Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A VLSI implementation of a calcium-based plasticity learning model

A key feature of autonomous systems is the ability to solve computationally intensive tasks while adapting to changes in the environment. The learning capabilities required for this feature are underdeveloped in artificial systems, especially when compared to those of humans and animals. We aim at the implementation of biologically inspired learning algorithms to be embedded in full-custom VLSI spiking neural networks with the long term goal of constructing compact real-time low-power learning systems. Molecular studies have demonstrated a key role of calcium ions for long term synaptic plasticity. These experimental results have inspired mathematical models and hardware implementations of calcium based learning algorithms. Here we present a novel VLSI implementation of a recently proposed calcium-based learning algorithm, its simulation results and comparison with the mathematical model.
An estimation of the residential utility for the local waste management services in Kagoshima

The municipal government tried to reduce waste disposals and increase recycling rates in Japan. It is difficult to get full cooperation from the residents. Using choice experiments, the cost measure for each characteristics of waste collection services. The estimation result reveals that the trade-offs between the risk, costs and handling costs. The marginal utility loss for the increase in the number of separation is almost 200yen and the increase in recycling rate by 1% raises 53yen of utility. The estimation result also shows that the needs of risk communications between municipal authorities and residents. JEL Classification: Q51, Q53
Knowledge and Social Capital : Increasing Returns in Regional Growth

Knowledge drives the growth of nations and regions in a competitive space-economy. Hence, we would expect a strong correlation between investments in knowledge and learning processes, on the one hand, and productivity increases, on the other. However, the empirical evidence shows consistent discrepancies between knowledge inputs and economic performance across geographical units. This paper addresses this issue from a regional perspective, by highlighting theoretically and empirically the strategic importance played by social capital in mediating between knowledge production and regional growth. The main proposition of the paper, subject to empirical testing, is that social capital amplifies the contribution of knowledge by determining the formation of increasing returns to knowledge exploitation.
Arabidopsis ETA 2 , an Apparent Ortholog of the Human Cullin-Interacting Protein CAND 1 , Is Required for Auxin Responses Mediated by the SCFTIR 1 Ubiquitin Ligase

Auxin response in Arabidopsis thaliana requires the SCFTIR1 ubiquitin ligase. In response to the hormone, SCFTIR1 targets members of the auxin/indoleacetic acid (Aux/IAA) family of transcriptional regulators for ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. To identify additional regulators of SCFTIR1 activity, we conducted a genetic screen to isolate enhancers of the tir1-1 auxin response defect. Here, we report our analysis of the eta2 mutant. Mutations in ETA2 confer several phenotypes consistent with reduced auxin response. ETA2 encodes the Arabidopsis ortholog of human Cullin Associated and NeddylationDissociated (CAND1)/TIP120A, a protein recently identified as a cullin-interacting factor. Previous biochemical studies of CAND1 have suggested that it specifically binds to unmodified CUL1 to negatively regulate SCF assembly. By contrast, we find that ETA2 positively regulates SCFTIR1 because Aux/IAA protein stability is significantly increased in eta2 mutants. Modification of CUL1 by the RUB1/NEDD8 ubiquitin-like protein has been proposed to free CUL1 from CAND1 and promote SCF assembly. We present double mutant analyses of eta2 axr1 plants indicating that liberating CUL1 from ETA2/CAND1 is not the primary role of the RUB modification pathway in the regulation of SCF activity. Our genetic and molecular analysis of SCFTIR1 function in eta2 mutants provides novel insight into the role of CAND1 in the regulation of SCF ubiquitin-ligase activity.
Optically Pumped Hybrid Plasmonic-Photonic Waveguide Modulator Using the VO2 Metal-Insulator Phase Transition

The need for ever faster and more efficient computation and communication devices has spurred interest in the field of all-optical modulators. Here a small-size hybrid plasmonic-photonic all-optical waveguide modulator utilizing a subwavelength Au/VO2 nanostructure is proposed as a high-modulation optically actuatable modulator. Using finite-difference-time-domain simulations, a nanoscale (320 nm × 300 nm cross-section) optimized modulator is designed. The modulator design has an extinction ratio as high as 26.85 dB/μm, and a length of only 550 nm.
Human capital and economic growth in Japan: an application of time series analysis

The cointegration and causality between human capital and economic growth in Japan is examined by applying Johansen's test of cointegration and Hsiao's version of the Granger causality method to the Japanese data for the period 1952-93. The Phillips-Perron (PP) tests reveal that the original series of GDP is not stationary; therefore, a first differencing is performed. It is found that there is a bidirectional causality between human capital and economic growth. The results basically confirm the hypothesis that an increase in human capital stock exerts positive effects on economic growth and vice versa.
DCK expression, a potential predictive biomarker in the adjuvant gemcitabine chemotherapy for biliary tract cancer after surgical resection: results from a phase II study

The role of adjuvant therapy following resection of biliary tract cancer (BTC) remains unclear. We therefore evaluated the feasibility and toxicity of adjuvant gemcitabine in patients with BTC. This clinical phase II trial was an open-label, single center, single-arm study. Within 8 weeks after gross complete resection of BTC, patients were started on intravenous infusions of gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 over 30 min on days 1, 8, and 15 of every 28-day cycle. Intratumoral expression of cytidine deaminase (CDA), human equilibrative transporter-1 (hENT1), deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and ribonucleotide reductase subunit 1 (RRM1) was measured by immunohistochemistry. This study enrolled 72 patients with BTC (26 with gallbladder cancer, 33 with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and 13 with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma). The 2-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was 43% (95% CI, 33–57%). Multivariable analysis showed that DCK expression, vascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis were significantly associated with RFS. Twenty-one (31.8%) were positive for DCK immunoreactivity. The median RFS was 34.95 months for DCK-positive patients, compared with 11.41 months for DCK-negative patients. Although the primary hypothesis of this study, defined as a 2-year RFS of 60%, was not met, intratumoral DCK expression was significantly associated with RFS in patients with resected BTC treated with postoperative gemcitabine chemotherapy. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted.
A descriptive analysis of audit price changes in the UK 1991–95

This paper examines changes in the audit fees of quoted public limited companies in the UK during the period from 1991 to 1995. After controlling for changes in the size, complexity and risk of auditees, it is shown (based on a logarithm audit fee model) that the audit market experienced a 9.7% reduction in inflation-adjusted fees over this five-year period. The results also provide evidence of overall fee reductions by each of the Big Six. On closer examination, a mixture of fee increases, decreases and no changes were observed for auditees of the Big Six and for the groups of medium-sized and small audit firms investigated. These results, which pertain to a period when market concentration increased markedly (Beattie and Fearnley, 1994; Peel, 1997; Pong, 1999), offer some amelioration of the concerns of the purchasers of audit services that, in general, audit fees will rise in response to an increase in dominance by a few large firms.
A Novel Three Level Full Bridge Resonant Dc-Dc Converter Suitable for High Power Wide Range Input Applications

To make downstream dc-dc converters compatible with both single and three phases PFC stages for system integration, a novel three-level full bridge resonant dc-dc converter was proposed. This converter combines the LLC topology, which maintains merits as ZVS for all primary side main switches and ZCS for secondary side diodes under wide range inputs, and the three-level technique, which is suitable for high voltage input applications, together. In addition, full bridge configuration endows the high power capability to the proposed converter. The detail operation principles, as well as the design considerations and loss calculation, were presented. The validity and applicability were also verified by a 1kW prototype, while the maximum efficiency reaches 96.2%. Therefore, the proposed converter is very attractive for the system integration applications which have requirement to be compatible with 400V and 800V PFC systems, while high power capability must be taken into account. Consequently, it is of practical significance for industry to simplify power supply's variety and lower cost.
Prognosis of Brief Psychotic Episodes: A Meta-analysis.

IMPORTANCE The prognostic significance of competing constructs and operationalizations for brief psychotic episodes (acute and transient psychotic disorder [ATPD], brief psychotic disorder [BPD], brief intermittent psychotic symptoms [BIPS], and brief limited intermittent psychotic symptoms [BLIPS]) is unknown. OBJECTIVE To provide a meta-analytical prognosis of the risk of psychotic recurrence in patients with remitted first-episode ATPD, BPD, BIPS, and BLIPS and in a benchmark group of patients with remitted first-episode schizophrenia (FES). We hypothesized a differential risk: FES > ATPD > BPD > BIPS > BLIPS. DATA SOURCES The Web of Knowledge and Scopus databases were searched up to May 18, 2015; the articles identified were reviewed as well as citations of previous publications and results of a manual search of the reference lists of retrieved articles. STUDY SELECTION We included original articles that reported the risk of psychotic recurrence at follow-up for patients in remission from first-episode ATPD, BPD, BLIPS, BIPS, and FES. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Independent extraction by multiple observers. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed, and moderators were tested with meta-regression analyses, Bonferroni corrected. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 index. Sensitivity analyses tested the robustness of the results. Publication bias was assessed with funnel plots and the Egger test. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Proportion of patients with baseline ATPD, BPD, BLIPS, and BIPS who had any psychotic recurrence at 6, 12, 24, and 36 or more months of follow-up. RESULTS Eighty-two independent studies comprising up to 11,133 patients were included. There was no prognostic difference in risk of psychotic recurrence between ATPD, BPD, BLIPS, and BIPS at any follow-up (P > .03). In the long-term analysis, risk of psychotic recurrence (reported as mean [95% CI]) was significantly higher in the FES group (0.78 [0.58-0.93] at 24 months and 0.84 [0.70-0.94] at ≥ 36 months; P < .02 and P < .001, respectively) compared with the other 4 groups (0.39 [0.32-0.47] at 24 months and 0.51 [0.41-0.61] at ≥ 36 months). There were no publication biases. Sex and exposure to antipsychotic medication modulated the meta-analytical estimates (.002 < P < .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There are no prognostic differences in risk of psychotic recurrence between ATPD, BPD, BLIPS, and BIPS constructs of brief psychotic episodes. Conversely, there is consistent meta-analytical evidence for better long-term prognosis of brief psychotic episodes compared with remitted first-episode schizophrenia. These findings should influence the diagnostic practice and clinical services in the management of early psychosis.
Structural analysis of a missense mutation (Val414Phe) in the catalytic core domain of the factor XIIIA subunit

Molecular analysis has been performed on a Malaysian patient with a severe bleeding disorder due to factor XIIIA subunit deficiency. Total mRNA was isolated from the patient's leucocytes and four overlapping segments corresponding to the entire coding region of the A subunit cDNA were amplified by RT‐PCR. The cDNA segments amplified efficiently and were of expected size. Direct sequencing of the complete reading frame revealed a single homozygous base change (nt 1327G→T) in exon 10 corresponding to a missense mutation, Val414Phe, in the catalytic core domain of the A subunit monomer. The mutation eliminates a BsaJ1 restriction site and family screening showed that both parents were heterozygous for the defect. The base substitution was absent in 55 normal individuals. Val414 is a highly conserved residue in the calcium‐dependent transglutaminase enzyme family. Computer modelling based on 3D crystallographic data predicts that the bulky aromatic side chain of the substituted phenylalanine residue distorts protein folding and destabilizes the molecule. In addition, conformation changes in the adjacent catalytic and calcium binding regions of the A subunit are likely to impair the enzymatic activity of any protein synthesized.
Metallurgy and materials Metalurgia e materiais Online hybrid modeling method with application for predicting Bauxite production indicators

In the bauxite flotation process, concentrate grade and tailings grade are key production indicators; however, they are difficult to measure online. It is also difficult to develop an effective mathematical model for the process because of the complex non-linear and uncertain relationship among the feed parameters (feed grade, pulp density, slurry particle size, etc.), froth features and production indicators. Therefore, an online hybrid modeling method is proposed by analyzing the multiple parameters that affect the production indicators. First, according to the correlation and redundancy in the feed and froth feature parameters, the kernel principle component analysis (KPCA) is used to reduce the number of the parameters. Then, a neutral network model of the regular extreme learning machine (RELM), which is based on wavelet function, is presented to predict these two indicators. To improve generalization capability and prediction accuracy, information entropy is used to distribute the weight of the two models based on their predicting error. At last, an on-line updating strategy of the hybrid model is constructed in order to investigate the influence of the working conditions. The proposed method is tested on the diasporic-bauxite flotation process and shows high predictive accuracy and generalization capability. It lays the foundation for optimal control of the operation parameters based on mineral grade in the flotation process.
Low Intensity Shear Stress Increases Endothelial ELR+ CXC Chemokine Production via a Focal Adhesion Kinase-p38β MAPK-NF-κB Pathway*

CXC chemokines with a glutamate-leucine-arginine (ELR) tripeptide motif (ELR+ CXC chemokines) play an important role in leukocyte trafficking into the tissues. For reasons that are not well elucidated, circulating leukocytes are recruited into the tissues mainly in small vessels such as capillaries and venules. Because ELR+ CXC chemokines are important mediators of endothelial-leukocyte interaction, we compared chemokine expression by microvascular and aortic endothelium to investigate whether differences in chemokine expression by various endothelial types could, at least partially, explain the microvascular localization of endothelial-leukocyte interaction. Both in vitro and in vivo models indicate that ELR+ CXC chemokine expression is higher in microvascular endothelium than in aortic endothelial cells. These differences can be explained on the basis of the preferential activation of endothelial chemokine production by low intensity shear stress. Low shear activated endothelial ELR+ CXC chemokine production via cell surface heparan sulfates, β3-integrins, focal adhesion kinase, the mitogen-activated protein kinase p38β, mitogen- and stress-associated protein kinase-1, and the transcription factor.
Regulatory Dynamics, Institutional Cohesiveness, and Regional Sustainability

It is generally acknowledged that economic activity continues apace and at the expense of social and ecological integrity while the course of economic development remains far from any approximation of sustainability. Few would dispute the fact that since 1992 little has been accomplished in practical terms to meet Agenda 21 objectives. Many would agree that Agenda 21-inspired local visions and goals have not translated into actual local change in part because of the complex and the multi-faceted nature of the issues involved. Policy work on ecological modernization and sustainability needs to be explicit on the question of scale and the role of governments. The central challenge for policy makers, action takers, and researchers is to determine the appropriate territorial (physical, social, economic, and political) scale at and through which government power needs to be deployed to effect transition to sustainable modes of regulation. This question is particularly relevant given the current discourse on regionalization / globalization. Adopting a “post-disciplinary” approach this thesis examines how institutional interrelations shape the outcome of plans to meet policy objectives on sustainable development at the local (municipality) scale. In-depth analysis of interview and secondary data reveals that numerous factors “regulate” what occurs at local and other scales in relation to sustainable development. The contribution of this thesis is twofold. First, the regulationist and institutionalist approaches are combined and extended into the ecological realm to analyze the conflicts and incompatibilities that influence sustainability policy implementation. Second, the implications of the findings generated through this analysis are explored for policy development and future research.
Institutional change in government: puzzles and paradoxes

Purpose – Seeks to outline the impact of the information society on the institutional changes taking place in the public sector.Design/methodology/approach – A veteran of government outlines the impact of the information society on the institutional changes taking place in the public sector. Drawing on his extensive experience and the literature, he provides creative insights into the themes of this special issue.Findings – E‐government may prove useful in managing routine tasks, he agrees, but the highly complex, interpersonal nature of government places severe limits on the extent to which public work can be automated. With government outsourcing much of its work to private firms, and corporations required to serve the public interest, there is also a marked overlap of the public versus private domains. The old hierarchies of the past are being fragmented by information systems and the need to involve people in managing complexity, leading to “uncentralized” systems in which initiative and creativity mu.
On-line parameter, state-of-charge and aging estimation of Li-ion batteries

This paper presents an on-line model identification method for Li-ion battery parameters that combines high accuracy and low computational complexity. Experimental results show that modeling errors are smaller than 1% throughout the feasible operating range. The identified model is used in a state observer - an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) - to obtain an indication about the battery State of Charge (SoC). A novel method to estimate the actual battery capacity on-line, based on the data from the state observer is presented. Based on the real battery capacity, an indication about the State of Health (SoH) can be given. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed methodology. Battery capacity estimation errors under 4% are achieved by using only 30 minutes of data (battery voltage and current measurements) acquired during normal driving.
Heterogeneous efforts in voluntary programmes on food safety

In this article we discuss the efforts made by importers of fresh produce within a voluntary programme on food safety. We show theoretically that the larger the rms the lower their efforts directed at food safety. We test this proposition using original primary data from a voluntary programme implemented by French importers of fresh produce. Our results contrast with evidence from environmental economics that large rms are more likely to be proactive with respect to environmental safeguards.
A new and improved vitreoretinal erbium:YAG laser scalpel: long-term morphologic characteristics of retinal-choroidal injury.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To report a modified erbium:YAG laser scalpel designed to incise tissue more efficiently and safely than other systems reported to date. MATERIALS AND METHODS An erbium:YAG laser delivery system was built to deliver laser energy in bursts of micropulses with a repetition rate of 1,000 Hz. The laser was coupled to handpieces with tip designs equipped with shields, backstops, and beveled, straight, and flexible fibers. In vivo studies in the rabbit eye were performed to determine damage threshold, optimal pulse energy, and burst frequency required to make incisions in the retina and choroid. The safety profile and directional control provided by the handpieces were tested for consistency. Partial- and full-thickness retinal-choroidal incisions were examined clinically and histologically at various time intervals. RESULTS The best incisions were obtained at a fluence of 3.5 J/cm2 or greater, a burst repetition rate of 10 to 40 Hz, and 6 micropulses per burst. Retinal damage occurred when incising laser energy was used 500 microm or closer to the retinal surface. Depth of penetration of laser energy did not depend on burst repetition rate. The use of laser endoprobes equipped with shields and backstops provides absolute protection from stray laser energy in aqueous media. The use of flexible beveled fiber tips provides reliable, accurate directional control. Retinal-choroidal incisions and damage resulted in local retinal-choroidal degeneration and adhesion formation. CONCLUSION The modifications to the erbium:YAG laser scalpel provide a more efficient, versatile, and safe application to vitreoretinal surgery than any system reported to date.
Developing a smart camera for gesture recognition in HCI applications

Smart cameras are becoming more popular in human computer interaction (HCI). One of HCI research areas, multimodal user interface (MMUI) allows user to interact with a computer by using his or her natural communication modalities, such as speech, pen, touch, gestures, eye gaze, and facial expression. This paper presents the hardware and software co-design and implementation of KLT (Kanade Lucas Tomasi) tracking algorithm in a FPGA-based smart camera prototype for recognize simple hand gestures consisting of a CMOS image sensor capture unit and FPGA main video processor. This tracking system uses face and hand detections as a tool to detect and track gesture (face and hand motion). This gesture tracking system that are based on Harris Keypoint Detection algorithm and KLT tracking algorithm has been successfully implemented in FPGA and shows promising result in real time performance.