Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A rheo-optical and dynamic X-ray-scattering study of flow-induced textures in main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymers. The influemce of molecular weight

In situ optical microscopy, small–angle light–scattering and X–ray–scattering techniques have been applied to study flow–induced textures in main–chain thermotropic liquid–crystalline polymers (LCPs). In order to gain more insight into the underlying mechanism leading to the formation of microstructure, the effect of molecular weight has been investigated. The well–known ‘banded’ texture, commonly observed in fibres and sheared thin films of LCPs, is observed to develop after cessation of shear. Furthermore, the banded–texture formation is molecular–weight dependent, in that it occurs only above a certain ‘critical’ molecular weight, Mcw. For polymers with Mw > Mwc the banded texture forms within a few seconds of cessation of shear, relaxing to a disordered ‘tight’ texture. On the other hand, for polymers with Mw < Mwc, a ‘striped’ texture, with stripes parallel to the flow direction, develops after cessation of shear, relaxing to a ‘domain’ texture, with no evidence of banded–texture formation. The ‘striped’ texture corresponds simply to the elongation in the shear direction of the original microstructure of disclinations. The critical molecular weight for banded–texture formation corresponds approximately to the molecular weight threshold for the transition from log rolling to flow aligning previously observed for these materials by Romo–Uribe and Windle. Rheological measurements (stress relaxation and recoverable strain) along with microscopic observations suggest that a retraction process along the nematic director at the cessation of shear provides a mechanism for crumpling the microstructure and thus for banded–texture formation.
Compression and Relaxation Characteristics of Selected Biomass `Grinds

Ongoing densification studies are essential for the logistic and economic improvement of biomass use for chemical and energy production. A heated cylindrical plunger-die apparatus was used to study the effect of process temperature, feedstock particle size, and feedstock moisture content on the quality of flax shive, oat hull, and wheat straw pellets. The three feedstocks were ground in a hammer-mill utilizing screen sizes of 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mm. Feedstock moisture contents were adjusted to 9, 12, and 15% wet basis. The grinds were compressed to a pressure of 139 MPa at die (process) temperatures of 60, 80, and 100°C. Density, dimensional expansion, and asymptotic modulus values were used as pellet quality determinants. Pellet density was increased by an increase in die temperature, and a decrease in screen size and moisture content. Dimensional expansion (diametral and longitudinal) was reduced by an increase in the die temperature and a decrease in moisture content. Screen size had marginal effects on the dimensional expansion of the pellets. Decreasing the screen size served to significantly increase the asymptotic modulus values of the three grinds. Die temperature had no effect on the asymptotic modulus, and decreasing the moisture content only increased the asymptotic modulus for the wheat straw grinds.
Robot Odometry Correction Using Grid Lines on the Floor

This paper presents an algorithm to correct the odometry error of an autonomous mobile robot only by using a painted grid on the floor. The supposed robot position is calculated by odometry and is matched with the grid lines, whose existence is known to the robot. A new “position probability function” was developed and used by the correction algorithm. The correction of the odometry error is also based on interactive trajectory modification, in order to reduce the error when crossing a line.
Efficient emulation of quantum circuits on classical hardware

Current approaches for emulation of quantum algorithms on classical parallel hardware like FPGA suffer with three main issues: exponential usage of logic elements, synthesis takes exponential time and difficulty of implementation. In this paper we propose a processor architecture capable of efficiently emulate quantum circuits, reducing the mishaps of previous similar proposals. We compare our results to previous works with respect to a common benchmark and validate the architecture using FPGA. Our approach has better scalability in logic cell usage, a better management of the need of re-synthesis and easier implementation.
Peak Velocity as an Alternative Method for Training Prescription in Mice

Purpose: To compare the efficiency of an aerobic physical training program prescribed according to either velocity associated with maximum oxygen uptake (vVO2max) or peak running speed obtained during an incremental treadmill test (Vpeak_K) in mice. Methods: Twenty male Swiss mice, 60 days old, were randomly divided into two groups with 10 animals each: 1. group trained by vVO2max (GVO2), 2. group trained by Vpeak_K (GVP). After the adaptation training period, an incremental test was performed at the beginning of each week to adjust training load and to determine the amount of VO2 and VCO2 fluxes consumed, energy expenditure (EE) and run distance during the incremental test. Mice were submitted to 4 weeks of aerobic exercise training of moderate intensity (velocity referring to 70% of vVO2max and Vpeak_K) in a programmable treadmill. The sessions lasted from 30 to 40 min in the first week, to reach 60 min in the fourth week, in order to provide the mice with a moderate intensity exercise, totaling 20 training sessions. Results: Mice demonstrated increases in VO2max (ml·kg−1·min−1) (GVO2 = 49.1% and GVP = 56.2%), Vpeak_K (cm·s−1) (GVO2 = 50.9% and GVP = 22.3%), EE (ml·kg−0,75·min−1) (GVO2 = 39.9% and GVP = 51.5%), and run distance (cm) (GVO2 = 43.5% and GVP = 33.4%), after 4 weeks of aerobic training (time effect, P < 0.05); there were no differences between the groups. Conclusions: Vpeak_K, as well as vVO2max, can be adopted as an alternative test to determine the performance and correct prescription of systemized aerobic protocol training to mice.
Perceptual-based correction of photo red-eye

Many recent works in digital photograph image enhancement have included methods for detecting camera-flash-induced red-eye artifacts. Less effort, however, has been spent on the correction procedure itself. A variety of corrective procedures have been presented that reduce the chrominance and luminance of detected pixels in different ways. Given that the original pupil color of a subject is often unrecoverable, a simple chrominance de-saturation effectively removes the red hue from the artifact pixels. This work presents the results of a perceptual study designed to find the most visually pleasing target luminance for corrected images. The results of this experiment are analyzed and correlated with the test data to yield simple equations for target luminance. These are in turn combined with a fullyautomated procedure designed to minimize intrusive effects associated with pixel re-coloration. Data and equations are presented for hard-copy (printed) and softcopy (on-screen) images.
AN ENDOGENOUS GROWTH MODEL WITH EXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCES AND WASTE RECYCLING

Previous analyses of endogenous growth with exhaustible resources have ignored the potential effects that the waste recycling process can have on the exploitation of virgin ores. In this paper we present an endogenous growth model, in which technological progress plays a central role in the production function by transforming the waste into secondary materials. In our model there is a double endogenous effect: (i) a direct one through human capital; (ii) an indirect one, through the discovery of the new technology of waste recycling.For this purpose we follow the optimal control theory approach. We show that the rate of use of an exhaustible resource depends directly on the price of secondary materials and indirectly on its own price. We perform a diagrammatic analysis to prove that a saddle point equilibrium exists. In our model there is convergence to the unique steady state equilibrium. We can achieve this starting from two different initial situations: (i) a poor country, where the exhaustible resources are not much used; (ii) a rich country where the scarcity of exhaustible resources leads to a rise in their price, which in turn leads to an increase in the waste recycling process. The qualitative analysis is not able to unveil the effect that the recycling process can have on the speed with which the system approaches the dynamic steady state equilibrium. To obtainthis the growth rate of total input is derived, so as to prove that the speed of conditional convergence to the equilibrium is different when the effects of waste recycling are considered. * Paper accepted for presentation at the First World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists, to be held in Venice, Italy, June 25-27, 1998. Thanks to Luigi Giusso, Hans Haller and Gerd Weinrich for their useful suggestions and comments. The author was visiting Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University when much of this research was completed. All errors are the Author’s alone.
Offsety i operatory Minkowskiego w przyspieszaniu oblicze ´ n globalnego modelu o´ swietlenia.

Acknowledgements First of all, I would like to thank Prof. Leszek Pacholski for his support in doing research on computer graphics. I am obliged to him for helpping me in writing the thesis and for his help in establishing international contacts that made this research possible and influenced my work. I would like to thank Prof. Hans–Peter Seidel from Max Planck Institüt für Infor-matik in Saarbrücken for collaboration and the time of work in his group when I put together the most part of this thesis. I also want to express my thanks to all members of his research group for many valuable discussions and the nice atmosphere during my stay there.
Transient down-regulation of NMDA receptor subunit gene expression in the rat retina following NMDA-induced neurotoxicity is attenuated in the presence of the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801.

Excitotoxic challenge has been thought to directly target NMDA-receptive neurons to undergo cell death. Recent evidence suggests that NMDA induced cell death is a selective process and that the specificity may be determined by the subunit composition of the NMDA receptor. Using a rat retinal model, we examined the effects of NMDA induced neurotoxicity on the regulation of NMDA receptor subunit gene and protein expression levels to determine if excitotoxic challenge preferentially regulates one or more of the NMDA receptor subunits. Following NMDA insult, the mRNA levels for NR1(com ), NR2A, NR2B and, to a lesser extent, the NR2C subunit were substantially reduced within 24 hr post-treatment (PT), and remained depressed for up to 48 hr. Levels for NR2D, although initially suppressed as early as 6 hr-PT, were least affected by NMDA insult and showed almost full recovery by 48 hr. By 10 days, the levels of gene expression for all five subunits recovered to levels that were indistinguishable from sham treated and untreated retinas. Co-administration of MK-801 with NMDA suppressed the effects of NMDA-induced down-regulation of all five genes. Protein levels for NR1(com ), NR2A and NR2B were also monitored at select time points following NMDA-insult. By 2 days-PT, protein levels for the three subunits were dramatically reduced. By day 10, the levels of protein expression for NR1(com)and NR2B remained suppressed despite the rise in gene expression for these two subunits, whereas protein for NR2A showed a substantial rise in expression. Of the five genes assayed, NR2A and NR2B showed the greatest reduction in expression following NMDA treatment, suggesting that one or both of these subunit may signal events leading to neuronal cell death in the retina. Conversely, gene expression of the NR2D subunit was least affected by NMDA exposure. In view of the evidence that the NR2D subunit is expressed by rod bipolar cells in the rat and that these neurons do not die following NMDA insult, it appears that inclusion of this subunit into functional receptors may provide protection against NMDA-induced cell death. Although the significance of the transient down-regulation of four out of the five NMDA receptor subunits is still not fully understood, the recovery of expression of these genes by day 10-PT indicates that not all of the NMDA receptive neurons are susceptible to NMDA-induced cell death. The preferential down-regulation of the NR2A and NR2B receptor subunits may implicate these subunits as key players in mediating the excitotoxic signal in the retina and possibly elsewhere in the brain.
Alcohol availability as a predictor of youth drinking and driving: a hierarchical analysis of survey and archival data.

BACKGROUND Much attention has recently been directed toward developing preventive interventions to reduce drinking and driving through efforts to limit the numbers and locations of alcohol outlets at the community level. Although evaluations of these efforts have suggested linkages between alcohol outlets and problem outcomes, they have not addressed the linkage between outlets and drinking and driving among youth. The analysis reported here investigates the relationship between alcohol outlet densities and underage drinking and driving as self-reported on two telephone surveys conducted in California. METHODS These analyses were based on data obtained from two telephone surveys conducted by the Prevention Research Center and archival data collected by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the US Census Bureau. The sample for the first survey consisted of 15- to 20-year-old adolescents and young adults contacted by telephone, using a random digit dialing of exchanges in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. A second set of survey data was similarly collected by a random sample of households throughout California, and the Bay Area subset was also used for this analysis. RESULTS At the individual level, older respondents were more likely to report drinking and driving and riding with drinking drivers, whereas females and Asians were less so. At the aggregate or city-level, alcohol outlet density, as measured by the number of on- and off-premises establishments licensed to sell alcohol, was associated with both drinking and driving and riding with drinking drivers. These effects were moderated by a number of individual level effects, with younger respondents and females more likely to be affected by outlet densities. CONCLUSIONS The findings here provide support for the implementation of policies targeting alcohol outlet density reductions. Areas with large numbers of such outlets provide ample opportunities to youth for alcohol purchases.
Methods of comparing test data adequacy criteria

The comparative analysis of test data criteria in software testing is considered, and an attempt is made to investigate how criteria have been and should be compared to each other. It is argued that there are two fundamentally different goals in comparing criteria: (1) to compare the error-exposing ability of criteria, and (2) to compare the cost of using the criteria for selecting and/or evaluating test data. Relations such as the power relation and probable correctness are clearly in the first category, and test case counting is clearly in the second category. Subsumption, in contrast, is not entirely in either category. It is shown that the subsumption relation primarily compares the difficulty of satisfying two criteria. If one assumes that the criteria being compared are applicable, then one can infer their relative power and size complexities from the subsumption relation. In addition, it is shown that, while the size complexity of a criterion gives some indication of the relative cost of using the criterion, it is by no means a sufficient measure of the overall difficulty of using that criterion, which also includes the process of checking whether the predicate defined by the criterion has been satisfied, which may not only be difficult, but impossible. <<ETX>>
Germanium Quantum Dot Sensitized TiO2 Solar Cells

The size of Germanium (Ge) Quantum Dots (GQD’s) in Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) can be tailored, using different techniques like sputtering, laser ablation and sol gel. Similarly the absorption range of Ge may also be broadened in visible and NIR range. We report the use of Ge QD’s to sensitize meso-porous TiO2 film to make quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSC) for the next generation photovoltaics. Ge -TiO2 nano-porous thin films were deposited using rf- planer magnetron sputtering using various ranges of rf-power, Argon pressure and substrate temperature. The fabricated films with various Ge concentrations were studied using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), High Angle Annular Dark Field Imaging (HAADF) and UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-VIS). In the thin film meso-structure the Ge dots were embedded in the TiO2 matrix. The average particle size of Ge quantum dots was determined by HAADF. The solar cell performance has been checked using sun simulator. Experimental ways to improve cell performance are discussed.
Quantifying Tourist Behavior Patterns by Travel Motifs and Geo-Tagged Photos from Flickr

With millions of people traveling to unfamiliar cities to spend holidays, travel recommendation becomes necessary to assist tourists in planning their trips more efficiently. Serving as a prerequisite to travel recommender systems, understanding tourist behavior patterns is therefore of great importance. Recently, geo-tagged photos on social media platforms like Flickr have provided a rich data source that captures location histories of tourists and reflects their preferences. This article utilizes geo-tagged photos from Flickr to extract trajectories of tourists and then extends the concept of motifs from topological spaces, to temporal spaces and to semantic spaces, for detecting tourist mobility patterns. By representing trajectories in terms of three distinct types of travel motif and further using them to measure user similarity, typical tourist travel behavior patterns associated with distinct sightseeing tastes/preferences are identified and analyzed for tourism recommendation. Our empirical results confirm that the proposed analytical framework is effective to uncover meaningful tourist behavior patterns.
Hi, how can I help you?: Automating enterprise IT support help desks

Question answering is one of the primary challenges of natural language understanding. In realizing such a system, providing complex long answers to questions is a challenging task as opposed to factoid answering as the former needs context disambiguation. The different methods explored in the literature can be broadly classified into three categories namely: 1) classification based, 2) knowledge graph based and 3) retrieval based. Individually, none of them address the need of an enterprise wide assistance system for an IT support and maintenance domain. In this domain, the variance of answers is large ranging from factoid to structured operating procedures; the knowledge is present across heterogeneous data sources like application specific documentation, ticket management systems and any single technique for a general purpose assistance is unable to scale for such a landscape. To address this, we have built a cognitive platform with capabilities adopted for this domain. Further, we have built a general purpose question answering system leveraging the platform that can be instantiated for multiple products, technologies in the support domain. The system uses a novel hybrid answering model that orchestrates across a deep learning classifier, a knowledge graph based context disambiguation module and a sophisticated bag-of-words search system. This orchestration performs context switching for a provided question and also does a smooth hand-off of the question to a human expert if none of the automated techniques can provide a confident answer. This system has been deployed across 675 internal enterprise IT support and maintenance projects.
Low-Resolution Gait Recognition

Unlike other biometric authentication methods, gait recognition is noninvasive and effective from a distance. However, the performance of gait recognition will suffer in the low-resolution (LR) case. Furthermore, when gait sequences are projected onto a nonoptimal low-dimensional subspace to reduce the data complexity, the performance of gait recognition will also decline. To deal with these two issues, we propose a new algorithm called superresolution with manifold sampling and backprojection (SRMS), which learns the high-resolution (HR) counterparts of LR test images from a collection of HR/LR training gait image patch pairs. Then, we incorporate SRMS into a new algorithm called multilinear tensor-based learning without tuning parameters (MTP) for LR gait recognition. Our contributions include the following: 1) With manifold sampling, the redundancy of gait image patches is remarkably decreased; thus, the superresolution procedure is more efficient and reasonable. 2) Backprojection guarantees that the learned HR gait images and the corresponding LR gait images can be more consistent. 3) The optimal subspace dimension for dimension reduction is automatically determined without introducing extra parameters. 4) Theoretical analysis of the algorithm shows that MTP converges. Experiments on the USF human gait database and the CASIA gait database show the increased efficiency of the proposed algorithm, compared with previous algorithms.
Stickler: Defending Against Malicious CDNs in an Unmodified Browser

Website publishers can derive enormous performance benefits and cost savings by directing traffic to their sites through content distribution networks (CDNs). However, publishers who use CDNs today must trust their CDN not to modify the site's JavaScript, CSS, images or other media en route to end users. A CDN that violates this trust could inject ads into websites, downsample media to save bandwidth or, worse, inject malicious JavaScript code to steal user secrets it could not otherwise access. We present Stickler, a system for website publishers that guarantees the end-to-end authenticity of content served to end users while simultaneously allowing publishers to reap the benefits of CDNs. Crucially, Stickler achieves these guarantees without requiring modifications to the browser.