Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient FPGA Implementation of Conjugate Gradient Methods for Laplacian System using HLS

In conjugate gradient method to solve partial differential equations, matrix vector operations are required in each iteration; these matrix vector operations can be implemented as 5 point finite difference stencil operations on the grid without explicitely constructing the matrix. We show that a pipelined and superscalar design using high level synthesis (HLS) leads to a significant reduction in latencies for two variants of conjugate gradient methods considered. When comparing these two, we show that the second method has roughly two times lower latency than the former given the same degree of superscalarity. These reductions in latencies for the newer variant of CG is due to parallel implementations of stencil operation on subdomains of the grid, and due to overlap of these stencil operations with dot product operations. In a superscalar design for the stencil operation, the computational domain needs to be partitioned, and boundary data needs to be copied, which requires padding. We propose a novel traversal of the grid for 2D domain decomposition that leads to reduction in latency cost involved with padding. The FPGA implementation of CG is roughly 7 times faster than state-of- the-art sequential implementation, and roughly 4 times faster than state-of-the-art CUDA library parallel implementation for the linear system of dimension 10000 x 10000.
Traffic State Spatial-Temporal Characteristic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting Based on Manifold Similarity

The study on the spatial-temporal characteristics of highway traffic flow is helpful to deeply understand the inherent evolution of highway traffic system and provide a theoretical basis for prediction and control of highway traffic flow. This paper makes an empirical analysis on the spatial-temporal characteristics of highway traffic flow using manifold similarity index and manifold learning technology. The time series of highway traffic flow is converted into the distance series containing manifold features to calculate the manifold distance between multi-section traffic flow data points, which are highly similar to spatial-temporal distribution of traffic flow speed parameters, and then, the levels calibration of traffic state is carried out according to the manifold distance, so as to reveal the distribution rule of spatial-temporal characteristics of highway traffic flow. Its prediction error is obviously lower than the traditional distance measurement method, which has higher accuracy. The research of this paper can provide new ideas and methods to reveal the highway traffic flow evolution and traffic state prediction.
Design and Analysis of Flame Signal Detection with the Combination of UV/IR Sensors

In this paper, the combination of ultraviolet and infrared sensors based design for flame signal detection algorithms was proposed with the application of light-wavelength from burning. And, the performance result of image detection was compared by an ultraviolet sensor, an infrared sensor, and the proposed dual-mode sensors(combination of ultraviolet and infrared sensors).
Path of Vowel Raising in Chengdu Dialect of Mandarin

He and Rao (2013) reported a raising phenomenon of /a/ in /Xan/ (X being a consonant or a vowel) in Chengdu dialect of Mandarin, i.e. /a/ is realized as [epsilon] for young speakers but [ae] for older speakers, but they offered no acoustic analysis. We designed an acoustic study that examined the realization of /Xan/ in speakers of different age (old vs. young) and gender (male vs. female) groups, where X represents three conditions: 1) unaspirated consonants: C ([p], [t], [k]), 2) aspirated consonants: Ch ([ph], [th], [kh]), and 3) high vowels: V ([i], [y], [u]). 17 native speakers were asked to read /Xan/ characters and the F1 values are extracted for comparison. Our results confirmed the raising effect in He and Rao (2013), i.e., young speakers realize /a/ as [epsilon] in /an/, whereas older speakers in the most part realize it as [ae]. Also, female speakers raise more than male speakers within the same age group. Interestingly, within the /Van/ condition, older speakers do raise /a/ in /ian/ and /yan/. We interpret this as /a/ first assimilates to its preceding front high vowels /i/ and /y/ for older speakers, which then becomes phonologized in younger speakers in all conditions, including /Chan/ and /Can/. This shows a possible trajectory of the ongoing sound change in the Chengdu dialect.
Antioxidant Effects of Four Heartwood Extractives on Midgut Enzyme Activity in Heterotermes indicola (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract Heterotermes indicola (Wasmann) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) is a species of subterranean termite that is a destructive pest of wood and wood products in Pakistan. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antienzyme potential of heartwood extractives against H. indicola. Heartwood extractives of four durable wood species, Tectona grandis (L.f), Dalbergia sissoo (Roxb.), Cedrus deodara (Roxb.), and Pinus roxburghii (Sarg.) were removed from wood shavings via soxhlet extraction with an ethanol:toluene solvent system. The antioxidant potential of the extractive compounds was determined using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging test. Results showed maximum antioxidant activity for extractives of D. sissoo. D. sissoo had the lowest IC50 (the concentration where 50% inhibition of the DPPH radical is obtained) at 28.83 μg/ml among the heartwood extractives evaluated. This antioxidant activity, however, was not concentration dependent as was observed in the other heartwood extractives tested. At the maximum test concentration, T. grandis showed the highest percent inhibition at 89.7%, but this inhibition was lower compared to the positive control antioxidant compounds butylated hydroxytoluene and quercetin. When termites were fed filter paper treated with IC50s of the extractives and control compounds, glutathione S-transferase activity in the guts of H. indicola workers was significantly reduced by T. grandis and D. sissoo extractives. Similarly, esterase activity was reduced more by P. roxburghii extractives compared to control antioxidant treatments and other tested extractives. However, none of the extractives examined significantly reduced the activity of catalase enzymes in H. indicola compared to treatments with the antioxidant control compounds.
Acellular dermal matrix scaffolds coated with connective tissue growth factor accelerate diabetic wound healing by increasing fibronectin through PKC signalling pathway

The regional injection of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) for diabetic wound healing requires multiple components and results in a substantial loss of its biological activity. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) scaffolds are optimal candidates for delivering these factors to local ischaemic environments. In this study, we explored whether CTGF loaded on ADM scaffolds can enhance fibronectin (FN) expression to accelerate diabetic wound healing via the protein kinase C (PKC) signalling pathway. The performance of CTGF and CTGF + PKC inhibitor, which were loaded on ADM scaffolds to treat dorsal skin wounds in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice, was evaluated with naked ADM as a control. Wound closure showed that ADM scaffolds loaded with CTGF induced greater diabetic wound healing in the early stage of the wound in diabetic mice. Moreover, ADM scaffolds loaded with CTGF obviously increased the expression of FN both at the mRNA and protein levels, whereas the expression of FN was significantly reduced in the inhibitor group. Furthermore, the ADM + CTGF group, which produce FN, obviously promoted alpha‐smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor‐beta expression and enhanced neovasculature and collagen synthesis at the wound sites. ADM scaffolds loaded with CTGF + PKC inhibitor delayed diabetic wound healing, indicating that FN expression was mediated by the PKC signalling pathway. Our findings offer new perspectives for the treatment of diabetic wound healing and suggest a rationale for the clinical evaluation of CTGF use in diabetic wound healing.
Off-Target Effects of Drugs that Disrupt Human Mitochondrial DNA Maintenance

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) were the first drugs used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Development of severe mitochondrial toxicity has been well documented in patients infected with HIV and administered NRTIs. In vitro biochemical experiments have demonstrated that the replicative mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymerase gamma, Polg, is a sensitive target for inhibition by metabolically active forms of NRTIs, nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs). Once incorporated into newly synthesized daughter strands NtRTIs block further DNA polymerization reactions. Human cell culture and animal studies have demonstrated that cell lines and mice exposed to NRTIs display mtDNA depletion. Further complicating NRTI off-target effects on mtDNA maintenance, two additional DNA polymerases, Pol beta and PrimPol, were recently reported to localize to mitochondria as well as the nucleus. Similar to Polg, in vitro work has demonstrated both Pol beta and PrimPol incorporate NtRTIs into nascent DNA. Cell culture and biochemical experiments have also demonstrated that antiviral ribonucleoside drugs developed to treat hepatitis C infection act as off-target substrates for POLRMT, the mitochondrial RNA polymerase and primase. Accompanying the above-mentioned topics, this review examines: (1) mtDNA maintenance in human health and disease, (2) reports of DNA polymerases theta and zeta (Rev3) localizing to mitochondria, and (3) additional drugs with off-target effects on mitochondrial function. Lastly, mtDNA damage may induce cell death; therefore, the possibility of utilizing compounds that disrupt mtDNA maintenance to kill cancer cells is discussed.
Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Depression: The SUN Project

Emerging evidence relates some nutritional factors to depression risk. However, there is a scarcity of longitudinal assessments on this relationship. Objective To evaluate the association between fatty acid intake or the use of culinary fats and depression incidence in a Mediterranean population. Material and Methods Prospective cohort study (1999–2010) of 12,059 Spanish university graduates (mean age: 37.5 years) initially free of depression with permanently open enrolment. At baseline, a 136-item validated food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate the intake of fatty acids (saturated fatty acids (SFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), trans unsaturated fatty acids (TFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and culinary fats (olive oil, seed oils, butter and margarine) During follow-up participants were classified as incident cases of depression if they reported a new clinical diagnosis of depression by a physician and/or initiated the use of antidepressant drugs. Cox regression models were used to calculate Hazard Ratios (HR) of incident depression and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for successive quintiles of fats. Results During follow-up (median: 6.1 years), 657 new cases of depression were identified. Multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for depression incidence across successive quintiles of TFA intake were: 1 (ref), 1.08 (0.82–1.43), 1.17 (0.88–1.53), 1.28 (0.97–1.68), 1.42 (1.09–1.84) with a significant dose-response relationship (p for trend = 0.003). Results did not substantially change after adjusting for potential lifestyle or dietary confounders, including adherence to a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern. On the other hand, an inverse and significant dose-response relationship was obtained for MUFA (p for trend = 0.05) and PUFA (p for trend = 0.03) intake. Conclusions A detrimental relationship was found between TFA intake and depression risk, whereas weak inverse associations were found for MUFA, PUFA and olive oil. These findings suggest that cardiovascular disease and depression may share some common nutritional determinants related to subtypes of fat intake.
A single‐stage phase‐shifted full‐bridge AC/DC converter with variable frequency control

This letter presents a single‐stage soft‐switched full‐bridge AC/DC converter for low‐voltage/high‐current output applications. A phase‐shifted method with a variable frequency control is used to regulate the DC bus voltage and the output voltage of the single‐stage AC/DC converter. The proposed circuit topology and control scheme exhibit superior performances (i.e. high power factor, high‐efficiency, and ring‐free features). Correspondingly, a laboratory prototype, 500 W 5V/100A AC/DC converter, is implemented to verify the feasibility of the proposed design. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy: A Clinical Survey among Endocrinologists, Gynecologists, and Obstetricians in Israel.

OBJECTIVES To study the current practices in the management of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and thyroid nodules during pregnancy of obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) and endocrinologists in Israel. METHODS An electronic questionnaire was sent by email to all members of the Israeli Endocrine Society and the Israel Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Questionnaires included demographic data and clinical scenarios with questions regarding the screening and management of pregnant women with SCH, hypothyroxinemia, and a palpable thyroid nodule. The questionnaire for OB/GYNs was slightly modified. RESULTS We received 90 responses from endocrinologists and 42 responses from OB/GYNs. Among endocrinologists, 39% would repeat a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test of 2.9 mU/L with normal free thyroxine and treat with thyroxine if the second result was above 2.5 mU/L. Among OB/GYNs, 73% would manage a woman with SCH at the beginning of her pregnancy by themselves and only 22% would start thyroxine after a first TSH result above 2.5 mU/L. Concerning screening, 57% endocrinologists and 71% OB/GYNs recommended screening for thyroid dysfunction in every woman at the beginning of her pregnancy. Among endocrinologists, 54% would order an ultrasound for a palpable thyroid nodule and perform a fine needle aspiration only for suspicious lesions. CONCLUSIONS The medical approach to thyroid disease in pregnant women remains a matter of controversy. Our results support the need for larger and prospective clinical studies.
An Overview of the EMV Protocol and Its Security Vulnerabilities

EMV (Europay Mastercard Visa) is the international standard implemented to secure purchase and deposit/withdrawal transactions. It represents a set of security rules and messages exchanged between the transaction actors in order to guarantee important security properties (such as authentication, authorization, integrity, etc.). However, several recent research studies have analyzed the EMV security standard and show that it is vulnerable to attacks. This paper presents an overview of the EMV protocol and its security vulnerabilities.
Electrical Impedance Tomography: Tissue Properties to Image Measures

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) uses electrical stimulation and measurement at the body surface to image the electrical properties of internal tissues. It has the advantage of noninvasiveness and high temporal resolution but suffers from poor spatial resolution and sensitivity to electrode movement and contact quality. EIT can be useful to applications, where there are conductive contrasts between tissues, fluids, or gasses, such as imaging of cancerous or ischemic tissue or functional monitoring of breathing, blood flow, gastric motility, and neural activity. The past decade has seen clinical application and commercial activity using EIT for ventilation monitoring. Interpretation of EIT-based measures is complex, and this review paper focuses on describing the image interpretation “pathway. ” We review this pathway, from Tissue Electrical Properties, EIT Electrodes & Hardware, Sensitivity, Image Reconstruction, Image Processing to EIT Measures. The relationship is discussed between the clinically relevant parameters and the reconstructed properties. An overview is given of areas of EIT application and of our perspectives for research and development.
Experience with four consecutive BFM-based protocols for treatment of childhood with non-promyelocytic acute myeloblastic leukemia in Argentina

Abstract Childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) achieves event-free-survival (EFS) rates of ∼50%. Double induction phase has been introduced for improving these results. Four consecutive protocols for AML treatment were evaluated to assess the impact of the addition of a second induction course in our setting. From January 1990 to January 2014, 307 evaluable AML patients were accrued. They were classified into low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) according to cytogenetic/molecular findings and response on day 15. The first two studies administered one induction cycle while the latter two protocols administered double induction. Relapse was the most frequent event and early-deaths were reduced by 50% in the last protocol. Statistically significant differences were observed when comparing EFS in LR and HR groups. Patients from both risk-groups who received double induction achieved significantly better outcome. EFS improved in protocols with double induction and early-deaths rate was decreased. Cytogenetic/molecular features and early-response were confirmed as prognostic factors.
Evaluation of hepatitis b and c related to oral health and other risk factors: a population-based, study in karachi, pakistan

Background: Patients chronically infected either with hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) are at increased risk of developing cirrhosis, end stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Different risk factors were found to be associated with the transmission of these viruses in various settings. HBV and HCV transmission seems to be also acquired by non- parenteral and non-sexual routes. A large number of patients infected with HCV might have non identifical routes of viral acquisition. Pre-exposure hepatitis B vaccination and the use of standard precautions to prevent exposure to blood are the most effective strategies for preventing dental health-care personnel (DHCP) from occupational exposure to occupational infection with HBV, or HCV. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the spread of hepatitis B and C in the rural areas of the upper Sindh Province, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: A total of 496 samples were collected with the history form and all the question related to risk factors were asked and datas was collected. The blood saples were collected from individual and was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and for hepatitis C virus antibodies by ELISA. Results: Overall, 262 samples were which met the selection criteria were evaluated. During the study we assessed different dental procedures, blood transfusion, and other risk factors and we found that, besides all-time risk of HBV and HCV infection, the dental clinic is at high risk where the rate of hepatitis infected individuals is higher. Conclusion: Dental clinic are main culprit for spreading HBV and HCV besides that there are other risk factors also by which helps in spreading HBV and HCV infection. This risk can easily be eliminated using standard precautionary measures
Calls of North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis contain information on individual identity and age class

Passive acoustic monitoring is a powerful tool that allows remote detection of marine mammals through their vocalizations. While call detection provides information on species presence, additional information may be contained within the vocalizations that could provide more information regarding the demographics and/or number of individuals in a particular area based on passive acoustic detections. The North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis produces a stereotyped upswept call, termed the upcall, that is thought to function as a long-distance contact call in this species. As such, the call is likely to contain cues providing information about the individual producing it. The goal of this study was to test whether the right whale upcall could potentially encode information related to the identity and age of the caller. Using upcalls recorded from 14 known individuals through non-invasive suction cup archival acoustic tags, we demonstrate that the upcall does contain sufficient information to discriminate individual identity and age class, with average classification levels of 72.6 and 86.1%, respectively. Parameters measured from the fundamental frequency, duration, and formant structure were most important for discrimination among individuals. This study is the first step in demonstrating the feasibility of obtaining additional data from passive acoustic monitoring to aid in the conservation efforts for this highly endangered species.
Adaptation and Validation of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry for Chilean Population.

OBJECTIVE To adapt and validate the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (REALD-30) for the Chilean population. METHODS REALD-30 was translated to Spanish, piloted, and revised by experts. Demographics, oral health status, oral health-related quality of life, and health literacy were analyzed. Summary measures, internal consistency, reliability, and convergent and predictive validity were calculated. RESULTS Cronbach's alpha was 0.876, intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.789 for reliability, Pearson´s and Spearman´s correlations were ≥0.693 for convergent validity, and <= *-0.138 for predictive validity. CONCLUSION REALD-30 is a valid and reliable instrument to measure oral health literacy in the Chilean population.
Old wine in new bottles or novel challenges: a critical analysis of empirical studies of user experience

This paper reviews how empirical research on User Experience (UX) is conducted. It integrates products, dimensions of experience, and methodologies across a systematically selected sample of 51 publications from 2005-2009, reporting a total of 66 empirical studies. Results show a shift in the products and use contexts that are studied, from work towards leisure, from controlled tasks towards open use situations, and from desktop computing towards consumer products and art. Context of use and anticipated use, often named key factors of UX, are rarely researched. Emotions, enjoyment and aesthetics are the most frequently assessed dimensions. The methodologies used are mostly qualitative, and known from traditional usability studies, though constructive methods with unclear validity are being developed and used. Many studies use self-developed questionnaires without providing items or statistical validations. We discuss underexplored research questions and potential improvements of UX research.