Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An iterative auction mechanism for combinatorial exchanges

Combinatorial exchanges are double sided marketplaces with multiple sellers and multiple buyers trading with the help of combinatorial bids. The allocation and other associated problems in such exchanges are known to be among the hardest to solve among all economic mechanisms. In this paper, we develop computationally efficient iterative auction mechanisms for solving combinatorial exchanges. Our mechanisms satisfy Individual-rationality (IR) and budget-nonnegativity (BN) properties. We also show that our method is bounded and convergent. Our numerical experiments show that our algorithm produces good quality solutions and is computationally efficient.
Automatized Search for Complex Symbolic Dynamics with Applications in the Analysis of a Simple Memristor Circuit

An automatized method to search for complex symbolic dynamics is proposed. The method can be used to show that a given dynamical system is chaotic in the topological sense. Application of this method in the analysis of a third-order memristor circuit is presented. Several examples of symbolic dynamics are constructed. Positive lower bounds for the topological entropy of an associated return map are found showing that the system is chaotic in the topological sense.
Design, modeling and optimization of a piezoelectric pressure sensor based on thin-film PZT diaphragm contain of nanocrystalline powders

In this paper fabrication of a 0–3 ceramic/ceramic composite lead zirconate titanate, Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 thin film has been presented and then a pressure sensor based on multilayer thin-film PZT diaphragm contain of Lead Zirconate Titanate nanocrystalline powders was designed, modeled and optimized. This multilayer diaphragm in general acts as sensor or actuator. ANSYS was used for simulation of diaphragm. Dynamics characteristics of this multilayer diaphragm have been investigated. By this simulation the effective parameters of the multilayer PZT diaphragm for improving the performance of a pressure sensor in different ranges of pressure are optimized. The optimized thickness ratio of PZT layer to SiO2 was given in the paper to obtain the maximum deflection of the multilayer thin-film PZT diaphragm. A 0–3 ceramic/ceramic composite lead zirconate titanate, Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 film has been developed to fabricate the pressure sensor by a hybrid sol gel process. PZT nanopowders fabricated via conventional sol gel method and uniformly dispersed in PZT precursor solution by an attrition mill. Preparing of precursor started from 2-methoxyethanol as a solvent and acetylacetone (acac) as a chelating agent. The resulting composite solution deposited onto platinized silicon by spin coating, pyrolysis at 380°C and annealed at 650°C for 30 minutes, respectively. XRD analysis shows that perovskite structure would be formed due to the presence of a significant amount of ceramic nanopowders. This texture has a good effect on piezoelectric properties of perovskite structure. The film forms a strongly bonded network and less shrinkage occurs, so the films do not crack during process. Also the aspect ratio through this process would be increased. SEM micrographs indicated that PZT films were uniform, crack free and have a composite microstructure.
Psychometric properties and practical attributes of the trunk control test in stroke patients.

Sir, A recent paper by Duarte et al. (1) analysed the relationship of the trunk control test (TCT) at admission with length of stay (LOS) and a series of functional measures at discharge in 28 stroke patients. The TCT correlated with walking speed, walking distance and balance, and predicted, together with admission FIM, a large percentage of variance in LOS and discharge FIM. Their results confirm the construct validity of the TCT (convergence with balance and walking measures) and its role as a valid predictor of ability in activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke patients. However, further comments on their results and conclusions are warranted. The TCT showed a large ceiling effect: about 30% of the patients in Figure 3 had top scores on admission, and the score cluster at the top of the scale range would have strongly increased at discharge, as a mean FIM score of 109.5 (out of a maximum of 126) suggests. In such condition, it would be: (i) difficult to consider the TCT as a promising “outcome measure” (2): the ceiling effect denotes a reduced ability to discriminate between subjects, and adversely influences the responsiveness of an instrument (3); and (ii) of limited interest “to repeat TCT at discharge to provide further evidence of correlation with the other outcome variables”, due to the low variability in TCT scores that produces artificially low (and poorly interpretable) correlation coefficients (4). For these reasons, we stress the conclusions of our previous paper studying stroke patients with higher disability level (i.e. that “the TCT probably works best around or below the floor of the motor FIM subscale …”) (5), and maintain the usefulness of a combined evaluation of trunk control and functional independence in basic ADL only in stroke patients at an early stage (and with important disability), as a pivotal predictor of mid-term functional outcome (see also 6). We appreciated the paper by Duarte et al. and think that their comments on this issue could add further notions on the psychometric criteria and practical attributes that should be considered in the assessment of a measure. Moreover, a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the TCT in relation to the particular population under scrutiny and the research goals could help the reader to be more confident about the appropriate use of the TCT in clinical settings (and could also be lead to suggestions for selecting alternative instruments for specific contexts or goals).
Should firms really be obliged to provide financial interim reports ?

Mandating interim reporting is lively discussed in Europe, especially since the European Union has set up mandatory quarterly reporting on the agenda. By examining the Swiss stock market, in which interim reporting became mandatory in 1997, we find that tightening disclosure frequency by mandating interim financial reports has a very limited and thus not convincing impact on information asymmetry. We suspect that firms that did not provide interim reports on a voluntary basis prior to the new rules potentially anticipated the insignificance of a greater information environment in their specific situation and thus reasonably chose not to publish costly interim reports. Further analysis supports this hypothesis and documents that firms affected by the new rules did not experience an enhancement in their information environment simply because they have already been characterized by lower information asymmetry before the regulation became effective. They thus obviously chose other disclosure channels possibly more appropriate in their specific situation in order to decrease information asymmetry. The question whether firms should really be obliged to provide financial interim reports must therefore be further challenged by asking for the objectives of the regulation. If the main objective is decreasing information asymmetry, our results suggest that regulation partly fails.
Efficient batch authentication for hierarchical wireless sensor networks

Authentication in wireless sensor networks is critical, as they are often deployed unattended in hostile environments and must transmit information over unsecured mediums. However, the cost of performing cryptographic operations is an extremely limiting factor because sensor devices and related equipment are constrained by storage and computational ability. The problem is further compounded by the fact that one device (typically a base station) may be required to perform a large number of verifications proportional to the number of sensing devices. This paper investigates the efficiency of message authentication in hierarchical wireless sensor network systems. Scenarios are explored for verifying messages as a batch process, thereby saving overhead and computation. If a device is incapable of performing verification, it can sign the batch and pass it up the hierarchy to another device to undertake the verification procedure. This effectively overcomes many problems with power, storage and computational constraints. We contrast two approaches based on message authentication codes and short digital signatures. A framework is presented for how digital signatures can be used for batch authentication within a hierarchical wireless sensor network.
The Role of LDH Serum Levels in Predicting Global Outcome in HCC Patients Undergoing TACE: Implications for Clinical Management

In many tumor types serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels is an indirect marker of tumor hypoxia, neo-angiogenesis and worse prognosis. However data about hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are lacking in the clinical setting of patients undergoing transarterial-chemoembolization (TACE) in whom hypoxia and neo-angiogenesis may represent a molecular key to treatment failure. Aim of our analysis was to evaluate the role of LDH pre-treatment levels in determining clinical outcome for patients with HCC receiving TACE. One hundred and fourteen patients were available for our analysis. For all patients LDH values were collected within one month before the procedure. We divided our patients into two groups, according to LDH serum concentration registered before TACE (first: LDH≤450 U/l 84 patients; second: LDH>450 U/l 30 patients). Patients were classified according to the variation in LDH serum levels pre- and post-treatment (increased: 62 patients vs. decreased 52 patients). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups for all clinical characteristics analyzed (gender, median age, performance status ECOG, staging systems). In patients with LDH values below 450 U/l median time to progression (TTP) was 16.3 months, whereas it was of 10.1 months in patients above the cut-off (p = 0.0085). Accordingly median overall survival (OS) was 22.4 months and 11.7 months (p = 0.0049). In patients with decreased LDH values after treatment median TTP was 12.4 months, and median OS was 22.1 months, whereas TTP was 9.1 months and OS was 9.5 in patients with increased LDH levels (TTP: p = 0.0087; OS: p<0.0001). In our experience, LDH seemed able to predict clinical outcome for HCC patients undergoing TACE. Given the correlation between LDH levels and tumor angiogenesis we can speculate that patients with high LDH pretreatment levels may be optimal candidates for clinical trial exploring a multimodality treatment approach with TACE and anti-VEGF inhibitors in order to improve TTP and OS.
An Alternative Approach to the Valuation of American Options and Applications

In this paper we examine the structure of American option valuation problems and derive the analytic valuation formulas under general underlying security price processes by an alternative but intuitive method. For alternative diffusion processes, we derive closed-form analytic valuation formulas and analyze the implications of asset price dynamics on the early exercise premiums of American options. In this regard, we introduce useful and interesting diffusion processes into American option-pricing literature, thus providing a wide range of choices of pricing models for various American-type derivative assets. This work offers a useful analytic framework for empirical testing and practical applications such as the valuation of corporate securities and examining the impact of options trading on market micro-structure.
MR imaging assessment of myelination in the very preterm brain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE MR imaging was performed in very preterm infants by using an MR imager in the neonatal intensive care unit. The aims of this study were to assess the development of myelination in the preterm brain based on MR imaging findings and to compare the ability of T1-weighted conventional spin-echo, inversion recovery fast spin-echo, and T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR imaging to show myelination in these infants. METHODS MR imaging was performed for 26 preterm infants with a median gestational age of 28 weeks who had normal neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years corrected age. RESULTS Myelin was evident in the gracile and cuneate nuclei and fasciculi, vestibular nuclei, cerebellar vermis, inferior and superior cerebellar peduncles, dentate nucleus, medial longitudinal fasciculus, medial geniculate bodies, subthalamic nuclei, inferior olivary nuclei, ventrolateral nuclei of the thalamus, decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncles, medial lemnisci, lateral lemnisci, and inferior colliculi at < or = 28 weeks gestational age. From this gestational age, myelination was not visualized at any new site until 36 weeks gestational age, when myelin was visualized in the corona radiata, posterior limb of the internal capsule, corticospinal tracts of the precentral and postcentral gyri, and lateral geniculate bodies. T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR imaging showed myelin in gray matter nuclei at an earlier gestational age than did T1-weighted conventional spin-echo or inversion recovery fast spin-echo MR imaging. T1-weighted conventional spin-echo MR imaging showed myelin earlier in some white matter tracts in the preterm brain. CONCLUSION Myelination was evident in numerous gray and white matter structures in the very preterm brain. A knowledge of myelination milestones will allow delays to be detected at an early stage.
The expression of music throughout the lives of expectant parents

Music can promote emotion regulation in individuals exposed to trauma and stress and may support positive parenting behaviors. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the use of music in the lives of a sample of expectant mothers and fathers (N = 102), who were considered at risk for insensitive parenting due to exposure to environmental and psychosocial stressors. Interviews probed childhood memories of music, current engagement with music, and parental plans to share music with their infants after birth. Using principles of grounded theory, a thematic coding process was employed. Findings highlight the relationship-salient and culturally embedded nature of music in the lives of these parents. Parents described the intergenerational transmission of musical family traditions. They recalled memories of music, which were linked in important ways to the central caregivers in their own early lives and described their intentions to use music in similar ways when caring for their own children. Parents also described the fundamental integration of music within their communities and culture. Findings suggest that promoting parental use of music to soothe and care for their children may be one cost-effective intervention technique that supports feelings of parental competence and parent–infant connection.
Influence of extrusion on the bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of the bean/corn mixtures

The aim of this investigation was to examine the influence of extrusion on the bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of bean/corn mixtures. Whole bean flour and nixtamalized corn were mixed in a 60:40 proportion and extrusion was performed in different moisture (14.5%, 15.4%, 17.1% and 18.0%) and temperature (150°C, 160°C, 170°C, 180°C and 190°C) conditions in order to find the optimal extrusion conditions. According to their functional properties and antioxidant status, the mixtures 142°C/16.3% H, 170°C/16.3% H and 198°C/16.3% H were defined as optimal, moderate and bad, respectively. Total polyphenols and flavonoids in the mixture of 142°C/16.3% H (15.09±1.7 mg gallic acid equivalent [GAE]/g dry weight [DW] and 1.57±0.2 mg catechin equivalent [CE]/g DW) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than in the sample 170°C/16.3% H (9.42±1.1 mg GAE/g DW and 1.4±0.1 mg CE/g DW) and the mixture 198°C/16.3% H (6.46±0.8 mg GAE/g DW and 0.78±0.1 mg CE/g DW). The antioxidant activity (37.02±3.8 and 25.01±2.5 µM Trolox equivalent [TE]/g DW) of mixture 142°C/16.3% H, determined by the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity with Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and β-carotene–linoleic acid (β-carotene,% of inhibition) assays, was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in 170°C/16.3% H (25.69±2.8 and 17.02±1.8 µM TE/g DW) and in mixture 198°C/16.3% H (13.93±1.5 and 8.94±0.9 µM TE/g DW), respectively. The free polyphenols, flavonoids and the antioxidant activities showed lower results than the hydrolyzed ones. The correlation coefficients between polyphenols, flavonoids, and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity capacities were between 0.93 and 0.99. In cereal proteins extracted and separated by electrophoresis, some differences were found in the sodium dodecyl sulfate–protein bands in the region from 36 to 45 kDa for 142°C/16.3% H, in comparison with other samples. Therefore, there is a need to find such conditions for the extrusion procedures that would take into consideration the contents of the bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity in the end product.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Susceptibility to Infection by Mycobacterium avium Subspecies paratuberculosis in Holstein Cattle

Paratuberculosis, or Johne's disease, is a chronic, granulomatous, gastrointestinal tract disease of cattle and other ruminants caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium, subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Control of Johne's disease is based on programs of testing and culling animals positive for infection with MAP while concurrently modifying management to reduce the likelihood of infection. The current study is motivated by the hypothesis that genetic variation in host susceptibility to MAP infection can be dissected and quantifiable associations with genetic markers identified. For this purpose, a case-control, genome-wide association study was conducted using US Holstein cattle phenotyped for MAP infection using a serum ELISA and/or fecal culture test. Cases included cows positive for either serum ELISA, fecal culture or both. Controls consisted of animals negative for the serum ELISA test or both serum ELISA and fecal culture when both were available. Controls were matched by herd and proximal birth date with cases. A total of 856 cows (451 cases and 405 controls) were used in initial discovery analyses, and an additional 263 cows (159 cases and 104 controls) from the same herds were used as a validation data set. Data were analyzed in a single marker analysis controlling for relatedness of individuals (GRAMMAR-GC) and also in a Bayesian analysis in which multiple marker effects were estimated simultaneously (GenSel). For the latter, effects of non-overlapping 1 Mb marker windows across the genome were estimated. Results from the two discovery analyses were generally concordant; however, discovery results were generally not well supported in analysis of the validation data set. A combined analysis of discovery and validation data sets provided strongest support for SNPs and 1 Mb windows on chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 7, 17 and 29.
FPGA implementation of iterative decoder for turbo codes for software defined radio

Implementation of iterative decoder for turbo codes is a challenging task; however, various algorithms have been proposed to enable the implementation of iterative decoder for turbo codes in a hardware device. For faster prototype development of any wireless communication system, software defined radio (SDR) is the best choice. This paper discusses the design and FPGA implementation of an iterative decoder for turbo codes using the MAX-LOG-MAP algorithm for an SDR. The entire implementation is carried out using the Xilinx block set available in MATLAB and SIMULINK. Xilinx System Generator is used to generate bit file which is used to configure Virtex-4 FPGA device in an SDR platform. BER plot and output results for the implementation are also presented.
Fabrication‐aware Design with Intersecting Planar Pieces

We propose a computational design approach to generate 3D models composed of interlocking planar pieces. We show how intricate 3D forms can be created by sliding the pieces into each other along straight slits, leading to a simple construction that does not require glue, screws, or other means of support. To facilitate the design process, we present an abstraction model that formalizes the main geometric constraints imposed by fabrication and assembly, and incorporates conditions on the rigidity of the resulting structure. We show that the tight coupling of constraints makes manual design highly nontrivial and introduce an optimization method to automate constraint satisfaction based on an analysis of the constraint relation graph. This algorithm ensures that the planar parts can be fabricated and assembled. We demonstrate the versatility of our approach by creating 3D toy models, an architectural design study, and several examples of functional furniture.
Interaction effects between weather and space use on harvesting effort and patterns in red deer

Most cervid populations in Europe and North America are managed through selective harvesting, often with age- and sex-specific quotas, with a large influence on the population growth rate. Less well understood is how prevailing weather affects harvesting selectivity and off-take indirectly through changes in individual animal and hunter behavior. The behavior and movement patterns of hunters and their prey are expected to be influenced by weather conditions. Furthermore, habitat characteristics like habitat openness are also known to affect movement patterns and harvesting vulnerability, but how much such processes affect harvest composition has not been quantified. We use harvest data from red deer (Cervus elaphus) to investigate how weather and habitat characteristics affect behavioral decisions of red deer and their hunters throughout the hunting season. More specifically, we look at how sex and age class, temperature, precipitation, moon phase, and day of week affect the probability of being harvested on farmland (open habitat), hunter effort, and the overall harvest numbers. Moon phase and day of week were the strongest predictors of hunter effort and harvest numbers, with higher effort during full moon and weekends, and higher numbers during full moon. In general, the effect of fall weather conditions and habitat characteristics on harvest effort and numbers varied through the season. Yearlings showed the highest variation in the probability of being harvested on farmland through the season, but there was no effect of sex. Our study is among the first to highlight that weather may affect harvesting patterns and off-take indirectly through animal and hunter behavior, but the interaction effects of weather and space use on hunter behavior are complicated, and seem less important than hunter preference and quotas in determining hunter selection and harvest off-take. The consideration of hunter behavior is therefore key when forming management rules for sustainable harvesting.
A Big Data Model Supporting Information Recommendation in Social Networks

As information systems are becoming sophisticated and mobile, cloud computing, social networking services are now very popular to people, the amount of data is rapidly increasing every year. Big data is data which should be analyzed by a company or an organization, but has not been tried to be analyzed or could not have been processed by current technology. In this paper, we introduce a big data model for recommender systems using social network data. The model incorporates factors related to social networks and can be applied to information recommendation with respect to various social behaviors that can increase the reliability of the recommended information. The big data model has the flexibility to be expanded to incorporate more sophisticated additional factors if needed. The experimental results using it in information recommendation and using map-reduce to process it show that it is a feasible model to be used for information recommendation.