Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Do Internal Capital Markets Do? Redistribution vs. Incentives

In this paper we explain the apparent diversification discount of conglomerates without assuming inefficent-cross subsidisation through internal capital markets. Instead we assume that an internal capital market efficiently redistributes scare resources across a conglomerates divisions between successive production periods. The need for redistribution arises from the fact that resources may sometimes be produced by divisions which happen to be succesful in an earlier production stage but which do not have the best investment opportunities in future production stages. In contrast to the existing literature we consider explicitly the incentive problem between corporate headquarter and divisional managers using a standard Moral-Hazard framework. We show that although a complete incentive contract can be written bi-laterally between headquarter and divisional managers, the redistribution of resources across divisions creates additional agency costs in a conglomerate. Moreover, assuming that no complete contract can govern interim redistribution policy by the headquarter, we show how the agency problem with divisional mangers constrains headquarters interim redistribution to be ex ante inefficient.
Productivity slowdown and monetary policy

In the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007 - 2008 (and the resulting Great Recession) policymakers became concerned about a potential long-term effect of the crisis on the wider economy. For instance, in an ECFIN Economic Brief titled The financial crisis and potential growth: Policy challenges for Europe, Jan Koopman and Szekely (2009) remark that a potential casualty of the financial crisis involves permanently lower potential growth rate of GDP. Similarly, in an OECD working paper, The Macroeconomic Consequences of Banking Crises in OECD Countries Haugh et al. (2009) point out that the protracted banking crisis in Japan in the 1990s may have been responsible for the reduction in the country's long-term (or trend) potential growth. This policy paper discusses the consequence of changes in potential growth for monetary policy performance and design. The discussion focuses on how the nature of the so-called Phillips curve, which is the hallmark of monetary policy, changes with changes in potential growth and what this means for designing monetary policy. It puts the discussion in historical perspectives, namely, the Great Inflation of the 1970s and the New Economy of the 1990s, as these episodes were characterized by changes in long-term productivity growth. The Great Inflation of the 1970s was accompanied by trend productivity slowdown while the New Economy of the 1990s was characterized by trend productivity pickup, which was driven by innovations in information technology. Both the Great Inflation and the New Economy are interesting episodes, as both also involved academic and policy debates as to the role of monetary policy in limiting or accentuating the effects of productivity growth.
Deep Double Sparsity Encoder: Learning to Sparsify Not Only Features But Also Parameters

This paper emphasizes the significance to jointly exploit the problem structure and the parameter structure, in the context of deep modeling. As a specific and interesting example, we describe the deep double sparsity encoder (DDSE), which is inspired by the double sparsity model for dictionary learning. DDSE simultaneously sparsities the output features and the learned model parameters, under one unified framework. In addition to its intuitive model interpretation, DDSE also possesses compact model size and low complexity. Extensive simulations compare DDSE with several carefully-designed baselines, and verify the consistently superior performance of DDSE. We further apply DDSE to the novel application domain of brain encoding, with promising preliminary results achieved.
Preventing Damage Limitation: Targeting DNA-PKcs and DNA Double-Strand Break Repair Pathways for Ovarian Cancer Therapy

Platinum-based chemotherapy is the cornerstone of ovarian cancer treatment, and its efficacy is dependent on the generation of DNA damage, with subsequent induction of apoptosis. Inappropriate or aberrant activation of the DNA damage response network is associated with resistance to platinum, and defects in DNA repair pathways play critical roles in determining patient response to chemotherapy. In ovarian cancer, tumor cell defects in homologous recombination – a repair pathway activated in response to double-strand DNA breaks (DSB) – are most commonly associated with platinum-sensitive disease. However, despite initial sensitivity, the emergence of resistance is frequent. Here, we review strategies for directly interfering with DNA repair pathways, with particular focus on direct inhibition of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), another DSB repair pathway. DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is a core component of NHEJ and it has shown considerable promise as a chemosensitization target in numerous cancer types, including ovarian cancer where it functions to promote platinum-induced survival signaling, via AKT activation. The development of pharmacological inhibitors of DNA-PKcs is on-going, and clinic-ready agents offer real hope to patients with chemoresistant disease.
Event-triggered sampling and reconstruction of sparse real-valued trigonometric polynomials

We propose data acquisition from continuous-time signals belonging to the class of real-valued trigonometric polynomials using an event-triggered sampling paradigm. The sampling schemes proposed are: level crossing (LC), close to extrema LC, and extrema sampling. Analysis of robustness of these schemes to jitter, and bandpass additive gaussian noise is presented. In general these sampling schemes will result in non-uniformly spaced sample instants. We address the issue of signal reconstruction from the acquired data-set by imposing structure of sparsity on the signal model to circumvent the problem of gap and density constraints. The recovery performance is contrasted amongst the various schemes and with random sampling scheme. In the proposed approach, both sampling and reconstruction are non-linear operations, and in contrast to random sampling methodologies proposed in compressive sensing these techniques may be implemented in practice with low-power circuitry.
Penalized Model-Based Clustering with Application to Variable Selection

Variable selection in clustering analysis is both challenging and important. In the context of model-based clustering analysis with a common diagonal covariance matrix, which is especially suitable for "high dimension, low sample size" settings, we propose a penalized likelihood approach with an L1 penalty function, automatically realizing variable selection via thresholding and delivering a sparse solution. We derive an EM algorithm to fit our proposed model, and propose a modified BIC as a model selection criterion to choose the number of components and the penalization parameter. A simulation study and an application to gene function prediction with gene expression profiles demonstrate the utility of our method.
Contextualization of a DL Knowledge Base

In the paper we propose a method of structuring a knowledge base into hierarchically related contexts and present how this arrangement influences the structure of TBox and ABox. We introduce a possibility to attach to a single TBox many ABoxes describing different parts of a domain and we show how to interpret such an ontology. Practical application of the method offers very interesting possibilities, like shortening the time of inference or storing mutually contradictory pieces of information in a single knowledge base. We analyse how such a structure changes purpose and mechanisms of reasoning, and we discuss their soundness and completeness. We also describe some related work about contexts.
CMOS MEMS - present and future

The paper reviews the state-of-the-art in the field of CMOS-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The different CMOS MEMS fabrication approaches, pre-CMOS, intermediate-CMOS, and post-CMOS, are summarized and examples are given. Two microsystems fabricated with post-CMOS micromachining are presented, namely a mass-sensitive chemical sensor for detection of organic volatiles in air and a 10-cantilever force sensor array for application in scanning probe microscopy. The paper finishes with a look into the future, discussing key challenges and future application fields for CMOS MEMS.
WiMAX vs. LTE: An analytic comparison

In this paper, we have discussed the capacity and efficiency, complexity, and coverage features of both Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communications technologies. As these features influence the performance of the two technologies, it is important to know each technology advantages and disadvantages from these characteristics point of view. The paper delves into the intricacies of the two technologies to find out which is the next generation leading wireless technology, through finding the key parameters which make the one of driven technologies appear powerfully in the lead.
User engagement with political "facts" in the context of the fake news phenomenon

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study that explored human behaviour in response to political “facts” presented online by political parties in Scotland. Design/methodology/approach The study consisted of interactive online interviews with 23 citizens in North-East Scotland, in the run-up to the 2017 UK General Election. Findings Participants demonstrated cognitive and critical responses to facts but little affective reaction. They judged facts swiftly and largely intuitively, providing evidence that facts are frequently consumed, accepted or rejected without further verification processes. Users demonstrated varying levels of engagement with the information they consume, and subject knowledge may influence the extent to which respondents trust facts, in previously unanticipated ways. Users tended to notice facts with which they disagreed and, in terms of prominence, particularly noted and responded to facts which painted extremely negative or positive pictures. Most acknowledged limitations in capacity to interrogate facts, but some were delusionally confident. Originality/value Relatively little empirical research has been conducted exploring the perceived credibility of political or government information online. It is believed that this and a companion study are the first to have specifically investigated the Scottish political arena. This paper presents a new, exploratory fact interrogation model, alongside an expanded information quality awareness model.
eb 2 00 5 Kakeya sets of curves

In this paper we investigate an analogue for curves of the famous Kakeya conjecture about straight lines. The simplest version of the latter asks whether a set in R that includes a unit line segment in every direction must necessarily have dimension n. The analogue we have in mind replaces the line segments by curved arcs from a specified family. (This is a quite different problem from that considered by Minicozzi and Sogge [18] who looked at geodesics in curved space.) The families of curves we are interested in arise from Hörmander’s conjecture in harmonic analysis, which deals with oscillatory integral operators of the form
Real-time HDR video imaging on FPGA with compressed comparametric lookup tables

Video cameras can only take photographs with limited dynamic range. One method to overcome this is to combine differently exposed images of the same subject matter (i.e. a Wyckoff Set), producing a High Dynamic Range (HDR) result. Implementations for real-time HDR videos have relied upon methods that are less accurate. Instead of weighted-sum approaches that adds up noise for large number of LDR images, lookup tables that contains results calculated using a probabilistic model can be generated. This lookup table, when compressed using quadtree structure, can be implemented on a medium-sized FPGA. The work presented in this paper improves over the earlier publication to support high-definition videos. To achieve the required bandwidth for HDR composition, the evaluation of the camera response function is performed within a compressed lookup table that has its address retrieved using a pipelined multiplexer network. We are able to generate the entire circuit using software. It is parameterizable by user-specified error constraints, allowing us to explore the trade-offs in resource usage and precision of the implementation.
A snapshot of quality participation in physical activity for individuals with developmental disabilities: A photo-elicitation study

Not only do adults with disabilities have a right to participate, they have the right to quality participation: a participation experience that is perceived as satisfying, enjoyable and generates valued outcomes. Research has exclusively explored how quality participation is experienced for adults with physical disabilities. Six quality elements have emerged that contribute to a quality experience: autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, meaning and mastery. The purpose of this study was to explore the subjective experience of participation to understand how a community-based physical activity program (CBPAPs) for adults with developmental disabilities foster quality participation. Eleven adults with developmental disabilities were given a disposable camera to take photos of their participation experience in a CBPAP. Participants discussed their photos in a semi-structured interview, which was analyzed using thematic analysis. Three strategies for fostering quality elements were discussed: positive social relationships, the role of a volunteer and the adaptability of the program. Participants described how developing and maintaining social relationships within their program fostered engagement and belongingness. Participants also discussed how their relationship with volunteers fostered the elements of mastery, engagement, challenge and belongingness. Finally, participants discussed the importance of the program being adaptable to suit their needs, which fostered mastery, engagement and challenge. This is the first study to investigate the subjective experience of CBPAP participation for individuals with developmental disabilities. Results highlight factors within a CBPAP important for fostering quality elements among individuals with developmental disabilities.
Impact of cyber-attacks on islanded microgrid operation

The prevalent integration of highly intermittent renewable distributed energy resources (DER) into microgrids necessitates the deployment of a microgrid controller. In the absence of the main electric grid setting the network voltage and frequency, the microgrid power and energy management becomes more challenging, accentuating the need for a centralized microgrid controller that, through communication links, ensures smooth operation of the autonomous system. This extensive reliance on information and communication technologies (ICT) creates potential access points and vulnerabilities that may be exploited by cyber-attackers. This paper first presents a typical microgrid configuration operating in islanded mode; the microgrid elements, primary and secondary control functions for power, energy and load management are defined. The information transferred from the central controller to coordinate and dispatch the DERs is provided along with the deployable communication technologies and protocols. The vulnerabilities arising in such microgrids along with the cyber-attacks exploiting them are described. The impact of these attacks on the microgrid controller functions was shown to be dependent on the characteristics, location and target of the cyber-attack, as well as the microgrid configuration and control. A real-time hardware-in-the loop (HIL) testing platform, which emulates a microgrid featuring renewable DERs, an energy storage system (ESS), a diesel generator and controllable loads was used as the case study in order to demonstrate the impact of various cyber-attacks.
Relationship between n-3 PUFA content and energy metabolism in the flight muscles of a migrating shorebird: evidence for natural doping

SUMMARY During their fall migration from the Arctic to South America, semipalmated sandpipers Calidris pusilla stop in the Bay of Fundy (east coast of Canada) before flying non-stop for ∼4500 km across the ocean. Refueling birds double their body mass by feeding on Corophium volutator, an amphipod containing high amounts of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), particularly eicosapentaenoic (20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6). In mammals, high dietary intake of n-3 PUFA is known to increase capacity for oxidative metabolism. Therefore, we hypothesized that tissue incorporation of n-3 PUFA would be associated with increases in the activity of key muscle enzymes to upregulate energy metabolism for prolonged exercise. Birds were collected at various stages of fat loading to monitor changes in lipid composition and flight muscle enzymes simultaneously. Enzymes were measured to assess oxidative capacity [citrate synthase (CS)],β -oxidation [carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) and 3-hydroxyacyl dehydrogenase (HOAD)] and glycolytic capacity [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)]. Changes in the fatty acid composition of muscle membranes (phospholipids) and fuel reserves (neutral lipids) were measured separately to distinguish between membrane-related and systemic effects of n-3 PUFA. Results show that muscle CS and HOAD are stimulated during refueling and that their activities are correlated with n-3 PUFA content in phospholipids (22:6 for CS, 20:5 for HOAD) and in neutral lipids (20:5 for CS). This suggests that 20:5 and 22:6 have different effects on energy metabolism and that they act via changes in membrane structure and systemic mechanisms. CPT and LDH did not change during refueling, but LDH activity was significantly related to the n-3 PUFA content of fuel reserves. This study shows that oxidative capacity increases rapidly during refueling and supports the idea that dietary n-3 PUFA are used as molecular signals to prime flight muscles of some long-distance migrants for extreme exercise.
Advances in molecular labeling, high throughput imaging and machine intelligence portend powerful functional cellular biochemistry tools

Cellular behavior is complex. Successfully understanding systems at ever‐increasing complexity is fundamental to advances in modern science and unraveling the functional details of cellular behavior is no exception. We present a collection of prospectives to provide a glimpse of the techniques that will aid in collecting, managing and utilizing information on complex cellular processes via molecular imaging tools. These include: 1) visualizing intracellular protein activity with fluorescent markers, 2) high throughput (and automated) imaging of multilabeled cells in statistically significant numbers, and 3) machine intelligence to analyze subcellular image localization and pattern. Although not addressed here, the importance of combining cell‐image‐based information with detailed molecular structure and ligand‐receptor binding models cannot be overlooked. Advanced molecular imaging techniques have the potential to impact cellular diagnostics for cancer screening, clinical correlations of tissue molecular patterns for cancer biology, and cellular molecular interactions for accelerating drug discovery. The goal of finally understanding all cellular components and behaviors will be achieved by advances in both instrumentation engineering (software and hardware) and molecular biochemistry. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 39: 194–210, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mechanism of Paradoxic Pulse in Bronchial Asthma

To elucidate the mechanism of paradoxic pulse in severe bronchial asthma, we performed hemodynamic studies and measured esophageal pressure in nine patients who had status asthmaticus and clinical paradoxic pulse. Two-dimensional echocardiography allowed simultaneous assessment of cyclic changes in right- and left-heart size throughout the respiratory cycle. Esophageal pressure varied from a markedly negative level during inspiration (-24.4 ± 6.5 cm H20) to a positive level during expiration (7.6 ± 6.0 cm H20). Competition between right- and left-heart chambers for pericardial space during inspiration was suggested by the reduced left ventricular cross-sectional area at end-systole (- 24%, p < 0.01) and end-diastole (-32%, p < 0.01), the leftward septal shift, and the increased right ventricular internal diameter at end-systole (42%, p < 0.01) and end-diastole (40%, p < 0.001). Competition for filling, however, could not entirely account for the paradoxic pulse, for systemic and pulmonary pulse pressures were almost (within one cardiac cycle) in phase: both were minimal at inspiration and maximal at expiration. The increase in impedance to right ventricular ejection is another major factor reducing left ventricular preload at inspiration. This reduction in preload was shown to be the predominant mechanism for the decrease in left ventricular stroke output at inspiration.
Efficient highly-parallel turbo decoder for 3GPP LTE-Advanced

Turbo codes have been widely adopted in latest wireless communication systems due to their excellent error correction capability. In 3GPP LTE-Advanced systems, a peak data rate of up to 1 Gbps should be satisfied. To meet this throughput requirement, several turbo decoding algorithms aimed at achieving highly parallel architecture have been investigated. However, the resulting hardware cost of turbo decoders is increased considerably with increasing parallelism. This paper presents a modified parallel-window decoding algorithm to reduce the warm-up computation ratio per each decoding window. In addition, a dual-mode computing schedule is proposed to support the requirement of various code rates and block lengths. Experimental results reveal that the proposed design, implemented in the TSMC 90-nm CMOS process, can achieve the highest throughput rate of 1.45 Gbps and improve the normalized area efficiency by about 24.53% compared to the existing 3GPP-LTE-Advanced turbo decoders.
Mixed body-bias techniques with fixed Vt and Ids generation circuits

In sub 1 V CMOS VLSIs, the authors proposed a new body bias generation circuits in which Ids and Vt of pMOS/nMOS become always fixed. The mixed body bias techniques result in positive temperature dependence of the delay, 85% reduction of the delay variation, and 75% improvement of power consumption of SRAM on a mobile processor.
The Secret Life of Viral Entry Glycoproteins: Moonlighting in Immune Evasion

Survival of infection with Ebola virus (EBOV) depends on the ability of the host to mount early and strong immune responses [1], [2]. However, given that EBOV cases are associated with 40%–90% human mortality, EBOV has developed intricate solutions to human immunological defenses. Enveloped viruses, like EBOV, must deposit their genetic material within a cell to ensure their propagation. The roles of viral envelope glycoproteins in mediating virus attachment to host cells and catalyzing the subsequent fusion of the viral and host plasma membranes have been well described (reviewed in [3]). Given the limited number of genes in EBOV and other viruses, it stands to reason that these conformationally labile glycoproteins are also involved in more than just the initial steps of a productive infection. There is strong evidence that viral entry glycoproteins (GP) are modulators of host antiviral defenses (Table 1). In this article, we discuss our current structural understanding of the functions of envelope entry glycoproteins in immune evasion using EBOV as our example. Table 1 Viral entry glycoprotein-mediated immune evasion strategies in other viral families.