Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organizational Design Trade-Offs at the DRAM, Memory Bus, and Memory Controller Level: Initial Results

This paper presents initial results in a study of organizationlevel parameters associated with the design of the primary memory system—the DRAM system beneath the lowest level of the cache hierarchy. These parameters are orthogonal to architecture-level parameters such as DRAM core speed, bus arbitration protocol, etc. and include bus width, bus speed, number of independent channels, degree of banking, read burst width, write burst width, etc; this study presents the effective cross-product of varying each of these parameters independently. The simulator is based on SimpleScalar 3.0a and models a fast (simulated as 2GHz), highly aggressive out-of-order uniprocessor. The interface to the primary memory system is fully non-blocking, supporting up to 32 outstanding misses at both the level-1 and level-2 caches. Our simulations show the following: (a) the choice of primary memory-system organization is critical, as it can effect total execution time by a factor of 3x for a constant CPU organization and DRAM speed; (b) the most important factors in the performance of the primary memory system are the channel speed (bus cycle time) and the granularity of data access, the burst width—each of these can independently affect total execution time by a factor of 2x; (c) for small bursts, multiple narrow independent channels to the memory system exhibit better performance than a single wide channel; for large bursts, channel cycle time is the most important factor; (d) the degree of DRAM multi-banking plays a secondary role in its impact on total execution time; (e) the optimal burst width tends to be high (large enough to fetch an L2 cache block in 2 bursts) and scales with the block size of the level 2 cache; and (f) the memory queue sizes can be extremely large, due to the bursty nature of references to the primary memory system and the promotion of reads ahead of writes. Among other things, we conclude that the scheduling of the memory bus is the primary bottleneck and that it should be the focus of further study.
Assessing test‐taking strategies of university students: developing a scale and estimating its psychometric indices

Test‐taking strategies are important cognitive skills that strongly affect students’ performance in tests. Using appropriate test‐taking strategies improves students’ achievement and grades, improves students’ attitudes toward tests and reduces test anxiety. This results in improving test accuracy and validity. This study aimed at developing a scale to assess students’ test‐taking strategies at university level. The scale developed was passed through several validation procedures that included content, construct and criterion‐related validity. Similarly, scale reliability (internal reliability and stability over time) was assessed through several procedures. Four samples of students (50, 828, 553 and 235) participated by responding to different versions of the scale. The scale developed consists of 31 items distributed into four sub‐scales: Before‐test, Time management, During‐test and After‐test. To the researcher’s knowledge, this is the first comprehensive scale developed to assess test‐taking strategies used by university students.
Adaptive Tuning of MIMO-Enabled 802.11e WLANs with Network Utility Maximization

The IEEE 802.11-based wireless local area networks (WLANs) are widely used for high-speed wireless data access. With the recent 802.11e quality-of-service (QoS) extension, realtime applications such as voice over IP and video streaming are finding their way to be running over WLANs. The recent 802.11n proposal aims to provide higher throughput support for bandwidth-intensive multimedia applications. It uses the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) technology at the physical layer to increase the transmission rate. MIMO introduces several new features at the physical layer such as the spatial diversity and spatial multiplexing gains. These new characteristics at the wireless physical layer require corresponding adaptation at higher layers to achieve a better performance. This paper proposes a joint adaptation of the MIMO physical layer and the 802.11e MAC layer through the formulation of a network utility maximization problem. The MIMO configuration at the physical layer and the contention window sizes for different access categories' traffic at the MAC layer are jointly optimized. Simulations are carried out in the ns-2 simulator to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
“New leadership” and university organisational effectiveness: exploring the relationship

“New leadership” studies often suggest that transformational leadership in particular produces desirable leadership outcomes. However, few studies have demonstrated a direct link between the exercise of a particular type of leadership and organisational effectiveness. Efforts to establish such a link are hampered by the absence of a generally agreed definition of organisational effectiveness. This is particularly true in higher education where attempts to develop models of organisational effectiveness applicable to universities have been sparse despite worldwide calls for universities to demonstrate “value for money” performance. This paper examines the relationship between transformational/transactional leadership and university organisational effectiveness. In the course of the examination, the paper indicates possible modifications to the original conceptualisation of transformational leadership. The paper also argues for university leadership that is self‐reflective and capable of utilising the array of leadership characteristics subsumed under the transformational and transactional leadership notions.
To Trust or Not to Trust? A Model of Internet Trust from the Customer's Point of View

Trust is a major issue in Internet transactions. This paper presents a model of trust on the Internet that focuses on three dimensions of trust. It investigates the perceived value a consumer places on these dimensions when set in the context of different product categories, price discounts and immediacy of purchase. It is argued that the more willing an Internet merchant is to heed these three factors, the greater the perception of trust and hence the greater the probability of a transaction.
Interspersed sinusoidal transforms for OFDM systems

A method for using the discrete cosine transform (DCT) and discrete sine transform (DST) for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless transmission methods is described. These transforms satisfy the cyclic convolution properties of the normally used discrete Fourier transform (DFT) when they are used with a symmetric extension. Taking advantage of properties of the DCT and DST, an interspersed transmission method is proposed. This method can lead to highly spectrally efficient OFDM when compared to the DFT.
Meeting parents’ needs? Discourses of ‘support’ and ‘inclusion’ in family policy

This paper will critically examine the assumptions structuring policy discourses of support and inclusion, and will link them to wider political and theoretical debates. Reflecting an increasing professionalization of childrearing practices, recent policy documents have emphasized the need for all parents to have access to support, advice and guidance. Implicit in this approach is the notion that ‘socially excluded’ parents in particular are isolated from the information and assistance that enables effective parenting. Meanwhile, the concepts of poverty and inequality are becoming increasingly detached from government definitions of social exclusion. Policies addressing the ‘condition’ of exclusion commonly emphasize a perceived disconnection from mainstream values and aspirations, as opposed to marginalization from material resources. In the case of family policy, interventions framed within the discourse of ‘parenting support’ stress the importance of helping parents to do the best they can for their children. However, tacit moral judgements direct the nature and type of support that is promoted, with a particular emphasis placed on advising and ‘including’ marginalized parents. In this paper, policy definitions of support will be analysed and their implications in terms of gender and class will be drawn out. It will be argued that despite a rhetoric of empowerment and investment, the current emphasis on support represents a top-down projection of values and standards on to families, thereby ‘supporting’ conformity rather than promoting access to parenting resources.
Citation Context Sentiment Analysis for Structured Summarization of Research Papers

Structured tabular summarization tremendously helps humans understand a topic, e.g. Wikipedia infoboxes. However, few methods exist to generate summary of research papers although it is time taking and painstaking to read a paper and even more difficult to infer its merits and limitations. We propose a method to generate structured summary of research papers. We turn to opinion of citing papers, because they are shown to be more focused than abstracts and contain additional information. This paper is a first step towards structured summarization of research papers using citing papers.
Antigen 43, the major phase-variable protein of the Escherichia coli outer membrane, can exist as a family of proteins encoded by multiple alleles.

agn43 encodes a major phase-variable outer-membrane protein, antigen 43 (Ag43), involved in autoaggregation of Escherichia coli cells. The gene is present in single copy on the chromosome of E. coli K-12. In contrast, Southern hybridization and gene inactivation studies demonstrate that control producer strain E. coli ML308-225 possesses duplicate copies of agn43 (agn43A and agn43B). Construction and analyses of single and double knockout mutants clearly show that both alleles are capable of expressing antigen in a phase-variable manner, with observed differences in the ON<-->OFF switch frequencies appearing to favour expression of Ag43B under conditions of normal laboratory growth. Comparative analysis of agn43A and agn43B gene sequences revealed 98% identity at the nucleotide and predicted protein levels, with differences in the protein sequence of the surface-expressed alpha(43) subunit altering the surface probability of one of the predicted epitopes. Analysis of a panel of enteropathogenic E. coli strains by Southern hybridization using agn43-specific gene probes provided strong evidence for the presence of varying numbers of agn43 alleles within clinical isolates. Taken together, the results indicate the presence of a family of distinct Ag43 proteins encoded by multiple chromosomal alleles.
Using Auditory Steady State Responses to Outline the Functional Connectivity in the Tinnitus Brain

Background Tinnitus is an auditory phantom perception that is most likely generated in the central nervous system. Most of the tinnitus research has concentrated on the auditory system. However, it was suggested recently that also non-auditory structures are involved in a global network that encodes subjective tinnitus. We tested this assumption using auditory steady state responses to entrain the tinnitus network and investigated long-range functional connectivity across various non-auditory brain regions. Methods and Findings Using whole-head magnetoencephalography we investigated cortical connectivity by means of phase synchronization in tinnitus subjects and healthy controls. We found evidence for a deviating pattern of long-range functional connectivity in tinnitus that was strongly correlated with individual ratings of the tinnitus percept. Phase couplings between the anterior cingulum and the right frontal lobe and phase couplings between the anterior cingulum and the right parietal lobe showed significant condition x group interactions and were correlated with the individual tinnitus distress ratings only in the tinnitus condition and not in the control conditions. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge this is the first study that demonstrates existence of a global tinnitus network of long-range cortical connections outside the central auditory system. This result extends the current knowledge of how tinnitus is generated in the brain. We propose that this global extend of the tinnitus network is crucial for the continuos perception of the tinnitus tone and a therapeutical intervention that is able to change this network should result in relief of tinnitus.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Risk Factors for Muscle Strains in Australian Football ∗

Muscle strains are common injuries in Australian football and other sports involving sprinting. Between 1992 and 1999, 83,503 player-matches in the Australian Football League were analyzed for risk of muscle strain injuries using logistic regression analysis. There were 672 hamstring, 163 quadriceps, and 140 calf muscle strain injuries. All three types of muscle strains were associated with significant risk factors. For all injuries, the strongest risk factor was a recent history of that same injury and the next strongest risk factor was a past history of the same injury. History of one type of muscle strain increased the risk for certain types of other muscle strains. Age was a risk factor for hamstring and calf muscle strains (even when adjusted for injury history) but was not a risk factor for quadriceps muscle strains. Quadriceps muscle injuries were more common in shorter players and were more likely when there had been less rainfall at the match venue in the previous week. Quadriceps muscle injuries were significantly more common in the dominant kicking leg, whereas hamstring and calf muscle injuries showed no difference in frequency between the dominant and nondominant legs.
Modeling and Simulation of Upper Brachial Plexus Injury

This paper presents the first musculoskeletal model and simulation of an upper plexus brachial injury. From this model, it is possible to analyze forces and movement ranges in order to develop a robotic exoskeleton to improve rehabilitation. The software that currently exists for musculoskeletal modeling is varied and most have advanced features for proper analysis and study of motion simulations. While more powerful computer packages are usually expensive, there are other free and open source packages available that offer different tools to perform animations and simulations and obtain forces and moments of inertia. Among them, Musculoskeletal Modeling Software was selected to construct a model of the upper limb, which has 7° of freedom and 10 muscles. These muscles are important for two of the movements simulated in this paper that are part of the postsurgery rehabilitation protocol. We performed different movement animations that are made using the inertial measurement unit to capture real data from movements made by a human being. We also performed the simulation of forces produced in elbow flexion-extension and arm abduction-adduction of a healthy subject and one with an upper brachial plexus injury in a postoperative state to compare the force that is capable of being produced in both cases.
Identification of numerous hepatitis C virus genotypes in Montreal, Canada

Hepatitis C virus genotypes were determined for 358 viremic individuals in Montreal, Canada, by restriction endonuclease analysis of PCR products and phylogenetic analysis of core gene sequences. Types 1, 2, and 3 occurred in 62.8, 14.2, and 13.7%, respectively; types 4 and 5 were found in 3.9 and 4.5%, respectively; and genotypes 6a and 7c and a novel genotype each occurred in 0.3%. Types 4, 6, and 7 and the novel genotype were mostly from persons who had immigrated to Canada.
Current Advances in the Application of Raman Spectroscopy for Molecular Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer

Raman spectroscopy provides a unique biochemical fingerprint capable of identifying and characterizing the structure of molecules, cells, and tissues. In cervical cancer, it is acknowledged as a promising biochemical tool due to its ability to detect premalignancy and early malignancy stages. This review summarizes the key research in the area and the evidence compiled is very encouraging for ongoing and further research. In addition to the diagnostic potential, promising results for HPV detection and monitoring treatment response suggest more than just a diagnosis prospective. A greater body of evidence is however necessary before Raman spectroscopy is fully validated for clinical use and larger comprehensive studies are required to fully establish the role of Raman spectroscopy in the molecular diagnostics of cervical cancer.
Adaptive array beamforming for frequency hoppping modulation

A new architecture for Array Processing using Frequency Hopping (FH) modulation is addressed in this paper which takes advantage of the knowledge of the frequency sequence at the receiver, requiring neither temporal nor spatial a priori reference. Consequently, the paper deals with a Code Reference Beamformer (CRB). The proposed framework is composed of two parallel processors. The first one, the Anticipative processor, is devoted to predict the scenario at the hop frequency before this frequency is transmitted, providing a fast convergence of the second processor and avoiding the fall of the Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) with the frequency hops. The second one, the On-line processor, provides maximum SINR by applying the optimum beamvector which can be estimated minimizing the Mean Square Error (MSE) at the array output or, directly, maximizing the SINR.
Antigen‐Processing Revisited ‐ A Foreword

Until about 30 years ago, the prevailing view in immunological circles was that antigens entered a cell with the potential of making antibody and in some way (several possibilities had been suggested) acted as a template so that the cell produced antibody of a specificity complementary to that of the antigen. And, in fact, some reports described antigen in blasts and plasma cells isolated from animals undergoing a secondary response (e.g., Wellensiek & Coons 1964). Within a short time, extensive experiments with radiolabelled antigens showed that antibody-secreting cells contained little, if any antigen (Nossal et al. 1965, McDevitt et al. 1966, Humphrey et al. 1967). However, injected labelled antigen demonstrably localized in macrophages so that several groups began to study the role of macrophages in the handling of antigen. Some of these studies were concerned with the degradation of antigen by macrophages and the term "antigen processing" came into use. Initially, there was a good deal of conflicting evidence about the immunogenicity of macrophage-associated antigens but a pattern emerged which showed that macrophage-associated antigen, or macrophageprocessed antigen was superior to native antigen in its ability to stimulate an antibody response. Thus, when mixed with lymphocytes and injected into Xirradiated mice, macrophage-associated antigen was found by some to be an order of magnitude more efficient than free antigen at inducing an antibody response. Results such as these led to the thought that antigen in such cells might be present in a 'special state'. The 1960s saw several reports on the formation of immunogenic complexes of antigen fragments with RNA (Fishman & Adler 1963, Askonas & Rhodes 1965, Garvey 1968). Although it was generally found that treatment of the complex with RNAase decreased the immunogenicity and the peptide-RNA complex was not readily dissociated, the complexing proved to be non-specific, involving RNA of a pre-existing species. A claim that the RNA was informational in nature was in the long run not substantiated.
Collaborative filtering technique for SAR image speckle noise suppression

Collaborative filtering is a technique used for image restoration among noise and distortions. Based on the fact that an image content has a locally sparse representation in transform domain. Technique employs a non-local modeling of image by collecting similar 2D image patches into 3D groups. The so-called collaborative filtering applied on such a 3D groups is realized by transform domain shrinkage and Wiener filtration. In this work, we implement collaborative filtering algorithm and test it on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. The experimental results will be presented.
Participatory Mapping of Community Lands and Hunting Yields among the Buglé of Western Panama

Indigenous peoples living in the rain forest regions of Central america have detailed mental maps of streams, topography, and land cover of large areas surrounding their villages. they also have the skills to make important contributions to geographic research that can help them manage their natural resources and defend their historic rights to their lands. Participatory research among the Bugle of western Panama incorporated several local investigators who, among other tasks, facilitated community mapping sessions and administered weekly questionnaires on hunting activities in their respective communities. Part of their work consisted of drawing sketch maps showing the locations where game animals were captured. Local investigators and the author together plotted these hunting kill sites onto 1:50,000 topographic base maps. Over 1,500 questionnaires were administered and roughly 1,300 kill sites were documented, showing the spatial distribution of hunting yields of 59 households over a period of eight mo.
Efficiency and Robustness in a Support Platform for Intelligent Airport Ground Handling

One of the effects of the development of air traffic during recent years has been the increase of congestion on major airports and their aprons, where ground handling operations take place. Efficiency and safety issues become important on the aprons. The “Integrated Airport Apron Safety Fleet Management—AAS” project aims at setting a decision support system for efficient and safe management of apron traffic, taking advantage of information gathered by “intelligent” vehicles equipped with on-board positioning and monitoring systems. In this project, we optimize the assignment of vehicles to apron operations. We present a mathematical formulation of the problem and sketch a fast sequential heuristic, which provides efficient assignments based on real-time data on position and status of vehicles and operations. We then discuss how the procedure can reach good trade-offs between efficiency and robustness against unpredicted, but frequent, delays occurring in real time at airports. The proposed approach has been applied to a major European airport (Berlin's Tegel), leading to efficiency improvements and reduction of expected delays due to handling operations.