Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Handaxes from Bose Basin (China) and the Western Acheulean Indicates Convergence of Form, Not Cognitive Differences

Alleged differences between Palaeolithic assemblages from eastern Asia and the west have been the focus of controversial discussion for over half a century, most famously in terms of the so-called ‘Movius Line’. Recent discussion has centered on issues of comparability between handaxes from eastern Asian and ‘Acheulean’ examples from western portions of the Old World. Here, we present a multivariate morphometric analysis in order to more fully document how Mid-Pleistocene (i.e. ∼803 Kyr) handaxes from Bose Basin, China compare to examples from the west, as well as with additional (Mode 1) cores from across the Old World. Results show that handaxes from both the western Old World and Bose are significantly different from the Mode 1 cores, suggesting a gross comparability with regard to functionally-related form. Results also demonstrate overlap between the ranges of shape variation in Acheulean handaxes and those from Bose, demonstrating that neither raw material nor cognitive factors were an absolute impediment to Bose hominins in making comparable handaxe forms to their hominin kin west of the Movius Line. However, the shapes of western handaxes are different from the Bose examples to a statistically significant degree. Moreover, the handaxe assemblages from the western Old World are all more similar to each other than any individual assemblage is to the Bose handaxes. Variation in handaxe form is also comparatively high for the Bose material, consistent with suggestions that they represent an emergent, convergent instance of handaxe technology authored by Pleistocene hominins with cognitive capacities directly comparable to those of ‘Acheulean’ hominins.
Group Decision Making Methods for Different Fuzzy Preferences with Uncertainty Number

The group decision making based on different preference of judgments is investigated. Based on the transformation between the triangular (trapezoidal) fuzzy number and 2-tuple linguistic, the different preference information is unified to 2-tuple linguistic information. It is illustrated by a numerical example that the proposed methods are effective.
The effect of epoxy-functionalized chain extender on crystal growth and morphology of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)

The crystal growth rate of melt-crystallized poly (3-hydroxybutyrate- co -3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) reacting with epoxy-functionalized chain extender was investigated by wide angle X-ray diffraction and polarized optical microscopy (POM). The maximum concentration of chain extender in this work was limited to 1.00 % wt for food contact considerations. The WAXD results revealed that the quantity of chain extender used in this study had no effect on crystal structure and all chain-extended PHBV had a PHB-type crystal structure. The rate of crystal growth determined from POM at various crystallization temperatures confirmed that the addition of epoxy-functionalized chain extender delayed the crystal growth rate but did not change the crystal growth process and morphology.
Ckmeans.1d.dp: Optimal k-means Clustering in One Dimension by Dynamic Programming

The heuristic k-means algorithm, widely used for cluster analysis, does not guarantee optimality. We developed a dynamic programming algorithm for optimal one-dimensional clustering. The algorithm is implemented as an R package called Ckmeans.1d. dp. We demonstrate its advantage in optimality and runtime over the standard iterative k-means algorithm.
Measure of Functional Independence Dominates Discharge Outcome Prediction After Inpatient Rehabilitation for Stroke

Background and Purpose— Identifying clinical data acquired at inpatient rehabilitation admission for stroke that accurately predict key outcomes at discharge could inform the development of customized plans of care to achieve favorable outcomes. The purpose of this analysis was to use a large comprehensive national data set to consider a wide range of clinical elements known at admission to identify those that predict key outcomes at rehabilitation discharge. Methods— Sample data were obtained from the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation data set with the diagnosis of stroke for the years 2005 through 2007. This data set includes demographic, administrative, and medical variables collected at admission and discharge and uses the FIM (functional independence measure) instrument to assess functional independence. Primary outcomes of interest were functional independence measure gain, length of stay, and discharge to home. Results— The sample included 148 367 people (75% white; mean age, 70.6±13.1 years; 97% with ischemic stroke) admitted to inpatient rehabilitation a mean of 8.2±12 days after symptom onset. The total functional independence measure score, the functional independence measure motor subscore, and the case-mix group were equally the strongest predictors for any of the primary outcomes. The most clinically relevant 3-variable model used the functional independence measure motor subscore, age, and walking distance at admission (r2=0.107). No important additional effect for any other variable was detected when added to this model. Conclusions— This analysis shows that a measure of functional independence in motor performance and age at rehabilitation hospital admission for stroke are predominant predictors of outcome at discharge in a uniquely large US national data set.
Measurement for Elastic Modulus of Ultra-Thin Glass by Cantilever Beam Method

In order to overcome the limitations of common methods for measuring elastic modulus of the ultra-thin glass，a novel method is proposed for measuring the elastic modulus of the ultra-thin glass by cantilever beam vibration method．The measurement principle，apparatus，and manipulation were introduced. In this method, the measured ultra-thin glass is generated in the form of a cantilever beam, and the cantilever beam can be vibrated for a short time when transient excitation is applied. The natural frequency of the cantilever beam can be used to calculate the elastic modulus of the ultra-thin glass material. A series of ultra-thin glass samples with different thickness were tested in this work, the measured values are consistent with that given . The effect of beam length/thickness ratio on determination of elastic modulus of materials by means of cantilever method was analyzed, the result shows that the influence of the ratio can be neglected if the beam length is equal to or more than 10 times of the beam thickness.
Electrolytic Toxic Metal Removal from Effluents using Reticulated Vitreous Carbon

SUMMARY With the discharge of toxic metal laden effluent being a major environmental and economic concern to many metal finishing industries, the process of electrodeposition offers a clean and efficient method of removing and recovering such pollutants. A technique for the electrolytic removal of metal ions from acidified copper sulphate streams using reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) electrodes is described. The very high specific surface area values (up to 6600 m2/m3) and high porosity (approximately 97%) of this form of carbon coupled with its availability in several grades (related to the foam pore size) made it a potentially attractive electrode material. A laboratory scale rig employing a flow-by electrode cell with an RVC cathode was constructed to allow performance evaluation of batch recycle or continuous modes of operation. Extraction efficiencies of over 80% for continuous operation and 99% for batch recycle operations were achieved using solutions containing 300 ppm copper. Process details and economic estimates for a typical system able to meet current regulatory standards are also discussed.
Characterizing Information Diets of Social Media Users

With the widespread adoption of social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, there has been a shift in the way information is produced and consumed. Earlier, the only producers of information were traditional news organizations, which broadcast the same carefully-edited information to all consumers over mass media channels. Whereas, now, in online social media, any user can be a producer of information, and every user selects which other users she connects to, thereby choosing the information she consumes. Moreover, the personalized recommendations that most social media sites provide also contribute towards the information consumed by individual users. In this work, we define a concept of information diet — which is the topical distribution of a given set of information items (e.g., tweets) — to characterize the information produced and consumed by various types of users in the popular Twitter social media. At a high level, we find that (i) popular users mostly produce very specialized diets focusing on only a few topics; in fact, news organizations (e.g., NYTimes) produce much more focused diets on social media as compared to their mass media diets, (ii) most users' consumption diets are primarily focused towards one or two topics of their interest, and (iii) the personalized recommendations provided by Twitter help to mitigate some of the topical imbalances in the users' consumption diets, by adding information on diverse topics apart from the users' primary topics of interest.
Disability Measurement for Lymphatic Filariasis: A Review of Generic Tools Used within Morbidity Management Programs

Lymphatic filariasis (LF)-related disability affects 40 million people globally, making LF the leading cause of physical disability in the world. Despite this, there is limited research into how the impacts of LF-related disability are best measured. This article identifies the tools currently being used to measure LF-related disability and reviews their applicability against the known impacts of LF. The findings from the review show that the generic disability tools currently used by LF programs fail to measure the majority of known impacts of LF-related disability. The findings from the review support the development of an LF-specific disability measurement tool and raise doubt about the suitability of generic disability tools to assess disability related to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) globally.
Degrees of freedom of MIMO X networks: Spatial scale invariance, one-sided decomposability and linear feasibility

We show that an M × N user MIMO X network with A antennas at each node has A (MN/M+N-1) degrees of freedom (DoF), thus settling the spatial scale invariance conjecture (scaling the number of antennas at each node by a constant factor will scale the total DoF by the same factor) for this class of networks. The previously known best general DoF inner bound, inspired by the K user interference channel, was based on the decomposition of every transmitter and receiver into multiple single antenna nodes, transforming the network into an AM × AN user SISO X network. While such a decomposition is DoF optimal for the K user interference channel, a gap remained between the best inner and outer bound for the MIMO X channel. Here we close this gap with the new insight that the MIMO X network is only one-sided decomposable, i.e., either all the transmitters or all the receivers (but not both) can be decomposed by splitting multiple antenna nodes into multiple single antenna nodes without loss of DoF. The result is extended to SIMO and MISO X networks as well and in each case the DoF results satisfy the spatial scale invariance property. In addition, the feasibility of linear interference alignment is investigated based only on spatial beamforming without symbol extensions. Similar to MIMO interference networks, we show that when the problem is improper, it is infeasible.
Phospholipid profiling identifies acyl chain elongation as a ubiquitous trait and potential target for the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Beyond first line treatment, few therapeutic options are available, particularly for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Here, we have explored the phospholipidomes of 30 human SCCs and found that they almost invariably (in 96.7% of cases) contain phospholipids with longer acyl chains compared to matched normal tissues. This trait was confirmed using in situ 2D-imaging MS on tissue sections and by phospholipidomics of tumor and normal lung tissue of the L-IkkαKA/KA mouse model of lung SCC. In both human and mouse, the increase in acyl chain length in cancer tissue was accompanied by significant changes in the expression of acyl chain elongases (ELOVLs). Functional screening of differentially expressed ELOVLs by selective gene knockdown in SCC cell lines followed by phospholipidomics revealed ELOVL6 as the main elongation enzyme responsible for acyl chain elongation in cancer cells. Interestingly, inhibition of ELOVL6 drastically reduced colony formation of multiple SCC cell lines in vitro and significantly attenuated their growth as xenografts in vivo in mouse models. These findings identify acyl chain elongation as one of the most common traits of lung SCC discovered so far and pinpoint ELOVL6 as a novel potential target for cancer intervention.
An Approach of Finding Localized Preferences Based-On Clustering for Collaborative Filtering

Collaborative filtering has been very successful in both research and applications. Current collaborative filtering based on clustering compute the whole set of items during the process of clustering or selecting nearest-neighbors, because the researchers believed if users have similar preferences on some of items, they will have the similar preferences on other items. But we think that users have similar preferences only on parts of items, even they are neighbors and ignoring the fact of traditional methods probably make the prediction result inaccurate. For this reason, we try to propose a new collaborative filtering algorithm by using the localized preferences between users. We design an algorithm based on cluster model to find the localized preferences and then use the localized preferences between users to select neighbors for active users. Experimental results show that our proposed framework can significantly improve the accuracy of predication as well as solve the scalability problem because of the cluster method.
Development and population dynamics of Steinernema yirgalemense (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and growth characteristics of its associated Xenorhabdus indica symbiont in liquid culture

Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes have become a valuable addition to the range of biological control agents available for insect control. An endemic nematode, Steinernema yirgalemense, has been found to be effective against a wide range of key insect pests. The next step would be the mass production this nematode for commercial application. This requires the establishment of monoxenic cultures of both the nematode and the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus indica. First-stage juveniles of S. yirgalemense were obtained from eggs, while X. indica was isolated from nematode-infected wax moth larvae. The population density of the various life stages of S. yirgalemense during the developmental phase in liquid culture was determined. The recovery of infective juveniles (IJs) to the third-stage feeding juveniles, was 67 ± 10%, reaching a maximum population density of 75,000 IJs ml− 1 on day 13 after inoculation. Adult density increased after 8 days, with the maximum female density being 4600 ml− 1 on day 15, whereas the maximum male density was 4300 ml− 1 on day 12. Growth curves for X. indica showed that the exponential phase was reached 15 h after inoculation to the liquid medium. The stationary phase was reached after 42 h, with an average of 51 × 107 colony-forming units ml− 1. Virulence tests showed a significant difference in insect mortality between in vitro- and in vivo-produced nematodes. The success obtained with the production of S. yirgalemense in liquid culture can serve as the first step in the optimizing and upscaling of the commercial production of nematodes in fermenters.
Adaptive mode selection for bidirectional relay networks — Fixed rate transmission

In this paper, we consider the problem of sum throughput maximization for bidirectional relay networks with block fading. Thereby, user 1 and user 2 exchange information only via a relay node, i.e., a direct link between both users is not present. We assume that channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT) is not available and/or only one coding and modulation scheme is used at the transmitters due to complexity constraints. Thus, the nodes transmit with a fixed predefined rate regardless of the channel state information (CSI). In general, the nodes in the network can assume one of three possible states in each time slot, namely the transmit, receive, and silent state. Most of the existing protocols assume a fixed schedule for the sequence of the states of the nodes. In this paper, we abandon the restriction of having a fixed and predefined schedule and propose a new protocol which, based on the CSI at the receiver (CSIR), selects the optimal states of the nodes in each time slot such that the sum throughput is maximized. To this end, the relay has to be equipped with two buffers for storage of the information received from the two users. Numerical results show that the proposed protocol significantly outperforms the existing protocols.
Replication of Holograms with Corn Syrup by Rubbing

Corn syrup films are used to replicate holograms in order to fabricate micro-structural patterns without the toxins commonly found in photosensitive salts and dyes. We use amplitude and relief masks with lithographic techniques and rubbing techniques in order to transfer holographic information to corn syrup material. Holographic diffraction patterns from holographic gratings and computer Fourier holograms fabricated with corn syrup are shown. We measured the diffraction efficiency parameter in order to characterize the film. The versatility of this material for storage information is promising. Holographic gratings achieved a diffraction efficiency of around 8.4% with an amplitude mask and 36% for a relief mask technique. Preliminary results using corn syrup as an emulsion for replicating holograms are also shown in this work.
Modelling death rates for carriers of hepatitis B

Hepatitis B carriers who acquired the infection perinatally die from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis at high rates. Published cohort studies are largely limited to males and are too small to estimate the age-specific risk of death. We therefore used routinely collected Hong Kong data to estimate the risks. Deaths were partitioned between carriers and non-carriers, then current life table calculations determined life expectancy and probability of dying from HCC or cirrhosis. HCC is the dominant cause of death for male carriers in middle adulthood with a lifetime risk of 27% for HCC compared to 4% for females. Predicted life expectancy is 72 years for male carriers, compared to 79 years for non-carriers. Female carriers have a life expectancy of 81 years and non-carriers 83 years. This model probably applies to all southern Chinese populations and emigrants with similar life history, and other populations that acquired infection early in life.
A peer-to-peer simulation technique for instanced massively multiplayer games

We propose a peer-to-peer event ordering and simulation technique aimed at networked real-time action games. Partially based on replicated simulators, its goal is to support decentralized play out in small-scale game sessions on instanced action spaces while being resistant to collusion cheating. The action spaces are linked to persistent-state social spaces of larger scale which are supported by centralized simulation. Together, these two kinds of spaces offer support for massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) that offer a mix of socialization on large-scale persistent environments and fast interaction on small-scale temporary ones. Although player nodes on action spaces are required to run a conservative and an optimistic simulator simultaneously, we show that 2.2 simultaneous simulation steps are executed on average and that 11.95 simultaneous steps occur as the average peak situation for 20-player sessions with 150 ms to 300 ms network delays between nodes, 5% probability of any late events introducing errors, and rollback and re-execution operations having their execution spreaded through 100 ms of real time or longer
Non-orientable string one-loop corrections in the presence of a B field

We discuss the problem of noncommutative SO(N) gauge field theories from the string one-loop point of view. To this end we propose an expression for the string propagator on the boundary of the Moebius strip in the presence of a constant B field. We discuss in detail the problems related to its derivation. Then we use it to compute the one-loop corrections to two-, three- and four-gluon amplitudes in an open string theory with orthogonal Chan-Paton factors. We show that these corrections in the field theory limit in 4D are compatible with the one-loop corrections of a renormalizable noncommutative SO(N) gauge field theory.
Arabidopsis Brassinosteroid-Insensitive dwarf12Mutants Are Semidominant and Defective in a Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β-Like Kinase1

Mutants defective in the biosynthesis or signaling of brassinosteroids (BRs), plant steroid hormones, display dwarfism. Loss-of-function mutants for the gene encoding the plasma membrane-located BR receptor BRI1 are resistant to exogenous application of BRs, and characterization of this protein has contributed significantly to the understanding of BR signaling. We have isolated two new BR-insensitive mutants (dwarf12-1D and dwf12-2D) after screening Arabidopsis ethyl methanesulfonate mutant populations.dwf12 mutants displayed the characteristic morphology of previously reported BR dwarfs including short stature, short round leaves, infertility, and abnormal de-etiolation. In addition,dwf12 mutants exhibited several unique phenotypes, including severe downward curling of the leaves. Genetic analysis indicates that the two mutations are semidominant in that heterozygous plants show a semidwarf phenotype whose height is intermediate between wild-type and homozygous mutant plants. Unlike BR biosynthetic mutants,dwf12 plants were not rescued by high doses of exogenously applied BRs. Like bri1 mutants,dwf12 plants accumulated castasterone and brassinolide, 43- and 15-fold higher, respectively, providing further evidence that DWF12 is a component of the BR signaling pathway that includes BRI1. Map-based cloning of the DWF12 gene revealed thatDWF12 belongs to a member of the glycogen synthase kinase 3β family. Unlike human glycogen synthase kinase 3β, DWF12 lacks the conserved serine-9 residue in the auto-inhibitory N terminus. In addition, dwf12-1D and dwf12-2D encode changes in consecutive glutamate residues in a highly conserved TREE domain. Together with previous reports that both bin2and ucu1 mutants contain mutations in this TREE domain, this provides evidence that the TREE domain is of critical importance for proper function of DWF12/BIN2/UCU1 in BR signal transduction pathways.
Generalization of Selberg's 3/16 Theorem and Affine Sieve

A celebrated theorem of Selberg states that for congruence subgroups of SL(2,Z) there are no exceptional eigenvalues below 3/16. We prove a generalization of Selberg's theorem for infinite index "congruence" subgroups of SL(2,Z). Consequently we obtain sharp upper bounds in the affine linear sieve, where in contrast to \cite{BGS} we use an archimedean norm to order the elements.