Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aerosol mass closure and reconstruction of the light scattering coefficient over the Eastern Mediterranean Sea during the MINOS campaign

Abstract. As part of the Mediterranean Intensive Oxidant Study (MINOS) performed during August 2001 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, intensive measurements of chemical and radiative properties of atmospheric aerosols were performed at two remote sites on Crete Island, located in the marine boundary layer (MBL), and in the lower free troposphere (FT), respectively. Gravimetric particulate mass, as well as chemically-derived masses of water soluble ions, organic and elemental carbon, and tracer elements for dust aerosols were measured for fine ( 1.2 µm) particles at the two sampling sites. Although strongly bound water, mainly associated with inorganic species, could have slightly altered our results (10% of the reconstructed mass), chemical mass closure was achieved most of the time for the fine and coarse size fractions and at both sites. Our conversion factor of 2.1 for organic carbon (OC) to particulate organic matter (POM) is at the upper end of those reported in the literature, but fits with the aged smoke particles collected during the campaign. The results indicate that this conversion factor changed during the campaign along with the BC/TC ratio. The particulate mass (PM) concentration for fine aerosols at the MBL and FT sites averaged 17.4±4.7 µg/m3 and 11.2±3.2 µg/m3, respectively, and is among the highest reported in the literature for remote sites; more than 90% of this PM was composed equally of ammonium sulfate and carbonaceous aerosols. Comparison between the MBL and FT sites showed a slight vertical gradient for PM that was not observed for dust aerosols, which averaged 10.5±4.8 and 11.7±5.0 µg/m3 for the MBL and FT sites, respectively. The results were used to reconstruct the ambient light scattering coefficient (σsp) that was measured at ambient Relative Humidity (RH) for fine particles at the MBL site. Reconstruction of σsp was achieved using ratios of wet to dry scattering, f(RH), that depend on RH for ammonium sulfate, but are kept equal to 1 for POM. This results in a low water adsorption for our organic-rich carbonaceous aerosols, although these aged biomass smoke aerosols are supposed to be highly oxidized. Mass scattering efficiencies of the main aerosol components were obtained by multivariate regression analysis, and were 2.66 and 4.19 m2/g (at the 95% confidence level) for dry ammonium sulfate and POM, respectively. The calculations indicate that one third of the reconstructed σsp was due to water uptake by ammonium sulfate aerosols, demonstrating their major role in the radiative aerosol properties in the eastern Mediterranean.
Crystal structure of spinel-type Li0.64Fe2.15Ge0.21O4

The synthetic spinel Li0.64Fe2. 15Ge0.21O4 shows a partially inverse cationic arrangement with Ge4+ on the tetrahedral sites and Li+ on the octahdral sites. Iron is in the trivalent state and is distributed over both type of sites.
A survey and projection on medium access control protocols for wireless sensor networks

Recent advances in wireless communications and sensor technologies have enabled the development of low-cost wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for a wide range of applications. Medium access control (MAC) protocols play a crucial role in WSNs by enabling the sharing of scarce wireless bandwidth efficiently and fairly. This article provides a survey of the literature on MAC protocols for WSNs. We first briefly describe the unique features of WSNs. We then review representative MAC protocols from the following four categories: contention-based protocols, contention-free (scheduled-based) protocols, hybrid protocols, and preamble sampling protocols. Our discussions focus on the background, main features, operation procedures, major design issues, and the advantages and disadvantages of these protocols. We also present an analysis of the inherent and desirable features of the protocols, and the key challenges of MAC technology for WSNs. Finally, we present our view on future research directions for WSN MAC protocols in a reader-friendly way using illustrative diagrams.
Vertical Shifts in Self-Administration Dose–Response Functions Predict a Drug-Vulnerable Phenotype Predisposed to Addiction

The role of individual differences in the etiology of addiction is a very controversial issue. Neuroendocrine phenotypes that are able to predispose an individual to the development of drug intake have been identified previously. However, such information has been gathered by comparing individuals who differ in their sensitivity to low doses of the drug. Consequently, it remains unclear whether a phenotype predicting a higher sensitivity to low drug doses would be relevant in environmental conditions, such as the ones encountered by humans in which high drug doses are available. In this report, we studied dose–response, dose–intake, and ratio–intake functions for intravenous cocaine self-administration in the laboratory rat. We show that individual differences in drug self-administration originate from vertical shift in the dose–response function. Thus, no matter the dose, drug intake is very high in some “vulnerable” subjects and very low in other “resistant” ones. Vulnerable subjects, the upward shifted ones, would then have a higher chance to develop drug abuse also when high drug doses are available. In conclusion, these results provide a solid foundation for the existence of a drug-vulnerable phenotype relevant for the etiology of addiction.
Dexterous Underwater Robot Hand: HEU Hand II

Manipulator is the most important part for underwater flexible robot manipulation, and the grasping and manipulating capability is an important indication for intelligent robot. But current generation underwater robots generally employ the claw-like end effectors without sensing or controlling of the contact forces, which is simple and easy to control, but not able to perform complex operations. In this paper, a non-anthropomorphic underwater robot hand called HEU Hand II is presented, which is a modified version of HEU Hand I. The modular approach is adopted to design the hand, which have three identical fingers. Each finger has 3 joints with 3-DOF (degree of freedom), and two axes of the joints near the palm cross orthogonally at one point, as is the case in the human hand. The HEU Hand II can be equipped with 6-axis force/ torque sensor at each fingertip and position sensor in every joint. The characteristics of the hand, transmission mechanism, corrosion prevention and seal, sensor system, and control system are described and discussed. Moreover, the controller for the hand force tracking is designed based on PBNNIC (position-based neural network impedance control) scheme. The HEU Hand II has much improvements relatively to HEU Hand I, thus it is capable of grasping a wide variety of objects of different shapes, sizes and weights. The work area of the underwater robot can expand when HEU Hand II cooperates with the robot arm. It can be applied widely in the field of exploiting the resources under the sea
178 Single-Dose Pharmacokinetics of Amphetamine Extended-Release Tablet Compared with Amphetamine Extended-Release Oral Suspension

Abstract: Objectives: Evaluate comparative bioavailability of single-dose amphetamine extended-release tablet (AMPH ER TAB, Tris Pharma, Inc., Monmouth Junction, NJ) 20 mg, swallowed whole or chewed and amphetamine extended-release oral suspension (AMPH EROS) 2.5 mg/mL; and evaluate whether a PK food effect exists on AMPH ER TAB (contains a 3.2:1 ratio of d- to l-amphetamine). METHODS: Healthy volunteers (18-55 yr) were randomized to 1 dose of AMPH ER TAB 20 mg swallowed (fasted), chewed (fed/fasted), or 20 mg AMPH EROS (fasted). A crossover design was used. Samples were collected each period pre-dose and at time points to 60 h post-dose. D-and l-amphetamine were measured, and PK was calculated (90% CIs of the ratios of the geometric mean plasma levels) for Cmax, AUCt, and AUC0∞. Comparative bioavailability was determined when ratios were within 80 and 125%. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: 32 subjects completed the study. Based on the calculated bioavailability ratios, for AMPH ER TAB swallowed vs. AMPH EROS fasted: d-amphetamine total and peak exposures were found to be similar: AUC0-t: 100.68-108.08%, AUC0-∞:101.47-109.52%, Cmax: 98.10-103.17%. For l-amphetamine, the total and peak exposures were similar: AUC0-t: 100.31-108.57%, AUC0-∞:101.27-111.09%, Cmax: 98.2-103.37%. AMPH ER TAB chewed vs. AMPH EROS fasted: For d-amphetamine, the total and peak exposures were similar: AUC0-t: 99.23-106.62%, AUC0-∞: 99.58-107.59%, Cmax: 99.91-105.14%. For l-amphetamine, the total and peak exposure was similar: AUC0-t: 98.16-106.35%, AUC0-∞: 98.44-108.11%, Cmax: 99.53-104.75%. Food effect: AMPH ER TAB, chewed, fasted vs. fed: For d-amphetamine, the total and peak exposure was similar: AUC0-t: 92.57-99.49%, AUC0-∞: 91.12-98.48%, Cmax: 94.22-99.17%. For l-amphetamine, the total and peak exposure was similar: AUC0-t: 91.27-98.91%, AUC0-∞: 88.44-97.17%, Cmax: 94.52-99.50%). No serious AEs were reported during the conduct of this study, and the AE profiles were observed to be similar in frequency of events and severity to other amphetamine formulations used in ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: Bioavailability of single dose of AMPH ER TAB for both d- and l-amphetamine was comparable, swallowed whole or chewed, to an equivalent 20 mg dose of the reference product AMPH EROS, 2.5 mg/mL fasted, and showed equivalent peak and overall exposure. No food effect was observed for AMPH ER TAB administered chewed. All AEs were mild in severity and AE profiles were similar to other amphetamine formulations used for treatment of ADHD. Funding Acknowledgements: Tris Pharma, Inc.
Post-Critical Beliefs and Religious Reflection: Religious Openness Hypothesis in Iranian University and Islamic Seminary Students

Negative relationships between Post-Critical Beliefs in Iran imply that Muslim perspectives are closed-minded, but positive correlations between Religious Reflection factors point instead toward a Muslim open-mindedness. The hypothesis of this study was that this contrast reveals the Post-Critical Belief of Symbolism to be a questionable index of Muslim open-mindedness. Iranian university students and Islamic seminarians ( N = 296) responded to Post-Critical Beliefs, Religious Reflection, Religious Orientation, Quest, Rumination-Reflection, and Satisfaction with Life measures. The “openness” of Symbolism correlated negatively with the “openness” of Intellect Oriented Reflection. Other relationships broadly documented Muslim potentials for openness. Evidence of open-mindedness also appeared in contrasts between university students and Islamic seminarians. These results argued against Symbolism as a culturally sensitive measure of Muslim open-mindedness and supported the claim of the Religious Openness Hypothesis that traditional religions have at least some potentials for openness that can be obscured by contextual influences.
Berwald metrics constructed by Chevalley's polynomials

Berwald metrics are particular Finsler metrics which still have linear Berwald connections. Their complete classification is established in an earlier work, [Sz1], of this author. The main tools in these classification are the Simons-Berger holonomy theorem and the Weyl-group theory. It turnes out that any Berwald metric is a perturbed-Cartesian product of Riemannian, Minkowski, and such non-Riemannian metrics which can be constructed on irreducible symmetric manifolds of $rank > 1$. The existence of these metrics are well established by the above theories. The present paper has several new features. First, the Finsler functions of Berwald manifolds are explicitly described by the Chevalley polynomials. New results are also the complete lists of reversible (d(x,y)=d(y,x)) resp. irreversible ($d(x,y)\not =d(y,x)$) Berwald metrics. The Cartan symmetric Finsler manifolds are also completely determined. The paper is concluded by proving that a Berwald metric is uniquely determined by the Minkowski metric induced on an arbitrarily fixed maximal totalgeodesic flat submanifold (Cartan flat). Moreover, any two Cartan flats are isometric.
Comparison of Three Different Topologies of a Five Level Multilevel Inverter

Multilevel inverters have been attracting the industrial sector in the recent times for the purpose of high power and medium voltage control. These multilevel inverters reduce the total harmonic distortion (THD) in the output waveform of the inverter without reducing the output voltage quality. This paper discusses the comparison of three different topologies of multilevel inverters that includes the diode clamped, flying capacitor and cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter. These topologies are simulated in MATLABSIMULINK environment for grid connected application and results are presented.
A Knowledge - based Decisional System for the Service Quality Improvement in Organizations

This paper focuses on a knowledge – based decision system for human resource management within public administrations, with the aim of improving the service quality. In particular, the construction of decision rules for a generic public administration considers a Skill Gap Analysis among real and ideal workers competence profiles. The procedure foresees the following steps: an analysis of organograms and Job Descriptions; a Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes (KSA) model for Job Descriptions; use of an analyser to transform KSAs of Job Descriptions into an ISFOL – ISTAT model, with integrations of other characteristics; use of a parser to extract information from Curricula Vitae according to the ISFOL – ISTAT KSA model. Finally, a comparison step is useful to understand if employees perform roles, which are coherent with their real profiles. A first experiment allows to test the proposed approach, showing that discrepancies occur in profile choices and confirming what really happens in public administrations.
Training Triplet Networks with GAN

Triplet networks are widely used models that are characterized by good performance in classification and retrieval tasks. In this work we propose to train a triplet network by putting it as the discriminator in Generative Adversarial Nets (GANs). We make use of the good capability of representation learning of the discriminator to increase the predictive quality of the model. We evaluated our approach on Cifar10 and MNIST datasets and observed significant improvement on the classification performance using the simple k-nn method.
Control strategies of an assistive robot using a Brain-Machine Interface

In this paper, two control strategies to move a planar robot arm with a non-invasive spontaneous brain-machine interface (BMI) have been compared. The BMI is based on the correlation of EEG maps and allows differentiating between two mental tasks related to motor imagery. Using the BMI, the user is able to control 2D movements of the robot arm in order to reach several goals. The first control strategy is based on a hierarchical control and the second one uses a directional control of the movement. The robot arm used is the PuParm, a force-controlled planar robot designed and developed by the nBio research group at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (Spain). Three goals have been placed on the experimental setup. After performing the tests, time taken to reach the goals and errors have been presented and compared, showing the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy. The evidence from this study suggests that the control of a planar robot is possible with both strategies. The hierarchical control is slower but more reliable, while the directional control is much faster and more relaxing for the user, but less precise. These findings indicate that future assistive applications like grasping daily objects in a realistic environment could be performed with this system.
A Secure Consensus Protocol for Sidechains

Sidechain technology has been envisioned as a promising solution to accelerate today's public blockchains in terms of scalability and interoperability. By relying on the mainchain for security, different sidechains can formulate their own rules to reach consensus. Although the literature has considered the possibility of using consensus protocols in the sidechain, so far a tailor-made consensus protocol for sidechains with high performance and formal security proof has not been attempted. To fill this gap, we introduce Cumulus, a low overhead, highly efficient, security provable sidechain protocol. Cumulus makes use of smart contracts to ensure that only one block proposed in the sidechain will be enforced on the mainchain in each round, thereby achieving consensus in an efficient manner. We give a formal specification of Cumulus which ensures safety and liveness without any online requirements of clients. For security analysis, we provide formal security definitions and proofs under Universally Composable Security (UCS) model. As a proof of concept, we implement Cumulus and evaluate it in an Ethereum testnet.
Just Dust: About the (In)Applicability of Rotating Dust Solutions as Realistic Galaxy Models

Solutions of the stationary axisymmetric Einstein equations describing the interior of circularly rotating dust are investigated in order to study their potential applicability as galaxy models. It is shown that such interior solutions cannot be used as global metrics without becoming unphysical in certain regions of space. Although definite results concerning the non-existence of a continuation into a vacuum can only be derived for interior solutions describing rigidly rotating dust, the present analysis exhibits that the case of non-rigidly rotating dust would in general also be inadequate as a physically reasonable galaxy model.
Content-aware display adaptation and editing for stereoscopic images

We propose a content-aware stereoscopic image display adaptation method which simultaneously resizes a binocular image to the target resolution and adapts its depth to the comfort zone of the display while preserving the perceived shapes of prominent objects [Chang et al. 2011]. This method does not require depth information or dense correspondences. Given the specification of the target display and a sparse set of correspondences, our method efficiently deforms the input stereoscopic images for display adaptation by solving a least-squares energy minimization problem. This can be used to adjust stereoscopic images to fit displays with different real estates, aspect ratios, and comfort zones. In addition, with slight modifications to the energy function, our method allows users to interactively adjust the sizes, locations, and depths of the selected objects, giving users aesthetic control for depth perception.
Honing the in silico toolkit for detecting protein disorder

Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, England, The Israel Structural Proteomics Center, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel, Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel, Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel, Department of Computer Science, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, England, and Department of Biological Services, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Are Modern Insurgencies Predictable ? New Evidence from the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars

Substate conflict is the source tremendous human suffering and financial burden worldwide. Research recently published in Science claims to have uncovered predictable patterns in insurgent and terrorist attacks: like various unrelated physical phenomena, the rate of learning by insurgents (and thus rate of conflict escalation) follows a predictable power law process. Governments afflicted by insurgent violence might use such patterns to thwart some attacks. The authors do not, however, consider strategic interaction during conflict and derive their results using data that recent research indicates is likely biased. Using newly declassified, comprehensive, and methodically collected data on insurgent activities covering all years of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars supplied by the Pentagon, we demonstrate that these findings are an artifact of biased microdata. We further show that dynamic learning during conflict varies continually: at times, insurgents learn more quickly than their opponents; at others, they do not. Observable patterns of learning by insurgents in conflict environments are complex and reflect strategic imperatives. The results speak to the need for greater interdisciplinary collaboration. Parsimonious mathematical models used to describe physical phenomena are not clearly suited to modeling strategic political interactions. If physical or social scientists are to inform national security policies, they will likely need to do so collaboratively.
Towards Exploiting Duality in Approximate Linear Programming for MDPs

A weakness of classical methods for solving Markov decision processes is that they scale very poorly because of the flat state space, which subjects them to the curse of dimensionality. Fortunately, many MDPs are well-structured, which makes it possible to avoid enumerating the state space. To this end, factored MDP representations have been proposed (Boutilier, Dearden, & Goldszmidt 1995; Koller & Parr 1999) that model the state space as a cross product of state features, represent the transition function as a Bayesian network, and assume the rewards can be expressed as sums of compact functions of the state features. A challenge in creating algorithms for the factored representations is that well-structured problems do not always lead to compact and well-structured solutions (Koller & Parr 1999); that is, an optimal policy does not, in general, retain the structure of the problem. Because of this, it becomes necessary to resort to approximation techniques. Approximate linear programming (ALP) has recently emerged as a very promising MDP-approximation technique (Schweitzer & Seidmann 1985; de Farias & Roy 2003). As such, ALP has received a significant amount of attention, which has led to a theoretical foundation (de Farias & Roy 2003) and efficient solution techniques (e.g., (de Farias & Roy 2004; Guestrin et al. 2003; Patrascu et al. 2002)). However, this work has focused only on approximating the primal LP, and no effort has been invested in approximating the dual LP, which is the basis for solving a wide range of constrained MDPs (e.g., (Altman 1999; Dolgov & Durfee 2004)). Unfortunately, as we demonstrate, linear approximations do not interact with the dual LP as well as they do with the primal LP, because the constraint coefficients cannot be computed efficiently (the operation does not maintain the compactness of the representation). To address this, we propose an LP formulation, which we call a composite ALP, that approximates both the primal and the dual optimization coordinates (the value function and the occupation measure), which is equivalent to approximating both the objective functions and the feasible regions of the LPs. This method provides a basis for efficient approximations of constrained MDPs and also serves as a new approach to a widely-discussed problem of dealing with exponentially many constraints in ALPs, which plagues both the primal