Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-power design of a 64-tap, 4-bit digital matched filter using systolic array architecture and CVSL circuit techniques in CMOS

A 4-bit 64-chip pseudo noise (PN) coded digital matched filter (DMF) is designed in 0.7 /spl mu/m CMOS technology using a systolic array (SA) architecture. Full-custom and full-static cascode voltage switch logic (CVSL) circuit techniques have been employed in the implementation of the basic building blocks (systoles) of the SA DMF. Significant reduction in number of transistors and power consumption have been achieved. The resultant IC is to be used at the receiver side of a wireless direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communication system.
Neutron Capture Elements in s-Process-Rich, Very Metal-Poor Stars

We report abundance estimates for neutron capture elements, including lead (Pb), and nucleosynthesis models for their origin, in two carbon-rich, very metal-poor stars, LP 625-44 and LP 706-7. These stars are subgiants whose surface abundances are likely to have been strongly affected by mass transfer from companion asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars that have since evolved to white dwarfs. The detections of Pb, which forms the final abundance peak of the s-process, enable a comparison of the abundance patterns from Sr (Z = 38) to Pb (Z = 82) with predictions of AGB models. The derived chemical compositions provide strong constraints on the AGB stellar models, as well as on s-process nucleosynthesis at low metallicity. The present paper reports details of the abundance analysis for 16 neutron capture elements in LP 625-44, including the effects of hyperfine splitting and isotope shifts of spectral lines for some elements. A Pb abundance is also derived for LP 706-7 by a reanalysis of a previously observed spectrum. We investigate the characteristics of the nucleosynthesis pathway that produces the abundance ratios of these objects using a parametric model of the s-process without adopting any specific stellar model. The neutron exposure τ is estimated to be about 0.7 mbarn-1, significantly larger than that which best fits solar system material, but consistent with the values predicted by models of moderately metal-poor AGB stars. This value is strictly limited by the Pb abundance, in addition to those of Sr and Ba. We also find that the observed abundance pattern can be explained by a few recurrent neutron exposures and that the overlap of the material that is processed in two subsequent exposures is small (the overlap factor r ~ 0.1).
Are Visual Cortex Maps Optimized for Coverage?

The elegant regularity of maps of variables such as ocular dominance, orientation, and spatial frequency in primary visual cortex has prompted many people to suggest that their structure could be explained by an optimization principle. Up to now, the standard way to test this hypothesis has been to generate artificial maps by optimizing a hypothesized objective function and then to compare these artificial maps with real maps using a variety of quantitative criteria. If the artificial maps are similar to the real maps, this provides some evidence that the real cortex may be optimizing a similar function to the one hypothesized. Recently, a more direct method has been proposed for testing whether real maps represent local optima of an objective function (Swindale, Shoham, Grinvald, Bonhoeffer, & Hbener, 2000). In this approach, the value of the hypothesized function is calculated for a real map, and then the real map is perturbed in certain ways and the function recalculated. If each of these perturbations leads to a worsening of the function, it is tempting to conclude that the real map is quite likely to represent a local optimum of that function. In this article, we argue that such perturbation results provide only weak evidence in favor of the optimization hypothesis.
Genetic Evaluation of Dual-Purpose Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Colombia Using Principal Component Analysis

Genealogy and productive information of 48621 dual-purpose buffaloes born in Colombia between years 1996 and 2014 was used. The following traits were assessed using one-trait models: milk yield at 270 days (MY270), age at first calving (AFC), weaning weight (WW), and weights at the following ages: first year (W12), 18 months (W18), and 2 years (W24). Direct additive genetic and residual random effects were included in all the traits. Maternal permanent environmental and maternal additive genetic effects were included for WW and W12. The fixed effects were: contemporary group (for all traits), sex (for WW, W12, W18, and W24), parity (for WW, W12, and MY270). Age was included as covariate for WW, W12, W18 and W24. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted using the genetic values of 133 breeding males whose breeding-value reliability was higher than 50% for all the traits in order to define the number of principal components (PC) which would explain most of the variation. The highest heritabilities were for W18 and MY270, and the lowest for AFC; with 0.53, 0.23, and 0.17, respectively. The first three PCs represented 66% of the total variance. Correlation of the first PC with meat production traits was higher than 0.73, and it was -0.38 with AFC. Correlations of the second PC with maternal genetic component traits for WW and W12 were above 0.75. The third PC had 0.84 correlation with MY270. PCA is an alternative approach for analyzing traits in dual-purpose buffaloes and reduces the dimension of the traits.
A Markovian Approach to Radio Access Technology Selection in Heterogeneous Multiaccess/Multiservice Wireless Networks

This paper addresses the problem of radio access technology (RAT) selection in heterogeneous multi-access/multi-service scenarios. For such purpose, a Markov model is proposed to compare the performance of various RAT selection policies within these scenarios. The novelty of the approach resides in the embedded definition of the aforementioned RAT selection policies within the Markov chain. In addition, the model also considers the constraints imposed by those users with terminals that only support a subset of all the available RATs (i.e. multi-mode terminal capabilities). Furthermore, several performance metrics may be measured to evaluate the behaviour of the proposed RAT selection policies under varying offered traffic conditions. In order to illustrate the validation and suitability of the proposed model, some examples of operative radio access networks are provided, including the GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) and the UMTS Radio Access Network (UTRAN), as well as several service-based, load-balancing and terminal-driven RAT selection strategies. The flexibility exhibited by the presented model enables to extend these RAT selection policies to others responding to diverse criteria. The model is successfully validated by means of comparing the Markov model results with those of system-level simulations.
Novel GATA4 mutations in patients with congenital ventricular septal defects

Summary Background Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most prevalent type of congenital heart disease and is a major cause of substantial morbidity and mortality in infants. Accumulating evidence implicates genetic defects, especially in cardiac transcription factors, in the pathogenesis of VSD. However, VSD is genetically heterogeneous and the genetic determinants for VSD in most patients remain to be identified. Material/Methods A cohort of 230 unrelated patients with congenital VSD was included in the investigation. A total of 200 unrelated ethnically matched healthy individuals were recruited as controls. The entire coding region of GATA4, a gene encoding a zinc-finger transcription factor essential for normal cardiac morphogenesis, was sequenced initially in 230 unrelated VSD patients. The available relatives of the mutation carriers and 200 control subjects were subsequently genotyped for the presence of identified mutations. Results Four heterozygous missense GATA4 mutations of p.Q55R, p.G96R, p.N197S, and p.K404R were identified in 4 unrelated patients with VSD. These mutations were not detected in 200 control individuals nor described in the human SNP database. Genetic analysis of the relatives of the mutation carriers showed that in each family the mutation co-segregated with VSD. Conclusions These findings expand the mutation spectrum of GATA4 linked to VSD and provide new insight into the molecular etiology responsible for VSD, suggesting potential implications for the genetic diagnosis and gene-specific therapy for VSD.
Design of heterogenous multi-processor embedded systems: applying functional pipelining

Practice shows that increasing the amount of instruction level parallelism (ILP) offered by an architecture (like adding instruction slots to VLIW instructions) does not necessary lead to significant performance gains. Instead, high hardware costs and inefficient use of this hardware may occur. Mapping embedded applications onto multiprocessor systems forms a very interesting extension to ILP. The authors describe their approach to the mapping of embedded programs written in ANSI C onto a pipeline of application specific processors. An efficient algorithm for functional pipelining of loops is presented. To validate its applicability the frequency tracking system is used as a case study. This typical embedded application is mapped onto a two-processor system delivering speedup of 1.88 in comparison with a highly optimized single core solution.
The Gnawa musicians in Brussels: a cultural reorganisation

This article examines the Gnawa musical practices in Brussels through an ethnomusicological approach. The Gnawa belong to a community originating in Morocco, and have integrated new elements into their practices, which could be explained by their relocation abroad. Furthermore, the comparison with the situation in other cities allows us to assume that the situation in Brussels has a unique character. There have been changes in the methods of learning this musical practice, women now mix with men not only in secular but also ritual musical practice, and there has been a diversification of performance contexts. This has prompted Gnawa musicians to learn other Moroccan musical styles, which they use as inspiration for their Gnawa repertoire, in theory closed to the integration of outside elements. Far from deploring a hypothetical loss of authenticity due to their migration, the Gnawa in Brussels have redefined their musical practices and their methods of operation, by adapting them to their new place of residence. In so doing, they continually reshape their identity, which allows them to be part of a very specific cultural and social heritage while exploring new territories.
Turning Math Remediation into “Homeroom:” Contextualization as a Motivational Environment for Community College Students in Remedial Math

Kelly Wickersham is a doctoral student in the department of Educational Leadership and Policy analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on the complexity of community college student pathways through higher education and subsequent persistence and success. The Review of Higher Education Spring 2017, Volume 40, No. 3, pp. 427–464 Copyright © 2017 Association for the Study of Higher Education All Rights Reserved (ISSN 0162–5748)
A class of two-dimensional binary sequences with zero-correlation zone

We present a new approach to the construction of 2-D binary sequences, giving sequences with zero correlation zone. A set of 4mn sequences, each of size 2/sup u+2/m /spl times/ 2/sup u+2/n, is constructed from a set of mn-length Hadamard sequences.
A qualitative exploration of the relationship between those with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder and their care coordinators : a service user perspective.

Introduction: Little is known about the relationships between those diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and their care coordinators in UK community mental health settings, with the role of care coordinator poorly defined with limited guidance. The purpose of this research was to explore these relationships and interactions from the perspectives of those diagnosed with BPD. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants diagnosed with BPD in current relationships with care coordinators. The transcribed interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Four superordinate themes were identified: Trust, Qualities of the care coordinator, The complexity of the relationship and Developing a safe base. The first three themes are viewed as contributing to the final theme. Discussion: Themes were discussed in the context of attachment theory with consideration that the development of secure attachments in care coordinator relationships may be therapeutically beneficial and important in recovery. The research was critiqued and future directions considered. Implications for Practice: Whilst the generic role of care coordinator is not specifically defined as therapeutic there is potential for this relationship to be therapeutically beneficial or conversely counter-therapeutic for those diagnosed with BPD.
Wavy strings: Black or bright?

Recent developments in string theory have brought forth considerable interest in time-dependent hair on extended objects. This novel new hair is typically characterized by a wave profile along the horizon and angular momentum quantum numbers l,m in the transverse space. In this work, we present an extensive treatment of such oscillating black objects, focusing on their geometric properties. We first give a theorem of purely geometric nature, stating that such wavy hair cannot be detected by any scalar invariant built out of the curvature and/or matter fields. However, we show that the tidal forces detected by an infalling observer diverge at the {open_quotes}horizon{close_quotes} of a black string superposed with a vibration in any mode with l{ge}1. The same argument applied to longitudinal (l=0) waves detects only finite leading-order tidal forces. We also provide an example with a manifestly smooth metric, proving that at least a certain class of these longitudinal waves have regular horizons. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Dividends, Share Repurchases, and the Substitution Hypothesis

We show that repurchases have not only became an important form of payout for U.S. corporations, but also that firms finance their share repurchases with funds that otherwise would have been used to increase dividends. We find that young firms have a higher propensity to pay cash through repurchases than they did in the past and that repurchases have become the preferred form of initiating a cash payout. Although large, established firms have generally not cut their dividends, they also show a higher propensity to pay out cash through repurchases. These findings indicate that firms have gradually substituted repurchases for dividends. Our results also suggest that before 1983, regulatory constraints inhibited firms from aggressively repurchasing shares.
Examining Marginalizing Acts of Social Positioning in Mathematical Group Work: Towards a Better Understanding of how Microaggressions and Stereotype Threat Unfold in Intergroup Interactions

Mathematics learning is documented as being racialized and gendered. Power dynamics between students from various social groups can become particularly problematic during collaborative group work when students from dominant social groups position group members from stereotyped social groups in ways that hinder their opportunities to learn. The present study seeks to investigate how marginalization unfolds during everyday interpersonal interactions within mathematical group work and how students from stereotyped social groups talk about these experiences. Employing an interdisciplinary theoretical framework that cuts across the fields of the learning sciences and social psychology, this qualitative study aims to further understand not only the sociohistorical stereotypes and systems of power that are entrenched within mathematics classrooms, but also how power is constructed through the ways students position one another in their moment-to-moment interactions. Drawing from six episodes of videotaped collaborative group work wherein students from stereotyped social groups are working with students from dominant social groups, the study examines the microdynamics of marginalizing acts of social positioning. Using a stimulated recall interview technique, the study also explores how six focal students from stereotyped social groups, identify, interpret, and discuss their experiences with marginalization. iii The findings demonstrate the verbal and non-verbal dimensions of marginalization; highlight the intersectionality of race and gender and pinpoint racialized and/or gendered patterns in social positioning; and acknowledge the different interpretations and observations of the researcher versus the focal students. The findings also demonstrate how the focal students responded to potential threats to their identity and pushed back against marginalization: While two of the focal students appeared to adopt silence as a means of resistance to marginalization; two of the other focal students verbally contested marginalizing acts of positioning; and the remaining two focal students pretended to agree and get along with group members in an attempt to maintain group cohesion. The study’s theoretical contributions include a synthesis of sociocultural theories of learning with social psychological theories that foreground race and gender. Implications for mathematics education are also raised, including suggestions for the design and implementation of collaborative group work as well as incorporating video methods into professional development initiatives.
Two Strategies for Encouraging Functional Relationships in Concept Maps

Two strategies for encouraging formation of dynamic relationships in Concept Maps (CMaps) are discussed and tested, namely concept quantification and a dynamic focus question of the map. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of these two approaches on dynamic thinking during the CMap construction task. The first experiment examined the impact of the quantification of the root concept in the map. The second experiment explored the effect of the focus question of the map. For both experiments, the content of CMaps was assessed for the number of dynamic propositions and the number of quantified concepts. The results showed that the quantification of the root concept and the dynamic focus question “how” significantly increased dynamic thinking. In addition, the focus question affected the selection of concepts used in the maps and how those concepts were used. The studies, the theoretical background, and the implications of the findings are discussed.
Ligand-clustered "patchy" nanoparticles for modulated cellular uptake and in vivo tumor targeting.

Despite the evident success of using a multivalent approach to increase efficacy of targeted delivery, a clear understanding of how multiple ligands behave collectively to influence the uptake of nanoparticle cell-targeting agents has not been reached. Although when present in large quantity, multivalent ligands can increase binding avidities to cells, it is also conceivable, that the manner in which these ligands are presented to the cell may have a significant effect on uptake. Here we examine this parameter using a linear dendritic polymer construct that enabled us to pattern the surfaces of nanoparticles with variable sized ligand clusters in different spatial arrangements. We demonstrate for the first time the clear impact of folate presentation on intracellular uptake both in vitro and in vivo. The findings presented here suggest that the nature of ligand presentation on a nanoparticle surface may play an important role in drug targeting; the results suggest potential impact for other targeting moieties and provide a framework for further refinement of future multivalent targeting strategies.
Identification of Retinoic Acid in a High Content Screen for Agents that Overcome the Anti-Myogenic Effect of TGF-Beta-1

Background Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) is an inhibitor of muscle cell differentiation that is associated with fibrosis, poor regeneration and poor function in some diseases of muscle. When neutralizing antibodies to TGF-β1 or the angiotensin II inhibitor losartan were used to reduce TGF-β1 signaling, muscle morphology and function were restored in mouse models of Marfan Syndrome and muscular dystrophy. The goal of our studies was to identify additional agents that overcome the anti-myogenic effect of TGF-β1. Methodology/Principal Findings A high-content cell-based assay was developed in a 96-well plate format that detects the expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) in C2C12 cells. The assay was used to quantify the dose-dependent responses of C2C12 cell differentiation to TGF-β1 and to the TGF-β1 Type 1 receptor kinase inhibitor, SB431542. Thirteen agents previously described as promoting C2C12 differentiation in the absence of TGF-β1 were screened in the presence of TGF-β1. Only all-trans retinoic acid and 9-cis retinoic acid allowed a maximal level of C2C12 cell differentiation in the presence of TGF-β1; the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril and 10 nM estrogen provided partial rescue. Vitamin D was a potent inhibitor of retinoic acid-induced myogenesis in the presence of TGF-β1. TGF-β1 inhibits myoblast differentiation through activation of Smad3; however, retinoic acid did not inhibit TGF-β1-induced activation of a Smad3-dependent reporter gene in C2C12 cells. Conclusions/Significance Retinoic acid alleviated the anti-myogenic effect of TGF-β1 by a Smad3-independent mechanism. With regard to the goal of improving muscle regeneration and function in individuals with muscle disease, the identification of retinoic acid is intriguing in that some retinoids are already approved for human therapy. However, retinoids also have well-described adverse effects. The quantitative, high-content assay will be useful to screen for less-toxic retinoids or combinations of agents that promote myoblast differentiation in the presence of TGF-β1.
Rural Community Participation, Social Networks, and Broadband Use: Examples from Localized and National Survey Data

Although attention has been given to how broadband access is related to economic development in rural areas, scant consideration has been given to how it may be associated with voluntary participation. This issue is important in that numerous studies have shown how much more vital community participation is in rural areas as compared to suburban and urban places. Drawing on three diverse data sets, we examine the influence of broadband access on community participation. In addition, we explore whether broadband access exerts its influence through, in conjunction with, or independent of social networks. The results suggest that broadband access and social network size have independent effects on volunteering in rural places.