Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A logic cell architecture exploiting the shannon expansion for the reduction of configuration memory

Most modern field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) employ a look-up table (LUT) as their basic logic cell. Although a k-input LUT can implement any k-input logic, its functionality relies on a large amount of configuration memory. As FPGA scales improve, the increased quantity of configuration memory cells required for FPGAs will require a larger area and consume more power. Moreover, the soft-error rate per device will also increase as more configuration memory cells are embedded. We propose scalable logic modules (SLMs), logic cells requiring less configuration memory, reducing configuration memory by making use of partial functions of Shannon expansion for frequently appearing logics. Experimental results show that SLM-based FPGAs use much less configuration memory and have smaller area than conventional LUT-based FPGAs.
Security Evaluation and Hardening of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

Recently, Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) has emerged as an alternative to Commercial-Off- The-Shelf (COTS) software. Now, FOSS is perceived as a viable long-term solution that deserves careful consideration because of its potential for significant cost savings, improved reliability, and numerous advantages over proprietary software. However, the secure integration of FOSS in IT infrastructures is very challenging and demanding. Methodologies and technical policies must be adapted to reliably compose large FOSS-based software systems. A DRDC Valcartier-Concordia University feasibility study completed in March 2004 concluded that the most promising approach for securing FOSS is to combine advanced design patterns and Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP). Following the recommendations of this study a three years project have been conducted as a collaboration between Concordia University, DRDC Valcartier, and Bell Canada. This paper aims at presenting the main contributions of this project. It consists of a practical framework with the underlying solid semantic foundations for the security evaluation and hardening of FOSS.
IEEE 802.15.4e TSCH Mode Performance Analysis

Multiplexing data transmission in time and frequency is an alternative to medium contention in wireless networks. The IEEE 802.15. 4e standard, and its Time Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) mode in particular, provides such possibility in the context of constrained devices, for instance wireless sensor networks. We analyze the performance of TSCH leveraging from a real implementation in emulated environment, assessing latency, delivery ratio and time to associate.
Towards real-time novel view synthesis using visual hulls

This thesis discusses fast novel view synthesis from multiple images taken from different viewpoints. We propose several new algorithms that take advantage of modern graphics hardware to create novel views. Although different approaches are explored, one geometry representation, the visual hull, is employed throughout our work. First the visual hull plays an auxiliary role and assists in reconstruction of depth maps that are utilized for novel view synthesis. Then we treat the visual hull as the principal geometry representation of scene objects. A hardwareaccelerated approach is presented to reconstruct and render visual hulls directly from a set of silhouette images. The reconstruction is embedded in the rendering process and accomplished with an alpha map trimming technique. We go on by combining this technique with hardware-accelerated CSG reconstruction to improve the rendering quality of visual hulls. Finally, photometric information is exploited to overcome an inherent limitation of the visual hull. All algorithms are implemented on a distributed system. Novel views are generated at interactive or real-time frame rates. In dieser Dissertation werden mehrere Verfahren vorgestellt, mit deren Hilfe neue Ansichten einer Szene aus mehreren Bildstromen errechnet werden konnen. Die Bildstrome werden hierzu aus unterschiedlichen Blickwinkeln auf die Szene aufgezeichnet. Wir schlagen mehrere Algorithmen vor, welche die Funktionen moderner Grafikhardware ausnutzen, um die neuen Ansichten zu errechnen. Obwohl die Verfahren sich methodisch unterscheiden, basieren sie auf der gleichen Geometriedarstellung, der Visual Hull. In der ersten Methode spielt die Visual Hull eine unterstutzende Rolle bei der Rekonstruktion von Tiefenbildern, die zur Erzeugung neuer Ansichten verwendet werden. In den nachfolgend vorgestellten Verfahren dient die Visual Hull primar der Reprasentation von Objekten in einer Szene. Eine hardwarebeschleunigte Methode, um Visual Hulls direkt aus mehreren Silhouettenbildern zu rekonstruieren und zu rendern, wird vorgestellt. Das Rekonstruktionsverfahren ist hierbei Bestandteil der Renderingmethode und basiert auf einer Alpha Map Trimming Technik. Ein weiterer Algorithmus verbessert die Qualitaet der gerenderten Visual Hulls, indem das Alpha-Map-basierte Verfahren mit einer hardware-beschleunigten CSG Rekonstruktiontechnik kombiniert wird. Eine vierte Methode nutzt zusaetzlich photometrische Information aus, um eine grundlegende Beschraenkung des Visual-Hull-Ansatzes zu umgehen. Alle Verfahren ermoeglichen die interaktive oder Echtzeit- Erzeugung neuer Ansichten.
Residual feed intake in beef cattle

Providing feed is a major input cost in beef production, hence improvements in the efficiency of feed utilisation will reduce the cost of production. Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency, and is defined as the difference between an animal's actual feed intake and its expected feed intake based on its size and growth. It is independent of the level of production, and the lower the value the more efficient the animal is. This paper examines the current state of knowledge on RFI. Available information indicates that postweaning RFI is moderately heritable, and that selection for low RFI will result in progeny that consume less feed for the same level of production as progeny of high RFI cattle. Under ad libitum feeding, RFI is phenotypically independent of growth traits. There is a weak genetic relationship between RFI and fatness but additional studies are needed to assess the magnitude of this relationship in different breeds, sexes, ages and feeding regimes. Residual feed intake is believed to represent inherent variation in basic metabolic processes which determine efficiency. Economic analyses of genetic improvement schemes that incorporate testing of individuals for RFI have yielded substantial economic benefits over and above existing schemes that do not include RFI testing. Selection for low RFI has an additional benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by cattle.
Traumatic brain injury and subsequent glioblastoma development: Review of the literature and case reports

Background: Previous reports have proposed an association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and subsequent glioblastoma (GBM) formation. Methods: We used literature searches and radiographic evidence from two patients to assess the possibility of a link between TBI and GBM. Results: Epidemiological studies are equivocal on a possible link between brain trauma and increased risk of malignant glioma formation. We present two case reports of patients with GBM arising at the site of prior brain injury. Conclusion: The hypothesis that TBI may predispose to gliomagenesis is disputed by several large-scale epidemiological studies, but supported by some. Radiographic evidence from two cases presented here suggest that GBM formed at the site of brain injury. We propose a putative pathogenesis model that connects post-traumatic inflammation, stem and progenitor cell transformation, and gliomagenesis.
Factors Associated With Condom Breakage During Anal Intercourse: A Cross-Sectional Study of Men Who Have Sex With Men Recruited in an Online Survey

Background Within the United States, HIV affects men who have sex with men (MSM) disproportionally compared to the general population. In 2011, MSM represented nearly two-thirds of all new HIV infections while representing less than 2% of the US male population. Condoms continue to be the foundation of many HIV prevention programs; however, the failure rate of condoms during anal intercourse among MSM is estimated to be 0.5% to 8%, and condom breakages leave those affected at high risk for HIV transmission. Objective Estimate the frequency of condom breakage and associated demographic and behavioral factors during last act of anal intercourse using data from a national online HIV prevention survey of MSM. Methods From March 19 to April 16, 2009, data were collected on 9005 MSM through an online survey of US MSM recruited through a social networking site. Using multivariable logistic regression and controlling for several demographic and sexual risk behaviors, we estimated odds ratios of the association between condom breakage and several risk factors. Results In the study, 8063 participants reported having at least one male sexual partner in the last 12 months. The median age of participants was 21 years (range 18-65). More than two-thirds (68.2%, 5498/8063) reported anal intercourse during last sex and 16.90% (927/5498) reported using a condom during last anal intercourse act. Condom breakage was reported by 4.4% (28/635) participants who engaged in receptive anal intercourse and 3.5% (16/459) participants who engaged in insertive anal intercourse, with an overall failure rate of 4.0% (95% CI 3.2%-6.0%). Age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per 5 years: 0.53 (95% CI 0.30-0.94), number of male sex partners (aOR per 5 sex partners: 1.03 (95% CI 1.00-1.08), and being high or buzzed during sex with a casual sex partner (aOR: 3.14, 95% CI 1.02-9.60) were associated with condom breakage. Conclusions Our results indicate condom breakage is an important problem for MSM that may be more common for younger men, for men with more partners, and during sex with casual partners after alcohol consumption or drug use. A better understanding of why condom breakage occurs more often in these groups is needed to improve educational efforts. Further, during this time of expanded interest in new condom designs, consideration should be given to how condom design might minimize breakage during anal sex.
Acute Hypertriglyceridemia Induces Platelet Hyperactivity That is Not Attenuated by Insulin in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background Atherothrombosis is associated with platelet hyperactivity. Hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance (IR) are features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The effect of induced hypertriglyceridemia on IR and platelet function was examined in young women with PCOS. Methods and Results Following overnight fasting, 13 PCOS and 12 healthy women were infused with saline or 20% intralipid for 5 hours on separate days. Insulin sensitivity was measured using a hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp in the final 2 hours of each infusion. Platelet responses to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and prostacyclin (PGI2) were measured by flow cytometric analysis of platelet fibrinogen binding and P‐selectin expression using whole blood taken during each infusion (at 2 hours) and at the end of each clamp. Lipid infusion increased triglycerides and reduced insulin sensitivity in both controls (median, interquartile range ) (5.25 [3.3, 6.48] versus 2.60 [0.88, 3.88] mg kg−1 min−1, P<0.001) and PCOS (3.15 [2.94, 3.85] versus 1.06 [0.72, 1.43] mg kg−1 min−1, P<0.001). Platelet activation by ADP was enhanced and ability to suppress platelet activation by PGI2 diminished during lipid infusion in both groups when compared to saline. Importantly, insulin infusion decreased lipid‐induced platelet hyperactivity by decreasing their response to 1 μmol/L ADP (78.7% [67.9, 82.3] versus 62.8% [51.8, 73.3], P=0.02) and increasing sensitivity to 0.01 μmol/L PGI2 (67.6% [39.5, 83.8] versus 40.9% [23.8, 60.9], P=0.01) in controls, but not in PCOS. Conclusion Acute hypertriglyceridemia induced IR, and increased platelet activation in both groups that was not reversed by insulin in PCOS subjects compared to controls. This suggests that platelet hyperactivity induced by acute hypertriglyceridemia and IR could contribute athero‐thrombotic risk. Clinical Trial Registration URL: www.isrctn. org. Unique Identifier: ISRCTN42448814.
Thinking AbouT VocATionAl choice

A vocation may be thought of as one’s life work, entailing both paid and unpaid employment that satisfies survival as well as self-esteem, social, humanitarian, and spiritual needs. For clarification, an occupation differs from a vocation in that the former consists of employment that satisfies basic human needs such as food, shelter, and safety, whereas the latter entails work that meets higher order needs including humanitarian contribution and spiritual connectedness (Keen, 1991). Vocational choice, therefore, may be defined in terms of the outcome of
A note on the pin-pointing solution of ill-conditioned linear system of equations

Volokh and Vilnay [Appl. Math. Lett. 13 (2000), pp. 119–124] proposed a method for computing an accurate solution of nearly singular linear systems of equations. The method is processed in two stages. Their method uses the truncated singular value decomposition of the initial coefficient matrix at the first stage and the Gaussian elimination procedure for well-conditioned reduced system of linear equations at the second stage. In this note, we propose a multistage approach based on the Volokh and Vilnay's method. Some numerical results are given to show the efficiency of the proposed method.
Size influence on the propagation loss induced by sidewall roughness in ultrasmall SOI waveguides

Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) optical waveguides with high electromagnetic field confinement suffer from sidewall roughness which is responsible for strong scattering effects. This letter reports a numerical investigation on the size influence of ultrasmall SOI waveguides on the propagation loss due to sidewall roughness. It is shown that for a size smaller than 260 /spl times/ 260 nm the roughness-induced propagation loss decreases. As the optical mode confinement is reduced, a very low loss light coupling from and to a single-mode fiber can be achieved with propagation loss as low as 0.5 dB/cm for a 150 /spl times/ 150 nm cross-sectional waveguide.
Causation in the Law . by H. L. A. Hart and A. M. HonorÉ. [Oxford: Clarendon Press: Oxford University Press. 1959. xxxii and 454 pp. £2 15s.]

CAUSATION has frequently created difficulties in English law, and perhaps more frequently in civil than in criminal cases. Before the jury disappeared from the majority of civil trials the Bench had to give jurors directions on this subject from time to time, and it is not surprising that some judges told them to apply common sense to the problem; nor is it surprising that this attitude has been carried over to civil trials without a jury, where the distinction between questions of fact and questions of law is liable to become blurred, and that the same attitude has received recognition in appellate courts. In lectures and articles and now in this book Professor Hart and Mr. Honorl have undertaken the task of endeavouring to analyse the common sense of causation in legal matters; but they have done a great deal more, including the discussion of some Continental theories of causation in Part 8 of the book, particularly the theory of conditions and that of adequate cause.
Integration of 6D Object Localization and Obstacle Detection for Collision Free Robotic Manipulation

The major goal of research regarding mobile service robotics is to enable a robot to assist human beings in their everyday life. This implies that the robot will have to deal with everyday life environments. One of the most important steps towards able service robots is to enhance the ability to operate well in unstructured living environments. In this paper we focus on the integration of object recognition, obstacle detection and collision free manipulation to increase the service robots manipulation abilities in the context of highly unstructured environments.
Regulation of physiological responses to continuous and intermittent hypoxia by hypoxia‐inducible factor 1

Hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 (HIF‐1) is a heterodimeric transcription factor composed of HIF‐1α and HIF‐1β subunits that functions as a master regulator of oxygen homeostasis. Oxygen‐dependent hydroxylation of HIF‐1α provides a mechanism that allows changes in oxygenation to be transduced to the nucleus, leading to changes in gene expression. Hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 plays critical roles in development, physiology and disease pathogenesis. Analyses of mice that are heterozygous for a null allele at the locus encoding the HIF‐1α subunit have demonstrated that partial deficiency of HIF‐1 is sufficient to impair multiple physiological responses to continuous and intermittent hypoxia.
Score-Informed Voice Separation For Piano Recordings

The decomposition of a monaural audio recording into musically meaningful sound sources or voices constitutes a fundamental problem in music information retrieval. In this paper, we consider the task of separating a monaural piano recording into two sound sources (or voices) that correspond to the left hand and the right hand. Since in this scenario the two sources share many physical properties, sound separation approaches identifying sources based on their spectral envelope are hardly applicable. Instead, we propose a score-informed approach, where explicit note events specified by the score are used to parameterize the spectrogram of a given piano recording. This parameterization then allows for constructing two spectrograms considering only the notes of the left hand and the right hand, respectively. Finally, inversion of the two spectrograms yields the separation result. First experiments show that our approach, which involves high-resolution music synchronization and parametric modeling techniques, yields good results for realworld non-synthetic piano recordings.
Implementation of force and impedance control in robot manipulators

A conceptual treatment is conceptual using linearized models to avoid complexity is presented. However, it is also shown that the approach is suitable when nonlinear models are used. A system configuration which implements both force and impedance control, using feedback and feedforward compensation, for both linear and nonlinear models is obtained. The scheme is currently being implemented in real-time control for testing. <<ETX>>
Modulation of marrow stromal cell function using poly(D,L-lactic acid)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-monomethyl ether surfaces.

The adhesion of marrow stromal osteoblasts and the adsorption of fetal bovine serum (FBS) proteins to end-capped poly(D,L-lactic acid) 50:50 (PLA50) of molecular weight 17,000 (PLA5017), non-end-capped PLA50 of molecular weight 11,000 (PLA5011h), and a diblock copolymer made of poly(ethylene glycol)-monomethyl ether of molecular weight 5,000 and PLA50 of molecular weight 20,000 (Me. PEG5-PLA20) were investigated. Cell attachment and proliferation on both PLA50 polymers were equally good. The block copolymer did not allow the proliferation of cells. However, the attached cells were highly differentiated and metabolically active in contrast to the cells on PLA50. Moreover, surface analysis studies using electron spectroscopy revealed that FBS proteins adsorbed well from aqueous solutions to the PLA50 surfaces while they adsorbed substantially less to the block copolymer. These results suggest that Me.PEG-PLA block copolymers may be used to regulate protein adsorption and, therefore, cell adhesion by varying the block composition of the copolymer.
Risk Factors for Macro- and Microvascular Complications among Older Adults with Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: Findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing

Objective. To explore risk factors for macro- and microvascular complications in a nationally representative sample of adults aged 50 years and over with type 2 diabetes in Ireland. Methods. Data from the first wave of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) (2009–2011) was used in cross-sectional analysis. The presence of doctor diagnosis of diabetes, risk factors, and macro- and microvascular complications were determined by self-report. Gender-specific differences in risk factor prevalence were assessed with the chi-squared test. Binomial regression analysis was conducted to explore independent associations between established risk factors and diabetes-related complications. Results. Among 8175 respondents, 655 were classified as having type 2 diabetes. Older age, being male, a history of smoking, a lower level of physical activity, and a diagnosis of high cholesterol were independent predictors of macrovascular complications. Diabetes diagnosis of 10 or more years, a history of smoking, and a diagnosis of hypertension were associated with an increased risk of microvascular complications. Older age, third-level education, and a high level of physical activity were protective factors (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Early intervention to target modifiable risk factors is urgently needed to reduce diabetes-related morbidity in the older population in Ireland.
The MOLEN processor prototype

We present a prototype design of the MOLEN polymorphic processor, a CCM based on the co-processor architectural paradigm. The Xilinx Virtex II Pro technology is used as a prototyping platform. Experimental results prove the viability of the MOLEN concept. More precisely, the MPEG-2 application is accelerated very closely to its theoretical limits by implementing SAD, DCT and IDCT in reconfigurable hardware. The MPEG-2 encoder overall speedup is in the range between 2.80 and 2.96. The speedup of the MPEG-2 decoder varies between 1.56 and 1.63.
Emerging Roles for the Influenza A Virus Nuclear Export Protein (NEP)

Influenza virus is a major human and animal pathogen causing seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics in the human population that are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Influenza A virus, a member of the orthomyxovirus family, contains an RNA genome with a coding capacity for a limited number of proteins. In addition to ensuring the structural integrity of virions, these viral proteins facilitate the replication of virus in the host cell. Consequently, viral proteins often evolve to perform multiple functions, the influenza A virus nuclear export protein (NEP) (also referred to as non-structural protein 2, or NS2) being an emerging example. NEP was originally implicated in mediating the nuclear export of viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, which are synthesized in the infected cell nucleus and are assembled into progeny virions at the cell membrane. However, since then, new and unexpected roles for NEP during the influenza virus life cycle have started to emerge. These recent studies have shown NEP to be involved in regulating the accumulation of viral genomic vRNA and antigenomic cRNA as well as viral mRNA synthesized by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Subsequently, this regulation of viral RNA transcription and replication by NEP was shown to be an important factor in the adaptation of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses to the mammalian host. Unexpectedly, NEP has also been implicated in recruiting a cellular ATPase to the cell membrane to aid the efficient release of budding virions. Accordingly, NEP is proposed to play multiple biologically important roles during the influenza virus life cycle.