Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frequency Compensation of an SOI Bipolar-CMOSDMOS Car Audio PA

A car audio PA uses a frequency-compensation scheme that avoids large compensation capacitors while retaining the bandwidth and stable load range of nested Miller compensation. The THD is 0.005% at 1kHz and 10W output power. The SNR is 108dB and the amplifier is stable for any passive load up to 50nF. The PA is fabricated in a 1 mun SOI bipolar-CMOS-DMOS process
The Effects of Fictitious Customer Testimonials across Different Cultures

Publishing customer testimonials has become a popular technique to promote online businesses and establish reputation. However, the majority of the research focusing on customer testimonials as a mechanism for boosting a website’s trustworthiness has been conducted within North America. Thus, relatively little is known about how customer testimonials influence perceived deception and trust among web users outside of North America, particularly for non-Western cultures. Even less is known about how web users with different espoused cultural values react and respond to fictitious or misleading customer testimonials. Taking insights from the extant research on deception, trust, customer testimonials, and cross-cultural differences, we develop a conceptual model that posits that there are culture-specific differences in the way web users form their perceived deception and trust when exposed to fictitious customer testimonials.
Front Propagation at the Nematic-Isotropic Transition Temperature

We study the gradient flow model for the Landau--de Gennes energy functional for nematic liquid crystals at the nematic-isotropic transition temperature on prototype geometries. We study the dynamic model on a three-dimensional droplet and on a disc with Dirichlet boundary conditions and different types of initial conditions. In the case of a droplet with radial boundary conditions, a large class of physically relevant initial conditions generate dynamic solutions with a well-defined nematic-isotropic interface which propagates according to mean curvature for small times. On a disc, we make a distinction between “planar” and “nonplanar” initial conditions, and “minimal” and “nonminimal” Dirichlet boundary conditions. Planar initial conditions generate solutions with an isotropic core for all times, whereas nonplanar initial conditions generate solutions which escape into the third dimension. Nonminimal boundary conditions generate solutions with boundary layers, and these solutions can either have a largely ordered interior profile or an almost entirely disordered isotropic interior profile. Our examples suggest that while critical points of the Landau--de Gennes energy typically have highly localized disordered-ordered interfaces, the transient dynamics exhibits observable interfaces of potential experimental relevance.
Univé customer survey: Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD) insurance : Report PAYD-2. Feedback from Pay-As-You-Drive insurance, both outside and inside the car

On the 10th of January 2013 over 3500 Unive clients were contacted and asked to fill in an online survey via Qualtrics, a survey website company licenced by the University of Groningen, about the future of car insurance at Unive. These customers could be classified under three main headings; car insurance clients with the ‘e-Support’ service (called the “e-Support” survey in this report), car insurance clients without ‘e-Support’ (called the “Autoklanten” survey in this report), and health insurance clients without Unive car insurance (called the “Zekur” survey in this report). In order to take part in the survey the respondents had to indicate that they had a valid driver’s licence and access to a car. The clients had until the 24th of January to respond to the survey and could go into a draw to be given one of thirty gift vouchers worth twenty euros. This survey was undertaken as part of a PAYD project commissioned by Unive and the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment. The University of Groningen were responsible for the primary design of the survey and data collection. However, for privacy reasons the clients were contacted by Unive via a contracted company Rapid Sugar. Furthermore, all results presented in this report have been anonymised as to not identify the respondents.
Why are Older Investors Less Willing to Take Financial Risks?

We investigate the link between age and tolerance of financial risks in the context of attitude to risk questionnaires completed by clients when meeting their financial advisors. Using a unique database comprising the responses to over half a million such questionnaires, we show that risk tolerance declines at an increasing, albeit slow, rate with age. We investigate the explanatory power of the ability to bear losses, declining investment horizon and retirement effects, finding that these variables have considerably greater explanatory power for the cross-section of risk aversion than age, and that they are only able to partially mediate the link between age and risk tolerance. We are unable to uncover any evidence that declining cognitive abilities among older investors are able to explain their lower willingness to take financial risks. Overall, our results are indicative of a modest age effect in risk tolerance that cannot be attributed to changes in other observable characteristics that differ between younger and older investors.
Market Risk Management for Financial Institutions Based on GARCH Family Models

OF THE THESIS Market Risk Management for Financial Institutions Based on GARCH Family Models by Qiandi Chen Master of Arts in Statistics Washington University in St. Louis, May 2017 Research Advisor: Professor Todd Kuffner The financial stock market turned out to rise and fall suddenly and sharply in recent years, which means that volatility and uncertainty is very significant in market and measuring the market risk accurately is of great importance. I collect the historical close price of S&P 500 Financials Sector Index from January 19th 2011 to January 31st 2017, and use the daily logarithm yield as time series data to build 2 ARMA models and 5 GARCH family models using t-distribution. Then I calculate future 10 days’ relative VAR in 1-day horizon under 99% confidence level based on the selected model. E-GARCH model also shows the leverage effect of the time series, thus we know that the stock price is more sensitive to bad news than good news.
Research on Moving Object Detection Algorithm Based on Gaussian Mixture Model

In order to effectively detect the moving object in the surveillance video, the novel moving object detection algorithm on the basic of GMM is proposed. The improved algorithm uses dynamic updating method to get the current frame’s threshold value, and then processes the exacted foreground and background with this threshold value. The opening and closing operation and some other morphological operations is also used to eliminate wisps and isolate objects on the gray scale image gained on the first step. Experimental results show that the accurate detection result of every frame is obtained with our algorithm.
Burn or Bury? A Social Cost Comparison of Final Waste Disposal Methods

This paper uses private and environmental cost data for the Netherlands to evaluate the social cost of two final waste disposal methods, landfilling versus incineration using waste-to-energy (WTE) plants. The data only provide some support for the widespread policy preference for incineration over landfilling if the analysis is restricted to environmental costs alone. Private costs, however, are so much higher for incineration, that landfilling is the social cost minimizing option at the margin even in a densely populated country such as the Netherlands. Implications for waste policy are discussed as well. Proper treatment of and energy recovery from landfills seem to be the most important targets for waste policy. WTE plants are a very expensive way to save on climate change emissions.
Active limited-angle tomographic phase microscope

Abstract. We demonstrate an active, holographic tomography system, working with limited angle of projections, realized by optical-only, diffraction-based beam steering. The system created for this purpose is a Mach–Zehnder interferometer modified to serve as a digital holographic microscope with a high numerical aperture illumination module and a spatial light modulator (SLM). Such a solution is fast and robust. Apart from providing an elegant solution to viewing angle shifting, it also adds new capabilities of the holographic microscope system. SLM, being an active optical element, allows wavefront correction in order to improve measurement accuracy. Integrated phase data captured with different illumination scenarios within a highly limited angular range are processed by a new tomographic reconstruction algorithm based on the compressed sensing technique: total variation minimization, which is applied here to reconstruct nonpiecewise constant samples. Finally, the accuracy of full measurement and the proposed processing path is tested for a calibrated three-dimensional micro-object as well as a biological object—C2C12 myoblast cell.
Effective social media marketing strategy: Facebook as an opportunity for universities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the usage of university Facebook (FB) groups and sites by undergraduate students seeking information about their departments and the ways these pages could be used to acquire students. The factors that can intensify the FB group activities of a university are examined as well as how FB can be used as a marketing tool to improve marketing campaigns. Design/methodology/approach The study investigates and compares two universities: the University of Novi Sad of the Republic of Serbia and the Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia, Greece. A structured questionnaire was used with samples of 343 and 300 students gathered in this survey. Findings An enhanced technology acceptance model oriented toward FB is presented and it is the conceptual background of the paper. Student demographics and behavioral characteristics of the FB group they enrolled on were determined. Common behavioral patterns of the usage tension of the FB group are also identified. Additionally, five factors were determined that can be used by university marketers to intensify engagement with the FB group. Research limitations/implications Larger samples should be used for future research. Originality/value The paper proposes a marketing strategy a higher education institution should follow to more effectively use social networking sites as a marketing tool.
Assessing the Economic Impact of Event Management In Ireland: a Local Authority Planning Perspective

The purpose of this article is to examine the extent of local authority economic planning for event management in Ireland. Local authorities are increasingly using events to achieve a diverse range of economic objectives. However, achieving economic objectives can come at an expense to host communities and affect a societies social capital. Therefore, the need to plan for and manage the economic impact of events needs to be acknowledged. This study assessed 32 local authorities and city councils utilizing a content analysis approach. This methodological approach provided nationwide perspectives in relation to local authority planning for the economic impact of event management. Analysis has found that few local authorities recognized the need to provide planning guidelines and policies to manage the economic impact of event management. Therefore, support for the economic development of regions and counties in Ireland has not been realized. Further analysis revealed the necessity of providing effective policies and guidelines with the incorporation of best practice indicators to sustainably plan, manage and monitor the economic impact of event management. The findings from this article highlight the need for nationwide improvements to effectively plan for and evaluate the economic activity of event management by local authorities.
The Bone Remodeling Compartment: A Circulatory Function for Bone Lining Cells

ILIAC BONE histomorphometry has from its beginning been plagued by technical problems. To preserve the discrimination between mineralized bone and osteoid and the fixation of tetracycline, sections must be cut without decalcification, which needs plastic embedding and special microtomes. The boundary between hard brittle bone and soft friable marrow has been especially contentious—general acceptance that most of this boundary is occupied by bone lining cells took many years, and there is still disagreement about whether an additional layer of cells invests the marrow. (1)
Dairy intake is associated with memory and pulsatility index in heart failure

Purpose/Aim: Past work shows an inconsistent relationship between dairy intake and cognition in healthy older adults. A cross-sectional design was conducted to examine dairy consumption, cognitive dysfunction, and cerebral blood flow in a sample of older adults with heart failure (HF) to clarify their association in this population at high risk for adverse neurocognitive outcomes. Materials and Methods: A total of 86 older adults with HF (70.39 ± 9.51 years; 33.1% female) underwent neuropsychological testing, transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography to quantify cerebral blood flow. Dairy intake was quantified using a brief self-report questionnaire. Results: Partial correlations between the dairy consumption questionnaire and neuropsychological tests were conducted adjusting for HF severity, age, and sex. Contrary to expectations, results showed greater dairy intake was associated with poorer memory (r = −0.21, p = 0.01) and higher pulsatility index in the medial cerebral artery (r = −0.17, p = 0.05). Conclusion: Results suggest that greater dairy intake was associated with poorer memory performance in older adults with HF. Several possible explanations for these findings exist, including the contribution of high-fat dairy to underlying physiological processes that promote vascular cognitive impairment. Prospective studies employing objective measures specific to high and low fat dairy are needed to clarify this possibility.
Bonds: A Viable Alternative for Financing Africa's Development

Since the financial crisis of 2008 loans from banks have become more difficult to obtain. African countries increasingly have explored alternatives to raise capital for their economic development projects. Experience in some African countries and other developing regions indicates that bonds present opportunities to raise funds to finance capital-intensive projects, particularly infrastructural schemes, that take place over long periods of time. There are various types of bonds African governments can issue. Capital markets in many African countries, however, remain largely underdeveloped and lack the necessary regulatory structures to bolster the confidence of investors to attract investment in local bond markets. These bond markets are characterised by the issuing of bonds mostly by national governments. State, local government and corporate bond issues are almost non-existent. The lack of market infrastructure fundamental for the development of secondary markets on which bonds can be traded presents critical impediments to bond market development in African countries. Although there is evidence that bond markets in Africa are opening up, if governments and firms in African countries are to access capital for development through issuing bonds, financial and regulatory reforms are needed to accelerate the development of debt capital markets which in turn would contribute to the growth of bond markets in Africa. A b o u t t h e A u t h o r Chijioke Oji is a former researcher in the Economic Diplomacy Programme of the South African Institute of International Affairs. He is a Wits Business School Doctoral Candidate with experience in renewable energy finance.
Sonographic findings in patients with anterior knee pain

A knee pain is 1 of the more common complaints encountered by sports medicine physicians and orthopedists. Although sonography and MRI are often complementary in diagnosing pathologic conditions, the spatial resolution of sonography is superior to that of MRI for defining the fine internal fibrillar structure of large tendons and the pennate pattern of skeletal muscles. Important prerequisites for obtaining excellent musculoskeletal sonographic results include a good knowledge of regional anatomy, which is aided by definition of bony landmarks, the use of high-resolution ultrasound scanners with highfrequency linear-array probes, and the ability to recognize common diagnostic pitfalls and normal anatomic variants. For example, all patients whose cases are illustrated here were examined using multifrequency (broadband) 7–9and 9–13MHz linear-array transducers. Power Doppler sonography can be an extremely valuable addition, with particular emphasis on establishing the presence of inflammation. The recently introduced extended-field-of-view technology is also useful in musculoskeletal imaging. It not only better demonstrates the extent of an abnormality than the usual limited-view scanning does, it also allows a greater appreciation of the abnormality’s relationship to the surrounding structures. If this feature is not available, a similar result can be obtained by juxtaposing 2 contiguous frames on the split screen, a technique that is available on most ultrasound systems. The purpose of this article is to present a pictorial essay of pathologic conditions of the anterior knee that are amenable to sonographic diagnosis. These conditions will be broadly categorized as lesions of the extensor mechanism, bursitis, occult fractures, and soft tissue masses.
Watching molecular processes with the atomic force microscope: dynamics of polymer adsorption and desorption at the single molecule level

The formation of networks is an important step in the synthesis of many biological assemblies. For example, during the synthesis of plant cell walls the factors which dictate the arrangement of the polymeric constituents that make up the cell wall are not yet understood. Factors such as site‐directed binding provide a possible theoretical background for beginning to understand the assembly of complex biological structures, but modelling of this process is difficult, time consuming and lacks experimental methods for verification. Through the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) it has been demonstrated that changes in the binding of a single heterogeneous cell wall polysaccharide to a charged substrate can be followed in real time. Furthermore, subsequent image analysis allows the probability of binding of the molecule to be mapped to produce a real data set which is comparable with those obtained in simulation studies. In addition, these AFM studies have provided new mechanistic clues to the adsorption/desorption process of this polysaccharide.
Offseason Tourist Expenditure in the Sun and Sea Destination

There has been a great deal of research devoted to estimating visitor expenditures in all type of destinations. Results from those researches are essential for producing comprehensive estimates of tourism’s economic benefits in a destination and wider. Given that the ultimate goal of any tourism destination is maximizing profit, a key factor is understanding the determinants of tourist spending as well as economic values associated with expenditure. This paper examines expenditure patterns of tourists visiting a typical sun and sea destination in the offseason. It investigates the extent to which their family income, origin and length of stay, as well as a set of other determinants, contribute in explaining their expenditure patterns. Furthermore, since in the structure of tourists in Croatia the vast majority refers to international tourists, one of the aims was to investigate differences, if any, in the spending patterns of domestic and international tourists during the offseason.
Strengthening fuzzy gradual rules through “all the more” clauses

Fuzzy gradual rules of the form the more X is A, the more Y is B linguistically express information about the correlation between attributes and their co-variation. They thus provide valuable information summarizing the trends observed in a given data set. In this paper, we consider strengthened fuzzy gradual rules, i.e. gradual rules enriched with a clause introduced by the expression “all the more”: such rules of the form the more X is A, the more Y is B, all the more Z is C offer additional precisions on the relation between the attributes. We study the definition of such strengthened rules, discussing their possible semantics, considering several interpretations of fuzzy gradual rules. We then propose quality criteria as well as a mining algorithm.
Detecting Fraud on Websites

Beyond some specific vertical markets that have been dealing with fraud for ages such as financial institutions and retailers most software and services have zero ability to detect someone committing fraud against them or their users. Most sites happily take whatever requests and input users give them, thinking it's legitimate.Fortunately, there are fairly straightforward things every website can do to detect online fraud.
Organizational Learning, Innovative Performance and the Moderating Effect of Entrepreneurial Orientation Among Jordanian SMEs

Background: Technology, knowledge, innovation are the main characteristic of successful organizations in today's economy. Innovative performance as a key asset is fundamental to building the competitive advantage of SMEs. It has also been shown that the innovative performance is a new concept, that firms are aspiring to achieve largely social interactions and technological relationships which allow easier accessing to information, reducing the amount of time and investment required to increase the levels of knowledge by organizational learning processes. Objective: The present study investigates empirically the role of moderating effect of entrepreneurial orientation in relationship between organizational learning and innovative performance among Jordanian SMEs. Results: The results of this study showed that dimensions of organizational learning (information acquisition, and organizational memory) were found positively and significantly related to innovative performance. Unexpectedly, it showed that there is no relationship between information distribution, information interpretation and innovative performance In addition; this study did not support the effect of entrepreneurial orientation that moderate in relationship between organizational learning and innovative performance. Conclusion: organizational learning are good for enhancing innovative performance, which implies that SMEs must do to enhance these four dimensions of organizational learning (information acquisition, information distribution, information interpretation, and organizational memory). In addition, this study did not support the effect of entrepreneurial orientation as moderator in relationship between organizational learning and innovative performance among SMEs in Jordan.
Population dynamics and control of Triatoma infestans.

Le mecanisme densite-dependant qui agit sur les populations de reduves domestiques permet d'expliquer certaines des difficultes rencontrees par le controle vectoriel de la maladie de Chagas et suggere des ameliorations possibles des strategies de controle. Neanmoins les implications de l'influence de la densite des reduves sur la dynamique de transmission de T. c. souleve des questions importantes auxquelles il faudra repondre avant de pouvoir optimaliser le controle de la maladie de Chagas