Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tier Partitioning and Flip-flop Relocation Methods for Clock Trees in Monolithic 3D ICs

In this paper, we propose simple but effective clock tree optimization algorithms for monolithic 3D ICs that are based on tier partitioning and flip-flop relocation. Our algorithms take into account 3D timing critical paths, clock skew, and the clock tree hierarchy for a better quality 3D clock tree. We also perform clock slew manipulation and buffer reduction to further improve the 3D designs. We tested four industrial benchmarks implemented using a commercial library and observed up to 34.3% clock skew, 35.9% clock wirelength, 10.0% combinational clock power, and 15.5% total power savings compared to the state-of-the-art [8].
Study of Free Carrier Effects for an Optical Property Modulation-Based Detector Concept for PET

In order to overcome the intrinsic limit on the achievable coincidence time resolution (CTR) of scintillation detectors and to potentially significantly improve PET CTR, we propose to use the modulation of material’s optical properties for annihilation photon detection instead of using the scintillation mechanism. Optical property modulation mechanisms based on "free carrier effects" show promise to achieve this goal. Free carrier effects depend on the change of charge carrier density in a material to modulate the material’s optical properties. This modulation can be in the optical absorption coefficient (photo-absorption) or in the index of refraction (photo-refraction). In this work, we study free carrier effects in different detector materials. The materials we experimented with include cadmium telluride (CdTe), bismuth silicon oxide (BSO), vanadium doped cadmium manganese telluride (CdMnTe:V), lead bismuth gallium (PbBiGa) heavy metal glass, and cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3). Due to different surface conditions, the crystal samples were tested with different optical setups. CdTe, BSO and PbBiGa were tested in the spatial interference setup. CdMnTe:V was tested with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and CsPbBr3 was studied with a direct transmission setup. In this work a laser diode was used to provide the source of ionization-induced free carriers. To study free carrier effects, the experiments were done under zero bias voltage for the detector crystal. For comparison purposes, we also measured the modulation signal with the crystal biased at 1000 V. The CdTe crystal shows a modulation strength (unit of 1×10−4) of 7.2 at 0 V bias, and 20.8 at 1000 V bias. The BSO crystal generates a modulation strength of 4.1 at 0 V bias, and 7.5 at 1000 V bias. The PbBiGa crystal has a modulation strength of 7.2 at 0 V bias, and 6.4 at 1000 V bias. For CdMnTe:V, the modulation signal has an amplitude of 4.8 when the crystal is biased at 1000 V. For CsPbBr3, the modulation signal has an amplitude of 2.0 under zero bias voltage. We conclude that free carrier effects show up in CdTe, BSO, PbBiGa and CsPbBr3 crystal samples. CdTe and PbBiGa show potential to generate the strongest free carrier induced optical property modulations.
First human imaging with MARS photon-counting CT

This study demonstrates the translation of smallbore MARS photon-counting CT technology to live human spectral imaging within a clinical radiation dose level. We used the same spectral CT technology platform (hardware and software) for the acquisition of spectral CT data, image reconstruction, material decomposition and visualisation as used in small-bore MARS photon-counting CT. Small-bore MARS photon-counting CT has been used to produce promising results in the fields of cancer, bone and cartilage health, and cardio-vascular diseases. With the development of large-bore MARS photon-counting CT, small-animal studies can now be translated to humans, sheep, or pigs. Spectral CT data at eight energy-channels were acquired simultaneously to scan body-parts of a human volunteer. Two scans were performed, the first a part of the lower-leg, and the second of the wrist. After reconstructing the spectral CT images with voxel dimensions of 90 × 90 × 90 µm3, a constrained leastsquare based material decomposition was applied to estimate the density of soft-tissue components (water and fat) and bone (calcium) in each voxel. The computed tomography dose index was measured to assess the radiation dose delivered in scanning the lower-leg of a live human. The previous studies conducted on small-bore MARS photon-counting CT have indicated that spectral information is beneficial for the assessment of cancer, bone and cartilage health, and cardio-vascular diseases. This study also demonstrates that spectral information obtained with the large-bore MARS photon-counting CT provides a similar level of material information to that obtained with small-bore MARS photon-counting CT. The measured weighted computed tomography dose index for scanning the two body-parts in this study was below 5 mGy in each scan. Obtaining diagnostic quality spectral CT images of a human within a clinical radiation dose level demonstrates the potential for using large-bore MARS photon-counting CT in human clinical trials.
Performance Evaluation of Time Distribution over SerDes-based Interconnections for PET System

PET is composed of many identical detector modules. The data acquisition system (DAQ) connects them conventionally with a backplane structure, which has a separate clock distribution tree and data transmission bus. With the development of electronics technology, nowadays, the front-end and data pre-processing circuits can be fully implemented in each detector module, so that DAQ system for PET scanner can employ a serial interconnection-based hierarchical structure. In particular, if the time distribution can be implemented in the high speed data link, the interconnection simplicity and scalability of DAQ can be maximized. In this paper, we are developing the technique to integrate precise clock distribution into the SerDes-based full duplex data link. Clock synchronization between two connection nodes can be implemented by skillfully using the internal features of SerDes transceivers. By measuring the timestamp difference between two time-to-digital convertors (TDC) in three different timing levels, the timing performance of the unified interconnection is evaluated. For time-intervals in the range from 0 ns to 1200 ns, the average RMS precision of two TDCs driven with clocks in the zeroth level, first level, second level, and their different combinations are 9.7 ps, 13.4 ps, 16.1 ps and 11.4 ps 13.3 ps, 14.9 ps respectively. The test results show that the unified SerDes-based interconnection can deliver system clock signal very precisely as well, which will be very beneficial for construction of DAQ system in PET scanners.
Performance analysis of NOMA for Wireless Downlink in Multi-tiers Heterogeneous Network

In this paper, we analysed the performance of Non-orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) for downlink in Multi-tier Heterogenous Network. We focused on evaluating both energy efficiency (EE) and throughput of wireless systems which were applied proposed power allocation algorithm in wireless Heterogenous Radio Access Network (HRAN) system. On the other hand, we were taking into account the power consumption at base stations (BSs) in case of various types of cells such as macro-cell, micro-cell, and pico-cell as well. It showed that the proposed system provided better performance than Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) in terms of EE and throughput.
Extension of the SSS PET scatter correction algorithm to include double scatter

PET scatter correction typically employs a single Compton scatter simulation which is scaled to the emission data to account for multiple scatter. However, Monte Carlo simulations suggest that for modern scanners with good energy resolution and a narrow photopeak energy window, only double scatter makes a significant contribution to this multiple scatter. Thus a single plus double scatter simulation could be a very good approximation to the total scatter. Consequently, we have extended our single scatter simulation (SSS) algorithm to include an estimate of double scatter contributions. These are efficiently computed by considering a subset of pairs of the single scatter points. By fully accounting for the physics, an absolute scaling is achieved, and no sinogram tail fitting is required. The double scatter simulation (DSS) results agree well with independent Monte Carlo simulations. Computation time for SSS+DSS increases by a small multiple of the time required for SSS only, but remains clinically viable. Results for simulated and measured PET studies are shown, and the absolutely scaled SSS+DSS is compared to the standard relative scaling of SSS only.
An Adaptive Power level Allocation Model in LoRa for Internet of Things

Internet of Things (IoT) finds their applications in many areas that include environmental monitoring, industrial control, traffic congestion control, smart metering, and smart parking. An important issue of research in IoT is to successfully transmit the data to the cloud and yet minimize the energy consumption of the battery-powered IoT devices. Long Range (LoRa) is a long-range wireless communication protocol that competes against other low-power wide-area networks. In this paper, we propose a Stackelberg Game based model for allocation of the appropriate power levels to the LoRa nodes in energy-efficient LoRa network. The utility of the network server, works as a leader player, is to successfully receive the data from the LoRa nodes. The utility of the LoRa nodes, work as followers player, is to reduce the power consumption during transmission of the data to the LoRa gateway. Simulation results evaluate the performance of the proposed game model to validate its effectiveness.
The Amplitude Responses of the Basic Connection Circuit of a Differential Difference Operational Amplifier in Analog Sensor Interfaces with Nonlinear Input Stages

The nonlinear modes of operation of the analog interface based on a differential difference operational amplifier (DDA), which is designed to process the sensor signals in automation devices and robotics, are investigated. The main versions of approximation of the transfer characteristics (TC) and derivatives of the corresponding functions for differential input stages (DS) of DDA (piecewise linear characteristic, hyperbolic tangent, integral polynomial function (IPF)) are considered. It is established that the approximation of the TC in the form of continuous IPF is the most universal and can be recommended for describing the DS properties in the structure of the DDA on small and large signals with different types of transistors (CMOS, JT, JFet). Mathematical analysis and computer simulation shows that the nonidentity of parameters of the input DS to the DDA and the low voltages of the TC limitation have a significant impact on the linearity of the amplitude response of the basic connection circuit of the DDA. The obtained results are recommended to be used not only when creating DDAs of new generation, but also when evaluating nonlinear distortions and fast response in analog devices of automation and computer technology with differential stages.
Bandwidth Enhancement of GaN MMIC Doherty Power Amplifiers Using Broadband Transformer-Based Load Modulation Network

In this paper, we present a bandwidth enhancement technique for monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) Doherty power amplifiers (DPAs) in wireless transmitters. A broadband load modulation network is proposed by exploiting transformers and output-referred parasitic capacitances of the carrier and peaking transistors of DPA. The proposed network comprises two transformers that are used to improve frequency response of the load impedance presented to the carrier transistor at back-off and extend the DPA bandwidth. The network benefits from a unity transformation ratio and it can be readily realized by using edge-coupled microstrip transmission lines. Optimal coupling coefficients of the two transformers are determined based on bandwidth and insertion loss considerations. A proof-of-concept DPA is implemented in a 0.25- $\mu \text{m}$ GaN MMIC process. It achieves 35–36 dBm output power, 42.8–48.7% drain efficiency at peak power and 24.4–31.6% at 6-dB back-off, over 4.5–6.0 GHz bandwidth. When excited by a 100-MHz 64-QAM signal with 8 dB peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), the DPA exhibits 29.3 dBm average output power and 28.4% average drain efficiency, while the error vector magnitude (EVM) is −30.5 dB (3%) without any predistortion.
A Quantitative Approach for Refactoring NFV-based Mobile Core Networks

Evolved Packet Core (EPC) is a framework for providing converged voice and data on a 4G network. Recently Control and User Plane Separation of EPC nodes (CUPS) is proposed to improve the scalability of the EPC network, and enhance data traffic in mobile core networks [1]. Network Function Virtualization (NFV) abstracts and modularizes the network functions from network entities [2]. In this way, operators can create, scale, and deploy network entities according to real-time traffic conditions. This paper proposes a quantitative approach for refactoring the control plane of CUPS-based EPC as the foundation to minimize signaling delay and improve resource utilization of the NFV-based mobile core network.
Delineation techniques of tumor hypoxia volume with 18F-FMISO PET imaging

18F-fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO) is the most extensively used Positron Emission Tomography (PET) hypoxia biomarker. Uptake of 18F-FMISO by tumors provides a quantitative map of hypoxia, which can be used for dose escalation in radiotherapy. Several techniques have been developed to quantify and delineate the tumor hypoxia volumes such as tumor-to-blood ratio (TBR), tumor-to-normal tissue ratio (TNR) and compartmental modeling approaches. This study aims to report quantitative analyzes aiming at delineating hypoxia in tumors. Scanning protocols involved a 15 or 30 min dynamic scan followed by 10 min static scan at 2 h, 3 h and 4 h in order to allow accumulation of 18F-FMISO in the tumors. The quantitative analyzes were performed with spectral analysis (SA) and also with different threshold levels of TBR and TNR. TBR and TNR images were obtained by normalizing the measured images with respect to the concentration of 18F-FMISO in blood and in normal tissue, respectively, with multiple threshold levels of 1.2, 1.4, 2 and 2.5. A similarity index (SI) approach was chosen to quantitatively compare the TBR, TNR and SA images. The results showed that the TBR technique produced less spatially constrained volumes around the tumor than TNR with the same threshold level. TBR was found to be more dependent on the accuracy of the concentration in blood. SA images show the decomposed components of tumor as accumulative regions in the center of the tumor while the perfused regions were seen on the peripheries. The hypoxia defined with SA was more accurate since it is not sensitive to input function artefacts such as the partial volume effect. We found some similarities at specific thresholding levels and imaging times between TBR and TNR. In one subject, at 3 h, TBR at a levels of 1.4, 2 and 2.5 were respectively close to TNR at 1.4, 1.4 and 2, and TNR at 2 h and 3 h with a level of 1.2 presented a high similarity (SI > 85%). Despite these similarities, more interventions are expected for proper decisions on hypoxia localisation.
Symbolic Methods in Computational Cryptography Proofs

Code-based game-playing is a popular methodology for proving security of cryptographic constructions and side-channel countermeasures. This methodology relies on treating cryptographic proofs as an instance of relational program verification (between probabilistic programs), and decomposing the latter into a series of elementary relational program verification steps. In this paper, we develop principled methods for proving such elementary steps for probabilistic programs that operate over finite fields and related algebraic structures. We focus on three essential properties: program equivalence, information flow, and uniformity. We give characterizations of these properties based on deducibility and other notions from symbolic cryptography. We use (sometimes improve) tools from symbolic cryptography to obtain decision procedures or sound proof methods for program equivalence, information flow, and uniformity. Finally, we evaluate our approach using examples drawn from provable security and from side-channel analysis - for the latter, we focus on the masking countermeasure against differential power analysis. A partial implementation of our approach is integrated in EasyCrypt, a proof assistant for provable security, and in MaskVerif, a fully automated prover for masked implementations.
Current knowledge on selected rehabilitative methods used in post-stroke recovery

Understanding brain plasticity after stroke is important in developing rehabilitation strategies. Active movement therapies show considerable promise but their individual application is still not fully implemented. Among the analysed, available therapeutic modalities, some became widely used in therapeutic practice. Thus, we selected three relatively new methods, i.e. mirror therapy, motor imagery and constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). Mirror therapy was initially used in the treatment of phantom pain in patients with amputated limbs and later, in stroke patients. Motor imagery is widely used in sport to improve performance, which raises the possibility of applying it both as a rehabilitative method and in accessing the motor network independently of recovery. Whereas CIMT is based on the paradigm that impairment of arm function is exacerbated by learned non-use and that this, in turn, leads to loss of cortical representation in the upper limb. Słowa kluczowe wyobrażeniowy trening planowania ruchu, terapia ograniczania i wymuszania ruchu, terapia lustrzana Streszczenie Zrozumienie zmian określanych mianem plastyczności mózgu jest ważne w celu opracowania odpowiednich strategii rehabilitacji. Terapie oparte na ruchach czynnych wykazały obiecujące znaczenie lecz indywidualne ich zastosowanie nie zostało w pełni wdrożone. Pośród dostępnych metod terapeutycznych, które zostały poddane analizie, niektóre stały się powszechnie stosowane w praktyce klinicznej. W celu realizacji tego artykułu wybrano zatem trzy metody, które są stosunkowo nowe, tj. terapię lustrzaną, wyobrażeniowy trening planowania ruchu i terapię ograniczania i wymuszania ruchu. Terapia lustrzana była początkowo wykorzystywana do leczenia bólów fantomowych u osób po amputacjach kończyn, dopiero później wypróbowano jej działanie u chorych po udarach mózgu. Wyobrażeniowy trening planowania ruchu jest często stosowany w sporcie w celu poprawy osiągnięć co pozwala również na jego zastosowanie jako metody rehabilitacyjnej. Terapia ograniczania i wymuszania ruchu opiera się natomiast na teorii, która mówi, że zaburzenia funkcji kończyny górnej u osób po udarze mózgu są spotęgowane przez wyuczone nieużywanie kończyny górnej, prowadzące do fi zycznych zmian w korowej reprezentacji kończyny w pierwotnej korze czuciowej. The individual division of this paper was as follows: a – research work project; B – data col-lection; C – statistical analysis; D – data interpretation; E – manuscript compilation; F – publication search Article received: 30 Sept. 2017; Accepted: 15 Feb. 2018 Please cite as: Kiper P., Pirowska A. , Stożek J., Baba A. , Agostini M. , Turolla A. Current knowledge on selected rehabilitative methods used in poststroke recovery. Med Rehabil 2017; 21 (3): 51-57. DOI: 10.5604/01.3001. 0011.6823 Wersja internetowa (pierwotna) / internet version (original): www.rehmed. pl
MODULI SPACES OF GENUS-ONE STABLE MAPS , VIRTUAL CLASSES AND AN EXERCISE OF INTERSECTION THEORY

This paper deals with some questions and computations in Gromov-Witten Theory. More precisely, the case of genus-one stable maps is analysed and, in particular, the attention is focused on the construction by Vakil and Zinger, [VZ07], of a desingularization of the main component of the moduli space of such genus-one stable maps, when the target variety is the projective space Pn. Such a construction is useful for computational purposes, namely to compute Gromov-Witten invariants of some Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces. To this end, an overview of the theory of moduli spaces of stable maps is given and, in the last section, intersection-theoretic computations are carried out for the local model of one of such moduli spaces.
THE McGURK EFFECT AND x X Q " Q CLICKS

Visual information can influence the perception of speech sounds, particularly concerning place of articulation (POA). However, the perception of manner features relies on the auditory modality [3]. This study explores these factors with the five basic click consonants of ! X Q"Q , a San language. The clicks utilize labial or corono-dorsal POA and thus allow for the replication of POA-by-visual-effect-manipulation used in studies employing conventional speech sounds. Since click contrasts rely on a number of salient manner distinctions involving spectral emphasis, intensity, and noisiness, it was hypothesized that the auditory stimulus would over-ride conflicting visual cues, particularly where labial POA was not cross classified for the abrupt click types. Results provide weak confirmation for the hypothesis when auditorily salient features over-ride conflicting visual cues. In other cases visual cues strongly influence perception.
Across the great divide: Management, culture, and sustainability across NAFTA region

In the context of global environmental debates and growing multi-nationalizations of businesses through alliances, this article offers proposition as to be tested to gain an understanding of understudied barriers (i.e., fear of cultural encroachment and varying environmental sustainability standards) to adoption of environmental sustainability best practices by company managers across NAFTA. The propositions are framed in 1) cultural identity theory, 2) social identity theory, 3) rational development theory, and 4) sustainability theory. The paper proposes culture implications on management decision-making as to adoption of out-group best practices. Further, a road map to measurement development is put forth in the study that is adaptable to across nations.