Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hybrid Parallelism for Volume Rendering on Large, Multi-core Systems

This work studies the performance and scalability characteristics of hybrid' parallel programming and execution as applied to raycasting volume rendering -- a staple visualization algorithm -- on a large, multi-core platform. Historically, the Message Passing Interface (MPI) has become the de-facto standard for parallel programming and execution on modern parallel systems. As the computing industry trends towards multi-core processors, with four- and six-core chips common today and 128-core chips coming soon, we wish to better understand how algorithmic and parallel programming choices impact performance and scalability on large, distributed-memory multi-core systems. Our findings indicate that the hybrid-parallel implementation, at levels of concurrency ranging from 1,728 to 216,000, performs better, uses a smaller absolute memory footprint, and consumes less communication bandwidth than the traditional, MPI-only implementation.
Intrinsic point defects in ternary MgCaSi: Ab initio investigation

Nine possible native point defects in MgCaSi have been studied by employing density functional theory based ab initio calculations. The complex chemical potential limits are first determined using a two-dimension (Δμ_Mg, Δμ_Ca) diagram, then the defect formation energies as a function of the atomic chemical potential are gained. The energetic results show that under Mg-rich conditions, the most favorable defect is Mg_Ca rather than Mg_Si, while Ca_Mg is predominant compared to Ca_Si under Ca-rich conditions. The bonding energy is first introduced to uncover the intrinsic feature of defect formation energy. The local geometric distortion around Ca_Mg, Mg_Si, and Ca_Si antisite defects gradually increases due to the smaller atomic radii from Ca to Mg and Si, showing the important role of the geometrical mismatch. The density of states indicates that the higher stability of Ca_Mg and Mg_Ca originates from the smaller deviation of the Fermi level from the pseudo-gap.
Real-time spoken language identification and recognition for speech-to-speech translation

For spoken language systems to effectively operate across multiple languages it is critical to rapidly apply the correct language-specific speech recognition models. Prior approaches consist of either, first identifying the language being spoken and selecting the appropriate language-specific speech recognition engine; or alternatively, performing speech recognition in parallel and selecting the language and recognition hypothesis with maximum likelihood. Both these approaches, however, introduce a significant delay before back-end natural language processing can proceed. In this work, we propose a novel method for joint language identification and speech recognition that can operate in near real-time. The proposed approach compares partial hypotheses generated on-the-fly during decoding and generates a classification decision soon after the first full hypothesis has been generated. When applied within our English-Iraqi speech-to-speech translation system the proposed approach correctly identified the input language with 99.6% accuracy while introducing minimal delay to the end-to-end system.
Iris Recognition Systems and methods

This is an overview of the new emerging biometric technology called iris recognition. The focus will be on image processing and security aspects. The most known algorithms are introduced and discussed and background for iris recognition are given. Results will show that iris recognition is very good biometric that is comfortable to use for person identiﬁcation.
N2SID: Nuclear Norm Subsystem Identification

The data equation in subspace identification relates Hankel matrices constructed from input and output data. The matrices in this equation, which are derived from the system matrices of the unknown system, contain important structural information. Such information is the low rank property of the product between the extended observability matrix and the state sequence, and the Toeplitz structure of the matrix of Markov parameters of the system in innovation form. We will show that nuclear norm subspace identification makes it possible to formulate these structural properties as constraints in a single convex multi-criteria optimization problem. This problem seeks a trade-off between a nuclear norm minimization problem to retrieve the subspace of interest and a prediction error criterium to find an optimal match between the measured and predicted output. The advantage of our method over existing unconstrained and nuclear norm constrained subspace identification methods is that the structural constraints are in general improving the estimates when dealing with short data sets, i.e. where the number of measurements is a small multiple of the system order. This advantage is demonstrated in a validation study making use of data sets from the DaSIy library.
Reducing clock skew variability via cross links

Increasingly significant variational effects present a great challenge for delivering desired clock skew reliably. Nontree clock network has been recognized as a promising approach to overcome the variation problem. Existing non-tree clock routing methods are restricted to a few simple or regular structures, and often consume excessive amount of wirelength. In this paper, we suggest to construct a low cost nontree clock network by inserting cross links in a given clock tree. The effects of the link insertion on clock skew variability are analyzed. Based on the analysis, we propose two link insertion schemes that can quickly convert a clock tree to a non-tree with significantly lower skew variability and very limited wirelength increase. In these schemes, the complicated non-tree delay computation is circumvented. Further, they can be applied to the recently popular non-zero skew routing easily. Experimental results on benchmark circuits show that this approach can achieve significant skew variability reduction with less than 2% increase of wirelength.
Process-Recollective Refinding on the Web

The recent growth of search technology has enabled people to find information more easily. However, most people need to refind information on a daily basis. Finding and refinding are different activities and require different types of support. However, current refinding support systems don't consider this point. This has caused several problems: PVR, loss of contextual information, and difference in search experiences. We discuss these problems and their solutions from a cognitive perspective. We propose a process-recollective refinding support system based on this discussion. We demonstrate a novel approach to refinding information on the Web and a specific system as an example
Trends in embryo transfer practices and multiple gestation for IVF procedures in the USA, 1996-2002.

BACKGROUND Increasing use of IVF in the USA has been a major contributor to the rising national multiple birth rate. Many have advocated that reducing the number of embryos transferred is essential for addressing the IVF-associated multiple birth problem. METHODS A population-based sample of 506 072 IVF transfers performed in the USA in 1996-2002 was used to investigate trends in embryo transfer practices and to determine whether any changes in practice patterns have impacted the multiple gestation risk associated with IVF. RESULTS The proportion of procedures in which >or=3 embryos were transferred declined significantly for most patient groups between 1996 and 2002. However, declines for some groups were not sizeable (from 79 to 73% and from 76 to 71% for fresh, non-donor procedures among women aged 38-40 and 41-42 years respectively) and transferring >or=3 embryos remained the norm for all groups. As of 2002, single embryo transfer had not increased for most groups and remained uncommon. Some declines in overall multiple gestation rates were observed, although multiple gestation risk associated with 2 embryos transferred increased significantly for all groups. CONCLUSIONS Despite changes in embryo transfer practices, multiple gestation risk remains high, in part due to increased multiple gestation rates associated with the transfer of two embryos.
Evaluating Translations of Health Status Questionnaires: Methods From the IQOLA Project

Abstract There is growing demand for translations of health status questionnaires for use in multinational drug therapy studies and for population comparisons of health statistics. The International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Project is conducting a three-stage research program to determine the feasibility of translating the SF-36 Health Survey, widely used in English-speaking countries, into other languages. In stage 1, the conceptual equivalence and acceptability of translated questionnaires are evaluated and improved using qualitative and quantitative methods. In stage 2, assumptions underlying the construction and scoring of questionnaire scales are tested empirically. In stage 3, the equivalence of the interpretation of questionnaire scores across countries is tested using methods that closely approximate their intended use, and empirical results are compared. Data analyses from Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as other research cited, support the feasibility of cross-cultural health measurement using the SF-36.
TARM: A Turbo-Type Algorithm for Affine Rank Minimization

The affine rank minimization (ARM) problem arises in many real-world applications. The goal is to recover a low-rank matrix from a small amount of noisy affine measurements. The original problem is NP-hard, and so directly solving the problem is computationally prohibitive. Approximate low-complexity solutions for ARM have recently attracted much research interest. In this paper, we design an iterative algorithm for ARM based on message passing principles. The proposed algorithm is termed turbo-type ARM (TARM), as inspired by the recently developed turbo compressed sensing algorithm for sparse signal recovery. We show that, for right-orthogonally invariant linear (ROIL) operators, a scalar function called state evolution can be established to accurately predict the behaviour of the TARM algorithm. We also show that TARM converges faster than the counterpart algorithms when ROIL operators are used for low-rank matrix recovery. We further extend the TARM algorithm for matrix completion, where the measurement operator corresponds to a random selection matrix. Slight improvement of the matrix completion performance has been demonstrated for the TARM algorithm over the state-of-the-art algorithms.
Charge sharing non-binary SAR ADC

This paper presents a non-binary passive charge sharing SAR ADC and an optimization method for non-binary successive approximation algorithm. The passive charge sharing ADC is designed. The optimization method suggests that the non-binary SAR ADC with lower standard deviation DAC capacitance values will show better static performance. The SAR ADCs with different standard deviation value of DAC capacitor array are designed and simulated using a commercial 65nm CMOS technology. The simulation result shows that the static performance improvement trend is in accordance with the proposed optimization method. In addition, the optimized non-binary charge sharing SAR ADC shows better performance than conventional binary SAR ADC.
A new kind of view for a Double oven Crystal Oscillator

New demands for minimizing space and increasing frequency stability bring us to consider a new approach on double oven Oscillators. Main application of high performance oscillators are in "GNSS disciplined" applications. To allow the assembly on a board of 4TE width, the height of the OCXO is limited to 19 mm. A major requirement is in the micro second range at 1 day holdover. Ageing and thermally induced frequency drift are to be compensated. The frequency stability <6.10-10 in a wide temperature range -20degC to + 70degC as well as a waterproof ness to minimize the influences of humidity. The reproducibility of the frequency change must be as low as possible in the several repetitive thermal gradients to minimize the frequency hysteresis effect. The demand of synchronization networks for a daily frequency drift of <1.10-10 / day in holdover mode ask for the construction of a new mechanical-thermal structure to house the SCp3 10 MHz resonator. Various oscillator diagrams have been compared (such as Clapp and Hartley-Colpitts) by simulation. The Clapp diagram is considered as being easier for adjustment, and needing fewer components. Design and simulation of thermal structure will be described. In order to decrease the total height of the internal structure to <11 mm, the traditional internal oven is replaced by a quartz plated on one side of the specific board that represents the mass of thermal inertia. All oscillator components and crystals are heated from the other side of this board by a proportional integrated thermostat. This board becomes an "inner ovenised oscillator" and is integrated in an outer temperature stabilized structure. This structure is hermetically sealed to minimize variation induced by humidity variation that interacts as a capacity effect. This second structure is thermally controlled by another proportional integrated thermostat. Thermal and mechanical designs are described in details and main results (ageing, thermal drift, thermal hysteresis .) as long as holdover performances are provided.
Nonlinear Distribution Pattern of Hibernating Bats in Caves along an Elevational Gradient in Mountain (Carpathians, Southern Poland)

Background Thermal gradients along changes in elevation in mountainous environments are reflected by different biotas. Although there have been studies of elevation variation in bat assemblages in summer, winter changes in the same gradients remain unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings The objective of this study was to document changes in the species composition of bats hibernating in caves along a temperate elevational gradient. We studied 70 caves between from 300 m to 1,930 m altitude along a slope of the Carpathian Mountains in southern Poland. We recorded changes in bats, including species richness, abundance, altitudinal distribution and dominance during consecutive winters between 2003 and 2009. Similarity of dominance of faunal structure was assessed by using the Bray-Curtis similarity index. We used the generalised additive model and rarefaction to study the variation in species richness, and generalized additive mixed models to examine the effect of abiotic factors on the qualitative and quantitative structure of bat assemblages. During 351 surveys we recorded 13,856 hibernating bats from 15 species. Species richness peaked around mid-elevation (1,100–1,400 m a.s.l.) with richness declining at both higher and lower elevations. Based on the results of a cluster analysis, we could distinguish among four altitudinal zones that differed in species richness and dominance structure. Conclusions/Significance This is the first study documenting changes in species richness and variation of structure of bats hibernating in caves along an elevational gradient. The most surprising and key finding is the fact that changes in the structure of assemblages of hibernating bats along the altitudinal gradient occurred in jumps, forming zones similar to those observed in the vegetation zones. Moreover, species richness and dominance structure of assemblages of hibernating bats in the mountains depended not only on location above sea level, but also on local geomorphologic conditions which strongly affected the microclimate of the caves.
Response Surface Methodology Study on Optimization of Fish Tofu as Affected by Dietary Fiber Powder from Pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) Albedo and Tapioca Starch

A Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) was adopted in the optimization of fish tofu with the addition of dietary fiber from pomelo albedo (0-3 g/100 g) and tapioca starch (3-9 g/100 g) on textural (hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, and chewiness), functional (water holding capacity [WHC] and cooking gain) and sensory properties. For each response, a second-order polynomial model was developed using multiple linear regression analysis. Applying desirability function method, optimum conditions for fish tofu were found to be pomelo albedo concentration of 2.98 g/100 g and tapioca starch concentration of 6.46 g/100 g. At this optimum point, hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, chewiness, WHC, and cooking gain were found to be 48.31 N, 0.57, 0.67 mm, 24.50 N mm, 1.39 g/100 g and 97.20 g/100 g, respectively. Pomelo albedo and tapioca starch had a notable influence on textural properties, which improved the textural properties at certain levels. Lower addition of pomelo albedo into fish tofu resulted in higher acceptable product with respect to firmness, juiciness and overall quality properties.
Robust and explorative behavior in model-based Bayesian reinforcement learning

This paper considers a tractable simplified problem of model-based Bayesian reinforcement learning (BRL) in terms of real-world samples, computational complexity, and target uncertainties. Robust control and adaptive control are two of the most successful and tractable conventional control design theories against uncertainties in various domain, while they have contrasting ideas. We show that both theories can be explained in a unified manner by approximation model-based BRL algorithms. We propose a forward search tree with robust solutions as a simplified tractable problem, which explicitly includes both theories at the same time. While the structure of the problem has been already seen in a branch and bound method, we provide a novel analysis of the behaviors resulting from it. Through a simple example, we compare the solutions of the proposed problem with the optimal BRL solution and the two conventional approaches, and discuss the interpretation.
KIR3DL1+HLA‐B Bw4
 Ile80
 and KIR2DS1+HLA‐C2 combinations are both associated with ankylosing spondylitis in the Iranian population

Contribution of killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR) and their human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I ligands in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases has been shown in several studies. In this study, the possible association of KIR genes, their known HLA ligands and compound KIR/HLA genotypes with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was assessed. Combined KIR/HLA ligand genotyping was performed by a polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐specific primers assay in 35 Iranian patients with AS, and genotypes were compared to those in 200 healthy individuals. The frequencies of telomeric cluster genes KIR2DL5A, KIR2DS1 and KIR3DS1 were significantly increased in AS patient group (Pc = 0.0082, Pc = 0.0195 and Pc = 0.0328, respectively). Conversely, HLA‐Bw4 ligand (the presence of one or more ‐B Bw4Ile80, ‐B Bw4Thr80 and ‐A Bw4 epitopes) (Pc = 0.0004) and HLA‐B Bw4Ile80 (Pc = 0.053) were less frequent in these patients. Meanwhile, compound KIR/HLA genotype analyses revealed lower frequency of KIR3DL1+HLA‐B Bw4Ile80 (Pc = 0.0343) and higher frequency of KIR2DS1+HLA‐C2 (Pc = 0.0308) combinations in patients with AS than in controls. In addition, the genotypes iKIR+HLA>aKIR+HLA (Pc = 0.0308) and iKIR+HLA>aKIR (Pc = 0.0258) were statistically less common, and genotypes iKIR+HLA=aKIR+HLA (Pc = 0.0081) and iKIR+HLA
Dynamic postural stability during sit‐to‐walk transitions in Parkinson disease patients

In an effort to further our understanding of postural control in Parkinson's disease, we biomechanically evaluated the sit to walk task and its component tasks, sit to stand (STS) and gait initiation (GI) in 12 healthy older adults and 12 persons with Parkinson's disease (PWP). Performance was evaluated utilizing motion capture and two force plates. The major finding of this study was the inability of the PWP to appropriately merge the sequential component tasks (STS and GI) during STW. The PWP rose to nearly full height and had a longer delay between seat‐off and gait initiation (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively) during STW. Additionally, the PWP moved with slower velocities leading to shorter, slower steps and decreased separation of the center of mass and center of pressure. These observed motor sequencing disturbances may be due to a disease related disability or limitations in proprioception, movement speed, muscular strength, and reduced general mobility. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Arterial Wave Reflection Is Elevated in Evening Hemodialysis Patients

Aim. Cardiovascular disease constitutes a major cause of death in patients with chronic kidney diseases and is related to enhanced arterial stiffness. It has been reported that daytime hemodialysis patients show better prognosis than evening hemodialysis patients. Methods. Aortic augmentation index (AI) and radial AI were measured in 20 non-diabetic hemodialysis patients, using SphygmoCor (PWV Medical) and HEM-9010AI (Omron Healthcare) as markers of arterial stiffness. Cardiovascular prognosis was followed for two years. Results. Mean age, blood pressure, pulse rate, and aortic and radial AI were 52 ± 4 y/o, 142 ± 6/74 ± 4 mmHg, 78 ± 4 bpm, 21 ± 2, and 71 ± 4%, respectively, in 10 daytime hemodialysis patients, and they averaged 52 ± 3 y/o, 146 ± 6/76 ± 4 mmHg, 74 ± 3 bpm, 26 ± 2, and 73 ± 3% in 10 evening hemodialysis patients, respectively. Thus, aortic AI was higher in evening hemodialysis patients (p < 0.05). In all, one patient was hospitalized due to cardiovascular complications in daytime hemodialysis patients, as well as three patients from those dialyzed in the evening. Conclusion. Although a larger scale study is required to draw a definite conclusion, our findings suggest that a better prognosis in daytime hemodialysis non-diabetic patients is related to the lower AI.
10 GHz PLL using active shunt-peaked MCML gates and improved frequency acquisition XOR phase detector in 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS

When designing circuits operating at high frequencies, some design techniques are quite useful. Some recommended techniques include using MCML gate structures, simple structures, inductive loads and symmetric gates. By considering all these elements in the design process, a PLL working at speeds above 10 GHz has been realized in standard 0.18/spl mu/m CMOS process. In simulations, the PLL locked onto a reference clock with a period of 94 ps in little over 200 ns. This circuit was implemented and sent to TSMC for fabrication.
Transistors as an Emerging Platform for Portable Amplified Biodetection in Preventive Personalized Point‐of‐Care Testing

The impressive improvement in biomolecular detection has gone from simple chemical methods to sophisticated high throughput laboratory machines capable of accurately measuring the complex biological components and interactions. In the following chap‐ ter, we focus our attention on transistor‐based devices as an emerging platform for easy‐to‐use, portable amplified biodetection for preventive personalized medical appli‐ cations and point‐of‐care testing. Electronic sensing devices comprise biosensors based on field‐effect transistors (bio‐FETs) and organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). Transistor sensing devices can transduce electronic and ionic signals thereby creat‐ ing an effective human‐machine communication channel. In this chapter, we survey the progress done on the development of transistor innovative concepts to examine biological processes, i.e., biosensors integrated with textiles, flexible substrates, and biocompatible materials. Electrochemical and field‐effect transistors can operate at low voltages possibly serving for highly sensitive, selective, and real‐time sensing devices. The exploration of biosensors integrates different disciplines such as organic electronics, biology, electrochemistry, and materials science.