Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Charge transport in III-V narrow bandgap semiconductor nanowires

This thesis describes charge transport in III-V narrow bandgap semiconductor nanowires. We are particularly interested in quantum transport in InSb, InAs and InP-InAs core-shell nanowires. According to the type of transport mechanism dominating in the devices, this thesis can be divided into four parts.In the first part of this thesis, we investigated the temperature dependent transport properties of InSb nanowires using field effect transistors made of InSb nanowires grown by chemical vapor deposition. Ambipolar transport is observed in measurements in a wide range of temperatures up to 300 K. A bandgap of 220 meV is extracted from the temperature dependent measurements. Hole and electron field effect mobility are determined and their temperature dependence studied. The off state current shows a strong dependence on the temperature and the channel lengths of the transistors. In the second part of this thesis, spin relaxation and quantum interference in InSb nanowires are explored. Low-field magneto-conductance measurements are performed and a crossover from weak antilocalization to weak localization is observed. The experimental results are well explained with quasi one dimensional weak localization theory. Spin relaxation length and phase coherence length are defined. A strong spin-orbit strength of αR = 0.4 eVÅ-0.87 eVÅ is extracted. In the third part of this thesis, electron transport in a single quantum dot is studied in the weak and strong dot coupling regimes. The single quantum dots are formed in InSb nanowires by side gates. Various transport features such as sequential tunneling, excited states, and cotunnelings are investigated. Low temperature transport properties of InP-InAs core-shell nanowires are also explored and the coulomb blockade effect is revealed from a quantum structure extending over the entire core-shell nanowire. In the last part of this thesis, we report on electron transport through double quantum dots in InSb and InAs nanowires defined by side gates. From the measurements in the weak inter dot coupling regime, Pauli spin blockade is observed. The evolutions of states in the Pauli spin-blockade region with magnetic field is also studied. (Less)
BARRIERS TO GENE FLOW IN EMBIOTOCA JACKSONI, A MARINE FISH LACKING A PELAGIC LARVAL STAGE

Abstract Marine species generally show high dispersal capabilities, which should be accompanied by high levels of gene flow and low speciation rates. However, studies that focused on the relationship between dispersal and gene flow in marine fishes have been inconclusive. This study focuses on the black surfperch, Embiotoca jacksoni, a temperate reef fish that lacks a pelagic larval stage and lives on almost continuous reefs along the California and Baja California coasts. Mitochondrial control-region sequences from 240 individuals were obtained, and phylogeographic patterns were analyzed. A major phylogeographic break was found at Santa Monica Bay, a sandy expanse that prevents adult dispersal. Deep water separating the southern California Channel Islands was also found to be a major barrier to gene flow. Minor phylogeographic breaks were also detected in the Big Sur/Morro Bay and in the Punta Eugenia/Guerrero Negro regions, but none in the Point Conception region. Gene flow levels in E. jacksoni were found to be almost identical to those of another species with limited dispersal, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, thus indicating that the lack of a pelagic larval stage combined with barriers to adult dispersal may have had similar effects on these two species. Corresponding Editor: R. Burton
The Socio-demographic Characteristics and Patterns of Help-Seeking among Patients with Schizophrenia in South-east Nigeria

A large proportion of psychiatric patients in Nigeria seek help from other sources which ultimately lead to treatment delay. Treatment delay could have deleterious effects on treatment outcome especially for people with schizophrenia. The study aimed to determine the socio-demographic characteristics associated with treatment delay in people with schizophrenia. This was a cross-sectional study of 367 patients with schizophrenia presenting for the first time at a psychiatric hospital. About 76% of them had visited traditional/faith healers as a first treatment option. Long distance and use of traditional healers as first treatment option were associated with treatment delay. There is need for effective community psychiatry service delivery with emphasis on those strategies that can educate, influence, and mobilize communities concerning the aetiology, prevention, early detection, and treatment of mental illness.
ATP Modulates Noradrenaline Release by Activation of Inhibitory P2Y Receptors and Facilitatory P2X Receptors in the Rat Vas Deferens

The role of ATP on the modulation of noradrenaline release elicited by electrical stimulation (100 pulses/8 Hz) was studied in the prostatic portion of rat vas deferens preincubated with [3H]noradrenaline. In the presence of P1 antagonists, the nucleotides 2-methylthioadenosine-5′-triphosphate (2-MeSATP), 2-methylthioadenosine 5′-diphosphate (2-MeSADP), ADP, and ATP decreased electrically evoked tritium overflow up to 44%, with the following order of potency: 2-MeSATP > 2-MeSADP > ADP ≥ ATP. The P2Y antagonists reactive blue 2 (RB2) and 2-methylthioadenosine 5′-monophosphate (2-MeSAMP) increased, whereas the P2X antagonist pyridoxal-5′-phosphate-6-(2′-naphthylazo-6′-nitro-4′,8′-disulfonate) (PPNDS) decreased evoked tritium overflow. The inhibitory effect of 2-MeSATP was antagonized by RB2 (10 μM) and by 2-MeSAMP (10 μM) but not by the selective P2Y1 receptor antagonist 2′-deoxy-N6-methyladenosine 3′,5′-bisphosphate (MRS 2179; 10 μM). When, besides P1 receptors, inhibitory P2Y receptors were blocked with RB2, α,β-methyleneadenosine 5′-triphosphate (α,β-meATP), β,γ-imidoadenosine 5′-triphosphate (β,γ-imidoATP), β,γ-methyleneadenosine 5′-triphosphate (β,γ-meATP), 2-MeSATP, and ATP enhanced tritium overflow up to 140%, with the following order of potency: α,β-meATP > 2-MeSATP = ATP = β,γ-meATP ≥ β,γ-imidoATP. The facilitatory effects of α,β-MeATP and β,γ-imidoATP were prevented by PPNDS. Under the same conditions, apyrase attenuated, whereas the ectonucleotidase inhibitor 6-N,N-diethyl-d-β,γ-dibromomethylene 5′-triphosphate enhanced tritium overflow, an effect that was prevented by PPNDS. In the prostatic portion of the rat vas deferens, endogenous ATP exerts a dual and opposite modulation of noradrenaline release: an inhibition through activation of P2Y receptors with a pharmacological profile similar to that of the P2Y12 and P2Y13 receptors and a facilitation through activation of P2X receptors with a pharmacological profile similar to that of P2X1 and P2X3, or PX2/P2X3 receptors.
Effect of zeros on IIR filters with symmetric impulse response

The properties of the symmetric impulse response filters with real and complex zeros are considered. The pole-zero locations of the rational transfer functions are found, by minimization of the symmetry error. The contribution of zeros to the symmetry error is shown and compared to the systems with all zeros at the origin. The design procedure of such filters based on time or frequency domain requirements is outlined.
The Generalized Brain-State-ina-Box ( gBSB ) Neural Network : Model , Analysis , and Applications

The generalized Brain-State-in-a-Box (gBSB) neural network is a generalized version of the BrainState-in-a-Box (BSB) neural network. The BSB net is a simple nonlinear autoassociative neural network that was proposed by J. A. Anderson, J. W. Silverstein, S. A. Ritz, and R. S. Jones in 1977 as a memory model based on neurophysiological considerations. The BSB model gets its name from the fact that the network trajectory is constrained to reside in the hypercubeHn = [−1, 1]n. The BSB model was used primarily to model effects and mechanisms seen in psychology and cognitive science. It can be used as a simple pattern recognizer and also as a pattern recognizer that employs a smooth nearness measure and generates smooth decision boundaries. Three different generalizations of the BSB model were proposed by Hui and Żak, Golden, and Anderson. In particular, the network considered by Hui and Żak, referred to as the generalized Brain-State-in-a-Box (gBSB), has the property that the network trajectory constrained to a hyperface of Hn is described by a lower-order gBSB type model. This property simplifies significantly the analysis of the dynamical behavior of the gBSB neural network. Another tool that makes the gBSB model suitable for constructing associative memory is the stability criterion of the vertices of Hn. Using this criterion, a number of systematic methods to synthesize associative memories were developed. In this paper, an introduction to some useful properties of the gBSB model and some applications of this model are presented first. In particular, the gBSB based hybrid neural network for storing and retrieving pattern sequences is described. The hybrid network consists of autoassociative and heteroassociative parts. In the autoassociative part, where patterns are usually represented as vectors, a set of patterns is stored by the neural network. A distorted (noisy) version of a stored pattern is subsequently presented to the network and the task of the neural network is to retrieve (recall) the original stored pattern from the noisy pattern. In the heteroassociative part, an arbitrary set of input patterns is paired with another arbitrary set of output patterns. After presenting hybrid networks, neural associative memory that processes large scale patterns in an efficient way is described. Then the gBSB based hybrid neural network and the pattern decomposition concept are used to construct a neural associative memory. Finally, an image storage and retrieval system is constructed using the subsystems described above. Results of extensive simulations are included to illustrate the operation of the proposed image storage and retrieval system.
DO MIGRANT REMITTANCES AFFECT THE CONSUMPTION PATTERNS OF ALBANIAN HOUSEHOLDS

This paper investigates the extent to which consumption patterns of Albanian households are affected by the receipt of migrant remittances. Domestic and international remittances are considered and differences in their impacts on household consumption patterns assessed. The study finds that the consumption pattern for households in receipt of internal remittances is not statistically different from those that do not receive such transfers. On the other hand, households who receive remittances from abroad spend, on average and ceteris paribus, a lower share of their expenditure on food and a higher share on consumer durables compared to households who do not receive any type of migrant remittances. However, in terms of the impact of remittances on marginal spending behaviour, even international remittances do not seem to play a substantial role, in contrast to the evidence reported in other recent studies in this area of research. This may be due to the fact that the remittance variable that we use is failing to capture all households who are receiving remittances, or may reflect that in Albania both domestic and international remittances only have a modest effect on consumption patterns of households.
Caching in mobile HetNets: A throughput-delay trade-off perspective

We analyze the optimal throughput-delay trade-off in content-centric mobile heterogeneous networks (HetNets), where each node moves according to the random walk mobility model and requests a content object from the library independently at random, according to a Zipf popularity distribution. Instead of allowing access to all content objects at base stations (BSs) via costly backhaul, we consider a more practical scenario where mobile nodes and BSs, each having a finite-size cache space, are able to cache a subset of content objects so that each request is served by other mobile nodes or BSs via multihop transmissions. Under the protocol model, we characterize a fundamental throughput-delay trade-off in terms of scaling laws by introducing our content delivery routing protocol and the corresponding optimal caching allocation strategy.
Leg-like wheel for mobile robot that realizes smooth movement on even and uneven surfaces

A rescue robot is required to efficiently run on uneven surfaces. However, a high performance on a rough terrain sometimes causes inefficiency in rapidly moving on even surfaces such as paved areas. To provide a mechanism that is able to be used in different terrains without changing the structure, we propose a specialized shape for 6 wheels vehicles that is able to run like a normal wheeled vehicle but able to run over a wide variety of terrains such as rugged areas without changing the shape of the wheel. The wheel has two or three circular cutouts. In a wheeled car mode, the 6 wheels are synchronized so as to form a tripod gait, in which the vehicle is supported at least three wheel points. In a rough terrain environment, the cutouts of the wheels function as claws and able to pull the vehicle up to the obstacles. Throughout the experiments by a small model of the vehicle, it is shown that the proposed wheel has these abilities, along with high efficiencies in moving on a muddy or sandy surfaces.
Burkitt’s lymphoma of the jaws in the Amazon region of Brazil

Objectives: To describe the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of Burkitt’s lymphoma of the jaws in 7 patients of Northern Brazil. Study Design: Clinical data concerning gender, age, affected site, clinical presentation, symptomatology and follow-up were collected from the clinical files. Histopathology was complemented with a broad immunohistochemical panel and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Results: Most of the patients were infants and 5 out of 7 were males. The mandible was affected in 5 cases and all patients also presented abdominal involvement. All cases were positive for CD45, CD20, CD79a, CD10, Bcl-6 and EBV. Ki-67 proliferative index was approximately 100%. Six patients were treated with R-CHOP (Rituximab + Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine and Prednisolone) chemotherapy, and 2 of these died of the disease. One young adult patient refused treatment and died 3 months after initial diagnosis. Conclusions: Burkitt’s lymphoma of the jaws diagnosed in the Amazon region of Brazil present similar clinicopathologic features to those described in endemic areas of Africa, including EBV positivity. Key words:Burkitt’s lymphoma, EBV, Brazil, Amazon region.
Solvability of multi robot motion planning problems on Trees

Multi robot motion planning problems can be solved very efficiently when the Configuration Space is mapped onto a Graph. Before planning, however, it must be assured that the constructed graph is reachable (solvable) for the given number and configuration of robots. Solvable Trees are types of trees that let any arrangement of a specified number of robots be reached from any initial arrangement through sequential moves of robots on vertices of the tree. In this paper the properties of Solvable Trees are investigated, and Minimal Solvable Trees, which are the smallest solvable trees in terms of the number of vertices, are introduced as a new concept. Also, a new algorithm with linear time complexity is proposed for deciding whether a multi robot motion planning problem has a solution on a tree, without explicitly solving it.
Incremental recomputations in MapReduce

This paper explores the application of view maintenance techniques in a MapReduce environment. Abstractly, a MapReduce program can be seen as a view definition and the computed result as a materialized view. As yet, MapReduce programs need to be re-executed to obtain up-to-date results after base data has changed, i.e. the view is recomputed from scratch. We present a case study based on typical MapReduce programs mentioned in Google's original MapReduce paper. By adapting view maintenance techniques, we were able to recompute results in an incremental fashion considerably more efficiently. Based on the case study, we develop a general solution for the incremental maintenance of the class of MapReduce programs that compute self-maintainable aggregates.
Red colouration in apple fruit is due to the activity of the MYB transcription factor, MdMYB10

Anthocyanin concentration is an important determinant of the colour of many fruits. In apple (Malus × domestica), centuries of breeding have produced numerous varieties in which levels of anthocyanin pigment vary widely and change in response to environmental and developmental stimuli. The apple fruit cortex is usually colourless, although germplasm does exist where the cortex is highly pigmented due to the accumulation of either anthocyanins or carotenoids. From studies in a diverse array of plant species, it is apparent that anthocyanin biosynthesis is controlled at the level of transcription. Here we report the transcript levels of the anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in a red-fleshed apple compared with a white-fleshed cultivar. We also describe an apple MYB transcription factor, MdMYB10, that is similar in sequence to known anthocyanin regulators in other species. We further show that this transcription factor can induce anthocyanin accumulation in both heterologous and homologous systems, generating pigmented patches in transient assays in tobacco leaves and highly pigmented apple plants following stable transformation with constitutively expressed MdMYB10. Efficient induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis in transient assays by MdMYB10 was dependent on the co-expression of two distinct bHLH proteins from apple, MdbHLH3 and MdbHLH33. The strong correlation between the expression of MdMYB10 and apple anthocyanin levels during fruit development suggests that this transcription factor is responsible for controlling anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple fruit; in the red-fleshed cultivar and in the skin of other varieties, there is an induction of MdMYB10 expression concurrent with colour formation during development. Characterization of MdMYB10 has implications for the development of new varieties through classical breeding or a biotechnological approach.
Functional Neuroimaging Studies of Hypnosis and Meditation: A Comparative Perspective

Over the last few decades, an increasing number of functional neuroimaging studies have been performed with respect to hypnosis and meditation. The objective of this article is to review a number of these studies to compare the neural substrates related to different components of hypnosis and meditation. We examine neuroimaging studies conducted to explore the impact of hypnosis on the brain regions and systems involved in color perception, hand paralysis, pain, and the default-mode network (DMN). We also review neuroimaging investigations carried out to examine the neural correlates of various meditation techniques, as well as the effects of meditation on the brain mechanisms related to emotion, pain, and the DMN. Given the discrepancy existing between the findings from neuroimaging studies of hypnosis and meditation carried out in regard to pain and the DMN, we conclude that it is premature to claim that hypnosis and meditation are mediated by similar brain systems and neural mechanisms.
Consistent On-Line Off-Policy Evaluation

The problem of on-line off-policy evaluation (OPE) has been actively studied in the last decade due to its importance both as a stand-alone problem and as a module in a policy improvement scheme. However, most Temporal Difference (TD) based solutions ignore the discrepancy between the stationary distribution of the behavior and target policies and its effect on the convergence limit when function approximation is applied. In this paper we propose the Consistent Off-Policy Temporal Difference (COP-TD($\lambda$, $\beta$)) algorithm that addresses this issue and reduces this bias at some computational expense. We show that COP-TD($\lambda$, $\beta$) can be designed to converge to the same value that would have been obtained by using on-policy TD($\lambda$) with the target policy. Subsequently, the proposed scheme leads to a related and promising heuristic we call log-COP-TD($\lambda$, $\beta$). Both algorithms have favorable empirical results to the current state of the art on-line OPE algorithms. Finally, our formulation sheds some new light on the recently proposed Emphatic TD learning.
Durkheim and social facts

Durkheim makes some claims that may simply seem suspicious, such as the idea that a society is a sui generis synthesis of individuals. ‘Synthesis? How can that be? ’ one might say, echoing John Stuart Mill. ‘When people come together to form a social group, they are not converted into another kind of substance! ’ Or one might echo Max Weber: ‘I am a social being just insofar as I orient my own actions towards other people. '
GPS and UWB Integration for indoor positioning

The global positioning system (GPS) is an accurate positioning system. However, in the presence of obstructions or under indoor environment, the low availability of the GPS makes positioning impossible at times. The UWB positioning system, dubbed as the natural way for multipath mitigation, could perform well for indoor positioning. However, as range measurements are never perfect, the accuracy of the UWB positioning also relies heavily on the geometry of the transmitters placed in the building. The proposed GPS-UWB positioning could provide better positioning accuracy under such circumstances as compared to the UWB system. In addition, the convergence on the position estimation is less sensitive to the initial guess of the user position.
The right word for the right crowd: an attempt to recognize the influence of emotions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a better understanding of how entrepreneurial narrative influences resource acquisition in the fundraising context. Design/methodology/approach The paper combines the literature on emotion as information theory from psychology with behavioral finance findings to develop a conceptual framework with research proposals highlighting the use of narratives in the crowdfunding process. Findings The proposition of the paper advocates that entrepreneurial narrative may influence crowdfunders’ attitude and decision to fund a project. It theorizes how emotions in narratives shape the funders’ attitude toward a project and, in turn, their decision to support it. This potential influence is qualified by taking into account the funders’ primary motivations. These motivations affect the degree to which funders rely on affect or cognition to form their attitude and to which they are influenced by more emotional or cognitive narratives. Originality/value This framework is the result of an effort to achieve the recognition of emotions in entrepreneurial funding. The paper creates a bridge between the narrative emotional content and the often neglected emotional arousal of funders (considered as traditional investors) to provide a framework for explaining crowdfunders’ decision making. The paper also offers nuances by taking into account the different audiences’ motivations to fund a project.
On-line handwritten flowchart recognition based on logical structure and graph grammar

Although sketch recognition has been studied for dozens of years, the recognition of two dimensional online documents is still a challenging problem of pattern recognition. This paper deals with this problem depending on the logical structure of the sketch and a graph grammar. The recognition process consists of three stages. First, we use the dynamic programming to group the stroke sequence into stroke combinations. Then, we get the candidate symbols from a classifier of the Random Forest algorithm. Finally, a graph grammar is used to describe the logical structure of the flowchart. This method has been applied to flowcharts of a freely available database. Although 23.2% of the candidate symbols are misclassified, we still achieve an average accuracy of 70.4%, which demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach.