Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of spiral ganglion neurons cultured on silicon micro-pillar substrates for new auditory neuro-electronic interfaces

Objective. One of the strategies to improve cochlear implant technology is to increase the number of electrodes in the neuro-electronic interface. The objective was to characterize in vitro cultures of spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) cultured on surfaces of novel silicon micro-pillar substrates (MPS). Approach. SGN from P5 rat pups were cultured on MPS with different micro-pillar widths (1–5.6 μm) and spacings (0.6–15 μm) and were compared with control SGN cultures on glass coverslips by immunocytochemistry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Main results. Overall, MPS support SGN growth equally well as the control glass surfaces. Micro-pillars of a particular size-range (1.2–2.4 μm) were optimal in promoting SGN presence, neurite growth and alignment. On this specific micro-pillar size, more SGN were present, and neurites were longer and more aligned. SEM pictures highlight how cells on micro-pillars with smaller spacings grow directly on top of pillars, while at wider spacings (from 3.2 to 15 μm) they grow on the bottom of the surface, losing contact guidance. Further, we found that MPS encourage more monopolar and bipolar SGN morphologies compared to the control condition. Finally, MPS induce longest neurite growth with minimal interaction of S100+ glial cells. Significance. These results indicate that silicon micro-pillar substrates create a permissive environment for the growth of primary auditory neurons promoting neurite sprouting and are a promising technology for future high-density three-dimensional CMOS-based auditory neuro-electronic interfaces.
τέχνη Trees : A New Course in Data Structures

The τέχνη method is an approach to undergraduate computer science education that is based on cognitive constructivisim, in the sense of Piaget, and which invokes several course design directives that include re-combining art and science, problem-based learning, problem selection from the visual problem domain, and cognitive apprenticeship. The paper describes a new τέχνη course in data structures. It includes a full comparative assessment of the realized improvement in student problem solving capability and, for the first time, cognitive authenticity in problem selection, in that the course problem is a variation on a very recent research result.
Consolidation of Prospective Memory: Effects of Sleep on Completed and Reinstated Intentions

Sleep has been shown to facilitate the consolidation of prospective memory, which is the ability to execute intended actions at the appropriate time in the future. In a previous study, the sleep benefit for prospective memory was mainly expressed as a preservation of prospective memory performance under divided attention as compared to full attention. Based on evidence that intentions are only remembered as long as they have not been executed yet (cf. ‘Zeigarnik effect’), here we asked whether the enhancement of prospective memory by sleep vanishes if the intention is completed before sleep and whether completed intentions can be reinstated to benefit from sleep again. In Experiment 1, subjects learned cue-associate word pairs in the evening and were prospectively instructed to detect the cue words and to type in the associates in a lexical decision task (serving as ongoing task) 2 h later before a night of sleep or wakefulness. At a second surprise test 2 days later, sleep and wake subjects did not differ in prospective memory performance. Specifically, both sleep and wake groups detected fewer cue words under divided compared to full attention, indicating that sleep does not facilitate the consolidation of completed intentions. Unexpectedly, in Experiment 2, reinstating the intention, by instructing subjects about the second test after completion of the first test, was not sufficient to restore the sleep benefit. However, in Experiment 3, where subjects were instructed about both test sessions immediately after learning, sleep facilitated prospective memory performance at the second test after 2 days, evidenced by comparable cue word detection under divided attention and full attention in sleep participants, whereas wake participants detected fewer cue words under divided relative to full attention. Together, these findings show that for prospective memory to benefit from sleep, (i) the intention has to be active across the sleep period, and (ii) the intention should be induced in temporal proximity to the initial learning session.
Direct Comparison of Natural Service vs. Timed AI: Reproductive Efficiency and Economics

Despite the considerable advantages of artificial insemination (AI), a significant number of dairy producers use natural service (NS) for their breeding program. In a survey on bull management practices of California dairymen, 84 % reported use of NS as a component of their breeding program management (Champagne et al., 2002). The most common use of NS was after unsuccessful AI attempts. In dairy herds located in the northeast region of the US, reported use of NS, as a component of the breeding system, varied from 55 to 74 % (NAHMS, 2002; Smith et al., 2004). In a study that compared pregnancy rates (PR) between AI and NS in Georgia and Florida dairy herds, the use of NS alone or in combination with AI was reported to be around 70 % (De Vries et al., 2005). A survey that examined current management practices in 103 herds participating in the Alta Genetics (Watertown, WI) Advantage Progeny Testing Program, reported that 43 % of herds used a clean-up bull. Non-pregnant cows were moved to the clean-up pen after 6 failed AIs or 232 d postpartum. (Caraviello et al., 2006). A common perception among dairy producers that use NS is that more cows are bred by NS compared to AI because human errors in estrus detection are avoided when bulls are used. These producers also contend that a NS breeding program is cheaper and easier to manage than an AI program.
Tests of Pricing Efficiency of the Indian Index Options Market

In this paper, we examined if the Black and Scholes model is a good descriptor of option pricing in the Indian context. We use data for Standard Poor CRISIL NSE Index 50 (S&P CNX Nifty index) options from 1st January, 2004 to 31st December, 2005. We operationalise the Black and Scholes model using two alternative measures of volatility: 1. Historical volatility and 2. Weighted implied volatility. Employing the historical volatility measure, we find that both call and put options are fairly priced in India subject to the trading asymmetry condition in the spot market. However, weighted implied volatility measure grossly underestimates option values resulting in large and positive pricing errors. Thus, option pricing in India seems to be conditionally efficient and historical volatility does a good job as a measure of true volatility of the underlying asset. Our work contributes to the options market literature for an emerging market and hence is pertinent for academicians, market practitioners and financial regulators.
Labor Force Participation of Older Males in Korea: 1955-2005

This study estimates the labor force participation rate (LFPR) of older males in Korea from 1955 to 2005, and analyzes the effects of several determining factors on labor force participation decisions at older ages. The LFPR of older men increased substantially from the mid-1960s to the late-1990s. This pattern is in sharp contrast to the historical experiences of most OECD countries, where the LFPR of older males declined rapidly over the last century. The rise in the LFPR of older males in Korea between 1965 and 1995 is largely explained by the dramatic increase in the labor-market activity of the rural elderly population. The results of regression analyses suggest that the acceleration of population aging in rural areas due to the selective out-migration of younger persons was the major cause of the sharp increase in the LFPR of older males. It is likely that the relative decline of the rural economy in the course of industrialization made it increasingly difficult for the rural elderly population to save for retirement.
A Comparison of Intergenerational Mobility Curves in Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the Us

We use two non-parametric measures to characterize intergenerational mobility (IGM) throughout the income distribution: Rank Mobility and Income Share Mobility. We examine differences in these IGM curves between Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United States using comparable samples. Although we find that these curves are approximately linear through most of the income distribution, non-linearities are important in describing cross-country differences. The linear representations of these curves lead to different conclusions regarding cross-country differences depending on the measure. Using ranks, we find that the U.S. is substantially less intergenerationally mobile than the three European countries which have fairly similar degrees of rank mobility. Despite the substantial heterogeneity in intergenerational rank mobility within the U.S., we show that the most mobile region of the U.S. is still less mobile than the least mobile regions of Norway and Sweden. When we use a linear estimator of Income Share Mobility we find that the four countries have very similar rates of IGM. However, there are some notable cross-country differences at the bottom and the top of the income distribution for both types of mobility. For example, the U.S. tends to experience lower upward mobility at the very bottom of the income distribution according to both measures. We conclude that researchers should be careful in drawing conclusions regarding cross-country differences in intergenerational mobility given that the results may be sensitive to the concept being used and to non-linearities.
Multidimensional Ramanujan-sum expansions on nonseparable lattices

It is well-known that the Ramanujan-sum cq(n) has applications in the analysis of periodicity in sequences. Recently the author developed a new type of Ramanujan-sum representation especially suited for finite duration sequences x(n): This is based on decomposing x(n) into a sum of signals belonging to so-called Ramanujan subspaces Sqi. This offers an efficient way to identify periodic components using integer computations and projections, since cq(n) is integer valued. This paper revisits multidimensional signals with periodicity on possibly nonseparable integer lattices. Multidimensional Ramanujan-sum and Ramanujan-subspaces are developed for this case. A Ramanujan-sum based expansion for multidimensional signals is then proposed, which is useful to identify periodic components on nonseparable lattices.
A Space-Time Coded MIMO-OFDM Multiuser Application With Iterative MMSE-Decision Feedback Algorithm

A popular technique for high data rate wireless transmission is OFDM. To increase the diversity gain and/or to enhance the system capacity, in practice, OFDM may be used in combination with antenna arrays at the transmitter and receiver to form a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system. In this paper, an iterative multiuser receiver structure for space-time block coded MIMO OFDM scheme is exploited over slow fading channels. We utilize iterative detection based on minimum mean square error updated with decision feedback (MMSE-DF). The symbols are estimated in iterative process by updating extrinsic information to develop log-likelihood ratios (LLRs). Simulation results indicate that the scheme is proposed for the considered scenario and the performance over classical linear MMSE estimator.
Immunological characterization of a basement membrane-specific chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan

Reichert's membrane, an extraembryonic membrane present in developing rodents, has been proposed as an in vivo model for the study of basement membranes. We have used this membrane as a source for isolation of basement membrane proteoglycans. Reichert's membranes were extracted in a guanidine/3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1- propanesulfonate buffer followed by cesium chloride density-gradient ultracentrifugation under dissociative conditions. The proteoglycans were subsequently purified from the two most dense fractions (greater than 1.3 g/ml) by ion-exchange chromatography. Mice were immunized with the proteoglycan preparation and four mAbs recognizing the core protein of a high-density, buoyant chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan were raised. Confirmation of antibody specificity was carried out by the preparation of affinity columns made from each of the mAbs. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) were purified from both supernatant and tissue fractions of Reichert's membranes incubated in short-term organ culture in the presence of radiolabel. The resultant affinity-purified proteoglycan samples were examined by gel filtration, SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting. This proteoglycan is of high molecular weight (Mr = 5-6 x 10(5)), with a core protein of Mr = approximately 1.5-1.6 x 10(5) and composed exclusively of chondroitin sulfate chains with an average Mr = 1.6-1.8 x 10(4). In addition, a CSPG was purified from adult rat kidney, whose core protein was also Mr = 1.6 x 10(5). The proteoglycan and its core protein were also recognized by all four mAbs. Indirect immunofluorescence of rat tissue sections stained with these antibodies reveal a widespread distribution of this proteoglycan, localized specifically to Reichert's membrane and nearly all basement membranes of rat tissues. In addition to heparan sulfate proteoglycans, it therefore appears that at least one CSPG is a widespread basement membrane component.
Effect of Alcohol Structure on the Optimum Condition for Novozym 435-Catalyzed Synthesis of Adipate Esters

Immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B, Novozym 435, was used as the biocatalyst in the esterification of adipic acid with four different isomers of butanol (n-butanol, sec-butanol, iso-butanol, and tert-butanol). Optimum conditions for the synthesis of adipate esters were obtained using response surface methodology approach with a four-factor-five-level central composite design concerning important reaction parameters which include time, temperature, substrate molar ratio, and amount of enzyme. Reactions under optimized conditions has yielded a high percentage of esterification (>96%) for n-butanol, iso-butanol, and sec-butanol, indicating that extent of esterification is independent of the alcohol structure for primary and secondary alcohols at the optimum conditions. Minimum reaction time (135 min) for achieving maximum ester yield was obtained for iso-butanol. The required time for attaining maximum yield and also the initial rates in the synthesis of di-n-butyl and di-sec-butyl adipate were nearly the same. Immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B was also capable of esterifying tert-butanol with a maximum yield of 39.1%. The enzyme is highly efficient biocatalyst for the synthesis of adipate esters by offering a simple production process and a high esterification yield.
The Structural Behavior of China–Us Trade Flows

We examine Chinese-US trade flows over the 1994-2012 period, and find that, in line with the conventional wisdom, the value of China’s exports to the US responds negatively to real renminbi (RMB) appreciation, while import responds positively. Further, the combined empirical price effects on exports and imports imply an increase in the real value of the RMB will reduce China’s trade balance. The use of alternative exchange rate measures and data on different trade classifications yields additional insights. Firms more subject to market forces exhibit greater price sensitivity. The price elasticity is larger for ordinary exports than for processing exports. Finally, accounting for endogeneity and measurement error matters. Hence, the purging the real exchange rate of the portion responding to policy, or using the deviation of the real exchange rate from the equilibrium level yields a stronger measured effect than when using the unadjusted bilateral exchange rate. Publication keywords: import, export, elasticity, real exchange rate, processing trade
Paraoxonase (PON1) Phenotype Is a Better Predictor of Vascular Disease Than Is PON1192 or PON155 Genotype

The paraoxonase (PON1) PON1-Q192R and PON1-L55M polymorphisms have been inconsistently associated with vascular disease. Plasma PON1 activity phenotypes vary markedly within genotypes and were, therefore, expected to add to the informativeness of genotype for predicting vascular disease. The case-control sample included 212 age- and race-matched men (mean age 66.4 years). The 106 carotid artery disease (CAAD) cases had >80% carotid stenosis, and the 106 controls had <15%. Two PON1 substrate hydrolysis rates (paraoxon [POase] and diazoxon [DZOase]) were significantly lower in cases than in controls and were significant predictors of CAAD by use of logistic regression (POase, P =0.005; DZOase, P =0.019). DZOase predicted vascular disease independently of lipoprotein profile, high density lipoprotein subfractions, apolipoprotein A-I, and smoking. PON1-192 and PON1-55 genotypes or haplotypes did not predict case-control status unless the activity phenotype was also included as a predictor by use of logistic regression. When phenotype was included as a predictor, PON1-192 and PON1-55 genotypes or combined haplotypes were significant predictors (P <0.05). In conclusion, examining PON1-192 and/or PON1-55 genotypes alone may mistakenly lead to the conclusion that there is no role of PON1 in CAAD. These results support the benefit of a “level crossing” approach that includes intervening phenotypes in the study of complexly inherited disease.
Childhood Health and Labor Market Inequality over the Life Course

The authors use data from the Health and Retirement Study’s Earnings Benefit File, which links Health and Retirement Study to Social Security Administration records, to estimate the impact of childhood health on earnings curves between the ages of 25 and 50 years. They also investigate the extent to which diminished educational attainment, earlier onset of chronic health conditions, and labor force participation mediate this relationship. Those who experience poor childhood health have substantially diminished labor market earnings over the work career. For men, earnings differentials grow larger over the early to middle career and then slow down and begin to converge as they near 50 years of age. For women, earnings differentials emerge later in the career and show no evidence of convergence. Part of the child health earnings differential is accounted for by selection into diminished educational attainment, the earlier onset of chronic disease in adulthood, and, particularly for men, labor force participation.
Risk Attitude and Market Behavior: Evidence from Experimental Asset Markets

In this paper we relate individual risk attitude as elicited by binary lottery choices to market behavior. By analyzing 26 independent experimental markets with a total of 280 participants, we show that binary lottery choices are systematically correlated with market behavior: the higher the degree of risk aversion the lower the observed market activity. Our results also uncover gender differences in risk attitude, which moderate market behavior. We find that women are more risk averse than men, submit fewer offers, and engage less often in trades.
Soil carbon sequestration and land‐use change: processes and potential

When agricultural land is no longer used for cultivation and allowed to revert to natural vegetation or replanted to perennial vegetation, soil organic carbon can accumulate. This accumulation process essentially reverses some of the effects responsible for soil organic carbon losses from when the land was converted from perennial vegetation. We discuss the essential elements of what is known about soil organic matter dynamics that may result in enhanced soil carbon sequestration with changes in land‐use and soil management. We review literature that reports changes in soil organic carbon after changes in land‐use that favour carbon accumulation. This data summary provides a guide to approximate rates of SOC sequestration that are possible with management, and indicates the relative importance of some factors that influence the rates of organic carbon sequestration in soil. There is a large variation in the length of time for and the rate at which carbon may accumulate in soil, related to the productivity of the recovering vegetation, physical and biological conditions in the soil, and the past history of soil organic carbon inputs and physical disturbance. Maximum rates of C accumulation during the early aggrading stage of perennial vegetation growth, while substantial, are usually much less than 100 g C m−2 y−1. Average rates of accumulation are similar for forest or grassland establishment: 33.8 g C m−2 y−1 and 33.2 g C m−2 y−1, respectively. These observed rates of soil organic C accumulation, when combined with the small amount of land area involved, are insufficient to account for a significant fraction of the missing C in the global carbon cycle as accumulating in the soils of formerly agricultural land.
Can Objective Measures Predict the Intelligibility of Modified HMM-Based Synthetic Speech in Noise?

Synthetic speech can be modified to improve intelligibility in noise. In order to perform modifications automatically, it would be useful to have an objective measure that could predict the intelligibility of modified synthetic speech for human listeners. We analysed the impact on intelligibility – and on how well objective measures predict it – when we separately modify speaking rate, fundamental frequency, line spectral pairs and spectral peaks. Shifting LSPs can increase intelligibility for human listeners; other modifications had weaker effects. Among the objective measures we evaluated, the Dau model and the Glimpse proportion were the best predictors of human performance.
Darkroom Prone Provocative Test in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma Relatives

Purpose To evaluate ocular biometric parameters and darkroom prone provocative test (DPPT) in family members of primary angle closure (PAC) glaucoma (PACG) patients and to establish any correlation between these biometric parameters and the DPPT response. Methods Seventy-four family members of PACG patients underwent ultrasound ocular biometry, slit lamp biomicroscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry, fundus examination, and gonioscopy. Lastly, DPPT was performed. Results Of 74 family members examined, 6 (8.1%) were found to have PAC, 8 (10.8%) were PAC suspects, and 60 (81.1%) were unaffected. Of those affected, 4 (66.7%) had a positive DPPT response, whereas 87.5% of the PAC suspects had a positive or a borderline DPPT response. Affected and PAC suspects had the shallowest anterior chamber depth, thickest lens, shortest axial length, and most anteriorly positioned lens. Anterior chamber depth and lens thickness showed a significant correlation with positive DPPT. Conclusions Anterior chamber depth and lens thickness and, to a lesser extent, axial length and lens position were significantly correlated with a positive DPPT response. The ocular biometric risk factors associated with PACG patients are also found in their respective family members who are affected and suspected of having PAC. We suggest a longitudinal study to determine the reliability of DPPT in identifying individuals who are at risk of PAC.