Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an HEVC hardware IME module using a SoC platform

In the HEVC standard, motion estimation is one of the most complex task of the video encoder, requiring a great percentage of the encoding time mainly due to (a) a large set of Coding Tree Unit partitioning modes, (b) the presence of multiple reference frames, and (c) the varying size of Coding Units in comparison with its predecessor H264/AVC. In addition, HEVC adopts Variable Block Size Motion Estimation to obtain advanced coding efficiency. In this work, we evaluate a hardware IME design when applied to an System-On-Chip platform. In this evaluation we will measure the impact on the Rate/Distortion performance when applying different CTU sizes and reference search areas. Furthermore, we will evaluate the effect of the DMA transfers required in the computational performance. This architecture has been synthesized and implemented on the Xilinx SoC, Zynq-7 Mini-ITX Motherboard XC7Z100 (xc7z100ffg900-2). We have evaluated our hardware IME design using different CTU size configurations, search area sizes and DMA burst sizes in order to determine the maximum speed gain respect to the HEVC reference software. Results show that (a) the overall encoding time could be reduced by 588 times, being the DMA transfer the bottleneck of our design; (b) Rate/Distortion performance has no significant variations when using different CTU and search area configurations; (c) the encoding delay will strongly depend on the size of both CTU and search area sizes.
Human Gut Microbiota Changes Reveal the Progression of Glucose Intolerance

To explore the relationship of gut microbiota with the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), we analyzed 121 subjects who were divided into 3 groups based on their glucose intolerance status: normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 44), prediabetes (Pre-DM; n = 64), or newly diagnosed T2DM (n = 13). Gut microbiota characterizations were determined with 16S rDNA-based high-throughput sequencing. T2DM-related dysbiosis was observed, including the separation of microbial communities and a change of alpha diversity between the different glucose intolerance statuses. To assess the correlation between metabolic parameters and microbiota diversity, clinical characteristics were also measured and a significant association between metabolic parameters (FPG, CRP) and gut microbiota was found. In addition, a total of 28 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found to be related to T2DM status by the Kruskal-Wallis H test, most of which were enriched in the T2DM group. Butyrate-producing bacteria (e.g. Akkermansia muciniphila ATCCBAA-835, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii L2-6) had a higher abundance in the NGT group than in the pre-DM group. At genus level, the abundance of Bacteroides in the T2DM group was only half that of the NGT and Pre-DM groups. Previously reported T2DM-related markers were also compared with the data in this study, and some inconsistencies were noted. We found that Verrucomicrobiae may be a potential marker of T2DM as it had a significantly lower abundance in both the pre-DM and T2DM groups. In conclusion, this research provides further evidence of the structural modulation of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of diabetes.
Estimating FDI-induced externalities when FDI is endogenous : A comparison between OLS and IV estimates of FDI-induced externalities in Mexico

The core criticism of OLS estimations of positive FDI-induced externalities is that such estimates are upwardly biased, due to endogeneity of the right hand side variable industry-wide foreign participation. Despite the seriousness of this criticism, no attempt has been made to test and correct for this problem in a cross-sectional setting. In this paper, I introduce an original instrument based on the general FDIintensity of manufacturing industries. This instrument is empirically tested using unpublished industry data from the 1993 Mexican manufacturing census. The empirical findings suggest that the criticism of OLS estimates of FDI-induced externalities is partly flawed. Although the endogeneity problem is confirmed, OLS estimates are downwardly biased. Controlling for the tendency of foreign firms to gravitate towards low productivity industries, the IV estimates indicate a larger positive externality effect from the presence of FDI. JEL Classification: C31, F23, L60, O47
A Hybrid Algorithm for Solving the Economic Dispatch Problem

The purpose of this work is to apply a hybrid algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithms (GA) for solving the problem of Economic Dispatch, which is based on supplying an energy demand, subjected to some restriction and reach out the best possible cost. Basically, we use the mutation operator from GAs aiming to explore regions in the search space that cannot be reached out by the canonical version of PSO. The new algorithm shows good results when applied to solve the cases based on 3, 13 and 20 generators, respectively. Our results are compared against the canonical PSO and other ones available in the literature.
Why Has There Been Less Financial Integration In Asia Than In Europe

This paper inquires into the causes of the contrasting experiences between Asia and Europe and asks what they bode for the future. It poses questions like: Is the contrast explicable in terms of the fact that Europe was earlier to begin the process of removing controls on cross-border portfolio capital flows? Is it explicable by the fact that Europe had better developed financial markets at the start of its regional monetary and financial integration project? Is the main difference deeper trade and factor market integration due to Europeâ€™s Single Market project, compared to more partial and tentative moves toward regional trade integration in Asia? Or does the euro make a key difference through the elimination of exchange risk?
Autonomous Localization and Mapping Using a Single Mobile Device

This paper considers the problem of simultaneous 2-D room shape reconstruction and self-localization without the requirement of any pre-established infrastructure. A mobile device equipped with co-located microphone and loudspeaker as well as internal motion sensors is used to emit acoustic pulses and collect echoes reflected by the walls. Using only first order echoes, room shape recovery and self-localization is feasible when auxiliary information is obtained using motion sensors. In particular, it is established that using echoes collected at three measurement locations and the two distances between consecutive measurement points, unique localization and mapping can be achieved provided that the three measurement points are not collinear. Practical algorithms for room shape reconstruction and self-localization in the presence of noise and higher order echoes are proposed along with experimental results to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Gene Regulatory Networks of the FVE-HDA6-FLD Complex in Arabidopsis

FVE/MSI4 is a homolog of the mammalian RbAp48 protein. We found that FVE regulates flowering time by repressing FLC through decreasing histone H3K4 trimethylation and H3 acetylation. Furthermore, FVE interacts with the histone deacetylase HDA6 and the histone demethylase FLD, suggesting that these proteins may form a protein complex to regulate flowering time. To further investigate the function of the FVE-FLD-HDA6 complex, we compared the gene expression profiles of fve, fld, and hda6 mutant plants by using RNA-seq analysis. Among the mis-regulated genes found in fve plants, 51.8 and 36.5% of them were also mis-regulated in fld and hda6 plants, respectively, suggesting that FVE, HDA6, and FLD may regulate the gene expression in the same developmental processes in Arabidopsis. Gene ontology analysis revealed that among 383 genes co-regulated by FVE, HDA6, and FLD, 15.6% of them are involved in transcription, 8.2% in RNA metabolic process, 7.7% in response to abiotic stress, and 6.3% in hormone stimulus. Taken together, these results indicate that HDA6, FVE, and FLD co-regulate the gene expression in multiple development processes and pathways.
Evolution of isochores in rodents.

The most deviant isochore pattern within mammals was found in rat and mouse; most other mammals possess a different kind of isochore organization called the "general pattern. " However, isochore patterns remain largely unknown in rodents other than mouse and rat. To investigate the taxonomic distribution of isochore patterns in rodents, we sequenced the nuclear gene LCAT (lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase) from 17 rodents species (bringing the total of LCAT sequences in rodent to 19) and compared their GC contents at third codon positions and in introns. We also analyzed an extensive sequence database from rodents other than rat and mouse. All murid LCAT sequences are much poorer in GC than all nonrodent LCAT sequences, and the hamster sequence database shows exactly the same isochore pattern as rat and mouse. Thus, all murids share the same special isochore pattern--GC homogenization. LCAT sequences are GC-poor in hystricomorphs too, but the guinea pig sequence database indicates that large changes in GC content occur without an overall modification of the isochore pattern. This novel mode of isochore evolution is called GC reordering. LCAT sequences also show that the evolution of isochores in sciurids and glirids is nonconservative in comparison with that in nonrodents. Thus, at least two novel patterns of isochore evolution were found. No rodent investigated to date shared the general mammalian pattern.
The effect of cross-cutting partisan debates on political decision-making

Party identification provides citizens with an anchor from which they derive many of their political attitudes and issue preferences. But what happens when people encounter political debates that place their partisan identities and policy attitudes into conflict with one another? This article draws on an original experiment designed to study the effect of debates that cut across people’s partisan identities and policy attitudes. The results show that cross-cutting debates make people less likely to engage in selective exposure, more likely to feel ambivalent toward their political party, and less likely to rely on party cues when rendering a judgment.
The Changing Norms of Racial Political Rhetoric and the End of Racial Priming

We explore the conjecture that norms of racial rhetoric in US campaigns have shifted over the last several years. Prior work suggests that the way politicians talk about race affects the power of racial attitudes in political judgments. Racial priming theory suggests that explicit racial rhetoric—messages overtly hostile toward minorities—would be rejected. When race is cued subtly, however, the power of racial attitudes on issues is significantly enhanced. Replication attempts have recently failed. We identify two historically related shifts that lead us to expect that the effective distinction between explicit and implicit racial rhetoric has declined in recent years. Four nationally representative survey experiments strongly support our predictions: regardless of whether political messages are racially explicit or implicit, the power of racial attitudes is large and stable. Finally, many citizens recognize racially hostile content in political communications but are no longer angered or disturbed by it.
Mitochondrial Genetic Variation in Iranian Infertile Men with Varicocele

Background: Several recent studies have shown that mitochondrial DNA mutations lead to major disabilities and premature death in carriers. More than 150 mutations in human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes have been associated with a wide spectrum of disorders. Varicocele, one of the causes of infertility in men wherein abnormal inflexion and distension of veins of the pampiniform plexus is observed within spermatic cord, can increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in semen and cause oxidative stress and sperm dysfunction in patients. Given that mitochondria are the source of ROS production in cells, the aim of this study was to scan nine mitochondrial genes (MT-COX2, MT-tRNALys , MT-ATP8, MT-ATP6, MT-COX3, MT-tRNAGly , MT-ND3, MT-tRNAArg and MT-ND4L) for mutations in infertile patients with varicocele. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing were used to detect and identify point mutations respectively in 9 mitochondrial genes in 72 infertile men with varicocele and 159 fertile men. In brief, the samples showing altered electrophoretic patterns of DNA in the SSCP gel were sent for DNA sequencing to identify the exact nucleotide variation. Results: Ten type nucleotide variants were detected exclusively in mitochondrial DNA of infertile men. These include six novel nucleotide changes and four variants previously reported for other disorders. Conclusion: Mutations in mitochondrial genes may affect respiratory complexes in combination with environmental risk factors. Therefore these nucleotide variants probably lead to impaired ATP synthesis and mitochondrial function ultimately interfering with sperm motility and infertility.
Political geography III

This third report on the sub-discipline of political geography explores how geographers, of late, have approached, analyzed, de- and re-centered bodies in order to expand understandings of the relationship between the spatial and the political. After reviewing conceptual approaches and thematic areas of study related to the body, I discuss the implications of this work for the broader field of political geography and the importance of engagement with existing social movements that already center the politics of bodies.
'Make-or-Buy' in International Oligopoly And the Role of Competitive Pressure

We study how competitive pressure influences the make-or-buy decision that oligopolistic firms face between producing an intermediate component in-house or purchasing it from a domestic supplier. We model outsourcing as a bilateral relationship in which the supplier undertakes relationship specific investments. A home and foreign firm compete in the home market. Firms’ mode of operation decision depends on cost and strategic considerations. Competitive pressure increases firms’ incentive to outsource. Consumer gains from trade liberalisation are enhanced when it leads to less outsourcing.
Cut ranking and pruning: enabling a general and efficient FPGA mapping solution

Cut enumeration is a common approach used in a number of FPGA synthesis and mapping algorithms for consideration of various possible LUT implementations at each node in a circuit. Such an approach is very general and flexible, but often suffers high computational complexity and poor scalability. In this paper, we develop several efficient and effective techniques on cut enumeration, ranking and pruning. These techniques lead to much better runtime and scalability of the cut-enumeration based algorithms; they can also be used to compute a tight lower-bound on the size of an area-minimum mapping solution. For area-oriented FPGA mapping, experimental results show that the new techniques lead to over 160X speed-up over the original optimal duplication-free mapping algorithm, achieve mapping solutions with 5-21% smaller area for heterogeneous FPGAs compared to those by Chortle-crf, MIS-pga-new, and TOS-TUM, yet with over 100X speed-up over MIS-pganew and TOS-TUM.
Quasi-Newton Hamiltonian Monte Carlo

The Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) method has become significantly popular in recent years. It is the state-of-the-art MCMC sampler due to its more efficient exploration to the parameter space than the standard random-walk based proposal. The key idea behind HMC is that it makes use of first-order gradient information about the target distribution. In this paper, we propose a novel dynamics using second-order geometric information about the desired distribution. The second-order information is estimated by using a quasi-Newton method (say, the BFGS method), so it does not bring heavy computational burden. Moreover, our theoretical analysis guarantees that this dynamics remains the target distribution invariant. As a result, the proposed quasi-Newton Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (QNHMC) algorithm traverses the parameter space more efficiently than the standard HMC and produces a less correlated series of samples. Finally, empirical evaluation on simulated data verifies the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach. We also conduct applications of QNHMC in Bayesian logistic regression and online Bayesian matrix factorization problems.
The Burden of Norovirus Disease in Children in the European Union

Background: Noroviruses (NoVs) are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis across all age groups. Because a vaccine is in clinical development, burden of disease data are required to guide the eventual introduction of this vaccine. In this study, we estimate the burden of NoV disease in children less than 5 years of age in the European Union (EU). Methods: We carried out a literature search using PubMed to identify studies providing incidence or prevalence data for NoV disease in the EU. We applied the pooled average NoV incidence and prevalence rates to the EU population less than 5 years of age to obtain the annual number of NoV illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations and deaths occurring in the EU among children younger than 5 years. Results: Data from 12 studies were included. We estimate that NoV infection may cause up to 5.7 million illnesses in the community, 800,000 medical visits, 53,000 hospitalizations and 102 deaths every year in children younger than 5 years in the EU. Conclusion: The burden of NoV disease in children in the EU is substantial, and will grow in relative importance as rotavirus (RV) vaccines are rolled out in the EU. This burden of disease is comparable with the burden of RV disease in the EU before RV vaccine introduction. More country-specific studies are needed to better assess this burden and guide the potential introduction of a vaccine against NoV at the national level.
PERBANDINGAN HASIL BELAJAR SISWA MENGGUNAKAN MODEL DISCOVERY LEARNING DENGAN PROBLEM BASED LEARNING

This research aimed to compare the learning outcomes in some aspects, such as cognitive aspect, scientific attitude, and science process skills of students. The topic was Circular Motion. This re­search organized at Senior High School 2 Pringsewu, on 1th semester in 2016/2017 using Pretest and Posttest Equivalent Group Design as the research design. Discovery learning model as first experimental class and problem based learning as second experimental class. Base on research, the average value of the cognitive study with N-gain from both classes were 0.44 and 0.42, then the average value of science process skills was 53.44 and 55.63, and the average value of scientific attitude was 79.49 and 83.58. These results indicated that there was no any difference between cognitive study and science process skills students in both of the experimental class, and scientific attitude aspect of problem based learning class was higher than discovery learning class. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeta­hui perbandingan hasil belajar pada ranah kognitif, sikap ilmiah, dan keterampilan proses sains siswa pada materi gerak melingkar. Penelitian ini dilakukan di SMA Negeri 2 Pringsewu, pada semester ganjil tahun ajaran 2016/2017, dengan desain penelitian Pretest Posttest Equivalent Group Design. Model discovery learning sebagai kelas eksperimen 1 dan Problem Based Learning sebagai kelas eksperimen 2. Berdasarkan penelitian yang telah dilakukan, diperoleh hasil rata-rata nilai kognitif dengan N-gain kedua kelas eksperimen adalah 0,44 dan 0,42, hasil rata-rata nilai KPS adalah 53,44 dan 55,63, dan hasil rata-rata nilai sikap ilmiah adalah 79,49 dan 83,58. Hal ini menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbedaan hasil belajar kognitif dan KPS pada kedua kelas, sedangkan sikap ilmiah kelas problem based learning lebih tinggi dari discovery learning.
Intonationsfragen hinterfragt – Die Vielschichtigkeit der prosodischen Unterschiede zwischen Aussage- und Fragesätzen mit deklarativer Syntax

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Effects of Kaolinite (Macsumsuk) and Herb Mixtures on the Quality and Physicochemical Properties of Pork

The current study was conducted to identify technology for the production of high quality pork, based on the meat consumption habits of consumers. Macsumsuk, a type of kaolinite (a clay mineral), and/or a mixture of herbs (Mori Folium, Sophorae Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Citri Leiocarpae Exocarpium, and Pogostemi Herba) were added to the diets of fattening pigs. Sixty barrow pigs (4 kinds of treatment × 5 pigs/treatment × 3 replicates) were randomly assigned to either the Control (no additives), T1 (3% Macsumsuk), T2 (3% Herb mixtures), or T3 (3% Macsumsuk + 3% Herb mixtures) groups, and were fed the diets for 60 d. Dressed weights were in the order of T1 (93.40±4.68kg) > T2 (91.40±6.52kg) > Control (88.80±1.57kg) > T3 (86.80±2.01kg). Back-fat thickness of the Control animals (23.2±1.03) was significantly greater than that of the various treatment groups (p<0.01). Numeric values representing the carcass yield and quality grade were higher for all the treated groups than the Control group, thought the difference was not statistically significant. Crude fat content was significantly higher in the Control group (2.23±0.34%) than in the treated groups (p<0.05). The addition of both Macsumsuk and herb mixtures into the diets of the pigs significantly reduced cooking loss of the pork compared to the Control (p<0.05). No statistically significant changes were observed in the shear force (average 5.87±0.54 kg/cm2), water holding capacity (average 54.59±3.16%), or CIE values of the pork, whereas cholesterol levels significantly decreased (p<0.01) in those fed Macsumsuk and/or the herb mixtures. No significant changes in fatty acid composition, total saturated fatty acid (SFA), total unsaturated fatty acid (UFA), or UFA/SFA ratios were observed by any of the treatments. In conclusion, the results obtained from this study suggest that the addition of Macsumsuk and/or herb mixtures into the diets of growing and fattening pigs improves the pork quality by reducing cooking loss, decreasing cholesterol content, and enhancing sensory characteristics.
Generalized anxiety disorder and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale in Parkinson's disease.

UNLABELLED Anxiety is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), but studies concerning specific anxiety disorders are scarce. Essential psychometric properties of anxiety rating scales are also lacking. OBJECTIVE To investigate general anxiety disorder (GAD) in PD and psychometric properties of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (Ham-A). METHOD Ninety-one PD patients underwent neurological and psychiatric examination, which included the MINI-Plus, the Ham-A and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Ham-D). RESULTS GAD was present in 30.8% of PD patients. Patients with GAD had longer disease duration (p=0.044) and were in use of higher doses of levodopa (p=0.034). They also tended to have more motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. The group with GAD scored higher in Ham-A (p<0.001), in the somatic (p=0.004) and psychic (p<0.001) subscales of Ham-A, and in Ham-D (p=0.004). The Ham-A showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.893) and a cutoff score of 10/11 is suggested to screen for GAD. CONCLUSION GAD is frequent in PD and the Ham-A may be a useful instrument to screen for this disorder.