Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fully digital voltage-mode control based on predictive hysteresis method (FDVC-PH) for DC-DC converters

A new control method called “fully digital voltage-mode control based on predictive hysteresis method” (FDVC-PH) for DC-DC converters was developed. FDVC-PH achieves low output ripple voltage by canceling the delay time caused by a digital control system. Moreover, to cancel the delay time completely, a technique for determining the required predictive time by analyzing predictive operation in frequency domain is proposed. To verify the effectiveness of FDVC-PH, a buck converter was experimentally implemented on a DSP microprocessor. The output ripple voltage of the converter is reduced by 68% with FDVC-PH compared to that with a non-predictive hysteresis method. Moreover, the power consumption of a digital control system using FDVC-PH is reduced by 23% compared to that of a system using conventional digital current-mode control.
Heavy Metals Need Assistance: The Contribution of Nicotianamine to Metal Circulation Throughout the Plant and the Arabidopsis NAS Gene Family

Understanding the regulated inter- and intra-cellular metal circulation is one of the challenges in the field of metal homeostasis. Inside organisms metal ions are bound to organic ligands to prevent their uncontrolled reactivity and to increase their solubility. Nicotianamine (NA) is one of the important ligands. This non-proteinogenic amino acid is synthesized by nicotianamine synthase (NAS). NA is involved in mobilization, uptake, transport, storage, and detoxification of metals. Much of the progress in understanding NA function has been achieved by studying mutants with altered nicotianamine levels. Mild and strong Arabidopsis mutants impaired in nicotianamine synthesis have been identified and characterized, namely nas4x-1 and nas4x-2. Arabidopsis thaliana has four NAS genes. In this review, we summarize the structure and evolution of the NAS genes in the Arabidopsis genome. We summarize previous results and present novel evidence that the four NAS genes have partially overlapping functions when plants are exposed to Fe deficiency and nickel supply. We compare the phenotypes of nas4x-1 and nas4x-2 and summarize the functions of NAS genes and NA as deduced from the studies of mutant phenotypes.
Nanotransfer Printing and Kinetic Monte Carlo Simulations of Metal-Oxide-Structures

In this work nanotransfer printing (nTP) was combined with plasma oxidation of Ti to an efficient fabrication process for ordered nano- and microscale metal- and metal-oxide-structures on doped silicon. Furthermore, kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations of ultrathin metal-oxide-layers were performed to analyse the electronic properties of TiO2 and AlOx for applications in MOS and MOM nanodevices. Finally, dominant charge transport processes and defect energies in dependence of the fabrication of the nm-thin oxide films were found and implications for their use memory and photocatalytic materials were derived.
Newly diagnosed lymphoma: initial results with whole-body T1-weighted, STIR, and diffusion-weighted MRI compared with 18F-FDG PET/CT.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare whole-body MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the staging of newly diagnosed lymphoma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty-two consecutively registered patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma prospectively underwent whole-body MRI (22 with T1-weighted, STIR, and DWI sequences and 21 with T1-weighted and STIR sequences but not DWI) and FDG PET/CT. Whole-body MRI-DWI was independently evaluated by two blinded observers. Interobserver agreement was assessed, and whole-body MRI-DWI was compared with FDG PET/CT. RESULTS The kappa values for interobserver agreement on whole-body MRI-DWI for all nodal regions together and for all extranodal regions together were 0.676 and 0.452. The kappa values for agreement between whole-body MRI-DWI and FDG PET/CT for all nodal regions together and for all extranodal regions together were 0.597 and 0.507. Ann Arbor stage according to whole-body MRI-DWI findings was concordant with that of FDG PET/CT findings in 77% (17/22) of patients. Understaging and overstaging relative to the findings with FDG PET/CT occurred in 0% (0/22) and 23% (5/22) of cases. In the care of 9% (2/22) of patients, overstaging with whole-body MRI-DWI relative to staging with FDG PET/CT would have had therapeutic consequences. CONCLUSION Our early results indicate that overall interobserver agreement on whole-body MRI-DWI findings is moderate to good. Overall agreement between whole-body MRI-DWI and FDG PET/CT is moderate. In the care of patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma, staging with whole-body MRI-DWI does not result in underestimation of stage relative to the results with FDG PET/CT. In a minority of patients, reliance on whole-body MRI-DWI leads to clinically important overstaging relative to the results with FDG PET/CT. FDG PET/CT remains the reference standard for lymphoma staging until larger-scale studies show that use of whole-body MRI-DWI results in correct staging in this minority of cases.
Regional differences in opinions on adjuvant radioactive iodine treatment of thyroid carcinoma within Canada and the United States.

OBJECTIVE To identify regional differences in recommendations for radioactive iodine remnant ablation (RRA) in early stage well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) within Canada and the United States. DESIGN A cross-sectional written survey of a sample of physicians in specialties potentially involved in thyroid cancer care was performed in 2006. Participants were asked if they recommended RRA for a hypothetical 38-year-old woman with a solitary, 1.6-cm papillary carcinoma resected by total thyroidectomy. Exploratory regional comparisons were performed using Student t tests or analysis of variance. The regions studied were western Canada, eastern Canada (Ontario, the Maritimes), Quebec, the northeastern United States, the western and midwestern United States, and the southern United States. In a secondary multivariable logistic regression analysis, we explored potential relationships between individual respondent characteristics RRA recommendations. MAIN OUTCOME Agreement with case-based RRA recommendations was measured on a Likert scale of 1 to 7 (7 = strongest agreement). RESULTS The effective response rate was 56.3% (486/864). There were significant differences in RRA recommendations among the regions studied (F = 11.99, 5 df, p < 0.001); national boundaries did not explain regional variations. For the sample case, the strongest support for RRA was in Quebec and the southern United States, intermediate support in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, and the least support in western Canada and the western and midwestern United States. Academic affiliation and surgical specialty were independently inversely associated with strong RRA recommendations. CONCLUSIONS There are significant regional differences in physician-based RRA recommendations in early stage WDTC within Canada and the United States. Physician specialty and practice characteristics may influence RRA recommendations.
Discrete and continuous auditory feedback based on pitch and spatial lateralization for human-machine-interface control

The purpose of this study was to investigate auditory-motor learning via discrete and continuous auditory feedback using pitch and spatial lateralization. Sixteen subjects used facial surface electromyography (sEMG) to control a human-machine-interface (HMI). The output of the HMI was a lateralized harmonic tone. The fundamental frequency and lateralization (left-right ear) changed with the sum and the difference of the bilateral muscle signals. For 8 participants these changes were continuous, whereas the other 8 participants received discrete feedback, in which the frequency of the tone was one of 9 possible semitones (from midi note #76 to #87) and the lateralization was either left, center or right. Participants trained over three days. A mixed-models analysis of variance showed a significant effect of learning over sessions and a trend for increased performance for the group utilizing discrete feedback. Overall, information transfer rates using this purely auditory feedback averaged 38.5 bit/min by d.
Resting-State EEG Source Localization and Functional Connectivity in Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis of Epilepsy

Background It is unclear whether, like in schizophrenia, psychosis-related disruption in connectivity between certain regions, as an index of intrinsic functional disintegration, occurs in schizophrenia-like psychosis of epilepsy (SLPE). In this study, we sought to determine abnormal patterns of resting-state EEG oscillations and functional connectivity in patients with SLPE, compared with nonpsychotic epilepsy patients, and to assess correlations with psychopathological deficits. Methodology/Principal Findings Resting EEG was recorded in 21 patients with focal epilepsy and SLPE and in 21 clinically-matched non-psychotic epilepsy controls. Source current density and functional connectivity were determined using eLORETA software. For connectivity analysis, a novel nonlinear connectivity measure called “lagged phase synchronization” was used. We found increased theta oscillations in regions involved in the default mode network (DMN), namely the medial and lateral parietal cortex bilaterally in the psychotic patients relative to their nonpsychotic counterparts. In addition, patients with psychosis had increased beta temporo-prefrontal connectivity in the hemisphere with predominant seizure focus. This functional connectivity in temporo-prefrontal circuits correlated with positive symptoms. Additionally, there was increased interhemispheric phase synchronization between the auditory cortex of the affected temporal lobe and the Broca's area correlating with auditory hallucination scores. Conclusions/Significance In addition to dysfunction of parietal regions that are part of the DMN, resting-state disrupted connectivity of the medial temporal cortex with prefrontal areas that are either involved in the DMN or implicated in psychopathological dysfunction may be critical to schizophrenia-like psychosis, especially in individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy. This suggests that DMN deficits might be a core neurobiological feature of the disorder, and that abnormalities in theta oscillations and beta phase synchronization represent the underlying neural activity.
Displacement of the Lamina Cribrosa in Response to Acute Intraocular Pressure Elevation in Normal Individuals of African and European Descent

Purpose To assess if the in vivo mechanical displacement of the anterior laminar cribrosa surface (ALCS) as a response of an acute elevation in intraocular pressure (IOP) differs in individuals of European (ED) and African descent (AD). Methods Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) scans were obtained from 24 eyes of 12 individuals of AD and 18 eyes of 9 individuals of ED at their normal baseline IOP and after 60 seconds IOP elevation using ophthalmodynamometry. Change in depth (displacement) of the LC and to the prelaminar tissue (PLT) were computed in association with the change (delta) in IOP (Δ IOP), race, age, corneal thickness, corneal rigidity (ocular response analyzer [ORA]), and axial. Results In the ED group for small IOP elevations (Δ IOP < 12 mm Hg), the ALCS initially displaced posteriorly but for larger increase of IOP an anterior displacement of the lamina followed. Inversely, in the AD group the ALCS did not show a significant posterior displacement for small Δ IOP, while for larger IOP increases the ALCS significantly displaced posteriorly. Posterior displacement of the lamina cribrosa (LC) was also significantly correlated with longer axial length, higher corneal thickness, and ORA parameters. Prelaminar tissue posteriorly displaced for any magnitude of Δ IOP, in both groups. Conclusions The African descent group demonstrated a greater acute posterior bowing of the LC after adjustment for age, axial length, Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) area, and ORA parameters. Greater PLT posterior displacement was also seen in the AD group with increasing IOP, which was tightly correlated with the displacement of the LC.
Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen Galactic Gradients: A Solution to the Carbon Enrichment Problem

Eleven models of Galactic chemical evolution, differing in the carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen yields adopted, have been computed to reproduce the Galactic O/H values obtained from H II regions. All the models fit the oxygen gradient, but only two models also fit the carbon gradient, those based on carbon yields that increase with metallicity owing to stellar winds in massive stars (MSs) and decrease with metallicity owing to stellar winds in low- and intermediate-mass stars (LIMSs). The successful models also fit the C/O versus O/H evolution history of the solar vicinity obtained from stellar observations. We also compare the present-day N/H gradient and the N/O versus O/H and the C/Fe, N/Fe, O/Fe versus Fe/H evolution histories of the solar vicinity predicted by our two best models with those derived from H II regions and from stellar observations. While our two best models fit the C/H and O/H gradients, as well as the C/O versus O/H history, only model 1 fits well the N/H gradient and the N/O values for metal-poor stars but fails to fit the N/H values for metal-rich stars. Therefore, we conclude that our two best models solve the C enrichment problem but that further work needs to be done on the N enrichment problem. By adding the C and O production since the Sun was formed predicted by models 1 and 2 to the observed solar values, we find an excellent agreement with the O/H and C/H values of the solar vicinity derived from H II region O and C recombination lines. Our results are based on an initial mass function (IMF) steeper than Salpeter's; a Salpeter-like IMF predicts C/H, N/H, and O/H ratios higher than observed. One of the most important results of this paper is that the fraction of carbon due to MSs and LIMSs in the interstellar medium is strongly dependent on time and on the galactocentric distance; at present about half of the carbon in the interstellar medium of the solar vicinity has been produced by MSs and half by LIMSs.
Assessment of the Effect of High or Low Protein Diet on the Human Urine Metabolome as Measured by NMR

The objective of this study was to identify urinary metabolite profiles that discriminate between high and low intake of dietary protein during a dietary intervention. Seventy-seven overweight, non-diabetic subjects followed an 8-week low-calorie diet (LCD) and were then randomly assigned to a high (HP) or low (LP) protein diet for 6 months. Twenty-four hours urine samples were collected at baseline (prior to the 8-week LCD) and after dietary intervention; at months 1, 3 and 6, respectively. Metabolite profiling was performed by 1H NMR and chemometrics. Using partial least squares regression (PLS), it was possible to develop excellent prediction models for urinary nitrogen (root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) = 1.63 mmol/L; r = 0.89) and urinary creatinine (RMSECV = 0.66 mmol/L; r = 0.98). The obtained high correlations firmly establish the validity of the metabolomic approach since urinary nitrogen is a well established biomarker for daily protein consumption. The models showed that trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is correlated to urinary nitrogen. Furthermore, urinary creatine was found to be increased by the HP diet whereas citric acid was increased by the LP diet. Despite large variations in individual dietary intake, differentiated metabolite profiles were observed at the dietary group-level.
Dynamics and Robustness of Familiarity Memory

When presented with an item or a face, one might have a sense of recognition without the ability to recall when or where the stimulus has been encountered before. This sense of recognition is called familiarity memory. Following previous computational studies of familiarity memory, we investigate the dynamical properties of familiarity discrimination and contrast two different familiarity discriminators: one based on the energy of the neural network and the other based on the time derivative of the energy. We show how the familiarity signal decays rapidly after stimulus presentation. For both discriminators, we calculate the capacity using mean field analysis. Compared to recall capacity (the classical associative memory in Hopfield nets), both the energy and the slope discriminators have bigger capacity, yet the energy-based discriminator has a higher capacity than one based on its time derivative. Finally, both discriminators are found to have a different noise dependence.
ABCG2 polymorphisms, 34G>A and 421C>A in a Korean population: analysis and a comprehensive comparison with other populations

Background and objective: ABCG2, also known as Breast Cancer Resistance Peptide (BCRP) or mitoxantrone‐resistant protein, is the second member of the G‐family of ABC transporters. The frequencies of ABCG2 34G>A and 421C>A polymorphisms in a Korean population were assessed using a newly developed multiplex pyrosequencing method, and compared with the corresponding frequencies seen in other ethnic groups.
A Tutor for Learning Encapsulation in C++ Classes

We have developed a tutor to learn encapsulation in C++ classes, as discussed in a typical introductory comput er science course. The tutor helps students better understand encapsulation by administering problems for them to solve and providing instant feedback. In this paper, we will describe the design, features, use and the results of preliminary evaluation of the tutor.
Toxoplasma Rhoptries: Unique Secretory Organelles and Source of Promising Vaccine Proteins for Immunoprevention of Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite classified in the phylum Apicomplexa, which includes numerous notable human and animal pathogens (Plasmodium species, Cryptosporidium species, Neospora caninum, etc.). The invasive stages of apicomplexans are characterized by the presence of an apical complex composed of specialized cytoskeletal and secretory organelles, including rhoptries. Rhoptries, unique apical secretory organelles shared exclusively by all apicomplexan parasites, are known to be involved in an active parasite's penetration into the host cell associated with the biogenesis of specific intracellular compartment, parasitophorous vacuole in which the parasite multiplies intensively, avoiding intracellular killing. Due to the key biological role of rhoptries, rhoptry proteins have recently become vaccine candidates for the prevention of several parasitoses, toxoplasmosis among them. The article presents current data on T. gondii rhoptries biology and new approaches to the development of effective vaccines against toxoplasmosis using rhoptry antigens.
Long-term (30 days) toxicity of NiO nanoparticles for adult zebrafish Danio rerio

Abstract Nickel oxide in the form of nanoparticles (NiO NPs) is extensively used in different industrial branches. In a test on adult zebrafish, the acute toxicity of NiO NPs was shown to be low, however longlasting contact with this compound can lead to its accumulation in the tissues and to increased toxicity. In this work we determined the 30-day toxicity of NiO NPs using a static test for zebrafish Danio rerio. We found the 30-day LC50 value to be 45.0 mg/L, LC100 (minimum concentration causing 100% mortality) was 100.0 mg/L, and LC0 (maximum concentration causing no mortality) was 6.25 mg/L for adult individuals of zebrafish. Considering a broad use of Ni in the industry, NiO NPs chronic toxicity may have a negative impact on the population of aquatic organisms and on food web dynamics in aquatic systems.
A Dynamical Theory of Spike Train Transitions in Networks of Integrate-and-Fire Oscillators

A dynamical theory of spike train transitions in networks of pulse-coupled integrate-and-fire (IF) neural oscillators is presented. We begin by deriving conditions for 1:1 frequency- locking in a network with noninstantaneous synaptic interactions. This leads to a set of phase equations determining the relative firing times of the oscillators and the self-consistent collective period. We then investigate the stability of phase-locked solutions by constructing a linearized map of the firing times and analyzing its spectrum. We establish that previous results concerning the stability properties of IF oscillator networks are incomplete since they only take into account the effects of weak coupling instabilities. We show how strong coupling instabilities can induce transitions to nonphase locked states characterized by periodic or quasi-periodic variations of the interspike intervals on attracting invariant circles. The resulting spatio-temporal pattern of network activity is compatible with the behavior of a.
The Use of Bowel Protocols in Critically Ill Adult Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Constipation is common among critically ill patients and has been associated with adverse patient outcomes. Many ICUs have developed bowel protocols to treat constipation; however, their effect on clinical outcomes remains uncertain. We conducted a systematic review to determine the impact of bowel protocols in critically ill adults. Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, ISRCTN, ClinicalTrials.gov, and conference abstracts until January 2016. Study Selection: Two authors independently screened titles and abstracts for randomized controlled trials comparing bowel protocols to control (placebo, no protocol, or usual care) in critically ill adults. Data Extraction: Two authors independently, and in duplicate, extracted study characteristics, outcomes, assessed risk of bias, and appraised the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Data Synthesis: We retrieved 4,520 individual articles, and excluded 4,332 articles during title and abstract screening and 181 articles during full-text screening. Four trials, including 534 patients, were eligible for analysis. The use of a bowel protocol was associated with a trend toward a reduction in constipation (risk ratio, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.25–1.01]; p = 0.05; low-quality evidence); no reduction in tolerance of enteral feeds (risk ratio, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.62–1.42]; p = 0.77; low-quality evidence), and no change in the duration of mechanical ventilation (mean difference, 0.01 d [95% CI, –2.67 to 2.69 d]; low-quality evidence). Conclusions: Large, rigorous, randomized control trials are needed to determine whether bowel protocols impact patient-important outcomes in critically ill adults.
Detailed Mitochondrial Phenotyping by High Resolution Metabolomics

Mitochondrial phenotype is complex and difficult to define at the level of individual cell types. Newer metabolic profiling methods provide information on dozens of metabolic pathways from a relatively small sample. This pilot study used “top-down” metabolic profiling to determine the spectrum of metabolites present in liver mitochondria. High resolution mass spectral analyses and multivariate statistical tests provided global metabolic information about mitochondria and showed that liver mitochondria possess a significant phenotype based on gender and genotype. The data also show that mitochondria contain a large number of unidentified chemicals.
Counting people using video cameras

The paper is devoted to the problem of estimating the number of people visible in a camera. It uses as features the ratio of foreground pixels in each cell of a rectangular grid. Using the above features and data mining techniques allowed reaching accuracy up to 85% for exact match and up to 95% for plus–minus one estimates for an indoor surveillance environment. Applying median filters to the sequence of estimation results increased the accuracy up to 91% for exact match. The architecture of a real-time people counting estimator is suggested. The results of analysis of experimental data are provided and discussed.