Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pseudo-haptics: from the theoretical foundations to practical system design guidelines

Pseudo-haptics, a form of haptic illusion exploiting the brain's capabilities and limitations, has been studied for about a decade. Various interaction techniques making use of it emerged in different fields. However, important questions remain unanswered concerning the nature and the fundamentals of pseudo-haptics, the problems frequently encountered, and sophisticated means supporting the development of new systems and applications. We provide the theoretical background needed to understand the key mechanisms involved in the perception of / interaction with pseudo-haptic phenomena. We synthesise a framework resting on two theories of human perception, cognition and action: The Interacting Cognitive Subsystems model by Barnard et al. and the Bayesian multimodal cue integration framework by Ernst et al. Based on this synthesis and in order to test its utility, we discuss a recent pseudo-haptics example. Finally, we derive system design recommendations meant to facilitate the advancement in the field of pseudo-haptics for user interface researchers and practitioners.
Beating is necessary for transdifferentiation of skeletal muscle‐derived cells into cardiomyocytes

Cell transplantation could be a potential therapy for heart damage. Skeletal myoblasts have been expected to be a good cell source for autologous transplantation; however, the safety and efficacy of their transplantation are still controversial. Recent studies have revealed that skeletal muscle possesses the stem cell population that is distinct from myoblasts. To elucidate whether skeletal muscle stem cells can transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes, we cocultured skeletal muscle cells isolated from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein with cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats. Skeletal muscle‐derived cells expressed cardiac‐specific proteins such as cardiac troponin T and atrial natriuretic peptide as well as cardiac‐enriched transcription factors such as Nkx2E (formerly called Csx/Nkx2.5) and GATA4 by coculture with cardiomyocytes. Skeletal muscle‐derived cells also expressed cadherin and connexin 43 at the junctions with neighboring cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocyte‐like action potentials were recorded from beating skeletal muscle‐derived cells. Treatment of nifedipine or culture in Ca2+‐free media suppressed contraction of cardiomyocytes and inhibited skeletal muscle cells to express cardiac‐specific proteins. Cyclic stretch completely restored this inhibitory effect. These results suggest that some part of skeletal muscle cells can transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes and that direct cell‐to‐cell contact and contraction of neighboring cardiomyocytes are important for the transdifferentiation.
Convolutional networks for fast, energy-efficient neuromorphic computing

Significance Brain-inspired computing seeks to develop new technologies that solve real-world problems while remaining grounded in the physical requirements of energy, speed, and size. Meeting these challenges requires high-performing algorithms that are capable of running on efficient hardware. Here, we adapt deep convolutional neural networks, which are today’s state-of-the-art approach for machine perception in many domains, to perform classification tasks on neuromorphic hardware, which is today’s most efficient platform for running neural networks. Using our approach, we demonstrate near state-of-the-art accuracy on eight datasets, while running at between 1,200 and 2,600 frames/s and using between 25 and 275 mW. Deep networks are now able to achieve human-level performance on a broad spectrum of recognition tasks. Independently, neuromorphic computing has now demonstrated unprecedented energy-efficiency through a new chip architecture based on spiking neurons, low precision synapses, and a scalable communication network. Here, we demonstrate that neuromorphic computing, despite its novel architectural primitives, can implement deep convolution networks that (i) approach state-of-the-art classification accuracy across eight standard datasets encompassing vision and speech, (ii) perform inference while preserving the hardware’s underlying energy-efficiency and high throughput, running on the aforementioned datasets at between 1,200 and 2,600 frames/s and using between 25 and 275 mW (effectively >6,000 frames/s per Watt), and (iii) can be specified and trained using backpropagation with the same ease-of-use as contemporary deep learning. This approach allows the algorithmic power of deep learning to be merged with the efficiency of neuromorphic processors, bringing the promise of embedded, intelligent, brain-inspired computing one step closer.
The bone-specific Runx2-P1 promoter displays conserved three-dimensional chromatin structure with the syntenic Supt3h promoter

Three-dimensional organization of chromatin is fundamental for transcriptional regulation. Tissue-specific transcriptional programs are orchestrated by transcription factors and epigenetic regulators. The RUNX2 transcription factor is required for differentiation of precursor cells into mature osteoblasts. Although organization and control of the bone-specific Runx2-P1 promoter have been studied extensively, long-range regulation has not been explored. In this study, we investigated higher-order organization of the Runx2-P1 promoter during osteoblast differentiation. Mining the ENCODE database revealed interactions between Runx2-P1 and Supt3h promoters in several non-mesenchymal human cell lines. Supt3h is a ubiquitously expressed gene located within the first intron of Runx2. These two genes show shared synteny across species from humans to sponges. Chromosome conformation capture analysis in the murine pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell line revealed increased contact frequency between Runx2-P1 and Supt3h promoters during differentiation. This increase was accompanied by enhanced DNaseI hypersensitivity along with RUNX2 and CTCF binding at the Supt3h promoter. Furthermore, interplasmid-3C and luciferase reporter assays showed that the Supt3h promoter can modulate Runx2-P1 activity via direct association. Taken together, our data demonstrate physical proximity between Runx2-P1 and Supt3h promoters, consistent with their syntenic nature. Importantly, we identify the Supt3h promoter as a potential regulator of the bone-specific Runx2-P1 promoter.
Formal Modelling of Toll like Receptor 4 and JAK/STAT Signalling Pathways: Insight into the Roles of SOCS-1, Interferon-β and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Sepsis

Sepsis is one of the major causes of human morbidity and results in a considerable number of deaths each year. Lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis has been associated with TLR4 signalling pathway which in collaboration with the JAK/STAT signalling regulate endotoxemia and inflammation. However, during sepsis our immune system cannot maintain a balance of cytokine levels and results in multiple organ damage and eventual death. Different opinions have been made in previous studies about the expression patterns and the role of proinflammatory cytokines in sepsis that attracted our attention towards qualitative properties of TLR4 and JAK/STAT signalling pathways using computer-aided studies. René Thomas’ formalism was used to model septic and non-septic dynamics of TLR4 and JAK/STAT signalling. Comparisons among dynamics were made by intervening or removing the specific interactions among entities. Among our predictions, recurrent induction of proinflammatory cytokines with subsequent downregulation was found as the basic characteristic of septic model. This characteristic was found in agreement with previous experimental studies, which implicate that inflammation is followed by immunomodulation in septic patients. Moreover, intervention in downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines by SOCS-1 was found desirable to boost the immune responses. On the other hand, interventions either in TLR4 or transcriptional elements such as NFκB and STAT were found effective in the downregulation of immune responses. Whereas, IFN-β and SOCS-1 mediated downregulation at different levels of signalling were found to be associated with variations in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines. However, these predictions need to be further validated using wet laboratory experimental studies to further explore the roles of inhibitors such as SOCS-1 and IFN-β, which may alter the levels of proinflammatory cytokines at different stages of sepsis.
A Search for Host Galaxies of 24 Gamma-Ray Bursts

We report the results from observations of 24 gamma-ray burst (GRB) fields from 2005 and 2006 undertaken at the Danish 1.54 m telescope at ESO/La Silla. Photometry and positions for two previously unpublished host galaxy candidates (GRBs 050915 and 051021) are presented, as well as for eight other detected objects that are either known GRB hosts or candidate hosts. The candidates are suitable for spectroscopic follow-up in order to have their redshifts and other physical characteristics determined. In the cases where no likely host candidate is detected inside the refined Swift XRT error circle, we are still able to put interesting and rather deep limits on the host magnitude. On the basis of our detections and upper limits, we have performed simulations that suggest that the host galaxies are drawn from a fainter sample than those in previous (i.e., pre-Swift) studies.
How the Pecking-Order Theory Explain Capital Structure

The pecking order theory of capital structure is one of the most influential theories of corporate finance. The purpose of this study is to explore the most important factors on a firm’s capital structure by pecking-order theory. Hierarchical regression is used as the analysis model. This study examines the determinants of debt decisions for 305 Taiwan electronic companies that are quoted on the Taiwan Stock Exchange of 2009. The results indicate that the determinants of capital structure are profitability and growth rate. The profitability negatively affects on capital structure. It implies that firms prefer to use their earnings to finance business activities and thus use less debt capital. Growth rate positively affects to capital structure. The greater growth opportunity will have more capital structure to finance the growth. Size is a moderator variable in this study. Size of firms moderates the effects of tax rate on capital structure. Large firms appear to take advantage of the tax deductibility of debt. The findings are important for management and investors.
Plea Bargaining or Trial? The Process of Criminal-Case Disposition . By Lynn M. Mather. (Lexington, Mass.: Lexington Books, 1979. Pp. xi + 171. $14.95.)

This book is a well-written and well-documented study of the case disposition process in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. During her year long research, Lynn Mather devoted five months to almost daily observations in this court. Her time was well spent in that the volume conveys an unusual sense of reality for this type of project and contains numerous insightful, candid remarks by court personnel. As its title aptly indicates, one of the primary objectives of the book is to determine case and defendant characteristics which are most often associated with a plea-bargained sentence and others which are linked to a judge or jury trial disposition. Trials are most probable, Mather finds, either when a defendant is likely to be convicted of a serious crime and has a significant prior record or when the prosecution can only muster a weak case based on the evidence. In the former circumstance, the accused, the proverbial two-time loser, risks little by a trial; in the latter, chances of acquittal are relatively good. In both instances, informal or formal negotiations among the attorneys (and occasionally including the judge) either do not take place or they break down.
An Empirical Study of Feature Selection for Text Categorization based on Term Weightage

This paper proposes a local feature selection (FS) measure namely, Categorical Descriptor Term (CTD) for text categorization. It is derived based on classic term weighting scheme, TFIDF. The method explicitly chooses feature set for each category by only selecting set of terms from relevant category. Although past literatures have suggested that the use of features from irrelevant categories can improve the measure of text categorization, we believe that by incorporating only relevant feature can be highly effective. The experimental comparison is carried out between CTD and five well-known feature selection measures: Information Gain, Chi-Square, Correlation Coefficient, Odd Ratio and GSS Coefficient. The results also show that our proposed method can perform comparatively well with other FS measures, especially on collection with highly overlapped topics.
Partition-based vector filtering technique for suppression of noise in digital color images

A partition-based adaptive vector filter is proposed for the restoration of corrupted digital color images. The novelty of the filter lies in its unique three-stage adaptive estimation. The local image structure is first estimated by a series of center-weighted reference filters. Then the distances between the observed central pixel and estimated references are utilized to classify the local inputs into one of preset structure partition cells. Finally, a weighted filtering operation, indexed by the partition cell, is applied to the estimated references in order to restore the central pixel value. The weighted filtering operation is optimized off-line for each partition cell to achieve the best tradeoff between noise suppression and structure preservation. Recursive filtering operation and recursive weight training are also investigated to further boost the restoration performance. The proposed filter has demonstrated satisfactory results in suppressing many distinct types of noise in natural color images. Noticeable performance gains are demonstrated over other prior-art methods in terms of standard objective measurements, the visual image quality and the computational complexity.
PM effect size estimation for mediation analysis: a cautionary note, alternate strategy, and real data illustration

Abstract As research on mediation has grown, so too has interest in identifying ways to assess the size of indirect effects in a mediation analysis. One such estimate – the ratio of the indirect effect to the total effect (PM) – was tested in a sample of 21,297 children from the Early Childhood Developmental Study. Results showed that the two independent variables – low self-control and externalizing behavior – correlated equally well with a common mediator (mathematical thinking). Moreover, the two pathways shared the same mediator and dependent variable (subsequent externalizing behavior). Despite this, PM was three times larger in the self-control-initiated pathway than in the externalizing-initiated pathway, based on a stronger correlation between prior and subsequent externalizing behavior than between low self-control and externalizing behavior. The comparison pathways approach, where pathways mediated by mathematical reasoning are contrasted with pathways mediated by a control variable (general knowledge), is offered as an alternative to effect size measurement in mediation research.
Simultaneous live imaging of the transcription and nuclear position of specific genes

The relationship between genome organization and gene expression has recently been established. However, the relationships between spatial organization, dynamics, and transcriptional regulation of the genome remain unknown. In this study, we developed a live-imaging method for simultaneous measurements of the transcriptional activity and nuclear position of endogenous genes, which we termed the ‘Real-time Observation of Localization and EXpression (ROLEX)’ system. We demonstrated that ROLEX is highly specific and does not affect the expression level of the target gene. ROLEX enabled detection of sub-genome-wide mobility changes that depended on the state of Nanog transactivation in embryonic stem cells. We believe that the ROLEX system will become a powerful tool for exploring the relationship between transcription and nuclear dynamics in living cells.
An empirical and theory-based evaluation of the fear avoidance model of pain

Persistent pain and disability are commonly associated with musculoskeletal injury and can result in considerable personal suffering and societal burden. The Fear Avoidance Model provides a theoretical account of how pain-related disability develops, and has inspired a large body of research that aims to mitigate the negative consequences of musculoskeletal injury. While The Fear Avoidance Model is currently the leading theory of pain-related disability, there are several theoretical and empirical aspects of the model that have yet to be fully addressed; this manuscript-based thesis aims to explore these aspects. This thesis consists of five chapters: a general introduction, three empirical studies, and a general discussion. The general introduction provides a broad theoretical context for the three empirical studies. The studies included in this thesis aim to address two empirical gaps in the literature; the studies evaluate specific prospective relationships proposed by the Fear Avoidance Model, and assess alternate relationships among model-relevant variables. The general discussion provides a detailed exploration of various theoretical assumptions that are made within the Fear Avoidance Model that may help account for the observed findings. %%%%La douleur et l'invalidite persistante sont souvent associees avec des blessures musculo-squelettiques et peuvent entrainer une souffrance personnelle majeure ainsi qu'un fardeau social considerable. Le Modele Cognitivo-Comportemental de la Peur liee a la douleur (MCCP) donne un compte rendu theorique de la maniere dont l'invalidite associee a la douleur se developpe et a inspire une grande partie de la recherche qui vise a attenuer les consequences de blessures musculo-squelettiques. Tandis que le MCCP est la theorie de premier ordre sur l'invalidite associee a la douleur, plusieurs aspects theoriques et empiriques du modele n'ont pas encore ete pleinement adresses. Cette these vise a examiner ces aspects. Cette these consiste en cinq chapitres : une introduction generale, trois etudes empiriques et une conclusion generale. L'introduction presente le cadre theorique pour les trois etudes empiriques. Les etudes incluses dans cette these visent a combler deux lacunes empiriques ; les etudes evaluent des relations prospectives specifiques proposees par le MCCP, et examinent les relations alternatives entre les variables pertinents au modele. La discussion generale fournit une exploration detaillee de diverses hypotheses theoriques developpees dans le MCCP qui peuvent aider a expliquer les resultats des trois etudes.
It’s the Conventional Thought That Counts

A core claim of sociological theory is that modern institutions fall short of their meritocratic ideals, whereby rewards should be allocated based on achievement-related criteria. Instead, high-status actors often experience a “status advantage”: they are rewarded disproportionately to the quality of their performance. We develop and test a theory of status advantage in meritocratic settings. The most influential model in past research derives status advantage from decision-makers’ tendency to infer quality from status when quality is uncertain. The theory developed here integrates and extends this and other theories to explain the emergence of status advantage in the many meritocratic contexts where the decision-maker’s personal, first-order sense of quality is less important to the decision. We argue that in such contexts, decision-makers must often coordinate with others to make the “best” decision, and thus they focus on the “third-order inference” problem of discerning who or what “most people” think is higher quality, as encoded in status beliefs. Three experiments demonstrate that under such conditions, status advantages can emerge even though (1) status information does not resolve uncertainty about quality; (2) the status belief is illegitimate; and (3) no party to the decision personally prefers the higher-status option. The theory implies that status hierarchies are resilient in the face of significant dissent but may be subject to public challenge.
Exploring the relationship between general intelligence, executive function, and performance

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL INTELLIGENCE, EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, AND PERFORMANCE Jonathan Stermac-Stein Advisor: University of Guelph, 2014 Dr. Peter Hausdorf An individual’s cognitive ability is arguably the single most important construct in work performance. The general factor of intelligence, g, is widely considered “as good as it gets” when attempting to predict work performance. However, development and continued understanding of the g factor of intelligence is lacking within the field of I-O psychology. This thesis aims to investigate the mediation of the intelligence-performance relationship by cognitive factors, most importantly, Executive Function. While the hypotheses of this study were not supported, this research serves to provide a framework for investigating intelligence within I-O as well as explore the relationship between Executive Function, various cognitive factors, and general intelligence in the performance domain.
Canine hip dysplasia: reviewing the evidence for nonsurgical management.

OBJECTIVE To systematically review the evidence available for nonsurgical management of hip dysplasia (HD). STUDY DESIGN Literature review. METHODS Databases (Pubmed, Veterinary Information Network) were searched for clinical studies on nonsurgical management of HD in dogs. The evidence in each study was reviewed and assigned a score (I-IV) based on previously reported levels of evidence. RESULTS Fourteen articles were identified that met the inclusion criteria, including 3 Level IV, 4 Level III, and 7 Level II studies. Methods of nonsurgical management reviewed included: activity restrictions, weight management, acupuncture, modulation of joint disease by polysulfated glycosaminoglycans, mesenchymal stem cell therapy, and extra corporeal shock wave therapy. CONCLUSION Weight management is an effective and important component of managing dogs with HD and associated osteoarthritis. Techniques that modulate the progression of joint disease may also be beneficial for treating dogs with HD. Further studies are needed to investigate other methods of managing HD such as hydrotherapy and physical rehabilitation.
Naar een reel kader voor pensioenfondsen

A hose holder system includes a rigid holder having a substantially vertical section and a substantially horizontal section. A flexible sling movably couples with the substantially horizontal section and includes a first flap and a second flap. A hose couples with the rigid holder through the sling, the hose coupled between the first flap and second flap, the sling supporting a portion of the hose in a position substantially parallel with the substantially horizontal section of the rigid holder. A swiveling base is coupled with the rigid holder and includes an opening therethrough through which the hose passes substantially perpendicularly. In implementations the hose holder system is configured to allow the hose to contact no rigid element of the hose holder system between the opening and a dispenser during use. The hose may enter the sling at an about 90 degree angle and exit at an about 30-35 degree angle.
Custody Determinations and Child Development:: A Review of the Current Literature

Examen des criteres utilises par les cours de justice pour determiner la garde des enfants de divorces. Differents types d'arrangements possibles pour la garde et historique des cadres legaux. Revue de litterature sur l'ajustement des enfants et leurs variables affectant leur developpement suite au divorce