Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3-D Parallel Fault Simulation With GPGPU

General purpose computing on graphical processing units (GPGPU) is a paradigm shift in computing that promises a dramatic increase in performance. GPGPU also brings an unprecedented level of complexity in algorithmic design and software development. In this paper, we present an efficient parallel fault simulator, FSimGP2, that exploits the high degree of parallelism supported by a state-of-the-art graphic processing unit (GPU) with the NVIDIA compute unified device architecture. A novel 3-D parallel fault simulation technique is proposed to achieve extremely high computation efficiency on the GPU. Global communication is minimized by concentrating as much work as possible on the local device's memory. We present results on a GPU platform from NVIDIA (a GeForce GTX 285 graphics card) that demonstrate a speedup of up to 63× and 4× compared to two other GPU-based fault simulators and up to 95× over a state-of-the-art algorithm on conventional processor architectures.
Cycle-Based Data Aggregation for Grid-Based Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we propose a Cycle-Based Data Aggregation Scheme (CBDAS) for grid-based wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The whole sensor filed is partitioned into a 2D logical grid of cells. Each cell has a head responsible for aggregating its own data with the data sensed by the others in the same cell and then transmitting out. In order to efficiently and rapidly transmit the data to the base station (BS), we link each cell head to form a cyclic chain. Each cell head on the cyclic chain takes turn becoming cycle leader responsible for transmitting data to the BS. For each round, when the cycle leader receives the request from the BS, it sends each direction a token travelling along the cyclic chain. Once a cell head receives the second token from the other direction, it drops the token and disconnects the cyclic chain, making itself as one end and the sender of the second token as the other end. Subsequently, both end nodes respectively transmit their own aggregated data to cycle leader in the opposite direction. As a result, the transmissions are reduced so that it greatly extends the lifetime of the whole WSN. Simulation results show that the proposed CBDAS extends the lifetime of sensor nodes so as to prolong the lifetime of the whole network.
Efficiency Bound of Local Z-Estimators on Discrete Sample Spaces

Many statistical models over a discrete sample space often face the computational difficulty of the normalization constant. Because of that, the maximum likelihood estimator does not work. In order to circumvent the computation difficulty, alternative estimators such as pseudo-likelihood and composite likelihood that require only a local computation over the sample space have been proposed. In this paper, we present a theoretical analysis of such localized estimators. The asymptotic variance of localized estimators depends on the neighborhood system on the sample space. We investigate the relation between the neighborhood system and estimation accuracy of localized estimators. Moreover, we derive the efficiency bound. The theoretical results are applied to investigate the statistical properties of existing estimators and some extended ones.
On the Chow ring of the classifying stack of PGL_3

We compute generators for the Chow ring of the classifying space of PGL_3 (over the complex numbers) as defined by Totaro. We also find enough relations after inverting 3. We show that this ring is not generated by Chern classes (this is the first example of this kind among classical groups) and prove that Totaro's refined cycle class map to a quotient of complex cobordism of BPGL_3 is surjective
Galactic Microwave Emission at Degree Angular Scales

We cross-correlate the Saskatoon Ka- and Q-band cosmic microwave background (CMB) data with different maps to quantify possible foreground contamination. We detect a marginal correlation (≳2 σ) with the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) 240, 140, and 100 μm maps, but we find no significant correlation with point sources, with the Haslam 408 MHz map, or with the Reich and Reich 1420 MHz map. The rms amplitude of the component correlated with DIRBE is about 20% of the CMB signal. Interpreting this component as free-free emission, this normalization agrees with that of the 1996 works of Kogut et al. and supports the hypothesis that the spatial correlation between dust and warm ionized gas observed on large angular scales persists to smaller angular scales. Subtracting this contribution from the CMB data reduces the normalization of the Saskatoon power spectrum by only a few percent.
Clinical Relevance of KRAS-Mutated Subclones Detected with Picodroplet Digital PCR in Advanced Colorectal Cancer Treated with Anti-EGFR Therapy

Purpose: KRAS mutations are predictive of nonresponse to anti-EGFR therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, only 50% of nonmutated patients benefit from them. KRAS-mutated subclonal populations nondetectable by conventional methods have been suggested as the cause of early progression. Molecular analysis technology with high sensitivity and precision is required to test this hypothesis. Experimental Design: From two cohorts of patients with mCRC, 136 KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF wild-type tumors with sufficient tumor material to perform highly sensitive picodroplet digital PCR (dPCR) and 41 KRAS-mutated tumors were selected. All these patients were treated by anti-EGFR therapy. dPCR was used for KRAS or BRAF mutation screening and compared with qPCR. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed according to the KRAS-mutated allele fraction. Results: In addition to the confirmation of the 41 patients with KRAS-mutated tumors, dPCR also identified KRAS mutations in 22 samples considered as KRAS wild-type by qPCR. The fraction of KRAS-mutated allele quantified by dPCR was inversely correlated with anti-EGFR therapy response rate (P < 0.001). In a Cox model, the fraction of KRAS-mutated allele was associated with worse PFS and OS. Patients with less than 1% of mutant KRAS allele have similar PFS and OS than those with wild-type KRAS tumors. Conclusions: This study suggests that patients with mCRC with KRAS-mutated subclones (at least those with a KRAS-mutated subclones fraction lower or equal to 1%) had a benefit from anti-EGFR therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 21(5); 1087–97. ©2014 AACR.
Candida albicans Gene Deletion with a Transient CRISPR-Cas9 System

The fungus Candida albicans is a major pathogen. Genetic analysis of this organism has revealed determinants of pathogenicity, drug resistance, and other unique biological features, as well as the identities of prospective drug targets. The creation of targeted mutations has been greatly accelerated recently through the implementation of CRISPR genome-editing technology by Vyas et al. [Sci Adv 1(3):e1500248, 2015, http://dx.doi. org/10.1126/sciadv.1500248 ]. In this study, we find that CRISPR elements can be expressed from genes that are present only transiently, and we develop a transient CRISPR system that further accelerates C. albicans genetic manipulation. ABSTRACT Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated gene 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) systems are used for a wide array of genome-editing applications in organisms ranging from fungi to plants and animals. Recently, a CRISPR-Cas9 system has been developed for the diploid fungal pathogen Candida albicans; the system accelerates genetic manipulation dramatically [V. K. Vyas, M. I. Barrasa, and G. R. Fink, Sci Adv 1(3):e1500248, 2015, http://dx.doi. org/10.1126/sciadv.1500248 ]. We show here that the CRISPR-Cas9 genetic elements can function transiently, without stable integration into the genome, to enable the introduction of a gene deletion construct. We describe a transient CRISPR-Cas9 system for efficient gene deletion in C. albicans. Our observations suggest that there are two mechanisms that lead to homozygous deletions: (i) independent recombination of transforming DNA into each allele and (ii) recombination of transforming DNA into one allele, followed by gene conversion of the second allele. Our approach will streamline gene function analysis in C. albicans, and our results indicate that DNA can function transiently after transformation of this organism. IMPORTANCE The fungus Candida albicans is a major pathogen. Genetic analysis of this organism has revealed determinants of pathogenicity, drug resistance, and other unique biological features, as well as the identities of prospective drug targets. The creation of targeted mutations has been greatly accelerated recently through the implementation of CRISPR genome-editing technology by Vyas et al. [Sci Adv 1(3):e1500248, 2015, http://dx.doi. org/10.1126/sciadv.1500248 ]. In this study, we find that CRISPR elements can be expressed from genes that are present only transiently, and we develop a transient CRISPR system that further accelerates C. albicans genetic manipulation.
Improving care quality and preventing maltreatment in institutional care – a feasibility study with caregivers

Institutionalized children in low-income countries often face maltreatment and inadequate caregiving. In addition to prior traumatization and other childhood adversities in the family of origin, abuse and neglect in institutional care are linked to various mental health problems. By providing a manualized training workshop for caregivers, we aimed at improving care quality and preventing maltreatment in institutional care. In Study 1, 29 participating caregivers rated feasibility and efficacy of the training immediately before, directly after, and 3 months following the training workshop. The results showed high demand, good feasibility, high motivation, and acceptance of caregivers. They reported improvements in caregiver–child relationships, as well as in the children’s behavior. Study 2 assessed exposure to maltreatment and the mental health of 28 orphans living in one institution in which all caregivers had been trained. The children were interviewed 20 months before, 1 month before, and 3 months after the training. Children reported a decrease in physical maltreatment and assessments showed a decrease in mental health problems. Our approach seems feasible under challenging circumstances and provides first hints for its efficacy. These promising findings call for further studies testing the efficacy and sustainability of this maltreatment prevention approach.
Understanding maternal support for autonomy in young children with Down Syndrome

Prior research has highlighted the importance of supporting the autonomy of children with Down syndrome from early childhood. There is some evidence to suggest that mothers of children with Down syndrome are more directive than those whose children are developing typically. However, the factors that contribute to maternal autonomy supportive vs. directive behaviors are not well understood. The current study aimed to explore the value and importance that mothers place upon their child's autonomy, as well as the specific factors that influence the support they provide. Interviews were conducted with 14 mothers of young children with Down syndrome. It was revealed that mothers held aspirations for their children's future that included autonomy and independence; however, their capacity to promote autonomy was sometimes constrained by a range of child and family factors, as well as by their focus on developing skills for independent functioning. Understanding the factors that may constrain support for autonomy represents an essential step in the process of designing interventions for promoting maternal support for autonomy in families of children with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.
Modeling the Microstructure Curvature of Boron-Doped Silicon in Bulk Micromachined Accelerometer

Microstructure curvature, or buckling, is observed in the micromachining of silicon sensors because of the doping of impurities for realizing certain electrical and mechanical processes. This behavior can be a key source of error in inertial sensors. Therefore, identifying the factors that influence the buckling value is important in designing MEMS devices. In this study, the curvature in the proof mass of an accelerometer is modeled as a multilayered solid model. Modeling is performed according to the characteristics of the solid diffusion mechanism in the bulk-dissolved wafer process (BDWP) based on the self-stopped etch technique. Moreover, the proposed multilayered solid model is established as an equivalent composite structure formed by a group of thin layers that are glued together. Each layer has a different Young’s modulus value and each undergoes different volume shrinkage strain owing to boron doping in silicon. Observations of five groups of proof mass blocks of accelerometers suggest that the theoretical model is effective in determining the buckling value of a fabricated structure.
A mouse model offers novel insights into the myopathy and tendinopathy often associated with pseudoachondroplasia and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia

Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) are relatively common skeletal dysplasias belonging to the same bone dysplasia family. PSACH is characterized by generalized epi-metaphyseal dysplasia, short-limbed dwarfism, joint laxity and early onset osteoarthritis. MED is a milder disease with radiographic features often restricted to the epiphyses of the long bones. PSACH and some forms of MED result from mutations in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a pentameric glycoprotein found in cartilage, tendon, ligament and muscle. PSACH-MED patients often have a mild myopathy characterized by mildly increased plasma creatine kinase levels, a variation in myofibre size and/or small atrophic fibres. In some instances, patients are referred to neuromuscular clinics prior to the diagnosis of an underlying skeletal dysplasia; however, the myopathy associated with PSACH-MED has not previously been studied. In this study, we present a detailed study of skeletal muscle, tendon and ligament from a mouse model of mild PSACH harbouring a COMP mutation. Mutant mice exhibited a progressive muscle weakness associated with an increased number of muscle fibres with central nuclei at the perimysium and at the myotendinous junction. Furthermore, the distribution of collagen fibril diameters in the mutant tendons and ligaments was altered towards thicker collagen fibrils, and the tendons became more lax in cyclic strain tests. We hypothesize that the myopathy in PSACH-MED originates from an underlying tendon and ligament pathology that is a direct result of structural abnormalities to the collagen fibril architecture. This is the first comprehensive characterization of the musculoskeletal phenotype of PSACH-MED and is directly relevant to the clinical management of these patients.
Resolving Spacecraft Earth-Flyby Anomalies with Measured Light Speed Anisotropy

Doppler shift observations of spacecraft, such as Galileo, NEAR, Cassini, Rosetta and MESSENGER in earth flybys, have all revealed unexplained speed `anomalies' - that the doppler-shift determined speeds are inconsistent with expected speeds. Here it is shown that these speed anomalies are not real and are actually the result of using an incorrect relationship between the observed doppler shift and the speed of the spacecraft - a relationship based on the assumption that the speed of light is isotropic in all frames, i.e. invariant. Taking account of the repeatedly measured light-speed anisotropy the anomalies are resolved. The Pioneer 10/11 anomalies are discussed, but not resolved. The spacecraft observations demonstrate again that the speed of light is not invariant, and is isotropic only with respect to a dynamical 3-space. The existing doppler shift data also offers a resource to characterise a new form of gravitational waves, the dynamical 3-space turbulence, that has also been detected by other techniques.
TCR Nanoclusters as the Framework for Transmission of Conformational Changes and Cooperativity

Increasing evidence favors the notion that, before triggering, the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) forms nanometer-scale oligomers that are called nanoclusters. The organization of the TCR in pre-existing oligomers cannot be ignored when analyzing the properties of ligand (pMHC) recognition and signal transduction. As with other membrane receptors, the existence of TCR oligomers points out to cooperativity phenomena. We review the data in support of conformational changes in the TCR as the basic principle to transduce the activation signal to the cytoplasm and the incipient data suggesting cooperativity within nanoclusters.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF HEAT PRODUCTION USING THE " COLD FUSION " EFFECT

Additional evidence is presented to show that heat production resulting from the Pons-Fleischmann Effect has a positive temperature coefficient, has a critical onset current density, and originates at the palladium cathode. • Introduction The Pons-Fleischmann effect is proposed to produce energy by initiating a fusion reaction between two deuterium atoms within an electrolytic cell. While an understanding of this phenomenon is still lacking, the reality of anomalous heat production has been established by many studies. Work done during this program demonstrates that the effect can be reproduced when the proper palladium and protocols are used. During the first part of the study[1], the methods of Takahashi[2] were used with success. The present study reproduced the effect using the addition of aluminum to the electrolyte as first suggested by McKubre et al.[3]. These studies also revealed several of the reasons why negative results were obtained in the past. This work further defines conditions that influence excess heat production. The effects of current density and cell temperature are explored. The location within the cell from which excess heat production originates is also determined. Experimental The study uses a closed, stirred, pyrex-glass, isoperibolic-type calorimeter as described previously[t]. Calibrations were done using the electrolytic method before excess energy was observed and an internal heater after excess heat production started. Generally, calibration was done before and after excess heat production. No significant changes were observed in the calibration constant during the study. The total uncertainty in the measured heat value was about ±. 4%. Because random variations of ±-0.2 watt were observed, excess heat was not claimed unless the excess exceeded 0.5 watt. Details of the calorimeter design and the calibration methods are described in reference 1. A palladium cathode obtained from Tanaka Metals Company, Japan, (Batch #4) was used fter being washed with acetone. This was charged with deuterium in 0.4M LiOD at 20 mA/cm until the D/Pd ratio became constant at 0.84 after 9 hours. The charging behavior was similar to that produced by Batch #1 which produced significant excess heat. [1] Electrolysis was continued with variations in cell current, cell temperature, and periodic calibrations without the production of excess energy. After 575 hrs, excess heat was observed following the addition of 28 ppm of aluminum to a new electrolytic solution. Once excess power was observed, the magnitude of the excess increased each time the cell current was raised to 2.5 A as shown in Fig 1. Eventually, excess power became stable and the study was commenced.
On a dynamical model of glasses

We analyse a simple dynamical model of glasses, based on the idea that each particle is trapped in a local potential well, which itself evolves due to hopping of neighbouring particles. The glass transition in signalled by the fact that the equilibrium distribution ceases to be normalisable and dynamics becomes non-stationary. We generically find stretching of the correlation function at low temperatures and a Vogel-Fulcher like behaviour of the terminal time.
Hyper-Organization: Global Organizational Expansion

1. Organization and Hyper-Organization 2. Worldwide Expansion 3. Cultural Foundations: Science, Empowerment, Education 4. Cultural Catalysts: Law, Accounting, Professionalism 5. Individuals and their Organizations as Actors 6. Dialectics: The Inconsistencies and Arationalities of Organizational Actorhood 7. Conclusions
Combining Robot Control Strategies Using Genetic Algorithms with Memory

We use a genetic algorithm augmented with a long term memory to design control strategies for a simulated robot, a mobile vehicle operating in a two-dimensional environment. The simulated robot has ve touch sensors, two sound sensors, and two motors that drive locomotive tank tracks. A genetic algorithm trains the robot in several specially-designed simulation environments for evolving basic behaviors such as food approach, obstacle avoidance, and wall following. Control strategies for a more complex environment are then designed by selecting solutions from the stored strategies evolved for basic behaviors, ranking them according to their performance in the new complex environment and introducing them into a genetic algorithm's initial population. This augmented memory-based genetic algorithm quickly combines the basic behaviors and nds control strategies for performing well in the more complex environment.
Linear Regression With Gaussian Model Uncertainty: Algorithms and Bounds

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating an unknown deterministic parameter vector in a linear regression model with random Gaussian uncertainty in the mixing matrix. We prove that the maximum-likelihood (ML) estimator is a (de)regularized least squares estimator and develop three alternative approaches for finding the regularization parameter that maximizes the likelihood. We analyze the performance using the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) on the mean squared error, and show that the degradation in performance due the uncertainty is not as severe as may be expected. Next, we address the problem again assuming that the variances of the noise and the elements in the model matrix are unknown and derive the associated CRB and ML estimator. We compare our methods to known results on linear regression in the error in variables (EIV) model. We discuss the similarity between these two competing approaches, and provide a thorough comparison that sheds light on their theoretical and practical differences.
Orange What Is Orange Oil? Orange Oil for Drywood Termites: Magic or Marketing Madness?

There is a thriving market for reduced-risk pesticides. Many pesticides containing conventional active ingredients such as chlorpyrifos and diazinon have been phased out of urban markets. Their widespread use in both agriculture and urban areas had led to increased exposures and unacceptable risks (FQPA 1996; NRC 1993; Wright et al. 1994). They were also a threat to water quality in many areas (Johnson 2004). A rich source of new pesticides is plant essential oils. Some of these occur in food and are even exempted from pesticide registration by the EPA. Active ingredients in the new products include oils of clove, rosemary, mint, and oranges. Large corporations such as EcoSmart, Woodstream, and Whitmire have made these pesticides readily available (Quarles 1999a; Isman 2006) (see Resources). Orange oil has attracted a lot of media interest because it is a natural product and has low toxicity to mammals. It is a by-product of orange juice processing, and is extracted from orange peels. Orange oil is currently available as an insecticide (Orange GuardTM; ProCitra®) and as an herbicide (Green MatchTM) (see Resources). It has been registered in California under the brandname XT-2000TM for control of drywood termites. If all the claims are true, it is the holy grail of pest control—an effective natural product with low toxicity and no toxic residuals; a green product obtained by utilization of waste. The purpose of this article is to present what is currently known about orange oil for termite control so that possible customers will have better information to evaluate the treatment. For comparison, we will summarize some of the other methods used in California for drywood termite control.