Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age of exposure and subject/object asymmetries when wh-movement goes rightward

We report an experiment addressing the comprehension of LIS interrogatives in three adult populations with different times of exposure to sign language: native signers, early signers, and late signers. We investigate whether delayed exposure to language affects comprehension of interrogatives and whether there is an advantage for subject dependencies over object dependencies, as systematically reported for spoken languages. The answer to the first question is positive: there is evidence that natives outperform non-native signers, confirming permanent effects of delayed exposure to sign language even decades after childhood. However, the performance in subject interrogatives was lower than in object interrogatives in all groups of participants. We discuss several possible reasons for this unexpected finding.
Statistics of biological noise and performance of generalized energy detectors for passive detection

Underwater noise due to snapping shrimp is highly impulsive, and often dominates the ambient noise environment of warm, shallow waters at frequencies above 1 kHz. We report here on the statistics of bandpass snapping shrimp noise data, and on the modeling of the joint distribution of the in-phase and quadrature components using bivariate versions of the generalized Gaussian (GG), generalized Cauchy, and Gaussian-Gaussian mixture models. We evaluate the performance of several generalized energy detectors for passive bandpass detection, by inserting stochastic signals into the noise data. Detection thresholds were measured for an integration time of 0.5 s and false alarm probabilities down to 1%. The locally optimum detector based on the mixture model gave the best weak signal detection performance, with an 8 dB reduction in detection threshold over conventional energy detection. A significance test detector based on the GG model performed 1-2 dB worse, but exhibited better strong signal performance.
HLAncPred: A method for predicting promiscuous non-classical HLA binding sites

In the last two decades, ample of methods have been developed to predict the classical HLA binders in an antigen. In contrast, limited attempts have been made to develop methods for predicting binders for non-classical HLA; due to the scarcity of sufficient experimental data and lack of community interest. Of Note, non-classical HLA plays a crucial immunomodulatory role and regulates various immune responses. Recent studies revealed that non-classical HLA (HLA-E & HLA-G) based immunotherapies have many advantages over classical HLA based-immunotherapy, particularly against COVID-19. In order to facilitate the scientific community, we have developed an artificial intelligence-based method for predicting binders of non-classical HLA alleles (HLA-G and HLA-E). All the models were trained and tested on experimentally validated data obtained from the recent release of IEDB. The machine learning based-models achieved more than 0.98 AUC for HLA-G alleles on validation or independent dataset. Similarly, our models achieved the highest AUC of 0.96 and 0.88 on the validation dataset for HLA-E*01:01, HLA-E*01:03, respectively. We have summarized the models developed in the past for non-classical HLA binders and compared with the models developed in this study. Moreover, we have also predicted the non-classical HLA binders in the spike protein of different variants of virus causing COVID-19 including omicron (B.1.1.529) to facilitate the community. One of the major challenges in the field of immunotherapy is to identify the promiscuous binders or antigenic regions that can bind to a large number of HLA alleles. In order to predict the promiscuous binders for the non-classical HLA alleles, we developed a web server HLAncPred (https://webs.iiitd.edu.in/raghava/hlancpred), and a standalone package. Key Points Non-classical HLAs play immunomodulatory roles in the immune system. HLA-E restricted T-cell therapy may reduce COVID-19 associated cytokine storm. In silico models developed for predicting binders for HLA-G and HLA-E. Identification of non-classical HLA binders in strains of coronavirus A webserver for predicting promiscuous binders for non-classical HLA alleles Author’s Biography Anjali Dhall is currently working as Ph.D. in Bioinformatics from Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, New Delhi, India. Sumeet Patiyal is currently working as Ph.D. in Bioinformatics from Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, New Delhi, India. Gajendra P. S. Raghava is currently working as Professor and Head of Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, New Delhi, India.
Voltage and current stress reduction in single-stage power factor correction AC/DC converters with bulk capacitor voltage feedback

Single-stage power factor correction (PFC) AC/DC converters integrate a boost-derived input current shaper (ICS) with a flyback or forward DC/DC converter in one single stage. The ICS can be operated in either discontinuous current mode (DCM) or continuous current mode (CCM), while the flyback or forward DC/DC converter is operated in CCM. Almost all single-stage PFC AC/DC converters suffer from high bulk capacitor voltage stress and extra switch current stress. The bulk capacitor voltage feedback with a coupled winding structure is widely used to reduce both the voltage and current stresses in practical single-stage PFC AC/DC converters. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the bulk capacitor voltage feedback, including the relationship between bulk capacitor voltage, input current harmonics, voltage feedback ratio, and load condition. The maximum bulk capacitor voltage appears when the DC/DC converter operates at the boundary between CCM and DCM. This paper also reveals that only the voltage feedback ratio determines the input current harmonics under DCM ICS and CCM DC/DC operation. The theoretical prediction of the bulk capacitor voltage as well as the predicted input harmonic contents is verified experimentally on a 60 W AC/DC converter with universal-line input.
Fatores complicantes ao desenvolvimento do processo empreendedor em empresas familiares em Rondon do Pará

O empreendedorismo é um processo que possui um importante papel para a economia e cujo estudo vem ganhando destaque especialmente no âmbito dos estudos sobre empresas familiares. No Brasil vem aumentando significativamente o número de pessoas que se lançam no mercado com ideias criativas e de sucesso. Essa, no entanto não é uma tarefa fácil, uma vez que o processo empreendedor é influenciado por fatores individuais, intrapessoais e sociais. Exatamente por não ser uma tarefa fácil é que surge o questionamento que norteia este trabalho: Quais são os fatores complicadores do empreendedorismo ao processo de empreender em empresas familiares de Rondon do Pará? Diante desse questionamento o presente estudo tem por objetivo descrever os fatores que dificultam o processo empreendedor nas empresas familiares em Rondon do Pará-PA. Foi realizada um estudo de natureza qualitativa, onde realizou-se o método de estudo de casos múltiplos e foram realizadas entrevistas em quatro empresas independentes do setor varejista na cidade de Rondon do Pará-PA. A pesquisa analisou três categorias: identificação da oportunidade, planejamento e plano de negócio, e obtenção de recursos para se começar o empreendimento. Os resultados apontam as características próprias do comportamento empreendedor desses empreendedores de empresas familiares: gosto pelo segmento determinado pela família, bons relacionamentos familiares, comprometimento com os conjugues e familiares, informações e aprendizados adquiridos ao longo da vida na atuação de negócios da família. Por outro lado, a independência é o principal elemento complicante ao processo empreendedor.
Design Optimization of Heat Wheels for Energy Recovery in HVAC Systems

Air to air heat exchangers play a crucial role in mechanical ventilation equipment, due to the potential primary energy savings both in case of refurbishment of existing buildings or in case of new ones. In particular, interest in heat wheels is increasing due to their low pressure drop and high effectiveness. In this paper a detailed optimization of design parameters of heat wheels is performed in order to maximize sensible effectiveness and to minimize pressure drop. The analysis is carried out through a one dimensional lumped parameters heat wheel model, which solves heat and mass transfer equations, and through appropriate correlations to estimate pressure drop. Simulation results have been compared with experimental data of a heat wheel tested in specific facilities, and good agreement is attained. The device optimization is performed through the variation of main design parameters, such as heat wheel length, channel base, height and thickness and for different operating conditions, namely the air face velocity and the revolution speed. It is shown that the best configurations are achieved with small channel thickness and, depending on the required sensible effectiveness, with appropriate values of wheel length and channel base and height.
Genomic Analysis of the First European Bacteriophages with Depolymerase Activity and Biocontrol Efficacy against the Phytopathogen Ralstonia solanacearum

Ralstonia solanacearum is the causative agent of bacterial wilt, one of the most destructive plant diseases. While chemical control has an environmental impact, biological control strategies can allow sustainable agrosystems. Three lytic bacteriophages (phages) of R. solanacearum with biocontrol capacity in environmental water and plants were isolated from river water in Europe but not fully analysed, their genomic characterization being fundamental to understand their biology. In this work, the phage genomes were sequenced and subjected to bioinformatic analysis. The morphology was also observed by electron microscopy. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with a selection of phages able to infect R. solanacearum and the closely related phytopathogenic species R. pseudosolanacearum. The results indicated that the genomes of vRsoP-WF2, vRsoP-WM2 and vRsoP-WR2 range from 40,688 to 41,158 bp with almost 59% GC-contents, 52 ORFs in vRsoP-WF2 and vRsoP-WM2, and 53 in vRsoP-WR2 but, with only 22 or 23 predicted proteins with functional homologs in databases. Among them, two lysins and one exopolysaccharide (EPS) depolymerase, this type of depolymerase being identified in R. solanacearum phages for the first time. These three European phages belong to the same novel species within the Gyeongsanvirus, Autographiviridae family (formerly Podoviridae). These genomic data will contribute to a better understanding of the abilities of these phages to damage host cells and, consequently, to an improvement in the biological control of R. solanacearum.
Parametric identification of piezoelectric microscale resonators

Piezoelectrically actuated and sensed microscale resonators have been widely studied for filtering, communication and sensing applications. In this effort, to characterize these resonators, the nonlinear frequency-response behavior of these resonators is examined and parametric identification is carried out. A nonlinear beam model is used with a single-mode approximation to produce a forced Düffing oscillator. Nonlinear analysis is used to obtain the frequency-response equation, and this equation is used along with a least-squares minimization scheme to identify the linear and nonlinear parameter values in oscillator models describing the microscale structures. A linearized analytical model of the stepwise axially varying resonator is also used to obtain additional system parameters. The experimentally identified parameter values are found to be in agreement with predicted values obtained from a nonlinear beam model. Parameter values obtained from multiple sets of data for PZT and AlGaAs microresonators are used to observe trends with respect to a variety of operating conditions.
Catalogue of Advanced Technologies and Systems for Humanitarian Demining

Executive Summary In the framework of its Technology Survey, the EUDEM2 project conducted several studies on Humanitarian Demining Technologies. This Catalogue summarizes the some of the findings of the project. The Catalogue provides state of the art technologies which have been developed for the detection of landmines, both anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. It contains details of technologies which have reached the stage of deployment, as well as those at the prototype or demonstration stage. The benefits which may be obtained from the introduction of new technology to humanitarian demining are highlighted while some of the further development, both technical and operational, which must still be undertaken, is noted. The technologies considered are evaluated for their state of readiness and given a Technology Readiness Level score; it is however important to note that this is only in the opinion of EUDEM2 team based on its own analysis. Disclaimer The information appearing in this Catalogue has been provided predominantly with the analysis of information already made public and also with input from, and cooperation with, the developers of each of the technologies appearing in the Catalogue. EUDEM2 team and the Catalogue authors have prepared this report in good faith with the goals of disseminating results. Note In case you notice errors or incoherence's please send comments to K. De Bruyn
The Structure Design and Simulation of the Ring Resonator Based on SOI Planar Optical Waveguide for the Micro Biochemical Sensor

A ring resonator based on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) planar optical waveguide for micro biochemical sensor application is designed and simulated in this paper. The SOI optical waveguide is made with a ridge structure. According to the optical waveguide mode theory and the performance of the ring resonator, the size of the single mode ridge waveguide and the structure of the ring resonator are obtained. Based on the structure principle and the transmission mechanism of electric field of the ring resonator, the power transfer function and the parametric equation of sensitivity are derived. As a result, the value of Q of the ring resonator can reach 103 magnitudes. At last, the structure and the transmission mechanism of electric field in the ring resonator are simulated in MATLAB software.
Soft breakdown conduction in ultrathin (3-5 nm) gate dielectrics

Prior to any attempt to model a charge transport mechanism, a precise knowledge of the parameters on which the current depends is essential. In this work, the soft breakdown (SBD) failure mode of ultrathin (3-5 nm) SiO/sub 2/ layers in polysilicon-oxide-semiconductor structures is investigated. This conduction regime is characterized by a large leakage current and by multilevel current fluctuations, both at low applied voltages. In order to obtain a general picture of SBD, room-temperature current-voltage (I-V) measurements have been performed on samples with different gate areas, oxide thicknesses and substrate types. An astounding matching between some of these I-V characteristics has been found. The obtained results and the comparison with the final breakdown regime suggest that the current flow through a SBD spot is largely influenced by its atomic-scale dimensions as occurs in a point contact configuration. Experimental data are also presented which demonstrate that specific current fluctuations can be ascribed to a blocking behavior of unstable SBD conduction channels.
Erfassung und interaktive Auswertung von Biosignalen mit einem Personalcomputer

Der Preisverfall der Hardware bei Persona l compu te rn ( P C ) e r ö f f n e t neue A n wendungsbereiche für PCs. Es besteht ein umfangreiches Angebot an Einschubkarten zur anologen und digitalen Datenaufnahmeund -ausgäbe. Weiter stehen komfortable Programmiersprachen zur Verfügung, die auch eine bequeme Programmierung von Bildschirmgraphiken ermöglichen. Daraus läßt sich ein System konfigurieren und entwickeln, mit dem Biosignale mehrkanalig aufgenommen, dargestellt, ausgewertet und abgespeichert werden können.
Performance Evaluation of INT8 Quantized Inference on Mobile GPUs

During the past several years, the need for on-device deep learning has rapidly increased, and the performance of mobile GPUs has significantly increased. As a viable approach for efficient on-device deep learning, INT8 quantized inference has been actively studied and proposed but there are currently few frameworks that support INT8 quantization for mobile GPUs. This paper presents a unified framework that integrates various INT8 quantization methods, such as symmetric, asymmetric, per-layer, and per-channel, and discuss their impact on accuracy and efficiency on recent mobile GPUs. Moreover, we discuss the performance and accuracy of INT8 quantized Winograd convolution and propose INT8 Winograd convolution with F(2×2, 3×3), where weight tensors are quantized in INT4 and input tensors are quantized in INT6. We evaluated the performance of INT8 methods, including INT8 Winograd, for ResNet50, MobileNet-v1, and VGG16 on Mali G52, G72, and G76 GPUs on Odroid N2, Galaxy S9, and Galaxy Note 10+, respectively. INT8 quantized inference based on General Matrix Multiplication (GEMM) was 1.67× faster than FP32 GEMM for ResNet50 on Mali G52, and was further accelerated by batch normalization folding and by the proposed INT8 Winograd convolution, achieving 2.45× speedup in total with an accuracy loss of only -0.31%p.
Current and Novel Antiplatelet Therapies for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Over the last decades, antiplatelet agents, mainly aspirin and P2Y12 receptor antagonists, have significantly reduced morbidity and mortality associated with arterial thrombosis. Their pharmacological characteristics, including pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics profiles, have been extensively studied, and a significant number of clinical trials assessing their efficacy and safety in various clinical settings have established antithrombotic efficacy. Notwithstanding, antiplatelet agents carry an inherent risk of bleeding. Given that bleeding is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality, there is an unmet clinical need to develop novel antiplatelet therapies that inhibit thrombosis while maintaining hemostasis. In this review, we present the currently available antiplatelet agents, with a particular focus on their targets, pharmacological characteristics, and patterns of use. We will further discuss the novel antiplatelet therapies in the pipeline, with the goal of improved clinical outcomes among patients with atherothrombotic diseases.
On the reverse short channel effect in deep submicron heterojunction MOSFET's and its impact on the current-voltage behavior

In this paper, we report on the reverse short channel effect (RSCE) in vertical heterojunction MOSFET's, which use a source/channel heterojunction for reduction of the short channel effect (SCE) in deep submicron devices. The study shows that a typical RSCE will occur when the heterobarrier dominates the channel potential and when the barrier is strong enough to shift the potential maximum (pMOS) or minimum (nMOS) toward the source/channel interface. The particular channel potential for these devices will give rise to a current-voltage (I-V) behavior which deviates from the classical linear or saturation regime for homojunction devices. A distinctive "transition zone" needs to be taken into account.
A Novel Ultra-Broadband and Low-Cost Termination Concept Based on a Dual-Layer SIW Topology

In this work a novel concept to realize wideband matches at high frequencies with standard manufacturing processes without the need for additional fabrication steps or materials is presented. This is achieved by incorporating the high dielectric losses in substrates based on epoxy and glass fibers. The benefits of this approach for real applications are demonstrated by the design and fabrication of an illustrative load. This wideband match was then validated with an absolute reflection coefficient of around −20dB between 50 and 110GHz. Parameters critical for performance are presented and their impact is examined in theory and verified by full wave simulations and measurements.
A indústria do petróleo como uma organização complexa: modelagem de negócios e processo decisório

This paper proposes the formulation of business models to support the decision-making process in complex organizations. The decision-making process is studied, being explored the themes of the bounded rationality, of the problems' structuring, of the mental models, of the virtual worlds and of the modeling as support to the decision. The system dynamics is introduced as an instrument for models' construction, the identification of decision's rules and its communication. A businesses model is developed for the activities of exploration and production of the petroleum segment. The paper is concluded with simulations to a typical company of that segment.
Deep learning recommender system based on tensor decomposition of meta-paths of heterogeneous information networks

The existing representation learning based recommendation methods have achieved satisfactory results in large-scale data. Compare to the early classical matrix decomposition methods (matrix factorization, MF), the popular deep learning based methods have better generalization capability in sparse data in recent years. However, many methods only consider the two-dimensional scoring matrix information or simply do embedding vectors for various attributes, while ignoring the internal relationships between various attributes. Heterogeneous information networks (HIN) can store richer semantic features than homogeneous networks. In recent years, by combining heterogeneous information networks with deep learning for recommender systems, it becomes a hot research topic to mine key semantic information through meta-paths
First record of Lithurguscornutus (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae) from Poland

Abstract The paper presents the first record of Lithurguscornutus (Fabricius, 1787) in Poland. Until recently, bees of the genus Lithurgus have not been recorded in Poland. Five females and one male of L.cornutus were caught in Lublin Region, SE Poland. The localities are beyond the range of this species, being the northernmost known records from Central Europe. The following information is provided: short diagnosis, ecology, distribution, recent records and threat status of L.cornutus in Central Europe.
Contract and Labor Effort: An assessment

The aim of this study is to examine the relation between contract arrangements and labor effort and, specifically, to verify whether temporary workers exert different level of effort, respect to permanent ones. Propensity score techniques have been used to compare effort of people who have acquired a temporary job with that of people who started, in the same period, a permanent job. Effort is measured by indicators known in literature (absenteeism and overtime work, paid and unpaid) and the analysis covers the period from 2006 to 2013, before and during the Great Recession. In order to indirectly investigate the presence of unobservables, a sensitivity analysis is performed testing the robustness of the results to specific violations of the CIA (according to the methodology proposed by Ichino et al.). Data comes from a unique data set taken from Italian Labor Force Survey. Jel Codes: J41, M55
A note on the weight of triangle in 1-planar graphs with minimum degree 6∗

It is proved that every 1-planar graph with minimum degree at least 6 contains a triangle uvw with d(u)+d(v)+d(w) ≤ 22, or with d(u) = 6, d(v) = 7 and d(w) = 10, or with d(u) = 7, d(v) = 8 and d(w) = 8. Moreover, it is also proved that every plane graph with independent crossings with minimum degree 6 contains a triangle uvw with d(u) = d(v) = d(w) = 6.