Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Deep Junction Edge Termination for Superjunction MOSFETs

In this letter, a novel edge termination named deep junction termination for silicon superjunction (SJ) MOSFETs is proposed, simulated, and experimentally demonstrated for the first time. By utilizing a typical implantation-and-epitaxy process to form P- and N-pillars for SJ, it is possible to form deep junctions as the device termination with a large radius of curvature and lateral and vertical doping gradation. The 2-D simulation shows that more than 700-V blocking voltage (BV) can be achieved by a 57- $\mu \text{m}$ drift layer with this novel termination, and experimentally BV as high as 660 V is demonstrated by the fabricated device.
Hybrid calcium phosphate coatings with the addition of trace elements and polyaspartic acid by a low-thermal process

Research in the field of orthopedic implantology is currently focused on developing methodologies to potentiate osseointegration and to expedite the reestablishment of full functionality. We have developed a simple biomimetic approach for preparing trace elements-codoped calcium phosphate (teCaP) coatings on a titanium substrate. The reaction proceeded via low-thermal incubation in trace elements (TEs)-added simulated body fluid (teSBF) at 90 and 120 °C. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive x-ray analyses demonstrated that the teCaP coating was the composite of hydroxyapatite and whitlockite, simultaneously doped with magnesium, strontium, zinc and silicon. The addition of polyaspartic acid and TEs into SBF significantly densified the coating. The incubation temperature is another important factor controlling the coating precipitation rate and bonding strength. An incubation temperature of 120 °C could accelerate the coating precipitation and improve the interface bonding strength. The in vitro cell culture investigation indicated that the teCaP coating supported the adhesion and spreading of ovariectomized rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) and particularly, promoted rMSCs proliferation compared to the CaP coating prepared in SBF. Collectively, from such a biomimetic route there potentially arises a general procedure to prepare a wide range of bioactive teCaP coatings of different composition for osteoporotic osteogenic cells activation response.
The structure of man-made cellulosic fibres

After a short introduction to cellulose fibre spinning methods, general aspects of cellulose man-made fibre structure at various levels of molecular organisation are outlined. In subsequent sections, the fibre structures of viscose, Lyocell and cellulose acetate fibres are studied in more detail. The main body of data given is obtained from scanning and transmission electron microscopy, wide and small angle X-ray scattering, and birefringence. Some market figures are provided for the most important fibre types. New developments are covered in a short final section.
Suggestion for Interpretation of Limit Creep Strain of Geogrids

New procedure for evaluation of creep reduction factor by the limit creep strain concept was introduced through the analysis of creep test results. To determine the limit creep strain of the geogrids, the Sherby-Dorm Plots were applied and the results of this procedure were compared and interpreted, respectively. From this, it is seen that the creep reduction factors were 1.45 for the geogrid samples used in this study. Through the comparison of creep reduction factors in 10% creep strain criteria, it was confirmed that the range of creep reduction factor is about 0.06~0.14 for the geogrid samples in this study.
Sensory atypicalities in dyads of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents

Sensory atypicalities are a common feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To date, the relationship between sensory atypicalities in dyads of children with ASD and their parents has not been investigated. Exploring these relationships can contribute to an understanding of how phenotypic profiles may be inherited, and the extent to which familial factors might contribute towards children's sensory profiles and constitute an aspect of the broader autism phenotype (BAP). Parents of 44 children with ASD and 30 typically developing (TD) children, aged between 3 and 14 years, participated. Information about children's sensory experiences was collected through parent report using the Sensory Profile questionnaire. Information about parental sensory experiences was collected via self‐report using the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile. Parents of children with ASD had significantly higher scores than parents of TD children in relation to low registration, over responsivity, and taste/smell sensory processing. Similar levels of agreement were obtained within ASD and TD parent‐child dyads on a number of sensory atypicalities; nevertheless significant correlations were found between parents and children in ASD families but not TD dyads for sensation avoiding and auditory, visual, and vestibular sensory processing. The findings suggest that there are similarities in sensory processing profiles between parents and their children in both ASD and TD dyads. Familial sensory processing factors are likely to contribute towards the BAP. Further work is needed to explore genetic and environmental influences on the developmental pathways of the sensory atypicalities in ASD. Autism Res 2017, 10: 531–538. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detection and rectification of distorted fingerprints

Elastic distortion of fingerprint is one amongst the foremost downside in fingerprint matching. Since current fingerprint matching systems cannot match seriously distorted fingerprints, malicious persons could deliberately distort their fingerprints to cover their identity. Existing distortion detection strategies need availableness of specialized hardware or fingerprint video, limiting their use in real applications. In this paper, investigate a study on fingerprint distortion and rectification algorithm and use a dictionary based orientation field estimation approach to recognize latent fingerprints that is captured using ancient fingerprint sensing techniques. In this wok to take advantage of stronger prior knowledge of fingerprints so as to further improve the performance. Promising results are obtained on 3 databases containing several distorted fingerprints, particularly NIST SD27 latent fingerprint database, FVC2004 DB1, and also the Tsinghua Distorted Fingerprint database.
A thermal information display for mobile applications

In this paper, we investigate possibilities and limitations of temperature change as a method for information display in mobile applications. While some widespread and well-recognized haptic displays such as force-feedback often trigger the user's immediate attention, we will focus on ambient strategies for tactile information display, that is, the display of gradual state changes in the user's periphery that do not unexpectedly interrupt her current tasks, but builds on the mind's ability for subliminal perception of environmental change instead [1, 2]. To this end, we present a series of prototypes of mobile devices that display ambient information by means of thermal change based on the thermo-electric effect [3]. In order to assess the expedience and feasibility of such a display, a series of user tests have been conducted with respect to both, the ability for thermal change recognition and a concrete application scenario for such a display.
Association of Hemoglobin Concentration and Its Change With Cardiovascular and All‐Cause Mortality

Background Anemia is thought to increase mortality risks, but the effects of high hemoglobin concentration on survival are unclear. The effect of change in hemoglobin concentrations on survival in the general population is also unknown. This study aimed to examine the effect of hemoglobin concentrations and their changes on cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality risks. Methods and Results We retrospectively analyzed a cohort from the NHIS‐HEALS (National Health Insurance Service–National Health Screening Cohort) database, including 170 078 men and 122 116 women without cardiovascular diseases, aged >40 years at baseline, with hemoglobin concentrations available for both first and second health examinations. We assessed 2 independent variables: “One‐time” hemoglobin concentrations and changes in hemoglobin from first to second examination. Participants were followed up for a median of 8 years to determine mortality related to myocardial infarction, stroke, all cardiovascular diseases, and all causes. Hemoglobin concentrations showed a U‐ or J‐shaped association with cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors. When anemic men achieved normal hemoglobin concentrations, the all‐cause mortality risk decreased, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.59–0.77), in comparison with those whose anemia persisted. Both increases and decreases of hemoglobin concentration outside the normal range elevated all‐cause mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.39 [95% confidence interval, 1.28–1.49] and 1.10 [95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.20], respectively), compared with persistent normal hemoglobin concentrations. The trend was similar in women but was less significant. Conclusions Low or high hemoglobin concentrations were associated with elevated cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality. Reaching and maintaining hemoglobin concentrations within the normal range correlated with decreased all‐cause mortality.
EVALUATION OF TUMOR CONTROL AND NORMAL TISSUE COMPLICATION PROBABILITY IN HEAD AND NECK CANCERS WITH DIFFERENT SOURCES OF RADIATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Introduction: The ultimate goal of radiation treatment planning is to yield a high tumor control probability (TCP) with a low normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). Historically dose volume histogram (DVH) with only volumetric dose distribution was utilized as a popular tool for plan evaluation hence present study aimed to compare the radiobiological effectiveness of the cobalt-60 (Co-60) gamma photon and 6MV X-rays of linear accelerators (Linac) in the radiotherapy of head and neck tumors. Materials and Methods: TCP and NTCP were calculated using DVH through the BIOPLAN software developed by Sanchez-Nieto and Nahum . The treatment planning was performed for all the patients using both treatment modalities (i.e., Co-60 and 6 MV Linac). The TCP was also manually calculated using a mathematical formula proposed by Brenner’s et al. Results: The average TCP calculated by the BIOPLAN for Co-60 and 6 MV X-rays were 44.6% and 60.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the average NTCPs obtained for the organ at risk, namely optic nerve, for Co-60 and 6 MV X-ray were 0.24 % and 0.03 %, respectively. Regarding the spinal cord, the average NTCPs for Co-60 gamma photon and 6 MV X-ray of Linac were 0.05 % and 0.002%, respectively. Conclusion: As the findings of the present study indicated, Co-60 unit could provide comparable TCP along with minimal NTCP, compared to the high-cost technologies of Linac. The design of treatment plans based on the radiobiological parameters facilitated the judicious choice of physical parameters for the achievement of high TCP and low NTCP.
Work and opportunity before and after incarceration

The tax code provides subsidies for employers to hire ex-felons, to promote employment among low-income workers, and to encourage economic opportunity in distressed areas. These incentives are motivated to different degrees by a belief that economic opportunity facilitates successful reintegration of ex-felons and deters entry into crime. In this paper, we offer a more comprehensive view of the labor market opportunities of ex-prisoners in the U.S. by linking data from the entire prison population to earnings records over a sixteen year period. These data allow us to examine employment and earnings before and after release and, for younger prisoners, their family income and neighborhood in childhood. After release, only 55 percent of former prisoners have any earnings and those that do tend to earn less than the earnings of a full-time job at the minimum wage. However, their labor market struggles start earlier, with similarly high rates of joblessness prior to incarceration and with most prisoners growing up in deep poverty. For example, boys who were born into families in the bottom 10 percent of the income distribution (families earning about $14,000 per year) are about 20 times more likely to be in prison in their 30s, compared to boys born into families in the top 10 percent (families earning more than $143,000 per year). A disproportionate share grew up in neighborhoods where child poverty rates are high, most parents are unmarried, few men are employed, and where most residents are African American or American Indian. The combination of high rates of incarceration and low employment rates among exprisoners implies that roughly one third of all not-working 30-year-old men are either in prison, in jail, or are unemployed former prisoners. We discuss the implications of these findings for the design of policies intended to encourage employment and rehabilitation of individuals with a criminal record. ECONOMIC STUDIES AT BROOKINGS
Cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric safety of varenicline and bupropion compared with nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation: study protocol of a retrospective cohort study using the QResearch general practice database

Introduction Cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and is the main risk factor of major diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The best treatment to help smokers quit is a combination of behavioural support with pharmacotherapy. Varenicline is the newest drug on the market and has been shown to be effective in the general smoking population and in smokers with COPD. The safety profile of varenicline was initially established using standard approaches to pharmacovigilance, but postmarketing reports have raised concerns about a possible association between the use of varenicline and cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric events. Although recent studies have not confirmed such an association, further research is needed given the large number of smokers who are being prescribed varenicline, including important subgroups such as smokers with COPD who may be particularly vulnerable to side effects of drugs. The aim of this study is to assess the cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric safety of varenicline using data from the QResearch general practice (GP) database. Methods and analysis We will conduct a retrospective cohort study in the QResearch GP database. Patients will be categorised into three exposure groups: prescription of (1) varenicline, (2) bupropion or (3) nicotine replacement therapy (NRT Rx; =reference group). We will separately consider major incident neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular outcomes that occur during 6 months of follow-up using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for confounders. Furthermore, propensity score analysis will be used as an analytical approach to account for potential confounding by indication. Ethics and dissemination This work involves analysis of anonymised, routinely collected data. The protocol has been independently peer-reviewed by the QResearch Scientific Board and meets the requirements of the Trent research ethics committee. We plan to disseminate the results from this study via articles in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at relevant national and international health conferences.
Magnitude-only estimation of handset nonlinearity with application to speaker recognition

A method is described for estimating telephone handset nonlinearity by matching the spectral magnitude of the distorted signal to the output of a nonlinear channel model, driven by an undistorted reference. This "magnitude-only" representation allows the model to directly match unwanted speech formants that arise over nonlinear channels and that are a potential source of degradation in speaker and speech recognition algorithms. As such, the method is particularly suited to algorithms that use only spectral magnitude information. The distortion model consists of a memoryless polynomial nonlinearity sandwiched between two finite-length linear filters. Minimization of a mean-squared spectral magnitude error, with respect to model parameters, relies on iterative estimation via a gradient descent technique, using a Jacobian in the iterative correction term with gradients calculated by finite-element approximation. Initial work has demonstrated the algorithm's usefulness in speaker recognition over telephone channels by reducing mismatch between high- and low-quality handset conditions.
Comparison of Wear Behaviours of Cathodic Arc TiN, TiAlN Coated and Uncoated Twist Drills Under Aggressive Machining Conditions

Recent advances in cutting tool materials and PVD surface coatings are making highspeed dry machiningan increasingly viable machining operation in commercial manufacturing sectors. In this investigation, the performance of cathodic arc TiN and TiAlN coatings was assessed on HSS twist drills used to machine 1015 and 2080 workpiece materials under aggressive machining conditions. 17.6-26.4 m/min cutting speeds and 0.10-0.15 mm/rev feed rates were used as cutting parametersand all the experiments conducted under dryconditions. Number of holes drilled by TiN, TiAlNcoated and uncoated tools observed and TiN coating was found to be superiour than the others. The drill wear was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and also macroscopy, and comparative wear properties were discussed.
Attenuation of liver stiffness in sorafenib-treated patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

1Department of Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan. 2Department of Surgery, Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital, Xiamen 361000, Fujian, China. 3Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan. 4Department of Nuring, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan. 5Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan. *Authors contributed equally to this study.
Healthcare costs of asthma comorbidities: a systematic review protocol

Introduction Asthma is associated with many comorbid conditions that have the potential to impact on its management, control and outcomes. These comorbid conditions have the potential to impact on healthcare expenditure. We plan to undertake a systematic review to synthesise the evidence on the healthcare costs associated with asthma comorbidity. Methods and analysis We will systematically search the following electronic databases between January 2000 and January 2017: National Health Service (NHS) Economic Evaluation Database, Google Scholar, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Global Health, PsychINFO, Medline, Embase, Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. We will search the references in the identified studies for additional potential papers. Additional literature will be identified by contacting experts in the field and through searching of registers of ongoing studies. The review will include cost-effectiveness and economic modelling/evaluation studies and analytical observational epidemiology studies that have investigated the healthcare costs of asthma comorbidity. Two reviewers will independently screen studies and extract relevant data from included studies. Methodological quality of epidemiological studies will be assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool, while that of economic evaluation studies will be assessed using the Drummond checklist. This protocol has been published in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (No. CRD42016051005). Ethics and dissemination As there are no primary data collected, formal NHS ethical review is not necessary. The findings of this systematic review will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences. PROSPEROregistration number CRD42016051005.
FORTIFIER: a FORmal disTrIbuted Framework to Improve the dEtection of thReatening objects in baggage

ABSTRACT Currently, security breaches in public places like airports and official buildings are a major concern by both governmental and corporative organizations. In these situations, X-ray devices must scan a vast amount of baggage in a short time frame. Hence, deploying scanners that automatize the task of detecting suspicious artefacts becomes of vital importance to prevent from threats. In this paper we present FORTIFIER, a formal distributed framework designed to detect suspicious artefacts. This approach consists in the integration of several image detection algorithms executed in a distributed environment, which are aimed to detect a wide spectrum of weapons like guns, knifes and bombs. The main core of our proposed framework for recognizing suspicious artefacts is divided in different phases, where each one is modelled with a specific finite state machine (FSM). Several FSMs are combined to detect different artefacts. We also present a case of study where some performance experiments are carried out for analysing the scalability of FORTIFIER. Initially, FORTIFIER is deployed in a single cloud environment. Once the main features that have a significant impact on the overall system performance are analysed, our proposed framework is deployed in a multi-cloud environment.
Hardness of RNA Folding Problem With Four Symbols

An RNA sequence is a string composed of four types of nucleotides, $A, C, G$, and $U$. The goal of the RNA folding problem is to find a maximum cardinality set of crossing-free pairs of the form $\{A,U\}$ or $\{C,G\}$ in a given RNA sequence. The problem is central in bioinformatics and has received much attention over the years. Abboud, Backurs, and Williams (FOCS 2015) demonstrated a conditional lower bound for a generalized version of the RNA folding problem based on a conjectured hardness of the $k$-clique problem. Their lower bound requires the RNA sequence to have at least 36 types of symbols, making the result not applicable to the RNA folding problem in real life (i.e., alphabet size 4). In this paper, we present an improved lower bound that works for the alphabet size 4 case. We also investigate the Dyck edit distance problem, which is a string problem closely related to RNA folding. We demonstrate a reduction from RNA folding to Dyck edit distance with alphabet size 10. This leads to a much simpler proof of the conditional lower bound for Dyck edit distance problem given by Abboud, Backurs, and Williams (FOCS 2015), and lowers the alphabet size requirement.
Review and Analysis of LeadFree Solder Material Properties

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Tin-Lead Properties and Models Tin-Silver Properties and Creep Data Tin-Silver-Copper Properties and Creep Data Alloy Comparisons General Conclusions/Recommendations Appendix A: Tin-Silver Creep Data Appendix B: Tin-Silver-Copper Creep Data Acknowledgments References