Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MACACO: Modeling and analysis of circuits for approximate computing

Approximate computing, which refers to a class of techniques that relax the requirement of exact equivalence between the specification and implementation of a computing system, has attracted significant interest in recent years. We propose a systematic methodology, called MACACO, for the Modeling and Analysis of Circuits for Approximate Computing. The proposed methodology can be utilized to analyze how an approximate circuit behaves with reference to a conventional correct implementation, by computing metrics such as worst-case error, average-case error, error probability, and error distribution. The methodology applies to both timing-induced approximations such as voltage over-scaling or over-clocking, and functional approximations based on logic complexity reduction. The first step in MACACO is the construction of an equivalent untimed circuit that represents the behavior of the approximate circuit at a given voltage and clock period. Next, we construct a virtual error circuit that represents the error in the approximate circuit's output for any given input or input sequence. Finally, we apply conventional Boolean analysis techniques (SAT solvers, BDDs) and statistical techniques (Monte-Carlo simulation) in order to compute the various metrics of interest. We have applied the proposed methodology to analyze a range of approximate designs for datapath building blocks. Our results show that MACACO can help a designer to systematically evaluate the impact of approximate circuits, and to choose between different approximate implementations, thereby facilitating the adoption of such circuits for approximate computing.
Simultaneous Power and Thermal Integrity Driven Via Stapling in 3D ICs

The existing work on via-stapling in 3D integrated circuits optimizes power and thermal integrity separately and uses steady-state thermal analysis. This paper presents the first in-depth study on simultaneous power and thermal integrity driven via-stapling in 3D design. The transient temperature and supply voltage violations are calculated by a structured and parameterized model reduction, which also generates parameterized temperature and voltage violation sensitivities with respect to the via pattern and density. Using parameterized sensitivities, an efficient yet effective greedy optimization is presented to optimize power and thermal integrity simultaneously. Experiments with two active device layers show that compared to sequential power and thermal optimization using steady-state thermal analysis, sequential optimization using transient thermal analysis reduces non-signal vias by on average 11.5%, and simultaneous optimization using transient thermal analysis reduces non-signal vias by on average 34%. The via reduction would be higher for the 3D design with more device layers
Relative importance of deleterious reactions in concrete: formation of AAR products and secondary ettringi te

Aggregates, varying in alkali reactivity, were used for making mortar bars and concrete prisms, employing the same Portland cement. Measurement of length changes of the specimens was carried out under various storage conditions and for different lengths of time. Scanning electron microscopy of the specimens and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of the products formed in them has shown that alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) products develop first and much faster than ‘secondary’ ettringite (mat-form, filling cracks) associated with some deteriorated steam-cured concrete elements. The expansion and cracking due to AAR was more rapid and extensive at higher temperature (80°C) than at lower temperature (40°C). Mat-forms of ettringite developed only after prolonged storage of the specimens in a fogroom, and the amount was larger in the specimens initially treated at 80°C, mainly because more AAR expansion and cracking occurred at the higher temperature, but also because the higher initial temperature caused large.
A fast protein structure retrieval system using image-based distance matrices and multidimensional index

Indexing protein structures has been shown to provide a scalable solution for structure-to-structure comparisons in large protein structure retrieval systems. To conduct similarity searches against 46,075 polypeptide chains in a database with real-time responses, two critical issues must be addressed, information extraction and suitable indexing. In this paper, we apply computer vision techniques to extract the predominant information encoded in each 2D distance matrix, generated from 3D coordinates of protein chains. Distance matrices are capable of representing specific protein structural topologies, and similar proteins will generate similar matrices. Once meaningful features are extracted from distance images, an advanced indexing structure, entropy balanced statistical (EBS) k-d tree, can be utilized to index the multidimensional data. With a limited amount of training data from domain experts, namely structural classification of a subset of available protein chains, we apply various techniques in the pattern recognition field to determine clusters of proteins in the multi-dimensional feature space. Our system is able to recall search results in a ranked order from the protein database in seconds, exhibiting a reasonably high degree of precision.
Phonological Iconicity Electrifies: An ERP Study on Affective Sound-to-Meaning Correspondences in German

While linguistic theory posits an arbitrary relation between signifiers and the signified (de Saussure, 1916), our analysis of a large-scale German database containing affective ratings of words revealed that certain phoneme clusters occur more often in words denoting concepts with negative and arousing meaning. Here, we investigate how such phoneme clusters that potentially serve as sublexical markers of affect can influence language processing. We registered the EEG signal during a lexical decision task with a novel manipulation of the words' putative sublexical affective potential: the means of valence and arousal values for single phoneme clusters, each computed as a function of respective values of words from the database these phoneme clusters occur in. Our experimental manipulations also investigate potential contributions of formal salience to the sublexical affective potential: Typically, negative high-arousing phonological segments—based on our calculations—tend to be less frequent and more structurally complex than neutral ones. We thus constructed two experimental sets, one involving this natural confound, while controlling for it in the other. A negative high-arousing sublexical affective potential in the strictly controlled stimulus set yielded an early posterior negativity (EPN), in similar ways as an independent manipulation of lexical affective content did. When other potentially salient formal features at the sublexical level were not controlled for, the effect of the sublexical affective potential was strengthened and prolonged (250–650 ms), presumably because formal salience helps making specific phoneme clusters efficient sublexical markers of negative high-arousing affective meaning. These neurophysiological data support the assumption that the organization of a language's vocabulary involves systematic sound-to-meaning correspondences at the phonemic level that influence the way we process language.
A Targeting Self-breakable Agent for Increased Efficacy of Chemotherapeutic Drugs against Caco2 Cells

Many types of nano-sized anti-cancer agents that could increase efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs have been created and developed in colon cancer treatment over years. Moreover, with the intention of achieving the ideal chemotherapeutic efficacy, nano-sized anti-cancer agents were further designed to have specific functions, efficiently killing colon cancer cells. Our research team focused on two important functions in designing nano-sized agents, controlled drug release and targeting functions. Thus, targeting functional micelles which entrapped chemotherapeutic drug, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin (SN38) were designed in nano-size and possessed disulfide bonds in this study. In particular, Self-Breakable SN38-loaded micelles (SN/38 micelles), Non-Breakable micelles SN38-loaded (NB/38 micelles) and Folate-targeting Self- Breakable SN38-loaded micelles (FSB/38 micelles) were prepared and tested to the designed agents. The results showed that the folate-decorated functional micelles with disulfide bonds could be an effective chemotherapeutic agent for colon cancer treatment.
Improving the Delivery of SOD1 Antisense Oligonucleotides to Motor Neurons Using Calcium Phosphate-Lipid Nanoparticles

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting the upper and lower motor neurons in the motor cortex and spinal cord. Abnormal accumulation of mutant superoxide dismutase I (SOD1) in motor neurons is a pathological hallmark of some forms of the disease. We have shown that the orderly progression of the disease may be explained by misfolded SOD1 cell-to-cell propagation, which is reliant upon its active endogenous synthesis. Reducing the levels of SOD1 is therefore a promising therapeutic approach. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) can efficiently silence proteins with gain-of-function mutations. However, naked ASOs have a short circulation half-life and are unable to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) warranting the use of a drug carrier for effective delivery. In this study, calcium phosphate lipid coated nanoparticles (CaP-lipid NPs) were developed for delivery of SOD1 ASO to motor neurons. The most promising nanoparticle formulation (Ca/P ratio of 100:1), had a uniform spherical core–shell morphology with an average size of 30 nm, and surface charge (ζ-potential) of −4.86 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of ASO was 48% and stability studies found the particle to be stable over a period of 20 days. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the negatively charged ASO-loaded CaP-lipid NPs could effectively deliver SOD1-targeted ASO into a mouse motor neuron-like cell line (NSC-34) through endocytosis and significantly down-regulated SOD1 expression in HEK293 cells. The CaP-lipid NPs exhibited a pH-dependant dissociation, suggesting that that the acidification of lysosomes is the likely mechanism responsible for facilitating intracellular ASO release. To demonstrate tissue specific delivery and localization of these NPs we performed in vivo microinjections into zebrafish. Successful delivery of these NPs was confirmed for the zebrafish brain, the blood stream, and the spinal cord. These results suggest that CaP-lipid NPs could be an effective and safe delivery system for the improved delivery of SOD1 ASOs to motor neurons. Further in vivo evaluation in transgenic mouse models of SOD1 ALS are therefore warranted.
Transcriptional Profiling of Aging in Human Muscle Reveals a Common Aging Signature

We analyzed expression of 81 normal muscle samples from humans of varying ages, and have identified a molecular profile for aging consisting of 250 age-regulated genes. This molecular profile correlates not only with chronological age but also with a measure of physiological age. We compared the transcriptional profile of muscle aging to previous transcriptional profiles of aging in the kidney and the brain, and found a common signature for aging in these diverse human tissues. The common aging signature consists of six genetic pathways; four pathways increase expression with age (genes in the extracellular matrix, genes involved in cell growth, genes encoding factors involved in complement activation, and genes encoding components of the cytosolic ribosome), while two pathways decrease expression with age (genes involved in chloride transport and genes encoding subunits of the mitochondrial electron transport chain). We also compared transcriptional profiles of aging in humans to those of the mouse and fly, and found that the electron transport chain pathway decreases expression with age in all three organisms, suggesting that this may be a public marker for aging across species.
Systemic redistribution of the intramyocardially injected mesenchymal stem cells by repeated remote ischaemic post‐conditioning

We investigated the effect of repeated remote ischaemic post‐conditioning (RIPoC) on the organ distribution of the intramyocardially injected MSCs in rat myocardial ischemia model. Myocardial ischemia of adult female Sprague‐Dawley rats was induced by 30‐min. obstruction of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Repeated RIPoC was induced after ischemia with three cycles of 5‐min. occlusion and reperfusion of the limb with the frequency of half a day, 1 or 2 days, respectively. Compared with that by single RIPoC, repeated RIPoC transiently reduced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and inflammation in ischaemic myocardium; the gene expression of stromal cell‐derived factor‐1 alpha (SDF‐1α) was consistently induced by repeated RIPoC procedures. A total of 4 × 106 male bone marrow‐derived MSCs were intramyocardially injected into ischaemic myocardium at 1 week after reperfusion. Three weeks later, immunohistological examination and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that repeated RIPoC significantly increased MSCs retention in myocardium and decreased MSCs distribution over the lungs, spleen and liver; echocardiography assessment revealed that further cardiac function enhancement imposed by repeated RIPoC procedure. Furthermore, blockade with the anti‐CXCR4 antibody before cell transplantation markedly attenuated the benefits of therapeutic efficacy and cardiac function. Repeated RIPoC enhanced MSCs engraftment in ischaemic myocardium and reduced the distribution of MSCs over peripheral organs in a frequency‐effect way, but it reached a ceiling of maximal effect when applied with every 1 day. The SDF1α‐CXCR4 interaction played a major role in MSCs systemic redistribution induced by repeated RIPoC.
Zero-knowledge against quantum attacks

This paper proves that several interactive proof systems are zero-knowledge against general quantum attacks. This includes the well-known Goldreich-Micali-Wigderson classical zero-knowledge protocols for Graph Isomorphism and Graph 3-Coloring (assuming the existence of quantum computationally concealing commitment schemes in the second case). Also included is a quantum interactive protocol for a complete problem for the complexity class of problems having "honest verifier" quantum statistical zero-knowledge proofs, which therefore establishes that honest verifier and general quantum statistical zero-knowledge are equal: QSZK = QSZKHV. Previously no non-trivial proof systems were known to be zero-knowledge against quantum attacks, except in restricted settings such as the honest-verifier and common reference string models. This paper therefore establishes for the first time that true zero-knowledge is indeed possible in the presence of quantum information and computation.
A challenge to the seven widely believed concepts of COPD

This review proposes a critical reassessment (based entirely on published evidence) of the following seven common beliefs about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): (1) COPD is one disease. (2) There is a valid definition for COPD. (The current definition includes cases of irreversible asthma and bronchiectasis, and occasionally, other obstructive lung conditions). (3) Irreversible asthma in smokers and COPD cannot be differentiated. (4) A “chronic bronchitis” form of COPD exists and is characterized by blue bloater status and normal carbon monoxide diffusion studies. (5) Phenotyping has no bearing on medication choice in COPD. (6) Computerized scoring of lung attenuation on CT scans can diagnose emphysema. (Emphysema scores overlap in irreversible asthma and COPD); however, qualitative visual changes may be useful for differentiation. (7) A definable entity called the overlap (of COPD and asthma) syndrome exists. Conflict over the abovementioned points denies patients proper phenotype-guided therapy and encourages a multidrug approach to COPD management. The recently coined term, overlap syndrome, invites a double-barreled therapy aimed at asthma and COPD, despite the absence of any agreement about how to define the syndrome and the lack of any related drug trials (in the area of inhaled corticosteroids). A diagnosis of COPD is associated with high morbidity and escalating costs, suggesting the need for a thorough new examination of the evidence.
Composite chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) electrospun nanofibrous mats as novel wound dressing matrixes for the controlled release of drugs

The aim of this study was to develop novel biomedical electrospun nanofiber mats for controlled drug release, in particular to release a drug directly to an injury site to accelerate wound healing. Here, nanofibers of chitosan (CS), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and a 90 : 10 composite blend, loaded with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, such as ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CipHCl) or moxifloxacin hydrochloride (Moxi), were successfully prepared by an electrospinning technique. The morphology of the electrospun nanofibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The functional groups of the electrospun nanofibers before and after crosslinking were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction results indicated an amorphous distribution of the drug inside the nanofiber blend. In vitro drug-release evaluations showed that the crosslinking could control the rate and period of drug release in wound-healing applications. The inhibition of bacterial growth for both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were achieved on the CipHCl- and Moxi-loaded nanofibers. In addition, both types of CS/PEO and drug-containing CS/PEO nanofibers showed excellent cytocompatibility in the cytotoxicity assays. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42060.
Use of gene fusions to study expression of cysB, the regulatory gene of the cysteine regulon

Strains of escherichia coli were constructed in which the lacZ gene is fused to cysB, the positive regulator gene of the cysteine regulon. The fusion strains were used to study the regulation of the cysB gene by assaying the fused lacZ gene product. The introduction of a cysB allele, either on a plasmid or on an episome to the fusion strains, resulted in the decrease of beta-galactosidase activity. This implies that the cysB gene expression is autoregulated by its own product. The direction of cysB gene transcription was determined to be clockwise.
Altered P‐Glycoprotein Expression in AIDS Patients with HIV Encephalitis

Penetrance of anti-retroviral drugs into the CNS depends partly on the activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP-dependent efflux pump involved in restricting entry of lipophilic drugs into the brain. The present study characterizes the patterns of P-gp expression in the brains of AIDS patients and examines its relationship with clinical and neuropathological indicators of HIV encephalitis (HIVE). For this purpose, brain tissue collected at autopsy from 26 subjects with a history of HIV (9 without HIVE; 17 with HIVE) was analyzed. Immunocytochemical staining and Western blot analyses for regional P-gp expression were performed and levels were correlated with neuropathological indicators and with HIV RNA. Double labeling experiments were performed with antibodies against astroglial (GFAP), endothelial (CD31), microglial (CD45) and neuronal (MAP2) cell markers. In the HIVE-negative cases, P-gp immunoreactivity was associated primarily with endothelial cells. HIVE-positive cases showed extensive immunolabeling of astroglial and microglial cells, but relatively less endothelial cell immunolabeling. No neuronal P-gp immunostaining was detected in brain tissue from any cases in the study. In the HIVE-positive cases with extensive astroglial labeling, the most intense immunoreactivity was detected in white matter. A subset of HIVE-positive cases displayed intense P-gp immunostaining of astrocytes closely associated with blood vessels in the cortex. Both the immunocytochemical and Western blot analyses showed a significant correlation between P-gp expression and HIV RNA levels. In conclusion, P-gp immunoreactivity was detected largely in glial cells in tissue from HIVE-positive patients. Furthermore, in HIVE-positive patients, brain viral burden and P-gp levels were significantly higher than those in HIVE-negative patients. Taken together, our data suggest that P-gp may be part of a central pathway mediating viral compartmentalization in the brains of HIV-infected individuals and may play a significant part in HIV disease progression in the brain.
Collaborative narrative generation in persistent virtual environments

This thesis describes a multi-agent approach to generating narrative based on the activities of participants in large-scale persistent virtual environments, such as massivelymultiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). These environments provide diverse interactive experiences for large numbers of simultaneous participants. Involving such participants in an overarching narrative experience has presented challenges due to the difficulty of incorporating the individual actions of so many participants into a single coherent storyline. Various approaches have been adopted in an attempt to solve this problem, such as guiding players to follow pre-designed storylines, or giving them goals to achieve that advance the storyline, or by having developers (‘dungeon masters’) adapt the narrative to the real-time actions of players. However these solutions can be inflexible, and/or fail to take player interaction into account, or do so only at the collective level, for groups of players. This thesis describes a different approach, in which embodied witness-narrator agents observe participants’ actions in a persistent virtual environment and generate narrative from reports of those actions. The generated narrative may be published to external audiences, e.g., via community websites, Internet chatrooms, or SMS text messages, or fed back into the environment in real-time to embellish and enhance the ongoing experience with new narrative elements derived from participants’ own achievements. The design and implementation of this framework is described in detail, and compared to related work. Results of evaluating the framework, both technically, and through a live study, are presented and discussed.
Microstructure and nanoindentation behaviour of Ni surface modified Ti6Al4V

The Ni modified layers were prepared on the surface of Ti6Al4V substrate by plasma surface alloying technique. The surface and cross-section morphology, composition distribution and phase structure of the modified layers were analysed. Nanoindentation tests were performed not only on the surface and cross-section of the Ni modified Ti6Al4V but also on the substrates of the treated and untreated Ti6Al4V plates. The residual indentation profiles of the Ni modified layers were also investigated. The results show that the Ni modified layers were uniform and compact. The Ni modified layers consisted of an outer Ni deposition layer, a middle Ni rich layer and an inner Ni poor layer. The concentration of Ni gradually decreased from the surface to interior. The maximum content of Ni atoms was nearly 95%. The Ni modified layers were composed of TiNi, Ti2Ni, Ni3Ti, Al3Ni intermetallic compounds and pure Ni as well as Ti phases. Comparing to the untreated Ti6Al4V, the Ni rich layer and Ni poor layer had higher hardness, elastic modulus and remained relatively fine plasticity. The strengthened mechanism of the Ni modified Ti6Al4V was discussed in this paper.