Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coupled carrier-field Monte-Carlo analysis of mid-IR quantum cascade lasers

A short-injector mid-infrared quantum cascade laser based on the Ino.6Gao. 4As/Ino.36BAlo. 635As material system is analyzed by means of a self-consistent ensemble Monte-Carlo method. Scattering mechanisms, namely electron — acoustic phonon, electron-longitudinal optical phonon including hot phonons, electron-electron, electron-alloy, electron-impurity and interface roughness scattering as well as the interaction with the cavity field are self-consistently included and are discussed based on their relevance. We get good agreement with experiment, validating our approach. We find that the output power of such devices is limited by scattering with LO phonons, and to a smaller extend also by interface roughness scattering as well as alloy disorder.
The effect of pulse shaping on the performance of physical-layer network coding with time synchronization errors

Physical-layer network coding (PNC) is a natural extension of network coding in wireless communication networks. PNC utilizes the addition characteristic of the electromagnetic wave rationally and improves the throughout in wireless networks significantly. This paper focuses on a key issue in PNC: the effect of pulse shaping on the performance of time synchronization errors. Analysis and simulation results show that raised cosine pulse with roll-off coefficient of zero can resist power penalty furthest due to time synchronization errors in PNC when adopting pulse shaping without ISI. Also when adopting Gaussian pulse shaping, we can get the best effect with parameter of one on resisting power penalty due to time synchronization errors in PNC.
USING PHASE LINEARITY TO TACKLE THE PERMUTATION PROBLEM IN AUDIO SOURCE SEPARATION

This paper describes a method for solving the permutation problem in blind source separation (BSS) by frequencydomain independent component analysis (FD-ICA). FD-ICA is a well-known method for BSS of convolutive mixtures. However, FD-ICA has a source permutation problem, where estimated source components can become swapped at different frequencies. Many researchers have suggested methods to solve the source permutation problem including using correlation between adjacent frequencies. In this paper, we discuss a new method for solving the permutation problem, based on the linearity of the phase response of the FD-ICA de-mixing matrix. Initial results indicate that our method can provide an almost perfect solution to the permutation problem in an anechoic environment, and better performance than the method based on correlation between adjacent frequencies in an echoic environment.
NTCIR-3 Patent Retrieval Experiments at ULIS

Given the growing number of patents filed in multiple countries, users are interested in retrieving patents across languages. We propose a multi-lingual patent retrieval system, which translates a user query into the target language, searches a multilingual database for patents relevant to the query, and improves the browsing efficiency by way of machine translation and clustering. Our system also extracts new translations from patent families consisting of comparable patents, to enhance the translation dictionary.
Modeling the acoustic correlates of dialog act for expressive Chinese TTS synthesis

This paper proposed a novel approach for describing the expressivity of dialog text and modelling their acoustic correlates for expressive text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis. We applied the Dialog Acts (DAs) in describing expressivity. In particular, we set up a Wizard-of-Oz (WoZ) data collection framework to collect the tourism domain corpus and annotated the DAs. A Pitch Target model which is optimized to describe Mandarin F0 contours was introduced to model the pitch contour of Mandarin syllables. Then a Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) based model was developed, that can transform acoustic features of neutral speech (parameters of pitch target model, duration, energy and pauses) to resemble expressive speech, according to the DA of the input text. Perceptual evaluation of the modified speech outputs shows that over 63% of the utterances carry appropriate expressivity. Expressive Mean Opinion Score also demonstrated that modified speech improved the expressivity of the neutral speech.
WHISPER: A Problem-Solving System Utilizing Diagrams and a Parallel Processing Retina

Diagrams are of substantial benefit to WHISPER, a computer problem-solving system, In testing the stability of a "blocks world" structure and predicting the event sequences which occur as that structure collapses. WHISPER'S components include a high level reasoner which knows some qualitative aspects of Physics, a simulated parallel processing "retina" to "look at" Its diagrams, and a set of re-drawing procedures for modifying these diagrams. Roughly modelled after the human eye, WHISPER'S retina can fixate at any diagram location, and Its resolution decreases away from its center. Diagrams enable WHISPER to work with objects of arbitrary shape, detect collisions and other motion discontinuities, discover coincidental alignments, and easily update its world model after a state change.
Mitochondrial Respiration Regulates Adipogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult multipotent stem cells which can be isolated from bone marrow, adipose tissue as well as other tissues and have the capacity to differentiate into a variety of mesenchymal cell types such as adipocytes, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. Differentiation of stem cells into mature cell types is guided by growth factors and hormones, but recent studies suggest that metabolic shifts occur during differentiation and can modulate the differentiation process. We therefore investigated mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial respiration and the mitochondrial membrane potential during adipogenic differentiation of human MSCs. In addition, we inhibited mitochondrial function to assess its effects on adipogenic differentiation. Our data show that mitochondrial biogenesis and oxygen consumption increase markedly during adipogenic differentiation, and that reducing mitochondrial respiration by hypoxia or by inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport chain significantly suppresses adipogenic differentiation. Furthermore, we used a novel approach to suppress mitochondrial activity using a specific siRNA-based knockdown of the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which also resulted in an inhibition of adipogenic differentiation. Taken together, our data demonstrates that increased mitochondrial activity is a prerequisite for MSC differentiation into adipocytes. These findings suggest that metabolic modulation of adult stem cells can maintain stem cell pluripotency or direct adult stem cell differentiation.
Moderating Effects of Transformational Leadership between External Team Learning and Research Team Performance Outcomes

A growing body of empirical research examines the effects of external team learning on team performance. While previous studies suggest that external learning activities enhance team performance, the contingencies of such activities have received less research attention. This study examines the moderating effects of transformational team leadership between external team learning and two team performance outcomes: (1) accepted and published articles in peer‐reviewed scientific journals, and (2) project occupancy rate. The study was conducted with 124 research teams. Supporting the hypotheses, the findings show that transformational leadership has a positive moderating effect between external team learning and both team performance outcomes.
Public Investment in Transportation and Communication and Growth:A Dynamic Panel Approach

This paper investigates the relationship between public investment in transportation and communication and economic growth using traditional instrumental estimation and a mixed fixed and random coefficient approach in the context of a dynamic panel framework. We find that there is a dynamic effect of public investment in transportation and communication on economic growth and its impact is positive. In comparison with earlier studies, our estimtaed coefficients are somewhat lower. However, for the reverse causal relationship proposed by the investment acceleration hypothesis, we find that there is significant heterogeneity across countries and our empirical study does not support the presence of reverse causality.
Closing the Church University in 1894: Embracing or Accommodating Secularized Education.

Closing the Church University in 1894: Embracing or Accommodating Secularized Education Brian W. Ricks Department of Education Leadership and Foundations, BYU Doctor of Philosophy The late 1800s have been noted as a major transitional period for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When the beleaguered pioneers first arrived in Utah they were isolated from the influence and expectations of the United States. During that time, leaders of the Church became influential in every aspect of life in Utah. By the end of the nineteenth century, however, the period of isolation had come to an end. Nationally, the social norms had changed and religion was expected to stay in the churches and out of politics. Church leaders were faced with serious questions regarding what policies and practices could be altered without betraying doctrines and principles of the gospel. Education was at the forefront of this tension in Utah. Members of the Church tried to hold on to an integrated approach to education that incorporated both the spiritual and the secular. Others, however, adamantly opposed such an approach in public schools. In 1892, the First Presidency announced a new educational institution that would become the administrative head of all Church schools: The University of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Willard Young became the President and James Talmage was placed over the science department. Talmage traveled to Europe to purchase the best scientific equipment. With the scientific apparatus and a new building the leaders of the Church hoped to persuade the youth of the Church to obtain higher education at home rather than traveling east to attend secularized universities. The Church’s first private university seemed destined to become a major influence in Utah education. However, after one successful semester, President Woodruff closed the school and donated over sixty thousand dollars to the University of Utah. The following research explores the history of the Church University and the circumstances surrounding its closure. The paper shows how a combination of the financial panic of 1893, the effort to obtain statehood, and a rare opportunity to quietly gain influence at the University of Utah factored into the decision to close the Church's first private university.
Efficient Proximal Support Vector Machine for Spatial Data

With more and more spatial data being collected data mining for spatial data has become a rapidly evolving research area. Support vector machine (SVM) as a powerful tool for data classification has the potentials in spatial data mining. However, traditional SVM involves solving a quadratic optimization problem that requires considerably long computation time for large data sets. In this paper, we propose a new efficient proximal Support Vector Machine (P-SVM) using Peano tree. Peano tree (P-tree) is a vertical compressed bitwise quadrant tree that is processed horizontally through logical operations. P-SVM exploits a unique neighborhood search method, i.e., EIN-ring based neighborhood search to find the boundary sentries. The final boundary hyperplanes of test data are determined by their d-nearest boundary sentries, which are calculated from EIN-ring membership of support vector pairs. Moreover, the outliers in the training data are automatically eliminated according to their EINring membership in the step of finding region components. The candidate support vectors are selected in a way that is robust to noisy and fuzzy boundary. Experiments show that P-SVM is order of magnitude faster than traditional SVM with superior cardinality scalability and comparable accuracy for a large-scale spatial data.
A Framework for the successful Introduction of KM using CBR and Semantic Web Technologies

This document describes our current work on developing a framework which supports organizations in the successful implementation of Knowledge Management (KM). It follows the holistic approach of a KM introduction by considering technological, organizational and human aspects, as well as the organizational culture in equal measure. The framework provides recommendations based on Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) techniques and Semantic Web technologies. It supports the four processes of Aamodt & Plaza’s CBR-cycle. The best practice cases for a successful KM implementation are structured by the use of an ontology.
Inflation in China: Modelling a Roller Coaster Ride

The New Keynesian Phillips curve (NKPC) posits the dynamics of inflation as forward looking and related to marginal costs. In this paper we examine the empirical relevance of the NKPC for China. The empirical results indicate that an augmented (hybrid) NKPC gives results that are consistent with the data generating process. It is in this respect that the NKPC provides useful insights into the nature of inflation dynamics in China as well as useful insights for the conduct of monetary policy. Copyright 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Yes-Associated Protein 1 Is Widely Expressed in Human Brain Tumors and Promotes Glioblastoma Growth

The hippo pathway and its downstream mediator yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) regulate mammalian organ size in part through modulating progenitor cell numbers. YAP1 has also been implicated as an oncogene in multiple human cancers. Currently, little is known about the expression of YAP1 either in normal human brain tissue or in central nervous system neoplasms. We used immunohistochemistry to evaluate nuclear YAP1 expression in the fetal and normal adult human brains and in 264 brain tumors. YAP1 was expressed infetal and adult brain regions known to harbor neural progenitor cells, but there was little YAP1 immunoreactivity in the adult cerebral cortex. YAP1 protein was also readily detected in the nuclei ofhuman brain tumors. In medulloblastoma, the expression varied between histologic subtypes and was most prominent in nodular/desmoplastic tumors. In gliomas, it was frequently expressed in infiltrating astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas but rarely in pilocytic astrocytomas. Using a loss-of-function approach, we show thatYAP1 promoted growth of glioblastoma cell lines in vitro. High levels of YAP1 messenger RNA expression were associated with aggressive molecular subsets of glioblastoma and with a nonsignificanttrend toward reduced mean survival in human astrocytoma patients. These findings suggest that YAP1 may play an important rolein normal human brain development and that it could represent a new target in human brain tumors.
Fair Layout Design

Abstract This article considers the design of fairs that are subject to layout considerations. A fair is a large-scale exhibition for goods and services (for example, a trade fair or a regional fair). A method for designing fair layouts using a slicing structure and a horseshoe cut is presented, and numerical results for the layout of a real fair are reported. The selected criteria are evaluated using the obtained results.
Residential Stability or Rational Bubble: Proposition 13 in Southern California

California’s Proposition 13, which limits the growth of property tax to 2 percent per year, provides homeowners an incentive to remain in their housing units and thus contributes to residential stability. Yet, with fast home price appreciation, new home buyers may purchase a home and then sell it again within a short period of time. Even though they incur transaction costs, they can gain by the appreciation. Under Proposition 13, faced with a disproportionately large property tax relative to those homeowners who purchased their homes a long time ago at a much lower price, the new homebuyers have an additional incentive to trade homes fast in an up market to avoid paying a high property tax. We call this short term residential trading ‘Proposition 13 risk arbitrage’ and predict that Proposition 13 induces additional short-term residential trading, which adds to the underlying residential market speculation. Cross-sectional variations of the residential holding periods over the 1993 to 2001 period in the five counties of Southern California are generally consistent with the predictions based on Proposition 13 induced trading: Households which face a higher property tax per square foot and those that experience larger capital gains show a shorter holding period. We also explain the time variation of the aggregate residential holding period using the Proposition 13 risk arbitrage argument.
High Body Mass Index Is a Weak Predictor for Difficult and Failed Tracheal Intubation: A Cohort Study of 91,332 Consecutive Patients Scheduled for Direct Laryngoscopy Registered in the Danish Anesthesia Database

Background:Previous studies have failed to detect high body mass index (BMI) as a risk factor for difficult tracheal intubation (DTI). BMI was investigated as a risk factor for DTI in patients planned for direct laryngoscopy. Methods:A cohort of 91,332 consecutive patients planned for intubation by direct laryngoscopy was retrieved from the Danish Anesthesia Database. A four-point scale to grade the tracheal intubation was used. Age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, priority of surgery, history of previous DTI, modified Mallampati-score, use of neuromuscular blocker, and BMI were retrived. Logistic regression to assess whether BMI was associated with DTI was performed. Results:The frequency of DTI was 5.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.0–5.3). In multivariate analyses adjusted for other significant covariates, BMI of 35 or more was a risk for DTI with an odds ratio of 1.34 (95% CI 1.19–1.51, P < 0.0001). As a stand alone test, BMI of 35 or more predicted DTI with a sensitivity of 7.5% (95% CI 7.3–7.7%) and with a predictive value of a positive test of 6.4% (95% CI 6.3–6.6%). BMI as a continuous covariate was a risk for failed intubation with an odds ratio of 1.031 (95% CI 1.002–1.061, P < 0.04). Conclusions:High BMI is a weak but statistically significant predictor of difficult and failed intubation and may be more appropriate than weight in multivariate models of prediction of DTI.
Green Film Criticism and Its Futures

yond its original home in literary studies and colonizing new niches in related fields. Among these is film criticism. many ecocritics have taken an interest in film and visual media: there have, for instance, been a number of discussions on the ASLE listserv about environmental films, and several courses in environmental literature include screenings of films. Yet most references to film among ecocritics have tended to focus on films that are considered “environmental,” especially those that portray nature and its defenders positively, as, for instance, Gorillas in the Mist, Koyaanisqatsi, Never Cry Wolf, On Deadly Ground, and Erin Brockovich. Rarely has cinema in general been viewed through an ecocritical lens, nor has there been much evidence in the main venues of ecocriticism of the sustained application of ecocritical strategies to film and cinema studies. 1 In the last six or seven years, this situation has begun to change, with the appearance of extended monographs examining wildlife and nature documentary (Gregg mitman’s Reel Nature and Derek Bouse’s Wildlife Films), environmental themes in experimental cinema (Scott macDonald’s The Garden in the Machine), critical analyses of the repre sentation and use of animals in film (Jonathan Burt’s Animals in Film), and green perspectives on film more generally (David Ingram’s Green Screen, Pat Brereton’s Hollywood Utopia, and Sean Cubitt’s EcoMedia). This article will review the main directions and achievements of eco logically minded film criticism to date and will suggest some as-yetunderexplored strategies for a green film criticism, or
Receiver-based AODV routing protocol for MANETs

Many routing protocols have been proposed to enhance the performance of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) for various applications. This paper proposes a receiver-based Ad Hoc On-demand Distance Vector (RB-AODV) routing protocol to support high traffic load applications. In RB-AODV, we use the destination node to update the source node with the available path, while it still receiving data packets. We implemented RB-AODV using glomosim. The simulation results show that RB-AODV produces a better performance in terms of end-to-end delay, packet delivery ratio, and control overhead compared to the AODV protocol.
An Efficient and Versatile System for Visualization and Genetic Modification of Dopaminergic Neurons in Transgenic Mice

Background & Aims The brain dopaminergic (DA) system is involved in fine tuning many behaviors and several human diseases are associated with pathological alterations of the DA system such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and drug addiction. Because of its complex network integration, detailed analyses of physiological and pathophysiological conditions are only possible in a whole organism with a sophisticated tool box for visualization and functional modification. Methods & Results Here, we have generated transgenic mice expressing the tetracycline-regulated transactivator (tTA) or the reverse tetracycline-regulated transactivator (rtTA) under control of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter, TH-tTA (tet-OFF) and TH-rtTA (tet-ON) mice, to visualize and genetically modify DA neurons. We show their tight regulation and efficient use to overexpress proteins under the control of tet-responsive elements or to delete genes of interest with tet-responsive Cre. In combination with mice encoding tet-responsive luciferase, we visualized the DA system in living mice progressively over time. Conclusion These experiments establish TH-tTA and TH-rtTA mice as a powerful tool to generate and monitor mouse models for DA system diseases.
Trends in Competition and Profitability in the Banking Industry: A Basic Framework

This paper brings to the forefront the assumptions that we make when focusing on a particular type of explanation for bank profitability. We evaluate a broad field of research by introducing a general framework for a profit maximizing bank and demonstrate how different types of models can be fitted into this framework. Next, we present an overview of the current major trends in European banking and relate them to each model's assumptions, thereby shedding light on the relevance, timeliness and shelf life of the different models. This way, we arrive at a set of recommendations for a future research agenda. We advocate a more prominent role for output prices, and suggest a modification of the intermediation approach. We also suggest ways to more clearly distinguish between market power and efficiency, and explain why we need time-dependent models. Finally, we propose the application of existing models to different size classes and sub-markets. Throughout we emphasize the benefits from applying several, complementary models to overcome the identification problems that we observe in individual models.