Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SystemC-AMS SDF model synthesis for exploration of heterogeneous architectures

Cost efficient design of embedded HW/SW systems that need to meet certain requirements is a complex task due to the huge number of possible solutions, the ”design space”. Design space exploration methods depend on the designers' input in terms of application description, target architecture, and cost estimates for implementation alternatives. Obtaining feasible pre-implementation cost estimates causes lots of effort since the designer does not have confident information before implementation on the target architecture, or even different target architectures, has been performed. In this paper we present a methodology suitable for automatic cost estimation of synchronous data flow (SDF) graphs. We propose to start from an executable SystemC-AMS SDF specification, and demonstrate its automatic transformation and implementation for cost estimation on heterogeneous HW/SW architectures. The presented methodology allows the estimation of both HW and SW implementation alternatives of each SDF node based on a quick synthesis approach. These cost estimates are fed to a mapping framework to obtain a static binding and schedule for the architectures under exploration. With the proposed methodology the designer does not have to perform full synthesis and implementation for design space exploration. This is demonstrated by a case study of a Bluetooth baseband unit considered for implementation on a Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA.
Increased Plasma Levels of Heparin-Binding Protein on Admission to Intensive Care Are Associated with Respiratory and Circulatory Failure

Purpose Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is released by granulocytes and has been shown to increase vascular permeability in experimental investigations. Increased vascular permeability in the lungs can lead to fluid accumulation in alveoli and respiratory failure. A generalized increase in vascular permeability leads to loss of circulating blood volume and circulatory failure. We hypothesized that plasma concentrations of HBP on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) would be associated with decreased oxygenation or circulatory failure. Methods This is a prospective, observational study in a mixed 8-bed ICU. We investigated concentrations of HBP in plasma at admission to the ICU from 278 patients. Simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) 3 was recorded on admission. Sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were recorded daily for three days. Results Median SAPS 3 was 58.8 (48–70) and 30-day mortality 64/278 (23%). There was an association between high plasma concentrations of HBP on admission with decreased oxygenation (p<0.001) as well as with circulatory failure (p<0.001), after 48–72 hours in the ICU. There was an association between concentrations of HBP on admission and 30-day mortality (p = 0.002). ROC curves showed areas under the curve of 0,62 for decreased oxygenation, 0,65 for circulatory failure and 0,64 for mortality. Conclusions A high concentration of HBP in plasma on admission to the ICU is associated with respiratory and circulatory failure later during the ICU care period. It is also associated with increased 30-day mortality. Despite being an interesting biomarker for the composite ICU population it´s predictive value at the individual patient level is low.
SIMILARITY OF MOLECULAR DESCRIPTORS : THE EQUIVALENCE OF ZAGREB INDICES AND WALK COUNTS

The similarity of 608 molecular descriptors (including topological and geometrical indices) is measured using correlation coefficients. The computations are based on a library of 10946 diverse compounds. As a result, the second Zagreb index M2 and mwc, the molecular walk count of length 3, were found and proven to be affine dependent: mwc = 2M2.
Contrasting Susceptibilities to Flavescence Dorée in Vitis vinifera, Rootstocks and Wild Vitis Species

Flavescence dorée (FD) is a quarantine disease of grapevine, involving interactions between the plants, leafhopper vectors, and FD phytoplasma. Characterizing the susceptibility of vine varieties could limit disease propagation. After extensive surveys in vineyards, we showed that Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) is highly susceptible, with a high proportion of symptomatic branches and phytoplasma titers, in contrast to Merlot (M). Localized insect transmissions and grafting showed that phytoplasma circulate in the whole plant in the CS cultivar, but in M they are restricted to the transmission point. Insect-mediated transmission under high confinement mimicking natural conditions confirmed these phenotypes and allowed the classification of 28 Vitis accessions into three distinct categories, according to the percentage of infected plants and their phytoplasma titers. Reduced symptoms, low phytoplasma titers, and low percentages of infected plants were found to be associated in the Vitis vinifera cultivars tested. Interestingly, the low susceptibility of M was observed for one of its parents, i.e., Magdeleine Noire des Charentes. Rootstocks and their Vitis parents, although having high percentages of infected plants and intermediate to high phytoplasma titers, shared a symptomless response. This is troubling, because rootstocks can constitute a silent reservoir of contamination in mother plants or when they grow wild nearby vineyards. Altogether, data suggest distribution of genetic traits within the Vitis genus involved in insect-mediated phytoplasma transmission, multiplication, circulation, and symptom development.
Development of differential sensitivity for shape changes resulting from linear and nonlinear planar transformations

A shape bias for extending names to objects that look visually similar has been commonly accepted but it is hard to define which kind of shape dissimilarities are diagnostic for the identity of an object. Here, we present a transformational approach to describe shape differences that can incorporate many significant shape features. We introduce two kinds of transformations: one kind concerns linear transformations of the image plane (affine transformations), generally limiting shape variations within the borders of basic-level categories; the other kind concerns nonlinear continuous transformations of the image plane (topological transformations), allowing all kinds of shape variation crossing and not crossing the borders of basic-level categories. We administered stimulus pairs differing in these shape transformations to children of 3 years to 7 years old in a delayed match-to-sample task. With increasing age, especially between 5 years and 6 years, children became more sensitive to the topological deformations that are relevant for between-category distinctions, indicating that acquired categorical knowledge in early years induces perceptual learning of the relevant generic shape differences between categories.
Outcomes of patients with no laboratory assessment before anesthesia and a surgical procedure.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the frequency of perioperative morbidities in patients who underwent anesthesia and a surgical procedure with no preoperative laboratory testing. MATERIAL AND METHODS We conducted an electronic database search of medical records of 56,119 patients who underwent surgical or diagnostic procedures and anesthesia at Mayo Clinic Rochester in 1994 and found 5,120 who had no laboratory tests done within 90 days before the procedure. From this group, we randomly selected 1,044 patients (87 from each month) to document the absence of preoperative tests, the presence of preexisting disease (by organ system), the type of anesthetic agent, and the outcomes and tests intraoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS The 1,044 patients ranged in age from 0 to 95 years (median age, 21). No deaths or major perioperative morbidities occurred (0.0%; exact 95% confidence interval, 0.00 to 0.35%). Although 10 patients underwent blood typing and screening for antibodies immediately preoperatively, no blood transfusions were necessary. Intraoperatively, 17 laboratory tests and 1 electrocardiogram were obtained, and 3 results were abnormal. Postoperatively, 42 blood tests and 2 electrocardiographic procedures were performed. Five of the 42 blood tests showed abnormal results (hemoglobin levels in 3, serum sodium in 1, and arterial blood gases in 1). One electrocardiogram showed normal findings, and the other revealed normal results except for premature ventricular contractions. No laboratory test done intraoperatively or postoperatively was found to change surgical or medical management substantially. One patient who had unanticipated blood loss during an outpatient procedure was admitted to the hospital for observation. CONCLUSION All 1,044 patients, 97% of whom were relatively healthy, with no recent laboratory testing safely underwent anesthesia and an operation. We conclude that patients who have been assessed by history and physical examination and determined to have no preoperative indication for laboratory tests can safely undergo anesthesia and operation with tests obtained only as indicated intraoperatively and post-operatively. Current anesthetic and medical practices rapidly identify perioperative indications for laboratory evaluation as they arise.
Searching BWT compressed text with the Boyer-Moore algorithm and binary search

This paper explores two techniques for on-line exact pattern matching in files that have been compressed using the Burrows-Wheeler transform. We investigate two approaches. The first is an application of the Boyer-Moore algorithm (1977) to a transformed string. The second approach is based on the observation that the transform effectively contains a sorted list of all substrings of the original text, which can be exploited for very rapid searching using a variant of binary search. Both methods are faster than a decompress-and-search approach for small numbers of queries, and binary search is much faster even for large numbers of queries.
Rethinking the "L" word in higher education : the revolution in research on leadership

Executive Summary. Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgments. The Revolution in Leadership. The Continued Need for Leadership in a Changed Context. Organization of the Book. Key Terms and Theories. Challenges and Missed Opportunities in the Study of Leadership in Higher Education. New Directions in Higher Education Leadership. Contributions of This Book. A World Apart: New Paradigms of Leadership. Positivist Paradigm. Social Constructivism Paradigm. Critical Paradigm. Postmodern Paradigm. Comparing the Paradigms' Impact. Summary. A World Anew: The Latest Theories of Leadership. Transformational Leadership. Complexity and Chaos Theory. Expanding Cognitive Theories: Mental Models and Organizational Learning. Expanding Cultural and Symbolic Theories: Social and Cultural Theories of Leadership. Rethinking Contingency Theories: Processual Leadership. Team or Relational Leadership. Summary. Revolutionary Concepts of Leadership. Ethics and Spirituality. Collaboration. Empowerment. Social Change and Social Movements. Emotions. Globalization. Entrepreneurialism. Accountability. Summary. Higher Education Leadership in the New World. Changes in the Landscape of Higher Education Leadership Research. Trait and Behavior Theories. Power and Influence Theories. Transformational Leadership. Complexity and Chaos Theory. Cognitive Theory: Cognitive Frames and Organizational Learning. Cultural and Symbolic Theories. Teams and Relational Leadership. Summary. Revolutionary Leadership Concepts in Higher Education. Ethics and Spirituality. Empowerment. Social Changes. Collaboration and Partnering. Emotions. Globalization. Entrepreneurialism. Accountability. Summary. Practical Implications for the Leadership Revolution. Framing Leadership Research in a New Era. Notes. Appendix: Three Case Studies. References. Name Index. Subject Index. About the Authors.
Mitochondrial Calcium Buffering Contributes to the Maintenance of Basal Calcium Levels in Mouse Taste Cells Taste Receptor Cell Isolation

Hacker K, Medler KF. Mitochondrial calcium buffering contributes to the maintenance of basal calcium levels in mouse taste cells. Taste stimuli are detected by taste receptor cells present in the oral cavity using diverse signaling pathways. Some taste stimuli are detected by G protein– coupled receptors (GPCRs) that cause calcium release from intracellular stores, whereas other stimuli depolarize taste cells to cause calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). Although taste cells use two distinct mechanisms to transmit taste signals, increases in cyto-solic calcium are critical for normal responses in both pathways. This creates a need to tightly control intracellular calcium levels in all transducing taste cells. To date, however, the mechanisms used by taste cells to regulate cytosolic calcium levels have not been identified. Studies in other cell types have shown that mitochondria can be important calcium buffers, even during small changes in calcium loads. In this study, we used calcium imaging to characterize the role of mitochondria in buffering calcium levels in taste cells. We discovered that mitochondria make important contributions to the maintenance of resting calcium levels in taste cells by routinely buffering a constitutive calcium influx across the plasma membrane. This is unusual because in other cell types, mitochondrial calcium buffering primarily affects large evoked calcium responses. We also found that the amount of calcium that is buffered by mitochondria varies with the signaling pathways used by the taste cells. A transient receptor potential (TRP) channel, likely TRPV1 or a taste variant of TRPV1, contributes to the constitutive calcium influx. The detection of gustatory stimuli depends on the activation of taste receptor cells located in taste buds within the oral cavity. Activated taste receptors on the apical membrane of taste cells initiate transduction pathways that ultimately transmit signals to afferent gustatory neurons. Taste cells use two distinct signaling pathways to mediate their communication to the nervous system: 1) calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), which causes vesicular neurotransmitter release or 2) G protein– coupled receptor (GPCR)-dependent second messenger pathways that activate a calcium-dependent nonvesicular mechanism to release the neurotransmitter, ATP (Clapp Both signaling mechanisms depend on increasing cytosolic calcium to produce normal synaptic signals. Hence all transducing taste cells must tightly regulate intracellular calcium levels. Currently, the role of buffering mechanisms to control cytosolic calcium levels in taste cells has not been described. In addition to its role in ATP production, mitochondria make significant contributions …
Efficiencies of Recovery of Bdellovibrios from Brackish- Water Environments by Using Various Bacterial Species as Prey

A total of 44 bacterial species subdivided into 10 trial experiments have been used as prey for the recovery of bdellovibrios from samples of water from a brackish tidal pond and an aquarium saltwater tank. In an initial investigation, the recovery efficiency of each of the test bacterial species was compared with that of a designated standard prey, Vibrio parahaemolyticus P-5. The results revealed that in each case strain P-5 yielded an equal or significantly greater number of plaques of bdellovibrios than the test prey with but a single exception, strain CS5. In repeat experiments, CS5 yielded fewer plaques than P-5. To determine whether the use of multiple bacterial species compared with a single species as prey would increase the number of PFU of bdellovibrios recovered, material from plaques appearing on each of the test prey in the respective trials was sequentially subcultured onto two respective agar plates, the first containing as prey V. parahaemolyticus P-5 and the second containing the initial test organism. In nearly every case, subculture of plaques from lawns of the test prey to P-5 resulted in plaque formation. On the basis of the results, the use of several test prey and P-5 did not result in the recovery of any more bdellovibrio PFU than the use of P-5 alone. In this study, V. parahaemolyticus P-5 was observed to be the most efficient prey for the recovery of bdellovibrios from moderate salt water.
The Ring Finger Protein RNF6 Induces Leukemia Cell Proliferation as a Direct Target of Pre-B-cell Leukemia Homeobox 1*

RNF6 is a little-studied ring finger protein. In the present study, we found that RNF6 was overexpressed in various leukemia cells and that it accelerated leukemia cell proliferation, whereas knockdown of RNF6 delayed tumor growth in xenografts. To find out the mechanism of RNF6 overexpression in leukemia, we designed a series of truncated constructs of RNF6 regulatory regions in the luciferase reporter system. The results revealed that the region between −144 and −99 upstream of the RNF6 transcription start site was critical and that this region contained a PBX1 recognition element (PRE). PBX1 modulated RNF6 expression by binding to the specific PRE. When PRE was mutated, RNF6 transcription was completely abolished. Further studies showed that PBX1 collaborated with PREP1 but not MEIS1 to modulate RNF6 expression. Moreover, RNF6 expression could be suppressed by doxorubicin, a major anti-leukemia agent, via down-regulating PBX1. This study thus suggests that RNF6 overexpression in leukemia is under the direction of PBX1 and that the PBX1/RNF6 axis can be developed as a novel therapeutic target of leukemia.
Information Technology Governance Processes Under Environmental Dynamism: Investigating Competing Theories of Decision Making and Knowledge Sharing

This paper describes an empirical study of IT governance processes in complex organizations under conditions of environmental dynamism. Rooted in competing theories of organizational decision making and knowledge sharing, and based on a case study investigation of large, distributed organizations, this study examines the design and effectiveness of IT governance processes from both rational-analytical and social-learning perspectives. The results indicate that, regardless of the level of environmental dynamism, effective IT governance processes are characterized by both methodological comprehensiveness and social capabilities. The implications for theory development, future research, and IT governance practices are discussed.
Idiopathic osteonecrosis of the hip in twins.

in most cases a specific pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. Several mechanisms may explain the interruption of the blood supply such as, embolism and thrombosis, mechanical vascular interruption, injury to or pressure on vessel walls and venous occlusion. ' A minority of patients exposed to the same risk factor, such as high dose steroid therapy, will develop an osteonecrosis of the hip. " Familial cases of idiopathic necrosis may give new insight into the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis. We report idiopathic osteonecrosis of the hip in homozygous twin brothers. This condition in twins has not been reported previously. Patient 1, a 25 year old white electrician, was admitted to hospital in June 1988 because of persistent right hip pain over a period of six months. Radiographs of the right hip (fig 1) showed stage III osteonecrosis; the left hip was normal. MRI of the left hip showed a dark band of hyposignal surrounding a zone of high signal intensity (fig 2). Core biopsy revealed typical features of advanced osteonecrosis. Investigations failed to find any risk factors for the disease. HLA typing was Al, A2, B27, B40. An
The effects of divorce on children

With all of these negatives for children of divorce, parents should think twice before they give up on their marriage. If they only knew from the start the disaster their divorce would inflict on themselves, their children and their grandchildren, perhaps they would willing to go the extra mile and try with every ounce of their strength, and much prayer, to work things out. As Christians, we have the obligation to gently warn them of the terrible effects of divorce on children, and do all in our power to be "marriage savers. "
Rehabilitation Counseling Professional Associations: Membership, Membership Intentions, and Levels of Commitment among Rehabilitation Counseling Professionals.

REHABILITATION COUNSELING PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: ME MBERSHIP, MEMBERSHIP INTENTIONS, AND LEVELS OF COMMITMENT AMONG REHABILITATION COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS By Brian N. Phillips Declining membership is a concerning, yet poorly understood issue affecting pr ofessional associations across many disciplines (Bauman, 2008). The discipline of rehabilita tion counseling is experiencing membership decline even as the number of certif ied rehabilitation counselors continues to increase (Leahy, 2009). Little empirical research exists on professional association membership and motivations for membership. The purpose of this study wa s to explore factors that might influence rehabilitation counseling professional association membership and membership commitment and to test theoretical hypotheses reg arding motives for membership; pursuit of this purpose was guided primarily by tenets of socia l ex hange and social identity theories. Social exchange theory is the theory most commonly associated with professional association membership. However, challenges in the application of exchange theor y to influence membership decisions are many during periods of declining membership. Efforts to increase overall value can become strained by the loss of revenue resulting from a reducti on in membership dollars. Social identity theory is offered, in addition to social exchange theory, as an explanation for membership decisions. In social identity theory, the influence of group membership on self-identity becomes primary (Tajfel, 1981). In line with social i dentity theory, professional identity was defined for this study as a special form of social identity in which a person defines him or herself by membership in an occupation believed to approximate t hat of a profession. A sample of 1,257 professionals closely connected to the discipline of rehabilitati on counseling was obtained for this study from the databases of CRCC, ARCA, NRCA , and RCEA. This sample included 450 participants who currently held membership in at least one rehabilitation counseling professional association, 324 participants who formerly h eld membership in at least one rehabilitation counseling professional association, a nd 483 participants who had never held membership in a rehabilitation counseling professiona l association. Research findings expand on the work of previous research in the area of professional association membership and membership commitment. As hypothesized, re ults showed professional identity salience was positively related with current m embership status and levels of affective and normative commitment. Also hypothesized, perceived val ue of membership was positively related with current membership status. In contras t, the hypothesis that private benefits would act as the only type of benefits predicting current m embership was not supported. Results suggest graduate programs and employing organizations als o play an important role in encouraging membership.