Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bipartite Full Scan Design: A DFT Method for Asynchronous Circuits

A globally-asynchronous and locally-synchronous (GALS) system has been known as a realistic hardware design solution for many difficulties such as global clock network that arise due to the continuous scaling of semiconductor technology. Although a full scan design method for synchronous circuits is applied to asynchronous circuits to achieve the same testability of their combinational parts, the overhead is extremely high. To reduce the overhead, several full scan design methods have been proposed but they cannot guarantee complete test. In this paper, we propose a bipartite full scan design as a new DFT method for asynchronous circuit where we guarantee complete test for both combinational and sequential parts of circuits with area and performance overhead comparable to the previous best method in terms of overhead.
Deficits in Ability to Decode Facial Affects in Families of Schizophrenicstype

The ability of parents of chronic schizophrenics to recognize facial affects was investigated. Fifty parents of chronic schizophrenics were administered a version of Ekman and Friesen's Basic Affect Recognition Test. Fifty parents of young hospitalized medical patients served as a control group. The parents of schizophrenics made significantly more errors in facial affect recognition than the parents of medical patients. implications for the private practitioner are discussed.
Enterprise Service Bus

This paper is a comprehensive introduction to the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), which is a new type of integration infrastructure. Therefore it gives a detailed introduction into the background of Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) and explains Message-Oriented Middleware (MOM) and ServiceOriented Architecture (SOA) which are the technologies the Enterprise Service Bus evolved out of. After discussing core ESB concepts and typical features, the open source ESB solution Mule will be presented. An example application will demonstrate how different features of an ESB are used.
Sleep characteristics, sleep problems, and associations of self-efficacy among German university students

Background Sleep problems, especially insomnia, are a common complaint among adults. International studies on university students have shown prevalence rates between 4.7% and 36.2% for sleep difficulties, and 13.1% and 28.1% for insomnia. Sleep problems are associated with lower social and academic performance and can have a severe impact on psychological and physical health. Objective The goal of this study was to outline sleep characteristics, prevalence of sleep problems, insomnia, and associations with self-efficacy among German university students. Methods A total of 2196 university students (70.9% women; mean age 24.16 years) participated in the study. Sleep characteristics, sleep problems, insomnia, and self-efficacy were assessed using a questionnaire. Results and conclusion Analyses revealed that more than 16% of surveyed students needed more than 30 minutes to fall asleep. About 7.7% of the students suffered from insomnia. Short sleep was significantly associated with a considerably increased rate of insomnia (20%). Insomniacs showed lower self-efficacy than students without sleep problems.
The red hat.

Girl with the Red Hat has a curious status among Vermeer scholars. Although this small panel painting is widely loved and admired, its attribution to Vermeer has been doubted, and even rejected, by some. [1] The attribution of this work has often been discussed in conjunction with the only other panel painting in Vermeer’s oeuvre, Girl with a Flute [fig. 1], which has been often wrongly viewed as a pendant. [2] The emotional response elicited by Girl with the Red Hat is, indeed, different from that found in other of his paintings, for as the girl turns outward, with her mouth half opened, her eyes seem lit with expectancy. The lushness of her blue robes, the almost passionate flaming red of her hat, and the subtle interplay of green and rose tones in her face give her a vibrancy unique in Vermeer’s paintings. Unlike most of his figures, she does not exist in a cerebral, abstract world. Situated before a backdrop of a figured tapestry, [3] she communicates directly with us, both staring out and drawing us in.
Approaches to modelling, analysis and control of hybrid systems

Both industry and the academic world are becoming more and more interested in techniques to model, analyse, and control complex systems that contain both analog and logical components. Such systems are called hybrid systems. Examples of hybrid systems are telecommunication networks, flexible production systems, parallel processing systems, traffic networks, and so on. In this paper we present an overview of some modelling, analysis, and control methods for hybrid systems, mainly from a systems and control point of view. All these methods have been studied intensively by the authors of this paper in the framework of their research projects.
Tracking of obesity and physical activity from childhood to adulthood: the Physical Activity Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE Body mass index (BMI) has shown moderate to strong stability through childhood into adulthood, while physical activity (PA) tracks less well. Tracking studies have often had limited follow-up lengths. The aim was to investigate BMI and PA tracking over 22 years from youth to adulthood. METHODS Subjects included 374 participants aged 7 to 18 years in the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey, who were re-evaluated in 2002-04. The stability of BMI and leisure-time PA energy expenditure (AEE) was assessed by inter-age correlations, maintenance of extreme quintiles and BMI status, and the prediction of adult overweight from youth BMI. RESULTS BMI tracking was moderate to strong (r=0.42-0.65) in females, and moderate (r=0.29-0.53) in males. Approximately 38% and 42% of youth in the highest and lowest BMI quintiles, respectively, remained in these quintiles as adults. About 83% of overweight youth remained overweight as adults, while 85% of overweight adults were not overweight youth. Almost all healthy weight adults had been healthy weight youth. The odds of being overweight in adulthood was 6.2 times greater (95% CI: 2.2-17.2) in overweight compared with healthy weight youth. PA tracking over 22 years was low and non-significant, but moderate over the final 15 years. Only 16% and 18% of youth in the highest and lowest PA quintiles, respectively, remained in these quintiles as adults. CONCLUSIONS BMI, but not PA, tracked well over 22 years in this sample. The majority of overweight youth remained overweight as adults; however, the majority of overweight adults were not overweight youth.
TCTP increases stability of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α by interaction with and degradation of the tumour suppressor VHL

The translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) plays an important role in maintaining cell proliferation and its high expression is associated with many tumours. The tumour suppressor von Hippel–Lindau protein (VHL) has been shown to function as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Although great progress has been made, biological roles of these factors and relevant molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown.
Mechanism of replication blocking and bypass of Y-family polymerase η by bulky acetylaminofluorene DNA adducts

Heterocyclic aromatic amines produce bulky C8 guanine lesions in vivo, which interfere and disrupt DNA and RNA synthesis. These lesions are consequently strong replication blocks. In addition bulky adducts give rise to point and frameshift mutations. The translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerase η is able to bypass slowly C8 bulky adduct lesions such as the widely studied 2-aminofluorene-dG and its acetylated analogue mainly in an error-free manner. Replicative polymerases are in contrast fully blocked by the acetylated lesion. Here, we show that TLS efficiency of Pol η depends critically on the size of the bulky adduct forming the lesion. Based on the crystal structure, we show why the bypass reaction is so difficult and we provide a model for the bypass reaction. In our model, TLS is accomplished without rotation of the lesion into the anti conformation as previously thought.
ITS: An ILP-based combined instruction/task static scheduling algorithm

Our combined task and instruction static scheduling algorithm implemented in the COINS compiler uses an Integer Linear Programming model to find a schedule for a program on a symmetric multiprocessor system-on-chip. We compare our work to state of the art approaches and on average we find a speedup as high as 1.49 compared to a static task scheduling approach without instruction scheduling. Depending on the computation to communication ratio of the application we estimate an average speedup of 2.55 to 2.63 in application execution time compared to sequential code.
Neurotrophins and Neuronal Plasticity

There is increasing evidence that neurotrophins (NTs) are involved in processes of neuronal plasticity besides their well-established actions in regulating the survival, differentiation, and maintenance of functions of specific populations of neurons. Nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, NT-4/5, and corresponding antibodies dramatically modify the development of the visual cortex. Although the neuronal elements involved have not yet been identified, complementary studies of other systems have demonstrated that NT synthesis is rapidly regulated by neuronal activity and that NTs are released in an activity-dependent manner from neuronal dendrites. These data, together with the observation that NTs enhance transmitter release from neurons that express the corresponding signal-transducing Trk receptors, suggest a role for NTs as selective retrograde messengers that regulate synaptic efficacy.
Learner Perceptions and Teacher Beliefs about Learner Autonomy in Language Learning

Learner autonomy is one of the intriguing phenomena in the field of SLA. This has become the focal point for many scholars and researchers these days. The present study was carried out to make a survey of autonomous learning activities of the Master level students, majoring in English Education, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. It also explored their perceptions on the roles of their own and their teachers’ roles, and how it has been looked at from the teachers’ viewpoint. Adopting a mixed methodological design and analyzing the data collected through questionnaire and semi-structured interview, it was found that the learners make a good practice of autonomous activities. They view their role as an important factor in learning. The teachers have also suggested the learners to be autonomous. The teachers as well as the learners were found highly positive towards autonomous learning. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/nelta.v16i1-2.6126 NELTA 2011; 16(1-2): 13-29
A 3.9 μs Settling-Time Fractional Spread-Spectrum Clock Generator Using a Dual-Charge-Pump Control Technique for Serial-ATA Applications

A low-jitter fractional spread-spectrum clock generator (SSCG) utilizing a fast-settling dual-charge-pump (CP) technique is developed for serial-advanced technology attachment (SATA) applications. The dual-CP architecture reduces a design area to 60% by shrinking an effective capacitance of a loop filter.Moreover, the settling-time is reduced by 4 ? s tocharge a current tothe capacitor by only main-CP in initial period in settling-time. The SSCG is fabricated in a 0.13 ? m CMOS and achieves settling time of 3.91 µs faster than 8.11 µs of a conventional SSCG. The randomjitter and total jitter at 250 cycles at 1.5GHz are less than 3.2 and 10.7 psrms, respectively. The triangular modulation signal frequency is 31.5 kHz and the modulation deviation is from -5000 ppm to 0 ppm at 1.5GHz. The EMI reduction is 10.0 dB. The design area and power consumption are 300 × 700 µm and 18mW, respectively.
Changes of cognitive functioning following mild traumatic brain injury over a 3-month period

Primary objective: To examine the cognitive functioning in patients with complicated mild traumatic brain injury immediately post-injury and at 1 and 3 months post-injury. Research design, methods, and procedures: Between-group comparisons were adopted for this study. Specifically, both patients and healthy controls were administered neuropsychological assessments measuring attention, memory and executive functions at three time points. Results: Findings indicate that patients performed significantly more poorly in information processing and divided attention, sustained attention, verbal recognition and verbal fluency immediately post-injury. While the information processing and divided attention of mild TBI patients improved at 1 month and returned to normal at 3 months post-injury, their sustained attention remained significantly poorer over the 3-month period. Conclusions: Findings suggest that attention dysfunction is noticeable immediately following a mild TBI. Different attention functions appear to recover at a different pace over time, suggesting that the condition may have a differential impact on the different sub-types of attention.
The Meaning, Antecedents and Outcomes of Employee Engagement: A Narrative Synthesis

The claim that high levels of engagement can enhance organizational performance and individual well-being has not previously been tested through a systematic review of the evidence. To bring coherence to the diffuse body of literature on engagement, the authors conducted a systematic synthesis of narrative evidence involving 214 studies focused on the meaning, antecedents and outcomes of engagement. The authors identified six distinct conceptualizations of engagement, with the field dominated by the Utrecht Group's ‘work engagement’ construct and measure, and by the theorization of engagement within the ‘job demands–resources’ framework. Five groups of factors served as antecedents to engagement: psychological states; job design; leadership; organizational and team factors; and organizational interventions. Engagement was found to be positively associated with individual morale, task performance, extra-role performance and organizational performance, and the evidence was most robust in relation to task performance. However, there was an over-reliance on quantitative, cross-sectional and self-report studies within the field, which limited claims of causality. To address controversies over the commonly used measures and concepts in the field and gaps in the evidence-base, the authors set out an agenda for future research that integrates emerging critical sociological perspectives on engagement with the psychological perspectives that currently dominate the field.
Reduced-complexity equalization techniques for ISI and MIMO wireless channels in iterative decoding

Two reduced-complexity soft-input soft-output trellis decoding techniques are presented in this paper for equalizing single-input single-output intersymbol interference (ISI) channels and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) frequency selective fading channels. Given a trellis representing an ISI channel, the soft-output M-algorithm (SOMA) reduces the complexity of equalization by retaining only the best M survivors at each trellis interval. The remaining survivors are discarded. The novelty of the SOMA is the use of discarded paths to obtain soft-information. Through a simple update-and-discard procedure, the SOMA extracts reliable soft-information from discarded paths which enables a large trellis to be successfully decoded with a relatively small value of M. To decode a trellis representing a MIMO frequency selective fading channel, two challenges are faced. Not only that the trellis has a large number of states, the number of branches per trellis interval is also enormous. The soft-output trellis/tree M-algorithm (SOTTMA) expands each trellis interval into a tree-like structure and performs the M-algorithm twice: once at each trellis interval to reduce the number of states and the other at each tree sub-level to remove unwanted branches. With the proposed technique, high-order trellises with million of branches per interval can be decoded with modest complexity.
Politiques d’achats « responsables » de grandes entreprises et institutionnalisation de la RSE : étude des déterminants

Managing ‘responsible' buying is now a popular subject in multinational company management. This type of managing is part of a continuum between cosmetic and a real modification in organization. The academic literature has studied how the companies incorporate CSR criteria into their purchasing decisions, but the processing and passing on of the CSR criteria to suppliers is of little interest. From five cases studies and interviews with purchasing directors we propose to highlight the main factors (or limits) of distributing this criteria.
Prospective study on food fortification with vitamin D among adolescent females in Finland: minor effects

Vitamin D insufficiency is common particularly during wintertime. After the recommendation by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finnish fluid milks and margarines have been fortified with vitamin D since February 2003. The aims of the present study were to examine the impact of vitamin D fortification of food supplies on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25(OH)D) concentrations and on daily dietary vitamin D intake among adolescent females. One hundred and forty-two girls of Caucasian ethnicity aged 12–18 years completed semi-quantitative FFQ from which the dietary vitamin D and Ca intakes were calculated. S-25(OH)D was measured by radioimmunoassay. The study was performed from February–March 2000 to February–March 2004, one year after the initiation of fortification. The mean dietary intake of vitamin D was < 7·5 μg in 91·5 % of the adolescent girls in 2000 and 83·8 % in 2004. The midwinter mean S-25(OH)D concentration did not change significantly during the follow-up period (48·3 v. 48·1 nmol/l, NS). The proportion of participants who had S-25(OH)D concentration < 50 nmol/l was 60·6 % in 2000 and 65·5 % in 2004. Only 7·0 % of the participants had an adequate S-25(OH)D ( ≥ 75 nmol/l) level in 2000 or 4 years later. The vitamin D fortification of fluid milks and margarines was inadequate to prevent vitamin D insufficiency. There are numerous adolescent girls and women who are not reached by the current fortification policy. Therefore new innovative and feasible ways of improving vitamin D nutrition are urged.
Different sequence signatures in the upstream regions of plant and animal tRNA genes shape distinct modes of regulation

In eukaryotes, the transcription of tRNA genes is initiated by the concerted action of transcription factors IIIC (TFIIIC) and IIIB (TFIIIB) which direct the recruitment of polymerase III. While TFIIIC recognizes highly conserved, intragenic promoter elements, TFIIIB binds to the non-coding 5′-upstream regions of the tRNA genes. Using a systematic bioinformatic analysis of 11 multicellular eukaryotic genomes we identified a highly conserved TATA motif followed by a CAA-motif in the tRNA upstream regions of all plant genomes. Strikingly, the 5′-flanking tRNA regions of the animal genomes are highly heterogeneous and lack a common conserved sequence signature. Interestingly, in the animal genomes the tRNA species that read the same codon share conserved motifs in their upstream regions. Deep-sequencing analysis of 16 human tissues revealed multiple splicing variants of two of the TFIIIB subunits, Bdp1 and Brf1, with tissue-specific expression patterns. These multiple forms most likely modulate the TFIIIB–DNA interactions and explain the lack of a uniform signature motif in the tRNA upstream regions of animal genomes. The anticodon-dependent 5′-flanking motifs provide a possible mechanism for independent regulation of the tRNA transcription in various human tissues.
Ontology algebra for composition of protein data sources

Most biological resources available today on the web provide a good number of cross-links to other resources with relevant information. However, in our opinion, what is still lacking is an integrated view that provides complete coverage of information through a single entry point. The main problem lies in interpreting biological nomenclature because the underlying data sources are inconsistent. In this paper we discuss Protein Ontology (PO) Algebra that we use for composition and interoperability of protein data sources. We outline the existing research in interoperability of biological data sources, before discussing our semantic interoperability approach in detail. The actual implementation of Protein Ontology is also discussed briefly in this paper, which depends on the strength of the Protein Ontology Algebra.
Is health care ready for Six Sigma quality?

Serious, widespread problems exist in the quality of U.S. health care: too many patients are exposed to the risks of unnecessary services; opportunities to use effective care are missed; and preventable errors lead to injuries. Advanced practitioners of industrial quality management, like Motorola and General Electric, have committed themselves to reducing the frequency of defects in their business processes to fewer than 3.4 per million, a strategy known as Six Sigma Quality. In health care, quality problems frequently occur at rates of 20 to 50 percent, or 200,000 to 500,000 per million. In order to approach Six Sigma levels of quality, the health care sector must address the underlying causes of error and make important changes: adopting new educational models; devising strategies to increase consumer awareness; and encouraging public and private investment in quality improvement.
New Era in Drug Interaction Evaluation: US Food and Drug Administration Update on CYP Enzymes, Transporters, and the Guidance Process

Predicting clinically significant drug interactions during drug development is a challenge for the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agencies. Since the publication of the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) first in vitro and in vivo drug interaction guidance documents in 1997 and 1999, researchers and clinicians have gained a better understanding of drug interactions. This knowledge has enabled the FDA and the industry to progress and begin to overcome these challenges. The FDA has continued its efforts to evaluate methodologies to study drug interactions and communicate recommendations regarding the conduct of drug interaction studies, particularly for CYP‐based and transporter‐based drug interactions, to the pharmaceutical industry. A drug interaction Web site was established to document the FDA's current understanding of drug interactions (http:www.fda.govcderdrugdrugInteractionsdefault.htm). This report provides an overview of the evolution of the drug interaction guidances, includes a synopsis of the steps taken by the FDA to revise the original drug interaction guidance documents, and summarizes and highlights updated sections in the current guidance document, Drug Interaction Studies—Study Design, Data Analysis, and Implications for Dosing and Labeling.
Forecasting the Yield Curve Using Priors from No-Arbitrage Affine Term Structure Models

I propose a strategy for forecasting the term structure of interest rates that may produce significant gains in predictive accuracy. The key idea is to use the restrictions implied by Gaussian, no-arbitrage, affine term structure models on a vector autoregression as prior information instead of imposing the restrictions dogmatically. This allows us to account for possible model misspecification. We use the proposed method to forecast a system of five U.S. yields up to 12 months ahead, and we find it provides significant gains in forecast accuracy.