2 among CMOS layers, the use of release holes needed for most of isotropic etching processes could be eliminated, hence substantially preserving the integrity of resonator structures. In this paper, CMOS-MEMS clamped-clamped beams with SiO2-rich structural design are fabricated and tested in vacuum under a two-port measurement configuration, exhibiting the lowest temperature coefficient of frequency (TCf) in CMOS-MEMS-based resonators with a turnover point at room temperature. Such a resonator monolithically integrated with readout circuitry using a standard CMOS 0.35 μm 2P4M process is tested with significantly enhanced performance, showing resonator Q's up to 6100, stopband rejection ~60 dB, and low noise floor at center frequency ~8 MHz, therefore benefiting future timing references and RF-MEMS building blocks for next-generation wireless communication applications.
Livelihood Recovery after Natural Disasters and the Role of Aid: The Case of the 2006 Yogyakarta Earthquake

The 27 May 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake caused the death of more than 5.7 thousand people, more than 60 thousand people were injured and hundreds of thousands lost their houses. Bantul district was the most severely affected by the earthquake. This paper is an attempt to understand the determinants of livelihood recovery after this natural disaster and, in particular, the role of aid in that recovery process. A panel firm level survey was conducted visiting around 500 mostly small and micro enterprises in Bantul district twice: 6 months and a year after the earthquake. This paper argues that (1) smaller enterprises are more resilient and so able to bounce back faster, (2) an industrial cluster system within a subdistrict does provide support needed by firms to recover, (3) the quality of village infrastructure could be important, (4) it is important for donors not to give too much assurance of financial support to enterprises, but rather just to distribute it when it is actually available. The faster it is distributed, the better the impact on enterprises affected by the earthquake, and (4) although over a longer period of time, the effectiveness of aid might well diminish, aid does improve a firm’s ability to survive.
The Impact of Limit Order Anonymity on Liquidity: Evidence from Paris, Tokyo and Korea

This paper examines the impact of broker anonymity on bid-ask spreads in order driven markets. Previous theoretical research predicts that limit order anonymity results in deeper and more liquid markets. This paper examines this proposition using three natural experiments provided by Euronext Paris, the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Korea Stock Exchange. Euronext Paris and the Tokyo Stock Exchange removed broker identifiers from limit orders on April 23, 2001 and June 30, 2003, respectively. In contrast, the Korea Stock Exchange introduced broker identifiers for limit order books on October 25, 1999. The results provide evidence that altering limit order anonymity has an impact on liquidity. Consistent with expectations, liquidity is enhanced by increased anonymity and adversely affected by decreased anonymity.
Exploration of connectivity with SEM: An fMRI study of resting state

In this era, the neuroscientists get attention to find a network of brain which is activated in resting state of mind. It is challenging for any analytical technique to find out the connectivity among Brodmann areas of brain in resting state. To find network, a study was conducted in which brains are scan by functional magnetic resonance imaging of four healthy right handed individuals. Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore that which Brodmann areas are related to each other and then structural equation model has applied on explored factors (lobes) to find a network of activated brain in resting state. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 26, 264–269, 2016
Evolution in Computed Tomography: The Battle for Speed and Dose

AbstractThe advent of computed tomography (CT) has revolutionized radiology. Starting as head-only scanners, modern CT systems are now capable of performing whole-body examinations within a couple of seconds in isotropic resolution. Technical advancements of scanner hardware and image reconstruction techniques are reviewed and discussed in their clinical context. These improvements have led to a steady increase of CT examinations in all age groups for a number of reasons. On the one hand, it is very easy today to obtain whole-body data for oncologic staging and follow-up or for trauma imaging. On the other hand, new examinations such as cardiac imaging, virtual colonoscopy, gout imaging, and whole-organ perfusion imaging have widened the application profile of CT. The increasing awareness of risks associated with radiation exposure triggered the development of a variety of dose reduction techniques. Effective dose values below 1 mSv, less than the annual natural background radiation (3.1 mSv/year on average in the United States), are now routinely possible for a number of dedicated examinations, even for coronary CT angiography.
Convertible Bond Prices and Inherent Biases

This examination of the pricing performance of a reduced-form convertible bond valuation model uses a recent sample of monthly U.S. convertible bond prices observed over January 2001–September 2002. Recent U.S. data help us understand the particular market. The model produces prices that are consistently lower than observed market prices when the embedded conversion option is in the money and higher than observed market prices when the conversion option is out of the money. Evidence from the sample suggests that the deep out-of-the-money bias is not related to the theoretical model's performance but rather the result of the fact that convertible bonds with low conversion value seem to be generally underpriced so much that their prices often imply negative embedded option values.
Two Essays on Regional Economic Integration in East Asia

Regional economic integration in East Asia has gained momentum in the aftermath of the 1997 financial crisis and the escalation of international terrorism. In the first essay, the integration process in Europe and East Asia is compared briefly. This is followed by a discussion on the expansion process by the European Union and how East Asia can learn from this. In particular, the concern is how to integrate the CMLV countries in a meaningful way. Proposals deal with the impact of freer movement of natural persons, the Japan-ASEAN comprehensive economic partnership agreements, and the viability of core labor standards. The second essay is more straightforward. Criteria for successful exchange rate coordination are specified and the paper determines whether the Philippines has satisfied the criteria. The conclusion is that while monetary policy has been fairly stable, the weak fiscal position will prevent the Philippines from participating in regional exchange rate coordination.
Nascent entrepreneurs and the regional context

What regional factors influence the decision to start (or not to start) a new business? The analysis is based on a representative sample of 10,000 individuals and surveys of 471 experts on entrepreneurship in ten German planning regions. Nascent entrepreneurs are defined as those individuals, between the age of 18 and 64 years, who are actively engaged in creating a new business. The entrepreneurial context is analysed in detail, based on experts' assessments of the regional framework conditions for entrepreneurship. The results indicate that the entrepreneurial context strongly influences individuals' perceptions of start-up opportunities, which in turn have significant effects on the decision to set up a new venture. In particular, a high-quality entrepreneurship policy and a well-developed culture of entrepreneurship play important roles. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Competitive Industry Clusters and Inward TNC Investments: The Case of Sweden

IVARSSON I. (1999) Competitive industry clusters and inward TNC investments: the case of Sweden, Reg. Studies 33 , 37-49. This study focuses on the importance of internationally competitive industry clusters in host countries as a pull factor for inward FDI. It is found that over half of foreign affiliates in Sweden operate in competitive host country clusters. An analysis of material and non-material linkages to host country firms generally shows a marginal difference between affiliates operating in competitive host country clusters and other affiliates. However, technological co-operation with host country firms is somewhat more substantial among affiliates operating in competitive host country clusters. It is less clear if this also means that TNCs can combine firm-specific competencies with competencies generated by affiliates operating in competitive host country clusters. IVARSSON I. (1999) Les grappes d'industries concurrentielles et l'investissement direct e´tranger des socie´te´s transnationales:.
Rigour, Relevance and Reward: Introducing the Knowledge Translation Value‐Chain

This paper recognizes the substantive contributions made within the British Journal of Management to conducting research relevant to management at the level of individual studies. We aim to reorient the debate to take account of a researcher's contribution to practice over time and, by so doing, to indicate the range of ways knowledge can be translated and (through engagement with users and policymakers) modified, embedded and otherwise found useful. To achieve this, we conceptualize management scholarship as a knowledge translation value-chain. We propose that, to maximize relevance, knowledge must be reconfigured in multiple contexts, of which management research provides but one. The paper concludes with observations on the additional skills that researchers might need to make use of opportunities for engagement right across the knowledge translation value-chain.