Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interference Analysis of Ambient Backscatter on Existing Wireless Communication Systems

Ambient backscatter is a new technology that utilizes existing wireless signals of other communication systems to enable small devices to communicate with each other. One key problem for ambient backscatter is that if it will result in interference on existing communication systems. We investigate this problem in this paper. Specifically, we build up the theoretical system model for the ambient backscatter systems, design a maximum likelihood (ML) detector for the legacy receiver, and also derive the corresponding bit error rate (BER) expressions. Finally, we evaluate the interference of the backscattered signals on existing communication systems via simulations. It is found that channel estimation results, distances and angles between the tag, the radio frequency (RF) source and the legacy receiver will impact the BER performance.
Rapid Neurological Recovery after Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Stroke: Prognostic Factors and Outcome

Background: Treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is associated with improved outcome in acute ischemic stroke. Of note, a proportion of patients demonstrate rapid and significant neurological recovery within 24 h. This has previously not been systematically studied. We aimed to examine its incidence, predictive factors and correlation with clinical outcomes. Methods: We included 161 patients with acute ischemic stroke who received intravenous tPA within 4.5 h. Patient demographics and clinical data were collected. Rapid neurological recovery was defined as an improvement of at least 50% within 24 h as measured by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and long-term outcomes were assessed by 3-month modified Rankin Scale. The incidence of rapid neurological recovery and its correlation with outcomes were studied. The predictors of the phenomenon were examined by univariate analysis. Results: Rapid neurological recovery was present in 44 of the 161 patients (27.3%). This correlated with favorable outcomes at 3 months (p < 0.0005). Lower baseline NIHSS score (p = 0.006), mild (NIHSS score <12) versus severe stroke (NIHSS score ≧12; p = 0.002), normal serum glucose levels on admission (3.3–7.7 mmol/l; p = 0.009) and younger age (p = 0.043) predicted rapid neurological recovery. However, there was no association with time to treatment (p = 0.3). Conclusion: Rapid neurological recovery defines a rapid responder population and was demonstrated in a quarter of patients treated with intravenous tPA. It strongly predicts a good clinical outcome.
Reputation and brand management in Scandinavian municipalities

As a result of the global proliferation of branding and reputation management, Scandinavian municipalities have become the arena for activities that involve the definition and implementation of a coherent brand identity and/or reputation platform. The evidence of these activities comes in the form of visible outputs such as municipal brand statements, slogans, core values, taglines, reputation seminars, communication strategies, reputation audits, and so on. The intensity of these activities can be assumed to have increased dramatically in Scandinavian municipalities over the last decade. Municipal and local government research, however, has largely neglected reputation and brand management efforts. Building on the 2013 International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM) IRSPM panel on public sector reputation (“Reputation management in the public sector: Strategies, processes, and effects”), this call for papers intends to summon contributions that focus specifically on Scandinavian municipalities and their strategic efforts to build a municipal brand and/or create a favorable municipal reputation. We therefore welcome manuscripts that address how these processes unfold in practice as new forms of governance, how they are designed as strategies, and the effects they have on the workings of local democracy. Relevant questions include, but are not limited to, the following topics: (1) Are reputation and brand management associated with reforms; are they integrative powers, do they create and intensify differences? (2) How do municipal organizations implement reputation and brand management into practice: what is the content projected by the municipalities and what is the relation to identity, history and culture, how/ do they involve citizen and key stakeholder groups? (3) Do these activities have implications for municipal governance, identity and democracy and broader trust in local governments? (4) To what extent does municipal reputation and brand management distinguish between the development of place branding and organizational branding strategies? Are they the same or do they imply different approaches? (5) What is the role of municipal identity in branding and reputation management strategies? (6) Which are the main challenges associated with the increasing use of municipal performance units, which seek their own independent reputation, for the development of a favorable overarching municipal reputation/brand? Professor Hilde Bjorna, The Arctic University of Norway Professor Haldor Byrkjeflot, University of Oslo Associate Professor Heidi Houlberg Salomonsen, Aalborg Universitet Dead-line for submission: March 31, 2014 Submit your manuscript in accordance with the SJPA author guidelines, see sjpa.gu. se, mark your submission “ Reputation and brand management ” Questions/Information : For additional information regarding the special issue, please contact Hilde Bjorna at hilde.bjorna@uit.no
Cooperative Search Using Agents for Cardinality Constrained Portfolio Selection Problem

This paper presents an agent-based model to select an investment portfolio with a restriction on the number of stocks in it. Daily movements of all the stocks in the market for the past few years are assumed to be available. The scheme deploys a federally structured consortium of agents in the stock market at the start of the historical period. Each agent starts with a pseudorandom portfolio and follows individual investment strategies as it walks through the past data. The agents are designed to emulate some of the characteristics of human investors-adjusting the weights of the stocks based on its own attitude toward risk, occasionally dropping and adding stocks to the portfolio, etc. Periodically, the agents share information about their performances and can switch portfolios. A final cardinality constrained portfolio is constructed by consolidating individual portfolios arrived at by the agents working on the historical data of the stocks. When tested in real markets of the U.K. and Japan, the model suggested portfolios that were quite competitive to, and frequently better than, the portfolios suggested by the mean-variance models.
Looking beyond symptom relief: evolution of mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel disease

The focus of effective management of inflammatory bowel disease, especially Crohn’s disease, has shifted from short-term symptom control to long-term modification of disease course and complications. Intestinal healing has achieved prominence as a goal of therapy that influences long-term disease course. We review the natural history of inflammatory bowel disease, the markers of disease control that may reflect outcomes and the specific role of mucosal healing. We may aim at better mucosal healing by appropriate choice of therapy, appropriate combinations of therapy and intervening early in the disease course.
Repetitive Model Predictive Control of a Precision Linear Motor Drive

In this paper, a repetitive model predictive controller (RMPC) is proposed for tracking control of a linear motor. The proposed algorithm reduces the tracking error caused by the periodic disturbance by including the estimation of the future disturbances in the prediction model. The repetitive tracking error is treated as the consequence of periodic input disturbance, which is learnt over several trials and is used to improve the tracking accuracy. As compared with the conventional MPC and repetitive control, this algorithm attempts to derive the merits of the two schemes. Some experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Antioxidant potential and radical-scavenging effects of flavonoids from the leaves of Psidium cattleianum grown in French Polynesia

Psidium cattleianum J. Sabine (Myrtaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant in French Polynesia. The leaves and roots possess many medicinal properties. These effects may be correlated with the presence of antioxidant compounds. Seven flavonoids along with a benzoic acid were isolated from the leaves of P. cattleianum. The compounds indicated strong antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities in ALP, DPPH · , ABTS ·− and ORAC assays. This study demonstrates that the leaves of P. cattleianum possess main compounds with interesting antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities, as clarified by four biological assays. Our findings may justify the use of these leaves in the traditional medicine of French Polynesia. Among the total eight known compounds, reynoutrin and luteolin were isolated for the first time from the genus Psidium.
Increasing healthy life span: conventional measures and slowing the innate aging process. Proceedings of the Ninth Congress of the International Association of Gerontology (IAG). June 27-30, 2001. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Bring home now the book enPDFd increasing healthy life span conventional measures and slowing the innate aging process to be your sources when going to read. It can be your new collection to not only display in your racks but also be the one that can help you fining the best sources. As in common, book is the window to get in the world and you can open the world easily. These wise words are really familiar with you, isn't it?
Trends in the Fiscal Capacity of Ohio's Public Schools

The fiscal capacity of a school district measures the difference between a district's ability to raise revenues locally and the expenditures needed to provide some specified level of educational services. This article uses several different approaches to calculate fiscal capacity for school districts in Ohio from 1996 to 2006. The results show that when the measure of revenue-raising capacity is based on assessed value, there is a modest trend towards more equality across districts, but when the measure is based on income, there is a strong trend towards greater inequality. The results also show that adjusting the measure of fiscal capacity for state and federal subsidies substantially reduces the measured level of inequality. Districts from the Appalachian region of Ohio tend to have relatively low values for fiscal capacity, regardless of the approach used. The rankings of urban districts depend heavily on how economically disadvantaged students are weighted when estimating the needed level of expenditures.
Complete Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Bacteriophage SPN1S

ABSTRACT To understand the interaction between the host of pathogenic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and its bacteriophage, we isolated the bacteriophage SPN1S. It is a lysogenic phage in the Podoviridae family and uses the O-antigen of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as a host receptor. Comparative genomic analysis of phage SPN1S and the S. enterica serovar Anatum-specific phage ε15 revealed different host specificities, probably due to the low homology of host specificity-related genes. Here we report the complete circular genome sequence of S. Typhimurium-specific bacteriophage SPN1S and show the results of our analysis.
The prevalence of multiple owners and directors in the SME sector: implications for our understanding of start-up and growth

The contribution of portfolio entrepreneurs to the business birth rate has not been systematically researched. To explore this a triangulation approach is adopted involving three data sets: an analysis of a one year's new company incorporations in Scotland; a re-analysis of a survey of 600 male- and female-owned businesses in three industry sectors; and an analysis of a practitioner selected data set of successful Scottish entrepreneurs (‘local heroes’). The paper reports that multiple ownership and cross-linkages between firms are extensive (up to 40% of limited companies may be involved) and occur in reduced frequencies in sole traders and partnerships. There is also a strong gender effect with men much more likely to diversify their business portfolios than women. Failure rates were also low in associated companies, implying that growing clusters of companies rather than single ones may be more efficient. The highest rates of inter-company links were found in the sample of high growth companies. The st.
Tourism destination marketing – A tool for destination management? A case study from Nelson/Tasman Region, New Zealand

Tourism destination marketing is now widely recognized as an essential component in the management of destinations. In harmony with the general marketing literature, which understands marketing as a management tool, some researchers understand destination marketing as a form of ‘market-oriented strategic planning’ and hence as a strategic approach to place development rather than a promotional tool. Based on the results of a case study of tourism destination marketing in the Nelson/Tasman Region, New Zealand, this article examines the suitability of tourism destination marketing as a tool and of Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO) as a vehicle for tourism destination management and development. A discussion of several difficulties in the implementation of tourism destination marketing in Nelson/Tasman Region leads to the conclusion that DMOs are unlikely to be able to claim too much responsibility for destination management but that they can play an important part in the management of the destination product.
A System Architecture for Flexible Rendering Back-ends in Distributed Virtual Reality Applications

We describe an approach to integrate multiple rendering back-ends under a common application layer for distributed systems. The primary goal was to find a practical and non-intrusive way to use potentially very different rendering back-ends in heterogeneous computing environments without impairing their strengths and without burdening the back-ends or the application with details of the cluster environment. Our approach is based on a mediator layer that can be plugged into the OpenSG infrastructure. This design allows us to elegantly extent OpenSG's low-level multithreading and clustering capabilities to our system. It also allows us to sync incremental changes very efficiently. We demonstrate results and problems with two case studies.
Jitter in oscillators with 1/f noise sources

A higher 1/f noise corner is introduced in the latest deep sub-micron process. Hence the characterization of jitter due to the 1/f noise becomes crucial for practical applications. This work presents a simple model to relate the time domain jitter and frequency domain phase noise in the presence of 1/f noise sources, and reveals the relationship between the 1/f transition time and the 1/f/sup 3/ phase noise corner. The measured results from ring oscillators fabricated in a 0.18/spl mu/process show that the error of this simple model is within 10%.
Conflict Management Process for Virtual Communities

Through the participation on collaborative tasks in virtual communities, members can express their divergences during discussions, which characterize conflicts. Conflicts can contribute positively creativity, innovation and quality of decisions. However, if not managed, conflicts can negatively impact community performance and members’ satisfaction. We propose a conflict management process for virtual communities. The process is useful to design new virtual communities because it allows to bring conflict management mechanisms, and also to improve mechanisms of existent virtual communities by correctly addressing the causes and consequences of conflicts.
The influence of cochlear implants on behaviour problems in deaf children.

BACKGROUND This study seeks to analyse the relationship between behaviour problems in deaf children and their auditory and communication development subsequent to cochlear implantation and to examine the incidence of these problems in comparison to their hearing peers. METHOD This study uses an ex post facto prospective design with a sample of 208 Spanish children, of whom 104 were deaf subjects with cochlear implants. The first objective assesses the relationships between behaviour problems, auditory integration, and social and communication skills in the group of deaf children. The second compares the frequency and intensity of behaviour problems of the group of deaf children with their hearing peers. RESULTS The correlation analysis showed a significant association between the internal index of behaviour problems and auditory integration and communication skills, such that deaf children with greater auditory and communication development had no behaviour problems. When comparing behaviour problems in deaf children versus their hearing peers, behavioural disturbances are significantly more frequent in the former. CONCLUSIONS According to these findings, cochlear implants may not guarantee adequate auditory and communicative development that would normalise the behaviour of deaf children.
The constraints of a ‘work–life balance’ approach: an international perspective

Locating work–life balance discourse in time and place The huge recent growth in attention to ‘work–life balance’(WLB) dilemmas in academic, political, professional and popular literature might give the impression that this is, at best, a new area of concern, or at worst, a passing fad. This would, however, be misleading. The WLB metaphor is a social construct located within a particular period of time and originating in a Western context, but dilemmas relating to the management of paid work alongside other parts of life, especially family, have been the focus of research for several decades (see, e.g., Rapoport and Rapoport, 1965). Research on this topic has always reflected social, economic and workplace developments and concerns, shifting in response to new trends. For example, as the numbers of women entering the labour force grew, from the 1960s, research in certain contexts tended to focus on ‘working mothers’ or dual earner families, while concerns about stress and burnout associated with workplace changes in the 1980s and 1990s were reflected in research and debate about work–family conflict (Lewis and Cooper, 1999). The terminology used to refer to these issues continues to evolve in response to current concerns. In particular, a shift from ‘work–family’ and ‘family-friendly policies’ with their implicit focus on women, especially mothers, to ‘work–life’, the precursor of the more recent ‘work–life balance’ (WLB) discourse began in the 1990s. This linguistic shift reflected a broader and more inclusive way of framing the debate to engage men and women with and without children or other caring commitments and was partly a response to backlash against work–family policies by those without obvious family obligations.
Dynamics of Metallurgic Production in Emerging Countries

The article presents the analysis of the development of production in metallurgic industry. Production rates and output are determined by two factors. The first factor of the metals consumption growth is the annual population growth, especially in emerging countries. The second factor is the process of industrialization in emerging countries. However, the dynamics of the production processes can affect the re-industrialization and the reshoring of industrial production. The article analyses the development of production in metallurgic industry in China and Russia.
Reforma y Contrarreforma Agraria en Colombia (Reform and Self Defeating Agrarian Reform in Colombia)

The agrarian problem in Colombia is an economic and political issue. Attempting to solve it, with only technical means has been a failure and it is shown by facts. Although efforts have been made using political means no progress has been made. Colombian history shows that. The lack of an effective democratic solution has limited Colombian social development and has made conflict over land and violence eternal. Through history every land reform effort was followed by a counter reform and the start of a new violent cycle of violence. To prevent new frustrations, there is a need for the State to acknowledge the nature and complexity of the problem and for Government and Congress assume a political commitment with society regarding the new reform initiative.
The Influence of Chemical Shift Artifact on Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Ligamentum Flavum at 0.5 Tesla

Study Design Retrospective clinical magnetic resonance imaging study and prospective magnetic resonance imaging volunteer study of the appearance of the ligamentum flavum. Objective To demonstrate the effect of chemical shift artifact on the apparent thickness of the ligamentum flavum on axial magnetic resonance images. Summary of Background Data The ligamentum flavum is a symmetric structure clearly seen on magnetic resonance images. Apparent unilateral thickening may be interpreted as indicating a pathologic process, and the influence of chemical shift artifact on the apparent thickness of the ligamentum flavum has not been emphasized. Methods Ligamenta flava thicknesses were measured from axial T1-weighted gradient echo magnetic resonance scans of 12 consecutive patients and various axial sequences in seven volunteers. Results The ligamentum flavum appeared consistently thicker on the lower side of the readout gradient field. This chemical shift effect could be manipulated by swapping phase and frequency or patient orientation in the magnet. Conclusions Caution should be applied in attributing apparent asymmetry of the ligamenta flava to disease; the influence of chemical shift artifact should be considered.