Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NEXT ORDER ASYMPTOTICS AND RENORMALIZED ENERGY FOR RIESZ INTERACTIONS

We study systems of $n$ points in the Euclidean space of dimension $d\geqslant 1$ interacting via a Riesz kernel $|x|^{-s}$ and confined by an external potential, in the regime where $d-2\leqslant s<d$ . We also treat the case of logarithmic interactions in dimensions 1 and 2. Our study includes and retrieves all cases previously studied in Sandier and Serfaty [2D Coulomb gases and the renormalized energy, Ann. Probab. (to appear); 1D log gases and the renormalized energy: crystallization at vanishing temperature (2013)] and Rougerie and Serfaty [Higher dimensional Coulomb gases and renormalized energy functionals, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. (to appear)]. Our approach is based on the Caffarelli–Silvestre extension formula, which allows one to view the Riesz kernel as the kernel of an (inhomogeneous) local operator in the extended space $\mathbb{R}^{d+1}$ . As $n\rightarrow \infty$ , we exhibit a next to leading order term in $n^{1+s/d}$ in the asymptotic expansion of the total energy of the system, where the constant term in factor of $n^{1+s/d}$ depends on the microscopic arrangement of the points and is expressed in terms of a ‘renormalized energy’. This new object is expected to penalize the disorder of an infinite set of points in whole space, and to be minimized by Bravais lattice (or crystalline) configurations. We give applications to the statistical mechanics in the case where temperature is added to the system, and identify an expected ‘crystallization regime’. We also obtain a result of separation of the points for minimizers of the energy.
Sensitivity of storm waves in Montevideo (Uruguay) to a hypothetical climate change

Outputs from the application of a simple storm wave generation model using real wind data for several years in the 1980s are compared with simulations representing conditions of a 10% higher wind strength and a 1 m sea-level rise. A numeric wave propagation model (combined refraction-diffraction) is also used to calculate propagation coefficients for waves approaching the Montevideo coast under 2 different scenanos. The first one (baseline scenario) describes the current situation, while the second one reflects a 1 m rise in sea level. The analysis of propagation coefficients is carried out for all directions of the wind waves approaching the Montevideo shoreline, using the most representative wave period and height in each case. As a general conclusion it is observed that, under such a climate change scenario, storm waves would increase in height, while their angle of incidence would remain unchanged.
Anaerobic prefermentation and primary sedimentation of wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor

This research was carried out with the aim of evaluating the solubilisation and acidification capacity of fermenting organisms in suspension in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR), which had a volume of 1 800 l. Using 8 h cycles with 340 min of anaerobic reaction time, the wastewater fed to the SBR presented an average of total and dissolved COD of 315 and 230 mg/l. The experiment was divided into three phases: In Phase 1 the organic load was decreased from 1.46 to 0.27 kgCOD/kgTSS·d, as total COD, during a period of 154 d. If the acidification is defined as the fraction of organic substrate that is transformed to volatile fatty acids (VFA) then the highest acidification percentage (80%) of the dissolved COD (CODD) was obtained for the organic load runs of between 0.62 and 0.72 kgCOD/kgTSS·d. Within this range of organic load the 2nd and 3rd experimental phases were achieved at the same time after 130 d while the pH and temperature were the control parameters: pH from 5.5 to 7.5 and temperature from 22 to 31oC. Finally, the higher production level of the dissolved COD during the fermentative reaction period was 35 mg/l. The acidification of the dissolved influent COD was increased from 50 to 60% by decreasing the pH from 7.0 to 5.5 and this percentage was doubled from 33 to 66% when the temperature was increased from 22 to 31oC. All of the dissolved effluent COD was in the form of VFA, when an organic load of 0.62 kgCOD/kgTSS·d was used or when the temperature was increased up to 31oC. The VFA production rate that was achieved after 80 min diminished by half when the solids retention time (SRT) was decreased from 8 to 2 d or when the temperature was lowered from 31 to 24oC. Water SA Vol.32 (4) 2006: pp.577-583
Power-Efficient Design of 16-Bit Mixed-Operand Multipliers by Sataporn Pornpromlikit

Multiplication is an expensive and slow arithmetic operation, which plays an important role in many DSP algorithms. It usually lies in the critical-delay paths, having an effect on performance of the system as well as consuming large power. Consequently, significant improvements in both power and performance can be achieved in the overall DSP system by carefully designing and optimizing power and performance of the multiplier. This thesis explores several circuit-level techniques for power-efficiently designing multipliers, including supply voltage reduction, efficient multiplication algorithms, low power circuit logic styles, and transistor sizing using dynamic and static tuners. Based on these techniques, several 16-bit multipliers have been successfully designed and implemented in 0.13 tm CMOS technology at the supply voltage of 1.5V and 0.9V. The multipliers are modified to handle multiplications of two 16-bit operands in which each can be either signed magnitude or two's complement formats. Examining power-performance characteristics of these multipliers reveals that both array and tree structures are feasible solutions for designing 16-bit multipliers, and complementary CMOS and single-ended CPL-TG logics are promising candidates for power-efficient design. The appropriate choices of structures and logic styles depend on power and performance constraints of the particular design. VI-A Company Thesis Supervisor: Victor Zyuban Title: Research Staff Member, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center M.I. T. Thesis Supervisor: Thomas F. Knight Jr. Title: Senior Research Scientist
Proficiency Assessment Mechanism for Line-Probe Assay Testing for Diagnosis of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in India

GenoType MTBDRplus assay (LPA) has been endorsed by the World Health Organization for rapid screening of patients at risk of MDR-TB for an early diagnosis. A key constraint in the uptake of this technology in 2009 was the lack of LPA proficiency assessment system. To enable LPA scale-up, proficiency testing procedures were developed and implemented in India. Methods: After initial LPA training, each project site collected remnant sputum specimens from 50 smear-positive patients for anonymous LPA testing. Results were assessed for negative control validity, successful amplification and internal and external reproducibility. Any site failing to achieve the pre-defined proficiency benchmarks was reviewed for their practices and subsequently was reassessed, after undertaking the necessary corrective action. Results: Six laboratories underwent LPA proficiency assessment and this mechanism revealed several procedural weaknesses, including errors in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction practices, reagent contamination, and inter-observer variability in interpretation. After corrective action, 5 laboratories subsequently achieved required proficiency benchmarks and started service delivery for patient care. Conclusions: LPA proficiency assessment facilitated successful implementation of LPA in India. Based on these results, the described proficiency testing mechanism was accepted by National Laboratory Committee of India’s Revised National TB Control Programme, and is being implemented at all LPA laboratories under country’s laboratory scale-up plan.
Granular gas dynamics: how Maxwell's demon rules in a non-equilibrium system

The main characteristic of a granular gas, which makes it fundamentally different from ordinary molecular gases, is its tendency to form clusters, i.e. to spontaneously separate into dense and dilute regions. This can be interpreted as a separation in cold and hot regions, meaning that Maxwell's demon is at work: this demon – notoriously powerless in any system in thermodynamic equilibrium – makes clever use of the non-equilibrium state of affairs that reigns in a granular gas, with on the one hand an external energy source and on the other a continuous loss of energy due to the inelastic particle collisions. We focus on vibrated compartmentalised systems, because these give a particularly clear-cut view of the clustering process and also because they resemble the typical machinery used in industrial applications to sort and transport granular materials. We discuss how the clustering can be exploited to build a Brownian motor, a fountain, a granular clock, and how it gives insight into a related clusteri.
Renal congestion related to worsening renal function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: Diuretic strategy for acute cardiorenal syndrome

Deterioration of renal function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) influences the prognosis, suggesting that ADHF should be managed as an acute cardiorenal syndrome. Close collaboration between cardiologists and nephrologists is frequently crucial for management of this condition. It is noteworthy that renal congestion promotes worsening renal function (WRF). High-dose loop diuretics can cause WRF, but are often necessary for treatment of congestion, which is the main symptom of ADHF. However, it is controversial whether WRF associated with diuretic therapy actually has a poor prognosis. In this review, we focus on the mechanism of renal congestion related to WRF in patients with ADHF and on the current status of WRF. We also review the use of loop diuretics to treat ADHF and chronic heart failure, as well as the current role of selective vasopressin-2 receptor antagonist therapy.
Vinyl acetate modified Scots pine reinforced HDPE composites: Influence of various levels of modification on mechanical and thermal properties

In order to compare the effect of vinyl acetate modification (VA) at different levels of weight percentage gain, Scots pine wood flour was modified with VA to three different wt% gains (10%, 16%, and 21% WPGs). Acetic anhydride (AA) modification at 24% WPG was also studied. Modified Scots pine wood flour reinforced HDPE composites (WPCs) were produced at 30 wt% wood flour loading by using extrusion-injection molding process and the mechanical properties of WPCs were determined. The thermal and morphological properties of WPG were characterised by using TGA and SEM techniques. The increase in tensile strength was significant for VA modified WPCs in comparison to the AA modified, unmodified or neat HDPE composites. Thermal stability was also significantly improved with increasing the WPG levels of VA modification.
N‐loss isotope effects in the Peru oxygen minimum zone studied using a mesoscale eddy as a natural tracer experiment

Mesoscale eddies in Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs) have been identified as important fixed nitrogen (N) loss hotspots that may significantly impact both the global rate of N‐loss as well as the ocean's N isotope budget. They also represent “natural tracer experiments” with intensified biogeochemical signals that can be exploited to understand the large‐scale processes that control N‐loss and associated isotope effects (ε; the ‰ deviation from 1 in the ratio of reaction rate constants for the light versus heavy isotopologues). We observed large ranges in the concentrations and N and O isotopic compositions of nitrate (NO3−), nitrite (NO2−), and biogenic N2 associated with an anticyclonic mode‐water eddy in the Peru OMZ during two cruises in November and December 2012. In the eddy's center where NO3− was nearly exhausted, we measured the highest δ15N values for both NO3− and NO2− (up to ~70‰ and 50‰) ever reported for an OMZ. Correspondingly, N deficit and biogenic N2‐N concentrations were also the highest near the eddy's center (up to ~40 µmol L−1). δ15N‐N2 also varied with biogenic N2 production, following kinetic isotopic fractionation during NO2− reduction to N2 and, for the first time, provided an independent assessment of N isotope fractionation during OMZ N‐loss. We found apparent variable ε for NO3− reduction (up to ~30‰ in the presence of NO2−). However, the overall ε for N‐loss was calculated to be only ~13–14‰ (as compared to canonical values of ~20–30‰) assuming a closed system and only slightly higher assuming an open system (16–19‰). Our results were similar whether calculated from the disappearance of DIN (NO3− + NO2−) or from the appearance of N2 and changes in isotopic composition. Further, we calculated the separate ε values for NO3− reduction to NO2− and NO2− reduction to N2 of ~16–21‰ and ~12‰, respectively, when the effect of NO2− oxidation could be removed. These results, together with the relationship between N and O of NO3− isotopes and the difference in δ15N between NO3− and NO2−, confirm a role for NO2− oxidation in increasing the apparent ε associated with NO3− reduction. The lower ε for N‐loss calculated in this study could help reconcile the current imbalance in the global N budget if representative of global OMZ N‐loss.
Spatiotemporal patterns of unburned areas within fire perimeters in the northwestern United States from 1984 to 2014

A warming climate, ﬁ re exclusion, and land cover changes are altering the conditions that pro-duced historical ﬁ re regimes and facilitating increased recent wild ﬁ re activity in the northwestern United States. Understanding the impacts of changing ﬁ re regimes on forest recruitment and succession, species distributions, carbon cycling, and ecosystem services is critical, but challenging across broad spatial scales. One important and understudied aspect of ﬁ re regimes is the unburned area within ﬁ re perimeters; these areas can function as ﬁ re refugia across the landscape during and after wild ﬁ re by providing habitat and seed sources. With increasing ﬁ re activity, there is speculation that ﬁ re intensity and combustion completeness are also increasing, which we hypothesized would yield smaller unburned proportions and changes in ﬁ re refugia patterns. We sought to determine (1) whether the unburned proportion of wild ﬁ res decreased across the northwestern United States from 1984 to 2014 and (2) whether patterns of unburned patches were signi ﬁ cantly different across ecoregions, land cover type, and land ownership. We utilized a Landsat-derived geospatial database of unburned islands within 2298 ﬁ res across the inland northwestern USA (including eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and Idaho) from 1984 to 2014. We evaluated patterns of the total unburned proportion and spatial patterns of unburned patches of the ﬁ res across different ecoregions, land cover types, and land ownership. We found that unburned area proportion exhibited no change over the three decades, suggesting that recent trends in area burned and overall severity have not affected ﬁ re refugia, important to post- ﬁ re ecosystem recovery. There were ecoregional differences in mean unburned proportion, patch area, and patch density, suggesting in ﬂ uences of vegetation and topography on the formation of unburned area. These foundation ﬁ ndings suggest that complex drivers control unburned island formation, and yield insights to locate potential important ﬁ re refugia across the inland northwest.
Effect of supplementation with inorganic and organic selenium on sperm quality and quantity in North-East Bulgarian merino rams

Selenium is a trace element, which stimulates antioxidant defenses and improves reproductive functions in human and animals, under the form of selenoproteins. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of selenium, supplemeted as inorganic or organic form in the diet of stud rams, on some of their semen parameters. The experiment was performed with 15 clinically healthy rams from North East Bulgarian merino breed. The animals were divided in three groups (5 per group). The rams from first experimental group (G1) received a diet with supplementation of 4,0mg sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) per animal per day, while the animals of the second experimental group (G2) obtained diet with 1.83g L-selenomethionine (Sel-Plex, Alltech, USA) per animal per day. Eventually, each animal from the G1 and G2 received 1.83g selenium per day. The control group (GC) received a diet without supplementation of selenium. The principal composition of the diet in each group was the same. The ejaculates were obtained via artificial vagina. The evaluated parameters were volume and pH of the ejaculates and motility, concentration and in vitro survivability of the spermatozoa at 39 ̊С for 360 min. It was found that the supplementation of ram studs diet either with inorganic and organic selenium led to increase in the volume of the Rossen Stefanov et al. 70 ejaculates, motility and survivability of the spermatozoa. The pH of the freshly obtained semen was not affected by selenium treatment.
Effects of elevated water temperature and food availability on the reproductive performance of a coral reef fish

Climate change is predicted to increase ocean temperatures and alter plankton communities that are food for many marine fishes. To examine the effects of increased sea surface temperature and fluctuating food levels on reef-fish reproduction, breeding pairs of the coral reef damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus were maintained for a full summer breeding season in an orthogonal experiment comprising 3 temperature and 2 food levels. Water temperatures were the current-day average summer temperature for the collection location (28.5°C) and temperatures predicted to become close to the average for this region over the next 50 to 100 yr (30.0 and 31.5°C). Pairs were fed either a high or low quantity diet based on average and minimum feeding rates in the wild. Both water temperature and food supply affected reproductive output. Fewer pairs bred at elevated water temperatures and no pairs reproduced at either of the higher temperatures on the lower quantity diet. Furthermore, eggs produced were smaller at 30.0 and 31.5°C compared to those at 28.5°C. Histological analysis of the gonads and steroid hormone measurement did not reveal any apparent differences in patterns of oogenesis among treatments. However, spermatogenesis was reduced at high temperatures despite some increases in plasma androgen levels. Reduced breeding rate at warmer temperatures combined with reduced sperm production indicates the potential for significant declines in A. polyacanthus populations as the ocean warms.
Performance Tuning and Analysis for Stencil-Based Applications on POWER8 Processor

This article demonstrates an approach for combining general tuning techniques with the POWER8 hardware architecture through optimizing three representative stencil benchmarks. Two typical real-world applications, with kernels similar to those of the winning programs of the Gordon Bell Prize 2016 and 2017, are employed to illustrate algorithm modifications and a combination of hardware-oriented tuning strategies with the application algorithms. This work fills the gap between hardware capability and software performance of the POWER8 processor, and provides useful guidance for optimizing stencil-based scientific applications on POWER systems.
Sex-Related Differences in Clinical and Experimental Muscle Pain

This chapter deals with two issues: first, is there a sex difference in the presentation of muscle pain, and second, if so, how might we account for it? The first part of the chapter presents epidemiological evidence and discusses associated factors that might guide attempts to explain the evidence. However, satisfactory explanations also require evidence based on experimentally induced muscle pain, which will be reviewed in the second part of the chapter.
Magnetic Resonance-Guided Angioplasty of Renal Artery Stenosis in a Pig Model : A Feasibility Study

Compared to conventional x-ray angiography, the perceived health benefits of MR-guided endovascular intervention include the ability to provide functional and anatomic MR information, the avoidance of iodinated contrast, and the lack of ionizing radiation. In this project, we tested the hypothesis that magnetic resonance imaging can guide the percutaneous treatment of renal artery stenosis in a pig model.
Distribution of ACE I/D Polymorphism in the Patients of Diabetes and Nephropathy in Pakistan

Abstract Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic syndrome that can lead to serious vascular complications. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) has been established as the leading cause of deaths in diabetes due to ESRF. The association between ACE gene polymorphism and onset of DN has not been explored in Pakistani diabetic patients. This study investigates the possible association of insertion (I) and deletion (D) polymorphism of ACE gene in patients of diabetes with and without nephropathy. Total 296 diabetic patients without nephropathy (DM), 168 with nephropathy (DN) and 150 normal healthy individuals were selected followed by informed consent. Fasting blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses and PCR amplification was done to genotype the DNA, for ACE I/D using specific primers. In DM group, the ACE genotypes were distributed as II, 41.55%, DD, 8.45% and ID, 50%. In DN patients, II, 10.71%, DD, 30.95% and ID, 58.33%. The II and DD genotype, and I and D allele distributions were significantly different in DN vs. DM patients (χ2 = 9.879, P=0.00167). The I/D genotypes and allele distributions were significantly different in DM patients vs. controls (χ2 = 22.252, P=0.00000239). The DN patients have significantly higher prevalence of D allele and DD genotype in comparison to DM. Results indicated a clear association of D allele polymorphism in ACE gene with nephropathy in patients of diabetes. It is suggested that D allele polymorphism may be considered as genetic risk factor and disease marker for nephropathy in diabetes.
A Probabilistic Atlas of Human Visual Areas and Information- Theoretic Analysis of Individual Variability in Their Loci

The human visual cortex consists of multiple functionally distinct visual areas that have been individually localized on the cortical surface by brain imaging of their associated retinotopic activity. Thus, their locations can be quantitatively compared across individuals once they are expressed in a common coordinate space. In several studies (Dougherty et al. 2003, Fischl et al. 1999b, Hasnain et al. 1998), such comparisons have been performed using the Talairach stereotactic coordinate system (Talairach et al. 1967, Talairach & Tournoux 1988) as the common anatomical space. Because the Talairach system has been commonly used as a standard to describe the loci of brain activation or lesions, and to normalize the functional data between individual brains, evaluation of the interindividual variability within the Talairach space is essential for reliably interpreting a broad range of brain function data.