Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional integration and foreign direct investment in developing countries*

The potential for regional trade agreements to foster growth and reduce poverty is increasingly discussed, but the empirical literature has hitherto offered little guidance on how this might be done, i.e. on whether and why some regions are more successful in attracting foreign direct investment than others. This study introduces a new approach that quantifies the level of trade and investment provisions in regional trade agreements and assesses their impact. It estimates a model for the real stock of United Kingdom and United States foreign direct investment in developing countries during the period 1980-2000. It finds that membership of a regional grouping as such is not significantly related to inward foreign direct investment. However, a country that is a member of a regional trade agreement with a sufficient level of trade and investment provisions is in a better position to attract more inward foreign direct investment. Furthermore, countries that have larger economies or are geographically closer to larger countries within the regional grouping can expect a larger increase in foreign direct investment as a result of joining a regional trade agreement than those of countries that have smaller economies or are located on the periphery.
Aspirin as Antithrombotic Therapy to Prevent Ischemic Stroke / Embolization in Low Risk Patients with Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation : A Retrospective Review Community Hospital in Columbus , Ohio Article Information

Article Information Daniel Wubneh1 Deborah Williams2* Alexandra Eckert3 Cheryl Evans4 Paul He5 Joseph Indelicato6 Maurice Alston7 Jesse Flores8 1Indian River Medical Center, Vero Beach, Florida 2University of Medical and Health Sciences, Basseterre, St Kitts 3MundiPharma, Limburg, Germany 4Long Island University, Brooklyn NY, USA 5Mount Carmel East, Columbus, Ohio, USA 6Touro College of Health Sciences, Bayshore, NY, USA 7Doctors Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA 8Touro College of Pharmacy, USA
AN OVERVIEW OF MULTIPLE IMPUTATION

Multiple imputation for nonresponse in public-use files replaces each missing value by two or more plausible values. The values can be chosen to represent both uncertainty about which values to impute assuming the reasons for nonresponse are known and uncertainty about the reasons for nonresponse. The theoretical underpinnings and several examples are given in Rubin (1987). Thispresentation illustrates the dramatic improvements possible when using multiple rather than single imputation and provides a brief overview of current technology and lacunae that, hopefully, will be addressed and filled by current research efforts. The two important applications of multiple imputation that this overview introduces, demonstrate the substantial improvements that can accrue from the straightforward use of multiple imputation in practice.
Pillows : The Forgotten Fomite May 16 , 2017

The pillow is an oft-overlooked link in a chain of cross-infection between patients. In this review, various links of that chain are examined. Evidence is presented to support the existence of viable transmission routes of infection between patients, pillows, and the ambient environment. Increased environmental contamination is found to increase infection rates and cleaning of the surface environment while the pillow interior remains infected is found to be ineffective in controlling contamination. The efficacy of barrier pillows in controlling contamination is considered.
Research on double protection of semi-blind color digital watermarking algorithm

This paper focused on the study of semi-blind color watermarking algorithm based on the combination DWT with SVD.In consideration of the practicality of embedding watermark,the original image and watermark image all used color pictures.In scrambling transformation and semi-blind watermarking double protection,enhanced the security of watermark.Because SVD was steady towards the common geometric distortion,and with using DWT,the main energy of image occupied the low frequency domain.It was better to improve the resistance to attack of watermark by combining with the advantages of DWT and SVD.The result demonstrates that after the watermark image subjected to the attacks of adding noise,filtering(such as obscuring and sharpening),scaling,rotating,cutting and loss compression,the extracted watermark also has high similarity and peak signal to noise ratio with the original watermark.The algorithm is robust.
Thermal and electrical influences from bulk plasma in cathode heating modeling

In this paper, a numerical calculation is performed for the purpose of estimating the thermal and electrical influences from bulk plasma in cathode heating modeling, in other words researching the necessity of a coupling bulk plasma in near-cathode layer modeling. The proposed model applied in the present work is an improved one from previous work. In this model, the near-cathode region is divided into two parts: the sheath and the ionization layer. The Schottky effect at the cathode surface is considered based on the analytic solution of a 1D sheath model. It is noted that the arc column is calculated simultaneously in the near-cathode region and the cathode bulk. An application is presented for an atmospheric free burning argon arc with arc currents of 50 A–600 A. The modeling results show three interesting points: (1) at the cathode surface, energy transport due to heat conduction of heavy particles and electrons is comparable to total heating flux, no matter whether the arc discharge is performed in a high (400 A) or low current (50 A) situation; (2) the electrical influence from bulk plasma on the cathode heating modeling becomes obvious in a high current situation (>400 A) for the spot mode; (3) the near-cathode layer voltage drop (Utot) is larger in the diffuse mode than in the spot mode for the same current, which is just the opposite to that for decoupled modeling.
Body and music. An annotation scheme of the Pianist's multimodal behaviour

The paper presents a research on the multimodal behaviour of a pianist during performance, and proposes an annotation scheme for this behaviour. The research data, aimed at a first testing of a theoretical model of the pianist’s mind, shed some light on the relation of trunk, head and face movements with hand movements during piano performance, and on their expressive import as to the pianist’s cognitive, emotional and motor processes. The annotation scheme is presented and some uses of it are proposed for research on music performance. Author
Steady State Analysis & Controlling Active and Reactive Power of Doubly Fed Induction Generator for Wind Energy Conversion System

The doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) wind energy system is widely accepted in today's wind energy industry. The DFIG presented in the paper is of Adama-II wind power project in Ethiopia that is connected with the grid system. The DFIG is a wound rotor induction generator type in which the rotor circuit can be controlled by external devices called power converters to achieve variable speed of operation. Thus, this paper presents the steady state analysis of a DFIG used in the project at various operating conditions and consequently, it also addresses the controlling mechanisms of active and reactive power at stator winding by employing the well-known vector control approach. A MatlabSimulink is used for modeling and controlling purposes. The stator of the DFIG is 0.69 kV which is connected to the grid through a three-winding pad mounted transformers (33kV), whereas the rotor connection to the grid is done through reduced capacity power converters.
Bifurcations and Chaos in Duf fi ng oscillator driven by different periodic forces

Abstract—The effect of various periodic forces in the ubiquitous Duffing oscillator equation is discussed. The external periodic forces considered are sine wave, square wave, rectified sine wave, symmetric saw-tooth wave, asymmetric saw-tooth wave, rectangular wave with amplitude dependent width and modulus of sine wave. As the control parameter f is varied, with other parameters at constant values, a variety of features such as different routes to chaos, periodic windows, attractor crises and reverse period doubling bifurcations are found to occur due to the applied forces. A comparative study of effect of various forces is performed. The results are substantiated by Lyapunov exponent, bifurcation diagram, phase portrait and Poincaré map. Keywords— Duffing oscillator; Various periodic forces; Bifurcations; Chaos
Comparison of GOMS and CogTool prediction accuracy Bachelor project proposal

In model-based usability evaluation, a computational model of how humans would execute certain tasks on a system is used to predict user performance on that system. The model also provides insights in the relationship between the user’s task and the design of the system. The most frequently used modeling technique is GOMS (Goals, Operators, Methods and Selection rules) (Card, Moran, & Newell, 1983). A GOMS analysis specifies the goals of the user, the methods by which the goal is achieved, the operators that are the actions within a certain method, and finally the selection rules based on which the user chooses between possible methods. Operators are the atomic elements of the GOMS model. They can be elementary perceptual, motor or cognitive actions. The model assumes that each operator requires a fixed amount of time to execute and that this is independent of context (e.g. a mouse button click always takes 20 ms.). A GOMS analysis provides a descriptive model of the way a user performs tasks on a system. A GOMS model is also predictive, because it includes execution time estimates of operators and can therefore be used to predict the speed with which a user can perform a task. The execution times of the operators are adopted from an earlier version of GOMS, called the Keystroke-Level Model (KLM) (Card, Moran & Newell, 1980). Standard GOMS is very similar to the KLM, except that GOMS includes a hierarchical goal structure and selection rules. John, Prevas, Salvucci & Koedinger (2004) argue that constructing correct GOMS or KLM models is too complex and that this complexity creates a barrier that prevents software designers and usability analysts from using them. To make user modeling easier and more accessible, they developed a software package called CogTool. In CogTool, an analyst creates a storyboard mockup of the user interface that contains its most important interactive elements (e.g. buttons and menus). Each state of the interface is represented as a frame in the storyboard. An action performed on an interactive element can result in a transition to a different frame in the storyboard. Once the mock-up is created, the analyst indicates which steps a user needs to take to perform a certain task on the storyboard. CogTool automatically generates a valid KLM based on these steps. When the KLM of the entire task is built, CogTool runs a computational model that estimates the execution time of the task. This computational model is based on the ACT-R cognitive architecture (Anderson & Lebiere, 1998; Anderson et al., 2004). ACT-R is a theory of human cognition that models cognitive, perceptual and motor processes.
Measuring price change in mobile-telephony services : an arduous task

The recent but prodigious growth of mobile telephony has made it the emblematic product of the new information and communication technologies (NICTs). In France, its rise has been spectacular: introduced in 1995, it now boasts a combined total of nearly 40 million individual and corporate users. Three operators share the French market: Orange (50% of the customer base at end-2002), SFR (35%), and Bouygues Telecom (15%). Individual users account for somewhat over two-thirds of their customer base.
Multiple Roles of Exosomal Long Noncoding RNAs in Cancers

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are not transcriptional noise, as previously understood, but are currently considered to be multifunctional. Exosomes are derived from the internal multivesicular compartment and are extracellular vesicles (EVs) with diameters of 30–100 nm. Exosomes play significant roles in the intercellular exchange of information and material. Exosomal lncRNAs may be promising biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and potential targets for cancer therapies, since they are increasingly understood to be involved in tumorigenesis, tumor angiogenesis, and chemoresistance. This review mainly focuses on the roles of emerging exosomal lncRNAs in cancer. In addition, the biogenesis of exosomes, the functions of lncRNAs, and the mechanisms of lncRNAs in exosome-mediated cell-cell communication are also summarized.
Evaluation of the ecosystem services approach in agricultural literature

‡ Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Institute of Landscape Systems Analysis, Müncheberg, Germany § Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Institute of Land Use Systems, Müncheberg, Germany | Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Institute for Landscape Biogeochemistry, Müncheberg, Germany ¶ Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Institute of Soil Landscape Research, Müncheberg, Germany # Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Institute of Socio-Economics, Müncheberg, Germany ¤ Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Institute of Landscape Hydrology, Müncheberg, Germany
Clinical Signifi cance of Escherichia albertii

Discriminating Escherichia albertii from other Enterobacteriaceae is diffi cult. Systematic analyses showed that E. albertii represents a substantial portion of strains currently identifi ed as eae-positive Escherichia coli and includes Shiga toxin 2f–producing strains. Because E. albertii possesses the eae gene, many strains might have been misidentifi ed as enterohemorrhagic or enteropathogenic E. coli.
Theories of late capitalist development-Harvey and Callinicos on contemporary imperialism

1.1 Imperialism and the post-Cold War world The last decade has seen an upturn of interest in Marxist theories of imperialism.1 The background has been, of course, the drive of the last American administration to fundamentally alter the balance of power in the strategically important, oil-rich region of the Middle East, by using unilateral military power to achieve ? regime change? in states considered hostile to US influence. The bellicose rhetoric of the Bush administration and the idea of an unending number of supposedly ? preventative? wars (? the Bush Doctrine? ) put forward by leading neo-conservative protagonists at the time, provided fertile ground for a renewal of debate and argument on the Marxist left over the concept of imperialism.
Computer Games , Fictional Worlds , and Transmedia Storytelling : A Narratological Perspective

New and evolving forms of medial narration and tran smedia storytelling pose a profound methodological challenge for narratological approac hes within literature and media studies. While some narratological concepts such as ‘charact e ’, ‘event’ or ‘fictional world’ seem to apply ‘across the media’, they do not necessarily a pply to every medium in exactly the same way (Ryan 2004; 2006; Thon 2009; Wolf 2005). It is, for example, generally acknowledged within computer game studies that many contemporary computer games are set in fictional worlds often expanding beyond the games themselves (e.g. Jenkins 2004; 2006; Juul 2005; Ryan 2006; Thon 2007). But while the conventionally distinct media of the novel, the film and the computer game may all present fictional wor lds, these worlds differ in significant ways that cannot and should not be reduced to “idio syncrasies of individual texts” (Ryan 2004: 33). Situated in the context of a more compre hensive research project in the field of transmedial narratology, the present paper discusse s the medium-specific ways in which the gameplay of the real time strategy game W ARCRAFT III: REIGN OF CHAOS (2002) and the massive multiplayer online role playing game W ORLD OF WARCRAFT (2004) is enriched by and contributes to the transmedial presentation of the ictional world of WARCRAFT.
Brain Network Interaction During Domain-General Creative Cognition

Creative thinking is central to the arts, sciences, and everyday life. How does the brain produce creative thought? A series of recently published papers has begun to provide insight into this question, reporting a strikingly similar pattern of brain activity and connectivity across a range of creative tasks and domains, from divergent thinking to poetry composition to musical improvisation. This research suggests that creative thought involves dynamic interactions of largescale brain systems, with the most compelling finding being that the default and executive control networks, which can show an antagonistic relationship, actually cooperate during creative cognition and artistic performance. These findings have implications for understanding how brain networks interact to support complex cognitive processes, particularly those involving goaldirected, self-generated thought.
Explicit Direct Instruction in Programming Education

In education, there is and has always been debate about how to teach. One of these debates centers around the role of the teacher: should their role be minimal, allowing students to find and classify knowledge independently, or should the teacher be in charge of what happens in the classroom, explaining students all they need to know? These forms of teaching are also called exploratory learning and direct instruction respectively. While the debate is not settled, more and more evidence is presented by researchers that explicit direct instruction is more effective than exploratory learning in teaching mathematics and science. These findings raise the question whether that might be true for programming education too. This is especially of interest since programming education is deeply rooted in the constructionist philosophy, leading many programmers to follow exploratory learning methods, often without being aware of it. This paper outlines this history of programming education and additional beliefs in programming that lead to the prevalence of exploratory forms of teaching. We subsequently explain the didactic principles of direct instruction, explore them in the context of programming, and hypothesize how it might look like for programming.
mpact of lymph node metastasis on outcome after xtrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural esothelioma arc

esults: The median survival was 11 months, with a 3-year survival of 24%. urvival was significantly worse for patients with N2 disease than for those with no ymph node metastasis (median survival 10 months vs 29 months, respectively, P 005). Patient sex, histologic cell type, stage, and N2 disease, but not mediastinosopy, had significant impacts on survival according to univariate analysis. In a ultivariate analysis, however, only the presence of N2 disease remained a signifcant predictor of poor outcome. The proportion of patients with N2 disease and the ong-term survival was similar regardless of whether preoperative mediastinoscopy ielded a negative result. The initial site of recurrence was determined in 28 patients locoregional in 10 and distant in 18). The presence of N2 disease had no impact on he site of recurrence. Adjuvant hemithoracic radiation therapy, however, signifiantly decreased the risk of locoregional recurrence.
連続時間伝達特性を考慮した filtered-x LMS アルゴリズム Filtered-x LMS algorithm considering continuous-time behavior

アブストラクト 従来の filtered-xLMS アルゴリズムの 解析では,2次経路の伝達特性は離散時間システムとして 扱われる. しかし,例えばアクティブ消音のシステムを 考えると,2次経路は連続時間システムである. したがっ て,そのようなシステムは,連続時間システムと離散時 間システム,およびAD/DA変換回路を含むハイブリッ ドシステムとして扱う必要がある. 本稿では,サンプル 値制御理論におけるリフティングの技法を用いて,2次経 路の連続時間特性を考慮した新しい filtered-xLMS アル ゴリズムを提案する. Abstract Analysis of filtered-xLMS algorithm is conventionally done by assuming that the transfer function in the secondary path is a discrete-time system. However, in real systems such as active noise control the secondary path is a continuous-time system. Therefore, such a system should be analyzed as a hybrid system including discreteand continuoustime systems and AD/DA devices. In this article, we propose a new algorithm taking account of continuous-time behavior of the secondary path via lifting technique in sampled-data control theory.
Effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on liver enzyme and blood lipids in Chinese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease : a randomized controlled trial

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on ALT and blood lipids in Chinese patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 103 patients with clinically defined NAFLD were randomly assigned to aerobic exercise (n=34), resistance exercise (n=34) or non-exercising control (n=35) for 22 weeks interventions. All patients were received diet education. An aerobic group program consisted of 60 minutes aerobic exercise at 60%-70% maximum heart rate intensity, a resistance group performed 3 series of 10 repetitions at intensity of 60%-70% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) for 60 min/d and the control had no training program during the study. Results: Ninety-one of the 103 participants (29, 31 and 31 in the aerobic, resistance and the control groups, respectively) were eventually included in data analysis. There were no adverse events. At baseline, the clinical characteristics were matched among the three groups. After 22 weeks, compared with the control group, a significant improvement in HDL was observed in both the aerobic and resistance exercise groups (P=0.005; P=0.009). In the aerobic group, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Triglycerides (TG) were decreased significantly (P=0.007; P=0.046), and the level of HDL was improved significantly (P=0.049) compared to the baseline. In the resistance group, HDL was increased significantly (P=0.027). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that both aerobic and resistance exercise alone are effective in improving HDL among Chinese patients with NAFLD. Aerobic exercise but not resistance training can reduce the levels of ALT and TG.
A Computer-based Touch-less 3D Controller Using Capacitive Sensing Method

This paper focuses on the application of touch-less interaction between human and computer using capacitive sensing technique. A computer–based analysis for touch-less 3D controller using capacitive sensing method in [1] is developed. In this project, Arduino UNO is used as a microcontroller to bridge the interface connection between the sensor hardware and the computer. This method uses capacitive based sensor as the main component to sense the gesture movement near it. The capacitive based sensing depends on the duration to charge a capacitor (known as the time constant). By placing an object within the electric field of a capacitor, it will immediately affect the capacitance value and it will correspond to the time constant. In the final analysis, the touch-less hardware will be linked to MATLAB software to study its characteristic and behavior. Using the data obtained from the analysis, a touch-less control from the hardware will control the computer keyboard. To show its additional functionality, a Google Earth program will display the ability of the touch-less interface.