Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gap Junctions between Striatal Fast-Spiking Interneurons Regulate Spiking Activity and Synchronization as a Function of Cortical Activity

Striatal fast-spiking (FS) interneurons are interconnected by gap junctions into sparsely connected networks. As demonstrated for cortical FS interneurons, these gap junctions in the striatum may cause synchronized spiking, which would increase the influence that FS neurons have on spiking by the striatal medium spiny (MS) neurons. Dysfunction of the basal ganglia is characterized by changes in synchrony or periodicity, thus gap junctions between FS interneurons may modulate synchrony and thereby influence behavior such as reward learning and motor control. To explore the roles of gap junctions on activity and spike synchronization in a striatal FS population, we built a network model of FS interneurons. Each FS connects to 30–40% of its neighbors, as found experimentally, and each FS interneuron in the network is activated by simulated corticostriatal synaptic inputs. Our simulations show that the proportion of synchronous spikes in FS networks with gap junctions increases with increased conductance of the electrical synapse; however, the synchronization effects are moderate for experimentally estimated conductances. Instead, the main tendency is that the presence of gap junctions reduces the total number of spikes generated in response to synaptic inputs in the network. The reduction in spike firing is due to shunting through the gap junctions; which is minimized or absent when the neurons receive coincident inputs. Together these findings suggest that a population of electrically coupled FS interneurons may function collectively as input detectors that are especially sensitive to synchronized synaptic inputs received from the cortex.
An investigation of the relationship between texture and human performance in steering tasks

Steering law is a fundamental model for steering tasks. Many researchers have investigated it according to different input devices, difficulty of task, subjective bias and scale effect etc. However, there is little study about the effect of surface environments especially on the texture of the interaction surface. In this paper, we experimentally investigated users' performances with various surface textures in steering tasks. Five common but different materials were used to supply different textures. Several potential factors of friction are considered in this study. The results showed that texture has no significant effect on movement time. Users naturally and dynamically adjust their force to suit different textures. In a limited range, the smoother the surface is, the more trajectory errors were performed. Our evaluation also proved that different textures can affect user satisfaction significantly.
Se p 20 02 Integrable Systems and Factorization Problems

The present lectures were prepared for the Faro International Summer School on Factorization and Integrable Systems in September 2000. They were intended for participants with the background in Analysis and Operator Theory but without special knowledge of Geometry and Lie Groups. The text below represents a sort of compromise: it is certainly impossible not to speak about Lie algebras and Lie groups at all; however, in order to make the main ideas reasonably clear, I tried to use only matrix algebras such as gl(n) and its natural subalgebras; Lie groups used are either GL(n) and its subgroups, or loop groups consisting of matrix-valued functions on the circle (possibly admitting an extension to parts of the Riemann sphere). I hope this makes the environment sufficiently easy to live in for an analyst. The main goal is to explain how the factorization problems (typically, the matrix Riemann problem) generate the entire small world of Integrable Systems along with the geometry of the phase space, Hamilto-nian structure, Lax representations, integrals of motion and explicit solutions. The key tool will be the classical r-matrix (an object whose other guise is the well-known Hilbert transform). I do not give technical details, unless they may be exposed in a few lines; on the other hand, all motivations are given in full scale whenever possible. I hope that this choice agrees with the spirit of the Faro School and will help to bridge the gap between different branches of Mathematical Analysis.
Joint Routing and Spectrum Selection for Multihop Cognitive Radio Networks

We present a new routing paradigm for cognitive radio networks that computes paths from a source to a destination by considering t he activity and the placement of primary users. Our algorithm makes use of the possibility of exploiting multiple frequencies in the same time between two cognitive nodes. For a given capacity demand ”D” from the application, our protocol tends to find the most probable path that satisfies this demand. This is done by accounting the primary nodes activity pattern and their positions distributions to choose the path that has the highest probability to satisfying this demand. Then the algorithm will then add frequencies along the path until the capacity on every link is greater than the demand. We show through simulation and numerical results that the found most probable path is the best path from the source to the destination. Furthrmore, the average capacity calculated over that path is highly accurate which can be considered as a positive indicator on satisfying the application demand D.
Changes in DNA Polymerase Activities in Pupae of the Silkworm Bombyx mori after Infection with Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus

Changes in DNA polymerase activities were studied in pupae of the silkworm Bombyx mori upon infection with nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV). Two effects were observed in male and female pupae after inoculation of BmNPV: a marked increase in cellular a-polymerase activity and the induction of a new DNA polymerase (BmNPV-polymerase). Activities of both DNA polymerases, ct and BmNPV, in the infected pupae increased in parallel, reached a maximum at 72 h post-inoculation and decreased subsequently. The virus infection did not affect the activity of y-polymerase in the pupae, An increased activity of fl-polymerase in the pupae was detected at the late stage of the infection cycle prior to pupal death. The possible roles of the DNA polymerases in BmNPV replication are discussed.
English-to-Japanese Cross-Language Question-Answering System using Weighted Adding with Multiple Answers (pp. 17-22)

We describe a method of using multiple documents with decreasing weights as evidence to improve the performance of a question-answering system. We also describe how it was used in cross-language question answering (CLQA) tasks. Sometimes, the answer to a question may be found in multiple documents. In such cases, using multiple documents for prediction generates better answers than using a single document. Therefore, our method uses information from multiple documents by adding the scores of candidate answers extracted from the various documents. Because simply adding scores degrades the performance of question-answering systems, we add scores with decreasing weights to reduce the negative effect of simply adding. We used this method in the CLQA part of NTCIR-5. It was incorporated into a commercially available translation system that carries out cross-language question-answering tasks. Our method obtained relatively good CLQA results. Index Terms—Machine translation, cross-language question-answering, decreased adding, multiple documents, NTCIR.
Chosen Message Attack Against Goldreich-Goldwasser-Halevi's Signature Scheme from Crypto'97

The Goldreich-Goldwasser-Halevi(GGH)’s signature scheme from Crypto ’99 is cryptanalyzed, which is based on the well-known lattice problem. We mount a chosen message attack on the signature scheme, and show the signature scheme is vulnerable to the attack. We collects n lattice points that are linearly independent each other, and constructs a new basis that generates a sub-lattice of the original lattice. The sub-lattice is shown to be sufficient to generate a valid signature. Empirical results are presented to show the effectiveness of the attack. Finally, we show that the cube-like parameter used for the private-key generation is harmful to the security of the scheme.
A 92 MHz , 13 Bit IF Digitizer Using Optimized SC Integrators in 0 . 35 μ m CMOS Technology

—A feedforward compensation scheme with no Miller capacitors is proposed to overcome the bandwidth limitations of traditional Miller compensation schemes. The technique has been used in the design of an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with a DC gain of 80 dB, GBW of 1.4 GHz, phase margin of 62° and 2 ns settling time for 2 pF load capacitor in a standard 0.35 µm CMOS technology. The OTA's current consumption is 4.6 mA. The OTA is used in the design of a fourth order switched capacitor bandpass Σ∆ modulator with a clock frequency of 92 MHz. It achieves a peak SNR of 80 dB and 54 dB for 270 kHz (GSM) and 3.84 MHz (CDMA) bandwidths, respectively and consumes 19 mA of current from a ±1.25 V supply.
Domain Transfer Structured Output Learning

In this paper, we propose the problem of domain transfer structured output learn- ing and the first solution to solve it. The problem is defined on two different data domains sharing the same input and output spaces, named as source domain and target domain. The outputs are structured, and for the data samples of the source domain, the corresponding outputs are available, while for most data samples of the target domain, the corresponding outputs are missing. The input distributions of the two domains are significantly different. The problem is to learn a predictor for the target domain to predict the structured outputs from the input. Due to the limited number of outputs available for the samples form the target domain, it is difficult to directly learn the predictor from the target domain, thus it is necessary to use the output information available in source domain. We propose to learn the target domain predictor by adapting a auxiliary predictor trained by using source domain data to the target domain. The adaptation is implemented by adding a delta function on the basis of the auxiliary predictor. An algorithm is developed to learn the parameter of the delta function to minimize loss functions associat- ed with the predicted outputs against the true outputs of the data samples with available outputs of the target domain.
Impact of Manufacturing Defects on Carbon Nanotube Logic Circuits

As CMOS technology enters the nanoelectronics realm (tens of nanometres and below), where quantum mechanical effects start to prevail, conventional CMOS devices are meeting many technological challenges for further scaling. This situation has motivated the emergence of a variety of new nanoelectronic devices [1] [2]. However, as new generations of nanodevices are developed, we become less familiar with their fault mechanisms and the causes behind their failures [3]. On the one hand, the nature of the materials and the physical phenomena used in these technologies are very different from current CMOS. On the other, it is widely acknowledged that the small sizes of resulting devices will cause higher levels of manufacturing defects than those of current CMOS solutions. In addition, in-service (transient and permanent) faults will have to be dealt with [4]. This situation justifies why reliability has become (and will be) a big challenge in the design of current (and future) nanoelectronic devices and architectures. The confident use of these emerging technologies relies on our capacity to better understand their fault mechanisms, and our ability to develop related fault models. Those fault models can be considered as a step forward towards the dependability assessment of emerging architectures for the definition of new and efficient fault mitigation techniques [5]. Among the wide set of new emerging nanoelectronic devices, 1D structures, as Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and Silicon Nanowires (SiNWs), are among the most promising for the development of logic circuits [6]. They present the best values for a number of factors that evaluate their potential use, like scalability, gain, operational reliability, performance, room temperature operation, energy efficiency, and CMOS technological and architectural compatibility. In addition, programmable logic array reconfigurable architectures are suggested for 1D structures. As we already analysed SiNWs [7], this study will focus on CNTs. CNTs have mechanical and electrical properties that make them very attractive as nanoelectronic wires and devices. Due to their structure, CNTs have an extraordinary strength and can behave as metallic wires or semiconductors, depending on their chirality and diameter [8] [9]. Metallic wire CNTs can offer superior electrical properties to SiNWs or copper [10]. As semiconductors, CNTs allow the design of field effect transistors (CNTFET). They have a MOSFETs-like structure (which is depicted in Figure 1) but present some potential key advantages: smaller channel and ballistic transport of electrons. Despite the good CNTs properties, the main hurdles concern their fabrication: selectively controlling their electronic properties (e.g. metallic or semiconducting) and placement [8].
Clothes classification based on deep belief network

In this paper, faced with the diversity and difference of clothes, we propose a novel method combined deep belief network and softmax classifier to achieve the classification of clothes. First of all, we preprocess the angle and scaling of various styles of clothes images that are collected through web crawler, then we do something to convert the image into the corresponding input format. In addition, the DBN is trained layer-by-layer with the input of all image pixels and the top level of the network is a classification hyperplane. At last, we apply the DBN that has been trained completely to classify the strange clothes. Compared with traditional classifier softmax and deep structure deepid1, our algorithm has higher classification accuracy rate.
How to evaluate a market segmentation process : A study on behalf of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget

Background A widely used concept within marketing is market segmentation, which companies use to create value. Many researchers have focused on different approaches to market segmentation and the segmentation process, but little attention has been given to how one can evaluate such a process. The thesis is written on behalf of the Swedish company Svenska Cellulosa AB that is currently working on a market segmentation project for their baby products category. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to develop a standardized process for evaluating and measuring the value of a segmentation process. The evaluation process will then be used to give recommendations to SCA on how they can evaluate their own segmentation process. Method To better understand how companies utilize market segmentation, but also how and if they measure the value of such a process, this thesis is conducted using a qualitative approach. The authors chose to collect the primary data through interviews with selected companies. The information gained from the interviews was then used to build three case-studies. The secondary data was collected from reviewing both scientific journals and textbooks concerning the relevant topic. The interviews were further analyzed using qualitative analysis techniques and based on the analysis a segmentation evaluation process was then developed. Conclusion The authors have found some common denominators among the case study companies on how they utilize segmentation to create value. However, none of the companies had developed a structured process to evaluate their segmentation process. By matching the case study findings with the frame of reference in relation to the research purpose the authors were able to develop a standardized segmentation evaluation process. This process was then used to give recommendations to SCA regarding their segmentation project.
Dental Professionals' Preparedness to Manage the Behaviors of Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder during Dental Treatment: A Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to explore the preparedness of dentists and dental hygienists to manage the behaviors of patients with ASD during their dental treatments. The research focused on 12 participants who were novice or experienced dentists or dental hygienists, representatives of three states, and chosen from snowball and criterion sampling. The study was grounded in the adult experiential learning theory and the disability model. Data collection included long interviews face-to-face or via phone, open-ended-online surveys, and document analysis. The data was analyzed through the process of Epoche, transcendental-phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, synthesis of meanings, and essences (Moustakas, 1994). Seven themes emerged in the data: varying knowledge of ASD; empathy, gratification; establishment of rapport and trust, and the influence of preparedness. One unexpected theme surfaced that was indirectly related to the research questions—caregiver involvement. The participants revealed their preparedness was influenced by their hands-on personal experiences, reflection, recall from previous patients, mentors and colleagues. Some novice dentists were provided opportunities to treat patients with ASD during their predoctoral training. The participants emphasized individualization and desensitization techniques with visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory adaptations.
9 Simulating Idiopathic Parkinson ’ s Disease by In Vitro and Computational Models

The motor disorder of Parkinson’s disease (PD) results from injury of the basal ganglia (BG). Understanding of the pathophysiology came late, especially with regard to the involvement of the substantia nigra. The description of ’shaking palsy’ or ’paralysis agitans’ (Parkinson, 1817) did not bring forward the recognition of its pathological origin. Lewy (1912, 1913) put emphasis on the globus pallidus and putamen. Von Economo’s emphasis (1917) on the substantia nigra (SN) in encephalitis lethargica, with analogous clinical appearance, prompted others to pay attention to this nucleus. Tetriakoff (1919) was the first to describe SN involvement in paralysis agitans. Hassler (1937, 1938, 1939), by studying the normal cytoarchitecture of the SN, discovered a differential damage in the pars compacta using the collection of Cecile and Oscar Vogt. Moreover, he described the damage in the locus coeruleus. It was Friede, already in 1953 (1953, 1966), using histochemical techniques, who proposed a relation with catecholaminergic systems. Although the SN-catecholamine doctrine was regularly scrutinized in the early days of catecholamine research (see e.g. Mettler, 1964), it has not been overthrown up till now.
Structure-Activity Analysis of Quorum-Sensing Signaling Peptides from Streptococcus mutans

ABSTRACT Streptococcus mutans secretes and utilizes a 21-amino-acid signaling peptide pheromone to initiate quorum sensing for genetic competence, biofilm formation, stress responses, and bacteriocin production. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of truncated peptides and peptides with amino acid substitutions to investigate their structure-activity relationships based on the three-dimensional structures of S. mutans wild-type signaling peptide UA159sp and C-terminally truncated peptide TPC3 from mutant JH1005 defective in genetic competence. By analyzing these peptides, we demonstrated that the signaling peptide of S. mutans has at least two functional domains. The C-terminal structural motif consisting of a sequence of polar hydrophobic charged residues is crucial for activation of the signal transduction pathway, while the core α-helical structure extending from residue 5 to the end of the peptide is required for receptor binding. Peptides in which three or more residues were deleted from the C terminus did not induce genetic competence but competitively inhibited quorum sensing activated by UA159sp. Disruption of the amphipathic α-helix by replacing the Phe-7, Phe-11, or Phe-15 residue with a hydrophilic residue resulted in a significant reduction in or complete loss of the activity of the peptide. In contrast to the C-terminally truncated peptides, these peptides with amino acid substitutions did not compete with UA159sp to activate quorum sensing, suggesting that disruption of the hydrophobic face of the α-helical structure results in a peptide that is not able to bind to the receptor. This study is the first study to recognize the importance of the signaling peptide C-terminal residues in streptococcal quorum sensing.
Estimating Dominance in Small Group Meetings with Audio-Visual Fusion of Nonverbal Cues

This paper addresses the multimodal nature of social dominance and presents multimodal fusion techniques to combine audio and visual nonverbal cues for dominance estimation in small group conversations. We combine the two modalities both at the feature extraction level and at the classifier level via score and rank level fusion. The classification is done by a simple rulebased estimator. We perform experiments on a new 10hour dataset derived from the popular AMI corpus. We objectively evaluated the performance of each modality and each cue alone and in combination. Our results show that the combination of audio and visual cues is necessary to achieve the best performance.
HUGO: A Cognitive Architecture with an Incorporated World Model 1

: We present a design of cognitive system architecture with an internal world model. The internal world model is realized with the help of artificial mirror neurons. We consider generalized artificial mirror neurons acting both as a mechanism for assembling and learning multimodal sensorimotor information and as associative memory for invoking multimodal information given only some of its components. We show that within an artificial cognitive system a network of generalized mirror neurons can simultaneously serve as an internal world model recognized by the agent and as that of the agent’s position within this world. We also specify a self-organizing control mechanism, which is based on the basic operations over concepts that were essentially identified by the British 18 th century philosopher David Hume. This control mechanism makes use of the internal world model constructed in agent’s interaction with real world and straightforwardly supports imitation learning. Building heavily on the properties of the generalized mirror net and on automatic abstract concept creation, we offer an algorithmic explanation of computational language acquisition, thinking and consciousness in our model. Rather than describing an implementation of the respective mechanisms, the aim of the paper is to present a plausible hypothesis concerning the architecture and functionality of artificial systems exhibiting higher cognitive functions.
Effect of QiShenYiQi Pill on Myocardial Collagen Metabolism in Rats with Partial Abdominal Aortic Coarctation

This study investigated the effect of QiShenYiQi pill (QSYQ) on myocardial collagen metabolism in rats with partial abdominal aortic coarctation and explored its mechanism of action. A series of assays were used to detect the effect and mechanism of QSYQ on systolic blood pressure, heart mass index, left ventricle mass index, HYP, expression of PICP, PIIINT, and CTX-I in serum, MMP-1, and TIMP-1 expression in myocardium. We observed that QSYQ can reduce the rate of myocardial collagen synthesis and increase the rate of myocardial collagen degradation. It also effectively improved the degree of myocardial fibrosis in partial abdominal aortic rats and it had a tendency to have a greater effect with longer treatment duration, which is related to the mechanism of regulation of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expression in the myocardial rat.