Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of unknown words in large vocabulary speech recognition

This paper describes the relation between vocabulary sizes and detection errors of unknown words in large vocabulary speech recognition through recognition and detection experiments. Although the relation between vocabulary sizes and recognition performances has been reported, the relation between vocabulary sizes and detection performances has not yet been studied. Especially, it has not for the cases of vocabulary sizes of over 1, 000 words. Experiments were conducted using the speech material of speaker MAU's ATR word speech database. The entries of the dictionary used is 40, 000 words from the Shinmeikai Japanese Language Dictionary. It is shown that when the vocabulary size increases from 1, 000 words to 40, 000 words, the relation between vocabulary sizes and detection errors has a similar tendency with the relation between vocabulary sizes and recognition errors. And increases of detection errors caused by increases of vocabulary sizes are shown to be small for the case of within vocabulary, compared with increases of detection errors for the case of out of vocabulary. These results should be taken into accounts in designing large vocabulary speech recognition systems including unknown word processing.
Financial Globalization and the Rise of IPOs Outside the U.S.

During the past two decades, the fraction of the world's initial public offerings (IPOs) accounted for by U.S. firms has fallen sharply. This decrease is attributed to higher IPO activity outside the U.S. and lower IPO activity in the U.S. We show that financial globalization has played a major role in the growth of IPOs outside the U.S. Historically, a country's IPO activity was strongly related to the quality of its institutions and better institutions helped explain the higher IPO activity in the U.S. compared to other countries. However, greater financial globalization has been associated with a reduction in the importance of institutions as determinants of a country's IPO activity. A large part of the increase in IPO activity outside the U.S. occurred through global IPOs, IPOs in which some of the proceeds are raised outside the firm's home country. Financial globalization has enabled firms from countries with poorer institutions to make use of global IPOs and they have done so more than firms from other countries. The evidence is consistent with the view that access to global markets and, more generally, financial globalization helps firms overcome the obstacles of poor institutions.
Barotropic Rossby wave radiation from a model Gulf Stream

The barotropic Rossby wave field in the North Atlantic Ocean is studied in an eddy‐resolving ocean model simulation. The meandering model Gulf Stream radiates barotropic Rossby waves southward through preferred corridors defined by topographic features. The smoother region between the Bermuda Rise and the mid‐Atlantic Ridge is a particularly striking corridor of barotropic wave radiation in the 20–50 day period band. Barotropic Rossby waves are also preferentially excited at higher frequencies over the Bermuda Rise, suggesting resonant excitation of topographic Rossby normal modes. The prevalence of these radiated waves suggests that they may be an important energy sink for the equilibrium state of the Gulf Stream.
Integration of Ni2Si/Si Nanograss Heterojunction on n-MOSFET to Realize High-Sensitivity Phototransistors

We report a top-down fabrication technique for direct integration of Ni2Si/Si heterojunction arrays on n-type MOSFET gate terminal to realize sensitive field-effect phototransistors (PTs). It was observed that exposing gate area to light (λ = 655 nm) leads to significant modulation of threshold voltage (VTH) of PT in comparison with a conventional MOSFET. By analyzing optical absorption spectra of Ni2Si/Si nanostructures on SiO2 of this novel PT and planar Ni2Si/poly-Si on SiO2 of conventional transistors, we concluded that, nanostructures strongly improve light absorption. This results in higher optically generated electron-hole pairs in which excess holes induce an electric field on the transistor channel and help the threshold happen at lower voltages. To recognize the appropriate operating point of such nanostructure-based PT, effect of VGS on the sensitivity of drain current was investigated. Experimental results show that device sensitivity (S) is related to gate-source voltage via a homographic like function. Theoretical analysis shows S ∝ 1/(VGS - VTH) for high VGS, which has been confirmed by experimental data. In addition, external quantum efficiency and photoresponsivity of PT as functions of gate voltage were studied. The achieved results suggest that this device would be a promising candidate for fabricating low-power PTs based on silicide nanostructures.
Delft University of Technology Experimental validation of an MKID coupled dual polarized leaky lens antenna

This contribution presents the design and sub-mm wave measurements of a wideband dual polarized leaky lens antenna coupled to kinetic inductance detector (KIDs) to be specifically used for tightly spaced focal plane arrays. The antenna is planar and composed by two crossed slots, fed by two orthogonal coplanar waveguide (CPW) lines. In transmission, the crossed CPW lines are fed differentially in order to couple the radiation into the slots. The slot antenna feeds a dielectric lens to achieve directive patterns. The main goal of this work is to show the measurement results of the patterns and efficiency, and compare this antenna with its singly polarized version. The measured received power from an incoherent source is increased by a factor of 2 compared to a single-polarized version of the antenna.
Characteristics of dialysis important to patients and family caregivers: a mixed methods approach.

BACKGROUND Little is known about pre-dialysis patients' or family caregivers' preferences for dialysis modality and the reasons underlying their decisions. The aim of this study was to rank the most important characteristics of dialysis on which patients and caregivers make decisions about treatment. METHODS A mixed methods approach was used with groups of pre-dialysis patients (chronic kidney disease Stage 4/5), dialysis patients and family caregivers. Characteristics of dialysis were identified and ranked individually and then consensus of the most important characteristics was determined within each group. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants until data saturation was achieved. Transcripts of focus groups were coded and analysed to examine the rationale behind the ranking. RESULTS Thirty-four participants from two Australian hospitals attended six 'nominal group' focus groups between September 2009 and February 2010. Two groups involved pre-dialysis patients (total n = 8), two involved peritoneal and haemodialysis patients, respectively (n = 9) and two involved caregivers of dialysis patients (n = 17). We identified 28 characteristics of dialysis important to patients and caregivers. Patient groups agreed that the most important characteristics were (i) survival, (ii) convenience of dialysis at home and (iii) dialysis-free days. For caregivers, the most important were (i) convenience of dialysis at home, (ii) respite and (iii) the ability to travel. CONCLUSIONS Patients and family caregivers highly value treatment that enhances survival and can be performed at home. Future planning of dialysis services could better reflect these priorities through provision of increased home dialysis support services and planned respite for caregivers.
The brand images of tourism destinations: a study of the saliency of organic images

Assesses the relative saliency of image attributes associated with history, heritage and culture in shaping the perceptions of places as tourism destinations. Such images tend to have been formed over a long period of time and result from exposure to communication processes largely outside marketing's core sphere of influence such as education, literature and the arts. Images formed in this way are referred to in this paper as organic images. The research used the repertory grid technique developed by George A. Kelly in the context of Personal Construct Theory combined with depth interviews to elicit the attributes associated with the images of 25 destinations in the UK. The study identified 11 categories of image attribute. Those associated with a destination's history, heritage and culture were found to be the second most salient category. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Growth of human colon cancer cells in nude mice is delayed by ketogenic diet with or without omega-3 fatty acids and medium-chain triglycerides.

BACKGROUND Tumors are largely unable to metabolize ketone bodies for energy due to various deficiencies in one or both of the key mitochondrial enzymes, which may provide a rationale for therapeutic strategies that inhibit tumor growth by administration of a ketogenic diet with average protein but low in carbohydrates and high in fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-six male BALB/C nude mice were injected subcutaneously with tumor cells of the colon cancer cell line HCT116. The animals were then randomly split into three feeding groups and fed either a ketogenic diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and MCT (MKD group; n=12) or lard only (LKD group; n=12) or a standard diet (SD group; n=12) ad libitum. Experiments were ended upon attainment of the target tumor volume of 600 mm3 to 700 mm3. The three diets were compared for tumor growth and survival time (interval between tumor cell injection and attainment of target tumor volume). RESULTS The tumor growth in the MKD and LKD groups was significantly delayed compared to that in the SD group. CONCLUSIONS Application of an unrestricted ketogenic diet delayed tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Further studies are needed to address the mechanism of this diet intervention and the impact on other tumor-relevant parameters such as invasion and metastasis.
Strategic Management: An Empirical Investigation Of Selected Strategy Variables On Firms Performance: A Study Of Supply Chain Management In Large Private Manufacturing Firms In Kenya

th , 2011 This paper focuses on the joint effect of selected strategy variables on performance of large private manufacturing firms of the supply chains in Kenya. To guide the study, two specific objectives have been used namely:- (1) To determine the independent effects of core competencies, strategy, strategy implementation and core capabilities on firms performance, (2) To determine the joint effect of core competencies, strategy, strategy implementation and core capabilities on firms performance. Hypotheses are tested through the analysis of both the independent and joint effects of the variables on firms performance. There is empirical evidence that the independent effect of core competencies, core capabilities, strategy, strategy implementation on firms performance is weaker compared to the joint effect of the same variables. A sample of about 52 large private manufacturing firms of the supply chains which are members of Kenya Association of Manufacturers is used.
Are Local Government Authorities in Australia Reporting on Sustainability

Ball (2004a) in describing the up-take of sustainability reporting in the public sector suggests that it is ‘seemingly patchy’ whilst Tort et al. (2010) and Dickenson et al. (2005) described it as an emerging field in its infancy approached on an ad hoc basis. This study contributes to the debate by examining sustainability reporting within the public sector specifically focused on local government authorities in Australia. Reporting by these authorities on sustainability is examined from a communication theory perspective. The study looks at the key factors in establishing sustainability reporting, the use of accountants in this process and the types of reporting frameworks that are being used. Finally, a broad reporting framework is developed specific to local government intended to act as a guide in the advancement of the sustainability reporting agenda in the sector. A triangulated approach was adopted for this study utilizing mail survey and interview techniques. Subjects for the mail survey were chief financial officers (CFOs) of all local government authorities in Australia. One hundred and ninety usable responses were returned, providing a usable response rate of 35.51%. To supplement and enrich the data provided by the mail survey, twenty-two interviews across sixteen organizations were then conducted. The results indicate that local government authorities in Australia are reporting on sustainability. Such reporting appears, though, to be inconsistent in focus and in location of the reported information. Further, significant differences were found in reporting levels between urban and rural local authorities. Key leadership support and stakeholder engagement were found to be the two key factors driving the establishment of sustainability reporting in local government in Australia. The results indicate that accountants play a role in the sustainability reporting process though in a limited capacity. Finally, a number of reporting frameworks are being utilized by local government authorities with the expected framework, the GRI guidelines, being utilized by few. A number of areas for further research were highlighted including the potential effects of mandatory reporting requirements on local government sustainability reporting practices, the exploration of the significant occurrence of social reporting highlighted in this study and research that examines restraints on sustainability reporting. In doing so, such research will assist in the further development of a more coherent knowledge and understanding of sustainability reporting in the local government sector.
E-marketing services and e-marketing performance: the roles of innovation, knowledge complexity and environmental turbulence in influencing the relationship

ABSTRACT The business-to-business electronic marketplace (e-marketplace) is becoming critical for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, which e-marketing services determine a firm’s e-marketing performance and how innovation, knowledge complexity and environmental turbulence influence the relationship between e-marketing services and e-marketing performance are under-researched topics in the field. We first empirically tested 176 SMEs from China to evaluate which e-marketing services are significantly related to e-marketing performance and how these services collectively influence the performance. Then, we used an NK model to examine how innovation, knowledge complexity and environmental turbulence mediate/moderate the relationship. The results show that five e-marketing services (e-CRM, e-SCM, e-competitiveness, IS/IT integration and information transparency) can greatly influence e-marketing performance; innovation positively mediates the relationship between e-marketing services and performance; and knowledge complexity and environmental turbulence positively moderate the relationship.
Vision based trajectory following robot and swarm

Robots based on vision guidance are very important to the future of vehicle navigation. They have the ability to navigate through a predetermined track and avoid obstacles. They operate remotely with a central computer tracking and guiding them. This allows for communication between robots. This can be used to implement traffic based navigation. Where routes can be recalculated depending on traffic flow. Use of server based system paves the way to collaborate among different robots.
TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM STRATEGIC CONSENSUS, DEMOGRAPHIC HOMOGENEITY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: A REPORT OF RESOUNDING NONFINDINGS

In this study, we hypothesized that relationships among top managers' goals consensus, means consensus, demographic homogeneity and firm performance would be positive and stronger in a stable industry environment than in a dynamic one. Utilizing a more rigorous methodology, the significant findings of earlier studies could not be replicated. Although the questions remain interesting and important ones, we believe pursuing this line of inquiry further will yield results inconsistent at best and fruitless at worst. Therefore, we urge future researchers to cautiously tread the perilous methodologic minefield that led to our nonfindings.
Noise-Induced Resistance Broadening in Resistive Switching Memory—Part I: Intrinsic Cell Behavior

Resistive-switching memory (RRAM) is attracting a widespread interest for its outstanding properties, such as low power, high speed, and good endurance. A crucial concern for RRAM is the current fluctuation, which induces significant broadening of resistance levels in single-bit and multilevel applications. This paper addresses low-frequency fluctuations focusing on 1/f and random telegraph noise contributions in intrinsic, i.e., typical, cells. The current fluctuations are studied in both the time and frequency domains, and the analytical models are presented to predict the resistance broadening for different RRAM states. Finally, the resistance dependence of noise and broadening is studied with the support of a 3-D finite-element model.
Gender Difference in Association Between Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass and Cardiometabolic Abnormalities in Normal-Weight and Obese Adults

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the relationships of appendicular muscle mass (ASM) with insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MS) vary by gender or obesity. Data of 10 146 normal-weight and obese men and women aged 19 to 93 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009 and 2010 were analyzed. In normal-weight men and women, unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of being MS and IR significantly increased with lower ASM/wt. After adjusting for lifestyle factors, these ORs were still significant in normal-weight men but not in women. After controlling for other covariates, lower ASM/wt was related to higher risk for IR but not to MS in obese men. In obese women, relationship of lower ASM/wt with higher risk for MS disappeared after adjusting for covariates. Association between skeletal muscle mass and cardiometabolic abnormalities is dependent on gender and obesity in Korean adults.
Understanding Safety Culture in Long-Term Care: A Case Study

Objectives This case study aimed to understand safety culture in a high-risk secured unit for cognitively impaired residents in a long-term care (LTC) facility. Specific objectives included the following: diagnosing the present level of safety culture maturity using the Patient Safety Culture Improvement Tool (PSCIT), examining the barriers to a positive safety culture, and identifying actions for improvement. Methods A mixed methods design was used within a secured unit for cognitively impaired residents in a Canadian nonprofit LTC facility. Semistructured interviews, a focus group, and the Modified Stanford Patient Safety Culture Survey Instrument were used to explore this topic. Data were synthesized to situate safety maturity of the unit within the PSCIT adapted for LTC. Results Results indicated a reactive culture, where safety systems were piecemeal and developed only in response to adverse events and/or regulatory requirements. A punitive regulatory environment, inadequate resources, heavy workloads, poor interdisciplinary collaboration, and resident safety training capacity were major barriers to improving safety. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of understanding a unit’s safety culture and identifies the PSCIT as a useful framework for planning future improvements to safety culture maturity. Incorporating mixed methods in the study of health care safety culture provided a good model that can be recommended for future use in research and LTC practice.
Selection of Chain Sampling Plans ChSP-1 and ChSP-(0.1) for Given Acceptable Quality Level and Limiting Quality Level

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTChain sampling plans of type ChSP-1 and ChSP-(0,1) are useful in costly or destructive testing by attributes. They utilize the preceding lot sample results to achieve sampling economy and increase the power of discrimination between good and bad lots. In this paper, a table and a procedure are given for determining the parameters of the ChSP-1 and ChSP-(0,1) plans for specified Acceptable Quality Level and Limiting Quality Level. In addition, it is shown that one can use the ChSP-1 plan in place of ChSP-(0,1) plan as the ChSP-1 plan itself will be able to satisfy the required conditions.
Differential binding to and biofilm formation on, HEp‐2 cells by Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium is dependent upon allelic variation in the fimH gene of the fim gene cluster

Type 1 fimbria‐mediated adherence to HEp‐2 cells by two strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was found to be different. Although both strains exhibited a strong mannose‐sensitive haemagglutination reaction with guinea pig erythrocytes, characteristic of the expression of type 1 fimbriae, only one of the strains adhered in large numbers to HEp‐2 cells. Characterization of the fimH genes, encoding the fimbrial adhesins, indicated two allelic variants. Using fimH mutants of the two strains it was possible to demonstrate that binding to HEp‐2 cells was associated with the presence of one of the alleles regardless of the host strain. Therefore, this differential binding was not a function of the type I fimbrial shaft or the presence of other types of fimbriae produced by one strain but not the other. These observations may explain the differences in HEp‐2 binding by type 1 fimbriate strains of Salmonella previously reported by several groups. Also, our studies demonstrate that the FimH adhesin can influence the efficiency of biofilm formation on HEp‐2 cells using once‐flow‐through continuous culture conditions. The formation of biofilms on eukaryotic cells using this procedure is more likely to represent those conditions found in the intestinal tract than conditions using batch culture techniques to investigate adherence and biofilm formation. Indeed, the increased efficiency of biofilm formation in the murine intestinal tract confirmed the role of one of the fimH alleles in this process.
Relationship marketing: The impact of emotional intelligence and trust on bank performance

Purpose – The two aims of this paper are to explore the development of trust for relationships between staff and customers in the banking sector and to investigate possible links between financial performance of relationship manager and their levels of emotional intelligence (EI) and trust. Design/methodology/approach – An internet survey was undertaken, where respondents were asked to complete an EI test and questions relating to trusting behaviour. These data were integrated with financial performance data supplied by the bank. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and correlation analysis was used to identify links. Findings – Trust was found to be made up of three components: dependability; knowledge; and expectations. Further, there were significant correlations between both trust and EI, when compared to the financial performance of a relationship manager. Research limitations/implications – The methods used by the bank to collect performance data have limited the analysis that could be conducted. Practical implications – Increased awareness by the relationship managers of their own emotions, and how they perceive and act upon the emotions of others, should favourably impact financial performance. Originality/value – This paper is an important initial step in highlighting the significance of EI and trust in the relationship marketing/selling arena.