Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Dynamics of General Equilibrium

In Walras original description of general equilibrium (Walras, 1954 [1874]), market clearing was effected by a central authority. This authority, which has come to be known as the auctioneer, remains today because no one has succeeded in producing a plausible decentralised dynamic model of producers and consumers engaged in market interaction in which prices and quantities move towards market-clearing levels. Only under implausible assumptions can the continuous auctioneer dynamic be shown to be stable (Fisher, 1983), and in a discrete model, even these assumptions (gross substitutability, for instance) do not preclude instability and chaos in price movements (Saari, 1985; Bala and Majumdar, 1992). 1 Moreover, contemporary analysis of excess demand functions suggests that restrictions on preferences are unlikely to entail the stability of t^ (Sonnenschein, 1972, 1973; Debreu, 1974; Kirman and Koch, 1986). It has been a half century since Debreu (1952) and Arrow and Debreu (1954) provided a satisfactory analysis of the equilibrium properties market economies, yet we know virtually nothing systematic about Walrasian dynamics. This suggests that we lack understanding of one or more fundamental properties of market exchange. This article provides an agent-based model of the Walrasian economy. An agentbased model is a computer simulation of the repeated play of a game in which a large number of agents are endowed with software-encoded strategies governing both how they play the game and how they gather information and update their behaviour. The disequilibrium behaviour of agents in our agent-based models is governed by a replicator dynamic (Taylor and Jonker, 1978) in which, over time, successful agents tend in Darwinian fashion to increase in frequency at the expense of unsuccessful agents. We describe the process of shifting from lower to higher payoff strategies as imitation,
Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling Open Access a General Framework for Quantifying the Effects of Dna Repair Inhibitors on Radiation Sensitivity as a Function of Dose

Purpose: Current methods for quantifying effects of DNA repair modifiers on radiation sensitivity assume a constant effect independent of the radiation dose received. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a modelling strategy by which radiation dose dependent effects of DNA repair inhibitors on clonogenic survival might be identified and their significance assessed. Methods: An indicator model that allowed quantification of the Sensitiser Effect on Radiation response as a function of Dose (SERD) was developed. This model was fitted to clonogenic survival data derived from human tumour and rodent fibroblast cell lines irradiated in the presence and absence of chemical inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity. Results: PARP inhibition affected radiation response in a cell cycle and radiation dose dependent manner, and was also associated with significant radiation-independent effects on clonogenic survival. Application of the SERD method enabled identification of components of the radiation response that were significantly affected by PARP inhibition and indicated the magnitude of the effects on each component. Conclusion: The proposed approach improves on current methods of analysing effects of DNA repair modification on radiation response. Furthermore, it may be generalised to account for other parameters such as proliferation or dose rate to enable its use in the context of fractionated or continuous radiation exposures.
Improving MapReduce Performance by Exploiting Input Redundancy

The proliferation of data parallel programming on large clusters has set a new research avenue: accommodating numerous types of data-intensive applications with a feasible plan. Behind the many research efforts, we can observe that there exists a nontrivial amount of redundant I/O in the execution of data-intensive applications. This redundancy problem arises as an emerging issue in the recent literature because even the locality-aware scheduling policy in a MapReduce framework is not effective in a cluster environment where storage nodes cannot provide a computation service. In this article, we introduce SplitCache for improving the performance of data-intensive OLAP-style applications by reducing redundant I/O in a MapReduce framework. The key strategy to achieve the goal is to eliminate such I/O redundancy especially when different applications read common input data within an overlapped time period; SplitCache caches the first input stream in the computing nodes and reuses them for future demands. We also design a cache-aware task scheduler that plays an important role in achieving high cache utilization. In execution of the TPC-H benchmark, we achieved 64.3% faster execution and 83.48% reduction in network traffic in average.
The Quality Characteristics of Salted Ground Pork Patties Containing Various Fat Levels by Microwave Cooking

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of fat level on the microwave cooking properties of ground pork patties with NaCl (1.5%). Ground pork patties were processed from pork hams to achieve fat levels of 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%, respectively. Each patty was cooked from a thawed state to 75℃ in a microwave oven at full power (700 W). After microwave cooking, protein content, moisture content, fat retention, and shear force values in patties decreased as fat level increased from 10 to 25%. As fat level increased, cooking time decreased but total cooking loss and drip loss were increased, whereas slight differences in diameter reduction and thickness of patties were observed. In raw patties, 10% fat patties had lower L* values and higher a* values compared to patties with more fat, but these differences were reduced when patties were cooked. Patties with 10% fat showed a more pink color on the surface and interior than patties with a higher fat content but more air pockets were noted in higher-fat patties. Higher-fat patties were more tender, juicy, and oily than lower-fat patties.
CanICA: Model-based extraction of reproducible group-level ICA patterns from fMRI time series

Spatial Independent Component Analysis (ICA) is an increasingly used data-driven method to analyze functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data. To date, it has been used to extract meaningful patterns without prior information. However, ICA is not robust to mild data variation and remains a parameter-sensitive algorithm. The validity of the extracted patterns is hard to establish, as well as the significance of differences between patterns extracted from different groups of subjects. We start from a generative model of the fMRI group data to introduce a probabilistic ICA pattern-extraction algorithm, called CanICA (Canonical ICA). Thanks to an explicit noise model and canonical correlation analysis, our method is auto-calibrated and identifies the group-reproducible data subspace before performing ICA. We compare our method to state-of-the-art multi-subject fMRI ICA methods and show that the features extracted are more reproducible.
Bone Resorption Inhibitor Alendronate Normalizes the Reduced Bone Thickness of TRPV5−/− Mice

TRPV5 is a Ca2+‐selective channel involved in transcellular Ca2+ absorption expressed in kidney and in the ruffled border of osteoclasts. Studies in hypercalciuric TRPV5 knockout (TRPV5−/−) mice, which display significantly increased vitamin D levels, showed that TRPV5 ablation increases number and size of osteoclasts but impairs osteoclast‐mediated bone resorption. The latter is not in line with the observed decreased bone thickness in TRPV5−/− mice. Bisphosphonates also inhibit osteoclast‐mediated bone resorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of alendronate on the expression of the Ca2+ transporters in bone, kidney, and duodenum and, importantly, the bone phenotype in TRPV5−/− mice. Wildtype (TRPV5+/+) and TRPV5−/− mice were treated during 10 wk with 2 mg/kg alendronate or vehicle weekly and housed in metabolic cages at the end of treatment. Urine and blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis, and duodenum, kidney, and femur were sampled. Expression of Ca2+ transporters and osteoclast ruffled border transporters in bone and cultured osteoclasts was determined by QPCR analysis. Femurs were scanned using μCT, and resorption pit assays were performed in bone marrow cultures isolated from TRPV5+/+ and TRPV5−/− mice. Alendronate treatment enhanced bone thickness in TRPV5+/+ mice but also normalized the disturbed bone morphometry parameters in TRPV5−/− mice. Bone TRPV5 expression was specifically enhanced by alendronate, whereas the expression of Ca2+ transporters in kidney and intestine was not altered. The expression of the osteoclast ruffled border membrane proteins chloride channel 7 (CLC‐7) and the vacuolar H+‐ATPase did not differ between both genotypes, but alendronate significantly enhanced the expression and PTH levels in TRPV5−/− mice. The expression of TRPV5, CLC‐7, and H+‐ATPase in osteoclast cultures was not affected by alendronate. The number of resorption pits was reduced in TRPV5−/− bone marrow cultures, but the response to vitamin D was similar to that in TRPV5+/+ cultures. The alendronate‐induced upregulation of TRPV5 in bone together with the decreased resorptive capacity of TRPV5−/− osteoclasts in vitro suggests that TRPV5 has an important role in osteoclast function. However, our data indicate that significant bone resorption still occurs in TRPV5−/− mice, because alendronate treatment normalized bone thickness in these mice. Thus, TRPV5−/− mice are able to rescue the resulting defect in osteoclast‐mediated bone resorption, possibly mediated by the long‐term hypervitaminosis D or other (non)hormonal compensatory mechanisms.
Discrete Fourier coil for localization of a magnetic dipole

In this paper, we developed a new compact magnetic sensor whose size was within a rectangular parallelepiped 17 mm × 17 mm × 14 mm for two-dimensional (2D) localization of a magnetic dipole. This sensor directly measures the discrete Fourier sine and cosine coefficients of the magnetic flux density generated by a magnetic dipole. The sensor has 16 elemental coils with 78-permalloy cores which are placed along a circle with radius 5mm and connected in series, where the number of the turns of the elemental coil at angle θ is changed proportional to sinθ (cosθ) for measuring the discrete Fourier sine (cosine) coefficient. The experimental results showed that the maximum (average) localization error was 2.4 mm (0.74 mm) in a circle with diameter 200 mm.
Distributed signal subspace projection algorithms with maximum convergence rate for sensor networks with topological constraints

The observations gathered by the individual nodes of a sensor network may be unreliable due to malfunctioning, observation noise or low battery level. Global reliability is typically recovered by collecting all the measurements in a fusion center which takes proper decisions. However, centralized networks are more vulnerable and prone to congestion around the sink nodes. To relax the congestion problem, decrease the network vulnerability and improve the network efficiency, it is appropriate to bring the decisions at the lowest possible level. In this paper, we propose a distributed algorithm allowing each node to improve the reliability of its own reading thanks to the interaction with the other nodes, assuming that the field monitored by the network is a smooth function. In mathematical terms, this only requires that the useful field belongs to a subspace of dimension smaller than the number of nodes. Although fully decentralized, the proposed algorithm is globally optimal, in the sense that it performs the projection of the overall set of observations onto the signal subspace through an iterative decentralized algorithms, that requires minimum convergence time, for any given node coverage.
CADET: Confidential ad-hoc decentralized end-to-end transport

This paper describes CADET, a new transport protocol for confidential and authenticated data transfer in decentralized networks. This transport protocol is designed to operate in restricted-route scenarios such as friend-to-friend or ad-hoc wireless networks. We have implemented CADET and evaluated its performance in various network scenarios, compared it to the well-known TCP/IP stack and tested its response to rapidly changing network topologies. While our current implementation is still significantly slower in high-speed low-latency networks, for typical Internet-usage our system provides much better connectivity and security with comparable performance to TCP/IP.
Learning RoboCup-Keepaway with Kernels

We apply kernel-based methods to solve the difficult reinforcement learning problem of 3vs2 keepaway in RoboCup simulated soccer. Key challenges in keepaway are the high-dimensionality of the state space (rendering conventional discretization-based function approximation like tilecoding infeasible), the stochasticity due to noise and multiple learning agents needing to cooperate (meaning that the exact dynamics of the environment are unknown) and real-time learning (meaning that an efficient online implementation is required). We employ the general framework of approximate policy iteration with least-squares-based policy evaluation. As underlying function approximator we consider the family of regularization networks with subset of regressors approximation. The core of our proposed solution is an efficient recursive implementation with automatic supervised selection of relevant basis functions. Simulation results indicate that the behavior learned through our approach clearly outperforms the best results obtained earlier with tilecoding by Stone et al. (2005).
Patient Mortality Is Associated With Staff Resources and Workload in the ICU: A Multicenter Observational Study*

Objective:Matching healthcare staff resources to patient needs in the ICU is a key factor for quality of care. We aimed to assess the impact of the staffing-to-patient ratio and workload on ICU mortality. Design:We performed a multicenter longitudinal study using routinely collected hospital data. Setting:Information pertaining to every patient in eight ICUs from four university hospitals from January to December 2013 was analyzed. Patients:A total of 5,718 inpatient stays were included. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:We used a shift-by-shift varying measure of the patient-to-caregiver ratio in combination with workload to establish their relationships with ICU mortality over time, excluding patients with decision to forego life-sustaining therapy. Using a multilevel Poisson regression, we quantified ICU mortality-relative risk, adjusted for patient turnover, severity, and staffing levels. The risk of death was increased by 3.5 (95% CI, 1.3–9.1) when the patient-to-nurse ratio was greater than 2.5, and it was increased by 2.0 (95% CI, 1.3–3.2) when the patient-to-physician ratio exceeded 14. The highest ratios occurred more frequently during the weekend for nurse staffing and during the night for physicians (p < 0.001). High patient turnover (adjusted relative risk, 5.6 [2.0–15.0]) and the volume of life-sustaining procedures performed by staff (adjusted relative risk, 5.9 [4.3–7.9]) were also associated with increased mortality. Conclusions:This study proposes evidence-based thresholds for patient-to-caregiver ratios, above which patient safety may be endangered in the ICU. Real-time monitoring of staffing levels and workload is feasible for adjusting caregivers’ resources to patients’ needs.
Design and Analysis of Poppet Valve Using Composite Materials

Poppet valve is a precision engine component which blocks gas flow ports and controls the exchange of gases in internal combustion engines. Intake and exhaust valves are known as "poppet" valves. Poppet valves have a round head that blocks a Hole (the "port") the "stem" attached to the back of this "valve head" pushes the valve up and away from the port, allowing air/fuel to flow through the gap between the valve head and valve seat and into the combustion chamber. Poppet valves work well in engines because the pressure inside the combustion chamber pushes the valve against the seat, sealing the chamber and preventing leaks during this cycle poppet valves are exposed to high temperature and pressure which will affect the life and performance of the engine. The aim of the project is to design and analysis of poppet valve with a suitable material using Finite element Method. 3D model is done in CATIA and Analysis is done in ANSYS. Thermal and structural analysis is to be done on the poppet valve when valve is closed.
Quantum repeated games revisited

We present a scheme for playing quantum repeated 2 × 2 games based on Marinatto and Weber’s approach to quantum games. As a potential application, we study the twice repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma game. We show that results not available in the classical game can be obtained when the game is played in the quantum way. Before we present our idea, we comment on the previous scheme of playing quantum repeated games proposed by Iqbal and Toor. We point out the drawbacks that make their results unacceptable.
Single-mode and multimode 2D VCSEL arrays for parallel optical interconnects

We present bottom-emitting 4×8 InGaAs VCSEL arrays with homogeneous output characteristics ideally suited for transmitter action in short-distance optical interconnects. Conversion efficiencies of single-mode and multimode devices at an optical output power of 1 mW are 24% and 29%, respectively, with peak single-mode powers of 3 mW.
Dynamic balance in former elite male athletes and in community control subjects

Dynamic balance was studied in 105 former elite athletes (aged 45–68) and in 966 community control subjects (aged 27–67). Subjects walked barefoot along a 5‐m‐long test track, stepping only on two pads which they alternately put down in front of them and picked up from behind while standing on one foot. A better test result (short completion time) was associated with lower body mass index (in both groups), with jumping height and physical activity during the previous year (in former athletes), and with younger age, better general health, and better perceived physical fitness (in control subjects). Test results in former athletes were, on average, comparable to those of 24–30 years younger community control subjects.
Welsh mathematician walks in cyberspace

This talk examines some models of 'space' and things in space drawing from diverse areas: mathematics (my first love), architecture, cognition as well as those developed specifically for VR; and shows how these impact and inform virtual space. Also important is the human geography of virtual space and the Internet which has been particularly important to me recently with my company hat on – mapping the interrelationships between communities of users and service providers in the Internet (we call it market ecology). This is in turn related to recommender systems, virtual communities and e-commerce. Models of 'space' from physics are not the same as those from our day-to-day experience, and neither has stayed constant through time. cyberspace challenges these models more fundamentally still, not just virtual reality, but all forms of mixed reality, mobile and ubiquitous computing. By understanding some of these models of space we may be able to better understand and better design the space of tomorrow.
Adaptive and Tractable Bayesian Context Inference for Resource Constrained Devices

Context inference is necessary in ubiquitous computing to provide information about contextual information which is not directly measurable from sensors or obtained from other information sources. Server based, central inference would not scale due to the expected amount of context requests. Mobile, distributed context inference faces problems because of the high computational complexity of inference mechanisms. Bayesian inference techniques are particularly well suited, as they allow for more flexible modelling of situations than propositional logic, are always decidable as opposed to higher order logics, are intelligible to humans as opposed to neural networks and allow for uncertain or missing information. As inference in them however is NP-hard, methods have to be introduced to fit them to the requirements of ubiquitous computing and mobile, resource constrained devices. To this end, this work proposes to divide Bayesian networks for context inference into modules, called Bayeslets. Bayeslets can be composed among each other to fulfil an inference request via interface nodes about which additional assumptions are made: Considering input nodes as observed, more efficient inference methods can possibly be applied and by defining explicit output nodes for connection, a relevancy based dynamic composition of Bayeslets can be realised, so the evaluated number of Bayeslets always stays at a minimum. The inference time of Bayeslets can be further reduced by adapting edges and value ranges to the user's personal requirements and the current situation. The application of these concepts is shown in general examples of high level context used in the user's smart space, in his work environment, as well as in road traffic. Experimental results show that this process results in a significant reduction of the inference load. The Bayeslets for location and human motion related activity are of particular importance for context awareness and therefore considered and evaluated in detail. The set of tools proposed in this thesis allows to apply a fully Bayesian approach to context inference, fulfilling the requirements of ubiquitous computing and mobile, resource constrained devices.
Correlation between Ultrasonic Nonlinearity and Elastic Nonlinearity in Heat-Treated Aluminum Alloy

The nonlinear ultrasonic technique is a potential nondestructive method to evaluate material degradation, in which the ultrasonic nonlinearity parameter is usually measured. The ultrasonic nonlinearity parameter is defined by the elastic nonlinearity coefficients of the nonlinear Hooke’s equation. Therefore, even though the ultrasonic nonlinearity parameter is not equal to the elastic nonlinearity parameter, they have a close relationship. However, there has been no experimental verification of the relationship between the ultrasonic and elastic nonlinearity parameters. In this study, the relationship is experimentally verified for a heat-treated aluminum alloy. Specimens of the aluminum alloy were heat-treated at 300°C for different periods of time (0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 h). The relative ultrasonic nonlinearity parameter of each specimen was then measured, and the elastic nonlinearity parameter was determined by fitting the stress-strain curve obtained from a tensile test to the 5th-order-polynomial nonlinear Hooke’s equation. The results showed that the variations in these parameters were in good agreement with each other.