Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-consistent calculations of edge channels in laterally confined two-dimensional electron systems.

We calculate the distribution of incompressible and compressible regions at an electrostatically defined edge of a two-dimensional electron system (2DES) in a strong perpendicular magnetic field B for two models, one with a strictly 2D arrangement of gate and charges, and one with a realistic 3D structure. We ensure electrochemical equilibrium by self-consistent calculation of the electrostatic potential from the electron density and the boundary conditions defined by the metallic gates, and of the electron density in this potential, using the Thomas-Fermi approximation. Both models yield qualitatively the same results. In the limit of zero temperature and strong magnetic field, and at distances from the edge which are much larger than the effective Bohr radius, our 2D model yields quantitatively the same result for the density profile in the 2DES as recent work by Chklovskii, Shklovskii, and Glazman, who considered a purely electrostatic model, without requiring electrochemical equilibrium for B=0. We demonstrate explicitly how the incompressible regions are destroyed with increasing temperature.
Local Delivery of Poly Lactic-co-glycolic Acid Microspheres Containing Imatinib Mesylate Inhibits Intracranial Xenograft Glioma Growth

Purpose: In an effort to develop new therapeutic strategies to treat malignant gliomas, we have designed poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microparticles that deliver imatinib mesylate, a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The local continuous release of imatinib mesylate at the tumor site overcomes many obstacles associated with systemic delivery. Experimental Design: Polymeric microspheres were prepared from various compositions of PLGA and loaded with imatinib mesylate. Imatinib release profiles, biological activity, and effect on PDGFR-B phosphorylation were confirmed in vitro. The therapeutic efficacy of imatinib microspheres was examined in two s.c. and orthotopic human glioblastoma xenograft models. Results: A single local injection of PLGA microspheres loaded with a low concentration of imatinib mesylate led to 88% and 79% reduction in s.c. human (U87-MG) and murine (GL261) glioma tumors, respectively. PLGA-imatinib mesylate administered intracranially led to a 79% reduction in U87MG tumor volume. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a marked decrease in proliferation indices and tumor vessel density in the s.c. model and induction of apoptosis in an intracranial model. Conclusion: This is the first study to show the therapeutic efficacy of the local delivery of imatinib mesylate using a polymeric delivery system.
Pre- and inservice teacher satisfaction with online collaborative mentoring for technology integration: Applying the Kano quality attributes

This study examines Hungarian pre- and inservice teachers’ satisfaction (n=154) with the Mentored Innovation Model (MIM), an online collaborative mentoring model focused on technology integration. The Kano model was applied to results from two surveys to identify conditions in the MIM that most contribute to overall satisfaction with online mentoring. Self-efficacy with technology was identified as a must-be attribute. Online communication was a one-dimensional attribute contributing to linear increase of mentees’ satisfaction, although preservice and inservice teachers’ perceptions about the mentor’s activity in the MIM differed. The results reinforce the importance of online communication during online collaborative mentoring.
EFFECTS OF CORTICOSTEROIDS ON THE BIOCHEMICAL MATURATION OF RAT BRAIN: POSTNATAL CELL FORMATION

(1) Treatment with cortisol acetate (0.2 mg daily during the first 4 days after birth) reduced the rate of growth in the rat: at 35 days of age the body weight was reduced by 50 per cent and the brain weight, depending on the region, by up to 30 per cent.
Analysis and extensions of the Frankle-McCann Retinex algorithm

We present our analysis of the Frankle-McCann Retinex algorithm and propose extensions that result in a better rendition of the image. These extensions suppress artifacts and reduce the number of iterations required to get to the final image. In addition, our investigation suggests that the Retinex algorithm can be viewed as a process of estimating the per-pixel gains necessary to achieve dynamic range compression in the original image. Experimental results are provided that demonstrate the efficacy of this approach as compared to using Retinex to generate the final image.
Validity of final examinations in undergraduate medical training

Most medical schools, particularly those in the United Kingdom, have a final examination at the end of undergraduate medical training. Although the format of these examinations has been changed recently by the introduction of newer types of assessment such as objective structured clinical examinations, medical educators are still questioning their validity and worth. I believe that there is a strong case for better continuous assessment during undergraduate training and less reliance on final examinations. #### Summary points Even with modern forms of assessment, final examinations are of questionable reliability and validity They are of limited educational value to students because there is little opportunity for feedback and correction The effort spent on running final examinations would be better invested in improved continuous assessment during training Continuous assessment through “clinical work samples” is a promising new method of assessing medical students The final examination has at least two functions—an accountability or selective function and an educational one. First and foremost, the final exam should provide a guarantee to society that the training programme delivers competent doctors. It should be able to identify any students who are unfit to practise, so that they can be prevented from doing harm, and to license competent students who are ready for further practice and training. With regard to the educational function, proponents claim that the requirement to sit a comprehensive examination at the end of training means that students revise and recapitulate what they have learned throughout the course, a process which leads to a more integrated understanding of the knowledge and skills they have acquired. Let me examine these functions in greater detail. The outcome of the final examination should predict whether a student will be competent. The process should prevent false negative results and, in particular, false positive ones. In other words, the final examination should …
On the Automatic Generation of Optimized Software-Based Self-Test Programs for VLIW Processors

Very long instruction word (VLIW) processors are increasingly employed in a large range of embedded signal processing applications, mainly due to their ability to provide high performances with reduced clock rate and power consumption. At the same time, there is an increasing request for efficient and optimal test techniques able to detect permanent faults in VLIW processors. Software-based self-test (SBST) methods are a consolidated and effective solution to detect faults in a processor both at the end of the production phase or during the operational life; however, when traditional SBST techniques are applied to VLIW processors, they may prove to be ineffective (especially in terms of size and duration), due to their inability to exploit the parallelism intrinsic in these architectures. In this paper, we present a new method for the automatic generation of efficient test programs specifically oriented to VLIW processors. The method starts from existing test programs based on generic SBST algorithms and automatically generates effective test programs able to reach the same fault coverage, while minimizing the test duration and the test code size. The method consists of four parametric phases and can deal with different VLIW processor models. The main goal of the paper is to show that in the case of VLIW processors, it is possible to automatically generate an effective test program able to achieve high fault coverage with minimal test time and required resources. Experimental data gathered on a case study demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach; results show that this method is able to exploit the intrinsic parallelism of the VLIW processor, taming the growth in size, and duration of the test program when the processor size grows.
DUst around NEarby Stars

Context. Debris discs are a consequence of the planet formation process and constitute the fingerprints of planetesimal systems. Their solar system counterparts are the asteroid and Edgeworth-Kuiper belts. Aims. The DUNES survey aims at detecting extra-solar analogues to the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt around solar-type stars, putting in this way the solar system into context. The survey allows us to address some questions related to the prevalence and properties of planetesimal systems. Methods. We used Herschel/PACS to observe a sample of nearby FGK stars. Data at 100 and 160 μm were obtained, complemented in some cases with observations at 70 μm, and at 250, 350 and 500 μm using SPIRE. The observing strategy was to integrate as deep as possible at 100 μm to detect the stellar photosphere. Results. Debris discs have been detected at a fractional luminosity level down to several times that of the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt. The incidence rate of discs around the DUNES stars is increased from a rate of ∼12.1% ± 5% before Herschel to ∼20.2% ± 2%. A significant fraction (∼52%) of the discs are resolved, which represents an enormous step ahead from the previously known resolved discs. Some stars are associated with faint far-IR excesses attributed to a new class of cold discs. Although it cannot be excluded that these excesses are produced by coincidental alignment of background galaxies, statistical arguments suggest that at least some of them are true debris discs. Some discs display peculiar SEDs with spectral indexes in the 70–160 μm range steeper than the Rayleigh-Jeans one. An analysis of the debris disc parameters suggests that a decrease might exist of the mean black body radius from the F-type to the K-type stars. In addition, a weak trend is suggested for a correlation of disc sizes and an anticorrelation of disc temperatures with the stellar age.
Description and Evaluation of the Characteristics of the NCAR High-Resolution Land Data Assimilation System

Abstract This paper describes important characteristics of an uncoupled high-resolution land data assimilation system (HRLDAS) and presents a systematic evaluation of 18-month-long HRLDAS numerical experiments, conducted in two nested domains (with 12- and 4-km grid spacing) for the period from 1 January 2001 to 30 June 2002, in the context of the International H2O Project (IHOP_2002). HRLDAS was developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to initialize land-state variables of the coupled Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)–land surface model (LSM) for high-resolution applications. Both uncoupled HRDLAS and coupled WRF are executed on the same grid, sharing the same LSM, land use, soil texture, terrain height, time-varying vegetation fields, and LSM parameters to ensure the same soil moisture climatological description between the two modeling systems so that HRLDAS soil state variables can be used to initialize WRF–LSM without conversion and interpolation. If HRLDAS is initialized.
Simulation of human running

We describe algorithms for the control of locomotion of a simulated planar model of a human. The rigid body model has seventeen degrees of freedom and dynamic parameters approximating those given in the literature for humans. The locomotion control algorithms allow the model to run at a variety of speeds. The motion produced by the simulation can be used to produce realistic computer animations and interactive, synthetic actors for virtual environments. These algorithms also provide insight into how robotic mechanisms that resemble the complexity of humans might be controlled. <<ETX>>
Company rating with support vector machines

Abstract This paper proposes a rating methodology that is based on a non-linear classification method, a support vector machine, and a non-parametric isotonic regression for mapping rating scores into probabilities of default. We also propose a four data set model validation and training procedure that is more appropriate for credit rating data commonly characterised with cyclicality and panel features. Tests on representative data covering fifteen years of quarterly accounts and default events for 10,000 US listed companies confirm superiority of non-linear PD estimation. Our methodology demonstrates the ability to identify companies of diverse credit quality from Aaa to Caa–C.
and Morteza Dehghani Measuring Moral Rhetoric in Text

In this paper we present a computational text analysis technique for measuring the moral loading of concepts as they are used in a corpus. This method is especially useful for the study of online corpora as it allows for the rapid analysis of moral rhetoric in texts such as blogs and tweets as events unfold. We use latent semantic analysis to compute the semantic similarity between concepts and moral keywords taken from the ‘‘Moral foundation Dictionary’’. This measure of semantic similarity represents the loading of these concepts on the five moral dimensions identified by moral foundation theory. We demonstrate the efficacy of this method using three different concepts and corpora.
A Dynamic File Replication and Consistency Mechanism for Efficient Data Center Operation & its Formal Verification

Data centers are built to provide a highly available and scalable infrastructure on which the applications run. As enterprises grow, so do their application need, along with resources required for additional application-specific services. This increase in bottom line expense heightens the overall resource requirement. This paper provides solution to mitigate the impact of these expenses by proposing a file replication and consistency maintenance mechanism that enhances the manageability, scalability, and high availability of resource in these environments. To keep files consistent, changes made at one replica of the file are reflected on other replicas in minimum possible time. File replica is updated on-demand by only propagating the required partial updates. The results show that as compared to Google File System (GFS), the proposed partial write rate shows an improvement of 38.62% while updating the stale replicas. Time required for invalidating the replicas decreases by 34.04% and the time required to update the replica on FRS reduces by 61.75%. Process algebraic approach has been used to establish the relationship between the formal aspect of the file replicating server and its architectural model.
Improved Human Islet Isolation Using a New Enzyme Blend, Liberase

Enzymatic digestion of donor pancreases is a vital step in human and large mammalian islet isolation. The variable enzymatic activities of different batches of commercially available collagenase is a major obstacle in achieving reproducibility in islet isolation procedures. In the present work, the effectiveness of Liberase, a standardized mixture of highly purified enzymes recently developed for the separation of human islets, was compared with that of a traditional collagenase preparation (type P). The results of 50 islet isolations using Liberase enzyme were compared with those of 36 isolations with collagenase, type P. No significant differences in donor age, cold ischemia time, digestion time, or weight of the pancreases were observed between the two groups. Islet yield was significantly higher in the group where the Liberase enzyme was used. All parameters examined (islet number, islet number per gram of tissue, islet equivalent number, and islet equivalent number per gram of tissue) were significantly improved when Liberase enzyme was used. Different lots of Liberase enzyme were tested, and no difference was observed. Islets isolated with Liberase enzyme were also of larger size and were much less fragmented, suggesting a gentler enzymatic action and better preservation of anatomical integrity. Islets isolated with Liberase enzyme, assessed both in vitro and in vivo, revealed a functional profile similar to that of islets separated with collagenase. Liberase enzyme appears, therefore, to represent a new powerful tool for improving the quality of human islet isolation.
Constant-Parameter Circuit-Based Models of Synchronous Machines

Representation of synchronous machines using constant-parameter voltage-behind-reactance (VBR) formulations improves accuracy and numerical efficiency of power systems transient simulation programs. This paper extends the VBR representation to the rotor circuit and presents two new formulations that achieve direct constant-parameter interfacing of the rotor and stator terminals with arbitrary external networks. In the first model, the entire machine is represented by constant RL branches that have algebraic coupling among the circuit variables. In the second model, all damper windings are implemented in state-space form to increase the numerical efficiency, while the stator and field windings are provided as constant-parameter circuits. The proposed models are validated against the commonly used and some state-of-the-art alternative models using a single machine with a simplified ac excitation system. Computer studies demonstrate the improved accuracy and efficiency of the proposed models when external rotor circuitry is considered.
Link weights-based ANT colony routing algorithm for wireless sensor networks

Aiming at the network congestion of wireless sensor networks causing the problem of network quality of service reduced drastically, the paper proposes an improved ant-colony routing algorithm based on link weights. The algorithm by analyzing the factors of available bandwidth, transmission delay, which impacts link-state, to calculates the link weights and adjusts the size of the pheromone, the current status of nodes are reflected directly, network local congestion is avoided, network traffic is balanced; the algorithm through adjusting the link weights of evaporation coefficient to improve the global search ability. Simulation results show that the algorithm can control the network congestion and balance the network load distribution.
Intestinal Acanthocephaladiosis in Olrog's Gulls (Larus atlanticus): Profilicollis chasmagnathi as Possible Cause of Death

In 2003 and 2005, mortality events were observed among hatch-year Olrog's gulls (Larus atlanticus) in a breeding colony in the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina. Freshly dead chicks were collected for parasitologic and parasite-associated pathologic studies. Profilicollis chasmagnathi was found at various intensities in all of the birds examined (n=28). On gross and histopathologic examinations, severe lesions ranging from intestinal obstruction to complete perforation were present in small and large intestines of the birds. Larval forms of P. chasmagnathi were being found in prey items of L. atlanticus in the study area, which suggests that diet may play a central role in the epidemiology of disease and mortality events in this species.
An Empirical Analysis of Demand for Mobile Services in Turkey

We investigate the factors influencing the demand for mobile voice services in Turkey using firm level data that spans from January 2009 to December 2013. Competition in the mobile telecommunication market in Turkey has become more intense as a result of the mobile number portability (MNP) service introduced in 2008 and 3G technology introduced in 2009. The intense competition not only helps to keep prices down but also supports subscriber growth. Besides prices, we believe that network effects have an impact on market growth. Approximating sales levels using subscription levels and churn rates and using revenue per minute (RPM) as a price measure, we find that while price has a significant negative impact, network effects have a significant positive impact on the demand for mobile services in Turkey. We also estimate own and cross price elasticities of firms operating in mobile telecommunication market.
Throughput-Optimal Scheduling and Rate Adaptation for Reduced Feedback Best- $M$ Scheme in OFDM Systems

In orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems, reduced feedback schemes provide essential channel state information from the users to the base station (BS) without overwhelming the uplink. For the practically important best-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> scheme, in which each user feeds back only its <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> strongest subchannels and their indices to the BS, we derive a novel, throughput-optimal scheduling and rate adaptation policy that enables the BS to schedule the best user and its data rate for all the subchannels. The policy exploits the structure of the information fed back by the best-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> scheme and the correlation among subchannel gains. We present it in closed-form for the widely studied exponential correlation model. Using insights gleaned from the optimal policy, we propose a novel, low-complexity two subchannel reduction approach, which is seen empirically to be near-optimal and easily handles practically important general channel correlation models, quantized feedback, and co-channel interference in multi-cell scenarios. Compared with several <italic>ad hoc</italic> approaches, the proposed approaches improve the cell throughput without any additional feedback. A modified gradient-based opportunistic scheduler is also proposed to ensure user fairness.
Relative Validity of a Food Frequency Questionnaire Used to Assess Food Intake During a Dietary Intervention Study

To develop a cost-effective alternative for evaluating dietary intake in large-scale intervention trials of cancer and cardiovascular disease outcomes, we designed and validated a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). We collected 6 to 8 of the 24-hr dietary recalls from 87 adults (ages 30–72 yr) who were randomly assigned to a walnut-supplemented diet or a control diet in a 6-mo dietary intervention trial. Relative validity of a 171-item FFQ in assessing intake of selected foods and the prescribed intervention (intake ≥25 g/day or intake < 2 g of walnuts) was determined using 24-h dietary recalls as the reference. De-attenuated correlations between FFQ and dietary recalls were . 82 for walnuts, . 80 for fruits, . 79 for grains, . 77 for vegetables, . 63 for water, . 44 for sweets, and . 36 for dairy/eggs. High within-person variation did not allow de-attenuation for the remaining foods, but uncorrected correlations were high (> .7) for the beverage variables. The FFQ correctly classified 86 out of 87 subjects in the 2 prescribed intervention groups. The FFQ can provide an accurate measure of a food-based intervention (i.e., walnut supplementation) in a trial setting and can also accurately estimate a number of other food groups consumed during the trial.