Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The variance of quantitative estimates in shear wave imaging: Theory and experiments

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between the estimated shear modulus produced in shear wave imaging and the acquisition parameters. Using the framework of estimation theory and the Cramer-Rao lower bound applied both to the estimation of the velocity field variance and to the estimation of the shear wave travel time, we can derive the analytical formulation of the shear modulus variance σμ2 using relevant physical parameters such as the shear wave frequency, bandwidth, and ultrasonic parameters. This variance corresponds to the reproducibility of shear modulus reconstruction for a deterministic, quasi-homogeneous, and purely elastic medium. We thus consider the shear wave propagation as a deterministic process which is then corrupted during its observation by electronic noise and speckle decorrelation caused by shearing. A good correlation was found between analytical, numerical, and experimental results, which indicates that this formulation is well suited to understand the parameters' influence in those cases. The analytical formula stresses the importance of high-frequency and wideband shear waves for good estimation. Stiffer media are more difficult to assess reliably with identical acquisition signal-to-noise ratios, and a tradeoff between the reconstruction resolution of the shear modulus maps and the shear modulus variance is demonstrated. We then propose to use this formulation as a physical ground for a pixel-based quality measure that could be helpful for improving the reconstruction of real-time shear modulus maps for clinical applications.
Terrorism Versus Democracy: The Liberal State Response

1. Introduction to Revised Edition 2. Terrorism, Insurgency and Asymmetrical Conflict 3. The Emergence of Modern Terrorism 4. Origins and Key Characteristics of Al Qaeda 5. Politics, Diplomacy and Peace Processes: Pathways Out of Terrorism? 6. Law-Enforcement, Criminal Justice and the Liberal State 7. The Role of the Military in Combating Terrorism 8. Hostage-Taking, Sieges and Problems of Response 9. Aviation Security 10. The Media and Terrorism 11. International Cooperation Against Terrorism 12. The Future of Terrorism 13. Conclusion: Towards a Response to Terrorism Based on Democratic Principles and Respect for Human Rights. Appendix 1: Select Addresses of Internet Sources on Terrorism. Appendix 2: International Conventions and Protocols Pertaining to International Terrorism
A 3-D radiation pattern measurement method for a 60-GHz-band WPAN phased array antenna

Using 60-GHz band, multi-GHz bandwidth can be achieved for wireless personal area network (WPAN). However, WPAN requires high gain wide coverage area phased array antenna (PAA) for practical uses. In measurement of PAA, 3-D radiation pattern measurement is preferred. However, 2-D measurement is usually used because of limitations of measurement system. In this work, we propose a measurement method that can reduce measurement time for PAA while providing all radiation patterns; and a fixture to measure the 3-D radiation pattern which is compact and provides low interference on antenna's radiation pattern.
Why Do Non-partisans Challenge Parties in Local Politics? The (Extreme) Case of Poland

The article concentrates on recent successes of non-partisans (independents) in Polish local government. A majority of mayors and councillors remains unaffiliated with any party—in this respect Poland is an outlier among European countries. The article examines both the factors determining the cross-national variation in the level of local government partyness and those causing the differences between the municipalities. The analyses of local elections held in 2006 and 2010 demonstrate that non-partisans' successes are primarily due to the previous election results (the advantage of incumbency); a possible ‘partisan offensive’ to colonise new resources in local politics is sluggish.
Cutaneous laser-Doppler flowmetry: influence of underlying muscle blood flow.

To find whether the measurement of skin blood flow (SkBF) by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) is influenced by blood flow to underlying skeletal muscle, five subjects performed mild forearm exercise to induce a metabolic hyperemia in muscle in both forearms. This exercise consisted of alternative opening and closing of both hands at a frequency of approximately 1/s for a duration of 3 min. This exercise was performed twice by each subject. Forearm blood flow (FBF) by plethysmography increased from 2.64 +/- 0.49 (rest) to 31.11 +/- 9.95 ml.100 ml-1.min-1 (immediately after exercise) (P less than 0.001). No statistically significant postexercise increase was observed in LDF measured on the dorsal (110 +/- 21 to 105 +/- 21 mV) or ventral surface (266 +/- 113 to 246 +/- 77 mV) of the forearm. LDF measured from the chest also showed no significant change, indicating that the exercise was too mild to have reflex effects on SkBF. Moreover, the slope of the logarithmic linear regression and the half-time for recovery during the postexercise period for FBF were not reflected in LDF measurements from any of the three sites. We conclude that LDF measured from the skin surface is not influenced by blood flow to underlying skeletal muscle.
REIT Pricing Efficiency; Should Investors Still Be Concerned?

This study examines the impact of the REIT boom on the market microstructure of REIT common stocks. We analyze NYSE-traded REITs during the pre-boom period (1992) and the post-boom period (1994), and find significant reductions in bid/ask spreads over the period. We also find that the bid/ask spread differential between REITs and non-REITs has been roughly halved between 1991 and 1994. These reductions provide a direct benefit to REIT investors in terms of reduction in transaction costs and improved liquidity, and suggest that the level of uncertainty on the part of the REIT specialist has been reduced.
Understanding marketing strategies with particular reference to small- and medium-sized hotel businesses in the United Arab Emirates

This study attempts to empirically investigate the marketing practices of the small- and medium-sized hotels in the United Arab Emirates, which has not been extensively researched in the context of the accommodation sector in Arab region. Findings from the survey and semi-structured interviews with owners–operators of small- and medium-sized hotels revealed that, to remain competitive in the hotel businesses, small- and medium-sized hotels owners–operators undertaken various marketing practices in terms of positioning, product, price setting, and promotional strategies. The research reported in this paper seeks to make a contribution to the understanding of marketing strategies in small- and medium-sized hotels specifically and, more generally, to the area of small- and medium-sized enterprises or entrepreneurial marketing.
The Functional Food Trend: What’s Next And What Americans Think About Eggs

Objective: The HealthFocus® National Study of Public Attitudes and Actions Toward Healthy Foods is conducted every two years to identify current issues in consumer health and nutrition behavior and attitudes, to assess the trends in consumer priorities and to develop an understanding of where consumers are headed in their behavior towards their health and diet. This paper focuses on consumer interests in functional nutrition for disease prevention and health enhancement. It examines the role consumers see for eggs in healthy diets. Methods: The data for this study were collected from written questionnaires completed by 2,074 qualified respondents in August, September and October of 1998. The research was conducted in two stages: 1. A telephone pre-recruit from a national probability sample of households qualified respondents as Primary Grocery Shoppers (those who make most of the food buying decisions for their household or who equally share that responsibility). 2. A 12-page, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to qualified respondents. Respondents to this survey represent shoppers in the U.S. in all respects except race. Women account for 81% of the survey respondents, since they do most of the household shopping. Results: Most shoppers believe foods can offer benefits that reach beyond basic nutrition to functional nutrition for disease prevention and health enhancement. As consumers better understand the functional benefits of eggs, from Prevention to Performance, Wellness, Nurturing and Cosmetics, eggs will continue to play an important role in healthy eating for many consumers. Conclusions: Eggs are considered a healthy food by most consumers as long as they are eaten in moderation. Increased egg consumption is being driven by consumer interest in health benefits that reach beyond dietary avoidance strategies to positive nutrition strategies. Today’s self-reliant approach to health creates significant opportunities for health and nutrition marketers to use knowledge-based marketing programs to shape present and future health decisions and product choices among shoppers.
Risk Factors for Measles in HIV-infected Children and Adolescents in Botswana

We conducted a matched case-control study of 566 HIV-infected children in Botswana during a 2009–2010 measles outbreak to identify the risk factors for measles. Children in the oldest age quartile (≥13.1 years) were 4-fold more likely to acquire measles than those in the youngest quartile (<7.1 years). HIV-infected older children and adolescents may benefit from additional measles vaccination.
Biochemical study of CymJ , the putative regulator of cyclodextrin metabolism in Klebsiella oxytoca M 5 a 1 Tri

The products of ten genes clustered in two divergently oriented operons are required for the metabolism of cyclic oligoglucosides, the cyclodextrins, by Klebsiella oxytoca. The function of CymJ, the product of the promoter distal gene in one of the operons was studied. Over expression of cymJ in K. oxytoca led to strong reduction of the expression of the cym operons. This repression could be alleviated by addition of high concentration of -cyclodextrin into the medium. There is a possible relationship between CymJ and CymD since the absence of CymD in a cymD deletion mutant prevented the repression effect of CymJ. An intriguing finding was that the presence of CymJ in large amount in the cell caused severe cell division inhibition leading to retardation of growth. This morphological change was paralleled by a significant increase in the susceptibility of K. oxytoca to ampicillin. (Med J Indones 2007; 16:69-77)
The Changing Body: Health, Nutrition and Human Development in the Western World since 1700

original sources rather than a coherent analysis, I would certainly recommend this book as a guide to the original sources. Charbit saves his synthesis and analysis of nineteenth-century population thought largely for the last chapter, which is a very welcome chapter indeed. The insights he offers into the sometimes inconsistent analyses of these great intellectual figures of the nineteenth century shows that many of the arguments heard today in the ongoing debate about population growth, economic growth, and poverty, were already voiced in the nineteenth century. I am left with the impression that we have not made much progress since then in fundamental theory. Between the First and the Second World War, the drop in the birth rate and the population slump made Malthusian theory look obsolete. It rose from its ashes after the Second World War in response to the population explosion in less developed countries. Charbit argues that it would be unfair to evaluate the value of Malthus’s work by its fit with the later evolution of population and the economy, because ‘demography is neither theoretical physics nor is it mineralogical chemistry’ (p. 48): because it is a human science, theories are and should be based on factors that are peculiar to a given historical context. Although I agree that historical peculiarities do and should play a role in social-scientific research and theory, one could also argue that this epistemological point of view suggests a lack of ambition for the social sciences. Why would this argument hold for the social sciences and not for the biological sciences? Are not plants and animals, in their phenotypic appearance and behaviour, also peculiar to their historical environment? Darwinian evolutionary theory can be considered superior to the earlier, alternative ways of theorizing biological diversity because it is able to account ex ante for biological diversity and developments that occurred in time after the formulation of the theory. Should we not strive for theories of population that can do the same?
A new decomposition method based on the coherency matrix

This paper describes a new PolSAR decomposition approach based on the coherency matrix. In the new method, random scattering model representing forests scattering mechanism is proposed. Subtracted the random scattering component, the remainder coherency matrix is further decomposed into three orthogonal scattering mechanisms: surface, 0° and 45° dihedral scatterings, respectively. Then, the orthogonality of eigenvector is used to determine the scattering model parameters. Compared to the traditional model-based decomposition, the new decomposition method not only effectively reduces the overestimation of volume scattering, but also eliminates the phenomenon of negative scattering powers.
Teacher policy in England : an historical study of responses to changing ideological and socio-economic contexts

This research aims to explain teacher policy developments in England since the nineteenth century, using a historical approach. To this end, this research has demarcated the scope of teacher policy, in consideration of the main career phases of regular teachers, into three policy areas – initial teacher training, curriculum and teaching, and employment and professional development – and has divided the whole period of 1800-2008, in consideration of major political changes and the management of the research, into four periods of governments: early era governments (1800-1943), post-war era governments (1944-1979), Thatcherite governments (1979-1997), and New Labour governments (1997-2008). Teacher policy in each period has been explained in accordance with an analytical framework employing concepts of historical-institution legacies (HILs), interlinking-institution legacies (IILs), government strategies, political ideologies and socio-economic situations, devised largely on the basis of the perspectives of historical institutionalism and the statecentred approach. Teacher policy in the early era governments has been explained in terms of HILs developed to address the long-lived effects of early institutions on subsequent policies over time. The changing pattern of teacher policy during the period of government change in the last three periods has been explained in terms of IILs. This research suggests certain teacher policies in the early era governments have had a strong effect on subsequent policies, consistently or intermittently, in the form of revival. For example, apprenticeship instituted as an early form of school-based teacher training has reflected its legacy in subsequent policies such as SCITT and employment-based training. This research has found that, as IILs, striking changes in certain policies have already started before government change. Furthermore, this research argues that the three groups of governments have employed their own strategies under different political ideologies and socio-economic situations, and that most teacher policies have been made in line with their strategies.
Measuring Confidence in Temporal Topic Models with Posterior Predictive Checks

Large text collections are useful in social science research, but building reliable predictive models is difficult. Researchers must either deal directly with sparse, noisy, high dimensional language data or use latent variable models to infer more tractable lower dimensional patterns. For conclusions based on latent variable models to be reliable, however, it is necessary to measure the degree to which the model’s assumptions are met and to verify that the inferred hidden structure adequately captures the important variation in the data. In this paper we present one such methodology for evaluating statistical topic models using posterior predictive checks. As an example, we consider the content of 19th century speeches from the House of Commons.
How Do Practitioners Value Common Stock?

Early work in the 1970s documented a significant difference between the valuation of stock as taught by academics and as practiced by investment professionals. We revisit the issue of practitioner valuation of common stock using a survey-based investigation. We find that most practitioners use multiple techniques, that those techniques vary across the time horizon employed to estimate future variables and that the significant gap that existed between academics and practitioners continues to this day. We extend earlier work to examine differences between analysts working for different types of institutions and with different asset management styles.
The relationship between the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors of a tourist destination: the role of nationality – an analytical qualitative research approach

Using qualitative research techniques, this paper explores the relationship between the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors of a destination and the influence of nationality on these factors. These relationships were explored for a sample of 103 international tourists to Mauritius. The data were analysed by using (a) thematic analysis and (b) an analysis using the text analysis programme, CatPac. The results indicated relationships between specific motives, cognitive and affective images and it was also found that nationality has a strong influence on these variables. Different motives for visiting Mauritius were found to exist between different national groupings. Implications for use of thematic and content analysis, management of destination, marketing and tourist experiences are provided.
Does Informal Eldercare Impede Women's Employment? The Case of European Welfare States

Abstract European states vary in eldercare policies and in gendered norms of family care, and this study uses these variations to gain insight into the importance of macro-level factors for the work–care relationship. Using advanced panel data methods on European Community Household Panel (ECHP) data for 1994–2001, this study finds women's employment to be negatively associated with informal caregiving to the elderly across the European Union. For the countries included in the study, the effects of informal caregiving seem to be more negative in Southern Europe, less negative in Nordic countries, and in between these extremes in Central Europe. This study explains that since eldercare is a choice in countries with more formal care and less pronounced gendered care norms, the weaker impact of eldercare on women's employment in these countries has to do with the lesser degree of coercion in the caring decision.
Transgenic animals in biomedical research

The advent of transgenic technology, in which foreign genetic information is stably introduced into the mammalian germ line, has dramatically enhanced our basic knowledge of physiologic and pathologic processes. Transgenic animals created by these genetic manipulations are being used to provide insights into gene regulation, development, pathogenesis, and the treatment of disease. Furthermore, transgenic biotechnology holds great promise for the creation of genetically superior livestock and the industrial production of precious pharmaceuticals. It is evident now that the study and use of transgenic animals will significantly improve the human condition. —Merlino, G. T. Transgenic animals in biomedical research. FASEB J. 5: 2996‐3001; 1991.
A double‐hurdle model of cigarette consumption

This paper shows the importance of the double-hurdle approach for modelling individuals' cigarette consumption, using data from the UK General Household Survey, and argues that participation and consumption should be treated as separate individual choices. The likelihood function for the full double-hurdle is derived, and it is shown how restrictions on the stochastic specification of the model and auxillary information, which identifies ex-smokers, allow it to be decomposed. The empirical results highlight the value of the sample separation information and the need to model starting and quitting as separate decisions.
Building civic capacity : the politics of reforming urban schools

The authors of this volume argue that urban education is in urgent need of reform and that, although there have been plenty of innovative and even promising attempts to improve conditions, most have been doomed. The reason for this, they agree, lies in the failure of our major cities to develop their "civic capacity" the ability to build and maintain a broad social and political coalition across all sectors of the urban community in pursuit of a common goal. Drawing upon an ambitious eleven-city study funded by the National Science Foundation, the authors synthesize and make sense of the enormous amount of data from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Not only is this a vivid report from the front lines of big city schooling, but this work challenges us to rethink our approach to the crisis in our schools. The authors vigorously contend that it is essential for all (or most) important actors in an urban community to join together in a shared vision of what is wrong in the schools and how to fix it, and to pursue that vision strongly and systematically over a long time. That can only happen, however, if those same actors develop the ability and willingness to set aside narrow aims and opportunistic behavior in favor of pursuing the collective good. Written for a wide spectrum of potential readers including educators, social scientists, policymakers, and every citizen who cares about his or her child's education this book restores coalition politics to the center of educational reform and reminds us to look well beyond pedagogy and management theory for solutions to problems that are immune to the usual remedies. Drawing on select cases, the authors show that effective civic coalitions can be built. The struggle for reform can be won. "
Disabled people, New Labour, benefits and work

In its dealings with disabled people, New Labour has shifted the policy emphasis from benefits to work. A tightening of access to social security has been matched by the introduction of new employment-orientated programmes. However, closer scrutiny of these initiatives suggests that while the government has acknowledged the impacts of environmental and social barriers to work, it continues substantially to rely on traditional, medically informed, views of impairment and incapacity. As a result the policy focus remains, for the most part, at the level of the disabled claimant. This concentration on individuals as opposed to institutional performance forms a stark contrast with the government's approach in other sectors, especially the public sector, where attention has been centred less on the service user than on the regular and detailed measurement of institutional structures and outputs. The article therefore concludes that to redress the balance a more rigorous audit of private sector employment practices is needed if the government is to further its aim of social inclusion for disabled people and other excluded groups.