Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Task-Related Dynamic Division of Labor Between Anterior Temporal and Lateral Occipital Cortices in Representing Object Size

Object size is represented by functionally distinct sectors along the ventral visual pathway. The early visual cortex encodes objects' sensory-retinal size. Subsequently, the occipitotemporal cortex computes objects' canonical size based on statistical regularities of visual features. Although the neurocomputation of size has been studied in a “bottom-up” sensory-driven framework, little is known about how perceptual size information is transformed into conceptual knowledge and how this computation is modulated by “top-down” goal-driven signals. Using continuous theta burst stimulation, we demonstrated that behavioral goal shapes the neurocognitive network underpinning object size. We manipulated the congruency of perceptual versus conceptual object size, which provides a robust behavioral probe reflecting implicit size knowledge. Neurostimulation was targeted at the lateral occipital cortex (LOC), a key region for object perception, or the anterior temporal lobe (ATL), a “hub” of supramodal conceptual processing. We observed striking contextual modulation of the neurocognitive architecture: when human participants judged perceptual size, the congruency effect was significantly attenuated by LOC stimulation but stayed resilient to ATL stimulation. By contrast, when they judged conceptual size, both LOC and ATL stimulation eradicated the otherwise robust effect. Our findings demonstrate disparate functional profiles of the LOC and ATL, providing the first evidence of a malleable network adaptively altering its division of labor with top-down states. The LOC, regardless of task demand, automatically represents “bottom-up” statistical regularities of visual conformation (reflecting typical object size), whereas the ATL contributes to this computation when the context requires semantically based linkage of visual attributes to object recognition. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the present study, we provide compelling evidence that the “top-down” cognitive state of an observer changes the dynamic interaction between different subregions of the ventral temporal cortex. Using inhibitory neurostimulation combined with a novel paradigm, we demonstrate a flexible division of labor in the neurocognitive architecture that underpins size knowledge: the lateral occipital cortex codes perceptually based aspects (statistical visual configuration of small/large objects), whereas the anterior temporal lobe represents semantically based aspects (object identity), with their involvement interactively weighted by task demand. The interactive nature of the ventral temporal cortex highlights how top-down modulation constrains and shapes neural representations in the visual system.
Learning shape from shading by a multilayer network

The multilayer feedforward network has often been used for learning a nonlinear mapping based on a set of examples of the input-output data. In this paper, we present a novel use of the network, in which the example data are not explicitly given. We consider the problem of shape from shading in computer vision, where the input (image coordinates) and the output (surface depth) satisfy only a known differential equation. We use the feedforward network as a parametric representation of the object surface and reformulate the shape from shading problem as the minimization of an error function over the network weights. The stochastic gradient and conjugate gradient methods are used for the minimization. Boundary conditions for either surface depth or surface normal (or both) can be imposed by adjusting the same network at different levels. It is further shown that the light source direction can be estimated, based on an initial guess, by integrating the source estimation with the surface estimation. Extensions of the method to a wider class of problems are discussed. The efficiency of the method is verified by examples of both synthetic and real images.
The protection of water resources environmental based on embedded linux system

In respect of water resource protection, China has put surface water and underground water that are interconnected with and can transform into each other respectively. In the State Environmental Protection Administration, the water pollution prevention will become a hot topic. Based on the micro processor S3C2410's hardware structure and the embedded Linux system the study deeply analyzed the water resources environmental management status at Wei River District. Using the characteristics of wireless network on the embedded Linux system to transmit the signal what was monitored in the spot where was polluted. A reasonable wireless control system of the environmental management for water resources was proposed to meet the purpose of water resources, water environment and water safety. The system models were applied to provide support for environmental water resources management.
Amplified and Persistent Immune Responses Generated by Single-Cycle Replicating Adenovirus Vaccines

ABSTRACT Replication-competent adenoviral (RC-Ad) vectors generate exceptionally strong gene-based vaccine responses by amplifying the antigen transgenes they carry. While they are potent, they also risk causing adenovirus infections. More common replication-defective Ad (RD-Ad) vectors with deletions of E1 avoid this risk but do not replicate their transgene and generate markedly weaker vaccine responses. To amplify vaccine transgenes while avoiding production of infectious progeny viruses, we engineered “single-cycle” adenovirus (SC-Ad) vectors by deleting the gene for IIIa capsid cement protein of lower-seroprevalence adenovirus serotype 6. In mouse, human, hamster, and macaque cells, SC-Ad6 still replicated its genome but prevented genome packaging and virion maturation. When used for mucosal intranasal immunization of Syrian hamsters, both SC-Ad and RC-Ad expressed transgenes at levels hundreds of times higher than that of RD-Ad. Surprisingly, SC-Ad, but not RC-Ad, generated higher levels of transgene-specific antibody than RD-Ad, which notably climbed in serum and vaginal wash samples over 12 weeks after single mucosal immunization. When RD-Ad and SC-Ad were tested by single sublingual immunization in rhesus macaques, SC-Ad generated higher gamma interferon (IFN-γ) responses and higher transgene-specific serum antibody levels. These data suggest that SC-Ad vectors may have utility as mucosal vaccines. IMPORTANCE This work illustrates the utility of our recently developed single-cycle adenovirus (SC-Ad6) vector as a new vaccine platform. Replication-defective (RD-Ad6) vectors produce low levels of transgene protein, which leads to minimal antibody responses in vivo. This study shows that replicating SC-Ad6 produces higher levels of luciferase and induces higher levels of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-specific antibodies than RD in a permissive Syrian hamster model. Surprisingly, although a replication-competent (RC-Ad6) vector produces more luciferase than SC-Ad6, it does not elicit comparable levels of anti-GFP antibodies in permissive hamsters. When tested in the larger rhesus macaque model, SC-Ad6 induces higher transgene-specific antibody and T cell responses. Together, these data suggest that SC-Ad6 could be a more effective platform for developing vaccines against more relevant antigens. This could be especially beneficial for developing vaccines for pathogens for which traditional replication-defective adenovirus vectors have not been effective.
Height, Weight, and Education Achievement in Rural Peru

The education system in Peru and many other developing countries faces several challenges, including improving education achievement and increasing education enrollment in high school. It is clear from several indicators that rural students have lower education outcomes than do urban students. In this study we used cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis to determine the relationship between height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ), body-mass index (BMI), and education outcomes. The sample was composed of students from 20 elementary public schools in two rural zones in Peru. The descriptive results show that there was no association between any of the anthropometric variables and achievement (mathematics and reading comprehension) or advancing to high school without repeating a grade. However, BMI was associated with dropping out of school: children with higher BMI in 1998 were more likely to be out of school by 2001. The hierarchical multivariate analysis also showed no relationship between anthropometry and achievement at the individual level, but students with relatively higher HAZ in 1998 were more likely to be drop-outs by 2001. These results contradict prior findings that showed a positive association between anthropometric variables (especially HAZ) and education achievement. The results might be explained by the fact that the study was carried out at very poor sites, at altitudes between 3,000 and 3,500 meters above sea level. The scarce studies about development in high altitudes suggest that the patterns for height and weight for children and adolescents are different than at sea level. Another possible explanation has to do with the fact that in the contexts studied, children who are perceived as relatively heavier (BMI) or taller (HAZ) might be expected to be out of school and start working (in fact, this was the primary reason given by children for dropping out of school).
Technological learning in Singapore: A test case of leapfrogging

Some technology analysts have suggested that developing countries (DCs) might be able to ‘leapfrog’ earlier technological paradigms and catch up in the field of electronics. This paper provides a partial test case of the leapfrogging argument, using evidence from Singapore's electronics industry. It shows that technology was accumulated through a gradual process of learning, rather than by leapfrogging. Indeed, corporate learning was incremental, painstaking, long‐term and cumulative. Also in contrast with the leapfrogging hypothesis, firms tended to enter electronics at the mature phase of the product cycle rather than the early stage. Furthermore, much of the technology accumulated by Singapore's electronics industry was ‘pre‐electronic’ in character, involving crafts, mechanical and precision engineering, electro‐mechanical interfacing and basic manufacturing skills, rather than the software, computer and R&D skills usually associated with electronics. The evidence from Singapore suggests that industri.
Molecular characterization of cloned avirulence genes from race 0 and race 1 of Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea

A wide-host-range cosmid cloning vector, pLAFR3, was constructed and used to make cosmid libraries of partially digested Sau3A DNA from race 0 and race 1 of Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea. Two avirulence genes, avrB0 and avrC, cloned from race 0, elicited the hypersensitivity reaction (HR) on specific cultivars of soybean. Race 4 transconjugants containing avrB0 induced a dark brown necrotic HR within 24 h on the soybean cultivars Harosoy and Norchief, whereas race 4 transconjugants containing avrC induced a light brown necrotic HR within 48 h on the soybean cultivars Acme, Peking, Norchief, and Flambeau. An additional avirulence gene, avrB1, cloned from race 1, appeared to be identical to avrB0 from race 0. The avrB0 and avrC genes from race 0 were characterized by restriction enzyme mapping, Southern blot analysis, Tn5 transposon mutagenesis, and site-directed gene replacements. The effects of these three genes on the in planta bacterial growth of race 4 transconjugants have also been examined. The identification and cloning of avrB1 provides genetic evidence for a gene-for-gene interaction in the bacterial blight disease of soybean, as avrB1 from race 1 interacts with the soybean disease resistance locus, Rpg1.
Nuclear export inhibition through covalent conjugation and hydrolysis of Leptomycin B by CRM1

The polyketide natural product Leptomycin B inhibits nuclear export mediated by the karyopherin protein chromosomal region maintenance 1 (CRM1). Here, we present 1.8- to 2.0-Å-resolution crystal structures of CRM1 bound to Leptomycin B and related inhibitors Anguinomycin A and Ratjadone A. Structural and complementary chemical analyses reveal an unexpected mechanism of inhibition involving covalent conjugation and CRM1-mediated hydrolysis of the natural products’ lactone rings. Furthermore, mutagenesis reveals the mechanism of hydrolysis by CRM1. The nuclear export signal (NES)-binding groove of CRM1 is able to drive a chemical reaction in addition to binding protein cargos for transport through the nuclear pore complex.
Active robust control scheme for uncertainty and flexibility suppression of air-breathing hypersonic vehicles

Inevitable uncertainties and cross couplings between rigid and flexible modes pose huge challenges to control design for flexible air-breathing hypersonic vehicles. This paper addresses an active robust control scheme that can simultaneously suppress uncertainties and flexible modes using active approaches rather than inherent system robustness. Couplings between different rigid and flexible modes are analyzed, providing insights into internal coupling behaviors. Generally, the active robust control scheme consists of two components: a nonlinear extended state observer (ESO) and a notch filter. The ESO is designed to estimate and compensate diverse uncertainties. For specific high-frequency uncertainties, the ESO estimated values could excite the flexible modes and then cause instabilities. So the notch filter is designed to actively suppress the specific high-frequency estimated signals induced by ESO. Both nonlinear and linear approaches are discussed for the notch filter design. At last, several representative simulations are conducted to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed active robust control scheme.
On the relationship between trading volume and stock price volatility in CASE

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the change in speed of dissemination of order flow information on stock volatility of return in 79 traded companies at the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange (CASE). Design/methodology/approach - The paper examines the interaction of volatility and volume in 79 traded companies in CASE over a period from January 1998 to May 2005 and provides support for the TGARCH specification for explaining the daily time dependence on the rate of information arrival to the market for stocks traded on CASE. Findings - The paper finds that information size and direction have a negligible effect on conditional volatility and, as a result, the presence of noise trading and speculative bubbles is suspected. It was found that the persistence in volatility is not eliminated when lagged or contemporaneous trading volume is incorporated into a GARCH model. It is shown that, when volume is further broken down into its expected and unexpected components, volatility persistence decreases. This is especially true after May 2001, which marks the beginning of a succession of major stock market reforms. It was also found that anticipated information shocks can have a negative impact on the volatility of return, particularly prior to May 2001. Originality/value - The decrease in the negative relationship between expected volume and volatility after May 2001 suggests that trading efficiency and information dissemination have improved. This is an important finding for CASE as it encourages the reform momentum and reinsures foreign investors.
Spin-torque memristor based offset cancellation technique for sense amplifiers

In this study, we propose an offset cancellation technique with the spin-torque memristors where are unpredictable threshold voltage changes of transistors that results in the input referred random offset (IRRO) of amplifiers. Motivated by this fact, this study focuses on the IRRO cancellation in sense amplifiers with the aid of the spin-torque memristor technology. The spin-torque memristors in series perform less resistance and process variations from parallel connection. The resistance value of the spin-torque memristor was regarded as frozen when the current flow over the spin-torque memristor is lower than its critical switching current value. In fact, the proposed structure employs a non-destructive sensing scheme in order to achieve a relatively large sense margin by reducing the IRRO. Our main idea is to reduce or eliminate the IRRO exploiting the spin-torque memristors for providing the current matching on the input transistors of the voltage comparator. In particular, the overwrite problem of the spin-torque memristor was solved by setting the critical switching current of the spin-torque memristor to be greater than a current value corresponding to maximum the IRRO value. We evaluated the IRRO cancellation technique on the proposed comparator or sense amplifier using 45nm predictive CMOS technology. Although sense amplifiers are targeted in this study, our technique can be applied to any analog amplifier suffering from the IRRO.
Knowledge Translation in Family Nursing

In an effort to examine translation of family nursing knowledge to practice, the Landspitali University Hospital Family Nursing Implementation Project (2007-2011), was thoughtfully initiated in Reykjavik, Iceland and systematically evaluated. The mission was to implement family nursing in every department of the hospital. This publication is the first formal research report from this landmark project. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term therapeutic conversation intervention with families who were receiving health care services at the Children’s Hospital at Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland related to childhood and adolescent acute and chronic illnesses. The therapeutic conversation was guided by Family Systems Nursing and used the Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention Models (Wright & Leahey, 2005, 2009). Families (N = 76) were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (short-term therapeutic conversation: n = 41) or to a control group (traditional care: n = 35). Parents in the experimental group reported significantly higher family support after the intervention, compared to the parents in the control group. Differences were noted between families experiencing acute versus chronic illnesses. Recommendations are made for conducting and designing intervention research with families experiencing the hospitalization of a child or adolescent.
On Price Indices in the Almost Ideal Demand System

A number of papers have discussed the relationship between the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) and its linear approximation (LA/AIDS). In this paper, it is shown that if the prices in the system are normalized to one, the AIDS and LA/AIDS representations are identical at the point of normalization. Also, at the point of normalization, the expressions for price and expenditure elasticities from both systems are identical. Copyright 1997, Oxford University Press.
Ethnic Inclusiveness of the Central State Government and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

We estimate the effect of the share of ethnic groups included in the central government on economic growth, distinguishing between democracies and autocracies in a panel of 41 sub-Saharan African countries over the period 1950-2000. We exploit evidence from the Ethnic Power Relations database that categorizes the politically relevant ethnic groups in terms of access to state power. We are taking advantage of the within-country variation and using Fixed-Effects, Difference-GMM and System-GMM estimations. Our dynamic panel data and error-correction growth models display a robust positive effect of the proportion of included groups in democracies. This effect is offset in autocracies and the difference is often significantly negative. This finding withstands the introduction of various controls and specification checks. We provide a theoretical rationalization of this observed phenomenon in the form of a mechanism involving the opposition of forces linked to efficiency gains, coordination failures and inclusiveness.
Welfare Reform and Black Women's Economic Development

In 1996, the United States Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, placing emphasis on individuals to take responsibility for separating themselves from governmental dependence by becoming economically self-sufficient through employment. Using a qualitative approach, this study explored the experiences of 15 African American women as they transitioned from welfare to determine the extent to which they were developing economic sufficiency as a result of their labor force participation. It also sought the perspectives of employers on the work-first approach to economic development among former recipients and their chances of becoming self-sufficient through employment. The study found three systems of barriers to impede the participants' economic progress: the “work-first” philosophy, labor market conditions and employment practices, and personal history and individual responsibility. These findings suggest that a more integrative approach is necessary, one that addresses both the personal and structural dimensions of women's economic development.
Optimal coding through divisive normalization models of V1 neurons

Current models of the primary visual cortex (V1) include a linear filtering stage followed by a gain control mechanism that explains some of the nonlinear behaviour of neurons. This nonlinear stage consists of a divisive normalization in which each linear response is squared and then divided by a weighted sum of squared linear responses in a certain neighbourhood plus a constant. Simoncelli and Schwartz (1999 Adv. Neural Inform. Process. Syst. 11 153–9) have suggested that divisive normalization reduces the statistical dependence between neuron responses when the weights are adapted to the statistics of natural images, which is consistent with the efficient coding hypothesis. Nevertheless, there are still important open issues, such as, for example, how to obtain the values for the parameters that minimize statistical dependence? Does divisive normalization give a total independence between responses? In this paper, we present the general mathematical formulation of the first of these two questions. We arrive at an expression which permits us to compute, numerically, the parameters of a quasi-optimal solution adapted to an input set of natural images. This quasi-optimal solution is based on a Gaussian model of the conditional statistics of the coefficients resulting from projecting natural images onto an orthogonal linear basis. Our results show, in general, lower values of mutual information, that is, responses are more independent than those provided by previous approximations.
Balancing Acts: NPO-Leadership and Volunteering

Volunteering is regarded as an increasingly important phenomenon and the employment of volunteers as one of the typical traits of nonprofit organizations. However, the consequences of volunteering for everyday practices of NPO-leadership, i.e. the question of how non-paid employees are treated in settings where formal power is lacking, have so far not received the attention they deserve. Our paper discusses practices for leading without formal power by presenting findings from an empirical research project. Using a Grounded Theory approach, we identify five interrelated practices that question conventional notions of transformative or charismatic leadership.