Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determining and visualizing uncertainty in estimates of fiber orientation from diffusion tensor MRI

Diffusion tensor MRI (DT‐MRI) permits determination of the dominant orientation of structured tissue within an image voxel. This has led to the development of 2D graphical methods for representing fiber orientation and DT‐MRI “tractography,” which aims to reconstruct the 3D trajectories of white matter fasciculi. Most contemporary fiber orientation mapping schemes and tractography algorithms employ the directional information contained in the eigenvectors of the diffusion tensor to approximate white matter fiber orientation. However, while the uncertainty associated with every estimate of an eigenvector has long been recognized, no attempts to quantify this uncertainty in vivo have been reported. Here, a method is proposed for determining confidence intervals in fiber orientation from real DT‐MRI data using the bootstrap method. This is used to construct maps of the “cone of uncertainty,” allowing simultaneous viewing of fiber orientation and its uncertainty, and to examine the relationship between orientation uncertainty and tissue anisotropy. Magn Reson Med 49:7–12, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Measurement and Simulation Based Methodology for Cache Performance Modeling and Tuning

We present a cache performance modeling methodology that facilitates the tuning of uniprocessor cache performance for applications executing on shared memory multiprocessors by accurately predicting the effects of source code level modifications. Measurements on a single processor are initially used for identifying parts of code where cache utilization improvements may significantly impact the overall performance. Cache simulation based on trace-driven techniques can be carried out without gathering detailed address traces. Minimal runtime information for modeling cache performance of a selected code block includes: base virtual addresses of arrays, virtual addresses of variables, and loop bounds for that code block. Rest of the information is obtained from the source code. We show that the cache performance predictions are as reliable as those obtained through trace-driven simulations. This technique is particularly helpful to the exploration of various "what-if' scenarios regarding the cache performance impact for alternative code structures. We explain and validate this methodology using a simple matrix-matrix multiplication program. We then apply this methodology to predict and tune the cache performance of two realistic scientific applications taken from the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) domain.
An experimental result using RF energy harvesting circuit with Dickson charge pump

This paper presents an RF (Radio Frequency) energy harvesting circuit with Dickson charge pump. The harvesting circuit harvested RF energy from a radio station which has 100 kW of a transmission power, at 954 kHz. The circuit is composed of a loop antenna, a 6-stage Dickson charge pump and an output capacitor as an energy storage element. The charge pump steps up the input voltage to the six times, and charges the output capacitor with the DC voltage. In the experiment, the output capacitor was charged to 520 mV by the RF harvesting circuit. The circuit harvested 60.2 µJ for half an hour.
An experimental manipulation of thought-action fusion in children: a test of the role of thought-action fusion in OCD

Introduction: Thought-action fusion refers to a belief that is associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children, but little experimental research has investigated the causal relationship between thought-action fusion and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. This study aims to investigate whether thought-action fusion causes obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children and whether this relationship is mediated by beliefs about responsibility. Method: Eighty-five children aged 9 to 11 years were randomly allocated to conditions in a between-subjects experimental design. They completed baseline measures of thought-action fusion, responsibility beliefs and anxiety. During phase 1 of the task, children wore a helmet and tried to make pictures on a computer turn red using their thoughts. Children in the experimental group saw the pictures turn red – to induce positive thought-action fusion beliefs and those in the control group did not. In phase two of the task – designed to activate thought-action fusion concerns – children in both groups were told that the computer might be damaged by particular thoughts. Children could press a button if they were concerned their thoughts might damage the computer. Dependent variables were: induced thought-action fusion, anxiety, button-pressing, responsibility beliefs and thoughtcontrol. Results: Children in the experimental group had significantly higher levels of induced thought-action fusion, indicating that the manipulation was successful. They also had higher levels of thought-control. Induced thought-action fusion was significantly correlated with thought-control in the experimental group. There were no other significant results. Results replicated some of the findings in the adult literature.
Optimal minimum distance-based precoder for MIMO spatial multiplexing systems

We describe a new precoder based on optimization of the minimum Euclidean distance d/sub min/ between signal points at the receiver side and for use in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) spatial multiplexing systems. Assuming that channel state information (CSI) can be made available at the transmitter, the three steps ( noise whitening, channel diagonalization and dimension reduction), which are currently used in investigations on MIMO systems, are performed. Thanks to this representation, an optimal d/sub min/ precoder is derived in the case of two different transmitted data streams. For quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) modulation, a numerical approach shows that the precoder design depends on the channel characteristics. Comparisons with maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) strategy and other precoders based on criteria, such as water-filling (WF), minimum mean square error (MMSE), and maximization of the minimum singular value of the global channel matrix, are performed to illustrate the significant bit-error-rate (BER) improvement of the proposed precoder.
Mapping discrete emotions into the dimensional space: An empirical approach

A critical task in Affective Computing is the reliable assessment of emotional states. The two most prominent approaches to classify emotions are categorical concepts of discrete emotions (e.g. OCC) and dimensional models typically using the pleasure - arousal - dominance space (PAD). In current research and applications, however, there is little overlap between these two concepts. A mapping of discrete categories into the dimensional space would offer new possibilities to model the emotional states of users and artificial agents, though. We hence let N=70 healthy subjects place the labels of discrete OCC emotions into PAD space according to their subjective knowledge with a simple visual tool. There was a high inter-subject consistency regarding the positioning of OCC emotions for the dimension of pleasure. However, arousal and dominance ratings showed considerably greater variance. We conclude that global and reliable mappings of OCC emotions into the PAD space can best be provided for the pleasure dimension. The exact positioning of discrete emotions regarding arousal and dominance can only be gained by individual calibration of a given user in a strict within-subject approach.
Encoding Basic Arithmetic Operations for SAT-Solvers

In this paper we start an investigation to check the best we can do with SAT encodings for solving two important hard arithmetic problems, integer factorization and discrete logarithm. Given the current success of using SAT encodings for solving problems with linear arithmetic constraints, studying the suitability of SAT for solving non-linear arithmetic problems was a natural step. However, our results indicate that these two problems are extremely hard for state-of-the-art SAT solvers, so they are good benchmarks for the research community interested in finding good SAT encodings for practical constraints.
Evaluation of Some Haematological Features of Tandem Spinal Stenosis Subjects In a Tertiary Hospital in Enugu, South East, Nigeria

Tandem spinal stenosis (TSS) occurs as a result of spondylotic degeneration associated to symptomatic canal narrowing of multiple areas of the spine resulting to neurologic compression. It occurs more in elderly, more in male and the obese. The study was done to evaluate haematological features of tandem spinal stenosis in subjects attending a tertiary hospital in Enugu. The results showed significant increase (P<0.05) in ESR and neutrophil of tandem spinal stenosis (TSS) subjects (38.0±2.6mm/hr, 66.0±6.2%0 compared to the control (10.2±0.8 mm/hr, 58.0±7.5%0, significant decrease (P>0.05) in lymphocytes, red blood cell, haemoglobin and packed cell volume of the tandem spinal stenosis (TSS) subjects (34.0±8.1%, 3.67±0.5 X1012/L, 11.0±0.6g/dl, 3.0±8.6%) compared to control (42.0±12.0%, 4.76±0.7 X1012/L, 14.3±0.5g/dl, 43.0±5.2%) and no significant difference (P>0.05) in total white cell, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration of the tandem spinal stenosis (TSS) subjects (4.9±0.2 X109/L,89.91±7.9fl, 29.97±2.7pg, 333.33±15.0g/l) compared to control (5.0±0.5 X109/L, 90.34±4.3fl, 30.11±3.4pg, 333.26±23.0g/l) respectively. It shows that tandem spinal stenosis leads to anaemia and inflammation as shown by the decrease in the red blood cell, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and increased in neutrophil as a sign of oxidative stress which could be a result of inflammation or the pains, it could also lead to immunodeficiency as seen in reduction in lymphocytes.
A comparison of systems and outcomes for safeguarding children in Australia and Norway

The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate how class and status affect the existence and construction of clienthood in the Norwegian Child Welfare Services (CWS). The study seeks to integrate the micro level (how people reason and act) and the macro level (distribution of goods, opportunities and power). The dataset consists of a survey of 715 parents from different households, whose children were registered as clients with the CWS. Parents were recruited from 12 different local CWS municipalities. Further, 16 Child Welfare Workers (CWW) were interviewed, categorized into 4 separate groups. The CWW came from 4 different local CWS municipalities. The study also made use of aggregated data from Statistics Norway and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. A class analysis of the families in the CWS displayed significant class differences in terms of the high representation of working class families and families dependent on welfare, particularly their representation in the supportive part of the CWS. However, the analysis also demonstrated class differences between the children in out-of-home care in relation to the type of services provided and the reason for providing these services. The analysis suggest that the class of the family matters more in predictive than retrospective decision-making processes. Further, it is argued that the significance of class is related to both a material and a moral dimension. The material dimension related to class, gives the CWS a distinct position as concern their opportunity to exert power over working class and non-employed families. Moreover, the significance of class is analyzed and discussed in light of the social policies and the different mandates of the CWS. An important principle of Norwegian child and family policies is to equalize children’s opportunities. This principle also pervades the program of the CWS. The Norwegian CWS is experiencing increased service demands, and as a result, more families are becoming CWS clients. This is a development that Norway shares with most Western Child Protection (CP)/CWS systems; however, it is the welfare orientated services which explain most of the growth in the proportion of clients in the population. The welfare orientation is a less developed side of most Anglophone CP systems. The thesis discusses whether the class differences in the CWS are a result of positive or negative discriminatory processes. Many services provided for lower classes are related to positive discrimination. Certain supportive services aim to improve the living conditions of the child/family and are designed to give marginalized children better opportunities and life chances. On the other hand, increased clientification of lower classes might mirror a change in social policy where ‘collective’ solidarity is losing ground.
Clinical application of the PFA-100®

The PFA-100® (platelet function analyzer) is a relatively new tool for the investigation of primary hemostasis. Recent studies have shown its utility as a screening tool for investigating possible von Willebrand disorder (VWD) and various platelet disorders. More recently, the PFA-100® has been shown to be valuable in monitoring desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) therapy in both VWD and platelet disorders. The PFA-100® has also been evaluated in many other studies for its utility in assessing drug effects, for potential monitoring of antiplatelet medication (including aspirin), or for evaluation of overall primary hemostasis in various clinical disorders or during surgical procedures. This article reviews current findings and highlights the benefits and limitations of the clinical utility of the PFA-100®. Ultimately, the greatest strengths of the PFA-100® are its simplicity of use and excellent sensitivity to particular hemostatic disturbances such as VWD, platelet disorders, and platelet-affecting medication. However, because it is thus a global test system, this also creates a significant limitation because the PFA-100® is not specific for, nor predictive of, any particular disorder. However, used appropriately, the PFA-100® can be considered a worthwhile addition to any hemostasis laboratory involved in the diagnosis or therapeutic monitoring of bleeding disorders and potentially of antiplatelet medication. This review should be valuable to both hemostasis scientists and clinical specialists.
Rente, corruption et violence : l’émergence d’un ordre nouveau dans les pays arabes ?

Au-dela de la forte heterogeneite des realites socio-economiques nationales dans le monde arabe, il y a bien une logique institutionnelle commune qui est a l’origine des revoltes recentes, celle de coalitions dominantes se perpetuant au pouvoir pour controler les rentes issues de la liberalisation et/ou de l’exploitation de ressources naturelles.
A new flexible laryngeal mask airway introducer

The flexible reinforced laryngeal mask airway (LMA; FLMA) is an extremely useful LMA, especially during oral, ophthalmic and head and neck surgeries, as it does not interfere with the surgical field and is resistant to kinking and compression as compared with classic LMA. Although the manufacturers have suggested that it is not difficult to insert a reinforced laryngeal mask airway (RLMA) if the standard recommended technique is used, insertion remains more difficult than for a standard LMA, owing to the floppy flexometallic shaft, whereby the force is not easily transmitted along the shaft. [1]
Longitudinal analysis of historical texts' readability

Digital libraries often contain historical documents of varying age. The degree to which users can understand their content depends much on their reading difficulty. In this poster paper we report the results of our studies on the readability of historical documents from the viewpoint of present users. We investigate the correlation between the outcomes of different readability measurements and publication dates of prose texts on the basis of two datasets, the Victorian Women's Writers Project and the Corpus of Late Modern English Texts.
Tallgrass Prairie: Remnants and Relicts

The tallgrass prairie once was continuous throughout the eastern Great Plains. Now, scattered remnants remain. The distribu tion of some of the most interesting and socially valuable remnants occur along the base of the Rocky Mountains as relicts from a past era. When the species composition of these Colorado grasslands is compared with that of the eastern tallgrass prairie by an index of similarity, the relation ship is clear, even though the climates of the two regions differ greatly. It is likely that this western tallgrass prairie is left over from past geo logic times rather than the product of long distance seed dispersal. To day, the persistence of tallgrass prairie is threatened. These threats include urbanization, mismanagement, under-valuation by the people who in habit the regions, and invasion by exotic plant species. These are serious, but correctable, problems. The conservation and restoration of the re maining tallgrass prairie is justified because these relicts contain valu able ecological and genetic resources for the future.
Investigating family context : an exploratory study to research how therapists use genograms as a therapeutic tool with individuals in one-to-one therapy

My project focuses on context as a key aspect of my theoretical framework as a counselling psychologist and integrative psychotherapist. In particular, literature about system’s theory and research about transgenerational transmission highlight the importance of paying attention to a client’s family context in the therapeutic process. My practice-based research addresses the need to investigate how therapists work actively with a client’s family system in one-to-one therapy. I chose to explore therapists’ use of genograms (family trees) to understand a client’s family history and dynamics. I conducted semi-structured interviews with nine therapists who use genograms regularly within their ongoing therapeutic work with individuals. My method of data collection and analysis utilised a full, social constructivist version of grounded theory that incorporated an awareness of my experiences and influences using reflexivity. The three main categories I constructed from my data centred on how genograms become integrated into the evolving therapeutic process and relationship, how they create impact and change, and the influence of the therapist’s approach and interventions. Whilst each category can be understood separately, they are inter-related in terms of the overall use and effect of genograms in one-to-one work. My findings suggest that genograms can be powerful and, if used sensitively and appropriately, can enhance the therapeutic relationship and process of personal change. By demonstrating the beneficial use of a holistic and relational tool that has the potential for quicker work by understanding the context of the client’s presenting issues, my research has relevance within current debates about the provision of psychological therapy in statutory services and to the fields of counselling psychology and integrative psychotherapy with regards to how they address context in practice.
Upstream – News in Genomics

In recent months a bumper crop of genomes has been completed, including the fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) and rice (Oryza sativa). Two large-scale studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein complexes provided a picture of the eukaryotic proteome as a network of complexes. Amongst the other stories of interest was a demonstration that proteomic analysis of blood samples can be used to detect ovarian cancer, perhaps even as early as stage I.
Bit-interleaved coded modulation with iterative decoding

A simple iterative decoding technique using hard-decision feedback is presented for bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM). With an 8-state, rate-2/3 convolutional code, and 8-PSK modulation, the improvement over the conventional BICM scheme exceeds 1 dB for a fully-interleaved Rayleigh flat-fading channel and exceeds 1.5 dB for a channel with additive white Gaussian noise. This robust performance makes BICM with iterative decoding suitable for both types of channels.
Blind source separation by independent component analysis applied to electroencephalographic signals

Independent Component Analysis (ICA) is a statistical based method, which goal is to find a linear transformation to apply to an observed multidimensional random vector such that its components become as statistically independent from each other as possible. Usually the Electroencephalographic (EEG) signal is hard to interpret and analyse since it is corrupted by some artifacts which originates the rejection of contaminated segments and perhaps in an unacceptable loss of data. The ICA filters trained on data collected during EEG sessions can identify statistically independent source channels which could then be further processed by using event-related potential (ERP), event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) or other signal processing techniques. This paper describes, as a preliminary work, the application of ICA to EEG recordings of the human brain activity, showing its applicability.
Pigmented villonodular synovitis and giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath: radiologic and pathologic features.

ing mass on thumb. A, Radiograph reveals soft-tissue swelling without osseous involvement (arrowhead). B, Sagittal Ti -weighted spin-echo MR image reveals lobulated mass of diminished signal intensity, similarto that of muscle, in anterior aspect of thumb (arrow). C, Sagittal gradient-echo MR image shows lesion to be markedly heterogeneous, with areas of signal intensity higher and lower than that of muscle (arrow).
Taking the True Measure of a Liberal Education.

Generalizations about longitudinal collegiate assessment are difficult, not least because of the remarkable range of four-year institutions and the students who attend them. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that we need to try to assess the effectiveness of liberal education. While I refuse to assume that students are consumers, and that the product they purchase can be evaluated by mandatory standardized tests, I also reject the notion that important values goals are not broadly shared across higher education. And if I am not yet convinced that there is any adequate way to assess longitudinally across all of higher education — although my mind is open on the subject — I am fairly sure that we can begin to evaluate the learning outcomes of general education.
Using a WLFSR to Embed Test Pattern Pairs in Minimum Time

We propose a methodology for reducing the number of test cycles needed by a Weighted LFSR (WLFSR) to reproduce a 2P × W test matrix T of P pattern pairs. The methodology introduces a very small number δ of extra cells into the WLFSR and uses appropriate combinational mapping logic in order to make the time be equal to that required by a (W + δ)-bit WLFSR to generate vectors containing the W bits of the first pattern for each pair plus the δ extra bits. We present an algorithm that makes the value of δ be less than or equal to ⌈log2λ⌉, where λ is the size of the maximum subset of pairs in T with identical first patterns. This is a significant improvement over the time EP,W · P required by a trivial approach that uses a WLFSR with W cells to generate the first patterns of the pairs and a P × W ROM to store the second patterns of the pairs. Experimental results on the application of the methodology to the embedding of test matrices for path delay faults are particularly encouraging, even for very large numbers of test pattern pairs that are necessary for provably high fault coverage.