Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The High-Conductance State of Cortical Networks

We studied the dynamics of large networks of spiking neurons with conductance-based (nonlinear) synapses and compared them to networks with current-based (linear) synapses. For systems with sparse and inhibition-dominated recurrent connectivity, weak external inputs induced asynchronous irregular firing at low rates. Membrane potentials fluctuated a few millivolts below threshold, and membrane conductances were increased by a factor 2 to 5 with respect to the resting state. This combination of parameters characterizes the ongoing spiking activity typically recorded in the cortex in vivo. Many aspects of the asynchronous irregular state in conductance-based networks could be sufficiently well characterized with a simple numerical mean field approach. In particular, it correctly predicted an intriguing property of conductance-based networks that does not appear to be shared by current-based models: they exhibit states of low-rate asynchronous irregular activity that persist for some period of time even in the absence of external inputs and without cortical pacemakers. Simulations of larger networks (up to 350,000 neurons) demonstrated that the survival time of self-sustained activity increases exponentially with network size.
Persistence of wet and dry spells at uccle (Belgium)

The rainfall persistence at Uccle (Belgium) is examined statistically using 75 years of daily observations. Different kinds of distributions expressing this persistence have been fitted to the sequences of dry and wet days: the geometric series, the logarithmic series, the Eggenberger-Polya distribution, the simple Markov Chain and the Markov Chain of order higher than one. Wet and dry spells are best described by a Markov Chain model of order four. Nevertheless for wet days, the Eggenberger-Polya distribution provides a good fit to the observed data. For Uccle, the rainfall persistence seems to remain constant after four consecutive days of precipitation.
Clutter Measurement and Reduction for Enhanced Information Visualization

Abstract : The effectiveness of information visualization largely depends on the ease and accuracy with which users can access the information. Visual clutter in a display can detract from a users ability to properly read the information. An ideal visualization needs to maximize the visibility of patterns and structure and minimize the clutter present. Thus far, there has been little work done in finding quantitative ways to measure clutter in formation visualization. The goal of this project was to create clutter measurement and reduction techniques which minimize the presence of visual clutter and maximize a users ability to accurately read the data.
Panel Estimates Possible Carbon 'Sinks'

Just how much carbon can a forest or farmland hold, and how easy is it to measure? The December 1997 Kyoto Protocol allows developed countries to meet tough carbon emissions targets--5% below 1990 levels, between 2008 and 2012--both by reducing emissions from fossil fuels and, in a controversial option, by "sequestering" carbon in forests or other types of land. A new report attempts to answer the question scientifically, but it is unlikely to make the option more palatable politically.
A Comparison of System-Controlled and User-Controlled Personalization Approaches

Personalizing interactive systems including games increases their effectiveness. This paper explores and compares two main approaches to personalization: system-controlled and user-controlled adaptation. The results of large-scale exploratory studies of 1768 users show that both techniques to personalizing systems share seven common strengths of increasing users' perception of a system's relevance, usefulness, interactivity, ease of use, credibility and trust, and also increases users' self-efficacy. The results also reveal some unique strengths and weaknesses peculiar to each of the approaches that designers should take into consideration when deciding on a suitable adaptation technique to use in personalizing their systems. Users prefer system- over user-controlled adaptation.
Contention in shared memory algorithms

Most complexity measures for concurrent algorithms for asynchronous shared-memory architectures focus on process steps and memory consumption. In practice, however, performance of multiprocessor algorithms is heavily influenced by contention, the extent to which processess access the same location at the same time. Nevertheless, even though contention is one of the principal considerations affecting the performance of real algorithms on real multiprocessors, there are no formal tools for analyzing the contention of asynchronous shared-memory algorithms. This paper introduces the first formal complexity model for contention in shared-memory multiprocessors. We focus on the standard multiprocessor architecture in which n asynchronous processes communicate by applying read, write, and read-modify-write operations to a shared memory. To illustrate the utility of our model, we use it to derive two kinds of results: (1) lower bounds on contention for well-known basic problems such as agreement and mutual exclusion, and (2) trade-offs between the length of the critical path (maximal number of accesses to shared variables performed by a single process in executing the algorithm) and contention for these algorithms. Furthermore, we give the first formal contention analysis of a variety of counting networks, a class of concurrent data structures inplementing shared counters. Experiments indicate that certain counting networks outperform conventional single-variable counters at high levels of contention. Our analysis provides the first formal model explaining this phenomenon.
Advances in the Modelling of Facial Sub-Regions and Facial Expressions using Active Appearance Techniques

22 Chapter 1 Introduction.23 1.1. Background and Motivations.23 1.2. Summary of Principle Contributions . 24 1.3. Thesis Outline . 25 Chapter 2 Face Analysis Techniques.29 2.1. System Overview.30 2.2. Face Modelling . 30 2.2.1. Definition and Challenges in Face Modelling . 31 2.2.2. Main Approaches in Face Modelling.33 2.2.2.1. Eigenfaces . 34 2.2.2.2. Deformable Models: Definitions and Main Approaches . 34 2.2.2.3. 3-D Models . 36 2.2.3. Comparison of Facial Models.37 2.3. Facial Expression Modelling . 38 2.3.1. Definitions of Facial Expression Related Terms . 38 2.3.2. Challenges in Modelling Facial Expression Variations.42 2.3. 3. Main Approaches of Facial Expression Modelling . 42 2.3. 3.1. Facial Features . 42 2.3. 3.2. Feature Extraction Approaches.45
Particulate Matter (PM) Research Centers (1999–2005) and the Role of Interdisciplinary Center-Based Research

Objective The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded five academic centers in 1999 to address the uncertainties in exposure, toxicity, and health effects of airborne particulate matter (PM) identified in the “Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter” of the National Research Council (NRC). The centers were structured to promote interdisciplinary approaches to address research priorities of the NRC. In this report, we present selected accomplishments from the first 6 years of the PM Centers, with a focus on the advantages afforded by the interdisciplinary, center-based research approach. The review highlights advances in the area of ultrafine particles and traffic-related health effects as well as cardiovascular and respiratory effects, mechanisms, susceptibility, and PM exposure and characterization issues. Data sources and synthesis The collective publications of the centers served as the data source. To provide a concise synthesis of overall findings, authors representing each of the five centers identified a limited number of topic areas that serve to illustrate the key accomplishments of the PM Centers program, and a consensus statement was developed. Conclusions The PM Centers program has effectively applied interdisciplinary research approaches to advance PM science.
Toward an integrative perspective on resistance to change.

This article presents an integrative perspective on resistance. The phenomena of resistance can be seen at the behavioral, interpersonal, cognitive, and affective levels. A set of integrative working assumptions is proposed in which resistance reflects meaningful information about clients' conflicts among various aspects of their selves relating to change. In this view, resistance is determined by intrapersonal and interpersonal factors and can occur with or without conscious awareness. Integrative approaches to working with these conflicts are described.
THE USAGE OF WORKING TIME AND THE TASK VARIATION AMONG HEALTH WORKERS IN THE HEALTH CENTERS IN INDONESIA: Case Study in Three Provinces

Penelitian eksploratif ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui penggunaan waktu kerja yang dimanfaatkan secara efektif oleh para petugas kesehatan di Puskesmas dan variasi tugas, serta faktor-faktor yang mempengarubi. Penelitian dilakukan di 3 (tiga) provinsi yaitu di Bali, Sulawesi Selatan, dan Kalimantan Selatan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemanfaatan waktu kerja di Bali dan Sulawesi Selatan relatif baik (85,35% dan 82,9%), sedangkan di Kalimantan Selatan masih kurang memuaskan (66,5%). Persentase penggunaan waktu kerja secara efektif untuk kepentingan kegiatan program Puskesmas relatif baik untuk Bali (70,1%), tetapi nampak sangat perlu ditingkatkan baik untuk Sulawesi Sela­tan maupun untuk Kalimantan Selatan yang masing-masing baru 58,0% dan 50,2%. Di daerah penelitian, rata-rata jumlah tugas yang dibebankan pada setiap petugas kesehatan sekitar 4 macam tugas, ternyata jumlah tugas tersebut bervariasi sekalipun diantara mereka mempunyai dasar pendidikan yang sama. Keywords: Health Center, Health Workers, Working Time, Task Variation, Working Motivation, Influencing Factors.
Low-Temperature Optical Characterization of Single CdS Nanowires

We use spatially resolved micro-PL imaging at low temperature to study optical properties of two sets of CdS nanowires grown using 20 nm and 50 nm catalysts. We find that low temperature PL of single nanowires is an ideal technique to gauge the quality of a given growth run, and moreover enables the collection of detailed spatial information on single wire electronic states.
The effect of crude oil on growth of the weed (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) – phytoremediation potential of the plant

The use of grasses for phytoremediation of crude oil polluted soils especially in the tropics is a new area of study with a lot of potentials. The effect of different levels (0.00, 2.50, 5.00, 7.50, 10.00, 12.50 and 15.00%) of crude oil contamination on the growth of Paspalum scrobiculatum, a common weed in Nigeria was investigated. The weed is found growing luxuriantly in crude oil contaminated sites in Delta State, Nigeria. 3, 6 and 9 plants per pot of standing crops of the test plant were used for the study. The results show that the plant has potential for phytoremediation as it grew successfully in the different levels or concentrations of crude oil contamination. The different levels of crude oil contamination caused significant reduction in the growth of the plant using plant height, fresh weight and leaf area. The effect increased with increasing levels of contamination (e.g. there was reduction in the leaf area from 68.47 cm2 in control to 34.07 cm2 in 15.00% level of contamination). The contamination did not cause significant reduction in the dry weights of the plant in 3 plants per pot and 6 plants per pot treatments but only in the 9 plants per pot treatment where the control recorded significantly higher dry weight than all other treatment. The weed can be used for the restoration of crude oil contaminated soils as it showed great potentials by being able to withstand the high levels of crude oil contamination. It was observed that crude oil contamination did not affect biomass production of the test plant using dry weight basis and plant density improved the performance of the plant in the contaminated soils. Key words: Phytoremediation, Paspalum scrobiculatum, crude oil contamination, phytotoxicity, biomass
Interaction at a Distance – An Approach for Redesigning for Distance Education

Different forms of interaction are an integral part of modern courses. Traditional courses held on-campus might focus on teacher-student interaction, or student-student interaction, or both. However when these traditional on-campus courses are to be held as distance courses there is a risk that these well-designed interactions will be difficult or impossible to uphold. For example, student-student interaction in traditional project assignments might not work well if the students are scattered across the world. Thus, even a well-designed traditional on-site course cannot without modification be turned into a distance course. Traditional on-site courses simply have to be redesigned to become true distance courses. This paper describes a structured approach which facilitates the redesign of a traditional course into a distance course. The approach is based on that the desired forms of course flexibility are identified, and thereafter that the course activities are redesigned to facilitate interaction in a distance course. The approach is making use of known patterns of pedagogic interaction and existing guidelines for distance education design. The approach is illustrated with an example course in the field of information systems design.
Platform Pricing in Mixed Two‐Sided Markets

When a consumer can appear on both sides of a two‐sided market, such as a user who both buys and sells on eBay, the platform may want to bundle the services it provides to two sides. I develop a general model for such “mixed” two‐sided markets and show that a monopolist platform's incentive to bundle and its optimal pricing strategy are determined by simple formulas using familiar price elasticities of demand, which embody the bundling effect, and price‐cost margins adjusted for network externalities, which incorporate “two‐sidedness. ” The optimal pricing rule in such markets generalizes the familiar Lerner formula.
UNICORE—a Grid computing environment

This paper gives an overview of the goals, functions, architecture and future development of UNICORE. Its primary goal is to give researchers a seamless access to distributed resources that are available at remote sites. A graphical interface aids users to formulate jobs which are to be performed in a system and site independent fashion. This procedure allows switching between systems without having to change the job. Complex jobs with individual applications running on different systems at different sites may be formulated. UNICORE will perform synchronization and data transfers as required without any user intervention. UNICORE uses X.509 certificates to authenticate users, software and systems and provide secure communication over the internet. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Role of Polymerase η in Somatic Hypermutation Determined by Analysis of Mutations in a Patient with Xeroderma Pigmentosum Variant

To determine the possible role of polymerase η (pol η) in somatic hypermutation of B cells, a mutational analysis of 24 nonproductive rearrangements from a patient with xeroderma pigmentosum variant with a defect in pol η was conducted. Although the mutational frequency of A and T bases decreased in WA (A/T, A) motifs, regardless of their RGYW (purine, G; pyrimidine, A/T) context, the overall mutational frequency of A or T bases was not affected. Moreover, the overall mutational frequency of the sequences examined was not decreased. There was an apparent increase in the number of insertions and deletions. The results are consistent with the conclusion that pol η specifically targets WA motifs. However, its overall contribution to the somatic hypermutational process does not appear to be indispensable and in its absence other mechanisms maintain mutational activity.
Atypical kinetic profiles in drug metabolism reactions.

The cytochrome P450 enzymes are involved in the biotransformation of both xenobiotic and endobiotic hydrophobic compounds, implicated in the bioactivation of certain procarcinogens (e.g., benzo[ a ]pyrene), and responsible for many metabolism-based drug-drug interactions ([Wrighton and Stevens, 1992
High-resolution microparticle profiles at NorthGRIP, Greenland: case studies of the calcium–dust relationship

Abstract A novel flow-through microparticle detector was deployed concurrently with continuous flow analyses of major ions during the North Greenland Icecore Project 2000 field season. the easy-handling detector performs continuous counting and sizing. In this deployment the lower size-detection limit was conservatively set to 1.0 μm equivalent spherical particle diameter, and a depth resolution of ≤1cm was achieved for microparticle concentrations. the dust concentration usually followed the Ca2+ variability. Here results are presented from an inspection of the Ca/dust mass ratio in 23 selected intervals, 1.65 m long each, covering different climatic periods including Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). A (Ca2+)/(insoluble dust) mass ratio of 0.29 was found for the Holocene and 0.11 for LGM. Changes to the Ca/dust ratio occur on an annual to multi-annual time-scale exhibiting the same pattern, i.e. a lower Ca/dust ratio for higher crustal concentrations. Moreover, the Ca2+/dust ratio may increase significantly during episodic events such as volcanic horizons due to enhanced dissolution of CaCO3. This calls into question the notion of deploying Ca2+ as a quantitative mineral dust reference species and shows the importance of variable source properties or fractionating processes during transport and deposition.
Analysis of the Bovine Monocyte-Derived Macrophage Response to Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis Infection Using RNA-seq

Johne’s disease, caused by infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, (MAP), is a chronic intestinal disease of ruminants with serious economic consequences for cattle production in the United States and elsewhere. During infection, MAP bacilli are phagocytosed and subvert host macrophage processes, resulting in subclinical infections that can lead to immunopathology and dissemination of disease. Analysis of the host macrophage transcriptome during infection can therefore shed light on the molecular mechanisms and host-pathogen interplay associated with Johne’s disease. Here, we describe results of an in vitro study of the bovine monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) transcriptome response during MAP infection using RNA-seq. MDM were obtained from seven age- and sex-matched Holstein-Friesian cattle and were infected with MAP across a 6-h infection time course with non-infected controls. We observed 245 and 574 differentially expressed (DE) genes in MAP-infected versus non-infected control samples (adjusted P value ≤0.05) at 2 and 6 h post-infection, respectively. Functional analyses of these DE genes, including biological pathway enrichment, highlighted potential functional roles for genes that have not been previously described in the host response to infection with MAP bacilli. In addition, differential expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes, such as those associated with the IL-10 signaling pathway, and other immune-related genes that encode proteins involved in the bovine macrophage response to MAP infection emphasize the balance between protective host immunity and bacilli survival and proliferation. Systematic comparisons of RNA-seq gene expression results with Affymetrix® microarray data generated from the same experimental samples also demonstrated that RNA-seq represents a superior technology for studying host transcriptional responses to intracellular infection.
Carotid duplex imaging: variation and validation

Duplex imaging is increasingly used as the only investigation before carotid endarterectomy, but many different criteria exist in the literature for the detection of a severe (70–99 per cent) carotid stenosis. This study aimed to investigate current practice in carotid duplex imaging in Great Britain and Ireland.
Significant Reduction in Rate of Indeterminate Results of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test by Shortening Incubation Delay

ABSTRACT The QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-G IT) test (Cellestis Inc., Valencia, CA) is one of the gamma interferon release assays (IGRAs) that are promising tools for diagnosing active or latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. We investigated the clinical and laboratory factors that affect the rate of indeterminate QFT-G IT test results. We also suggest a workflow strategy for achieving optimized test results using the QFT-G IT test for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB) or latent TB infection. We performed statistical analysis using data from a retrospective review of medical records. The first phase included 683 QFT-G IT test results from 676 patients tested between January 2008 and May 2008, and the second phase included an additional 663 QFT-G IT test results from 653 patients tested between January 2008 and December 2008 at Samsung Medical Center, a tertiary care hospital in South Korea. Immunosuppressive drug therapy, underlying diseases, bedridden status, and hypoalbuminemia were significantly associated with indeterminate QFT-G IT test results. With reduction of the incubation delay during the test procedure from an average of 9.82 h to an average of 2.70 h with changes in the workflow, the frequency of indeterminate QFT-G IT test results was significantly reduced from 11.4% to 2.7%. With >6 h of incubation delay, however, the frequency of indeterminate QFT-G IT test results was increased in a statistically significant manner. This study demonstrates that not only clinicopathological factors but also laboratory factors, such as incubation delay, significantly affect the rate of indeterminate QFT-G IT test results; therefore, optimization of the test procedure may contribute to reductions in the rate of indeterminate QFT-G IT test results, which delay the diagnosis of TB.
Learning unified sparse representations for multi-modal data

Cross-modal retrieval has become one of interesting and important research problem recently, where users can take one modality of data (e.g., text, image or video) as the query to retrieve relevant data of another modality. In this paper, we present a Multi-modal Unified Representation Learning (MURL) algorithm for cross-modal retrieval, which learns unified sparse representations for multi-modal data representing the same semantics via joint dictionary learning. The ℓ1-norm is imposed on the unified representations to explicitly encourage sparsity, which makes our algorithm more robust. Furthermore, a constraint regularization term is imposed to force the representations to be similar if their corresponding multi-modal data have must-links or to be far apart if their corresponding multi-modal data have cannot-links. An iterative algorithm is also proposed to solve the objective function. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by extensive results on two real-world datasets.
Communications in Mathematical Physics D-Branes , RR-Fields and Duality on Noncommutative Manifolds

We develop some of the ingredients needed for string theory on noncommutative spacetimes, proposing an axiomatic formulation of T-duality as well as establishing a very general formula for D-brane charges. This formula is closely related to a noncommutative Grothendieck-Riemann-Roch theorem that is proved here. Our approach relies on a very general form of Poincaré duality, which is studied here in detail. Among the technical tools employed are calculations with iterated products in bivariant K-theory and cyclic theory, which are simplified using a novel diagram calculus reminiscent of Feynman diagrams.