Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social class and educational inequality: the impact of parents and schools. By Iram Siraj and Aziza Mayo

education system. It provides a venue for Chinese scholars to share their research with an international audience, and for western scholars to explore their research interests in China; it also allows (in three chapters) for joint authorship by Chinese and UK researchers. However, the value of the book lies not only in the extra dimensions that the collaborative nature brings to the research. The portrayals of dynamic and large-scale change debunk any residual notions of education in China as a highly centralized monolithic state system that is impervious to innovation. Instead, we get insights into the lived experiences of students, teachers (Chinese and foreign) and other participants in a huge country that is undergoing rapid transformation and, in the process, confronting major challenges in educating its people.
Recent advances in acute myeloid leukemia stem cell biology

The existence of cancer stem cells has long been postulated, but was proven less than 20 years ago following the demonstration that only a small sub-fraction of leukemic cells from acute myeloid leukemia patients were able to propagate the disease in xenografts. These cells were termed leukemic stem cells since they exist at the apex of a loose hierarchy, possess extensive self-renewal and the ability to undergo limited differentiation into leukemic blasts. Acute myeloid leukemia is a heterogeneous condition at both the phenotypic and molecular level with a variety of distinct genetic alterations giving rise to the disease. Recent studies have highlighted that this heterogeneity extends to the leukemic stem cell, with this dynamic compartment evolving to overcome various selection pressures imposed upon it during disease progression. The result is a complex situation in which multiple pools of leukemic stem cells may exist within individual patients which differ both phenotypically and molecularly. Since leukemic stem cells are thought to be resistant to current chemotherapeutic regimens and mediate disease relapse, their study also has potentially profound clinical implications. Numerous studies have generated important recent advances in the field, including the identification of novel leukemic stem cell-specific cell surface antigens and gene expression signatures. These tools will no doubt prove invaluable for the rational design of targeted therapies in the future.
Prospective application of a multiplex reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of balanced translocations in leukaemia: a single‐laboratory study of 390 paediatric and adult patients

The upfront application of molecular methods for identifying the fusion transcripts arising from balanced translocations in haematopoietic malignancies has several advantages: sensitivity is independent of its frequency, i.e. rare ones are not missed, cytogenetically cryptic aberrations are identified and it provides a platform for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection. Employing a multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay identifying 27 fusion transcripts we prospectively analysed blood and/or bone marrow samples from 390 patients referred for diagnosis and treatment for acute leukaemia and chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD) from a geographically well‐defined region in Denmark. A total of 233 patients were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), 95 with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) origin and 62 patients were recorded as CMPD. Twenty‐three percent AML, 32% ALL and 55% CMPD patients exhibited chromosomal aberrations detected by the multiplex RT‐PCR. Cytogenetically cryptic translocations were seen in 15% of the cases. Conversely, the cytogenetic analysis identified chromosomal aberrations other than translocations in 45% of AML cases and 63% of ALL cases. We conclude that, while the fraction of translocation positive leukaemia patients in an unselected cohort is lower than hitherto believed, a molecular approach to their diagnosis is worthwhile, partly for identifying cryptic and rare translocations, partly for monitoring MRD.
Electronic Processes at Organic−Organic Interfaces: Insight from Modeling and Implications for Opto-electronic Devices†

We report on the recent progress achieved in modeling the electronic processes that take place at interfaces between π-conjugated materials in organic opto-electronic devices. First, we provide a critical overview of the current computational techniques used to assess the morphology of organic:organic heterojunctions; we highlight the compromises that are necessary to handle large systems and multiple time scales while preserving the atomistic details required for subsequent computations of the electronic and optical properties. We then review some recent theoretical advances in describing the ground-state electronic structure at heterojunctions between donor and acceptor materials and highlight the role played by charge-transfer and long-range polarization effects. Finally, we discuss the modeling of the excited-state electronic structure at organic:organic interfaces, which is a key aspect in the understanding of the dynamics of photoinduced electron-transfer processes.
Journal of Graph Algorithms and Applications Shelling Hexahedral Complexes for Mesh Generation

We present a new approach for the generation of hexahedral finite element meshes for solid bodies in computer-aided design. The key idea is to use a purely combinatorial method, namely a shelling process, to decompose a topological ball with a prescribed surface mesh into combi-natorial cubes, so-called hexahedra. The shelling corresponds to a series of graph transformations on the surface mesh which is guided by the cycle structure of the combinatorial dual. Our method transforms the graph of the surface mesh iteratively by changing the dual cycle structure until we get the surface mesh of a single hexahedron. Starting with a single hexahedron and reversing the order of the graph transformations, each transformation step can be interpreted as adding one or more hexahedra to the so far created hex complex. Given an arbitrary solid body, we first decompose it into simpler sub-domains equivalent to topological balls by adding virtual 2-manifolds. Second, we determine a compatible quadrilateral surface mesh for all created subdomains. Then, in the main part we can use the shelling of topological balls to build up a hex complex for each subdomain independently. Finally, the combinatorial mesh(es) are embedded into the given solids and smoothed to improve quality. The author was partially supported by the special program " Efficient Algorithms for Discrete Problems and Their Applications " of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) under grant Mo 446/2-3.
Effects of metallic nanoparticle doped flux on interfacial intermetallic compounds between Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu and copper substrate

Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) formed between solder and substrate play a vital role in determining the long term reliability of microelectronic packages. Various attempts have been made by the researchers to control the morphology and thickness of IMC layers. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of nanoparticle dopants into flux on the morphology and thickness of interfacial intermetallic compounds layers. Different types of nano-sized metallic particles were studied to understand their effects on the wetting characteristics and interfacial microstructural evaluations after first reflow by adding nanoparticles to flux at various percentages. Nanoparticles were dispersed manually with a water soluble flux to prepare a nanoparticles doped flux which was placed on the copper substrate. Lead-free Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC 305) solder balls of diameter 0.45mm were then placed on top of the flux and were reflowed in a reflow oven at a peak temperature of 240°C for 45s. Wetting area, contact angle and interfacial microstructure were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). It was found that doping of cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) nanoparticles with flux was successful in incorporating Co and Ni into the solder joint. Microstructural observations showed that both Co and Ni nanoparticles changed the interfacial morphology from a scallop to a planer type. This was suggested to be caused by alloying effect of these elements. In case of Co, this morphological change was evident down to 0.25 wt% Co addition to flux. For Ni, this effect was notable even at 0.1 wt% Ni addition to flux. Therefore, Nano doping of flux can be successfully used to cause in situ targeted alloying at the solder/substrate interface.
Effects of Obesity and Hypertension on Pulse Wave Velocity in Children

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a biomarker of arterial stiffness. Findings from prior studies are conflicting regarding the impact of obesity on PWV in children. The authors measured carotid‐femoral PWV in 159 children aged 4 to 18 years, of whom 95 were healthy, 25 were obese, 15 had hypertension (HTN), and 24 were both obese and hypertensive. Mean PWV increased with age but did not differ by race or sex. In adjusted analyses in children 10 years and older (n=102), PWV was significantly higher in children with hypertension (PWV±standard deviation, 4.9±0.7 m/s), obesity (5.0±0.9 m/s), and combined obesity‐hypertension (5.2±0.6 m/s) vs healthy children (4.3±0.7 m/s) (each group, P<.001 vs control). In our study, obesity and HTN both significantly and independently increased PWV, while African American children did not have a higher PWV than Caucasian children.
Pediatrics and Sleep Computer Classification of State In Healthy Preterm Neonates

Summary: Nineteen electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep measures describing four physiologic aspects of sleep behavior (i.e. sleep continuity, EEG spectra, body and eye movements, and autonomic measures) were derived from visual and computer analyses of 71 24-channel, 3-hour EEG sleep recordings on 52 healthy preterm neonates from 28-36.5 weeks postconceptional age (PCA). Forty-eight subjects were neurodevelopmentally normal up to 2 years of age. Four electrographic states that comprise trace discontinu of the preterm neonate were defined in terms of increasing seconds of EEG quiescence per minute. A regression analysis was performed after transformations of nonlinear data sets representing the 19 EEG sleep measures, with the four sleep states as outcome variables. Postconceptional age was also included in these analyses as the 20th explanatory variable. Four measures best defined the EEG sleep states, explaining 75% of the variance: decreasing rapid eye movements per minute, de creasing numbers of spontaneous arousals per minute, increasing spectral theta energies, and decreasing facial movements per minute. Other cerebral and noncerebral measures, including total spectral EEG energies, spectral EEG energies in three bandwidths (Le. delta, alpha, beta), cardiac and respiratory measures, and body movements, did not contribute as significantly to the prediction. Inclusion of PCA into the regression equation with the four EEG measures, selected by the analysis procedure, indicated that its contribution to state prediction was also small; the effect of PCA on state was found
A SIMPLE CONTINUOUS MEASURE OF CREDIT RISK

In this paper it is introduced a simple continuous measure of credit risk, associating to each firm a risk parameter related to the firm’s risk neutral default intensity, which may be computed from quoted bond prices, and allows assignment of credit ratings much more adjusted than those offered by rating agencies. Moody’s Investor Services, Standard and Poor’s Corporation and Fitch are commercial high grade rating companies for assessable default risks (high grade means low credit risks or, conversely high probability of future payments). These gradings are accessible through the distance to default measures (Merton Model, 1974). Traditional ratings are of a discrete nature, not usually updated and not implying probability characteristics. The new measure, together with the other ones, are complementary, showing a good rank correlation between the continuous measure and Moody’s ratings. The new parameters are obtained from quoted bond prices and can be considered as the new risk intensity of immediate default. Instantaneous short rates (forward rates, in general) determine this risk measure. The approach of this paper can be used to extract the entire intertemporal default intensity distribution of firms, useful to calculate the expected time to default, to value and manage the prices and risks of credit derivatives. RESUMEN En esta ponencia, introducimos una medida continua y simple del riesgo de credito, que asocia a cada empresa un parametro de riesgo relacionado con la intensidad del incumplimiento neutral respecto al riesgo por parte de la empresa. Se pueden calcular estos parametros por medio de los precios de las obligaciones cotizadas y que permiten asignar tarificaciones del credito mucho mas ajustadas que las ofrecidas por diferentes agencias de tarificacion. Estimamos las medidas de riesgo en una base diaria, para una determinada muestra de empresas y las comparamos con las tarificaciones correspondientes ofrecidas por Moody’s y la distancia para medidas de incumplimiento calculadas usando el modelo de Merton (1974). Las tres medidas agrupan la muestra de empresas en varias clases de riesgo, de un modo similar, pero lejos de ser identicas, posiblemente reflejan los diferentes horizontes de prediccion de los modelos. Entre las tres medidas, la correlacion de mas alto rango se encuentra entre nuestra medida continua y las tarificaciones de Moody’s. Se pueden utilizar las tecnicas que proponemos aqui para obtener la distribucion total de las intensidades del incumplimiento neutrales respecto al riesgo e inter-temporales, que son utiles para las estimaciones del tiempo de incumplimiento, asi como para valorar derivados de credito.
Rapid Control Prototyping using MATLAB/Simulink and a DSP-based Motor Controller*

A rapid control prototyping (RCP) system, based on commercially available software and custom in-house developed hardware is presented. An RCP system successfully combines the well-known simulation program MATLAB/Simulink and the custom DSP-based floating point motor controller. An RCP system provides smooth and fast transition from off-line simulation in Simulink to real-time operation on the embedded motor controller. On-the-fly parameter tuning and data visualization are provided in addition to rapid code generation. The presented solution represents a powerful, versatile and portable RCP system especially suitable for educational processes as well as motor control research. This article is supplemented by an example of cascade DC motor control.
Optimization techniques for human computation-enabled data processing systems

Crowdsourced labor markets make it possible to recruit large numbers of people to complete small tasks that are difficult to automate on computers. These marketplaces are increasingly widely used, with projections of over $1 billion being transferred between crowd employers and crowd workers by the end of 2012. While crowdsourcing enables forms of computation that artificial intelligence has not yet achieved, it also presents crowd workflow designers with a series of challenges including describing tasks, pricing tasks, identifying and rewarding worker quality, dealing with incorrect responses, and integrating human computation into traditional programming frameworks. In this dissertation, we explore the systems-building, operator design, and optimization challenges involved in building a crowd-powered workflow management system. We describe a system called Qurk that utilizes techniques from databases such as declarative workflow definition, high-latency workflow execution, and query optimization to aid crowd-powered workflow developers. We study how crowdsourcing can enhance the capabilities of traditional databases by evaluating how to implement basic database operators such as sorts and joins on datasets that could not have been processed using traditional computation frameworks. Finally, we explore the symbiotic relationship between the crowd and query optimization, enlisting crowd workers to perform selectivity estimation, a key component in optimizing complex crowd-powered workflows. Thesis Supervisor: Samuel R. Madden Title: Professor Thesis Supervisor: David R. Karger Title: Professor
Least-squares design of subsampled allpass transformed DFT filter-banks with LTI property

A new design approach for an allpass transformed analysis-synthesis filter-bank (AS FB) with subsampling is proposed, which can be used for adaptive subband processing with non-uniform time-frequency resolution. Signal reconstruction is performed by an FIR synthesis filter-bank whose coefficients are determined by two different linear least-squares (LS) error designs. The presented unconstrained LS optimization leads to perfect reconstruction (PR), but an insufficient bandpass characteristic for the synthesis subband filters. This problem is solved by a second, equality constrained least-squares (CLS) error design, which achieves near-perfect reconstruction (NPR). In the process, the linear distortions are minimized with the constraint for a linear, time-invariant (LTI) overall transfer function. The aliasing-free reconstruction error is significantly lower than for known designs of allpass transformed DFT filter-banks with NPR. Moreover, the new filter-bank design allows for a low and adjustable signal delay.
Soluble sulfate in the martian soil at the Phoenix landing site

Sulfur has been detected by X‐ray spectroscopy in martian soils at the Viking, Pathfinder, Opportunity and Spirit landing sites. Sulfates have been identified by OMEGA and CRISM in Valles Marineris and by the spectrometers on the MER rovers at Meridiani and Gusev. The ubiquitous presence of sulfur has been interpreted as a widely distributed sulfate mineralogy. One goal of the Wet Chemistry Laboratory (WCL) on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander was to determine soluble sulfate in the martian soil. We report here the first in‐situ measurement of soluble sulfate equivalent to ∼1.3(±0.5) wt% as SO4 in the soil. The results and models reveal SO42− predominately as MgSO4 with some CaSO4. If the soil had been wet in the past, epsomite and gypsum would be formed from evaporation. The WCL‐derived salt composition indicates that if the soil at the Phoenix site were to form an aqueous solution by natural means, the water activity for a dilution of greater than ∼0.015 g H2O/g soil would be in the habitable range of known terrestrial halophilic microbes.
A decade of improvement in the management of New Zealand ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients: results from the New Zealand Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Audit Group national audits of 2002, 2007 and 2012.

AIMS To audit the management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients admitted to a New Zealand Hospital over three 14-day periods to review their number, characteristics, management and outcome changes over a decade. METHODS The acute coronary syndrome (ACS) audits were conducted over 14 days in May of 2002, 2007 and 2012 at New Zealand Hospitals admitting patients with a suspected or definite ACS. Longitudinal analyses of the STEMI subgroup are reported. RESULTS From 2002 to 2012, the largest change in management was the proportion of patients undergoing reperfusion by primary PCI from 3% to 15% and 41%; P<0.001, and the rates of second antiplatelet agent use in addition to aspirin from 14% to 62% and 98%; P<0.001. The use of proven secondary prevention medications at discharge also increased during the decade. There were also significant increases in cardiac investigations for patients, especially echocardiograms (35%, 62% and 70%, P<0.001) and invasive coronary angiograms (31%, 58% and 87%, P<0.001). Notably even in 2012, one in four patients presenting with STEMI did not receive any reperfusion therapy. CONCLUSIONS Substantial improvements have been seen in the management of STEMI patients in New Zealand over the last decade, in accordance with evidenced-based guideline recommendations. However, there appears to be considerable room to optimise management, particularly with the use of timely reperfusion therapy for more patients.
Non-negative Matrix Factorization with Applications to Handwritten Digit Recognition

In the last decade, non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) has become a widely used method for solving problems in data mining and pattern recognition. The NMF in its present state can be traced back to the work of Paatero and Tapper in 1994 at the University of Helsinki under the name, “positive matrix factorization” [1]. This technique was popularized by Lee and Seung in 1999 under its current name, “nonnegative matrix factorization” [2]. In the last decade, Lee and Seung have continued to develop and publish algorithms for the computation of NMF [3]. Since 2005, sparse variants of NMF have become quite popular and have been successfully used in cancer class discovery [4] and microarray data analysis [5]. Recent work has focused on improving existing NMF algorithms by attempting to remove random initialization requirements. In this paper, we discuss dense and sparse algorithms for the computation of NMF, provide their MATLAB implementations, and examine the use of NMF in the context of handwritten digit recognition.
Slow dynamics in features of synchronized neural network responses

In this report trial-to-trial variations in the synchronized responses of neural networks are explored over time scales of minutes, in ex-vivo large scale cortical networks. We show that sub-second measures of the individual synchronous response, namely—its latency and decay duration, are related to minutes-scale network response dynamics. Network responsiveness is reflected as residency in, or shifting amongst, areas of the latency-decay plane. The different sensitivities of latency and decay durations to synaptic blockers imply that these two measures reflect aspects of inhibitory and excitatory activities. Taken together, the data suggest that trial-to-trial variations in the synchronized responses of neural networks might be related to effective excitation-inhibition ratio being a dynamic variable over time scales of minutes.
Living With Ambiguity: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research on Mild Cognitive Impairment

Purpose of the study: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a diagnosis proposed to describe an intermediate state between normal cognitive aging and dementia. MCI has been criticised for its conceptual fuzziness, its ambiguous relationship to dementia, and the tension it creates between medical and sociological understandings of “normal aging”. Design and Methods: We examined the published qualitative literature on experiences of being diagnosed and living with MCI using metasynthesis as the methodological framework. Results: Two overarching conceptual themes were developed. The first, MCI and myself-in-time, showed that a diagnosis of MCI could profoundly affect a person’s understanding of their place in the world. This impact appears to be mediated by multiple factors including a person’s social support networks, which daily activities are affected, and subjective interpretations of the meaning of MCI. The second theme, Living with Ambiguity, describes the difficulties people experienced in making sense of their diagnosis. Uncertainty arose, in part, from lack of clarity and consistency in the information received by people with MCI, including whether they are even told MCI is the diagnosis. Implications: We conclude by suggesting an ethical tension is always at play when a MCI diagnosis is made. Specifically, earlier support and services afforded by a diagnosis may come at the expense of a person’s anxiety about the future, with continued uncertainty about how his or her concerns and needs can be addressed.