Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Single-inductor multiple-output switching converters with time-multiplexing control in discontinuous conduction mode

An integrated single-inductor dual-output boost converter is presented. This converter adopts time-multiplexing control in providing two independent supply voltages (3.0 and 3.6 V) using only one 1-/spl mu/H off-chip inductor and a single control loop. This converter is analyzed and compared with existing counterparts in the aspects of integration, architecture, control scheme, and system stability. Implementation of the power stage, the controller, and the peripheral functional blocks is discussed. The design was fabricated with a standard 0.5-/spl mu/m CMOS n-well process. At an oscillator frequency of 1 MHz, the power conversion efficiency reaches 88.4% at a total output power of 350 mW. This topology can be extended to have multiple outputs and can be applied to buck, flyback, and other kinds of converters.
Increased Cortical-Limbic Anatomical Network Connectivity in Major Depression Revealed by Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported significant functional and structural differences between depressed patients and controls. Little attention has been given, however, to the abnormalities in anatomical connectivity in depressed patients. In the present study, we aim to investigate the alterations in connectivity of whole-brain anatomical networks in those suffering from major depression by using machine learning approaches. Brain anatomical networks were extracted from diffusion magnetic resonance images obtained from both 22 first-episode, treatment-naive adults with major depressive disorder and 26 matched healthy controls. Using machine learning approaches, we differentiated depressed patients from healthy controls based on their whole-brain anatomical connectivity patterns and identified the most discriminating features that represent between-group differences. Classification results showed that 91.7% (patients = 86.4%, controls = 96.2%; permutation test, p<0.0001) of subjects were correctly classified via leave-one-out cross-validation. Moreover, the strengths of all the most discriminating connections were increased in depressed patients relative to the controls, and these connections were primarily located within the cortical-limbic network, especially the frontal-limbic network. These results not only provide initial steps toward the development of neurobiological diagnostic markers for major depressive disorder, but also suggest that abnormal cortical-limbic anatomical networks may contribute to the anatomical basis of emotional dysregulation and cognitive impairments associated with this disease.
Coarse Bed Sediments in a Headwater Channel as Indicators of Fluvial Processes and Slope-Channel Coupling: A Case Study from the Carpathian Mountains (Czech Republic)

Abstract The character of riverbed sediments usually reflects fluvial processes and the dynamics of sediment transport in fluvial systems. The approach in this study was based on the measurement of the largest boulders located within a bankfull channel, and on the observation of changes in their size in the longitudinal profile of a headwater stream in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids Mountains. The resulting trends in a particle-size index reflect the character of sediment delivery into channel segments and the recent channel-forming processes. The largest boulders were observed in channel sections with a strong interaction of slope and fluvial processes, and a slight coarsening of sediments was recorded in the incised downstream sections of the longitudinal stream profile. In contrast, the refining of bed sediments was typical of the transitional zone between slope-channel coupled reaches and an alluvial cone characterised by a tendency to material aggradation. Shrnutí Charakter dnových sedimentů v říčních systémech obvykle odráží probíhající fluviální procesy a dynamiku transportu sedimentů. Naše metodika byla založena na měření největších valounů a balvanů uvnitř aktivního koryta a sledování velikostních změn v rámci podélného profilu beskydského pramenného toku. Výsledné trendy indexu velikosti klastů reflektují charakter donášky sedimentů do korytových segmentů a současné korytotvorné procesy. Největší balvany byly pozorovány v korytových úsecích se silnou interakcí svahových a fluviálních procesů a mírné hrubnutí sedimentů bylo pozorováno v zahlubujících se úsecích dolní části studovaného podélného profilu toku. Naopak zjemňování dnových sedimentů bylo typické pro přechodnou zónu mezi korytovými úseky přimknutými ke svahům a úseky nacházejícími se na proluviálním kuželu, kde se spíše projevovala agradace materiálu.
Characterization of Leishmania donovani MCM4: Expression Patterns and Interaction with PCNA

Events leading to origin firing and fork elongation in eukaryotes involve several proteins which are mostly conserved across the various eukaryotic species. Nuclear DNA replication in trypanosomatids has thus far remained a largely uninvestigated area. While several eukaryotic replication protein orthologs have been annotated, many are missing, suggesting that novel replication mechanisms may apply in this group of organisms. Here, we characterize the expression of Leishmania donovani MCM4, and find that while it broadly resembles other eukaryotes, noteworthy differences exist. MCM4 is constitutively nuclear, signifying that, unlike what is seen in S.cerevisiae, varying subcellular localization of MCM4 is not a mode of replication regulation in Leishmania. Overexpression of MCM4 in Leishmania promastigotes causes progress through S phase faster than usual, implicating a role for MCM4 in the modulation of cell cycle progression. We find for the first time in eukaryotes, an interaction between any of the proteins of the MCM2-7 (MCM4) and PCNA. MCM4 colocalizes with PCNA in S phase cells, in keeping with the MCM2-7 complex being involved not only in replication initiation, but fork elongation as well. Analysis of a LdMCM4 mutant indicates that MCM4 interacts with PCNA via the PIP box motif of MCM4 - perhaps as an integral component of the MCM2-7 complex, although we have no direct evidence that MCM4 harboring a PIP box mutation can still functionally associate with the other members of the MCM2-7 complex- and the PIP box motif is important for cell survival and viability. In Leishmania, MCM4 may possibly help in recruiting PCNA to chromatin, a role assigned to MCM10 in other eukaryotes.
Legal Family Formats for (Same-Sex) Couples

The article resulting from this paper is online at www.articolo29. it/genius. This paper gives a compact overview of developments in national and European law regarding same-sex partners. Over the last decades, new legal family formats (such as registered partnership and de facto union) have been made available in a growing number of countries. The number of countries that have opened up marriage to same-sex couples is also growing. Authors of comparative family law have proposed various classifications of the new legal family formats. Meanwhile, an increasing number of EU laws now acknowledge non-marital partners. The European Courts have been asked several times to rule on controversial differentiations between different legal family formats or between same-sex and different-sex partners. In the case law of the European Court of Human Rights one can find examples of affirmative eloquence which suggest that more steps towards full legal recognition of same-sex families could be expected. An earlier version of this paper appeared as chapter 4 of the report: O. Thevenon & G. Neyer (eds.), Family Policies and Diversity in Europe: The state-of-the-art regarding fertility, work, care, leave, laws and self-sufficiency, Stockholm: Stockholm University 2014 (FamiliesAndSocieties Working Paper Series, nr. 7, p 42-55). An updated and expanded version of this that chapter appeared as 'Great diversity and some equality: non-marital legal family formats for same-sex couples in Europe' in the book the book: M. van den Brink et al. (eds.), Equality and human rights: nothing but trouble? – Liber amicorum Titia Loenen, Utrecht, Netherlands Institute of Human Rights 2015 (SIM Special 38, p. 223-245 & 414) and in the journal: GenIUS – Rivista di studi giuridici sull’orientamento sessuale e l’identita di genere 2014, p. 42-56.
International Journal of Information Management Data Quality Management, Data Usage Experience and Acquisition Intention of Big Data Analytics

Keywords: Big data analytics Resource-based view Data quality management IT capability Data usage a b s t r a c t Big data analytics associated with database searching, mining, and analysis can be seen as an innovative IT capability that can improve firm performance. Even though some leading companies are actively adopting big data analytics to strengthen market competition and to open up new business opportunities, many firms are still in the early stage of the adoption curve due to lack of understanding of and experience with big data. Hence, it is interesting and timely to understand issues relevant to big data adoption. In this study, a research model is proposed to explain the acquisition intention of big data analytics mainly from the theoretical perspectives of data quality management and data usage experience. Our empirical investigation reveals that a firm's intention for big data analytics can be positively affected by its competence in maintaining the quality of corporate data. Moreover, a firm's favorable experience (i.e., benefit perceptions) in utilizing external source data could encourage future acquisition of big data analytics. Surprisingly, a firm's favorable experience (i.e., benefit perceptions) in utilizing internal source data could hamper its adoption intention for big data analytics.
Cryosurgical ablation and radiofrequency ablation for unresectable hepatic malignant neoplasms: a proposed algorithm.

BACKGROUND Thermal ablation of unresectable hepatic tumors can be achieved by cryosurgical ablation (CSA) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The relative advantages and disadvantages of each technique have not yet been determined. HYPOTHESIS Radiofrequency ablation of malignant hepatic neoplasms can be performed safely, but is currently limited by size. Cryosurgical ablation, while associated with higher morbidity, is more effective for larger unresectable hepatic malignant neoplasms. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of prospective patient database. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between July 1992 and September 1999, 308 patients with liver tumors not amenable to curative surgical resection were treated with CSA and/or RFA (percutaneous, laparoscopic, celiotomy). No patient had preoperative evidence of extrahepatic disease. All patients underwent laparoscopy with intraoperative ultrasound if technically possible. Both RFA and CSA were performed under ultrasound guidance. Resection, as an adjunctive procedure, was combined with ablation in certain patients. RESULTS Laparoscopy identified extrahepatic disease in 12% of patients, and intraoperative hepatic ultrasound identified additional lesions in 33% of patients, despite extensive preoperative imaging. Radiofrequency ablation alone or combined with resection or CSA resulted in reduced blood loss (P<.05), thrombocytopenia (P<.05), and shorter hospital stay compared with CSA alone (P<.05). Median ablation times for lesions greater than 3 cm were 60 minutes with RFA and 15 minutes with CSA (P<.001). Local recurrence rates for lesions greater than 3 cm were also greater with RFA (38% vs 17%). CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopy and intraoperative ultrasound are essential in staging patients with hepatic malignant neoplasms. Radiofrequency ablation when combined with CSA reduces the morbidity of multiple freezes. Although RFA is safer than CSA and can be performed via different approaches (percutaneously, laparoscopically, or at celiotomy), it is limited by tumor size (<3 cm). Percutaneous RFA should be considered in high-risk patients or those with small local recurrences.
Teaching quantitative research methods: the employability factor

Various initiatives have been launched to encourage sociology students studying in the UK to engage more with quantitative research methods (for example: Dale et al., 2008; Adney and Carey, 2009; Falkingham et al., 2009), however, their success has been limited. Embedding quantitative methods in substantive sociology curricula has been suggested as one way to reduce students’ anxieties about learning quantitative research methods (Williams et al., 2015). This approach has been employed at Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences, where quantitative skills have been strategically incorporated into various aspects of a first year undergraduate substantive module. This paper will reflect on the experience of teaching on this module. The paper will conclude that while the introduction of quantitative content into substantive modules indicates support for change, embedding alone cannot be viewed as a single solution to encouraging to students’ to learn about or utilise quantitative research methods. Two possible reasons for this will be suggested. Firstly, it will be argued that the majority of students no longer pursue sociology at degree level in order to gain the skills to become a competent social researcher, but rather see sociology as a discipline that will equip them with transferable and desirable skills for many occupations. Consequently, engagement with quantitative research methods is not essential to students’ strategic approach to learning as it was for previous generations who wished to understand how to study their social world. Secondly, it will be suggested that the deficit of quantitative methods in mainstream British sociology journals and the methodological preferences of practicing sociologists leads to speculation over the available staff who are capable of delivering an integrated curriculum with quantitative methods embedded in substantive modules.
An association of elevated serum prolactin with phthalate exposure in adult men.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the associations of hormone circulation with phthalate exposure in adult men. METHODS Semen and serum samples were collected from 118 men who were suspected of infertility. Phthalate diesters including dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in both semen and serum samples were measured, along with serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), estradiol (E(2)) and prolactin (PRL). RESULTS Serum PRL was positively associated with serum DBP and DEHP and semen DEHP in all models of Spearman correlation, linear regression and binary logistic regression. In linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders and excluding subjects with undetectable phthalates, a 10-fold increase in semen DEHP was associated with a 23% increase in serum PRL, as well as a 26% increase in serum DBP and a 20% increase in serum DEHP. In logistic regression models all subjects demonstrated a dose-response relationship between above reference value PRL and semen DEHP (odds ratio per tertile adjusted for potential confounders = 1.0, 1.70, 3.50; P for trend = 0.01), and serum DBP (1.0, 1.10, 2.62; P for trend = 0.04), and serum DEHP (1.0, 1.46, 4.69; P for trend < 0.01). A positive correlation between serum estradiol and semen DEHP (linear regression), and an inverse correlation between semen DBP and serum testosterone and T:E(2) ratio (Spearman correlation) were also established. CONCLUSION Serum PRL is suggested to be positively associated with both DBP and DEHP exposure in adult men.
Converging methods in studying attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: What can we learn from neuroimaging and genetics?

Abstract This paper discusses how converging methods may form a powerful tool in unraveling the neurobiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Integrating findings from multiple disciplines can inform us on how different neurobiological and cognitive mechanisms tie together in both typical and atypical development. Examples are discussed of this approach: combining family and genetic approaches with anatomical neuroimaging illustrates how mapping familial effects can bring us closer to understanding the neurobiology of ADHD. Functional neuroimaging has convincingly linked cognitive problems in this disorder with frontostriatal functioning, but also shows that other systems may be involved in some of the symptoms of ADHD. Combining these findings has suggested new avenues for investigation, such as the role of frontocerebellar networks. Furthermore, findings may have practical applications: this paper discusses an example of how converging evidence of striatal dysregulation in ADHD suggests possible directions for treatment that are now being explored in functional imaging studies.
Analyzing Big Data in Psychology: A Split/Analyze/Meta-Analyze Approach

Big data is a field that has traditionally been dominated by disciplines such as computer science and business, where mainly data-driven analyses have been performed. Psychology, a discipline in which a strong emphasis is placed on behavioral theories and empirical research, has the potential to contribute greatly to the big data movement. However, one challenge to psychologists—and probably the most crucial one—is that most researchers may not have the necessary programming and computational skills to analyze big data. In this study we argue that psychologists can also conduct big data research and that, rather than trying to acquire new programming and computational skills, they should focus on their strengths, such as performing psychometric analyses and testing theories using multivariate analyses to explain phenomena. We propose a split/analyze/meta-analyze approach that allows psychologists to easily analyze big data. Two real datasets are used to demonstrate the proposed procedures in R. A new research agenda related to the analysis of big data in psychology is outlined at the end of the study.
Datalog Rewritability of Disjunctive Datalog Programs and its Applications to Ontology Reasoning

We study the problem of rewriting a disjunctive datalog program into plain datalog. We show that a disjunctive program is rewritable if and only if it is equivalent to a linear disjunctive program, thus providing a novel characterisation of datalog rewritability. Motivated by this result, we propose weakly linear disjunctive datalog -- a novel rule-based KR language that extends both datalog and linear disjunctive datalog and for which reasoning is tractable in data complexity. We then explore applications of weakly linear programs to ontology reasoning and propose a tractable extension of OWL 2 RL with disjunctive axioms. Our empirical results suggest that many non-Horn ontologies can be reduced to weakly linear programs and that query answering over such ontologies using a datalog engine is feasible in practice.
The yydFGHIJ Operon of Bacillus subtilis Encodes a Peptide That Induces the LiaRS Two-Component System

ABSTRACT The Bacillus subtilis LiaRS two-component system (TCS) responds to perturbations of the cell envelope induced by lipid II-interacting antibiotics, such as vancomycin, ramoplanin, nisin, and bacitracin. Here, we characterize Tn7-generated mutations that induce the liaRS TCS. In addition to insertions in liaF, a known negative regulator of the LiaRS TCS, we identified two disruptions in the last two genes of the yydFGHIJ operon. This operon is predicted to encode a 49-amino-acid peptide (YydF), a modification enzyme (YydG), a membrane-embedded protease (YydH), and an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter (YydIJ). Genome sequence comparisons suggest that the yydFGHIJ operon may have been acquired by horizontal transfer. Inactivation of the YydIJ transporter resulted in increased expression from the LiaR-dependent P liaI promoter only in the presence of the yydFGH genes. Cells harboring the complete yydFGHIJ operon induced LiaR activity in cocultured cells lacking either this transporter or the complete operon. These results suggest that this operon is involved in the synthesis and export of a modified peptide (YydF*) that elicits cell envelope stress sensed by the LiaRS TCS.
Aliskiren – an orally active renin inhibitor. Review of pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, kinetics, and clinical potential in the treatment of hypertension

The importance of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in diseases such as hypertension, congestive heart failure and chronic renal failure has long ago been recognized. It has also been established that inhibition of RAAS, using inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), is an effective way to intervene with the pathogenesis of these disorders. Renin inhibitors block the RAAS at the highest level, at its origin, and might thus offer a new exciting approach for pharmacotherapy of arterial hypertension. Aliskiren is the first in a new class of orally active, non-peptide, low molecular weight renin inhibitors, and so far the only renin inhibitor that has progressed to phase III clinical trials. This review summarizes the available data on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of aliskiren and its clinical development for treatment of arterial hypertension.
Age-Dependent Transition from Cell-Level to Population-Level Control in Murine Intestinal Homeostasis Revealed by Coalescence Analysis

In multi-cellular organisms, tissue homeostasis is maintained by an exquisite balance between stem cell proliferation and differentiation. This equilibrium can be achieved either at the single cell level (a.k.a. cell asymmetry), where stem cells follow strict asymmetric divisions, or the population level (a.k.a. population asymmetry), where gains and losses in individual stem cell lineages are randomly distributed, but the net effect is homeostasis. In the mature mouse intestinal crypt, previous evidence has revealed a pattern of population asymmetry through predominantly symmetric divisions of stem cells. In this work, using population genetic theory together with previously published crypt single-cell data obtained at different mouse life stages, we reveal a strikingly dynamic pattern of stem cell homeostatic control. We find that single-cell asymmetric divisions are gradually replaced by stochastic population-level asymmetry as the mouse matures to adulthood. This lifelong process has important developmental and evolutionary implications in understanding how adult tissues maintain their homeostasis integrating the trade-off between intrinsic and extrinsic regulations.