Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virtualization Enabled Multi-Point Cooperation with Convergence of Communication, Caching, and Computing

NFV can effectively improve the flexibility of resource allocation and save energy consumption in networks. With NFV, the servers in communication networks can be virtualized as different types of VMs, including SIVMs and CIVMs. To deal with the ever-increasing traffic, in this article, we study the cooperation of servers at different locations. This can efficiently and flexibly utilize the communication, caching, and computing resources to minimize network energy consumption with QoS guarantee. Specifically, we first investigate the impacts of different types of VMs on network performance. Then, we propose a joint allocation of different types of VMs in different servers, and discuss the tradeoffs between SIVMs and CIVMs. Case studies are also provided to verify the feasibility of VM based multi-point cooperation. Finally, potential research directions are presented to shed light on the future study of VM cooperation.
Predictive energy-efficient motion trajectory optimization of electric vehicles

This work uses a combination of existing and novel methods to optimize the motion trajectory of an electric vehicle in order to improve the energy efficiency and other criteria for a predefined route. The optimization uses a single combined cost function incorporating energy efficiency, travel safety, physical feasibility, and other criteria. Another focus is the optimal behavior beyond the regular optimization horizon.
Deadly Attack against Trypanosoma cruzi

Chagas disease (CD) is produced by Trypanosoma cruzi, a hemoflagellate of the family Trypanosomatidae whose main route of transmission is through the contamination by fecal of insects kissing bugs from the family Reduviidea subfamily Triatominae. The first empirically developed drugs widely used for their treatment are benznidazole and nifurtimox. Since their introduction, these drugs have shown a very good activity in the acute phase, but their effect has many variations depending on the geographical area of origin and the strain that infects the individuals under treatment. Among the limitations of these compounds are the high incidence of side effects and the poor anti parasitic activity in the chronic phase, since in the great majority of patients subjected to these drugs no radical parasitological cure is observed, an essential requirement to eliminate the effects produced for the disease. All these drawbacks have led to the search for better compounds based on the biochemistry of T. cruzi, which has allowed the development of drugs under a rational approach, trying to select action targets in metabolic pathways specific to the parasite that are not found in the mammalian host, in order to minimize side effects; Combinations of drugs that act in different points of the same metabolic pathway have also been used to enhance their activity through synergistic effects, which allows to reduce the amounts of the compounds used and thus decrease toxicity in the treated individuals. A rational strategy has allowed the discovery of the inhibitors of ergosterol biosynthesis (EBI). These compounds show a great antiparasitic activity in acute and chronic phase, with a safe and reliable administration because the side effects are considerably reduced. In recent years, mixtures of benznidazole with EBI have been used to evaluate their activity as a whole. Studies of this type are promising in the search for compounds of excellence for the effective treatment of CD, which must have a very high activity at very low concentration, minimal side effects, that produce cure in acute and chronic T. cruzi infections, that are safe so that they can be administered to all chagasic people regardless of their condition and are economically accessible for all people suffering from this silent infection. Citation: Contreras MEM (2018) Deadly Attack against Trypanosoma cruzi. Clin Infect Dis 2: 111.
Quantification of Different Sources of Over-Strength in Seismic Design of a Reinforced Concrete Tall Building

An over-strength factor in seismic design plays an important role in computing actual forces in a structural member designed to remain elastic. However, sources contributing to this over-strength have not yet been systematically quantified for tall buildings. This paper aims to investigate the contribution from different sources of the over-strength factor in a reinforced concrete (RC) tall building. The effect of how floor slabs are modeled in nonlinear structural models to compute lateral load capacity of the building is also investigated. 39-story RC building subjected to earthquake ground motions in Bangkok was first designed according to the current building codes. Then, pushover analysis was conducted to compute lateral load capacity of the building with three different specified strengths: design strength (with  factor), nominal strength (without  factor), and actual strength (with material over-strength). It was found that modeling floor slabs by elastic shell elements in nonlinear structural model should not be used in computing the ultimate lateral load capacity of the building because the contribution from slab-column framing action is unrealistically large at large roof displacement. When floor slabs are modelled by inelastic effective beam width approach, slab-column framing action contributes about 60% of the ultimate lateral load capacity of the building. The building has an overall lateral over-strength factor of 3.36 to 3.71. The over-strength factor arising from design process is 2.12 to 2.42 in which the contributions from strength reduction factor, material over-strength, and other sources involving the design requirements are about 1.10, 1.17, and 1.77, respectively. The over-strength factor arising from redundancy due to the redistribution of internal forces is about 1.55 and the contribution from steel strain hardening to the over-strength factor is relatively small.
Financial Risk Capacity ∗ Job Market Paper

Financial crises appear to persist if banks fail to be recapitalized quickly after large losses. I explain this impediment through a model where banks provide intermediation services in asset markets with informational asymmetries. Intermediation is risky because banks take positions over assets under disadvantageous information. Large losses reduce bank net worth and, therefore, the capacity to bear further losses. Losing this capacity leads to reductions in intermediation volumes that exacerbate adverse selection. Adverse selection, in turn, lowers bank profits which explains the failure to attract new equity. These financial crises are characterized by a depression in economic growth that is overcome only as banks slowly strengthen by retaining earnings. The model is calibrated and used to analyze several policy interventions.
REPORT ON BIRS WORKSHOP 07W5052 ”LOW-DIMENSIONAL TOPOLOGY AND NUMBER THEORY”

The goal of the workshop was to bring together topologists and number theorists with the intent of exploring connections between low-dimensional topology and number theory, with the special focus on topics described in the section below. We hoped that the balance between the lectures and free time as well as the intimate setting of the Banff Research Station will stimulate many informal discussions and collaborations. We were delighted to see that these objectives were fulfilled. We would like to thank BIRS staff for their hospitality and efficiency.
Price Dividend Ratio and Long-Run Stock Returns: A Score-Driven State Space Model

Abstract–In this article, we develop a general framework to analyze state space models with time-varying system matrices, where time variation is driven by the score of the conditional likelihood. We derive a new filter that allows for the simultaneous estimation of the state vector and of the time-varying matrices. We use this method to study the time-varying relationship between the price dividend ratio, expected stock returns and expected dividend growth in the United States since 1880. We find a significant increase in the long-run equilibrium value of the price dividend ratio over time, associated with a fall in the long-run expected rate of return on stocks. The latter can be attributed mainly to a decrease in the natural rate of interest, as the long-run risk premium has only slightly fallen.
Prioritizing riparian corridors for ecosystem restoration in urbanizing watersheds

Background Riparian corridors can affect nutrient, organic matter, and sediment transport, all of which shape water quality in streams and connected downstream waters. When functioning riparian corridors remain intact, they provide highly valued water quality ecosystem services. However, in rapidly urbanizing watersheds, riparian corridors are susceptible to development modifications that adversely affect those ecosystem services. Protecting high quality riparian corridors or restoring low quality corridors are widely advocated as watershed level water quality management options for protecting those ecosystem services. The two approaches, protection or restoration, should be viewed as complementary by watershed managers and provide a foundation for targeting highly functioning riparian corridors for protection or for identifying poorly functioning corridors for restoration. Ascertaining which strategy to use is often motivated by a specific ecosystem service, for example water quality, upon which watershed management is focused. We have previously reported on a spatially explicit model that focused on identifying riparian corridors that have specific characteristics that make them well suited for purposes of preservation and protection focused on water quality. Here we hypothesize that focusing on restoration, rather than protection, can be the basis for developing a watershed level strategy for improving water quality in urbanizing watersheds. Methods The model described here represents a geographic information system (GIS) based approach that utilizes riparian characteristics extracted from 40-meter wide corridors centered on streams and rivers. The model focuses on drinking water reservoir watersheds that can be analyzed at the sub-watershed level. Sub-watershed riparian data (vegetation, soil erodibility and surface slope) are scaled and weighted based on watershed management theories for water quality, and riparian restoration scores are assigned. Those scores are used to rank order riparian zones –the lower the score the higher the priority for riparian restoration. Results The model was applied to 90 sub-watersheds in the watershed of an important drinking water reservoir in north central Texas, USA. Results from this study area suggest that corridor scores were found to be most correlated to the amount of: forested vegetation, residential land use, soils in the highest erodibility class, and highest surface slope (r2 = 0.92, p < 0.0001). Scores allow watershed managers to rapidly focus on riparian corridors most in need of restoration. A beneficial feature of the model is that it also allows investigation of multiple scenarios of restoration strategies (e.g., revegetation, soil stabilization, flood plain leveling), giving watershed managers a tool to compare and contrast watershed level management plans.
Unifying 4-Dimensional Knot Theory

Our workshop focused on an exciting facet of smooth 4–manifold topology: the theory of knotted surfaces. Topology in dimension three has seen an explosion of activity over the last 30 years, reaching a peak with Perelman’s proof of the Poincaré Conjecture in 2003 [40]. Other notable highlights include the groundbreaking discovery of the Jones Polynomial in knot theory [27] and the chain reaction Jones’ work set off in quantum topology, algebra, and physics, including Witten’s work connecting the Jones Polynomial to ChernSimons theory [45]. In stark contrast, our understanding of 4–dimensional topology has many prominent gaps, including the intractable Smooth 4–dimensional Poincaré Conjecture, and breakthroughs have been more difficult to attain. In 4–dimensional spaces, the interesting knotted objects are not loops but rather surfaces, and the first step in studying these objects is to find appropriate geometric representations, in the sense that these pictures should be easily manipulated and lend themselves to performing computations. Classical approaches to the theory of knotted surfaces include movies [14], broken surface diagrams [46] (defined below), and marked vertex diagrams [31, 47]. For example, whereas a classical knot diagram is the projection of a loop in R to an immersed curve in R equipped with crossing information, a broken surface diagram is the projection of a surface in R to generic surface in R, which has also been equipped with “crossing information,” suitably defined. Carter, Kamada, Roseman, Saito, and many others have made an industry out of developing this diagrammatic and combinatorial theory [5, 41], notably using quandles, an algebraic structure generalizing Fox’s notion of n–colorability [6]. People study knotted surfaces from through a variety of lenses. Some attempt to import 3–dimensional ideas to dimension four. Others emphasize aspects of 4–dimensional knot theory that fit coherently within the theory of codimension two embeddings in dimension four and higher. While these two groups often consider surfaces in S, yet another active area of research draws from classical results in 4-manifold topology, considering the broader class of surfaces in arbitrary 4-manifolds. Some utilize the additional structure afforded by symplectic and complex manifolds. Researchers study geometric, algebraic, and combinatorial aspects of knotted surfaces. The purpose of our workshop was to encourage a dialogue among this wide variety of researchers, with a central goal of better understanding knotted surfaces. We wanted participants to share their most interesting tools and problems so that the entire field could benefit from novel, multi-faceted approaches to both new and old challenges. Overall, we were impressed by the engagement of everyone involved, and based on the feedback that reached us, the workshop was universally considered a success.
NDT_A_225905 201..208

*These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a frequent comorbidity in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Impaired kidney function has been associated with depression in nonstroke subjects. We would like to evaluate whether the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on admission is associated with the development of PSD. Patients and methods: Total of 268 patients with acute ischemic stroke were recruited and completed 1-month follow-up visit. eGFR was calculated from the serum creatinine value, race, age, and sex by using the chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration equation (CKD-EPI creatinine equation). The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale was used to evaluate depression symptoms. Patients with a depression score of ≥7 were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, for diagnosing post-stroke depression at 1 month. Meanwhile, 114 normal control subjects were also recruited. Results: Ninety-three (34.7%) patients were diagnosed as having PSD at 1 month. There was a significant intergroup difference in eGFR levels within 24 hrs after admission (F=13.608, p<0.001). The levels of eGFRwithin 24 hrs after admission were significantly lower in both nonPSD patients and PSD patients than in normal controls. In logistic regression, the level of eGFR (<82mL/min/1.73m) was independently associated with increased risk of PSD even after adjusting for confounders (OR=2.328, 95% CI:1.092–4.965, p=0.029). Conclusion: Reduced eGFR was found to be correlated with the development of PSD and it suggests the need for greater attentions and potential interventions for depression in patients with stroke and with reduced eGFR.
EVALUATING THE PROPERTIES OF NANOPARTICLES OF CALCIUM CARBONATE OBTAINED FROM THE SHELLS OF AFRICAN GIANT LAND SNAILS (ACHATINA ACHATINA) VIA IN SITU DEPOSITION TECHNIQUE

Nanoparticles of calcium carbonate were synthesized from the shells of African giant land snails through in situ deposition technique. The synthesized powder was characterized with x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric-differential thermal analyzer/differential scanning calorimeter (TGA-DTA/DSC thermal analyzer), transmission electron microscope (TEM), pH meter and density measurements. Both XRD and FTIR results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles are composed of the calcite and aragonite phases with more than 99 % purity. The crystallite size estimated from the XRD diffractogram at maximum intensity for the calcite phase was 22 nm while that of the aragonite phase was 35 nm. The average size of the particles estimated from TEM images was 50 nm while the density and pH were 2.81 g/cm and 8.1 respectively. The TGA curve showed that the weight loss of the synthesized nanoparticles with temperature was a two-stage process with the first stage occurring between 281.39 C and 313.31 C, while the second stage started at 570 C and completed at 850 C. The DTA/DSC curve showed an exothermic peak between 281.39 C and 313.31 C. The properties of the synthesized powder show that the materials will be useful as filler in the composite industry as well as other areas.
From Many Body Problems to Random Matrices

Universality and integrability. Complex physical systems with many degrees of freedom cannot typically be described deterministically; solving an equation with N = 10 variables is not feasible unless it has a special structure allowing for explicit solutions. Moreover, precise details of the system and the initial conditions are often known only statistically and not exactly. On the crudest level of description, random effects cancel out and effective equations for a few macroscopic physical variables become accurate a fundamental mechanism that justifies thermodynamics, statistical physics and fluid dynamics. On a finer scale, quite surprisingly, fluctuations around these macroscopic variables tend to exhibit universal behavior. Universality within and between complex random systems is a striking concept which has played a central role in the direction of research within probability, mathematical physics and statistical mechanics. Complementary to universality, is the exact description of the behaviors that are supposed to be universal as well as the determination which systems are supposed to display them. The historical example is the Gaussian distribution emerging from the central limit theorem. Since its discovery more than two hundred years ago, it has proved to be an incredibly versatile and robust tool explaining randomness in the physical world, under the assumption of some underlying independence. Systems accurately described in terms of this distribution are said to be in the Gaussian universality class. Ongoing efforts to understand this universality class are essentially of two types. First, integrability consists in finding possibly new statistics for a few, rigid models, with methods including combinatorics and representation theory. Second, universality means enlarging the range of models with random matrix statistics, through probabilistic methods. In recent years there has been an immense amount of progress in the rigorous mathematical understanding of certain universal scaling limits, not only on the universality and integrability fronts, but also both in equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical physical systems. On the random matrix side, microscopic scaling limits are often described in terms of determinantal or pfaffian point processes. On the non-equilibrium side, systems like growth processes are described through the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang universality class. There is reason to believe that these two directions share many (as of yet) unexploited relationships. For instance, the field of quantum integrable systems was developed to study equilibrium systems, but has now found itself center stage in the KPZ universality class. Conversely, methods developed in stochastic PDEs for nonequilibrium systems have begun to make their way into constructive field theory, and the dynamics of Dyson
ROLE OF JOB SATISFACTION AS A MEDIATOR OF THE RELATIONSHIP: ACADEMICIANS PSYCHOLOGICAL EMPOWERMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

Empowerment is considered to be a powerful influence on job commitment, while job satisfaction is also considered to have positive impact on job commitment. This study aimed to examine the relationship between academicians‟ organizational commitment, empowerment and job satisfaction. The respondents of this study were academicians of degree colleges of district Sialkot (Pakistan). Data was collected through survey questionnaire using simple random sampling technique. Sample size for this study was 293.Results showed that there exists a positive relationship between all the three variables of study. Although all dimensions of empowerment has positive impact on job commitment but the “meaning” and “impact” Role of job satisfaction as a mediator of the relationship 60 GMR Vol. 3, no. 2, 2018 cognitions are most significant one that contributed to organizational commitment. Additionally, job satisfaction was taken as a mediator in the relationship. Results of mediation analysis indicate that job satisfaction mediates the relationship of psychological empowerment and organizational commitment. Findings showed that job commitment of teachers can be increased by giving them empowerment to perform their job that ultimately can increase their performance in the completion of their job duties.
Phase and microstructural analysis of NdTi

In this paper, we report the characterization of NdTi0.8M0. 2O3.4 (M = Ga, Al) ceramics prepared via mixed oxide solid state sintering route. X-ray diffraction analysis of the samples revealed the formation of single phase for NdTi0.8Ga0. 2O3.4 sample while secondary phase was formed in the case of NdTi0.8Al0. 2O3.4. Microstructural analysis of the sample showed dense packed grains. NdTi0.8M0. 2O3.4 with M = Ga and Al exhibited a dielectric constant (r) = 34, quality factor (Q×f) = 9,776 and 10,867 GHz and temperature coefficient of resonance frequency (τf) = -113 and -90 ppm/ C, respectively. Further work is required on tuning the low τf of the samples for possible applications in the GHz frequency range.
Hypomania in a 28-to 30-Year-Old Cohort *

Hypomania in a 28to 30-year-old cohort is described. Data were taken from a prospective longitudinal cohort study from the general population of Zurich, Switzerland. An estimated 1-year prevalence rate of hypomania of 4% was found. Over a period of time hypomania was associated with major depression and dysthymia. We found equal proportions of suicide attempts and equal rates of treated family members among hypomanics and depressives. Furthermore, the previous history of treatment of mild bipolars (hypomania with depression) and unipolar depressives was comparable. The sum of life events, several SCL-90R scores and the scores of distress in relationships were already elevated in hypomanics 7 years before diagnosis of hypomania, indicating an increased activity level, a generalized increase in neuroticism, and a relatively unvarying behaviour pattern in social relationships.