Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A caching strategy to reduce network impacts of PCS

We propose an auxiliary strategy, called per-user caching, for locating users who move from place to place while using Personal Communications Services (PCS). The caching strategy augments the basic location strategy proposed in existing standards such as GSM and IS-41, with the objective of reducing network signaling and database loads in exchange for increased CPU processing and memory costs. Since technology trends are driving the latter costs down, the auxiliary strategy will become increasingly attractive. The idea behind caching is to reuse the information about a called user's location for subsequent calls to that user, and is useful for those users who receive calls frequently relative to the rate at which they change registration areas. This idea attempts to exploit the spatial and temporal locality in calls received by users, similar to the idea of exploiting locality of file access in computer systems. We use a reference PCS architecture and the notion of a user's local call-to-mobility ratio (LCMR) to quantify the costs and benefits of using caching and classes of users for whom it would be beneficial. We also present two simple algorithms for estimating users' LCMR and the situation in which each is preferable. We show that under a variety of assumptions caching is likely to yield significant net benefits in terms of reduced signaling network traffic and database loads. >
Why Growth Rates Do Differ

This article identifies serious weaknesses in various commonly used methods of measuring “average” growth rates over several time periods. An alternative method is proposed which satisfies two essential criteria: firstly it smoothes the data to remove “exceptional variation” in the time series, and secondly, it incorporates a compounding process which, it is suggested, is an essential requirement of a “correct” average growth rate.
Innovation and Competitiveness of the Slovak Economy: New Evidence of International Impacts in the Knowledge Accumulation Process

Abstract The objectives of this paper are twofold - to demonstrate the internal forces driving R&D productivity in Slovakia and the internationalization of Slovak R&D investments and R&D patenting since EU accession as compared to the other Visegrad Four (V4) countries. After the Introduction, Slovakia's position in the field of competitiveness and the Slovak innovation policy are described. The Slovak knowledge accumulation paradox being the discrepancy between R&D productivity and TFP is then demonstrated and disentangled through an analysis of innovation activities using Eurostat and OECD Stat data spanning the 1995-2011 period. This analysis is followed by some concluding remarks.
Broadening the market orientation: An added focus on internal customers

Though the marketing concept is the cornerstone of the marketing discipline, businesses typically describe only limited success in implementing it. An examination of the core pillars of the marketing concept points to limitations in the first pillar, the customer focus. This pillar is directed at the external customer, the person purchasing the firm's products and services with no attention to the internal customer, the employee. Whereas much attention has been directed to human resource practices in total quality management, marketers have overlooked its importance. This article describes an exploratory study based on in-depth interviews with corporate executives from a broad range of American organizations, which phenomenologically assesses the characteristics of the marketing concept and the employee activities that foster its implementation.
Australian Unemployment in the Long Run, 1903–2007

We develop a two equation model of wage setting and unemployment, which we estimate on annual time series for Australia since Federation. Our model links the real wage level to productivity and to a set of wage pressure variables, while the unemployment rate is linked to the gap between the real wage and productivity and to demand side variables. We evaluate the contribution of different variables to the equilibrium unemployment rate for 1903–1941, 1942–1973 and 1974–2007. We also examine the effects on unemployment of several key policy-related episodes in wage regulation spread over the past century of labour market history.
Low molecular weight heparin for thromboprophylaxis and epidural/spinal anaesthesia – is there a risk?

This article reviews the problem of bleeding in connection with epidural/spinal anaesthesia, with special emphasis on the use of low molecular weight heparins for thromboprophylaxis. There are methodological difficulties to studying the problem in a scientifically correct way because of the rarity of the complication. However, from the data in the literature there are no indications of an increased risk in using the combination of low molecular weight heparin in prophylactic doses and epidural/spinal anaesthesia. So far, there is only a single case report, of spinal haematoma, although low molecular weight heparins have been used in combination with epidural/spinal anaesthesia in at least 1000000 patients. In controlled studies, at least 10000 patients have been given the combination without complications.
Time series evidence on the linkage between the volatility and growth of output

Prior research on the relationship between volatility and growth has produced mixed results. However, the times series research has only been done for a few countries, namely the United States, United Kingdom and Japan. We extend the prior research by performing a systematic search over several GARCH in mean model specifications, including nonGaussian and asymmetric GARCH models, for 20 OECD countries. The results indicate very little evidence of any connection between volatility and growth.
An Improved Measure of Handedness: The Fazio Laterality Inventory

The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) is the most widely used handedness inventory. The EHI has some weaknesses: it has been suggested it is outdated; the instructions are frequently misunderstood by participants; and the response format produces skewed responses in those who avoid extreme responding. This study introduces the Fazio Laterality Inventory (FLI) as an alternative that addresses these limitations. In an initial development study, the 12-item instrument showed acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha =.921), and a one-component solution explained 55.5% of the variance. After removal of two items, a validation study revealed the instrument again had good internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha =.943) with a one-component solution explaining 65.8% of the variance. The FLI did not correlate as strongly as expected with the EHI, likely due to its lack of an “Oldfield Admonition” as well as the finer scaling of the response format. Additional analyses of the FLI as a whole and each item are offered. A scoring procedure and cutoffs for utilizing the FLI in clinical and research settings are suggested.
Variability analysis of a 28nm near-threshold synchronous voltage converter

An important synchronous circuit element in low-power digital circuit design is the voltage level shifter at the boundary between voltage domains. In this paper, we present a full variability analysis of an optimized, synchronous pulsed half-latch level converter (PHLC) in the GLOBALFOUNDRIES 28nm technology. The variability analysis clearly illustrates the impact of ultra-low-power design on delay, energy and the energy-delay product (EDP). In particular, the normalized standard deviation for EDP in near-threshold operation is more than twice its value for nominal-supply operation. The analysis also illustrates the impact of variability on the architectural and topological decisions a designer has to make in ultra-low power design.
Climate-Controlled Holocene Occupation in the Sahara: Motor of Africa's Evolution

Radiocarbon data from 150 archaeological excavations in the now hyper-arid Eastern Sahara of Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Chad reveal close links between climatic variations and prehistoric occupation during the past 12,000 years. Synoptic multiple-indicator views for major time slices demonstrate the transition from initial settlement after the sudden onset of humid conditions at 8500 B.C.E. to the exodus resulting from gradual desiccation since 5300 B.C.E. Southward shifting of the desert margin helped trigger the emergence of pharaonic civilization along the Nile, influenced the spread of pastoralism throughout the continent, and affects sub-Saharan Africa to the present day.
From Niche to Mainstream Method? A comprehensive mapping of QCA application in journal articles from 1984 to 2011

This article provides a first systematic mapping of QCA applications, building upon a database of 313 peer-reviewed journal articles. We find out that the number of QCA applications has dramatically increased during the past few years. The mapping also reveals that csQCA remains the most frequently used technique, that political science, sociology, and management are the core disciplines of application, that macrolevel analyses, medium-N designs, and a monomethod use of QCA remain predominant. A particular focus is also laid on the ratio between the number of cases and number of conditions and the compliance to benchmarks in this respect.
Trade Policy and Labour Standards: Objectives, Instruments, and Institutions

This paper largely focuses on the potential interface between international trade policy and international labour standards in the WTO multilateral trading system. The paper proceeds by reviewing sequentially the choice of policy objectives, the choice of policy instruments, and the choice of institutional regime in structuring a trade policy-labour standards linkage. On choice of objective, the paper argues for assimilating core labour standards (CLS) with universal human rights, but not privileging CLS over other universal human rights. It rejects fair trade and race-to-the-bottom rationales for a trade policy-labour standards linkage. On choice of instrument, it rejects conditioning the linkage of trade sanctions to universal human rights on adverse trade effects in the sanctioning country. On choice of institutional arrangement, it favours according a pre-eminent institutional role to the ILO and U.N. Human Rights Committees in making determinations of systematic and persistent violations of relevant universal human rights, leaving the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO with the determination of whether trade sanctions with violators have been applied in a non-discriminatory and consistent fashion and meet some basic standard of proportionality.
Diagnostic usefulness of serum interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) in the differentiation between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis

Previous studies have shown elevated serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic usefulness of pretreatment serum levels of IL‐6 and CRP to differentiate between PC and chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients. Serum levels of CRP, IL‐6, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (CA 19‐9) were determined in 78 patients with PC before surgery, in 45 patients with CP, and in 70 healthy controls. Serum levels of all the proteins tested were significantly higher in cancer patients when compared with CP and healthy subjects, and increased in more advanced tumor stages. Concentrations of IL‐6 were significantly higher in nonresectable tumors and in patients who died during the 2‐year observation period. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve for IL‐6 was higher than for other substances tested in the differentiation between PC and CP. Cox's univariate analysis revealed serum IL‐6 as a significant prognostic factor of patients' survival. Our findings suggest higher diagnostic usefulness of serum IL‐6 than CRP, CEA, and CA 19‐9 in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with PC and in the differentiation with CP. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:256–261, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multitasking, cognitive coordination and cognitive shifts during web searching

Enlightened by the cognitive psychology literature demonstrating that multitasking behavior is correlated closely to humans' cognitive processing and coordinationcapabilities, this doctoral thesis explores the nature and relationship of multitasking, cognitive coordination, and cognitive shifts during Web searching. A combination of data collection techniques including pre- and post-questionnaires, think-aloud protocols, search logs, observations and semi-structured interviews were employed to observe how 42 postgraduate students cognitively coordinated Web searches when multitasking across 126 real-life information problems. Results show that Web searching is a dynamic interaction between users and Web search systems during which multiple information problems ordering, evolving information problems generating, searching task switching, task and mental coordinating occur, and at a deeper level, cognitive shifts take place. The explicit task level coordination is closely linked to multitasking behavior. The implicit cognitive level coordination is related to the task coordination process; this includes the evolution of information problem development and search task switching. Coordination mechanisms directly result in the shifts of cognitive states including strategy, evaluation, and view states which further affect users' holistic shifts in information problem understanding and knowledge contribution. Based on the findings, a Web search model integrating multitasking, cognitive coordination and cognitive shifts (MCC model) is presented. Cognitive coordination as humans' vital capability under conscious control plays a nexus role in supporting multitasking Web searches and invoking the occurrence of shifts in cognition. The results extend multitasking research and Web search models in the field by examining and integrating underlying cognitive and coordination support mechanisms. Design recommendations for adaptive search systems are also put forward based on the characteristics and relationship of users' behaviors in multitasking, cognitive coordination and shifting.
Inter‐individual variability of plasma PAF‐acetylhydrolase activity in ARDS patients and PAFAH genotype

Background: Platelet activating factor (PAF), a pro‐inflammatory phospholipid, stimulates cytokine secretion from polymorphonuclear leukocytes expressing the transmembrane G‐protein coupled PAF receptor. Elevated PAF levels are associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis severity. The pro‐inflammatory effects of PAF are terminated by PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF‐AH).
The Returns to University Schooling in Canada: A Comment

In their recent paper in this journal, Vaillancourt and Henriques provide evidence on the monetary returns of university schooling in Canada and on its private and social costs. They show that university schooling has a private rate of return of 7 to 14 per cent and a public rate of return of 6 to 10 per cent. They use these results to argue that students could be asked to pay higher tuition without reducing demand significantly (assuming increases in financial aid for the needy). They further argue that government should reduce its subsidies to universities because public returns to university education are generally below the rate of return on physical capital. I have concerns about this paper on three levels, discussed in more detail below. First, the use of cross-sectional earnings data to estimate lifetime age-earnings profiles facing those with and without university requires both careful use of the data and a number of assumptions about future supply and demand for workers with different levels of education. There appear to be problems in the use of the data, and Vaillancourt and Henriques say nothing about the supply and demand issues that could have an impact on the rate of return estimates. Second, the numerical differences between the projected earnings of those who obtain a university education and those who do not, do not necessarily represent either private or social returns to education. These rest on assumptions of the role of education in explaining those differences. There are several different models of what higher education does, and each produces very different results. Given the importance of the authors' conclusions, these alternative models require more consideration. Finally, universities do more than just educate students. As the existence of this journal itself testifies, academics do research and provide independent policy analysis, both of which have some value and may help explain subsidies to universities. To base the case for subsidy only on earnings differentials is to ignore all this. One is free to do so, but this involves peculiar assumptions that ought to be made explicit to the reader. I do not want to be too critical. The calcula-
Real-time image improvement system for visual testing of nuclear reactors

In nuclear power plants, visual testing (VT) based on video images taken from an underwater camera is carried out. However, it is a problem in that a lot of noise is superimposed on VT images due to radiation exposure. We propose a technique for improving the quality of those images by image processing that includes radiation noise reduction and signal enhancement. Real-time video processing was realized by applying the proposed technique with a parallel processing unit. Improving the clarity of VT images will lead to a reduced burden placed on inspectors.
Improved Lower Bounds for the Fourier Entropy/Influence Conjecture via Lexicographic Functions

Every Boolean function can be uniquely represented as a multilinear polynomial. The entropy and the total influence are two ways to measure the concentration of its Fourier coefficients, namely the monomial coefficients in this representation: the entropy roughly measures their spread, while the total influence measures their average level. The Fourier Entropy/Influence conjecture of Friedgut and Kalai from 1996 states that the entropy to influence ratio is bounded by a universal constant $C$. Using lexicographic Boolean functions, we present three explicit asymptotic constructions that improve upon the previously best known lower bound $C>6.278944$ by O'Donnell and Tan, obtained via recursive composition. The first uses their construction with the lexicographic function $\ell\left\langle 2/3\right\rangle $ of measure $2/3$ to demonstrate that $C\ge4+3\log_{4}3>6.377444$. The second generalizes their construction to biased functions and obtains $C>6.413846$ using $\ell\left\langle \Phi\right\rangle $, where $\Phi$ is the inverse golden ratio. The third, independent, construction gives $C>6.454784$, even for monotone functions. Beyond modest improvements to the value of $C$, our constructions shed some new light on the properties sought in potential counterexamples to the conjecture. Additionally, we prove a Lipschitz-type condition on the total influence and spectral entropy, which may be of independent interest.
Predicting the Likelihood of Additional Nodal Metastases in Breast Carcinoma Patients With Positive Sentinel Node Biopsy

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is an important procedure in the staging of breast cancer patients. However, it is associated with a significant morbidity rate. In addition, using early diagnosis a high number of cases with negative lymph nodes can be identified. A lymph node defined as sentinel lymph node (SLN) would be the first to receive tumoral drainage. A less morbid but accurate staining procedure using mapping and SLN biopsy has been introduced. The aim of this study was to estimate the likelihood of additional disease in the axilla after SLN analysis. A total of 259 breast carcinomas and SLN biopsies followed by ALND were examined. The patient median age was 59 years, approximately 75% of them postmenopausal. Tumor size was 1.4 ± 0.8 cm (almost 80% in pT1). SLNs were positive in 59 of 259 (22.8%) carcinomas, 30 (11.6%) with micrometastases (<2.0 mm) and 29 (11.2%) with metastases. Tumor size ( P = .004) and presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI; P = .034) were found to be significant predictors of pathologically positive SLN. Following ALND, positive non-SLNs were present mostly in patients with metastasis >2 mm in SLN (P = .003), in carcinoma with higher nuclear grade ( P = .044), decreased estrogen receptor (ER; P = .042), and progesterone receptor (PR; P = .042). Finally, lymph node status (pN) following SLN and ALND was found to be significantly associated with tumor size ( P = .006), LVI (P = .037), PR (P = .023), and Her-2 status (P < .001). These results point to detailed analysis of primary tumor and SLN that may increase the precision of patient selection for further axillary surgery or radiotherapy.
Does knowledge explain trust behaviors and outcomes? The different influences of initial knowledge and experiential knowledge on personal trust interactions

This paper examines the influences of initial knowledge and experiential knowledge on trust behaviors and trust outcomes, respectively, at an interpersonal level. We use an experimental dynamic trust game, and our results show that (1) the initial knowledge that exists a priori between a trustor and a trustee helps to explain the trustor's trust behaviors toward the trustee, and (2) the experiential knowledge gained directly by a trustor during a specific trust interaction with a trustee influences the trust outcome, i.e. the difference between the original expectations of the trustor and the subsequent trust behaviors. Our results contribute to human resource literature by clarifying the specific influences of different types of knowledge on interpersonal trust relationships (e.g. between managers and employees) and by supplementing the traditional notion that trust within a firm develops slowly by showing that personal expectations have an immediate and important influence on trust output.
Examining signals of trust in criminal markets online

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate, Cyber Security Division (DHSSandT/ CSD) Broad Agency Announcement 11.02, the Government of Australia and SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific [N66001-13-C-0131]; National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice [2010-IJ-CX-1676, 2010]
A Jitter and Power Analysis on DCO

A jitter and power analysis on a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) is presented in this brief. By analyzing variable capacitance components on each switching node of the DCO, a simple jitter and power model was derived in a closed form. The proposed mathematical analysis can be effectively used for the accurate and faster estimation of the DCO jitter and power consumption; thus, the overall DCO design time can be significantly reduced. In order to validate our proposed mathematical modeling, the DCO has been designed and fabricated using a 0.13-μm 1.2-V CMOS process. The fabricated chip presents the root-mean-square and peak-to-peak jitters of 8.9 and 70 ps, respectively, at the output frequency of 600 MHz, under the operation range of 179-656 MHz with a 2.8-ps resolution, which clearly shows that our proposed modeling is well matched with the experimental results.