Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Phase Transition in the Configuration Model

Let G = G(d) be a random graph with a given degree sequence d, such as a random r-regular graph where r ≥ 3 is fixed and n = |G| → ∞. We study the percolation phase transition on such graphs G, i.e., the emergence as p increases of a unique giant component in the random subgraph G[p] obtained by keeping edges independently with probability p. More generally, we study the emergence of a giant component in G(d) itself as d varies. We show that a single method can be used to prove very precise results below, inside and above the ‘scaling window’ of the phase transition, matching many of the known results for the much simpler model G(n, p). This method is a natural extension of that used by Bollobás and the author to study G(n, p), itself based on work of Aldous and of Nachmias and Peres; the calculations are significantly more involved in the present setting.
A Scaleable Multiprocessor Architecture with Multiple Read-Write Memory Model

Summary This paper presents a scalable multiprocessor architecture with multiple access memories and multi-way busses. This parallel architecture with more intelligent memory model and efficient multi-way interconnection network organization is called as CRrCW (Concurrent Read and restricted Concurrent Write) scaleable multiprocessor system. The memory and network model provides concurrent memory accesses and more memory bandwidth for a CRrCW scaleable multiprocessor system. Thus, the proposed multiprocessors system with the memory model and network take advantages of both multiprocessor systems with shared memory and distributed memory. In this paper, conventional shared, distributed memory multiprocessor and the CRrCW multiprocessor are examined under various conditions and also compared with each other. A sliding caches memory model is used to reduce the cost of the CRrCW multiprocessor system. A cluster controller is also used to enhance the broadcast and multicast ability of the interconnection network. Simulation results of the sliding caches memory model show that memory requirements of a CRrCW multiprocessor system is almost independent of scale of the multiprocessor. In addition this, simulation results of the interconnection network also show that even small number of the connection per processors greatly enhances the scalability of the multiprocessor system. Two scientific applications, volume visualization and N-body problem, is chosen to examine performance of the system. These applications case studies represent a range of important behaviors found in parallel computing. The CRrCW multiprocessor system with special interconnection network and intelligent memory organization provides high speed-up and efficiency over conventional shared and the distributed memory multiprocessor. Therefore, the CRrCW multiprocessor system is a potential candidate for large-scale parallel computing applications.
A Novel Design of QPSK Modulator for High Data Rate Transmission

This article proposes a new approach to digital modulation techniques. A novel design for a QPSK VHDL modulator to convey a high data rate transmission is demonstrated. Basically CPLD or FPGA technology is used to generate hardware and the hardware generation is possible from VHDL code. The implementation of the device is done to perform the modulation. Then the data transmission rate also increases. This types of modulator provides digital synthesis and the flexibility to reconfigure and upgrade with the two most often languages used being VHDL and Verilog (IEEE Standard) being used as hardware structure description languages.
Making typical silicon matter with Razor

Voltage scaling has emerged as a powerful technology for addressing the power challenges that current on-chip densities pose. Razor is a voltage-scaling technology based on dynamic, in-situ detection and correction of circuit-timing errors. Razor permits design optimizations that tune the energy in a microprocessor pipeline to typical circuit-operational levels. This eliminates the voltage margins that traditional worst-case design methodologies require and lets digital systems run correctly and robustly at the edge of minimum power consumption. Occasional heavyweight computations may fail and require additional time and energy for recovery, but the optimized pipeline requires significantly less energy overall than traditional designs.
Design of a Single Channel Modulated Wideband Converter for Wideband Spectrum Sensing: Theory, Architecture and Hardware Implementation

In a cognitive radio sensor network (CRSN), wideband spectrum sensing devices which aims to effectively exploit temporarily vacant spectrum intervals as soon as possible are of great importance. However, the challenge of increasingly high signal frequency and wide bandwidth requires an extremely high sampling rate which may exceed today’s best analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) front-end bandwidth. Recently, the newly proposed architecture called modulated wideband converter (MWC), is an attractive analog compressed sensing technique that can highly reduce the sampling rate. However, the MWC has high hardware complexity owing to its parallel channel structure especially when the number of signals increases. In this paper, we propose a single channel modulated wideband converter (SCMWC) scheme for spectrum sensing of band-limited wide-sense stationary (WSS) signals. With one antenna or sensor, this scheme can save not only sampling rate but also hardware complexity. We then present a new, SCMWC based, single node CR prototype System, on which the spectrum sensing algorithm was tested. Experiments on our hardware prototype show that the proposed architecture leads to successful spectrum sensing. And the total sampling rate as well as hardware size is only one channel’s consumption of MWC.
Physico-chemical properties of MTA and a novel experimental cement.

AIM To evaluate the release of calcium ions, pH and conductivity of a new experimental dental cement (EC) and to compare them with those of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA-Angelus). METHODOLOGY Five samples of each cement were prepared using plastic tubes 1 mm in diameter and 10 mm long. Each sample was sealed in a test tube containing 10 mL deionized water which was analysed after 24, 48, 72, 96, 192, 240 and 360 h for pH, electrical conductivity and calcium release. The concentration of calcium ions was obtained through atomic absorption spectroscopy technique. The data were analysed statistically using the analysis of variance (anova) and the Student's test (t-test). RESULTS The pH of the storage solutions was not affected by the material and the interaction of material with time (P > 0.05). However, the time of immersion was significant (P < 0.01) for both materials. For the electric conductivity and calcium release, the interaction of material with time was statistically significant (P < 0.01), indicating that EC and MTA-Angelus did not behave in a similar manner. CONCLUSIONS The experimental cement released calcium and increased the pH of the storage solutions in a similar manner to MTA-Angelus. However, EC showed significantly higher calcium release than commercial MTA-Angelus after 24 h.
An ADPLL-centric bluetooth low-energy transceiver with 2.3mW interference-tolerant hybrid-loop receiver and 2.9mW single-point polar transmitter in 65nm CMOS

This paper demonstrates a Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) transceiver (TRX) achieving ultra-low-power (ULP) operation for Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications. As more and more devices will be connected and access to the Internet, the wireless traffic will be extremely crowded in the 2.4GHz ISM band. To coexist with all the wireless devices without being interfered by co-channel and out-of-band (OB) signals, a BLE receiver (RX) should have very high adjacent-channel rejection and very high blocker tolerance. At the same time, the total power consumption should be minimized for longer battery life. In this work, the TRX utilizes a wide loop-bandwidth All-Digital PLL (ADPLL) as a central component for transmitter (TX) modulation, RX analog data digitization, and phase synchronization. The single-channel demodulation method is adopted for cutting half of the analog baseband circuit to further reduce the power consumption while maintaining a high interference rejection. This BLE TRX achieves the lowest energy consumption among the state-of-the-art works in the comparison table [1-5] while satisfying all the interference requirements with sufficient margins.
Pediatric Residency Training in Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States

BACKGROUND. Child abuse and neglect are leading public health problems with significant morbidity and mortality. Previous studies indicate that physicians often lack knowledge and confidence in addressing child abuse and neglect. OBJECTIVES. Our goal was to assess the child abuse and neglect curricula in pediatric residency programs as reported by chief residents and to identify levels of preparedness of residents to address child abuse and neglect on graduation. We analyzed variables related to preparedness. METHODS. A 28-item survey was sent to chief residents of all 203 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–accredited pediatric residency programs in the United States from 2004–2005. We performed descriptive, bivariable, and multivariable analyses. RESULTS. The response rate was 71%. Most programs taught didactics on physical and sexual abuse, but only 54% included domestic violence. Ninety-three percent of respondents rated their didactics as useful or very useful. Forty-one percent of programs required mandatory clinical rotations in child abuse and neglect, 57% offered elective rotations, and 25% offered no rotations at all. Respondents rated the levels of preparedness of graduating residents to address child abuse and neglect as: very well (12%), well (54%), somewhat well (28%), or not well (6%). Preparedness was significantly associated with didactic usefulness, number of hours of didactics, total number of inpatient cases of child abuse and neglect seen, percent of residents completing mandatory rotations, number of sexual abuse cases during mandatory rotation, number of physical abuse cases during mandatory rotation, and length of mandatory rotation. CONCLUSIONS. Mandatory clinical experiences in child abuse and neglect improve the preparedness of graduating residents to identify and evaluate patients for child abuse and neglect. Perhaps residency training in child abuse and neglect should be a required subspecialty rotation with more explicit curricular content than in the current mandates.
An integration of competing accounts on children’s number line estimation

Children’s estimation patterns in bounded number line estimation (NLE) reveal marked developmental changes. Three different theoretical accounts were proposed to explain these changes: a log-to-linear shift account, a proportion-judgment account and a two-linear account considering familiarity with numbers or the understanding of the place-value structure of the Arabic number system. However, only the first two accounts are considered prominently in the ongoing scientific debate. Therefore, we first present a reanalysis of NLE data of Austrian first-graders contrasting all three accounts. Results indicate that the two-linear account is a reliable alternative to the log-to-linear shift as well as the proportion-judgment account. However, we do not claim the two-liner account to provide an exhaustive explanation for the observed developmental changes. We rather introduce the idea that aspects of all three accounts may complement – instead of exclude – each other. Jointly considering conceptual (i.e., familiarity, place-value) and procedural (i.e., proportion-judgments) aspects will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of children’s development in NLE.
Support for association between ADHD and two candidate genes: NET1 and DRD1

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, multifactorial disorder with significant genetic contribution. Multiple candidate genes have been studied in ADHD, including the norepinephrine transporter (NET1) and dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1). NET1 is implicated in ADHD because of the efficacy of atomoxetine, a selective noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor, in the treatment of ADHD. DRD1 is primarily implicated through mouse models of ADHD. DNA from 163 ADHD probands, 192 parents, and 129 healthy controls was used to investigate possible associations between ADHD and polymorphisms in 12 previously studied candidate genes (5‐HT1B, 5‐HT2A, 5‐HT2C, ADRA2A, CHRNA4, COMT, DAT1, DRD1, DRD4, DRD5, NET1, and SNAP‐25). Analyses included case‐control and family‐based methods, and dimensional measures of behavior, cognition, and anatomic brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of the 12 genes examined, two showed a significant association with ADHD. Transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) analysis revealed significant association of two NET1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with ADHD (P ≤ 0.009); case‐control analysis revealed significant association of two DRD1 SNPs with ADHD (P ≤ 0.008). No behavioral, cognitive, or brain MRI volume measurement significantly differed across NET1 or DRD1 genotypes at an alpha of 0.01. This study provides support for an association between ADHD and polymorphisms in both NET1 and DRD1; polymorphisms in ten other candidate genes were not associated with ADHD. Because family‐based and case‐control methods gave divergent results, both should be used in genetic studies of ADHD. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phenytoin and its metabolite, 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl-), 5-phenylhydantoin, decrease supernatant levels of matrix-metalloproteases in the human macrophage: Implications for drug-induced gingival overgrowth

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of Phenytoin (PHT) and its metabolite 5-(p-Hydroxyphenyl-), 5-Phenylhydantoin (HPPH) on LPS-induced macrophage expression of MMP, TIMP, TNF-α, and IL-6. METHODS: Human macrophages were pretreated with either: 1) 15µg/ml PHT, 2) 50µg/ml PHT, 3) 15µg/ml HPPH, or 4) 50µg/ml HPPH for 1 hour, then challenged with 100ng/ml A. actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) LPS. Untreated cells served as control cultures. Total RNA was extracted at 4 hours, and supernatants were collected at 24 hours. RESULTS: A dose-dependent reduction of supernatant A.a. -induced MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 was noted upon pretreatment with PHT and HPPH. A minimal effect was noted on gene expression for MMP-9 and TIMP-1.
Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Cornea Wound Healing Induced by Acute Alkali Burn

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of subconjunctivally administered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on corneal wound healing in the acute stage of an alkali burn. A corneal alkali burn model was generated by placing a piece of 3-mm diameter filter paper soaked in NaOH on the right eye of 48 Sprague-Dawley female rats. 24 rats were administered a subconjunctival injection of a suspension of 2×106 MSCs in 0.1 ml phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) on day 0 and day 3 after the corneal alkali burn. The other 24 rats were administered a subconjunctival injection of an equal amount of PBS as a control. Deficiencies of the corneal epithelium and the area of corneal neovascularization (CNV) were evaluated on days 3 and 7 after the corneal alkali burn. Infiltrated CD68+ cells were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA expression levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). In addition, VEGF protein levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MSCs significantly enhanced the recovery of the corneal epithelium and decreased the CNV area compared with the control group. On day 7, the quantity of infiltrated CD68+ cells was significantly lower in the MSC group and the mRNA levels of MIP-1α, TNF-α, and VEGF and the protein levels of VEGF were also down-regulated. However, the expression of MCP-1 was not different between the two groups. Our results suggest that subconjunctival injection of MSCs significantly accelerates corneal wound healing, attenuates inflammation and reduces CNV in alkaline-burned corneas; these effects were found to be related to a reduction of infiltrated CD68+ cells and the down-regulation of MIP-1α, TNF-α and VEGF.
Ten Years of Paleoceanographic Studies at ODP Site 963 (Central Mediterranean Sea)

The geographical location, the shape and the circulation pattern makes the Mediterranean Sea an ideal laboratory to study the interplay between different climatic systems, abrupt climate changes and the response of marine ecosystems. The Ocean Drilling Program Site 963 was drilled in the Northwestern part of the Sicily Channel, the sill that divides the western from the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Numerous papers have been published on Site 963 sediments in the last decade, investigating Mediterranean paleoceanographic themes. Here we offer a synthetic framework of these investigations carried out by sub-centennial resolution. We present the whole sequence of suborbital climatic oscillations over the last 130 kyr, that is since the last interglacial period, and we claim that teleconnection with Greenland and North Atlantic regions is the most likely phenomenon to explain our results. Furthermore we show the high sensitivity of marine planktonic (planktonic foraminifera and coccolithophores) ecosystems to Stadial/Interstadial fluctuations. We conclude that a three-steps scenario may describe productivity variations during each high-frequency oscillation, from Interstadial 24 to the last deglaciation (from 110 to 15 kiloyears ago): surface oligotrophy and a deep nutricline in the lower part of Interstadials; increased productivity, through a deep chlorophyll maximum and winter/spring coccolithophore blooms, during the upper part of Interstadials; a shallow nutricline during Stadials and possibly reduced productivity levels with respect to the upper Interstadial phase. Results from Site 963 investigations provide key information for very high- resolution paleoceanographic research in the Mediterranean Sea.
Linearized Fluid Model for Plasmon Oscillations in Metallic Nanoparticles

The paper deals with the numerical study of the electromagnetic response of a metallic nanoparticle to an external electromagnetic field, within the framework of the classical electrodynamics. The conduction electrons of the nanoparticle are modeled as a compressible electron fluid, whose dynamics are described by means of the linearized hydrodynamic equations. The electromagnetic field scattered by the nanoparticle is evaluated by a full-wave 3-D model based on an integral equation where the unknown is the current density. The fluid quantum pressure arising from the kinetic energy of the degenerate conduction electron gas gives rise to non-local effects that strongly influence the plasmon oscillations.
Projective image restoration using sparsity regularization

This paper presents a method of image restoration for projective ground images which lie on a projection orthogonal to the camera axis. The ground images are initially transformed using homography, and then the proposed image restoration is applied. The process is performed in the dual-tree complex wavelet transform domain in conjunction with L0 reweighting and L2 minimisation (L0RL2) employed to solve this ill-posed problem. We also propose instant estimation of a blur kernel arising from the projective transform and the subsequent interpolation of sparse data. Subjective results show significant improvement of image quality. Furthermore, classification of surface type at various distances (evaluated using a support vector machine classifier) is also improved for the images restored using our proposed algorithm.
Modeling Biodegradation Kinetics on Benzene and Toluene and Their Mixture

The objective of this work was to model the biodegradation kinetics of toxic compounds toluene and benzene as pure substrates and in a mixture. As a control, Monod and Andrews models were used. To predict substrates interactions, more sophisticated models of inhibition and competition, and SKIP (sum kinetics interactions parameters) model were applied. The models evaluation was performed based on the experimental data from Pseudomonas putida F1 activities published in the literature. In parameter identification procedure, the global method of particle swarm optimization (PSO) was applied. The simulation results show that the better description of the biodegradation process of pure toxic substrate can be achieved by Andrews' model. The biodegradation process of a mixture of toxic substrates is modeled the best when modified competitive inhibition and SKIP models are used. The developed software can be used as a toolbox of a kinetics model catalogue of industrial wastewater treatment for process design and optimization.
Supply chain management meets auto-ID management: A structured approach

Nowadays, firms need to support e-business through solutions that guarantee, on the one hand, the supply chain management (SCM) and, on the other, products' identification and traceability (ID automation). These two aspects have been faced, up until now, in a separate manner and adhered to the definition of established standards. Thus, we propose an approach that allows the integration of SCM and ID-automation software architectures and, at the same time, guarantees the separation of concerns. In this paper, we also present an implementation that uses two systems: the data interchange system based on the ebXML standard and the traceability system based on the EPCglobal standard. According to this approach, we propose a preliminary implementation experience for the pharmaceutical sector.
Low noise amplifier design for Ka Band VSAT systems

Low noise amplifier design for receiver terminal of Ka Band VSAT systems is presented. The design achieves less than 0.95 dB noise figure at 19.7-20.2 GHz, receive band of Ka band satellite communications systems. Typically, low noise block is used for this purpose, however, in this particular VSAT arrangement, reflector antenna is located away from the rotating antenna unit, which is intended for maritime applications. Two stage amplifier using NE3520 HJ-FET transistors and a bandpass filter is designed for 22 dB gain. The design has very low noise figure compared to its commercial counterparts.
White matter integrity deficit in treatment-naïve adult patients with major depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVES The fronto-limbic system plays critical roles in cognitive functions, including emotion. This is supported by recent reports in the studies of major depressive disorder using diffusion tensor imaging of the brain. This study examined white matter integrity and correlations to cognitive function in treatment-naive adult patients with major depressive disorder. METHODS Fractional anisotropy values, derived from diffusion tensor imaging, were compared in 18 treatment-naïve adult patients with major depressive disorder and 18 well-matched healthy controls by voxel-based analysis. Correlation of fractional anisotropy with performance of cognitive tests was also analysed. RESULTS Lower fractional anisotropy values in the bilateral medial frontal gyri, right subgyral frontal and temporal lobes, and left middle frontal and cingulate gyri were observed in patients than in controls. However, no correlation between mean fractional anisotropy values and cognitive scores was found. CONCLUSION These findings support the notion that deficit of white matter integrity in the fronto-limbic system may be the neural substrate of major depressive disorder.