Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proposal of two new space-time codes for extending the range of UWB systems

Ultrawideband (UWB) radio is a promising solution for low and high data rate wireless communications over short ranges. Space-time (ST) coding techniques are known to be simple and practical ways to increase both the spectral efficiency and the capacity in wireless communications. So far, few contributions have looked over multiple-inputs multiple- outputs (MIMO) UWB systems. In this paper we introduce two new families of ST codes suitable for BPM UWB modulations. The codes are characterized by full-rate, full-diversity and low complexity at the receiver side. The probability of error resulting from the use of these space-time codes in a typical MIMO UWB channel is analytically derived. Simulations support analysis for various numbers of transmit and receive antennas in order to enlight that the two methods can effectively enlarge the transmission range of UWB devices.
An approach for measuring the degree of comparability of financial accounting information

This contribution sets out to provide an index to measure comparability of financial accounting information concerning specific kinds of transactions or events. It suggests definitions for the terms of comparability of financial accounting information and of accounting method. Requirements are derived from these definitions which must be met by an index of comparability, and entropy is shown to be an appropriate measure fulfilling these requirements. The problem of multiple reporting is dealt with separately. Finally, the measurement concept developed is applied to an example from the FEE report for 1989.
Sub-sampled Doppler ultrasound reconstruction using block sparse Bayesian learning

Duplex Doppler is an echographic mode that allows visualizing at the same time a B-mode image and the blood flow, for which a strategy for alternating velocity and B-mode emissions is required. In a recent study [1] we have shown that compressed sensing-based reconstruction of Doppler signal allowed reducing the number of Doppler emissions and yielded better results than traditional interpolation. However, in this study the reduction of Doppler emission had to be limited to 60% in order to produce satisfying reconstruction (i.e. a PSNR > 20 dB). We propose here to improve over this study by using a block sparse Bayesian learning (BSBL) framework for randomly interleaving Doppler and US emissions. The interest of using such framework in the context of duplex Doppler is linked to the unique ability of BSBL to exploit block-correlated signals and to recover non-sparse signals. The performance of the technique is evaluated for simulated data and compared to the recent results in [1]. The results show that with this method the subsampling rate can be increased up to 80% while producing satisfying reconstruction quality.
Identifying protein binding functionality of protein family sequences by Aligned Pattern clusters

A basic task in protein analysis is to discover a set of sequence patterns that reflect the function of a protein family. This set of sequence patterns contains non-exact significant residue associations. Currently, the existing combinatorial methods are computationally expensive and probabilistic methods require richer representation of the amino acid associations. To undertake this task, we create a synthesized pattern representation called an Aligned Pattern (AP) Cluster that identifies the residue associations in the binding segment and the site variations in the aligned residues. In this paper, our algorithm identifies the binding segments for two protein families: the Cytochrome Complex and the Ubiquitin protein families. For each of the experiments, the AP Clusters obtained correspond to protein binding segments including a few beyond those identified by the other protein databases, PROSITE and pFam. Furthermore, the columns of aligned sites that exist only as a single value in the AP Clusters also corresponds to the binding residues. Additional information retained by the AP Clusters can reveal the amino acid residues of interest, thus averting time-consuming simulations and experimentation.
Development of an Active Display

In this paper, a novel display system named "active display" is proposed for bi-directional telexistence system. It consists of a 5-bar spherical parallel mechanism, a LCD and 3 actuators. The LCD is moved by the parallel mechanism along a spherical surface whose center is at the head of the operator. Its motions are synchronized with a remote camera system. As a result, the operator can see anywhere in the remote environment with realistic sensation similar to a head-mounted display (HMD). In addition, the facial information of the operator can be easily acquired because the monitor is separated from his/her face. This feature yields a big advantage compared with the HMD. Furthermore, it allows the operator to access peripheral devices very easily. The concept of the active display, details of the developed mechanisms, the control system and the human interface are discussed. In addition, to confirm the feasibility, several experiments are executed.
Economic Sanctions, Transnational Terrorism, and the Incentive to Misrepresent

Can economic sanctions combat transnational terrorism effectively? Policy makers argue that sanctions can deter state sponsorship but are counterproductive against hosts of transnational terrorists. However, recent cases indicate that governments are often uncertain if foreign states are truly sponsors versus hosts and cannot perfectly determine the type of foreign support terrorists are receiving. We argue that this uncertainty, coupled with the proposed strategy of punishing sponsors while cooperating with hosts, creates incentives for sponsors to misrepresent themselves as host states while continuing their support for terrorists. We demonstrate that in this environment of uncertainty, governments rely on information regarding the state capacity of supporting states to deduce their relationship with terrorists. Consequently, governments are more likely to impose sanctions against foreign states with intermediate levels of state capacity but are less likely to impose sanctions against failing or stronger states.
Short Selling, Unwinding, and Mispricing

This article highlights the impact of short selling restrictions and early unwinding opportunities on the relation between futures and spot prices. Within a multiperiod equilibrium model, the influence of optimal arbitrage trading on the mispricing is analyzed. Results concerning trade volume and level, mean reversion, and path dependence of the mispricing are provided. The empirical evidence suggests that short selling restrictions and early unwinding opportunities are influential factors for the mispricing behavior. They help explain empirical findings reported in the literature. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 18:903–923, 1998
Inhibition by epidermal growth factor (EGF) of epidermal DNA synthesis in cultured chick embryonic skin pretreated with retinol and/or hydrocortisone: specific increment in EGF binding activity in both retinol- and hydrocortisone-pretreated epidermis without correlation to EGF-mediated inhibition of

When tarsometatarsal skin of 13-day-old chick embryos that had been cultured in medium containing 5% delipidized FCS with or without retinol (20 microM) and/or hydrocortisone (20 nM) for 1 day was cultured in a chemically defined medium without either the hormone or retinol for 1 day, epidermal DNA synthesis of hydrocortisone- and/or retinol-pretreated skin was inhibited when compared to that of control skin. The addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF, 10 ng/ml) to retinol- or hydrocortisone-pretreated skin further inhibited the epidermal DNA synthesis. Epidermal DNA synthesis in retinol- and hydrocortisone-pretreated skin was more strongly inhibited than in retinol- or hydrocortisone-pretreated skin, but was not further inhibited by EGF. In epidermis which was induced to differentiation toward keratinization by hydrocortisone or mucous metaplasia by retinol, EGF inhibited DNA synthesis. The extent of [125I]-EGF binding to the epidermis of retinol- and hydrocortisone-pretreated skin was 160-180% that in control skin, with no change in affinity. Hence there is no correlation between EGF-binding and the mitogenic activity of EGF.
Beyond ray tracing for internal waves. I. Small-amplitude anelastic waves

We compute the transmission of small-amplitude two-dimensional anelastic internal waves in nonrotating inviscid fluid having arbitrarily specified stratification and background velocity. Whereas stability analyses of the flow involve solving an eigenvalue problem that relates the frequency to horizontal wavenumber, we focus upon the evolution of waves incident from below with independently specified frequency and horizontal wavenumber. A numerical method is developed to ensure that the wave field in the upper domain corresponds only to upward-propagating transmitted waves. Two particular applications are discussed. First, internal waves incident upon a piecewise-linear shear layer are examined and their transmission is computed as a function of the bulk Richardson number Rib and the ratio of the density scale height relative to the depth of the shear layer. The waves transmit partially across critical levels if they coincide with heights where the gradient Richardson number is less than 1/4. Transmission .
An Auxiliary Particle Filtering Algorithm With Inequality Constraints

For nonlinear non-Gaussian stochastic dynamic systems with inequality state constraints, this technical note presents an efficient particle filtering algorithm, constrained auxiliary particle filtering algorithm. To deal with the state constraints, the proposed algorithm probabilistically selects particles such that those particles far away from the feasible area are less likely to propagate into the next time step. To improve on the sampling efficiency in the presence of inequality constraints, it uses a highly effective method to perform a series of constrained optimization so that the importance distributions are constructed efficiently based on the state constraints. The caused approximation errors are corrected using the importance sampling method. This ensures that the obtained particles constitute a representative sample of the true posterior distribution. A simulation study on vehicle tracking is used to illustrate the proposed approach.
Uzbekistan and the United States: Authoritarianism, Islamism and Washington's Security Agenda

* Foreword by Yaacov Ro'i * 1. From Soviet to post-Soviet authoritarianism * 2. Islamic challenge * 3. Tashkent's foreign policy decisions * 4. Uzbekistan and the United States: A difficult relationship * 5. September 11 and the 'war on terror' * 6. Human rights and democracy * 7. Prospects for authoritarian withdrawal * Appendixes
A 2um diameter, 9hz dark count, single photon avalanche diode in 130nm cmos technology

We report a CMOS single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) with a 2um active diameter, 9Hz dark count rate at 20°C, photon detection efficiency peak of 14% at 500nm, implemented in a 130nm process technology. The implicit guard ring structure relies on retrograde well doping and overcomes a key problem in scaling SPAD devices to small dimensions. TCAD-based device simulations point the way to high resolution, high fill-factor single photon imaging.
THE PRICE OF PRATO, OR MEASURING THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT EFFECT

Most of the recent literature on Marshallian industrial districts is nonquantitative, but some of the features of district firms are measurable. I use balance sheet data on about 500 small and medium sized firms to search for measurable differences between district and non district firms in the italian wool textile industry, which includes that standard bearer of districts. Prato, and Biella, another important agglomeration whose status as an industrial district in the Marshall-Becattini sense is in doubt. The data corroborate a number of predications of district theory, e.g., on productivity, profitability vertical integration ad finance.
Efficient ~2 μm Tm 3+ -doped tellurite fiber laser

Laser emission in the range of 1.88-1.99 μm from a Tm3+-doped tellurite fiber is demonstrated when pumped with a diode-pumped Er3+/Yb3+-doped silica fiber laser operating at 1.57-1.61 μm. This pump source excites the Tm3+ ions directly into the F43 upper laser level and yields an output power of 280 mW with a slope efficiency of 76% in a 99%-12% laser cavity arrangement and a 32 cm long fiber. This result is very close to the Stokes efficiency limit of ~80%. This is, to the authors' knowledge, the first demonstration of high efficiency lasing in a tellurite fiber at wavelengths longer than 1.56 μm.
Evaluation of wireless smart metering technologies in realistic indoor channels

The European energy system is currently evolving into a smart grid, and the transmission of metering values between smart meters is gaining increasing importance. Since wireless technologies have a high flexibility and can be easily integrated into existing installations, it is feasible to use them for transmission of metering values. This paper presents an evaluation of wireless smart metering standards operating in the 868 MHz frequency band according to European regulation. The standards are compared by evaluating the indoor coverage range and the energy consumption.
How perceived feelings of “wellness” influence the decision‐making of people with predialysis chronic kidney disease

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To identify the subjective meanings attached to decisions made by people living with chronic kidney disease as they consider their transition to renal replacement therapy. BACKGROUND Within the challenging world of chronic illness, people draw upon their temporal life experiences to help them make the best or most balanced primary healthcare decisions. Understanding the risks and benefits associated with these decisions has been an area of intense interest in health research. DESIGN An exploratory qualitative descriptive design. METHOD A convenience sample of twelve people, at stages 3B to 5 of chronic kidney disease, attending two predialysis renal clinics in Sydney, Australia, consented to be interviewed. The semi-structured interviews centred on their decision-making experiences as they considered their transition to renal replacement therapy. RESULTS Three themes emerged from participant narratives which have been framed into the following questions: (i) Do I need renal replacement therapy? (ii) What is the "right" renal replacement therapy for me? and (iii) When should I start renal replacement therapy? Decisions about the transition to renal replacement therapy were impacted upon by the participants' perceived feelings of wellness and the belief that renal replacement therapy would not be needed at any time in the foreseeable future. CONCLUSION This study highlights the importance of optimising person-centred care and raises important issues for the education and management of people with chronic kidney disease in the predialysis stages of the illness. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE In order to facilitate the transition to renal replacement therapy, renal clinicians have a responsibility to more fully understand the patient journey during the predialysis stages of chronic kidney disease. A clearer understanding of patients' perceptions and decision-making experiences creates a space for mutual understanding. This is essential for the future development and implementation of collaborative, person-centred educational strategies and long-term renal healthcare outcomes.
Efficacy of a Text Message-Delivered Extended Contact Intervention on Maintenance of Weight Loss, Physical Activity, and Dietary Behavior Change

Background Extending contact with participants after the end of an initial intervention is associated with successful maintenance of weight loss and behavior change. However, cost-effective methods of extending intervention contact are needed. Objective This study investigated whether extended contact via text message was efficacious in supporting long-term weight loss and physical activity and dietary behavior change in breast cancer survivors. Methods Following the end of an initial 6-month randomized controlled trial of a telephone-delivered weight loss intervention versus usual care, eligible and consenting intervention participants received a 6-month extended contact intervention via tailored text messages targeting a range of factors proposed to influence the maintenance of behavior change. In this single-group, pre-post designed study, within group changes in weight, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers), and total energy intake (2x24 hour dietary recalls) were evaluated from baseline to end of initial intervention (6 months), end of extended contact intervention (12 months), and after a no-contact follow-up (18 months) via linear mixed models. Feasibility of implementation was assessed through systematic tracking of text message delivery process outcomes, and participant satisfaction was assessed through semistructured interviews. Results Participants at baseline (n=29) had a mean age of 54.9 years (SD 8.8), body mass index of 30.0 kg/m2 (SD 4.2), and were recruited a mean 16.6 months (SD 3.2) post diagnosis. From baseline to 18 months, participants showed statistically significantly lower mean weight (-4.2 kg [95% CI -6.0 to -2.4]; P<.001) and higher physical activity (mean 10.4 mins/day [95% CI 3.6-17.2]; P=.003), but no significant differences in energy intake (P=.200). Participants received a mean of 8 text messages every 2 weeks (range 2-11) and reported a high rate of satisfaction. Conclusions In comparison to interventions without extended contact, results suggest text message–delivered extended contact may support the attenuation of weight regain and promote the maintenance of physical activity.
Bayesian Quantile Regression for Longitudinal Studies with Nonignorable Missing Data

Summary We study quantile regression (QR) for longitudinal measurements with nonignorable intermittent missing data and dropout. Compared to conventional mean regression, quantile regression can characterize the entire conditional distribution of the outcome variable, and is more robust to outliers and misspecification of the error distribution. We account for the within‐subject correlation by introducing a ℓ2 penalty in the usual QR check function to shrink the subject‐specific intercepts and slopes toward the common population values. The informative missing data are assumed to be related to the longitudinal outcome process through the shared latent random effects. We assess the performance of the proposed method using simulation studies, and illustrate it with data from a pediatric AIDS clinical trial.
Changes in immunomodulatory properties of Echinacea spp. root infusions and tinctures stored at 4 degrees C for four days.

BACKGROUND Phytomedicinal preparations from members of the genus Echinacea are popular worldwide and frequently used to treat upper respiratory infections. With the increasing popularity of herbal medicines, many people are making their own Echinacea extracts at home and storing them at refrigerator (4 degrees C) temperatures. We tested the hypothesis that Echinacea extracts made using homemade methods change in immunomodulatory efficacy with storage at 4 degrees C over a 4-day period. METHODS Three extract types (50% ethanol tincture, cold water infusion, hot water infusion) from 5 different species (Echinacea angustifolia, E. pallida, E. purpurea, E. sanguinea, E. tennesseensis) were prepared. Four in vitro immune assays (monocyte secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-12; and peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation) using human blood were used to test extract efficacy at Days 1 and 4 post-extraction. Two statistical analyses, traditional ANOVA and several statistical models that account for endotoxin effects, were used. RESULTS Endotoxin was found to significantly impact immune outcomes only in 4-day old cold water infusions and not in all assays. Extracts showed the greatest stimulation in TNF-alpha assays. By extract type, 50% ethanol tinctures produced the most immune stimulation. By species, extracts from E. angustifolia extracts were the most efficacious in our assays; extracts from E. sanguinea showed the least activity overall. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results suggest that: (1) homemade Echinacea extracts are efficacious in modulating immune cell activity in vitro but that their properties change with time during storage at 4 degrees C; and (2) endotoxin effects from extracts may be important considerations in the analysis of immunobiological data.
Tailoring of Cortical Excisions for Frontal Lobe Epilepsy

ABSTRACT: Follow-up data of 2 to 49 years' duration are presented on 257 patients with cortical excisions for non-tumoral frontal lobe epilepsy. Twenty-six percent have become and remained seizure free. Another 30% have had a marked reduction of seizure tendency. Thus a total of 56% have had a long term complete or marked reduction of seizure tendency after the cortical resection. The cortical resections were classified into 5 regional categories. Forty-seven percent of patients with anterior frontal resections were in the seizure free category, as were 35% of patients with excisions limited to the convexity cortex and 32% of patients with maximal or near maximal frontal lobectomy. Only 18% of patients with frontal parasaggital excisions were in the seizure free category, and 10% of the patients who had excision of frontal cortex plus limited excision of adjacent central and/or temporal cortex.
Trade Openness and International Fragmentation of Production in the European Union: The New Divide?

This paper analyses the relationship between international fragmentation of production, trade openness and global export performance in the European Union from 2000 to 2009. As most trade models featuring international production sharing show, the higher the level of fragmentation and related international openness the better the export performance of a country. Our econometric analysis confirms this hypothesis. We estimate an error correction model based on panel data on the EU Member States and find that inter-European fragmentation and openness significantly improve their long-run export performance. Policy implications could be that restrictive policies preventing firms from internationalizing production would weaken a countryi? ½s position in global production networks, with long-term negative effects on domestic jobs and growth.
HR's global impact: building strategic differentiating capabilities

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how the HR function can make a significant contribution to the achievement of global strategy and sustainable competitive advantage through identifying, building and deploying differentiating strategic capabilities (DiSCs). The DiSC model has been developed by William Scott‐Jackson over the past 15 years as a practical and strategically valuable development of the “resource‐based view of the firm”. Design/methodology/approach – The paper first considers the strategic implications of global trading and then describes the strategic importance of DiSCs and their criteria – particularly in sales. This is based on applied research and strategic HR consultancy with over 30 global organizations over the past 15 years. Using a case study of a global outsourcing company, it describes the process by which DiSCs can be developed and deployed by the HR function to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in global trading.Findings – The link between global strategic i.