Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of ground plane of a slotted microstrip patch antenna for EMI rejection

In this paper a novel design of a Slotted Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna with perturbation in ground plane is described which increases the interference rejection frequency bandwidth. A comparative study is also shown between two antenna with identical radiating element, one with a perturbed ground plane and another without perturbation. The proposed antenna is designed for operation at both the signal frequencies 1.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz. The results are obtained by modeling and simulation using Ansoft HFSS software tools. The result shows almost 13.5% interference rejection bandwidth at −10dB return loss without ground plane perturbation. Rejection bandwidth increased to 18.2 % with the use of ground plane perturbation in the same patch antenna.
Rating-Induced Default Risk and Downgrade Hesitation ✩

Credit ratings should reflect credit risk. Mounting evidence implies they also impact credit risk. As strategic agencies will take this into account, I build a model to show how this feedback effect incentivizes raters to postpone or omit downgrades which they know would be warranted. If agencies succumb to the conflict of interest, they will optimally hesitate to announce a strictly positive fraction of merited announcements as to restrict self-inflicted fee losses, irrespective of how large reputation costs loom. To devise a test design, I derive empirical predictions and critical conditions: It is shown that the probability of agencies concealing downgrades is increasing with obligors’ proximity to default and their reliance on external financing, while it decreases in distance to the default boundary and subsequent to crises due to higher reputation costs.
TT virus infection of periodontal tissues: a controlled clinical and laboratory pilot study.

BACKGROUND A novel single-strand, circular DNA virus has been recently isolated and named TT virus (TTV). It has been demonstrated that peripheral blood cells harbor TTV DNA, suggesting that the virus might replicate in lymphoid cells and contribute to lymphocyte imbalances with consequent immunosuppressive effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of TTV DNA in healthy and periodontally compromised subjects, evaluating the presence of the virus in the gingiva and saliva, and comparing virological results with clinical data. METHODS Twenty-one patients (seven males and 14 females, aged 25 to 76 years) were enrolled in the study. Eleven subjects were diagnosed with moderate periodontitis, while 10 were periodontally healthy. A sample of saliva was taken from each patient before recording the periodontal data; subsequently, a gingival biopsy was performed. A real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the presence of TTV DNA in saliva and gingival specimens. RESULTS A statistically significant association was found between TTV in gingival tissue and the presence of periodontitis (P = 0.0351), while no association was observed between TTV in saliva and the presence of periodontitis (P = 0.4762). CONCLUSIONS A new DNA virus (TTV) was first identified in the gingival tissue and was found to be significantly associated with the presence of periodontitis. These findings need to be investigated in further studies.
Inactivation of TGFb receptors in stem cells drives cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Patrizia Cammareri1,*, Aidan M. Rose2,*, David F. Vincent1,*, Jun Wang3, Ai Nagano3, Silvana Libertini1, Rachel A. Ridgway1, Dimitris Athineos1, Philip J. Coates4, Angela McHugh2, Celine Pourreyron2, Jasbani H.S. Dayal2, Jonas Larsson5, Simone Weidlich6, Lindsay C. Spender2, Gopal P. Sapkota6, Karin J. Purdie7, Charlotte M. Proby2, Catherine A. Harwood7, Irene M. Leigh2,7, Hans Clevers8, Nick Barker9, Stefan Karlsson5, Catrin Pritchard10, Richard Marais11, Claude Chelala3, Andrew P. South2,12, Owen J. Sansom1 & Gareth J. Inman2
The Market for Academic Manuscripts

Presents the findings of part of a research project into the relationships between academic authors and publishers. Discusses the attitudes of authors towards publishers, looking at the relationship of authors” attitudes and behaviour. Outlines some implications for publishers” policies. Investigates the similarities between the market for academic manuscripts and other markets, and also the differences. Examines the essential features of markets and the marketing process. Indicates that publishers may need to review both the terms of their contracts and the procedures they adopt in order to be successful.
Use of various genetic markers in differentiation of Mycobacterium bovis strains from animals and humans and for studying epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis

One hundred fifty-three Mycobacterium bovis strains from cattle, various animal species from zoos and wild parks, and humans were analyzed for three different genetic markers for use in the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis. M. bovis strains isolated from cattle were found to carry a single IS6110 element, whereas the majority of strains from other animals such as antelopes, monkeys, and seals harbored multiple IS6110 elements, suggesting that the reservoirs in cattle and wild animals are separated. Because the single IS6110 element in cattle strains is located at the same chromosomal position, strain differentiation by insertion sequence fingerprinting was hampered. Therefore, we investigated the usefulness of the direct repeat and polymorphic GC-rich repeat elements for strain differentiation. Both markers allowed sufficient strain discrimination for epidemiological purposes. Evidence is presented that in Argentina, most human M. bovis infections are due to transmission from cattle, whereas M. bovis infections among humans in the Netherlands are mainly contracted from animals other than cattle. Various outbreaks of M. bovis among animals and humans are described, including a small one which likely involved transmission from human to human.
Aneurysm Shrinkage Is Compatible With Massive Endoleak in the Presence of an Aortocaval Fistula

Purpose: To present a patient with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and aortocaval fistula who was successfully treated with endovascular aneurysm repair in spite of developing a massive endoleak. Case Report: A 70-year-old man with ruptured AAA and aortocaval fistula was treated with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). During 8 years of follow-up, he had massive perfusion of the aneurysm sac by retrograde flow from the inferior mesenteric artery into the caval vein through the aortocaval fistula. The aneurysm diameter decreased continuously in spite of the type II endoleak. This observation illustrates the mechanisms of sac expansion and may have therapeutic implications for complicated type II endoleaks and prevention of spinal cord ischemia in thoracic stent-grafting. Conclusion: EVAR can be applied in this rare setting because the ensuing high-flow endoleak is associated with sac shrinkage owing to depressurization by the caval shunt.
Study on Incentive Mechanism of Executive Compensation Based on Tunneling Behavior of Major Shareholders

The existence of major shareholders strengthens the supervision of managers,but if there is tunneling behavior of major shareholders,managers will negotiate with major shareholders in order to reduce their performance standards,thereby weakening the pay incentive supervision of managers.This paper incorporates tunneling behavior of major shareholders and executive compensation incentives into an analytical framework and discusses the interaction.It finds that tunneling behavior of major shareholders results in the reduction in the incentive intensity of executive compensation which is affected by the characters of real controllers.This paper provides some reference for the comprehensive understanding of the role of major shareholders and the interaction between two types of agency costs.
Mitochondrial DNA products among RAPD profiles are frequent and strongly differentiated between races of Douglas‐fir

Racial differentiation and genetic variability were studied between and within the coastal, north interior, and south interior races of Douglas‐fir using RAPD and allozyme markers. Nearly half of all RAPD bands scored (13:45%) were found to be amplified from mitochondrial DNA. They exhibited maternal inheritance among hybrids and back‐crosses between the races, and were much more highly differentiated (GST= 0.62 for haplotype frequencies) than were allozymes (GST= 0.26). No evidence of hybridization or introgression was detected where the coastal and interior races come into proximity in central Oregon.
Flaming, Complaining, Abstaining: How Online Users Respond to Privacy Concerns

Abstract Attitudes and opinions about online advertising practices and consumer privacy concerns have been studied in both the academic and popular press. However, online consumers' response to privacy concerns have not been studied. This study examines this relationship using a national sample of individuals with personal e-mail accounts. Respondents' concerns with a series of situations which effect privacy online were assessed. This overall level of concern was subsequently correlated with the frequency that respondents adopted seven different online behaviors. Analysis demonstrates that the frequency of adopting five of the seven behaviors increased as respondents' privacy concern increased. Specifically, as privacy concern increased, respondents reported that they were more likely to provide incomplete information to web sites, to notify Internet Service Providers (ISPs) about unsolicited e-mail, to request removal from mailing lists, and to send a “flame” to online entities sending unsolicited e-mai.
A functional glutamatergic neurone network in the medial septum and diagonal band area

The medial septum and diagonal band complex (MS/DB) is important for learning and memory and is known to contain cholinergic and GABAergic neurones. Glutamatergic neurones have also been recently described in this area but their function remains unknown. Here we show that local glutamatergic neurones can be activated using 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP) and the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline in regular MS/DB slices, or mini‐MS/DB slices. The spontaneous glutamatergic responses were mediated by AMPA receptors and, to a lesser extend, NMDA receptors, and were characterized by large, sometimes repetitive activity that elicited bursts of action potentials postsynaptically. Similar repetitive AMPA receptor‐mediated bursts were generated by glutamatergic neurone activation within the MS/DB in disinhibited organotypic MS/DB slices, suggesting that the glutamatergic responses did not originate from extrinsic glutamatergic synapses. It is interesting that glutamatergic neurones were part of a synchronously active network as large repetitive AMPA receptor‐mediated bursts were generated concomitantly with extracellular field potentials in intact half‐septum preparations in vitro. Glutamatergic neurones appeared important to MS/DB activation as strong glutamatergic responses were present in electrophysiologically identified putative cholinergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic neurones. In agreement with this, we found immunohistochemical evidence that vesicular glutamate‐2 (VGLUT2)‐positive puncta were in proximity to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)‐, glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67)‐ and VGLUT2‐positive neurones. Finally, MS/DB glutamatergic neurones could be activated under more physiological conditions as a cholinergic agonist was found to elicit rhythmic AMPA receptor‐mediated EPSPs at a theta relevant frequency of 6–10 Hz. We propose that glutamatergic neurones within the MS/DB can excite cholinergic and GABAergic neurones, and that they are part of a connected excitatory network, which upon appropriate activation, may contribute to rhythm generation.
Building the extended enterprise : key collaboration factors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore supply chain collaboration issues in the extended enterprise (EE) to develop a more complete understanding of the nature and effectiveness of collaboration in the transition towards, but also within, the EE paradigm.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents results from a three‐company case study focusing on the civil aerospace industry, with all companies taking part in an EE. The research involved obtaining and systematically analysing a diversity of interview data and company documents to assist in the development of theory, which was subject to a systematic validation process.Findings – The authors propose a taxonomy, which, first, assists in understanding the transition towards the EE and supports a distinction between sets of factors that affect the effectiveness of collaboration, termed the “contractual” and “engaging” factors. Second, it assists in understanding the dynamic, complex nature of the EE paradigm and suggests a further breakdown .
Bacteriophage PSP3 and phiR73 activator proteins: analysis of promoter specificities

Transcription from the late promoters of bacteriophage P2 and its satellite phage P4 is activated by a unique class of small, zinc-binding proteins. Using plasmid expression systems, we compared activators from two P2-like (helper) phages with those encoded by two satellite phages. The helper phage activators have more activity on the P4 phage sid promoter. In contrast, the satellite phage activators function better on the four late P2 promoters and on the P4 late leftward promoter. We purified one activator encoded by a P2-like phage and an activator from a satellite phage and determined their binding sites within the P2 and P4 late promoters. Differences in activity levels correlate with binding specificities; promoters that function best with the satellite phage activators have only one activator binding site centered at -55, while the P4 sid promoter, which has more activity with helper phage activators, has a second binding site centered at -18. Surprisingly, DNase I footprinting revealed only very minor differences in promoter binding by the two activators reported here and the P4 activator reported previously. Thus, the differences in transcriptional activity are probably due to interactions between the activators and RNA polymerase, rather than interactions between the activators and DNA.
Total customer engagement: designing and aligning key strategic elements to achieve growth

Purpose – Businesses today face a number of difficult challenges that make customer engagement more important than ever. The usual way in which businesses operate makes it difficult to achieve high levels of consumer engagement. Perhaps the main problem with all the bits and pieces of ideas that would promote customer engagement – branding to consumers, internal marketing within the company, and service delivery – is how to fit all these together. The way to implement such models throughout the company is not clear and not easy to understand.Design/methodology/approach – The total engagement model puts everything together into an efficient and effective system. The key is focusing on aligning all activities of the company on a unified plan for customer engagement, including advertising, service, products and the internal culture. An important benefit of the total engagement model is the synergy through total brand strategy alignment throughout the company: the whole (through integration) is greater than t.
The diagnosis and improvement of TQM implementation in semiconductor industries

Total quality management (TQM) improves product/service quality, increases customer satisfaction and improves competitiveness. However, experience shows that there is low successful rate. Few enterprises agree that they have successfully implemented TQM. An inadequate understanding of the techniques and suitable objectives of the TQM implementation not only causes problems or sub-par performance but also drives excess cost for businesses. With this in mind, a V-shaped performance evaluation model is proposed to examine the implementation performance of TQM practices. By this model, a company can diagnose the effectiveness and efficiency of TQM practices by considering the level of importance, the level of easiness to implement and the level of accomplishment of each TQM practice. The implementation of TQM in the semiconductor industry in Taiwan is investigated. Practices identified as the ones need to improve are put into House of Quality (HOQ) and corresponding improvement actions are proposed for managers to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of TQM implementation. Key words: Total quality management (TQM), semiconductor industry, V-shaped performance matrix, house of quality (HOQ), performance evaluation.
The Quantitative Model of User Interests Based on Web Log

Based on user interests, the personalized service has become a popular research in academic and commercial applications. This paper analyzes the user interests in the domestic and foreign research situation. It come up with a way to obtain the User Interests data in Web log mining. What's more, in order to solve the dynamic updating user interests. This paper proposes a new quantitative model of user interests.
Multiple roles of consumption emotions in post‐purchase satisfaction with extended service transactions

The focus of this paper is on the emotional experience of consumption and its impact on satisfaction in the context of extended service transactions. Drawing on a multi‐component perspective of emotions, we present a series of research propositions to specify how both retrospective global judgments of consumption emotions as well as their in‐process experience (i.e. their experience during the sequence of episodes composing the transaction) determine post‐purchase satisfaction in multiple ways. At the retrospective level, we propose that while the expected direct relationship between satisfaction and positive emotions will emerge, the equally expected inverse relationship between negative emotions and satisfaction will be found only for negative emotions attributed to the service provider. Negative emotions attributed to causes other than the provider (i.e. to the situation or to oneself) may be positively associated with satisfaction. At the in‐process level, we propose that the experience of distinct emotions at a certain stage of the service may influence the consumer’s expectations for and perceptions of the provider performance, and/or the expressions and behaviors of the consumer himself and those of the provider in the subsequent episode. Such in‐process effects of emotions will then determine their relationship with post‐purchase satisfaction. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
Closed-Captioned Television Presentation Speed and Vocabulary

This study summarizes an extensive research project on closed-captioned television. Caption data were recorded from 205 television programs. Both roll-up and pop-on captions were analyzed. In the first part of the study, captions were edited to remove commercials and then processed by computer to get caption speed data. Caption rates among program types varied considerably. The average caption speed for all programs was 141 words per minute, with program extremes of 74 and 231 words per minute. The second part of the study determined the amount of editing being done to program scripts. Ten-minute segments from two different shows in each of 13 program categories were analyzed by comparing the caption script to the program audio. The percentage of script edited out ranged from 0% (in instances of verbatim captioning) to 19%. In the third part of the study, commonly used words in captioning and their frequency of appearance were analyzed. All words from all the programs in the study were combined into one large computer file. This file, which contained 834,726 words, was sorted and found to contain 16,102 unique words.
Active continental subduction and crustal exhumation: the Taiwan orogeny

ABSTRACT A tectonic model of active continental subduction followed by crustal exhumation is proposed to explain the orogeny in Taiwan. The subducted crust is represented by a low‐velocity zone dipping eastwards beneath the major part of Taiwan, while the exhumed crust is marked by a high‐velocity bulge, high heat flow and absence of seismicity beneath the eastern Central Range. The boundary between the subducted and exhumed crust has been identified from surface geology and analyses of thermal history across the Central Range. The dynamic force that has been driving the exhumed crust is identified by results from focal mechanisms, structural geology and geodetic survey in the eastern Central Range. Such a tectonic model may provide a good explanation for the evolution of the Taiwan Orogeny, as well as an active case for studying other long‐extinct systems of continental subduction and exhumation.
Clinical staff perceptions of palliative care-related quality of care, service access, education and training needs and delivery confidence in an acute hospital setting

Context Central to appropriate palliative care management in hospital settings is ensuring an adequately trained workforce. In order to achieve optimum palliative care delivery, it is first necessary to create a baseline understanding of the level of palliative care education and support needs among all clinical staff (not just palliative care specialists) within the acute hospital setting. Objectives The objectives of the study were to explore clinical staff: perceptions concerning the quality of palliative care delivery and support service accessibility, previous experience and education in palliative care delivery, perceptions of their own need for formal palliative care education, confidence in palliative care delivery and the impact of formal palliative care training on perceived confidence. Methods A purposive sample of clinical staff members (598) in a 710-bed hospital were surveyed regarding their experiences of palliative care delivery and their education needs. Results On average, the clinical staff rated the quality of care provided to people who die in the hospital as ‘good’ (x̄=4.17, SD=0.91). Respondents also reported that 19.3% of their time was spent caring for end-of-life patients. However, only 19% of the 598 respondents reported having received formal palliative care training. In contrast, 73.7% answered that they would like formal training. Perceived confidence in palliative care delivery was significantly greater for those clinical staff with formal palliative care training. Conclusions Formal training in palliative care increases clinical staff perceptions of confidence, which evidence suggests impacts on the quality of palliative care provided to patients. The results of the study should be used to shape the design and delivery of palliative care education programmes within the acute hospital setting to successfully meet the needs of all clinical staff.
THE PREDICTIVE POWER OF EARNINGS AND CASH FLOWS (TESTING AT THE EVERY STAGE OF COMPANY’S LIFE CYCLE)

Earnings and cash flow are the two important factors in the company’s life cycle. The researchobjective of this study is to determine the effect of earnings, overall cash flow, andcomponents of earnings on future cash flows of manufacturing companies listed on the IndonesiaStock Exchange at the every stage of company’s lifecycle cycle. The sample used consistsof 99 manufacturing companies listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). Secondarydata on the company’s financial statement was taken from the period 2006 to 2010 and thesewere obtained from ICMD (Indonesia Capital Market Directory) and IDX. A data analysistechnique for testing the research problems is linear regression analysis. The results showearnings, overall cash flow, and cash flow components have significant predictive power forfuture earnings and cash flows.