Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A NEPTUNE-MASS PLANET ORBITING THE NEARBY G DWARF HD 16417

Precision Doppler measurements from an intensive 48 night “Rocky Planet Search” observing campaign on the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) have revealed the presence of a low-mass exoplanet orbiting the G1 dwarf HD 16417. Subsequent Doppler observations with the AAT, as well as independent observations obtained by the Keck Planet Search, have confirmed this initial detection and refine the orbital parameters to period 17.24 ± 0.01 d, eccentricity 0.20 ± 0.09, orbital semimajor axis 0.14 ± 0.01 AU, and minimum planet mass 22.1 ± 2.0 MEarth. HD 16417 raises the number of published exoplanets with minimum masses of less than 25 MEarth to 18. Interestingly, the distribution of detected sub-25 MEarth planets over the spectral types G, K, and M is almost uniform. The detection of HD 16417b by an intensive observing campaign clearly demonstrates the need for extended and contiguous observing campaigns when aiming to detect low-amplitude Doppler planets in short-period orbits. Perhaps most critically it demonstrates that the search for low-mass Doppler planets will eventually require these traditional “bright-time” projects to extend throughout dark lunations.
Evaluation of reliable UDP-based transport protocols for Internet of Things (IoT)

For IoT applications that require near real-time wireless connections, the traditional TCP protocol is not adept enough due to the size of its packet header, its conservative Additive Increase Multiplicative Decrease (AIMD) congestion control algorithm and its slow start strategy. This paper mainly evaluates three kinds of reliable UDP-based transport protocols namely, RUBDP, UDT, and PA-UDP, for use in IoT applications. The evaluation was done on a test bed that consists of two machines connected by wireless ad-hoc network. We consider the effect of data size by monitoring throughput of the implemented protocol. This paper also discusses the CPU usage on the sender and receiver side of each protocol. The paper findings are, PA-UDP protocol has the best throughput performance but requires high CPU utilization during the start and end of transmission at the receiver side. Meanwhile, UDT protocol is most efficient in term of CPU usage although it provides lesser throughput. RBUDP, on the other hand, performed consistently in wireless network but CPU usage is very high at the sender side. The conclusion drawn on this paper is UDT protocol is the most suitable protocol of the three for IoT applications because it has consistent performance and is CPU friendly.
Vascular calcification: pathophysiology and clinical implications

ABSTRACT Vascular calcification in coronary artery disease is gaining importance, both in scientific research and in clinical and imaging applications. The calcified plaque is considered the most relevant form of atherosclerosis within the coronary artery tree and is frequently a challenge for percutaneous intervention. Recent studies showed that plaque calcification is dynamic and is strictly related to the degree of vascular inflammation. Several inflammatory factors produced during the different phases of atherosclerosis induce the expression and activation of osteoblastic cells located within the arterial wall, which, in turn, promote the deposit of calcium. The vascular smooth muscle cells have an extraordinary capacity to undergo osteoblastic phenotypical differentiation. There is no doubt that the role of these factors, as well as the elements of genomics and proteomics, could be a vital strategic point in prevention and treatment. Within this context, we conducted an updating review on coronary calcification focused on pathophysiology, experimental models, and clinical implications of vascular calcification.
mlcache: a flexible multi-lateral cache simulator

As the gap between processor and memory speeds increases, cache performance becomes more critical to overall system performance. Multi-lateral cache designs such as the Assist, Victim, and NTS cache have been shown to perform as well as or better than larger, single structure caches. Unlike current cache simulators, mlcache (an event-driven, timing-sensitive simulator based on the Latency Effects cache timing model) can evaluate a variety of multilateral cache configurations. It was developed to help designers in the middle of the design cycle decide which cache configuration would best meet the performance needs of the target processor. It can easily model various cache configurations by using its library of cache state and data movement routines. We use the SPEC95 benchmarks to illustrate how mlcache can be used to compare the performance of several different data cache configurations.
Risk-Reward Analysis in Stochastic Dynamic Programming

Stochastic dynamic programming models are extensively used for sequential decision making when outcomes are uncertain. These models have been widely applied in different business contexts such as inventory control, capacity expansion, cash management, etc. The objective in these models is to deduce optimal policies based on expected reward criteria. However, in many cases, managers are concerned about the risks or the variability associated with a set of policies and not just the expected reward. Considering risk and reward simultaneously in a stochastic dynamic setting is a cumbersome task and often difficult to implement for practical purposes. Here we develop heuristics that systematically track the variance and the average reward for a set of policies, which are then utilized to construct efficient frontiers. We apply our heuristics to the inventory control model. Our heuristics perform creditably in providing efficient risk-reward curves. (
Frequency Spectrum Neutrality Tests: One for All and All for One

Neutrality tests based on the frequency spectrum (e.g., Tajima's D or Fu and Li's F) are commonly used by population geneticists as routine tests to assess the goodness-of-fit of the standard neutral model on their data sets. Here, I show that these neutrality tests are specific instances of a general model that encompasses them all. I illustrate how this general framework can be taken advantage of to devise new more powerful tests that better detect deviations from the standard model. Finally, I exemplify the usefulness of the framework on SNP data by showing how it supports the selection hypothesis in the lactase human gene by overcoming the ascertainment bias. The framework presented here paves the way for constructing novel tests optimized for specific violations of the standard model that ultimately will help to unravel scenarios of evolution.
Image registration for foveated panoramic sensing

This article addresses the problem of registering high-resolution, small field-of-view images with low-resolution panoramic images provided by a panoramic catadioptric video sensor. Such systems may find application in surveillance and telepresence systems that require a large field of view and high resolution at selected locations. Although image registration has been studied in more conventional applications, the problem of registering panoramic and conventional video has not previously been addressed, and this problem presents unique challenges due to (i) the extreme differences in resolution between the sensors (more than a 16:1 linear resolution ratio in our application), and (ii) the resolution inhomogeneity of panoramic images. The main contributions of this article are as follows. First, we introduce our foveated panoramic sensor design. Second, we show how a coarse registration can be computed from the raw images using parametric template matching techniques. Third, we propose two refinement methods allowing automatic and near real-time registration between the two image streams. The first registration method is based on matching extracted interest points using a closed form method. The second registration method is featureless and based on minimizing the intensity discrepancy allowing the direct recovery of both the geometric and the photometric transforms. Fourth, a comparison between the two registration methods is carried out, which shows that the featureless method is superior in accuracy. Registration examples using the developed methods are presented.
On the energy and performance of commodity hardware transactional memory

The advent of multi-core architectures has brought concurrent programming to the forefront of software development. In this context, Transactional Memory (TM) has gained increasing popularity as a simpler, attractive alternative to traditional lock-based synchronization. The recent integration of Hardware TM (HTM) in the last generation of Intel commodity processors turned TM into a mainstream technology, raising a number of questions on its future and that of concurrent programming. To evaluate the potential impact of Intel's HTM, we conducted the largest study on TM to date, comparing different locking techniques, hardware and software TMs, as well as different combinations of these mechanisms, from the dual perspective of performance and power consumption. As a result we perform a workload characterization, to help programmers better exploit the currently available TM facilities, and identify important research directions.
The law of large numbers in children's diversity-based reasoning

Adults increase the certainty of their inductive inferences by observing more diverse instances. However, most young children fail to do so. The present study tested the hypothesis that children's sensitivity to instance diversity is determined by three variables: ability to discriminate among instances (Discrimination); an intuition that large numbers of instances increase the strength of conclusion (Monotonicity); ability to detect subcategories and evaluate numerical differences between the subcategories, or Extraction. A total of 219 Chinese children aged 6 to 11 were tested for sensitivity to diversity by means of Discrimination, Monotonicity, and Extraction. The results indicated that children at all ages were able to discriminate instances and attend to set size. However, only 9- and 11-year-olds demonstrated Extraction and sensitivity to diversity. Furthermore, among all children diversity scores increased linearly with the level of Extraction. These results suggest that the law of large numbers plays a role in children's diversity-based reasoning.
The Impact of the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Public Health Awareness Campaign on Early Intervention Behavior

__________________________________________ Date In presenting this thesis as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree from Georgia State University, I agree that the Library of the University shall make it available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type. I agree that permission to quote from, to copy from, or to publish this thesis may be granted by the author or, in his/her absence, by the professor under whose direction it was written, or in his/her absence, by the Associate Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences. Such quoting, copying, or publishing must be solely for scholarly purposes and will not involve potential financial gain. It is understood that any copying from or publication of this dissertation which involves potential financial gain will not be allowed without written permission of the author. Kinjal Patel __________________________________________ Signature of Author iv Notice to Borrowers Page All theses deposited in the Georgia State University Library must be used in accordance with the stipulations prescribed by the author in the preceding statement. Users of this thesis who not regularly enrolled as students at Georgia State University are required to attest acceptance of the preceding stipulation by signing below. Libraries borrowing this thesis for the use of their patrons are required to see that each user records here the information requested.
Selection from Working Memory: On the Relationship between Processing and Storage Components

Two experiments evaluate the claim that age-related deficits in working memory (WM) are due to declines in selectivity. It is proposed that within WM tasks, the to-be-recalled information acts as target information that must be selected from the larger context of the background processing task. According to attentional and inhibitory views of WM (e.g., Baddeley, 1996; Hasher & Zacks, 1988), age deficits in WM should increase with growing selection demand. Using a standard WM paradigm (Daneman & Carpenter, 1980), the relationship between target and background information was varied in terms of (a) whether processed and recalled items were from the same or different stimulus categories (similarity), and (b) whether the recall items were also part of the information to be processed (functional overlap). In both experiments, age differences in recall costs were minimized when similarity was reduced, but not when functional overlap was reduced. The results are discussed in the context of current theories of co.
CTD serine-2 plays a critical role in splicing and termination factor recruitment to RNA polymerase II in vivo

Co-transcriptional pre-mRNA processing relies on reversible phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of Rpb1, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II). In this study, we replaced in live cells the endogenous Rpb1 by S2A Rpb1, where the second serines (Ser2) in the CTD heptapeptide repeats were switched to alanines, to prevent phosphorylation. Although slower, S2A RNAP II was able to transcribe. However, it failed to recruit splicing components such as U2AF65 and U2 snRNA to transcription sites, although the recruitment of U1 snRNA was not affected. As a consequence, co-transcriptional splicing was impaired. Interestingly, the magnitude of the S2A RNAP II splicing defect was promoter dependent. In addition, S2A RNAP II showed an impaired recruitment of the cleavage factor PCF11 to pre-mRNA and a defect in 3′-end RNA cleavage. These results suggest that CTD Ser2 plays critical roles in co-transcriptional pre-mRNA maturation in vivo: It likely recruits U2AF65 to ensure an efficient co-transcriptional splicing and facilitates the recruitment of pre-mRNA 3′-end processing factors to enhance 3′-end cleavage.
Ion beam formation and modification of Cobalt nanoparticles

This article reviews the size-dependent structural properties of ion beam synthesized Co nanoparticles (NPs) and the influence of ion irradiation on the size, shape, phase and structure. The evolution of the aforementioned properties were determined using complementary laboratory- and advanced synchrotron-based techniques, including cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Combining such techniques reveals a rich array of transformations particular to Co NPs. This methodology highlights the effectiveness of ion implantation and ion irradiation procedures as a means of fine tuning NP properties to best suit specific technological applications. Furthermore, our results facilitate a better understanding and aid in identifying the underlying physics particular to this potentially technologically important class of nanomaterials.
LEND ME YOUR EARS: DEVELOPING LISTENING SKILLS

Listening occupies a central place in communication in everyday situations as well as business settings. We spend more time listening than we spend speaking, reading and writing. Most of our knowledge of the world derives from listening input. In spite of the centrality of listening, it has received an unfair treatment in second and foreign language classrooms. On the other hand, reading and writing have received a favorable treatment. The present paper discusses why it is imperative to develop listening skills in our learners. Elaborating on the ingredients of effective listening and causes and consequences of poor listening, the paper suggests some remedial measures and exercises to improve the listening skills of learners of English as a second and foreign language.
Equilibrium Analysis in Singleton Congestion Games

In this paper, we study the class of congestion games with player- specic payo functions introduced by Milchtaich in 1996, for which, he proved that they always possess a Nash equilibrium in pure strategies. More specically, we examine the case of two resources and we propose a simple method describing all Nash equilibria in this kind of congestion games. Additionally, we give a new and short proof establishing the existence of a Nash equilibrium in this type of games without invoking the potential function or the nite improvement property.
A control architecture for a mobile heavy-lift precision manipulator with limited sensory information

SUMMARY Mobile robotic manipulators can augment the strength and dexterity of human operators in unstructured environments. Here, the control system for a six degree-of-freedom heavy-lift mobile manipulator for lifting and inserting payloads on the deck of a ship is described. The robotic hardware and the application present several control challenges, including structural resonances, high joint friction that varies with time, limited sensors for measuring the joint friction, complex interaction with the environment, tight tolerances for the insertion tasks, lack of bilateral force feedback of the contact forces, and ship motions. The control system enables an operator to perform insertion tasks using feedback of tactile clues of the manipulator position, and reduces the effects of friction with a combination of sensor-based, adaptive, and model-based methods of friction compensation. The control architecture is validated in simulation and on a laboratory manipulator.
Behavioral Segmentation of Telecommunication Customers Behavioral Segmentation of Telecommunication Customers E M I L I a M a T T I L A

In today’s competitive environment, telecommunication operators are investing in understanding their customers better, especially their most profitable customer groups and the groups that have the biggest potential to become such. By segmenting customers based on their behavior, operators can better target their actions, such as launching tailored products and target one-to-one marketing, to meet the customer expectations. However, the problem often is that the data regarding customer behavior is available in several different sources and analyzing the large data set is exhaustive and time consuming. With the help of data mining techniques, segmentation can be done automatically and based on actual customer behavior. In this thesis, Kmeans, self-organizing maps (SOM) and support vector clustering (SVC) were analyzed to find out which method would be the most suitable for behavioral customer segmentation. For the empirical study SOM was applied to perform behavioral segmentation of telecommunication customers. The data was created by simulating wireless application protocol (WAP) data and hiding five pre-defined segments to be found within the data by SOM. The result showed that for each customer, average revenue, number of visits to per service provider, download volume generated in conjunction of a visit and occasion of the visit are good attributes for behavioral segmentation. SOM is applicable for behavioral customer segmentation. It performs well with a large data and the segmentation produces meaningful results with the simulated data.
NKp44, A Triggering Receptor Involved in Tumor Cell Lysis by Activated Human Natural Killer Cells, Is a Novel Member of the Immunoglobulin Superfamily

Surface receptors involved in natural killer (NK) cell triggering during the process of tumor cell lysis have recently been identified. Of these receptors, NKp44 is selectively expressed by IL-2– activated NK cells and may contribute to the increased efficiency of activated NK cells to mediate tumor cell lysis. Here we describe the molecular cloning of NKp44. Analysis of the cloned cDNA indicated that NKp44 is a novel transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the Immunoglobulin superfamily characterized by a single extracellular V-type domain. The charged amino acid lysine in the transmembrane region may be involved in the association of NKp44 with the signal transducing molecule killer activating receptor–associated polypeptide (KARAP)/DAP12. These molecules were found to be crucial for the surface expression of NKp44. In agreement with data of NKp44 surface expression, the NKp44 transcripts were strictly confined to activated NK cells and to a minor subset of TCR-γ/δ+ T lymphocytes. Unlike genes coding for other receptors involved in NK cell triggering or inhibition, the NKp44 gene is on human chromosome 6.
Memristor Modeling -- Static, Statistical, and Stochastic Methodologies

Memristor, the fourth passive circuit element, hasattracted increased attention since it was rediscovered by HPLab in 2008. Its distinctive characteristic to record the historicprofile of the voltage/current creates a great potential for futureneuromorphic computing system design. However, at the nanoscale, process variation control in the manufacturing of memristordevices is very difficult. The impact of process variations on amemristive system that relies on the continuous (analog) statesof the memristors could be significant. In addition, the stochasticswitching behaviors have been widely observed. To facilitate theinvestigation on memristor-based hardware implementation, wecompare and summarize different memristor modeling methodologies, from the simple static model, to statistical analysis bytaking the impact of process variations into consideration, andthe stochastic behavior model based on the real experimentalmeasurements. In this work, we use the most popular TiO2 thin film device as an example to analyze the memristor'selectrical properties. Our proposed modeling methodologies canbe easily extended to the other structures/materials with necessarymodifications.
Effect of EMI between Wireless Interconnects and Metal Interconnects on CMOS Digital Circuits

Wireless interconnects are built with two or more antennas on a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) communicating with each other to form an intra-chip communication network. The wireless interconnects are considered a viable solution to the global communications problems faced by ICs. In this work, the effects of the electromagnetic coupling between the on-chip antennas for wireless interconnects and the metal interconnects for local communication are considered. The effects of the electromagnetic coupling on the complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) digital circuits are presented. The electromagnetic compatibility and electromagnetic interference analysis is performed using a co-simulation methodology. In particular, 3D finite element method (FEM) based full-wave electromagnetic simulations are co-simulated with the radio frequency (RF) models of the devices on a circuit simulator. The presented simulation models are based on a contemporary 9metal layer 90 nm process technology.
The ‘schools revolution’ in England: a configurational comparative analysis of academisation across local authorities

ABSTRACT The academy concept has recently been subjected to significant academic scrutiny. However, this research has focused on assessing the success of this reform drive with regard to its outcomes, as opposed to its implementation. On the basis of the extant research, this paper identifies several factors that could plausibly be linked to variances in the extent of academy uptake across local authorities in England. The paper employs Fuzzy-Set-Qualitative-Comparative-Analysis (fsQCA) to analyse the relationship between these potential explanatory factors and the outcome of interest across 150 local authorities in England, up to November 2017. The findings support the paper’s hypothesis that higher levels of academisation are associated with different causal combinations, unified by the fact of both a ‘promoting’ agent and a conducive context being required to underpin reform in this respect. We conclude that those interested in pursuing academisation should broaden its appeal to a wider range of social actors.