Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 32-Gb/s 9.3-mW CMOS equalizer with 0.73-V supply

A CTLE/DFE cascade incorporates inductor nesting to reduce chip area and latch feedforward to improve the loop speed. Realized in 45-nm CMOS technology, a 32-Gb/s prototype compensates for a channel loss of 18 dB at Nyquist while providing an eye opening of 0.44 UI at BER <; 10-12.
Media pedagogics in converged environments of the future

Our life patterns and culture increasingly find their roots in visual media: film, video games, internet and multimedia. Visual media shape the image of our world and our society, thereby being, however, somewhat detached from reality, portraying the bold and the beautiful as role models. Entertainment has become a driving force in the creation of films, television programs and the design of computer games. Education and pedagogical aspects are often neglected. Values and norms in our society seem to be continually losing importance. Our society appears to be getting poorer, both financially and intellectually. In this article we demonstrate the potential that can be found in media forms of the future in respect of education and discuss a number of aspects of reader response and aesthetic response in connection with media and violence.
Motor cortical plasticity induced by motor learning through mental practice

Several investigations suggest that actual and mental actions trigger similar neural substrates. Motor learning via physical practice results in long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity processes, namely potentiation of M1 and a temporary occlusion of additional LTP-like plasticity. However, whether this neuroplasticity process contributes to improve motor performance through mental practice remains to be determined. Here, we tested skill learning-dependent changes in primary motor cortex (M1) excitability and plasticity by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in subjects trained to physically execute or mentally perform a sequence of finger opposition movements. Before and after physical practice and motor-imagery practice, M1 excitability was evaluated by measuring the input-output (IO) curve of motor evoked potentials. M1 LTP and long-term depression (LTD)-like plasticity was assessed with paired-associative stimulation (PAS) of the median nerve and motor cortex using an interstimulus interval of 25 ms (PAS25) or 10 ms (PAS10), respectively. We found that even if after both practice sessions subjects significantly improved their movement speed, M1 excitability and plasticity were differentially influenced by the two practice sessions. First, we observed an increase in the slope of IO curve after physical but not after MI practice. Second, there was a reversal of the PAS25 effect from LTP-like plasticity to LTD-like plasticity following physical and MI practice. Third, LTD-like plasticity (PAS10 protocol) increased after physical practice, whilst it was occluded after MI practice. In conclusion, we demonstrated that MI practice lead to the development of neuroplasticity, as it affected the PAS25- and PAS10- induced plasticity in M1. These results, expanding the current knowledge on how MI training shapes M1 plasticity, might have a potential impact in rehabilitation.
Application of Formal Methods to Scenario-Based Requirements Engineering

Abstract The KLuB project is an attempt to use formal methods in the process and product of requirements engineering of information systems. In the work presented here, the scenario technique was used for requirements elicitation. Scenarios, which have been recognized as an effective technique for eliciting requirements, focus usually on behaviour and less on data. An additional objective of the project was to integrate data and behaviour in a formal specification, based on state machines. Semantic integration of data and behaviour was achieved by introducing the concept of compatibility between data values and system states. Scenario integration is also achieved based on data values. An additional objective was to automate as much as possible the requirements elicitation process. The KLuB process involves three steps: the scenario acquisition step, the baseline elicitation step, and the integration step, which is completely formal and can be automated.
Construction of extended technology acceptance model of electronic medical records in Jordan: The influence of doctors’ self-efficacy andperceived behavioral control

The implementation of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) in Jordan public hospitals has started since 2009.The motivation of doing this study is to observe doctors’ acceptance of EMR in Jordanian public hospitals.This study aims at constructing doctors’ acceptance model of EMR using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) based on individual capabilities.The model will apply TAM as the basic theory and extending Self-Efficacy (SE) and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) as two factors of individual characteristics. Initial findings show that the main factors of the model should compose of Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Behavioral Intention to Use, Self-Efficacy, and Perceived Behavioral Control.The result of the pilot test shows that all factors are reliable with Cronbach Alpa 0.838. The recommendation to the top management of healthcare organization, in order to increase doctors’ acceptance of EMR, that the new deployment of EMR should focus on delivering awareness and continuous training on using EMR among doctors at the early stage of EMR implementation .
Perception Based Gait Generation for Quadrupedal Characters

With the rapid expansion of the range of digital characters involved in film and game production, creating a wide variety of expressive characters has become a problem that can not be solved efficiently through current animation methods. Key-frame animation is time-consuming and requires animation expertise. Motion capture is constrained by equipment and environment requirements and is most applicable to humanoid characters. Simulation can produce physically correct motion but does not account for expressiveness. This thesis focuses on developing a more efficient animation system using a procedural approach in which the skeletal structure and characteristics of motion that communicate weight and age in quadrupeds have been isolated and engineered as user-controlled tools and modifiers to build creature shape and synthesize cyclic gait animation. This new approach accomplished the goal of quick generation of expressive characters. It is also successful in achieving real-time animation playback and adjustment.
Transcriptional selectors, masters, and combinatorial codes: regulatory principles of neural subtype specification

The broad range of tissue and cellular diversity of animals is generated to a large extent by the hierarchical deployment of sequence‐specific transcription factors and co‐factors (collectively referred to as TF's herein) during development. Our understanding of these developmental processes has been facilitated by the recognition that the activities of many TF's can be meaningfully described by a few functional categories that usefully convey a sense for how the TF's function, and also provides a sense for the regulatory organization of the developmental processes in which they participate. Here, we draw on examples from studies in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and vertebrates to discuss how the terms spatial selector, temporal selector, tissue/cell type selector, terminal selector and combinatorial code may be usefully applied to categorize the activities of TF's at critical steps of nervous system construction. While we believe that these functional categories are useful for understanding the organizational principles by which TF's direct nervous system construction, we however caution against the assumption that a TF's function can be solely or fully defined by any single functional category. Indeed, most TF's play diverse roles within different functional categories, and their roles can blur the lines we draw between these categories. Regardless, it is our belief that the concepts discussed here are helpful in clarifying the regulatory complexities of nervous system development, and hope they prove useful when interpreting mutant phenotypes, designing future experiments, and programming specific neuronal cell types for use in therapies. WIREs Dev Biol 2015, 4:505–528. doi: 10.1002/wdev.191
Development of a framework for pneumatic device selection for lymphedema treatment

The results of three patients with difficult to manage leg and trunk lymphedema are reported. Patients were treated with the current standard of care: combined decongestive therapy. All three patients met obstacles in achieving independent self-care, which impeded their discharge to home care. The use of two currently available programmable pneumatic compression devices (PCDs) was investigated to determine if these devices could enable these difficult-to-manage patients to meet their discharge goals. Results indicate that programmable PCDs can be effective in managing complicated cases of leg and trunk lymphedema, and that differences may exist between devices. In this trial, the device with lower applied pressures and smaller pneumatic chambers provided better tolerated treatment and overall better patient outcomes. These three case reports show that in-home use of an appropriate PCD can help patients with stage 3 and advanced stage 2 lymphedema achieve stable limb volumes with no exacerbation of lymphedema-related symptoms. Results also demonstrate the ability of patients to consistently use programmable PCDs in a home environment. The results are presented in a structured decision-making framework to aid the therapist and physician in selecting appropriate patients for home PCD lymphedema therapy, and in the selection of an appropriate PCD.
A transistor-level test strategy for C/sup 2/MOS MOUSETRAP asynchronous pipelines

We discuss a transistor-level test methodology for C2MOS asynchronous pipelines. Unlike their static CMOS counterparts, wherein testing for stuck-at faults and compliance to a few timing constraints typically suffices, dynamic asynchronous pipelines present new challenges which require more elaborate test solutions. More specifically, many gate-level input/output stuck-at faults of a static pipeline style translate into transistor-level stuck-open/stuck-short faults in the dynamic C2MOS version. Therefore, test methods for transistor-level faults are required for dynamic asynchronous pipelines. To this end, we propose a methodology for testing both gate-level stuck-at faults and transistor-level stuck-open/stuck-short faults in C2MOS pipelines. The proposed method does not employ additional hardware and is capable of detecting both gate-level and transistor-level faults, as we demonstrate on the C2MOS version of MOUSETRAP
A GNC Algorithm for Deblurring Images with Interacting Discontinuities

In this paper we present a Graduated Non-Convexity (GNC) algorithm for reconstructing images. We assume that the data images are blurred and corrupted by white Gaussian noise. Geometric features of discontinuities are introduced in the model and the problem is formulated as the minimization of a non-convex function. We give a convex approximation of such a function and a family of approximating functions. Moreover, to analize the convex approximation, we prove an alternative duality theorem to implicitly treat discontinuities of images. The experimental results are more satisfactory than those obtained by some standard algorithms. Introduction In this paper we deal with the problem of image restoration. In particular we assume to have an image blurred by a known operator and corrupted by an independent Gaussian white noise with zero mean and known variance. Our goal is to estimate from the observed image the original one. It is well-known that this is a typical ill-posed inverse problem in the sense of Hadamard; so, in order to solve this problem, some regularization techniques were proposed [1, 3, 4, 9]. In this paper we assume that restored images will be piecewise smooth; moreover we make an estimate of unknown discontinuities. A solution is defined as the minimum of the so-called primal energy function, which is the sum of two terms: the former is a measure of faithfulness of the solution to data, and the latter controls the degree of smoothness of the solution. In the case of image deblurring, an important constraint to give to the solution is
Invisible eni: using gaze and pupil size to control a game

We present an eyes-only computer game, Invisible Eni, which uses gaze, blinking and as a novelty pupil size to affect game state. Pupil size can be indirectly controlled by physical activation, strong emotional experiences and cognitive effort. Invisible Eni maps the pupil size variations to the game mechanics and allows players to control game objects by use of willpower. We present the design rationale behind the interaction in Invisible Eni and consider the design implications of using pupil measurements in the interface. We discuss limitations for pupil based interaction and provide suggestions for using pupil size as an active input modality.
Managing and Predicting the Costs of Real-Time Software

The Putnam model can be used to predict and manage software development projects. It is a management tool that takes, as input, easily obtained manpower data and produces cost and schedule estimates. This paper examines data from two real-time software projects and analyzes the applicability of the Putnam model. We propose a variation ation of the model which more reliably follows the staffing curve of real-time software applications. A critical analysis of the assumptions is presented and the parameters are reinterpreted so that they reflect the environment of embedded applications. Two projects are analyzed from actual data. It is shown how management decisions are reflected in the model. Even erratic and incomplete data can yield valuable conclusions. It is also shown that the model is appropriate to software developed with modern practices. We show how valuable management information can be obtained by laying out the data in a systematic manner.
Effects of Alpha1‐adrenoceptor (α1‐AR) antagonists on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the prostate: Therapeutic implications in prostatic disease

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer established that disruption of the molecular mechanisms that regulate apoptosis and cell proliferation among the stromal and epithelial cell populations, may underlie the neoplastic development that characterizes the aging gland. This work examined the effects of selected alpha1‐adrenoceptor (α1‐AR) antagonists (blockers) on cellular dynamics to determine whether induction of apoptosis or inhibition of proliferation could contribute to the overall clinical profile.
QoS-provisioning downlink resource management in 4G cellular systems

Long term evolution (LTE) has become one of the dominating communication standards for 4G cellular systems. It employs the orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) technique to enhance the efficiency of downlink transmissions, which divides the communication spectrum into multiple resource blocks. How to efficiently distribute these resource blocks among user equipments (UEs) is a challenging issue, which also significantly affects the system performance of LTE. Furthermore, in order to provide different quality of service (QoS) for various types of traffic flows, LTE defines two categories of traffic flows: guaranteed bit rate (GBR) and non-guaranteed bit rate (non-GBR). In the paper, we develop an efficient resource management mechanism to allocate downlink resource blocks to UEs so as to support QoS for GBR traffic flows while avoid starving non-GBR traffic flows. Our mechanism takes into account various network conditions such as channel quality, head-of-line (HOL) packet delay, QoS class identifier (QCI) value, and buffer length. Through the LTE-Sim network simulator, we demonstrate that the proposed mechanism can reduce both packet dropping and delay of GBR traffic flows. In addition, non-GBR traffic flows can still keep relatively high throughput to improve system performance.
Dynamic program phase detection in distributed shared-memory multiprocessors

We present a novel hardware mechanism for dynamic program phase detection in distributed shared-memory (DSM) multiprocessors. We show that successful hardware mechanisms for phase detection in uniprocessors do not necessarily work well in DSM systems, since they lack the ability to incorporate the parallel application's global execution information and memory access behavior based on data distribution. We then propose a hardware extension to a well-known uniprocessor mechanism that significantly improves phase detection in the context of DSM multiprocessors. The resulting mechanism is modest in size and complexity, and is transparent to the parallel application
Public Attitudes to Post-Adoption Contact

Introduction Post-adoption contact has continued for more than a decade to attract considerable attention. Opposing positions have tended to focus on the one hand on the need for privacy and for the preservation of the independence and integrity of new family units, and on the other on the need of adoptees for genealogical connection and the rights of birth parents. The Conservative Government in its consultation documents and draft legislation (Department of Health, 1996) was at best lukewarm in its approach to post-adoption contact (Cullen, 1996) and showed a consistent tendency on this and other issues to appeal less to the findings of research and more to what it perceived as 'common sense'. Indeed, at various times politicians from the Prime Minister down asserted that 'What will guide the Government in adoption policy is common sense' (John Major, Daily Express, 14 July 1993). The appeal to 'common sense' as the justification for policy, presents major difficulties for adoption researchers. Drawing on the Oxford English Dictionary, 'common sense' may be defined as the sound practical judgment that people would be likely collectively to reach in any situation where a choice is required. However, the dearth of any firm evidence about what collective public judgments might be on key issues such as post-adoption contact creates the opportunity for any lobby or political interest group erroneously to claim common-sense support for a particular policy. Even if such views are at odds with research outcomes the latter may be portrayed as isolated findings that should give way to broader collective judgments robustly grounded in lived experience. Research about public attitudes to key issues such as post-adoption contact is therefore important for two particular reasons. First, it can offer an immediate antidote to false claims that a particular position enjoys public support. Second, such research permits a genuine comparison between research outcomes and the perceptions of the public at large, and it can, in this way, help in the more effective targeting and dissemination of findings. Furthermore, there is a welldocumented history of the potentially stigmatising effects of adoption arising from consumer perceptions that certain aspects of adoption status, or wishes and motivations it inspires, are social1y disapproved. Research into public attitudes is potential1y of therapeutic importance for members of the adoption triangle since it can help them to assess more accurately, and begin to deal with, any dissonance between how they themselves view aspects of adoption and how these are regarded in the community at large. Internationally the only reported public opinion survey on adoption issues took as its focus attitudes to postadoption contact (Rompf, 1993). A random survey reported majority support for post-adoption contact in response to a range of questions. The research we have undertaken represents a modest attempt to consider whether similar public attitudes prevail in Britain.
Trypanosome MKT1 and the RNA-binding protein ZC3H11: interactions and potential roles in post-transcriptional regulatory networks

The trypanosome zinc finger protein ZC3H11 binds to AU-rich elements in mRNAs. It is essential for survival of the mammalian-infective bloodstream form, where it stabilizes several mRNAs including some encoding chaperones, and is also required for stabilization of chaperone mRNAs during the heat-shock response in the vector-infective procyclic form. When ZC3H11 was artificially ‘tethered’ to a reporter mRNA in bloodstream forms it increased reporter expression. We here show that ZC3H11 interacts with trypanosome MKT1 and PBP1, and that domains required for both interactions are necessary for function in the bloodstream-form tethering assay. PBP1 interacts with MKT1, LSM12 and poly(A) binding protein, and localizes to granules during parasite starvation. All of these proteins are essential for bloodstream-form trypanosome survival and increase gene expression in the tethering assay. MKT1 is cytosolic and polysome associated. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen and tandem affinity purification we found that trypanosome MKT1 interacts with multiple RNA-binding proteins and other potential RNA regulators, placing it at the centre of a post-transcriptional regulatory network. A consensus interaction sequence, H(E/D/N/Q)PY, was identified. Recruitment of MKT1-containing regulatory complexes to mRNAs via sequence-specific mRNA-binding proteins could thus control several different post-transcriptional regulons.
A Bcr/Abl-independent, Lyn-dependent Form of Imatinib Mesylate (STI-571) Resistance Is Associated with Altered Expression of Bcl-2*

The relationship between the Src kinase Lyn and Bcl-2 expression was examined in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells (K562 and LAMA84) displaying a Bcr/Abl-independent form of imatinib mesylate resistance. K562-R and LAMA-R cells that were markedly resistant to induction of mitochondrial dysfunction (e.g. loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, Bax translocation, cytochrome c, and apoptosis-inducing factor release) and apoptosis by imatinib mesylate exhibited a pronounced reduction in expression of Bcr/Abl, Bcl-xL, and STAT5 but a striking increase in levels of activated Lyn. Whereas basal expression of Bcl-2 protein was very low in parental cells, imatinib-resistant cells displayed a marked increase in Bcl-2 mRNA and/or protein levels. Treatment of LAMA-R cells with the Src kinase inhibitor PP2 significantly reduced Lyn activation as well as Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels. Transient or stable transfection of LAMA84 or K562 cells with a constitutively active Lyn (Y508F), but not with a kinase-dead mutant (K275D), significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expression and protected cells from lethality of imatinib mesylate. Ectopic expression of Bcl-2 protected K562 and LAMA84 cells from imatinib mesylate- and PP2-mediated lethality. Conversely, interference with Bcl-2 function by co-administration of the small molecule Bcl-2 inhibitor HA14-1 or down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression by small interfering RNA or antisense strategies significantly increased mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis induced by imatinib mesylate and the topoisomerase inhibitor VP-16 in LAMA-R cells. In marked contrast, these interventions had little effect in parental LAMA84 cells that display low basal levels of Bcl-2. Together, these findings indicate that activation of Lyn in leukemia cells displaying a Bcr/Abl-independent form of imatinib mesylate resistance plays a functional role in Bcl-2 up-regulation and provide a theoretical basis for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting Bcl-2 in such a setting.