Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spiderweb Masks for High-Contrast Imaging

Motivated by the desire to image exosolar planets, recent work by us and others has shown that high-contrast imaging can be achieved using specially shaped pupil masks. To date, the masks we have designed have been symmetric with respect to a Cartesian coordinate system but were not rotationally invariant, thus requiring that one take multiple images at different angles of rotation about the central point in order to obtain high contrast in all directions. In this paper we present a new class of masks that have rotational symmetry and provide high contrast in all directions with just one image. These masks provide the required 10-10 level of contrast to within 4λ/D, and in some cases 3λ/D, of the central point, which is deemed necessary for exosolar planet finding/imaging. They are also well suited for use on ground-based telescopes, and perhaps the James Webb Space Telescope too, since they can accommodate central obstructions and associated support spiders.
‘Like nothing I’ve ever felt before’: understanding consensual BDSM as embodied experience

This paper aims to illustrate how the consensual sexual practice of BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance and submission and sadism and masochism) can be interpreted as a method of embodied exploration. It will detail the various ways that engaging in BDSM, either as the dominant/top or submissive/bottom partner, is able to enhance feelings of corporeality and explore bodily relationships with the world and with other people. For many practitioners, BDSM places the body into central focus, and this work will elucidate the ways that this can be conceptualised as ‘embodied exploration’. Taken from a project examining the erotic experience of BDSM, this research adopted an existential phenomenological approach. Existential philosopher Merleau-Ponty argued that the body is not simply another object in the world, but that people are inextricably linked to the world through their bodies as body-subjects. Nine participants were recruited for the study, and variation in self-identified sexual role, gender, sexual orientation and age was deliberately sought for the sample. Template analysis, a method of hierarchically organising and structuring thematic findings, was used to analyse the interview data of the research participants. The salient themes relating to BDSM as embodied exploration are discussed in this paper with particular reference to unfamiliar physical and emotional sensations, imposed corporeal limitations and experience a sense of embodied liberation.
The Dynamics of Currency Substitution, Asset Substitution and De Facto Dollarization and Euroization in Transition Countries

This paper presents new evidence on the dynamics of dollarization and euroization for twenty-five transition countries. Estimates of the amount of foreign currency in circulation (FCC) in transition countries are used to develop a new comprehensive dollarization index (CDI) and separate indices of currency substitution (CSI) and asset substitution (ASI). When the CDI is compared to the traditional dollarization index (DI) that relies solely on foreign currency deposits as a proxy for the extent of dollarization, I find that the comprehensive dollarization measure provides a more complete picture of the extent of de facto dollarization and euroization, and that it better reflects the separate influences of currency substitution and asset substitution. I find that the dynamic evolution of currency substitution and asset substitution in transition countries is both more variable and complex than is usually believed to be the case. These new dollarization indicators enable researchers to examine the causes of the dollarization process and its tendency to lead to irreversibility (hysteresis). Moreover, the currency substitution and asset substitution indices shed light on the dynamic consequences of these processes for the effectiveness of monetary policy. Finally, the new estimates of FCC make possible the measurement of effective currency/deposit ratios that can be used to develop new estimates of the size and growth of underground economies in transition countries. Forthcoming Comparative Economic Studies, Fall, 2003
Feasibility and Effects of Newly Developed Balance Control Trainer for Mobility and Balance in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective To investigate the feasibility and effects of balance training with a newly developed Balance Control Trainer (BCT) that applied the concept of vertical movement for the improvements of mobility and balance in chronic stroke patients. Method Forty chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. The experimental group (n=20) underwent training with a BCT for 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks, in addition to concurrent conventional physical therapy. The control group (n=20) underwent only conventional therapy for 4 weeks. All participants were assessed by: the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC), 10-meter Walking Test (10mWT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Korean Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Manual Muscle Test (MMT) before training, and at 2 and 4 weeks of training. Results There were statistically significant improvements in all parameters except knee extensor power at 2 weeks of treatment, and in all parameters except MBI which showed further statistically significant progress in the experimental group over the next two weeks (p<0.05). Statistically significant improvements on all measurements were observed in the experimental group after 4 weeks total. Comparing the two groups at 2 and 4 weeks of training respectively, 10mWT, TUG, and BBS showed statistically more significant improvements in the experimental group (p<0.05). Conclusion Balance training with a newly developed BCT is feasible and may be an effective tool to improve balance and gait in ambulatory chronic stroke patients. Furthermore, it may provide additional benefits when used in conjunction with conventional therapies.
Memory-Link Compression Schemes: A Value Locality Perspective

As the speed of processors increases, the on-chip memory hierarchy will continue to be crucial for performance. Unfortunately, simply increasing the size of the on-chip caches yields diminishing returns and memory-bound applications may suffer from the limited off-chip bandwidth. This paper focuses on memory-link compression schemes. The first contribution is a framework for identifying the nature of the value locality exploited by published schemes. This framework is then used to quantitatively establish what type of value locality is exploited by each compression scheme. We find that as much as 40 percent of the values transferred in integer, media, and commercial applications are small integers and can be coded using less than 8 bits. By leveraging small-value locality, 35 percent of the bandwidth can be freed up. Another significant chunk of the values either forms clusters in the value space or belongs to a fairly small group of frequent isolated values. By leveraging this category, one can free up 70 percent of the bandwidth. Finally, we contribute a new compression scheme that exploits multiple value-locality categories and is shown to free up 75 percent of the bandwidth.
Combining neural networks and belief networksfor image segmentationChristopher

In this paper we are concerned with segmenting an image into a number of predeened classes. We show how to fuse together local predictions for the class labels with a prior model of segmentations using the scaled-likelihood method. The prior model is based on a tree-structured belief network. Both the neural network and belief network were trained on a set of training images, and then the combined system was used to make predictions on a set of test images. We show that the combined neural network/belief network classiier gives improved prediction accuracy on 9 out of the 11 classes.
Erg Potassium Currents of Neonatal Mouse Purkinje Cells Exhibit Fast Gating Kinetics and Are Inhibited by mGluR1 Activation

We investigated the subthreshold properties of an erg (ether-à-go-go-related gene) K+ current in Purkinje cells of neonatal mice. Action potentials recorded from Purkinje cells in cerebellar slices exhibited a decreased threshold potential and increased frequency of spontaneous and repetitive activity following application of the specific erg channel blocker E-4031. Accommodation was absent before and after drug application. The erg current of these Purkinje cells activated at membrane potentials near −60 mV and exhibited fast gating kinetics. The functional importance of fast gating subthreshold erg channels in Purkinje cells was corroborated by comparing the results of action potential clamp experiments with erg1a, erg1b, erg2, and erg3 currents heterologously expressed in HEK cells. Computer simulations based on a NEURON model of Purkinje cells only reproduced the effects of the native erg current when an erg channel conductance like that of erg3 was included. Experiments with subunit-sensitive toxins (BeKm-1, APETx1) indicated that erg channels in Purkinje cells are presumably mediated by heteromeric erg1/erg3 or modified erg1 channels. Following mGluR1 activation, the native erg current was reduced by ∼70%, brought about by reduction of the maximal erg current and a shift of the activation curve to more positive potentials. The Purkinje cell erg current contributed to the sustained current component of the biphasic mGluR1 response. Activation of mGluR1 by the agonist 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol increased Purkinje cell excitability, similar to that induced by E-4031. The results indicated that erg currents can be modulated and may contribute to the mGluR1-induced plasticity changes in Purkinje cells.
Fall detection system for the elderly

According with the World Health Organization, Falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide. Adults older than 65 suffer the greatest number of fatal falls. Therefore, the quality of life of older people can be improved by using automatic fall detection systems. This paper presents a fall detection system that monitors in real-time an older adult. The system defines two major components: a wearable device and a cell phone. The wearable has the capability of communicating with a cell phone can be located in a 100ft radius. Once, the wearable device detects a fall, it sends an alert to the cell phone; then the cell phone alerts to the emergency contacts defined by the user. The main idea is to avoid the need of carrying the cell phone every time. In addition, our system has a panic button that can be used in order to alert the emergency contacts in the event that the user feels that a fall may happen.
Time-Predictable Computer Architecture

Today's general-purpose processors are optimized for maximum throughput. Real-time systems need a processor with both a reasonable and a known worst-case execution time (WCET). Features such as pipelines with instruction dependencies, caches, branch prediction, and out-of-order execution complicate WCET analysis and lead to very conservative estimates. In this paper, we evaluate the issues of current architectures with respect to WCET analysis. Then, we propose solutions for a time-predictable computer architecture. The proposed architecture is evaluated with implementation of some features in a Java processor. The resulting processor is a good target for WCET analysis and still performs well in the average case.
Developmental and Aging Aspects Cognitive development, reading and prosodic skills in children with cochlear implants

This report summarizes some of the results of studies in our laboratory exploring the development of cognitive, reading and prosodic skills in children with cochlear implantation (CI). The children with CI performed at significantly lower levels than the hearing comparison group on the majority of cognitive tests, despite showing levels of nonverbal ability. The differences between children with CI and hearing children were most pronounced on tasks with relatively high phonological processing demands, but they were not limited to phonological processing. Impairment of receptive and productive prosody was also evident in children with CI. Despite these difficulties, 75% of the children with CI reached a level of reading skill comparable to that of hearing children. The results are discussed with respect to compensation strategies in reading.
Design of Graphene- and Polyaniline-Containing Functional Polymer Hydrogel as a New Adsorbent for Removal of Chromium (VI) Ions

Hydrogels find applications in various fields, and the ever-growing spectrum of available monomers, crosslinking, and nanotechnologies widen the application of polymer hydrogels. Herein, we describe the preparation of a new graphene (G)- and polyaniline (PANI)-containing functional polymer gel (G/PANI/FG) through a facile crosslinking copolymerization approach. Several characterization techniques such as field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to understand the physicochemical characteristics of the G/PANI/FG. The new G/PANI/FG was used as an adsorbent for chromium (VI) and exhibited the highest Cr (VI) removal efficiency (~97%). The inclusion of G and PANI in the gel results in high surface area, 3D porous structure, and Cr (VI)-chelating amine sites, which enhanced the Cr (VI) removal efficiency and thermal stability of the gel adsorbent. The results of our study revealed that G/PANI/FG is suited for the removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution.
Love, Sex, and Marriage in the Setting of Pathological Narcissism

Mature love requires the establishment of a sustained relationship with a romantically attractive, non-incestuous object toward whom a certain amount of ambivalence can be tolerated and in relationship with whom affection and sensuality can both be expressed and received. This concept underscores the necessity to have mastered the oedipal realities of childhood (eg, feelings of smallness, rivalry, and exclusion) and to have found a love object that is neither a replica of the primary oedipal love object nor utterly devoid of its qualities. Besides this, capacity for separateness, respect for the lover’s autonomy, and affects of tenderness and care need to be brought under the spectrum of experiences collectively called “love. ”
ORGANIZATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOMES OF JOB INSECURITY: A CROSS SECTIONAL INVESTIGATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS OF PAKISTAN USING SUBJECTIVE APPROACH OF JOB INSECURITY

Job Insecurity being the prevailing phenomenon has been discovered to be connected with psychological disorders such as anxiety, uncertainty and stress. It has also been evident that job insecurity perception triggers intention to leave and results in decreased job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance. This cross-sectional study examined the phenomenon in the private sector organizations of Pakistan where vital existence of the perceived job insecurity has been observed. 250 respondents were selected by stratified sampling technique to gather primary data. Findings have significantly supported the model developed and job insecurity has proved to be the contributor of psychological outcome in term of stress, anxiety and uncertainty. These psychological outcomes along with job insecurity negatively affect job performance, organizational commitment, intention to leave and job satisfaction which does not only impact the mental health of the victims of job insecurity but ultimately organization’s productivity and future prospects of growth.
A universal resource allocation method for H-FDD, FDD and TDD wireless OFDM systems

In addition to conventional frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD), half frequency division duplexing (H-FDD) has recently attracted attention since H-FDD can be an economical solution for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication networks. As next generation cellular wireless networks are crowded with ever-high capacity demand and new applications, efficient resource allocation will be crucial for system performance enhancement and economical competitiveness. This paper proposes a universal resource allocation method applicable to all H-FDD, FDD and TDD. In the most complicated case of H-FDD, the proposed scheme jointly optimizes mobile station (MS) grouping and frame partitioning in addition to resource allocation. We develop a near-optimum and low-complexity algorithm for H-FDD resource allocation from the universal formulation, and show that it can be applied to FDD and TDD as special cases. Simulation results demonstrate that our algorithm can provide performance gain close to that of the optimum but time-consuming exhaustive search.
Outlining Developers' Testing Process Model

Most of the effort has been spent on formalizing processes for system testing. Little has been done regarding developers' unit and unit integration testing. In this paper, we study the routines of six developers when testing their software components. Our contribution is twofold. It first outlines a process model for unit and unit integration testing. It then provides feedback on the state of practice within six organizations.
The impact of body mass index on later total hip arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis: a cohort study in 1.2 million persons.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of body mass index (BMI), height, and age on the risk of later total hip arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS We matched screening data on body height and weight from 1,152,006 persons ages 18-67 years who attended a compulsory screening for tuberculosis in 1963-1975 with data from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register for the years 1987-2003. We identified 28,425 total hip replacements because of primary OA. RESULTS We found dose-response associations between both height and BMI and later hip arthroplasty. The relative risk (RR) among men with a BMI > or = 32 kg/m2 versus a BMI of 20.5-21.9 kg/m2 was 3.4 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.9-4.0). The corresponding RR in women was 2.3 (95% CI 2.1-2.4). There was a decreasing trend in the RR with an increasing age at screening. Among men, the RR for an increase of 5 kg/m2 in the BMI was 2.1 (95% CI 1.7-2.5) when measured at age <25 years and 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.7) when measured at ages 55-59 years. Among women, the corresponding RR values were 1.7 (95% CI 1.5-1.9) and 1.1 (95% CI 1.1-1.2). CONCLUSION There was a strong dose-response association between BMI and later total arthroplasty for OA of the hip. Being overweight entailed the highest RR among young participants, and the participants who were overweight at a young age maintained an excess RR for arthroplasty throughout the followup period.
The snow/ice instability as a mechanism for rapid climate change: A Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth model example

Paleoclimate data increasingly suggest the likelihood of abrupt transitions due to instabilities in the climate system. Several previous studies offer support for the snow/ice instability mechanism as an explanation for some of these changes. However, most of these studies have either employed simple models or not closely examined the details of the transition. Herein we revisit this issue using a general circulation model (GCM) simulation for the late Precambrian, a time when glaciers may have reached the equator. Our results indicate that for CO2 concentrations near present levels the snow/ice instability occurs in one model year. The width of open water associated with the onset of instability agrees with theoretical calculations of the critical length scale predicted for this behavior. These results strengthen support for the existence of this phenomenon as a mechanism for rapid climate change.
Evaluating physician satisfaction regarding user interactions with an electronic medical record system

A limiting factor in realizing the full potential of electronic medical records (EMR) is physician reluctance to use these applications. There have been very few formal usability studies of experienced physician users of EMRs in routine clinical use. We distributed the Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction (QUIS) to 75 primary care physicians who routinely use the Brigham and Women's Integrated Computing System (BICS). BICS scored highest in the area of screen design and lowest in the area of system capability. Overall user satisfaction was most highly correlated with screen design and layout, and surprisingly not with system response time. Human-computer interaction studies can help focus our design efforts as we strive to increase clinician usage of information technology.
Avian influenza virus, Streptococcus suis serotype 2, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus and beyond: molecular epidemiology, ecology and the situation in China

The outbreak and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus and the subsequent identification of its animal origin study have heightened the world's awareness of animal-borne or zoonotic pathogens. In addition to SARS, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (AIV), H5N1, and the lower pathogenicity H9N2 AIV have expanded their host ranges to infect human beings and other mammalian species as well as birds. Even the ‘well-known’ reservoir animals for influenza virus, migratory birds, became victims of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. Not only the viruses, but bacteria can also expand their host range: a new disease, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, caused by human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection, has been observed in China with 52 human fatalities in two separate outbreaks (1998 and 2005, respectively). Additionally, enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection has increased worldwide with severe disease. Several outbreaks and sporadic isolations of this pathogen in China have made it an important target for disease control. A new highly pathogenic variant of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been isolated in both China and Vietnam recently; although PRRSV is not a zoonotic human pathogen, its severe outbreaks have implications for food safety. All of these pathogens occur in Southeast Asia, including China, with severe consequences; therefore, we discuss the issues in this article by addressing the situation of the zoonotic threat in China.
A review of the empirical literature on Pay-What-You-Want price setting

Abstract In a Pay What You Want (PWYW) setting companies empower their customers to fix the prices buyers voluntarily pay for a delivered product or service. The seller agrees to any price (including zero) customers are paying. For about ten years researchers empirically investigate customer reactions to and economic outcomes of this pricing method. The present paper distinguishes PWYW from other voluntary payment mechanisms and reviews 72 English- or German-speaking PWYW publications, which appeared between January 2006 and September 2016 and contain 97 independent empirical data sets. Prior PWYW research is structured with the help of a conceptual framework which incorporates payment procedure design, buyer, seller, focal sales object and market context characteristics as factors potentially influencing customer perceptions of the PWYW scheme and their behavioral reactions to PWYW offers. The review discusses both consistent key findings as well as contradictory results and derives recommendations for future empirical PWYW research efforts.