Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating obfuscation performance of novel algorithm-to-architecture mapping techniques in systolic-array-based circuits

Systolic-array-based very large scale integration (VLSI) circuits are widely used in many high-performance applications. Due to their features such as high regularity and modularity, thorough investigation of employing current obfuscation (or encryption) techniques to protect the systolic-array-based circuits from counterfeiting by others, however, are not well carried out. Therefore, in this paper, we have conducted a series of explorations on deriving efficient strategies to enhance the obfuscation performance for systolic-based circuits. Unlike existing strategies mainly focus on the improving of obfuscation techniques, we began our investigation from the design point of view for systolic structures, i.e., algorithm-to-architecture mapping techniques. Firstly, a brief analysis revealed two main critical issues related to the success of obfuscation in systolic-based circuits. Two novel algorithm-to-architecture mapping techniques for systolic (or systolic-like/semi-systolic) structures are then proposed to improve the shortages exist in current mapping strategies for obfuscation applications. Detailed experiments have also been carried out and it is shown that the proposed schemes can improve the obfuscation level with small complexity overhead, i.e., increase the difficulty and decryption time for the potential attackers (e.g., at most increases the decryption time by 35%). We have also discussed the strengths and limitations of our mapping techniques and suggested future directions to improve security level of systolic-based circuits.
Female eviction, abortion, and infanticide in banded mongooses (Mungos mungo): implications for social control of reproduction and synchronized parturition

Most cooperatively breeding species exhibit high reproductive skew, where reproduction within the social group is monopolized by a dominant pair. In many of these species, social control of reproduction is the mechanism driving reproductive skew: individuals within the social group actively reduce the reproductive success of others. In species where females do not suppress conception in other females, alternative routes to skewing the social group's reproductive output include inducing abortion in rivals, evicting them, or killing their young. This study examines instances of female eviction, abortion, and infanticide in a cooperatively breeding species with low preparturition reproductive skew, the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo). Although instances of these behaviors are rare in this species, aspects of their occurrence have implications for social control of reproduction. Abortion can be induced by the stress of being evicted. The readmittance of females that abort suggests that reducing communal litter size is a possible selective pressure for eviction. This is supported by the occurrence of eviction events in groups with relatively high numbers of reproductive females and by the eviction of young reproductive females. The timing of abortion events suggests that synchronization of parturition with other females in the group is a major selective pressure. Infanticide could represent the selective pressure for synchronized parturition. Alternatively, synchronization may minimize competitive asymmetry between pups born to different females. This paper also describes incidences where a female aborts or gives birth to her litter over different days in order to synchronize parturition: behavior previously unrecorded in mammals. Copyright 2006.
A synthesis of light absorption properties of the Arctic Ocean: application to semianalytical estimates of dissolved organic carbon concentrations from space

Abstract. In addition to scattering coefficients, the light absorption coefficients of particulate and dissolved materials are the main factors determining the light propagation of the visible part of the spectrum and are, thus, important for developing ocean color algorithms. While these absorption properties have recently been documented by a few studies for the Arctic Ocean (e.g., Matsuoka et al., 2007, 2011; Ben Mustapha et al., 2012), the data sets used in the literature were sparse and individually insufficient to draw a general view of the basin-wide spatial and temporal variations in absorption. To achieve such a task, we built a large absorption database of the Arctic Ocean by pooling the majority of published data sets and merging new data sets. Our results show that the total nonwater absorption coefficients measured in the eastern Arctic Ocean (EAO; Siberian side) are significantly higher than in the western Arctic Ocean (WAO; North American side). This higher absorption is explained by higher concentration of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in watersheds on the Siberian side, which contains a large amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) compared to waters off North America. In contrast, the relationship between the phytoplankton absorption (av(λ)) and chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration in the EAO was not significantly different from that in the WAO. Because our semianalytical CDOM absorption algorithm is based on chl a-specific av(λ) values (Matsuoka et al., 2013), this result indirectly suggests that CDOM absorption can be appropriately derived not only for the WAO but also for the EAO using ocean color data. Based on statistics, derived CDOM absorption values were reasonable compared to in situ measurements. By combining this algorithm with empirical DOC versus CDOM relationships, a semianalytical algorithm for estimating DOC concentrations for river-influenced coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean is presented and applied to satellite ocean color data.
Prognostic Factors of Malignant Pleural Effusion among Palliative Care Outpatients: A Retrospective Study

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) has varied survival and indicates advanced disease. LENT prognostic score is the first validated score used for MPE. This study assessed the role of LENT among palliative care cancer patients and assessed different patient, tumor, and treatment related factors that may affect survival. Methods: A retrospective study of advanced cancer patients with MPE, seen in palliative care outpatient clinic (2013–2015) until death, was done. LENT prognostic score could be calculated in 15 patients. Patient, tumor, and treatment related factors that affect survival were assessed. Results: The study included 48 patients (70.8% female; 29.2% male) with a median age of 53 years. Lung (41.7%) was the most common primary, and adenocarcinoma (44.7%) was the most common histology. The median overall survival (OS) was 14.5 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.25–32.75) and median survival time (ST) was 3 months (IQR: 1–7.75). ST was significantly low with poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (P = 0.002), bilateral effusion (P < 0.001), and with no oncological treatment after MPE diagnosis (P < 0.001). OS and ST were significantly low with lung primary (P = 0.006 and 0.02, respectively). Age, gender, breathlessness, tumor histology, lung metastasis, and interventions for MPE did not significantly affect survival. The median ST in the moderate and high risk LENT groups was 6 and 3 months, respectively (P = 0.16). Conclusion: ECOG performance status, bilateral effusion, and no oncological treatment after diagnosis of MPE were associated with poor ST. Lung primary was associated with shorter OS and ST. Small numbers precluded any definitive conclusion on the prognostic value of LENT in our group of patients, and hence larger studies are recommended.
Discourse Markers as Turn-Transition Devices: Evidence From Speech and Instant Messaging

In this article we investigate the relation between discourse markers and turn-transition strategies in face-to-face conversations and Instant Messaging (IM), that is, unplanned, real-time, text-based, computer-mediated communication. By means of a quantitative corpus study of utterances containing a discourse marker, we show that utterance-final discourse markers are used more often in IM than in face-to-face conversations. Moreover, utterance-final discourse markers are shown to occur more often at points of turn-transition compared with points of turn-maintenance in both types of conversation. From our results we conclude that the discourse markers in utterance-final position can function as a turn-transition mechanism, signaling that the turn is over and the floor is open to the hearer. We argue that this linguistic turn-taking strategy is essentially similar in face-to-face and IM communication. Our results add to the evidence that communication in IM is more like speech than like writing.
Effect of sitagliptin on hepatic histological activity and fibrosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients: a 1-year randomized control trial

Background/purpose Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) expression is directly associated with hepatic lipogenesis and liver injury in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study has been designed to elucidate the histological improvement of NASH with the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin. Materials and methods In this open-label randomized control trial, paired liver biopsy was taken from 40 NASH patients. Sitagliptin 100 mg was given once daily to the SL group and no sitagliptin was given to the L group for 1 year. Patients from both groups were encouraged to exercise moderately and advised to avoid saturated fat, excessive sugar, soft drinks, fast food, and refined carbohydrates to reduce weight. Results Steatosis improved in the SL group (from 2.3±0.6 to 1.2±0.8; P=0.000) and the L group (from 2.1±0.6 to 1.6±0.9; P=0.008), ballooning decreased from 1.8±0.6 to 1.3±06 (P=0.002) in the SL group, but not in the L group. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) attenuated in both groups: the SL group (from 5.8±0.9 to 3.9±1.4; P=0.000) and the L group (from 5.3±0.6 to 4.6±1.2; P=0.009). NAS improvement was much higher in the SL group (1.9±1.4) than in the L group (0.7±1.1) (P=0.006), with NAS improving by ≥2 in 13 patients from the SL group and five patients from the L group (P=0.01). Improvement was irrespective of diabetes. Regression analysis explored that sitagliptin had odds of 6.38 and weight reduction had odds of 4.51 for NAS reduction. Conclusion Sitagliptin 100 mg once daily for 1 year ameliorates NAS by improving steatosis and ballooning, irrespective of diabetes. Sitagliptin has stronger efficacy than that of weight reduction.
Toward Distribution Estimation under Local Differential Privacy with Small Samples

Abstract A number of studies have recently been made on discrete distribution estimation in the local model, in which users obfuscate their personal data (e.g., location, response in a survey) by themselves and a data collector estimates a distribution of the original personal data from the obfuscated data. Unlike the centralized model, in which a trusted database administrator can access all users’ personal data, the local model does not suffer from the risk of data leakage. A representative privacy metric in this model is LDP (Local Differential Privacy), which controls the amount of information leakage by a parameter ∈ called privacy budget. When ∈ is small, a large amount of noise is added to the personal data, and therefore users’ privacy is strongly protected. However, when the number of users ℕ is small (e.g., a small-scale enterprise may not be able to collect large samples) or when most users adopt a small value of ∈, the estimation of the distribution becomes a very challenging task. The goal of this paper is to accurately estimate the distribution in the cases explained above. To achieve this goal, we focus on the EM (Expectation-Maximization) reconstruction method, which is a state-of-the-art statistical inference method, and propose a method to correct its estimation error (i.e., difference between the estimate and the true value) using the theory of Rilstone et al. We prove that the proposed method reduces the MSE (Mean Square Error) under some assumptions.We also evaluate the proposed method using three largescale datasets, two of which contain location data while the other contains census data. The results show that the proposed method significantly outperforms the EM reconstruction method in all of the datasets when ℕ or ∈ is small.
Abstract Binary Block Order Rouen Transform

Binary Block Order Rouen Transform Jacqueline W. Daykin1,2, Richard Groult3,4, Yannick Guesnet4, Thierry Lecroq4, Arnaud Lefebvre4, Martine Léonard4, Élise Prieur-Gaston4 1Department of Computer Science, Aberystwyth University (Mauritius Branch Campus), Quartier Militaire, Mauritius 2Department of Computer Science, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK 3Modélisation, Information et Systèmes (MIS), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France 4Normandie Univ., UNIROUEN, UNIHAVRE, INSA Rouen, LITIS, 76000 Rouen, France
A Frequency Reconfigurable UWB Monopole Antenna with Slotted Ground Structure

In this modern world, there has been a significant drive to increase the functional density of consumer devices, especially hand-held electronics. In order to meet this challenge all the components need to be miniaturized. Most commonly used component in modern electronics is an antenna. The size of an antenna is directly related to its operational frequency. Frequency tunable miniaturized antennas are required for next generation electronics. In the existing system a multi-layered metamaterial-inspired antenna with a pixel grid loading structure is explained. In order to produce desired performance appropriate pixel configuration need to be selected. Simulations show that the antenna can be tuned over a wide frequency range by appropriate choice of pixel states. Here we are proposing a novel compact frequency-reconfigurable monopole antenna with various switchable states. Using a switchable slotted structure on the ground plane, the antenna can achieve frequency configuration capability. The proposed antenna has a combined UWB and narrowband functionality, has a good potential for use in cognitive radio. The simulations are done using HFSS (High Frequency Structure Simulator) software.
Joint Channel Identification and Estimation in Wireless Network: Sparsity and Optimization

In this paper, we study channel identification for a wireless network with the aid of compressed sensing (CS) in both cases of known and unknown sparsity levels of clusters. For the unknown case, we propose using blind CS signal recovery algorithm to sequentially estimate both sparsity level and channel gains. The refined version of blind CS technique is also provided to improve the consistency of channel identification process. The convergence of two algorithms is guaranteed by ensuring that the cost functions decrease after each update. We then investigate the cluster sparsity of users in the case of known sparsity levels of all clusters. By exploiting the alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm through distributed optimization, we can identify channels in sparse clusters parallelly and efficiently compared with conventional convex techniques. In summary, this paper provides some insight into employing sparse and distributed algorithms to efficiently solve the problem of fast channel identification and estimation of users in future network.
Student Views on the Value of Feedback

This paper investigates the value that a sample of students placed on feedback, what they valued it for and the conditions that affected this value judgement. I show that not all students value feedback particularly highly, especially when considered in relation to other factors in their education and when considered for its intrinsic value as opposed to how it represents their value to their lecturers and the institution. I show that the students studied valued feedback most where they could see the possibilities for using it to improve future work: through a clear linkage between coursework and exams, the coursework being of sufficient weighting and the students appreciating that it can be used to improve. I argue that the students studied would have benefitted from more education about the value of feedback and how to use it productively. Further research is required to see how generalisable these findings are.
Genetic Screening in Hereditary Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1: Absence of a Founder Effect among Japanese Families

Ten Japanese families with hereditary multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) were examined. Five DNA polymorphic markers on the long arm of chromosome 11 were analyzed for genetic screening of MEN1 in members of affected families, and disease carriers were identified before clinical manifestations. Unlike MEN1 families in Newfoundland or in Tasmania, no consistent haplotypes were segregated with the disease in the Japanese families when defined by 5 nearby markers. The identification of asymptomatic disease carriers is of substantial clinical importance for early management, genetic counseling and to avoid unnecessary screening for non‐disease carriers. However, genetic screening of family members by polymorphic markers could be useful only to each family, and no generally applicable markers were found for Japanese subjects with MEN1.
Factors associated with objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time of 5–6-year-old children in the STEPS Study

ABSTRACT Background: The factors associated with preschool-aged children’s physical activity (PA) remains unclear. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine how different factors were associated with preschool-aged children’s objectively measured PA and sedentary time. Methods: The study population was 5–6-year-old children (n = 140) and their parents (n = 138) from the STEPS Study in Turku in Southwest Finland in 2013–2014. PA and sedentary time were measured objectively by accelerometers from children and parents and body mass index with Tanita scale. Other factors (siblings, day care, organized PA and parents’ education) were collected with questionnaires. Linear models were conducted. Results: Child’s PA was positively associated with mother’s PA and day care attendance. Child’s sedentary time was positively associated with mother’s sedentary time. Father’s PA and sedentary time were associated with respective variables in children, but only among fathers with high education. Conclusion: Parental role modelling is essential in developing child’s physically active and less sedentary lifestyle.
HTLV‐I Uveitis: A Distinct Clinical Entity Caused by HTLV‐I

Seroepidemiological, clinical and virological studies were carried out in an HTLV‐I endemic area to find out if HTLV‐I caused an intraocular inflammatory disorder, uveitis. The seroprevalence in patients with uveitis without defined etiologies (62/175, 35.4%) was significantly higher than that in patients with non‐uveitic ocular diseases (42/261, 16.1%) or in patients with uveitis with defined etiologies (8/78, 10.3%). Moreover, the seroprevalence in young adults (20–49 years) with uveitis without defined etiologies was 30/67 (44.8%), whereas it was only 10/107 (9.3%) in the other two groups. The uveitis in HTLV‐I carriers was characterized clinically by a moderate inflammation of the vitreous body accompanied by a mild iritis and retinal vasculitis. The proviral DNA of HTLV‐I was detected by polymerase chain reaction from the inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber in 9 out of 9 seropositive patients with the uveitis, but not in any of the tested patients with other types of uveitis. These data, thus, indicate that HTLV‐I causes a specific type of intraocular inflammation, uveitis.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms as the main determinant of caregiver burden in Alzheimer’s disease

Caregiver burden is common in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), decreasing the quality of life among caregivers and patients. Projections of aging and aging-related diseases such as AD in developing countries justify additional data about this issue because people living in these countries have shown similarly high levels of caregiver strain as in the developed world. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the association of AD caregivers’ burden with patients’ neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), cognitive status, severity of dementia, functional capacity, caregiver sociodemographic characteristics, and the characteristics of care provided by caregivers. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 39 consecutive AD patients and their primary caregivers. NPS were evaluated using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Severity of dementia was assessed with the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale. Functional capacity was assessed using the Katz and Lawton scales. The burden level was rated using the Burden Interview (BI). Sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers and the characteristics of care provided by them were evaluated. The Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman’s rho coefficient were performed. Results The BI had a moderate correlation with NPI intensity (rho=0.563), p<001. Female caregivers reported a greater level of burden (p=0.031) than male caregivers. The other variables were not significantly associated to caregiver burden. Conclusion NPS were the main determinant of burden in primary caregivers of AD patients. This result underscores the need for prevention and treatment of these symptoms. Sex also had an effect on caregiver burden, but the small male sample in this study precludes the generalization of this finding.
Use of different postmenopausal hormone therapies and risk of histology- and hormone receptor-defined invasive breast cancer.

PURPOSE We previously found that the risk of invasive breast cancer varied according to the progestagen component of combined postmenopausal hormone therapy (CHT): progesterone, dydrogesterone, or other progestagens. We conducted the present study to assess how these CHTs were associated with histology- and hormone receptor-defined breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS We used data from the French E3N cohort study, with 80,391 postmenopausal women followed for a mean duration of 8.1 years; 2,265 histologically confirmed invasive breast cancers were identified through biennial self-administered questionnaires completed from 1990 to 2002. The relative risks (RRs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS Compared with postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) never-use, ever-use of estrogen+progesterone was not significantly associated with the risk of any breast cancer subtype, but increasing duration of estrogen+progesterone was associated with increasing risks of lobular (P = .06) and estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-negative (ER+/PR-; P = .02). Estrogen+dydrogesterone was associated with a significant increase in risk of lobular carcinoma (RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.6). Estrogen+other progestagens was associated with significant increases in risk of ductal and lobular carcinomas (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3 to 1.8; and 2.0; 95% CI, 1.5 to 2.7, respectively), of ER+/PR+ and ER+/PR- carcinomas (RR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5 to 2.1; and 2.6; 95% CI, 1.9 to 3.5, respectively), but not of ER-/PR+ or ER-/PR- carcinomas (RR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.5 to 2.1; and 1.4; 95% CI, 0.9 to 2.0, respectively). CONCLUSION The increase in risk of breast cancer observed with the use of CHTs other than estrogen+progesterone and estrogen+dydrogesterone seems to apply preferentially to ER+ carcinomas, especially those ER+/PR-, and to affect both ductal and lobular carcinomas.