Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electron microscopy of severely deformed L12 intermetallics

Severe plastic deformation (SPD) can be used to make bulk, nanostructured materials. Three L12 long-range ordered (LRO) intermetallic compounds were studied by TEM methods. The superlattice glide dislocations can dissociate according to two schemes: antiphase boundary (APB) coupled unit dislocations or superlattice intrinsic stacking fault (SISF) coupled super Shockley partials; both of them are analysed by weak-beam TEM methods. The nanostructures resulting from SPD carried out by high pressure torsion (HPT) are strongly affected by the different dissociation schemes of the dislocations. APB-dissociated superlattice dislocations and especially the APB tubes they form lead to the destruction of the LRO by HPT deformation as observed in Cu3Au and Ni3Al, whereas in Zr3Al heavily deformed (∼100,000% shear strain) at low temperatures the order is not destroyed since the deformation occurs by SISF-dissociated dislocations. In addition to the effects on the LRO the different dissociation schemes of the dislocations have a strong impact on the refinement and destruction of the crystalline structure by SPD. They seem to be decisive for the dynamic recovery considered as the limiting factor for the final grain sizes and the possibility of reaching amorphisation. Finally, the correlation between the reduction of the LRO and the structural refinement occurring during SPD is different in the three different alloys: In Cu3Au, the LRO is already strongly reduced before the structural refinement reaches saturation, in Ni3Al both are occurring simultaneously, whereas in Zr3Al, the formation of the nanograins does not seem to be connected with disordering.
DEM-based epipolar rectification for optimized radargrammetry

The quality of DEMs derived via radargrammetry mainly depends on the similarity of the SAR stereo images, taken under different look angles, in the image matching step. This work presents a novel pre-processing method that allows generating more similar epipolar images which are corrected by the underlying topography thus leading SAR specific distortion corrected stereo pairs. The evaluation w.r. t LiDAR data shows the increased quality of resulting DEMs.
Metastability-Aware Memory-Efficient Time-to-Digital Converters

We propose a novel method for transforming delay-line time-to-digital converters (TDCs) into TDCs that output Gray code without relying on synchronizers. We formally prove that the inevitable metastable memory upsets (Marino, TC'81) do not induce an additional time resolution error. Our modified design provides suitable inputs to the recent metastability-containing sorting networks by Lenzen and Medina (ASYNC'16) and Bund et al. (DATE'17). In contrast, employing existing TDCs would require using thermometer code at the TDC output (followed by conversion to Gray code) or resolving metastability inside the TDC. The former is too restrictive w.r. t. the dynamic range of the TDCs, while the latter loses the advantage of enabling (accordingly much faster) computation without having to first resolve metastability. Our all-digital designs are also of interest in their own right: they support high sample rates and large measuring ranges at nearly optimal bit-width of the output, yet maintain the original delay-line's time resolution. No previous approach unifies all these properties in a single device.
Mappe per Affetti Erranti: a Multimodal System for Social Active Listening and Expressive Performance

This paper presents our new system Mappe per Affetti Erranti (literally Maps for Wandering Affects), enabling a novel paradigm for social active experience and dynamic molding of expressive content of a music piece. Mappe per Affetti Erranti allows multiple users to interact with the music piece at several levels. On the one hand, multiple users can physically navigate a polyphonic music piece, actively exploring it; on the other hand they can intervene on the music performance modifying and molding its expressive content in real-time through fullbody movement and gesture. An implementation of Mappe per Affetti Erranti was presented in the framework of the science exhibition “Metamorfosi del Senso”, held at Casa Paganini, Genova, in October – November 2007. In that occasion Mappe per Affetti Erranti was also used for a contemporary dance performance. The research topics addressed in Mappe per Affetti Erranti are currently investigated in the new EU-ICT Project SAME (Sound and Music for Everyone, Everyday, Everywhere, Every Way, www.sameproject.eu).
A Genetic Programming Based Scheme for Combining Image Operators

Sophisticated image processing is usually nonlinear and difficult to model. In addition to the conventional image processing tools, we need some alternatives to bridge the gap between low-level and semantic level computation. This paper presents an idea of image processing scheme. We transform an image into different representations; feed the representations to the proper cellular automaton (CA) components to produce the information images; use the information images as the inputs to the combination program; and finally get the processed result. To identify the needed transforms, the CA transition rules, and the combination expression, we adopt genetic programming (GP) and cellular programming (CP) to search for the configuration. The searched configuration separates the parallelizable and sequential parts of the program. We don't enforce the linearity of the program, and it is likely that the searched result matches to the nonlinear nature of human semantics.
Annexin VI-mediated Loss of Spectrin during Coated Pit Budding Is Coupled to Delivery of LDL to Lysosomes

Previously we reported that annexin VI is required for the budding of clathrin-coated pits from human fibroblast plasma membranes in vitro. Here we show that annexin VI bound to the NH2-terminal 28-kD portion of membrane spectrin is as effective as cytosolic annexin VI in supporting coated pit budding. Annexin VI–dependent budding is accompanied by the loss of ∼50% of the spectrin from the membrane and is blocked by the cysteine protease inhibitor N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal (ALLN). Incubation of fibroblasts in the presence of ALLN initially blocks the uptake of low density lipoprotein (LDL), but the cells recover after 1 h and internalize LDL with normal kinetics. The LDL internalized under these conditions, however, fails to migrate to the center of the cell and is not degraded. ALLN-treated cells have twice as many coated pits and twofold more membrane clathrin, suggesting that new coated pits have assembled. Annexin VI is not required for the budding of these new coated pits and ALLN does not inhibit. Finally, microinjection of a truncated annexin VI that inhibits budding in vitro has the same effect on LDL internalization as ALLN. These findings suggest that fibroblasts are able to make at least two types of coated pits, one of which requires the annexin VI–dependent activation of a cysteine protease to disconnect the clathrin lattice from the spectrin membrane cytoskeleton during the final stages of budding.
Multi-Phasic Ceramic Composites made by Sol-Gel Technique

Instead of aiming to prepare homogeneous gels and xerogels, this paper reports on work done to prepare deliberately diphasic materials. This has been achieved by three different paths: (1) mixing 2 sols; (2) mixing 1 sol with 1 solution; and (3) post formation diffusion of either one or two solutions. By the last named process we have made SiO 2 , mullite and alumina based composites, with silver halides, BaSO 4 , CdS, etc., as the dispersed phase. The crystal size can be confined to the initial pores by rapid diffusion giving rise to extremely fine second phases in the submicron range. Subsequent reduction of appropriate metallic salts can be used to give finely dispersed metals (e.g. Cu, Ni) in essentially any xerogel matrix. The open porosity makes these metal atoms very accessible. By the first two processes we have made both single phase and di-phasic gels of the same composition (prototype: mullite) and shown that though they cannot be distinguished by XRD, SEM, and TEM, by DTA and thermal processing, they are radically different. Such di-phasic gels store more metastable energy than any other solids.
Semantical consideration on floyo-hoare logic

This paper deals with logics of programs. The objective is to formalize a notion of program description, and to give both plausible (semantic) and effective (syntactic) criteria for the notion of truth of a description. A novel feature of this treatment is the development of the mathematics underlying Floyd-Hoare axiom systems independently of such systems. Other directions that such research might take are also considered. This paper grew out of, and is intended to be usable as, class notes [27] for an introductory semantics course. The three sections of the paper are: 1. A framework for the logic of programs. Programs and their partial correctness theories are treated as binary relations on states and formulae respectively. Truth-values are assigned to partial correctness assertions in a plausible (Tarskian) but not directly usable way. 2. Particular Programs. Effective criteria for truth are established for some programs using the Tarskian criteria as a benchmark. This leads directly to a sound, complete, effective axiom system for the theories of these programs. The difficulties involved in finding such effective criteria for other programs are explored. The reader's attention is drawn to Theorems 4, 16, 18 and 22-24, as worthy of mention even out of the context in which they now appear. 3. Variations and extensions of the framework. Alternatives to binary relations for both programs and theories are speculated on, and their possible roles in semantics are considered. We discuss a hierarchy of varieties of programs and the importance of this hierarchy to the issues of definability and describability. Modal logic is considered as a first-order alternative to Floyd-Hoare logic. We give an appropriate axiom system which is complete for loop-free programs and also puts conventional predicate calculus in a different light by lumping quantifiers with non-logical assignments rather than treating them as logical concepts. Proofs of all theorems are relegated to an appendix.
Alterations in Nitrogen Monoxide‐Synthesizing Cortical Neurons in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with Dementia

Cognitive impairment in the absence of lesions indicative of Alzheimer's disease and other dementing conditions has long been recognized in a subgroup of patients with motor neuron disease (MND), including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the mechanisms underlying this cognitive deterioration and its relationship with the relatively selective involvement of motor neurons remains elusive. We used histo-and immunocytochemical labeling methods to study the nitrogen monoxide (NO; a.k.a. nitric oxide) synthase (NOS)-/NADPH diaphorase-containing neurons (NOSN) in three patients with MND and dementia (MND + D), two patients with MND without dementia, and 19 controls that included patients with Alzheimer and non-Alzheimer dementias. Patients with MND + D, but not those with MND without dementia, exhibit numerous dystrophic perikarya and neurites throughout all sensory, motor, association, and limbic neocortices examined. Interestingly, affected NOSN appear to correspond to some subtypes (smooth stellate and spiny neurons), while other neurons containing the same molecular phenotype (such as layer I local circuit neurons and layer II granule cells) are either spared or significantly less affected. These observations indicate that cognitive impairment and dementia in MND may be due, at least in part, to a pancortical involvement of certain types of NOSN. Consequently, the elucidation of the factors that make NOSN vulnerable in MND, and the prevention or pharmacological palliation of their loss, may eventually help to prevent or ameliorate cognitive impairment in MND and may also shed some light on the nature of the insult that targets motor neurons
0 10 41 15 v 1 6 A pr 2 00 1 Polynomial Observables in the Graph Partitioning Problem

Although NP-Complete problems are the most difficult decisional problems , it's possible to discover in them polynomial (or easy) observables. We study the Graph Partitioning Problem showing that it's possible to recognize in it two correlated polynomial observables. The particular behaviour of one of them with respect to the connectivity of the graph suggests the presence of a phase transition in partitionability.
Inductive analysis of the Internet protocol TLS

Internet browsers use security protocols to protect sensitive messages. An inductive analysis of TLS (a descendant of SSL 3.0) has been performed using the theorem prover Isabelle. Proofs are based on higher-order logic and make no assumptions concerning beliefs of finiteness. All the obvious security goals can be proved; session resumption appears to be secure even if old session keys are compromised. The proofs suggest minor changes to simplify the analysis. TLS, even at an abstract level, is much more complicated than most protocols verified by researchers. Session keys are negotiated rather than distributed, and the protocol has many optional parts. Netherless, the resources needed to verify TLS are modest: six man-weeks of effort and three minutes of processor time.
Upbeat about downbeat nystagmus

Finding vertical nystagmus, especially on gaze straight ahead, alerts the neurologist for other signs of cerebellar or brainstem dysfunction (see the supplementary video clip on the Neurology Web site; go to www.neurology.org). Downbeat nystagmus (DBN) can be due to Chiari malformation,1 hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia, long-term lithium therapy or compression of the caudal brainstem by an ectatic vertebral artery.2 DBN is uncommon with vascular or demyelinating lesions.2 In perhaps half of all patients with DBN, no cause is found and the condition progresses slowly, if at all.1 The diagnostic value of DBN owes much to the development of animal models, such as monkeys with bilateral ablation of the cerebellar flocculus and paraflocculus,3 and mice with mutations of the CACNA1 calcium channel gene.4 The neurobiology of upbeat nystagmus (UBN) is less clear; there is no animal model and our understanding of it is based solely on clinical-pathologic studies, which report lesions of the perihypoglossal and medial vestibular nuclei, nucleus intercalatus, and the ventral tegmentum.2 Interestingly, some patients with …
Strategies in Improving Android Security

The rise of mobility has witnessed a skyrocket of the number of mobile devices users. Smart phone is almost a must-have for most young adult in today’s society and therefore mobile security is a hot topic issue. The global smartphone shipments have been reported to hit 230 million devices in the second quarter of 2013 with a growth of 47 percent, among which Android operation system captured a record of 80 percent market share. However, along with the popularity, cyber threats increase as well. Due to its high market share and open source architecture, Android has become the most vulnerable mobile operating system to security attacks. Types of security threats such as simple text message Trojans to a more sophisticated rootkits are surfacing every day. In order to seek solutions to Android Security, this paper will begin with the discussion of Android features and characteristics. Then in-depth insights into Android’s system architecture, Play store, and apps etc. will be researched and discussed and finally via analysis this paper will attempt to give feasible solutions to improve Android’s security model from the user’s awareness level as well as technical level.
ARCIMBOLDO_LITE: single-workstation implementation and use.

ARCIMBOLDO solves the phase problem at resolutions of around 2 Å or better through massive combination of small fragments and density modification. For complex structures, this imposes a need for a powerful grid where calculations can be distributed, but for structures with up to 200 amino acids in the asymmetric unit a single workstation may suffice. The use and performance of the single-workstation implementation, ARCIMBOLDO_LITE, on a pool of test structures with 40-120 amino acids and resolutions between 0.54 and 2.2 Å is described. Inbuilt polyalanine helices and iron cofactors are used as search fragments. ARCIMBOLDO_BORGES can also run on a single workstation to solve structures in this test set using precomputed libraries of local folds. The results of this study have been incorporated into an automated, resolution- and hardware-dependent parameterization. ARCIMBOLDO has been thoroughly rewritten and three binaries are now available: ARCIMBOLDO_LITE, ARCIMBOLDO_SHREDDER and ARCIMBOLDO_BORGES. The programs and libraries can be downloaded from http://chango.ibmb. csic.es/ARCIMBOLDO_LITE.
Effect of de-oiled peanut meal flour (DPMF) on the textural, organoleptic and physico chemical properties of bread.

Bread was prepared by incorporating de-oiled peanut flour (DPMF) into refined wheat flour at 0-20% level and evaluated for physical, chemical, textural, colour and sensory attributes. The bread with 10% addition of DPME had about 1.5 times higher protein as comparison to control. With the incorporation of DPMF, hardness of bread increased (27.7 N to 55.1 N). Sensory evaluation revealed that the sample containing 15% DPMF scored highest in most of the attributes including overall acceptability. Incorporation of DPMF had significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on colour values of bread. As the level of DPMF was increased, L values decreased from 75.2 to 65.2 for crumb and 71.8 to 63.3 for crust. The study revealed that incorporation of 15% de-oiled peanut flour gave desirable results in terms of nutritional, sensory and textural attributes.
Tipping points in open systems: bifurcation, noise-induced and rate-dependent examples in the climate system

Tipping points associated with bifurcations (B-tipping) or induced by noise (N-tipping) are recognized mechanisms that may potentially lead to sudden climate change. We focus here on a novel class of tipping points, where a sufficiently rapid change to an input or parameter of a system may cause the system to ‘tip’ or move away from a branch of attractors. Such rate-dependent tipping, or R-tipping, need not be associated with either bifurcations or noise. We present an example of all three types of tipping in a simple global energy balance model of the climate system, illustrating the possibility of dangerous rates of change even in the absence of noise and of bifurcations in the underlying quasi-static system.
Diagnostic Value of Concentration Profiles of Glucocorticosteroids and Endocannabinoids in Hair

Background: Endogenous corticosteroids and endocannabinoids are both known to be involved in stress adaption and anti-inflammatory and immuneregulatory effects. The application of hair as retrospective specimen for long-term recording of corticosteroids and its association with stress-induced biochemical alterations was intensively examined. Methods: To evaluate the stability and correlation of various parameters of the endocannabinoid and corticosteroid systems, a prospective study was carried out. Hair samples were collected monthly over a pregnancy cycle (sixth week of pregnancy to 9 weeks postpartum). By comparison of hair concentrations in particular segments (ie, grown in the same time span but collected at different times), an examination of analyte stability in hair was achieved. Additionally, the comparison of proximal segments provided on biochemical information that is independent of alteration due to physical instability. The detection limits of a validated procedure using solid-phase extraction cleanup and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry proved to be suitable to identify the endogenous levels of cortisol (limits of detection = 1.6 pg/mg), cortisone (2.1 pg/mg), anandamide (AEA, 0.3 pg/mg), and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (15 pg/mg). Results: Corticosteroid concentrations in corresponding hair segments were found to be reduced with increasing hair age; an average decline of cortisol and cortisone by 50% in 4 months was estimated. Independently, an increase of cortisol and cortisone in proximal segments collected during pregnancy was confirmed, which is assumed to be stress related. Endocannabinoids proved to be by far more stable, as demonstrated by subsequent monthly collection of corresponding segments and there was hardly any washout of AEA detectable. Elevated hair concentrations of AEA and 2-arachidonoylglycerol were detected in the first–second trimester of pregnancy, which corresponds to negative correlations between AEA, cortisol, and cortisone.
The Types of Neurological Deficits Might Not Justify Withholding Treatment in Patients With Low Total National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Scores

Background and Purpose— There is controversy regarding the threshold for treating patients with mild strokes. Physicians often withhold acute treatment in these patients if they perceive the symptoms are not going to be disabling. We tested the appropriateness of this practice by analyzing the relationship between specific neurological deficits in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and long-term outcome among patients with a low total NIHSS score. Methods— We performed a secondary analysis on those patients enrolled in the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment that presented within 4.5 hours of symptom onset and had a baseline NIHSS score ⩽6 (n=194). We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses using very favorable outcome at 3 months as the outcome variable and each of the individual items of the baseline NIHSS examination and syndromic combinations of NIHSS scores as predictors. The analyses were adjusted for potential confounders with and without adjusting for total NIHSS score. Results— Baseline total NIHSS scores were inversely associated with very favorable outcome at 3 months. No individual NIHSS item, or syndromic combination of NIHSS scores, was independently associated with very favorable outcome in a consistent manner after accounting for confounders and collinearity. Conclusions— The types of neurological deficits in the baseline NIHSS are not independent predictors of long-term prognosis for patients with mild stroke. These exploratory findings argue against the practice of withholding reperfusion treatment in patients with mild stroke when the types of baseline NIHSS deficits are perceived to be nondisabling.
Neighbourhood approach to bisimulation in state abstraction for quantized domains

State abstraction [1] is one of solutions to the curse of dimensionality [2] problem, and possibly allows real-life application of AI algorithms. We present a new state abstraction algorithm inspired by stimulus discrimination theory from behavioral psychology [3], [4] and by current work on bisimulation theory as applied to reinforcement learning [5], [6], [7]. The new way of comparing state abstractions with the proposed notion of the ambiguity coefficient is evaluated on a well known Coffee Task domain. It is also a foundation for applying bisimulation approach to continuous domains.
Measurement and testing by digital speckle correlation

Uses of digital correlation analysis of speckle intensities are described in measurements and monitoring of rough surfaces. First, theoretical relationships for correlation properties of speckle patterns are surveyed in terms of the intensity cross-correlation between two patterns. They consist of speckle displacement and decorrelation, each of which is related to the position and the reduction of correlation peak, respectively. For examples, speckle displacement is applied to measurement of strain by a laser-speckle strain gauge and a speckle extensometer both of which are perfectly non-contacting. Speckle decorrelation is used for the measurements of surface roughness and monitoring of paint drying process. Relationships with digital holography that enables to derive 3-d speckle cross-correlation are also mentioned.