Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An extensive investigation of the four point bending test for interface characterization

This paper focuses on metal-polymer interfaces that cover a wide range of all critical interfaces in the micro-electronic industry. Interface characterization is performed for two types of copper/epoxy molding compound (EMC) interfaces on a four point bending setup. The force-displacement curves for the type 1 interface show a clear force plateau indicating steady delamination propagation along the interface. The interface properties for this measurement can be calculated analytically from the steady-state part of the curve. Transient calculations on a 2D plane strain finite element model including cohesive zone elements show that the effect of intrinsic thermal stresses due to processing on the resulting force-displacement curve is apparent. The force-displacement curves for the type 2 samples do not show a clear force plateau. The deformation of the samples clearly shows this can be attributed to non-linear effects that are not considered in the analytical stead-state solution. The influence of the main contributors to nonlinear behavior, such as plasticity, large deformations, and contact at the supports is investigated. The quantification of these effects by FE analysis results in a better understanding of the force-displacement curve for the type 2 samples.
Triple Band Microstrip Slot Antenna for WIMAX/WLAN Applications with SRR Shape Ring

This paper presents a triple band Micro strip slot antenna with SRR shape ring. The prototype antenna is designed and fabricated for wireless communication like IEEE 802.11(g/b/a), WIMAX and GPRS application. The bandwidths are around 5.1% for 1.93GHz (1880-1980), 35.4 % for 2.75 GHz (2400-3100 MHz) and 28% for 5.7GHz (4900-6500MHz).
Federally-Assisted Healthcare Coverage among Male State Prisoners with Chronic Health Problems

Prisoners have higher rates of chronic diseases such as substance dependence, mental health conditions and infectious disease, as compared to the general population. We projected the number of male state prisoners with a chronic health condition who at release would be eligible or ineligible for healthcare coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We used ACA income guidelines in conjunction with reported pre-arrest social security benefits and income from a nationally representative sample of prisoners to estimate the number eligible for healthcare coverage at release. There were 643,290 US male prisoners aged 18–64 with a chronic health condition. At release, 73% in Medicaid-expansion states would qualify for Medicaid or tax credits. In non-expansion states, 54% would qualify for tax credits, but 22% (n = 69,827) had incomes of ≤ 100% the federal poverty limit and thus would be ineligible for ACA-mediated healthcare coverage. These prisoners comprise 11% of all male prisoners with a chronic condition. The ACA was projected to provide coverage to most male state prisoners with a chronic health condition; however, roughly 70,000 fall in the “coverage gap” and may require non-routine care at emergency departments. Mechanisms are needed to secure coverage for this at risk group and address barriers to routine utilization of health services.
Towards the Impossibility of Non-Signalling Privacy Amplification from Time-Like Ordering Constraints

In the past few years there was a growing interest in proving the security of cryptographic protocols, such as key distribution protocols, from the sole assumption that the systems of Alice and Bob cannot signal to each other. This can be achieved by making sure that Alice and Bob perform their measurements in a space-like separated way (and therefore signalling is impossible according to the non-signalling postulate of relativity theory) or even by shielding their apparatus. Unfortunately, it was proven in [E. Haenggi, R. Renner, and S. Wolf. The impossibility of non-signaling privacy amplification] that, no matter what hash function we use, privacy amplification is impossible if we only impose non-signalling conditions between Alice and Bob and not within their systems. In this letter we reduce the gap between the assumptions of Haenggi et al. and the physical relevant assumptions, from an experimental point of view, which say that the systems can only signal forward in time within the systems of Alice and Bob. We consider a set of assumptions which is very close to the conditions above and prove that the impossibility result of Haenggi et al. still holds.
Modeling the transistor chain operation in CMOS gates for short channel devices

A detailed analysis of the transistor chain operation in CMOS gates is introduced. The chain is modeled by a transistor pair, according to the operating conditions of the structure. The system of differential equations for the derived chain model is solved and analytical expressions which accurately describe the temporal evolution of the output voltage are extracted. For the first time, a fully mathematical analysis without simplified step inputs and linear approximations of the output waveform, and without resistors replacing transistors, is presented. The width of the equivalent transistor that replaces all nonsaturated devices is efficiently calculated, eliminating previous inconsistencies in chain currents. A mapping algorithm for all possible input patterns to a scheme that can be handled analytically is also derived. The final results for the calculated response and the propagation delay of this structure are in excellent agreement with SPICE simulations.
Light monotone Dialectica methods for proof mining

In view of an enhancement of our implementation on the computer, we explore the possibility of an algorithmic optimization of the various proof‐theoretic techniques employed by Kohlenbach for the synthesis of new (and better) effective uniform bounds out of established qualitative proofs in Numerical Functional Analysis. Concretely, we prove that the method (developed by the author in his thesis, as an adaptation to Dialectica interpretations of Berger's original technique for modified realizability and A‐translation) of “colouring” some of the quantifiers as “non‐computational” extends well to ε‐arithmetization, elimination‐of‐extensionality and model‐interpretation (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Data, Data and Even More Data: Harvesting Insights From the Data Jungle

Abstract Increasing global digitalization brings huge amounts of data. Finding a successful way to handle all this data and to transform it into real insights will be a critical success factor in the future. The biggest challenge for data science applications in marketing is that many marketing people studied marketing because they no longer wanted to do mathematics. A good marketing campaign will still have to be creative, touch emotions and build a brand, but more and more marketing managers will also need technical and analytical skills. It will more than ever be necessary to determine real causal effects to pull the right levers. Consumer insights have always been considered a major driver for growth, but in the digital world, successful growth can also come from improved technical and analytical implementation and skillful application of new tools and methods.
On the heterogeneous postal delivery model for multicasting

The heterogeneous postal delivery model assumes that each intermediate node in the multicasting tree incurs a constant switching time for each message that is sent. We have proposed a new model where we assume a more generalized switching time at intermediate nodes. In our model, a child node v of a parent u has a switching delay vector, where the ith element of the vector indicates the switching delay incurred by u for sending the message to v after sending the message to i - 1 other children of u. Given a multicast tree and switching delay vectors at each non-root node in the tree, we provide an O(n5/2) optimal algorithm that will decide the order in which the internal (non-leaf) nodes have to send the multicast message to its children in order to minimize the maximum end-to-end delay due to multicasting. We also show an important lower bound result that optimal multicast switching delay problem is as hard as min-max matching problem on weighted bi- partite graphs and hence O(n5/2) running time is tight.
Read circuits for resistive memory (ReRAM) and memristor-based nonvolatile Logics

Resistive memory device (Memristor) is one of the candidates for energy-efficient nonvolatile memory and nonvolatile logics (nvLogics) in the applications of wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and big-data processing. However, resistive RAM (ReRAM) and memristor-based nvLogics suffer limited performance and low yield due to process variations in transistors and resistance of memristor. This presentation discusses the design challenges in read circuits for high-speed, area-efficient, and low-voltage ReRAM and nvLogics. Memristor-based nvLogics, such as nonvolatile-SRAM (nvSRAM), nonvolatile flip-flops (nvFF), and nonvolatile TCAM (nvTCAM) are included in this presentation. Several silicon-verified solutions on read scheme and sense amplifiers are also discussed in this presentation.
The symmetries of five-dimensional minimal supergravity reduced to three dimensions

The 14 Killing vectors of the target space for five-dimensional minimal supergravity reduced to three dimensions are explicitly constructed in terms of the original field variables. These vectors generate the Lie algebra of G2. We also construct a symmetrical 7×7 matrix representative of the coset G2(+2)∕((SL(2,R)×SL(2,R))) as a function of the same fields.
Enterprise System in the German Manufacturing Mittelstand

Although the research on integrated enterprise systems (ES) is proliferating, the knowledge base about ES implementations, usage and experiences outside the United States is still small. This is also true for Germany, despite the crucial importance of ES in the country, and the potential uniqueness of its ES environment. Most ES research to date has also been focusing on larger corporations, neglecting the challenges and issues that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have been experiencing. Collectively often referred to as the Mittelstand, German SMEs form the backbone of the German economy. This chapter brings attention to these areas by describing observations obtained from eight SMEs in the German manufacturing sector. These findings about ES implementation, usage, and experiences are reported and summarized along nine points of interest.
Efficient Round-Optimal Secure Two-Party Computation from Sigma-protocol

In this paper, based on Sigma-protocol on HC (a NP-complete language), we firstly construct a Sigma-protocol for any NP language thm1 ∧ thm2, then transfer it into a non-interactive protocol from a hash function and a pseudo-random generator. Finally, we construct an efficient round-optimal secure two-party computation protocol from our non-interactive protocols.
Synthetic lung surfactants containing SP-B and SP-C peptides plus novel phospholipase-resistant lipids or glycerophospholipids

Background This study examines the biophysical and preclinical pulmonary activity of synthetic lung surfactants containing novel phospholipase-resistant phosphonolipids or synthetic glycerophospholipids combined with Super Mini-B (S-MB) DATK and/or SP-Css ion-lock 1 peptides that replicate the functional biophysics of surfactant proteins (SP)-B and SP-C. Phospholipase-resistant phosphonolipids used in synthetic surfactants are DEPN-8 and PG-1, molecular analogs of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and palmitoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylglycerol (POPG), while glycerophospholipids used are active lipid components of native surfactant (DPPC:POPC:POPG 5:3:2 by weight). The objective of the work is to test whether these novel lipid/peptide synthetic surfactants have favorable preclinical activity (biophysical, pulmonary) for therapeutic use in reversing surfactant deficiency or dysfunction in lung disease or injury. Methods Surface activity of synthetic lipid/peptide surfactants was assessed in vitro at 37 °C by measuring adsorption in a stirred subphase apparatus and dynamic surface tension lowering in pulsating and captive bubble surfactometers. Shear viscosity was measured as a function of shear rate on a Wells-Brookfield micro-viscometer. In vivo pulmonary activity was determined by measuring lung function (arterial oxygenation, dynamic lung compliance) in ventilated rats and rabbits with surfactant deficiency/dysfunction induced by saline lavage to lower arterial PO2 to <100 mmHg, consistent with clinical acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Results Synthetic surfactants containing 5:3:2 DPPC:POPC:POPG or 9:1 DEPN-8:PG-1 combined with 3% (by wt) of S-MB DATK, 3% SP-Css ion-lock 1, or 1.5% each of both peptides all adsorbed rapidly to low equilibrium surface tensions and also reduced surface tension to ≤1 mN/m under dynamic compression at 37 °C. However, dual-peptide surfactants containing 1.5% S-MB DATK + 1.5% SP-Css ion-lock 1 combined with 9:1 DEPN-8:PG-1 or 5:3:2 DPPC:POPC:POPG had the greatest in vivo activity in improving arterial oxygenation and dynamic lung compliance in ventilated animals with ARDS. Saline dispersions of these dual-peptide synthetic surfactants were also found to have shear viscosities comparable to or below those of current animal-derived surfactant drugs, supporting their potential ease of deliverability by instillation in future clinical applications. Discussion Our findings support the potential of dual-peptide synthetic lipid/peptide surfactants containing S-MB DATK + SP-Css ion-lock 1 for treating diseases of surfactant deficiency or dysfunction. Moreover, phospholipase-resistant dual-peptide surfactants containing DEPN-8/PG-1 may have particular applications in treating direct forms of ARDS where endogenous phospholipases are present in the lungs.
NKX2-5 Regulates the Expression of β-Catenin and GATA4 in Ventricular Myocytes

Background The molecular pathway that controls cardiogenesis is temporally and spatially regulated by master transcriptional regulators such as NKX2-5, Isl1, MEF2C, GATA4, and β-catenin. The interplay between these factors and their downstream targets are not completely understood. Here, we studied regulation of β-catenin and GATA4 by NKX2-5 in human fetal cardiac myocytes. Methodology/Principal Findings Using antisense inhibition we disrupted the expression of NKX2-5 and studied changes in expression of cardiac-associated genes. Down-regulation of NKX2-5 resulted in increased β-catenin while GATA4 was decreased. We demonstrated that this regulation was conferred by binding of NKX2-5 to specific elements (NKEs) in the promoter region of the β-catenin and GATA4 genes. Using promoter-luciferase reporter assay combined with mutational analysis of the NKEs we demonstrated that the identified NKX2-5 binding sites were essential for the suppression of β-catenin, and upregulation of GATA4 by NKX2-5. Conclusions This study suggests that NKX2-5 modulates the β-catenin and GATA4 transcriptional activities in developing human cardiac myocytes.
Boostin g W eak R anking F unctions to E nhance P assage R etrieval for Question Answering

We investigate the problem of passage retrieval for Question Answering (QA) systems. We adopt a machine learning approach and apply to QA a boosting algorithm initially proposed for ranking a set of objects by combining baseline ranking functions. The system operates in two steps. For a given question, it first retrieves passages using a conventional search engine and assigns each passage a series of scores. It then ranks the returned passages using a weighted feature combination. Weights express the feature importance for ranking and are learned to maximize the number of top ranked relevant passages over a training set. We empirically show that using questions from the TREC-11 question/answering track and the Aquaint collection, the proposed algorithm significantly increases both coverage and precision with respect to a conventional IR system.
Global DNA hypomethylation is associated with in utero exposure to cotinine and perfluorinated alkyl compounds

Environmental exposures in-utero may alter the epigenome, thus impacting chromosomal stability and gene expression. We hypothesized that in utero exposures to maternal smoking and perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) are associated with global DNA hypomethylation in umbilical cord serum. Our objective was to determine if global DNA methylation could be used as a biomarker of in utero exposures to maternal smoking and PFCs. Using an ELISA-based method, global DNA methylation was quantified in umbilical cord serum from 30 newborns with high (>10 ng/ml, mean 123.8 ng/ml), low (range 1-10 ng/ml, mean 1.6 ng/ml) and very low (<1 ng/ml, mean 0.06 ng/ml) cord serum cotinine levels. Y chromosome analysis was performed to rule out maternal DNA cross-contamination. Cord serum global DNA methylation showed an inverse dose response to serum cotinine levels (p<0.001). Global DNA methylation levels in cord blood were the lowest among newborns with smoking mothers (mean=15.04%; 95% CI, 8.4, 21.7) when compared to babies of mothers who were second-hand smokers (21.1%; 95% CI, 16.6, 25.5) and non-smokers (mean=29.2%; 95% CI, 20.1, 38.1). Global DNA methylation was inversely correlated with serum PFOA (r= -0.72, p <0.01) but not PFOS levels. Serum Y chromosome analyses did not detect maternal DNA cross-contamination. This study supports the use of global DNA methylation status as a biomarker of in utero exposure to cigarette smoke and PFCs.
Comprometimento com as metas do orçamento participativo: um estudo em uma empresa familiar de médio porte

Este estudo teve por objetivo descrever como o orcamento participativo influencia o comprometimento com as metas de uma empresa familiar de medio porte. Mais especificamente, buscou avaliar a participacao dos gestores e funcionarios de subunidades na elaboracao do orcamento e verificar o nivel de comprometimento dos funcionarios no estabelecimento e cumprimento das metas orcamentarias. Para isso, foi desenvolvido um estudo de caso, que seguiu um roteiro estruturado para realizacao de entrevista com diretores e coordenadores setoriais e a aplicacao de questionario estruturado em escala likert de sete pontos para os funcionarios dos setores que participam da elaboracao do orcamento. A analise foi realizada por meio do metodo de analise de conteudo para as entrevistas e os questionarios em escala likert por meio da analise de entropia sugerido por Zeleny (1982). Ao final foi realizada a triangulacao das informacoes de acordo com Yin (2005). O resultado aponta que na empresa estudada, a participacao na elaboracao do orcamento esta limitada aos diretores, gerentes ou chefes de setores e aos funcionarios com maior tempo de trabalho na empresa. Foi possivel perceber que ha um envolvimento e o comprometimento com as metas da empresa pelos funcionarios, que essas sao avaliadas e recompensadas, entretanto, ha que se avancar, ampliando a participacao, envolvimento e comprometimento com as metas, bem como melhorar a forma de recompensa.
Scratchpad memories vs locked caches in hard real-time systems: a quantitative comparison

We propose in this paper an algorithm for off-line selection of the contents of on-chip memories. The algorithm supports two types of on-chip memories, namely locked caches and scratchpad memories. The contents of on-chip memory, although selected off-line, is changed at run-time, for the sake of scalability with respect to task size. Experimental results show that the algorithm yields to good ratios of on-chip memory accesses on the worst-case execution path, with a tolerable reload overhead, for both types of on-chip memories. Furthermore, we highlight the circumstances under which one type of on-chip memory is more appropriate than the other depending of architectural parameters (cache block size) and application characteristics (basic block size)
Molecular Characterization of Copper and Cadmium Resistance Determinants in the Biomining Thermoacidophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus metallicus

Sulfolobus metallicus is a thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon used in high-temperature bioleaching processes that is able to grow under stressing conditions such as high concentrations of heavy metals. Nevertheless, the genetic and biochemical mechanisms responsible for heavy metal resistance in S. metallicus remain uncharacterized. Proteomic analysis of S. metallicus cells exposed to 100 mM Cu revealed that 18 out of 30 upregulated proteins are related to the production and conversion of energy, amino acids biosynthesis, and stress responses. Ten of these last proteins were also up-regulated in S. metallicus treated in the presence of 1 mM Cd suggesting that at least in part, a common general response to these two heavy metals. The S. metallicus genome contained two complete cop gene clusters, each encoding a metallochaperone (CopM), a Cu-exporting ATPase (CopA), and a transcriptional regulator (CopT). Transcriptional expression analysis revealed that copM and copA from each cop gene cluster were cotranscribed and their transcript levels increased when S. metallicus was grown either in the presence of Cu or using chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) as oxidizable substrate. This study shows for the first time the presence of a duplicated version of the cop gene cluster in Archaea and characterizes some of the Cu and Cd resistance determinants in a thermophilic archaeon employed for industrial biomining.
GLOBAL PATH PLANNING IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS USING METRIC AND TOPOLOGICAL SCHEMES

Global path planning is a challenging problem arisen in many fields of research. It is of particular interest to construction planning community facing the requirements of trustworthiness and feasibility of project schedules. Correct schedules must avoid any conflicting situations at project sites and assure the existence of collision-free paths for installed construction elements and deployed equipment. To validate schedules against potential spatio-temporal conflicts, emerging 4D modeling technologies, collision detection and motion planning methods can be applied. Ultimately it would enable detecting and anticipating problems at earlier planning phases and reducing risks and waste at the final construction phases. Unfortunately, path planning algorithms have relatively high complexity that extremely grows with the input data volume. Most reports have concluded that the algorithms work well in simple 2D environments, but require much larger computation resources in large-scale dynamic 3D environments that makes the stated validation problem highly intractable for construction applications. Being oriented on exact or approximate metric representations, traditional local path planning methods have significant limitations in the case of large-scale environments. Their inability to use overall a priory information on the whole environment creates another shortcoming in global planning. Topological schemas try to overcome these drawbacks by representing the original environment by means of route graphs. Topological schemas scale better than metric ones, but being resistant to geometric representation errors may yield incorrect or suboptimal solutions. In the paper we propose an effective method leveraging global and local path planning strategies and combining metric and topological schemas. Due to original criteria for extracting a topology from metric information, the method is applicable to complex indoor/outdoor environments and can be used for spatio-temporal validation of construction project schedules. Conducted experiments proved the feasibility and effectiveness of the method presented.