Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
220GHz wide-band MEMS switch in standard BiCMOS technology

A wideband MEMS switch with the operating frequency up to 250GHz using standard BiCMOS process in cluding embedded RF-MEMS structure has been presented in this paper. Collaborative design and optimization of mechanical characteristics and RF characteristics are carried out to guarantee the mechanical reliability. By adopting π-type circuits topology with low impedance t-line, the MEMS switch results in a measured return loss of 24 to 12dB, and an isolation of 54 to 30 dB within the frequency range of 180-250GHz, The MEMS switch exhibits an insertion loss of 1.9dB at 220GHz with pull-in voltage of 50V.
Optimal economic planning and control for the management of ecosystems

Optimal Economic Planning and Control for the Management of Ecosystems Kevin John Macksamie Supervising Professor: Dr. Juan Cockburn In recent years the interest on sustainable systems has increased significantly. Among the many interested problems, creating and restoring sustainable ecosystems is a challenging and complex problem. One of the fundamental problems within this area is the imbalance between species that have a predator-prey relationship. Solutions involving management have become an integral player in many environments. Management systems typically use ad hoc methods to develop harvesting policies to control the populations of species to desired numbers. In order to amalgamate intelligence and structure, ecological systems require a diverse research effort from three primary fields: ecology, economics, and control theory. In this thesis, all three primary fields aforementioned are researched to develop a theoretical framework that includes an optimal trajectory planning system that exploits an ecosystem to maximize profits for the supporting community, and a robust control system design to track the optimal trajectories subjected to exogenous disturbances. Population ecology is used to select a model that identifies the key characteristics a management system needs to understand the behavior of the natural environment. A bioeconomic model is developed to relate the species populations to revenue. The nonlinear ecosystem is transformed into a linear parameter-varying (LPV) system that is then controlled using H∞ synthesis and the gain scheduling methodology. The consequences of the results in this thesis are that optimal trajectories of an ecosystem can be obtained by constructing and solving a nonlinear programming problem (NLP), and the LPV based gain scheduling approach produces a robust controller that rejects disturbances and advises quality control policies to the manager an ecosystem. The LPV controller achieves comparable profits with satisfactory tracking performance while minding the induced costs of its high frequency output. Implications of constraining the control effort when designing for robustness are observed. Overall, the theoretical framework provides a solid foundation for future research on the understanding and improvement of ecosystem management.
Heat shock protein–peptide complex in the treatment of glioblastoma

Vaccination immunotherapies offer the promise of long-term tumor control, and preclinical trials have found promising results. Active immunotherapy uses the adaptive immune response to specifically kill tumor cells. Tumor-specific antigens are processed by antigen-presenting cells and recognized by specific effector lymphocytes. However, basic vaccination strategies with tumor lysates have been unsuccessful in inducing antiglioma immunity in clinical trials. Gliomas are known to modulate the activity of antigen-presenting cells to reduce antitumor immune activity. Recently, tumor-derived heat shock proteins have been found to more effectively activate the immune response. Widely expressed, heat shock proteins are thought to present protein peptide fragments in a format conducive to processing by antigen-presenting cells. As a part of the protein synthesis machinery, peptides complexed with heat shock proteins are effectively representative of antigens expressed by the cell; these peptides convey the specificity of this vaccination strategy. The heat shock protein–peptide vaccine is one of many promising immunotherapeutic strategies being evaluated in clinical trials. These can be broadly classified as active, passive and adoptive, each with advantages and disadvantages. Here, we compare and contrast heat shock protein–peptide vaccines with other immunotherapies and describe the outcomes of clinical trials to date.
Antifungal Resistance of Candidal Biofilms Formed on Denture Acrylic in vitro

Denture biofilms represent a protective reservoir for oral microbes. The study of the biology of Candida in these biofilms requires a reliable model. A reproducible model of C. albicans denture biofilm was developed and used to determine the susceptibility of two clinically relevant C. albicans isolates against 4 antifungals. C. albicans, growing as a biofilm, exhibited resistance to amphotericin B, nystatin, chlorhexidine, and fluconazole, with 50% reduction in metabolic activity (50% RMA) at concentrations of 8, 16, 128, and > 64 μg/mL, respectively. In contrast, planktonically cultured C. albicans were susceptible (50% RMA for the same antifungals was obtained at 0.25, 1.0, 4.0, and 0.5 μg/mL, respectively). In conclusion, results obtained by means of our biofilm model show that biofilm-associated C. albicans cells, compared with cells grown in planktonic form, are resistant to antifungals used to treat denture stomatitis.
Software Outsourcing in Vietnam: A Case Study of a Locally Operating Pioneer

This paper explores the following question of key interest to researchers and practitioners concerned with offshore IS outsourcing in developing countries: How are potential offshore partners operating in developing nations to mature to be considered more attractive to suitors? Indeed, for firms located in what Carmel (2003) refers to as Tier Four, or less developed IS producing and exporting nations, an advancement to become a strategic partner challenges conventional wisdom and theoretical expectations. However our work has identified a firm that has become a strategic partner despite being headquartered in a Tier Four country. In exploring this question and examining our exemplar firm, the paper makes three key contributions: First, the contemporary context for offshore outsourcing in a Tier Four nation (Vietnam) is explored, illustrating the nation's advantages as well as key challenges that limit expansion. Second, against this backdrop we offer a case study of a successful strategic partner that has emerged despite being headquartered in a Tier Four nation. A theory‐grounded analysis of the firm, Glass Egg Digital Media, provides a lens for identifying success factors that enable firms in developing nations to emerge as strategic technology outsourcing partners. Finally, we end by exploring how existing models for considering firm attitudes toward offshore outsourcing can be expanded and we highlight potential areas for future research. Our work demonstrates the important interplay of firm, industry, and national factors in enabling a firm operating in a Tier‐Four nation to make the leap to strategic partner.
Uncoupling of inflammatory and destructive mechanisms in arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To update clinicians on recent advances in the differentiation of the mechanisms of inflammation and cartilage destruction in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS We present analysis of recent published literature and abstracts that elucidates the independent actions of pivotal proinflammatory cytokines. These experimental data provide the framework for understanding the uncoupling of destructive and inflammatory mechanisms in arthritis. RESULTS Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important mediator in the inflammation that occurs in RA. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has a dominant effect on cartilage destruction that occurs later in the disease process. TNF-independent IL-1 production occurs in many RA model situations. Cytokine balance determines the erosive nature of the disease. CONCLUSION IL-1 is at least as important as TNF-alpha in promoting the disease process. The pathways by which the inflammatory and destructive changes occur suggest that targeted anticytokine intervention will arrest the cartilage damage that occurs in patients with RA.
Age-Related Deficits in Face Recognition are Related to Underlying Changes in Scanning Behavior

ABSTRACT Previous studies demonstrating age-related impairments in recognition memory for faces are suggestive of underlying differences in face processing. To study these differences, we monitored eye movements while younger and older adults viewed younger and older faces. Compared to the younger group, older adults showed increased sampling of facial features, and more transitions. However, their scanning behavior was most similar to the younger group when looking at older faces. Moreover, while older adults exhibited worse recognition memory than younger adults overall, their memory was more accurate for older faces. These findings suggest that age-related differences in recognition memory for faces may be related to changes in scanning behavior, and that older adults may use social group status as a compensatory processing strategy.
Efficient Markets Theory: Historical Perspectives

Efficient market hypothesis (EMH) has been crucial in the creation of financial economics as a proper subfield of economics. What we know today as the EMH was formulated in the period from 1959 to 1976 to give a theoretical explanation to the random character of stock market prices, a feature that had been noted as early as 1863. But the main characteristic of the EMH lies in linking three elements that originally existed independently of each other: (i) the mathematical model of stochastic process; (ii) the concept of economic equilibrium; (iii) the statistical results about the unpredictability of stock market prices. Although debate continues about the interpretation and characterization of the EMH, the link between these three elements allowed the creation of financial economics. Keywords: market efficiency; efficient markets; Louis Bachelier; Jules Regnault; Eugene Fama; random walk model; history of financial economics
Superstores and the Politics of Retail Development

This article investigates retail development as a social problem, a political phenomenon, and an increasingly important form of urban development. I focus on mass retail, as exemplified by superstores. The data come from six case studies, carried out onsite, of local controversies over the siting of Wal‐Mart superstores. I analyze retail development and the conflicts that it may provoke in terms of six key categories: economic context, actors, dynamic, interests, ideology, and consumption. Throughout the analysis I critically engage the growth machine perspective and suggest how it may be modified to better account for the peculiarities of retail development. I argue that retail development does not necessarily lead to growth and that mass retail is driven by the pursuit of market share and profit, not growth. I also introduce several new concepts: the global development machine, which has taken over certain functions of the growth machine; the shoppers, a local group that appears to value shopping over broader community interests; and the ideology of shopping, which serves to promote retail development.
Examining the link between enforcement activity and corporate compliance by Australian companies and the implications for regulators

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between enforcement and compliance and to report on the results of an empirical study that assesses the impact of enforcement action by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on the subsequent compliance by violators.Design/methodology/approach – Following an extensive literature review, a sample of 50 similar complaints made to ASIC during the 2005/2006 financial year, were selected and grouped into two samples. The first sample, described as the enforcement sample, comprised of complaints that had been resourced for investigation by ASIC, and the second sample, described as the non‐enforcement sample, comprised of complaints that had not been resourced for investigation. An analysis was conducted to compare how many subsequent complaints had been received by ASIC in the following three years against members of the two samples.Findings – The empirical evidence of the decrease in subsequent complaints against corporate.
The National Judiciary-Sword of European Court of Justice Rulings: The Example of the Kohll/Decker Jurisprudence

The role of the national judiciary in enforcing EC law, and particularly European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings, has been largely neglected by empirical legal and political science research. Existing research has categorised the role of the national judiciary as either shielding national legislation from the ECJ or as serving as a sword to foster integration and to force change on reluctant governments. This article sides with the second assumption and attempts to empirically assess it using the example of the patient mobility jurisprudence by the ECJ, the so-called Kohll/Decker jurisprudence. The three case studies on France, the UK and Germany show that national courts played an important role in overcoming the resistance against this jurisprudence: via a multiplication of national court cases that contradicted domestic legislation they forced the legislator to end judicial uncertainty.
Comparison of titanium elastic nails with traction and a spica cast to treat femoral fractures in children.

BACKGROUND Titanium elastic nails are commonly used to stabilize femoral fractures in school-aged children, but there have been few studies assessing the risks and benefits of this procedure compared with those of traditional traction and application of a spica cast. This prospective cohort study was designed to evaluate these two methods of treatment, with a specific focus on the first year after injury, the period when the treatment method should have the greatest impact. METHODS Eighty-three consecutive children, six to sixteen years of age, were studied prospectively. Factors that were analyzed included clinical and radiographic data, complications, hospital charges, and outcome data. Outcome and recovery were assessed both with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Pediatric Outcomes Data Collections Instrument, version 2.0, and according to a series of important recovery milestones including the time to walking with aids, time to independent walking, time absent from school, and time until full activity was allowed. RESULTS Thirty-five children (thirty-five fractures), with a mean age of 8.7 years, were treated with traction and application of a spica cast, and forty-eight children (forty-nine fractures), with a mean age of 10.2 years, were treated with titanium elastic nails. All fractures healed, and no child sustained a complication that was expected to cause permanent disability. At one year after the fracture, eighty of the children had acceptable alignment and no inequality between the lengths of the lower extremities. The remaining three children, who had an unsatisfactory result, had been treated with traction and a spica cast. Twelve patients (34%) treated with traction and a cast had a complication compared with ten patients (21%) treated with titanium elastic nails. Compared with the children treated with traction and a cast, those treated with titanium elastic nails had shorter hospitalization, walked with support sooner, walked independently sooner, and returned to school earlier. These differences were significant (p < 0.0001). We could detect no difference in total hospital charges between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS The results of this prospective study support the recent empiric observations and published results of retrospective series indicating that a child in whom a femoral fracture is treated with titanium elastic nails achieves recovery milestones significantly faster than a child treated with traction and a spica cast. Hospital charges for the two treatment methods are similar. The complication rate associated with nailing compares favorably with that associated with traction and application of a spica cast.
Estimating census and survey undercounts through multiple service contacts

Abstract During the past decade a tremendous amount of work has been done on studying the homeless. The 1980s saw many disconnected city‐specific counts of the numbers of homeless that sought to obtain some information on their characteristics. As these studies began to be published, there was a growing awareness of the inadequacy of the methods available and the variety of interests that prompted the studies. The 1980s also saw the growth of new methods and models for counting and the coordination of efforts for multidisciplinary studies. This paper describes the development of new models for counting and new methods of sampling in time and space.
Simulate urban growth based on RS, GIS, and SLEUTH model in Shenyang-Fushun metropolitan area northeastern China

Shenyang and Fushun are two most nearest mega cities in China. Integration of the two cities as one sub-administrative economic region is a state and province policy to promote economy development of Liaoning province. How the urban patterns of the mega cities will grow is interested to city planners, decision-makers, land managers, ecologists, geographers, and resource managers because it's special policy and spatiotemporal dynamic complexity. This study explore the combined application of remote sensing, geographical information system and SLEUTH urban growth model to analyze and model urban growth pattern in Shenyang-Fushun metropolitan area northeastern China. The sequential RS images can give quantitative descriptors of the geometry of urban form to be computed and compared over time. The investigation is based on a 16-year time series data set compiled from interpreted historical TM satellite imagery. The SLEUTH model was calibrated using the mutil-temporal data set for the 6391.12km2 area where has experienced rapid urbanization in recent years. The model allowed a spatial forecast of urban growth, and future growth was projected out to 2050 assuming four different policy scenarios: (1) current trends (CT), (2) accelerated urban development (AUD), (3) protected urban development (PUD), and (4) limitative urban growth (LUD). The predicted urban growth shows similar compact pattern under each scenario except the current trends scenario that shows diffused urban growth pattern and most diffused growth appears at south of region. Edge growth and road gravity growth are the main growth types in the future. The accelerated urban development scenario shows the most urban growth area. The limitative urban growth scenario shows the least urban growth area. The protected urban development scenario shows moderate urban growth area and good protection to other land resources. The urban land of two mega cities will connect firstly to a whole on the south bank of Hun River about in 2040 in the accelerated urban development and the current trends scenarios, and will not connect on the other two scenarios until 2050. The combined method using remote sensing, geographical information system and SLEUTH urban growth model is powerful for representation, modeling and prediction of the spatiotemporal urban growth, and useful for understanding the alternative future planning scenarios, but location accuracy and scenarios design must be further considered for local application.
Analysis of retinoblastoma age incidence data using a fully stochastic cancer model

Retinoblastoma (RB) is an important ocular malignancy of childhood. It has been commonly accepted for some time that knockout of the two alleles of the RB1 gene is the principal molecular target associated with the occurrence of RB. In this article, we examine the validity of the two‐hit theory for RB by comparing the fit of a stochastic model with two or more mutational stages. Unlike many such models, our model assumes a fully stochastic stem cell compartment, which is crucial to its behavior. Models are fitted to a population‐based dataset comprising 1,553 cases of RB for the period 1962–2000 in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). The population incidence of RB is best described by a fully stochastic model with two stages, although models with a deterministic stem cell compartment yield equivalent fit; models with three or more stages fit much less well. The results strongly suggest that knockout of the two alleles of the RB1 gene is necessary and may be largely sufficient for the development of RB, in support of Knudson's two‐hit hypothesis.
MECHANISMS OF SYMPATHETIC ACTIVATION IN HEART FAILURE

1 Heart Failure (HF) is a serious, debilitating condition with poor survival rates and an increasing level of prevalence. A characteristic of HF is a compensatory neurohumoral activation that increases with the severity of the condition. 2 The increase in sympathetic activity may be beneficial initially, providing inotropic support to the heart and peripheral vasoconstriction, but in the longer term it promotes disease progression and worsens prognosis. This is particularly true for the increase in cardiac sympathetic nerve activity, as shown by the strong inverse correlation between cardiac noradrenaline spillover and prognosis and by the beneficial effect of β‐adrenoceptor antagonists. 3 Possible causes for the raised level of sympathetic activity in HF include altered neural reflexes, such as those from baroreceptors and chemoreceptors, raised levels of hormones, such as angiotensin II, acting on circumventricular organs, and changes in central mechanisms that may amplify the responses to these inputs. 4 The control of sympathetic activity to different organs is regionally heterogeneous, as demonstrated by a lack of concordance in burst patterns, different responses to reflexes, opposite responses of cardiac and renal sympathetic nerves to central angiotensin and organ‐specific increases in sympathetic activity in HF. These observations indicate that, in HF, it is essential to study the factors causing sympathetic activation in individual outflows, in particular those that powerfully, and perhaps preferentially, increase cardiac sympathetic nerve activity.
A Novel Planar Fractal Antenna with CPW-Feed for Multiband Applications

In this paper, a multiband antenna using a novel fractal design is presented. The antenna structure is formed by inscribing a hexagonal slot within a circle. This base structure is then scaled and arranged within the hexagon along its sides without touching the outer structure. The proposed CPW fed, low profile antenna offers good performance in the 1.65 – 2.59 GHz, 4.16 – 4.52 GHz and 5.54 – 6.42 GHz bands and is suitable for GSM 1800/1900, Bluetooth, IMT advanced systems and upper WLAN applications. The antenna has been fabricated on a substrate of height 1.6 mm and er = 4.4 and simulation and experimental results are found to be in good agreement.
Load balancing in heterogeneous networks using an evolutionary algorithm

Grammatical Evolution (GE) is applied to the problem of load balancing in heterogeneous cellular network deployments (HetNets). HetNets are multi-tiered cellular networks for which load balancing is a scalable means to maximise network capacity, assuming similar traffic from all users. This paper describes a proof of concept study in which GE is used in a genetic algorithm-like way to evolve constants which represent cell power and selection bias in order to achieve load balancing in HetNets. A fitness metric is derived to achieve load balancing both locally in sectors and globally across tiers. Initial results show promise for GE as a heuristic for load balancing. This finding motivates a more sophisticated grammar to bring enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination optimisation into an evolutionary framework.