Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance Analysis of Orthogonal Space-Time Block Codes Over Flat Rician Fading Channels

In this paper, we analyze the error probability of orthogonal space-time block codes (OSTBC) with M-PSK and M-QAM constellations over flat Rician fading channels. We derive the moment generating function (MGF) of instantaneous signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) after space-time block decoding (signal combining) in such channels. Using a well-known MGF-based analysis approach, we present some expressions for the exact average symbol error rate (SER) and bit error rate (BER) of OSTBC over flat Rician fading channels
COMPETITIVENESS OF PRODUCT, FIRM, INDUSTRY, AND NATION IN A GLOBAL BUSINESS

Competitiveness is often confused with productivity. Productivity refers to the internal capability of an organization, while competitiveness refers to the relative position of an organization against its competitors. These two important concepts are often confused and interchangeably used. For example, in his famous book, The Competitive Advantage of Nations. Porter (1990, p. 6) says that the only meaningful concept of competitiveness at the national level is national productivity. Competitiveness may also have a distinctly different meaning at different levels of analysis — product, firm, industry, and nation. Porter (1990, p. 33) says that the basic unit of analysis for understanding competition is the “industry,” while the title of his book refers to “nations. ” He also says that firms, not nations, compete in international markets.
What drives support for higher public spending

This paper examines the role of individual and household characteristics in explaining patterns of support for higher public spending on seven of the most important public spending programmes including health, education, the police and defence. Different groups in the population, such as the elderly, those who are highly educated, and those who support particular political parties, tend to support distinctive types of spending. There is some evidence that use of private alternatives to public services reduces support for higher state spending in the fields of health care and transport, although no evidence is found that this is true for education. There is a fair degree of consonance between the factors affecting support for higher spending which individuals perceive as being in their own interest and that which they support as being in the interests of the country as a whole. Those differences that are found appear readily explicable. The association between having children in the household and supporting higher spending on education, for instance, is far stronger in the case of private interests than for the country as a whole. Personal use of private sector alternatives also appears to have less impact on perceptions of the national interest in expanded public provision than on perceptions of self interest. There is some evidence that individuals tend to express a greater degree of support for those benefits for which they might or do qualify themselves. Some groups, such as better-off households and Conservative supporters, are clearly more hostile than others to spending on social security spending generally.
Algorithms for the reduction of timed finite state graphs

A set of algorithms to reduce the size of timed finite state graphs are presented. In particular, we develop a more general algorithm for vertex folding than those presently existing. It is based on the law of conservation of transition time. We demonstrate the application of these reduction algorithms to a version of the stop-and-wait protocol. We have also developed a graph reduction software package incorporating all these algorithms which can be used in automated performance prediction. Graph reduction software tools such as these are important and form an integral part of automated protocol performance prediction tools[RUD 83].
Increased incidence of sepsis and altered monocyte functions in severely injured type A− glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient African American trauma patients

ObjectiveTo determine whether trauma patients with the common, type A− glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency have an aggravated inflammatory response, increased incidence of septic complications, and/or more profound alterations in leukocyte functions compared with nondeficient trauma patients. SettingsIntensive and surgical care units of a trauma center and flow cytometry and experimental laboratories at a teaching university hospital. DesignProspective cohort clinical study with measurements on days 2 and 5 postinjury. Monocyte and neutrophil oxidant content, apoptosis, and CD11b expression and plasma cytokine levels were compared between G6PD-deficient and nondeficient patients. PatientsA total of 467 male African American trauma patients were screened for the deficiency. Forty-four type A−202/376 G6PD-deficient patients were identified and enrolled in the study; 43 nondeficient patients were also enrolled and were matched by age, clinical criteria of injury severity, and type of trauma. Main ResultsAfter severe injury (Injury Severity Score, ≥16), 50% of the deficient and 6.2% of nondeficient patients developed sepsis with positive bacterial blood cultures. In deficient patients, the frequency of bronchial (75%) and wound infections (25%) was also increased compared with nondeficient patients (32% and 0%). The durations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, Sepsis Syndrome, and days on antibiotics were three times longer in deficient than in nondeficient individuals. However, adult respiratory distress syndrome occurred in 37% of both groups. Anemia was more severe in the deficient than nondeficient patients from day 10 posttrauma. On day 5, the peroxide content was doubled, apoptosis was decreased, and CD11b expression was increased in monocytes from deficient patients compared with cells from nondeficient patients. On day 5, the plasma interleukin (IL)-10 concentration was significantly lower in deficient than nondeficient patients, whereas tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were similar. After moderate injuries (Injury Severity Score, 9–16), the deficiency was not associated with adverse clinical effects, and the trauma-induced changes in leukocyte function were similar in deficient and nondeficient patients. ConclusionsThe common type A− G6PD deficiency predisposes septic complications and anemia in trauma patients after severe injuries as defined by an Injury Severity Score of ≥16. This adverse clinical course is accompanied by altered monocyte functions manifested as augmented oxidative stress, a decreased apoptotic response, increased cell adhesion properties, and a diminished IL-10 response.
A Biorobotic Pectoral Fin for Autonomous Undersea Vehicles

A biorobotic fin for autonomous undersea vehicles (AUVs) was developed based on studies of the anatomy, kinematics, and hydrodynamics of the bluegill sunfish pectoral fin. The biorobotic fin was able to produce many of the complex fin motions used by the sunfish during steady swimming and was used to investigate mechanisms of thrust production and control. This biorobotic fin is an excellent experimental tool and is an important first step towards developing propulsive devices that give AUVs maneuvering characteristics that match and exceed those of highly maneuverable fish
The effect of land clearing on rainfall and fresh water resources in Western Australia: a multi-functional sustainability analysis

It is widely recognised that southwest Western Australia has experienced a decline in rainfall over the last 40 years. It is generally thought that this decline is due to natural periodic variations and changes induced by global warming, but recently evidence has emerged suggesting that a substantial part of the decline may be due to extensive logging close to the coast to make way for housing developments and the clearing of native vegetation for wheat planting on the higher ground. We compare coastal and inland rainfall to show empirically that 55% to 62% of the observed rainfall decline is the result of land clearing alone. Using the index of sustainable functionality, we show that the economic consequences associated with this change of land use on fresh water resource availability have been underestimated to date and disproportionately affect the environment and poorest members of the population.
The Organizational Drivetrain: A Road To Integration of Dynamic Capabilities Research

Although the research domain of dynamic capabilities has become one of the most active in strategic management, critics have charged that it is plagued by confusion around the construct itself. In this paper, we uncover a potential reason for this confusion embedded in the unique nature of the construct's development path—a peculiarity that has led to split understandings of what constitutes a dynamic capability. We suggest a solution to this problem in the form of an illustrative metaphor—what we call the “organizational drivetrain. ” Our drivetrain represents a theoretical model aimed at combining different views of the definition of dynamic capabilities by explaining how routines and simple rules interact. This shows that it is possible to advance the development of the framework by combining divergent understandings into a coherent whole. We conclude by offering specific recommendations for how to achieve a greater unity of understanding and move the field even further forward.
Is China's independent director system working? The case of the electronics industry

Purpose - This paper sets out to explore the effects that the setting-up of an independent director system has on the operating efficiency of information electronics companies in China. Design/methodology/approach - This paper uses 87 Chinese listed electronics companies during the initial stages of the independent directors system from 1999 to 2002 as sample subjects, and employs a two-stage procedure for empirical investigation. Findings - The non-parametric test results verify that there is no significant difference in the operating efficiency of Chinese electronics companies following the establishment of an independent director system. The Tobit regression results show that the establishment of an independent director system in the Chinese electronics industry does not influence overall technical efficiency (TE), pure technical efficiency (PE), or scale efficiency (SE). Research limitations/implications - Whether the related schemes of the current corporate governance structure practised in China can achieve their expected results, as well as the possible future development direction of the governance structure, is of the utmost importance, and is a research subject worth examining in greater depth. Practical implications - It is of the utmost urgency for such corporate governance to improve the selection mechanism for independent directors, to establish incentives and responsibility-taking mechanisms for independent directors, and to amend the company law and securities law to perfect the rules of an independent director system. Originality/value - By using DEA and the Tobit regression model, this study attempts to investigate whether China, in addition to fraud prevention, has improved corporate operating efficiency by introducing a system of independent directors.
Untangling the Rise of Coopetition: The Intrusion of Competition in a Cooperative Game Structure

Strategy research on inter-firm cooperation has been commonly affected by a collaborative bias, implicitly assuming that firms interact among each other on the basis of fully converging interests and goals. Yet, plenty of empirical evidence shows that cooperation is affected by the intrusion of competitive issues and that consequently results in a game structure that actually moves away from the ideal circumstance of complete convergent interests. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it proposes the notion of cooperation as a truly coopetitive game, where firms interact among each other on the basis of a partially convergent interest structure. Second, it develops a series of propositions linking the rise of coopetition to a set of, respectively, environment-related and firm-related factors in order to explain the drivers of the intrusion of competitive issues within a cooperative game structure. The study eventually provides relevant implications for strategy research that we discuss in the final section.
Functions of The Working-Class Community in Modern Urban Society; Implications for Forced Relocation

Abstract The working class community serves as a processing mechanism for two transitions by immigrant groups: from peasant to worker, and from worker to full participant in urban industrial society. Communities which are successful in assisting in the first transition are likely to be stable and thus may actually hinder the second transition. As revealed by data on the West End in Boston, forced relocation can provide an opportunity for the second transition, but members of wording-class communities are differently equipped to take advantage of this opportunity depending upon the degree of their commitment to certain aspects of wording-class community life.
Building Collaborative Relationships with Distributors in the Dutch Potted Flower and Plant Industry

Abstract The objective of this paper is to discuss the impact of the information network and trust on collaborative relationships as well as the impact of the collaboration on the performance of suppliers (i.e., growers). Combining network and trust, growers can build collaborative efforts, namely joint action and the norm of flexibility. Network in this paper is analyzed in terms of its information that can support a supplier in coordinating the channel relationship. By means of trust, a grower and his distributor may have adequate mutual understanding and shared experience to creatively solve problems, set up effective planning and be flexible in the day-to-day management. The discussion is based on the network approach to channel relationships and considers elements of the transaction cost economics and marketing channels. One hundred seventy-five growers of the Dutch potted flower and plant industry answered the questionnaires about their relationships with distributors. This data was analyzed through structural equation modeling in Lisrel. The results show the safeguarding effects of the information network to encourage joint action and flexibility. Also, trust influences directly flexibility and indirectly joint action. Flexible growers achieve high profitability and growth rate. This study implies that the network and trust should be considered in making the decision about the degree of collaboration in a channel relationship. To achieve an efficient mechanism of coordination, managers need to draw special attention to the development and maintenance of trust and the network.
Case Report: "ADHD Trainer": the mobile application that enhances cognitive skills in ADHD patients

We report the case of a 10 year old patient diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid video game addiction, who was treated with medication combined with a novel cognitive training method based on video games called TCT method. A great risk of developing video game or internet addiction has been reported in children, especially in children with ADHD. Despite this risk, we hypothesize that the good use of these new technologies might be useful to develop new methods of cognitive training. The cognitive areas in which a greater improvement was observed through the use of video games were visuospatial working memory and fine motor skills. TCT method is a cognitive training method that enhances cognitive skills such as attention, working memory, processing speed, calculation ability, reasoning, and visuomotor coordination. The purpose of reviewing this case is to highlight that regular cognitive computerized training in ADHD patients may improve some of their cognitive symptoms and might be helpful for treating video game addiction.
Object Detection Oriented Feature Pooling for Video Semantic Indexing

We propose a new feature extraction method for video semantic indexing. Conventional methods extract features densely and uniformly across an entire image, whereas the proposed method exploits the object detector to extract features from image windows with high objectness. This feature extraction method focuses on “objects. ” Therefore, we can eliminate the unnecessary background information, and keep the useful information such as the position, the size, and the aspect ratio of a object. Since these object detection oriented features are complementary to features from entire images, the performance of video semantic indexing can be further improved. Experimental comparisons using large-scale video dataset of the TRECVID benchmark demonstrated that the proposed method substantially improved the performance of video semantic indexing.
High prevalence and young onset of allergic rhinitis in children with bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis often co‐exist, and rhinitis is a major risk factor for the development of asthma. However, the reported incidence of allergic rhinitis in asthmatic children varies widely. The aim of this study was to elucidate the incidence of allergic rhinitis, the onset age of chronic upper and lower airway symptoms, and the correlation of these two symptoms in asthmatic children. A cohort of 130 consecutive children (ages 2–10) with asthma was evaluated. A questionnaire regarding upper and lower airway symptoms was filled out by the parents. Objective diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was also made on the basis of rhinoscopy, nasal cytology, nasal challenge, and specific serum IgE (CAP‐RAST). Persistent nasal symptoms were present in 83.8% of the asthmatic children. The incidence of allergic rhinitis was 77.7% based on the objective findings. The mean onset age of asthma was 2.8 yr, and that of rhinitis was 2.9 yr. Nasal symptoms started as early as the first year of life in 8.9% of the children. In children with comorbid asthma and allergic rhinitis, rhinitis preceded in 33.7%, asthma preceded in 31.7%, and both started in the same year in 26.7%. In 7.9%, rhinitis was asymptomatic. Concomitant exacerbation of the upper and lower airways occurred in 34.6% of the total 130 children. These results demonstrate that allergic rhinitis manifested early in life in the majority of the asthmatic children. Persistent nasal symptoms in infancy may point to subsequent development of asthma and possible early intervention.
Systematic review of evidence to support the theory of psychobiotics.

CONTEXT The theory that supplemented probiotic bacteria could affect psychological outcomes has recently been outlined in narrative reviews; to date, however, this area of research has not been systematically reviewed. OBJECTIVE The objective of this review was to compare the effects of probiotics with those of placebo on psychological outcomes and symptoms of psychiatric disorders. DATA SOURCES The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and PsycARTICLES databases were searched electronically for studies published up to July 17, 2014. Reference lists of relevant articles were searched manually. STUDY SELECTION Only double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled human trials that used a standardized, validated scale to assess the effects of probiotic interventions compared with placebo on psychological outcomes or symptoms of psychiatric disorders were included. DATA EXTRACTION Two researchers independently assessed trials and evaluated them for methodological quality. Data were extracted from the included studies using a data extraction form. DATA SYNTHESIS Ten trials met the inclusion criteria. Overall, there is very limited evidence for the efficacy of probiotic interventions in psychological outcomes. The evidence base is incomplete and lacks applicability. CONCLUSIONS More trials are necessary before any inferences can be made about the efficacy of probiotics in mental health applications.
THE EVOLUTION OF HETEROGENEITY IN PERFORMANCE.

Research analyzing interfirm performance heterogeneity examines how much variance is explained by different classes of analysis such as industry, corporate or business-unit. If the level of performance heterogeneity is determined in part by the stages of industry and firm evolution, separating entrants from incumbents as the industry ages and examining performance heterogeneity intertemporally might inform this line of inquiry. Juxtaposing competing theories of industry evolution, this empirical paper investigates the evolution of performance heterogeneity following deregulation in the Trucking Industry. We track the variability in performance of the first cohort of firms to enter the industry; the analysis is replicated for all entrants and for incumbents. The findings suggest that industry transformation, in the form of deregulation, resets an industry's clock. Consistent with the traditional theory of industry evolution, the performance heterogeneity associated with cohort one's firm-level factors conv.
Understanding commenter influence during agency rule development

We provide the first empirical assessment of commenter influence during the rule development stage of administrative rulemaking. We argue that public com-menters play a critical agenda-setting role during rule development. To test this proposition, we analyze data from 36 Department of Transportation rules and almost 500 comments. Each of these rules began with an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking—a procedure that allows us to track the formal participation of interested parties during rule development. Our analyses are supplemented by face-to-face interviews with agency officials. We find a strong agenda-setting role for early commenters—both in terms of affecting the content of future regulations and in thwarting unwanted regulations. We conclude that “early-bird” com-menters are well positioned to frame public policy debates as rules move through the regulatory process. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Linking Wine Preferences to the Choice of Wine Tourism Destinations

This article explores the links between wine consumers’ preferences for wine from particular countries or regions and their interest in, and propensity to travel to, specific wine regions. Data from a convenience sample of 161 wine consumers in Calgary, Canada, revealed that specific appellation-of-origin preferences (e.g., for Australian or French wines) do have an influence on travel preferences and patterns. Nearly 70% of respondents preferred to drink wines from particular origins, and planned wine-related travel by respondents closely matched those geographic preferences. Other factors, however, were also shown to be important in shaping wine tourism destinations, including distance and cognitive factors. Implications are drawn for wine tourism marketing and for destination-choice theory. Recommendations are made for future research.