Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Algorithms for High Performance Hardware Software Partitioning

Designing embedded systems efficiently has always been of significant interest. This is primarily motivated by the fact that these embedded systems find application in a wide range of fields: industrial automation, commercial electronics, scientific and medical applications, and many more. With the inherent drive towards automation in today’s world, these applications are only ever-increasing. With the tremendous rise in the complexity of such systems and the need to satisfy multiple and mutually conflicting constraints, the design optimization problem has become extremely large and complex. Hence, there is an urgent necessity to develop new and efficient techniques for design of embedded systems. In this thesis, we apply and refine the design strategy of Hardware Software Partitioning (HW/SW Partitioning) to embedded systems. In the first part of the thesis, HW/SW Partitioning is introduced and then, a co-design methodology is utilized to enhance the widely used Fast Fourier Transform algorithm. A high performance and low-cost implementation is proposed which exploits the principles of Partitioning on a target system consisting of a Spartan 3E FPGA and an Atmega-16 micro-controller. A comparative analysis is then demonstrated, with respect to both, the hardware-only and software-only implementations, which depict the superior performance of the proposed implementation. It is then observed that as the problem size, i.e. complexity of target application/algorithm increased, making Partitioning decisions manually was not feasible. Hence, in order to utilize the true potential of HW/SW Partitioning (especially for large-scale applications), automation of the partitioning process was required. This formed the next focus of this thesis, which comprised of developing high speed and resource efficient algorithms for the problem of HW/SW Partitioning. The problem has been modeled as a multi-dimensional optimization problem with the aim of minimizing the area utilization, power dissipation, time of execution and system memory requirement of the implementation. The novelty of this work is in developing a fast paced, state-of-the-art algorithm which takes into consideration all the major design costs as mentioned above. The Greedy Metaheuristic Algorithm (GMA), with O(n) time complexity has been proposed, which significantly reduces the complexity of algorithms previously described in the literature. The proposed approach can also be efficiently implemented on resource constraint devices; such as low cost System On Chips (SoCs). The problem model being considered thus far was lacking one major factor, the communication costs incurred by the different hardware and software processing engines (PEs). With the contemporary age of Multi-Processor System on Chips (MPSoCs) and hybrid multi-core systems, this became a very important cost which could not be neglected. Thus, in this work, an extension to the previous model
Adding a sense of touch to online shopping: does it really help?

Haptic feedback has always been a missing link in online shopping. In this project, we study whether a commonly-used haptic device with only one Haptic Interface Point (HIP) can be used in online shopping for compensating lack of physical touch. A user study was conducted in which data-driven haptic weight, shape and texture information was simulated and provided to the users. Despite the limitations of the device, the results have shown positive effects of providing haptic feedback in enhancing users' understanding of physical properties of a product.1
Intensive care unit models: Do you want them to be open or closed? A critical review

Intensive care is a specialized branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, management, and follow up of critically ill or critically injured patients. It requires input from other branches of medicine on various issues. A critical care specialist has expertise in managing such patients round the clock. Based on his freedom to take decisions in the intensive care unit (ICU), different types of ICUs – open, closed, or semi-closed – have been defined. There is no doubt that all critical patients should be evaluated by an intensivist. Therefore, it is argued that a closed ICU model would be the ideal model. However, this may not always be feasible and other models may be more useful in resource-limited countries. In this review, we compare the different formats of ICU functioning and their suitability in different hospitals.
Inhibition of ADAM-TS4 and ADAM-TS5 Prevents Aggrecan Degradation in Osteoarthritic Cartilage*

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disorder characterized by breakdown of articular cartilage. Degradation of aggrecan, which together with type II collagen provides cartilage with its unique characteristics of compressibility and elasticity, is an early and sustained feature of osteoarthritis. The present work was set up to identify the enzyme(s) responsible for aggrecan breakdown in osteoarthritis. We found that the two cartilage aggrecanases, ADAM-TS4 and ADAM-TS5, are present in osteoarthritic cartilage and that they are responsible for aggrecan degradation without the participation of matrix metalloproteinases. This is based on 1) neoepitopes found on aggrecan fragments in osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage explants in vitro, 2) aggrecan fragments detected in synovial fluid of OA patients, 3) the observation that an aggrecanase inhibitor, BB-16, blocked aggrecan degradation in OA cartilage in vitro, whereas the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor XS309 did not, and 4) the presence of mRNA and protein for ADAM-TS4 and ADAM-TS5 in OA cartilage. These results suggest that ADAM-TS4 and ADAM-TS5 represent a potential target for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Unequal Wilkinson power dividers with in-/reverse-phase using lumped-element circuits

In this paper, we propose in/reverse-phase Wilkinson power dividers with unequal power-split ratio using lumped-element circuits. Although unequal Wilkinson power dividers using the defected ground structure (DGS) have been reported, impedance mismatch between DGS lines and conventional microstrip lines, and radiation may become problems. The proposed divider consists of parallel pi /T-networks and LC-ladder circuits. The designed reversed- phase divider with a power-split ratio of 4 has a practical property of a relative bandwidth of about 14 %. The validity of this design procedure is also shown by EM-simulations and experiments.
Relationship between DNA Methylation States and Transcription of Individual Isoforms Encoded by the Protocadherin-α Gene Cluster*

The protocadherin-α (Pcdh-α) gene encodes diverse transmembrane proteins that are differentially expressed in individual neurons in the vertebrate central nervous system. The Pcdh-α genomic structure contains variable first exons, each regulated by its own promoter. Here, we investigated the effect of DNA methylation on gene regulation in the Pcdh-α gene cluster. We studied two mouse cell lines, C1300 and M3, that expressed different combinations of Pcdh-α isoforms and found that 1) the transcription of specific Pcdh-α isoforms correlated significantly with the methylation state of the promoter and the 5′ (but not the 3′) region of the first exon and 2) mosaic or mixed methylation states of the promoters were associated with both active and inactive transcription. Demethylation of C1300 cells up-regulated all of the Pcdh-α isoforms, and, in a promoter assay, hypermethylation of the promoters repressed their transcriptional activity. Cell lines subcloned from the demethylated C1300 cells transcribed different combinations of Pcdh-α isoforms than the parental, nondemethylated cells, and the promoters showed differential mosaic or mixed methylation patterns. In vivo, the promoter and 5′-regions of the Pcdh-αC1 and αC2 exons, which are transcribed in all neurons, were extensively hypomethylated. In contrast, the promoters of the Pcdh-α1 to -α12 isoforms, which are transcribed differentially by individual Purkinje cells, exhibited mosaic methylation patterns. Overall, our results demonstrated that mosaic or mixed DNA methylation states in the promoter and 5′-region of the first exon may help regulate differential Pcdh-α transcription and that hypermethylation is sufficient to repress transcription.
Du féminin et du masculin

Resume Cet article traite de la differenciation de genre au fil de l’avancee en âge, de la fin du primaire aux annees lycee, en observant les trajectoires culturelles individuelles en matiere de consommations, de sorties et de pratiques culturelles. Si les univers des filles et des garcons combinent decalages chronologiques d’acces aux objets culturels, oppositions et convergences, c’est parce que leur inscription sur les diverses scenes sociales – famille, ecole, groupe de pairs – differe, entre logique de renforcement feminine et logique de substitution masculine. L’observation du jeu de differenciation invite a penser le genre non plus comme une « difference dans la difference », mais comme un facteur majeur, socialement situe, du rapport a la culture.
Enamel remineralization effect of a dentifrice containing calcium sodium phosphosilicate: an optical coherence tomography observation

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate (CSP) on the remineralization of the enamel using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Materials and methods: Bovine incisors were sliced and shaped in a rectangular form. One group of five specimens was treated with undersaturated 0.1 M lactic acid buffer solution (pH 4.75) for 10 min and then placed in artificial saliva (pH 7.0) (De group). Other specimens were stored in solutions of toothpaste containing CSP for 10 min, followed by 10-min immersion in the lactic acid buffer solution twice a day before storage in artificial saliva (CSP group). An additional group was stored in only artificial saliva (control group). OCT imaging on the selected location of the enamel surface was performed. The peak intensity and width at 1/e2 were recorded in each of the six areas on the sample and averaged, and the sample size of each group was six. The integrated value in units (dB × μm) was calculated in the area of peak intensity. The data for each group was subjected to one-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests (α = 0.05). Results: The changes in integrated values of each group were different. A slight but significant increase in the integrated value was observed in the control group, whereas a slight but significant decrease in the value was observed the De group. Integrated values increased in the CSP group. Conclusions: Remineralization occurred upon immersion in the toothpaste containing CSP.
Increasing low-frequency stability margins in microwave amplifiers from experimental data

A key aspect in the robust design of microwave amplifiers is to ensure circuit stability beyond the nominal operating conditions. In this work, a method for measuring and controlling the stability margin of low-frequency resonances in microwave amplifiers is proposed. The approach adds an extra RF port in series with an R-C stabilization network that is connected to the amplifier bias path. The extra RF port is used to experimentally obtain the critical poles of the circuit. Then, from the obtained pole-zero map, pole-placement techniques are applied to get the R-C values that increase the stability margin of the critical resonances. In this way, the risk of running into a low frequency oscillation when amplifier conditions are varied can be significantly reduced. The complete approach is experimentally validated in a demonstrator prototype built in printed circuit board technology.
Negative expansion of the myotonic dystrophy unstable sequence.

We have analyzed the unstable fragment of the myotonic dystrophy (DM) gene in a pregnancy at 50% risk for DM. The affected father in this family had a 3.0-kb expansion of the DM unstable region. The fetus inherited the mutated gene, but with an expansion of 0.5 kb. This case represented a counseling problem in light of the absence of data concerning "negative expansion. " Analysis of the DM gene in 17 families with 72 affected individuals revealed four more cases of negative expansions, all of them in paternal transmissions. The possible significance of this finding is discussed.
Selective-versus-Standard Poststent Dilation for Carotid Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKROUND: The safety and efficacy of standard poststent angioplasty in patients undergoing carotid artery stent placement have not been well-established. PURPOSE: We conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the safety and efficacy of carotid artery stent placement and analyzed outcomes of standard-versus-selective poststent angioplasty. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Web of Science was performed for studies published between January 2000 and January 2015. STUDY SELECTION: We included studies with >30 patients describing standard or selective poststent angioplasty during carotid artery stent placement. DATA ANALYSIS: A random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool the following outcomes: periprocedural stroke/TIA, procedure-related neurologic/cardiovascular morbidity/mortality, bradycardia/hypotension, long-term stroke at last follow-up, long-term primary patency, and technical success. DATA SYNTHESIS: We included 87 studies with 19,684 patients with 20,378 carotid artery stenoses. There was no difference in clinical (P = .49) or angiographic outcomes (P = .93) in carotid artery stent placement treatment with selective or standard poststent balloon angioplasty. Both selective and standard poststent angioplasty groups had a very high technical success of >98% and a low procedure-related mortality of 0.9%. There were no significant differences between both groups in the incidence of restenosis (P = .93) or procedure-related complications (P = .37). LIMITATIONS: No comparison to a patient group without poststent dilation could be performed. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis demonstrated no significant difference in angiographic and clinical outcomes among series that performed standard poststent angioplasty and those that performed poststent angioplasty in only select patients.
A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the feasibility of the Wii Fit for improving walking in older adults with lower limb amputation

Objective: To assess the feasibility of Wii.n. Walk for improving walking capacity in older adults with lower limb amputation. Design: A parallel, evaluator-blind randomized controlled feasibility trial. Setting: Community-living. Participants: Individuals who were ⩾50 years old with a unilateral lower limb amputation. Intervention: Wii.n. Walk consisted of Wii Fit training, 3x/week (40 minute sessions), for 4 weeks. Training started in the clinic in groups of 3 and graduated to unsupervised home training. Control group were trained using cognitive games. Main Measures: Feasibility indicators: trial process (recruitment, retention, participants’ perceived benefit from the Wii.n.Walk intervention measured by exit questionnaire), resources (adherence), management (participant processing, blinding), and treatment (adverse event, and Cohen’s d effect size and variance). Primary clinical outcome: walking capacity measured using the 2 Minute Walk Test at baseline, end of treatment, and 3-week retention. Results: Of 28 randomized participants, 24 completed the trial (12/arm). Median (range) age was 62.0 (50-78) years. Mean (SD) score for perceived benefit from the Wii.n. Walk intervention was 38.9/45 (6.8). Adherence was 83.4%. The effect sizes for the 2 Minute Walk Test were 0.5 (end of treatment) and 0.6 (3-week retention) based on intention to treat with imputed data; and 0.9 (end of treatment) and 1.2 (3-week retention) based on per protocol analysis. The required sample size for a future larger RCT was deemed to be 72 (36 per arm). Conclusions: The results suggested the feasibility of the Wii.n. Walk with a medium effect size for improving walking capacity. Future larger randomized controlled trials investigating efficacy are warranted.
Large-Scale Patterns in the Chemical Composition of Mississippian Pottery

Neutron activation analysis of Mississippian sherds from 21 regions across the Southeast has revealed the existence of distinctive chemical groups that are associated with four large geographical areas. One such group is associated with sites along the Mississippi River and its western tributaries, a second is associated with sites on the Appalachian Rim in Tennessee, a third is associated with sites on the Piedmont and associated drainages, and a fourth is associated with sites in Alabama. This pattern reflects the existence of several large, clay-mineral provinces in the Southeast that now can be recognized as sources in future studies of long-distance exchange.
Functional and circulatory renal changes in advanced heart failure.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to describe the relations between heart and renal functions and to investigate whether reduced glomerular filtration rate is influenced more by reduced perfusion or venous congestion. METHODS A prospective cohort study of 101 patients (69 men, 32 women) with chronic heart failure aged 52 (49-54) (median, 95 % confidence interval) years. We analyzed the blood samples, parameters of echocardiography and right heart catheterization. RESULTS Left ventricular ejection fraction correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate eGFR (r = 0.214, p = 0.036) in the whole sample of patients. We found a correlation between cardiac output and renal perfusion pressure in the whole sample (r = 0.232, p = 0.0225) and in patients with chronic heart failure (r = 0.254, p = 0.0278). In the whole sample the mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) correlated with the variables determining renal function: PAP and renal perfusion pressure (r = -0.345, p = 0.002),PAP and eGFR (r = -0.299, p = 0.009). In the other two studied groups these correlations were not significant. CONCLUSION In the group of heart failure patients left and right ventricular functions were the main determinants for renal function. Current cardiac output or right atrial pressure as markers of renal perfusion were not associated with renal functions in advanced but stable heart failure patients with low burden of extracardiac comorbidities (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref. 13).
The ACTIVE pursuit of stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Approximately 1% of Americans have atrial fibrillation, and the prevalence of this arrhythmia increases sharply with older age (being approximately 10% among persons 80 years of age or older). 1 Worldwide population trends of increasing life expectancy and increasing prevalence of selected risk factors for atrial fibrillation portend a worsening epidemic. Atrial fibrillation raises the risk of ischemic stroke by a factor of four to five, primarily as a result of cardioembolism of a fibrin-rich thrombus (Figure 1). Given the epidemiologic characteristics of atrial fibrillation and the importance of stroke as a leading cause of death and disability, multiple large-scale, randomized .
Expanding access to K-12 computer science education: research on the landscape of computer science professional development

This session will present the research findings to date from an 18-month study commissioned by the ACM in partnership with the National Science Foundation, Google, Computer Science Teachers Association, Microsoft, and the National Center for Woman and Information Technology that started in July, 2012, and invite an open discussion about them. The study seeks to understand the national landscape of K-12 computer science (CS) professional development (PD) and the capacity to provide high quality CS PD on a large scale. The study is being conducted by The University of Chicago's Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education (CEMSE) who will present findings from the landscape study conducted in the Summer and Fall of 2012, as well as preliminary findings about the CS community's capacity for increasing the ranks of K-12 CS teachers in light NSF's stated goal of preparing 10,000 secondary education teachers to teach high-quality computer science[1]. A goal for this work is to produce actionable findings that will be of use to the broad CS education community. In the spirit of togetherness and engendering some collective action toward a coherent national strategy for expanding computer science education, it's vital that the SIGCSE community be both aware of this study's findings and be given an opportunity to reflect on its implications. Therefore, over half the time of this session will be devoted to open discussion during which several key questions stemming from the findings will be raised as well as questions raised by audience members. This session is an important opportunity for the SIGCSE community to offer feedback and help to guide the future direction of this study to ensure that the findings and plans for the remainder of the study are useful and actionable.
Memory retrieval and its lasting consequences

Many, if not all psychiatric diseases are accompanied by memory disturbances, in particular, the dementias, schizophrenia, and, to an extent, mood disordes. Anxiety and stress, on the other hand, cause important alterations of memory, particularly its retrieval. Here we discuss several new findings on the basic mechanisms of consolidation, retrieval and extinction of a prototype form of episodic memory in the rat: conditioned fear. The findings point the way for investigations on the pathology of these aspects of memory in health and disease. Emphasis is placed on the parallel processing of retrieval in several cortical areas, on the links between retrival and the onset of extinction, on the fact that extinction involves new learning requiring gene expression, and on the differences between the retrieval of recent or remote long-term memories.
Asymptomatic urethral infection in male sexually transmitted disease clinic attendees

Summary The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic male patients with urethral infections attending a government sexually transmitted infection clinic in Hong Kong and their microbiological profile. A total of 274 consecutive male patients without any symptoms for urethral infections were recruited. A questionnaire was used to record the symptoms, sexual history and demographics. Further assessment, including urethral smear for Gram stain, gonococcal culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) were performed. In 274 asymptomatic patients, 36 patients had non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) and two patients had positive gonoccocal culture. Among the asymptomatic patients with NGU, there were 6 (16.6%), 10 (22.8%) and five (13.9%) patients with positive PCR for CT, UU and MG, respectively. In addition, there were 14 asymptomatic patients with positive PCR for CT but without evidence of NGU. In conclusion, urethral infections were identified in a significant number of asymptomatic male patients and therefore, routine screening for this group is warranted.
In Vitro Activity of 2,4-Diamino-6-[2-(Phosphonomethoxy)Ethoxy]-Pyrimidine against Multidrug-Resistant Hepatitis B Virus Mutants

ABSTRACT The susceptibilities of drug-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutants to lamivudine, adefovir, tenofovir, entecavir, and 2,4-diamino-6-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethoxy]-pyrimidine (PMEO-DAPym), a novel acyclic pyrimidine analogue, were assessed in vitro. Most drug-resistant mutants, including multidrug-resistant strains, remained sensitive to tenofovir and PMEO-DAPym. Therefore, the latter molecule deserves further evaluation for the treatment of HBV infection.