Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
KATARA: Reliable Data Cleaning with Knowledge Bases and Crowdsourcing

Data cleaning with guaranteed reliability is hard to achieve without accessing external sources, since the truth is not necessarily discoverable from the data at hand. Furthermore, even in the presence of external sources, mainly knowledge bases and humans, effectively leveraging them still faces many challenges, such as aligning heterogeneous data sources and decomposing a complex task into simpler units that can be consumed by humans. We present Katara, a novel end-to-end data cleaning system powered by knowledge bases and crowdsourcing. Given a table, a kb, and a crowd, Katara (i) interprets the table semantics w.r. t. the given kb; (ii) identifies correct and wrong data; and (iii) generates top-k possible repairs for the wrong data. Users will have the opportunity to experience the following features of Katara: (1) Easy specification: Users can define a Katara job with a browser-based specification; (2) Pattern validation: Users can help the system to resolve the ambiguity of different table patterns (i.e., table semantics) discovered by Katara; (3) Data annotation: Users can play the role of internal crowd workers, helping Katara annotate data. Moreover, Katara will visualize the annotated data as correct data validated by the kb, correct data jointly validated by the kb and the crowd, or erroneous tuples along with their possible repairs.
Low-Temperature LPCVD MEMS Technologies

This paper describes recent research on LPCVD processes for the fabrication of high-quality micro-mechanical structures on foundry CMOS wafers. In order to avoid damaging CMOS electronics with either aluminum or copper metallization, the MEMS process temperatures should be limited to a maximum of 450°C. This constraint rules out the conventional polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) as a candidate structural material for post-CMOS integrated MEMS. Polycrystalline silicon-germanium (poly-SiGe) alloys are attractive for modular integration of MEMS with electronics, because they can be deposited at much lower temperatures than poly-Si films, yet have excellent mechanical properties. In particular, in-situ doped p-type poly-SiGe films deposit rapidly at low temperatures and have adequate conductivity without post-deposition annealing. Poly-Ge can be etched very selectively to Si, SiGe, SiO 2 and Si 3 N 4 in a heated hydrogen peroxide solution, and can therefore be used as a sacrificial material to eliminate the need to protect the CMOS electronics during the MEMS-release etch. Low-resistance contact between a structural poly-SiGe layer and an underlying CMOS metal interconnect can be accomplished by deposition of the SiGe onto a typical barrier metal exposed in contact windows. We conclude with directions for further research to develop poly-SiGe technology for integrated inertial, optical, and RF MEMS applications.
Artificial intelligence tools for grammar and spelling instruction

In The Netherlands, grammar teaching is an especially important subject in the curriculum of children aged 10-15 for several reasons. However, in spite of all attention and time invested, the results are poor. This article describes the problems and our attempt to overcome them by developing an intelligent computational instructional envirormaent consisting of: a linguistic expert system, containing a module representing grammar and spelling rules and a number of modules to manipulate these rules; a didactic module; and a student interface with special facilities for grammar and spelling. Three prototypes of the functionality are discussed: BOUWSTEEN and COGO, which are programs for constructing and analyzing Dutch sentences; and TDTDT, a program for the conjugation of Dutch verbs. 1 Grammar and spelling instruction: problems In The Netherlands and in Flanders, grammar teaching is an especially important subject in the curriculum of children aged 10-15. Three reasons are the following: 1 Grammatical knowledge is generally considered necessary to improve the quality of writing skills. 2 The orthography of Dutch depends to a considerable extent on grammatical relationships within the sentence. In many cases the correct spelling of a word cannot be derived from memorized word spellings or word-based phoneme-tographeme rules. A typical example is provided by the Dutch homophonous passive auxiliaries word and wordt. Choosing between them presupposes the explicit application of subject-verb agreement rules. 3 In secondary schools at least three foreign languages are taught (French, English and German). A fair amount of grammatical knowledge is needed here, e.g. for determining case endings of German adjectives and nouns. For these reasons, much attention and time is invested in grammar and spelling teaching. Nevertheless, the results are poor. In our opinion this is caused by, among other things, the fact that grammar is presented as a set of rules for analysing rather than generating sentences. This causes a low level of transfer from grammar instruction to writing skills. Many students are unable to apply the grammar and spelling rules they have been taught, when composing an essay;
Distributional Learning of Appearance

Opportunities for associationist learning of word meaning, where a word is heard or read contemperaneously with information being available on its meaning, are considered too infrequent to account for the rate of language acquisition in children. It has been suggested that additional learning could occur in a distributional mode, where information is gleaned from the distributional statistics (word co-occurrence etc.) of natural language. Such statistics are relevant to meaning because of the Distributional Principle that ‘words of similar meaning tend to occur in similar contexts’. Computational systems, such as Latent Semantic Analysis, have substantiated the viability of distributional learning of word meaning, by showing that semantic similarities between words can be accurately estimated from analysis of the distributional statistics of a natural language corpus. We consider whether appearance similarities can also be learnt in a distributional mode. As grounds for such a mode we advance the Appearance Hypothesis that ‘words with referents of similar appearance tend to occur in similar contexts’. We assess the viability of such learning by looking at the performance of a computer system that interpolates, on the basis of distributional and appearance similarity, from words that it has been explicitly taught the appearance of, in order to identify and name objects that it has not been taught about. Our experiment tests with a set of 660 simple concrete noun words. Appearance information on words is modelled using sets of images of examples of the word. Distributional similarity is computed from a standard natural language corpus. Our computation results support the viability of distributional learning of appearance.
The Obesity Paradox: A Misleading Term That Should Be Abandoned

The term “obesity paradox” is a figure of speech, not a scientific term. The term has no precise definition and has been used to describe numerous observations that have little in common other than the finding of an association of obesity with a favorable outcome. The terminology has led to misunderstandings among researchers and the public alike. It's time for authors and editors to abandon the use of this term. Simply labeling counterintuitive findings as the “obesity paradox” adds no value. Unexpected findings should not be viewed negatively; such findings can lead to new knowledge, better treatments, and scientific advances.
Time Synchronization in WSNs: A Maximum-Value-Based Consensus Approach

This paper considers time synchronization in wireless sensor networks. When the communication delay is negligible, the maximum time synchronization (MTS) protocol is proposed by which the skew and offset of each node can be synchronized simultaneously. For a more practical case where the intercommunication delays between each connected node are positive random variables, we propose the weighted maximum time synchronization (WMTS), which is able to counteract the impact of random communication delays. Despite the clock offset that cannot be synchronized, WMTS can synchronize the clock skew completely in expectation and achieve acceptable synchronization accuracy. For both protocols, we provide rigorous proofs of global convergence as well as the upper bounds of their convergence time. Compared with existing consensus-based synchronization protocols, the main advantages of our protocols include: 1) a faster convergence speed so that the synchronization can be achieved in a finite time for MTS, and in a finite time in expectation for WMTS, respectively; 2) simultaneous synchronization of both skews and offsets; and 3) random communication delays can be handled effectively. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocols.
Temporal and spatio-temporal regimes of generation of Raman fibre lasers

Temporal dynamics of Raman fibre lasers tend to have very complex nature, owing to great cavity lengths and high nonlinearity, being stochastic on short time scales and quasi-continuous on longer time scales. Generally fibre laser intensity dynamics is represented by one-dimensional time-series, which in case of quasi-continuous wave generation in Raman fibre lasers gives little insight into the processes underlying the operation of a laser. New methods of analysis and data representation could help to uncover the underlying physical processes, understand the dynamics or improve the performance of the system. Using intrinsic periodicity of laser radiation, one dimensional intensity time series of a Raman fibre laser was analysed over fast and slow variation time. This allowed to experimentally observe various spatio-temporal regimes of generation, such as laminar, turbulent, partial mode-lock, as well as transitions between them and identify the mechanisms responsible for the transitions. Great cavity length and high nonlinearity also make it difficult to achieve stable high repetition rate mode-locking in Raman fibre lasers. Using Faraday parametric instability in extremely simple linear cavity experimental configuration, a very high order harmonic mode-locking was achieved in o.o kmlong Raman fibre laser. The maximum achieved pulse repetition rate was 12 GHz, with 7.3 ps long Gaussian shaped pulses. There is a new type of random lasers – random distributed feedback Raman fibre laser, which temporal properties cannot be controlled by conventionalmode-locking or Q-switch techniques and mechanisms. By adjusting the pump configuration, a very stable pulsed operation of random distributed feedback Raman fibre laser was achieved. Pulse duration varied in the range from 50 to 200 μs depending on the pump power and the cavity length. Pulse repetition rate scaling on the parameters of the system was experimentally identified.
Salicornia as a crop plant in temperate regions: selection of genetically characterized ecotypes and optimization of their cultivation conditions

Salinization of groundwater results in fast dwindling sources of freshwater. Our aim was to develop genetically characterized lines of the salt-tolerant Salicornia (marsh samphire) and Sarcocornia (shrubby Swampfire) as new crop plants. To obtain a large genetic pool, seeds were collected from different countries and ecological conditions. The application of a genetic marker showed a clear distinction between the two genera and between 57 Salicornia taxa. For the determination of optimal cultivation conditions, experiments on germination, seedling establishment and growth to a harvestable size were performed using different Salicornia accessions. Further optimization of cultivation conditions is necessary for commercial use.
Antistaphylococcal Activity of Henna extracts Lawsonia inermis L . ( Lythraceae )

Antibacterial activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of leaves of henna (Lawsonia inermis L.(Lythraceae)) against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from clinical cases of acne vulgaris were carried out in this study. Alcoholic extracts were found to be more efficacious than aqueous extracts on staphylococci and Staph. Epidermidis was more susceptible to extract activity than Staph. aureus. The biggest diameter of inhibition zone (22) mm was recorded for 1000 μg /ml of aqueous extract against Staph. epidermidis. The range of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for all concentrations was 200-700 μg/ml. In comparison with standard antibiotics, the vancomycin gave the biggest diameter of inhibition zone (28) mm and some antibiotics are not affected on staphylococci.
A Preliminary Study on the Effect of Computer-Aided Designed and Manufactured Orthoses on Chronic Plantar Heel Pain

Introduction. Chronic plantar heel pain (CPHP) is a significant, painful condition referring to a range of undifferentiated foot conditions that affect the heel of the foot. Method. Participants presenting with CPHP of more than 6 months’ duration were recruited on a first through the door basis. Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufactured (CAD-CAM) orthoses were designed and constructed for each participant, then dispensed as per normal practice. Pre- and postintervention assessment of pain was performed at baseline and after 6 weeks of use, utilizing the pain subset of the Foot Function Index (FFI). Results. There was a significant reduction in the mean pain scores for all participants in all constructs of the FFI. Total FFI score was also significant (P = .003). Conclusion. CAD-CAM orthoses have the potential to become a treatment modality of choice in CPHP since they have resulted in a significant improvement in heel pain after only 6 weeks’ use. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV: Prospective, comparative trial
Addressing Raman features of individual layers in isotopically labeled Bernal stacked bilayer graphene

In this report important Raman modes for the evaluation of strain in graphene (the 2D and 2D′) are analyzed. The isotope labeling is used to disentangle contribution of individual graphene layers of graphene bilayer to the studied Raman modes. It is shown that for Bernal-stacked bilayers, the 2D and the 2D′ Raman modes have three distinct components that can be assigned to processes originating solely from the top graphene layer, bottom graphene layer, and from a combination of processes originating both from the top and bottom layers. The reported results thus enable addressing the properties of individual graphene layers in graphene bilayer by Raman spectroscopy.
Formulation and evaluation of fast dissolving tablet of Ciprofloxacin

Difficulties of swallowing and first-pass metabolism are of the major limitations of oral medicaments resulting in patient non-compliance and poor oral bioavailability. These drawbacks can be avoided by the administration of alternative dosage forms e.g. mouth dissolving tablets (MDTs) that dissolve upon contact with saliva and consequently allowing systemic drug absorption via buccal mucosa. This study aimed to prepare MDTs Ofloxacin containing superdisintegrants and effervescent agents. MDTs were prepared using different excipients where powdered blends were evaluated to investigate their flow properties followed by physical characterization of the directly compressed tablets. Formula (F6) containing 20mg crospovidone and effervescent base as a disintegration-aiding agent achieved the best results according to the standard specifications.
Friction Reducing Mechanisms of Erucamide Slip Agents in Polyolefin Films

The plastic film industry makes extensive use of slip agents to modify the frictional properties of polymer films, in order to facilitate handling in automatic packaging machinery. Erucamide (the amide derivative of eruic acid, a fatty acid) is a slip agent widely used to reduce friction in polyolefin film. It is added via masterbatch to the raw polyolefin and then exudes to the surface by virtue of its insolubility in the solid polyolefin. A similar system has been studied by Briscoe and Tabor (1,2). The friction reducing mechanism is not widely understood and reducing the coefficient of friction (COF) to a well-defined and predictable value is often difficult with this system. When such films are exposed to heat the friction increases but does not decrease upon subsequent cooling. This can lead to the frictional properties changing during storage and handling, and problems using the films on packaging machinery are not infrequent. A common explanation for this slip variability is that with higher temperature the erucamide re-dissolves into the film thus removing any surface effects. Accurate solvent casting of the slip agents on polyolefin surfaces shows that with increasing erucamide surface concentration the COF approaches a minimum that corresponds to the friction of the waxy fatty amide. The solvent casting method results in a similar reduction to the COF but by using only 10% of the lubricant quantity. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in lateral force mode suggests that the amide agglomerates on the surface in discrete areas and does not completely cover the surface. The erucamide could act to reduce friction by physically separating the two opposing surfaces or by simply providing a layer of material that has an inherently lower COF than the substrate material. Either explanation would be consistent with the Bowden and Tabor (3) adhesion theory of friction that is widely accepted for polymers. Evidence suggests that upon heat-treating the morphology of the surface erucamide changes, leading to the frictional increases observed. This contradicts the commonly held view of temperature-induced absorption causing frictional changes.
High-efficiency Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells: A Review

Abstract Silicon heterojunction solar cells consist of thin amorphous silicon layers deposited on crystalline silicon wafers. This design enables energy conversion efficiencies above 20% at the industrial production level. The key feature of this technology is that the metal contacts, which are highly recombination active in traditional, diffused-junction cells, are electronically separated from the absorber by insertion of a wider bandgap layer. This enables the record open-circuit voltages typically associated with heterojunction devices without the need for expensive patterning techniques. This article reviews the salient points of this technology. First, we briefly elucidate device characteristics. This is followed by a discussion of each processing step, device operation, and device stability and industrial upscaling, including the fabrication of solar cells with energy-conversion efficiencies over 21%. Finally, future trends are pointed out.
Illumina Amplicon Sequencing of 16S rRNA Tag Reveals Bacterial Community Development in the Rhizosphere of Apple Nurseries at a Replant Disease Site and a New Planting Site

We used a next-generation, Illumina-based sequencing approach to characterize the bacterial community development of apple rhizosphere soil in a replant site (RePlant) and a new planting site (NewPlant) in Beijing. Dwarfing apple nurseries of ‘Fuji’/SH6/Pingyitiancha trees were planted in the spring of 2013. Before planting, soil from the apple rhizosphere of the replant site (ReSoil) and from the new planting site (NewSoil) was sampled for analysis on the Illumina MiSeq platform. In late September, the rhizosphere soil from both sites was resampled (RePlant and NewPlant). More than 16,000 valid reads were obtained for each replicate, and the community was composed of five dominant groups (Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Gemmatimonadetes and Actinobacteria). The bacterial diversity decreased after apple planting. Principal component analyses revealed that the rhizosphere samples were significantly different among treatments. Apple nursery planting showed a large impact on the soil bacterial community, and the community development was significantly different between the replanted and newly planted soils. Verrucomicrobia were less abundant in RePlant soil, while Pseudomonas and Lysobacter were increased in RePlant compared with ReSoil and NewPlant. Both RePlant and ReSoil showed relatively higher invertase and cellulase activities than NewPlant and NewSoil, but only NewPlant soil showed higher urease activity, and this soil also had the higher plant growth. Our experimental results suggest that planting apple nurseries has a significant impact on soil bacterial community development at both replant and new planting sites, and planting on new site resulted in significantly higher soil urease activity and a different bacterial community composition.
Resurgence of Persisting Non-Cultivable Borrelia burgdorferi following Antibiotic Treatment in Mice

The agent of Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi, evades host immunity and establishes persistent infections in its varied mammalian hosts. This persistent biology may pose challenges to effective antibiotic treatment. Experimental studies in dogs, mice, and non-human primates have found persistence of B. burgdorferi DNA following treatment with a variety of antibiotics, but persisting spirochetes are non-cultivable. Persistence of B. burgdorferi DNA has been documented in humans following treatment, but the significance remains unknown. The present study utilized a ceftriaxone treatment regimen in the C3H mouse model that resulted in persistence of non-cultivable B. burgdorferi in order to determine their long-term fate, and to examine their effects on the host. Results confirmed previous studies, in which B. burgdorferi could not be cultured from tissues, but low copy numbers of B. burgdorferi flaB DNA were detectable in tissues at 2, 4 and 8 months after completion of treatment, and the rate of PCR-positive tissues appeared to progressively decline over time. However, there was resurgence of spirochete flaB DNA in multiple tissues at 12 months, with flaB DNA copy levels nearly equivalent to those found in saline-treated mice. Despite the continued non-cultivable state, RNA transcription of multiple B. burgdorferi genes was detected in host tissues, flaB DNA was acquired by xenodiagnostic ticks, and spirochetal forms could be visualized within ticks and mouse tissues by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, respectively. A number of host cytokines were up- or down-regulated in tissues of both saline- and antibiotic-treated mice in the absence of histopathology, indicating host response to the presence of non-cultivable, despite the lack of inflammation in tissues.