Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SIMD Parallel Ray Tracing of Homogeneous Polyhedral Grids

Efficient visualization of unstructured data is vital for domain scientists, yet is often impeded by techniques which rely on intermediate representations that consume time and memory, require resampling data, or inefficient implementations of direct ray tracing methods. Previous work to accelerate rendering of unstructured grids have focused on the use of GPUs that are not available in many large-scale computing systems. In this paper, we present a new technique for directly visualizing unstructured grids using a software ray tracer built as a module for the OSPRay ray tracing framework from Intel. Our method is capable of implicit isosurface rendering and direct volume ray casting homogeneous grids of hexahedra, tetrahedra, and multi-level datasets at interactive frame rates on compute nodes without a GPU using an open-source, production-level ray tracing framework that scales with variable SIMD widths and thread counts.
Insulin Stimulates Membrane Fusion and GLUT4 Accumulation in Clathrin Coats on Adipocyte Plasma Membranes

ABSTRACT Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy reveals highly mobile structures containing enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) within a zone about 100 nm beneath the plasma membrane of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We developed a computer program (Fusion Assistant) that enables direct analysis of the docking/fusion kinetics of hundreds of exocytic fusion events. Insulin stimulation increases the fusion frequency of exocytic GLUT4 vesicles by ∼4-fold, increasing GLUT4 content in the plasma membrane. Remarkably, insulin signaling modulates the kinetics of the fusion process, decreasing the vesicle tethering/docking duration prior to membrane fusion. In contrast, the kinetics of GLUT4 molecules spreading out in the plasma membrane from exocytic fusion sites is unchanged by insulin. As GLUT4 accumulates in the plasma membrane, it is also immobilized in punctate structures on the cell surface. A previous report suggested these structures are exocytic fusion sites (Lizunov et al., J. Cell Biol. 169:481-489, 2005). However, two-color TIRF microscopy using fluorescent proteins fused to clathrin light chain or GLUT4 reveals these structures are clathrin-coated patches. Taken together, these data show that insulin signaling accelerates the transition from docking of GLUT4-containing vesicles to their fusion with the plasma membrane and promotes GLUT4 accumulation in clathrin-based endocytic structures on the plasma membrane.
Entrepreneurship and enterprise: the influence of work experience on enterprising tendency - an empirical evidence

This research explores the influence of different types of works experience the business student' entrepreneurial tendency in higher education. The research reveals that the majority of the students had not had any permanent full-time job experience after their secondary education. Those who had experience of greater number of permanent full-time jobs were found to be more enterprising than those who had a lesser number. However, the result indicates that there was no association between students' enterprising tedency and having had permanent full-time jobs in small and large private professional practices and public sector organisations. On the other hand, the results reveal that those who had had permanent full-time job in small business organisations are likely to be more enterprising than those who had not. These findings suggest the importance of certain types of work experience, such as working in small and large business organisations, which should be highlighted in enterprise and entrepreneurship development programmes.
Accurate Simulation of 802.11 Indoor Links: A "Bursty" Channel Model Based on Real Measurements

We propose a novel channel model to be used for simulating indoor wireless propagation environments. An extensive measurement campaign was carried out to assess the performance of different transport protocols over 802.11 links. This enabled us to better adjust our approach, which is based on an autoregressive filter. One of the main advantages of this proposal lies in its ability to reflect the "bursty" behavior which characterizes indoor wireless scenarios, having a great impact on the behavior of upper layer protocols. We compare this channel model, integrated within the Network Simulator (ns-2) platform, with other traditional approaches, showing that it is able to better reflect the real behavior which was empirically assessed.
AGN UNIFICATION AT z ∼ 1: u − R COLORS AND GRADIENTS IN X-RAY AGN HOSTS

We present uncontaminated rest-frame u − R colors of 78 X-ray-selected active galactic nucleus (AGN) hosts at 0.5 < z < 1.5 in the Chandra Deep Fields measured with Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Advanced Camera for Surveys/NICMOS and Very Large Telescope/ISAAC imaging. We also present spatially resolved NUV − R color gradients for a subsample of AGN hosts imaged by HST/Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Integrated, uncorrected photometry is not reliable for comparing the mean properties of soft and hard AGN host galaxies at z ∼ 1 due to color contamination from point-source AGN emission. We use a cloning simulation to develop a calibration between concentration and this color contamination and use this to correct host galaxy colors. The mean u − R color of the unobscured/soft hosts beyond ∼6 kpc is statistically equivalent to that of the obscured/hard hosts (the soft sources are 0.09 ± 0.16 mag bluer). Furthermore, the rest-frame V − J colors of the obscured and unobscured hosts beyond ∼6 kpc are statistically equivalent, suggesting that the two populations have similar distributions of dust extinction. For the WFC3/infrared sample, the mean NUV − R color gradients of unobscured and obscured sources differ by less than ∼0.5 mag for r > 1.1 kpc. These three observations imply that AGN obscuration is uncorrelated with the star formation rate beyond ∼1 kpc. These observations favor a unification scenario for intermediate-luminosity AGNs in which obscuration is determined geometrically. Scenarios in which the majority of intermediate-luminosity AGNs at z ∼ 1 are undergoing rapid, galaxy-wide quenching due to AGN-driven feedback processes are disfavored.
Anomalous refraction of light colors by a metamaterial prism.

A prism of glass separates white light into its spectral components in such a manner that colors associated with shorter wavelengths are more refracted than the colors associated with longer wavelengths. Here, we demonstrate that this property is not universal, and that a lossless metamaterial prism with a suitable microstructure may enable a broadband regime of anomalous dispersion, where the spectral components of light are separated in an unconventional way, so that "violet light" is less refracted than "red light. " This phenomenon is fundamentally different from conventional anomalous dispersion effects, which are invariably accompanied by significant loss and are typically very narrow band.
Temptation with uncertain normative preference

We model a decision maker who anticipates being tempted but is also uncertain about what is normatively best. Our model is an extended version of Gul and Pesendorfer’s (2001) with three time periods: in the ex ante period, the agent chooses a set of menus; in the interim period, she chooses a menu from this set; in the final period, she chooses from the menu. We posit axioms from the ex ante perspective. Our main axioms on preference state that the agent prefers flexibility in the ex ante period and the option to commit in the interim period. Our representation is a generalization of Dekel et al. (2009) and identifies the agent’s multiple normative preferences and multiple temptations. We also characterize the uncertain normative preference analogue to the representation of Stovall (2010). Finally, we characterize the special case where normative preference is not uncertain. This special case allows us to uniquely identify all components of the representations of Dekel et al. (2009) and Stovall (2010).
Mode Analysis of Plasmonic Waveguiding Structures for Laser Applications

Mode simulations for surface plasmonic nano-waveguides are presented for applications in developing nanometer sized laser cavities. The structure considered is a semiconductor quantum well sandwiched between metal layers. The simulations show that the plasmonic waveguide follow the dispersion relations of a conventional dielectric waveguide. An estimate for the gain requirement on the quantum well structure is also provided.
Magnetic scaling in cuprate superconductors.

We determine the magnetic phase diagram for the YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 6+{ital x}} and La{sub 2{minus}{ital x}}Sr{sub {ital x}}CuO{sub 4} systems from various NMR experiments. We discuss the possible interpretation of NMR and neutron scattering experiments in these systems in terms of both the nonlinear {sigma} model of nearly localized spins and a nearly antiferromagnetic Fermi liquid description of magnetically coupled quasiparticles. We show for both the 2:1:4 and 1:2:3 systems that bulk properties, such as the spin susceptibiltiy, and probes at the antiferromagnetic wave vector ({pi},{pi}), such as {sup 63}{ital T}{sub 1}, the {sup 63}Cu spin-lattice relaxation time, both display a crossover at a temperature {ital T}{sub cr}, which increases linearly with decreasing hole concentration, from a nonuniversal regime to a {ital z}=1 scaling regime characterized by spin pseudogap behavior. We pursue the consequences of the ansatz that {ital T}{sub cr} corresponds to a fixed value of the antiferromagnetic correlation length {xi} and show how this enables one to extract the magnitude and temperature dependence of {xi} from measurements of {ital T}{sub 1} alone. We show that like {ital T}{sub cr}, the temperature {ital T}{sub *} which marks a crossover at low temperatures from the {ital z}=1 scaling regimemore » to a quantum disordered regime, exhibits the same dependence on doping for the 2:1:4 and 1:2:3 systems, and so arrive at a unified description of magnetic behavior in the cuprates, in which the determining factor is the planar hole concentration. « less
AIS Electronic

This paper’s aim is to review the existing literature in M-Commerce adoption and propose a research model to examine the necessary factors for users to engage in mobile or M-Commerce. First, the stages of commerce are discussed and defined followed by a review of the Technology Acceptance Model and its application for E-Commerce and M-Commerce. Next is an examination of the antecedents and success factors needed for M-Commerce success. Finally, this paper offers a proposed research model for M-Commerce adoption.
Some Historical Notes on the Diagnosis of Death – the Emergence of the Brain Death Concept

Abstract This paper demonstrates that discussions about the diagnosis of death and the meaning of states of suspended animation existed long before the publication of the Harvard criteria in 1968. The surgeons who started retrieving kidneys from heart beating cadavers have been accused to redefine death in order to obtain high quality organs. In fact, they were not aware of modifying a definition. They did not view death as a philosophical concept but considered that it was a biological phenomenon of which brain death was merely a new expression resulting from the development of resuscitation and intensive care procedures.
Aged human airway tissue modeling and analysis using coupled mechanics *

Aging affects the human airway by changing its morphology and tissue material properties post generation 14 (G14). The airway tissue strains responsible for stressing and rupturing the lung’s fiber network have been previously measured experimentally by several researchers. However, the strains on airway tissue due to aging have not been extensively studied. In this study, a computational tissue model that incorporates the heterogeneity of the airways was developed to study the effects of tissue material properties on strain distribution within each layer of the airway tissue. The boundary conditions for tissue analysis were obtained from the whole lung model under mechanical ventilation. The results obtained from the tissue analysis demonstrated a higher strain in the epithelium rather than smooth muscle layer, and the stresses in each tissue layer of a 70 year-old are approximately 7% higher than those of a 50 yearold. Additionally, a lower strain level (approximately 1.5%) was found in the tissue layer of the 70 year-old as compared to a 50 year-old (approximately 2.0%). The pattern of increasing strain levels with aging obtained from the tissue analysis is significant because it suggests that strains at the cellular-level can create inflammatory responses, thus damaging airway tissues.
Markowitz's Mean-Variance Portfolio Selection with Regime Switching: A Continuous-Time Model

A continuous-time version of the Markowitz mean-variance portfolio selection model is proposed and analyzed for a market consisting of one bank account and multiple stocks. The market parameters, including the bank interest rate and the appreciation and volatility rates of the stocks, depend on the market mode that switches among a finite number of states. The random regime switching is assumed to be independent of the underlying Brownian motion. This essentially renders the underlying market incomplete. A Markov chain modulated diffusion formulation is employed to model the problem. Using techniques of stochastic linear-quadratic control, mean-variance efficient portfolios and efficient frontiers are derived explicitly in closed forms, based on solutions of two systems of linear ordinary differential equations. Related issues such as a minimum-variance portfolio and a mutual fund theorem are also addressed. All the results are markedly different from those for the case when there is no regime switching. An interesting observation is, however, that if the interest rate is deterministic, then the results exhibit (rather unexpected) similarity to their no-regime-switching counterparts, even if the stock appreciation and volatility rates are Markov-modulated.
Hunting for new employment: The role of high growth firms

This study investigates the role of high growth firms for the creation of new employment in Sweden during the 1987-96 period. Our data set is unique in the sense that it captures both enterprise and company group levels of analysis, and in that organic growth can be separated from growth through acquisitions. The results do not support the notion that a small elite of high growth firms accounts for a majority share of employment creation. They rather strengthen the belief that birth and modest growth of large numbers of small and young firms create the lion’s share of genuinely new jobs. We hold that this should not be taken as a sign that high growth firms are unimportant, but as suggesting they are too few.
Enabling a Unified View of Open Data Catalogs

In this article we present a solution, called DataCollector, which allows the cataloging and the discovery of data distributed in multiple open data portals. Our solution collects metadata about datasets available in multiple open data portals and it offers a uniform interface to access them. The proposed solution was evaluated by its viability in cataloging 14 Brazilian open data portals, covering a total of 29,540 datasets. The preliminary results indicate the DataCollector offers a robust solution for cataloging and access to distributed datasets in multiple platforms for open data publication.
Timix: a distributed real-time kernel for multi-sensor robots

Timix is a distributed real-time kernel that is being developed to support multisensor robot systems. The overall structure of the kernel is described, including a hierarchy of interprocess communication primitives and a generic way to interact with external devices. A simple multisensor robot that is being implemented using Timix is also presented. Three salient aspects of Timix are as follows. First, it is possible to estimate the amount of time that a real-time process takes to execute since the execution times of system calls are bounded. Second, an hierarchy of communication methods, which differ in synchronization, time and space overheads, and bandwidth requirements, are provided to allow the programmer to choose the one most applicable to a particular application, depending on the real-time requirements. Finally, new devices, which ar directly controlled by application processes, can be integrated into the system without changing the kernel. <<ETX>>
An Exploration of Ultrasound-Guided Therapeutic Injection of the Dorsal Interosseous Ligaments of the Sacroiliac Joint for Mechanical Dysfunction of the Joint

Mechanical dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint is a common cause of lateralising low back pain in young patients in either the peri-partum period or after trauma. Diagnosis is based on evidence-based clinical guidelines and fused scintigraphic tomographic and x-ray computed tomography studies (SPECT/ CT). Accurate diagnosis is important as up to 80% of these patients respond to directed physiotherapy. The remainder can respond to prolotherapy with injection into the dorsal interosseous ligament of the sacroiliac joint. We describe a technique for injection of this structure under ultrasound guidance. Injections into this structure using simple landmarks, allow reproduction of the typical symptoms and pain maps indicating good accuracy in the 36 patients studied.
The use of social networking applications of smartphone and associated sexual risks in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations: a systematic review

ABSTRACT The use of social networking applications (apps) on smartphones has the potential to impact sexual health and behaviour. This was the first systematic review to critically appraise and summarize the existing literature on the use of social networking apps on smartphones and their associated sexual health and sexual behaviour effects in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations. A systematic search was conducted in five databases (CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS and Sociological Abstracts), using controlled terms and keywords. Thirteen articles from 11 studies were included in this review. Studied outcomes included rates of unprotected sexual intercourse, the number of sexual partners, drug/alcohol use prior to/during sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) testing and the prevalence of STIs. Among app users, the prevalence of unprotected sex ranged from 17.0% to 66.7%. The mean number of sexual partners ranged from 1.4 to 2.9 (last 1-month period), and from 46.2 to 79.6 (lifetime). Two studies found that the prevalence of HIV infection was 1.9% and 11.4%, respectively. The self-reported prevalence of prior diagnosis of STIs other than HIV ranged from 9.1% to 51.0%. It should be noted that the heterogeneity of the study design and outcome measures across different studies hindered the comparison of findings across different studies. Furthermore, the findings in some studies are not reliable due to methodological problems. Our results highlight the need for more research with rigorous methodology to understand the negative impacts of using these apps on sexual health and sexual behaviour. For future studies, the operational definition of outcomes, including social networking app use and unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), should be clearly outlined. The use of validated tools to measure sexual behaviour and biological measures of HIV and other STDs is preferable so that outcomes can be standardized to facilitate comparisons between studies and the pooling of data.
Adult and neonatal astrocytes exhibit diverse gene expression profiles in response to beta amyloid ex vivo

Astrocytes are implicated in the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by clustering with other activated inflammatory cells at the sites of amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits formed in the cortex and hippocampus. Astrocytes are known to contribute to the clearance of Aβ in the AD brain. Also, adult but not neonatal mouse astrocytes are able to clear Aβ deposits from the tissue sections of transgenic AD mice and human brain ex vivo. Because these findings suggest that cultured neonatal astrocytes may not represent a relevant cell for modeling the function of astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases, we studied whether neonatal and adult astrocytes show different responses in gene expression when exposed to brain sections burdened by deposits of human Aβ. Whole genome microbarrays demonstrated greater alteration of gene expression in adult astrocytes than in neonatal astrocytes. When exposed to Aβ burdened brain sections adult but not neonatal astrocytes up-regulated genes related to peptidase (such as MMP13, MMP12, Phex, Htra1), scavenger receptor (Scara5, Enpp2) and glutathioine transferase (Gsta1, Gsta2, Gclm) activity, suggesting increased ability to degrade and endocytose Aβ peptides and protect against oxidative bursts. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis confirmed the significant alteration in gene expression of key peptidases, scavenger receptors and cholesterol synthesis. Our data suggest that adult astrocytes in culture are more sensitive to disease-relevant stress showing more extensive genetic response compared to neonatal astrocytes. In addition, the identified peptidases and scavenger receptors which increase expression selectively in adult astrocytes suggest their major role in astrocyte-mediated clearance of Aβ deposits in AD.
Phase I Clinical Trial of Everolimus Combined with Trimodality Therapy in Patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Background: Local control following trimodality therapy (TMT) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) requires further optimization. Objective: Evaluating the biologic endpoint, feasibility, and toxicity of integrating everolimus to TMT in patients with MIBC. Methods: This was a phase I trial in patients with MIBC who were not surgical candidates or who refused cystectomy. Following maximal transurethral tumor resection, patients were treated by radiotherapy (50 Gy/20 fractions), gemcitabine (100 mg/m2/weekly) and escalating doses of everolimus (2.5–5.0 mg/day). Everolimus was given daily for one month prior to radiation, during treatment, and one month post-radiation. Toxicity assessment followed the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Acute Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria. Biologic endpoint with downregulation of phospho-S6 (pS6) was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Local response was evaluated with imaging and bladder biopsy post-therapy. Results: 10 patients were recruited; 8 males, 2 females. Median age was 78 years (range: 63–85). Four patients entered everolimus 2.5 mg cohort. Six other patients entered everolimus 5.0 mg cohort. Toxicities were encountered in 2 patients (Grade I), 6 patients (Grade II), 9 patients (Grade III) and 1 patient (Grade IV), with some experiencing more than one toxicity. Most Grade III and IV toxicities were encountered from everolimus alone prior to combination testing. Trial was terminated early due to toxicity. Interestingly, 6/10 patients (60%) achieved a complete response with negative post-treatment biopsies. Significant decrease of pS6 was demonstrated post-therapy (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Although combining everolimus with TMT achieved a biological endpoint and complete response in a significant number of patients with MIBC and negative prognostic factors, it was associated with unacceptable increased toxicity.