Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Persistent firing supported by an intrinsic cellular mechanism in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells

Short‐term information retention is crucial for information processing in the brain. It has long been suggested that the hippocampal CA3 region is able to support short‐term information retention through persistent neural firing. Theoretical studies have shown that this persistent firing can be supported by abundant excitatory recurrent connections in CA3. However, it remains unclear whether individual cells can support persistent firing. In this study, using in vitro whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings in a rat hippocampal slice preparation, we show that hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells support persistent firing under perfusion of the cholinergic agonist carbachol (10 μm). Furthermore, in contrast to earlier theoretical studies, this persistent firing is independent of ionotropic glutamatergic synaptic transmission and is supported by the calcium‐activated non‐selective cationic current. Because cholinergic receptor activation is crucial for short‐term memory tasks, persistent firing in individual cells may support short‐term information retention in the hippocampal CA3 region.
Kinematics study and implementation of a biomimetic robotic-fish underwater vehicle based on Lighthill slender body model

Sir J. Lighthill mathematical slender body swimming model formulates the biological fish propulsion mechanism (undulation) in fluid environment. The present research has focused on the relevance of Lighthill (LH) based biomimetic robotic propulsion. The objective of this paper is to mimic the propulsion mechanism of the BCF mode carangiform swimming style to show the fish behavior navigating efficiently over large distances at impressive speeds and its exceptional characteristics. The robotic fish model (kinematics and dynamics) is integrated with the Lighthill (LH) mathematical model framework. Comparative studies are undertaken between a LH model based and a non-LH based model. A comprehensive propulsion mechanism study of the different parameters namely the tail-beat frequency (TBF), the propulsive wavelength, and the caudal amplitude are studied under this framework. Yaw angle study for the underwater robotic fish vehicle is also carried out as it describes the course of the robotic fish vehicle. Inverse kinematics based approach is incorporated for trajectory generation of the robotic fish vehicle motion. Analysis of these critical parameters affecting the kinematics study of the vehicle vis a vis the real fish kinematic study [8] is carried out for a given trajectory. TBF is found to be the effective controlling parameter for the forward speed of the vehicle over a wide operating conditions. Performances and comparative results of propulsive wavelength and amplitude variations are also shown and discussed.
Information theory based detection against network behavior mimicking DDoS attacks

DDoS is a spy-on-spy game between attackers and detectors. Attackers are mimicking network traffic patterns to disable the detection algorithms which are based on these features. It is an open problem of discriminating the mimicking DDoS attacks from massive legitimate network accessing. We observed that the zombies use controlled function(s) to pump attack packages to the victim, therefore, the attack flows to the victim are always share some properties, e.g. packages distribution behaviors, which are not possessed by legitimate flows in a short time period. Based on this observation, once there appear suspicious flows to a server, we start to calculate the distance of the package distribution behavior among the suspicious flows. If the distance is less than a given threshold, then it is a DDoS attack, otherwise, it is a legitimate accessing. Our analysis and the preliminary experiments indicate that the proposed method- can discriminate mimicking flooding attacks from legitimate accessing efficiently and effectively.
A dose–schedule finding design for phase I–II clinical trials

Dose finding methods aiming at identifying an optimal dose of a treatment with a given schedule may be at a risk of misidentifying the best treatment for patients. We propose a phase I–II clinical trial design to find the optimal dose–schedule combination. We define schedule as the method and timing of administration of a given total dose in a treatment cycle. We propose a Bayesian dynamic model for the joint effects of dose and schedule. The model proposed allows us to borrow strength across dose–schedule combinations without making overly restrictive assumptions on the ordering pattern of the schedule effects. We develop a dose–schedule finding algorithm to allocate patients sequentially to a desirable dose–schedule combination, and to select an optimal combination at the end of the trial. We apply the proposed design to a phase I–II clinical trial of a γ‐secretase inhibitor in patients with refractory metastatic or locally advanced solid tumours, and we examine the operating characteristics of the design through simulations.
ATTERNS AND LEVELS OF POLLEN‐MEDIATED GENE FLOW IN LATHYRUS LATIFOLIUS

While gene flow can be an important force in evolution, few direct measures are available in the plant literature. Descriptions of gene movement within populations are more common, but have primarily involved crop species and artificially constructed populations. In this study, fractional paternity procedures were used to examine patterns of pollen movement over two years within two sites of Lathyrus latifolius, a bumblebee‐pollinated, self‐compatible perennial legume. Study sites consisted of 15 to 23 semi‐discrete flowering patches that contained 1 to 29 distinct genotypes. Distributions of gene movement distances within the study sites differed significantly from that expected under random mating. Mean gene movement was 14 m. On average, 17.6% (range = 0‐52%) of matings occurred within a flowering patch. Outcrossing rates, estimated from paternity analysis, ranged from 0.87 to 0.90 across sites and years. Significant heterogeneity occurred among maternal individuals with respect to outcrossing and immigration rates, indicating that mating patterns were idiosyncratic to each plant. Apparent rates of pollen flow into the sites ranged from 5 to 15%, while estimates of total pollen flow into sites ranged from 16 to 46%. Significant increases in immigration rates between years were associated with decreases in the density of flowering plants.
Engineers’ job-related perceptions of empathy in Germany

Technical and interpersonal competences are essential characteristics that engineers need to obtain nowadays. Prior studies suggest that empathy and care are important skills in engineering within an increasingly global and innovative work environment. However, there is still limited literature about engineers‘ perceptions of empathy and care particularly when developing curricular approaches to strengthen engineers‘ empathic competences. Thereby, the current study aimed first to validate the factor structure of the US-American Empathy and Care Questionnaire (ECQ), by Hess, Strobel, Pan, and Wachter Morris (2017), regarding German engineers‘ perceptions of empathy and care at their workplaces. Second, the study sought to investigate the differences of perceived empathy of German engineers concerning engineers‘ years of work experience. Results suggest the five-factor model fit was acceptable and that German engineers with more professional experience perceived empathy and care as a more important aspect of their work in comparison to those with less professional experience.
Entrepreneurial competencies of BoP entrepreneurs in Bangladesh to achieve business success

The objective of this study is to reveal required entrepreneurial competencies to achieve financial and non-financial performance of the BoP entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. This study includes 213 BoP entrepreneurs who signaled that opportunity competencies, commitment competencies and innovative competencies enhance financial and non-financial performance. On the other hand, strategic competencies and analytical competencies were found to be insignificant in this context. The study adds value to academia and policy-making, and to revamp and revitalise entrepreneurship among those who are at the base of the economic pyramid (BoP). Furthermore, this research will guide private and non-government organisations who intend to develop micro-entrepreneurship business through training for developing entrepreneurial abilities of BoP entrepreneurs.
Robust MIMO Receiver Based on Belief Propagation in the Presence of Imperfect Channel and Noise Knowledge

In this paper, the problem of MIMO signal detection based on the belief propagation (BP) algorithm has been addressed in the presence of channel and noise uncertainties at the receiver. We propose a robust detection approach that works on the basis of message passing algorithm on the best tree approximation of the posterior distribution of the received signal. Our approach to make the detector robust is to formulate a worst-case detector design as a min-max optimization problem with imperfect channel and noise knowledge at the receiver.
Analysis of a Magnetically Controlled Single Stage LLC Resonant Converter

The traditional single stage AC/DC converter suffers from a variable DC bus voltage that also affects the operation of the DC/DC unit. In this paper, a magnetically controlled single stage LLC resonant converter is proposed for low power applications, and it has the following features: 1) single stage operation; 2) inherent power factor correction function; 3) almost constant DC bus voltage; 4) fixed switching frequency and duty cycle operation; 5) the LLC resonant converter is operating at the series resonant frequency point, which is the highest efficiency point, so the converter can always achieve the maximum efficiency operation; 6) soft switching operation for all semiconductors can be achieved. Finally, a 75 W experimental prototype was built to validate the proposed converter.
Blue Flag beach certification: an environmental management tool or tourism promotional tool?

ABSTRACT Beach certification schemes, such as Blue Flag, have become prevalent in the current literature as a beach management tool that is said to bridge the gap between recreation and conservation. Ontario’s Great Lakes beaches offer services that are vitally important for both environmental and economic benefit and recent policy and governance actions across multiple levels of government are recognising the importance of protecting beaches along the Great Lakes. This research builds upon various past studies of beach certification to examine whether the Blue Flag certification in Ontario is being used as an environmental management tool to protect a tourism resource or more for tourism promotion. Twenty-two interviews were conducted with beach managers in Ontario to determine the effectiveness of Blue Flag. Findings indicate that the certification system is perceived more as a tourism promotional tool rather than an environmental management or protection tool.
How Can Consumer Preferences Be Leveraged for Targeted Upselling in Cable TV Services

Internet TV has attracted a significant amount of attention from the conventional cable TV service providers, by providing customized TV programs at preferred time slots. The cable TV service providers are seeking to retain their customers by giving them a better experience: by understanding their customers’ preferences and upselling them the right products to cater to their interests. It is not easy to understand customer preferences though, since customers are not able to watch channels to which they have not subscribed. This makes it difficult to predict what they will like to watch, as a result. In this paper, I discuss my ongoing research on TV viewership behavior. I model customer preferences using a technique called latent Dirichlet analysis (LDA), by considering channel viewing behavior as a similar process of article generation. Customer preferences over unsubscribed channel are calculated from the LDA model. My model achieves better prediction performance as a result. I also present a quantitative case study to show that the observed channel viewing behavior makes sense.
Deep Profiling of the Novel Intermediate-Size Noncoding RNAs in Intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum

Intermediate-size noncoding RNAs (is-ncRNAs) have been shown to play important regulatory roles in the development of several eukaryotic organisms. However, they have not been thoroughly explored in Plasmodium falciparum, which is the most virulent malaria parasite infecting human being. By using Illumina/Solexa paired-end sequencing of an is-ncRNA-specific library, we performed a systematic identification of novel is-ncRNAs in intraerythrocytic P. falciparum, strain 3D7. A total of 1,198 novel is-ncRNA candidates, including antisense, intergenic, and intronic is-ncRNAs, were identified. Bioinformatics analyses showed that the intergenic is-ncRNAs were the least conserved among different Plasmodium species, and antisense is-ncRNAs were more conserved than their sense counterparts. Twenty-two novel snoRNAs were identified, and eight potential novel classes of P. falciparum is-ncRNAs were revealed by clustering analysis. The expression of randomly selected novel is-ncRNAs was confirmed by RT-PCR and northern blotting assays. An obvious different expressional profile of the novel is-ncRNA between the early and late intraerythrocytic developmental stages of the parasite was observed. The expression levels of the antisense RNAs correlated with those of their cis-encoded sense RNA counterparts, suggesting that these is-ncRNAs are involved in the regulation of gene expression of the parasite. In conclusion, we accomplished a deep profiling analysis of novel is-ncRNAs in P. falciparum, analysed the conservation and structural features of these novel is-ncRNAs, and revealed their differential expression patterns during the development of the parasite. These findings provide important information for further functional characterisation of novel is-ncRNAs during the development of P. falciparum.
A visual comparison between voltage and power wave reflection coefficients of microwave circuits

This paper analyzes and compares voltage and power wave reflection coefficients using a visual representation which fully exploits that both coefficients are directly related to the geometry of direct inversive transformations in the extended impedance plane. In order to compare the two concepts for complex impedance ports, the 3D Smith chart tool is used in premiere. The paper gives a geometrical and more intuitive insight of these two parameters and proposes a novel tool for handling both types of reflection coefficients.
Investigation of suface plasmonic Bragg-grating based IMI waveguide

Bragg grating having low loss properties for Surface Plasmon Polariton (SPP) propagation through Insulator Metal Insulator (IMI) has been investigated numerically. A time domain algorithm using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method has been developed to investigate the dynamics of the SPP propagation. In this paper silver has been taken as the metal. This structure has been investigated with different dielectric materials: GLS, AlGaAs and Cu2O. With the help of Bragg grating (successive period) the power of the plasmonic signal can be enhanced to increase the propagation distance. Finally, different parameters such as transmission and the loss of the signal through the waveguide have been analyzed and presented to achieve the optimal design.
Three-Phase Three-Level Shunt APF Control System Based on Multi-Task Parallel MCU

With the development of power electronics technology, the nonlinear and harmonic loads in the power grid are increasing rapidly. The increasingly prominent power quality issues raise the demand for active power filter (APF) sharply. Numerous and accurate sampling signals, timeconsuming harmonic extraction algorithms, and fractional tracking control loop make the APF control system sophisticated and costly. This paper presents the hardware structure and software architecture of a low-cost control system based on the TI dual-core microcontroller unit (MCU) TMS320F28377D for the three-phase three-level shunt APF. The dual-core MCU has the capability to process multiple tasks parallelly. The number of microchips in the control system is significantly reduced by fully utilize various peripherals and rationally arranging the timing of each serialprocessing core. Fewer microchips further simplify the peripheral circuit design, cut down the number of PCB layers, moderate layout design complexity, and improve the development efficiency. The experiments are carried out. The cost, as well as effectiveness comparisons between the control system proposed in this paper and previous control system, are given. The comparison results demonstrate the low-cost characteristics of the proposed control system. In the meanwhile, the results of experiments verify the feasibility of the low-cost control system.
Organic Light‐Emitting Devices: Remanagement of Singlet and Triplet Excitons in Single‐Emissive‐Layer Hybrid White Organic Light‐Emitting Devices Using Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Blue Exciplex (Adv. Mater. 44/2015)

On page 7079, X. -H. Zhang, C. -S. Lee, and co-workers discuss the drawbacks of single-emitting-layer hybrid white organic light-emitting devices (WOLEDs) based on conventional fluorescent hosts, and demonstrate an effective way to overcome these drawbacks by using the thermally activated delayed fluorescent blue exciplex. Based on this new concept, high-efficiency WOLEDs with a forward-viewing power efficiency of 48.7 lm W(-1) at 100 cd m(-2) are achieved.
A New Approach to Sensor Node Localization Using RSS Measurements in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this letter, we propose a new approach to the localization problem in wireless sensor networks using received-signal-strength (RSS) measurements. The problem is reformulated under the equivalent exponential transformation of the conventional path loss measurement model and the unscented transformation (UT), and is approximately approached by the maximum likelihood (ML) parameter estimation, which we refer to as the weighted least squares (WLS) approach. This formulation is used for sensor node localization in both noncooperative and cooperative scenarios. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the approach for both outdoor and indoor environments.
Person–city personality fit and entrepreneurial success: An explorative study in China

While the study of personality differences is a traditional psychological approach in entrepreneurship research, economic research directs attention towards the entrepreneurial ecosystems in which entrepreneurial activity are embedded. We combine both approaches and quantify the interplay between the individual personality make-up of entrepreneurs and the local personality composition of ecosystems, with a special focus on person-city personality fit. Specifically, we analyse personality data from N = 26,405 Chinese residents across 42 major Chinese cities, including N = 1091 Chinese entrepreneurs. Multi-level polynomial regression and response surface plots revealed that: (a) individual-level conscientiousness had a positive effect and individual-level agreeableness and neuroticism had a negative effect on entrepreneurial success, (b) city-level conscientiousness had a positive, and city-level neuroticism had a negative effect on entrepreneurial success, and (c) additional person-city personality fit effects existed for agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism. For example, entrepreneurs who are high in agreeableness and conduct their business in a city with a low agreeableness level show the lowest entrepreneurial success. In contrast, entrepreneurs who are low in agreeableness and conduct their business in a city with a high agreeableness level show relatively high entrepreneurial success. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
FlowMan: QoS-Aware Dynamic Data Flow Management in Software-Defined Networks

In this paper, we study the problem of data flow management in the presence of heterogeneous flows — elephant and mice flows — in software-defined networks (SDNs). Most of the researchers considered the homogeneous flows in SDN in the existing literature. The optimal data flow management in the presence of heterogeneous flows is NP-hard. Hence, we propose a game theory-based heterogeneous data flow management scheme, named FlowMan. In FlowMan, initially, we use a generalized Nash bargaining game to obtain a sub-optimal problem, which is NP-complete in nature. By solving it, we get the Pareto optimal solution for data-rate associated with each switch. Thereafter, we use a heuristic method to decide the flow-association with the switches, distributedly, which, in turn, helps to get a Pareto optimal solution. Extensive simulation results depict that FlowMan is capable of ensuring quality-of-service (QoS) for data flow management in the presence of heterogeneous flows. In particular, FlowMan is capable of reducing network delay by 77.8–98.7%, while ensuring 24.6–47.8% increase in network throughput, compared to the existing schemes such as FlowStat and CURE. Additionally, FlowMan ensures that per-flow delay is reduced by 27.7% with balanced load distribution among the SDN switches.
Effects of Corticision on paradental remodeling in orthodontic tooth movement.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the biologic effects of Corticision on alveolar remodeling in orthodontic tooth movement. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, 16 cats were divided into 3 groups: group A, only orthodontic force (control); group B, orthodontic force plus Corticision; and group C, orthodontic force plus Corticision and periodic mobilization. Histologic and histomorphometric studies were performed on tissue specimens on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. RESULTS Extensive direct resorption of bundle bone with less hyalinization and more rapid removal of hyalinized tissue were observed in group B. The accumulated mean apposition area of new bone on day 28 was observed to be 3.5-fold higher in group B than in the control group A. CONCLUSIONS Corticision might be an efficient procedure for accelerating orthodontic tooth movement accompanied with alveolar bone remodeling.
Survey of dietary and medication practices of owners of cats with chronic kidney disease

The objective of this study was to describe the dietary and medication patterns of cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this prospective, cross-sectional descriptive study, owners of cats with CKD were asked to complete a web-based survey. The study was advertised on CKD-, pet-, veterinary- and breed-associated websites and list serves. Owners of 1089 cats with CKD participated in the study. The mean reported age of the cats with CKD was 13.7 ± 4.2 years. Forty percent (430/1089) of cats had concurrent diseases, with hyperthyroidism, heart disease and inflammatory bowel disease being the most common. Veterinarian recommendation was the most common reason reported (684/1032; 66%) for diet selection, and 51% (556/1089) of owners fed a veterinary therapeutic diet formulated for kidney disease as some component of the diet. Many owners (466/1079; 43%) reported that their cats had an abnormal appetite; of these owners, 52% responded that their cats had a poor appetite or required coaxing to eat 5–7 days per week. Forty-seven percent and 51% of cats were receiving subcutaneous fluids and oral medications, respectively; however, most cats (811/1036; 78%) were not receiving phosphorus-binding medications. Fifty-six percent and 38% of cats received commercial cat treats and dietary supplements, respectively. Anorexia or hyporexia is a common problem in cats with CKD and may lead to cats being fed suboptimal diets for their disease. This information may be useful for treating or designing nutritional studies for cats with CKD.