Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring Variability and Performance in a Sub-200-mV Processor

In this study, we explore the design of a subthreshold processor for use in ultra-low-energy sensor systems. We describe an 8-bit subthreshold processor that has been designed with energy efficiency as the primary constraint. The processor, which is functional below Vdd=200 mV, consumes only 3.5 pJ/inst at Vdd=350 mV and, under a reverse body bias, draws only 11 nW at Vdd=160 mV. Process and temperature variations in subthreshold circuits can cause dramatic fluctuations in performance and energy consumption and can lead to robustness problems. We investigate the use of body biasing to adapt to process and temperature variations. Test-chip measurements show that body biasing is particularly effective in subthreshold circuits and can eliminate performance variations with minimal energy penalties. Reduced performance is also problematic at low voltages, so we investigate global and local techniques for improving performance while maintaining energy efficiency.
Credit-aware power control for device-to-device underlaying cellular networks

Social relations between users is a key factor impacting the willingness of users to participate in D2D delivery. However, close social ties and proximity location of users can not always be satisfied due to the time and space limits. In this paper, we introduce social credit to stimulate selfish users for an active D2D communication networks, which is a global and wide social feature measure. Queuing model is used to explicitly characterize the credit constraint. Given the physical communication constraints and social credit constraints, we propose an efficient credit-aware power control scheme for D2D communication promotion. Simulation results show that our proposed scheme can significantly increase the throughput.
On Correlating Lévy Processes

A relatively simple approach to correlating unit period returns of Levy processes is developed. We write the Levy process as a time changed Brownian motion and correlate the Brownian motions. It is shown that sample correlations understate the required correlation between the Brownian motions and we show how to correct for this. Pairwise tests illustrate the adequacy of the model and the significant improvement offered over the Gaussian alternative. We therefore advocate that the correlated time change model is a simple basic alternative to dependence modeling. From the perspective of explaining portfolio returns in higher dimensions we find adequacy for long-short portfolios. The long only portfolios appear to require a more complex modeling of dependency. We leave these questions for future research.
Using Identity-Based Privacy-Protected Access Control Filter (IPACF) to against denial of service attacks and protect user privacy

Denial of service (DoS)/Distributed DoS (DDoS) attack is an eminent threat to an authentication server, which is used to guard access to firewalls, virtual private networks and wired/wireless networks. The major problem is that an authentication server needs to verify whether a request is from a legitimate user and if intensive computation and/or memory resources are needed for verifying a request, then DoS/DDoS attack is feasible. In this paper, a new protocol called Identity-Based Privacy-Protected Access Control Filter (IPACF) is proposed to counter DoS/DDoS attack. This protocol is an improvement of IDF (Identity-Based Dynamic Access Control Filter). The proposed protocol is stateless because it does not create a state for an authentication request unless the request is from a legitimate user. Moreover, the IPACF is stateless for both user and authentication server since a user and responder authenticate each other. A filter value, which is generated by pre-shared secrets, is sent in a frame and checked to see if the request is legitimate. Note that the process of checking filter value is not intensive computation. The filter value is tabulated in a table with user identity so that a filter value represents a user's identity and only the legitimate user and authentication server can figure out the identity. When a filter value is from a legitimate source, a new filter value will be generated for the next frame. Consequently, the filter value is changed for every frame. Thus the privacy of both user and server are protected. The IPACF is implemented for both user and authentication server. The performance of the implementation is reported in this paper. In order to counter more DoS/DDoS attacks that issue fake requests, parallel processing technique is used to implement the authentication server, which is divided into server 1 and server 2. Server 1 only checks the validity of the request filter value against the filter value table. If the request is legitimate, the request will be passed to server 2 for generating a new filter value; otherwise, the fake request is rejected by server 1. The performance comparison of dual server and single server is also reported.
1st international ACM workshop on music information retrieval with user-centered and multimodal strategies (MIRUM)

The 1st International ACM Workshop on Music Information Retrieval with User-Centered and Multimodal Strategies (MIRUM) at ACM Multimedia was proposed in order to gather experts from the Music and Multimedia Information Retrieval communities, as well as other neighboring fields. The workshop aims to provide a high-profile platform for presenting current work on Music Information Retrieval, with strong focus on user-centered and multimodal approaches. These focus areas are not only relevant to the Music Information Retrieval field, but equally recognized as emerging and relevant in the Multimedia domain. This way, a cross-disciplinary dialogue on open challenges can be initiated, facilitating new bridging opportunities and increased exchanges of expertise between communities. In this summary, we provide an overview of the 1st MIRUM workshop. After a description of the rationale and focus areas of the workshop, the accepted submissions and other program elements are summarized.
RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase 1 from Nicotiana tabacum Suppresses RNA Silencing and Enhances Viral Infection in Nicotiana benthamiana[W]

This work analyzes the surprising result that Nicotiana benthamiana transformed with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 from Nicotiana tabacum (Nt-RDR1) is hypersusceptible to several viruses. It provides evidence supporting a dual role for RDR1 in contributing to salicylic acid–mediated antiviral defense at the same time as it suppresses RDR6-mediated antiviral RNA silencing. Endogenous eukaryotic RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RDRs) produce double-stranded RNA intermediates in diverse processes of small RNA synthesis in RNA silencing pathways. RDR6 is required in plants for posttranscriptional gene silencing induced by sense transgenes (S-PTGS) and has an important role in amplification of antiviral silencing. Whereas RDR1 is also involved in antiviral defense in plants, this does not necessarily proceed through triggering silencing. In this study, we show that Nicotiana benthamiana transformed with RDR1 from Nicotiana tabacum (Nt-RDR1 plants) exhibits hypersusceptibility to Plum pox potyvirus and other viruses, resembling RDR6-silenced (RDR6i) N. benthamiana. Analysis of transient induction of RNA silencing in N. benthamiana Nt-RDR1 and RDR6i plants revealed that Nt-RDR1 possesses silencing suppression activity. We found that Nt-RDR1 does not interfere with RDR6-dependent siRNA accumulation but turns out to suppress RDR6-dependent S-PTGS. Our results, together with previously published data, suggest that RDR1 might have a dual role, contributing, on one hand, to salicylic acid–mediated antiviral defense, and suppressing, on the other hand, the RDR6-mediated antiviral RNA silencing. We propose a scenario in which the natural loss-of-function variant of RDR1 in N. benthamiana may be the outcome of selective pressure to maintain a high RDR6-dependent antiviral defense, which would be required to face the hypersensitivity of this plant to a large number of viruses.
Improving Winter Wheat Yield Estimation from the CERES-Wheat Model to Assimilate Leaf Area Index with Different Assimilation Methods and Spatio-Temporal Scales

To improve the accuracy of winter wheat yield estimation, the Crop Environment Resource Synthesis for Wheat (CERES-Wheat) model with an assimilation strategy was performed by assimilating measured or remotely-sensed leaf area index (LAI) values. The performances of the crop model for two different assimilation methods were compared by employing particle filters (PF) and the proper orthogonal decomposition-based ensemble four-dimensional variational (POD4DVar) strategies. The uncertainties of wheat yield estimates due to different assimilation temporal scales (phenological stages and temporal frequencies) and spatial scale were also analyzed. The results showed that, compared with the crop model without assimilation and with PF-based assimilation, a better yield estimate performance resulted when the POD4DVar-based strategy was used at the field scale. When using this strategy, root mean square errors (RMSE) of 523 kg·ha−1, 543 kg·ha−1 and 172 kg·ha−1 and relative errors (RE) of 5.65%, 5.91% and 7.77% were obtained at the field plot scale, a pixel scale of 1 km and the county scale, respectively. Although the best yield estimates were obtained when all of the observed LAIs were assimilated into the crop model, an acceptable estimate of crop yield could also be achieved by assimilating fewer observations between jointing and anthesis periods of the crop growth season. With decreasing assimilation frequency and pixel resolution, the accuracy of the crop yield estimates decreased; however, the computation time decreased. Thus, it is important to consider reasonable spatio-temporal scales to obtain tradeoffs between accuracy and effectiveness in regional wheat estimates.
Identity and Emergency Intervention: How Social Group Membership and Inclusiveness of Group Boundaries Shape Helping Behavior

Two experiments exploring the effects of social category membership on real-life helping behavior are reported. In Study 1, intergroup rivalries between soccer fans are used to examine the role of identity in emergency helping. An injured stranger wearing an in-group team shirt is more likely to be helped than when wearing a rival team shirt or an unbranded sports shirt. In Study 2, a more inclusive social categorization is made salient for potential helpers. Helping is extended to those who were previously identified as out-group members but not to those who do not display signs of group membership. Taken together, the studies show the importance of both shared identity between bystander and victim and the inclusiveness of salient identity for increasing the likelihood of emergency intervention.
Differential effects of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs on striosome and matrix compartments of the striatum

Administration of typical antipsychotic drugs (APDs) is often accompanied by extrapyramidal side‐effects (EPS). Treatment with atypical APDs has a lower incidence of motor side‐effects and atypical APDs are superior to typical APDs in treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Although typical APDs strongly induce the immediate‐early gene c‐fos in the striatum while atypical APDs do so only weakly, it is possible that the effects of atypical APDs are more pronounced within certain regions of the striatum. The striatum contains two histochemically defined compartments, the striosome (patch) and the matrix. These compartments have been well characterized anatomically but their functional attributes are unclear. We therefore examined the effects of typical and atypical APDs on Fos expression in the striosome and matrix of the rat. Typical and atypical APDs were distinguished by the pattern of striatal compartmental activation they induced: the striosome : matrix ratio of Fos‐li neurons was greater in rats treated with atypical APDs. Pretreating animals with selective antagonists of receptors that atypical APDs target with high affinity did not increase the striosome : matrix Fos ratio of typical APD‐treated rats and thus did not mimic the ratio seen in response to atypical APDs. However, pretreatment with the atypical APD clozapine did recapitulate the characteristic compartmental Fos pattern seen in response to typical APDs. These data suggest that some characteristics of atypical APDs, such as the lower EPS liability and greater reduction of negative symptoms, may be linked to the coordinate regulation of the striatal striosome and matrix.
Transient and sustained ERK phosphorylation and nuclear translocation in growth control

Growth stimulation and inhibition are both associated with tyrosine phosphorylation. We examined the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), a growth stimulant, and compound 5 (Cpd 5), a protein‐tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) inhibitor, which inhibits the growth of the same Hep3B hepatoma cells. We found that both EGF and Cpd 5 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor (EGFR) and ERK. However, the phosphorylation caused by EGF was transient and that caused by Cpd 5 was prolonged. Furthermore, Cpd 5 action caused a strong nuclear phospho‐ERK signal and induced phospho‐Elk‐1, a nuclear target of ERK activation, in contrast to the weak effects of EGF. An ERK kinase assay demonstrated that ERK activated by Cpd 5 could phosphorylate its physiological substrate, Elk‐1. The MEK inhibitors PD098056 and U0126 abrogated both the induction by Cpd 5 of phospho‐ERK, its nuclear translocation and phospho‐Elk‐1 and also antagonized its growth inhibitory effects. Furthermore, phospho‐ERK phosphatase and phospho‐Elk‐1 activities were lost from nuclear extracts from Cpd 5 treated, but not EGF treated cells. In conclusion, the data show that Cpd 5 causes growth inhibition as a consequence of prolonged ERK and Elk‐1 phosphorylation, likely a result of inhibition of multiple PTPases, including those acting on phospho‐EGFR, on phospho‐ERK, and on phospho‐Elk‐1, in contrast to the kinase driven transient activation resulting from EGF. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rare case of primary pleural lymphoma presenting with pleural effusion

Primary pleural lymphoma is rare and has been described in association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or pyothorax. We report a rare case of primary pleural lymphoma in a 73‐year‐old man who presented with chest pain and no history of HIV infection or pyothorax. Chest imaging showed pleural thickening and pleural effusion. Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy was performed. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations conformed to that of a diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma. Physicians should be aware of this rare location of primary lymphoma and implement thoracoscopy as soon as possible.
The Epidemiology of HIV and Prevention Needs of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

To determine HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. We conducted a cross-sectional RDS survey of MSM in Abidjan from October 2011 to February 2012. Eligibility criteria included age ≥ 18 years and having had oral or anal sex with another man in the last 12 months. Weighted data analysis was conducted with RDSAT and SAS. We enrolled 603 participants, of whom 601 (99.7%) completed the questionnaire and 581 (96.7%) consented to HIV testing. HIV population prevalence was estimated as 18.0% (95% CI: 13.0-23.1); 86.4% (95% CI: 75.1-94.9) of HIV-positive MSM were unaware of their serostatus. In multivariable analysis, adjusting for age, education, and income, HIV infection was associated with unprotected sex at last sex with a woman, more than two male anal sex partners in last 12 months, inconsistent condom use during anal sex with a man, self-perceived risk of HIV, history of forced sex, history of physical abuse due to MSM status, and not receiving last HIV test result prior to study. HIV prevalence among MSM in Abidjan is more than four times as high as that of general population men. MSM engage in high-risk sexual behavior and most HIV-positive MSM are unaware of their serostatus. Greater access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services targeted to MSM is necessary.
The (Re)Construction of Human Conduct: “Vernacular Video Analysis”

Video technology became available in the 1960s and massively diffused into nearly all institutional spheres during the following decades (Zielinski 1986). It is not only used for provision of movies and entertainment (Greenberg 2008), documenting, and recording of events in the semi-professional and private domain (Raab 2008), but also for the analysis of human conduct in psychology and education (Mittenecker 1987) and in sociology (Knoblauch et al. 2006; Knoblauch et al. 2008; Kissmann 2009; Heath, Hindmarsh and Luff 2010). In this paper, I am going to argue that with the availability of video technology a form of discursive practice of interpretive (re)construction of knowledge has been established in a variety of vernacular fields of practice. Based on the available literature and an empirical example taken from a public demonstration of such a vernacular video analysis, I will show some elements of communicative practice that allow for detailed analysis of visual knowledge. Furthermore, I will discuss methodological issues, as to be approached, and which elements can be found that constitute the communicative (re)constructive processes of analysis.
Assessment of Reading and Dyslexia in Spanish Speaking English Language Learners

While significant research has been done on dyslexia with native English speakers, little is known about identifying dyslexia in English Language Learners (ELLs). This creates challenges for practitioners working with ELLs in schools who must make decisions about placement, interventions, and accommodations without having a clear indication of whether ELLs struggle with reading because of lack of English language exposure or a neurological conditions, such as dyslexia. Previous research, primarily involving monolingual native English speakers, has highlighted specific cognitive correlates of reading that help screen students with dyslexia at an early age. These cognitive correlates, which include Phonological Awareness (PA), Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN), and Processing Speed (PS), have consistently been linked to basic reading skills in English and other languages. The present study had many objectives that could provide guidance for practitioners working with ELLs. First it explored the value of PA, RAN, and PS as predictors of basic reading skills in Spanish speaking ELLs. Second, it investigated a model that combined tasks of PA, RAN and PS that had the highest correlations to aspects of reading. Third, it explored the role of Vocabulary (V) in both English and Spanish in the development of reading skills in ELLs. Fourth, it aimed at establishing the use of the Simple View of Reading (SVR; Gough & Tunmer, 1986), which postulates that reading is the product of decoding and listening comprehension skills, for the assessment of reading in ELLs. Finally, it incorporated findings from this study for an adaptation of the SVR for use with ELLs. Findings suggest that RAN, PA, and PS, as measured in this study, are highly correlated to basic reading skills in Spanish speaking ELLs, and that these can be used for the assessment of reading and dyslexia in this population. This study also demonstrated that a model that included RAN numbers and phoneme deletion in English can accurately predict reading performance. Findings also indicate that V in English is highly correlated to basic reading skills in English,
A new form of IRIDA due to combined heterozygous mutations of TMPRSS6 and ACVR1A encoding the BMP receptor ALK2.

To the editor: The liver expression of the key iron regulator hepcidin is controlled by the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/SMAD pathway. BMP signaling requires the ligand (BMP6 or BMP2),[1][1],[2][2] type I (activin receptor-like kinase 2 [ALK2] and ALK3) and type II receptors (ACVR2 and BMPR2),
A novel MAC transmission control approach for wireless multimedia mesh networks

This paper proposes a novel Medium Access Control scheme for wireless multi-hop Mesh networks using network-aware to adaptively detect the MAC maximum retransmission count and reduce collision probability of wireless channel. The proposed scheme can differentiate packet loss causes for wireless link by means of environment information and adjust the maximum retransmission count of MAC adaptively based on packet loss discrimination strategy of wireless errors or congestion losses. It is shown from the simulation results in different network topology environments, the proposed scheme can provide better utilization of the network bandwidth and improve effectiveness of wireless packet loss control.
Triage tests for identifying atrial fibrillation in primary care: a diagnostic accuracy study comparing single-lead ECG and modified BP monitors

Objective New electronic devices offer an opportunity within routine primary care settings for improving the detection of atrial fibrillation (AF), which is a common cardiac arrhythmia and a modifiable risk factor for stroke. We aimed to assess the performance of a modified blood pressure (BP) monitor and two single-lead ECG devices, as diagnostic triage tests for the detection of AF. Setting 6 General Practices in the UK. Participants 1000 ambulatory patients aged 75 years and over. Primary and secondary outcome measures Comparative diagnostic accuracy of modified BP monitor and single-lead ECG devices, compared to reference standard of 12-lead ECG, independently interpreted by cardiologists. Results A total of 79 participants (7.9%) had AF diagnosed by 12-lead ECG. All three devices had a high sensitivity (93.9–98.7%) and are useful for ruling out AF. WatchBP is a better triage test than Omron autoanalysis because it is more specific—89.7% (95% CI 87.5% to 91.6%) compared to 78.3% (95% CI 73.0% to 82.9%), respectively. This would translate into a lower follow-on ECG rate of 17% to rule in/rule out AF compared to 29.7% with the Omron text message in the study population. The overall specificity of single-lead ECGs analysed by a cardiologist was 94.6% for Omron and 90.1% for Merlin. Conclusions WatchBP performs better as a triage test for identifying AF in primary care than the single-lead ECG monitors as it does not require expertise for interpretation and its diagnostic performance is comparable to single-lead ECG analysis by cardiologists. It could be used opportunistically to screen elderly patients for undiagnosed AF at regular intervals and/or during BP measurement.
Handling aperiodic tasks in diverse real-time systems via plug-ins

Functionality for various services of scheduling algorithms is typically provided as extensions to a basic algorithm. A similar approach dominates operating system functionality: implementation of the actual real-time scheduling algorithm. In this paper, we propose the use of a plug-in approach to add functionality to existing scheduling schemes and provide for easy, replacement on the operating system level. In particular, we present an architecture to disentangle actual real-time scheduling from dispatching and other kernel routines with a small API, suited for a variety of scheduling schemes as plug-ins. We detail two plug-ins for aperiodic task handling and how they can extend two target systems, table-driven and earliest deadline first scheduling, using the approach presented.