Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy‐aware and entropy coding for networked‐controlled linear systems

This paper addresses issues on coding design in the context of control of systems equipped with low‐energy sensors networks. We particularly focus on issues concerning minimum bit and energy‐aware coding. To this aim, we devise a coding strategy with the ability to quantify and to differentiate stand‐still signal events from changes in the source (level crossing detector). Coding is effectuated by defining at least 3‐valued alphabet for the minimum bit case and (2L + 1)‐valued alphabet for a general case with a precision depending on L. Energy saves are studied in two different scenarios: (1) in the word‐by‐word transmission case, the stand‐still signal event is modulated with a low‐power transmission mechanisms, whereas the changes of levels will be modulated with high power and (2) in the package‐based transmission case, an entropy variable length coding is added to the previous encoding process. Entropy coding assigns some probability distribution to the events, so that the mean transmission energy can be substantially improved for systems where the stand‐still events have higher probability to arise (i.e. stable systems). The paper studies the stability properties needed for this type of coding to operate properly, and quantify the energy saves for each of the considered scenarios. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Corrupção Burocrática e Empreendedorismo: Uma Análise Empírica dos Estados Brasileiros

Entrepreneurial activity performs an important role in a nation's economic dynamics. Previous studies argue that institutional factors are correlated with the opening of new businesses, however, the literature is divergent as to the effect of bureaucratic corruption on entrepreneurship. Thus, this article aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurship and the incidence of bureaucratic corruption in Brazilian states and its Federal District (Brasilia), for the period of 2000-2008. This study's main hypothesis is that opening a business in Brazilian states is negatively affected by the incidence of corruption. Using a regression method with panel data, we estimated models with pooled data and fixed and random effects. The term entrepreneurship is adopted as the act of starting a new business, as in Say (1816), Mescon and Montanari (1981) and Lachman (1980). To measure corruption, we used the General Index of Corruption for Brazilian states (Boll, 2010), and to represent entrepreneurship, we used firm entry per capita by state. Tests of the Chow (1960), Hausman (1978) e Breusch and Pagan (1979) indicate that the random effects model is more appropriate, and the results indicate a positive correlation between bureaucratic corruption and entrepreneurial activity, contradicting the hypothesis expected and found in previous articles about Brazil.
The invisible eye? Electronic performance monitoring and employee job performance

To enhance employee performance, many organizations are increasingly using electronic performance monitoring (EPM). The relationship between the frequency of EPM use and employee performance is examined in 2 field studies. In Study 1, which uses a unique longitudinal data set, results reveal that shorter time lags between 2 consecutive employee performance assessments are related to better task performance as indicated by call quality metrics. A second field study using matched supervisor�employee and EPM system data is conducted in 2 call centers to extend these results and to focus more directly on the supervisors� use of EPM and its relationship with additional performance criteria: counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). Results indicate that more frequent supervisory use of EPM is associated with better task performance and OCB. However, supervisory use of EPM was not significantly related to CWB.
Towards a theory of natural language interfaces to databases

The need for Natural Language Interfaces to databases (NLIs) has become increasingly acute as more and more people access information through their web browsers, PDAs, and cell phones. Yet NLIs are only usable if they map natural language questions to SQL queries correctly. As Schneiderman and Norman have argued, people are unwilling to trade reliable and predictable user interfaces for intelligent but unreliable ones. In this paper, we introduce a theoretical framework for reliable NLIs, which is the foundation for the fully implemented Precise NLI. We prove that, for a broad class of semantically tractable natural language questions, Precise is guaranteed to map each question to the corresponding SQL query. We report on experiments testing Precise on several hundred questions drawn from user studies over three benchmark databases. We find that over 80% of the questions are semantically tractable questions, which Precise answers correctly. Precise automatically recognizes the 20% of questions that it cannot handle, and requests a paraphrase. Finally, we show that Precise compares favorably with Mooney's learning NLI and with Microsoft's English Query product
RapidIO-based Space System Architectures for Synthetic Aperture Radar and Ground Moving Target Indicator

The design of space systems capable of performing realtime Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a significant challenge in HPEC due to the high processor, memory, and network requirements imposed by SAR. However, building a system to support SAR and other Space-Based Radar (SBR) algorithms simultaneously is an even greater challenge. This presentation describes simulation results from a SAR application executing in parallel on an embedded multiprocessor satellite system equipped with a RapidIO interconnection network. We consider several variations on RapidIO network parameters as well as parallel decompositions of the SBR algorithms to design a system to support SAR and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) simultaneously. In addition, we describe our RapidIO testbed that is used to validate our network models and present results demonstrating the accuracy of our network models under varying traffic conditions.
Serotonergic attenuation of the reinforcing and neurochemical effects of cocaine in squirrel monkeys.

Preclinical studies have documented that serotonin (5-HT) can modulate the behavioral effects of cocaine. The present study examined the ability of 5-HT to attenuate the reinforcing and neurochemical effects of cocaine in nonhuman primates. In squirrel monkeys trained to self-administer cocaine (0.1 and 0.3 mg/injection) under a second-order schedule of i.v. drug delivery, the 5-HT uptake inhibitor alaproclate (3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) and the 5-HT direct agonist quipazine (0.3-1.0 mg/kg) decreased response rates at doses that had no significant effect on behavior maintained by an identical schedule of stimulus termination. The neurochemical bases of the observed drug interactions on behavior were investigated further using in vivo microdialysis techniques in a separate group of awake monkeys to monitor drug-induced changes in extracellular dopamine (DA). Cocaine (1.0 mg/kg) elevated the concentration of DA in the caudate nucleus to approximately 300% of basal levels. Pretreatment with alaproclate or quipazine attenuated cocaine-induced increases in extracellular DA at the same pretreatment doses that decreased cocaine self-administration. The results obtained suggest that increasing brain 5-HT activity can attenuate the reinforcing effects of cocaine, ostensibly by decreasing the ability of cocaine to elevate extracellular DA in brain areas that mediate the behavioral effects. These findings extend those reported previously for the behavioral-stimulant effects of cocaine and identify a potential neurochemical mechanism underlying drug interactions on behavior.
Exome sequencing is an efficient tool for genetic screening of Charcot–Marie–Tooth Disease

Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT) is one of the most common inherited neuropathies and is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorder with variable inheritance modes. As several molecules have been reported to have therapeutic effects on CMT, depending on the underlying genetic causes, exact genetic diagnostics have become very important for executing personalized therapy. Whole‐exome sequencing has recently been introduced as an available method to identify rare or novel genetic defects from genetic disorders. Particularly, CMT is a model disease to apply exome sequencing because more than 50 genes (loci) are involved in its development with weak genotype–phenotype correlation. This study performed the exome sequencing in 25 unrelated CMT patients who revealed neither 17p12 duplication/deletion nor several major CMT genes. This study identified eight causative heterozygous mutations (32%). This detection rate seems rather high because each sample was tested before the study for major genetic causes. Therefore, this study suggests that the exome sequencing can be a highly exact, rapid, and economical molecular diagnostic tool for CMT patients who are tested for major genetic causes. Hum Mutat 33:1610–1615, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Maintenance of Spatial and Motor Codes during Oculomotor Delayed Response Tasks

The most compelling neural evidence for working memory is persistent neuronal activity bridging past sensory cues and their contingent future motor acts. This observation, however, does not answer what is actually being remembered or coded for by this activity. To address this fundamental issue, we imaged the human brain during maintenance of spatial locations and varied whether the memory-guided saccade was selected before or after the delay. An oculomotor delayed matching-to-sample task (match) was used to measure maintained motor intention because the direction of the forthcoming saccade was known throughout the delay. We used a nonmatching-to-sample task (nonmatch) in which the saccade was unpredictable to measure maintained spatial attention. Oculomotor areas were more active during match delays, and posterior parietal cortex and inferior frontal cortex were more active during nonmatch delays. Additionally, the fidelity of the memory was predicted by the delay-period activity of the frontal eye fields; the magnitude of delay-period activity correlated with the accuracy of the memory-guided saccade. Experimentally controlling response selection allowed us to functionally separate nodes of a network of frontal and parietal areas that usually coactivate in studies of working memory. We propose that different nodes in this network maintain different representational codes, motor and spatial. Which code is being represented by sustained neural activity is biased by when in the transformation from perception to action the response can be selected.
Predictors of nurses’ commitment to health care organisations

Background Nurses’ commitment in the workplace is a psychological state linking them to their organisations. It has been viewed as a dimension of organisational effectiveness. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the multiple correlations between the four predictors (job satisfaction, perceived organisational support, transformational leadership behaviour and level of education) on the degree of organisational commitment among nurses in South Florida’s long‐term care facilities. Method The analytical procedure of multiple regression was utilised to determine the predicting strength among organisational commitment and the independent variables: job satisfaction, perceived organisational support, transformational leadership behaviour and nurses’ level of education. To obtain the participants for this study, the researcher chose randomly four nursing homes located in Miami‐Dade County. The participants were randomly chosen from a list of nursing staff provided by each facility. Results Pearson product‐moment correlation coefficients were computed and revealed that positive correlation existed between nurses’ commitment to their organisations, the dependent variable and job satisfaction, perceived organisational support, transformational leadership and level of education, the independent variables. Of the four independent variables, a multiple regression analysis indicated that job satisfaction and perceived organisational support were most strongly related to nurses’ commitment to their organisations. Conclusions The study provides new support to previous research about the importance of nurses’ commitment and satisfaction for organisational effectiveness and performance. It also provides further evidence that the more committed they are to their organisations, the more they will be productive in their organisations.
Is high hip center technique an acceptable choice for total hip arthroplasty of the developmental dysplasia of the hip

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a successful method to treat osteoarthritis secondary to the developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). As anatomic deformity of acetabulum, anatomic hip center placing of the socket may lead insufficient host bone coverage, therefore, high hip center (HHC) technique is an alternative choice. Location of the hip rotation center can be referenced by inter teardrop line, the highest point of the obturator foramen, summit of the iliac crests, ischial tuberosities and other anatomic landmarks. The HHC technique is supposed to increase host bone coverage of socket without structural bone grafts, simplify surgical procedures, reduce anesthetic and surgical time, conserve adequate healthy bone stock for revision, however, it leads to insufficiency of the abductor muscles, is speculated to increase the hip load, lower the range of hip flexion and internal rotation (IR). Loosening rates and polyethylene wear vary in different studies. Concerning about these factors, HHC technique is acceptable while center of rotation located at a horizontal level with distance less than 35 mm from the inter teardrop line, moreover, medialization of these HHC reconstructions is suggested.
Falls and rises: meanings and universals

The study of intonation has gone through phases in which it has been fashionable to ascribe the meaning of intonation to one particular sort of function.1 Most traditionally that function has been grammatical (see, e.g., the earliest British attempts at intonation analysis (e.g. Butler, 1634) and many recent textbooks on English language teaching). More recently (i.e. since the second world war), speakers' attitude has often been taken as most important (e.g. Pike, 1945; Kingdon, 1958). In the light of current fashion, the discourse function is often seen as most important (e.g. Brazil,, 1975, 1978; Pilch, 1977). I argue in this article that intonation operates with its own set of meanings which are of higher abstraction than those of grammar, attitude or discourse; and that it is only at a lower level that these meanings of higher abstraction become relevant to one or more of these functions (in so far as the functions can in any case be clearly separated). Such a hypothesis is relevant to the question of how intonation is acquired by children (where the real problem for investigators has always been WHAT exactly is being acquired). It is also important to questions of cross-dialectal intonational translation (whether across social or regional boundaries) and also to possible intonation universals.
The Epigenome View: An Effort towards Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis

Epigenetic modifications have proven to play a significant role in cancer development, as well as fetal development. Taking advantage of the knowledge acquired during the last decade, great interest has been shown worldwide in deciphering the fetal epigenome towards the development of methylation-based non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT). In this review, we highlight the different approaches implemented, such as sodium bisulfite conversion, restriction enzyme digestion and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation, for the identification of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between free fetal DNA found in maternal blood and DNA from maternal blood cells. Furthermore, we evaluate the use of selected DMRs identified towards the development of NIPT for fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. In addition, we perform a comparison analysis, evaluate the performance of each assay and provide a comprehensive discussion on the potential use of different methylation-based technologies in retrieving the fetal methylome, with the aim of further expanding the development of NIPT assays.
Group power as a determinant of interdependence and intergroup discrimination

This experiment (N = 239) investigated the effects of group power and legitimacy of power differentials on intergroup discrimination, measured through negative outcome allocations and linguistic abstraction. Furthermore, it examined the mechanisms through which group power affects discrimination by testing the mediating role of perceived interdependence and social identification. Three power conditions were created by modifying the standard minimal group paradigm: equal, high and low power conditions. Power was directly proportional (legitimate conditions) or inversely proportional (illegitimate conditions) to group members' performance in a problem-solving task. Results showed that intergroup discrimination in the high and low power conditions was higher than in the equal power condition on both the allocation and the linguistic measures. Legitimacy moderated the effect of group power on negative outcome allocations, while it had a main effect on the linguistic abstraction. In addition, perceived interdependence turned out to be the main mediator of the effect of power on negative outcome allocations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Non-intrusive dynamic application profiling for multitasked applications

Application profiling - the process of monitoring an application to determine the frequency of execution within specific regions - is an essential step within the design process for many software and hardware systems. Profiling is often a critical step within hardware/software partitioning utilized to determine the critical kernels of an application. In this paper, we present a non-intrusive dynamic application profiler (DAProf) capable of profiling an executing application by monitoring the application's short backwards branches, function calls, function returns, as well as efficiently detecting context switches to provide accurate characterization of the frequently executed loops within multitasked applications. DAProf can accurately profile multiple tasks within a software application with 98.5% accuracy using as little as 10% additional area compared to an ARM9 processor.
Effect of Epimedium-derived Phytoestrogen on Bone Turnover and Bone Microarchitecture in OVX-induced Osteoporotic Rats

To investigate the preventive effect of epimedium-derived phytoestrogen (PE) on osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy (OVX) in rats, 11-month-old female Wistar rats were randomly divided into Sham, OVX and PE groups. One week after OVX, daily oral administration of PE (0.4 g·kg·day) started in PE group, and rats in Sham and OVX groups were given vehicle accordingly. The administrations lasted for 12 weeks. The biological markers including serum osteocalcin (OC) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) for bone turnover were evaluated at the end of the 12th week. On the 13th week, all the rats were sacrificed. The right proximal tibiae were removed, subjected to micro CT for determination of trabecular bone structure and then bone histomorphometry was performed to assess bone remodeling. The OVX rats were in a high bone turnover status as evidenced by increased bone formation markers and bone resorption markers. Treatment with PE could suppress the high bone turnover rate in OVX rats. Micro CT data revealed that PE treatment could ameliorate the deterioration of the micro-architecture of proximal tibiae induced by OVX, as demonstrated by greater bone volume, increased trabecular thickness and less trabecular separation in PE group in comparison with OVX group. The static and dynamic parameters of bone histomorphometry indicated that there were significant increases in bone formation variables and significant decreases in bone resorption variables between PE and OVX groups. The findings suggest that PE has a beneficial effect on trabecular bone in OVX rat model and this effect is possibly associated with stimulation of bone formation as well as inhibition of bone resorption.
Functional analysis of the LACERATA gene of Arabidopsis provides evidence for different roles of fatty acid ω-hydroxylation in development

We describe lacerata (lcr) mutants of Arabidopsis, which display various developmental abnormalities, including postgenital organ fusions, and report cloning of the LCR gene by using the maize transposon Enhancer/Suppressor-mutator (En/Spm). The pleiotropic mutant phenotype could be rescued by genetic complementation of lcr mutants with the wild-type LCR gene. The LCR gene encodes a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, CYP86A8, which catalyzes ω-hydroxylation of fatty acids ranging from C12 to C18:1, as demonstrated by expression of the gene in yeast. Although palmitic and oleic acids were efficient substrates for LCR, 9,10-epoxystearate was not metabolized. Taken together with previous studies, our findings indicate that LCR-dependent ω-hydroxylation of fatty acids could be implicated in the biosynthesis of cutin in the epidermis and in preventing postgenital organ fusions. Strikingly, the same pathway seems to control trichome differentiation, the establishment of apical dominance, and senescence in plants.
What’s inside the suitcases? An investigation into the powerful resources students and lecturers bring to teaching and learning

The study presents a framework for investigating the powerful resources within learners’ educational biographies, which, from their own accounts, appear to influence their engagement with teaching and learning practices. The research framework stresses the material, social and cultural influences on a learner’s biography and the need for recognition as well as the redistribution of resources. It assumes that both socio‐cultural influences as well as individual, affective and agentic phenomena play a role in shaping a student’s career. This framework is discussed in relation to a study undertaken at a South African university, at which 164 students, lecturers and academic support staff participated in semi‐structured interviews. The main focus of the interview was the individual’s educational biography as narrated by the individual. The findings support the socio‐cultural perspective and show that the relationship between identity, identification and feeling ‘at home’ with engagement in deep teaching and learning, is both complex and uneven.
A music search engine for therapeutic gait training

A music retrieval system is introduced that incorporate tempo, cultural, and beat strength features to help music therapists provide appropriate music for gait training for Parkinson's patients. Unlike current methods available to music therapists (e.g., personal CD/MP3 library search) we propose a domain-specific search engine that utilizes database of music found on YouTube. We independently evaluate the efficacy of our tempo, cultural, and beat strength features on a music database extracted from YouTube. Results from our user study demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of our search engine for this application.