Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geographically weighted regression with a non-Euclidean distance metric: a case study using hedonic house price data

Geographically weighted regression (GWR) is an important local technique for exploring spatial heterogeneity in data relationships. In fitting with Tobler’s first law of geography, each local regression of GWR is estimated with data whose influence decays with distance, distances that are commonly defined as straight line or Euclidean. However, the complexity of our real world ensures that the scope of possible distance metrics is far larger than the traditional Euclidean choice. Thus in this article, the GWR model is investigated by applying it with alternative, non-Euclidean distance (non-ED) metrics. Here we use as a case study, a London house price data set coupled with hedonic independent variables, where GWR models are calibrated with Euclidean distance (ED), road network distance and travel time metrics. The results indicate that GWR calibrated with a non-Euclidean metric can not only improve model fit, but also provide additional and useful insights into the nature of varying relationships within the house price data set.
Speech Pitch Shifting using Complex Continuous Wavelet Transform

Pitch shifting finds applications in voice morphing and other speech related applications. We have used complex wavelet transform to obtain and manipulate pitch of the signal. The novelty of our model is extraction of wavelet 'pitch-scale' values, which correspond to average pitch value of signal's voiced frame. The phase matrix corresponding to this scale is altered keeping modulus unchanged. The pitch has been measured using autocorrelation in wavelet domain, both for unaltered frame and for modified frame. The results obtained indeed display altering of pitch as desired
Design space exploration of SW beamformer on GPU

Ultrasound imaging has become one of the most widely used modalities in medical diagnosis today. However, real‐time ultrasound imaging requires large amount of data transfer and massive computation and therefore mainly relies on a complex dedicated hardware system. A recent trend of a graphics processing unit (GPU) based software‐based approach offers the advantages of flexibility and quick implementation. The GPUs have been reported as excellent accelerators across a wide range of applications. For best exploiting outstanding computational power and high memory bandwidth of a GPU, the paper explores the design space of implementing an ultrasound beamformer on a GPU platform. The design spaces are expanded by applying different optimization strategies to the beamformer on a GPU platform, and we also discuss the performance evaluation results on the various GPUs whose architectural characteristics are different to each others. The performance analysis shows that by optimizing CUDA code, our real‐time‐GPU‐based beamformer can be successfully implemented with 181 frames per second (fps) and speedup of 230.6X compared with the single‐threaded implementation on a high‐performance CPU platform. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Impact of Islamic Banks' Service Quality Perception on Jordanian Customers Loyalty

Studying the effect of perceived service quality on customer loyalty in the Islamic banks services setting has not been receiving much attention from scholars. A set of service quality dimensions have been investigated: tangible, reliability, empathy, assurance and responsiveness. A self-reported survey was designed to collect the primary data from 293 Islamic banks services users in the Jordanian market. Both Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis testes were used to test the study hypotheses. The findings indicated that customers expressed high levels of loyalty towards all service quality dimensions. Practitioners and academics alike are keen on accurately measuring service quality in order to better understand its essential antecedents and consequences, and ultimately, establish methods for improving such quality to exert better care for loyal customers especially those who are more profitable than others and to minimise customers switching to competitors.
Existence of Three Stable States of Magnetic Domain for the Stepped Giant Magnetoimpedance Element and Proposal for Sensor With Memory Function

In this paper, a giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) element with stepped impedance property was reported for rectangular amorphous soft magnetic thin film with an in-plane uniaxial easy axis in a controlled direction. This stepped change of impedance occurs simultaneously with a change in a magnetic domain, and its physical basis was explained as the intersection of the level of magnetic energy in each case of these domain structures. The variation of stepped impedance as a function of external magnetic field typically has a hysteretic property. The hysteretic property is explained based on an existence of threshold energy barrier which is needed overcoming to change the magnetic domain. In this paper, we will show experimentally both an existence of three stable magnetic domains around zero external magnetic field by using the stepped GMI element, and a possibility to detect these states by impedance measurement. We also propose an application of this phenomenon for a magnetic sensor which has a memory function.
Characterization of the Inflammasome in Human Kupffer Cells in Response to Synthetic Agonists and Pathogens

The liver is the largest gland in the human body and functions as an innate immune organ. Liver macrophages called Kupffer cells (KC) constitute the largest group of macrophages in the human body. Innate immune responses involving KC represent the first line of defense against pathogens in the liver. Human monocyte-derived macrophages have been used to characterize inflammasome responses that lead to the release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, but it has not yet been determined whether human KC contain functional inflammasomes. We show, to our knowledge for the first time, that KC express genes and proteins that make up several different inflammasome complexes. Moreover, activation of KC in response to the absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome led to the production of IL-1β and IL-18, which activated IL-8 transcription and hepatic NK cell activity, respectively. Other inflammasome responses were also activated in response to selected bacteria and viruses. However, hepatitis B virus inhibited the AIM2 inflammasome by reducing the mRNA stability of IFN regulatory factor 7, which regulated AIM2 transcription. These data demonstrate the production of IL-1β and IL-18 in KC, suggesting that KC contain functional inflammasomes that could be important players in the innate immune response following certain infections of the liver. We think our findings could potentially aid therapeutic approaches against chronic liver diseases that activate the inflammasome.
Engineering Exosite Peptides for Complete Inhibition of Factor VIIa Using a Protease Switch with Substrate Phage*

Limitations of current anticoagulant therapies have led us to develop two distinct classes of exosite peptide inhibitors for the initiator of the clotting process, the tissue factor-factor VIIa (TF·FVIIa) complex (Roberge, M., Santell, L., Dennis, M. S., Eigenbrot, C., Dwyer, M. A., and Lazarus, R. A. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 9522–9531). Although both peptide classes are potent and selective inhibitors of TF·FVIIa, neither showed 100% inhibition at saturating concentrations. Crystal structures of these peptides in complex with the FVII/FVIIa protease domain revealed their distinct binding sites and close proximity to the active site. The favorable orientation of the 15-mer A-site peptide A-183 (EEWEVLCWTWETCER) suggested that a C-terminal extension into the FVIIa active site could yield a chimeric inhibitor that was not only potent and selective but complete as well. A novel two-step “protease switch” approach using substrate phage display was developed by first binding all phage containing A-183 and C-terminal extension libraries to immobilized and inactive FVIIa. Upon altering pH and adding TF to switch on FVIIa enzymatic activity, only those phage released by proteolytic cleavage within the extension were propagated. This process selected for both preferred sequence and length in the extension, leading to a 27-mer peptide A-183X (EEWEVLCWTWETCERGEGVEEELWEWR) with a C-terminal 12-mer extension containing an Arg in the P1 position. A-183X was a more potent and complete inhibitor of FX activation, having a maximal extent of inhibition of ∼99% with an IC50 of 230 pm versus A-183 which maximally inhibited to 74% with an IC50 of 1.5 nm. A-183X also had a maximal prolongation of the prothrombin time of 7.6- versus 1.9-fold for A-183, making it a more effective anticoagulant.
Randomised health services studies

The randomised controlled (or clinical) trial (RCT) is recognized as the most valid among the study designs. The use of RCT in research is widespread and well formalised. In contrast, implementations of new methods and policies in routine health care are commonly lacking a formalised design, impairing the ability to evaluate and improve health care. Use of experimental designs in health care is possible at the implementation phase of clinical or preventive action or more broad process‐of‐care. We propose the terminology randomised health services studies (RHS) to denote the use of a randomised design with observations in routine health care, regardless of whether randomisation is done at individual, population or process level. In contrast to RCT, the RHS should be based on the same regulative actions, funding mechanisms and ethical framework as routine health care itself. This commentary discusses the different basis, practicalities, and formalities that distinguish the RHS from the RCT. Development of a formalised framework for RHS, including distinct registration, could contribute to an increased use of valid methods in effectiveness research, thus gaining better and more direct evidence on routine medical practice.
A divergent gene family encoding candidate olfactory receptors of the moth Heliothis virescens

The antennae of moths have been an invaluable model for studying the principles of odour perception. In spite of the enormous progress in understanding olfaction on the molecular level, for the moth one of the key elements in olfactory signalling, the odourant receptors, are still elusive. We have assessed a genome database of a heliothine moth (Heliothis virescens, Noctuidae) and employed exon‐specific probes to screen an antennal cDNA library of this species. Analysis of isolated cDNA‐clones led to the discovery of a divergent gene family encoding putative seven‐transmembrane domain proteins. The notion that they may encode candidate olfactory receptors of the moth, was supported by a tissue‐specific expression; several of the subtypes were exclusively expressed in antennae. By means of double‐labelling in situ hybridization studies it was demonstrated that the receptors are indeed expressed in antennal sensory neurons; moreover, each receptor subtype appears to be expressed in a distinct population of sensory cells. The results strongly suggest that the newly discovered gene family indeed encodes olfactory receptors of moth.
Product portfolio management for the UK motor insurance industry : a study in game theory perspective

Product Portfolio Management is a complex strategy development process with mechanisms for evaluating market dynamics and competition; however none provide the managerial insight into competitive response required to stay one step ahead in the market. This research uses Game Theory as a tool to tackle and give perspective to a case study in the UK Motor Insurance Industry. The case study focuses on Endsleigh and Zurich Insurance products presented on aggregator websites. To enable efficient modelling the players and portfolios were reduced through competitive strategic grouping and strategy analysis. Player utilities were generated through a customer survey and manipulation of known Product Portfolio utility optimisation functions. Finally, the model was analysed to find the Nash Equilibrium using a non-linear optimisation model written with parallel quadratic programming based on a quasi-Newton technique. The Game Theory model of this highly competitive market provided valuable feedback into the market dynamics and competitive responses to product strategy decisions. When presented to the case companies it was expressed that the model provided market insights that would allow the company to preempt the market, reducing rework in product development and strategic decisions, and create a competitive advantage. Furthermore, when presented to the government regulatory body, they expressed interest in the model for the purpose of developing better regulations to control market dynamics in support of maximising market potential while protecting customer interests. Overall, the Game Theory model proved useful as a tool for evaluating the case study given the insights it provided, above and beyond alternate Product Portfolio analysis tools, into market dynamic, competitive response and customer behaviour.
CDS SPREADS DETERMINANTS OF CONTRACTS INCLUDED IN MARKIT ITRAXX EUROPE SENIOR FINANCIALS INDEX

Credit default swap spreads can be used as an indicator of the potential situation in a firm or economy. The instruments for credit risk management become popular among investors and together with a boom of financial innovation, a credit default swap index contract was introduced in June 2004. Since credit default swap spreads represent an indicator of credit risk, the investors and other market participants are interested in factors that can affect credit default swap spread. The aim of this paper is to examine the influence of selected determinants of contracts included in iTraxx Europe Senior Financials index on credit default swap spreads using monthly changes. To capture the changing role of the selected determinants, a panel regression is employed in the crisis and the postcrisis periods. The results confirm the findings of previous research and show that the theoretical relationships hold in cases when observed determinants are statistically significant. Furthermore we proved that the determinants are dependent on the prevailing market circumstances.
A Collaborative System for Pigmented Skin Lesions Malignancy Tracking

This paper presents a new collaborative computer-aided diagnosis system for skin lesions malignancy tracking composed of two modules for lesion description and decision. The decision module incorporates classification and content-based image retrieval schemes (CBIR). The final decision of lesion malignancy will be obtained by merging the two decisions while using the Dempster-Shafer theory in order to improve the accuracy of the final produced decisions. Indeed, after the preprocessing of the studied image and the extraction of the skin lesions by the segmentation process, the lesion description stage defines a set of descriptive features reflecting the clinical signs of the considered lesions malignancy. In fact, 21 features representing shape and radiometric properties are calculated. The quality of these features is evaluated by applying principal components analysis (PCA) and ROC assessment criteria. The results show that the feature set can be reduced to dimension 16. Then, the proposed system estimates the preliminary lesions class with the classification scheme, while using a perceptron neural network technique preceded by a training step. Moreover, given a database of skin lesions, CBIR of the images belonging to this database which gather with the studied image and whose lesions malignancy states are known, permits to have another preliminary idea on the type of the eventual skin lesion. Finally, the results of classification and retrieval schemes are combined while using the Dempster-Shafer theory. This consists to consider the results produced separately by each technique as being dubious sources of information on the lesions malignity with an aim of combining their respective opinions. The proposed architecture allows the production of a viable cost-effective set of opinions on skin lesions malignancy. Besides, since the decision can never be perfect, the CBIR subsystem displays also visually similar images with known pathologies, to provide an intuitive aid to the dermatologist to improve the diagnosis accuracy.
The mineral nutrition of Rhizopus stolonifer.

SUMMARY: A series of experiments with culture media was carried out dealing with: (1) the action of different salts and their interaction in the medium; (2) the relation of the nitrogen source to the action of the salts; (3) the effect of the carbon source; (4) the proportionate influence of the salts in the medium; (5) the rate of growth. The results showed that this fungus grew well at 26. with an initial pH value of 7.0–8.0 and a growth period of 6–7 days. Statistical analysis of the results showed: (a) that under the given conditions an aqueous medium containing: 4% (w/v) glucose; 0.048 M-K2HPO4; 0.012M-MgSO4.7H2O; 0.025M-(NH4)2SO4; 2 p.p.m. Zn, Fe and Mn, produced optimal growth measured as mg. dry wt. ; (b) a balance did not exist between KCl, K2HPO4 and MgSO4; (c) a balance did not exist between the concentration of glucose and (NH4)2SO4; (d) a balance existed between K2HPO4 and (NH4)2SO4; (e) this fungus could only utilize KNO3 or Ca(NO3)2 to a negligible extent, while the best source found for nitrogen was (NH4)2SO4; the most available phosphorus source was K2HPO4; (f) the rate of growth followed a sigmoid curve in a nutritionally optimal solution but in the minimal solution used the onset of decline in dry weight was delayed; (g) the importance of a balanced solution is that in suitable media the buffering action of the phosphate controls the onset of acidity inimical to growth.
PRETYPHOON PANIC ATTACK HISTORY MODERATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEGREE OF TYPHOON EXPOSURE AND POSTTYPHOON PTSD AND DEPRESSION IN A VIETNAMESE SAMPLE

Predisaster risk factors are related to postdisaster psychopathology even at relatively low levels of disaster exposure. A history of panic attacks (PA) may convey risk for postdisaster psychopathology and has been linked to a wide range of psychiatric disorders in Western and non‐Western samples. The present study examined the main and interactive effects of pretyphoon PA and level of typhoon exposure in the onset of posttyphoon posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in a Vietnamese sample of typhoon survivors.
Estrogen Mobilizes a Subset of Estrogen Receptor-α-Immunoreactive Vesicles in Inhibitory Presynaptic Boutons in Hippocampal CA1

Although the classical mechanism of estrogen action involves activation of nuclear transcription factor receptors, estrogen also has acute effects on neuronal signaling that occur too rapidly to involve gene expression. These rapid effects are likely to be mediated by extranuclear estrogen receptors associated with the plasma membrane and/or cytoplasmic organelles. Here we used a combination of serial-section electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting to show that estrogen receptor-α is associated with clusters of vesicles in perisomatic inhibitory boutons in hippocampal CA1 and that estrogen treatment mobilizes these vesicle clusters toward synapses. Estrogen receptor-α is present in approximately one-third of perisomatic inhibitory boutons, and specifically in those that express cholecystokinin, not parvalbumin. We also found a high degree of extranuclear estrogen receptor-α colocalization with neuropeptide Y. Our results suggest a novel mode of estrogen action in which a subset of vesicles within a specific population of inhibitory boutons responds directly to estrogen by moving toward synapses. The mobilization of these vesicles may influence acute effects of estrogen mediated by estrogen receptor-α signaling at inhibitory synapses.
En masse retraction of the anterior teeth using a modified bidimensional technique.

:• The . 018" × . 025" maxillary incisor brackets are pretorqued and preangulated, so that an . 018" × . 022" archwire provides three-dimensional torque control in the anterior segment during space clo-sure, without any undesirable side effects in the posterior segments (Fig. ). Since the wire is 1undersize in the posterior brackets, it is relatively simple to insert, and the posterior teeth do not require the close 3rd-order monitoring that would be necessary if the wire filled the bracket slots. • With sliding mechanics, the optimal archwire and slot sizes produce forces that translate teeth along the archwire with minimal friction, tipping, and loss of anchorage. No loops are needed to effect space closure, and archform is easily maintained
Scandate Dispenser Cathodes With Sharp Transition and Their Application in Microwave Tubes

We report on a new cathode which is based on die-pressed matrices made from scandia-doped tungsten powder using the liquid-solid doping technique. Transition temperatures from space charge to temperature limited emission are as low as 840 °Cb(W) for emission of 5 A/cm2. Transitions are sharper than previously published scandate cathodes and compare favorably with M and ternary alloy cathodes. We present emission curves on several cathodes, show comparisons with other types of cathodes, and offer tentative explanations for the improvement. We discuss their suitability in microwave tubes at loadings of 5-10 A/cm2.
Study and modeling of a new configuration of an optical network on chip (ONOC) using FDTD

The increasing need to reduce power consumption and interconnection complexity in optical network on chip requires new configurations and strategies to interconnect cores in one chip. In this paper, we study a new configuration for an optical router on chip «ROTAR». In this router, the number of microrings was reduced to 4, allowing 30% reduction of power consumption compared to Huaxi Gu et al [1]. We study waveguide losses at crossing, bends and resonant rings using the numerical method FDTD. Then, we propose an algorithm to perform a global estimation of all type of losses in our optical network on chip, assuming 1mm2 area and use of 8∗8 routers. Using the Fat-H-Tree topology, we can reduce the number of routers interconnecting 64 cores, compared to the configuration proposed by Huaxi Gu et al [1]. We use GaAs as a substrate to facilitate the integration of optoelectrical devices and silicon waveguides (refraction index = 3,5) surrounded by a layer of silica (1,43) to achieve a strong field confinement in the waveguide. The use of such routers in OnoC has several benefits such as a static and simple routing algorithm and more interconnection capacity compared to λ-router [2].
Is Venlafaxine More Effective than Escitalopram and Nortriptyline in the Management of Painful Symptoms in Patients with Major Depression?

Abstract Background Conflicting data regarding the efficacy of antidepressants of different mechanism of action on unexplained painful physical symptoms (UPPS) in depression have been published so far. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the impact of escitalopram (ESC), nortriptyline (NOR), and venlafaxine (VEN) on UPPS in patients with major depression. Materials and methods Sixty patients, participants in the GENDEP study, with a diagnosis of depression according to the ICD-10 criteria were randomly assigned to treatment with ESC (10–30 mg, mean dose 15.2, standard deviation [SD]±9.2) or NOR (50–150 mg, mean dose 106.2, SD±8.2). Additionally, 30 patients who were treated with VEN (75–225 mg, mean dose 181.3, SD±8.8) were included. Before inclusion (day 0) and throughout the study (days 14, 28, 42, 56), the severity of pain was monitored using the visual analog scale. Results The patients treated with ESC, NOR, and VEN did not differ in the intensity of pain at days 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56. Conclusion Our results do not support the hypothesis suggesting the superiority of VEN over ESC and NOR in the management of UPPS in major depression.