Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical pre-breakdown warnings in insulating polymers

Most of the models involving microscopic physical processes in electrical ageing and degradation and breakdown have very little experimental background and suffer from a lack of practical feedback. We have developed an experimental approach based on the detection and the analysis of electroluminescence (EL) of technically important insulating polymer materials. We intend to give the most important conclusions, and will consider the implication of the observation on the validity of the proposed models.
A 320 MHz, 1.5 mW at 1.35 V CMOS PLL for microprocessor clock generation

This paper reports on the design of a phase-locked-loop (PLL) for on-chip clock generation for a high-performance microprocessor (/spl mu/P). The power consumption of the /spl mu/P has been reduced by scaling down the supply voltage. The whole system has been implemented using a 0.35/spl mu/m CMOS process that features low-threshold voltages for MOS devices to maintain the speed performance. The /spl mu/P can be set in idle mode to further reduce the overall power consumption. To allow fast recovery from the /spl mu/P idle mode, the PLL runs continuously during this mode. Therefore, the power consumption of the PLL has to be minimized. To obtain the highest performance from the /spl mu/P, the output jitter of the PLL has to be as low as possible. The power switching noise generated by the running /spl mu/P directly affects the output jitter of the on-chip PLL. In summary, the challenge was to design a PLL which combines limited jitter, low-supply voltage and low-power consumption.
Elliptic-Curve-Based Security Processor for RFID

RFID (radio frequency identification) tags need to include security functions, yet at the same time their resources are extremely limited. Moreover, to provide privacy, authentication and protection against tracking of RFID tags without loosing the system scalability, a public-key based approach is inevitable, which is shown by M. Burmester et al. In this paper, we present an architecture of a state-of-the-art processor for RFID tags with an elliptic curve (EC) processor over GF(2163). It shows the plausibility of meeting both security and efficiency requirements even in a passive RFID tag. The proposed processor is able to perform EC scalar multiplications as well as general modular arithmetic (additions and multiplications) which are needed for the cryptographic protocols. As we work with large numbers, the register file is the most critical component in the architecture. By combining several techniques, we are able to reduce the number of registers from 9 to 6 resulting in EC processor of 10.1 K gates. To obtain an efficient modulo arithmetic, we introduce a redundant modular operation. Moreover the proposed architecture can support multiple cryptographic protocols. The synthesis results with a 0.13 um CMOS technology show that the gate area of the most compact version is 12.5 K gates.
Invasive Fungal Sinusitis of the Sphenoid Sinus

Objective This study was conducted to present the clinical outcome of invasive fungal sinusitis of the sphenoid sinus and to analyze clinical factors influencing patient survival. Methods A retrospective review of 12 cases of invasive fungal sphenoiditis was conducted. Results Cases were divided into acute fulminant invasive fungal spheonoidits (n=4) and chronic invasive fungal sphenoiditis (n=8). The most common underlying disease was diabetes mellitus (n=9). The most common presenting symptoms and signs included visual disturbance (100%). Intracranial extension was observed in 8 patients. Endoscopic debridement and intravenous antifungals were given to all patients. Fatal aneurysmal rupture of the internal carotid artery occurred suddenly in two patients. The mortality rate was 100% for patients with acute fulminant invasive fungal sphenoiditis and 25% for patients with chronic invasive fungal sphenoiditis. In survival analysis, intracranial extension was evaluated as a statistically significant factor (P=0.027). Conclusion The survival rate of chronic invasive fungal sphenoiditis was 75%. However, the prognosis of acute fulminant invasive fungal sphenoiditis was extremely poor despite the application of aggressive treatment, thus, a high index of suspicion should be required and new diagnostic markers need to be developed for early diagnosis of invasive fungal sinusitis of the sphenoid sinus.
Color conversion method for multi-primary display for spectral color reproduction

In the conventional color reproduction based on the colorimetric match for a standard observer, color mismatch can be perceived if the color matching functions of the observer deviate from those of the standard observer; this phenomenon is known as observer metamerism. Recently, multi-primary display, using more than three-primary colors, has attracted attention as a color reproduction media because of its expanded gamut and its possibility to reduce the color mismatch caused by observer metamerism. In this paper, a new color conversion method for multi-primary display that reduces the observer metamerism is proposed. The proposed method gives the multi-dimensional control value of a display device to minimize the spectral approximation error under the constraints of tristimulus match. Reproduced spectrum by a seven-primary display is simulated and evaluated by the color matching functions of Stiles's 20 observers. The results confirmed that the proposed method reduces the color reproduction error caused by observer variability compared to the other seven-primary reproduction and conventional three-primary reproduction. The preliminary visual evaluation results with a seven-primary display using light-emitting diodes are also introduced.
Binary Classifier Calibration: Bayesian Non-Parametric Approach

A set of probabilistic predictions is well calibrated if the events that are predicted to occur with probability p do in fact occur about p fraction of the time. Well calibrated predictions are particularly important when machine learning models are used in decision analysis. This paper presents two new non-parametric methods for calibrating outputs of binary classification models: a method based on the Bayes optimal selection and a method based on the Bayesian model averaging. The advantage of these methods is that they are independent of the algorithm used to learn a predictive model, and they can be applied in a post-processing step, after the model is learned. This makes them applicable to a wide variety of machine learning models and methods. These calibration methods, as well as other methods, are tested on a variety of datasets in terms of both discrimination and calibration performance. The results show the methods either outperform or are comparable in performance to the state-of-the-art calibration methods.
DEPENDENCE OF WET SKID RESISTANCE UPON MOLECULAR STRUCTURE

A hypothesis has been proposed linking the wet skid resistance (WSR) of elastomers with the monomeric friction coefficient (MFC), which is indicative of polymer chain mobility, and molecular weight between molecular entanglements (Me) using the Rouse theory of viscoelasticity. It has been shown that the relationship between these parameters and WSR is much better compared to that between WSR and glass transition temperature. Using the Rouse H theory, the wet skid ranking of several elastomers (at 25 degrees centigrade) has been successfully predicted. Calculations at 100 degrees centigrade suggest that the wet skid behavior may be qualitatively and quantitatively different at this temperature. This study indicates that MFC and Me strongly influence the WSR, with the glass transition temperature perhaps exerting a minor influence. (A)
Raising the head‐of‐bed by 30 degrees reduces ICP and improves CPP without compromising cardiac output in euvolemic patients with traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid haemorrhage: a practice audit

© 2006 Copyright European Society of Anaesthesiology, European Journal of Anaesthesiology 23: 173–180 We found that systemic pretreatment with the NOS inhibitor 7-NI augmented the analgesic effect of tramadol in the hot-plate test even though it did not exhibit an analgesic effect by itself. No effects of pretreatments with 7-NI or L-NAME were observed in acetic acid induced writhing. The potentiation of analgesic effect of tramadol by 7-NI might be an indicator of the involvement of NO in the antinociceptive effect of tramadol. This is a preliminary study which suggests that NOS inhibitors may interfere with the analgesic effect of tramadol for the first time. It is also possible that 7-NI may increase the analgesic effect of tramadol other than the inhibition of neuronal NOS inhibition with some indistinct mechanism. In order to find out the overall aspects of this synergism, further studies are required.
Two Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases, CPK4 and CPK11, Regulate Abscisic Acid Signal Transduction in Arabidopsis[W]

Many biochemical approaches show functions of calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) in abscisic acid (ABA) signal transduction, but molecular genetic evidence linking defined CDPK genes with ABA-regulated biological functions at the whole-plant level has been lacking. Here, we report that ABA stimulated two homologous CDPKs in Arabidopsis thaliana, CPK4 and CPK11. Loss-of-function mutations of CPK4 and CPK11 resulted in pleiotropic ABA-insensitive phenotypes in seed germination, seedling growth, and stomatal movement and led to salt insensitivity in seed germination and decreased tolerance of seedlings to salt stress. Double mutants of the two CDPK genes had stronger ABA- and salt-responsive phenotypes than the single mutants. CPK4- or CPK11-overexpressing plants generally showed inverse ABA-related phenotypes relative to those of the loss-of-function mutants. Expression levels of many ABA-responsive genes were altered in the loss-of-function mutants and overexpression lines. The CPK4 and CPK11 kinases both phosphorylated two ABA-responsive transcription factors, ABF1 and ABF4, in vitro, suggesting that the two kinases may regulate ABA signaling through these transcription factors. These data provide in planta genetic evidence for the involvement of CDPK/calcium in ABA signaling at the whole-plant level and show that CPK4 and CPK11 are two important positive regulators in CDPK/calcium-mediated ABA signaling pathways.
The neuroscience of positive memory deficits in depression

Adults with unipolar depression typically show poor episodic memory for positive material, but the neuroscientific mechanisms responsible for this deficit have not been characterized. I suggest a simple hypothesis: weak memory for positive material in depression reflects disrupted communication between the mesolimbic dopamine pathway and medial temporal lobe (MTL) memory systems during encoding. This proposal draws on basic research showing that dopamine release in the hippocampus is critical for the transition from early- to late-phase long-term potentiation (LTP) that marks the conversion of labile, short-term memories into stable, long-term memories. Neuroimaging and pharmacological data from healthy humans paint a similar picture: activation of the mesolimbic reward circuit enhances encoding and boosts retention. Unipolar depression is characterized by anhedonia–loss of pleasure–and reward circuit dysfunction, which is believed to reflect negative effects of stress on the mesolimbic dopamine pathway. Thus, I propose that the MTL is deprived of strengthening reward signals in depressed adults and memory for positive events suffers accordingly. Although other mechanisms are important, this hypothesis holds promise as an explanation for positive memory deficits in depression.
Precise Point Positioning with the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System

By the end of 2012, China had launched 16 BeiDou-2 navigation satellites that include six GEOs, five IGSOs and five MEOs. This has provided initial navigation and precise pointing services ability in the Asia-Pacific regions. In order to assess the navigation and positioning performance of the BeiDou-2 system, Wuhan University has built up a network of BeiDou Experimental Tracking Stations (BETS) around the World. The Position and Navigation Data Analyst (PANDA) software was modified to determine the orbits of BeiDou satellites and provide precise orbit and satellite clock bias products from the BeiDou satellite system for user applications. This article uses the BeiDou/GPS observations of the BeiDou Experimental Tracking Stations to realize the BeiDou and BeiDou/GPS static and kinematic precise point positioning (PPP). The result indicates that the precision of BeiDou static and kinematic PPP reaches centimeter level. The precision of BeiDou/GPS kinematic PPP solutions is improved significantly compared to that of BeiDou-only or GPS-only kinematic PPP solutions. The PPP convergence time also decreases with the use of combined BeiDou/GPS systems.
Efficient Algorithms for Citation Network Analysis

In the paper very efficient, linear in number of arcs, algorit hms for determining Hummon and Doreian’s arc weights SPLC and SPNP in citation network are proposed, and some theoretical properties of these weights are presented. The nonacyclicity problem in citation networks is discussed. An approach to identify on the basis of arc weights an important small subnetwork is proposed and illustrated on the citation networks of SOM (self organizing maps) literature and US patents.
Thermal Post-Buckling and Vibration Analysis of Thermally Buckled Antisymmetrically Laminated Beams Using a 20 DOF Finite Element

Author: Misao Mizuno Title: Thermal Post-Buckling and Vibration Analysis of Thermally Buckled Antisymmetrically Laminated Beams Using a 20 DOF Finite Element Institution: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Degree: Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering Year: 1992 The purpose of this study is to use the finite element method to analyze thermal buckling, post-buckling, and vibrations of thermally buckled composite beams including shear deformation. The beam element used has ten degrees of freedom at each node: axial displacement, transverse displacement due to bending and shear, twisting angle, inplane shear rotation and their derivatives with respect to x. Hermitian polynomials and Lagrange's equation were used to derive the equations of motion. The equations of motion were divided into static and dynamic parts. For buckling analysis, the eigenvalue problem was solved for the critical temperature. The scaled first mode shape was used as the trial displacement vector for post-buckling deflection analysis, which employed a Newton-Raphson type iterative procedure. Once the final static deflection was achieved, the dynamic part of the equation of motion was used to solve the eigenvalue problem for the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the thermally buckled beams. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Copyright Page ii Signature Page iii Acknowledgements iv Abstract v Table of
THE AFFECT OF LOADING ON KINEMATIC AND KINETIC VARIABLES DURING THE MID-THIGH CLEAN PULL.

The ability to develop high levels of muscular power is considered a fundamental component for many different sporting activities; however the load that elicits peak power still remains controversial. The primary aim of the current study was to determine at which load peak power output occurs during the mid-thigh clean pull. Sixteen participants (Age 21.5 ± 2.4 years; height 173.86 ± 7.98cm; body mass 70.85 ± 11.67Kg) performed mid-thigh clean pulls at intensities of 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 and 140% of 1 repetition maximum (1-RM) power clean in a randomized and balanced order using a force plate and linear position transducer to assess velocity, displacement, peak power, peak force (Fz), impulse and rate of force development (RFD). Significantly greater Fz occurred at a load of 140% (2778.65 ± 151.58N, p<0.001), impulse within 100, 200, and 300 ms at a load of 140% 1-RM (196.85 ± 76.56N.s, 415.75 ± 157.56N.s and 647.86 ± 252.43N.s, p<0.023, respectively), RFD at a load of 120% (26224.23 ± 2461.61N.s, p=0.004), where as peak velocity (1.693 ± 0.042m.s, p<0.001) and peak power (3712.82 ± 254.38W, p<0.001) occurred at 40% 1-RM. Greatest total impulse (1129.86 ± 534.86N.s) was achieved at 140% 1RM, which was significantly greater (p<0.03) than at all loads except the 120% 1-RM condition. Results indicate that increased loading results in significant (p<0.001) decreases in peak power and peak velocity during the mid-thigh clean pull. Moreover, if maximizing force production is the goal then training at a higher load may be advantageous, with peak Fz occurring at 140% 1RM.
The Stock Sonar - Sentiment Analysis of Stocks Based on a Hybrid Approach

The Stock Sonar (TSS) is a stock sentiment analysis application based on a novel hybrid approach. While previous work focused on document level sentiment classification, or extracted only generic sentiment at the phrase level, TSS integrates sentiment dictionaries, phrase-level compositional patterns, and predicate-level semantic events. TSS generates precise in-text sentiment tagging as well as sentiment-oriented event summaries for a given stock, which are also aggregated into sentiment scores. Hence, TSS allows investors to get the essence of thousands of articles every day and may help them to make timely, informed trading decisions. The extracted sentiment is also shown to improve the accu- racy of an existing document-level sentiment classifier.
Cognitive emotion regulation fails the stress test

Cognitive emotion regulation has been widely shown in the laboratory to be an effective way to alter the nature of emotional responses. Despite its success in experimental contexts, however, we often fail to use these strategies in everyday life where stress is pervasive. The successful execution of cognitive regulation relies on intact executive functioning and engagement of the prefrontal cortex, both of which are rapidly impaired by the deleterious effects of stress. Because it is specifically under stressful conditions that we may benefit most from such deliberate forms of emotion regulation, we tested the efficacy of cognitive regulation after stress exposure. Participants first underwent fear-conditioning, where they learned that one stimulus (CS+) predicted an aversive outcome but another predicted a neutral outcome (CS−). Cognitive regulation training directly followed where participants were taught to regulate fear responses to the aversive stimulus. The next day, participants underwent an acute stress induction or a control task before repeating the fear-conditioning task using these newly acquired regulation skills. Skin conductance served as an index of fear arousal, and salivary α-amylase and cortisol concentrations were assayed as neuroendocrine markers of stress response. Although groups showed no differences in fear arousal during initial fear learning, nonstressed participants demonstrated robust fear reduction following regulation training, whereas stressed participants showed no such reduction. Our results suggest that stress markedly impairs the cognitive regulation of emotion and highlights critical limitations of this technique to control affective responses under stress.
Asymmetric 3D/2D face recognition based on LBP facial representation and canonical correlation analysis

In the recent years, 3D Face recognition has emerged as a major solution to deal with the unsolved issues for reliable 2D face recognition, i.e. lighting condition and viewpoint variations. However, 3D method is currently limited by its registration and computation cost. In this paper, we propose to investigate a solution named asymmetric face recognition scheme, enrolling people in 3D environment but performing identification in 2D. The goal is to limit the use of 3D data to where it really helps to improve recognition performances. In our approach, Local Binary Patterns (LBP) is used as an efficient facial representation for both 2D texture images and 3D range images. A weighted Chi square distance is used as matching score between the 2D LBP facial representations; Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) is applied to learn the mapping between LBP-based range face images (3D) and LBP facial texture images (2D). Both matching scores are further fused to obtain the final result. Compared with the traditional 2D/2D algorithms, the proposed asymmetric face recognition scheme achieves better accuracy; while avoiding the high cost of data acquisition and computation in 3D/3D approaches.
Adamantane-Resistant Influenza A Viruses in the World (1902–2013): Frequency and Distribution of M2 Gene Mutations

Adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine) have been used to prevent and treat influenza A virus infections for many years; however, resistance to these drugs has been widely reported in the world. To investigate the frequency and distribution of M2 gene mutations in adamantane-resistant influenza variants circulated in the world between 1902 and 2013, 31251 available M2 protein sequences from different HA-subtype influenza A viruses (H1–H17) were analyzed and adamantane resistance-associated mutations were compared (L26F, V27A, A30T, A30V, S31N, G34E, and L38F). We find that 45.2% (n = 14132) of influenza A (H1–H17) viruses circulating globally were resistant to adamantanes, and the vast majority of resistant viruses (95%) bear S31N mutations. Whereas, only about 1% have V27A mutations and other mutations (L26F, A30T, G34E, and L38F) were extremely rare (their prevalence appeared to be < 0.2%). Our results confirm that H1, H3, H5, H7, H9, and H17 subtype influenza A viruses exhibit high-level resistance to adamantanes. In contrast, the appearance of adamantane-resistant mutants in H2, H4, H6, H10, and H11 subtypes was rare. However, no adamantane resistance viruses were identified among other HA subtypes (H8, H12–H16). Our findings indicate that the frequency and distribution of adamantane-resistant influenza variants varied among different HA subtypes, host species, years of isolation, and geographical areas. This comprehensive study raises concerns about the increasing prevalence of adamantane-resistant influenza A viruses and highlights the importance of monitoring the emergence and worldwide spread of adamantane-resistant variants.
Quality of life in obese postmenopausal women

The aim of this review was to identify the ways in which obesity affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of postmenopausal women. This was considered important because a growing body of literature has identified obesity as a significant predictor for a poor psychological wellbeing and negative HRQoL, particularly in women, and because during the transition through the menopause women tend to accumulate more body weight. After searching eight electronic databases, only nine papers appeared meaningful. Although a meta-analysis was not possible, we found that a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2 was associated with a poor HRQoL in postmenopausal women; particularly in the areas associated with physical functioning, energy and vitality, and health perceptions. Thus, clinical management of obese postmenopausal women should focus on weight reduction and exercise in an attempt to improve wellbeing in these areas. However, the paucity of research, the different instruments chosen to measure HRQoL and the methodological limitations of the studies identified, prevented firm conclusions being made about whether the relationship between BMI and HRQoL is linear in postmenopausal women. Further research is needed to explore this relationship; particularly in comparison with underweight postmenopausal women and obese premenopausal women, where a few papers have identified these women as having a worse HRQoL than their obese postmenopausal counterparts. Other measures of central adiposity, including waist circumference and waist-hip ratio are recommended as useful supplemental measures to BMI in future studies.