Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
D3-branes on the Coulomb branch and instantons

The relative coefficients of higher derivative interactions of the IIB effective action of the form C4, (DF5)4, F58, . (where C is the Weyl tensor and F5 is the five-form field strength) are motivated by supersymmetry arguments. It is shown that the classical supergravity solution for N parallel D3-branes is unaltered by this combination of terms. The non-vanishing of 0C2 in this background (where 0C is the background value of the Weyl tensor) leads to effective O(α'−1) interactions, such as C2 and Λ8 (where Λ is the dilatino). These contain D-instanton contributions in addition to tree and one-loop terms. The near horizon limit of the N D3-brane system describes a multi-AdS5 × S5 geometry that is dual to = 4SU(N) Yang-Mills theory spontaneously broken to S(U(M1) × . × U(Mr)). Here, the D3-branes are grouped into r coincident bunches with Mr in each group, with ∑rMr = N and Mr/N = mr fixed as N→∞. The boundary correlation function of eight Λ's is constructed explicitly. The second part of the paper considers effects of a constrained instanton in this large-N Yang-Mills theory by an extension of the analysis of Dorey, Hollowood and Khoze of the one-instanton measure at finite N. This makes precise the correspondence with the supergravity D-instanton measure at leading order in the 1/N expansion. However, the duality between instanton-induced correlation functions in Yang-Mills theory and the dual supergravity is somewhat obscured by complications relating to the structure of constrained instantons.
Heterogeneous Multi-Stage Programming ? ( Extended Version )

Previous work on semantics-based multi-stage programming (MSP) language design focused on homogeneous designs, where the generating and the generated languages are the same. Homogeneous designs simply add a hygienic quasi-quotation and evaluation mechanism to a base language. An apparent disadvantage of this approach is that the programmer is bound to both the expressivity and performance characteristics of the base language. This paper proposes a practical means to avoid this by providing specialized translations from subsets of the base language to different target languages. This approach preserves the homogeneous “look” of multi-stage programs, and, more importantly, the static guarantees about the generated code. In addition, compared to an explicitly heterogeneous approach, it promotes reuse of generator source code and systematic exploration of the performance characteristics of the target languages. To illustrate the proposed approach, we design and implement a translation to a subset of C suitable for numerical computation, and show that it preserves static typing. The translation is implemented, and evaluated with several benchmarks. The implementation is available in the online distribution of MetaOCaml.
Energy efficient cooperation for two-hop relay networks

We analyze the impact of cooperation on the energy efficiency of two-hop relay transmissions. While cooperation has been demonstrated to improve spectral efficiency, the benefits in terms of energy consumption are not well characterized. We show that cooperation is not always beneficial in this context, since the energy required to facilitate the cooperation can sometimes outweigh its benefit. In this work, we first characterize the optimal energy efficient strategy for a single source-destination transmission aided by multiple relay nodes as a function of network parameters and the transmission rate. We then extend this result to a relay-assisted cellular broadcast network and determine optimal solution which provides guidelines on the cooperative strategy that improves energy efficiency in such networks.
Recent results on intermediate polars

I review recent activity in the field of intermediate polars, concentrating on: the mode of accretion (disc-fed, disc-overflow or discless); accretion curtains (the transition region and the accretion footprint); X-ray pulse profiles (occultation and absorption effects); accretion columns (mass determinations, line-broadening, the soft X-ray component), and outbursts in intermediate polars.
The energy cost of loaded flight is substantially lower than expected due to alterations in flight kinematics

SUMMARY The effect of experimentally increased wing loading on the energy cost of flight was examined in cockatiels Nyphicus hollandicus. Five individuals were flown for periods of approximately 2 min, while carrying additional payload mass amounting to between 5 and 20% of unloaded body mass. The energy cost of flight was measured using the 13C-labelled bicarbonate technique, which was also calibrated in a separate experiment on resting birds, by comparing the elimination rate of 13C in breath with a simultaneous measurement of oxygen consumption by indirect calorimetry. It was not possible to perform a similar calibration during flight when energy costs were higher, so we extrapolated the relationship from the resting calibration to predict flight cost. Flight cost in the pre-manipulated individuals averaged 16.7±1.8 W. Flight cost in the pre-manipulated birds was significantly related to the interaction between downstroke duration and flight speed. There was no significant increase in flight cost with increases in payload mass. The birds responded to payload masses between 5 and 15% of their unloaded body mass by decreasing flight speed relative to unloaded birds, while maintaining wing beat frequency (Fb). At a payload mass equivalent to 20% of body mass, however, the birds flew at higher speeds than unloaded controls, and had a significantly higher Fb, generated by a reduction in both the upstroke and downstroke durations. Wing amplitude was unaffected by the increase in loading. Using the measured flight parameters, the effect of loading was not significantly different than predicted using aerodynamic models.
Multinational Banks in the Global Economy. Evidence from the Italian Case

The present paper aims at providing a coherent theoretical framework to develop hypotheses regarding the recent international expansion of MNBs, relying on the theory of the MNC. Prior studies have typically focused on the commitment level adopted by the banks upon foreign markets or on the choice between different organisational forms, while the present study moves beyond by focusing on a two-dimensional choice, i.e. internal vs. external, and high vs. low commitment level required. It is argued that the factors influencing a banks’ international growth may be framed within the eclectic paradigm, i.e. they may be related to the whole set of ownership, internalisation and location advantages. Hypotheses were econometrically tested on data about the foreign presence of 78 multinational Italian banks, as in 1997.
Rational Extremism: Understanding Terrorism in the Twenty-first Century

In the last decade, the field of international relations has undergone a revolution in conflict studies. Where earlier approaches attempted to identify the attributes of individuals, states, and systems that produced conflict, the “rationalist approach to war” now explains violence as the product of private information with incentives to misrepresent, problems of credible commitment, and issue indivisibilities. 1 In this new approach, war is understood as a bargaining failure that leaves both sides worse off than had they been able to negotiate an efficient solution. This rationalist framework has proven remarkably general—being applied to civil wars, ethnic conflicts, and interstate wars—and fruitful in understanding not only the causes of war but also war termination and conflict management. 2 Interstate war is no longer seen as sui generis, but as a particular form within a single, integrated theory of conflict. This rationalist approach to war may at first appear to be mute in the face of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Civilian targets were attacked “out of the blue. ” The terrorists did not issue prior demands. A theory premised on bargaining, therefore, would seem ill-suited to explaining such violence. Yet, as I hope to show, extremist terrorism can be rational and strategic. 3 A rationalist approach also yields insights into the nature and strategy of terrorism and offers some general guidelines that targets should consider in response, including the importance of a multilateral coalition as a means of committing the target to a moderate military strategy. Analytically, and more centrally for this essay, extremist terrorism reveals a silence at the heart of the current rationalist approach to war even as it suggests a potentially fruitful way of extending the basic model. In extant models, the distribution of capabilities and, thus, the range of acceptable bargains are exogenous,
Lentivirus-Induced Dendritic Cells (iDC) for Immune-Regenerative Therapies in Cancer and Stem Cell Transplantation

Conventional dendritic cells (cDC) are ex vivo differentiated professional antigen presenting cells capable of potently stimulating naïve T cells and with vast potential for immunotherapeutic applications. The manufacture of clinical-grade cDC is relatively complex and requires several days for completion. Clinical trials showed poor trafficking of cDC from subcutaneous injection sites to lymph nodes (LN), where DC can optimally stimulate naïve lymphocytes for long-lasting memory responses. We demonstrated in mouse and human systems that a single overnight ex vivo lentiviral (LV) gene transfer into DC precursors for production of combination of cytokines and antigens was capable to induce autonomous self-differentiation of antigen-loaded DC in vitro and in vivo. These highly viable induced DC (iDC) effectively migrated from the injected skin to LN, where they effectively activated de novo antigen-specific effector memory T cells. Two iDC modalities were validated in relevant animal models and are now in clinical development: Self-differentiated Myeloid-derived Antigen-presenting-cells Reactive against Tumors co-expressing GM-CSF/IL-4/TRP2 for melanoma immunotherapy in the autologous setting (SmartDCtrp2), and Self-differentiated Myeloid-derived Lentivirus-induced against human cytomegalovirus as an allogeneic matched adoptive cell after stem cell transplantation (SmyleDCpp65). The lentiviral vector design and packaging methodology has “evolved” continuously in order to simplify and optimize function and biosafety of in vitro and in vivo genetic reprogramming of iDC. Here, we address the challenges seeking for new creations of genetically programmed iDC and integrase-defective LV vaccines for immune regeneration.
Distributed leadership and school effectiveness in Egypt and Oman: an exploratory study

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine teachers’ perceptions of the levels of distributed leadership (DL) practices and the indicators of school effectiveness (SE) in Egypt and Oman. It also investigated the role of accreditation on these perceptions. Design/methodology/approach The study sampled 635 teachers in Egypt and Oman using the SE index (Hoy, 2009) and the DL scale (Ozer and Beycioglu, 2013). Findings The average score of the perceived level of DL practices of school principal and SE indicators showed was below the agreeableness level. DL was shown to be a positive and significant predictor of SE. The Omani teachers had a significantly higher perception of the availability of DL in their schools and of their schools’ effectiveness than the Egyptian teachers. The results also gave support to the belief that the school accreditation process is a way to increase DL in schools and also to increase the indicators of SE. Practical implications One implication of the findings is the need for training school principals on DL practices that can potentially enhance SE. Another implication is a wider adoption of accreditation practices. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence about teachers’ perceptions of the availability of SE and DL in schools in two Middle Eastern countries, Egypt and Oman. It also adds support to the belief in the importance of the role of accreditation in increasing SE and DL practices.
A qualitative study of experienced clinical teachers' conceptualisation of clinical reasoning in medicine: Implications for medical education

Introduction: Clinical reasoning is an essential part of medical practice. Training medical students to reason competently is, therefore, an essential skill for clinical teachers. Ongoing debate over what clinical reasoning entails and difficulty explicitly teaching and assessing. it makes this a challenging task. This study explored clinical teachers’ understanding of the concept of clinical reasoning. Methods: Nine experienced clinical teachers participated in semi-structured interviews about clinical reasoning, exploring concepts, experiences, teaching and assessment. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. Results: Ten key themes were identified in relation to participants’ understanding of clinical reasoning. These include the findings that clinical reasoning is: essential to medical practice, goal oriented, an applied cognitive process and an unconscious process. Clinical reasoning has several requirements, including knowledge, communication skills, experience and reflection. Participants reported that clinical reasoning is difficult, perhaps impossible, to teach. Conclusions: In this qualitative study, clinical teachers concurred with many of the characteristics of clinical reasoning as it is understood in the literature, but they also challenged assumptions made in medical education research regarding the conceptualisation of clinical reasoning. This has implications for teaching, assessment, student selection and professional development.
Properties of Quasi-Relabeling Tree Bimorphisms

The fundamental properties of the class QUASI of quasi-relabeling relations are investigated. A quasi-relabeling relation is a tree relation that is defined by a tree bimorphism (φ, L, ψ), where φ and ψ are quasi-relabeling tree homomorphisms and L is a regular tree language. Such relations admit a canonical representation, which immediately also yields that QUASI is closed under finite union. However, QUASI is not closed under intersection and complement. In addition, many standard relations on trees (e.g., branches, subtrees, v-product, v-quotient, and f-top-catenation) are not quasi-relabeling relations. If quasi-relabeling relations are considered as string relations (by taking the yields of the trees), then every Cartesian product of two context-free string languages is a quasi-relabeling relation. Finally, the connections between quasi-relabeling relations, alphabetic relations, and classes of tree relations defined by several types of top-down tree transducers are presented. These connections yield that quasi-relabeling relations preserve the regular and algebraic tree languages.
Neurostimulation for epilepsy, including a pilot study of anterior nucleus stimulation.

Epilepsy is a common disorder, affecting approximately 0.7% of the population of the United States and of the world. The mainstay of therapy is medication, but only approximately two-thirds of individuals with epilepsy come under satisfactory control with medications (22). Some whose epilepsy cannot be medically controlled can be cured or substantially improved by resective surgery. However, this still leaves a substantial number of individuals whose epilepsy is intractable to existing medical and surgical approaches. Electrical stimulation of the nervous system is an attractive possible therapy for these individuals because stimulation might be expected to work by different mechanisms from those invoked by medications or focal surgery. Additionally, electrical stimulation, similar to medication therapy, is a reversible technique if it is not found to be beneficial in a particular case. Stimulation of the vagus nerve for epilepsy is now accepted therapy. However, vagus nerve stimulation was not the earliest target for stimulation therapy; rather, that distinction belongs to the cerebellum, thalamus, and caudate.
ROBUST CAPACITY FOR ADDITIVE COLORED GAUSSIAN UNCERTAIN CHANNELS

Abstract This paper is concerned with the definition and computation of channel capacity of continuous time additive Gaussian channels, when the channel is subject to uncertainty, the noise power spectral density is known and the input signal is wide-sense stationary and constrained in power. The uncertainty description of the channel transfer function is described by the set of all channels which belong to a ball in a normed linear space, known as H ∞ space. Two uncertainty models are used that are borrowed from the control theory, additive, and multiplicative. The channel capacity, that we call robust capacity, is then defined as a maxi-min of mutual information rate in which the minimization is over the uncertainty set while the maximization is over all transmitted signals having finite power. An exact formulae for the robust capacity is derived. Part of the results include a modified version of the water-filling equation, describing how the optimal transmitter power depends on the channel uncertainty. The conditions are introduced under which the robust capacity is equivalent to operational capacity. Finally, an example is worked out to show the effect of uncertainty in case of the second order system.
The INDEPTH Network: filling vital gaps in global epidemiology

INDEPTH Network, PO Box KD213, Kanda, Accra, Ghana, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå 90187, Sweden and MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
White Matter Development in Early Puberty: A Longitudinal Volumetric and Diffusion Tensor Imaging Twin Study

White matter microstructure and volume show synchronous developmental patterns in children. White matter volume increases considerably during development. Fractional anisotropy, a measure for white matter microstructural directionality, also increases with age. Development of white matter volume and development of white matter microstructure seem to go hand in hand. The extent to which the same or different genetic and/or environmental factors drive these two aspects of white matter maturation is currently unknown. We mapped changes in white matter volume, surface area and diffusion parameters in mono- and dizygotic twins who were scanned at age 9 (203 individuals) and again at age 12 (126 individuals). Over the three-year interval, white matter volume (+6.0%) and surface area (+1.7%) increased, fiber bundles expanded (most pronounced in the left arcuate fasciculus and splenium), and fractional anisotropy increased (+3.0%). Genes influenced white matter volume (heritability ∼85%), surface area (∼85%), and fractional anisotropy (locally 7% to 50%) at both ages. Finally, volumetric white matter growth was negatively correlated with fractional anisotropy increase (r = –0.62) and this relationship was driven by environmental factors. In children who showed the most pronounced white matter growth, fractional anisotropy increased the least and vice-versa. Thus, white matter development in childhood may reflect a process of both expansion and fiber optimization.
DNA-binding specificity and in vivo targets of Caenorhabditis elegans nuclear factor I

The conserved nuclear factor I (NFI) family of transcription factors is unique to animals and essential for mammalian development. The Caenorhabditis elegans genome encodes a single NFI family member, whereas vertebrate genomes encode 4 distinct NFI protein subtypes (A, B, C, and X). NFI-1-deficient worms exhibit abnormalities, including reduced lifespan, defects in movement and pharyngeal pumping, and delayed egg-laying. To explore the functional basis of these phenotypes, we sought to comprehensively identify NFI-1-bound loci in C. elegans. We first established NFI-1 DNA-binding specificity using an in vitro DNA-selection strategy. Analysis yielded a consensus motif of TTGGCA(N)3TGCCAA, which occurs 586 times in the genome, a 100-fold higher frequency than expected. We next asked which sites were occupied by NFI-1 in vivo by performing chromatin immunoprecipitation of NFI-1 followed by microarray hybridization. Only 55 genomic locations were identified, an unexpectedly small target set. In vivo NFI-1 binding sites tend to be upstream of genes involved in core cellular processes, such as chromatin remodeling, mRNA splicing, and translation. Remarkably, 59 out of 70 (84%) of the C. briggsae orthologs of the identified targets contain conserved NFI binding sites in their promoters. These experiments provide a foundation for understanding how NFI-1 is recruited to unexpectedly few in vivo sites to perform its developmental functions, despite a vast over-representation of its binding motif.
Some Comments on the Strong Simplex Conjecture

In the disproof of the Strong Simplex Conjecture presented in (1), a counterexample signal set was found that has higher average probability of correct optimal decoding than the corresponding regular simplex signal set, when compared at small values of the signal-to-noise ratio. The latter was defined a s the quotient of average signal energy and average noise power. In this paper, it is shown that this interpretation of the signal-to -noise ratio is inappropriate for a comparison of signal sets, since it leads to a contradiction with the Channel Coding Theorem. A modifie d counterexample signal set is proposed and examined using the classical interpretation of the signal-to-noise ratio, i. e. , as the quotient of average signal energy and average noise energy. This signal set outperforms the regular simplex signal set for small signal-to-noise ratios without contradicting the Channel Coding Theorem, hence the Strong Simplex Conjecture remains proven false. I. I NTRODUCTION
The directed-polymer?directed-percolation transition

We study the relation between the directed polymer and the directed percolation models, for the case of a disordered energy landscape where the energies are taken from bimodal distribution. We find that at the critical concentration of the directed percolation, the directed polymer undergoes a transition from the directed polymer universality class to the directed percolation universality class. We also find that directed percolation clusters affect the characteristics of the directed polymer below the critical concentration.
Trustworthiness and Confidence of Peers in Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network

In a peer-to-peer (P2P) overlay network, a peer process (peer) communicates with other peers and manipulates objects like databases in the peers. It is critical to obtain service information on what peers support what service. In a fully distributed, unstructured P2P network, there is no centralized coordinator. It is critical for a peer to identify which acquaintance is trustworthy since acquaintances may support obsolete service information and may be faulty. There are subjective and objective types of the trustworthiness of each acquaintance. In the subjective approach, a peer obtains the trustworthiness of an acquaintance by itself through communicating with an acquaintance. On the other hand, a peer takes trustworthiness opinions on an acquaintance from other peers, In this paper, a peer only takes opinions of trustworthy peers by excluding faulty peers. A peer has to decide on which trustworthiness type is taken. In this paper, we postulate the more the peer is confident of its trustworthiness opinion, the more the subjective trustworthiness is taken into account.