Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Envelope tracking technique with bang-bang slew-rate enhancer for linear wideband RF PAs

This paper deals with the design of power efficient switching regulators intended for linear power amplifiers employing envelope tracking techniques in wideband wireless standards. The bottlenecks in existing envelope tracking solutions involve a tradeoff between ripple voltage, slew rate and bandwidth. The slew rate limitation is identified as the main challenge and a `bang-bang' slew-enhancement technique is proposed for overcoming it. This approach enables the use of efficient supply modulators in wideband power amplifiers. The proposed scheme does not significantly degrade PA efficiency and improves the stability of the switching regulator. The prototype has been implemented using the TSMC 0.18 μm technology; schematic simulation results in Cadence® demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technique.
Personality and the Risk of Cancer: A 16-Year Follow-Up Study of the GAZEL Cohort

Objective Large-scale prospective studies do not support an association between neuroticism and extroversion with cancer incidence. However, research on other personality constructs is inconclusive. This longitudinal study examined the associations between four personality measures, Type 1, “suppressed emotional expression”; Type 5, “rational/antiemotional”; hostility; and Type A with cancer incidence. Methods Personality measures were available for 13,768 members in the GAZEL cohort study (baseline assessment in 1993). Follow-up for diagnoses of primary cancers was obtained from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2009. Associations between personality and cancer incidence were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards analyses and adjusted for potential confounders. Results During a median follow-up of 16.0 years (range, 9 days–16 years), 1139 participants were diagnosed as having a primary cancer. The mean duration between baseline and cancer diagnosis was 9.3 years. Type 1 personality was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer (hazard ratio per standard deviation = 0.81, 95% confidence interval = 0.68–0.97, p = .02). Type 5 personality was not associated with prostate, breast, colorectal, or smoking-related cancers, but was associated with other cancers (hazard ratio per standard deviation = 1.17, 95% confidence interval = 1.04–1.31, p = .01). Hostility was associated with an increased risk of smoking-related cancers, which was explained by smoking habits, and Type A was not associated with any of the cancer endpoints. Conclusions Several personality measures were prospectively associated with the incidence of selected cancers. These links may warrant further epidemiological studies and investigations about potential biobehavioral mechanisms.
Art therapies and dementia care: A systematic review

Despite steadfast interest in the use of arts therapies (ATs) with individuals who have dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT), a systematic review of the literature has not been conducted. This paper aims to critique this evidence base, including music, visual arts, drama, and dance/movement therapies between the years 1990 and 2010, and make suggestions on how it can be strengthened. The review addresses four questions: (1) What is the focus of the empirical base on using AT with persons who have DAT? (2) (How) have these studies been designed and evaluated? (3) What findings are reported? (4) What does this tell us about the potential of AT for enriching the lives of people with dementia? This analysis reveals that systematically designed, documented, and evaluated AT studies are scarce. Information on research design, operational concepts, measurement tools, and methods of evaluation/analysis are vague, if provided. Disagreement exists about the utilization of theoretical concepts and measurement/evaluation tools. The evidence base is further divided between studies focusing on the ‘product’ versus the ‘process’ of art. Shortcomings in dementia-specific research include a paucity of accounts from participants, failure to extend therapies to individuals in the early stages, a lack of application to those living at home, and often superficial attention to the meaningful aspects of doing art. Models investigating subjective well-being, or ‘enrichment,’ rather than objectively measured biomedical approaches privileging the management of deficits, would expand the evidence base and help ensure that those with dementia receive the services they want, since strictly allopathic methodologies will continue to fall short of adequately evaluating what are deeply idiosyncratic psychosocial issues.
Ground-Truth Production in the Transcriptorium Project

Tran Scriptorium is a 3-years project that aims to develop innovative, cost-effective solutions for the indexing, search and full transcription of historical handwritten document images, using Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) technology. The production of ground-truth (GT) of a dataset of handwritten document images is among the first tasks. We address novel approaches for the faster production of this GT based on crowd-sourcing and on prior-knowledge methods. We also address here a novel low-cost semi-supervised procedure for obtaining pairs of correct line-level aligned detected/extracted text line images and text line transcripts, specially suitable for training models of the HTR technology employed in Tran Scriptorium.
The Body Mass Index — Just Who Does it Include?

Whilst I do not know exactly why it is that in phase I clinical trials of investigational medicinal entities investigators might want their subjects to be obese individuals, I doubt that it is because they are perceived as less troublesome than their slimmer volunteers. It is however a puzzling fact that in most phase I trials the inclusion criteria favour healthy volunteers who have a ‘BMI [body mass index] of between 18 and 32’ or who can regard themselves as within the tolerance suggested by ‘You must not be over or under weight for your height’. Such criteria are problematic for several reasons. The body mass index is a statistical measurement which compares a person’s weight and height. A ‘healthy volunteer’ with a BMI below 18.5 would generally be regarded as both oxymoronic and ‘underweight’. Someone with a BMI above 25 on the other hand would be considered ‘overweight’, and it is clearly difficult to see how either an underor an overweight individual could be considered as of a healthy weight. Cognitive dissonance struggles with such a concept. A BMI of 30 or above classifies one as obese; having a BMI above 35 suggests one is ‘grossly obese’ so that even for routine elective surgery, such a patient may need to discuss their options with the anaesthetist. Above 40 and one is ‘bariatric’ or ‘morbidly obese’ and may well need hoists to help mobilise. At the other end of the scale, anything below 18.5 is also generally regarded as distinctly unhealthy: a score below 17.5 in fact might well indicate anorexia, and 15 is usually taken as at the upper limit of ‘starvation’. As for a point of reference, a BMI of 18 became, after much debate and controversy, the minimum acceptable for catwalk models after Madrid fashion week decided, during 2006, to ban underweight models from its shows. To use, without any of the same intensity of discussion, the same minima for ‘healthy volunteers’ as was used in an industry notorious for its unhealthy workforce, strikes at least this author as troubling.
Sizing of Wall Thinning Defects Using Pulsed Eddy Current Testing Signals Based on a Hybrid Inverse Analysis Method

Quantitative non-destructive evaluation, especially sizing of piping wall thinning in nuclear power plants is still a difficult and urgent issue. In this paper, an inversion approach for PECT (pulsed eddy current testing) signals is developed based on ANN (artificial neural network) method at first for profile reconstruction of wall thinning, the sizing result of NN is then utilized as the initial value of the CG (conjugate gradient) inversion scheme to overcome the shortages of both the NN (accuracy problem) and CG (local minimum problem) methods. Several reconstruction examples using the proposed hybrid strategy indicate that the combination of NN and CG methods is rather effective for wall thinning reconstruction from PECT signals in view of both the robustness and sizing accuracy.
The locomotion, shape and pseudopodial dynamics of unstimulated Dictyostelium cells are not random.

The dynamic periphery of unstimulated, preaggregation, hunger-stage Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae was investigated by time-lapse videomicroscopy and digital image processing. Circular maps (i.e. of each of 360 radii around the cell transformed upon Cartesian coordinates) were constructed around the centroid of individual cell images and analysed in time series. This novel technique generated spatiotemporal structures of various degrees of order in the maps, which resemble classical wave interference patterns. The patterns thus demonstrate that cell movement is not random and that cells are intrinsically vibrating bodies, transited by self-organized, superpositioned, harmonic modes of rotating oscillatory waves (ROWS). These waves appear to depend upon spatiotemporal oscillations in the physicochemical reactions associated with actin polymerization, and they govern pseudopodial movements, cell shape and locomotion generally. ROWS in this case are unrelated to the cyclic-AMP-regulated oscillations, which characterize later, aggregative populations of Dictyostelium. However, the exposure of aggregation-stage cells to a pulse of the chemoattractant cyclic-AMP induces a characteristic sequence of changes in the global cellular concentration and spatiotemporal distribution of fibrillar (F-)actin. This reaction begins with what appears to be a phase resetting of ROWS and it may, therefore, underlie the cellular perception of and response to chemotactic signals. We also develop here an analytical mathematical description of ROWS, and use it to simulate cell movements accurately.
Evaluative conditioning improves perceived taste of and intentions to eat healthy food

Taste preferences are a major predictor of eating behavior, yet few interventions have attempted to improve healthy eating by increasing perceptions that healthy food tastes good. In an intervention designed to improve both expectations that healthy food will taste good and its actual taste, undergraduates (N=123; 66.7% female) were randomly assigned to a 5-minute long evaluative conditioning procedure in which images of healthy food were associated with either “good taste” or “good health. ” The taste condition led to expectations that a novel healthy cracker would be more enjoyable to eat and more filling than in the health condition. As shown by a serial mediation test, these expectations then led participants in the taste condition to enjoy eating a healthy cracker more and to perceive it as more filling. Participants in the taste condition also reported more positive attitudes toward healthy food and greater intentions to eat both the healthy cracker and a healthy diet in the future. Women in the taste condition tended to take more of a second, novel healthy cracker when selecting among healthy and unhealthy foods to take home at the end of the study. Additionally, favorable sensory experiences of eating the healthy cracker mediated the effect of condition on intentions to eat the healthy cracker and number of healthy crackers taken, while the perceived healthfulness of the cracker eaten did not, suggesting that sensory experience may better predict eating behavior than health characteristics of food. Although the majority of effects did not depend on baseline attitudes, the evaluative conditioning procedure led to greater intentions to eat a healthy diet only for individuals who reported relatively low enjoyment of eating healthy food and high negative attitudes toward healthy food at baseline. All analyses were statistically controlled for BMI, gender, typical whole grain consumption, and current weight loss goals. In conclusion, evaluative conditioning successfully changed the perceived taste of and attitudes toward healthy food. Future interventions may test whether different methods of associating healthy food with good taste improve eating behavior, and
A statistical theory of target detection by pulsed radar

This report presents data from which one may obtain the probability that a pulsed-type radar system will detect a given target at any range. This is in contrast to the usual method of obtaining radar range as a single number, which can be taken mathematically to imply that the probability of detection is zero at any range greater than this number, and certainty at any range less than this number. Three variables, which have so far received little quantitative attention in the subject of radar range, are introduced in the theory: l.The time taken to detect the target. 2.The average time interval between false alarms (false indications of targets). 3.The number of pulses integrated. It is shown briefly how the results for pulsed-type systems may be applied in the case of continuous-wave systems. Those concerned with systems analysis problems including radar performance may profitably use this work as one link in a chain involving several probabilities. For instance, the probability that a given aircraft will be detected at least once while flying any given path through a specified model radar network may be calculated using the data presented here as a basis, provided that additional probability data on such things as outage time etc., are available. The theory developed here does not take account of interference such as clutter or man-made static, but assumes only random noise at the receiver input. Also, an ideal type of electronic integrator and detector are assumed. Thus the results are the best that can be obtained under ideal conditions. It is not too difficult, however, to make reasonable assumptions which will permit application of the results to the currently available types of radar. The first part of this report is a restatement of known radar fundamentals and supplies continuity and background for what follows. The mathematical part of the theory is not contained herein, but will be issued subsequently as a Separate report(2a)
Improving Automated Planning with Machine Learning

This chapter reports the last machine learning techniques for the assistance of automated planning. Recent discoveries in automated planning have opened the scope of planners, from toy problems to real-world applications, making new challenges come into focus. The planning community believes that machine learning can assist to address these new challenges. The chapter collects the last machine learning techniques for assisting automated planners classified in: techniques for the improvement of the planning search processes and techniques for the automatic definition of planning action models. For each technique, the chapter provides an in-depth analysis of their domain, advantages and disadvantages. Finally, the chapter draws the outline of the new promising avenues for research in learning for planning systems.
PharmaGist: a webserver for ligand-based pharmacophore detection

Predicting molecular interactions is a major goal in rational drug design. Pharmacophore, which is the spatial arrangement of features that is essential for a molecule to interact with a specific target receptor, is an important model for achieving this goal. We present a freely available web server, named PharmaGist, for pharmacophore detection. The employed method is ligand based. Namely, it does not require the structure of the target receptor. Instead, the input is a set of structures of drug-like molecules that are known to bind to the receptor. The output consists of candidate pharmacophores that are computed by multiple flexible alignment of the input ligands. The method handles the flexibility of the input ligands explicitly and in deterministic manner within the alignment process. PharmaGist is also highly efficient, where a typical run with up to 32 drug-like molecules takes seconds to a few minutes on a stardard PC. Another important characteristic is the capability of detecting pharmacophores shared by different subsets of input molecules. This capability is a key advantage when the ligands belong to different binding modes or when the input contains outliers. The webserver has a user-friendly interface available at http://bioinfo3d.cs. tau.ac. il/PharmaGist.
Towards Flexible Event-Handling in Workflows through Data States

Despite recent advances in many real-time and workflow management systems (WFMS), event-handling is still a manual or semi-automated task. The integration of automated event processing with workflows remains an open research challenge to both academic and industrial communities. In this work, we propose a concrete approach that logs interactions between workflow component activities in the form of data states that accurately and efficiently store necessary information for event-handling. Our approach (called WED-flow) explicitly represents various dependencies and constraints of a WFMS in sophisticated data states. Due to the availability of this large amount of historic information, our approach is able to support a flexible event-handling in WFMS. In this paper we present definitions for workflow management systems that incorporate events, and characterize such systems using the WED-flow approach. We also present a scientific workflow example in genetic testing to illustrate the advantages of integrating events with workflow through the WED-flow approach.
Multiple routes for social influence: The role of compliance, internalization and social identity.

Individual and shared intentions to participate in a group activity were studied for Koreans and for Americans. For Koreans, individual intentions were functions of attitudes, whereas shared intentions were functions of social identity reactions (i.e., self-categorization, affective commitment, and evaluative significance). For Americans, individual intentions were functions of attitudes and group norms (i.e., internalization), while shared intentions were functions of subjective norms (i.e., compliance) and group norms. The differential effects of personal and social factors on intentions were explained from the viewpoint of social influence theory. Further, cultural background (i.e., an independent-based versus an interdependent-based orientation) was found to moderate these effects.
Razvoj poslovnointeligenčnih sistemov v slovenski javni upravi – študija primera [Development of Business Intelligence Systems in Slovenian Public Administration – A Case Study]

Poslovnointeligencni sistemi (BIS) postajajo pomemben dejavnik uspesnega poslovanja organizacij. Za njihovo uvajanje je v literaturi predstavljeno veliko metodoloskih pristopov, podrocje uporabe pa je v pretežni meri gospodarstvo. Zaradi vseh koristi je smiselna uporaba BIS tudi v javni upravi, kjer pa je na tem podrocju manj izkusenj in znanstvenih raziskav. Clanek obravnava primernost uporabe metodologij za razvoj poslovnointeligencnih sistemov v javni upravi, pri cemer smo ob upostevanju specificnih lastnosti BIS preucili prakticni primer v eni od organizacij javne uprave, kjer so za razvoj BIS uporabili splosno metodologijo razvoja informacijskih sistemov, prvotno razvito za gospodarstvo. Kot raziskovalna metoda je bila uporabljena studija primera, s katero smo ovrednotili uporabljeno razvojno metodo in opredelili osnove za prihodnje raziskave na podrocju razvoja BIS v javni upravi. Z raziskavo je bilo ugotovljeno, da uporabljene metode razvoja, ki so bile razvite za informacijske sisteme v gospodarstvu, ne upostevajo specificnih lastnosti in razlik javne uprave in sistemov BIS, zato bi jih bilo treba ustrezno dopolniti in prilagoditi. Business Intelligence Systems (BIS) have become an important factor in successful business operations. In literature there are many methodological approaches to their implementation, but they have been mainly applied in the private sector. Due to all the advantages of BIS, their implementation in the public administration would be reasonable as well, however, limited experience and scientific research are available in this area. This paper deals with the applicability of the methodologies of BIS development in public administration. Focusing on the specific characteristics of the public administration, we have studied a case in one of the governmental organizations, where a general method of BIS development was used, which was originally developed for the private sector. As a research method a case study was used, on the basis of which the implemented method of BIS development was evaluated and the groundwork for future research in the field of public administration defined. By means of this research we have found that the implemented methods of BIS development, which were developed for the private sector information systems, do not consider the specific characteristics and differences of the public administration and the BIS systems. Therefore, considering their specific features, they should be properly completed and adapted.
Color image denoising by chromatic edges based vector valued diffusion

In this letter we propose to denoise digital color images via an improved geometric diffusion scheme. By introducing edges detected from all three color channels into the diffusion the proposed scheme avoids color smearing artifacts. Vector valued diffusion is used to control the smoothing and the geometry of color images are taken into consideration. Color edge strength function computed from different planes is introduced and it stops the diffusion spread across chromatic edges. Experimental results indicate that the scheme achieves good denoising with edge preservation when compared to other related schemes.
U.S. policy and Mexican migration to the United States 1942-92.

This paper examines the relationship between U.S. migration policy and Mexican immigration to the United States over the period 1942-1992. It uses data collected from migrants in 17 Mexican communities concerning their first migration to the United States. "The analysis reveals three patterns of migration. The first large-scale flow of Mexicans occurred between 1942 and 1964 when many men migrated for agricultural employment under a U.S.-sponsored temporary worker program. By the programs end the second phase of migration emerged. Former braceros who obtained legal papers sponsored their relatives for entry while others entered illegally. The third pattern of migration began in the late 1970s when women migrated in large numbers without children and the migration of men and women who entered on a first trip without legal documents soared. " Comments are included from Thomas J. Espenshade (pp. 730-3) and Ricardo Romo (pp. 734-6) as well as a reply from the author (pp. 737-40). (EXCERPT)
PtSRR1, a putative Pisolithus tinctorius symbiosis related receptor gene is expressed during the first hours of mycorrhizal interaction with Castanea sativa roots

PtSRR1 EST was previously identified in the first hours of Pisolithus tinctorius and Castanea sativa interaction. QRT-PCR confirmed PtSRR1 early expression and in silico preliminary translated peptide analysis indicated a strong probability that PtSRR1 be a transmembrane protein. These data stimulate the PtSRR1 gene research during ectomycorrhiza formation.