Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Model of Endogenous Trading-Bloc Formation ∗

I study a dynamic process of trading-bloc formation in an n-country international trade model of imperfect competition. Countries differ in their industrialization levels and market sizes. In this model, both the formation of trading-blocs and countries’ external tariffs are endogenously determined. The impacts of free trade areas (FTAs) and customs unions (CUs) on trade liberalization are evaluated and compared. I demonstrate that global free trade is always achieved in equilibrium either sequentially or simultaneously when politically motivated protection (e.g., protection induced by lobbying) is absent. Moreover, I demonstrate in a three-country model that the equilibrium path towards global free trade depends on the type of regional trade agreements, the characteristic terms of each country, and the common discount factor, which is in contrast to Aghion et al. (2007) where equilibrium path is determined by the sign of externalities. Sufficient conditions under which a country prefers bilateralism or multilateralism are identified. In addition, when a country prefers bilateralism, it always tends to firstly approach either a less developed country or a country with a relatively small market size. This finding is consistent with Japan’s recent FTA strategies and the United States’ strategies in the formation of NAFTA. ∗I would like to thank Professor Licun Xue, Professor Ngo Van Long, and Professor William Watson for helpful discussions and suggestions and Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC) for financial support. †Department of Economics, McGill University, 855 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2T7; lingling.zhang@mail.mcgill. ca
Research on sensing information forecasting for Power Assist Walking Legs

This paper presents a novel sensing information forecasting algorithm based on time series analysis for the Power Assist Walking Legs (PAWL). The goal of this algorithm is to improve the dynamic response of the exoskeleton. The algorithm is built up with the autoregressive (AR) model, the recursive least square (RLS) method and the final prediction error (FPE) criterion. The method of RLS is utilized to make the on-line parameters estimation, and the FPE criterion is used to select the order of AR model. The forecasting algorithm is designed to be used on-line and to make predictions of force sensing information to ensure the real-time quality of the whole system. The algorithm can be categorized into two types: one step forecasting method and multi-step forecasting method. Meanwhile, we make some simulations to verify the validity of this algorithm. At the end of this paper, the correlative experiments have been carried out, and the results demonstrate this sensing information forecasting algorithm can predict the value and the trend of the sensing signal precisely and effectively.
Spectropolarimetric Study on Circumstellar Structure of Microquasar LS I + 61°303

We present optical linear spectropolarimetry of the microquasar LS I +61$^{\circ}$ 303. The continuum emission is mildly polarized (up to 1.3 %) and shows almost no temporal change. We find a distinct change of polarization across the H$\alpha$ emission line, indicating the existence of polarization component intrinsic to the microquasar. We estimate the interstellar polarization (ISP) component from polarization of the H$\alpha$ line and derive the intrinsic polarization component. The wavelength dependence of the intrinsic component is well explained by Thomson scattering in equatorial disk of the Be-type mass donor. The position angle (PA) of the intrinsic polarization $\sim 25^{\circ}$ represents the rotational axis of the Be disk. This PA is nearly perpendicular to the PA of the radio jet found during quiescent phases. Assuming an orthogonal disk-jet geometry around the compact star, the rotational axis of the accretion disk is almost perpendicular to that of the Be disk. Moreover, according to the orbital parameters of the microquasar, the compact star is likely to get across the Be disk around their periastron passage. We discuss the peculiar circumstellar structure of this microquasar inferred from our observation and possible connection with its high-energy activities.
A SVM-based classifier with shape and motion features for a pedestrian detection system

The most critical requirement of a pedestrian detection system is to quickly recognize pedestrians in an image. However, the huge number of candidate regions and the complexity of scenes usually make the recognition slow and unreliable. An efficient classifier is needed for a pedestrian detection system. In this paper, a decomposed SVM algorithm is used to train a classifier for pedestrian detection. The algorithm is stable and suitable for training a classifier with a large number of samples and the derived classifier is very efficient. Meanwhile, considering that our system is based on a single camera and the scenes are always complex, it is difficult to train a good classifier only with shape features. To solve these problems, we integrate shape information with motion information to compose a feature set and use it to train a classifier. Experiments show that our system based on this classifier works very well. Furthermore, we discuss the effect of applying motion features. With a proper percentage, motion features are a good complement of the shape features in complex scenes. Comparison between application of shape features and application of both shape and motion features shows the advantage of our method
Cdk1 and SUMO Regulate Swe1 Stability

The Swe1/Wee1 kinase phosphorylates and inhibits Cdk1-Clb2 and is a major mitotic switch. Swe1 levels are controlled by ubiquitin mediated degradation, which is regulated by interactions with various mitotic kinases. We have recently reported that Swe1 levels are capable of sensing the progress of the cell cycle by measuring the levels of Cdk1-Clb2, Cdc5 and Hsl1. We report here a novel mechanism that regulates the levels of Swe1. We show that S.cerevisiae Swe1 is modified by Smt3/SUMO on residue K594 in a Cdk1 dependant manner. A degradation of the swe1K594R mutant that cannot be modified by Smt3 is considerably delayed in comparison to wild type Swe1. Swe1K594R cells express elevated levels of Swe1 protein and demonstrate higher levels of Swe1 activity as manifested by Cdk1-Y19 phosphorylation. Interestingly this mutant is not targeted, like wild type Swe1, to the bud neck where Swe1 degradation takes place. We show that Swe1 is SUMOylated by the Siz1 SUMO ligase, and consequently siz1Δ cells express elevated levels of Swe1 protein and activity. Finally we show that swe1K594R cells are sensitive to osmotic stress, which is in line with their compromised regulation of Swe1 degradation.
Fungicidal Activities and Mechanisms of Action of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Lipodepsipeptide Syringopeptins 22A and 25A

The plant-associated bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae simultaneously produces two classes of metabolites: the small cyclic lipodepsinonapeptides such as the syringomycins and the larger cyclic lipodepsipeptide syringopeptins SP22 or SP25. The syringomycins inhibit a broad spectrum of fungi (but particularly yeasts) by lipid-dependent membrane interaction. The syringopeptins are phytotoxic and inhibitory to Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, the fungicidal activities of two major syringopeptins, SP22A and SP25A, and their mechanisms of action were investigated and compared to those of syringomycin E. SP22A and SP25A were observed to inhibit the fungal yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans although less effectively than syringomycin E. S. cerevisiae mutants defective in ergosterol and sphingolipid biosyntheses were less susceptible to SP22A and SP25A but the relative inhibitory capabilities of SRE vs. SP22A and SP25A were maintained. Similar differences were observed for capabilities to cause cellular K+ and Ca2+ fluxes in S. cerevisiae. Interestingly, in phospholipid bilayers the syringopeptins are found to induce larger macroscopic ionic conductances than syringomycin E but form single channels with similar properties. These findings suggest that the syringopeptins target the yeast plasma membrane, and, like syringomycin E, employ a lipid-dependent channel-forming mechanism of action. The differing degrees of growth inhibition by these lipodepsipeptides may be explained by differences in their hydrophobicities. The more hydrophobic SP22A and SP25A might interact more strongly with the yeast cell wall that would create a selective barrier for their incorporation into the plasma membrane.
A High Power Density Single Phase Pwm Rectifier with Active Ripple Energy Storage

It is well known that there exist second-order harmonic current and corresponding ripple voltage on dc bus for single phase PWM rectifiers. The low frequency harmonic current is normally filtered using a bulk capacitor in the bus which results in low power density? This project proposed an active ripple energy storage method that can effectively reduce the energy storage capacitance. The feed- forward control method and design considerations are provided.
Delayed Sequelae of Neonatal Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Are Dependent on Cells of the Innate Immune System

ABSTRACT Infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in neonatal mice leads to exacerbated disease if mice are reinfected with the same virus as adults. Both T cells and the host major histocompatibility complex genotype contribute to this phenomenon, but the part played by innate immunity has not been defined. Since macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells play key roles in regulating inflammation during RSV infection of adult mice, we studied the role of these cells in exacerbated inflammation following neonatal RSV sensitization/adult reinfection. Compared to mice undergoing primary infection as adults, neonatally sensitized mice showed enhanced airway fluid levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), alpha interferon (IFN-α), CXCL1 (keratinocyte chemoattractant/KC), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) at 12 to 24 h after reinfection and IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γ, and CCL11 (eotaxin) at day 4 after reinfection. Weight loss during reinfection was accompanied by an initial influx of NK cells and granulocytes into the airways and lungs, followed by T cells. NK cell depletion during reinfection attenuated weight loss but did not alter T cell responses. Depletion of alveolar macrophages with inhaled clodronate liposomes reduced both NK and T cell numbers and attenuated weight loss. These findings indicate a hitherto unappreciated role for the innate immune response in governing the pathogenic recall responses to RSV infection.
Tactile gating in a reaching and grasping task

A multitude of events bombard our sensory systems at every moment of our lives. Thus, it is important for the sensory cortex to gate unimportant events. Tactile suppression is a well‐known phenomenon defined as a reduced ability to detect tactile events on the skin before and during movement. Previous experiments found detection rates decrease just prior to and during finger abduction, and decrease according to the proximity of the moving effector. This study examined how tactile detection changes during a reach to grasp. Fourteen human participants used their right hand to reach and grasp a cylinder. Tactors were attached to the index finger, the fifth digit, and the forearm of both the right and left arm and vibrated at various epochs relative to a “go” tone. Results showed that detection rates at the forearm decreased before movement onset; whereas at the right index finger, right fifth digit and at the left index finger, left fifth digit, and forearm sites did not decrease like in the right forearm. These results indicate that the task affects gating dynamics in a temporally‐ and contextually dependent manner and implies that feed‐forward motor planning processes can modify sensory signals.
Rate-Based Flow Control Algorithms for High Speed Networks

In this project a new control-theoretic framework will be developed for rate-based robust ow controller design for high speed networks, and the algorithms derived from this framework will be adapted for implementation in ATM networks and in the Internet. For this purpose the PIs will collaborate to investigate speciic issues arising in their areas of expertise: ATM and Internet ow control, and robust control of innnite dimensional systems. The mathematical models to be considered in this project are systems with time-varying time-delays. For this class of systems, controller design methods will be developed by i n vestigating several diierent approaches from H 1 control,-synthesis, gain scheduling for linear parameter varying systems, and Lyapunov stability theory. In particular, existing gain scheduling techniques for nite dimensional linear parameter varying systems will be extended to time delay systems. Controllers derived in this framework will be validated by comparing them with the existing controllers designed for ATM traac management. New ow controllers will also be implemented and tested experimentally. First they will be translated into algorithms to be implemented at the network-layer switches and routers within the scope of existing standards. Both connection-oriented networks e.g. ATM networks and connectionless networks e.g. IP based Internet will be considered in the project. Towards this goal, new techniques will be developed to translate rate-based control solutions into window-based control solutions especially for applicability i n Internet traac management. The algorithm design will be followed by a performance evaluation using simulation and experimentation to assess the impact of these methods on best-eeort services ooered to networked multimedia applications. Speciically, experimental techniques will be used to determine network measures of application quality, to be used in simulation studies of these algorithms in representative network conngurations.
Analyzing communication models for distributed thread-collaborative processors in terms of energy and time

Accelerated computing has become pervasive for increasing the computational power and energy efficiency in terms of GFLOPs/Watt. For application areas with highest demands, for instance high performance computing, data warehousing and high performance analytics, accelerators like GPUs or Intel's MICs are distributed throughout the cluster. Since current analyses and predictions show that data movement will be the main contributor to energy consumption, we are entering an era of communication-centric heterogeneous systems that are operating with hard power constraints. In this work, we analyze data movement optimizations for distributed heterogeneous systems based on CPUs and GPUs. Thread-collaborative processors like GPUs differ significantly in their execution model from generalpurpose processors like CPUs, but available communication models are still designed and optimized for CPUs. Similar to heterogeneity in processing, heterogeneity in communication can have a huge impact on energy and time. To analyze this impact, we use multiple workloads with distinct properties regarding computational intensity and communication characteristics. We show for which workloads tailored communication models are essential, not only reducing execution time but also saving energy. Exposing the impact in terms of energy and time for communication-centric heterogeneous systems is crucial for future optimizations, and this work is a first step in this direction.
Cinnamon Polyphenol Extract Inhibits Hyperlipidemia and Inflammation by Modulation of Transcription Factors in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

We evaluated the effects of cinnamon polyphenol extract on hepatic transcription factors expressions including SREBP-1c and LXR-α in rats fed high fat diet (HFD). Twenty-eight Wistar rats were allocated into four groups: (i) normal control: animals fed with normal chow; (ii) cinnamon: animals supplemented with cinnamon polyphenol; (iii) HFD: animals fed a high-fat diet; and (iv) HFD + cinnamon: animals fed a high-fat diet and treated with cinnamon polyphenol. Obesity was linked to hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress as imitated by elevated serum glucose, lipid profile, and serum and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Cinnamon polyphenol decreased body weight, visceral fat, liver weight and serum glucose and insulin concentrations, liver antioxidant enzymes, and lipid profile (P < 0.05) and reduced serum and liver MDA concentration compared to HFD rats (P < 0.05). Cinnamon polyphenol also suppressed the hepatic SREBP-1c, LXR-α, ACLY, FAS, and NF-κB p65 expressions and enhanced the PPAR-α, IRS-1, Nrf2, and HO-1 expressions in the HFD rat livers (P < 0.05). In conclusion, cinnamon polyphenol reduces the hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress through activating transcription factors and antioxidative defense signaling pathway in HFD rat liver.
Reducing stress in the helping professions: Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) a useful model for intervention?

Individuals working in the helping professions experience high levels of stress, which can impact upon their health and ability to function effectively at work. This thesis explores the utility of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions to reduce stress within this population. The first paper explores the effectiveness of ACT interventions for reducing stress with the helping professions. A systematic search of the literature produced ten empirical papers of which two were unpublished theses. Interventions were predominantly delivered to groups of employees with the number of sessions ranging from two to six. Five studies indicated a decrease in stress. The findings are compromised by quality of the papers which limits the conclusions being drawn about the effectiveness of ACT interventions. Implications for applying ACT within the workplace are discussed along with suggestions for future research. The second paper examines the utility of the ACT model with Trainee Clinical Psychologists. Hierarchical regression was used to determine whether acceptance, cognitive fusion, valued living, committed action, self as context and contact with the present moment (the ACT processes) predicted perceived stress while controlling for gender. Committed action emerged as the most significant predictor of perceived stress. Valued living, contact with the present moment and cognitive fusion were also significant predictors. Acceptance and self as context were not significant predictors of stress. The findings are discussed in relation to the management of stress with trainee clinical psychologists and suggestions are made for future research. The final paper provides a first person reflexive account on the process of undertaking and completing this project. Personal reflections are offered on the various stages of the research process. Learning points are discussed and ideas for future research are considered.
Creating a stereoscopic magic-lens to improve depth perception in handheld augmented reality

Handheld Augmented Reality (AR) is often presented using the magic-lens paradigm where the handheld device is portrayed as if it was transparent. Such a virtual transparency is usually implemented using video captured by a single camera rendered on the device's screen. This removes binocular-disparity, which may undermine user's ability to correctly estimate depth when seeing the world through the magic-lens. To confirm such an assumption this paper presents a qualitative user study that compares a magic-lens implemented on a mobile phone and a transparent glass replica. Observational results and questionnaire analysis indicate that binocular-disparity may play a significant role in participants' depth perception. These promising results led to the subsequent implementation of a stereoscopic magic-lens prototype on a commercially available mobile device.
Thread Migration in the River Data ow Environment

River is a prototype I/O programming environment for large-scale cluster of workstations. The assignment of the data ow and its operators (called modules) to participating nodes is currently done statically before any processing starts. The ow is dynamic because some data can be routed to modules that are processing data faster. We introduce module migration (by migrating the underlying thread) as an orthogonal load-balancing method. Module migration can help reduce load on nodes and improve performance by co-locating modules that communicate frequently.
Iterative solution of large sparse linear systems arising from application of interior point method in computational geomechanics

 Abstract — The efficiency of several preconditioned Conjugate Gradient (PCG) schemes for solving of large sparse linear systems arising from application of second order cone programming in computational plasticity problems is studied. Direct solvers fail to solve these linear systems in large sizes, such as three dimensional cases, due to their high storage and computational cost. This motivates using iterative methods. However, iterative solvers are not efficient without preconditioning techniques for difficult problems. In this paper, the effect of different incomplete factorization preconditioning techniques on the convergence behavior of the preconditioned Conjugate Gradient (PCG) method to solve these large sparse and usually ill-conditioned linear systems is investigated. Furthermore, numerical results of applying PCG to several sample systems are presented and discussed. Several suggestions are also made as potential research subjects in this field.
A1M/α1-Microglobulin Protects from Heme-Induced Placental and Renal Damage in a Pregnant Sheep Model of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy complication that manifests as hypertension and proteinuria after the 20th gestation week. Previously, fetal hemoglobin (HbF) has been identified as a plausible causative factor. Cell-free Hb and its degradation products are known to cause oxidative stress and tissue damage, typical of the PE placenta. A1M (α1-microglobulin) is an endogenous scavenger of radicals and heme. Here, the usefulness of A1M as a treatment for PE is investigated in the pregnant ewe PE model, in which starvation induces PE symptoms via hemolysis. Eleven ewes, in late pregnancy, were starved for 36 hours and then treated with A1M (n = 5) or placebo (n = 6) injections. After injections, the ewes were re-fed and observed for additional 72 hours. They were monitored for blood pressure, proteinuria, blood cell distribution and clinical and inflammation markers in plasma. Before termination, the utero-placental circulation was analyzed with Doppler velocimetry and the kidney glomerular function was analyzed by Ficoll sieving. At termination, blood, kidney and placenta samples were collected and analyzed for changes in gene expression and tissue structure. The starvation resulted in increased amounts of the hemolysis marker bilirubin in the blood, structural damages to the placenta and kidneys and an increased glomerular sieving coefficient indicating a defect filtration barrier. Treatment with A1M ameliorated these changes without signs of side-effects. In conclusion, A1M displayed positive therapeutic effects in the ewe starvation PE model, and was well tolerated. Therefore, we suggest A1M as a plausible treatment for PE in humans.