Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Integration Produce Masking or Protect from it?

To examine the role of integration in pattern masking, possible disruptive effects of integration were minimized by using a mask that overlaid completely all targets. Exposure durations were 10 ms, so under energy summation the target area was much darker than the rest. In another condition the mask was red and targets were blue, so under energy summation the target area could also be distinguished by hue. Masking magnitude increased with delay of mask onset, and it was established by four independent criteria that integration was negligible in the condition which produced most masking. It is deduced that integration is not necessary for masking; furthermore it is suggested that integration never produces masking, but rather may or may not protect from a disruptive effect of interruption. The argument is that were the visual system to have better visual resolution, it would suffer more given the same masking parameters. It is argued that type B masking functions arise from a combination of the facilitatory effect of integration and the detrimental effect of interruption.
Kinetic Theory of dilute gases under nonequilibrium conditions

The significance of the recent finding of the velocity distribution function of the steady-state Boltzmann equation under a steady heat current obtained by Kim and Haykawa (J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. {\bf 72}, 1904 (2003)) is discussed. Through the stability analysis, it seems that the steady solution is stable. One of possible applications to the nonequiliburium Knudsen effect in which one cell at equilibrium is connected to another cell under the steady heat conduction is discussed. This solution apparently shows that steady-state thermodynamics proposed by Sasa and Tasaki cannot be used in a naive setup. The preliminary result of our simulation based on molecular-dynamics for nonequilibrium Knudsen effect is also presented to verify the theoretical argument.
Rapid and accurate determination of MYCN copy number and 1p deletion in neuroblastoma by quantitative PCR

MYCN amplification and 1p36 deletion are adverse prognostic factors in neuroblastoma, and rapid accurate determination of MYCN amplification is essential for risk stratification. MYCN copy number and 1p36 deletion status were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and real time PCR in a diagnostic pathology laboratory setting on 35 consecutive patients with neuroblastoma. The PCR technique was technically successful in all cases and results were generally available within 24 hr of biospy. There was no discordance between FISH and PCR results. Real time PCR is a reliable, accurate, and simple technique that can be applied to small neuroblastoma biopsies allowing rapid diagnosis. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Application-aware Memory System for Fair and Efficient Execution of Concurrent GPGPU Applications

The available computing resources in modern GPUs are growing with each new generation. However, as many general purpose applications with limited thread-scalability are tuned to take advantage of GPUs, available compute resources might not be optimally utilized. To address this, modern GPUs will need to execute multiple kernels simultaneously. As current generations of GPUs (e.g., NVIDIA Kepler, AMD Radeon) already enable concurrent execution of kernels from the same application, in this paper we address the next logical step: executing multiple concurrent applications in GPUs. We show that while this paradigm has a potential to improve the overall system performance, negative interactions among concurrently executing applications in the memory system can severely hamper the performance and fairness among applications. We show that the current application agnostic GPU memory system design can (1) lead to sub-optimal GPU performance; and (2) create significant imbalance in performance slowdowns across kernels. Thus, we argue that GPU memory system should be augmented with application awareness. As one example to the applicability of this concept, we augment the memory system hardware with application awareness such that requests from different applications can be scheduled in a round robin (RR) fashion while still preserving the benefits of the current first-ready FCFS (FR-FCFS) memory scheduling policy. Evaluations with different multi-application workloads demonstrate that the proposed memory scheduling policy, first-ready round-robin FCFS (FR-RR-FCFS), improves fairness and delivers better system performance compared to the existing FR-FCFS memory scheduling scheme.
Leishmania infantum Ecto-Nucleoside Triphosphate Diphosphohydrolase-2 is an Apyrase Involved in Macrophage Infection and Expressed in Infected Dogs

Background Visceral leishmaniasis is an important tropical disease, and Leishmania infantum chagasi (synonym of Leishmania infantum) is the main pathogenic agent of visceral leishmaniasis in the New World. Recently, ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (E-NTPDases) were identified as enablers of infection and virulence factors in many pathogens. Two putative E-NTPDases (∼70 kDa and ∼45 kDa) have been found in the L. infantum genome. Here, we studied the ∼45 kDa E-NTPDase from L. infantum chagasi to describe its natural occurrence, biochemical characteristics and influence on macrophage infection. Methodology/Principal Findings We used live L. infantum chagasi to demonstrate its natural ecto-nucleotidase activity. We then isolated, cloned and expressed recombinant rLicNTPDase-2 in bacterial system. The recombinant rLicNTPDase-2 hydrolyzed a wide variety of triphosphate and diphosphate nucleotides (GTP> GDP = UDP> ADP> UTP = ATP) in the presence of calcium or magnesium. In addition, rLicNTPDase-2 showed stable activity over a pH range of 6.0 to 9.0 and was partially inhibited by ARL67156 and suramin. Microscopic analyses revealed the presence of this protein on cell surfaces, vesicles, flagellae, flagellar pockets, kinetoplasts, mitochondria and nuclei. The blockade of E-NTPDases using antibodies and competition led to lower levels of parasite adhesion and infection of macrophages. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed the expression of E-NTPDases in amastigotes in the lymph nodes of naturally infected dogs from an area of endemic visceral leishmaniasis. Conclusions/Significance In this work, we cloned, expressed and characterized the NTPDase-2 from L. infantum chagasi and demonstrated that it functions as a genuine enzyme from the E-NTPDase/CD39 family. We showed that E-NTPDases are present on the surface of promastigotes and in other intracellular locations. We showed, for the first time, the broad expression of LicNTPDases in naturally infected dogs. Additionally, the blockade of NTPDases led to lower levels of in vitro adhesion and infection, suggesting that these proteins are possible targets for rational drug design.
MAC Gaussian channels with arbitrary inputs: Optimal precoding and power allocation

In this paper, (i) we derive closed-form expressions for the gradient of the mutual information with respect to arbitrary parameters of the Two-user multiple-access channel (MAC), (ii) we investigate the linear precoding and power allocation policies that maximize the mutual information for the two-user MAC Gaussian channels with arbitrary input distributions, capitalizing on the relationship between mutual information and minimum mean-square error (MMSE). (i) enforces the fundamental relations between information theory and estimation theory. And (ii) enforces that the optimal design of linear precoders may satisfy a fixed-point equation as a function of the channel and the input constellation under specific setups. We provide an interpretation for the interference with respect to the channel, power, and input estimates of the main user and the interferer.
On Cobweb posets tiling problem

Kwasniewski's cobweb posets uniquely represented by directed acyclic graphs are such a generalization of the Fibonacci tree that allows joint combinatorial interpretation for all of them under admissibility condition. This interpretation was derived in the source papers and it entailes natural enquieres already formulated therein. In our note we response to one of those problems. This is a tiling problem. Our observations on tiling problem include proofs of tiling's existence for some cobweb-admissible sequences. We show also that not all cobwebs admit tiling as defined below.
New Design and Analysis of Diesel Exhaust Manifold to Control Thermal Gradient

ABSTRACT: Optimization and design of new configurations in the field of engineering became faster and more accurate by improving three dimension modeling software and computational fluid dynamics methods. Exhaust manifold of the marine diesel engine, which transfers hot gases from cylinders to the turbocharger, has a problem with extreme thermal gradients and crack creation which cause coolant leakage to the combustion gases paths. Thus, the turbocharger and engine operation will be interrupted. In cooling systems, the main goal is to achieve uniform thermal distribution. In order to improve the heat transfer and prevent crack occurrence at the detected critical points, new configurations in geometrics design for exhaust manifold were studied in this paper. Two Proposed configurations were designed in the Solidworks modeling software. Flow simulation of thermal analysis was performed in ANSYS CFX by using Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute wall boiling model for subcooled boiling at the low pressure. Analysis indicated the single channel configuration, performed by removing output-separating wall on hot gases side, provide more uniform temperature distribution in the manifold body Results showed the correct operation of new manifold geometry that reduces the maximum temperature of the body up to 27.36% and controls the extreme (amount of) thermal gradients and risk of crack occurrence. Review History:
Health awareness and popularity of alternative medicines among people of Jamnagar town: A cross - sectional study

By 2020, it is predicted that non-communicable diseases will be causing seven out of every 10 deaths in developing countries. Indian traditional medicine system with the concept of personalized therapy in Ayurveda has the potential to offer remedies to these challenging health issues. Integration of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani, the three Indian systems of medicine (ISM), along with homoeopathic and allopathic systems of medicine to ensure health for all citizens across the country is the new Mantra of the Union health ministry. To tap the potentials of our indigenous medicine systems and other popular systems of medicine it is important to assess the awareness among people and make efforts to popularize them. The present study was therefore carried out to assess the awareness among 200 respondents with the help of a multiple choice questionnaire by the interview method. Convenience sampling technique was employed. The awareness about lifestyle, diet, oil consumption needs more vigorous attention as observed in this study. The most popular choice was found to be groundnut oil. Around 4% of the participants used more than one medium of cooking. Forty-two percent of the participants observed fast regularly. Twenty-three percent of the participants did not include any form of exercise in their daily routine while walking was the most popular form of exercise performed by 43%. By using multiple comparisons it was observed that the difference between i) Allopathy- Homeopathy, ii) Allopathy – Ayurvedic and iii) Ayurvedic- Homeopathy as 15.5263, 7.1053 and 8.4211, respectively, are significant at α = 0.05. A larger sample size encompassing various economic strata could be a better index of popularity of various alternative medicine systems existing in different sections of our society.
Modeling Games with Petri Nets

This paper describes an alternate approach to the modeling of game systems and game flow with Petri nets. Modeling languages usually used in this area are of limited efficiency when it comes to validating the underlying game systems. We provide a case study to show that Petri Nets can be used with advantages over other modeling languages. Their graphical notation is simple, yet it can be used to model complex game systems. Their mathematically defined structure enables the modeled system to be formally analyzed and its behavior’s simulation offers the possibility of detecting unwanted behaviors, loop-holes or balancing issues while still in the game design stage.
Relation between blood pressure variability and carotid artery damage in hypertension: baseline data from the European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis (ELSA)

Background Baseline data from the European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis (ELSA) have shown that carotid intima–media thickness (IMT) is not related to diastolic blood pressure (BP), but that it is related to clinic systolic (S) or pulse pressure (PP) and more so to their 24 h average values. The aim of the present study was to determine whether IMT independently relates to additional information obtained through ambulatory BP, in particular to SBP or PP variability. Methods and results In 1663 hypertensive patients, after a wash-out period from antihypertensive treatment (mean age 56.2 ± 7.65 years), IMT was assessed from 12 different carotid sites. Ambulatory BP measurements were performed every 15 min (day) and every 20 min (night). IMT values were positively related to 24 h, day and night average SBP and PP. There was some relationship of IMT with day–night or clinic–day SBP and PP differences. The most important finding, however, was that IMT values were related with 24 h SBP or PP standard deviation (P < 0.001), a measure of overall SBP or PP variability. The relationship was seen also by multiple regression analysis, the standard deviation for SBP or PP only following age and 24 h average SBP or PP in accounting for IMT values. Conclusions This is the first demonstration from a large database that not only average 24 h PP and SBP values, but also 24 h BP fluctuations, are associated with, and possibly determinants of, the alterations of large artery structure in hypertension.
Role of activated endocannabinoid system in regulation of cellular cholesterol metabolism in macrophages.

AIMS Evidence from recent studies suggests that the endocannabinoid system participates in the regulation of lipid metabolism and body composition. We hypothesize that the system is activated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and regulates cellular cholesterol metabolism in macrophages. METHODS AND RESULTS Primary peritoneal macrophages isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and RAW264.7 mice macrophages were cultured. A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) system was used to measure the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and cellular cholesterol levels in macrophages. The regulatory mechanisms of cellular cholesterol metabolism were also investigated by molecular biology methods. The results showed that the endocannabinoid system in macrophages was activated by oxLDL through elevation of the AEA and 2-AG levels and the up-regulation of the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor expression. Win55,212-2, a synthetic cannabinoid, promotes cellular cholesterol accumulation in macrophages, which was associated with an increase in the expression of CD36 and a decrease in the expression of ATP-binding cassette protein A1 (ABCA1) as mediated by an up-regulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). AM251, a selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, impaired the abilities of Win55,212-2-treated macrophages to accumulate cholesterol by down-regulating CD36 receptor expression and up-regulating ABCA1 expression. CONCLUSION We have demonstrated, for the first time, that the endocannabinoid system in macrophages is activated by oxLDL and that the activated endocannabinoid system promotes cellular cholesterol accumulation in macrophages. The results also indicate that selectively blocking the CB1 receptor can reduce oxLDL accumulation in macrophages, which might represent a promising therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis.
Lung volume measurements in wheezy infants: comparison of plethysmography and gas dilution.

The accuracy both of plethysmographic measurements of thoracic gas volume (TGV) and determinations of functional residual capacity (FRC) by gas dilution techniques in infants with obstructive lung disease is subject to continued dispute. We studied 25 wheezy infants and compared TGV derived from end-expiratory airway occlusions (TGVEE), corrected TGV after end-inspiratory airway occlusions (TGVEI), and FRC determined by nitrogen wash-out (FRCN2). Group mean TGVEE and TGVEI differed significantly (25.8 +/- 8.4 versus 24.6 +/- 7.1 ml.kg-1). TGVEE and FRCN2 did not differ significantly. TGVEE and TGVEI, as well as TGVEE and FRCN2, and TGVEI and FRCN2 data, respectively, showed lack of agreement. Based on 95% confidence intervals, calculated from TGVEE data, 14 of the 25 infants showed a significantly higher TGVEI than TGVEE; only one patient had a significantly lower TGVEI. Compared to FRCN1 data, TGVEE and TGVEI measurements yielded lower values in at least one third of our patients. The present study illustrates, that there is no gold standard for the measurement of lung volume in infants with airway obstruction.
User Effects in Beam-Space MIMO

The performance and design of the novel single-RF-chain beam-space multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna concept is evaluated for the first time in the presence of the user. First, the variations of different performance parameters are evaluated when placing a beam-space MIMO antenna in close proximity to the user body in several typical operating scenarios. In addition to the typical degradation of conventional antennas in terms of radiation efficiency and impedance matching, it is observed that the user body corrupts the power balance and the orthogonality of the beam-space MIMO basis. However, capacity analyses show that throughput reduction mainly stems from the absorption in user body tissues rather than from the power imbalance and the correlation of the basis. These results confirm that the beam-space MIMO concept, so far only demonstrated in the absence of external perturbation, still performs very well in typical human body interaction scenarios.
A Star-Channel Modular Multilevel Converter for Zero/Low-Fundamental-Frequency Operation Without Injecting Common-Mode Voltage

This paper proposes a star-channel modular multilevel converter (MMC). It overcomes the zero/low-fundamental-frequency operation issues of conventional MMC while not injecting the common-mode voltage (CMV). The proposed converter is characterized by the cross connections of upper three arms and lower three arms through two sets of star-channel branches. These star-channel branches rebalance the power among three phase legs, resulting in minimized submodule capacitor voltage ripples even at zero/low-fundamental-frequency operation without CMV injection. This feature enables the proposed converter to interface medium/high-voltage DC and variable-frequency AC systems. A 4160-V 1-MW simulation model is performed in MATLAB/Simulink, and a 208-V 5-kW experimental setup is constructed in the lab. Both of the simulation and experimental results verify the feasibility of the proposal.
Deterministic Replay

Deterministic replay is a type of emerging technique dedicated to providing deterministic executions of computer programs in the presence of nondeterministic factors. The application scopes of deterministic replay are very broad, making it an important research topic in domains such as computer architecture, operating systems, parallel computing, distributed computing, programming languages, verification, and hardware testing. In this survey, we comprehensively review existing studies on deterministic replay by introducing a taxonomy. Basically, existing deterministic replay schemes can be classified into two categories, single-processor (SP) schemes and multiprocessor (MP) schemes. By reviewing the details of these two categories of schemes respectively, we summarize and compare how existing schemes address technical issues such as log size, record slowdown, replay slowdown, implementation cost, and probe effect, which may shed some light on future studies on deterministic replay.
A Review of Indoor Optical Wireless Systems

Optical wireless communication offers a viable alternative to radio frequency (RF) communication for indoor use and other applications where high performance links are needed. These systems use infrared technology (IR), which has significant advantages over RF. This paper presents a review of the most significant issues related to infrared communication technology, which will enable the realization of future high performance and cost-effective indoor optical wireless systems. Several possible configurations for indoor optical wireless systems, modulation and multi-access techniques are presented as well as their advantages and limitations discussed.
Asymptotic enumeration methods for analyzing LDPC codes

We show how asymptotic estimates of powers of polynomials with nonnegative coefficients can be used in the analysis of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. In particular, we show how these estimates can be used to derive the asymptotic distance spectrum of both regular and irregular LDPC code ensembles. We then consider the binary erasure channel (BEC). Using these estimates we derive lower bounds on the error exponent, under iterative decoding, of LDPC codes used over the BEC. Both regular and irregular code structures are considered. These bounds are compared to the corresponding bounds when optimal (maximum-likelihood (ML)) decoding is applied.
Reaching Remote Health Workers in Malawi: Baseline Assessment of a Pilot mHealth Intervention

mHealth has great potential to change the landscape of health service delivery in less developed countries—expanding the reach of health information to frontline health workers in remote areas. Formative, process, and summative evaluation each play an important role in mHealth interventions. K4Health conducted a Health Information Needs Assessment in Malawi from July to September 2009 (formative evaluation) that found widespread use of cell phones among health workers offering new opportunities for knowledge exchange, especially in areas where access to health information is limited. K4Health subsequently designed an 18-month demonstration project (January 2010 to June 2011) to improve the exchange and use of family planning/reproductive health and HIV/AIDS knowledge among health workers, which included the introduction of a short message service (SMS) network. K4Health conducted a pretest of the mHealth intervention from June to October 2010. A baseline assessment was carried out in November 2010 before expanding the SMS network and included use of qualitative and quantitative measures and comparison groups (summative evaluation). Routinely collected statistics also guide the program (process evaluation). This article describes the approach and main findings of the SMS baseline study and contributes to a growing body of evidence measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of mHealth programs using a strong evaluation design.