Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Miniature Scalp-Implantable Antennas for Telemetry in the MICS and ISM Bands: Design, Safety Considerations and Link Budget Analysis

We study the design and radiation performance of novel miniature antennas for integration in head-implanted medical devices operating in the MICS (402.0-405.0 MHz) and ISM (433.1-434.8, 868.0-868.6 and 902.8-928.0 MHz) bands. A parametric model of a skin-implantable antenna is proposed, and a prototype is fabricated and tested. To speed-up antenna design, a two-step methodology is suggested. This involves approximate antenna design inside a simplified geometry and further Quasi-Newton optimization inside a canonical model of the intended implantation site. Antennas are further analyzed inside an anatomical human head model. Results indicate strong dependence of the exhibited radiation performance (radiation pattern, gain, specific absorption rate and quality of communication with exterior equipment) on design parameters and operation frequency. The study provides valuable insight into the design of implantable antennas, addressing the suitability of canonical against anatomical tissue models for design purposes, and assessing patient safety and link budget at various frequencies. Finite Element and Finite Difference Time Domain numerical solvers are used at different stages of the antenna design and analysis procedures to suit specific needs. The proposed design methodology can be applied to optimize antennas for several implantation scenarios and biotelemetry applications.
Rational expectation hypothesis: empirical evidence from government debt market in India

This article tests the validity of rational expectation hypothesis (REH) for government securities market in India for the period Jul-97 through Feb-04. REH states that the return on longer-term instrument is equal to the expected average of the short-term instruments which is expected to occur over the life of the long-term instrument. The theory has been empirically tested by a large number of researchers, mostly for developed countries and the findings are often controversial. The study tests the expectation hypothesis theory through establishing a cointegrating relationships for the government securities market consisting of short-term, medium-term and long-term instruments. It used zero coupon interest rates of one month, three months, six months, three years and ten years of maturities. The article finds four cointegrating relationships suggesting the validity of expectation hypothesis for the government securities market in India. This indeed ensures the smooth functioning of debt market in India which gives an indication that the yield curve should serve as an indicator to the monetary policymakers to manage inflation and to influence the aggregate demand in the economy.
A spectral version of the Moore problem for bipartite regular graphs

Let $b(k,\theta)$ be the maximum order of a connected bipartite $k$-regular graph whose second largest eigenvalue is at most $\theta$. In this paper, we obtain a general upper bound for $b(k,\theta)$ for any $0\leq \theta< 2\sqrt{k-1}$. Our bound gives the exact value of $b(k,\theta)$ whenever there exists a bipartite distance-regular graph of degree $k$, second largest eigenvalue $\theta$, diameter $d$ and girth $g$ such that $g\geq 2d-2$. For certain values of $d$, there are infinitely many such graphs of various valencies $k$. However, for $d=11$ or $d\geq 15$, we prove that there are no bipartite distance-regular graphs with $g\geq 2d-2$.
Goal orientated slicing enumeration through shape function clipping

Two new methods for efficient enumeration of slicing structures useful for macro cell and sea-of-gates final placement are presented. Contrary to existing approaches a further preorder traversal of the slicing tree is added, which allows elimination of unnecessary shapes in an early design phase. Applying this look ahead strategy, memory and computation time requirements have been reduced drastically. Better placements have been achieved by using the saved resources to enlarge the search space for enumeration. <<ETX>>
Generalizability of Face-Based Mind Wandering Detection Across Task Contexts

We investigate generalizability of face-based detectors of mind wandering across task contexts. We leveraged data from two lab studies: one where 152 college students read a scientific text and another where 109 college students watched a narrative film. We automatically extracted facial expressions and body motion features, which were used to train supervised machine learning models on each dataset, as well as a concatenated dataset. We applied models from each task context (scientific text or narrative film) to the alternate context to study generalizability. We found that models trained on the narrative film dataset generalized to the scientific text dataset with no modifications, but the predicted mind wandering rate needed to be adjusted before models trained on the scientific text dataset would generalize to the narrative film dataset. Additionally, we analyzed generalizability of individual features and found that the lip tightener and jaw drop action units had the greatest potential to generalize across task contexts. We discuss findings and applications of our work to attention-aware learning technologies.
The shock routine: economic crisis and the nature of social policy responses

ABSTRACT The idea that moments of crisis form opportunities for fundamental policy change is widespread in political science and public policy. It is usually associated with historical institutionalism and the notion of ‘critical junctures’. On the basis of an in-depth analysis of social policy responses in Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden over the course of four global economic shocks, we ask whether the notion of critical junctures is useful in understanding the nature of change triggered by crisis. The main empirical finding is that fundamental change in the aftermath of an exogenous shock is the exception rather than the rule. Instead, incremental ‘crisis routines’ based on existing policy instruments are overwhelmingly used to deal with economic hardship. We discuss these findings in the light of the psychological ‘threat-rigidity’ effect and reflect on their consequences for theories of comparative policy analysis and institutional change.
Tools of the trade: a comparative analysis of approaches to priority setting in healthcare

In many countries, local managers and clinicians have been given responsibility to set health priorities and allocate resources accordingly. Although tools have been suggested for use in aiding this process, knowledge of these tools within health regions is lacking and comparative analysis in the literature is limited. Several approaches to priority setting are critiqued from both practical and theoretical perspectives, and a tangible way forward for such activity is provided. The approaches analysed include: needs assessment, core services, economic evaluation including quality-adjusted life year league tables, and programme budgeting and marginal analysis (PBMA). Needs assessment fails to recognize underlying economic principles of opportunity cost and the margin, while core services ignores the margin and has had limited impact in practice. Economic evaluations can consider marginal costs and benefits, but cannot always be used to inform decisions in a timely manner. PBMA is based on underlying economic principles and can pragmatically respond to objectives related to both efficiency and equity. Although PBMA is not without challenges, from an economic perspective, it does seem to 'get the thinking right', and, importantly, as a process, can incorporate some of the other approaches to priority setting discussed in this paper.
A Novel Longitudinal Geriatric Medical Student Experience: Using Teaching Objective Structured Clinical Examinations

It has previously been shown that medical students perform poorly when assessing older adults with recurrent falls. To address this and teach students about other geriatric syndromes, a standardized patient, played by one of nine actresses, aging during the course of an afternoon, was developed. The patient is first aged 75 with falls, then 80 with memory problems, then 82 with an acute confusional state. The third‐year students interact with the patient on a one‐to‐one basis. After seeing and examining her, the students write up the case and then meet with the supervising physician after each section to discuss the case. This intervention was well accepted, scoring 5.95 on a 7‐point Likert‐type scale. At the end of the clinical year, the students participated in an eight‐case clinical skills examination that included a 79‐year‐old man with falls. Using the actor's checklists, the performances of the 42 medical students who had participated in the standardized patient experience were compared with those of the 128 who had not. Over the eight cases, there was no difference in the three domains of communication, information gathering, and physical examination, but in the geriatric case, the students who had participated in the experience performed significantly better in all three domains. The intervention students were also three times as likely to examine the subject's gait (60% vs 20%). A 3‐hour interactive session substantially improved specific geriatric competencies. One can only wonder what more dedicated time could accomplish.
Attenuated deltaguaBA Salmonella typhi vaccine strain CVD 915 as a live vector utilizing prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression systems to deliver foreign antigens and elicit immune responses.

Attenuated Salmonella typhi strain CVD 915, harboring a deletion in guaBA that interrupts the biosynthesis of guanine nucleotides, was evaluated as a live vector vaccine for delivering foreign antigens utilizing prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression systems. Plasmids pTETnir15 and pcDNA3tetC encoding fragment C (Frag C) of tetanus toxin under the control of prokaryotic or eukaryotic promoters, respectively, were introduced into CVD 915 and administered intranasally to mice. Purified pcDNA3tetC and Frag C were given intramuscularly. High titers of serum IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibodies against Frag C were elicited by CVD 915(pTETnir15) and CVD 915(pcDNA3tetC). These responses were significantly higher than those induced by pcDNA3tetC. Proliferative responses and IL-2 and IFN-gamma production were observed in splenocytes exposed to S. typhi antigens and Frag C. We conclude that CVD 915 is a highly efficient live vector to carry foreign genes under eukaryotic or prokaryotic control and elicit potent immune responses.
Practical considerations for indoor wireless optical system implementation using OFDM

This paper describes the implementation of OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) for optical wireless systems using non-coherent light. In particular, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodiodes (PDs) are considered. The paper shows how classical OFDMis adapted to optical system constraints. Several key OFDM design issues are studied. In this context it is demonstrated that the impact of the cyclic prefix (CP) length on power and bandwidth efficiencies is negligible. Similarly, the effect of the Doppler frequency shift on intensity modulation with direct detection (IM/DD) optical transmission is discussed. The challenge of a high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) OFDM signal in the presence of LED nonlinear behavior is highlighted. An approach to estimate the overall signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the system and to determine the required analog-to-digital converter (ADC) resolution to achieve a target system SNR is introduced.
The Helicobacter pylori ureC gene codes for a phosphoglucosamine mutase

The function of UreC, the product of a 1,335-bp-long open reading frame upstream from the urease structural genes (ureAB) of Helicobacter pylori, was investigated. We present data showing that the ureC gene product is a phosphoglucosamine mutase. D. Mengin-Lecreulx and J. van Heijenoort (J. Biol. Chem. 271:32-39, 1996) observed that UreC is similar (43% identity) to the GlmM protein of Escherichia coli. Those authors showed that GlmM is a phosphoglucosamine mutase catalyzing interconversion of glucosamine-6-phosphate into glucosamine-1-phosphate, which is subsequently transformed into UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. The latter product is one of the main cytoplasmic precursors of cell wall peptidoglycan and outer membrane lipopolysaccharides. The present paper reports that, like its E. coli homolog glmM, the H. pylori ureC gene is essential for cell growth. It was known that growth of a lethal conditional glmM mutant of E. coli at a nonpermissive temperature can be restored in the presence of the ureC gene. We showed that complete complementation of the glmM mutant can be obtained with a plasmid overproducing UreC. The peptidoglycan content and the specific phosphoglucosamine mutase activity of such a complemented strain were measured; these results demonstrated that the ureC gene product functions as a phosphoglucosamine mutase. Homologs of the UreC and GlmM proteins were identified in Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium leprae, Clostridium perfringens, Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803, and Methanococcus jannaschii. Significant conservation of the amino acid sequence of these proteins in such diverse organisms suggests a very ancient common ancestor for the genes and defines a consensus motif for the phosphoglucosamine mutase active site. We propose renaming the H. pylori ureC gene the glmM gene.
Mitigating climate change – how do corporate strategies differ?

Many companies are facing increasing pressure by governments, shareholders and other stakeholders to reduce their CO2 emissions in order to mitigate climate change. The importance of managing CO2 emissions and crafting adequate CO2 strategies has increased for those companies affected. We present a framework that conceptualizes a company's CO2 strategy as the focus on one or a combination of several strategic objectives: CO2 compensation, CO2 reduction and carbon independence. In order to investigate the CO2 strategies of a worldwide sample of 91 electricity producers we perform a content analysis of their answers to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). We demonstrate the measures the companies take to manage their emissions, the CO2 strategies they adopt and antecedents that influence these strategies. We find that half of the companies take parallel emission management measures that aim at all three strategic objectives, while the other half pursue selected objectives only. We also find that companies with different CO2 strategies significantly differ in terms of regional affiliation, company size and absolute amount of CO2 emissions, while we could not identify a significant difference in relative CO2 emissions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
PROPORTIONATE LIABILITY: THE EMERGING GLOBAL STANDARD

Abstract Recent progress in the United States toward a new standard of allocating the payment of damages in lawsuits against professionals according to their degree of proportionate fault should encourage similar reforms in other nations. This paper documents that a system based upon joint and several liability coerces settlements from so-called deep-pocket defendants with little regard to the merits of the underlying claim. Besides threatening the viability of accounting firms, joint and several liability ultimately harms investors by restricting existing and potential audit services and by deterring qualified individuals from serving on corporate boards. Early reviews of the U.S. reforms and the recent defeat of an initiative that would have undermined the federal law indicate that proportionate liability is effective in discouraging abusive litigation and protecting the largest number of investors.
Ischaemic stroke following tranexamic acid in young patients carrying heterozygosity of MTHFR C677T

The objective of this study is to report a new manifestation of acute stroke following antifibrinolytic agent administration in young women carrying heterozygosity for methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T. The study included two young women who developed an acute ischaemic stroke following three days of tranexamic acid administration for bleeding gynaecological disorders. Case 1, a 44-year-old woman, presented left hemiplegia, mild dysarthria and anosognosia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed right ischaemic fronto-temporal lesion due to subocclusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Case 2, a 49-year-old woman, developed aphasia and right hemiplegia. Neuroimaging showed left capsular and periventricular infarcts due to near occlusion of the left internal carotid artery. Thrombophilia screening, coagulation parameters, homocysteine testing, 12-lead electrocardiography, and transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography were unremarkable. Genetic assay showed that both patients carried heterozygosity for MTHFR C677T, in which cytosine (C) is replaced by thymidine (T) at base position 677. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the association between genetic factors and the onset of stroke following antifibrinolytic drugs intake. These data suggest a synergic effect of plasminogen activator inhibitor and heterozygosity for MTHFR C677T on the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to ischaemic stroke in young people.
Optimal Price Setting in Fixed‐Odds Betting Markets Under Information Uncertainty

This paper develops a model of optimal pricing under information uncertainty for fixed‐odds betting markets. The model suggests that bookmakers require a premium for quoting the odds several days before an event. This premium reflects the uncertainty of public information that can be exploited by expert bettors. The model predicts that when bookmakers set optimal prices, expected returns to bettors increase as a monotonic function of winning probabilities. In this manner, an information‐based explanation is given for the celebrated favourite‐longshot bias in fixed‐odds. Using an extensive data‐set of football odds from two major European bookmakers, we estimate the probability of informed betting.
Thyroid hormone receptors TRα1 and TRβ differentially regulate gene expression of Kcnq4 and prestin during final differentiation of outer hair cells

Thyroid hormone (TH or T3) and TH-receptor β (TRβ) have been reported to be relevant for cochlear development and hearing function. Mutations in the TRβ gene result in deafness associated with resistance to TH syndrome. The effect of TRα1 on neither hearing function nor cochlear T3 target genes has been described to date. It is also uncertain whether TRα1 and TRβ can act simultaneously on different target genes within a single cell. We focused on two concomitantly expressed outer hair cell genes, the potassium channel Kcnq4 and the motor protein prestin Slc26a5. In outer hair cells, TH enhanced the expression of the prestin gene through TRβ. Simultaneously Kcnq4 expression was activated in the same cells by derepression of TRα1 aporeceptors mediated by an identified THresponse element, which modulates KCNQ4 promoter activity. We show that T3 target genes can differ in their sensitivity to TH receptors having the ligand either bound (holoreceptors) or not bound (aporeceptors) within single cells, and suggest a role for TRα1 in final cell differentiation.
Gene expression profiling of granule cells and Purkinje cells in the zebrafish cerebellum

The structure of the neural circuitry of the cerebellum, which functions in some types of motor learning and coordination, is generally conserved among vertebrates. However, some cerebellar features are species specific. It is not clear which genes are involved in forming these conserved and species‐specific structures and functions. This study uses zebrafish transgenic larvae expressing fluorescent proteins in granule cells, Purkinje cells, or other cerebellar neurons and glial cells to isolate each type of cerebellar cells by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting and to profile their gene expressions by RNA sequencing and in situ hybridization. We identify genes that are upregulated in granule cells or Purkinje cells, including many genes that are also expressed in mammalian cerebella. Comparison of the transcriptomes in granule cells and Purkinje cells in zebrafish larvae reveals that more developmental genes are expressed in granule cells, whereas more neuronal‐function genes are expressed in Purkinje cells. We show that some genes that are upregulated in granule cells or Purkinje cells are also expressed in the cerebellum‐like structures. Our data provide a platform for understanding the development and function of the cerebellar neural circuits in zebrafish and the evolution of cerebellar circuits in vertebrates. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1558–1585, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Work Stoppages and the Theory of the Offset Factor: Evidence from the British Columbian Lumber Industry

One method of estimating losses resulting from work stoppages is to multiply the total number of man-days lost during disputes by the average product of workers. This statistic can be easily calculated using information typically available from government agencies but has obvious flaws. For example, the behavior of other firms not involved in disputes is ignored. Moreover, when output is durable, the impact on consumption is unknown since inventories can be used as buffers. To assess the importance of these and other considerations, I develop an alternative empirical framework and implement it using data from the British Columbian lumber industry.
Europeanization unleashed and rebounding: assessing the modernization of EU cartel policy

Abstract 1 May 2004 marks a truly historic date in the evolving history of the European Union (EU). Alongside the much publicized EU enlargement to twenty-five members this date also initiated what amounts to nothing less than a revolution in the way that competition policy in the EU is both administered and made. The new changes affect the handling of both anti-trust and mergers cases and aim to both modernize and decentralize decision-making. Cartelbusting, the focus of this paper, remains the major aspect of the European Commission's activities in the area of competition policy and it has long served as the primary example of supranational regulation. This article assesses the significance of this first major overhaul of the regime since its inception in 1962 and considers how far these radical changes enhance the federal characteristics of competition governance. It also aims to illustrate how the competition policy has been effectively Europeanized. The article is divided into two main parts: in the first the author provides a discussion of the changing and puissant EU competition regime and, in the second, assesses the impact of this new regime and especially the new involvement of the member states within the rubric of the Europeanization literature.