Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Instrument to Measure the Success of IT Outsourcing

IT outsourcing has changed fundamentally since its start in the 1960’s. Since IT outsourcing services evolve and expand continuously, instruments to evaluate outsourcing success in user organizations need to be modified to meet these changes. Our study develops and conceptually validates a coherent and meaningful new instrument to measure the success of IT outsourcing. The instrument combines strategic, economic, technical and social success factors. The instrument is offered to researchers to be used in future studies. Correspondingly, our instrument provides practitioners with a useful tool to use in setting goals for IT outsourcing and for evaluating their achievement.
A novel mouse Nedd4 protein suppresses the activity of the epithelial Na+ channel

Liddle's syndrome is a form of inherited hypertension linked to mutations in the genes encoding the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC). These mutations alter or delete PY motifs involved in protein–protein interactions with a ubiquitin‐protein ligase, Nedd4. Here we show that Na+ transporting cells, derived from mouse cortical collecting duct, express two Nedd4 proteins with different structural organization and characteristics of ENaC regulation: 1) the classical Nedd4 (herein referred to as Nedd4–1) containing one ammo‐terminal C2, three WW, and one HECT‐ubiquitin protein ligase domain and 2) a novel Nedd4 protein (Nedd4–2), homologous to Xenopus Nedd4 and comprising four WW, one HECT, yet lacking a C2 domain. Nedd4–2, but not Nedd4–1, inhibits ENaC activity when coexpressed in Xenopus oocytes and this property correlates with the ability to bind to ENaC, as only Nedd4–2 coimmunoprecipitates with ENaC. Furthermore, this interaction depends on the presence of at least one PY motif in the ENaC complex and on WW domains 3 and 4 in Nedd4–2. Thus, these results suggest that the novel suppressor protein Nedd4–2 is the regulator of ENaC and hence a potential susceptibility gene for arterial hypertension. —Kamynina, E. , Debonneville, C. , Bens, M. , Vandewalle, A. , Staub, O. A novel mouse Nedd4 protein suppresses the activity of the epithelial Na+ channel. FASEB J. 15, 204–214 (2001)
Reconfigurable Waveguide Filter with Variable Bandwidth and Center Frequency

This paper presents a center frequency and bandwidth reconfiguration mechanism for waveguide microwave bandpass filters. The filters are designed to be used in the output section of a satellite communication system. While the center frequency of a bandpass filter can be tuned by changing the lengths of the filter resonators, the coupling irises as practical realizations of the impedance inverters cannot easily be adapted to a new value. The novel approach chosen in this paper is to replace the impedance inverters by a novel type of coupling structure. This coupling structure allows adjustment of the coupling by changing the length of a transmission line, which is equivalent to changing the resonant frequency of a coupling resonator. Design equations are presented to transform an impedance inverter into the proposed coupling structure. A synthesis procedure for bandwidth reconfigurable filters is proposed. The feasibility of coupling adaptation is proven based on a full-wave model of the coupling structure. The synthesis process is applied to a four-pole Chebyshev sidewall-coupled circular waveguide filter with 54- and 72-MHz bandwidth settings. The filter is built up and measured. The measured results prove that the filter can be tuned to both bandwidths over a center frequency range of 200 MHz with excellent return loss and insertion loss.
Virtual Receive Antenna System with Frequency Domain Equalization

Vertical Bell laboratory layered space-time (V-BLAST) is one of the promising multiple input multiple output (MIMO) architectures. Layered space time processing in V-BLAST requires the number of receive antennas to be equal to or larger than the number of transmit antennas. However, it is impractical for small-sized mobile units to accommodate all the required antennas. Focusing on this problem, we have presented a novel concept of virtual receive antennas (VRA) for spatial multiplexing system in flat fading channels. In that work, time domain equalization is utilized to eliminate inter-symbol interference, which is generated in the VRA. However, the employed time domain equalizer has a high computational complexity. In this paper, the VRA system with low complexity frequency domain equalizer (FDE) is investigated. Moreover, as the noise in the VRA system is correlated due to oversampling, we also present the noise decorrelating filter design. Through complexity and performance evaluation, FDE is demonstrated to be more suitable for the VRA system.
A simple morphological predictor of bite force in rodents

Bite force was quantified for 13 species of North American rodents using a piezo-resistive sensor. Most of the species measured (11) formed a tight relationship between body mass and bite force (log 10(bite force)=0.43(log 10(body mass))+0.416; R2>0.98). This high correlation exists despite the ecological (omnivores, grazers and more carnivorous) and taxonomic (Cricetidae, Heteromyidae, Sciuridae and Zapodidae) diversity of species. Two additional species, Geomys bursarius (Geomyidae) and a Sciurus niger (Sciuridae), bit much harder for their size. We found a simple index of strength based on two measurements of the incisor at the level of the alveolus (Zi=((anterior-posterior length)2× (medial-lateral width))/6) that is highly predictive of bite force in these rodents (R2>0.96). Zi may be useful for prediction of bite force (log10 (Bite Force)=0.566log10 (Zi)+1.432) when direct measurements are not available.
The Bernoulli Feedback Queue with Balking: stochastic order results and equilibrium joining rules

We consider customer joining behaviour for a system that consists of a FCFS queue with Bernoulli feedback. A consequence of the feedback characteristic is that the sojourn time of a customer already in the system depends on the joining decisions taken by future arrivals to the system. By establishing stochastic order results for coupled versions of the system, we prove the existence, and uniqueness, of Nash equilibrium joining policies, and show that these are characterized by (possibly randomized) threshold rules. We contrast the Nash rule with the socially optimizing joining rule that minimizes the long-term expected average sojourn time (or cost) per customer. The latter rule is characterized by a nonrandomized threshold, and we show that the Nash rule admits at least as many customers into the system as the socially optimizing one.
Mushroom bodies modulate salience‐based selective fixation behavior in Drosophila

Mushroom bodies (MBs), one of the central brain structures in Drosophila melanogaster, are involved in several cognitive behaviors, such as olfactory learning and memory, visual context generalization, choice behavior facing conflicting cues. Attention is a cognitive behavior, and it facilitates a focus on the attended event while filtering out irrelevant events, thereby allowing more rapid and accurate reactions at a lower threshold in primates. Using the visual orientation paradigm in a flight simulator, we observed that MBs modulate salience‐based selective fixation behavior, which resembles attention in primates to a certain degree. We found that the fixation ability of MB‐deficient flies was significantly reduced when the contrast levels were lowered as well as when a certain amount of background noise was applied. Moreover, MB‐deficient flies exhibited poor object fixation ability in the presence of an olfactory ‘distracter’. Furthermore, during visual selection among multiple objects of different contrast, flies with MBs were able to ‘pop‐out’ of the most salient object in a three‐object selection paradigm. Finally, we determined that flies exhibited cross‐modal synergistic integration between olfactory and visual signals during object‐fixation behavior, which was independent of MBs. Taken together, our findings suggest that MBs do not contribute to cross‐modal synergetic integration between olfactory and visual signals; instead, they confer sensory gain control and inhibitory gating in flies, this property allows entry of the salient signal as well as filters out background noise and irrelevant signals.
Control chart pattern recognition using semi-supervised learning

This paper presents a semi-supervised learning algorithm for a control chart pattern recognition system. A learning neural network is trained with labeled control chart patterns based on unsupervised learning. We then use the classification method based on a statistical correlation coefficient approach to test patterns. We find that the proposed semi-supervised learning algorithm is effective according to numerical comparisons.
Implications of empirical data quality to metapopulation model parameter estimation and application

Parameter estimation is a critical step in the use of any metapopulation model for predictive purposes. Typically metapopulation studies assume that empirical data are of good quality and any errors are so insignificant that they can be ignored. However, three types of errors occur commonly in metapopulation data sets. First, patch areas can be mis-estimated. Second, unknown habitat patches may be located within or around the study area. Third, there may be false zeros in the data set, that is, some patches were observed to be empty while there truly was a population in the patch. This study investigates biases induced into metapopulation model parameter estimates by these three types of errors. It was found that mis-estimated areas influence the scaling of extinction risk with patch area; extinction probabilities for large patches become overestimated. Missing patches cause overestimation of migration distances and colonization ability of the species. False zeros can affect very strongly all model components, the extinction risk in large patches, intrinsic extinction rates in general, migration distances and colonization ability may become all overestimated. Biases in parameter estimates translate into corresponding biases in model predictions, which are serious particularly if metapopulation persistence becomes overestimated. This happens for example when the migration capability of the species is overestimated. Awareness of these biases helps in understanding seemingly anomalous parameter estimation results. There are also implications for field work: it may be reasonable to allocate effort so that serious errors in data are minimized. It is particularly important to avoid observing false zeros for large and/or isolated patches.
Comparison of asthma treatment given in addition to inhaled corticosteroids on airway inflammation and responsiveness

There is increasing evidence that the assessment of eosinophilic airway inflammation using induced sputum and measurement of airway hyperresponsiveness provides additional, clinically important information concerning asthma control. The aim of this study was to directly compare the effects of different treatments on these markers in patients with asthma and persistent symptoms, despite the use of low-dose inhaled corticosteroids. A double-blind four-way crossover study was performed, which compared a 1-month treatment with budesonide 400 μg b.i. d. , additional formoterol, additional montelukast and placebo in 49 patients with uncontrolled asthma despite budesonide 100 μg b.i. d. , with each treatment separated by a 4-week washout period. The change in sputum eosinophil count with formoterol (2.4 to 3.8% change, 0.6-fold reduction, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5–0.9) differed significantly from placebo (2.8 to 2.5% change, 1.1-fold reduction, 95% CI 0.7–1.6) and high-dose budesonide (2.7 to 1.6% change, 1.6-fold reduction, 95% CI 1.2–2.2). The effects of montelukast did not differ from placebo. The changes in methacholine airway responsiveness were small and did not differ between treatments. High-dose budesonide had the broadest range of beneficial effects on other outcomes, including symptom scores, morning peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume in one second. In conclusion, treatment given in addition to low-dose inhaled corticosteroids results in modest benefits. Formoterol and high-dose budesonide have contrasting effects on eosinophilic airway inflammation.
IMAGE CLEAN-UP ANDBINARIZATION

Image binarization is a diicult task for documents with text over textured or shaded backgrounds, poor contrast, and/or considerable noise. Current optical character recognition (OCR) and document analysis technology do not handle such documents well. We have developed a simple yet eeective algorithm for document image clean-up and binarization. The algorithm consists of two basic steps. In the rst step, the input image is smoothed using a low-pass (Gaussian) lter. The smoothing operation enhances the text relative to any background texture. This is because background texture normally has higher frequency than text does. The smoothing operation also removes speckle noise. In the second step, the intensity histogram of the smoothed image is computed and a threshold automatically selected as follows. For black text, the rst peak of the histogram corresponds to text. Thresholding the image at the value of the valley between the rst and second peaks of the histogram binarizes the image well. In order to reliably identify the valley, the histogram is smoothed by a low-pass lter before the threshold is computed. The algorithm has been applied to some 50 images from a wide variety of sources: digitized video frames, photos, newspapers, advertisements in magazines Any opinions, ndings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are the author(s) and do not necessarily reeect those of the sponsors. 1 or sales yers, personal checks, etc. There are 21820 characters and 4406 words in these images, 91% of the characters and 86% of the words are successfully cleaned up and binarized. A commercial OCR was applied to the binarized text when it consisted of fonts which were OCR recognizable. The recognition rate was 84% for the characters and 77% for the words.
Performance evaluation of classification methods in cultural modeling

Cultural modeling is an emergent and promising research area in social computing. It aims to develop behavioral models of groups and analyze the impact of culture factors on group behavior using computational methods. Classification methods play a critical role in cultural modeling domain. As various cultural-related datasets possess different properties, for group behavior prediction, it is important to gain a computational understanding of the performance of various classification methods. In this paper, we investigate the performance of seven representative classification algorithms using a benchmark cultural modeling dataset and analyze the experimental results.
A combined nonlinear and nonlocal model for topographic evolution in channelized depositional systems

Models for the overall topographic evolution of erosional and depositional systems can be grouped into two broad classes. The first class is local models in which the sediment flux at a point is expressed as a linear or nonlinear function of local hydrogeomorphic measures (e.g., water discharge and slope). The second class is nonlocal models, where the sediment flux at a point is expressed via a weighted average (i.e., convolution integral) of measures upstream and/or downstream of the point of interest. Until now, the nonlinear and nonlocal models have been developed independently. In this study, we develop a unified model for large‐scale morphological evolution that combines both nonlinear and nonlocal approaches. With this model, we show that in a depositional system, under piston‐style subsidence, the topographic signatures of nonlinearity and nonlocality are identical and that in combination, their influence is additive. Furthermore, unlike either nonlinear or nonlocal models alone, the combined model fits observed fluvial profiles with parameter values that are consistent with theory and independent observations. By contrast, under conditions of steady bypass, the nonlocal and nonlinear components in the combined model have distinctly different signatures. In the absence of nonlocality, a purely nonlinear model always predicts a bypass fluvial profile with a spatially constant slope, while a nonlocal model produces a nonconstant slope, i.e., profile curvature. This result can be used as a test for inferring the presence of nonlocality and for untangling the relative roles of local and nonlocal mechanisms in shaping depositional morphology.
A computational interactome and functional annotation for the human proteome

We present a database, PrePPI (Predicting Protein-Protein Interactions), of more than 1.35 million predicted protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Of these at least 127,000 are expected to constitute direct physical interactions although the actual number may be much larger (~500,000). The current PrePPI, which contains predicted interactions for about 85% of the human proteome, is related to an earlier version but is based on additional sources of interaction evidence and is far larger in scope. The use of structural relationships allows PrePPI to infer numerous previously unreported interactions. PrePPI has been subjected to a series of validation tests including reproducing known interactions, recapitulating multi-protein complexes, analysis of disease associated SNPs, and identifying functional relationships between interacting proteins. We show, using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), that predicted interaction partners can be used to annotate a protein’s function. We provide annotations for most human proteins, including many annotated as having unknown function. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.18715. 001
Loss of the transcription factor Meis1 prevents sympathetic neurons target-field innervation and increases susceptibility to sudden cardiac death

Although cardio-vascular incidents and sudden cardiac death (SCD) are among the leading causes of premature death in the general population, the origins remain unidentified in many cases. Genome-wide association studies have identified Meis1 as a risk factor for SCD. We report that Meis1 inactivation in the mouse neural crest leads to an altered sympatho-vagal regulation of cardiac rhythmicity in adults characterized by a chronotropic incompetence and cardiac conduction defects, thus increasing the susceptibility to SCD. We demonstrated that Meis1 is a major regulator of sympathetic target-field innervation and that Meis1 deficient sympathetic neurons die by apoptosis from early embryonic stages to perinatal stages. In addition, we showed that Meis1 regulates the transcription of key molecules necessary for the endosomal machinery. Accordingly, the traffic of Rab5+ endosomes is severely altered in Meis1-inactivated sympathetic neurons. These results suggest that Meis1 interacts with various trophic factors signaling pathways during postmitotic neurons differentiation. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.11627. 001
$H_{\infty }$ Filtering for Continuous-Time T–S Fuzzy Systems With Partly Immeasurable Premise Variables

This paper is concerned with the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_{\infty }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> filtering problem for T–S fuzzy systems with partly immeasurable premise variables. By using measurable premise variables of fuzzy models as the premise variables of fuzzy filters, a new fuzzy filter scheme is constructed. Further based on the new filter scheme and a class of new line integral fuzzy Lyapunov functions, a convex condition for designing <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_{\infty }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> filters is proposed. In contrast to the existing approaches, the new condition can take full use of measurable premise variables for less conservative design. A numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Engineering Bacterial Transcription Regulation To Create a Synthetic in Vitro Two-Hybrid System for Protein Interaction Assays

Transcriptional activation of σ54-RNA polymerase holoenzyme (σ54-RNAP) in bacteria is dependent on a cis-acting DNA element (bacterial enhancer), which recruits the bacterial enhancer-binding protein to contact the holoenzyme via DNA looping. Using a constructive synthetic biology approach, we recapitulated such process of transcriptional activation by recruitment in a reconstituted cell-free system, assembled entirely from a defined number of purified components. We further engineered the bacterial enhancer-binding protein PspF to create an in vitro two-hybrid system (IVT2H), capable of carrying out gene regulation in response to expressed protein interactions. Compared with genetic systems and other in vitro methods, IVT2H not only allows detection of different types of protein interactions in just a few hours without involving cells but also provides a general correlation of the relative binding strength of the protein interaction with the IVT2H signal. Due to its reconstituted nature, IVT2H provides a biochemical assay platform with a clean and defined background. We demonstrated the proof-of-concept of using IVT2H as an alternative assay for high throughput screening of small-molecule inhibitors of protein–protein interaction.
Iterative Channel Estimation and Equalization for STBC MC-CDMA System over Time- and Frequency-Selective Fading Channels

This paper investigates the performance of a downlink space-time block code (STBC) multi-carrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) system employing a receiver with iterative channel estimation (ICE) and iterative equalization (IE). ICE based on the Kalman filter whereas IE based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) equalizer. The performance of this system is investigated under time-varying multipath fading channels with different fading rates. Simulation results demonstrate that a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain of2-2.5 dB can be added when employing ICE and IE for 4 iterations with only few training symbols (less than 10% of bandwidth efficiency loss) even when channels have high fading rate
3 D Face Reconstruction from Stereo Images

In this paper we propose a system for 3D face reconstruction from 2D stereo images. Two different stereo matching algorithms are presented; the first is a local method that finds the correspondences of 15 most characteristic facial fiducial points, whose 3D reconstruction allows us to deform a parameterized sparse model. The second method employs a snake grid algorithm which minimizes a multi-resolution energy function; it defines a dense disparity map and determines a dense 3D face model. Besides we investigate how 3D features affect the recognition performance of a face recognition system working on 2D images.
Impact of process variation in inductive Integrated Voltage Regulator on delay and power of digital circuits

This paper analyzes the effect of variations in the parameters of an Integrated Voltage Regulator (IVR) and its impact on the power/performance of a system of IVR driven digital logic circuit. The coupled analysis of IVR and digital logic considering variations in the integrated passives, power train FETs and controller transistors shows, compared to an off-chip VR, variations in IVR induce much larger shifts in the operating frequency of the logic and total system power. Variations in the output filter passives cause most prominent variations in the system power and performance, particularly pronounced at low voltage operation of the core. We also show that the mean performance of the system can be traded-off to reduce the variability by modifying IVR parameters, such as controller zeroes or output capacitors.