Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flexural Vibration of Thick Isotropic Plates By Using Exponential Shear Deformation Theory

This paper presents an exponential shear deformation theory for the free vibration of thick isotropic plate which uses exponential term in its displacement field to calculate the strain and stresses, satisfying the stress free boundary conditions at the top and bottom of the plate. Hence the theory obviates the need of shear correction factor. Governing differential equations and boundary conditions of the theory are obtained using the principle of virtual work. The results obtained by the present theory for flexural vibration at various modes are compared with the other higher order theories and exact elasticity theory available in the literature.
Solvency II and Nested Simulations - a Least-Squares Monte Carlo Approach

Within the European Union, risk-based funding requirements for life insurance companies are currently being revised as part of the Solvency II project. However, many insurers are struggling with the implementation, which is in part due to the ine‐cient methods underlying their numerical computations. We review these methods and propose a signiflcantly faster approach for the calculation of the required risk capital based on least-squares regression and Monte Carlo simulations akin to the well-known Least-Squares Monte Carlo method for pricing non-European derivatives introduced by Longstafi and Schwartz (2001, [20]).
Detection of mycoplasmal infections in blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Mycoplasmal infections are associated with several acute and chronic illnesses. Some mycoplasmas can enter a variety of tissues and cells, and cause system-wide or systemic signs and symptoms. METHODS Patients (14 female, 14 male) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were investigated for mycoplasmal infections in their blood leucocytes using a forensic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure. Amplification was performed with genus- and species-specific primers, and a specific radiolabelled internal probe was used for Southern hybridization with the PCR product. Patients were investigated for the presence of Mycoplasma spp. , and positive cases were further tested for infections with the following species: M. fermentans, M. hominis, M. pneumoniae and M. penetrans. RESULTS The Mycoplasma spp. sequence, which is not entirely specific for mycoplasmas, was amplified from the peripheral blood of 15/28 patients (53.6%) and specific PCR products could not be detected in 13 patients (46.4%). Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found between patients and positive healthy controls in the genus test (3/32) and in the specific tests (0/32). Moreover, the incidence of mycoplasmal infections was similar in female and male patients. Using species-specific primers, we were able to detect infections with M. fermentans (8/28), M. pneumoniae (5/28), M. hominis (6/28) and M. penetrans (1/28) in RA patients. In 36% of the patients, we observed more than one Mycoplasma species in the blood leucocytes. All multiple infections occurred as combinations of M. fermentans with other species. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that a high percentage of RA patients have systemic mycoplasmal infections. Systemic mycoplasmal infections may be an important cofactor in the pathogenesis of RA, and their role needs to be explored further.
HIV-1 pol Diversity among Female Bar and Hotel Workers in Northern Tanzania

A national ART program was launched in Tanzania in October 2004. Due to the existence of multiple HIV-1 subtypes and recombinant viruses co-circulating in Tanzania, it is important to monitor rates of drug resistance. The present study determined the prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations among ART-naive female bar and hotel workers, a high-risk population for HIV-1 infection in Moshi, Tanzania. A partial HIV-1 pol gene was analyzed by single-genome amplification and sequencing in 45 subjects (622 pol sequences total; median number of sequences per subject, 13; IQR 5–20) in samples collected in 2005. The prevalence of HIV-1 subtypes A1, C, and D, and inter-subtype recombinant viruses, was 36%, 29%, 9% and 27%, respectively. Thirteen different recombination patterns included D/A1/D, C/A1, A1/C/A1, A1/U/A1, C/U/A1, C/A1, U/D/U, D/A1/D, A1/C, A1/C, A2/C/A2, CRF10_CD/C/CRF10_CD and CRF35_AD/A1/CRF35_AD. CRF35_AD was identified in Tanzania for the first time. All recombinant viruses in this study were unique, suggesting ongoing recombination processes among circulating HIV-1 variants. The prevalence of multiple infections in this population was 16% (n = 7). Primary HIV-1 drug resistance mutations to RT inhibitors were identified in three (7%) subjects (K65R plus Y181C; N60D; and V106M). In some subjects, polymorphisms were observed at the RT positions 41, 69, 75, 98, 101, 179, 190, and 215. Secondary mutations associated with NNRTIs were observed at the RT positions 90 (7%) and 138 (6%). In the protease gene, three subjects (7%) had M46I/L mutations. All subjects in this study had HIV-1 subtype-specific natural polymorphisms at positions 36, 69, 89 and 93 that are associated with drug resistance in HIV-1 subtype B. These results suggested that HIV-1 drug resistance mutations and natural polymorphisms existed in this population before the initiation of the national ART program. With increasing use of ARV, these results highlight the importance of drug resistance monitoring in Tanzania.
HS3DPG: Hierarchical simulation for 3D P/G network

As different chips are stacked together in 3D ICs, the power/ground (P/G) network simulation becomes more challenging than that of 2D cases. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical simulation method suitable for 3D P/G network (HS3DPG), which can ensure full parallelism and good scalability with the number of tiers. In the IR drop analysis, when there are 9 tiers, the hierarchical method can be 6.5 times faster than the direct full network simulation. The accuracy of HS3DPG has been verified by a 3D P/G network from the industrial design. Besides, we introduce the “locality” property into HS3DPG to further simplify the simulation. Finally, HS3DPG is used to analyze the voltage distribution of a 3D P/G network with clustered TSVs.
Skew Detection from Natrual Scene Images: A Review

Natural scene images are generally captured with portable devices such as mobile phone cameras. Scene images contains text information as part of captured scene. Scene image text poses difficultly in processing as compared to document text due to complexity of scene and open environment conditions. Scene images usually suffer from skew deformation due to inherent nature of portable capturing device and 3D scene. The scene text images must be checked for skew and necessary skew correction has to be applied in order to improve the results of character segmentation and recognition. In this paper, various existing techniques for skew detection of scene images have been discussed. The study cover skew detection techniques for scene images for various scripts with major emphasis on Indian scripts. Keywords-Natural scene images; Skew Detection; scene text extraction; Indian Script __________________________________________________*****_________________________________________________
Mechanical, thermal and dynamic mechanical analysis of jute fibre reinforced epoxy composite

The aim of the present study is to investigate the mechanical, thermal and water absorption properties, and to perform dynamic mechanical analysis of jute fibre reinforced epoxy composite. The mechanical properties of the jute composites such as tensile, flexural and impact are investigated in this study. The dynamic mechanical analysis has been done in terms of storage modulus, loss modulus and damping parameter within the temperature range 30° - 200° C. The thermogravimetric analysis is used to measure the weight loss as a function of temperature. Thermal properties such as glass transition temperature, crystallization temperature, decomposition temperature, and enthalpy are obtained from differential scanning calorimetry studies. It is observed that the addition of jute fibre up to 30 wt. % in epoxy matrix increases the mechanical, thermal and water absorption properties.
A FAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY OF INTERMEDIATE REDSHIFT (ULTRA) LUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES

We present Herschel far-IR photometry and spectroscopy as well as ground-based CO observations of an intermediate redshift (0.21 ⩽ z ⩽ 0.88) sample of Herschel-selected (ultra)-luminous infrared galaxies (LIR > 1011.5 L☉). With these measurements, we trace the dust continuum, far-IR atomic line emission, in particular [C ii] 157.7 μm, as well as the molecular gas of z ∼ 0.3 luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs and ULIRGs) and perform a detailed investigation of the interstellar medium of the population. We find that the majority of Herschel-selected intermediate redshift (U)LIRGs have LC ii/LFIR ratios that are a factor of about 10 higher than that of local ULIRGs and comparable to that of local normal and high-z star-forming galaxies. Using our sample to bridge local and high-z [C ii] observations, we find that the majority of galaxies at all redshifts and all luminosities follow an LC ii−LFIR relation with a slope of unity, from which local ULIRGs and high-z active-galactic-nucleus-dominated sources are clear outliers. We also confirm that the strong anti-correlation between the LC ii/LFIR ratio and the far-IR color L60/L100 observed in the local universe holds over a broad range of redshifts and luminosities, in the sense that warmer sources exhibit lower LC ii/LFIR at any epoch. Intermediate redshift ULIRGs are also characterized by large molecular gas reservoirs and by lower star formation efficiencies compared to that of local ULIRGs. The high LC ii/LFIR ratios, the moderate star formation efficiencies (LIR/ or LIR/), and the relatively low dust temperatures of our sample (which are also common characteristics of high-z star-forming galaxies with ULIRG-like luminosities) indicate that the evolution of the physical properties of (U)LIRGs between the present day and z > 1 is already significant by z ∼ 0.3.
GraphGen: An FPGA Framework for Vertex-Centric Graph Computation

Vertex-centric graph computations are widely used in many machine learning and data mining applications that operate on graph data structures. This paper presents GraphGen, a vertex-centric framework that targets FPGA for hardware acceleration of graph computations. GraphGen accepts a vertex-centric graph specification and automatically compiles it onto an application-specific synthesized graph processor and memory system for the target FPGA platform. We report design case studies using GraphGen to implement stereo matching and handwriting recognition graph applications on Terasic DE4 and Xilinx ML605 FPGA boards. Results show up to 14.6× and 2.9× speedups over software on Intel Core i7 CPU for the two applications, respectively.
Programming wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are attracting great interest in a number of application domains concerned with monitoring and control of physical phenomena, as they enable dense and untethered deployments at low cost and with unprecedented flexibility. However, application development is still one of the main hurdles to a wide adoption of WSN technology. In current real-world WSN deployments, programming is typically carried out very close to the operating system, therefore requiring the programmer to focus on low-level system issues. This not only distracts the programmer from the application logic, but also requires a technical background rarely found among application domain experts. The need for appropriate high-level programming abstractions, capable of simplifying the programming chore without sacrificing efficiency, has long been recognized, and several solutions have hitherto been proposed, which differ along many dimensions. In this article, we survey the state of the art in programming approaches for WSNs. We begin by presenting a taxonomy of WSN applications, to identify the fundamental requirements programming platforms must deal with. Then, we introduce a taxonomy of WSN programming approaches that captures the fundamental differences among existing solutions, and constitutes the core contribution of this article. Our presentation style relies on concrete examples and code snippets taken from programming platforms representative of the taxonomy dimensions being discussed. We use the taxonomy to provide an exhaustive classification of existing approaches. Moreover, we also map existing approaches back to the application requirements, therefore providing not only a complete view of the state of the art, but also useful insights for selecting the programming abstraction most appropriate to the application at hand.
Performance degradation of Si device with the change of carrier lifetime under laser irradiation

In the paper, the performance of Si devices with change of carrier lifetime was reported with finite volume method. In the two-dimensional axisymmetric semiconductor model, based on Si p-n junction structure, direct recombination, auger recombination and the SRH (Shockley-Ready-Hall) recombination were taken into consideration. Both cathode and anode was made via ohmic contact. Two kinds of device models with p+-n or n+-p type were built accordingly. 1064 nm laser was used as signal beam in the model. Numerical simulation had been studied under different bias voltage and carrier lifetime. Compared with the results, it was found that the device performance was affected by the minority carrier lifetime obviously. It also inferred that performance of Si devices was degenerated by laser indirectly.
Online PCA for Contaminated Data

We consider the online Principal Component Analysis (PCA) where contaminated samples (containing outliers) are revealed sequentially to the Principal Components (PCs) estimator. Due to their sensitiveness to outliers, previous online PCA algorithms fail in this case and their results can be arbitrarily skewed by the outliers. Here we propose the online robust PCA algorithm, which is able to improve the PCs estimation upon an initial one steadily, even when faced with a constant fraction of outliers. We show that the final result of the proposed online RPCA has an acceptable degradation from the optimum. Actually, under mild conditions, online RPCA achieves the maximal robustness with a 50% breakdown point. Moreover, online RPCA is shown to be efficient for both storage and computation, since it need not re-explore the previous samples as in traditional robust PCA algorithms. This endows online RPCA with scalability for large scale data.
Influence of spandrel modelling on the seismic assessment of existing masonry buildings

The paper discusses different modelling assumptions for spandrels in equivalent frame models and their effect on the global response of the wall. The topic is motivated by the following issues: i) reliable and practice oriented numerical tools constitute a key instrument to support mitigation policies and plan effective (in terms of cost and impact) retrofit interventions; ii) spandrels have lately been increasingly recognized to play a significant role on the load bearing capacity of masonry walls; iii) despite the experimental evidence of last years that highlighted significant differences between spandrels and piers, numerical tools available in literature and recommendations of codes do not yet account properly for the progress achieved with regard to spandrel models. To deepen such issues, various strength criteria specifically formulated for spandrels and available in literature have been implemented in the Tremuri program, including those proposed by Beyer (2012) that have been recently incorporated in the updated release of the NZSEE recommendations. With the so enhanced program, parametric nonlinear static analyses on 2D masonry walls have been performed to quantitatively assess the influence of spandrel modelling.
Low complex sensor-based shared control for power wheelchair navigation

Motor or visual impairments may prevent a user from steering a wheelchair effectively in indoor environments. In such cases, joystick jerks arising from uncontrolled motions may lead to collisions with obstacles. We here propose a perceptive shared control system that progressively corrects the trajectory as a user manually drives the wheelchair, by means of a sensor-based shared control law capable of smoothly avoiding obstacles. This control law is based on a low complex optimization framework validated through simulations and extensive clinical trials. The provided model uses distance information. Therefore, for low-cost considerations, we use ultrasonic sensors to measure the distances around the wheelchair. The solution therefore provides an efficient assistive tool that does not alter the quality of experience perceived by the user, while ensuring his security in hazardous situations.
Determination of particulate lead using aerosol mass spectrometry: MILAGRO/MCMA-2006 observations

Abstract. We report the first measurements of particulate lead (Pb) from Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometers, which were deployed in and around Mexico City during the Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations (MILAGRO)/Mexico City Metropolitan Area 2006 (MCMA-2006) field campaigns. The high resolution mass spectrometer of one of the AMS instruments (HR-AMS) and the measured isotopic ratios unequivocally prove the detection of Pb in ambient particles. A substantial fraction of the lead evaporated slowly from the vaporizer of the instruments, which is indicative of species with low volatility at 600 °C. A model was developed in order to estimate the ambient particulate Pb entering the AMS from the signals in the "open" and the "closed" (or "background") mass spectrum modes of the AMS. The model suggests the presence of at least two lead fractions with ~25% of the Pb signal exhibiting rapid evaporation (1/e decay constant, τ
Identification of Granite Varieties from Colour Spectrum Data

The granite processing sector of the northwest of Spain handles many varieties of granite with specific technical and aesthetic properties that command different prices in the natural stone market. Hence, correct granite identification and classification from the outset of processing to the end-product stage optimizes the management and control of stocks of granite slabs and tiles and facilitates the operation of traceability systems. We describe a methodology for automatically identifying granite varieties by processing spectral information captured by a spectrophotometer at various stages of processing using functional machine learning techniques.
Comparative Structural Biology of Eubacterial and Archaeal Oligosaccharyltransferases*

Oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) catalyzes the transfer of an oligosaccharide from a lipid donor to an asparagine residue in nascent polypeptide chains. In the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni, a single-subunit membrane protein, PglB, catalyzes N-glycosylation. We report the 2.8 Å resolution crystal structure of the C-terminal globular domain of PglB and its comparison with the previously determined structure from the archaeon Pyrococcus AglB. The two distantly related oligosaccharyltransferases share unexpected structural similarity beyond that expected from the sequence comparison. The common architecture of the putative catalytic sites revealed a new catalytic motif in PglB. Site-directed mutagenesis analyses confirmed the contribution of this motif to the catalytic function. Bacterial PglB and archaeal AglB constitute a protein family of the catalytic subunit of OST along with STT3 from eukaryotes. A structure-aided multiple sequence alignment of the STT3/PglB/AglB protein family revealed three types of OST catalytic centers. This novel classification will provide a useful framework for understanding the enzymatic properties of the OST enzymes from Eukarya, Archaea, and Bacteria.
Mortality Portfolio Risk Management

We provide a new method, the “MV+CVaR approach,” for managing unexpected mortality changes underlying annuities and life insurance. The MV+CVaR approach optimizes the mean–variance trade‐off of an insurer's mortality portfolio, subject to constraints on downside risk. We apply the method of moments and the maximum entropy method to analyze the efficiency of MV+CVaR mortality portfolios relative to traditional Markowitz mean–variance portfolios. Our numerical examples illustrate the superiority of the MV+CVaR approach in mortality risk management and shed new light on natural hedging effects of annuities and life insurance.
Developmental Outcomes at 24 Months of Age in Toddlers Supplemented with Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid: Results of a Double Blind Randomized, Controlled Trial

Little is known about arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) requirements in toddlers. A longitudinal, double blind, controlled trial in toddlers (n = 133) age 13.4 ± 0.9 months (mean ± standard deviation), randomized to receive a DHA (200 mg/day) and ARA (200 mg/day) supplement (supplement) or a corn oil supplement (control) until age 24 months determined effects on neurodevelopment. We found no effect of the supplement on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development 3rd Edition (Bayley-III) cognitive and language composites and Beery–Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual–Motor Integration (Beery VMI) at age 24 months. Supplemented toddlers had higher RBC phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and plasma DHA and ARA compared to placebo toddlers at age 24 months. A positive relationship between RBC PE ARA and Bayley III Cognitive composite (4.55 (0.21–9.00), B (95% CI), p = 0.045) in supplemented boys, but not in control boys, was observed in models adjusted for baseline fatty acid, maternal non-verbal intelligence, and BMI z-score at age 24 months. A similar positive relationship between RBC PE ARA and Bayley III Language composite was observed for supplemented boys (11.52 (5.10–17.94), p < 0.001) and girls (11.19 (4.69–17.68), p = 0.001). These findings suggest that increasing the ARA status in toddlers is associated with better neurodevelopment at age 24 months.
Analysis of Heterogeneous Networks with Dual Connectivity in a Realistic Urban Deployment

Dual Connectivity (DC) has been studied and proved to be an effective solution to deal with the fragmented resources in deployment scenarios where the macro and small cells use different frequency carriers. The performance of DC has mainly been analyzed using generic network models such as those proposed by the 3GPP. However, the benefits of DC in real networks have not been proved. In this paper, we investigate the performance of DC in a realistic deployment from a big European city. Additionally, a novel opportunistic cell selection technique is also proposed. Results show that DC does improve the performance in this realistic layout. Due to the uneven load distribution observed in realistic deployments, DC is able to provide fast load balancing gains also at relatively high load - and not only at low load as typically observed in 3GPP scenarios. For the same reason, the proposed cell selection technique that aims at performing intra-layer load balancing shows promising benefits in this irregular deployment.