Correction Vector Research Articles

Eye tracking-based estimation and compensation of chromatic offsets for multi-wavelength retinal microstimulation with foveal cone precision.

Multi-wavelength ophthalmic imaging and stimulation of photoreceptor cells require consideration of chromatic dispersion of the eye, manifesting in longitudinal and transverse chromatic aberrations. Contemporary image-based techniques to measure and correct transverse chromatic aberration (TCA) and the resulting transverse chromatic offset (TCO) in an adaptive optics retinal imaging system are precise but lack compensation of small but significant shifts in eye position occurring during in vivo testing. Here, we present a method that requires only a single measurement of TCO during controlled movements of the eye to map retinal chromatic image shifts to the image space of a pupil camera. After such calibration, TCO can be compensated by continuously monitoring eye position during experimentation and by interpolating correction vectors from a linear fit to the calibration data. The average change rate of TCO per head shift and the correlation between Kappa and the individual foveal TCA are close to the expectations based on a chromatic eye model. Our solution enables continuous compensation of TCO with high spatial precision and avoids high light intensities required for re-measuring TCO after eye position changes, which is necessary for foveal cone-targeted psychophysical experimentation.

An improved weight-constrained neural network training algorithm

In this work, we propose an improved weight-constrained neural network training algorithm, named iWCNN. The proposed algorithm exploits the numerical efficiency of the L-BFGS matrices together with a gradient-projection strategy for handling the bounds on the weights. Additionally, an attractive property of iWCNN is that it utilizes a new scaling factor for defining the initial Hessian approximation used in the L-BFGS formula. Since the L-BFGS Hessian approximation is defined utilizing a small number of correction vector pairs, our motivation is to further exploit them in order to increase the efficiency of the training algorithm and the convergence rate of the minimization process. The preliminary numerical experiments provide empirical evidence that the proposed training algorithm accelerates the training process.

Moral challenges of Ukrainian post-secular society: social and value worth of tolerance

The moral and ethical situation in Ukraine is considered in an issue in the light of analysis of the realities which characterize the modern social, cultural and spiritual reality. Having concluded that the main right of any person is a right to own dignity, an author highlights that the realization of respect for Other is a problem for modern Ukraine which demands an urgent solution. A characteristic of presented in Ukrainian’s society systems of “deeds” and “choices” is provided in the issue for determination of the key research arguments. The systems give the essential meanings to “good” and “evil” definitions on the way of highlighting some axiological vectors for imbalance correction that characterize Ukrainian social, cultural and spiritual realities. The methodological coordinate system of an issue refers to the elements of Fr. Nietzsche’s work which is used for reality peculiarities’ definition, and to the ethical system of Christian guidelines which are noted for ideas’ expressiveness under current tradition. An author appeals to Ch. Taylor’s studies for a search of crucial ethical ideas, which are able to harmonize the relationships with Others within a country as well as beyond it. Due to the author a way of positive realities transformation (in moral, spiritual, social and civil directions) in Ukraine consists in deliberate wish to overcome the stereotypes of slave morality (when everyone is a “threat” for everybody) and change the system of actions depended on such type of morality. That required the true community work in a direction of national intellectual enrichment, national spiritual development according to the system of educational and cultural initiatives.

Exportaciones de productos no tradicionales en el Perú en una estructura VAR multivariado

Between 2000 and 2017, non-traditional exports in Peru have shown an accelerated growth mainly explained by the agricultural sector, followed by the fishing, textile, chemical and steel-metallurgical sectors, presenting a surprising growth of 470.95% in this period. The objective of the study is to find the macroeconomic determinants of exports of non-traditional products to Peru through the search of the long-term relationship, using the Johansen methodology and the implementation of the Error Correction Vector Model to find the short dynamics and long term for exports of non-traditional products. The results show that the determinants of exports are US gross production, bilateral real exchange rate index and export index, which have a cointegration relationship. Finally, it was found that gross US production has a positive influence, the bilateral real exchange rate index has a negative influence and the export price index has a negative influence on exports of non-traditional products in Peru.

PointCleanNet: Learning to Denoise and Remove Outliers from Dense Point Clouds

AbstractPoint clouds obtained with 3D scanners or by image‐based reconstruction techniques are often corrupted with significant amount of noise and outliers. Traditional methods for point cloud denoising largely rely on local surface fitting (e.g. jets or MLS surfaces), local or non‐local averaging or on statistical assumptions about the underlying noise model. In contrast, we develop a simple data‐driven method for removing outliers and reducing noise in unordered point clouds. We base our approach on a deep learning architecture adapted from PCPNet, which was recently proposed for estimating local 3D shape properties in point clouds. Our method first classifies and discards outlier samples, and then estimates correction vectors that project noisy points onto the original clean surfaces. The approach is efficient and robust to varying amounts of noise and outliers, while being able to handle large densely sampled point clouds. In our extensive evaluation, both on synthetic and real data, we show an increased robustness to strong noise levels compared to various state‐of‐the‐art methods, enabling accurate surface reconstruction from extremely noisy real data obtained by range scans. Finally, the simplicity and universality of our approach makes it very easy to integrate in any existing geometry processing pipeline. Both the code and pre‐trained networks can be found on the project page (https://github.com/mrakotosaon/pointcleannet).

In Vitro Validation of a CRISPR-Mediated CFTR Correction Strategy for Preclinical Translation in Pigs.

Early efforts in cystic fibrosis (CF) gene therapy faced major challenges in delivery efficiency and sustained therapeutic gene expression. Recent advancements in engineered site-specific endonucleases such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 make permanent CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene correction possible. However, because of safety concerns of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and challenges in in vivo delivery to inflamed CF airway, CRISPR-based gene correction strategies need to be tested in proper animal models. In this study, we aimed at creating vectors for testing CFTR gene correction in pig models. We constructed helper-dependent adenoviral (HD-Ad) vectors to deliver CRISPR/Cas9 and a donor template (a 6 kb LacZ or 8.7 kb human CFTR expression cassette) into cultured pig cells. We demonstrated precise integration of each donor into the GGTA1 safe harbor through Cas9-induced homology directed repair with 3 kb homology arms. In addition, we showed that both LacZ and hCFTR were persistently expressed in transduced cells. Furthermore, we created a CFTR-deficient cell line for testing CFTR correction. We detected hCFTR mRNA and protein expression in cells transduced with the hCFTR vector. We also demonstrated CFTR function in the CF cells transduced with the HD-Ad delivering the CRISPR-Cas9 system and hCFTR donor at late cellular passages using the membrane potential sensitive dye-based assay (FLIPR®). Combined with our previous report on gene delivery to pig airway basal cells, these data provide the feasibility of testing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated permanent human CFTR correction through HD-Ad vector delivery in pigs.

The relationship between energy consumption and gross domestic product in Hong Kong (1992–2015): Evidence from sectoral analysis and implications on future energy policy

The causal relationship between energy consumption and gross domestic product in Hong Kong from 1992 to 2015 is investigated in this study. Different from the previous studies focusing on the causal relationship between total energy consumption and total gross domestic product per capita, this study further investigates the causal relationship from sectoral perspective, including residential, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors. For each sector, the time series data of sectoral energy consumption and sectoral per capita value added are collected. To conduct the Granger causality test, the unit root test is first applied to analyse the stationarity of time series. The cointegration test is then employed to examine whether causal relationship exists in long-term. Finally, based on the aforementioned tests, both vector error correction model and vector autoregression model can be selected to determine the Granger causality between time series. It is interesting to find that the sectoral energy consumption and corresponding sectoral per capita value-added exhibit quite different causal relationships. For both residential sector and commercial sectors, a unidirectional causal relationship is found running from the sectoral per capita value added to sectoral energy consumption. Oppositely, for industrial sector and transportation sector, a unidirectional causal relationship is found running from sectoral energy consumption to sectoral per capita value added. Regarding the Granger causality test results, the indicative suggestions on energy conservation policies, energy efficiency policies and greenhouse gas emission reduction policies are discussed based on the background of Hong Kong’s economic structure and fuel types.

Political Budget Cycles: The Case of Gabon

This article analyzes the political-fiscal cycle in Gabon. In Africa, it seems that the analysis of the politico-fiscal cycle has not attracted much interest. This is particularly the case in Gabon, a small country of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (EMCCA). Unlike approaches based on the estimation of a single model linking the electoral cycle and a dimension of the state budget, we estimate four models each incorporating a different dimension of the state budget, namely: capital expenditures, total expenditures and the budget deficit. The estimation of a VAR Model (2) and three Error Correction Vector Models (ECVM) confirms the existence of an "opportunistic" politico-budgetary cycle in Gabon.

FINDING THE DRIVER: A CASE STUDY OF INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT BOND MARKET

We investigate the relationships among credit default swap (CDS), government bond yield, foreign investors’ ownership, and exchange rate by conducting Vector Error Correction Model and Vector Auto Regression. We compare the relationships in the period of 2008 to 2013 and in the sub period when financial crisis happened in 2008. Using daily data from April 28, 2008 to December 31, 2013 in Indonesian government bond market, we find government bond yield plays a significant role; and drives the movement of the other variables. However, during the 2008 crisis, the yield loses its dominance and tends to follow the movement of CDS.

Simple and robust calibration procedure for k-linearization and dispersion compensation in optical coherence tomography.

.In Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT), proper signal sampling and dispersion compensation are essential steps to achieve optimal axial resolution. These calibration steps can be performed through numerical signal processing, but require calibration information about the system that may require lengthy and complex measurement protocols. We report a highly robust calibration procedure that can simultaneously determine correction vectors for nonlinear wavenumber sampling and dispersion compensation. The proposed method requires only two simple mirror measurements and no prior knowledge about the system’s illumination source or detection scheme. This method applies to both spectral domain and swept-source OCT systems. Furthermore, it may be implemented as a low-cost fail-safe to validate the proper function of calibration hardware such as k-clocks. We demonstrate the method’s simple implementation, effectiveness, and robustness on both types of OCT systems.

Dynamic Evaluation Indices in Spatial Learning and Memory of Rat Vascular Dementia in the Morris Water Maze

The Morris water maze (MWM) is widely used to evaluate rodent spatial learning and memory. However, current evaluation measures are not comprehensive because there is a wide distribution in the measured response. Utilizing the graph cognition hypothesis, we proposed four new deviation indices to evaluate cognitive function in the MWM that compared the optimal swim track to the actual track taken. These include the sum of the lateral deviation vectors, the sum of the offset angles, the sum of the correction vectors, and the sum of the lateral deviation vectors to the initial optimal route. We compared the four new deviation indices to the classically used escape latency measures in a vascular dementia model and demonstrated a higher consistency in the normal distribution between the vascular dementia group and the control rats. Further, the new measures displayed higher sensitivity and specificity compared to what escape latency displayed in the Monte Carlo simulation. From the receiver operating characteristic curve, the diagnostic values of the new deviation indices are higher than those of escape latency. Therefore, including these new evaluation indices in MWM experiments provided a more effective analysis of cognitive function compared to using escape latency.

Quarter orbit maneuver using magnetorquer to maintain spacecraft angular momentum

LAPAN-Tubsat, angular momentum is maintained by using magnetorquer in right ascension direction and gravity gradient in declination direction. Declination correction using gravity gradient in LAPAN-Tubsat only produce 1.5 °/day corrections for 5° gravity gradient. Must be noted that gravity gradient achieved by tilting the satellite, or require off-nadir attitude, this condition is not ideal for imaging mission. This paper introduces new method for angular momentum vector correction in declination direction by using magnetorquer. In this method certain coil current in y direction is set to produce magnetic torque. From previous research certain y coil current for one orbit will effectively change angular momentum’s right ascension. In this research y coil current is only set for a quarter orbits, hence torque resultant will only affect angular momentum’s declination. LAPAN-A3 satellite, 7° declination correction can be achieved by setting y coil current 30 mA for a quarter orbits or 23.5 minutes. Furthermore, by varying y coil current direction for each quarter orbit, 28° declination correction can be achieved in one full orbit. From this research can be seen that the new method is more efficient than the gravity gradient and also have advantage where the spacecraft will always in near nadir pointing.

380 KB104: an HSV-based gene therapy vector engineered to deliver functional SPINK5 for the treatment of Netherton Syndrome

Netherton Syndrome (NS) is a rare autosomal recessive skin disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding Serine Protease Inhibitor Kazal-type 5 (SPINK5), a protease inhibitor expressed in the stratum corneum of the epidermis. In NS patients, the inhibitory activities of SPINK5 are abolished, triggering hyperactivity of epidermal proteases which leads to skin dryness, hair shaft defects, elevated IgE levels, chronic skin inflammation and scaling that predisposes the patient to life-threatening infections. Currently, there are no curative treatments for NS, and novel targeted therapeutics are necessitated. To this end, we have developed KB104, a replication-defective HSV-1 gene therapy vector encoding human SPINK5 for direct topical application to the skin. Here we show that KB104 efficiently transduces target skin cells in vitro and in vivo and produces functional SPINK5. Human keratinocytes infected with KB104 at varying multiplicities of infection produced and secreted full-length SPINK5 in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by real time PCR, immunocytochemistry, ELISA, and western blotting. Importantly, the KB104-expressed SPINK5 was functional, being capable of inhibiting a native target of SPINK5, the serine protease Kallikrein 5, in an enzymatic inhibition assay. KB104 also efficiently expressed human SPINK5 after either topical or intradermal administration in immunocompetent mice, as assessed by real time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Human SPINK5 co-localized with mouse filaggrin, a protein expressed in the stratum corneum, indicating that KB104 successfully transduced the targeted epidermal layer. Moreover, no inflammatory infiltration or structural changes were observed at the KB104-treated site, confirming that KB104 is well-tolerated. Taken together, these preclinical studies support the potential for KB104 to be a convenient, safe, and efficacious gene therapy vector for direct molecular correction of SPINK5 deficiency in Netherton Syndrome.

Vertical price transmission in the white teff market in Ethiopia

ABSTRACTThe paper contributes to the scant literature on vertical price transmission between farmers and retailers in the white teff market in Ethiopia, investigating the features of this phenomenon across the most important production regions. Using Vector Error Correction and Threshold Vector Error Correction models, our study complements the traditional investigations of linear vertical integration with the analysis of possible asymmetries in price transmission. We adopted monthly retail price series from July 2004 until January 2014. The retail price allowed us a better understanding of how an inefficient market system taxes consumers than did the wholesale price normally used in the literature. We found a low speed of vertical price co-integration for white teff with different features at the regional level. Our results show linear or symmetric price transmission for the Amhara and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region regions, revealing the relative efficiency and competitiveness of the market. On the other hand, we found the presence of non-linear price transmission for the Oromia and Tigrai regions; this asymmetry result pronounced towards positive price shocks implying a persistent price rise that worsens the livelihood of final users. Based on our findings, we suggest, among other measures, providing better market infrastructure, encouraging market participation for the product, introducing and disseminating cultures and institutions that bring producers and sellers closer, increasing the productivity of producers and the supply of their produce, and strengthening farmers’ organisation as measures of policy intervention to enhance efficiency and competitiveness of the white teff supply chain in Ethiopia.

ВПЛИВ СТРУКТУРИ ЗОВНІШНЬОЇ ТОРГІВЛІ УКРАЇНИ НА ЕКОНОМІЧНЕ ЗРОСТАННЯ В КОНТЕКСТІ ЗАЛУЧЕННЯ ДО ГЛОБАЛЬНИХ ЛАНЦЮГІВ ВАРТОСТІ

Досліджено взаємний зв’язок між обсягами експорту-імпорту та ВВП і промисловим виробництвом, що дозволяє визначити шляхи підвищення технологічного рівня експорту як необхідної передумови успішної інтеграції у глобальні ланцюги вартості (ГЛВ). Фрагментація світового виробництва зазвичай розглядається як визначальна риса глобалізованої економіки, водночас для успішної конкуренції на зарубіжних ринках необхідним є технологічне ускладнення продукції.Оцінено секторальний вплив експорту-імпорту на ВВП і промислове виробництво, що важливо для виявлення перспективних напрямів участі українських підприємств у ГЛВ. Для емпіричного дослідження проведено структурний аналіз вітчизняної зовнішньої торгівлі в розрізі чотирьох основних категорій: 1) технологічні товари; 2) низькотехнологічні товари; 3) металопродукція; 4) інша сировина. Для емпіричного оцінювання використовувалися квартальні дані за перioд 1998–2017 рр. Методика дослідження передбачала використання моделі векторної авторегресії з коригуванням помилок (Vector Error-Correction Model – VECМ). Емпіричні результати вказали на чіткий стимулюючий вплив технологічного і низькотехнологічного експорту на динаміку промислового виробництва, тоді як експорт металургійної та аграрної продукції мав рестрикційний вплив. Водночас технологічний експорт досить відчутно стимулює інші сегменти експортного сектору, а технологічний імпорт не сприяє збільшенню обсягів промислового виробництва.На основі проведеного дослідження обгрунтовано, що конкурентна участь у ГЛВ передбачає насамперед технологічне ускладнення експорту, але з можливістю використання продуктивних зв’язків у межах національної економіки (зокрема, інтеграцію у виробничі ланцюги нижчих технологічних укладів та заміщення імпорту технологічних товарів). Підкреслено, що передумови інтеграції окремих секторів експорту в конкурентні ланцюги вартості базуються на розвитку працемісткого виробництва за умови динамічного зростання заробітної плати.

Development of an improved parameter fitting method for planar biaxial testing using rakes.

A correct estimation of the material parameters from a planar biaxial test is crucial since they will affect the outcome of the finite element model in which they are used. In a virtual planar biaxial experiment, a difference can be noticed in the stress calculated from the force measured experimentally at the rakes and the actual stress at the center of the sample. As a consequence, a classic parameter fitting does not result in a correct estimation of the material parameters. This difference is caused by the boundary conditions of the set-up and is among others dependent on the sample material. To overcome this problem, a new parameter fitting procedure is proposed that takes this difference into account by calculating a finite element-based correction vector. This paper describes the methodology to apply this new parameter fitting procedure on real experimental data from a planar biaxial test using rakes. To this end, image processing is used to extract the experiment characteristics. This information is used to construct a finite element model. Two variations of the new parameter fitting procedure are investigated using two human aortic samples: a basic approach and an image-based approach. The performance of the method is assessed by the difference between the force measured at the rakes during the experiment and the force at the rakes obtained from the finite element simulation. Both approaches of the new parameter fitting procedure lead to an improved estimation of the sample behavior compared with the classic approach.

A QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF DGPS PERFORMANCE IN THE POSITION AND PSEUDORANGE DOMAINS

Abstract: This study compares in quantitative terms two methods of differential corrections to GPS positioning from the code-based pseudoranges. The differential method calculated from the coordinates (Latitude, Longitude and Altitude), called Position-Domain DGPS, has simple implementation and easy transmission by the correction vector. The second method, called Pseudorange-Domain DGPS has a more elaborate algorithm, focused on the pseudorange correction for each visible satellite, which consumes more processing time and increases the complexity in the transmission of the corrections. Notwithstanding a few variations from this DGPS techniques proposed, this work intends to verify in a numeric way the bias and precision offered by these two well-known methods in different devices and situations, to assess in which context each method would be more advantageous when one what to apply a simple DGPS correction; showing how much is the gain by way of bias the more elaborated method is. The results demonstrate that in favorable conditions, the Position-Domain offered an improvement of approximately 50% in positioning, 35% in dispersion, but without any significant bettering in altimetry or in the maximum values; wile the Pseudorange-Domain method showed 70% in positioning, 75% in precision, 60% for maximum values and numbers close to zero on average altimetry.

VLSI Design of a High Throughput Hybrid Precoding Processor for Wireless MIMO Systems

Hybrid precoding, a combination of radio frequency (RF) beamforming and digital precoding, has been investigated intensively these days for millimeter wave (mmWave) communication systems employing large antenna arrays. The key problem is constructing beamforming and precoding matrices for the RF beamformer and the digital baseband, respectively, based on the channel matrix decomposition result. This paper presents a new computing algorithm to achieve the matrix decomposition efficiently without compromising the performance. The algorithm computes beamforming (steering) and precoding matrices in separate phases to alleviate the computing overheads of iterative matrix updates. This measure also creates the computing parallelism to facilitate efficient hardware implementation. A novel computing scheme based on QR decomposition and blockwise inversion techniques is also developed to tackle the most critical least square solution module. This leads to a computing complexity reduction by a factor of $0.3~{N}$ when compared with the popular orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) scheme, where ${N}$ is the antenna array size. The simulation results indicate the percentage of choosing correct steering vectors is 90%, which is as good as the OMP scheme can achieve. A hardware accelerator design of the proposed scheme is developed by using a TSMC 40 nm CLN40G technology. The design, with a gate count of 419.3 k, can operate up to 333 MHz with a power consumption of 267.1 mW. This suggests a throughput rate of processing 10.4 M channel matrices per second. The core size is merely 0.58 mm2 while the entire die size including I/O pads is 2.26 mm2 .

Nigerian Economic Performance: Exploring Dynamics of Exchange Rate, Inflation and Economic Output

This study explores the dynamic interaction between exchange rate, inflation and economic output in Nigeria between 1999 and 2017 using Vector Error Correction (VEC) granger causality test and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Results establish that there is unidirectional causality running from economic output (GDP) to exchange rate in Nigeria. The study further confirms that exchange rate significantly exerts a long run positive impact on economic performance in the country, while the impact of inflation on economic output in the long run is found to be negative. Furthermore, economic output exerts a negative impact on both inflation and exchange rate, but inflation positively influences exchange rate. Another evidence reveals that in the long run, exchange rate depreciation impacts positively on economic output, while inflation impacts negatively on output. The assertion that exchange rate depreciation leads to positive economic performance could be attributed to the positive long run effect of real sector development. Thus, the study suggests that policymakers should initiate measures that could aid financial and real sector development. Also, it is suggested that promoting the habit of consuming made in Nigeria goods, through awareness programmes and quality control measures could mitigate the inflationary effect of the external sector on Nigerian economy.

LEGAL STATUS OF A JUDGE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT

The article deals with the characterization of the legal status of a judge of a court of general jurisdiction as a public servant. In the context of the active development and improvement of public administration in the world, the role of public service as a defining feature of the state for which the rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of citizens is of the highest social value is increasing. Since the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union by Ukraine, it has become necessary to introduce and establish in the national legislation such an institution as a public service. This became the lever that started the process of reforming the government system in the country and determined the correct vector for the development of public service in Ukraine. Legislative improvement of the judicial system and the status of judges of courts of general jurisdiction in the context of public service reform in Ukraine is one of the prerequisites for the further development of our country as a rule of law and democracy. In particular, public service reform in Ukraine should be aimed at creating a fundamentally new system of judiciary. Unfortunately, as of today, the domestic legislation has not undergone significant changes and additions regarding the introduction of the Public Service Institute. Particular attention is paid to the concept of “public service”, which is the defining legal definition for the study. Based on the analysis of the opinions of scientists, scientists form a list of the main features of public service. The nature and content of the activity of judges of courts of general jurisdiction is determined by the totality of the relevant legal elements that are part of the structure of their legal status. These include the judge’s legal personality, his rights and obligations, functions, principles, legal liability, and safeguards. The list of features of activity of judges of courts of general jurisdiction as public servants is determined. It is concluded that the status of judges of the courts of general jurisdiction is to be legally enshrined as a fundamentally separate and distinct type of public service. Keywords: public official, public service, judges of courts of general jurisdiction, judicial authorities, legal status.