Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nanowire Integration Process to Gain Control over Location , Dimension , and Orientation Lead

We report a method to nucleate, grow, and transfer single crystal ZnO with control over location, orientation, size, shape, and final substrate material. The process uses an oxygen plasma treatment in combination with a photoresist pattern on Magnesium doped GaN substrates to define a narrow nucleation region and attachment points with desired 100 nm scale dimensions. Nucleation is followed by lateral epitaxial overgrowth producing single crystals of ZnO with desired size (100 nm – 100 μm) and shape (rods, wires, walls, disks) over 2 inch wafers. The formation of extended uniform arrays of ZnO/GaN heterojunction micro UV LEDs/Solar Cells (2.3 μm on a side) is demonstrated as a first application with light coupling between faceted areas within the equidistantly pitched devices. The quality of the patterned ZnO is high; the commonly observed defect related emission in the electroluminescence spectra is completely suppressed and a single near-band-edge UV peak is observed.
The Future of Renewables Linked by a Transnational Asian Grid

In this paper, we argue that Asia's unique geography, abundant low-emission energy resources, rapid economic growth, and rising energy demands merit consideration of a Pan-Asian Energy Infrastructure. In our study, we focus on development of wind and solar resources in Australia, China, Mongolia, and Vietnam as the potential foundation for an electricity grid stretching from China to Australia. Hourly climate data for a full year are used to estimate renewable energy generation, electricity demand, generation capacity are projected forward to the year 2025, and economic dispatch in an international market is simulated to demonstrate cost benefits. Intermittency, connectivity, future dispatch orders, storage, line losses, and engineering and financial issues are all addressed.
Post-implantation mortality of in vitro produced embryos is associated with DNA methyltransferase 1 dysfunction in sheep placenta.

STUDY QUESTION Is DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) dysfunction involved in epigenetic deregulation of placentae from embryos obtained by assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs)? SUMMARY ANSWER DNMT1 expression in growing placentae of in vitro produced (IVP) embryos is compromised and associated with pregnancy loss. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY DNMT1 maintains the methylation profile of genes during cell division. The methylation status of genes involved in placenta development is altered in embryos obtained in vitro. Disturbances in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression during placentogenesis could be involved in the frequent developmental arrest and loss of IVP embryos. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Forty sheep were naturally mated (Group 1, CTR). IVP blastocysts (2-4 per ewe) were surgically transferred to the remaining 46 recipient sheep 6 days after oestrus (Group 2). Twenty-one recipients from Group 1 and 27 recipients from Group 2 were allowed to deliver in order to compare embryo survival in both groups at term (150 days). From the remaining recipients (n = 38), fetuses and placentae of both groups were recovered by paramedian laparotomy at Days 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 of gestation. MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Immediately after collection, early placental tissues (chorion-allantois) were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and DNMT1 expression and activity was evaluated. mRNA levels (for DNMT1, HDAC2, PCNA, DMAP1, MEST, IGF2, CDKN1C, H19) and the methylation status of H19 were also analyzed. Furthermore, embryo size and survival rate were measured. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Our study shows that DNMT1 expression was reduced in early placentae from sheep IVP embryos. This reduction was associated with growth arrest and subsequent death of the sheep embryos. Conversely, normal levels of DNMT1 and its cofactors were observed in placentae from IVP embryos that survived this developmental bottleneck. Although DNA methylation machinery was severely compromised in IVP placentae only up to Day 24, the low DNMT1 enzymatic activity that persisted after this stage in IVP placentae was not lethal for the developing embryos. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The studied genes represent only a small fraction of genes regulating DNA methylation. Further studies are needed to evaluate changes in the expression and methylation status of other genes that may lead to developmental arrest of IVP embryos. As this is the only study evaluating the functionality of DNMT1 machinery in placentae from ART embryos, studies on other species are needed to confirm if our observation may be applicable to all mammalian embryos produced in vitro. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The knowledge about compromised activity of DNMT1 in placentae obtained from IVP embryos should stimulate detailed studies on the metabolic requirements of oocytes and embryos in order to adequately enrich the culture media.
Numerical Comparison of Iterative Ensemble Kalman Filters for Unsaturated Flow Inverse Modeling

This study evaluated three algorithms of the iterative ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). They are Confirming EnKF, Restart EnKF, and modified Restart EnKF developed to resolve the inconsistency problem (i.e., updated model parameters and state variables do not follow the Richards equation) in vadose zone data assimilation due to model nonlinearity. While Confirming and Restart EnKF were adapted from literature, modified Restart EnKF was developed in this study to reduce computational costs by calculating only the mean simulation, not all the ensemble realizations, from time t = 0. A total of 11 cases were designed to investigate the performance of EnKF, Confirming EnKF, Restart EnKF, and modified Restart EnKF with different types and spatial configurations of observations (pressure head and water content) and different values of observation error variance, initial guess of ensemble mean and variance, ensemble size, and damping factor. The numerical study showed that Confirming EnKF produced considerable inconsistency for the nonlinear unsaturated flow problem, which differs from the apparent consensus opinion that Confirming EnKF can resolve the inconsistency problem. In contrast, Restart EnKF and its modification can resolve the inconsistency problem. Restart EnKF and its modification outperformed EnKF and Confirming EnKF in the various cases considered in this study. It ws also found that combining different types of observations can achieve better assimilation results, which is useful for monitoring network design.
Performance differences for intermediate rock climbers who successfully and unsuccessfully attempted an indoor sport climbing route

As a popular recreational and competitive adventure sport the research base for rock climbing has developed in parallel with the growth of the sport. To date researchers have not attempted to explain the performance differences between those who successfully complete an ascent of a route and those who fall en-route. The aim of our study was to identify factors contributing to a successful or unsuccessful ascent of an indoor sport climbing route. Eighteen intermediate level climbers attempted an onsight ascent of a grade 19 Ewbank scale (5.10b YDS, 6a Sport) climb as either a lead climb or top rope. Results indicated that general climbing experience and number of years lead climbing significantly affected success on the route and appeared to provide successful climbers with a greater feeling of self confidence prior to ascent (p < 0.05). This resulted in significantly lower time taken at key points on the route and a lower heart rate throughout for the successful climbers (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that prior experience plays a significant role in the successful climbing performance for intermediate level climbers in an on-sight context, regardless of whether lead climbing or top roping.
HTR8/SVneo Cells Display Trophoblast Progenitor Cell-Like Characteristics Indicative of Self-Renewal, Repopulation Activity, and Expression of “Stemness-” Associated Transcription Factors

Introduction. JEG3 is a choriocarcinoma—and HTR8/SVneo a transformed extravillous trophoblast—cell line often used to model the physiologically invasive extravillous trophoblast. Past studies suggest that these cell lines possess some stem or progenitor cell characteristics. Aim was to study whether these cells fulfill minimum criteria used to identify stem-like (progenitor) cells. In summary, we found that the expression profile of HTR8/SVneo (CDX2+, NOTCH1+, SOX2+, NANOG+, and OCT-) is distinct from JEG3 (CDX2+ and NOTCH1+) as seen only in human-serum blocked immunocytochemistry. This correlates with HTR8/SVneo's self-renewal capacities, as made visible via spheroid formation and multi-passagability in hanging drops protocols paralleling those used to maintain embryoid bodies. JEG3 displayed only low propensity to form and reform spheroids. HTR8/SVneo spheroids migrated to cover and seemingly repopulate human chorionic villi during confrontation cultures with placental explants in hanging drops. We conclude that HTR8/SVneo spheroid cells possess progenitor cell traits that are probably attained through corruption of “stemness-” associated transcription factor networks. Furthermore, trophoblastic cells are highly prone to unspecific binding, which is resistant to conventional blocking methods, but which can be alleviated through blockage with human serum.
Impact of a Positive Deviance Approach to Improve the Effectiveness of an Iron-Supplementation Program to Control Nutritional Anemia among Rural Senegalese Pregnant Women

Background Iron supplementation through prenatal care remains the most widespread strategy to control anemia during pregnancy, but its effectiveness is only partial, showing the need to address other approaches. Objective This study was conducted to measure the impact of a positive deviance approach to improve an iron-supplementation program among pregnant women in a rural Senegalese area. Methods A positive deviance approach (PD Micah) was compared with an ongoing integrated nutrition and health program intervention (Micah) in a rural Senegalese area. A pre-post evaluation was conducted using independent cross-sectional samples with a total of 371 pregnant women. A sociodemographic questionnaire was administered, and biologic and anthropometric measurements were performed. Results After 9 months of activities, the mean hemoglobin level rose from 93.9 to 100.7 g/L in the PD Micah group. Distribution of iron supplements through community volunteers and implementation of healthy pregnancy promotion sessions on a monthly basis improved the accessibility to 23.3% in the PD Micah group. No significant change was observed in the Micah group. Logistic regression analysis showed a significantly reduced risk of anemia in the PD Micah area (adjusted odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.12 to 0.53). Conclusions This intervention shows that a community-based strategy, such as the positive deviance approach, can contribute to improving the effectiveness of iron supplementation during pregnancy.
New Forearm Elements Discovered of Holotype Specimen Australovenator wintonensis from Winton, Queensland, Australia

New skeletal elements are reported of the holotype specimen Australovenator wintonensis, from the type locality, near Winton, central western Queensland. New elements include left and right humeri, right radius, right radiale, right distal carpal 1, near complete right metacarpal I, left manual phalanx II-1, left manual phalanx II-2, near complete left manual phalanx II-3 and a left manual phalanx III-3. These new elements combined with those previously described are compared against other neovenatorids.
THE SEMILATTICE, BOX, AND LATTICE-TENSOR PRODUCTS IN QUANTUM LOGIC

Given two complete atomistic lattices L1 and L2, we define a set S = S(L1, L2) of complete atomistic lattices by means of three axioms (natural regarding the description of separated quantum compound systems), or in terms of a universal property with respect to a given class of bimor- phisms. We prove that S is a complete lattice. The bottom element L1 ∧ L 2 is the separated product of Aerts. For atomistic lattices with 1 (not complete), L1 ∧ L 2 ∼ L1� L2 the box product of Gratzer and Wehrung, and, in case L1 and L2 are moreover coatomistic, L1 ∧ L 2 ∼ L1 ⊠L2 the lattice tensor product. The top element L1 ∨ L 2 is the (complete) join-semilattice tensor product of Fraser, which is isomorphic to the tensor products of Chu and Shmuely. With some additional hypotheses on L1 and L2 (true if L1 and L2 are moreover orthomodular with the covering property), we prove that S is a singleton if and only if L1 or L2 is distributive, if and only if L1 ∨ L 2 has the covering property. Our main result reads: L ∈ S admits an orthocomplementation if and only if L = L1 ∧ L 2. For L1 and L2 moreover irreducible, we characterize the automorphisms of each L ∈ S in terms of those of L1 and L2. At the end, we construct an example L1 ⇓ L 2 in S which has the covering property.
Prosocial vs. Trolling Community on Facebook: A Comparative Study of Individual Group Communicative Behaviors

Communicative behaviors displayed on the group “walls” within and between a prosocial and a trolling community on Facebook were compared based on the following conceptual frameworks: (1) types of information exchange behaviors, (2) message contingent interactivity, and (3) proportion of agreement and disagreement. Findings revealed that participants in a prosocial community exchanged more emotionally supportive messages and showed greater level of message reciprocity and member agreement. That is not to say that a trolling group exists in disharmony. On the contrary, participants of a trolling community were found to agree more with one another than disagree. Findings extend online community research that largely examined solo communities and investigated trolling as individual activities, and show that at the group level, a trolling community can instead be more collaborative than acrimonious. Practical suggestions and implications of findings in the context and theorization of online communities are discussed.
Competition and self-serving bias in CEO ’ s agreements

CEOs’ contracts should be the quintessence of the "at will" contract. What are the reasons that lead to more explicit and flexible agreements for CEOs? Recent empirical works have shown that uncertainty on the contribution to the value created within the firm by CEOs increases the resort to more explicit contracts. This paper applies the framework of Hart & Moore (2008) where the contract is a reference point to CEOs’ agreements. Aggrievement and competition are sources of ex post inefficiences and lead to more variable pay and flexible contracts. Benchmarking pratices are explain in this framework. Classification JEL : J33,J44,G35,G38.
Stealth-trading : Which traders ’ trades move stock prices ?

Using audit trail data for a sample of NYSE firms we show that medium-size trades are associated with a disproportionately large cumulative stock price change relative to their proportion of all trades and volume. This result is consistent with the predictions of Barclay and Warner’s (1993) stealth-trading hypothesis. We find that the source of this disproportionately large cumulative price impact of medium-size trades is trades initiated by institutions. This result is robust to various sensitivity checks. Our findings appear to confirm street lore that institutions are informed traders. # 2001 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved. JEL classification: G12; G14; D82
Asymptotic Mean Time To Failure and Higher Moments for Large, Recursive Networks

This paper deals with asymptotic expressions of the Mean Time To Failure (MTTF) and higher moments for large, recursive, and non-repairable systems in the context of two-terminal reliability. Our aim is to extend the well-known results of the series and parallel cases. We first consider several exactly solvable configurations of identical components with exponential failure-time distribution functions to illustrate different (logarithmic or power-law) behaviors as the size of the system, indexed by an integer n, increases. The general case is then addressed: it provides a simple interpretation of the origin of the power-law exponent and an efficient asymptotic expression for the total reliability of large, recursive systems. Finally, we assess the influence of the non-exponential character of the component reliability on the n-dependence of the MTTF.
A New Data Transfer Method via Signal-Rich-Art Code Images Captured by Mobile Devices

A new type of signal-rich-art image for applications of data transfer, called signal-rich-art code image, is proposed. The created code image is visually similar to a preselected target image and, with a given message embedded, achieves the effect of the so-called signal-rich art. With its function similar to that of a QR code, such a type of image is produced by encoding the message into a binary bit stream, representing the bits by binary code patterns of 2 × 2 blocks, and injecting the patterns into the target image by a novel image-block luminance modulation scheme. Each signal-rich-art code image may be printed or displayed and then is recaptured using a mobile-device camera. Skillful techniques for counting the number of pattern blocks and recognition of code patterns are also proposed for message extraction from the recaptured version of the signal-rich-art code image. Good experimental results and a comparison of them with those of an existing alternative method show the feasibility and superiority of the proposed new data transfer method.
Proteomic Profiling of the Amniotic Fluid to Detect Inflammation, Infection, and Neonatal Sepsis

Background Proteomic analysis of amniotic fluid shows the presence of biomarkers characteristic of intrauterine inflammation. We sought to validate prospectively the clinical utility of one such proteomic profile, the Mass Restricted (MR) score. Methods and Findings We enrolled 169 consecutive women with singleton pregnancies admitted with preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes. All women had a clinically indicated amniocentesis to rule out intra-amniotic infection. A proteomic fingerprint (MR score) was generated from fresh samples of amniotic fluid using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization (SELDI) mass spectrometry. Presence or absence of the biomarkers of the MR score was interpreted in relationship to the amniocentesis-to-delivery interval, placental inflammation, and early-onset neonatal sepsis for all neonates admitted to the Newborn Special Care Unit (n = 104). Women with “severe” amniotic fluid inflammation (MR score of 3 or 4) had shorter amniocentesis-to-delivery intervals than women with “no” (MR score of 0) inflammation or even “minimal” (MR score of 1 or 2) inflammation (median [range] MR 3–4: 0.4 d [0.0–49.6 d] versus MR 1–2: 3.8 d [0.0–151.2 d] versus MR 0: 17.0 d [0.1–94.3 d], p < 0.001). Nonetheless, a “minimal” degree of inflammation was also associated with preterm birth regardless of membrane status. There was a significant association between the MR score and severity of histological chorioamnionitis (r = 0.599, p < 0.001). Furthermore, neonatal hematological indices and early-onset sepsis significantly correlated with the MR score even after adjusting for gestational age at birth (OR for MR 3–4: 3.3 [95% CI, 1.1 to 9.2], p = 0.03). When compared with other laboratory tests routinely used to diagnose amniotic fluid inflammation and infection, the MR score had the highest accuracy to detect inflammation (white blood cell count > 100 cells/mm3), whereas the combination of Gram stain and MR score was best for rapid prediction of intra-amniotic infection (positive amniotic fluid culture). Conclusions High MR scores are associated with preterm delivery, histological chorioamnionitis, and early-onset neonatal sepsis. In this study, proteomic analysis of amniotic fluid was shown to be the most accurate test for diagnosis of intra-amniotic inflammation, whereas addition of the MR score to the Gram stain provides the best combination of tests to rapidly predict infection.
Discourse Segmentation of German Texts

This paper addresses the problem of segmenting German texts into minimal discourse units, as they are needed, for example, in RST-based discourse parsing. We discuss relevant variants of the problem, introduce the design of our annotation guidelines, and provide the results of an extensive inter-annotator agreement study of the corpus. Afterwards, we report on our experiments with three automatic classiﬁers that rely on the output of state-of-the-art parsers and use diﬀerent amounts and kinds of syntactic knowledge: constituent parsing versus dependency parsing; tree-structure classiﬁcation versus sequence labeling. Finally, we compare our approaches with the recent discourse segmentation methods proposed for English.
Iron defecation by sperm whales stimulates carbon export in the Southern Ocean

The iron-limited Southern Ocean plays an important role in regulating atmospheric CO2 levels. Marine mammal respiration has been proposed to decrease the efficiency of the Southern Ocean biological pump by returning photosynthetically fixed carbon to the atmosphere. Here, we show that by consuming prey at depth and defecating iron-rich liquid faeces into the photic zone, sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) instead stimulate new primary production and carbon export to the deep ocean. We estimate that Southern Ocean sperm whales defecate 50 tonnes of iron into the photic zone each year. Molar ratios of Cexport ∶Feadded determined during natural ocean fertilization events are used to estimate the amount of carbon exported to the deep ocean in response to the iron defecated by sperm whales. We find that Southern Ocean sperm whales stimulate the export of 4 × 105 tonnes of carbon per year to the deep ocean and respire only 2 × 105 tonnes of carbon per year. By enhancing new primary production, the populations of 12 000 sperm whales in the Southern Ocean act as a carbon sink, removing 2 × 105 tonnes more carbon from the atmosphere than they add during respiration. The ability of the Southern Ocean to act as a carbon sink may have been diminished by large-scale removal of sperm whales during industrial whaling.
Open Problem: The landscape of the loss surfaces of multilayer networks

Deep learning has enjoyed a resurgence of interest in the last few years for such applications as image and speech recognition, or natural language processing. The vast majority of practical applications of deep learning focus on supervised learning, where the supervised loss function is minimized using stochastic gradient descent. The properties of this highly non-convex loss function, such as its landscape and the behavior of critical points (maxima, minima, and saddle points), as well as the reason why largeand small-size networks achieve radically different practical performance, are however very poorly understood. It was only recently shown that new results in spin-glass theory potentially may provide an explanation for these problems by establishing a connection between the loss function of the neural networks and the Hamiltonian of the spherical spin-glass models. The connection between both models relies on a number of possibly unrealistic assumptions, yet the empirical evidence suggests that the connection may exist in real. The question we pose is whether it is possible to drop some of these assumptions to establish a stronger connection between both models.