Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pattern sensitive placement for manufacturability

When VLSI technology scales toward 45nm, the lithography wavelength stays at 193nm. This large gap results in strong refractive effects in lithography. Consequently, it is a huge challenge to reliably print layout features on wafers and the printing is more susceptible to lithographic process variations. Although resolution enhancement techniques can mitigate this manufacturability problem, their capabilities are overstretched by the continuous shrinking of VLSI feature size. On the other hand,the quality and robustness of lithography directly depend on layout patterns. Therefore, it becomes imperative to consider the manufacturability issue during layout design such that the burden of lithography process can be alleviated. In this paper, the problem of cell placement considering manufacturability is studied. Instead of designing a new cellplacer, our goal is to tune any existing cell placement solution to be lithography friendly. For this purpose, three algorithms are proposed, which are cell flipping algorithm, single row optimization approach and multiple row optimization approach. These algorithms are based on dynamic programming and graph theoretic approaches, and can provide different tradeoff between edge placement error (EPE)reduction and wirelength increase. Using lithography simulations, our experimental results on realistic netlists and cell library demonstrate that over 20% EPE reduction can be obtained by thenew approaches while only less than 1% additional wire is introduced.
Predictive Control of Multizone HVAC Systems in Non-residential Buildings

Abstract In France, buildings account for a large part of the energy consumption and carbon emissions. Both are mainly due to Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems. So, the present work deals with the predictive control of multizone HVAC systems in non-residential buildings. We used the PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) index as a thermal comfort indicator and developed low-order ANN-based models to be used as controller's internal models. A genetic algorithm allowed the optimization problem to be solved. The proposed strategy allows the operation time of each HVAC sub-system to be optimized (and, as a result, electrical power consumption) and thermal comfort requirements to be met. In order to test this approach, a real non-residential building located in Perpignan (south of France) has been modelled using the EnergyPlus software. The results we obtained in simulation allows the pertinence of the predicitive strategy to be highlighted.
Presence of glucose, xylose, and glycerol fermenting bacteria in the deep biosphere of the former Homestake gold mine, South Dakota

Eight fermentative bacterial strains were isolated from mixed enrichment cultures of a composite soil sample collected at 1.34 km depth from the former Homestake gold mine in Lead, SD, USA. Phylogenetic analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that these isolates were affiliated with the phylum Firmicutes belonging to genera Bacillus and Clostridium. Batch fermentation studies demonstrated that isolates had the ability to ferment glucose, xylose, or glycerol to industrially valuable products such as ethanol and 1,3-propanediol (PDO). Ethanol was detected as the major fermentation end product in glucose-fermenting cultures at pH 10 with yields of 0.205–0.304 g of ethanol/g of glucose. While a xylose-fermenting strain yielded 0.189 g of ethanol/g of xylose and 0.585 g of acetic acid/g of xylose at the end of fermentation. At pH 7, glycerol-fermenting isolates produced PDO (0.323–0.458 g of PDO/g of glycerol) and ethanol (0.284–0.350 g of ethanol/g of glycerol) as major end products while acetic acid and succinic acid were identified as minor by-products in fermentation broths. These results suggest that the deep biosphere of the former Homestake gold mine harbors bacterial strains which could be used in bio-based production of ethanol and PDO.
Dynamics of Stochastic Gradient Algorithms

Stochastic gradient algorithms (SGA) are increasingly popular in machine learning applications and have become "the algorithm" for extremely large scale problems. Although there are some convergence results, little is known about their dynamics. In this paper, We propose the method of stochastic modified equations (SME) to analyze the dynamics of the SGA. Using this technique, we can give precise characterizations for both the initial convergence speed and the eventual oscillations, at least in some special cases. Furthermore, the SME formalism allows us to characterize various speed-up techniques, such as introducing momentum, adjusting the learning rate and the mini-batch sizes. Previously, these techniques relied mostly on heuristics. Besides introducing simple examples to illustrate the SME formalism, we also apply the framework to improve the relaxed randomized Kaczmarz method for solving linear equations. The SME framework is a precise and unifying approach to understanding and improving the SGA, and has the potential to be applied to many more stochastic algorithms.
Octreotide in the Prevention of Post-ERCP Pancreatic Injury

TO THE EDITOR: We read with interest the results of the randomized trial carried out by Li et al. on the prophylactic benefit of octreotide administration in reducing pancreatic damage after ERCP (1). In this study, the drug was able to reduce the incidence of postprocedural pancreatitis to one half that of the control group. Unfortunately, the authors did provide any explanation for the discrepancy between positive results of the present study and negative data of a previous meta-analysis (2) and recent trials on this topic (3,4). Furthermore, they used a per-protocol analysis of their data, instead of the more appropriate intention-to-treat analysis. Indeed, they mention that of the 479 patients randomized to octreotide, 65 patients were excluded without providing reasons for such an action. Although this also happened in controls (482 patients randomized and 64 evaluated), one wonders how this exclusion might have affected the final results.
Female protection from slow‐pressor effects of angiotensin II involves prevention of ROS production independent of NMDA receptor trafficking in hypothalamic neurons expressing angiotensin 1A receptors

Renin–angiotensin system overactivity, upregulation of postsynaptic NMDA receptor function, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are hallmarks of angiotensin II (AngII)‐induced hypertension, which is far more common in young males than in young females. We hypothesize that the sex differences in hypertension are related to differential AngII‐induced changes in postsynaptic trafficking of the essential NMDA receptor GluN1 subunit and ROS production in PVN cells expressing angiotensin Type 1a receptor (AT1aR). We tested this hypothesis using slow‐pressor (14‐day) infusion of AngII (600 ng/kg/min) in mice, which elicits hypertension in males but not in young females. Two‐month‐old male and female transgenic mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in AT1aR‐containing cells were used. In males, but not in females, AngII increased blood pressure and ROS production in AT1aR–EGFP PVN cells at baseline and following NMDA treatment. Electron microscopy showed that AngII increased cytoplasmic and total GluN1–silver‐intensified immunogold (SIG) densities and induced a trend toward an increase in near plasmalemmal GluN1–SIG density in AT1aR–EGFP dendrites of males and females. Moreover, AngII decreased dendritic area and diameter in males, but increased dendritic area of small (<1 µm) dendrites and decreased diameter of large (>1 µm) dendrites in females. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that AT1aR and estrogen receptor β do not colocalize, suggesting that if estrogen is involved, its effect is indirect. These data suggest that the sexual dimorphism in AngII‐induced hypertension is associated with sex differences in ROS production in AT1aR‐containing PVN cells but not with postsynaptic NMDA receptor trafficking. Synapse 69:148–165, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Common knowledge : news and the construction of political meaning

Photo opportunities, ten-second sound bites, talking heads and celebrity anchors: so the world is explained daily to millions of Americans. The result, according to the experts, is an ignorant public, helpless targets of a one-way flow of carefully filtered and orchestrated communication. Common Knowledge shatters this pervasive myth. Reporting on a ground-breaking study, the authors reveal that our shared knowledge and evolving political beliefs are determined largely by how we actively reinterpret the images, fragments, and signals we find in the mass media. For their study, the authors analyzed coverage of 150 television and newspaper stories on five prominent issues--drugs, AIDS, South African apartheid, the Strategic Defense Initiative, and the stock market crash of October 1987. They tested audience responses of more than 1,600 people, and conducted in-depth interviews with a select sample. What emerges is a surprisingly complex picture of people actively and critically interpreting the news, making sense of even the most abstract issues in terms of their own lives, and finding political meaning in a sophisticated interplay of message, medium, and firsthand experience. At every turn, Common Knowledge refutes conventional wisdom. It shows that television is far more effective at raising the saliency of issues and promoting learning than is generally assumed; it also undermines the assumed causal connection between newspaper reading and higher levels of political knowledge. Finally, this book gives a deeply responsible and thoroughly fascinating account of how the news is conveyed to us, and how we in turn convey it to others, making meaning of at once so much and so little. For anyone who makes the news--or tries to make anything of it--Common Knowledge promises uncommon wisdom.
Contact Duration Aware Data Replication in DTNs with Licensed and Unlicensed Spectrum

The recent popularization of hand-held mobile devices, such as smartphones, enables the inter-connectivity among mobile users without the support of Internet infrastructure. When mobile users move and contact each other opportunistically, they form a delay tolerant network (DTN), which can be exploited to share data among them. Data replication is one of the common techniques for such data sharing. However, the unstable network topology and limited contact duration in DTNs make it difficult to directly apply traditional data replication schemes. In this paper, we recognize the deficiency of existing data replication schemes which treat the complete data item as the replication unit, and propose to replicate data at the packet level using erasure coding techniques. Our study consists of two cases based on the operating spectrum: unlicensed spectrum and licensed spectrum. For both cases, we analytically formulate the data replication problem as a mixed integer programming problem and propose a practical algorithm which operates in a fully distributed manner. Extensive simulations on both synthetic and realistic traces show that our scheme outperforms other existing replication schemes in terms of successful data retrieval probability in various scenarios.
Privacy Issues in the Era of Ubiquitous Commerce

The vision of ubiquitous commerce (u‐commerce) is realized through the convergence of electronic, mobile, television, voice and silent commerce applications. The ubiquity, universality, uniqueness and unison of u‐commerce will provide two principal benefits for individual users and businesses: increased convenience as well as more personalized and customized services. However, u‐commerce will also bring emerging issues such as a greater degree of privacy concerns that will impact individual users, companies and society at large. This paper proposes and elaborates on a conceptual framework for privacy in the u‐commerce era. This framework is developed based on Lessig's macro‐level perspective and Adams' micro‐level perspective. Using this framework, privacy issues related to u‐commerce are discussed and future research directions are presented.
Promoter Polymorphisms in the Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 Gene Are Associated With Ischemic Stroke Susceptibility in Young Black Women

Background and Purpose— Endothelial nitric oxide exerts a variety of protective effects on endothelial cells and blood vessels, and therefore the nitric oxide synthase 3 gene (NOS3) is a logical candidate gene for stroke susceptibility. Methods— We used the population-based Stroke Prevention in Young Women case-control study to assess the association of five NOS3 polymorphisms in 110 cases (46% black) with ischemic stroke and 206 controls (38% black), 15 to 44 years of age. Polymorphisms included 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region (−1468 T>A, −922 G>A, −786 T>C), 1 SNP in exon 7 (G894T), and 1 insertion/deletion polymorphism within intron 4. Results— Significant associations with both the −922 G>A and −786 T>C SNPs with ischemic stroke were observed in the black, but not the white, population. This association was attributable to an increased prevalence of the −922 A allele (OR=3.0, 95% CI=1.3 to 6.8; P=0.005) and the -786 T allele (OR=2.9, 95% CI=1.3 to 6.4; P=0.005) in cases versus controls. These 2 SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium (D′=1.0), making it impossible to determine, within the confines of this genetic study, whether 1 or both of these polymorphisms are functionally related to NOS3 expression. Two sets of haplotypes were also identified, 1 of which may confer an increased susceptibility to stroke in blacks, whereas the other appears to be protective. Conclusion— Promoter variants in NOS3 may be associated with ischemic stroke susceptibility among young black women.
Spontaneous murine lupus-like syndromes. Clinical and immunopathological manifestations in several strains

MRL/1 and BXSB male mice have a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease similar to but more acute than that occurring in NZB X W mice. The common elements of lymphoid hyperplasia, B-cell hyperactivity, autoantibodies, circulating immune complex (IC), complement consumption, IC glomerulonephritis with gp70 deposition, and thymic atrophy were found in all three kinds of SLE mice. On the basis of these common elements, SLE seen in these mice can be considered a single disease in the same sense that human SLE is one disease. The differences in the SLE expressed in the different mice are no greater than those found in an unselected series of humans with SLE. However, the significant quantitative and qualitative variations in abnormal immunologic expression suggest that different constellations of factors, genetic and/or pathophysiologic, may operate in the three murine strains and that each constellation is capable of leading, via its particular abnormal immunologic consequences, to the activation of common immunopathologic effector mechanisms that cause quite similar SLE-like syndromes. From an experimental point of view, the availability of several inbred murine strains of commonplace histocompatibility types that express an SLE-like syndrome makes possible innumerable manipulations which should help to elucidate the nature and cause(s) of this disorder.
Properties of a silica-reinforced polymer for dental restorations.

An esthetic and permanent restorative material that could be placed directly into the cavities prepared in anterior teeth would be an important contribution to dental practice and public well-being. Such a material, which would have less solubility, sensitivity to desiccation, and brittleness than the silicate cements,1,2 and have greater dimensional stability than do the methyl methacrylate direct filling resins,3’4 has been in demand for many years. The present lack of a mate­ rial complying with these requirements is a problem worthy of extensive investiga­ tion. The tests reported here were under­ taken to determine whether the desired properties could be obtained with a re­ inforced organic polymer. In industry, plastics are commonly reinforced with fibers, particles, or a combination of these. The term “reinforcement” usually is reserved for instances where the physi­ cal properties are improved; the term “ filler” often implies no improvement of physical or chemical properties. Particles, rather than fibers, were selected for use in the material described iiere. Irregular shaped particles of vitreous silica (General Electric Co.’s Clear Fused Quartz Powder), with special surface treatment, were used for the reinforce­ ment. Except where otherwise specified, the particles were vinylsilane-coated and were fine enough to pass through a no. 100 sieve of the United States standard sieve series, having dimensions of ap­ proximately 150 microns (about 0.006 inch) and smaller. The organic binder for this reinforce­ ment was specially prepared for this study, because the commercially available monomers and comonomers did not ap­ pear to be as promising, with respect to polymerization shrinkage, as the comono­ mer system to be described. This system was especially designed to have low polymerization shrinkage.
Lay Epistemics and Human Knowledge: Cognitive and Motivational Bases

1. The Lay Epistemic Framework: Its History and Scope. - 2. Knowing All: A Theory of Lay Epistemics. - 3. Empirical Research in the Lay Epistemic Framework. - 4. Unique and Nonunique Aspects of Attributions. - 5. A Bridge to Consistency Theories. - 6. Attitudes as Knowledge Structures. - 7. Further Domains of Application: Social Comparison Processes and Minority-Influence Phenomena. - 8. The Issue of Accuracy in Social Perception and Cognition. - 9. Knowing How to Cure: Implications for Cognitive Therapy. - 10. The Social Psychology of Science: On the Lay Epistemic Underpinnings of Research Methodology. - References. - Author Index.
CALIBRATING DIVERGENCE TIMES ON SPECIES TREES VERSUS GENE TREES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SPECIATION HISTORY OF APHELOCOMA JAYS

Estimates of the timing of divergence are central to testing the underlying causes of speciation. Relaxed molecular clocks and fossil calibration have improved these estimates; however, these advances are implemented in the context of gene trees, which can overestimate divergence times. Here we couple recent innovations for dating speciation events with the analytical power of species trees, where multilocus data are considered in a coalescent context. Divergence times are estimated in the bird genus Aphelocoma to test whether speciation in these jays coincided with mountain uplift or glacial cycles. Gene trees and species trees show general agreement that diversification began in the Miocene amid mountain uplift. However, dates from the multilocus species tree are more recent, occurring predominately in the Pleistocene, consistent with theory that divergence times can be significantly overestimated with gene‐tree based approaches that do not correct for genetic divergence that predates speciation. In addition to coalescent stochasticity, Haldane's rule could account for some differences in timing estimates between mitochondrial DNA and nuclear genes. By incorporating a fossil calibration applied to the species tree, in addition to the process of gene lineage coalescence, the present approach provides a more biologically realistic framework for dating speciation events, and hence for testing the links between diversification and specific biogeographic and geologic events.
Induction of Progressive Demyelinating Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Common Marmoset Monkeys Using MOG34-56 Peptide in Incomplete Freund Adjuvant

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the neotropical primate common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a relevant autoimmune animal model of multiple sclerosis. T cells specific for peptide 34 to 56 of myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG34-56) have a central pathogenic role in this model. The aim of this study was to assess the requirement for innate immune stimulation for activation of this core pathogenic autoimmune mechanism. Marmoset monkeys were sensitized against synthetic MOG34-56 peptide alone or in combination with the nonencephalitogenic peptide MOG74-96 formulated in incomplete Freund adjuvant, which lacks microbial components. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development was recorded by monitoring neurological signs, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and longitudinal profiling of cellular and humoral immune parameters. All monkeys developed autoimmune inflammatory/demyelinating central nervous system disease characterized by massive brain and spinal cord demyelinating white matter lesions with activated macrophages and CD3+ T cells. Immune profiling ex vivo demonstrated the activation of mainly CD3+CD4+/8+CD56+ T cells against MOG34-56. Upon ex vivo stimulation, these T cells produced more interleukin 17A compared with TH1 cytokines (e.g. interferon-&ggr;) and displayed peptide-specific cytolytic activity. These results indicate that the full spectrum of marmoset experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis can be induced by sensitization against a single MOG peptide in incomplete Freund adjuvant lacking microbial compounds for innate immune activation and by eliciting antigen-specific T-cell cytolytic activity.
L’accompagnement d’une communauté d’apprentissage professionnelle en réseau au service du développement professionnel de ses membres

Les communautes d’apprentissage professionnelles sont vues comme une force de changement de l’interieur meme de l’ecole (DuFour et Eaker, 1998). Elles sont presentes dans une ecole qui cherche a s’ameliorer et a reflechir sur son role – au Quebec : instruire, socialiser et qualifier – dans l’apprentissage des eleves et leur reussite scolaire. Le reseau Internet, pour sa part, est reconnu pour l’acces a des ressources, a des personnes, et vu comme une force de ralliement et de collaboration. Quelles incidences a pu avoir la combinaison de l’utilisation du reseau et de l’application des principes de la communaute d’apprentissage professionnelle sur une petite ecole dans une region eloignee du Quebec? Notre etude ethnographique, au moyen de l’observation participante, a conduit au reperage des attributs de la communaute d’apprentissage professionnelle que le reseau Internet a permis de soutenir et de stimuler. Ce developpement professionnel en reseau a ete propose a des enseignantes d’une tres petite ecole primaire/secondaire du nord du Quebec. L’etude fait ressortir les suites de l’accompagnement en reseau sur cette communaute, notamment la satisfaction des personnes participantes, de meme que les retombees sur les competences professionnelles des enseignantes.
The Study of the Prevalence of Desnos Symptoms in Traumatized Children

This qualitative study is grounded in the diagnosis of Disorders of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified (DESNOS). This diagnosis is under review to appear as a subcategory of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the upcoming DSM-V. This study evaluates DESNOS symptoms exhibited in children who have experienced interpersonal traumatic events, specifically domestic violence or sexual abuse. Outcomes suggest that children indeed display characteristics of DESNOS soon after an interpersonal trauma. The findings suggest a need for more research on techniques and treatments that can be used to help children exhibiting symptoms of DESNOS. Degree Type Open Access Senior Honors Thesis Department Social Work First Advisor Tana Bridge
Myasthenia gravis in the newborn.

A case of possible myasthenia gravis diagnosed in the newborn period has been presented. The manifestations included those of both the "neonatal" and "congenital" varieties. The symptoms were those of the neonatal variety and were transient, but the mother did not have myasthenia. A sibling who died previously at 3½ months of age may have had the same disease.