Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultra-robust null convention logic circuit with emerging domain wall devices

Despite many attractive advantages, Null Convention Logic (NCL) remains to be a niche largely due to its high implementation costs. Using emerging spintronic devices, this paper proposes a Domain-Wall-Motion-based NCL circuit design methodology that achieves approximately 30× and 8× improvements in energy efficiency and chip layout area, respectively, over its equivalent CMOS design, while maintaining similar delay performance for a 32-bit full adder. These advantages are made possible mostly by exploiting the domain wall motion physics to natively realize the hysteresis critically needed in NCL. More Interestingly, this design choice achieves ultra-high robustness by allowing spintronic device parameters to vary within a predetermined range while still achieving correct operations.
Dendritic cells: immune regulators in health and disease.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are bone marrow-derived cells of both lymphoid and myeloid stem cell origin that populate all lymphoid organs including the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes, as well as nearly all nonlymphoid tissues and organs. Although DCs are a moderately diverse set of cells, they all have potent antigen-presenting capacity for stimulating naive, memory, and effector T cells. DCs are members of the innate immune system in that they can respond to dangers in the host environment by immediately generating protective cytokines. Most important, immature DCs respond to danger signals in the microenvironment by maturing, i.e., differentiating, and acquiring the capacity to direct the development of primary immune responses appropriate to the type of danger perceived. The powerful adjuvant activity that DCs possess in stimulating specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses has made them targets in vaccine development strategies for the prevention and treatment of infections, allograft reactions, allergic and autoimmune diseases, and cancer. This review addresses the origins and migration of DCs to their sites of activity, their basic biology as antigen-presenting cells, their roles in important human diseases and, finally, selected strategies being pursued to harness their potent antigen-stimulating activity.
SenriGan: A Sensed-Point-Directed Geographic Routing for Sensor Networks

Geographic routing has been paid much attention in query-based sensor networks since sensed data inherently pertain to the location of the data. In conventional geographic routing, the destination of a message should be the location of a node. However, this is not suitable for sensors that cover a wide or directed sensing area such as cameras. To cope with this problem, we propose a modified geographic routing scheme called SenriGan. SenriGan accommodates specifying a sensed point as a destination instead of using a location of a node. In this paper, we describe our proposed system architecture using image sensor networks and an implementation of its prototype.
Demand-aware price policy synthesis and verification services for Smart Grids

In management tasks for modern electricity networks the stakeholders face typically two conflicting objectives: maximization of income (increasing demand) and reduction of demand peaks (reducing costs). To improve management of electricity distribution networks, an integrated service-based methodology is presented in this paper. Namely, the proposed approach: i) computes the operational constraints in order to improve utilization of the whole network; ii) enforces those constraints by focusing on each network substation separately; iii) verifies that probability of violating those constraints in nonnominal cases is fairly low. The feasibility of the approach has been tested tested by using a realistic scenario taken from an existing medium voltage Danish distribution network. In such scenario, the proposed method improves the network utilization and offers economic benefits for all the principal participants, i.e. DSOs, retailers and end users.
An Optical Fiber Bragg Grating Sensing System for Scour Monitoring

This paper proposes an optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing system for scour monitoring around the foundations of bridge piers and abutments. The new system introduces a uniform-strength fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) beam that is instrumented with two FBG sensors in two sides of its neutral axis. The tensile and compressive strains of the beam are measured under a hydrodynamic pressure as water flowing around bridge foundations. By assuming equal temperatures around the uniform-strength beam, the difference in wavelength variations of the two embedded FBG sensors was found to be proportional to the square of flow velocity, which is directly related to scour. A prototype scour sensing system was designed and fabricated to test its sensing property in the laboratory. The experimental results indicate that the proposed system is sensitive to flow change and further monitor the scour process effectively, without responding to its surrounding hydrostatic and soil pressures.
The InsTITuTe for sysTems research

ISR develops, applies and teaches advanced methodologies of design and analysis to solve complex, hierarchical, heterogeneous and dynamic problems of engineering technology and systems for industry and government. ISR is a permanent institute of the University of Maryland, within the A. James Clark School of Engineering. It is a graduated National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center. www.isr. umd.edu LTsa modeling of the Panama canal
Independent 3D Motion Detection through Robust Regression in Depth Layers

This paper presents a methodology for the detection of objects that move independently of the observer in a 3D dynamic environment. Independent 3D motion detection is formulated as a problem of robust regression applied to visual input acquired by a binocular, rigidly moving observer. The qualitative analysis of images acquired by a parallel stereo configuration yields a segmentation of a scene into depth layers. A depth layer consists of points of the 3D space with almost constant depth from the observer. Robust regression in the form of Least Median of Squares estimation is applied within each depth layer in order to segment the latter into coherently moving regions. Finally, a combination stage is applied across all layers in order to come up with an integrated view of independent motion in the whole 3D scene. In contrast to other existing approaches for independent motion detection which are based on the ill-posed problem of optical flow computation, the proposed methodology relies on normal flow fields for both stereo and motion processing. Experimental results show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed scheme, which is capable of discriminating independent 3D motion in scenes with large depth variations.
Non-commutative Khintchine type inequalities associated with free groups

Let F n denote the free group with n generators g 1 , g 2 ,. , g n . Let A stand for the left regular representation of F n and let T be the standard trace associated to A. Given any positive integer d, we study the operator space structure of the subspace W p (n, d) of L p (τ) generated by the family of operators λ(g i ,g 2 . g id ) with 1 < i k ≤ n. Moreover, our description of this operator space holds up to a constant which does not depend on n or p, so that our result remains valid for infinitely many generators. We also consider the subspace of L p (τ) generated by the image under A of the set of reduced words of length d. Our result extends to any exponent 1 < p < ∞ a previous result of Buchholz for the space W∞(n,d). The main application is a certain interpolation theorem, valid for any degree d (extending a result of the second author, restricted to d = 1). In the simplest case d = 2, our theorem can be stated as follows: consider the space K p formed of all block matrices a = (a ij ) with entries in the Schatten class S p , such that a is in S p relative to l 2 ⊗ l 2 and, moreover, such that (Σ ij a* ij a ij ) 1/2 and (Σ ij a ij a* ij ) 1/2 both belong to S p . We equip K p with the maximum of the three corresponding norms. Then, for 2 ≤ p ≤ oo, we have K p ≃ (K 2 , K∞)θ with 1/p = (1 - θ)/2.
Page Replacement for Write References in NAND Flash Based Virtual Memory Systems

Contemporary embedded systems often use NAND flash memory instead of hard disks as their swap space of virtual memory. Since the read/write characteristics of NAND flash memory are very different from those of hard disks, an efficient page replacement algorithm is needed for this environment. Our analysis shows that temporal locality is dominant in virtual memory references but that is not the case for write references, when the read and write references are monitored separately. Based on this observation, we present a new page replacement algorithm that uses different strategies for read and write operations in predicting the re-reference likelihood of pages. For read operations, only temporal locality is used; but for write operations, both write frequency and temporal locality are used. The algorithm logically partitions the memory space into read and write areas to keep track of their reference patterns precisely, and then dynamically adjusts their size based on their reference patterns and I/O costs. Without requiring any external parameter to tune, the proposed algorithm outperforms CLOCK, CAR, and CFLRU by 20%–66%. It also supports optimized implementations for virtual memory systems.
Protection against adriamycin-induced skin necrosis in the rat by dimethyl sulfoxide and alpha-tocopherol.

Extravasation of Adriamycin during i.v. infusion can cause serious local complications. We have used a rat skin model to study the protection afforded by dimethyl sulfoxide and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) against Adriamycin-induced skin necrosis. Topical daily application of 1 ml dimethyl sulfoxide for 2 days produced a small decrease in ulcer diameter of up to 11% at 2 weeks. Topical daily applications of 1 ml 10% alpha-tocopherol succinate in dimethyl sulfoxide for 2 days produced a marked decrease in ulcer diameter at 2 weeks of up to 68%. Daily topical application of 1 ml 10% alpha-tocopherol succinate in dimethyl sulfoxide for 7 days offered no greater protection than 2-day application. alpha-Tocopherol acetate appeared to have activity slightly less than that of alpha-tocopherol succinate in reducing ulcer size, and both compounds were considerably more active than was alpha-tocopherol alcohol. Administration of alpha-tocopherol succinate or alpha-tocopherol acetate i.p. had no significant effect upon ulcer diameter. Topically applied dimethyl sulfoxide and alpha-tocopherol may provide an effective way of treating accidentally extravasated Adriamycin in cancer patients.
A power-efficient wireless sensor network for continuously monitoring seismic vibrations

We present a novel power-efficient wireless sensor network for continuously monitoring and analyzing seismic vibrations with sensor nodes and forwarding the retrieved information with low-cost relay nodes to backend applications. The applied vibration sensing algorithms are derived from the DIN 4150–3 standard. All nodes in the network are battery-powered and equipped with an IEEE 802.15. 4 compatible radio transceiver. The nodes communicate with each other by executing a novel power-efficient protocol stack, which provides all network functions required by the vibration-sensing application and uses a publish/subscribe messaging protocol for communicating between the network nodes and the backend applications. Results obtained in certification and field tests show that the proposed vibration-sensing solution is standard-compliant, and that the wireless vibration sensor network (WVSN) exhibits excellent performance in terms of packet delivery rate, latency, and power efficiency.
Off-line Signature Verification Using Enhanced Modified Direction Features in Conjunction with Neural Classifiers and Support Vector Machines

As a biometric, signatures have been widely used to identify people. In the context of static image processing, the lack of dynamic information such as velocity, pressure and the direction and sequence of strokes has made the realization of accurate off-line signature verification systems more challenging as compared to their on-line counterparts. In this paper, we propose an effective method to perform off-line signature verification based on intelligent techniques. Structural features are extracted from the signature's contour using the modified direction feature (MDF) and its extended version: the Enhanced MDF (EMDF). Two neural network-based techniques and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) were investigated and compared for the process of signature verification. The classifiers were trained using genuine specimens and other randomly selected signatures taken from a publicly available database of 3840 genuine signatures from 160 volunteers and 4800 targeted forged signatures. A distinguishing error rate (DER) of 17.78% was obtained with the SVM whilst keeping the false acceptance rate for random forgeries (FARR) below 0.16%.
Rethinking split manufacturing: An information-theoretic approach with secure layout techniques

Split manufacturing is a promising technique to defend against fab-based malicious activities such as IP piracy, overbuilding, and insertion of hardware Trojans. However, a network flow-based proximity attack, proposed by Wang et al. (DAC'16) [1], has demonstrated that most prior art on split manufacturing is highly vulnerable. Here in this work, we present two practical layout techniques towards secure split manufacturing: (i) gate-level graph coloring and (ii) clustering of same-type gates. Our approach shows promising results against the advanced proximity attack, lowering its success rate by 5.27x, 3.19x, and 1.73x on average compared to the unprotected layouts when splitting at metal layers M1, M2, and M3, respectively. Also, it largely outperforms previous defense efforts; we observe on average 8x higher resilience when compared to representative prior art. At the same time, extensive simulations on ISCAS'85 and MCNC benchmarks reveal that our techniques incur an acceptable layout overhead. Apart from this empirical study, we provide — for the first time — a theoretical framework for quantifying the layout-level resilience against any proximity-induced information leakage. Towards this end, we leverage the notion of mutual information and provide extensive results to validate our model.
The Role of Interstitial Fluid Flow in the Remodeling Response to Fatigue Loading

Load‐induced fluid flow enhances molecular transport through bone tissue and relates to areas of bone resorption and apposition. Remodeling activity is highly coordinated and necessitates a means for cellular communication via intracellular and extracellular means. Osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts, which reside in disparate locations within the tissue, communicate intracellularly via the cellular syncytium and extracellularly via the pericellular fluid space of the lacunocanalicular system. Both of these communications systems are physically disrupted by microdamage incurred during fatigue loading of bone. The purpose of this study was to develop an analytical model to understand the role of interstitial fluid flow in the remodeling response to fatigue loading. Adequate transport was assumed a prerequisite for maintenance of cell viability in bone. Diffusive and convective transport were simulated through the lacunocanalicular network in a healthy undamaged state as well as in a damaged state after fatigue loading. The model predicts that fatigue damage impedes transport from the blood supply, depleting the concentration of molecular entities in and downstream from areas of damage. Furthermore, the presence of microcracks alters the distribution of molecular entities between individual lacunae. These effects were confirmed by the results of an in vivo pilot study in which fluorescent, flow‐visualizing agents pooled within microcracks and were absent from areas surrounding microcracks, corresponding to areas deprived of fluid flow. Loss of osteocyte viability is coupled to targeting and initiation of new remodeling activity. Taken as a whole, these data suggest a link between interstitial fluid flow, mass transport, maintenance of osteocyte viability, and modulation of remodeling activity.
Creating Usage Context-Based Object Similarities to Boost Recommender Systems in Technology Enhanced Learning

In this paper, we introduce a new way of detecting semantic similarities between learning objects by analysing their usage in web portals. Our approach relies on the usage-based relations between the objects themselves rather then on the content of the learning objects or on the relations between users and learning objects. We then take this new similarity measure to enhance existing recommendation approaches for the use in technology enhanced learning.
Distributed Tool for Performance Testing

Voice and data networks require infrastructure components of highest quality and that is achieved through testing. However, software performance and performance testing have been less studied and reported on. This paper presents the tool developed and used in the performance and stability testing of a networks integration infrastructure. We also report on the experience with our tool and performance problems related to Java. Our findings are based on the work and feedback by the programmers with a solid object-oriented background. Their experience with Java was mixed, but the tool and concepts of distributed programming were new.
Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Somatic Cell Scores of Holsteins Using Multi-trait Lactation Models in Korea

The study was conducted to analyze the genetic parameters of somatic cell score (SCS) of Holstein cows, which is an important indicator to udder health. Test-day records of somatic cell counts (SCC) of 305-day lactation design from first to fifth lactations were collected on Holsteins in Korea during 2000 to 2012. Records of animals within 18 to 42 months, 30 to 54 months, 42 to 66 months, 54 to 78 months, and 66 to 90 months of age at the first, second, third, fourth and fifth parities were analyzed, respectively. Somatic cell scores were calculated, and adjusted for lactation production stages by Wilmink’s function. Lactation averages of SCS (LSCS1 through LSCS5) were derived by further adjustments of each test-day SCS for five age groups in particular lactations. Two datasets were prepared through restrictions on number of sires/herd and dams/herd, progenies/sire, and number of parities/cow to reduce data size and attain better relationships among animals. All LSCS traits were treated as individual trait and, analyzed through multiple-trait sire models and single trait animal models via VCE 6.0 software package. Herd-year was fitted as a random effect. Age at calving was regressed as a fixed covariate. The mean LSCS of five lactations were between 3.507 and 4.322 that corresponded to a SCC range between 71,000 and 125,000 cells/mL; with coefficient of variation from 28.2% to 29.9%. Heritability estimates from sire models were within the range of 0.10 to 0.16 for all LSCS. Heritability was the highest at lactation 2 from both datasets (0.14/0.16) and lowest at lactation 5 (0.11/0.10) using sire model. Heritabilities from single trait animal model analyses were slightly higher than sire models. Genetic correlations between LSCS traits were strong (0.62 to 0.99). Very strong associations (0.96 to 0.99) were present between successive records of later lactations. Phenotypic correlations were relatively weaker (<0.55). All correlations became weaker at distant lactations. The estimated breeding values (EBVs) of LSCS traits were somewhat similar over the years for a particular lactation, but increased with lactation number increment. The lowest EBV in first lactation indicated that selection for SCS (mastitis resistance) might be better with later lactation records. It is expected that results obtained from these multi-trait lactation model analyses, being the first large scale SCS data analysis in Korea, would create a good starting step for application of advanced statistical tools for future genomic studies focusing on selection for mastitis resistance in Holsteins of Korea.
Transcription elongation factor SII interacts with a domain of the large subunit of human RNA polymerase II

Genomic sequences for the large subunit of human RNA polymerase II corresponding to a part of the fifth exon were inserted into an expression vector at the carboxy-terminal end of the beta-galactosidase gene. The in-frame construct produced a 125-kilodalton fusion protein, containing approximately 10 kilodaltons of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II and 116 kilodaltons of beta-galactosidase. The purified bacterially produced fusion protein inhibited specific transcription from the adenovirus type 2 major late promoter, while beta-galactosidase had no effect. This effect of the fusion protein was during RNA elongation, not at the level of initiation, resembling the faithfully initiated but incomplete transcripts produced with purified factors in the absence of SII. Similarly, monoclonal antibody 2-7B, which reacts with the RNA polymerase II region represented in the fusion protein, inhibited specific transcription at the level of elongation in a whole-cell extract. Both monoclonal antibody 2-7B and the fusion protein, although unable to inhibit purified RNA polymerase II in a nonspecific transcription assay, selectively blocked the stimulation elicited by transcription elongation factor SII on the activity of the purified enzyme in vitro. This suggests that the fusion protein traps the SII in nonstimulatory interactions and that antibody 2-7B inhibits SII binding to RNA polymerase II. Thus, this suggests that an SII-binding contact required for specific RNA elongation resides within the fifth exon region of the largest RNA polymerase II subunit.
High temperature and vapor pressure deficit aggravate architectural effects but ameliorate non-architectural effects of salinity on dry mass production of tomato

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop and often cultivated in regions exposed to salinity and high temperatures (HT) which change plant architecture, decrease canopy light interception and disturb physiological functions. However, the long-term effects of salinity and HT combination (S+HT) on plant growth are still unclear. A dynamic functional-structural plant model (FSPM) of tomato was parameterized and evaluated for different levels of S+HT combinations. The evaluated model was used to quantify the contributions of morphological changes (architectural effects) and physiological disturbances (non-architectural effects) on the reduction of shoot dry mass under S+HT. The model predicted architectural variables with high accuracy (>85%), which ensured the reliability of the model analyses. HT enhanced architectural effects but reduced non-architectural effects of salinity on dry mass production. The stronger architectural effects of salinity under HT could not be counterbalanced by the smaller non-architectural effects. Therefore, long-term influences of HT on shoot dry mass under salinity were negative at the whole plant level. Our model analysis highlights the importance of plant architecture at canopy level in studying the plant responses to the environments and shows the merits of dynamic FSPMs as heuristic tools.