Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Holistic design for multi-core architectures

Increasing design complexity and diminishing marginal utility of monolithic processor designs has resulted in integration of multiple loosely-coupled processing cores on the same die. However, fundamental questions remain about the right form, implementation, and methodology for multi-core designs. This thesis addresses these questions. A popular methodology for designing a multi-core architecture is to replicate an off-the-shelf core design multiple times, and then connect the cores together using an interconnect mechanism. However, this methodology is "multi-core oblivious" as subsystems are designed/optimized unaware of the overall chip-multiprocessing system they would become parts of. This thesis demonstrates that this methodology is very inefficient in terms of area/power, and recommends a holistic approach where the subsystems are designed from the ground up as different components of a full system. Inefficiency in "multi-core oblivious" multi-core designs comes at different levels. Having multiple replicated cores results in an inability to adapt to the demands of execution workloads, and results in either underutilization or overutilization of processor resources. This thesis proposes single-ISA (instruction-set architecture) heterogeneous multi-core architectures where the die hosts cores of varying power/performance characteristics, but all capable of running the same ISA. Such a processor can result in significant power savings and performance improvements if the applications are mapped to cores judiciously. The thesis also presents holistic design methodologies for such architectures. Another source of inefficiency is blind replication of over-provisioned hardware structures. To that effect, the thesis proposes conjoined-core chip multiprocessing where the adjacent cores of a multi-core architecture share some resources. The thesis shows that this can result in significant area savings without much performance degradation. The thesis also proposes novel optimizations for minimizing the already small degradation. Yet another source of inefficiency is the interconnection. This thesis shows that the interconnection overheads can be very significant for a "multi-core oblivious" multi-core design---especially as the number of cores increases and the pipelines get deeper. The thesis demonstrates the need to co-design the cores, the memory and the interconnection to obviate the inefficiency problem, and also makes several suggestions regarding co-design.
A Preliminary Investigation of Ethnic Differences in Resistance in Multisystemic Therapy

Therapy process research suggests that an inverted U-shaped trajectory of client resistance, referred to as the struggle-and-working-through pattern, predicts positive treatment outcomes. However, this research may lack external validity given the exclusive focus on European Americans. This preliminary study explores differences in resistance patterns in a sample of African American and European American juvenile drug offenders and their families (n = 41) participating in Multisystemic Therapy. Resistance was coded from session recordings at the beginning, middle, and end of treatment. There were significant ethnic differences in (a) mean resistance at midtreatment, (b) resistance trajectories, and (c) predictive relationships between resistance trajectories and criminal desistance. Notably, a negative quadratic (i.e., inverted U-shaped) resistance trajectory was more characteristic of European Americans who desisted from crime, whereas a positive quadratic (U-shaped) resistance pattern was more characteristic of African Americans who desisted. There was no relationship between resistance trajectory and later drug abstinence (i.e., cannabis). Within the context of evidence-based therapies, core treatment processes may vary significantly as a function of client ethnicity. We recommend that clinical scientists make efforts to test for ethnic differences in treatment process so that therapies like Multisystemic Therapy can be understood in a more comprehensive and nuanced manner.
Learning force and position constraints in human-robot cooperative transportation

Physical interaction between humans and robots arises a large set of challenging problems involving hardware, safety, control and cognitive aspects, among others. In this context, the cooperative (two or more people/robots) transportation of bulky loads in manufacturing plants is a practical example where these challenges are evident. In this paper, we address the problem of teaching a robot collaborative behaviors from human demonstrations. Specifically, we present an approach that combines: probabilistic learning and dynamical systems, to encode the robot's motion along the task. Our method allows us to learn not only a desired path to take the object through, but also, the force the robot needs to apply to the load during the interaction. Moreover, the robot is able to learn and reproduce the task with varying initial and final locations of the object. The proposed approach can be used in scenarios where not only the path to be followed by the transported object matters, but also the force applied to it. Tests were successfully carried out in a scenario where a 7 DOFs backdrivable manipulator learns to cooperate, with a human, to transport an object while satisfying the position and force constraints of the task.
Periodic production of retinoic acid by meiotic and somatic cells coordinates four transitions in mouse spermatogenesis

Significance Male mouse sex cells mature into sperm through a 35-d process punctuated by four transitions, two occurring before meiosis (spermatogonial differentiation and meiotic initiation) and two after meiosis (spermatid elongation and sperm release). The four transitions occur in proximity spatially and temporally, with an 8.6-d periodicity. We describe how this coordination is achieved. The premeiotic transitions were known to be regulated by retinoic acid (RA). We show that RA also regulates the two postmeiotic transitions. RA levels change periodically, and meiotic cells contribute to its production. The two postmeiotic transitions require RA from meiotic cells while the premeiotic transitions require RA from somatic cells. These elements underpin the spatiotemporal coordination of spermatogenesis to ensure constant sperm production throughout adult life. Mammalian spermatogenesis is an elaborately organized differentiation process, starting with diploid spermatogonia, which include germ-line stem cells, and ending with haploid spermatozoa. The process involves four pivotal transitions occurring in physical proximity: spermatogonial differentiation, meiotic initiation, initiation of spermatid elongation, and release of spermatozoa. We report how the four transitions are coordinated in mice. Two premeiotic transitions, spermatogonial differentiation and meiotic initiation, were known to be coregulated by an extrinsic signal, retinoic acid (RA). Our chemical manipulations of RA levels in mouse testes now reveal that RA also regulates the two postmeiotic transitions: initiation of spermatid elongation and spermatozoa release. We measured RA concentrations and found that they changed periodically, as also reflected in the expression patterns of an RA-responsive gene, STRA8; RA levels were low before the four transitions, increased when the transitions occurred, and remained elevated thereafter. We found that pachytene spermatocytes, which express an RA-synthesizing enzyme, Aldh1a2, contribute directly and significantly to RA production in testes. Indeed, chemical and genetic depletion of pachytene spermatocytes revealed that RA from pachytene spermatocytes was required for the two postmeiotic transitions, but not for the two premeiotic transitions. We conclude that the premeiotic transitions are coordinated by RA from Sertoli (somatic) cells. Once germ cells enter meiosis, pachytene spermatocytes produce RA to coordinate the two postmeiotic transitions. In combination, these elements underpin the spatiotemporal coordination of spermatogenesis and ensure its prodigious output in adult males.
Middle-Upper Ordovician Shallow Platform to Deep Basin Transect, Southern Tasmania.

There is a profound change in sedimentary environment and in fauna going from the Middle-Upper Ordovician of Ida Bay to Surprise Bay over a present distance of only 25 km. The transition is from peritidal carbonates at Ida Bay, to subtidal carbonates at Precipitous Bluff to deep subtidal calcareous shales at Pt. Cecil to deep water micrites, graptolitic shales and carbonate turbidites at Surprise Bay. The blind (Nanshanaspis, Bulbaspis) or large eyed (Telephina) trilobites at Surprise Bay suggest sub-photic or twilight depositional conditions and a phosphatic, ironstone hardground enriched in metals and with imploded nautiloids suggests a zone of nutrient-rich upwelling currents at about 300 ± 50 m water depth. Macrofauna from Ida Bay is mainly endemic and is associated with Midcontinent province type or endemic conodonts. The shelf edge sections at Precipitous Bluff and Pt. Cecil contain more widespread macrofossils and Midcontinent conodonts whereas the macrofauna from the deep-water deposits is widespread or cosmopolitan and is associated with North Atlantic province conodonts.
SPIN90 Modulates Long-Term Depression and Behavioral Flexibility in the Hippocampus

The importance of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) in the regulation of synapse morphology and plasticity has been well established. SH3 protein interacting with Nck, 90 kDa (SPIN90), an Nck-interacting protein highly expressed in synapses, is essential for actin remodeling and dendritic spine morphology. Synaptic targeting of SPIN90 to spine heads or dendritic shafts depends on its phosphorylation state, leading to blockage of cofilin-mediated actin depolymerization and spine shrinkage. However, the physiological role of SPIN90 in long-term plasticity, learning and memory are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that Spin90-knockout (KO) mice exhibit substantial deficits in synaptic plasticity and behavioral flexibility. We found that loss of SPIN90 disrupted dendritic spine density in CA1 neurons of the hippocampus and significantly impaired long-term depression (LTD), leaving basal synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) intact. These impairments were due in part to deficits in AMPA receptor endocytosis and its pre-requisites, GluA1 dephosphorylation and postsynaptic density (PSD) 95 phosphorylation, but also by an intrinsic activation of Akt-GSK3β signaling as a result of Spin90-KO. In accordance with these defects, mice lacking SPIN90 were found to carry significant deficits in object-recognition and behavioral flexibility, while learning ability was largely unaffected. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a novel modulatory role for SPIN90 in hippocampal LTD and behavioral flexibility.
Workspace mapping and control of a teleoperated endoscopic surgical robot

This paper presents the experimental implementation of a teleoperated endoscopic surgical manipulator system that uses PHANTOM Omni haptic device as the master. The 4-DOF, 2-PUU 2-PUS, endoscopic surgical parallel manipulator design is carried out using screw theory and Parallel virtual chain methodology to have larger bending angles and workspace volume. The master and slave devices of the teleoperation system are dissimilar in their kinematics and workspace volumes. A workspace mapping technique is implemented based on Position with Modied Rate Control to navigate through the slave workspace without annoying the user. To control the motion of the slave robot, a PID controller is used. The experimental results show the feasibility of the teleoperation surgical system using the 4-DOF parallel manipulator. Also, they indicate the efficiency of the implemented mapping technique and the designed controller to span the slave workspace with high dexterity and good tracking which allows the surgeon to perform the operation with high accuracy.
Inference of Kronecker Structure

A stochast Kronecker graph presents a generative model for the social and information networks. By means of EM algorithm with various version of MCMC samplings,we suggest a way to catch the potential Kronecker structure. This model allows us to infer how the latent part of graph is organized as well as to predict how the current graph evolves over time. General Terms Kronecker Graph
A Review of Heating and Temperature Control in Microfluidic Systems: Techniques and Applications

This review presents an overview of the different techniques developed over the last decade to regulate the temperature within microfluidic systems. A variety of different approaches has been adopted, from external heating sources to Joule heating, microwaves or the use of lasers to cite just a few examples. The scope of the technical solutions developed to date is impressive and encompasses for instance temperature ramp rates ranging from 0.1 to 2,000 °C/s leading to homogeneous temperatures from −3 °C to 120 °C, and constant gradients from 6 to 40 °C/mm with a fair degree of accuracy. We also examine some recent strategies developed for applications such as digital microfluidics, where integration of a heating source to generate a temperature gradient offers control of a key parameter, without necessarily requiring great accuracy. Conversely, Temperature Gradient Focusing requires high accuracy in order to control both the concentration and separation of charged species. In addition, the Polymerase Chain Reaction requires both accuracy (homogeneous temperature) and integration to carry out demanding heating cycles. The spectrum of applications requiring temperature regulation is growing rapidly with increasingly important implications for the physical, chemical and biotechnological sectors, depending on the relevant heating technique.
CONSEL: for assessing the confidence of phylogenetic tree selection

UNLABELLED CONSEL is a program to assess the confidence of the tree selection by giving the p-values for the trees. The main thrust of the program is to calculate the p-value of the Approximately Unbiased (AU) test using the multi-scale bootstrap technique. This p-value is less biased than the other conventional p-values such as the Bootstrap Probability (BP), the Kishino-Hasegawa (KH) test, the Shimodaira-Hasegawa (SH) test, and the Weighted Shimodaira-Hasegawa (WSH) test. CONSEL calculates all these p-values from the output of the phylogeny program packages such as Molphy, PAML, and PAUP*. Furthermore, CONSEL is applicable to a wide class of problems where the BPs are available. AVAILABILITY The programs are written in C language. The source code for Unix and the executable binary for DOS are found at http://www.ism.ac.jp/~shimo/ CONTACT shimo@ism.ac.jp
Near real-time human silhouette and movement detection in indoor environments using fixed cameras

The automated human behavior modeling is highly desired in the context of an assistive environment. In this paper, we describe a software video processing and analysis system to assist the near real time detection of human activity. The video data are acquired indoors from fixed cameras in the living environment. The proposed system uses image-processing techniques to segment the human figure from the background, suppress the appearance of its shadow and detect the path and velocity of its motion. Detail performance measurements of the proposed algorithm are given in terms of execution time. Initial results are presented for a small number of video sequences.
Simulation of forest‐based carbon balances for Germany: a contribution to the‘carbon debt’ debate

The aim of this paper is to estimate the future carbon balance of wood use in Germany combining a national forest inventory data‐driven forest growth model with information about German harvested wood products markets and taking into account material and energy substitution effects. In a scenario analysis, we assess impacts of different forest management options, change of market share of harvested wood products as well as changes of the national energy mix. Additionally, the model settings and assumptions that predominantly determine the results are identified and discussed. The simulation results show that only a radical change of forest management in Germany would cause net carbon emissions. The continuation of current forest management or a higher share of high yield tree species as well as a change of market shares of wood and wood products would result in a net carbon sequestration in German forest and harvested wood products carbon pools. Considering substitution effects, even the net carbon emissions of a radically changed forest management would be over compensated and the carbon balance of all other scenarios would become even more positive. Looking at the most decisive factors regarding our simulation results, the initial treatment of the forest carbon pool, the starting year for the simulations and the present forest structure are most crucial for further accumulated net carbon pool changes. WIREs Energy Environ 2018, 7:e260. doi: 10.1002/wene.260
First Detection and Molecular Identification of Borrelia garinii Spirochete from Ixodes ovatus Tick Ectoparasitized on Stray Cat in Taiwan

Borrelia garinii spirochete was detected for the first time in Ixodes ovatus tick ectoparasitized on stray cat in Taiwan. The genetic identity of this detected spirochete was determined by analyzing the gene sequence amplified by genospecies-specific polymerase chain reaction assays based on the 5S–23S intergenic spacer amplicon (rrf-rrl) and outer surface protein A (ospA) genes of B. burgdorferi sensu lato. Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed by comparing the sequences of rrf-rrl and ospA genes obtained from 27 strains of Borrelia spirochetes representing six genospecies of Borrelia. Seven major clades can be easily distinguished by neighbour-joining analysis and were congruent by maximum-parsimony method. Phylogenetic analysis based on rrf-rrl gene revealed that this detected spirochete (strain IO-TP-TW) was genetically affiliated to the same clade with a high homogeneous sequences (96.7 to 98.1% similarity) within the genospecies of B. garinii and can be discriminated from other genospecies of Borrelia spirochetes. Interspecies analysis based on the genetic distance values indicates a lower level (<0.022) of genetic divergence (GD) within the genospecies of B. garinii, and strain IO-TP-TW was genetically more distant ( >0.113) to the strains identified in I. ovatus collected from Japan and China. Intraspecies analysis also reveals a higher homogeneity (GD<0.005) between tick (strain IO-TP-TW) and human (strain Bg-PP-TW1) isolates of B. garinii in Taiwan. This study provides the first evidence of B. garinii isolated and identified in an I. ovatus tick in Asia, and the higher homogeneity of B. garinii between tick and human strain may imply the risk of human infection by I. ovatus bite.
Intranasal Administration of Xylazine to Reduce Stress in Elk Captured by Net Gun

Forty free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus manitobensis) were captured by net gun in Riding Mountain National Park (Manitoba, Canada) during February 2002 and were administered either saline (control) or xylazine by the intranasal route, to evaluate the efficacy and benefit of intranasal xylazine to reduce stress. Elk that received xylazine had higher relaxation scores than control elk, and the onset of sedation occurred quickly, often <1 min. Serum concentrations of cortisol, creatine kinase, and γ-glutamyltransferase were lower in elk that received xylazine than in control elk. At the conclusion of handling, the intravenous administration of yohimbine quickly abolished the sedative effect of xylazine, which allowed elk to be released without concern of physical injury due to ataxia. The intranasal administration of xylazine can be used to reduce stress in wild animals under situations where they are being handled while physically restrained.
The great IPv4 land grab: resource certification for the IPv4 grey market

The era of free IPv4 address allocations has ended and the grey market in IPv4 addresses is now emerging. This paper argues that one cannot and should not try to regulate who sells addresses and at what price, but one does need to provide some proof of ownership in the form of resource certification. In this paper we identify key requirements of resource certification, gained from both theoretical analysis and operational history. We further argue these requirements can be achieved by making use of the existing reverse DNS hierarchy, enhanced with DNS Security. Our analysis compares reverse DNS entries and BGP routing tables and shows this is both feasible and achievable today; an essential requirement as the grey market is also emerging today and solutions are needed now, not years in the future.
Inferring Subcat Frames of Verbs in Urdu

This paper describes an approach for inferring syntactic frames of verbs in Urdu from an untagged corpus. Urdu, like many other South Asian languages, is a free word order and case-rich language. Separable lexical units mark different constituents for case in phrases and clauses and are called case clitics. There is not always a one to one correspondence between case clitic form and case, and case and grammatical function in Urdu. Case clitics, therefore, can not serve as direct clues for extracting the syntactic frames of verbs. So a two-step approach has been implemented. In a first step, all case clitic combinations for a verb are extracted and the unreliable ones are filtered out by applying the inferential statistics. In a second step, the information of occurrences of case clitic forms in different combinations as a whole and on individual level is processed to infer all possible syntactic frames of the verb.
Modeling sewer overflow of Karbala city with large floating population

The sewer systems of many historical or religious cities are not well associated with present needs. Sudden influx of huge floating population during sacred or festival periods places tremendous pressure on utility services including the sewer system in such cities. Sewer overflow, inundation of roads, environmental degradation, and consequent epidemics are very common during such gatherings. Modeling of sewer quantity and quality with varying population is, therefore, very important for cities with a large floating population in order to mitigate the problem. The major objective of this study is to develop a model to assess the impacts of floating population on sewer systems during pilgrimage, in order to proffer necessary mitigation measures. The Karbala city of Iraq was chosen as a case study in the present research. Statistical and physically based models such as Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Structural Equation Model (SEM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) were used for this purpose. The model outputs were analyzed to assess possible changes in sewer discharge and quality in the context of increasing population. Different adaptation measures were also assessed and suitable adaptation measures were identified for mitigating the impacts. The results showed that sewer flow in Karbala city typically increased in the range of 0.009492-0.0144 m3/s for every population rise of one thousand, measured at 95% confidence interval. On the other hand, the concentrations of total suspended solid (TSS) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) increased by 26-46 mg/L and 9-19 mg/L, respectively at 95% confidence interval, for every 1mm increase in rainfall. BOD5 was also found to increase by 4-17 mg/L for every ten thousand increase in population. The temporal and spatial modeling of sewer overflow shows that it mostly happens during prayer times and in the upstream area, as the sewer system in the region is incapable of carry in a huge inflow of sewer during those periods. The assessment of different technical measures revealed that pipe-jacking system is the most suitable approach in Karbala city for reducing sewer overflow by up to 70%, if properly installed and managed.