Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phasing piston error in segmented telescopes.

To achieve a diffraction-limited imaging, the piston errors between the segments of the segmented primary mirror telescope should be reduced to λ/40 RMS. We propose a method to detect the piston error by analyzing the intensity distribution on the image plane according to the Fourier optics principle, which can capture segments with the piston errors as large as the coherence length of the input light and reduce these to 0. 026λ RMS (λ = 633nm). This method is adaptable to any segmented and deployable primary mirror telescope. Experiments have been carried out to validate the feasibility of the method.
Multiphase Interaction in Low Density Volumetric Charring Ablators

OF DISSERTATION Multiphase Interaction in Low Density Volumetric Charring Ablators The present thesis provides a description of historical and current modeling methods with recent discoveries within the ablation community. Several historical assumptions are challenged, namely the presence of water in Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials, presence of coking in TPS materials, non-uniform elemental production during pyrolysis reactions, and boundary layer gases, more specifically oxygen, interactions with the charred carbon interface. The first topic assess the potential effect that water has when present within the ablator by examining the temperature profile histories of the recent flight case Mars Science Laboratory. The next topic uses experimental data to consider the instantaneous gas species produced as the ablator pyrolyzes. In this study, key gas species are identified and assumed to be unstable within the gas phase; thus, equilibrating to the solid phase. This topic investigates the potential effects due to the these process. The finial topic uses a simplified configuration to study the role of carbon oxidation, from diatomic oxygen, on the ablation modes of a TPS, surface versus volumetric ablation. Although each of these topics differ in their own right, a common theme is found by understanding the role that common pyrolysis and boundary layer gases species have as they interacts with the porous TPS structure. The main objective of the present thesis is to investigate these questions.
Unsupervised learning of derivational morphology from inflectional lexicons

A railroad car dumper, suitable for dumping cars of a unit train, is disclosed. The dumper has a frame and a carriage, with tracks on the carriage to receive a car from adjacent tracks. The frame has a sidewall to support a car on the tracks during dumping with the car couplers on the axis of rotation of the dumper. The dumper frame is shiftable laterally, while the carriage remains fixed to maintain alignment of the carriage tracks with the adjacent tracks. Lateral shifting of the dumper frame while the carriage and tracks remain fixed permits a locomotive, larger than the cars to be dumped, to pass through the shifted frame.
Preconceptional low-dose aspirin for the prevention of hypertensive pregnancy complications and preterm delivery after IVF: a meta-analysis with individual patient data.

STUDY QUESTION Does preconceptionally started low-dose aspirin prevent hypertensive pregnancy complications and preterm delivery in IVF patients? SUMMARY ANSWER The current data do not support the use of preconceptionally started low-dose aspirin treatment for the prevention of hypertensive pregnancy complications and preterm delivery in IVF women. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Studies starting low-dose aspirin treatment as prevention in the second trimester of pregnancy found no or only moderate reductions in the relative risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Low-dose aspirin was possibly started too late, that is after the first episode of trophoblast invasion. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We performed a meta-analysis with individual patient data (IPD), in which four authors could provide IPD on a total of 268 pregnancies (n = 131 treated with aspirin, n = 137 placebo). Data on hypertensive pregnancy complications and preterm delivery were collected. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS All separate databases were merged into a summary database. Treatment effect of aspirin on the incidence of hypertensive pregnancy complications (n = 187) and preterm delivery (n = 180) were estimated with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using multivariable logistic regression. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE There were significantly fewer twin pregnancies in the aspirin group (OR 0.55 95% CI 0.30-0.98), but no significant differences for hypertensive pregnancy complications and preterm delivery: for singletons OR 0.62 (95% CI 0.22-1.7) and OR 0.52 (95% CI 0.16-1.7), respectively, as well as for twin pregnancies OR 1.2 (95% CI 0.35-4.4) and OR 1.6 (95% CI 0.51-5.0), respectively. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION We have to bear in mind that the included studies showed clinical heterogeneity; there was variation in the duration of low-dose aspirin therapy and degree of hypertension between the different studies. Although we combined IPD from four studies, we have to realize that the studies were not powered for the outcome of the current IPD meta-analysis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Based on the current meta-analysis with IPD we found no confirmation for the hypothesis that preconceptionally started low-dose aspirin reduces the incidence of hypertensive pregnancy complications or preterm delivery in IVF women. Larger studies are warranted.
The Paleomagnetic Field from Equatorial Deep-Sea Sediments: Axial Symmetry and Polarity Asymmetry

Paleomagnetic data from 89 equatorial deep-sea sediment cores indicate that the configuration of the time-averaged geomagnetic field depends strongly on polarity state but that it remains within 1 degree of axial symmery throughout the Pliocene and Pleistocene (last 5 million years). The relative magnitude of the nondipole field was greater by almost a factor of 2 during reverse than during normal polarity intervals. These results thus support earlier suggestions that there may be a standing (nonreversing) component of the geomagnetic dynamo.
Critical analysis of the pediatric end‐stage liver disease scoring system: A single center experience

The Pediatric End‐Stage Liver Disease (PELD) scoring system is a new nationally utilized formula developed to provide a continuous numerical assessment of the risk of death in order to allocate livers to children for transplantation. A retrospective review of the clinical course of children undergoing liver transplantation at the Mount Sinai Medical Center was performed in order to assess the effectiveness of this scoring system in the first 24 months of its utilization. Forty‐eight patients underwent liver transplantation with overall patient and graft survival rates of 98% and 96%, respectively. In 23 cases the PELD scoring system determined waiting time for transplantation. Of these 23 patients, 7 moved to the intensive care unit (ICU). Only 2 of 23 patients underwent transplantation with their actual PELD score. The rest required petition for exception (17) or status 1 listing (4). Significant morbidity occurred while awaiting transplantation: failure to thrive (78%), ascites (73%), hemorrhage (49%), infectious complications (39%), encephalopathy (30%), peritonitis (17%), pathologic bone fractures (13%), and hepatopulmonary syndrome (9%). In patients with PELD scores granted by exception the average score that did not yield a liver offer was 38 with an average waiting time of 55 days. At the time of transplantation actual PELD score averaged 22, while the petitioned score was 40. Based upon our center's initial experience, the current PELD scoring system is not adequate. Actual PELD scores did not lead to timely allocation of livers to children. It appears that this scoring system underestimates the near‐term risk of death. Urgent reassessment is required to prevent potential morbidity and mortality in children. In conclusion the United Network for Organ Sharing policy that permits granting of exceptions has circumvented these problems with the PELD scoring system. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:788–795.)
Flexural response of carbon fiber reinforced aluminum foam sandwich

Sandwich panels with carbon fiber fabric/epoxy resin face-sheet and aluminum foam core have a potential application value in the engineering field. To study the bending mechanical properties of the reinforced sandwich structure, three-point bending test was conducted by using WDW-T100 electronic universal tensile testing machine. The relation between load and displacement of the aluminum foam sandwich was obtained. Deformations and failure modes of the specimens were recorded. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the failure mechanism. Results showed that when aluminum foam was reinforced by carbon fiber fabric as face-sheet, its flexural load-carrying capacity and energy absorption ability improved significantly. Foam core density and number of carbon fiber plies had serious impacts on the peak load value and energy absorption value of the composite structure. It was suggested that aluminum foam core sandwich structure with low foam core density of 0.49 g/cm3 and 5 plies of carbon fiber fabric had the highest energy absorption ability and medium load-carrying ability. Failure modes analysis showed that shear failure leaded to the final failure of sandwich panels with medium peak load and interface de-bonding leaded to the final failure of sandwich panels with high peak load.
The ferrule effect: a literature review.

LITERATURE REVIEW A ferrule is a metal ring or cap used to strengthen the end of a stick or tube. It has been proposed that the use of a ferrule as part of the core or artificial crown may be of benefit in reinforcing root-filled teeth. A review of the literature investigating this effect is presented. The literature demonstrates that a ferrule effect occurs owing to the artificial crown bracing against the dentine extending coronal to the crown margin. Overall, it can be concluded that a ferrule is desirable, but should not be provided at the expense of the remaining tooth/root structure.
Magoh, a human homolog of Drosophila mago nashi protein, is a component of the splicing‐dependent exon–exon junction complex

The RNA‐binding protein Y14 binds preferentially to mRNAs produced by splicing and is a component of a multiprotein complex that assembles ∼20 nucleotides upstream of exon–exon junctions. This complex probably has important functions in post‐splicing events including nuclear export and nonsense‐mediated decay of mRNA. We show that Y14 binds to two previously reported components, Aly/REF and RNPS1, and to the mRNA export factor TAP. Moreover, we identified magoh, a human homolog of the Drosophila mago nashi gene product, as a novel component of the complex. Magoh binds avidly and directly to Y14 and TAP, but not to other known components of the complex, and is found in Y14‐containing mRNPs in vivo. Importantly, magoh also binds to mRNAs produced by splicing upstream (∼20 nucleotides) of exon– exon junctions and its binding to mRNA persists after export. These experiments thus reveal specific protein–protein interactions among the proteins of the splicing‐dependent mRNP complex and suggest an important role for the highly evolutionarily conserved magoh protein in this complex.
Efficient execution of query in distributed database systems

Caching methods can be used for single query optimization and for multi-query optimization. Cost of evaluation can be reduced by exploiting common subexpressions and maintaining intermediate data structure. In this paper with integrating single query optimization, cache investment and multi-query optimization performance of query execution in distributed database systems will be improved. Maintaining intermediate data structure generated by queries, caching input data in memory, providing support for multi-threaded execution and using hybrid shipping has been used for this purpose. Finally this model reduce evaluation cost, communication cost and response time.
Schema Versions in Object-Oriented Database Systems

Object-oriented database management systems (OODBMS) are especially suited to model complex and highly dynamic application domains. In this paper, we propose a schema uersioning approach which supports the dynamic change of an objectoriented database schema while it is used by running applications. OUT mechanism allows to have applications working with diflerent schema weTsions on top of the same single database in parallel. A flexible and parameterized approach is presented to make instances of the database accessible in different versions of a schema. In this way, it is no longer required to update all database applications at once whenever the schema is changed. Instead, the adaptation of aid applications to a new schema version can be done 1ateT if this is considered advantageous.
Bacillus anthracis-Like Bacteria and Other B. cereus Group Members in a Microbial Community Within the International Space Station: A Challenge for Rapid and Easy Molecular Detection of Virulent B. anthracis

For some microbial species, such as Bacillus anthracis, the etiologic agent of the disease anthrax, correct detection and identification by molecular methods can be problematic. The detection of virulent B. anthracis is challenging due to multiple virulence markers that need to be present in order for B. anthracis to be virulent and its close relationship to Bacillus cereus and other members of the B. cereus group. This is especially the case in environments where build-up of Bacillus spores can occur and several representatives of the B. cereus group may be present, which increases the chance for false-positives. In this study we show the presence of B. anthracis-like bacteria and other members of the B. cereus group in a microbial community within the human environment of the International Space Station and their preliminary identification by using conventional culturing as well as molecular techniques including 16S rDNA sequencing, PCR and real-time PCR. Our study shows that when monitoring the microbial hygiene in a given human environment, health risk assessment is troublesome in the case of virulent B. anthracis, especially if this should be done with rapid, easy to apply and on-site molecular methods.
Continuous vs. pulsating flow boiling. Part 2: Statistical comparison using response surface methodology

Response surface methodology is used to investigate an active method for flow boiling heat transfer enhancement by means of fluid flow pulsation. The flow pulsations are introduced by a flow modulating expansion device and compared with the baseline continuous flow provided by a stepper-motor expansion valve. Two experimental designs (data point sets) are generated using a modified Central Composite Design for each valve and their response surfaces are compared using the quadratic model. Statistical information on the significant model terms are used to clarify whether the effect of fluid flow pulsations is statistically significant in terms of the time-averaged flow boiling heat transfer coefficient. The cycle time range from 1 s to 9 s for the pulsations. The results show that the effect of fluid flow pulsations is statistically significant, disregarding the lowest heat flux measurements. The response surface comparison reveals that the flow pulsations improves the time-averaged heat transfer coefficient by as much as 10 % at the smallest cycle time compared with continuous flow. On the other hand, at highest cycle time and heat flux, the reduction may be as much as 20 % due to significant dry-out when the valve is closed. These values are higher than reported in part 1 of the paper, but evaluated more consistently at equal heat flux using the response surfaces.
Estimating the Wage Premium of Collective Wage Contracts: Evidence from Longitudinal Linked Employer–Employee Data

Using a large-scale linked-employer-employee data set from western Germany, this paper presents new evidence on the wage premium of collective bargaining contracts. In contrast to previous studies, we seek to assess the extent to which differences in wages between workers in covered and uncovered firms arise from the non-random selection of workers and firms into collective bargaining coverage. By measuring the relative wage changes of workers employed in firms that change contract status, we obtain estimates that depart considerably from previous results relying on cross-sectional data. Results from analysing separate transitions show that leaving industry-level contracts is associated with subsequent wage losses. However, the results from a trendadjusted difference-in-difference approach indicate that the particularly the transitions to no-coverage appear to be associated with negative shocks. Overall, our findings provide no evidence of a 'true' wage effect of leaving wage bargaining, once differences in pre-transition wage growth are accounted for.
Fingerprint Analysis of the Noisy Prisoner's Dilemma Using a Finite-State Representation

Fingerprinting is a technique that permits automatic classification of strategies for playing a game. In this paper, the evolution of strategies for playing the iterated prisoner's dilemma (IPD) at three different noise levels is analyzed using fingerprinting and other techniques including a novel quantity, evolutionary velocity, derived from fingerprinting. The results are at odds with initial expectations and permit the detection of a critical difference in the evolution of agents with and without noise. Noise during fitness evaluation places a larger fraction of an agent's genome under selective pressure, resulting in substantially more efficient training. In this case, efficiency is the production of superior competitive ability at a lower evolutionary velocity. Prisoner's dilemma playing agents are evolved for 6400 generations, taking samples at eight exponentially spaced epochs. This permits assessment of the change in populations over long evolutionary time. Agents are evaluated for competitive ability between those evolved for different lengths of time and between those evolved using distinct noise levels. The presence of noise during agent training is found to convey a commanding competitive advantage. A novel analysis is done in which a tournament is run with no two agents from the same evolutionary line and one third of agents from each noise level studied. This analysis simulates contributed agent tournaments without any genetic relation between agents. It is found that in early epochs the agents evolved without noise have the best average tournament rank, but that in later epochs they have the worst.
Structural, Functional, and Metabolic Brain Markers Differentiate Collision versus Contact and Non-Contact Athletes

There is growing concern about how participation in contact sports affects the brain. Retrospective evidence suggests that contact sports are associated with long-term negative health outcomes. However, much of the research to date has focused on former athletes with significant health problems. Less is known about the health of current athletes in contact and collision sports who have not reported significant medical issues. In this cross-sectional study, advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate multiple aspects of brain physiology in three groups of athletes participating in non-contact sports (N = 20), contact sports (N = 22), and collision sports (N = 23). Diffusion tensor imaging was used to assess white matter microstructure based on measures of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD); resting-state functional MRI was used to evaluate global functional connectivity; single-voxel spectroscopy was used to compare ratios of neural metabolites, including N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline, and myo-inositol. Multivariate analysis revealed structural, functional, and metabolic measures that reliably differentiated between sport groups. The collision group had significantly elevated FA and reduced MD in white matter, compared to both contact and non-contact groups. In contrast, the collision group showed significant reductions in functional connectivity and the NAA/Cr metabolite ratio, relative to only the non-contact group, while the contact group overlapped with both non-contact and collision groups. For brain regions associated with contact sport participation, athletes with a history of concussion also showed greater alterations in FA and functional connectivity, indicating a potential cumulative effect of both contact exposure and concussion history on brain physiology. These findings indicate persistent differences in brain physiology for athletes participating in contact and collision sports, which should be considered in future studies of concussion and subconcussive impacts.
A real‐time PCR‐based method to independently sample single simian immunodeficiency virus genomes from macaques with a range of viral loads

Abstract: The generation of a diverse population of viral variants is a hallmark of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. In order to address what role this diversity plays in disease progression, accurate sampling of the viral population is necessary. However, traditional PCR‐based methods often rely on amplification of multiple genomes in one reaction, leading to resampling of viral genomes and potential errors in the estimations of viral diversity, especially when sequences from only one or a small number of PCRs are examined and/or viral copy number is low. Here we describe a method to amplify one viral envelope gene per PCR, thereby avoiding resampling. For this purpose we developed a highly accurate real‐time PCR method to quantify SIV copy number, then used a single SIV template in a sensitive, high‐fidelity full‐length envelope PCR. Using this method, we have estimated the intra‐animal viral diversity for a cohort of five pig‐tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) infected with SIVMne variants, which displayed a broad range of viral loads at setpoint.
On Kelly betting: Some limitations

The focal point of this paper is the so-called Kelly Criterion, a prescription for optimal resource allocation among a set of gambles which are repeated over time. The criterion calls for maximization of the expected value of the logarithmic growth of wealth. While significant literature exists providing the rationale for such an optimization, this paper concentrates on the limitations of the Kelly-based theory. To this end, we fill a void in published results by providing specific examples quantifying what difficulties are encountered when Taylor-style approximations are used and when wealth drawdowns are considered. For the case of drawdown, we describe some research directions which we feel are promising for improvement of the theory.