Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization Techniques for Parallel Programming of Embedded Many-Core Computing Platforms

Nowadays many-core computing platforms are widely adopted as a viable solution to accelerate compute-intensive workloads at different scales, from low-cost devices to HPC nodes. It is well established that heterogeneous platforms including a general-purpose host processor and a parallel programmable accelerator have the potential to dramatically increase the peak performance/Watt of computing architectures. However the adoption of these platforms further complicates application development, whereas it is widely acknowledged that software development is a critical activity for the platform design. The introduction of parallel architectures raises the need for programming paradigms capable of effectively leveraging an increasing number of processors, from two to thousands. In this scenario the study of optimization techniques to program parallel accelerators is paramount for two main objectives: first, improving performance and energy efficiency of the platform, which are key metrics for both embedded and HPC systems; second, enforcing software engineering practices with the aim to guarantee code quality and reduce software costs. This thesis presents a set of techniques that have been studied and designed to achieve these objectives overcoming the current state-of-the-art. As a first contribution, we discuss the use of OpenMP tasking as a general-purpose programming model to support the execution of diverse workloads, and we introduce a set of runtime-level techniques to support fine-grain tasks on high-end many-core accelerators (devices with a power consumption greater than 10W). Then we focus our attention on embedded computer vision (CV), with the aim to show how to achieve best performance by exploiting the characteristics of a specific application domain. To further reduce the power consumption of parallel accelerators beyond the current technological limits, we describe an approach based on the principles of approximate computing, which implies modification to the program semantics and proper hardware support at the architectural level.
Pseudonym Schemes in Vehicular Networks: A Survey

Safety-critical applications in cooperative vehicular networks require authentication of nodes and messages. Yet, privacy of individual vehicles and drivers must be maintained. Pseudonymity can satisfy both security and privacy requirements. Thus, a large body of work emerged in recent years, proposing pseudonym solutions tailored to vehicular networks. In this survey, we detail the challenges and requirements for such pseudonym mechanisms, propose an abstract pseudonym lifecycle, and give an extensive overview and categorization of the state of the art in this research area. Specifically, this survey covers pseudonym schemes based on public key and identity-based cryptography, group signatures and symmetric authentication. We compare the different approaches, give an overview of the current state of standardization, and identify open research challenges.
FPGA implementation of generalized modulation for hybrid multilevel inverter with fixed ratio DC link voltage

In this paper, an FPGA implementation of generalized modulation for hybrid multilevel inverter, having fixed ratio dc voltage for each cell, has been proposed. A hybrid inverter consists of number of high voltage H-bridge cells, each operating at the fundamental frequency and a low voltage PWM operated H-bridge cell. The proposed modulation algorithm is independent of the actual dc link voltage of the cells. Also the templates for output voltage of each high voltage cells are generated internally without any need of inverter output voltage feedback for comparison with the reference. Verification of the proposed modulation algorithm is obtained for a seven level hybrid inverter using two cascaded H-bridge cells, both through the simulations and experiments. In experimental verification, the modulation algorithm is implemented using LabVIEW FPGA module programming on reconfigurable data acquisition board.
The interaction between human crowding, colour temperature lighting and shopping motivation on consumer responses and perceptions in a retail environment

Little research is done on the effects of lighting on crowding perceptions in retail environments. This study proposes a theory where crowding perceptions can be reduced by using the correct colour temperature lighting while taking two shopping motivations in consideration. 204 respondents participated in this online study which let them experience a 3D virtual retail environment. The study uses a 2 x 2 x 2 between-subjects experimental design. Two levels of crowding (High vs. Low), two levels of colour temperature lighting (High vs. Low) and two shopping motivations (Fun vs. Run) were tested on the effect of multiple consumer responses and perceptions. The findings in this study revealed significant main effects of human crowding and colour temperature lighting on multiple different consumer responses and perceptions. For instance, a retail environment with low human crowding was perceived as more pleasant than a retail environment with high human crowding. To add on, an interaction effect of colour temperature lighting and shopping motivation on store attractiveness was noticed as run shoppers perceive a retail environment with low (reddish) colour temperature lighting as more attractive than fun shoppers. Concluding, these findings are discussed together with technical limitations and promising implications for retailers.
Subordinate Responses to Leadership: Evidence From an Emerging Market Firm

This paper was conducted to examine the effect of paternalistic and Western leadership style using a sample of 326 subordinates. Due to insufficient number of studies about the type of relationship between subordinates’ responses and leadership type, this study aimed to determine whether paternalistic and Western leadership has a positive impact on managing subordinates. The respondents are employed at a wide variety of firms around Peru, such as Banking, Informational Technology, Commerce, Supply Chain, Construction and Law. A quantile regression was conducted to determine the effects of different types of paternalistic leadership such as benevolent leadership, moral leadership, and authoritarian on subordinate responses. The findings revealed that paternalistic leadership had a positive influence on compliance and gratitude while transformational leadership had a positive influence on gratitude. The survey was limited to Lima due to the current researcher did not have access to subordinate interviews throughout the Latin American Region. The results of this study were relevant to leadership theory and practices that can be implemented in Peruvian firms.
1 Re-examining the selection and acculturation effects on immigrants ’ health : An analysis of overweight among immigrants in France and Spain

Recent studies on immigrants’ health shed light on the importance of selection and acculturation processes, but also point out differences according to the country of origin. We study how differences in overweight between natives and immigrants can vary according to birthplace, country of arrival, acculturation, and socioeconomic status. Based on national health interview surveys in Spain and France, we use probit estimations and a Blinder-Oaxaca type of decomposition adequate for binary data model to distinguish the part of the overweight difference that is explained by individual characteristics from the part explained by differences in coefficients. Our results show a ‘healthy immigrant effect’ for men in Spain but a higher likelihood of being overweight among women immigrants regardless of the country of arrival. Our results suggest that birthplace and acculturation as measured by citizenship status are the main explanation for these effects. Our decomposition results reveal that the difference of overweight prevalence between women natives and immigrants is mainly explained by differences in coefficients indicating a specific pattern of immigrant overweight.
On the emergence and diffusion of technological capabilities and the theory of the MNC

This paper intersects extant theories of the MNC with empirically observed patterns in the intra-company emergence and diffusion of technological capabilities. It draws upon a database containing the complete patenting history of 24 Swedish multinationals over the 1890-2008 period, which allows for the identification of when and where in the multinational organization new technological capabilities first emerged, and when and to where they subsequently diffused into other units of the multinational organization. The results reveal an increasing share of foreign-introduced technological capabilities, as well as distinctive and differentiated diffusion patterns across headquarters, greenfield subsidiaries, and acquired units in the MNC group. We conclude that a theory of the MNC should recognize the shift towards more equal conditions for the generation of new technology within the multinational organization, but that within this overall development some conspicuous inequalities in intra-company capability diffusion remain to be accounted for.
SMALL SIGNAL MODELLING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PUSH-PULL BASED INVERTER WITH PARASITICS

Original scientific research The proposed PWM switch modelling technique is a simple method for modelling push-pull based single phase inverters operating in continuous conduction mode. In the design process of converters it is desirable to assess as many critical design parameters and parasitic effects by simulation as possible, since the control is hard to tune after fabrication. The main advantage of this method is its versatility and simple implementation. Furthermore, the introduced model also includes parasitic elements of the components to better estimate the converter behaviour. The resulting circuit is a time averaged model where all currents and voltages correspond to their averaged values. The validity of this model is verified by the given experimental results for a specified design example. This modelling technique helps to design the inverter effectively and better choosing the controller component values to achieve a good dynamic response. Finally, current mode controlled push-pull converter is simulated and compared with proposed modelling technique where a good accordance between them is revealed. Simulation analysis is done by Matlab 9 and Psim 6 software. The overall modelling estimation error was lower than 5 %.
Preventability of death in a medical ICU in a developing country

On November 15th 1990, an Alitalia flight from Milan, crashed into a wooded hill while attempting to land at Zurich's Kloten airport. The plane was torn to shreds - various parts strewn all over the hilly terrain between the villages of Stadel and Weiach. There were 40 passengers and 6 crew on board and none of them survived.
Display Content Change Rate Analysis for Power Saving in Transmissive Panels

Energy conservation to protract battery life is a major challenge for sustained richer user experience in mobile devices. This paper presents Content Change Rate Coefficient (CCRC) and image Color Distribution Coefficient (CDC) based method to govern backlight scaling and image luminosity adjustment to reduce power consumption in backlight module. The existing methods intending to achieve similar results have significant shortcomings like inter-frame brightness distortion, flickering effects, clipping artifacts, color distortion. These problems are addressed in proposed technique and user's visual perception is not compromised while ensuring image fidelity (less than 6.2% degradation) and reduces nearly 80mA current consumption. Proposed method derives Aggressiveness Coefficient from color distribution and content change rate to address above problems. Method is prototyped on Samsung Galaxy Tab AS and Galaxy Mega2 and experimental results clearly show 16% reduction in current consumption and 88% reduction in flickering artifacts, which is active phone usage time getting extended by ~1hr for an average usage of 20hrs.
Development and validation of the Emotional Self-Awareness Questionnaire: a measure of emotional intelligence.

This study examined the psychometric characteristics of the Emotional Self-Awareness Questionnaire (ESQ), a self-report measure of emotional intelligence. The ESQ, Emotional Intelligence Scale, and measures of alexithymia, positive negative affect, personality, cognitive ability, life satisfaction, and leadership aspirations were administered to 1,406 undergraduate psychology students. The ESQ was reduced from 118 to 60 items via factor and reliability analyses, retaining 11 subscales and a normal score distribution with a reliability of . 92. The ESQ had significant positive correlations with the Emotional Intelligence Test and positive affect, significant negative correlations with alexithymia and negative affect, and an insignificant correlation with cognitive ability. The ESQ accounted for 35% of the variance in life satisfaction over and above the Big Five, cognitive ability, and self-esteem, and demonstrated incremental validity in explaining GPA and leadership aspirations. The significance of emotional intelligence as a unique contributor to psychological well-being and performance, and applications for the ESQ in assessment and outcome research in couple and family therapy are discussed.
Real-Time Pose-Invariant Face Recognition Using the Efficient Second-Order Minimization and the Pose Transforming Matrix

We propose a real-time pose-invariant face recognition algorithm from a gallery of frontal images only. (i) We modified the second-order minimization method for the active appearance model (AAM). This allows the AAM to have the ability of correct convergence with little loss of frame rate. (ii) We proposed a pose transforming matrix that can eliminate warping artifacts of the warped face image from AAM fitting. This makes it possible to train a neural network as the face recognizer with one frontal face image of each person in the gallery set. (iii) We propose a simple method for pose recognition by using neural networks to select the proper pose transforming matrix. The proposed algorithm was evaluated on a set of 2000 facial images of 10 people (200 images for each person obtained at various poses), achieving a great improvement in recognition.
Time-dependent diffusion tensor changes of optic nerve in patients with indirect traumatic optic neuropathy

Background Indirect traumatic optic neuropathy (ITON) is a devastating cause of permanent visual loss. Axonal degeneration, the characteristic pathological change of ITON, cannot be assessed by conventional imaging. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been widely used as a sensitive non-invasive imaging technique to obtain information on axonal integrity. Purpose To study time-dependent changes in ITON patients with DTI and to provide imaging evidence for clinical diagnosis and therapy. Material and Methods We enrolled 28 subjects with unilateral ITON who underwent detailed ocular examinations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. The differences between injured optic nerve (ON) and contralateral ON were tested. The patients were divided into three groups based on time (from injury to examination). Groups 1, 2, and 3 corresponded to the time taken from injury to examination: <7 days, 7–30 days, and >30 days, respectively. DT magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) differences among the groups were compared, including the relationship between diffusion parameters and mean thicknesses of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) in the macular area. Results Compared with contralateral ON, we observed reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) of injured nerves in group 2. Reduced FA and decreased axial diffusivity (λ//) and increased radial diffusivity (λ┴) and mean diffusivity (MD) of injured nerves were observed in group 3. The mean FA value of injured nerves showed a progressive decreasing trend, and mean λ┴ value exhibited a progressive increasing trend. For injured eyes, the MD and λ┴ increases strongly correlated with the decreased mean thicknesses of RNFL and GCC. Conversely, FA was significantly associated with mean RNFL thickness. Conclusion DT-MRI parameters could be useful biomarkers in detecting ON changes in ITON patients.
Home-based Businesses: An Exploration of Business Model Heterogeneity

Purpose Home-based business (HBB) literature identifies variation in the sector, such as differences in technology use, knowledge capital. It also asserts HBB may have specific value for specific groups of business starters. Despite this diversity, HBB is treated as one conceptualisation, as a single business model. Consequently, our knowledge is based on disparate studies with different research agendas and results are inconsistent and sometimes contradictory. This paper outlines a means by which the heterogeneity of HBB can be revealed via a framework within which diversity might be viewed. Method Largely conceptual, this paper draws from a study of 30 HBB owners to test the framework using the business model dimension of in or from home and the distinguishing feature example of knowledge. The empirical work was qualitative, based on interviews. Findings We find variation in HBB types and distinct business models, exposing heterogeneity. The framework provides a means by which the reality of HBB may be better revealed. Value Value lies in the provision of a means by which we might view the diversity of HBB. Using the framework, different research agendas may be serviced and afford sight of issues that affect HBB as they vary by business model. This is of value for research clarity, and also for informing policy and support of small businesses as the needs of different types of HBB will vary.
Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Followed by Radical Hysterectomy in FIGO Stage IIIB Cervical Cancer: Feasibility, Complications, and Clinical Outcome

Objective: To demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of preoperative chemoradiation followed by radical surgery in a consecutive series of patients with stage IIIB cervical cancer. Methods: Between October 1997 and July 2007, 39 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIIB cervical cancer were consecutively staged and treated at the Catholic University of Rome and Campobasso and at the National Cancer Institute of Milan. Radical surgery was performed 5 to 6 weeks after the end of the cisplatinum-based neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Results: Clinical responses were observed in 35 patients (92.1%): 6 (15.8%) complete and 29 (76.3.8%) partial. Radical surgery was performed in 35 patients (89.7%). According to Chassagne classification, we observed 7 (20.0%) grade 3, 17 (48.6%) grade 2, and 28 (80%) grade 1 surgical complications. At pathological examination, 12 patients (34.3%) showed complete response, 7 patients (20.0%) had only a microscopic disease, 8 patients (22.8%) had a partial response, and the last 8 patients (22.8%) had no change in disease. We registered 11 (31.4%) operative and 4 (11.4%) early postoperative complications. Median follow-up was 33 months (range, 3-80 months). The percentages of 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 67.6% and 70.0%, respectively. Patients with complete response and microscopic disease showed better prognosis than patients with partial response and no change (3-year disease-free survival, 100% vs 31%; and 3-year overall survival, 100% vs 39%). Conclusions: Chemoradiation followed by radical hysterectomy could be administered in patients with stage IIIB cervical cancer with an acceptable rate of complications and with a survival outcome similar to that of chemoradiotherapy, allowing the assessment of pathological response with its implication on clinical outcomes.
The effect of front desk employees' characteriestics on the first impression of customers and customers' satisfaction

Front desk employees are the face as well as one of the most important departments of a hotel, and their performance is central to customers’ first impressions of the hotel. Moreover, customers’ first impressions will influence their satisfaction with the check-in experience and, furthermore, with the entire stay at the hotel. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the service providers' characteristics that affect customers’ first impressions. Further, this study examines how front desk employees’ first impressions influence customer satisfaction with the check-in experience. This study used a survey that included general demographic characteristics, after which factor analysis and linear regression were conducted for the analysis. The results of this study show that competence has a significant effect on negative first impression, that friendliness & service attitude has a significant effect on positive first impression, and that both positive and negative first impression have a significant effect on customer satisfaction with the check-in experience. The findings from this study are expected to contribute to the development of management training for new hotel employees in the future.
Streptolysin O: Sedimentation Coefficient and Molecular Weight Determinations

The sedimentation coefficient of streptolysin O as determined by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation is 3.7S. An approximate molecular weight of 60,500 was calculated from the sedimentation velocity, and a similar value was obtained by Sephadex gel filtration. There was no measurable difference in the sedimentation coefficient of streptolysin O in either the active or reversibly inactive forms, indicating that there were at most only minor conformational differences between the two forms.
Intracortical facilitation and inhibition after transcranial magnetic stimulation in conscious humans.

1. Changes in excitability of the motor cortex induced by a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were examined by simultaneous recording of the evoked corticospinal volley and the compound surface electromyographic (EMG) response in the biceps brachii following paired‐pulse TMS in five conscious subjects. The effects of a varying interstimulus interval (ISI) and a conditioning stimulus intensity were also investigated. 2. A submotor threshold conditioning stimulus inhibited the test responses at ISIs of 2‐5 ms. A supramotor threshold conditioning stimulus inhibited the test responses at ISIs of 100‐200 ms. Both of these inhibitions were prominent in late I waves. 3. There was a facilitation of the test responses at an ISI of 25 ms that was prominent in late I waves. The facilitation evoked by the supramotor threshold conditioning stimulus was more prominent than that evoked by the submotor threshold conditioning stimulus. 4. It is concluded that single TMS induced the triphasic changes of the motor cortex excitability in conscious humans that resulted in changes in EMG responses following paired TMS.