Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectrum sharing LTE-advanced small cell systems

Cellular systems are designed such that a certain amount of radio spectrum is allocated for their exclusive use to ensure that interference within these systems is tightly controlled. For competitive reasons, spectrum is divided between operators despite the resulting inefficiency in the overall spectrum utilization. For systems with relatively large cells and significant number of users per cell the loss in efficiency is modest. However, losses can become very large as cells become smaller. This paper presents a cooperative spectrum access framework that enables spectrum sharing between small cells that are being deployed by different operators. Primary spectrum owning operators broadcast their spectrum occupancy information to allow small cells of other operators to access their spectrum as secondary users. LTE-Advanced systems employing small cells are considered. Simulations show that the proposed spectrum access framework enables small cells to achieve substantial performance gains without affecting the primary spectrum owning operator even when the small cell deployment density varies significantly between operators.
Low-power CMOS folding and interpolating ADC with a fully-folding technique

A 8-bit 150 MHz low-power CMOS folding and interpolating analog-to-digital converter with a fully-folding technique is designed in a 0.35 mum standard digital CMOS process. Folding circuits are not only used in fine converter but also in coarse one and in bit synchronization block to reduce the number of comparators for low power. A novel bit synchronization architecture based on folding circuits is presented. A low-power encoder using a novel arithmetic is adopted. The total power dissipation is merely 65 mW at a 3.3 V supply.
The Cdc23 (Mcm10) protein is required for the phosphorylation of minichromosome maintenance complex by the Dfp1-Hsk1 kinase

Previous studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have defined an essential role for the Dbf4-Cdc7 kinase complex in the initiation of DNA replication presumably by phosphorylation of target proteins, such as the minichromosome maintenance (Mcm) complex. We have examined the phosphorylation of the Mcm complex by the Dfp1-Hsk1 kinase, the Schizosaccharomyces pombe homologue of Dbf4-Cdc7. In vitro, the purified Dfp1-Hsk1 kinase efficiently phosphorylated Mcm2p. In contrast, Mcm2p, present in the six-subunit Mcm complex, was a poor substrate of this kinase and required Cdc23p (homologue of Mcm10p) for efficient phosphorylation. In the presence of Cdc23p, Dfp1-Hsk1 phosphorylated the Mcm2p and Mcm4p subunits of the Mcm complex. Cdc23p interacted with both the Mcm complex and Dfp1-Hsk1 by selectively binding to the Mcm4/6/7 subunits and Dfp1p, respectively. The N terminus of Cdc23p was found to interact directly with Dfp1-Hsk1 and was essential for phosphorylation of the Mcm complex. Truncated derivatives of Cdc23p that complemented the temperature-sensitive phenotype of cdc23 mutant cells also stimulated the phosphorylation of Mcm complex, implying that this activity might be a critical role of Cdc23p in vivo. These results suggest that Cdc23p participates in the activation of prereplicative complex by recruiting the Dfp1-Hsk1 kinase and stimulating the phosphorylation of the Mcm complex.
Aging and Serial List Picture Memory

List memory of 6 young and 6 older human adults was tested with lists of four visual items (black and white patterns and colored abstract paintings). We investigated the effects of varying the length of the recognition interval on the serial-position function for picture recognition in the two age groups. Increases in the retention interval showed a consistent modification of the shape of the serial-position function from a monotonically increasing function at the shortest interval to a monotonically decreasing function at the longest interval. The time course of these changes was faster for older adults than for young adults. Age differences in the length of the interval required for a shift in the serial-position functions from recency to primacy effects were strikingly similar to those previously found between young people and nonhuman species.
Knowledge Management Practices and Organizational Effectiveness: Empirical Evidence from Banks of an Underdeveloped Country

Knowledge management literature exhibits that to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage over competitors int he modern economy, an organization must be able to generate new knowledge by using its knowledge base resources. This article investigates the relationship between knowledge management practices (Acquisition, Conversion, Application and Protection) and organizational effectiveness in commercial banks operating in Bangladesh. A knowledge management process model is developed from the previous literature and tested. Interestingly. the result indicates that knowledge management practices have significant influence over organizational effectiveness.
Acriflavine-binding Capacity of Escherichia coli in Relation to Acriflavine Sensitivity and Metabolic Activity

Nakamura, Hakobu (Konan University, Kobe, Japan). Acriflavine-binding capacity of Escherichia coli in relation to acriflavine sensitivity and metabolic activity. J. Bacteriol. 92:1447–1452. 1966. —Inheritance of the acriflavine resistance gene by an acriflavine-sensitive strain of Escherichia coli K-12 resulted in a reduction in the cellular accumulation of acriflavine and other basic dyes, but had no effect on the accumulation of acid dyes. In both acriflavine-resistant and -sensitive strains, the cooling of cells from 37 to 0 C increased acriflavine accumulation. This increased accumulation was released from the cells after restoration to 37 C. Acriflavine accumulation was increased by carbon shortage and by metabolic disturbance caused by potassium cyanide, arsenite, puromycin, chloramphenicol, 2-thiouracil, and 8-azaguanine. The functional relation of acrifiavine accumulation to the acriflavine concentration of the medium suggests that adsorption is involved in the accumulation.
The causality analysis of climate change and large-scale human crisis

Recent studies have shown strong temporal correlations between past climate changes and societal crises. However, the specific causal mechanisms underlying this relation have not been addressed. We explored quantitative responses of 14 fine-grained agro-ecological, socioeconomic, and demographic variables to climate fluctuations from A.D. 1500–1800 in Europe. Results show that cooling from A.D. 1560–1660 caused successive agro-ecological, socioeconomic, and demographic catastrophes, leading to the General Crisis of the Seventeenth Century. We identified a set of causal linkages between climate change and human crisis. Using temperature data and climate-driven economic variables, we simulated the alternation of defined “golden” and “dark” ages in Europe and the Northern Hemisphere during the past millennium. Our findings indicate that climate change was the ultimate cause, and climate-driven economic downturn was the direct cause, of large-scale human crises in preindustrial Europe and the Northern Hemisphere.
Corporate Governance in Government-Linked Companies - Control Driven Or Performance Driven?

We study the effect of the government transition on firm performance and board composition of government-linked companies (GLCs) and explore the motivations of board restructuring of GLCs. Specifically, we examine two questions: (1) what is the motivation of board restructuring, and (2) whether the change in the board composition affects the subsequent firm performance. The empirical results indicate that the policy factor is the key determinant in the board re-election of GLCs. The motivation of board restructuring after the powershift is mainly for control and spoils purposes rather than performance enhancement, which may explain why the market reacts negatively to the board restructuring announcement in GLCs. Finally, none of the board restructuring factors can explain the change in firm performance after the powershift, the only significant factor is the policy factor.
A conjoint analysis of festival attributes for successful positioning of selected arts festivals in South Africa

Arts festivals are common happenings in South Africa. Despite the significant growth in the number and size of festivals and events, relatively little research is available on the arts festival package. This article determines which attributes and combination of attributes would drive the best practices of arts festivals. Three main arts festivals were studied, selecting like-minded respondents from among festival attendees on a scenario basis. Five different attributes describing arts festivals were developed, namely festival brands, ticket prices, entertainment activities, food and beverages (refreshments) and transport to venues. Conjoint analysis was used in a linear regression model with individual ratings for each festival product averaging r-squares of 0.83 in the study. The results reveal similarities regarding the attributes of transport and ticket prices and differ regarding the attribute of entertainment activities. Festivals A and B favoured the attribute level quality music while Festival C favoured quality performances. The attribute of food and beverages (refreshments) indicated that Festivals B and C both prefer the attribute level value for money, while Festival A prefers the attribute level a wide variety of good quality as the best possible combination of attributes for successful positioning.
Simulated intervertebral disc‐like assembly using bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cell sheets and silk scaffolds for annulus fibrosus regeneration

Most studies on the intervertebral disc (IVD) focus on the regeneration of the nucleus pulposus (NP). However, without a proper strategy to regenerate the damaged annulus fibrosus (AF), the NP replacements are bound to fail. Therefore the objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to form cell sheets, and incorporating them onto silk scaffolds, has the potential to regenerate the annulus fibrosus. The BMSC cell sheets and silk scaffolds were wrapped around a silicone NP substitute to form a simulated IVD‐like assembly. The simulated IVD‐like assembly was cultured for 4 weeks in static conditions and it was shown that the BMSC cell sheets remained viable, with no significant change in cell numbers. Histological analysis showed that the BMSC cell sheets adhered well onto the silk scaffolds and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were detected within the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ratio of collagen type I to collagen type II within the ECM of the BMSC cell sheets also decreased significantly over the period of culture. The results suggested that extensive remodelling of the ECM occurred within the simulated IVD‐like assembly, and it is suitable for the regeneration of the inner AF. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leaf Conductance in Relation to Rate of CO(2) Assimilation: II. Effects of Short-Term Exposures to Different Photon Flux Densities.

When photon flux density incident on attached leaves of Zea mays L. was varied from the equivalent of 0.12 of full sunlight to full sunlight, leaf conductance to CO(2) transfer, g, changed in proportion to the change in rate of CO(2), assimilation, A, with the result that intercellular partial pressure of CO(2) remained almost constant. The proportionality was the same as that previously found in g and A measured at one photon flux density in plants of Zea mays L. grown at different levels of mineral nutrition, light intensities, and ambient partial pressures of CO(2). In shade-grown Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants, A as photon flux density was increased from about 0.12 up to about 0.5 full sunlight, the proportionality being almost the same in plants grown at low and at high light intensity.When photon flux density incident on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the isolateral leaves of Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieb. ex Spreng was varied, g and A also varied proportionally. The leaf conductance in a particular surface was affected by the photon flux density at the opposite surface to a greater extent than was expected on the basis of transmittance. The results indicated that stomata may, in some way, be sensitive to the photon flux absorbed within the leaf as a whole.
EBV‐encoded EBNA‐5 associates with P14ARF in extranucleolar inclusions and prolongs the survival of P14ARF‐expressing cells

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) carrying lymphoblastoid cells of normal origin express the full program of all 9 virus‐encoded, growth transformation associated proteins. They have an intact p53 pathway as a rule. This raises the question of whether any of the viral proteins impair the pathway functionally. Using a yeast 2‐hybrid system, we have shown that EBNA‐5 but not the other EBNAs interacts with the p14ARF protein, a regulator of the p53 pathway. The interaction was confirmed in vitro using a GST pull‐down assay. Moreover, expression of EBNA‐5 increased the survival of p14ARF‐transfected cells. EBV infection of resting B cells induced the expression of p14ARF mRNA without increased level of the protein. A fraction of the p14ARF localized to the nucleoli but the bulk of the protein accumulated in nuclear but extranucleolar inclusions. Formation of the extranucleolar inclusions led to complete relocalization of EBNA‐5 from nucleoplasm to these structures. The inclusions also contained p53 and HDM2, and were surrounded by PML bodies and proteasomes, which suggests that these inclusions could be targets for proteasome dependent protein degradation. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gender Issues in Buyer‐Seller Relationships: Does Gender Matter in Purchasing?

SUMMARY While differences between male and female salespeople are well documented in the literature, evidence is less clear whether these differences matter to the buyer or whether buyers of different gender make decisions differently. The article reports results of a survey of male and female purchasers on the behaviors, trust, credibility and customer orientation of a salesperson. Almost no differences were found on any of the variables for male or female buyers. This calls into question past research that has found differences, and this paper argues that previous findings, while statistically significant, are probably not managerially significant.
Matching contributions for pensions

Establishing robust, equitable, and effective social protection is essential to reducing poverty and boosting prosperity at all levels of development. The demographic transition that has already transformed most high-income societies will exert similar and growing pressures on others, reinforcing the role of pensions and savings for old age as a central pillar of social protection systems. One possible solution that has emerged in recent years that offers the potential to overcome this challenge is the provision of contribution matches to provide an immediate and powerful incentive for participation in pension saving systems. Originating in several high-income settings there are now a number of innovations and substantial experience in low-income countries in using this design to stimulate coverage and savings. This experience now provides a rich opportunity for learning, not just from the longer experience of a few high-income countries but also the more meaningful South-South learning across developing countries. This volume, which reviews the experience with matching pension contributions across the range of countries that have used the design, makes an initial, but critically important investment in this learning process. The description and analysis of this experience which is the product of partnership and collaboration across many public and private institutions provide an invaluable early assessment of the design to inform policy makers and practitioners as well as serve as a model for the kind of cooperation that will be required to address this difficult challenge. At the World Bank, we look forward to being part of this learning process of how to best provide old-age security for all.
People With Symptoms of Ménière’s Disease: The Relationship Between Illness Intrusiveness, Illness Uncertainty, Dizziness Handicap, and Depression

Hypothesis The goal of this study was to assess the impact of dizziness handicap, illness intrusiveness (in relation to vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing problems), and illness uncertainty on depression in people with the symptoms of Ménière’s disease. Background Ménière’s disease is a progressive disease of the inner ear, the symptoms of which are vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and aural fullness. Although pharmacologic treatments may reduce acute vertigo spells and dizziness, they rarely disappear entirely. Previous research shows that Ménière’s disease is unpredictable and has a negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Methods Questionnaires measuring Dizziness Handicap, Illness Intrusiveness, Illness Uncertainty, and Depression were completed by 74 people with self-reported symptoms of Ménière’s disease. Bivariate correlations, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the contribution of dizziness handicap, illness intrusiveness, and illness uncertainty to depression. Conclusion Vertigo was more intrusive than tinnitus, hearing problems, and most other comparator illnesses. The intrusiveness of the symptoms of Ménière’s disease accounted for 32% of the variance in depression scores, which were high; illness uncertainty did not account for additional variance. Dizziness handicap accounted for 31% of the variation in depression. Although the symptoms of Ménière’s disease may not be alleviated by psychological methods, programs that target cognitions in relation to the embarrassment in front of others, and the feeling of being handicapped, may lessen the psychosocial impact of the symptoms of Ménière’s disease, which may reduce some of the depression felt in this group.
Mucosal lesions can occur in leopard syndrome.

A 10-year-old girl was referred as she had developed a large number of pigmented lesions. A couple of these lesions were present on the hands at birth but she had now developed a large number on the face, neck, buttocks and a few on the limbs. She had involvement of the lips and tongue. Additional findings included short stature, borderline ear setting, hypertelorism and slight pectus deformity. Clinically she resembled LEOPARD
Multiple Signals Induce Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Both Primary and Immortalized Chondrocytes Resulting in Loss of Differentiation, Impaired Cell Growth, and Apoptosis*

The endoplasmic reticulum is the site of synthesis and folding of secretory proteins and is sensitive to changes in the internal and external environment of the cell. Both physiological and pathological conditions may perturb the function of the endoplasmic reticulum, resulting in endoplasmic reticulum stress. The chondrocyte is the only resident cell found in cartilage and is responsible for synthesis and turnover of the abundant extracellular matrix and may be sensitive to endoplasmic reticulum stress. Here we report that glucose withdrawal, tunicamycin, and thapsigargin induce up-regulation of GADD153 and caspase-12, two markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress, in both primary chondrocytes and a chondrocyte cell line. Other agents such as interleukin-1β or tumor necrosis factor α induced a minimal or no induction of GADD153, respectively. The endoplasmic reticulum stress resulted in decreased chondrocyte growth based on cell counts, up-regulation of p21, and decreased PCNA expression. In addition, perturbation of endoplasmic reticulum function resulted in decreased accumulation of an Alcian Blue positive matrix by chondrocytes and decreased expression of type II collagen at the protein level. Further, quantitative real-time PCR was used to demonstrate a down-regulation of steady state mRNA levels coding for aggrecan, collagen II, and link protein in chondrocytes exposed to endoplasmic reticulum stress-inducing conditions. Ultimately, endoplasmic reticulum stress resulted in chondrocyte apoptosis, as evidenced by DNA fragmentation and annexin V staining. These findings have potentially important implications regarding consequences of endoplasmic reticulum stress in cartilage biology.
Impact of Quality Improvement in a Department Store by Sales Associates on Customer Loyalty

The purpose of this study is to identify how to improve the quality of department store`s sales associates for customer loyalty. This study examines the importance of sales associates`` education, skills, and customer service towards customer loyalty. The questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from 220 clothing sales associates working in department stores. This survey was paper- based. The participants were asked about the questionnaires; sales associates`` education, sales associates`` ability, customerservice, and customer loyalty. General demographic characteristic of participants in the study are as follows; females (72.27%) participated the survey more than males (27.73%). With the age ranging from early 20s to over 40s, most people who took the survey ranged from early 30``s to mid 30``s with 33.64%. The result indicated that sales associates` education, and customer service skills were significantly corelated to each other. Salesassociates`` education had no co relation to customer loyalty. In applying the research findings, department stores can design their training contents to offer better training quality. Education of sales associates can be focused by providing various training contents, exercise, effective options, along with the opportunity to improve the qualities of training.
A Study of United States Hydroelectric Plant Ownership

Ownership of United States hydroelectric plants is reviewed from several perspectives. Plant owners are grouped into six owner classes as defined by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The numbers of plants and the corresponding total capacity associated with each owner class are enumerated. The plant owner population is also evaluated based on the number of owners in each owner class, the number of plants owned by a single owner, and the size of plants based on capacity ranges associated with each owner class. Plant numbers and corresponding total capacity associated with owner classes in each state are evaluated. Ownership by federal agencies in terms of the number of plants owned by each agency and the corresponding total capacity is enumerated. A GIS application that is publicly available on the Internet that displays hydroelectric plants on maps and provides basic information about them is described.