Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early power-aware Design Space Exploration for embedded systems: MPEG-2 case study

Power consumption has become one of the major concerns in embedded systems design, especially for mobile devices, which integrate many applications leading to a high power consumption. In this context, designers have the challenge to identify power issues early in the design flow and to explore the largest possible space of power-efficient solutions. In this paper, we present a Model Driven Engineering (MDE) approach for early power-aware Design Space Exploration (DSE). This approach is based on a high-level modeling of power estimation and dynamic management aspects targeting an automatic generation of the corresponding simulation code. It was implemented in the DSE toolkit TTool by integrating power concepts in its DIPLODOCUS UML profile. The existing C++ simulation code generator was extended in order to integrate power estimation. The main objective of this article is to illustrate the potential of our approach through an MPEG-2 case study. The proposed high-level power modeling concepts were used to target two different platforms for the implementation of an MPEG-2 decoding application. The processor power estimates obtained from simulations were compared to real board measurements. This comparison showed that our MDE approach is capable of obtaining results that can be used to make early power-efficient design decisions.
Unmyelinated tactile afferents underpin detection of low‐force monofilaments

Human hairy but not glabrous skin has unmyelinated (C) tactile (CT) afferents that project to insular cortex. We studied two subjects with the rare sensory neuronopathy syndrome who lack A‐beta fibers but have relatively preserved C‐fiber function. Weak monofilaments were detected on hairy skin alone. Hence, the ability to detect light touch does not depend entirely on the A‐beta somatosensory system; CT afferents may contribute to the detection of weak monofilaments. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Low Dynamics, High Longevity and Persistence of Sessile Structural Species Dwelling on Mediterranean Coralligenous Outcrops

There is still limited understanding of the processes underlying benthic species dynamics in marine coastal habitats, which are of disproportionate importance in terms of productivity and biodiversity. The life-history traits of long-lived benthic species in these habitats are particularly poorly documented. In this study, we assessed decadal patterns of population dynamics for ten sponge and anthozoan species that play key structural roles in coralligenous outcrops (∼25 m depth) in two areas of the NW Mediterranean Sea. This study was based on examination of a unique long-term photographic series, which allowed analysis of population dynamics over extensive spatial and time spans for the very first time. Specifically, 671 individuals were censused annually over periods of 25-, 15-, and 5-years. This long-term study quantitatively revealed a common life-history pattern among the ten studied species, despite the fact they present different growth forms. Low mortality rates (3.4% yr−1 for all species combined) and infrequent recruitment events (mean value of 3.1±0.5 SE recruits yr−1) provided only a very small fraction of the new colonies required to maintain population sizes. Overall, annual mortality and recruitment rates did not differ significantly among years; however, some species displayed important mortality events and recruitment pulses, indicating variability among species. Based on the growth rates of these 10 species, we projected their longevity and, obtained a mean estimated age of 25–200 years. Finally, the low to moderate turnover rates (mean value 0.80% yr−1) observed among the coralligenous species were in agreement with their low dynamics and persistence. These results offer solid baseline data and reveal that these habitats are among the most vulnerable to the current increases of anthropogenic disturbances.
Coccidioidomycosis in Rheumatology Patients

Abstract: Coccidioidomycosis is a potentially serious fungal infection contracted in endemic areas of the desert southwestern United States. Limited information exists about its incidence and clinical course in patients with rheumatic diseases, who may be at higher risk of symptomatic or disseminated coccidioidomycosis because of either the rheumatic disease itself or its treatment. We analyzed the incidence and risk factors for symptomatic and complicated coccidioidomycosis in our academic rheumatology practice in central Arizona. Between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2006, coccidioidomycosis was diagnosed in 1.9% of the overall practice and in 3.1–3.6% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The annual incidence was 1% in patients recently diagnosed with RA and 2% among patients with recently initiated infliximab treatment. Coccidioidomycosis was identified only in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and extrathoracic dissemination occurred only to joints in two patients. Corticosteroids, immunosuppressive medications, and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFIs) appeared to be risk factors for symptomatic, but not disseminated coccidioidomycosis.
On the Relationship between Language Learning Strategies and Foreign Language Anxiety.

Previous research studies have shown language anxiety to be related with broad-based indices of language achievement, like course grade. However, to date, the potential link between foreign language anxiety and language learning strategies has not been empirically investigated. This study is an attempt to identify the relationship between language anxiety and strategy use. It reports on a survey of language learning strategies used by high-anxious and lowanxious learners. Generally, significant negative correlation obtained between levels of language anxiety and strategy use. In the meantime, t-test revealed significant difference between high-anxious and low-anxious groups on the level of use of strategies. That is, the more anxious the students are, the less frequently they use strategies. Further, the result showed that among students with high anxiety metacognitive and memory strategies were the most used, while compensation and affective strategies were the least. Less anxious students reported using metacognitive and social strategies as the most, on the other hand, memory, and affective strategies as the least ones. This study discusses these findings, suggests possible questions for future research, and makes implications for increasing foreign language learning.
Primordial Lithium Abundance as a Stringent Constraint on the Baryonic Content of the Universe

We have refined the estimate of the primordial level of 7Li abundance to an accuracy better than 10%, based on high-precision Li abundances for metal-poor halo stars and a recent model of post-BBN (big bang nucleosynthesis) chemical evolution that provides a quantitative explanation of the detected gentle ascent of the Spite plateau for stars with metallicities [Fe/H] > -3. Our maximum likelihood analysis obtains an estimate for the primordial Li abundance of A(Li)p = 2.07 after taking into account possible systematic errors in the estimation of Li abundances, with the exception of a still controversial issue regarding stellar depletion. The inferred value of η (the baryon-to-photon number density ratio in the universe) based on this estimate is more consistent with that derived from the set of reported "low He"+"high D" from extragalactic sites than that derived from reported "high He"+"low D" measurements. Since, within current models of stellar depletion processes, it is difficult to account for the observed very small scatter of Li abundance in metal-poor stars, our estimate of A(Li)p should be taken as an independent constraint on the baryonic mass density parameter in the universe, giving Ωbh2 = (0.64-1.4) × 10-2 with h = H0/100 km s-1 Mpc-1.
Influence of CdCl{sub 2} treatment on the electrical and optical properties of CdS thin film

We have investigated the optical and electrical properties of the CdS films under a variety of the post-deposition annealing treatments. CdCl[sub 2]-treatment results in the decrease of the shallow defect density, the increase of the bandgap, the photoconductivity response, as well as the optical transmission in the wavelength range between 500 and 600 nm of the CdS films. While non-CdCl[sub 2]-treatment (annealed without CdCl[sub 2]) leads to the opposite results. Also, after coated with the CdTe films and annealed, CdCl[sub 2]-treated CdS films of the annealed CdS/CdTe films have higher photoconductivity response than the as-deposited CdS films of the annealed CdS/CdTe films. The role of CdCl[sub 2] in the post-treatment and the influence of the CdCl[sub 2] treatment on the CdTe/CdS cell performance is analyzed. [copyright] [ital 1999 American Institute of Physics. ]
An Anionic Ryanoid, 10-O-succinoylryanodol, Provides Insights into the Mechanisms Governing the Interaction of Ryanoids and the Subsequent Altered Function of Ryanodine-receptor Channels

We have investigated the interactions of a novel anionic ryanoid, 10-O-succinoylryanodol, with individual mammalian cardiac muscle ryanodine receptor channels under voltage clamp conditions. As is the case for all ryanoids so far examined, the interaction of 10-O-succinoylryanodol with an individual RyR channel produces profound alterations in both channel gating and rates of ion translocation. In the continued presence of the ryanoid the channel fluctuates between periods of normal and modified gating, indicating a reversible interaction of the ligand with its receptor. Unlike the majority of ryanoids, we observe a range of different fractional conductance states of RyR in the presence of 10-O-succinoylryanodol. We demonstrate that 10-O-succinoylryanodol is a very flexible molecule and propose that each fractional conductance state arises from the interaction of a different conformer of the ryanoid molecule with the RyR channel. The probability of channel modification by 10-O-succinoylryanodol is dependent on the transmembrane holding potential. Comparison of the voltage dependence of channel modification by this novel anionic ryanoid with previous data obtained with cationic and neutral ryanoids reveals that the major influence of transmembrane potential on the probability of RyR channel modification by ryanoids results from an alteration in receptor affinity. These investigations also demonstrate that the charge of the ryanoid has a major influence on the rate of association of the ligand with its receptor indicating that ionic interactions are likely to be involved in this reaction.
Assessment of Functional Stability of Photoprotective Formulations Containing Rutin Succinate

The aim of this study was to evaluate physicochemical and functional stability of two different self-emulsified oil/water (O/W) systems. Each system contained 0.4% w/w rutin succinate, which was associated or not with the photo-unstable chemical (7.5% w/w of 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate and 3.0% w/w of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone) or physical filters (3.0% w/w titanium dioxide). A Normal Stability Test was carried out with the formulations containing rutin succinate (S) associated either with sunscreens (MS) or not (M) for 90 days. The formulation systems were assessed for organoleptic, functional, physicochemical and rheological behavior parameters. The MS formulation was found to be homogenous and had no significant alterations of pH, hysteresis area, antiradical activity or Sun Protection Factor values. Such stability was mainly observed when the formulation was incorporated into base cream A. The ability of chemical filters to resist degradation caused by UV radiation in the presence of rutin succinate preventing lipid peroxidation by entrapment of initiator radicals is a mechanism that might explain the results. The combination of rutin succinate to chemical filters improved formulation functionality, as it led to a more stable formulation which maintained the effectiveness of the added sunscreens. Consumer acceptance could be improved, considering that film formation and rheological spreadability characteristics of the tested formulation are better than those of traditional formulations.
Effective Use of Function Words for Rule Generalization in Forest-Based Translation

In the present paper, we propose the effective usage of function words to generate generalized translation rules for forest-based translation. Given aligned forest-string pairs, we extract composed tree-to-string translation rules that account for multiple interpretations of both aligned and unaligned target function words. In order to constrain the exhaustive attachments of function words, we limit to bind them to the nearby syntactic chunks yielded by a target dependency parser. Therefore, the proposed approach can not only capture source-tree-to-target-chunk correspondences but can also use forest structures that compactly encode an exponential number of parse trees to properly generate target function words during decoding. Extensive experiments involving large-scale English-to-Japanese translation revealed a significant improvement of 1.8 points in BLEU score, as compared with a strong forest-to-string baseline system.
The Histidine Kinase PdhS Controls Cell Cycle Progression of the Pathogenic Alphaproteobacterium Brucella abortus

ABSTRACT Bacterial differentiation is often associated with the asymmetric localization of regulatory proteins, such as histidine kinases. PdhS is an essential and polarly localized histidine kinase in the pathogenic alphaproteobacterium Brucella abortus. After cell division, PdhS is asymmetrically segregated between the two sibling cells, highlighting a differentiation event. However, the function(s) of PdhS in the B. abortus cell cycle remains unknown. We used an original approach, the pentapeptide scanning mutagenesis method, to generate a thermosensitive allele of pdhS. We report that a B. abortus strain carrying this pdhS allele displays growth arrest and an altered DivK-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) polar localization at the restrictive temperature. Moreover, the production of a nonphosphorylatable PdhS protein or truncated PdhS proteins leads to dominant-negative effects by generating morphological defects consistent with the inhibition of cell division. In addition, we have used a domain mapping approach combined with yeast two-hybrid and fluorescence microscopy methods to better characterize the unusual PdhS sensory domain. We have identified a fragment of the PdhS sensory domain required for protein-protein interaction (amino acids [aa] 210 to 434), a fragment sufficient for polar localization (aa 1 to 434), and a fragment (aa 527 to 661) whose production in B. abortus correlates with the generation of cell shape alterations. The data support a model in which PdhS acts as an essential regulator of cell cycle progression in B. abortus and contribute to a better understanding of the differentiation program inherited by the two sibling cells.
Calcium–protein interactions in the extracellular environment: Calcium binding, activation, and immunolocalization of a collagenase/gelatinase activity expressed in the sea urchin embryo

We have purified and characterized a collagenase/gelatinase activity expressed during sea urchin embryonic development. The native molecular mass was determined to be 160 kDa, while gelatin substrate gel zymography revealed an active species of 41 kDa, suggesting that the native enzyme is a tetramer of active subunits. Incubation in the presence of EGTA resulted in nearly complete loss of activity and this effect could be reversed by calcium. Calcium‐induced reactivation appeared to be cooperative and occurred with an apparent kd value of 3.7 mM. Two modes of calcium binding to the 41‐kDa subunit were detected; up to 80 moles of calcium bound with a kd value of 0.5 mM, while an additional 120 moles bound with a kd value of 5 mM. Amino acid analysis revealed a carboxy plus carboxyamide content of 24.3 mol/100 mol, indicating the availability of substantial numbers of weak Ca2+‐binding sites. Calcium binding did not result in either secondary or quaternary structural changes in the collagenase/gelatinase, suggesting that Ca2+ may facilitate activation through directly mediating the binding of substrate to the enzyme. The collagenase/gelatinase activity was detected in blastocoelic fluid and in the hyalin fraction dissociated from 1‐h‐old embryos. Immunolocalization studies revealed two storage compartments in the egg; cortical granules and small granules/vesicles dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. After fertilization, the antigen was detected in both the apical and basal extracellular matrices, the hyaline layer, and basal lamina, respectively. J. Cell. Biochem. 71:546–558, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Jorge Lobo’s disease: a case of keloidal blastomycosis (lobomycosis) in a nonendemic area

Lobomycosis or lacaziosis is a chronic subcutaneous fungal infection, caused by the fungus Lacazia loboi, which is phylogenetically related to Coccidioides, Blastomyces, Histoplasma, and Paracoccidioides. The disease was first recognized in 1931 by Jorge Lobo, who found the disease to be a keloidal blastomycosis and named it Jorge Lobo’s disease. This case was perplexing initially as this fungal infection is very uncommon in the USA. However, with the ever-increasing frequency of international travel, many more cases of lobomycosis have been diagnosed in areas of nonendemicity, such as the USA, Europe, and South Africa. The clinical histories of such imported fungal infections often illustrate their long latency periods. In lobomycosis, the onset of the disease is usually insidious and often difficult to document. We describe a case of a New York resident who presented with multiple skin nodules over both his arms and forearms, and was subsequently diagnosed with Jorge Lobo’s disease. The case, diagnosis, histopathologic findings, complication, and management of this rare clinical disease are discussed.
Twin Study of Heritability of Eating Bread in Danish and Finnish Men and Women

Abstract Bread is an elementary part of the western diet, and especially rye bread is regarded as an important source of fibre. We investigated the heritability of eating bread in terms of choice of white and rye bread and use-frequency of bread in female and male twins in Denmark and Finland. The study cohorts included 575 Danish (age range 18–67 years) and 2009 Finnish (age range 22–27 years) adult twin pairs. Self-reported frequency of eating bread was obtained by food frequency questionnaires. Univariate models based on linear structural equations for twin data were used to estimate the relative magnitude of the additive genetic, shared environmental and individual environmental effects on bread eating frequency and choice of bread. The analysis of bread intake frequency demonstrated moderate heritability ranging from 37–40% in the Finnish cohort and 23–26% in the Danish cohort. The genetic influence on intake of white bread was moderate (24–31%), while the genetic influence on intake of rye bread was higher in men (41–45%) than in women (24–33%). Environmental influences shared by the twins were not significant. Consumption of bread as well as choice of bread is influenced by genetic predisposition. Environmental factors shared by the co-twins (e.g., childhood environment) seem to have no significant effects on bread consumption and preference in adulthood.
Motility and autotoxicity in Karenia mikimotoi (Dinophyceae)

Karenia mikimotoi is one of the most common red-tide dinoflagellates proliferating in the eastern North Atlantic and around Japan. Kills of marine fauna are associated with its blooms. In mixed water columns it migrates vertically, while in stratified water columns, the population remains confined within pycnocline layers. Wind events, increasing mixing and agitation initiate declines in its populations. This paper is focused on the formulation of mortality rate relative to shear rate. Autotoxicity is demonstrated by the use of a synthetic toxin. Bioconvection observed in cultures allows the establishment of a trade-off between phototropism, which leads to the local accumulation of cells, and their autotoxicity, which would prevent cell concentration. The combination of these processes allows diffusion of the toxin into the underlying water, where it subsequently degrades. Confinement of the population in the pycnocline layer results also from another trade-off between growth conditions and shear-rate-modulated mortality. A simplified encounter kernel was introduced into the population dynamics equation to account for a mortality factor. Under realistic forcing conditions with a small number of parameters, this model reproduced the confinement of the population in the pycnocline layer, the proper timing and the duration of the recurrent K. mikimotoi bloom on the Ushant front (France).
Cloning and sequencing of hfq (host factor required for synthesis of bacteriophage Q beta RNA) gene of Salmonella Typhimurium isolated from poultry

Aim: The aim was to clone and sequence hfq gene of Salmonella Typhimurium strain PM-45 and compare its sequence with hfq gene of other serovar of Salmonella. Materials and Methods: Salmonella Typhimurium strain PM-45 was procured from the G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. The genomic DNA was isolated from Salmonella Typhimurium. Hfq gene was polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified from the DNA using specific primers, which was subsequently cloned into pET32a vector and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 pLys cells. The recombinant plasmid was isolated and subjected to restriction enzyme digestion as well as PCR. The clone was then sequenced. The sequence was analyzed and submitted in GenBank. Results: PCR produced an amplicon of 309 bp. Restriction digestion of the recombinant plasmid released the desired insert. The hfq sequence shows 100% homology with similar sequences from other Salmonella Typhimurium isolates. Both nucleotide and amino acid sequences are highly conserved. The submitted sequence is having Genbank accession no KM998764. Conclusion: Hfq, the hexameric RNA binding protein is one of the most important post-transcriptional regulator of bacteria. The sequence of hfq gene of Salmonella Typhimurium is highly conserved within and between Salmonella enterica serovars. This gene sequence is probably under heavy selection pressure to maintain the conformational integrity of its product in spite of its being not a survival gene.
NeurAlign: Combining Word Alignments Using Neural Networks

This paper presents a novel approach to combining different word alignments. We view word alignment as a pattern classification problem, where alignment combination is treated as a classifier ensemble, and alignment links are adorned with linguistic features. A neural network model is used to learn word alignments from the individual alignment systems. We show that our alignment combination approach yields a significant 20--34% relative error reduction over the best-known alignment combination technique on English-Spanish and English-Chinese data.
Packet-wise AF and Incremental AF performance optimization for uplink CDMA communications

In this paper, we propose a novel optimization approach for Amplify-and-Forward (AF) relaying schemes. In previous works, we have optimized the AF relaying scheme carried on a symbol-by-symbol basis. Here, we focus on AF and Incremental AF (IAF) schemes, operating on a packet-by-packet basis. The optimization is carried out while keeping the additional multiple access interference cost, inherent to relaying, constant. For CDMA uplink communications, this cost can reliably quantify the capacity loss incurred by the use of relaying in the transmission process. We define an optimization cost constraint and propose an approach to optimize AF and IAF relaying performance in terms of Block-Error-Rate (BLER). In order to assess the performance enhancement over direct transmission of optimized relaying schemes and compare AF and IAF, we have carried numerous simulations results.