Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Micro-optical grayscale excitation lenses for atom and ion trapping

Designing and integrating micro-optical components into atom and ion traps are enabling steps toward miniaturizing trap dimensions in quantum computation applications. The micro-optic must have a high numerical aperture for precise illumination of the ion and should not introduce scatter. Due to the extreme optical efficiency requirements in trapped ion and atom-based quantum information processing, even slight losses from integrated micro-optics are detrimental. We have designed and fabricated aspheric micro-lenses through grayscale transfer into a fused silica in an effort to realize increased transmissive efficiency and decreased scatter compared to an equivalent diffractive optical element. The fabricated grayscale lens profile matched the desired lens profile well, and the measured and predicted optical performances were in good agreement. The pattern was transferred via coupled plasma reactive-ion etching smoothly into the fused silica with a RMS roughness ~ 35 nm. The micro-lens had a diameter of 88 um and 14.2 um sag, with an as-designed focal length of 149 um and spot diameter of 2.6 um. The maximum measured efficiency was ~80% (86% of theoretical, possibly due to rms roughness). This realized efficiency is superior to the equivalent diffractive lens efficiency, designed to the same use parameters. The grayscale approach demonstrated an increase in collection efficiency, at the desired optical focal length, providing the potential for further refinement.
The development of a speaker independent continuous speech recognizer for portuguese

The development and evaluation of large vocabulary, speaker-independent continuous speech recognition systems are mainly done for the American English language. In this paper we present the work done to date in the development of an hybrid large vocabulary, speaker-independent continuous speech recognition system for the European Portuguese language. Due to the lack of a large appropriate speech and text database to be used in the development of that system we started collecting a large database and at the same time began developing a baseline system based on a smaller database. On this baseline system we applied techniques for automatic segmentation and labeling, in parallel with the development of a basic lexicon and language model for Portuguese. In the last part of this paper we also present the rst steps of our work over the new database.
Impact and Feasibility of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in the Oncology Setting: A Pilot Study

ObjectivesA comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is an objective means of assessing the global health of older patients. While evidence suggesting its promise in improving outcome prediction in the oncology setting is growing, its benefit in guiding treatment decisions remains uncertain. We sought to determine the feasibility and impact of CGA, from a consultative geriatric-oncology service, on treatment decisions in older cancer patients. MethodsA pilot clinic, where patients underwent CGA with a medical oncologist and geriatrician, was established. Patients ≥70 years, with gastrointestinal or lung cancer were eligible. Following standard assessment by the primary oncologist, a treatment decision was recorded. Patients subsequently underwent a CGA. The final treatment plan was made by the primary oncologist after receipt of findings and recommendations from the CGA. Changes in treatment decisions were recorded. ResultsThe study enrolled from January to October 2009. Of 168 eligible patients, 120 (71%) were not referred for assessment. Thirty of 48 patients approached underwent CGA. In six patients the treatment plan was undecided at time of referral. In five of these, CGA impacted the ultimate decision (83%). Where the management plan was decided at time of referral (n=24), CGA impacted the final decision in only 1 patient (4%). Previously unidentified medical problems were identified in 70% of patients. ConclusionsSeveral factors limited the feasibility of a consultation-type geriatric-oncology service to assess older cancer patients. The impact of CGA in informing treatment decisions was modest but may be of value when the initial treatment decision is uncertain.
Min-max Graph Partitioning and Small Set Expansion

We study graph partitioning problems from a min-max perspective, in which an input graph on n vertices should be partitioned into k parts, and the objective is to minimize the maximum number of edges leaving a single part. The two main versions we consider are: (i) the k parts need to be of equal size, and (ii) the parts must separate a set of k given terminals. We consider a common generalization of these two problems, and design for it an O(√log n log k)-approximation algorithm. This improves over an O(log2 n) approximation for the second version due to Svitkina and Tardos, and roughly O(k log n) approximation for the first version that follows from other previous work. We also give an improved O(1)-approximation algorithm for graphs that exclude any fixed minor. Our algorithm uses a new procedure for solving the Small Set Expansion problem. In this problem, we are given a graph G and the goal is to find a non-empty subset S of V of size at most pn with minimum edge-expansion. We give an O(√log n log (1/p)) bicriteria approximation algorithm for the general case of Small Set Expansion and O(1) approximation algorithm for graphs that exclude any fixed minor.
Car driver speed choice in Scotland

Drivers who commit driving violations, such as speeding, crash more. Driving violations reduce safety margins amplifying the impact of driver errors. Speed is placed in the context of car use and its attractions. It is argued that speed choice results from the interaction of opportunities, obligations and inclinations. Data from large-scale surveys of Scottish car drivers support this and show that many drivers in Scotland prefer to drive at or below the speed limit and that many say they are currently cutting their normal driving speed. Suggestions for promoting safer and more sustainable speed choices are made.
Evaluation of Decision Tree SVM Framework Using Different Statistical Measures

In literature multi-class SVM is constructed using One against All, One against One and Decision tree based SVM using Euclidean and Mahalanobis distance. To maintain high generalization ability, the most separable classes should be separated at the upper nodes of decision tree. Among statistical measures information gain, gini index and chi-square are few commonly used class separability measures in pattern recognition community. In this paper, we evaluate and determine the structure of decision tree SVM using information gain, gini index and chi-square. It is shown that the decision tree based SVM requires less computation time in comparison to conventional One against All SVM. Experimental results on UCI repository dataset demonstrates better or equivalent performance of our proposed decision tree scheme in comparison to conventional One against All SVM in terms of classification accuracy for most of the datasets. The proposed scheme outperforms conventional One against All SVM in terms of computation time for both training and testing phase using all the three measures employed for determining the structure of decision tree.
Evaluating the impact of spike and flicker noise in phase change memories

This paper presents a simulation-based analysis of spike and flicker noise in a Phase Change Memory (PCM); this investigation is based on HSPICE simulation by taking into account cell-level (with its neighbors) and array-level considerations. State switching phenomena in binary PCM memories are dealt in detail to assess the impact of these two types of noise. It is shown that a lower feature size is of concern for flicker noise in terms of value and percentage variation (while not substantially affecting array-level performance). This paper also shows that spike noise has a radically different behavior: spike noise shows a dependency on the PCM resistance more than the type of state of the PCM. It increases substantially when the amorphous resistance increases and has a nearly constant value when the memory cell is changing to an amorphous state.
The entanglement plateau in the dynamic modulus of rubbery styrene–diene block copolymers. Significance to pressure-sensitive adhesive formulations

Abstract Styrene-diene (butadiene or isoprene) block copolymers of the SDS or (SD−)x type exhibit a plateau in the dynamic storage modulus located between the glass transitions of the polydiene and polystyrene domains. When the polydiene is the continuous phase, the height of this plateau can be estimated with good success from the entanglement spacing molecular weight of the polydiene and the filler effect of the polystyrene domains. The effect of introduction of a center block-compatible diluent can also be calculated, although the simple procedure used here tends to underestimate the plasticizer effect, particularly at high diluent concentration. Nevertheless, the calculation furnishes a useful criterion of compatibility of the polydiene center blocks and low molecular weight resins used commonly as tackifiers in pressure-sensitive adhesives. Center block compatibility is essential for the development of tack in these compositions.
The kappa opioid agonist niravoline decreases brain edema in the mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion model of stroke.

The effect of niravoline (RU 51599), a kappa opioid receptor agonist with water diuretic properties, was assessed on the resorption of postischemic cerebral edema in the conscious mouse in comparison with U 50488, another kappa opioid receptor agonist, and mannitol. Ischemia was obtained by permanent occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Twenty-four hours after occlusion, at a time when brain water content is submaximal, blood samples were collected to measure serum osmolality, and brains were removed to measure the brain water content of two samples of frontoparietal cortical tissue corresponding to the core and the periphery of ischemia. When administered from 3 to 30 mg/kg as a single i.p. injection 20 h after occlusion, niravoline significantly reduced the brain cortical water increase by 27% up to 48% in the periphery of the ischemic tissue. At these same doses, it increased the serum osmolality to the same extent in ischemic as in nonischemic mice: 4 to 10 mOsm/kg. U 50488 generally showed a similar activity. In contrast, mannitol (1 or 2 g/kg i.p. 23 h after occlusion) increased serum osmolality but did not decrease brain water content. In conclusion, kappa opiate agonists could be an alternative to hyperosmotic agents in the treatment of cerebral edema of the focal ischemia type, the use of which is limited to the early phase of cerebral edema.
Line Region Hypomethylation Is Associated with Lifestyle and Differs by Human Papillomavirus Status in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Genomic hypomethylation is a hallmark of essentially all cancers, but the degree of this hypomethylation differs among individual tumors. Little work has explored what leads to these differences and or asked whether they are clinically meaningful. In this study of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, we assessed hypomethylation in tumors using a semiquantitative fragment analysis approach to determine the relative methylation status of the line retroviral element LRE1 (Line-1.2). Because this is an established marker of genomic methylation status, we examined the relationship between the relative methylation, patient demographics, and other risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We determined relative methylation status for 303 patients, 193 of which had complete data for all variables of interest. Using a generalized linear model, we found that patient body mass index was significantly positively associated with tumor LRE1 methylation level. Smoking duration, particularly in tumors lacking human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA, was significantly negatively associated with relative methylation level. Having previously assessed relative methylation in blood-derived DNA, we compared tumor with the blood DNA methylation level and observed these to be independent. Finally, the lower LRE1 methylation in patients whose tumors were HPV DNA negative was associated with poorer patient survival (hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.6). These findings suggest that HPV-associated tumors differ molecularly from those arising after heavy tobacco use and that this epigenetic alteration may affect survival in HPV-negative patients already exhibiting a more aggressive disease. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(4):966–71)
Adaptive implicit modeling using subdivision curves and surfaces as skeletons

Recent work has shown that implicit modeling using levels of details (LODs) is possible thanks to the use of subdivision-curves as skeletons. However, the geometric skeleton of a 3D shape is, in the general case, a graph of interconnected curve segments and surface patches, the exclusive use of curve skeletons is therefore not sufficient. We present a model that uses a graph of interconnected subdivision curves and surfaces as a skeleton, on which a varying radius can be specified in order to control surface thickness. The subdivision levels of the skeleton provide levels of detail for the field function that defines the implicit surface. Its visualization is achieved by generating a coarse mesh that surrounds the skeleton. At high valence skeleton vertices, triangulation topology issues are managed by locally overlapping the iso-surface triangulations. The mesh is then adaptively refined in order to sample the current LOD of the implicit surface within an error tolerance. The last contribution is a new solution to the unwanted blending problem. It avoids blending between parts of the surface that do not correspond to neighboring skeletal elements, and ensures continuity everywhere. All these methods are integrated into an interactive modeling system, where the user can create, view and edit complex shapes at different levels of detail.
Analysis on generalized stochastically bounded bursty traffic for communication networks

We introduce the concept of generalized stochastically bounded burstiness (gSBB) for Internet traffic, the tail distribution of whose burstiness can be bounded by a decreasing function in a function class with few restrictions. This new concept extends the concept of stochastically bounded burstiness (SBB) introduced by previous researchers to a much larger extent - while the SBB model can apply to Gaussian self-similar input processes, such as fractional Brownian motion, gSBB traffic contains non-Gaussian self-similar input processes, such as /spl alpha/-stable self-similar processes, which are not SBB in general. We develop a network calculus for gSBB traffic. We characterize gSBB traffic by the distribution of its queue size. We explore the property of sums of gSBB traffic and the relation of input and output processes. We apply this calculus to a work-conserving system shared by a number of gSBB sources, to analyze the behavior of output traffic for each source and to estimate the probabilistic bounds for delays. We expect this new calculus to be of particular interest in the implementation of services with statistical qualitative guarantees.
Symmetric Splitting in the General Theory of Stable Models

Splitting a logic program allows us to reduce the task of computing its stable models to similar tasks for smaller programs. This idea is extended here to the general theory of stable models that replaces traditional logic programs by arbitrary first-order sentences and distinguishes between intensional and extensional predicates. We discuss two kinds of splitting: a set of intensional predicates can be split into subsets, and a formula can be split into its conjunctive terms.
Contact Resistivity of Evaporated Al Contacts for Silicon Solar Cells

The contact resistivity of evaporated Al on doped silicon is examined for a range of process conditions common to the fabrication of laboratory silicon solar cells. The effects of silicon surface preparation prior to evaporation, sintering temperature, the use of a shutter, and evaporation power are investigated. The presented evaporation conditions yielded the lowest published contact resistivity between Al- and phosphorus-doped Si over a large range of doping concentration. It is also demonstrated that a contact resistivity below 10-6 Ω·cm2 can be achieved without sintering. Three-dimensional simulations are utilized to compare the obtained results for evaporated Al contacts with those for passivated contacts.
Integration of Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Organic Photodetectors for Lab-on-a-Chip Bio-Detection Systems

The rapid development of microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip (LoC) technologies have allowed for the efficient separation and manipulation of various biomaterials, including many diagnostically relevant species. Organic electronics have similarly enjoyed a great deal of research, resulting in tiny, highly efficient, wavelength-selective organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic photodetectors (OPDs). We consider the blend of these technologies for rapid detection and diagnosis of biological species. In the ideal system, optically active or fluorescently labelled biological species can be probed via light emission from OLEDs, and their subsequent light emission can be detected with OPDs. The relatively low cost and simple fabrication of the organic electronic devices suggests the possibility of disposable test arrays. Further, with full integration, the finalized system can be miniaturized and made simple to use. In this review, we consider the design constraints of OLEDs and OPDs required to achieve fully organic electronic optical bio-detection systems. Current approaches to integrated LoC optical sensing are first discussed. Fully realized OLED- and OPD-specific photoluminescence detection systems from literature are then examined, with a specific focus on their ultimate limits of detection. The review highlights the enormous potential in OLEDs and OPDs for integrated optical sensing, and notes the key avenues of research for cheap and powerful LoC bio-detection systems.
Hepatitis B Virus HBx Protein Localizes to Mitochondria in Primary Rat Hepatocytes and Modulates Mitochondrial Membrane Potential

ABSTRACT Over 350 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), and a significant number of chronically infected individuals develop primary liver cancer. HBV encodes seven viral proteins, including the nonstructural X (HBx) protein. The results of studies with immortalized or transformed cells and with HBx-transgenic mice demonstrated that HBx can interact with mitochondria. However, no studies with normal hepatocytes have characterized the precise mitochondrial localization of HBx or the effect of HBx on mitochondrial physiology. We have used cultured primary rat hepatocytes as a model system to characterize the mitochondrial localization of HBx and the effect of HBx expression on mitochondrial physiology. We now show that a fraction of HBx colocalizes with density-gradient-purified mitochondria and associates with the outer mitochondrial membrane. We also demonstrate that HBx regulates mitochondrial membrane potential in hepatocytes and that this function of HBx varies depending on the status of NF-κB activity. In primary rat hepatocytes, HBx activation of NF-κB prevented mitochondrial membrane depolarization; however, when NF-κB activity was inhibited, HBx induced membrane depolarization through modulation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Collectively, these results define potential pathways through which HBx may act in order to modulate mitochondrial physiology, thereby altering many cellular activities and ultimately contributing to the development of HBV-associated liver cancer.
The Effect of Fe3Al on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of β–Sialon Ceramic

Sialon matrix composites were prepared from a reaction mixture of Si3N4, Al2O3 and Y2O3 powders and reinforced with Fe3Al obtained by mechanical alloying, which also can assist sintering at a low temperature. The specimens were sintered by two–step hot pressing and then characterized for phase composition, microstructure and mechanical properties. The effect of the Fe3Al variables on the mechanical properties was studied.
Piezoelectric permeabilization of mammalian dermal tissue for in vivo DNA delivery leads to enhanced protein expression and increased immunogenicity

Electropermeabilization of mammalian cells is a technique that has been used for the delivery of therapeutics, such as DNA plasmids or DNA vaccines. Typically, delivery via electropermeabilization occurs through injection of the substance into the tissue of interest followed by the insertion of electrodes at the site and the application of brief electrical pulses. Here we detail a novel and innovative contactless electropermeabilization method to deliver DNA plasmids to dermal tissue in vivo. This process has the advantage of eliminating the insertion of additional needles that serve as electrodes to facilitate the application of electric pulses in conventional electroporation processes. Plasmid encoding GFP was injected into guinea pig skin and pulsed with the novel contactless electropermeabilization method. Three days following treatment, robust GFP expression was observed on the skin of pulsed animals. Strong humoral immune responses were also achieved when a DNA vaccine expressing the influenza antigen NP was delivered and pulsed using the novel device in comparison to naked injection alone. This delivery method has the advantage of being contactless and suggests that gene transfer via this mode warrants further development.
Simulated Last Glacial Maximum ∆14Catm and the Deep Glacial Ocean Carbon Reservoir

∆14Catm has been estimated as 420 ± 80‰ (IntCal09) during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) compared to preindustrial times (0‰), but mechanisms explaining this difference are not yet resolved. ∆14Catm is a function of both cosmogenic production in the high atmosphere and of carbon cycling and partitioning in the Earth system. 10Be-based reconstructions show a contribution of the cosmogenic production term of only 200 ± 200‰ in the LGM. The remaining 220‰ have thus to be explained by changes in the carbon cycle. Recently, Bouttes et al. (2010, 2011) proposed to explain most of the difference in pCO2atm and δ13C between glacial and interglacial times as a result of brine-induced ocean stratification in the Southern Ocean. This mechanism involves the formation of very saline water masses that contribute to high carbon storage in the deep ocean. During glacial times, the sinking of brines is enhanced and more carbon is stored in the deep ocean, lowering pCO2atm. Moreover, the sinking of brines induces increased stratification in the Southern Ocean, which keeps the deep ocean well isolated from the surface. Such an isolated ocean reservoir would be characterized by a low ∆14C signature. Evidence of such 14C-depleted deep waters during the LGM has recently been found in the Southern Ocean (Skinner et al. 2010). The degassing of this carbon with low ∆14C would then reduce ∆14Catm throughout the deglaciation. We have further developed the CLIMBER-2 model to include a cosmogenic production of 14C as well as an interactive atmospheric 14C reservoir. We investigate the role of both the sinking of brine and cosmogenic production, alongside iron fertilization mechanisms, to explain changes in ∆14Catm during the last deglaciation. In our simulations, not only is the sinking of brine mechanism consistent with past ∆14C data, but it also explains most of the differences in pCO2atm and ∆14Catm between the LGM and preindustrial times. Finally, this study represents the first time to our knowledge that a model experiment explains glacial-interglacial differences in pCO2atm, δ13C, and ∆14C together with a coherent LGM climate. DOI: 10.2458/azu_js_rc. 55.16295