Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE IMPACT OF FACTORING TRAFFIC COUNTS FOR DAILY AND MONTHLY VARIATION IN REDUCING SAMPLE COUNTING ERROR

Transportation agencies often determine what the annual average daily traffic (AADT) count is on streets and highways by counting traffic for short time periods (usually for 24 hours) and then estimating the AADT based on this count and a numerical factor that takes into account day-of-week and/or seasonal variations in traffic volumes found at a small number of permanent automatic traffic recording stations (ATRs). Considerable research has been devoted to help state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other agencies develop cost-effective programs to develop factoring procedures to ensure reasonable accurate estimates of AADT from short-term counts. The U.S. DOT has also published estimates of sample error as a function of the volume in an unfactored count. However, no recent research has been found that provides answers or guidance as to how much (sampling) error remains in the estimation of AADT from a factored short-term count in urban areas. Such research is necessary to help agencies determine whether changes in counted volume over time represent a significant change in traffic flow or not, for how long a period of time should a count be taken to reach a desired level of confidence in the count, and to help develop a standard for traffic forecasting model performance regarding the minimization of discrepancies between counted and modeled traffic flows. This paper presents an analysis of just how much day of week/month of year factors can reduce the error of prediction of AADT from a short-term traffic count, utilizing data from an ATR station maintained by the Iowa DOT in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The benefits of factoring are shown to be a one-quarter reduction in error of AADT prediction for a 24-hour count at this station, with minimal added benefit of a (consecutive) multiple-day count. The metropolitan planning agency will utilize these findings in future evaluations of forecasting model performance.
Power efficiency and optimum load formulas on RF rectifiers featuring flow-angle equations

This paper considers three pairs of circuit schemes for RF rectification. Given finite available power from RF source and load resistance, we formulate DC output power and efficiency of each scheme. Resultant formulas find that load-to-source resistance ratio R/r dominates the circuit performance. Maximum efficiency reaches 81.1% at R/r = 1 for single-diode half wave rectifiers. It also reaches 92.3% for multiple-diode full wave ones at R/r = 1.347 in bridge with capacitor, 0.742 in bridge with inductor, 5.389 in double-voltage, and 0.1854 in double-current topologies.
Matrix Models and Gravitational Corrections

We provide evidence of the relation between supersymmetric gauge theories and matrix models beyond the planar limit. We compute gravitational R couplings in gauge theories perturbatively, by summing genus one matrix model diagrams. These diagrams give the leading 1/N corrections in the large N limit of the matrix model and can be related to twist field correlators in a collective conformal field theory. In the case of softly broken SU(N) N = 2 super Yang-Mills theories, we find that these exact solutions of the matrix models agree with results obtained by topological field theory methods.
The Closer the Relationship, the More the Interaction on Facebook? Investigating the Case of Taiwan Users

This study argues for the necessity of applying offline contexts to social networking site research and the importance of distinguishing the relationship types of users' counterparts when studying Facebook users' behaviors. In an attempt to examine the relationship among users' behaviors, their counterparts' relationship types, and the users' perceived acquaintanceships after using Facebook, this study first investigated users' frequently used tools when interacting with different types of friends. Users tended to use less time- and effort-consuming and less privacy-concerned tools with newly acquired friends. This study further examined users' behaviors in terms of their closeness and intimacy and their perceived acquaintanceships toward four different types of friends. The study found that users gained more perceived acquaintanceships from less close friends with whom users have more frequent interaction but less intimate behaviors. As for closer friends, users tended to use more intimate activities to interact with them. However, these activities did not necessarily occur more frequently than the activities they employed with their less close friends. It was found that perceived acquaintanceships with closer friends were significantly lower than those with less close friends. This implies that Facebook is a mechanism for new friends, rather than close friends, to become more acquainted.
Functionalized graphene/silicon chemi-diode H2 sensor with tunable sensitivity

A reverse bias tunable Pd- and Pt-functionalized graphene/Si heterostructure Schottky diode H2 sensor has been demonstrated. Compared to the graphene chemiresistor sensor, the chemi-diode sensor offers more than one order of magnitude higher sensitivity as the molecular adsorption induced Schottky barrier height change causes the heterojunction current to vary exponentially in reverse bias. The reverse bias operation also enables low power consumption, as well as modulation of the atomically thin graphene’s Fermi level, leading to tunable sensitivity and detection of H2 down to the sub-ppm range.
The Seroprevalence of Pandemic Influenza H1N1 (2009) Virus in China

Background Mainland China experienced pandemic influenza H1N1 (2009) virus (pH1N1) with peak activity during November-December 2009. To understand the geographic extent, risk factors, and attack rate of pH1N1 infection in China we conducted a nationwide serological survey to determine the prevalence of antibodies to pH1N1. Methodology/Principal Findings Stored serum samples (n = 2,379) collected during 2006-2008 were used to estimate baseline serum reactogenicity to pH1N1. In January 2010, we used a multistage-stratified random sampling method to select 50,111 subjects who met eligibility criteria and collected serum samples and administered a standardized questionnaire. Antibody response to pH1N1 was measured using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and the weighted seroprevalence was calculated using the Taylor series linearization method. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine risk factors for pH1N1 seropositivity. Baseline seroprevalence of pH1N1 antibody (HI titer ≥40) was 1.2%. The weighted seroprevalence of pH1N1 among the Chinese population was 21.5%(vaccinated: 62.0%; unvaccinated: 17.1%). Among unvaccinated participants, those aged 6-15 years (32.9%) and 16-24 years (30.3%) had higher seroprevalence compared with participants aged 25–59 years (10.7%) and ≥60 years (9.9%, P<0.0001). Children in kindergarten and students had higher odds of seropositivity than children in family care (OR: 1.36 and 2.05, respectively). We estimated that 207.7 million individuals (15.9%) experienced pH1N1 infection in China. Conclusions/Significance The Chinese population had low pre-existing immunity to pH1N1 and experienced a relatively high attack rate in 2009 of this virus. We recommend routine control measures such as vaccination to reduce transmission and spread of seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses.
High Flexion Total Knee Arthroplasty – Mid-Term Follow Up of 5 Years

Because of demographic changes, ever greater demands are made of knee replacement systems by patients and surgeons. To meet these demands, knee joint systems with increased flexion are currently being marketed. The main hypothesis of the present study was to evaluate the functional outcome of a high flexion TKA in amid-term follow up. 75 consecutive patients (29 men and 46 women) who had primary arthritis of the knee with similar deformity and range of motion undergo TKA using a NexGen Cr Flex mobile. Knee Society knee and functional scores and range of motion were assessed. The follow-up duration was 5 years. There was a highly significant improvement in comparison to the preoperative status (p<0.005). The maximum flexion was 122° in mean and the mean KSS was 167 (SD: 21) at final follow up. Despite positive results in the first 5 postoperative years, the NexGen Cr Flex mobile TKA shows no advantages with regard to ROM and KSS compared to the recent literature. Long-term studies are needed to determine a superiority of high flexion knee implants versus traditional TKA´s.
Comparison Between S2-Alar-Iliac Screw Fixation and Iliac Screw Fixation in Adult Deformity Surgery: Reoperation Rates and Spinopelvic Parameters

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objective: The S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) technique has been described as an alternative method for pelvic fixation in place of iliac screws (ISs) in spinal deformity surgery. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of S2AI screws on radiographical outcomes, including spinopelvic parameters. Methods: A retrospective review of 17 patients receiving ISs and 46 patients receiving S2AI screws for correction of adult spinal deformity between 2010 and 2015 with minimum 1-year follow-up was conducted. Patient data on postoperative complications, including reoperation rates and proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), and radiographical parameters was collected and statistically analyzed. Results: With mean follow-up of 21.1 months, the overall reoperation rate was significantly lower in the S2AI group than in the IS group (21.7% vs 58.8%, P = .01), but the incidence of PJK was similar (32.6% vs 35.3%, P > .99). Moreover, the time to reoperation in the IS group was significantly shorter than in the S2AI group (P = .001), and the S2AI group trended toward a longer time to reoperation due to PJK (P = .08). There was a significantly higher change in pelvic incidence (PI) in the S2AI group (−6.0°) compared with the IS group (P = .001). Conclusions: Compared with the IS technique, the S2AI technique demonstrated a lower rate of overall reoperation, a similar rate of PJK, longer time to reoperation, and possible reduction in PI. Future studies may be warranted to clarify the mechanism of these results and how they can be translated into improved patient care.
Task-based Embedded Assessment of Functional Abilities for Aging in Place

Many older adults desire to maintain their quality of life by living and aging independently in their own homes. However, it is difficult for older adults to notice and track the subtle changes in their own abilities because these abilities can change gradually over a long period of time. Technology in the form of ubiquitous sensors embedded in objects in the home can play a role in keeping track of the functional abilities of individuals unobtrusively, objectively, and continuously over a long period of time. This work introduces a sensing technique called "task-based embedded assessment" that monitors how well specific tasks important for independence are carried out using everyday objects found in the home with which individuals regularly interact. Following formative studies on the information needs of older adults and their caregivers, a sensing system called "dwellSense" that can monitor, assess, and provide feedback about how well individuals complete tasks, such as taking medications, using the phone, and making coffee, was designed, built, and evaluated. Multiple longterm (over 10 months) field deployments of dwellSense were used to investigate how the data collected from the system could support greater self-awareness of abilities and intentions to improve in task performance. Presenting and reflecting on data from ubiquitous sensing systems such as dwellSense is challenging because it is both highly dimensional as well as large in volume, particularly if it is collected over a long period of time. Thus, this work also investigates the time dimension of reflection and has identified that real-time feedback is particularly useful for supporting behavior change, and longer-term trended feedback is useful for greater awareness of abilities. Traditional forms of assessing the functional abilities of individuals tend to be either biased, lacking ecological validity, infrequent, or expensive to conduct. An automated sensor-based approach for assessment is compared to traditional performance testing by a trained clinician and found to match well with clinician-generated ratings that are objective, frequent, and ecologically valid. The contributions from this thesis not only advance the state of the art for maintaining quality of life and care for older adults, but also provide the foundations for designing personal sensing systems that aim to assess an individual's abilities and support behaviors through the feedback of objective, timely sensed information.
Reliability of copper-ribbons in photovoltaic modules under thermo-mechanical loading

Every temperature change induces stress between the module components due to the thermo-mechanical mismatch, which results in a displacement of solar cells in the module and therefore loads the solar cell interconnectors in between. As a result a limiting factor of solar module lifetime is the fatigue behaviour of these electrical cell interconnectors: the copper-ribbons. The purpose of this work is a quantitative estimation of the thermo-mechanical induced strain in the ribbons during service. For this purpose specially prepared solar cells were laminated to a solar module in an industrial process line and filmed during thermal cycling tests. Finally, the loading conditions on the ribbon were assessed by a previously developed lifetime model based on mechanical fatigue testing procedures.
Mediated knowledge: recognition of the familiar, discovery of the new

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The BellKor Solution to the Netflix Grand Prize

This article describes part of our contribution to the “BellKor’s Pragmatic Chaos” final solution, which won the Netflix Grand Prize. The other portion of the contribution was created while working at AT&T with Robert Bell and Chris Volinsky, as reported in our 2008 Progress Prize report [3]. The final solution includes all the predictors described there. In this article we describe only the newer predictors. So what is new over last year’s solution? First we further improved the baseline predictors (Sec. III). This in turn improves our other models, which incorporate those predictors, like the matrix factorization model (Sec. IV). In addition, an extension of the neighborhood model that addresses temporal dynamics was introduced (Sec. V). On the Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBM) front, we use a new RBM model with superior accuracy by conditioning the visible units (Sec. VI). The final addition is the introduction of a new blending algorithm, which is based on gradient boosted decision trees (GBDT) (Sec. VII).
Towards Quality Assurance in Business Education in Nigeria: Constraints and Control

This study x-rays the concept of quality assurance in business education programs in Nigeria with particular reference to its constraints and control measures. The importance of quality business education in nation building cannot be overemphasized. The whole essence of quality assurance in business education is to enhance and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the system towards achieving the set standards. However, in recent times, evidences abound that the education system in Nigeria (business education inclusive) is performing below expectations. Although, quality assurance of business education program in Nigeria may have been jeopardized by several factors such as poor evaluation program, inadequate funding, poor supervision, attitudinal failure among others but the situation can be reversed and revamped for quality to be guaranteed. Hence, there has been a concerted effort targeted at ameliorating this deplorable situation. It was based on this therefore, that this study suggested some control measures that could help to enhance the quality of business education in Nigeria. Consequently, the paper drew a conclusion for the subject matter and it was recommended among others that there should be a positive attitudinal change, internal integrity and commitment by all stakeholders to the whole issues of education for quality to be assured in business education in Nigeria.
Solving Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Window Constraints

This paper proposes a heuristic, tabu-disturbance algorithm (TDA), to efficiently and effectively solve vehicle routing problem with time window constraints (VRPTW). TDA integrates tabu search (TS) and noising method (NM). TS is one of the most popular generic heuristics in solving VRPHTW in recent years and NM is a combinatorial optimization meta-heuristic. The first objective is to determine the route that minimizes the total vehicle travel distances. This leads to a quick response to satisfy customer demands. The second objective is to find the minimum required number of vehicles. This can reduce the transportation cost. TDA results in good solution quality by the evaluation of Solomon's benchmark instances. Comparing with the optimal solution of the partial instances obtained by Desrochers et ah (1992), the average deviation of distance is about 1.0% and the average deviation of number of vehicles is about 2.4%, compared to the known "best" solutions.
Relationship Between Lower Limb Muscle Activity and Platform Acceleration During Whole-Body Vibration Exercise

Abstract Lienhard, K, Vienneau, J, Nigg, S, Meste, O, Colson, SS, and Nigg, BM. Relationship between lower limb muscle activity and platform acceleration during whole-body vibration exercise. J Strength Cond Res 29(10): 2844–2853, 2015—The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of different magnitudes and directions of the vibration platform acceleration on surface electromyography (sEMG) during whole-body vibration (WBV) exercises. Therefore, a WBV platform was used that delivers vertical vibrations by a side-alternating mode, horizontal vibrations by a circular mode, and vibrations in all 3 planes by a dual mode. Surface electromyography signals of selected lower limb muscles were measured in 30 individuals while they performed a static squat on a vibration platform. The WBV trials included 2 side-alternating trials (Side-L: 6 Hz, 2.5 mm; Side-H: 16 Hz, 4 mm), 2 circular trials (Circ-L: 14 Hz, 0.8 mm; Circ-H: 43 Hz, 0.8 mm), and 4 dual-mode trials that were the combinations of the single-mode trials (Side-L/Circ-L, Side-L/Circ-H, Side-H/Circ-L, Side-H/Circ-H). Furthermore, control trials without vibration were assessed, and 3-dimensional platform acceleration was quantified during the vibration. Significant increases in the root mean square of the sEMG (sEMGRMS) compared with the control trial were found in most muscles for Side-L/Circ-H (+17 to +63%, p ⩽ 0.05), Side-H/Circ-L (+7 to +227%, p ⩽ 0.05), and Side-H/Circ-H (+21 to +207%, p < 0.01) and in the lower leg muscles for Side-H (+35 to +138%, p ⩽ 0.05). Furthermore, only the vertical platform acceleration showed a linear relationship (r = 0.970, p < 0.001) with the averaged sEMGRMS of the lower limb muscles. Significant increases in sEMGRMS were found with a vertical acceleration threshold of 18 m·s−2 and higher. The present results emphasize that WBV exercises should be performed on a platform that induces vertical accelerations of 18 m·s−2 and higher.
Towards Context-Aware Mobile Crowdsensing in Vehicular Social Networks

Driving is an integral part of our everyday lives, and the average driving time of people globally is increasing to 84 minutes everyday, which is a time when people are uniquely vulnerable. A number of research works have identified that mobile crowd sensing in vehicular social networks (VSNs) can be effectively used for many purposes and bring huge economic benefits, e.g., safety improvement and traffic management. This paper presents our effort that toward context-aware mobile crowd sensing in VSNs. First, we introduce a novel application-oriented service collaboration (ASCM) model which can automatically match multiple users with multiple mobile crowd sensing tasks in VSNs in an efficient manner. After that, for users' dynamic contexts of VSNs, we proposes a context information management model, that aims to enable the mobile crowd sensing applications to autonomously match appropriate service and information with different users (requesters and participants) in crowdsensing.
Changes in coagulation parameters with exercise in patients with classic hemophilia

Vigorous exercise is known to increase VIII:C and VIIIR:Ag levels transiently in normal individuals. Although exercise programs are frequently advocated in the management of hemophilia, the effects of exercise on coagulation parameters in these patients have not been well studied. Eleven hemophiliacs were exercised on a bicycle ergometer to maximum voluntary effort as evidenced by an increase in pulse, blood pressure, and plasma catecholamine (norephinephrine and epinephrine) levels. The effects of this exercise on coagulation parameters, including functional and antigenic components of the factor VIII molecule, were determined.
The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Spam

Spam, defined as the transmission of bulk unsolicited messages, has plagued Internet email. Unfortunately, spam is not limited to email. It can affect any system that enables user to user communications. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) defines a system for user to user multimedia communications. Therefore, it is susceptible to spam, just as email is. In this document, we analyze the problem of spam in SIP. We first identify the ways in which the problem is the same and the ways in which it is different from email. We then examine the various possible solutions that have been discussed for email and consider their applicability to SIP.
TLR4 gene polymorphisms: evidence for protection against type 2 diabetes but not for diabetes-associated ischaemic heart disease.

OBJECTIVE Several factors either predisposing or protecting from the onset of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) have been proposed. Two specific polymorphisms of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4; Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) have recently been identified either as candidate protector genes against DM2 and associated neuropathy or risk alleles for the manifestation of diabetic retinopathy. The impact of these alleles on the risk for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is controversial while their role in diabetes-associated IHD has never been studied. DESIGN AND METHODS In order to clarify the potential impact of TLR4 polymorphisms on the predisposition for DM2 as well as on diabetes-related IHD vulnerability, the distribution of the mutant TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile alleles in 286 DM2 patients and 413 non-DM2 controls with or without IHD, was examined. RESULTS Mutant alleles were predominantly detected in 79/413 non-diabetic individuals versus 15/286 DM2 patients (P<0.0001). The rates of positivity for mutant alleles were similar among diabetic patients with or without IHD (7/142 vs 8/144, P>0.1), whereas they proved different among non-diabetic individuals with or without IHD (39/145 vs 40/268, P=0.004). Following multivariate analysis, the difference between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, with regard to TLR4 mutations alone, remained significant (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS Mutant TLR4 alleles confer protection against DM2. However, their presence does not seem to play any role, protective or aggravating, in the manifestation of IHD either in diabetic or in non-diabetic individuals.