Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrative Lifecourse and Genetic Analysis of Military Working Dogs

Abstract : The purpose of this proposal is to provide insight into gene environment interactions. It leverages the simplified genetics and detailed records of the military working dog population. There are several critical aspects to meeting the aims of this proposal. 1) development of data driven selection criteria, 2) biological sampling of representative dogs, and 3) generation of mathematical methodologies capable of handling heterogenous data and statistical tests in consistent manner and providing clear and understandable results that are biologically valid. Here we provide a breakdown of the previous year's work and document our progress towards achieving the specific aims we proposed. While the overall progress of this project is summarized in the Annual Report by Dr. Carlos Alveraz (Lead PI from NCHRI), here are the tasks in which I (Huang from OSU) have engaged in.
Value Creation on Open Government Data

Governments are one of the largest producers and collectors of data in many different domains. As one major aim of open government data initiatives is the release of social and commercial value, we here explore existing processes of value creation on government data. We identify the dimensions that impact, or are impacted by value creation, and distinguish between the different value creating roles and participating stakeholders. We propose the use of Linked Data as an approach to enhance the value creation process, and provide a Value Creation Assessment Framework to analyse the resulting impact.
Conceptual Patterns

Patterns help transporting knowledge and provide common names for solutions. Architects need a lot of experience to create long-lasting system architectures and should benefit from experiences written down in patterns. The description of architecture patterns and design patterns usually focuses on structures in software. This renders the patterns of limited use for architects who need to structure a system before they choose a structure for the implementing software. Therefore, architects need an additional kind of patterns with an adequate notation. This paper introduces the category of conceptual patterns which focus on system structure in the description of problem and solution. Architects can benefit from the solutions described by conceptual patterns when analyzing systems and in early phases of system design. Extracting the conceptual part of existing patterns is a first step to find conceptual patterns. Usually, a set of patterns will be arranged in a pattern language for a problem domain. This paper shows some examples of conceptual patterns extracted from existing architecture and design patterns.
A novel scalable parallel architecture for biological neural simulations

This paper presents a scalable hierarchical architecture for accelerating simulations of large-scale biological neural systems on FPGA-based platforms. The architecture provides a high degree of flexibility to optimize the parallelization ratio based on available hardware resources and model specifications such as complexity of dendritic trees. The proposed addressing scheme, design modularity and data process localization allowing the whole system to extend over multiple FPGA platforms to simulate a very large biological neural system. Compartmental approach and Hodgkin-Huxley methods are used as simulation models in our studies. The architecture is verified in MATLAB and implemented based on four types of hardware modules, with two modules synthesized on Xilinx XC5VLX110T-1 devices.
SLICOT Working Note 2014-1 On BLAS Level-3 Implementations of Common Solvers for ( Quasi-) Triangular Generalized Lyapunov Equations 1

The solutions of Lyapunov and generalized Lyapunov equations are a key player in many applications in systems and control theory. Their stable numerical computation, when the full solution is sought, is considered solved since the seminal work of Bartels and Stewart [1]. A number of variants of their algorithm have been proposed, but none of them goes beyond BLAS level-2 style implementation. On modern computers, however, the formulation of BLAS level-3 type implementations is crucial to enable optimal usage of cache hierarchies and modern block scheduling methods based on directed acyclic graphs describing the interdependence of single block computations. Our contribution closes this gap by a transformation of the aforementioned level-2 variants to level-3 versions and a comparison on a standard multicore machine.
Comments on the Investment-Uncertainty Relationship in a Real Option Model

The paper considers the problem of evaluating the probability of investing in a capital-investment project as a measure of the uncertainty-investment relationship in a real option model. By the use of the contingent claims analysis the opportunity to invest is modelled as an American call option with expiring time. We show that an increase in uncertainty of the project may actually have positive or negative effects on the probability of investing depending on which market parameters are called to restore the asset price equilibrium condition.
Heuristics of Representativeness, Anchoring and Adjustment, and Leniency: Impact on Earnings' Forecasts By Australian Analysts

This paper investigates analysts' earnings forecasts for equities listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Recent research shows that heuristics may influence analysts' decision making (see, Amir and Ganzach 1998), however, most of the evidence is limited to US and European markets. We provide further international evidence by examining the power of representativeness, anchoring and adjustment, and leniency heuristics on analysts' forecast errors using Australian data. Our findings show that analysts in Australia make forecasts optimistically - supporting the leniency hypothesis. We also find that analysts tend to overreact when forecast revisions and changes are positive and underreact when forecast revisions and changes are negative.
Formalizing COSMIC-FFP using ROOM

We propose a formalization of the COSMIC Full Function Point (COSMIC-FFP) measure for the Real-time Object Oriented Modeling (ROOM) language. COSMIC-FFP is a measure of the functional size of software. It has been proposed by the COSMIC group as an adaptation of the function point measure for real-time systems. The definition of COSMIC-FFP is general and can be applied to any specification language. The benefits of our formalization are twofold. First it eliminates measurement variance, because the COSMIC informal definition is subject to interpretation by COSMIC-FFP raters, which may lead to different counts for the same specification, depending on the interpretation made by each rater. Second it allows the automation of COSMIC-FFP measurement for ROOM specifications, which reduces measurement costs. Finally, the formal definition of COSMIC-FFP can provide a clear and unambiguous characterization of COSMIC-FFP concepts which is helpful for measuring COSMIC-FFP for other object-oriented notations like UML.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN ENGLISH FOOTBALL: HISTORY AND PRESENT

The purpose of this descriptive research is to present what kind of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities English football clubs are implementing. The paper was designed by approaching the examples of the twenty clubs playing in the 2010-2011 season of the Premier League. A key finding is that football clubs are not only interested in the sporting outcome on the field, but they are also aware of their social status. An implication of this research would be to encourage academics to research more upon the use of CSR in professional sports, as there is a lack of literature regarding this topic. Diminishing the lack was the reason why sport has been chosen as an example, while the reason for selecting English clubs as case studies is backed up by the fact that these organizations have some of the most developed CSR programs in European sport. Limitations of the paper are that it does not offer financial implications of running CSR programs, nor does it trace very deep the implications of the programs on individuals. The originality of the research is provided by the combination between CSR and football, resulting in a topic that few academics have been concerned with researching.
An Empirical Evaluation of Refactoring

This paper presents a process evaluation for the agile technique of refactoring based on the language C. The basis for this evaluation is made up by an experiment which is targeted on the aspects of increased maintainability and modifiability. Although the maintainability test shows a slight advantage for refactoring, results show no significant strength here. Concerning modifiability, the overhead of applying refactoring appears to even weaken other, positive eects. The analysis of secondary variables provides hints on advantages of the refactoring technique like reduced resource consumption and a reduced occurrence of complicated control structures.
Chemotopic representations of aromatic odorants in the rat olfactory bulb

Our laboratory has characterized spatial patterns of evoked neural activity across the entire glomerular layer of the rat olfactory bulb using primarily aliphatic odorants that differ systematically in functional groups and hydrocarbon structures. To represent more fully the true range of odorant chemistry, we investigated aromatic compounds, which have a more rigid molecular structure than most aliphatic compounds and are particularly salient olfactory stimuli for humans. We first investigated glomerular patterns of 2‐deoxyglucose uptake in response to aromatic compounds that differ in the nature and position of their functional groups (e.g., xylenes, trimethylbenzenes, tolualdehydes, benzaldehydes, methyl toluates, and anisaldehydes). We also studied the effects of systematic increases in the number and length of alkyl substituents. We found that most aromatic compounds activated glomeruli in the dorsal part of the bulb. Within this general area, aromatic odorants with oxygen‐containing substituents favored activation of more rostral regions, and aromatic hydrocarbons activated more posterior regions. The nature of substituents greatly affected the pattern of glomerular activation, whereas isomers differing in substitution position evoked very similar overall patterns. These relationships between the structure of aromatic compounds and their spatial representation in the bulb are contrasted with our previous findings with aliphatic odorants. J. Comp. Neurol. 497:350–366, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Double-Track Auction for Substitutes and Complements

We propose a new t^atonnement process called a double-track auction for efficiently allocating multiple heterogeneous indivisible items in two distinct sets S1 and S2 to many buyers who view items in the same set as substitutes but items across the two sets as complements. The auctioneer initially announces sufficiently low prices for items in one set, say S1, but sufficiently high prices for items in the other set S2. In each round, the buyers respond by reporting their demands at the current prices and the auctioneer adjusts prices upwards for items in S1 but downwards for items in S2 based on buyers' reported demands until the market is clear. Unlike any existing auction, this auction is a blend of a multi-item ascending auction and a multi-item descending auction. We prove that the auction finds an efficient allocation and its market-clearing prices in finitely many rounds. Based on the auction we also establish a dynamic, efficient and strategy-proof mechanism.
Risk Transfer of Presale Properties and the Construction of a Forward Property Price Index

Abstract Despite the increasing use of forward contracts to pre-sell uncompleted properties, limited research has been conducted to explore the additional risks transferred from developers to buyers in presales of uncompleted properties. This research explored the risk-transfer mechanism specific to the forward property market and how the risks affect the construction of a forward property price index compared to that of spot property price indices. The proposed model using the repeat sales method for constructing the forward property price index is found to be more efficient over the other models in reflecting the general price change of the forward property market.
ISM EXCITATION AND METALLICITY OF STAR-FORMING GALAXIES AT Z ≃ 3.3 FROM NEAR-IR SPECTROSCOPY

We study the relationship between stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), ionization state, and gas-phase metallicity for a sample of 41 normal star-forming galaxies at 3 ≲ z ≲ 3.7. The gas-phase oxygen abundance, ionization parameter, and electron density of ionized gas are derived from rest-frame optical strong emission lines measured on near-infrared spectra obtained with Keck/Multi-Object Spectrograph for Infra-Red Exploration. We remove the effect of these strong emission lines in the broadband fluxes to compute stellar masses via spectral energy distribution fitting, while the SFR is derived from the dust-corrected ultraviolet luminosity. The ionization parameter is weakly correlated with the specific SFR, but otherwise the ionization parameter and electron density do not correlate with other global galaxy properties such as stellar mass, SFR, and metallicity. The mass–metallicity relation (MZR) at z ≃ 3.3 shows lower metallicity by ≃0.7 dex than that at z = 0 at the same stellar mass. Our sample shows an offset by ≃0.3 dex from the locally defined mass–metallicity–SFR relation, indicating that simply extrapolating such a relation to higher redshift may predict an incorrect evolution of MZR. Furthermore, within the uncertainties we find no SFR–metallicity correlation, suggesting a less important role of SFR in controlling the metallicity at high redshift. We finally investigate the redshift evolution of the MZR by using the model by Lilly et al., finding that the observed evolution from z = 0 to z ≃ 3.3 can be accounted for by the model assuming a weak redshift evolution of the star formation efficiency.
Délocalisations de services : quels enjeux pour les politiques publiques

The objective of our article is to study the impact of the quite recent phenomenon of servicesoutsourcing. Starting with the analysis of the available data on the service activities outsourcing, wepropose a presentation of the public policies stake on this specific question and we show in which waythe institutional framework, at the national and global level, influence these movements of relocationand their consequences. We conclude on the difficulties in front of which the social State will beconfronted
BAMBI (Bone Morphogenetic Protein and Activin Membrane-Bound Inhibitor) Reveals the Involvement of the Transforming Growth Factor-β Family in Pain Modulation

Transforming growth factors-β (TGF-βs) signal through type I and type II serine–threonine kinase receptor complexes. During ligand binding, type II receptors recruit and phosphorylate type I receptors, triggering downstream signaling. BAMBI [bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and activin membrane-bound inhibitor] is a transmembrane pseudoreceptor structurally similar to type I receptors but lacks the intracellular kinase domain. BAMBI modulates negatively pan-TGF-β family signaling; therefore, it can be used as an instrument for unraveling the roles of these cytokines in the adult CNS. BAMBI is expressed in regions of the CNS involved in pain transmission and modulation. The lack of BAMBI in mutant mice resulted in increased levels of TGF-β signaling activity, which was associated with attenuation of acute pain behaviors, regardless of the modality of the stimuli (thermal, mechanical, chemical/inflammatory). The nociceptive hyposensitivity exhibited by BAMBI−/− mice was reversed by the opioid antagonist naloxone. Moreover, in a model of chronic neuropathic pain, the allodynic responses of BAMBI−/− mice also appeared attenuated through a mechanism involving δ-opioid receptor signaling. Basal mRNA and protein levels of precursor proteins of the endogenous opioid peptides proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and proenkephalin (PENK) appeared increased in the spinal cords of BAMBI−/−. Transcript levels of TGF-βs and their intracellular effectors correlated directly with genes encoding opioid peptides, whereas BAMBI correlated inversely. Furthermore, incubation of spinal cord explants with activin A or BMP-7 increased POMC and/or PENK mRNA levels. Our findings identify TGF-β family members as modulators of acute and chronic pain perception through the transcriptional regulation of genes encoding the endogenous opioids.
Needle-like instruments for steering through solid organs: A review of the scientific and patent literature

High accuracy and precision in reaching target locations inside the human body is necessary for the success of percutaneous procedures, such as tissue sample removal (biopsy), brachytherapy, and localized drug delivery. Flexible steerable needles may allow the surgeon to reach targets deep inside solid organs while avoiding sensitive structures (e.g. blood vessels). This article provides a systematic classification of possible mechanical solutions for three-dimensional steering through solid organs. A scientific and patent literature search of steerable instrument designs was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science Derwent Innovations Index patent database, respectively. First, we distinguished between mechanisms in which deflection is induced by the pre-defined shape of the instrument versus mechanisms in which an actuator changes the deflection angle of the instrument on demand. Second, we distinguished between mechanisms deflecting in one versus two planes. The combination of deflection method and number of deflection planes led to eight logically derived mechanical solutions for three-dimensional steering, of which one was dismissed because it was considered meaningless. Next, we classified the instrument designs retrieved from the scientific and patent literature into the identified solutions. We found papers and patents describing instrument designs for six of the seven solutions. We did not find papers or patents describing instruments that steer in one-plane on-demand via an actuator and in a perpendicular plane with a pre-defined deflection angle via a bevel tip or a pre-curved configuration.
Mediators of Innate Immunity That Target Immature, But Not Mature, Dendritic Cells Induce Antitumor Immunity When Genetically Fused with Nonimmunogenic Tumor Antigens

Chemokine receptors are differentially expressed on immature and mature dendritic cells (DC). Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that murine antimicrobial peptides β-defensins 2 and 3 bind murine CCR6, similarly to inflammatory chemokine macrophage-inflammatory protein 3α, and they chemoattract bone marrow-derived immature, but not mature DC. Using various chemokines or defensins fused with nonimmunogenic tumor Ags, we studied their capacity to delivery Ags to subsets of immune cells to elicit antitumor immunity. We demonstrate that DNA immunizations with fusion constructs with β-defensin 2 or inflammatory chemokines that target immature DC, but not homeostatic chemokines secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine, CCL21, or stromal cell-derived factor 1, CXCL12, which chemoattract mature DC, elicit humoral, protective, and therapeutic immunity against two different syngeneic lymphomas.
A Data-Driven Approach for Extracting "the Most Specific Term" for Ontology Development

We present a data-driven approach to extract the "most specific" terms relevant to an ontology of functioning, disability and health. The algorithm is a combination of statistical and linguistic approaches. The statistical filter is based on the frequency of the content words in a given text string; the linguistic heuristic is an extension of existing algorithms but goes beyond noun phrases and is formulated as a "complete syntactic node". Thus, it can be applied to any syntactic node of interest in the particular domain. Two test sets were marked by three experts. Test set 1 is a well-constructed text from pain abstracts; test set 2 is actual medical reports. Results are reported as recall, precision, F-score and rate of valid terms in false positives. A limitation of the current research is the relatively small test set.
Forecasting financial multivariate time series with neural networks

An integrated approach for modelling the behaviour of financial markets with artificial neural networks (ANNs) is presented. The method allows to forecast financial time series. Its originality lies in the fact that it is based on statistics and macroeconomics principles and it integrates fundamental economic knowledge in a multivariate nonlinear time series ANN model. The core of the work is a feasibility analysis. This is seldom attempted in ANN work and consists in a series of different univariate and multivariate, linear and nonlinear statistical tests. Here we use aggregated input indicators as a new pre-processing step. The feasibility analysis evaluate "a priori" chance of forecasting the defined system and help to define the topology of the ANN. The method is applied to a real-life case study, the Swiss bond interest rate forecasting. Results giving out-of-sample performance are discussed.
Loss of Dickkopf 3 Promotes the Tumorigenesis of Basal Breast Cancer

Dickkopf 3 (DKK3) has been associated with tumor suppression of various tumor entities including breast cancer. However, the functional impact of DKK3 on the tumorigenesis of distinct molecular breast cancer subtypes has not been considered so far. Therefore, we initiated a study analyzing the subtype-specific DKK3 expression pattern as well as its prognostic and functional impact with respect to breast cancer subtypes. Based on three independent tissue cohorts including one in silico dataset (n = 30, n = 463 and n = 791) we observed a clear down-regulation of DKK3 expression in breast cancer samples compared to healthy breast tissue controls on mRNA and protein level. Interestingly, most abundant reduction of DKK3 expression was detected in the highly aggressive basal breast cancer subtype. Analyzing a large in silico dataset comprising 3,554 cases showed that low DKK3 mRNA expression was significantly associated with reduced recurrence free survival (RFS) of luminal and basal-like breast cancer cases. Functionally, DKK3 re-expression in human breast cancer cell lines led to suppression of cell growth possibly mediated by up-regulation of apoptosis in basal-like but not in luminal-like breast cancer cell lines. Moreover, ectopic DKK3 expression in mesenchymal basal breast cancer cells resulted in partial restoration of epithelial cell morphology which was molecularly supported by higher expression of epithelial markers like E-Cadherin and down-regulation of mesenchymal markers such as Snail 1. Hence, we provide evidence that down-regulation of DKK3 especially promotes tumorigenesis of the aggressive basal breast cancer subtype. Further studies decoding the underlying molecular mechanisms of DKK3-mediated effects may help to identify novel targeted therapies for this clinically highly relevant breast cancer subtype.
Perpendicularly Magnetized Monodomain Dots Induced in a Co Layer by a Structured Buffer

In this paper, magnetic states and magnetization reversal of perpendicularly magnetized monodomain dots with a lateral size of hundred nanometers induced in a Co layer by a structured buffer are investigated by means of magnetic force microscopy. The experimental results have been successfully reproduced by micromagnetic simulations using an object-oriented micromagnetic framework. The factors responsible for the dots' behavior are discussed in details.