Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
( Invited ) Effect and Limitation of Pinned Photodiode

The pinned photodiode (PPD) is the primary technology for image sensors and used in almost all CCD image sensors and CMOS image sensors. This paper discusses effect and limitation of PPD, especially dark current and electronic shuttering. Even when PPD is used and silicon surface is neutralized, proposed model explains that GR centers at the silicon surface contribute the dark current. The temperature dependence is an activation type with activation energy, Eg, not Eg/2. It is important to reduce GR centers for dark current reduction at PPD also. It is also noted that the vertical overflow drain (VOD) shutter combined with PPD has potential of high speed shuttering with small skew.
Influence estimation method of network factors in Internetware reliability

The reliability of Internet ware system is greatly influenced by the network factors. In some classical reliability calculation methods, the component reliability, the connection reliability between components, transition probability and so on, all are set into some fixed values, without considering the network factors. the main factors of network influence for reliability estimation are analyzed and researched in Internetware system, according to these factors, the Markov characteristics of Internetware is analyzed. Using the principle of DTMC and the minimum quadratic difference, the estimation method for reliability is proposed, the new models are defined, and the algorithm for reliability estimation is designed. The experiment proves that the presented method and the designed algorithm can effectively quantitative estimation with great value in Internetware reliability analysis, also provides effective reference value.
Systemic NK4 gene therapy inhibits tumor growth and metastasis of melanoma and lung carcinoma in syngeneic mouse tumor models

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) promotes malignant development of cancer cells by enhancing invasion and metastasis. NK4, a competitive antagonist for HGF, is a bifunctional molecule that acts as a HGF antagonist and angiogenesis inhibitor. Although successful tumor inhibition by NK4 gene expression in tumor models has been demonstrated, the effects of systemic NK4 gene introduction are yet to be addressed. Here we show that systemic administration of a replication‐defective adenovirus expressing NK4 (Ad.NK4) inhibits tumor growth and lung metastasis of B16F10 melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma in syngeneic mice. Single tail‐vein injection of Ad.NK4 achieved therapeutic levels of NK4 in the circulation and in multiple organs. Despite NK4 expression that was highest in the liver, toxicity in the liver was minimal. Ad.NK4‐mediated growth inhibition was associated with decreased blood vessel density and increased apoptosis in tumor tissues, which suggests that NK4 suppressed tumor growth as an angiogenesis inhibitor. Metastasis of B16F10 melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma cells to the lung was potently inhibited by systemic Ad.NK4‐administration. Our results demonstrated that the adenovirus‐mediated induction of high levels of circulating NK4 significantly inhibited in vivo tumor growth and distant metastasis without obvious side effects. NK4 gene therapy is thus a safe and promising strategy for the treatment of cancer patients, and further validation in clinical trials is needed. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 1351–1358)
The Use of Scientific Data: A Content Analysis

In order to improve our understanding of scientific data users' data usage behaviors, which has been rarely studied in the fourth science paradigm---data-intensive science, this study conducted a content analysis of publications associated with a frequently cited data-intensive science project, called Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We analyzed 200 SDSS-related publications and identified the data used in each publication. Under the scope of SDSS project, we found that (1) nearly half studies used one data source only. A few studies were able to use three or more data sources; (2) studies that analyzed a small number of objects are the norm; (3) users are not only consumers of scientific data. They are also data producers; (4) studies that can utilize multiple large scale data sources are rare.
On the Asymptotic Behaviour of Circular Fuzzy Cellular Automata

Fuzzy cellular automata (FCA) are continuous cellular automata where the local rule is defined as the “fuzzification” of the local rule of a corresponding Boolean cellular automaton in disjunctive normal form. In this paper, we consider circular FCA; their asymptotic behaviours had previously been observed through simulation and FCA had been empirically classified accordingly. However, no analytical study previously existed to support these observations.
Nutritional predictors of survival in terminally ill cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Malnutrition can affect the prognosis of terminally ill patients, but over-treatment of malnutrition can worsen patients' quality of life. Decisions on nutrition and the supply of fluids to terminally ill patients are complex, and the identification of useful clinical indicators is needed. This study evaluated the relationships between various nutritional indices and survival of terminally ill cancer patients. METHODS We recruited terminally ill patients from a teaching hospital between February 2000 and January 2001. All of the 145 candidates were cancer patients, 109 (75%) of whom agreed to participate. Nutritional assessments including physical examination, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical profiles were performed on admission. RESULTS Univariate analyses showed that triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF) and midarm muscle circumference were significant predictors of survival. Poor survival was associated with prealbumin </= 100 mg/L (hazard ratio [HR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 2.3; p = 0.03), asparate transaminase (AST) > 45 U/L (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.3; p = 0.03), alkaline phosphatase > 120 U/L (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.5; p = 0.02), creatinine > 1.4 mg/dL (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.2; p = 0.01), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) > 20 mg/dL (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.8; p < 0.01) at admission. Multivariate analyses found that TSF < 25% of the nomogram (HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.6 to 5.3; p < 0.01), prealbumin </= 100 mg/L (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.5; p < 0.01), AST > 45 U/L (HR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.2; p = 0.01), and BUN > 20 mg/dL (HR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.7 to 4.5; p < 0.01) were independent predictors of poor survival. CONCLUSIONS This study found that nutritional status was associated with the survival of terminally ill cancer patients. Both TSF and prealbumin appeared to be useful predictors that may help set strategies to improve palliative care. Because predictors of survival are not necessarily factors that actually influence survival, further studies should be conducted to evaluate the usefulness of these prognostic indicators in clinical practice.
Isolation of Machupo virus from wild rodent Calomys callosus.

Summary Nine virus strains were recovered from a small group of tissues from the wild rodent Calomys callosus captured in the area of San Joaquin, Bolivia, in 1963. Each virus was successfully reisolated and shown to be serologically related to Machupo virus, the etiologic agent of Bolivian Hemorrhagic Fever. Virus was not isolated from 33 specimens obtained from rodents of the genera Proechimys and Oryzomys. These data provide the first evidence for existence of a potential non-human reservoir of Machupo virus infection.
Airborne Hydrographic LiDAR Mapping-Potential of a new technique for capturing shallow water bodies

In this paper, we present the general design of a hydrographic laser scanner (prototype instrument) manufactured by the company Riegl Laser Measurement Systems in cooperation with the University of Innsbruck, Unit of Hydraulic Engineering. The instrument utilizes a green laser source (λ=532 nm) capable of penetrating the water column. Very short laser pulses (1 ns) are emitted and the backscattered signal is digitized enabling sophisticated waveform processing online during the flight and in post processing. In combination with a traditional topographic airborne laser scanner (λ=1500 nm) mounted on the same platform a complete hydrographic and topographic survey of the riparian foreland, the water surface and river bed can be carried out in a single campaign. In contrast to existing bathymetric LiDAR systems, the presented system uses only medium pulse energy but a high pulse repetition rate of up to 250 kHz and, thus, focuses on a detailed description of shallow waters under clear water conditions. Figure 1: 3D-view of the point cloud acquired with the experimental Riegl hydrographic laser scanner VQ-820-G in July 2011 Different fields of applications are discussed in the paper and the results of a first real-world test flight are presented. It is shown that: (i) the high pulse repetition rate enables a point density on the ground of the water body of approx. 10-20 points/m, (ii) the short laser pulses together with waveform processing enable a discrimination between water and ground reflections of less than 25 cm, (iii) the combination of a topographic and bathymetric laser scanner enable, for the first time, the acquisition of the geometry data for hydraulic modeling in a single survey, thus, providing a much more homogeneous data basis, and (iv) the high point density and the ranging accuracy of less than 10 cm enable a detailed and precise description of the river bed morphology, thus, providing an excellent data source for calibrating and validating sediment transport models. With the focus on capturing shallow water bodies under clear water conditions, the instrument is not designed for mapping of broader rivers (turbid water due to suspended material). However, even for these rivers the presented technique can close the gap between the river bank (captured, e.g., by topographic LiDAR) and the main channel (e.g., by echo sounding).
On TQFTs

3 Tensor categories and all that 3 3.1 Basic notions of categories . 3 3.2 Tensor categories, coherence, tensor functors, monoidal natural transformations, braidings 3 3.3 The group categories C(G,A) . 3 3.4 A glimpse of group cohomology . 4
EXISTENCE AND MULTIPLICITY OF SOLUTIONS FOR A DIRICHLET PROBLEM INVOLVING PERTURBED p(x)-LAPLACIAN OPERATOR

In this article we study the existence of solutions for the Dirichlet problem − div(|∇u|p(x)−2∇u) + V (x)|u|q(x)−2u = f(x, u) in Ω, u = 0 on ∂Ω, where Ω is a smooth bounded domain in RN , V is a given function in a generalized Lebesgue space Ls(x)(Ω) and f(x, u) is a Carathéodory function which satisfies some growth condition. Using variational arguments based on “Fountain theorem” and “Dual Fountain theorem”, we shall prove under appropriate conditions on the above nonhomogeneous quasilinear problem the existence of two sequences of weak solutions for this problem.
THE ‘ SYNTHESIS ’ VIRTUAL MUSEUM

Open linked data technologies pave the way towards the semantic Web of the future by a) exploiting the abundance in data availability, b) enhancing the continuing application developments in the Web and computer technologies, c) increasing the availability of game engines towards an expansion of techniques and d) bridging culture and education with gaming. In this context, we introduce an innovative and content-dynamic web-based virtual museum, which relies and exploits the rich content of distributed web cultural resources and supports the creation of custom painting virtual exhibitions for cultural and educational purposes based on gaming technologies.
Numerical Analysis of Stabilizing effect of Longitudinal Wall-Oscillation on Two Dimensional Channel Flow

The effect of longitudinal wall-oscillation for the stability of two dimensional channel flow is numerically investigated using the direct numerical simulation (DNS). In ordinary circumstances, the flow between two flat plates transits from laminar to turbulent state when the Reynolds number determined by typical quantities of the flow exceeds a critical value. With longitudinal walloscillation, however, it is found that the transition is accelerated or decelerated depending on the parameters of the wall-oscillation even if the Reynolds number is fixed to supercritical condition. From the flow visualization, it is clearly shown that the development of the streaks near the walls are suppressed by the wall-oscillation for the accelerated case. Also, the results obtained by the Floquet analysis support the features shown by the DNS.
The Relationship of ADHD, ODD, and Parental Education with Educational Talent of Primary School Students: Large- Scale Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors of predicting educational talent in preschool and elementary school children in Bonab city. This study is a descriptive correlational research. The statistical population were all elementary school students. Among the students a total of 1863 students were selected in which 863 (%46.4) students were female and 995(%53.6) students were male that were selected using single-stage cluster sampling. For this purpose, the talenteducational scores of preschool children who were referred to Sensing Center in the summer of 2016, were registered. The SNAP questionnaires were completed by the teachers and the data related to the parent’s educational level were gathered from associated schools. The data using multiple regression with simultaneously methods were analyzed. Results indicated that, the 4 indicators of mother's educational level (P<0.001) ، (0.191=β), father's educational level, (P<0.001) ، (0.158= β), attention deficit (P<0.001) ، (0.368= β), impulsivity and hyperactivity (P<0.001) ، (0.135= β) have meaningful impact in predicting educational impact. But oppositional defiant disorder had no significant role in predicting academic talent.
Strategic Ambiguity with Probabilistic Voting

Political parties and candidates usually prefer making ambiguous promises. This study identifies the conditions under which candidates choose ambiguous promises in equilibrium, given convex utility functions of voters. The results show that in a deterministic model, no equilibrium exists when voters have convex utility functions. However, in a probabilistic voting model, candidates make ambiguous promises in equilibrium when (i) voters have convex utility functions, and (ii) the distribution of voters’ most preferred policies is polarized. JEL Classification: D71, D72
Regression-Based Retrieval of Boreal Forest Biomass in Sloping Terrain Using P-Band SAR Backscatter Intensity Data

A new biomass retrieval model for boreal forest using polarimetric P-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter is presented. The model is based on two main SAR quantities: the HV backscatter and the HH/VV backscatter ratio. It also includes a topographic correction based on the ground slope. The model is developed from analysis of stand-wise data from two airborne P-band SAR campaigns: BioSAR 2007 (test site: Remningstorp, southern Sweden, biomass range: 10–287 tons/ha, slope range: 0–4<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$^{\circ}$ </tex></formula>) and BioSAR 2008 (test site: Krycklan, northern Sweden, biomass range: 8–257 tons/ha, slope range: 0–19<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$^{\circ}$</tex></formula>). The new model is compared to five other models in a set of tests to evaluate its performance in different conditions. All models are first tested on data sets from Remningstorp with different moisture conditions, acquired during three periods in the spring of 2007. Thereafter, the models are tested in topographic terrain using SAR data acquired for different flight headings in Krycklan. The models are also evaluated across sites, i.e., training on one site followed by validation on the other site. Using the new model with parameters estimated on Krycklan data, biomass in Remningstorp is retrieved with RMSE of 40–59 tons/ha, or 22–33% of the mean biomass, which is lower compared to the other models. In the inverse scenario, the examined site is not well represented in the training data set, and the results are therefore not conclusive.
Importance of Wind Tunnel Test in Design Process of Micro Air Vehicles

Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) have been studied and researched for a ten year. Many platforms have been developed and numerous MAVs have been successfully flown. Due to their small size, there are a lot of challenges for engineers such as selection of materials, control system, and components. Aerodynamic is another issue which is most attractive for design of MAVs as well. Since they have very small size and fly at low speed, their low Reynolds number and laminar separation bubble result in very poor aerodynamic performance. In addition, due to limitation of size, fixed-wing MAVs are usually designed by very low aspect ratio wing. High completed 3D flow problem induces more difficulty for determination of aerodynamic characteristics. Moreover, aerodynamic-structure and aerodynamicpropulsion interactions strongly present in the design of fixed-wing MAVs. Most numerical simulations still cannot well determine a good result. Therefore wind tunnel and experimental tests are necessary for a good design process of MAVs.
The Impact of Professional Learning Communities

Professional learning communities (PLCs) are strong mechanisms that enable educators to join forces to promote ongoing growth and improvement for themselves and their students. PLCs are based on the premise that learning results from the varied perspectives and experiences that members share with one another as they work toward common goals. Recently, the US Department of Education has recognized the value of peer-to-peer professional learning, promoting PLCs as part of key initiatives, such as the Investing in Innovation Fund, Promise Neighborhoods, and the Race to the Top Fund. Although PLCs have become more prevalent, they face the danger of losing their meaning as the label is freely applied in school, district, and state education settings. This prompts the question, What truly characterizes a PLC? And, more important, How can PLCs improve teacher practice and student learning?
The Effects of Different Logging Techniques on the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Forest Soil

In this study, we investigated the effects of four timber logging techniques (skyline, skidder, manpower and chute system) on the physical (permeability, field capacity, water holding capacity, bulk density, fine and coarse soil, sand, clay and silt ratios) and chemical properties (electrical conductivity, organic matter, total lime, P2O5, K2O, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn contents) of forest soil at two soil depths (0-15 and 15-30 cm) at loading, unloading, skid road, and undisturbed plots. The logging practices, each consisting of three steps, were executed at 12 testing sites in total, where logging through skylines, ground skidding with manpower, skidding with skidders, and sliding within the chute systems were performed. Our results demonstrate that logging by skidder and manpower can have an important influence on soil permeability, bulk density and soil water balance, and these techniques can significantly reduce soil organic matter content and nutrient levels. It was also noted that these two logging techniques constantly removed the litter and humus from the forest floor, reducing the amount of soil organic matter content and nutrients. The removal of organic matter content and nutrients from the soil will also affect soil organisms, which play an important role in regulating organic matter content decomposition rates.
Author ' s personal copy Exploring factors of media characteristic in fl uencing fl ow in learning through virtual worlds

This study aims to find out factors of media characteristic which are considered to influence flow in learning through virtual worlds. One hundred ninety eight elementary students who are eleven to twelve years old participated in this study. After the exploratory factor analysis, to extract media characteristics of virtual worlds, seventy-eight elementary students who are eleven years old were used in the analysis of exploring relationships between factors influencing flow. The results of this study show that distinct media characteristics of virtual worlds affecting engagement were labeled ‘interactivity’, ‘representational fidelity’, ‘immediacy of communication’, ‘consistency’, and ‘persistence’ after the exploratory factor analysis. Another result of this study is that the media characteristics are positively correlated: when students effectively recognize media characteristics, the level of flow is also high. In addition, virtual worlds’ characteristics have a significantly consistent predictability on learners’ flow, which is consistent with previous research that demonstrated media characteristics were a critical factor for influencing engagement. Lastly, factors of media characteristics such as ‘immediacy of communication,’ ‘consistency’ and ‘persistence’ are related to flow, but don’t have an influence on causality, so it is difficult to assert that these factors predict learner’s engagement. However, other factors such as ‘interactivity’ and ‘representational fidelity’ are significant factors that predict flow in learning through virtual worlds. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
WORKING PAPER 190 - One Price: Information Frictions and the Law of “When the States and the Kingdom became United”

How do information frictions distort international trade? This paper exploits a unique historical experiment to estimate the magnitude of these distortions: the establishment of the transatlantic telegraph connection in 1866. I use a newly collected data set based on historical newspaper records that provides daily data on information flows across the Atlantic together with detailed, daily information on prices and trade flows of cotton. Information frictions result in large and volatile deviations from the Law of One Price. What is more, the elimination of information frictions has real effects: Exports respond to information about foreign demand shocks. Average trade flows increase after the telegraph and become more volatile, providing a more efficient response to demand shocks. I build a model of international trade that can explain the empirical evidence. In the model, exporters use the latest news about a foreign market to forecast expected selling prices when their exports arrive at the destination. Their forecast error is smaller and less volatile the more recent the available information. I estimate the welfare gains from information transmission through the telegraph to be roughly equivalent to those from abolishing a 6% ad valorem tariff. I thank Steve Pischke, Steve Redding, Gianmarco Ottaviano and Luis Garicano for their continued advice and support. Thanks also to Walker Hanlon, Nikolaus Wolf, Thomas Sampson, Daniel Bernhofen, as well as seminar participants at LSE, Princeton, and Oxford; and conference participants at the RIEF Doctoral Meeting, GEP Postgraduate Conference, EGIT Research meeting, GIST Summer School, EEA Gothenburg, EHES Congress, ETSG Birmingham and the Midwest International Trade Conference for helpful comments. The title of this paper is borrowed from a Citigroup advertisement in a campaign to celebrate its 200 year anniversary, as the bank provided capital for the laying of the telegraph cable (advertisement seen in the journal “City A.M.” on 15 June 2012). c.steinwender@lse.ac.uk, http://personal.lse.ac.uk/steinwen
Homocysteinaemia and coronary atherosclerosis.

to genetic factors, for instance from deficiency of the enzyme cystathionine P synthase (CBS), which participates in a transsulphuration pathway, or from thermolabile or mutant enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) which synthesises 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, or from inborn errors of cobalamin transport and metabolism. Lower concentrations of vitamins B,2, B6, B2, cofactor form flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), or folate in