Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning capabilities of recurrent neural networks

The author relates the power of recurrent neural networks to those of other conventional models of computation like Turing machines and finite automata, and proves results about their learning capabilities. Specifically, it is shown that (a) probabilistic recurrent networks and probabilistic Turing machine models are equivalent; (b) probabilistic recurrent networks with bounded error probabilities are not more powerful than deterministic finite automata: (c) deterministic recurrent networks have the capability of learning P-complete language problems; and (d) restricting the weight-threshold relationship in deterministic recurrent networks may allow the network to learn only weaker classes of languages. <<ETX>>
Postherpetic Neuralgia: Irritable Nociceptors and Deafferentation

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common and often devastatingly painful condition. It is also one of the most extensively investigated of the neuropathic pains. Patients with PHN have been studied using quantitative testing of primary afferent function, skin biopsies, and controlled treatment trials. Together with insights drawn from an extensive and growing literature on experimental models of neuropathic pain these patient studies have provided a preliminary glimpse of the pain-generating mechanisms in PHN. It is clear that both peripheral and central pathophysiological mechanisms contribute to PHN pain. Some PHN patients have abnormal sensitization of unmyelinated cutaneous nociceptors (irritable nociceptors). Such patients characteristically have minimal sensory loss. Other patients have pain associated with small fiber deafferentation. In such patients pain and temperature sensation are profoundly impaired but light moving mechanical stimuli can often produce severe pain (allodynia). In these patients, allodynia may be due to the formation of new connections between nonnociceptive large diameter primary afferents and central pain transmission neurons. Other deafferentation patients have severe spontaneous pain without hyperalgesia or allodynia and presumably have lost both large and small diameter fibers. In this group the pain is likely due to increased spontaneous activity in deafferented central neurons and/or reorganization of central connections. These three types of mechanism may coexist in individual patients and each offers the possibility for developing new therapeutic interventions.
Towards a Computational Ontology of Mind

The main goal of this paper is a preliminary characterization of the categories of the realm of the mental, able to fit and integrate the foundational ontology DOLCE (a Descriptive Ontology for Linguistic and Cognitive Engineering); we call this module COM (Computational Ontology of Mind). The idea of COM emerges from the need of a conceptual clarification from the standpoint of formal ontology of the entities that play a role in agent technologies for information systems. Based on philosophical tradition, we have singled out a central relation in the realm of the mental: aboutness. In our proposal aboutness connects a mental state with a mental object, at a certain time, and with respect to a given intentional agent. Furthermore, we envisage a generalization of this framework to mental processes and events. Thus, in the paper we give a first analysis of these entities, mainly focused on mental objects and their characteristics. We are also specifying the basic features of mental states and intentional agents, exploiting ontological categories and relations implemented in DOLCE
Relationship between esophageal clinical symptoms and manometry findings in patients with esophageal motility disorders: a cross-sectional study

Background: Manometry is the gold-standard diagnostic test for motility disorders in the esophagus. The development of high-resolution manometry catheters and software displays of manometry recordings in color-coded pressure plots have changed the diagnostic assessment of esophageal disease. The diagnostic value of particular esophageal clinical symptoms among patients suspected of esophageal motor disorders (EMDs) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy of presenting esophageal symptoms between abnormal and normal esophageal manometry findings. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 623 patients aged 11-80 years. Data were collected from clinical examinations as well as patient questionnaires. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated after high-resolution manometry plots were reviewed according to the most recent Chicago Criteria. Results: The clinical symptoms were not sensitive enough to discriminate between EMDs. Nevertheless, dysphagia, noncardiac chest pain, hoarseness, vomiting, and weight loss had high specificity and high accuracy to distinguish EMDs from normal findings. Regurgitation and heartburn did not have good accuracy for the diagnosis of EMDs. Conclusion: Clinical symptoms are not reliable enough to discriminate between EMDs. Clinical symptoms can, however, discriminate between normal findings and EMDs, especially achalasia.
A conceptual framework for an effective economic valuation of heritage building

The economic valuation of non-market goods specifically heritage building has faced many challenges over the time. Valuation is part of decision making process for the preservation and protection of heritage building. Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) is the most popular method for heritage building valuation. However, over the past two decades this method has received many criticisms due to potential biased estimation. This paper presents a conceptual framework for an effective economic valuation of heritage building based on CVM
Urinary l-type fatty acid-binding protein is a predictor of early renal function after partial nephrectomy

Abstract Purpose: Urinary biomarkers of renal injury urinary may identify loss of renal function following nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). This study was designed to evaluate whether urinary l-type fatty acid-binding protein (l-FABP) is an early biomarker of loss of renal function after NSS. Specifically, the kinetics of urinary l-FABP level after NSS and its correlation with factors related to ischemic renal injury were analyzed. Methods: This study prospectively evaluated 18 patients who underwent NSS between July and December 2014, including 12 who underwent laparoscopic and six who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. Urinary l-FABP concentrations were measured preoperatively and 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after renal artery declamping. Loss of renal function loss was calculated by comparing the effective renal plasma flow, as determined by 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) clearance, on the operated and normal sides. The decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate from before surgery to six months after surgery was also measured. Results: Urinary l-FABP concentration peaked within 2 h of declamping, which may quantify nephron damage caused by ischemia. The decrease in MAG3 reduction ratio correlated with both the ischemia time and peak urinary l-FABP concentration. Peak urinary l-FABP concentration showed a significant correlation with MAG3 reduction ratio. Conclusions: l-FABP is a suitable urinary biomarker for predicting the extent of ischemic renal injury.
Strategic performance measurement systems roles revisited

The increasing competitive pressure resulting from operations activities and markets globalization, are forcing enterprises to reorient their strategies, operations systems, processes and procedures to sustain their competitive positions. TThis paper presents a Delphi experiment, based on a discussion about the roles that a performance measurement system should perform. The measurement system is studied in the context of an operations strategic management system that is used to identify the main roles that the measurement system should perform. The generated framework that is theoretical in essence is refined by a modified Delphi experiment. The understanding of the performance measurement system roles contribute for better design, implementation and use of this system. The main value of the present paper is the theoretical exercise, used to create and to refine the framework. The systemic design approached used will found future research to generate practical solutions for the design and use of operations strategic management system. Continuous improvement, organizational learning and the management of change process are required properties for the strategic management of the operations function.
M CBIR Interactive Multimodal Visual Search on Mobile Device with Image Composition + LAB-ANN

This paper proposes a technique - M CBIR Interactive Multimodal Visual Search On Mobile Device With Image Composition + LAB-ANN. In this system, images can be searched on mobile devices by taking multimodal input i.e. a voice, image and text to the system. The system performs a joint search with image, speech and text to retrieve desired images from it. The best thing of it is that the system also makes a use of ANN technique to retrieve more relevant images from it. This technique is useful in a case where users does not know exact name of an image but have a picture in their mind then by describing it using speech or text user can easily find the desired images on their mobile phones. This technique is also useful for users who want more relevant images of a particular image by providing that image as an input query. This system is more powerful than existing system and capable of retrieving more relevant images of a given input by applying text composition+ ANN technique. This system first make a composed image of a given input and then again use that image as an input, it tries to search for more relevant images in their database by first applying an algorithm and then ANN technique. Hence the proposed system is able to achieve 5% gain in terms of search performance and is ten times faster.
The Effects of Length and Lexicality on Lexical Decision Using Kana Words in Normal Developmental Children

: We investigated the effects of length and lexicality on the lexical decision task using Kana words and pseudo-homophones (i.e., nonwords that sound like real words) in children with normal reading. Participants in this study were all Japanese-speaking primary school children. They were divided into two experimental groups of different ages. The younger group consisted of second and third graders, and the older group consisted of fifth and sixth graders. As we controlled both word and pseudo-homophone stimuli for the same sound, we were able to suppose the existence of orthographic knowledge if we found lexical effect. The results revealed that RTs were significantly shorter with the word stimuli than with the pseudo-homophone stimuli. Furthermore no length effect was found in either group using Hiragana. These results appear to show that the children judged lexicality using orthographic information and processed each letter which constituted each stimulus in parallel. The recognition of lexicality effect and no length effect may suggest that children
A methodology for specifying PET VOIs using multimodality techniques

Volume-of-interest (VOI) extraction for radionuclide and anatomical measurements requires correct identification and delineation of the anatomical feature being studied. The authors have developed a toolset for specifying three dimensional (3-D) VOIs on a multislice positron emission tomography (PET) dataset. The software is particularly suited for specifying cerebral cortex VOIs which represent a particular gyrus or deep brain structure. A registered 3-D magnetic resonance image (MRI) dataset is used to provide high-resolution anatomical information, both as oblique two-dimensional (2-D) sections and as volume renderings of a segmented cortical surface. VOIs are specified indirectly in two dimensions by drawing a stack of 2-D regions on the MRI data. The regions are tiled together to form closed triangular mesh surface models, which are subsequently transformed into the observation space of the PET scanner. Quantification by this method allows calculation of radionuclide activity in the VOIs, as well as their statistical uncertainties and correlations. The methodology for this type of analysis and validation results are presented.
Analysis, design and measurement of a low sidelobe level lightweight array antenna for surveillance radar applications

This paper describes a design and a realization of a low sidelobe level lightweight array antenna in X-band. The array antenna utilizes Taylor magnitude distribution in its aperture as a sidelobe level reduction technique. The measured sidelobe level of the antenna is -22 dB in its wider dimension plane and -18 dB in its narrower dimension plane. The radiating elements of the array are cavity backed patches electromagnetically coupled to microstrip excitation stubs. The feed distribution network of the antenna is realized as a low cost microstrip corporate feed. The array antenna has been produced by means of a low cost conventional PCB technology. Measurements of a prototype unit has been presented and compared with the theoretical calculations.
Establishment of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Predator, Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), in the Eastern United States

ABSTRACT The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), native to western North America and Asia, was accidentally introduced from Japan to the eastern United States. To potentially establish biological control of A. tsugae, we released a predator endemic to western North America, Laricobius nigrinus Fender (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), from 2003 to 2005, in 22 localities from Georgia to Massachusetts. Release sites spanned the invasive range of the adelgid across five United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones (5a to 7a). Release sizes were 75, 150, 300, 600, or 1,200 adult L. nigrinus per site in the fall, winter, early spring, or sequentially (i.e., fall or winter and early spring). We monitored establishment by annual sampling for L. nigrinus adults with beat sheets and for L. nigrinus larvae by branch clipping. At the end of 3 yr, L. nigrinus was established in 13 of the 22 sites. The following variables were evaluated for their correlation with the numbers of L. nigrinus larvae and adults recovered and for their effect on establishment (scored as F3 presence/absence): (1) Minimum winter temperature at the release site, (2) A. tsugae density at the time of release, (3) release size, and (4) release season. Only minimum winter temperature was correlated with larval recoveries and no variables were correlated with adult recoveries. Logistic regression modeling found that establishment was positively related to minimum winter temperature and release size. We recommend smaller release sizes in warm areas where establishment probability was high (i.e., zones 7a, 6b, and 6a) and larger release sizes in cold areas where establishment probability was low (i.e., zones 5b and 5a). Releases during fall—early spring and across the range of A. tsugae densities tested were successful.
The [PSI+] Prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Can Be Propagated by an Hsp104 Orthologue from Candida albicans

ABSTRACT The molecular chaperone Hsp104 is not only a key component of the cellular machinery induced to disassemble aggregated proteins in stressed cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae but also plays an essential role in the propagation of the [PSI+], [URE3], and [RNQ/PIN+] prions in this organism. Here we demonstrate that the fungal pathogen Candida albicans carries an 899-residue stress-inducible orthologue of Hsp104 (CaHsp104) that shows a high degree of amino acid identity to S. cerevisiae Hsp104 (ScHsp104). This identity is significantly lower in the N- and C-terminal regions implicated in substrate recognition and cofactor binding, respectively. CaHsp104 is able to provide all known functions of ScHsp104 in an S. cerevisiae hsp104 null mutant, i.e., tolerance to high-temperature stress, reactivation of heat-denatured proteins, and propagation of the [PSI+] prion. As also observed for ScHsp104, overexpression of CaHsp104 leads to a loss of the [PSI+] prion. However, unlike that of ScHsp104, CaHsp104 function is resistant to guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl), an inhibitor of the ATPase activity of this chaperone. These findings have implications both in terms of the mechanism of inhibition of Hsp104 by GdnHCl and in the evolution of the ability of fungal species to propagate prions.
A new synthetic porcine secretin for facilitation of cannulation of the dorsal pancreatic duct at ERCP in patients with pancreas divisum: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind comparative study.

BACKGROUND Secretin, a 27 amino acid polypeptide released in response to duodenal luminal acidification, stimulates secretion of water and bicarbonate from pancreatic ductal cells. To date the only secretin available for clinical use has been a biologically derived compound extracted from porcine duodenums. Although used to facilitate pancreatic duct cannulation, secretin has not been approved for this indication. In this study, a new synthetic porcine secretin with an identical amino acid composition was compared with saline solution for the facilitation of minor papilla cannulation in patients with pancreas divisum. METHODS A multicenter, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, comparative trial was conducted at 4 centers with expertise in pancreaticobiliary endoscopy. Patients with pancreas divisum in whom minor papilla cannulation initially was unsuccessful were enrolled. Either saline solution (placebo) or synthetic porcine secretin was administered. If the minor papilla orifice and/or pancreatic juice flow was noted, cannulation was attempted and success or failure was documented (phase 1), as well as the time taken for successful cannulation. If cannulation was unsuccessful, no juice flow was noted, or the orifice was not seen, the alternate agent was administered (phase 2). RESULTS Twenty-nine patients (7 men, 22 women; mean age 51 years, range 21-76 years) were enrolled. In phase 1, cannulation was achieved in 1 of 13 patients (7.7%) after the placebo was given and in 13 of 16 patients (81.3%) after synthetic porcine secretin was given (p < 0.0001). In phase 2, cannulation was achieved in 12 of 12 patients (100%) after synthetic porcine secretin was given and in 0 of 3 patients (0%) after the placebo was given (p = 0.0022). Overall, cannulation was successful in 25 of 28 patients (89.3%) who received synthetic porcine secretin and in 1 of 16 (6.3%) who received the placebo (p < 0.0001). Mean time to cannulation was significantly greater for the placebo than for the synthetic porcine secretin (4.75 min vs. 2.63 min; p = 0.0001). No adverse events directly attributable to synthetic porcine secretin administration were documented. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed the use and safety of synthetic porcine secretin in facilitating cannulation of the minor papilla in patients with pancreas divisum in whom cannulation was difficult. Use of this agent has the potential to further increase the cannulation success rate in this group of patients.
La influencia de las instituciones en la racionalidad del individuo a partir de Adam Smith [The influence of institutions on individuals rationality from Adam Smith]

The Neoclassical Theory assumes that individuals are essentially selfish and maximize the utility of their income, measured on some utility scale. It defines the rationality of individuals based on preference relations, which should not change by the context. However, it is a fact that individuals do not generally use these “market rules” with their families, friends, colleagues or in their neighborhoods. This behavior has been seen as “Bounded rationality” or “failures” in the individual’s behavior. The main objective of this paper is to explore this kind of behavior and pose some questions about how institutions influence the preferences and decisions of individuals in some contexts. The assumption we have is: In reality, the homo economicus considers context as additional information and reacts on that basis. He adapts to the community with which he interacts as a matter of “survival”. We conclude that there is a “Broader rationality” in that behavior, which goes beyond the one defined in the Neoclassical Theory, which is applicable in highly specific conditions.
Is Mechanical Turk the Answer to Our Sampling Woes?

Although we share Bergman and Jean's (2016) concerns about the representativeness of samples in the organizational sciences, we are mindful of the ever changing nature of the job market. New jobs are created from technological innovation while others become obsolete and disappear or are functionally transformed. These shifts in employment patterns produce both opportunities and challenges for organizational researchers addressing the problem of the representativeness in our working population samples. On one hand, it is understood that whatever we do, we will always be playing catch-up with the market. On the other hand, it is possible that we can leverage new technologies in order to react to such changes more quickly. As an example, in Bergman and Jean's commentary, they suggested making use of crowdsourcing websites or Internet panels in order to gain access to undersampled populations. Although we agree there is an opportunity to conduct much research of interest to organizational scholars in these settings, we also would point out that these types of samples come with their own sampling challenges. To illustrate these challenges, we examine sampling issues for Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk), which is currently the most used portal for psychologists and organizational scholars collecting human subjects data online. Specifically, we examine whether MTurk workers are “workers” as defined by Bergman and Jean, whether MTurk samples are WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic; Henrich, Heine, & Norenzayan, 2010), and how researchers may creatively utilize the sample characteristics.
A Political Economy Model of Corporate Governance ∗

We develop a political economy model that describes how the corporate law rules that govern publicly traded firms are determined. In our model, organized interest groups, which include a corporate insiders’ lobby and an institutional investors’ lobby, compete for influence over the politicians who set corporate law rules. We identify factors that may lead to equilibrium levels of investor protection that are inefficiently low. These factors include the ability of corporate insiders to use the corporate assets they control to influence politicians, and the divergence of interests between institutional investors and the class of outside shareholders. Our analysis generates testable predictions regarding the way in which investor protection can be expected to vary over time and around the world.