Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Labor Surplus Revisited

Unskilled labor is the abundant resource in many developing countries, especially at an early stage of their development. Yet, even as at given technologies labor markets have not cleared, neo-classical economists have rejected the notion of an institutional or bargaining wage not based on competitive full employment marginal productivity fundamentals. This paper puts to rest some objections to labor surplus theory based on “red herrings” and then addresses the substantive challenges from the micro-econometric branch of neo-classical economics. We contend that the finding of inelastic supply curves of labor is based on a cross-section static analysis of labor supply within agriculture while the labor surplus model deals with tracing the dynamic reallocation of labor from a traditional to a neo-classical organized sector in a dualistic economy. We present data for a number of labor surplus developing countries showing that institutional wages lag behind agricultural productivity increases as countries move towards a “turning point” when inter-sectoral balanced growth has eliminated unskilled labor and the economy has lost its dual characteristic.
Real-time indoor localization and mapping using digitally coded RF waves with implementation on FPGA

One of the most significant topics under extensive research in ubiquitous computing is indoor localization and mapping. The current outdoor techniques using GSM, GPS and Wi-Fi are very expensive and infeasible for indoor mapping. This document presents a unique method of real time indoor localization and mapping using digitally coded electromagnetic waves (ASK and FSK). Localization is acquired with respect to 2-D array (NxM) of transmitter modules in rows and columns (i.e. length and breadth of the indoor region). All the transmitters of row array are tuned at same frequency but each transmitter emits a unique 12 bit digital code. Same is the case with column transmitters. The geometrical wave model of these transmitters renders family of circles, where radius of each circle represents `Received Signal Strength Indicator' (RSSI) value corresponding to a particular transmitter. For locating the object in (NxM) grid, differential mechanism is used i.e. comparing RSSI values of all the adjacent transmitters of row and column respectively at the location of object. Indoor region of particular dimensions can be discretized into NxM grids. Object is installed with customized FPGA core, 2 RF demodulators (for row and column) and two PLL ICs for calculating RSSI values (in 4 bit resolution). For real time response, 2 parallel I2C buses are connected to FPGA core. Wireless control over RF transmitters is used to prevent unwanted RF radiation. Overall, real world is discretized into grids. Also detailed comparison is shown as to how this technique is better than triangulation method.
Prognostic value of angiogenesis evaluated with high-frequency and colour Doppler sonography for preoperative assessment of primary cutaneous melanomas: correlation with recurrence after a 5 year follow-up period

Objective: To study the value of high-frequency sonography (HFS) and colour Doppler sonography (CDS) in evaluating the 5 year metastatic potential of primary cutaneous melanomas (CM). Materials and methods: 111 CM were studied before surgical resection and 107 were depicted on HFS. The maximal HFS thickness was measured and compared with the Breslow thickness. A CDS study was performed in each tumour. Results: HFS thickness ranged from 0.26 to 8.0 mm and Breslow thickness from 0.15 to 8.0 mm. HFS and Breslow thickness correlated strongly (r>0.93). Intratumour vessels were depicted in 43 of the 107 CM, of which 40 were thicker than 2 mm. The median follow-up was 61 months and 27 patients developed relapses. In the univariate analyses, neovascularization visualized with CDS, sonographic thickness and the Breslow thickness were significantly linked to relapses (p<0.0001), as were lymph node status and ulceration (p=0.007 and 0.004). Conclusion: Vascularization was observed mainly in thick primary melanoma. A median follow-up of 5 years showed the prognostic value of angiogenesis evaluated by CDS.
The social structure of Open Source Software development teams

Open Source Software development teams provide an interesting and convenient setting for studying distributed work. We begin by answering perhaps the most basic question: what is the social structure of these teams? Based on a social network analysis of interactions represented in 62,110 bug reports from 122 large and active projects, we find that some OSS teams are highly centralized, but contrary to expectation, others are not. Furthermore, we find that the level of centralization is negatively correlated with project size, suggesting that larger projects become more modular. The paper makes a further methodological contribution by identifying appropriate analysis approaches for interaction data. We conclude by sketching directions for future research
High-Power-Density InAlGaN/GaN-HEMT Technology for W-Band Amplifier

We demonstrated an excellent output power (Pout) density performance using a novel InAlGaN/GaN-HEMT with an 80-nm gate for a high-power W-band amplifier. The developed HEMT showed basic reliability for commercial products. A unique double-layer silicon nitride (SiN) passivation film with oxidation resistance was adopted to suppress current collapse. The developed discrete InAlGaN/GaN-HEMT achieved a Pout density of 3.0 W/mm at 96 GHz, and the Pout density of MMIC reached 3.6W/mm at 86 GHz. We proved excellent potential of developed InAlGaN/GaN-HEMT using our unique device technologies. Furthermore, we suggested the physical advantage of the InAlGaN/GaN-HEMT structure using device simulator.
QoS-Aware Service Composition for Complex Workflows

In Service-oriented Architectures, business processes are realized by composing loosely coupled services. With the ongoing success of Web services technologies, the invocation of Web services goes beyond enterprises’ borders. So, besides implementing required services within one enterprise, services can be purchased from external service providers. With a growing number and variety of services, enterprises can choose between functionally equivalent services at different cost and quality levels. The paper at hand addresses this service selection problem considering complex workflow patterns. Aggregation functions for different quality of service parameters are proposed and a linear optimization problem is formulated, which can be solved using integer linear programming techniques or by applying heuristic solutions.
Tension prediction by using ANN and SOM in heavy facilities

Diagnostic systems based on mathematical models of material damaging process can be used to collect necessary information on trends and/or level of material and function damage. This paper is focused on the improvement of a particular part of the power plant diagnostic system. It describes some alternatives based on Artifical Neural Networks and Self-Organising Maps. Finally, this can help to eliminate the damages of power plant facilities.
A saas-based early warning information fusion system for critical infrastructure safety

Maintaining the critical infrastructures, such as Drinking Water Treatment Plants (DWTP), transportation, power generation and communications systems, in a safe state is a complex problem. The effective collaboration, as well as the collection aggregation and dissemination of early warning information among the stakeholders of the Safety Management System (SMS) responsible for the safety of these critical infrastructures are some of the challenges that need to be addressed. This paper argues that the Software as a Service (SaaS) deployment model can offer new ways of enhancing the fusion of early warning information during the operation phase of critical infrastructures. It presents the requirements, the architecture and a number of features of a working prototype SaaS-based early warning information fusion system for DWTP safety issues in the Republic of Ireland. It is the first time that a SaaSbased working prototype system is reported of providing early warning information fusion services in the literature.
Optimally using the Bluetooth subband codec

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has standardized the subband coding (SBC) audio codec to connect headphones via wireless Bluetooth links with the A2DP profile. SBC compresses audio at high fidelity while having an ultra-low algorithm delay and very low complexity. SBC is configurable to a very large extend. Six parameters can be changed including sampling frequency, bit rate and algorithmic delay. In total, more than 60000 different configuration can be selected. In this publication, we objectively measure the audio and speech quality, if SBC runs under those configurations to find the most suitable parameter under given rate and delay constrains. Finally, we present objective tests comparing the audio codecs SBC, CELT, APT-X and ULD.
Early childhood sexuality education: Future educators’ attitudes and considerations

Sexuality education is one of the most disputable health education programs as far as its inclusion in Early Childhood Education is concerned. This study was conducted in order to investigate early childhood future educators’ attitudes and considerations about introducing sexuality education to their future pupils. We used a qualitative research method: semi-structured interviews for two groups of students in the Department of Educational Studies in Early Childhood, University of Northern Greece. The results revealed that the students who had chosen and successfully completed a course about early childhood sexuality education were the ones who indicated the subject as one of the basic ones to be taught in the kindergarten. Furthermore, they expressed their considerations about Greek bibliography’s lag in this field. Finally, they exhibited more readiness to introduce sexuality education to their future pupils than the rest of the students did. Students who had not attended a relative course referred to developmentally inappropriate subject areas, showing their inability or even riskiness to introduce sexuality to their pupils. The results suggested the students’ need for relevant theoretical as well as practical education.
Structural Model of Coping, Attachment, and Emotions with Parental Conflict.

Family sources of stress and conflict are important variables in the well-being of children, adolescents, and young adults. In this study, current models of stress are contrasted with earlier versions, definitions are reviewed, and ambiguities in conceptualization are brought out. Current research on affective information processing is thought to hold considerable promise for understanding the links between cognitions and emotions in families experiencing conflict. A comprehensive model is suggested that attempts to explain the importance of constructs such as family functioning and coping for appraisals of parental conflict and subsequent emotional response. The model tested includes several constructs thought to measure family conflict experiences. Specifically, this study explores the potential role of family functioning, coping resources, and attitudes about mood in influencing cognitive appraisals of family conflict and subsequent emotional responses among college students (N.609). A rationale for the inclusion of these constructs is provided, and additional measures are described. Results are reported and discussed. Further modeling strategies are described, and the resulting model is discussed. (Contains 2 figures, 3 tables, and 105 references.) (EMK) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************
Sound Coding in Cochlear Implants: From electric pulses to hearing

Cochlear implantation is a life-changing intervention for people with a severe hearing impairment [1]. For most cochlear implant (CI) users, speech intelligibility is satisfactory in quiet environments. Although modern CIs provide up to 22 stimulation channels, information transfer is still limited for the perception of fine spectrotemporal details in many types of sound. These details contribute to the perception of music and speech in common listening situations, such as where background noise is present. Over the past several decades, many different sound processing strategies have been developed to provide more details about acoustic signals to CI users. In this article, progress in sound coding for CIs is reviewed. Starting from a basic strategy, the current commercially most-used signal processing schemes are discussed, as well as recent developments in coding strategies that aim to improve auditory perception. This article focuses particularly on the stimulation strategies, which convert sound signals into patterns of nerve stimulation. The neurophysiological rationale behind some of these strategies is discussed and aspects of CI performance that require further improvement are identified.
Higher dimensional algebra and topological quantum field theory

The study of topological quantum field theories increasingly relies upon concepts from higher‐dimensional algebra such as n‐categories and n‐vector spaces. We review progress towards a definition of n‐category suited for this purpose, and outline a program in which n‐dimensional topological quantum field theories (TQFTs) are to be described as n‐category representations. First we describe a ‘‘suspension’’ operation on n‐categories, and hypothesize that the k‐fold suspension of a weak n‐category stabilizes for k≥n+2. We give evidence for this hypothesis and describe its relation to stable homotopy theory. We then propose a description of n‐dimensional unitary extended TQFTs as weak n‐functors from the ‘‘free stable weak n‐category with duals on one object’’ to the n‐category of ‘‘n‐Hilbert spaces. ’’ We conclude by describing n‐categorical generalizations of deformation quantization and the quantum double construction.
Flat Panel Detector Angiographic CT for Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization of Broad-Based Cerebral Aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to evaluate angiographic CT (ACT) in the combined application of a self-expanding neurovascular stent and detachable platinum coils in the management of broad-based and fusiform intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients harboring wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated with a flexible self-expanding neurovascular stent and subsequent aneurysm embolization with platinum microcoils. ACT was performed after the interventional procedure to analyze stent position and the relationship of coils to the stent. Postprocessing included multiplanar reconstructions (MPRs) and maximum intensity projections (MIPs). ACT volume datasets were postprocessed for soft tissue visualization. RESULTS: Accurate stent placement with subsequent coil occlusion of the aneurysms was feasible in all of the patients. Similar to nonsubtracted digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images, radiopaque platinum stent markers showed excellent visibility in ACT as well. The stent struts themselves, hardly visible in nonsubtracted DSA, were visible in MPRs and MIPs of ACT in all of the patients. In aneurysms larger than 10 mm in diameter, accurate stent assessment at the level of the coils was limited due to beam hardening artifacts. Postprocedural ACT in all of the patients did not reveal any evidence of procedure-related intracranial hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: ACT provides cross-sectional, 3D visualization of endovascular stents otherwise hardly visible with plain fluoroscopy. ACT enables us to accurately determine stent position, which may be helpful in complex stent-assisted aneurysm coiling procedures. However, in aneurysms larger than 10 mm in diameter, beam hardening artifacts caused by the endoaneurysmal coil package impair visibility of the stent. Further data are necessary to evaluate the usefulness of ACT in stent-assisted aneurysm coiling.
Incremental reinforcement learning for designing multi-agent systems

Complex systems seem more easily described and con-trolled if seen as Multi-Agent Systems (MAS): constellationof satellites, multi-robots applications. The design of aMAS is usually built \by hand", with the need of repeatedsimulations to tune the system. Here, we propose to buildthe system by having each agent locally learn its own be-havior.The use of Reinforcement Learning (RL) in the contextof MAS su ers from several limitations which can make thelearning task nearly impossible :combinatorial explosion. The computationnal bur-den of RL algorithms grows exponentially with thenumber of states and actions in the system. hidden global state. Usual situated agents can onlyrely on an imperfect, local and partial perception oftheir environment. credit assignment problem. When a positive re-ward is given by the environment, it is not always ev-ident to credit positively the \good" actions that ledto this reward.Our answer to these problems is to use a decentralizedadapted incremental learning algorithm based on aclassical RL technique.
A gluten-free diet lowers NKG2D and ligand expression in BALB/c and non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice

The interplay between diet and immune parameters which could affect type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis is not sufficiently clarified. Intestinal up‐regulation of the activating receptor natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) (CD314) and its ligands is a hallmark of coeliac disease. However, the direct effect of gluten on NKG2D expression is not known. We studied, by fluorescence activated cell sorter (lymphoid tissues) and reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (intestine and pancreatic islets), if a gluten‐free diet (GF diet) from 4 weeks of age or a gluten‐free diet introduced in breeding pairs (SGF diet), induced changes in NKG2D expression on DX5+(CD49b) natural killer (NK) cells, CD8+ T cells and in intestinal and islet levels of NKG2D and ligands in BALB/c and non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Gluten‐free NOD mice had lower insulitis (P < 0·0001); reduced expression of NKG2D on DX5+ NK cells in spleen and auricular lymph nodes (P < 0·05); and on CD8+ T cells in pancreas‐associated lymph nodes (P = 0·04). Moreover, the level of CD71 on DX5+ NK cells and CD8+ T cells (P < 0·005) was markedly reduced. GF and SGF mice had reduced expression of NKG2D and DX5 mRNA in intestine (P < 0·05). Differences in intestinal mRNA expression were found in mice at 8, 13 and 20 weeks. Intestinal expression of NKG2D ligands was reduced in SGF mice with lower expression of all ligands. In isolated islets, a SGF diet induced a higher expression of specific NKG2D ligands. Our data show that a gluten‐free diet reduces the level of NKG2D and the expression of NKG2D ligands. These immunological changes may contribute to the lower T1D incidence associated with a gluten‐free diet.
Tip60 is targeted to proteasome‐mediated degradation by Mdm2 and accumulates after UV irradiation

Acetylation is a prominent post‐translational modification of nucleosomal histone N‐terminal tails, which regulates chromatin accessibility. Accordingly, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) play major roles in processes such as transcription. Here, we show that the HAT Tip60, which is involved in DNA repair and apoptosis following γ irradiation, is subjected to proteasome‐dependent proteolysis. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Mdm2, the ubiquitin ligase of the p53 tumour suppressor, interacts physically with Tip60 and induces its ubiquitylation and proteasome‐dependent degradation. Moreover, a ubiquitin ligase‐defective mutant of Mdm2 had no effect on Tip60 stability. Our results indicate that Mdm2 targets both p53 and Tip60, suggesting that these two proteins could be co‐regulated with respect to protein stability. Consistent with this hypothesis, Tip60 levels increased significantly upon UV irradiation of Jurkat cells. Collectively, our results suggest that degradation of Tip60 could be part of the mechanism leading to cell transformation by Mdm2.
Global chromatin compaction limits the strength of the DNA damage response

In response to DNA damage, chromatin undergoes a global decondensation process that has been proposed to facilitate genome surveillance. However, the impact that chromatin compaction has on the DNA damage response (DDR) has not directly been tested and thus remains speculative. We apply two independent approaches (one based on murine embryonic stem cells with reduced amounts of the linker histone H1 and the second making use of histone deacetylase inhibitors) to show that the strength of the DDR is amplified in the context of “open” chromatin. H1-depleted cells are hyperresistant to DNA damage and present hypersensitive checkpoints, phenotypes that we show are explained by an increase in the amount of signaling generated at each DNA break. Furthermore, the decrease in H1 leads to a general increase in telomere length, an as of yet unrecognized role for H1 in the regulation of chromosome structure. We propose that slight differences in the epigenetic configuration might account for the cell-to-cell variation in the strength of the DDR observed when groups of cells are challenged with DNA breaks.
Metacognition, selfexperience and the prospect of enhancing selfmanagement in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Many contemporary biomedical models of schizophrenia neglect the impact of the meanings that persons with schizophrenia make of their psychiatric and life challenges. This poses problems for conceptualizing methods for enhancing self-management. To address this issue we offer a complimentary model of how schizophrenia involves the disruption of the purposive course of a life and also of the ability to form the kinds of integrated ideas about oneself and others needed to form and sustain the kinds of behavior required for effective self-management. We then introduce the construct of metacognition as a means to operationalize some of the disruptions in the ability to form and use complex ideas about the self and others, ultimately affecting self-experience. We discuss the implications of research on metacognition for self-management in schizophrenia and we discuss six different qualities that interventions focused on self-management of schizophrenia should embrace.
A Modified EMD Algorithm and its Applications

The classical EMD algorithm has been used extensively in the literature to decompose signals that contain nonlinear waves. However when a signal contain two or more frequencies that are close to one another the decomposition might fail. In this paper we propose a new formulation of this algorithm which is based on the zero crossings of the signal and show that it performs well even when the classical algorithm fail. We address also the filtering properties and convergence rate of the new algorithm versus the classical EMD algorithm. These properties are compared then to those of the principal component algorithm (PCA). Finally we apply this algorithm to the detection of gravity waves in the atmosphere.