Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Internalization of Aspergillus fumigatus into pulmonary epithelial cells: joint action of host and pathogen

Aspergillus (A.) fumigatus is een zeer belangrijke opportunistische schimmel. Het veroorzaakt ongeveer 90% van de systemische infecties door Aspergillus. De primaire plaats van infectie is de long. Het proces van de internalisatie van A. fumigatus in longepitheelcellen is een belangrijke stap in de ontwikkeling van aspergillose. Longepitheelcellen fungeren niet alleen als mechanische barriere maar ook als eerste verdedigingslijn van het aangeboren immuunsysteem van de gastheer. Maar tot nu toe zijn de mechanismen die leiden tot de internalisatie van A. fumigatus in longepitheelcellen grotendeels onbekend. Dit proefschrift beschrijft de verschillende moleculen en signaalwegen die betrokken zijn bij dit proces van zowel A. fumigatus als de gastheer. We hebben gevonden dat β-1,3-glucaan en gliotoxine, factoren van A. fumigatus, de internalisatie van A. fumigatus in de longepitheelcellen verhogen door het stimuleren van de fosfolipase D (PLD) van de gastheer. Bovendien is PLD van A. fumigatus zelf een virulentie factor en verbetert internalisatie. Het proefschrift onthult ook dat de fosforyleringsstatus van de actine cytoskelet regulator cofiline de internalisatie in de gastheer bepaalt. DHN-melanine, een ander hoofdbestanddeel van A. fumigatus, regelt de hoeveelheid cAMP in de gastheer en de expressie van de cAMP mediator Epac. Tenslotte bieden we belangrijke gegevens van de dynamiek van genexpressie in longepitheelcellen tijdens A. fumigatus infectie door gebruik te maken van RNA-Seq technologie. Dit proefschrift levert nieuwe belangrijke inzichten om de pathogene mechanismen van A. fumigatus invasie en reacties in de gastheer.
Financial Valuation and Risk Management Working Paper No . 501 Bubbles and multiplicity of equilibria under portfolio constraints

This article shows that, as long as agents are required to maintain positive wealth, the presence of portfolio constraints may give rise to asset pricing bubbles in equilibrium even if there are unconstrained agents in the economy who can benefit from the induced arbitrage opportunity. Furthermore, it is shown that the presence of bubbles in the aggregate price system can lead to both multiplicity and real indeterminacy of equilibrium. The general results are illustrated by two explicitly solved examples where seemingly innocuous portfolio constraints make bubbles a necessary condition for the existence of an equilibrium.
Facial Composite System Using Real Facial Features

Abstract Facial feature points identification plays an important role in many facial image applications, like face detection, face recognition, facial expression classification, etc. This paper describes the early stages of the research in the field of evolving a facial composite, primarily the main steps of face detection and facial features extraction. Technological issues are identified and possible strategies to solve some of the problems are proposed.
Negative pressures in full-scale distribution system: field investigation, modelling, estimation of intrusion volumes and risk for public health

Abstract. Various investigations encompassing microbial characterization of external sources of contamination (soil and trenchwater surrounding water mains, flooded air-valve vaults), field pressure monitoring, and hydraulic and transient analyses were conducted in the same distribution system where two epidemiological studies showing an increase in gastrointestinal illness for people drinking tap water were conducted in the 1990's. Interesting results include the detection of microorganisms indicators of fecal contamination in all external sources investigated but at a higher frequency in the water from flooded air-valve vaults, and the recording of 18 negative pressure events in the distribution system during a 17-month monitoring period. Transient analysis of this large and complex distribution system was challenging and highlighted the need to consider field pressure data in the process.
Southern Chile, trout and salmon country: invasion patterns and threats for native species

Para evaluar la distribucion y abundancia actual de salmonidos y peces nativos muestreamos 11 lagos grandes y 105 arroyos, cubriendo 13 cuencas principales en el sur de Chile desde 39° a 52°S. En general las truchas (Salmo trutta y Oncorhynchus mykiss) representaron mas de 60 % de la abundancia total de peces y mas de 80 % de la biomasa total, ademas 40 % de los arroyos muestreados no presentaron peces nativos. Los salmones traidos para acuicultura tales como O. kisutch, Salmo salar, y O. tshawytscha solo estuvieron presentes en lagos que tenian salmonicultura, aun cuando no parecen reproducirse exitosamente en los arroyos afluentes. Pusimos a prueba el efecto del origen de los arroyos (cordillera de los Andes, valle central o cordillera de la Costa) sobre la abundancia de las especies y encontramos que la trucha arco iris estuvo mas restringida a los arroyos preandinos con mayor descarga, mientras la trucha cafe se distribuyo ampliamente no respondiendo a otras caracteristicas o atributos especificos de las cuencas que se midieron. La abundancia relativa de peces nativos fue mayor en los lagos que en los arroyos, en tanto la mayor biodiversidad de peces nativos se encontro en arroyos del valle central. Las especies mas comunes fueron Galaxias maculatus, G. platei, Brachygalaxias bullocki, Aplochiton zebra y Basilichthys australis. Arroyos con mayor conductividad, mas areas de pozones, mas sedimentos finos y con bajas densidades de trucha cafe fueron mas adecuados para peces nativos. Es asi que cuencas con mayor disturbio antropogenico parecen ser refugio para los mismos. Dada la naturaleza descriptiva de nuestro estudio solo podemos presumir los efectos negativos de truchas y salmones sobre los peces nativos, efecto que debiera estar sobreimpuesto a los condicionantes biogeograficos de la distribucion actual. Aun asi, basado en las presentes distribuciones de salmonidos y peces nativos, los efectos negativos son muy probables. La conservacion de la biodiversidad de peces nativos plenamente expuestos a perturbaciones humanas en el valle central, lejos de areas protegidas y parques nacionales, presenta un gran desafio. Proponemos incentivar la conservacion ejerciendo una mayor presion de pesca deportiva sobre las truchas en esos ambientes
Entry strategies, founder's human capital and start-up size

This paper analyses empirically the determinants of new-born firms' initial size. As survival prospects of young firms tend to be linked to start-up size, a better understanding of the factors influencing start-up size is crucial. We find that in addition to industry effects start-up size is considerably influenced by firms' entry strategies. Firms with entry strategies based on the exploitation of new market opportunities exhibit a higher initial size while start-ups established for reasons of necessity appear to start at a smaller scale. Furthermore, founders' human capital is confirmed to be an important predictor of start-up size also in Germany.
Modeling time series of microwave brightness temperature in Antarctica

This paper aims to interpret the temporal variations of microwave brightness temperature (at 19 and 37 GHz and at vertical and horizontal polarizations) in Antarctica using a physically based snow dynamic and emission model (SDEM). SDEM predicts time series of top-of-atmosphere brightness temperature from widely available surface meteorological data (ERA-40 re-analysis). To do so, it successively computes the heat flux incoming the snowpack, the snow temperature profile, the microwaves emitted by the snow and, finally, the propagation of the microwaves through the atmosphere up to the satellite. Since the model contains several parameters whose value is variable and uncertain across the continent, the parameter values are optimized for every 50 km × 50 km pixel. Simulation results show that the model is inadequate in the melt zone (where surface melting occurs on at least a few days a year) because the snowpack structure and its temporal variations are too complex. In contrast, the accuracy is reasonably good in the dry zone and varies between 2 and 4 K depending on the frequency and polarization of observations and on the location. At the Antarctic scale, the error is larger where wind is usually stronger, suggesting either that meteorological data are less accurate in windy regions or that some neglected processes (e.g. windpumping, surface scouring) are important. At Dome C, in calm conditions, a detailed analysis shows that most of the error is due to inaccuracy of the ERA-40 air temperature (∼2 K). Finally, the paper discusses the values of the optimized parameters and their spatial variations across the Antarctic.
Implementation of Small Target Tracking based on C-STC with multi-core DSP

A novel method by integrating the color information and bilinear interpolation with the traditional fast tracking via spatio-temporal context learning (STC) called as C-STC is presented. Experimental results with variant videos show that the improved algorithm can track the object accurately compared with the traditional STC, Particle Filter (PF) and Multiple Instance Learning (MIL). Moreover, multi-core emulation experiments have been conducted based on TMDXEVM6678L. Synchronization and communication between cores are realized based on the MessageQ. Two modes of data transmission from PC to DSP are achieved. The results show that the transmission via network promotes the real-time performance, which laying the foundation for communication between the DSP and the gigabit ethernet camera.
Silicon Micromachining for High Performance Passive Structures at W Band

This paper presents a micromachined technology allowing the realization of very high aspect ratio millimeter-wave circuits. Appropriate 3D electromagnetic simulations based on the finite element method have been implemented to design the circuits. Coplanar transmission lines featuring loss level in the 2 dB range up to 105 GHz have been realized. An original silicon micromachined cavity using the whispering gallery modes properties has been realized achieving a quality factor close to 10,000 range at 95 GHz.
Discretised Non-Linear Filtering for Dynamic Latent Variable Models: with Application to Stochastic Volatility

Filtering techniques are often applied to the estimation of dynamic latent variable models. However, these techniques are often based on a set assumptions which restrict models to be specified in a linear state-space form. Numerical filtering techniques have been propsed that avoid invoking such restrictive assumptions, thus permitting a wider class of latent variable models to be considered. This paper proposes an accurate yet computationally efficient numerical filtering algorithm (based on a discretisation of the state space) for estimating the general class of dynamic latent variable models. The empirical performance of this algorithm is considered within the context of the stochastic volatility model. It is found that the proposed algorithm outperforms a number of accepted procedures in terms of volatility forecasti
WIDELink: A Bootstrapping Approach to Identifying, Modeling and Linking On-Line Data Sources

Abstract : A link discovery system must be able to augment its knowledge base by collecting information from diverse, distributed sources. We have developed a system, WideLink, that can automatically extract data from online sources, integrate it into a domain model by automatically labeling it and automatically link it with facts already stored in a knowledge base. The challenge is to locate, extract, and integrate the data that comes from online sources. We addressed these problems by using a bootstrapping approach where the system leverages previously-gathered data, as well as the underlying structure many online data sources have, in order to identify and incorporate new data sources. WideLink systematically explores the structure of online sites so that it is able to retrieve pages on demand from complex web sites (e.g., sites with forms, embedded navigational structures, etc.). The system uses knowledge derived from previously gathered examples to help analyze new types of pages. Using examples of the type of information it is looking for, and characteristic patterns learned from those examples, WideLink can recognize relevant data from new sources, assign it to semantic categories within the domain model, and link it with previously learned facts.
Fingerprint Mosaicing Using Modified Phase Correlation Method

Fingerprint is widely used biometric traits to identify individual due to uniqueness. However, the fingerprint identification is still a challenging task in forensic science for criminal investigation and identification due to less area of region of interest (i.e. ridges and valleys) in the obtained fingerprints. Entire fingerprint is obtained only when it is given intentionally. In the case of criminal incidents, it is not always possible to get entire fingerprints. In such cases, obtained fingerprints are often partial i.e. having less region of interest. Therefore, if it is possible to get more than one partial fingerprint of same finger, these can be combined to increase the area of interest using mosaicing process. This large fingerprint is used to compare with stored fingerprint database for identification. The fingerprint mosaicing is the process of joining or stitching two or more than two partial fingerprint images and create a large view of fingerprint region containing ridges and valleys. The process contains mainly three steps: 1. Image registration, 2. Matching point extraction and 3. Image stitching. The thesis proposes a fingerprint mosaicing algorithm using conventional phase correlation method with some modification. The method is a registration method which estimates only the translational and rotational parameters involved in the input images. The method also finds the single matching point in both images which is used to stitch both images. The method uses Fourier phase shift property to estimate the translational and rotational parameters involved in two partial fingerprints having overlapping region. The conventional method has some drawbacks like the method can work successfully if and only if when the overlapping region is in the leftmost top corner in one of the two fingerprints. However, it does not always happen in partial fingerprints obtained in forensic science. There are total six different possible positions of overlapping region in mosaiced fingerprint. The second drawback is that the method depends on the sequence of input, if the sequence is changed the output will also change and generate incorrect mosaiced finger-print. As fingerprint images have only grey and white curvature lines (ridges and valleys), it not possible to predict the sequence of inputs by observing images. The last drawback is that the method generates mosaiced fingerprint though the input fingerprints do not have overlapping common region, thus method is unable to check the correctness of the generated output mosaiced fingerprint. The conventional method has some drawbacks. The thesis proposes a modified phase correlation method which can solve all these limitation of the previous conventional phase correlation method and make it more robust and efficient to be used practically.
Gravity and magma induced spreading of Mount Etna volcano revealed by satellite radar interferometry

Mount Etna underwent a cycle of eruptive activity over the past ten years. Here we compute ground displacement maps and deformation time series from more than 400 radar interferograms to reveal Mount Etna's average and time varying surface deformation from 1992 to 2001. We find that during this time interval it experienced magmatic inflation and radial spreading to the West, South, and East. Steady relative motion between the West and South flanks, and between the East and North flanks, during this time interval, suggests they are related to gravitational spreading of the volcanic edifice. Time series analysis shows that growth of a southeastern basal anticline began with the end of magma recharge in 1995, thus showing a direct link between deep‐seated magma intrusions and edifice spreading. These observations support a complex mode of radial gravitational collapse underlain by deeper magma driven basal spreading, although ultimately the two must be related.
A Comparison of Methodologies Incorporating Uncertainties into Power Plant Investment Evaluations

This paper offers a comparison of techniques proposed to deal with uncertainties existing in power system expansion planning. Diverse approaches developed or applied over the past two to three decades are surveyed and classified into the conventional and new ones according to their predominant application in the regulated and liberalized time. Based on the current lit- erature, conclusions on the potential of developing new methodologies able to meet the re- quirement of power plant investment evaluations in the coming years are drawn.
AN APPROACH BASED ON SEMANTIC MANAGEMENT OF USER PROFILE TO UBIQUITOUS APPLICATIONS ADAPTATION

Ubiquitous computing is an emerging paradigm for interactions between people and computers that makes the technology virtually invisible in our lives. It s aim is on the one hand, to add additional capabilities to everyday objects, allowing them to sense their environment and interact with the people and object s within it, to enhance their existing functionality, and on the other hand to allow breaking away from the desktop computing to provide computational services to a us er when and where required, in particular using Mobile Devices (MD). Applications in this domain are sensi tive to the context and must be able to perceive it to a dapt their behaviors to this context, taking into consid eration data that deals with the context of use and user preferences. In this paper, we focus on the user pr ofile which is constituted by the user preferences. The essential of our proposal focuses in particular on the use of ontology for the semantic representation of the profile of the nomadic user. Some proposed solutions to res olve conflicts that may arise between the preferences of the user are also presented in this paper.
The H-mode density limit in the full tungsten ASDEX Upgrade tokamak

The high confinement mode (H-mode) is the operational scenario foreseen for ITER, DEMO and future fusion power plants. At high densities, which are favorable in order to maximize the fusion power, a back transition from the H-mode to the low confinement mode (L-mode) is observed. In present tokamaks, this H-mode density limit (HDL) occurs at densities on the order of, but below, the Greenwald density. In gas ramp discharges at the fully tungsten covered ASDEX Upgrade tokamak (AUG), four distinct operational phases are identified in the approach towards the HDL. These phases are a stable H-mode, a degrading H-mode, the breakdown of the H-mode and an L-mode. They are reproducible, quasi-stable plasma regimes and provide a framework in which the HDL can be further analyzed. During the evolution, energy losses are increased and a fueling limit is encountered. The latter is correlated to a plateau of electron density in the scrape-off layer (SOL). The well-known extension of the good confinement at high density with high triangularity is reflected in this scheme by extending the first phase to higher densities. In this work, two mechanisms are proposed, which can explain the experimental observations. The fueling limit is most likely correlated to an outward shift of the ionization profile. The additional energy loss channel is presumably linked to a regime of increased radial filament transport in the SOL. The SOL and divertor plasmas play a key role for both mechanisms, in line with the previous hypothesis that the HDL is edge-determined. The four phases are also observed in carbon covered AUG, although the HDL density exhibits a different dependency on the heating power and plasma current. This can be attributed to a changed energy loss channel in the presented scheme.
ENGINEERING EDUCATION: DENSE TEACHING FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING

The paper starts from the conclusions of a paper on innovating engineering education, but it is only partially its extension, since moving from targets ("what needs innovating") to methods ("how should be innovated") entails a triple shift of focus: the perspective is rather academic than managerial, the echelon is rather tactical than strategic, the granularity is rather fine than coarse (however, specific - mainly debatable but crucial - Information Technology issues are dealt with in line with new paradigms in a paper to be presented in a section). After reviewing contextually the chief (but well-known) challenges (e.g., risk taking vs. continuity, technological innovation vs. academic inertia, exploration vs. exploitation) the paper investigates a less studied paradox of andragogy: how organise institutional teaching, clearly limited in both time (in line with the Bologna framework) and objectives (in line with the curricula) to meet expectations in a free, dynamic, and indistinct environment, as involved by life-long learning. The proposed solution is based on the concept of "e-maieutics". Among the conclusions: a) Teaching focus must move from knowledge to skills. b) Educator profiles must move from teacher, to trainer, to tutor, to moderator, to catalyst.
Analytical Evaluation of Economic Risk Capital for Portfolios of Gamma Risks

Based on the notions of value-at-risk and expected shortfall, we consider two functionals, abbreviated VaR and RaC, which represent the economic risk capital of a risky business over some time period required to cover losses with a high probability. These functionals are consistent with the risk preferences of profit-seeking (and risk averse) decision makers and preserve the stochastic dominance order (and the stop-loss order). Quantitatively, RaC is equal to VaR plus an additional stop-loss dependent term, which takes into account the average amount at loss. Furthermore, RaC is additive for comonotonic risks, which is an important extremal situation encountered in the modeling of dependencies in multivariate risk portfolios. Numerical illustrations for portfolios of gamma distributed risks follow. As a result of independent interest, new analytical expressions for the exact probability density of sums of independent gamma random variables are included, which are similar but different to previous expressions by Provost (1989) and Sim (1992).
Assessment of Marine Rescue Abilities Based on ISM and AHP as well as Fuzzy Evaluation

In marine accident disposal, the maritime sector of sea area’s rescue abilities evaluation plays an essential role in improving emergency rescue abilities as well as optimizing the management, which can reduce similar occurrings. In this paper, Interpretative Structural Modeling(ISM) was firstly used in analyzing the correlation between assessment indicators about marine rescue abilities. Then, through the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) every indicator’s weight was ascertained. Finally, we assessed the rescue abilities by multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. The results can embody the degree of excellence of marine rescue abilities in waters, specifically point out the existing problems and put forward relevant suggestion according to the order of importance to lower the loss of similar marine accidents. With regard to the rescue abilities of marine or onshore emergency, this paper’s research is of great theoretical and practical value.