Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Hemodynamic Impulse Response to a Single Neural Event

This article investigates the relation between stimulus-evoked neural activity and cerebral hemodynamics. Specifically, the hypothesis is tested that hemodynamic responses can be modeled as a linear convolution of experimentally obtained measures of neural activity with a suitable hemodynamic impulse response function. To obtain a range of neural and hemodynamic responses, rat whisker pad was stimulated using brief (≤2 seconds) electrical stimuli consisting of single pulses (0.3 millisecond, 1.2 mA) combined both at different frequencies and in a paired-pulse design. Hemodynamic responses were measured using concurrent optical imaging spectroscopy and laser Doppler flowmetry, whereas neural responses were assessed through current source density analysis of multielectrode recordings from a single barrel. General linear modeling was used to deconvolve the hemodynamic impulse response to a single “neural event” from the hemodynamic and neural responses to stimulation. The model provided an excellent fit to the empirical data. The implications of these results for modeling schemes and for physiologic systems coupling neural and hemodynamic activity are discussed.
Improving Goldstein filter by image entropy for InSAR interferogram filtering

InSAR has proven to be a viable method for measuring surface topography. Interferometric phase filtering is an important method to improve the quality of DEM in InSAR data processing. We present a modification to the adaptive Goldstein radar interferogram filter which improves the quality of interferometry. The proposed approach combines correlation coefficient and image entropy instead of the filter parameter α in Goldstein filter algorithm. This modification enhances ability to identify the level of image noise and adopts more appropriate Goldstein filter parameter.
Enabling building service robots to guide blind people a participatory design approach

Building service robots-robots that perform various services in buildings-are becoming more common in large buildings such as hotels and stores. We aim to leverage such robots to serve as guides for blind people. In this paper, we sought to design specifications that detail how a building service robot could interact with and guide a blind person through a building in an effective and socially acceptable way. We conducted participatory design sessions with three designers and five non-designers. Two of the designers and all of the non-designers had a vision disability. Primary features of the design include allowing the user to (1) summon the robot after entering the building, (2) choose from three modes of assistance (Sighted Guide, Escort, and Information Kiosk), and (3) receive information about the building's layout from the robot. We conclude with a discussion of themes and a reflection about our design process that can benefit robot design for blind people in general.
Recent approaches and applications of non-intrusive load monitoring

The Appliance Load Monitoring is vital in every energy consuming system be it commercial, residential or industrial in nature. Traditional load monitoring system, which used to be intrusive in nature require the installation of sensors to every load of interest which makes the system to be costly, time consuming and complex. Nonintrusive load monitoring (NILM) system uses the aggregated measurement at the utility service entry to identify and disaggregate the appliances connected in the building, which means only one set of sensors is required and it does not require entrance into the consumer premises. We presented a study in this paper providing a comprehensive review of the state of art of NILM, the different methods applied by researchers so far, before concluding with the future research direction, which include automatic home energy saving using NILM. The study also found that more efforts are needed from the researchers to apply NILM in appliance energy management, for example a Home Energy Management System (HEMS).
An Examination of Student Achievement Differences Between Charter System Schools and Start-Up Charter Schools

Georgia Charter School Act of 1998 intends to increase student achievement through academic and organizational innovations, and increased flexibility granted to charter schools. With the legislative intent in mind, the primary purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which student achievement in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools differ across the Georgia start-up charter schools and charter system schools as measured by the achievement, progress, and achievement gap scores of 2014 Georgia’s College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). The data set, which is publicly available on the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement website and Georgia Department of Education (GADOE) website, includes 87 start-up charter schools and 265 charter system schools in operation during the school year 201314 as reported by the GADOE Office of District Flexibility and Governmental Affairs. Informed by the legislative intent for the Georgia charter school law, the review of the literature conducted for this study examined innovations and increased autonomy in charter schools followed by the student achievement studies involving charter schools across the nation. The method of Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed to analyze the data, following the selection of the sample through propensity score matching procedure. The Factorial ANOVA procedure revealed no significant differences between the mean scores for charter system schools and start-up charter schools as far as the achievement, progress, and achievement gap components of the 2014 CCRPI are concerned. This result led to the conclusion that start-up charter schools and charter system schools fulfill their legislative obligation of increasing student achievement to a similar extent. This study contributes to the policy and political dialog surrounding charter schools. Results from the analysis will: (a) reveal which type of charter school fulfills statutory obligations of increasing student achievement more effectively, (b) inform legislators in adopting new laws or revising current laws regarding school choice options, (c) help leaders of charter systems decide whether to introduce or expand start-up charter school offerings in their district portfolios, and (d) help parents choose the best school option among those available. INDEX WORDS: Charter school, charter district, achievement, CCRPI AN EXAMINATION OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHARTER SYSTEM SCHOOLS AND START-UP CHARTER SCHOOLS by
Prediction of probable Alzheimer disease in patients with symptoms suggestive of memory impairment. Value of the Mini-Mental State Examination.

BACKGROUND The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a widely used diagnostic tool for dementia. Its use as a predictive indicator of probable Alzheimer disease (AD) has not been established. OBJECTIVES To determine the accuracy of the MMSE in predicting emergent AD in a sample of patients who were referred because of symptoms suggestive of memory problems and to determine whether an abbreviated version of the MMSE could be developed that would be as accurate as the full MMSE in predicting emergent AD. DESIGN Inception cohort of participants with symptoms suggestive of memory impairment by their family physicians were given baseline assessments, including MMSE. After 2 years, the participants' conditions were diagnosed following the standard criterion for AD. Diagnosticians were blind to baseline scores. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS One hundred eighty-three community-residing participants were referred by their family physicians to a university teaching hospital research investigation. After baseline screening, 165 participants were included in the study who did not have dementia and had no identifiable cause for memory impairment. After 2 years, 29 participants met criteria for AD, 98 did not develop dementia, 18 developed vascular lesions or non-AD dementia, and 20 did not return. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Diagnostic classification of AD or no evidence of dementia. RESULTS Logistic regression model was significant. At a cutoff score of 24 or less, sensitivity was 31%; specificity, 96%; with a likelihood ratio of 7.75. A reduced model of 2 subtests was identified with a sensitivity of 41%; specificity, 98%; with a likelihood ratio of 20.70. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that the full or abbreviated MMSE is useful in predicting emergent AD in patients with positive test results. However, it is not recommended for use as a screening or diagnostic instrument since a negative test result did not rule out emergent AD. It is recommended as a tool to identify those needing closer monitoring.
Analysis of a Properness-Based Blind Adaptive I/Q Filter Mismatch Compensation

In modern wireless communication devices, cost- and area-effective signal processing architectures are essential. Flexible and reconfigurable front-end solutions are necessary to achieve high-spectral efficiency. Direct conversion transceivers are suitable but have to deal with I/Q mismatch, for which large bandwidths become frequency selective. Blind I/Q mismatch compensation can be based on a statistical property called properness, which is fulfilled for a large class of digitally modulated communication signals and which is destroyed by I/Q mismatch. We propose a novel DSP-algorithm for blind adaptive I/Q mismatch compensators using only real-valued filters, which rebuilds this properness in two stages. Additionally, we add a simple compensation solution for dc offset which can be integrated in the I/Q mismatch compensator. In a detailed analysis, we prove that nonlinear even-order distortions resulting from finite mixer isolation have only negligible influence on properness under realistic impairment levels. A stability analysis exhibit conditions of those compensator parameter regions for which the optimal steady-state is asymptotically stable. For practical frequency-independent I/Q mismatch values, we show that the algorithm converges with a suitable initial value to the optimum steady state. The proposed algorithm outperforms other state-of-the-art algorithms while its computational complexity is reduced. Results from a 3GPP LTE downlink simulator support the analysis.
Attachment of the flagellate Giardia lamblia: role of reducing agents, serum, temperature, and ionic composition

The flagellated protozoan Giardia lamblia has been grown only in highly complex media under reduced oxygen tension. Therefore, the organic and physiological requirements for in vitro attachment and short-term (12-h) survival of this organism were determined. In defined maintenance media, a thiol reducing agent (e.g., cysteine) was absolutely required for attachment and survival of this aerotolerant anaerobe. The crude bovine serum Cohn III fraction greatly stimulated attachment and survival. Attachment was decreased at a reduced temperature (24 degrees C as compared with 35.5 degrees C) and absent at 12 degrees C or below. Attachment and survival were strongly dependent upon pH and ionic strength, with optima at pH 6.85 to 7.0 and 200 to 300 mosmol/kg. Sodium chloride was better tolerated than KC1. Reduction of Ca2+ and Mg2+ to below 10(-8) M did not significantly affect attachment.
Modeling multiple subskills by extending knowledge tracing model using logistic regression

Knowledge Tracing (KT) is a standard model for inferring student knowledge mastery from their performance data. Generally, there are five parameters in KT model we need to estimate, they are transition parameters: learning and forgetting probability, emission parameters: guessing and slipping probability, and prior probability. KT model is widely used in students learning outcome modeling. However, it does not support multiple subskills modeling, for the model works by checking the historical observations at a specific skill. To overcome this drawback, this paper proposes three models using logistic regression over each step: KTLR-GS, extending guessing and slipping parameters; KTLR-LFID, introducing item difficult into the KT model while extending learning and forgetting parameters; KTLR-FP, extending both transition and emission parameters. Unlike previous methods our models discuss the efficiency of extending transition and emission parameters while relaxing the assumptions that subskills are independent. In the end we evaluate how well our models perform with comparison to LR-DBN, KT-IDEM and KT on two datasets: the open dataset ASSISTments, and one private dataset, student algebra dataset collected through our tutoring system. Our models outperform LR-DBN, KT-IDEM and KT on both datasets.
Preliminary comparison of diffusion‐weighted MRI and PET/CT in predicting histological type and malignancy of lung cancer

Emerging evidence shows that diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW MRI) and fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F‐FDG PET/CT) might be useful in predicting histological type and malignancy of lung cancer, and even in specifically detecting the types of gene mutation.
Blind source separation of nonlinearly mixed ocean acoustic signals using Slow Feature Analysis

The ocean acoustic environment is astoundingly complex, consisting of numerous noise sources like ships, offshore oil rigs, marine life, shore waves and acoustic cavitations, featuring varying sound speed profiles, multi-path interferences, as well as other hydrodynamic phenomena. Irrespective of the type of the receiver system, whether active or passive, the signals picked up by the hydrophones are disturbed by these inherent anomalies of the propagating medium and poses a prime challenge to extract useful information from the chaotic mixtures of received signals. Blind Source Separation (BSS), an engineering paradigm which attempts to mimic the human cognitive capability of selectively extracting an interesting process amidst several similar competing processes, can be considered as a viable solution to the problem. In this paper, the effectiveness of Slow Feature Analysis (SFA) algorithm (Laurenz Wiskott et.al), a biologically motivated technique based on the concept of temporal slowness to extract invariant features from multivariate time series, for solving the problem of nonlinear BSS is investigated. A testing framework for underwater acoustic signal separation has been developed in Python with the aid of Modular toolkit for Data Processing (MDP), a stack of general purpose machine learning algorithms.
Maximum charging of an ultracapacitor using switch mode rectifiers in a regeneration cycle

A DQ model of a synchronous alternator is presented. Implementation of the model in PSPICE is explained. Sudden short circuit test data is used to verify the model. Operation of an ultracapacitor in a vehicle regeneration cycle is explained. The maximum power curve of the alternator is explained. An algorithm is derived to set the duty cycle of a DC-to-DC converter so that the alternator operates on this maximum power curve while charging the ultracapacitor. Simulations demonstrate the feasibility of using a boost mode converter. Implementation of the boost converter function using switch mode rectifiers is explained. Test data verifies simulation results.
Performance study of dynamic QoS management for OpenFlow-enabled SDN switches

Software-defined Networking (SDN) is a promising and powerful concept to introduce new dimensions of flexibility and adaptability in today's communication networks. In particular, the realization of Quality of Service (QoS) concepts becomes possible in a flexible and dynamic manner with SDN. Although concepts of QoS are well researched, they were not realized in communication networks due to high implementation complexity and realization costs. Using SDN to realize QoS mechanisms enables emerging concepts, such as application-aware resource management solutions. These emerging concepts demand latency or data rate guarantees for end-user applications, e.g., video streaming or gaming. However, the impact of dynamic QoS management on network traffic has not been studied in detail yet. This paper provides a first study of the impact on dynamic QoS mechanisms and their realizations for OpenFlow-enabled SDN switches. Although SDN and, in particular, OpenFlow as one dominant realization claim to provide a standardized interface to control network traffic, our measurement results show a noticeable diversity for different OpenFlow switches. In detail, our investigations reveal a severe impact on the performance of TCP-based network traffic among different switches. These observations of switch diversity may provide SDN application developers insights when realizing QoS concepts in an SDN-based network.
Oral ketamine

Anaesthesia for short ophthalmological procedures in children presents several difficulties. Mask anaesthesia causes problems for the surgeon in terms of access, while deep anaesthesia followed by removal of the mask limits the time of surgical access. Tracheal anaesthesia has its own disadvantages for such short procedures. ’,* Although ketamine allows easy maintenance of the airway it has been found to have undesirable effect^. ^,^ We have modified a Guedel oropharyngeal airway with a Jackson-Rees attachment of a paediatric T-piece in an effort to improve upon the existing techniques. Bite blocks of 00, 0, 1 and 2 size Vygon Guedel airways were removed and in their place Magill’s nasal tracheal tube connectors, numbers 11, 12, 12 and 12 respectively were inserted, which fitted snugly. This was connected to the patient end of a Jackson-Rees attachment by a soft, light weight, flexible and short corrugated rubber connector (Fig. 1). The technique was used in 30 unpremedicated children aged 3 months to 10 years after obtaining institutional approval and informed parental consent. The surgical procedures ranged from 8-50 minutes. Anaesthesia was induced with 60% nitrous oxide and 1.5 to 2% halothane in oxygen via a facemask. Intravenous access was established and pethidine 1 mg/kg and promethazine 0.5 mg/kg was administered. After ensuring jaw relaxation and abolition of the gag reflex, the modified Guedel oropharyngeal airway assembly was introduced and the flange fixed with the help of an adhesive plaster. The head, resting on a support, was kept slightly extended at the atlanto-occipital joint. Facilities for tracheal intubation were always kept at hand. The anaesthetic course was uneventful in all the cases. The maximum concentration of halothane required never exceeded 2% and the children tolerated the airway and the surgery very well. Partial respiratory obstruction was observed in six children and was effectively relieved by chin support. No nausea or vomiting were encountered during or after the procedure. The surgeon has an uninterrupted field as the breathing system lies toward the lower part of the body with the Magill’s connector fixed on the chin. Air dilution is not a problem because the tip of the airway lies in the posterior pharynx and the flow is always kept adequate. Precautions which should be taken are putting in the assembly when the gag reflex is abolished, watching carefully the movements of the reservoir bag, support of the chin if partial or Fig. I .
The Impact of Financial Crises on the Finance-Growth Relationship: A European Perspective

Rousseau and Wachtel (2011) [Rousseau, P., Wachtel, P., 2011. What is happening to the impact of financial deepening on economic growth? Economic Inquiry 49, 276-288] find a weakening effect of bank finance on growth for more recent periods in replicating King and Levine (1993) [King, R. G. , Levine, R. , 1993. Finance and Growth: Schumpeter Might Be Right. The Quarterly Journal of Economics 108, 717-737] in a heterogeneous sample up to 2004. We contribute by merging the financialization/crisis literature with the finance-growth literature and by re-examining this finding for a focused set of 30 European countries up to 2009. In a second step, we introduce an aggregated finance variable into the model which accounts for aggregate credit, bond and stock markets. We reconfirm a weakening effect of finance on growth, which is persistent even when dummy variables are added to control for financial crises. The development of European financial markets seems to have not only decoupled from the real sector but also to exert an inverted impact on growth. We attribute our finding to structural change and the procyclical nature of financial markets.
Selective Inhibition of Ammonium Oxidation and Nitrification-Linked N2O Formation by Methyl Fluoride and Dimethyl Ether

Methyl fluoride (CH3F) and dimethyl ether (DME) inhibited nitrification in washed-cell suspensions of Nitrosomonas europaea and in a variety of oxygenated soils and sediments. Headspace additions of CH3F (10% [vol/vol]) and DME (25% [vol/vol]) fully inhibited NO2- and N2O production from NH4+ in incubations of N. europaea, while lower concentrations of these gases resulted in partial inhibition. Oxidation of hydroxylamine (NH2OH) by N. europaea and oxidation of NO2- by a Nitrobacter sp. were unaffected by CH3F or DME. In nitrifying soils, CH3F and DME inhibited N2O production. In field experiments with surface flux chambers and intact cores, CH3F reduced the release of N2O from soils to the atmosphere by 20- to 30-fold. Inhibition by CH3F also resulted in decreased NO3- + NO2- levels and increased NH4+ levels in soils. CH3F did not affect patterns of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia in cell suspensions of a nitrate-respiring bacterium, nor did it affect N2O metabolism in denitrifying soils. CH3F and DME will be useful in discriminating N2O production via nitrification and denitrification when both processes occur and in decoupling these processes by blocking NO2- and NO3- production.
An Ultra-Dynamic Voltage Scalable (U-DVS) 10T SRAM with bit-interleaving capability

We propose a dynamic voltage scalable SRAM capable of efficient bit-interleaving in column to tolerate multiple-bits soft error when integrated with error correction codes (ECC). First, a 10T SRAM bitcell is proposed. It activates only intended bitcells so that stability problem of half-selected bitcells is completely eliminated and the power dissipation in half-selected columns is significantly reduced. Second, a configurable DVS scheme is employed to enable the bitcell to operate like differential 8T during super-threshold region which results in faster operation. The proposed SRAM can operate up to 1.2GHz at 1.2V using 65nm CMOS process. Third, a segmented column multiplex with low overhead is proposed, which greatly reduces the power dissipation due to the column control signals. Consequently, the write and read power dissipations are reduced by up to 40% and 67% respectively. Forth, a hierarchical read bitline is used to reduce the read bitline discharge delay variation due to local and global process variation in subthreshold region, which is a major portion of memory access time. Based on our simulation results, the worst case read bitline discharge delay is reduced by more than 12× at VDD of 0.3V.