Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymptotic treatment of perforated domains without homogenization

As a main result of the paper, we construct and justify an asymptotic approximation of Green's function in a domain with many small inclusions. Periodicity ofthe array ofinclusions is not required. We start with an analysis of the Dirichlet problem for the Laplacian in such a domain to illustrate a method of mesoscale asymptotic approximations for solutions of boundary value problems in multiply perforated domains. The asymptotic formula obtained involves a linear combination of solutions to certain model problems whose coefficients satisfy a linear algebraic system. The solvability of this system is proved under weak geometrical assumptions, and both uniform and energy estimates for the remainder term are derived.
Next Generation Non-Vacuum, Maskless, Low Temperature Nanoparticle Ink Laser Digital Direct Metal Patterning for a Large Area Flexible Electronics

Flexible electronics opened a new class of future electronics. The foldable, light and durable nature of flexible electronics allows vast flexibility in applications such as display, energy devices and mobile electronics. Even though conventional electronics fabrication methods are well developed for rigid substrates, direct application or slight modification of conventional processes for flexible electronics fabrication cannot work. The future flexible electronics fabrication requires totally new low-temperature process development optimized for flexible substrate and it should be based on new material too. Here we present a simple approach to developing a flexible electronics fabrication without using conventional vacuum deposition and photolithography. We found that direct metal patterning based on laser-induced local melting of metal nanoparticle ink is a promising low-temperature alternative to vacuum deposition– and photolithography-based conventional metal patterning processes. The “digital” nature of the proposed direct metal patterning process removes the need for expensive photomask and allows easy design modification and short turnaround time. This new process can be extremely useful for current small-volume, large-variety manufacturing paradigms. Besides, simple, scalable, fast and low-temperature processes can lead to cost-effective fabrication methods on a large-area polymer substrate. The developed process was successfully applied to demonstrate high-quality Ag patterning (2.1 µΩ·cm) and high-performance flexible organic field effect transistor arrays.
Joint Modeling of User Check-in Behaviors for Point-of-Interest Recommendation

Point-of-Interest (POI) recommendation has become an important means to help people discover attractive and interesting locations, especially when users travel out of town. However, extreme sparsity of user-POI matrix creates a severe challenge. To cope with this challenge, a growing line of research has exploited the temporal effect, geographical-social influence, content effect and word-of-mouth effect. However, current research lacks an integrated analysis of the joint effect of the above factors to deal with the issue of data-sparsity, especially in the out-of-town recommendation scenario which has been ignored by most existing work. In light of the above, we propose a joint probabilistic generative model to mimic user check-in behaviors in a process of decision making, which strategically integrates the above factors to effectively overcome the data sparsity, especially for out-of-town users. To demonstrate the applicability and flexibility of our model, we investigate how it supports two recommendation scenarios in a unified way, i.e., home-town recommendation and out-of-town recommendation. We conduct extensive experiments to evaluate the performance of our model on two real large-scale datasets in terms of both recommendation effectiveness and efficiency, and the experimental results show its superiority over other competitors.
Memory retrieval and interference : Working memory issues q

Working memory capacity has been suggested as a factor that is involved in long-term memory retrieval, particularly when that retrieval involves a need to overcome some sort of interference (Bunting, Conway, & Heitz, 2004; Cantor & Engle, 1993). Previous work has suggested that working memory is related to the acquisition of information during learning, along with the management of interference and the use of inhibition during long-term memory retrieval. This paper reports a study that further addressed the role of working memory capacity on long-term memory retrieval. Our results showed that working memory capacity is somewhat related to the integration of information into situation models, and the management of interference, but not to the ability to suppress irrelevant information. The role of other cognitive processes, such as general situation model processing and general inhibitory ability, were also explored. 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Continuous and Discontinuous Dynamic Crossover in Supercooled Water in Computer Simulations

The dynamic crossover behavior of supercooled water as described by the first-principle based WAIL potential was investigated. Below the second liquid–liquid critical point, the viscosity shows a discontinuous jump consistent with a first-order phase transition between the high density liquid and the low density liquid. Above the critical point, a continuous transition occurs with only the first derivative of viscosity being discontinuous, and the dynamic crossover temperature is about 8 K below the thermodynamic switchover temperature. The 8 K shift can be explained by a delay in dynamic crossover, which does not occur until the more viscous liquid starts to dominate the population and jams the flow. On the basis of finite-size effects observed in our simulations, we believe that dynamic discontinuity may be observable above the critical point in confined water when the confinement is on a length scale shorter than the spatial correlation.
Fundamental Uncertainty and Ambiguity

This paper is an attempt to go beyond dichotomic taxonomies of the concept of uncertainty. It argues for the need to distinguish between at least two types of situation that have been opposed to what neoclassical economics deals with under the rubric of uncertainty or risk. These situations are associated with the concepts of, respectively, ambiguity and fundamental uncertainty. It is also argued that Keynes refers both to situations of ambiguity and of fundamental uncertainty in his several writings, without explicitly distinguishing between them. Finally, the paper also discusses whether ambiguity and fundamental uncertainty come in (ordinal) degrees.
The Effectiveness of Health Literacy Oriented Programs on Physical Activity Behaviour in Middle Aged and Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review

Health literacy is the first step to self-management of type II diabetes mellitus, of which physical activity is the least compliant behavior. However, no reviews have summarized the effect and the process of interventions of health literacy oriented programs on physical activity behavior among middle aged and older adults with type II diabetes mellitus. This article is the first to examine the effectiveness of health literacy oriented programs on physical activity behavior among middle aged and older adults with type II diabetes mellitus. This systematic review extracted articles from nine electronic databases between 1990 and 2013. Six interventional studies were extracted and reported in accordance with the guidance of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Findings demonstrated that health literacy oriented programs increased the frequency and duration of physical activity among patients with high health literacy. Although some studies effectively improved the health literacy of physical activity, gap in literature remains open for the indistinct and unreliable measurement of physical activity within self-management programs of type II diabetes mellitus, and the questionable cross-culture generalizability of findings. Further studies with well-knit theory-based intervention with respect to patients’ cultural background, duration of intervention and objective measurements are encouraged to elucidate the relationship between health literacy oriented programs and physical activity behavior.
Storing objects in a short-term biologically inspired memory system for artificial agents

In this paper we discuss a method for the short-term storage of objects that an artificial agent encounters in a simulated environment. We examine how short-term storage is undertaken in biological systems, as well as current research theories in this area. We then propose a method for emulating some aspects of biological memory systems in an artificial agent and examine its limitations.
Assessment of Change in Palatal Sensation in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients by Using Two-Point Palatal Discrimination

Objectives. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have impaired responses to inspiratory resistive loading during sleep. This may be due, in part, to a change in the upper airway sensation. Therefore, we hypothesized that patients with OSAS have diminished upper airway sensation due to snoring. Methods. A total of 53 participants were selected based on clinical evaluation and polysomnography. Two-point discrimination was measured with modified calipers in the tongue and soft palate. Results. A total of 10 participants were included in the control group, 12 participants in the simple snoring group, and 27 participants in the OSAS group. There were 12 patients in the impaired sensation group of the OSAS group. On comparing polysomnography, patients with impairment of their palatal sensory input in two-point discrimination (TPD) had a more protracted duration of the longest snoring episode than those with simple snoring and normal sensation. Patients with decreased sensory input in TPD had longer average duration of snoring episodes and relative snoring time than those with simple snoring and normal sensory input in cold uvular TPD. Comparison of the cold uvular TPD for normal sensation and impaired sensation in patients with OSAS after treatment showed a different trend. Conclusion. Impaired sensation of the soft palate was correlated with the longest snoring episode duration, average snoring episode duration, and relative snoring time. It is helpful in detecting the early stage of neural degradation in OSAS patients by assessing snoring components of polysomnography and TPD in the soft palate.
Mitochondrial DNA content in embryo culture medium is significantly associated with human embryo fragmentation.

STUDY QUESTION Is the amount of cell-free DNA released by human embryos into culture medium correlated with embryo morphological features? SUMMARY ANSWER The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content of culture medium is significantly associated with the fragmentation rate on Days 2 and 3 of embryo development, whether the oocyte came from women ≤ 35 or >35 years old. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Cellular fragmentation is often utilized as one of the morphological parameters for embryo quality assessment. The amount of cellular fragments is considered to be an important morphological parameter for embryo implantation potential. It has been hypothesized that fragments are apoptotic bodies or anuclear cytoplasmatic pieces of blastomeres, although no definitive conclusion has been drawn about their pathogenesis. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Human fertilized oocytes were individually cultured from Day 1 to Days 2 and 3. A total of 800 samples (166 spent media from Day 2 and 634 from Day 3) were enrolled into the present study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was quantified in 800 spent embryo culture media by Pico Green dye fluorescence assay. After DNA purification, genomic DNA (gDNA) and mtDNA were profiled by specific quantitative PCR. Statistical analyses defined correlations among DNA contents, embryo morphology and maternal age. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Different independent tests confirmed the presence of DNA into embryo culture medium and, for the first time, we demonstrate that both gDNA and mtDNA are detectable in the secretome. The amount of DNA is larger in embryos with bad quality cleavage compared with high-grade embryos, suggesting that the DNA profile of culture medium is an objective marker for embryo quality assessment. In particular, DNA profiles are significantly associated with fragmentation feature (total dsDNA: P = 0.0010; mtDNA; P = 0.0247) and advanced maternal age. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION It is necessary to establish whether DNA profiling of spent embryo culture medium is a robust onsite test that can improve the prediction of blastulation, implantation and/or pregnancy rate. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The approach we are proposing may provide a novel, non-invasive, objective tool for embryo quality grading. The correlation between a high mtDNA concentration and the fragmentation rate of embryos is suggestive that fragments are mainly anuclear cytoplasmatic debris arising during cleavage. Therefore, blastomere shaping as an early event during in vitro development may play a homeostatic role and be related to embryo competence. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST This project was funded by Merck Serono (Grant for Fertility Innovation 2011). The sponsor had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation and writing of the paper. Authors declare no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01397136.
Plasma von Willebrand factor level is transiently elevated in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction

The von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a plasma glycoprotein that plays an essential role in hemostasis by supporting platelet adhesion and thrombus formation in response to vascular injury. Plasma levels of vWF are an independent risk factor for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI); however, clinical data have demonstrated a marked variation of vWF levels in patients with AMI, the reason for which has not yet been identified. In the present study, a rat model of ST-segment elevation AMI was established, and cardiac and peripheral blood was collected for a time-course examination of the plasma levels of vWF and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The level of vWF in the blood plasma increased, peaked at 1 h and decreased to normal levels by day 7 following AMI, while the level of TNF-α peaked at 24 h and remained elevated until day 7. The effects of TNF-α on vWF secretion and expression were examined in cultured human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). TNF-α treatment increased vWF secretion from the HUVECs but inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of vWF in the HUVECs. These results indicate that vWF secretion from endothelial cells is transiently elevated following AMI, and then decreases as the expression of vWF is inhibited by TNF-α. The present study increases the understanding of the pathophysiology of vWF and indicates that the determination of vWF levels may be useful in the clinical evaluation of AMI.
Replication and Meta-Analysis of GWAS Identified Susceptibility Loci in Kawasaki Disease Confirm the Importance of B Lymphoid Tyrosine Kinase (BLK) in Disease Susceptibility

The BLK and CD40 loci have been associated with Kawasaki disease (KD) in two genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted in a Taiwanese population of Han Chinese ancestry (Taiwanese) and in Japanese cohorts. Here we build on these findings with replication studies of the BLK and CD40 loci in populations of Korean and European descent. The BLK region was significantly associated with KD susceptibility in both populations. Within the BLK gene the rs2736340-located linkage disequilibrium (LD ) comprising the promoter and first intron was strongly associated with KD, with the combined results of Asian studies including Taiwanese, Japanese, and Korean populations (2,539 KD patients and 7,021 controls) providing very compelling evidence of association (rs2736340, OR = 1.498, 1.354–1.657; P = 4.74×10−31). We determined the percentage of B cells present in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) population and the expression of BLK in the peripheral blood leukocytes (leukocytes) of KD patients during the acute and convalescent stages. The percentage of B cells in the PBMC population and the expression of BLK in leukocytes were induced in patients in the acute stage of KD. In B cell lines derived from KD patients, and in purified B cells from KD patients obtained during the acute stage, those with the risk allele of rs2736340 expressed significantly lower levels of BLK. These results suggest that peripheral B cells play a pathogenic role during the acute stage of KD. Decreased BLK expression in peripheral blood B cells may alter B cell function and predispose individuals to KD. These associative data suggest a role for B cells during acute KD. Understanding the functional implications may facilitate the development of B cell-mediated therapy for KD.
FEASIBILITY OF THE FABRICATION OF AMERICIUM TARGETS

The paper compares the processes used at ITU for the fabrication of americium targets for transmutation: powder mixing process, sol-gel method and the infiltration by an active solution of inactive pellets. The advantages of the latter processes, related mainly to the lower level of dust formation, are stressed. Moreover, the radiological constraints on the fabrication as a function of Am content and of selected fabrication process are evaluated. As conclusion, the feasibility of Am target fabrication has been demonstrated on a laboratory scale, based on experimental results evaluation. The penalties due to radiological constraints in a semi-industrial process are acceptable. The future developments consist in the construction of a laboratory fully dedicated to minor actinides fuel pins or targets fabrication.
Molecular Integrals over Slater-type Orbitals . From pioneers to recent progress

It can readily be demonstrated that atomic and molecular orbitals must decay exponentially at long-range. They should also possess cusps when two particles approach each other. Therefore, Slater orbitals are the natural basis functions in quantum molecular calculations. Their use was hindered over the last four decades by integration problems. Consequently, Slater orbitals were replaced by Gaussian expansions in molecular calculations (in spite of their more rapid decay and absent cusps). From the 90s until today considerable effort has been made by several groups to develop efficient algorithms which have fructified in new computer programs for polyatomic molecules. The key ideas of the different methods of integration: one-center expansion, Gauss transform, Fourier transform, use of Sturmians and elliptical co-ordinate methods are reviewed here, together with their advantages and disadvantages, and the latest developments within the field. A recent approximation separating the variables of the Coulomb operator will be described, as well as its usefulness in molecular calculations. Recently, due to the developments of the computer technology and the accuracy of the experiments, there is a renewed interest in the use of Slater orbitals as basis functions for Configuration Interaction (CI) and Hylleraas-CI atomic and molecular calculations, and in density functional and density matrix theories. keywords: Slater orbitals, integrals, computer programs, Kato conditions, accurate molecular wave-functions.
Time-Delay Measurement for the Quadruple Lens RX J1131-1231

We have measured the three time delays for the quadruple gravitational lens RX J1131-1231 using two seasons of monitoring data. The short delays between cusp images are A-B = 11.98 +1.52,-1.27 days and A-C = 9.61 +1.97,-1.57 days. The long A-D delay for the counter image is not as precisely determined because of the season gaps, but the data suggest a delay of -87 +- 8 days. The short delays are difficult to explain using standard isothermal halo models of the lensing potential, which instead prefer A-B and A-C delays of ~1 day for reasonable values of the Hubble constant. Matching the cusp delays is possible by adding a significant (~5 x 10^10 M_sun) amount of matter nearly coincident (~0.05" South-East) with the A image. Adding such a satellite also helps improve the quasar and lens astrometry of the model, reduces the velocity dispersion of the main lens and shifts it closer to the Fundamental Plane. This is suggestive of a satellite galaxy to the primary lens, but its expected luminosity and proximity to both image A and the system's bright Einstein ring make visual identification impossible even with the existing HST data. We also find evidence for significant structure along the line of sight toward the lens. Archival Chandra observations show two nearby regions of extended X-ray emission, each with bolometric X-ray luminosities of 2-3 x 10^43 ergs/s. The brighter region is located 153" from the lens and centered on a z=0.1 foreground cD galaxy, and the fainter and presumably more distant region is 4-5 times closer (in angular separation) to the lens and likely corresponds to the weaker of two galaxy red sequences (which includes the lens galaxy) previously detected at optical wavelengths.
Automated Essay Evaluation: The Criterion Online Writing Service

In this article, we describe a deployed educational technology application: the Criterion Online Essay Evaluation Service, a web-based system that provides automated scoring and evaluation of student essays. Criterion has two complementary applications: (1) Critique Writing Analysis Tools, a suite of programs that detect errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics, that identify discourse elements in the essay, and that recognize potentially undesirable elements of style, and (2) e-rater version 2.0, an automated essay scoring system. Critique and e-rater provide students with feedback that is specific to their writing in order to help them improve their writing skills and is intended to be used under the instruction of a classroom teacher. Both applications employ natural language processing and machine learning techniques. All of these capabilities outperform baseline algorithms, and some of the tools agree with human judges in their evaluations as often as two judges agree with each other.
Climate change and European leadership: a sustainable role for Europe

Foreword. Acknowledgements. Summary and overview. Policymakers summary. List of abbreviations. Part I: The EU and Leadership in International Climate and Environmental Regimes: Learning from Experience. 1. Climate change, leadership and the EU M. Grubb, J. Gupta. 2. Leadership M. Grubb, J. Gupta. 3. The complicated development of EU climate policy J. Wettestad. 4. The role of the EU in climate negotiations F. Yamin. 5. Perceptions of the EU's role J. Gupta, N. van der Grijp. 6. The EU in international environmental regimes and the Energy Charter Treaty S. Oberthur. Part II: Socio-Economic Analysis of Climate Policy Strategies. 7. Socio-economics of policy formation and choices J.-C. Hourcade, et al. 8. The economics of coalition formation C. Carraro. 9. Issue linkages to the sustainability agenda W. Jung, R. Loske. 10. Economic dimensions of the Kyoto Protocol J.-C. Hourcade, M. Grubb. Part III: Implementing EU Commitments on Climate Change. 11. Competence and subsidiarity A. Dahl. 12. Emission reductions in EU countries H.A. Aaheim, C. Bretteville. 13. Implementing EU Commitments under Kyoto M. Grubb, J.-C. Hourcade. Part IV: Global Strategies and Scenarios. 14. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the EU J. Gupta, N. van der Grijp. 15. Leadership scenarios J. Gupta, N. van der Grijp. 16. Implementing European leadership M. Grubb, J. Gupta. References. Annex I: Target differentiation and the 'European Bubble'. Index.