Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolution of Pacific Rim diving beetles sheds light on Amphi‐Pacific biogeography

The origin of biodiversity in the Neotropics predominantly stems either from Gondwana breakup or late dispersal events from the Nearctic region. Here, we investigate the biogeography of a diving beetle Glade whose distribution encompasses parts of the Oriental region, the Indo-Australian archipelago (IAA) and the Neotropics. We reconstructed a dated molecular phylogeny, inferred diversification dynamics and estimated ancestral areas under different biogeographic assumptions. For the Oriental region and the IAA, we reveal repeated and complex colonization patterns out of Australia, across the major biogeographic lines in the region (e.g. Wallace's Line). The timing of colonization events across the IAA broadly coincides with the proposed timing of the formation of major geographic features in the region. Our phylogenetic hypothesis recovers Neotropical species nested in two derived clades. We recover an origin of the group in the early Eocene about 55 million yr ago, long after the break-up of Gondwana initiated, but before a complete separation of Australia, Antarctica and the Neotropics. When allowing an old Gondwanan ancestor, we reconstruct an intricate pattern of Gondwanan vicariance and trans-Pacific long-distance dispersal from Australia toward the Neotropics. When restricting the ancestral range to more plausible geological area combinations in the Eocene, we infer an Australian origin with two trans-Pacific long-distance dispersal events toward the Neotropics. Our results support on one hand a potential Gondwanan signature associated with regional extinctions in the Cenozoic and with Antarctica serving as a link between Australia and the Neotropics. On the other hand, they also support a trans-Pacific dispersal of these beetles toward the Andean coast in the Oligocene.
Types of Derivatives: Concepts and Applications (II)

The notion of differential geometry is known to have played a fundamental role in unifying aspects of the physics of particles and fields, and have completely transformed the study of classical mechanics. In this paper we applied the definitions and concepts which we defined and derived in part (I) of our paper: Types of Derivatives: Concepts and Applications to problems arising in Geometry and Fluid Mechanics using exterior calculus. We analyzed this problem, using the geometrical formulation which is global and free of coordinates.
An Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm for Network Vulnerability Analysis

Intruders often combine exploits against multiple vulnerabilities in order to break into the system. Each attack scenario is a sequence of exploits launched by an intruder that leads to an undesirable state such as access to a database, service disruption, etc. The collection of possible attack scenarios in a computer network can be represented by a directed graph, called network attack graph (NAG). The aim of minimization analysis of network attack graphs is to find a minimum critical set of exploits that completely disconnect the initial nodes and the goal nodes of the graph. In this paper, we present an ant colony optimization algorithm, called AntNAG, for minimization analysis of large-scale network attack graphs. Each ant constructs a critical set of exploits. A local search heuristic has been used to improve the overall performance of the algorithm. The aim is to find a minimum critical set of exploits that must be prevented to guarantee no attack scenario is possible. We compare the performance of the AntNAG with a greedy algorithm for minimization analysis of several large-scale network attack graphs. The results of the experiments show that the AntNAG can be successfully used for minimization analysis of large-scale network attack graphs.
Analysis and Design on Low-Power Short-Range Radios for Wireless Body Area Networks

approved: ______________________________________________________ Patrick Yin Chiang Arun S. Natarajan The release of the IEEE802.15. 6 standard has led to increased interest in low-power technologies for wireless body-area-networks (WBANs). The power dissipation, supply voltage, and die area are some of the most important criteria for successful WBAN implementations. Digital-intensive RX architectures can potentially result in sub-1V operation with significant reductions in power consumption and area, but require system and circuit-level innovations to achieve desired sensitivity and linearity. A PSK receiver (RX) is proposed that employs a digital-intensive architecture based on sub-sampling, Q-enhancement, and digital IF to enable lowpower (1.3mW) and low-voltage (0.6V) operation. Implemented in 65nm CMOS, this work is compatible with the IEEE 802.15. 6 narrowband physical layer specification and achieves -91dBm and -96dBm sensitivity at 10 BER for π/4DQPSK and π/2-DBPSK modulation, respectively. The proposed highly-digital architecture and supply voltage scaling lead to a 3x improvement in RX energy efficiency and minimize silicon area consumption (~0.35mm in 65nm CMOS) while achieving state-of-the-art sensitivity. While this implementation focuses on IEEE 802.15. 6 narrowband demodulation, the proposed architecture and circuit techniques are generally applicable to RX targeting ultra-low power consumption for sensor networks. ©Copyright by Jiao Cheng May 29, 2014 All Rights Reserved Analysis and Design on Low-Power Short-Range Radios for Wireless Body Area Networks
ANGULAR MOMENTUM AND GALAXY FORMATION REVISITED: EFFECTS OF VARIABLE MASS-TO-LIGHT RATIOS

We rederive the relation between the specific angular momentum j⋆ and the mass M⋆ of the stellar matter in galaxies of different morphological types. This is a revision of the j⋆–M⋆ diagram presented in our recent comprehensive study of galactic angular momentum. In that work, we estimated j⋆ from kinematic and photometric data that extended to large radii and M⋆ from near-infrared luminosities LK with an assumed universal mass-to-light ratio M⋆/LK. However, recent stellar population models show large variations in M⋆/LK correlated with B − V color. In the present work, we use this correlation to estimate M⋆/LK and hence M⋆ from the measured B − V and LK. Our revised j⋆–M⋆ diagram is similar to our previous one; both disk-dominated and elliptical galaxies follow nearly parallel sequences with and α = 0.6 ± 0.1. However, the offset between the sequences is now a factor of about 5, some 30% larger than before (and close to the offset found by Fall in 1983). Thus, our new results place even tighter constraints on the loss of specific angular momentum by galactic disks over their lifetimes.
A study on global stabilization of a class of discrete-time systems by using symbolic dynamics

In this report, a control method for the stabilization of periodic orbits for a class of one-dimensional discretetime systems that are topologically conjugate to symbolic dynamics is proposed. A periodic orbit is assigned as a target by giving a sequence in which symbols have periodicity. As a consequence, it is shown that any periodic orbits can be globally stabilized by using arbitrarily small control inputs. This work is the first attempt to systematically design a control system based on symbolic dynamics.
Evolutionary Artificial Neural Network Weight Tuning to Optimize Decision Making for an Abstract Game

Abstract : Abstract strategy games present a deterministic perfect information environment with which to test the strategic capabilities of artificial intelligence systems. With no unknowns or random elements, only the competitors' performances impact the results. This thesis takes one such game, Lines of Action, and attempts to develop a competitive heuristic. Due to the complexity of Lines of Action, artificial neural networks are utilized to model the relative values of board states. An application, pLoGANN (Parallel Lines of Action with Genetic Algorithm and Neural Networks), is developed to train the weights of this neural network by implementing a genetic algorithm over a distributed environment. While pLoGANN proved to be designed efficiently, it failed to produce a competitive Lines of Action player, shedding light on the difficulty of developing a neural network to model such a large and complex solution space.
Significance of Determining Levels of Apolipoproteins A-I and B in the Diagnostics and Assessment of Lipid-Related Atherogenic Risk in Hyperalpha-Lipoproteinemia, Hypocholesterolemia and Hypo-Hdl-Cholesterolemia

Significance of Determining Levels of Apolipoproteins A-I and B in the Diagnostics and Assessment of Lipid-Related Atherogenic Risk in Hyperalpha-Lipoproteinemia, Hypocholesterolemia and Hypo-Hdl-Cholesterolemia The significance of determining apolipoproteins apoB and apoA-I and their correlation with lipid status parameters were tested in hyperalpha-lipoproteinemia (30 women), hypocholesterolemia (10 men) and hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia (15 women and 21 men). Control groups were 20 normolipidemic men and women, each. ApoA-I showed positive correlation with HDL-cholesterol in hyperalpha-lipoproteinemia, with total and HDL-cholesterol in hypocholesterolemia, and with total and LDL-cholesterol in females with hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, and negative correlation with cholesterol ratios only in hypocholesterolemia. ApoB showed a positive correlation with total and LDL-cholesterol in all groups, and with cholesterol ratios in hyperalpha-lipoproteinemia and hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia. The apoB/apoA-I ratio, correlating with the majority of lipid parameters, and with the highest percentage of pathological values in all tested groups, was singled out as the most sensitive parameter for the evaluation of lipid-related atherogenic risks.
Origin and significance of clay‐coated fractures in mudrock fragments of the SAFOD borehole (Parkfield, California)

The clay mineralogy and texture of rock fragments from the SAFOD borehole at 3067 m and 3436 m measured depth (MD) was investigated by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and X‐ray‐diffraction (XRD). The washed and ultrasonically cleaned samples show slickenfiber striations and thin films of Ca‐K bearing smectite that are formed on polished fault surfaces, along freshly opened fractures and within adjacent mineralized veins. The cation composition and hydration behavior of these films differ from the Na‐montmorillonite of the fresh bentonite drilling mud, although there is more similarity with circulated mud recovered from 3479 m MD. We propose that these thin film smectite precipitates formed by natural nucleation and crystal growth during fault creep, probably associated with the shallow circulation of low temperature aqueous fluids along this shallow portion of the San Andreas Fault.
Wind work in a model of the northwest Atlantic Ocean

The work done by the wind over the northwest Atlantic Ocean is examined using a realistic high‐resolution ocean model driven by synoptic wind forcing. Two model runs are conducted with the difference only in the way the wind stress is calculated. Our results show that the effect of including ocean surface currents in the wind stress formulation is to reduce the total wind work integrated over the model domain by about 17%. The reduction is caused by a sink term in the wind work calculation associated with the presence of ocean currents. In addition, the modelled eddy kinetic energy decreases by about 10%, in response to direct mechanical damping by the surface stress. A simple scaling argument shows that the latter can be expected to be more important than bottom friction in the energy budget.
Longitudinal Vibration of a Micro-Beam in a Micro-Scale Fluid Media

Abstract—In this paper, longitudinal vibration of a micro-beam in micro-scale fluid media has been investigated. The proposed mathematical model for this study is made up of a micro-beam and a micro-plate at its free end. An AC voltage is applied to the pair of piezoelectric layers on the upper and lower surfaces of the microbeam in order to actuate it longitudinally. The whole structure is bounded between two fixed plates on its upper and lower surfaces. The micro-gap between the structure and the fixed plates is filled with fluid. Fluids behave differently in micro-scale than macro, so the fluid field in the gap has been modeled based on micro-polar theory. The coupled governing equations of motion of the micro-beam and the micro-scale fluid field have been derived. Due to having nonhomogenous boundary conditions, derived equations have been transformed to an enhanced form with homogenous boundary conditions. Using Galerkin-based reduced order model, the enhanced equations have been discretized over the beam and fluid domains and solve simultaneously in order to obtain force response of the microbeam. Effects of micro-polar parameters of the fluid as characteristic length scale, coupling parameter and surface parameter on the response of the micro-beam have been studied.
A Student-Teacher RL Algorithm for Neural Program Synthesis with Visual Feedback

Neural code synthesis has proven an extremely difficult task for computers to learn, even with hand-crafted objective functions. Solutions tend to be narrowly tailored, and often exhibit a tradeoff between computer performance and human readability. We aim to approach the problem of neural code synthesis through visual programming, a human-readable form of computer programming. Visual programming is a popular way to introduce computer science students to foundational programming concepts, and is taught in many computer science curricula such as Karel and Code.org. We hope to produce meaningful advances in the field of program synthesis by exploiting several unique aspects of this task specifically, teaching an agent how to program that draw on cognitive psychology and reshaping the task as a strictly RL problem rather than a text/code generation problem. We demonstrate that a reinforcement learning algorithm is able to efficiently learn visual programming tasks via a “curriculum” of increasing difficulty, similar to how students might learn computer science. In particular, we note that as the agent progresses through the curriculum, it is able to achieve the current task relatively quickly through few-shot learning, indicating that it leverages the concepts learned in prior tasks.
Application of tracer dilution models for the quantification of perfusion with contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging at low mechanical index with real-time scanning techniques has been used successfully to detect and characterize liver, prostate, kidney, spleen, and breast lesions with high sensitivity and specificity [1]. This new technique has opened new diagnostic possibilities such as oncology therapy monitoring. High temporal resolution image data produced with CEUS now also carry functional information and may be combined with novel mathematical modelling techniques to create advanced diagnostic and prognostic tools.
Lanthanopolyoxotungstates in silica nanoparticles: multi-wavelength photoluminescent core/shell materials

Photoluminescent lanthanopolyoxotungstate core/shell nanoparticles are prepared by the encapsulation of lanthanide-containing polyoxometalates (POMs) with amorphous silica shells. The preparation of morphological well-defined core/shell nanoparticles is achieved by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane in the presence of POMs using a reverse microemulsion method. The POMs used are decatungstolanthanoates of [Ln(W5O18)2]9− type (Ln(III) = Eu, Gd and Tb). Photoluminescence studies show that there is efficient emission from the POM located inside the SiO2 shells, through excitation paths that involve O → Eu/Tb and O → W ligand-to-metal charge transfer. It is also shown that the excitation of the POM containing europium(III) may be tuned towards longer wavelengths via an antenna effect, by coordination of an organic ligand such as 3-hydroxypicolinate. The POM/SiO2 nanoparticles form stable suspensions in aqueous solution having the advantage of POM stabilization inside the core and the possibility of further surface grafting of chemical moieties via well known derivatization procedures for silica surfaces. These features together with the possibility of tuning the excitation wavelength by modifying the coordination sphere in the lanthanopolyoxometalate, make this strategy promising to develop a new class of optical bio-tags composed of silica nanobeads with multi-wavelength photoluminescent lanthanopolyoxometalate cores.
Scaling up Probabilistic Inference in Linear and Non-Linear Hybrid Domains by Leveraging Knowledge Compilation

Weighted model integration (WMI) extends weighted model counting (WMC) in providing a computational abstraction for probabilistic inference in mixed discrete-continuous domains. WMC has emerged as an assembly language for state-of-the-art reasoning in Bayesian networks, factor graphs, probabilistic programs and probabilistic databases. In this regard, WMI shows immense promise to be much more widely applicable, especially as many real-world applications involve attribute and feature spaces that are continuous and mixed. Nonetheless, state-of-the-art tools for WMI are limited and less mature than their propositional counterparts. In this work, we propose a new implementation regime that leverages propositional knowledge compilation for scaling up inference. In particular, we use sentential decision diagrams, a tractable representation of Boolean functions, as the underlying model counting and model enumeration scheme. Our regime performs competitively to state-of-the-art WMI systems but is also shown to handle a specific class of non-linear constraints over non-linear potentials.
RESIDUAL LEVELS OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES AND HEAVY METALS IN SHELLFISH FROM EGYPT WITH ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH RISKS

This study investigated the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and heavy metal residues in shellfish (shrimp, oyster and crab) collected from three Egyptian governorates (Ismailia, Damietta and Alexandria). Levels of 12 OCPs such as hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), aldrin, endrin and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) residues were determined. The dominant detected OCPs were β-HCH, p,p-DDE and endrin. The contamination pattern of OCPs was in the order of other OCPs (HCB, heptachlor, heptachlor-epoxide, aldrin, endrin and γ chlordane) > HCHs > DDTs. Residual levels of some heavy metals and trace elements were also estimated. The highest residual levels of OCPs and heavy metals were found in oysters collected from Damietta. The health risk assessment was determined by calculating hazard ratio and hazard index. Concentrations of OCPs and heavy metals in examined shellfish were below the maximum residual level set by United States Food and Drug Administration and FAO. Therefore, shellfish collected from these studied sites could be considered safe for human consumption. Key words: organochlorine pesticides; heavy metals; shellfish; health risks; Egypt RAVNI PREOSTANKOV ORGANOKLORINSKIH PESTICIDOV IN TEŽKIH KOVIN V LUPINARJIH IZ EGIPTA IN OCENA ZDRAVSTVENIH TVEGANJ V tej raziskavi smo proucevali ravni organokloriranih pesticidov (OCP) in ostankov težkih kovin v lupinarjih (kozice, ostrige in rakovice), zbranih iz treh egiptovskih provinc (Ismajlija, Damietta in Aleksandrija). Dolocene so bile vrednosti 12 OCP-jev, kot so heksaklorocikloheksani (HCH), aldrin, endrin in diklorodifeniltrikloroetani (DDT). Prevladujoci odkriti OCP-ji so bili β-HCH, p,p-DDE in endrin. Vzorec kontaminacije OCP je bil v vrstnem redu drugih OCP-jev (HCB, heptaklor, heptaklor-epoksid, aldrin, endrin in γ klordan) > HCHs > DDT. Ocenjeni so bili tudi ostanki nekaterih težkih kovin in elementov v sledovih. Najvecje preostale kolicine OCP-jev in težkih kovin so bile najdene v ostrigah, zbranih v provinci Damietta. Ocena tveganja za zdravje je bila dolocena z izracunom razmerja nevarnosti in indeksa nevarnosti. Koncentracije OCP-jev in težkih kovin v pregledanih skoljkah so bile pod najvisjo stopnjo preostankov, ki so jo dolocile Združene države Amerike za prehrano in zdravila ter FAO. Zato bi bili lupinarji, prouceni v tej raziskavi, varni za prehrano ljudi. Kljucne besede: organoklorirani pesticidi; težke kovine; lupinarji; tveganje za zdravje; Egipt
The Development of the Image-Guided Surgical Toolkit ( IGSTK ) : An Open Source Package for Medical Interventions

This paper describes the development of an open source toolkit for medical interventions. The problem domain is elucidated along with a brief history of the project. A description of an ongoing clinical trial using the toolkit is then provided, followed by a discussion of the toolkit architecture along with the project’s emphasis on safety. Our approach is then discussed in contrast to classical approaches to real-time, safety critical systems. The paper concludes with some discussion of validation.
Estudio de la producción de ácido itacónico con Aspergillus terreus de la cepa MJL05 con diferentes variables

Itaconic acid (IA) production by Aspergillus terreus MJL05 strain was investigated in submerged batch fermentation in a stirred bioreactor to determine the effect of varying the nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon sources concentrations in the production medium. Glycerol, a biodiesel by-product was reported as an efficient substrate to achieve high itaconic acid productivities. This was used as the sole carbon source. The resulting C:N 18, N:P 10.8 and C:P 195 ratios were selected as the best and allowed to improve IA concentration from 11.0 to 27.6 g/l with a volumetric productivity of 0.192 g IA/l.h and a specific productivity 0.013 g IA/g biomass.h. Bioprocess yields, Yx:s 0.27 g d.w. biomass/g substrate; Yp:x 1.63 g IA/g d.w. biomass and Yp:s 0.44 g IA/g substrate, allowed to assume the feasibility of using this strain for IA production.
Associations of dipping and non-dipping hypertension with cardiovascular diseases in patients with dyslipidemia

Introduction Dyslipidemia combined with hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The current study aimed to investigate the association of dipping and non-dipping hypertension with CVD in patients with dyslipidemia. Material and methods A total of 243 documented dyslipidemia patients with hypertension were enrolled. Clinical characteristics and clinic and 24-hour blood pressure (BP) parameters were compared between dipping and non-dipping groups based on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association of dipping and non-dipping hypertension with CVD. Results Compared to the dipping group, patients in the non-dipping group were older, more likely to be male and smokers, had higher serum creatinine levels, and were more likely to have chronic kidney disease and CVD (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). No significant between-group differences in clinic systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) were observed. However, compared to the dipping group, 24-hour SBP, nighttime SBP and DBP, and night-day ratio of SBP and DBP were all significantly higher in the non-dipping group (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). In the dipping group, only night-day ratio of SBP was significantly associated with CVD, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.09 (95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.02–1.34). In the non-dipping group, both night-day ratio of SBP and DBP were significantly associated with CVD, with an OR of 1.72 (95% CI: 1.33–2.06) and 1.23 (95% CI: 1.05–1.66), respectively. Conclusions In patients with dyslipidemia, non-dipping hypertension is more closely related to CVD compared to dipping hypertension.