Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are Sensory Neurons in the Cortex Committed to Original Trigger Features?

Sensory cortices are inherently dynamic and exhibit plasticity in response to a variety of stimuli. Few studies have revealed that depending upon the nature of stimuli, excitation of the corresponding sensory region also evokes a response from other neighboring con- nected areas. It is even more striking, when somatosensory areas undergo reorganization as a result of an intentional disturbance and further explored as a paradigm to understand neuroplasticity. In addition, it has also been proved that drugs too can be used as a model to explore potential plasticity in sensory systems. To this aim, through electrophysiology in cats, we explored that visual neurons, throughout the cortical column, have a tendency to alter their inherent properties even when presented a non-visual stimulus. Furthermore, it was explored in mice, how the application of drugs (serotonin and ketamine) modulates potential plasticity within the visual system. Indeed, we found a shift in orientation tuning of neurons indicated by Gaussian tuning fits in both scenarios. These results together sug gest that sensory cortices are capable of adapting to intense experiences by going through a recalibration of corresponding or neighboring sensory area(s) to redirect the sensory function and exhibit remarkable extent of neuroplasticity within the brain.
Radioactive seed localization versus wire localization for lumpectomies: a comparison of outcomes.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of radioactive seed localization (RSL) versus wire localization using surgical margin size, reexcision and reoperation rates, specimen size, radiology resource utilization, and cosmesis as measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients who underwent RSL before segmental mastectomy from April 1, 2011, to March 1, 2012, for biopsy-proven cancer were selected. Each was matched using tumor size, type, and surgeon to a wire localization control case, resulting in 232 cases. Width of the closest surgical margin, reexcision rate, and reoperation rate were compared as were the ratios of tumor volume to initial surgical specimen volume and tumor volume to all surgically excised volume (including reexcisions and reoperations). Cosmetic outcome was analyzed by comparison of Harvard scores and specimen volume with breast volume. Radiology resource utilization was compared before and after RSL implementation. RESULTS No significant differences between methods were found in closest surgical margin (RSL mean, 0.45 cm; wire localization mean, 0.45 cm; p=0.972), reexcision rate (RSL mean, 21.1%; wire localization mean, 26.3%; p=0.360), reoperation rate (RSL, 11.4%; wire localization, 12.7%; p=0.841), ratio of the tumor volume to initial surgical specimen volume (RSL mean, 0.027; wire localization mean, 0.028; p=0.886), ratio of the tumor volume to total volume resected (RSL mean, 0.024; wire localization mean, 0.024; p=0.997), or in clinical or computed cosmesis scores (clinical p=0.5; calculated p=0.060). There was a 34% increase in scheduled biopsy slot utilization, 50% savings in time spent scheduling, and a 4.1-day average decrease in biopsy wait time after RSL institution. CONCLUSION RSL is an acceptable alternative to wire localization and offers significant improvements in workflow.
Lipid Responses to a Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplement in Men and Women with Below Average Levels of High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Objective: To assess fasting lipid responses to a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplement in men and women with below-average levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial included 57 subjects, 21–80 years of age, with fasting HDL cholesterol concentrations ≤44 mg/dL (men) and ≤54 mg/dL (women), but ≥35 mg/dL. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 1.52 g/day DHA from capsules containing DHA-rich algal triglycerides or olive oil (control) for six weeks. Results: There were no significant differences between groups in baseline lipid values. The DHA supplemented group showed significant changes [−43 (DHA) vs. −14 (controls) mg/dL, p = 0.015] and percent changes [−21% (DHA) vs. −7% (controls), p = 0.009] in triglycerides, total (12 vs. 3 mg/dL; p = 0.021 and 6% vs. 2%; p = 0.018) and low-density lipoprotein (17 vs. 3 mg/dL; p = 0.001 and 12% vs. 3%; p = 0.001) cholesterol concentrations, and in the triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio (−1.33 vs. −0.50, p = 0.010), compared with controls. In addition, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of LDL cholesterol carried by small, dense particles in the DHA supplemented group (changes = −10% vs. −3%, p = 0.025). Conclusions: Supplementation with 1.52 g/d of DHA in men and women with below-average HDL cholesterol concentrations raised the LDL cholesterol level, but had favorable effects on triglycerides, the triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratio and the fraction of LDL cholesterol carried by small, dense particles. Further research is warranted to evaluate the net impact of these alterations on cardiovascular risk.
Forecasting Cross-Section Stock Returns using The Present Value Model

We contribute to the debate over whether forecastable stock returns reflect an unexploited profit opportunity or rationally reflect risk differentials. We test whether agents could earn excess returns by selecting stocks which have a low market price compared to an estimate of the fundamental value obtained from the present value model. The criterion for stock picking is one which could actually have been implemented by agents in real time. We show that statistically significant, and quantitatively substantial, excess returns are delivered by portfolios of stocks which are cheap relative to our estimate of fundamental value. There is no evidence that the under priced stocks are relatively risky and hence excess returns cannot easily be interpreted as an equilibrium compensation for risk.
ASECU MODELLING RETURNS ON STOCK INDICES FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN STOCK EXCHANGES-A MARKOV SWITCHING APPROACH JEDRZEJ BIALKOWSKI

In this paper a Markov switching mixture of normal distributions is applied to the monthly returns on the main stock indices for emerging financial markets in central Europe (BUX, PX50 and WIG). Additionally the results are compared to those obtained for western Europe (DAX, CAC40 and FTSE100). The results of model comparison suggest that the Markov switching mixture of normal distributions has substantially more descriptive validity than a single normal distribution. Nevertheless, there is no clear indication that, in modelling monthly returns, the Markov switching mixture of three normal distributions is superior to the mixture of two. Finally, the ability of the models to describe returns during international financial crises is evaluated. JEL Classification: C22, E37, F36, G12
Generation of neuronal cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

We have examined the potency of two methods for the neuronal differentiation of embryonic stem cells on the generation of neuronal cells from human blood cells. A mixture of mononuclear cells from peripheral blood cells expressing monocytic, hematopoietic, and mesenchymal cell surface markers were exposed to all-trans retinoic acid, epidermal growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor (method A), or epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 8b, sonic hedgehog and ascorbic acid (method B). Both methods led to the generation of neuronal cells as judged by changes in morphology and the expression of the neuronal markers microtubule-associated protein type 2, tau, and &bgr;-tubulin III. Differentiation according to method B favoured the development of neurons also expressing the dopamine transporter.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Based Toll Collection System

An efficient utilization of communication link between RF Modems over a wireless channel to facilitate vehicle monitoring, vehicle authentication and automated toll collection on the highways is proposed. The system is implemented to automatically register vehicles getting on or off a motorway or highway, cutting the amount of time for paying toll in large queues. The detailed monthly bills will be sent to the customer at the end of the month. The customers could register and get a transmitter module and thereafter would not need to stop at toll booth whenever they get on or off the motorway. The implementation is divided into the design of two modules- the Vehicle Module (Active Tag) and the Base Module. The two modules communicate via RF modem connected to each module. These RF modules communicate over the ISM Frequency Range of 902 -- 928 MHz. The Vehicle module revolves around Atmel 8051 microcontroller. This module contains an LCD panel (16x2), keypad (4x3) and an RF modem interfaced to the microcontroller through Max-232 chip. Microcontroller contains user-specific data associated with vehicle, such as the Registration Number, Engine Number and owners information along with the billing address. The base module comes with a user-interface that allows the administrator to monitor the current activities in the range, including the vehicles in range, their status, and the detailed information about any registered vehicle. Moreover both, base and vehicle module can communicate with each other through chat session.
Investigating the Impact of Public Debt on Economic Growth in Jamaica

The Jamaican economy has been characterized by high levels of public debt concurrent with persistent low economic growth. As such, an understanding of the dynamics between public debt and growth is critical in addressing the obstacles to economic growth. Against this background, the paper investigates the impact of public debt on economic growth using quarterly data from 1990 to 2014. The paper employs an autoregressive distributed-lag model, which jointly captures both short-run and long-run effects. The results of the models indicate that the public debt has a non-linear impact on economic growth. Of note, the paper finds that the composition of debt matters, i.e. total public and external debts negatively affect economic growth in excess of 100 per cent and 55 per cent of GDP, respectively.
Targeting G with TAL Effectors: A Comparison of Activities of TALENs Constructed with NN and NK Repeat Variable Di-Residues

The DNA binding domain of Transcription Activator-Like (TAL) effectors can easily be engineered to have new DNA sequence specificities. Consequently, engineered TAL effector proteins have become important reagents for manipulating genomes in vivo. DNA binding by TAL effectors is mediated by arrays of 34 amino acid repeats. In each repeat, one of two amino acids (repeat variable di-residues, RVDs) contacts a base in the DNA target. RVDs with specificity for C, T and A have been described; however, among RVDs that target G, the RVD NN also binds A, and NK is rare among naturally occurring TAL effectors. Here we show that TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) made with NK to specify G have less activity than their NN-containing counterparts: fourteen of fifteen TALEN pairs made with NN showed more activity in a yeast recombination assay than otherwise identical TALENs made with NK. Activity was assayed for three of these TALEN pairs in human cells, and the results paralleled the yeast data. The in vivo data is explained by in vitro measurements of binding affinity demonstrating that NK-containing TAL effectors have less affinity for targets with G than their NN-containing counterparts. On targets for which G was substituted with A, higher G-specificity was observed for NK-containing TALENs. TALENs with different N- and C-terminal truncations were also tested on targets that differed in the length of the spacer between the two TALEN binding sites. TALENs with C-termini of either 63 or 231 amino acids after the repeat array cleaved targets across a broad range of spacer lengths – from 14 to 33 bp. TALENs with only 18 aa after the repeat array, however, showed a clear optimum for spacers of 13 to 16 bp. The data presented here provide useful guidelines for increasing the specificity and activity of engineered TAL effector proteins.
Shielding Failure Current of Overhead Transmission Lines Generated through an ATPDraw Object

-The maximum shielding failure current of overhead transmission lines is an important parameter in evaluating the shielding performance of the lines and performing insulation coordination studies of the connected substations. A new ATPDraw object has been developed, by using MODELS language, that easily generates the maximum shielding failure current of overhead transmission lines, with amplitude and waveshape depending on line geometry and selected lightning attachment model. The new object, called MSFC, was employed in ATP-EMTP simulations of a 150 kV GIS substation. The computed shielding failure surges impinging on the substation, being dependent upon maximum shielding failure current, vary considerably among lightning attachment models. The MSFC object is a useful tool within the ATP-EMTP environment in assessing the shielding failure surges arising at overhead transmission lines and impinging on the connected substations.
Individual Sequence Representations in the Medial Temporal Lobe

Much of what we need to remember consists of sequences of stimuli, experiences, or events. Repeated presentation of a specific sequence establishes a more stable long-term memory, as shown by increased recall accuracy over successive trials of an STM task. Here we used fMRI to study the neural mechanisms that underlie sequence learning in the auditory–verbal domain. Specifically, we track the emergence of neural representations of sequences over the course of learning using multivariate pattern analysis. For this purpose, we use a serial recall task, in which participants have to recall overlapping sequences of letter names, with some of those sequences being repeated and hence learned over the course of the experiment. We show that voxels in the hippocampus come to encode the identity of specific repeated sequences although the letter names were common to all sequences in the experiment. These changes could have not been caused by changes in overall level of activity or to fMRI signal-to-noise ratios. Hence, the present results go beyond conventional univariate fMRI methods in showing a critical contribution of medial-temporal lobe memory systems to establishing long-term representations of verbal sequences.
National Centre of Competence in Research Financial Valuation and Risk Management Working Paper No . 640 What Drives Short Rate Dynamics ? A Functional Gradient Descent Approach

Functional gradient descent, a recent technique coming from computational statistics, is applied to the estimation of the conditional moments of the short rate process with the goal of finding the main drivers of the drift and volatility dynamics. Functional gradient descent can improve the accuracy of some reasonable starting estimates obtained using classical short rate models introduced in the literature. It exploits the predictive information of an enlarged set of variables, including yields at other maturities, time, and macroeconomic indicators. Fitting this methodology to the time series of monthly US 3-month Treasury bill rates, we find that the drift dynamics react mostly in a non-linear way to changes in macroeconomic variables, whereas volatility dynamics are subjected to time-dependent regime-switches. Finally we show the superior performance of the final predictions obtained by applying functional gradient descent in a forecasting exercise. JEL classification: C14; C52; E43; E44; E47
EXAMINING THE FORMATION OF ATTITUDINAL, CONATIVE, AND BEHAVIOURAL LOYALTY: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

This study examines the dimensional structure of the brand loyalty construct in the hotel industry context. Following recent developments in loyalty studies, brand loyalty is proposed as a three-dimensional construct consisting of attitudinal loyalty, conative loyalty, and behavioural loyalty. In addition to directly affecting behavioural loyalty, attitudinal loyalty influences behavioural loyalty indirectly through conative loyalty. This conceptualisation is supported by the statistical analysis and provides an improved of the brand loyalty construct compared to the existing conceptualisations, such as fourstage, three-stage, and two-stage brand loyalty models. This study provides an important contribution in extending an understanding of the complex structure of brand loyalty, especially in a hotel industry context.
A Structural Account of Root Node Deletion in Loanword Phonology

Abstract Paradis and LaCharité (1996, 1997) have proposed a model of loanword adaptation, couched within the Theory of Constraints and Repair Strategies (Paradis 1988a,b). One of the mechanisms used in their model, called the Threshold Principle, first advanced by Paradis, Lebel, and LaCharité (1993), poses problems. This principle, whose implementation implies arithmetic counting, goes counter to standard views of generative phonology against counting. In this article, an analysis of deletion contexts found in loanwords which accounts for the data observed on structural grounds only is developed without any appeal to arithmetic counting. Based on the adaptation of French rising diphthongs and nasal vowels in two languages, Fula and Kinyarwanda, it is argued that an analysis based solely on the segmental representations of the foreign forms to adapt and the segmental and syllabic constraints of the borrowing language is sufficient to make correct predictions regarding the adaptation patterns found in these languages.
Dynamic Information Regimes in Financial Markets

We develop a model of investor information choices and asset prices in which the availability of information about fundamentals is time-varying and responds to investor demand for information. A competitive research sector produces more information when more investors are willing to pay for that research. This feedback, from investor willingness to pay for information to more information production, generates two regimes in equilibrium, one having high prices and low volatility, the other the opposite. The low-price, high-volatility regime is associated with greater information asymmetry between informed and uninformed investors. Information dynamics move the market between regimes, creating large price drops even with no change in fundamentals. In our calibration, the model suggests an important role for information dynamics in financial crises. This paper was accepted by Kay Giesecke, finance. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021. 01213 .
Massive layer of pure anorthosite on the Moon

We present a new global survey of the purest anorthosite (PAN) rock using the Spectral Profiler onboard Kaguya. We found that PAN rocks are widely distributed over the Moon, including the Feldspathic Highland Terrain and the south and north polar regions. All PAN sites are associated with huge impact structures with diameters larger than 100 km. Based on the global distributions of PAN and olivine‐rich sites, we propose the existence of a massive PAN layer with a thickness of ∼50 km below an uppermost mafic‐rich mixed layer with a thickness of ∼10 km. Below the PAN layer, a lower crustal layer with olivine‐rich materials may be present on the nearside, but not on the far side of the Moon. The existence of a PAN layer with a thickness of ∼50 km suggests an Al2O3 abundance of 33 to 34 wt. % in the lunar crust, which is higher than previous estimates of <32 wt. %. Our data indicate the massive production event of PAN during the early stage of the formation of the Moon, supporting the lunar magma ocean scenario.
Normalization of cerebral volumes by use of intracranial volume: implications for longitudinal quantitative MR imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE MR-based volumetric measures of cerebral structures are increasingly used for diagnostic purposes and to measure progression of atrophy. Variations in individual head size may be corrected by normalization with use of a total intracranial volume (TIV) measurement. The TIV also may be used to correct for voxel size fluctuations in serial studies. The TIV should be measured from the same images used for structural volumetry, usually T1-weighted imaging. The objectives were to show that normalization with TIV reduces interindividual variation, to develop and validate a simple protocol for measuring TIV from T1-weighted MR images, and to apply TIV normalization to serial brain measures in controls and subjects with Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS We measured TIV with a semiautomated segmentation technique on T1- and T2-weighted MR images in 55 controls, 10 AD patients, and two persons at risk of familial AD. Whole-brain volumes also were measured and normalized with TIVs. RESULTS The TIV normalization of cross-sectional brain volumes significantly reduced interindividual variation; the coefficient of variation (CV) was reduced from 10.0% to 6.0% in controls (P <.001). The TIVs measured on T1-weighted images had low variability (CV, 0.16%) and did not differ significantly from those measured on T2-weighted images (P =.16). The TIV normalization of serial brain-volume measurements reduced interimage differences caused by voxel-scaling variations (CV reduced from 1.3% to 0.5%, P =.002) in 10 controls and five AD patients. CONCLUSION Structural volumes should be normalized with a TIV, measured cross-sectionally, to reduce interindividual variation, and longitudinally with a concurrent measurement, to reduce subtle interimage differences. This may have important implications in progression studies.
Direction and intensity of technical change: a micro-founded growth model

This paper develops a growth model combining elements of endogenous growth and induced innovation literatures. In a standard induced innovation model firms select at no cost innovations from an innovation possibilities frontier describing the trade-off between increasing capital or labor productivity. The model proposed allows firms to choose not only the direction but also the size of innovation by representing the innovation possibilities through a cost function of capital and labor augmenting innovations. By so doing, it provides a micro-foundation both of the intensity and of the direction of technical change. The policy analysis implies that an increase in subsidies to R&D as opposed to capital accumulation raises per capita steady state growth, employment rate and wage share.
Does corporate governance affect dividend policy: Evidence from ASEAN emerging market

This research-work uses a survey which comes from three different countries in ASEAN region i.e Indonesian, Thiland and Malaysian. This work integrate whole data from above all countries to examine whether firms that do corporate governance practising will pay higher dividends. This study has two issues: how regulation of stock exchange affects good corporate governance and how corporate governance affects value of the firm. Using OLS regression, our finding shows that good corporate governance practices has positive sign to dividend pay out. Our finding may contribute to corporate governance literature.First, result finding support Jensen’s (1986) that states free csah flow not reduce dividends pay out. Second, integrating emprical model from three different countires in ASEAN region.