Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unification of PR Region floorplanning and Fine-Grained Placement for Dynamic Partially Reconfigurable FPGAs

Dynamic Partially Reconfiguration (DPR) designs provide additional benefits compared to traditional FPGA application. However, due to the lack of support from automatic design tools in current design flow, designers have to manually define the dimensions and positions of Partially Reconfigurable Regions (PR Regions). The following fine-grained placement for system modules is also limited because it takes the floorplanning result as a rigid region constraint. Therefore, the manual floorplanning is laborious and may lead to inferior fine-grained placement results. In this paper, we propose to integrate PR Region floorplanning with fine-grained placement to achieve the global optimization of the whole DPR system. Effective strategies for tuning PR Region floorplanning and apposite analytical evaluation models are customized for DPR designs to handle the co-optimization for both PR Regions and static region. Not only practical reconfiguration cost and specific reconfiguration constraints for DPR system are considered, but also the congestion estimation can be relaxed by our approach. Especially, we established a two-stage stochastic optimization framework which handles different objectives in different optimization stages so that automated floorplanning and global optimization can be achieved in reasonable time. Experimental results demonstrate that due to the flexibility benefit from the unification of PR Region floorplanning and fine-grained placement, our approach can improve 20.9% on critical path delay, 24% on reconfiguration delay, 12% on congestion, and 8.7% on wire length compared to current DPR design method.
DNA fingerprinting of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA was carried out on Streptococcus pneumoniae strains to determine its value in the epidemiological survey of pneumococcal infections. Twenty-one clinical strains were chosen to cover a broad range of diversity according to geographic location, penicillin susceptibility, serotype, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) pattern. The restriction endonucleases ApaI and SmaI were used to digest intact chromosomes, and the fragments were resolved by field inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE). Each digest produced 10 to 19 fragments for comparison between strains. All the strains, including strains of the same serotype and strains with the same MLEE profile, had different FIGE patterns. In some cases, the restriction patterns differed by only a few fragment bands, and two isolates differed only in the location of a single DNA fragment. The polymorphism obtained with FIGE was greater than those obtained with serotyping and MLEE analysis. The stability of the FIGE profiles was established by testing of two independent clones derived from pneumococcus strain R36A. These results indicated that pulsed-field gel electrophoresis should be an effective tool for the typing of S. pneumoniae strains, capable of subdividing serotypes or MLEE types and of tracing the origin of pneumococcal strains.
Characterization of Former Heroin Addict Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) Clinic in Israel

Aims: To compare characteristics, retention in treatment and cessation of drug abuse of 249 positive hepatitis C (HCV+) with 188 negative hepatitis C (HCV−) antibody patients. Methods: Data on Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV results, urine-proven drug use, and modified ASI of all patients admitted to the Adelson MMT clinic between June/1993–Dec/2002 were prospectively collected. Results: HCV+ patients manifested more ever injecting drug use, immigrants, positive HIV antibody, hepatitis B antigen, years of opiate addiction pre-MMT and benzodiazepines misuse after one year in MMT than HCV− patients, with similar 1-year retention and proportion of opiate use cessation. Conclusions: Although characteristics of HCV+ and HCV− differed, they manifested similar outcomes: treatment retention and proportion of opiate use cessation.
Exploring Constructs of Intellectual Disability and Personhood in Haryana and Delhi

Intellectual disability is one of the least researched areas in social science inquiry. This paper traces the complex interplay between the concepts of intellectual disability, gender and personhood. It outlines the socio-historical and cross-cultural variability of intellectual disability, and its connections with class, urbanisation and modernisation. Based on ethnographic material on the disabled in Delhi and the neighbouring state of Haryana, it presents case studies of two NGOs working with the intellectually disabled, namely, Arpan, a school for the mentally retarded in Rohtak, Haryana, and Action for Autism in New Delhi. It engages specifically with the notion of masculinity and the manner in which intellectually disabled male adults are feminised and infantilised. An attempt is made to understand how disabled individuals and their families seek social spaces for themselves and negotiate the social compulsions for ‘normalcy’ and competent adulthood.
The child care workforce: current conditions and future directions

At a time of major expansion in `child care' services, the workforce becomes a major issue. Drawing on a number of linked studies of the child care workforce, the article first provides an analysis of the situation of the current workforce, including the highly gendered nature of the work, low pay and high job satisfaction, and how the work is understood. It then considers whether, at a time of increasing demand for workers in both child care and social care work and increasing alternative job opportunities for women, the current situation is sustainable in the longer term. Finally, the article contrasts the reformatory approach of current government policy with a transformatory policy involving another way of understanding and structuring the work, and the emergence of a new `core' early childhood worker to work with children from 0—6 years. This is discussed in the context of the recent integration of responsibility for child care and early education within the education system, and in relation to workforces in other countries that have adopted this integrated approach to policy and provision.
A Solution to the Network Challenges of Data Recovery in Erasure-coded Distributed Storage Systems: A Study on the Facebook Warehouse Cluster

Erasure codes, such as Reed-Solomon (RS) codes, are being increasingly employed in data centers to combat the cost of reliably storing large amounts of data. Although these codes provide optimal storage efficiency, they require significantly high network and disk usage during recovery of missing data. In this paper, we first present a study on the impact of recovery operations of erasure-coded data on the data-center network, based on measurements from Facebook's warehouse cluster in production. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind available in the literature. Our study reveals that recovery of RS-coded data results in a significant increase in network traffic, more than a hundred terabytes per day, in a cluster storing multiple petabytes of RS-coded data. To address this issue, we present a new storage code using our recently proposed "Piggybacking" framework, that reduces the network and disk usage during recovery by 30% in theory, while also being storage optimal and supporting arbitrary design parameters. The implementation of the proposed code in the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) is underway. We use the measurements from the warehouse cluster to show that the proposed code would lead to a reduction of close to fifty terabytes of cross-rack traffic per day.
Finding a Working Balance between Competitive and Communal Strategies

This paper presents a dynamic framework that describes how firms allocate limited resources between improving their competitive position relative to rivals and their communal position shared with rivals. This dynamic framework outlines how organizational field-level dynamics influence industry attractiveness and thereby alter a firm's incentive to engage in communal strategy relative to competitive strategy. Communal strategy, in turn, can influence the institutions governing an organizational field and thereby shape industry attractiveness. Overall, the interplay between factors exogenous and endogenous to an industry cause change in an organizational field and so determine the nature of the communal environment shared by a firm and its rivals over time. Analysis of this interplay provides insight into the micro-level drivers of macro-level change and furthers understanding of the conditions under which rivalrous firms voluntarily contribute to collective betterment of their industry despite collective rationality.
Modeling and performance evaluation of frame bursting in wireless LANs

Several enhancements to the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of the IEEE 802.11 standard have been recommended in the new 802.11e standard. One main enhancement is the possibility to send bursts of frames during a limited duration called Transmission Opportunity (TXOP). Similar MAC efficiency enhancements such as Frame Aggregation have also been proposed for the upcoming 802.11n standard. We analyze the application of this feature to the existing 802.11 MAC and evaluate its performance under different network conditions. The frame bursting feature can increase the total capacity of an 802.11 network by reducing the contention and collision for bursty traffic sources. We extend the established 802.11 analytical models to include the frame bursting feature. Through simulation experiments we analyze the delay performance of the network under different frame bursting options and show that while in general frame bursting is useful and can increase the system capacity, it might cause excessive unfairness in certain cases. Using the findings of this article we present guidelines for implementing fair adaptive algorithms that use TXOP.
XMM-Newton Observation of the Merging Galaxy Cluster A1644

We present an XMM-Newton imaging spectroscopy analysis of the galaxy cluster A1644. A1644 is a complex merging system consisting of a main cluster and a subcluster. A trail of cool, metal-rich gas has been discovered close to the subcluster. The combination of results from X-ray, optical, and radio data and a comparison to a hydrodynamic simulation suggest that the subcluster has passed by the main cluster off-axis and that a fraction of its gas has been stripped off during this process. Furthermore, for this merging system simple effects are illustrated that can affect the use of clusters as cosmological probes. Specifically, double clusters may affect estimates of the cluster number density when treated as a single system. Mergers, as well as cool cores, can alter the X-ray luminosity and temperature measured for clusters, causing these values to differ from those expected in equilibrium.
IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANT DIFFUSATES AGAINST ALTERNARIA SOLANI, RHIZOCTONIA SOLANI AND MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA

The present paper reports the antifungal activity of plant diffusates from 5 indigenous medicinal plant species of Potohar region viz., Adhatoda zeylanica, Azadirachta indica, Capparis decidua, Dodonaea viscosa and Salvadora oleoides. Antifungal activity was tested against 3 pathogens attacking commercial crops viz., Alternaria solani, Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. All selected medicinal plants exhibited considerable distinction in radial mycelial growth of tested pathogens. Overall, Dodonaea viscosa appeared significantly the most effective and suppressed the radial mycelial growth of the Alternaria solani and Rhizoctonia solani, whereas, Adhatoda zeylanica exhibited maximum inhibition (77.44%) against Macrophomina phaseolina. However, Salvadora oleoides exhibited minimum inhibition against all tested pathogens. It was also observed that radial mycelial growth of selected pathogens reduced at an increase of plant diffusates concentration. Among 5 concentrations of plant diffusates, the highest inhibition in radial mycelial growth of all 3 pathogens was observed at 100 and 200g/l respectively, as compared to control, while minimum inhibition was recorded at 10g/l in all plant diffusates. It may be concluded from the present investigation that Dodonaea viscosa can be utilized for the management of fungal diseases caused by Alternaria solani, Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani.
Bond Strength of High-Viscosity Glass Ionomer Cements is Affected by Tubular Density and Location in Dentin?

Abstract This study evaluated the influence of tubular density of different dentin depths and location on the bond strength of high-viscosity glass ionomer cements (GIC). A total of 20 molars were selected and assigned into six experimental groups, considering two different high-viscosity GICs—Fuji IX (FIX) or Ketac Molar (KM), and dentin location—proximal, occlusal superficial, or occlusal deep dentin (n=10). Teeth were cut and a topographical analysis of four sections per group was performed to obtain data about the tubular density of each different dentin location and depths by laser scanning confocal microscopy (100×). Polyethylene tubes were placed over the pretreated surfaces and filled with one of the GICs. Microshear bond strength (µSBS) test was performed after storage in distilled water (24 h at 37°C). Failure modes were evaluated using a stereomicroscope (400×). Multilevel regression analysis was performed to compare the results at a significance level set at 5%. The tubule density was inversely proportional to the bond strength for both GICs (p<0.05). Adhesive/mixed failure prevailed in all experimental groups. Proximal (30036.5±3433.3) and occlusal superficial 29665.3±1434.04 dentin shows lower tubule density, resulting in a better GIC bonding performance (proximal: FIX–3.61±1.05; KM–3.40±1.62; occlusal superficial: FIX–4.70±1.85; KM–4.97±1.25). Thus, we can concluded that the lowest tubule density in proximal and occlusal superficial dentin results in a better GIC bond strength performance.
Mobile Device Identification via Sensor Fingerprinting

We demonstrate how the multitude of sensors on a smartphone can be used to construct a reliable hardware fingerprint of the phone. Such a fingerprint can be used to de-anonymize mobile devices as they connect to web sites, and as a second factor in identifying legitimate users to a remote server. We present two implementations: one based on analyzing the frequency response of the speakerphone-microphone system, and another based on analyzing device-specific accelerometer calibration errors. Our accelerometer-based fingerprint is especially interesting because the accelerometer is accessible via JavaScript running in a mobile web browser without requesting any permissions or notifying the user. We present the results of the most extensive sensor fingerprinting experiment done to date, which measured sensor properties from over 10,000 mobile devices. We show that the entropy from sensor fingerprinting is sufficient to uniquely identify a device among thousands of devices, with low probability of collision.
MUNICIPAL HEALTH SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICA , OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Municipal health services (MHS) include most environmental health services and according to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, are part of a basket of services that have to be provided by local authorities. With the promulgation of the New Health Act 61 of 2003 in 2005 providing a final definition of municipal health services and the allocation of funding in 2006 by Treasury for municipal health services, the provision of these services by local authorities needs review with the aim of determining the challenges and opportunities that still exist in the provision of municipal health services. This paper attempts to clearly outline the evolution of municipal health services in South Africa and some of the opportunities and challenges in the provision of such services. INTRODUCTION South Africa still has a high burden of preventable diseases which can be mitigated through improvements in the environment. Investigation of outbreaks of disease, monitoring of the environment and health promotion have in the main been provided by environmental health practitioners, most of whom are employed by local government. With the long period of uncertainty around the responsibility for the delivery of primary health care (PHC) services at a local level and the delay in role clarification around municipal health services, municipalities have tended to invest less in health services in general and this has led to diminished growth and prominence of environmental health services at a local level. According to the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998, municipal health services are a function of metro and district municipalities. This function has historically been executed by local municipalities and provinces, with minimal services outside the cities and main towns. Capacity has to be created and strengthened at a district municipality level for the efficient delivery of these services to all communities. District municipalities are already struggling with delivery of the services that have been delegated to their level by the provincial and national spheres of government and therefore will need support in taking over municipal health services. KEY DEFINITIONS Figure 1 below illustrates the relationship between municipal health services, environmental health services, PHC and health.
Response Rates in HRM/OB Survey Research: Norms and Correlates, 1990-1994

Literature from marketing, sociology, and public opinion measurement reveals several variables associated with high response rates. The literature suggests that advance notice, follow-up reminders, monetary incentives, and issue salience are associated with higher response rates in consumer populations. Further, the literature suggests that length of questionnaire decreases response rates. An analysis of articles from the Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Human Relations, Group & Organization Management, Journal of Business and Psychology, and Public Personnel Management was conducted for the years 1990 to 1994 to determine if these trends generalized to industrial samples. Multiple regression analyses found that four variables were significantly associated with response rates. These variables were advance notice, identification numbers, follow-up reminders, and salience. The associations of figllow-up reminders and salience to higher response rates were only found in mailed surveys. Future research and theoretical orientation toward study of response rates are discussed.
Regional Subcultures and Mass Preferences Regarding Candidate Traits in the USA

Regional variation in state orientations toward politics has long been a feature of the USA. Yet, while this regional variation has received a great deal of empirical scrutiny at the aggregate level, finding clear and distinct differences in the adoption and implementation of policies across the states based on their dominant political subculture, there has been far less empirical scrutiny given to the underlying foundation of these policy differences—namely shared individual-level orientations toward politics. Here we briefly discuss the empirical evidence supporting the major classification of US political subcultures, that offered by Daniel Elazar. We then explore mass preferences regarding what types of personality traits are seen as most desirable for political candidates to hold—an important dimension in US presidential politics—finding clear regional variation across Elazar's individualistic, moralistic and traditionalistic cultures.
Fostering organizational sustainability through dialogic interaction

– This paper aims to introduce and investigate dialogic interaction as a key element of achieving a transition towards sustainability in people, organizations and society as a whole. Furthermore “sustainability competence” as a potential outcome of such interaction is to be introduced, referring to the capacities and qualities that people, and the organizations and communities of which they are part, need in order to address (un)sustainability. , – The argument of the paper is grounded conceptually in emergent thinking among scholars preoccupied with learning‐based change and sustainability in organizations and communities. Empirically, the paper uses two case studies carried out by the authors to ground the argument in real efforts by communities to create a (more) sustainable way of living. , – The main results include: a post‐normal understanding of sustainability highlighting uncertainty, complexity, normativity, controversy and indeterminacy; a framework facilitating dialogic interaction; and a number of key competences that appear conducive to both dialogic interaction and a transition to sustainability. , – Although the two case studies are quite extensive and rigorous, the conceptual nature of the paper and the word limitation did not allow for a more detailed discussion of the methodology used in the case studies and the contexts in which the two case studies are located. , – The paper adopts a post‐normal perspective of organizational transitions towards sustainability and focuses on dialogue and dialogic interaction as a key learning‐based mechanism for facilitating such a transition. Furthermore the framework for dialogic interaction allows for a more holistic approach toward such a transition and the development of competences needed to accelerate its realization.
An experimental investigation of the Egyptian consumers’ attitudes towards surrealism in advertising

This study investigates Egyptian consumers’ attitudes towards surrealism in advertising held by a sample of 976 participants. An experimental approach was taken to establish the interaction between Surreal advertisements and product category attitudes. This interaction was found to be statistically significant. A 2 × 2 anova was conducted to evaluate the effect of sex on attitudes towards surrealism in advertising. The results indicated a significant interaction between advertisement type and sex. However, the impact of surrealism in advertisements on persuasion, as measured by consumers’ attitudes towards the advertisement and brand, was not found to be moderated by consumers’ social class/income. These results lend strong support to the advertisement adaptation hypothesis and suggest that advertisements produced in one country cannot be standardized or directly translated for use in another, particularly if they are culturally different.