Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analog CMOS Building Blocks for Custom and Semicustom Applications

Standard analog building blocks developed for use in custom and semicustom LSI and VLSI designs are described. The analog blocks are built using a digital CMOS process modified to include high-value resistors and voltage independent capacitors. Designs for operational amplifiers, programmable voltage sources, comparators, band gap voltage references, unit resistors, capacitors, and n-p-n devices are discussed. Performance characteristics including unity-gain bandwidth, output drive, output impedance, and common mode range are reviewed. MOS noise data subthreshold operation, and device matching are analyzed. Layout guidelines are proposed as well as applications and limitations of the analog building blocks.
Association of the T8590C Polymorphism of CYP4A11 With Hypertension in the MONICA Augsburg Echocardiographic Substudy

Genetic variants of the arachidonic acid monooxygenase CYP4A11 result in decreased synthesis of 20-hydroxyeicostatetraenoic acid and experimental hypertension. Moreover, in humans, the T8590C polymorphism of CYP4A11 displayed association with arterial hypertension. The aim of the present study was to further investigate this association in a large population-based sample. Therefore, the participants of the echocardiographic substudy of the third MONICA (MONitoring trends and determinants In CArdiovascular disease) survey (n=1397) were studied by standardized anthropometric, echocardiographic, and biochemical measurements as well as genotyping for CYP4A11 T8590C allele status. Individuals with the CC genotype have higher systolic (CC 141.4±3.17 mm Hg versus CT 134.2±0.97 mm Hg and TT 134.3±0.53 mm Hg; P=0.03) and diastolic blood pressure levels (CC 85.4±2.06 mm Hg versus CT 80.3±0.63 mm Hg and TT 80.7±0.34 mm Hg; P=0.02). Accordingly, the odds ratio (adjusted for age, body mass index, and gender) of the CC genotype versus the CT and TT genotypes for hypertension was 3.31 (95% confidence interval [CI]), 1.38 to 7.96; P=0.016) in the entire study population, with similar trends in men (4.30 [95% CI, 1.08 to 17.15]) and women (2.93 [95% CI, 0.88 to 9.84]). Consistent with the renal effects of the gene, no blood pressure–independent association between the T8590C polymorphism and echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function and geometry was found. In conclusion, our data strengthen the association between the T8590C polymorphism of CYP4A11 and hypertension and suggest a recessive mode of inheritance. In contrast, we found no blood pressure–independent modulatory effect of CYP4A11 T8590C on cardiac size, structure, and function.
Image denoising based on a mixture of bivariate gaussian distributions with local parameters in complex wavelet domain

The performance of estimators, such as maximum a posteriori (MAP), is strongly dependent on the accuracy of the employed distribution for the noise-free data and the accuracy of the involving parameters. In this paper, we select a proper model for the distribution of wavelet coefficients and present a new image denoising algorithm. We model the wavelet coefficients in each subband with a mixture of bivariate Gaussian probability density functions (pdfs) using local parameters for the mixture model. This model allows to capture the heavy-tailed nature of the coefficients and to exploit the interscale dependencies of the wavelet coefficients. The empirically observed correlation between the coefficient amplitudes are locally calculated and used in order to characterize the model. We propose a MAP estimator for image denoising using this mixture model and the estimated local parameters. Our simulation results reveal that the proposed method outperforms several existing methods both visually and in terms of peak-signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR).
Fine-Scale Distribution Patterns of Synechococcus Ecological Diversity in Microbial Mats of Mushroom Spring, Yellowstone National Park

ABSTRACT Past analyses of sequence diversity in high-resolution protein-encoding genes have identified putative ecological species of unicellular cyanobacteria in the genus Synechococcus, which are specialized to 60°C but not 65°C in Mushroom Spring microbial mats. Because these studies were limited to only two habitats, we studied the distribution of Synechococcus sequence variants at 1°C intervals along the effluent flow channel and at 80-μm vertical-depth intervals throughout the upper photic layer of the microbial mat. Diversity at the psaA locus, which encodes a photosynthetic reaction center protein (PsaA), was sampled by PCR amplification, cloning, and sequencing methods at 60, 63, and 65°C sites. The evolutionary simulation programs Ecotype Simulation and AdaptML were used to identify putative ecologically distinct populations (ecotypes). Ecotype Simulation predicted a higher number of putative ecotypes in cases where habitat variation was limited, while AdaptML predicted a higher number of ecologically distinct phylogenetic clades in cases where habitat variation was high. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was used to track the distribution of dominant sequence variants of ecotype populations relative to temperature variation and to O2, pH, and spectral irradiance variation, as measured using microsensors. Different distributions along effluent channel flow and vertical gradients, where temperature, light, and O2 concentrations are known to vary, confirmed the ecological distinctness of putative ecotypes.
COMPARING CROSS-CLASSIFIED GROWTH MODELS WITH AND WITHOUT THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF TEACHERS TO A HIERARCHICAL GROWTH MODEL ON CROSS-CLASSIFIED DATA

Multilevel value-added models (VAMs) have the capability to capture the cumulative effect of students’ prior teachers while simultaneously modeling the dependency of various levels. However, some researchers question the applicability of these models because of the absence of random assignment in many applied settings. For example, students are not randomly assigned to teachers and teachers are not randomly assigned to schools. Moreover, there are several obstacles in the implementation of these models, such as cross-classified data structures and limitations in the capacities of statistical software packages. Therefore, the merits of these VAMs have come into question and so the purpose of this simulation study was to compare the performance of a cross-classified VAM with a cumulative effect of teachers to two other teacher evaluation models: a non-cumulative cross-classified model; and a hierarchical model. The most notable finding was that the teacher effect in the value-added cumulative cross-classified model was generally estimated with the least amount of bias. This cross-classified model that utilized the cumulative teacher effect also had the least amounts of error, for the random within-student effect and the random student slope. These results provide supporting evidence for the value-added cumulative cross-classified model.
High Titers of Circulating Maternal Antibodies Suppress Effector and Memory B-Cell Responses Induced by an Attenuated Rotavirus Priming and Rotavirus-Like Particle-Immunostimulating Complex Boosting Vaccine Regimen

ABSTRACT We investigated maternal antibody (MatAb) effects on protection and immune responses to rotavirus vaccines. Gnotobiotic pigs were injected intraperitoneally at birth with pooled serum from sows hyperimmunized with human rotavirus (HRV); control pigs received no sow serum. Pigs with or without MatAbs received either sequential attenuated HRV (AttHRV) oral priming and intranasal boosting with VP2/VP6 virus-like particle (VLP)-immunostimulating complex (ISCOM) (AttHRV/VLP) or intranasal VLP-ISCOM prime/boost (VLP) vaccines at 3 to 5 days of age. Subsets of pigs were challenged at 28 or 42 days postinoculation with virulent Wa HRV to assess protection. Isotype-specific antibody-secreting cell (ASC) responses to HRV were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunospot assay to measure effector and memory B-cell responses in intestinal and systemic lymphoid tissues pre- and/or postchallenge. Protection rates against HRV challenge (contributed by active immunity and passive circulating MatAbs) were consistently (but not significantly) lower in the MatAb-AttHRV/VLP groups than in the corresponding groups without MatAbs. Intestinal B-cell responses in the MatAb-AttHRV/VLP group were most suppressed with significantly reduced or no intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG effector and memory B-cell responses or antibody titers pre- and postchallenge. This suppression was not alleviated but was enhanced after extending vaccination/challenge from 28 to 42 days. In pigs vaccinated with nonreplicating VLP alone that failed to induce protection, MatAb effects differed, with intestinal and systemic IgG ASCs and prechallenge memory B cells suppressed but the low intestinal IgA and IgM ASC responses unaffected. Thus, we demonstrate that MatAbs differentially affect both replicating and nonreplicating HRV vaccines and suggest mechanisms of MatAb interference. This information should facilitate vaccine design to overcome MatAb suppression.
Rumen ciliate composition and diversity of Japanese beef black cattle in comparison with those of Holstein-Friesian cattle.

The composition of ciliate protozoa in the rumen of 30 Japanese beef black cattle (Bos taurus taurus) fed in Yoron Island, Kagoshima, was compared with that of 125 Holstein-Friesian cattle (Bos taurus taurus) fed in Hokkaido. Thirteen genera including 44 species with 32 formae detected from Japanese beef black cattle and 15 genera including 48 species with 25 formae from Holstein-Friesian cattle were identified. Thirty-six species with 19 formae were common to both hosts. A new species was recognized from Japanese beef black cattle and named Entodinium yunnense n. sp. This new species was classified into such four formae as yunnense n.f. , spinonucleatum n.f. , acutonucleatum n.f. and spinolobum n.f. A new forma of Entodinium bifidum having only one caudal spine was also recognized from Japanese beef black cattle and named monospinosum n.f. The average ciliate density in Japanese beef black cattle, 18.7 x 10(4)/ml, was lower than 40.3 x 10(4)/ml in Holstein-Friesian cattle. The average number of ciliate species per head in Japanese beef black cattle, 14.4 was also lower than 17.8 in Holstein-Friesian cattle. The average value of diversity index was 1.789 in Japanese beef black cattle and 1.718 in Holstein-Friesian cattle. Both incidence and composition ratio of Entodinium rectangulatum and E. ovinum were significantly higher in Japanese beef black cattle than in Holstein-Friesian cattle. On the other hand, Charonina ventriculi, E. caudatum, E. rostratum, E. parvum, E. bursa, Metadinium affine and Ostracodinium mammosum showed a reverse relation.
Automatic tools for diagnosis and feedback in a project based learning course

In this paper, we present advanced diagnosis and feedback tools to improve student software quality. After several years of quantitative analysis of the relationship between the assigned grades and certain software features, we have been able to characterize high-quality assembly software. With these results, we have defined new learning objectives after an instructors' consensus, and we have developed a set of automatic tools that help to supervise how well the objectives have been achieved and to feed this information back to the students along the course. We have successfully used these analysis tools in a new course, with a considerable improvement in software quality factors. In the 2003-2004 academic year, there were 54.7% more subroutines per program, with 48.7% fewer lines per subroutine and an increase of 43.6% in the use of the more complex addressing capabilities. This improvement in quality had a positive impact on students' surveys
Analysis of Eight Commercial Enzyme Immunoassay Tests for Detection of Antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Human Serum

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an important etiologic agent of primary atypical pneumonia in children and adults. The diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection is commonly confirmed through serologic testing. In this study, we used paired sera from 51 patients (all with confirmed M. pneumoniae infection and positive complement fixation [CF] titers) to compare the results of eight enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) available commercially in the United States. We compared two single-use EIAs and six plate-type EIAs. Results from acute-phase sera ranged from only 7 (14%) positive by ImmunoWELL (GenBio) immunoglobulin M (IgM) EIA to 23 (45%) positive by Zeus IgG EIA. When both the acute-phase and convalescent-phase serum samples were examined, positive results ranged from 20 (39%) by the ImmunoWELL (GenBio) IgM assay to 45 (88%) positive by the Remel IgG-IgM EIA. In this study, the single-use EIAs by Remel and Meridian were more reliable than were the plate-type EIAs. Among the plate-type EIAs, the Zeus and DiaSorin assays (which detect antibodies to protein antigens) were more sensitive than the ImmunoWELL assay (which detects antibodies to glycolipid antigens). In general, IgG EIAs on convalescent-phase sera were more concordant with one another than were IgM EIAs with one another. Scatter plot analysis of convalescent-phase sera showed that, as the CF titer dropped, the IgM assays identified fewer positive convalescent-phase sera. In contrast, the IgG assays provided fairly consistent positive results for convalescent-phase sera with CF titers of 64 and above. Results of individual tests and overall limitations of serodiagnostics for M. pneumoniae infections are discussed.
All-nanosheet ultrathin capacitors assembled layer-by-layer via solution-based processes.

All-nanosheet ultrathin capacitors of Ru0.95O20. 2-/Ca2Nb3O10-/Ru0.95O20. 2- were successfully assembled through facile room-temperature solution-based processes. As a bottom electrode, conductive Ru0.95O20. 2- nanosheets were first assembled on a quartz glass substrate through a sequential adsorption process with polycations. On top of the Ru0.95O20. 2- nanosheet film, Ca2Nb3O10- nanosheets were deposited by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique to serve as a dielectric layer. Deposition parameters were optimized for each process to construct a densely packed multilayer structure. The multilayer buildup process was monitored by various characterizations such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra, and X-ray diffraction data, which provided compelling evidence for regular growth of Ru0.95O20. 2- and Ca2Nb3O10- nanosheet films with the designed multilayer structures. Finally, an array of circular films (50 μm ϕ) of Ru0.95O20. 2- nanosheets was fabricated as top electrodes on the as-deposited nanosheet films by combining the standard photolithography and sequential adsorption processes. Microscopic observations by AFM and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, as well as nanoscopic elemental analysis, visualized the sandwich metal-insulator-metal structure of Ru0.95O20. 2-/Ca2Nb3O10-/Ru0.95O20. 2- with a total thickness less than 30 nm. Electrical measurements indicate that the system really works as an ultrathin capacitor, achieving a capacitance density of ∼27.5 μF cm(-2), which is far superior to currently available commercial capacitor devices. This work demonstrates the great potential of functional oxide nanosheets as components for nanoelectronics, thus contributing to the development of next-generation high-performance electronic devices.
Fusion of Simple Models for Native Language Identification

In this paper we describe the approaches we explored for the 2017 Native Language Identification shared task. We focused on simple word and sub-word units avoiding heavy use of hand-crafted features. Following recent trends, we explored linear and neural networks models to attempt to compensate for the lack of rich feature use. Initial efforts yielded f1-scores of 82.39% and 83.77% in the development and test sets of the fusion track, and were officially submitted to the task as team L2F. After the task was closed, we carried on further experiments and relied on a late fusion strategy for combining our simple proposed approaches with modifications of the baselines provided by the task. As expected, the i-vectors based sub-system dominates the performance of the system combinations, and results in the major contributor to our achieved scores. Our best combined system achieves 90.1% and 90.2% f1-score in the development and test sets of the fusion track, respectively.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIRECT AND INDIRECT AGGRESSION AND SOCIAL COMPETENCE AMONG THREE CULTURAL GROUPS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the causal relationship between levels of direct and indirect aggression and the presence of social competence (specifically the ability to initiate relationships, portray negative assertion, disclose personal information, provide emotional support and advice, and to manage social conflict) among different cultural groups in South Africa. Two questionnaires, the RCRQ (Richardson Conflict Response Questionnaire) the ICQ (Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire) measuring respectively aggression and social competence were administered to 729 black, coloured and white pregraduate university students from the University of the Western Cape and the University of Stellenbosch. The results showed poor but significant relationships between aggression and social competence. Strong significant cultural, gender and interaction effects were found. It was found that direct aggression is positively associated with the ability to initiate relationships as well as negative assertion, but there was a negative correlation with empathy. Indirect aggression was found to be negatively correlated with negative assertion. However, less significant results were found between cultural groups that do not fully reflect the results obtained for the total group. Significant gender differences for direct aggression were reported by the coloured and white groups with females engaging in less direct aggression than males. For indirect aggression it was reported that coloured
Involvement and speci ¢ cityofShewanella oneidensis outer membrane cytochromes in the reductionof solubleand solid-phase terminal electronacceptors

Involvement and speci¢cityofShewanella oneidensis outer membrane cytochromes in the reductionof solubleand solid-phase terminal electronacceptors Clemens Bücking, Felix Popp, Sven Kerzenmacher & Johannes Gescher Department of Microbiology, Institute for Biology II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; and Laboratory for MEMS Applications, Department of Microsystems Engineering–IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Relationships Between MRI Breast Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS) Lexicon Descriptors and Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes: Internal Enhancement is Associated with Luminal B Subtype

The aim of this study was to determine the associations between breast MRI findings using the Breast Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS) lexicon descriptors and breast cancer molecular subtypes. In this retrospective, IRB‐approved, single institution study MRIs from 278 women with breast cancer were reviewed by one of six fellowship‐trained breast imagers. Readers reported BI‐RADS descriptors for breast masses (shape, margin, internal enhancement) and non‐mass enhancement (distribution, internal enhancement). Pathology reports were reviewed for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor‐2 (HER2). Surrogates were used to categorize tumors by molecular subtype: ER/PR+, HER2‐ (luminal A); ER/PR+, HER2+ (luminal B); ER/PR‐, HER2+ (HER2); ER/PR/HER2‐ (basal). A univariate logistic regression model was developed to identify associations between BI‐RADS descriptors and molecular subtypes. Internal enhancement for mass and non‐mass enhancement was combined for analysis. There was an association between mass shape and basal subtype (p = 0.039), which was more frequently round (17.1%) than other subtypes (range: 0–8.3%). In addition, there was an association between mass margin and HER2 subtype (p = 0.040), as HER2 cancers more frequently had a smooth margin (33.3%) than other subtypes (range: 4.2–17.1%). Finally, there was an association between internal enhancement and luminal B subtype (p = 0.003), with no cases of luminal B cancer demonstrating homogeneous internal enhancement versus a range of 10.9–23.5% for other subtypes. There are associations between breast cancer molecular subtypes and lesion appearance on MRI using the BI‐RADS lexicon.
A low dose euglycemic infusion of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I rapidly suppresses fasting-enhanced pulsatile growth hormone secretion in humans.

To determine if insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) inhibits pulsatile growth hormone (GH) secretion in man, recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) was infused for 6 h at 10 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 during a euglycemic clamp in 10 normal men who were fasted for 32 h to enhance GH secretion. Saline alone was infused during an otherwise identical second admission as a control. As a result of rhIGF-I infusion, total and free IGF-I concentrations increased three- and fourfold, respectively. Mean GH concentrations fell from 6.3 +/- 1.6 to 0.59 +/- 0.07 micrograms/liter after 120 min. GH secretion rates, calculated by a deconvolution algorithm, decreased with a t 1/2 of 16.6 min and remained suppressed thereafter. Suppression of GH secretion rates occurred within 60 min when total and free IGF-I concentrations were 1.6-fold and 2-fold above baseline levels, respectively, and while glucose infusion rates were < 1 mumol.kg-1.min-1. During saline infusion, GH secretion rates remained elevated. Infusion of rhIGF-I decreased the mass of GH secreted per pulse by 84% (P < 0.01) and the number of detectable GH secretory pulses by 32% (P < 0.05). Plasma insulin and glucagon decreased to nearly undetectable levels after 60 min of rhIGF-I. Serum free fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate were unaffected during the first 3 h of rhIGF-I but decreased thereafter to 52, 32, and 50% of levels observed during saline. We conclude that fasting-enhanced GH secretion is rapidly suppressed by a low-dose euglycemic infusion of rhIGF-I. This effect of rhIGF-I is likely mediated through IGF-I receptors independently of its insulin-like metabolic actions.
A multi-objective immune algorithm for human motion tracking

A crucial challenge in human body tracking is the high degrees of freedom (up to around 40) to be recovered. A method based on multi-objective optimization algorithm is presented here to tackle this problem. In our multi-objective optimization based human body tracking framework, tracking is considered as two functions' co-optimization problem where the aim is to optimize the matching functions between the model projection and the image observation. Experiments on 3D human motion tracking demonstrate the effectiveness and computational efficiency of the proposed tracking method.