Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An On-Chip RBC Deformability Checker Significantly Improves Velocity-Deformation Correlation

An on-chip deformability checker is proposed to improve the velocity–deformation correlation for red blood cell (RBC) evaluation. RBC deformability has been found related to human diseases, and can be evaluated based on RBC velocity through a microfluidic constriction as in conventional approaches. The correlation between transit velocity and amount of deformation provides statistical information of RBC deformability. However, such correlations are usually only moderate, or even weak, in practical evaluations due to limited range of RBC deformation. To solve this issue, we implemented three constrictions of different width in the proposed checker, so that three different deformation regions can be applied to RBCs. By considering cell responses from the three regions as a whole, we practically extend the range of cell deformation in the evaluation, and could resolve the issue about the limited range of RBC deformation. RBCs from five volunteer subjects were tested using the proposed checker. The results show that the correlation between cell deformation and transit velocity is significantly improved by the proposed deformability checker. The absolute values of the correlation coefficients are increased from an average of 0.54 to 0.92. The effects of cell size, shape and orientation to the evaluation are discussed according to the experimental results. The proposed checker is expected to be useful for RBC evaluation in medical practices.
Morphological and Volumetric Analysis of Left Atrial Appendage and Left Atrium: Cardiac Computed Tomography-Based Reproducibility Assessment

Objectives Left atrial appendage (LAA) dilatation and morphology may influence an individual's risk for intracardiac thrombi and ischemic stroke. LAA size and morphology can be evaluated using cardiac computed tomography (cCT). The present study evaluated the reproducibility of LAA volume and morphology assessments. Methods A total of 149 patients (47 females; mean age 60.9±10.6 years) with suspected cardioembolic stroke/transient ischemic attack underwent cCT. Image quality was rated based on four categories. Ten patients were selected from each image quality category (N = 40) for volumetric reproducibility analysis by two individual readers. LAA and left atrium (LA) volume were measured in both two-chamber (2CV) and transversal view (TV) orientation. Intertechnique reproducibility was assessed between 2CV and TV (200 measurement pairs). LAA morphology (A = Cactus, B = ChickenWing, C = WindSock, D = CauliFlower), LAA opening height, number of LAA lobes, trabeculation, and orientation of the LAA tip was analysed in all study subjects by three individual readers (447 interobserver measurement pairs). The reproducibility of volume measurements was assessed by intra-class correlation (ICC) and the reproducibility of LAA morphology assessments by Cohen's kappa. Results The intra-observer and interobserver reproducibility of LAA and LA volume measurements was excellent (ICCs>0.9). The LAA (ICC = 0.954) and LA (ICC = 0.945) volume measurements were comparable between 2CV and TV. Morphological classification (ĸ = 0.24) and assessments of LAA opening height (ĸ = 0.1), number of LAA lobes (ĸ = 0.16), trabeculation (ĸ = 0.15), and orientation of the LAA tip (ĸ = 0.37) was only slightly to fairly reproducible. Conclusions LA and LAA volume measurements on cCT provide excellent reproducibility, whereas visual assessment of LAA morphological features is challenging and results in unsatisfactory agreement between readers.
Sustainability of Product Market Collusion Under Credit Market Imperfections

We study the implications of credit constraints for the sustainability of product market collusion in a bank-financed oligopoly in which firms face an imperfect credit market. We consider two situations, without and with credit rationing, i.e., with a binding credit limit. When there is credit rationing, a moderately higher cost of external financing may affect the degree of collusion, but a substantial increase keeps it unaffected relative to the no-constraint case. A permanent adverse demand shock in this setup does not affect the possibility of collusion, but may aggravate financing constraints and eventually lead to collusion. We consider both Cournot and Bertrand models, and the results are qualitatively the same.
The impact of macroeconomic factors on risks in the banking sector : a cross-country empirical assessment

This paper explores the links between macroeconomic conditions and individual bank risk. Using capital adequacy ratios as a broad measure of risk sustainability, a linear mixed effects model for a large international panel of banks for the years 2001-2005 is estimated. In OECD countries, banks tend to hold higher capital ratios during business cycle highs, this effect being even stronger for a subsample of EU banks. In non-OECD countries, periods of higher economic growth are associated with lower capital ratios. This indicates procyclical behavior. Banks accumulate risks more rapidly in economically good times and some of these risks materialize as asset quality deteriorates during subsequent recessions. Furthermore, higher inflation rates are associated with higher capital ratios of banks, implying that inflation-induced economic uncertainty stimulates banks to restrict credit. As far as regulatory and institutional environment is concerned, econometric estimates show that banks in non-OECD countries with deposit insurance tend to be more risky, whereas evidence of a negative relationship between concentration of the banking sector and banks’ risk taking is statistically less robust.
on CMS information server CMS CR-2015 / 272 The Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment

A new pixel detector for the CMS experiment is being built, owing to the instantaneous luminosities anticipated for the Phase I Upgrade of the LHC. The new CMS pixel detector provides four-hit tracking while featuring a significantly reduced material budget as well as new cooling and powering schemes. A new front-end readout chip mitigates buffering and bandwidth limitations, and comprises a lowthreshold comparator. These improvements allow the new pixel detector to sustain and improve the efficiency of the current pixel tracker at the increased requirements imposed by high luminosities and pile-up. This contribution gives an overview of the design of the upgraded pixel detector and the status of the upgrade project, and presents test beam performance measurements of the production read-out chip. Presented at 10th International Hiroshima Symposium on the Development and Application of Semiconductor Tracking Detectors, Xian, China Status of the CMS Phase I Pixel Detector Upgrade S. Spannagel, on behalf of the CMS Collaboration Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
Vanishing of intersection numbers on the moduli space of Higgs bundles

In this paper we consider the topological side of a problem which is the analogue of Sen's S-duality testing conjecture for Hitchin's moduli space of rank 2 stable Higgs bundles of fixed determinant of odd degree over a Riemann surface. We prove that all intersection numbers in the compactly supported cohomology vanish, i.e. "there are no topological L^2 harmonic forms on Hitchin's space". This result generalizes the well known vanishing of the Euler characteristic of the moduli space of rank 2 stable bundles of fixed determinant of odd degree over the given Riemann surface. Our proof shows that the vanishing of all intersection numbers in the compactly supported cohomology of Hitchin's space is given by relations analogous to Mumford's relations in the cohomology ring of the moduli space of stable bundles.
University ’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs Robot – City Interaction : Mapping the Research Landscape — A Survey of the Interactions Between Robots and Modern Cities Journal Item

The goal of this work is to describe how robots interact with complex city environments, and to identify themain characteristics of an emerging field that we call Robot–City Interaction (RCI). Given the central role recently gained by modern cities as use cases for the deployment of advanced technologies, and the advancements achieved in the robotics field in recent years, we assume that there is an increasing interest both in integrating robots in urban ecosystems, and in studying how they can interact and benefit from each others. Therefore, our challenge becomes to verify the emergence of such area, to assess its current state and to identify the main characteristics, core themes and research challenges associated with it. This is achieved by reviewing a preliminary body of work contributing to this area, which we classify and analyze according to an analytical framework including a set of key dimensions for the area of RCI. Such review not only serves as a preliminary state-of-the-art in the area, but also allows us to identify the main characteristics of RCI and its research landscape.
Analysis and optimization of the bulk and rear recombination of screen-printed PERC solar cells

In this paper, we investigate the impact of the rear surface passivation, the silicon base material and the local aluminum contacts applied to rear side passivated solar cells with a homogenously doped emitter at the front. We compare different dielectric surface passivation layers (SiO2, Al2O3, SiNx) on a high-efficiency level using 125×125 mm and 156×156 mm p-type Cz silicon wafers. It turns out that applying an Al2O3/SiNx layer stack outperforms all other surface passivation layers due to its excellent surface passivation as well as optical properties. We determine the impact of the light induced degradation depending on the used Cz base material. We measure an efficiency drop between 0.0 % (Ga-doped) and 0.8 % abs. (B-doped) after 8 hours of illumination under 0.5 Suns. We measure the surface recombination velocity of local screen-printed Al contacts with varying the metallisation fraction frear with the dynamic infrared lifetime mapping technique (dyn-ILM) on lifetime samples. We measure a decrease in contact recombination velocity from above 1100 cm/s for small frear to 400 cm/s for large frear on 1.5 Ωcm p-type FZ-silicon. Microscopy investigations show that this is due to an improved local Al-BSF formation when using higher frear. © 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the SiliconPV 2012 conference
The study of 3D-from-2D using elimination

The paper unifies most of the current literature on 3D geometric invariants from point correspondences across multiple 2D views by using the tool of elimination from algebraic geometry. The technique allows one to predict results by counting parameters and reduces many complicated results obtained in the past (reconstructuon from two and three views, epipolar geometry from seven points, trilinearity of three views, the use of a priori 3D information such as bilateral symmetry, shading and color constancy, and more) into a few lines of reasoning each. The tool of Grobner base computation is used in the elimination process. In the process we obtain several results on N view geometry, and obtain a general result on invariant functions of 4 views and its corresponding quadlinear tensor: 4 views admit minimal sets of 16 invariant functions (of quadlinear forms) with 81 distinct coefficients that can be solved linearly from 6 corresponding points across 4 views. This result has non trivial implications to the understanding of N view geometry. We show a new result on single view invariants based on 6 points and show that certain relationships are impossible. One of the appealing features of the elimination approach is that it is simple to apply and does not require any understanding of the underlying 3D from 2D geometry and algebra. <<ETX>>
Moving Task Scheduling to CoProcessors in Energy-Harvesting Systems

New applications for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) pose new demands on energy-harvesting systems due to increased complexity and power consumption. However, microcontrollers with high computing power are over-dimensioned for energy-aware activity adaption. An assistant processor which schedules activity and monitors the energy state of the harvester can increase the energy efficiency of the whole platform. Therefore, we use a sleek communication interface for exchanging task information between assistant processor and sensor node. Even with communication overhead, a factor of 35 in energy can be saved, which allows the whole platform to increase energy efficiency. Lars Hanschke, Alexander Sowarka, and Christian Renner. Moving Task Scheduling to Co-Processors in Energy-Harvesting Systems. In Proc. of the 17th GI/ITG KuVS Fachgespräch Sensornetze, FGSN ’18, Braunschweig, Germany, Sept. 2018.
Recognition of Plant mRNA Polyadenylation Sites Based on High-Dimensional Space Points' Covering Method

To accurately predict messenger RNA polyadenylation sites of the model plant Arabidopsis, we developed a new program using the method of High-Dimensional Space Points' Covering, based on Biomimetic Pattern Recognition Theory. Upon analysis of experimental data and comparing with the results produced by Support Vector Machine, it is demonstrated that our program is reliable and effective judged by its specificity and sensitivity of the prediction. The program performed especially well with a reduced training sample size.
On teaching programming with nondeterminism

Non-determinism (ND) is a fundamental concept in computer science, and comes in two main flavors. One is the kind of ND that appears in automata theory and formal languages. The other, which we term operative, appears in non-deterministic programming languages and in the context of concurrent and distributed systems. We believe that it is important to teach the two types of ND, especially as ND has become a very prominent characteristic of computerized systems. Currently, students are mainly introduced to ND of the first type, which is known to be hard to teach and learn. Our findings suggest that learning operative ND might be easier, and that students can reach a significant understanding of this concept when it is introduced in the context of a programming course that deals with a non-deterministic programming language like the language of Live Sequence Charts (LSC). Based on that, we suggest teaching operative ND in the context of concurrent and distributed programming, a topic which is covered by a new knowledge area that was added in Computer Science Curricula 2013.
The interaction space of a multi-device, multi-user music experience

The increasing interoperability between electronic devices in our everyday life offers great opportunities for ubiquitous computing in non-work settings. There are however aspects of the interaction space of interconnected devices, that we do not yet fully understand. This prohibits us from utilizing the full potential of the devices and the digital ecosystems emerging around them. We have explored the interaction space created around multi-device systems in a non-work setting, by developing a functional prototype of a multi-device music player and evaluating it in three different real-life contexts. The evaluations had a total running time of 12 hours and involved approximately 60 testpersons. Qualitative results collected throughout the evaluations provide insight into issues regarding interaction design of multi-device systems with multiple simultaneous users. Through a discussion of the results we point out areas of interest and design issues, revealed during the evaluations.
Prediction model for evaluation of reconfigurable interconnects in distributed shared-memory systems

Reconfigurable interconnection networks for distributed shared memory machines exploit properties of the workload dynamics that are not easily captured by statistical traffic models. Therefore, when designing such a network, one should make trade-offs based on full-system simulation for all viable workloads. It is however very time-consuming to do such simulations. In this paper, we present a technique that can predict the performance of a machine for different network parameters, based on the results of only one full simulation run. We also define confidence intervals for our prediction, and analyze the impact of several assumptions that were made.
Tiny Bird, Huge Mystery—The Possibly Extinct Hooded Seedeater (Sporophila melanops) Is a Capuchino with a Melanistic Cap

Known with certainty solely from a unique male specimen collected in central Brazil in the first quarter of the 19th century, the Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) Hooded Seedeater Sporophila melanops has been one of the great enigmas of Neotropical ornithology, arguably the only one of a host of long-lost species from Brazil to remain obstinately undiscovered. We reanalysed the morphology of the type specimen, as well as a female specimen postulated to represent the same taxon, and sequenced mitochondrial DNA (COI and Cyt-b) from both individuals. Furthermore, we visited the type locality, at the border between Goiás and Mato Grosso, and its environs on multiple occasions at different seasons, searching for birds with similar morphology to the type, without success. Novel genetic and morphological evidence clearly demonstrates that the type of S. melanops is not closely related to Yellow-bellied Seedeater S. nigricollis, as has been frequently postulated in the literature, but is in fact a representative of one of the so-called capuchinos, a clade of attractively plumaged seedeaters that breed mostly in the Southern Cone of South America. Our morphological analysis indicates that S. melanops has a hitherto unreported dark-coffee throat and that it is probably a Dark-throated Seedeater S. ruficollis collected within its wintering range, acquiring breeding plumage and showing melanism on the cap feathers. Alternatively, it may be a melanistic-capped individual of a local population of seedeaters known to breed in the Esteros del Iberá, Corrientes, Argentina, to which the name S. ruficollis might be applicable, whilst the name S. plumbeiceps might be available for what is currently known as S. ruficollis. A hybrid origin for S. melanops cannot be ruled out from the available data, but seems unlikely. The purported female specimen of S. melanops pertains either to S. nigricollis or to Double-collared Seedeater S. caerulescens based on genetic and morphological data, and thus cannot be a female of S. melanops. We conclude that Sporophila melanops is not typical of any natural population of seedeaters, appears to have been collected far from its breeding grounds while overwintering in central Brazil, and should not be afforded any conservation status.
Adaptive technique for impulsive noise cancellation in broad-band power line communication system

The object of this work is to address impulsive noise cancellation for digital broadband power line communication scheme. This paper presents details of impulsive noise model based on its statistical properties and defined broadband OFDM technique. By adding a noise power (SINR) estimator a new adaptive noise canceller based on Matsuo algorithm is proposed. Presented simulation results show that the new proposed adaptive technique permits an improvement, not only in BER, but also in reducing processing time and so implementation complexity of the noise canceller.
Increased hepatic CD 36 expression with age is associated with enhanced susceptibility to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

CD36 has been associated with obesity and diabetes in human liver diseases, however, its role in age‐ associated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. Therefore, liver biopsies were collected from individuals with histologically normal livers (n=30), and from patients diagnosed with simple steatosis (NAS; n=26). Patients were divided into two groups according to age and liver biopsy samples were immunostained for CD36. NAFLD parameters were examined in young (12‐week) and middle‐aged (52‐week) C57BL/6J mice, some fed with chow‐diet and some fed with low‐fat (LFD; 10% kcal fat) or high‐fat diet (HFD; 60% kcal fat) for 12‐weeks. CD36 expression was positively associated with age in individuals with normal livers but not in NAS patients. However, CD36 was predominantly located at the plasma membrane of hepatocytes in aged NAS patients as compared to young. In chow‐fed mice, aging, despite an increase in hepatic CD36 expression, was not associated with the development of NAFLD. However, middle‐ aged mice did exhibit the development of HFD‐induced NAFLD, mediated by an increase of CD36 on the membrane. Enhanced CD36‐mediated hepatic fat uptake may contribute to an accelerated progression of NAFLD in mice and humans. Therapies to prevent the increase in CD36 expression and/or CD36 from anchoring at the membrane may prevent the development of NAFLD. www.impactaging. com 281 AGING, April 2014, Vol. 6 No.4
Current Concepts in Implant Prosthodontics-Materials, Technology, and Occlusion

Dental implants as a form of replacing missing teeth are being used now more than ever. The success of endosseous implants had led to increased quality of life for these patients. The design of an implant prosthesis is often determined by the position and angulation of the supporting osseointegrated implants. Adequate pre-surgical prosthetic design is essential to the accurate placement of implants for an esthetically acceptable and functional result. Currently, a variety of restorative options are available for the clinician to restore osseointegrated implants in terms of materials used, mode of connection to implants and occlusal schemes. However, the clinical decision regarding which restorative design to use and the choice of material has been a topic of constant debate. This article aims to give the advantages and disadvantages as well as clinical scenarios indicated for different implant restorations. Agnetha Valladares*, Alessandro Grisa, Arshin Hotchandani, Kirkor Cinarli and Mary Kang Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, New York University, USA *Address for Correspondence Agnetha Valladares, Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, New York University, Clinic 5W, 345 E 24th St, New York, NY 10010, USA, Tel: +1-917-854-7300; E-mail: av1836@nyu.edu Submission: 14 January, 2018 Accepted: 12 February, 2018 Published: 20 February, 2018 Copyright: © 2018 Valladares A, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Review Article Open Access Journal of Oral Biology