Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing customer oriented research

Insufficient technology transfer between research and its customers is one of the key weaknesses in industrial R&D. Since knowledge transfer to development and other corporate partners is the only raison d'etre for industrial research, R&D management should place more emphasis on developing the transfer capacity of its researchers. Based on analysis of more than 200 research interviews in 62 companies, we focus on the management interface between research scientists and development teams. We identify five principal dilemmas for managing customer oriented research: the short/long-term dilemma, simultaneity and uncertainty, surrender of project ownership, technocentricity and need fulfilment, specialisation and integration. These concepts are illustrated with five examples of R-to-D management at Siemens, ABB, General Electric, EGU, and Rolic. Although geographical, functional, and socio-behavioral distances call for a stronger consideration of research-development integration, research must retain a sufficient degree of independence. We propose a transfer oriented model for managing the R-to-D process, from what is possible to what is necessary. Aligning research activities with market requirements may be the only survival strategy for many corporate research centres.
A Budget-Aware Algorithm for Scheduling Scientific Workflows in Cloud

Commercial clouds are quickly becoming the goto platform for hosting on-demand and dynamically scalable services for scientific analyses and computation. Dynamic provisioning of resources is a critical element when utilising the cloud for executing large-scale and complex scientific analyses. In particular, hosting and managing data intensive applications on the cloud raises new challenges in terms of workflow scheduling. In this paper, we introduce a new Budget Aware Trickling (BAT) algorithm that addresses eScience workflow scheduling in the cloud. Our main focus in this paper is on data intensive applications that appear in scientific domains dealing with a large amount of data. The BAT algorithm builds upon the concept of Constrained Critical Paths (CCP) to execute a set of tasks on the same instance to lower the cost of communication and data movement between instances. Our BAT algorithm distributes budget based on the dependency structure inherent in workflows and we show that it yields 30% reduction in makespan while maintaining consistent success rate.
Time and Synchronization in Membrane Systems

Membrane systems are parallel computational devices inspired from the cell functioning. Since the original definition, a standard feature of membrane systems is the fact that each rule of the system is executed in exactly one time-unit. However, this hypothesis seems not to have a counterpart in real world. In fact, in cells, chemical reactions might take different times to be exe-cuted. Therefore, a natural step is to associate to each rule of a membrane system a certain time of execution. We are interested in membrane systems, called time-free, working independently from the assigned execution time of the rules. A basic and interesting problem in time-free membrane systems consists in the synchronization of different rules, running in parallel, and having unknown execution times. Here, we present different ways to approach this problem within the framework of membrane systems. Several research proposals are also suggested.
Tracking-Based Semi-Supervised Learning using Stationary Video

This paper deal addresses the semi-supervised problem of tracking and recognizing objects in videos taken with stationary cameras. Building on work on Stanford’s autonomous vehicle using laser range finders to solve the same problem, we aim to develop accurate methods for classifying objects without the additional benefit of 3D laser scans. We set out with three main goals, each building on the previous ones. The first is to perform background subtraction to remove all background objects (those objects that are stationary in the frame of the camera). The second is to track the foreground objects through every frame of the video. Finally, the third goal is to use semi-supervised methods to classify tracked foreground objects. A successful semi-supervised approach will greatly reduce the amount of training data needed for many classification problems.
Galactic star formation and accretion histories from matching galaxies to dark matter haloes

We present a new statistical method to determine the relationship between the stellar masses of galaxies and the masses of their host dark matter haloes over the entire cosmic history from z � 4 to the present. This multi-epoch abundance matching (MEAM) model self-consistently takes into account that satellite galaxies first become satellites at times earlier than they are observed. We employ a redshift-dependent parameterization of the stellar-to-halo mass relation to populate haloes and subhaloes in the Millennium simulations with galaxies, requiring that the observed stellar mass functions at several redshifts be reproduced simultaneously. We show that physically meaningful growth of massive galaxies is consistent with these data only if observational mass errors are taken into account. Using merger trees extracted from the dark matter simulations in combination with MEAM, we predict the average assembly histories of galaxies, separating into star formation within the galaxies (in-situ) and accretion of stars (ex-situ). Our main results are: The peak star formation efficiency decreases with redshift from 23 per cent at z = 0 to 9 per cent at z = 4 while the corresponding halo mass increases from 10 11.8 M⊙ to 10 12.5 M⊙. The star formation rate of central galaxies peaks at a redshift which depends on halo mass; for massive haloes this peak is at early cosmic times while for low-mass galaxies the peak has not been reached yet. In haloes similar to that of the Milky-Way about half of the central stellar mass is assembled after z = 0.7. In low-mass haloes, the accretion of satellites contributes little to the assembly of their central galaxies, while in massive haloes more than half of the central stellar mass is formed ex-situ with significant accretion of satellites at z < 2. We find that our method implies a cosmic star formation history and an evolution of specific star formation rates which are consistent with those inferred directly. We present convenient fitting functions for stellar masses, star formation rates, and accretion rates as functions of halo mass and redshift.
Data protection by means of fragmentation in distributed storage systems

This paper analyzes different dispersed storage systems that use data fragmentation as a way of protection. Existing solutions have been organized into two categories: those operating on unstructured data and in a uniform environment, and those having as input data with predefined confidentiality level and disposing of a heterogeneous environment in terms of machine trustworthiness. Furthermore, we outline requirements and desired architecture traits of an efficient dispersed storage, which will address the issues of performance (including latency), resilience and scalability.
Microscopic Pillars and Tubes Fabricated by Using Fish Dentine as a Molding Template

Biomaterials in nature exhibit delicate structures that are greatly beyond the capability of the current manufacturing techniques. Duplicating these structures and applying them in engineering may help enhance the performance of traditional functional materials and structures. Inspired by gecko’s hierarchical micro- and nano-fibrillar structures for adhesion, in this work we fabricated micro-pillars and tubes by adopting the tubular dentine of black carp fish teeth as molding template. The adhesion performances of the fabricated micro-pillars and tubes were characterized and compared. It was found that the pull-off force of a single pillar was about twice of that of the tube with comparable size. Such unexpected discrepancy in adhesion was analyzed based on the contact mechanics theories.
Evaluación de impacto de la implementación de transferencias monetarias condicionadas para educación secundaria en Costa Rica (Avancemos)

This paper evaluates the impact of Avancemos, a conditional cash transfer program in Costa Rica. Specifically, this paper measures the impact on student desertion for the first year of the program using a panel created with the Household Surveys for Multiple Purposes for the years 2006 and 2007, elaborated by the National Institute of Statistics and Census. Using econometric tools and quasi-experimental methodologies such as Propensity Score Matching and difference-in-differences, we find a positive impact associated to the program for desertion and reinsertion. Specifically, for between 10 and 16 percent of the students who did not leave high school, it was only due to Avancemos, meaning that without the program they would have abandoned their studies. This is why we can conclude that Avancemos had a positive impact according to its planned objectives of preventing dropouts and ensuring their reinsertion.
An Anatomy of Moroccan Agricultural Trade

Morocco is engaged in a number of economic reforms to better position the country's integration into world markets. Her agricultural sector is particularly important as its trade, GDP, and employment share are relatively large. We analyze Morocco's agricultural trade growth trends over the past 40 years (1962 - 2004) using SITC 4-digit bilateral agricultural trade data. The data are analyzed using the trend and cycles decomposition (TCD) approach and measurement of trade growth at the intensive and extensive margin. We find a high concentration of agriculture trade in both commodities and trading partners. Morocco has also lost export shares in EU to other EU countries in her top exporting commodities. Another finding suggests that agricultural export growth for Morocco was at the intensive rather than extensive margin. This posts a great challenge for Morocco if she is to expand trade at the extensive margin.
Solving weighted and counting variants of connectivity problems parameterized by treewidth deterministically in single exponential time

It is well known that many local graph problems, like Vertex Cover and Dominating Set, can be solved in 2^{O(tw)}|V|^{O(1)} time for graphs G=(V,E) with a given tree decomposition of width tw. However, for nonlocal problems, like the fundamental class of connectivity problems, for a long time we did not know how to do this faster than tw^{O(tw)}|V|^{O(1)}. Recently, Cygan et al. (FOCS 2011) presented Monte Carlo algorithms for a wide range of connectivity problems running in time $c^{tw}|V|^{O(1)} for a small constant c, e.g., for Hamiltonian Cycle and Steiner tree. Naturally, this raises the question whether randomization is necessary to achieve this runtime; furthermore, it is desirable to also solve counting and weighted versions (the latter without incurring a pseudo-polynomial cost in terms of the weights). We present two new approaches rooted in linear algebra, based on matrix rank and determinants, which provide deterministic c^{tw}|V|^{O(1)} time algorithms, also for weighted and counting versions. For example, in this time we can solve the traveling salesman problem or count the number of Hamiltonian cycles. The rank-based ideas provide a rather general approach for speeding up even straightforward dynamic programming formulations by identifying "small" sets of representative partial solutions; we focus on the case of expressing connectivity via sets of partitions, but the essential ideas should have further applications. The determinant-based approach uses the matrix tree theorem for deriving closed formulas for counting versions of connectivity problems; we show how to evaluate those formulas via dynamic programming.
Using phase relations to identify potential mechanisms for metabolic oscillations in isolated β-cell mitochondria

There is a great deal of evidence for the existence of metabolic oscillations in pancreatic β-cells. Mechanisms that have been proposed for these oscillations include glycolytic oscillations; oscillations due to the feedback of Ca2+ onto the mitochondrial inner membrane and on dehydrogenases; and oscillations intrinsic to the tricarboxylic (TCA) cycle or the downstream reactions of oxidative phosphorylation. MacDonald and co-workers (J. Biol. Chem., 278:51894-51900, 2003) showed examples of oscillations in TCA intermediates in isolated mitochondria from liver cells and pancreatic β-cells. These oscillations were clearly not due to oscillations in glycolysis or Ca2+ feedback. In this article we consider several potential mechanisms for these TCA oscillations, using mathematical modeling to determine the phase relations that would result between the citrate and NAD+ concentrations in each case. We demonstrate that negative feedback at only one feedback point, isocitrate dehydrogenase, produces the correct phase relation if oscillations are intrinsic to the TCA cycle. Alternatively, the correct phase relation results if oscillations are due to oscillations in oxidative phosphorylation feeding back onto the TCA cycle. This analysis shows that the observed phase relation between citrate and NAD(P) places strict limits on the potential mechanism for the metabolic oscillations in isolated mitochondria that were observed by MacDonald and co-workers.
Differential Inputs to the Perisomatic and Distal-Dendritic Compartments of VIP-Positive Neurons in Layer 2/3 of the Mouse Barrel Cortex

The recurrent network composed of excitatory and inhibitory neurons is fundamental to neocortical function. Inhibitory neurons in the mammalian neocortex are molecularly diverse, and individual cell types play unique functional roles in the neocortical microcircuit. Recently, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive (VIP+) neurons, comprising a subclass of inhibitory neurons, have attracted particular attention because they can disinhibit pyramidal cells through inhibition of other types of inhibitory neurons, such as parvalbumin- (PV+) and somatostatin-positive (SOM+) inhibitory neurons, promoting sensory information processing. Although VIP+ neurons have been reported to receive synaptic inputs from PV+ and SOM+ inhibitory neurons as well as from cortical and thalamic excitatory neurons, the somatodendritic localization of these synaptic inputs has yet to be elucidated at subcellular spatial resolution. In the present study, we visualized the somatodendritic membranes of layer (L) 2/3 VIP+ neurons by injecting a newly developed adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector into the barrel cortex of VIP-Cre knock-in mice, and we determined the extensive ramification of VIP+ neuron dendrites in the vertical orientation. After immunohistochemical labeling of presynaptic boutons and postsynaptic structures, confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the synaptic contacts were unevenly distributed throughout the perisomatic (<100 μm from the somata) and distal-dendritic compartments (≥100 μm) of VIP+ neurons. Both corticocortical and thalamocortical excitatory neurons preferentially targeted the distal-dendritic compartment of VIP+ neurons. On the other hand, SOM+ and PV+ inhibitory neurons preferentially targeted the distal-dendritic and perisomatic compartments of VIP+ neurons, respectively. Notably, VIP+ neurons had few reciprocal connections. These observations suggest different inhibitory effects of SOM+ and PV+ neuronal inputs on VIP+ neuron activity; inhibitory inputs from SOM+ neurons likely modulate excitatory inputs locally in dendrites, while PV+ neurons could efficiently interfere with action potential generation through innervation of the perisomatic domain of VIP+ neurons. The present study, which shows a precise configuration of site-specific inputs, provides a structural basis for the integration mechanism of synaptic inputs to VIP+ neurons.
Islamist Radicalisation in Europe: An Occupational Change Process

1. Conceptualising Radicalisation 2. Islamist Radicalisation in Europe: A Reaction to Grievance? 3. Becoming an Islamist Radical: A Matter of Occupational Choice 4. Choosing the Radical Islamist Occupation 5. Closing the Circle: The World Through Radical Eyes 6. Dealing with Islamist Radicalisation. Conclusion
An architecture for group communications-support networked multimedia applications

This paper presents an architecture for a multimedia application platform able to support real-time group communication activities (such as: Videophone, Teletraining, Computer Supported Collaborative Work) between remotely located members of groups by delivering multimedia communication capabilities directly at their personal computers ("desktops"). The paper focuses on a component-based design approach that gives the potential to integrate into the platform various Application Components (Audio, Video, Text chat, File transfer, Slide show, Shared Whiteboard or text editor, etc.) depending on the activity supported and thus permitting to customise the platform for the specilic activity. Apart from the basic architecture, alternative connection schemes depending on the capabilities of the network are surveyed. A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the described architecture is also given andfinally, an-implernentation aiming to support Teletraining activities is presented.
Learning Based Relay and Antenna Selection in Cooperative Networks

We investigate a cross-layer relay selection scheme based on Q-learning algorithm. For the study, we consider multi-relay adaptive decode and forward (DF) cooperative diversity networks over multipath time-varying Rayleigh fading channels. The proposed scheme selects relay subsets that maximizes the link layer transmission efficiency without having knowledge of channel state information (CSI). Results show that the proposed scheme outperforms the capacity based cooperative transmission with the same number of reliable relays in terms of transmission efficiency gain. Furthermore, a Q-learning based cross-layer antenna selection for the multiple antenna relay networks is proposed, where multiple antennas allow more links from the relays to the destination under time varying Rayleigh fading channel. We studied the performance of multi-antenna relay networks and compared with single antenna case. Both schemes are shown to oﬀer high bandwidth efficiency from low to high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Finally, we conclude that cooperative diversity with learning offers improved performance enhancement and bandwidth efficiency for the communication network.
Two Neural Approaches for Small-Signal Modelling of GaAs HEMTs

 Abstract — Focus of this paper is on the neural approach in small-signal modelling of GaAs HEMTs. Two modelling approaches based on artificial neural networks are discussed and compared. The first approach is completely based on artificial neural networks, while the second is a hybrid approach putting together artificial neural networks and an equivalent circuit representation of a microwave transistor. Both models consider the device gate width and therefore both are scalable. Results of modelling of three different AlGaAs/GaAs HEMTs in a wide range of operating bias conditions using the considered approaches are given. Different modelling aspects are discussed. A special attention is paid to the model development procedure and accuracy of the models.
Two Oligopeptide-Permease-Encoding Genes in the Clavulanic Acid Cluster of Streptomyces clavuligerus Are Essential for Production of the β-Lactamase Inhibitor

ABSTRACT orf7 (oppA1) and orf15 (oppA2) are located 8 kb apart in the clavulanic acid gene cluster of Streptomyces clavuligerus and encode proteins which are 48.0% identical. These proteins show sequence similarity to periplasmic oligopeptide-binding proteins. Mutant S. clavuligerus oppA1::acc, disrupted in oppA1, lacks clavulanic acid production. Clavulanic acid production is restored by transformation with plasmid pIJ699-oppA1, which carries oppA1, but not with the multicopy plasmid pIJ699-oppA2, which carries oppA2. The mutant S. clavuligerus oppA2::aph also lacks clavulanic acid production, shows a bald phenotype, and overproduces holomycin (5). Clavulanic acid production at low levels is restored in the oppA2-disrupted mutants by transformation with plasmid pIJ699-oppA2, but it is not complemented by the multicopy plasmid pIJ699-oppA1. Both genes encode oligopeptide permeases with different substrate specificities. The disrupted S. clavuligerus oppA2::aph is not able to grow on RPPGFSPFR (Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg; bradykinin), but both mutants grow on VAPG (Val-Ala-Pro-Gly) as the only nitrogen source, indicating differences in the peptide bound by the proteins encoded by both genes. The null S. clavuligerus oppA1::acc and S. clavuligerus oppA2::aph mutants are more resistant to the toxic tripeptide phosphinothricyl-alanyl-alanine (also named bialaphos) than the wild-type strain, suggesting that this peptide might be transported by these peptide-binding proteins.
Comparative study of SURF and FREAK descriptor on Indian Rupee Currency notes

In this paper we present comparative study of two descriptors namely fast retina key point descriptor and speeded up robust features for feature extraction and feature matching of images of Indian Currency notes of different denominations. The suitability of these features for automatically identifying denominations of these notes has been studied. The speed and memory load of two different descriptors has been evaluated for suitability of developing mobile based application for identifying denominations of Indian Rupee notes. The robustness of these features is also evaluated with rotated, scaled and illumination variation in currency banknote images.
Shelter Burden: Local Politics and Progressive Housing Policy

Tables and Figures Preface Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Devolution through Retrenchment: The End of the Federal Era in Housing 3. The Local Housing Movement 4. Housing Policy Innovation in U.S. Cities and States 5. The Role of Nonprofit Housing Developers 6. The Politics of Housing in Los Angeles 7. Explaining the Spread of Progressive Housing Policy 8. Social Action, Economic Restructuring, and Progressive Housing Policy Notes Subject Index Author Index
Comprehensive tobacco control policies and the smoking behaviour of Canadian adults

OBJECTIVE To examine the associations of cigarette prices, restrictions on public smoking, and health education with the odds of adult smoking and amount smoked daily. DESIGN Multi-level analysis of adult (age 25+) smoking patterns in Canada's National Population Health Survey, after adding administrative data on prices, bylaws, and health education according to the survey respondent's place of residence. SETTING/SUBJECTS Population based sample of Canadians age 25+ in households (n = 14 355). OUTCOME MEASURES Smoking status, amount consumed daily. ANALYSIS Logistic regression for smoking status, multiple regression for amount smoked, with controls for age, education, marital status; separate analyses for men and women. RESULTS Cigarette prices were positively associated with the odds of being a non-smoker and negatively with amount smoked, for adults of both sexes. Per capita health education expenditures were positively associated with the odds of being a non-smoker and negatively with amount smoked—formen but not women. The restrictiveness of municipal bylaws limiting public smoking was positively associated with the odds of being a non-smoker and negatively with amount smoked—forwomen but not men. These results are independent of age, education, and marital status. CONCLUSIONS To be effective, tobacco control must comprise a mix of strategies as men and women respond differently to health education and restrictions on public smoking; taxation, reflected in higher cigarette prices, is the only one of these measures related to smoking for both sexes. This model permits calculations of the level of increase in each measure that is required to reduce the prevalence of smoking by a specified amount.