Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A broad-band self-consistent modelling of the X-ray spectrum of 4U 1626−67

The accretion-powered X-ray pulsar 4U 1626−67 is one of the few highly magnetized pulsars that accretes through Roche lobe overflow from a low-mass companion. The characteristics of its broad-band spectrum are similar to those of X-ray pulsars hosted in a high-mass X-ray binary system, with a broad resonant cyclotron scattering feature (CRSF) at ∼37 keV. In this work, we examine the pulse-resolved and the pulse-averaged broad-band spectrum using data from NuSTAR and Swift. We use the Becker & Wolff model of bulk+thermal Comptonization to infer key physical parameters of the accretion column flow and a broad-band model for the disc-reflected spectrum. In the softer X-ray band, we need to add a soft blackbody component with kT_(bb) ∼ 0.5 keV, whose characteristics indicate a possible origin from the neutron star surface. Residuals suggest that the shape of the cyclotron line could be more satisfactorily fitted using a narrow core and broader wings and, at higher energies, a second harmonic could be present at ∼61 keV.
Region-based Abnormal Motion Detection in Video Surveillance

This article presents a method to detect abnormal motion based on the subdivision of regions of interest in the scene. The proposed model reduces the large amount of data in the motion analysis and the respective computational cost. The regions are spatially identified and contain data of n-dimensional transition vectors, resulting from the centroid tracking of multiple moving objects. On these data, we applied a one-class supervised training with only one set of normal tracks on Gaussian mixtures to find relevant clusters, which discriminate the trajectory of objects. To complete the learning model, the lowest probability of transition vectors in the test phase is used as the threshold to classify abnormal motions. The ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves are used to this task and also to determinate the efficiency of the model. In order to find the best result of our method, the process is repeated to find a new measure of efficiency for each size increment of the region grid. The results show that there is a range of grid size values, which ensure a good margin of correct abnormal motions detection for each type of scenario, even with a significant reduction of data samples.
Influence of Viscoelastic Underfill on Thermal Mechanical Reliability of a 3-D-TSV Stack by Simulation

In this paper, we focus on how viscoelastic underfill influences the thermal mechanical reliability of a 3-D through-silicon-via (3-D-TSV) stack. The Williams–Landel–Ferry equation and relaxation of the modulus in the Prony series are used to describe the viscoelastic properties of underfill in detail. The 3-D-TSV stack consists of a four-layer die stack, a silicon interposer, a printed circuit board, TSVs, microbumps, and solder balls. Simulation results show that, with underfill applied, chip warpage is worse and the residual stress of the microbumps is increased. Therefore, a design suggestion is proposed where underfill with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion is preferred in 3-D-TSV stacks for applications undergoing heavy thermal cycles. In terms of simulation accuracy, the simulation is compared with the simplified treatment where underfill is considered completely elastic. We conclude that defining the viscoelasticity properties is more relevant for underfill than elasticity.
ENERGY-AWARE SENSOR MAC PROTOCOLS

Sensor network applications typically require continuous monitoring of physical phenomena for extended periods of time under severe energy resource constraints. Accordingly, design considerations for sensor Media Access Control (MAC) protocols depart significantly from those of traditional wireless MAC protocols that largely ignore the energy factor. In this paper, we reexamine the design space of wireless sensor MAC protocols and modify IEEE 802.11 Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) to incorporate energy-adaptive contention mechanisms for prolonging sensor lifetime. Performance of the proposed schemes is evaluated with DCF as a baseline and results indicate the benefits of energy-aware mechanisms for sensor MAC protocols.
Defining the Role of the Tibial Tubercle–Trochlear Groove and Tibial Tubercle–Posterior Cruciate Ligament Distances in the Work-up of Patients With Patellofemoral Disorders

Background: The radiological work-up of patients with patellofemoral disorders continues to be debated. The interchangeability of the tibial tubercle–trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance between computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently been questioned. In addition, a new measurement—the tibial tubercle–posterior cruciate ligament (TT-PCL) distance—has shown that not all patients with a pathological TT-TG distance (>20 mm) have lateralization of the tibial tubercle. Another factor to consider when looking at the position of the tibial tubercle is the knee joint rotation, defined as the angle between the femoral dorsal condylar line and the tibial dorsal condylar line. Purpose: To determine, with a larger population, if the TT-TG measurements can be used interchangeably between CT and MRI and to confirm the correlation between the TT-PCL and TT-TG distances in determining tibial tubercle lateralization. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Patients with patellofemoral disorders and MRI and CT scans of the same knee (n = 141) were identified. The TT-PCL, the knee joint rotation, and TT-TG were measured independently by 2 fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons. Thirty measurements were repeated on a separate occasion to allow for an assessment of the intrarater reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess reliability of the measurements. Results: The mean TT-TG was 4.16 mm less on MRI (P < .05), with the mean TT-TG ± SD being 17.72 ± 5.15 mm on CT (range, 6.97-31.33 mm) and 13.56 ± 6.07 mm on MRI (range, 2-30.04 mm). The ICC for each rater comparing the 2 imaging modalities was only fair (0.54 and 0.48). The mean TT-PCL measurement was 20.32 ± 3.45 mm (range, 10.11-32.01 mm) with excellent interobserver and intraobserver reliability (>0.75). Based on the TT-TG and TT-PCL measurements, 4 groups of patients can be established. When knee joint rotation is compared among groups, an increased TT-TG may result from true lateralization of the tibial tubercle, an increased knee joint rotation, or both. Conclusion: Based on a statistically significant mean difference (4.11 mm) and only a fair ICC (0.54 and 0.48) for raters comparing the 2 modalities, the measurements for the TT-TG cannot be used interchangeably between CT and MRI. Therefore, currently accepted values for TT-TG based on CT scans should not be applied to an MRI scan. The TT-PCL measurement is a measure of true lateralization of the tibial tubercle, while the TT-TG is an amalgamated measure of true lateralization and knee joint rotation.
A SiC NMOS Linear Voltage Regulator for High-Temperature Applications

The first SiC integrated circuit linear voltage regulator is reported. The voltage regulator uses a 20-V supply and generates an output of 15 V, adjustable down to 10 V. It was designed for loads of up to 2 A over a temperature range of 25-225 °C. It was, however, successfully tested up to 300 °C. The voltage regulator demonstrated load regulations of 1.49% and 9% for a 2-A load at temperatures of 25 and 300 °C, respectively. However, the load regulation is less than 2% up to 300 °C for a 1-A load. The line regulation with a 2-A load at 25 and 300 °C was 17 and 296 mV/V, respectively. The regulator was fabricated in a Cree 4H-SiC 2-μm experimental process and consists of 1000, 32/2-μm NMOS depletion MOSFETs as the pass device, an integrated error amplifier with enhancement MOSFETs, and resistor loads, and uses external feedback and compensation networks to ensure operational integrity. It was designed to be integrated with high-voltage vertical power MOSFETs on the same SiC substrate. It also serves as a guide to future attempts for voltage regulation in any type of integrated SiC circuitry.
Abstract: Semiparametric Bayesian Modeling With Application in Growth Curve Analysis

Semiparametric Bayesian Modeling With Application in Growth Curve Analysis Xin Tong and Zhiyong Zhang Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame Traditional growth curve models (GCMs) often assume a known parametric form of growth patterns as well as normally distributed random effects and measurement errors. Tong and Zhang (2012) allowed random effects or measurement errors to follow Student’s t distributions (see also Zhang, Lai, Lu, & Tong, 2013). Semiparametric Bayesian methods (e.g., Mūller & Mitra, 2004) provide another possibility to relax the assumptions of traditional GCMs by modeling the growth trajectories as random functions and treating the distribution of trajectories as unknown through a Dirichlet process. However, semiparametric Bayesian methods are less known in psychology. In this study, growth curve modeling through semiparametric Bayesian methods is introduced. Through simulation, we compare (a) the traditional linear GCM, (b) the robust GCM by assuming random effects following Student’s t distributions, and (c) the semiparametric Bayesian GCM by assuming random effects following unknown distributions with Xin Tong would like to express her sincere thanks to her advisor Dr. Zhiyong Zhang and her SMEP sponsor Dr. Ke-Hai Yuan for their support. Correspondence concerning this abstract should be addressed to Xin Tong, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, 225 Haggar Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556. E-mail: xtong@nd.edu Dirichlet priors. We conclude that when data are normally distributed, all 3 models provide similar model fit and parameter estimates. However, when data are not normal, both the robust GCM and semiparametric GCM fit data better than the traditional GCM, and semiparametric GCM is more flexible as it does not assume a specific distribution form for the random effects. The application of the semiparametric Bayesian method is illustrated through growth curve analysis of the Peabody Individual Achievement Test math scores from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort. Further research will propose and compare 3 types of semiparametric Bayesian growth curve models in which random effects and/or measurement errors have unknown distributions.
Prevalence of Surgical Site Infection at the Stoma Site following Four Skin Closure Techniques: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background/Aims: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication of stoma reversal. Studies have suggested that different skin closures affect SSI rates. Our aim was to determine which skin closure technique following stoma reversal leads to the lowest rate of SSI. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all adult patients undergoing stoma reversal at a single institution (2005-2011) and compared the rate of SSI following four skin closure techniques: primary closure (PC), secondary closure (SC), loose PC (LPC), and circular closure (CC). Univariate analysis included χ2 or Fisher's exact test and ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis H test for categorical and continuous data, respectively. A multivariate logistic regression model was created to identify predictors of SSI. Results: One hundred and forty-six patients were identified: 40 (27%) PC, 68 (47%) SC, 20 (14%) LPC, and 18 (12%) CC. CC was less likely to have SSI (6%) compared to PC (43%), SC (16%), and LPC (15%; p < 0.01). Increasing body mass index was a predictor of SSI (odds ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.12, p < 0.01). CC was associated with the lowest odds of developing SSI [0.07 (0.01-0.63), p = 0.02]. Conclusions: SSI rate was the lowest for stomas that were closed with CC.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Luminescent Properties of 2D Zinc Coordination Polymers Based on Bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methane and 1,3-Bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propane

Two new two-dimensional zinc(II) coordination polymers containing 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate and bitopic ligands bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methane (btrm) or 1,3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propane (btrp) were synthesized. Synthesized compounds were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. Crystal structures of coordination polymers were determined and their structural peculiarities are discussed. The differences in structural features, thermal behavior, and luminescent properties are discussed.
Inversion of superior mirage data to compute temperature profiles

Information derived from the superior mirage is used to compute the average vertical temperature profile in the atmosphere between the observer and a known object. The image is described by a plot of ray-elevation angle at the eye against elevation at which that ray intersects the object. The computational algorithm, based on the tracing of rays that have at most one vertex, iteratively adjusts the temperature profile until the observed image characteristics are reproduced. An example based on an observation made on the Beaufort Sea illustrates the process.
What are the differences and similarities between the American venture capital financing model and the German venture financing of entrepreneurial start-ups?

In the last decades, venture capital companies received more and more attention in the context of funding entrepreneurial start-ups. European countries such as Germany are still lagging behind the United States in the size and depth of venture capital activity. Through the investigation of the American financing model by Ruhnka & Young (1987), literature review, and case study of three different German venture capital firms, this paper identifies differences and similarities between both markets. Hereby, the characteristics of each venture capital market and influential factors of their VC companies provided insight into the entrepreneurial study. Therefore, it can be concluded that the economic history and difference in social capital and entrepreneurial spirit were the most important drivers for the existing gap between both countries. While researchers and investors indicated there is a need for more ambiguous, and risk-taking German entrepreneurs, American VC’s rather focus on the detection of breakthrough ideas in the process of funding. However, in the recent years, both governments facilitated further venture capital activity through tax benefits and additional funding opportunities. The creation of the world’s leading venture capital hotspots in the Silicon Valley and Berlin had a tremendous influence on the development of both markets and helped the economies to grow remarkable.
A Declarative Model for Reasoning about Form Security

We introduce a formal methodology for analysing the security of digital forms, by representing form signing procedures in a declarative action formalism. In practice, digital forms are represented as XML documents and the security of information is guaranteed through the use of digital signatures. However, the security of a form can be compromised in many different ways. For example, an honest agent might be convinced to make a commitment that they do not wish to make or they may be fooled into believing that another agent has committed to something when they have not. In many cases, these attacks do not require an intruder to break any form of encryption or digital signature; instead, the intruder simply needs to manipulate the way signatures are applied and forms are passed between agents. In this paper, we demonstrate that form signing procedures can actually be seen as a variation of the message passing systems used in connection with cryptographic protocols. We start with an existing declarative model for reasoning about cryptographic protocols in the Situation Calculus, and we show how it can be extended to identify security issues related to digital signatures, and form signing procedures. We suggest that our results could be used to help users create secure digital forms, using tools such as IBMâs Lotus Forms software.
Pricing of Perpetual American Options in a Model with Partial Information

We study the perpetual American call option pricing problem in a model of a financial market in which the firm issuing a traded asset can regulate the dividend rate by switching it between two constant values. The firm dividend policy is unknown for small investors, who can only observe the prices available from the market. The asset price dynamics are described by a geometric Brownian motion with a random drift rate modeled by a continuous time Markov chain with two states. The optimal exercise time of the option for small investors is found as the first time at which the asset price hits a boundary depending on the current state of the filtering dividend rate estimate. The proof is based on an embedding of the initial problem into a two-dimensional optimal stopping problem and the analysis of the associated parabolic-type free-boundary problem. We also provide closed form estimates for the rational option price and the optimal exercise boundary.
Conceptual map and technological framework to manage dementia wandering

Wandering is one of the most common disruptive behaviors in people with dementia (PWD). Dementia wandering is a subject of study and research in the field of gerontology for more than 3 decades. The topic has then drawn the attention of technologists and particularly computer scientists since early 2000. Though a number of solutions and applications have been proposed and implemented to manage wandering, not many are widely used in practice due to 2 reasons. First, technologists' understanding and perception of wandering do not align with those of gerontologists. This consequently lowers the chance of proposed solutions to be accepted for clinical applications. Second, most solutions do not address all the dimensions of dementia wandering. Few applications cater the needs of other stakeholders involved including caregivers, physicians and researchers. This paper aims to bridge the knowledge gaps between gerontologists and technologists. We first present a conceptual map of wandering science from the perspectives of gerontologists. Then we provide a framework which identifies main threads of technologies that can be further developed to manage dementia wandering. We hope that the conceptual map and technological framework will guide technologists in developing relevant and essential assistive solutions which are not only widely used in clinical practice but also address the needs of all the parties involved.
Imbalance issues in heterogeneous DO networks

This paper studies the effects of heterogeneity in DO networks and proposes measures for reducing or removing them. In particular, two types of imbalance, i.e., f-Imbalance and OH-Imbalance are identified and methods for compensating them, i.e., RL padding and AT overhead (OH) channel boost, are proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is demonstrated through both, developing an analytic model and conducting comprehensive simulations. The main conclusion of the paper is that through a combination of methods such as partial RL padding of weaker cells and OH channel boost of AT's, it is possible to compensate for the potentially severe imbalance conditions that heterogeneity brings about to DO networks.
Ubiquitous evolvable hardware system for heart disease diagnosis applications

This paper presents a stand-alone ubiquitous evolvable hardware (u-EHW) system that is effective for automated heart disease diagnosis applications. The proposed u-EHW system consists of a novel reconfigurable evolvable hardware (rEHW) chip, an evolvable embedded processor, and a hand-held terminal. Through adaptable reconfiguration of the filter components, the proposed u-EHW system can effectively remove various types of noise from ECG signals. Filtered signals are sent to a PDA for automated heart disease diagnosis, and diagnosis results with filtered signals are sent to the medical doctor's computer for final decision. The rEHW chip features FIR filter evolution capability, which is realised using a genetic algorithm. A parallel genetic algorithm evolves FIR filters to find the optimal filter combination configuration, associated parameters, and the structure of the feature space adaptively to noisy environments for adaptive signal processing. The embedded processor implements feature extraction and a classifier for each group of signal types. The proposed u-EHW system is a promising solution for various applications such as DSPs, communications, and ubiquitous healthcare systems.
Low Functional Redundancy in Sponges as a Result of Differential Picoplankton Use

Understanding the way that closely related co-existing species utilize resources is important for explaining biodiversity patterns and understanding how organisms contribute to ecosystem functioning. Here we investigated the utilization of food resources by sponges to determine if different sponge species from the same habitat utilize different fractions of their picoplanktonic food resources, and examined the validity of treating sponges as a single trophic group in functional diversity assessments. Using flow cytometry, we demonstrated that different groups of sponge species have different retention efficiencies for different types of picoplankton, providing evidence for differential use of food resources among different sponge species living in the same habitat. Although the mechanisms to explain these differences remain undetermined, we propose that this differential food use means that the feeding activities of sponges should not be considered as a single functional role.
Quantitative CT of Dinosaur Bones

To develop a protocol for CT examinations of fossilized saurian bones and to provide paleontologists with morphometric and densitometric data suitable for functional analysis, four isolated long bones of Tendaguru dinosaurs from the Museum for Natural Sciences of the Humboldt University of Berlin were examined by CT. The demonstration of fossils in the axial CT proved optimal with the window set at a center of 2,640 Hounsfield units (HU) and a width of 1,040 HU. The petrified bones have a maximum density of 3,000 HU. The shape and structure of the skeletal remnants suggest that the extremities of Tendaguru dinosaurs were submitted to mainly compression but nearly no bending stress.