Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The human cortical areas V6 and V6A

Abstract In macaque, it has long been known since the late nineties that the medial parieto-occipital sulcus (POS) contains two regions, V6 and V6A, important for visual motion and action. While V6 is a retinotopically organized extrastriate area, V6A is a broadly retinotopically organized visuomotor area constituted by a ventral and dorsal subdivision (V6Av and V6Ad), both containing arm movement-related cells active during spatially directed reaching movements. In humans, these areas have been mapped only in recent years thanks to neuroimaging methods. In a series of brain mapping studies, by using a combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging methods such as wide-field retinotopy and task-evoked activity, we mapped human areas V6 (Pitzalis et al., 2006) and V6Av (Pitzalis et al., 2013d) retinotopically and defined human V6Ad functionally as a pointing-selective region situated anteriorly in the close proximity of V6Av (Tosoni et al., 2014). Like in macaque, human V6 is a motion area (e.g., Pitzalis et al., 2010, 2012, 2013a,b,c), while V6Av and V6Ad respond to pointing movements (Tosoni et al., 2014). The retinotopic organization (when present), anatomical position, neighbor relations, and functional properties of these three areas closely resemble those reported for macaque V6 (Galletti et al., 1996, 1999a), V6Av, and V6Ad (Galletti et al., 1999b; Gamberini et al., 2011). We suggest that information on objects in depth which are translating in space, because of the self-motion, is processed in V6 and conveyed to V6A for evaluating object distance in a dynamic condition such as that created by self-motion, so to orchestrate the eye and arm movements necessary to reach or avoid static and moving objects in the environment.
Detecting subclinical secondary lymphoedema using bioimpedance: A preliminary study

Background: Early intervention is an important facet of the prevention of secondary lymphoedema. However, it is dif�耀cult to predict symptoms before swelling becomes clinically signi�耀cant. Aims: To detect the potential occurrence of secondary lymphoedema due to lymph node dissection (LND) by examining variance in body water composition from pre- to early post-operative phases. Methods: �怀is prospective observational study was carried out on two groups of patients who had undergone gynaecologic surgery, with or without LND (LND and control [CONT] groups, respectively). Weight, lower-limb circumference, and the ratio of extracellular �耀uid to total body �耀uid (E/T) were measured preoperatively and on postoperative day 7 (POD 7). Results: Eighteen patients completed the study (LND group, 12; CONT group, 6). Two patients in the LND group had genital swelling on POD7. In the LND group, a signi�耀cant increase in E/T in the right leg and body trunk was observed. Conclusion: Early changes in LND group E/T were observed. Further studies are required to develop a reliable index for predicting the occurrence of lymphoedema.
A New Color 3D SFS Methodology Using Neural-Based Color Reflectance Models and Iterative Recursive Method

In this article, a new methodology for color shape from shading (SFS) problem is proposed. The problem of color SFS refers to the well-known fact that most real objects usually contain mixtures of diffuse and specular color reflections and are affected by the multicolored interreflection under unknown reflectivity. In this article, these limitations are addressed, and a new color SFS methodology is proposed. The proposed approach focuses on two main parts. First, a generalized neural-based color reflectance model is developed. Second, an iterative recursive method is developed to reconstruct a multicolor 3D surface. Experimental results on synthetic-colored objects and real-colored objects were performed to demonstrate the performance of the proposed methodology.
May I Have Your Attention, Please: The Market Microstructure of Investor Attention

This paper analyzes how a stock’s liquidity, turnover, volatility and returns are driven by short term fluctuations in investor attention. Attention-grabbing stocks are identified by their daily Google Search Volume. A newly developed download algorithm allows the creation of a search volume dataset with more frequent observations. In contrast to the existing literature, this paper provides a long term analysis of daily search volume. The dynamics of investor trading on high and low atten- tion days are examined in an attention-adjusted structural model based on Easley et al. (1996). The increase in trading on high attention days is due to more trading by both informed and uninformed investors; however, the probability of informed trading on high attention days is lower. Turnover and volatility of stocks significantly increase on high attention days whereas liquidity and short term returns are not significantly influenced. This relation is more pronounced for large stocks, stocks with a lower level of cross-sectional attention, and stocks with a higher proportion of retail trading and remains robust in several endogeneity checks. The results provide important insights into the trading dynamics on high attention days and show that these days are characterized by high volatility and uninformed trading.
Government IT Performance and the Power of the IT Industry: A Cross-National Analysis

How national governments interface with the IT industry can have an important influence upon the delivery of government IT projects, which in most advanced industrial countries will account for at least 1 per cent of GDP. Looking across seven countries (the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and Japan) we characterize the power of the IT industry in terms of three variables: patterns of contractual relations, the largest firms’ market and technical dominance, and the extent to which government retains IT expertise or ‘intelligent customer’ capabilities. We assess the performance of government IT in terms of three factors: the extent of catastrophic project failures or cancellations, indications of the price competitiveness of government IT contracts, and the relative modernization of government IT compared with the private sector nationally. Using a ‘fuzzyset social science’ approach we argue that an overall index of corporate power vis a vis central governments shows a clear negative association with government IT performance. Where governments are weakly placed in relation to powerful IT corporations, long-run performance outcomes are less satisfactory. Our cases also illuminate the different ways in which governments can ensure and maintain more balanced relationships with the IT industry, which in turn will foster better long-run results in the design and operations of government IT systems.
Modeling Longitudinal Data

Chapter 1 provides a general introduction to GLIM4 and its features of which we can make particular use, especially the presentation graphics. Chapter 2 gives a detailed discussion of the population modeling process, with a full discussion of frequency, Bayesian, and likelihood inferential approaches to simple models. Chapter 3 discusses the normal models, including regression models and analysis of variance. It also introduces factorial designs and unbalanced cross-classification designs. Chapter 4 discusses the binomial models for the binary response data, along with construction of the contingency tables from binary data. Chapter 5 discusses multinomial and Poisson models as well as their relations and covers model fitting for cross-classified counts and multicategory responses in detail. Chapter 6 discusses survival models, including exponential, gamma, and Weibull distributions for survival data, and introduces Kaplan–Meier estimator and Cox proportional hazard models. Chapter 7 discusses finite mixtures of distributions with maximum likelihood and kernel density estimates. Chapter 8 discusses random-effects models with conjugate random effects, normal random effects, as well as arbitrary random effects. Chapter 9 discusses variance component models with shared random effects arising through variance component or repeated-measures structure. In addition to the theoretical analyses for model fitting and practical examples for illustration of the use of GLIM4, the authors also provide readers with datasets of the examples and GLIM4 programs for their analyses. The programs are written in a very concise form and should be easy to use and understand. The datasets and programs used in this book can be downloaded from the Oxford University Press website. Overall, this book examines the theory of statistical modeling with generalized linear models. It also provides a full description of the use of GLIM4 for model fitting, with detailed discussions of many examples. This book is an ideal textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in statistics, in conjunction with interactive use of GLIM. It may also be used as a self-teaching manual by researchers and students in applied statistics and other quantitative disciplines, such as biology, medicine, agriculture, industry, and social sciences. Readers may refer to the books by McCullagh and Nelder (1989) for detailed principles of the generalized linear models and Francis, Green, and Payne (1993) for a full GLIM4 manual.
Ultrasonic imaging of biofilms utilizing echoes from the biofilm/air interface

Ultrasonic imaging of biofilms in water is difficult due to the very low contrast in acoustic impedance between the biofilm and water. In this paper, biofilms exposed to moist air are scanned through the substrate in order to obtain echoes from the biofilm/air interface. A 50 MHz scanning system was used to scan 1 mm /spl times/ 1 mm areas of biofilms in a 10 /spl mu/m grid pattern. Two fast Fourier transform (FFT) based methods for enhancement of the film thickness measurement resolution are compared. Using these techniques, the surface topography of biofilms with thickness less than the acoustic wavelength can be imaged.
International franchising success factors: Front end risk management

Australia has been coined the 'franchise capital of the world' (Walker 2004, p.36) because it has over three times the number of systems per capita than the United States. The Australian franchising sector is described by BRW as 'booming' (Walker 2004, p.36). International franchising has potential to contribute to Australia's export performance, but requires a thorough understanding of what capabilities are needed. A case research approach of leading systems has been used in the research, with an immediate focus on the front end considerations of what approaches can contribute to success. Two types of international franchising strategy are proposed.
Management or Control: The Organizational Challenge

Introducing a new hobby for other people may inspire them to join with you. Reading, as one of mutual hobby, is considered as the very easy hobby to do. But, many people are not interested in this hobby. Why? Boring is the reason of why. However, this feel actually can deal with the book and time of you reading. Yeah, one that we will refer to break the boredom in reading is choosing management or control the organizational challenge as the reading material.
Hepatic and Biliary Ascariasis

Ascariasis mainly contributes to the global helminthic burden by infesting a large number of children in the tropical countries. Hepato-biliary ascariasis (HBA) is becoming a common entity now than in the past owing to the frequent usage of ultrasonograms and endoscopic diagnostic procedures in the clinical practice. There are a variety of manifestations in HBA and diagnosis depends on a high index of suspicion in endemic areas coupled with subsequent confirmation by sonographic or endoscopic demonstration of the worm. Most of them present with acute abdomen and jaundice. Oriental or recurrent pyogenic cholangiopathy is possibly the result of HBA, commonly encountered in South-East Asian countries. Conservative treatment with anthelminthic agents is used in the majority. Failure to respond to medical therapy usually indicates the need for endoscopic or surgical interventions. Overall, mortality is low and prognosis is good, but many epidemiological and immunological aspects of Ascaris infection are unclear, meaning our understanding the disease and infection still remains incomplete. Therefore, it is difficult to definitely put down a fixed modality of treatment for HBA. This underscores the need for further studies as ascariasis has the potential to adversely affect the national socio-economy by compromising the health of children and adults alike with its sheer number.
Performance of OFDM-IDMA and OFDM-CDMA architectures over frequency selective MISO channels

The presence of inter-symbol interference (ISI), in addition to multiple access interference (MAI), severely hampers the performance of a communication system. To overcome such impairments,the OFDM-CDMA and OFDM-IDMA techniques have been proposed. In this paper, the space-time block coding (STBC) scheme is used in the aforementioned OFDM-CDMA and OFDM-IDMA architectures with two transmit antennas, in order to offer an additional reliability of the wireless link. The performance gain over the SISO configuration is demonstrated.
A secure hiding scheme for tamper-proofing and authentication of color biometrie templates

With the rapid growth of the biometric-based identification and authentication systems, establishing the integrity and authenticity of biometric data has become a serious research issue. Information hiding has emerged as an efficient way to secure the biometric data during transmission in web-based applications. In this paper, a content authentication and tamper-proofing system is presented to localize and correct the corrupted area in color biometric data. Information hiding based on sparsity theory is utilized to hide a copy of the luminance component of the color biometric image. The proposed scheme has been evaluated using Georgia Technology face database, and the results have demonstrated the reliability and efficiency of the proposed scheme in identifying and restoring the tampered area, even when the biometric image is seriously corrupted.
Against the Odds or Odds-On Chance: Pathways of Coming Back Among Hand-Injured Workers in the Chinese Context

In this study, I used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach by means of thematic analysis to examine the lived experiences of hand-injured workers in Hong Kong. Twenty-seven informants with moderate to severe disabilities were interviewed over ten years about how they lived through their disability and their discourses were examined in the cultural context. Three categories (survivors, achievers, strugglers) were synthesized from the informants' life courses. Each category was analyzed under three themes: biographical disruption, working with a disability, and linking family and significant others, but these three categories proved fluid and subject to individual life course and contextual factors. All informants had to work “against the odds. ” Most returned to work after recovery but some tended to drift within the labor market. Human agency and situated context facilitated achievers to progress through “oddson chance. ” Outcome measures of rehabilitative interventions that focus on returning to employment might underestimate the sequelae of being disabled in society.
A new rapid chemical route to prepare reduced graphene oxide using copper metal nanoparticles

Copper metal nanoparticles were used as a reducing agent to reduce graphene oxide (GO). The reaction was complete in about 10 min and did not involve the use of any toxic reagents or acids that are typically used in the reduction of GO by Zn and Fe powders. The high reduction activity of the Cu nanoparticles, compared to Cu powder, may be the result of the formation of Cu2O nanoparticles. The effect of the mass ratio of the metal to GO for this reduction was also investigated. The reduction of the GO was verified by ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. After reduction, Cu2O supported on reduced GO was formed and showed superior catalytic ability for the degradation of a model dye pollutant, methylene blue.
Complete sequence of biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for producing triostin A and evaluation of quinomycin‐type antibiotics from Streptomyces triostinicus

Streptomyces triostinicus produces triostin A, an antitumor antibiotic, as its major secondary metabolite. Surprisingly, this strain also produced a trace amount of echinomycin. We sequenced the entire triostin A biosynthetic gene cluster from S. triostinicus, and found that this 36 kilobase‐long gene cluster contained an ORF homologous to ecm18 that encodes a thioacetal‐forming enzyme responsible for the triostin A‐to‐echinomycin bioconversion. These findings indicate that, unlike previously thought, S. triostinicus is capable of producing not only triostin A but also echinomycin. Our observation suggests potential value in careful re‐analysis for metabolites from previously characterized natural product producers with the current technologies.
The Definitive Business Plan: The fast-track to intelligent business planning for executives and entrepreneurs

Accessible to both the entrepreneur and the experienced executive, this second edition of The Definitive Business Plan is the fast track to intelligent business planning. This international bestseller is THE ultimate guide to business planning. Whether your goal is to launch a new business or secure corporate support for a new venture, it will help you build a plan capable of driving and directing a robust business.
Is Fatigue an Independent Factor Associated with Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic Stroke?

Background: To determine the longitudinal association of poststroke fatigue with activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL) and perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to establish whether this relationship is confounded by other determinants. Methods: A prospective cohort study of stroke patients consecutively admitted for inpatient rehabilitation was conducted. ADL, IADL and HRQoL were assessed in 223 patients at 6, 12 and 36 months after stroke. Fatigue was determined by the Fatigue Severity Scale. Random coefficient analysis was used to analyze the impact of fatigue on ADL, IADL and HRQoL. The association between fatigue and outcome was corrected for potential confounders, i.e. age, gender, comorbidity, executive function, severity of paresis and depression. The covariate was considered to be a confounder if the regression coefficient of fatigue on outcome changed by >15%. Results: Fatigue was significantly related to IADL and HRQoL but not to ADL. The relation between fatigue and IADL was confounded by depression and motor impairment. Depression biased the relation between fatigue and HRQoL, but fatigue remained independently related to HRQoL. Conclusions: Fatigue is longitudinally spuriously associated with IADL and independently with HRQoL. These findings suggest that in examining the impact of poststroke fatigue on outcome, one should control for confounders such as depression.
Effects of milk-derived bioactives: an overview

Milk contains various components with physiological functionality. Peptides derived from caseins and whey proteins including opioid peptides, antihypertensive peptides, casein phosphopeptides, α- and β-lactorphins and albutensin have been shown to possess various bioactive properties. This review considers an overview of the bioactive components in milk proteins and whey and their physiological function.
Exploring the Roles of Agricultural Extension in Promoting Food Security in Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Household food security remains a challenge in South Africa. The national government instituted the Integrated Food Security Strategy (IFSS) programme which identifies household agricultural production as an important element of improving household-level food security. Agricultural extension is well positioned to help achieve this aim, but its current contribution is unknown. This study identified the roles of extension in household food security in KZN by investigating, primarily from the perspective of state service providers, the current activities of extension to enhance household food security, and the factors impacting on effective delivery of extension services with respect to household food security. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 46 respondents, comprising of various national and provincial-level food security and extension managers and extension practitioners, and also food security/extension officers from two NGOs, as well as farmers. The study found that extension engages primarily in technology transfer and supply of farming inputs like seeds and fertilizers to the farming households. Three sets of factors affecting extension‟s capacity to promote food security emerged: household/community-level factors, social factors and service delivery factors. In the light of this, the study suggests the need for both food security and extension objectives to be consolidated into an extension policy that will explicitly charge extension to enhance household food security through a capacity development approach, while also providing for the accountability of extension to farmers.
EC Proposal of Audit-Only Firms: Discussing the Potential Effects of Breaking the 'Audit Oligopoly' on Accounting and Audit Quality

This article discusses the interdiction of combining audit and not audit services by the external auditor, which the EU Commission (EC) is presently discussing as reform measures in its regulation draft of November 30, 2011. According to an agency-theoretical definition of the auditor’s function within corporate governance, results of the empirical audit research on the effects of an auditor’s combined audit and non audit services on accounting and audit quality are laid out in a state-of-the-art analysis to give a policy advice. We analyze, whether the interdiction of combining audit and non audit services has a negative impact on the quality of financial accounting and audit as EC assumes. For this purpose a selection of variables for approximate rating of the quality of financial accounting (earnings management, restatements, market reactions) and the quality of external audit (going concern opinions) will be used. So far, research suggests an inconsistent image mainly in the U.S. capital market. Therefore a negative impact of an auditor’s offering audit and non audit services on the quality of accounting and audit can mainly only be concluded by few variables (earnings management, market reactions). Those studies, which use restatements and going concern opinions as a proxy for accounting and audit quality, come to inconsistent results. Consequently, the benefit of the reform presently discussed by the EC is arguable. Moreover, so far there are only a few empirical studies for the EU member states analyzing the impact of combined audit and non audit services, thus providing evidence for the necessity of this course of action.