Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unraveling the mechanism of selective ion transport in hydrophobic subnanometer channels

Significance Ion channels facilitate diffusion of ions across biological membranes. It has been a longstanding puzzle as to why the larger-sized K+ ion can diffuse across the narrow potassium channel, whereas the smaller Na+ cannot. Recently synthesized nanopores also possess ion selectivity, suggesting different mechanisms for the selective ion transport. Here, we employ ab initio molecular dynamics simulation to investigate structural and dynamical properties of aqua Na+ and K+ ions in hydrophobic nanochannels. We find that the aqua-Na+ ion has a smaller-sized but more structured and robust hydration shell, leading to low diffusivity in subnanometer channels. We predict that the (8, 8) carbon nanotube is possibly the best artificial K+-selective channel and may give rise to the highest K+ transportation rate. Recently reported synthetic organic nanopore (SONP) can mimic a key feature of natural ion channels, i.e., selective ion transport. However, the physical mechanism underlying the K+/Na+ selectivity for the SONPs is dramatically different from that of natural ion channels. To achieve a better understanding of the selective ion transport in hydrophobic subnanometer channels in general and SONPs in particular, we perform a series of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the diffusivity of aqua Na+ and K+ ions in two prototype hydrophobic nanochannels: (i) an SONP with radius of 3.2 Å, and (ii) single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with radii of 3–5 Å (these radii are comparable to those of the biological potassium K+ channels). We find that the hydration shell of aqua Na+ ion is smaller than that of aqua K+ ion but notably more structured and less yielding. The aqua ions do not lower the diffusivity of water molecules in CNTs, but in SONP the diffusivity of aqua ions (Na+ in particular) is strongly suppressed due to the rugged inner surface. Moreover, the aqua Na+ ion requires higher formation energy than aqua K+ ion in the hydrophobic nanochannels. As such, we find that the ion (K+ vs. Na+) selectivity of the (8, 8) CNT is ∼20× higher than that of SONP. Hence, the (8, 8) CNT is likely the most efficient artificial K+ channel due in part to its special interior environment in which Na+ can be fully solvated, whereas K+ cannot. This work provides deeper insights into the physical chemistry behind selective ion transport in nanochannels.
An O(log k log^2 n)-competitive Randomized Algorithm for the k-Sever Problem

In this paper, we show that there is an O(log k log^2 n)-competitive randomized algorithm for the k-sever problem on any metric space with n points, which improved the previous best competitive ratio O(log^2 k log^3 n log log n) by Nikhil Bansal et al. (FOCS 2011, pages 267-276).
Disentangling the Wealth Effect: A Cohort Analysis of Household Saving in the 1990s

In the U.S., household net worth rose substantially in the latter half of the 1990s and the personal saving rate dropped sharply. Researchers do not agree about just what behavior links these two events, or how to interpret the negative correlation between wealth and the saving rate over a longer time span. In this paper, we combine household-level data from the triennial Survey of Consumer Finances with quarterly, aggregate data from the Flow of Funds Accounts to estimate net worth and saving for different cohorts of households in the 1990s. We find that the groups of households whose balance sheets were boosted the most by surging equity prices were also the groups that substantially decreased their saving rates. Further, econometric analysis of these data produces propensities to consume out of wealth in the range of typical estimates obtained from aggregate data. Taken together, our results corroborate a direct view of the wealth effect on consumption.
Environmental Labeling and Incomplete Consumer Information in Laboratory Markets

Survey evidence suggests that consumers care about the environment and are willing to pay a higher price for a product that generates less environmental harm. We induce buyer preferences over quality in a laboratory posted offer market to study sellers' incentives to offer products of differing quality. Buyers are unaware of the product quality before purchase, as is the case for experience goods. We first document the market failure that arises from incomplete information when no signaling or reputations are possible. We then study various treatments that could remedy this failure. Seller reputations and unverified "cheap talk" signals sometimes increase the number of higher-valued 'clean' goods. The only reliable way to improve product quality in the experiment, however, is to use an external body that charges a fee to verify product quality claims.
Genetic Structure of Japanese Populations of Xylosandrus brevis (Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

ABSTRACT We examined the genetic structure of populations of an ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus brevis (Eichhoff) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), to understand its colonization dynamics. We collected specimens from 20 sites in Japan and studied the genetic structure of these populations using portions of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI). A phylogenetic analysis showed three distinct lineages (clades A, B, and C) within X. brevis. Clade A had 65 haplotypes from all the populations, except for populations from Nagano (Chiisagata-gun) and the Ryukyu Islands (Ishigaki), whereas clade B had 14 haplotypes from nine populations (Yamagata, Saitama, Shimo-Minochi-gun, Chiisagatagun, Toyota, Watarai-gun, Wakayama, Tottori, and Kochi), and clade C had 6 haplotypes from the Ryukyu Islands (Ishigaki) population (and nowhere else). Nested clade phylogeographic analysis showed 65 clade A haplotypes and 14 clade B haplotypes geographically structured in two clades, respectively. A contact zone was identified in the Chubu and Tokai areas. Our results suggest that gene flow and individual movement of X. brevis between the Ryukyu Islands and the other three main islands of Japan has been rare, and X. brevis may be divided into two populations, eastern-central and northern-western, with little gene flow between the four areas of western Japan (Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu).
High prevalence of severe coronary artery disease in elderly patients with non-operable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension referred for balloon pulmonary angioplasty

Introduction Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a new emerging catheter-based alternative treatment option for patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Aim To show that all elderly CTEPH patients referred for BPA are at higher risk of obstructive coronary artery disease and that, in daily practice, they should undergo invasive coronary angiography. Material and methods Eleven patients at the age of at least 65 years (6 males, 5 females, 77.2 ±5.9 years) with confirmed non-operable type II or type III CTEPH, considered for BPA, underwent elective coronary angiography. Severe obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) was diagnosed when stenosis of left main coronary artery ≥ 50% or stenosis of ≥ 70% of epicardial arteries was angiographically confirmed. We also screened for CAD consecutive age- and sex-matched 114 PE survivors (52 males, 62 females, 74.8 ±7.2 years) with excluded CTEPH. Results Severe CAD was more frequent in elderly patients with non-operable type II or type III CTEPH candidates for BPA than in elderly acute PE survivors with excluded CTEPH (54.5% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.01), and therefore elderly CTEPH patients referred for BPA were at higher risk of CAD (OR = 5.9, 95% CI: 1.64–21.46, p = 0.007) when compared to elderly survivors after acute PE with excluded CTEPH. Conclusions All elderly CTEPH patients referred for BPA are at higher risk of severe CAD and should routinely undergo invasive coronary angiography before BPA.
Reliability Analysis of the Failure Data in Industrial Repairable Systems due to Equipment Risk Factors

Once a unit experiences a service downtime or downgrade; the covariates or risk factors can directly shows impact on the delay in repairing activities. In this paper, the risk factors are revealed that either delay or accelerate repair times, and it also demonstrates the extent of such delay, attributable to the underlying characteristics of the equipment. The potential risk factors provide necessary inputs in order to improve operation performance. Once risk factors are detected, the maintenance planners and maintenance supervisors are aware of the starting and finishing points for each repairing job due to their prior knowledge about the potential barriers and facilitators. This study employs semi-parametric approaches in a different way to examine the relationship between repair time and various risk factors of interest. The properties of the hazard function for the repair time problem are critically examined and the major findings are highlighted. This paper focused to estimate underlying characteristics of the machines during failures, which may prolong the troubleshooting time. An empirical study has been accomplished to estimate the risk factors. There are 1203 ir conditioners maintenance records in 2011 and 2012 are collected from food industries in Malaysia. The empirical studies estimates repair time data and background characteristics of the machines.
COMBINING SKIN COLOR AND NEURAL NETWORK FOR MULTIFACE DETECTION IN STATIC IMAGES

In this paper a combination of skin color and neural network to detect multiface is proposed. The feasibility of using skin color and neural network for human face detection is presented through experimental investigation. The advantage of using skin color is that the structure of the face is strongly represented in its description along with its algorithmic and computational simplicity. Results reveal that using skin color and neural network has achieved better results compared to using skin color and template matching method.
MIDEE: smoothing branch and instruction cache miss penalties on deep pipelines

Pipelining is a major technique used in high performance processors. But its effectiveness is reduced by the branch instructions. A new organization for implementing branch instructions is presented: the Multiple Instruction Decode Effective Execution (MIDEE) organization. All the pipeline depths may be addressed using this organization. MIDEE is based on the use of double fetch and decode, early computation of the target address for branch instructions and two instruction queues. The double fetch-decode concerns a pair of instructions stored at consecutive addresses. These instructions are then decoded simultaneously, but no execution hardware is duplicated; only useful instructions are effectively executed. A pair of instruction queues are used between the fetch-decode stages and execution stages; this allows to hide branch penalty and most of the instruction cache misses penalty. Trace driven simulations show that the performance of deep pipeline processor may dramatically be improved when the MIDEE organization is implemented: branch penalty is reduced and pipeline stall delay due to instruction cache misses is also decreased. >
Novel multilevel hybrid inverter topology with power scalability

In this paper, a novel multilevel hybrid inverter is presented. The inverter is based on 2 floating capacitors and 16 active switches for five-level voltage waveform between the output of the inverter and neutral point of DC link. The proposed inverter structure, switching states and commutation scheme for different output voltage levels are presented. The proposed topology is simulated and verified experimentally. The simulation results show that proposed topology can achieve higher efficiency in comparison to state-of-the-art hybrid topologies due to reduced conduction and switching losses at low modulation index and light load conditions. Experimental results show that the converter is successfully operated up to 1 kV DC link voltage and 12 kW output power.
Single CCCCTA-based SITO biquad filter with electronic tuning

In this paper a new single-input three-output (SITO) electronically tunable voltage-mode biquad filter using single current controlled current conveyor trans-conductance amplifier (CCCCTA) is proposed. The proposed voltage-mode filter employs only one resistor and two grounded capacitors as passive elements and can simultaneously realize low pass (LP), band pass (BP), and band reject (BR) filter functions. The circuit possesses low active and passive sensitivity. The effects of parasitic and non-idealities are also considered. PSPICE simulation results are included for verification of proposed circuit.
樹体内の水移動の実測に基づく樹木移植時リスク指標の確立：水文学と園芸学の学際共同研究;樹体内の水移動の実測に基づく樹木移植時リスク指標の確立：水文学と園芸学の学際共同研究;Establishment of risk indicator of transplanting trees by sap flow measurements: an interdisciplinary research of hydrology and horticulture

樹木は根系から吸収した水分と大気中の二酸化 炭素ならびに太陽光を利用して光合成活動を行 い,その生命活動を維持している。 二酸化炭素は 気孔から取り入れられ,その際に葉から大気中へ 水が蒸発する。 この現象が蒸散であり,森林流域 の水収支の重要な構成要素の一つとなっている (例えば,Iida et al., 2006)。 根系で吸収された 水分は,葉から蒸散するまで連続した一つの系を 構成しており,土壌–植物–大気連続系と呼ばれ る(例えば,Kobayashi and Tanaka, 2001)。 こ の概念にしたがえば,樹幹内部の辺材部を上昇す る水の量,すなわち樹液流量を計測することで, 単木の蒸散量が計測可能となる。 ただし,森林を 構成する大径木の樹液流量を直接計測することは 現状では困難であるため,幹横断面上の辺材面積 と単位辺材面積あたりの樹液の移動速度である樹 液流速(Fig. 1)の双方を計測して蒸散量を求め るアプローチが通常用いられる(例えば,熊谷, 2007; Iida et al., in press)。 樹液流速測定法は複数存在し,いずれも熱を樹 幹に与える点で一致しているが,その特徴は手法 間で異なっている(例えば,田中,1996; Vandegehuchte and Steppe, 2013)。 林分の蒸散量 の定量的評価を目的としている場合,多数の計測 センサーが必要となるため,安価に自作可能なグ ラニエ法(Granier, 1985)(Fig. 1)が広く用い られている(Iida et al., in press; Kumagai et al., 2007; Kume et al., 2010; Shinohara et al.,
A new chemistry-climate tropospheric and stratospheric model MOCAGE-Climat: evaluation of the present-day climatology and sensitivity to surface processes

We present the chemistry-climate configuration of the Meteo-France Chemistry and Transport Model, MOCAGE-Climat. MOCAGE-Climat is a state-of-the-art model that simulates the global distribution of ozone and its precursors (82 chemical species) both in the troposphere and the stratosphere, up to the mid-mesosphere (~70 km). Surface processes (emissions, dry deposition), convection, and scavenging are explicitly described in the model that has been driven by the ECMWF operational analyses of the period 2000–2005, on T21 and T42 horizontal grids and 60 hybrid vertical levels, with and without a procedure that reduces calculations in the boundary layer, and with on-line or climatological deposition velocities. Model outputs have been compared to available observations, both from satellites (TOMS, HALOE, SMR, SCIAMACHY, MOPITT) and in-situ instrument measurements (ozone sondes, MOZAIC and aircraft campaigns) at climatological timescales. The distribution of long-lived species is in fair agreement with observations in the stratosphere putting apart shortcomings linked to the large-scale circulation. The variability of the ozone column, both spatially and temporarily, is satisfactory. However, the too fast Brewer-Dobson circulation accumulates too much ozone in the lower to mid-stratosphere at the end of winter. Ozone in the UTLS region does not show any systematic bias. In the troposphere better agreement with ozone sonde measurements is obtained at mid and high latitudes than in the tropics and differences with observations are the lowest in summer. Simulations using a simplified boundary layer lead to ozone differences between the model and the observations up to the mid-troposphere. NO x in the lowest troposphere is in general overestimated, especially in the winter months over the northern hemisphere, which might result from a positive bias in OH. Dry deposition fluxes of O 3 and nitrogen species are within the range of values reported by recent inter-comparison model exercises. The use of climatological deposition velocities versus deposition velocities calculated on-line had greatest impact on HNO 3 and NO 2 in the troposphere.
ENSEMBLE: A Communication Layer for Embedded Multi-Processor Systems

The ENSEMBLE communication library exploits overlapping of message aggregation (computation) and DMA transfers (communication) for embedded multi-processor systems. In contrast to traditional communication libraries, ENSEMBLE operates on n-dimensional data descriptors that can be used to specify often-occurring data access patterns in n-dimentional arrays. This allows ENSEMBLE to setup a three-stage pack-transfer-unpack pipeline, effectively overlapping message aggregation and DMA transfers. ENSEMBLE is used to support Spar/Java, a Java-based language with SPMD annotations. Measurements on a TriMedia-based multi-processor system show that ENSEMBLE increases performance up to 39% for peer-to-peer communication, and up to 34% for all-to-all communication.
Sequence of the Escherichia coli O121 O-Antigen Gene Cluster and Detection of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli O121 by PCR Amplification of the wzx and wzy Genes

ABSTRACT The DNA sequence of the 15,155-bp O-antigen gene cluster of Escherichia coli O121 was determined, and 14 open reading frames were identified (all had the same transcriptional direction). Analyses of results indicated that the wzx (O-antigen flippase) and wzy (O-antigen polymerase) genes were E. coli O121 specific, so regions in these two genes were chosen for development of PCR assays. The PCR assays using DNA from 99 E. coli O121 strains, strains representative of non-O121 E. coli serogroups, and strains of other bacterial genera and PCR assays using DNA from seven enrichments of swine fecal samples naturally contaminated with E. coli O121 showed specificity for E. coli O121. Thus, the PCR assay can be employed to reliably identify E. coli O121 and to potentially detect the organism in food, fecal, and environmental samples.
The Iterated Weakest Link - A Model of Adaptive Security Investment

We devise a model for security investment that reflects dynamic interaction between a defender, who faces uncertainty, and an attacker, who repeatedly targets the weakest link. Using the model, we derive and compare optimal security investment over multiple periods, exploring the delicate balance between proactive and reactive security investment. We show how the best strategy depends on the defender’s knowledge about prospective attacks and the recoverability of costs when upgrading defenses reactively. Our model explains why security under-investment is sometimes rational even when effective defenses are available and can be deployed independently of other parties’ choices. Finally, we connect the model to real-world security problems by examining two case studies where empirical data are available: computers compromised for use in online crime and payment card security.
The Hog Cycle of Law Professors: An Econometric Time Series Analysis of the Entry-Level Job Market in Legal Academia

The (German) market for law professors fulfils the conditions for a hog cycle: In the short run, supply cannot be extended or limited; future law professors must be hired soon after they first present themselves, or leave the market; demand is inelastic. Using a comprehensive German dataset, we show that the number of market entries today is negatively correlated with the number of market entries eight years ago. This suggests short-sighted behavior of young scholars at the time when they decide to prepare for the market. Using our statistical model, we make out-of-sample predictions for the German academic market in law until 2020.
A Globally Stable, Load-Independent Pressure Observer for the Servo Control of Pneumatic Actuators

Pneumatic actuators are governed by nonlinear dynamics. Thus, robust precision motion control of pneumatic systems requires model-based control techniques such as sliding-mode and/or adaptive control. These controllers typically require full-state knowledge of the system, i.e., pressure, position, velocity, and acceleration. For measuring pressure states, pneumatic servo systems require two expensive pressure sensors per axis, and hence, it makes the system economically noncompetitive with most electromagnetic types of actuation. This paper presents the development of a Lyapunov-based pressure observer for pneumatically actuated systems. The pressure observer is energy-based and has the useful feature of not requiring a model for the load of the system, i.e., it is load-independent. This pressure observer is proven to be globally stable with the added feature of having a response bandwidth equal to that of the modeled pressure dynamics. A robust observer-based controller is developed to obtain a low-cost precision pneumatic servo system. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate and validate the effectiveness of the proposed observer.
Predicting Emotion in Spoken Dialogue from Multiple Knowledge Sources

We examine the utility of multiple types of turn-level and contextual linguistic features for automatically predicting student emotions in human-human spoken tutoring dialogues. We (cid:2)rst annotate student turns in our corpus for negative, neutral and positive emotions. We then automatically extract features representing acoustic-prosodic and other linguistic information from the speech signal and associated transcriptions. We compare the results of machine learning experiments using different feature sets to predict the annotated emotions. Our best performing feature set contains both acoustic-prosodic and other types of linguistic features, extracted from both the current turn and a context of previous student turns, and yields a prediction accuracy of 84.75%, which is a 44% relative improvement in error reduction over a baseline. Our results suggest that the intelligent tutoring spoken dialogue system we are developing can be enhanced to automatically predict and adapt to student emotions.
Discovering Cyclic Causal Models by Independent Components Analysis

We generalize Shimizu et al's (2006) ICA-based approach for discovering linear non-Gaussian acyclic (LiNGAM) Structural Equation Models (SEMs) from causally sufficient, continuous-valued observational data. By relaxing the assumption that the generating SEM's graph is acyclic, we solve the more general problem of linear non-Gaussian (LiNG) SEM discovery. LiNG discovery algorithms output the distribution equivalence class of SEMs which, in the large sample limit, represents the population distribution. We apply a LiNG discovery algorithm to simulated data. Finally, we give sufficient conditions under which only one of the SEMs in the output class is 'stable'.