Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient Data Transfer Techniques and VLSI architecture for DWT-Block Coder Integration of JPEG2000 Encoder

JPEG2000 is a new image compression standard known for its rich set of features, impressive compression performance as well as its complexity for efficient hardware implementation. Discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and embedded block coder (BC) are two main modules in JPEG2000 compression system. Data transfer between the DWT and BC modules presents challenges due to difference in data format generated by the DWT and data format accepted by the BC module. This paper investigates data transfer and storage techniques between the DWT and BC modules. The paper proposed an efficient memory organization and a data transfer scheme to reduce the data bandwidth. A VLSI architecture for the proposed data transfer (DT) system is proposed and synthesized for TSMC 0.18 mum process. Simulation results show that the proposed techniques result in an aggregate reduction in the bandwidth requirement by a factor of four for the BC module while incurring an extra hardware cost of only 5%
Phanerozoic Earth System Evolution and Marine Biodiversity

Environmental factors, more so than sampling biases, drive trends in biological evolution observed in the fossil record. The Phanerozoic fossil record of marine animal diversity covaries with the amount of marine sedimentary rock. The extent to which this covariation reflects a geologically controlled sampling bias remains unknown. We show that Phanerozoic records of seawater chemistry and continental flooding contain information on the diversity of marine animals that is independent of sedimentary rock quantity and sampling. Interrelationships among variables suggest long-term interactions among continental flooding, sulfur and carbon cycling, and macroevolution. Thus, mutual responses to interacting Earth systems, not sampling biases, explain much of the observed covariation between Phanerozoic patterns of sedimentation and fossil biodiversity. Linkages between biodiversity and environmental records likely reflect complex biotic responses to changing ocean redox conditions and long-term sea-level fluctuations driven by plate tectonics.
Diminished alpha1-adrenergic-mediated contraction and translocation of PKC in senescent rat heart.

Myocardial reserve function declines with aging due in part to reduced alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor (AR)-mediated contractile augmentation. Whereas specific age-associated deficits in beta-AR signaling have been identified, it is not known which components of the alpha1-AR signaling cascade, e.g., protein kinase C (PKC) and associated anchoring proteins (receptors for activated C kinase; RACKs), underlie deficits in alpha1-AR contractile function with aging. We therefore assessed cardiac contraction (dP/dt) in Langendorff perfused hearts isolated from adult (5 mo) and senescent (24 mo) Wistar rats following maximal alpha1-AR stimulation with phenylephrine (PE), and we measured the subcellular distribution of PKCalpha and PKCepsilon, and their respective anchoring proteins RACK1 and RACK2 by Western blotting. The maximum dP/dt response to PE (10(-5) M) was significantly reduced by 41% in 24-mo-old vs. 5-mo-old (P < 0.01). Inhibitory effects of PKC blockade (chelerythrine; 10 microM) on dP/dt following alpha1-AR stimulation with PE observed in adult hearts were absent in 24-mo-old hearts (P < 0.01). In 5-mo-old hearts, PE elicited reductions in soluble PKCalpha and PKCepsilon levels, while increasing particulate PKCalpha and PKCepsilon levels to a similar extent. In contrast, soluble PKCalpha and PKCepsilon levels in 24-mo-old hearts were increased in response to PE; particulate PKCepsilon and PKCalpha were unchanged or reduced and associated with significant reductions in particulate RACK1 and RACK2. The results indicate, for the first time, that selective translocation of PKCalpha and PKCepsilon in response to alpha1-AR stimulation is disrupted in the senescent myocardium. That age-related reductions in particulate RACK1 and RACK2 levels were also observed provide evidence that alterations in PKC-anchoring proteins may contribute to impaired PKC translocation and defective alpha1-AR contraction in the aged rat heart.
Comparison of Molecular Typing Methods for Characterization of Staphylococcus epidermidis: Proposal for Clone Definition

ABSTRACT In the present study we give some direction on the selection of the most appropriate typing method(s) to be used for the characterization of Staphylococcus epidermidis, in view of the most recent findings on the evolution, population structure, and epidemiology of this species. In order to achieve this aim, quantitative assessment of the correlation of the results of three typing methods—pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) typing, which target different regions of the chromosome that evolve at different rates—was performed. In order to evaluate the discriminatory ability and the strength and direction of the correlation of the different typing methods, Simpson's index of diversity (SID), the adjusted Rand coefficient (AR), and the Wallace coefficient (W) were calculated. PFGE was the most discriminatory method (SID = 99%), followed by MLST (SID = 90%) and SCCmec typing (SID = 75%). The values of AR and W (0.10 < AR < 0.30; 0.50 < W < 0.75) indicated that the partition of the same isolate collection by PFGE, MLST, and SCCmec typing provided results that had only a poor correlation with each other. However, the information provided by the combination of PFGE and SCCmec enabled the prediction of the results obtained by MLST at the level of the clonal complex with a high degree of precision (W > 0.90). We propose that clones of S. epidermidis be defined by the combination of the PFGE type followed by the SCCmec type, which provides reliable information on the short-term epidemiology and the ability to predict with consistency long-term clonal evolution.
Statistical properties of stimulated Raman crosstalk in WDM systems

The crosstalk variance of stimulated Raman crosstalk in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) systems is derived analytically in a closed-form formula for all systems with different walkoff length. The probability density function (pdf) of stimulated Raman crosstalk is found to be lognormal distribution (Gaussian distribution in decibel scale). Both power penalty and power limit induced by Raman crosstalk are evaluated and can be applied to single- and multispan WDM systems.
Forecasting disaggregated tourist arrivals in Croatia

This study examines the performance of four alternative univariate seasonal time series forecasting models (seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average [SARIMA], SARIMA with Fourier transformation, ARAR, and fractionally integrated autoregressive-moving average) of tourist arrivals to 20 Croatian counties and the City of Zagreb. Both in-sample and out-of-sample forecasts reveal that the SARIMA model with Fourier transformation consistently outperforms the other models across the respective regions investigated.
Artificial neural networks to predict activity type and energy expenditure in youth.

UNLABELLED Previous studies have demonstrated that pattern recognition approaches to accelerometer data reduction are feasible and moderately accurate in classifying activity type in children. Whether pattern recognition techniques can be used to provide valid estimates of physical activity (PA) energy expenditure in youth remains unexplored in the research literature. PURPOSE The objective of this study is to develop and test artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict PA type and energy expenditure (PAEE) from processed accelerometer data collected in children and adolescents. METHODS One hundred participants between the ages of 5 and 15 yr completed 12 activity trials that were categorized into five PA types: sedentary, walking, running, light-intensity household activities or games, and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity games or sports. During each trial, participants wore an ActiGraph GT1M on the right hip, and VO2 was measured using the Oxycon Mobile (Viasys Healthcare, Yorba Linda, CA) portable metabolic system. ANNs to predict PA type and PAEE (METs) were developed using the following features: 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles and the lag one autocorrelation. To determine the highest time resolution achievable, we extracted features from 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, and 60-s windows. Accuracy was assessed by calculating the percentage of windows correctly classified and root mean square error (RMSE). RESULTS As window size increased from 10 to 60 s, accuracy for the PA-type ANN increased from 81.3% to 88.4%. RMSE for the MET prediction ANN decreased from 1.1 METs to 0.9 METs. At any given window size, RMSE values for the MET prediction ANN were 30-40% lower than the conventional regression-based approaches. CONCLUSIONS ANNs can be used to predict both PA type and PAEE in children and adolescents using count data from a single waist mounted accelerometer.
Interspecific Larval Competition between Invasive Aedes japonicus and Native Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Adult Longevity

ABSTRACT The Asian rock pool mosquito Aedes japonicus (Theobald) inhabits natural and artificial container habitats, some of which are occupied by the native treehole mosquito Aedes triseriatus (Say), a vector of LaCrosse encephalitis virus. A laboratory experiment was used to evaluate the effects of nutrient limitation and interspecific interactions between these species. The goal was to address two related hypotheses. First, interspecific interactions between these species show competitive asymmetry with the invasive mosquito Ae. japonicus being favored over Ae. triseriatus. Second, competitive stress at the larval stage alters adult longevity. There was minimal evidence for competitive asymmetry between these two species. Mosquito and population performance showed clear negative density-dependent effects with similar effects of intra- and interspecific interactions. Only Ae. japonicus development time showed competitive asymmetry over Ae. triseriatus, providing weak support for the first hypothesis. For both species, competition resulted in lower adult longevity compared with low competition, providing support for the second hypothesis. These results suggest both species are similarly affected by intra- and interspecific competition and underscore the importance of the effects of larval competition that continue into adulthood and alter parameters important to transmission of vector-borne diseases.
Coupled-field analysis of a new hybrid electromagnetic coil launcher

Electromagnetic coil launcher (EMCL) is a special launch device which utilizes coaxial arrangement helix coils (HC) to generate electromagnetic forces acting on the armature. A new hybrid electromagnetic coil launcher (NHEMCL) is designed in this paper, in which a pancake coil (PC) is added to the bottom of barrel, and a disk armature is added to the tail of the sleeve armature. Such the armature is pushed by two drive-coils in the first stage at the same time, and greater force is produced. The structure composition and working principle of the launcher are introduced. Composite of two drive-coils in the first stage, the field-circuit coupling analysis of NHEMCL is set up. The current of drive-coils, the accelerative force and speed of the armature are obtained through simulation. In order to analyze the structure intensity of the NHEMCL, 3-D finite element model is built, and the magnetic-structure coupling analysis is made. The stress and strain in drive-coils are obtained. The results show that greater forces produced in the first stage.
Divergent Regulation of Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase in Tissues of the Rat

Abstract: Investigating the possibility that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) are regulated in a coordinated manner, we have examined the natural variation in activity of these two enzymes in several tissues of adult male Sprague‐Dawley, Fischer‐344, and Wistar‐Furth rats. Both enzymes varied greatly in mean activity among brain, diaphragm, atria, serum, superior cervical ganglia, and liver. In Sprague‐Dawley rats there were also large individual variations with up to a fivefold range of AChE activities and up to a 100‐fold range of BuChE activities in a given tissue. Individual variations in cholinesterase activities appeared to be smaller in the inbred Fischer‐344 or Wistar‐Furth rats. Experiments with internal standards of partially purified AChE and BuChE indicated that the individual variations probably reflected differences in the intrinsic content or specific activity of the tissue enzymes. Comparison of the AChE activities in different tissues of a given group of rats failed to reveal statistically significant correlations in any strain (i.e., the relative activity of any one tissue was no guide to the relative activity of any other tissue in the same rat). This result indicates that the regulation of AChE is tissue‐specific. By contrast, BuChE activity showed highly significant correlations among the majority of the tissues examined in the Sprague‐Dawley rats, implying that widely dispersed factors can affect the regulation of this enzyme. Body‐wide regulation is not necessarily the rule, however, since only a single tissue pair in the inbred Fischer rats and none of the pairs in the Wistar‐Furth rats showed significant correlations of BuChE activity. In general, AChE and BuChE activities were not correlated with each other to a statistically significant degree. We conclude that the control of these enzymes normally involves different mechanisms and is strongly affected by the genetic background of the sample population.
Visual Analysis of Dynamic Protein Cavities and Binding Sites

We present a visual analysis application for protein simulations that allows researchers to investigate dynamic data interactively. Special focus lies on the analysis of cavities and binding sites, which play a critical role in protein function. Cavities are extracted and classified. The surface area of all cavities and the diameter of pockets and channels is computed to provide evidence for their accessibility. These values are also plotted in 2D graphs for a quantitative time-dependent analysis. For dynamic simulation data sets, the cavities are tracked to show their stability over time. The user is provided with a range of application-related parameters to interactively adjust the analysis algorithms. A sequence diagram shows the structure of the protein and additional annotations like binding sites. Furthermore, all views support brushing and linking for consistent selection and filtering. All algorithmic steps are implemented to run interactively on a commodity workstation. As a result, the user can immediately see the effect of a parameter change. This enables the real-time analysis of a running simulation for in-situ visualization.
Determination of the lumped constant for [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose in human skeletal muscle.

UNLABELLED Quantitative [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET has considerable potential for the study of the physiology of skeletal muscle glucose metabolism and for the assessment of perturbations associated with insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. This application of FDG PET imaging depends in part on the determination of the analog effects of FDG relative to true glucose with respect to skeletal muscle. Deoxyglucose has a higher affinity for transporters than glucose and a lower affinity for hexokinase. This study was undertaken to assess the lumped constant (LC) for skeletal muscle, determined empirically as the quotient of FDG metabolism to that of [3H]glucose ([3H]G), and to assess whether the LC is affected by insulin, which is the principal hormonal regulator of glucose metabolism in muscle. METHODS Seventeen healthy lean volunteers were randomly assigned and were studied at insulin infusion rates of 0, 20, 40 and 120 mU/min/m2 body surface area. After attaining steady-state euglycemic conditions, injections of FDG and [3H]G were given, and the fractional extraction (E) for each compound across the leg was measured by arterial and venous sampling for 90 min. The LC was calculated as the ratio of the respective fractional extractions (LC = E(FDG)/E[3H]G). RESULTS During fasting conditions (i.e., absence of insulin infusion), the LC for skeletal muscle was slightly greater than 1. Insulin had a robust effect to increase fractional extractions of both FDG and [3H]G. The effect was symmetrical for the two compounds, and, hence, the LC did not change significantly in response to progressive insulin stimulation. The mean value of the LC across insulin doses for human skeletal muscle was 1.23 +/- 0.05. CONCLUSION Direct comparison of [3H]G and FDG metabolism during insulin-stimulated conditions, across the in vivo tissue bed of skeletal muscle in the leg with both tracers given in an identical manner, yielded an LC value of 1.2, indicating that there was modest preferential uptake of FDG and that insulin did not alter the LC in skeletal muscle.
Gender-Based Differences in Wage Distribution and Education in Nepal

This paper analyzes the gender wage gap for regular and casual workers in Nepal using a data representing over 6,000 workers from the Nepal Living Standard Survey. Nepal is a country with one of the widest gender gaps worldwide and required to improve girls' education. In our analysis, we find a higher wage gap in regular employment for rural workers, though the gap decrease in casual employment. Our results show that the gap is attributed with discrimination effects. We also find that women in rural areas have difficulty finding regular work, meaning that most are engaged in casual work or unemployment. This indicates that women in rural areas, despite high education levels on par with men or women in urban area, suffer from both large wage discrimination and less opportunity for finding regular work. This may explain the lower incentive to give education among rural girls in Nepal.
Urban Density and the Procyclicality of Divorce

This study measures the response of marriage to fluctuations in local labor market conditions more precisely than previous studies by using a newly-digitized data set of all divorces and annulments granted in US counties from1970 to 1988. The observations are aggregated to the census-defined Labor Market Areas level, which allows for testing of heterogeneous treatment effects depending on the urban density levels in the LMA. Results show a strong, robust, and pro-cyclical relationship between employment rates and divorce rates. Importantly the disaggregated testing shows that the observed trend is driven by rural regions with many urban areas showing an a-cyclical or counter-cyclical patter. This finding is significant in understanding regional trends and demographic patterns.
CAN INNOVATION BE THE REASON FOR A LONG TERM SURVIVAL

The purpose of the present study is to explore the innovative characteristics of firms surviving through the ages by using content analysis of their websites. The article proceeds in the following manner: First, we briefly review the literature. Second, we explore innovative characteristics of firms surviving through the ages by using content analysis method. We will be analyzing all firms that are listed in the www.henokiens. com. Henokiens is an association that accepts firms which are at least 200 years of age. The 41 firms from different nationalities were analyzed by content. The validity and the reliability reports and procedures are given. Finally, we provide the research findings and discuss their managerial and theoretical implications.
High mobility high on/off ratio C-V dispersion-free Ge n-MOSFETs and their strain response

The record high peak mobility of ∼1050 cm<sup>2</sup>/V-s on (001) Ge substrate is demonstrated in NFET. High-quality Ge/GeO<inf>2</inf> interface is ensured by rapid thermal oxidation (RTO) and remote ozone plasma treatment. The best achieved subthreshold swing is 150mV/dec and the on/off ratio is 2×10<sup>4</sup>. The low defective n<sup>+</sup>/p junction produced a record high on/off ratio of 2×10<sup>5</sup>, an ideality factor of 1.05 and strong electroluminescence. For the first time, it is reported that the uniaxial &#60;110> tensile strain (0.08%) on &#60;110> channel direction gives the best mobility enhancement (12%) among the different strain configurations, consistent with theoretical calculation.
The alluring potential of functionalized carbon nanotubes in drug discovery

Importance of the field: The possibility of carbon nanotube integration into living systems for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes has opened the way to explore their applications in drug delivery and discovery. A wide variety of chemical approaches has been developed to functionalize carbon nanotubes with therapeutic molecules towards different biomedical uses. Areas covered in this review: This review covers the recent advances in the development of functionalized carbon nanotubes to offer improvements for different diseases, in particular for cancer therapy. What the reader will gain: Functionalized carbon nanotubes are able to transport therapeutic agents. Targeted methodologies using carbon nanotube-based conjugates have been investigated to improve the efficacy of some drugs. The capacity of such nanomaterials to seamlessly translocate into cells with alternative various mechanisms and their pharmacokinetic properties is also discussed. Take home message: Although at its infancy, functionalized carbon nanotubes are very promising as a new nanomedicine platform in the field of drug discovery and delivery. They have the capacity to cross biological barriers and can be eliminated via renal and/or fecal excretion. They can transport small drug molecules while maintaining – and in some cases improving – their therapeutic efficacy.