Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measures of real estate values from land registration and valuation systems in emerging economies: the case of Ghana

This paper investigates the applicability of the hedonic approach for creating indices of residential real estate values from state land registration and valuation systems in Ghana, Africa. Using data on 2,950 transactions from five classified locations in Accra and Tema for 1992–2005, sale prices are modeled, first, for the aggregate sample, before segmenting the market on the basis of two sub-periods (1992–1998 and 1999–2005) and three price bands. A series of continuous and categorical dummy variables are included in the model to construct a residential real estate index. The main conclusion is that heterogeneous real estate characteristics such as the number of bedrooms, number of stories, real estate size and type, quality of landscaping, plot size, security of tenure, and location are all significant variables that influence real estate prices in Ghana.
What A Single Template Can Do in Recognition

This article presents a generic object detection and tracking system that requires a single template only. The system allows end-users to choose arbitrary objects to recognize, without need of extensive training. Although a single template is used, the detection and tracking are robust to different imaging conditions and intra-class variation. Finally, the system is fast and achieves real time frame rate on laptop PCs.
Text input error categorisation: solving character level insertion ambiguities using Zero Time analysis

A review of literature on text input error categorisation revealed the need for a formal method to assist in solving ambiguities. This paper proposes a method of solving one such set of ambiguities, those caused by insertion of an extra letter. The method uses two rules: the Zero Time rule and Impossible NT/CT-Mu rule to establish whether the extra letter was inserted with another letter, or inserted individually. The method was applied to two large studies conducted to gather typing errors from students and children. The results show that the method is able to solve 100% of all insertion-only ambiguities and in doing so it helps reduce ambiguities in 75--85% of the remaining ambiguities.
Hypercytokinemia and hyperactivation of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in severe human influenza A virus infection.

BACKGROUND We postulate that hypercytokinemia plays a role in immunopathogenesis of severe human influenza. METHODS We prospectively studied 39 consecutive patients who were hospitalized with severe influenza A virus infection. On laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis, paired acute-phase (obtained at hospital admission) and convalescent-phase (obtained >10 days after hospital admission) plasma samples were collected for assay of 11 cytokines and chemokines (interleukin [IL] 1 beta; IL-6; IL-10; IL-12p70; tumor necrosis factor alpha; IL-8; monokine induced by interferon [IFN]-gamma; IFN-inducible protein 10; monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; regulated upon activation, normal T cell-expressed and secreted; and IFN-gamma) using cytometric bead-array analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Simultaneously, virus concentration in the acute-phase nasopharyngeal aspirate was determined using real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Intracellular signaling molecules regulating lymphocyte activation, phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were studied in the acute-phase samples using flow cytometric analysis and were compared with results for samples from healthy control subjects. RESULTS Statistically significant increases in plasma IL-6 (3.7-fold increase), IL-8 (2.6-fold increase), IFN-induced protein 10 (4.9-fold increase), and monokine induced by IFN-gamma (2.3-fold increase) concentrations were detected during acute illness (P < .01 for all, by Wilcoxon signed-rank test); the highest concentrations were observed on symptom days 3 and 4. Corresponding plasma cytokine and chemokine concentrations and nasopharyngeal viral loads showed statistically significant correlations (rho = 0.41, 0.49, 0.54, and 0.46, respectively; P < or = .01). Phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression in CD4+ lymphocytes was increased, correlating with cytokine concentrations (e.g., for IFN-induced protein 10, rho = 0.78; P < .01); phospho-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase was suppressed. Advanced age and comorbidity were associated with aberrant IL-6, IL-8, and monokine induced by IFN-gamma responses (P < .05, by Mann-Whitney U test). An elevated IL-6 concentration was independently associated with prolonged hospitalization (hospitalization for >5 days; P = .02), adjusted for age, comorbidity, and virus load. CONCLUSIONS Hypercytokinemia (of proinflammatory and T helper 1 cytokines) is detected in severe influenza, correlating with clinical illness and virus concentration. Hyperactivation of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (in T helper cells) is possibly involved. Early viral suppression may attenuate these potentially deleterious cytokine responses.
A comparative analysis of control techniques of SAPF under source side disturbance

The most important concern regarding a power system is the quality of its power. The main cause of most of the issues is nonlinear loads only. Shunt Active Power Filter (SAPF) has turned out to be a good solution to solve this problem because of its ability to fulfill the harmonic and reactive power components demand of the nonlinear loads. This paper presents comprehensive analysis of comparison of performance of five control techniques for reference currents extraction for SAPF under balanced, un-balanced and distorted voltage condition. The techniques to be compared are symmetrical components based technique, IRP theory, generalized IRP theory, SRF method, and synchronous detection method respectively those are widely used in SAPF implementation. These all techniques have been simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. The theoretical study and simulation testing shows the performance and accuracy of considered techniques in case of balanced unbalanced and distorted source voltage conditions.
Vortical structure in forced unsteady circular jet: simulation by 3D vortex method

Three-dimensional vortex-method simulations are made of a round jet forced by axisymmetric, helical and multiple disturbances. The multiple disturbances are combinations of two helical modes rotating in the opposite direction. The present simulations demonstrate the evolution of large-scale vortex structures in the forced jet. Results of the simulations are in reasonable agreement with available experimental results.
Dihuang Yinzi, a Classical Chinese Herbal Prescription, for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A 12-Year Follow-up Case Report

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease with no effective treatment and death within 2 to 5 years after symptom onset. Here, we reported a case of ALS patient using modified Dihuang Yinzi (DHYZ), a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, who has survived 12 years with significant improvement in bulbar paralysis.A 41-year-old Chinese Han nationality woman was admitted to the hospital with complaints of weakened bilateral grip, slurred speech, stumbling, and muscle twitching for 3 years. The electromyography showed neurogenic injury in bilateral upper limbs and tongue. She was diagnosed with ALS according to the revised El escorial criteria. The patient was orally administrated with Riluzole 100 mg daily for 10 months and then stopped. Subsequently, she resorted to TCM. Based on the TCM theory, the patient was diagnosed with Yinfei syndrome because of kidney deficiency. DHYZ was chosen because it has the function of replenishing kidney essence to treat Yinfei syndrome. Up to now, she has been using modified DHYZ continuously for 12 years. The patient survived with ALS and did not require permanent continuous ventilator. In addition, the symptoms of choking on liquids are improved, and the utility of 30 mL water swallow test was improved with grade 2. The symptoms of muscle fibrillations of limbs are also reduced. However, muscle strength worsened slowly. The repeated electromyography showed motor conduction amplitude reducing gradually and velocity not changing more when compared with the initial electromyography.Our findings suggested that DHYZ can be potentially used in ALS patients because of its multi-targeted neuroprotection and general safety, although ALS does not have a cure. In addition, we identified the area that is worthy of further study and DHYZ as a promising candidate for further clinical application and ALS trials. Rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed in the future.
Moderate Deviations for Bayes Posteriors

Let (Xk)k∈ be a sequence of i.i. d. random variables taking values in a set ω, and consider the problem of estimating the law of X1 in a Bayesian framework. We prove, under mild conditions on the prior, that the sequence of posterior distributions satisfies a moderate deviation principle.
The Genome of the Stick Insect Medauroidea extradentata Is Strongly Methylated within Genes and Repetitive DNA

Background Cytosine DNA methylation has been detected in many eukaryotic organisms and has been shown to play an important role in development and disease of vertebrates including humans. Molecularly, DNA methylation appears to be involved in the suppression of initiation or of elongation of transcription. Resulting organismal functions are suggested to be the regulation of gene silencing, the suppression of transposon activity and the suppression of initiation of transcription within genes. However, some data concerning the distribution of methylcytosine in insect species appear to contradict such roles. Principal Findings By comparison of MspI and HpaII restriction patterns in genomic DNA of several insects we show that stick insects (Phasmatodea) have highly methylated genomes. We isolated methylated DNA fragments from the Vietnamese Walking Stick Medauroidea extradentata (formerly known as Baculum extradentatum) and demonstrated that most of the corresponding sequences are repetitive. Bisulfite sequencing of one of these fragments and of parts of conserved protein-coding genes revealed a methylcytosine content of 12.6%, mostly found at CpG, but also at CpT and CpA dinucleotides. Corresponding depletions of CpG and enrichments of TpG and CpA dinucleotides in some highly conserved protein-coding genes of Medauroidea reach a similar degree as in vertebrates and show that CpG methylation has occurred in the germline of these insects. Conclusions Using four different methods, we demonstrate that the genome of Medauroidea extradentata is strongly methylated. Both repetitive DNA and coding genes appear to contain high levels of methylcytosines. These results argue for similar functions of DNA methylation in stick insects as those already known for vertebrates.
The Impact of Universities and Research Institutions Labs on the Creation and Diffusion of Innovation-Relevant Knowledge : the Case of the Upper-Rhine Valley

The paper focuses on University and Research Institution labs (URIlabs). These institutions are attempted to exert a particular influence on other actors, especially firms, in the process of creation and of diffusion of innovation-relevant knowledge. The first section of the paper aims at giving some theoretical background elements allowing a better understanding of how URIlabs cooperate with firms and a description of the territorial aspects of those links. To this respect, the "information economics" of URIlabs is examined in exploring the regional dimension and the nature of the interactions which link URIlabs to firms. The second and third sections propose an empirical investigation of the determinants of the intensity of the cooperation with firms, the forms and the spatial characteristics of those cooperations. The investigation is based on the statistical exploitation of an ad hoc sample including labs from two different national systems. The concluding section examines the empirical results in terms of the economics of knowledge and highlights the working of the national and local systems of innovation a useful information for regional policy makers. __________________ The present paper has benefited from the support of the German Research Association (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Programme "Technological Change and Regional Development in Europe") at ISI, and from the EU Programme TSER (TIPIK project, "Technology and Infrastructures Policy in the Knowledge-based economy", coordinated by BETA). 2 The impact of universities and research organisation labs
Different expression of NR2B and PSD‐95 in rat hippocampal subregions during postnatal development

The different expressions of NR2 and synaptic‐associated proteins have been studied by protein and mRNA level with immunoblotting, in situ hybridization, or immunogold analysis. But the relationship between NR2 subunits and PSD‐95 family proteins is still controversial. In this study, we used immunofluorescent staining to assess NR2B and PSD‐95 expressions and the relationship between them in CA1, CA3, and DG of rat hippocampus on different postnatal day. In CA1, NR2B expression decreased with age. It was high at birth, reached a plateau at P4, and declined gradually after P7. In CA3, NR2B expression was similar to that in CA1. But the stratum lucidum was devoid of staining. In DG, the NR2B expression retained a higher level. From P0 to P2, the PSD‐95 expression in CA1 increased gently, and then declined slightly. After P7, the PSD‐95 expression increased sharply till P28, and decreased again. In CA3 and DG, the PSD‐95 expression is very similar except that low‐level of PSD‐95 was found in the CA3 stratum lucidum. The expression of NR2B did not correlate with that of PSD‐95 in CA1 and the DG granular and molecular layer. Only in CA3 and DG polymorphic layer, there was a negative correlation. The results suggested in hippocampal subregions, CA3 and DG may be more plastic than CA1.The NR2B and PSD‐95 expression have distinct regional and cell specific distribution. The different regional distribution pattern may relate to the different physiological functions during postnatal development. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dynamical Trust and Reputation Computation Model for B2C E-Commerce

Trust is one of the most important factors that influence the successful application of network service environments, such as e-commerce, wireless sensor networks, and online social networks. Computation models associated with trust and reputation have been paid special attention in both computer societies and service science in recent years. In this paper, a dynamical computation model of reputation for B2C e-commerce is proposed. Firstly, conceptions associated with trust and reputation are introduced, and the mathematical formula of trust for B2C e-commerce is given. Then a dynamical computation model of reputation is further proposed based on the conception of trust and the relationship between trust and reputation. In the proposed model, classical varying processes of reputation of B2C e-commerce are discussed. Furthermore, the iterative trust and reputation computation models are formulated via a set of difference equations based on the closed-loop feedback mechanism. Finally, a group of numerical simulation experiments are performed to illustrate the proposed model of trust and reputation. Experimental results show that the proposed model is effective in simulating the dynamical processes of trust and reputation for B2C e-commerce.
Return Probabilities for the Reﬂected Random Walk on N 0

Let ( Y n ) be a sequence of i.i. d. Z -valued random variables with law μ . The reﬂected random walk ( X n ) is deﬁned recursively by X 0 = x ∈ N 0 , X n + 1 = | X n + Y n + 1 | . Under mild hypotheses on the law μ , it is proved that, for any y ∈ N 0 , as n → +∞ , one gets P x [ X n = y ] ∼ C x , y R − n n − 3 / 2 when (cid:2) k ∈ Z k μ( k ) > 0 and P x [ X n = y ] ∼ C y n − 1 / 2 when (cid:2) k ∈ Z k μ( k ) = 0, for some constants R , C x , y and C y > 0.
Electronic Consulting In Marketing

In this paper we suggest a strategy in e-business by developing a new style in e-marketing. People from all over the world can take advantage of consulting with experts by using e-consulting Web-sites. These web-sites can gather information from different companies and factories and, after processing them, help consumers to select the best product they want to buy.
Noise robustness in forensic speaker verification

Recently, commercial speaker verification systems have been applied to forensic casework. Unfortunately, these systems were not custom tailored to current needs. In this paper we try to identify general guidelines towards establishing an improved forensic speaker verification methodology. A main issue is the recognition rate, which highly deteriorates in noisy conditions, preventing a reliable correspondence between LLR values and a desirable significance scale. It is shown that segmented classification in time and frequency efficiently decrease noise related LLR variance, thus improving performance in forensic applications.
Characterizing the analog-like and digital-like attributes of interactive systems

In this paper we analyze the works of the Keio-NUS CUTE Center at the National University of Singapore in order to uncover the dispositions of "analogness" and "digitalness" in regards to the relationship between users and interfaces. By comparing concepts of embodiment from a philosophical perspective, paired with the computer science treatment of analog and digital data, we derive a contingent definition for analog-like and digital-like interaction. With case studies as reference, we outline a continuum to describe types of interfaces based on these dispositions, which could then be further analyzed using characteristics for designing analog-like, digital-like or hybrid-like interactive systems. We then propose a new methodology for designing novel interactive systems that are analog in nature, called interactive analog media (IAM) and finally describe a prototype system called Linetic, which exemplifies some of the characteristics described in this paper.
Personalized mobile-assisted smart transportation

Digital media covers larger parts of our daily lives nowadays. Mobile services enable a better connected society where citizens can easily access public services, discover events, and obtain important information in the city. We observe the popularity of mobile car sharing applications, such as Uber and Didi Dache. Mobile social applications provide new ways of developing and optimizing public transportation. In this paper, we present a mobile platform for timetable-free traveling. It can capture the traffic demand of citizens in real-time, and support efficient planning and scheduling for vehicles on-demand. At the moment, the platform is targeted for public bus services, but it has great potential to be extended for self-driving vehicles in the future.
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows in Pakistan: A Time Series Analysis with Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) Approach

Estimating a model of foreign direct investment has been one the central elements of FDI policy makers in Pakistan. This paper attempts to model, Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment Inflow in Pakistan: A Time Series Analysis with Auto Regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) approach using the time series data for the period 1977 to 2010. However in a specification, FDI is found important with the elasticity of GDP growth rate 10% level of significance and infrastructure at 1% level of significance. These factors show do not show better performance in short-run dynamics like only infrastructure is elastic with FDI at 1% level of significance. Stability tests of the paper do not contain any serious structural change in the model as case of and CUSUM and CUSUMSQ statistics show the critical value lines lying inside the bounds, presenting the model is stable.
Semi-automation in Perceptive Environments : A rule-based agents proposal

This article analyses the requirements of automation and adaptation in the so called perceptive environments. These environments are places with the ability of perceiving the context through sensors and other mechanisms. Focusing on personal/home environments, we present a first approach to semiautomatic adaptation of Perceptual Environments through a system of rulebased and configurable modular agents able to explain their behaviours and to adapt to changing habits of the users. This work has been partially funded by project TIN2004-03140 and by U.A. M-Gupo Santander (project Itech Calli).
VISUAL ODOMETRY BASED ON OMNIDIRECTIONAL IMAGES

We propose a method for visual odometry using optical flow with a single omnidirectional (catadioptric) camera. We show how omnidirectional images can be used to perform optical flow, discussing the basis of optical flow and some restrictions needed to it and how unwarp these images. In special we describe how to unwarp omnidirectional images to Bird’s eye view, that correspond to scaled orthographic views of the ground plane. Catadioptric images facilitate landmark based odometry, since landmarks remain visible for longer time, as opposed to a small field-of-view standard camera. Also, providing adequate representations to support visual odometry with a fast processing time. We perform tests to measure robustness and performance of our approach with analysis of the data acquired. Keywords— Visual Odometry, Optical Flow, Catadioptric Images. Resumo— Neste trabalho propomos um método de odometria visual, empregando fluxo óptico, com um imagens omnidirecionais. Mostramos que imagens omnidirecionais podem ser usadas para realizar fluxo óptico, discutindo fluxo óptico e algumas restrições necessárias para realizar tal tarefa, em especial como retificar imagens catadiópticas para um tipo específico de vista denominado Bird’s eye view que corresponde a uma escala de visão ortográfica do terreno. Imagens omnidirecionais facilitam a odometria baseada em marcos, uma vez que estes marcos se mantém visiveis por mais tempo neste tipo de imagem, diferentemente de cameras padrões que apresentam um pequeno campo de visão. Além disso, este tipo de imagem fornece uma representação adequada para odometria visual com baixo custo computacional. Testes foram realizados para medir a robustez e desempenho da técnica desenvolvida com relação aos dados adquiridos. Keywords— Odometria Visual, Fluxo óptico, Imagens Catadiopticas
A dynamic programming approach for optimal control of switched systems

In optimal control problems of switched systems, in general, one needs to find both optimal continuous inputs and optimal switching sequences, since the system dynamics vary before and after every switching instant. In a previous paper, we (2000) proved that an optimal control problem can be posed as a two stage optimization problem under some additional assumptions. In general, the two stage optimization problem is still difficult to solve analytically. In this paper, we develop a search algorithm to explore the solution of the two stage optimization problem and find useful suboptimal solutions. This algorithm is motivated by the idea of dynamic programming which studies the value functions. The algorithm is used to determine suboptimal solutions for general switched linear quadratic problems.