Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3DL-PIM: A Look-Up Table Oriented Programmable Processing in Memory Architecture Based on the 3-D Stacked Memory for Data-Intensive Applications

Memory-centric computing systems have demonstrated superior performance and efficiency in memory-intensive applications compared to state-of-the-art CPUs and GPUs. 3-D stacked DRAM architectures unlock higher I/O data bandwidth than the traditional 2-D memory architecture and therefore are better suited for incorporating memory-centric processors. However, merely integrating high-precision ALUs in the 3-D stacked memory does not ensure an optimized design since such a design can only achieve a limited utilization of the internal bandwidth of a memory chip and limited operational parallelization. To address this, we propose 3DL-PIM, a 3-D stacked memory-based Processing in Memory (PIM) architecture that locates a plurality of Look-up Table (LUT)-based low-footprint Processing Elements (PE) within the memory banks in order to achieve high parallel computing performance by maximizing data-bandwidth utilization. Instead of relying on the traditional logic-based ALUs, the PEs are formed by clustering a group of programmable LUTs and therefore can be programmed on-the-fly to perform various logic/arithmetic operations. Our simulations show that 3DL-PIM can achieve respectively up to 2.6× higher processing performance at 2.65× higher area efficiency compared to a state-of-the-art 3-D stacked memory-based accelerator.
Flux singularities in multiphase wavetrains and the Kadomtsev‐Petviashvili equation with applications to stratified hydrodynamics

This paper illustrates how the singularity of the wave action flux causes the Kadomtsev‐Petviashvili (KP) equation to arise naturally from the modulation of a two‐phased wavetrain, causing the dispersion to emerge from the classical Whitham modulation theory. Interestingly, the coefficients of the resulting KP are shown to be related to the associated conservation of wave action for the original wavetrain, and therefore may be obtained prior to the modulation. This provides a universal form for the KP as a dispersive reduction from any Lagrangian with the appropriate wave action flux singularity. The theory is applied to the full water wave problem with two layers of stratification, illustrating how the KP equation arises from the modulation of a uniform flow state and how its coefficients may be extracted from the system.
PROJECTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY OF THE LEGAL AMAZON – BRAZIL

The Amazon Rainforest is one of the main carbon sinks (CO2) on the planet. However, recently, due to anthropic activities and climate change, it has lost its stability in CO2 absorption. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of future climate change scenarios becomes essential. We assess the influence of future climate change scenarios on NPP (biomass) levels in the Amazon Forest using ML models. The tested models were Bayesian, Linear Model, and Random Forest. The current scenario was evaluated using 19 bioclimatic covariates (worldclim dataset). While the future scenarios were based on RCPs 2.6 and 8.5 (based on the models of the MIROC5 and HadGEM2-ES models). Random Forest had the best performance statistic (R² = 0.71 in training and 0.68 in holdout-test). The climate change scenarios will imply an increase in the average NPP for the Amazon forest, especially with greater intensification in RCP 2.6 (2 and 7.69 % for the HadGEM2-ES and MIROC5 models, respectively). Forests (Evergreen Broadleaf Forests areas) will have greater carbon fixation capacity. In general, the Amazon forest will have increased carbon fixation capacity by the end of the century.
U-bent plastic optical fiber based plasmonic biosensor for nucleic acid detection

This study presents the development of low cost, rapid and highly sensitive plasmonic sandwich DNA biosensor using U-bent plastic optical fiber (POF) probes with high evanescent wave absorbance sensitivity and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as labels. Plastic optical fiber (PMMA core and fluorinated polymer as cladding) offer ease in machinability and handling due to which optimum U-bent geometry (with fiber and bend diameter of 0.5 and 1.5 mm respectively) for high sensitivity could be achieved. A sensitive fiber optic DNA biosensor is realized by (i) modifying the PMMA surface using ethylenediamine (EDA) in order to maximize the immobilization of capture oligonucleotides (ONs) and (ii) conjugating probe ONs to AuNP labels of optimum size (~ 35 nm) with high extinction coefficient and optimal ON surface density. The sandwich hybridization assay on U-bent POF probes results in increase in optical absorbance through the probe with increase in target ON concentration due to the presence of increased number of AuNPs. The absorbance of light passing through the U-bent probe due to the presence of AuNP labels on its surface as result of sandwich DNA hybridization is measured using a halogen lamp and a fiber optic spectrometer. A picomolar limit of detection of target ON (0.2 pM or 1 pg/ml or 5 attomol in 25 μL) is achieved with this biosensing scheme, indicating its potential for the development of a highly sensitive DNA biosensor.
Relationship between Cyanobacterial Abundance and Physicochemical Variables in the Ebro Basin Reservoirs (Spain)

One of the main problems arising in inland waterbodies is nutrient enrichment that accelerates eutrophication, causing massive cyanobacteria blooms and degrading aquatic ecosystems. This study focused on physical/chemical factors that affect cyanobacteria of 30 reservoirs in the Ebro River basin within the Iberian Peninsula of northeastern Spain. The abundance of cyanobacteria was assessed as total cell number, total biovolume, and the indicator pigment, total phycocyanin (PC). In addition, empirical measurements for PC were compared to PC estimated from remote sensing. Variables assessed for correlation with cyanobacteria abundance included temperature, pH, light availability inferred from Secchi depth, water residence time, total nitrogen, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, silica, and total phytoplankton biomass as chlorophyll a. These variables were also assessed with a multi-statistical principal component analysis for relationships with cyanobacteria abundance. Cyanobacteria cell number and biovolume were positively correlated with temperature, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and water residence time, and negatively correlated with silica. High PC concentrations were documented in the reservoirs, and satellite images from remote sensing showed the PC spatial distribution and heterogeneity in the reservoirs. The PCA results show that some variables, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are closely related to the abundance of cyanobacteria, while other variables such as silica do not show a clear relationship. This study contributes to the knowledge base about inland waterbodies from a physical/chemical perspective, which had not been done before in the Ebro Basin, including the application of analytic tools such as remote sensing.
Hierarchical Bayesian models for predicting spatially correlated curves

ABSTRACT Functional data analysis has emerged as a new area of statistical research with a wide range of applications. In this paper, we propose novel models based on wavelets for spatially correlated functional data. These models enable one to regularize curves observed over space and predict curves at unobserved sites. We compare the performance of these Bayesian models with several priors on the wavelet coefficients using the posterior predictive criterion. The proposed models are illustrated in the analysis of porosity data.
An improved comorbidity summary score for measuring disease burden and predicting mortality with applications to two national cohorts

Abstract Research involving administrative healthcare data to study patient outcomes requires the investigator to account for the patient’s disease burden in order to reduce the potential for biased results. Here we develop a comorbidity summary score based on variable importance measures derived from several statistical and machine learning methods and show it has superior predictive performance to the Elixhauser and Charlson indices when used to predict 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year mortality. We used two large Veterans Administration cohorts to develop and validate the summary score and compared predictive performance using the area under ROC curve (AUC) and the Brier score.
The two faces of persistence: How harmonious and obsessive passion shape goal pursuit.

Persistence is generally viewed a unitary construct measuring the extent towhich people pursue a goal often in the face of adversity. Here, we propose two different forms of persistence, rigid and ﬂ exible, that take origins in different determinants and lead to different activity and life outcomes. Based on the Dualistic Model of Passion (Vallerand, 2015), we propose two types of persistence — ﬂ exible and rigid — that are speci ﬁ c to the activity that one is passionate about. Flexible persistence takes origins in harmonious passion for an activity and entails pursuing activity goals with an open and broad focus that allows one to attend to other life goals. It enables people to pursue the desired activity goals while experiencing positive activity outcomes and attaining other life outcomes. Conversely, rigid persistence takes roots primarily in obsessive passion and entails pursuing activity goals with a narrower focusthat facilitates reaching some activity goals and outcomes, but not outcomes outside of the activity in one ’ s life. Results from six studies involving over 3,000 participants from different populations using correlational, prospective, and experimental research designs provide support for this new perspective on persistence.
Nitenpyram biodegradation by a novel nitenpyram-degrading bacterium, Ochrobactrum sp. strain DF-1, and its novel degradation pathway

Nitenpyram is a neonicotinoid insecticide that is commonly found in the environment. However, its biodegradation by pure cultures of bacteria has not been widely investigated and the catabolic pathway (s) for nitenpyram metabolism remain elusive. In this study, the aerobic strain DF-1, isolated from a wastewater-treatment pool contaminated with nitenpyram. The strain was designated an Ochrobactrum sp. utilizing a combination of traditional methods and molecular ones. Strain DF-1 can use nitenpyram as a sole carbon or nitrogen source for growth. In liquid medium, 100 mg·L−1 nitenpyram was metabolized to undetectable levels within 10 days. Four metabolites were found by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses during nitenpyram degradation. According to the aforementioned data, a partial metabolic pathway of nitenpyram was proposed of strain DF-1. Inoculation of strain DF-1 promoted nitenpyram (10 mg·kg−1) degradation in either sterile or non-sterile soil. To our knowledge, this is the first characterization of nitenpyram degradation by a specific bacterium and likely to be exploited for the remediation of nitenpyram-contaminated sites.
Complete monotonicity of solutions of the Abel equation $F(e^x)=F(x)+1$

Summary. We investigate the functions F : R → R which are C ∞ solutions of the Abel functional equation F ( e x ) = F ( x ) + 1 . In particular, we determine the asymptotic behaviour of the derivatives and show that no solution can have F ′ completely monotonic on any interval ( α, ∞ ) . We discuss what could be considered the best behaved solution of this equation.
A feasible direction algorithm for nonlinear second-order cone programs

ABSTRACT In this work, we present a new feasible direction algorithm for solving smooth nonlinear second-order cone programs. These consist of minimizing a nonlinear smooth objective function subject to some nonlinear second-order cone constraints. Given an interior point to the feasible set defined by the conic constraints, the algorithm generates a feasible sequence with monotone decreasing values of the objective function. Under mild assumptions, we prove the global convergence of the algorithm to KKT points. Finally, we present some computational results applied to several instances of randomly generated benchmark problems and robust support vector machine classification.
The Impact of Patient Preference on Attendance and Completion Rates at Centre-Based and mHealth Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Non-Inferiority Pragmatic Clinical Trial

Purpose Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is vital in the management of chronic respiratory disorders (CRDs) although uptake, attendance and completion are poor. Differing models of delivering PR are emerging in an attempt to increase the uptake and completion of this intervention. This study aimed to evaluate participant rate of attendance and completion of PR when given a preference regarding model of delivery (centre-based and mPR). Secondary aims were to evaluate the factors affecting patient preference for model of delivery and determine whether mPR is non-inferior to centre-based PR in health outcomes. Methods A multi-centre non-inferiority preference based clinical trial in Auckland, New Zealand. Participants with a CRD referred for PR were offered the choice of centre-based or mHealth PR (mPR). The primary outcome was completion rate of chosen intervention. Results A total of 105 participants were recruited to the study with 67 (64%) preferring centre-based and 38 (36%) mPR. The odds of completing the PR programme were higher in the centre-based group compared to mPR (odds ratio 1.90 95% CI [0.83–4.35]). Participants opting for mPR were significantly younger (p = 0.002) and significantly more likely to be working (p = 0.0001). Results showed that mPR was not inferior to centre-based regarding changes in symptom scores (CAT) or time spent in sedentary behaviour (SBQ). When services were forced to transition to telehealth services during COVID-19 restrictions, the attendance and completion rates were higher with telephone calls and video conferencing compared to mPR – suggesting that synchronous interpersonal interactions with clinicians may facilitate the best attendance and completion rates. Conclusion When offered the choice of PR delivery method, the majority of participants preferred centre-based PR and this facilitated the best completion rates. mPR was the preferred choice for younger, working participants suggesting that mPR may offer a viable alternative to centre-based PR for some participants, especially younger, employed participants.
A Deterministic Method To Detect Wave Directions From Surface Elevations: Accuracy And Sensitivity Analysis For The SWDD Method By Using Synthetic Wave Signals And The Mild-Slope Wave Model WIHA

This research describes a new method called SWDD (Klopman, Witteveen+Bos, 2018b), which can obtain information on wave propagation directions from the surface elevations at a set of positions. The primary intention of the method is to separate multiple incoming wave components, i.e. wave heights, phases and directions. The goal is to obtain the incoming wave conditions, that can among others be used in the design of (coastal) structures and assessment of moored ship response. The novelty of this method is that a large number of incoming wave directions is prescribed, equally distributed around a circle. For each of these many incoming wave conditions, the wave amplitude and phase are the unknowns (while the directions are known). The main advantage is that this makes the problem linear and in that aspect easier to solve. The disadvantage is that, most often, the resulting system becomes ill-posed (having more unknowns than equations). This problem is solved by using Tikhonov regularization (Tikhonov and Arsenin, 1977) together with the L-curve method (Hansen, 1992; 2000). The main differences with other common deterministic directional wave-analysis methods are: the SWDD method is free of user-checks after each analysis, the directional resolution is higher, the computation time is faster and a wave field reconstruction after the directional wave-analysis is possible. The applicability of the SWDD method has been tested using synthetic wave signals for (the sum of) monochromatic long-crested waves, prescribed wave patterns – containing wave-crest curvature and wave amplitude variation – and model results of a mild-slope wave model (WIHA). Multiple sensitivity analyses have been applied to check the sensitivity of the SWDD method to: various physical phenomena (e.g. diffraction and wave amplitude variation), domain variations (e.g. slopes) and input parameter variation. The study shows that the SWDD method is able to analyse irregular wave-fields using an array configuration containing a low number of gauges and a dense grid containing many gauges. Based on the findings an advisory flowchart is presented on how to determine the optimum radius of the array setup for using the SWDD method in practice, both for the analysis of data from phase-resolving numerical wave models and from measurements. The study shows that the SWDD method is a robust and reliable method to analyse (complex) wave fields on a (near) homogeneous bathymetry. The incoming wave direction(s) and associated wave height(s) are graphically depicted in a polar plot or a directional spectrum.
USNO-B1.0 1452–0049820 and ASAS J102556+2049.3: Two W UMa Binaries Close to the Lower Mass-ratio Limit

Photometric observations of the W UMa binaries USNO-B1.0 1452–0049820 and ASAS J102556+2049.3 are presented. The results from the light curve solutions are as follows: (i) the component temperatures are T1 = 6400 K and T2 = 6300 K for USNO-B1.0 1452–0049820 and T1 = 6000 K and T2 = 5930 K for ASAS J102556+2049; (ii) the photometric mass ratios are well determined because the targets undergo total eclipses; (iii) both mass ratios are close to the lower mass-ratio limit (0.111 and 0.131 correspondingly); (iv) the fillout factors of the two targets are unexpectedly small (0.045 and 0.243, respectively) for their mass ratios. The global parameters of the target components were estimated on the basis of the empirical relationship “period–total mass” for low mass-ratio binaries. We established a period decrease for ASAS J102556+2049.3 of dP/dt = −3.39 × 10−6 day yr−1.
AUTOSTAR-GAN: MULTI-DOMAIN IMAGE-TO-IMAGE TRANSLATION WITH UNLABELED DATA

Recent studies have shown remarkable success in image-to-image translation for multiple domains. However, those models are hard to use in real case, since many image are unlabeled images and we can not know in advance which domain those unlabeled images are. In this paper, we indicate two main problems: ﬁx image attributes problem and middle attributes compulsory change problem. To address this limitation, we propose AutoStar-GAN, a novel and scalable approach that can automatically recognize the attributes of unlabeled image and perform image-to-image translations for multiple domains.
An effective hybrid search method for the quadratic knapsack problem with conflict graphs

The quadratic knapsack problem (QKP) is a variant of the well-known knapsack problem and arises in a variety of real life applications. The quadratic knapsack problem with conﬂict graphs (QKPCG) further extends QKP by considering the conﬂicts of items. In this work, we propose an eﬀective hybrid search method based on the framework of memetic algorithm to tackle QKPCG. The method integrates a randomized uniform-based crossover operator to generate promising oﬀspring solutions, a multi-neighborhood tabu search to perform local optimization, and a streamline technique to speed up the evaluation of candidate solutions. The method shows a competitive performance compared to the state-of-the-art approaches in the literature. It ﬁnds 3 improved best-known solutions and matches the best-known solutions for all the remaining cases out of the 45 benchmark instances. We investigate the eﬀects of the key ingredients of the algorithm.
High-Fiber Diet and Crohn’s Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). CD is a health problem in Western countries such as the US and European nations and is an idiopathic disease; however, certain cases of CD have been associated with intestinal dysbiosis. A systematic review with a meta-analysis was carried out to determine the efficacy of a diet rich in fiber with or without cointervention to improve remission rates for CD. The literature in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials databases was reviewed. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scale. This review was conducted in accordance with the structure outlined in the PRISMA statement. In addition, a meta-analysis was performed with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a random effects model. Eleven studies were included, totaling 2389 patients with CD. Applying a diet rich in fiber with or without the administration of routine therapies improved CD remission rates. Data regarding CD activity, remission time, and adverse effects derived from fiber consumption were analyzed. Consumption of fiber in the diet could improve remission rates for CD patients who receive or do not receive other treatment to maintain remission.
Marketability Study of Mathematical Sciences Students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Higher Education Institute (HEI) has a vital role in developing human capital of a country. Measuring the quality of teaching and learning system in HEI and also industry’s satisfaction level is important to ensure the marketability of HEI graduates. This study examined Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Mathematical Sciences students’ marketability by determining industry’s satisfaction level on students’ skills and abilities during industrial training and identifies factors that affect students’ marketability. There were 22 student attributes that were categorized into four factors. Mean scores and Relative Importance Analysis determined the satisfaction and importance level of each attribute studied respectively. Besides, Penalty-Reward Contrast Analysis (PRCA) showed that affective factor was categorized as a basic factor where its existence did not increase but its absence decreased the industry’s satisfaction level. For Importance Performance Analysis (IPA), cognitive, affective, and cognitive & psychomotor factors were observed in the first quadrant which had high importance level but low performance level. Lastly, all four factors were found in the loyal customer zone and at an excellent level through Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) analysis. In conclusion, UKM Mathematical Sciences students have high marketability in general, but preservation and improvement should be implemented on important attributes to enhance their marketability.
Alveolar ridge preservation: A review of concepts and controversies

The loss of thickness and height of the alveolar process after tooth extraction is a significant impediment to implant placement, which limits the aesthetic results of many restorative treatments. Alveolar ridge preservation can reduce bone resorption. Knowing how beneficial this procedure is can help clinicians decide if it is worth doing. The purpose of this article is to present a contemporary review of the different approaches to preserving the dimensions of the alveolar ridge. We analyze the alveolar healing process, atraumatic extraction techniques, graft materials, and controversies.