Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OpenMP Directive Extension for BlackFin 561 Dual Core Processor

Many researchers and vendors are exploiting the increasing number of transistors to build chip multiprocessors (CMPs) by partitioning a chip into multiple simple ILP cores. As in traditional multiprocessors, CMPs extract thread-level parallelism (TLP) from programs by running multiple independent program segments, i.e., threads, in parallel. Currently CMPs are used widely in high performance servers, and even in embedded systems. In this paper, we present an extension of the OpenMP shared directive for performance optimization on BlackFin 561 (ADSPBF561) dual core processors. In order to support memory consistency between multiple cores, many architectures have been proposed. On the dual core processor, like ADSP-BF561, each core has its own private L1 cache, and a shared L2 cache. In order to execute multithreaded parallel programs, we need to consider carefully where to allocate shared variables on targeted memory architecture. We could improve the speedup by up to 107% and reduce the energy consumption by up to 108% in our measured benchmarks with respect to no use of our extension.
Low-delay 16 kb/s Wideband Speech Coder with Fast Search Methods

In this paper, a low delay 16 kb/s wideband speech coder with a buffering delay of 1.25 ms is introduced. This coder is basically inspired from the G.728 LD-CELP standard for narrowband speech signals. Our main goal is to reduce the implementation complexity of our wideband G728  like coder, which is mainly due to the search of the optimal excitation (gain-shape) in codebook. For this reason an algebraic codebook is proposed and an exhaustive optimal search and suboptimal full position and Joint Position and Amplitude Search techniques are implemented. Objective and subjective measures on a large corpus of a testing speech database show that the JPAS (Joint Position and Amplitude Search) multistage search technique proposed recently can yield to a very important reduction of coder computational load, without decreasing the perceived quality of wideband speech signals compared to other search techniques.
Visual media retargeting

The increasing variety of commonly used display devices, especially mobile devices, requires adapting visual media to different resolutions and aspect ratios - a process called "retargeting. " The media retargeting problem is further accentuated by the explosion of image and video content on the web. This course presents a comparative overview of the latest research in visual-media retargeting. It focuses on content-aware approaches, which, contrary to traditional scaling and cropping, adapt to the salient information within the image or video and rescale the content while preserving visually important information. Topics include: •Algorithmic details and practical considerations of the retargeting pipeline, including its two main parts (saliency estimation and resizing operators). •Recent trends in retargeting operators, namely discrete graph-based approaches, also known as seam carving. •Continuous methods that operate by image and video warping. •Temporally coherent video retargeting and multi-operator frameworks. The course illuminates the theoretical foundations and practical issues involved in media retargeting, and provides attendees a comprehensive understanding of the state of the art. It includes many live demos of the various resizing techniques.
An introduction to argumentation semantics

Abstract This paper presents an overview on the state of the art of semantics for abstract argumentation, covering both some of the most influential literature proposals and some general issues concerning semantics definition and evaluation. As to the former point, the paper reviews Dung's original notions of complete, grounded, preferred, and stable semantics, as well as subsequently proposed notions like semi-stable, ideal, stage, and CF2 semantics, considering both the extension-based and the labelling-based approaches with respect to their definitions. As to the latter point, the paper presents an extensive set of general properties for semantics evaluation and analyzes the notions of argument justification and skepticism. The final part of the paper is focused on the discussion of some relationships between semantics properties and domain-specific requirements.
Utilization of Antihypertensives, Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and Hormones in Alzheimer Disease

This study explores the longitudinal relationship between patient characteristics and use of 4 drug classes (antihypertensives, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and hormones) that showed significant changes in use rates over time in patients with Alzheimer disease. Patient/caregiver-reported prescription medication usage was categorized by drug class for 201 patients from the Predictors Study. Patient characteristics included use of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine, function, cognition, living situation, baseline age, and sex. Assessment interval, year of study entry, and site were controlled for. Before adjusting for covariates, useage increased for antihypertensives (47.8% to 62.2%), antipsychotics (3.5% to 27.0%), and antidepressants (32.3% to 40.5%); use of hormones decreased (19.4% to 5.4%). After controlling for patient characteristics, effects of time on the use of antidepressants were no longer significant. Antihypertensive use was associated with poorer functioning, concurrent use of memantine, and older age. Antipsychotic use was associated with poorer functioning and poorer cognition. Antidepressant use was associated with younger age, poorer functioning, and concurrent use of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Hormone use was associated with being female and younger age. Findings suggest accurate modeling of the Alzheimer disease treatment paradigm for certain subgroups of patients should include antihypertensives and antipsychotics in addition to cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine.
Structure and dynamics of dilute polymer solutions under shear flow via nonequilibrium molecular dynamics

We present and discuss results obtained by an extensive nonequilibrium molecular dynamics computer simulation study of polymer solutions under shear, where the chain consists of N beads connected by a finitely extendable nonlinear elastic (FENE) spring force and the solvent is explicitly taken into account. Various scaling laws are extracted from the data which allow one to predict the qualitativeand to certain extent also quantitativestructural and rheological behavior of polymer solutions under good solvent conditions. For most quantities, the results drawn from simulation are compared with experimental data and theoretical predictions which are based on similar models (e.g., harmonic bond potentials or Brownian dynamics methods). Specifically, and in contrast to common theoretical approaches, the simulation yield information about a set of different but characteristic relaxation times, which determine the rheological and structural behavior (for example, flow birefringence, structure factor, rotational.
HIV-1 Promoter Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Are Associated with Clinical Disease Severity

The large majority of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) markers of disease progression/severity previously identified have been associated with alterations in host genetic and immune responses, with few studies focused on viral genetic markers correlate with changes in disease severity. This study presents a cross-sectional/longitudinal study of HIV-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) contained within the viral promoter or long terminal repeat (LTR) in patients within the Drexel Medicine CNS AIDS Research and Eradication Study (CARES) Cohort. HIV-1 LTR SNPs were found to associate with the classical clinical disease parameters CD4+ T-cell count and log viral load. They were found in both defined and undefined transcription factor binding sites of the LTR. A novel SNP identified at position 108 in a known COUP (chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter)/AP1 transcription factor binding site was significantly correlated with binding phenotypes that are potentially the underlying cause of the associated clinical outcome (increase in viral load and decrease in CD4+ T-cell count).
A BIOMETRIC WITH CRYPTOGRAPHY FOR REMOTE VOTING SYSTEM

Abstract - In this modern world everything is possible and fast. In this paper we propose a multifaceted online e-voting system. The proposed system is capable to manage through internet with multiple scopes and focus on using evidence for making access control decisions in present computing environments. To protect the election accuracy, it is necessary to have an accurate electoral roll of eligible voters. The main goal of this work is it supports a remote voter registration scheme that increases the accuracy of the current systems. In this scheme the voter identification is carried out by means of combining cryptographic and biometrics techniques. This work implements the evidence-based approach on web service and it creates an ecosystem in which evidence providers can flourish.
John von Neumann Institute for Computing Numerical Simulations of Strongly Correlated Electron Systems

c © 2006 by John von Neumann Institute for Computing Permission to make digital or hard copies of portions of this work for personal or classroom use is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. To copy otherwise requires prior specific permission by the publisher mentioned above.
Syringa oblata Lindl. Aqueous Extract Is a Potential Biofilm Inhibitor in S. suis

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a zoonotic pathogen that causes severe disease symptoms in pigs and humans. Syringa oblata Lindl. distributed in the middle latitudes of Eurasia and North America were proved as the most development potential of Chinese Medicine. In this study, biofilm formation by S. suis decreased after growth with 1/2 MIC, 1/4 MIC, or 1/8 MIC of Syringa oblata Lindl. aqueous extract and rutin. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the potential effect of Syringa oblata Lindl. aqueous extract and rutin against biofilm formation by S. suis. Using iTRAQ technology, comparative proteomic analyses was performed at two conditions: 1/2 MIC of Syringa oblata Lindl. aqueous extract treated and non-treated cells. The results revealed the existence of 28 proteins of varying amounts. We found that the majority of the proteins were related to cell growth and metabolism. We also found that Syringa oblata Lindl. Aqueous extract affected the synthesis enzymes. In summary, Syringa oblata Lindl. aqueous extract might be used to inhibit the biofilm formation effectively by S. suis, and the active ingredients of the Syringa oblate Lindl. aqueous extract is rutin. The content of rutin is 9.9 ± 0.089 mg/g dry weight.
Comparison of death anxiety and state-trait anxiety levels in mothers of disabled children and non-disabled children

Correspondence: Saziye Senem Basgul, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Havaalani Yolu Uzeri, 8. km. , Sahinbey, Gaziantep, Turkey Phone: +90 212 543 65 65/2731 E-mail: senembasgul@gmail.com Received: March 12, 2018; Revised: March 22, 2018; Accepted: November 12, 2018 ABSTRACT Objective: This study aims to investigate the death anxiety and state-trait anxiety levels of mothers of disabled children and compare them with mothers of non-disabled children. Data obtained from this study will contribute to the planning of services provided to families of children with disabilities. Method: The sample group consisted of 80 mothers of disabled children attending rehabilitation and special education centers in the province of Gaziantep and 78 mothers of non-disabled children, 158 mothers in total. The study used a convenience sampling method. A sociodemographic information form, Abdel-Khalek’s Arabic Scale of Death Anxiety (ASDA), and the StateTrait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used as assessment tools. Results: The results of this study indicate that mothers of disabled children have statistically significantly higher scores on the ASDA subscale of “fear related to other situations reminding death” than mothers of non-disabled children. Similarly, mothers of disabled children have significantly higher state and trait anxiety levels. Conclusion: Mothers of disabled children have higher death anxiety and state-trait anxiety levels than mothers of non-disabled children. These results suggest that having a disabled child increases mothers’ psychological burden. We may assume that psychological support provided for mothers with disabled children will improve the quality of care they give to their children and consequently increase the quality of life of children and family.
Evaluation of the THRESHOLD trainer for inspiratory muscle endurance training: comparison with the weighted plunger method.

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been shown to enhance exercise performance. The weighted plunger (WP) system of inspiratory threshold loading is the most commonly used method of IMT, but is expensive and cumbersome. We have evaluated a commercially available portable spring-loaded IMT device, the THRESHOLD trainer. The WP and THRESHOLD trainer devices were evaluated with their opening pressures set, in random order, at 10, 20, 30 and 40 cmH2O. Using an airpump, pressure at the valve inlet was recorded at the point at which the valve opened, and at airflow rates of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 L.min-1. Ten THRESHOLD trainers were then compared using the same opening pressures and airflow rates. Finally, 10 patients with stable chronic heart failure (CHF) inspired, in random order, through the WP and THRESHOLD trainer for 4 min each. The pressure-time product (PTP) was calculated for each 4 min period, to compare the work performed on inspiring through each device. The mean measured opening pressures for the WP set at 10, 20, 30 and 40 cmH2O, were 9.0, 19.3, 27.9 and 39.2 cmH2O, respectively, and there was little change over the range of flow tested. Corresponding values for the THRESHOLD trainer were 7.5, 16.9, 26.2 and 39.1 cmH2O, with the pressure being closer to the set pressure as flow increased to that seen in clinical practice. The 10 different trainers tested performed very similarly to one another. Work performed (as measured by PTP) on inspiring through the WP and THRESHOLD trainer was not significantly different. Although less accurate than the weighted plunger, the THRESHOLD trainer is an inexpensive device of consistent quality. In a clinical setting it would be a satisfactory option for inspiratory muscle training in most patients, but less so in patients with very low inspiratory flow rates.
Research on the improved frequent predicate algorithm in the data mining of criminal cases

In order to find out the common features and general patterns in criminal cases, a new improved frequent predicate algorithm was proposed, with which multi-dimension association rules were drawn according to the minimum support and minimum confidence. This new algorithm was applied in the data mining model of criminal cases of Dalian Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Experiences of primary care professionals providing healthcare to recently arrived migrants: a qualitative study

Objectives The main objectives of the study were to explore the experiences of primary care professionals providing care to recent migrants in a superdiverse city and to elicit barriers and facilitators to meeting migrants' care needs. This paper focuses on a strong emergent theme: participants' descriptions and understandings of creating a fit between patients and practices. Design An exploratory, qualitative study based on the thematic analysis of semistructured interviews. Setting and participants A purposive sample of 10 practices. We interviewed 6 general practitioners, 5 nurses and 6 administrative staff; those based at the same practice opted to be interviewed together. 10 interviewees were from an ethnic minority background; some discussed their own experiences of migration. Results Creating a fit between patients and practice was complex and could be problematic. Some participants defined this in a positive way (reaching out, creating rapport) while others also focused on ways in which patients did not fit in, for example, different expectations or lack of medical records. A small but vocal minority put the responsibility to fit in on to migrant patients. Some participants believed that practice staff and patients sharing a language could contribute to achieving a fit but others outlined the disadvantages of over-reliance on language concordance. A clearly articulated, team-based strategy to create bridges between practice and patients was often seen as preferable. Conclusions Although participants agreed that a fit between patients and practice was desirable, some aimed to adapt to the needs of recently arrived migrants, while others thought that it was the responsibility of migrants to adapt to practice needs; a few viewed migrant patients as a burden to the system. Practices wishing to improve fit might consider developing strategies such as introducing link workers and other ‘bridging’ people; however, they could also aim to foster a general stance of openness to diversity.
Transcriptome Profiling of Caco-2 Cancer Cell Line following Treatment with Extracts from Iodine-Biofortified Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Although iodization of salt is the most common method used to obtain iodine-enriched food, iodine deficiency disorders are still a global health problem and profoundly affect the quality of human life. Iodine is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which are crucial regulators of human metabolism, cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis and have been reported to be involved in carcinogenesis. In this study, for the first time, we evaluated the effect of iodine-biofortified lettuce on transcriptomic profile of Caco-2 cancer cell line by applying the Whole Human Genome Microarray assay. We showed 1326 differentially expressed Caco-2 transcripts after treatment with iodine-biofortified (BFL) and non-fortified (NFL) lettuce extracts. We analysed pathways, molecular functions, biological processes and protein classes based on comparison between BFL and NFL specific genes. Iodine, which was expected to act as a free ion (KI-NFL) or at least in part to be incorporated into lettuce macromolecules (BFL), differently regulated pathways of numerous transcription factors leading to different cellular effects. In this study we showed the inhibition of Caco-2 cells proliferation after treatment with BFL, but not potassium iodide (KI), and BFL-mediated induction of mitochondrial apoptosis and/or cell differentiation. Our results showed that iodine-biofortified plants can be effectively used by cells as an alternative source of this trace element. Moreover, the observed differences in action of both iodine sources may suggest a potential of BFL in cancer treatment.
Understanding structural plasticity in the bilingual brain: The Dynamic Restructuring Model

Abstract Research on the effects of bi- and multi-lingualism on brain structure has so far yielded variable patterns. Although it cannot be disputed that learning and using additional languages restructures grey (cortical, subcortical and cerebellar) and white matter in the brain, both increases and reductions in regional volume and diffusivity have been reported. This paper revisits the available evidence from simultaneous and sequential bilinguals, multilinguals, interpreters, bimodal bilinguals, children, patients and healthy older adults from the perspective of experience-based neuroplasticity. The Dynamic Restructuring Model (DRM) is then presented: a three-stage model accounting for, and reinterpreting, all the available evidence by proposing a time-course for the reported structural adaptations, and by suggesting that these adaptations are dynamic and depend on the quantity and quality of the language learning and switching experience. This is followed by suggestions for future directions for the emerging field of bilingualism-induced neuroplasticity.
A Parallel K-Means Clustering Algorithm with MPI

Clustering is one of the most popular methods for data analysis, which is prevalent in many disciplines such as image segmentation, bioinformatics, pattern recognition and statistics etc. The most popular and simplest clustering algorithm is K-means because of its easy implementation, simplicity, efficiency and empirical success. However, the real-world applications produce huge volumes of data, thus, how to efficiently handle of these data in an important mining task has been a challenging and significant issue. In addition, MPI (Message Passing Interface) as a programming model of message passing presents high performances, scalability and portability. Motivated by this, a parallel K-means clustering algorithm with MPI, called MKmeans, is proposed in this paper. The algorithm enables applying the clustering algorithm effectively in the parallel environment. Experimental study demonstrates that MKmeans is relatively stable and portable, and it performs with low overhead of time on large volumes of data sets.
Children with special needs and the right to education

In Australia, the vast majority of children with special needs are educated in mainstream schools and mainstream classrooms. The Education Acts in the states and territories outline the kinds of services that can be made available to children with special needs in schools, but they stop short of providing a right to accessible or appropriate education for children. This is in direct contrast to the situation in the United States and the United Kingdom, where there are legal duties imposed on schools to cater for children's special needs, and children and parents have legal rights in relation to educational access, accommodation, consultation and planning. In Australia, the only course of redress for children whose needs have not been met by their education provider is a discrimination claim, which is not always appropriate or effective. This article examines discrimination claims against primary school on behalf of children with disabilities in Australia, concluding that rights to inclusive education should be enshrined in education legislation.