Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of on-chip networks using deflection routing

Deflection routing is being proposed for networks on chips since it is simple and adaptive. A deflection switch can be much smaller and faster than a wormhole or virtual cut-through switch. A deflection-routed network has three orthogonal characteristics: topology, routing algorithm and deflection policy. In this paper we evaluate deflection networks with different topologies such as mesh, torus and Manhattan Street Network, different routing algorithms such as random, dimension XY, delta XY and minimum deflection, as well as different deflection policies such as non-priority, weighted priority and straight-through policies. Our results suggest that the performance of a deflection network is more sensitive to its topology than the other two parameters. It is less sensitive to its routing algorithm, but a routing algorithm should be minimal. A priority-based deflection policy that uses global and history-related criterion can achieve both better average-case and worst-case performance than a non-priority or priority policy that uses local and stateless criterion. These findings are important since they can guide designers to make right decisions on the deflection network architecture, for instance, selecting a routing algorithm or deflection policy which has potentially low cost and high speed for hardware implementation.
A fused side-adhered optical fiber coupler based on side-polished fibers

Referring to the invalidity of fused tapering method in fabricating optical fiber couplers based on special fibers,such as photonic crystal fiber(PCF) and elliptical core polarization maintaining fiber(ECPMF),a new fabrication method of fused side-adhered(FSA) coupling based on a pair of side-polished fibers is proposed.Numerical model is set up and simulation analysis is performed to optimize the key parameters of side polished fiber,like the remaining thickness in the polished area.Using the proposed method and the optimized parameters,we conduct experiments to fabricate a single mode fiber coupler and characterize its performance.The results show that fiber couplers with various coupling rate from 0% to 90% can be available with the FSA method,excess loss and output ports wavelength dependence loss are less than 0.5 dB,and 1 dB,respectively,and the coupled port output polarization dependence loss is 0.3 dB at wavelength of 1 310 nm and 0.45 dB at 1 550 nm.This paper demonstrates the feasibility of the FSA method we propose,and supplies theoretical and technical basis in fabricating optical couplers based on special fibers for special requirements.
Multiobjectivization for classifier parameter tuning

We present a multiobjectivization approach to the parameter tuning of RBF networks and multilayer perceptrons. The approach works by adding two new objectives -- maximization of kappa statistic and minimization of root mean square error -- to the originally single-objective problem of minimizing the classification error of the model. We show the performance of the multiobjectivization approach on five datasets.
Fusing 2D and 3D clues for 3D tracking using visual and range data

3D tracking of rigid objects is required in many applications, such as robotics or augmented reality (AR). The availability of accurate pose estimates increases reliability in robotic applications and decreases jitter in AR scenarios. Pure vision-based 3D trackers require either manual initializations or offline training stages, whereas trackers relying on pure depth sensors are not suitable for AR applications. In this paper, an automated 3D tracking algorithm, which is based on fusion of vision and depth sensors via Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), which inherits a novel observation weighting method, is proposed. Moreover, novel feature selection and tracking schemes based on intensity and shape index map (SIM) data of 3D point cloud, increases 2D and 3D tracking performance significantly. The proposed method requires neither manual initialization of pose nor offline training, while enabling highly accurate 3D tracking. The accuracy of the proposed method is tested against a number of conventional techniques and superior performance is observed.
Elongation factor 1-alpha sequences alone do not assist in resolving the position of the acoela within the metazoa.

Following years of debate, and thanks largely to molecular systematic studies, the long-held idea that the phylum Platyhelminthes is the most basal branch of the bilaterian Metazoa has been widely abandoned (e.g., Haszprunar 1996; Carranza, Baguna, and Riutort 1997; Hausdorf 2000). This new status quo has been upset by a recent paper that has suggested that the Platyhelminthes are polyphyletic and that a single ‘‘flatworm’’ clade, the Acoela, is the most basal extant bilaterian lineage distinct from the other platyhelminths (Ruiz-Trillo et al. 1999). The potential importance of the acoels being confirmed as the outgroup to all other bilaterians is that they would then be instrumental in determining the character states of the ancestral Bilateria through outgroup comparison and thus greatly further our understanding of the evolution of the animals. The currently recognized outgroup—the diploblasts—are generally too evolutionarily and phenotypically distant for this sort of comparison to be informative. Although recent data support the molecular results (Henry, Martindale, and Boyer 2000), some systematists distrust the findings based on 18S rDNA and have claimed that long-branch attraction (LBA; Felsenstein 1978) affected the final analysis of these data (e.g., Adoutte et al. 2000). Furthermore, according to the same 18S rDNA study (Ruiz-Trillo et al. 1999), the supposed sister group of the acoels, the nemertodermatids (Smith and Tyler 1985; Smith, Tyler, and Rieger 1986; Tyler 2001), do not unite with the acoels at the base of the Bilateria, but instead fall within the turbellarian flatworms. This has suggested that the more controversial position of their sister group, the acoels, was erroneous. Recently, it has been proposed that the published putative nemertodermatid sequence used by Ruiz-Trillo et al. (1999) (Nemertinoides elongatus, accession number U70083; Carranza, Baguna, and Riutort 1997) that grouped among the Rhabditophora may have been misidentified (Jondelius et al. 2000). Berney, Pawloski, and Zaninetti (2000) directly contradict the basal position of the Acoela based on
"Safe Marriages" for Thalassaemia Prevention: A KAP Survey in Sri Lanka

Thalassemia is the commonest single gene disorder in Sri Lanka. Government sponsored palliative care accumulate caseload leading to escalation of the health budget. Therefore prevention has become mandatory. Lack of facilities for antenatal diagnosis and the legal sanctions of abortions kept the nation away from adopting the policy of terminating the affected pregnancies which is the wellestablished method of thalassemia prevention in many parts of the world. National thalassemia prevention program adopted a policy of “safe marriage” that is defined as a marriage where at least one of the partners in a couple is not a carrier for thalassemia. This survey was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of the project after one year. Results show very poor uptake in spite of free facilities available for screening and counseling and reasonable awareness about the concept among the public. More intensive monitoring and strengthening of education programs are recommended. Establishing and integrating the thalassemia prevention program in the excising health care delivery should be intensified while considering the need for implementing a compulsory screening and counseling program in the country.
Distinguishing Among Potential Mechanisms of Singleton Suppression

Previous research has revealed that people can suppress salient stimuli that might otherwise capture visual attention. The present study tests between 3 possible mechanisms of visual suppression. According to first-order feature suppression models, items are suppressed on the basis of simple feature values. According to second-order feature suppression models, items are suppressed on the basis of local discontinuities within a given feature dimension. According to global-salience suppression models, items are suppressed on the basis of their dimension-independent salience levels. The current study distinguished among these models by varying the predictability of the singleton color value. If items are suppressed by virtue of salience alone, then it should not matter whether the singleton color is predictable. However, evidence from probe processing and eye movements indicated that suppression is possible only when the color values are predictable. Moreover, the ability to suppress salient items developed gradually as participants gained experience with the feature that defined the salient distractor. These results are consistent with first-order feature suppression models, and are inconsistent with the other models of suppression. In other words, people primarily suppress salient distractors on the basis of their simple features and not on the basis of salience per se.
THE EFFECT OF SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR ( SSRI ) TREATMENT ON MEAN PLATELET VOLUME IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER ( MDD ) PATIENTS

FATIH DEMIRCAN1, NEVZAT GÖZEL2, FARUK KILINÇ3, MUSA YILMAZ4, EMIR DÖNDER5, MURAD ATMACA5 1Private Cagri Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine, Elazig 2Firat Medical Faculty Department of Internal Medicine, Elazig 3Dicle University Medical Faculty Department of Internal Medicine, Diyarbakir 4Firat Medical Faculty Department of Biochemistry, Elazig 5Firat Medical Department of of Psychiatry, Turkey
Statistical Analyses of Named Entity Disambiguation Benchmarks

In the last years, various tools for automatic semantic annotation of textual information have emerged. The main challenge of all approaches is to solve ambiguity of natural language and assign unique semantic entities according to the present context. To compare the different approaches a ground truth namely an annotated benchmark is essential. But, besides the actual disambiguation approach the achieved evaluation results are also dependent on the characteristics of the benchmark dataset and the expressiveness of the dictionary applied to determine entity candidates. This paper presents statistical analyses and mapping experiments on different benchmarks and dictionaries to identify characteristics and structure of the respective datasets.
Herd effect from influenza vaccination in non-healthcare settings: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials and observational studies

Influenza vaccination programmes are assumed to have a herd effect and protect contacts of vaccinated persons from influenza virus infection. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Global Health and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to March 2014 for studies assessing the protective effect of influenza vaccination vs no vaccination on influenza virus infections in contacts. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. Of 43,082 screened articles, nine randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and four observational studies were eligible. Among the RCTs, no statistically significant herd effect on the occurrence of influenza in contacts could be found (OR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.34–1.12). The one RCT conducted in a community setting, however, showed a significant effect (OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.26–0.57), as did the observational studies (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.43–0.77). We found only a few studies that quantified the herd effect of vaccination, all studies except one were conducted in children, and the overall evidence was graded as low. The evidence is too limited to conclude in what setting(s) a herd effect may or may not be achieved.
Visualizing Human Trajectories: Comparing Space-Time Cubes and Static Maps

The increasing popularity of smartphones and position tracking devices fostered the interest on human trajectory data analysis, and enabled the collection of large amounts of movement data. However, there are still several open challenges regarding the visual and interactive analysis of these data, as more people, often non-experienced, start using these methods. This paper presents a comparative study between two common visualization techniques for trajectory data analysis, namely a space-time cube and a static map, taking into consideration high-level visualization and analysis tasks. The results obtained with two similar prototypes support the adequacy of both methods for simple analysis tasks, and reveal that static maps are more adequate for locate tasks, while space-time cubes provide a better support for association tasks.
Snacking, Satiety, and Weight: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Purpose. To compare the effects of nut-based snack bars (NBSB) vs. prepackaged 200-kcal portions of typical conventional snack foods, when consumed over a 12-week period by a group of overweight adults. Design. Randomized, single-blind parallel design with two treatment groups. Setting. Clinical trial. Subjects. Thirty-four overweight participants were enrolled. Intervention. Commercially available NBSB or conventional snack foods as part of an ad libitum diet for 12 weeks. Measures. Primary outcome measures: body mass index, body weight, body composition, waist circumference. Secondary outcome measures: blood pressure, lipid profile, nutrients intake, hunger/satiety, quality of life. Analysis. Generalized linear models with time as repeated measure were used to analyze these data. Results. Daily consumption of NBSB for 12 weeks, as compared to daily consumption of conventional snacks, significantly reduced percentage body fat (−1.7% ± 10.8% vs. 6.2% ± 9.3%; p = .04) and visceral fat (−1.3 ± 5.9 vs. 2.7 ± 4.0; p = .03). There were no between-group differences (p > .05) for blood pressure, lipid panel, satiety, or quality of life measures. Conclusion. Our data suggest that daily consumption of NBSB for 12 weeks reduced body fat and had no adverse effects on weight, blood pressure, lipid profile, satiety, or quality of life in this small sample of overweight adults.
Ectodomain shedding of the cell adhesion molecule Nectin-4 in ovarian cancer is mediated by ADAM10 and ADAM17

We previously showed that the cell adhesion molecule Nectin-4 is overexpressed in ovarian cancer tumors, and its cleaved extracellular domain can be detected in the serum of ovarian cancer patients. The ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) proteases are involved in ectodomain cleavage of transmembrane proteins, and ADAM17 is known to cleave Nectin-4 in breast cancer. However, the mechanism of Nectin-4 cleavage in ovarian cancer has not yet been determined. Analysis of ovarian cancer gene microarray data showed that higher expression of Nectin-4, ADAM10, and ADAM17 is associated with significantly decreased progression-free survival. We quantified Nectin-4 shedding from the surface of ovarian cancer cells after stimulation with lysophosphatidic acid. We report that ADAM17 and ADAM10 cleave Nectin-4 and release soluble Nectin-4 (sN4). Small molecule inhibitors and siRNA knockdown of both ADAM proteases confirmed these results. In matched samples from 11 high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients, we detected 2–20-fold more sN4 in ascites fluid than serum. Co-incubation of ovarian cancer cells with ascites fluid significantly increased sN4 shedding, which could be blocked using a dual inhibitor of ADAM10 and ADAM17. Furthermore, we detected RNA for Nectin-4, ADAM10, and ADAM17 in primary ovarian carcinoma tumors, secondary omental metastases, and ascites cells isolated from serous ovarian cancer patients. In a signaling pathway screen, lysophosphatidic acid increased phosphorylation of AKT, EGF receptor, ERK1/2, JNK1/2/3, and c-Jun. Understanding the function of Nectin-4 shedding in ovarian cancer progression is critical to facilitate its development as both a serum biomarker and a therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.
Band-Notched Small Slot Antenna with Enhanced Bandwidth by Using Parasitic Structures inside Slots for UWB Applications

Nasser Ojaroudi , Shervin Amiri , Mohammad Ojaroudi 3 1 Faculty of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University Tehran, Iran, n_ojaroudi@srttu.edu 2 Scientific Member of Electrical Engineering Department of Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST) Tehran, Iran, amiri@irost.org 3 Young Research Club, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University Ardabil, Iran, m.ojaroudi@iauardabil.ac. ir
Coupled Sparse Matrix Factorization for Response Time Prediction in Logistics Services

Nowadays, there is an emerging way of connecting logistics orders and van drivers, where it is crucial to predict the order response time. Accurate prediction of order response time would not only facilitate decision making on order dispatching, but also pave ways for applications such as supply-demand analysis and driver scheduling, leading to high system efficiency. In this work, we forecast order response time on current day by fusing data from order history and driver historical locations. Specifically, we propose Coupled Sparse Matrix Factorization (CSMF) to deal with the heterogeneous fusion and data sparsity challenges raised in this problem. CSMF jointly learns from multiple heterogeneous sparse data through the proposed weight setting mechanism therein. Experiments on real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, compared to various baseline methods. The performances of many variants of the proposed method are also presented to show the effectiveness of each component.
Commissioning of the New GSI-Charge State Separator System for High Current Heavy Ion Beams

A dedicated charge separator system has been installed in the transfer line to the GSI synchrotron SIS18, replacing charge separation with a single 11 degree dipole magnet after a 25 m beam transport section. This was not adequate to meet the requirements during high current operation for FAIR: it only allows for charge state separation of low intensity and low emittance beams. With the new compact charge separator system emittance blow up and undesired beam losses for high intensity beam operation will be avoided. Additionally, a new beam diagnostics test bench is integrated to measure beam parameters (ion current, beam profile, beam position, transversal emittance, bunch structure and beam energy) for the injection into the SIS 18 in parallel to the routine operation in the transfer line. Results of commissioning with high intensity argon beams as well as with an uranium beam will be reported. We acknowledge the support of the EU-Research Infrastructure Activity under the FP6 "Construction of infrastructure for the FAIR-project" (co.-number 515876).
Education efforts may contribute to wider acceptance of human papillomavirus self-sampling

Background Information about women’s acceptance of new screening methods in Sub-Saharan Africa is limited. The aim of this study was to report on women’s acceptance of human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling following an educational intervention on cervical cancer and HPV. Methods Women were recruited from the city of Tiko and a low-income neighborhood of Yaoundé, both in Cameroon. Written and oral instructions about how to perform an unsupervised HPV self-sample were given to participants, who performed the test in a private room. Acceptability of HPV self-sampling was evaluated by questionnaire. Participants previously screened for cervical cancer by a physician were asked additional questions to assess their personal preferences about HPV self-sampling. Results A sample of 540 women were prospectively enrolled in the study; median age was 43 years old (range 30–65 years). Participants expressed a high level of acceptance of HPV self-sampling as a screening method following information sessions about cervical cancer and HPV. Most expressed no embarrassment, pain, anxiety, or discomfort (95.6%, 87.8%, 91.3%, and 85.0%, respectively) during the information sessions. Acceptance of the method had no correlation with education, knowledge, age, or socio-professional class. Eighty-six women (16%) had a history of previous screening; they also reported high acceptance of HPV self-sampling. Conclusion Educational interventions on cancer and HPV were associated with high acceptability of HPV self-testing by Cameroonian women. Further evaluation of the intervention in a larger sample and using a control group is recommended.
Wave-Variable Based Force Feedback for a Space-Qualified Telerobot

Bilateral teleoperation across significant time delays has been extensively studied and is posed to provide remote control of orbiting robots. Unfortunately, most standard approaches assume an impedance controlled, backdrivable robot. In this work, we apply wave variable control to Ranger, a large, space-qualified, geared robot. We incorporate local feedback of contact forces into the control framework to achieve backdrivable operation. In particular, this control framework imitates an idealized point mass to respect Ranger’s dynamic capabilities. Beyond perceiving steady state contact forces, the user’s perception can be enhanced with high-frequency acceleration feedback of contact transients. Experimental results from controlling Ranger using network communications show stable operation in free space and contact.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Marginal economic value of improving 21-d pregnancy rate THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF CHANGES IN 21-DAY PREGNANCY RATE AND WHAT CONTROLS THIS VALUE

No single metric can describe comprehensively dairy cattle reproductive efficiency. A best approximation could be the 21-day pregnancy rate. Estimating the economic value of 21-day pregnancy rate is complex and difficult. One approach is to use Markov-chains as underline framework. Markov-chains can simulate the dairy herd dynamics of the interactions of reproduction, abortion, involuntary culling, mortality, and voluntary culling. Therefore, it is possible to find a herd structure matrix resulting from a defined 21-day pregnancy rate. The resulting herd structure indicates for example the herd‟s proportion of cows by parity, days after calving, and pregnancy status. Therefore, the value of a 21-day pregnancy rate can be estimated by the multiplication of the herd structure matrix by their net returns. Cow specific net returns can be estimated as the aggregation of milk income, feed costs, culling costs, mortality costs, new born value, and reproductive costs.
Recruitment of β-Arrestin into Neuronal Cilia Modulates Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 3 Ciliary Localization

ABSTRACT Primary cilia are essential sensory and signaling organelles present on nearly every mammalian cell type. Defects in primary cilia underlie a class of human diseases collectively termed ciliopathies. Primary cilia are restricted subcellular compartments, and specialized mechanisms coordinate the localization of proteins to cilia. Moreover, trafficking of proteins into and out of cilia is required for proper ciliary function, and this process is disrupted in ciliopathies. The somatostatin receptor subtype 3 (Sstr3) is selectively targeted to primary cilia on neurons in the mammalian brain and is implicated in learning and memory. Here, we show that Sstr3 localization to cilia is dynamic and decreases in response to somatostatin treatment. We further show that somatostatin treatment stimulates β-arrestin recruitment into Sstr3-positive cilia and this recruitment can be blocked by mutations in Sstr3 that impact agonist binding or phosphorylation. Importantly, somatostatin treatment fails to decrease Sstr3 ciliary localization in neurons lacking β-arrestin 2. Together, our results implicate β-arrestin in the modulation of Sstr3 ciliary localization and further suggest a role for β-arrestin in the mediation of Sstr3 ciliary signaling.