Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient Mapping of Boolean Functions to Memristor Crossbar Using MAGIC NOR Gates

Memristor is considered as a promising circuit element which can be used in many applications. Various synthesis methods for Boolean functions have been explored in the literature using memristor-based design styles. Memristor crossbar is considered as one of the most preferred structures for implementing logic functions as well as memory. In this paper, a general synthesis flow has been proposed using the MAGIC logic design style to map multioutput Boolean functions to memristor crossbars. The functions are realized as a netlist of NOR and NOT gates. Two alternate methods of evaluating the gates are used, serial and parallel, which give a tradeoff between the number of cycles and the size of the crossbar. A strategy for scheduling the gates to time steps has also been proposed to reduce the hardware overhead. The switching delays and energy requirements are estimated using SPICE simulation. Synthesis results are reported for ISCAS’85 benchmark functions that show an average reduction of 68.8% in the number of cycles, 52.8% in energy consumption, and 96.4% in the number of memristors required as compared to a very recently published work.
Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanol Extract of Vernonia ambigua Against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats.

This research aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective activity of the ethanol extract of Vernonia ambigua in CCl4 induced liver damage in albino rat. A total of 25 wistar albino rats were randomly divided into control and experimental four groups designated as group A-E. Group A serves as the control and were given only distilled water for ten days. Group B, C, D and E were treated with distilled water, silymarin (100mg/kg), 250mg and 500mg/kg of ethanol extract of V. ambigua for nine days. Group B-E also received 3ml/kg of CCl4 on the 10 th day of treatment. After 24 hours, the blood samples were collected through the jugular vein for biochemical analyses. The result showed that albino rats treated with CCl4 had significant (P<0.05) increase in serum ALT, AST and ALP, total bilirubin, cholesterol and triacylglycerols levels and significant decrease (P<0.05) in the levels of total proteins and albumin. Pretreatment with ethanol leaf extract of V. ambigua significantly (P<0.05) decreased the liver marker enzymes, bilirubin, total cholesterol and triacylglycerols. The effect of ethanol leaf extract of Vernonia ambigua (V. ambigua) on CCl4-treated rats albino rats was observed to be dose-dependent. The present investigation suggests that ethanol leaf extract of V. ambigua has a potent hepatoprotective action against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats.
Color stability of bulk-fill composites exposed to different beverages and the effect of whitening dentifrices

Objectives: Discoloration of resin-based composites by colored solutions is a common problem in dentistry and use of whitening dentifrices is becoming increasingly popular. However, it is not clear if whitening dentifrices can remove stains from bulk-fill composite resins. Material and Methods: we evaluated the discoloration of two bulk-fill composite resins (3M Filtek Bulk Fill, Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill) aged using 10,000 thermocycles (5°C–55°C) and on exposure to several common beverages, including cola, coffee, red wine, and water, and the amount of reduction of discoloration after brushing with whitening dentifrices. The colors of all specimens before and after storage in the solutions and after brushing were measured by colorimetry based on the CIE Lab system and the differences in color calculated. The data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s honest significant difference test. Results: The restorative material, staining agent, and the interaction between these two factors were found to play a significant role in color changes. Water consistently showed the lowest ΔE* value of all the staining agents, red wine showed the highest ΔE value with Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill, and coffee showed the highest ΔE value with Filtek Bulk Fill. After staining, brushing with whitening dentifrices (Crest 3D White, Crest 3D White Accelerator) was associated with decreased ΔE values compared with those obtained after staining, but with no significant difference between the dentifrice groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: Although whitening dentifrices cannot remove all discoloration of composites caused by common beverages, they can be used to reduce it. Correspondence to: Musab Kamheya, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Istanbul University, Capa, Istanbul, Turkey, Tel: +90 538 073 40 43; E-mail: d_maq2111@yahoo.com
Lesions Associated with Pelvic Fracture: An Integrating Literature Review

Objective: To review in the scientific literature the main lesions associated with pelvic fractures. Methods and Results: An integrative review was carried out in the databases: LILACS, MEDLINE, SciELO and BDENF, including national and international publications, from 2006 to 2016, obtaining a sample for analysis of nineteen articles. Pelvic fractures can have a significant impact on the genitourinary system, with some patients having a direct lesion concomitant with the urethra or bladder. The thoracic trauma resulting from pelvic fracture, among them, rib fractures, accompanied by pneumothorax and pulmonary contusion, are often associated with abdominal injuries, the organs most affected are thoracic/abdominal organs, especially bladder, spleen, liver, urethra and kidneys. Bone lesions, including fractures of the upper and lower limbs, cranial fractures are also frequently associated with pelvic trauma, as well as hematological complications, mainly thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis and hemorrhage. Conclusion: This study made it possible to analyze the production of lesions associated with pelvic fractures. In this context, we emphasize the need for studies that also emphasize care for these patients through humanized care, in order to minimize physical discomforts and social, psychic and emotional problems that can be generated by these injuries.
Acquire, Augment, Segment & Enjoy: Weakly Supervised Instance Segmentation of Supermarket Products

Grocery stores have thousands of products that are usually identified using barcodes with a human in the loop. For automated checkout systems, it is necessary to count and classify the groceries efficiently and robustly. One possibility is to use a deep learning algorithm for instance-aware semantic segmentation. Such methods achieve high accuracies but require a large amount of annotated training data. We propose a system to generate the training annotations in a weakly supervised manner, drastically reducing the labeling effort. We assume that for each training image, only the object class is known. The system automatically segments the corresponding object from the background. The obtained training data is augmented to simulate variations similar to those seen in real-world setups.
To Model or Not To Model? Competing Modes of Inference for Finite Population Sampling

Finite population sampling is perhaps the only area of statistics in which the primary mode of analysis is based on the randomization distribution, rather than on statistical models for the measured variables. This article reviews the debate between design-based and model-based inference. The basic features of the two approaches are illustrated using the case of inference about the mean from stratified random samples. Strengths and weakness of design-based and model-based inference for surveys are discussed. It is suggested that models that take into account the sample design and make weak parametric assumptions can produce reliable and efficient inferences in surveys settings. These ideas are illustrated using the problem of inference from unequal probability samples. A model-based regression analysis that leads to a combination of design-based and model-based weighting is described.
ASTAXANTHIN PRODUCTION FROM A NEW STRAIN OF HAEMATOCOCCUS PLUVIALIS GROWN IN BATCH CULTURE

Astaxanthin is the most common red-colored pigment of many freshwater and marine organisms with important applications in aqu aculture and human health. Haematococcus pluvialis, a green unicellular freshwater microalga, is able to accumulate large quantities of astaxanthin in induc ible stress conditions. In this paper we report a preliminary evaluation of the growth ch aracteristics, pigment composition and astaxanthin content of a new isolate of Haematococcus pluvialis green alga (Chlorophyta). The strain AICB 223 was isolated by micromanipulation of a single cell and grown in a batch system with CO 2 supplying. The separation of carotenoids was performed by thin-layer chromatography, and the components were identified and quantified by spectrophotometric method, based on the absorption coefficients. The astaxanthin synthesis was induced by changing t he light intensity (increased irradiance coupled with continuous illumination). T he astaxanthin content in the algal biomass (red stage, with aplanospores) was approxim ately of 5.7 mg · g -1 per dry biomass. In light stress conditions, the biomass co mposition was significantly changed, the increase of the astaxanthin content by approximately 10 times being accompanied by the decrease of protein amount and i ncrease of the carbohydrates content.
Illusory Tempo Changes Due to Musical Characteristics

Recent research in music cognition has investigated ways in which different structural dimensions interact to influence perception and cognition. In the present research, various musical characteristics were manipulated to observe their potential influence on perceived tempo. In Experiment 1, participants were given a paired comparison task in which music-like patterns differed in both the pitch octave (high vs. low) and timbre (bright vs. dull) in which they were played. The results indicated that relative to their standard referents, comparison melodies were judged faster when displaying a higher pitch and/or a brighter timbre—even when no actual tempo differences existed. Experiment 2 converged on these findings by demonstrating that the perceived tempo of a melody was judged faster when it increased in pitch and/or loudness over time. These results are suggested to stem from an overgeneralization of certain structural correlations within the natural environment that, in turn, has implications for both musical performance and the processing of tempo information.
Misconceptions about analyses of Australian seaweed collections

Abstract: One of the greatest impediments to detecting changes in species distributions in response to ocean warming is the lack of baseline data. In a recent article, we compared old (1940–1959) and new (1990–2009) herbarium records of Australian seaweeds and found a net southward shift in the latitude of northernmost collections of temperate species, implying a flora-wide poleward retreat over the past five decades. Huisman & Millar (2013) criticised our methods, contending that a comparison of herbarium records from different time periods cannot be used to infer changes in species distributions without field-based validation. However, our analysis compared the median position of extreme records of random species from random locations rather than focusing on particular species and their possible loss from specific sites. Hence, ground-truthing ‘extinctions’ are of limited value to the interpretation of our analysis. Moreover, subtidal ground-truthing over biogeographic scales is not logistically possible and even runs counter to entire disciplines (e.g. palaeontology, extinction biology and biogeography) that assess hypotheses of extinction and shifting distributions. Huisman & Millar also questioned the direction of biases in the data set. We show here that patterns of collection effort should have produced an apparent shift northward in the absence of a true shift southward. Even if herbaria were not designed for the purpose of detecting species’ range changes, we contend that such collections can contain useful information on the distribution of species across space and time.
Nonparametric Shape-Restricted Regression

We consider the problem of nonparametric regression under shape constraints. The main examples include isotonic regression (with respect to any partial order), unimodal/convex regression, additive shape-restricted regression, and constrained single index model. We review some of the theoretical properties of the least squares estimator (LSE) in these problems, emphasizing on the adaptive nature of the LSE. In particular, we study the risk behavior of the LSE, and its pointwise limiting distribution theory, with special emphasis to isotonic regression. We survey various methods for constructing pointwise confidence intervals around these shape-restricted functions. We also briefly discuss the computation of the LSE and indicate some open research problems and future directions.
Woodland bird response to landscape connectivity in an agriculture-dominated landscape: a functional community approach

Over the last 30 years, ecological networks have been deployed to reduce global biodiversity loss by enhancing landscape connectivity. Bird species dwelling in woodland habitats that are embedded in agriculture-dominated landscapes are expected to be particularly sensitive to the loss of connectivity. This study aimed to determine the role of landscape connectivity in woodland bird species richness, abundance, and community similarity in north-east Brittany (north-west France). An exhaustive woodland selection protocol was carried out to minimize the effects of woodland size on the response variables. Connectivity of the woodland and forest network in the study area was evaluated using graph-theory, accounting for matrix permeability, and a characteristic median natal dispersal distance at the community level based on the bird species pool recorded in the sampled woodlands. Information-theoretic model selection, controlling for woodland size in all the cases, depicted the response of woodland birds at the community level to the connectivity of agriculture-dominated landscapes. On average, the sampled woodlands (n = 25) contained 15.5 ± 2.4 bird species, with an abundance of 25.1 ± 3.9, and had highly similar bird communities (species composition and proportion); eight species represented 57% of total abundance and were present in at least 22 woodlands. The performance of models improved when using effective, rather than Euclidean, interpatch distances in the connectivity assessment. Landscape connectivity was only significantly related to similarity of proportional species composition. Large woodlands contained communities with more similar species proportions in an inhospitable agricultural landscape matrix than in a more permeable one. Woodland size was the most relevant factor determining species abundance, indicating that the bird population sizes are primarily proportional to the local habitat availability. Connectivity in relation to landscape matrix permeability did not seem to induce the flow of woodland-dependent bird species that are dominant in the community but rather of matrix-dwelling bird species that are less dependent on woodland patch area. In conclusion, both habitat conservation and restoration (i.e., amount and quality), in combination with permeable landscape structures (such as heterogeneous land cover mosaics), are advocated for community level conservation strategies.
Emission of trace gases and aerosols from biomass burning

A large body of information on emissions from the various types of biomass burning has been accumulated over the past decade, to a large extent as a result of International Geosphere‐Biosphere Programme/International Global Atmospheric Chemistry research activities. Yet this information has not been readily accessible to the atmospheric chemistry community because it was scattered over a large number of publications and reported in numerous different units and reference systems. We have critically evaluated the presently available data and integrated these into a consistent format. On the basis of this analysis we present a set of emission factors for a large variety of species emitted from biomass fires. Where data were not available, we have proposed estimates based on appropriate extrapolation techniques. We have derived global estimates of pyrogenic emissions for important species emitted by the various types of biomass burning and compared our estimates with results from inverse modeling studies.
Profile of mRNA Expression of IL-6 and IL-10 in Breast Cancer Patients with or Without Chemotherapy

ackground: Breast cancer is a type of cancer that has a high prevalence, can occur in men and women. Cytokines are factors that are known to have good properties of tumor growth and tumor inhibitory effects. Cytokine has an important role in the control of the immune system. Development of breast carcinoma is closely related to mRNA expression of IL-6 as pro-inflammatory cytokine and mRNA expression of IL-10 as anti-inflammatory cytokine. Purpose: Examine changes in mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokine and anti-inflammatory cytokine in breast cancer patients with or without chemotherapy. Method: This is a case-control study, 12 subjects with breast cancer with chemotherapy as case group and 12 subjects with breast cancer without chemotherapy as control group. In this study we using PCR and RFLP techniques to detect polymorphisms in IL-6 and IL-10 gene. Results: In RFLP analysis, found that IL-6 and IL-10 gene were not polymorphic in all subjects for both case and control groups. Mean value of IL-6 mRNA on breast cancer patients without receiving chemotheraphy was 10.84±0.48 whereas on breast cancer patients with chemotherapy was 6.28±1.19. Mean value of IL-10 mRNA on breast cancer patients without receiving chemotheraphy was 6.76±0.81 whereas on breast cancer patients with chemotherapy was 9.81±1.07. The mean value of IL-6 mRNA on breast cancer patients without receiving chemotheraphy was statistically significant higher than in patients with chemotheraphy. In contrast, mean value of IL-10 mRNA on breast cancer patients without receiving chemotheraphy was statistically significant lower than in patients with chemotherapy. Conclusion: Combination of chemotherapy docetaxel, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide cause a decrease in mRNA expression of IL-6 and an increase in the expression of mRNA of IL-10 in patients with breast cancer.
Ten Years UK Experience in Survival for the Surgical Tavi Approaches

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has rapidly expanded as alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement, with well more than 250,000 patients treated worldwide since April 16th, 2002 [1-5]. Trial data are also extending into high, intermediate, and even low-risk operable patients. Trans Femoral (TF) approach is the default route for TAVI delivery [68]. However, small vessel caliper and/or peripheral vascular disease can preclude TF access in a significant cohort of patients. In the most recent trial investigating the new Edwards SAPIEN III valve, 36% of patients required non-femoral access. With the miniaturization in TAVI delivery systems, including the 14Fr Core Valve Evolut R, it is estimated that 10% to 15% of patients will still have unsuitable femoral access. Clinicians need to understand the relative outcomes of alternative nonfemoral access routes to guide optimal treatment of these patients [9-13].
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) Enhances Response Selection During Sequential Action

Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a non-invasive and safe technique that transiently enhances brain GABA and noradrenaline levels. Although tVNS has been used mainly to treat clinical disorders such as epilepsy, recent studies indicate it is also an effective tool to investigate and potentially enhance the neuromodulation of action control. Given the key roles of GABA and noradrenaline in neural plasticity and cortical excitability, we investigated whether tVNS, through a presumed increase in level of these neurotransmitters, modulates sequential behavior in terms of response selection and sequence learning components. To this end we assessed the effect of single-session tVNS in healthy young adults (N = 40) on performance on a serial reaction time task, using a single-blind, sham-controlled between-subject design. Active as compared to sham tVNS did not differ in terms of acquisition of an embedded response sequence and in terms of performance under randomized response schedules. However, active tVNS did enhance response selection processes. Specifically, the group receiving active tVNS did not exhibit inhibition of return during response reversals (i.e., when trial N requires the same response as trial N–2, e.g., 1-2-1) on trials with an embedded response sequence. This finding indicates that tVNS enhances response selection processes when selection demands are particularly high. More generally, these results add to converging evidence that tVNS enhances action control performance.
Who Benefits from a Job Change

ABSTRACT In this paper, we use panel data from the UK and Germany to investigate the effect of employer changes and in-firm job changes on year-to-year wage mobility of male full-time workers. Following segmentation theories and the job search theory, we study whether this effect differs for the low- and high-wage workers. As wage growth is endogenous to the decision of changing jobs, a two-stage Heckman selection approach is used. Specifically, we first estimate a random-effects multinomial logit model for the selection into a job transition and then a fixed-effects panel regression model for the wage growth. The findings suggest that both external and in-firm job changes result into substantial wage gains for the low-paid workers but not for the medium- or high-paid workers. However, the wage gain of low-paid workers due to an in-firm job change is only observed in the UK and is less pronounced than their gain by an external job change. In the German labour market, the later effect is insignificant. The results indicate that low-paid workers profit more from a voluntary change of employer in the coordinated German labour market and from a voluntary in-firm change in the liberal British labour market.
The pedagogical challenges of English for specific purposes (ESP) teaching at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia

The current study explores the challenges faced by English for specific purposes (ESP) program at University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), Indonesia. As a part of their commitment to improvement, this university is working to better prepare students for employment so that they may function well in their workplaces. Currently, many English Department graduates apply and are accepted as ESP teachers. However, their pedagogical knowledge of ESP teaching is deemed to be less than adequate for such purposes. To do this, classroom observation and interview were undertaken to explore the multiple realities of the three groups of stakeholders at this institution – the management, ESP teachers, and students. The findings showed four aspects which ought to be crucially applied in ESP classrooms but are relatively absent. Those are communication focus, learner-centred, collaborative teaching and practical and authentic materials. Since several aspects of ESP teaching are not quite similar to teaching General English (GE), but GE still can be included to support the ESP teaching, the Director of Language Centre (LC) need to reconsider the type of ESP fits this contexts, and teachers who are willing to deal with these classes need to understand and possibly be given and trained intensively in relation to its pedagogy.