Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ESD: a novel optimisation algorithm for positioning estimation of WSNs in GPS-denied environments - from simulation to experimentation

Over the last years, many novel applications have been envisaged for distributed Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) in the area of monitoring, communication and control. One of the key enabling services in WSNs is localisation, since the availability of nodes' location may represent the fundamental support for various protocols (e.g. routing) and applications (e.g. habitat monitoring). In this context, the contributions of our research work are as follows: (a) we will design Enhanced Steepest Descent (ESD), a novel distributed optimisation algorithm, which can be used for position computation, and will show, via computer-based simulations, that it turns out to outperform other well-known algorithms in terms of accuracy and complexity; (b) we will validate its suitability of an implementation onto commercially available WSNs platforms and will investigate, via experimental activities, the effects of network topology and ranging errors on its performance, in a realistic and dynamic indoor propagation environment.
An investigation of the effect of sports-related concussion on verbal learning and memory performance in youth

The current study was designed to investigate the effect of concussion on verbal learning and memory performance in youth hockey players. Concussed participants completed the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) prior to the start of the hockey season. Following recovery from concussion, six males (10-12 years), with one sustaining two concussions, completed a follow-up assessment. A difference score was calculated for five RAVLT index scores. Each instance of concussion was matched to two controls on age, gender, and testing protocol in order to control for the confounding influences of repeated testing sessions. Independent-samples t-tests revealed a trend towards a significant decrease in change scores for the concussed participants on the Delayed Recall Trial of the RAVLT. These results suggest that long-term verbal memory may be negatively affected by concussion; however, future studies are needed with larger sample sizes and additional follow-up points in order to better understand the
HTM Spatial Pooler With Memristor Crossbar Circuits for Sparse Biometric Recognition

Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) is an online machine learning algorithm that emulates the neo-cortex. The development of a scalable on-chip HTM architecture is an open research area. The two core substructures of HTM are spatial pooler and temporal memory. In this work, we propose a new Spatial Pooler circuit design with parallel memristive crossbar arrays for the 2D columns. The proposed design was validated on two different benchmark datasets, face recognition, and speech recognition. The circuits are simulated and analyzed using a practical memristor device model and 0.18 $\mu$m IBM CMOS technology model. The databases AR, YALE, ORL, and UFI, are used to test the performance of the design in face recognition. TIMIT dataset is used for the speech recognition.
Endovascular Treatment of Wide-Neck Intracranial Aneurysms Using a Microcatheter Protective Technique: Results and Outcomes in 75 Aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The microcatheter protective technique positions an additional microcatheter in the parent or side-branching artery to protect it during coil embolization. The purpose of this study was to describe this method and to evaluate its efficacy and safety as an alternative to a multiple-microcatheter or balloon- or stent-assisted technique for wide-neck aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 74 patients (43 women; mean age, 59.6 years) with 75 wide-neck aneurysms treated with the microcatheter protective technique between January 2003 and April 2010 was performed. Immediate postembolization angiograms were evaluated by using a conventional angiographic scale, and clinical evaluation was performed by using the GOS. Clinical and imaging follow-up were available in 57 (76%) patients, with a mean of 14.7 months. RESULTS: Postembolization angiograms demonstrated total occlusion in 45 of 75 (60%) aneurysms, a neck remnant in 17 (22.7%), and body filling in 13 (17.3%). The technique-related complication rate was 17.4% (13/75), and the procedural-related morbidity rate was 1.3% (1/74). All patients, except 3 complicated cases with a GOS of <4, had a GOS of 5 at the end of the study period. Of the 57 aneurysms with follow-up, recanalization developed in 5 (8.8%) aneurysms, and 3 (5.3%) cases of major recanalization were re-treated endovascularly. CONCLUSIONS: The microcatheter protective technique is feasible and safe for coil embolization of wide-neck aneurysms, especially in cases that are not suitable for multiple catheter or balloon- or stent-assisted techniques.
Identification of One Novel Candidate Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum Strain Active against Influenza Virus Infection in Mice by a Large-Scale Screening

ABSTRACT In this study, we developed a large-scale screening of bacterial strains in order to identify novel candidate probiotics with immunomodulatory properties. For this, 158 strains, including a majority of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), were screened by two different cellular models: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-activated HT-29 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Different strains responsive to both models (pro- and anti-inflammatory strains) were selected, and their protective effects were tested in vivo in a murine model of influenza virus infection. Daily intragastric administrations during 10 days before and 10 days after viral challenge (100 PFU of influenza virus H1N1 strain A Puerto Rico/8/1934 [A/PR8/34]/mouse) of Lactobacillus plantarum CNRZ1997, one potentially proinflammatory probiotic strain, led to a significant improvement in mouse health by reducing weight loss, alleviating clinical symptoms, and inhibiting significantly virus proliferation in lungs. In conclusion, in this study, we have combined two cellular models to allow the screening of a large number of LAB for their immunomodulatory properties. Moreover, we identified a novel candidate probiotic strain, L. plantarum CNRZ1997, active against influenza virus infection in mice.
A NOVEL DISTRIBUTED RSA BLIND AND WEAKLY UNDENIABLE MULTI-SIGNATURE SCHEME

Digital signature is extensively used in many practical applications as numerous cryptographic services have been proposed. In this paper, we will be the first to propose a signature scheme that integrates the following properties. (1) It is a distributed RSA-type multi-signature. (2) It is a blind and weakly undeniable signature. (3) The modulus used by each participant cosigner is identical. (4) Its signature form is identical to that of a standard RSA signature. (5) The length of the signature is independent of the number of participant cosigners. (6) “Zero-knowledge undeniable signatures” is applied to execute the confirmation/disavowal protocols. (7) “The Gap-Problem” is used to solve the forgery problems. A multi-signature distributes the authority and responsibility of the signer among a set of cosigners with efficiency. The blindness and unlinkability properties found in blind signatures can effectively protect the privacy and anonymity of the signature requester. The confirmation and disavowal protocol found in weakly undeniable signatures can safeguard the signature requesters from accepting invalid signatures and reject valid ones. They also protect the signers from false accusations that sign invalid signatures. Therefore, our scheme is suitable for many important cryptographic services, such as electronic voting, electronic payment and other electronic commercial services.
Dynamic Control of the Bionic Handling Assistant

In the previous decade, multiple approaches for kinematic controllers of continuum manipulators were successfully developed. However, for fast and exact motions of continuum robots that are hardly seen so far, dynamic controllers are necessary—especially for spatial manipulators with multiple sections. Therefore, a dynamic controller in actuator space is developed that both exploits input constraints and decouples the actuators in order to provide a good and intuitive dynamic behavior of the manipulator. Having a pneumatically actuated manipulator with multiple actuators, this can be achieved using a cascaded control approach with a centralized actuator length controller and an underlying decoupled pneumatic controller. For both the outer multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) controller and the inner single-input single-output (SISO) controllers, model-based controllers are developed based on suitable models using feedback linearization and a combination of feedforward control and linear PD-controllers. The resulting actuator controller can be used for tracking optimized trajectories in actuator space and also for possible extensions towards direct tool center point feedback.
Optimum surface properties of oxidized implants for reinforcement of osseointegration: surface chemistry, oxide thickness, porosity, roughness, and crystal structure.

PURPOSE To investigate detailed surface characterization of oxidized implants in a newly invented electrolyte system and to determine optimal surface oxide properties to enhance the bone response in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 100 screw-type titanium implants were prepared and divided into 1 control group (machine-turned implants) and 4 test groups (magnesium ion-incorporated oxidized implants). Forty implants were used for surface analyses. A total of 60 implants, 12 implants from each group, were placed in the tibiae of 10 New Zealand white rabbits and measured with a removal torque test after a healing period of 6 weeks. RESULTS For the test groups, the oxide thicknesses ranged from about 1,000 to 5,800 nm; for the control group, mean oxide thickness was about 17 nm. The surface morphology showed porous structures for test groups and nonporous barrier film for the control group. Pore diameter ranged from < or = 0.5 microm to < or = 3.0 microm. In regard to surface roughness, arithmetic average height deviation (Sa) values varied from 0.68 to 0.98 microm for test implants and 0.55 microm for control implants; developed surface ratio (Sdr) values ranged from 10.6% to 46% for the test groups and were about 10.6% for the control group. A mixture of anatase and rutile-type crystals were observed in the test groups; amorphous-type crystals were observed in the control group. After a healing period of 6 weeks, removal torque measurements in all 4 test groups demonstrated significantly greater implant integration as compared to machine-turned control implants (P < or = .033). DISCUSSION Determinant oxide properties of oxidized implants are discussed in association with bone responses. Of all surface properties, RTVs were linearly increased as relative atomic concentrations of magnesium ion increase. CONCLUSIONS Surface properties of the oxidized implants in the present study, especially surface chemistry, influenced bone responses. The surface chemistry of the optimal oxidized implant should be composed of approximately 9% magnesium at relative atomic concentration in titanium oxide matrix and have an oxide thickness of approximately 1,000 to 5,000 nm, a porosity of about 24%, and a surface roughness of about 0.8 microm in Sa and 27% to 46% in Sdr; its oxide crystal structure should be a mixture of anatase- and rutile-phase crystals.
Effects of Supernova Feedback on the Formation of Galaxies

Abstract We study the effects of Supernova (SN) feedback on the formation of galaxies using hydrodynamical simulations in a ΛCDM cosmology. We use an extended version of the code GADGET-2 which includes chemical enrichment and energy feedback by Type II and Type Ia SN, metal-dependent cooling and a multiphase model for the gas component. We focus on the effects of SN feedback on the star formation process, galaxy morphology, evolution of the specific angular momentum and chemical properties. We find that SN feedback plays a fundamental role in galaxy evolution, producing a self-regulated cycle for star formation, preventing the early consumption of gas and allowing disks to form at late times. The SN feedback model is able to reproduce the expected dependence on virial mass, with less massive systems being more strongly affected.
Accelerating Parallel Computations with OpenMP-Driven System-on-Chip Generation for FPGAs

The task-based programming paradigm offers a portable way of writing parallel applications. However, it requires tedious tuning of the application for performance. We present a novel design flow where programmers can use application knowledge to easily generate a System-on-Chip (SoC) specialized in executing the application. Our design flow uses a compiler that automatically generates task-specific cores and packs them into a custom SoC. A SoC-specific runtime systems schedules tasks on cores to accelerate application execution. The generated SoC shows up to 6000 times performance improvement in comparison to the Altera NiosII/s processor and up to 7 times compared to an AMD Opteron 6172 core. Our design flow helps programmers generate high-performance systems without requiring tuning and prior hardware design knowledge.
Apparent resistivity and spectral induced polarization in the submarine environment

Relatively few investigations have employed electrical methods in the submarine environment, which may be promising for mineral deposits or threatened by environmental problems. We have measured the electric field using both disk and bar electrodes in the sea water at three different levels: sea surface, seven meters deep, and sea bottom at a depth of ten meters, employin ga2m spacing dipole-dipole array with 7 array spacings of investigation, and 13 values of frequencies at steps of (2 N hertz, N = –2, –1, 0, 1, 2,.10). The measurement allowed the analysis of the electric field as a function of frequency and spacing, and of the spectral induced polarization. Modelling and interpretation of the apparent resistivity yielded a good fit with previous drilling data. Analysis of the spectrum of the complex apparent resistivity and the comparison with equivalent circuits, provided information about the grain size, the mineral composition and the major induced polarization phenomenon occurring below the sea. Therefore the result of the present research show the feasibility of measuring the variation of seawater resistivity in situ, as well as the resistivity of sea bottom sediments.
Evaluation of a Novel Highly Sensitive, Broad-Spectrum PCR-Reverse Hybridization Assay for Detection and Identification of Beta-Papillomavirus DNA

ABSTRACT Human papillomavirus can be detected by amplification of viral DNA. A novel one-step PCR (PM-PCR) was evaluated for amplification of a 117-bp fragment from the E1 region. It permitted ultrasensitive detection of all 25 known human papillomavirus genotypes from the beta-papillomavirus genus. The intra- and intertypic sequence variations of the 77-bp interprimer region were studied. Genotype-specific probes as well as general probes were selected for the 25 established beta-papillomavirus types, and a reverse hybridization assay (RHA) was developed (PM-PCR RHA method). The analytical sensitivity of the PM-PCR RHA method was 10 to 100 viral genomes. The one-step PM-PCR turned out to be more sensitive than the previously described nested MaHa-PCR for beta-papillomavirus detection. The PM-PCR RHA method was able to detect and identify beta-papillomavirus types in frozen patient material as well as in poorly amplifiable material such as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin biopsy specimens. Inter- and intralaboratory variability experiments showed that the reproducibility of the assay was very high. In conclusion, the one-step PM-PCR together with the RHA allows extremely sensitive, specific, and reproducible detection of beta-papillomavirus DNA as well as reliable identification of beta-papillomavirus genotypes in both fresh and paraffin-embedded patient material.
Production of Recombinant and Tagged Proteins in the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

ABSTRACT Many systems are available for the production of recombinant proteins in bacterial and eukaryotic model organisms, which allow us to study proteins in their native hosts and to identify protein-protein interaction partners. In contrast, only a few transformation systems have been developed for archaea, and no system for high-level gene expression existed for hyperthermophilic organisms. Recently, a virus-based shuttle vector with a reporter gene was developed for the crenarchaeote Sulfolobus solfataricus, a model organism of hyperthermophilic archaea that grows optimally at 80°C (M. Jonuscheit, E. Martusewitsch, K. M. Stedman, and C. Schleper, Mol. Microbiol. 48:1241-1252, 2003). Here we have refined this system for high-level gene expression in S. solfataricus with the help of two different promoters, the heat-inducible promoter of the major chaperonin, thermophilic factor 55, and the arabinose-inducible promoter of the arabinose-binding protein AraS. Functional expression of heterologous and homologous genes was demonstrated, including production of the cytoplasmic sulfur oxygenase reductase from Acidianus ambivalens, an Fe-S protein of the ABC class from S. solfataricus, and two membrane-associated ATPases potentially involved in the secretion of proteins. Single-step purification of the proteins was obtained via fused His or Strep tags. To our knowledge, these are the first examples of the application of an expression vector system to produce large amounts of recombinant and also tagged proteins in a hyperthermophilic archaeon.
GABA Site Agonist Gaboxadol Induces Addiction-Predicting Persistent Changes in Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons But Is Not Rewarding in Mice or Baboons

Dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are involved at early phases of drug addiction. Even the first in vivo dose of various abused drugs induces glutamate receptor plasticity at the excitatory synapses of these neurons. Benzodiazepines that suppress the inhibitory GABAergic interneurons in the VTA via facilitation of synaptic GABAA receptors have induced neuroplasticity in dopamine neurons due to this disinhibitory mechanism. Here, we have tested a non-benzodiazepine direct GABA site agonist 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolol[4,5-c]pyridine-3-ol (THIP) (also known as gaboxadol) that acts preferentially via high-affinity extrasynaptic GABAA receptors. A single sedative dose of THIP (6 mg/kg) to mice induced glutamate receptor plasticity for at least 6 d after administration. Increased AMPA/NMDA receptor current ratio and increased frequency, amplitude, and rectification of AMPA receptor responses suggested persistent targeting of GluA2-lacking AMPA receptors in excitatory synapses of VTA dopamine neurons ex vivo after THIP administration. This effect was abolished in GABAA receptor δ−/− mice, which have a loss of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors. In behavioral experiments, we found neither acute reinforcement in intravenous self-administration sessions with THIP at relevant doses using a yoked control paradigm in mice nor in baboons using a standard paradigm for assessing drug abuse liability; nor was any place preference found after conditioning sessions with various doses of THIP but rather a persistent aversion in 6 mg/kg THIP-conditioned mice. In summary, we found that activation of extrasynaptic δ-subunit-containing GABAA receptors leads to glutamate receptor plasticity of VTA dopamine neurons, but is not rewarding, and, instead, induces aversion.
Sensitivity of a Bacteroides melaninogenicus strain to monosaccharides: effect on enzyme induction

The inhibition of growth in Bacteroides melaninogenicus by sugars in described. Monosaccharides such as D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose, and D-fructose are inhibitory at low concentrations, whereas the disaccharides sucrose and lactose are not inhibitory even at high concentrations. The major inhibitory effect of the sugar is found during the transition of lag to logarithmic growth phases. There was no primary effect of D-glucose on protein, ribonucleic acid, or deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis on cells in transition from lag to logarithmic growth. However, the addition of glucose or galactose completely abolished the induction of 3-ketodihydrosphingosine synthetase by vitamin K in vitamin K-depleted cells. Futhermore, in cells which were not vitamin K depleted, the level of this enzyme was drastically reduced by the addition of the sugar. Cyclic adenosine 5-monophosphate was unable to reverse the growth inhibition produced by glucose. In actively growing cultures, addition of sugar slows the growth rate. In these experiments the level of 3-ketodihydrosphingosine synthetase fell only after the cells had assumed the slower rate of growth. There were two indications that D-galactose was more inhibitory than D-glucose; in the presence of 0.1% D-galactose cells in lag phase did not show the increase in turbidity found in similar cells placed in medium with 0.1% D-glucose, and also D-galactose caused a greater decrease in the growth rate of actively growing cultures than was found with D-glucose. These studies suggest that the inhibitory effect of monosaccharides in lag leads to logarithmic growth transition can be ascribed to an effect on enzyme induction. On the other hand, the ability of many monosaccharides to inhibit growth, and the greater inhibitory property of D-galactose compared with D-glucose, suggests that other mechanisms may be operative as well.
A Fractional-n subsampling PLL based on a digital-to-time converter

The paper presents a subsampling PLL which uses a 10-bit, 0.5 ps unit step Digital-to-Time Converter (DTC) in the phase-error comparison path for the fractional-N lock. The gain and nonlinearity of the DTC can be digitally calibrated in the background while the PLL operates normally. During fractional multiplication of a 40 MHz reference to frequencies around 10 GHz, the measured jitter is in the range from 176 to 198 fs. The worst measured fractional spur is -57 dBc and the in-band phase noise performance of the PLL is -108 dBc/Hz. The presented analog PLL in advanced 28 nm CMOS achieves a figure-of-merit (FOM) of -246.6 dB that compares well to the recent state-of-the-art.
Improving the security of dual-rail circuits

Dual-rail encoding, return-to-spacer protocol and hazard-free logic can be used to resist differential power analysis attacks by making the power consumption independent of processed data. Standard dual-rail logic uses a protocol with a single spacer, e.g. all-zeroes, which gives rise to power balancing problems. We address these problems by incorporating two spacers; the spacers alternate between adjacent clock cycles. This guarantees that all gates switch in each clock cycle regardless of the transmitted data values. To generate these dual-rail circuits an automated tool has been developed. It is capable of converting synchronous netlists into dual-rail circuits and it is interfaced to industry CAD tools. Dual-rail and single-rail benchmarks based upon the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) have been simulated and compared in order to evaluate the method.
Reconstruction of Finite Signal Derivatives From Multiscale Extrema Representations: Application to Transient Estimation and Signal Approximation

In this correspondence, we propose a novel approach to the reconstruction of finite signal derivatives from the extrema of a multiscale representation, first introduced by Berkner. We show that this reconstruction procedure naturally leads to the definition of a signal characteristic scale. We also focus on signal approximation from the multiscale extrema representation of one of its derivatives. Numerical applications involve the use of the signal characteristic scale for transient estimation and also the study of the new signal approximation method we propose