Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retrospective revaluation in humans: Learning or memory?

The phenomenon of retrospective revaluation has posed considerable problems for many associative learning theories as it involves a change in the associative strength of a cue on trials on which that cue is absent. The present series of experiments pursues this idea of changes in associative strength between evoked representations of cues, in an effort to establish, de novo, an excitatory connection between two cues simultaneously activated in memory. Given the finding of Dwyer, Mackintosh, and Boakes (1998) that simultaneous activation of absent cues in the memory of rats resulted in learning comparable to that seen inretrospective revaluation, we expected that if retrospective revaluation was found in humans, then excitatory learning due to simultaneous activation would also be seen. This was not the case. The implications of our results are discussed in terms of Dickinson and Burke's (1996) modified SOP model and a version of McLaren's (1993) APECS network. We conclude that many of the effects attributed to learning in retrospective revaluation studies are better thought of as due to changes in the retrievability of items in memory.
Explaining Sociotechnical Transitions : A Critical Realist Perspective

This paper examines whether the core assumptions underlying the so-called multilevel perspective on sociotechnical transitions (MLP) stand up to scrutiny. The paper clarifies the explicit and implicit assumptions within the MLP about the nature of reality (ontology), the status of claims about that reality (epistemology), and the appropriate choice of research methods, and assesses the consistency of these with the philosophical tradition of critical realism. The paper highlights a number of weaknesses of the MLP, including: the ambiguous distinction between systems and regimes; the problematic conception of social structure; the use of theory as a heuristic device rather than causal explanation; the ambition to develop an extremely versatile framework rather than testing competing explanations; the tendency to incorporate an increasing number of theoretical ideas, while at the same time paying insufficient attention to the necessity or contingency of particular mechanisms; the reliance upon single, historical case studies with little use of comparative methods; and the rejection of potentially useful methodologies such as agent-based modelling. However, the paper concludes that there is sufficient ambiguity and flexibility in the MLP to accommodate changes to the underpinning assumptions as well as the use of a broader range of research methods.
Risks of Innovation in Management Education: Introducing a critical management perspective onto a project management MBA elective

This paper is a reflective account of our experiences with introducing critical social perspectives in the design and teaching of project management at the MBA level. It combines the theoretical concepts of critical pedagogy, management education and project management practice with the concrete empirical analysis of the lecturers’ experiences, students’ feedback and artefacts used in the teaching process, to illuminate (disruptive or otherwise) consequences of this innovation. When we have spent some time working with matters of business and management education, we eventually start questioning what it is that we are doing. For us, this paper has been a reflective exercise itself, an opportunity to deliberate about our own practices as well as about assumed values, benefits and the operation of power in the system of relations defined as academic management education.
Semantic IoT System for Indoor Environment Control - A Sparql and SQL based hybrid model

The realization of Internet of Things (IoT) has gained momentum in the past few years. The main idea is to connect devices with disparate data formats learn, integrate, and communicate to provide intelligent services to humans. These devices generate a large amount of data with various data formats, resulting in some issues i.e. interoperability and data volume. In this paper we have addressed both the problems with a hybrid approach utilizing both semantic and data base technologies. Our research study is based on modelling a context ontology and a database schema to store sensor context data and to control actuators in an environment. An architecture based on IoT system for an indoor environment control is proposed that collects sensor and actuator data as well as its location information and provide it to the external users or applications.
Simulation of a High Speed Counting System for SiC Neutron Sensors

As the generation of hydrogen gas was found to be the main cause of the explosion during 2011 Fukushima accident, there have been many efforts to reduce hydrogen-related problems. A most certain way to improve these problems might be a change of fuel cladding material [1]. Zircaloy cladding has been used because this alloy shows reasonable performance at normal operation conditions and shows extremely low neutron absorption cross-section so less neutron penalty. However, Zircaloy cladding has severe corrosion problem and produce hydrogen during an accident. The proposed accident tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding material are Mo-Zr alloy, Fe-based alloy, and SiCf/SiC cladding or cladding coatings [1]. ATF cladding materials are required to have high resistance to oxidation and corrosion. Autor's group has developed model alumina-forming duplex stainless steel (ADSS) as a candidate of ATF claddings material [2]. Fe-based material like ADSS shows a high neutron absorption cross-section leading to neutron penalty, so cladding thickness should be minimized. Meanwhile, Zn addition was adapted to reduce radiation dose in primary coolant conditions, and the number of plants applying zinc addition has been increasing since it was reported that they improve corrosion behavior of stainless steels and Ni-based alloy in PWR conditions [3, 4]. Since corrosion of ATF cladding material candidate ADSS is emphasized, zinc addition effects on corrosion behavior of this alloy are evaluated with normal PWR operational conditions by observing oxide film.
Exploiting Graph Properties for Decentralized Reputation Systems

In online communities, users frequently interact with strangers in order to buy and sell products, watch videos, educating themselves, and playing games. Establishing trust among strangers is essential for the functionality of these communities but challenging, as well. Online reputation systems effectively establish trust among strangers by aggregating the history of user interactions in one reputation value per user. They differ from their offline counterparts in their large number of participants spread around the world, their explicit design, and the variety of defector strategies. This thesis studies reputation systems for decentralized networks such as distributed online social networks, online markets on mobile devices, and P2P networks. Due to the highly dynamic behavior of users and the scarcity of resources, several challenging scalability and security issues arise. To face these challenges, this thesis explores algorithms that exploit the graph structure induced by the user interactions in decentralized reputation systems. The socially rich available information of online communities allows the analysis of user behavior and its evolution over time. Using the key insights of this analysis, scalable and effective algorithms are designed in order to collect, store and aggregate information in decentralized reputation systems.
Measurement of antenna diversity performances on a compact wireless device, in real environment

The efficiency of a miniature diversity device has been shown, by the measurement of capacity improvement of a simple communication link, in real indoor environment. In spite of the antennas closeness, good results have been obtained. More results will be presented, like comparison with Switch, EGC combining, single reference antenna and SNR/FER measurements with other modulation schemes. Moreover, this kind of measurements will be investigated in outdoor to indoor contexts for WiMAX links at 3.5 GHz.
Development and electrical properties of undoped polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors for guest-host LCDs

It is demonstrated that it is possible to use TFTs (thin-film transistors) to construct CMOS inverters operating at 40 V. In addition, the authors discuss qualitatively and quantitatively the changes which take place in the grain boundary trap density on removal of HCl during gate oxidation and on grain boundary passivation by hydrogenation. Quantitative measurements of I/sub DS/ as a function of V/sub G/ show that the removal of HCl during gate oxidation of polysilicon lowers the grain boundary trap density by about one third. This is a small but still significant improvement in addition to the reductions by factors of 6 to 9 obtained through hydrogenation. The activation energy for source-drain conduction at low values of V/sub G/ was measured to be 0.55 eV and indicates that conduction is controlled by the supply of carriers from mid-gap grain boundary states. The activation energy of dual gated devices is twice that for a single gated structure, since at values of V/sub G/ close to the conduction minimum, both gates equally control conduction. <<ETX>>
Luminescent Solar Concentrators utilising aligned CdSe/CdS nanorods

Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) were originally proposed in the 1970s as a means to reduce the cost of solar energy. LSCs typically consist of a transparent substrate made from PMMA or glass, homogeneously doped with a luminescent species, with solar cells coupled to the edge(s). In this paper CdSe/CdS core/shell nanorods (NRs) are utilized as the luminescent species within luminescent solar concentrator. NRs can be tuned to absorb and emit at different wavelengths by controlling their radial and length dimensions, varying quantum confinement. Additionally, NRs can be aligned, which can reduce light cone losses. The luminescent quantum yield (LQY) of the CdSe/CdS nanorods was found to be unaffected by the high density of nanorods required for alignment, the LQY was measured as 72.4±5% which compares well with literature values. Absorptivity measurements were used to determine that the majority of the nanorods within the thin-film were vertically aligned, with the exception of the nanorods at the edge of the thin-film. The sample was found to have considerably lower absorptivity in the central region, consistent with the presence of vertically aligned CdSe/CdS nanorods which have lower absorptivity in this particular orientation. Finally, the samples optical efficiency was measured to be 7.4±0.5%, which is more than a factor of two higher than the computational derived value of 3.17±0.19% which assumes the CdSe/CdS nanorods emit isotropically.
[Laparoscopic pancreatic resections in experimental setting and clinical practice].

INTRODUCTION Pancreatic fistula is a major postoperative complication after pancreatic resection. One of the main risk factors of developing the pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy is the method employed for the management of the pancreatic remnant. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of the experimental part of this work was to test a novel method of management of the pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatectomy on a large laboratory animal. Furthermore, based on the experience with the experimental work to introduce the laparoscopic approach to human clinical practice. METHODS In the experimental part of the work laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with spleen and splenic vessels preservation was performed in ten female domestic pigs. The experimental animals were divided into two groups. In the first group the pancreas was transected using an EndoGIA Universal Stapler and in the second group, the pancreas was transected using a Ligasure device and the pancreatic remnant was reinforced with hydrogel sealant Pleuraseal. We introduced the laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy to clinical practice in the Department of Surgery in Hradec Králové in 2009. Transection of the pancreas was performed with staplers. RESULTS In the experimental part of the work the postoperative course was uneventful in all the animals. All animals gained weight. Only minor macroscopic and microscopic alterations of the healing process were found. Statistical differences between the groups were not significant. In the clinical part of the work we performed laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in 6 patients. We performed two distal pancreatectomies with splenectomy, one distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and left nephrectomy and 3 distal pancreatectomies with the spleen and splenic vessels preservation. We did not have to convert to open procedure in any of the cases. CONCLUSIONS In the experimental part of the work we showed that the novel technique using Ligasure transection reinforced by the hydrogel sealant Pleuraseal is feasible and safe technique, which seems to be comparable with the standard transection technique using stapler. Our initial experience with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in the clinical practice cannot be used to compare various methods of management of the pancreatic stump or to evaluate the rate of pancreatic fistula in such small group of patients.
Interruptible Load Management Model with Early Notification

In the interruptible load management,customers'shortage cost could be significantly reduced by early notification.A method for modeling early notification in interruptible load contracts is introduced using financial option theory.Emphasis is given to develop a rational approach for interruption decision-making of whether the interruptible load is curtailed with an early notification or curtailed close to delivery time.Numerical simulations show that utilities will select different interruption strategies for customers with different shortage cost characteristics.The higher the spot market prices,the more possible for a customer to be notified of a interruption.In addition,the lead time of notification has an important impact on the interruption decision-making.Simulation results also validate the reasonableness and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Peer to Peer Lending: Auctioning Microcredits over the Internet

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms are online platforms where borrowers place requests for loans online and private lenders bid to fund these. Such platforms became available in 2005 and have increasingly been used ever since. However, little is still known about the factors determining the success of a loan listing or the interest rates on these platforms. This paper presents the results from an empirical analysis of 54077 listings on the platform Prosper. Results indicate that verified bank account information and the credit rating are key determinants for a listing's success. Additional personal information (e.g. photos of the borrower) also has a significant influence on funding. Less important, though still relevant, are peer groups within the online community. Interest rates on P2P-lending platforms are primarily determined by credit rating and debt-to-income ratios. In this respect, P2P lending does not differ much from the traditional banking system. However, it promises lower costs of borrowing by cutting out an expensive intermediary - the banks. As empirical data show, it will mainly be the reliable, AA- or A-rated borrowers who can exploit this opportunity. High-risk borrowers, however, have serious difficulties in successfully acquiring loans online, as only about 5.5% of their listings are funded.
Intraoperative fluorescence delineation of head and neck cancer with a fluorescent Anti‐epidermal growth factor receptor nanobody

Intraoperative near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging is a technology with high potential to provide the surgeon with real‐time visualization of tumors during surgery. Our study explores the feasibility for clinical translation of an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐targeting nanobody for intraoperative imaging and resection of orthotopic tongue tumors and cervical lymph node metastases. The anti‐EGFR nanobody 7D12 and the negative control nanobody R2 were conjugated to the NIR fluorophore IRDye800CW (7D12‐800CW and R2‐800CW). Orthotopic tongue tumors were induced in nude mice using the OSC‐19‐luc2‐cGFP cell line. Tumor‐bearing mice were injected with 25 µg 7D12‐800CW, R2–800CW or 11 µg 800CW. Subsequently, other mice were injected with 50 or 75 µg of 7D12‐800CW. The FLARE imaging system and the IVIS spectrum were used to identify, delineate and resect the primary tumor and cervical lymph node metastases. All tumors could be clearly identified using 7D12‐800CW. A significantly higher tumor‐to‐background ratio (TBR) was observed in mice injected with 7D12–800CW compared to mice injected with R2‐800CW and 800CW. The highest average TBR (2.00 ± 0.34 and 2.72 ± 0.17 for FLARE and IVIS spectrum, respectively) was observed 24 hr after administration of the EGFR‐specific nanobody. After injection of 75 µg 7D12‐800CW cervical lymph node metastases could be clearly detected. Orthotopic tongue tumors and cervical lymph node metastases in a mouse model were clearly identified intraoperatively using a recently developed fluorescent EGFR‐targeting nanobody. Translation of this approach to the clinic would potentially improve the rate of radical surgical resections.
How Important is the Modeling of Interest Rate and Credit Spread Risk in Standard and Non-Standard Credit Portfolio Models?

In this comprehensive simulation study the effect on the economic capital of a credit portfolio which results from integrating interest rate and credit spread risk into portfolio models with different specifications is analyzed. By using forward rates, most credit portfolio models currently employed in the banking industry treat these risk factors as known in advance. In contrast to previous studies, in this paper transition risk, credit spread risk, interest rate risk and - for one specification - also recovery rate risk are assumed to be correlated risks. The simulations show that generally the error made when neglecting the stochastic nature of interest rates or credit spread risk is significant, especially for high quality credit portfolios with low correlations between the obligors' asset returns. Considering inhomogeneities in the portfolio composition as they appear in real-world credit portfolios or different distributional assumptions for the credit risk factors might reduce the effect of an underestimation of economic capital, but it is still relevant.
Electromigration and low-frequency resistance fluctuations in aluminum thin-film interconnections

Low-frequency noise spectra originating from resistance fluctuations in Al films during electromigration were measured in the absolute temperature and current density intervals<tex>327 \leq T \leq 396</tex>K and<tex>1.34 \times 10^{6} \leq j \leq 2.22 \times 10^{6}</tex>A/cm<sup>2</sup>. The values of S<inf>R</inf>, the resistance power spectral density, at 20 × 10<sup>-3</sup>Hz allowed the construction of an Arrhenius plot from which a grain-boundary activation energy value of about 0.6 eV was deduced. This value lies in the range of values found by other authors using different techniques. A first attempt to model the observed dependence of S<inf>R</inf>on<tex>j</tex>and<tex>T</tex>is also described.
Multinational Capital Budgeting and Finance Decisions

The financing and capital budgeting decisions of the multinational are distorted by factors including barriers to financial flows such as exchange controls, different national tax systems, political risks, international capital market segmentation, foreign exchange risks and the organizational structure of the multinational enterprise. An abundance of literature has been published in the quest to explain the theory of the multinational enterprise. The theory of the multinational has undergone a metamorphosis from risk reduction (Rugman 1979) and internalisation theory (Buckley and Casson 1976), where the multinational is viewed as "internalising" imperfect factor and financial markets to an extent where net benefits to the multinational equate net costs, to Dunning's (1988) eclectic paradigm. The aim of this paper is to focus upon the importance that taxation and other factors play in the financing and investment decisions of multinationals.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Promotes Central Nervous System Myelination via a Direct Effect upon Oligodendrocytes

The extracellular factors that are responsible for inducing myelination in the central nervous system (CNS) remain elusive. We investigated whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated, by first confirming that BDNF heterozygous mice exhibit delayed CNS myelination during early postnatal development. We next established that the influence of BDNF upon myelination was direct, by acting on oligodendrocytes, using co-cultures of dorsal root ganglia neurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Importantly, we found that BDNF retains its capacity to enhance myelination of neurons or by oligodendrocytes derived from p75NTR knockout mice, indicating the expression of p75NTR is not necessary for BDNF-induced myelination. Conversely, we observed that phosphorylation of TrkB correlated with myelination, and that inhibiting TrkB signalling also inhibited the promyelinating effect of BDNF, suggesting that BDNF enhances CNS myelination via activating oligodendroglial TrkB-FL receptors. Together, our data reveal a previously unknown role for BDNF in potentiating the normal development of CNS myelination, via signalling within oligodendrocytes.
Alcohol Consumption, New Onset of Diabetes After Transplantation, and All-Cause Mortality in Renal Transplant Recipients

Background. Renal transplant recipients (RTR) are often advised to refrain from alcohol because of possible interaction with their immunosuppressive medication. Although moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced risk of diabetes and mortality in the general population, this is unknown for RTR. Therefore, we investigated the association of alcohol consumption with new onset of diabetes after transplantation (NODAT), mortality, and graft failure in RTR. Method. RTR were investigated between 2001 and 2003. Alcohol consumption was assessed by self-report. Mortality and graft failure was recorded until May 2009. Results. Six hundred RTR were studied (age 51±12 years, 55% men). Of these RTR, 48% were abstainers, 38% had light alcohol intake, 13% had moderate intake, and 1% were heavy consumers. Moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of developing NODAT over the follow-up period than was abstention (OR=0.36 [0.2–0.6], P=<0.001). During follow-up for 7.0 years [6.2–7.5 years], 133 recipients died. In Cox regression analyses, moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower mortality period than was abstention (hazard ratio=0.40 [0.2–0.8], P=0.009). Adjustment for confounders, including age and smoking, did not materially change this association. No association was found between alcohol consumption and graft failure. Conclusions. Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with low prevalence of NODAT and reduced risk for mortality in RTR, in line with findings in the general population. These findings refute the common advice to refrain from alcohol in RTR.