Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stochastic modelling and feedback control of bistability in a turbulent bluff body wake

A specific feature of three-dimensional bluff body wakes, flow bistability, is a subject of particular recent interest. This feature consists of a random flipping of the wake between two asymmetric configurations and is believed to contribute to the pressure drag of many bluff bodies. In this study we apply the modelling approach recently suggested for axisymmetric bodies by Rigas et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 778, 2015, R2) to the reflectional symmetry-breaking modes of a rectilinear bluff body wake. We demonstrate the validity of the model and its Reynolds number independence through time-resolved base pressure measurements of the natural wake. Further, oscillating flaps are used to investigate the dynamics and time scales of the instability associated with the flipping process, demonstrating that they are largely independent of Reynolds number. The modelling approach is then used to design a feedback controller that uses the flaps to suppress the symmetry-breaking modes. The controller is successful, leading to a suppression of the bistability of the wake, with concomitant reductions in both lateral and streamwise forces. Importantly, the controller is found to be efficient, the actuator requiring only 24 % of the aerodynamic power saving. The controller therefore provides a key demonstration of efficient feedback control used to reduce the drag of a high-Reynolds-number three-dimensional bluff body. Furthermore, the results suggest that suppression of large-scale structures is a fundamentally efficient approach for bluff body drag reduction.
Stroke Location Is an Independent Predictor of Cognitive Outcome

Background and Purpose— On top of functional outcome, accurate prediction of cognitive outcome for stroke patients is an unmet need with major implications for clinical management. We investigated whether stroke location may contribute independent prognostic value to multifactorial predictive models of functional and cognitive outcomes. Methods— Four hundred twenty-eight consecutive patients with ischemic stroke were prospectively assessed with magnetic resonance imaging at 24 to 72 hours and at 3 months for functional outcome using the modified Rankin Scale and cognitive outcome using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Statistical maps of functional and cognitive eloquent regions were derived from the first 215 patients (development sample) using voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping. We used multivariate logistic regression models to study the influence of stroke location (number of eloquent voxels from voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping maps), age, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and stroke volume on modified Rankin Scale and MoCA. The second part of our cohort was used as an independent replication sample. Results— In univariate analyses, stroke location, age, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and stroke volume were all predictive of poor modified Rankin Scale and MoCA. In multivariable analyses, stroke location remained the strongest independent predictor of MoCA and significantly improved the prediction compared with using only age, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and stroke volume (area under the curve increased from 0.697–0.771; difference=0.073; 95% confidence interval, 0.008–0.155). In contrast, stroke location did not persist as independent predictor of modified Rankin Scale that was mainly driven by initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (area under the curve going from 0.840 to 0.835). Similar results were obtained in the replication sample. Conclusions— Stroke location is an independent predictor of cognitive outcome (MoCA) at 3 months post stroke.
Distributive Energy Efficient Adaptive Clustering Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

Clustering sensors into groups, so that sensors communicate information only to cluster-heads and then the cluster-heads communicate the aggregated information to the base station, saves energy and thus prolongs network lifetime. Adapting this approach, we propose a Distributive Energy Efficient Adaptive Clustering (DEEAC) protocol. This protocol is adaptive in terms of data reporting rates and residual energy of each node within the network. Motivated by the LEACH protocol [I], we extend its stochastic cluster selection algorithm for networks having spatio-temporal variations in data reporting rates across different regions. Simulation results demonstrate that DEEAC is able to distribute energy consumption more effectively among the sensors, thereby prolonging the network lifetime by as much as 50% compared to LEACH.
Ontology Mapping based on Rough Formal Concept Analysis

The idea of the semantic web is to add machineprocessable information to web-based data in order to realize interoperability, and a key objective for semantic web services is to provide machine interpretable descriptions of web services so that other software agents can use them without having any prior ‘built-in’ knowledge about how to invoke them. Ontologies play a prominent role in the concept of the semantic web to provide semantic information for assisting communication among heterogeneous information repositories. As increasing numbers of ontologies are developed by diverse communities, the demand for rapid ontology mapping is arising. In this paper, a novel similarity measure method based on rough set and formal concept analysis (RFCA) is proposed to realize ontology mapping tasks. A reference concept lattice is first constructed with the combination of two normalized contexts. Rough set theory is then employed to calculate the similarity measure of the two ontology nodes. With a specified threshold, the final result of ontology mapping can be obtained. Compared with other mapping algorithms, the proposed ontology mapping method is featural and structural, and the mapping results are accurate and more confident.
Quasiballistic Thermal Transport from Nanoscale Heaters and the Role of the Spatial Frequency

Quasiballistic heat conduction from nanoscale heat sources of size comparable to phonon mean free paths has recently become of intense interest both scientifically and for its applications. Prior work has established that, in the quasiballistic regime, the apparent thermal properties of materials depend both on intrinsic mechanisms and the characteristics of the applied thermal gradient. However, many aspects of this regime remain poorly understood. Here, we experimentally study the thermal response of crystals to large thermal gradients generated by optical heating of nanoline arrays. Our experiments reveal the key role of the spatial frequencies and Fourier series amplitudes of the heating profile for thermal transport in the quasiballistic regime, in contrast to the conventional picture that focuses on the geometric dimensions of the individual heaters. Our work provides the insight needed to rationally mitigate local hot spots in modern applications by manipulating the spatial frequencies of the heater patterns.
Title Multivariate extreme value copulas with factor and treedependence structures

Parsimonious extreme value copula models with O(d) parameters for d observed variables of extrema are presented. These models utilize the dependence characteristics, including factor and tree structures, assumed on the underlying variables that give rise to the data of extremes. For factor structures, a class of parametric models is obtained by taking the extreme value limit of factor copulas with non-zero tail dependence. An alternative model suitable for both factor and tree structures imposes constraints on the parametric Hüsler-Reiss copula to get representations in terms of O(d) other parameters. Dependence properties are discussed. As the full density is often intractable, the method of composite (pairwise) likelihood is used for model inference. Procedures to improve the stability of bivariate density evaluation are also developed. The proposed models are applied to two data examples — one for annual extreme river flows and one for monthly extremes of daily stock returns.
Revisiting trackability for linear time-invariant systems

The paper revisits a fundamental and important concept of trackability that deals with the ability of a system to track reference commands. While drawing on the literature, on related concepts, a new treatment is provided in the context of LTI systems. Conditions are provided for checking the trackability of systems. This work may form the basis for further in-depth investigation on these concepts both for linear and non-linear systems.
Venous air embolism in swine: transport of gas bubbles through the pulmonary circulation.

The assumption that the lung is an effective filter for gas bubbles is of importance for certain occupations (e.g., divers, astronauts) as well as in the accomplishment of several medical procedures. The filtering capacity was tested in pigs by use of continuous air infusion into the right ventricle and a transesophageal echocardiographic transducer for detection of air in the left atrium. Twenty pigs, anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium and mechanically ventilated, were divided into groups that received air at infusion rates of 0.05 (group 1a, n = 7), 0.10 (group 2, n = 6), and 0.20 (group 3, n = 5) ml.kg-1.min-1. Two pigs served as controls. The breakthrough incidence was 0, 67, and 100%, respectively. Group 1a received a second infusion of 0.10 ml.kg-1.min-1 (group 1b, n = 7), and spillover of bubbles occurred in only 14% of these pigs. Infusion of gas caused a maximum increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) of 129 +/- 9% to 39.2 +/- 1.3 (SE) mmHg, with no significant difference between the groups. Breakthrough was observed only in animals with a dramatic reduction in mean arterial pressure and a PAP that returned to almost-normal values at spillover time. Our results suggest that the threshold value for breakthrough of air bubbles in pigs is reduced compared with that in dogs. The hemodynamic consequences at a given infusion rate are, however, greatly enhanced.
Prospective assessment of a gene signature potentially predictive of clinical benefit in metastatic melanoma patients following MAGE-A3 immunotherapeutic (PREDICT)

Genomic profiling of tumor tissue may identify gene signatures (GS) predictive of tumor response to treatment. We prospectively evaluated a GS linked to clinical benefit following MAGE-A3 immunotherapeutic in patients with advanced melanoma. One-year overall survival was similar in patients with and without the GS: the GS was not predictive of outcome after MAGE-A3 immunotherapeutic treatment.
Identification of LiNbO3, LiNb3O8 and Li3NbO4 phases in thin films synthesized with different deposition techniques by means of XRD and Raman spectroscopy

Phase composition of epitaxial/textured LiNbO3 films on sapphire substrates, grown by pulsed laser deposition, atmospheric pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition and pulsed injection metal organic chemical vapor deposition was studied by conventional x-ray diffraction techniques. Raman spectroscopy, being highly sensitive to the symmetry of materials, was used as a countercheck in the compositional analysis. The wavenumbers of Raman modes of LiNb3O8 and Li3NbO4 phases were identified from Raman spectra of synthesized powders. Asymmetry of profiles of x-ray diffraction reflections of LiNbO3 films was studied. This asymmetry may have different origins which consequently may result in misleading conclusions about phase composition of textured LiNbO3 films.
Neuropsychological Assessment: Past and Future

Abstract Neuropsychological assessment tools are the staple of our field. The development of standardized metrics sensitive to brain-behavior relationships has shaped the neuropsychological questions we can ask, our understanding of discrete brain functions, and has informed the detection and treatment of neurological disorders. We identify key turning points and innovations in neuropsychological assessment over the past 40–50 years that highlight how the tools used in common practice today came to be. Also selected for emphasis are several exciting lines of research and novel approaches that are underway to further probe and characterize brain functions to enhance diagnostic and treatment outcomes. We provide a brief historical review of different clinical neuropsychological assessment approaches (Lurian, Flexible and Fixed Batteries, Boston Process Approach) and critical developments that have influenced their interpretation (normative standards, cultural considerations, longitudinal change, common metric batteries, and translational assessment constructs). Lastly, we discuss growing trends in assessment including technological advances, efforts to integrate neuropsychology across disciplines (e.g., primary care), and changes in neuropsychological assessment infrastructure. Neuropsychological assessment has undergone massive growth in the past several decades. Nonetheless, there remain many unanswered questions and future challenges to better support measurement tools and translate assessment findings into meaningful recommendations and treatments. As technology and our understanding of brain function advance, efforts to support infrastructure for both traditional and novel assessment approaches and integration of complementary brain assessment tools from other disciplines will be integral to inform brain health treatments and promote the growth of our field. (JINS, 2017, 23, 778–790)
Life‐History Evolution in Uncertain Environments: Bet Hedging in Time

Many vertebrates, forest herbs, and trees exhibit both variable age at maturity and iteroparity as adaptations to uncertain environments. We analyze a stochastic model that combines these two life‐history adaptations with density‐dependent fertility. Results for a model with only iteroparity are consistent with previous work; environmental uncertainty favors adult survival over juvenile survival. This holds true even if there is a moderately strong convex trade‐off between adult survival and fecundity, but the direction of selection can depend on which life‐history trait is considered a random variable. A life history with only developmental delay favors juvenile survival in uncertain environments, consistent with previous models of seed banks. When both developmental delay and iteroparity are included in the model, both adaptations are favored in uncertain environments. Our simulations show that selection is not necessarily a runaway process in which either developmental delay or iteroparity is favored, as recently proposed by Tuljapurkar and Wiener, but rather that selection can favor both mechanisms. Invasion analysis shows that selective pressure on life‐history delays increases as environmental variation increases. Reproductive delay and adult survival can be either adaptations or constraints. Natural‐history studies that estimate model parameters can resolve this uncertainty.
Rate Adaptation for Incremental Redundancy Secure

This paper studies secure communication based on incremental redundancy (INR) secure hybrid automatic retransmission request (HARQ) protocol over block-fading wiretap channels. The transmitter has no instantaneous channel state information (CSI) available from either main channel or the eavesdropper channel, hence the coding rates cannot be adapted to instantaneous channel conditions. We investigate the outage performance for two schemes of INR secure HARQ protocols: case 1) when there exists two reliable multi-bit feedback channels from both legitimate receiver and eavesdropper to the transmitter carrying a function of outdated CSI, case 2) when there is a multi-bit feedback channel only from legitimate receiver. In both cases, we demonstrate that using the information carried via multi-bit feedback channels, the transmitter can adapt the coding rates in order to achieve a better secrecy throughput using a smaller number of transmissions comparing to the ACK/NACK feedback channel model. For some parameters, our rate adaptation protocol achieves a strictly positive secrecy throughput whereas it is equal to zero for the protocol with ACK/NACK feedback. We show that for some set of parameters, the loss of secrecy throughput between case 1 and case 2 is very small compared to the gain provided by both protocols.
TakeLab at SemEval-2017 Task 5: Linear aggregation of word embeddings for fine-grained sentiment analysis of financial news

This paper describes our system for fine-grained sentiment scoring of news headlines submitted to SemEval 2017 task 5–subtask 2. Our system uses a feature-light method that consists of a Support Vector Regression (SVR) with various kernels and word vectors as features. Our best-performing submission scored 3rd on the task out of 29 teams and 4th out of 45 submissions with a cosine score of 0.733.
Individual investors’ information use, subjective expectations, and portfolio risk and return

ABSTRACT What information do individual investors use when making their financial decisions and how is it related to their stock market expectations, their confidence in these expectations, and the risk and return of their stock portfolios? I study these questions by combining survey data on the information usage among individual investors in Sweden with detailed registry data on their stock portfolios. I find that investors use filtered financial information (e.g. information packaged by a professional intermediary) more frequently than they use unfiltered financial information (e.g. information from annual reports and financial statements). Investors who frequently use filtered financial information are, however, more confident in their stock market expectations and take larger risks in their stock portfolios. Investors that instead use unfiltered financial information take lower portfolio risks and obtain higher portfolio returns. The findings in this paper thus suggest that investors can improve their financial decisions by using more unfiltered financial information rather than filtered financial information when they make their financial decisions.
Lipid Nano- and Microparticles: An Overview of Patent-Related Research

The traits of lipid biocompatibility and versatility have led to many nano- and microparticulate lipid formulations being engineered, over the last two decades, in the form of spheres and capsules, using solid and liquid lipids as the matrices. This review describes the main types of lipid nano- and microparticles, as well as their preparation methods, administration routes, and main fields of application. It will also provide a synthetic overview of the main patents that have been filed. Patenting activity in the lipid nanoparticle field has been ongoing for 25 years and has been driven by the boom in the use of nanotechnology as an innovative tool for disease treatment and potential commercial interest in a fully biocompatible vehicle. Initially, activity was mainly focused on technological aspects, and later focus shifted more to usage and composition. An increasing number of patents are also being filed by Emerging Countries. However, the most important limitation here is the low number of marketed products, which is mainly caused by regulatory restrictions and economic reasons.
PHYSICAL , CHEMICAL , AND LIPID COMPOSITION OF JUÇARA ( EUTERPE EDULIS MART . ) PULP *

* Financial support from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP). ** Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura – University of São Paulo – USP – 13416-000 – Piracicaba – SP – Brasil. E-mail: pporrelli@uol.com. br. *** Departament of Agroindustry, Food and Nutrition – ESALQ – USP – 13418-900 – Piracicaba – SP – Brasil. ABSTRACT: Juçara palm (Euterpe edulis Martius) is native to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and is an endangered species due to intensive exploration to produce hearts of palm. In the last few years, juçara plantation has been implemented for fruit production and pulp extraction, similar to açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.). The objective of this study was to assess the physical, chemical, and lipid composition of juçara pulp, in order to establish the exact measures of its quality aiming to demonstrate the product potential for commercialization. Our results revealed high content of essential minerals, such as magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, and manganese, antioxidant compounds (anthocyanins), and high quality fatty acids (palmitic, oleic and linoleic), indicating the importance and functionality of the product for human consumption. Due to the high content of dark pigments found in juçara pulp, this product can also be used as a natural food dye, not only producing an attractive appearance, but also adding benefi cial compounds for human health.
No Time for Handwashing!? Handwashing Versus Alcoholic Rub Can We Afford 100% Compliance?

Abstract Handwashing is the most important and least expensive measure to prevent transmission of nosocomial infections. However, compliance rarely exceeds 40% under study conditions. Alcoholic hand disinfection (AHD) generally is used in Europe. In contrast, handwashing with medicated soap is practiced most frequently in the United States. Healthcare workers often explain the failure to comply with handwashing or AHD as due to the limited time available for this practice. We calculated a time consumption for handwashing and AHD in a representative model intensive-care unit with 12 healthcare workers, based on different compliance levels (40%, 60%, and 100%), duration of handwashing (40-80 seconds), and AHD (20 seconds). Comparing the extremes of our model, given 100% compliance, handwashing consumes 16 hours of nursing time per day shift, whereas AHD from a bedside dispenser requires only 3 hours (P=.01). We conclude that 100% compliance with handwashing may interfere with patient care and partly explains the low compliance. In contrast, AHD, with its rapid activity, superior efficacy, and minimal time commitment, allows 100% healthcare-worker compliance without interfering with the quality of patient care.
Patient beliefs about the characteristics, causes, and care of the common cold: an update.

BACKGROUND Many people seek medical care for cold symptoms. The cold-related knowledge and beliefs of adults seeking medical care for themselves or their children may not correspond with current medical opinion. METHODS A total of 249 parents of symptomatic children and 257 symptomatic adults who sought medical advice in the spring of 1997 from 1 of 3 primary care clinics in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, area were surveyed by telephone 48 to 96 hours after contact with the medical system. RESULTS Of the adults seeking care for a child or themselves, 44% believed viruses alone cause the common cold: an additional 42% believed both viruses and bacteria play a role. Most thought rest (97%) and nonprescription medications (63%) were helpful for colds, which was consistent with published reports. Contrary to medical reports, however, most felt vitamin C (67%) and the inhalation of steam (70%) reduced cold symptoms, and 44% believed antibiotics help colds (chi2=19.57; P=.0002). But 85% believed colds could resolve on their own. CONCLUSIONS Those adults seeking medical care for uncomplicated colds are misinformed about the primary cause of the common cold, the use of prescription medications for treating cold symptoms, and the effectiveness of some palliative care techniques. Care providers should address these perceptions rather than enabling overuse of antibiotics.