Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How do neurons operate on sparse distributed representations? A mathematical theory of sparsity, neurons and active dendrites

We propose a formal mathematical model for sparse representations and active dendrites in neocortex. Our model is inspired by recent experimental findings on active dendritic processing and NMDA spikes in pyramidal neurons. These experimental and modeling studies suggest that the basic unit of pattern memory in the neocortex is instantiated by small clusters of synapses operated on by localized non-linear dendritic processes. We derive a number of scaling laws that characterize the accuracy of such dendrites in detecting activation patterns in a neuronal population under adverse conditions. We introduce the union property which shows that synapses for multiple patterns can be randomly mixed together within a segment and still lead to highly accurate recognition. We describe simulation results that provide further insight into sparse representations as well as two primary results. First we show that pattern recognition by a neuron with active dendrites can be extremely accurate and robust with high dimensional sparse inputs even when using a tiny number of synapses to recognize large patterns. Second, equations representing recognition accuracy of a dendrite predict optimal NMDA spiking thresholds under a generous set of assumptions. The prediction tightly matches NMDA spiking thresholds measured in the literature. Our model matches many of the known properties of pyramidal neurons. As such the theory provides a mathematical framework for understanding the benefits and limits of sparse representations in cortical networks.
A Cooperative Scheduling Scheme of Local Cloud and Internet Cloud for Delay-Aware Mobile Cloud Computing

With the proliferation of mobile applications, Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) has been proposed to help mobile devices save energy and improve computation performance. To further improve the quality of service (QoS) of MCC, cloud servers can be deployed locally so that the latency is decreased. However, the computational resource of the local cloud is generally limited. In this paper, we design a threshold-based policy to improve the QoS of MCC by cooperation of the local cloud and Internet cloud resources, which takes the advantages of low latency of the local cloud and abundant computational resources of the Internet cloud simultaneously. This policy also applies a priority queue in terms of delay requirements of applications. The optimal thresholds depending on the traffic load is obtained via a proposed algorithm. Numerical results show that the QoS can be greatly enhanced with the assistance of Internet cloud when the local cloud is overloaded. Better QoS is achieved if the local cloud order tasks according to their delay requirements, where delay- sensitive applications are executed ahead of delay- tolerant applications. Moreover, the optimal thresholds of the policy have a sound impact on the QoS of the system.
Evaluating the Correlations Between Teacher–Student Relationships, Friendship, and Reading and Writing Achievement

The purpose of this correlational study is to assess the extent to which teacher–student relationships, children’s friendship, writing scores and reading scores are related to one another among young children. Understanding the correlations between these variables could further assist teachers and students when working towards successful school experiences. Measures used with kindergarten and first grade teachers and students (n=83) include the validated short form of the Student–Teacher Relationship Scale, a whole group oral survey adapted from the Friendship Features Interview for Young Children, and reading and writing scores. Relationship areas studied include teacher–student closeness and conflict, as well as friendship aid, conflict and satisfaction. There was a non-significant correlation of . 22 (p=.052) between reading and teacher–student closeness, but reading and teacher–student conflict were significantly correlated, r=-. 30, p=. 006. Writing and teacher–student closeness were significantly correlated at . 36 (p<.001) as well as writing and teacher–student conflict at -. 42 (p<.001). Reading and each of the three friendship subscales were not significantly correlated (r<.2, p>.05). Neither were writing and friendship aid (r=.11, p>.3). However, writing was significantly correlated to both friendship conflict (r=-.37, p<.001) and friendship satisfaction (r=.25, p=.03). The findings of this study indicate that some facets of classroom relationships and academic achievement in reading and writing are related to one another.
Efficient Tate Pairing Computation for Supersingular Elliptic Curves over Binary Fields

After Miller’s original algorithm for the Tate pairing computation, many improved algorithms have been suggested, to name just a few, by Galbraith et al. and Barreto et al., especially for the fields with characteristic three. Also Duursma and Lee found a closed formula of the Tate pairing computation for the fields with characteristic three. In this paper, we show that a similar argument is also possible for the finite fields with characteristic two. That is, we present a closed formula for the Tate pairing computation for supersingular elliptic curves defined over the binary field F2m of odd dimension. There are exactly three isomorphism classes of supersingular elliptic curves over F2m for odd m and our result is applicable to all these curves. Moreover we show that our algorithm and also the Duursma-Lee algorithm can be modified to another algorithm which does not need any inverse Frobenius operation (square root or cube root extractions) without sacrificing any of the computational merits of the original algorithm. Since the computation of the inverse Frobenius map is not at all trivial in a polynomial basis and since a polynomial basis is still a preferred choice for the Tate pairing computation in many situations, this new algorithm avoiding the inverse Frobenius operation has some advantage over the existing algorithms.
Validation of a New General Self-Efficacy Scale

Researchers have suggested that general self-efficacy (GSE) can substantially contribute to organizational theory, research, and practice. Unfortunately, the limited construct validity work conducted on commonly used GSE measures has highlighted such potential problems as low content validity and multidimensionality. The authors developed a new GSE (NGSE) scale and compared its psychometric properties and validity to that of the Sherer et al. General Self-Efficacy Scale (SGSE). Studies in two countries found that the NGSE scale has higher construct validity than the SGSE scale. Although shorter than the SGSE scale, the NGSE scale demonstrated high reliability, predicted specific self-efficacy (SSE) for a variety of tasks in various contexts, and moderated the influence of previous performance on subsequent SSE formation. Implications, limitations, and directions for future organizational research are discussed.
First results from the OMI rotational Raman scattering cloud pressure algorithm

We have developed an algorithm to retrieve scattering cloud pressures and other cloud properties with the Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). The scattering cloud pressure is retrieved using the effects of rotational Raman scattering (RRS). It is defined as the pressure of a Lambertian surface that would produce the observed amount of RRS consistent with the derived reflectivity of that surface. The independent pixel approximation is used in conjunction with the Lambertian-equivalent reflectivity model to provide an effective radiative cloud fraction and scattering pressure in the presence of broken or thin cloud. The derived cloud pressures will enable accurate retrievals of trace gas mixing ratios, including ozone, in the troposphere within and above clouds. We describe details of the algorithm that will be used for the first release of these products. We compare our scattering cloud pressures with cloud-top pressures and other cloud properties from the Aqua Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument. OMI and MODIS are part of the so-called A-train satellites flying in formation within 30 min of each other. Differences between OMI and MODIS are expected because the MODIS observations in the thermal infrared are more sensitive to the cloud top whereas the backscattered photons in the ultraviolet can penetrate deeper into clouds. Radiative transfer calculations are consistent with the observed differences. The OMI cloud pressures are shown to be correlated with the cirrus reflectance. This relationship indicates that OMI can probe through thin or moderately thick cirrus to lower lying water clouds.
Long-term exposure to close-proximity air pollution and asthma and allergies in urban children

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of urban air pollution, assessed through reliable indicators of exposure, on asthma and allergies in schoolchildren. A validated dispersion model combining data on traffic conditions, topography, meteorology and background pollution was used to relate 3-yrs averaged concentrations of major urban pollutants at the sites of schools to skin prick tests, exercise-induced asthma and reported asthma and allergies in 6,683 children (9–11 yrs) attending 108 schools randomly selected in six French communities. For the 4,907 children who had resided at their current address for the past 3 yrs, asthma (exercise induced, past year and lifetime) was significantly positively associated with benzene, SO2, particles with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 10 &mgr;m (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and CO. In the same children, eczema (lifetime and past year) was significantly positively associated with benzene, PM10, NO2, NOx and CO, lifetime allergic rhinitis with PM10 and sensitisation to pollens with benzene and PM10. Among the 2,213 children residing at their current address since birth, the associations persisted for lifetime asthma with benzene (adjusted OR per interquartile range (95% CI) 1.3 (1.0–1.9)) and PM10 (1.4 (1.0–2.0)), and for sensitisation to pollens with volatile organic compounds (1.3 (1.0–1.9)) and PM10 (1.2 (1.0–1.9)). Accurately modelled urban air pollution was associated with some measures of childhood asthma and allergies.
Trade Causes Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

In the 1990s the mainstream consensus was that trade causes growth. Subsequent research shed doubt on the consensus view, as evidence suggested that the identification of the effect of trade on growth was problematic in the existing literature. This paper contributes to this debate by focusing on growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. It estimates the effect of openness to international trade on economic growth with panel data. Employing instrumental variables techniques that correct for endogeneity bias, the empirical evidence suggests that within-country variations in trade openness cause economic growth: a 1 percentage point increase in the ratio of trade over gross domestic product is associated with a short-run increase in growth of approximately 0.5 percent per year; the long-run effect is larger, reaching about 0.8 percent after ten years. These results are robust to controlling for country and time fixed effects as well as political institutions.
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Aerosol Physical and Chemical Properties Retrieved from Ground-based Remote Sensing Measurements during Heavy Haze Days in Beijing Winter

With the increase in economic development over the past thirty years, many large cities in eastern and southwestern China are experiencing increased haze events and atmospheric pollution, causing significant impacts on the regional environment and even climate. However, knowledge on the aerosol physical and chemical properties in heavy haze conditions is still insufficient. In this study, two winter heavy haze events in Beijing that occurred in 2011 and 2012 were selected and investigated by using the ground-based remote sensing measurements. We used a CIMEL CE318 sun– sky radiometer to retrieve haze aerosol optical, physical and chemical properties, including aerosol optical depth (AOD), size distribution, complex refractive indices and aerosol fractions identified as black carbon (BC), brown carbon (BrC), mineral dust (DU), ammonium sulfate-like (AS) components and aerosol water content (AW). The retrieval results from a total of five haze days showed that the aerosol loading and properties during the two winter haze events were comparable. Therefore, average heavy haze property parameters were drawn to present a research case for future studies. The average AOD is about 3.0 at 440 nm, and the Ångström exponent is 1.3 from 440 to 870 nm. The fine-mode AOD is 2.8 corresponding to a fine-mode fraction of 0.93. The coarse particles occupied a considerable volume fraction of the bimodal size distribution in winter haze events, with the mean particle radius of 0.21 and 2.9 µm for the fine and coarse modes respectively. The real part of the refractive indices exhibited a relatively flat spectral behavior with an average value of 1.48 from 440 to 1020 nm. The imaginary part showed spectral variation, with the value at 440 nm (about 0.013) higher than the other three wavelengths (about 0.008 at 675 nm). The aerosol composition retrieval results showed that volume fractions of BC, BrC, DU, AS and AW are 1, 2, 49, 15 and 33 %, respectively, on average for the investigated haze events. The preliminary uncertainty estimation and comparison of these remote sensing results with in situ BC and PM 2.5 measurements are also presented in the paper.
FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE AND MULTI-WAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF THE FLARING ACTIVITY OF PKS 1510-089 BETWEEN 2008 SEPTEMBER AND 2009 JUNE

We report on the multi-wavelength observations of PKS 1510-089 (a flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ) at z = 0.361) during its high activity period between 2008 September and 2009 June. During this 11 month period, the source was characterized by a complex variability at optical, UV, and γ-ray bands, on timescales down to 6–12 hr. The brightest γ-ray isotropic luminosity, recorded on 2009 March 26, was ≃2 × 1048 erg s−1. The spectrum in the Fermi Large Area Telescope energy range shows a mild curvature described well by a log-parabolic law, and can be understood as due to the Klein–Nishina effect. The γ-ray flux has a complex correlation with the other wavelengths. There is no correlation at all with the X-ray band, a weak correlation with the UV, and a significant correlation with the optical flux. The γ-ray flux seems to lead the optical one by about 13 days. From the UV photometry, we estimated a black hole mass of ≃5.4 × 108 M☉ and an accretion rate of ≃0.5 M☉ yr−1. Although the power in the thermal and non-thermal outputs is smaller compared to the very luminous and distant FSRQs, PKS 1510-089 exhibits a quite large Compton dominance and a prominent big blue bump (BBB) as observed in the most powerful γ-ray quasars. The BBB was still prominent during the historical maximum optical state in 2009 May, but the optical/UV spectral index was softer than in the quiescent state. This seems to indicate that the BBB was not completely dominated by the synchrotron emission during the highest optical state. We model the broadband spectrum assuming a leptonic scenario in which the inverse Compton emission is dominated by the scattering of soft photons produced externally to the jet. The resulting model-dependent jet energetic content is compatible with a scenario in which the jet is powered by the accretion disk, with a total efficiency within the Kerr black hole limit.
Association between Functional Capacity Decline and Nutritional Status Based on the Nutrition Screening Initiative Checklist: A 2-Year Cohort Study of Japanese Community-Dwelling Elderly

Aim To assess whether nutritional status based on the Nutrition Screening Initiative Checklist is useful for predicting functional capacity decline in community-dwelling Japanese elderly. Methods This two-year observational cohort study included 536 community-dwelling Japanese (65 years and older at baseline) who were independent in both activities and instrumental activities of daily living. Demographic attributes, chronic illness, lifestyle-related habits, nutritional status, functional capacity, and anthropometric measurements were assessed, with decline in functional capacity used as the outcome measure. Results Subjects were classified into three groups as follows based on the Nutrition Screening Initiative Checklist: low (59.5%), moderate (23.7%), and high (16.8%) nutritional risk. Significant differences were found between nutritional status and the following four baseline variables: age, hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, and current smoking. However, no significant differences were evident between nutritional status and sex, body mass index, diabetes, drinking habit, or exercise habit. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases and smoking habit showed that the high nutritional risk group was significantly associated with a decline in both activities of daily living (odds ratio: 4.96; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.59–15.50) and instrumental activities of daily living (OR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.31–5.06) compared with the low nutritional risk group. Conclusions Poor nutritional status based on the Nutrition Screening Initiative Checklist was associated with a decline in functional capacity over a 2-year period in community-dwelling Japanese elderly. These results suggest that the Nutrition Screening Initiative Checklist is a suitable tool for predicting functional capacity decline in community-dwelling elderly.
Prognostic impact of KRAS mutant type and MET amplification in metastatic and recurrent gastric cancer patients treated with first-line S-1 plus cisplatin chemotherapy

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-related genes, including HER2, EGFR, MET, FGFR2 and KRAS, are target molecules that are clinically beneficial in gastric cancer (GC). We investigated the correlation between RTK-related genes and the curative effect of first-line S-1 plus cisplatin (SP) combination chemotherapy in metastatic and recurrent GC. We enrolled 150 patients with histopathologically confirmed metastatic and recurrent GC treated with SP. KRAS mutation was detected using direct sequencing. DNA copy number was measured by real-time PCR. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens were examined immunohistochemically for HER2, EGFR, FGFR2 and MET. Among 144 patients, KRAS mutation was detected in five (3.5%) at codon 12 and one (0.7%) at codon 13. FGFR2, EGFR, HER2, MET and KRAS gene amplification was suggested in 4.4%, 5.9%, 9%, 3.7% and 10.3% of patients, respectively. KRAS mutation, but not KRAS amplification, was associated with significantly shorter overall and progression-free survival. MET membranous overexpression was associated with a significantly higher tumor response. MET amplification was associated with significantly shorter overall survival. We show for the first time that KRAS mutation and MET amplification are promising predictive markers in metastatic and recurrent GC patients treated with SP. KRAS status may be a useful prognostic marker in patients treated with SP.
Kontribusi Soft Skills terhadap Kesiapan Kerja Siswa Keahlian Teknik Gambar Bangunan Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kontribusi soft skills kreativitas, kemampuan berkomunikasi, dan kemampuan bekerja sama terhadap kesiapan kerja siswa SMK. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan rancangan penelitian menggunakan desain korelasional. Subjek dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas XI Paket Keahlian Teknik Gambar Bangunan (TGB) yang telah melaksanakan Prakerin. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah teknik analisis regresi linear. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan nilai kontribusi kreativitas, kemampuan berkomunikasi, dan kemampuan bekerjasama terhadap kesiapan kerja, masing-masing sebesar 21,80%, 12,50%, dan 10,30%. Kontribusi efektif bersama-sama ketiga varibel tersebut terhadap kesiapan kerja sebesar 29,30%. Kesimpulan yang diperoleh dari penelitian ini adalah kreativitas memberikan kontribusi paling besar dari ketiga varibel soft skill terhadap kesiapan kerja. Kata-
Transcription dynamically patterns the meiotic chromosome-axis interface

Meiotic chromosomes are highly compacted yet remain transcriptionally active. To understand how chromosome folding accommodates transcription, we investigated the assembly of the axial element, the proteinaceous structure that compacts meiotic chromosomes and promotes recombination and fertility. We found that the axial element proteins of budding yeast are flexibly anchored to chromatin by the ring-like cohesin complex. The ubiquitous presence of cohesin at sites of convergent transcription provides well-dispersed points for axis attachment and thus chromosome compaction. Axis protein enrichment at these sites directly correlates with the propensity for recombination initiation nearby. A separate modulating mechanism that requires the conserved axial-element component Hop1 biases axis protein binding towards small chromosomes. Importantly, axis anchoring by cohesin is adjustable and readily displaced in the direction of transcription by the transcriptional machinery. We propose that such robust but flexible tethering allows the axial element to promote recombination while easily adapting to changes in chromosome activity. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.07424. 001
A Game perspective to complex adaptive systems

Understanding the behaviour of a system through the properties of the elements of the system is a central problem in several fields of contemporary research. Appealing approaches for gaining such understanding have been proposed in complex systems studies. One particular approach is based on the scheme of agent-based modelling, in which the elements of the system are described by a set of precise rules which are implemented by computer programs. This dissertation is focused on topics related to two types of agent-based models: minority games and spatial two player games. The first part of the thesis deals with minority games that have been extensively studied in the physics literature during the past eight years. A minority game describes a society of adaptive individuals with bounded rationality competing for scarce resources. Questions arising from such a model are associated with the efficiency of the system and the success of its individuals in utilizing the scarce resources. Previous studies have indicated that in case the individuals are allowed to evolve, they tend to evolve such that the efficiency of the system improves. However, the actual level of efficiency substantially depends on the type of evolution present in the system. We have applied genetic algorithms to make the system evolving. Our results indicate that natural selection and genetic algorithms can lead the system perform optimally and increase the success of individuals remarkably. The second part of the thesis describes aspects of games that model strategic interaction situations between individuals. Especially, the focus of this part of the thesis is on models that aim at explaining the emergence and persistence of cooperative behaviour in an animal or human society. Previous studies have indicated that spatial structure of the society largely contributes to the maintenance of cooperation in these models. However, much of the research has been carried out by relying on evolutionary dynamics of the society associated with changes occurring in long times. We have explored a spatial game by allowing the individuals in the system be adaptive and act on short times, and our results show that the characteristic behaviour of the system is different from that observed in studies using evolutionary dynamics.