Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring software costs: a new perspective on a recurring problem

Regular outsourcing of software development signifies a need for a common understanding between procurement specialists, project managers and software engineers of individual system requirements costs, to facilitate accord on price. Dependable cost estimates are usually required by customers long before detailed analysis and design activities would normally produce this information. A number of estimation techniques have evolved to produce cost information at an early stage in the software life-cycle, however estimation continues to contribute to budget blowouts. Contemporary techniques for costing specifications described as use cases are increasingly challenged as the size and complexity of the system expands. In addition object-oriented representations of requirements fail to directly map into structures used by project managers, leading to ongoing comparisons of value that are subjective and often unrepresentative of final project expenditure. Flaws in the current application of cost estimation methodologies have been identified and a possible solution is proposed. 1. Current Interests Curtin University of Technology, ADI Limited, Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), Total Metrics, and other partners have applied to the Australian Research Council (ARC), as part of the November 2003 Linkage Project round, for funding for a project to take a multidisciplinary approach to the costing of software development. The results of this application are not yet known, but the partners are keen to progress this research in advance of the ARC decision, for the proposed project: “Optimising Value for Money (VfM) in software development through standardised cost metrics in the procurement, development and project management life-cycles”. This project aims to develop the principles by which the ongoing costs can be estimated from specifications based on use cases and can then be precisely mapped into a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) used by the project management to control a software engineering life-cycle. The team believes that this research will allow organisations to set budgets with greater confidence and more accurately determine progress during software contracts. It has significant implications for procurement specialists purchasing software development. Problems encountered during a contract by customer contract managers and supplier project managers have often been introduced into the contract through suspect decisions on budget, scope, schedule and choice of supplier made at early stages of the procurement process. The validity of many VfM decisions would come under serious scrutiny if an identical analysis were to be repeated subsequent to contract closure. A reduction in the frequency of invalid cost estimates and inappropriate budgets would contribute to more successful software projects and improve the VfM proposition for bespoke software development in comparison to the purchase of packaged software. Any ‘buy’ decision over a ‘build’ decision should be based upon the business merits rather than any associated contract management problems.
A 2 ~ 8 GHz UWB Low Noise Amplifier using 0 . 15 μ m GaAs pHEMT Technology for Multiband Wireless Application

This paper proposes 2GHz ~ 8GHz UWB LNA with totem pole technique for low noise figure. The LNA was designed using 0.15 μm GaAs pHMET process. The designed LNA was simulated in ADS tool. The LNA exhibits a S(2,1) of 33.4~29.7 dB, minimum noise figure is 1.383~1.391 dB, reverse isolation was better than 40 dB in entire band. The LNA draws 32 mA. Resistive feedback technique was used for wideband matching and low noise figure.
A compact low-power nonvolatile flip-flop using domain-wall-motion-device-based single-ended structure

: A nonvolatile ﬂ ip-ﬂ op (NV-FF) is proposed for a zero-standby-power LSI using a domain-wall motion (DWM) device. Since the write current path is separated from the read current path in the DWM device, two nonvolatile memory function blocks, a write driver for storing temporal data into the DWM device, and a sense ampli ﬁ er for recalling the stored data from the DWM device can be optimized independently. Moreover, the use of a nonvolatile storage cell with a DWM-device-based single-ended structure makes it possible to implement both of these functions as two CMOS inverters, which makes it possible to merge them into a CMOS delay ﬂ ip-ﬂ op (D-FF) core. Since the nonvolatile storage cell is electrically separated from the D-FF core during the normal operation, there is no performance degradation. In fact, the area and the power-delay product of the proposed NV-FF are minimized compared to those of the previous works.
Drug-related deaths in a department of internal medicine.

BACKGROUND Drug therapy is associated with adverse effects, and fatal adverse drug events (ADEs) have become major hospital problems. Our study assesses the incidence of fatal ADEs in a major medical department and identifies possible patient characteristics signifying fatal ADE risk. METHODS During a 2-year period, a multidisciplinary study group examined all 732 patients who died--5.2% of the 13992 patients admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine, Central Hospital of Akershus, Nordbyhagen, Norway. Decisions about the presence or absence of fatal ADEs were based on aggregated clinical records, autopsy results, and findings from premortem and postmortem drug analyses. RESULTS In 18.2% of the patients (133/732) (95% confidence interval, 15.4%-21.0%), deaths were classified as being directly (64 [48.1%] of 133) or indirectly (69 [51.9%] of 133) associated with 1 or more drugs (this equals 9.5 deaths per 1000 hospitalized patients). Those with fatal ADEs (cases) were older, had more diseases, and used more drugs than those without fatal ADEs (noncases). In 75 of the 133 patients with fatal ADEs, autopsy findings and/or drug analysis data were decisive for recognizing the ADEs; in 62 of the remaining 595 patients, similar data proved necessary to exclude the suspicion of a fatal ADE. Major culprit drugs were cardiovascular, antithrombotic, and sympathomimetic agents. CONCLUSIONS Fatal ADEs represent a major hospital problem, especially in elderly patients with multiple diseases. A higher number of drugs administered was associated with a higher frequency of fatal ADEs, but whether a high number of drugs is an independent risk factor for fatal ADEs is unsettled. Autopsy results and the findings of premortem and postmortem drug analyses were important for recognizing and excluding suspected fatal ADEs.
Multi-objective differential evolution algorithm for underwater image restoration

Underwater image processing area has been considered an important topic within the last decades with important achievements. This kind of images are essentially characterized by their poor visibility because light is exponentially attenuated as it travels in the water and the scenes result poorly contrasted and hazy. On the other hand, image restoration takes into account the influence of the environment on the image in order to achieve an image with an improved quality. This technique consist of inverting the physical model of image formation. That model contains parameters which represent variables such as coefficients of absorption, scattering, among others. In this case, the quality of the restored image depends on the correct estimation of these parameters. In this work, an approach based on evolutionary optimization algorithms is proposed, for restoring underwater images by estimating the model parameters, and using two metrics for quality assessment. The degradation in the images has been simulated by using an image formation model. Results show that image restoration based on a Multi-Objective Differential Evolution (MODE) algorithm achieves images with good contrast and sharpness, being even better than the original image.
Signal Integrity Verification of Multichip Links Using Passive Channel Macromodels

This paper presents a general strategy for the electrical performance and signal integrity assessment of electrically long multichip links. A black-box time-domain macromodel is first derived from tabulated frequency responses in scattering form. This model is structured as a combination of ideal delay terms with frequency-dependent rational coefficients. A new identification scheme is presented, which is based on an initial blind delay estimation process followed by a refinement loop based on an iterative delayed vector fitting process. Two alternative passivity enforcement schemes based on local perturbations are then presented. The result is an accurate and guaranteed passive delay-based macromodel, which is synthesized as a SPICE-compatible netlist for channel analysis. The proposed procedure enables safe and reliable circuit-based transient simulations of complex multichip links, including nonlinear drivers and receivers. The performance of the proposed flow is demonstrated on a large number of channel benchmarks.
Coefficient transformations for area-efficient implementation of multiplier-less FIR filters

Techniques based on common sub-computation extraction can be used to minimize number of additions in the multiplier-less implementations of Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters. We present two types of coefficient transforms which used in conjunction with these techniques enable area-efficient realization of multiplier-less FIR filters. (i) Number theoretic transforms-that use redundant binary representations such as Canonical Sign Digit (CSD) (ii) Signal Flow Graph transformations that modify the coefficient values while retaining the output functionality. We demonstrate this with results of 6 different coefficient transforms for 14 low pass FIR filters with number of taps ranging from 16 to 128.
Posterolateral Rotatory Apprehension Test in Tennis Elbow.

BACKGROUND Tennis elbow is a syndrome that commonly diagnosed in patient who comes with lateral elbow pain. Instability pain in tennis elbow patient was observed and reported in many previous literatures. Posterolateral rotatory apprehension test was proposed for diagnosis of posterolateral rotatory instability of elbow. However, no review literatures that studied about posterolateral rotatory apprehensions test in tennis elbow. OBJECTIVE To find out the relationship between posterolateral rotatory apprehension test and tennis elbow. MATERIAL AND METHOD There were 44 patients that were recruited in this study. We examined the posterolateral rotatory apprehension test in tennis elbow patients. The examination was done in our outpatient clinic from March 2012 to April 2012. The data was collected to find out the ratio of negative test in tennis elbow patient. RESULTS The results from the posterolateral rotatory apprehension test were negative in 43 patients. The ratio of the negative test result was 98%. CONCLUSION A result from posterolateral rotatory apprehension test should be negative in general tennis elbow patients. If this test is used in a tennis elbow patients who are suspected with hidden instability and the result is positive, further evaluation is strongly suggested.
Hierarchical MFMO Circuit Modules for an Energy-Efficient SDR DBF

The hierarchical multi-function matrix operation (MFMO) circuit modules are designed using coordinate rotations digital computer (CORDIC) algorithm for realizing the intensive computation of matrix operations. The paper emphasizes that the designed hierarchical MFMO circuit modules can be used to develop a power-efficient software-defined radio (SDR) digital beamformer (DBF). The formulas of the processing time for the scalable MFMO circuit modules implemented in field programmable gate array (FPGA) are derived to allocate the proper logic resources for the hardware reconfiguration. The hierarchical MFMO circuit modules are scalable to the changing number of array branches employed for the SDR DBF to achieve the purpose of power saving. The efficient reuse of the common MFMO circuit modules in the SDR DBF can also lead to energy reduction. Finally, the power dissipation and reconfiguration function in the different modes of the SDR DBF are observed from the experiment results.
Expression of the mouse fibronectin gene and fibronectin‐lacZ transgenes during somitogenesis

Fibronectins (FNs) are essential for the proper development of embryonic mesenchymal tissues. A lacZ reporter gene has been fused to 4.9 kbp of DNA from the rat FN gene 5′ flanking region, and this construct has been microinjected into fertilized mouse embryos to investigate the cis elements needed for the temporal and spatial regulation of FN in vivo. Histochemical staining of embryos for β‐galactosidase activity demonstrated that four independent lines shared a specific pattern of lacZ expression, reflecting the activity of the fibronectin sequences contained within the transgene. Specifically, somites stained positively for lacZ, but expression was spatially and temporally non‐uniform, with higher levels in more caudal somites after a total of ca. 13 somite pairs had formed. This rostral‐caudal gradient of lacZ expression in somites of embryos beyond this stage resembled the distribution of endogenous FN mRNA, as detected by whole mount in situ hybridization. The transgene was not expressed in the developing heart where endogenous FN mRNA was detected. Unexpectedly, highly localized staining was observed within the neural tube beginning at ca. E10–10.5, and two of the lines exhibited additional areas of staining due to the individual integration sites. Thus, the 4.9 kbp FN fragment appears to recapitulate closely the complex pattern of FN expression observed during somitogenesis. A smaller fragment of 0.9 kbp also directed lacZ expression in caudal somites at E9.5, suggesting that these sequences are sufficient to establish the spatio‐temporal pattern. Dev. Dyn. 208: 244–254, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Theoretical Investigation of Performance Enhancement in GeSn/SiGeSn Type-II Staggered Heterojunction Tunneling FET

We design a GeSn/SiGeSn type-II staggered heterojunction n-channel tunneling FET (hetero-NTFET). The energy band structures of GeSn and SiGeSn alloys were calculated by utilizing the nonlocal empirical pseudopotential method. Staggered band alignment at r-point for lattice-matched GeSn/SiGeSn is achieved by tuning the material compositions. The impact of a type-II tunneling junction (TJ) on the electrical performance of hetero-NTFET is investigated through a simulation using a TCAD simulator. Hetero-NTFET exhibits a negative shift of onset voltage VONSET, a steeper subthreshold swing, a higher on-state current ION, and a larger on-state current to off-state current ratio ION/IOFF as compared with GeSn homojunction n-channel tunneling FET. A 3.4 times higher ION is achieved in Ge0.90Sn0. 10/Si0.40Ge0. 40Sn0.20 hetero-NTFET in comparison with Ge0.90Sn0. 10 homo device at VDD of 0.3 V. A hetero-NTFET exhibits a more abrupt hole profile and a higher hole concentration in a source region near the TJ compared with the homo device due to the presence of the hetero TJ. This contributes to the significantly enhanced band-to-band tunneling rate and tunneling current in the hetero-NTFET.
Loss of Cadherin-Binding Proteins β-Catenin and Plakoglobin in the Heart Leads to Gap Junction Remodeling and Arrhythmogenesis

ABSTRACT Arrhythmic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a hereditary heart muscle disease that causes sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people. Almost half of ARVC patients have a mutation in genes encoding cell adhesion proteins of the desmosome, including plakoglobin (JUP). We previously reported that cardiac tissue-specific plakoglobin (PG) knockout (PG CKO) mice have no apparent conduction abnormality and survive longer than expected. Importantly, the PG homolog, β-catenin (CTNNB1), showed increased association with the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) in PG CKO hearts. To determine whether β-catenin is required to maintain cardiac conduction in the absence of PG, we generated mice lacking both PG and β-catenin specifically in the heart (i.e., double knockout [DKO]). The DKO mice exhibited cardiomyopathy, fibrous tissue replacement, and conduction abnormalities resulting in SCD. Loss of the cadherin linker proteins resulted in dissolution of the intercalated disc (ICD) structure. Moreover, Cx43-containing gap junction plaques were reduced at the ICD, consistent with the arrhythmogenicity of the DKO hearts. Finally, ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring captured the abrupt onset of spontaneous lethal ventricular arrhythmia in the DKO mice. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate that the N-cadherin-binding partners, PG and β-catenin, are indispensable for maintaining mechanoelectrical coupling in the heart.
Bevacizumab in combination with different platinum‐based doublets in the first‐line treatment for advanced nonsquamous non‐small‐cell lung cancer: A network meta‐analysis

Platinum‐based doublet chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab is the standard treatment for untreated advanced nonsquamous non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NS‐NSCLC). However, adding bevacizumab to chemotherapies other than paclitaxel–carboplatin is, though widely applied clinically, largely unjustified due to the lack of head‐to‐head data. We performed a Bayesian network meta‐analysis (NMA) to address this important issue. Data of 8,548 patients from 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) receiving six treatments, including taxane–platinum (Taxane–Pt), gemcitabine–platinum (Gem–Pt), pemetrexed–platinum (Pem–Pt), taxane–platinum + bevacizumab (Taxane–Pt + B), gemcitabine–platinum + bevacizumab (Gem–Pt + B) and pemetrexed–platinum + bevacizumab (Pem–Pt + B), were incorporated into the analyses. Direct and indirect evidence of overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were synthesized at the hazard ratio (HR) scale and evidence of objective response rate (ORR) and serious adverse events (SAE) were synthesized at the odds ratio (OR) scale. Taxane–Pt + B showed significant advantages in OS (HR = 0.79, p < 0.001), PFS (HR = 0.54, p < 0.001) and ORR (OR = 2.7, p < 0.001) over Taxane–Pt with comparable tolerability (OR = 3.1, p = 0.08). Gem–Pt + B showed no OS benefit compared to any other treatment. No significant differences were detected between Pem–Pt + B and Pem–Pt in four outcomes. In terms of the benefit‐risk ratio, Pem–Pt and Taxane–Pt + B were ranked the first and second, respectively. In conclusion, in the first‐line treatment for advanced NS‐NSCLC, Taxane–Pt and Gem–Pt are the most and least preferable regimens to be used with bevacizumab, respectively. Adding bevacizumab to Pem–Pt remains unjustified because it fails to improve efficacy or tolerability. In terms of the benefit‐risk ratio, Pem–Pt and Taxane–Pt + B are the best and second‐best treatment for this population.
Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with total body irradiation-based conditioning in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient with Cochlear implant.

OBJECTIVES A case of 15 years old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and cochlear implant is presented. METHODS Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with total body irradiation-based conditioning was performed. RESULTS No impairment of implant function nor other complications were observed. The patient is doing well over 20 months following bone marrow transplantation. CONCLUSIONS Total body irradiation can be used in conditioning before bone marrow transplantation in patients with cochlear implants.
Emerging patterns of genetic variation in the New Zealand endemic scallop Pecten novaezelandiae

Both historical and contemporary processes influence the genetic structure of species, but the relative roles of such processes are still difficult to access. Population genetic studies of species with recent evolutionary histories such as the New Zealand endemic scallop Pecten novaezelandiae (<1 Ma) permit testing of the effects of recent processes affecting gene flow and shaping genetic structure. In addition, studies encompassing the entire distributional range of species can provide insight into colonization processes. Analyses of genetic variation in P. novaezelandiae (952 individuals from 14 locations, genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci) revealed a weak but significant regional structure across the distributional range of the species, as well as latitudinal gradients of genetic diversity and differentiation: estimates of migration rates supported these patterns. Our results suggest that the observed genetic structure and latitudinal gradients reflect a stepping‐stone model of colonization (north to south) and emerging divergence of populations as a result of ongoing limitations to gene flow and insufficient time to reach migration–drift equilibrium. The low levels of interpopulation and interregional genetic differentiation detected over hundreds of kilometres reflect the recent evolutionary history of P. novaezelandiae and stand in contrast to patterns reported for other evolutionary older species at the same spatial scale. The outcomes of this study contribute to a better understanding of evolutionary processes influencing the genetic variation of species and provide vital information on the genetic structure of P. novaezelandiae.
Serum Hepatocyte Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Children with Acute Liver Failure

Objectives:Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a potent mitogen, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic factor, may play roles in hepatocyte regeneration in patients with acute liver failure (ALF). The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of HGF and VEGF in children with ALF. Patients and Methods:Serum samples were collected on admission from 25 children with ALF (median age, 11.1 y; range, 1.3–17.1 y; 11 male, 14 female) and 12 normal children (9.1 y; range, 5.4–15.4 y; 6 male, 6 female). Aetiology of ALF was 13 non-A to E hepatitis, 3 viral, 3 toxic, and 6 other. HGF and VEGF in sera were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:Median HGF levels in patients (10,157 pg/mL; range, 3412–73,420 pg/mL) were significantly higher than in controls (855 pg/mL, 510–1253 pg/mL; P < 0.001). Median VEGF levels in patients (164 pg/mL, 0–1588 pg/mL) were not significantly different from those in controls (214 pg/mL, 11–527 pg/mL). There was no relationship of HGF or VEGF levels to the aetiology of liver failure. There was a positive correlation between serum HGF and international normalized ratio (r = 0.73, P < 0.001), but not with levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, or VEGF. There was no correlation between VEGF levels and international normalized ratio, aspartate aminotransferase or bilirubin. Conclusions:Serum levels of HGF but not VEGF are increased in children with acute liver failure.
Repeated botulinum toxin injections can improve mobility in patients with spinal cord lesions.

AIM The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge about the response to botulinum toxin (BTX) injections to spastic leg muscle motor points (MP) in spinal cord lesion (SCL) patients, and describe improvement of mobility with repeated BTX injections. METHODS Six patients with ASIA grade C or D SCL were studied at the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center, Israel. The main outcome measures were: modified Ashworth scale scores, range of motion (ROM), and mobility spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) scores. BTX was injected twice within a few weeks' interval to the MP of spastic leg muscles. The outcome measures were monitored before each injection and 2 weeks or more after the second injection. RESULTS Following the first BTX injection the tonus decreased, ROM increased in all 6 patients, and mo- bility functioning improved in 4 of them. Following the repeated injection the tonus further decrea- sed, ROM further improved in 5 of 6 patients, and mobility functions further improved in 4 of 6 patients. CONCLUSION BTX can improve mobility in patients with SCL. Repeated injections may enhance the effect despite the concern for resistance formation. Further research is needed to support the findings and determine the optimal BTX doses and intervals between injections.