Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resonance Fluorescence in a Frequency Dependent Photonic Reservoir : An Exact MultiPhoton Scattering Theory

We develop an exact theory of resonance fluorescence of a two-level atom embedded in a frequency dependent photonic reservoir exhibiting sharp features or gaps in the local density of states. In our approach, the fluorescence is treated as scattering of incident photons on the atomic system. Within the framework of the dipole, rotating-wave approximation, we derive a solution of the multiphoton scattering problem without recourse to other approximations. In ordinary vacuum, both the optical Bloch equations and the multi-photon scattering approach result in the well-known Mollow spectrum of fluorescence. Near a sharp feature in the photonic density of states, the non-Markovian character of radiative decay invalidates the usual optical Bloch equations approach. The multiphoton scattering problem approach is still applicable in this case due to a hidden symmetry of the scattering problem. For a frequency dependent reservoir characterized by a step-like discontinuity in the photonic density of states, we find that, in the limit of weak driving field, the scattering cross section becomes strongly non-Lorentzian, reflecting the non-exponential character of the atomic dipole decay. With increasing intensity of the driving field, the scattered field acquires new features associated with the dynamical decoupling of the atomic system from the radiation reservoir. The scattered spectrum suffers a global narrowing as the position of the sidebands components of the spectrum is shifted towards the central component, and a local narrowing as the width of the individual components considerably decreases. The multi-photon scattering approach developed here can be directly applied to systems characterized by a frequency-dependent isotropic dispersion relation, as well as to realistic photonic crystal heterostructures characterized by an effective onedimensional dispersion. We also derive the quantum version of the optical Bloch equations in the ordinary vacuum, without making use of the Born-Markov approximation. They provide a relationship between the quantum statistical properties of incident light and the scattered light.
Study of Correlation between Stress Marker Enzymes and Other Biochemical Parameters in Alcoholic Liver Disease

DOI: 10.21276/sjams.2018. 6.9. 74 Abstract: Alcohol related liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Chronic alcohol consumption leads to hepatocellular injury, fat accumulation and liver inflammation. Progression of ALD is well characterized and is actually a spectrum of liver diseases, which ranges initially from simple steatosis, to inflammation and necrosis (steatohepatitis), to fibrosis and cirrhosis. The study was designed to determine effects of stress marker enzymes and other biochemical parameters in alcoholic liver disease patients with reference to the normal healthy individuals. 175 alcoholic liver disease patients were enrolled for the study & were compared to 150 normal healthy individuals of the same age. Those fulfilling inclusion & exclusion criteria were enrolled for the study & the blood samples were analysed for lipid profile, LFT, plasma MDA and SOD. Significant higher concentrations of MDA (P<0.001), GGT (P<0.001) and lower concentration of SOD (P<0.001) & Protein (p<0.001) was demonstrated in patients with alcoholic liver disease when compared with normal healthy individuals controls. The risk of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) increases in a dose & time dependent manner with consumption of alcohol.
Working Paper 2006 – 08 Are Sunk Costs a Barrier to Entry ?

The received wisdom is that sunk costs create a barrier to entry— if entry fails, then the entrant, unable to recover sunk costs, incurs greater losses. In a strategic context where an incumbent may prey on the entrant, sunk entry costs have a countervailing effect: they may effectively commit the entrant to stay in the market. By providing the entrant with commitment power, sunk investments may soften the reactions of incumbents. The net effect may imply that entry is more profitable when sunk costs are greater. ∗The authors gratefully acknowledge helpful discussions with Jim Brander; the financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Phelps Centre for the Study of Government and Business in the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia; and the excellent research assistance provided by Jennifer Ng.
The grumpy

Domestic food waste is a world-wide problem that is complex and difficult to tackle as it touches diverse habits and social behaviors. This paper introduces the Grumpy Bin, a smart food waste bin designed for the context of student housing. The Grumpy Bin1 contributes to the state of the art of food waste prevention solutions by challenging the traditional approach on pervasive technology, which is commonly based on system-driven judgements and persuasive data representations. Instead, this design empowers users and their social acquaintances to collectively judge their actions, hence adding a layer of social mediation that is likely to increase the chance for behavior change.
Magnetic field-free deterministic switching of a perpendicular magnetic layer by spin-orbit torques

We demonstrate that a magnetic field-free two-pulse scheme previously proposed to switch an in-plane magnetized free layer is also suitable for switching a perpendicularly magnetized layer. In the case of a symmetric square free layer, deterministic switching is achieved by running the second pulse over a part of the free layer. Applying the same approach to a rectangular free layer results in switching times as short as 0.25 ns. The optimal overlap of the second heavy metal wire with the free layer is found to be between 30-60%. It is shown that the switching scheme yields a large window for the time delay/overlap between the two pulses, still maintaining the switching times as short as 0.25 ns. Consequently, the scheme is extremely robust against pulse duration fluctuations and pulse synchronization failures.
Effects of Curcuma longa Rhizoma on Asthma induced intra-nasal instillation of Ovalbumin in Mice

Jun-Hun Lee․Jong-Han Kim․Su-Yeon Park․Jeong-Hwa Choi Objective : This study was designed to investigate the effects of Curcuma longa Rhizoma(CLR) on asthma. Methods : Detecting splenocyte proliferation rates, cytokines and antigen specific antibody isotypes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, the present author I also investigated changes in spleen and histopathological changes of lung tissues. Results : Oral administration of CLR lowered spleen weight and splenocyte proliferation rates. In addition, levels of IL-4, IL-17A and Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor(GM-CSF), Th2 driven cytokines, were lowered respectively and IFN-g, and Th1 driven cytokine, were elevated by CLR. Levels of Ovalbumin(OVA) specific IgE and IgG1 in BALF were also lowered by oral administration of CLR too. Conclusion : CLR is useful to treat patients with asthma and the mechanisms are related to the in suppression of Th2 skewing reactions. Key word : Curcuma longa Rhizoma, Asthma
An MFS-Domain Protein Pb115 Plays a Critical Role in Gamete Fertilization of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium berghei

Sexual reproduction is an essential process in the Plasmodium life cycle and a vulnerable step for blocking transmission from the human host to mosquitoes. In this study, we characterized the functions of a conserved cell membrane protein P115 in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Pb115 was expressed in both asexual stages (schizonts) and sexual stages (gametocytes, gametes, and ookinetes), and was localized on the plasma membrane of gametes and ookinetes. In P. berghei, genetic deletion of Pb115 (Δpb115) did not affect asexual multiplication, nor did it affect gametocyte development or exflagellation of the male gametocytes. However, mosquitoes fed on Δpb115-infected mice showed 74% reduction in the prevalence of infection and 96.5% reduction in oocyst density compared to those fed on wild-type P. berghei-infected mice. The Δpb115 parasites showed significant defects in the interactions between the male and female gametes, and as a result, very few zygotes were formed in ookinete cultures. Cross fertilization with the male-defective Δpbs48/45 line and the female-defective Δpfs47 line further indicated that the fertilization defects of the Δpb115 lines were present in both male and female gametes. We evaluated the transmission-blocking potential of Pb115 by immunization of mice with a recombinant Pb115 fragment. In vivo mosquito feeding assay showed Pb115 immunization conferred modest, but significant transmission reducing activity with 44% reduction in infection prevalence and 39% reduction in oocyst density. Our results described functional characterization of a conserved membrane protein as a fertility factor in Plasmodium and demonstrated transmission-blocking potential of this antigen.
Small Klebsiella pneumoniae Plasmids: Neglected Contributors to Antibiotic Resistance

Klebsiella pneumoniae is the causative agent of community- and, more commonly, hospital-acquired infections. Infections caused by this bacterium have recently become more dangerous due to the acquisition of multiresistance to antibiotics and the rise of hypervirulent variants. Plasmids usually carry genes coding for resistance to antibiotics or virulence factors, and the recent sequence of complete K. pneumoniae genomes showed that most strains harbor many of them. Unlike large plasmids, small, usually high copy number plasmids, did not attract much attention. However, these plasmids may include genes coding for specialized functions, such as antibiotic resistance, that can be expressed at high levels due to gene dosage effect. These genes may be part of mobile elements that not only facilitate their dissemination but also participate in plasmid evolution. Furthermore, high copy number plasmids may also play a role in evolution by allowing coexistence of mutated and non-mutated versions of a gene, which helps to circumvent the constraints imposed by trade-offs after certain genes mutate. Most K. pneumoniae plasmids 25-kb or smaller replicate by the ColE1-type mechanism and many of them are mobilizable. The transposon Tn1331 and derivatives were found in a high percentage of these plasmids. Another transposon that was found in representatives of this group is the blaKPC-containing Tn4401. Common resistance determinants found in these plasmids were aac(6′)-Ib and genes coding for β-lactamases including carbapenemases.
Exploring the Future Experience of Automated "Valet Parking" - a User Enactment

While the general debate about the potential of automated vehicles is pervasive, less is known about how people experience those vehicles in everyday life. To this end, we studied the experiential consequences of a speculative automated "valet parking" service. We designed three variants and confronted participants "in the wild. " The automation replaced practical worries about how to navigate a parking garage with unease about the safety of the car, which clearly limited potential gains in positive experiences. The unease could be counteracted by providing feedback about the car itself and the process. This created the impression that the car is properly cared for. In addition, while parking in garages in itself was not especially enjoyable, it played an important role in a number of related positive practices (e.g., shopping routines). To ensure acceptance, automated systems need to carefully address the question of how those systems become embedded in everyday life.
Physical fights back: introducing a model for bridging analog digital interactions

Current transformational developments in automotive user interface (UI) technology are causing a shift in emphasis from safety and efficiency to emotion and flexibility. The many factors to consider in parallel make this a difficult process, in which technological affordances all too easily push the user to the background. To address this issue, this paper introduces an interaction model linking the different tangible control elements, including smartphone functionality, and shows how non-driving-related activities (e.g. climate control, multimedia access) can be represented physically. Next, a working prototype is presented that supports the design and development of novel tactile UIs. By integrating layers of sensors and actuators, a flexible UI is created that pushes technology to the background, giving proper attention to the user again and enabling effective research on how to make the digital world tangible for users.
Effects of gesture-based interfaces on safety in automotive applications

This project investigates gestures instead of a dashboard for secondary tasks in cars. Driving tasks were performed using a simulator to measure differences in performance using gestures as controls while driving. No relation between driving safety and the chosen input modality was found. However, drivers using gestures spent significantly more time looking at the road than those using a dashboard, which might indicate that drivers are more likely to correctly respond to unforeseen circumstances.
Risk factors for death among children aged 5–14 years hospitalised with pneumonia: a retrospective cohort study in Kenya

Introduction There were almost 1 million deaths in children aged between 5 and 14 years in 2017, and pneumonia accounted for 11%. However, there are no validated guidelines for pneumonia management in older children and data to support their development are limited. We sought to understand risk factors for mortality among children aged 5–14 years hospitalised with pneumonia in district-level health facilities in Kenya. Methods We did a retrospective cohort study using data collected from an established clinical information network of 13 hospitals. We reviewed records for children aged 5–14 years admitted with pneumonia between 1 March 2014 and 28 February 2018. Individual clinical signs were examined for association with inpatient mortality using logistic regression. We used existing WHO criteria (intended for under 5s) to define levels of severity and examined their performance in identifying those at increased risk of death. Results 1832 children were diagnosed with pneumonia and 145 (7.9%) died. Severe pallor was strongly associated with mortality (adjusted OR (aOR) 8.06, 95% CI 4.72 to 13.75) as were reduced consciousness, mild/moderate pallor, central cyanosis and older age (>9 years) (aOR >2). Comorbidities HIV and severe acute malnutrition were also associated with death (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.84 and aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.12 to 3.21, respectively). The presence of clinical characteristics used by WHO to define severe pneumonia was associated with death in univariate analysis (OR 2.69). However, this combination of clinical characteristics was poor in discriminating those at risk of death (sensitivity: 0.56, specificity: 0.68, and area under the curve: 0.62). Conclusion Children >5 years have high inpatient pneumonia mortality. These findings also suggest that the WHO criteria for classification of severity for children under 5 years do not appear to be a valid tool for risk assessment in this older age group, indicating the urgent need for evidence-based clinical guidelines for this neglected population.
Don't you see them?: towards gaze-based interaction adaptation for driver-vehicle cooperation

Highly automated driving evolves steadily and even gradually enters public roads. Nevertheless, there remain driving-related tasks that can be handled more efficiently by humans. Cooperation with the human user on a higher abstraction level of the dynamic driving task has been suggested to overcome operational boundaries. This cooperation includes for example deciding whether pedestrians want to cross the road ahead. We suggest that systems should monitor their users when they have to make such decisions. Moreover, these systems can adapt the interaction to support their users. In particular, they can match gaze direction and objects in their environmental model like vulnerable road users to guide the focus of users towards overlooked objects. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the need and feasibility of this concept. Our preliminary analysis showed that some participants overlooked pedestrians that intended to cross the road which could be prevented with such systems.
Novel human-machine interfaces for the management of user-vehicle transitions in automated driving

For automated vehicles operating at SAE Level 4 capability, control could feasibly be passed from machine to human and vice versa -regardless of whether minimal risk condition exists as a fallback solution. We propose two Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) to assist in the management of these transitions: 1) A 'Responsibility Panel' providing the necessary feedback for a user to understand who must undertake different driving related activities (look, brake, throttle, steer) and who might be liable if a fault arises (user or car company); 2) A 'Readiness to Drive' testing HMI that only allows a human to retake control when a certain level of competency is demonstrated. Future work should evaluate the effectiveness of our HMIs.
Comparing user requirements for automated vehicle interiors in China and Germany

Automated vehicles (AVs) are a global trend. Thus, cultural differences in user preferences to create safe, trustworthy, usable and well-being enhancing AVs are likely. To investigate cultural differences in user preferences, a cross-cultural qualitative expert survey in China and Germany with focus on the AV interior was conducted. The study results indicate that similar features of the AV interior are important to fulfill the user needs for subjective well-being, trust, safety and usability. However, the importance of the features and their exact design differ. In general, the results indicate that Chinese users will prefer an AV interior with hedonic design while German users will prefer a pragmatic design.
VRoad: gesture-based interaction between pedestrians and automated vehicles in virtual reality

As a third party to both automated and non-automated vehicles, pedestrians are among the most vulnerable participants in traffic. Currently, there is no way for them to communicate their intentions to an automated vehicle (AV). In this work, we explore the interactions between pedestrians and AVs at unmarked crossings. We propose a virtual reality testbed, in which we conducted a pilot study to compare three conditions: crossing a street before a car that (1) does not give information, (2) displays its locomotion, or (3) displays its locomotion and reacts to pedestrians' gestures. Our results show that gestures introduce a new point of failure, which can increase pedestrians' insecurity. However, communicating the vehicle's locomotion supports pedestrians, helping them to make safer decisions.
Concept simulator K3F: a flexible framework for driving simulations

Developing and evaluating automotive user interfaces and driver assistance systems in real vehicles and in simulators is an effortful and costly process. To reduce the effort in defining and conducting user studies, this demo introduces the concept simulator K3F. K3F is a highly flexible driving simulation environment that allows a quick and easy modification and exchange of its hard- and software components including simulation software, dashboard/infotainment, and peripheral systems. The K3F software supports a convenient setup of user studies and a comprehensive collection of data. It simplifies the creation and modification of virtual environments and the development of real-world street scenarios. The integration of a driver model based on the ACT-R cognitive architecture allows not only the explanation of observed behavior, but also the prediction of human driving patterns.
To Please in a Pod: Employing an Anthropomorphic Agent-Interlocutor to Enhance Trust and User Experience in an Autonomous, Self-Driving Vehicle

Recognising that one of the aims of conversation is to build, maintain and strengthen positive relationships with others, the study explores whether passengers in an autonomous vehicle display similar behaviour during transactions with an on-board conversational agent-interface; moreover, whether related attributes (e.g. trust) transcend to the vehicle itself. Employing a counterbalanced, within-subjects design, thirty-four participants were transported in a self-driving pod using an expansive testing arena. Participants undertook three journeys with an anthropomorphic agent-interlocutor (via Wizard-of-Oz), a voice-command interface, or a traditional touch-surface; each delivered equivalent task-related information. Results show that the agent-interlocutor was the most preferred interface, attracting the highest ratings of trust, and significantly enhancing the pleasure and sense of control over the journey experience, despite the inclusion of 'trust challenges' as part of the design. The findings can help support the design and development of in-vehicle agent-based voice interfaces to enhance trust and user experience in autonomous cars.
Designing a naturalistic in-car tutor system for the initial use of partially automated cars: taking inspiration from driving instructors

As commercial cars start to include more automated functions it becomes difficult for drivers to understand how and when to use them safely. While general HMI recommendations for partially automated cars have been made, it is unclear how drivers should be supported during the initial use period. Recommendations for a tutor system that guides drivers in their initial use of partially automated cars are necessary. To gain inspiration for such a tutor system, we examined the existing communication loop of driving instructors and their students. Driving instructors and their students were video recorded during regular driving lessons. The tutoring patterns that were found (i.e. situation and student adaptive feedback, student adaptive tasks, body movements for correcting and requesting actions) during the initial qualitative analysis are discussed. Furthermore, we suggest methods how to implement the tutoring patterns in a tutor system to support drivers in the use partially automated cars.
Projection Displays Induce Less Simulator Sickness than Head-Mounted Displays in a Real Vehicle Driving Simulator

Driving simulators are necessary for evaluating automotive technology for human users. While they can vary in terms of their fidelity, it is essential that users experience minimal simulator sickness and high presence in them. In this paper, we present two experiments that investigate how a virtual driving simulation system could be visually presented within a real vehicle, which moves on a test track but displays a virtual environment. Specifically, we contrasted display presentation of the simulation using either head-mounted displays (HMDs) or fixed displays in the vehicle itself. Overall, we find that fixed displays induced less simulator sickness than HMDs. Neither HMDs or fixed displays induced a stronger presence in our implementation, even when the field-of-view of the fixed display was extended. We discuss the implications of this, particular in the context of scenarios that could induce considerable motion sickness, such as testing non-driving activities in automated vehicles.