Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Cellphone-type Tele-operated Android

This paper presents a newly developed portable human-like robotic avatar “Elfoid” which can be a novel communication medium in that a user can talk with another person in a remote location in such a way that they feel each other’s presence. It is designed to convey individuals’ presence using voice, human-like appearance, and touch. Thanks to its cellphone capability, it can be used at anytime, anywhere. The paper describes the design concept of Elfoid and argues research issues on this communication medium.
The stress shadow problem in physics‐based aftershock forecasting: Does incorporation of secondary stress changes help?

Main shocks are calculated to cast stress shadows across broad areas where aftershocks occur. Thus, a key problem with stress‐based operational forecasts is that they can badly underestimate aftershock occurrence in the shadows. We examine the performance of two physics‐based earthquake forecast models (Coulomb rate/state (CRS)) based on Coulomb stress changes and a rate‐and‐state friction law for their predictive power on the 1989 Mw = 6.9 Loma Prieta aftershock sequence. The CRS‐1 model considers the stress perturbations associated with the main shock rupture only, whereas CRS‐2 uses an updated stress field with stresses imparted by M ≥ 3.5 aftershocks. Including secondary triggering effects slightly improves predictability, but physics‐based models still underestimate aftershock rates in locations of initial negative stress changes. Furthermore, CRS‐2 does not explain aftershock occurrence where secondary stress changes enhance the initial stress shadow. Predicting earthquake occurrence in calculated stress shadow zones remains a challenge for stress‐based forecasts, and additional triggering mechanisms must be invoked.
Web-Scale Knowledge Inference Using Markov Logic Networks

In this paper, we present our on-going work on ProbKB, a PROBabilistic Knowledge Base constructed from web-scale extracted entities, facts, and rules represented as a Markov logic network (MLN). We aim at web-scale MLN inference by designing a novel relational model to represent MLNs and algorithms that apply rules in batches. Errors are handled in a principled and elegant manner to avoid error propagation and unnecessary resource consumption. MLNs infer from the input a factor graph that encodes a probability distribution over extracted and inferred facts. We run parallel Gibbs sampling algorithms on Graphlab to query this distribution. Initial experiment results show promising scalability of our approach.
Community Development and the Influence of New Food Retail Sources on the Price and Availability of Nutritious Food

ABSTRACT: Studies have demonstrated links between the accessibility of food and multiple health outcomes. Policymakers engaged in local community development may use public health concerns as a strategy to procure funding for food retail initiatives. Few studies to date have demonstrated the impact that a new food retailer can have on geographic and economic access to nutritious food in a community, evidence which could support the case for new food retail. This paper examines the price and availability of food before and after the opening of two new grocery stores in a former food desert in Flint, Michigan. The results indicate a substantial improvement in both geographic and economic food accessibility, and show no statistical difference between prices at average grocery stores and the new stores. Discussion suggests that investment in poorer neighborhoods can be beneficial to the local population and the community at large by creating a local multiplier effect through increased spending in the community.
Recent Advances in Chitosan-Based Gene Carrier Application and Design

A number of emerging therapies require the safe and effective delivery of engineered genetic molecules to target cells within the body. These molecules include plasmids for gene-based vaccinations and upregulation of specific gene expressions in addition to RNAs for the downregulation of certain gene products. Nanoparticles constructed from the biopolymer chitosan are recognized as potentially ideal nonviral vectors for intravenous transport and delivery of these molecules. The base nanoparticle design demonstrates a number of attractive advantages, such as high biocompatibility, low toxicity, and ease of production. Disadvantages include issues with specific cell targeting, transfection efficiency, and impaired dissociation of genetic materials from nanoparticle polymers. Ongoing research seeks to address these shortcomings and improve the general usability of chitosan nanoparticles. This review highlights and summarizes some of the most recent advancements in chitosan nanoparticle applications as well as innovations in nanoparticle design.
www.econstor.eu Exchange rates and long-term bonds∗

Tentative evidence suggests that the empirical failure of uncovered interest parity (UIP) is confined to short-term interest rates. Tests of UIP for long-term interest rates are however hampered by various data problems. By focusing on short investments in long-term bonds, these data problems can be avoided. We study the relationship between the US dollar Deutsch Mark exchange rate and German and American bond rates. The hypothesis that expected returns to investments in bonds denominated in the two currencies are equal cannot be rejected. This result is not simply due to low power as the β−coefficients are close to unity. For the corresponding short-term interest rates, the typical finding of a large and significantly negative β−coefficient is confirmed.
Household's Balance Sheets and the Effect of Fiscal Policy

Using the Panel Survey of Income Dynamics, we identify six household types as a function of their balance sheet composition. Since 1999, there has been a decline in the share of patient households and an increase in the share of impatient households with negative wealth. Using a DSGE model with search and matching frictions, we explore how changes in the distribution of households affect the transmission of government spending shocks. We show that the relative share of households in the left tail of the wealth distribution plays a key role in the aggregate marginal propensity to consume, the magnitude of the fiscal multipliers, and the distributional consequences of fiscal shocks. While the output and consumption multipliers are positively correlated with the share of households with negative wealth, the size of the employment multiplier is negatively correlated. For calibrations based on the empirical household weights after the Great Recession, our model delivers jobless fiscal expansions.
Continuity of the optimal stopping boundary for two-dimensional diffusions

We ﬁrst show that a smooth ﬁt between the value function and the gain function at the optimal stopping boundary for a two-dimensional diﬀusion process implies the absence of boundary’s discontinuities of the ﬁrst kind (the right-hand and left-hand limits exist but diﬀer). We then show that the smooth ﬁt itself is satisﬁed over the ﬂat portion of the optimal stopping boundary arising from any of its hypothesised jumps. Combining the two facts we obtain that the optimal stopping boundary is continuous whenever it has no discontinuities of the second kind. The derived fact holds both in the parabolic and elliptic case under the sole hypothesis of H¨older continuous coeﬃcients, thus improving upon all known results in the parabolic case, and establishing the fact for the ﬁrst time in the elliptic case. The method of proof relies upon regularity results for the second order parabolic/elliptic PDEs and makes use of the local time-space calculus techniques.
Prognostic Utility of Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 level as a Predictor of Clinical Outcomes in Incident Hemodialysis Patients

Background: The suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) is associated with cardiac remodeling and tissue fibrosis. It is well known as a novel biomarker on predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure. In patients needed to start dialysis treatment, most of them had congestive heart failure. However, the prognostic implications of serum ST2 level are unknown in incident hemodialysis patients. Methods: A total 182 patients undergoing incident hemodialysis were consecutively enrolled from November 2011 to December 2014. These patients were classified into two groups according to their median ST2 levels. The two groups were subsequently compared with respect to their major adverse cerebro-cardiovascular events (MACCE) including all-cause mortality, heart failure admission, acute coronary syndrome, and nonfatal stroke. Results: The median duration of follow up was 628 days (interquartile range 382 to 1,052 days). ST2 was significant correlated with variable echocardiographic parameters. The parameters of diastolic function, deceleration time of the early filing velocity and maximal tricuspid regurgitation velocity were independently associated with the ST2 levels. High ST2 group had significantly higher incidence of all-cause mortality, and MACCE. High ST2 was a significant independent predictor of MACCE (adjusted hazard ratio 2.33, 95% confidence interval 1.12 to 4.87, p=0.024). Conclusion: The ST2 is associated with diastolic function and may be a predictor of clinical outcomes in incident hemodialysis patients.
Evaluation of Low-Cost Terrestrial Photogrammetry for 3d Reconstruction of Complex Buildings

Abstract. Terrestrial photogrammetry is an accessible method of 3D digital modelling, and can be done with low-cost consumer grade equipment. Globally there are many undocumented buildings, particularly in the developing world, that could benefit from 3D modelling for documentation, redesign or restoration. Areas with buildings at risk of destruction by natural disaster or war could especially benefit. This study considers a range of variables that affect the quality of photogrammetric results. Different point clouds of the same building are produced with different variables, and they are systematically tested to see how the output was affected. This is done by geometrically comparing them to a laser scanned point cloud of the same building. It finally considers how best results can be achieved for different applications, how to mitigate negative effects, and the limits of this technique.
Quantum molecular dynamics of warm dense iron and a five-phase equation of state.

Through quantum molecular dynamics (QMD), utilizing both Kohn-Sham (orbital-based) and orbital-free density functional theory, we calculate the equation of state of warm dense iron in the density range 7-30g/cm^{3} and temperatures from 1 to 100 eV. A critical examination of the iron pseudopotential is made, from which we find a significant improvement at high pressure to the previous QMD calculations of Wang et al. [Phys. Rev. E 89, 023101 (2014)10.1103/PhysRevE.89. 023101]. Our results also significantly extend the ranges of density and temperature that were attempted in that prior work. We calculate the shock Hugoniot and find very good agreement with experimental results to pressures over 20 TPa. These results are then incorporated with previous studies to generate a five-phase equation of state for iron.
Preliminary study of endophytic fungi in timothy (Phleum pratense) in Estonia

Timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) is an important agricultural grass in Europe and North America, but there is little research into the occurrence and abundance of fungal endophyte species associated with this grass. The aim of this study was to identify fungal endophytes living within P. pratense and to determine if additional moisture applied during the growing season increases the diversity of endophytic fungi. We studied 58 isolates obtained from surface-sterilised blades of 60 P. pratense plants collected from Roka Free Air Humidity Manipulation experimental plots (FAHM), Estonia. Morphological and molecular methods were used for isolate identification. As a result, 45 strains from 10 different taxa were identified, all belonging to Ascomycota. Five species were found to be new to P. pratense .
Mixed-effect Models for Truncated Longitudinal Outcomes with Nonignorable Missing Data

Mixed effects models are often used for estimating fixed effects and variance components in continuous longitudinal outcomes. An EM based estimation approach for mixed effects models when the outcomes are truncated was proposed by Hughes (1999). We consider the situation when the longitudinal outcomes are also subject to non-ignorable missing in addition to truncation. A shared random effect parameter model is presented where the missing data mechanism depends on the random effects used to model the longitudinal outcomes. Data from the Indianapolis-Ibadan dementia project is used to illustrate the proposed approach.
A Hybrid Approach to Sentiment Analysis Enhanced by Sentiment Lexicons and Polarity Shifting Devices

This paper presents a hybrid approach to sentiment classification method for Korean texts. It is based on a cascading system by which lexicon-based classification first conducts the sentiment detection along with the local parsing of sentiment constituents, and a supervised machine learning algorithm processes the texts for which lexicon-based annotation was unsuccessful. We use a fine-grained Korean machine-readable dictionary for the lexicon-based classification, dealing with Polarity Shifting Devices (PSDs) which are divided into Intensifier, Switcher, Activator, and Nullifier. By structuring PSDs and polarity values of opinion texts, it is possible to process complex sentiment constituents efficiently, including structures resulting from double negation. Through the performance evaluation, we prove that this hybrid approach with sentiment lexicons and PSDs outperforms the baselines.
Duration of Casual Sunlight Exposure Necessary for Adequate Vitamin D Status in Indian Men

Objectives: To investigate the duration of casual sunlight ultraviolet-B (UVB) exposure required to maintain optimal Vitamin D status (25-hydroxyvitamin-D [25(OH)D]) >50 nmol/L in urban Indian men, using polysulfone (PSU) dosimeters and a sunlight exposure questionnaire. Methods: In healthy men (aged 40–60 years) from Pune (18.52° N, 73.86° E), India, serum 25(OH)D was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sunlight exposure was assessed using PSU dosimeter and by questionnaire. Results: Of 160 men (48.3 ± 5.6 years), 26.8% were deficient and 40.6% had insufficient Vitamin D concentrations. A hyperbolic function for the relationship between PSU measured sunlight exposure in standard erythema dose (SED) and serum 25(OH)D concentrations (r = 0.87, P < 0.01) revealed that daily exposure of 1 SED was sufficient to maintain serum 25(OH)D concentrations over 50 nmol/L. The curve plateaued around 5 SED (80 nmol/L) and extrapolation of the curve (>5 SED) did not increase 25(OH)D concentrations above 90 nmol/L. Receiver operating curve analysis confirmed that 1 SED-UV exposure was sufficient to maintain 25(OH)D concentrations over 50 nmol/L. Based on the questionnaire data, >1 h of midday casual sunlight exposure was required to maintain serum 25(OH)D concentrations above 50 nmol/L. Duration of sunlight exposure assessed by questionnaire and PSU dosimeter showed a significant correlation (r = 0.517, P < 0.01). Conclusion: In urban Indian men, >1 h of casual midday sunlight exposure daily was required to maintain serum 25(OH)D concentrations above 50 nmol/L, and >2 h of casual sunlight exposure was needed to maintain 25(OH)D concentrations above 75 nmol/L. Excess sunlight did not increase 25(OH)D linearly. The sunlight exposure questionnaire was validated for use in clinical studies and surveys.
Improvements in throat function and qualities of sore throat from locally applied flurbiprofen 8.75 mg in spray or lozenge format: findings from a randomized trial of patients with upper respiratory tract infection in the Russian Federation

Objective To assess the speed of relief provided by flurbiprofen 8.75 mg spray and lozenge and their effect on many of the different qualities and characteristics of throat pain and discomfort, and the many articulations of the broad term “sore throat” (ST). Patients and methods Four hundred and forty adults with recent-onset, moderate-to-severe ST due to upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) were randomized to a single dose of either flurbiprofen 8.75 mg spray (n=218) or flurbiprofen 8.75 mg lozenge (n=222). Throat swabs for bacterial culture were taken at baseline. ST relief was assessed at 1 minute, 1 and 2 hours post-dose using the Sore Throat Relief Rating Scale. The change from baseline at 1 and 2 hours post-dose in difficulty swallowing and swollen throat was assessed using the difficulty swallowing scale and the swollen throat scale, respectively. Patients’ experience of URTI symptoms was assessed using a URTI questionnaire at baseline and 2 hours post-dose. The change in Qualities of Sore Throat Index, a 10-item index of qualities of ST, from baseline at 2 hours post-dose was also measured. Results ST relief was evident in the spray and the lozenge treatment groups at 1 minute, 1 and 2 hours post-dose (P>0.05). In both groups, scores for difficulty swallowing and swollen throat significantly improved at 1 and 2 hours post-dose compared with baseline. At 2 hours post-dose, the number of patients experiencing URTI symptoms that can be attributed to or associated with ST decreased relative to baseline. The mean change from baseline to 2 hours post-dose for each individual score on the Qualities of Sore Throat Index showed significant improvements for flurbiprofen spray and lozenge (all P<0.0001). Conclusion Non-inferiority was established, and flurbiprofen spray and lozenge provided effective relief from ST pain and many of the other commonly reported qualities of ST.
Sector-Based Analysis of the Education-Occupation Mismatch in the Turkish Labor Market

The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of sectorial undereducation and overeducation problems in the Turkish labor market. In order to cope with this issue, the 2009 Household Labor Force Survey (TurkStat), which covers 145,934 individuals within 27 sectors, was utilized. An objective measure of education-occupation mismatch based on the mean level of schooling was used as the main tool in the analysis. The results revealed two important points. Firstly, high levels of undereducation and overeducation problems in the sectoral job groups were found. Secondly, the results showed that these problems are not specific to a few sectors, but they are widespread among many sectoral job groups, which has created serious problems for the Turkish economy. Moreover, we employed Oaxaca decomposition to investigate the effects of overeducation and undereducation on wage outcomes, and the findings indicate that education-occupation mismatches in the Turkish labor market are also reflected on such outcomes. Finally, the Turkish labor market penalizes workers who acquire less education than the adequate level to perform their jobs, whereas it rewards the workers who obtain more education than the adequate level, but not to a considerable extent.
Distributed Perception and Estimation : a Short Survey

We present a short survey on the state of the art in distributed perception and estimation, a central problem in multi-robot systems. Autonomously perceiving the world by a group of robots requires a number of key capabilities, including data association, mapping and robot localization, and as such is tightly related with distributed multi-robot simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). In this article we first review dominant approaches in multi-robot perception, SLAM, and collaborative localization (CL), and then focus on two of the key challenges in these approaches: consistent estimation and
Usage-Driven Personalized Mobile Banking Application: A Research Prototype

Mobile banking (MB) services offered today by a majority of financial institutions are moving from being a strategic advantage to survival strategy in a highly competitive environment. The ubiquity of smartphones among banking customers to access a wide array of banking services including account balance check, money transfer, and mobile deposit has fueled MB services adoption. Personalization involves customizing the user interface and graphics to each users' need. Research on mobile usage shows that apps with personalization increases customer satisfaction, loyalty, continued usage and provide a higher return on investment for the banks. In this study, we designed a personalized MB application that conducts real-time analysis of user's prior interactions with the system to improve user experience with a personalized user interface (UI) while maintaining user privacy. The architecture of PERsonalized user interface in Mobile App (PERMA) system is modeled in terms of client-server architecture where the mobile app in a smart phone connects to a backend server in private cloud over mobile network
From the individual to the landscape and back: time‐varying effects of climate and herbivory on tree sapling growth at distribution limits

As herbivory can modulate climate‐induced shifts in species distribution, disentangling the relative importance of herbivory and climate on plant growth can help to predict and manage future changes in vegetation, such as those occurring at treeline areas. An individual‐based hierarchical Bayesian time‐series model (individual‐based model; IBM) was developed to estimate the time‐varying impact of climate and herbivory on individual pine sapling height growth in woodland and treeline ecosystems of southern Europe during a 16‐year period. The performance of the IBM was compared to a linear mixed‐effects (LME) model to test for potential inferential effects when individual variability is marginalized. Time‐varying models were also compared to constant parameter approaches. Model fitting and posterior predictive checking suggests a better statistical performance of individual‐scale, time‐varying inference. LME modelling overestimated herbivory effects and underestimated environmental stochastic effects, and model validation indeed suggested severe overfitting in the LME model relative to the IBM strategy. These results reveal a potential failure of common aggregation strategies to correctly resolve the effects of climate and herbivory variability at the individual scale. Moreover, ignoring the time‐varying nature of the effects may preclude the correct estimation of the temporal scale of climate and herbivory impacts. In general, we found stronger individual‐ and time‐averaged effects of summer precipitation relative to the effects of herbivory, particularly at the treelines. Also, individual pine responses showed effects of the same sign more consistently in the case of precipitation. This suggests that precipitation is more pervasive at the population level, while herbivory act as a spatially aggregating force through individual‐level damage. Synthesis. Our results suggest that accounting for individual and temporal variability in ecological inference greatly improves the assessment of the relative importance of climate and herbivory on species distribution shifts. Strong effects of precipitation at the treeline could allow tree upward expansion, although increasing ungulate populations and associated browsing damages might limit positive climatic responses of pine saplings in the near future. In this context, the spatially heterogeneous effect exerted by herbivory could result in diverse vegetation structures in ecotones, adding a new dimension to the predictions on climate‐driven vegetation shifts.