Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved auditory spatial acuity in visually deprived ferrets

We have examined the effects on auditory spatial acuity in the horizontal plane of depriving ferrets of patterned visual cues by binocular eyelid suture in infancy or for a comparable period in adulthood. Minimum audible angles (MAAs) were measured for 500‐, 100‐ and 40‐ms broadband noise bursts at the midline and at 45° to one side. A logistic regression analysis revealed no consistent difference between the midline MAAs of normal and infant lid‐sutured ferrets. However, the lateral field MAAs of the infant‐deprived group were significantly smaller and showed less inter‐subject variability than those of normal‐sighted ferrets. The animals deprived in adulthood were tested in the lateral field only, firstly 6 months after binocular eyelid suture and again after a further 10 months. For the first test, the MAAs achieved by these animals with 500‐ and 100‐ms noise bursts were significantly smaller than the normal values and no different from those of the infant‐deprived group. A significant improvement in performance at the two shortest stimulus durations (100 and 40 ms) was observed when the adult‐deprived animals were re‐tested. Their second‐test MAAs did not differ from those of the infant‐deprived group at any of the three stimulus durations used, and both groups achieved significantly better scores than the normal‐sighted control animals. These results show that prolonged visual deprivation in both juvenile and adult ferrets can lead to a significant improvement in auditory spatial acuity in the lateral sound field. This is consistent with reports that congenitally blind humans can localize peripheral sounds more accurately than normal controls.
A mock circulation model for cardiovascular device evaluation

The aim of this study was to develop an integrated mock circulation system that functions in a physiological manner for testing cardiovascular devices under well-controlled circumstances. In contrast to previously reported mock loops, the model includes a systemic, pulmonary, and coronary circulation, an elaborate heart contraction model, and a realistic heart rate control model. The behavior of the presented system was tested in response to changes in left ventricular contractile states, loading conditions, and heart rate. For validation purposes, generated hemodynamic parameters and responses were compared to literature. The model was implemented in a servo-motor driven mock loop, together with a relatively simple lead-lag controller. The pressure and flow signals measured closely mimicked human pressure under both physiological and pathological conditions. In addition, the system's response to changes in preload, afterload, and heart rate indicate a proper implementation of the incorporated feedback mechanisms (frequency and cardiac function control). Therefore, the presented mock circulation allows for generic in vitro testing of cardiovascular devices under well-controlled circumstances.
A PROFILE OF POVERTY IN EGYPT: 1997

This paper presents a profile of poverty in Egypt for 1997. It assesses the magnitude of poverty and its distribution across geographic and socioeconomic groups, provides information on the characteristics of the poor, illustrates the heterogeneity among the poor, and helps identify empirical correlates of poverty. The poverty profile is constructed using data from the recently completed Egypt Integrated Household Survey, a nationwide, multiple-topic household survey, carried out by the International Food Policy Research Institute in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and the Ministry of Trade and Supply. Reference poverty lines that take into account regional differences in food and nonfood prices, age and composition of poor households, and food and nonfood consumption preferences are used to determine incidence, depth, and severity of poverty. The characteristics of the poor are analyzed. These characteristics include household composition, dwelling type, educational attainment and access, labor force participation and distribution, child immunization levels, payment transfers, agricultural landholdings, and access to community facilities.
Climate scenarios and decision making under uncertainty

Climate scenarios provide an essential foundation for research on the impacts of climate change on the built environment and for the identification of appropriate adaptation measures. They are, however, subject to uncertainties in the underlying greenhouse gas emissions and concentration scenarios as well as a range of scientific uncertainties associated with climate modelling and the natural variability of climate. These uncertainties provide a major motive for the current move towards probabilistic climate scenarios a move which is also supported from the decision-making perspective. Examples of probabilistic scenarios constructed for variables and UK locations of interest for built environment research are presented here. The need to consider other uncertainties potentially important sub-grid scale processes such as the urban heat island effect and the influence of natural variability in non-stationary series of weather extremes is demonstrated. Consideration is also given to aspects of decision making under uncertainty focusing on the timing of upgrade of the Thames tidal defences and the extent to which managers integrate climate change information into long-term projects in the built environment. A major recommendation from the case-study examples presented here is the need for improved communication between climate scenario developers, and scenario users and decision makers in the built environment sector.
The Hazards of Training: Attrition and Retention in Construction Industry Apprenticeship Programs

Apprenticeship programs in the United States, which provide workers with the broad-based skills required for practicing a trade via on-the-job training, are sponsored either unilaterally by employers or jointly by employers and trade unions. A comparison of the attrition and retention rates in these programs shows that program completion is more likely for apprentices in joint programs than for similar apprentices in unilateral programs. Rates of completion are lower for women than for men, and lower for ethnic and racial minorities than for whites. Apprenticeship duration rises with the unemployment rate.
The Impact of Complementary Agglomeration and Multi-Unit Systems on New Product Introduction

This study explores the relationship between organizational agglomeration and new product introduction. It proposes that product-complementary agglomeration increases the likelihood of new product introduction, but that the effect on new product introduction is non-linear. In addition, the influence of agglomeration on new product introduction is contingent on organizational form (i.e. multi-unit form or independent form). Using longitudinal data for the hospital industry in Taiwan from 1997 to 2002, we found that the relationship between product-complementary agglomeration and new product introduction is an upward trending hooked curve. As the degree of complementary agglomeration increases, the likelihood of introducing new products also increases, but the rate of increase diminishes with the degree of complementary agglomeration. In addition, we also found that the positive effect of product-complementary agglomeration on new product introduction is stronger for independent firms than for multi-unit firms.
Skill-biased technological change in an endogenous growth model

When new technologies are introduced in the production process or when technological change is incorporated in an economic model, it is agreed upon that this reduces the demand for low-skilled labour relative to the demand for high-skilled labour. In general the rationale for this argument is that high-skilled workers and capital are complements, whereas high-skilled labour and low-skilled labour are substitutes, e.g. many routine assembly activities are replaced. In addition, it is acknowledged that high-skilled workers adapt more easily to changing technologies than their low-skilled colleagues. Finally, the computer revolution increases the productivity of high-skilled workers more than the productivity of low-skilled workers, leading to wage dispersion. This paper develops a model of endogenous growth with heterogenous labour, which leads to skill-biased technological change and wage dispersion. In order to do so, we discuss the changing skills profile in terms of a dynamic model.
Redeveloping Public Housing

Abstract The debate surrounding recent substantial changes in U.S. public housing policies and the emergence of a consensus favoring broader income mixing overlooks important historic lessons. From the 1950s through the 1970s, frequently in response to local business-led political coalitions, urban renewal programs forcibly displaced poor minority people without allowing their meaningful participation in redevelopment planning, without allowing their adequate compensation, without sufficient replacement housing, and without the possibility of their returning to the redeveloped area. These projects simultaneously destroyed indigenous social communities as they frequently replaced existing residents with much higher income households. More recently during the 1990s, reconstruction of the 1,195-unit Tech-wood and Clark Howell public housing developments in Atlanta, Georgia, as the 900-unit Centennial Place mixed-income community, evolving federal housing policies and funding, and insufficient federal oversight contributed to the Atlanta political regime and the Atlanta Housing Authority producing markedly similar results. National research to measure the representativeness of this case is needed, as is legislation mandating asset retention, meaningful resident participation in redevelopment planning, and relocation and replacement housing.
Factors that Influence Attitudes Toward Retirement

A set of older workers 58 to 64 years of age from the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan area were followed for two years to explore their attitudes toward retirement. Findings include (1) workers who retired by 1994 were more positive about retirement than those who continued to work; (2) attitudes toward retirement in 1992 were influenced by social background, expectations of a pension, having an anticipated time for retirement, worker identity, and self-concept factors; and (3)attitudes toward retirement in 1994 were bolstered by expectations of a pension at retirement, participation in retirement planning activities, earlier attitudes toward retirement, and self-esteem. Further, the pension expectations, retirement planning, earlier retirement attitudes, and identity as a confident worker increased and depression decreased attitudes toward retirement for retirees, while retirement planning, earlier retirement attitudes, and self-esteem improved attitudes toward retirement for those who continued to work.
Estimating International Interindustry Linkages: Non-survey Simulations of the Asian-Pacific Economy

This paper evaluates a recently published semi-survey international input–output table for nine East-Asian countries and the USA with four non-survey estimation alternatives. A new generalized RAS procedure is used with stepwise increasing information from both import and export statistics as optimisation constraints on the four non-survey tables. The results show that the estimated table improves when increasing information from both sources is used, despite the well known inconsistencies between import and export data in trade statistics. It is concluded that the new procedure can be useful as a critical analysis of newly published (semi-)survey international tables and/or as an early updating tool during the construction process.
Higher-order residual analysis for AR-ARCH models with the TR test

Ramsey and Rothman (1996) design a statistical device to test for time reversibility (TR test). They claim that their procedure is not powerful against ARCH-type alternatives, which also allows Rothman (1998) to propose a strategy based on the TR test to detect bilinear and threshold autoregressive (TAR) models. However, this work shows through Monte Carlo analysis that the size of the TR test may be seriously distorted by this class of uncorrelated non-i.i. d. processes, and not necessarily time irreversible.
Overview and recent advances in the treatment of neuroblastoma

ABSTRACT Introduction: Children with neuroblastoma have widely divergent outcomes, ranging from cure in >90% of patients with low risk disease to <50% for those with high risk disease. Recent research has shed light on the biology of neuroblastoma, allowing for more accurate risk stratification and treatment reduction in many cases, although newer treatment strategies for children with high-risk and relapsed neuroblastoma are needed to improve outcomes. Areas covered: Neuroblastoma epidemiology, diagnosis, risk stratification, and recent advances in treatment of both newly diagnosed and relapsed neuroblastoma. Expert commentary: The identification of newer tumor targets and of novel cell-mediated immunotherapy agents may lead to novel therapeutic approaches, and clinical trials for regimens designed to target individual genetic aberrations in tumors are underway. A combination of therapeutic modalities will likely be required to improve survival and cure rates for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.
Boost Converter With Dynamic Input Impedance Matching for Energy Harvesting With Multi-Array Thermoelectric Generators

This paper presents a built-in input matching technique capable of handling a wide variation of multi-array thermoelectric generator (TEG) impedances ranging two decades, from 10 s to 1000 s of ohms. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control for a boost converter (BC) is introduced. The analytical expressions derived offer insight on the manner in which MPPT interacts with a BC to achieve best performance. The BC operates in a discontinuous conduction mode under pulse frequency modulation to minimize power consumption and maximize efficiency for light loads. Losses are minimized by implementing a pseudo-zero current switching control via the PMOS switch on/off time, and the output voltage is set using a global clocked comparator. A prototype was fabricated in 0.5 μm CMOS where efficiency measurements showed a maximum value of 61.15% for an RTEG = 33.33 Ω, and quiescent power consumption was 1 μW.
The estimation of nominal and real yield curves from government bonds in Israel

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to develop and test a mathematical method of deriving zero yield curve from market prices of government bonds. Design/methodology/approach – The method is based on a forward curve approximated by a linear (or piecewise constant) spline and should be applicable even for markets with low liquidity. The best fitting curve is derived by minimizing the penalty function. The penalty is defined as a sum of squared price discrepancies (theoretical curve based price minus market closing price) weighted by trade volume and an additional penalty for non-smoothness of the yield curve. Findings – This method is applied to both nominal and CPI linked bonds traded in Israel (some segments of these markets have low liquidity). The resulting two yield curves are used for derivation of market expected inflation rate. Research limitations/implications – The main problems are low liquidity of some bonds and imperfect linkage to inflation in the CPI linked market. Practical implications – A stable numerical procedure applicable even in markets with low liquidity. Originality/value – Usage of forward curves as the state space for the minimization problem leads to a stable solution that fits the data very well and can be used for calculating forward rates.
Effects of Small Geometries on the Performance of Gate First High- $\kappa$ Metal Gate NMOS Transistors

This paper discusses in detail the effect of small geometries on the performance of NMOS transistors fabricated using a 28-nm gate-first CMOS technology. It is shown that the threshold voltage and transconductance of the NMOS transistors increase with the decrease in the channel width, and this effect is enhanced at shorter gate lengths. PMOS transistors show conventional width dependence. The possible physical mechanisms responsible for this anomalous behavior are identified and explained through detailed measurements. A 2-D charge-distribution-based model is proposed to model this anomalous effect. The accuracy of the proposed model is verified by comparing it with the experimental and simulated data.
Studies of Baby Hamster Kidney Natural Cell Aggregation in Suspended Batch Cultures a

Microcarrier cultures of animal cells of industrial relevance are known to shed aggregates into the suspension phase. For a BHK cell line, which is known to be prone to aggregate naturally, microcarrier and aggregate forms of culture are compared in spinner culture. In microcarrier cultures, it is shown that increasing initial microcarrier concentration yields decreasing concentration of smaller aggregates in suspension; roughly equivalent concentrations of total cells and single cells in suspension are obtained. In the absence of Cytodex 3, aggregate final size is hydrodynamically controlled in batch and semicontinuous suspension culture. Rate of agitation is the main variable controlling aggregate size in batch cultures. The range of agitation rates studied (20 to 70 rpm in 250 mL spinner flasks) produced aggregates with maximum sizes of 200 microns. Necrotic centers were not observed; this was confirmed by Trypan blue viability measurements after mechanical dissociation of aggregates and also by the constant productivity obtained from different aggregate sizes. Comparing aggregate and microcarrier culture conditions, it is shown that at 100 rpm maximum total cell concentration is larger in the absence of microcarriers; dead cell concentrations, most of which exist in suspension, are slightly larger in microcarrier culture. Total viable cell concentrations in aggregate, hydrodynamically controlled culture, are almost one order of magnitude higher than in microcarrier cultures. These results suggest that there might be advantages in using aggregate cultures under hydrodynamic control of aggregate size in lieu of microcarrier cultures for naturally aggregating cell lines.
E-business assimilation in SMEs of China

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that have already adopted e-business applications may vary significantly in terms of the scope and extent of incorporating e-business applications into their business processes and benefiting from them. Drawing upon innovation assimilation theory and TOE framework, this study develops a model to examine potential factors influencing e-business assimilation among China's SMEs. Top Management Support (TMS), IT Readiness (ITR), Competition Intensity (CI) are proposed to influence two dimensions of e-business assimilation – breadth and depth. The results indicate that there are different effects of antecedents on e-business assimilation in SMEs of China.
Phosphorylation of the PTEN Tail Acts as an Inhibitory Switch by Preventing Its Recruitment into a Protein Complex*

PTEN is a tumor suppressor protein that functions, in large part, by dephosphorylating the lipid second messenger phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and by doing so antagonizing the action of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. PTEN structural domains include an N-terminal phosphatase domain, a lipid-binding C2 domain, and a 50-amino acid C-terminal tail that contains a PDZ binding sequence. We showed previously that phosphorylation of the PTEN tail negatively regulates PTEN activity. We now show that phosphorylated PTEN exists in a monomeric “closed” conformation and has low affinity for PDZ domain-containing proteins. Conversely, when unphosphorylated, PTEN is in an “open” conformation, is recruited into a high molecular weight complex (PTEN-associated complex), and strongly interacts with PDZ-containing proteins such as MAGI-2. As a consequence, when compared with wild-type PTEN, the phosphorylation-deficient mutant form of PTEN strongly cooperates with MAGI-2 to block Akt activation. These results indicate that phosphorylation of the PTEN tail causes a conformational change that results in the masking of the PDZ binding domain. Consequently, the ability of PTEN to bind to PDZ domain-containing proteins is reduced dramatically. These data suggest that phosphorylation of the PTEN tail suppresses the activity of PTEN by controlling the recruitment of PTEN into the PTEN-associated complex.
‘Homesick tourism’: memory, identity and (be)longing

‘Homesick tourism’ commonly refers to the travel of Germans who visit their former homes in what is now Poland and other Eastern European countries, from which they were expelled in the wake of the second World War. The paper first differentiates homesick tourism from related types, with which it is often conflated, notably roots tourism, personal heritage tourism and migrant return travel. Drawing on travel reports written by German homesick tourists, the role of memory is identified as the defining criterion. It is shown that homesick tourists are characterised by a unique ‘tourist gaze’. Such clear definition and differentiation are useful in order to better understand and analyse the homesick tourism phenomenon, because homesick tourism is arguably a much wider international phenomenon, albeit unrecognised and sometimes politically contested. Much can be learnt from the German experience in this regard. As the homesick tourism phenomenon is soon going to be over, due to the passing of the survivor generation, the paper ends with the suggestion that Poland is in an ideal position to develop a genuine form of roots tourism targeted at future German tourists.
Tracking moving vehicles using particle filtering and level set

The paper presents a new framework for tracking moving vehicles in image sequences. Firstly, the Gaussian particle filtering algorithm was used to track the objects, and the external rectangle contour could be obtained. Secondly, based on the centroid of the external contour, the level set function without re-initialization is introduced to GAC model, curve evolution was performed to get the precise contour of the objects, and the extract results were fed back to the tracking frame; lastly the likelihood function was improved by updating the reference template dynamically. The experiment results show that the proposed method got the better tracking results in tracking moving vehicles for actual traffic environment.
Basic concepts in RNA virus evolution

A hallmark of RNA genomes is the error‐prone nature of their Replication and retro‐ transcription. The major biochemical basis of the limited replication fidelity is the absence of proof‐ reading/repair and postreplicative error correction mechanisms that normally operate during replication of cellular DNA. In spite of this unique feature of RNA replicons, the dynamics of viral populations seems to follow the same basic principles that classical population genetics has established for higher organisms. Here we review recent evidence of the profound effects that genetic bottlenecks have in enhancing the deleterious effects of Muller's ratchet during RNA virus evolution. The validity of the Red Queen hypothesis and of the competitive exclusion principle for RNA viruses are viewed as the expected result of the highly variable and adaptable nature of viral quasispecies. Viral fitness, or ability to replicate infectious progeny, can vary a million‐fold within short time intervals. Paradoxically, functional and structural studies suggest extreme limitations to virus variation. Adaptability of RNA viruses appears to be based on the occupation of very narrow portions of sequence space at any given time. —Domingo, E. , Escarmís, E. , Sevilla, N. , Moya, A. , Elena, S. F. , Quer, J., Novella, I. S. , and Holland, J. J. Basic concepts in RNA virus evolution. FASEB J. 10, 859‐864 (1996)