Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PHOTONIC MODES IN DISPERSIVE AND LOSSY SUPERLATTICES CONTAINING NEGATIVE-INDEX MATERIALS

We have calculated the photonic bands of a dispersive and lossy periodic array of left-handed metamaterial layers in air. Depending on the behavior of the flelds inside the metamaterial component, two categories of modes for oblique propagation are identifled: the oscillatory and the tunneling modes. In order to characterize these two types of solutions, we calculate the complex photonic bands; a criterion of penetration-limit is introduced to quantify the absorption efiects. Our results show that oscillatory TE and TM waves can be excited by light incident from air at low frequencies (within the metamaterial regime). In the region of high frequencies only TE tunneling modes are available. To complement the description of the absorption efiects, we present transmission spectra and fleld proflles for TE waves in flnite layered systems for the two types of modes here studied.
Experimental Validation of a Tuning Algorithm for High-Speed Filters

We report here the results of some laboratory experiments performed to validate the effectiveness of a technique for the self tuning of integrated continuous-time, high-speed active filters. The tuning algorithm is based on the application of a pseudo-random input sequence of rectangular pulses to the device to be tuned and on the evaluation of a few samples of the input-output cross-correlation function which constitute the filter signature. The key advantages of this technique are the ease of the input test pattern generation and the simplicity of the output circuitry which consists of a digital cross-correlator. The technique allows achieving a tuning error mainly dominated by the value of the elementary capacitors employed in the tuning circuitry. The time required to perform the tuning is kept within a few microseconds. This appears particularly interesting for applications to telecommunication multi-standard terminals. The experiments regarding the application of the proposed tuning algorithm to a baseband multi-standard filter confirm most of the simulation results and show the robustness of the technique against practical operating conditions and noise
Artificial Life Music Tells of Complexity

The following work outlines a semiotic approach to the construction of musical codes, which reproduce the complexity of the configurations created by cellular automata. Many types of musical codes (i.e. binary, color, local, global and mixed) are analysed, from the simplest to the most complex. In our opinion musical codes are a method of reading complexity and discovering emergence. This process of reading complexity has enabled us to translate it into music and to represent it using another medium, obtaining results that were thought noteworthy by groups of subjects, both musicians and non-musicians.
The dynamic compressive behavior of beryllium bearing bulk metallic glasses

In 1993, a new beryllium bearing bulk metallic glass with the nominal composition Zr_41. 25Ti_13. 75Cu_12. 5Ni_10Be_22. 5 was discovered at Caltech. This metallic glass can be cast as cylindrical rods as large as 16 mm in diameter, which permitted specimens to be fabricated with geometries suitable for dynamic testing. For the first time, the dynamic compressive yield behavior of a metallic glass was characterized at strain rates of 10^2 to 10^4/s by using the split Hopkinson pressure bar. A high-speed infrared thermal detector was also used to determine if adiabatic heating occurred during dynamic deformation of the metallic glass. From these tests it appears that the yield stress of the metallic glass is insensitive to strain rate and no adiabatic heating occurs before yielding.
A Certainty Equivalent Valuation of Social Security Entitlements

This paper computes the certainty equivalent of the United States Social Security in a calibrated life-cycle model when the stock and labor markets are cointegrated. In the baseline calibration, the certainty equivalent of current workers and retirees is found to be 37% lower at the national scale than the sum of expected cash flows discounted at the risk-free rate. The results suggest that the present value of pension entitlements and the transition cost to a funded system may be largely overestimated if not properly risk-adjusted.
Prospective study of predictors of vitamin D status and cancer incidence and mortality in men.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D has potent anticancer properties, especially against digestive-system cancers. Many human studies have used geographic residence as a marker of solar ultraviolet B and hence vitamin D exposure. Here, we considered multiple determinants of vitamin D exposure (dietary and supplementary vitamin D, skin pigmentation, adiposity, geographic residence, and leisure-time physical activity-to estimate sunlight exposure) in relation to cancer risk in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. METHODS Among 1095 men of this cohort, we quantified the relation of these six determinants to plasma 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] level by use of a multiple linear regression model. We used results from the model to compute a predicted 25(OH)D level for each of 47,800 men in the cohort based on these characteristics. We then prospectively examined this variable in relation to cancer risk with multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS From 1986 through January 31, 2000, we documented 4286 incident cancers (excluding organ-confined prostate cancer and nonmelanoma skin cancer) and 2025 deaths from cancer. From multivariable models, an increment of 25 nmol/L in predicted 25(OH)D level was associated with a 17% reduction in total cancer incidence (multivariable relative risk [RR] = 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.74 to 0.92), a 29% reduction in total cancer mortality (RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.83), and a 45% reduction in digestive-system cancer mortality (RR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.41 to 0.74). The absolute annual rate of total cancer was 758 per 100,000 men in the bottom decile of predicted 25(OH)D and 674 per 100,000 men for the top decile; these respective rates were 326 per 100,000 and 277 per 100,000 for total cancer mortality and 128 per 100,000 and 78 per 100,000 for digestive-system cancer mortality. Results were similar when we controlled further for body mass index or physical activity level. CONCLUSIONS Low levels of vitamin D may be associated with increased cancer incidence and mortality in men, particularly for digestive-system cancers. The vitamin D supplementation necessary to achieve a 25(OH)D increment of 25 nmol/L may be at least 1500 IU/day.
Differences in Facial Emotion Recognition between First Episode Psychosis, Borderline Personality Disorder and Healthy Controls

Background Facial emotion recognition (FER) is essential to guide social functioning and behaviour for interpersonal communication. FER may be altered in severe mental illness such as in psychosis and in borderline personality disorder patients. However, it is unclear if these FER alterations are specifically related to psychosis. Awareness of FER alterations may be useful in clinical settings to improve treatment strategies. The aim of our study was to examine FER in patients with severe mental disorder and their relation with psychotic symptomatology. Materials and Methods Socio-demographic and clinical variables were collected. Alterations on emotion recognition were assessed in 3 groups: patients with first episode psychosis (FEP) (n = 64), borderline personality patients (BPD) (n = 37) and healthy controls (n = 137), using the Degraded Facial Affect Recognition Task. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Structured Interview for Schizotypy Revised and Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences scales were used to assess positive psychotic symptoms. WAIS III subtests were used to assess IQ. Results Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed a significant difference between groups on the FER of neutral faces score between FEP, BPD patients and controls and between FEP patients and controls in angry face recognition. No significant differences were found between groups in the fear or happy conditions. There was a significant difference between groups in the attribution of negative emotion to happy faces. BPD and FEP groups had a much higher tendency to recognize happy faces as negatives. There was no association with the different symptom domains in either group. Conclusions FEP and BPD patients have problems in recognizing neutral faces more frequently than controls. Moreover, patients tend to over-report negative emotions in recognition of happy faces. Although no relation between psychotic symptoms and FER alterations was found, these deficits could contribute to a patient’s misinterpretations in daily life.
Global Mapping of Cell Type–Specific Open Chromatin by FAIRE-seq Reveals the Regulatory Role of the NFI Family in Adipocyte Differentiation

Identification of regulatory elements within the genome is crucial for understanding the mechanisms that govern cell type–specific gene expression. We generated genome-wide maps of open chromatin sites in 3T3-L1 adipocytes (on day 0 and day 8 of differentiation) and NIH-3T3 fibroblasts using formaldehyde-assisted isolation of regulatory elements coupled with high-throughput sequencing (FAIRE-seq). FAIRE peaks at the promoter were associated with active transcription and histone modifications of H3K4me3 and H3K27ac. Non-promoter FAIRE peaks were characterized by H3K4me1+/me3-, the signature of enhancers, and were largely located in distal regions. The non-promoter FAIRE peaks showed dynamic change during differentiation, while the promoter FAIRE peaks were relatively constant. Functionally, the adipocyte- and preadipocyte-specific non-promoter FAIRE peaks were, respectively, associated with genes up-regulated and down-regulated by differentiation. Genes highly up-regulated during differentiation were associated with multiple clustered adipocyte-specific FAIRE peaks. Among the adipocyte-specific FAIRE peaks, 45.3% and 11.7% overlapped binding sites for, respectively, PPARγ and C/EBPα, the master regulators of adipocyte differentiation. Computational motif analyses of the adipocyte-specific FAIRE peaks revealed enrichment of a binding motif for nuclear family I (NFI) transcription factors. Indeed, ChIP assay showed that NFI occupy the adipocyte-specific FAIRE peaks and/or the PPARγ binding sites near PPARγ, C/EBPα, and aP2 genes. Overexpression of NFIA in 3T3-L1 cells resulted in robust induction of these genes and lipid droplet formation without differentiation stimulus. Overexpression of dominant-negative NFIA or siRNA–mediated knockdown of NFIA or NFIB significantly suppressed both induction of genes and lipid accumulation during differentiation, suggesting a physiological function of these factors in the adipogenic program. Together, our study demonstrates the utility of FAIRE-seq in providing a global view of cell type–specific regulatory elements in the genome and in identifying transcriptional regulators of adipocyte differentiation.
Oxidation of Methyl-Substituted Naphthalenes: Pathways in a Versatile Sphingomonas paucimobilisStrain

ABSTRACT Aromatic compounds with alkyl substituents are abundant in fossil fuels. These compounds become important environmental sources of soluble toxic products, developmental inhibitors, etc. principally through biological activities. To assess the effect of methyl substitution on the completeness of mineralization and accumulation of pathway products, an isolate from a phenanthrene enrichment culture,Sphingomonas paucimobilis 2322, was used. Washed cell suspensions containing cells grown on 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene in mineral medium were incubated with various mono-, di-, and trimethylnaphthalene isomers, and the products were identified and quantified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The data revealed enzymes with relaxed substrate specificity that initiate metabolism either by methyl group monoxygenation or by ring dioxygenation. Congeners with a methyl group on each ring initially hydroxylate a methyl, and this is followed by conversion to a carboxyl; when there are two methyl groups on a single ring, the first reaction is aryl dioxygenation of the unsubstituted ring. Intermediates are channeled to primary ring fission via dihydrodiols to form methyl-substituted salicylates. Further evidence that there are multiple pathways comes from the fact that both phthalate and (methyl)salicylate are formed from 2-methylnaphthalene.
Can self control influence subjective well being in life? A study assessing the dynamics and association between the constructs

1Adnan Khan is CEO at The Elation Institute, adikhannz@gmail.com 2Amina M. Qureshi is Associate Professor at Bahria University Islamabad, aminamuzaffar_q@hotmail.com Investigating the association between self control and wellbeing is a growing concern for researchers. Although various conceptions of self control have been put forth, there is a general consensus among social researchers that self control is the ability to overpower, override or change one’s responses to desires and temptations as well as to disrupt undesirable behavioral tendencies and impulses and orient oneself away from pursuing them (Hoffman, et al., 2013). As such, self control assumes a prominent role in human endeavor, achievement and wellbeing in life. People low in self control have consistently been linked to academic underachievement, substance abuse, relationship and emotional problems, behavioral issues, delinquency, poor health, and other social ailments (Duckworth & Seligman, 2005; Friese & Hofmann, 2009). On the other hand, people who rate high in self control measures report higher academic achievement, stronger interpersonal relationships, emotional stability, higher monetary incomes, life satisfaction and well being in life (Moffit et al., 2011).
The stock price effects of alternative types of management earnings forecasts

SYNOPSIS AND INTRODUCTION: This paper examines the stock price effects of alternative types of management earnings forecasts. Beyond deciding whether to disclose forecasts, managers must decide whether to issue a point projection or a more qualitative estimate (e.g., a bounded range), and whether to project interim or annual earnings or both. Our empirical tests assess differences in the information content of management earnings forecasts that differ by form and horizon. Our tests provide a comprehensive investigation of the price effects of these alternative forecast disclosure types. While an extensive literature exists on the relation between management forecasts and stock prices, most previous studies examine only point and range forecasts of annual earnings (e.g., Penman 1980; Ajinkya and Gift 1984; Waymire 1984; McNichols 1989; Pownall and Waymire 1989). Exceptions include Lev and Penman (1990), Patell (1976), and Baginski et al. (1993). Lev and Penman (1990) include lower and upper bound forecasts for part of their sample period, but do not examine these disclosure forms separately. Patell (1976) provides evidence on mean price changes associated with a pooled sample of annual minimum and maximum forecasts. Baginski et al. (1993) examine alternative forecast forms. Prior analyses of managers' disclosure incentives speculate that investors may condition their assessment of forecast information on disclosure
NTHU at the CoNLL-2014 Shared Task

In this paper, we describe a system for correcting grammatical errors in texts written by non-native learners. In our approach, a given sentence with syntactic features are sent to a number of modules, each focuses on a specific error type. A main program integrates corrections from these modules and outputs the corrected sentence. We evaluated our system on the official test data of the CoNLL-2014 shared task and obtained 0.30 in F-measure.
Oxygen Consumption at 30 W of Exercise Is Surrogate for Peak Oxygen Consumption in Evaluation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Young-Adult African-American Females

Body mass index (BMI) is negatively correlated with cardiorespiratory fitness, measured by maximal or peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak). VO2peak measurements require heavy aerobic exercise to near exhaustion which increases the potential for adverse cardiovascular events. This study tests the hypothesis that VO2 measured at a fixed submaximal workload of 30 W is a surrogate for VO2peak. We studied 42 normotensive African-American female university students, 18–25 years of age. We measured VO2peak, blood pressure, and VO2 at a 30 W exercise workload and computed BMI. We found significant negative correlations between BMI and VO2peak (r = −0.41, P < 0.01) and between BMI and VO2 at 30 W (r = −0.53, P < 0.001). Compared to VO2peak, VO2 at 30 W increased the significance of the negative correlation with BMI. The heart rate-systolic pressure product at 30 W was positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.36, P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with VO2peak (r = −0.38, P < 0.001). The positive correlation between BMI and the heart rate-systolic pressure product and the greater negative correlation between VO2 and BMI at 30 W of exercise than that at exercise to fatigue suggest that normalized measurements of VO2 at the fixed exercise workload of 30 W could be useful surrogates for measurements of VO2peak.
Anticipating Moves to Prevent Botnet Generated DDoS Flooding Attacks.

Volumetric Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks have been a recurrent issue on the Internet. These attacks generate a flooding of fake network traffic to interfere with targeted servers or network links. Despite many efforts to detect and mitigate them, attackers have played a game always circumventing countermeasures. Today, there is an increase in the number of infected devices, even more with the advent of the Internet of Things and flexible communication technologies. Leveraging device-to-device short range wireless communications and others, infected devices can coordinate sophisticated botnets, which can be employed to intensify DDoS attacks. The new generation of botnets is even harder to detect because of their adaptive and dynamic behavior yielded by infected mobile portable devices. Additionally, because there can be a large number of geographically distributed devices, botnets increase DDoS traffic significantly. In face of their new behavior and the increasing volume of DDoS traffic, novel and intelligent-driven approaches are required. Specifically, we advocate for {\em anticipating} trends of DDoS attacks in the early stages as much as possible. This work provides an overview of approaches that can be employed to anticipate trends of DDoS attacks generated by botnets in their early stages and brings an insightful discussion about the advantages of each kind of approach and open issues.
A Novel Method for Calculating Free Energy Difference Between Systems

Calculating free energy differences is a topic of substantial interest and has many applications including chemical reactions which are used in organic chemistry, biochemistry and medicines. In equilibrium free energy methods that are used in molecular simulations, one molecule is transformed into another to calculate the energy difference. However, when the compared molecules have different number of atoms, these methods cannot be directly applied since the corresponding transformation involves breaking covalent bonds which will cause a phase transition and impractical sampling. Thus, Quantum Mechanical Simulations, which are significantly more demanding computationally, are usually combined to calculate free energies of chemical reactions. Here we show that the free energies can be calculated by simple classical molecular simulations followed by analytic or numerical calculations. In this method each molecule is transformed into its replica with the VDW and Coulomb terms of the different atoms relaxed in order to eliminate the partition function difference arising from these terms. Then, since each transformed system can be treated as non interacting systems, the remaining difference in the (originally highly complex) partition function can be directly calculated. Since molecular force fields can often be automatically generated and the calculations suggested here are rather simple the method can form a basis for automated free energy computation of chemical reactions.
Defeasible Argumentation of Software Architectures

Defeasible argumentation is typical of legal and scientific reasoning. A defeasible argument is one in which the conclusion can be accepted tentatively in relation with the evidence known so far, but may need to be retracted as new evidence comes in. This paper analyses the role of defeasible argumentation in the explanation and evaluation of architectural decisions. We analyse technical explanations offered by engineers at Twitter and eBay about several architectural decisions adopted in those systems. We generalize these examples in four argumentation schemes. We also study the typical case of reasoning with a formal model of an architecture, and we infer a fifth argumentation scheme. Finally, we apply Hastings' method of attaching a set of critical questions to each scheme. We show that the existence of critical questions reveals that the inferred schemes are defeasible: in argumentation theory, if a respondent asks one of the critical questions matching a scheme and the proponent of an argument fails to offer an adequate answer, the argument defaults and the conclusion is retracted. This dialogical structure is the basis of typical architectural evaluations. We conclude that the provided evidence supports the hypothesis that defeasible argumentation is employed in architectural evaluation. In this context, a rich catalogue of argumentation schemes is a useful tool for the architect to organize his or her reasoning, critical questions assist the architect in identifying the weak points of his or her explanations, and provide the evaluation team with a checklist of issues to be raised.
State-Based Mode Switching with Applications to Mixed-Criticality Systems

—We present a new graph-based real-time task model that can specify complex job arrival patterns and global state-based mode switching. The mode switching is of a mixed-criticality style, enabling immediate changes to the parameters of active jobs upon mode switches. The resulting task model therefore generalizes previously proposed task graph models as well as mixed-criticality (sporadic) task models, and further allows for the modeling of timing properties not found in any of these models. We outline an EDF uniprocessor schedulability analysis procedure by combining ideas from prior analysis methods for graph-based and mixed-criticality task scheduling.
S ep 2 00 2 Signed zeroes of Gaussian vector fields – Density , correlation functions and curvature

Abstract. We calculate correlation functions of the (charge) density of zeroes of Gaussian distributed vector fields. We are able to express correlation functions of arbitrary order through the curvature tensor of a certain abstract Riemann Cartan or Riemannian manifold. As an application, we discuss one and two point functions. The zeroes of a two dimensional Gaussian vector field model the distribution of topological defects in the high temperature phase of two dimensional systems with orientational degrees of freedom, such as superfluid films, thin superconductors and liquid crystals.