Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of an Embedded Health Monitoring Infrastructure for Accessing Multi-processor SoC Degradation

An embedded health-monitoring infrastructure for a highly reliable MP-SoC for data-streaming systems is presented. Different from the traditional approach of a dependable design, our infrastructure is based on life-time prognostics from health-monitoring sensors that are embedded near the target processor. This enables the preventive repair by spare parts or priority ranking of tasks among processors. Focus of this paper is mainly the health-monitoring scheme and the sensor structure with simulation results.
PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESSORS AND BUFFERS AFFECTING BLACK WOMEN IN MONTREAL

Black women in Canada have not been the focus of intensive mental health research, even though data suggests they may be vulnerable to mental health disparities. The present study utilizes in-depth qualitative methods to explore the psychosocial experience of Black women in Montreal. Twelve women participated in semi-structured interviews that aimed to elicit principal psychosocial stressors and buffers. Three notable stressors emerged from analyses: financial adversity, racism, and absent fathers. Three notable buffers emerged from analyses: families, the church, and cultural pride. Implications for further research on this vulnerable population are discussed.
Performance test of the silicon PIN diode with radioactive sources

Silicon PIN diodes with an active area of 1 cm × 1 cm were fabricated on a high resistivity, (100)-oriented, n-type, 380-μm thick and 5-inch silicon wafer. These diodes were originally fabricated on purpose to monitor strip sensor fabrication processes. To evaluate the performance of the silicon PIN diode, we measured the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and energy resolution using radioactive sources. We measured the radiation detection responses of the silicon PIN diodes and observed photopeaks from radioactive sources, Am-241, Sr-90 and Cs-137. The spectrum by simulation was compared with those of the source tests to understand the measurement results. The tests with Am-241 and Cs-137 sources used random trigger because γ fully deposits its energy in a silicon PIN diode. Another PIN diode was used for trigger purpose with Sr-90, β source. Am-241 test showed a sharp peak of 59.5 keV γ as we expected. The γ peak was used for calibration that converts ADC value into energy. We used Cs-137 source to compare a resolution at the lower energy level (32 keV γ) with 59.5 keV γ. Two different conditions were set for Cs-137; without a lead-block and with 3mm-lead-block to reduce β background. In the test of Sr-90, the SNR of the silicon PIN diode was measured to be 36.0. We present the energy resolution and the SNR of the diode measured by using the radioactive sources.
Double quantum well resonant tunneling negative differential resistance device design using graphene nanoribbons

In this paper double quantum well resonant tunneling negative differential resistance (NDR) device based on intrinsic armchair graphene nanoribbon (A-GNR) is proposed. Non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) based transport equation was coupled with Poisson's equation to obtain the desired device characteristics. This device shows promising results including the NDR effect at very low bias, at 0.12V, with peak current of 1. 78μA and peak to valley current ratio (PVCR) of ~20. We further show that the device performance has strong dependence on back gate voltage.
SOAR: Simple Opportunistic Adaptive Routing Protocol for Wireless Mesh Networks

Multihop wireless mesh networks are becoming a new attractive communication paradigm owing to their low cost and ease of deployment. Routing protocols are critical to the performance and reliability of wireless mesh networks. Traditional routing protocols send traffic along predetermined paths and face difficulties in coping with unreliable and unpredictable wireless medium. In this paper, we propose a simple opportunistic adaptive routing protocol (SOAR) to explicitly support multiple simultaneous flows in wireless mesh networks. SOAR incorporates the following four major components to achieve high throughput and fairness: 1) adaptive forwarding path selection to leverage path diversity while minimizing duplicate transmissions, 2) priority timer-based forwarding to let only the best forwarding node forward the packet, 3) local loss recovery to efficiently detect and retransmit lost packets, and 4) adaptive rate control to determine an appropriate sending rate according to the current network conditions. We implement SOAR in both NS-2 simulation and an 18-node wireless mesh testbed. Our extensive evaluation shows that SOAR significantly outperforms traditional routing and a seminal opportunistic routing protocol, ExOR, under a wide range of scenarios.
Aplikasi pemodelan Rasch pada assessment pendidikan

Peningkatan kualitas pendidikan dapat dilakukan dengan berbagai cara. Salah satu cara yang bisa banyak membantunya adalah melakukan penilaian dan evaluasi pendidikan yang sifatnya komprehensif. Untuk itu pemodelan rasch sangat efektif digunakan. Hal ini karena pemodelan racsh mengubah data skor mentah menjadi data dengan interval yang sama sehingga menghasilkan skala pengukuran yang linier, presisi dan mempunyai satuan. Pemodelan rasch dapat digunakan untuk analisis kualitas soal, mengetahui tingkat abilitas siswa dan tingkat kesulitan soal, sampai kepada deteksi miskonsepsi, adanya bias dalam soal, ataupun kemungkinan mengetahui adanya siswa-siswa yang mencontek. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa rasch model bisa membantu guru (ataupun dosen) untuk mengetahui kualitas pembelajaran yang dia lakukan, dimana perbaikan perlu dilakukan dan seperti apa karakteristik soal dan siswa/mahasiswa yang diajarnya. Sehingga upaya peningkatan kualitas pendidikan dapat difasilitasi dengan lebih mudah, ilmiah dan tepat.
Design Consideration of Magnetic Tunnel Junctions for Reliable High-Temperature Operation of STT-MRAM

Commercializing spin-transfer-torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) requires thorough investigation of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) at temperature corners. In this paper, high-temperature behaviors of MTJs are investigated in conjunction with temperature-dependent transistor characteristics in order to ensure reliable high-temperature operation of STT-MRAM.
Electrophysiological Characterization of V2a Interneurons and Their Locomotor-Related Activity in the Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord

The V2a class of Chx10-expressing interneurons has been implicated in frequency-dependent control of left–right phase during locomotion in the mouse. We have used the Chx10::CFP mouse line to further investigate the properties and locomotion-related activity of V2a interneurons in the isolated neonatal spinal cord. V2a interneurons can be divided into three classes, based on their tonic, phasic, or delayed-onset responses to step depolarization. Electrical coupling is found only between neurons of same class and helps to synchronize neuronal activity within the class. Serotonin (5-HT) excites isolated tonic V2a interneurons by depolarizing the neurons and increasing their membrane input resistance, with no significant effects on action potential properties, a mechanism distinct from 5-HT excitation of commissural interneurons. During NMDA-/5-HT-induced locomotor-like activity, patch-clamp recordings and two-photon calcium imaging experiments show that approximately half of V2a interneurons fire rhythmically with ventral root-recorded motor activity; the rhythmic V2a interneurons fired during one half of the cycle, in phase with either the ipsilateral or the contralateral L2 ventral root bursts. The percentage of rhythmically firing V2a interneurons increases during higher-frequency fictive locomotion, and they become significantly more rhythmic in their firing during the locomotor cycle; this may help to explain the frequency-dependent shift in left–right coupling in Chx10::DTA mice, which lack these neurons. Our results together with data from the accompanying paper (Dougherty and Kiehn, 2009) reinforce earlier proposals that the V2a interneurons are components of the hindlimb central pattern generator, helping to organize left–right locomotor coordination in the neonatal mouse spinal cord.
Use of Video Shadow for Small Group Interaction Awareness on a Large Interactive Display Surface

This paper reports work done as part of the Large Interactive Display Surface(LIDS) project at the University of Waikato. One application of the LIDS equipment is distributed meeting support. In this context large display surfaces are used as shared workspaces by people at collaborating sites. A meeting will start with a shared presentation document, typically an agenda document with summary and detail on agenda items as required. During the meeting, annotations will be made on the shared document, and new pages will be added with notes and drawings.To prevent access collisions and generally mediate use of the shared space, mechanisms to provide awareness of actions of people at other sites are required. In our system a web camera is used to capture a low-resolution image of the person/people near the board on each side. Rather than transmit the image directly we compute a shadow/silhouette The shadow is displayed 'behind' other screen content. This provides awareness of position and impending write actions and allows intentional pointing to locations on the screen. It also has the advantages of being transmitted with low bandwidth, being relatively insensitive to low frame rates, and minimizing visual interference with the substantive data being displayed on the screen.
Growth rates of dynamic dermal model exposed to laminar flow and magnetic fields

Introduction Ongoing research in the use of electromagnetic stimulation as coadjuvant in fracture healing has led the authors to begin generating computer models in order to predict cellular growth changes when cells are electromagnetically stimulated. By generating these models, scientists will be able to better understand how electromagnetic fields affect cellular development. The experimental design integrated a cellular culture bioreactor along with an external magnetic stimulation system, which allowed for dermal models to be exposed to controlled magnetic fields. Methods Initially, it was necessary to analyze the static growth of Normal Human Skin Fibroblast (NHSF) cells when they were exposed to Extremely Low Frequency – Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMFs). Using optimal conditions for the NHSF culture, from stimulation signal to scaffolding material, we were able to perform the dynamic flow stimulation experiments. Results The following systems were developed: (1) a bioreactor aimed at cellular tissue culture, and (2) Helmholtz coils capable of generating stimulation signals for the cultured tissue. The authors were able to appreciate the quantified values of cellular density diluted in all the experiment samples that were taken and overall, the irradiated samples displayed an average increase of 53% higher cellular density for the same amount of initial cellular seeding when the cells were exposed to a 1 mT, 60 Hz magnetic field signal. Conclusion ELF-EMF’s indeed alter NHSF cell growth rates and it is the challenge of the authors to continue investigating what cellular mechanisms are altered when cells are exposed to ELF-EMF’s.
Cardiovascular and Renal Effects of Bromocriptine in Diabetic Patients with Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease

Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of bromocriptine (BEC) on left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and residual renal function (RRF) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Research Design and Methods. A 6-month double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in 28 patients with T2D and stage 4 CKD with increased LVMI. Fourteen patients received BEC (2.5 mg, initially 1 tablet with subsequent increase to three times a day) and 14 received a placebo (PBO; initially 1 tablet with subsequent increase to three times a day). Cardiovascular changes were assessed by monitoring 24 h ambulatory blood pressure, two-dimensional-guided M-mode echocardiography, and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) plasma levels. RRF was evaluated by creatinine clearance and cystatin-C plasma levels. Results. Both BEC and PBO groups decreased blood pressure—but the effect was more pronounced in the BEC group. Average 24 h, diurnal and nocturnal blood pressures, and circadian profile showed improved values compared to the PBO group; LVMI decreased by 14% in BEC and increased by 8% in PBO group. NT-proBNP decreased in BEC (0.54 ± 0.15 to 0.32 ± 0.17 pg/mL) and increased in PBO (0.37 ± 0.15 to 0.64 ± 0.17 pg/mL). Creatinine clearance did not change in the BEC group and decreased in the PBO group. Conclusions. BEC resulted in a decrease on blood pressure and LVMI. BEC also prevented the progression of CKD while maintaining the creatinine clearance unchanged.
Decreased Poly(ADP-Ribosyl)ation of CTCF, a Transcription Factor, Is Associated with Breast Cancer Phenotype and Cell Proliferation

Purpose: There is compelling evidence of a relationship between poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and tumorigenesis; however, much less is known about the role of specific targets of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in tumor development. Two forms of the multifunctional transcription factor, CTCF, were previously identified: a 130-kDa protein (CTCF-130), characteristic for cell lines, and a 180-kDa protein (CTCF-180), modified by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation. This study was aimed to investigate differential poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of CTCF in normal and tumor breast tissues. Experimental Design: Western blot analysis, mass spectrometry, and immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent stainings were used to characterize CTCF-130 and CTCF-180 in breast cell lines, primary cultures, and normal and tumor breast tissues. The immunoreactivity score was used for CTCF-130 quantification in tissues. Results: We discovered that only CTCF-180 is detected in the normal breast tissues, whereas both CTCF-130 and CTCF-180 are present in breast tumors. Using an antibody specific for CTCF-130, we observed that 87.7% of breast tumors were positive for CTCF-130. A negative correlation existed between the levels of CTCF-130, tumor stage, and tumor size. Significantly, a transition from CTCF-180 to CTCF-130 was discovered in primary cultures generated from normal breast tissues, indicating a link between CTCF-130 and proliferation. Conversely, the appearance of CTCF-180 was observed following growth arrest in breast cell lines. Conclusions: Collectively, our data suggest that the loss of CTCF poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is associated with cell proliferation and breast tumor development. We propose the use of CTCF-130 as a marker for tumor breast cells and lower levels of CTCF-130 as an indicator of unfavorable prognosis. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(18):5762–71)
The Effects of Child Maltreatment on Reactive Aggression Amongst Middle-School Students and the Moderating Role of Self-Control

The present study examined the effects of child maltreatment and self-control on reactive aggression amongst middle-school students and investigated whether students` self-control had any form of moderating effect on the relationship between child maltreatment and reactive aggression. The participants of this study consisted of 482 students (204 boys and 278 girls) from four middle schools located in Seoul and Gyoung-gi province. The Peer Conflict Scale (Marsee, Kimonis, & Frick, 2004) was used to measure the level of reactive aggression. The level of child maltreatment was assessed by means of the Child Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein & Fink, 1998). Self-control was measured by the Self-Control Scale (Nam, 1999). Statistical analyses of data used for this study comprised the following methods; frequency, mean, standard deviation, and hierarchical regression. The moderating effect of self-control was analyzed by using the procedures proposed by Baron and Kenny (1986). The results indicated that the level of child maltreatment increased the level of reactive aggression whereas the level of self-control decreased the level of reactive aggression. In addition, self-control moderated the influence of child maltreatment on student`s reactive aggression. As a result, the influence of child maltreatment upon reactive aggression was greater when the level of self-control was low, compared to when it was high.
Voronoi diagram computations for planar NURBS curves

We present robust and efficient algorithms for computing Voronoi diagrams of planar freeform curves. Boundaries of the Voronoi diagram consist of portions of the bisector curves between pairs of planar curves. Our scheme is based on computing critical structures of the Voronoi diagrams, such as self-intersections and junction points of bisector curves. Since the geometric objects we consider in this paper are represented as freeform NURBS curves, we were able to reformulate the solution to the problem of computing those critical structures into the zero-set solutions of a system of nonlinear piecewise rational equations in parameter space. We present a new algorithm for computing error-bounded bisector curves using a distance surface constructed from error-bounded offset approximations of planar curves. This error-bounded algorithm is fast and produces bisector curves that are correct both in topology and geometry. Once bisectors are computed, both local and global self-intersections of the bisector curves are located and trimmed away by solving a system of three piecewise rational equations in three variables. Further, our method computes junction points at which three or more trimmed bisector curves intersect by transforming them into the solutions to a system of piecewise rational equations in the merged parameter space of the planar curves. The bisectors are trimmed at those self-intersection and global junction points. The Voronoi diagram is then computed from the trimmed bisectors using a pruning algorithm. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach with several experimental results.
Development of Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis for the Molecular Subtyping of Enterobacter sakazakii

ABSTRACT The genomic content of Enterobacter sakazakii strain ATCC BAA-894 was analyzed for variable-number tandem repeats (VNTRs). In this study we report the development of a multiple-locus VNTR analysis (MLVA) strategy for the subtyping of E. sakazakii. The method is based on a GeneScan analysis of four VNTR loci labeled with multiple fluorescent dyes. This approach was applied to a collection of 112 isolates representing all 16 of the currently defined E. sakazakii biogroups. MLVA successfully discriminated among these isolates and compared favorably with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The method was relatively fast and easy to perform. The potential value of MLVA as an epidemiological tool is discussed.
Traffic Congestion Alleviation in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India

Traffic congestion in Mandi City will be further exacerbated by the increase of population in years to come. The goal of this project was to make Mandi City more attractive and navigable to tourists, visitors, and residents through the implementation of safer and more efficient traffic patterns. We conducted qualitative interviews with local stakeholders and collected quantitative data through evaluation of traffic flow. The analysis of our data indicated that Mandi's existing infrastructure cannot support its traffic trends, confirming a need for traffic alleviation. Based on stakeholder feedback, we generated a set of recommendations that will mitigate traffic congestion and ultimately make Mandi a safer and more pleasant destination. Located in the center of Himachal Pradesh, Mandi often serves as a segue to northern destinations such as Kullu, Lahaul, Leh Ladakh, and to the regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Visitors, not only from India, but from all over the world often seek Himachal as a vacation destination due to the appeal of its location in the foothills of the Himalayas. The district-wide number of residents, according to the 2011 census, is approaching 1 million. This number is expected to increase as the new establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Mandi will bring students, faculty, and tourists from across India. As exhibited in figure 1, the city of Mandi already suffers from congestion as vehicles travel in multiple directions and tend to park wherever convenient. The expected influx of roughly 6,000 students and supporting faculty within the next ten years will place new demands on an infrastructure congestion that is already straining to manage its existing population. This anticipated increase in vehicular activity within the city will most likely increase the release of air pollutants, pose a higher risk of road traffic accidents, and further hinder the efficiency of travel. Therefore, the purpose of our project was to propose a series of recommendations aimed to alleviate the current level of traffic congestion in Mandi. Methodology: To accomplish our goal, we developed a two-pronged approach to collecting data. We simultaneously collected qualitative data from interviews with local stakeholders, and collected quantitative data through observations and calculations. We decided to concentrate on the central area of Mandi as our target area for data collection. This area encompasses most of Mandi city's commercial businesses and as a result, experiences utmost traffic congestion. Our first objective in accomplishing our goal of alleviating …
Vertebral compression fractures: pain reduction and improvement in functional mobility after percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate vertebroplasty retrospective report of 245 cases.

PURPOSE To describe the immediate outcome of a large cohort of patients who underwent percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) vertebroplasty for treatment of one or more vertebral fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective cohort study included seven university-based and private hospitals in the United States. Of 488 consecutive patients (mean age, 76 years) who underwent percutaneous PMMA vertebroplasty between 1996 and 1999, 245 were successfully interviewed retrospectively after vertebroplasty (median time, 7 months). Through telephone interview, patients completed our self-developed questionnaire designed to measure pain (10-point scale), ambulation (five-point scale), and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) (five-point scale) before and after vertebroplasty. Differences in reported pain, ambulation, and ability to perform ADL before and after vertebroplasty were evaluated with paired t tests. Differences in proportions were compared with the McNemar test. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the consistency of differences in pre- and postprocedural pain and functional status by patient age, number of fractures, time from fracture to vertebroplasty, and time from vertebroplasty to questionnaire completion. RESULTS On a 10-point scale, mean pain decreased from 8.9 before vertebroplasty to 3.4 afterward (P <.001). Seventy-two percent of patients had substantially impaired ambulation before vertebroplasty compared with 28% afterward (P <.001). Ability to perform ADL was also significantly improved following vertebroplasty (P <.001). Twelve patients (4.9%) experienced symptomatic complications (none major or life threatening). CONCLUSION Treatment of vertebral fractures with percutaneous PMMA vertebroplasty appears to be safe and results in substantial immediate pain reduction and improved functional status. A randomized controlled trial appears warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty.