Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MRCN: Throughput-Oriented Multicast Routing for Customized Network-on-Chips

The relentless proliferation of Big Data and artificial intelligence has compelled computing platform architectures to evolve into heterogeneous multicores for greater energy efficiency. A customized network-on-chip (NoC) supporting interconnection diversity is pivotal for the asymmetric data-access traffic requirements of modern heterogeneous multicore system-on-chip (SoC). A significant portion of on-chip data access comprises single-source multi-destination (SSMD) traffic, which supports barrier synchronization, multi-threading, cache coherency protocols, and deep neural network (DNN) acceleration. By amortizing SSMD traffic, multicast routing is essential for effectively utilizing communication bandwidth. One of the primary concerns in supporting multicast routing in NoCs is to circumvent the additional deadlock conditions caused by branch operations among the active routers. However, it is challenging to implement the throughput-optimized multicast routing in irregular topology-based NoCs because the deadlock conditions become highly complicated, and the Hamiltonian path required to apply the labeling rule may not exist. Two important observations were identified regarding multicast routing in customized NoCs: 1) Even if the NoC lacks a Hamiltonian path, deadlock-freedom can be guaranteed by restricting branch operations to a specific destination. 2) A variable path diversity in a custom topology can be leveraged in routing path allocation and branch. Based on these properties, this study proposes a deadlock-free and throughput-enhanced multicast routing for customized NoC (MRCN). MRCN ensures deadlock freedom by utilizing extended routing and router labeling rules. Furthermore, destination router partitioning and traffic-aware adaptive branching are incorporated to reduce packet routing hops and disperse channel traffic. The effectiveness of MRCN was verified using Noxim, a well-known cycle-accurate NoC simulator, under various topologies and traffic patterns. The simulation revealed that MRCN improved the average latency by 13.98 % and the throughput by 12.16 % under the saturated traffic conditions over the previous multicast routings in customized NoCs.
Intrinsic Short-Timescale Variability in W3(OH) Hydroxyl Masers

We have studied the OH masers in the star-forming region W3(OH), with data obtained from the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). The data provide an angular resolution of ~5 mas and a velocity resolution of 106 m s-1. A novel analytical procedure allows us to differentiate between broadband temporal intensity fluctuations introduced by instrumental gain variations plus interstellar diffractive scintillation and intrinsic narrowband variations. Drawn from this 12.5 hr observation, our data are sensitive to variations with timescales of minutes to hours. We find statistically significant intrinsic variations with timescales of ~15-20 minutes or slower, based on the velocity-resolved fluctuation spectra. These variations are seen predominantly toward the line shoulders. The peak of the line profiles shows little variation, suggesting that they perhaps exhibit saturated emission. The associated modulation index of the observed fluctuation varies from statistically insignificant values at the line center to about unity away from the line center. Based on light-travel-time considerations, the 20 minute timescale of intrinsic fluctuations translates to a spatial dimension of ~2-3 AU along the sight lines. On the other hand, the transverse dimension of the sources, estimated from their observed angular sizes of about ~3 mas, is about 6 AU. We argue that these source sizes are intrinsic and are not affected by interstellar scatter broadening. The implied peak brightness temperature of the 1612/1720 maser sources is about ~2 × 1013 K and a factor of about 5 higher for the 1665 line.
Bacillus coagulans as an alternative to antibiotics in the performance and control of Salmonella Enteritidis in broilers

The use of antimicrobial growth promoters in broiler feed has been beneficial for improving performance and preventing diseases. However, the indiscriminate use of these products in the feed can result in the development of resistant bacteria, the accumulation of residues in the products, and an imbalance in the microflora of birds. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate alternatives, such as beneficial microorganisms that improve microbial growth without affecting animal health and product quality. This research aimed to evaluate the supplementation with the probiotic Bacillus coagulans on the performance, carcass characteristics, and health of broilers from seven to 42 days. In total, 720 broilers were used, distributed in a randomized block design with six treatments and eight replicates. The evaluated treatments were as follows: Control ration (RC); PROB1 (Probiotic 400 g/t); PROB2 (Probiotic 400 g/t until 21 days and 200 g/t from 22 to 42 days); RC + antibiotic; RC + Salmonella inoculation; PROB1 + Salmonella inoculation. The treatments did neither influence feed intake, carcass yield, and cuts nor the incidence of injuries to the chest, hock, and footpad. Weight gain and feed conversion were better in birds that received antibiotic or probiotic diets. There was an incidence of Salmonella in the e challenges excreta at 42 days only in the treatment with challenge without adding probiotics. We conclude that the probiotic Bacillus coagulans can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in the diet of broilers as it facilitates similar performance and is efficient in the control of Salmonella Enteritidis.
Robust Motion Control Architecture for an Upper-Limb Rehabilitation Exosuit

Upper-limb exosuits are light wearable devices suitable for applications such as rehabilitation or assistance in industrial environments. One of the main drawbacks of these systems is the amount of uncertainties intrinsic to the nature of the device. Moreover, the direct interaction between the exosuit and its user adds disturbances to the system. Therefore, a robust control architecture to these phenomena is required for its appropriate control. In this article, a robust motion (position and speed) control architecture based on a cascade proportional-integral (PI) and a sliding mode controller (SMC), and a nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) for the upper-limb cable-driven rehabilitation exosuit LUXBIT is designed. We call the proposed controller by the acronym CPISDO. The SMC nature allows to compensate the matched disturbances and uncertainties, while the NDO counteracts the unmatched ones. The PI component helps in reducing tracking error. Dynamic modelling, system architecture and control design are addressed. The CPISDO controller has been implemented over the exosuit and several experiments have been performed over 10 healthy subjects to evaluate the controller’s tracking performance as well as the disturbance rejection. Supertwisting (a state-of-the-art SMC) and PI controllers have been implemented for CPISDO validation. Results are compared with other state-of-the-art solutions.
Does the CMB prefer a leptonic Universe?

Recent observations of the cosmic microwave background at smallest angular scales and updated abundances of primordial elements indicate an increase of the energy density and the helium-4 abundance with respect to standard big bang nucleosynthesis with three neutrino flavour. This calls for a reanalysis of the observational bounds on neutrino chemical potentials, which encode the number asymmetry between cosmic neutrinos and anti-neutrinos and thus measures the lepton asymmetry of the Universe. We compare recent data with a big bang nucleosynthesis code, assuming neutrino flavour equilibration via neutrino oscillations before the onset of big bang nucleosynthesis. We find a preference for negative neutrino chemical potentials, which would imply an excess of anti-neutrinos and thus a negative lepton number of the Universe. This lepton asymmetry could exceed the baryon asymmetry by orders of magnitude.
Community Neighboring Norms and the Prevalence and Management of Private Neighbor Problems

Neighbor relations are informal social ties that constitute part of everyday urban life. While the benefits of neighborliness are well established, less is known about the manifestation of private neighbor nuisances. Specifically, research examining the influence of community social contexts on the propensity for neighbor nuisances and the resolution of nuisance issues through informal pathways remains limited. Drawing on a stratified sample of over 4,000 residents living in 147 communities, we conducted multilevel regression analyses to examine the impact of individual-level neighboring behavior and community-level norms of neighboring on the likelihood of (1) individuals experiencing neighbor nuisances, and (2) individuals responding to neighbor nuisances informally. We found that community-level neighborliness and structural characteristics were associated with the likelihood of experiencing private neighbor nuisance issues as opposed to individual-level neighboring behaviors. Individual-level social ties in the community and neighboring were significantly associated with individual responses to neighbor nuisance issues.
How Sensitive Is The CMB To A Single Lens

We study the imprints of a single lens, that breaks statistical isotropy, on the CMB and calculate the signal to noise ratio (S/N) for its detection. We emphasize the role of non-Gaussianities induced by ΛCDM weak lensing in this calculation and show that typically the S/N is much smaller than expected. In particular we find that the hypothesis that a void (texture) is responsible for the WMAP cold spot can barely (cannot) be tested via weak lensing of the CMB.
FILAMENTARY STAR FORMATION: OBSERVING THE EVOLUTION TOWARD FLATTENED ENVELOPES

Filamentary structures are ubiquitous from large-scale molecular clouds (a few parsecs) to small-scale circumstellar envelopes around Class 0 sources (∼1000 AU to ∼0.1 pc). In particular, recent observations with the Herschel Space Observatory emphasize the importance of large-scale filaments (a few parsecs) and star formation. The small-scale flattened envelopes around Class 0 sources are reminiscent of the large-scale filaments. We propose an observationally derived scenario for filamentary star formation that describes the evolution of filaments as part of the process for formation of cores and circumstellar envelopes. If such a scenario is correct, small-scale filamentary structures (0.1 pc in length) with higher densities embedded in starless cores should exist, although to date almost all the interferometers have failed to observe such structures. We perform synthetic observations of filaments at the prestellar stage by modeling the known Class 0 flattened envelope in L1157 using both the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA). We show that with reasonable estimates for the column density through the flattened envelope, the CARMA D array at 3 mm wavelengths is not able to detect such filamentary structure, so previous studies would not have detected them. However, the substructures may be detected with the CARMA D+E array at 3 mm and the CARMA E array at 1 mm as a result of more appropriate resolution and sensitivity. ALMA is also capable of detecting the substructures and showing the structures in detail compared to the CARMA results with its unprecedented sensitivity. Such detection will confirm the new proposed paradigm of non-spherical star formation.
Adaptation and Health: Are Countries with More Climate-Sensitive Health Sectors More Likely to Receive Adaptation Aid?

Climate change poses a severe challenge for many developing countries, and the need to adapt has been widely recognized. Public health is one of the sectors where adaptation is necessary, as a warming climate likely affects general health conditions, the spread of various diseases, etc. Some countries are more affected by such climatic challenges, as their climate sensitivity—both to health-related issues and to climate change in general—is higher. This study examines whether more climate-sensitive countries are more likely to receive support from donors through the relatively new channel of adaptation aid, with a particular focus on the health sector. To investigate this relationship, this study proposes and operationalizes a new indicator to capture climate sensitivity of countries’ health sectors. The results, however, indicate that climate sensitivity does not matter for adaptation aid allocation. Instead, adaptation aid to a large degree follows development aid. In light of the promises repeatedly made by donors in the climate negotiations that adaptation aid should go to the most vulnerable, developing countries should push for a different allocation mechanism of adaptation aid in future negotiation rounds.
Enhancing the Antioxidant Ability of Momordica grosvenorii Saponin to Resist Gastrointestinal Stresses via Microcapsules of Sodium Alginate and Chitosan and Its Application in Beverage

Momordica grosvenorii saponin (MGS), as a promising dietary supplement with remarkable biological properties, has poor stability under acidic conditions and thus hinders its application in functional foods. In this study, capsules of chitosan and sodium alginate were successfully prepared to enhance the stability of MGS. The optimized parameters for preparing MGS capsules were established. Sodium alginate of 20.8 mg/mL and triplication of MGS powder were added to chitosan of 4 mg/mL and calcium chloride of 10 mg/mL at a volume ratio of 3:1, stirring at 1000 r/min for 30 min to form the capsules. In this case, the fresh particles averaged 1687 μm with an encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 80.25% MGS. The capsule tolerated acidic environments better, and in vitro MGS could be controlled to release in a stimulated gastrointestinal tract system. The antioxidant activity and delayed release of MGS could be achieved by microencapsulation of chitosan/sodium alginate. Moreover, one drink containing 19 mg/mL MGS was successfully developed for the fruit.
Regression analysis in an illness-death model with interval-censored data: A pseudo-value approach

Pseudo-values provide a method to perform regression analysis for complex quantities with right-censored data. A further complication, interval-censored data, appears when events such as dementia are studied in an epidemiological cohort. We propose an extension of the pseudo-value approach for interval-censored data based on a semi-parametric estimator computed using penalised likelihood and splines. This estimator takes interval-censoring and competing risks into account in an illness-death model. We apply the pseudo-value approach to three mean value parameters of interest in studies of dementia: the probability of staying alive and non-demented, the restricted mean survival time without dementia and the absolute risk of dementia. Simulation studies are conducted to examine properties of pseudo-values based on this semi-parametric estimator. The method is applied to the French cohort PAQUID, which included more than 3,000 non-demented subjects, followed for dementia for more than 25 years.
A kinematic model of a humanoid lower limb exoskeleton with pneumatic actuators.

PURPOSE Although it is well-established that exoskeletons as robots attached to the human body's extremities increase their strength, limited studies presented a computer and mathematical model of a human leg pneumatic exoskeleton based on anthropometric data. METHODS By using Inertial Measurement Units a lower limb joint angles (hip, knee and ankle in sagittal plane) during walking and running were calculated. The geometric model of a human leg pneumatic exoskeleton was presented. Joint angle data acquired during experiments were used in the mathematical model. RESULTS The position and velocity of exoskeleton actuators in each phase of the movement were calculated using the MATLAB package (Matlab_R2017b, The MathWorks Company, Novi, MI, USA). CONCLUSIONS The obtained results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach that can be utilized to analyze the kinematics of pneumatic exoskeletons using the dedicated design process. The developed mathematical model makes it possible to determine the position of lower limb segments and exoskeleton elements. The proposed model allows for calculating the position of the human leg and actuators' characteristic points.
Prediction of equations of state of molecular liquids by an artificial neural network.

In this work an artificial neural network (ANN) was used to determine the pressure and internal energy equations of state of noble gases and some molecular liquids by predicting thermodynamic state variables like density and temperature encoded in the radial distribution function. The ANN is trained to predict the thermodynamic state variables using only the structural data. Then, predicted values are used to compute equations of state of real liquids such as argon, neon, krypton and xenon as well as some molecular liquids like nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and ethylene. In order to assess the ANN predictions the relative percentage error with the exact values were determined, showing that its magnitude is less than 1%. Thus, the comparison between equations of state computed with the predicted variables and experimental results exhibits a very good agreement for most of the liquids studied here. Since our ANN implementation only requires the microscopic structure as an input, data incoming from experiments, theoretical frameworks or simulations are suitable to perform predictions of state variables and with that complement the thermodynamic characterisation of liquids through the determination of equations of state. Moreover, further improvements or extensions related with the microscopic structure database can be safely addressed without changing the neural network architecture presented here.
Recovering Cucurbita pepo cv. ‘Lungo Fiorentino’ Wastes: UHPLC-HRMS/MS Metabolic Profile, the Basis for Establishing Their Nutra- and Cosmeceutical Valorisation

Food-waste is produced throughout all the food supply chain, with a large part already achieved at farm level. In fact, fruits and vegetables, which do not satisfy aesthetic demands, cannot be marketed, but their recovery could favour their valorisation for the obtainment of highly qualified goods. In this context, faulty zucchini fruits (cultivar ‘Lungo Fiorentino’), intended for disposal, were rescued as effective, inexpensive and bio-sustainable source for cosmeceutical purposes. Zucchini fruits underwent extraction and fractionation to obtain ZLF-O and ZLF-A extracts, which were chemically characterized by UHPLC-HRMS. ZLF-A extract, rich in flavonols and flavones, scavenged massively DPPH• and ABTS•+, and was not cytotoxic at doses up to 200 μg/mL. Thus, ZLF-A was incorporated into a base cream formula. Zucchini-based emulsion was deeply screened for its antiradical properties and cytotoxicity towards human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. ZLF-A-enriched cream, whose chemical stability was assessed over time and mimicking different storage conditions, was further tested on reconstructed epidermis disks (EpiskinTM). The recovery of valuable chemical substances from zucchini agro-food waste, complying with the principles of valorisation and sustainable development, can represent a new market force for local farmers. Data acquired were eager to convey a suitable reuse of nutraceuticals rich zucchini waste.
A minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of nutcracker syndrome using individualized three-dimensional printed extravascular titanium stents

Abstract Background This study was designed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with nutcracker syndrome (NCS) who were treated with three-dimensional printing (3DP) extravascular titanium stents (EVTSs). The 3DP EVTS was expected to release the hypertension of the left renal vein (LRV) produced by its compression between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the aorta without causing any complications. Method The pre-operative kidney model of each patient was printed out to enable surgical planning. After that, the EVTS was designed based on the LRV's primitive physiologic structure using computer-aided design software, and each stent was printed out with a precision setting of 20 μm. Seventeen patients who had been suffering from NCS underwent laparoscopic 3DP EVTS placement. The surgical procedure was designed for the placement of EVTS, taking great care in positioning and fixing the stent. Surgical data, which included patient demographic characteristics as well as pre- and post-operative test results, were collected and analyzed. Results The mean duration of surgery was 75 ± 9 min, and the mean blood loss was 20 ± 5 mL. Computed tomography examinations revealed that the pre- and post-operative angle between the SMA and the aorta ranged from 18.7° ± 4.3° to 48.0° ± 8.8° (P < 0.05); in patients with left varicocele, the mean diameter of the left spermatic vein ranged from 3.7 ± 0.5 to 1.3 ± 0.2 mm (P < 0.05). Moreover, Doppler ultrasound examinations showed that the peak velocity of blood flow at the hilar area ranged from 12.4 ± 3.3 to 18.5 ± 3.4 cm/s (P < 0.05). No side effects were observed in the 24 to 42 months following surgery. Conclusion The findings after 2 years of follow-up suggest that the 3DP EVTS is a safe and effective minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of NCS.
The Role of the Microbiome in the Metabolic Health of People with Schizophrenia and Related Psychoses: Cross-Sectional and Pre-Post Lifestyle Intervention Analyses

The microbiome has been implicated in the development of metabolic conditions which occur at high rates in people with schizophrenia and related psychoses. This exploratory proof-of-concept study aimed to: (i) characterize the gut microbiota in antipsychotic naïve or quasi-naïve people with first-episode psychosis, and people with established schizophrenia receiving clozapine therapy; (ii) test for microbiome changes following a lifestyle intervention which included diet and exercise education and physical activity. Participants were recruited from the Eastern Suburbs Mental Health Service, Sydney, Australia. Anthropometric, lifestyle and gut microbiota data were collected at baseline and following a 12-week lifestyle intervention. Stool samples underwent 16S rRNA sequencing to analyse microbiota diversity and composition. Seventeen people with established schizophrenia and five people with first-episode psychosis were recruited and matched with 22 age-sex, BMI and ethnicity matched controls from a concurrent study for baseline comparisons. There was no difference in α-diversity between groups at baseline, but microbial composition differed by 21 taxa between the established schizophrenia group and controls. In people with established illness pre-post comparison of α-diversity showed significant increases after the 12-week lifestyle intervention. This pilot study adds to the current literature that detail compositional differences in the gut microbiota of people with schizophrenia compared to those without mental illness and suggests that lifestyle interventions may increase gut microbial diversity in patients with established illness. These results show that microbiome studies are feasible in patients with established schizophrenia and larger studies are warranted to validate microbial signatures and understand the relevance of lifestyle change in the development of metabolic conditions in this population.
Non-classical interference between independent sources

When a one-photon state is mixed with a (separate) weak coherent state at a beamsplitter the probability for seeing one photon in each beamsplitter output approaches zero due to destructive interference. We demonstrate this non-classical interference effect using pulse-gated single photons and weak mode-locked laser pulses.