Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LOWER BOUNDS FOR THE CIRCUIT SIZE OF PARTIALLY HOMOGENEOUS POLYNOMIALS HÔNG

In this paper we associate to each multivariate polynomial f that is homogeneous relative to a subset of its variables a series of polynomial families Pλ(f) of m-tuples of homogeneous polynomials of equal degree such that the circuit size of any member in Pλ(f) is bounded from above by the circuit size of f . This provides a method for obtaining lower bounds for the circuit size of f by proving (s, r)-(weak) elusiveness of the polynomial mapping associated with Pλ(f). We discuss some algebraic methods for proving the (s, r)-(weak) elusiveness. We also improve estimates in the normal homogeneous-form of an arithmetic circuit obtained by Raz in [12] which results in better lower bounds for circuit size (Lemma 6.7, Remark 6.8). Our methods yield non-trivial lower bound for the circuit size of several classes of multivariate homogeneous polynomials (Corollary 6.9, Example 6.10). To my Teacher Anatoly Timofeevich Fomenko
Service Innovation through Application Programming Interfaces - Towards a Typology of Service Designs

In recent years, many firms have published public Application Programing Interfaces (APIs). However, firms struggle with how to successfully implement API-enabled service innovation. APIs are either boundary resources through which platform strategies are enacted or they represent distribution channels for software, data, or infrastructure. We use a service innovation framework to integrate ten elements that determine business-oriented API design and that were discussed by prior API research. We report the preliminary results of a cluster analysis of 96 randomly sampled and qualitatively coded APIs. We identify three archetypes of API-enabled service innovation that are characterized by distinct configurations of API elements. We use a measure of API popularity to find structural differences of the archetypes' market impact. With our planned research addressing the interplay of API design, ecosystem-based value creation strategies and API performance, we intend to contribute to theory that explains the impact of API design on digital innovation.
Generative modeling of spatio-temporal traffic sign trajectories

We consider the task of automatic detection and recognition of traffic signs in video. We show that successful off-the-shelf detection (Viola-Jones) and classification (SVM) systems yield unsatisfactory results. Our main concern are high false positive detection rates which occur due to sparseness of the traffic signs in videos. We address the problem by enforcing spatio-temporal consistency of the detections corresponding to a distinct sign in video. We also propose a generative model of the traffic sign motion in the image plane, which is obtained by clustering the trajectories filtered by an appropriate procedure. The contextual information recovered by the proposed model will be employed in our future research on recognizing traffic signs in video.
Analytic interpolation and the degree constraint

Analytic interpolation problems arise quite naturally in a variety of engineering applications. This is due to the fact that analyticity of a (transfer) function relates to the stability of a corresponding dynamical system, while positive re-alness and contractiveness relate to passivity. On the other hand, the degree of an interpolant relates to the dimension of the pertinent system, and this motivates our interest in constraining the degree of interpolants. The purpose of the present paper is to make an overview of recent developments on the subject as well as to highlight an application of the theory.
Different activities of Schinus areira L.: anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory effect

The anti-inflammatory drugs possess many serious side effects at doses commonly prescribed. It is really important to discover novel regulators of inflammation from natural sources with minimal adverse effects. Schinus areira L. is a plant native from South America and is used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory herb. For this study, the activity of aqueous extracts on inflammation and the effect on superoxide anion production in mice macrophages were assayed. Aqueous extracts were prepared by soaking herbs in cold water (cold extract), boiling water (infusion), and simmering water (decoction). Cold extract possess an anti-inflammatory activity. Decoction and infusion showed pro-inflammatory activity. Cold extract increased the production of superoxide anion. It has been proposed to use diverse methods to obtain extracts of S. areira L. with different effects. Cold extract, decoction, and infusion could be utilized as extracts or as pharmacological preparations for topical application.
Neural Correlates of Post-error Slowing during a Stop Signal Task: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

The ability to detect errors and adjust behavior accordingly is essential for maneuvering in an uncertain environment. Errors are particularly prone to occur when multiple, conflicting responses are registered in a situation that requires flexible behavioral outputs; for instance, when a go signal requires a response and a stop signal requires inhibition of the response during a stop signal task (SST). Previous studies employing the SST have provided ample evidence indicating the importance of the medial cortical brain regions in conflict/error processing. Other studies have also related these regional activations to postconflict/error behavioral adjustment. However, very few studies have directly explored the neural correlates of postconflict/error behavioral adjustment. Here we employed an SST to elicit errors in approximately half of the stop trials despite constant behavioral adjustment of the observers. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we showed that prefrontal loci including the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex are involved in post-error slowing in reaction time. These results delineate the neural circuitry specifically involved in error-associated behavioral modifications.
Direct Comparison Between Phase Locked Oscillator and Direct Resonance Oscillator in the Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy Under Ultrahigh Vacuum

I have demonstrated the advantage of the phase locked oscillator (PLO) over the conventional direct resonance oscillator (DRO) in noncontact mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) under ultrahigh vacuum. Direct comparison between PLO and DRO has been made in terms of background noise level, temporal response, and stability. Compared to the DRO method without phase coherence, the experimental results show that the PLO method is more effective in reducing the noise level and enhancing the stability over all force regimes in UHV noncontact AFM. The noise reduction and stability enhancement in PLO indicate the important role of the phase coherent effect in improving the capability of noncontact imaging in UHV.
Minimization of Torque Ripple in PWM AC Drives

A pulsewidth modulation (PWM) technique is proposed for minimizing the RMS torque ripple in inverter-fed induction motor drives subject to a given average switching frequency of the inverter. The proposed PWM technique is a combination of optimal continuous modulation and discontinuous modulation. The proposed technique is evaluated both theoretically as well as experimentally and is compared with well-known PWM techniques. It is shown that the proposed method reduces the RMS torque ripple by about 30% at the rated speed of the motor drive, compared to conventional space vector PWM.
De Novo Sirolimus and Reduced‐Dose Tacrolimus Versus Standard‐Dose Tacrolimus After Liver Transplantation: The 2000–2003 Phase II Prospective Randomized Trial

We studied whether the use of sirolimus with reduced‐dose tacrolimus, as compared to standard‐dose tacrolimus, after liver transplantation is safe, tolerated and efficacious. In an international multicenter, open‐label, active‐controlled randomized trial (2000–2003), adult primary liver transplant recipients (n = 222) were randomly assigned immediately after transplantation to conventional‐dose tacrolimus (trough: 7–15 ng/mL) or sirolimus (loading dose: 15 mg, initial dose: 5 mg titrated to a trough of 4–11 ng/mL) and reduced‐dose tacrolimus (trough: 3–7 ng/mL). The study was terminated after 21 months due to imbalance in adverse events. The 24‐month cumulative incidence of graft loss (26.4% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.009) and patient death (20% vs. 8%, p = 0.010) was higher in subjects receiving sirolimus. A numerically higher rate of hepatic artery thrombosis/portal vein thrombosis was observed in the sirolimus arm (8% vs. 3%, p = 0.065). The incidence of sepsis was higher in the sirolimus arm (20.4% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.006). Rates of acute cellular rejection were similar between the two groups. Early use of sirolimus using a loading dose followed by maintenance doses and reduced‐dose tacrolimus in de novo liver transplant recipients is associated with higher rates of graft loss, death and sepsis when compared to the use of conventional‐dose tacrolimus alone.
Gene Expression: Presence of Conserved Functional Polyomavirus Enhancer-Like and Octamer Binding-Like Promoter Elements Found in Non-Lens Genes

Expression of the chicken ,Bl-crystallin gene was examined. Northern (RNA) blot and primer extension analyses showed that while abundant in the lens, the OB1 mRNA is absent from the liver, brain, heart, skeletal muscle, and fibroblasts of the chicken embryo, suggesting lens specificity. Promoter fragments ranging from 434 to 126 bp of 5'-flanking sequence (plus 30 bp of exon 1) of the PB1 gene fused to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene functioned much more efficiently in transfected embryonic chicken lens epithelial cells than in transfected primary muscle fibroblasts or HeLa cells. Transient expression of recombinant plasmids in cultured lens cells, DNase I footprinting, in vitro transcription in a HeLa cell extract, and gel mobility shift assays were used to identify putative functional promoter elements of the OBl-crystallin gene. Sequence analysis revealed a number of potential regulatory elements between positions -126 and -53 of the IIB1 promoter, including two Spl sites, two octamer binding sequence-like sites (OL-1 and OL-2), and two polyomavirus enhancer-like sites (PL-1 and PL-2). Deletion and site-specific mutation experiments established the functional importance of PL-1 (-116 to -102), PL-2 (-90 to -76), and OL-2 (-75 to -68). DNase I footprinting using a lens or a HeLa cell nuclear extract and gel mobility shifts using a lens nuclear extract indicated the presence of putative lens transcription factors binding to these DNA sequences. Competition experiments provided evidence that PL-1 and PL-2 recognize the same or very similar factors, while OL-2 recognizes a different factor. Our data suggest that the same or closely related transcription factors found in many tissues are used for expression of the chicken OIBl-crystallin gene in the lens.
Expression of the Clustered NeuAcα2–3Galβ O-Glycan Determines the Cell Differentiation State of the Cells

Background: Several specific markers for undifferentiated human ES cells have been reported to overlap with those of cancer stem cells. Results: A mouse anti-human ES monoclonal antibody strongly reacted with metastatic and poorly differentiated cancer cells. Conclusion: Expression of the clustered NeuAcα2–3Galβ O-glycan determines the cell differentiation state of the cells. Significance: These results provide insight into the possible role of clustered sialyl O-glycan in the undifferentiated cells. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are pluripotent stem cells from early embryos, and their self-renewal capacity depends on the sustained expression of hESC-specific molecules and the suppressed expression of differentiation-associated genes. To discover novel molecules expressed on hESCs, we generated a panel of monoclonal antibodies against undifferentiated hESCs and evaluated their ability to mark cancer cells, as well as hESCs. MAb7 recognized undifferentiated hESCs and showed a diffuse band with molecular mass of >239 kDa in the lysates of hESCs. Although some amniotic epithelial cells expressed MAb7 antigen, its expression was barely detected in normal human keratinocytes, fibroblasts, or endothelial cells. The expression of MAb7 antigen was observed only in pancreatic and gastric cancer cells, and its levels were elevated in metastatic and poorly differentiated cancer cell lines. Analyses of MAb7 antigen suggested that the clustered NeuAcα2–3Galβ O-linked oligosaccharides on DMBT1 (deleted in malignant brain tumors 1) were critical for MAb7 binding in cancer cells. Although features of MAb7 epitope were similar with those of TRA-1–60, distribution of MAb7 antigen in cancer cells was different from that of TRA-1–60 antigen. Exposure of a histone deacetylase inhibitor to differentiated gastric cancer MKN74 cells evoked the expression of MAb7 antigen, whereas DMBT1 expression remained unchanged. Cell sorting followed by DNA microarray analyses identified the down-regulated genes responsible for the biosynthesis of MAb7 antigen in MKN74 cells. In addition, treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer cells with MAb7 significantly abrogated the adhesion to endothelial cells. These results raised the possibility that MAb7 epitope is a novel marker for undifferentiated cells such as hESCs and cancer stem-like cells and plays a possible role in the undifferentiated cells.
Independent Variable Time-Step Integration of Individual Neurons for Network Simulations

Realistic neural networks involve the coexistence of stiff, coupled, continuous differential equations arising from the integrations of individual neurons, with the discrete events with delays used for modeling synaptic connections. We present here an integration method, the local variable time-step method (lvardt), that uses separate variable-step integrators for individual neurons in the network. Cells that are undergoing excitation tend to have small time steps, and cells that are at rest with little synaptic input tend to have large time steps. A synaptic input to a cell causes reinitialization of only that cell's integrator without affecting the integration of other cells. We illustrated the use of lvardt on three models: a worst-case synchronizing mutual-inhibition model, a best-case synfire chain model, and a more realistic thalamocortical network model.
A new image super resolution by texture transfer

This paper proposes the new super resolution algorithm for improving the texture of low-quality image. Conventional methods have restored the high-resolution image based on the linear blur model with a variety of priors, which boost the frequency powers of the images while preventing from being noisy or having jagged edges. Previous methods show good performance for restoring the sharp and jagged-free edges. However, in the point of texture, they often fail to restore and result in cartoon-like images. To solve this problem, proposed method focuses on the property of natural textures and tries to create the fine texture from self-image by texture transfer, which modulates the phase of the high-frequency components of image in spatial and frequency domains. The sign of DCT coefficients are modulated to change the phase of image in frequency domain, and the high-frequency components of image are reshaped with an auto regressive filter in spatial domain. Moreover, the external noise sources are added to enhance the pixel-precision textures. Experimental results show that the texture of low-quality images is highly improved than that of previous methods. The fine textures created by proposed method give more natural feeling of highresolution image than that of results restored without a consideration of restoring textures.
Dissemination of a Chloramphenicol- and Tetracycline-Resistant but Penicillin-Susceptible Invasive Clone of Serotype 5 Streptococcus pneumoniae in Colombia

ABSTRACT A national surveillance conducted in Colombia between 1994 and 1996 identified serotype 5 Streptococcus pneumoniae as the second most frequent cause of invasive disease in children younger than 5 years of age. All 43 serotype 5 isolates collected during this period were shown to be susceptible to penicillin, erythromycin, cefotaxime, and vancomycin, but most (38 of 43, or 88%) were highly resistant to chloramphenicol. In order to clarify a possible genetic relatedness among these isolates, additional microbiological and molecular characterizations were performed. Most (40 of 43, or 93%) of the isolates were found to be resistant to tetracycline. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of chromosomal DNAs revealed that all the 43 isolates were closely related and that 38 of the 43 isolates were representatives of a “Colombian clone” of S. pneumoniae isolates which were recovered throughout the 3-year surveillance period from patients in 13 hospitals located in five Colombian cities. Isolates belonging to this Colombian clone were resistant to chloramphenicol and tetracycline, hybridized with thecat and tetM DNA probes in the same 340-kbSmaI fragment, and had identical PFGE patterns after bothSmaI and ApaI digestions.
On data plane latency and pseudo-TCP congestion in Software-Defined Networking

This paper dissects the source of forwarding latency on the data plane in proactive SDN, and reveals that TCAM insertions with increasing priority can lead to incredibly large forwarding delay. As far as we know, this is the first work that identifies the pseudo-TCP congestion problem caused by long data plane latency. Preliminary experimental results on forwarding delay and TCP performance are presented.
Depression and Internet use in a Sample of Malaysian Undergraduate Students

This study used a set of questionnaire to investigate the Internet use and depression level in a sample of Malaysian undergraduate students, which identified 12 cases as pathological Internet use (PIU) in a total sample of 90 students using Beard and Wolf’s (2001) criterion. Students with PIU spent significantly longer time on Internet and experienced extremely higher level of depression (M=42.83, SD=11.86) than their non-PIU counterparts (M=26.26, SD=14.79), which is in the severe level. The gender difference on depression was also detected in this study but not for time spent online. Lastly, this study found that students with PIU would like to spent more time on SNS, browsing with no specific purpose, and online media viewing, while students with increasing level of depression would accelerate the time spent online, especially on SNS, browsing with no specific purpose, and instant messaging. The same Internet application (SNS and browsing with no specific purpose) chose by students with PIU and high level of depression implied that there may be close association on developing depression and PIU related to usage of SNS and browsing with no specific purpose.
Do microvascular retinal changes improve cardiovascular risk estimation?

F undoscopic examination is a unique, noninvasive tool allowing the assessment of retinal vessel changes induced by high blood pressure (BP), which, in turn, may reflect cerebral microangiopathic alterations. Mechanical stretch and increased arteriolar transmural pressure combined with metabolic disorders associated with hypertension cause the release from endothelial cells of neurohormonal factors influencing arteriolar smooth muscle and pericyte tone [1]. Locally activated humoral factors, including angiotensin II, endothelin and insulin, induce arteriolar lumen narrowing, apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells and vascular fibrosis. Subtle changes in retinal microcirculation, characterized by increased arteriolar wall-to-lumen ratio and venular dilatation, represent an early stage frequently observed in hypertensive retinopathy. More advanced stages of retinopathy, including the ‘exudative stage’ (i.e. disruption of the blood–retina barrier, exudation of blood and lipids, retinal ischemia) characterized by microaneurysms, hemorrhages, hard exudates, cotton-wool spots and papilloedema, are fortunately rarely found in current hypertension to day [2]. Since the pioneering study by Keith et al. [3], showing a strong association between hypertensive retinopathy and incident mortality, a vast amount of data has been accumulated about the clinical and prognostic value of this condition across different clinical settings and ethnicities. In the observational survey by Keith et al. [3], including 219 hypertensive patients, the authors reported a dramatic decline in survival during a 5-year follow-up period from grade 1 to 4 retinopathy. All-cause mortality rate was strongly related to retinopathy, increasing from 30% in grade 1, to 46% in grade 2, 80% in grade 3, up to 99% in grade 4. In the decades from 1950 through 1980, several reports confirmed the association of hypertensive retinal
M(atrix)-Theory Scattering in OM-Theory

We study the Quantum-Mechanics on the hyper-Kähler manifold that is the blow-up of an A1-singularity. This system is relevant for M(atrix)-theory as it was conjectured to describe scattering in the “noncommutative” deformation of a free 5+1D tensor multiplet in the sector with two units of longitudinal light-like momentum.
The Creative Consumer:: Exploring consumer behavior from a creativity perspective

This research focuses on consumer creativity and uses frameworks from creativity theory to understand consumer behavior. Because this is a relatively new field of inquiry, the work belongs mainly in the context of discovery. Therefore, the topic was approached in an open, exploratory manner. Instead of formal hypotheses, a set of propositions and models were developed and tested empirically in a field study. Four concepts relevant to the understanding of consumer behavior from a creativity perspective are advanced: (1) creative cognitive processing, or the degree to which consumers engage in creative processing during decision making; (2) creative product, or the degree to which a solution to a consumption problem is considered creative; (3) creative person factors, or different psychological facilitators of creativity (i.e., knowledge, motivation, innovativeness, and efficacy); and (4) solution evaluation, or the degree to which a consumer evaluates his or her solution to a consumption problem favourably. In line with previous literature, a conceptual model, as well as four propositions about these concepts and their relationships, was developed. To obtain measures of creative product, 245 participants responded to a scenario that asked what they would serve at a dinner party. Thought protocols describing participants’ thinking during decision making were the basis for measures of creative cognitive processing. Psychological facilitators of creativity and solution evaluation were measured on established scales. Analyses were performed in SPSS and LISREL VII. This dissertation contributes to consumer research by applying a creativity framework to understand consumer decision making. To the best of my knowledge, it is the first to explore consumer creativity in less constrained settings, and the results show high variability in terms of both creative cognitive processing and creativity in solutions. It has previously been proposed that creativity in solutions to consumption problems should be conceptualized as a three‐dimensional construct, but this has not been tested empirically previously. This research contributes by demonstrating that such a conceptualization is valid and reliable. A creative product assessment scale was developed in a separate study. The scale contributes to consumer research by providing a tool for assessing creativity in solutions to consumption problems. This research adds to the literature by identifying relationships between important antecedents, such as knowledge, motivation, self‐efficacy, and innovativeness, on creativity in a mundane, everyday problem‐solving situation. Finally, creative cognitive processing and creative production have positive effect on participants’ solution evaluation. This underscores the relevance for marketers to focus on consumers as creative problem solvers.