Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reducing power dissipation in CMOS circuits by signal probability based transistor reordering

This paper introduces novel transistor reordering schemes to reduce the expected or average dynamic power dissipation in CMOS circuits. The transistor reordering is based on the signal probability values at the inputs of the gates. The paper begins with a simple analytical model for the dynamic power dissipation in a static NAND gate. The model is used to derive an algorithm for transistor reordering which reduces dynamic power dissipation. A simulation technique for accurately measuring the power dissipation in NAND gates is also presented, along with the results of the reordering algorithm. A transistor reordering algorithm for CMOS complex gates is subsequently presented. Transistor reordering is found to be an effective way to reduce power dissipation in all of these circuits, with the reduction in dynamic power dissipation compared to the worst case configuration, being as high as 50% in some instances. The limited overhead associated with transistor reordering encourage its application as a low power design technique.
Crowd behaviour monitoring on the escalator exits

This paper presents an approach to detect an abnormal situation in a crowd scene. The proposed approach estimates sudden changes and abnormal motion variations in a set of interest points. The number of tracked points of interest is reduced by using a mask that corresponds to the hot areas of the built motion heat map. Optical flow technique tracks the points of interest. There are sufficient variations in the optical flow patterns in a crowd scene when there are cases those showing abnormal situations. Statistical treatment of optical flow information has been thresholded. To demonstrate the interest of this approach, we present the results based on the detection of collapsing events in real videos of airport escalator exits.
Initial US evaluation of second-generation capsule colonoscopy for detecting colon polyps

Objectives Capsule colonoscopy is an additional screening modality for colorectal cancer. Second-generation capsule colonoscopy (CC2) may have improved efficacy in the detection of colon adenomas as compared with prior devices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of CC2 in the detection of polyps in symptomatic and screening patients in the USA. Design Prospective, multicentre study. Setting and participants Two academic medical centres and two private practice facilities, evaluating patients with indications for colonoscopy. Methods Patients underwent capsule colonoscopy procedure using magnesium citrate as a boost, followed by colonoscopy on the same day. The main outcome measurement was accuracy of CC2 for the detection of colorectal polyps ≥6 and ≥10 mm as compared with conventional colonoscopy. Results 51 patients were enrolled, 50 of whom had CC2 and colonoscopy examinations and were included in the accuracy analysis. 30% and 14% of patients had polyps ≥6 and ≥10 mm, respectively. For lesions ≥10 mm identified on conventional colonoscopy, CC2 sensitivity was 100% (95% CI 56.1% to 100%) with a specificity of 93.0% (79.9% to 98.2%). For polyps ≥6 mm, the CC2 sensitivity was 93.3% (66.0% to 99.7%) and the specificity was 80.0% (62.5% to 90.9%). There was a 61% adequate cleansing rate with 64% of CC2 procedures being complete. Conclusions In the initial US experience with CC2 there was adequate sensitivity for detecting patients with polyps ≥6 mm in size. Magnesium citrate was inadequate as a boost agent. Trial registration number NCT01087528.
Exploring the performance benefits of end-to-end path switching

This work explores the feasibility of improving the performance of end-to-end data transfers between different sites through path switching. Our study is focused on both the logic that controls path switching decisions and the configurations required to achieve sufficient path diversity. Specifically, we investigate two common approaches offering path diversity multi-homing and overlay networks - and investigate their characteristics in the context of a representative wide-area testbed. We explore the end-to-end delay and loss characteristics of different paths and find that substantial improvements can potentially be achieved by path switching, especially in lowering end-to-end losses. Based on this assessment, we develop a simple path-switching mechanism capable of realizing those performance improvements. Our experimental study demonstrates that substantial performance improvements are indeed achievable using this approach.
Winning the Caucus Race: Continuous Leader Election via Public Randomness

Consensus protocols inherently rely on the notion of leader election, in which one or a subset of participants are temporarily elected to authorize and announce the network's latest state. While leader election is a well studied problem, the rise of distributed ledgers (i.e., blockchains) has led to a new perspective on how to perform large-scale leader elections via solving a computationally difficult puzzle (i.e., proof of work). In this paper, we present Caucus, a large-scale leader election protocol with minimal coordination costs that does not require the computational cost of proof-of-work. We evaluate Caucus in terms of its security, using a new model for blockchain-focused leader election, before testing an implementation of Caucus on an Ethereum private network. Our experiments highlight that one variant of Caucus costs only $0.10 per leader election if deployed on Ethereum.
Statement on exercise. Benefits and recommendations for physical activity programs for all Americans. A statement for health professionals by the Committee on Exercise and Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Council on Clinical Cardiology, American Heart association.

Physical inactivity is recognized as a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Regular aerobic physical activity increases exercise capacity and plays a role in both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.1 2 3 4 5 The known benefits of regular aerobic exercise and current recommendations for implementation of exercise programs are described in this revised report.6 Exercise training increases cardiovascular functional capacity and decreases myocardial oxygen demand at any level of physical activity in apparently healthy persons as well as in most subjects with cardiovascular disease. Regular physical activity is required to maintain these training effects. The potential risk of physical activity can be reduced by medical evaluation, risk stratification, supervision, and education.4 Exercise can help control blood lipid abnormalities, diabetes, and obesity. In addition, aerobic exercise adds an independent blood pressure–lowering effect in certain hypertensive groups with a decrease of 8 to 10 mm Hg in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements.7 8 9 10 There is a direct relation between physical inactivity and cardiovascular mortality, and physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease.11 12 13 14 There is a dose-response relation between the amount of exercise performed from approximately 700 to 2000 kcal of energy expenditure per week and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality in middle-aged and elderly populations.14 15 The greatest potential for reduced mortality is in the sedentary who become moderately active.15 Most beneficial effects of physical activity on cardiovascular disease mortality can be attained through moderate-intensity activity (40% to 60% of maximal oxygen uptake, depending on age). 14 15 16 The activity can be accrued through formal training programs or leisure-time physical activities. Although most of the supporting data are based on studies in men, more recent findings …
Factors Influencing Diffusion of Electronic Medical Records: A Case Study in Three Healthcare Institutions in Japan

This study examines the effect of three factors: information technology (IT) skills of healthcare workers, present status of computerisation in their organisations, and workers' attitudes on the diffusion of electronic medical records (EMRs) in the healthcare environment. Data were obtained from a self-questionnaire distributed to 390 healthcare workers. The study finds that respondents need an expanded EMR capability to include decision support systems and reminder systems, and that diffusion of EMR is heavily influenced by attitudes of healthcare workers. However, targeted training of healthcare workers is needed to foster positive attitudes about EMR, and build confidence in the benefits of these systems.
Base Station Selection Technique for MMSE Joint Transmission in Downlink Cooperative MIMO System

Cooperative multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system is capable in mitigating co-channel interference (CCI) that limits the downlink capacity of cellular network. Among the joint transmission designs for base station (BS) cooperation, the linear joint transmissions with per-base power constraint is preferred due to its computational simplicity and reality. However, since the transmissions with per-base power constraint sometimes make BSs cannot fully utilize their usable power, it leads considerable capacity loss. In this paper, we propose a BS selection technique for MMSE joint transmitter in downlink cooperative MIMO system to relive the inefficient usage of power under per-base power constraint. To find the BS group which yields the highest capacity, we compare the system capacity of all the possible BS groups. Simulation results show that the BS selection significantly improves the system capacity compared to the conventional linear joint transmissions by overcoming the aforementioned power allocation problem.
Mashup Component Isolation via Server-Side Analysis and Instrumentation

Web 2.0 and mashups provide opportunities for exciting new applications. However, the security model of t he underlying browser technology is quite inadequate to deal with the new trust and security issues. In particular, it provides no good and easy way to isolate mashup components from each other. While browsers might eventually fix these proble m, this will take its time. One promising approach which works with current browsers is based on server-side analysis and c ode instrumentation.
A cluster of eight hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase genes belonging to the aldo-keto reductase supergene family on mouse chromosome 13 Published, JLR Papers in Press, December 1, 2002. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M200399-JLR200

A subclass of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD) are NADP(H)-dependent oxidoreductases that belong to the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily. They are involved in prereceptor or intracrine steroid modulation, and also act as bile acid-binding proteins. The HSD family members characterized thus far in human and rat have a high degree of protein sequence similarity but exhibit distinct substrate specificity. Here we report the identification of nine murine AKR genes in a cluster on chromosome 13 by a combination of molecular cloning and in silico analysis of this region. These include four previously isolated mouse HSD genes (Akr1c18, Akr1c6, Akr1c12, Akr1c13), the more distantly related Akr1e1, and four novel HSD genes. These genes exhibit highly conserved exon/intron organization and protein sequence predictions indicate 75% amino acid similarity. The previously identified AKR protein active site residues are invariant among all nine proteins, but differences are observed in regions that have been implicated in determining substrate specificity. Differences also occur in tissue expression patterns, with expression of some genes restricted to specific tissues and others expressed at high levels in multiple tissues. Our findings dramatically expand the repertoire of AKR genes and identify unrecognized family members with potential roles in the regulation of steroid metabolism.
Language features for interoperability of databases with schematic discrepancies

Present relational language capabilities are insufficient to provide interoperability of databases even if they are all relational. In particular, unified multidatabaae view definitions cannot reconcile schematic discrepancies, where data in one database correspond to metadata of another. We claim that following new features are necessary: 1. Higher order expressions where variables can range over data and metadata, including database names. 2. Higher order (multidatabase) view definitions, where the number of relations or of attributes defined, is dependent on the state of the database(s). 3. Complete view updatability for the users of multidatabase views. We propose these features in the context of a Horn clause based language, called Interoperable Database Language, (IDL).
Cranial Remain from Tunisia Provides New Clues for the Origin and Evolution of Sirenia (Mammalia, Afrotheria) in Africa

Sea cows (manatees, dugongs) are the only living marine mammals to feed solely on aquatic plants. Unlike whales or dolphins (Cetacea), the earliest evolutionary history of sirenians is poorly documented, and limited to a few fossils including skulls and skeletons of two genera composing the stem family of Prorastomidae (Prorastomus and Pezosiren). Surprisingly, these fossils come from the Eocene of Jamaica, while stem Hyracoidea and Proboscidea - the putative sister-groups to Sirenia - are recorded in Africa as early as the Late Paleocene. So far, the historical biogeography of early Sirenia has remained obscure given this paradox between phylogeny and fossil record. Here we use X-ray microtomography to investigate a newly discovered sirenian petrosal from the Eocene of Tunisia. This fossil represents the oldest occurrence of sirenians in Africa. The morphology of this petrosal is more primitive than the Jamaican prorastomids’ one, which emphasizes the basal position of this new African taxon within the Sirenia clade. This discovery testifies to the great antiquity of Sirenia in Africa, and therefore supports their African origin. While isotopic analyses previously suggested sirenians had adapted directly to the marine environment, new paleoenvironmental evidence suggests that basal-most sea cows were likely restricted to fresh waters.
Tracking Virtuosity and Flow in Computer Music

This paper explores the concepts of virtuosity and flow in computer music, by looking at the technological, interactive and social factors in soundtracking; a textbased, computer keyboard-manipulated notation for real-time computer-aided music composition. The role of virtuosity in both the personal user experience and the wider demoscene hacker-artist subculture are discussed. Comparisons are made to mainstream music interaction paradigms, such as performance capture and sequencing, where support for virtuosity is present in MIDI devices and episodes of live performance recording, but otherwise impeded by mouse-driven interfaces designed around visual metaphors for novice use, rather than the development of practised skill. Discussions and observations are supported by initial findings from a large-scale, 2-year user study of over 1,000 tracker and sequencer users.
A Compact Tunable Bandpass Filter Using Coupled Metamaterial Resonators with Varactor Diode

In this paper, we present a novel tunable microstrip bandpass filter based on split ring resonators (SRRs). The varactors are reverse-biased semiconductor diode, and are connected between the concentric rings of the SRR. An individual varactor loaded SRR based bandpass tunable filter module is analyzed. Then a second order tunable filter with 7% fractional bandwidth and a tuning range from 2.75 to 2.86 GHz is assembled from basic filter modules. The simulator HFSS (V10) is used to design the tunable filter and to simulate. The results show good characteristics is created.
Effects of Al Content on Phase Composition of Zr-Al-O-N Composites

Zr-Al-O-N composites were prepared in N2 atmosphere at 1600oC with Ca-PSZ and Al powders as raw materials. Phase composition of the composites and formation reaction mechanism were investigated by XRD and SEM analyses. With Al content increaseing from 1% to 50%, phase composition of the composites were changed step by step. The results showed that phase compositions of the composites are related to Al content.
Extending UML for Multidimensional Modeling

Multidimensional (MD) modeling is the foundation of data warehouses, MD databases, and OLAP applications. In the last years, there have been some proposals to represent MD properties at the conceptual level. Nevertheless, none of them considers all multidimensional properties at both the structural and dynamic levels. In this paper, we present an object-oriented (OO) approach to accomplish the MD modeling at the conceptual level. This approach de nes an extension by means of stereotypes to the the Uni ed Modeling Language (UML) for MD modeling. The extension uses the Object Constraint Language (OCL) for expressing well-formedness rules of the new de ned elements. The advantages of our proposal are twofold: on the one hand, this extension allows us to represent MD models with the UML, allowing us to specify the whole system in a uniform way; on the other hand, an OO approach can elegantly consider main MD properties at the conceptual level. Finally, we show how to use these stereotypes in Rational Rose 2000 for MD modeling
Induction of xenograft accommodation by modulation of elicited antibody responses12

Background. We have established that the timing of splenectomy influences the magnitude of the xenoreactive antibody (XAb) response and thus hamster heart survival in cyclosporine (CyA)-treated rats. This model has been used to test our hypothesis that modulation of XAb responses without perturbation of complement may influence the development of graft accommodation. Methods. Pretransplantation splenectomy (day −1/day 0) fully abrogated anti-graft IgM response, whereas a delayed procedure (day 1/day 2) caused significantly delayed (3–4 days) and decreased levels (two- to threefold) of XAb. Both interventions resulted in long-term graft survival. After surviving for 7 or more days, xenografts in CyA-treated rats with post-, but not pre-, transplantation splenectomy were also resistant to exogenous anti-graft XAb. Such grafts meet the criteria for accommodation. Accommodating hearts displayed progressive and increasing expression of protective genes, such as heme oxygense (HO)-1 and A20, in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Results. Our results suggest that XAb responses may influence the kinetics of accommodation development possibly by promoting protective gene expression. This hypothesis was directly tested in vitro. Pretreatment of porcine aortic endothelial cells with sublytic amounts of baboon anti-pig serum for 24 hr induced HO-1 expression; this was associated with cell resistance to lytic amounts of such serum. Overexpression of HO-1 by adenoviral-mediated gene transfer in porcine aortic endothelial cells resulted in similar protective effects. Conclusions. Delayed and relatively low levels of XAb IgM promote expression of protective genes in the graft and thereby aid in the progress of accommodation. Expression of HO-1 protects xenoserum-mediated endothelial cell destruction.
Molecular characterization of heterochromatin proteins 1a and 1b from the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Heterochromatin protein 1s (HP1s) are nonhistone chromosomal proteins that play a direct role in the formation and maintenance of heterochromatin structure. Similarly to Caenorhabditis elegans, silkworms possess holocentric chromosomes, in which diffused kinetochores extend along the length of each chromosome. We have isolated two silkworm HP1 homologues, BmHP1a and BmHP1b. Cytological analysis showed a unique localization of BmHP1s during cell division, in which these proteins first appear to dissociate from the chromosomes, but then return to enclose the chromosomes during metaphase. BmHP1s formed homo‐ and hetero‐dimers and interacted with BmSu(var)3–9, which is a methyltransferase for histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9). We further showed, using a silkworm cell‐based reporter system, that BmHP1b had higher transcriptional repression activity than BmHP1a, whereas BmHP1a interacted more strongly with BmSu(var)3–9 than did BmHP1b. These results suggest that silkworm HP1a and HP1b may play different roles in heterochromatin formation in holocentric silkworm chromosomes.
Residual basal cell carcinoma after treatment with imiquimod: a caution on assuming complete cure.

Imiquimod has had increasing popularity for off-label treatment of skin neoplasms since its US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approval for actinic keratoses in 2001 and superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the trunk in 2003. One of these ‘‘off-label’’ uses is the treatment of small nodular BCCs in sensitive cosmetic areas to prevent a surgical scar. In addition, physicians prescribe the topical use of imiquimod for clinically apparent BCCs in patients not considered candidates for surgery due to confounding morbidities. Generally, if a treated tumor appears cured by topical treatment, it remains that way. We present a case of a tumor treated with imiquimod that appeared clinically resolved but demonstrated a deep BCC component histologically.
CSI 3.0: a web server for identifying secondary and super-secondary structure in proteins using NMR chemical shifts

The Chemical Shift Index or CSI 3.0 (http://csi3.wishartlab.com) is a web server designed to accurately identify the location of secondary and super-secondary structures in protein chains using only nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) backbone chemical shifts and their corresponding protein sequence data. Unlike earlier versions of CSI, which only identified three types of secondary structure (helix, β-strand and coil), CSI 3.0 now identifies total of 11 types of secondary and super-secondary structures, including helices, β-strands, coil regions, five common β-turns (type I, II, I′, II′ and VIII), β hairpins as well as interior and edge β-strands. CSI 3.0 accepts experimental NMR chemical shift data in multiple formats (NMR Star 2.1, NMR Star 3.1 and SHIFTY) and generates colorful CSI plots (bar graphs) and secondary/super-secondary structure assignments. The output can be readily used as constraints for structure determination and refinement or the images may be used for presentations and publications. CSI 3.0 uses a pipeline of several well-tested, previously published programs to identify the secondary and super-secondary structures in protein chains. Comparisons with secondary and super-secondary structure assignments made via standard coordinate analysis programs such as DSSP, STRIDE and VADAR on high-resolution protein structures solved by X-ray and NMR show >90% agreement between those made with CSI 3.0.