Bias Control Research Articles

PROTOCOL: Incentives for climate mitigation in the land use sector: a mixed-methods systematic review of the effectiveness of payment for environment services (PES) on environmental and socio-economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

PROTOCOL: Incentives for climate mitigation in the land use sector: a mixed-methods systematic review of the effectiveness of payment for environment services (PES) on environmental and socio-economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

Virtual Actor with Social-Emotional Intelligence

This work continues the effort to design and test the cognitive architecture eBICA: a general model of emotionally biased behavior control and decision making, with the focus on social emotional relationships. The key building blocks of the model include dynamics of mutual appraisals of actors, bi-directionally linked to behavior, on the one hand, and on the other hand – to M-schemas, that establish normal behavior of two or more actors involved in a mutual relationship, such as partnership. To test the model, we implement a Virtual Actor embodied as an avatar in a specifically designed virtual environment, and use several paradigms of its social interaction with humans. We show that virtual environments and associated paradigms can be divided into a hierarchy, on top of which are paradigms with dynamically changing social relationships and roles. Using paradigms of this kind, we show that a virtual actor can be indistinguishable from a human participant in three dimensions: efficiency, believability and social acceptability. Some of the social measures demonstrate a higher-than-human performance, inspiring an idea of a new challenge for BICA and AI. The general model of a Virtual Actor presented here is anticipated to sparkle ideas of broad impacts on many practical areas.

Current paediatric orthopaedic practice in hereditary multiple osteochondromas of the forearm: a systematic review.

Introduction: This systematic review aims to answer three research questions concerning the management of hereditary multiple osteochondromas of forearm in children: What is the best available evidence for the currently employed surgical procedures? What patient characteristics are associated with better prognosis? What disease characteristics are associated with better prognosis?Methods: We searched the literature using three major databases with no publication date restrictions. To enhance search sensitivity and maintain precision we used keywords/subject terms correlating with patient population, problem and interventions. We used strict inclusion/exclusion criteria to improve validity evidence.Results: The search process yielded 34 eligible studies with a total of 282 patients (315 forearms). We comprehensively analysed study and patient demographics and interventions and outcomes. Eleven studies (32%) had a long-term follow-up and 31 studies (91%) were retrospective. Of the total number of forearms, ulnar lengthening +/− associated procedures was used in 210 forearms (66.7%), isolated osteochondroma excision in 65 forearms (20.6%) and isolated distal radius hemiepiphysiodesis in 15 forearms (4.7%) among others.Discussion: Ulnar lengthening can restore radiologic anatomy, improve appearance and to a lesser extent objective clinical parameters like joint range of motion on the short/intermediate term. Isolated osteochondroma excision can relief pain and satisfy cosmetic concerns occasionally. There is poor evidence to suggest that surgery improves quality of life or function. Predictors of surgical success in regard to patient and disease characteristics remain elusive. Natural history and prospective randomized control studies where the control group receives no treatment should be rethought. They have the potential for bias control and identification of the ideal surgical candidate. The complex interplay between the confounding variables has undermined the capability of most studies to provide well-grounded evidence to support and generalize their conclusions. Valid quality of life scales should supplement objective outcome measures.

Stiffness Bias Control for Frontal Posture Based on Hopping Map of Musculoskeletal Biped Robot

Stiffness Bias Control for Frontal Posture Based on Hopping Map of Musculoskeletal Biped Robot

28 nm FD-SOIプロセスにおける基板バイアスを用いた低雑音増幅器の低消費電力化

28 nm FD-SOIプロセスにおける基板バイアスを用いた低雑音増幅器の低消費電力化

New Structural Design of Gated Lateral Bipolar Junction Transistor for Sensor Applications

In this paper, we propose a gated lateral bipolar junction transistor (GLBJT) that has a cascade structure, resulting in improved sensing performance over conventional GLBJTs. The device can be operated in bipolar junction transistor (BJT) mode, metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) mode, and a hybrid MOSFET-BJT mode under input bias control. The device exhibits higher transconductance than that of conventional GLBJTs owing to the cascade structure using pMOSFET. The cascade effect generated in the proposed device is shown to increase the transconductance, and the results from two experiments [pH response and C-reactive protein (CRP)-antigen detection] demonstrate that the sensitivity of the proposed sensor exceeds that of conventional GLBJTs. The proposed device offers approximately 2.5 times that the sensitivity of conventional GLBJTs in the pH and CRP-antigen detection experiments. These results confirm that the proposed device has enhanced sensitivity and suggests the possibility of realizing more efficient sensors with better sensitivity than that of conventional GLBJTs.

The Value of Ozone Air Quality Improvements to Renters: Evidence From Apartment Building Transactions in Los Angeles County

We investigate the relationship between the sale prices of apartment buildings and ozone levels in Los Angeles. The hedonic estimation controls for the potential bias resulting from the endogeneity of air pollution measures. We find that renters' valuations for air quality are capitalized into the asset price of apartment buildings. For a 1% reduction in the 1990 ambient air pollution level, renters' annual marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) is estimated at $14 to $52 in constant 2010 dollars. These estimates are somewhat smaller than current MWTP estimates from the owner-occupied single family house literature.

“The types of kids we get are different”—The distinguishing characteristics of school choosers in Detroit, Michigan

ABSTRACTProviding improved educational options for low-income African American families has been one of the primary objectives of the charter school movement. However, among demographically similar families, school choosers may possess subtle advantages compared to nonchoosers, leading to biased estimates of charter school performance in nonexperimental research. This study examines within-group differences between school choosers and nonchoosers in Detroit, Michigan through semistructured interviews with parents (n = 31) and teachers (n = 23) in charter and public schools. Findings indicate differences between school choosers and nonchoosers in access to transportation, experience, social and professional networks, orientation toward choice, parental involvement, and home stability. These differences offer insight into potential controls for self-selection bias that may lead to improved statistical evaluations using nonexperimental methods.

Systematic Review: Impact of point sources on antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the natural environment.

Point sources such as wastewater treatment plants and agricultural facilities may have a role in the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). To analyse the evidence for increases in ARB in the natural environment associated with these point sources of ARB and ARG, we conducted a systematic review. We evaluated 5,247 records retrieved through database searches, including both studies that ascertained ARG and ARB outcomes. All studies were subjected to a screening process to assess relevance to the question and methodology to address our review question. A risk of bias assessment was conducted upon the final pool of studies included in the review. This article summarizes the evidence only for those studies with ARB outcomes (n=47). Thirty-five studies were at high (n=11) or at unclear (n=24) risk of bias in the estimation of source effects due to lack of information and/or failure to control for confounders. Statistical analysis was used in ten studies, of which one assessed the effect of multiple sources using modelling approaches; none reported effect measures. Most studies reported higher ARB prevalence or concentration downstream/near the source. However, this evidence was primarily descriptive and it could not be concluded that there is a clear impact of point sources on increases in ARB in the environment. To quantify increases in ARB in the environment due to specific point sources, there is a need for studies that stress study design, control of biases and analytical tools to provide effect measure estimates.

Repetitively Mode-Locked Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (RML-CEAS) for Near-Infrared Gas Sensing.

A Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH)-based mode-locked cavity-enhanced sensor system was developed using a distributed feedback diode laser centered at 1.53 µm as the laser source. Laser temperature scanning, bias control of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer (PZT) and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) feedback control of diode laser current were used to repetitively lock the laser modes to the cavity modes. A gas absorption spectrum was obtained by using a series of absorption data from the discrete mode-locked points. The 15 cm-long Fabry-Perot cavity was sealed using an enclosure with an inlet and outlet for gas pumping and a PZT for cavity length tuning. The performance of the sensor system was evaluated by conducting water vapor measurements. A linear relationship was observed between the measured absorption signal amplitude and the H2O concentration. A minimum detectable absorption coefficient of 1.5 × 10–8 cm–1 was achieved with an averaging time of 700 s. This technique can also be used for the detection of other trace gas species by targeting the corresponding gas absorption line.

A Mach-Zehnder Modulator Bias Controller Based on OMA and Average Power Monitoring

We demonstrate an integrated circuit (IC) implemented in 28-nm CMOS technology for Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) bias control. Our circuit determines the optimal MZM bias voltage that provides the largest optical modulation amplitude and maintains this bias voltage by monitoring the average modulated power. The controller IC consists of digital-to-analog converter, analog-to-digital converter, trans-impedance amplifier, power detector, track-and-hold circuit, comparator, and digital controller, all of which are integrated in a single chip. With small power consumption and chip area, our approach should be applicable for future photonic electronic integrated circuits based on the Si platform.

Wire Probe Antenna (WPT) and Electric Field Detector (EFD) of Plasma Wave Experiment (PWE) aboard the Arase satellite: specifications and initial evaluation results

This paper summarizes the specifications and initial evaluation results of Wire Probe Antenna (WPT) and Electric Field Detector (EFD), the key components for the electric field measurement of the Plasma Wave Experiment (PWE) aboard the Arase (ERG) satellite. WPT consists of two pairs of dipole antennas with ~ 31-m tip-to-tip length. Each antenna element has a spherical probe (60 mm diameter) at each end of the wire (15 m length). They are extended orthogonally in the spin plane of the spacecraft, which is roughly perpendicular to the Sun and enables to measure the electric field in the frequency range of DC to 10 MHz. This system is almost identical to the WPT of Plasma Wave Investigation aboard the BepiColombo Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, except for the material of the spherical probe (ERG: Al alloy, MMO: Ti alloy). EFD is a part of the EWO (EFD/WFC/OFA) receiver and measures the 2-ch electric field at a sampling rate of 512 Hz (dynamic range: ± 200 mV/m) and the 4-ch spacecraft potential at a sampling rate of 128 Hz (dynamic range: ± 100 V and ± 3 V/m), with the bias control capability of WPT. The electric field waveform provides (1) fundamental information about the plasma dynamics and accelerations and (2) the characteristics of MHD and ion waves in various magnetospheric statuses with the magnetic field measured by MGF and PWE–MSC. The spacecraft potential provides information on thermal electron plasma variations and structure combined with the electron density obtained from the upper hybrid resonance frequency provided by PWE–HFA. EFD has two data modes. The continuous (medium-mode) data are provided as (1) 2-ch waveforms at 64 Hz (in apoapsis mode, L > 4) or 256 Hz (in periapsis mode, L < 4), (2) 1-ch spectrum within 1–232 Hz with 1-s resolution, and (3) 4-ch spacecraft potential at 8 Hz. The burst (high-mode) data are intermittently obtained as (4) 2-ch waveforms at 512 Hz and (5) 4-ch spacecraft potential at 128 Hz and downloaded with the WFC-E/B datasets after the selection. This paper also shows the initial evaluation results in the initial observation phase.

Short-term reward experience biases inference despite dissociable neural correlates

Optimal decision-making employs short-term rewards and abstract long-term information based on which of these is deemed relevant. Employing short- vs. long-term information is associated with different learning mechanisms, yet neural evidence showing that these two are dissociable is lacking. Here we demonstrate that long-term, inference-based beliefs are biased by short-term reward experiences and that dissociable brain regions facilitate both types of learning. Long-term inferences are associated with dorsal striatal and frontopolar cortex activity, while short-term rewards engage the ventral striatum. Stronger concurrent representation of reward signals by mediodorsal striatum and frontopolar cortex correlates with less biased, more optimal individual long-term inference. Moreover, dynamic modulation of activity in a cortical cognitive control network and the medial striatum is associated with trial-by-trial control of biases in belief updating. This suggests that counteracting the processing of optimally to-be-ignored short-term rewards and cortical suppression of associated reward-signals, determines long-term learning success and failure.

Thinking about others and the future: Neural correlates of perspective taking relate to preferences for delayed rewards

We infer the thoughts and feelings of others by taking their perspectives. Similar processes could be used to understand how we will be affected by future events, by allowing us to take the perspective of our future self. In this paper, we test this idea using a previously presented framework for guiding predictions. The framework proposes that a shared neural mechanism is involved in controlling egocentric bias, both while shifting our perspective away from self and towards others, and while shifting our perspective from immediate to future perspectives. To test this framework, 36 adults performed an intertemporal choice task. They were then scanned using 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging while completing a false-belief “localizer” task, which requires egocentric bias control. A positive correlation was observed between the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) response during the false-belief task, and preferences for delayed rewards in intertemporal choices. A subset of participants performed the intertemporal choice task again in the scanner, which revealed that the response of the same rTPJ cluster, individually localized during the false-belief task, was higher during delayed over immediate reward choices. In addition, functional connectivity between the rTPJ and ventromedial prefrontal cortex was found to differ between immediate and delayed choices. The current results indicate an overlap in processes of egocentric bias control and those that determine preferences in intertemporal choices, offering a social cognitive explanation for why rewards are devalued with delay in temporal discounting.

Discrimination, Social Capital, and Financial Constraints: The Case of Viet Nam

Summary This paper examines the relationship among gender, social capital, and access to finance of micro, small, and medium enterprises in the manufacturing sector in Viet Nam. Our dataset is from the 2011, 2013, and 2015 results of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Survey in Viet Nam. Using the Heckman technique to control for sample selection bias, the estimates do not provide evidence for discrimination against female-owned enterprises in the formal lending market. Specifically, female entrepreneurs have a higher probability of getting a loan and they pay lower interest rates in comparison with male entrepreneurs. No discrimination in formal credit markets may arise from the preference for informal loans over formal loans as entrepreneurs tend to borrow informal loans before applying for formal ones. Further analysis shows that social capital could facilitate loan applications: firms that have a closer relationship with government officials and other business people can get loans of longer duration.

Modeling and validation of a 2-DOF parallel manipulator for pose control application

Simplified mathematical model for the hydraulically actuated 2DOF parallel manipulator has been developed.In the present mathematical modeling, system kinematics, dynamics along with joint friction have been considered.The model has been implemented in MatlabSimulink environment and has been verified with the experimental result.Fuzzy tuned feedforward PID bias controller has been developed for control analysis of the system. Control performance has been studied for different pose demand and external loading condition. The use of hydraulically actuated parallel manipulator in different industries increasing rapidly due to high rigidity, higher accuracy, less error propagation, fast speed of response, very good controllability, high power to weight ratio, self lubricating property, heat dissimilation characteristic etc. Manipulator with low degree of freedom (DOF) is simple to analysis, synthesis and fabrication compare to the higher DOF manipulator. In the present work hydraulically actuated 2DOF parallel manipulator has been considered for simulation study of the pose (heave and pitch) control application. Low cost hydraulic component (proportional valve with dead band, low speed hydraulic cylinder etc.) configuration has been considered for the system model. In the present study the simplified mathematical model of the manipulator has been developed. The model of the parallel manipulator has been verified with the experimental result. The verified model has been used to study the control performance by a model free fuzzy tuned feedforward bias PID controller for pose control application. The effectiveness of the proposed controller also has been studied. To study the robustness of the proposed controller central, eccentric and variable position of the external loading has been considered on the manipulator with sinusoidal and chirp heave and pitch demand.

Manipulating exchange bias using all-optical helicity-dependent switching

Deterministic all-optical control of magnetization without an applied magnetic field has been reported for different materials such as ferrimagnetic and ferromagnetic thin films and granular recording media. These findings have challenged the understanding of all-optical helicity-dependent switching of magnetization and opened many potential applications for future magnetic information, memory and storage technologies. Here we demonstrate optical control of an antiferromagnetic layer through the exchange bias interaction using the helicity of a femtosecond pulsed laser on IrMn/[Co/Pt]xN antiferromagnetic/ ferromagnetic heterostructures. We show controlled switching of the sign of the exchange bias field without any applied field, only by changing the helicity of the light, and quantify the influence of the laser fluence and the number of light pulses on the exchange bias control. We also present the combined effect of laser pulses and applied magnetic field. This study opens applications in spintronic devices where the exchange bias phenomenon is routinely used to fix the magnetization orientation of a magnetic layer in one direction.

Control of Dual Frequency Capacitively Coupled Plasma via blocking capacitor and phase angle

This work investigates the effects of a blocking capacitor C B and a phase angle θ on Dual Frequency Capacitively Coupled Plasma (DF-CCP). This investigation is conducted by a Particle-In-Cell with Monte Carlo Collision (PIC-MCC) model. The simulation results are corroborated by a semi-analytical model. Our simulations show that the couple of parameters ( C B , θ ) allows the control of the DC self bias, η , as well as the potential drop within the sheaths that form in front of the powered and grounded electrodes. We show, also, that it is possible to use the parameters couple ( C B , θ ) such that to control the potential drop within the sheath in front of the powered electrode, ϕ sp , independently of the potential drop within sheath in front of the grounded electrode, ϕ sg , and vice versa. This latter ability allows us to control, quasi independently, the ion energy distribution bombarding each electrode.

Denial of Service Attack on Tie-Line Bias Control in a Power System With PV Plant

The use of synchrophasor networks consisting of phasor measurement units (PMUs) makes it possible to monitor, analyzes, and control the electric power grid in real-time. PMU measurements of frequencies, currents, voltages, and phase angles are transmitted to system control centers through synchrophasor networks. Delayed or missing measurements from PMUs in closed-loop applications could lead to power system instability. Although the use of virtual private network (VPN) tunnels eliminates many security vulnerabilities, VPNs are still vulnerable to denial of service (DoS) attack that exploits a side-channel vulnerability. In this paper, the authors detail their analysis of DoS attack on a two-area four machine power system with a utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) plant. Automatic generation control (AGC) is used to implement a tie-line bias control in one of the areas. The impact of PMU packet dropping on AGC operation and countermeasures are presented in this paper. Cellular computational network (CCN) prediction of PMU data is used to implement a virtual synchrophasor network (VSN). The data from VSN is used by the AGC when the PMU packets are disrupted by DoS attacks. Real-time experimental results show the CCN based VSN effectively inferred the missing data and mitigated the negative impacts of DoS attacks.

Flat optical frequency comb generation using polarization modulator and frequency shifter with double recirculating frequency shifting loops

A scheme to generate ultra-flat and stable optical frequency comb (OFC) based on multi-wavelength optical seed source and polarization-modulator-based complementary frequency shifter (PCFS) has been proposed and demonstrated. The OFC generation scheme includes two stages: 5-carrier light source is generated by utilizing a polarization modulator at the first stage, and the light source is then used as the seed light in the PCFS at the second stage. Compared with the previous flat OFC generator based on a recirculation frequency shifter, the proposed scheme can greatly reduce the recirculation times, and such a property makes the accumulated noise of the system enormously decrease. In order to achieve the frequency comb with the best flatness, the optical amplifier gain, filter stop-band attenuation and modulator drive voltage are optimized. Experiment simulations show that high-quality OFC with hundreds of frequency lines and power fluctuation within 2 dB can be achieved without direct-current bias control and wavelength-selective-switch.