Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blind separation of sources, Part I" An adaptive algorithm based on neuromimetic architecture

The separation of independent sources from an array of sensors is a classical but difficult problem in signal processing. Based on some biological observations, an adaptive algorithm is proposed to separate simultaneously all the unknown independent sources. The adaptive rule, which constitutes an independence test using non-linear functions, is the main original point of this blind identification procedure. Moreover, a new concept, that of INdependent Components Analysis (INCA), more powerful than the classical Principal Components Analysis (in decision tasks) emerges from this work. Zusammenfassung. Die Trennung unabh~ingiger Quellen stellt ein klassisches jedoch schwieriges Problem bei der Signalverarbeitung dar. Aufgrund neurobiologischer Beobachtungen stellen wir in diesem Artikel einen selbstanpassenden Algorithmus vor, der gleichzeitig alle unbekannten, unabh~ingigkeitstest unter Anwendung yon nicht linearen Funktionen darstellt, ist der zentralste Punkt dieses blindend Identifikationsverfahrens. Ausserdem hebt sich ein neues Konzept, das der unabh~ingigen Komponenten-Analyse (INCA), leistungsf'fihiger in den Entscheidungsvorg~ingen als die Analyse der Hauptkomponenten, aus dieser Arbeit hervor. R6sum6. La s6paration de sources ind6pendantes constitue un probl~me classique mais difficile de traitement du signal. D'apr~s des observations neurobiologiques, nous proposons dans cet article un algorithme auto-adaptatif capable de s6parer simultan6ment toutes les sources ind6pendantes inconnues. La r~gle d'adaptation, qui effectue un test d'ind6pendance gr$ce l'utilisation de fonctions non-lin6aires, est le point le plus central de cette m6thode d'identification aveugle. De plus, un nouveau concept, celui d'analyse en composantes ind6pendantes (INCA), plus puissant dans les op6rations de d6cision que celui d'analyse en composantes principales, 6merge de ce travail.
Neural substrates of approach‐avoidance conflict decision‐making

Animal approach‐avoidance conflict paradigms have been used extensively to operationalize anxiety, quantify the effects of anxiolytic agents, and probe the neural basis of fear and anxiety. Results from human neuroimaging studies support that a frontal–striatal–amygdala neural circuitry is important for approach‐avoidance learning. However, the neural basis of decision‐making is much less clear in this context. Thus, we combined a recently developed human approach‐avoidance paradigm with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify neural substrates underlying approach‐avoidance conflict decision‐making. Fifteen healthy adults completed the approach‐avoidance conflict (AAC) paradigm during fMRI. Analyses of variance were used to compare conflict to nonconflict (avoid‐threat and approach‐reward) conditions and to compare level of reward points offered during the decision phase. Trial‐by‐trial amplitude modulation analyses were used to delineate brain areas underlying decision‐making in the context of approach/avoidance behavior. Conflict trials as compared to the nonconflict trials elicited greater activation within bilateral anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, and caudate, as well as right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC). Right caudate and lateral PFC activation was modulated by level of reward offered. Individuals who showed greater caudate activation exhibited less approach behavior. On a trial‐by‐trial basis, greater right lateral PFC activation related to less approach behavior. Taken together, results suggest that the degree of activation within prefrontal‐striatal‐insula circuitry determines the degree of approach versus avoidance decision‐making. Moreover, the degree of caudate and lateral PFC activation related to individual differences in approach‐avoidance decision‐making. Therefore, the approach‐avoidance conflict paradigm is ideally suited to probe anxiety‐related processing differences during approach‐avoidance decision‐making. Hum Brain Mapp 36:449–462, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The use of strategic deception in relationships

Purpose – The primary purpose of this research is to explore the use of strategic deception as adopted by call centers endeavoring to establish relationships with consumers.Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative interviews, over the telephone and in person, were conducted with call center employees located in India.Findings – The findings reveal various types of strategic deception occurring in call centers. Discoveries imply that companies are training their employees to deceive consumers in order to win their trust and cooperation.Research limitations/implications – To improve generalization of the findings, future research should include call centers located in other parts of the world and determine if other types of companies use deception in any way to build trust and perceived similarity with their customers. The paper offers an overarching typology to guide future research in this area.Practical implications – In this research a framework is provided by which practitioners might judge the desira.
Corporate Governance in Transition and Developing Economies: A Case Study of Egypt

The World Bank has published a series of reports on corporate governance as part of its project on the Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC). The corporate governance principles in its ROSC Reports are benchmarked against the OECD’s Principles of Corporate Governance (OECD 2004). The main categories of principles are discussed below. This study focuses on the main corporate governance attributes of Egypt. The paper concludes with an extensive bibliography.
Organizational Environment, New Product Process Activities, and Project Outcomes

Results of a study of 95 new product projects in 75 Australian manufacturing firms reveal two important sets of links. Firstly, links between the elements of firms' organizational environments and proficiency of new product process activities. Secondly, links between activity proficiency and new product project outcomes. The two findings enable links to be posited between the organizational characteristics of firms and the outcomes of new project projects. The findings have implications for managers wishing to increase the likelihood of successful new product development.
Competition in UK Banking: A Report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer

The Review investigated three areas in depth: money transmission - the flow of money between firms, individuals and government through the payments system; services to personal customers; and services to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). It posed the following questions: is competition effective? ; will the future change things for the better? The answer to the first question was No for all three groups. The Review concludes that the essential first step towards increased competition is a new policy framework for the relationship between government and the banking industry.
Acid steatocrit determination is not helpful in cystic fibrosis patients without or with mild steatorrhea

Most methods used for the assessment of severe steatorrhea in cystic fibrosis (CF) are sensitive. In fact, the tests show their usefulness in a borderline zone of the results. Yet, the existing data related to acid steatocrit (AS) are still contradictory. Therefore, in the present study we have aimed to assess CF patients without or with mild steatorhea (<10 g/day) and evaluate the applicability of AS in such a subset of patients.
Are All Booms and Busts Created Equal? A New Methodology for Understanding Bull and Bear Stock Markets

This paper presents a new non-parametric methodology for the description of the evolution of the asset cycle in the stock market. It uses the empirical distribution of the data; in particular the structures of the tails of return distributions to build Boom-Bust Indicators (BBI) that describe whether a given market is a bull or a bear. These indicators, for three different time horizons, perform better than the usual binary sequence of financial crises because they measure both direction and intensity, they have stronger variability than a binary variable, they are strongly associated to the original data and keep some of its underlying characteristics such as serial auto correlation, and they identify at least the same bull and bear markets as other methodologies. There is no evidence that favors one of the BBI specifications above the others.
Growth and photosynthesis responses of Rosmarinus officinalis L. to heavy metals at Bougrine mine

Heavy metals pollution is considered as one of the most dangerous environmental problems in agricultural soil, particularly neighboring mining sites. Phytoremediation based on green plants use seems to be an interesting biological solution to detoxify these soils. This study focuses especially on heavy metals effects on Rosmarinus officinalis L. morphological and growth parameters. The site of our research is “Bougrine” mine which represents different zinc, lead and cadmium amounts by geological layers. In opposite to amounts obtained by previous studies made for mining exploration, we thought that zinc content was more important at transition zone than Cenomanian Turonian level. Nevertheless, this element is not the most determinant in plant growth and its morphological parameters. Moreover, R. officinalis L. volume and vigor decreased when soil’s heavy metals content increases. However, this reduction is more related to soil lead content. Despite this decrease, we do not observe any visual phytotoxicity symptom. This aromatic and medicinal species, belonging to Lamiaceae family, could be used as alternative crops in polluted soils. Keywords: Rosmarinus officinalis L. , zinc, lead, growth, photosynthesis, “Bougrine” mine African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(2), pp. 150-161
An Empirical Analysis on Long Tail Patterns with Online Daily Deals

전자상거래 시장에서 롱테일 경제가 출현함에 따라 80/20 룰로 알려진 파레토 법칙의 일반적인 적용에 의문이 제기되고 있다. 이러한 제품 집중도의 변화는 인터넷 인프라 기반기술 위에 구현된 대량맞춤(mass customization)에서 기인한다고 예측된다. 본 연구는 그루폰과 유사한 소셜 커머스 웹사이트로부터 얻은 실거래 정보를 실증 분석하여 제품 및 고객 집중도를 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 이전 전자상거래 연구와 같이 소셜 커머스에서도 파레토 법칙과 다른 롱테일 패턴이 나타났다. 더욱이 email 또는 SMS를 통한 홍보가 판매 집중도 패턴에 영향을 미치는 것으로 파악되었다. email과 SMS를 통한 홍보는 모두 소셜 커머스 쿠폰 판매를 증가시킬 것이라는 예상과는 달리, SMS 홍보는 쿠폰 전반적으로 판매를 증가시키나, 소량판매 제품의 경우 email 홍보는 오히려 제품 판매를 감소시키는 결과를 보였다.
Research Note: Urban Parks and Tourism

Introduction This paper describes a project designed to examine the relationship between urban parks and tourism. Such a relationship certainly exists but, as Masberg and Jamieson (1999) observe, the extent and form of that relationship is neither well understood nor documented. This project therefore turns the focus onto a largely neglected realm of academic enquiry and practitioner understanding. Urban parks, for the purposes of this study, are confined to relatively large parks and green spaces, including botanic gardens, located within or adjacent to city central business districts. Examples include Centennial Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, South Bank Parklands in Brisbane, and King’s Domain in Melbourne. In most cases such areas are publicly owned open space. The scope does not therefore include small municipal local parks, sports fields or areas of urban bushland. This paper has two objectives: first, to present a case as to why research such as this is important and, second, to discuss some of the key concepts and research questions guiding the study.
A Study of Factors Affecting the Renewal of Health Insurance Policy

Health insurance policies are generally one-year policies and to remain part of the insurance poll, policyholders are required to renew their policies each year. Understanding the factors that affect the demand and renewal decisions to continue in health insurance programme is imperative for future growth and development of the insurance sector. We extend our previous work on factors affecting the decision to purchase health insurance to understand the factors affecting the renewal of insurance policy. We find the factors affecting health insurance renewal are not the same as factors affecting health insurance purchase decision. This has implications for insurance providers. The study also suggests customer satisfaction as an important factor influencing the renewal decision of policyholder.
Data collection for counting individuals and habitat characterization

Decrease in the number of individuals of a species is an indicator of the state of biodiversity in a region. It is difficult to estimate this decline in the traditional way. We suggest to use ICT to measure this phenomenon. We propose using a distributed algorithm to count individuals in a population and to collect abiotic factors in order to characterize habitat. The first phase consists of detecting the presence of individuals from mapping ecotopes, the second allows counting the number of individuals and the last aggregates the numbers of individuals over several paths. We propose an approach that uses a wireless sensor network built on a linear architecture based on the concept of green tunnel. Here, each mote has a successor and a predecessor.
There is No Place Like Home: A Spatial Analysis of Investor Choice of Stock Exchange

We show that place of residence affects where investors trade stocks. We analyze transaction, account, and demographic data from some 19,000 retail customers of a German online brokerage house and find that investors prefer nearby stock exchanges. This local exchange bias can hardly be explained by informational advantage or lower transaction cost, but is more likely to be caused by behavioural biases. We also show that local exchange bias helps to explain equity home bias in investor portfolios. We conjecture that home bias is largely due to the behavioural biases which also underlie exchange bias. Finally, we show that independent financial advisors (IFAs) reduce both the exchange bias and the home bias of their clients. This last finding is consistent with IFAs helping their clients avoid costly investment mistakes.
Trophodynamics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers in a marine food web

The current study measured the concentrations of 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and eight methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO‐PBDEs) in a marine food web and estimated their trophic magnification factors (TMFs), to highlight the differences between invertebrates, fish, and seabirds. Concentrations of PBDEs were orders of magnitude greater in seabirds (184.07 ± 161.63 ng/g lipid wt) compared with invertebrates and fish (19.01 ± 14.14 ng/g lipid wt). Although the congener profiles in invertebrates, fish, and juvenile seabirds were dominated by BDE‐47, the contributions of BDE‐99 and BDE‐153 in adult seabirds were also significant. Unlike PBDEs, however, higher average MeO‐PBDE concentrations were detected in fish (126.27 ± 189.27 ng/g lipid wt) and bivalves (15.96 ± 11.82 ng/g lipid wt) than in seabirds (2.61 ± 2.87 ng/g lipid wt). Correlations between lipid‐normalized PBDE concentrations and trophic levels confirmed that seven PBDE congeners were magnified in the invertebrate‐fish‐seabird food web and that PBDE concentrations increased at a much greater rate across trophic levels in seabirds than in invertebrates and fish. This result indicates that estimating TMFs of PBDEs separately for seabirds, invertebrates, and fish is preferable. For MeO‐PBDEs, no significant relationships were obtained in the invertebrate‐fish‐seabird food web. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:2792–2799. © 2010 SETAC
PLP‐dependent enzymes as entry and exit gates of sphingolipid metabolism

Sphingolipids are membrane constituents as well as signaling molecules involved in many essential cellular processes. Serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate lyase (SPL), both PLP (pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate)‐dependent enzymes, function as entry and exit gates of the sphingolipid metabolism. SPT catalyzes the condensation of serine and a fatty acid into 3‐keto‐dihydrosphingosine, whereas SPL degrades sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) into phosphoethanolamine and a long‐chain aldehyde. The recently solved X‐ray structures of prokaryotic homologs of SPT and SPL combined with functional studies provide insight into the structure–function relationship of the two enzymes. Despite carrying out different reactions, the two enzymes reveal striking similarities in the overall fold, topology, and residues crucial for activity. Unlike their eukaryotic counterparts, bacterial SPT and SPL lack a transmembrane helix, making them targets of choice for biochemical characterization because the use of detergents can be avoided. Both human enzymes are linked to severe diseases or disorders and might therefore serve as targets for the development of therapeutics aiming at the modulation of their activity. This review gives an overview of the sphingolipid metabolism and of the available biochemical studies of prokaryotic SPT and SPL, and discusses the major similarities and differences to the corresponding eukaryotic enzymes.
Determination of the number of atoms present in nano contact based on shot noise measurements with highly stable nano-fabricated electrodes

A highly stable experimental setup was developed for the measurement of shot noise in atomic contacts and molecular junctions to determine the number of atoms or molecules present. The use of a nano-fabricated mechanically controllable break junction (MCBJ) electrode improved the overall stability of the experimental setup. The improved stability of the system and optimization of measurement system enabled us to comprehensively investigate the shot noise as well as charge transport properties in Au atomic contacts and molecular junctions. We present a solid proof that the number of atoms (cross sectional atom) in the Au atomic contacts was exactly one. In the atomic contacts, contribution from the additional channels was under the detection limit. Furthermore, the effect of molecular adsorption on the charge transport in the Au atomic contact was investigated. Additional transport channels were opened by exposing pyrazine molecules to the Au contacts, which gave rise to an increase in the Fano factor in the shot noise.
An Overview and Comparison of Risk-Based Capital Standards

This article provides an overview and comparison of risk-based capital (RBC) requirements as they currently exist in the United States, the European Union, Switzerland, and New Zealand. These four systems are representative of different ways capital standards are implemented around the globe. The United States uses a static factor model; Switzerland considers dynamic cash-flow-based approaches; New Zealand integrates private rating agencies into its supervisory process. Other differences between these three countries include the use of different risk measures, the use of internal models, and varying consideration of operational risk and catastrophe risk. Regulators in the European Union are being influenced by all three of these approaches as they finalize the design of their new regulatory framework Solvency II. We integrate the current version of this approach in our analysis.
Quantum state transfer for multi-input linear quantum systems

Effective state transfer is one of the most important problems in quantum information processing. Typically, a quantum information device is composed of many subsystems with multi-input ports. In this paper, we develop a general theory describing the condition for perfect state transfer from the multi-input ports to the internal system components, for general passive linear quantum systems. The key notion used is the zero of the transfer function matrix.
Effects of isoflavone supplements on bone metabolic markers and climacteric symptoms in Japanese women

A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover study on the effects of 40mg/d isoflavone supplements was carried out by 58 climacteric Japanese women. A questionnaire and an interview concerning climacteric symptoms, health status, dietary and exercise habit, and medical history were carried out, and the physical check‐up and biochemical tests including sex‐hormone analysis were made at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Urinary isoflavones were separately measured from the frozen samples.
Generative Power and Closure Properties of Watson-Crick Grammars

We define WK linear grammars, as an extension of WK regular grammars with linear grammar rules, and WK context-free grammars, thus investigating their computational power and closure properties. We show that WK linear grammars can generate some context-sensitive languages. Moreover, we demonstrate that the family of WK regular languages is the proper subset of the family of WK linear languages, but it is not comparable with the family of linear languages. We also establish that the Watson-Crick regular grammars are closed under almost all of the main closure operations.
A Natural CYP2B6 TATA Box Polymorphism (–82T→ C) Leading to Enhanced Transcription and Relocation of the Transcriptional Start Site

We investigated the impact of promoter polymorphisms on transcription of the human CYP2B6 gene. In total, 98 DNA samples from white persons from a previously characterized liver bank were sequenced throughout 2.3 kilobases of upstream sequence and haplotype structures were determined using additional coding sequence information. HepG2 cells and primary rat and human hepatocytes were transfected with luciferase reporter gene constructs driven by 2033 base pairs (bp) of the most frequent promoter variants. The novel haplotype *22 (–1848C→ A, –801G→ T, –750T→ C, and –82T→ C) showed 3- to 9-fold enhanced transcriptional activity in all transfected cells. Constructs containing single mutations surprisingly revealed –82T→ C, predicted to disrupt a putative TATA box, to be alone responsible for this effect. In silico analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated conversion of the putative TATA box into a functional CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein binding site. Analysis of transcriptional start sites showed the mutant promoter to be transcribed from a start site located approximately 30 bp downstream of the wild-type start site, consistent with the use of a noncanonical TATA box at –55 bp. Median CYP2B6 mRNA expression and bupropion hydroxylase activity as a selective marker of CYP2B6 catalytic activity were approximately 2-fold higher in livers genotyped –82TC as in those genotyped –82TT (20.4 versus 9.8 arbitrary units, p = 0.007, and 201.8 versus 106.7 pmol/mg/min, p = 0.042, respectively). This promoter polymorphism thus contributes to CYP2B6 functional variability and represents a novel mechanism by which mutations can enhance transcription. Furthermore, a detailed interspecies comparison of CYP2B promoters and transcriptional start sites provided novel insights into evolutionary relationships.
Respiratory Disease in Kennelled Dogs: Serological Responses to Bordetella bronchiseptica Lipopolysaccharide Do Not Correlate with Bacterial Isolation or Clinical Respiratory Symptoms

ABSTRACT The role of Bordetella bronchiseptica in a natural outbreak of canine infectious respiratory disease was investigated both by culture and serological analysis. B. bronchiseptica was found in the lungs of a large proportion of clinically healthy dogs and in a greater proportion of dogs with respiratory disease. Using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we analyzed the serological responses of a large number of dogs. Dogs with high antibody levels showed no protection from disease, and there was no correlation between the development of disease and rising antibody titer. Similarly, there was no difference in antibody levels in dogs with and without B. bronchiseptica in the lungs. Antibodies to LPS have no predictive value in determining which animals will contract respiratory disease, how severe the disease will be, or which dogs will have B. bronchiseptica colonizing the lungs.