Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A technique for in-band phase noise reduction in fractional-N frequency synthesizers

A fractional-N PLL employing a dual-frequency clock generator is proposed to achieve lowering the in-band phase noise. The architecture enables the PFD/CP to operate in the linear region to avoid noise-folding effect. An optimum operating condition can be tuned to achieve the best in-band phase noise. The proposed techniques are employed in a 800-MHz fractional-N PLL fabricated in a 0.18-μm CMOS process. The experimental results demonstrate that the integrated rms jitter (10 kHz to 10 MHz) in the fractional-N PLL can be greatly improved from 26.45 ps to 3.91 ps. This fully-integrated PLL dissipates 23.5 mA from a 1.8-V supply.
Rapid melt growth of Ge tunnel junctions for interband tunnel transistors

In this paper, the authors report on the simulated characteristics of Ge interband tunnel transistors and show the first characteristics of submicron p<sup>+</sup>n<sup>+</sup> junction tunnel junctions using rapid melt growth of Ge. This process uses a phosphorus spin-on diffusant followed by rapid thermal annealing to form the n layer. Aluminum is then deposited by lift-off, capped with Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, and liquified in a rapid thermal processor to dissolve back and regrow the p<sup>+</sup> side of the tunnel junction.
Farm Safety Research to Practice: The Long Road From the Laboratory to the Farm

ABSTRACT Research to Practice is a critically important component in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH) mission of conducting applied research in support of worker health and safety. All of the excellent research in the world will not help workers if the products of that research are not effectively integrated into widespread use in industry. For this reason, Research to Practice has been a major program emphasis within NIOSH. Although success stories can be found, few come from agriculture, the authors maintain, because of a range of unique economic and regulatory factors present in this sector. The purpose of this commentary is to discuss the major factors standing in the way of bringing proven agricultural safety innovations into commercial production, and to outline a range of possible solutions to these structural challenges.
Energy end-use: Buildings

Executive Summary Buildings are key to a sustainable future because their design, construction, operation, and the activities in buildings are significant contributors to energy-related sustainability challenges – reducing energy demand in buildings can play one of the most important roles in solving these challenges. More specifically: The buildings sector and people's activities in buildings are responsible for approximately 31% of global final energy demand, approximately one-third of energy-related CO 2 emissions, approximately two-thirds of halocarbon, and approximately 25–33% of black carbon emissions. Several energy-related problems affecting human health and productivity take place in buildings, including mortality and morbidity due to poor indoor air quality or inadequate indoor temperatures. Therefore, improving buildings and their equipment offers one of the entry points to addressing these challenges. More efficient energy and material use, as well as sustainable energy supply in buildings, are critical to tackling the sustainability-related challenges outlined in the GEA. Recent major advances in building design, know-how, technology, and policy have made it possible for global building energy use to decline significantly. A number of lowenergy and passive buildings, both retrofitted and newly constructed, already exist, demonstrating that low level of building energy performance is achievable. With the application of on-site and community-scale renewable energy sources, several buildings and communities could become zero-net-energy users and zero-greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters, or net energy suppliers. Recent advances in materials and know-how make new buildings that use 10–40% of the final heating and cooling energy of conventional new buildings cost-effective in all world regions and climate zones.
Implementation of information technology in Africa: Understanding and explaining the results of ten years of implementation effort in a Tanzanian organization

This study traces attempts to introduce information technology into a management college in Africa, over a 10-year period from 1991 to 2001. The study uses an interpretative approach and is informed by information technology (IT) implementation literature. The case shows little progress over the 10-year period studied and the authors identify several explanations for this. The findings related to implementation, or the lack thereof, tie in well with the general IT implementation literature, suggesting that some of the key elements in the literature are of a fairly general and universal nature. The general nature of the literature does not provide the background for a deeper understanding of the issues and underlying levels of explanations. For this, more contextual factors need to be taken into account. The authors have been able to point to some of these sociocultural factors. However, this is an area where further research is needed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Institutional Reform Litigation in an Era of Governance

This article examines the effects of governance reforms on the role of the courts in institutional reform litigation. It also explores the impact on governance of judicial deference to executive control of local provider networks. The 1999 Olmstead decision and its aftermath illustrate these mutually reinforcing tendencies. State home and community-based Medicaid waiver programs support de-institutionalization but create no legally enforceable rights to services. Conversely, lower federal court cases since Olmstead have resulted in settlement agreements and only incremental expansion of waiver services. These trends stand in stark contrast to institutional reform litigation in the 1970s. Judicial deference to executive control is consistent with an emerging model of legitimacy based on political accountability to a general public interest. To conclude, an outline is presented of a new jurisprudence of community to replace the current jurisprudence of rights that subordinates the right to belong to one's community to the individual's right to be free from the confines of state programs.
Physiological and Psychological Correlates of Sleep in HIV Infection

Insomnia, a common problem associated with HIV disease, is most likely caused by a multitude of factors. This study investigated the correlations between a selected group of physiological and psychological factors and sleep quality in an HIV-infected population. A convenience sample of 79 ethnically diverse HIV-positive adults, ages 24 to 63, completed a number of questionnaires and released their laboratory records for CD4+ cell count and viral load information. Variables significantly related to sleep quality were HIV-related symptoms, total pain, fatigue, depression, state anxiety, and the number of adults in the household. Findings support the need for health care providers to consider factors that contribute to impaired sleep when developing effective care for HIV-infected individuals with sleep disturbance.
Expression of Non‐NMDA Glutamate Receptor Channel Genes by Clonal Human Neurons

Abstract: Treatment of the human teratocarcinoma line NTera2/c1.D1 (NT2) with retinoic acid induces terminal neuronal differentiation. In a previous study, we found that the neurons obtained in this way express functional N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) and non‐NMDA glutamate receptor channels. We now show by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting that these neurons transcribe each of the nine known non‐NMDA glutamate receptor genes (GluR1‐7, Ka‐1, and Ka‐2) and that four of these genes (GluR2, GluR6, GluR7, and Ka‐1) are also transcribed by undifferentiated NT2 cells. Patch clamp studies demonstrate that individual non‐NMDA glutamate receptor channels are readily isolated from NT2‐derived neurons and that these channels are potently modulated by the desensitization blocker cyclothiazide. NT2‐derived neurons are susceptible to kainate excitotoxicity but are not injured by prolonged exposure to α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionate. We expect that the NT2‐derived human neuronal culture system will facilitate studies of human neuronal non‐NMDA glutamate receptor channels and of the pathophysiology of neuronal excitotoxicity.
Types of corporate responsibility and engagement with NGOs: an exploration of business and societal outcomes

Purpose – This paper aims to classify different corporate responsibility (CR) actions into three types – philanthropy, CR integration and CR innovation – and examines different forms of corporate engagement with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) through this categorization. The focus is on the societal and business outcomes of engagement.Design/methodology/approach – The study analyzes 20 business‐NGO collaborations of three case companies – Hindustan Unilever, Nokia and Stora Enso. Cases are chosen based on revelatory sampling and data are gathered through documentary research of corporate sustainability reports, project reports and websites. Data analysis focuses on engagement forms, business and societal outcomes of engagement and utilizes a categorization of CR.Findings – Different CR types involve different forms of cooperation ranging from sponsorship to partnership. Furthermore, CR integration and CR innovation seem to have more potential for long‐term positive business outcomes than philanthrop.
Indicators for Measuring Fiscal Sustainability: A Comparison of the OECD Method and Generational Accounting

Based on an empirical application for Germany, we compare two methods of measuring fiscal sustainability: the generational-accounting approach and the OECD method. In a first step, we show that the two methods can be transformed into one another. Hence, the indicators of generational accounting can be used for the OECD method and vice versa, thus enlarging the set of sustainability indicators for both methods. In a second step, we discuss these indicators with respect to their theoretical deficiencies, tangibility, and sensitivity. Finally, we come to the conclusion that a combination of indicators stemming from both approaches can give a more general and understandable description of fiscal sustainability and satisfy a strictly defined condition of sustainability at the same time.
The influence of a business ethics course on ethical judgments of Malaysian accountants

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of ethics instruction received during tertiary education on ethical judgments of Malaysian accountants. Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained through questionnaire survey and analyzed using regression analysis. Findings – A total of 221 respondents representing a 88.4 per cent response rate completed the questionnaire. The regression results show that ethics instruction received during tertiary education have a significant impact on both legal and illegal business scenarios. Accountants also judged an illegal questionable scenario stricter than a legal questionable scenario. Research limitations/implications – The questionnaires were distributed to those firms which participated in the internship programme. Although the firms which participated were of varying sizes, care still needs to be taken in interpreting the results, as representativeness remains an issue in studies of small sample size. Practical implications – The findings.
Evaluation of a novel intervention providing insight into the tobacco industry to prevent the uptake of smoking in school-aged children: a mixed-methods study

Objectives Evidence from the US Truth campaign suggests that interventions focusing on tobacco industry practices and ethics may be effective in preventing youth smoking uptake. We developed, piloted and evaluated a school-based intervention based on this premise. Methods Exploratory study students in years 7–8 (aged 11–13) in two UK schools received Operation Smoke Storm, comprising three 50 min classroom-based sessions in year 7, an accompanying family booklet and a 1-hour classroom-based booster session in year 8. We compared the risk and odds of ever smoking and susceptibility to smoking in year 8 students in study schools postintervention with students in control schools. Focus groups and interviews with students, teachers and parents evaluated the acceptability of the intervention. Results In intervention schools, the combined prevalence of ever smoking and susceptibility increased from 18.2% in year 7 to 33.8% in year 8. There was no significant difference in the odds of a year 8 student in an intervention school being an ever smoker or susceptible never smoker compared with controls (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.28, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.97, p=0.263) and no significant difference in the odds of ever smoking (aOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.58, p=0.549). Teachers highlighted differences by academic ability in how well the messages presented were understood. Use of the family component was low but was received positively by parents who engaged with it. Conclusions Operation Smoke Storm is an acceptable resource for delivering smoking-prevention education, but it does not appear to have reduced smoking and susceptibility.
Blood pressure control, proteinuria, and the progression of renal disease. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relations among proteinuria, prescribed and achieved blood pressure, and decline in glomerular filtration rate in the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study. DESIGN 2 randomized trials in patients with chronic renal diseases of diverse cause. SETTING 15 outpatient nephrology practices at university hospitals. PATIENTS 840 patients, of whom 585 were in study A (glomerular filtration rate, 25 to 55 mliters/min.1.73 m2) and 255 were in study B (glomerular filtration rate, 13 to 24 mliters/min.1.73 m2). Diabetic patients who required insulin were excluded. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly assigned to a usual blood pressure goal (target mean arterial pressure, < or = 107 mm Hg for patients < or = 60 years of age and < or = 113 mm Hg for patients > or = 61 years of age) or a low blood pressure goal (target mean arterial pressure, < or = 92 mm Hg for patients < or = 60 years of age and < or = 98 mm Hg for patients > or = 61 years of age). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rate of decline in glomerular filtration rate and change in proteinuria during follow-up. RESULTS The low blood pressure goal had a greater beneficial effect in persons with higher baseline proteinuria in both study A (P = 0.02) and study B (P = 0.01). Glomerular filtration rate declined faster in patients with higher achieved blood pressure during follow-up in both study A (r = -0.20; P < 0.001) and study B (r = -0.34; P < 0.001), and these correlations were stronger in persons with higher baseline proteinuria (P < 0.001 in study A; P < 0.01 in study B). In study A, the association between decline in glomerular filtration rate and achieved follow-up blood pressure was nonlinear (P = 0.011) and was stronger at higher mean arterial pressure. In both studies, the low blood pressure goal significantly reduced proteinuria during the first 4 months after randomization. This, in turn, correlated with a slower subsequent decline in glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS Our study supports the concept that proteinuria is an independent risk factor for the progression of renal disease. For patients with proteinuria of more than 1 g/d, we suggest a target blood pressure of less than 92 mm Hg (125/75 mm Hg). For patients with proteinuria of 0.25 to 1.0 g/d, a target mean arterial pressure of less than 98 mm Hg (about 130/80 mm Hg) may be advisable. The extent to which lowering blood pressure reduces proteinuria may be a measure of the effectiveness of this therapy in slowing the progression of renal disease.
A Quantitative Assessment of the Effect of First Contract Arbitration on Bargaining Relationships

type="main" xml:id="irel12098-abs-0001"> This article investigates first contract arbitration's (FCA) capacity to foster bargaining relationships and deter misconduct by analyzing its effect on decertifications. Using time-series cross-sectional (TSCS) analysis with data from nine Canadian provinces over a four-decade period, it shows: (1) FCA correlates with 20 to 37 percent fewer decertifications in provinces that have an FCA provision relative to those that do not; (2) of the various types of FCA, the automatic and fault forms have the most robust effect on decertifications while the mediation-arbitration form may have the largest effect on decertifications; and (3) the effect of FCA is heightened in the presence of card-check certification such that the best results for fostering bargaining relationships may be found in the presence of both policies.
Global supply chain and port/terminal: integration and competitiveness

Much has been said of the importance of port and terminal integration in the supply chain. Authors have stressed the importance of agility to the port environment, which involves being proactive along supply chains, facilitation of intermodal integration, as well as organizational integration and partnership between ports and users. Despite the well articulated importance of the issues, little has been offered in terms of conceptualizations and empirical evidence of what really is meant by port/terminal integration in the supply chain, how such integration can be measured and quantified as well as the extent to which different ports/terminals in the world are integrated in the supply chain and competitive performance implications arising thereof. This paper aims to make a contribution in this respect by (i) reviewing the relevant literature on supply chain integration and port integration in the supply chain, (ii) conceptualizing measures for port/terminal integration in the supply chain, (iii) empirically testing the influence of port/terminal integration in the supply chain on port competitiveness and (iv) outlining the significance and value of the study for port operators, shipping lines, transport providers and for further research.
Minimum Wage Policy and Employment Effects: Evidence from Brazil

The international literature on minimum wages greatly lacks empirical evidence for Latin America. In Brazil, not only are minimum wage increases large and frequent, but they also have been used as both a social policy and an anti-inflationary policy. This paper estimates the effects of the minimum wage on wages and employment using panel data techniques and Brazilian monthly household data from 1982 to 2000. A number of conceptual and identification questions are discussed. For example, the paper summarizes various strategies on how best to measure the effect of a constant (national) minimum wage, presenting a menu of minimum wage variables that are then used to estimate wage and employment effects. The paper also uses an employment decomposition that separately estimates the effect of the minimum wage on hours per worker and on the number of jobs. Robust results indicate that an increase in the minimum wage strongly compresses the wages distribution with small adverse effects on employment.
Immunohistochemical studies on the distribution of nerve fibers in the human prostate with special reference to the anterior fibromuscular stroma

Although the anterior fibromuscular stroma (AFMS) comprises up to one third of the total bulk of the prostate, its physiological function remains unknown. We recently reported the possible contribution of the AFMS to micturition. The aim of this study is to reveal the differences in the distribution of innervation between the AFMS and the other regions of the prostate.
Impact of biofield treatment on ginseng and organic blueberry yield

This study tested the Null Hypothesis for the effect of BioField Energy applied to two separate crops under typical growing conditions, namely ginseng and organic blueberry in commercial plantings in Wisconsin and California, respectively. Following treatment to replicated plots in standard experimental design, data were collected at harvest for yield quantity and quality. Ginseng plants treated both pre-harvest and a combination of pre- and post-harvest showed market grade increases of 33.3% and 40.0%, respectively. Point of sale gross return for this crop is dependent upon tuber quality, and from these data the economics of these treatments were calculated. Based on stand adjusted yields and quality values, a combination of pre- and postharvest treatment increased gross income by 57.4%. The second crop showed similar trends in positive responses. In the two blueberry varieties studied, Emerald treated plants showed 96% statistical increase in yield, while Jewel showed 31% increase. At the time of treatment, each variety was in a different stage of flowering. The Emerald variety was in the flowering stage, and Jewel was predominately in the fruiting stage. Both treated cultivars however demonstrated increased yield quantity and quality. The specific mechanisms that lead to these preliminary results need further investigation.
The Impact of Violence Surges on Neighbourhood Business Activity

Theoretical and empirical arguments suggest that fear of violence will cause consumers, employees and entrepreneurs to alter their routine activities in areas that experience a surge in violent activity. This paper argues that understanding how businesses respond to violence has important implications for understanding community crime cycles and offers further evidence of how crime impacts the choices individuals make with regard to where they live, shop and work. Using newly available longitudinal business data and homicide data disaggregated to the ZIP code level, an examination is made of the impact of violence surges on the creation, destruction and growth of business establishments in five large US cities between 1987 and 1994. Controlling for pre-existing levels of violence, it is found that increased violence has the greatest consequences for service-related establishments in low-crime neighbourhoods. This finding is consistent with the notion that the fear of victimisation imposes additional indirect costs to society through its negative impact on local business establishments.
Social Relations in the Workplace: A 'Linked Games' Approach

The paper analyses how cooperation in a repeated social game may help to sustain cooperation in a "linked" repeated production game. We show that this may happen a)because of available "social capital", defined as the slack of punishment power present in the social repeated game, b) because, when agents' utility function is strictly concave in the outcome of the two games, a simultaneous punishment in the linked games turns out to be a stronger threat than the sum of the independent punishments in the two component games, and c) because the linkage between two repeated games may generate transfers of "trust".