Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Noise Performance of a Multiple-Input-Port and Multiple-Output-Port Low-Noise Amplifier Connected to an Array of Coupled Antennas

We address the noise characterization of a multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port (MIPMOP) device receiving signals from an array of antennas. A definition of the noise figures and natural noise figures of a MIPMOP device is provided, and the resulting properties are detailed in the impedance and admittance representations. We compute the natural noise figures of a low-noise MIPMOP amplifier comprising a MIMO series-series feedback amplifier (MIMO-SSFA), designed for a wireless receiver front-end.
Native Culture and Literature under Colonialism: Fanon’s Theory of Native Resistance and Development

This article provides a critique of Fanon’s three-stage narrative of native literary and cultural development. Fanon envisions a “stage-ist” narrative of native culture and literature moving teleologically from a moment of total identification with the colonizers to a moment of total freedom, through an ambivalent stage of nativist resistance. The main question this article addresses is: can we take this narrative, with its explicit and implicit theoretical assumptions, as a paradigm of native cultural and literary anti-colonialism? My argument is that such a narrative does indeed provide indispensable insights in illuminating specific moments or in critically explaining certain themes in the native culture of opposition. Fanon shows acute understanding of the salient issues relating to nationalism and nativism, their constructions of identity and of the past, and their relationship to the West in general. I have nevertheless found that this narrative cannot be upheld as paradigmatic of the colonial experience as such. For it is implicitly premised on the Caribbean colonial experience which is particular enough not to be generalized. The limitations of Fanon’s views, which underestimate the vitality and power of native culture, stem from his conception of colonial power as absolute, at least at the early stage of the colonial relationship. This conception of colonial power as total does not, however, take into account the various ways in which this power has been exercised and resisted at different times and in different places.
Strain-tunable ferroelectricity and its control of Rashba effect in KTaO3

The effects of epitaxial strain on the ferroelectric, structural properties of KTaO3 are studied by means of first-principles calculations. We show that the ferroelectric polarization magnitude as well as the orientation can be tuned by an in-plane strain: the c-phase is energetically more stable than the aa-phase at a large compressive strain while a phase transition from c- to aa-phase is observed at a large tensile strain, owing to the significant polarization-strain coupling. More importantly, based on relativistic first-principles calculations, we demonstrate a large Rashba spin splitting in the strained KTaO3. Interestingly, the spin textures in momentum space can be controlled and switched via polarization switching. Our tight-binding analysis indicates that the combination of spin-orbit coupling and ferroelectric distortion plays a key role for the observed Rashba spin splitting. Our results present some fundamental understanding of the interplay between Rashba effect and ferroelectricity in oxide.
Bank-Based Financial Development and Economic Growth: Time-Varying Causality Analysis for Egypt

The bootstrap approach to Toda-Yamamoto (1995) modified causality test is applied in a rolling window of fixed size onto Egyptian data during 1960-2016 to examine time-varying links between economic growth (EG) and bank-based financial development (BBFD). Full sample results indicated the existence of unidirectional causality running from BBFD to EG, however; instability tests revealed the presence of structural breaks. Given the misleading inferences made using the full sample, the rolling window procedure is applied. Bidirectional time-varying causality between EG and BBFD was detected. Reasons behind declining the fraction of credit provided to private business sector to GDP in recent years include, mainly, credit crunch and expansion of credit to the government and partially to economic slowdown. Adoption of fiscal reforms and promotion of innovative financial tools suitable for the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises is highly recommended to enhance the role of banking system in promoting economic growth.
Dynamically tunable transformation thermodynamics

Recently, the introduction of transformation thermodynamics has provided a way to design thermal media that alter the flow of heat according to any spatial deformation, enabling the construction of novel devices such as thermal cloaks or concentrators. However, in its current version, this technique only allows static deformations of space. Here, we develop a space–time theory of transformation thermodynamics that incorporates the possibility of performing time-varying deformations. This extra freedom greatly widens the range of achievable effects, providing an additional degree of control for heat management applications. As an example, we design a reconfigurable thermal cloak that can be opened and closed dynamically, therefore being able to gradually adjust the temperature distribution of a given region.
A behavior‐oriented dynamic model for sandbar migration and 2DH evolution

[1] A nonlinear model is developed to study the time‐dependent relationship between the alongshore variability of a sandbar, a(t), and alongshore‐averaged sandbar position, xc(t). Sediment transport equations are derived from energetics‐based formulations. A link between this continuous physical representation and a parametric form describing the migration of sandbars of constant shape is established through a simple transformation of variables. The model is driven by offshore wave conditions. The parametric equations are dynamically coupled such that changes in one term (i.e., xc) drive changes in the other (i.e., a(t)). The model is tested on 566 days of data from Palm Beach, New South Wales, Australia. Using weighted nonlinear least squares to estimate best fit model coefficients, the model explained 49% and 41% of the variance in measured xc and a(t), respectively. Comparisons against a 1‐D horizontal (1DH) version of the model showed significant improvements when the 2DH terms were included (1DH and 2DH Brier skill scores were −0.12 and 0.42, respectively). Onshore bar migration was not predicted in the 1DH model, while the 2DH model correctly predicted onshore migration in the presence of 2DH morphology and allowed the bar to remain closer to shore for a given amount of breaking, providing an important hysteresis to the system. The model is consistent with observations that active bar migration occurs under breaking waves with onshore migration occurring at timescales of days to weeks and increasing 2DH morphology, while offshore migration occurs rapidly under high waves and coincides with a reduction in 2DH morphology. Citation: Splinter, K. D. , R. A. Holman, and N. G. Plant (2011), Abehavior‐orienteddynamicmodelforsandbarmigrationand2DH evolution, J. Geophys. Res., 116, C01020, doi:10.1029/2010JC006382.
The World is Watching: Rankings of Czech and Slovak Economics Departments

This paper discusses the methodology of quantitative measures of research output. The authors illustrate various approaches to the contentious issue of to how to treat co-authored papers, how to best affiliate migrating authors, and how to quantify the quality of economic periodicals. The authors also summarize the main findings from the three papers published in this issue, which are devoted to the quantification of publishing activity of Czech and Slovak economists, and which reveal a high concentration of research activity in only a few institutions in the Czech and Slovak republics and the rather convoluted standards of promotion in Czech universities.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Recent Work Title Modeling Heterogeneous and Fractured Reservoirs with Inverse Methods Based on Iterated Function Systems Permalink

Jane C. S. Long, Christine Doughty, Kevin Hestir and Stephen Martel Earth Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Berkeley, CA 94720 Fractured and heterogeneous reservoirs are complex and difficult to characterize. In many cases, the modeling approaches used for making predictions of behavior in such reservoirs have been unsatis~a~tory. In this paper we describe a new modeling approach which results in a model that has fractal-like qualities. This is an inverse approach which uses observations of reservoir behavior to create a model that can reproduce observed behavior. The model is described by an iterated function system (lFS) that creates a fractal-like object that can be mapped into a conductivity distribution. It may be possible to identify subclasses of Iterated Function Systems which describe geological facies. By limiting the behavior-based search for an IPS to the geologic subclasses, we can condition the reservoir model on geologic iliformation. This technique is under development, but several examples provide encouragement for eventual application to reservoir prediction.
Concordance and Discordance: Cognitive and Neuropsychological Performance of Twins with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study sought to examine the cognitive and neuropsychological performance of monozygotic twin pairs who vary in concordance for ASD. The study used secondary data collected from a larger pilot study, resulting in a final sample of 28 children, all of whom were monozygotic twins (IQ range: 36 – 109). First, the study sought to determine whether pairwise concordance for ASD among monozygotic twins has changed with the use of new diagnostic criteria. McNemar tests found that pairwise concordance rates were not significantly different across DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, but were significantly greater with the use of either parent report or direct observation as compared to both measures for DSM-5 criteria. Secondly, the study examined the relationship between IQ and ASD symptomatology using ordinal logistic regression, finding that a decrease in IQ did not predict greater severity of ASD symptoms as measured by the Calibrated Severity Score (Gotham, Pickles, & Lord, 2009), but did predict greater symptom severity as measured by the total algorithm score of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (Lord, Rutter, & Le Couteur, 1994). Third, the study examined IQ performance in relation to concordance, finding that the relationship between concordance and IQ was not significant for any area score. Finally, the study examined relative strengths and weaknesses of neuropsychological performance for children with ASD, with no significant differences in performance found for any of the NEPSY subtests examined (Korkman, Kirk, and Kemp, 1998). Results from this study support the idea that the phenotypic characteristics of autism spectrum disorder are heterogeneous even among children with the same genotype.
Modelling of subgrid-scale stress and passive scalar flux in large eddy simulations of wall bounded turbulent flows

In Marstorp et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 639, 2009, pp. 403-432), an explicit algebraic subgrid stress model (EASSM) for large-eddy simulation (LES) was proposed, which was shown to considerably improve LES predictions of rotating and non-rotating turbulent channel flow. In this paper, we extend that work and present a new explicit algebraic subgrid scalar flux model (EASSFM) for LES, based on the modelled transport equation of the subgrid-scale (SGS) scalar flux. The new model is derived using the same kind of methodology that leads to the explicit algebraic scalar flux model of Wikstrom et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 12, 2000, pp. 688-702). The algebraic form is based on a weak equilibrium assumption and leads to a model that depends on the resolved strain-rate and rotation-rate tensors, the resolved scalar-gradient vector and, importantly, the SGS stress tensor. An accurate prediction of the SGS scalar flux is consequently strongly dependent on an accurate description of the SGS stresses. The new EASSFM is therefore primarily used in connection with the EASSM, since this model can accurately predict SGS stresses. The resulting SGS scalar flux is not necessarily aligned with the resolved scalar gradient, and the inherent dependence on the resolved rotation-rate tensor makes the model suitable for LES of rotating flow applications. The new EASSFM (together with the EASSM) is validated for the case of passive scalar transport in a fully developed turbulent channel flow with and without system rotation. LES results with the new model show good agreement with direct numerical simulation data for both cases. The new model predictions are also compared to those of the dynamic eddy diffusivity model (DEDM) and improvements are observed in the prediction of the resolved and SGS scalar quantities. In the non-rotating case, the model performance is studied at all relevant resolutions, showing that its predictions of the Nusselt number are much less dependent on the grid resolution and are more accurate. In channel flow with wall-normal rotation, where all the SGS stresses and fluxes are non-zero, the new model shows significant improvements over the DEDM predictions of the resolved and SGS quantities.
Model Predictive Control (MPC) for Enhancing Building and HVAC System Energy Efficiency: Problem Formulation, Applications and Opportunities

In the last few years, the application of Model Predictive Control (MPC) for energy management in buildings has received significant attention from the research community. MPC is becoming more and more viable because of the increase in computational power of building automation systems and the availability of a significant amount of monitored building data. MPC has found successful implementation in building thermal regulation, fully exploiting the potential of building thermal mass. Moreover, MPC has been positively applied to active energy storage systems, as well as to the optimal management of on-site renewable energy sources. MPC also opens up several opportunities for enhancing energy efficiency in the operation of Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems because of its ability to consider constraints, prediction of disturbances and multiple conflicting objectives, such as indoor thermal comfort and building energy demand. Despite the application of MPC algorithms in building control has been thoroughly investigated in various works, a unified framework that fully describes and formulates the implementation is still lacking. Firstly, this work introduces a common dictionary and taxonomy that gives a common ground to all the engineering disciplines involved in building design and control. Secondly the main scope of this paper is to define the MPC formulation framework and critically discuss the outcomes of different existing MPC algorithms for building and HVAC system management. The potential benefits of the application of MPC in improving energy efficiency in buildings were highlighted.
Alternative Payment Approaches for Biodiversity Conservation in Agriculture

Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use policies implemented in OECD countries could be made more environmentally effective and cost-effective. Several policy innovations could change this, however. To test this, a theoretical framework was developed to describe farmers’ participation in government payment programmes that enhance semi-natural wildlife habitats on farmland. The types of payments analysed here include: uniform payments; three types of conservation auctions with environmental targeting; uniform payment with environmental targeting; and two types of differentiated payments with environmental targeting. Quantitative results show that uniform payments are less efficient than other payment types, and that auctions with environmental targeting are the most cost-effective option. However, if farmers have knowledge of the environmental value of their offer, the cost-effectiveness of auctions decreases because they tend to increase their bids to benefit from this information rent (overcompensating income forgone). Adding environmental targeting to the uniform payment policy greatly improves the cost-effectiveness of uniform payment. The analysis clearly shows that, when targeted payments are implemented, the gains from environmental targeting are large and exceed the increase in policy-related transaction costs.
HOW SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT ALLOCATE ITS TAX REVENUES BETWEEN PRODUCTIVITY-ENHANCING AND UTILITY-ENHANCING PUBLIC GOODS?

We present a fairly standard general equilibrium model of endogenous growth with productive and nonproductive public goods and services. The former enhance private productivity and the latter private utility. We study Ramsey second-best optimal policy, where the latter is summarized by the paths of the income tax rate and the allocation of collected tax revenues between productivity-enhancing and utility-enhancing public expenditures. We show that the properties and macroeconomic implications of the second-best optimal policy (a) are different from the benchmark case of the social planner's first-best allocation and (b) depend crucially on whether public goods and services are subject to congestion.
A Sociology of Hackers

Illicit computer intruders, or hackers, are often thought of as pathological individuals rather than as members of a community. However, hackers exist within social groups that provide expertise, support, training, journals and conferences. This article outlines this community to establish the nature of hacking within ‘information societies’. To delineate a ‘sociology of hackers’, an introduction is provided to the nature of computer-mediated communication and the act of computer intrusion, the hack. Following this the hacking community is explored in three sections. First, a profile of the number of hackers and hacks is provided by exploring available demographics. Second, an outline of its culture is provided through a discussion of six different aspects of the hacking community. The six aspects are technology, secrecy, anonymity, membership fluidity, male dominance and motivations. Third, an exploration of the community's construction of a boundary, albeit fluid, between itself and its other, the computer security industry, is provided. This boundary is constructed through metaphors whose central role is to establish the ethical nature of hacking. Finally, a conclusion that rejects any pathologisation of hackers is offered.
The University of New South Wales Australian School of Business

The strategic bequest motive implies that children may want to live with their parents and provide care for them with the expectation of inheriting a larger portion of their bequest. This paper examines this hypothesis by focusing on the transition to coresidence by elderly Japanese parents and their children using underutilized Japanese panel data. Unlike previous studies, evidence for the bequest motive is generally tenuous. In addition, our use of a two-component mixture logit model identifies the minority group of families that follows the bequest motive and the majority group that does not. (93 words)
Development of teaching materials for international course students on the ancient forest culture of the Hokkaido University Campus

Many plant remains including pollen fossils, wooden artifacts and charred woods from Epi-Jomon culture (about 2000 years ago) to the Ainu culture period (about 400 years ago) have been excavated from the Hokkaido University Campus sites. Wood identification and pollen analysis have revealed the forest vegetation and wood utilization by ancient people, i.e., the ancient forest culture, for each era in this site. It is necessary to organize systematically the data concerning this ancient forest culture for showing an importance role of our campus as state property. Furthermore, the elucidation of the ancient forest culture is important because it can lead to an understanding of how ancient peoples managed forests and we may learn forest management techniques suitable for changing environment. Hokkaido University Forests has developed a course on “Environmental Science for Biological Resources” as a part of “Hokkaido University Short Term Exchange Program”, in short, HUSTEP. Therefore, we summarized a part of this ancient forest culture of Hokkaido University campus sites concisely and tried to develop teaching materials by creating display panels about this to introduce these to student from overseas, in particular the HUSTEP students.
The pollens consumed by common green lacewings Chrysoperla spp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) in cabbage crop environment in western France

The pollens consumed by common green lacewings Chrysoperla spp. in crop environment in western France, were ana- lysed. The diverticulum contents including quantity of pollen of Chrysoperla adults were analysed to compare a feeding behaviour between the sexes. Females consume more pollen than males. The feeding behaviour of the two main species present was compared, yielding new insights into differences between species within the complex Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens).
ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN PHOSPHORYLATION BY MASS SPECTROMETRY

Characterization of protein modification by phosphorylation is one of the major tasks that need to be accomplished in the post-genomic era. Phosphorylation is a key reversible modification occurring mainly on serine, threonine and tyrosine residues that can regulate enzymatic activity, subcellular localization, complex formation and degradation of proteins. Phosphorylation, the process by which a phosphate group is attached to a pre-existing protein, is an evolutionarily and metabolically cheap way to change the protein’s surface and properties. Analysis of these modifications presents formidable challenges but their determination generates indispensable insight into biological function. The combination of functionor structure-based purification of modified ‘subproteomes’, such as phosphorylated proteins or modified membrane proteins, with mass spectrometry is proving particularly successful. To map modification sites in molecular detail, novel mass spectrometric peptide sequencing and analysis technologies hold tremendous potential. Mass spectrometry based methods are the methods of choice for the identification of phosphorylation sites; however biochemical prefractionation and enrichment protocols will be needed to produce suitable samples in the case of low-stoichiometry phosphorylation. In this review, we will examine and catalogue how proteomics techniques can be used to answer specific questions related to protein phosphorylation. Hence, we will discuss the different mass spectrometric methods for enrichment of phospho-proteins and -peptides, and then the various technologies used for their identification and quantitation.
Phase Unwrapping Based on Multiple Population Genetic and Simulated Annealing Algorithm

Phase unwrapping is a common problem for many phase measurement techniques which restores original continuous phase from the wrapped phases. There are many phase unwrapping algorithms such as the Branch-Cut method, Quality-Guided method and so on. The Branch-Cut method is one of the most classical algorithms, but it often causes a large number of ‘isolated island’, which affects the quality of unwrapping. This paper develops the traditional Branch-Cut algorithm based on the fact that the branch-cuts problem is equivalent to the travelling salesman problem. The proposed algorithm uses the multiple population genetic and simulated annealing algorithm to calculate optimized match of residues, which effectively reduces the total length of the branch-cuts and avoids the large ‘isolated island’ phenomenon. Experiment results show that the precision and operation time of the proposed algorithm are improved compared with Goldstein’s algorithm.