Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Mechanisms of Learning and the Survival of New Ventures

There are two main activities in entrepreneurial process associated with the survival of new ventures: coping with the liabilities of newness and exploit competitive advantage. Entrepreneurship is a process of learning. Based on available research on entrepreneurship, we identify internal and external mechanisms of learning in new ventures and propose that the role of learning is highlighted as central as it provides entrepreneurs the possibility to improve their ability to to learn how to overcome traditional obstacles when organizing and managing new ventures (i.e., the liabilities of newness) and exploit competitive advantage in new ventures.
Nonvolatile memory allocation and hierarchy optimization for high-level synthesis

The emerging nonvolatile memory (NVM) technology can potentially change the landscape of future IC designs with numerous benefits, such as high performance, low leakage power, and data retention. These advantages motivate designers to exploit utilizing NVM in in ASIC and FPGA. However, unique challenges such as large write energy and asymmetric read/write operations, lead to extra design knobs. This paper focuses on the NVM allocation and hierarchy optimization in high-level synthesis. A hierarchical hybrid memory architecture is presented. The proposed framework optimizes the memory hierarchy, type (NVM or SRAM) and capacity. Both an mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and a branch-and-bound heuristic are developed. Experimental results demonstrate up to 69.3% power reduction compared with designs without NVM.
Resampling of data between arbitrary grids using convolution interpolation

For certain medical applications resampling of data is required. In magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) or computer tomography (CT), e.g., data may be sampled on nonrectilinear grids in the Fourier domain. For the image reconstruction a convolution-interpolation algorithm, often called gridding, can be applied for resampling of the data onto a rectilinear grid. Resampling of data from a rectilinear onto a nonrectilinear grid are needed, e.g., if projections of a given rectilinear data set are to be obtained. In this paper the authors introduce the application of the convolution interpolation for resampling of data from one arbitrary grid onto another. The basic algorithm can be split into two steps. First, the data are resampled from the arbitrary input grid onto a rectilinear grid and second, the rectilinear data is resampled onto the arbitrary output grid. Furthermore, the authors like to introduce a new technique to derive the sampling density function needed for the first step of their algorithm. For fast, sampling-pattern-independent determination of the sampling density function the Voronoi diagram of the sample distribution is calculated. The volume of the Voronoi cell around each sample is used as a measure for the sampling density. It is shown that the introduced resampling technique allows fast resampling of data between arbitrary grids. Furthermore, it is shown that the suggested approach to derive the sampling density function is suitable even for arbitrary sampling patterns. Examples are given in which the proposed technique has been applied for the reconstruction of data acquired along spiral, radial, and arbitrary trajectories and for the fast calculation of projections of a given rectilinearly sampled image.
T cell reactivity to P0, P2, PMP-22, and myelin basic protein in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

Objectives: It has been suggested that autoimmunity to peripheral myelin proteins is involved in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). We aimed to compare reactivity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to antigens of peripheral myelin proteins in patients with GBS and patients with CIDP with that of healthy controls and patients with other non-immune mediated neuropathies (ON). Methods: We prepared PBMC from blood from 83 healthy controls and from 64 patients with GBS, 54 with CIDP, and 62 with ON. PBMC were tested in antigen specific proliferation assays against peptides from myelin proteins P0, P2, PMP22, and myelin basic protein (MBP), which is identical to myelin P1, and against whole human MBP. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-5 enzyme linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays were also performed in some subjects to assess spontaneous and peripheral myelin antigen specific PBMC cytokine secretion. Results: Antigen specific PBMC proliferation assays showed no significant elevation of peptide specific T cell responsiveness in patients with GBS or CIDP compared with healthy controls or patients with ON. Levels of spontaneous ELISPOT IFN-γ secretion were increased in patients with GBS and significantly increased in those with CIDP compared with healthy controls and patients with ON. No convincing differences in antigen specific ELISPOT IFN-γ secretion levels to individual peptides were detectable in patients with GBS. The proportion of patients with CIDP with an increased number of PBMC producing IFN-γ in response to peptide PMP-2251–64 was significantly increased compared with healthy controls and patients with ON. No significant differences in antigen specific ELISPOT IL-5 secretion levels were detectable in patients with GBS or CIDP compared with controls, but levels of spontaneous IL-5 secretion were significantly higher in patients with CIDP than in healthy controls or patients with ON. Conclusions: Although the lack of significantly increased antigen specific PBMC proliferation in GBS and CIDP does not support a role for T cells, the more sensitive ELISPOT technique detected increased numbers of PBMC secreting IFN-γ spontaneously in 25% of patients with GBS, providing further evidence for a role of T cells in the immunopathology of GBS. Increased numbers of spontaneous IFN-γ and IL-5 secreting cells, and increased IFN-γ secretion in response to PMP-2251–64, in patients with CIDP provide further evidence for a role of myelin specific T cells in CIDP.
Intensive Case Management for Severe Mental Illness

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Color-image watermarking using multivariate power-exponential distribution

In this paper we present a novel watermark detector for additive spread-spectrum watermarking in the wavelet transform domain of color images. We propose to model the highly correlated DWT subbands of the RGB color channels by multivariate power-exponential distributions. This statistical model is then exploited to derive a likelihood ratio test for watermark detection. Our results indicate that joint statistical modeling of color DWT detail subbands leads to increased detection performance compared to previous approaches, namely watermarking of the luminance channel only, decorrelating the color bands, or relying on a joint Gaussian host signal model.
Election audits by sampling with probability proportional to an error bound : dealing with discrepancies

Sampling items using probability proportional to a bound on the possible error in the item (PPEB) has a long history in financial auditing, but has only recently been suggested for auditing elections. How large a PPEB sample should be drawn to have confidence 1− α that the election outcome is correct if the sample includes only “small” errors? What is the confidence that the outcome of the election is correct, given the discrepancies a PPEB audit uncovers, whatever their size? If one wants to end up with confidence level 1− α, how should one increase the PPEB sample size if discrepancies are found, and
High speed efficient FPGA implementation of pipelined AES S-Box

Smart City is becoming a commonly-used term to describe the concept of utilizing information and communication technologies (ICT) to enhance urban services and improve the quality of life for citizens. All communications should be fast and properly protected against unauthorized eavesdropping, interception, and modification. Therefore high speed and strong cryptography is required. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is the most widely and secure symmetric key encryption algorithms today. S-box substitution is the only non-linear step in this algorithm. It is one of the most complicated and costly part of the system. In this article, we present high speed efficient S-box AES architecture using combinational logic. We have used 5-stage pipeline design in order to increase the speed and the maximum operation frequency. Therefore registers are inserted in optimal placements. The implementation has been successfully done by virtex-6 (xc6vlx240t) FPGA device using Xilinx ISE 14.7. Our proposed design achieves a frequency of 842.744 MHz and occupied 20 slices, whereas the highest operation frequency reported in the literature is 696.37 MHz using 32 slices.
Temporal representation of iterated rippled noise as a function of delay and sound level in the ventral cochlear nucleus.

The discharge patterns of single units in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) of anesthetized guinea pigs were examined in response to iterated rippled noise (IRN) as a function of the IRN delay (which determines the IRN pitch) and the IRN sound level. Delays were varied over five octaves in half-octave steps, and sound levels were varied over a 30- or 50-dB range in steps of 5 dB. Neural responses were analyzed in terms of first-order and all-order inter-spike intervals (ISIs). The IRN quasi-periodicity was preserved in the all-order ISIs for most units independent of unit type or best frequency (BF). A deterioration of the temporal all-order code was found, however, when the neural response was influenced by inhibition. The IRN quasi-periodicity was also preserved in first-order ISIs for a limited range of IRN delays and levels. Sustained Chopper units (CS) in the VCN responded with very regular ISIs when the IRN delay corresponded to the unit's chopping period; i.e., the unit showed an increased proportion of intervals corresponding to the IRN delay (interval enhancement) relative to an equal-level, white-noise stimulation. This interval enhancement has a band-pass characteristic with a peak corresponding to the chopping period. Moreover, for CS units in rate saturation, the chopping period, and thus the interval enhancement to the IRN, did not vary with level. Units classified as onset-chopper also show a band-pass interval enhancement to the IRN stimuli; however, they show more level-dependent changes than CS units. Primary-like (PL) units also show level-dependent changes in their ability to code the IRN pitch in first-order intervals. The range of delays where PL units showed interval enhancement was broader and extended to shorter delays. Based on these findings, it is suggested that CS units may play an important role in pitch processing in that they transform a higher-order interval code into a first-order interval place code. Their limited dynamic range together with the preservation of the temporal stimulus features in saturation may serve as a physiological basis for the perceived level independence of pitch.
On the Way to Rechargeable Mg Batteries: The Challenge of New Cathode Materials†

To initiate wider discussion about promising research directions, this paper highlights a number of challenges in the development of rechargeable Mg batteries, especially those related to the slow solid-state Mg diffusion in common hosts. With a focus on the intercalation mechanism, we compare for the first time different strategies proposed in the literature for developing Mg battery cathodes, like the use of (i) nanoscale cathode materials; (ii) hybrid intercalation compounds containing bound water or other additional anion groups that can presumably screen the charge of the inserted cations, (iii) cluster-containing compounds with efficient attainment of local electroneutrality. This comparative analysis shows that cathodes whose function is based on a combination of the two first strategies, e.g., V2O5 gels and their hybrids, can exhibit relatively high voltage and capacity upon Mg insertion, but their kinetics is insufficiently fast. A proper intercalation mechanism for such materials is still unknow.
Towards a threat model for mobile ad-hoc networks

The increasing number of mobile devices enabled by wireless communication significantly change security issues and challenge threat modeling research in many ways. Particularly because of the vulnerability of wireless communication channels in addition to the insecure and lacking infrastructure, Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (MANETs) require an adjusted Threat Model in contrast to the Threat Model faced when dealing with traditional networks. Moreover, mobility implicates ad-hoc routing methods to send data in an open wireless medium and facilitates adversaries in performing various attacks threatening the MANET's security. For this purpose threat modeling is employed to understand the adversary's view, to characterize the security of the system, and to identify the system's threats. In this paper we summarize and discuss protection challenges unique to Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks. We alter the Threat Model Process to Mobile Wireless Ad-Hoc Networks settings based on traditional security principles: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability, Authentication, and Anonymity (CIAAA).
Ten Reasons to Use Divisible Load Theory

During the past decade, divisible load theory has become a powerful tool for modeling data-intensive computational problems. DLT emerged from a desire to create intelligent sensor networks, but most recent applications involve parallel and distributed computing. Like other linear mathematical models such as Markovian queuing theory and electric resistive circuit theory, DLT offers easy computation, a schematic language, and equivalent network element modeling. While it can incorporate stochastic features, the basic model does not make statistical assumptions, which can be the Achilles' heel of a performance evaluation model.
How we do it: adaptation of music instruction for pediatric cochlear implant recipients

Abstract This paper outlines the skills required for participation in structured music programs and possible adaptations to facilitate successful participation by pediatric cochlear implant recipients. Common curricular components that present the structural features of music and the implications for perceptual and music production skills are discussed. A checklist of practical recommendations for clinicians, educators, and parents is provided to ensure success in integrating cochlear implant recipients into early childhood music programs.
Raw material inventory strategy for make-to-order manufacturing

What is the appropriate raw material inventory strategy for a make-to-order manufacturing company? As companies grow in size and the business environment changes over time, many companies adapt their operating policies to remain competitive. However, some policies, such as raw material inventory policies, are left untouched as "legacies" of the company's past due to lower priorities or lack of adequate data. These raw material inventory policies are of particular importance to manufacturing firms, especially those that often operate at maximum capacity or have seasonality in demand. This research proposes a raw material inventory policy evaluation tool that allows a company to understand how certain key performance indicators are affected by various changes in its inventory policy and helps the company devise a strategy. This evaluation tool can then guide the company towards a better inventory policy in the absence of cost information and shows the results in terms of number of events. The company can then adjust various replenishment policies depending on the product's demand characteristics. In addition, the research demonstrates that inventory policy changes can be used to partially overcome supplier service level declines and demand variability. Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Fredrik Eng Larsson Title: Postdoctoral Associate, Center for Transportation & Logistics
Applications of coordinate-scaling procedures to the exchange-correlation energy.

Coordinate scaling within the coupling-constant integration formula is used to determine simple approximations to the exchange-correlation energy functional [ital E][sub xc][[rho]]. Correlation contributions to the kinetic energy, [ital T][sub c], are also determined by coordinate scaling. Calculations show that the approximations generated for [ital E][sub xc][[rho]] give surprisingly good results for the species tested, considering the simplicity of the functionals, considering the fact that their forms are unorthodox, and considering the fact that they satisfy only a small fraction of the conditions known to be satisfied by the exact [ital E][sub xc][[rho]]. The approximate functionals for [ital T][sub c] give reasonable values.
You can stop early with COLA: online processing of aggregate queries in the cloud

Cloud-based data management systems are emerging as scalable, fault-tolerant, and efficient solutions to manage large volumes of data with cost effective infrastructures, and more and more data analysis applications are migrated to the cloud. As an attractive solution to provide a quick sketch of massive data before a long wait of the final accurate query result, online processing of aggregate queries in the cloud is of paramount importance. This problem is challenging to solve because of the large block based data organization and distributed processing mode in the cloud. In this paper, we present COLA, a system for Cloud Online Aggregation to provide progressive approximate answers for both single tables and joined multiple tables. We develop an online query processing algorithm for MapReduce to support incremental and continuous computing of aggregations on joins which minimizes the waiting time before an acceptable estimate is achieved. We formulate a statistical foundation that supports block-level sampling for single-table online aggregations and effective estimation of approximate results and confidence intervals of statistical significance. We also develop a two-phase stratified sampling method to support multi-table aggregations to improve the approximate query answers and speed up the convergence of confidence intervals. We implement COLA in Hadoop, and our experiments demonstrate that COLA can deliver reasonable precise online estimates within a time period two orders of magnitude shorter than that used to produce exact answers.
Analysis of Periodical Microstructures Using Optical Methods

In this work we present an optical laser based method for characterization of periodical microstructure. It allows indirect evaluation of geometrical and optical parameters of periodical microstructures. Proposed method is applicable for optimization and control of technological processes in the cases when traditional measurement techniques are not suitable. The main experimental results are compared with the computer simulations where the standard programs PCGrate-SX6.0 and and GSolver V4.20b were employed. Error of estimation of geometrical parameters of periodical microstructures by comparing theoretical and experimental values of diffraction efficiencies of periodical microstructures is less than 5%.
Emergence of a fast-reacting ribozyme that is capable of undergoing continuous evolution

It is possible to evolve RNA enzymes in a continuous manner by employing a simple serial-transfer procedure. This method was previously applied only to descendants of one unusually fast-reacting RNA enzyme with RNA ligase activity. The present study establishes a second continuously evolving RNA enzyme, also with RNA ligase activity, but with a completely independent evolutionary origin. Critical to achieving the fast catalytic rate necessary for continuous evolution, development of this enzyme entailed the addition and evolutionary maturation of a 35-nucleotide accessory domain and the application of highly stringent selection pressure, with reaction times as short as 15 ms. Once established, continuous evolution was carried out for 80 successive transfers, maintaining the population against an overall dilution of 10207-fold. The resulting RNA enzymes exhibited ≈105-fold improvement in catalytic efficiency, compared with the starting molecules, and became dependent on a structural feature of the substrate that previously conferred no selective advantage. This adaptation was eliminated by deleting the substrate feature and then carrying out 20 additional transfers of continuous evolution, which resulted in molecules with even greater catalytic activity. Now that two distinct species of continuously evolving enzymes have been established, it is possible to conduct molecular ecology experiments in which the two are made to compete for limited resources within a common environment.
Provider-Directed Imaging Stress Testing Reduces Health Care Expenditures in Lower-Risk Chest Pain Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department

Background— Among intermediate- to high-risk patients with chest pain, we have shown that a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) stress test strategy implemented in an observation unit (OU) reduces 1-year health care costs compared with inpatient care. In this study, we compare 2 OU strategies to determine among lower-risk patients if a mandatory CMR stress test strategy was more effective than a physicians' ability to select a stress test modality. Methods and Results— On emergency department arrival and referral to the OU for management of low- to intermediate-risk chest pain, 120 individuals were randomly assigned to receive (1) a CMR stress imaging test (n=60) or (2) a provider-selected stress test (n=60: stress echo [62%], CMR [32%], cardiac catheterization [3%], nuclear [2%], and coronary CT [2%]). No differences were detected in length of stay (median CMR=24.2 hours versus 23.8 hours, P=0.75), catheterization without revascularization (CMR=0% versus 3%), appropriateness of admission decisions (CMR 87% versus 93%, P=0.36), or 30-day acute coronary syndrome (both 3%). Median cost was higher among those randomly assigned to the CMR-mandated group ($2005 versus $1686, P<0.001). Conclusions— In patients with lower-risk chest pain receiving emergency department–directed OU care, the ability of a physician to select a cardiac stress imaging modality (including echocardiography, CMR, or radionuclide testing) was more cost-effective than a pathway that mandates a CMR stress test. Contrary to prior observations in individuals with intermediate- to high-risk chest pain, in those with lower-risk chest pain, these results highlight the importance of physician-related choices during acute coronary syndrome diagnostic protocols. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00869245.
Cyberloafing, Neutralization, And Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Having and providing Internet access at the workplace not only puts an organization at an advantage; the Internet has become so ingrained in organizational functions that it becomes a necessity. However, recent research has shown that companies suffer significant losses in terms of cost, time and productivity, due to employees using the firm’s Internet access for personal matters i.e. cyberloafing. Using perspectives on compensatory behaviors, we proposed that individuals engage in either neutralization or organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) as compensation for cyberloafing at work. Our findings, however, suggest that individuals who cyberloaf tend to engage in both cognitive (neutralization) and behavioral (OCB) compensatory techniques to justify their cyberloafing behavior.