Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanical stress aware optimization for leakage power reduction

Process-induced mechanical stress is used to enhance carrier transport and achieve higher drive currents in current complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technologies. This paper explores how to fully exploit the layout dependence of stress enhancement and proposes a circuit-level, block-based, stress-enhanced optimization algorithm that uses stress-optimized layouts in conjunction with dual-V th assignment to achieve optimal power-performance tradeoffs. We begin by studying how channel stress and drive current depend on layout parameters such as active area length and contact placement, while considering all layout-dependent sources of mechanical stress in a 65 nm industrial process. We then investigate the three main layout properties that impact mechanical stress in this process and discuss how to improve stress-based performance enhancement in standard cell libraries. While varying the stress-altering layout properties of a number of standard cells in a 65 nm industrial library, we show that ? dual-stress? standard cell layouts (analogous to ? dual-V th? ) can be designed to achieve drive current differences up to ~ 14% while incurring less than half the leakage penalty of dual-V th. Therefore, when the flexibility of ? dual-stress? assignment is combined with dual-V th assignment (within the proposed joint optimization framework), simulation results for a set of benchmark circuits show that leakage is reduced by ~ 24% on average, for iso-delay, when compared to dual-V th assignment. Since mobility enhancement does not incur the exponential leakage penalty associated with V th assignment, our optimization technique is ideal for leakage power reduction. However, our framework can also be used to achieve higher performance circuits for iso-leakage and our joint optimization framework can be used to reduce delay on average by ~ 5%. In both cases, the proposed method only incurs a small area penalty (<0.5%).
Can We Learn to Beat the Best Stock

A novel algorithm for actively trading stocks is presented. While traditional universal algorithms (and technical trading heuristics) attempt to predict winners or trends, our approach relies on predictable statistical relations between all pairs of stocks in the market. Our empirical results on historical markets provide strong evidence that this type of technical trading can "beat the market" and moreover, can beat the best stock in the market. In doing so we utilize a new idea for smoothing critical parameters in the context of expert learning.
A new method to predict the consensus secondary structure of a set of unaligned RNA sequences

MOTIVATION To predict the consensus secondary structure, possibly including pseudoknots, of a set of RNA unaligned sequences. RESULTS We have designed a method based on a new representation of any RNA secondary structure as a set of structural relationships between the helices of the structure. We refer to this representation as a structural pattern. In a first step, we use thermodynamic parameters to select, for each sequence, the best secondary structures according to energy minimization and we represent each of them using its corresponding structural pattern. In a second step, we search for the repeated structural patterns, i.e. the largest structural patterns that occur in at least one sequence, i.e. included in at least one of the structural patterns associated to each sequence. Thanks to an efficient encoding of structural patterns, this search comes down to identifying the largest repeated word suffixes in a dictionary. In a third step, we compute the plausibility of each repeated structural pattern by checking if it occurs more frequently in the studied sequences than in random RNA sequences. We then suppose that the consensus secondary structure corresponds to the repeated structural pattern that displays the highest plausibility. We present several experiments concerning tRNA, fragments of 16S rRNA and 10Sa RNA (including pseudoknots); in each of them, we found the putative consensus secondary structure.
The Effect of Edge Targets on Touch Performance

Edge targets, such as buttons or menus along the edge of a screen, are known to afford fast acquisition performance in desktop mousing environments. As the popularity of touch-based devices continues to grow, understanding the affordances of edge targets on touchscreen is needed. This paper describes results from two controlled experiments that examine in detail the effect of edge targets on performance in touch devices. The results show that on touch devices, a target's proximity to the edge may have a significant negative effect on reaction time. We examine the effect in detail and explore mitigating factors. We discuss potential explanations for the effect and propose implications for the design of efficient interfaces for touch devices.
To determine frequency of etiological factors in short statured patients presenting at an endocrine clinic of a tertiary care hospital

Objective: To determine the frequency of etiological factors in short statured patients presenting at endocrine clinic of National Institute of Child Health, Karachi. Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at Endocrine clinic of National Institute of Child Health, Karachi. One hundred children (48 boys and 52 girls) aged 3-15 years (mean 9.9±3.4) with short stature from January 2007 to July 2007 were evaluated during that period. Results: Constitutional growth delay (CGD) and familial short stature (FSS) were identified as the most common, 55% of all short stature cases. Non-endocrinal causes as a single entity was detected in 17 children. Most common etiological factors in order of frequency were normal variant of growth (CGD, FSS), Hypothyroidism, Growth Hormone deficiency (GHD), and Celiac disease. GHD was found in 13% of total cases and it comprises 44% among endocrinal causes. Boys outnumbered girls with ratio of 2.7:1 (p<0.05). Conclusion: Most common cause of short stature was normal variants of growth as a group. Children with height falling below 0.4th percentile are more likely to have pathological cause.
Case study of a computer based examination system

Electronic supported assessment or e-Assessment is a field of growing importance, but it has yet to make a significant impact in the Australian higher education sector (Byrnes & Ellis, 2006). Current computer based assessment models focus on the assessment of knowledge rather than deeper understandings, using multiple choice type questions, and blocking access to more sophisticated software tools. This study explored a new system based on a customised version of an open source live CD, based on Ubuntu which was used with three groups of pre-service teachers (N=270). Students had divided opinions about using computers or paper for their examinations, but prior exposure to computer based assessment was a highly significant factor for preferring the computer medium. Reflecting upon their experience, students found the noise of computer keyboards a distraction during the eExamination and preferred fewer on-screen windows. The new system allowed eExaminations to be taken securely on student owned laptop computers and was supervised by invigilators without specialist information technology skills. The system has been made available for other researchers to use at http://www.eExaminations. org/
Balanced Scorecard diffusion from a social network perspective. The Effects of interlocking directorates on the use of Balanced Scorecard practices

This study examines the influence of the social networks of the board of directors on the use of Balanced Scorecard (BSC) practices. Combining insights from research on social networks in management and literature on organizational innovativeness and accounting, our theoretical framework suggests that interlocking directorates influence the likelihood of BSC use. Modelling variation in the relationship between interlocking board members and making a distinction between different ways of BSC use, we measured the effects of the interlock ties of the executive and supervisory board members in a two-tier system on the use of the BSC as a strategic performance measurement tool in companies’ annual reports. Using data from 149 companies listed on the Dutch stock exchange, our results suggest that director experience with BSC practices on other boards influences firm’s use of the BSC. Firms with board members who have experience with BSC practices in other firms they are associated with, have a higher probability to use this strategic performance measurement tool in their own firm too. Experience of the CEO is relevant for information disclosure about customers, while members of the supervisory board, especially the chairman, seem to promote additional information about internal business processes and learning and growth. Direct correspondence to Geert Braam, Department of Economics, Radboud University P.O. Box 9108, 6500 HK, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Phone +31 24 3613086; E-mail g. braam@fm. ru. nl The authors express their thanks for comments and suggestions received on previous versions of this paper from Jos Benders, Mahmoud Ezzamel, Paul Hendriks, Paula van Veen, the participants at the EAA 2008 and the RACC conference 2008, and Annelien Arnouts, Andy Defares and Mehment Akpolat for their research assistance.
Beneficial effects of maternal vitamin e supplementation on the antioxidant system of the neonate chick brain

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the laying stage which is a critical period for chick survival. We investigated the relationship of neonatal chick performance, brain antioxidant status and vitamin E supplementation level in hens. Starting at 17 weeks, hens were randomly divided into five groups. The control group received a basal diet without supplemental vitamin E (VE, d1-α-tocopherol acetate). Other groups received the same basal diet supplemented with vitamin E (40, 80, 120 and 160 mg/kg) through growth to egg production. Hens were artificially inseminated at 28 weeks of age and egg yolks were collected at day two. All remaining eggs were hatched. Yolk vitamin E content, hatchability and fertility of eggs were evaluated. Brains of the newly hatched chicks were further evaluated for their oxidative stress status, antioxidative status and vitamin E levels. Increased reproductive performance was observed in fertility and hatchability in the group supplemented at 40 mg/kg. Egg yolk and neonatal brain α-tocopherol was highest in eggs from hens fed 120 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg supplemental vitamin E, respectively. Brain MDA, ROS and iron levels were significantly higher in unsupplemented hens (p<0.01). SOD activity was significantly higher in the group supplemented at 160 mg/kg than in all other groups. We concluded that maternal supplementation of vitamin E had beneficial effects on fertility, hatchability of eggs, neonatal brain oxidative status and SOD activity.
Estimation of total alkaloid in Chitrakadivati by UV-Spectrophotometer

Background: Herbal formulation standardization by adopting newer technique is need of the hour in the field of Ayurvedic pharmaceutical industry. As very few reports exist. These kind of studies would certainly widen the herbal research area. Chitrakadivati is one such popular herbal formulation used in Ayurveda. Many of its ingredients are known for presence of alkaloids. Methodology: Presence of alkaloid was tested qualitatively by Dragondroff's method then subjected to quantitative estimation by UV-Spectrophotometer. This method is based on the reaction between alkaloid and bromocresol green (BCG). Results and Conclusion: Study discloses that out of 16 ingredients, 9 contain alkaloid. Chitrakadivati has shown 0.16% of concentration of alkaloid and which is significantly higher than it's individual ingredients.
Analysis of Distributional Dynamics for Repeated Cross-Sectional and Intra-Period Observations ∗

This paper introduces a novel approach to investigate the dynamics of state distributions, which accommodate both cross-sectional distributions of repeated panels and intra-period distributions of a time series observed at high frequency. In our approach, densities of the state distributions are regarded as functional elements in a Hilbert space, and are assumed to follow a functional autoregressive model. We propose an estimator for the autoregressive operator, establish its consistency, and provide tools and asymptotics to analyze the forecast of state density and the moment dynamics of state distributions. We apply our methodology to study the time series of distributions of the GBP/USD exchange rate intra-month returns and the time series of cross-sectional distributions of the NYSE stocks monthly returns. Finally, we conduct simulations to evaluate the density forecasts based on our model. JEL classification codes: C13, C14, C22
Ecological Rationality: A Framework for Understanding and Aiding the Aging Decision Maker

The notion of ecological rationality sees human rationality as the result of the adaptive fit between the human mind and the environment. Ecological rationality focuses the study of decision making on two key questions: First, what are the environmental regularities to which people’s decision strategies are matched, and how frequently do these regularities occur in natural environments? Second, how well can people adapt their use of specific strategies to particular environmental regularities? Research on aging suggests a number of changes in cognitive function, for instance, deficits in learning and memory that may impact decision-making skills. However, it has been shown that simple strategies can work well in many natural environments, which suggests that age-related deficits in strategy use may not necessarily translate into reduced decision quality. Consequently, we argue that predictions about the impact of aging on decision performance depend not only on how aging affects decision-relevant capacities but also on the decision environment in which decisions are made. In sum, we propose that the concept of the ecological rationality is crucial to understanding and aiding the aging decision maker.
Endocrinopathies in Survivors of Childhood Neoplasia

Advancements in cancer treatments have increased the number of survivors of childhood cancers. Endocrinopathies are common complications following cancer therapy and may occur decades later. The objective of the current review is to address the main endocrine abnormalities detected in childhood cancer survivors including disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, thyroid, puberty, gonads, bone, body composition, and glucose metabolism.
Cortical Thickness and Behavior Abnormalities in Children Born Preterm

Aim To identify long-term effects of preterm birth and of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) on cortical thickness (CTh). To study the relationship between CTh and cognitive-behavioral abnormalities. Methods We performed brain magnetic resonance imaging on 22 preterm children with PVL, 14 preterm children with no evidence of PVL and 22 full-term peers. T1-weighted images were analyzed with FreeSurfer software. All participants underwent cognitive and behavioral assessments by means of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results We did not find global CTh differences between the groups. However, a thinner cortex was found in left postcentral, supramarginal, and caudal middle rostral gyri in preterm children with no evidence of PVL than in the full-term controls, while PVL preterm children showed thicker cortex in right pericalcarine and left rostral middle frontal areas than in preterm children with no evidence of PVL. In the PVL group, internalizing and externalizing scores correlated mainly with CTh in frontal areas. Attentional scores were found to be higher in PVL and correlated with CTh increments in right frontal areas. Interpretation The preterm group with no evidence of PVL, when compared with full-term children, showed evidence of a different pattern of regional thinning in the cortical gray matter. In turn, PVL preterm children exhibited atypical increases in CTh that may underlie their prevalent behavioral problems.
An effective hybrid transactional memory system with strong isolation guarantees

We propose signature-accelerated transactional memory (SigTM), ahybrid TM system that reduces the overhead of software transactions. SigTM uses hardware signatures to track the read-set and write-set forpending transactions and perform conflict detection between concurrent threads. All other transactional functionality, including dataversioning, is implemented in software. Unlike previously proposed hybrid TM systems, SigTM requires no modifications to the hardware caches, which reduces hardware cost and simplifies support for nested transactions and multithreaded processor cores. SigTM is also the first hybrid TM system to provide strong isolation guarantees between transactional blocks and non-transactional accesses without additional read and write barriers in non-transactional code. Using a set of parallel programs that make frequent use of coarse-grain transactions, we show that SigTM accelerates software transactions by 30% to 280%. For certain workloads, SigTM can match the performance of a full-featured hardware TM system, while for workloads with large read-sets it can be up to two times slower. Overall, we show that SigTM combines the performance characteristics and strong isolation guarantees of hardware TM implementations with the low cost and flexibility of software TM systems.
Circulating thioredoxin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced neutrophil chemotaxis

Thioredoxin (Trx), a redox enzyme with a conserved active site (Cys-32–Gly–Pro–Cys-35), is induced and secreted into circulation in response to inflammation. Studies here demonstrate that elevating Trx levels in circulation either by i.v. injection of recombinant Trx or stimulating Trx release in Trx-transgenic mice dramatically blocks lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neutrophil migration in the murine air pouch chemotaxis model. Furthermore, we show that leukocyte recruitment induced by the murine chemokines KC/GROα, RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is suppressed also in Trx-transgenic mice. Addressing the mechanism responsible for this suppression, we show that circulating Trx blocks (i) the LPS-stimulated in vitro activation of neutrophil p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, (ii) the normal down-regulation of CD62L on neutrophils migrating into the LPS-stimulated air pouch, and (iii) the in vitro adhesion of LPS-activated neutrophils on endothelial cells. However, as we also show, Trx does not alter the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, CD62P, and CD62E) within 3 h. Collectively, these findings indicate that elevated levels of circulating Trx interfere with chemotaxis by acting directly on neutrophils. We discuss these findings in the context of recent studies reporting beneficial effects of acutely elevated Trx in ischemic injury and negative effects associated with chronically elevated Trx in HIV disease.
Women in the Middle: Generational Position and Grandmothers' Adjustment to Raising Grandchildren

ABSTRACT This study compared the adjustment of two groups of grandmothers who were providing primary care for grandchildren in split-generation households: 25 grandmothers in the oldest generation of their families (G1), and 22 grandmothers who had living parents or in-laws (G2). It was hypothesized that because of potential demands on them as middle-generation women, G2 grandmothers would report greater burden and depression in their caregiving roles than G1 grandmothers. After controlling for numerous factors that are associated with generational position, the hypothesis was confirmed. In addition to being in the middle generation, having grandchildren with problems predicted elevated depression and burden. Grandmothers who were educated beyond high school also reported greater role burden.
The role of palatable food and hunger as trigger factors in an animal model of stress induced binge eating.

OBJECTIVE Dieting and stress are etiological factors in eating disorders, and dieting strongly predicts stress-induced overeating in the nonclinical population. We developed an animal model of binge eating in sated rats that is evoked by stress, but only in rats with a history of caloric restriction and only if highly palatable food (HPF) is available after stress. This study investigated the effect of known binge triggers, a taste of HPF and of hunger, on this type of binge eating. METHOD Female rats were cycled through the R/S protocol but this time were given just a taste of HPF with ad lib regular chow. After another R/S cycle, rats were stressed during restriction (while hungry) and were given HPF and chow. RESULTS Although binge eating did not occur if only chow was available after stress, just a taste of HPF sufficed to increase chow intake to more than 160% (p < 0.001) of rats with a history of restriction only, stress-only, or neither. Hunger increased the proportion of chow consumed by both restricted groups, but stress magnified this hunger-induced overeating by increasing HPF intake to 137% of restriction-only rats (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION These effects suggest that binge eating in this model is motivated by reward, not metabolic need, and parallels observations of binge triggers described in clinical binge-eating disorders. This strengthens the validity of using this animal model to target the physiology and treatment of eating disorders preceded by dieting and stress.
Marginal effects of glucose, insulin and insulin-like growth factor on chemotherapy response in endothelial and colorectal cancer cells

Resistance to chemotherapy is a major clinical issue for patients with colorectal cancer. Obesity has been associated with a poorer outcome and is a possible mechanism of resistance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of obesity-related factors on the cell response to standard chemotherapy in stromal and colorectal cancer cells. Viability was measured following the treatment of colorectal cancer cell lines (WiDr and SW620) and stromal cells (human microvascular endothelial cells) in vitro with 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin under obesity-related conditions [elevated levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and glucose] and compared with non-elevated conditions. Obesity-related conditions alone increased cell viability and in selected cases, accumulation of the transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1. However, these conditions did not consistently increase resistance to the chemotherapy agents tested. The combination of IGF-1 and extremely low-dose chemotherapy significantly induced cell viability in WiDr colorectal cancer cells. These in vitro results may have clinical importance in an environment of increasing rates of obesity and colorectal cancer, and the frequent under-dosing of obese cancer patients.
BUSY PERIOD ANALYSIS, RARE EVENTS AND TRANSIENT BEHAVIOR IN FLUID FLOW MODELS

We consider a process { ( J t , V t ) } t ≥ 0 on E × [ 0 , ∞ ) , such that { J t } is a Markov process with finite state space E , and { V t } has a linear drift r i on intervals where J t = i and reflection at 0. Such a process arises as a fluid flow model of current interest in telecommunications engineering for the purpose of modeling ATM technology. We compute the mean of the busy period and related first passage times, show that the probability of buffer overflow within a busy cycle is approximately exponential, and give conditioned limit theorems for the busy cycle with implications for quick simulation. Further, various inequalities and approximations for transient behavior are given. Also explicit expressions for the Laplace transform of the busy period are found. Mathematically, the key tool is first passage probabilities and exponential change of measure for Markov additive processes.